Category: Daily Monitor

In Busuuyi Village, Mayuge district, a community-driven initiative has seen most children attending school after a resolution was passed to prioritise education.

The village, which previously had children engaging in fishing activities during school hours, has seen a significant change since the community resolution was implemented.

Busuuyi Elementary School of Headteacher Mr Christopher Kibade Awo noted that the school was started by parents to help children access education without traveling long distances.

The school, which was established in 2012 with 28 students, currently has 320 students.

“We would like the government to take over this school because right now we can’t afford it due to the bigger numbers which are still increasing day by day,” Rev. Mark Kibade Awo, the founder of the school, said.

The school’s infrastructure is in a poor state, with wooden classrooms posing a challenge during class time.

“We are in a sorry state. During the class time here at our school, we can’t do anything, be it rain or sunshine because we are in the wooden classroom,” Mr. Kibade Awo said.

The school’s fees structure is Shs 55,000 per term, which is a challenge for many parents.

“Our school fees structure starts from Shs 55,000 but still parents find it hard to pay. We have students who have failed to pay that money since the first term but we let them in because parents cry to us,” Mr. Kibade Awo added.

Some parents have appealed for government takeover of the school to provide free education.

“As parents in this community, we seek government takeover of this school because if it comes in, that means our children will get free education,” Ms. Mary Naiga, a parent, said.

The community has received support from Mr. Tsafrir Melamed, CEO of Mig Fish Farm, who has built one block and plans to renovate the wooden classrooms.

The National Planning Authority’s research on the state of education in Busoga sub-region revealed that 40 out of 118 sub-counties do not have public secondary schools, and 34 parishes out of 578 have no public primary school.

The district has 143 primary government-aided schools, 400 private primary schools, 12 government secondary schools, and 64 private secondary schools.

The district inspector of schools, Mr Nathan Wabwire, said the government is in the process of constructing government secondary schools in sub-counties that lack them.

Makerere University professors have been advised to research on projects that have a national impact, instead of writing so many papers and looking for funds for projects that are not applicable in the real world. Speaking during the opening of the Third Biennial International Conference of the African Research Universities Alliance, on October 30, the Minister of Science Technology and Innovations, Dr Monica Musenero Masanza, urged the academicians to translate their knowledge into products, that can create employment and provide economic relief that most African countries need today.

‘Scientists of every nation should understand how they can translate their knowledge into products. We have a stable political leadership in Africa, politicians are waiting to hear a voice from the scientists,” Dr Musenero said.

‘What the continent needs now is economic relief not giving us things,’ she added. Dr Musenero further explained that instead of university professors always relying on their pensions as they head into retirement, they should be looking at the projects created as the fall-back package.

‘Unfortunately, many of them will remain poor, because whenever African professors create new knowledge, they get excited and go exposing it in international conferences and workshops where they give away their ideas free of charge,’ she said.

Asked where the problem lies, she said Ugandan scientists who should be the main drivers of economic growth and national development do not understand how the economy and politics work.

She added that the situation has been worsened by people who studied arts, who are the politicians, policy makers and the economists who don’t understand the language spoken by scientists and they don’t listen to their advice even when it is good for the economy. Citing the current government’s development strategy, she said that she expects professors to flood her office with project proposals on how universities can help government develop strategies to implement its development agenda in agro-industrialisation, tourism, manufacturing and science and technology.

Use of AI

The three-day Fifth Biennial International Conference of the African Research Universities Alliance opened at Makerere University on Wednesday, attracting vice chancellors and academicians from African universities to discuss how African countries can use Artificial Intelligence to conduct research and innovations transformation.

The Makerere University’s Deputy Vice Chancellor in charge of Academic Affairs, Prof Sarah Ssali, said the gathering is an alliance of 17 African universities, which have pooled resources together to develop research. She added that the occasion contrasts with the past where rich countries funded research to control African countries.

‘Look at ChatGpt, how many people are paying to use it? When you buy a Samsung phone that is money going to Korea to support a job there. We are saying what are we producing for other people to consume so that that becomes income for us,’ she said.

