Category: Daily Monitor

Masaka High Court has acquitted four people accused of murdering a Masaka businessman after finding them not guilty.

The acquitted persons, who have been on remand for over four years, include the deceased’s wife, Hanipher Namaganda; Musa Nanseera, the deceased’s brother; Hamis Ddungu, the son; and Godfrey Migadde Mmande, a casual labourer at the deceased’s farm.

Masaka High Court Judge Justice Fatuma Nanziri acquitted the accused on Wednesday after the prosecution failed to prove that they participated in the murder of the late Hajji Erias Ddungu.

In her ruling, Justice Nanziri said that though prosecution proved that Hajj Ddungu, commonly known as Daida, a former resident of Nkuke Village in Buwunga sub-county, Masaka District, and a prominent businessman in the area, was killed, prosecution failed to prove that the accused persons were involved in the murder.

Prosecution alleged that the group on September 2, 2022, participated in the murder of Daida, who was reportedly killed and later hanged in a poultry house at his home.

Justice Nanziri, in her lengthy judgment, stated that the prosecution’s evidence against the quartet was weak; they did not present any witnesses who saw the accused kill Daida.

Prosecution had asked court to rely on the claim that the accused were seen at the crime scene, but it was not convincing because none of the witnesses presented saw them killing the deceased.

“The prosecution has proved that the deceased died and his death was unlawful, and it was done with malice; though it failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt that any of the four accused persons participated in the killing,” she said.

She noted that though the assessors in their joint opinion had asked court to convict the deceased’s wife Namaganda and the casual labourer Migadde, and acquit the deceased’s brother Nanseera and the son Hamis, she partially agreed on the acquittal of Nanseera and Hamis, but disagreed with the conviction of Namaganda and Migadde.

“I find that the prosecution has failed to prove the offence of murder contrary to Sections 188 and 189 of the Penal Code Act, which requires the prosecution to prove beyond reasonable doubt against any of the four accused persons. I accordingly acquit all the accused persons of the offence of murder; they should be set free unless they are held on any other lawful charges,” she ruled.

However, the ruling has attracted mixed reactions, with a section of relatives of the deceased asking the prosecution to appeal, while relatives of the acquitted persons are thankful.

A section of the deceased’s relatives led by Ashiraf Mukasa and Zzalwango Fatuma said they are not satisfied with the ruling because all the evidence presented placed the accused persons at the scene, including evidence of police officers that investigated the matter and the medical report.

“I wonder how such evidence was found by court to be insufficient to convict the accused persons, we are considering asking the state to appeal the ruling,” Mukasa said.

However, the accused persons’ relatives welcomed the ruling, saying they are happy that their colleagues were finally found innocent.

Defence lawyer Pius Kiryowa Kabiswa thanked court for acquitting his clients, saying prosecution failed to provide sufficient evidence.

“We are happy that justice has finally prevailed, after four years. Part of the evidence presented before court showed that the deceased had debts, among other problems that could have prompted him to take his own life, as one of the accused persons told court in her defence. We thank the court for acquitting all the accused persons after finding them innocent,” he said.

On a recent morning during the traffic police’s operation against taxis in dangerous mechanical condition (DMCs), the roof of the taxi that carried me to Kampala via Sentema Road was leaking.

The backseat in the left corner was soon soaked. For a while, the other passengers and I simply leaned away from the water. Then the midmorning rain intensified, and water began flowing from the roof like a stream down a mountain.

Inside, the taxi’s metal ribs were exposed and its cracked floor spat muddy water into the cabin. How, we wondered, was this taxi considered roadworthy?

Perhaps the traffic police have their own list of what makes a taxi dangerous. But commuters have another; the things we would happily see disappear from our daily rides.

Hazards at every turn

Many a passenger has boarded an old taxi dressed to the nines and stepped out looking like they lost a fight with a barbed-wire fence, thanks to exposed metal edges that shred whatever they touch. And can we talk about the legroom, or the complete lack of it? You will spend the entire ride questioning the life choices that led you to that particular taxi.

If you are plus-size, you may not even get to choose your seat. That decision belongs to the conductor, who is convinced the vehicle can fit exactly one more passenger. Then you hear it: ‘Mwesikeemu awo,’ as he squeezes his hip against yours, pretending there is still space.

The Coasters plying the Lungujja-Busega route have a special talent for failing halfway up a hill, sending everyone into panic as the vehicle rolls backwards into chaos.

Then there is the Namuwongo evening crew. These drivers hardly use conductors, so when the taxi stops to pick up or drop someone, pull the door with care. It might just collapse on your leg.

And those bendable seats? Avoid them if you can. They are uncomfortable, prone to breaking, and depending on where you sit, they can turn you into a passenger on standby. Anyone behind or beside you may need to get out at any moment. If you are slow to move, prepare for insults from the conductor, the driver, fellow passengers, or all three at once.

Then there are the unscheduled stops. Taxis can stop almost anywhere to pick someone up, but try telling the conductor, ‘Mu maaso awo,’ and he may drag you several metres forward with a straight face: ‘Ssebo, wano tewali parking.’ (Sir, there is no parking here.)

