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Whenever universities in Uganda prepare for their intakes, financing higher education remains a significant challenge for many students. The cost of tuition, accommodation, and related expenses often exceeds what students and their families can afford. Fortunately, various financing options are available, including government-backed loans, scholarships, bank loans, and insurance policies.

Higher Education Students’ Financing Board (HESFB)

The Ugandan government established the Higher Education Students’ Financing Board (HESFB) to assist students unable to afford higher education. HESFB offers study loans for undergraduate and diploma courses at recognised institutions, covering tuition, functional fees, and upkeep stipends. To qualify, applicants must be Ugandan citizens, admitted to accredited institutions, and enrolled in priority programmes such as STEM fields. The application process involves completing an online or physical form and submitting documents such as admission letters and national identification. Selection is competitive, based on financial need, academic performance, and priority courses.

Beneficiaries sign contracts outlining repayment terms, starting one year after graduation. Dr Denis Mugimba, spokesperson at the Ministry of Education and Sports, says students have a grace period of twice their study duration plus one year for repayment. ‘If a student is studying medicine for five years, then the grace period is five times two, plus one year. This is equivalent to 11 years,’ he explains. Asked how they ensure compliance, Dr Mugimba says, ‘The data is shared with the Credit Reference Bureau (CRB). When there is non-payment, the defaulter will find it hard to ever borrow from any other financial institution in Uganda.’

Bank loan programmes

Several commercial banks in Uganda, including Centenary Bank, Stanbic Bank, and DfCU Bank, offer student loans requiring a guarantor, usually a parent or guardian. These loans cover tuition and other expenses, with varying interest rates and repayment terms. Students must provide proof of admission and, in some cases, collateral. Unlike government loans, bank loans may require immediate repayment, making them more suitable for families with steady incomes.

Scholarships

Scholarships are vital for academically gifted yet financially disadvantaged students. The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Programme supports bright, economically challenged students by covering tuition, accommodation, and personal expenses alongside leadership mentorship and training. Bernard Buteera, communication and web officer at Makerere University, notes, ‘Selection is highly competitive, and candidates must demonstrate academic excellence, leadership potential, and a commitment to giving back to their communities.’

Other notable scholarships include the Madhvani Foundation Scholarship, which targets students in specific disciplines, and programmes from the Chinese Embassy in Uganda and Chevening and Commonwealth Scholarships for Master’s degrees in the UK. However, Buteera highlights challenges, stating, ‘We select the neediest from the needier,’ and warns against forgery, urging applicants to use legitimate documents.

Education insurance policies

Education insurance policies provide a proactive approach to financing higher education, allowing parents to save systematically. Camila Mindru, marketing and communications manager at Jubilee Life Insurance Company, says ‘The policy helps parents plan early and cumulatively save for six or more years, depending on the agreement. These savings come with bonuses and once the policy matures, we pay them the lump sum. We also have an income drawdown policy where the parent can order that we pay a certain amount of money to the education institution periodically.’

To enrol in an education insurance scheme, parents select a suitable plan based on their financial capacity and expected future education costs. The insurance provider then invests the contributions, ensuring the policyholder receives a return on investment upon maturity. This financing option provides security and financial stability, reducing dependence on loans and external funding sources. She adds, ‘Our education plan comes with a life cover insurance policy. In case a parent passes away, we are to fulfil the obligation of paying for that child.’

Government sponsorship

The government sponsors about 4,000 students annually through various schemes, including the National Merit Scheme for top performers, the District Quota Scheme for regional representation, and support for sports and special needs students. Affirmative action policies, such as adding 1.5 points to female students’ admission scores, aim to increase female enrolment. Makerere University offers tuition waivers for girls under affirmative action, while the revised national policy on persons with disabilities promotes inclusion in education.

The challenge

Despite these options, access to student loans is limited by strict eligibility requirements and funding constraints. Many deserving students fail to secure scholarships due to competition, and bank loans are often inaccessible for low-income families. Also, education insurance requires long-term financial commitment, which can be challenging for families with irregular incomes.

