Category: Daily Monitor

Quality Chemical Industries weathered a tough first half to September, a stretch marked by a stronger shilling and softer demand, but still managed to come out with higher earnings, record cash, and a bump in dividends.

The shilling rose about 4 to 5 percent against the dollar during the period, according to Bank of Uganda.

And because Quality Chemical sells much of its output in sub-Saharan Africa and invoices in dollars, those same foreign sales are converted into fewer shillings on paper.

That is why reported revenue slipped 2.6 percent to Shs148.2b even as the business itself didn’t weaken because of the unusually strong shilling.

If exchange rates had stayed the same as the ones in the first half of 2025, Quality Chemical’s sales would have been about Shs154.6b, roughly 1.6 percent higher.

Profitability drivers

What changed, in a good way, was how much profit Quality Chemical squeezed from each shilling of sales.

Gross profits rose 7.9 percent to Shs63.4b, and gross profit margin surged from 38.6 percent to 42.8 percent.

This means that Quality Chemical earned more from every product it sold as a result of factories running more efficiently, tighter control of input costs, and a shift toward higher-margin products.

‘The current gross margin reflects … global competition and dynamic pricing for our products and key inputs, such as active pharmaceutical ingredients, and product mix,’ Ajay Kumar Pal, Quality Chemical chief executive officer, said in a statement accompanying the results, but warned that shareholders should exercise caution in assuming that these margins will be sustained.

Cash generation

These gains lifted profit before taxes to Shs33.9b from Shs31.9b, but what stood out even more was that day-to-day expenses barely moved.

With costs held steady, each efficiency gain flowed straight through to earnings.

That same discipline showed in how money moved through the business. Cash generated from operations rose to Shs51.4b from Shs9.3b, more than five times higher than the year before, due to faster collection of payments, less money tied up in stock, and on-time payment of suppliers.

Ajay said that the only cash that went out was mainly dividend payments (Shs22b) and ongoing factory investments (Shs10b). ‘As a result, we closed the period with cash and cash equivalents of Shs54.5b, up from Shs48b a year earlier,’ he noted.

Being in net cash gives the company options. It can keep investing, withstand shocks like forex swings or raw-material spikes, and still reward shareholders, without leaning on lenders.

The dividend

That is what the board signaled with an interim dividend of Shs4.2 per share in the first half of the 2026 financial year, up from Shs3.5 per share in the same period in 2025, a 20 percent lift.

The higher payout, backed by strong cash and no debt, shows that Quality Chemical can reward shareholders and still fund growth.

But Ajay warned that shareholders should note that this interim dividend does not set a precedent for future distributions, noting that the company is in a growth phase and may reinvest in its operations and capacity to drive long-term value creation.

Expansion

During the first half of the 2026 financial year, Quality Chemical continued to execute on its growth agenda with the introduction of 16 new products in the private market.

These launches advance the company’s mission to improve treatment outcomes through accessible, affordable, and high-quality medicines.

‘The new portfolio spans key therapeutic segments, including anti-malarials, anti-diabetics, anti-hypertensives, anti-fungals, anti-allergics, and antibiotics,’ Ajay noted.

In line with this commitment, construction has commenced on a second manufacturing facility in Luzira, Kampala.

The new manufacturing plant has an estimated cost of $36m (about Shs133b), an amount that is being financed through a debt facility secured from Stanbic Bank, with the funds dedicated to the construction of a second, World Health Organisation-compliant pharmaceutical manufacturing facility.

The investment is expected to significantly increase production capacity from 1.4 billion to 2.4 billion tablets, support entry into new therapeutic areas, and introduce a state-of-the-art injectable production line.

These additions will enhance Quality Chemical’s competitive position across public and private markets.

The planned sale of the British multinational Diageo’s 65 percent stake in East African Breweries Limited (EABL) for an estimated $2.2b will remain on ice pending an investigation by the Comesa Competition Commission into cross-shareholding by dominant conglomerates in the common market.

Speaking to journalists recently, the regional competition watchdog chief executive officer, Willard Mwemba, said that while there is nothing inherently wrong with cross-shareholding, it may have potentially harmful patterns.

The details, along with the transaction, are not something the watchdog can comment on until its investigation is complete.

‘. there is an ongoing investigation, generally for several beer companies that have cross-shareholding in each other as minority or majority shareholders, which is not a wrong thing. What becomes wrong is what you do with cross-shareholding,’ he said.

Diageo, however, has yet to notify the Comesa Competition Commission, which regulates mergers and acquisitions in the 21-member Comesa states, of the planned sale. Cross-shareholding is where companies invest in each other, creating common ownership and potentially softening marketplace competition.

While it may lead to benefits like attracting more investment, its anti-competitive effects concern antitrust authorities.

For instance, French beverage giant Castel owns a 38 percent stake in AB InBev’s African beer operations outside of South Africa, while AB InBev has a 20 percent shareholding in Castel’s African brewing unit through a 2001 partnership between Castel and SABMiller.

‘There is a pattern of behavior in the market that shows that as a result of cross-shareholding, there can be some coordination,’ Dr Mwemba said in Nairobi, Kenya, during the Comesa Competition Commission annual press conference last month.

Diageo holds a controlling stake in EABL, with subsidiaries in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania, which represents the UK conglomerate’s largest spirits business and brewing asset on the African market.

Following a review in July of its majority stake in the cross-listed EABL, Diageo appointed Goldman Sachs and Bank of America to explore a potential divestment from East Africa through a model that is light on assets.

However, the deal now rests on the Comesa Competition Commission probe.

Antitrust experts observe that the transaction is walking right into the minefield of past mega deals flagged as anti-competitive, but also note watchdogs have their work cut out to stop entrenchment by any of the dominant giants, Anheuser-Busch InBev, Castel Group, and Heineken.

‘Our beer industry is highly concentrated; it’s hard not to find these three in the mix. So the Comesa [Competition Commission] has a lot of hard work to do,’ says Ms Pheona Wall, a competition lawyer.