Where perfume goes to die

If you board a taxi connecting to a landing site, your deodorant, and whatever classy perfume you dared to wear — will surrender to the smell of raw fish. Fish vendors prefer the seats behind the driver, where their plastic buckets fit neatly. But when there are more than three of them, the rest spread out like a territorial invasion. Suddenly, you are no longer in a taxi. You are travelling in a moving fish market, and you are the only customer who did not bring stock.

Other times, the smell comes from the passengers themselves. Bad breath, smelly hair, body odour that could stop traffic. And sometimes, just sometimes the smell comes from the taxi itself.

Some of those tired carriers are taxis by day but temporary bedrooms at night for homeless taxi touts, kanaabe, or guards at washing bays. They are hosed down at dawn, and inevitably, water spills over the dusty seats, soaking into foam that never really dries. Yet within 30 minutes, the same taxi is back on the road, hunting for early birds. So if you catch the first commute and wonder why the seat feels damp and smells like a cross between detergent and regret, now you know.

New Content Item (1) Weak brakes and loose steering wheels

Nothing says ‘we might not make it’ quite like a vehicle that struggles to stop, pulls sharply to one side, or requires the driver to pump the brake like he is trying to revive a dying relative. You sit there, watching his leg work overtime, and you start doing mental math about the distance to your destination versus the distance to the nearest hospital.

Then there are those taxis that start the journey with unusual vibrations and proceed to wander across the road like a confused toddler. The steering wheel has so much play that the driver is basically suggesting a direction and hoping the car agrees. The brakes stopped working properly five years ago, but nobody told the owner, or maybe they did and he just added it to the list of things to ignore.

Whether the journey continues is usually determined by the desperation of the passengers. The cautious ones demand the car be parked immediately, and they will happily walk the rest of the way in the rain.

The gullible ones just pray the taxi will take them to their destination, trusting that God has a special fondness for commuters with poor judgment. And then there is the steering wheel that comes off in the driver’s hands. Yes, that happens. Watch his face when he has to reattach it mid-turn while reassuring everyone that ‘it is just loose.’ Just loose.

As if that is a feature, not a bug. You will laugh about it later , if there is a later.

Broken doors and windows

A door that will not close properly is not just an inconvenience. It is a health hazard. Your heart is constantly threatening to leave your chest because the thing could pop open at any second. One time, a passenger almost tumbled out when the door simply swung open like it had somewhere better to be.

The conductor reached over, yanked it shut, and kept moving without a word. The passenger turned white as a ghost. The conductor just told them: ‘Hold it next time.’ Hold it? It is a door, not a grudge. But apparently, in these taxis, everything requires emotional labour.

Then there are the windows. I have watched passengers nearly come to blows because one thinks the other is deliberately refusing to open or close it. The truth? The window crank gave up on life three years ago. It is purely decorative now.

But try explaining that to someone who is convinced you are hoarding all the fresh air for yourself.

And let us not forget the windows that are permanently open because the glass is long gone and someone patched the hole with a torn kaveera. It flaps in the wind like a sad flag, offering zero protection from dust, rain, or the street vendor who suddenly has his hand in your face.

Resident parasites

Before boarding taxis that ply the Bulenga-Buloba-Bujuuko route at night, carry a mosquito net. Or prepare to slap yourself silly fighting flying parasites. And if you have used a taxi even once, you might unknowingly start a bedbug farm at home.

Remember ‘seed dispersal’ by animals from primary school? One bedbug hitches a ride from one passenger’s home or another taxi. It slips beneath another passenger’s collar, belt or braids, patiently waiting to be delivered to a new home. And the rest is history.

Bedbugs aside, imagine the chaos a rat can cause in a taxi.

‘Our hearts skipped as the rat jumped from one hiding place to another,’ one woman recalls of a Kyaliwajjala taxi. But the driver and conductor were unbothered.

‘Relax, that is a resident rat. It has no problem.’

Leaking and broken engines

You have probably seen a group of passengers standing in the middle of traffic looking miserable, bags in hand, because a taxi’s engine finally gave up the fight.

Meanwhile, the driver stands at the front, hood open, staring at the engine like a man visiting a sick relative he knows he cannot save.

The thing about a broken engine is that it is never just a mechanical failure. It is a social event. Within seconds, everyone on the taxi becomes an expert mechanic. The man in the back row swears it is the alternator. The woman by the window insists it is the fuel pump. The conductor, who has never opened a toolbox in his life, starts kicking the tyres and blaming the driver for ‘overworking the machine.’ The only person who stays quiet is the actual driver, who knows he bought this vehicle when it was already in retirement.

Then there is the water. If you ever look down during a rainy ride and find your feet doing a little swim in the footwell, do not panic. The vehicle is not sinking. It is just that the bodywork has deteriorated so thoroughly that the outside is now practically the inside. The floor is less of a floor and more of a suggestion. Water drips from places you did not know existed — the roof, the door frames, the gear stick area, as if the taxi is trying to rehydrate you after a long day. Passengers lift their bags to their laps like they are protecting infants from a flood. The conductor, meanwhile, tells everyone to ‘just move a little’ as if the puddle has a preferred seating arrangement.

