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The etok (headdress) from Acholi in northern Uganda, which is made of human hair, decorated with beads and an ostrich feather, is among the 15 artefacts recently returned to Uganda from England and which are on show at a three-week exhibition in Kampala.

The etok is a moulded cap of hair decorated with spirals of white, red, blue, green and pink glass beads sewn into discs of leather; bird bone with the cut end affixed through one of the leather discs, ostensibly for the attachment of the feather.

Also on display is the royal Queen Mother’s drum from Bunyoro Kingdom in western Uganda. The drum made of a round wooden body covered in hide was played by the Queen Mother.

The two pieces of the hide are held in place with straight lacing, made from thin twisted strips of leather. The body is decorated with strings of plaited fibre, strings of cowrie shells, small pink beads, back seeds and a horn of a ram.

The royal oval wooden meat dish of musogo wood, possibly used by the King of Bunyoro, Andereya Bisereko Duhaga II. The body is tapered and strained red with grooved scorched festoons along the rim, with 12 broadly triangular legs upon a concave oval base.

The royal drum from Buganda Kingdom in central Uganda consists of a wooden semi-cylinder covered with hide. The drum is covered with cowries and ancient bead work, very beautifully executed. The top is covered with hide on which are sewn beads, and decorated with four hair tassels.

Emomi, a shield made from thick hippopotamus hide with a wooden handle is from Bunyoro. The hide shield is roughly circular in shape with a curved cross-section; there are two lobes and a folded edge.

The reverse has a centred wooden handle across the diameter that has been bound and secured in place with strips of brown and black leather. It is decorated with scored, tightly intersecting lines.

There is the glazed black earthware (pot) from Ankole in western Uganda. The top half of the body is decorated with three incised semi-ovals; each semi-oval is filled with incised lines, small chips in the rim, and minor scratches in the exterior.

The engyemeko (water pot) made from black earthenware from Ankole. Conical in shape with a long tapering neck, everted rim and small pedestal base; decorated with incised designs filled with white pigment; three horizontal bands with raised dots alternating with triangles filled with hatching, vertical bars and grid motif.

Ngato is a divination card from Buganda, made out of thick leather, used for throwing to obtain the favour of god Mwanga.

There is a shield from Bunyoro resembling Buganda’s type of shield. The shield was made from a plant fibre, with leather attached, used for protection during wars.

Eight priests belonging to the Apostles of Jesus Congregation were ordained by the Bishop of Kabale Diocese, Rt. Rev. Callist Rubaramira, in a ceremony held at Rushoraza Cathedral headquarters in Kabale town.

The newly ordained priests were urged to honour their leaders, work without compromise, and unite people.

In his homily, Bishop Rubaramira advised the priests to restrain from sin, trust in God, and emulate Jesus Christ.

“Restrain your body from committing sin. Keep trusting in God if you are to succeed in your priesthood vocation,” he said.

The bishop also emphasized the importance of honoring their leaders and keeping their eyes focused on God.

The ordained priests include Fr. Leopold Nkurunungi, Fr. Patrick Tumushabe, Fr. Benjamin Chakuwa, Fr. Vincent Niwabeine, Fr. Silas Majoro, Fr. Deusdedit Birungi, Fr. Nicholas Byaruhanga, and Fr. Tarasisio Mucunguzi.

Five of the newly ordained priests will be deployed in Kenya, two in Tanzania, and one in Uganda.

Representing the newly ordained priests, Fr. Patrick Tumushabe thanked God, parents, mentors, relatives, and friends for their support.

He asked for prayers for their success in their priestly journey, saying, “Pray for us so that we can be faithful and succeed in this journey of priesthood.”

The ceremony was attended by prominent figures, including the State Minister for Finance, Mr Henry Musasizi, the Shadow Attorney General, Mr. Wilfred Niwagaba, and members of parliament from the Kigezi region.

The event marked a significant milestone in the lives of the newly ordained priests, who have dedicated their lives to serving God and the people of Uganda.

In his message, Rev. Fr. Ignatius Leoson Mbabazi, the Assistant Vocations Director for the Apostles of Jesus Congregation, expressed gratitude to God for the gift of priesthood and thanked the Bishop of Kabale Diocese for his support. He also commended the formation teams for their role in shaping the young priests.

