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When 19-year-old Doreen Foni fled the violence in South Sudan with her family in 2015, she hoped for safety and a chance to study. But life as a refugee soon proved that survival was only the beginning of her struggle. At Maaji Refugee Settlement in Adjumani District, Foni’s dream of education faded with every passing day.

The nearest school was about 10 kilometres away, too far for many girls to attend. Poverty, long distances, and lack of school materials kept most of them at home. In 2017, she finally enrolled at Zoka South Primary School and began preparing for her Primary Leaving Examinations.

Just as things were looking up, the Covid-19 pandemic struck, shutting schools for almost two years. When classes resumed, her parents could no longer afford secondary school fees. Stuck at home and without options, Foni entered a relationship that led to teenage pregnancy.

‘Life became unbearable,’ she recalls. ‘My parents took me to my boyfriend’s home, but he gave little support. I had to dig in gardens and sell firewood to buy food.’

During her pregnancy, Foni’s health deteriorated and she was diagnosed with anaemia. She gave birth at Adjumani General Hospital – but even then, her dream of returning to school never died. Her parents, however, discouraged her, saying the baby was too young to leave behind.

Foni’s story mirrors the struggles of many refugee girls in Adjumani. Across the district, teenage pregnancies, early marriages, and poverty have robbed hundreds of girls of their education.

According to the Adjumani District Education Office, more than 1,800 cases of sexual violence were recorded in the last five years – 515 of them in 2021 alone.

The figures paint a grim picture of young girls forced into adulthood too soon. ‘Many of these girls are victims of circumstance,’ says Mr Philip Akuku, the district education officer. ‘We’ve seen a rise in teenage pregnancies during and after the Covid-19 lockdown, but we’re working to bring the girls back to school.’ Amid this crisis, a glimmer of hope has begun to emerge.

Organisations such as War Child Canada and the Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE) have stepped in with school re-entry programmes that give young mothers a second chance at education. Through the initiative, girls like Foni can now study under the Accelerated Learning Programme, which allows mothers to attend school while their babies are cared for at nearby centres.

‘I’m back in school and hopeful again,’ says Foni with a smile. ‘I want to become a health worker and help others.’

Grace Jua Kalisto, 24, shares a similar story. She dropped out of school after her uncle, who supported her, passed away. Forced into early marriage, she soon became a mother of two, her education dreams shattered. ‘I tried brewing alcohol to raise school fees, but it was never enough,’ she says.

Her turning point came when FAWE set up a child-care facility at Maaji Secondary School, allowing mothers to attend lessons while their babies are cared for nearby.

‘I no longer have to trek long distances to breastfeed. I can attend classes without worry,’ Grace says.

Ms Jessica Abedchan, the deputy head teacher at Maaji Secondary School, says the programme has transformed lives.

‘Attendance has gone up by 60 percent, and the dropout rate has fallen from 20 percent to just five percent,’ she says.

FAWE project officer Nancy Asibazoyo notes that more than 480 girls have so far returned to school through the initiative.

Still, experts warn that more needs to be done. Dr Gerald Amatre, a consultant at the Ministry of Education and Sports, says teenage pregnancies, gender-based violence, and HIV infections continue to threaten the future of many young girls.

‘The average age of first sexual intercourse in Uganda is 17 for girls,’ he says. ‘Many of these should still be in school.’

Jailed Opposition leader Dr Kizza Besigye has fired off a strongly worded letter to High Court Judge Emmanuel Baguma, demanding to know the law that stops him, as an accused person, from raising his own concerns orally during trial.

The four-time presidential candidate, who is facing treason charges alongside Mr Obeid Lutale and Capt Denis Oola, wrote the letter following a heated exchange in court on October 1.

Besigye insisted on addressing the judge directly despite being represented by a team of 10 lawyers led by Kenyan senior counsel Martha Karua.

The letter

In the letter dated October 2, Besigye accuses Justice Baguma of denying him a fundamental right to be heard. ‘First, you outrightly declined my request because I am represented by lawyers,’ Besigye wrote.

‘Being a person accused of a serious offence, I find it strange and oppressive if I cannot raise a concern directly in open court.’

He further recounts how, after extensive back-and-forth with his legal team, the judge ruled that any personal concerns from the accused could only be submitted in writing, a condition Besigye argues could lead to undue delays. ‘If each time a written submission of the concern has to be made and time fixed for your response, the case may never be concluded,’ he warned. ‘Meanwhile, I remain confined in prison.’

Besigye concludes the three-page letter with a pointed challenge: ‘I request you to point me to the provisions of the law that bar an accused person from orally raising concerns in court during any audience with the judge, even in the presence of their lawyers. Following your response, I will take that law into consideration to guide me.’

The letter follows last week’s tense courtroom standoff, where Besigye rose in the dock before plea-taking to address the judge. ‘A very good morning, my Lord,’ he began confidently, adding that he wished to raise a matter of concern. Justice Baguma quickly interrupted: ‘Are you still represented, or are you putting off your lawyers?’

Besigye clarified that he remained represented but wanted to personally explain the circumstances of their appearance in court. The judge, however, maintained that only his lawyers could speak on his behalf unless they formally withdrew from the case.

Senior Counsel Karua, supported by colleagues Frederick Mpanga and Ernest Kalibbala, urged the court to allow Besigye to speak.

Mr Kalibbala argued: ‘Appointing lawyers does not close the mouth of the party. No law bars any accused person in the dock from raising or responding to issues in court.’

Eventually, Justice Baguma relented but imposed conditions, ruling that Besigye must submit his concerns in writing and return to court on October 8 for a response.

The ruling prompted murmurs among the packed courtroom before prison warders swiftly escorted Besigye and his co-accused out under tight security.

Maumbe Mukhwana Memorial Vocational Institute, built just two years ago at a cost of Shs3.6 billion, was intended to be a model of technical excellence. The institution, named after liberation hero Jack Maumbe Mukhwana, is one of President Museveni’s nine pledges of vocational institutes.