And the smell that follows? A permanent dampness, mixed with engine oil, mixed with whatever ambition died in that footwell years ago. You will carry it on your clothes for hours, walking into your meeting smelling like a garage that went through a divorce. That, my friend, is the true cost of the affordable fare that old taxis promise.

And yet, we keep boarding

For all these complaints, there is one inconvenient truth. When the rain is pouring, the road is dark, the sun is scorching or the boda boda rider quotes a fare that makes you reconsider your entire journey, even the tired old taxi suddenly looks attractive.

You squeeze into half a seat.

You share your space with a fish bucket. You listen to a stranger’s family secrets, dodge a preacher’s accusations, fight mosquitoes or discover that your neighbour has brought a chicken aboard.

You may even sit on a wet sponge and spend the rest of the day wondering what exactly soaked your trousers. Then you get home. And tomorrow, you board another one.

When is a taxi too dangerous to board?

A taxi does not have to look old to be unsafe. Before squeezing into one, check for these warning signs:

Bad tyres: Look for bald tread, cracks, bulges or visibly damaged tyres.

Weak brakes: If the vehicle struggles to stop, pulls sharply to one side or the driver repeatedly pumps the brake, be cautious.

Loose steering: Excessive play, unusual vibrations or a vehicle that wanders across the road can point to steering or suspension problems.

Broken doors: A door that will not close properly is more than an inconvenience, especially on a busy road.

Cracked windscreen: A heavily damaged windscreen can affect visibility and may worsen under impact.

Loose or exposed metal: Sharp edges inside the passenger compartment can injure passengers.

Leaking roof or floor: Water entering the cabin may indicate serious deterioration of the vehicle body.

Overloading: If passengers are squeezed into every available space, the vehicle may be carrying more people than it was designed for.

Strange noises: Grinding, knocking, excessive rattling or unusual engine sounds should not simply be ignored.

Missing safety equipment: Check whether the vehicle has basic equipment such as a fire extinguisher and functional seat belts where fitted.

The rule is simple: An uncomfortable taxi is one thing; a taxi with a defect that could cause a crash is another. If something feels seriously wrong, speak up or choose another taxi.

Teenage mothers across Kitgum District are turning painful experiences into new stories of resilience, recovery and hope.

Once pushed to the margins by teenage pregnancy, stigma and emotional trauma, many of the young mothers faced interrupted education, economic hardship and deep emotional wounds.

However, the Daily Monitor has established that they are now finding new strength in their struggles.

Through community and peer-support groups, as well as self-help initiatives, the young mothers are finding ways to heal, regain confidence and rebuild their futures.

In 2023, while seven months pregnant with her second child, Janet’s (not real name) tumultuous relationship hit rock bottom.

In the absence of her husband, who had abandoned her for another woman, Janet’s mother-in-law asked her to leave the family home, labelling her a liability because of her condition.

Janet and her husband, a truck driver, began their relationship in January 2022. Shortly afterwards, she became pregnant with her first child, who was born in December of the same year.

Her family, fearing the burden of caring for and providing for her after delivery, forced her to go and live with him six days before her due date.

A troubled childhood, characterised by months away from school and social deprivation due to her single mother’s financial struggles, contributed to Janet’s vulnerability.

She was in Senior Four at a school in Kitgum in 2022 when she became pregnant.

‘I dropped out of school after getting pregnant. Life had become unbearable during the Covid-19 pandemic, and since my mother was struggling to raise our school fees and provide for my personal upkeep, I could not resist that man who would give me everything I needed,’ she says.

While pregnant with her second child, Janet contracted an illness in late 2023 while she was still breastfeeding her first-born.

Her mother-in-law subsequently ordered her out of the house.

‘Back at home, I had given up everything. My mother and siblings looked at my children and me as a burden. I became depressed and turned to alcohol, but one day I received visitors who asked me to join a training opportunity at the sub-county,’ Janet adds.

Across her community, Janet, a survivor of sexual and gender-based violence, had little hope that her painful experiences could one day become a story of transformation and courage.

That changed when members of an initiative visited her home in Kilime East village, Pajimo Parish, Labongo-Akwang Sub-county, in mid-2024.

Janet recalls how the opportunity, offered under the Empowerment and Livelihood for Adolescents (ELA) initiative, helped rebuild her life after she embraced counselling, economic empowerment and community support systems that enabled her to overcome her vulnerability.

After joining the programme in November 2024, she and other girls first underwent mindset-change and counselling sessions before enrolling for life-skills training.

‘Through our Good Future ELA Club, we were trained on how we can better integrate into society. The mentors assigned to us took us through a skilling process, and I have now learnt how to make liquid soap and bake bread,’ Janet says.

She adds that the income from her businesses is helping her support her child in school.

‘Besides supporting my child in school, I have invested the money I raise from the business in piggery. Right now, I am looking to sell the pigs to raise enough money to buy a sewing machine and diversify my income streams,’ she says.

