Category: Daily Monitor

Mental health experts have warned that corporate bullying, emotional neglect, and a lack of intentionality in employee welfare are fuelling a mental health crisis in workplaces. Mental health is a state of wellbeing in which an individual realises their potential, copes with daily stresses, works productively, and contributes to their community. Across many offices, employees are silently battling anxiety, depression, and burnout. Experts say this suffering threatens individual wellbeing and organisational productivity.

The warning was issued during the East African Mental Health Summit 2025 in Kampala City, organised by Strong Minds last week. The gathering brought together policymakers, private sector leaders, civil society actors, and mental health advocates to explore ways of integrating mental health into social and economic planning. Speaking during a panel discussion themed ‘Corporate culture and employee wellness in the modern workplace,’ Ms Goldy Obama, a mental health consultant from the Federation of Uganda Employers (FUE), said social engagement and emotional connection in the workplace are crucial but often overlooked.

‘Intentionality or unintentionality, social engagements are real in the workplace. If you lost a spouse or got married and no one from your organisation showed up, it says something about the culture. It shows emotional disconnect and neglect,’ Ms Obama said. She further explained: ‘Bullying in the workplace exists, though many don’t name it. It could be humiliation in meetings, gossip, being excluded from decisions, or being micromanaged to the point of breaking down. These are silent forms of abuse that erode confidence.’ Ms Obama described corporate bullying as one of the most persistent but under-reported sources of psychological distress in Uganda’s professional spaces. She added that sexual harassment and toxic management styles remain rampant across many offices and often go unaddressed due to fear of retaliation.

‘When you spend eight hours at work but no one values your humanity, that takes a toll. Employee wellness is not charity. Investing in your people creates a healthier, more productive culture. Empathy should be part of your business strategy,’ she said. She urged leaders to pay attention to ‘organisational economics’, the systems that determine workload, job design, reporting lines, and relationships, arguing that poorly structured workplaces directly contribute to mental distress. ‘If your workspace is stressful by design, then you are not doing a very good job as a leader; you don’t need an app to tell you to be mindful. You just need to pause and listen to your thoughts,’ she said.

Also speaking at the panel, Mr Steven Odaro from the Market Vendors Association, said a key trigger of mental illness among street vendors is the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), which frequently hunts them. ‘A street vendor moves with his/her capital. Just imagine such a person when he runs into KCCA or sees uniformed people, stress levels rise, and they start running to hide, spending the whole day trying to avoid them,’ Mr Odaro said. As the East African Mental Health Summit concluded, experts called for stronger collaboration between the government, private sector, and civil society to prioritise mental wellness.

Ms Elizabeth Okello, president of the Uganda Counselling Association, said: ‘Self-care is not selfishness. It is how you show up, how you speak, how you manage your emotions, how you treat others. Emotional intelligence begins with being aware of your own triggers before judging others.’ She added: ‘We must stop treating mental health as a private matter. It’s a workplace issue, a leadership issue, and a national development issue. Every employer and parent has a role to play because behind every profit report is a human being and humans cannot thrive in neglect.’

14 MILLION

It is estimated that 14 million Ugandans, roughly 30 percent of the population, live with some form of mental disorder.

The ruling National Resistance (NRM) party administrative secretary in Kabale District, Mr Amos Rwansheija, on Wednesday assigned the district’s party vice chairperson, Ms Bridget Asinga, to take over the roles of the district party chairperson to ensure proper service delivery during the ongoing electoral process.

Mr Rwansheija’s decision came shortly after the district NRM party chairman, Mr David Bahati, who doubles as the State Minister for Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, opted to contest as an Independent candidate for the Ndorwa West constituency parliamentary seat after losing the in party primaries.

Mr Bahati, who is the current Member of Parliament for Ndorwa West constituency in Kabale District, polled 23,759 votes in the July NRM party primary election, losing to Mr Eliab Naturinda, who bagged 25,027 votes. In October, Mr Bahati was nominated as an Independent candidate for the Ndorwa West parliamentary seat, claiming that his victory was stolen during the NRM party primary elections, which were reportedly marred with several irregularities.

