Author: user user

My rear passenger windows roll down by themselves when the car is parked in the sun. Could heat be affecting the electronics or switches? Is this a sign that my car’s wiring is failing, and could it drain the battery or even start a fire if left unchecked? Emmanuel

Hello Emmanuel, it is abnormal for passenger windows to roll themselves down while your car is parked in the sun. Whereas heat may be affecting the electronics or switch gear, there is a likely connection with a short circuit, and it is important to find out what is causing it.

There are three likely causes of the unauthorised car window roll-down: A faulty relay or shorting wire harness, a damaged or faulty driver master window switch, and a faulty window control module. Extreme heat, such as that from direct sunlight, can damage insulation or expand connectors of wire harnesses. This causes cross-flow of current, which can run the window motors. In the event that there is some moisture or corrosion build-up in the door harness connectors, usually caused by soapy water from jet car washing, it will cause short circuits that can give unauthorised signals to operate the window motors.

An inspection of the wiring harness by a qualified car electrician should be able to identify whether the short circuit is caused by the harness connectors or the relay box, to stop the unauthorised window roll-down.

Accumulation of moisture, dirt, or heat-driven expansion of plastic components of the master switch, especially in older cars, can cause unexpected roll-down of the windows, especially during the hottest part of the day.

This can be resolved by a mechanic removing the door card to inspect and clean the master switch contacts or replace them where necessary. A faulty window control module or convenience system remote can cause unintended window roll-down. Many vehicles today are designed with a convenience feature that allows you to remotely open all windows on a very hot day to allow the car to cool down before you enter it.

This feature can malfunction in the event that your remote is damaged and buttons stick, especially during a hot day, or the control module has short circuits due to moisture-driven corrosion or dirt build-up. A careful examination of the remote fob and internal control module can identify what is faulty for repair or replacement.

Intermittent, unintended roll-down of windows is a sign that there is something wrong with the window circuits, controllers, or switches, and it is an indication that there are circuits that continue to run power even when you have switched off the car. This situation is called parasitic draw of power, which will drain your car battery over time and weaken or damage it.

A faltering battery during a cold start or warm window switches is a sign of parasitic power draw. A technician can investigate this with the right tools and find the cause. Any short circuit can cause heat build-up and, in extreme cases, start a fire. Short circuits should be fixed as soon as they are identified to avoid accidental fire outbreaks.

As HIV/AIDs continues to spread among young Ugandans, local leaders in Hoima District have asked the government to allow and promote the use of the virus testing strips among younger women and adolescent girls who are disproportionately affected by the epidemic in the area.

The district vice chairperson, Hellen Mulumba, said that although several interventions have been put in place to reduce the spread of the disease among teenagers, little has been fully achieved.

‘It can be easy for a boy child to buy a condom and move with it, but it may not be easy for a girl child to go to any pharmacy to ask for a condom. It can be easy for a girl child to buy HIV testing strips and move with them,’ she noted.

She said if such a process is implemented, it will help to prevent HIV in secondary school, especially in that age bracket of 16 to 20 years. She expressed concern.

“We have school-going children who are born with HIV, the AIDS virus. Still, they are on medication, their colleagues are at school and not aware that their colleagues are on medication, and in the process, they engage in sexual acts without knowledge of how to test themselves,” she said.

“Let’s introduce that method of self-test in those schools to curb the spread of the disease among the youth,’ Ms Mulumba urged during an awareness campaign dubbed ‘Sexual exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment’ at Hoima Youth Centre.

The campaign is being piloted in the three districts of Hoima, Nakaseke, and Buikwe, funded by the Global Fund and implemented by The Aids support Organisation (TASO)-Uganda, after realising that the growing sexual abuse and exploitation are retarding the efforts made towards fighting HIV/AIDS.

The HIV prevalence rate for Hoima district was estimated to be 4.2 percent, according to their 2023 statistics. But recent reports from early 2025 cite a higher rate of 9.6 per cent.

These figures are higher than the national average of 5 percent, with the higher rate being linked to an increase in the influx of people due to oil and gas exploration in the area.

She said that one of the drivers of HIV/AIDS spread is the fishing communities.

‘We have communities where we have no schools or health facilities. You find when they are sleeping in a hut, accommodating over 10 family members, in just one room, the parents are bossy there, the children are all sharing the same hut, there is no privacy,’ she lamented.

The senior Technical Advisor for prevention at the Aids Support Organisation (TASO) Uganda, Ms Irene Murungi, said that during the campaign carried out in the three districts of Hoima, Nakaseke, and Buikwe, they have compiled cases of sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment, and action will be taken as a measure to end the vice.

