Category: Daily Monitor

This week, this newspaper reported on the mudslides in Kween and Bukwo districts that cost nine lives. The devastating mudslides were triggered by a downpour overnight on Wednesday that swept through villages, leaving several injured and hundreds of families displaced.

In Kaptanga Village, Tuikat Sub-county, Kween District, the landslide buried three homes in a span of moments, killing six people, including five from a single family.

In Bukwo, another landslide in Chepkubortin Village, Nyalit Parish, Chesower Sub-county, killed three more and left several others hospitalised. The displaced families are now homeless, with many sheltering under makeshift structures.

‘We appeal for immediate assistance like rescue operations, relief supplies, medical aid and compensation for lost crops and livestock,’ Mr David Mande Kapcheronge, the LC5 councillor for Tuikat Sub-county, said, adding that there is a need for urgent relocation of families in high-risk areas.

Sadly, the Kween and Bukwo tragedy is not merely an unfortunate natural event; it is a failure of foresight and implementation. These untimely deaths are a painful reminder that the communities on the mountain slopes are living on a time bomb.

While the immediate priority must be swift relief and rescue operations, providing food, medical aid, and shelter to the displaced people, the greater obligation by the government is to finally address the root causes and end the cycle of disaster and temporary relief.

The Kween and Bukwo disasters highlight the gap between policy and reality. The government’s cash transfer programme, launched in 2024 to accelerate the relocation of vulnerable households, was a positive step.

However, the fact remains that a critical mass of at-risk communities, including the 254 households slated for relocation in Kween, have yet to benefit. The government must treat the relocation of families from these mountain slopes not as a long-term development project, but as an urgent humanitarian necessity.

Also, stakeholders must develop a long-term environmental restoration strategy for the region. Experts have consistently warned that deforestation, poor land management, and unchecked settlement intensify nature’s wrath.

Experts have also called for supporting initiatives that promote terracing, digging trenches, and the planting of indigenous trees as measures proven to stabilise the soil. The communities living in the Mt Elgon area should be educated to address soil erosion and poor land management, which contribute to landslides.

We owe the victims of Kween and Bukwo, and the other areas that are constantly affected by landslides, more than just grief. We owe them an end to the repeated, avoidable tragedies. It is time for the government to step up, move mountains, and finally get the most vulnerable communities off the mountain slopes.

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Iganga Town Council carried Busoga’s pride and was one of the most admired upcountry sides in Ugandan football. Its name carried weight as it is from its ranks that some of the country’s brightest footballing gems emerged.

Up-to-date, fans still speak with nostalgia about Hakim ‘Boda Boda’ Magumba who is said to have debuted in the top flight at just 15 years before becoming a legend at SC Villa legend and Uganda Cranes.

Then there was Dan Wagaluka, the fleet-footed winger whose journey to the top inspired a generation. Add to that the artistry of Alimansi Kadogo, whose wicked left foot lit up Express and Nile FC and Nathan Mutenza who thrilled fans at KCCA and beyond with his pace.

That golden era defined Iganga football. Two decades later, a new generation is rising from the same soil with the same hunger to restore that legacy.

Busei Village

This recent rebirth of football in Iganga traces its roots back to the humble village in Busei, where a community team named Busei FC was founded.

‘We started small but with a big dream to restore Iganga’s pride in football,’ Din Shariff, the club’s chief executive officer says.

That dream is on the right path as the team patiently builds through local support and after years in the wilderness, they are registering steady progress. They finished third in 2021/22, second in 2022/23 and finally top in 2023/24 seasons.

Their promotion bid in 2024 ended in heartbreak after losing to Myda in the playoffs. But instead of fading, the club rebranded to Iganga United, retooled its technical setup and returned stronger. Last season, they finally completed their mission and earned promotion to the Fufa Big League after dramatic playoff victories over Amus College and Tapoh.