The political temperature is rising as the country prepares for the 2026 election. Citizens are keenly observing the political goings-on. However, with this type of fervour comes the need to navigate potential challenges, including tensions and human rights concerns.

First and foremost, it is crucial to uphold our democratic rights: freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and the right to vote. We must always be vigilant against threats like misinformation, hate speech, unequal campaign opportunities, and voter intimidation. By collaborating with political actors, security agencies, media, and civil society, we can foster a peaceful electoral environment that respects every Ugandan’s dignity.

The Electoral Commission is currently updating the national voters’ register for Ugandans aged 18 and above. If you’ve registered before, take a moment to update your details at your local parish or ward. Being informed is equally vital. Understand political platforms, electoral timelines, and your constitutional rights. Engage in public debates, attend political meetings, and utilise the media and social media to discuss and scrutinise the policies of those who indicate interest in leading you.

Active citizenship means participating in peaceful public engagements, voicing concerns, proposing solutions, and advocating for accountability in public affairs. However, exercising these rights comes with responsibilities. Respect differing opinions, avoid inflammatory language, and uphold the rule of law. Our civic duty calls us to engage with leaders, monitor service delivery, and report any human rights infringements to the relevant authorities. Balanced engagement-firm yet respectful-strengthens Uganda’s democratic path. A pressing concern right now is the surge in hate speech and sectarian narratives on social media.

While the digital age offers a platform for free expression, it has also amplified harmful rhetoric that can erode social cohesion and incite violence. Abusive language and hate speech aren’t just impolite; they threaten the respect and equality that form the foundation of human rights. Young people, who make up the majority of the population, are among the most active on social media. It’s imperative to embrace responsible digital citizenship. Encouraging responsible digital citizenship should never be mistaken for suppressing the digital space.

Tech and social media platforms should strengthen mechanisms to identify and curb hateful or violent content. Upholding human rights online is as important as offline. Civic education and media literacy should be woven into day-to-day systems to help citizens discern fake news, appreciate diverse perspectives, and understand the costs of inflammatory language. The Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) holds the constitutional mandate to promote civic education and is doing what it can, despite limited resources.

Dialogue platforms-from neighbourhood forums and cultural and religious institutions to political debates-must promote courteous engagement. These channels can model debate styles that uphold dignity and encourage compromise rather than adversarial showdowns. In the digital realm, regulators and social media companies must enforce clear guidelines that penalise incitement. However, regulations must be balanced against the need to protect legitimate freedom of expression. Political and community leaders carry the onus to lead by example, using a language that reinforces national unity, mutual respect, and human rights principles. A healthy democracy relies on the principle that law enforcement agencies serve and protect citizens, while citizens, in turn, respect the rule of law. Mutual respect means the police, military, and other security organs must operate professionally, transparently, and accountably. In the same way, citizens must conduct themselves peacefully, respect public order, and follow lawful directives during protests, political activities, and daily interactions.

This balance underpins the realisation of rights such as freedom of assembly, freedom of expression, and the right to political participation. When security agencies overstep their mandate, citizens’ trust erodes, and human rights violations proliferate; when citizens refuse to respect legally sanctioned directives, public safety is compromised-and these scenarios are common during electoral periods worldwide.

As we approach the 2026 elections, let’s commit to upholding our rights and responsibilities. By fostering a culture of respect, accountability, and active participation, we can ensure a democratic process that truly reflects the will and dignity of Ugandans.

As Uganda joined the rest of the world in commemorating this year’s World Teachers’ Day, several teachers’ unions used the occasion to urge the government to prioritise improving teachers’ welfare and reform the country’s education system.

Mr Jackson Erima, the secretary general of the Uganda Liberal Teachers’ Union (ULITU), said low pay continues to frustrate teachers, forcing some to abandon their duties-an action he said unfairly disadvantages innocent learners.