She rallied religious leaders to join the fight to prevent the spread of the virus.

‘What is very common in the three districts is the indifference of religious institutions that are expected to play a critical role. So our call is to them to amplify the voice in seeing how best they can support and protect the people they work with,’ Ms Murungi added.

However, the director of Planning at the Uganda Aids commission, Dr Vincent Bagambe, said curbing HIV/AIDS spread requires a combination of interventions for the country to succeed.

‘There is no magic in the fight against HIV/aids spread, all the interventions should be followed. ‘Abstain, Be faithful and/or use a Condom’ is a sex education strategy known as the ABC model that must be promoted,’ Dr Bagambe said.

Cricket, for decades, has been a squatter in its own country. Lugogo Oval – the spiritual home – became a victim of music shows, political rallies, carnivals and all manners of non-sport events that increasingly destroyed the sacred square.

Kyambogo was run down after UCA’s lease expired with the authorities seemingly favouring other disciplines over Gentleman’s Game. It was football, rugby, an army camp and corporate events that took over the University Oval.

Entebbe Golf Course Oval has primary been carrying the nation’s international commitments and burden courtesy of Entebbe Club’s goodwill.Now that dynamic has finally changed. Cricket Uganda (CU) has officially secured 15 acres of land in Nakasajja – Gayaza.

For the first time, Ugandan cricket will build its own facilities, on its own land, without begging for space.

‘This is a monumental achievement for the cricket fraternity,’ CU chairman Jackson Kavuma told Daily Monitor.

‘The Board backed each other and supported each other through this. Credit to CEO Evelyn Kabongerwa Shinyekwa and her team who spent months combing for legitimate land – land without encumbrances and squatters.

“All due diligence reports passed. Now we can move.’

Steady hands

Land Board chairman Ketan Shukla said getting the land was brutal but the breakthrough is massive. ‘We had problems getting the land and we’re happy that we have finally got it,’ Shukla said.

‘We will now look for partners to get combined efforts. The difference is that this time we go to people with land in hand. They will listen.’CEO Kabongerwa revealed the search took intelligence, patience and networks.

‘We worked with Richard Okia and involved several other sourcing channels, and visited multiple sites.’ she said.

‘This particular acre-age is sports-conducive, naturally flat, and has a natural stream which is a perfect catchment for water harvesting.’Former international Okia, who led the search, added:

‘We viewed many sites since October 2025. When we saw this one, the sports potential spoke for itself. The Board members who inspected it were unanimously satisfied.’

Game changer

The significance is enormous. First, CU will now stop paying rent for office space. The association will finally work, plan, develop, strategise and implement from a home that it owns. Secondly, CU will no longer be subject to begging for calendar space.

It will operate and manage its own two international-standard ovals and, consequently, have full control of its hosting schedules.

With this land comes the birth of a High Performance Centre (HPC) which will not only be a game factory for local talent but also a magnet for foreign players, foreign teams and regional academies that can come, train, camp and actually pay for the services. UCA will earn from it.

Thirdly, Uganda will now go to ICC tender tables with confidence. The ability to bid for – and actually win – hosting rights for major ICC pathway tournaments will now stop being a wish.

It becomes viable because the sport will control its own facility without interference from third party event managers.

Local effect

Locally, the development spread is poised to ripple right through Nakasajja, Gayaza, Kasangati, Kira, Bulindo and the surrounding belt with obvious social-economic spin-offs.

Restaurants, bars, catering, transport, rooming, water business, boda-boda movement, merchandisers and support service companies will emerge around cricket activity.

Jobs will be created. A village will transform. Most importantly, Ugandan cricket has finally divorced the pain of watching its sacred squares vandalised, overrun and compromised by events that have nothing to do with sport. Historic is not an exaggeration.

This is unquestionably the biggest cricket development milestone since the Cricket Cranes qualified for a global World Cup.

QUICK FACTS

HOME OF CRICKET LAND ACQUISITION

Land Size: 15 Acres

Location: Nakasajja – Gayaza

Distance From Lugogo Hq: 27 Kilometres

Distance From Nakasajja Trading Centre: 1 Kilometre

Time Span of Search: 20+ Years

Land Search Reignited: October 2024

Number Of Sites Viewed: 7 (3 in Nakasajja, 1 in Gayaza, 1 in Mukono and 2 in Kalagi)

Final Site Decision Date: October 1, 2025 (Unanimous Technical Recommendation)

Board Approval Date: October 6, 2025 (Board Members Green-Lit Site)

Details Discussed with Land Owner: October 14, 2025

Contract Signed and Payment Plan Made: November 1, 2025 (Lugogo)

KEY FEATURES:

Natural stream on site ? water harvesting potential

Sports-friendly terrain ? naturally flat acreage

Natural pine and vegetation ? ideal watershed and scenery

No Encumbrances ? Passed environmental checks, boundary survey, and due diligence.

