Category: Daily Monitor

Uganda’s commitment to education as a driver of human capital development remains unquestionable. However, the numbers tell a different story, a story of a sector whose financing is stagnating while national priorities continue to expand, a story of crowded classrooms, a story of underpaid and demotivated teachers, a story that needs to be flipped for the mentioned commitment to result into tangible benefits.

Over the last five years, Uganda’s budget grew by an impressive 59 percent from Shs45.5 trillion in Financial Year (FY) 2020/2021 to Shs72.4 trillion in FY2025/2026. In contrast, the education budget increased by only 36 percent, from Shs3.7 trillion to Shs5.04 trillion.

This slower growth means, relative to the overall budget, education’s share continues to shrink even as the number of learners and the demand for better learning outcomes surge, which can be attributed to challenges in revenue mobilisation or poor prioritisation.

Domestic resources are the most reliable source of financing for education due to its predictability. Uganda’s domestic revenue has grown steadily, from Shs25.2 trillion in FY2022/2023 to a projected Shs37.2 trillion in FY2025/2026. One would think that this growth in both revenue and budget would match the growth in social sector financing but that is not the case.

Much of this growth in revenue is being swallowed by debt repayments with interest payments alone nearly doubling from Shs5.9 trillion in FY2022/2023 to Shs11.3 trillion in FY2025/2026 and public debt stock reaching Shs116.2 trillion in October 2025 up from Shs94.7 trillion in 2024 showing a 26 percent increase, a trend that is concerning.

Every shilling spent on debt interest is a shilling less for classrooms, teachers, and other education programmes. Uganda’s education sector remains reliant on external financing. Between FY2022/2023 and FY2023/2024, Shs456 billion (about 7.5 percent of the sector’s Shs6,075 billion financing) came from donors.

Over the past five years OECD-DAC countries provided roughly $821.4 million (Shs2.85 trillion), and Uganda is currently implementing donor-funded education projects worth about $345 million (Shs1.19 trillion). While these projects are critical, they also highlight a dependence that makes key reforms donor-driven and vulnerable to funding shocks, which create major education service delivery gaps.

To overcome, education financing challenges, Uganda needs to strengthen domestic resource mobilisation through a combination of tax policy reforms, administrative efficiency, and improved transparency.

The tax base must be broadened to bring new taxpayers. With a tax-to-GDP ratio below 14 percent, which is far below the Sub-Saharan African average of 18 percent, and 72 percent of businesses, 78 percent of the labour force, and over half of GDP in the informal sector, a significant share of the economy remains untaxed while overburdening the existing taxpayers.

By only reducing tax exemptions and redirecting the recovered revenue to education, the sectors financing could be substantially boosted.

In FY2022/2023 alone, the country lost Shs2.97 trillion in potential revenue through tax exemptions, according to the Tax Expenditure Report of 2024. This was equivalent to 71.2 percent of the Shs4.17 trillion allocated to education in that year. Yet there is no proof of economic benefits from these exemptions.

There is also a need to improve tax administration. Simplifying processes for small taxpayers and earmarking a portion of ‘sin taxes’ for education can boost revenues. With greater transparency, effective financial management, and citizen oversight, Uganda can build a resilient financing system that guarantees every child access to quality education.

Cancer treatment can be a long and challenging journey, physically, emotionally, and financially. However, sticking to your treatment plan is one of the most important decisions for your recovery and survival. Many patients, unfortunately, interrupt or stop their treatment for various reasons such as side effects, lack of transport, financial strain, or feeling better before completing therapy.

Should be continuous

Cancer treatment, whether it is chemotherapy, radiotherapy, surgery, hormone therapy, or targeted therapy, works best when given continuously and consistently. When you miss a dose or a session, cancer cells continue to grow and spread. The treatment becomes less effective over time, and the cancer may develop resistance to the drugs, making it harder or even impossible to treat later. In some cases, patients may have to restart treatment or use stronger medicines with more severe side effects.

Consistency is critical in cancer care because cancer grows silently and rapidly. Interrupting treatment allows cancer cells to multiply. Continuous therapy helps keep the disease under control, reduces the risk of recurrence, improves survival rates, and ensures the best possible response to treatment. Every dose and every session counts; missing even one can reduce the success of the entire treatment plan.

At the Uganda Cancer Institute (UCI), doctors and counsellors have observed several reasons why patients interrupt treatment. Some stop because of side effects such as nausea, fatigue, or hair loss. If this happens, it is important to report these side effects immediately. Doctors can adjust the dose or prescribe medicines to help manage them. Others stop treatment when they begin to feel better, believing the cancer is gone. However, cancer may still be present even when symptoms improve, so it is essential to complete treatment as prescribed.

Financial challenges can also cause patients to abandon care, but help is available. UCI social workers and counsellors can guide patients to support programmes and referrals. For those struggling with transport or distance, planning ahead and connecting with regional cancer centres in Gulu, Mbarara, Mbale, or Arua can make a big difference. Fear, stigma, and misinformation also play a role in treatment interruption. Patients are encouraged to seek clarification from their doctors or nurses and avoid relying on rumours, herbal remedies, or unverified advice.