Now, Iganga United represents a revival of community spirit steered by club president Isaac Balita, his deputy Hajjat Eng. Leila Akello and patron Ali Bawazir Toto who have blended professionalism with local identity.

‘We want to bring back the glory days and lift Iganga back to the Uganda Premier League and make our legends proud,’ Shariff asserts.

Eastern derby

Iganga have started the Fufa Big League with mixed registering two wins and a draw in their six outings and sit just below the promotion slots in fifth with seven points.

They welcome Kataka this weekend to their famous Iganga Ssaza Grounds for what promises to be an electric Fufa Big League Eastern derby.

Kataka arrive buoyed by a 1-0 derby win over Mbale Heroes but Iganga banks on their home advantage. Kataka sit fourth with nine points leaving this a very tight affair.

In other games, leaders Black Powers host Young Elephants in Lira, second-placed Wakiso Giants hope to maintain their momentum with a daunting trip to Arua to face Onduparaka while early surprise package Bunyagururu who sit fourth travel eastwards to face embattled Mbale Heroes.

FUFA BIG LEAGUE

Weekend fixtures

Mbale Heroes vs. Bunyaruguru United – Mbale City Stadium

Blacks Power vs. Young Elephant – Ebenezer Univ Play

Iganga United vs. Kataka – Iganga Ssaza Grds

Onduparaka vs. Wakiso Giants – Green Light Stadium

Paidha Black Angles vs. Ntugasaze – Bar Okoro Stadium

Nebbi Central vs. Bright Stars – Luo Ground, Nebbi

Kigezi Homeboyz vs. Kiyinda Boys – Kigezi Al Madina

The post-election chaos that continues to greet Wednesday’s disputed election in Tanzania remains under the watchful eye of Ugandan authorities. Demonstrations in Uganda’s southern neighbouring country and key trading partner entered a third day on October 31 after a poll in which candidates from two leading parties, Chadema and ACT-Wazalendo, were barred appeared to have inflicted the damage it was expected to.

Not only was voter turnout low, but also facing 16 candidates from parties deemed political lightweights, the incumbent, Ms Samia Suluhu Hassan, was building up an unassailable lead as results from the country’s 272 constituencies continued to trickle in.

As stay-at-home orders were issued and police barricades shot up across major cities like Dar es Salaam, Arusha and Dodoma, the impact of any widespread disorder on Uganda’s business interests in Tanzania started to come within eyeshot.

While Uganda runs a trade deficit with its southern neighbour, the Uganda-Tanzania Trade Mission staged in Kampala in April 2025 underscored why the two trading partners remain joined at the hip. The business forum came three years after Ms Suluhu’s state visit in May 2022 when Kampala outdid itself in showing that a rough-on-the-edges exterior belied the brightness within an economic interdependence of two nations.

Bilateral discussions with Dodoma saw a range of non-tariff barriers (NTBs) struck down, including road user charges and restrictions on Ugandan agricultural exports such as dairy and poultry.

A 15 percent bump in dairy exports last year offered ironclad proof that substance was being put behind the pleasantries exchanged at the Uganda-Tanzania Trade Mission, whose 2024 staging took place in Tanzania. A few trade tiffs notwithstanding, poultry exports also mirrored dairy products in their sense of direction and substance.

Trading blues

Now, with Tanzania swerving toward the edge of the precipice after the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party sought to extend-however it can-a 64-year grip on power, Ugandan traders are looking over their shoulders.

‘We had just come out of an animal quarantine after battling disease outbreaks when this new challenge came,’ said Mr Lawrence Mushabe, a livestock trader in Isingiro District.

He added:’Now the border restrictions are making it hard for anyone dealing in cattle or beef. Thousands of animals that used to go to Tanzania are stuck here, and for traders like us, business has almost come to a standstill.’

Ms Enid Lucky Andinda of New Kakinga Grain Millers was equally apprehensive, saying on Friday, ‘If the situation in Tanzania continues, we who source grains from there are going to be affected. Right now, nothing is moving by road, yet most of our maize comes that way. If we can’t get supplies from Tanzania when local stocks are low and prices high, our businesses will definitely suffer.’