‘Guided divestiture is what the Commission could do, to approve with limitations on shareholding. Like it has to be between 20 percent and 25 percent,’ she adds.

While confirming that its Kenya and Uganda operations remain among the best performing in the Diageo stable of beers and spirits on the continent, the British giant denies it is considering the sale of its East African business.

‘Diageo increased its shareholding to 65 percent just two years ago,’ says David Kimondo, EABL’s head of communications. ‘All this talk of exiting East Africa is speculation, and we do not respond to speculation.’

Delayed approval of the transaction could scuttle Diageo’s gradual exit since 2022 from African markets, which has seen the company complete the sale of its interests in Seychelles Breweries in January this year and Ethiopia’s Meta Abo Brewery in 2022.

Diageo also divested its stakes in Guinness producing operations under license on the West African front in Ghana, Nigeria, and Cameroon.

The Comesa Competition Commission probe presents a significant setback for Diageo, which is still smarting from a $750,000 settlement imposed by the watchdog in September after establishing that the company engaged in anti-competitive business practices in Uganda, Zambia, and Eswatini.

The Commission indicated that Diageo had terminated certain distribution arrangements in Eswatini and Zambia and revised its agreement in Uganda to remove provisions that restricted competition.

On September 30, Diageo’s lawyer James Edmunds signed the agreement imposing the fine.

Dutch multinational Heineken was fined $900,000 in March after investigations into market allocation practices through distribution agreements and arrangements with competitors were found to have violated Comesa Competition regulations.

Since 2021, the Comesa Competition Commission has sparred with Heineken, Diageo, Castel, and Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB InBev), launching investigations over the violation of regulations that relate to restrictive business practices and prohibited practices such as single branding, territorial restrictions in the market, and resale price maintenance.

Industry analysts have said since the announcement of the possible sale, the favoured potential buyers could include Heineken and Castel – two giants already dominant in southern Africa.

AB InBev, which owns Uganda Breweries, is also rumoured to be interested in snapping up the Diageo stake.

However, such an acquisition, experts say, sets up a near monopoly.

‘In Uganda, we have [AB InBev subsidiary] Nile Breweries, which is a rival of Uganda Breweries. Imagine a situation in AB InBev were to buy the EABL stake. This could mirror what happened in the SABMiller-Castel deal,’ says Wall.

In Tanzania, AB InBev owns Tanzania Breweries, the direct rival of Diageo-owned Serengeti Breweries.

One of the biggest cross-share cases in Comesa is the SABMiller-Castel deal in 2012, in which the former wanted to buy Castel out, seeking to end a strategic alliance entered into in 2001 when Castel acquired a 38 percent stake in SABMiller.

On its part, SABMiller took a 20 percent stake in Castel’s Africa beer and soft drinks, which, in a 2017 landmark decision, was flagged by Comesa Competition Commission as a cartel that raised some competition concerns.

Heineken operates in several Comesa member states, including Burundi, DR Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, Rwanda, and Tunisia, while Castel is present in DR Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Sudan, Zambia, and Zimbabwe through subsidiaries.

Competition law experts argue that restrictive clauses in the market can lead to concentration and lock out competition, as seen in AB InBev’s market presence in Africa.

AB InBev operates in South Africa, Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia, Botswana, Mozambique, Zambia, Tanzania, Uganda, Ghana, Nigeria, and Mauritius.

The devastating floods caused by Friday’s torrential rainfall, which destroyed goods in downtown Kampala and left traders counting losses, have been largely attributed to the ongoing construction of the Nakivubo drainage channel by Kiham Enterprise Ltd, a private company linked to city businessman Hamis Kiggundu, also known as Ham.

The development, which initially drew criticism from Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago and environmentalists due to its opaque approval process, has now sparked fresh outrage from traders who lost billions in the floods and blame the disputed project. So, who are the key players?

KCCA Council

The saga that culminated in President Museveni’s letter clearing the Nakivubo Channel giveaway began at the April 3 Ordinary Council meeting of the Authority, chaired by KCCA Speaker Zahara Luyirika. During the meeting, held under Minute No. KCCA/13/68/2024/25, the Council considered a report titled Challenges of Kampala Drainages and Way Forward. Fourteen resolutions were passed regarding the report presented by Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago.

Mr Lukwago urged councillors to pass a resolution directing the KCCA Physical Planning and Building Committees to halt any further approval of Ham Enterprises (U) Limited’s plan to construct over the drainage channel or any other developer seeking to build permanent structures on drainage channels and wetlands. He also called for the arrest and prosecution of Mr Kiggundu and the reprimand of then Acting Executive Director Frank Rusa, who had facilitated the giveaway.

The Council rejected Lukwago’s proposal to involve the Inspector General of Government (IGG) in investigating how city tycoons acquired titles on drainage channels and wetlands. Instead, Councillors passed a resolution allowing KCCA to partner with credible local investors to develop and upgrade the city’s drainage system under KCCA’s supervision-citing declining funding from the central government and donors. They also rejected Lukwago’s call to demolish structures built by Ham Enterprises over the Jugula drainage channel. Resolution 12 states: ‘The recommendation that the criminal case against Ham Enterprises Limited be reinstated and Hamis Kiggundu be arrested and prosecuted was rejected.’

Resolution 13 adds: ‘The recommendation that the KCCA Physical Planning Committee and Building Committee be directed to stop any further processes of approving Ham Enterprises (U) Limited plan for construction over Jugula drainage channel or any other developer seeking to construct huge and permanent structures on drainage channels and wetlands was rejected.’

Mr Lukwago told this publication that, in addition to rejecting his proposals, the Council inserted new recommendations that effectively greenlighted the giveaway. He cited recommendation number 6: ‘KCCA explores the option of moving away from traditional methods of constructing open drainages and takes up regulated modern methods of drainage construction, prioritising covering and beautification to combat the persistent problem of flooding.’