NEXT PHASE: Development of two international-standard cricket ovals + supporting facilities.

TALKING POINT

Game economics

Finally. A high performance centre on owned land means cricket can make its own money – not beg for it. It will host academies, coaching camps, physiotherapy clinics, strength and conditioning programmes, women’s cricket residencies and even international tournaments.

27 kilometresThat is the distance from Lugogo to the new land. Not too far for Kampala. Not too near for encroachers to interfere. Perfect middle.

Animals respond to injury in many ways. So far, evidence for animals tending wounds with biologically active materials is rare. Yet, a recent study of an orangutan treating a wound with a medicinal plant provides a promising lead.

Chimpanzees, for example, are known to lick their wounds and sometimes press leaves onto them, but these behaviours are still only partly understood. We still do not know how often these actions occur, whether they are deliberate, or how inventive chimpanzees can be when responding to wounds.

Recent field observations in Uganda, east Africa, are now revealing intriguing insights into how these animals cope with wounds.

As a primatologist, I am fascinated by the cognitive and social lives of chimpanzees, and by what sickness-related behaviours can reveal about the evolutionary origins of care and empathy in people. Chimpanzees are among our closest living relatives, and we can learn so much about ourselves through understanding them.

In our research based in Kibale National Park, Uganda, chimpanzees have been seen applying insects to their own open wounds on five occasions, and in one case to another individual.

Behaviours like insect application show that chimpanzees are not passive when wounded. They experiment with their environment, sometimes alone and occasionally with others. While we should not jump too quickly to call this ‘medicine’, it does show that they are capable of responding to wounds in inventive and sometimes cooperative ways.

Each new insight adds reveals more about chimpanzees, offering glimpses into the shared evolutionary roots of our own responses to injury and caregiving instincts.

First catch your insect

We saw the insect applications by chance while observing and recording their behaviour in the forest, but paid special attention to chimpanzees with open wounds.

In all observed cases, the sequence of actions seemed deliberate. A chimpanzee caught an unidentified flying insect, immobilised it between lips or fingers, and pressed it directly onto an open wound. The same insect was sometimes reapplied several times, occasionally after being held briefly in the mouth, before being discarded. Other chimpanzees occasionally watched the process closely, seemingly with curiosity.

Most often the behaviour was directed at the chimpanzee’s own open wound. However, in one rare instance, an adolescent female applied an insect to her brother’s wound. A study on the same community has shown that chimpanzees also dab the wounds of unrelated members with leaves, prompting the question of whether insect application of these chimpanzees, too, might extend beyond family members. Acts of care, whether directed towards family or others, can reveal the early foundations of empathy and cooperation.

The observed sequence closely resembles the insect applications seen in Central chimpanzees in Gabon, Africa. The similarity suggests that insect application may represent a more widespread behaviour performed by chimpanzee than previously recognised.

The finding from Kibale National Park broadens our view of how chimpanzees respond to wounds. Rather than leaving wounds unattended, they sometimes act in ways that appear deliberate and targeted.

Chimpanzee first aid?

The obvious question is what function this behaviour might serve. We know that chimpanzees deliberately use plants in ways that can improve their health: swallowing rough leaves that help expel intestinal parasites or chewing bitter shoots with possible anti-parasitic effects.

Insects, however, are a different matter. Pressing insects onto wounds has not yet been shown to speed up healing or reduce infection. Many insects do produce antimicrobial or anti-inflammatory substances, so the possibility is there, but scientific testing is still needed.

For now, what we can say is that the behaviour appears to be targeted, patterned and deliberate. The single case of an insect being applied to another individual is especially intriguing. Chimpanzees are highly social animals, but active helping is relatively rare. Alongside well-known behaviours such as grooming, food sharing, and support in fights, applying an insect to a sibling’s wound hints at another form of care, one that goes beyond maintaining relationships to possibly improving the other’s physical condition.

Big questions

This behaviour leaves us with some big questions. If insect application proves medicative, it could explain why chimpanzees do it. This in turn raises the question of how the behaviour arises in the first place: do chimpanzees learn it by observing others, or does it emerge more spontaneously? From there arises the question of selectivity – are they choosing particular flying insects, and if so, do others in the group learn to select the same ones?