Objective

Makerere University indicates that the alliance is looking at helping African countries develop products and services, which can be consumed by other countries, hence raising revenues across the continent.

The Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) has cautioned examination centres against malpractice as the Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE) commenced today with briefing.

UNEB Executive Director Dan Odong warned that security teams have been deployed to crack down on culprits, adding that two head teachers have already been arrested for allegedly registering secondary school students to sit PLE.

“We have realized that some primary schools have taken on the practice of registering secondary school students to sit PLE. We have so far found this in Salaama Education Centre Primary School in Kagadi District where five such students were found and Kasasa Primary School in Hoima where 15 such students were found,” Odong said.

The head teachers were arrested, and the students are expected to record statements.

“The reason for this impersonation is to boost the number of first grades. All these are criminal intentions,” Odong added.

UNEB has also warned invigilators and scouts against allowing malpractice, noting that they risk a fine of Shs20 million or imprisonment for five years or both.

This year’s PLE candidature stands at 817,885, representing a 2.5 per cent increment from last year.

The exams will run for two days, starting with Mathematics and Social Studies on November 3, and concluding with Integrated Science and English on November 4.

UNEB has commended Arts teachers for calling off their recent strike, saying the decision will ensure smooth running of PLE.

Construction of the Akii-Bua Olympic Stadium in Lira City has reached 25 percent completion, officials said Thursday, marking a major milestone in Uganda’s bid to host high-profile international sports events.

The Shs470 billion ($125 million) project, launched by President Museveni in January 2026, will provide a 20,000-seat multipurpose stadium equipped with training facilities, a mini-indoor stadium for indoor sports, and halls for conferences, conventions, and workshops at international standards.

Speaking during the launch, Museveni emphasized that the stadium is part of Uganda’s preparations to co-host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) with Kenya and Tanzania, noting that the project would boost national sports infrastructure.

On Thursday, the site was inspected by Dr Patrick Bernard Ogwel, Secretary General of the National Council of Sports, who has overseen the project’s planning and early construction.

‘There have been challenges at the beginning, including missing land titles, but by the grace of God we were able to overcome them. The President assured everyone that this is his project and he will build it,’ Dr Ogwel said.

The stadium’s construction is being carried out by SAMCO National Construction Company, an Egyptian firm, under a 20-month contract signed in December 2024.

Dr Ogwel confirmed that government funds for this financial year have been fully disbursed, ensuring no delays in progress.

‘The government has provided all the money required for construction, and therefore I want to give assurance that there will be no delays by the contractor,’ he said.

During a site visit on Thursday, the Paramount Chief of Lango, Eng Dr Michael Moses Odongo Okune, commended the project.

‘I am very happy with this project because implementation is moving well. I want to thank the government for financing the construction,’ he said.

The project aims to honor Uganda’s first Olympic gold medalist, John Akii-Bua, while creating jobs, promoting sports development, and attracting regional events to the Lango sub-region.

Officials say the stadium will also serve as a hub for youth sports training and provide opportunities for economic growth through tourism and related services.

Minister of State for Sports, Peter Ogwang, said complementary infrastructure, including a training facility at Lira University, will enhance the stadium’s impact.

‘This facility will be the best in the country, supporting athletes and providing modern amenities for all indoor and outdoor sports,’ Ogwang observed on January 29, 2025. .

Construction officials have since highlighted that overcoming logistical hurdles – from land title complications to procurement delays – has been key to maintaining the project schedule.

‘We are closely monitoring progress and working with the district authorities to ensure timelines are met,’ Dr Ogwel added.

With the stadium expected to open in 2027, stakeholders hope it will become a regional landmark for sports, conferences, and cultural events, while strengthening Uganda’s capacity to host international competitions.

Background

During the January 2026 launch, President Museveni framed the Akii-Bua Olympic Stadium as a project aimed at enhancing Uganda’s international sports profile and strengthening regional infrastructure for athletics and multipurpose events.

In the business world, I have sat on many boards and headed quite a few. Of those I headed, none was more taxing and exhausting as heading the Nation Media Group of East Africa, which includes Daily Monitor newspaper and NTV.

