Category: Daily Monitor

Why does it feel like everyone is expected to look perfect all the time? Flat stomach, clear skin, gym routine, glowing life, no off days, no bad angles, no excuses!

Because if you believe social media, becoming healthy is simple: eat less, move more and repeat. In reality, for me and probably half of us, trying to glow up has become a full-time job. And not the kind you can skip without consequences.

If weight loss actually paid, we would all be owning properties around the world, sipping smoothies on yachts and still complaining about burpees.

Social media does not help. Every scroll is filled with people shedding kilogrammes effortlessly, doing routines that look fun and easy, while the rest of us are proud of ourselves for ordering a side salad instead of chips like we won the lottery.

The funny thing is, everyone seems to have it figured out. Your friend posts a 5km run or walk, another shows a perfectly portioned meal, and you are just proud you remembered to drink water. But that is part of the process. Weight loss is not instant; it is messy, unpredictable and occasionally hilarious.

When fitness becomes a second job

But glowing up is more than just losing weight. It is about becoming a healthier and better version of yourself, more fit, more disciplined and mentally stronger. And like any full-time job, it requires consistency. You have to show up even on days you do not feel like it.

Some days I lock in properly. The steps are in, workouts are done and I feel like Captain America has nothing on me.

Other days, I stare at the scale, wonder if it is broken and negotiate with my bed about why I should get up, and the ‘ye nfaki’ kicks in.

Weight loss is not glamorous. It is discipline, small victories such as eating a boiled egg rather than fried and occasional defeats such as giving in to that chapatti, the weapon formed against our flat stomachs.

The emotional war with food and motivation

Losing weight is walking 10,000 steps, then realising your favourite snack is whispering your name. It is the joy of noticing your clothes fit better, mixed with the frustration of stubborn spots that refuse to cooperate, especially the stomach, which refuses to get the memo.

And yes, sometimes it is embarrassing, like when you fail to come up after that squat and hope no one saw.

Like any full-time job, I have had to develop strategies to survive it; showing up consistently, moving, especially when I do not feel like it and balancing discipline with small rewards so I do not lose my mind.

The truth is, this is not something you do for a few weeks and finish. It is a lifestyle. The moment you stop, the weight will come back like it never left, no warning and no apology.

The good days

Some days it feels like hard work with little payoff. Other days, you see progress that makes it all worth it. It is a rollercoaster of emotions and hard work, but every step, every squat and every vegetable adds up.

On good days, everything aligns. You feel strong, committed, almost unstoppable. You start thinking maybe, just maybe, you have figured it out.

The bad days

Then there are the other days, the ones where your bed becomes your strongest opponent. The scale suddenly looks like it is judging you. Motivation disappears without notice. Discipline files for leave.

Those are the days you promise yourself, ‘tomorrow I start properly.’ Confidently. Repeatedly. With no evidence of change.

Food, cravings, and emotional warfare

And then there is food.

Chapati is not just chapati. It is an emotional negotiation. Fries do not ask questions; they just show up like old friends. Cinnamon rolls are the real weapon formed against discipline.

You try to be strong. You really do. But sometimes the cravings are louder than your intentions.

Small wins that actually matter

Still, there are victories. Quiet ones.

Choosing water instead of soda. Eating the boiled egg instead of the fried. Walking when you would rather sit. Finishing a workout you almost cancelled.

And honestly, those small wins deserve applause. No, a standing ovation.

Progress is repetitive

The thing about this journey is that progress is not always visible. It is not always aesthetic. It is repetitive.

You do not always notice it day to day. But it builds in discipline, in energy, in how you carry yourself.

Some days it feels like nothing is happening. But something always is.

The truth about the glow-up journey

So yes, weight loss has become my full-time job, even with cinnamon rolls being the weapon formed against me, and if it actually paid, I would probably be living like a princess. Owning properties and still complaining about burpees. But for now, the rewards come in discipline, growth and the quiet satisfaction of not giving up.

To anyone else on this journey, keep showing up. Even when it is hard, slow or chaotic. Life, sweat, stubborn fat and the occasional KFC craving are funny, frustrating, but worth every step.

Because the glow-up is not a moment; it is work. Full-time work.

Common weight loss mistakes

A common mistake in weight loss is relying only on the scale to measure progress. Body weight can fluctuate daily due to water retention, hormones, and other factors, so it does not always reflect real change. Many people also fall into the trap of over-restricting food in an attempt to see faster results, which often leads to burnout and eventually giving up.