It is not just Ugandan traders that are casting a watchful eye over the balance sheet. Or, more accurately, the negative impact. Uncertainty has also seen the port of Mombasa steal a march on its opposite number in Dar es Salaam, undoing inroads that the Central Corridor was beginning to make.

Recent statistics point to the Northern Corridor having a spring in its step, with Mombasa handling-on average-57 vessels across a fortnight-long period. This is up from 42 vessels.

Cargo destined for the hinterland via Uganda from Dar es Salaam had shown a few upticks pre-election.

While previously such upticks felt improvised, almost accidental, the latest bump was anything but. After President Suluhu’s state visit in 2022, the Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA) opened a branch in Kampala. The branch has used the right mix of aggression and charm to gradually boost cargo traffic along the Central Corridor.

Ironically, the Government of Uganda (GoU) extended an uncritical embrace to its southern neighbour because it was intent on insulating itself from the aftereffects of the likelihood of post-election violence whenever Kenya goes to the polls.

Eacop picture

As waves of unrest continue to greet the commanding majorities candidate Suluhu is scoring in several constituencies, the GoU will hope that the $5billion (Shs17.27 trillion) pipeline that links its oil fields to the Tanzanian port of Tanga is not imperilled.

With the GoU’s timelines for first oil having slipped from 2025 to 2026, thanks to bottlenecks over securing financing from African lenders, the importance of wrapping the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (Eacop) in cotton wool cannot be overstated. Yet the prospect of Tanzania slipping into post-election unrest offers no guarantees.

The Tanzanian crowd, once seen as overly passive, has responded to the absence on the presidential ballot of opposition stalwarts Tundu Lissu and Luhaga Mpina with a venomous turn once never thought possible. There are fears that the pipeline could be targeted by protestors should any whiff of intervention from Kampala be sensed.

Tanzania is a 15 percent shareholder in the Eacop through the Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC). Whereas it intends to earn income from tariffs charged on each barrel of oil transported, Dodoma has also spent a princely sum in hard cash on the Eacop and its attendant infrastructure.

This includes four pumping stations, a couple of standalone pressure reduction stations, a marine storage terminal, an offshore load-out facility, and 49 standalone mainline block valve stations. The transport infrastructure has also been improved considerably, with 47 kilometres of new and upgraded permanent access roads.

Business as usual

During this year’s Uganda-Tanzania Business Forum, Uganda’s apex body for the private sector, the Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU), described the Eacop as ‘a monumental endeavour that symbolised the spirit of regional integration’.

It added: ‘This 1,443-kilometre pipeline, stretching from Kabaale in Hoima, Uganda, to the port of Tanga in Tanzania, is more than just a conduit for oil; it is a lifeline for economic progress.’

And concluded thus: ‘With the investment of $5 billion (Shs17.27 trillion), Eacop is the largest single investment in both our countries, poised to unlock Uganda’s estimated 1.7 billion barrels of recoverable oil and connect it to global markets through Tanzania’s strategic coastal gateway.’

Uganda’s southern border with Tanzania spans just under 400 kilometres (246 miles). The GoU has made clear that it is business as usual at various border points, including the busy One-Stop Border Post of Mutukula.

National Resistance Movement (NRM)’s First National Vice Chairman, Al-Hajji Moses Kigongo, has stated that the ruling party will not fund campaigns for its flag bearers due to financial constraints.

Speaking at a reconciliation meeting for flag bearers and losers in Kayunga District on Friday, Kigongo advised aspiring politicians to be prepared to fund their own campaigns.

“By the time you make a decision to contest for any political position, you should be ready to fund your campaigns. Why do you go in for something you cannot afford?” Kigongo asked.

