Category: Daily Monitor

Mr Francis Mangusho’s house clings precariously to a rocky slope beneath a cliff in Kapshomu Cell, Kutung Ward, Kapchorwa Municipality.

His home is an example of a broader crisis in Sebei, where thousands of households, in the hilly districts of Kapchorwa, Kween, and Bukwo that make up the sub-region, remain dangerously exposed to landslides.

According to local leaders and residents, some of these families were identified for relocation and resettlement by the Office of the Prime Minister three years ago, but many still remain in harm’s way. On Saturday night, Mangusho’s neighbour, Mr Wilfred Chebet, currently admitted to Kapchorwa hospital, lost four family members when his home was buried by a mudslide.

Among the deceased were Mr Chebet’s wife, Scovia Chelangat, and his daughter, Charity Chelangat, 25, who had just graduated with a diploma in Nursing from Mulago School of Nursing and Midwifery on November 1. His grandchildren, Divine and Prossy, also perished.

Mr Mangusho urged the government to relocate residents to safer areas, warning that continued rainfall could lead to further tragedy. ‘The heavy rains are sending tremors of fear through communities like ours. The threat of more disasters is looming,’ he said. Triggered by relentless rains, multiple landslides have devastated rural villages across Kween, Bukwo, and Kapchorwa districts, leaving at least 20 people dead and 13 others missing.

The death toll in Bukwo had risen to 10 by press time after the recovery of two more bodies yesterday, leaving 12 unaccounted for in Kwanwa Village, Chesower Sub-county. In Kween District, six people died last Thursday.

The Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF), supported by police and local residents, is on the ground in Kwanwa Village, Kapteka Parish, Chesower Sub-county, Bukwo District, working to recover more bodies believed to be buried under the rubble. So far, seven of the 24 bodies believed to be trapped have been recovered from the villages of Kwanwa and Chepkubortin.

On Sunday, the State minister for Disaster Preparedness, Ms Lillian Aber, directed security forces to intensify and accelerate the recovery efforts.

‘I am going to engage the Ministry of Works to send the excavators to help in the search for missing bodies,’ she said, adding that the government will provide relief to the displaced.

An emergency resettlement camp has been established in Moyok Sub-county, Kween District, in partnership with the Uganda Red Cross.

Area MPs speak out

Kapchorwa Woman MP Phyllis Chemutai warned that several families across the sub-region remain at risk.

‘As a sub-region, we had never experienced such disasters where mudslides cause huge rocks to roll from the cliffs and kill people. I have reported a case of that cracked rock in Kapchorwa but the government has done nothing,’ MP Chemutai said.

Mr Solomon Chelangat, the MP for Too County in Bukwo District, said residents are struggling to cope with the ongoing threats. ‘We need an urgent intervention, not just pronouncements, because even where the landslides have occurred, our people are using rudimentary tools to search for the dead,’ MP Chelangat said.

Minister Aber has now ordered all residents still living in disaster-prone hilly areas of Sebei to vacate immediately. ‘Those who will resist, we will be forced to use the army and police to remove them to avoid more deaths,’ she said. The minister also revealed that the ministry is considering purchasing land within Sebei to resettle those affected by the current landslides.

Ms Aber was in the sub-region on Sunday to meet with local leaders and development partners. Last week, in Kaptanga Village, Tuikat Sub-county, Kween District, a landslide triggered by heavy rainfall buried three neighbouring homes, killing six people-including four children from a single family. Ms Justine Yariwo, a resident of Kaptanga, said the community is still in shock.

‘We have never seen anything like this before. The landslide occurred taking everything along including people. We are in pain,’ she said.

Several displaced families are now homeless, with limited access to food, clothing, and bedding. Mr Twalla Fadil, the MP for Tingey County in Kapchorwa District, expressed support for the government’s relocation plan but urged that basic services be put in place at the resettlement camp. ‘The camp where people are supposed to be relocated needs to be equipped with services so that the environment is conducive enough for staying,’ MP Fadil said.

The road connecting Bukwo to Kapchorwa remains completely blocked due to heavy deposits of soil and stones. Sipi Sub-region Police Spokesperson Fred Mark Chesang acknowledged that poor road conditions are hampering access to the affected areas.

