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Urban farming offers a unique blend of fulfilment and frustration. While more urban and peri-urban dwellers are enjoying the satisfaction of cultivating their own food, turning small spaces such as balconies and backyards into productive gardens, this can also come with challenges. Success in this endeavour often comes down to strategic plant mixing and a few simple gardening rules. Many urban gardeners must navigate the limitations of small plots, often working with rental properties that are typically around 50×100 feet. Despite the constraints, the reward of a thriving garden can make the effort worthwhile.

Francis Balinda, a crop technician at Mukono Zonal Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MuZARDI), shared his insights on how to get started during the recent Seeds of Gold Farm Clinic in Ntaawo, Mukono District. ‘Most people don’t need to buy greens from the market. It’s all about working with what you have and a little bit of planning goes a long way,’ Balinda says. He highlights that a key aspect of urban farming is adapting the growing space itself. Many urban gardeners are getting creative with their plots, using methods such as container gardening, which allows for a high degree of flexibility. Others are building raised beds to create controlled soil environments in their small yards. A popular and cost-effective method is the use of repurposed used car tyres as individual planting pots, which are durable and excellent for small-scale projects.

The first step, according to Balinda, is to think about your plants as a team. ‘Just like people, some plants are great companions and some are not. You want to create a plant mix that helps each other out,’ he says. One of the most enjoyable aspects of urban gardening is creating your own plant mixes. This is where you can be creative and strategic, combining plants that look great together while also providing mutual benefits like pest control or improved growth. This practice is known as companion planting. Here are some plant mix recommendations for your urban garden.

The salad bowl mix

This is a classic for a reason-it’s both beautiful and productive, and easily adapted to Ugandan kitchens. For this garden, combine leafy greens like loose-leaf lettuce or spinach with herbs such as parsley. For a more local touch, consider including nakati or dodo. You can add a “pop of colour” with radishes or dwarf cherry tomatoes. These plants have different growth habits, making them great companions. The shallow-rooted leafy greens and herbs fill out the top of the container, while radishes grow quickly underground and can be harvested before the other plants get too big. Dwarf cherry tomatoes can be grown on a trellis or stake to maximise vertical space.

This combination also provides a continuous harvest throughout the growing season.

The pizza garden mix

Perfect for the cook who wants fresh ingredients for their homemade cooking. The main event of this mix is a determinate or Tomato Ansal F1, accompanied by herbs such as basil, oregano and parsley. Basil is a renowned companion plant for tomatoes, believed to repel pests such as tomato hornworms and even improve the flavour of the tomatoes. Oregano and parsley have similar water and sunlight needs and create a nice, aromatic ground cover around the base of the tomato plant.

The three sisters

A traditional planting method that is surprisingly effective in a large container or raised bed, especially given the prevalence of maize and beans in Uganda.

This mix requires a structure like maize or a tall, sturdy sunflower for a climber such as pole beans or peas. A small, compact squash or zucchini variety serves as the ground cover. The maize or sunflower provides a natural trellis for the beans to climb. The beans, being legumes, fix nitrogen from the air and add it to the soil, which benefits the nutrient-hungry maize and squash. The large leaves of the squash plant shade the soil, helping to retain moisture and suppress weeds.

The pest-repellent mix

This mix combines plants known for their ability to deter common garden pests, reducing the need for chemical sprays. The combination includes French marigolds, herbs such as rosemary, mint, or thyme, and any susceptible vegetables like tomatoes, peppers, or cabbage. Balinda recommends French marigolds for their ability to repel nematodes (a type of microscopic worm) in the soil and to deter other flying insects. Other great options for pest control include onions and tobacco. Many herbs also have strong scents that can confuse or repel pests. He cautions: ‘Just be sure to keep mint in its own pot, as its roots are very aggressive and can quickly take over a shared container’.

Creating your own mixes

Balinda urges farmers to consider light and water needs: ‘This is the most important factor. Make sure all the plants in a single container have similar requirements for sunlight and water,’ he says. He also says that farmers should pay attention to root depth. ‘Combine plants with different root systems. For example, pair a deep-rooted tomato plant with shallow-rooted lettuce or herbs to make the best use of the available soil volume,’ he says.

Lastly, ‘don’t forget to include flowers,’ he says. They add beauty and can also attract beneficial insects that prey on garden pests. Good choices for urban gardens include nasturtiums, marigolds and alyssum. Beyond the specific mixes, Balinda says the universal dos and don’ts of urban gardening.

The ‘dos’

Balinda highlights some key ‘dos’ for urban and peri-urban gardeners. First, choose the right pot size. While it’s tempting to cram as many plants as possible into a small space, a pot that’s too small will restrict root growth. A good rule is to pick a pot at least 8-12 inches deep for most vegetables. Adding charcoal to your soil mix is a great way to improve aeration. Additionally, use a high-quality potting mix, as it’s designed to be light and well-draining, which is essential for container gardening.

It is also critical to provide adequate drainage, as every pot must have a hole at the bottom to prevent root rot. Water consistently, as containers dry out faster than garden beds, especially during the dry season. Balinda also advises creating ridges and using mulching, which are key practices for climate adaptation and help the soil retain moisture, especially during dry spells. Finally, since many urban gardeners are renting their land, it’s wise to plan for portability by using containers that can be easily moved.