He also pointed to recommendation number 7: ‘KCCA partners with credible and able local investors within the respective areas to develop and upgrade the city drainage system under the guidance, approval and supervision of KCCA in view of the fact that funding from the central government and donors was declining.’ In July, Mr Lukwago condemned the NUP-led Council after the businessman cordoned off the area. On July 22, he wrote to NUP Secretary General David Lewis Rubongoya, urging him to take action against NUP councillors. Mr Rubongoya did not respond. Although Mr Rubongoya was unavailable to explain why NUP didn’t act, he earlier told NBS television that the councillors should have consulted more.

He confirmed that the party only learnt of the Nakivubo channel issue when the Lord Mayor wrote to him, by which time it was too late to intervene. The matter prompted the Council to convene a special sitting on August 26. Councillors denied passing such a resolution and accused the Lord Mayor of inciting public opposition against them. However, they did not sue him for defamation. No resolution was passed during the special sitting to rescind the earlier decisions.

President Museveni

President Museveni approved the businessman’s plan four months after the Council’s resolution and instructed Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja to facilitate the Nakivubo Drainage Channel giveaway to Mr Kiggundu. In his directive, the President tasked Ms Nabbanja with helping Mr Kiggundu implement his ‘very good and godly’ proposal. ‘Ham points out the fact that the channel is open, invites people to throw in rubbish, including plastics, feaces, all of which disgust the people contiguous to the channel, leading to blockages of the channel and flooding.

His proposal is imaginative and simple,’ read part of the letter. It continued: ‘Allow him to cover the channel after cleaning it and strengthening it at his own cost. What a godly proposal! How will he recover his money? Simple. Allow him to build properties above it that will bring back the money.’

The directive drew criticism from Mr Lukwago, Opposition leaders, and environmentalists, who warned that it bypassed the mandates of KCCA’s planning department and Nema, allowing Ham to build without oversight. Although KCCA officials, led by Deputy Executive Director Benon Kigenyi, met with the developer and ordered a halt to construction, work continued.

Prime Minister Nabbanja

Upon receiving the directive, Ms Nabbanja facilitated the giveaway and pledged to ensure its implementation. After meeting traders at her office on August 26, she said: ‘The Lord Mayor is looking for relevance because he knows you people watch TV, he thinks he is exposing the government, yet he is exposing himself, but I want to assure you that the construction of this channel will go on as planned.’ The Lord Mayor had earlier warned of catastrophic consequences from what he called ‘illegal structures,’ but his concerns were dismissed.

Speaker Anita Among

In August, the House Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities, and State Enterprises (Cosase) attempted to investigate the Nakivubo channel giveaway. However, Speaker Anita Among blocked the inquiry and instead directed the Chairperson of the Sectoral Committee on Infrastructure to lead a four-member oversight visit and report back within 14 days. The Committee, led by Kazo MP Dan Kimosho, visited the site on September 10. To date, Mr Kimosho and his team have not presented their findings to Parliament. (See related story on Page 6)

Background

In 2007, the then Kampala City Council, led by the late Mayor Nasser Ssebagala, approved private developers-Mr John Ssebalamu (under Sebco Trading Ltd), Mr Tom Kitandwe, and Mr Drake Lubega-to build commercial structures above Nakivubo Channel. Mr Ssebalamu, who is Mr Kiggundu’s uncle, was part of a proposal to establish a solar power plant, green spaces, parking yards, and commercial buildings. However, the plan was rejected after it was discovered that the developers had not conducted an Environmental Impact Assessment. Similarly, Ham Enterprises did not secure an Environmental Impact Assessment from Nema.

Speaking before the Defence and Internal Affairs Committee on September 10, during the presentation of the Forensic and Scientific Analytical Service Bill 2025, Nema’s Executive Director, Barirega Akankwasa, said there is no ongoing construction, describing the activities as mere unblocking of the channel. ‘Current activities are limited to unblocking the existing channel-removing silt and soil. The proposed upgrade has not commenced, as KCCA and Nema have not approved the designs or environmental impact assessments,’ he said.

He added: ‘We have automated our systems to process applications swiftly. For Kiham Enterprises, we’ve completed the scoping report review and are awaiting their formal application for an assessment certificate. There’s no delay.’ On Monday, traders sued KCCA and Mr Kiggundu, seeking a court order to halt the ongoing construction and demanding government compensation for their losses. Mr Lukwago also said he is urging councillors to pass a resolution halting the construction. Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja, however, cleared the works to proceed-albeit under clear supervision.

Timeline

April 3, 2025: Ordinary Council meeting discussed challenges of the Kampala drainage, authorised KCCA to partner with local investors within the locality to develop the drainage channels, and in the same meeting rejected a recommendation that IGG investigates the circumstances under which some tycoons acquired titles on some of the drainage channels.

April 10, 2025: Special Council Meeting discussed the Ham deal.

July 2, 2025: Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago writes to NUP SG Lewis Rubongowa to take action against NUP councillors.

July 25, 2025: Ham sent his Nakivubo channel redevelopment plan to President Museveni.

August 2, 2025: Museveni wrote to Nabbanja, approving Ham’s plan and directed that he be helped to execute the project.

August 16, 2025: Ham seals off Nakivubo Channel to commence construction.

August 19, 2025: Among wrote to Cosase halting probe into Ham dealings.

August 22, 2025: Cosase begins probe into Ham dealings.

August 26, 2025: Cosase summons Ham, Nema, and KCCA to explain the deal.

August 26, 2025: Cosase halts investigations into the giveaway of the Nakivubo channel.

September 10, 2025: Nema ED Barirega Akankwas denies approving the Ham project.

October 31, 2025: City floods, destroying goods worth billions of shillings.

November 3, 2025: Council demands construction be halted.

November 4, 2025: Nabbanja insists construction must go on as issues are being resolved.