In human traditional medicine (entomotherapy), flying insects such as honeybees and blowflies are valued for their antimicrobial or anti-inflammatory effects. Whether the insects applied by chimpanzees provide similar benefits is still to be investigated.

Finally, if chimpanzees are indeed applying insects with medicinal value and sometimes placing them on the wounds of others, this could represent active helping and even prosocial behaviour. (The term is used to describe behaviours that benefit others rather than the individual performing them.)

Watching chimpanzees in Kibale National Park immobilise a flying insect and gently press it onto an open wound reminds us how much there is still to learn about their abilities. It also adds to the growing evidence that the roots of care and healing behaviours extend much further back in evolutionary time.

If insect applications prove to be medicinal, this adds to the importance of safeguarding chimpanzees and their habitats. In turn, these habitats protect the insects that can contribute to chimpanzee well-being.

National Unity Platform (NUP) presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, aka Bobi Wine, has pledged to unite Ugandans if elected, even as his campaign faced disruptions in Kiruhura and Kazo districts yesterday. Mr Kyagulanyi was only able to hold a rally at Kazo Model Playground after security personnel allegedly confiscated the public address system in Rushere Town Council, Kiruhura District.

At his first stop in Sanga Town Council, supporters clashed with NRM backers carrying sticks, leaving several people injured. In Kazo, NRM supporters were allegedly intimidating NUP members attempting to put up campaign posters. ‘Our posters were all removed and replaced by NRM. It is this day where we have to campaign, but they are stopping us. We call upon the people of Kazo to show support to our presidential candidate,’ said Ms Bridget Kugonza, the NUP deputy mobiliser for the western region.

NUP supporters accused NRM members of tearing down Bobi Wine’s posters placed at the Kazo roundabout and other locations. Commenting on the conduct, Mr Alex Baryamujura urged the Electoral Commission to educate the public on electoral laws. ‘People are not educated on elections. How can you remove posters for a certain candidate? This is not good. Others should have the opportunity to express themselves,’ he said.

‘A new Uganda’

Despite the challenges, Mr Kyagulanyi addressed supporters at Kazo Model Playground alongside his wife, Ms Barbra Itungo, NUP treasurer Benjamin Katana, and other party leaders. He reiterated his vision of a united Uganda where all citizens are equal ‘I come to represent a new generation. We want a Uganda without discrimination. Let me tell you, the people of Ankole, this regime has used tribal cards, saying that if you vote for Bobi Wine, he will mistreat non-Baganda. Is my wife a Muganda?’ he said.

Mr Kyagulanyi criticised the reported confiscation of his public address system in Kiruhura, saying it hindered his rally there. ‘In the new Uganda, every Ugandan will be equal. We want national unity. In past regimes, some communities faced marginalisation, but that will never happen again,’ he said. He also highlighted infrastructural and governance issues across the country. ‘I travelled through Ankole on poor roads. Uganda now belongs to a few people, but we want to bring a new Uganda that works for everybody,’ Mr Kyagulanyi said.

On the method of political change, Mr Kyagulanyi stressed a peaceful transition. ‘We do not want to remove the President with a gun. We want him to leave power peacefully and enjoy the good Uganda we will have created,’ he said.

When approached for a comment, Rwizi Region Police spokesperson Samson Kasasira said allegations against security personnel should be formally reported.

‘Those are issues, we cannot know unless reported. Some are exaggerated. Let them report, and we will investigate,’ he said.

The Prosecutor’s Office of the International Criminal Court (ICC) has welcomed the Pre-Trial Chamber II’s decision confirming all 39 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity against Ugandan warlord, Joseph Kony.

The charges comprise seven attacks on former Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps, the attack on the Lwala Girls Secondary School, and the systemic abductions and severe mistreatment of thousands of children, women and girls. This is the first time that an ICC Pre-Trial Chamber has confirmed charges against a suspect in absentia.

The decision follows the confirmation of charges hearing held in Mr Kony’s absence on September 9-10, 2025.

The development is a crucial step in holding Kony, leader of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) rebels, accountable for the two-decade grave crimes attributed to him. After completion of this stage of the proceedings, the case will now proceed to the trial chamber. This ensures that Kony – once arrested – can immediately face trial on these charges.

The Office of the Prosecutor reiterated its unwavering commitment to pursuing justice for the victims of the crimes of the LRA and affected communities in northern Uganda.

‘We will continue to work with partners and States to ensure that Mr Kony is arrested and brought before the Court to face trial,’ reads a statement from the prosecutor’s office.

