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Every day, across the West Nile Sub-region, desperate teachers seeking to borrow money throng financial institutions for loans. Some of these teachers have multiple loans. They are trapped in a vicious cycle of debt.

Financial institutions ask for security in the form of ATM cards, academic documents, and land agreements, although some teachers claim their money is deducted unfairly even after they have completed payments as per agreed terms.

One of the teachers at Teremunga Primary School, in Koboko Municipality, Mr Henry Adutia, claimed that he is expected to pay more than Shs10m by Premier Credit Financial Services after picking a loan of Shs900,000.

‘I picked the Shs900,000 loan in 2017 and made a top-up of Shs600,000, and it increased to Shs1.5m in 2019, payable in a period of 70 months. They have been deducting Shs143,000 monthly. This is exploitation,’ he said on Tuesday.

Another teacher, Mr Henry Dramaza, a resident of Maracha District, who borrowed Shs2.9m from Bayport Financial Services Uganda in 2015, payable for a period of 60 months, said he ended up unfairly paying Shs10,650,000 million.

Some of the teachers said they are forced to borrow multiple loans because they have to take care of their families and dependants, which creates a big strain on their meagre finances.

The Uganda National Teachers Union Chairperson for Terego District, Mr Gabriel Eriku, said several financial institutions in West Nile exploit teachers.

He advised the teachers against borrowing multiple loans from financial institutions or money lenders to avoid such occurrences.

Recently, the Terego District Woman Member of Parliament, Ms Rose Obiga stormed the offices of Premier Credit Financial Services in Arua City to protest ”unfair treatment’ of Mr Justine Inima, a teacher who claimed he was being cheated by the financial institution.

Mr Inima, who reportedly borrowed Shs1 million from the financial institution, alleged that officials of the financial institution claimed he still owed them money even after completing repaying the loan and accruing interest.

‘These poor people are being cheated. I will drag you people before the Bank of Uganda and the Ministry of Finance to explain,’ Ms Obiga said.

The Koboko District Education Officer, Koboko, Mr Wayi Dragamulai, advised teachers to live within their means.

‘Do not borrow the lifestyle of other people, and loans should be picked with focus and investment. It is not good to borrow loans for marriage purposes,’ he said.

In Obongi District, the Chief Administrative Officer, Mr Benson Otim, said: ‘We have got a problem with financial institutions that come to our civil servants, mainly teachers, to deceive them. Once the teachers get the money, the loan doesn’t get completed. As a result, we don’t see teachers in the classroom because they escape from loan officers.’

Responses

When contacted for a comment, Bayport Financial Services Uganda official Francis Okalebo, said: ‘We do not speak to the media over the phone.’

The loan officer of Premier Credit Financial Services in Arua City, Ms Brenda Angucia, said she was occupied with other activities and not ready to offer a statement about the matter.

‘We are handling the matter and will get back to you later because I am still busy,’ Ms Angucia told Monitor. She had not responded to our reminders about the matter by press time.

The Micro Finance Institutions and the Moneylenders Act Cap 6, prescribe a maximum interest rate of 2.8 percent per month or 33.6 percent per annum on the principal or actual sum of money advanced to the borrower, according to the available legal notice by the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development.

In July 2022, the government of Uganda implemented a 300 percent salary increase for science teachers. This boosted the gross monthly salary of a graduate science teacher from approximately Shs1.1 million to Shs4 million and that of a Grade V science teacher from approximately Shs796,000 to Shs2.5 million.

This policy created a significant pay gap with arts teachers, who did not receive a corresponding increase and earn a lower gross salary. Currently, arts teachers are on strike, demanding that their salaries be increased to correspond with that of their science counterparts

KCCA men’s volleyball team completed the National Club Championship double with a commanding 3-0 win over Nemostars in the rescheduled final at the Old Kampala Arena on Sunday.

With the initial game played in Gulu forced to end prematurely due to insufficient lighting in Gulu a week ago, the two sides were forced to replay the entire match in Kampala.

The Kasasiro Boys, despite a slow start, recovered from 21-19 to take the first set 25-22 and there was only one winner after that.

Alex Mugoda’s charges dominated the game after that, with Carlos Oumo and Vincent Odeke pacing their serves to trouble Nemostars’ passing.

Esau Ecil, who won the same prize with Nemostars last season, was on top of his game against his former paymasters to make it two in a row for himself.

