Category: Daily Monitor

John Atem’s family fled conflict in South Sudan and settled in Uganda as refugees. He would later be admitted to the elite Stanford University in the United States. While in the US, he has set up a tech company that he hopes will inspire young people who emerge from a similar background like his, writes Derrick Kiyonga.

When John Atem Agwer’s parents gave birth to him in the border town of Nimule in 1999, the last thing on their minds was that their boy would one day attend Stanford University in California, USA.

It was hard for them to envisage this scenario because Atem was born amid the second Sudanese civil war, which started from 1983 to 2005 between the Sudanese government and the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) led by John Garang, who would pass in 2005, after the Ugandan helicopter he was travelling in crashed on the South Sudan-Uganda border.

The second civil war in South Sudan was largely a continuation of the first Sudanese civil war, which started in South Sudan but spread to the Nuba Mountains and the Blue Nile, lasting more than 22 years, ultimately resulting in the independence of South Sudan six years after the war had ended.

It’s within this context of violence that Uganda became a home of refugees trickling from South Sudan. By 1995, an estimated 170,000 – 210,000 Sudanese refugees were settled in Uganda and by the end of 2020, there were more than one million refugees in the country.

Among the South Sudanese refugees who settled in Uganda were Atem, who started going to Kampala metropolitan schools. In 2012, he sat his Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE) at Kings Way Primary School, where he obtained Aggregate 6. Yet in his education journey, his performance in Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) examinations at St Mary’s Boarding Secondary School, Kitende, stood out as he obtained Aggregate 8 out of 8 subjects, qualifying him among the best performers in the country.

Yet within this moment of victory, reality set in that he could actually miss out on A-Level due to lack of school fees. The reason behind his lack of school fees again was attributed to the politics of South Sudan, where, having obtained independence, the newly born state would be plunged into a civil war.

Tensions erupted into civil war in December 2013 following a political struggle between President Salva Kiir and Vice President Riek Machar. Kiir accused Machar of plotting a coup d’état against him, leading to Machar’s removal as vice president.

Soon after, violence erupted between presidential guard soldiers from the two largest ethnic groups in South Sudan. Soldiers from the Dinka ethnic group aligned with Kiir, and those from the Nuer ethnic group supported Machar. Violence quickly spread to the states of Jonglei, Upper Nile, and Unity.

From the outbreak of conflict, armed groups targeted civilians along ethnic lines, committed rape and sexual violence, destroyed property, looted villages, and recruited children into their ranks. This violence affected Atem in the sense that his father, Jacob Aguer Atem, was a serving military officer in the SPLA assigned to ensure peace in Wau, Bahr al Ghazal.

Self-trained developer

His mother, Elizabeth Achol Makuach, tells Atem’s love for technology, saying that as a teenager, her son would grab any gadget around and begin working on it. She had to hide her mobile phone at times because her son ought to allocate some good time for books.

‘Atem investigated all electronic and electrical appliances in the house,’ the mother says. ‘He would question everything that is man-made, and this relieved the family of petty repairs on the household.’

During his O-Level, Atem formed a WhatsApp group baptised ‘FAST’ (Finalist Alliance of ‘Scientists’) meant to facilitate discussions for science subjects. He would build on that to start thinking of software development therein, adopting five software design languages.

Still, during his O-Level, he attempted to build what he called an ‘ultralight plane’, some sort of a drone. His mother recalls that the small indoor ‘helicopter’ almost flew. Its rotors could propel, and the lighting worked, but the idea died down due to a lack of design materials.

His idea of the ‘frog chopper’ was inspired by an online challenge from some company, and the fact that he wanted to win the hearts and souls of some people to support his secondary education.

Luckily, he was able to obtain school fees and completed his A-Level, and he dared to apply to a couple of colleges.

‘I applied to a couple of schools in the United States before I was admitted to Stanford, in California. I did my undergraduate, then my Master’s then I started my start-up that I’m building,’ Atem says.

