Category: Daily Monitor

Opposition politician Dr. Kizza Besigye has raised fresh concerns over the safety and availability of his legal team, arguing that he cannot receive a fair hearing when lawyers representing him are allegedly being intimidated and prevented from carrying out their duties.

Besigye voiced the concerns before the High Court on Tuesday, shortly after Justice Emmanuel Baguma declined to temporarily stay proceedings in his human rights application against Chief of Defence Forces [CDF] Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba. The judge directed parties to file written submissions in a new application challenging the right to representation.

‘You have heard our lawyers are on the run and you are now advising us to assemble other lawyers who will not run because the person terrorising them is the accused,’ Besigye told the court.

‘This is why it is fundamentally important that if there is justice in this court, then the whole question of how we are represented should be addressed before this application can be heard.’

Besigye questioned how the court expected him and his co-applicant, Hajji Obeid Lutale Kamulegeya, to comply with filing before deadline when key members of their legal team were unavailable.

‘Who is to make the submissions you are ordering when everybody is on the run?’ he asked.

He also complained that the respondents had replied to the application before being formally served, and reiterated his long-standing concerns about the conduct of the criminal proceedings against him.

‘The main case you are talking about, we have never seen the disclosures because of lack of facilities. So we come to attend a trial with our eyes covered, hands and feet tied. How can we have justice in that case?’ Besigye said.

His remarks came moments after Justice Baguma ruled that an emergency application concerning legal representation and the security of defence lawyers could not stop the court from proceeding with the human rights case.

‘However, the applicants have a right to choose their own lawyers and be represented by representatives of their own choice,’ the judge ruled.

Adding, ‘I will go ahead and direct that the applicants get their own other lawyers to beef up their lawyers who are present.’

Justice Baguma ordered the applicants to file written submissions by July 2, the respondents to respond by July 4, and any rejoinder by July 6. He set July 8 as the date for delivering his ruling through the Electronic Court Case Management Information System [ECCMIS].

‘The application, which I have not seen, cannot stop this court from hearing the matter,’ the judge said.

Earlier, lawyers representing Besigye and Lutaale asked the court to suspend proceedings in the human rights application until an emergency application addressing legal representation, security of counsel and service of court documents was heard.

One of the defence lawyers, Mr Moses Tugume, told court that the applicants had instructed 13 law firms and about 50 advocates under a team led by Kenyan Senior Counsel Martha Karua and former Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago.

According to Tugume, the legal team had been significantly disrupted after Karua was denied entry into Uganda and Lukwago was abducted and later charged.

‘This application was on the basis of instructions by the applicants to 13 law firms and about 50 advocates,’ Tugume submitted.

Adding, ‘Our lead counsel are not here. Martha was deported and declared persona non grata [an unwanted person in the country] when she had come prepared for the matter, and her deputy Lukwago was abducted shortly on his way to serve.’

He said the applicants had instructed their lawyers to first seek court intervention on issues affecting legal representation before proceeding with the substantive case.

‘We consulted our clients and they insisted they need their full defence team. We have filed an application to address all matters concerning the right to legal representation, security of defence counsel and service of court process unhindered,’ Tugume said.

Another defence lawyer, Brian Turinawe, echoed the concerns, arguing that members of the defence team had been subjected to intimidation.

‘The day Lukwago was abducted, he had told me to meet him at his chambers for instructions, but he never showed up because he was abducted,’ Turinawe told court.

‘If the lead lawyers are stopped from attending court to represent their clients, is that not a violation of the right to representation? There is continuous harassment of defence lawyers,’ Turinawe submitted.

However, the Attorney General’s Chambers opposed the request for a stay of proceedings.

Mr. Johnson Natuhwera, a senior state attorney from the Attorney General’s Chambers, told court that the respondents had complied with earlier directives and that the applicants still had adequate legal representation.

‘The applicants had time to respond to the alleged deportation of Karua and Lukwago. They had time to reassemble lawyers,’ Natuhwera submitted.

‘Right now they have about 10 able lawyers. There is no law that says if the lead lawyer is not present, court cannot go on,’ he added.

He argued that the absence of particular lawyers could not be used to halt proceedings and asked court to proceed with hearing the human rights application on its merits.