Overcrowding at Masaka Regional Referral Hospital maternity ward has forced management to improvise tents to accommodate caregivers, Daily Monitor has established. Previously, caregivers could occupy corridors within the maternity ward to help the mothers, but rising numbers can no longer allow them to sleep inside the ward. Masaka Regional Referral Hospital Administrator, Mr Robert Mpanga yesterday confirmed the development, saying they provided the tents to address the current congestion inside the maternity ward.

‘The tents in the compound of the maternity ward house caregivers, but not mothers as it is perceived by the public. As management, we decided to have care givers housed out of the ward to create more space for more mothers that seek services at the facility,’ he explained during an interview on Wednesday.

The situation has been exacerbated by the government’s delay to complete the multibillion Maternity and Child Complex whose construction has dragged on for a decade due to delays in releasing funds.

Initially, the project was expected to cost Shs10b, but changes in the designs to include an intensive care unit have since pushed the cost to Shs12.2b. The hospital management had earlier indicated that they need Shs600 million for utilities and another Shs2 billion for equipping the complex. Mr Mpanga said they are currently mobilising local funds to ensure that the complex is utilised.

‘The structure is magnificent, but we cannot occupy it when we cannot pay the utility bills, once we address that, we shall be in position to shift and solve that issue of congestion,’ he added.

The Monitor has learnt that the multibillion ICU equipment which the government donated to the facility during the Covid-19 pandemic is also still lying idle in the hospital store due to delayed completion of the same complex where it is supposed to be installed.

Currently, patients have to seek ICU services from either Kampala or Mbarara both located over 100km away. The hospital management’s decision to house caregivers in the tents has however attracted bitter reactions from health activists in the Masaka Sub-region, who say that it is risky given that the current wet season is characterised by heavy rain, which sometimes last several hours.

Mr Swaibu Makumbi Sulambaaya, a health rights activist, asked the government to swiftly intervene and ensure the new maternity and child complex is operationalised. ‘The new maternity and child complex was aimed at decongesting the old maternity ward constructed in 1950s, but the project has taken long to be completed ,’ he said, adding ‘ In 2017, some of the hospital administrators allegedly mismanaged Shs5 billion meant for the same project, but were simply transferred to other hospitals. Let them be hunted down to refund the money and save our people from sleeping in tents.’

Once completed, the facility will also have two theatres, a gynecology unit, antenatal and neonatal centres, labour and post-natal wards. It will also have a pediatric, nutrition and adolescent health units, all with modern equipment. This complex was set up to decongest the old maternity ward, which has outlived its purpose.

THE HOSPITAL

Constructed in 1927, Masaka Regional Referral Hospital serves eight districts: Masaka, Rakai, Lyantonde, Lwengo, Ssembabule, Bukomansimbi, Kalungu and Kalangala. It takes care of more than two million people. Being on the busy Mombasa- Kampala-Mbarara-Kigali highway, makes it the first point of call for patients, mainly accident victims. Consequently, the hospital’s average daily contact with patients is 1,800, with about 360 admissions daily.

The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) have announced the recruitment of Local Defence Unit (LDU) personnel in six districts of Rwenzori and Tooro following a series of deadly attacks in the two sub-regions at the weekend.

The Director of Defence Public Information, Maj Gen Felix Kulayigye, said in a statement yesterday that the recruitment exercise will commence on November 10, in Kabarole District and will process 100 applicants per district.

‘To be able to qualify, one has to have a minimum formal education of S.4 or its equivalent, letters of recommendation from the LC1 Chairperson, Defence Secretary, and DISO/GISO, be a resident of the area without a criminal record, disciplined, and not engaged in other employment,’ the statement reads in part.

Eligibility

Eligible candidates must be Ugandan citizens aged 18 to 25, physically and medically fit, willing to volunteer, and residents of the respective districts. Successful recruits will be transported to a UPDF training school for formal induction. The beneficiary districts include Kamwenge, Kabarole, Bunyangabo, Kasese, Bundibugyo, and Ntoroko. The recruitment follows coordinated attacks by suspected Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebels on military and police installations last Saturday in Kasese, Bundibugyo, and Fort Portal. The assaults claimed the lives of a UPDF officer and a woman at the Malindi and Kakuka army detachments in Bundibugyo District.

The attackers also set several soldiers’ houses ablaze before fleeing. Targets also included Nyakasura School and Canon Apollo in Fort Portal City, police barracks on Kilembe Road in Kasese Town, and a police post in Rugendebara, Kikongo Town Council, Kasese District. Local media reported that at least 30 suspected assailants were killed in retaliatory security operations. Security agencies have condemned the attacks and reassured the public that the situation is under control, with additional deployments and heavy security measures instituted to prevent further incidents.

BACKGROUND

This is not the first time LDU recruitment has followed security threats in the region. In 2023, President Museveni directed the recruitment of local defence personnel in Rwenzori Sub-region after suspected ADF rebels killed three people, including two foreign tourists, and set their vehicle ablaze in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kasese District.

Namuwongo Blazers could make history tonight by becoming the only team to ever outsmart City Oilers in a National Basketball League series. Since their promotion to the top flight in 2013, Oilers have never lost a series and have gone on to win 10 titles in a row.

But all that can end on Wednesday.

The Blazers lead the best-of-seven series 3-2 and are 40 basketball minutes away from league glory. Dominant in the last three games, Stephen Nyeko’s charges managed to get themselves out of a two-game deficit and into the lead.

They now have the momentum and the crowd behind them to end Oilers’ supremacy. And if they did not have the know-how to win the title in 2022, they have since added that to their roster, with the arrival of four former Oilers stars.

Tonny Drileba’s return from injury brought calm and composure into the team, helping the side manage and close games late in the fourth quarter.

Must win

Andrew Tendo’s charges have struggled to beat the Blazers’ defence in the last three games, with Chad Bowie and Kurt Wegscheider greatly limited. The Blazers now have it in their hands and can close the contest and start celebrations.

Drileba, Jimmy Enabu, James Okello and Ivan Muhwezi formed the formidable Oilers team that dominated Ugandan basketball for a decade.