Unlike Uganda, where there are concentrated efforts by the State to support talented young people in Information Technology, California is famous for start-ups due to a combination of factors, including its historical role in technological innovation, strong access to venture capital, a culture of risk-taking, and supportive legal and academic environments.

These elements have created a dense ecosystem, particularly in Silicon Valley, where leading universities, a large pool of talented professionals, and a history of successful companies foster new ventures.

‘I have always had an interest in applications. The year before joining Stanford, I was a firming engineer. So, when I got to Stanford, I was excited because there is no other place in the world where you can easily start start-ups,’ he says.

He explains how he started his company. ‘I was involved in starting start-ups in Uganda, but it was difficult to get funding. One of the advantages of going to Stanford is getting access to all these opportunities and raising venture capital funding. In general, in the US, the opportunity of setting up a company is higher and easier as well,’ he says.

Atem says he still harbours the same ambition that he had when he was a teenager.

‘From the time I was 15 or 16, I always wanted to have a big tech company. I’m fortunate to have graduated at the dawn of a new era of technology. In the world of start-ups, these are the best times to build something new. I could have gone and got a job at one of those big technology companies, but I thought it’s time to start something of my own,’ he says.

About Atem’s company:

Bfloat is a vibe coding platform for mobile apps. It enables people without programming experience to build mobile apps through natural language.

‘I founded the company a little over a year ago in August of 2024. And I’m the sole founder and CEO. I lead everything product and engineering. The company is based in Palo Alto, California. My vision with Bfloat is to build and democratise tools that empower individuals to create through software,’ he says.

Mental health experts have linked the rising cases of mental health issues among young people in Uganda to poor parenting, highlighting the need for parental love, bonding, and guidance.

Speaking at a one-day mental health camp organized by Freed Hearts-Uganda, at alcohol addiction treatment and rehabilitation center in Mbarara, Ms Macklean Tumuhimbise, a counselor and Freed Hearts co-founder, said many clients are young people, especially students.

“Parents have become so busy and have no time for their children, they trust them with too much money and this money starts controlling them,” Tumuhimbise said. “When you tell a parent that you are the source of the problem, they say ‘but I gave my child everything’ – they don’t understand it’s not material things a child needs but love, parental bonding, and attachment.”

Some rehabilitated children, she added, “don’t want to leave because they feel more loved here than at home because parents have no time for them.”

Counseling psychologist Justus Musoke noted detachment between parents and children, with parents prioritising work over children’s inherent needs.

“Parents give financial resources or objects to mean care and get detached from them; they end up hooked to worldly things including drugs,” Musoke said, linking this to risky behaviors like drug abuse and early marriages.

Public health specialist Annet Nambi said parents of children with mental health challenges often claim they’ve provided everything.

“The parents say ‘we gave our children everything’ – they only know life stops at giving material support; lack of parental attachment, love, and guidance drives mental health issues among young people,” Nambi explained.

Dr. Chris Kigezo, an addiction treatment expert and Freed Hearts director, warned that inaction could lead to a significant wave of wasted young generations by 2035.

“Let us borrow a leaf from Kenya and create an Authority to deal with drug abuse. The government should have a centralized Authority to work with private players,” Kigezo urged.

Resident Dinavance Koburunga shared her experience of being neglected by her children.

According to the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) 2024 National Census report, approximately 12 per cent of Ugandans aged 10 and above – about 5.5 million people – are experiencing probable mental health challenges.

The dust raised by the early-season boycott is finally settling – and in its wake, the Uganda Premier League (UPL) is finding a fascinating rhythm.

Four rounds in, the campaign is shaping into a fierce contest of redemption, resurgence, and early surprises, even before reigning champions Vipers throw their hat into the ring.

While newcomers Buhimba United Saints still cling to the summit with nine points from four matches, their dream run met a rude awakening on Thursday in Njeru.

Hosts Bul – calm, clinical, and composed – handed the league leaders their first defeat of the season in a commanding 3-0 victory.

Ibrahim Mugulusi opened the scoring in the 17th minute before Seiri Arigumaho doubled the advantage on 32 minutes from Aprem Martin’s deft assist.