‘I congratulate all the teaching fraternity upon reaching this day. Our biggest problem is the payment of our teachers, and it is worse among primary school teachers. A primary school teacher earns only Shs450,000 monthly, and yet the work is much. This should be increased to at least Shs1 million. We are appealing to the government to look into their welfare to ensure effective teaching and learning,’ Mr Erima said.

He noted that the ongoing teachers’ strike, led by the Uganda National Teachers’ Union (Unatu) over salary enhancement, has paralysed teaching and learning in most upcountry schools since the start of the third term-just as learners prepare for national and transitional examinations.

‘It is now over 20 days since this strike commenced on October 15, the day learners reported back for third term. We are getting stories that upcountry schools, especially the primary schools-99 percent of them-are not teaching. The students are not learning, yet they are going to sit for their finals. That is very unfortunate,’ he said.

He added: ‘What I agree with them is, yes, the pay is bad. But the timing of the strike was bad. These students are not learning, and some of them are going to do their final exams.’

According to the Uganda National Examinations Board (Uneb), Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) examinations will begin this week, with a briefing scheduled for October 10.

Mr Aron Mugaiga, the secretary general of the Uganda Professional Science Teachers’ Union (UPSTU), echoed Mr Erima’s concerns, emphasising that the government must commit to continuously improving the welfare of all teachers.

“As we commemorate Teachers’ Day, we call for continued commitment by government to improve teachers’ working conditions through enhancing wages of the remaining teachers whose salaries were not enhanced and building teachers’ houses to accommodate them near schools,” Mr Mugaiga said.

He also called for compensation for teachers and lab assistants who suffer laboratory accidents, and urged the recruitment of more teachers to reduce workloads-measures he said would significantly improve working conditions.

Mr Filbert Baguma, the general secretary of Unatu, said the strike remains in effect and that no amount of intimidation will deter their cause unless the government addresses their demand to increase arts teachers’ salaries by 300 percent, in line with their science counterparts.

Last week, the Public Service Minister, Mr Wilson Muruli Mukasa, issued a seven-day ultimatum for striking teachers to return to class, stating that the government had resolved to increase their pay by 25 percent in the next financial year-a proposal arts teachers continue to reject.

‘Of course, our teachers are at home, and being at home, they are simply communicating to governments and other stakeholders that they are disappointed by the way they have been treated,’ Mr Baguma said.

Currently, an arts teacher with a degree qualification earns a gross monthly salary of Shs1,078,162 and takes home Shs841,931, while their science counterpart earns Shs4 million gross and takes home Shs2,858,000.

An arts teacher with a diploma qualification earns Shs784,214 gross and takes home Shs639,108, compared to a science teacher who earns Shs2.2 million gross and takes home Shs1,616,000.

About World Teachers’ Day

World Teachers’ Day is celebrated annually on October 5 to honour the contributions of teachers. This year’s theme is: Recasting teaching as a collaborative effort.

When 22-year-old hairdresser Zahara Nyakaisiki stepped onto the Makerere University Business School (Mubs) grounds on Sunday morning, she was not only joining hundreds in the second edition of the CoRSU Walk-she was testifying to a second chance at life.

Ten years ago, Nyakaisiki developed what seemed like a harmless swelling. ‘It would disappear whenever I used herbs,’ she recalls. But one growth became aggressive, causing constant discomfort. Within two years, she faced a life-altering diagnosis: a tumour that required surgery she could not afford.

‘I’m full of mixed emotions,’ Nyakaisiki said, fighting back tears after completing the 5km walk. ‘I really want to thank, first of all, the Lord and secondly, CBM (Christian Blind Mission International). If it wasn’t for their intervention through CoRSU, I would never have had the surgery. I look like this today because of them.’

Nyakaisiki, who has already undergone two major operations valued at Shs9m, expects a third corrective surgery, to be supported by CoRSU partners. Her story was one of several testimonies shared at the charity event, where patients and their families spoke of pain turned into hope.