In an interview, Ms Dinah Teddy Atek, the Labongo-Akwang Sub-county Community Development Officer (CDO), says many young girls and teenage mothers in the sub-county have been absorbed into the programme and provided with support for rehabilitation.

‘Many of these girls and teenage mothers are survivors of GBV. They returned with one or two children from previous relationships, and many are now in the process of recovering from the trauma and abuse they underwent at the hands of other men,’ Ms Atek says.

‘Specifically, we always interact with them, give them guidance and counselling, and restore their hope for the future. The facilitation that comes through the Spotlight Initiative programme also helps improve their livelihoods through the life-skills training they receive,’ she adds.

‘We work hand in hand with the office of the district CDO, parish chiefs and others to enable them to benefit from government programmes. For example, we link the ELA clubs to opportunities such as the Parish Development Model (PDM), so that they can access government funds to expand the different businesses they run.’

Fighting denial

Like thousands of survivors of sexual and gender-based violence across the country, Janet has gradually adapted, developed new coping mechanisms and regained her confidence.

Under a mango tree in the compound of her home in Kilime East Village, Pajimo Parish, Labongo-Akwang Sub-county, Mirriam (not real name) wears a broad smile as she narrates how her new bread-baking enterprise is helping her provide for her two children.

But behind her smile lies an agonising story of how she nearly lost her life when her husband battered her during a domestic fight after she declined his request to use part of her shoe business capital to meet his emergency needs.

In 2020, aged 19, Mirriam had recently dropped out of school in Senior Two, where she was pursuing lower secondary education. Under pressure from her peers, she eloped with a boda boda rider from Palabek-Gem Sub-county in Lamwo District.

‘The business steadily grew, and I reached a point where I would stock plastic shoes from Lira City and sell them in Palabek while targeting refugees. But that turned my man into a boss of sorts. He would demand money for his personal upkeep, including money to buy alcohol,’she says.

In early 2023, her business began to decline after her husband abandoned his boda boda business and became dependent on her income. This prompted Mirriam to start hiding her daily earnings.

‘We fought, and he hit me with an object. That left me paralysed for two days until my friends called my family to come to my rescue. They returned my two children and me home that same day and rushed me to Pajimo Health Centre III,’ Mirriam adds.

In July 2024, several months after life had become unbearable, Mirriam joined an ELA group in a neighbouring village.

‘My healing journey has not only restored my confidence in myself but also allowed me to become an advocate and leader for those facing similar abuse in my society,’ Mirriam further reveals.

‘Before joining ELA, life wasn’t easy at all, but today I have experienced a lot of changes. I have learnt tailoring, besides baking bread and making liquid soap, and because of these skills, I can ably support my children with much more ease,’ she says.

On a good day, Mirriam says she makes an average of Shs10,000 from bread and liquid soap sales.

‘It has been very viable, except that soap making is done mainly on order because my client base is still growing. I only sell bread on market days,’ she adds.

Dr Henry Okello Otto, the Kitgum District Health Officer, says survivors of sexual and gender-based violence are increasingly finding hope through new approaches available under the Spotlight Initiative.

‘The referral systems have evidently provided healing to these survivors because health workers and village health teams deployed on the ground have adopted survivor-centred interventions such as trauma counselling,’ Dr Okello says.

The intervention remains instrumental in the district. According to records from the district health department, teenage pregnancies have declined from 28 percent to 20 percent since 2024.

Dr Okello attributes the reduction to enhanced prevention and response measures, including increased access to integrated sexual and reproductive health services for women, adolescent girls and children in schools.

Specifically, through the ELA clubs, Dr Okello says teenage mothers are trained on how to reintegrate into society and become productive members.

‘Under ELA, the girls find an environment where they can open up to each other and seek emotional and psychosocial support through therapy and counselling. They also access specialised support for survivors of trauma, including trauma-focused therapies, among others,’ he adds.

About ELA

ELA is one of the components of the Spotlight Initiative programme implemented by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and its partners, Marie Stopes and ACORD Uganda.

Between May 2023 and April 2026, UNFPA rolled out the second phase of the Spotlight Initiative programme with funding of pound 29.5 million, supported by the European Union and the Embassy of the Netherlands.

The programme seeks to secure universal access to health and sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) for adolescent girls and young women.

The second phase of the initiative is being implemented in 17 districts across several regions, including Karamoja, West Nile, Acholi, Western, Lango, Central and Elgon.

The programme prioritises skilling by equipping teenage girls and young women who are survivors of GBV with vocational skills such as tailoring, soap making and baking. Beneficiaries are also supported to train in different vocational institutions through funding provided under the initiative.

Imagine waking up one morning and reaching for your phone to call your mother, only to remember she is gone. Then, a second later, you remember your brother is too. You do not just lose two people. You lose the person who raised you and the person who grew up beside you. You lose your past and your future in the same instant. The grief is not double. It is exponential. It multiplies in ways the human mind was never built to calculate. There is no word for it, because there should never need to be. But still it happens.

