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Science in cars, Arts on boda bodas: Uganda’s transformation questioned

Fellow Ugandans Uganda is already in election fever. Norbert Mao recently declared that the country is undergoing a ‘political transformation.’ He is right – but the transformation taking shape may not be the one voters expect at rallies. It is unfolding in classrooms, salary slips, and commuter choices.

At the IPOD Summit 2025, President Museveni used one of his favourite analogies. Politicians, he argued, are like doctors diagnosing a patient. Unless they are as brilliant as scientists, they cannot read the symptoms of society or prescribe the right cure. It was a neat metaphor – but troubling. If every politician must be a scientist to govern, where does that leave philosophers, historians, and sociologists who explain causes, not just symptoms?

The irony deepens when applied to his own salary policy. Science teachers, like engineers or pilots, are paid handsomely, while arts teachers – like cleaners or secretaries – lag far behind. Yet doctors cannot function without cleaners; pilots cannot fly without ground staff. Remove one group, and the system collapses.

The results are visible. The science teacher, buoyed by a bigger pay cheque, drives to school in a modest car. The arts teacher, equally qualified but undervalued, clings to a boda boda. This is no harmless contrast. Uganda loses an average of 10 people a day in road accidents, with boda bodas accounting for nearly half. In 2022 alone, boda bodas killed 1,422 riders and passengers.

The salary policy is scripting a new inequality: one group travels safely; the other risks their life daily. Transformation, here, is measured not in slogans but in blood on the tarmac. The question is whether this transformation will strengthen Uganda or divide it further. Science is vital – no one disputes that. But societies are not sustained by laboratories alone.

The humanities teach citizens to think critically, remember their history, and question authority. When governments sideline these disciplines, they silence the very voices that explain why societies rise or collapse. The West provides cautionary lessons. Climate change was not caused by a lack of scientific knowledge but by lack of restraint.

Nuclear bombs were not accidents of poor calculation but brilliance without ethics. Artificial Intelligence now promises efficiency yet is already deployed as surveillance, monitoring citizens, and flagging dissent. These are not technical failures; they are civic ones. As 2026 approaches, Uganda’s voters must ask what kind of transformation they are being offered.

One where science teachers drive cars past accident scenes while humanities teachers cling to boda bodas? Or one where science and the humanities work together – building not just machines, but also justice and civic trust? Science can build rockets, but only the humanities remind us to ask where they should go and why. If Uganda forgets that, its political transformation may deliver cars for a few – but leave many others permanently stranded. Ciao

APC should learn from history

The unfolding development in Nigeria’s political landscape, where four state governors elected on the platform of the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) have resigned from the party to join the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), with more reportedly set to follow, makes a mockery of Nigeria’s democratic journey. It portends a dangerous trend towards the erosion of multi-party democracy and a descent into a despicable one-party state.

Within just a few days in October, two governors, Enugu’s Peter Mbah and Bayelsa’s Douye Diri, announced their resignation from the PDP. Mbah, the lone PDP governor in the South East, made his move with a well-scripted but muted justification. ‘After a long walk, we have decided to leave the PDP and join the APC. Our vision has now found stronger reinforcement at the federal level. Our move is bigger than politics but about alignment with the centre,’ he said. His words, delivered to a region known for advocating true federalism and devolution of powers, reek of irony.

While Nigerians were still processing the Enugu development, Diri followed suit. Unlike Mbah, he offered no elaborate justification, merely citing ‘obvious reasons.’ What obvious reasons? As a governor completing his second term, he can hardly claim fear of losing re-election. Though he has yet to join the APC formally, reports suggest his defection is only awaiting a grand ceremony that has now become a political ritual.

These two have joined their southern colleagues, Akwa Ibom’s Umo Eno and Delta’s Sheriff Oborevwori, who made similar moves earlier in the year. Until these defections, Enugu, Bayelsa, Delta, and Akwa Ibom had been strong PDP strongholds since 1999. None of their governors had ever lost a re-election bid. What changed? Particularly for those still eligible for re-election in 2027, the motivation appears less about governance and more about political survival and self-interest.

While it is the constitutional right of every citizen to associate with any political organisation, such rights must be exercised within the bounds of the law. The law is clear that a political party, not the individual, sponsors a candidate for election. As affirmed in the landmark Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi v. Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Others (2007) case, votes cast during an election belong to the party, not the candidate. In that light, these governors have erred by transferring the mandate of one political party to another.