Today, it is a sign of neglect with no tutors, electricity, water, fence separating the girls’ dormitories from those of the boys, and pit-latrines that overflow forcing students to relieve themselves in the bush. Last week, frustration over the poor state of the school boiled over.

Students locked the principal, Mr James Ulyeni, inside his office for more than five hours, demanding his immediate transfer. Police and district education officials later intervened and convinced the students to let go. They then took him away.

Guild president Bernard Mooli said the students have gone on strike three times since last year, each time demanding the transfer of the principal. Mr Mooli revealed that the school has so many problems, which they have reported to the district authorities, but nothing has been done. He said since reporting back three weeks earlier, students had not had a single lesson.

‘This is supposed to be a skills institute, yet we don’t have practicals. When we go for internship, we struggle,’ he said. Mr Deo Obote, a student, said: ‘We don’t have qualified teachers to teach us. The toilets are full, so sometimes we go to the bush. Some girls are already suffering from infections. Even meals are delayed.’

Mr Moses Mugabi, a student, said the overflowing toilets, lack of water, and a broken solar system have left the school without electricity or safe sanitation facilities.

He revealed that government-sponsored students pay Shs450,000 per term, while private students pay Shs760,000. Ms Glades Nambozo, another student, said: ‘Last term, I was admitted to the hospital for a week after getting an infection. Many other girls are suffering too.’

Mr Haningtone Bakumba, the senior education officer for Mbale District, said the government was supposed to deploy 15 tutors when the institute was set up. Instead, only the principal and the bursar are permanent staff. He added that the school relies on volunteer instructors who have now gone eight months without pay.

Mr Daniel Kitakuyi, an entrepreneurship tutor, said they have lost the morale to teach. He added that several tutors have refused to report to school this term because of the non-payment. Even the security guard, Mr Mutwalimb Zemwa, has gone 18 months without his Shs90,000 monthly salary.

‘I work day and night, alone, without even a torch. My life is at risk,’ he said. Mr Bakumba added the school’s performance is poor, blaming it on weak administration. He explained that some tutors are often dismissed in the middle of the term, while equipment meant for practical lessons has gone missing. He also revealed that the school is deeply in debt, with suppliers demanding more than Shs160 million. Mr Paddy Khaukha, the Mbale District Education Officer, acknowledged that the students’ grievances are genuine.

He partly blamed the challenges on the principal but also admitted that the district authorities had failed to provide facilities that support proper learning.

‘Where we have reached, to save the institution, the Ministry of Education and Sports should send another principal. Let the current principal be transferred to another place,’ he said.

He added: ‘This is the third time the police have rescued the principal. We don’t want to reach a situation where we have to answer why the principal has been lynched by students. The truce between the principal and students will not last.’

He said the ministry should post permanent tutors to support the school, and urged the government to speed up the process of recruiting them. He noted that the institution is a presidential pledge that should be fulfilled, not mismanaged.

Mr Ulyeni said he is ready to be transferred if the ministry decides so. He denied the allegations against him, arguing that the problems at the school are due to limited government funding, with only Shs55 million sent for the entire financial year. He also blamed the situation on students delaying to pay their fees.

Mr Ulyeni explained that the Shs55 million from government and student fees is what he uses to run the school, but it is not enough to pay tutors, clear supplier debts, or buy materials for practical lessons, which are expensive. He noted that presidential-pledge institutions are not funded the same way as government-aided schools.

He added that he had written to the Ministry of Education about the challenges but nothing had been done. On the issue of pit-latrines, he blamed the problem on heavy rains and the waterlogged nature of the area, which causes the water levels to rise.

Journalists play a crucial role in elections through information dissemination and voter education, helping citizens understand electoral laws, procedures, candidate platforms, and polling processes. By keeping the electorate informed, they enable voters to make sound decisions when choosing their leaders.

The media is often referred to as the Fourth Estate after the Judiciary, Executive, and Legislature. There is no doubt that it shapes public discourse, facilitates political participation, enhances accountability, and counters misinformation.

As Ugandans return to the polls for the sixth time since Independence, and the fifth under President Museveni, the role of the media remains central. In this election, eight political parties are contesting with the aim of unseating Museveni, though many remain sceptical about their chances of success.

The main concerns continue to centre on the independence of the Electoral Commission (EC), widely viewed as being under the influence of the ruling regime, and the conduct of sections of the security forces, some of whom are accused of serving partisan interests rather than upholding national unity and democratic principles.

The media in Uganda has for years faced significant challenges, including restrictions, harassment, violence, restrictive laws, the digital divide, and competition from the rising tide of misinformation on social media. As citizens head to the polls, the role of journalists should be at the forefront of the democratic process.

The eight candidates representing the eight political parties recognise the critical importance of the media. The National Resistance Movement (NRM), identifies the media as a central tool for communication and national mobilisation.

Its manifesto commits to ensuring that government policies and programmes are widely disseminated through media platforms with nationwide reach. This reflects a strong emphasis on media as a top-down channel for policy communication and a vehicle for demonstrating political accountabilities Beyond messaging, the manifesto highlights infrastructure as the backbone of communication.

Key commitments include: Expanding broadband and mobile network coverage, with government reporting that 89 percent of the population is now served by 3G or higher services.

Providing free Wi-Fi at border posts and upgrading older sites from 2G to 3G. Extending the national backbone fibre network to connect government ministries, local government offices, and other critical institutions.

To implement these objectives, several agencies operate under the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance, including the Uganda Broadcasting Corporation (UBC), Media Council, of Uganda Media Centre, and Vision Group, among others. The government has often voiced concern about what it calls ‘irresponsible’ or distorted media coverage.

President Museveni and State agencies have emphasised the need for more disciplined and centralised communication, particularly in responding to negative reporting and in safeguarding Uganda’s image. This reflects an ongoing tension between State-driven communication goals and the independent media’s watchdog role.

