Category: Daily Monitor

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

Robert Kyagulanyi’s decision to visit Milton Obote’s grave in the middle of an election was definitely a political blunder, and I’m sure his advisors have silently acknowledged it.

Once you start setting your sights on historical injustices, you trap yourself in struggles that can never be fixed because the same river can never flow twice. You also divert your attention from things right in front of you that are pretty easy to fix.

A lot of people assume that it won’t affect him since the majority of Ugandans are below 30 years, and I kind of thought in a similar way when I first saw the video of the visit. I thought to myself, “You know what, Uganda has the second youngest population in the world. None of them knows anything about Obote.

They have only known Museveni as president. So, it won’t affect Bobi. ” But then I realised that I have also known only one president all my life.

So, how come Obote’s name has always been a thorn in my brain? I remembered that I started reading about Obote around 2009 on the Ugandans At Heart forum through our interactions with the elders.

I also started borrowing books from the university library to teach myself the history of my country – that’s the time I was doing my postgraduate studies here in the UK. That’s why I’m now in a better position to assess the gravity of the visit to Obote’s grave than some people. I’m sure that those Ugandans in their 20s have also started opening up books, consulting elders, like I did, to research about Obote and what he did while he was president.

And people shouldn’t bet on crowds and think that all will be forgotten. In any case, crowds don’t necessarily mean votes in any election. Besigye had serious crowds, but he’s now sadly in prison, and he never became president. Huge rallies are a completely useless metric.

Reconciliation is the process of restoring a relationship, system, or account to a state of agreement, consistency, or harmony after divergence, error, or conflict. Reconciliations aren’t really done during campaigns. When you do it during campaigns, it smells of opportunism. If you decide to visit Obote’s grave for purposes of reconciliation, then you have to go all the way.

You can’t limit it to the dead and past. You should reconcile with Museveni and others, too. The word reconciliation in normal life refers to the removal of any mistakes that happened between two persons. It means the restoration of friendly relations or the action of making one view or belief compatible with another.

So, if Kyagulanyi means what he says, he has to stretch during these elections and reach out to Mathias Mpuuga, Asuman Basalirwa, and several others who are his ” enemies.”

The 1966 attack on Kabaka’s palace is still painful, especially in the hearts of elders. Some Baganda haven’t forgotten and forgiven Obote for what he did to their kingdom.

Police in Iganga District have arrested a 28-year-old teacher on allegations of leaking Primary Leaving Examination (PLE) papers during the ongoing national exams.

The suspect, identified as Abdul Abdul, a teacher at Ibun Baz Primary School and resident of Bugabwe Village in Bulubandi Parish, Nakigo Sub-county, was arrested on Monday morning after intelligence linked him to the circulation of leaked examination materials.

According to Mr Michael Kasadha, the Busoga East Police spokesperson, intelligence operatives received information at around 10:45 am indicating that copies of the Mathematics and Social Studies (SST) papers, which candidates sat for that morning, were circulating on several Telegram and WhatsApp groups.

‘The leaked papers were reportedly being shared using the suspect’s mobile contact,’ Mr Kasadha said.

Following the tip-off, detectives conducted a search at Abdul’s residence and reportedly recovered a mobile phone containing soft copies of suspicious examination materials.

The suspect was immediately taken into custody and later handed over to the Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) security team for further investigation.

Mr Kasadha condemned the act, saying such malpractice undermines the integrity of the country’s education system.

He urged teachers, parents, and school administrators to uphold honesty and transparency during the examination period.

‘We call upon all stakeholders to strictly comply with UNEB regulations to ensure credible results and a fair evaluation process for all candidates,’ Mr Kasadha said.

Traffic along the busy Karuma-Kamdini highway, a crucial trade route connecting central Uganda to the north, has been severely disrupted after a section of the road near the Karuma-Olwiyo/Pakwach junction collapsed due to heavy rains.

The damage, which engineers have attributed to embankment failure caused by flooding, has forced authorities to close part of the highway and divert heavy trucks and trailers to alternative routes.

To manage the flow of traffic, the Ministry of Works and Transport has established a diversion route for heavy vehicles. Truck drivers are now advised to branch off at the Karuma-Pakwach junction (URA checkpoint), drive about 51 kilometres to Olwiyo Trading Centre, then turn right to connect through Anaka before continuing to Gulu. This new route adds roughly 62 kilometres to their journey.

The diversion now increases the total travel distance between Karuma-Pakwach junction and Gulu City by 42 kilometres, compared to the normal 71-kilometre drive through Corner Kamdini.

