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For decades, Uganda has been transforming its juvenile justice system from a focus on punishment to one that prioritises protection, rehabilitation, and dignity. This journey began in the 1950s with the establishment of Naguru Remand Home, and was strengthened by global frameworks such as the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (1990) and the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (1991).

These shaped national reforms such as the 1995 Constitution, which enshrines children’s rights and protections. Uganda’s justice system has steadily evolved to prioritise the best interests of the child. The Justice for Children (J4C) initiative, supported by Unicef, EU, and JLOS, promotes child-friendly procedures that safeguard children’s rights and dignity.

Laws and practices now emphasise diversion, legal representation, timely hearings, and supportive services, ensuring children in conflict with the law are treated fairly and given opportunities for rehabilitation and reintegration.

The introduction of the 2016 Diversion Guidelines by the Uganda Police Force has been a game-changer, allowing petty offences to be resolved at the police or community level rather than through the formal court system.

Today, 74 percent of eligible cases are diverted, giving children the chance to remain in their communities, continue school, and access counselling instead of facing detention. The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) has also pioneered reforms that make justice accessible and sensitive to children’s needs.

From the use of anatomical dolls to help survivors of sexual abuse share their stories to informal courtroom settings where wigs and gowns are set aside, the justice process is becoming more humane.

Across the country, child-friendly spaces have been established in ODPP offices and courts in Kampala, Masaka, Soroti, Mbale, and Fort Portal. These softly lit rooms with dolls, drawings, and comfortable chairs reduce trauma and help children express themselves freely.

Gender desks ensure the child’s safety and privacy, and that female officers accompany girls to receive medical care, helping them feel safe, heard, and believed. Courts have also begun gazetting specific days for child-related cases, reducing delays and stress while ensuring that trained probation officers and social workers are present.

Children receive psychosocial support, vocational training, and life skills at remand homes, leaving with DIT certificates in trades such as tailoring and agriculture. Some even return as tutors to inspire others. This progress is driven by collaboration among the Governance and Security Secretariat, Ministry of Gender, Unicef, the EU, and other justice actors.

Legal aid officers also play a vital role, offering free legal representation and counselling to children who would otherwise face the system alone. Yet challenges remain.

Many districts still lack trained probation officers, remand homes face overcrowding and outdated infrastructure, and verifying children’s ages continues to be difficult-sometimes leading to minors being detained with adults. Limited funding and transport also hinder follow-up and reintegration efforts.

Still, Uganda’s vision remains clear: a justice system that protects rather than punishes. Fred Ngabirano from the Ministry of Gender reminds aserts that justice for children isn’t just about courts; it’s about every actor, from the village LC1 to the High Court, understanding their role and fulfilling it.

The transformation of Uganda’s juvenile justice system shows what is possible when compassion, collaboration, and commitment come together. To sustain this progress, communities, leaders, and policymakers must continue to speak against corporal punishment, support diversion, and invest in child-friendly spaces.

Every child deserves a chance to heal, learn, and thrive, not to be defined by their worst mistake.

On October 31, St Mary’s Cathedral, Rubaga, will be celebrating 100 years since its consecration.

The building of this church started way back in 1914, and its consecration took place 11 years later in 1925. The 100-year celebration count starts from 1925 to 2025. This year’s celebrations will be held under the theme, ‘The Temple of God is Sacred. You are that Temple’.

This year, 2025, is a jubilee year for the archdiocese. It is the year of the Centenary Anniversary of the consecration of the cathedral (1925-2025). The date of the consecration, therefore, has coincided with the centenary birth anniversary on October 31, 1925.

In an interview with this publication, Fr Richard Nyombi, the coordinator of the Society of Missionaries of Africa in Uganda under Kampala Archdiocese, said the cathedral has succeeded other cathedrals. ‘And in the series of the cathedrals, it is the tenth cathedral with the first cathedral being built in 1885,’ Fr Nyombi said.