‘Because Mr Bahati opted to contest as an independent candidate, I used my administrative powers to assign the party vice chairperson, Ms Bridget Asinga, to take over the roles and responsibilities to ensure proper service delivery during the ongoing electoral process,’ Mr Rwansheija said.

In a brief interview, Ms Bridget Asinga said that she accepted the assignment. ‘The Kabale district NRM administrative secretary, Mr Rwansheija, indeed assigned me to take charge of the NRM party office, and I am ready to serve,’ Ms Asinga said.

Mr Bahati welcomed the development, saying it was in line with the NRM party Secretary General’s guidance of stepping aside from the roles and responsibilities since he will be busy in the election campaigns.

‘Given that I will be busy in the election campaigns, it is for the vice chairperson to take over the roles and responsibilities for the smooth running of party activities,’ Mr Bahati said.

While presiding over the mobilisation launch of efficient and effective service delivery by the NRM government in Kabale district, a ceremony that was organised by the Kabale Resident District Commissioner, Major Godfrey Katamba, at Kabale stadium on Thursday, Mr David Bahati hailed President Museveni for initiating wealth creation programs that are currently transforming Ugandans into the money economy.

‘Do not allow yourself to be diverted by the opposition politicians during this election campaign period. Let’s work as a team and ensure that President Museveni gets over 80 percent in the next year’s general elections as we appreciate his visionary leadership and protecting the gains of the NRM government,’ Mr Bahati said.

The government last week appointed the inaugural Sugar Industry Stakeholders’ Council, marking a milestone in Uganda’s industrial development, positioning the sugar sector to expand production, enhance value addition, and strengthen domestic and export markets.

The 10-member council includes Mr Rajbir Singh Rai as the chairperson, while members who are outgrowers are Mr Robert Atugonza, Ms Elizabeth Mbeiza, and Ms Santa Joyce Laker. Three millers, who are Mayur Muljibhai Madhvani, Milan Dobaria Vithalbhai, and Ashish Monpara, are also on the council.

Other members are Dr Swidiz Mugerwa from the Agriculture ministry, Mr Ramathan Ggoobi from the Finance ministry, and Ms Lynette B Bagonza as the secretary.

Their appointment was approved by Cabinet on October 6, and they will initially serve for two years. Mr Grace Musenjja, an agricultural extension field staff in Kamuli District, Busoga Sub-region, said the council should have been in place earlier.

‘Sugarcane growers cut off vegetation cover and the council should ask them to plant replacement,’ he said in an interview on Monday.

Sugarcane is the main cash crop in Busoga Sub-region, and has attracted a number of sugar mills, including Kakira Sugar works (Jinja), Mayuge sugar factory (Mayuge), Kamuli Sugar Limited (Kamuli), Kaliro Sugar Limited (Kaliro), GM Sugar Factory (Buikwe), Bugiri Sugar (Bugiri), CN sugar (Namayingo), and Kidera Sugar (Buyende).

However, farmers have for long grappled with fluctuation of prices of sugarcane, prompting Dr Joseph Muvawala, the Katuukiro (prime minister) of Busoga Kingdom, to seek President Museveni’s intervention during the official opening of Busoga Lukiiko (parliament) at the kingdom headquarters in Bugembe, Jinja City last February.

In 2017, however, the millers started offering Shs175,000 per tonne of raw cane to farmers, which further dropped to Shs96,000 in 2021 In 2023, the price rose to Shs240,000 per tonne up to December that year.

However, by last August, the price had again reduced to Shs90,000 per tonne in August 2024. Dr Muvawala sought a price formula so that sugarcane by-products, including biogas, ethanol, and fertilisers, among others, are calculated, rather than considering sugar as the only byproduct.

Issues

Mr Isa Budhugo, the chairperson of the Busoga Sugarcane Growers Association, has tabled a raft of issues that he wants the newly-inaugurated council to immediately deal with, including the five percent deductions, weighbridges, and registration.

Mr Budhugo said the issue of five percent deductions must go, adding that it was solved by the President.

‘We want the council to fully tackle that issue; that when a farmer supplies, say, 10 tonnes of sugarcane, they remain 10 (tonnes). The five percent deductions were solved by the President and even the minister of Trade wrote a letter, telling all millers to stop deducting,’ he said.