The application before court arises from allegations that Gen. Muhoozi made public statements threatening Besigye and portraying him as guilty before the conclusion of criminal proceedings arising from treason-related charges.

Besigye and Lutale argue that the statements violated their constitutional rights and undermined their right to a fair trial.

The respondents deny the allegations and have asked court to dismiss the application with costs.

Justice Baguma’s ruling on July 8 is expected to determine the next step in the human rights case and provide guidance on how it will affect the main terrorism-related proceedings against Besigye and Lutale.

A British forensic DNA expert has dealt a significant blow to the state’s case in the high-profile murder trial of Kampala businessman Henry Katanga.

Testifying before High Court Judge Comfort Rosette Kania, the expert stated that the DNA evidence relied upon by prosecutors is legally and scientifically insufficient to prove that the deceased’s widow, Molly Katanga, pulled the trigger.

The witness, a seasoned forensic DNA instructor from Scotland whose identity and photograph were withheld by the court for security reasons, appeared as a key witness for the defense.

The core of the prosecution’s case rests on the assertion that Molly Katanga’s DNA was the dominant profile found on the pistol recovered from the couple’s Mbuya residence following Henry Katanga’s fatal shooting on November 2, 2023. State prosecutors argue this dominant profile directly implicates her in the murder.

However, the British expert flatly rejected this assumption.

“It is a misunderstanding that the strongest DNA profile found on an item would be the last person to touch it,” she testified.

She explained that individuals shed DNA at entirely different rates, meaning a “heavy shedder” could leave a more pronounced genetic footprint than the actual last person to handle an object. Furthermore, she noted that DNA can persist on surfaces for years unless degraded by extreme heat or damp conditions, making it scientifically impossible to determine exactly when or in what sequence multiple people handled the firearm.

According to the expert, the police forensic report fails to establish the timeline of touch. She emphasized that investigators heavily undermined their own case by relying almost exclusively on DNA profiling. A proper investigation, she argued, would have prioritized fingerprint analysis to compare prints on the weapon with those of both the deceased and the accused.

The expert’s appearance was not without drama. Earlier in the day, state prosecutors attempted to block her testimony entirely, arguing she lacked a temporary Ugandan work permit to present expert evidence. Justice Kania briefly adjourned the session, allowing the defense team to swiftly secure the necessary immigration clearance.

Molly Katanga, 56, who has maintained her innocence throughout the grueling trial, remains on remand at Luzira Prison. The high-society tragedy has gripped Uganda, drawing intense public scrutiny due to the prominent status of the Katanga family.

Molly is jointly charged alongside her daughters, Martha Nkwazi and Patricia Kakwenza, who face charges of being accessories after the fact for allegedly destroying evidence. The family’s domestic worker, George Amanyire, and a nursing officer, Charles Otai, are also on trial for conspiring to alter and tamper with the crime scene.

The defense hearing continues as the court evaluates the conflicting forensic narratives.

The government has signed a pound 110.5 million, about Shs481 billion, financing agreement with Standard Chartered Bank Uganda to upgrade the 115.8-kilometre Kitgum-Kidepo Road, a project officials say will open up Northern Uganda and Karamoja to markets, tourism and industry.

Finance Minister Henry Musasizi and Standard Chartered Uganda Chief Executive Sanjay Rughani signed the deal on Tuesday in Kampala. The road runs from Kitgum Town to Kidepo Valley National Park, one of the country’s most remote but high-potential tourism corridors.

‘This financing package demonstrates our shared commitment to improving connectivity and unlocking the economic potential of Northern Uganda and the Karamoja sub-region,’ Musasizi said during the signing.

According to the Ministry of Finance, the project will cut transport costs, reduce travel time, and strengthen cross-border trade with South Sudan. Musasizi added that it will also support the implementation of the Agro-Industrialisation and Tourism, Manufacturing and Services [ATMS] programme under NDP IV.

Linking mines, factories and parks The minister said the road is designed to serve more than commuter traffic. It will connect major new investments in the region, including the Yaobai Cement and Clinker Factory, a $300 million, about Shs1.14 trillion, plant in Moroto. It will also improve access to Kidepo Valley National Park and complement the planned $72 million, Shs273.6 billion, Kidepo International Airport.