Making of a cathedral

At that time, the whole of Uganda was one diocese, going up to Kisumu in Kenya, and in Tanganyika, stretching to Mwanza. According to Fr Nyombi, the first church was built by the White Fathers in Nabulagala and the second in Nalukolongo, both suburbs of Kampala in Rubaga Division. In Nalukolongo, they stayed for three years, from 1885 to October 1888, when the war between the Christians (Protestants and Catholics) and the Muslims broke out, which was eventually won by the Muslims and the Missionaries were expelled. When they left the Mission in Nalukolongo, it was destroyed, and they were given land at Nabunnya, near the present-day Pope Paul II Memorial Hotel.

The third church was built here in 1890, which they used between 1890 and 1891. At Nabunnya, Father Lourdel (Mapeera) died in 1890. Fr Nyombi describes Nabunnya as a grass-thatched cathedral with walls built using mud and reeds, which did not last long. By then, Kabaka Mutesa I had already died, and the White Fathers asked Kabaka Mwanga for land on Rubaga Hill.

Kabaka Mutesa I, had also moved away from Rubaga Hill to Kasubi-Nabulagala, where he died. Kabaka Mwanga gave them the land at the end of 1890, and in 1891, they started building the third cathedral at Rubaga. In 1891, they moved in, relocating from Nabunya.

The third cathedral was also built out of mud and reeds and thatched with grass. Other churches followed up to the ninth church, but all were not long-lasting, and they were weakened either by rain, fire, or earthquake, among others. In 1901, a stronger church was built, which was later replaced by the current one.

Rubaga is built

The construction of Rubaga cathedral started in 1914. It was built using bricks. Following the killing of the Uganda Martyrs in 1885, 1886, and 1887, the first bishop, Henry Streicher, proposed in 1901 to build a beautiful cathedral that would portray Uganda as the land of the martyrs, like cathedrals in Europe.

According to Fr Nyombi, Bishop Streicher called his curia , which included the parish priests, among others, who discussed the church project he wanted to be built. Among those in the meeting was the then leader of the laity, Stanislaus Mugwanya and all agreed to go ahead with the project, which would give glory to God.

A committee was put in place, and Bishop John Forbes, who was to succeed Bishop Streicher, was the chief fundraiser. Ugandans were trained on how to make bricks that were used to build the church, and most of the materials were produced locally in the areas of Wakaliga, Kisubi and Nalukolongo.

To achieve that, the White Fathers started St Joseph Technical School in Kisubi in 1911 to train those who were going to build the cathedral. A pilot church was first built in Kisubi, and within two years, the church was finished. In 1914, the building of the bigger present-day cathedral in Rubaga started.

Built amid challenges

The construction works faced challenges following the outbreak of the First World War in 1914 as the fundraising could not go on in Europe and other places, Works were halted until 1917 when the construction resumed until 1925.

The millions of bricks and other materials to the site were carried by hand, lifted on the head, and with carts since these were the available means of transport at that time. According to Fr Nyombi, ‘One of the interesting stories is that when Mr Stanislas Mugwanya, who was a regent of the Kabaka Daudi Chwa, passed by the kiln where they were making the bricks, he would carry two or three on his head.’

In 1925, the cathedral was ready, and on October 31, 1925, it was consecrated by Bishop Streicher. In attendance were Kabaka Daudi Chwa and seminarians from Katigondo and Bukalasa. Fr Nyombi says the church is a symbol of the living community, the believers.

Experts and leaders in Masindi District have expressed concern alcohol abuse. They said many residents have taken to irresponsible drinking of locally made alcohol, leading to financial instability, domestic violence and divorce.

Mr Amos Tusiime, coordinator at the Bunyoro Youth Drugs Control Forum, said there is a strong connection between alcohol abuse and intimate partner violence. ‘Most cases of domestic quarrels and physical abuse that we handle involve men who have been drinking local brew. These drinks may seem harmless, but they often trigger aggressive behaviour, putting women and children at risk,’ Mr Tusiime said.