Yet for some people, grief arrives not once but twice. They lose two significant loved ones within a short period of time. It could be the death of both parents. It could be a spouse and a child. It could be a sibling and a grandparent. It could be any combination of people who meant the world to them. When this happens, the emotional impact can be devastating. The human heart was not designed to process such overwhelming loss all at once, and yet, every day, someone somewhere is living through this exact nightmare. People ask how you are, and you say “fine” because the full truth would take too long and sound too unbelievable. How do you tell someone that you are grieving two people at once?

Too much loss, too little time

A double loss often leaves individuals struggling to make sense of a reality that has changed dramatically and unexpectedly. One moment, life was following a familiar pattern, the next moment, two people who were part of your daily life are suddenly gone, and the world you knew has disappeared. Beyond the sorrow of bereavement, many people experience symptoms that are commonly associated with trauma. These may include emotional numbness, which means feeling disconnected from your own feelings and unable to cry even when you want to.

You may experience difficulty concentrating, which means struggling to focus on simple tasks like reading a book or following a conversation.

Anxiety may set in, bringing a constant sense of unease or worry that never fully goes away.

Sleep disturbances are also common, which means you may have trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or you may wake up too early and find yourself unable to return to rest.

A persistent sense of disbelief may also linger, making you feel like this cannot be real, like you are living in a nightmare from which you cannot wake up.

These are natural reactions to extraordinary circumstances. Your mind and body are trying to process something that feels impossible to process. When grief arrives in double measure, your entire system goes into overload, and these symptoms are simply your body’s way of trying to cope.

Why two losses are so hard

Mental health professionals note that the challenge of a double loss lies not only in the number of losses but also in the limited time available to process them. Before one loss can be fully understood and mourned, another arrives. This stretches emotional and psychological resources far beyond their limits, leaving the grieving person feeling overwhelmed and exhausted. Think of it like this. If you are carrying a heavy load and someone adds another weight on top, you may struggle to keep standing. You cannot simply adjust to the first weight before the second one is added. The same is true for grief.

When losses come close together, the heart does not have time to catch its breath or to find its footing again.

Many people feel pressured to “stay strong” after multiple losses. Friends and family may say things like, “You are so strong” or “They would want you to keep going.” While these words are often well-meaning, they can make the grieving person feel like they cannot show their pain. They may hide their tears, suppress their emotions, and pretend to be okay when they are not. This pressure to appear strong can actually delay the healing process, because grief that is pushed down does not disappear. It simply waits to surface later, often in unexpected and overwhelming ways.

The hidden losses that follow

In many cases, grief is accompanied by what experts refer to as secondary losses. These are the additional changes that happen as a result of the deaths, and they can be just as painful as the losses themselves.

These may include changes in family structure, which means the family no longer looks the same, roles shift, and dynamics change in ways that can feel confusing and unsettling.

Financial pressures may arise due to loss of income, funeral costs, or unexpected expenses that were not planned for.

There is also the loss of companionship, which means losing the daily conversations, shared meals, and simple presence of loved ones who were part of your everyday life.

Altered responsibilities may also occur, which means you may suddenly become the primary caregiver for someone else, or you may have to take on tasks that the deceased used to handle.

Disrupted routines are also common, which means the rhythm of daily life is broken, and everything feels unfamiliar and disorienting.

Finally, there is uncertainty about the future, which means plans that were made together now feel meaningless or impossible, and you are left wondering what your life will look like going forward. The bereaved person is therefore not only coping with the absence of loved ones but also adjusting to a fundamentally different life. Everything has changed. Nothing feels the same. Even the simplest things, like coming home to an empty house or sitting down to a meal alone, can become painful reminders of all that has been lost.

What can help you heal

While every grief journey is unique, several strategies can help individuals manage the trauma associated with a double loss. These approaches are not about making the pain go away, but about finding ways to carry it more gently.

The first step is to acknowledge the magnitude of what has happened. Society often encourages people to be strong and move forward quickly, but healing requires recognising that multiple losses carry a significant emotional burden. Suppressing emotions may delay rather than resolve grief, so give yourself permission to feel the full weight of what has happened. It is okay to not be okay.

It is also important to talk about your loss with people you trust. Support from family, friends, faith communities, and grief professionals can play a vital role in recovery. Talking openly about loss, sharing memories, and seeking practical assistance can reduce feelings of isolation and provide a sense of connection during a difficult season. You do not have to carry this burden alone, and you should not feel like you have to.

Taking care of your body is equally important. Trauma affects the body as well as the mind, and neglecting your physical health can make emotional healing more difficult. Adequate rest, proper nutrition, physical activity, and routine healthcare can support emotional recovery and help you manage the stress associated with profound grief. Even small acts of self-care, such as taking a walk or eating a proper meal, can make a significant difference in how you feel.

Helping you cope

For many people, faith and spirituality provide comfort and hope during times of loss. Spiritual practices, prayer, and participation in faith communities can offer meaning and reassurance when life feels uncertain. If faith is part of your life, lean into it. If it is not, seek comfort in whatever brings you peace, whether that is nature, art, music, or simply spending time with people who understand you.