Skipping meals is another frequent approach, but it can slow metabolism, increase cravings, and make it harder to maintain consistency over time. There is also the expectation that visible changes should happen quickly, which can be discouraging when progress feels slow or uneven. In reality, sustainable change takes time and patience.

Many women in Uganda spend years seeking answers for severe menstrual pain that is often dismissed as normal. Experts say delayed diagnosis of endometriosis is leaving thousands to suffer through chronic pain, infertility, and emotional distress.

For years, Sarah believed the pain was simply part of being a woman. Every month, her menstrual cycle came with crippling abdominal pain that left her curled up in bed, unable to attend school and later, work. Teachers dismissed her absence. Friends told her to be strong. At clinics, she was prescribed painkillers and repeatedly treated for infections that never seemed to go away.

‘My mother told me it is normal. That all women go through it,’ she recalls.

It was not until nearly a decade later, after countless hospital visits and worsening symptoms, that Sarah finally received a diagnosis: endometriosis.

Her story is far from unique. According to Grace Nagawa, founder of Endometriosis Foundation Uganda, thousands of women across Uganda and Africa are silently battling severe menstrual pain that is often dismissed, misunderstood, or misdiagnosed.

‘By the time many receive the correct diagnosis, the disease has already progressed, sometimes leading to complications such as infertility,’ Nagawa says.

Hidden in plain sight

Dr Kato Stephen Ssematimba, a gynaecologist and endometriosis specialist at Crystal Medical Centre in Kampala, says endometriosis is a chronic condition in which tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside the womb, commonly affecting the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and pelvic lining.

During menstruation, this tissue thickens, breaks down, and bleeds, causing inflammation, severe pelvic pain, and sometimes infertility. In rare cases, women may experience bleeding from the nose, ears, lungs, or navel during menstruation.

Globally, endometriosis affects about one in 10 women of reproductive age, translating to an estimated 190 million women worldwide.

Yet awareness remains low, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.

Since its inception in 2019, Endometriosis Foundation Uganda has diagnosed more than 350 women with the condition.

‘This is just the tip of the iceberg,’ Nagawa says. ‘Many women have this condition, but their pain is dismissed as normal.’ In Uganda, many women wait nine to 10 years before receiving a correct diagnosis, longer than the global average of six to eight years.

Told to endure the pain

Nagawa, who describes herself as an ‘endo-warrior,’ says cultural beliefs and silence around menstruation contribute heavily to delayed diagnosis.

‘In many homes, when a girl complains about painful periods, she is told to endure,’ she says. ‘She grows up believing that level of pain is normal.’

In many Ugandan communities, menstruation remains a private and often taboo subject. Conversations about menstrual health rarely go beyond hygiene, leaving little room to discuss abnormalities such as extreme pain.

As a result, symptoms including severe cramps, heavy bleeding, and chronic pelvic pain are normalised. Seeking medical attention is often delayed, especially in rural areas where healthcare access is already limited.

‘When pain is normalised, it delays care,’ says a Kampala-based gynaecologist. ‘By the time we see some patients, the disease has progressed to advanced stages.’

Even when women seek help, diagnosis is rarely straightforward. In Uganda, up to 80 percent of endometriosis cases are initially misdiagnosed, often mistaken for urinary tract infections or pelvic inflammatory disease.

Part of the challenge is that endometriosis presents differently in different women. While some experience severe pain, others struggle mainly with infertility.

Dr Ssematimba adds that diagnosis can be made using a transvaginal scan or, for girls who are virgins, a transrectal scan.

The cost ranges between Shs70,000 and Shs150,000 for transvaginal scans, while transrectal scans cost about Shs200,000.

The hidden toll

One of the most difficult aspects of endometriosis is that it is largely invisible.

‘You look fine, so people think you are exaggerating,’ Sarah says. ‘But the pain is real. It affects everything: your work, your relationships, your mental health.’

Dr Ssematimba says symptoms can include severe painful periods, chronic pelvic pain, painful intercourse, painful urination, general body weakness, and abnormal bleeding.

The condition often leads to missed school days, reduced productivity at work, and social isolation. Living with chronic pain without a diagnosis can also lead to anxiety, frustration, and self-doubt.

For many women, the impact becomes even more visible when they struggle to conceive.

Globally, between 30 and 50 percent of women with endometriosis experience infertility because the disease can cause inflammation, scarring, and blockage of reproductive organs.

‘In our society, when a couple cannot have children, the woman is often blamed,’ Nagawa says. ‘Yet in many cases, there is an underlying medical condition that has gone undiagnosed for years.’

