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Lango transporters hike fares to Kampala over high fuel prices

Transporters in the Lango sub-region have increased fares to Kampala effective November 1, citing high fuel costs.

The United Bus Owners Association’s Friday announcement indicates that transport costs on routes to Kampala City have risen by at least Shs 10,000.

According to the new cost, travellers using executive buses will pay Shs 60,000 from Apac District to Kampala Shs50,000, while ordinary buses will charge Shs 50,000 up from Shs40,000.

From Lira City to Kampala, passengers will pay Shs 40,000 up from Shs 30,000; those travelling from Aduku Town Council in Kwania District will pay Shs 45,000 up from Shs 35,000.

Mr Geoffrey Anok, the executive director of Comfort Travellers Bus Company, told this publication on Saturday that the new rates will keep them in the business amid the spiralling cost of fuel and servicing buses.

“Currently, the cost of servicing the buses has almost doubled, and the cost of the fuel has also skyrocketed. The money we used to pay for fuel for the return journey now is paying for only a single trip.” He said.

The news has caused anxiety among the business community, especially small-scale traders who depend on daily travel to Kampala, Lira and other markets outside Lango Sub-region.

Ms Susan Akello, a produce dealer in Apac Main Market, said the hike will force them to increase commodity prices.

“When transport goes up, everything goes up. I buy beans from Lira. If I pay an extra 10,000 for transport, I must add it to the price of beans. In the end, the final consumer suffers. Customers are already complaining that things are expensive,” Akello said.

Another trader, Mr Jacob Ogwang, who deals in second-hand clothes, warned of low sales during the festive season.

“Customers have no money. If we increase prices of commodities because of transport, they will not buy. We are stuck. Government should intervene on fuel prices,” Mr Ogwang said.

Mr Joseph Ebong, 17, a resident of Apac Sub-county who travels to Kampala for medical treatment at Mulago National Referral Hospital, called upon the government to regulate fuel prices and have dialogue with transport operators.

“I always travel to Kampala for medical check-ups, but the fare is now too high. I may not be able to afford this fare. This fuel price is killing us,” he lamented.

Fuel prices have been steadily rising in the past weeks, with some pump stations currently charging up to Shs7,200 for a litre of diesel, up from Shs4,700 in April this year.

Mao pledges to push govt to roll out national health insurance scheme

Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister Norbert Mao has vowed to push the government to roll out a comprehensive national health insurance scheme to help millions of Ugandans struggling to pay medical bills at health facilities across the country.

Mr Mao made the statement while speaking as chief guest at the opening of the 6th ITC International Insurance Conference in Gulu City on Thursday. The conference was hosted by the Insurance Training College of Uganda.

According to him, many Ugandans cannot afford proper medical treatment because of poverty, and a government-backed health insurance scheme is the solution.

His remarks followed concerns raised by insurance sector players, who decried low insurance coverage and bureaucratic processes in processing bills.

‘I have promised to mobilise my colleagues, like the Minister of Health and other relevant officials (ministries), so that we can agree and set a timetable. Ghana has done it; Uganda can do it also,’ Mr Mao told the gathering.

He said not every Ugandan belonged to the insurance sector, adding that a government-backed scheme would enable citizens to access healthcare without shouldering the full cost of treatment.

‘So we need a government-backed scheme, so that any citizen can go to hospital and there is a limit, so that if the hospital requires you to pay Shs300,000, for instance here, I think a private place like C-Care (in Gulu City), they charge Shs60,000 per night, if you are admitted,’ he said.

The justice minister also pledged to address bureaucratic hurdles and delays insurers face in processing bills and agreements through government structures.

‘That two-week commitment is still alive and well; I think they are telling me politely to enforce it. So I promise to enforce the two-week rule,’ Mr Mao added.

At the conference, which brought together more than 200 insurance companies, sector players cited government delays in processing applications and agreements, affordability challenges and a severe lack of public awareness as factors hindering the sector’s growth.

Although the sector has accumulated premiums exceeding Shs2 trillion, Mr Saul Sseremba, the chief executive officer and principal of the Insurance Training College of Uganda, said insurance coverage remained as low as 1 per cent, leaving many Ugandans uninsured.

Mr Sseremba also urged the government to expedite sector reforms to ensure effective regulation.

‘We’ve asked the government to expedite the National Health Insurance Scheme because we believe that once it comes on board, then we have everyone insured. As the insurance sector, we have the capacity,’ Mr Sseremba said.

Ms Deborah Mwesigwa, the commercial business manager for Sanlam Allianz Insurance Ltd, said limited public awareness and affordability continued to discourage Ugandans from taking up insurance.