This newspaper hopes the Supreme Court will one day pronounce a definitive position to codify this principle and protect the sanctity of party mandates.

Beyond the legal implications, however, lovers of democracy must be alarmed at the ruling party’s relentless drive to absorb nearly all opposition figures. While every political party naturally seeks to expand its membership, this expansion must be organic, not driven by a sinister ambition to transform Nigeria into a one-party state.

That the opposition is already in disarray only compounds the danger. Yet, the deeper problem lies in the political and electoral systems that permit such rampant cross-carpeting without consequences. The claim by defecting governors that they seek alignment with the federal government to attract development is nothing but claptrap. Reports suggest that Enugu, even under the opposition, has recorded more tangible development in recent years than some APC-controlled states.

What these defections truly demonstrate is a disregard for the electorate. Good governance, not alliance with the centre, should guide political choices. Opposition politics is a pillar of democracy; abandoning it for convenience exposes a lack of principle and commitment to democratic ideals.

The constitutional provisions on cross-carpeting need urgent review to safeguard the spirit of democracy. The judiciary must also be courageous in interpreting the law to preserve party integrity, particularly in cases involving lawmakers, where the law already provides clear guidance.

Above all, the ruling party must reflect on the repercussions of its unbridled quest to dominate the political space. History offers sobering lessons. The National Party of Nigeria (NPN), during the Second Republic, embarked on a similar conquest. Empowered by federal control between 1979 and 1983, it sought to capture all states by any means necessary. The 1983 elections, marred by massive rigging and violence in states like Oyo, Ondo, Anambra, Bendel (now Edo and Delta), and Cross River, exposed the arrogance of power. The ensuing chaos helped bring down the Republic through a military coup that ended civilian rule along with the party’s dominance.

Decades later, the PDP repeated the same mistakes. After its rise in 1999, it boasted of ruling for 60 years. Drunk on power, it extended its reach through manipulation, internal imposition, and suppression of dissent. When public resentment peaked, elite defections birthed the APC, which toppled the PDP in 2015, a party that now risks repeating the same mistakes that led to its predecessor’s fall.

Both the NPN and PDP remind us of an enduring truth: when ruling parties mistake the nation for their fiefdom and power for permanence, they sow the seeds of their downfall. The survival of Nigeria’s democracy depends not on the size or strength of a ruling party, but on its restraint, inclusiveness, and respect for the people’s will.

Swimming: Uganda complete Zone III hattrick

Uganda have stamped their mark down as the best country in the Africa Aquatics Zone III after topping the region’s Championships for a third successive time over the weekend at Kasarani Stadium, Nairobi.

Gone are the days when Zone III titles were a reserve of the hosts because they could field more swimmers than their travelling rivals. A rule change a few years ago allowed teams to field as many swimmers as possible, but only two from each country could be entered to score for a particular race.

This levels the playing ground and enhances quality competitions. But it also means that the swimmers who are balanced across all strokes have to bear the brunt of doing many events.

“Guys are honestly tired. They reach the hotel, have dinner, and just go to bed. But we all know we have to take one for the team and each other, and we are happy with it. Sometimes, the races are back to back, and you might have to pick where you go in to compete for a medal or just go in to collect points,” Pendo Kaumi, who did about 12 events, said at some point during the competition.

Strategy vs. ability

For Uganda Aquatics, it is a thin line between strategy and quality.

“Our selection is simple; we select the best two times per event,” team manager and Uganda Aquatics general secretary Maryanne Isabirye, said.

“Many times it will be the same swimmer across most events but at strategy level, we are doing what is best for us to win the competition,” she added.

Coach Thomas Tamale, who was assisted by Kezia Wairimu and Simon Mulumba, said “the swimmers are giving their all. But in terms of preparations, we need to build this ability to perform consistently in many events right from our club level.”

Uganda won in Rwanda 2023 and Burundi 2024.

Kenya 2025, however, is the big one. The hosts wanted it badly as they won it when they last hosted it in 2019. Tanzania was more competitive than they have ever been away from home and a long course pool that Ugandan swimmers are not used to made this 10th zonal competition tougher.

The performance

In the end, Uganda’s women’s team collected 1,802 points while the men had 1,991 to top their genders as the country garnered a collective 3,933 points to retain the championship.

Kenya were runners-up in all categories too; 1,661 points (women), 1,759.5 (men), and 3,572.5 (overall) while Tanzania were third in all too; 1,417.5 (women), 1,721 (men), and 3,270.5 (overall).