The ‘don’ts’

He also warns against several common mistakes. Don’t mix plants with wildly different needs; a sun-loving herb like rosemary will not be happy in the same pot as a water-hungry fern. Additionally, don’t forget to feed your plants, as nutrients in potting soil are quickly depleted, and a regular feeding schedule with a balanced fertiliser is crucial for healthy, productive plants. Fertilising the soil with manure should always be your first priority. Balinda says spraying with chemicals should be the last resort.

He explains that plants can be resilient, and when they are diseased on a small scale, you can use natural methods. It is only when the disease is large-scale that you should use chemicals. When it comes to fungicides, Balinda explains, there are two types. He says you use a preventive fungicide when you are expecting a disease, but your plants are still healthy. In contrast, you can use a curative fungicide when your plants are already diseased. Lastly, don’t ignore pests. He advises farmers to check plants regularly for signs of aphids, mites, or other bugs and deal with them promptly using natural methods such as neem oil or insecticidal soap.

The beginner’s luck

For those just starting, this combination is forgiving and requires minimal effort. The mix features herbs such as rosemary, thyme and sage, along with flowers such as lavender or calendula. All of these plants are drought-tolerant and thrive in full sun with good drainage. They are relatively low-maintenance and resistant to many common pests and diseases. They also attract beneficial pollinators such as bees.

Government, through the National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO), has received a consignment of Jianzhou Big Ear Goats from China to enhance research and breed improvement in Uganda’s livestock sector.

The breeds which were imported in July under the FAO-China-Uganda South-South Cooperation Project Framework were cleared for release after completing the mandatory 21-day quarantine.

Officials say the goats will be used to improve the genetic potential of local breeds, enhance productivity, and support Uganda’s drive toward agro-industrialisation.

The goats were officially handed over by the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries at a ceremony held at the National Animal Genetic Resources Centre and Databank (NAGRC and DB) farm in Entebbe. Speaking at the handover, the minister of State for Animal Industry, Lt Col (Rtd) Bright Rwamirama, said the introduction of the Jianzhou Big Ear Goats marks a major step toward transforming livestock breeding in Uganda.

‘We already have some competitive breeds like the Boer from South Africa, but some of our indigenous breeds, such as Kigezi and Bitanga, do not gain sufficient weight,’ Mr Rwamirama said. ‘With this new breed from China, we will conduct research to determine whether they truly are ‘wonder goats.’ If proven, we will import more and make them accessible to farmers across the country,’ he said.

Col Rwamirama recalled how Uganda once failed to meet an international demand for goat exports due to limited supply, noting that high-yielding breeds are crucial for sustaining export markets and achieving food security. ‘We are no longer talking about just production but productivity, because our population is growing while land remains static. We must, therefore, adopt improved breeds that give better returns within shorter periods,’ he added

Three main breeds

While receiving the goats on behalf of NARO, Dr Swidiq Mugerwa, the deputy director general for Research, said the Jianzhou Big Ear Goats are renowned for their fast growth rate and high meat yield, reaching up to 45kgs in only 18 months.

‘The purpose of introducing this breed is to help Ugandan farmers increase both milk and meat production, thereby boosting household incomes and improving livelihoods,’ Dr Mugerwa said.

He explained that Uganda’s goat population is dominated by three main indigenous breeds: Mubende, Small East African, and Kigezi goats. While the Mubende reaches about 35kg in two years and the Small East African averages 25kg, the Jianzhou Big Ear goat grows much faster, making it ideal for commercial breeding.

Mr Julius Twinamasiko, the national coordinator of the South-South Cooperation Project, said NARO will oversee the research and breeding work, while NAGRC and DB will handle the multiplication and distribution of the goats to farmers.

International cooperation

‘This partnership shows how international cooperation can accelerate agricultural transformation. We appreciate FAO and the Chinese government for their continued support and call for an extension of the project to consolidate the gains achieved since 2012,’ Twinamasiko said.

Since the project’s inception, China has dispatched 64 experts and technical officers to Uganda in areas such as crop production, livestock, aquaculture, and value addition, a move that has significantly strengthened Uganda’s research capacity.

Mr Martin Ameu, the FAO South-South Cooperation focal point, said the Jianzhou Big Ear Goats have shown great adaptability to Ugandan conditions and could greatly improve the productivity of local breeds.

‘These goats are hardy, fast-growing, and produce quality meat and milk. They will play a key role in improving farmers’ incomes and promoting food security,’ Mr Ameu said.

The introduction of the Jianzhou Big Ear Goats is part of Uganda’s broader effort to modernise its livestock industry through research, innovation, and international collaboration, a strategy aimed at ensuring the country meets both local consumption needs and export targets in the coming years.

Kampala’s party landscape might be going through a transformation that could shape our relationship with dining in the near future. Somewhere in the background, away from the public eye, young people pay top dollar just meet and eat meat, as a worthy excuse to get wasted. Whether or not this trend is there to fill the gap that was left behind by the demise of discotheques is something we are yet to confirm. Or just maybe Kampala’s party culture is coming of age, and moving away from just kudugaza emeeza – drinking until they drop.

