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The Ugandan cricket fraternity is mourning the passing of Baker Elonge Otema, a devoted servant of the game whose contribution to cricket – both on and off the field – spanned over four decades.

Elonge, who was 63, breathed his last at Jinja Hospital after complications on Tuesday night allegedly due to body organs failure. He was, until his passing, the Development Officer for Eastern Uganda and the Nile Region under the Cricket Uganda (CU).

With the best

Born in Northern Uganda but raised in Jinja, Elonge’s love affair with cricket began at Victoria Nile Primary School in Jinja and later flourished at King’s College Budo, where he learnt the finer points of the game.

A medium pacer with a deceptively short run-up, he played for Uganda, Jinja Association of Cricket Clubs (JACC) in the 1980s and 1990s, where his jovial spirit and sportsmanship made him a beloved teammate.

Off the pitch, he was affectionately known as the ‘King of Main Street’, a nod to his ever-present charm and social nature in the heart of Jinja Town.

Baker, as those in cricket called him, connected deeply with people of all walks of life – young and old, cricketers and non-cricketers alike – always ready with a smile, story, or light-hearted tease.

Timeless teacher

When his playing days ended, Elonge found renewed purpose in umpiring, earning recognition as one of Uganda’s first international umpires after he earned his qualification papers in Gauteng in 2003, alongside the late Francis Ekalungar.

His witty approach and fairness in the middle inspired a generation of umpires, including Patrick Makumbi Musoke, now on the International Cricket Council (ICC) Development Panel.

In his later years, Elonge devoted himself to coaching and youth development, guiding cricket in Eastern Uganda with passion, humility, and wisdom.

His mentorship shaped countless players and officials, leaving a legacy of integrity, discipline, and love for the game. His calm demeanor, sharp eye for talent, and open heart endeared him to all.

Heartfelt tributes

Tributes have poured in from across the cricket community:

‘He was a gentleman to the end,’ wrote Bob Kisubi. ‘A calm, cool, and collected man,’ added Frederick Mpanga. ‘Big big shame, Baker’s loss. Thanks to God for his life,’ said veteran Pithy Ndiko – a man who did it all with him. ‘One of the few who kept cricket in the East moving,’ remembered Robert Okot.

‘Baker was always kind and full of good humour. He had the shortest bowling run-up I’ve ever seen, yet the biggest heart of anyone I knew in cricket,’ said Guy Kimbowa Lutaaya, a former captain and teammate at JACC.

Elonge, who was elected as chairman of the national umpires and scorers association in 2018, will be laid to rest in Amononeno Village, Alebtong District on Friday evening, with details of the burial arrangements forthcoming. Cricket Uganda (CU) has pledged to honour his memory fittingly for a man whose life embodied the spirit of cricket.

Rest well, Baker – your impact will stay for eons.

TIMELINE

Full Name: Baker Elonge Otema

Date of Birth: February 2, 1962

Died: October 8, 2025

Age: 63 years

Born: Northern Uganda

Residence: Jinja District

EDUCATION

Schools:

Victoria Nile Primary School, King’s College Budo and Makerere University Business School

(MUBS) Nakawa

ROLES PLAYED

LC II Chairman, CU Development Coach, Talent Scout and Umpire Mentor

The Talking Point

LASTING LEGACY

Scripting His Own Story. For more than four decades, Elonge shaped the game’s soul-first as a reliable medium pacer for JACC, later as one of Uganda’s first international umpires, and ultimately as a development officer nurturing young cricketers across Eastern Uganda. Even after leaving the umpire’s crease, he remained a pillar of mentorship, urging growth, fairness, and joy in the game. His colleagues recall his quick wit and unmatched humility-an eloquent servant of cricket whose laughter and lessons will echo through generations.

As Uganda marks 63 years of independence, several presidential hopefuls have reflected on whether the country has achieved the vision of its founding fathers.

While the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) celebrated what it termed decades of peace, stability, and development, Opposition figures argued that persistent governance failures, corruption, and inequality have rendered independence meaningless. NRM Communications Director Emmanuel Dombo said the last four decades under President Yoweri Museveni’s leadership have been years of steady progress and recovery.

‘Of the 63 years of independence, the NRM government and His Excellency Yoweri Kaguta Museveni have been in charge of the affairs of the country for almost 40 years. These have been years of consistent progress and development,’ Mr Dombo said. ‘Unlike the years before 1986, when we had many presidents and a failed economy, from 1986 we have had one president who has enabled Uganda to attain peace, stability, and development.’

‘Not good enough’

However, other presidential candidates offered contrasting views, questioning the significance of the peace and stability the NRM boasts about. Maj Gen (rtd) Gregory Mugisha Muntu, the presidential flag-bearer of the Alliance for National Transformation (ANT), said Uganda’s independence remains incomplete, arguing that the country is held captive by a governance system driven by selfish interests.

‘It’s unfortunate that the country, at the age of 63, is still caught up in a vicious cycle of poor governance, having leaders who are short-sighted and mainly focused on themselves,’ Gen Muntu said. ‘They pursue material acquisitions or power for psychological satisfaction, and under leadership driven by self-interest at the expense of citizens, challenges such as inadequate infrastructure, poverty, poor education and health systems, and high unemployment persist,’ he added.

Gen Muntu, who was the army commander from 1989 to 1998, said Uganda will only make meaningful progress when the country addresses the question of governance. ‘Until we resolve the issue of governance, it will remain the same. Any Ugandan who wants a better future must focus on how to get good, honest men and women into leadership, people who will build a stable, peaceful country where everyone is equal before the law and has equal opportunities,’ he said. The Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) presidential candidate, Mr Nathan Nandala Mafabi, echoed similar sentiments, noting that, while Uganda has made strides since independence, significant challenges abound. ‘A lot has happened in our country since the British colonial government exited 63 years ago. We have had an ugly past, and although we are not where we want to be, we hope to get there,’ Mr Mafabi said.

‘We want to see a country where the rule of law is respected and human rights are adhered to. Poverty rates remain high, and that’s why, as FDC, we are presenting ourselves to Ugandans to give us a chance to lead this country beginning 2026 so that we fix the economy and put money in people’s pockets,’ he added. Gen Muntu urged Ugandans to reflect on the nation’s direction.

‘As we celebrate 63 years of independence, citizens should reflect on where we want this country to be in the near future. We deserve a better Uganda, and I have the experience needed to fix the economy and improve people’s livelihoods,’ Mr Mafabi said.

‘Concentration of power’

The Conservative Party’s presidential candidate, Mr Elton Joseph Mabirizi, took a more critical tone, saying Uganda’s performance today is worse than it was under British rule. ‘Before independence, regional governments had autonomy to utilise their own resources for development. Today, everything is centralised, and regions that produce the most wealth remain underdeveloped,’ Mr Mabirizi said.