Mr Budhugo added: ‘I also want the Council to handle the issue of weighbridges. President Museveni said people should be allowed to put them where they want, and sugarcane be weighed at the farm to avoid losses to the farmer, allow market access and reduce transport costs incurred by the farmer.” He also said farmers want to be allowed to sell their sugarcane anywhere because ‘we are in a competitive world’.

Mr Budhugo is strongly opposed to the attachment of farmers, especially independent ones, to a miller.

‘Independent farmers should be allowed to sell their cane. The council can only know the number of farmers and acreage, while only contracted farmers should be attached to millers. Imagine, if you register your cane to miller X and it matures, you are obliged to sell it there or face imprisonment of up to six years,’ he said.

Mr Budhugo also revealed that he is going to convene a meeting with the farmers to get more issues they want addressed, after which he will table them before the sugar council.

Mr Michael Imaka Mugabira, a sugarcane grower, said the Bill prompted them to seek consultations from their counterparts in Tanzania and it is from there that they got ‘vital information’.

‘In a liberalised economy that Uganda advances, we oppose zoning of sugarcane, relocation of new mills to 50 kilometres from the indigenous one and the denial of farmers the right to sell their cane to millers of their choice,’ Mr Mugabira said.

Mr Samuel Bakaki, a sugarcane farmer, welcomed the new council, saying it is going to improve performance.

He, however, urged the council to engage sugarcane farmers to preserve the vegetation cover so that whoever is planting has due consideration of conservation shade.

Council speaks out

Mr Rajbir Singh Rai, the incoming Sugar Industry Stakeholders’ Council chairperson, said the farmers’ issues vary from region-to-region across the country, adding that he can only speak to them once the Council has sat and made some decisions collectively.

‘It makes sense for me to respond only once the council has sat and deliberated on the issues,’ he said, adding that the price of sugar is ‘volatile’, which is why the price of sugarcane under some models has been volatile.

‘The way to solve the volatility and fluctuations is to introduce more structure to the relationship between the outgrowers and millers. So this will be one of the main tasks for the council to consider,’ said Mr Rai.

Background

The appointment of the Sugar Industry Stakeholders’ Council follows the enactment of the Sugar (Amendment) Act No. 6 of 2025, which establishes the council as a corporate body with legal authority to oversee the sector. This was after the State Minister for Trade, Gen Wilson Mbadi, tabled the Sugar Regulations Bill (2025) in the House.

The Bill, among others, aims to operationalise the Sugar Act (2020), monitor sugarcane production and cane farming by outgrowers.

Ugandan professional golfer Ronald ‘Mayo’ Rugumayo has once again shown that his upward climb on the Sunshine Tour ladder is no fluke.

The 32-year-old Fort Portal native fired rounds of 68, 70 and 67 to finish tied second on five-under-par (205) at the Betway Big Easy Tour 8 that climaxed yesterday at Killarney Country Club in Johannesburg, marking his best result of the season.

Rugumayo, who banked R14,460 (about Shs3m) for his efforts, finished behind South African Daniel Cronje (-7) and shared second spot with Dillon Germshuys, beating several seasoned pros on the developmental circuit.

‘What a week at Killarney!’ Rugumayo said after his round. ‘I fought hard all the way to a T2 finish. I’m proud of the fight in the team – it was a proper test. But there’s no time to rest. We turn straight to Pretoria for Big Easy Tour 9 and then to Ebotse Links for the Hyundai Open on the Sunshine Tour. The grind continues.’

Rising Tide

The performance was a statement of intent for the MTN and Johnnie Walker-sponsored star, who has now made two cuts out of four Big Easy Tour starts this season.

His ability to stay composed under pressure and go low in the final round mirrors a player who’s starting to find rhythm and confidence on South African fairways.

His manager Peter Mujuni hailed the showing as ‘a solid sign of growth.’ ‘He finished T2 overall with consistent scoring across three rounds,’ Mujuni said. ‘Now the focus shifts to next week – two big tournaments in Pretoria and Johannesburg. It’s a tight run, but we’re embracing it.’

The end goal for Rugumayo is to crack up the top 20 on the Big Easy Tour Order of Merit and improve his OWGR ranking (currently 2,545).