The government has been resettling high-risk households in the Elgon Sub-region since the 2010 Nametsi landslide disaster, which claimed over 100 lives. In 2024, the government launched a cash transfer strategy to accelerate the relocation of households in landslide-prone areas. The programme targeted 4,827 households, with Bududa receiving the largest share (2,050), followed by Manafwa (900), Namisindwa (500), Sironko (500), Mbale (107), Kapchorwa (133), Bukwo (173), Bulambuli (210), and Kween (254).

Survivors of the 2010 tragedy were initially relocated to government land in Kiryandongo District. In 2019, the government procured additional land for resettlement within the Bugisu Sub-region, specifically in Bulambuli District. To date, nearly 300 families, comprising over 5,000 people, have been resettled.

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has urged Ugandans to embrace government development programs and take personal responsibility for creating wealth in their homes, saying that national prosperity depends on citizens’ productivity rather than government jobs.

Speaking during a campaign rally in Soroti City on November 3, President Museveni reminded residents that while the National Resistance Movement (NRM) government continues to deliver infrastructure, peace, and social services, household wealth creation must be driven by the people themselves.

‘Development is brought by the government, but wealth must be created by you in your homes,’ Museveni said.

‘Our manifesto outlines activities that can help people transition from poverty, planting coffee, fruits, food crops, pasture, poultry, piggery, or fish farming, depending on the land you have. Programs like NAADS, PDM, and Emyooga are here to support you, and I urge you to take advantage of them.’

The President emphasized that Uganda’s economy can only grow sustainably when citizens engage in income-generating activities.

‘NRM always wants politics of knowledge, not politics of propaganda,’ he said.

‘Some try to give you the impression that jobs come from government, but there are only 480,000 government jobs, how can they serve 50 million people?’

Museveni said the government remains focused on creating an enabling environment for economic growth through infrastructure development, education, and health services.

‘In Soroti, we have repaired key roads, extended electricity to all Sub-County headquarters, and increased access to safe water to 73 percent in rural areas,’ he said.

On the health front, he cited the ongoing upgrading of Tirinya Health Centre IV into a general hospital and Kamuda HCIII into HCIV, as well as improvements at Soroti Regional Referral Hospital, which now has an ICU, X-ray, ultrasound, and oxygen plant.

The President also addressed the long-standing issue of cattle restocking in Teso, Acholi, and Lango sub-regions, promising that affected households will each receive five cows to rebuild their livelihoods.

‘These areas were disturbed by insurgency and cattle rustling, and after the war, we started restocking,’ Museveni said. ‘We had given Shs159 billion, but I did not see the change on the ground. I therefore proposed giving each household five cows. I brought the idea to the leaders, sent them to discuss it with you, and I was told you accepted it. We have therefore adopted the idea, it is very expensive, but we shall do it.’

He reiterated that Uganda’s transformation will come from disciplined leadership and hard work.

‘We do not believe in politics of sectarianism, tribe, or religion. We love Uganda, and our goal is to build wealth and dignity for every household,’ he said.

Local leaders, including Speaker of Parliament Anita Among and Soroti NRM officials, praised the President for maintaining peace and spearheading development in the region.

Ms Among, who also serves as the NRM Second National Vice Chairperson, commended Museveni for granting Soroti city status and improving infrastructure across the region.

Mr Calvin Echodu, NRM Vice Chairperson for Eastern Uganda, thanked the President for the prevailing peace and pledged Soroti’s continued support for his re-election.

‘Business is now booming, and the city is ready for further development, including a first-class golf club,’ he said.

Mr Enomu John, NRM Chairperson for Soroti City, and Mr Herbert Edmund Ariko, NRM Chairperson for Soroti District, both pledged overwhelming support for the President, citing the establishment of skilling hubs, Soroti University, and other development projects as proof of NRM’s impact.

Japan has pledged $122,999 (over Shs400 million) to bolster education and food security for refugees in Uganda’s Kyangwali Settlement, at a time when the East African country’s refugee response faces severe funding cuts that have left services overstretched and vulnerable households at greater risk.

Uganda, hosting some 1.6 million refugees-the highest in Africa and third globally-has seen humanitarian funding decline sharply over the past three years, with the 2024 Uganda Refugee Response Plan financed at less than 40 percent, according to UNHCR.