‘Your paper is anti-government and we will show you who has power in this country,’ that is how I was greeted by a government minister. ‘We are going to close your newspaper.’ End of conversation.

With those words ringing in our ears, my CEO at The Monitor then and I left the minister’s office to go and salvage what the police would not take away. This was after the government had shut down The Monitor newspaper in 2002 over a story it didn’t like. Shutting down the paper is one thing, going through the drawers of the journalists one by one is another. One officer stumbled on a gem. This was a photograph of a lady dancing in a nightclub, enjoying herself with one leg up and no underwear. In time, she was appointed a minister.

When, after some time government relented and allowed us to print the newspaper, most of what the police had carried away was returned. But the photograph of the dancing minister never came back. During my tenure of being chairman of Monitor Publications Ltd and NTV, we were shut down three times for ‘being anti-government’. The reason for closing NTV was the most unconvincing. It was alleged that our equipment was too heavy for the mast on top of Kololo hill.

Since we reopened, other equipment had been added to the mast, and it had not yet keeled over. We knew then that a competitor station had a hand in the closure of our station. Every journalist working for The Monitor has on his desk a list of ‘dos’ and ‘don’ts’ and these include: Be factual; do not speculate; be objective; and check your facts, etc. I never attended any session at which Monitor journalists were told to write only anti-government news.

Basis

His Highness the Aga Khan, who owns the newspaper, would never allow the paper to be anti-government. The so-called anti-government accusation is often when the paper writes about a particular minister in government negatively, the minister then finds solace by hiding behind the government for something he did for his own benefit and not that of the government or the country at large.

If The Monitor were to publish some of the stories that a particular newspaper publishes on a daily basis, it would have been shut down permanently a long time ago.

One day, I got a telephone call from the government demanding to know why NTV was showing a gruesome picture of a person shot by the police in a riot. I was told to fire the journalists who had taken that photograph and the person airing the pictures. I strode into the studio every bit the Big Chairman. Soon all the employees in the studio at the time were seated in front of me.

I told them why I was there and what I was going to do. One courageous member of staff stood up and addressed me directly. He said: ‘Sir, before you sack us, we would like to show you what we have not shown to the public.’ When they rolled the reel and I saw the woman holding her intestines, I almost threw up. I stopped the reel and waved off the staff. Then I remained with the director of programmes, who by the look on his face, felt sorry for me.

One day, I was sitting with the CEO in his office when his personal assistant brought an envelope. Inside the envelope was a complete bank statement of a government minister – fat bank account. This came unsolicited. It was sent by a bank employee who wanted the paper to know how illegally rich some of the ministers are. As soon as we saw the statement, the CEO shredded it because, he said, you never know whether this is a trick to catch you with somebody else’s bank statement.

The public has no idea what journalists get to know. What we see in the papers is only 10 per cent of what has been kept out of the papers. A very senior person in government called me to tell me that the President was very upset with one of the journalists and the President wants me to fire him immediately. Coming from that person, I knew it was serious. So I went to The Monitor offices and called the top three people in the company and told them what I was going to do.

One of the three asked if we could meet outside of the office, so we went to a parking yard. Then the person who suggested that we meet outside of the office spoke. He said: ‘Before you sack him, we want you to know that he is very close to the First Family, therefore, go slow.’ I did better than that; I asked the PPS for an appointment to see the President.

President’s surprise

When I told the President what he was supposed to have said, he looked surprised. In any case, he told me to deal with the other cases and he would deal with that journalist. The President told me that if he wants me to do something for him, he will tell me directly, not through a third party. Likewise, when a minister told me the President was very angry with the same journalist and I must fire him, I was ready with an answer. Ugandans who fall out with the NRM government run to The Monitor to tell their story. I was, therefore, more than amused when our tormentor fell foul of the government and asked The Monitor to promote his candidature.

On those two occasions, the paper was shut down, the order ‘never came from above’.

It was always someone who thought the President would get upset upon reading the article. When the paper quotes a politician on something negative, the said politician says he was quoted out of context. If the paper does not print what the politician said, it is because ‘You Monitor hate the government.’