Kigongo emphasised the need for reconciliation between winners and losers in the party primaries, noting that many supporters are aggrieved due to their loss. He also urged residents in Buganda to vote for NRM and President Museveni, saying it’s a shame that voters in the Northern parts of Uganda support the ruling party while those in Buganda vote for the opposition.

“You should know the turbulent times we went through and support NRM which brought peace in the country,” he said. Kigongo cautioned party flag bearers against refusing to canvass support for President Museveni, saying without him in power, they will not perform as leaders.

However, some NRM supporters criticized security forces for unlawful arrests of politicians, which they said is giving a bad image to the government. “President Museveni said he went to the bush to end unlawful arrests of Ugandans but these acts are rampant which is giving a bad name to our party,” Mr. Dennis Ogwanga, a party supporter, said. Kigongo did not respond to the complaint.

The Kayunga District NRM chairman, Mr Moses Karangwa, suggested that canvassing for votes for the party presidential flag bearer should be left to local leaders who know the people well.

Panic and fear have gripped communities across the Rwenzori sub-region after 20 suspected panga-wielding attackers were killed on Saturday morning in Kasese, Fort Portal, and Bundibugyo districts.

Most of the suspects were shot dead by the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) and police, while others were lynched by residents after being found hiding or refusing to identify themselves.

According to security officials, the attackers – armed with pangas, bows, arrows, and some firearms – launched simultaneous attacks on police and army installations, as well as a teacher training college and trading centres on Saturday morning.

The attacks, believed to have been coordinated, occurred almost at the same time across the three districts, leaving residents in shock and forcing many to flee their homes.

The wave of violence has revived haunting memories of the 2014 Rwenzori attacks, when coordinated strikes across Kasese, Bundibugyo, and Ntoroko left dozens of civilians and security personnel dead.

Fort Portal attack

In Fort Portal City, gunfire erupted Saturday morning at Canon Apollo Core PTC and Ibonde I Trading Centre along the Fort Portal-Bundibugyo Road in North Division.

According to eyewitnesses, the attacks began around 6:30am as suspected assailants, armed with pangas and carrying bags, attempted to enter Canon Apollo Core PTC.

Security forces swiftly responded after being called upon by local leaders.

At Canon Apollo Core PTC, by press time, there were four bodies of suspected attackers who were killed by UPDF soldiers in collaboration with police.

Mr Kinuge Joram from Bukuku, the area GISO said residents had spotted the attackers walking from the Kazingo area toward Nyakasura and Canon Apollo in the early morning and alerted security.

‘We intercepted them at Canon Apollo Core PTC. They refused to identify themselves. One of them tried to cut a soldier, and that’s when the commanders ordered soldiers to open fire. Four were killed and the rest fled.’

He added that the attackers were speaking Rukonzo and that some faces appeared familiar and are suspected to be coming from the Bundibugyo District.

At Ibonde trading center, traffic was paralyzed for several hours after two other suspects were gunned down, before locals killed another suspect after being intercepted from the Link Bus, which was coming from Bundibugyo District.

At around midday, one suspected attacker was killed by a mob after emerging from a banana plantation carrying a bag that reportedly contained herbs and animal skins. According to eyewitnesses, the man failed to identify himself when confronted by residents.

At the same location, security officers intercepted a vehicle traveling from Bundibugyo. Upon inspection, one of the passengers – suspected to be part of the attacking group – fled the scene, narrowly escaping the wrath of the crowd.

Elsewhere, in Kitarasa village, residents killed another suspected attacker who had been hiding in a swamp. Witnesses say the man attempted to attack people working in a garden with a panga before being overpowered and killed on the spot.

The violent mob actions highlight the deep fear and mistrust that have gripped local communities following the morning assaults on UPDF detachments and security posts across the Rwenzori Sub-region.

Security agencies have since intensified operations, mounting roadblocks and vehicle checks along the Fort Portal-Bundibugyo highway and other access routes. Several suspects have been arrested for questioning.

Several suspects were arrested from the Link bus and taxis.