A system under pressure

Uganda’s health system also faces significant challenges in managing the condition. Dr Ssematimba says only seven specialists in the country are trained to diagnose and manage endometriosis, with most services concentrated in urban areas.

While there is no cure, early-stage disease can be managed with medication.

Advanced cases may require laparoscopic surgery to restore anatomy, relieve pain, and improve fertility. The procedure can cost between Shs7m and Shs25m, depending on severity.

Advocates say awareness is slowly improving through community outreach, social media campaigns, and support groups.

With the finishing tape now clearly in sight, table leaders Vipers are still trudging on in firm control of the Uganda Premier League title race.

The Venoms sit on 60 points from 27 matches with only three games left, while their supposed challengers continue jostling among themselves in a desperate attempt to depose them.

Yet the latest round of fixtures produced another thrilling shake-up in a title race that refuses to settle. Vipers stumbled to a surprising 1-1 draw against a hard fighting URA side at St Mary’s Stadium, Kitende on Friday night.

Ronald Otti stunned the hosts in the 35th minute when he powered home Isma Mugulusi’s teasing free-kick delivery after poor marking from Ivan Minnaert’s defence.

Vipers responded after the restart through Arafat Usama, whose close-range header in the 49th minute followed Hilary Mukundane’s effort crashing off the crossbar from an Ashraf Mandela long throw.

The result was surprising largely because the Venoms were expected to brush aside URA who sit 11th and are playing mainly for pride.

Instead, Vipers looked tense, wasteful and vulnerable under pressure, failing to build on last week’s equally frustrating draw against KCCA. Despite several attacking substitutions and late pressure, the leaders could not find a winner.

Wide open race

The slip, however, was not fully punished because nearest challengers Kitara also stumbled badly. Wasswa Bbosa’s men suffered a painful 1-0 defeat to Nec at Royal Park Butema in Hoima on Saturday.

Richard Basangwa’s 50th-minute header condemned Kitara to a fifth defeat of the season and left them stranded on 54 points. It was a result that virtually surrendered their dream of a maiden league title despite their spirited campaign.

Meanwhile, KCCA emerged as the match day’s biggest winners after dismantling Maroons 3-0 at MTN Omondi Stadium earlier on Thursday.

Ashraf Mugume, Herbert Achayi and Ivan Ahimbisibwe scored for Brian Ssenyondo and Jackson Magera’s side as KCCA climbed to second place on 55 points.

After weeks of inconsistency, the Kasasiro Boys suddenly appear ready to stage a faint but spirited late fight for the league diadem.

Still, the remaining fixtures point to a nervy photo finish. Vipers must negotiate tricky away trips to Police and Maroons before hosting an unpredictable Express on the final day.

KCCA face UPDF away, URA away and Mbarara City at home – fixtures they realistically must win all. Kitara’s run-in against Express, Bul and Police also offers little room for error.

Jogoo surrender

For SC Villa, Friday’s barren draw with Bul not only left them fourth on 52 points and effectively outside the title picture, but also exposed the frailties that have haunted Zeljko Kovacevic’s side all season – a blunt attack and lack of cutting edge in decisive moments.

They must now focus on finishing off the 2-0 Uganda Cup semifinal first leg against URA on May 16 at Kadiba Stadium, to retain trophy hopes this season.

Kitara’s consolation may now lie in the Uganda Cup where they face Vipers in the semifinal return leg after a 0-0 first-leg stalemate. For KCCA, there is no margin for error; only maximum points and another Vipers collapse can revive their fading dream.

At the basement, Buhimba United remained in deep trouble after their 2-0 loss to Express left them bottom with 15 points, one behind fellow newcomers Calvary in an increasingly desperate relegation battle.

StarTimes Uganda Premier League

Vipers remaining matches

May 12: Police vs. Vipers

May 19: Maroons vs. Vipers

May 23: Vipers vs. Express KCCA remaining matches

May 13: UPDF vs. KCCA

May 20: URA vs. KCCA

May 23: KCCA vs. Mbarara City

Kitara remaining matches

May 12; Express vs. Kitara

May 19: Bul vs Kitara

May 23: Kitara vs. Police

Mothers have been urged to take a leading role in the nurturing and upbringing of children, uphold responsible parenting, and avoid transferring personal frustrations onto their children.

The call was made by the Chief Executive Officer of Becky’s Child Foundation, Ms Rebecca Alitwala Mubeezi, in her Mother’s Day message.