Rughani said the bank’s involvement reflects confidence in government priorities that are ‘both economically viable and developmentally impactful’.

‘The Kitgum-Kidepo Road is a strategic investment that reinforces our long-term role as a trusted Corporate and Investment Bank,’ he said.

Ministers Fred Byamukama of Works and Transport, Mwanja Ndege of Trade, Tom Butime of Tourism, and British High Commissioner Lisa Chesney witnessed the signing.

‘Economics of distance’ set to change For communities in Kitgum, Kotido and Moroto, the road is expected to change the economics of distance. Farmers who currently lose margins to poor roads and high transport fares will have a faster route to Gulu, Kampala and South Sudan markets. Cement, livestock and tourism operators will face lower logistics costs, making Karamoja more competitive for investors who have previously cited poor access as a barrier.

Experts noted that tourism is the immediate winner. Kidepo, often ranked among Africa’s best-kept safari destinations, receives far fewer visitors than Murchison or Queen Elizabeth largely because of access. A paved link to Kitgum and an upgraded airport nearby could increase visitor numbers, park revenue, and jobs in hospitality.

Yet at a macro level, the project ties into Uganda’s push to integrate Karamoja into the formal economy after years of underinvestment. By linking mines, factories and conservation areas with one corridor, government is betting that infrastructure will do what subsidies alone could not: attract private capital north of Gulu.

The Shs481 billion loan adds to Uganda’s road debt, but officials argue the return will come through increased trade volumes, tax from new factories, and tourism receipts.

For Northern Uganda, it is a test of whether connectivity can finally translate into income.

A troubling rise in daytime muggings and hijackings by criminal gangs targeting pedestrians and motorcycle riders is unsettling urban neighbourhoods. The criminal gangs, sometimes wielding machetes, often use motorcycles to chase down their victims or carry out swift snatch-and-run tactics before disappearing into the shadows with the stolen cash, valuables, and motorcycles.

Several of the victims were confronted in dark or isolated areas where there are no police closed circuit television {CCTV) cameras. Last Friday, Ms Edina Tumukunde, a shop attendant in Kamwokya, was reportedly accosted by four such masked assailants on two fast-moving motorcycles. They snatched her bag and vanished without a trace.

This is not an isolated case, as reports of similar snatch-and-grab incidents by men on motorcycles have surged across Kampala City and its environs in the recent months. Ms Tumukunde told this publication that she first lost consciousness for nearly 30 minutes before recovering and proceeding to Kira Road Police Station in Kampala, where she reported a case of robbery.

”I was from my shop, I had Shs1 million (in cash) and my phone was also taken since it was in the bag,’ shee said. Mr Vincent Walugembe, a motorcycle rider, was also waylaid by a group of men on motorcycles as he was returning home in Makindye Division, Kampala City.

He said someone posing as passenger stopped him as he headed home, but as they negotiated the fare, a group of four panga-wielding men on two motorcycles surrounded him and forced him to surrender his motorcycle.

”I was assaulted by the thugs, lost consciousness but later recovered at about 10pm and proceeded to Katwe Police Station where I reported a case of robbery,’ Mr Walugembe said. The increasing cases of attacks have, as a result, left the law and order authorities scrambling for a solution. Police detectives investigating the cases, on condition of anonymity, informed this publication that such robberies are done by a network of gangs across Kampala. A detective said the thugs who hijack motorcycles have direct contacts with some business people who buy and sell both new and old motorcycles within and outside the country.

”The operation is planned by three groups, the hitmen who go to the field, the ones who buy the motorcycles and the ones who disassemble the motorcycles and store them in a shop known to these as ”fridge’ in the form of spare parts,’ the detective said.

The detective said in only three months, running from April to June, more than Shs1 billion has been reported to have stolen by thugs moving on motorcycles in four major cases which police have investigated.

‘The robberies happened at Wampewo Avenue where shs320m was robbed, Nkrumah Road where a forex bureau was robbed Shs620m, and another robbery at Nsambya Arena Mall, where Shs45m was taken and another case at Ggwanga Mall where Shs67m was taken,’ the detective said.