The quartet is now in the red of Blazers and cannot wait to get one over their former paymasters, with whom they separated unceremoniously.

Okello had his best performance of the finals in Game Five, scoring 17 points and collecting eight rebounds as the Blazers won 71-68 to put one hand on the trophy.

Enabu and Muhwezi have also had their moments in the series. Their championship mentality and leadership will be key in Game Six.

What’s left for Oilers?

That the Oilers are in the final after the dismal regular season they had is some sort of miracle itself. But the record champions know how to win and cannot be written off until the title has been handed over.

The poor form of captain Titus Lual and Fayed Baale has played a big part in the team’s struggles in the series.

Lual has had to come off the bench since returning from injury while Baale lost his place in the starting line up of Game Five following multiple lowkey performances.

Will the two show up to take the burden off Bowie and Wegscheider in Game Six? They have the capacity and now have their backs against the wall.

Veteran Ben Komakech, Moses Maker, Joseph Chuma and Edgar Munaba are the other key pieces that must shine for Oilers to stay alive and force a Game Seven.

The Blazers will know that losing Game Six and handing the momentum to a perennial winner like Oilers could prove costly in Game Seven.

National Basketball League

Finals – Men

Game Six

Wednesday, Lugogo

City Oilers vs. Nam Blazers, 7pm

The floods that ravaged downtown Kampala on October 31, were not just a tragedy; they were a betrayal.

Three lives lost and billions in property destroyed. And yet, the cries of ordinary Ugandans are being drowned out, not by the rain, but by the silence, indifference, and misplaced priorities.

This disaster did not begin with the rain; it began with a presidential endorsement.

In August, President Museveni gave his blessing to city businessman Hamis Kiggundu’s proposal to cover the Nakivubo drainage channel and redevelop the area.

The plan was hailed as ‘godly’ and ‘imaginative.’ But what followed was anything but divine. Instead of prioritising drainage and flood mitigation, the focus shifted to erecting arcades while the city’s lifeline lies buried and broken.

There was no transparent process, no public tender, no environmental audit, no consultation with the people whose livelihoods depend on the Nakivubo corridor.

The Kampala Capital City Authority(KCCA) was sidelined, and the Kampala City Traders Association(Kacita) is now pleading for intervention. And yet, as traders waded through sewage to salvage their goods, thousands of Ugandans gathered at Hamz stadium on November 1 to watch a football match (Masaza Cup Finals).

A match! While families mourned their dead and counted their losses, the city cheered from the stands. This is heartbreaking. We must ask: What kind of society are we becoming? One that celebrates concrete over compassion?

One that applauds development while ignoring the destruction it leaves behind? The cries of the ordinary people must be heard. We need accountability, not just from Ham, but from every official who enabled this disaster.

We cannot normalise this suffering. We cannot let these deaths become statistics buried in bureaucratic reports.

Kampala is bleeding, and we must respond not with silence but with solidarity. We need transparency in urban planning, emergency relief for affected traders, and a public inquiry into the Nakivubo project.

I do not write this as a distant observer; I write this as someone deeply scarred by the heartbreak unfolding around me.

This pain is not abstract. It is the raw grief of a mother who arrived to find her life’s work drowned in sewage. It is the silent devastation of a young man staring at his boda boda, now a rusted relic of dreams washed away. It is the collective cry of a city suffocating under neglect, pleading for help that never comes.

This is not just about water. It is about the lives and dignity of Ugandans. It’s about justice! Kampala is not just flooded, it is wounded, and the silence in response is louder than the storm.

Let this be a message to call for action. Let it stir hearts and move hands. If we do not act now, the next storm will not just wash away our streets, it will wash away our humanity.

Telecoms are increasingly being judged by the quality of experience rather than pricing. What will be your company’s key investment priorities next year to improve customer experience?

In our category, the most important thing is the product. For a telecom company, the product is not the price or what we sell – not those bags – the product is the network, the experience part, what we provide to our customers. That is what matters most.

So, I would like to tell our customers that next year, we shall invest a lot in terms of product. There will be three main aspects we shall focus on.

The first part, which is very common, is coverage – how much we cover. There are many small villages where we shall expand our coverage. We shall go to some places for the first time, where currently no telecom operator is available.

In terms of investment figures, I can’t give an exact number because next year’s plan is still being finalised. But to give an idea, we had 200 5G sites and are expanding by another 200 this year. Next year, we expect to add another 300 to 400 5G sites.

For overall coverage, by December this year, we shall have about 300 to 350 new sites – the highest investment in the last five to six years. Next year, that number will be higher.

Most of these investments will be in rural areas across the country – not just in Kampala, Jinja, or other core markets, but also in places like Mbale, Gulu, Kabale, Fort portal, and Arua.

The second thing is that the network is like a road. If it is good today, tomorrow it might not remain good. For instance, you may have a tower radiating a network to a particular place, and suddenly a building comes up or a tree grows in front of it, blocking that sector.

We need to continuously assess and enhance quality, optimise the network, and if required, put up more towers.

The third area is cybersecurity. As smartphone penetration increases, we also need to be careful about cybercrime and fraud, which also affects 2G phones.

That is why we are bringing new technology, like our already launched anti-spam SMS feature. When a spammer sends an SMS, we detect it and alert the customer about the suspected spam.

Next year, we shll invest further to introduce technology that identifies spam calls as well.

What is the current coverage level of Airtel Uganda, and where is expansion focused?

We currently cover about 94-95 percent of Uganda’s population and roughly 85 percemt of the landmass.

Our goal is to reach 90 percent geographical coverage. But we focus mainly on areas where people live – not vast uninhabited spaces like national parks. Even then, we are expanding gradually to remote areas as demand increases.

Uganda is still catching up in smartphone penetration, yet data usage keeps rising. How does the pace of smartphone adoption influence your data business and the future of data pricing?

Currently, data contributes to almost 50 percent of our business, and it is growing exponentially – about 25 to 30 percent year on year. That is where we shall invest the most – on the internet side – because data will soon contribute 60 to 70 percent of our business. So, our investment will be mostly on data.