Ms Mubeezi said mothers are the first teachers of children, noting that after enduring nine months of pregnancy, delivery risks, and related challenges, they should prioritise proper upbringing to avoid cases of mistreatment, neglect, and abuse.

‘Happy Mother’s Day to all the incredible mothers out there. Today we celebrate your endless love, strength, and sacrifice that light up the lives of your children every single day,’ she said.

‘You are the heroines and queens whose impact we see every day as we work to support, empower and uplift children.’ She added.

She cautioned mothers against absentee parenting, saying many had left children to grow up without proper guidance, resulting in a generation increasingly influenced by technology and detached from moral values.

‘As mothers, we need to stick by our children regardless of the situation. Let us not transfer hatred and anger to innocent children, and above all, stop using them as tools in adult conflicts,’ she said.

Ms Mubeezi also urged mothers to instil discipline and responsibility in children, noting that rights must go hand in hand with responsibility.

‘Teach children that wrong is wrong even if everyone thinks it is right. Do not raise them with kid gloves, but instil values that will help them grow into responsible adults,’ she said.

Becky’s Child Foundation supports vulnerable children, orphans, and the elderly, and promotes girls’ empowerment and women’s advocacy.

Uganda’s Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Lino Anguzu, has been elected President of the Eastern Africa Association of Prosecutors (EAAP) during the association’s 11th Annual General Meeting and Conference held in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Mr Anguzu was elected during the two-day meeting held from May 4 to 5, 2026, which brought together heads of national prosecution authorities from across Eastern and Southern Africa.

The conference was held under the theme: ‘Leveraging technology in combating wildlife and transnational organised crime.’

The association comprises prosecution leaders from Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan, Zambia, Mozambique, Malawi, Somalia, Sudan, and Seychelles.

Mr Anguzu takes over the presidency from Renson M. Ingonga, the Director of Public Prosecutions of Kenya, who was elected Secretary General of the association.

In the newly elected executive committee, Angelique Habyarimana, the Prosecutor General of Rwanda, and Firmin Mvonde Mambu, the Prosecutor General of the Democratic Republic of Congo, were elected vice presidents.

Others elected include Sylvester Mwakitalu as Treasurer, America Letela as General Counsel, and Gilbert A. Phiri as an Executive Committee member.

The AGM also admitted Zanzibar as a new member of the association, expanding the organisation’s regional footprint.

In his acceptance remarks, Mr Anguzu commended the outgoing executive committee for strengthening the association and pledged to build on the progress already made.

He also called for greater commitment and active participation from member states in advancing the objectives of the regional body.

‘Together, we must continue strengthening cooperation among prosecution authorities in the region, especially in addressing emerging forms of transnational organised crime,’ he said.

The Eastern Africa Association of Prosecutors serves as a regional platform for collaboration among prosecution agencies, particularly in tackling cross-border crimes such as terrorism, wildlife trafficking, cybercrime, money laundering and human trafficking.

The association has increasingly focused on the use of technology and information-sharing mechanisms to strengthen criminal justice systems and improve prosecution efficiency across member states.

Medics want physical exercise made compulsory in schools, a move seeking to prevent the rising cases of obesity and heart complications resulting from the inability among learners.

They fear that Uganda could face an escalating burden of heart-related diseases if strict policies on playgrounds, sports facilities and healthier lifestyles are not enforced.

The call comes amid the growing burden of heart-related diseases, with at least 36 percent of learners across the country having obesity, data from the Uganda Heart Institute shows.

This is associated with soaring healthcare costs and a generation vulnerable to preventable chronic illness.

Dr John Omagino, the UHI Executive Director, asked the government to introduce a mandatory policy requiring all schools and public offices to provide spaces for physical exercise as part of efforts to reduce the growing burden of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) in Uganda.

He urged the government to make it compulsory for any school to have a space for physical exercise before they are issued a license.

‘No one should be allowed to register a school without facilities for physical exercise,’ he said.

Dr John was addressing a team of delegates at the food and law training organised by the Centre for Food and Adequate Living Rights (CEFROHT) on Friday.

‘You find registered schools operating on a flat, in homes and residences… No, we must wake up; the country must change. We shouldn’t be born to leave by chance,’ he added.

He also tasked schools to ensure proper spacing of learners at school, noting that some schools pack up to 600 learners in a class, which puts them at risk of spreading diseases like a sore throat.

Dr Omagino stated that annually, Uganda receives about 1.6 million babies, of which about 8,000 babies require heart-related care, yet UHI has the capacity to handle at least 1,000 babies per year, which leaves a backlog.