“We delivered as promised but Kenya gave a good run for our money,” captain Ampaire Namanya, said in the aftermath.

Uganda had 43 swimmers. Seventeen (17) number of these managed to win at least once individual race.

Female captain Peyton Suubi, swimming in the 15-16 age group, was the biggest collector with nine individual gold medals – including three from all the age group’s breaststroke events and two from the freestyle races taken in the expanded 15 and Over age group. Tara Kisawuzi could have had nine too but had to miss two 17 and Over girls’ races to write exams and completed the championship with seven gold medals.

Nisha Pearl Najjuma, who had to put time off her preparations for Primary Leaving Examinations, got six (winning all age group backstroke and breaststroke events) from the 12 and Under age group while Tyrah Muganzi had three from as many butterfly events in the 13-14 girls’ group.

Rahmah Nakasule (15-16) and Jinan Nakato (from two 12 and Under freestyle sprints) got two gold medals apiece.

Some like Manuel and sister Crystal Ssemanda, Zara Mbanga, Mackayla Ssali, Theresa Kikambi, Paloma Kirabo put shifts in to complete dominant relay sides.

“I am happy to be trusted by the coaches in the relays. But that also means that I should work hard for some individual medals too next time,” Manuel said.

Masters

Kenya, however, retained some consolation as they topped the masters’ competition with 2,063 points. They were joined on the podium by Uganda which had 1,429 and Tanzania with 350. Africa Aquatics president Mohamed Diop made 20 points for the continental federation from topping the 50m freestyle – his only race – while Rwanda had 17.

Resty Kiwuka (3), coach Wairimu, Patricia Ejalu, Yuda Morris Ssekamatte (4), masters’ coach Henry Kakooza, Peter Mugisha (2), Peter Ssebanakitta (2), Alex Kateeba (2), Donald Rukare are some of the masters that won gold medals. Abisagi Mugenyi Namugenze and Sandra Arinaitwe did not win gold but had the uniqueness of being on the podium in each of their four races.

10th Africa Aquatics Zone III Swimming Championships

How They Finished

Uganda – 3,933

Kenya – 3,572.5

Tanzania – 3,270.5

Rwanda – 1,454

Burundi – 989.5

Sudan – 328

Somalia – 133

Nigeria – 125.5

Eritrea – 24

Uganda’s individual gold winners

Women: Tara Kisawuzi (7), Peyton Suubi (9), Rahmah Nakasule (2), Tyrah Muganzi (3), Nisha Pearl Najjuma (6), Jinan Nakato (2)

Men: Kyle Kaweesa (3), Malcolm Nahamya (1), Shaun Murungi (2), Ethani Ssengooba (1), Isaiah Kuc (1), Jonathan Kaweesa (7), Benjamin Ssali (1), Jason Aronda (1), Elijah Ayesiga (2), Kristian Bwisho (1), Giovanni Cruz Mbanga (1)

Relay Golds

Mixed 14 and Under 4x50m medley: Jonathan Kaweesa, Zara Mbanga, Tyrah Muganzi, Manuel Ssemanda,

Girls 14 and Under 4×100 free: MackaylaSsali, Crystal Ssemanda, Theresa Kikambi, Zara Mbanga

Girls 15 and Over 4×100 free: Tara Kisawuzi, Rahmah Nakasule, Peyton Suubi, Paloma Kirabo

Togo, Mali, Niger owe Nigeria N29.1bn electricity bills in 6 months

International customers that get their power supply failed to pay the sum of $19.84m (N29.18bn) from the $34.71m (51bn) bills issued to them from January to June of 2025, analysis of quarterly reports by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission has shown.

The report said the countries that got the supply through their electricity utility companies include; Société Beninoise d’Energie Electrique (SBEE), Compagnie Energie Electrique du Togo (CEET) and Société Nigerienne d’electricite (NIGELEC) and they [paid just 57 percent of the electricity bills.

A breakdown showed that the companies were given a $5.17m bill for January but they paid $3.64m.

For February, they were billed $5.52m from which they paid $0.81m while in March the bill increased to $6.49m from which $1.43m was paid and in April, $6.34m bill was given but $3.85m was paid.

In May, the bill was reduced to $5.68m but $2.88m was paid while June saw a $5.51m bill and $2.26m was paid.

Analysis by country showed, the SBEE of Benin had the highest bill of $29.76m of which it paid $9.16m.