He attributed this to corruption and excessive centralisation of power. ‘Despite Uganda being rich in natural resources, many regions have not benefited because of poor governance and corruption at the central level. Federalism is the only way to unlock regional potential and ensure equitable development,’ he said.

The Conservative Party Secretary General, Mr Alfred Kasozi, also criticised the government for what he called the collapse of key national assets.

‘The NRM government doesn’t manage parastatals. The policy of taxation has failed, people are being overtaxed, and the government doesn’t own anything. Parastatals like Uganda Commercial Bank, Uganda Railways, and UTL have been privatised and are now run by a few people,’ Mr Kasozi said. He explained that education has become increasingly expensive and that Uganda’s democracy has been undermined by constitutional amendments removing term and age limits.

‘The NRM government has totally killed service delivery. On paper, it looks developed, but on the ground, it’s totally different,’ he said.

Independence values

‘We must reflect on the values for which independence was fought accountability, equality, and self-governance, all of which have been eroded,’ he added. Mr Robert Kasibante, the presidential flagbearer of the National Peasants Party (NPP), said peasants have been left behind despite decades of self-rule. ‘Many peasantry communities have been excluded from key leadership and government positions of influence under Gen Museveni’s regime, which has consumed 40 of the 63 years of our independence. This has denied peasants the true benefits of independence,’ he said, adding: ‘The Electoral Commission, Parliament, and the Judiciary lack autonomy. We promise to empower all arms and agencies of government for better and more efficient service delivery.’ Mr Kasibante called for greater inclusion and accountability as Uganda moves toward another election cycle. ‘Uganda marks 63 years of independence amid calls for transparency, accountability, and economic inclusion of marginalised communities,’ he said.

Flag independence

Mr Habib Buwembo, the mobilisation head at the National Unity Platform (NUP), Uganda’s leading Opposition party, said the country cannot be considered independent when citizens still rely on handouts from President Museveni. He cited loss of businesses, killings on fishing lakes, and restricted celebrations as tell-tale signs. Mr Buwembo added that the country still uses colonial-era laws and that Opposition parties are denied resources and freedom to operate, proving that Uganda’s political and economic independence remains elusive. ‘We cannot continue celebrating independence when Ugandans are still economically enslaved and politically oppressed.

True independence means freedom for all citizens, not just those in power,’ Mr Buwembo said. Mr Moses Bigirwa, the Common Man’s Party (CMP) secretary general, said Uganda’s politics remain unstable and that the country cannot be considered truly independent until institutions are freed from individual control. ‘Uganda is still grappling with the political question within it. Individuals in power still act like the colonial rulers who granted us independence. Whoever gets into power does so forcefully, and leaving power becomes a tug of war,’ he told Daily Monitor. He, however, expressed optimism that President Museveni could still rebuild confidence among Ugandans. ‘Mr Museveni should rebuild trust. Public institutions should be independent and fair so that citizens can freely elect leaders of their choice. That’s the only way Uganda can become truly independent,’ he said.

An Artificial Intelligence (AI) data centre has been unveiled in Uganda, a first-of-kind project in the East African nation, and hailed as a turning point that will shift the continent’s data from foreign servers back to the continent, giving institutions, researchers, and businesses greater control over their digital assets.

Speaking during the launch breakfast, Synectics Technologies Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Oladele Oyekunle, said the first phase of the project is expected to cost KShs157.2 billion ($1.2 billion.) The facility will run on 100 megawatts of renewable energy and adopt a modular design that allows for expansion as technology evolves. Mr Oyekunle added that the three-year project will begin rollout by mid-next year.

According to him, the initiative has four main goals: to manage and process data, support research and development, and serve as an advisory hub.

It will also host an AI Centre of Excellence, created under a Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) model, to ensure that local engineers, researchers, and universities not only access the infrastructure but also acquire the skills to manage and innovate within it.

The approach is expected to reduce Africa’s dependence on foreign expertise and transform the region into a net exporter of digital skills within five years.

With over 80 acres of land dedicated to this ‘digital city,’ the project aims to foster an ecosystem where African researchers in medicine, agriculture, climate science, and other fields can optimise AI-driven innovations locally, rather than exporting raw data abroad for processing.

The facility is being developed in Uganda by Synectics Technologies in partnership with Schneider Electric, Nvidia, and Turner and Townsend, and is expected to transform Africa’s digital landscape by providing local infrastructure for data processing, research, and AI innovation.

Africa currently accounts for less than 1% of global data center capacity despite having a population of 1.4 billion people, according to the Africa Data Centres Association.

Most African data is still hosted overseas, raising concerns about security, sovereignty, and compliance with data protection laws.

‘At least 30 African countries, including Kenya and Nigeria, have enacted data privacy regulations in recent years, requiring more data to be processed locally,’ Oyekunle noted.

Turner and Townsend’s Head of Real Estate in Africa, Wendy Cerutti, said the facility is designed to meet international standards while securing Africa’s long-term digital future.

‘This project shows that we can deliver world-class facilities here, with predictability, clarity, and impact,’ she said, stressing that the initiative is a long-term infrastructure program aligned with net-zero goals.

Analysts project that AI could contribute up to KES 195 trillion ($1.5 trillion) to Africa’s GDP by 2030, with the data center expected to position the continent as a hub for research, innovation, and skills export.

Schneider Electric East Africa Country President Ifeanyi Odoh said the lack of large-scale infrastructure has kept global hyperscale’s from investing heavily in Africa.

‘It’s not that we don’t have the data. The basic infrastructure fiber, power, redundancy has not been available at scale,’ he said.

The new facility will be supported by multiple fiber routes, redundant transformers, and advanced automation to guarantee reliability.

The urgency of this development is underscored by Africa’s digital infrastructure gap. Despite its population size, the continent continues to rely heavily on Europe and North America for data hosting.

Experts warn that without local capacity, the risks of data misuse and weak compliance will grow as AI adoption accelerates in healthcare, fintech, and education.

By embedding privacy and compliance frameworks into the new facility, Synectics and its partners say they are not only building infrastructure but also trust.

Industry observers see the project as a watershed moment. The creation of an AI factory powered by renewable energy is expected to catalyze digital economies across East Africa and beyond, while also symbolizing Africa’s entry into the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

‘Science is precise whether in Kenya, Uganda, or China. For Africa, this is our time not just to consume technology, but to define our own digital future,’ Mr Oyekunle urged.

Col Samson Mande, one of the heroes of the National Resistance Army (NRA) Bush War that brought President Museveni to power, turned dissident, says he’s back in the ruling party.

Col Mande, a strong critic of NRM, has been living in Sweden since he fled to exile with Lt Col Anthony Kyakabale, first in Rwanda and later to the Scandinavian nation after falling out with President Museveni in 2001.

Lt Col (rtd) Kyakabale returned to Uganda about 10 years ago and met President Museveni before travelling back to Sweden later.

Kyakabale, also a Bush War fighter and a key figure in the Rwandan civil war that ousted former Rwandan President Juvenal Habyarimana in 1994, died last week after a long period of illness, according to family sources.