‘The other bit is the affordability that has made the majority of our population not appreciate the need for insurance,’ Ms Mwesigwa said, adding that the industry was developing cheaper products to address specific needs and make insurance more accessible to low-income earners.

According to the Insurance Regulatory Authority (IRA), more than 90 per cent of Ugandans rely on direct out-of-pocket expenditure to pay their medical bills.

Dr Protazio Sande, the acting chief executive officer of the Insurance Regulatory Authority of Uganda, said a universal healthcare coverage mechanism could ease the financial burden on the government and free up resources for other competing priorities.

‘We are advocating for universal health insurance coverage, so that every Ugandan can be assured at least of one of the basic needs,’ Dr Sande said.

Atiku to INEC: Name officials responsible for AI photographs on voters’ register

African Democratic Congress ( ADC) presidential candidate, former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has said the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC) must name its officials responsible for the inclusion of Artificial Intelligence (AI) generated photographs in the voter register.

Atiku, in a statement by the Director, Strategic Communication, ADC Presidential Campaign Council, Phrank Shaibu, said INEC’s admission that AI generated images and other irregularities entered the voter register through its registration officers, is a scandal that strikes at the heart of the commission’s credibility.

The former Vice President charged opposition leaders and the international community to demand an independent audit, full disclosure and accountability on the voter register scandal.

The ADC candidate, while accusing the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration of allegedly enabling the crisis by allowing INEC to evade scrutiny, stated that the electoral umpire has no right to demand trust while shielding those responsible for the infraction.

‘INEC has admitted that some AI generated images are on the voter register and that registration officers introduced irregularities across the country. The Commission charged with protecting Nigerians’ votes has acknowledged that its own system was abused by those entrusted to operate it. This is a catastrophic failure of leadership and safeguards.

‘Professor Joash Amupitan through Boyode Lawrence says INEC knows what its officers did and how they tampered with the register, yet claims it does not know why. That is a disgraceful evasion, not an answer. Even ordinary WhatsApp, Facebook and email accounts appear to have stronger security safeguards than those INEC’s ICT director described on national television. How can the database holding the votes of millions of Nigerians be less secure than a personal social media account?

‘If INEC knows how the register was compromised, it must disclose the evidence, identify every officer involved and explain why they have not been suspended and prosecuted. Amupitan cannot admit the misconduct, withhold the perpetrators’ identities and expect Nigerians to accept ignorance as an excuse. He must account for this failure now,’ Atiku stated.

He stated that INEC must not quietly ‘clean up’ the voter register and bury the evidence, noting that allegations that more than 20 million AI generated images may be involved demands an independent forensic audit.

‘INEC has no right to demand trust while concealing evidence and shielding those responsible. Name the culprits, expose the contractors and submit the register and election materials to independent scrutiny. Until then, its assurances are worthless. The credibility of the 2027 election is on the line.’

Thousands attend Masussuka’s maiden religious peace summit

Thousands of followers of the late Sheikh Yahaya Ibrahim Masussuka and religious leaders from across Nigeria and some African countries on Saturday attended the maiden edition of a religious peace summit held at the Muhammadu Dikko Stadium in Katsina.

The summit, initiated by the late cleric, who was shot dead at his residence in Dutsin-Ma Local Government Area of Katsina State last Monday, was organised by the Quranic Believers Harmony for Peace Initiative.

In his welcome address, the Secretary of the initiative, Dr Mustapha Haruna, said the programme was organised to promote religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence among different religious groups in the country in particular and Africa as a whole.

He said although the death of Masussuka who initiated the move, was a major setback, the initiative considered it important to fulfil the late cleric’s dream by going ahead with the programme, saying it is important for the late Masussuka’s wish to be honoured.

Also speaking, the Katsina State Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Reverend Richard Sha’aibu Liti, described the summit as a historic initiative that could help address religious intolerance and strengthen peaceful coexistence for a better Nigeria.

He said the initiative would continue to enjoy the support of people from different religious backgrounds across the nation, stressing that the summit would not be a wasted effort, but a legacy to be upheld.

Similarly, Sheikh Muhammad Nuru Khalid of Abuja, popularly known as the ‘Digital Imam’, said the late Masussuka’s efforts to promote religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence would remain part of his enduring legacy.

He said the killing of the cleric would not stop the movement, urging his followers to remain calm, sustain prayers for the unity of Nigeria and continue to promote the ideals for which he stood.

The Islamic scholar also called on the relevant authorities to ensure that those responsible for his death were identified and brought to justice.

