Category: Daily Monitor

Namuwongo Blazers are on the verge of winning their first ever National Basketball League title.

The Naalya based outfit took a 3-2 series lead following a 71-68 win over City Oilers Sunday night at the Lugogo Indoor Stadium.

With the stadium packed to the rafters and fans in full voice, the Blazers took charge of the finals to move to within a win of league glory.

They can wrap up the season with victory in Wednesday night’s Game Six, which would end a decade long dominance of the Oilers.

Tormentor in chief for the Oilers was their former captain James Okello, who poured in 17 points and collected six rebounds on the night.

It was the Blazers who led 25-23 at the end of the first quarter but Chad Bowie’s floater closed the second frame to send the two sides into the locker room tied at 41-41.

Like has been the case in the last two games, the second half belonged to the Blazers, led by another former Oilers player, Tonny Drileba.

The guard’s control of possessions late in the game has been the difference as the Blazers came from a 2-0 hole.

And despite picking up two quick fouls, he was never affected and directed traffic in the second half.

Right there in the mix were two other former Oilers players, Jimmy Enabu and Ivan Muhwezi, who both made big plays to come their new paymasters in control of proceedings.

Okello’s fadeaway jump shot beat the buzzer at the end of the third frame as Stephen Nyeko’s charges established a four-point difference (58-54) going into the last 10 minutes of the game.

City Oilers attempted to get back into the game in the fourth frame but only edged it 14-13, which was not sufficient for victory.

Joel Lukoji and Anthony Chukwurah scored 10 points each to complement Okello and lead the Blazers to victory.

City Oilers’ struggles continued for a third straight game, with only Kurt Curry (15 points) and Chad Bowie (14 points) managing to score in double figures.

Andrew Tendo took Fayed Baale out of the line up and started Edgar Munaba, who contributed five points and three rebounds and ended up stuck on the bench after the first half.

Titus Lual got into early foul trouble but managed nine points and nine rebounds off the bench.

The record champions now find themselves in a spot of bother, against a highly charged Blazers side that has the momentum.

Do the Oilers still have any fight left in them? That will be answered on Wednesday, which could turn out to be historical in Ugandan basketball.

National Basketball League

Finals

Men

Game Five result

Nam Blazers 71-68 City Oilers (3-2)

When Asadu Kigozi Kisitu steps into his office at Uganda Revenue Authority (URA), he brings more than two decades of customs experience, a calm determination, and a reformer’s mindset.

His rise from a young officer to customs commissioner reflects not only personal perseverance but the evolution of Uganda’s customs system toward efficiency, integrity, and modernisation.

Kisitu’s career began humbly in 1998 as an insurance broker at First Insurance Limited. A year later, he joined URA, a decision that would define his professional life.

Over 25 years, he has worked across nearly every customs function: border management, valuation, warehousing, risk management, and tariff classification, among others.

‘I’ve risen through the ranks from officer to commissioner,’ he says, noting that the journey has shaped his understanding of Uganda’s trade ecosystem from the ground up.

He has been key in shaping Uganda’s customs for the 21st-century demands that are largely driven by technology.

Kisitu’s leadership philosophy centers on modernization and efficiency.

‘My strategy has always been to introduce modern ways of doing business,’ he says. ‘We are meeting the needs of future clients through technology and process re-engineering.’

Under his stewardship, URA has embraced a wave of digital innovation. The marine cargo insurance portal now simplifies customs procedures and ensures taxes are calculated based on real insurance costs.

Regionally, systems like the EAC Bond and Regional Electronic Cargo Tracking System have improved transparency and reduced cargo diversion.

These tools reflect his conviction that technology is not just about convenience; it’s a safeguard against corruption and inefficiency.

‘Digitisation allows us to serve traders better, collect more accurate taxes, and reduce the cost of doing business,’ he says. But beyond this, Kisitu is equally passionate about people, driving professionalism in the customs and freight forwarding industry.

‘Professionalism is the bedrock of effective customs administration,’ he says. ‘Our officers must have both competence and character. That’s how we earn the trust of traders and the public.’

One of his flagship reforms is the re-engineering of the licensing system for customs agents and freight forwarders.

The goal is to eliminate dishonest actors and ensure that only qualified, ethical agents represent traders. This approach, he argues, builds confidence and fairness in the system.