Cuts have forced reductions in food rations, strained health services, and declining support for education, with some households receiving only 30-60 percent of their basic food needs.

Speaking at a grant signing ceremony at the Japanese Embassy on Tuesday, Japanese Ambassador Sasayama Takuya said the aid comes at a crucial moment.

‘Uganda hosts nearly two million refugees, yet international attention and assistance are decreasing. It is very ironic that because Uganda has done well in hosting refugees, international attention becomes lower. But Japan is committed to continue supporting Uganda and the refugees it shelters,’ Amb Takuya emphasized.

He noted that Japan receives more than 300 applications annually for grassroots assistance, but must prioritize due to limited budgets.

‘The situation is not an easy one,’ he added.

The contribution, extended under Japan’s Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP), will fund the construction of a classroom block, a perimeter fence, latrines, and nutrition programmes implemented by Action Against Hunger (ACF) in Kikuube District, mid-western Uganda

Authorities says since its inception, GGP has supported 295 community-based projects in Uganda, spanning education, health, and agricultural productivity.

Despite Uganda’s globally praised open-door refugee policy, which allows refugees to settle, move freely, and work-the Japanese envoy said the very success of the model has led to declining global attention and donor fatigue.

He also announced that Japan will provide additional food aid through the World Food Programme (WFP) before year-end and continues to deploy JICA specialists to strengthen refugee policy and peace-building initiatives.

Ritah Kabanyoro, Country Director of Action Against Hunger, welcomed the project as timely.

‘Hunger is multi-sectoral. If a classroom is falling apart or a child does not have food, they will not come to school,’ Kabanyoro said.

She highlighted the impact of recent funding cuts on education, noting that more than 2,000 teachers could lose their jobs.

‘So this project sends a message to the children that they have not been forgotten.’

She added that alongside classroom construction, the initiative will introduce school feeding and nutritional support, emphasizing that ‘development must be collective and holistic.’

Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) has assured traders whose merchandise was destroyed in Friday’s floods that the government will compensate them.

During a three-hour crisis meeting convened by Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago at City Hall yesterday, KCCA Executive Director Sharifah Buzeki apologised to affected traders and outlined steps to assess the damage.

She said two technical teams had been deployed: one to examine the causes of the flooding, and another from the Department of Gender to compile a list of affected traders to guide compensation and future mitigation measures. ‘We need credible information from traders to inform a meeting with the prime minister tomorrow to ensure support and resumption of business,’ Ms Buzeki said.

She added that her team had visited several affected shops, noting that water had risen to beam level in some premises. Ms Buzeki revealed that she had received a letter from the Kampala City Traders’ Association (Kacita) urging KCCA to halt ongoing construction along the Nakivubo channel and conduct a technical review of the site. She said these concerns were being addressed.

‘Engineers and physical planners are on the ground. We have also involved the Department of Gender to focus on traders and compensation,’ she said.

‘Our technical team will determine if construction works contributed to the flooding and recommend corrective measures to prevent future disasters,’ she explained.

Initially, KCCA suggested working with landlords to identify affected traders, but this was rejected because many shops are run by subcontractors.

It was agreed that each arcade or shopping mall would nominate two representatives to work with KCCA officials to compile a list of affected traders. Govt’s commitment Lord Mayor Lukwago confirmed that the government had committed to compensating traders, adding that many had lost their entire stock.

‘These traders are extremely desperate and need immediate support to resume work. KCCA has committed to helping them get back on their feet,’ he said.

The crisis council also deliberated on preventive measures, including halting construction along the Nakivubo channel, demolishing structures that obstruct drainage, and prosecuting the developer responsible.

Mr Lukwago likened the incident to the Kiteezi garbage collapse, which killed more than 30 people, adding that the Nakivubo flooding represented negligence by commission rather than omission. ‘The floods claimed four lives, and there is a need for accountability,’ he added. Traders shared harrowing accounts, with some breaking down in tears. Mr Robert Arinaitwe, who sells mattresses and clothes, said all his merchandise was destroyed and urged the government to expedite compensation so he could support his family.

Background

The floods, which struck on October 31, followed a downpour that lasted four hours, leaving shops waterlogged and causing widespread losses.