The ordination ceremony was a celebration of the priests’ commitment to their vocation and a testament to the enduring legacy of the Apostles of Jesus Congregation in Uganda.

Jacob Kiplimo barely puts a foot wrong when competing in elite road races. He’s such a gem, pure that every race organizer desires to invite him.

His full marathon debut was at the prestigious London Marathon on April 27 and the Ugandan did not disappoint, almost two months after rewriting the 21km world record to 56 minutes and 42 seconds at the Barcelona Half-Marathon in Spain.

Kiplimo powered to second place in slighter warmer London weather but it was good enough for the fastest marathon by a Ugandan – at two hours, three minutes and 37 seconds.

Luring Kiplimo back to track proved difficult. He sat out of the Tokyo World Athletics Championships and also confirmed he would run at the Chicago Marathon in Illinois, USA.

The race, one of the three World Marathon Majors (WMM) provided by the USA, happens today. ‘I am very happy because my body is responding well and I believe I am in good form to deliver a good performance in Chicago,’ he said.

The 24-year-old is seeking a rise in the marathon space. A two-time defending world cross-country champion, Kiplimo has attracted attention in the star field even if the race’s defending champion Kenyan John Korir is back.

‘It is special because he is building up his name and experience in the world of marathon,’ said Kiplimo’s coach Peter Chelangat. ‘The goal is for him to run better and come with good results.’

Korir last October by almost two minutes in 2:02:44 and the 28-year-old is aiming to become the sixth man in history to retain the Chicago Marathon title.

Successfully defending the Chicago Marathon crown is something no one has managed since Kenyan the late Sammy Wanjiru won there in 2010 and 2011.

With Chicago providing a flat and fast course, it is a venue where the world record (WR) is often broken. The current WR mark of 2:00:35 set by Kenyan the late Kelvin Kiptum in 2023.

Korir, who won the Boston Marathon in Massachusetts back in April and the Boilermaker 15K in New York in July, is aiming to become the second man in history to post a 42km race under 2:01:00.

The presence of Kiplimo and Kenyan trio of Timothy Kiplagat, Amos Kipruto and CyBrian Kotut with the prevailing conditions and course, finely bode with the goal in sight. ‘For those he is facing, he knows they are also good athletes but as for Jacob he believes in himself,’ said Chelangat.

‘With time, he would love to improve on that (his personal best). On the (world) record issue, he has never mentioned that, but if an opportunity comes for him to do so then there will be no worry other than for us to celebrate,’ added the man who helps implement Kiplimo’s training program in Bukwo under Rosa Associati.

Kiplimo further is encouraged the presence of a rising winning mentality in the Rosa camp after his brother Titus Musau bagged gold, Enos Chebet got silver while Abraham Cherotich picked bronze in the junior race at the recent World Mountain Running Championship in Spain.

Kiplagat is a 2022 Abu Dhabi Marathon champion while Kipruto triumphed at the 2022 London Marathon and together with Kotut and current Olympic silver medallist Bashir Abdi, all have run faster than Kiplimo.

No Ugandan runner has won a WMM event before and owing to his class further highlighted by the recent victory at the Buenos Aires 21K in Argentina on August 27, Kiplimo’s pursuit in Chicago borders on history, should the weather conditions permit beginning at Grant Park.

The course will take the elite field and more than 50000 participants parallel to Lake Michigan for the first 12km and at about 33km, they’ll grace Chicago city’s places including Lincoln Park, Old Town, Greek Town, Little Town, and Chinatown and then onto Sheridan Road.

There is minimal elevation on the route, notably about a kilometre before the finish line.

CHICAGO MARATHON

Date: 2nd Sunday in October (before Columbus Day)

2025 Date: October 12

Races Start: 3.30pm (Kampala) | 7.30am (Chicago)

Location: Chicago, Illinois, USA

Event type: Road

Distance: 26.219 miles (42.195 km)

Established: 1977 (48 years ago)

Course records – Men: 2:00:35 *WR by (Kelvin Kiptum – 2023) | Ladies: 2:09:56 *WR by Ruth Chepngetich – 2024)