Investigations

Kampala Metropolitan Police Spokesperson Rachael Kawala said following the rampant robberies of motorcycles within the Kampala Metropolitan Area (KMP), the police have in liaison with other security agencies organised operations to curb the criminality. Police detectives familiar with the investigators say most of the motorcycles stolen are bought and sold to some garages where they are disassembled and sold as spare parts. In the first operation, conducted in Kampala, Wakiso and Mukono districts, the officers seized 16 motorcycles believed to have been stolen and arrested 40 suspects during a series of disruptive operations targeting criminal hideouts and black spots in Kireka, Bweyogerere and Bukerere.

The police said the raids focused on areas identified as hotspots for motorcycle theft, with many of the recovered bikes lacking proper documentation or showing signs of tampering. The operations were conducted in areas suspected to be harbouring criminals involved in motorcycle theft, street robberies and narcotic substance abuse. ‘The operations targeted suspected criminals believed to be involved in narcotic substance abuse and street robberies. A total of 28 suspects were arrested and exhibits of suspected narcotic substances were recovered,” Ms Kawala said. The authorities have urged victims of motorcycle theft to report to police stations with proof of ownership to reclaim their property.

The Kampala Metropolitan Police leadership have pledged to sustain the crackdown, warning that those involved in motorcycle theft and resale would face prosecution. Mr Rusoke Kituuma, the police spokesperson, said the operations are part of a broader effort to curb rising cases of motorcycle theft, which have affected boda boda riders and contributed to insecurity in urban areas. The Kampala Metropolitan Police said the operations across the city have led to the arrest of 2,334 suspects. Mr Kituuma explained that not all those detained were guilty. He said 164 of them were released on police bond, while 505 were questioned and later cleared. Another 1,350 suspects were taken to court, with police citing sufficient grounds for prosecution while 307 remain pending court action.

Prime suspect arrested, linked to robberies The detectives said a prime suspect only identified as Gerald, was arrested and profiled by intelligence services as the key promoter of motorcycle thefts in Kampala and the surrounding areas. The suspect allegedly hired hitmen who rob motorcycles and sometimes kill the motorcycle riders.

The detectives said the hit men or robbers take the stolen motorcycles to Gerald who buys them at a between only Shs500,000 and Shs700,000 for new motorcycles and pays Shs200,000 for the old ones. ‘During the search, stolen motorcycles, spare parts and motorcycle number plates were recovered from the suspect’s shops.

Maureen Awori comes from Tororo district in eastern Uganda, where a river separates the villages of Malawa A and B.

She shared during Uganda Aquatics (UAq) extraordinary assembly held on Saturday in Lugogo that “throughout the year children from both villages converge at the river to compete in swimming activities for leisure and my father at times is a referee.”

“It is a big river and probably unsafe. But I have urged them to embrace swimming as a sport and I wonder how they can be helped to achieve the right training and standards,” she said.

While it was an intriguing tale, UAq president Moses Mwase agreed that it is not uncommon to “see kids jump into lakes or rivers all over Uganda.”

“What we need is to mobilize these numbers. There is a lot of potential out there but we need to be careful about how we bring it out,” he said.

The assembly was to bring stakeholders up to speed with what UAq is doing to fulfill the registration requirements stipulated in the National Sports Act 2023. One of the requirements is that for sports organization to be recognized as federations they must have activities in 75 percent of the districts in Uganda.

To achieve this, UAq is one of the federations that has established regional representatives who are in turn working with sports officers, led by their chairman Mustapha Nsubuga, to spread activities in various districts – a move, one of the delegates from Soroti, John Francis Olupot supported “because sports officers have experience in implementing a lot of plans.”

Awori’s cry resonated with that of experienced coach Abel Ddamulira, who said “Africa Aquatics is focusing on utilizing the existing water bodies to promote open water swimming in various countries.”

“It should be an option for us too because you cannot promote swimming (in the pool) across the country yet the federation itself has no pool of its own,” Ddamulira added.

A training pool of three or four lanes could costs no lower than Shs180m. Imagine having them in over 100 districts.