While strong on communication and infrastructure, the NRM manifesto is notably weaker on press freedom and media independence. There are no explicit commitments to protect journalists from harassment, intimidation, or censorship. Mechanisms to ensure media diversity, fairness, or editorial independence are not detailed.

Oversight and accountability in government communication remains limited, with little transparency on the use of public resources for State communication.

Government reports indicate significant progress on infrastructure targets such as broadband expansion, network coverage, and digital connectivity of institutions. Manifesto Week has become a regular platform to showcase these achievements. However, the independence and credibility of such self-reporting remain questionable.

The remaining political parties continue to call for greater press freedom and freedom of expression for both Ugandans and the media. However, their commitments are often vague, with no clear strategies on how these freedoms will be fully protected and promoted.

By confession Deogratius Bbosa should have stopped in Senior Four. Because his parents couldn’t afford his school fees beyond that level. But fate had prepared a route to his dream vocation-engineering. Korean missionaries in Uganda gave him a bursary for his A-Level but the beneficiary schools did not offer sciences. He ended up studying History, Economics and Geography at Wits College, Namulanda. ‘I had no interest at all in arts,’ Bbosa told an attentive class at Mulago High School during a career guidance session by the Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) alumni recently. GKS, rated as one of the most prestigious fully-funded scholarships in the world, it is a tool that enhances international education exchange and mutual friendship between Korea and different countries.

After A-Level, Bbosa’s academic future looked bleak. But while working with the same Korean missionaries, he got a certificate in computer applications at Makerere University. Through the missionaries, another Korean church offered scholarships and Bbosa was one of the beneficiaries. He studied a diploma in Information Technology at Uganda Institute of Information and Communications Technology in Nakawa. That diploma was a stepping stone in his pursuit of further engineering studies.

Fast forward, a visiting professor selected him for a scholarship at Chonnam National University. ‘But impressing the university without Maths and Physics was pretty hard,’ Bbosa remembers. Yet his biggest barrier in Gwangju was language. He was one of only two black students in the engineering class. And all classes in his course were in only Korean. ‘I had studied the Korean language for six months. It wasn’t enough for me to grasp stuff,’ Bbosa said, whose course lasted from 2011 and 2016. He pleaded for an alternative but the professor’s response was plain and simple: ‘English? No.’ Now Bbosa ha to fit in.

Commitment

Bbosa said only faith and commitment helped him overcome the hurdles and score his goals. ‘From the very start, I knew I wanted to do sciences and engineering even after doing Arts at A-Level,’ said Bbosa, the head of IT at the Africa Institute of Music in Lubowa. He said some students quit engineering for business courses which were taught in Korean and English. ‘I almost fell into that temptation because honestly, I hadn’t grasped Korean to the required level. But, I persevered and succeeded because I knew what I wanted. ‘Why I am I telling you all this? Know what you want, stick to it,’ Bbosa said, his closing remarks met with applause from the teenagers who come from equally humble backgrounds. ‘It was by God’s Grace that I got these opportunities, even though it was through a long route.’

How to get there

Derrick Murungi, a Senior Six student studying Physics, Art and Mathematics, asked whether all the courses on the scholarship scheme are engineering courses.

Perhaps he was asking on behalf of his colleagues like Sophia Nantongo, who already has a certificate in computer applications but dreams of advancing in IT.

‘No, there’s a variety of courses,’ Isaiah Masiga, the GKS Alumni chairman, clarified by mentioning some Ugandans who studied nuclear physics in Korea.

From 2009 to 2014, Masiga studied a Master’s in International Development at Korea University. He understands Bbosa’s predicament but allayed the students’ fears by revealing that some universities mix English and Korean.

Muhammad Wandera, a Senior Six student doing Physics, Economics and Maths, wanted to know the basic requirements for application. Seunghee Yi, who was on his last field assignment as in-charge of cultural and corporate affairs at the Korean Embassy in Uganda, emphasised that sciences are a priority. A postgraduate applicant needs to have First class degree or Second class upper while undergraduates need a first grade or a good second grade. Steven Mugera, who studied global studies and social sciences at Pusan National University from 2013 and 2017, added that self-introduction, study plan, sports certificate and recommendation are key in one’s application. The project coordinator with Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) is also proud of how his fluency in Korean language has opened for him countless doors.

Pre-empting cultural shock

Rashid Mutyaba, a History and Religious Studies teacher, who attended the career guidance class, asked about xenophobia and culture shocks Ugandan students may encounter in Korea. ‘Can I find God in Korea? He asked, further alluding to religious freedoms. ‘Are there mosques and churches for the major religious denominations because we usually hear Buddha in Korea and most Asian countries?’ Masiga assured him there are many mosques and churches in Korea. ‘The Global Korean Scholarship isn’t just for Ugandan students. It’s for all countries. You will find students from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Europe, America, and the environment allows them to express their religious freedoms.’ Just last year, the scholarship admitted 2200 students from 142 countries including United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom and USA.

About 51 percent of the Korean population identifies with no religion. But Christianity forms 31 percent while the Muslim population is about 200,000 with about 80 percent foreigners, according to the Korea Muslim Federation. The Muslim community is more concentrated in Seoul and Busan. Regarding xenophobia-the hatred for foreigners-Masiga recalled the days he studied in Korea in 2009. ‘By then there were very few blacks in Korea and the Korean people knew little about Africa. In fact, most thought Africa was one country. Others knew only about Kenya and South Africa. ‘So, you couldn’t blame them if they found your colour strange. Just like we looked at bazungu with a strange eye when we were children.

Unique opportunity

The cohort comprised the best two students in each class, except Senior Four which had four representatives. ‘We share our experiences and offer this guidance to help the students focus on their education and show them the opportunities available in the GKS programme before they choose which one to try,’ Masiga told us. Moses Katende, the director of studies, lauded the initiative as a unique opportunity. ‘This is the first of the many engagements that links our students to scholarships moreover global scholarships,’ Katende said.