MEN’S WORLD RECORDS IN CHICAGO

Steve Jones in 1984 | Khalid Khannouchi in 1999 | Kelvin Kiptum in 2023

2025 CHICAGO MARATHON

ELITE MEN’S FIELD

John Korir (KEN) 2:02:44

Timothy Kiplagat (KEN) 2:02:55

Amos Kipruto (KEN) 2:03:13

CyBrian Kotut (KEN) 2:03:22

Bashir Abdi (BEL) 2:03:36

Jacob Kiplimo (UGA) 2:03:37

Philemon Kiplimo (KEN) 2:04:01

Geoffrey Kamworwor (KEN) 2:04:23

Huseydin Mohamed Esa (ETH) 2:04:39

Daniel Ebenyo (KEN) 2:06:04

Galen Rupp (USA) 2:06:07

Hiroto Inoue (JPN) 2:06:14

Zouhair Talbi (MAR) 2:06:39

Conner Mantz (USA) 2:07:47

Matt Richtman (USA) 2:07:56

Rory Linkletter (CAN) 2:08:01

CJ Albertson (USA) 2:08:17

Hideyuki Tanaka (JPN) 2:09:27

Patricio Castillo (MEX) 2:10:40

Ryan Ford (USA) 2:11:08

Marc Scott (GBR) 2:11:19

KIPLIMO AT A GLANCE

Date of birth: November 14, 2000

Major events: 5000m, 10000m, Half-Marathon, Marathon

Coach: Iacorpo Brasi, Peter Chelangat

Personal Bests: 12:40.96 (5000m), 26:33.93 (10000m), 56:42 (21km), 2:03:37 (Marathon)

Manager: Federico Rosa

Management: Rosa Associati

KIPLIMO IN 2025

Aug 27, 2025: Buenos Aires 21K (1st, 58:29)

Apr 27, 2025: London Marathon (2nd, 2:03:37)

Feb 16, 2025: Barcelona Half-Marathon (1st, 56:42)

KIPLIMO IN 2024

Dec 31, 2024: NN San Silvestre 10K (2nd, 26:32)

Nov 17, 2024: NN Zevenheuvelenloop (1st, 40:42)

Sept 15, 2024: Copenhagen Half-Marathon (2nd, 58:09)

Aug 2, 2024: Paris Olympics, 10000m (8th, 26:46.39)

May 30, 2024: Oslo DL, 5000m (3rd, 12:40.96)

May 17, 2024: LA Grand Prix, 5000m (4th, 12:52.91)

Mar 30, 2024: World Cross-country (1st, 28:09)

Feb 10, 2024: National Cross-country (1st, 29:04)

Jan 14, 2024: Valencia 10K Ibercaja (1st, 26:48)

UGANDA’S FASTEST MARATHONERS

BEST TIME BY ATHLETE

2:03:37 by Jacob Kiplimo at London Marathon on Apr 27, 2025

2:04:48 by Stephen Kissa at Hamburg Marathon on Apr 24, 2022

2:05:09 by Victor Kiplangat at Hamburg Marathon on Apr 24, 2022

2:05:12 by Filex Chemongesi at Toronto Marathon on Oct 20, 2019

2:05:59 by Joshua Cheptegei at Tokyo Marathon on Mar 2, 2025

2:06:33 by Stephen Kiprotich at Tokyo Marathon on Feb 22, 2015

The trend of fishermen fishing in major water bodies and small streams has since changed, with many adopting aquaculture. Although highly appreciated, experts think farmers must further adopt aquaponic farming to harvest both fish and crops – mainly vegetables – of their choice. Aquaponics is a sustainable food production system as it combines aquaculture – rearing fish and hydroponics, which is growing plants in a soilless setting.

It creates a symbiotic ecosystem where nutrient-rich water from fish tanks is used to fertilise plants and the plants in turn, filter the water to be recycled back to the fish tank for their growth. This integrated approach reduces water usage and eliminates the need for chemical fertilisers, making it an environmentally friendly and efficient method of food production. This is what scientists at the National Fisheries Resource Research Institute (NaFIRRI) Aquaculture Research and Development Centre, Kajjansi are advocating fish farmers especially in urban setting to adopt.

Aquaponics research initiative

Dr Barry Kamira a research officer at the Institute explained that the aquaponics research project at the Institute is a two year project being conducted under a major project called Pr AEctiCE funded by the European Union. This study arose out of the need to sensitise urban fish farmers about the importance and advantages of adopting aquaponics fish farming which leads to farmers harvesting fish and crops as well. The project started in 2021 and it will soon come to an end with promising results. The scientists will disseminate the information by bringing farmers on site to learn how to set up aquaponics farm.