Col Mande returned to Uganda recently and was introduced by President Museveni to the crowd that gathered at Kololo Independence Grounds, Kampala, as the East African nation marked Independence Day on October 9.

‘All the development that is happening in Uganda is on account of the peace that is available. This peace is lubricated by the longstanding NRM policy of reconciliation and forgiveness on top of our firm stand against crime. Even today, I’m happy to welcome back into peaceful Uganda Col Samson Mande, who had fled into exile on account of, apparently, some internal intrigue. While in exile, he tried to engage in some rebel activities. When our cadres contacted him in Sweden, he happily agreed to come back and disconnect himself from the rebel activities,” Mr Museveni said in his October 9 Independence address before asking Col Mande to take to the podium to address the gathering of mainly NRM supporters, politicians and dignitaries from different countries.

Key opposition supporters shunned the official celebrations, claiming they have, over the years, been turned into a ruling party event at which “a lot of taxpayers’ money is spent on a handful of enablers and beneficiaries of the regime.”

In his brief speech, Col Mande said he changed his stance against the NRM and President Museveni, whom he described as generous.

‘I am back home. Here in Uganda, I have two homes; the first home is my country. Nobody shall be surprised that I’m here because I’m in my home. My second home is the NRM. I’m a founder member of the NRM. NRM was born by us. It is in me, it will remain in me until death puts us asunder,’ he said before quoting 1 Corinthians 13:11 to confirm that he’s a changed man.

‘When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me,’ he said, adding, ‘I know the magnanimity of our dear leader, President Yoweri Museveni, would accept my change of behaviour. Thank you very much. I’m home to stay.’

He said he had returned to Uganda to contribute to the development that he had heard and seen.

‘I went when I was bitter, but now I’m better and I’m loaded with solutions. I will not look in the past because I don’t live in the past tense. I’m looking forward to contributing to national development,’ he added.

Mr Museveni, who has been in power for four decades, and seeking another term in the 2026 polls hailed Mande for the “good job as commander of the 15th battalion in the Siege of Masaka in 1985 and in subsequent assignments.”

“I remember Samson Mande in 1979 operating as a volunteer scout for the Task Force Division of the TPDF under Major – General Silas Mayunga in Mbarara. I was commanding the 9000 strong Fronasa fighting force. Later Mande did a good job as commander of the 15th battalion in the Siege of Masaka in 1985 and in subsequent assignments. We welcome him,” the president said after Col Mande’s speech at Kololo.

RAO69 Samson Mande was at the heart of the 5-year guerilla war that brought President Museveni to power in 1986, and later authored the Establishment document that transformed the motley NRA into today’s formidable UPDF. As destiny would dictate, Col. Mande was elbowed out a few years after they captured power, got incarcerated and tortured in dungeon before he fled into exile, first to Rwanda, and onward to Sweden.

Uganda’s Intelligence later accused him of plotting to overthrow President Museveni’s government using the People’s Redemption Army (PRA) rebel group.

He was also involved in veteran opposition politician Dr Kizza Besigye’s escape in August 2001.

WHO IS MANDE?

Col Samson Mande’s UPDF service number RO 69 which puts him among the top 100 National Resistance Army Bush War fighters.

He commanded one of the first six independent units during the Bush War in the Luweero Triangle in 1983. He commanded 1st Battalion, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Battalion, 9th Battalion and Task Force which operated in Kyadondo-Matuga-Bombo-Masulita and Mukono District.

His Task Force merged with the late Brig Chefe Ali’s UNLF troops in 1984 to form the Western Axis frontline and the 11th Battalion in Rwenzori. By 1985 the 11th Battalion had captured enough weapons and trained enough personnel to form the 15th battalion, the crack battalion which Col Mande commanded as the NRA fighters advanced on the capital Kampala, which fell on January 26, 1986.

Uganda kept their slim World Cup qualification hopes alive following a 1-0 away win over Botswana at the Obed Itani Chilume Stadium in Francistown, Botswana on Thursday evening.

Forward Jude Ssemugabi got the game’s only goal on 54 minutes after being allowed to steal in a header at the near post from an Allan Okello corner.

The result pushed the Cranes to 18 points from nine games and consolidate second position in Group G after Mozambique lost 2-1 at home to Guinea to remain three points behind in third place.

The results mean the Cranes stay in the running for World Cup qualification albeit through a somewhat complex playoff process after Algeria clinched the available direct spot in the group with a 3-0 win over Somalia to jump to 22 points, four ahead of the Cranes with one game left.

The Cranes now need just a draw to confirm second position in the group although it is only a win that can brighten their prospects of finishing among the top four second placed teams from the nine groups to get into the playoffs.

Only one slot is available from that playoff before Africa’s representative plays the final qualification game against a team from another continent.

By Thursday night, they were just out of those top four positions lying fifth but level on 18 points with Burkina Faso and Cameroon.

But the Cranes will take heart from a second away win this campaign in which they were the better side against hosts Botswana who had little to play for.

Rogers Mato was again the Cranes’ liveliest player but equally as wasteful infront of goal spurning goal scoring opportunities in either half.

They will hope to carry that fight into the final game that is also away to Algeria on Tuesday.

A video recording showing a police officer who has since been identified as Assistant Superintendent of Police Clive Nsiima, attached to Counter Terrorism under Oil and Gas Protection Unit Kampala Metropolitan Zone, slapping a supermarket attendant who reminded him about an unpaid bill of Shs30,000, elicits all kinds of emotions, but for most anger, outrage, and even fear.

That the officer is heard blatantly stating to the victim that he can commit a crime even in front of a camera and get away with it is ominous. But mostly, it dampens the spirit during what should be a jovial period for Ugandans during this 63rd Independence Day.

What sort of independence is this when those like that supermarket attendant, who was assaulted right in front of a camera and the many others we might never know of, whose abuse was never captured on camera, are abused by some among us who swore to keep law and order but instead instigate lawlessness and abuse?

What about the rest who watch as such crime is being perpetrated but are too afraid to do anything or defend the victims because of fear that they too might end up victims and never receive true justice?

While the Director of Criminal Investigations AIGP Tom Magambo, described this as isolated behaviour by an officer, it is hard to unsee and unhear the victim’s shrill cry of pain and the culprit’s arrogant and shameless stance. It will take a lot more to restore broken trust and taper the anguish born from such incidents.

It is good to know that the said offender was arrested and detained, but now what? Sit back and wait for another video recording of an assault? There’s need to restore public trust, quench the embers of anguish. Nip any form of indiscipline or even the indication of it in the bud before it escalates to such levels.

Impunity by security officers, even on the roads, is testament to the fact that there are those among us who feel more entitled to this dear nation than the rest.

Uganda belongs to us all. Everyone must be made aware of this in no uncertain terms. We have enough national challenges to overcome as it is; we can’t let this form of impunity take a permanent slot on that list.