By midday, gunfire could still be heard in parts of Fort Portal as security forces hunted for fleeing attackers. All the deceased suspects were youthful female and dressed in plain clothes.

Bundibugyo attacks

The sound of heavy gunfire in the early morning hours sent shockwaves through the surrounding communities. Many residents from Sindila sub-county were seen carrying their belongings and children as they moved towards Butama-Mitunda Town Council in search for safety.

The Bundibugyo Resident District Commissioner (RDC), Rt. Maj. Jones Mugabirwe, has confirmed that two suspected attackers were killed and five others arrested by UPDF soldiers.

He said their primary targets appeared to be security installations, though their exact motive remains unclear.

‘We are yet to know whether they are ADF rebels or Kirumiramutima. We ask the community to remain calm as we have reinforced security with backup from Muhooti Barracks in Fort Portal,’ he said.

The Chairperson of Sindila Sub-county, Mr. Blasio Kamabu, urged residents to cooperate with security personnel and avoid spreading panic. He called on those who had fled to return home, assuring them that the situation was under control.

The proximity of the attacks to the DR Congo border has heightened anxiety among locals, who fear a possible spillover of rebel activity.

Kasese under attack

Security forces have killed nine suspected attackers – four at the Kasese police barracks and five in Rugendabara.

According to the Kasese RDC, Lt. Joe Walusimbi, the attackers torched one uniport at the police barracks and vandalised another before being repulsed.

“This attack was more of a planned operation because it happened at the same time in all the areas but all in all, we thank our security teams for their quick and professional response,’ he said.

He said one police constable was injured at Rugendabara, and five others were hurt in Kasese Town.

He added that 30 suspected attackers from the two separate incidents in the districts have also been arrested and would aid the investigations.

In the 2021 presidential elections, Bugweri District was won by the Opposition’s Robert Kyagulanyi, alias Bobi Wine. For the 2026 elections, former Opposition stalwart Abdu Katuntu, who has been in Parliament since 2001, has assigned himself the role of ensuring President Museveni, who once labelled him a poisonous mushroom, wins back the district.

To trace when Katuntu’s standing at the Opposition side of the political aisle started to be questioned, you have to go back to 2017.

The Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party was in the process of electing its president in a clash that pitted Patrick Oboi Amuriat, the eventual winner, against Mugisha Muntu.

When Muntu was beaten, his supporters, led by Kassiano Wadri and Yokasi Bihande, told anyone who cared to listen at the Mandela National Stadium (Namboole) that this was the end of FDC as it was known. A new political party, they added, would soon announce its arrival.

That party is what we now know as the Alliance for National Transformation (ANT). What stood out during ANT’s formation, sources disclose, was Katuntu’s no-show, despite being the brainchild of this splinter group. Muntu’s calls to Katuntu were allegedly neither picked up nor returned.

‘This left him [Muntu] angry because he had counted on him, yet Katuntu was never straightforward with him that he was never going to join his political party,’ a source said.

Unlike Kira MP Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda, who was part of the Muntu campaign team but returned to the FDC, and later moved on to be a mastermind of the People’s Front for Freedom (PFF), Katuntu didn’t go back to the FDC. He instead claimed to be an Independent.

Seven years later, Katuntu told voters in Bugweri, Busoga Sub-region, who had attended a rally Parliament Speaker Annet Anita Among had organised a couple of weekends ago, that they should rally behind President Museveni.

‘I’m an Independent, and I repeat I’m an Independent, but I will vote for a President because being an Independent isn’t a political party. Whoever believes in me as his or her captain: We should sit down and strategise on how to look for votes for the Speaker’s candidate [Museveni],’ Katuntu said.

Shifting allegiances

Katuntu’s appearance at a rally organised by Among has plunged him at the heart of NRM Busoga politics. Two camps have emerged in the sub-region, that of Among and her sworn enemy, former Speaker Rebecca Kadaga. Among has been combing Busoga to shore up support for candidate Museveni, saying since she married Moses Magogo, a Musoga, she is now also their ‘daughter.’