Stopping or skipping treatment can lead to severe consequences. The disease may progress rapidly, the cancer can become resistant to medication, and the risk of relapse increases. These factors significantly reduce a patient’s chances of recovery and can make treatment later more expensive and complex.

Support

UCI provides several forms of support to help patients complete their treatment safely and successfully. These include free treatment for certain cancers and essential medicines, counselling and patient education to manage fear, anxiety, and side effects, and social support services for those facing psychosocial challenges. The institute also offers follow-up care and appointment reminders, and through regional cancer centres in Gulu and Mbarara, is bringing cancer care closer to communities.

Caregivers and family members play a vital role in helping patients stay on track. They can accompany patients to appointments, help manage transport and medication schedules, offer encouragement during difficult times, and provide emotional reassurance. Staying informed about the treatment process enables caregivers to provide more effective support.

As UCI emphasises, every dose counts, every session matters, and every appointment saves a life. Cancer treatment is a journey; do not stop halfway. Together, we can beat cancer through commitment, consistency, and care.

Uganda’s rising swimming star Nisha Pearl Najjuma is aptly named.

Pearls, reportedly, symbolize wisdom, purity, love, and resilience. They are also associated with emotional balance, loyalty, and new beginnings

All these are features that can describe the lanky 12 year old swimmer that is taking Ugandan swimming by storm.

Najjuma is a multi-medal winner in various domestic galas for her club Otters and Kampala Junior School. Her success on the local scene has ensured that she has already represented Uganda twice at the Africa Zone III Swimming Championships.

Last year, at the 9th edition held in a short course (25m) pool in Burundi, Najjuma embraced her new beginnings by topping the 12 and Under girls in the 100m and 200m backstroke, bagging silver in the 50m backstroke and bronze in the 200m breaststroke, then finished 4th and 5th in the 50m and 100m breaststroke events respectively.

At the 10th edition held last week in a more challenging long course (50m) pool at Kasarani Aquatic Centre, Nairobi, Najjuma doubler her collection to eight as she waved ‘goodbye’ to the 12 and Under age group.

Her gold medals came from the 200m (2:50.98), 100m (1:18.65), and 50m (35.07) backstroke events, plus the 200m (3:07.59), 100m (1:26.22) and 50m (39.17) breaststroke events. Najjuma also had silver in the 200m individual medley (2:53.84) and bronze in the 50m butterfly (33.76) – only missing a medal in the 100m freestyle (1:16.41).

Her gold collection ensured she was crowned the best swimmer in her age category with 40 medal points.

“I believe that doubling the medals alone shows I am improving,” Najjuma said in the aftermath of the competition.

Najjuma, who trains with her club and coach at Centenary Park, says there are no secrets to her performance but “just consistency in training.”

Even in the midst of celebrations as Uganda were crowned champions, Najjuma was already thinking of where to improve. Which for her age is a marvel.

“My freestyle is still off but I am changing my mentality about it. I want to just give my best in every race and not stress about medals,” Najjuma said of her struggles in the only stroke she did not medal.

The age group was also more competitive this time as Kenya and Tanzania wanted to win as much as Uganda did but the resilience of this soft-spoken swimmer got her to the top of the group.

“It feels good to beat this sort of competition but there is definitely a lot of work to do.

“At home, the competition is not as stiff, so maybe I am in a bit of a comfort zone. But I have to work harder with such competitions in my mind because I cannot just come here to swim and finish,” Najjuma added.

Loyalty and royalty

If she returns to Zone III next year, Najjuma will compete in a tighter 13-14 age group. As she advances, there will be even more summons, from Uganda Aquatics, for bigger competitions.

Fortunately for her, the swimming environment is full of camaraderie and she is already making the most out of it even though she knows she has to bide her time.

“I am inspired by my teammates on the national team. Many of them are able to go that extra mile that I cannot go yet. And I am always open to learning from them.

“I do not want to get ahead of myself in terms of goals and what I want to achieve as a swimmer. I will take it one step at a time, put in the work, and see where that takes me,” Najjuma, who adopted the sport from her father and has since developed her own passion for it, said.

One sure next step is that she will be sitting her Primary Leaving Examinations on November 3 and 4. The decision to represent her country in such a demanding Championship, two weeks prior to the examinations is a mark of loyalty and sacrifice for her team.

At a glance

Name: Nisha Pearl Najjuma

Age: 12

School: Kampala Junior School

Class: P.7

Club: Otters

Major events for Uganda: Africa Aquatics Zone III 2024 (Burundi), 2025 (Kenya)

Medals this year:

Gold: All breaststroke and backstroke events (50m,100m, 200m)

Silver: 200m IM

Bronze: 50m fly

Recently, I have been using public transport more than ever. Who would not, given the high petrol prices and extra kilometres one puts on the life of the car’s engine? But above all, I have to remind you that all public transport in Luxembourg is totally free, buses in all shapes and forms, trams and trains, just hop on and hop off, no questions asked, no time limit.