While it seems more than sensible and even rational to blame this sort of behaviour on individual ill manners, the blot on the Force occasioned by one of it’s men can’t be ignored. Something has to give. Much more effort has got to be invested in fighting impunity.

A child born in Uganda in 2000 would have expected to live up to the age of 48.9. One born today, on the other hand, can expect to live for 66 years, and rising. This is one of the success stories in Uganda’s health sector, and the country’s life expectancy has risen above the sub-Saharan African average to near global levels.

There are many underlying reasons, including mass immunisation that has rolled back many preventable diseases, antiretroviral therapies that have reduced mortality from HIV/Aids, the end of major armed conflicts, and a young population that is yet to face the inevitable turbulence of mid- and late-life ailments.

The expansion of primary health care has seen reductions in maternal and neonatal mortality rates, while expansion in private health care has driven investments in complex medical treatments and procedures.

A close look under the microscope, however, shows the many pathogens and problems that, left unattended, will undermine Uganda’s social and economic transformation, as well as the ability of many Ugandans to live long, healthy and productive lives.

First, for all the progress made over the past decades, the two leading causes of death in Uganda are treatable (malaria) and preventable (HIV/Aids).

In the case of malaria, the incidence rate has been worsening since 2021, according to the World Health Organisation. This speaks to a failure in case management and primary health care, especially at the grassroots.

Similarly, the third-leading cause of death — lower respiratory infections like pneumonia, among others — suggests a lack of awareness of hidden dangers such as air pollution, and a lack of public health messaging to address them.

Growing tobacco consumption among young people through vaping, smoking water pipes, and just second-hand cigarette smoke without any meaningful public health education and behavioural change campaigns will only make this worse.

The second, and related, problem is the growing risk of lifestyle or non-communicable diseases like diabetes, hypertensive disease, among others, which kill about four out of every 10 Ugandans. To this add injuries, including those from road traffic accidents, which claim about 10 percent of fatalities every year.

Some of the fixes in this category are obvious and straightforward. Just forcing boda boda riders and their passengers to wear helmets would reduce the fatality rate from these two-wheeled widow-makers. Enforcing driver learning and regular vehicle inspections would reduce overall road traffic accidents.

Others, however, are harder to see and, therefore, harder to formulate policies around. For instance, the urban low-income-earner diet has changed from organic local food to the refined high-calorie sugars of wheat and antibiotic-flavoured industrial eggs.

The disappearance of public spaces and sports facilities, combined with a growing culture of vertical living in apartment blocks, has taken away free or low-cost exercise options. This pressure on physical space will only increase as the population doubles over the next 25 years.

Crowded into ever denser conurbations, and without common spaces for physical exercise or mental decompression, obesity and its related diseases, combined with mental health disease, are likely to rise. As the population pyramid begins to bulge in the middle, non-communicable diseases could become the leading causes of death.

Public health policy makers, therefore, need to plan for malaria vaccines, as well as running tracks and public parks! This will require new thinking and smarter investments, including in making health care more affordable.

Spending on health as a percentage of GDP, currently at under five percent, will have to triple to meet the pledge in the Abuja Declaration.

The absolute increases, however, will have to rise in tandem with more intelligent decision-making such as buying more ambulances than luxury SUVs, and allocating more money to maintenance and staffing.

One obvious low-hanging fruit is the national health insurance scheme, which has been decades in the planning. It would expand coverage and reduce the cost of healthcare for the most vulnerable, providing a guardrail against that very real nightmare of losing it all with one major medical emergency.

Yet even small illnesses carry large costs. In a new paper, Dablin Mpuuga of the Economic Policy Research Centre and colleagues found that 28.7 percent of households spent more than 40 percent of their non-food expenditure on out-of-pocket healthcare costs during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Another 33 percent spent more than 25 percent — money that could have been spent on investment or other forms of consumption.

Fixing the health sector requires a combination of greater investment in prevention and treatment, focusing on outcomes to ensure value-for-money, and derisking inevitable health challenges through a national health insurance scheme.

Ugandans are living longer; we shouldn’t let the cost of healthcare make some wish they could die earlier.

At the height of national political campaigns spanning from 2001, 2006, and 2011, elderly men, women, youth, and children would throng the road-sides flashing the V-sign to signify victory in support of their then favourite Opposition presidential candidate and Forum for Democratic Change party leader, Col (rtd) Dr Kizza Besigye.

While singing their traditional songs as a way of marketing the campaigns, they would be seen ululating as they jumped out of their mud and wattle grass-thatched houses in excitement to cheer Dr Besigye in his convoy. The supporters would lay traditional kitenge clothes for the three-time presidential candidate to walk on, and they would offer him gifts such as doves, chickens, goats, and sheep, in a show of great support and solidarity. He received a hero’s welcome across West Nile, in a region whose locals suffered while in exile in DR Congo and South Sudan after the fall of President Idi Amin in 1979.

Dr Besigye, who could roar during campaigns with his trademark ballistic voice, was a darling to the people of West Nile because his messages spoke to the common man’s problems. Key on his agenda at that time was the bad roads, non-connection to the national grid, and the arrests of OPEC boys, the notorious fuel smugglers who carried goods across the borders of South Sudan and Dr Congo. He would also ride on the poverty levels in communities in West Nile to drive his point home. Dr Besigye went ahead to fault the government on the sorry state of health and educational institutions in the sub-region. These factors, among others, won the hearts of the people of West Nile, making the NRM government unpopular. Another factor was the popularity of the late Democratic Party presidential candidate, Paul Kawanga Ssemogerere, who contested in the 1996 elections and won across West Nile with more than 80 percent of the votes.

The same favour and love for the Opposition candidate was reciprocated in support of Dr Besigye’s Reform Agenda and later FDC. Dr Besigye had set up party structures with FDC offices opened in key districts such as Nebbi and Arua. It appeared apparent that massive mobilisation was being conducted right from the grassroots level. It is no wonder that during the 2006 presidential campaigns, the procession from the FDC office in Arua Town, which is about 800 metres to Arua Hill grounds, took about 30 minutes of slow driving as traffic jams were created in the town, with a mammoth crowd following him. That time, the Muslim group played the drum as a way of mobilisation for Dr Besigye. In 2016, the same love for the Opposition was still visible. That time, the late Ibrahim Abiriga, who then served as Arua District Resident District Commissioner, mobilised some NRM supporters for a bull feast to divert people’s attention from attending Dr Besigye’s rally. But this was in vain as people abandoned the feast and dashed to Arua Hill for campaigns. Some of the NRM supporters moved with the animal’s hooves during Dr Besigye’s procession.