The event was attended by several prominent religious leaders and personalities, including former Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Solomon Selcap Dalung, who served under former President Muhammadu Buhari, among others.

Sports essential to students’ growth, development – Sawyerr

Sports remain a vital pillar of students’ all-round development, fostering discipline, teamwork, leadership and resilience beyond the classroom, Akintunde Sawyerr, the managing director of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), has said.

Sawyerr, who is an old student of Igbobi College, Yaba, Lagos, made this observation during the college’s 91st Inter-House Sports Competition, an event that brought together students, school authorities, alumni and other stakeholders to celebrate sporting excellence and the role of athletics in shaping young people’s character and future.

He stressed the need for schools to sustain investment in sports as an integral part of education, noting that participation in sporting activities helps students build confidence, develop healthy competitive instincts and acquire life skills essential for success.

‘Sports play a vital role in the development of every student. Beyond the medals, trophies, and applause, sports teach us lessons that remain relevant throughout our lives.

‘They teach us discipline, perseverance, courage, respect for others, and the importance of working together towards a common goal,’ he said.

Sawyerr, who was the chairman of the day, noted that on the sports field people will witness speed, strength, agility, determination, and perhaps a few surprises.

However, he reminded the participants that while winning is desirable, the true measure of success lies in the manner in which they compete. ‘Victory achieved with integrity is far more valuable than victory achieved through unfair means.

‘Let us therefore compete honorably, respect the officials, encourage our fellow competitors, and accept the outcome of every contest with maturity and grace,’ he emphasised.

He encouraged all the athletes to give their very best, run with determination, jump with courage, and throw with precision, and compete with all their heart.

‘Remember that every champion was once a competitor who refused to give up. Whether you finish first or last, your effort, attitude, and conduct make you proud.

‘To the house captains, team coaches, and sports masters, I commend your leadership and dedication. You have a responsibility not only to prepare your teams for competition, but also to instill in them the values of discipline, unity, and fair play,’ he said.

Joseph Adediji, the principal of Igbobi College, Yaba, reminded the athletes that they were not gathered merely to compete for medals, trophies, and bragging rights, but to celebrate the enduring values that have sustained the institution for over nine decades.

‘Discipline, perseverance, teamwork, courage, integrity, and excellence; ninety-one years is not a small number. It represents a remarkable legacy of educational excellence, character formation, leadership development, and savvy humanity.

‘Since its establishment, Igbobi College has nurtured and continues to nurture young men who distinguish themselves in academics, sports, leadership, and service to society. Today’s event is another opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to producing not only intellectually sound students, but also physically fit, morally upright, emotionally balanced, and socially responsible young men,’ he said.

Similarly, Adediji emphasised that sports are an essential part of education.

‘Sports teach lessons that cannot always be learned within the four walls of a classroom. On the sports field, our boys learn that success requires preparation, discipline, sacrifice, determination, and willingness to work together.

‘They learn to win with humility, lose with dignity, respect their opponents, and rise again after disappointment,’ he noted.

Moreover, he emphasised that the education that comes from sports goes beyond academic achievement, and that the school remains committed to providing opportunities for the students to discover their talents, develop their abilities, and fulfill their God-given potential.

Besides, he noted that these lessons are invaluable, not only for sporting success, but also for the challenges of life.

‘Indeed, the discipline required to cross a finishing line, the courage to attend a difficult event, and the teamwork needed to achieve a common goal are qualities that boys will need throughout their lives,’ he emphasised.

He urged the athletes to give their best, compete with passion, run with determination, jump with courage, and play with integrity.

‘Let your performance demonstrate the values for which Igbobi is known. We are always at the top. Remember, however, that the true measure of a champion is not only the number of medals won, but also the character displayed in the process of competing,’ he said.

At the end of the competition, Aggrey House (Blue) emerged as the overall best, while Parker House (Purple) and Oluwole House (Yellow) took the second and third positions, respectively.

Gasoline up by P3/L, diesel slightly down in first week of November

Mixed movements in pump prices are projected to continue as November starts next week.

An oil industry source said motorists should expect a P2.90 to P3.20 increase in gasoline prices.

Meanwhile, diesel prices may see a slight cut of around P0.40 to P0.60 per liter.

According to the source, eased diesel export restrictions by South Korea helped lower the product’s price, which increased by P1.20 per liter earlier this week.

These prices, however, continue to be affected by energy supply disruptions linked to tensions in the Middle East, as well as concerns over another United States strike on Iran after the former’s midterm elections next week.