Next events

Big Easy Tour 9 – Silver Lakes Golf Estate, Pretoria (Oct 3-5)

Hyundai Open – Sunshine Tour, Ebotse Links, Johannesburg (Oct 6-9)

The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development (MEMD) has received two new mobile laboratory units as part of the ongoing efforts to strengthen fuel quality monitoring and enforcement across the country.

The two facilities from SICPA Uganda bring the Ministry’s total number of labs to 10.

‘We are proud to work with the Ministry of Energy to strengthen fuel quality monitoring across Uganda,’ said Ms Suzan Mweheire Kitariko, General Manager of SICPA Uganda.

The Fuel Marking and Quality Monitoring Programme is designed to control and monitor the quality of petroleum products throughout Uganda’s supply chain. The programme has become a cornerstone of the country’s petroleum sector, delivering significant economic benefits through improved revenue collection, transparency, and market stability.

Implemented by SICPA Uganda under the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development and the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS), the programme combats tax evasion, smuggling, and fuel adulteration, ensuring that all fuel sold in Uganda meets national quality standards.

‘The fuel marking programme helps us monitor fuel quality across the entire supply chain, ensuring consumers receive products that meet standards and preventing adulteration,’ said Mr Peter Kitimbo, the UNBS Fuel Quality Monitoring Programme (FQMP) Field Supervisor.

According to him, the system has strengthened the government’s fiscal position by reducing opportunities for tax fraud.

The FQMP project coordinator, Mr Steven Barisigara, noted that with the additional mobile labs, the Ministry’s capacity to expand coverage across the country will improve.

‘This enhancement strengthens our ability to monitor fuel quality nationwide,’ he said.

A mobile fuel laboratory provides a fast and accurate solution for field-based fuel quality checks. Equipped with portable, fully automated analysers, it enables a single Ministry technician to perform detailed fuel analyses efficiently and in real time. These mobile testing laboratories are used to conduct spot sampling and fuel quality tests at retail stations, as well as trucks in transit to ensure consistency and compliance throughout the supply chain.

The Chief Magistrate’s Court in Lira has remanded 10 supporters of the opposition National Unity Platform (NUP) party to Lira Central Prison on charges of robbery and malicious property damage.

The accused are; Precious Paul Ssembus, Ismail Bukenya, Liberty Lokoro,Mastura Nakabuye , Raston Waiswa, Hope Nasozi, Kagwa Saliman, Regan Kamulegeya, Stephen Katamba and Alison Lubega.

Prosecution alleges that the opposition supporters on October 28, 2025, along the Lira-Alebtong highway in Obot Village, Obot Parish, Barr Sub-county in Lira District, robbed occupants of a police motor vehicle registration number UP 4816. The said police pick-up was operating under cover registration UBK 380Q.

They also allegedly robbed a Dell laptop computer, a bag containing an unspecified number of clothes and 20 litres of diesel. The total value of the items stolen is estimated at Shs1,892,000.

Appearing before Chief Magistrate Jane Tibagonzeka, the accused were not allowed to take plea, with the state arguing that there is need for further investigations into the case. They were subsequently remanded until their next appearance scheduled for November 12, 2025.

Background

On October 29, 2025, at least 15 NUP supporters were arrested by security forces in Lira City following campaign activities led by their party president, also presidential candidate, Robert Kyagulanyi Sentamu, also known as Bobi Wine.

The arrests occurred amid heightened political activity as Bobi Wine campaigned in Lira City to mobilise support ahead of the 2026 General Election.

SP Jimmy Patrick Okema, North Kyoga regional police spokesperson, previously indicated that the arrests stemmed from an incident along the Lira-Alebtong highway, near Obot Primary School, where a police surveillance vehicle was allegedly attacked by a group identified as NUP supporters.

The vehicle, operating under a cover registration, was reportedly damaged, and its occupants SSP Julius Isabirye and Sgt Peter Muhindo were confronted while monitoring the campaign rally.

In a separate incident later that evening, police raided Tembo Trek Courts Hotel in Lira City, where members of Bobi Wine’s campaign team were staying.

NUP officials allege that security forces used pepper spray or chemical agents during the operation, leaving several individuals hospitalised.

The Uganda Editors Guild and the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) yesterday described as unconstitutional the decision by Parliament and State House to bar Nation Media Group (NMG) Uganda journalists from covering parliamentary sessions and State events attended by President Museveni.

