Category: Daily Monitor

The riots in Tanzania are more than a national crisis. They are a direct threat to East African unity and progress.

For years, Tanzania has stood as a cornerstone of peace and a vital link in the East African Community. But today’s chaos risks undoing the trust, trade and cooperation that hold our region together.

When Tanzania shakes, the entire EAC trembles.

Cross-border trade slows, investment confidence falls and the vision of ‘One People, One Destiny’ fades. Violence only fuels poverty, division and external interference.

Tanzanians must reject destruction and embrace peaceful dialogue. True patriotism means protecting the nation’s stability and the region’s collective future.

The EAC must act decisively NOT as silent observers but as guardians of regional peace. The bloc should dispatch a mediation team, engage both government and civic leaders and reinforce early warning systems against instability.

Integration cannot thrive on ashes. Peace in Tanzania is peace for East Africa. Now is the time for unity, not silence.

The micro-scale irrigation project, one of the renewable energy intervention strategies targeting smallholder farmers, has run into headwinds, with farmers saying it is not performing to their expectations.

While the micro-scale irrigation project under the Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries (Maaif), supported by the World Bank was introduced to boost farmer access to affordable and sustainable irrigation technologies, a section of stakeholders blame its under-performance on policy gaps, substandard equipment and limited levels of awareness. In the districts of Nakaseke, Wakiso, Luweero and Nakasongola where a section of farmers fall within the cattle corridor areas and need the water to maximise production, several of the solar-powered equipment acquired have broken down due to alleged poor quality.

The farmers also allege that some of the solar-powered irrigation equipment are far above the normal market price and not affordable despite the grant from the government. Ms Esther Nakandi, a farmer in Semuto Sub-county, Nakaseke District, has given up on her initial deposit for co-funding after failing to top up the amount required to access a solar irrigation pump.

‘I paid a commitment fee in 2023, but failed to access top up funds from one of the commercial banks. But also , when I inquired about the market price of the same equipment, the price was almost double the normal market price for the same equipment on the market,’ she said.

But just about 6 kilometres from Ms Nakandi’s farm, another farmer, Mr Gavas Kanakulya has abandoned the solar -powered equipment at his courtyard. Mr Kanakulya claimed that the solar pump that he purchased from a recommended supplier only worked for three weeks at his farm and broke down. His effort to convince the supplier to go to the farm and fix the pump failed. ‘I invested Shs6.5m for the solar-powered pump under a co-funding programme initiated by the government, but the system has not helped me. When I contacted the supplier, I was told that the pump had probably been mishandled at the farm against the guidelines. I believe that the equipment was substandard,’ he explained.

Low uptake

Mr Ronald Kitayimbwa, an agriculture officer-in-charge of Nakaseke Sub-county explained that a lack of farmer training and a budget component at the lower local government specified for renewable energy are partly to blame for the low uptake for the solar-powered irrigation equipment by farmers in the area. ‘We cannot conduct awareness campaigns for equipment that we have no knowledge about. Several of the equipment purchased is of substandard quality,’ he said at a recent stakeholder training on productive use of solar energy at Nakaseke District headquarters. In Wakiso, Mr Henry Lubulwa, the district agriculture officer, shared experiences and challenges of farmers since 2021 when the government rolled out the micro-scale irrigation project.

While several farmers have expressed interest in purchasing the solar irrigation equipment, the actual number of beneficiaries falls below 25 percent, Mr Lubulwa noted. ‘During the Financial Year 2022/2023, 800 farmers in Wakiso District expressed interest in purchasing the solar-powered irrigation pumps, but the actual beneficiaries were only 30. Some of the major challenges include lack of water sources, substandard equipment supplied by the pre-qualified firms, delays in installation of the systems by suppliers approved by Maaif, among many other challenges,’ he said. Mr Lubulwa added: ‘The farmers lack the technicians to fix the broken pumps and do the maintenance of the systems installed.

The failure of the lending institutions to provide affordable loan facilities to farmers who have expressed interest complicates the effort for a speedy roll out of the productive use of solar energy use. But Wakiso District is proud of the solar water project on Bussi Island benefiting at least 3,000 households in three parishes.” While the government through its departments acknowledges several of the challenges to the smooth roll out of the productive use of renewable energies, including the limited level of farmer awareness, renewable energy remains a priority area under the National Development Plan IV (NDPIV).