Bus services start at 4am and end by midnight every day. Also, note that the only other country in the world that provides free transport is Malta, but that is restricted only to its residents, while in Luxembourg, visitors and tourists are also included. I usually choose the front seat, if available, to avoid the sneezing and coughing of road companions.

Unfortunately, such public transport is also a den for viruses as the windows remain closed all the time. So, here I was on the isle seat of the front row, heading from town to my home when the bus stopped and a young couple jumped on after almost missing the bus.

They entered through the front door and stood right there without moving further. There was another young woman already standing there. I guessed she was leaving the bus on the next stop.

Minding my own business, I was looking at my mobile when I heard the husband asking his wife something in Arabic and the lady replied to him in a dialect that I know too well, saying: ‘What can I do she is stubborn!’

Actually stubborn is a mild translation of what she actually said, the term she used is meant for stubborn animals that refuse to move. For a moment, I was not sure if she was talking about the other woman or me, but it became clear that it was me.

So, I moved to the window seat and she jumped and sat next to me. I am guessing that the young lady did not think in a hundred years that I speak Arabic, nor would she have imagined that I understood her country’s dialect. Or the slang that she used, a word that is used only in the outskirts of Cairo by the locals.

I was thinking why she did not ask for a space, as we all do on public transport, letting me think that standing was her own choice not that an elderly person should read her mind and offer her a seat. At the same time, I was thinking of starting a conversation with her in her own dialect, this may have caused her to realise how rude and disrespectful she was.

I was also contemplating if the sense of shame that she ‘may’ have felt, was worth it just to please my ego? Or maybe to give her a lesson in life! I remembered an incident that happened to me when I was very young. We were in a lift with some friends and made a comment about someone who was riding with us, thinking he did not understand our language.

When he reached his floor, he turned towards us and said goodbye in our language. You know when you want the earth to open and swallow you! Well, that was for sure a lesson for life for me, but you know what? On this occasion, I was not about to give her that lesson, I left the bus knowing that someone else will do that another day!

I was recently seated in Cafesserie restaurant with a friend. The friend I was with is the cat’s pajamas, as the expression goes, when it comes to geopolitics and geostrategy. As I listened to him, a comely woman, who must have been in her early 20s, was seated at a table near ours.

I was decked out in a suit, so I looked fairly urbane and somewhat distinguished. Indeed, I have been told that suits transform me. The young woman was seated with her back to us, but close enough to hear our conversation amid Cafesserie’s discreet hubbub. Turning around abruptly, she displayed the book she was reading: The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, a business and self-help book written by Stephen R Covey.

Explaining why she was reading the book, she asked me: ‘You look like a highly effective person. What would you say is required to be highly effective?’ Flummoxed, I told her that I was not ‘highly effective’. The friend seated with me, however, was highly effective. She just looked at me, waiting for my response. I thus told her consistency is key in whatever you do. It shapes the metaphorical road on which you travel. To the extent that even if you do not think you’re going in the right direction, you are. Our reality denies this. Wananchi are frozen in the headlights of an economy in reverse. That’s why our young people are fleeing to the Middle East for work. In the process, they are disconnected from themselves.

Karl Marx’s theory of alienation describes how capitalist systems estrange workers from their labour and their own human essence. Essentially, workers find themselves “outside of themselves”. This occurs partly because they are forced to sell their labour for wages, here and in the Middle East, by the depredations of a remorseless wage economy. Our workers’ alienation from their labour (combined with emigration from home and hearth) will create a generation that is desultory, being neither here nor there. In this scrambled existence, the State pulls up the drawbridge to keep the world out, hoping our battlements will preclude battle. Yet the government’s militocratic dispensation makes conflict probable by its very posture on the domestic and international stage.

Furthermore, public money is tragically not seen as taxpayers’ money. All the while, urban blight takes root as traffic in our cities is boda-bordering on the insane, and everyone is bedding in with the corrupt. It’s like gangsters’ paradise. Despite this, our current and future generations must pick up the tab for our current governance issues. That’s what Ugandans do. They pick up the pieces where our leaders come apart at the seams. This seems to be our particular burden of history. Sometimes, though, to forestall the negativities that arise from poor governance, we create public institutions. However, public institutions do not guarantee good governance.

They qualify it through departments, agencies, and local authorities in tandem with economic and socio-political realties. Instead, our governance has fallen short. None of our candidates is talking about how our institutions must be consonant with the precepts of economic as well as political democracy. To be so would require a socialist system. One in which producers (the workers) take control of production in a blaze of industrial democracy. It would return the means of production to workers, unshackling them from a creeping serfdom and freeing them towards creative expression. One far removed from a forced, necessary means of survival where workers become mere cogs in a machine. If we can consistently achieve this, all of us can become highly effective people.

After beating Uganda Martyrs Lubaga 1-0 away on Saturday, Kawempe Muslim went two points clear of rivals Kampala Queens, who were held 2-2 at Asubo on Sunday in the Finance Trust Bank Fufa Women Super League (FTBFWSL).