Balancing revenue and trade

As Commissioner, Kisitu faces the constant challenge of balancing revenue collection with trade facilitation. His solution lies in smart technology and collaboration.

‘We are simplifying processes so that compliance becomes easier,’ he says. ‘A traveler should be able to declare to Customs before arrival at Entebbe, clearance should be validation, not punishment.’

His vision is to turn customs from a perceived obstacle into a trusted partner for businesses, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises.

Fighting fraud

Kisitu’s reputation for integrity is well-earned. He has consistently taken a tough stance against fraud and corruption, which he calls ‘the biggest threat to fair trade.’

His strategy goes beyond enforcement; it’s rooted in data-driven decision-making and inter-agency cooperation. URA now uses electronic tracking systems, mobile scanners, and shared intelligence with regional partners to identify smuggling and under-declaration.

‘We must protect honest traders,’ he says. But his lasting reform depends on partnerships, not policing.

He regularly engages with freight-forwarding associations, manufacturers, and other government agencies to address bottlenecks and foster dialogue, which he describes as one of ‘open conversation and shared accountability.’

By involving stakeholders in decision-making, he believes customs can build a culture of voluntary compliance, where honesty is rewarded rather than penalised.

His long-term goal is to make Uganda’s customs administration digitally driven, regionally integrated, and globally competitive.

‘The work of customs is . about securing our borders, facilitating legitimate trade, and supporting national growth,’ he says.

Kisitu’s mission is clear: to build a customs service that balances efficiency with fairness, and modernisation with humanity.

‘We are building a cleaner, more efficient trade ecosystem; one that rewards honesty, supports innovation, and positions Uganda as a competitive player in regional and global trade,’ he says.

The Ministry of Works and Transport has announced the immediate suspension of heavy trucks and trailers from using a section of the Kampala-Gulu Highway between Karuma and Kamdini, following signs of road failure identified by engineers.

The affected stretch lies approximately 1km from the Karuma-Olwiyo/Pakwach junction, near the Kampala-side of the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) checkpoint. Mr Allan Ssempebwa, the senior communications officer at the Works ministry, said preliminary assessments point to heavy rains as the cause of the embankment failure.

‘Yes, the section of the Karuma-Kamdini Road has experienced a failure underneath, and as a result of that bottleneck, we’ve cordoned off that section, and vehicles, bus traffic especially, can only use half of the lane of the road as we mobilise for restatement of the section,’ he said.

Mr Ssempebwa added: ‘But in the interim, we are advising our friends of the trailers, buses, heavy trucks generally, not to use that section of the highway, but to consider using a diversion.’

To ensure safety, traffic at the affected site is currently restricted to a single lane. Light vehicles have been urged to proceed with caution, reduce speed, and comply with all traffic control measures in place.

Following the suspension, heavy truck and trailer drivers are advised to divert at the Karuma-Pakwach junction (URA checkpoint).

‘Now, the diversion is when you’re coming from Kampala, and you reach the URA checkpoint at Karuma, you turn off on the left, drive about 51km to Olwiyo Trading Centre, and when you reach Olwiyo Trading Centre, you turn on the right, and you drive about 62km through Anaka to connect to Gulu, and vice versa,’ he said. Mr Ssempebwa said ministry teams are mobilising to restore the damaged section.

The onset of heavy rains has begun to wreak havoc across various regions of the country. On November 1, the ministry issued a traffic alert after landslides cut off the Rubuguri-Katojo Road in South Western Uganda at multiple points.

This disrupted access to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, prompting warnings for motorists and residents to avoid the affected areas. Similarly, since last Friday, the Kapchorwa-Suam Road in Kapchorwa District (Sebei Sub-region) has continued to suffer landslides due to persistent rainfall.

Additional landslides were reported on November 1 near Kowobelyo Village in Bukwo District, rendering travel unsafe. Mr Ssempebwa confirmed that the country is now fully in its rainy season.

‘As a result, the heavy rains have caused a lot of significant flooding, and in sections where we have, for example, wetlands and swamps, some of the road assets have been easily compromised.’

A couple of weeks ago, StrongMinds organised and held the East African Mental Summit 2025 that brought together policymakers, private sector leaders, civil society actors, and mental health advocates. One of the key issues mentioned was corporate bullying in workplaces.