This means that the country paid 69% of its bills having paid $2.76m in January, $2.16m in April, $1.98m in May and $2.26m. It did not pay for supply it got in February and March from Transcorp generating company in Ughelli and PARAS GenCo.

NIGELEC of Niger Republic was the second biggest customer with $8.43m worth of electricity supply but it paid $5.62m, meaning it offset 77 per cent of its bills.

A breakdown showed the company was billed $0.88m worth of electricity in January and paid the whole money and also paid the entire $0.81m billed it was given in February but was able to pay $1.34m from the $3.03m billed given in March.

In April, it also paid off all the $1.69m it was billed and also did the same with the $0.9m bill for May. But in June it failed to pay anything from its $1.12m bill.

For, CEET of Togo, it failed to pay any of its $7.2m bill, having issued $0.75m for electricity in January, $1.02m in February, $3.15m in March, $0.98m in April, $0.78 in May and $0.52m in June.

Foreign obligations in face of low domestic supply

It would be recalled that NERC had last year directed the grid operator to cut back on supplies to customers overseas to boost domestic supply.

NERC, in a directive said the grid operator’s current approach to managing supply has caused significant hardship for Nigerians because supply under bilateral contracts, including export to international customers, takes priority over supply to domestic customers.

Also, a former Managing Director of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Usman Mohammed, in 2019 threatened to cut electricity supply to neighbours Togo and Niger over a $16 million debt.

Then, it was estimated that Niger owes $2 million and Togo $14 million. The countries have reduced the debt from $100 million a couple of years back.

‘We will disconnect them. Electricity is not charity,’ Mr Mohammed said.

History of debts

Our correspondent reports that international customers have a history of late payments with debts piling up.

NERC reported that these customers owed Nigerian power companies over $12 million in unpaid debts at the end of 2023.

Analysts at the Center for Petroleum, Energy Economics and Law in a recent report say long-term solutions to the challenges of low supply involve infrastructure improvements, increased generation capacity, and stricter enforcement of regulations within the power sector.

Nigeria supplies 300 megawatts of electricity to Togo, Benin and Niger.

Daily Trust reports that Nigeria has an installed electricity generation of 13,600 to 14,000 MW but due to infrastructural limitation, the output has hovered around 5,500 megawatts amidst the wide supply gaps which have thrown many households into darkness.

Analysts say despite the persistent debt challenge, Nigeria would continue to honour international obligations on electricity supply to neighbouring countries.

Industry analyst, Dr. Dauda Garuba said, ‘Nigeria doesn’t need to stop doing energy business with its neighbours because of its inability to meet its obligation to the local market. Those are contracts meant to be fulfilled, too.’

Also, Adetayo Adegbenle said, ‘Supply to neighboring States is primarily because of the international agreement we signed to build River Niger dam. Meanwhile, this is not a unique situation as these bills are easily charged to the Balance of Trade.’

More woes for generating companies

Meanwhile, the lack of payment by the international companies brings more woes to electricity Generating Companies (Gencos) that have been reeling from debts owed to them by industry players from the federal government and the electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos).

According to the existing structure of subsidy in the sector, the federal government pays 50 per cent of the generating cost of electricity, which has amounted to over a trillion naira in the first half of 2025.

The companies are also owed another N4tr with N2tr as legacy debt and another N2tr as subsidy payment for 2024.

While the N4trn has been a contentious issue in the sector, the federal government has been looking for ways to clear the debt.

The Special Adviser to the President on Energy, Olu Verheijen, had last week in a statement said the government had approved a N4tr bond to finance the debt.

She said the government is focused on creating the right conditions for investment, from modernizing the grid and improving distribution to scaling embedded generation.

She added that by closing metering gaps, aligning tariffs with efficient costs, improving subsidy targeting to support the poor and vulnerable, and restoring regulatory trust, it is shifting from crisis response to sustained delivery and building the confidence needed to attract large-scale private capital.

Similarly, the Chairman of Heirs Holdings and Transcorp Power, Tony Elumelu, was quoted in the statement to have said: ‘For the first time in years, we are seeing a credible and systematic effort by the government to tackle the root liquidity challenges in the power sector. We commend President Tinubu and his economic team for this bold and transformative step.’

He added that beyond clearing arrears, the debt reduction plan signals a strategic reset of Nigeria’s electricity market.