Before Among and her team campaigned in Bugweri, Kadaga had also barnstormed there with NRM’s flag-bearer Sadala Wandera, a former Resident District Commissioner (RDC) of Bugweri.

Yet when Among combed for votes in this area, Wandera, who is in the Kadaga camp, didn’t show up since, to the Among camp, Katuntu is their preferred candidate.

‘We think Katuntu deserves to be the Attorney General. We should stick with Katuntu. Katuntu deserves another term,’ Kasambya MP David Kabanda, a top lieutenant of Among’s, said during the rally in Bugweri. The Attorney General hunt talk is not new.

In 2020, once it became clear that Bart Katureebe was about to hang up his wig as Chief Justice, Katuntu was among those who put his hand up; never mind that he didn’t have an interface with the Judicial Service Commission (JSC).

Three judges, Justice Richard Buteera, Justice Esther Kisaakye and Justice Alfonse Owiny-Dollo, interfaced with the JSC.

Mr Owiny-Dollo would come out on top. Having not got his wish of being the head of one of Uganda’s arms of government, Katuntu walked back on his public declaration that he was going to retire from elective politics. He stood for the fifth time in Bugweri.

During his first three terms as the lawmaker of Bugweri, Katuntu, who was one of the founder members of the FDC, supported the party’s presidential candidate, Dr Kizza Besigye.

The 2006 elections stood out in the sense that Katuntu had controversially lost his Bugweri County seat to NRM’s Ali Kirunda Kivejinja. The Electoral Commission (EC) had declared that Kivejinja, who has since died, had polled 17,554 votes against Katuntu’s 16,496 votes.

Court battle

After procuring the services of Erias Lukwago, Katuntu filed a petition alleging that Kivejinja’s victory wasn’t only a work of fraud but also State-inspired violence. Lukwago, on Katuntu’s behalf, said contrary to Section 19(3) of the Electoral Commission Act, the EC had disenfranchised voters by deleting their names from the voters’ roll and also denying Katuntu’s registered supporters the right to vote.

At just 10 years old, Aya Ofleh Adams has made the growth of Somali swimming her life’s purpose.

Aya became the first and only swimmer to represent Somalia at the Africa Aquatics Zone III Swimming Championships during the 10th edition held between October 16 and19 at Kasarani Aquatic Centre, Nairobi.

“I feel great having completed the competition and I hope I can be an example to many Somali kids and hopefully have many of them involved in swimming in the future,” Aya shares in the aftermath of competition in Kasarani, where she actually turned 10 on the final day of the gala.

It has been a trailblazing year for Somalia as they also got their first ever representative at the World Aquatics Swimming Championships, in 15 year old.

Mustafa Hashim, during this year’s edition in Singapore. But Aya is of particular interest here because she trained and bred in Uganda.

“I love water and I find it peaceful,” Aya explains how she picked up her passion.

“I try to play basketball too but I love swimming more. I discovered it by watching it on television and decided I wanted to be at the Olympics one day,” Aya adds.

Her talent first came to the fore when she was at Hertz Swim Club in Wakiso and became even more apparent when she joined Aqua Akii in Ntinda last year. Her Olympics dream, we can say started at Kasarani.

Aya competed in the 12 and Under girls’ 200m (3:11.36), 100m (1:28.97), and 50m (38.45) backstroke, the 100m (1:53.71) and 50m (50.27) breaststroke, the 100m (1:31.05) and 50m (35.52) butterfly, the 200m (2:57.90), 100m (1:20.78), and 50m (33.95) freestyle, plus the 200m individual medley (3:24.15) – finishing 7th in all of them and amassing 133 points for her country to also finish 7th ahead of Nigeria and Eritrea.

In Uganda where she competes at domestic level, Aya was named best female swimmer in the 10 and Under age group during the third edition of the Ugansa Aquatics National League and was ranked third in the same age group in the National Championships.