Ms Goldy Obama, a mental health consultant from the Federation of Uganda Employers, said bullying in the workplace exists, though many do not name it. She said it could be humiliation in meetings, gossip, being excluded from decisions, or being micromanaged to the point of breaking down. She then rightly mentions that employee wellness is not charity.

Reading this story in the Daily Monitor of Friday, October 30, brought to mind all the unwellness that many workers are forced to wade through in the name of taking home a paycheck.

There was once a certain boss who was so negative that all his written communication was littered with French. It is one thing to speak French when one is angry, but to write it and in caps, now that is special.

Anyway, that human of Uganda would dish out rude memos to anyone who fell short of his glory. He was actually right about the poor performance, but the way the message was delivered, eh, even Parliament would ban him from walking near the August House.

So one day, I was in one of the office bathrooms, minding my business, when I overheard him in the next room talking about me with another senior colleague. I froze, lest they hear me and call me out to explain why I was in the nearby bathroom while they were having a conversation about me.

To my shock, he was all praises for me. From his words, he thought very highly of me and was very pleased with my work and performance. He said the company was lucky to have me. I kid you not, I froze. I stayed in that bathroom long after they had left because I did not want him to even suspect that I had heard what he thought of me. That I was good after all. That all the harsh, crude, and toxic behaviour was just to scare us and make us so insecure, and to always feel dispensable.

The only comfort was that he was doing it to everyone else that he supervised. You know how misery loves company. However, some among us had a low tolerance level for toxicity and so left to maintain their sanity. A few of us dysfunctional people who respond to being bullied by leaders stayed and worked.

Our dysfunctionality aside, we needed the jobs more than we hated the horrible working environment. I now know that he was dealing with demons of his own and was just giving back to society. I hear he is a kinder person now.

Then, at another workplace, the older employees who had been there well before us made the workplace seem like a torture chamber. I was once scolded for hugging a male colleague, for accidentally turning off one of the lights, touching the wall while walking up the stairs, and smiling too widely in the morning. It was so tense. You would have to breathe in and out 140 times before entering the workplace. While the office bullies were quite talented and resourceful, it was hard for them to have any impact on the younger people in the office because they were always so harsh and unapproachable. I now know that they were just broke and disillusioned.

And then of course, the intolerant, indefatigable supervisor who calls at 4am to reprimand you for a missing full stop, or the one who never responds to greetings and equally never says hello. Oh, and of course, the one who patronizes everyone and talks to them like they are talking to toddlers, makes you wait for a signature for 80 years when all they need to do is pick up a pen and scribble. Their presence at the workplace spoils the air so much so that every time they call in sick, you have an internal break dance party.

And that is not even the half of it, but I do not want to do all the talking. For you, what is your story?

Workplace bullying and toxicity is a real thing. We just tolerate it because we think it is normal. I have got news for you. It is not. But like Total Contrast asked, ‘What you gonna do about it?’

In recent years, Uganda’s creative industry has grown into a vibrant force of storytelling, entertainment and cultural expression.

From film sets to the rising stars in music and comedy, our country’s talent continues to inspire audiences both at home and abroad. Yet behind every screen that lights up with local content lies an often overlooked, yet critical factor that determines whether these creative expressions can thrive under structured regulatory compliance.

Structured regulatory compliance addresses the systematic adherence to legal and regulatory standards governing content creation, distribution and monetisation.

In Uganda, this encompasses various laws, regulations and guidelines from the broadcast sector regulator, Uganda Communications Commission (UCC.) For many, compliance is regarded as a rigid set of rules that restrains innovation and practically ruins all the fun.

But in reality, when applied effectively, compliance becomes a framework that protects intellectual property (IP), guarantees fairness and fosters sustainable growth for filmmakers and other content creators. In the pay TV and digital entertainment space, it is the backbone of trust between regulators, broadcasters, creators and audiences.

Far from being a bureaucratic hurdle, the regulatory compliance framework provides a foundation for legitimacy, sustainability and protection. For instance, registering IP under the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) ensures creators retain ownership of their work, shielding it from the rampant piracy that plagues our sector and ensuring a pathway for them to earn from their creativity. Piracy remains one of the biggest threats to local content.