Pauline Nankabirwa, from Masaka, agrees with Ddamulira as “many schools in my area are bordered by lakes. If we can demarcate where we can swim from and also train regional coaches or teachers, we can spread aquatic disciplines.”

Olupot stressed that headteachers and councillors are vital constitutencies that UAq should train too if they want to implement programmes smoothly.

Councillors are elected local government leaders that provide the bridge between the community and local authorities, managing public services, shaping local policy, and addressing resident concerns.

“Those ones are problematic if they don’t understand what you are doing and can discourage parents from allowing their children to participate in activities,” said Olupot, whose colleague from Soroti Moses Okwalinga advocated for “regional committees to support the regional representatives.”

Media personnel Patrick Kawaii believes UAq should “empower commissions like the technical one to have senior coaches develop a curriculum” that can be used in capacity building initiatives.

With pools costing a fortune, Rubanda’s delegate Bright Tumuhaise believes UAq can “work hand in hand with hotels in various districts to establish training and competition grounds.”

“After that you can introduce district competitions starting from primary school levels.”

The hearing of a case in which three people are accused of burning the dormitory of St. Bernard Secondary School, Manya in Rakai in 2018 entered its second day on Tuesday, with the state presenting its second witness.

Appearing before Masaka High Court Judge Justice Victoria Nakintu, the former head teacher, Henry Nsubuga, told court that the deadly November 11, 2018 fire occurred when one of the accused persons, Dickson Kisule, was in police custody on charges of criminal trespass.

He said that following the suspension of 11 students for unruly and bullying behaviour, Kisule was found on the school compound without a genuine reason on November 10, 2018.

‘He was found on the school compound when he had been suspended together with other students. When he was asked why he was at school he said he was looking for teachers to help him fill his clearance form. We found it irregular and we decided to take him to a nearby police post, Manya Police Post, where he was held and charged with trespass under ref SD 08/10/11/2018. I can’t tell how he was linked to the fire case,’ Nsubuga said.

He also told court that he still struggles to sleep whenever he thinks about the incident that left 10 students dead and over 11 hospitalized.

‘The arsonist intended to kill all 55 students in the fire since he had locked them in and it was hard to break in to save them,’ he said.

The trio, Henry Taremwa, Alex Mugarura, and Dickson Kisule, face charges of arson, murder, and attempted murder before Justice Victoria Nakintu.

Defense lawyer Sam Ssekyewa told court that several teachers, including the head teacher, recorded statements at the police station following the incident, and those statements carry information that can help the court identify who burnt the dormitory.

Ssekyewa tendered in Nsubuga’s police statement as defense evidence because it ‘carries information that could have led to the burning of the school that led to the death of 10 students.’

‘Some of these documents help tell what was happening at school, including the teachers who were left unhappy with some of the policies introduced, which could have driven the aggrieved parties to sponsor the burning of the school dormitory,’ he said.

The defense also presented video evidence of a man confessing to having participated in the fire.

The case has been adjourned to tomorrow for further hearing.

Dear Tingasiga:

The passing of an elder is often likened to the burning down of a library. When that elder happens to be Dr. Stanley Kinyatta, who transitioned peacefully last week at the venerable age of 90, we are not just mourning the loss of a repository of knowledge; we are celebrating a master architect of minds, a public servant of fierce conviction, and a brilliant intellectual who seamlessly navigated the worlds of art, science, and governance.

To the country, he was the distinguished academic, the former Member of Parliament for Kinkizi East, and the Resident District Commissioner (RDC) who once steered the complex administrative machinery of Kampala.

To me, and to a fortunate cohort of young boys on a misty hill in Kabaare six decades ago, he was simply the vibrant, inspiring teacher who expanded our universe.

My journey with the man the world came to know as Dr. Kinyatta began in the years 1965 and 1966 at Kigezi High School in Kabale.

He had not been there long when we arrived to begin our junior secondary education at one of Uganda’s best schools at the time.

Fresh-faced and bursting with energy, recently graduated from the National Teachers’ College at Kyambogo, he was a much-desired presence before the blackboard and in other aspects of the school’s life.

In those days, we did not know him by the grand title of “Doctor,” nor had he yet adopted the surname Kinyatta that would later define his political identity.