Setter Edrisa Kijjambu and opposite Muhammad Iga were good options off the bench for KCCA and made a difference whenever introduced.

KCCA wiped the floor with Nemostars in the second set and took it 25-18 to edge ever closer to victory and a rare piece of silverware.

And despite Nemostars’ fightback in the third frame, KCCA held on to run away with it 26-24 and close the contest.

‘We came to serve and defended well throughout the game,’ Mugoda told Daily Monitor after the victory.

Bad day

Nemostars had one hand on the trophy a week ago, leading 2-0 before KCCA forced a postponement by taking the third set in Gulu.

In Kampala, Nemostars were in sixes and sevens. Setter Smith Okumu struggled to connect with Geoffrey Onapa and middle blocker Bernard Malinga.

That came to bite late in the game when George Aporu had trouble executing and it all played in KCCA’s favour.

The 2024 winners came into Sunday’s game on the back of a 3-1 win over Sport-S in the league opener played on Friday but were second best against KCCA.

Double joy

With the victory, KCCA men join their women’s team to complete a double for the season.

Shilla Omuriwe’s side defeated Sport-S 3-0 in Gulu to win the women’s competition.

City Hall will now be home to the two trophies the next one year. And the two pieces of silverware come with tickets to next year’s Africa Club Championships.

The two teams have also sent an early warning to the rest of the field going into the new league campaign.

By beating Sport-S in the semis and Nemostars in the final, the Kasasiro Boys have put everyone on notice.

National Club Championship

Final – men

KCCA 3-0 Nemostars

The ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party, in their 2021-2026 manifesto, promised to transform the country’s healthcare system, an essential area for the population.

With the national resources at their disposal to execute the plans, our assessment of their performance discovered a mixed bag of remarkable achievements and glaring shortfalls.

While notable progress was made in expanding primary healthcare and increasing funding for medical supplies, significant gaps remain, with unfulfilled commitments, such as the completion of Lubowa International Specialised Hospital, reappearing in the 2026-2031 manifesto.

Overall, of 17 promises assessed and rated, only around 18 percent (3/17) of health promises were fully achieved, while the majority were either partially fulfilled (11/17) or showed no implementation (3/17).

When each of the items is weighted, the overall achievement is around 50 percent. Our analysis shows there were significant strides made in increasing access to care in communities, with the party reporting the construction of 454 Health Centre IIIs, surpassing the initial target of 331.

Some of these were upgraded from Health Centre IIs (HCIIs), to enhance access in underserved areas, according to the Ministry of Health.

By April this year, the Health Minister Dr Jane Ruth Aceng, had confirmed that 398 were completed, with funding from the World Bank’s Uganda Intergovernmental Fiscal Transfers Programme (UgIFT) and Uganda Maternal and Child Health Improvement Project (UMCHIP) of around Shs720 billion.

Some HCIIs were upgraded to HCIIIs to improve access in underserved areas.

Achievements

Kayunga and Yumbe general hospitals were upgraded to regional referral status, and blood banks were established in Hoima, Arua, and Soroti.

This further improved access to care for complicated cases and addressed death related to the shortage of blood. We also found that advanced equipment, including CT scans and oxygen plants, was installed in major referral hospitals. However, during an April visit to Hoima Regional Referral Hospital, the equipment was found non-operational due to insufficient electricity.

The budget for essential medicines and supplies through National Medical Stores (NMS) rose from Shs258 billion in 2017/18 to Shs537 billion in 2023/24, reducing stock-outs.

The government did this amid the enhancement of salaries for medical workers. However, absenteeism persisted or worsened, according to Ministry of Health reports.

The manifesto pledged completion of Lubowa International Specialised Hospital (ISHU) by June 2021 to curb medical tourism (Ugandans spent $186 million abroad in 2017) and promote regional medical exports. However, construction remains incomplete.

Attorney General Kiryowa Kiwanuka, in an April letter, set a new completion date of June 2026.

‘The anticipated completion date for the hospital is June 2026. While the project experienced delays due to a considerable number of unforeseen force majeure events, including the global Covid-19 pandemic, the government and the developer have, as a cure, agreed to an accelerated works programme to ensure timely completion,’ he said in an April 17 letter to the Monitor.

The promise has been recycled in the 2026-2031 manifesto, amid prevailing concerns by Opposition politicians regarding the transparency in this multi-billion-shilling project.