Dr Charles Oyoo, Commissioner for NCD Prevention and Control at the Ministry of Health, urged Ugandans to prioritise preventive mechanisms like regular checkups, a balanced diet, and physical exercise for better health, hence protecting themselves from heart-related diseases and reducing financial burden.

‘The cost of treating cardiovascular diseases is far too high for our health system to manage alone. We must shift our focus toward prevention, specifically by prioritising the elimination of industrial trans-fatty acids,’ Dr Oyoo said.

According to the data from UHI, about 25 percent of cardiovascular disease cases are linked to physical inactivity and unhealthy diets, while alcohol consumption accounts for 20 percent, and stress and smoking contribute 15 percent.

Such conditions remain among the leading causes of death in Uganda, claiming more than 27,000 lives annually, with a mortality rate of 223 deaths per 100,000 people.

For two decades, Uganda’s oil has been a national promise perpetually deferred. When Hardman Resources struck the first commercial discovery well at Mputa in 2006, officials spoke of production by 2008. The deadline passed. New targets-2015, 2018, 2020, 2025- emerged and passed with equal discretion.

More than 200 wells have been drilled across the Tilenga and Kingfisher fields in Lake Albert’s western basin as of April, data from both projects’ documentation shows. The world’s longest heated pipeline, 1,443 kilometres of thermo-insulated steel running from Hoima in western Uganda to the port of Tanga on Tanzania’s Indian Ocean coast, is 84 percent complete, with 12,000 workers still on site.

Philippe Groueix, TotalEnergies’ general manager in Uganda, said last Wednesday that commissioning would begin before July. A couple of sources from the Energy ministry expect the first export cargo in October 2026. The timing, after 20 years of studied misfortune, turns out to be extraordinary. Not because Uganda planned it that way. It did not. But because on February 28, the United States and Israel launched an air war against Iran, and the world’s oil market was never quite the same again.

Each of Uganda’s missed production targets corresponded to a different species of bad timing. In 2008, the global financial crisis sent Brent crude from $144 (Shs244,800 approximate rate in 2008) to $32 (Shs54,400 approximate rate in 2008) in five months. In 2015, the American shale revolution flooded the market. Consequently, Brent fell below $30 (Shs102,510 approximate rate in 2016) in January 2016, its lowest since 2003. Western lenders, already cool on a pipeline through contested Albertine Graben territory, went colder still. Tullow Oil, one of the original partners, eventually sold its entire interest to TotalEnergies and exited Uganda entirely. In 2020, Covid arrived. West Texas Intermediate crude briefly went negative. Brent fell to $20 (Shs743,000 approximate rate in 2020).

Even the project’s signature achievement, its Final Investment Decision, signed in February 2022, arrived just weeks before Russia invaded Ukraine and Brent spiked to $139 (Shs512,910 approximate rate in 2022). That windfall did not reach Uganda; there was nothing yet to pump.

By late 2025, the market had softened again. Brent was trading below $60 (Shs224,101) per barrel. Had Uganda, by some miracle, achieved its 2025 target, it would have entered a buyers’ market at the worst price in a decade, attempting to sell a waxy, heavy crude that had already, in a 2018 test sale of a mere 45,211 barrels, failed to attract a credible buyer on its first attempt and took eighteen months to find one on its second.

Accident of geography

Then the Strait closed. The Strait of Hormuz is 34km wide at its narrowest point. Through it passed roughly 20 million barrels of oil per day, approximately 20 percent of global seaborne oil trade, primarily from Middle East producers to Asia. The International Energy Agency called its blockade ‘the greatest global energy security challenge in history.’ The World Bank called it the largest oil supply disruption in recorded history. Brent crude surpassed $100 (Shs373,000) a barrel on March 8; the first time in four years, rising to $126 (Shs471,000) at its peak.

Uganda’s pipeline terminates at Tanga, on the Indian Ocean-on the wrong side of the world from the blockade. It flows in precisely the opposite direction to the disrupted supply chains that Asian and European importers were scrambling to replace. A landlocked country with no navy, no coastline and no exposure to the Middle East conflict had accidentally built its entire export infrastructure around the one geography that the global supply shock had left untouched.

There is no other way to say this: Uganda got spectacularly lucky.