Six minutes later, Jerome Kirya sealed the rout, connecting beautifully with Hillary Onek’s delivery. The result propelled Bul to second place with eight points – just one behind Buhimba – and restored confidence after their earlier slip against Mbarara City.

KCCA delight

In Nakivubo, KCCA showed grit and maturity to edge rivals Express FC 1-0 in a tense Thursday night clash that underlined their title intent.

Even without co-coach Brian Ssenyondo (currently in Qatar with the Uganda U-17 side), Jackson Magera orchestrated a well-drilled performance.

After surviving a few first-half scares, the Kasasiro Boys struck in the 71st minute when Sammy Ssebaduka rose highest to nod home from Joel Sserunjogi’s corner.

The result lifted KCCA to third on eight points, level with Bul but behind on goal difference.

UPPC rise

If Buhimba’s rise has been the story of the season, Abdallah Mubiru’s Entebbe UPPC are quietly scripting their own fairytale.

The Bugonga-based newcomers stunned Nec 1-0 on Saturday, courtesy of Samuel Kawawa’s 60th-minute strike off Gift Odong’s teasing cross.

That victory – their second of the season – lifted them to fourth with seven points, while Nec continue to flounder under interim boss James Odoch, still winless in 13th place.

Jogoo revival

Elsewhere, record champions SC Villa finally got their campaign off the ground with a dramatic 2-1 comeback win over Police on Friday at the Fufa Stadium, Kadiba.

After falling behind to Bedia Djuma Ikambi’s header in the 22nd minute, the Jogoos rallied through Geoffrey Gagganga’s clever lob before Charles Lwanga struck in stoppage time to seal their first win of the season.

With four points from three games, coach Zeljko Kovacevic will hope this marks the true beginning of their revival.

In Hoima, Kitara edged Mbarara City 3-2 in a five-goal thriller, thanks to Wahab Gadafi’s last-gasp penalty, while URA and Lugazi shared a dull 0-0 stalemate in Najjembe – only notable for the sibling coaching face-off between Steven Bogere (Lugazi) and Alex Isabirye (URA).

Fans back!

Most encouragingly, fans have returned to the terraces in large numbers, injecting long-missing life into Uganda’s top-flight after weeks of uncertainty.

And with the much-anticipated ‘Entebbe Road’ derby between Vipers and Entebbe UPPC set for November 1 at St. Mary’s Stadium-Kitende, the UPL’s new chapter promises even more fireworks.

The boycott storm has cleared. The league, at long last, is alive and kicking.

StarTimes Uganda Premier League

Results

Bul 3-0 Buhimba United

Express 0-1 KCCA

Entebbe UPPC 1-0 Nec

Kitara 3-2 Mbarara City

SC Villa 2-1 Police

Lugazi 0-0 URA

Maroons 0-0 Calvary

Politics is a head game. So, you have to keep your wits about you. Then reach into the heads of your opponents to divine whether they plan to kill you softly or ensure you die hard. Either way, it’s your way or your adversary’s byway. Especially when both of you find a way to one another’s solar plexuses, leaving one of you winded. As winds of change blow this way and that. Deception has been a handy tool in this adversarial contest. It’s the basis of all war, according to the unwarlike. Because, we are told, the best war is the war that is avoided. That’s why certain mind games must now come off the bench to enjoy some playing time. But what mind games are these? Using you, against you: You don’t have a position.

What you have is a conspiracy of silence. It begins with ‘pluralistic ignorance’. This ‘is a social phenomenon where individuals privately disagree with a group norm but mistakenly believe they are alone in their dissent, leading them to conform publicly’. We all agree to disagree with the Parish Development Model (PDM), for instance. Especially when we know the government could have got a lingerie or plus-size model instead. How does a ‘Parish Development Model’ specialise in posing in bathing suits or undergarments for catalogues? We all knew this was bad. But because nobody said anything about it, we assumed that everybody’s public silence reflected their private consent.