Dr Brian Isabirye, the commissioner for renewable energy and energy efficiency coordinator, sustainable energy programme at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development, said a lack of affordability, limited levels of awareness for many customers on the off-grid products remains a big barrier. Several farmers lack the information about renewable energy sources that include as solar power and biogas. He added: ‘It’s true that lack of affordability, limited levels of awareness, among several other barriers keep several potential customers of the solar energy resource away. But under the NDPIV, renewable energy has been enhanced as part of the priority areas.

We shall scale up biogas use, solar energy among other renewable energy sources.’ In Nakaseke District where several solar energy systems including the cold chain, solar-powered valley dams and solar dryers have been installed by government under the Uganda Intergovernmental Fiscal Transfer Programme (UgIFT), several of the installed systems are now abandoned due to lack of maintenance technicians and involvement of the local government teams for easy monitoring.

Mr Ignatius Koomu, the Nakaseke District chairperson, asked the government to streamline and correct errors associated with the micro-scale irrigation co-funding project for the smallholder farmers. He said a section of farmers believes the project is for the very rich and not the common farmers.

Dr Anthony Mujeere, a researcher at Advocates Coalition for Development and Environment (ACODE), has meanwhile called for the inclusion of farmers in the advocacy programmes for renewable energy sources. ‘The challenges of lack of awareness, substandard solar energy equipment supplied by some pre-qualified firms, and the lack of specific budgets for renewable energy projects at the lower local governments are real. We should also plan for a scaled-up sensitisation for renewable energy sources,’ he said.

Uganda’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) says it received multiple complaints against former honorary consul of eSwatini, Quilino Bamwine, whose appointment was revoked last month over allegations of extortion, fraud and a criminal land deal.

eSwatini’s ambassador to the African Union, Mahlaba A. Mamba, said Bamwine ignored earlier warnings and continued alleged illicit activities despite repeated interventions by Ugandan authorities.

Mamba added that both government authorities and private individuals had filed ‘persistent complaints’ about Bamwine’s conduct, leaving the eSwatini embassy with no choice but to report the alleged misconduct to Kampala.

A senior official at the MoFA, who is not authorised to speak to the media, confirmed that those concerns are contained in Mamba’s letter dated October 31, 2025.

MoFA Permanent Secretary Vincent Bagiire told Monitor that after receiving complaints about Bamwine’s conduct, the ministry advised the alleged victims to take their cases to law enforcement, emphasizing that Bamwine does not enjoy diplomatic immunity.

‘We have received several complaints about his conduct in the past and advised the victims to report their cases to the police since he does not enjoy diplomatic cover that comes with immunity,’ Bagiire told Monitor on Monday.

Bamwine did not immediately respond to the allegations and attempts by this reporter to reach him were unsuccessful by press time Monday night. However, one of his aides, speaking on condition of anonymity, said “Bamwine is aware of the claims and plans to provide a formal response.”

Swaziland was in April 2018 renamed eSwatini by King Mswati who rules by decree over millions of his subjects, majority of whom follow the traditional way of life. In 2020, King Mswati III appointed Bamwine, a businessman, as its first consul.

Uganda’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs at the time Henry Okello Oryem said by assuming the role, he became the official representative of eSwatini in Uganda and would be promoting interests of eSwatini in the East African country.

It was the first time eSwatini was establishing a consulate in Kampala.

What next?

In international law, a consul is an official appointed by a state to reside in a foreign city to protect and assist the interests of the sending state and its nationals, particularly in commercial, legal, and administrative matters. Bamwine therefore doesn’t hold diplomatic status.

‘The principle is that no one enjoys diplomatic immunity in their own country. As such, Honorary consuls are liable to arrest and prosecution should they offend the law,’ PS Bagiire stated. Uganda currently has 52 honorary consuls who represent interests of foreign states.

Selection of consuls, ‘unknown Bamwine’

A country without a resident embassy may propose an individual to serve as its honorary consul. If the host country has no objections, it will request Uganda’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs to formally recognize the person as its honorary representative.

However, a source at the MoFA says that arrangement is often abused ‘because they know Ugandans are ignorant.’ Several consuls have faced allegations of abusing their official status.

‘They will try to pass themselves off as being diplomats by having red number plates with the blue CC circle and even abuse the flying of the flag of that country on their cars. But they are not real diplomats. A full diplomat will have a blue and white Country Diplomat (CD) number plate,’ a source at the MoFA said.