The crude nobody wanted

The luck runs deeper than geography. Uganda’s crude is low in sulphur-a quality refiners prize above almost all others, because it determines the cost and complexity of processing. It is also waxy and heavy, which historically attracted a discount. In 2018, Uganda’s test crude found no credible buyer on its first attempt and took 18 months to find one on its second. That crude, in the current market, looks entirely different. In 2024, an estimated 84 percent of crude oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz were destined for Asian markets. Those buyers are now urgently seeking alternatives. The defining characteristic they want is low sulphur, because clean-fuels regulations governing their domestic markets have grown progressively stricter.

Uganda’s crude is low in sulphur. It flows to a port with direct Indian Ocean access. Faith Musimenta, a senior petroleum economist at Uganda’s Petroleum Authority, noted earlier this year that Uganda’s oil prices would ultimately be set by international benchmarks, then ‘adjusted for transport costs and the quality of its crude.’ What she could not have fully anticipated, writing before February 28, was that the quality premium for low-sulphur crude would spike as alternative Middle Eastern supply disappeared, or that the $12.77 (Shs48,000) per barrel pipeline tariff to Tanga would look modest against a Brent price that had risen $50 (Shs187,000) in eight weeks.

The window and its walls

The crude nobody wanted in 2018 is precisely what Asia needs most now. None of this is permanent. The US Energy Information Administration (EIA) projects Brent falling from a 2026 quarter two average of $115 (Shs429,000) per barrel to $88 (Shs330,000) by quarter four, then $76 (Shs284,000) in 2027. The World Bank sees it reverting to $70 (Shs261,000) once the most acute disruptions ease. Uganda’s first export cargo loads in October, as the Energy ministry projects. The crisis-price window and the revenue-arrival window do not perfectly overlap. Under the production sharing agreements, up to 70 percent of output in any period is first allocated to recovering costs, meaning Uganda’s share of profit oil only grows as those billions are repaid.

The Hoima refinery has not broken ground, so the country will export raw oil while importing refined diesel at elevated prices. Bank of Uganda Governor Michael Atingi-Ego told Parliament on April 29 that oil revenue ‘will not bail us out significantly, given the outflows associated with it.’ Those two moments are separated by months and, on current trajectories, by a moderating price environment. The government’s own projections place annual oil revenues at $1.5b (Shs5.6 trillion) to $2.5b (Shs9.3 trillion) at plateau. Independent modelling by the Natural Resource Governance Institute and Rystad Energy puts the figure at $1.9b (Shs7 trillion) under a slow energy transition, falling to $1b (Shs3.7 trillion) if the world moves at a moderate pace.

The Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis goes further, finding Uganda’s present value of future revenues falling 37 percent under a moderate transition and 53 percent under a full net-zero pathway, losses steeper than those facing foreign investors, because the production-sharing structure front-loads returns to TotalEnergies and CNOOC during the cost-recovery years, leaving Uganda more exposed as the window narrows. That window-2026 to 2032-may be the last period in which Uganda’s cost structure and crude quality command prices sufficient to make those projections credible.

Fortune’s geometry

There is a particular cruelty to good luck arriving late. The financial crisis, the shale revolution, the Covid collapse, the Western lender withdrawal each delayed a project that, had it proceeded on schedule, would have delivered oil into conditions ranging from difficult to disastrous. What arrived instead was the Strait of Hormuz crisis: the largest oil supply disruption in recorded history. The world’s oil ships were stuck. Uganda’s were not; its oil moves overland through a 1,443-km pipeline to Tanga, on the Indian Ocean, thousands of kilometres from the blockade.

Uganda spent $12.3b (Shs45.9 trillion) on wells, processing plants and that pipeline, and built, entirely by accident, a route that pointed away from the crisis.

Minister Nankabirwa announced a third petroleum exploration licensing round, covering new blocks in the Albertine Graben and frontier basins, beginning this July. But the details of what already exists are sobering. The Kasuruban block, Uganda’s largest at 1,285 sq km, awarded to the Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC) in 2023 as the state firm’s first independent upstream venture, has spent two years without a joint venture partner willing to share the cost of a single exploratory well. Both TotalEnergies and CNOOC declined.

The licence expires in March 2027. The partner has not been named. Uganda is simultaneously celebrating the oil it is about to produce and struggling to find anyone willing to share the risk of finding the oil that comes next.

Agoro Irrigation Scheme in Tumanun Village, Agoro Sub-County, Lamwo District sits on 1,650 acres on the eastern slope of Agoro Hills. Built in the 1950s to boost rice production, it is one of Uganda’s largest and oldest irrigation schemes.

Farmers were already irrigating nine acres between 1950 and 1970. The government later constructed canals to expand production to 100 acres. In 2011, the Ministry of Water and Environment invested Shs27 billion to rehabilitate the scheme through Dot Services, which built food stores, offices and staff quarters.