The mother of 12-year-old Joseph Tumusiime, a teenage boy who nearly lost his leg after a skating accident, also took to the podium.

‘At first we went everywhere-bone setters, Naguru Hospital, even herbalists-but Joseph only got worse. By the time we reached CoRSU, the infection had entered his bones. He spent two years out of school, but today he walks well because of their doctors. They never abandoned us,’ she recounted.

Walking for the disabled

The 5km and 10km walk attracted patients, medics, sports leaders, corporate sponsors and ordinary citizens. Brian Ategeka powered home first in the 10km race, followed by Herbert Asiku. In the 5km, Jovia Mundage edged out Sauda Kikuviire.

Irene Nakasiita, Uganda Red Cross’ Director of Communications, took part to highlight the struggles of children with disabilities.

‘As a parent of a child with a disability, I know the uphill battles. Today I walk not just for my child, but to call on my peers to support every Ugandan child to get the treatment they deserve,’ she said.

National Council of Sports (NCS) chairman Ambrose Tashobya, who joined the 5km route, donated Shs5m on behalf of NCS.

‘CoRSU is one of those institutions whose impact extends far beyond sports. They restore dignity and give people-athletes and non-athletes alike-a new lease on life. That is why we are proud to stand with them,’ he said.

Former health minister Capt. Mike Mukula, the chief walker, underscored the urgency of supporting CoRSU.

‘With boda-boda accidents alone claiming up to 160 lives every week, facilities like CoRSU are vital in saving people from life-changing disabilities,’ Mukula said, noting that CoRSU has performed 60,000 surgeries and over 100,000 rehabilitations since inception.

The CoRSU story

CoRSU CEO Robert Ochai reminded participants why the walk exists.

‘Back in 2005, children with disabilities were never given theatre time in major hospitals. CoRSU was born to change that. Today, 80% of our patients are disadvantaged children, and we treat all children under five for free. But we cannot do this without your support,’ he said.

Board chair Victor Odongo emphasized that CoRSU is a regional centre of excellence: ‘We serve Uganda and beyond-Sudan, Congo, Kenya, even Somalia. Our people don’t need to fly abroad for world-class surgery. It is here in Kisubi.’

This year’s fundraising target was Shs400m. The hospital’s annual budget is Shs20b, with Shs6b coming from donors.

Noah Kiyimba, Buganda Kingdom’s Minister for Lukiiko, Information; Cabinet Affairs, Protocol, called on the central government to set up a special disability fund and provide tax subsidies on medical services.

‘We must confront the misconceptions that disability is a curse. Every child deserves a chance,’ he said.

With all 2,000 kits sold out, organisers declared the second edition a resounding success. CoRSU board chair Odongo pledged that the run will remain an annual fixture.

‘Disability should not define a child. Every child should be given the opportunity to achieve their full potential in life. That is why we shall be back here in 2026, stronger and bigger,’ he said.

Sponsors of the 2025 walk included Fireworks Advertising, Mubs, Emka Foundation, Vivo Energy, Bank of Uganda, Crown Beverages, Nation Media Group, Rapid Advisory, UEDCL, Absa, National Drug Authority, Finn Church Aid, Pride Bank, Centenary Bank, Buganda Kingdom, Uganda Development Corporation and several individual well-wishers.

CoRSU by the Numbers

60,000+ surgeries performed since inception

100,000+ rehabilitations supported

80% of patients are disadvantaged children

Children under 5 years treated 100% free

2025 fundraising target: Shs400m

2,000 kits sold out at this year’s walk

The Uganda Cancer Institute (UCI) is on the verge of introducing Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) services, a life-changing medical intervention that promises to transform treatment for patients with certain cancers and blood disorders.

With this new service, UCI aims to bring advanced therapy closer to Ugandans, who for many years have had to travel abroad at great expense to access this vital treatment.