Adding: ‘Because these countries don’t have patience for scandals, if you indulge in any, they strip you of their name and get another person. Katatumba was honorary consul of Pakistan for decades, but when he died, his daughter started calling herself honorary consul, Pakistan said no, and went ahead to open a full-fledged Embassy in Kampala.’

‘Mulwana was honorary consul of Thailand, but when he died, Thailand had been so satisfied with his services that they had no objection to his daughter (Barbra) taking on the office.’

Despite serving as honorary consul for five years, Bamwine is widely unknown to officials at the MoFA.

‘I had never heard of him until he authored an op-ed, suggesting that honorary consuls should replace real diplomats. That was after President Museveni suggested that we use Embassies,’ a senior official at the MoFA said, adding: ‘Most are businessmen who have politician friends.’

The government has said there will be no further extensions for the Chinese and French oil companies conducting exploration and development works in Uganda, setting July 2026 as the date for the start of commercial oil production.

Officials insist that the country will not entertain any more delays for a project that has been nearly two decades in the making. ‘There are no more excuses, no more extensions. By December, key project infrastructure will be substantially complete. And by July 2026, Uganda will have its first oil,’ Ms Lucy Nakyobe, the head of Public Service and the secretary to Cabinet, said, during a high-level inspection of oil fields in Bunyoro last week.

She added: ‘I came here as a doubting person because year after year, we have been told the same story. But having seen the wells, the processing infrastructure, and the ongoing pipeline works, I am convinced everything is on track.’ Uganda first discovered commercial oil reserves in the Albertine Graben in 2006, following exploratory work by Hardman Resources and Tullow Oil, which confirmed the presence of recoverable petroleum deposits in the Lake Albert Basin. The discovery sparked high expectations, with Ugandans anticipating rapid economic transformation, job creation, and improved public services. However, the journey to first oil has been long and complex.

A combination of infrastructure gaps, protracted negotiations with oil companies, environmental impact assessments, compensation disputes, and regional pipeline agreements has pushed timelines forward multiple times. The initial projections for first oil were 2018, later revised to 2020, then 2025, and now set for July 2026. The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development, Ms Irene Batebe, said the sector has now entered a critical development stage, which includes drilling, central processing facility construction, pipeline development, and field operations training. ‘The oil and gas project has so far attracted foreign direct investment worth about $7.5b (approximately Shs25.9t).

This is the largest single investment in Uganda’s history,’ she noted. Uganda’s oil reserves are currently estimated at 6.5b barrels of crude, of which 1.4b barrels are considered recoverable with current technology. ‘The Tilenga and Kingfisher projects will be processing these 1.4b barrels. Combining Kingfisher at 40,000 barrels per day and Tilenga at 190,000 barrels per day, the production should last at least 20 years,’ she explained. At Kingfisher oil fields, operated by China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC), 16 wells out of 27 planned have already been drilled. Of the total 31 wells, four are fully operational, and officials said 17 wells will be sufficient for the first production phase.

‘The central processing facility, now 97 percent complete, will clean crude oil from the wells before it is transported to Kabaale, where it will join the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (Eacop) for export,’ Mr Andrew Mbigiti, the communication officer at CNOOC, said. Meanwhile, the Tilenga project, operated by TotalEnergies EP, requires 400 wells to reach full production. Progress on drilling and construction has accelerated, and they said they have six wells that are fully completed. ‘In terms of production, we are set.

They are drilling 14 out of the 16 wells required, with key infrastructure nearing completion, and the CPF, which is 800 by 800 square metre, is also in full gear, and most of the things needed to first oil will be ready by July 2026,’ an engineer at the facility, who preferred anonymity, said. The Eacop, a 1,443km pipeline connecting Uganda’s oil fields to the Tanzanian port of Tanga, is advancing steadily.

Progress of the project

By September, over 1,000 kilometres of the Eacop welding had been completed. When operational, it will transport Uganda’s crude to international markets, positioning the country as a key player in East Africa’s energy sector. Complementing these oil developments, the Kabaale International Airport in Hoima is set to enhance logistics and support the sector. The airport will facilitate cargo and personnel movement for the oil and gas industry. Officials are confident that the convergence of Tilenga, Kingfisher, Eacop, and Kabaale Airport infrastructure will mark a turning point in the oil journey, finally fulfilling the promise that has been nearly 20 years in the making.