Today, food is slowly earning a spot at the table. Food pairing is fast becoming a thing. Young party goers gravitate towards bars with serious food, and events that front meat as an excuse to sell alcohol, tend to sellout. One such event is Meatings. This new culinary experience was born in the minds of a few friends during lockdown. Because they were unable to go to work during the pandemic, this gang would meet regularly in an outdoors spot to roast meat, drink a few pints and talk through the hard times. In a short while, more and more people started regularly joining in, until it looked like a viable business idea to a one Brian Owomugisha.

Owomugisha and a few friends proceeded to market and host the first Meatings event in 2021, but then, lockdown was lifted and people went back to work. People then focused on rebuilding their tattered financial lives with little time to party. The idea was shelved until this year. This past weekend, Meatings happened for the third time this year and attracted more than 500 attendees, which was 10 times the number that attended the first one in June. It was hosted at the usual venue, The Gazebo, a lush garden in Najjera.

Each attendee paid Shs50,000, ensuring they enjoy a professionally done BBQ of choice and a few cocktails, courtesy of Tusker Apple Cider. By 12pm, the first DJ was already on the turntables, crafting the right vibes for the event that would go on untill past midnight. ‘We have different types of meat. We always have chefs to ensure the meat is worth every penny because we know this is why people come to these events. But, of course, there is no party without a good soundscape. So, we always have DJs who come through,’ Owomugisha says.

He adds: ‘Our idea is ‘come for the meat, stay for the vibes’. On top of the meat and the conversations, these creative young people have introduced the element of board and card games to get people to incentivise interaction. The idea, as it turns out, is to unplug as many attendees from their smartphones as possible.

Meatings is a play on two words; meetings and meat and talking to fellow attendees is highly incentivised. This is a neat move because once you have attended a few of these trendy parties, you get to know that most people who attend want to meet and hookup with new people. Or, a break from their addiction to their phones.

‘Meatings is a culinary event for young people. Ugandans love a good time. So we are always there to give people a good vibe, yeah. Although Meatings is about the meat, it is equally about great music that young people love. So the DJs have to be on point as well,’ he says. At the next event, which is slated for December, the organisers hope to bring some exotic excitement into the party by inviting a chef from Kenya or some other country. The plan is to ride on the trend and create bigger meat event, where several chefs can be hosted simultaneously to highlight more special dishes.

While the party is marketed as daytime event where people come to eat and meet, people stay long after the meat is done and the music pushes the party deep into the night. One thing is clear, the organisers struck gold when they decided to market and host the event in Najeera. Few neighbourhoods are as popular with the young professionals of this city than Najeera. Long past midnight, the tent was still teeming with happy drunkards. The bartenders were as busy at midnight as they were at 5pm. They had come for the meat during the day but they were still here long past midnight.

Is it worth the pennies

Meat and good music. ‘We have different types of meat. We always have chefs to ensure the meat is worth every penny because we know this is why people come to these events. But, of course, there is no party without a good soundscape. So, we always have DJs that come through,’ Brian Owomugisha, proprietor

Chief Justice Alfonse Owiny-Dollo has cautioned judges against underperformance, warning that their honeymoon is over as the judiciary aims to track their output amidst case backlog challenges.

The head of the Judiciary while officially launching the Performance Enhancement Tool on October 17 in Kampala, said they had trouble with the old performance tool in effectively measuring the performance of judges, a scenario that saw some judges handle very few cases.

‘The Judiciary of Uganda today is migrating from a closed analog of appraisal system to a digital, efficient, and participatory appraisal system,’ CJ Dollo said.

He continued: ‘Previously, we have had trouble in measuring the output of our staff. Some judicial officers have very limited case disposal, while others have exhibited commendable performance. Some judicial officers involved in judicial work could not be effectively appraised.’

For the first time, the launched performance tool will also allow citizens to take part in the appraisal of the performance of the judicial officers.

‘For court users and the public, the Performance Enhancement Tool provides a voice to start with. Users can now contribute to assessing service quality, which will in turn reduce delays, enhance efficiency, and build public trust,’ Justice Mike Chibita, the chairperson of the committee that developed the tool, told the media on October 14 ahead of the launch.

He added: ‘It’s not about writing a judgment, but how do you treat court users when they come before you?’

With the coming into force of this performance tool, the Chief Justice, in his remarks, cautioned about the Judiciary being an institution of statistics but of justice.

He said, a given judicial officer might be able to dispose of so many cases hurriedly, but in the end are appealed against and even quashed.

He also emphasized the need for consideration of the weight of cases, reasoning that some cases are complicated as they involve numerous witnesses and other intricacies, while others are straightforward.

‘Each case presents unique features and requires unique management. For example, one case in the Anti-Corruption Division may need time and resources worth five cases in another division. Relatedly, a case in the International Crimes Division (ICD) will take a year or so to resolve, yet in an ordinary session of the criminal division, a judge may resolve 40 cases in one month,’ the CJ reasoned.

‘At times, we run into difficulties when we go into statistics. This reminds me of the Kampala bombing criminal trial, which took forever, and at the end of the hearing, the record was typed, and it was printed back-to-back; it took 10 box files to accommodate the record. There were over 40 witnesses. The presiding judge read the judgment for six hours. I don’t know how many ordinary cases would be equated to this case,’ he added.

The Performance Enhancement Tool is a web-based system that will help the Judiciary track and improve performance across the institution.