What is bone marrow transplant?

Bone Marrow Transplant, also known as Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant (HSCT), is a procedure in which healthy blood-forming stem cells are infused into a patient to replace diseased or damaged bone marrow.

The goal is to restore normal production of blood cells and rebuild a healthy immune system. This therapy is used for both cancerous and non-cancerous conditions, including leukaemia, lymphoma, aplastic anaemia, sickle cell anaemia, and other inherited blood disorders.

UCI has already begun preparing for BMT services, including installing infrastructure for a dedicated transplant unit. This unit will feature specially equipped rooms with isolation capabilities, high-efficiency air filters, controlled airflow, self-closing doors, and environmental controls to reduce the risk of infection.

The institute is also investing in the training of specialists in haematology, transplant medicine, nursing, and cellular therapy to ensure the programme is run safely and effectively.

Additionally, apheresis technology, used to collect certain blood components or stem cells, has already been introduced as part of the preparatory and donor process. Government support has been critical, providing resources for equipment, training, and facility preparation.

Benefits

Bone marrow transplant offers hope for potential cures and significant improvements in disease outcomes. For cancers such as leukaemia, high-dose chemotherapy or radiotherapy may eliminate many cancer cells, but residual disease often remains.

A transplant helps to ‘rescue’ the patient by replacing damaged bone marrow with healthy stem cells, offering the chance for long-term remission or even a cure. For genetic or blood disorders such as sickle cell anaemia, aplastic anaemia, or inherited immune deficiencies, a transplant replaces defective or failing marrow, potentially halting the disease process.

In some cases, it is the only curative option. BMT also reduces dependence on lifelong therapies such as transfusions, medications, and frequent hospital visits.

A successful transplant can minimise or eliminate the need for chronic treatments, improving quality of life while reducing long-term costs.

By providing this service locally, UCI and the government anticipate that many patients who would otherwise spend tens of thousands of US dollars for treatment abroad will save significant money and avoid the challenges of travel and accommodation.

What this means for Ugandans

For Ugandans, this development means local access to potentially life-saving care.

Patients with leukaemia, sickle cell disease, and other marrow-related illnesses will no longer have to leave the country to receive treatment. Earlier intervention, closer monitoring, and convenient follow-up care are expected to improve survival rates and enhance quality of life.

Conclusion

The introduction of bone marrow transplant services at UCI represents a major milestone in cancer care and blood disorder management in Uganda. For many patients, this therapy offers more than treatment; it offers hope for a cure. With strong government support, capacity building, and careful implementation, Ugandans may soon be able to access world-class, potentially curative transplant services within their own country.

Patients and families seeking more information are encouraged to contact the UCI’s haematology department and follow updates as UCI finalises the launch of the transplant programme.

While the laws are clear when it comes to Child Sexual Abuse (CSA), we can and should do better as a society to prevent this scourge. We have the knowledge and tools, and together we create a safer world for children.

The Uganda Children (Amendment) Act 2016 prohibits sexual exploitation: a person shall not engage a child in any work that exposes the child to activities of a sexual nature, whether paid or not. Sexual violence against children entails any sexual act with a child.

The World Health Organisation defines CSA as ‘the involvement of a child in sexual activity that he or she does not fully comprehend, is unable to give informed consent to, or for which the child is not developmentally prepared and cannot give consent, or that violates the laws or social taboos of society.’

Child sexual violence includes touching and non-touching behaviours, sexual harassment, sexual jokes and comments, exposure to pornography and defilement. It happens due to abuse of power by the perpetrators who are always in a position of power as adults are older than the victim.

Other contributing factors include economic poverty and family breakdown, access to the Internet etc. It is exacerbated by negative cultural social norms that expose children, especially girls, to abuse by normalising some forms of sexual abuse.

Our society, for example, defines how girls and women should conduct themselves, for instance how to dress, speak, where to go, and when, otherwise they would be inviting abuse.