Survivors of road accidents in Uganda, represented under the Amputee Self-Help Network Uganda (ASNU), have called on the government to strengthen policies and systems that support accident victims and improve national road safety.

The group appealed during a press conference on Monday held in the wake of the recent Kiryandongo accident, which claimed more than 40 lives, reigniting public concern over road safety management and emergency response preparedness.

ASNU, a network dedicated to empowering individuals who have suffered physical disabilities as a result of road crashes, urged the government to establish rescue and emergency response points along major highways to ensure timely intervention and save more lives during accidents. The organisation also demanded stronger enforcement of road safety regulations and the development of sustainable support structures for accident survivors, including access to affordable prosthetics and rehabilitation services.

‘Many survivors struggle for years because prosthetics and medical equipment are prohibitively expensive. Employment discrimination also leaves many amputees excluded from the workforce long after recovery,’ said Charlotte Kangume, ASNU co-founder and herself an accident survivor.

‘We understand the devastating toll that road accidents take on hospitals, families, and entire communities. That’s why we’re calling on everyone-from government to individual road users-to prioritise safety and take immediate action,’ she added.

The network identified speeding as the leading cause of fatal crashes, coupled with systemic failures such as poor road infrastructure, limited enforcement, and inadequate driver discipline. They called for technology-driven solutions, including automated traffic enforcement and the reinstatement of the Express Penalty System (EPS), which was recently suspended despite its proven record in reducing road accidents.

‘If automated enforcement tools like EPS had been active, perhaps those 40 lives in Kiryandongo would have been saved,’ Kangume emphasised. ‘We saw its impact when it was operational-it deterred reckless driving and encouraged compliance. Uganda must embrace smart enforcement technologies to protect lives,’ she said.

Fellow survivor Joseph Asaba echoed the call for reform, urging greater investment in driver education and public awareness.

‘As a survivor, I know the pain and struggle that comes with road accidents,’ he said. ‘We need to educate drivers, pedestrians, and passengers to speak up against bad driving. Accidents leave families broken and lives permanently changed. Technology and discipline can save countless lives,’ he added.

Recent statistics underscore the gravity of Uganda’s road safety crisis. Reports show that 14 people die on Ugandan roads every day-the equivalent of a fully loaded taxi lost daily. The country’s annual road death toll has surged from 4,159 in 2022 to 5,144 in 2024, marking an 80% increase since 2014. Uganda now ranks among the top six countries globally with the highest road fatalities per capita, with an estimated 1.2 million motorcycle-related incidents reported each year.

ASNU warned that the social and economic costs of road crashes-ranging from hospitalisation and lost productivity to long-term disability-are draining both families and the national economy. The group is urging the government to take urgent, coordinated action: invest in emergency response stations, reinstate the EPS, subsidise prosthetic devices, and enforce stricter, technology-enabled traffic regulations.

The 2025 Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE) began smoothly across most parts of Kampala yesterday, with candidates sitting for Mathematics in the morning and English in the afternoon. However, a few schools experienced delays in the delivery of examination papers, leading to a late start and brief anxiety among candidates and invigilators.

At Police Children’s Primary School in Kibuli, papers arrived around 9:30am, slightly later than scheduled. Invigilators postponed the start of the first paper to 10am. Despite the delay, head teacher Ms Allen Muzaki said the school ensured all 224 registered candidates, including one with special needs, were settled and ready once the papers arrived. ‘We had a late start because the papers came in late, but all candidates eventually sat for their Mathematics paper. I am optimistic they will excel because of the intense preparation we gave them,’ Ms Muzaki said.

She added that pupils had greatly benefited from the Pass PLE pullout published weekly in the Daily Monitor, which has become a vital revision resource for both teachers and learners. ‘We get copies of the Daily Monitor every Wednesday, and the Pass PLE pullout has helped us so much to improve our performance. The children excelled in their mocks, and I believe they will do even better in PLE. These papers guide learners on how to approach questions,’ she said. At KCCA Kansanga Primary School, head teacher Ms Jalia Nakayiza said pupils were ready by 8:30am but had to wait for the papers to arrive. ‘Our pupils were ready to start on time, but the exams came late.