In its decision, the PTC found that there are substantial grounds to believe that the elusive rebel commander is responsible for the charged crimes, and that the case should therefore be transferred to trial. The decision is based on the evidence collected as part of a thorough investigation and the presentation of the Prosecution’s case in both written and oral submissions.

There are reportedly substantial grounds to believe that Kony is individually responsible for the enslavement and torture of thousands of women and children. It further confirmed that there are substantial grounds to believe that hundreds of women and girls were raped while in LRA captivity.

Further, the PTC accepted the charge of persecution on the grounds of the age of hundreds of children targeted by the LRA. In line with its Policies on Gender-based crimes and on Children, the effective investigation and prosecution of gender-based crimes and crimes against children is a strategic priority of the Office.

Efforts to track and secure Kony’s arrest remain ongoing. The Office once again calls on all States and relevant partners to intensify their cooperation in executing the outstanding arrest warrant issued in 2005.

Following the conclusion of the nomination exercise last month, several aspiring Members of Parliament (MPs) in the Bukedi Sub-region have launched their manifestos for the 2026 General Election. From Budaka to Kibuku, Pallisa to Butebo, the candidates are pledging to address what they call the key problems slowing down community development. Campaigns across the region have now gained momentum, with parliamentary hopefuls making big promises to improve roads, schools, health services, and tackle youth unemployment.

Iki-Iki

Mr Dauson Nabucha, the National Unity Platform (NUP) flag-bearer for Iki-Iki County in Budaka District, said he plans to revive agriculture to boost household incomes. ‘We are in a race not to enrich ourselves but to serve the people. A good leader must direct the community on what to do that could benefit them. Agriculture is the backbone of this region,’ Mr Nabucha said. He added: ‘Our communities have stayed in a vicious cycle of poverty not because of their own making but because of lack of guidance and support, and it is the reason I have joined the race to offer good leadership.’

Mr Nabucha noted that he will encourage people to diversify into projects such as poultry, piggery, and cattle keeping, supported by agricultural extension workers. He also plans to promote the use of fertilisers and improved seeds. He added that he will lobby for tractors to promote mechanised farming, boost productivity, and help farmers engage in commercial agriculture. On health, Mr Nabucha said many health centres are poorly equipped, often lack medicines, and do not have enough staff to handle the large number of patients.

‘I will lobby for Iki-Iki Health Centre IV to be upgraded to a general hospital and have health facilities fully stocked with essential drugs,’ Mr Nabucha said.

The Iki-Iki County MP aspirant said he will advocate for a salary increment for teachers. ‘The government should invest heavily in the teachers’ welfare to have quality education. All these are possible if people have good representation,’ he said. Mr Nabucha said he will also push for routine inspection of schools to identify challenges and solutions.

‘If I carry out a feasibility study, it will guide me to identify these challenges at all levels, both primary and secondary, because I could have diagnosed before seeking treatment,’ he said. He added that he will push for the cattle compensation programme since many residents lost their animals during insurgencies in the area. On unemployment, Mr Nabucha said he plans to establish a skilling centre and provide start-up funds to trainees after completing their courses, saying this will help change people’s mindset towards self-employment.

The incumbent Iki-Iki MP, Mr Robert Kasolo, who is contesting as an Independent after losing the National Resistance Movement (NRM) ticket during the party primaries, said he has supported several schools, health centres, and sports activities in his area. On roads, Mr Kasolo pledged to continue lobbying the government to tarmac roads such as the Kamonkoli-Kabwangasi road, which he said is in a poor state and often impassable. ‘I promise to serve them effectively and also promote unity as it has been,’ he said.

He urged the people to desist from the politics of divisions. Mr Swaibu Abdul Kampanya, who seeking to represent the people of Iki-Iki on the NRM ticket, said he intends to address the concerns of the people. Former Iki-Iki MP, Mr Jeremiah Twa-Twa, who has returned to the race as an Independent candidate, said he wants to revive what has collapsed since he left office. He said the school feeding programme he introduced during his previous term has since fallen apart. ‘We had initiated this programme to improve the academic performance, but since I was shown the exit, the school feeding programme collapsed. But if mandated again, I will revamp the programme,’ Dr Twa-Twa said.

He also pledged to revamp the vegetable growing projects that he had also initiated during his term to address the issue of food insecurity.

Another aspirant, Mr Sam Gagi Mujomba, described Iki-Iki County as a sick-bay that needs to be put in intensive care in order to save the lives of people.