The goal was to put all nine blocks, covering over 1,600 acres, into full use to improve food security and large-scale production. The scheme draws water from River Okura, which originates on Agoro Hills. Farmers grow rice, maize, soybeans, cabbage, onions, tomatoes, okra and watermelon.

Between 2008 and 2009, Agoro outperformed Mubuku and Doho to become Uganda’s top rice producer. Today, only 33 per cent of the scheme is in use because of ongoing rehabilitation works to correct design defects.

The original design of the main and tertiary canals left more than half the farmland without water. In 2016, Gets Construction Company was hired for Shs1.1 billion to fix the problem. Eight years later, Vidas was contracted for Shs2.7 billion to continue the work.

Rehabilitation began in 2024 and is now 85 per cent complete, with completion expected by June 2026. The contractor is working on the reservoir bank, tertiary canals, concrete works for six take-off structures and hydraulics improvements. The work is limited to six of the nine blocks after some farmers resisted.

Charles Bwire, Senior Engineer at the Ministry of Water’s Water for Production Regional Centre North, said the remaining 15 per cent will be finished on schedule.

‘The contractor is left with only 15 per cent of the work, which will be completed by June 2026. Among the tasks left is the construction of the tertiary canals. And I am confident that works will be completed within the time schedule and the sites will be handed to the farmers,’ he said.

Farmers say the reality on the ground is different. ‘The engineer is stating that the project is nearing completion. However, only blocks sitting on the edge of the canals are the ones getting water. Blocks that are located further from the canals are not receiving water. I therefore asked that an assessment be done before the engineers leave the site,’ said Florence Angee, a farmer.

James Okot, chairperson of Agoro Self-Help Irrigation Company Limited, said the scheme performed better before government rehabilitation. The cooperative has 147 registered members and 26 farmer groups.

‘One of the clear signs that the project has failed, despite the fact that the government spent a lot of money, is the empty food store. Farmers have not been able to produce enough and store it in the food store. That shows that the project has failed the farmers,’ he said.

Production began dropping in 2016, shortly after Shs27 billion was spent to fix the water distribution problem, according to Okot. Some farmers suspect collusion between contractors and officials.

‘Why is nothing good coming out of the scheme, and yet a lot of money has been invested in it?’ asked George Onek, outgoing Agoro Sub-County Chairperson. ‘Productivity has gone down completely and yet money has been spent,’ he added, calling on government to investigate.

Two Mersey Ferguson tractors donated through NAADS have broken down due to poor maintenance. Lamwo Chief Administrative Officer Moses Kapolon questioned the low output despite over Shs30 billion spent.

‘The production is lower than even the ones experienced during the colonial time. There are a lot of cries over the productivity of the scheme. There is a need to ensure that the scheme becomes fully operational,’ Kapolon said.

Farmer Denis Ocan, who works 13 acres, said output has collapsed since rehabilitation began.

‘For instance, in 2010, we harvested 13 tons of rice. We had 260 farmers who are actively growing rice. But not anymore… When we tried to give our views on how to rehabilitate the scheme, we were dismissed as laymen,’ he said.

Lamwo District Secretary for Production Justine Odur wants President Museveni to intervene.

‘There is a challenge with the project. And I am very disappointed. This is a very big project, but it has failed the farmers. I think the President should visit it and see for himself,’ he said.

Lamwo Resident District Commissioner William Komakech said management problems within the farmers’ cooperative are also contributing to the challenges.

‘You are complaining, but you also need to organise yourself. There is a management crisis. There is no question about it. How can an askari chase a manager who is more educated than he?’ he asked.

State Minister for Northern Uganda Dr. Kenneth Omona, who visited the scheme on Friday, expressed disappointment with the quality of work and called for a value-for-money audit.

‘This is not right. This project should help our farmers grow. Help them to engage in productive activities so that they can contribute meaningfully to the economy. They can pay tax, and the country grows. We therefore need a comprehensive report so that it can guide us on the viability of the project,’ he said.

Dr. Omona assured farmers their concerns would be addressed so they can farm year-round with reliable water, instead of relying on rain.

Ugandan volleyball stars Catherine Ainembabazi and Sharon Amito have been named in the Uganda Lady Volleyball Cranes squad ahead of the CAVB Zone V African Nations Championship Qualifiers.

The two Rwandan based players are part of a squad of 22 players that was named by the Uganda Volleyball Federation on Friday.