So heads you lose, tails you lose. I retired from the Group victorious – a rare occurrence in the world of newspapers in Africa.

Barely a month into the presidential campaigns, civil society organisations under the National NGO Forum have called upon the government and security forces to provide a level playing field for the ongoing campaigns.

During a dialogue under the theme ‘Towards a Peaceful Election’, the CSOs said that while there is relative calm at the moment, if not handled carefully, the situation can easily degenerate into open confrontations.

Ms Mariam Wangadya, the chairperson of Uganda Human Rights Commission, said an election is not merely a calendar event, but is a mirror, which reflects the soul of a nation.

‘It reflects the nation’s maturity, nation’s anxieties, hopes, and ultimately the depth of the nation’s respect for human dignity,’ Ms Wangadya said.

She added: ‘And without trust, even a technically perfect election can feel illegitimate. As you all might know, elections are not upheld by ballot boxes. They are upheld by the belief that every citizen matters equally and that people can go to an election without fear.’

Ms Wangadya further said the commission will not stand during this period as simply as an observer, but as a constitutional guardian.

‘Our mandate is anchored in the conviction that every Ugandan, regardless of region, age, gender, ability, orientation, identity, belief, or status, must never feel invisible in their own country and democratic processes. Free and fair elections are not just about procedure. They are about rights, duties, responsibilities, and peaceful inclusion before, during, and after they vote,’ she said.

She said the commission has been and will continue to engage monthly with security heads, not to react to a crisis, but to prevent them.

She said the commission has conducted hotspot mapping nationwide to identify districts and communities most vulnerable to potential violence, misinformation, and rights violations in the context of the 2026 elections.

‘In August, we led a stakeholder review of Uganda’s Universal Periodic Review human rights commitments, ensuring that electoral actions remain aligned with international obligations. Our regional deployments are ongoing, working alongside security, local leaders, civil society organisations, and cultural institutions to reinforce preventive dialogue, not post-conflict response,’ she said.

She also said they have started adding real-time monitoring of the election environment, and ‘I can say confidently a peaceful 2026 is possible if all of us choose responsibility over recklessness.’

Speaking at the same dialogue, Mr Moses Isooba, the executive director of the National NGO Forum, said different actors must respect their line of duty and ensure that human rights are respected during the campaigns and after.

He said elections and human rights are not separate journeys, but on the same roads, and that you cannot reach one without walking the other.

‘A vote cast in fear is not a vote at all. A campaign silenced by violence is not a campaign. It is perhaps a surrender. When we speak of free and fair elections, we are speaking of dignity. When we speak of human rights, we are speaking of the very air that Democrats must breathe to survive,’ he said.

He said there are already a lot of positives to pick inspirations from, especially the ongoing presidential campaigns in many parts of the country have unfolded with a measure of calmness that must not be taken for granted.

The Electoral Commission chairperson, Justice Simon Byabakama, promised a clean election and cautioned that only voters verified through the scientific biometric system will be allowed to vote in the forthcoming general elections.

He said the commission has, in the past, grappled with the cases of multiple voting and that this time, this will not happen because the biometric machines will not give room for such to happen.

‘We are going to make some adjustments in the way elections are conducted at polling stations. We have acquired a new biometric voter verification system. The concept is almost similar to what we used in 2011-2016,’ Justice Byabakama said.

‘The difference now is that for you to be given a ballot paper, you must be biometrically identified and verified. If your thumbprint cannot be read, then your facial features will be used. We must make sure that every ballot issued to a voter is confirmed to have been issued to a verified voter, and that’s the ballot that will go into the box,’ Justice Byabakama added.

Barely two years after The Monitor was founded in 1992, government officials deemed its independent reporting intolerable. In an attempt to financially cripple the newspaper, the government imposed a ban on advertising in The Monitor, a significant blow given that the state was, and remains, one of the country’s largest advertisers.

Despite severe financial strain, the founders of The Monitor remained committed to independent journalism, covering sensitive issues such as the war in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Lord’s Resistance Army rebellion in northern Uganda, and corruption within government institutions. They continued this work until 1997, when the government lifted the advertising ban.