He said the programme boosted the ghetto children’s ambition for greater things and enlightened them about making informed career choices earlier. ‘I only pray that the entry standards are considerate of the unique challenges our underprivileged learners face.’ Those challenges include inadequate resources, distractions, among others. ‘If a child from Mulago High School scores 17 points, he is as good as the one in elite schools who scored 20. So, we pray that the criteria considers that.’ Masiga cited the possibility of participating in various online Korean educational programmes at Makerere University. Plus the Korean corner at Makerere, where Ugandans learn basic to advanced Korean language.

As head of internal employment at the Ministry Of Labour, Gender and Social Development, he told the class: work hard, prioritise time, and choose people who add value to you. ‘The Koreans say, pali pali (hurry, hurry!). Be good time managers. As you waste time, children in Korea, China are manufacturing. If you don’t produce, others will produce and sell to you at a price they prefer. Uganda has a very young population. Be creative, be competitive.’

The fallout from Umeme’s exit continues to unravel with simmering fights between the country’s electricity sub-sector regulator, Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERA), and the distributor, Uganda Electricity Company Limited (UEDCL). The tussle centres on the recurring power outages.

ERA faults UEDCL for what they call inefficiency, starting with the questionable absorbing of former Umeme staff, during which experienced network operators were reportedly sidelined in favour of inexperienced new employers.

The regulator, according to insiders, also argues that Umeme usually received annual investment approvals between Shs137b and Shs172b, while UEDCL upon taking over the network in April was allocated Shs251b for their first year operations but are fumbling.

In addition, ERA also raises queries over the Shs10b UEDCL received annually from the Umeme concession for asset management, which they argue should have been used partly for network rehabilitation.

On the other hand, multiple accounts indicate UEDCL accuses ERA of ‘either covering up’ the derelictions or ‘sleeping’ on its inspector function, including failing to meticulously diagnose the network at least during the last three years, which technical derelictions have had a burgeon effect on the system load. Amid the several planned investments and reforms, some power industry players say ‘unless the regulator evolves into a more strategic, transparent, and accountable body’ the country risks repeating the same cycle of crisis and repair. ‘The lights may be on, but without real regulatory accountability, public trust remains dim,’ one official argued. A case in point is the Namugongo substation in Kira Town Council mooted in 2015 to serve the then growing hamlets of Kira, Namugongo, Kyaliwajala, Buwate, Sonde, Kasangati, among others.

At least Shs14b was reportedly spent on the 200MW Namugongo-Nakwero 11 kiloVolt feeder line with capacity to serve at least 50,000 customers. However, officials learnt only recently that the substation has a capacity of 100MW. With the extensiveness of developments in Kira Town Council, power has to be rationed across emerging areas of Mulawa, Nabusugwe, Nakwero, Bulindo. ERA argued that 200MW ‘could have been a general projection’ of demand in the area but not necessarily the capacity that was installed. Last Thursday, ERA officials launched a nationwide inspection of electricity infrastructure following complaints about unreliable power supply. The officials started at the Entebbe substation with installed capacity of 80 mega volt-amperes (MVA).

It then emerged the substation is idle as there is no accompanying evacuation line supposed to be constructed by UEDCL.

However, UEDCL argues that the investment for the evacuation line by Umeme was reportedly disallowed by ERA. Other substations said to be under overstrained include Namugoona, installed in 1994 and serves areas including Namungoona, Nansana, Kigobe, Lubya Hill, Natalia Stage, Lugala, Kosovo, Masanafu, Kaye Zone, Namungoona; Mutundwe substation, installed in 1993, and serves Rubaga Division and Kibuye; and, the Waligo substation, installed in 2012, and serves areas such as Luteete, Kyanja, Kitetikka, Mpererwe and Kanyanya.

The UEDCL’s Head of Corporate and Stakeholder Affairs, Mr Jonan Kizza, last evening declined to publicly discuss internal disagreements, but underlined that the Umeme-UEDCL transition is not a single-day event as is assumed. ERA’s Director for Corporate and Consumer Affairs, Mr Julius Wandera, said: ‘The sector must synergise, pick up the lessons and work towards consumer satisfaction.’

In a July 2024 report on the state of the distribution network, UEDCL flagged defects within the distribution network, fleet and land-related facilities amounting to $85m (Shs292.4b), aggravated by non-compliance and delayed identification of deficiencies which hindered timely remediation efforts.

‘It is recommended that an equivalent amount be provided for to address these gaps before the retransfer date,’ the report read in part.

It remains unclear on who was supposed to act on the findings. UEDCL, as the network owners, point to ERA, while ERA say their intervention was limited by concession and contractual provisions. In simple terms, following the enactment of the Landlord and Tenancy Act in 2022, many landlords lately require a security deposit from new tenants, which is a refundable sum of money, intended to cover potential damages to the property beyond normal wear and tear. Would the $85m (about Shs293.8b) be lessened from Umeme’s buyout amount?

Officials say it is complicated as the odds on the buyout clause, for which government negotiators of the concession even waived the country’s sovereign immunity and jurisdictions over its current and future assets in any part of the world save for its aircraft, naval vessels and other defence-related assets or assets protected by the Diplomatic and Consular privileges, were against Uganda.

At departure Umeme even had a Shs500b debt to Uganda Electricity Transmission Company Limited (UETCL), which insiders say the company is playing hard ball to pay.

Umeme initially claimed 234.7m (Shs856b) as the buyout subject to the Lease and Assignment Agreement (LAA) first entered with the government and on May 17, 2004 (and amended in 2005). A final audit put the buyout amount at $201m (Shs736b), exclusive of applicable taxes. This has since increased to Shs1 trillion.

The Attorney General’s office has since taken over negotiations of the buyout. However, there are key concerns that some government officials are majority individual shareholders in Umeme, which could impair their judgement in the divorce settlement.