The NRM, in their previous manifesto, also promised new general hospitals in Wakiso and Kampala to ease overcrowding in KCCA facilities. These were not delivered, despite Kampala’s institutional maternal mortality rate of 213 deaths per 100,000 deliveries-far above the national average of 83.

The manifesto committed to upgrading Kisenyi, Kotido, and Kyegegwa HCIVs to general hospitals. While Kotido and Kyegegwa were upgraded, Kisenyi was not, exacerbating Kampala’s healthcare challenges.

The new manifesto is also silent about the national health insurance scheme which could be essential in bridging gaps in access to health care by reducing heavy out-of-pocket expenditure on health.

In the new manifesto for 2026-2031, NRM said they would construct HCIIIs in sub-counties without them; rehabilitate 40 HC IVs and provide them with theatres, 16 general hospitals, and eight regional referral hospitals.

This was also promised in the previous manifesto, but it was not fully implemented. Apart from this, the party has also promised to renovate old and dilapidated staff houses and construct new ones for health workers.

New promises in 2026-2031

They have also promised to construct, equip and functionalise regional blood banks in regions without them (Masaka, Busoga, Lango, Karamoja and Kigezi) and construct and equip new hospitals.

Masaka and Karamoja were mentioned in the previous manifesto, but were not implemented.

‘NRM will construct the orthopaedic and traumatology centre of excellence at Naguru National Referral Hospital [and] complete construction of Lubowa International Specialised Hospital,’ the manifesto reads.

This is largely recycled from the previous manifesto. There is also an expanded plan for the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area (GKMA) where the party plans to upgrade and equip health facilities to general hospital status. But this particular promise was made in the previous manifesto and not implemented.

The targeted facilities include Kampala (Kisenyi, Kawaala, Kiswa, Kisugu and Komamboga), Wakiso (Nansana, Kira, Wakiso HCIV, Ndejje HCIV in Makindye-Ssabagabo), Mukono (Goma) renovate and expand Soroti Regional Referral Hospital, and equip Bugiri General Hospital.

How we arrived at 50% assessment

There were 25 promises assessed (see table below). We had most of the information about 17 promises and so these qualified for our rating. Eight promises could not be rated because of insufficient information.

Achieved (A): 3/17 promises = 18%

Partially Achieved (PA): 11/17 promises = 62%

Not Achieved (NA): 3/17 promises = 18%

To calculate the NRM’s overall percentage performance, we evaluated the 17 rated promises out of the 25 assessed. The ratings were broken down as follows:

3 Achieved (100 percent performance each),

11 Partially Achieved (50 percent performance each), and

3 Not Achieved (0 percent performance each).

We then calculated the total performance score by multiplying the number of promises in each category by their respective weights ((3 × 1) + (11 × 0.5) + (3 × 0) = 8.5).

Dividing this score of 8.5 by the total number of rated promises (17) and multiplying by 100, gave an overall performance of 50%.

Uganda Cycling Association president Sam ‘Mahaba’ Muwonge spent the last week of September watching the 2025 UCI Road World Championships in Kigali and could not stop imagining such a marvel happening in Kampala.

‘What’s happening in Ugandan cycling is encouraging. Being in the World Championship when we didn’t qualify is special,’ said an excited Muwonge as 100 Ugandan cyclists were flagged off for the Jubilee Live Free Race in Nairobi last weekend.

‘Mrs Byaruhanga said this is the third time Jubilee Insurance is sponsoring a Ugandan team for the Nairobi race. It’s a great job they are doing. But I request that instead of Nairobi, let’s have this race in Kampala. Like Kigali gazetted all the roads for the world event, we can have it in Kampala as well,’ Muwonge said.

Of course this is a multi-sectoral, multi-departmental decision to make if such an important event is to happen here.

Feasibility

But how feasible is it? Are the sponsors willing?

‘We are in talks with Jubilee, our main sponsors, to have particular events here in Uganda. And very soon we shall come out with the plans. Hopefully, very soon we shall announce the event to be organised here,’ said Lance Ismael Ssebayiga, director Moonlight Events, who are the Ugandan coordinators of the race.

But the sponsor thinks the journey is still long.

‘This is the second year in a row we are hearing this suggestion and we’re in talks with Moonlight and the cycling association,’ Jubilee marketing and communications manager Camilla Mindru told Daily Monitor.

‘But we needed to build capacity and have a solid ground to start this conversation. We need more organised clubs like Masaka Cycling Club, which has strong structures: a president, a funding source, a medical team and a technical team, etc.’