Kawempe struggled to fashion chances against Uganda Martyrs but striker Jovia Nakagolo had a beautiful finish to break the deadlock in the 50th minute at St. Gerald’s Stadium.

The record topflight league winners held on to win and move to 10 points after four games. For the fourth time this season, coach Ayub Khalifa had someone else in his squad deliver the points.

Asia Nakibuuka got the goal in the 1-1 draw with Kampala Queens (KQ), Shadia Nabirye got the equalizer and Agnes Nabukenya the second goal in a 3-1 win over Olila High School.

Latifah Nakasi got the second in a 2-1 win over St. Noa Girls after Nakagolo’s opener. And now the latter’s lone goal proved to be all important.

Kawempe are now level on 10 points with She Corporate, who beat Amus College 2-0 at their new home Fufa Technical Centre, Njeru on Sunday owing to second half goals from the in form Rebecca Nakato and Jesca Namanda.

While Corporate have been putting points on table, perhaps, what is crucially lost on many people is their defensive solidity since the appointment of Burundian coach Belyse Ininahazwe and her assistant Saddam Pande.

Draws galore

Both Corporate and Kawempe were happy to learn of KQ’s draw. KQ drew first blood through competition top scorer Kamiyati Naigaga just before halftime but Faiza Bitta equalized in the 71st minute.

Zaina Namboozo put one past her own keeper from a KQ freekick for the latter to restore their lead. Namboozo, however, rejuvenated herself by converting from a late penalty for Asubo to gain a point.

The Sunday matches were completed by a 0-0 draw between She Maroons, who now have five points, and Lady Doves, who have three. Olila, now with two points, also drew 0-0 with Rines SS, who now have three points, on Saturday.

But on Saturday, St. Noa came twice from behind to draw 2-2 with Makerere University. Allen Nassazi had her 37th minute opener for Makerere by Dorcus Lwalisa just after the second half had started.

Rashida Nankya restored Makerere’s lead at the hour mark but Patricia Nayiga scored an equalizer at the death for both sides to move to five points.

FTBFWSL RESULTS

Uganda Martyrs 0-1 Kawempe Muslim

Olila HS 0-0 Rines HS

St. Noa 2-2 Makerere University

She Maroons 0-0 Lady Doves

Asubo 2-2 Kampala Queens

She Corporate 2-0 Amus College

For a decade, Tolbert Onyango’s name has been synonymous with Uganda Rugby Cranes Sevens. He is the towering figure who carved out Uganda’s presence on the rugby fields, turning raw talent into gold medals that proudly raised the national flag at some of the continent’s and the world’s biggest tournaments.

Onyango has now set aside his tactical master board for sevens, departing with his head held high and shoulders squared, leaving behind a legacy that will inspire the next generation of Ugandan rugby stars.

In this candid conversation with Fred Mwambu, Onyango shares insights on leadership, player development and the evolving landscape of rugby, while also looking ahead to the next chapter of his coaching journey at Heathens.

First of all, congratulations on an incredible journey of 10 years of gold.

Thank you. It’s been over ten years, a good journey. We’ve enjoyed ourselves, some heartbreaks and very good moments as well. We’re humbled and grateful for the opportunity to be able to coach Uganda Sevens.

How does it feel to step away after all that time?

Bittersweet. I was watching the Safari Sevens when the teams were running out and you feel like you’re missing that energy. But it’s also good to watch the team from the outside.

Take us back to the beginning. Uganda wasn’t very strong in rugby, not even Sevens itself, what convinced you?

The passion of the guys that we were playing with at the time like Michael Wandera, the greats David Mutaka and Dr. Leo Were. It came time for us to go to Nairobi to play Safari Sevens. I was like, you know what let me put up my hand and organise the team together and get ourselves going. And just like that, I got myself into the Uganda Sevens set up and the rest is history.

You’ve made a name, do you think of crossing to Kenya’s better structure?

[Laughs, leans back]. No, nothing of the sort, man. Uganda is my home. Currently, I’m with Heathens. And I’m focusing on Heathens so, I’m here to stay.

You have come with a very big CV from the national team but you’re succeeding equally big shoes at Heathens. How is the transition?

It’s been interesting, especially getting to know the squad. Obviously, coach Mohammed Athiyo did a brilliant job. I’m not doing so well at the moment but we tried to come number two in the sevens.

We’re trying to get our pieces together, getting new players in the fold, older players retiring and supporting from the sides.

Off record, you had good words for Walukuba.

Yeah, it’s a very exciting team. I’ve known coach Leo [Lubambula] for a very long time. We collaborate on quite a number of things. He’s a brilliant man, a great statistician. He is one of those coaches that is into continuous development. It’s good to see a team that has been passionate for eight, nine years now coming through the right procedures.

I think not just me, the whole country is celebrating him and all those boys who have passed through his hands. We can’t wait to see what’s coming through in the future.

I hope you’re not hinting at your successor, are you?