“The competition here (in Kasarani) has been tough but I am still growing. However, I am happy with how things are going back in Uganda. I put in the work and I am winning,” Aya says.

Supportive mother

Aya, who works under coach Abel Ddamulira at Aqua Akii, also has her mother Mackeinze Adams always by her side. Mackeinze, who also played basketball and American football in her heydays, played the coach’s role at Kasarani.

“We get a lot of support from Ugandan coaches but I am always going to be by her side offering the mental coaching and technique correcting. It is easy for me because I was an athlete too and that is where I drive my passion,” Mackeinze shares.

For Mackeinze, a driven child like Aya makes their mutual goals easier.

“Aya never stops. I asked if she was sure she wanted to swim in this competition and do all those races. She told me that even if she was Lane 1 of Heat 1 she would swim. She asked me, ‘What can go wrong?’

“She feels me with pride. My father was a very proud Somali and gave her his name Ofleh. May he continue to rest but also celebrate on the other side,” Mackeinze reveals.

It could have been easier for Aya to pick Uganda too but she chose the path less traveled.

“It could have been easier to change nationality but sometimes, the harder path is better. Ugandan swimming is well established but there are so many Ugandans pushing to swim for their country.

“Aya is a Somali national and will represent her country so Somali kids can realize they can also represent their country. We feel honoured that we have the chance to build something. The Somali Aquatics federation exists but it is not in the best shape now. It is therefore incumbent upon all of us who grew up there (in Somalia) to push things the right way,” Mackeinze explains.

At a glance

Name: Aya Ofleh Adams

Sport: Swimming

Nation: Somalia

Age: 10

Club: Aqua Akii

Major events: 2025 Africa Aquatics Zone III Championships

Africa’s hotel sector has emerged as a global leader in adopting Artificial Intelligence (AI), outpacing Europe, the Americas, and the Asia-Pacific region, according to a new international study commissioned by hotel technology provider Profitroom.

The study, released on October 27, shows that 57 percent of hotel chains in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) have already integrated AI-driven features into their operations significantly higher than Europe (30 percent), the Americas (30 percent), and Asia-Pacific (29 percent). The global average stands at 35 percent.

Profitroom’s Director of Product, Katarzyna Raiter-Luksza, said African hotels are demonstrating remarkable leadership in turning AI potential into a business reality.

‘What’s particularly striking is not just the adoption rate, but the confidence African hoteliers have in this technology compared to their global counterparts,’ she said.

The report highlights that MEA hotel operators are more likely to dedicate specific budgets to AI innovation, showing higher confidence and comfort with automated systems.

The region’s hoteliers recorded an average AI trust score of 7.1 out of 10, tied with Asia-Pacific and above the global average of 6.6. They also showed the lowest concerns about AI negatively affecting guest experience, with only 35 percent expressing worry compared to the global average of 50 percent.

Issue

However, despite the rapid adoption, data silos and a lack of strategy threaten to undermine progress. Nearly 47 percent of MEA hotel chains reported that departmental data silos are limiting their AI potential, the highest globally. In addition, only eight percent of hotel chains worldwide have a company-wide AI strategy.

‘African hotels have leapfrogged their competitors in embracing AI but now face the challenge of breaking down internal data barriers,’ Ms Raiter-Luksza warned.

‘The next frontier isn’t just adopting AI tools, but creating unified data strategies that deliver consistent guest experiences and measurable business outcomes.’

In Uganda, technology-driven tourism platforms are also beginning to tap into AI to enhance service delivery and guest experience. Swaib Mandela, CEO of Tour App Uganda, said the company’s adoption of AI has made trip planning more efficient and sustainable.

‘We have been able to integrate AI in our system, which has eased the search for destinations and accommodation,’ Mr Mandela told Saturday Monitor.

‘With AI, a traveller can get an itinerary and also check on sustainability. Also, it is easier to rank hotels and lodges. It is a win for the hospitality sector.’