‘By restoring the financial health of power companies, it will enable new investment in generation capacity, modernize grid infrastructure, and deliver more reliable electricity to homes and businesses, creating a stronger foundation for industrialization, job creation, and inclusive economic growth.’

Many Ugandan workers show up but they are on silent strike

In Kampala today, a meal of posho and beans costs about Shs5,000. For many shop attendants, guards, clerks, or market loaders, that is also their daily wage. Imagine working from morning to evening only to afford one meal.

Under such conditions, it is no surprise that many Ugandans have lost the energy to work with commitment. Instead, they slow down, go through the motions, or quietly expect ‘something small’ from the customer just to survive. This is not laziness. It is the reality of an economy where too many people chase too few jobs. Workers cling to posts they dislike because they know if they walk away, someone else is ready to take their place. Employers know this too, so they feel little pressure to raise wages or improve conditions. Economists call this a labour surplus. Most Ugandans call it life. The numbers speak clearly.

Uganda’s median monthly wage is about Shs200,000 – hardly enough for rent, food, and school fees. In agriculture, most earn even less. In the capital city, the so-called ‘low-skilled’ worker averages Shs380,000 (about $110), but much of that disappears into transport, rent, and family needs. For many, a day’s pay of Shs5,000 is all too real. So workers show up, but genuine effort is rationed. Why give your all when the reward never changes? The disappointment is sharper because of the promises Ugandans grow up with. From childhood, school mottos declare that ‘education is a necessity,’ ‘good seeds will rise,’ and ‘knowledge is power.’ These words inspire hope that education will unlock a dignified adulthood.

Yet after graduation, many find the labour market pays little more than subsistence. The gap between what was promised and what is delivered turns ambition into resignation. And this quiet withdrawal is not limited to low-wage workers in shops or on farms. It is equally present in the public sector – in schools where teachers are present but disengaged, in health centres where patients queue for hours, and in offices where files pile up until citizens offer ‘something small’ to move a service forward. The same pattern plays out in the private sector, where low wages and weak incentives mean staff go through the motions but rarely go the extra mile. The culture of pretending has become national, cutting across both public and private domains.

The cost is heavy. Customers pay twice – once officially and again in informal tips. Employers lose out through weak productivity, high turnover, and the expense of constant supervision. Public services stall, and citizens lose faith in the very institutions meant to support them. The country suffers too. According to the International Labour Organisation, one hour of work in Uganda produces goods and services worth only $3.53 (about Shs12,000), far below Kenya. Between 2016 and 2021, productivity rose by just eight percent, barely keeping up with population growth. On paper, unemployment looks low at 1.7 percent. But that hides the truth. About 61 percent of Ugandans are in ‘vulnerable jobs’ – casual, insecure, and poorly paid.

Many are counted as employed but spend much of their day idle or hustling on the side. Elections often raise expectations of jobs, higher pay, and better services. But when delivery falls short, the trust between citizen and State weakens. Broken promises are not just political – they feed directly into the economy by encouraging withdrawal and pretending. Raising wages across the board is not possible overnight. But smaller steps can make a difference. Employers and public institutions alike can reward effort with recognition, fair promotion paths, flexible hours, or small bonuses. Jobs can be better designed, with clear service standards – for example, publishing how long it should take to process a document or attend to a patient – so accountability is real.

Legal side incomes such as structured overtime or community projects can help workers earn top-ups without forcing them into informal charges. In the long run, Uganda must create more diverse and decent jobs in agribusiness, small manufacturing, and ICT, while strengthening labour institutions so that contracts mean something and workers are fairly protected. What is happening in Uganda today is a silent strike. Workers are not on the streets with placards; they are at their desks, in uniform, on duty. But many have already checked out inside. This quiet protest drains growth, weakens services, and erodes national confidence. Uganda is a young country, with millions entering the labour force each year.

If they learn that simply showing up is enough and effort changes nothing, then our future will be jobs without productivity, work without dignity, and growth without progress. The logic of work must change. Effort should be rewarded, dignity restored, and pretending replaced with real productivity. Jobs must once again become engines of value – for the worker, the employer, and the nation. Mike Ibrahim Okumu, Associate Professor and Dean, Makerere University School of Economics.

Genocide: Nigeria needs unity, not divisive rhetoric – Ogun imams

The Ogun State League of Imams and Alfas has condemned recent statements which alleged a targeted genocide against Christians in Nigeria.

The group described such claims as alarmist and unsubstantiated, warning that they could inflame tensions and deepen mistrust among religious communities.