These negative social norms lead to secondary victimisation for survivors of child sexual violence. Secondary victimisation comes in the form of disbelief, blame, and rejection from adults; children are labelled liars or manipulative by the very adults whose role is critical in their protection. How prevalent is this?

The Uganda annual police crime report revealed that in 2024 alone, 12,317 children under the age of 18 were defiled and of these, 12,009 were girls while 308 were boys. Moreover, 1,447 of these were between the age of zero and eight years and 2,515 were between nine and 14 years. In Uganda, defilement refers to act of sexual intercourse with a person below the age of 18, whether they consent or not.

The consequences of child sexual abuse are both short-term and long-term and range from social, emotional, cognitive, educational problems, low self-esteem, and self-harm, and may lead to suicide.

Many victims are too young or too vulnerable to disclose their experiences or to protect themselves. But who should take responsibility for child sexual abuse?

Adults have a responsibility to protect children from sexual abuse and hold perpetrators of child abuse accountable.

Empowerment strategies for children like age-appropriate information helps them to know what constitutes sexual violence, be able to testify in court, to name the act, to identify abuse, but this awareness has little impact on the prevention of CSA since they are often abused by adults.

The burden of protection should not be left to children. There is a need to provide teachers and adults with sufficient training to be able to prevent, report and manage sexual abuse in their schools and communities because sexual violence, like other forms of violence against children, thrives in an enabling culture. Our societal norms need to align with and be protective of children. This process must start early by working with parents, caregivers, and Early Childhood Development (ECD) practitioners to provide gender-responsive pedagogies and information from a young age.

Children should be taught about gender equality and the harms of gender-based discrimination early on. This helps them to be gender-sensitive and respectful from the beginning. We also need to ensure the materials we use are translated into local languages to cater for the entire community as well as cater for children with disability since vulnerability to child sexual abuse is compounded by physical disability. We all have a role to protect children from sexual abuse and hold perpetrators accountable for their actions.

I know breastfed babies sometimes get milk in their ears, which can be wiped. Can the same be done for the eyes if milk or discharge appears? Is it safe to use urine for cleaning them, as some believe? Abooki Kuhurra

Dear Abooki,

Eyes are organs that help us see, while ears enable us to hear. Both are delicate and require proper care when they are unwell, which should only be done after a proper diagnosis of the underlying issue. It is a common belief that breastfeeding may lead to milk accumulating in the ears of infants, resulting in a condition where they require stopping breastfeeding to address the problem.

However, what is often perceived as milk is actually pus due to an ear infection, which can often follow a nasal or chest infection or be triggered by allergies.

Interestingly, children who are not breastfed tend to be more affected by these infections than those who are, suggesting that breastfeeding may help prevent ear infections along with other illnesses.

Treatment for such infections usually requires antibiotics prescribed by a doctor, as well as addressing any underlying causes, such as respiratory tract infections. Historically, urine was used for cleaning due to its high ammonia content, which acted as a cleaning and bleaching agent.

However, it has now been replaced by more effective and safer soaps used with water. While urine was once believed to have health benefits, there is no scientific evidence to support this, and using it can pose significant risks to the delicate health of the eyes and ears, making it advisable to avoid it altogether.

Since urine is a waste product, applying it to the eyes or ears could introduce toxins and germs, which may ultimately harm these sensitive areas.

Ugandans must prioritise annual eye and ear examinations rather than waiting until problems arise, as this can help prevent risks of blindness or deafness.

KCCA Ladies defeated Sport-S 3-0 in the final of the National Club Championship held in Gulu over the weekend to qualify for next year’s Africa Club Championship.

Shilla Omuriwe’s charges, who defeated Nemostars and VVC in the quarters and semifinals respectively, made light work of Sport-S to add yet another piece of major silverware to their cabin.

Having won the league in 2022, the Club Championship victory is the second biggest honour under Omuriwe’s tutelage.

The Kasasiro Girls got out of the blocks early, tearing through the Sport-S net defence to take the tightly contested first set 25-23.