To us, he was Mr. Bamwanga-a young man tasked with an extraordinary, seemingly disparate trio of subjects: music, mathematics, and geography.

To any ordinary educator, these fields might have existed in strict, watertight compartments.

But Mr. Bamwanga possessed the rare mind of a true Renaissance man. He understood that these disciplines were merely different dialects of the same universal language.

In geography, he unrolled the maps of the world before our eyes, pushing our imaginations far beyond the terraced hills of Kigezi and teaching us to see the interconnectedness of human civilizations and physical landscapes.

In mathematics, he instilled in us a love for precision, logic, and the quiet satisfaction that comes from methodically breaking down a complex problem until a clear solution reveals itself.

Yet, it was perhaps in the music room that his unique spirit shone brightest.

He taught us harmony, rhythm, and the beauty of collective voices blending into a single, resonant melody.

It was during this period that Mr. Bamwanga showed the profound generosity of spirit that characterized his entire life.

Recognizing an eagerness in me, he graciously offered to teach me how to play the piano. It was an incredible opportunity, a key to an entirely new world of creative expression.

Unfortunately, my father belonged to a generation of disciplined pragmatists who viewed such artistic pursuits with deep suspicion.

To him, non-academic endeavours like learning a musical instrument were not just a distraction; they were a definitive waste of valuable time and a guaranteed path to personal and professional ruin. He promptly and firmly vetoed my musical ambitions.

When I broke the news to Mr. Bamwanga, expecting him to be frustrated by a parent’s rigidity, his reaction taught me a lesson in grace that I have carried with me ever since. He did not take offence.

There was no wounded pride, no professional indignation. Instead, he accepted my father’s verdict with a gentle, understanding smile, choosing instead to double down on ensuring that my training in mathematics and geography remained flawless.

He understood that mentorship is not about forcing a student down a preferred path, but about lighting whatever path is available to them.

That ability to pivot, adapt, and master new terrains would define his own remarkable trajectory after he left Kigezi High School.

His brilliant intellect could not be contained by a single classroom. He won a prestigious scholarship to study economics at the world-renowned Sorbonne in Paris.

One can only imagine the sheer determination it took for a young man from Uganda to immerse himself in the fiercely competitive academic culture of France, master the complexities of the French language to absolute fluency, and ultimately conquer the highest peaks of economic theory to earn a PhD.

When Dr. Kinyatta returned to Uganda, he was no longer just the young teacher from Kyambogo. He was a highly sophisticated scholar.

He brought his wealth of global knowledge to Makerere University, where he spent years shaping the minds of the next generation of East African economists, injecting a sense of rigorous global perspective into the lecture halls of our ivory tower.

Yet, like many great intellectuals of his generation, the call of public service eventually drew him out of the quiet isolation of academia and into the turbulent, unyielding arena of active politics.

Whether debating policy on the floor of Parliament as an MP or managing the security and political dynamics of the capital city as Kampala’s RDC, he applied the same principles he had practiced in his youth.

The logic he taught us in mathematics became his tool for policy analysis; the global vision he gave us in geography guided his understanding of regional governance; and the harmony he sought in music became a lifelong pursuit for social cohesion, even during some of our nation’s most challenging political transitions.

But he too was ill-suited for Uganda’s gutter politics. Facing a formidable opponent in his run for a second term, Dr. Kinyatta made mistakes that would haunt his post-parliamentary years and turn his old age into a nightmare.

Nevertheless, he transitioned into the role of a revered elder statesman and academic consultant, and he often reflected on the survival of micro-enterprises and the economic struggles of ordinary Ugandans.

He never lost that fundamental desire to teach, to lift others up, and to analyse the world with a sharp, empathetic eye.

Those who he taught at Kabale University speak of a brilliant mind from which a waterfall of knowledge flowed with ease down a natural gradient between the teacher and his charges.

Dr. Stanley Kinyatta lived a long, purposeful, and, for the most part, beautifully orchestrated 90 years. He proved that one does not have to choose between being an artist, a scientist, or a leader-that a full life can encompass them all.

As I write this, I cast my mind back to that young teacher at KHS, sitting at a piano or standing before a blackboard in Kabaare.