How the structure is set

Mr John Bolingo, a technician handling the facility at the Institute explained that tanks are filled with water where fish fingerlings are left to breed.Meanwhile there are structures in form of beds filled with stone gravels through which water from fish tanks runs through and in the process is filtered. However, the water from the tanks runs to the plant beds filled with nutrients from the fish tank and by the time it is filtered to run through a pipe back to the fish drums, it is clean water. The steps are that Fish produce waste in the form of ammonia through respiration and solid waste. Beneficial bacteria, living mostly in the biofilter and on media surfaces, convert ammonia into nitrites and then into nitrates, a form of nitrogen that plants can easily absorb. The plants take up the nitrates as nutrients, which supports strong, healthy growth.

As the plants absorb these nutrients, the water is naturally filtered and cleaned. This clean, oxygenated water is then recirculated back to the fish tank, creating a continuous cycle. The result is Healthy fish growth and thriving plants including a self-sustaining ecosystem that requires minimal external inputs. The adopted fish for the trials is Nile Tilapia and cat fish while the crops are spinach, tomatoes and Lettuce.

The cycle

Fish are raised in a tank and their waste, primarily ammonia is converted into nitrates by beneficial bacteria. These nitrates are then absorbed by plants in a hydroponic system as a natural fertiliser. The filtered water is then recirculated back to the fish tank, completing the cycle. The scientists have done the trials and realised that cat fish grow faster and better in this setting compared to Nile Tilapia. However the facility will continue to perform because it is meant to sensitize farmers interested in adopting aquaponics farming. Farmers are advised to seek advice from them before setting up aquaponics farm.

Types of aquaponics set ups

Nutrient Film Technique (NFT): Efficient but better for advanced growers. It uses narrow channels PVC pipes or troughs where a thin film of nutrient-rich water flows over the roots of the plants. It’s a space-saving method, often used in vertical or indoor systems. Raft System or Deep Water Culture (DWC) Best for leafy greens and commercial growing. The systems float plants on a sheet of foam over deep troughs filled with nutrient-rich water. The roots dangle directly into the water, absorbing nutrients continuously In this system the fish waste us filtered before reaching the grow bed because air stones are used to oxygenate the water to prevent root rot Hybrid and Vertical Aquaponics Systems: Many aquaponic gardeners experiment with hybrid systems that combine multiple methods, for example, media beds for fruiting crops and raft beds for greens.

The benefits of aquaponics

Aquaponics is not only a highly efficient way to grow food, but it also comes with a range of environmental and practical benefits that make it an attractive option for eco-conscious gardeners, urban farmers and those interested in sustainable food production. It saves up to 90 percent More Water than Traditional Gardening and it is chemical free because no synthetic fertilizers are used.

It is Eco-Friendly Farming Solution

Aquaponics is widely regarded as an eco-friendly farming method because of its efficiency, sustainability and lower environmental impact compared to traditional agriculture. Waste reduction: Fish waste is turned into plant food, and plant waste can be used as feed for fish in some systems, closing the loop entirely. No soil degradation: Aquaponics avoids the issues of soil depletion, erosion, and the need for large swathes of land that conventional farming requires. Lower carbon footprint: With reduced transportation needs (especially for urban setups), aquaponics can contribute to more localized food production, reducing the need for long-distance food transport.

Food security

By using aquaponics systems, you can grow local, fresh food in urban areas or even on rooftops. This contributes to food security by providing people with access to healthy, self-grown produce right where they live.

Common challenges and solutions

While aquaponics offers numerous benefits, it’s not without its challenges. As a closed-loop system, aquaponics requires careful monitoring and maintenance to ensure the fish and plants are thriving together. Farmers must continue to monitor the water Ph yet fish and plants have different pH requirements and imbalances can lead to poor plant growth, stressed fish, or system inefficiencies. The solution is for farmers to conduct regular testing by using a good-quality pH metre or test kit to regularly check the pH levels. If the pH is too low farmers can use baking soda to raise it

Fish Health is directly linked to the health of the aquaponic system. Sick or stressed fish can disrupt the balance and reduce system productivity.