The peso’s slide to record lows against the dollar also threatens to push fuel prices even higher, with Department of Energy Secretary Sharon Garin saying that the weakening peso could drive up the cost of imported coal, diesel and liquefied natural gas.

On Tuesday, October 27, the currency hit an all-time low exchange rate of P64.17 to the dollar.

Although the peso traded higher in the following days, it has lingered near the P64-per-dollar mark since.

Afreximbank, APPO formally establish $5bn Africa Energy Bank

The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) and the African Petroleum Producers’ Organisation (APPO) have formally established the Africa Energy Bank (AEB), a pan-African financial institution designed to bridge the continent’s energy financing gap and support investments across the oil and gas value chain.

The announcement was made on Saturday at the inaugural general meeting of the Africa Energy Bank held in Abuja, following resolutions that set the institution’s governance structure in motion.

With an authorised capital of $5 billion, the bank is expected to mobilise funding for energy projects across Africa at a time when the continent’s energy investment requirements are estimated at $200 billion.

The establishment of the institution comes amid growing concerns over the withdrawal of traditional international lenders from financing fossil fuel projects, despite the continued importance of oil and gas to Africa’s energy security and industrial development.

Afreximbank and APPO said the new institution would help address the financing shortfall while supporting a just energy transition that reflects the development priorities of African countries.

The bank’s mandate covers the entire energy value chain, including exploration and production, transportation, processing, refining and distribution.

Its investments are expected to strengthen Africa’s productive capacity, reduce dependence on imported petroleum products and promote intra-African trade in energy commodities.

The institution will also seek to increase African ownership and participation in the continent’s energy industry, ensuring that the development of its energy resources is increasingly driven by African capital and expertise.

Speaking on the significance of the initiative, the promoters said substantial investments in energy generation and transmission were critical to accelerating industrialisation and positioning African economies to benefit from emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence.

The Africa Energy Bank will operate as an independent, supranational pan-African financial institution, with plans to attract investments from governments, national oil companies, financial institutions and private investors.

At the inaugural general meeting, members approved the appointment of Mr Helmy Ghazi as the bank’s first president and constituted its inaugural Board of Directors.

The board comprises representatives from the public and private sectors, as well as leading policy institutions across the continent.

The meeting was attended by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri; President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Afreximbank, Dr George Elombi; and Côte d’Ivoire’s Minister of Mines, Petroleum and Energy, Mamadou Sangafowa-Coulibaly.

The establishment of the bank represents a major effort by African governments and institutions to develop indigenous financing capacity for the continent’s energy sector, particularly as access to international capital for oil and gas projects becomes increasingly constrained.

Afreximbank, headquartered in Cairo, Egypt, is a pan-African multilateral financial institution established to finance and promote intra-African and extra-African trade. Its total assets and contingencies stood at more than $54.1 billion at the end of September 2026, while shareholders’ funds amounted to $9 billion.

APPO, founded in Lagos on January 27, 1987, is an intergovernmental organisation established to promote cooperation among African oil-producing countries through policy coordination, knowledge sharing and collaboration in the petroleum industry.

2027: Osun APC Oyetola AMBO others mobilise 10000 door-to-door canvassers for Tinubu’s re-election

Ahead of the January 2027 General Election the All Progressives Congress(APC) with Minister of Marine and Blue Economy Adegboyega Oyetola 2026 Osun guber candidate of the party Asiwaju Bola Oyebamiji (AMBO) and others have mobilised 10000 door-to-door canvassers for re-election of President Bola Tinubu.

The Chairman of the party Tajudeen Lawal made it known to newsmen on Friday that the party structure is ready to partner with Governor Ademola Adeleke who is the coordinator of the Presidential Campaign Council for Tinubu’s re-election.

Lawal added that the leadership of the party in the state has successfully mapped out various activities that would conveniently result in the realisation of the set objective of returning the APC presidential candidate in the election.

He disclosed that ‘we have mobilised about 10000 members of our party for door-to-door campaign for President Bola Tinubu to take the good deeds of his administration to the grassroots across the 30 local government areas of Osun State.

‘The reforms by the President are pruning the economy and paving the way for strong generational wealth.’

He disclosed that ‘the party structure backed by our leader Minister of Marine and Blue Economy AMBO and state executive have concluded the plan; we are going to mobilise 10000 canvassers for inauguration tomorrow in Osogbo.’

Responding to Adeleke’s leadership of PCC he said ‘It was resolved that the state APC would work with Governor Adeleke to return President Tinubu in the election.

He said ‘The leadership of the APC in the state appreciated the resolve of Governor Adeleke to work for the re-election of President Tinubu in the forthcoming presidential election.’