The disdain among power sector executives is mutual. This, amid reports of some officials already capitalising on the prevailing mess in distribution to shop around for a private company for coupling with UEDCL in the interim. The finger pointing has sucked in the Uganda Electricity Transmission Company Limited (UETCL) for non-investment in key infrastructure to alleviate the system overload.

However, UETCL’s Manager for PR, Mr Muhammad Lubogo, distanced the company from the UEDCL-ERA entanglement saying their ‘only unavailability is mainly due to planned system shutdowns required for ongoing projects such as the Kampala Metropolitan System Improvement Project scheduled for completion in 2026.

‘In the recent days, there have been very few isolated UETCL-related outages incidents reported, like when the Kawaala mobile substation transformer protection was unstable.

But this has since been stabilised,’ Mr Lubogo said last evening. Officially, according to multiple sources, there is consensus among the power sector players-from the parent Ministry of Energy to UEDCL to UETCL, the bulk power transmitter, and ERA-that the crisis, since mid-April, is a result of system overload worsened by Umeme’s non-investment in the key infrastructure since late 2022 when they were officially notified about non-renewal of their concession when it expired on March 31, 2025.

Upon inheriting the network, comprising 60 distribution substations, 15 switching stations, 18,756.03km of medium voltage lines, 32,794.08km of low voltage lines and 19,319 distribution transformers, on April 1, UEDCL went on a connection spree, bringing the rickety system to a grinding halt.

The UEDCL Managing Director, Mr Paul Mwesigwa, told the State House Investors’ Protection Unit weekly meeting on September 16 that they had grown connections from 1.7 million in April to 2.4 million currently, while energy losses had been cut down from 19.1 percent to a low of 16.8 percent.

While the notification of Umeme to cease investment in line with the LAA was meant to keep the buyout amount in check, according to accounts, it appears as though UEDCL ‘sleep walked’ into taking over an unstable system.

Sources said during a Ministry of Energy top management meeting, attended by all the power sector players, a fortnight ago, the Energy Minister Ruth Nakanbirwa expressed disbelief about the messy state of affairs. The ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Ms Irene Bateebe, last evening said a number of internal discussions have been held to the effect.

‘We are supporting UEDCL in its urgent procurements to address the overloaded transformers and substations. We are doing this jointly with ERA and UEDCL,’ she said.

Meanwhile, UEDCL’s cocktail of challenges include managing some 2,400 former Umeme employees, some of whom, according to insiders, have been accused of sabotage owing to embitterment from the movement from the private sector to the public sector.

UEDCL’s Kizza said they don’t have a clear reason to instigate an audit into the claims of sabotage.

‘We keep hearing those things from the public, but naturally one has to understand and appreciate the dynamics of a transition. You are talking of 2,400 employees we absorbed. Initially, there was the fight for jobs, but that is no longer the case as they were absorbed. Now you have to deal with managing expectations,’ he said.

He added: ‘On the other hand you have to appreciate that the network doesn’t break down at once; it is a gradual process, and coupled with non-investment for almost three years, which symptoms are manifesting now. For instance 75 percent of transformers across the country don’t have protectors, and as soon as we started scaling up connections they started blowing up. It is an issue that is blamed on us now, and yet it has been there. ‘

In the 1980s and 1990s, Ugandan primary schools buzzed with creativity. Art corners brimmed with colourful paintings, children moulded clay pots with muddy hands, and walls were proudly plastered with woven mats and drawings.

Today, these once vibrant spaces have all but disappeared, replaced by chalk-filled drills and rote memorisation. Arts and crafts, once a cornerstone of the primary school curriculum, is slowly fading from Uganda’s education landscape.

At Kamonkoli Mixed Primary School in Budaka District, what was once an art room is now an empty corner. ‘We don’t have the materials, and most of the time is spent on subjects that will be examined,’ said Mr Fred Muduka, the head teacher.

‘These subjects are still in existence, but not much effort is put into them because they are not examinable. Teachers tend not to concentrate on these activities,’ he added.

Mr Muduka further explained that many of the raw materials previously used for these activities are now hard to come by.

‘The materials are too scarce. This makes the activity more complicated due to lack of materials,’ he said.

‘Dry banana fibres are no longer available, because even banana plantations have disappeared. The same goes for sisal, it is just history now, and reeds are quite scarce and expensive.’ Mr Dickson Njaye, a primary teacher, said arts and crafts is now viewed as a luxury. ‘Unlike before, most of the schools are slowly abandoning art and crafts,’ he said.

Exams first, everything else later

Teachers, educationists, and parents alike point to Uganda’s exam-oriented system as the main culprit. The Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE) assess only Mathematics, Social Studies, Science, and English. Arts, crafts, music, and drama, though technically part of the curriculum, carry no examination weight.

‘When something is not in PLE, schools treat it as less important,’ said Mr Eriya Poli, head teacher of Budaka Helper Project Primary School. ‘Parents also pressure schools to prioritise what will bring results in exams, so teachers quietly push art and crafts aside.’

Even passionate teachers are hindered by tight budgets. Universal Primary Education (UPE) grants come with stringent conditions, and funding often falls short for non-core activities. ‘Materials such as clay, beads, or weaving reeds cost money,’ said Mr Njaye of Kamonkoli Mixed Primary School. ‘When the UPE capitation grant is released, there are so many competing needs. Buying art materials is the last thing on the list.’

Cultural shift and parental pressure

In today’s economy, where formal employment is highly sought after, creative skills are undervalued. Many parents discourage children from spending time on art-related activities.

‘My father used to beat me for sketching cartoons in my books,’ recalls 30-year-old Moses Wabwire, who struggled to pursue Fine Art in secondary school.

‘Parents don’t treat art as a career. It’s just play.’ ‘This perception has trickled down into classrooms, where children themselves view art and crafts as ‘less serious’,’ he added.