The tool is designed to monitor how judicial officers and court staff are doing, using clear standards and feedback, so that justice is delivered more efficiently and transparently.

Justice Dollo said those who will outperform will be rewarded, and those who will do mediocre work will be trained to up their game.

How the tool works

The Performance Enhancement Tool uses a 360-degree appraisal model. Performance is assessed not only by a supervisor but also by the officers themselves, their peers, subordinates, court users (the public), lawyers, and the prosecutors.

Everyone’s perspective on how a certain judicial officer is delivering justice counts, which makes the evaluation fair and comprehensive.

There are few stories of self-made careers in Ugandan sport and Erick Kisero’s tale as a swimming announcer is one of them.

What started as a bid to throw life into a local schools’ competition in 2016 has now grown into a continental success story.

On the weekend of October 3-5, Kisero was behind the microphone at Borteyman Sports Complex in Accra, Ghana relaying the Africa Aquatics Zone II Swimming Championships to various audiences in the arena and those watching across the world. Zone II mostly has countries from Western Africa.

With wired headsets plugged in, pen and papers with all sorts of details, and a laptop in front of him, Kisero usually sits on two or more plastic chairs joined together to create a good elevation to view the action in the swimming pool. He always has an audio mixer to his left to juggle his voice and eligible sound that would not get the live or recorded event flagged on platforms like YouTube.

He is naturally loud but has enough talent to channel all sorts of emotion through the mic. He adds energy, colour, jokes, detail, and wit to bring his delivery together – and anyone can be the target of his lines; parents, swimmers, administrators, visitors, journalists, and coaches can all be targeted for the common good.

He is not your ordinary sports commentator that has to channel his voice through just a television or radio audience.

Kisero uniquely does it for both viewers on screen and those watching inside the arena. How he delivers by the minute and consistently for days remains a mystery and his secret.

‘The viewers need to understand what is going on, from minor details like the size of the pool, to big ones like what to expect. You need to also get the right balance of information for those who know a lot about swimming and those that have no idea,’ Kisero shares.

‘Zone II was a long course competition and everything was done on time. Every second counted and they broke so many records,’ Kisero says. That is where he feels he earned his dues.

‘You have to keep people up to speed with the performances in the pool. I had to be informed about the national records of each of the 17 countries, the zonal, continental, and world records because we had swimmers that also represent these countries at World competitions like the World Juniors,’ he continues.

Usually at home, Kisero would probably need to keep his notes to just the national and meet records.

Selfless

‘When you look at the times, Zone II is way ahead of Zone III (mostly East Africa), so generally their swimmers are better than ours. Our top times cannot sit as top times in Zone II.

‘Because you have many top swimmers from different swimmers at such a competition, there are also various safeguarding issues that come into play as you are trying to celebrate achievers and motivate those who might not have performed to expectation.

‘You have to pay attention to the details of every swimmer. Much as it is the same thing of presenting to the public, it is less strict at home. A gala at home could also have many more swimmers of various abilities.’

In local galas, Kisero also plays various roles, sometimes as a meet director. He wears many hats in the sport as a former swimmer, a coach, and a member of Uganda Aquatics’ executive committee (excom) representing the central region. That selflessness, which has seen him serve in other avenues like a promoter of water polo or open water swimming or as the federations errand man or a solver of crises, endeared him to many. So much that when he could not complete the vetting process in time for the federation position – to serve another term – and withdrew his candidature, delegates asked the newly elected excom to invoke article 14.4(8) of UA’s constitution to appoint him. It was duly done.

His passion has fueled his success and is set to open bigger doors.

Big dreams

‘When we do galas here, out there, other people watch. So I was just invited to Accra off the commentary I do for Uganda Aquatics. I have been invited to do the Africa Aquatics Championships next year (set for October 31 – November 14, 2026 in Kenya).

‘I now want to be able to reach the world level,’ Kisero, who is also a commentator and announcer at the ongoing Zone III Championships in Nairobi, adds.

His humble beginning started with inviting friends to watch him or his club at galas and they could not pick a thing.

‘They did not understand what was going on. They just saw swimmers going back and forth. I decided that I wanted to create a fun environment. I believe that if we teach more people about the sport, it turns them into fans. And our aim has always been to increase our social welfare and mileage as a sport.

‘Secondly, from my experience as a former swimmer and now national coach, I have a lot of experience and can tell swimmers what to improve on. More eyes watching them are always better than just those of their coaches. I can tell them during the commentary what they can work on just in case their coaches miss it,’ Kisero shares.

Coach Daddy

However, the analytical part has come with its own challenges for the man who sees himself as a father of all national swimmers – providing compassion, tough love, and building bonds across the swimming divide – and runs by the moniker “Coach Daddy”.

Those who might differ with his viewers accuse him of bias. They say every action in sport attracts as many opinions as the number of eyes watching it.

Now, try convincing thousands of parents, swimmers, and coaches packed into an arena at Kampala Parents School (KPS) with your views of an emotionally charged race in the heat of the moment. Then do it for each race in every age category over five days! Even silence can at times be mistaken for bias in such scenarios.

‘The criticism at the start helped me refine the role. For every swimmer that gets in, you need to tell people what they are doing. There is no preference, but just a desire to serve genuinely. If you fix the intentions, then you can serve properly.