She said that would give Uganda more chances to win the race once it’s hosted here.

Meanwhile, Mindru added that even as more people enter the Nairobi race every year, the event happens successfully.

‘That means there’s a certain standard they have set and a skillset we need to tap into if we are to organise an equally successful race here,’ Mindru said.

Nairobi conquest

The 2025 Jubilee Nairobi Race last Sunday attracted thousands of cyclists from 20 nationalities. Uganda’s Jordan ‘Schleck’ Ssekanwagi raced to gold in the 75km main race in 1 hour, 30 minutes and 39 seconds, while 2024 Olympian Charles Kagimu came second, just a second later to take silver. Kenya’s John Muchiri came third in 1:33:50.

The duo are slowly writing a story of Uganda’s growing dominance of the race. Ssekanwagi won the inaugural edition in 2019, while Kagimu was the champion last year.

Ethiopia’s Merhamit Hadush won the women’s 75km race in 1:38:25, Uganda’s Maria Aleper took silver in 1:48:55 as Kenya’s Jamila Abdula got bronze in 1:47:28.

Willy Kato and Dominik Mugonda got gold and silver respectively in the Black Mamba category, while defending champion Aziz Ssempijja settled for bronze.

Muwonge wonders how much Ugandans can achieve if they are the hosts.

HARARE. The Cricket Cranes ended their ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Africa Qualifier campaign on a high note, thumping Nigeria by 66 runs in the fifth-place playoff final last Saturday.

Yet, the victory was little more than consolation after early stumbles against Zimbabwe and Tanzania denied Uganda a semi-final berth – and a shot at a coveted World Cup ticket.

Captain Riazat Ali Shah, who led the charge with a dazzling 66 off 30 balls against Nigeria, admitted, ‘This tournament is a wake-up call. We have the talent to beat anyone, but we must learn to execute our roles properly and finish the big moments.’

For a team that fielded seven new faces from the previous qualifier, the tournament highlighted both promise and inexperience.

Set up and missed chances

Uganda’s campaign began with high expectations. Facing Zimbabwe in the opener, the Cranes set a modest 152 runs in 20 overs despite having 91 runs on the board early on in the match after 9 overs, a platform that could have been stretched to 180-200 to trouble the hosts.

The failure to capitalize mirrored the heartbreak against Tanzania, where lack of awareness ignited a shocking collapse with seven wickets falling for 15 runs – a painful reminder that egos must be left behind and team strategy prioritised.

Coach Abhay Sharma reflected on these setbacks, saying; ‘If we had managed to post 180-plus against Zimbabwe, the game’s outcome would have been very different. These moments are lessons – and painful ones at that.’

Sharma, who leaves Uganda after 18 months – he signed a three-year contract – at the helm, pointed to his limited availability as a primary factor in his decision to step down.

‘Coaching is not just about match days. It’s about working with young players daily, building structures, and sharpening skills. This team needs someone who can dedicate more time on the ground,’ he explained.

Highs amid challenges

Despite the disappointments, Uganda finished strongly. Back-to-back wins against Botswana, Malawi, and Nigeria displayed their firepower, while captain Shah and new player Sumeet Verma proved that the infusion of fresh talent has potential.

Verma was a standout in the tournament, finishing second among the highest run-scorers with 206 runs in five matches at an average of 51.50 and an impressive strike rate of 153.73, just behind Zimbabwe’s Brian Bennett (314).

His consistency and ability to anchor the innings while accelerating when needed highlighted his value to the team and hinted at a promising future for Uganda cricket.

The left-arm spinners; Henry Ssenyondo and Alpesh Ramjani were lethal in the three wins once they found their groove. ‘It was really nice to see that the boys were picking up at the end. We played some quality cricket and executed key plans. But it was a little too late,’ Sharma noted.

Team Manager Charles Waiswa praised Sharma’s mentorship, saying, ‘He has impacted everyone’s career. The lessons, discipline, and belief he instilled will stay with this team long after his departure.’ Analyst Alvin Bagaya added that Sharma’s gesture of giving each player a framed photo of their family underscored the humanity behind his coaching – a reminder that cricket is played for more than just statistics.