Well, why not? I know he’s quite interested in fifteens and he was part of the national setup. Let’s wait and see what the powers that be will say.

What kind of environment did you find when you took charge of the national team?

At first, it was to try and understand this sport and understand what it takes to be able to compete at the top and then start on that journey. We had many false starts and quite a number of painful moments and always went back to the drawing board. But eventually, we got something right. We haven’t gotten to the Holy Grail which is the seven series itself and the Olympics. But it’s about ticking the boxes and ensuring that we are meeting all the demands of the game at the top.

I cannot leave this interview without asking your opinion about the changes in world sevens. How is it affecting Uganda?

I think it’s pretty unfair and unfavourable to developing nations. It’s one of those areas that you’re going to be able to compete favorably. We’ve seen nations like Madagascar, Zim, Zambia and Uganda coming up. Countries like those ones will take a lifetime to get to the World Cup as a fifteens side because the kind of investment that is required to get there is massive. It’s something that most developing nations really cannot afford.

In sevens, there’s an opportunity for us to be able to compete there.

What should we do?

There’s been some pushback from Rugby Africa and its president. There was a proposal that was forwarded to World Rugby about two weeks ago in London by our [URU] president and minister [Peter Ogwang] pushing for an Africa-wide sevens series where six tournaments are played in six capitals around Africa. We’re hoping it comes through quickly so that it fills that gap and reignites the hunger for sevens once again.

First, tell us who Tolbert is.

A simple man with a simple profile. A family man, two boys; One’s 15, another 11. We’ve not spent quite some good time together but now that we have some time, I’m going to be hanging around with them. Currently, I am retired. But I’m a coach of Heathens. I like to spend time alone in the countryside. I’m a guy who loves nature. That’s pretty much it.

What about your playing career?

I went to Nairobi School and started playing at 14 years old. I also played for Mwamba and managed to go through to University of Nairobi for four years trying to study to be a district commissioner. I studied politics and governance. But clearly, as you can see, I’m not a politician. So I jumped out and started doing supply chain and logistics. I played for Nondies for about two years. Got employed in a logistics and supply chain company. Worked in Nairobi for about six months then got transferred here [Uganda]. I worked for the same company for about 18 years and left, now I’m into sports.

Back to Rugby Cranes. How do you start dominating these players’ minds and making them believe that we can beat everyone in Africa?

When I left the corporate environment, I took up the national team around 2015. Went for a tournament in South Africa where we came out seventh in Africa. It wasn’t good enough and I was not happy about it. Got a few heads together, asked them questions, some guidance on the way forward and we regrouped. In 2016, we won it in Kasarani, Nairobi. In 2017, we won it at Legends. Somewhere in between there, success got to our heads and we lost it there. In 2018, we went to San Francisco for the World Cup and got back in 2022, and won it again. In 2024, we won 12 games in a row. Through that cycle, we got to believe, we got to learn and know what it takes to compete at the highest level. The rest is history.

How did you maintain that culture among those boys?

Sport is really a tool that we all should use to get ourselves to what we call the final destination. So, learn all the values, get ourselves disciplined, be honest about what we really want and work towards it and sometimes admit that, you might not achieve this one and adjust.

How did it feel for those boys after qualifying for the World Cup?

When Adrian [Kasito] scored that last try, I was the guy who ran the fastest from the bench for 50 meters because it was a surreal moment, a dream come true. We go to San Francisco and we see the land of dreams and we didn’t just get there, we beat some teams.

We went to Cape Town in 2022 and we get to actually get some silverware. That shows some progress, some belief in the camp and if we continue that trajectory, I think within the next ten years we should be doing great things for Uganda.

Do you think we invested enough as a country to build on the success of 2018 and 2022?

Every union has its limitations but as a country, there’s been a lot of effort behind the scenes to get some of these tournaments to Uganda. It’s all about financial prowess. Luckily, we managed to host the Rugby Africa fifteens tournaments two years in a row. That’s a serious achievement.

Hosting sevens is tough and requires support from World Rugby which is insufficient. We need more support with at least ten tournaments every year.

Four Africa Sevens titles, which ones mean the most to you?

Two stand out! 2016, when we started learning what sevens is all about and 2017 which led us to the World Cup. Then 2022 and 2024, where we excelled and won 12 games in a row; the 2024 team deserves flowers because they did something never done before.

How did that feel at the World Cup and Commonwealth?

At the Commonwealth, everyone’s eyes were on Joshua Cheptegei but then there was rugby. People came to support us. Going to one of the world’s biggest stages was humbling. Being able to perform in that atmosphere with 40,000 chanting Uganda, was incredible.

Beyond trophies, what other achievements are you most proud of?

Seeing players grow into outstanding rugby citizens. For example, Alex Aturinda came from Ntare, played for Walukuba, UCU then the Uganda Sevens team and now leads by example.