Lack of training, overcrowded classes

Experts also point to inadequate teacher training in creative subjects. ‘We were only taught the basics during teacher training,’ said a teacher from Budaka Primary School.

‘Without passion, most teachers just ignore it.’ Large class sizes also make it difficult to carry out art and crafts, which require hands-on supervision. The decline of creative subjects, educators warn, is a threat to innovation. ‘Creativity is not just for artists, it is essential for doctors and leaders,’ one expert noted.

‘By sidelining arts, we are raising children who may pass exams but struggle to innovate.’

Still, some students continue to hold on to their creative dreams. ‘I love drawing flowers,’ a student said.

‘One day, I want to be an artist.’ The competence-based curriculum for secondary schools has sparked calls to apply a similar model at the primary level, giving weight to creativity and life skills.

In Kibuku District, the inspector of schools, Ms Leticia Nabirye, confirmed that art and crafts is still on the timetable, usually between 3pm and 4pm but poorly implemented.

‘These activities are meant to be done, but our teachers have developed a negative attitude. They think learners should be in class all the time,’ Ms Nabirye said.

‘The innovations by the Education ministry often have good intentions. We need to re-awaken the system. Thanks to some schools such as Nabiswa that are still practising them.’

She urged schools to use locally available materials to teach skills. ‘We should not build that negative attitude that there are no raw materials.

As a district, we intend to hold showcase competitions to identify talents,’ she said. She also challenged head teachers to embrace these activities, as they build practical future life skills.

The Mutesa II Stadium at Wankulukuku thrummed with anticipation, the air electric, the stands a sea of red.

A teenage Phillip Obwin, then a Kibuli SS student in 1993, was about to become theirs – a Red Eagle of Express, little knowing he’d one day don Villa’s blue, igniting passions and defying norms.

His boots, barely worn, carried the dreams of a boy from Buganda Road Flats.

This was no ordinary arrival. It marked the start of a career that wove through Express, SC Villa, URA, Nalubaale, and the Uganda Cranes, leaving a legacy of triumphs, controversies, and quiet resilience.

Decades later in a Kampala studio, Obwin sat across from me, Villa badge on his chest, voice steady but heavy with nostalgia.

This was The Game of Life – and ‘Phillo’, ‘Capi’, ‘Bollie’ unraveled a story of sacrifice, duty, and the dignity of work.

A rivalry’s reluctant renegade

Kampala, 1996: the city teetered on the edge of a football ‘world war.’ Obwin, Express’ most dependable defender, had chosen to cross to SC Villa, his boyhood love.

From then on, the Red Eagles faithful, scarves aloft, branded him a traitor, their chants of ‘Judas!’ echoing through Wankulukuku, Nakivubo and the Masaka Recreational Ground stands.

The blue end, in contrast, sang his name, hailing their returning son. ‘Villa was home, where my heart lay,’ Obwin told me, clad in Villa’s blue, voice steady.

But the move was a saga of defiance and division. Express officials, citing local football rules, blocked the transfer after Obwin’s starring role in their 1995 league and cup double.

For six months, he trained with Villa, refusing to play for Express, his resolve as unyielding as his tackles.

‘It never crossed my mind to leave Express,’ he convinced, ‘until Hajji Omar Ahmed Mandela said, ‘You boy, I want you. Are you ready to come and play for us?’ I said yes.’

Negotiations faltered, Express clinging to their star man, Villa demanding their prize.

Pubs from Wankulukuku to the city centre buzzed with heated arguments. Some called Obwin a mercenary, others a dreamer chasing his roots.

As a Cranes mainstay, his absence risked national team harmony, forcing Fufa to intervene.

After tense talks, Express relented, accepting Villa’s Shs6m offer – a decent fee then, given the circumstances.

Obwin was free, but the city’s divide deepened, Villa Park’s blue flags clashing with Express’s red fury.

In the derby matches between the two sides, every Obwin tackle drew the Red Eagles roar of fury, but once in a while a fan’s cry – ‘You were ours, Bollie!’- cut through the noise, a reminder of the bridges burned.

‘I’d served Express well,’ he said, unapologetic. ‘I won titles. It was time to experience Villa.’

As a child in Buganda Road Flats, Obwin had sneaked into Nakivubo to worship Villa’s giants – Ronald Vvubya, Magid Musisi, Paul Hasule.

‘I supported Villa from primary school,’ he said, eyes alight. In S1 at Old Kampala, coach Stephen ‘Jesus’ Mulinde spotted his talent.

‘He said, ‘You’re coming to Villa,” Obwin recalled. ‘I was terrified – a barefoot kid, playing with those legends? I refused.’

Fate pivoted in S5 at Kibuli SS. Mulinde asked why he’d shunned Villa. ‘I was afraid,’ Obwin admitted. ‘He said, ‘Now I’m taking you to Express FC’. I said yes.’

In 1993, under David Otti, Obwin joined Express, arriving about the same time as Edward Kalungi and Joseph Mutyaba.

He joined stars like Isaac Nkaada and George Ssimwogerere, who embraced him.

Obwin recalls with pride facing and containing KCCA’s Sam Simba in his early days at Express. ‘I was a kid, but I remember we won that game 1-0.”

By 1995, he’d won the league in his first season with Express, a Uganda Cup, and then a League and Cup double, reaching the Caf Champions League semi-finals, only to fall to Orlando Pirates.

‘We lost 1-0 in South Africa, drew 1-1 at home,’ he recalled. ‘Nakivubo was packed and we were winning with just a few minutes left.

‘But Gavin Lane’s header slipped through Abu Kigenyi’s legs. We thought he had handled the ball, but the ball was in the net.’

In 1998 after two years away, Express lured him back from Villa thanks to the Red Eagles rather controversial and influential manager Kassim Buyondo.

‘They wanted me,’ Obwin said. ‘Buyondo laid out the offer, and I returned.’ The Red Eagles faithful forgave him, but in 2001, Villa called again, under Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic.