New signings Moreen Mwamula and Phiona Naziite added steel to the Kasasiro Girls and proved too much for the league champions to handle.

KCCA claimed the second and third sets 25-21 and 25-19 respectively to seal the deal and kick off celebrations.

The two-day tournament was affected by rain on Day One, with several pool matches pushed to Day Two.

‘It was unfortunate that we had to play four games on Day Two but it was a good tournament overall,’ Omuriwe told Daily Monitor after the victory at Pece Primary School in Gulu City.

‘We are grateful to God that He gave us the strength to push through one game at a time,’ the tactician added.

KCCA came out on top of Pool B after defeating Kampala University and Seroma.

Meanwhile Sport-S had to go a five-set thriller against KCB-Nkumba in the semis.

With the victory KCCA now qualifies to represent Uganda in the Africa Club Championship next year.

‘We came to the tournament with an aim of representing the country in the African championship and thank God we got the win,’ Claire Najuuko, the KCCA captain, revealed.

Meanwhile the men’s final between Nemostars and KCCA could not be played to completion due to poor lighting that forced a postponement.

Nemostars took the first two sets 25-21 and 25-20 respectively to move to within a set of defending their crown.

The opportunity to finish it off in the third frame, however, came down crashing when KCCA punched back to take it 25-23.

With the score at 2-1 and another set or two needed to determine the winner, a stop was inevitable.

The final will now be played in Kampala at a later date, with KCCA looking to replicate the heroics of the women’s team.

Nemostars, on the other hand, will be looking to defend their crown and return to continental volleyball next year. The two-day tournament attracted up to 27 teams.

National Volleyball Club Championship

Women’s final

KCCA 3-0 Sport-S

Men’s final

Nemostars 2-1 KCCA (to be replayed)

Once upon a time, in our ancestral homesteads of Kigyezi, when a couple struggled to bear children, the whisper of blame rose and inevitably landed on the woman’s head. She was the suspected vessel of barrenness, the silent culprit.

The man, by cultural decree, was deemed fertile by default. His masculinity was beyond question. Only when the winds of fate betrayed him, his wife leaving him,often times after a practice known as “okushenda” remarrying, and quickly cradling another man’s child would doubt creep in.

Then, and only then, would society begin to suspect that the king may indeed have no clothes as per Hans Christian Andersen’s epic, The Emperor’s New Clothes. In some parts of Uganda, specifically Kigyezi, Ankole, and beyond, a quiet cultural innovation was devised to safeguard the man’s honour.

The husband’s brother, in scandalous whispers, even the husband’s father, would be invited to ‘help’ in the noble duty of extending the family lineage. This delicate arrangement, known as “okwarira,” ensured the man’s name was preserved in history, though his seed was not. After all, as Shakespeare asked, what is in a name?

In our cultures, apparently, everything. Indeed, history is not short of great men whose thrones were warmed by heirs they did not sire. Even kings in distant lands, royalty draped in gold, sometimes failed to father children.

King Henry VIII is suspected to have suffered infertility. But like in our hills, arrangements were quietly made, dynasties preserved, and the illusion of invincible manhood upheld. Science, that relentless investigator, has exposed what our grandmothers suspected but dared not say aloud: men, too, can be infertile.

And more alarmingly, the evidence shows that global male fertility has been in decline over the last two decades. Why? The jury is still out, but the suspects are plenty.

Extreme exercise, the kind that turns boys into muscle-sculpted statues but quietly kills their sperm. The cocktail of cigarettes and alcohol that numbs the body but also sabotages reproduction. Recreational drugs that offer fleeting highs but permanent lows in the testicular department. And then there is the environment plastics, toxins, and pollutants that sneak into our bodies and alter the delicate architecture of sperm.

Sometimes, despite the brilliance of modern laboratories, the cause remains unknown. A mystery wrapped in biology. For the man who grew up on tales of indomitable masculinity, this is an uncomfortable truth. The hunter, once certain of his quiver, discovers his arrows are blunt.