Structural reflections

The campaign also laid bare systemic challenges. Several promising Ugandan-born players struggled with pressure, while naturalised players -known as ‘bachuba’ – in local dialect – sometimes created gaps in cohesion. The fans bore their fangs baying for their blood saying many a time that their performances were mediocre. But the ugly and undeniable truth was that in the midst of the ‘bachuba’ mediocrity the players of Ugandan descent did little to justify their continued inclusion as their tally of runs hardly accounted for 30 per cent of the team’s match-by-match aggregates.

Many fans were insistent in their arguments with analysis that Sharma’s tenure had highlighted the need to balance that ‘foreign’ experience with homegrown talent and to build deeper local pathways.

Reflecting on team selection, Sharma explained, ‘We couldn’t field all the young players at one go. But you will notice from my time that I tried to give exposure, and that’s part of developing a sustainable structure.’

Sharma’s approach was arguably similar to previous regimes, emphasizing a blend of discipline, skill-building, and tactical awareness. Under his leadership, Uganda achieved a remarkable 17-match unbeaten T20 run – a global feat of sorts, swept tours in South Africa, IL T20 in Kigali and the Pearl of Africa T20 Series in Entebbe, and maintained a 70.37% win rate across 57 matches – milestones that laid strong foundations for the team’s future.

Coach’s farewell and legacy

At a heartfelt Cresta Lodge poolside farewell meeting after the Nigeria victory in Harare, Sharma addressed the Cranes: ‘I’ve been hard on you, but it was never personal. It was always to push you higher.’ Handing framed photos to each player, he added, ‘These are the people who care about you most. Play for them.’

Shah, visibly emotional, reflected, ‘The way you treated us like your own kids has been amazing. We’ve learned, grown, and we’ll carry these lessons forward. Wherever you are, we’ll call you when we need guidance.’

Sharma leaves Uganda with both professional pride and personal attachment. ‘Uganda is my second home. The boys, the people, the fans – it’s been a family. My decision to step down was to ensure someone with greater availability can fully guide the Cricket Cranes,’ he explained.

Looking ahead

For Uganda, the qualifier exposed not only weaknesses. It brought to light admirable strengths to build on and areas for growth: the talent is evident, but game management, temperament under pressure, and nurturing local talent remain priorities.

As Team Analyst Bagaya noted; ‘This campaign reminds us that while individual brilliance shines, team cohesion and preparation are what win tournaments.’

The Cricket Cranes now face a decision point: continue blending homegrown players with overseas talent, invest in infrastructure and pathways, and learn from missed opportunities, or risk repeating similar heartbreaks in future qualifiers.

ICC T20 WORLD CUP AFRICA QUALIFIER

Uganda Results – Group B

Uganda 152/9 | Zimbabwe 157/5

Zimbabwe won by 5 wickets (with 15 balls remaining)

Tanzania 128/6 | Uganda 119/9

Tanzania won by 9 runs

Botswana 81/6 | Uganda 85/2

Uganda won by 8 wickets (with 44 balls remaining)

5th Place Playoff Semifinal 2

Uganda 192/3 | Malawi 75/6

Uganda won by 117 runs

Fifth Place Playoff Final

Uganda 196/7 | Nigeria 130/7

Uganda won by 66 runs

Sharma’s Memorable 18 Months

Historic Runs: 17-match unbeaten T20 streak

International Tours: South Africa sweep 6-0, POA T20I Series 6-0, ILT20 9-0 and flawless Challenge League B campaigns.

Player Highlights: Henry Ssenyondo’s spell vs Italy, Dinesh Nakrani six-for vs Singapore, Juma Miyaji six-wicket haul vs Tanzania, Shrideep Mangela’s century vs. Bahrain, Captain Riazat Ali Shah’s match winning performances, veteran Frank Nsubuga’s magical spell vs PNG at the World Cup and Cosmas Kyewuta’s gun-fielding among others.

Coaching Philosophy: Discipline, personal mentorship, and tactical awareness.

Quotable Quote: I never take pressure as a coach and team, I give pressure to the opposition, instead.

Legacy Gesture: Framed family photos to remind players of their support systems and why they play.

Reason for Exit: Limited availability for hands-on coaching due to personal reasons.

WRITER’S OPINION

Next Time Better. Could Uganda have done better? Absolutely. Some new faces were not fully tested, key phases of matches were squandered, and the team faltered in pressure moments. Yet, Sharma’s measured exit, his honesty, and his commitment to the players demonstrate a coach of true class. Mother cricket humbled Uganda especially against Tanzania, but the lessons – from the comical collapse to the tactical missteps – will shape a new generation. The Cricket Cranes remain a team of potential, awaiting structure, cohesion, and leadership to seize the World Cup stage next time.