Ainembabazi, who plays for Police Women’s Volleyball Club in Rwanda, was part of Uganda’s squad that featured in the CAVB Nations Championship held in Cameroon in 2023.

The receiver-attacker has impressed since switching from Ndejje Elites to Police in her first attempt at professional volleyball.

She helped the team win the league and multiple tournaments last season. And despite the team’s loss to Kepler in the semifinals this season, Ainembabazi’s performances have remained at a good level.

For Amito, a big money move from Police to APR last season did not go according to plan as her former side prevailed in the league finals.

But she remains arguably the best middle blocker in the Rwandan league and carries massive experience into the Cranes team.

The 28-year-old has been away from Uganda’s set up and missed the team’s last engagement in Cameroon.

Ainembabazi and Amito are joined by another Rwandan based player on the team. Former KCB-Nkumba receiver-attacker Hadijah Otin has also been summoned.

She plies her trade with East Africa University of Rwanda.

The team named is a blend of youth and experience. Seasoned campaigners like Joan Tushemereirwe, Jennifer Alungat and Moreen Mwamula are part of the squad.

There are several new kids on the block who will be fighting to make the final team for the first time.

Hadijah Acelun, Katreena Odermatt and Oliver Acan are the three setters selected by Protus Soita and his coaching team.

Soita also named up to six middle blockers in the team, with Alungat, Agnes Akanyo, Lydia Asimo, Jemima Lamaro, Lisa Nakitto and Amito all set to fight for places.

Scovia Alungat and Renata Kamahoro will compete for places with Tushemereirwe and Mwamula in the opposites department.

The receiver-attackers’ department has two of the most impressive talents of the domestic season -Ketty Aluka and Claire Najjuko.

The two will compete for places with VVC’s Norah Nakalembe, Otin and Ainembabazi.

Up to four liberos are in the provisional squad. KCCA pair of Varoline Aanyu and Noel Asekenyi will have competition in the form of Sport-S’ Shamirah Kalanzi and KCB-Nkumba’s Sumayyah Ndagire.

The team is expected to start preparations for the Zone V championship on Monday.

Lady Volleyball Cranes

Provisional squad

Setters: Hadijah Acelun, Katreena Odermatt, Oliver Acan

Middle blockers: Jennifer Alungat, Agnes Akanyo, Lydia Asimo, Jemmima Lamaro, Lisa Nakitto, Sharon Amito

Opposites: Scovia Alungat, Renata Kamahoro, Joan Tushemereirwe, Moreen Mwamula

Receiver-attackers: Ketty Aluka, Claire Najjuko, Catherine Ainembabazi, Hadijah Otin, Norah Nakalembe

Liberos: Noel Asekenyi, Varoline Asekenyi, Shamirah Kalanzi, Sumayyah Ndagire

The dough of these delicious vanilla cookies is easy to mix and they are perfect weekend treat for family and friends.

Ingredients (Yields 36)

480g (4 cups) all-purpose flour

¾ teaspoon baking powder

A small pinch salt

227g (1 cup) salted butter/margarine

200g (1 cup) sugar

2 large eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla essence

Method

1. Line two large baking trays with parchment paper and set aside. In a large bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Whisk well so that the ingredients are well-incorporated.

2. Beat the butter/margarine and sugar until light and fluffy. If you are using a stand mixer, do this with the paddle attachment of the mixer, or use an electric hand mixer. You can also use a wooden spoon for mixing.

3. Add the eggs to the mixture one at a time, beating well after each addition and scraping down the sides of the bowl, to obtain a uniform mixture. Add the vanilla essence and mix well.

4. Divide the dough into two pieces, shape each piece into a disc, and wrap each disc in parchment paper. Chill in the fridge for at least two hours or for up to two days (the dough will last up to three months, frozen).

5. After removing the dough from the fridge, wait for at least 15 minutes before rolling. Lightly flour your work surface, the top of the dough, and your rolling pin. Roll the dough to a ¼ inch thickness and preheat the oven to 190°C/375°F/gas mark 5.

6. Cut out shapes of your choice using 2½ or three-inch cookie cutters. Re-roll the dough scraps that remain after cutting out the cookies and use them to make more cookies.

7. Place the cookies on the prepared baking trays and bake in a preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, or until the cookies turn pale golden, if you fancy cookies with slightly crisp edges that are tender in the middle. If you prefer drier, crisper cookies, however, bake them for slightly longer. Enjoy the cookies plain or decorate them with royal icing or any other icing of your choice.