He enjoined him to do everything necessary in order to incorporate all the necessary stakeholders including the APC leaders and members in the interest of a desired goal.

‘We have resolved that the Osun State Chapter of the APC should continue to work and mobilise the electorate for all the candidates of the party for the National Assembly and the state House of Assembly in the forthcoming elections.’

Part of the resolutions at the meeting was that the APC should set up a campaign council saddled with the campaign for the National Assembly and the House of Assembly candidates of the APC.

It was also resolved at the meeting that the party structures at all the levels should be used to drive all the party activities for all the upcoming elections.

2027: ‘God will do it again’, Yari resorts to prayers for Tinubu

?The All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council (APC-PCC) has said God who granted President Bola Ahmed Tinubu victory in 2023 will make Nigerians re-elect him for a second term.

?Speaking with journalists in Mecca, Saudi Arabia-where he joined President Tinubu and other prominent Nigerians for the Umrah pilgrimage-former Zamfara State Governor and DG of the APC-PCC, Senator Abdulaziz Yari, expressed complete confidence in the party’s campaign strategy and divine favour.

?Yari’s comments followed Tinubu’s media chat in Saudi Arabia, where the President stated his firm reliance on God for a second-term victory.

?’I believe that Allah’s wish in His court must prevail. And there’s no other God but Allah,’ Tinubu declared. ‘Allah is the only one who can define a human being, what he will be, and what he will become.’

?Building on the President’s remarks, Senator Yari emphasized that President Tinubu’s faith, track record, and the campaign council’s outreach efforts would be the decisive factors in securing victory at the polls.

?’That’s what makes a leader,’ Yari stated. ‘He first prayed for the country, prayed for every Nigerian, and noted that God selects leaders. He depends on Allah to do it for him as He did in 2023.’

?Yari added that the campaign team would actively engage the electorate by showcasing the administration’s achievements.

‘Allah says we should work through all the procedures-to campaign, to talk to people, to convince them, and to show them what we have done and achieved. By God’s grace, people will be convinced to elect us once again.’

Subjects we find interesting in school

Students have a wide range of interests in the subjects they are taught at school. This interest, if sustained, helps them to develop a love for the subjects, even beyond secondary school. OLANIYAN LUKMAN spoke to some Ibadan secondary school students about the subjects they find interesting and why. Their views.

Samson Badmus, 15 years old

The English topic I find most interesting is essay writing. I enjoy learning about it because it teaches me how to express my thoughts and ideas clearly through writing. I learned that an essay consists of three main parts: the introduction, the body, and the conclusion. The introduction presents the topic, the body explains the main points, and the conclusion summarises the essay. I also learned how to organise my ideas, use correct grammar, and arrange sentences into meaningful paragraphs. This topic has helped me improve my writing skills and build my confidence in English.

Olatunji Muheez, 13years old

The biology topic I find interesting is learning about living things and how they function. I enjoy biology because it helps me understand more about plants, animals, and the human body. Biology is the study of living organisms and their interactions with the environment. It is also about the different parts of living things, how they grow, reproduce, and survive. Biology increases my knowledge of nature and how our bodies work. It also helps me understand the importance of taking care of our health, protecting the environment, and appreciating the world around me.

Peter Akiola, 14 years old

The new topic I was taught and found interesting is Agriculture. It is interesting because it teaches about farming, growing crops, and rearing animals. I learned that agriculture provides food, raw materials, and employment opportunities for people. I also learned about the importance of soil preparation, planting, irrigation, and harvesting. Agriculture is important because it helps to feed people and contributes to the development of the economy.

Olaniyan Hassan, 12 years old

The new topic I find interesting is Computer Science because it teaches about computers, technology, and how they work. I learned that computers help us solve problems, communicate with others, store information, and perform different tasks. I also learned that computer science involves programming, software development, and problem-solving. This topic increased my interest in technology and helped me understand the importance of computers in our daily lives.

Peter Success, 14 years old

The new topic I find interesting is Economics. I found this topic interesting because it taught me how people use their resources to satisfy their needs and wants. I learned about demand and supply, production, consumption, and the importance of money. I also learned how individuals, businesses, and governments make economic decisions. This topic helped me understand how the economy works and how economics affects our daily lives. I hope to learn more about this subject in the future.

Aishat Olaniyan, 15 years old

I find Mathematics interesting because it solves problems using numbers, formulas, and calculations. I learned about addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, fractions, and algebra. I also learned that mathematics helps us develop logical thinking and problem-solving skills. Mathematics is important in our daily lives because we use it when counting money, measuring things, shopping, and calculating time.