‘Hajji Mandela came back,’ he laughed. ‘I didn’t negotiate much. I decided.’ These back-to-back switches – Express to Villa, back to Express, then Villa again – set Kampala’s football culture alight.

As Villa launched Micho’s four-in-a-row title winning reign, the love-hate relationship between the two clubs only intensified, always sparking wild cheers from the blue stands and jeers from Express’s red wall.

Roots and resilience

Obwin grew up in Buganda Road Flats, where the ground where Kisozi House sits was his playground.

With three brothers and a sister, football was life. ‘We played barefoot, for fun,’ said the Shimoni Demonstration School pupil at the time, conjuring dusty pitches and laughter.

His father, a civil servant, and mother, a housewife, kept the family grounded, but tragedy struck early.

Obwin’s mother passed away when he was young, followed by his father during his A-levels at Kibuli SS.

‘I was in Sudan with Express, my first trip abroad, when dad died,’ he said, voice softening. ‘It was my first flight. I came back to the burial.’

Orphaned, Obwin became a father figure to his sister. The family had to leave the flats after his father’s death.

Express chairman at the time, Hassan Bulwadda, had offered him a house in Muyenga, but his siblings scattered – his sister going back to Kayunga, their parents’ village home, his brothers to friends’ homes.

‘I had to bring her back,’ he said. ‘A fan, a married man I trusted, housed her. I paid her fees while playing.’

His sister, now married with a family, calls him ‘Dad,’ a testament to his sacrifice. ‘She knows what I did,’ he said, pride in his eyes.

This duty shaped his choices. In 1995, a Nairobi-based football agent arranged trials at Portsmouth in the UK for Obwin and Fred Tamale.

‘Express was playing the Hedex Cup, and officials didn’t want us to go,’ he recalled.

‘The agent said, ‘They won’t wait. You’re not a known player.’ So I disappeared.’

Obwin stayed a week in Nairobi, then flew to England – with Tamale arriving way later, only for both to miss Portsmouth’s pre-season.

‘We trained for three days,’ he said. ‘They said, ‘We’ll contact you’ – a polite way of saying they wouldn’t take us. It was a punishment for arriving late.’

A later offer from a Turkish club faltered over Express’s high transfer fee. ‘If they’d asked for less, maybe I’d have made the move,’ he mused.

A former teammate urged him to remain in the UK, but he returned for his sister. ‘I promised to be there for her, to pay her fees,’ he said. Duty trumped ambition.

Glory days and controversies

At Express, Obwin won a league in his first season (1993), Uganda Cup (1994), and the league and cup double (1995).

They even reached the Caf Champions League semi-finals, falling narrowly to eventual winners Orlando Pirates.

At Villa under Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic, he won a Uganda Cup and four consecutive league titles from 2001 to 2004. ‘Micho brought systems,’ Obwin said. ‘He taught us formations, how to think faster.’

But his name is also tied to the infamous 22-1 demolition of Akol FC in 2003. Allegations of match-fixing have never gone away.

‘Akol was weak,’ Obwin said, guarded. ‘They barely fielded 11 players. We were flying.’ He himself scored in that rout.

Although the result was later nullified, it was still in Villa’s favour as some of only nine Akol players that turned up for the beating were unregistered.

Cranes highs and unfulfilled promise

A versatile defender, Obwin captained every club he played for – and the Cranes.

‘I was never a substitute unless injured or carded,’ he said. His finest moment came in 2002, scoring the winner against Ghana at Namboole in a 2004 Afcon qualifier.

‘Beating a team of stars like Stephen Appiah and Sammy Kuffour felt good.’

Yet Nations Cup qualification eluded him. ‘We had talent,’ he said, ‘but the organisation was awful.’

From sleeping on carpets before losing 6-0 to Tunisia to the chaotic 2003 ‘juju’ clash with Rwanda, Uganda repeatedly fell short. Cecafa titles in 1996 and 2000 offered some consolation.

The final chapters

At URA, Obwin won the Uganda Cup (2005) and two league titles (2006, 2007). In 2008, Nalubaale offered a life-changing sign-on fee.

‘That money bought six acres in Bombo, built my house, started rentals,’ he said. But the club collapsed soon after.

He returned to Express for the last dance in 2010, but unpaid wages and family responsibilities pushed him into retirement that same year.

Life after football

Obwin invested wisely but insists he must keep working. Today, he is a distribution assistant at Nation Media Group (NMG).

‘Some say it’s not a job for a Cranes captain,’ he shrugged. ‘But no job is less. The maid, the driver, the digger – they’re all important.’

His children are his drive. Two attend King’s College Budo and Nabisunsa, others are in primary school. ‘That’s why I continue working,’ he said.

The quiet gentleman

For all his achievements, Obwin wears humility like a second skin. At NMG, some colleagues were shocked to discover the driver among them was the former Cranes captain.

On the streets, fans call out his name. ‘It’s awkward,’ he admitted. ‘They know your name, but you don’t know theirs. You smile, pretend you do.’

His lesson to the next generation? ‘Tell your truth. Your story might inspire someone.’

Phillip Obwin’s story is not just about football, but resilience, duty, and the dignity of work. Catch Obwin’s full story on The Game Of Life with this writer on YouTube.

Fact file

Full name: Phillip Obwin

Nicknames: Phillo, Capi, Bollie

Age: 49

Express FC: 1993-1996; 1998-2000; 2010

– Titles: League (1993); Uganda Cup (1994); League and Cup double (1995)

– Caf Champions League semi-finalist (1995, lost to Orlando Pirates).

SC Villa: 1996-1998; 2001-2004

– Titles: Multiple league titles (four-in-a-row 2001-2004 under Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic); Uganda Cup

URA FC: 2005-2008

– Titles: Uganda Cup (2005); League (2006, 2007).