About 10 years ago, banks raced to invest in internet banking. Billions of shillings were sunk in a new digital banking innovation that promised to recoup the shine that had been taken away from the banking sector by mobile money.

It was a race of two faces: catch up in a race that the sector had seemingly lost to mobile money, and set up the future of banking.

However, years later, cybercriminals have turned an otherwise good innovation into their turf, where they occasionally turn up – clean people’s accounts, shop expensively, with owners of such accounts only getting notifications of transactions whose only excuse is a vague explanation from their bankers of ‘you shared your PIN with strangers’.

And now banks are staring at billions of invested capital in platforms, where the numbers are tanking, and targets are failing to spur further investment.

Uganda’s financial sector is rapidly digitising, but the surge in cyber threats is casting a shadow over the promise of seamless online banking.

The Bank of Uganda Integrated Annual Report 2024/25 reveals that while digital transactions continue to grow, internet banking usage has declined, signaling growing public concern about cybersecurity vulnerabilities.

‘This reduction reflected potential user concerns about the cyber threat landscape,’ Bank of Uganda said.

The report notes that in the 12 months to June, active internet banking users dropped by 6.6 percent, from 0.96 million in June 2024 to 0.9 million in June 2025.

Transaction volumes also dropped sharply by 19.5 percent, from 9.7 million to 7.84 million, while total transaction value fell to Shs113.9 trillion.

Apart from the decline in existing users, the uptake remains very low when compared to the more than 20 million accounts in the banking sector.

The contrast

In contrast, mobile banking, which benefits from stronger public trust and simplified authentication, rose by 6.5 percent in the same period, with transaction values soaring by nearly 40 percent.

This divergence paints a clear picture that while Ugandans are increasingly embracing mobile wallets, they are retreating from internet banking, amid fears of hacking, phishing, and data breaches.

But in its report, Bank of Uganda noted that it had made cybersecurity a cornerstone of its digital transformation agenda by enhancing its cybersecurity framework to align with international standards and expanding the capacity of its Security Operations Centre for real-time threat monitoring.point protection, firewalls, and intrusion detection systems, the central bank noted, have been upgraded, supported by regular cyber drills and business continuity simulations.

Bank of Uganda governor Michael Atingi-Ego said in the report that these measures are essential to maintaining ‘an efficient, stable and resilient financial system,’ noting that cyber and technology risks now sit alongside traditional economic risks in the central bank’s supervisory framework.

Bank of Uganda is also reinforcing resilience by operationalizing an AI-enabled Payments Control System through its Anti-Fraud Consortium, designed to detect and neutralise fraudulent activities across payment networks.

Ugandan’s concerns mirror a broader continental trend. During the 2024 Comesa Symposium for Central Bank Governors, cybersecurity and digital banking emerged as top discussion points, with central banks across Africa acknowledging that rapid digitalization, while transformative, had expanded the attack surface for cybercriminals.

To bolster monitoring, the central bank plans to roll out SUPTECH, a supervisory technology system enabling real-time data collection from financial institutions, which will help in detecting irregularities early and enforce compliance across banks and fintechs.

However, the challenge now lies in balancing innovation with security.

As digital finance deepens, Uganda must safeguard both financial stability and consumer trust.

The central bank’s efforts to modernize payment systems through the National Payment Switch integration promise faster and more secure transactions, but these upgrades also demand stronger cyber defense mechanisms.

For Uganda’s digital economy to thrive, the future of internet banking will depend not just on technology, but on trust. For now, as the numbers suggest, users have lost that trust, and they are retreating.

In April 2022, while driving home one evening, 42-year-old Everson Bwengye felt a sharp pain in her chest. At the time, she was working as a brand manager with a local beverage company. The pain was accompanied by fatigue.

Later, when she examined her chest, she discovered a lump in her left breast. The next day was packed with work commitments, so she postponed her visit to the hospital. On Tuesday, she visited International Hospital Kampala (IHK) for a comprehensive physical examination.

To her surprise, the results appeared normal. However, the doctor noted her white blood cell count was alarmingly high. When she mentioned the lump, the doctor immediately recommended a CT scan. The scan showed that the lump had spread to her lymph nodes under the armpit.

The doctor’s question, ‘Do you have a family history of cancer?’ left her shaken. She was advised to do a mammogram, but she postponed it, unable to face the possibility of what lay ahead.