But unlike in the days of okwarira, science has armed us with new tools.

In poetic terms, science has become the benevolent brother, the discreet helper who ensures men otherwise doomed to childlessness can father their own children. And so, the untamed monster of male infertility is slowly being caged. What was once a silent curse is now a treatable condition. Couples who would once have turned to cultural compromises can now find solace in clinics and laboratories. Brothers, fellow Old Boys, we must speak of this matter with honesty. Male infertility is not a punishment. It is not witchcraft, as some of our patients come in convinced of who could have even been responsible for the witchcraft. It is not even a failure of masculinity. It is a medical condition, sometimes lifestyle-induced, genetic, and environmental.

Like hypertension, diabetes it can affect anyone, regardless of wealth, status, or charm…should I add cohort? In our youthful days, we were taught to conquer the world. Today, we must also learn to conquer silence. To those who suffer quietly, know that the doors of science are open. To those who still mock, know that the laughter may yet echo back. As a community of men, let us lead with compassion. Let us support the science that is giving hope to thousands of families. And let us remember, in love and humility, that the measure of a man is not merely in his ability to sire, but in his ability to care, to nurture, and to stand by his family whether with one child, 10, or none. In the grand story of life, children are indeed a blessing. But so is truth. And it is only when we face the untamed monster of male infertility with honesty and courage that we shall tame it not just for ourselves, but for generations to come.

A 26-year-old woman was killed on Monday as she attempted to break up a fight involving her husband.

Aisha Masibu, a vendor at Kikindu market, is said to have been hit with a stone on the head as she intervened to separate her husband from two assailants.

Police said the fight between Masibu’s husband, who is a security guard at a parking yard, and the two suspects, aged 19 and 24, ensued following a disagreement over a Shs2,000 debt from one of the clients of the parking yard.

‘The two boys stormed the parking yard demanding to see one of the clients who reportedly owed them Shs2,000. The security guard attempted to block them, saying they should wait for the client from outside. The situation escalated when the two wanted to force their way in. They started beating up the man, and when his wife tried to intervene, they hit her with a stone,’ said Mr Ismail Gidudu, a boda boda rider at a nearby stage.

This publication learnt that after the fatal incident, the suspects fled to their home in Kisenyi cell, Nabuyonga Ward, leaving the security guard with serious injuries.

Residents mobilised and stormed the house in an attempt to lynch the suspects, but they were blocked by the military and police led by two Division Police Commanders (DPCs) of Mbale City Northern Division, SP Mubarak Sunday and Mbale Central Police Station, SP Kenneth Bakashaba.

Ms Amina Namakoye, a resident, said it took security operatives nearly five hours to arrest the suspects.

‘Property worth millions of shillings was destroyed while other items were looted by unidentified individuals. Some members of the mob were also seen pelting stones at the officers,’ Ms Namakoye said.

Elgon Region Police Spokesperson, Rogers Taitika, said the two suspects are currently in their custody on murder charges.

‘The two are accused of killing Masibu. After the incident, they fled the scene and hid in their house, but as security, we managed to rescue and arrest them. We emphasise that criminal liability is an individual responsibility. The actions of a perpetrator should not be used as justification to target or destroy the property of their guardian, parent, or any associated facility,’ SP Taitika said.

Police and residents alleged that the prime suspect, only identified as Yusuf, alias Fifty Fifty, is a serial offender in the area.

Nabiyonga Zone Security Secretary, Seku Abdulkarim, said Yusuf had recently been released after serving a six-month sentence, only to resume his criminal activities.

The Assistant Resident City Commissioner of Mbale, Mr Hussein Kadimba, urged parents to control their children and be more vigilant, noting that drug abuse among youths had become a major driver of crime and violence in the city.

Masibu’s body was taken to Mbale City Mortuary for a postmortem.