The editors joined a growing chorus of voices condemning the move, which included the forceful withdrawal of parliamentary press accreditation cards from journalists representing NTV, Daily Monitor, Spark TV, KFM, and Dembe FM on Tuesday, followed by continued blocking of others on Wednesday. They urged both government institutions to respect press freedom.

‘These attacks undermine the constitutional order and threaten democratic governance, particularly as the nation approaches the general election. Article 29(1)(a) of the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda, 1995, guarantees every person the right to freedom of expression, which includes the freedom to seek, receive, and impart information,’ reads part of the statement. The statement continues:’…Uganda is a State Party to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) under Article 9, which protects the right to freedom of expression, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) under Article 19, which safeguards free expression and access to information.

Despite these constitutional and international protections, we observe the following serious violations, including a ban on coverage involving the President and NRM and unlawful denial to cover Parliamentary sessions.’ The events at Parliament on Tuesday, which included the expulsion of a Daily Monitor photojournalist, who had accessed the building and the removal of NTV journalists, were followed by the denial of access to two Daily Monitor reporters on Wednesday. These incidents occurred amid a broader media ban on NMG-U that began in March, shortly after the violent Kawempe by-election on March 19.

The Editors Guild said the exclusion violates the constitutional right to information and amounts to unlawful censorship. ‘The unlawful denial of parliamentary coverage: On October 28, 2025, NMG-U journalists were unjustifiably prevented from covering a parliamentary session without any valid explanation. Parliamentary authorities’ failure to intervene breaches legal duties to uphold press freedom and transparency in public affairs (Parliamentary Rules of Procedure, and constitutional principles),’ the statement adds. Mr Pius Katunzi, the Managing Editor of the Observer newspaper and an executive member of the Editors Guild, told this publication that the ban infringes on journalists’ constitutional rights.

‘All authorities immediately cease discriminatory restrictions on independent media and journalists. Government institutions uphold the constitutional guarantee to freedom of expression and guarantee journalists’ safety and unrestricted access to public information. Relevant security agencies, Parliament, and regulatory bodies engage in an inclusive dialogue with media stakeholders to restore an enabling environment for journalistic independence,’ he said. Similarly, Mr Joseph Beyanga, the Chief Executive Officer of the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB), condemned the developments and urged both institutions to engage in dialogue without denying citizens access to information.

‘This is very unfortunate and a direct attack on media freedom and that is why as NAB, we try our best to see that there is a constructive dialogue so if there is any issue between NMG and Parliament, they should be handled amicably,’ he said. Deputy Speaker of Parliament Thomas Tayebwa said he would engage the NMG-Uganda Managing Director, Ms Susan Nsibirwa, to understand the situation. ‘So, I received a message from the Head of the Nation Media [Group], madam Nsibirwa. I will call her, she gives me also facts and then I will crosscheck with the clerk. I haven’t called her back. I will crosscheck with the clerk on what might have happened on that. But I was very very busy. I had pending business which I had to do,’ he said.

Devastating mudslides triggered by relentless heavy overnight Wednesday rains have swept through villages in Kween and Bukwo districts, leaving at least nine people dead, several injured, and hundreds of families displaced, residents said on Thursday.

The slides were amid flooding in some areas, triggered by overnight downpour that left patches of key roads covered or surrounded by water.

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

Among the victims were Cavin Kapkwomu, his wife Sarah, and their two young children, Jonathan and an unidentified one-year-old.

They were asleep when the mudslide engulfed their home.

Nearby, a five-year-old girl, daughter of Kapsus Mongusho, also perished, while her parents sustained injuries.

In Bukwo District, another landslide in Chepkubortin Village, Nyalit Parish, Chesower Sub-county, killed three more and left several others hospitalized, sources said.

The destruction left villagers in shock, with dozens of acres of crops buried and several homes reduced to rubble.

Early Thursday, some bodies could be seen in footage from the affected areas as locals and first responders dug through thick layers of mud with rudimentary tools, searching for survivors.

‘We have never seen anything like this before. The landslide took everything along, including people. We are in pain,’ Justine Yariwo, a resident of Kaptanga Village, told Monitor.