Living in denial

When she eventually did the mammogram at Norvik Hospital in Kampala, the results confirmed the doctor’s fears. Still, she sought a second opinion at Kampala Hospital, this time with her sister by her side. A biopsy was performed, and the 10-day wait for results felt like an eternity. During this period, Bwengye’s relatives offered herbal remedies. She began fasting, avoided sugar, meat, and cooking oil, and relied heavily on herbs.

‘I had a very aggressive type of cancer, but I was in denial,’ she recalls.

‘For three months, I refused medical treatment and hoped herbs would heal me.’ The fear of death consumed her thoughts. She pictured her funeral and worried about her three children. ‘I became hard on them. I taught them things they had not yet learnt and told them to prepare for the worst,’ she says. Her relationship with her husband also grew distant, as she braced herself for the inevitable.

A turning point

One herbalist encouraged her to run further tests before continuing treatment. The results revealed that her organs were still intact, but the herbalist admitted the herbs would not cure her cancer. He advised her to seek treatment at the Uganda Cancer Institute (UCI). By then, the lump had nearly doubled in size.

Alarmed, she rushed back to the hospital, where the doctor advised immediate surgery to remove her breast. It was a painful decision she had to make with her husband.

After seeking another opinion, she went to the UCI, where a treatment plan was drawn up. She received six cycles of chemotherapy, three weeks apart. However, even after completing them, the lump seemed larger.

Seeking treatment abroad

Determined to find answers, Bwengye travelled to Turkey. There, she underwent four additional cycles of chemotherapy, surgery, and 35 radiotherapy sessions. She was then placed on hormone therapy, which she continues to this day. Despite the painful side effects, Bwengye worked throughout her treatment.

‘Even after chemotherapy in Uganda, I would go back to work. After coming back from Turkey, I resumed immediately,’ she says.

Her resilience, however, was met with unexpected rejection at her workplace. Her responsibilities were gradually reduced, her benefits withdrawn, and she was eventually suspended before her contract quietly expired.

‘This was an indirect way of firing me,’ she says bitterly.

The silent struggles of survivors

For many cancer survivors, workplace rejection is a silent battle.

‘After treatment, you cannot be as productive as before. Many organisations indirectly push us away, yet they boast of supporting cancer through Corporate Social Responsibility,’ she notes.

Surviving cancer does not end with treatment. For breast cancer survivors such as Bwengye, hormonal therapy is essential. She now takes a daily hormone tablet, calcium supplements, allergy medication, and receives quarterly reviews and injections.

‘Not every cancer patient dies of the disease. Many die from depression and lack of support,’ she explains. Survivors often face rejection from relatives, spouses, and workplaces. Meanwhile, the costs of post-treatment medication remain high.

Did you know

According to the Uganda Cancer Institute, about 34,000 new cancer cases are recorded every year, and breast cancer accounts for roughly 2,000 of them. Early detection and consistent follow-up treatment are key to survival, but stigma and financial hardship remain major obstacles for many patients.

Dr Edward Muwonge, an oncologist at UCI, notes that the stigma around cancer still costs lives.

‘Employers need to understand that recovery takes time. Compassion and workplace flexibility go a long way in helping survivors regain confidence,’ he says.

The irony, Bwengye adds, is that while some companies donate generously to cancer campaigns, they fail to support employees battling the disease.

‘It is painful when organisations contribute to cancer awareness but abandon their own staff fighting cancer,’ she says.

Finding strength in vulnerability

Bwengye’s story is one of courage in the face of fear, hope in the midst of despair, and resilience despite rejection. From denial and reliance on herbs to finally accepting medical treatment, her journey underscores the importance of timely medical intervention and emotional support for cancer patients.

She acknowledges that life after cancer is a daily struggle.

‘We live with the reality that we must take medicines for the rest of our lives,’ she reflects.

Yet she continues to fight for her health, for her children, and for the dignity of cancer survivors in Uganda.

Call for compassion

For Ugandans battling cancer, Bwengye’s journey is both a warning and an inspiration. It highlights the dangers of denial and delays in treatment, the limitations of herbal remedies, and the emotional toll of rejection from workplaces and families. But it also demonstrates the strength of the human spirit.

Bwengye continues to share her story so that others may find courage, seek timely medical care, and demand greater support for survivors. Her message is clear: ‘We do not only need medicine to survive cancer. We need love, support, and acceptance.’