In a statement signed by Imam Tajudeen Mustapha Adewunmi, Secretary General of the League, the Imams expressed concern that ‘reckless religious rhetoric could undermine Nigeria’s fragile unity and worsen interfaith relations.’

The body called on religious leaders to be more cautious and responsible in their utterances.

‘We wholeheartedly support and re-echo the wise counsel of the President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) and the Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, who has cautioned against reckless narratives that may plunge the country into avoidable religious hostilities,’ Imam Adewunmi said.

The League noted that Nigeria’s current security challenges, including terrorism, banditry, and kidnapping, affect all citizens regardless of their religious affiliation.

The body stressed that both Muslims and Christians have suffered losses at the hands of violent criminals whose motives are not religious but criminal.

Uganda, DR Congo discuss plans to boost trade

Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have held a Business Connect Forum and Expo to discuss strategies aimed at increasing trade volumes and value between both countries.

The Forum was held on October 17 and 18 in Butembo, the second-largest city in North Kivu Province, with a sizable population of businesses that have links to as far as Kinshasa. Uganda’s strategic location makes it a crucial gateway in and out of eastern DRC.

The DRC was represented by Julien Paluku, the minister of External Trade; Evariste Somo Kakule, the governor of North Kivu Province; and Sylvain Kanyamanda Mbusa, the mayor of Butembo City, among others.

The Ugandan delegation included Gen Wilson Mbasu Mbadi, the minister of State for Trade; Farid M Kaliisa, Uganda’s ambassador to DRC; and representatives from the Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU), among others.

Uganda’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) said, in a statement, that the leaders emphasised the role of sustainable peace and security, and decried the existing non-tariff barriers to trade, including prohibitive administrative practices and discriminatory tax tendencies that discourage seamless trade across the borders.

‘With support from the European Union (EU) and Trademark Africa (TMA), Uganda and DRC are implementing the Peaceful and Resilient Borderlands Programme aimed at transforming cross-border trade into a pathway for peace and economic growth.”

‘The programme seeks to promote regional integration, empower small-scale traders, and ensure the free movement of people and goods between the two countries.”

The two countries are also jointly implementing the construction of key roads viewed as having mutual economic benefit,’ the statement reads in part. It added: ‘The roads include Mpondwe/Kasindi-Beni (80km), Beni-Butembo (54km) and Bunagana-Rutshuru-Goma road (89km), which once completed, will reduce the cost of doing business and create enormous opportunities for the people of both countries.’

According to Uganda Bureau of Statistics (Ubos), the value of Uganda’s exports to DRC increased from $432.4 million (Shs1.5 trillion) in 2016/2017 to $981.5 million (Shs3.4 trillion) in 2024/2025, while DRC exports to Uganda have increased from $23 billion (Shs80 trillion) in 2020 to $59.8 billion (Shs208 trillion) in 2024.

Ambassador Kaliisa attributed this to improvement in the security environment, commencement of improvement in transport infrastructure, and the opening up of the DRC market following its entry into the East African Community (EAC). ‘The various strategies being implemented have the potential to boost the value of Uganda’s exports to DRC to $2 billion (Shs6.9 trillion) in the next few years,’ he said.

The forum, held under the theme: ‘Strengthening Business Linkages for Socio-economic transformation’, attracted more than 50 business enterprises in various product lines and exhibitors from Uganda for business networking with DRC business community, especially from Beni. Some of the Ugandan products showcased included agro-products, poultry and dairy, agro-farm inputs, pharmaceutical and cosmetic products, apparels and various construction materials.

Sowore: Nnamdi Kanu’s brother, Lawyer have just been arrested

Policemen deployed to stop the #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest have arrested Nnamdi Kanu’s brother and his lawyer, Aloy Ejimakor, according to convener of the protest, Omoyele Sowore.

In a post on his X (formerly Twitter) account, Sowore alleged that policemen arrested Kanu’s brother, Ejimakor, and other bystanders.

‘The @PoliceNG team deployed to brutalize #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protesters arrested Nnamdi Kanu’s brother, and his lawyer, @AloyEjimakor, as well as innocent bystanders. They were beaten and taken to the FCT command. The police must release them immediately!,’ Sowore wrote

Daily Trust had reported how the police used live bullets to disperse the protesters seeking the release of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), who has been in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) since his re-arrest in June 2021.

There were reports that security operatives fired several teargas canisters at commuters around the Central Business District of Abuja, causing panic and disrupting early morning traffic.