Although the ban was lifted partly due to pressure from donors, who demanded that publicly funded projects meet basic standards and be equitably advertised across both public and private media, government officials maintained a hostile stance toward The Monitor. The newspaper’s coverage of human rights abuses during Uganda’s military engagements particularly angered authorities, who frequently accused it of sympathising with rebel groups. On September 21, 1997, The Monitor published a story about the war in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which the government claimed was false. Consequently, on October 24, 997, Editor Charles Onyango-Obbo and senior reporter Andrew Mwenda were charged in court with publishing false news.

Both journalists petitioned the Constitutional Court, arguing that the charges violated their rights and that the offence of false news was inconsistent with the Constitution. The petition halted their prosecution in the lower court. Years later, the courts agreed with the journalists, ruling that the offence of publishing false news infringed on fundamental rights. Amid growing state repression, The Monitor’s founders sought financial stability and protection from government pressure by partnering with investors. In 2000, they sold a portion of their shares in Monitor Publications Limited to Nation Media Group (NMG), a regional media powerhouse.

But government pressure persisted.

On October 9, 2002, during his Independence Day speech, President Museveni labelled The Monitor an ‘enemy newspaper.’ The following day, police and other security personnel raided The Monitor offices and shut them down after the paper published a story claiming rebels had shot down a UPDF helicopter. The newspaper remained closed for 10 days. Security forces seized computers, documents, and electronic equipment. Although The Monitor eventually resumed operations, several top editors resigned due to pressure on the shareholders.

Three years later, government agents returned, this time targeting The Monitor’s radio station, KFM. On August 10, 2005, Mr Mwenda, who was hosting a talk show on KFM, was arrested mid-broadcast while discussing the crash of the presidential helicopter that killed Sudan’s Vice President Dr John Garang, his entourage, and UPDF soldiers. State agents accused Mr Mwenda of sedition and promoting sectarianism, claiming KFM failed to meet minimum broadcasting standards. The Broadcasting Council shut down the station. KFM was reopened days later but fined millions of shillings. Mr Mwenda later petitioned the Constitutional Court to nullify the charges.

As pressure on The Monitor continued, NMG launched a television station under Africa Broadcasting Uganda Limited. This gave birth to NTV Uganda and was launched in December 2006. Just a month later, the government took NTV off the air, claiming the station had not met licensing standards. Investors and staff endured over three months of uncertainty until the station was allowed to resume broadcasting in April 2007. Soon after, police again targeted The Monitor. In September 2007, police accused the newspaper of incitement following a story about police recruitment. Authorities demanded a retraction or threatened legal action. The Monitor stood its ground, and police eventually backed off.

For the next four years, Uganda experienced widespread protests over the proposed destruction of Mabira Forest, the Walk-to-Work campaign, the Kayiira report, and disillusionment on the general elections. NMG journalists were frequently targeted by state agencies for their coverage. Many were summoned for police interrogations, some spending hundreds of hours in questioning, while others faced court proceedings. The most aggressive attack came on May 20, 2013, when police surrounded Monitor Publications Limited’s headquarters in Namuwongo, Kampala’s Industrial Area, and shut down its newspapers and radio stations. The raid followed a story about a letter allegedly authored by then-Coordinator of Military Intelligence Gen David Sejusa (formerly Tinyefunza). Security personnel occupied the premises for 11 days.

In March 2015, after publishing critical reports, Parliament sent away NMG journalists, part of a group of 53 reporters, from covering proceedings in the August House. Even after NMG sent a new team, Parliament’s leadership continued to express dissatisfaction with their reporting and scrutinised their accreditation.

In February 2019, the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) ordered the shutdown of the Daily Monitor website following a complaint by then-Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga. The website had published a story alleging that she failed to pay for services from a traditional healer. Ms Kadaga wrote to UCC, claiming the story was false and defamatory. The Monitor maintained that it had followed all legal and editorial standards.

This year, state actors have grown increasingly aggressive and violent.