Violent scenes were witnessed in Yumbe Town, West Nile Sub-region, on Tuesday morning after a group of Muslim youths, armed with clubs and machetes, attacked government institutions and businesses belonging to Christians as they protested against the sale of Pork in the area.

The unrest was sparked off as the police attempted to arrest Sheikh Kasim Abdallah, the Imam of Munir Mosque, who, in a video recording last week, urged the Muslims to reject the sale of pork in Yumbe, which he claims is predominantly a Muslim district.

The video was widely circulated on social media platforms, stirring debate among internet users. This drew mixed reactions, with some accusing the Muslim cleric of inciting violence while others applauded him for the move against the sale of Pork.

In the viral video clip, as he spoke in the Aringa’ti language, Sheikh Abdallah said: ‘Should you (youths) see any pork, you should destroy it. Should the police ask, you should say I sent you to do it. Pork is a dirty meat. When you take it to the lab, worms will come out of it.’

He added: ‘.don’t allow pork joints in Yumbe by all means. You strike, whether using Karate, we shall do it by all means. We shall do that. Yumbe is not a place for pork.’

An eye witness who declined to be named for fear of reprisal, told this publication that: ‘The youths attacked our offices and smashed most of the windows and doors. They were telling us to stop eating pork if we want to be alive.’

He said there was a planned meeting today to calm the situation following the video that circulated at the weekend.

‘The meeting did not take place. As I was heading for work, I only heard people being mobilized from their mosques. Shortly after about an hour, youth mobs holding sticks started causing chaos in the town and in government offices,’ he added.

The police responded by firing teargas and live bullets to disperse the mobs.

The North West Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Collins Asea, told this publication on phone that: ‘We are still busy gathering information right now but the situation is getting calm.’

According to the 2024 Census report, Yumbe District has a total population of 934,340 people. It comprises 76 per cent Muslims and about 24 per cent Christians. The town areas have some pork joints spread in different parts that were opened by businessmen to cater for those who partake of the meat.

The pork joints have become a target by the Muslim community. The Muslim leaders in the district had not yet issued a statement about the situation by press time.

Police in Buikwe District have launched investigations into the suspected murder of an unidentified man believed to be about 45 years old.

Ms Hellen Butoto, the Ssezibwa Regional Police spokesperson, on Monday confirmed the incident and said it is believed to have occurred during the night of Sunday under unclear circumstances.

According to Ms Butoto, the body was discovered within the Metha sugarcane plantation, Block B-19, located in Lugalambo Village, Najjembe Division, Lugazi Municipality.

‘Preliminary reports indicate that the police were alerted on Monday morning by casual workers who found the body lying among the sugarcane stalks,’ Ms Butoto said.

Initial findings suggest that the deceased had visible injuries consistent with a violent attack. Investigators suspect he may have been assaulted elsewhere and later dumped at the scene.

‘The body had visible injuries, and we suspect foul play,’ Ms Butoto added, noting that the motive behind the killing and the identity of the deceased remain unknown.

The body was later taken to Kawolo Hospital mortuary for a postmortem examination to establish the exact cause of death.

Ms Butoto appealed to members of the public, particularly residents of Lugalambo Village and surrounding areas, to share any information that could help identify the deceased or lead to the arrest of those responsible.

She reassured residents that police are committed to uncovering the truth and ensuring justice is served.

‘We call upon anyone with information to come forward and assist the investigations. The police will do everything possible to bring the culprits to book,’ she said.

Kampala traders have closed their shops protesting high taxes, increased rental charges and other unfair trade policies by the government.

The earlier planned protest coincides with the current situation, where several traders in downtown suffered losses after last week’s floods destroyed their merchandise valued in millions of shillings.

The protest, led by the Kampala City Traders Association (KACITA), also calls for the removal of street vendors and containment of growing competition from petty foreign traders.

“You see foreign traders who actually come here as manufacturers in every corner of the country, vending their goods on retail, there is no chain of trade, and this cannot be found in any sober country. Let the government stop being reluctant and unfair. Do we need rocket science to implement a few things like clearing vendors who are blocking all roads to arcades?” said KACITA chairperson, Mr Isa Ssekito.

According to him, their protest will only be called upon the government’s commitment to address their grievances.

The chairperson Federation of Uganda Traders Association, Mr John Kabanda, said the traders’ other grievance stems from their landlords’ insistence on charging rent in dollars despite an earlier government ban.