Nevertheless, we trained them well and anticipate good results,’ Ms Nakayiza said. By 10:16am, the bell rang to begin the Mathematics paper, amid excitement and nervousness among the learners. A similar situation occurred at Railway Children’s Primary School in Nsambya, where 112 pupils were cleared to sit. Head teacher Charles Dexious Mukisa confirmed a brief delay but said it did not significantly affect the day’s proceedings. While some schools faced minor delays, the overall conduct of examinations in Kampala was smooth and orderly, with Uganda National Examinations Board (Uneb) scouts and invigilators closely monitoring the process. At Old Kampala Primary School, head teacher Sarah Nakazzi said exams began on time at 8:40am, with all but three registered candidates present.

‘Those who missed the examination are all girls, one from Congo and another from Somalia. We tried to trace them, but later learned they had returned to their home countries,’ Ms Nakazzi said. She added that the school registered 134 candidates this year, nearly 45 percent of whom are refugee learners. At Sir Apollo Kaggwa Primary School in Mengo, acting head teacher Ms Prossy Namubiru said all pupils were seated by 8:50am, and the exercise proceeded without interruption. ‘We have over 100 candidates this year, and we have prepared them thoroughly. The weather was conducive, and we pray it remains so throughout the exams,’ she said, adding that heavy morning rain can sometimes disrupt time management in urban centres.

At Children’s Foundation Uganda, the director, Mr Eddie Kayinda, said all 30 registered candidates sat for the first paper without any issues. ‘Being that some of them are in boarding, we asked parents to drop them at school early to avoid delays,’ Mr Kayinda said, adding that this is the school’s third year presenting candidates for national examinations. In Wakiso and other Kampala metropolitan schools, candidates expressed confidence before the first paper. Zahiyah Sheeba Nakaweesi, a pupil at Treasure Junior School in Nansana, said she felt well-prepared. ‘I feel well-prepared for the English paper. The questions might seem challenging, but I will answer them to the best of my ability,’ she said.

Francis Buule, another candidate, said Mathematics was ‘sometimes tricky,’ but he was confident of doing well. ‘We have revised thoroughly with our teachers, and I am ready to perform well,’ he added. At Blessed Toddlers Junior School, Prossy Nassuna said she expects good results after working hard. At Mengo Primary School, Nakasero Primary School, and Semika Primary School, candidates were already in their examination rooms by 8am, as invigilators checked materials and briefed them on examination rules.

At Semika Primary School, the administrator, Mr Timothy Mwegiswa, said 58 candidates were prepared to sit from a different centre after Uneb denied their school examination centre status this year. This year’s PLE marks the final step for more than 800,000 candidates nationwide as they transition to secondary education. Uneb Spokesperson Jenipher Kalule said she was yet to establish why examination papers arrived late at some schools in Kampala. Compiled by Damali Mukhaye, Jane Nafula, Vincent Lusambya, Maria Jacinta Kanyange, Karim Mayobo, and Sylvia Katushabe

Head teachers in Fort Portal City and Kabarole District have appealed to the government to deploy armed security officers at every school, citing rising insecurity in the Rwenzori sub-region following weekend deadly attacks by panga-wielding assailants.

The coordinated assaults across Kasese, Bundibugyo and Fort Portal districts left at least 30 attackers dead and about 60 suspects arrested.

One Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) officer and a female soldier were also killed when the attackers raided army detachments in Malindi and Kakuka, Bundibugyo District, setting several soldiers’ houses ablaze before fleeing.

The same attackers targeted Nyakasura School and Canon Apollo institutions in Fort Portal City, as well as police facilities in Kasese, where officers were injured and property destroyed.

During a joint security meeting on Monday, education leaders said the wave of violence has exposed schools to possible attacks, warning that limited budgets make it difficult to hire private guards.

‘If our government can send soldiers to the Democratic Republic of Congo to fight the ADF rebels, why can’t they also deploy soldiers to protect our children here? Our schools are at risk,’ saidElizabeth Bagaya, head teacher of Kitumba Secondary School.

Yoweri Asiimwe, a teacher at Holy Guard Kasenda Secondary School, said schools near forests were particularly vulnerable.

‘Some schools are surrounded by thick forests and swamps, which could provide hiding places for attackers. We cannot afford armed guards-it’s costly. Let the government take responsibility and deploy UPDF soldiers to protect us,’ he said.