As a result, transporters are incurring higher fuel costs. As of November 3, 2025, a litre of diesel was retailing at Shs4,700 in Lira City. For a bus traveling from Gulu-Karuma-Kampala via Olwiyo, the additional 42 kilometres requires about 15 extra litres of fuel, translating to an extra Shs70,500 per trip.

Mr Bernard Nyeko Matsanga, spokesperson for the Northern Uganda Drivers’ Union, said the diversions are likely to force operators to raise transport fares.

‘Buses may decide to increase the fare to enable them to add fuel to cover the increased distance that the diversion has introduced,’ he said, appealing for an urgent government intervention.

Light vehicles have been cautioned to drive carefully, reduce speed, and obey traffic officers managing the single operational lane.

Mr James Shilaku, the Resident District Commissioner (RDC) of Oyam, said district leaders have already alerted the Ministry of Works and Transport about the damage and requested immediate repairs.

‘We are also deploying the police to control traffic flow,’ he said. ‘Their mandate will be to lower the speed because this is a highway so that vehicles don’t fall into the ditch, and also ensure the other side does not collapse.’

The Ministry of Works confirmed that movement of heavy trucks and trailers along the Karuma-Kamdini section has been temporarily suspended to prevent further deterioration of the road.

‘The affected section has been hoarded off, and traffic is being managed on one lane,’ the ministry said in a statement. ‘Restoration works are being mobilised to reinstate the section as soon as possible.’

The Karuma-Kamdini highway remains one of northern Uganda’s busiest trade routes, linking Kampala to South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The disruption has therefore raised concern among traders and transporters over possible delays and increased operating costs.

Police in Mukono City have arrested six Senior Four candidates from Bishop Senior School on charges of arson after allegedly setting a dormitory ablaze during a strike last week.

Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson Patrick Onyango confirmed the arrests, saying the suspects were handed over by the school administration after internal investigations identified them as the ringleaders of the unrest.

‘It is alleged that one week ago, students had staged a demonstration, and they set fire on the dormitory,’ Onyango said. ‘After setting fire, the administration, staff, and students managed to extinguish the fire. They carried out their own investigation and got to know the ring leaders.’

He added that the suspects were allowed to complete their final examinations before being turned over to police.

‘Because these students were in S.4 and were supposed to do exams, they did not want to interfere with their exams,’ Onyango explained, adding: ‘They kept quiet and after their exams that’s when they reported to Mukono Police, and a case of arson has been opened pending thorough investigations.’

Preliminary findings indicate that the incident occurred on October 24, 2025, at around midnight, and was formally reported on October 28 by Najib Saiga, a teacher at the school.

The suspects have been identified as Muwanguzi Jabez Samuel, 18, of Hill View; Bukenya Ryan, 18, of Butebe Cell; Luminsa Alfred, 18, of Nabuuti Cell; Ntale Deogracious, 18, of Nakabago Cell; and Kibuuka Christopher, 19, of Seeta, all in Mukono District.

According to police sources, Saiga was alerted by the school electrician that one of the dormitories was on fire.

‘The fire burnt many things among them 30 jerrycans of liquid soap, two office chairs, a hand mopper, seven school mattresses, six mattresses for fees defaulters, the warden’s three pairs of trousers, a wallet containing Shs25,000, one pair of canvass shoes, plus window and door glasses,’ the source said.

The school headteacher, Robert Kyakulaga, declined to comment when contacted.

Police say investigations are ongoing to determine the motive behind the students’ actions and whether other individuals were involved in planning the incident.

If convicted, the students face serious charges under Uganda’s Penal Code Act for willful destruction of property.

The incident adds to a growing list of student unrest cases across Uganda in recent months, often linked to disciplinary actions, examination stress, or grievances against school administration.

As Uganda approaches the 2026 General Election, the role of the media in shaping public discourse and holding power accountable has never been more critical. Yet the state of press freedom is under unprecedented strain.

According to the 2025 World Press Freedom Index by Reporters Without Borders, Uganda ranks 143 out of 180 countries, behind even South Sudan. This sobering figure reflects a broader erosion of freedom of expression, a cornerstone of any democratic society. One of the most pressing concerns lies in media ownership.

Uganda has more than 300 radio stations, but many are controlled by politicians of the ruling party or religious institutions closely aligned with the ruling party.

This concentration of ownership narrows the range of perspectives available to the public and limits the possibility of genuine political dialogue.

As media practitioner Daniel Kalinaki observes, the deficit in press freedom is both a supply issue, due to systemic and structural constraints and a demand issue, given the absence of institutions meant to protect independence in thought leadership and operation.