I thank God for the gift of his life, his intellect, and his enduring impact on me and my journey.

To his family, friends, and the generations of students he inspired, I offer my deepest condolences. We were very lucky to receive freely from him.

In the face of a military crackdown targeting independent media, WAN-IFRA has called on the government of Ugandan President, Yoweri Museveni, to honour constitutional guarantees and international standards protecting media freedom and the safety of journalists.

In the early hours of Sunday, 28th June, Ugandan military personnel raided the premises of Nation Media Group-owned media houses in Kampala, forcing television and radio broadcasts off the air and shuttering print titles. Journalists and media leaders are being targeted online as the military increases its pressure on independent media across the country.

WAN-IFRA and the World Editors Forum has written to Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni to call for an immediate reopening of shuttered media, reminding the long-serving head of state of his government’s obligations under domestic and international law to protect the freedom of the press and ensure the safety of journalists and media workers.

The Head of the IGAD Mission to Uganda, Ms Joselyn Bigirwa, has called for greater efforts to promote women into leadership positions, warning that despite progress in gender equality, women remain underrepresented in diplomacy, peace negotiations and global decision-making.

Delivering the keynote address at the Women in Diplomacy and Multilateralism dialogue in Kampala, Bigirwa said women continue to face structural barriers that prevent many from advancing to senior leadership positions.

‘Women enter institutions in significant numbers, but many do not make it to the highest levels. The challenge before us is no longer only how we recruit women, but how we retain them and help them rise through leadership ranks,’ she said.

The event, organised by Inside Diplomacy in partnership with the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Mission in Uganda, brought together diplomats, government officials, representatives of international organisations and young professionals to discuss women’s leadership in diplomacy, peacebuilding and multilateral cooperation.

Bigirwa noted that while women have made significant gains across governance and public service, diplomacy remains largely dominated by men, particularly in senior leadership positions and peace negotiations.

Citing global figures, she said women account for only about 22 percent of ambassadors and permanent representatives worldwide, underscoring the slow pace of progress.

‘The institutions of governance, diplomacy and international cooperation remain largely male-dominated spaces. Every opportunity for women’s leadership is therefore not just a personal achievement but a collective advancement for gender equality,’ she said.

She urged governments, international organisations and development partners to move beyond symbolic commitments and create systems that support women throughout their professional journeys.

Bigirwa described mentorship as one of the most powerful but often overlooked tools for advancing women’s leadership.

Drawing from her own professional journey, she credited mentorship and exposure to leadership spaces for helping prepare her for regional diplomacy and encouraged experienced leaders to invest in the next generation.

She also challenged policymakers to recognise that women do not experience barriers in the same way. During a panel discussion, Ms Edith Namutebi Nsubuga, Uganda’s Head of Regional Peace and Security at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said women continue to face challenges accessing influential decision-making spaces despite their significant contributions to peacebuilding efforts.

Nsubuga pointed to the role women have historically played in advancing peace processes, citing Liberia’s women’s movement as a powerful example of grassroots leadership that helped bring an end to conflict.

‘Women are doing a lot of the work at the community level, but we still need greater representation in formal mediation and negotiation spaces,’ she added. Ambassador Fatima Fernandez, Venezuela’s envoy to Uganda, argued that women bring unique perspectives to diplomacy because of their lived experiences and close connection to communities.

“Women diplomats frequently stand at the intersection between institutions and communities, between national priorities and human needs. Their perspective is valuable because it reminds us that behind every negotiation and every agreement, there are people whose lives will be affected,” she explained.

Fernandez also called for stronger support systems for women professionals, saying success is often built on networks of solidarity and mentorship. ‘Too often societies encourage competition when what many women need are support networks, mentorship and opportunities to grow,’ she said.

Ms Bisharo Ali Hussein, a migration and gender expert, said meaningful participation goes beyond simply ensuring women are present in meetings. ‘It is about influence, accountability and power. Women must not only be in the room; they must be actively shaping decisions, policies and outcomes,’ she said.

Drawing from her experience working in Somalia, Kenya, Spain and the Netherlands, Hussein said the barriers facing women differ across societies, but unequal access to leadership opportunities remains a common challenge.