Uganda’s hotel and travel industry, which continues to recover from the pandemic’s impact, is increasingly turning to digital platforms for bookings, marketing, and guest management.

Industry players say broader adoption of AI could help improve efficiency, reduce costs, and attract more international visitors.

The Uganda Premier League (UPL) is at a crucial moment that will shape the future of our football. Ugandan football has talent, loyal fans, and history, but inconsistent leadership has slowed its growth.

Recent issues, including league format disputes and club-federation standoffs, show that the problem is structural, not accidental.

The UPL Board, voted in by clubs, must now work closely with the 16 club owners and chairpersons to guide the league effectively and protect sporting integrity plus set long-term strategy.

Decisions must be transparent, based on consultation with Fufa, clubs and all stakeholders.

The CEO’s office is responsible for turning Board strategy into action across daily operations working hand in hand with club CEOs.

Clubs have a critical role in this transformation by hiring competent CEOs, managers, accountants, and marketing officers to deliver UPL and Clubs strategies.

Structured clubs like Vipers SC, KCCA FC, BUL and SC Villa show that professional management produces sporting and commercial success.

When all clubs maintain professional standards, the league grows stronger, fans enjoy better experiences, and sponsors gain confidence.

Uganda can learn from Tanzania, where structured leadership attracts sponsors and regional TV deals.

The South African PSL shows that combining football knowledge with business skills creates sustainable leagues.

Germany’s 50+1 model teaches that stakeholder engagement strengthens clubs and builds fan trust.

Short-term revenue improvements include digital streaming, VIP matchday packages, and clear prize distributions.

Medium-term goals involve consolidated regional TV rights that attract larger buyers.

Long-term gains come from licensed clubs and professional governance that attract corporate investment.

The UPL Board and CEO must work together: the Board sets strategy and oversees policy, while the CEO executes operations efficiently.

Clubs must support this by following professional standards in management, finance, and marketing.

This clear separation of roles ensures autonomy, accountability, and commercial growth while protecting the integrity of the game.

Ugandan football has the tools to succeed if leadership continues to focus on competence, transparency, and unity.

The Uganda Premier League can deliver better football, higher revenue, and exciting experiences for fans across the country.

The alternative is continued chaos, declining attendance, and a league undermined by politics, which Ugandan football cannot afford.

The time is now for the UPL to rise, lead, and show that structured, professional governance can transform our game.

Suspected attackers armed with pangas have launched coordinated assaults in Kasese, Fort Portal, and Bundibugyo districts, reportedly targeting police and army installations.

In Bundibugyo District, the Resident District Commissioner (RDC), Rt. Maj. John Mugabirwe, confirmed that the incidents occurred on Friday night, October 31, at two Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) detachments, Kakuka and Malindi.

Maj. Mugabirwe said UPDF soldiers at Kakuka Detach successfully repelled the attackers, killing five individuals dressed in plain clothes and armed with pangas.

‘Our forces managed to neutralize five of the attackers, and we are still assessing the situation at Malindi Detachment,’ he said.

The RDC dismissed reports linking the attackers to the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebels, noting that none of the deceased were found with firearms.

In Kasese District, the attackers reportedly targeted the Kasese Police Barracks and Rughedabara Police Post, where four suspects armed with pangas were shot dead by security forces. Several others were arrested, though details of the operation remain scanty.

In Fort Portal City, a gunfire exchange erupted between unidentified assailants and security personnel at Canon Apollo Core Primary Teachers’ College (PTC). According to a staff member who preferred anonymity, the shooting began around 6:30 am.

‘One of my colleagues had gone out for morning jogging but saw many people at the school. They told him to go away. When he started running, they followed him – and that’s when soldiers appeared and began exchanging gunfire,’ she recounted, adding that she saw two bodies lying at the school gate after the attack.

Security agencies have since intensified operations in the affected areas as investigations continue to determine the motive and identities of the attackers.