‘I also know that criticism will always come in but what matters is doing the right thing,’ Kisero shares. These mantras are probably why everyone, even rival clubs, consider him a must-have at their galas. They have also helped him as a coach – a role he took up as soon as he retired in 2014.

‘The things I did not achieve as an athlete, I would want someone else to get right. If there is something I did not get right at 10 years, I cannot go back to being 10. I should be able to pass on such knowledge to someone at that age,’ Kisero shares about his motivation to get into coaching.

“I transitioned as soon as I retired. I had an opportunity in Australia to study at College level but after that, as other people focused on becoming doctors, lawyers, I chose to develop myself through sports. And even when the period got done, I continued to learn – even remotely. I have done various levels of swimming coaching courses but I have now gone beyond the approach of studying for a certificate that takes three or five days to achieve and gone into day to day continuous learning. How much knowledge can you give someone in three days?’

His club Altona, built from the ground up, is one of the top performing ones in the country. It has produced national athletes from 2017 but it has not been rosy. Even up to now, Kisero is a stickler for taking life lessons.

Managing success

‘The biggest lesson through my coaching years has been the need to manage success, especially, when it comes early. I have had some swimmers that got on the national team or even hold national age group records from an early age. But they went through tough phases and lost motivation to continue because, collectively, we did not handle success well.

‘We have been a top three club multiple times but we are now changing from team goals to giving the athlete the best opportunity to become the best version of themselves,’ Kisero says. Part of that plan is growing a bigger umbrella body called Pursuit where Kisero runs a weekly league mostly for Altona swimmers but open for all. These swim under franchise teams then regroup under Altona to compete in external competitions. Pursuit also offers swimming scholarships for members.

How does he share time among all his passions? Altona parents and swimmers have always felt undone by his choice to pick the microphone over the team during competitions.

‘The beauty is we do not do commentary every day. But my life is such that I am either at the pool deck coaching or serving as an official at a gala.

‘I believe a lot in preparation. Failure to prepare, means preparing to fail. The presence of a coach might add something to the team but we need to learn to develop without it or with the coaches we ask them to work with. When these swimmers are called to the national team, they are under the guidance of other coaches but they still perform. So, I do the job on deck every day of the week and let them show me on gala day what they have learnt,’ Kisero says.

Whether through the microphone, on the pool deck, or in administrative roles, Kisero’s voice continues to shape swimming in Uganda and beyond.

At a glance

Name: Erick Kisero

Role: Coach, announcer and commentator, Uganda Aquatics excom member representing Central region

Club: Altona

Swimming career:

2009-2014: Melbourne Vicentre Swimming Club

2010: Wyndham City Sharks

2012-2013: Ndejje University

Like many districts across the country, Mayuge District, located in the eastern part of Uganda, suffers from poverty on top of its many outcries to the government.

As a way of combating this situation, the government, through the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, zeroed in on Mayuge as the area where it should focus its next oil palm project. This was based on the benchmark of the transformation of livelihoods in Kalangala District, where Oil Palm production is flourishing.

With a loan of $261m from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) to the Government of Uganda, meant to finance the 10-year National Oil Palm Project, the wait was no more. Last week, at Mayuge District headquarters, Mr Fred Bwino Kyakulaga, the State minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, presided over the official launch of the National Oil Palm Project.

The ceremony was attended by district council members and various farmers who testified to their delight about the current progress and also expressed their gratitude to the government for this life-changing derivative.

However, often, government projects such as these habitually suffer from a lack of integrity, efficiency, proper management, transparency and accountability.

As such, to properly manage the funds and achieve the utmost positive results and outcomes, the government selected Equity Bank to manage the loan.

Through this, the bank is not only holding and dispensing the funds, but also providing capacity-building to the smallholder farmers. The bank has schooled farmers in developing various financial and investment solutions, incorporating enablers to reduce risk and maximise success.

The process

Oil palm seedlings take 18 months before they can be ready to plant, and the bank says that within two years, 896 farmers have been able to benefit from these funds. The farmers have been taught how to dig proper holes supported with pesticides and fertilisers, and have been given seedlings which are ready to plant.

And that is not all. ‘Equity is also employing modern banking systems to track every transaction, verify beneficiaries and ensure funds reach the genuine oil palm farmers in record time,’ says Catherine Psomgen, Equity Bank’s director of public sector and social investment.

Mr Kyakulaga said, ‘This move is going to go a long way in transforming the people of Busoga from the chronic poverty which has affected them for so long.’

So far, the project is at phase one with Mayuge, Bugiri and Namayimba as the first beneficiaries, with the other parts of Kamuli, Iganga, Jinja City, Bugweri, Namatumba, Luuka and Kaliro set for the next year. To benefit from this, each farmer or a group of farmers must possess five hectares of land for which each will receive $6,500 (Shs23 million). Farmers with half of the required land will also get half of that money.

However, for appropriate use, not all the money is transferred directly to the farmer’s account. The largest chunk will be managed through the bank and the Ministry of Agriculture. Here, the ministry’s suppliers deliver pesticides, fertilisers, trim the trees and also educate the farmers on maintenance.