Independent media that questions authority is not a luxury; it is a necessity. Yet Uganda’s shrinking civic space, combined with the securitisation of the State and the weakening of institutions, has left both the press and the public struggling to navigate a fragile democratic environment.

At the same time, new media platforms are reshaping how Ugandans access information. Youth-led initiatives such as the Media Challenge Initiative and other citizen journalism projects are filling gaps left by mainstream outlets.

Social media has become a space for storytelling, accountability, and civic engagement, especially among younger audiences. But these digital platforms come with risks such as surveillance, targeted harassment, misinformation, and the weaponisation of regulation.

The periodic ‘switching off’ of online spaces during elections undermines transparency and democratic participation at a time when openness matters most.

Gender inequity within the media that has kept women underrepresented in newsrooms, and their voices are often marginalised in public discourse.

Patriarchal norms within both media institutions and society at large continue to silence women’s perspectives. As activist Brenda Kugonza has noted, this exclusion is not accidental but rooted in structural inequalities that weaken democratic practice.

Ensuring gender equity in journalism is not simply a question of representation; it is a prerequisite for a media landscape that reflects the realities of all Ugandans. The threats to press freedom extend well beyond structural issues. Journalists continue to face arrests, harassment, and intimidation.

Regulatory bodies and laws such as the Computer Misuse Act are sometimes weaponised against critical reporting.

Lawyers, diplomats, and civil society actors have also been targeted, revealing a wider breakdown of democratic norms. What we are witnessing is not just a media freedom crisis, but a broader assault on civic life that is yet to escalate in the coming 2025 general election.

To protect Uganda’s media environment ahead of the 2026 elections, several steps are urgent.

First, independent oversight mechanisms such as ombudsmen or press councils should be established to uphold ethical, impartial journalism. These bodies can help rebuild public trust, ensure transparency, and safeguard against both misinformation and censorship.

Second, a National Dialogue Process is needed post the election cycle to bring together citizens, journalists, policymakers, and civil society to redefine the principles of democracy and media governance.

Such a dialogue must include youth, women, and marginalised groups so that political coverage and freedom of expression are protected in practice, not just in law.

Capacity-building programs are vital to equip journalists, especially women and young reporters, with digital reporting skills, investigative techniques, fact-checking tools, and online safety strategies. Training must also include legal literacy to help journalists understand electoral regulations and protect themselves in a risky political climate.

Finally, Uganda needs inclusive regulation.

Regulatory bodies must operate transparently and in consultation with media and civil society, ensuring that election accreditation is fair, and that laws protect journalists from harassment rather than enabling arbitrary censorship.

Inclusive frameworks must also dismantle systemic barriers such as gender bias and the exclusion of independent and community media. As the Washington Post reminds us, ‘Democracy dies in darkness.’

Uganda’s 2026 elections present not only a test of political will but also a pivotal opportunity to reaffirm the media as the voice of the people.

By addressing systemic challenges, responsibly embracing technology, and amplifying marginalised voices, Uganda can move toward a media landscape that upholds accountability, transparency, and democratic values.

Rights activists have cautioned the government against reckless spending during the election period.

The activists advised the government to put in place safeguards to stabilise agricultural production and protect household incomes in order to avoid a food crisis post 2026 elections.

The Executive Director of Food Rights Alliance, Ms Agnes Kirabo, said Uganda is once again on the brink of a nationwide food crisis post the 2026 General Election, adding that previous elections were followed by food crisis.

‘After the 2011 General Election, Uganda witnessed a sharp rise in food and fuel prices that triggered the ‘Walk-to-Work’ demonstrations, a civil reaction to the escalating cost of living and food scarcity. The 2016 election cycle was followed by similar distress,’ she said.

She added, ‘Uganda’s first nationwide Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) report in 2017 revealed that over 10.9 million Ugandans were food insecure, with 1.6 million in crisis. The analysis attributed this situation to poor rainfall, high market dependency, and economic shocks, all aggravated by the post-election slowdown’.

Ms Kirabo said following the 2021 elections, between 2.5 to three million Ugandans faced a food crisis post the elections, compounded by Covid-19 disruptions and high prices. Ms Kirabo made the remarks during a joint civil society organisation (CSO) press conference on food security crisis post Uganda’s elections in Kampala on Sunday.

‘As civil society, we are convinced that something cannot happen in this country consistently for 15 years and it is not going to happen again post 2026 elections.. This is evidenced by the recent report that was released by the government last week, which signalled significant food insecurity already prevailing in the country,’ she said.

She added, ‘The population census report actually revealed that four in every 10 households, meaning 40 percent of the population in Uganda, are already finding it difficult to find a meal to eat even before we go into the elections’. Ms Kirabo said the 2025 IPC and national food security and nutrition assessment projected an increased circulation of money in the market during the general elections, potentially temporarily boosting household spending capacity.