Mr James Mukisa, the Rwensa LC1 chairperson, said many perpetrators of domestic violence have a history of alcohol abuse. The experts added that the damage caused by alcohol abuse extends beyond physical violence to economic strain on already vulnerable households. Ms Hellen Karamagi, the Masindi District probation officer, said the proliferation of cheap alcoholic drinks has worsened poverty and domestic instability.

‘Family breadwinners divert limited resources to purchase alcohol, neglecting essential needs like food, school fees, and healthcare. This financial strain increases tension at home and, in many cases, leads to family breakdowns,’ Ms Karamagi said.

Ms Nabirye, a 35-year-old mother of four in Masindi Town, said she was forced to end her marriage after enduring years of violence linked to her husband’s abuse of alcohol. She added that because he used to drink daily, they reached an extent where they lacked basic needs at home, and the children had dropped out of school.

‘My husband drinks every evening. He would come home angry and beat me without any explanation. After several assaults, I decided to leave him to protect myself and my children,’ she said.

Mr John Kato, 42, a resident, said: ‘I never used to drink, but after losing my job, I started drinking to forget my problems. Soon, I was arguing with my wife almost every day. One day we fought, and she left home. Now I live alone.’

According to the Uganda Alcohol Report 2022, Masindi recorded a high rate of male drinkers at 71.34 percent, with spirits accounting for 40.78 percent of all alcohol consumed. Nearly half of the alcohol drinkers surveyed exhibited risky drinking habits, though the rate in Masindi (38.31 percent) was lower than that of Jinja District (58.97 percent).

A 2024 study by the Addictive Society of Bunyoro on adolescent drinking habits in Masindi found minimal alcohol use among young people, with peer pressure identified as a potential influence, though no significant link was found between social support and alcohol consumption.

In Masindi, the trend mirrors the national picture. Locally made alcohol is popular because it is cheap, accessible, and culturally accepted, but the social costs are devastating. According to the 2024 police report for the Albertine Region, which includes Masindi, authorities recorded 547 cases of domestic violence, up from 200 cases the previous year.

Of these, 525 resulted in convictions, five in acquittals, 135 were dismissed, and 837 cases remain pending in court. Dr Rose Nakato, a clinician at Katasenywa Health Centre IV, warned that many locally distilled spirits contain toxic substances such as methanol, which can cause severe organ damage or even death.

‘These brews are cheap, yes, but they are not safe. We treat patients with liver disease, stomach ulcers, and even neurological problems directly linked to drinking home-made alcohol,’ Dr Nakato said. Mr Musa Tusiime, a community mobilizer, emphasised the need for a multi-sectoral response.

‘We need a multi-pronged approach. Education about the dangers of alcohol, counselling for families, and strict enforcement of existing laws can help reduce these cases,’ Mr Tusiime said.

Makerere University Retirement Benefits Scheme (MURBS) has posted a strong financial performance in the year ended June, with its total assets rising from Shs409b to Shs475b.

The scheme registered an increase of Shs65b, driven largely by returns on investments in government securities, which accounted for 86.3 percent of total investments in real estate, equities, fixed deposits, and unit trusts.

The scheme currently has 3,368 active members and paid Shs21.7b in benefits to members against Shs36.57b in total contributions.

This included Sh18b in normal retirements, Sh227m for members relocating abroad, Sh147m in death benefits, and Sh2.8b in mid-term access.

In partnership with ICEA, the scheme also facilitated annuities worth Sh180m for retiring members.

Dr Michael Kizito, the board of trustees chairperson, said the growth was largely driven by strong performance in treasury bonds.

‘Yes, we have a lot of concentration in the treasury bonds. They are the ones at the moment that bring in the good returns,’ he said.

However, Dr Kizito noted that the university council had not remitted member contributions since the year started, which is not a good thing.

‘Of course, there are some historical debts, which, like you heard, the chair council and vice chancellor, have committed to pay,’ he said, but noted that historical arrears of Sh747m dating back to 2014, remain unpaid.