Mr Mujomba also noted that the poverty situation in Iki-Iki County is so worrying, and needs effective leadership that could guide and support the communities to engage in viable enterprises.

‘The youth unemployment could be addressed with the establishment of a vocational skills centre. People should look out for a capable leader who can drive their agenda in the right direction,’ he said.

Butebo

The incumbent Butebo District Woman MP, Ms Agnes Amede, who is seeking re-election on the National Resistance Movement (NRM) ticket, said her third term will focus on improving key social services such as health, education, and roads, as well as supporting vulnerable women with income-generating projects. She pledged to ensure areas without electricity are connected to the national power grid and to follow up on the tarmacking of the Ladoto-Nakaloke road. ‘The President had pledged to have this road tarmacked, but I will have to continue reminding the government to fulfil this pledge,’ Ms Amede said.

She added: ‘I have offered good representation in Parliament and in tandem with projects initiated on the ground, are visible. It’s from this background that the people of Butebo still have trust in my leadership’. Ms Amede said she will set up an irrigation scheme in Kachulu to support women groups to continue planting vegetables, which could earn them money and also as a source of food for home consumption.

She added that many Savings and Credit Cooperative Organisations (Saccos) have been trained in partnership with Microfinance Support Centre to enable them benefit from various government projects like Emyooga and the Parish Development Model (PDM). ‘I have personally supported the people of Butebo with various interventions in all sectors. This is why people will still vote me back to Parliament,’ she said.

Budaka

Ms Stella Namutamba, an Independent candidate seeking the Budaka District Woman MP seat, pledged to address the collapsing and declining education standards in the district. She promised to prioritise education by improving school infrastructure and advocating for more classrooms and desks. ‘The education standard has drastically declined to a level of structures evidently collapsing,’ she said. On health, she said the entire system is ‘broken’ and requires urgent attention.

Ms Namutamba also pledged to lobby for the establishment of an industrial hub in the district to address market and unemployment challenges. Ms Hajira Musenero (Independent), also seeking the Budaka District Woman MP seat, said improving health services is one of her top priorities. Mr Joshua Kasibo (Independent), who is trying for the fourth time to represent the people of Budaka County in Budaka District, said his main focus will be to fight the ‘nkolera kida kyonka’ attitude – a local phrase meaning working only for the stomach – by promoting income-generating projects.

‘I have come to work for the people rather than enriching myself. We need to overhaul the situation right from health, education, and roads because the situation is so bad. This can be attributed to poor leadership,’ he said. He added: ‘I am a tested leader and parliamentary material who has shown that I have that capacity to deliver to the people’s expectation. We are tired of sleeping MPs who only wake up to seek re-election.’

Mr Moses Goire (NRM), who is seeking to represent the people of Budaka County in Budaka District, has promised to promote unity among people at all levels.

‘We have to implement the NRM manifesto to serve the people better. Notwithstanding, we shall also establish income-generating projects to empower communities to drive out of poverty,’ Mr Goire said.

Kibuku

The incumbent Kibuku District Woman MP, Ms Jennipher Namuyangu, who is running as an Independent after losing in the NRM party primaries, said what she has done in the district speaks volumes Ms Namuyangu, who is also the Minister of State for Bunyoro Affairs, explained that just like in most areas, health, roads, education, income generating projects have transformed communities. ‘It is from this background that the people of Kibuku still have that confidence of voting me back to Parliament. Much as I lost the NRM ticket, those elections were a sham,’ she said.

Ms Namuyangu urged the communities to embrace commercial farming by engaging trainers to train them on viable enterprises like fish farming, poultry and many others. Mr Charles Tamwenya, who is seeking to represent the people of Kibuku County on the NRM ticket, noted that he will implement the NRM manifesto.

Kabweri County

Mr Mathias Daka, an Independent candidate for the Kabweri County MP seat in Kibuku District, pledged to fight for the vulnerable, including orphans and widows.

He also pledged to prioritise road construction and maintenance to ease transport challenge in the largely rural district. ‘Once we improve the learning environment, it will help to reduce drop-outs, especially among girls. This is why I appeal to voters to entrust me and vote me to serve them,’ he said.

Mr Patrick Wakida, who is contesting for Kabweri County MP seat on the NRM ticket, said his priority areas are education, poverty reduction, youth unemployment, roads, health, which he says are the most key. ‘The people of Kabweri County and Kibuku in general have been grappling with these concerns because of the poor leadership but once I am entrusted with that mandate, we will see a fundamental change,’ Mr Wakida said.

EC comments

The Budaka District Returning Officer, Ms Norah Lunyoro, said a total of 19 candidates were nominated during the two days of nominations.