Nalubaale FC: 2008-2009

– Notes: Life-changing sign-on fee funded Bombo investments; left after owner vanished, player strike

International Career: Uganda Cranes (1994-2004)

– Key Highlights: Scored winner in 1-0 victory over Ghana in 2002 (2004 Afcon qualifier, Namboole)

– Won Cecafa titles (1996, 2000)

The Acholi Paramount Chief, Rwot David Onen Acana II, has raised concerns that escalating land conflicts in the formerly war-affected sub-region are undermining efforts to restore its degraded forest cover.

Earlier this month, the Acholi Cultural Institution partnered with the Uganda National Oil Company (Unoc) to plant 40 million trees across the region, aiming to replace those lost to commercial timber and charcoal activities.

However, Rwot Acana warns that the initiative is at risk due to ongoing land disputes. He attributed the tensions to post-war trauma, land fragmentation, and unresolved ownership issues following the decades-long Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) insurgency.

‘All 57 chiefdoms will receive free tree seedlings to help replenish our forests,’ he said.

Rwot Acana added: ‘But for years, people have cut down trees for timber and charcoal without replanting. Now the land is bare, and restoring it won’t be easy.’ He emphasised that land disputes, particularly those stemming from communal ownership, remain a major barrier. ‘Only about four percent of men are willing to share land with their wives,’ he noted.

‘This poses a challenge for women who want to plant trees but lack control over land use.’

He also cited reluctance from clan leaders to allow communal land to be used for agroforestry, especially by women and youth.

‘The communal land tenure system makes it difficult for younger generations to engage in tree planting, often leading to more conflict,’ he said.

Mr Michael Tebere, director of Kijani Agroforestry, said the mindset of clan elders can be shifted through sensitisation. ‘Trees provide food and income. Within five years, fruit trees can begin generating income for families and help fight poverty,’ said Mr Tebere.

‘Once elders see these benefits, they may be more willing to support agroforestry.’

According to local authorities, over 100,000 hectares of forest have been cleared in the Acholi sub-region over the past six years for timber and charcoal production.

In May, President Museveni imposed a nationwide ban on commercial charcoal production in the north, east, and West Nile regions, his second executive order in two years aimed at protecting natural forests from destruction.

Uganda’s Electoral Commission (EC) has defended its decision to uphold local tribunals’ recommendations to block three women seeking to unseat Bukedea Woman MP, Annet Anita Among, who also acts as the Speaker of the country’s 11th Parliament.

In an affidavit filed before the High Court in Kampala, the commission headed by Justice Simon Byabakama, through its Acting Secretary, Mr Richard Kamugisha Baabo, said it had reviewed complaints against Ms Norma Susan Otai of Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), Marion Alupo Mercy of National Unity Platform (NUP), and Hellen Akol Odeke (Independent) and verified that parish tribunals acted within the law when recommending their deletion from the EC’s register following a petition by one of the residents who claimed they were not registered voters of the area they sought to represent in the 12th Parliament.

The case was filed by one of Bukedea District residents, Zipporah Akol, who sought to block the nomination of the three women challenging Ms Among of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) headed by President Museveni, 81, who has been in power for four decades and seeking re-election in the 2026 polls.

Justice Simon Peter Kinobe, who was assigned to hear the case set October 27, 2025, when he will deliver his ruling.

Uganda’s electoral body said it rolled out its 2025/26 General Election roadmap earlier this year, including guidelines on updating and verifying the National Voters Register.

‘The Commission rolled out its election roadmap to the country detailing all segments of the 2025/26 general elections processes through electronic and print media,’ Mr Baabo stated.

Mr Baabo further stated that between January 20 and February 17, 2025, the Commission conducted a nationwide update exercise to allow voters to register, verify, or transfer their voting particulars.

‘During this period, any person who wished to vote in a parish other than where they were previously registered could apply to transfer their registration,’ the affidavit reads.

The updated register was later displayed for public scrutiny, with a 21-day window for objections from stakeholders.

‘A period of 21 days was appointed in which copies of the voters roll for each parish were displayed to afford an opportunity to raise objections on the registration status of any voter,’ the affidavit notes.

Following the display exercise, parish tribunals in Bukedea recommended deleting Otai, Alupo, and Odeke on grounds of origin and residence.

‘The Commission, upon receiving returns from the Returning Officer of Bukedea, established that the parish tribunal recommended the deletion of the three respondents on account of origin and residence,’ Mr Baabo said.

Tribunal forms show the objections were filed during the May 2025 display period and confirmed by parish council chairpersons.

‘The EC invited the three aspirants to a review meeting on October 2, 2025. The Commission invited the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd respondents to a meeting at its boardroom to attend review proceedings arising out of the decisions of the parish tribunals recommending their deletion,’ Mr Baabo stated.

Adding..’The Commission heard all the parties during the review proceedings, and each was given an opportunity to challenge the recommendations of the parish tribunals. Hellen Odeke formally withdrew from the review, saying she did not wish to challenge the tribunal’s decision’ the affidavit continues.

Mr Baabo states that after review, the EC concluded no contrary evidence had been presented and noted that the respondents were given 10 days of natural justice under the law to challenge the recommendations to the tribunal and therefore the right to a fair hearing was available but not utilized.

‘Upon review, the Commission established that no evidence was lodged with the tribunals to challenge their decisions recommending deletion of the respondents. The Commission, therefore, upheld the decisions of the parish tribunals based on the evidence adduced by the parties,’ he added.

Copies of the aspirants’ registration details attached to the affidavit confirm that their names have been removed from the rolls.

Akol’s petition argues that the Commission failed to implement the tribunal decisions and that the three aspirants were still allowed to campaign.

The EC maintains it acted within its constitutional and statutory mandate. ‘The Commission exercised its powers under Section 20 and 26 of the Electoral Commission Act to manage the voters register and address all complaints raised during the display exercise,’ Baabo affirmed.

Justice Kinobe has directed all parties to complete submissions ahead of the October 27 ruling, which will determine whether the three women can proceed to nomination for the Bukedea District Woman MP seat.