She urged young women to pursue leadership opportunities with confidence. ‘You do not need permission to sit at the table. You have the qualifications, the experience and the intellect. Own your power,’ she said.

According to Patience Naamanya, founder of Inside Diplomacy, the forum was organised to celebrate the achievements of women in diplomacy while inspiring young people to pursue careers in international affairs.

Naamanya said the youth-led organisation works with students and young professionals, connecting them with diplomats, foreign missions and international organisations through practical engagement programmes.

She explained, ‘Their stories are often under-documented and under-celebrated, yet they continue to shape regional and global diplomacy. We hope today’s dialogue inspires more young women to take their place at decision-making tables.’

She added that the organisation hopes the forum will become an annual platform for recognising women leaders and expanding opportunities for young women interested in diplomacy, international relations and global governance.

The High Court has ordered MTN Uganda to pay more than Shs2.3 billion in damages to former senior manager Richard Mwami after finding that the telecom company maliciously instigated criminal proceedings against him, despite evidence clearing him in a multi-billion-shilling mobile money fraud case.

In his judgment, Justice Isaac Bonny Teko held that MTN was the ‘moving force’ behind Mwami’s prosecution and relied on an illegally obtained confession to implicate him, even though its own forensic investigations had exonerated him.

The court awarded Mwami Shs1.81 billion in special damages, Shs400 million in general damages and Shs100 million in exemplary damages, bringing the total to about Shs2.31 billion, excluding interest and legal costs.

Mwami, who worked as MTN’s Senior Manager for MTN Village Phone before becoming Senior Manager Public Access, was among the first officials to detect suspicious transactions on the company’s mobile money platform in December 2011. He reported the anomalies to senior management, triggering investigations into an alleged Shs16 billion fraud.

According to the judgment, MTN commissioned a forensic audit by Grant Thornton. The report, dated January 12, 2012, identified individuals linked to the fraud but did not implicate Mwami.

Despite this, Mwami was later arrested and charged after a statement was obtained from suspect Patrick Ssentongo. That statement was later ruled inadmissible by then Anti-Corruption Court judge Lawrence Gidudu, who found it had been obtained involuntarily and illegally.

Justice Teko found that MTN employees played a direct role in obtaining the statement and failed to rebut evidence linking them to the process.

‘The evidence considered as a whole satisfies the Court on the balance of probabilities that the 2nd Defendant was actuated by an improper motive in instigating the criminal proceedings against the Plaintiff and was not acting in good faith in the interests of justice,’ the judge held.

The court further found that MTN acted without reasonable and probable cause because its own investigations had cleared Mwami, who was in fact the whistleblower who uncovered the fraud.

‘No ordinary prudent and cautious person, armed with an exculpatory forensic audit that named the actual perpetrators without mentioning the Plaintiff, could have honestly believed on an objective basis that the Plaintiff was probably guilty,’ Justice Teko said.

The court also referenced Justice Gidudu’s earlier observations that Mwami had effectively been made a ‘sacrificial lamb’ despite being a potential prosecution witness.

The judge noted that criminal proceedings against Mwami began more than a year after investigations had concluded and after charges had already been brought against six other suspects.

‘The Plaintiff was not implicated in the original investigations that he himself initiated,’ the court observed.

The court linked the prosecution to severe personal and professional consequences suffered by Mwami. Evidence showed that following his arrest, the Bank of Uganda classified him as a reputational risk, leading to the termination of his employment with Mobile Money Africa Limited.

Justice Teko said Mwami endured public humiliation, loss of liberty, restrictions on travel and lasting damage to his career.

‘His career was destroyed when the Bank of Uganda classified him as a reputational risk and his employer terminated his employment as a consequence,’ the judge stated.

‘He carried for over two years the stigma of a serious criminal charge brought and maintained in bad faith against him by a former employer. His only transgression was to discover and report the very fraud that the employer later used as a pretext to destroy him.’

The Attorney General had also been sued in the matter, but the court struck out the claim against government after finding it had been filed outside the statutory limitation period.

In its final orders, the court directed MTN Uganda to pay the damages together with interest at 10 percent per annum from the date of judgment until payment in full, as well as the costs of the suit.