She, however, urged the candidates to avoid open campaigns until the harmonisation process is completed. Ms Lunyoro also commended all stakeholders for maintaining law and order.

‘During the two-day exercise, the EC didn’t register any major incident or challenge. The exercise was smooth and was completed in time,’Ms Lunyoro said.

The Court of Appeal in Kampala has upheld a High Court decision that ordered Imperial Royale Hotel Limited to refund USD 1,464,363.81 (about Shs5.5billion) to the government of Uganda for breach of contract over the provision of accommodation and conference facilities during the 2007 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (Chogm).

In a unanimous ruling, delivered by Justices Moses Kazibwe Kawumi, Irene Mulyagonja, and Oscar John Kihika, the court confirmed that the hotel was not ready for occupation during the agreed period and therefore, failed to fulfil its contractual obligations.

The court also maintained the High Court’s award of Shs800 million in general damages to the government, with interest and costs.

Justice Kawumi, who wrote the lead judgment, methodically addressed each ground and found no merit in the appeal.

On the question of readiness, Justice Kawumi noted that the hotel failed to demonstrate it was operational during the agreed period.

‘The trial judge correctly evaluated the law and evidence when he found that the hotel was not ready for occupation over the period of October 26, 2007, to November 18, 2007 and that therefore, the appellant was in breach of the contract,’ he held.

Regarding the occupation permit presented by the hotel as evidence of completion, the judge found it unreliable.

‘After a careful re-evaluation of the evidence, I would come to the conclusion that the occupation permit was issued without considering what was on ground,’ Justice Kawumi ruled, concurring with testimony from a Kampala Capital City Authority official who challenged its authenticity.

The court also rejected the argument that the hotel could not have carried out construction during the CHOGM event because of security cordons. Justice Kawumi observed that this defence was never pleaded in the hotel’s written statement of defence and thus could not be raised on appeal.

The court further upheld the High Court’s finding that the hotel breached the contract by charging higher rates than those agreed in the addendum. Evidence from the audit report by Messrs Johnson and Nyende showed that executive rooms were billed at USD 433.65 instead of the agreed USD 350 per night.

‘The charge was contrary to the clear provision of the addendum which was admitted as an exhibit and thus confirming the respondent’s grievance in the plaint, that there was a breach of contract,’ Justice Kawumi stated.

The Court of Appeal also dismissed the hotel’s reliance on an email allegedly sent by Mr. Hirji to the then Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, complaining about the absence of guests.

The justices held that the contract expressly required communication through the Executive Director of the CHOGM 2007 Secretariat and by postal address, not email.

‘The appellant’s failure to express its grievance to the contact person amounted to non-communication,’ the court held.

Having failed on all grounds, the Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal and upheld the High Court’s judgment in full.

‘The appeal ought to be dismissed and the orders of the High Court upheld,’ ruled Justice Kawumi.

In 2009, the Attorney General sued Imperial Royale Hotel seeking recovery of funds paid for unutilised rooms and incomplete facilities. According to court records, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had entered into an agreement with the hotel on June 15, 2007, and an addendum on September 10, 2007, to provide accommodation and conference facilities at a total cost of USD 2,566,849.

The government alleged that the hotel failed to complete the facilities in time for CHOGM 2007, rendering them unfit for occupation between October 26 and November 18, 2007, contrary to the contract. As a result, the government sought a refund of USD 1,464,363.81, representing payment for unutilised services.

Imperial Royale Hotel, through its managing director Karim Hirji, denied the claims, insisting that the facilities were ready for use by October 24, 2007. The hotel argued that any loss incurred arose from the government’s failure to utilise the booked rooms, not from any breach on its part.

High Court Decision

In February 2016, Justice Peter Adonyo , who was then at the High Court Commercial Division ruled that the hotel had not been ready to receive guests before November 18, 2007. The court held the hotel liable to refund the government USD 1.46 million, pay Shs 800 million in general damages, and meet the costs of the suit.

Unhappy with the decision, Imperial Royale appealed on six grounds, arguing that the trial judge erred in finding the hotel unready for occupation, disregarded discrepancies in audit reports, and ignored the occupation permit showing completion. The hotel also accused the trial judge of shifting the burden of proof and relying on inadmissible evidence.

The appeal was argued by Mr Timothy Lugayizi for the hotel, while Mr George Kallemera, a Commissioner in the Attorney General’s Chambers, represented the government.

Imperial Royale Hotel is now liable to refund USD 1.46 million to the government, pay Shs 800 million in general damages, and cover the costs of the case at both the High Court and Court of Appeal.