Joseph Cherotich, another resident, recalled the terrifying night saying: ‘I was asleep when I heard the sound of the mud coming down. It was like thunder. I grabbed my children and ran. My neighbour’s house was totally demolished-they lost one person.’

The displaced families are now homeless, with many sheltering under makeshift structures. ‘The village is in shock. Recovery will be long and challenging without government support,’ said Chemutai, a Kaptanga resident.

Local officials have urged the government to act swiftly.

David Mande Kapcheronge, LCV councillor for Tuikat Sub-county, called for urgent relocation of families in high-risk areas.

‘We appeal for immediate assistance like rescue operations, relief supplies, medical aid and compensation for lost crops and livestock,’ he said.

Kween District LCV Chair Geoffrey Chelogoi said around 100 households require urgent relocation.

‘The disaster is a wake-up call. People in Sebei [region], especially those living on steep slopes, are sitting on a time bomb, like their counterparts in Bugisu,’ he said.

In 2024, the government launched a cash transfer program to accelerate the relocation of residents in landslide-prone areas, targeting 4,827 households nationwide. Bududa had the largest share with 2,050 households, while Kween was slated to relocate 254 households. Despite the plan, many at-risk communities have yet to benefit.

Environmentalists warn of continued landslides due to soil erosion and poor land management.

‘The only viable solution is for locals to embrace planting indigenous trees, digging trenches, terracing, and adopting better farming practices,’ said Wiberforce Walukano of Manafwa Watershed Restoration and Stewardship Project (MWARES).

On her part, Grace Yariwo, Kween District Secretary for Gender, highlighted the impact on local development programs.

‘Apart from losing lives, people’s livelihoods have been destroyed,’ she said.

Kween Woman MP Rose Emma Cherukut said she intends to raise the issue in Parliament. ‘Our community is in crisis. Prompt government intervention is needed to make a significant difference in the lives of those affected and those still at risk of looming disasters,’ she said.

As rain continues to pound the region, villagers remain in fear of further landslides.

Many locals who spoke to Monitor said ‘they will spend nights huddled together, watching the unstable slopes above their homes, wondering if their communities can withstand nature’s wrath.’

Steep slopes, deadly risks

Kween District and its neighbouring highland areas in eastern Uganda are in a region authorities classify as prone to ‘geomorphological and geological hazards’ due to the area’s stony, cliffy, and steeply sloping landscape.

Kween and Bukwo are among several districts on the slopes of Mount Elgon that regularly experience deadly mudslides during prolonged rainfall, displacing dozens of families and destroying crops.

Experts have long warned that uncontrolled settlement on steep terrain, combined with deforestation and erratic weather patterns, continues to expose communities to disaster.

Yet relocation and preventive measures have largely failed to protect vulnerable households.

On Thursday morning, residents called for urgent government relief and recovery support, fearing more communities could be swept away if annual rains persist.

Ten supporters of Uganda’s main opposition party, the National Unity Platform (NUP), were on Thursday brought to the Lira Chief Magistrate’s Court and are expected to be arraigned following their arrest in a security crackdown that targeted the campaign team of presidential candidate Robert Sentamu Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine.

The arrests stemmed from a Tuesday night raid by heavily armed security personnel at Tembo Trek Courts Hotel in Lira City, where Kyagulanyi and his team were staying.

The operation, allegedly headed by Field Force Unit officer Moses Mukiibi, resulted in extensive damage to the hotel and triggered panic among supporters.

Bobi Wine and his campaign team had just returned from Alebtong District, where they had been canvassing for votes in the Lango Sub-region, when the raid began at around 8:30 pm.

Those arrested were identified as Precious Paul Ssembusi, Ismail Bukenya, Liberty Lokoro, Mastura Nakabuye, Raston Waiswa, Hope Nasozi, Saliman Kagwa, Regan Kamulegeya, Stephen Katamba and Alison Lubega.

Security officials have not commented on the reasons for the crackdown, but NUP leaders have denounced it as part of a sustained campaign of intimidation ahead of the 2026 general elections.

Bobi Wine, who is challenging President Museveni for the second time, has frequently accused security agencies of targeting his supporters and disrupting opposition activities.