Major roads around the city centre were also barricaded, leading to heavy gridlock and confusion.

Ahead of the demonstration, the Nigeria Police Force had designated parts of the capital as ‘no-protest zones.’

Police spokesperson, Benjamin Hundeyin, had said a Federal High Court order in Abuja had restrained groups from holding protests within and around key government buildings, including Aso Rock, the National Assembly, Force Headquarters, Court of Appeal, Eagle Square, and Shehu Shagari Way.

He urged all groups-whether for or against Kanu’s continued detention-to comply strictly with the court’s directive.

Kanu’s trial on terrorism-related charges continues at the Federal High Court, Abuja, while Sowore and other activists maintain calls for his unconditional release.

Understanding tooth eruption

Did you know that some babies are born with teeth? These are called natal teeth, and although they may be shocking and rare, they are not a cause for distress and can be successfully managed by a paediatric dentist. However, these are not the focus of our discussion today. I would like to bring to your attention an often-ignored aspect of children’s development, one that is not only exciting but also provides unique insight into overall well-being: the tooth eruption sequence.

Before we go any further, it is important to highlight that human bodies are not the same and, therefore, do not develop at the same rate. The events surrounding the sequence at which teeth appear in the mouth can occur either earlier or later than usual. That is why timelines are always stated in ranges, not absolute dates.

The first teeth to appear in the mouth are the upper and lower incisors. These can show up anywhere between six and 12 months. Next to erupt are the lateral incisors (nine to 16 months), followed by the first molars (13-19 months). After that, the canines erupt from 16-23 months. Lastly, between 23 and 33 months, the second molars erupt. These form a full set of a child’s first teeth, commonly known as milk teeth.

Shedding

Shedding follows a pattern similar to eruption, with the central incisors being shed first (around six to seven years). They shed around the same time the first permanent molars are erupting. A year later, the lateral incisors follow (seven to eight years), and the first molars come next (nine to 11 years). The lower canines are shed between nine to 12 years, while the upper canines and both the upper and lower second molars are shed last (10-12 years).

Tooth shedding is a normal part of development and should be managed with care. Some teeth may not become loose on their own and might need a little assistance. It is generally advisable to gently wiggle slightly loose teeth at home to encourage their shedding.

This should be done with clean hands, ideally before brushing teeth at bedtime and in the morning after breakfast. It is important to be as gentle as possible while still applying a firm touch. If there are any concerns, parents should always seek professional help from a dentist.

LASU joins OPay’s N1.2bn scholarship programme

OPay Digital Services Limited has extended its N1.2 billion 10-Year Scholarship Programme to the Lagos State University (LASU).

The duo signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the institution, adding the institution to the list of the firm’s scholarship beneficiaries.

The partnership will see 20 LASU students receive fully funded scholarships annually, a fulfillment of the firm’s long-term Empowering Futures initiative, a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) agenda aimed at supporting academically excellent but financially constrained students across Nigerian tertiary institutions.

Speaking during the signing ceremony, Vice Chancellor of Lagos State University, Professor Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, commended the firm for its forward-thinking commitment to education and youth development.

‘We gather to celebrate a remarkable gesture of goodwill and corporate social responsibility from OPay Digital Services Limited.

‘This generous act underscores OPay’s commitment to fostering academic excellence and supporting the dreams of young Nigerians. The scholarship will undoubtedly alleviate financial burdens and motivate our students to strive for excellence,’ she said.

The university’s Registrar, Emmanuel Abiodun Fanu, appreciated the firm for extending the scholarship to their students, noting that the initiative would have a lasting impact on their lives and academic journeys.

‘We thank OPay for this scholarship opportunity. You may not immediately know the impact this gesture will have, but it will transform lives and motivate these students to become valuable contributors to society,’ he stated.

OPay’s Chief Operating Officer, Elizabeth Wang, reaffirmed the firm’s commitment to empowering the next generation through sustainable investments in education.

‘Since our establishment in Nigeria in 2018, our mission has been to make financial services more inclusive through technology. Beyond this, we believe education is the foundation of every society – and students represent the future.

‘That’s why OPay is committed to sponsoring 20 students of this university every year for the next 10 years to help them pursue their dreams more easily,’ she said.

Ms. Wang added that the firm plans to open Cyberlabs and graduate employment opportunities for students within its growing workforce of over 5,000 employees, further deepening its investment in youth development.