As data consumption grows, prices will gradually drop. But all investments are now happening on the data side, as voice services are declining. Uganda is a young country with a median age of 16 – meaning most users are Gen Z and Gen Alpha who prefer using the Internet to talking.

As smartphone penetration increases and more people get online, data prices will coming down naturally.

But for that to happen, smartphone adoption must grow fast – otherwise, the business case for such heavy investment won’t hold. As smartphone usage and data consumption rise, data will become cheaper for everyone.

As smartphone penetration deepens, so do concerns around cybercrime and mobile fraud. How is your company addressing cybersecurity risks for your customers?

Regarding mobile money security, whenever a SIM swap happens, we have introduced a 48-hour cooling period during which no mobile money transaction can be done.

We have also built an API system that alerts banks when a SIM swap occurs, so they can monitor for possible fraud. Most banks have already upgraded their systems, and we are working with the rest to integrate this as well.

We also launched Africa’s first anti-spam network, starting with SMS, and early next year, we shall roll it out for calls.

Whenever a suspected spam call comes through, customers will be notified so they can avoid sharing personal information.

Many users complain that their data runs out too fast. From your perspective, what causes this – and should Ugandans expect data prices to reduce as usage grows?

On the issue of data depletion, I would say it is a myth. Most customers are unaware of their phone configuration. To explain simply – think of the Entebbe Expressway and the old Entebbe Road. The old road has more cars, while the Expressway, which charges toll, has fewer cars and allows faster driving.

Similarly, when your network is very fast, video quality automatically adjusts to higher resolution – meaning more data is consumed.

Platforms such as YouTube or TikTok often have their settings on ‘auto.’ When the network speed is high, they automatically switch to HD or 4K quality, increasing data use.

Customers can fix this by manually selecting lower quality, like 720p, to reduce consumption.

Another reason for data consumption is automatic background updates. Many phones are set to update apps or software automatically.

Customers should set these updates to happen only over Wi-Fi or manually. Otherwise, mobile data gets used without their knowledge.

What challenges have you faced with regulatory coverage obligations?

Policymakers, like Uganda Communications Commission (UCC), emphasize that we must cover 95 percent of the population, but they do not always consider the economics behind it. In urban centres, finding space for towers is also a challenge – even in places like Parliament, where we have advised them to reserve space for proper signal distribution. Some areas are not feasible for coverage expansion without government input.

What challenges have you faced in expanding your network, especially in rural or low-demand areas?

A single tower costs around $200,000 to $300,000 for passive infrastructure and $100,000 for active components. If an area has only about 100 customers, most of them using basic phones, it is not commercially viable. That is why government support, either through CAPEX (infrastructure costs) or OPEX (operating costs), would help in non-commercial areas.

What is Airtel’s long-term strategy for network investment and growth?

It is a continuous journey. The network is like a road – as traffic grows, we widen it. We shall keep expanding where there is demand but also fulfill our coverage obligations. Ultimately, smartphone penetration is key: the more people who can afford smartphones, the more data consumption grows, and that drives data prices down over time.

In many parts of Uganda, smallholder farmers are struggling to keep pace with unpredictable weather patterns due to climate change. Rains that once arrived on time now delay or stop midway through the planting season.

Dry spells last longer, and floods wash away topsoil and destroy crops. For farmers, who cultivate a few acres of staple foods such as maize, beans, or cassava, this uncertainty has turned farming into an increasingly risky business.

The 2021 Uganda’s National Adaptation Plan for Agriculture and the World Bank Climate Change Knowledge Portal show that the country’s average temperature has risen by about 1.30C since the 1960s, while rainfall during the main planting season has steadily declined.

Regions such as Teso and Karamoja endure recurring droughts, while the highlands of Elgon and Kigezi experience flash floods and landslides. Until recently, farmers and policymakers lacked precise data showing where the risks were greatest and how they could adapt. That gap is now being filled through a climate-vulnerability mapping tool developed by AGRA in partnership with Mathematica Global.

The maps draw from decades of climate and socio-economic data to show where Uganda’s agricultural systems are most exposed to drought, heat, and floods – and how well-equipped they are to adapt.

Smarter farming

Speaking at a workshop to validate the maps in Entebbe, Dr Paul Mwambu, the Commissioner for Crop Inspection and Certification at the Ministry of Agriculture, said: ‘Climate-vulnerability mapping is a powerful, evidence-based compass that helps us allocate resources responsibly and identify practical interventions that protect yields, incomes, and livelihoods’.

The mapping exercise used more than 35 NASA climate-model datasets and data from the Uganda National Meteorological Authority to show how droughts, floods, and heatwaves affect major crops such as maize, beans, and cassava, which are key to household food security and regional trade. Each hazard, from ‘consecutive dry days’ to ‘maximum five-day rainfall,’ was analysed in relation to local farming systems.

Dan Bunter, Senior Consultant at Mathematica Global, said the goal was to make the science useful to everyone. ‘We wanted a tool that clearly shows where the risks are and helps both policymakers and farmers take action,’ he explained.

The model combines information on climate risks, soil conditions, and farmers’ ability to adapt, giving a clear picture of where support is most needed. An easy-to-use online dashboard allows planners and farmers to view these risks and explore how future changes could affect their areas up to 2050.

When data meets experience

During the validation workshop, farmers, extension officers, and scientists reviewed the maps and discussed how the data compared with their experiences in the field. The conversations helped confirm that the tool reflects the real challenges farmers encounter across different regions.

Denis Kabito, a farmer and a leader at Uganda National Young Farmers Association (UNYFA), said the maps are a bridge between scientists and those who work the land.

‘As a farmer, this has helped me understand the various tools I can use to inform policy,’ he said. ‘It gives us a chance to interact with technology and reality, especially because the dashboard allows us to access this information firsthand.’