Professional counselling may also be beneficial, particularly when grief feels overwhelming or begins to interfere significantly with daily functioning. Importantly, healing does not mean forgetting. Rather, it involves learning to carry the memories of loved ones forward while continuing to engage with life.

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Health experts, district officials and Ministry of Health representatives have raised concerns over drug theft, inadequate staffing and other challenges affecting healthcare delivery in the Kigezi sub-region.

The concerns were raised during the two-day Fourth Kigezi Joint Review Mission, which began on Tuesday at Volcano Hotel in Rubanda District.

The review was attended by health experts, stakeholders and Ministry officials, with Health Minister Dr. Chris Baryomunsi as chief guest.

One of the major issues was the continued loss and theft of medicines meant for patients in government facilities.

Health expert Dr Medard Bitekyerezo called for tighter monitoring of health workers and recommended stronger checks to prevent illegal removal of medicines.

He suggested that health workers leaving facilities should be subjected to checks where necessary, saying some medicines are reportedly carried away in bags.

The meeting also highlighted critical staffing gaps. Dr Marion Namutebi decried low staffing levels in several districts, noting that some districts have staffing levels between 21 and 40 percent of the required workforce.

The shortage, she said, continues to affect quality and access to healthcare services.

Meanwhile, Dr. Gilbert Mateka, Kabale District Health Officer and Chairperson of District Health Officers in Kigezi, appealed to Minister for Youth, Culture and Sports Balaam Barugahara to ensure the ongoing government crackdown on corruption does not result in health workers being publicly humiliated on the basis of allegations alone.

Dr Mateka called for sufficient evidence to be presented before accusations are made public, emphasizing due process.

Minister Baryomunsi supported the call for professionalism in the fight against corruption, saying people should not be humiliated merely because they have been accused.

However, he warned that those found guilty would face prosecution and should not use calls for due process as a shield.

“We shall fight this vice of missing drugs,” Baryomunsi said, stressing that government would deal firmly with people stealing medicines meant for patients.

He said government had allocated about Shs1.7 trillion to medicines in the financial year, but expressed concern that some drugs are still being stolen before reaching beneficiaries.

He issued a strong warning to those involved in stealing medicines, saying government would apprehend and prosecute them.

He said government would “ruthlessly deal with thieves” who divert medicines and other health resources.

The minister also said government would consider increasing funding for medicines to ensure facilities have adequate supplies, amid complaints from patients who visit government health centres but fail to receive prescribed drugs.

Beyond medicine shortages and corruption, the minister called for greater involvement of religious leaders in promoting disease prevention.

He said many diseases affecting Ugandans can be prevented through lifestyle changes, early intervention, hygiene and public awareness.

He urged religious leaders to incorporate health messages into their sermons, noting that churches and mosques have large and regular audiences.

“As they prepare us to go to heaven, they should also prepare us to have good health before going to heaven,” Baryomunsi said.

He urged religious leaders to use their platforms to educate communities on prevention of HIV, hypertension, poor hygiene and other preventable conditions.

The two-day review mission is expected to assess health sector performance in Kigezi, identify persistent challenges and develop strategies for improving delivery across the sub-region.

Patients at Iganga General Hospital are at risk as frequent power blackouts disrupt critical medical services, forcing the facility to rely on generators to keep maternity, theatre, laboratory and oxygen services running.

The hospital spends about Shs7 million every month on generator fuel, while experiencing between seven and 10 power interruptions a day, hospital administrator Abubakar Waiswa says.

Mr Waiswa says some outages last several hours, forcing the hospital to switch to generators to keep critical services operating.

‘We spend this much money on fuel and end up accumulating debts,’ he said.

Mr Waiswa says the hospital has repeatedly raised the matter with authorities and appealed to the Ministry of Energy, and the Office of the Prime Minister for intervention.

The hospital administrator says stabilising the electricity supply would not only protect critical hospital services but also reduce expenditure on fuel and allow the money to be used for other critical services.

MP recounts family losses

Iganga District Woman MP Mariam Seif says the hospital’s unreliable electricity supply personally affected her family, recounting the deaths of her newborn child and sister at the facility.

‘The biggest issue at Iganga General Hospital is electricity. It is always on and off,’ Ms Seif says.

She says her newborn baby died at the hospital in 2024 after an electricity outage.

‘I delivered my baby, but the power went off while the newborn was still in an incubator, and the child died,’ she says.

Ms Seif says she lost another family member at the hospital in 2025 after staff struggled to secure oxygen.

‘I took my sister to Iganga General Hospital, but because staff delayed to secure oxygen, she died. If I lost those two people, what about others?’ she asks.

The MP says the hospital’s electricity problem requires urgent government intervention because critical services, including incubators and oxygen systems, depend on a stable power supply.

UEDCL plans dedicated line

The Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL) Area Revenue Protection Officer for Iganga District, Mr Uthman Musoke, attributes the frequent outages to an ageing electricity network and the long feeder supplying the area.