A filmmaker who invests time, talent and resources into producing a film often finds their work circulating freely online or in unlicensed formats within days. Without structured compliance frameworks ranging from content licensing agreements to anti-piracy enforcement, this cycle discourages investment and erodes livelihoods.

Through structured compliance, pay TV providers enforce strict anti-piracy measures, ensure contracts are transparent and protect the content creators’ intellectual property. This means that filmmakers can be confident that their work will not only reach audiences but will also generate the returns needed to reinvest in future projects. Compliance is also a gateway to scaling local content beyond Uganda’s borders.

Regulatory alignment whether with the UCC standards or with other continental frameworks like the African Continental Free Trade Area’s intellectual property policies allow local productions to be distributed on regional and international platforms. For local creators, this means more than just exposure, it means exporting Ugandan culture to the world while tapping into diverse revenue streams.

Through compliance distribution agreements, a short film made in Kampala can find audiences in Lagos, Johannesburg or even on global streaming platforms.

Furthermore, viewers are more likely to embrace local content when they are assured of quality control and accountability. Compliance frameworks governing advertising standards, content classification and broadcasting rights all feed into building this trust. When a family tunes into a local production on a regulated pay TV platform, they know it has met both creative and ethical standards.

This assurance builds loyalty and strengthens demand for homegrown productions. The more audiences support local films, the more opportunities arise for creators to produce new work. Structured compliance is also a magnet for investment.

International studios, funding bodies and corporate sponsors are more likely to support projects in markets where laws are clear, contracts are enforceable and creators’ rights are respected. Uganda’s filmmakers stand to gain significantly from this. With a complaint ecosystem, investors are not deterred by risks of piracy or regulatory uncertainty but instead view the industry as a credible and promising field for collaboration.

Ultimately, structured compliance is not the responsibility of regulators and broadcasters alone, it is a shared responsibility.

Content creators must view compliance not as a hurdle, but as a value-adding tool in building credibility and sustainability. Regulators must continue to evolve and consider proactive policies that balance consumer protection with creative freedom, while ensuring viewers receive the best of local content.

Fellow Ugandans

In Part I, we argued that Uganda’s deepest heirlooms, the extended family, the clan, and the village – are as vital to the nation’s progress as roads and factories. Yet these heirlooms are under threat, not only from urbanisation and industrialisation, but also from within: through changing family attitudes and a surge in mental health struggles, particularly among the youth.

Uganda’s mental health crisis The numbers are alarming. The World Health Organisation estimates that 14 million Ugandans, about 35 percent of the population, live with some form of mental disorder.

Depression and anxiety dominate, while suicide among youth is rising.

Research shows 20-30 percent of secondary school students report suicidal thoughts in some districts.

The Ministry of Health concedes that 90 percent of people with mental health conditions never receive treatment, trapped by stigma and inadequate services. This is more than a medical issue, it is social. When family, clan, and village ties weaken, young people are left to carry their burdens alone.

In earlier generations, communal networks absorbed such stresses; today, isolation makes them unbearable.

The modern family’s blind spot Worringly, some urban families now refuse to send their children ‘to the village’ during holidays. They fear ‘backwardness,’ poor lifestyles, or negative influences. Yet, in this rejection lies a tragic short-sightedness. Villages once grounded children in humility, resilience, and respect for elders.

They offered hands-on lessons in farming, water-fetching, and communal rituals. By denying children this grounding, modern families are raising a generation that may be academically capable but socially fragile.

The result is a two-tier society: overstimulated urban youth disconnected from their roots, and resilient rural youth undervalued and sidelined.

This mirrors the crisis of ‘developed’ societies. They achieved material affluence but dismantled the communal structures that nurtured belonging. The predictable outcomes are loneliness, alienation, and rising mental health struggles. Uganda is on the verge of repeating this mistake.

Redefining ‘Protect the Gains’

To protect the gains must mean more than defending industrial achievements. It must mean defending the heirlooms that keep Ugandans whole.

Policymakers must treat family, clan, and village as strategic assets, not nostalgic burdens. That requires: Mental health services are rooted in communities, not only hospitals; Schools that engage clan elders in shaping character and values; Families that see village visits not as regression but enrichment; Recognition of the extended family system as a priceless social safety net.