When Wasswa Bbosa’s gritty Kitara side walks onto the Kadiba turf on Thursday to face Zeljko Kovacevic’s counterattack-obsessed SC Villa, it won’t just be another StarTimes Uganda Premier League fixture – it will be a meeting steeped in tactical contrast, growing rivalry, and a test of nerves.

Both sides are unbeaten in their last three outings – a sign of steady progress and growing confidence as the new league season takes shape.

The tension goes beyond the numbers. Bbosa once patrolled the Villa touchline but was never fully embraced due to his deep Express roots. Tonight, he returns as the enemy, facing a club whose fans still measure their identity through tradition and success.

For Kovacevic, the Serbian tactician guiding Villa’s resurgence, this is another opportunity to cement his philosophy – one built on patient buildup, precision, and total control.

Villa’s recent 3-0 dismantling of Buhimba United reflected that identity. Reagan Mpande’s cheeky lob and fine team goal, plus Aslam Ssemakula’s finish from David Owori’s corner, showcased both individual brilliance and collective sharpness.

Kovacevic’s side moves the ball quickly, presses high, and thrives on orchestrating attacks through a team unit controlled tempo.

Stern test

Kitara, meanwhile, continue to embody Bbosa’s trademark steel. Their 4-0 hammering of Lugazi was a reminder of his tactical pragmatism – structured defending, lightning counters, and improved finishing.

Patrick Kaddu led from the front with a brace, while Yunus Sibira and Gaddafi Wahab – scorer of a stunning corner kick goal – highlighted the team’s variety in attack.

At Kadiba, the duel will pit possession against pragmatism, tactical control versus aggression. Kovacevic’s midfield triangle must resist Kitara’s pressing traps, while Bbosa’s backline must contain the movement and flair of Mpande and company.

Beyond tactics, pride and narrative loom large – the ex-Villa coach seeking redemption versus the new man restoring lost glory.

Gunfire in Bombo

And earlier at Bombo Barracks, the ‘battle of the armed forces’ promises another tight affair as Paul Kiwanuka’s UPDF, 14th with three points from four games, host Matia Lule’s Police, fourth with eight points.

It’s a clash too close to call, though UPDF must keep a wary eye on Police’s red-hot striker Bedia Ikamba.

The Congolese forward has taken the league by storm, netting four goals in as many starts – including a dazzling winner against Maroons that left defender Boris Onegi sprawling.

With a silky first touch, clever footwork, and clinical finishing, Ikamba is the danger man UPDF must tame if they hope to stop the Cops’ surge.

StarTimes Uganda Premier League

Thursday

UPDF vs. Police, 4pm

SC Villa vs. Kitara,8pm

Uganda’s construction sector inflation slowed down to 0.4% in September 2025, compared to 0.7% in August, according to the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS).

The decrease was mainly driven by a slowdown in the inflation of residential building construction, which dropped to 0.4% in September from 0.7% in August.

“Construction of non-residential buildings was registered at 0.4 percent in September compared to 0.5 percent in August,” UBOS data reveals. Civil engineering and works inflation also decreased to 0.4% in September from 0.7% in August, mainly due to a slowdown in road and railway construction inflation, which dropped to 0.6% from 0.7% in August.

MS Irene Musitwa, Senior Statistician for Construction Indices at UBOS, noted, “Construction sector inflation for utility projects was registered at minus 0.5 percent in September compared to 1 percent in August 2025.” She added, “The construction sector inflation of specialized construction activities was registered at 0.5 percent in September compared to 0.7 percent mainly driven by inflation of building completion and finishing which was registered at 0.3 percent in September compared to 0.5 percent the previous month.”

According to Musitwa, electrical, plumbing, and finishing inflation was registered at 0.0% in September compared to 1.5% in the previous month. Additionally, demolition and site preparation inflation was registered at 1.2% in September compared to 0.5% in the previous month.

The report also highlighted increases in sand prices (1%), eucalyptus props prices (1.1%), and timber prices (0.1%) in September. These changes indicate a shift in the construction sector’s inflation trends, with some areas experiencing slower growth and others seeing increases.

The data suggests that the construction sector is experiencing a mixed bag of inflation trends, with some areas slowing down and others picking up. This could be attributed to various factors, including changes in demand, supply chain disruptions, or shifts in global market trends.

Overall, the construction sector inflation rate of 0.4% in September indicates a slower pace of growth compared to the previous month. However, the increases in certain material prices, such as sand and eucalyptus props, may signal potential challenges ahead for the sector.