The rest is then remitted to the farmer’s account and followed up for accountability. ‘Without exporting, Uganda has a ready market for palm oil, soap, cosmetic products and various items which require palm oil as a raw material. At harvest each farmer will be directly earning Shs2.5m monthly, and that runs for about 25-30 years. So, the Government of Uganda has answered the Busoga poverty and job crisis issue with this oil palm project,’ Mr Kyakulaga said.

Deal

To benefit from this, each farmer or a group of farmers must possess five hectares of land to which each will receive $6,500 or Shs23 million. Farmers with half of the required land will also get half of that money.

A report by the National Planning Authority (NPA) has envisioned that the economy would expand to a GDP of $581b, with a per capita of $9,500 (Shs32.6m), with 90 percent of Ugandans fully integrated in the money economy by 2040.

The report shows that this implies a more than tenfold increase in the current GDP of $50b (Shs171.6 trillion) in the remaining 15 years. It, however, reveals that, per the current performance of the first three plans, the country is lagging behind the desired socio-economic transformation targets.

‘This necessitates, among others,’ Mr Joseph Muvawala, NPA’s executive director, says of the fundamental change required, ‘innovative and transformative policy actions, better prioritisation, and closure of implementation gaps to yield double-digit growth and achieve the desired socio-economic transformation targets before 2040.’

While the National Development Plan IV (NDPIV) is alive to these needs, Mr Bill Nkeeto, the Dean of the Faculty of Business Management at Victoria University, says the Global Agenda 2030 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) should not be lost upon it.

A moderate performance, he adds, has been registered on some SDG indicators like good health and wellbeing (SDG 3); industry, innovation, and infrastructure (SDG 9); inclusive and equitable quality education and promotion of lifelong learning opportunities for all (SDG 4); as well as access to basic education (and life on land (SDG 15).

“Specifically, more needs to be done in areas of zero hunger (SDG 2), climate action (SDG 13), access to clean water and sanitation (SDG 6), eradicating poverty (SDG 1), fostering sustainable cities and communities (SDG 11), and decent work and economic growth (SDG 8). This further necessitates the need for faster growth,” he says.

He adds that the NDPIV is developed to respond to unique circumstances, exploit available opportunities to fast-track the realisation of the desired socio-economic transformation aspirations towards the achievement of the qualitative leap.

Mr Nkeeto notes that towards this, the proposed NDPIV strategic direction is informed by the country’s socio-economic and political history, as Uganda Vision 2040, lessons learnt from the previous NDP implementation, research and evidence, stakeholder engagements, Agenda 2030, Africa Agenda 2063, EAC Vision 2050, ten-fold growth strategy, and other regional and international commitments.

This strategic direction encapsulates the consolidation of development gains; accelerated and collaborative implementation to close the implementation gaps from the previous plans; stronger follow up, management, and accountability for results; and leverages all existing opportunities, particularly defining transformative approaches to drive faster growth for socio-economic transformation.

Uganda’s education system still produces graduates who excel at exams but struggle with real-world problems.

Students can recite notes but often cannot innovate, communicate, or think critically. A system that rewards repetition over reflection limits national progress. It is time to shift from teaching for exams to teaching for life.

The Competence-Based Curriculum (CBC) aims to develop thinkers, problem-solvers, and innovators. Yet, years on, the reform remains misunderstood, underfunded, and inconsistently implemented.

Without change, Uganda risks missing a crucial opportunity to build the skilled workforce needed for Vision 2040. In today’s world, employers value skills like communication, teamwork, and innovation more than certificates.

Yet, the National Planning Authority (2022) reports that over 60 percent of Ugandan graduates lack essential job skills, fueling youth unemployment and low productivity.

Competence-based teaching offers a solution by focusing on practical skills, values, and adaptability. It is education for survival in a changing world-but its success is threatened by serious implementation challenges.

Teachers are the heartbeat of this reform but many lack the skills to deliver it effectively. Without ongoing training, many revert to traditional methods.

Continuous professional development must therefore be mandatory to help teachers become mentors of competence, not just conveyors of content.

Competence-based learning depends on practice and innovation, yet most schools lack essential resources; laboratories, ICT tools, and libraries.

In rural areas, ‘practical lessons’ are often reduced to drawings on chalkboards. For real results, government and local authorities must invest in infrastructure, materials, and digital access.

National exams continue to reward memory over mastery. Learners cram notes instead of demonstrating understanding.

As long as Uneb maintains paper-based tests, teachers will keep ‘teaching to the exam.’ Uganda must adopt a continuous, project-based assessment that measures creativity and practical skill.

Many parents and community leaders mistake competence-based education for ‘play’ rather than real learning. When learners do projects or discussions, some fear they are wasting time.

The Ministry of Education should lead a strong communication campaign to explain the reform’s purpose and benefits, because community support is as vital as classroom practice.

Policymakers must view the Competence-Based Curriculum as a national investment, not just a classroom experiment, by funding teacher training, supporting continuous assessment, and monitoring implementation transparently.

Schools and universities should align teaching with core competencies such as communication, critical thinking, collaboration, and digital literacy.

Parents also play a crucial role by understanding that competence-based teaching enriches learning rather than replacing exams; real-life projects help children build confidence, responsibility, and problem-solving skills, far more valuable than rote memorization.

Finally, employers and the private sector must partner with schools to offer internships, mentorships, and innovation opportunities, ensuring education connects to industry and produces employable, creative graduates.