During the Kawempe North by-election, armed security personnel targeted journalists from NMG and other outlets. Reporters, clearly marked, were beaten, and their equipment destroyed. Despite promises from security agencies to investigate the attacks, no action has been taken so far. In May 2025, the government threatened the Daily Monitor with punitive measures over headlines deemed critical of its leadership. ‘Today’s headline by the Monitor newspaper is unacceptable,’ said Minister of ICT and National Guidance, Dr Chris Baryomunsi. ‘Despite my counsel to their top management regarding yesterday’s offensive headline, the paper continues to act with impunity,’ he added. The newspaper had on May 21, published a story titled ‘Goodbye rule of law, till we meet again’ following the passage of the UPDF Amendment Bill, 2025, which reinstated the trial of civilians in military courts.

Museveni’s comments about The Monitor

1. I have told you the problem with elections in Uganda has been multiple voting. What level playing field are they talking about? The radios are everywhere, I am the one who does not have a level playing field with [Daily] Monitor newspaper…They would put Besigye on top of me. They would use a big picture of Besigye, exaggerating rallies and they shrink mine or they take away a part. That Monitor here, I have defeated them,’ President Museveni said at his maiden press briefing following his victory in the February 20, 2016, polls.

2. «There’s a paper called Monitor. That Monitor is full of foreign agents. And I have now sent people to analyse them. We know who they are now and for whom they are working…They were those headlines they were carrying recently….’Hooo! Uganda has collapsed now’. You could trace them (headlines). This where the anti-NRM foreign agents in the Monitor paper become a comic group. When the incident like the one of Nyabugando unfortunately happens, they come saying security has collapsed,» Mr Museveni on July 20, 2023 after ADF attacked Lhubiriha Secondary School in Mpondwe killing over 40 students.

3. ‘In the meantime, I’m going to get from Daily Monitor money for my NRM party because they said I had hidden and vaccinated myself secretly, with my wife. Haaaa they are going to get me some money….I have already put the case in court, Monitor I’m going to make you bankrupt unless they apologize and lie down and say sorry sorry. If they don’t I really going to go for them. That I’m a selfish man who hid with my wife we injected ourselves when other Ugandans were at risk. That’s not Sabalwanyi, Sabalwanyi doesn’t behave like that,’ President Museveni during Women’s Day celebrations at State House Entebbe on 8 March 2021.

The National Peasants Party presidential candidate, Mr Robert Kasibante, has said he will abolish the office of Resident District Commissioner (RDC) and Resident City Commissioners (RCC) if elected.

Speaking to traders and residents at Jinja Central Market in Jinja City yesterday, Mr Kasibante said these positions are unnecessary and drain public resources that could instead benefit ordinary citizens. ‘The first thing I will do when I take office is to make RDCs and RCCs jobless,’ Mr Kasibante declared, drawing cheers from the crowd.

‘The money used to pay their salaries will be redirected to the youth and elderly through direct cash transfers of Shs200,000 to their phones.’ He argued that the current structure of government is bloated, costly, and inefficient, with several leaders benefiting from taxpayers’ money without delivering meaningful services.

‘We have too many Members of Parliament and ministers who enjoy public funds while the people lack quality infrastructure, healthcare, and education,’ he said.

Mr Kasibante proposed a leaner government system where each district would be represented by only one Member of Parliament, rather than the current arrangement that allocates MPs per county. He said this reform would reduce public expenditure and ensure better accountability. The presidential hopeful also criticised the widespread corruption in government institutions, promising to implement strict anti-graft measures.

Soldiers on lake

Addressing the issue of security, Mr Kasibante said under his leadership, the army would be confined to the barracks, focusing on their core duty of protecting the country and citizens’ property. Mr Kasibante criticised the current practice of deploying soldiers to enforce fishing restrictions on lakes, saying it undermines the livelihoods of poor fishermen.

‘The army should not stop fishermen from working. Fishing is their source of income, and my government will protect such economic activities,’ he said. Mr Kasibante also condemned what he called police harassment of Opposition politicians. Mr Kasibante concluded by urging Ugandans to vote for leaders committed to service delivery, transparency, and fairness. He said his government would focus on empowering citizens, not enriching politicians.