For the likes of Philip [Wokorach], let me explain: A very young man from Nakawa quarters coming to Kyadondo putting on that one or two shorts a whole week while barefooted. To see that guy go through school, go to Hana through the help of Kyadondo, go through to UCU, to Kabras, come back and eventually get to France and excel there. Then mentor the rest of the young kids who are coming up and picking up the sport. For me, that’s success and I think Philip is one of those who have done very well that rugby can be proud of.

Which players or squads stood out as special to you and why?

For longevity, Michael Okorach, Philip Okorach, Adrian Kasito and Denis Etwau because they’ve been defending us since 2016. Conducting themselves well on and off the pitch for ten years is remarkable.

What was your toughest moment in ten years?

Toughest was Monaco when we were the only team declared unfit to take part due to Covid. All our investment seemed put aside and leaving our team manager behind with a player. It was a very hard moment.

What did you learn about leadership and managing people in Uganda?

Everyone is different. You need to handle people differently and create a welcoming environment. Help them forget their problems for a few hours, enjoy life and sometimes do the hard things to get outcomes.

Rugby evolves so much. How do you keep up?

Rugby rules change every year. Bigger, faster, smarter players constantly exploiting advantages. You have to stay aggressive in learning the sport, connected globally, to remain at par with top teams.

What have you left behind for your successor?

A culture and system. Four-year plan to get Uganda to the next World Cup and Olympics. Young players, average age between 21 and 22 ready to give their best for the next decade.

The Menengai Oilers recently came and dominated the Pirates. What should we do to match the levels across the border?

Size and proper conditioning, no short cuts. Starts from a young

age, technical learning, gym work, aerobic and anaerobic conditioning. More high-caliber games will bridge the gap.

What makes a proper rugby club like we see across?

Clubs thrive with long-term support. In Uganda, once players reach 40, many disappear. Look at Harlequins, 60 to 70-year-olds still support and watch games. Their presence is the heart of the club. I urge veterans to support clubs, even quietly, financially or by attending games.

Where should the union concentrate to push Ugandan rugby to the top?

Grassroots development. Get coaches properly qualified, teams with conditioning coaches and physiotherapists. Competitive leagues produce competitive players.

Did your family ever complain about the time commitment?

All the time. Leaving home at 5am, coming back at 10pm, long trips abroad. Weekends with league games, man it’s hectic. Coaches also need support.

Ten years from now, what would you like people to remember you for?

A simple guy, passionate about sport, interested in improving it, creating a good environment for individuals to thrive.

Your final comments?

Continue supporting the sport. It goes beyond players because it disciplines, develops and creates opportunities. Support clubs, support young players, and sustain rugby as an industry.

Key achievements during Onyango’s tenure at Rugby Cranes 7s

Africa Men’s 7s Champions – 2016, 2017, 2022 and 2024

2018 – Rugby World Cup Sevens debut

2022 – Qualified for Commonwealth Games, 2020 Tokyo Olympic qualifiers and RWC Sevens.

2024 – African Games champions

Like a giraffe in the park, one holy structure stands tall on top of one of Kampala City’s traditional seven hills. Celebrations to mark 100 years of the Roman Catholic Cathedral of Rubaga take place today, October 26, which will also be Kampala Archdiocese Day. The place where the cathedral is currently located was once a palace to Buganda Ssekabaka Muteesa I. This, interestingly, was in 1891. It was donated to early Catholic missionaries at the request of bishop Joseph Hirth by Kabaka Daniel Mwanga, the same man who later went on to order the killing of Christian believers otherwise known as Uganda Martyrs. Preparations to mark the cathedral’s 100 years of existence started at the beginning of the year, with many Christians eagerly anticipating the great day.

For 74-year-old Joseph Kato, a resident of Musigula Village in Rubaga Division, the milestone is particularly special, not least because he was an altar boy at this very cathedral way back in 1961 while in Primary Three at the nearby Rubaga Boys Primary School. He had entered the school in Primary One, two years earlier. Kato, once a classmate of former police chief Kale Kaihura at Mutolere Secondary School in Kisoro District, has fond memories of Rubaga Cathedral. And it is not only because he once was an altar boy there during the reign of Archbishop Joseph Cabana, a Canadian missionary. It is that and more. ‘Bishop Cabana was so friendly to the altar boys and would give us goodies like sweets and biscuits.

To us, he was like a parent, so close to us to an extent that we would go as far as his bedroom, play on his tiny bed, which did not suit his status,’ Kato looks back. According to Kato, Archbishop Cabana would on Sunday spare time to go down Rubaga Village. There, he would visit parishioners’ homes, speaking Luganda words like ‘Muli mutya baana bange? (My children, how are you doing?)’. Among classmates and altar boys of the time Kato remembers so well is the current Kampala Archdiocese Vicar General Msgr Charles Kasibante, who happened to be his great friend.

Three popes.

The current cathedral is the seventh to occupy Rubaga Hill and has seen it all, having been visited by three reigning Popes and one Archbishop of Canterbury. The first to come was St Pope Paul VI. That was in 1969. It marked the first time a reigning pontiff was visiting the continent of Africa. He visited Rubaga Cathedral on July 31, 1969 to close the African bishops synod. Later, on February 9, 1993, St Pope John Paul II also visited Rubaga Cathedral to meet Ugandan Catholic priests. When it was approaching sunset, the pope walked out of the cathedral and planted a tree in the compound to commemorate his visit.