‘Downtown, we had agreed that nobody should pay rent in dollars and no one should increase more than 10 percent, but some landlords go ahead to act to the contrary. All these issues are becoming painful and not being addressed, thus the only option we have is to close the business,” he said.

Traders argue that the current tax system, including tax by weight for textiles and garments, is unfair and was introduced without enough sensitisation.

“UNBS has now, instead of ensuring standardisation, it is rather acting as if it’s collecting taxes. To these and other unfair treatments, we demand that the taxi in kilos is completely removed,” Mr Ssekito said.

With heavy security personnel deployed in the city centre, some traders have expressed frustration, citing losses and disruptions to their businesses.

However, some shops remained open during the protest, highlighting divisions among traders.

“We have a lot of self-interest among our leaders. Some people are seeking selfish interests from traders’ issues but without forcing anyone, we want other members of the business community to join others. You saw how things got destroyed by floods and as you reluctantly sit, it will soon come to you,” said Mr Ssekito.

One of the traders, Mr Moses Ddiba, said; “A child of a trader will also be a trader, implying that we’re in a chain that will never end. Authorities should act wholeheartedly to solve issues.”

When the traders announced last month that they would close their shops starting the first week of November, the Minister for Kampala and Metropolitan Affairs, Hajat Minsa Kabanda, appealed to them to abandon plans for the strike, assuring them that the government was already addressing their concerns.

‘The Ministry of Trade and other responsible government agencies are handling their issues. I request the traders to continue doing business as their concerns are being addressed,’ Ms Kabanda said on October 22.

While meeting her supporters at Nakivubo Blue Primary School after her nomination, Ms Kabanda also pledged to advocate for improved city infrastructure and better trading conditions.

‘I will work with city authorities and the central government to improve roads and secure more trade spaces for our business community,’ she said.

The protest comes two months after traders called off a similar strike that had begun in August over the same concerns. That strike, which was sparked by high taxes, foreign competition, and what they termed as unfair trade policies, was suspended after a meeting between KACITA leaders and the Prime Minister, Ms Robinah Nabbanja.

Mr Sekitto said one of the most contentious issues raised during discussions with the Prime Minister was the taxation system on textiles and garments, especially those taxed by weight, which traders say is exorbitant and unfair.

A 46-year-old witch doctor has been sentenced to 45 years in prison after he was found guilty of cutting off the hand of a one-year-old boy in what the court said was a ritual sacrifice.

Godfrey Ssekatawa, a resident of Busiika village in Luweero District, was convicted alongside his accomplice, Ismael Ssebugwawo, a 48-year-old art dealer and resident of Makindye Division in Kampala.

Ssebugwawo was handed a 25-year sentence after High Court judge Comfort Rosette Kania, on October 30, 2025, found him and Ssekatawa guilty of attempted murder and aggravated trafficking in children, which they committed in 2020.

While reading out the sentence, the judge noted that despite the overwhelming evidence brought against the convicts, they had not shown any remorse during court proceedings.

“This is one of the rare cases. The victim was left maimed forever as he knew and trusted Ssebuggwawo,” the judge said during a court proceeding attended by the victim, his father and mother, plus relatives.

“The second convict (Ssebugwawo) sowed poison, which led to the first convict to carry out the offence,” the judge added.

Although the prosecution had asked the court to hand the two convicts a life sentence, the judge noted that the duo were first offenders who should be allowed to go back into society after serving their sentence.

Both convicts had asked the court for a lenient sentence, arguing that they are parents who had families to look after and that they are the sole breadwinners. During the hearing of the case, the prosecution said that Ssebuggwawo had, on orders of Ssekatawa, cut off Jessy Katandi’s hand for sacrifice to acquire wealth. He had hidden it in a container, where it was discovered by detectives.

He left the boy bleeding profusely and went into hiding.

He was to take the hand to Ssekatawa for ritual sacrifice in order to get wealth.

Mr Yekus Musujja, the Kyampisi Childcare Ministries case management officer, said he was satisfied with the sentence, adding that the organisation was rehabilitating the victim.

“We shall continue to offer any form of assistance to the victim and family so that the victim completes his education and becomes a responsible citizen,” Mr Musujja said.

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.’