Kabito plans to use the dashboard to interpret data such as ‘consecutive dry days’ for his community. ‘Our respective farmers will be able to understand whether they are vulnerable or not,’ he added.

Dr Mwambu noted that such feedback strengthens the value of the tool. ‘We must deliberately integrate high-resolution climate data with on-the-ground insights from farmers and extension officers,’ he said. ‘That way, the tools remain relevant for decision-making at every level.’

Guiding smarter investments

AGRA believes the innovation’s will support Uganda’s ambition to increase food-trade competitiveness in its major staples by guiding smarter public and private investment.

‘The aim is to precisely determine where problems are likely to occur and how we can develop suitable adaptation strategies,’ said David Wozemba, the Country Director, AGRA Uganda. ‘With such evidence, Uganda can target its interventions more effectively and strengthen the resilience of its key value chains, including maize, beans, and rice.’

The vulnerability maps can be used together with seed distribution and production data to direct drought-tolerant varieties such as NAROMaize and NAROBEAN to areas that are most at-risk. Irrigation, mechanisation, and storage investments can also be prioritised where yield losses are highest.

Policymakers can use vulnerability maps together with seed-distribution data to direct drought-tolerant varieties such as NARO Maize and NARO Bean to the region’s most at risk.

This approach supports the National Adaptation Plan for Agriculture and the Fourth National Development Plan (NDP IV), which emphasise climate-smart production and value-chain competitiveness. It also complements Uganda’s Nationally Determined Contribution, which commits to reducing vulnerability through evidence-based planning.

Turning maps into action

The tool offers localised adaptation advisories developed with national researchers. In drought-prone Teso and Lango, the maps recommend early planting, mulching, and small-scale water harvesting. In the Elgon region, bean farmers are advised to use raised beds and climbing varieties to avoid waterlogging. Around Lake Kyoga, cassava farmers are urged to plant on ridges and use clean, disease-free planting material.

‘These recommendations must feed directly into district development plans, extension training, and certification systems,’ said Dr. Mwambu.

Humphrey Mutaasa, Chief Technical Advisor at the Grain Council of Uganda, described the technology as a breakthrough.

‘One of the big things coming out of this engagement is that we can have an insight into what was happening before and what is going to happen in the future,’ he said. ‘It helps to de-risk agriculture, turning uncertainty into opportunity.’

The maps show where climate hazards overlap with key production zones, helping government and investors target limited resources for maximum impact – from irrigation and credit to post-harvest infrastructure.

Integrating local knowledge

Dr. Jeremiah Rogito, AGRA’s Climate Adaptation and Resilience Lead, explained that the mapping process aims to make scientific data accessible to all.

‘The goal is to visualise exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity in a way that helps decision-makers prioritise interventions where they will have the most impact,’ he said.

The combination of technology and practical experience is expected to gradually change how smallholder farmers prepare for the season, making adaptation a planned effort rather than an emergency response.

Extension officers are expected to integrate the dashboard into their advisory work, while innovators are expected to develop mobile applications that display the same data in local languages.

At the close of the workshop, participants agreed to ensure that the maps inform concrete actions at district and community levels.

‘Our farmers feed the nation,’ Dr Mwambu said. ‘They deserve tools that help them survive and prosper in a changing climate.’

The police arrested some school administrators and teachers in connection with alleged attempts to bribe officials of the Uganda National Examinations Board (Uneb), to help cheat during the Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE), which commenced yesterday.

The suspects, including head teachers and invigilators, are accused of attempting to offer bribes to Uneb scouts and officials to help facilitate external assistance to the candidates. In Oyam District, Mr Patrick Jimmy Okema, the North Kyoga regional police spokesperson, said the police are holding three individuals to help with investigations into the matter, which he said involved an offer of Shs1 million to a Uneb scout, to allow them cheat the exams. The suspects were arrested at Lira City-based Garden Hotel on Sunday after a tip-off.

Mr Okema said the money, Shs50,000 denominations, were recovered and exhibited as evidence. The case has been registered at Lira City Central Police Station, and investigations are ongoing. In Lira, a director of a private nursery and primary school and his head teacher were also arrested over allegations of bribing a Uneb Scout yesterday.

Mr Patrick Olwit, the Lira District inspector of Schools, said: ‘We arrested three staff of the school and one scout whom they bribed with Shs1m to facilitate the cheating of PLE at the school. I am not going to reveal their identities since the matter is under investigation.’ In Alebtong District, Mr Moses Olwit, the district education officer (DEO), said: ‘The exams kicked off well and the rainy weather has not affected the exercise although most of our roads have been damaged by the current torrential rainfall.’

Failure to sit exams

However, in Amuru District, a total of 32 candidates failed to sit for PLE after they reportedly got married. Amuru has a total of 44 exam centres with 3,112 candidates sitting for PLE this year. Mr Geoffrey Osborn Oceng, the Amuru resident district commissioner (RDC), said despite a few setbacks, the exams started on time at most of the centres. In West Nile Sub-region, the authorities allowed the candidates who got pregnant to write their exam papers. Early pregnancies in West Nile have been attributed to, among others, uncontrolled disco operations at trading centres, and forced marriage. A 2024 United Nations Population Fund report puts the prevalence of early pregnancies in West Nile at 19 percent against the national average of 24 percent.

In Tororo, the area inspector of schools, Mr Denis Francis Tabu, said a total of 8,651 candidates registered for PLE. In Kween, three government-aided primary schools were assembled at one PLE exams centre due to safety concerns caused by recent landslides in the area. The main PLE centre, Benet Primary School, is hosting Kere Primary School from Tuikat Sub-county and Kwosir Primary School. Mr Carlos Toskin, the head teacher of Benet Primary School, said the centre was selected because it is free from natural disasters like landslides, which could disrupt the national exams. Ms Beatrice Chemutai, the Kwosir zonal inspector of schools for Kween, said although the relocation was necessary for the safety of candidates, the exams materials arrived late because of poor road network damaged by the recent landslides in the area.