The last reigning pope to visit Rubaga Cathedral was late Pope Francis in 2015. During the visit, the Argentine pontiff met Ugandan priests and religious leaders. Robert Runcie, a former archbishop of Canterbury, also dropped by Rubaga Cathedral. That was on January 28, 1984. The visit was framed as a sign of solidarity, especially after Runcie joined Cardinal Emmanuel Nsubuga to pray inside the cathedral. He later planted a tree outside in the compound, which still stands to this day.

Rich history

Between 1891 and 1914, when the construction of the current cathedral began, the hill gave shelter to six ‘cathedrals.’ They were made up of different structures, which unfortunately all disappeared under different circumstances. The first church to be built was destroyed on January 24, 1892 at about 8pm. This was during the so-called religious wars. Later, two more grass thatched cathedrals were built within a year. The first one was destroyed by an earthquake and the other burnt down by protestants (Anglicans). The Christians of Rubaga, however, were determined. In 1893, they built a temporary church. It was later replaced by a more solid building in 1894. This church was used until 1901. Because of the growing Catholic population around Rubaga, the need for a larger church arose. Thus the sixth new church was put up in 1901.

This time, it was free of mud. Sun dried bricks were used, though it still had a grass-thatched roof. It was 71 feet long and 21 feet broad and was blessed by Bishop Henry Halon on March 19, 1901. The structure was used for 24 years. Around this time, prominent Catholics like Stanislas Mugwanya would stay outside during Mass, watching with an ancient wooden gun. This was just in case protestants invaded. Mugwanya would only go inside the church for Holy Communion and return immediately to keep watch. The present church, a real cathedral in the true sense of the word and status, was completed in 1924 before being consecrated in 1925. The construction work took a decade.

2.5 million bricks

St Mary’s Cathedral Rubaga, as seen today, is said to accommodate 5,000 worshipers. It’s 248 feet long (260, really, if the walls are considered) and 63 feet wide. The transept measures 152 feet (162, including the walls) while the height from the floor to the ceiling is 50 feet. Some 2.5 million bricks were used to complete the cathedral. The idea of building this ‘mother of all churches in Uganda’ came from Bishop Henry Halon in 1901. He launched an appeal to all Catholics to contribute financially towards a building fund or ettofali, as Ugandans refer to it today. The first appeal brought in 6,522 Rupees (about Shs13,000 of the time). Brick kilns were put up at Nalukolongo and Kisubi. In 1911, St Joseph Technical School was founded at Kisubi with the help of Bro Herman of the White Fathers.

It set out to train carpenters, builders, blacksmiths and others. All of this was in view of the needs foreseen for the building of Rubaga Cathedral. Chosen to head the building of the cathedral was Bro Cyprian. He decided to put up a “test building”, the present parish church at Kisubi. He reduced the scale of the plan of the would-be Rubaga Cathedral, using one wing as the plan of Kisubi. By building this small church, Bro Cyprian aimed at training the students of the technical school in readiness for the task they would need to perform at Rubaga. One of the main tests was to see how the arches would support the weight in the walls and roof. Everything proved satisfactory and the Kisubi Church was completed in 1913, a year before the construction of Rubaga Cathedral started in 1914.

Ssika mudaali!

At Rubaga hill, Catholics contributed to the construction work. Everyone who came for the Holy Mass in the morning first stopped at Nalukolongo kiln and took a number of bricks on the head to the building site on top of Rubaga hill. The powerful Mugwanya, then a Buganda regent, used to lead the procession every morning with four bricks on his head. From the Kisubi kiln, the bricks and other materials were brought to Rubaga by an ox cart as there were no vehicles in Uganda then.

Charles Lwanga, 79, a resident of Rubaga, Musigula zone, says his grandfather, late Edmond Ssempiira, participated in carrying the bricks to the building site. He told a story that Christians who volunteered to do this work would be rewarded with Virgin Mary medals (midaali), which they treasured a lot at the time. But because of the huge task involved, they would at times get too tired and skip the work. They would say in Luganda: ‘Owange, ssika mudaali!’ meaning, ‘I would rather miss the medal.’

Sum of its parts

Bro Cyprian and his foreman, Matayo Bakaluba, started the work of building the cathedral on May 3, 1914 and by October 14, 1914 the foundation had reached the ground level and consumed 500,000 bricks. The work had to be interrupted for two and half years during the First World War (1914-1918) due to lack of funds.

The cathedral was completed in 1924 and consecrated on December 31, 1925. Available records indicate that Ugandans alone contributed Shs87,167 (a substantial amount then). Elsewhere, the Catholics of Europe, America, and Canada parted with a collective Shs379, 302. The missionaries of the Africa Vicariate gave Shs23,896.