Heavily armed security personnel on Tuesday night raided Tembo Trek Courts Hotel, where the National Unity Platform (NUP) presidential candidate, Mr Robert Kyagulanyi, alias Bobi Wine, was staying. The operation caused significant damage to the premises. Mr Kyagulanyi and his team had just returned from Alebtong District, where they had been canvassing for votes, when the raid began at around 8:30pm. The operation was reportedly led by Mr Moses Mukiibi of the Field Force Unit (FFU).

Mr Kyagulanyi, speaking via his TikTok account, said police officers were breaking into rooms without disclosing their intentions. In a statement, police said the operation was aimed at locating two individuals: Mr Geofrey Onzima, alias Tower, and Mr Andrew Natumanya, alias Ninye Tabz. While addressing the media in Kampala yesterday, police spokesperson Rusoke Kituuma described the raid as lawful. ‘Under the law, police have power to enter and exit any place, any building, so if they entered the hotel as police, they are still working within the law,’ Mr Kituuma said.

According to the Criminal Procedure Code Act, police may search premises with a warrant issued by a magistrate or, in certain circumstances, without one-such as when executing an arrest warrant, acting on reasonable suspicion of a crime, or preventing an offence. Article 27 of the 1995 Constitution of Uganda protects individuals from unlawful searches and interference with their property or communications. However, this right is not absolute and may be limited by law in the interest of national security, public order, or legal processes, as outlined in the Data Protection and Privacy Act, 2019.

Eyewitnesses, who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter, said security personnel forcefully accessed the hotel and demanded keys to the guest rooms. ‘.when they opened, they teargassed all the occupants,’ a hotel worker told this publication shortly after the incident. One of the hotel occupants, a member of Mr Kyagulanyi’s team, said they were torn between escaping through the emergency exit or staying to confront the officers and understand the reason for the raid and the damage caused. ‘We could have run away but then Bobi said we shouldn’t and he said he was going to face the police. He got out and started asking them why they had broken into the hotel. After a few minutes of being quizzed by the presidential candidate and several altercations with their colleagues who provide security, they shamefully went away,’ the source told this reporter.

The raid has sparked widespread concern, with many questioning the motives behind the operation. ‘They could bang on the doors for about five to 10 minutes and when the occupants open, they again move to the next room. They told me that they were looking for two people including Tawa. I told them those people they were looking for were not on the list of the guests here but they didn’t listen to me,’ said another hotel worker. In a statement released after the latest raid, police did not provide a specific reason for the operation but said they had arrested 17 NUP supporters accused of malicious damage and robbery involving a police vehicle, Reg No UP 4816 (operating under cover registration UBK 380Q).

Mr Julius Isabirye, attached to the Criminal Investigations Directorate and deployed for surveillance during the NUP campaign rally, reported that he and his driver, Sgt Peter Muhungo, were attacked by NUP members led by Geoffrey Unzima, alias Tawa and an unidentified accomplice. ‘As a result of the attack, the vehicle was rendered immobile due to the punctured tyres and the loss of the key sensor, which will require replacement and reprogramming estimated at Shs700,000,’ read part of the statement signed by Mr Patrick Jimmy Okema, North Kyoga regional police spokesperson. Police also alleged that the NUP supporters vandalised a jammer inside the vehicle, disrupting their communication network.

According to publicly available information, jammers are devices that disrupt wireless communications by emitting radio frequencies that interfere with signals from phones, GPS devices, Wi-Fi, and other technologies. They work by overwhelming a device’s receiver with noise, preventing it from connecting to its intended network. While used in some security settings, jammers are illegal in many jurisdictions due to their potential to interfere with legitimate communications and emergency services. The NUP party relies heavily on online and social media platforms to share campaign activities with supporters across the country.

They have frequently complained about poor network connectivity, which they suspect is being deliberately disrupted by jammers. During the 2021 General Elections, the Electoral Commission emphasised the use of online platforms for campaign communication. Bobi Wine has accused police of repeatedly attacking and injuring members of his team. One such incident, captured on camera, showed a police officer head-butting Daniel Oyerot, alias Dan Magic. Mr Kyagulanyi said Oyerot was later hospitalised after suffering a headache.