How Opposition lost ground

Incensed by the incident, the late Abiriga planned dismantling of the Opposition party support. He moved to various boda boda stages to mobilise support for Mr Museveni. ‘Stop listening to those lies of the Opposition. We should support the government that brought you back from exile. The government works on services in phases. The roads, electricity, schools and hospitals will be done if you support NRM,’ he said in 2016. During the campaigns, the late Abiriga managed to mobilise and pull crowds for Mr Museveni. He spoke vehemently about the completion of the Karuma-Olwiyo-Pakwach-Nebbi-Arua road, which he said was a success for the NRM regime. Some people believed him and were compelled to support the regime. Abiriga’s efforts paid off while in Arua District in 2016, where President Museveni won with 114,888 (57.71 percent) and Dr Kizza Besigye got 68,108 (34.22 percent) out of the 336,384 registered voters. This was the starting point for the NRM to find a foot in the elections.

NRM take over

Pakwach District chairperson Robert Omit Steen said: ‘We appreciate his (Museveni’s) efforts in the last terms of rehabilitating some of the roads, constructing Seed schools in communities, and connecting the region to the national grid. These are services our people needed and so he deserved our support.’

He, however, said there are areas that require the government’s urgent attention such as the revival of the Pakwach Railway Station and port, upgrading of Pakwach Health Centre IV to a hospital status and upgrading of Uganda College of Commerce Pakwach to university status. President Museveni throughout the campaign in West Nile promised to provide scholastic materials, pads for pupils in schools, tarmac the roads, and connect the region to the national grid and this was fulfilled on August 3, 2024. He also promised free Universal Primary Education. This statement won hearts of many of the poor parents, especially in rural areas, who looked at him as a saviour. The NRM has also mobilised various youth groups, women and men to canvas for votes in the rural areas.

The defections

The exodus of devotees from the FDC such as former Arua Central Division MP Kassiano Wadri, former Arua Woman MP Christine Abia, Ms Amina Atako, Ms Nesma Ocokoru, Ms Night Asara to Alliance for National Transformation (ANT) among other party officials also disabled the party’s support base. This left a gap in the leading Opposition party structures. The NRM has also tried to fulfil some of its promises that include construction of major roads, bridges and some anti-poverty projects that are likely to win them another term. The Pakwach District Woman MP, Ms Jane Avur, said: ‘People have realised the gains which we need to protect like the construction of Ora Bridge that connects people of Pakwach and Madi Okollo, the construction of the Pakwach-Nebbi road and the implementation of the Parish Development Model as a game changer.

The construction of Seed schools across the region is a gain.’ However, in a recent interview with the Daily Monitor, Mr Wadri said he does not believe in any gains from the NRM. He said locals in the region have been hoodwinked to think that by voting for an NRM candidate, development would come their way. NRM has 40 MPs in the 13 districts in West Nile, who have been mobilising support for him. ‘Despite this good representation, look at what the locals get in turn, poor state of roads from Nebbi to Arua, the Nebbi-Zombo-Vurra road, the road from Manibe to Terego-Yumbe. No senior political appointments and poverty just thrives on,’ Mr Wadri said. ‘Those that join the NRM party do so for selfish reasons, he added. Mr Wadri also revealed that the ground has not been levelled for all political parties as police often interfere with their programmes.

For the first time in over a decade, the Masaza Cup final will return to the heart of Kampala. Nakivubo War Memorial Stadium, newly refurbished and recommissioned by President Yoweri Museveni on April 25, 2024, has officially been confirmed as the host venue for the 2025 Masaza Cup final. Kyaggwe, Buweekula, Bugerere and Ssingo will play in this year’s final showdown at Nakivubo after reaching the semifinals over the weekend.

This announcement came after a comprehensive inspection tour on Monday by Buganda Kingdom’s Minister for Sports, Youth and Arts, Robert Sserwanga, who expressed his delight at the stadium’s readiness.

‘Seeing Nakivubo bounce back as a top-tier facility is exciting for everyone who loves the game. It holds a lot of history for the Masaza Cup, and we are thrilled to bring the final back here where so many great memories were made,” Sserwanga said.

The iconic stadium last hosted the Masaza Cup final in 2013, a match in which Mawokota edged Ssingo 1-0 thanks to a late winner by future Uganda Cranes star Farouk Miya. Since then, the final has rotated among Wankulukuku, Namboole and St. Mary’s Stadium Kitende.

Tickets Go Digital

Sserwanga also confirmed that online ticket sales will begun on October 8. Early bird tickets are priced at Shs25,000 for ordinary seating and Shs40,000 for VIP. From October 20, ordinary tickets will rise to Shs30,000, VIP to Shs50,000, while VVIP tickets- which grant access to the lavish executive boxes equipped with personal TV screens – will be available at Shs150,000.

‘We urge fans to embrace the convenience of online ticketing early Nakivubo’s revamped structure means reduced seating capacity compared to the past. With a cap at 35,000, tickets will be limited, so don’t wait till the last minute,’ Sserwanga added.

In contrast, Namboole Stadium, the most frequent host of the final over the past decade, currently accommodates 38,000 fans. Past finals at Namboole have consistently seen crowds surpassing normal capacity.

The return of the final to Nakivubo is not just symbolic, but a significant nod to the stadium’s rich heritage. Built as a memorial to Ugandan soldiers and positioned at the very centre of Kampala, Nakivubo now offers a modern football experience with enhanced seating, security and hospitality options – particularly in its VVIP section, considered the most glamorous in Uganda.

The 2025 Masaza Cup final is expected to draw nationwide attention, not only because of the venue change but also due to the strength of its corporate backing. The tournament is sponsored by Airtel, Pilsner King, Plascon, Nirvana, Centenary Bank, as well as Uganda Aids Commission and UNAIDS, who continue to support the kingdom’s efforts in promoting youth development and health awareness through sport.

Masaza Cup 2025

Semifinals – Oct. 11, 2025

Kyaggwe vs Buweekula

Ssingo vs Bugerere

Masaza Cup final host venues

2025: Nakivubo

2024: Namboole

2023: Wankulukuku

2022: Wankulukuku

2021: Kitende

2020: Kitende

2019: Namboole

2017: Namboole

2016: Namboole

2015: Namboole

2014: Wankulukuku

2013: Nakivubo

2012: Nakivubo

Today, Uganda celebrates its 63rd year of Independence since it became a sovereign state in 1962.

In a two part series, We join the celebrations with some of the sporting successes of post-Independence Uganda and also share some of the challenges in no particular order.

Field success

1- Olympic success

From 1972 to the latest Olympics in Paris, Uganda has had its fair share of sporting glory at the grandest of stages.

John Akii-Bua won Uganda’s first-ever Olympic gold medal in the 400-meter hurdles, setting a world record (47.82) then in 1972. No one could have thought the next one would come 40 years later.

But in 2012, Stephen Kiprotich ended Uganda’s Olympic gold drought by winning the men’s marathon at the London Olympics.

Peruth Chemutai then became the first female Ugandan athlete to win Olympic gold in the women’s 3,000-meter steeplechase at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Joshua Cheptegei won the men’s 5,000m gold in Tokyo too and then got his long awaited 10,000m gold at Paris 2024 – having achieved silver in the same race in Tokyo.