In central Uganda, despite the reported cases of heavy rain that has left several roads in poor shape, the district officials and supervisors reported a smooth run of the first set of the 2025 PLE exams in the area. In Masaka City where a total of 7,635 candidates registered for the 2025 PLE, the city Inspector of Schools, Mr Moses Kawuma Nsereko, said the exam materials arrived on time without incidents. ‘We had earlier feared the heavy rain experienced in the past days could disrupt the PLE exercise but there were no recorded incidents that could cause delays in delivering the exam materials,’ he said. The DEO of Masaka, Mr Gerald Nsambu, said the district has 53 schools, registered 2,724 candidates for the 2025 PLE, with reports from all the centres registering a smooth flow of the first set of the PLE exercise yesterday.

In Nakasongola, the acting DEO, Mr Sam Mbagire, said: ‘We have had a smooth start of the PLE exercise despite the poor roads as a result of the rains. We planned well and had the exam material arrive on time at the respective centres,’ he said. At St Mary’s Nakasongola Primary School where eight inmates from Nakasongola Central Prisons registered for the 2025 PLE, five inmates turned up for the PLE papers. Sixty candidates registered at this centre. In Nakaseke, where a total of 6,011 candidates registered for the 2025 PLE, the turn up was good. Mr Steven Batanude, the Nakaseke DEO, said the first day of the PLE exercise went on smoothly despite anticipation of rains and the poor state of roads in some areas. The head teacher of Mbarara Municipal School, Mr Wilberforce Nkwasibwe, said all the 475 candidates that registered for PLE turned up yesterday.

Ms Annet Bato Ntimba, Mbarara City senior inspector of schools, said: ‘The exercise has started well. We have 91 sitting centres and 6,252 candidates, and after the strike the teachers returned and dedicated time to prepare the candidates. We are sure they will pass with good grades.” Mr Nathan Mugume, the chairperson of Mbarara City Head Teachers Association, said: ‘So far, we have not registered any challenges. The exam papers have been delivered on time and no papers are missing.’ Mr Samson Kasasira, the Rwizi regional police spokesperson, said: ‘We have made the necessary deployment to make sure the exercise goes on smoothly. We are warning all those that may attempt to get involved in exams malpractice that security is on a high alert.’

Downpour and flooded roads

n Kamuli, the candidates braved an early morning downpour and flooded roads to reach their examination centres. Several schools received the exams papers late because of impassable roads that were flooded. Mr Aaron Gwolaba, the Kamuli DEO, said the delivery of papers to schools in Mbulamuti Sub-county was delayed after the vehicles got stuck on slippery roads. ‘We have PLE going on with a few disturbances caused by rain and poor roads, which made candidates start an hour late. In Mbulamuti, where I was monitoring, the exams papers arrived at 10am, one hour after the scheduled start time,’ Mr Gwolaba said. He said despite the challenges, all registered candidates turned up, and the schools made provisions for lunch to ensure the exams continued smoothly.

Candidates in Mbulamuti, Namasagali, and Kagumba sub-counties faced severe flooding, with many using banana leaves as makeshift umbrellas on their way to school. Buyende District Chairperson, Mr Michael Kanaku, praised the resilience of the pupils. ‘We are seeing the advantage of mini-boarding arrangements during such natural disruptions. We admire the courage of these candidates who, despite being soaked and shivering, ensured they didn’t miss the exams that mark a milestone in their seven-year academic journey,’ he said. Buyende DEO, Mr Dison Bwire, said a joint effort from parents, security agencies, community leaders, and Non-Governmental Organisations helped mobilise candidates to sit for their exams.

‘It was a collective effort to ensure every registered candidate turns up and earns a certificate that can help them pursue vocational training. Aware of the challenges, many schools made temporary boarding arrangements to accommodate learners,’ Mr Bwire said. Meanwhile, in Jinja City, the examinations started smoothly with no reported challenges. The city education officer, Mr Paul Balinaine, confirmed that papers arrived on time at all centres and candidates began writing as scheduled. ‘So far, all our centres are doing well. The first exams paper has been written without any problems,’ Mr Balinaine said, attributing the success to thorough preparation by both candidates and invigilators.

He added that a total of 6,049 candidates were registered in Jinja City, and all of them turned up for the exams. In Mayuge, the District Inspector of Schools, Mr Nathan Wabwire, also reported that exams papers arrived on time and all registered pupils reported to sit for their exams. In Kagadi and Kibaale, the exams commenced smoothly, with pupils expressing gratitude to their teachers for their commitment despite the recent industrial action that had disrupted learning in several schools across the country. Ajuna Amon, a candidate at Kagadi Model Primary School, appreciated the dedication of his teachers, saying their efforts helped him approach the examinations with confidence.

2025 PLE

According to the Uganda National Examinations Board (Uneb), there were 818,010 candidates registered for the 2025 Primary Leaving Examination (PLE). This represents a 2.5 percent increase from the 797,444 candidates who registered in 2024.

Of the 2025 PLE candidates, 428,398 were girls and 389,589 were boys.

The 2025 PLE began smoothly across most parts of the country yesterday. The candidates began with the Mathematics exam in the morning and English in the afternoon, and will be ending today with candidates sitting for Intergrated Science in the morning and Social Studies and Religious Education in the afternoon.

Despite isolated cases of delayed paper deliveries, the atmosphere in schools remained positive, disciplined, and hopeful.

Uneb Spokesperson Ms Jenipher Kalule said she was yet to establish why examination papers arrived late at some schools in Kampala.

Compiled by Bill Oketch, Patrick Ebong, Fred Wambede, Joseph Omollo, Felix Warom Okello, Clement Aluma, Rashul Adidi, Robert Elema, James Owich, Daniel Ojara, Dan Wandera, Antonio Kalyango, Hanifa Nanyanzi, Rajab Mukombozi, Denis Edema, Abubaker Kirunda, Auman Musobya, Sam Caleb Opio Julius Byamukama, Felix Ainebyoona