Mr Musoke says the Bugiri feeder stretches for about 500kms, increasing its exposure to faults, including those caused by trees falling on power lines.

‘Our network is very old, and we need to refurbish it,’ he says.

Mr Musoke says UEDCL is installing new breakers and has proposed a dedicated electricity line from the sub-station to Iganga General Hospital.

He says the proposed line will shield the hospital from faults affecting the longer feeder and provide more reliable electricity to critical services.

However, Mr Musoke says implementation depends on funding and approval from the responsible ministry.

Leaders demand action

Iganga District chairperson Isabirye Shabiru Kalulu says the hospital urgently needs a dedicated power line, noting that the electricity problem has already been raised in Parliament.

‘The biggest issue is power. It was raised on the floor of Parliament so that they put us on a line that does not go off,’ he says.

Mr Kalulu says the unstable electricity supply is particularly concerning because the hospital now serves patients from several neighbouring districts, despite having been built to serve only Iganga.

‘The hospital serves patients from neighbouring districts, including Bugiri, Bugweri, Kaliro, Luuka and Mayuge, yet it remains a district hospital whose budget and medical supplies are planned for one district,’ he says.

Mr Kalulu says the hospital has a large catchment area and urgently needs a reliable electricity supply.

He also asks that the facility be elevated to a regional referral hospital.

He calls for increased government funding to enable the hospital to meet recurrent costs, including fuel, electricity and equipment maintenance, saying some suppliers have been providing fuel on credit due to funding constraints.

Hospital faces other challenges

Beyond the power crisis, the hospital also faces a 35 percent staffing gap, overcrowding, dilapidated structures and shortages of diagnostic equipment, ambulances and a functional blood bank.

According to hospital officials, the facility has a bed capacity of about 1,000, but sometimes admits more patients than it can accommodate, forcing some to sleep on the floor, while some health workers attend to as many as 20 patients.

Iganga General Hospital, located in Nakavule on the Jinja-Tororo Highway, was constructed in 1968 and sits on an estimated 22 acres of land.

A five-year-old girl who was abducted from her grandmother’s home in Mityana District has been found alive in Wakiso District, hours after her captor received Shs1 million in ransom.

The child, identified as Joan Nabakooza, a Top Class pupil at God Cares Nursery School, was abducted in the early hours of Tuesday from Namudali Village, Kikandwa sub-county.

According to preliminary police investigations, unknown assailants broke into the home of her grandmother, Ms Joyce Nannungi, 50, at about 3am while the two were sleeping.

The attackers reportedly took the child and also stole Nannungi’s mobile phone, which they later used to demand Shs4 million for the girl’s release.

The incident was reported at Busunju Police Station, prompting security agencies to launch a search.

As the search continued, a family member sent Shs1 million to the kidnappers, who continued demanding the remaining Shs3 million.

Mr Lameck Kigozi, the Wamala Regional Police spokesperson, confirmed the incident, saying security teams, including Mityana District Police commanded by DPC SP Tyson Rutambika, the Wamala Region Flying Squad and internal security personnel, closely monitored developments.

The pressure reportedly forced the captor to abandon the victim.

“At about 9pm, the suspect allegedly placed Joan on a motorcycle and dumped her in the Mika area of Wakiso District before fleeing,” Kigozi said.

The child was later found by Good Samaritans, who handed her over to Busunju Police Station.

Police said she was in good health and was examined before being reunited with her grandmother.

The whereabouts of the suspected abductors remain unknown, with security agencies continuing efforts to trace and arrest them.

The incident has renewed concerns about the safety of children, particularly during the holiday period.

Police have urged parents and guardians to remain vigilant and closely monitor the movements and whereabouts of their children.

The late Omukama of Tooro, Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, will be laid to rest on September 12, 2026, a historic date that coincides with the 31st anniversary of his coronation.

The Office of the Omujwera Musuuga-the head of the royal Babiito clan-confirmed the arrangements on Wednesday evening, alongside a revised protocol for moving the fallen monarch’s body from Entebbe International Airport to the Karuziika Palace in Fort Portal City.

Addressing journalists, Fr Charles Oyo, the Head of Communications in the Office of Omujwera Musuuga, said the King’s body will arrive in Uganda on Friday, September 4. Upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport, President Yoweri Museveni is expected to receive the body and pay his last respects. The remains will then be airlifted by a military helicopter to Kyegegwa District.

At Kyegegwa, the royal cortege will be placed on an open, slow-moving vehicle for a road procession through Kyegegwa, Kyenjojo, and Kabarole districts before entering Fort Portal City. This decision alters an earlier protocol that planned to airlift the body directly from Entebbe to Karuziika Palace.

Fr Oyo explained that the adjustment follows overwhelming requests from subjects along the Mubende-Fort Portal highway who wish to bid farewell to their monarch.

‘Many people have requested an opportunity to bid farewell to the King as the body is in transit,’ Fr Oyo said. ‘They will be standing along the road, and we are working with security to provide guidance on how people will view the body.’

He clarified that while the procession will move at a slow pace to allow mourners to wave and pay homage, the cortege will not make multiple stops for public viewing.