I believe that the success of this reform also depends on clear and consistent messaging. Competence-based education must be communicated strategically to transform policy into practice and curriculum into culture.

The Ministry should use media, community forums, and digital platforms to highlight successes, address misconceptions, and build nationwide ownership of the reform. If we teach children how to think, not just what to think, Uganda will not only catch up with the world but can help lead it.

Education reform requires steady, committed collaboration-not rushed policies. Uganda cannot achieve Vision 2040 with outdated, 1960s-style teaching. Competence-based education is not a foreign experiment; it is a lifeline for national progress.

‘This card of Baganda and tribe is a card that is played by most politicians when they are out of options of how to win their opponents. It’s cheap popularity. You don’t want to do what you have to do. So you play the card of ‘man, we are from the same clan. So you vote me because we are from the same clan even though I have nothing to offer.’ It’s a card every desperate politician plays, because you don’t want to invest yourself or prove yourself worthy so you look for what you have and your opponent can never acquire,’ says Joy Kirabo, an aspirant for the Nakawa East Member of Parliament seat.

‘Another thing is when people ask why people standing in Buganda do not look like Baganda. Buganda’s issue is different from all other areas. Buganda was blessed to have a capital city; everyone is headed there. I was born here in Buganda. My father entered Buganda at the age of nine. It is all he knows. That is all I know. I may not be a Muganda, but this is home. We are all here because we are looking for a better life. Even some Baganda are here in Kampala yet they are not indigenous to Kampala. They are looking for a better life. As some of us have been here all our lives, we can’t think of representing any other place other than here. I find it so ridiculous when somebody says you don’t belong here. What is the word ‘belonging’? How do you get to belong in a place? By knowing nothing else but that place.’

Identity politics in the shape of how candidates are identified instead of how they self-identify has riven Kampala’s politics where it could be centred.

Non-Baganda are thus being treated as ‘the other,’ a concept referring to anyone or anything perceived as distinct from how Buganda defines itself. It is the basis of identity formation and ethical misunderstanding.

Ms Kirabo is one of several candidates being viewed as ‘foreigners’ or Bafuruki, so to speak.

On the streets, there is disquietude surrounding why so many candidates in Kampala appear to be non-Baganda. Some think it’s a project by the central government to recapture Buganda after losing it in 2021 to the National Unity Platform (NUP) party. A party that is being likened to the 1960s royalist party, Kabaka Yekka (King Only), because its primary stronghold is Buganda.

NUP has been accused of stoking parochial thinking on Buganda and candidates such Ms Kirabo are sure to feel the sting in that tail. But she is not alone.

Another candidate with a far bigger constituency also has to go through the ringer on this question.

How we got here

In March 2025, Butambala County lawmaker Mohammed Muwanga-Kivumbi’s somewhat thin voice crackled to life on 89.2 FM CBS radio’s Kiriza Oba Gana programme.

Mr Muwanga-Kivumbi was trying to explain why he believes that ‘Gen Museveni’ disesteems Buganda and why the ‘Buganda for Museveni in 2026’ campaign run has no legs. Kivumbi, who is also the NUP deputy president for Buganda, said Museveni is a blackguard who has marginalised the region whose King, Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II, the 36th Kabaka of the Kingdom of Buganda, was central to winning the 1981-1986 National Resistance Army (NRA) Bush War.

He added that the pro-Robert Kyagulanyi rejection Mr Museveni suffered in the 2021 General Election made Uganda’s ninth president return Buganda’s compliment by revealing his own distaste for politics in Buganda.

Things came to a head in May this year when the head of state specifically asked for pardon through prayer from the people of Buganda and restoration of the favour he had in Buganda when he first came to power four decades ago.

‘God restore the favour that we had with them (people) in the beginning; bring healing to their hearts, soften the hardened hearts, and reconnect us to the original vision of our national unity and unwavering commitment to social and economic transformation of our nation together,’ Museveni and his wife jointly read the prayer.

Keep off Buganda

Due to the rising hostilities in Buganda region ahead of the 2026 polls, the air is thick with the tension that you could cut with a knife.

Xenophobia in the central Uganda region is on the rise. Candidates for political office, who seem to be non-Baganda, are being decampaigned as carpetbaggers. They should return to their ‘home areas’ and stump for support there, radical NUP members demand. This fear in the form of unwelcome started long ago.

Milton Obote in the Uganda Argus of February 3, 1960, was reported as saying that ‘African nationalism hates small states because this is emergent Africa … It will crush Buganda.’

He was speaking as Secretary of the recently formed Elected Members Association of the Legislative Council. He was later to perpetrate an attack on Kabaka Edward Muteesa’s palace after abolishing kingdoms in Uganda, including Buganda, and declaring Uganda a republic. Buganda’s fears reflect a diminution of its region by encirclement and infiltration when it comes in contact with other regions. But Ms Kirabo believes such fears are unfounded.

‘[The] Baganda have been given the opportunity to interact with different tribes and different people. And that opportunity gives them a certain knowledge that other people do not have. That a person who is not from the same tribe as you might actually be of greater value to you than your own. So they should know better that a good leader might not necessarily be of the same tribe or the same religion but the same ideology and have the same values. I trust the people of Nakawa to see this because they have lived among different people of different tribes and they can attest to the fact that it is not by blood that we are united but values and ideology,’ she argues.