Conclusion

The UK’s story is clear: affluence without community ends in isolation. Uganda has the chance to do better. If we industrialise while neglecting our heirlooms, we may win material gains but lose our social fabric.

But if we industrialise while reinforcing families, clans, and villages, we can chart a course where prosperity and belonging grow together.

To protect the gains, then, is to keep alive the very spaces where people find meaning, solidarity, and hope. Anything less risks leaving future generations richer in money but poorer in spirit. Ciao

The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) on Sunday night arrested a suspected armed robber in Arua City found in possession of an SMG rifle loaded with 55 rounds of ammunition, officials said.

The arrest took place at Nsambya Cell, Awindiri Ward, Arua Central Division. Lt Nasser Mene, the UPDF Public Information Officer for West Nile, said the suspect was intercepted during a routine operation.

‘The Uganda Peoples’ Defence Force is mandated to protect its citizens with their properties intact,’ Lt Mene told Monitor on Monday.

The firearm was discovered packed in a bag inside a vehicle the suspect was traveling in. Lt Mene said the operation aimed to maintain safety and security for residents of the region.

He declined to comment on whether the suspect was already under surveillance or the specific intentions at the time of the arrest.

Arua City has seen a history of armed robberies targeting businesses and traders, particularly those dealing in gold and local commerce.

In August 2023, a robber was overpowered at a local bar known as Bamboo while attempting to steal expensive liquor.

Police later found the gun had been stolen from a fuel station security guard.

In November 2023, two armed robbers on a motorcycle stole Shs 420 million from local businessmen in Awindiri Ward but were not apprehended. Between 2018 and 2019, Arua City recorded over 14 cases of armed robberies, prompting police to adopt community policing and intelligence-led arrests to restore safety.

Lt Mene described the Sunday arrest as part of ongoing UPDF efforts to minimize crime and maintain law and order.

‘It is one of our routine tasks aimed at minimizing wrong culprits within the communities and ensuring sanity and safety for citizens in the region,’ he said.

The city in Uganda’s West Nile region continues to be a hotspot for armed robberies, with recent incidents mainly targeting boda boda riders, highlighting persistent security challenges despite increased military and police interventions.

Uganda has won an award in her premier flagship appearance at the Swiss International Holiday Expo (SIHE) 2025 held in the Southern City of Lugano, Switzerland, from October 31 to November 2.

The expo, which is Switzerland’s premier tourism fair focusing on luxury tourism, meetings, incentives, conferences, exhibitions/events (MICE) and leisure, attracts more than 400 international buyers, exhibitors from 80 countries, and more than 7,000 visitors.

Uganda was the only country to win the award in the ‘Natural Paradise’ category, while other recipients were private sector tour companies, according to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

As per the same statement, Uganda’s debut at the SIHE was sponsored by the Permanent Mission of Uganda to the United Nations (UN) in Geneva, which is also accredited to the Swiss Confederation in Bern, with an aim of positioning the country as a premier travel destination.

Objectives

It also aimed at tapping into the high-spending Swiss travel market, through showcasing the country’s unique attractions. The ministry said markets such as Switzerland offer untapped potential for Uganda’s tourism sector, given the Swiss population’s high per capita income of $102,000 and strong interest in international travel.

According to the Swiss Federal Statistics Office, in 2024, Swiss travellers spent $23 billion abroad. The Mission also partnered with the Ministry of Agriculture to offer a ‘coffee-tasting experience’ during the expo of freshly-brewed Ugandan coffee.

Mr Marcel Tibaleka, the permanent representative, who also doubles as Uganda’s ambassador to the Swiss Confederation, described Uganda’s participation in the expo as ‘a good strategic investment, which will enhance global recognition, prestige, and credibility of Uganda’s tourism sector’.

‘Our participation is one that presents an opportunity to make direct contact with Swiss and European travel enthusiasts and media, elevate Uganda’s ‘Pearl of Africa’ brand, and establish valuable partnerships across priority segments such as luxury safaris, cultural travel, and MICE,’ Mr Tibaleka said.

Ambassador Arthur Kafeero, the deputy permanent representative to the UN in Geneva, said the Lugano exhibition would further advance the promotion of Uganda’s coffee to the Swiss market.