In a powerful step toward inclusion and access to justice, the Islamic University in Uganda (IUIU) has launched a Translation and Interpretation Unit, a programme designed to make language a bridge rather than a barrier.

The initiative, backed by the Judiciary of Uganda, seeks to promote fair access to information, strengthen cultural understanding, and ensure that every Ugandan, regardless of language, can fully participate in civic and national life.

Speaking to the media during the launch at Kampala campus on Wednesday, the Registrar of the High Court, Prossy Katushabe, described the launch as a milestone in advancing Uganda’s people-centred justice system.

‘The language of the court is English but the Constitution safeguards every person’s right to understand and be understood and this calls for translation’ she said

She added that Article 28(3)(b) provides that anyone charged with a criminal offence must be informed of the charges in a language they understand and Article 28(3)(f) further grants the right to an interpreter. That is the very foundation of justice.

Justice Katushabe said Uganda’s linguistic diversity, is over 40 local languages alongside Kiswahili, Arabic, and English, is both a blessing and a challenge.

‘In our courts, the precision of translation can determine whether justice is delivered or denied. Translation must preserve truth and intent. When done faithfully, it becomes a pillar of justice, a safeguard of rights, and a voice for the voiceless,’ she said.

Justice Katushabe urged students to approach translation as a mission of service and translation is that which transforms everything so that nothing changes.

‘You are not just learning languages, you are learning empathy. You are learning to connect worlds and to give meaning where words once divided.’ She said

The Director of IUIU Kampala Campus Ahmed Twaha Kasule said that the launch was more than an academic achievement it was an act of healing for a society divided by language and misunderstanding.

‘We are celebrating a vision of Uganda where language is not a barrier, but a bridge, where every citizen, regardless of the language they speak, can access justice, education, and opportunity,’ he said.

He added that the Translation and Interpretation Unit under the Centre for Languages was designed to promote social inclusion and cultural harmony.

‘By bridging language and connecting cultures, we are strengthening democracy and unity. We are giving citizens the confidence to engage with institutions and participate meaningfully in governance,’ he explained.

The Director also revealed that the Centre is already teaching English, Arabic, and Kiswahili, and plans are underway to introduce French, German, Chinese, Turkish, and local languages such as Luganda and Runyakitara.

‘Language is not just a skill it is empowerment and when we teach languages, we are not just translating words, we are translating dreams,’ he said.

The Director of Education at Uganda Muslim Supreme Council, Muhammod Katerega, said that language connects communities, institutions, and nations through health, law, and trade.

‘Translation bridges gaps and ensures that every citizen, especially in rural or marginalised areas, can access vital information,’ he said.

He noted that the Translation Services Office would offer verified translations for visas, academic transcripts, legal contracts, and other official documents.

‘As Uganda becomes more globally connected, language is now an economic necessity and our Translation Services Office will ensure clarity and credibility for Ugandans seeking opportunities abroad, and for international bodies working with Uganda,’ he said.

He added that multilingualism drives trade, tourism, and investment, creating employment and strengthening diplomacy.

‘When businesses communicate clearly across borders, they gain trust and access new markets. Translation is not just a linguistic act, but it’s an economic strategy,’ he noted.

He also highlighted that language inclusion in schools improves learning outcomes and builds confidence among young people.

‘When students learn in languages they understand, they perform better and feel valued. That is how language builds both unity and leadership,’ he added.

Mr Ibrahim Muhammad Kafeero, the Coordinator of the Centre for Languages at IUIU said that Translations and Interpretation described the launch as a turning point in the story of Uganda’s inclusion.

‘This Unit is a bridge of strong, inclusive, and enduring. It connects Uganda’s diverse voices to a shared future and we invite all stakeholders, public and private to collaborate with us,’ he said.

Mr Kafeero also revealed that the Centre is working on new research programs and curriculum development projects, including the publication of a new book titled ‘The Art of Communication.’