Mr Mark Straicus Lotukei, the Uganda Retirement Benefits Regulatory Authority manager of market conduct supervision, who represented the chief executive officer, said while the Makerere University scheme may not yet rival NSSF in scale, its steady progress reflects maturity and resilience in Uganda’s retirement benefits sector.

‘A well-managed scheme like [Makerere University’s] inspires confidence,’ he said. During the year, total contributions stood at Sh20b, split equally between the employer and employees at Sh10b each.

Contracts and projects added Sh1.3b, voluntary member contributions totaled Sh156m, while the scheme’s secretariat contributed Sh40m.

The scheme now has 8,515 members, including 3,368 active contributors and 5,147 deferred members, whose savings continue to grow within the scheme.

To reduce concentration risk, the scheme plans to diversify beyond government securities into alternative, higher-yielding investments such as infrastructure, private equity, and other emerging asset classes, while maintaining the safety of members’ funds.

Uganda’s commitment to education as a driver of human capital development remains unquestionable. However, the numbers tell a different story, a story of a sector whose financing is stagnating while national priorities continue to expand, a story of crowded classrooms, a story of underpaid and demotivated teachers, a story that needs to be flipped for the mentioned commitment to result into tangible benefits.

Over the last five years, Uganda’s budget grew by an impressive 59 percent from Shs45.5 trillion in Financial Year (FY) 2020/2021 to Shs72.4 trillion in FY2025/2026. In contrast, the education budget increased by only 36 percent, from Shs3.7 trillion to Shs5.04 trillion.

This slower growth means, relative to the overall budget, education’s share continues to shrink even as the number of learners and the demand for better learning outcomes surge, which can be attributed to challenges in revenue mobilisation or poor prioritisation.

Domestic resources are the most reliable source of financing for education due to its predictability. Uganda’s domestic revenue has grown steadily, from Shs25.2 trillion in FY2022/2023 to a projected Shs37.2 trillion in FY2025/2026. One would think that this growth in both revenue and budget would match the growth in social sector financing but that is not the case.

Much of this growth in revenue is being swallowed by debt repayments with interest payments alone nearly doubling from Shs5.9 trillion in FY2022/2023 to Shs11.3 trillion in FY2025/2026 and public debt stock reaching Shs116.2 trillion in October 2025 up from Shs94.7 trillion in 2024 showing a 26 percent increase, a trend that is concerning.

Every shilling spent on debt interest is a shilling less for classrooms, teachers, and other education programmes. Uganda’s education sector remains reliant on external financing. Between FY2022/2023 and FY2023/2024, Shs456 billion (about 7.5 percent of the sector’s Shs6,075 billion financing) came from donors.

Over the past five years OECD-DAC countries provided roughly $821.4 million (Shs2.85 trillion), and Uganda is currently implementing donor-funded education projects worth about $345 million (Shs1.19 trillion). While these projects are critical, they also highlight a dependence that makes key reforms donor-driven and vulnerable to funding shocks, which create major education service delivery gaps.

To overcome, education financing challenges, Uganda needs to strengthen domestic resource mobilisation through a combination of tax policy reforms, administrative efficiency, and improved transparency.

The tax base must be broadened to bring new taxpayers. With a tax-to-GDP ratio below 14 percent, which is far below the Sub-Saharan African average of 18 percent, and 72 percent of businesses, 78 percent of the labour force, and over half of GDP in the informal sector, a significant share of the economy remains untaxed while overburdening the existing taxpayers.

By only reducing tax exemptions and redirecting the recovered revenue to education, the sectors financing could be substantially boosted.

In FY2022/2023 alone, the country lost Shs2.97 trillion in potential revenue through tax exemptions, according to the Tax Expenditure Report of 2024. This was equivalent to 71.2 percent of the Shs4.17 trillion allocated to education in that year. Yet there is no proof of economic benefits from these exemptions.

There is also a need to improve tax administration. Simplifying processes for small taxpayers and earmarking a portion of ‘sin taxes’ for education can boost revenues. With greater transparency, effective financial management, and citizen oversight, Uganda can build a resilient financing system that guarantees every child access to quality education.