‘However, such election-related spending often distorts the economy rather than strengthening it, as large sums of money are channelled into campaigns instead of productive sectors, such as agriculture, food systems, or social protection,’ she said. Ms Kirabo said the artificial liquidity may trigger inflationary pressures, drive up prices of essential commodities, and worsen the cost of living for ordinary citizens once the elections end and spending tightens again. The Participatory Ecological Land Use Management (PELUM) Programme Officer for Advocacy, Mr Lawrence Kanakulya, said the government should treat food security and nutrition as a national priority for social, economic, and political stability during the post-election period.

‘Government and stakeholders should consciously note that food insecurity spikes instability, an empty stomach. On the other side, you might think that someone hungry does not have the energy to create violence, but you also need to note that they have nothing to lose,’ he said. Mr Kanakulya said the government should release development funds pre-elections so that production and other developments continue ahead of the elections to avoid a crisis.

Need to check govt spending

The CSBAG Programme Associate, Ms Christina Namubiru, said there is need for the government to put in check its spending during elections.

‘When we look at the 2026 elections, we are still sceptical about what is really going to happen. The World Bank is assuming that by the time we reach the elections, our debt will have shot up to 52 percent of the GDP unless we ensure resource mobilisation and we improve our spending behaviours,’ she said.

Worried

When we look at the 2026 elections, we are still sceptical about what is really going to happen. The World Bank is assuming that by the time we reach the elections, our debt will have shot up to 52 percent of the GDP unless we ensure resource mobilisation and we improve our spending behaviours- Ms Christina Namubiru, CSBAG programme associate

After 12 intensive weeks of coursework, assessments, and mentoring under ICC’s elite educators, Grace Mutyagaba has ticked off another major milestone in his coaching career – the ICC Level 3 badge.

His certification, confirmed this week by ICC’s Participation Programmes Manager Abhishek Shekhawat, places him among the 77.78 percent of candidates from the global cohort who met the required competency standards.

Mutyagaba’s case study, titled ‘Creating a Sustainable Environment to Develop U19 Fast Bowlers from Northern Uganda into Uganda National Teams,’ reflected both his technical depth and passion for regional player development. He was assessed by ICC’s master educators Janith Tharaka Samaratung, Cam Tradell, Jolene Campher, Prachur Shukla, and Esther de Lange.

Emerging from adversity

‘The course stretched me in many ways – balancing work, school, and the project was tough,’ Mutyagaba said. ‘But as they say, rough seas make stronger sailors. It’s those tough times that build great people.’

For Mutyagaba, the achievement isn’t personal glory but shared progress.

‘This achievement is not mine alone. It stands as a testament to our collective effort, dedication, and shared vision at UCA. I look forward to extending this knowledge to empower more local coaches and contribute meaningfully to raising the standards of cricket across Uganda,’ he added.

Mutyagaba, who re-did his Level 1 and Level 2 ICC coaching courses between 2021 and early 2024, has steadily built a reputation as one of Uganda’s most methodical and forward-thinking coaches. He has previously guided the Victoria Pearls to their first African title in 2017 and later to the Global Qualifiers in 2018 (Netherlands).

Shekhawat, in ICC’s official correspondence, praised Uganda Cricket Association for its progress:

‘We congratulate Uganda Cricket Association on this strong result and appreciate your continued commitment to strengthening high-performance coaching within your system.’

Mutyagaba now joins Uganda’s elite class of ICC Level 3 coaches that includes Emmanuel Isaneez, Deus Muhumuza, Henry Okecho, Justine Ligyalingi, and Davis Turinawe – a small but influential group shaping the country’s coaching future.

The ICC will issue a digital certificate to all successful candidates within four weeks, officially sealing Mutyagaba’s name among Africa’s fast-rising technical minds.

Fast Bowling Focus.

Mutyagaba’s project underscored his commitment to grassroots talent development, especially from Northern Uganda. By establishing sustainable structures and coaching frameworks, his work aims to transform raw pace prospects into polished national-team assets.

Full Name: Grace Mutyagaba

ICC Certification: Level II (Certified), Level III (Certified)

Current Role: Northern Uganda Development Officer – UCA

Notable Achievement: Led Victoria Pearls to first African title (2017) and Global Qualifiers (2018, Netherlands)

Specialisation: Fast Bowling Development, Community Cricket, Player Mentorship

Coaching Philosophy: ‘Coach the human first – cricket second.’

Key Projects: ICC Global Level 3 project on Creating Environments for Fast Bowlers in Uganda