By Thursday afternoon, the 10 NUP supporters were being held at the Lira court premises under tight security as opposition members gathered outside pushing for their release.

Uganda will hold its General Election on January 15, 2025 to vote a new president and parliamentarians.

Nation Media Group-Uganda (NMG-U) has expressed deep concern over the continued blockade of its journalists from covering the Presidency, and more recently, Parliament. In a strongly-worded statement issued yesterday, Ms Susan Nsibirwa, the NMG-Uganda Managing Director, said the organisation has noted with alarm the Parliament’s decision to block its journalists from covering House proceedings, a move that follows months of exclusion from covering the President of Uganda. ‘The Nation Media Group-Uganda has, with deep concern, noted the decision to block our journalists from covering the Parliament of Uganda. This decision follows months-long blockade on our journalists from covering the President of Uganda,’ Ms Nsibirwa stated.

She revealed that no formal communication had been issued to explain the reasons behind the blockade, nor had the company been informed of any contraventions that its journalists might have committed. Ms Nsibirwa reminded the authorities that press freedom and access to information are not privileges but constitutional rights guaranteed under the 1995 Constitution of Uganda. ‘These rights are not favours. They are enshrined in the 1995 Constitution of Uganda that was enacted 30 years ago this month and are at the heart of the rule of law and good manners upon which free and democratic societies are built,’ she noted.

The statement emphasised that both the Presidency and Parliament are public institutions funded by taxpayers and are accountable to citizens. Denying access to independent media, she said, violates the spirit of the Constitution, which guarantees freedom of the press, media, and expression. The media group said the blockade denies citizens their constitutional right to know what their elected leaders are doing in their name, thereby undermining accountability, transparency, and good governance.

Beating the odds

Despite the ban by the Presidency that began in March, Ms Nsibirwa said NMG journalists have continued covering the President and serving the public diligently by providing news that informs, educates, and entertains. The media house further noted that its journalists have increasingly been turned into targets of repression and violence, citing incidents during the Kawempe North parliamentary by-election in March, and the ongoing presidential campaigns. She warned that the latest decision by Parliament compounds what appears to be a growing climate of intolerance and restriction of media freedom in Uganda.

The NMG-U reaffirmed its commitment to holding those in power accountable and playing a watchdog role on behalf of the citizens. ‘Independent media like ours seek to hold those in power accountable to citizens, following taxpayer money, reporting on human rights, and the country’s democracy. Playing a watchdog role across government ministries, departments, and agencies is part of that mandate,’ she explained. Reiterating its commitment to bold and responsible journalism, NMG-U asserted it would not abdicate its duty of reporting truthfully and defending constitutional freedoms. ‘We shall not abdicate our responsibility to do bold and thoughtful journalism, and to hold those in power accountable. We shall continue to defend media freedoms and the bill of rights guaranteed by our Constitution, and underpin our constitutional order,’ she noted.

Ms Nsibirwa urged both the Presidency and Parliament to respect the Constitution and allow journalists access to information necessary for their work. ‘We implore the Presidency and Parliament to heed the Constitution of Uganda, which provides for the right to access information, which is vital for our journalists to do their work,’ she said. She reminded Ugandans that a nation that suppresses independent journalism risks losing its democratic fabric. ‘We should always remember that democracy dies in darkness,’ Ms Nsibirwa warned. The standoff between NMG-Uganda journalists and government institutions began in March when reporters from NTV and Daily Monitor were blocked from covering President Museveni’s public events without any official explanation.

The ban later extended to State House activities, leaving the media house unable to directly report on presidential engagements. This week on Monday, Parliament also stopped NMG-U journalists from accessing its precincts, further escalating concerns over shrinking media space in Uganda. Both actions have been widely criticised by press freedom advocates as unconstitutional and contrary to democratic principles. NMG-U, which runs platforms, including NTV Uganda, Spark TV, newspapers Daily Monitor and The East African, and radios KFM, and Dembe FM, has long been known for its investigative and independent reporting.

Intolerance to journalism

The blockade has raised fears that authorities are increasingly becoming intolerant of critical journalism, especially during an election period. Despite the restrictions, NMG-Uganda has continued to report on governance, accountability, and national issues through other means, reaffirming its commitment to serving the public interest and defending press freedom in Uganda.