Mr. Hebert Mukasa, Principal of Canon Apollo Core PTC, said anxiety remains high even after the situation stabilized. ‘We request a permanent army detachment near our school. We are surrounded by a swamp where we suspect some attackers could be hiding,’ he noted.

However, Pius Bihembo, the Fort Portal North Division Police Commander, said manpower shortages make it impossible to deploy soldiers to every school. ‘We don’t have enough personnel to station at every school. We are conducting joint patrols day and night and assessing all public spaces for potential threats,’ he said.

Deputy RCC Emmanuel Businge said Uganda’s deployment in DR Congo aims to block rebel infiltration, while the government works to reinforce domestic security.

Local Government Minister Victoria Businge Rusoke urged schools to prioritize hiring security guards using their existing budgets. ‘Every time you increase fees, include the cost of hiring armed guards. It’s true some schools need army detachments, but this is a long-term strategy,’ she said.

As some of our candidate children lay down their pens after weeks of exams, others are just picking them up. Exams, in many ways, mirror life itself.

Some people are celebrating completion, others are still pressing on, and a few are just beginning their next big test. What matters is not only how we finish or start, but the spirit with which we do both.

The Bible says that ‘Finishing is better than starting .’ (Ecclesiastes 7:8NLT). For those who have completed their exams, congratulations! You’ve endured sleepless nights, early mornings, and the weight of expectations. Whether you feel you performed well or not, this is a good time to rest and reflect.

Finishing well is not only about your final mark but about the lessons you carry forward, and hope keeps you moving on, no matter what.

Parents, this is not the time to interrogate your children about which questions they failed or to compare them with others. Instead, affirm their effort. Every child needs to hear, ‘You did your best, and we’re proud of you.’

That reassurance builds confidence, especially for those who might be anxious about results. Encourage them to rest responsibly, reconnect with family, and help around the home.

For the Senior Six candidates beginning their exams, this is your moment to bring all your preparation to life. You have walked a long road since Senior One.

Don’t let fear undo what you’ve built. Stay focused, keep a calm mind, and remember that one exam cannot define your entire destiny. Exams are not just about academic recall-they test emotional maturity, focus, and composure. Starting strong is also a mindset for those about to enter new seasons, whether joining A-level, university, or the world of work. It’s about approaching the next phase with purpose, integrity, and a teachable spirit.

Every finish line is also a starting point. Now starting to think about how you would want your future to look like because you are no longer anymore after Senior Six.

In both finishing and starting seasons, the role of parents is critical.

Children look to us as adults not only for financial provision but for emotional stability and reassurance of the future.

Here’s how parents can support their children during this transition: After exams, some children fear disappointing their parents.

Create an environment where they can speak freely about their experiences, fears, and expectations. Keep sharing with them how they would like to progress their life in anticipation of a new one at another career level.

Recognize the process, not only the outcome. Praise them for their discipline, their resilience, and their commitment. Teach them some new skills that can show them that, beyond academics, they have untapped potential that is equally vital for their lives. Idle time after exams can lead to risky behavior.

Encourage purposeful activities, reading, volunteering, short courses, or even family projects. This world is full of opportunities that can keep your child engaged in creative life and livelihood skills.

Ask gentle questions like, ‘What did you learn about yourself this year?’ or ‘What would you like to improve next time?’ This turns the post-exam period into a time of growth.

Presence communicates love. Whether it’s waking up early to pray with them or simply preparing a favorite meal before and after an exam, these gestures build emotional strength.

Don’t be that parent full of negative confessions. Children read their parents’ emotions. If you panic about their results or compare them with others, you multiply their anxiety. Instead, show faith and confidence that their future is in good hands. When the last paper is written, life goes on.

Some students will celebrate, others will wish they had done better, and some will fear the unknown. But every ending carries new opportunities.

The real exam is how we use what we’ve learned, discipline, time management, perseverance to shape our future.

As a nation, we should remind our children that education is not a race but a journey. Each child moves at their own pace, and success has many paths.

Whether they become doctors, artists, teachers, entrepreneurs, or farmers, what matters most is that they walk their path with integrity, diligence, and faith.

So to every candidate, whether you’re closing or starting an exam chapter, choose to finish well and start strong. And to every parent, your encouragement, prayers, and guidance are the invisible fuel that powers your child’s journey.

The Southern Africa Development Cooperation SADC electoral observers have said the Tanzania polls didn’t meet the organisation democratic elections standards.