‘The body is not going to stop in so many places to be viewed, but it will be on the van moving at a slow pace so that people are able either to wave or do whatever they want,’ he explained.

Fr Oyo urged the public across the Tooro sub-region to maintain discipline, noting that the conduct of mourners should reflect the heritage of the Batooro.

‘We expect there will be a big number of people on the way,’ he added. ‘We appeal to them to keep calm, but also demonstrate who we are as the people of Tooro. The people of Tooro are always calm and friendly, and we know they will also demonstrate the same thing.’

The official nine-day cultural mourning period will commence immediately after the body arrives at the Karuziika Palace. Under Tooro custom, traditional rites will be conducted during this window, leading directly to the burial on the ninth day.

The funeral on September 12 creates a poignant convergence in the kingdom’s history, marking both the day King Oyo ascended the throne in 1995 as a three-year-old toddler and his final send-off.

‘It is painful and sad, but maybe God wanted us to see it that way, because that happens to be the coronation day,’ Fr Oyo remarked.

The Inter-Religious Council of Uganda – Tooro Chapter has called for calm and unity in Tooro Kingdom as the kingdom observes its traditions to identify the rightful heir to Omukama Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV.

Omukama Oyo died last week at the age of 34 in the United States where he was receiving cancer treatment.

In a condolence statement issued by Rt Rev Dr Robert Muhiirwa, the Bishop of Fort Portal Catholic Diocese and Chairperson of the Tooro Inter-Religious Council, the council said the transition should honour the continuity that the late king had assured the kingdom.

The call comes at a time when the kingdom is facing a succession struggle. While announcing the death of the King on August 27, Kingdom Prime Minister Calvin Armstrong Rwomiire said the King had left a Prince as his heir, but Omusuuga Charles Kamurasi, the head of the royal Babiito clan, has maintained that the King left no heir.

The religious leaders also called on all faith communities to unite in prayer for the peaceful repose of the late King’s soul and to offer comfort to the Royal Family and the people of Tooro during the mourning period.

The council described King Oyo as a monarch who dedicated his reign to the service of the King of kings and treated every religious community with equal respect.

They explained that the late King’s spirit of inclusion strengthened harmony across the kingdom and provided a firm foundation for interfaith cooperation.

The council also remembered King Oyo for his advocacy for service delivery, commitment to environmental protection, promotion of tourism and his emphasis on mindset change, strong families and education among the youth.

Nytil Textile Industries, one of Uganda’s oldest manufacturing powerhouses, has suffered a dramatic drop in bedsheet production from up to 70,000 pieces per month to a mere 2,000, driven by an influx of cheaper imports from China and India.

The sharp decline underscores the growing pressures facing domestic textile manufacturers despite ongoing government efforts to promote local industrialization.

Speaking during a high-level government delegation visit to the company’s factory in Jinja, Nytil Chairman Kishor Jobanputra revealed that unfair competition from imported finished and semi-finished products has crippled local output.

‘We were producing 50,000 to 70,000 bedsheets every month. Today, we are down to 2,000,’ Mr. Jobanputra said, attributing the slump to trade loopholes that favor foreign importers over domestic manufacturers who process goods from raw materials to finished products.

Mr. Jobanputra urged the government to review the taxation and customs classification of textile imports, warning that several foreign products declared as raw materials at entry points are effectively finished goods, undercutting local operations.

Responding to the concerns, Ms. Amina Mukalazi, the State Minister for Investment and Privatization, assured management that the government is coordinating with relevant sector agencies to protect domestic industry.

‘This is a matter that we are working on. We want you to be stable, grow, and not go down,’ Ms. Mukalazi said, noting that the issue would be prioritized in an upcoming joint stakeholder meeting involving the trade sector.

BUBU Policy Under Strain

The struggle at Nytil comes against the backdrop of the government’s Buy Uganda Build Uganda (BUBU) policy, launched in 2017 to prioritize local manufacturers, boost domestic market share, and drive job creation.

Despite the policy, trade data indicates that local demand for bed linen continues to be met largely through foreign supply lines. World Bank World Integrated Trade Solution (WITS) data, based on UN Comtrade statistics, reveals that Uganda imported 40,629 kilograms of knitted or crocheted bed linen valued at $99,570 (approx. Shs 368 million) in 2024, with China supplying 14,348 kilograms and the UK supplying 16,009 kilograms.

The data further shows that Uganda imported 10,474 kilograms of printed cotton bed linen worth $96,540 (approx. Shs 356 million) in the same year, with China dominating the trade at 9,607 kilograms.

Historical context

Founded in 1954 in Jinja, Nytil (formerly Nyanza Textile Industries) was once the cornerstone of East Africa’s textile industry. After decades of operational decline, the state-owned enterprise was privatized in 1996, spurring private investment aimed at reviving its integrated cotton-to-garment manufacturing pipeline.

While the company is seeking to expand its cotton processing capacity and supply regional markets, management insists that structural tariff protection remains essential to keeping Uganda’s manufacturing sector afloat.