Studies estimate that up to 20 or 30 percent of preschoolers and school-aged children engage in habits such as thumb sucking or nail biting. Often dismissed as simple quirks of childhood, these behaviours can influence dental development, speech, and even self-confidence if left unchecked. Let us explore the most common habits, why they emerge, and how parents and caregivers can gently guide children toward healthier ones.

The usual culprits in young mouths include thumb or finger sucking, nail biting (onychophagia), tongue thrusting, cheek or lip biting, and prolonged pacifier use. Thumb sucking often begins in infancy as a natural soothing reflex and may persist beyond age four. Nail biting typically peaks during the school years, especially during times of stress, such as exams.

Tongue thrusting, pushing the tongue forward against the teeth while swallowing, can alter the alignment of developing adult teeth. Cheek or lip biting may cause sore patches, while extended pacifier use beyond age three increases the risk of open bites or a narrowed palate.

Self soothing

Parafunctional habits develop mainly as self-soothing mechanisms. For babies, a thumb becomes a portable pacifier, offering comfort during separation anxiety or bedtime fears.

Some children pick up habits by imitation; if older siblings chew pens or bite nails, younger ones often follow suit. Emotional triggers are the most common cause globally, though physical factors such as allergies or nasal congestion can also play a role by promoting mouth breathing and open-mouth postures that reinforce certain habits.

Managing and preventing these habits requires patience, creativity, and consistency, much like nurturing a young mango tree to grow straight. Habit correction is most effective once a child can understand why it is necessary, usually after five years.

Begin by observing without scolding; shaming a child can increase anxiety and worsen the habit. For thumb suckers, positive reinforcement techniques, such as sticker charts for ‘dry thumb’ nights, work well. Pacifier use should gradually taper off by age two, ideally replaced with comforting bedtime rituals such as cuddly toys or bedtime stories.

For nail biters, introduce stress relievers such as fidget toys or fun breathing exercises (‘blow out birthday candles’) to redirect their energy. Speech therapists can help with tongue thrusting through playful exercises, while dentists can monitor alignment and, if needed, recommend gentle habit-breaking appliances.

Early intervention can prevent future dental issues such as crooked teeth, speech delays, or jaw discomfort. Regular dental check-ups from age one are key to identifying problems before they worsen. In Uganda, community health workers and school-based programmes can help raise awareness, making habit management a shared community effort.

At least 14,500 Ugandan health professionals have received specialised emergency care training through a virtual programme that trainers say is helping to cut deaths in supported emergency wards.

Launched in 2021 by the Ministry of Health in partnership with Seed Global Health, the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) ECHO tele-mentoring initiative equips frontline workers with critical skills without removing them from their posts. Sessions combine real-time virtual mentoring and demonstrations to reach practitioners even in remote areas.

In a joint statement on Monday, programme coordinators reported that emergency-related deaths have declined by 30 percent in Seed-supported wards.

Dr John Baptist Waniaye, Commissioner of EMS at the Ministry, said the programme is proof Uganda can develop homegrown solutions to empower health workers and save lives globally.

‘We have been developing a system that manages a patient from the scene, through transportation, to receiving care at a facility,’ Dr Waniaye said. ‘The human resources, infrastructure, and skills required demand deep collaboration and engagement from multiple partners to strengthen and sustain it.’

Nurse Alice Kabasoga of Mbale Regional Referral Hospital said the sessions have allowed her to interact with specialists who would otherwise be difficult to access.

‘This has improved my approach to certain complex medical conditions,’ she said.

Dr Pius Mukasa Mulumba, a medical officer with Police Health Services in Soroti, said the training offers a platform for continuous medical education for his team.

‘As a team leader, I can effectively mobilise and ensure we all attend, and this has improved patient care,’ he said.

Dr Jimmy Atyera, a Seed program associate, noted that EMS ECHO demonstrates that frontline providers can be mentored without disrupting service delivery.

‘This model enables real-time connections between upcountry healthcare providers and specialist healthcare workers, strengthening support for frontline health workers in remote areas,’ he said.

The initiative marks a growing trend in leveraging virtual platforms to enhance healthcare delivery, particularly in emergency services, across Uganda’s dispersed health facilities.