In a statement, the head of SADC Electoral Observation Mission (SEOM), Mr Richard Msowoya, said in some areas in Tanzania, the voters could not express their democratic will.

‘… it is the SEOM’s tentative conclusion that, in most areas, voters could not express their democratic will. Overall, the 2025 General Election in the United Republic of Tanzania fell short of the requirements of the SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections,’ read a statement by Mr Msowoya, the former speaker of Malawi.

Tanzania is a member of SADC. Tanzania incumbent president, Samia Suluhu Hassan was declared the winner of the elections by 98 percent of the cast votes and she was sworn in yesterday. The protests against the manner in which the elections were conducted left over 700 people killed.

Some of the major opposition parties were blocked from participating in the elections while others declined to participate without electoral reforms. The elections were also marred by violence as protestors went the streets claiming that they were not free or fair. The SADC observers said their mission noted a low voter turnout.

The observers’ said stakeholders told them that the detention and trial of Mr Tundu Lissu, the leader of the main opposition party, CHADEMA, on treason charges, and the disqualification of some opposition candidates, particularly of Mr Luhaga Mpina of ACT Wazalendo also raised questions about the fairness of the electoral landscape, especially on the mainland of Tanzania.

‘Some stakeholders viewed the seven arrests and disqualification as undermining the URT’s multi-party system by removing legitimate competition in the electoral process. This appears to create an uneven political playing field, which in turn also discourages public participation and voter turnout,’ the statement stated.

They said blocking the opponents in an election by a member state is contrary to their principles that ‘guarantee an environment of open contest with no undue exclusion and restrictions on anyone to vote as well as the right of eligible and qualified citizens to stand as candidates in any election”.

But the Tanzania electoral body claimed there was a high turnout, with 37.6 million voters, of which 31.9 million chose President Suluhu. SADC observers also said there was ballot stuffing.

‘The Mission observed that in some polling stations, there were multiple orderly stacked ballots in the ballot box during voting, which created a perception of ballot stuffing, and an impression that individual(s) cast more than one vote at a time with the intention to cheat the election system,’ the statement reads.

They said some of their colleagues were threatened with violence. ‘Most of our observers could not observe closing and counting due to incidents and threats of violence in some areas; and The Mission did not observe the presence of domestic observers in most of the polling stations,’ Mr Msowoya said. They added that their observers were also harassed by security personnel, who forced them to delete photographs taken during their tasks. They asked the aggrieved parties ‘to channel their concerns through established legal procedures and processes and not resort to violence or threats thereof’.

However, the Tanzania government changed laws so that the results released by their electoral body can’t be contested in courts of law.

It takes a leap of faith to cross from Namiti Island on Lake Victoria to the Masese landing site in Jinja. The boats that make that journey are often unlicensed, overloaded and beaten by years of water and sun but for many, hope is far stronger than fear.

It was that same hope that pushed Richard Okello Sr. and his wife Jessica Namuko to leave Namiti, part of the Buvuma Islands group, to seek a future on the mainland.

Bare feet, big dreams

Years later, on those same dusty shores where fishmongers call out prices and children chase tyres for play, their son Richard Okello began chasing a ball.

He played barefooted, without proper gear but with an engine of belief that matched the restless heartbeat of his surroundings. Masese, by extension, is part of the larger football-mad Walukuba estate, a place where talent finds a way to breathe even when resources are scarce.

Now, maybe this past may be forgotten but on Wednesday at 8.45pm, history will remember a special moment. That, Uganda will be debuting at a Fifa World Cup tournament and at the front of it all is that boy from Masese named Richard Okello.

He will go into history as the first-ever captain of a Ugandan team at a World Cup when he guides the Uganda Cubs onto the pitch in Al Rayyan, Qatar to take on Canada on Wednesday night. Uganda is in group K with Canada, Chile and France.

‘I grew up in Masese but it is a tough place,’ Okello recalls in this interview. At Masese, Okello joined one of the rapidly growing but under-resourced football academies to start his journey.

‘We lacked equipment and proper facilities but I wanted to play. Sometimes it was hard because you feel you want to do something but you don’t have enough.’

Opportunity knocks

Hardships didn’t discourage Okello instead, they sharpened him.

His breakthrough came when he was spotted by Coach Boban Tamale, now head coach at Jinja SSS, who took him to Lugazi Community School where he could combine football and education under a scholarship to complete his primary level.