The other Olympic silver medalists include boxers Eridadi Mukwanga (Mexico 1968), Leo Rwabogo (Munich 1972), John Mugabi (Moscow 1980), and Chemutai (Paris 2024) while Rwabogo (Mexico 1968), Davis Kamoga (1996 Atlanta), and Jacob Kiplimo (Paris 2024) have brought home Olympic bronze.

2- Multiple world records

Cheptegei holds the world records (WRs) in both the 5,000m (12:35.36) and 10,000m (26.11.00) distances made in Monaco and Valencia respectively. Cheptegei also once held the 10km road record at 26.38 in 2019.

His compatriot Jacob Kiplimo holds the WR in the half marathon at 56.42 having broken it in February in Barcelona.

3- Athletics world champions

In 2005, Dorcus Inzikuru re-wrote history by winning Uganda her first World Athletics Championships gold while competing in the women’s 3,000m steeplechase in Helsinki in a championship record 9:18.24. Earlier at Athens 1997, Davis Kamoga got Uganda her first athletics Worlds medal when he bagged 400m silver (44.37).

In Osaka 2007, Moses Kipsiro bagged 5,000m bronze (13:46.75) thereby starting a period of long distance glory.

In 2013, Kiprotich showed mettle by complimenting his Olympic gold a year earlier with the Moscow marathon gold (2:09:51). Solomon Mutai saved the 2015 Worlds with bronze in the marathon (2:13:29) and Cheptegei the 2017 ones with silver in the men’s 10,000m.

At Doha 2019, Halimah Nakaayi won the women’s 800m gold while Cheptegei brought home the 10,000m gold. Cheptegei defended his title in Eugene 2022 as Jacob Kiplimo got bronze while Oscar Chelimo also got 5,000m bronze

Cheptegei completed a 10,000m three-peat in Budapest 2023 while Victor Kiplangat got the Pearl of Africa back to the summit of the marathon.

4- Denis Onyango

Most athletes in this country have achieved their success in national colours. But Denis Onyango has been a true export in the sense that he left for Ethiopia in 2004 then went to South Africa in 2006 and has never looked back. He has won 12 league titles in South Africa, a Caf Champions League and Super Cup. He was also named the best player based on the continent in 2016 – making the Caf Team of the Year in 2016 and 2018.

5- Commonwealth success

Uganda has won 58 medals in the Commonwealth Games from mainly athletics and about boxing – 19 of these medals are gold while 16 are silver, and 23 are bronze.

Uganda has also enjoyed lots of medal success at various editions of some multi-discipline games like the Islamic Solidarity Games, Youth Olympics, Youth Commonwealth Games, and African Games among others.

6- Boxing hall of fame

Names like Ayub Kalule, John ‘The Beast Mugabi, Cornelius Boza Edwards, Rwabogo, John Munduga, Kassim Ouma, among others, can all genuinely claim to have been Uganda’s most significant sportsmen of their times. The list of their achievements could populate these pages.

7- School sports

Since elite sport is a reserve of a few, a university and secondary school sport has been a major avenue for athletes to compete at regional, continental, and international stages. For example in swimming, only two athletes can get a wild card to the Olympics but competing at the World School Games, where Uganda has been participating since 2021, is a much easier option.

Uganda has won the last five titles of the multi-discipline Federation of East Africa Secondary School Sports Association (Feasssa) Games. Ndejje University has also won the East Africa University Games title in eight out of 13 editions.

8- Africa Cup of Nations – football

The national men’s football team finished as runners-up in the 1978 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) but did not return to the continental stage until 2017. They were also at the 2019 edition and will return this year. The women have been to two editions in 2000 and 2022.

9- Football youth teams

Football continues to be one of the most popular sports in the country and the youth teams like the boys’ U-17 became the first of Fufa’s 10 national teams to qualify for the World Cup due next month in Qatar after beating Gambia 2-1 in a playoff qualifier. They have also been to two Africa Cup of Nations.

The U-20s have been to two Afcons; 2021 and 2023.

10- She Cranes keep serving

Uganda first went to the netball World Cup in 1979 and have been constants at the quadrennial tournament since returning in 2015. They have also been to the 2018 and 2022 Commonwealth Games plus the 2022 and 2024 Fast5 Series, the 2024 and 2025 Nations Cups. They have been to six African Cups winning three in 2014, 2017, and 2018 while finishing second in 2021, then third in 2013 and 2019.

11- Rugby’s statement wins

The men’s 15s national team probably have the most recognized achievement of winning the Africa Cup in 2007 but the 7s national team has also won the continental title four times in 2016, 2017, 2022, and 2024. They also qualified for the World Cup Sevens in both 2018 (USA) and 2022 (South Africa) and won gold at the 2024 All-Africa Games in Ghana.

Meanwhile in 2009, the women’s 7s national team became the first Ugandan team to play at a Rugby World Cup. They also won gold at the 2024 All-Africa Games and qualified for the African repechage tournament in an attempt to secure a spot at the 2024 Olympics.

12- Para sport

Men’s 1500m T45-46 runner David Emong won Uganda silver and bronze at the 2016 and 2020 Paralympics respectively.

Though more pronounced now, records show Uganda has sent para athletes to the Paralympics since 1972 with representation in powerlifting, athletics, swimming, and table tennis over the years.

Para swimmer Husnah Kukundakwe is also currently pushing through the heights with some para swimming medals from World Series events and Islamic Solidarity Games.

13- Special Olympics

Uganda has reportedly won medals at various Special Summer Olympics World Games – most recently nine medals at Abu Dhabi 2019, five in Berlin 2023. Uganda also won one gold medal at the 2013 Seoul Winter Games for Unified Hockey and an additional gold medal in swimming at the 2007 Shanghai Games among others.

14- Cricket’s solo push

The men’s senior national cricket team finally hit top heights by qualifying for the 2024 ICC T20 World Cup in USA and West Indies. But before that, Uganda had enjoyed international success through the U-19 side that had made the World Cup in 2004, 2006, and 2022.

15- Ssebatindira – pick of prodigies

The table tennis prodigy has won various continental and world U-13 and U-11 titles since hitting the scene in 2023.

16- Continental acclaim

Recently the Ugandan rally crew of Yasin Nasser and Ali Katumba won the African Rally Championship – 26 years since Charles Muhangi (RIP) and Stephen Byaruhanga won it in 1999.

Even continental success has not been easy for Uganda to come across in various disciplines but swimmers like Kirabo Namutebi, Gloria Muzito, Rebecca Ssengonzi have won continental medals.

Simba (1972) and SC Villa (1991) also have continental silver in football (Caf Champions League) as does Kampala Hockey Club (2023) from the Africa Cup for Club Champions.