Making her bones

Ms Kirabo is an Independent candidate who began her campaign in 2024. She got herself known by giving calendars to at least one in every three households and organising activities like a football tournament for different parishes in her constituency.

There are 10 parishes. She has organised so far three parishes to take part in this competition known as the Kirabo Cup. She did this not only to entertain the youth, but bring people together and hear their views. As a Christian, this was her chance to tap into the ecumenical spirit of her constituency and cut across divisions sown by untoward religiosity.

She helped rebuild schools that were burnt to the ground such as St James Catholic Church-Biina, and provided health and safety wherewithal to them to guard against future fires.

‘I was called by somebody, the Nabakyala of my village. They belonged to a Sacco [Savings and Credit Cooperative Organisations] that was created by the President to provide jobs to the vulnerable people. The President put this Sacco in place in order to get them jobs to sweep Kampala when Jennifer Musisi was still Executive Director of KCCA. These were jobs earmarked for only the vulnerable people. They had a problem where some people created a bidding process for these jobs. Yet it was under a certain scheme for people who are not able, the poor of the poorest,’ she told Monitor.

‘The bidding process lets another ‘vulnerable’ group compete with this vulnerable group. The Sacco was being threatened to be kicked out by the other vulnerable group that was created. Two, they had about eight months in arrears and their NSSF had not been deposited for two years. Most of these people were old and they wanted out. But because their NSSF was not being deposited they didn’t know how. They kept going to their jobs until their NSSF was deposited and they could stop doing that hectic work,’ she added.

The Sacco would also help the vulnerable to save. They were being ‘deducted Shs15,000 per worker’ to be put into that fund so they can borrow.

However, the administration for the circle in this regard was ‘eating’ their money until Ms Kirabo, using her skills as an investment banker, helped the sweeping fraternity of the KCCA Sacco to get their arrears and savings.

Issue

Due to the rising hostilities in Buganda region ahead of the 2026 polls, the air is thick with the tension that you could cut with a knife. Xenophobia in the central Uganda region is on the rise.

Candidates for political office, who seem to be non-Baganda, are being decampaigned as carpetbaggers. They should return to their ‘home areas’ and stump for support there, radical NUP members demand.

Uganda coffee farmers have been engaging in value addition beyond simply picking cherries by adopting better harvesting techniques, proper drying methods, wet processing, hulling, and even roasting.

However, there is a unique opportunity for the coffee farmers across the country to benefit from coffee flowers by adding value to them. This is already happening in a few selected districts under a two-year pilot project run by Pan African Trade and Development Group (PAD and T), a company dealing in agribusiness inputs with support from the German Cooperation.

Background

Uganda’s coffee sector is characterised by a government-driven National Coffee Roadmap targeting 20 million bags by 2030, with a strong emphasis on increasing production through planting new trees. Now, farmers are encouraged to take on more active roles in the coffee value chain through education and support for quality management. The focus is shifting from exporting raw beans to processing and value-added products to fetch higher prices for farmers.

Also, the emphasis in value addition has shifted beyond primary production by exploring and promoting value addition through products such as roasted coffee products, processing coffee oil from raw beans, cosmetics such as coffee lotions, creams and shampoos and beverages like coffee malt, energy drinks, beer and wine. However, farmers have not been sensitised to add value to the coffee flowers. This led the (PAD and T) team to come up with a project concept with a focus on sensitising females involved in the coffee value chain.

Coffee flower processing

Ms Rikke Adamsen, founder of the project, explained that two years ago, her team at PAD and T set out on a journey of turning coffee flower into high-quality products. Apart from the already trained 10,000 farmers, mainly in the Greater Masaka, the team intends to reach out to farmers across the country, mainly to push a female-driven value chain. This is through a co-creation model that bridges research, entrepreneurship and technology involving the Danish private companies, leading selected academic universities and local partners, the National Crops Resources Research Institute and Food for Africa.

The team sampled coffee dried flowers by testing them in a laboratory, including testing how long they can be preserved. She notes that coffee flowers, unlike any other flower, have rich flavours, minerals, antioxidants and Vitamins A, B, C, D and E, which are essential for the human body. The team then trained female farmers on how to collect quality coffee flowers, which, after drying, can be used for processing beverages, oil, soft drinks, beer, chocolates and premium cosmetics. These products do not exist in the global market, which means it takes enormous effort, creativity and strength to open the doors for export.

The emphasis is on farmers to deliver the highest quality of coffee flowers in order to come up with quality products. The team is already in touch with the Carlsberg Group, manufacturers of Carlsberg beer, who are willing to take up processed coffee flowers to come up with a new beer product which they can sell in the global market. The team has also tasted the processed coffee flower with Champagne producers in France and world-class chocolate producers. Their response was that this can become a premium global product.

How to harvest the coffee flower, the selling process

Mark Grace Kiyiga, the logistics manager at PAD and T, explains that the team for the last two years reached out to farmers in Greater Masaka, Iganga and Kawanda, among others, sensitising them on how to pick the flowers. Farmers are advised to harvest the flower after 4-5 days of flowering because the coffee berry would have already formed. This is to enable harvesting of quality flowers because once it overstays, the flowers change colour and it becomes unwanted, yet the aim is not to allow flowers to drop in the farm and get wasted.