Okello’s talent began to attract attention and was later awarded another scholarship at Lweru SS in Buikwe for his Senior One. But it was during a local but famous street tournament Zein Cup organized by Jinja’s politician and philanthropist Abdallah Zein that fortune knocked again.

‘A scout called Coach Abbey [Kakumirizi] came after a match. I didn’t even know he was watching but I scored and assisted. He told me I played well and wanted me to join their academy. I was scared because I thought I would find many challenges there. But I went.’

Fear turned into opportunity as the famous El Cambio Academy in Masaka became part of his family in 2020. Okello knows what he wants and how he wants. A disagreement over his position forced him to leave the academy.

‘There was a misunderstanding because the coaches thought he would be better as a defensive midfielder but he preferred an advanced role,’ his first coach and mentor Boban Tamale told Daily Monitor.

Okello decided to move back Jinja and joined Jinja Progressive and has captained the two big wins over city rivals Jinja SSS and carried them to the nationals as captain.

Captain of a nation

Through the partnership that the school has with Uganda premier League side Bul, Okello joined the club’s Junior Team and immediately rose to its captaincy.

Okello has captained Bul to back-to-back Fufa Junior League titles in 2023 and 2024 as he swept the most valuable player of the tournament award on both occasions.

Before that, his national team stars had started shining. In October 2022, he was summoned to the Uganda Cubs under coach Hamza Lutalo.

Okello scored his debut and only goal in a 4-0 win over Burundi but unfortunately, the team failed to qualify for Afcon U-17 2023 losing to Somali in the semis.

He was summoned to the Uganda Rhinos (U-15) for the Cecafa U-15 2023 scoring two goals but the team lost to Zanzibar in the final.

That was just a setback but didn’t drag Okello behind as he was called to the Cecafa U-18 two months later in December and captained the team to victory in Kisumu, Kenya.

Now, football has stars. And then it has symbols, those players whose journey mirrors the dreams of their nation. Okello is both. His captaincy at the Fifa U-17 World Cup will forever define his young career.

‘First of all, I would like to thank God because it is not easy to be a captain because it is not common to everyone,’ the soft-spoken but agile forward says softly, almost humbled by his own reality.

Pressure? He’s known worse

Many players crumble under the World Cup spotlight but pressure isn’t new to Okello because he has known mornings without breakfast and evenings without boots.

He has known the weight of expectation in Afcon U-17 qualifiers, failed once but rose to captain the nation to the world. But above all, his experience playing for Bul and the several international tournaments.

‘I think the club has pressure and I’m learning how to handle it from my older teammates,’ he smiles. Okello made his debut at Bul in February 2023 aganst SC Villa in Uganda Cup. He has appeared 20 times for the senior team, scoring one goal.

Brotherhood

Okello did not score a goal in the Afcon but is not shaken.

‘I didn’t score but I put in work a little more and created some opportunities to score. But I still believe that I can score.’ That maturity and refusal to panic is rare at 17.

Beyond his own ambitions, Okello’s brotherhood with one of his best friends James Bogere drives him. His link-up play with Bogere, the team’s most dependable striker, fuels Uganda Cub’s attack.

‘My partnership with James is not new,’ Okello laughs. ‘We grew up together and he is like my brother. I know his movemen and his abilities. I know what makes him happy or sad so, it simplifies my work.’

‘We are aiming to reach a high level and as a person, I want to leave a legacy behind. I want to perform very well and also I want to play professional football abroad,’ He concludes before laying back on his seat to reflect.

In summary

Okello: Island boy ? slum dreamer ? dusty academy warrior ? MVP Fufa Junior? Cecafa U18 winning captain ? senior league footballer ? Afcon qualifier ? Uganda’s first captain at a World Cup.

Player profileName: Richard OkelloDate of Birth: March 27, 2008District: JinjaStrong foot: RightPosition: ForwardClub: Bul FC Junior TeamSchool: Jinja Progressive AcademyFavourite Player: Isma MugulusiHobbies: Listening to musicAcademy: Amerigo SA, El Cambio SA, Masese SAFamous Quote: Only God KnowsFavourite Food: Rice, sweet potatoes, ChickenJersey Number: 11 Uganda Cubs scheduleNovember 5: Canada vs. UgandaNovember 8: Uganda vs. ChileNovember 11: Uganda vs. France