17- Increased participation

With 51 recognized sports in the country, there is definitely a wider scope of sports activity in the country. Sport at both competitive and recreational – like masters and corporate programmes, fun and good-cause runs, plus alumi leagues – level has grown by leaps and bounds.

18- Chan 2024

This football mad country had a glimpse of what it takes to host a major tournament when the African Nations Championship (Chan) came home in a joint affair with neighbours Kenya and Tanzania as a mock examination ahead of the widely anticipated hosting of Afcon 2027.

Fans thronged the Mandela National Stadium, Namboole in numbers despite being tested with modern ticketing systems and stadium restrictions. In the end, the Cranes also broke their group stage jinx by making the quarterfinals for the first time since the now biennial tournament started in 2009.

19- Other sports hosting major events

Badminton probably leads the group of other federations that host major events here as the Uganda International and its para badminton equivalent are annual events. Cricket, hockey, rugby, rowing, volleyball, basketball and netball are among the sports that have seen major continental or international competitions come to Uganda.

20- Officials at major events

Much as we celebrate the athletes that have taken Uganda to the world stage, it is important to recognize the officials like Ali Tomusange (football World Cup 2002) that have raised Uganda’s flag at major games.

Infrastructure development

21- Hoima City Stadium

The $129m multi-sport project that has been constructed by Turkish firm Summa, is just about to be handed over to the government ahead of Afcon 2027.

These Afcon stadium projects that include refurbishing Mandela Stadium, Namboole and the construction of Akii Bua Olympic Stadium in Lira come with a number of training facilities.

Universities like Gulu, Makerere, and Kyambogo are big beneficiaries with training facilities. Namboole was equally given a fresh look ahead of Chan and other sports like rugby and athletics enjoyed the fruits of the facelift but it is only a matter of time before it is locked up again for further development.

22- Private grounds

St. Mary’s Stadium Kitende comes to mind when one speaks of privately owned football facilities in the country. Hamz Stadium Nakivubo is a product of a Public Private Partnership and has recently become of use to national teams and clubs.

However, many other sports like swimming are growing solely on the availability of accessible private training and competition facilities.

Administration

23- Capacity building initiatives

The Uganda Olympic Committee has led capacity building initiatives to train over 4,000 individuals in sports management. The UOC has also partnered with Makerere University Business School (Mubs) to offer courses that will be relevant to the entire sports eco-system – including coaches, fans, nutritionists, athletes, and administrators among others.

Uganda Secondary School Sports Association (USSSA) is also big on technical courses for coaches and match officials while some federations like Fufa have also made courses readily available for their coaches.

24- New law

The 1964 National Council of Sports (NCS) Act was repealed for a fresh 2023 National Sports Act. Various aspects of the latter are still under test but there is no doubt that it is an improvement of the old law as it clearly stipulates how federations and associations can be formed and registered. It stipulates the clear mandate of NCS, recognizes UOC and school sports, and offers remedies for offences in sport.

25- Solved UOC-NCS wrangles

One of the major problems of Ugandan sport in the past was the constant wars between NCS and UOC. The former barely recognized the latter and also accused it of shielding briefcase associations.

The current relationship between the two bodies can be described as harmonious.

26- Semblance of organization among federations

In the recent past, the in-house wrangles among federations have significantly lessened. For some federations, some strong men have successfully entrenched themselves into long-term possession of office while most have had quiet and peaceful change of leadership. But even more importantly, most federations have more activities going on for their athletes both on the local and international scene.

27- Ugandan on international bodies

William Blick, an IOC member, and Donald Rukare, who is currently president of Commonwealth Sport, probably lead this list of Ugandans that have managed to scale the heights to global leadership. But there are a number of others serving their sports at international level

Funding

28- Ring-fenced funding from government

The sports budget has grown from hundreds of millions to over Shs47b over the past decade – maybe hundreds of billions if you want to include the specific funds for construction of stadiums.

Parliament ring-fenced subventions to the federations with Fufa getting the lion’s share of Shs17b. Parliament’s decision means at least each of the recognized federations as per the act gets a share to run their activities – mostly national team engagements.

29- Corporate interest

There is no available data to try and estimate the overall value of sponsorships in Ugandan sport but there is no doubt that it keeps growing especially in football with telecom giants MTN sponsoring the national team and StarTimes making a 10 year deal for most of the Uganda Premier League’s commercial rights. There is basketball – where BetPawa introduced locker-room bonuses for the league among other incentives and cricket which has an undisclosed deal with LycaMobile.

30- Reward and recognition scheme

President Yoweri Museveni has been running a reward scheme for athletes that win medals at the continental and international stage (World Championships and Olympics). The scheme is now part of the new law but is yet to be guided by a statutory instrument designed by the Minister of Sports.

Administration

31. Ramifications of outdated law

The new law was never going to address all issues of the 59 years before it in one go. Many federations, for example, struggle to adapt and implement facets of the new legal regime that seeks to professionalize sports.

32. Lack of corporate governance

Most federations struggle to have a national character. In fact most sports are played within central Uganda and struggle to spread further.

This is mainly because most are set up without professional or fully dedicated staff like chief executive officers or accountants and therefore struggle to professionalize their operations as the elected officials are just volunteers.

33. Broken trust

Years of wrangling have weakened federations. These have lost human resources in terms of players, officials, and fans seeking greener pastures or clean sport. Despite the general growing value of funding, sponsors also struggle to come into sports, especially at club level.

34. Administrative conflicts

With more fans, players, and other stakeholders involved in all sports, there is definitely never going to be consensus about each and everything, so some federations still suffer with administrative issues.

35. Arbitration struggles

Overall, it is hard to resolve arising issues in Ugandan sport because of weak dispute resolution systems. Some disputes, especially in football, have ended up in Courts of Law, which struggle to dispose them off quickly.

Elsewhere, like in swimming, failure to resolve disputes has resulted in broken clubs. In volleyball, we have seen clubs boycott competition because of disputes with other clubs or the federation.

36. Capacity building gaps

While a lot has been done over the past decade by UOC to educate administrators, many federations still struggle to improve the technical capacities of their coaches, referees, and athletes.

Funding

37. Government funding far from enough

Decades of low funding still take their toll on Ugandan sports. Generations of players from all sports wasted away for lack of opportunities.

Federations and their members struggle to compete at top competitions. In fact fundraising to add onto what government offers is the order of the day.

38. Unclear funding criteria

Even with a growing and ring fenced budget, there is no clear mechanism on how allocation of funds is arrived at. In fact, apart from lobbying in relevant political offices, no one knows what a federation has to do to receive more funding.

39. Lack of accountability

More money, more problems! Concerns about accountability have replaced the previous administrative wars between NCS and federations.

The famous war between NCS and netball is well documented but the former insist all federations have accountability concerns.

Parliament once advised that, under the old legal regime, NCS had no basis to ask for accountability from federations and should have opted to give funds based on MoUs.

Federations, in the past, found it hard to declare the funds given by their sponsors and international federations. But the new law now demands that.