The cathedral’s Roman style was adopted from Normandy in France by Bro Gilbert, the main architect. The great altar of Muvule tree was the work of Bro Sylvester and took two years to complete. As for the cathedral’s bells, they were offered by Mr FM Alcouffe from Averyon, France, and bought from Annecy Vieux, France in 1925. The cathedral ceiling is made of molded metal sheets bought in London by Bishop Forbes, while the first glass windows were installed by Bishop Edward Michaud, who died on June 18, 1945 and is buried inside the Cathedral. Outside the church, the popular giant Virgin Mary statue overlooking the city of Kampala was brought all the way from Italy and installed by Bro Antonius.

Ugandan patients, including expectant mothers and accident victims, are being referred across the border to Kenya for diagnostic services after the only ultrasound scan machine at Masafu Hospital broke down two months ago.

Masafu Hospital, the biggest public health facility in Busia District, has been struggling to offer timely medical care since the breakdown, officials said.

‘Our ultrasound scan machine broke down two months ago. Since then, we have been referring our patients to Kenya for some of the services,’ said Dr Fred Duku, the hospital’s medical superintendent.

He said the lack of a functioning ultrasound scan had complicated diagnosis and delayed treatment for critical patients.

‘The provision of quality medical care begins with investigations, but without the equipment, it becomes difficult,’ Dr Duku said.

He added that repairing or replacing the equipment would require between Shs4 million and Shs6 million, funds the hospital does not currently have.

Dr Duku said the delays were putting lives at risk, especially for accident victims with head injuries and expectant mothers who require routine scans to monitor their pregnancies.

Mr David Wangira, a resident who recently sought ultrasound services for a patient in Kenya, said the process was expensive and stressful.

‘I spent close to Shs200,000 on ambulance hire and medical fees. Once Kenyans learn that you are a non-citizen, they double the cost of that particular service,’ he said on October 25.

Busia District Assistant Health Officer Dr Bena Nanyama said every expectant mother is required to undergo at least one scan during pregnancy to detect complications early.

‘Many accident patients also arrive with head injuries requiring urgent diagnosis and timely treatment. Without the ultrasound, that becomes impossible,’ she said.

Busia Woman MP Hellen Auma Wandera said she learned of the breakdown recently after complaints from residents.

‘I received reports that the ultrasound scan machine had broken and patients were being forced to seek the service in Kenya,’ she said.

Auma said she had raised the issue with the Ministry of Health and was assured that new diagnostic equipment was being procured. ‘I have been informed that Masafu is among the hospitals expected to benefit,’ she said, adding that installation could be completed before December.

The breakdown has further worsened the hospital’s decade-long struggle to provide quality imaging services.

Masafu has been without a functioning x-ray machine since one donated by Japan under the KOICA program stopped working after the departure of Japanese engineers.

Dr Nanyama said she remains hopeful the Ministry of Health will soon deliver a new x-ray machine to restore full diagnostic services. The Ministry of Health did not immediately comment on this matter, by press time Sunday evening.

When Uganda hosts Zimbabwe and South Sudan in the 2025 IBSA Blind Football African Championship Division II starting today at Hamz Stadium in Nakivubo, the cardinal goal will be finishing among the top two teams to enter the coveted Division I.

South Africa, Kenya and Senegal shall miss the event due to lack of financial support from their respective governments but that will not change the format of the tournament.

‘It remains that the top two teams qualify for Division I, which will play another tournament on the road to the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympic Games,’ Patrick Synole, director administration at Uganda Paralympic Committee told Daily Monitor.

‘That means the teams which haven’t played this tournament have disqualified themselves from the pathway to Los Angeles because they have no chance to play at the next qualification stage.’

Meanwhile, Uganda’s 10-man squad has been camping at Martyrwood Hotel in Namugongo since the end of the National Disability Gala in Masaka on October 18.

Ali Zinda, who guided Makerere University Business School to bronze at the national gala, is the head coach, assisted by Maurice Matte of Uganda Martyrs University.

‘The training has been going well for the last one week. We have no cases of injuries or illness. So, we are just ready for the job,’ Zinda told Daily Monitor during an evening session at Hamz Stadium Saturday.

‘I can’t tell you much about our opponents’ profiles because the sport is generally new in most African countries. But I can tell you we are ready and focused on qualifying for Division I. Hopefully, home advantage will be on our side.’

The Ugandan delegation also includes referees, coaches and medical personnel from Mulago Women’s Hospital. The opening ceremony is on Monday.

BRIEFLY

When: October 27-29

Venue: Hamz Stadium, Nakivubo

Teams confirmed: Uganda, South Sudan, Zimbabwe

Games Hotel: Golden Tulip

Host federation: Blind Football Uganda

Umbrella body: Uganda Paralympic Committee

Funder: National Council of Sports

UGANDAN SQUAD

Lawrence Apil, Ronald Kamusiime, Gad Rauben Tumusiime, Rashid Ssemakula, Kizito Nalugoda, Dan Niwamanya, Douglas Bbira, Disan Nsereko

GOALKEEPERS

Moses Musasizi, Adam Kainerugaba