40. Inability to generate income for those involved

Ugandan sport struggles to make money, especially at club level, where the majority of the human resource (players, coaches, referees) is involved.

Most competitions are organised by federations so even the meagre funds from gate collections go to federations.

There is barely merchandise to sell and commercial rights are hard to exploit to ensure sport generates income for the people serving it.

41. Negligible economic impact

Even with major tournaments like Chan coming to Uganda, the natives can barely say they felt the financial impact of the tournament.

The visiting countries were locked up in high end hotels. They barely came with fans either.

But that is the general story of Ugandan sport. It barely pays those involved, so the ripple effect on the economy is barely felt.

42. Insufficient rewards scheme

President Museveni’s rewarding scheme seems a personal gesture rather than a national policy. It therefore competes with other priorities he might have for his donations and there have been complaints of neglect for some sports and delays in reception of awards for others.

The ladies’ national basketball team Gazelles reached the quarterfinals of the Afrobasket but barely received any recognition akin to what the Chan team got for a similar feat.

43. Lack of financial literacy

World over, even the finest of athletes can blow away millions of dollars. In Uganda it is the norm for athletes, who have had opportunities to earn from their sweat, to turn up as beggars the next day.

44. Unsustainable funding through individuals

God bless whoever dips a coin into Ugandan sport. But every year, we get more examples of how this goodwill cannot be sustainable.

45. The ‘indiscipline’ debate

Usually, players expect national teams to offer them allowances for their efforts. Unfortunately, some federations which are heavily reliant on NCS funds still struggle to do this and label players that demand for allowances as indiscipline. In fact, some are banned for bringing bad publicity to sport.

But in this day and era, an allowance to an athlete toiling for their nation should be a bare minimum.

Facilities

46. Dilapidated facilities

Many of the public grounds in Uganda can do with a facelift. In recent years, government has embarked on construction of new stadiums and refurbishment of others but a lot more can be done.

Some federations like Fufa have set standards that have improved the privately owned ones.

47. Wiped out public sports land

Over a year ago, NCS met district sports officers and asked them to re-establish lands meant for sports in their districts. These details have not yet been made public but it is common knowledge that many spaces meant for sports in the past have been filled with buildings.

48. Limited access to good facilities

Almost every sport has been forced to make do with the bare minimum of space that can host its activities. Sport, especially, at lower league levels is still played on red-dirt pitches or concrete courts.

The expensive ones like swimming, archery, can barely be spread to areas beyond the central region.

49. Lack of equipment

Most sports have struggled because of the lack of specialised equipment. Athletes can do with wooden hockey sticks, mallets, concrete diving blocks, and so many others for training but world standards have since left that point. Stories of our athletes getting into a rowing boat, or wearing running shoes, or seeing archery arrows, or bicycles for the first time in an international competition have dominated our reviews of performance for a long time.

50. Tough tax regime

URA continues to deny taxation of sports equipment and awards but one has to write to the Commissioner General of URA for an exemption on equipment.

While rowing sought this, their boats donated by the world body were accumulating storage expenses for years in a customs bond. Eventually, an athlete in Kathleen Noble and her family, worked hard with relevant bodies to secure them.

Field of play

51. Grassroots

The grassroots programmes and youth structures have suffered because of the lack of trained human resource at lower levels, lack of facilities, funding.

52. Talent drain

Uganda is not losing a lot of sports talent to other countries but mainly to other sectors within and outside the economy as individuals seek paying pastures.

53. Lack of trained personnel

Pick any sport and you will be hard-placed to find 5-10 names of individuals that have hit maximum continental or world standards in the areas of coaching and refereeing. It is a travesty that we expect world class results from under-trained athletes.

A Ugandan athlete also has their sporting aspect of their life competing with other aspects like education, family, finance, traffic jam, lack of facilities – which all eat into training time.

54. Athlete welfare

Ugandans are believed to have talent. The challenge is that talent is probably everywhere and sporting excellence comes down to how an athlete is taken care of on a day to day basis. Their behaviours, environment in and out of competition, what they eat, how and when they sleep.

However, in Uganda, we still believe that confiscating an athlete’s phone or stopping them from taking soda while they are in camp will enhance performance. What they do prior or after camping is none of our business.

55. Safeguarding concerns

Issues of sexual harassment and inappropriate behaviour from coaches, managers are widespread – sometimes as a prerequisite for playing time or a national team call up – but barely reported for fear of repercussion. Safeguarding programmes have recently become part boardroom conversations and athlete training by the UOC, for example, but a policy is far from being established.

56. Undocumented success

In the 2024/25 Fufa Women Super League season, Resty Kobusobozi scored 17 goals for Masindi-based sides Lady Doves. None of them were visually recorded.

Imagine that is a competition that was moved to 10am with a plan to have its matches on television. Now imagine what is happening to all other sports with no plan of televising or recording games! Okay, make the scope bigger and think of what has been missed across 50 disciplines for the last 63 years!

57. Match fixing

Football is probably the only sport in Uganda with the capacity to have a good number of referees that are not affiliated to clubs in any way before taking on the whistle. But they are always reporting and resolving cases of match fixing.

A few years ago, Sport-S boycotted a volleyball league final citing match fixing from the umpires. In many other sports, these accusations are common.

58. Performance far from elite

Uganda has produced some world champions – mainly in athletics and boxing. Lately, in youth table tennis.

But there are so many more “explanations” – a number of them valid – on why other sports cannot, rather than solutions.

Other sticking concerns

59. Inclusion far from achievable

Sports in Uganda is still mainly a preserve for the able-bodied.

Para sport and special needs sports still get by but on their own. The new law seeks to bring all sports and their disability codes under a unifying umbrella but there is little effort on ground to show this.

60. Climate is still a big player

Delays or games being washed out at YMCA, Lugogo Cricket Oval is not an alien thing. Add soaked and muddy pitches in the lower divisions of various sports. Or players failing to make it for games and you have a good picture of how climate can be a big concern in Ugandan sport.

61. Mental health concerns

This is easy to overlook in an African society where one is expected to play hard at life. But in any area where one is performing for masses and can be affected by results and ridicule from rivals, mental health is a concern.

62. Life after sports

Some initiatives like the Legends Marathon have come to help athletes find better things to do after their sports careers. But it will take years of advocacy and practical solutions to undo the effects of the past 60+ years where athletes were left to find the next step of life on their own.

63. Society mindset

Everything arguably starts and falls with our mindset as a society. The repealed law spent 59 years describing sport as amateur and recreational. That stuck in the minds of parents while the rest of the world built sport into nearly a trillion dollar industry.

We are left with players that treat league competitions as a relaxation avenue.

Female participation is low because they are discouraged from “being like boys” and attrition is high at teen age.

As we celebrate 63 years of Independence, the growth of sport in Uganda is unmistakable but there are sticking issues that we need to resolve to become a sporting giant.