The Government of Uganda has invested at least Shs4.3 trillion in the Parish Development Model, and we immediately assumed PDM’s figure had the shape of a Naomi Campbell or an Aamito Lagum. We were wrong. The spiral of silence: This is a political communication theory where individuals suppress their own opinions if they believe they are in the minority, due to a fear of social isolation. That’s why, although Mzee secretly agrees his government is ‘in the red’ or in debt, he would spend a fortune proving NUP is bankrupt. Not just ideologically. NUP seems to be in the red when it comes to their attire, too. The cost of wearing red is so steep that NUP owes three members freedom. They were arrested on November 18, 2020, in the areas around Kampala, where they were found with red berets, a NUP signature headgear.

Can the party cover the legal costs? It cannot say. NUP is looking for votes, not social isolation. Sadopopulism: This is a term that describes a form of political strategy where leaders use cruelty and the spectacle of others’ suffering to appeal to their voter base. Thus, it was necessary for the army to beat the living excrement out of regime opponents. This distracted the populace with the suffering of others, to normalise the vast wealth disparity between the elite and the average citizen. Indeed, the focus shifted away from questions of wealth inequality to a boxing match, in which the government has taken off its gloves while the Opposition’s hands are tied behind its back.

Aura farming: This is a social media slang term referring to the deliberate cultivation of a charismatic or “cool” persona, or “aura,” often through repetitive or stylised actions. The Badman from Kamwokya creates this exact mystique about himself. He always dresses well and speaks with a cool that’s too hot to handle and too cold to hold. It’s surely working. Especially by creating a contrast between how cool Badman is compared with how uncool the security forces are when interrupting the Badman’s cool.

Negging: This is a form of emotional manipulation that involves giving subtle insults or backhanded compliments to undermine a person’s self-confidence. The goal of negging is to make someone feel insecure so they will seek your approval, giving you a sense of power and control. Mzee once said, “You see, Badman sings, I don’t eat his songs, but I feel relaxed when listening to them.’ He made the backhanded remark during a meeting with a youth coalition in February 2021, thereby reminding us that Badman can put a smile on our faces, but not food on our tables.

A section of leaders in the Teso Sub-region is up in arms after Speaker of Parliament Anita Among was, for the second term, controversially declared unopposed for the Woman Member of Parliament for Bukedea District, despite interest from other aspirants.

During the nomination exercise on Thursday, aspirants and their supporters were left dismayed after Bukedea District returning officer Joel Mugyenyi declared Ms Among unopposed, despite the Speaker’s opponents and journalists being blocked from accessing the nomination centre by security personnel commanded by Bukedea District Police Commander (DPC) Emmy Lorika.

But looks like what transpired in the eastern Ugandan town this week is a script borrowed from the previous general election. In 2021, would-be opponents Merab Amongin and Hellen Akol Odeke were dragged to court by a one Umar Okodel, who challenged their eligibility on the grounds of not being registered voters and residents of Bukedea. Ms Among again sailed through unopposed.

Shortly after being declared unopposed on Thursday, a video clip of the Speaker and her lieutenants celebrating inside the Bukedea District headquarters emerged, prompting reactions from a section of people of Teso, who took to various social media platforms. Ms Hellen Akol Odeke, the Speaker’s rival, says people in Bukedea are living in fear, and they are not allowed to question things that are not being done right for fear of reprisal from powerful circles in the district.

Ghosts from 2023 by-election

Mr Washington Calvin Opus, a resident of Mukongoro in Kumi District, says if President Museveni, also the NRM chairman, meant well when he called for investigation into the violence that marred the 2023 LC5 by-lection in Bukedea, then he should also call for an investigation into the mess that has surrounded the 2026 nomination exercise. ‘But before this happens, the report from the investigation that was conducted by Brig Gen Henry Isoke should be made public,’ Mr Opus says. He says if Uganda is to nurture its democracy, then the manipulation seen in Bukedea shouldn’t be tolerated. ‘I have been following the issues of Bukedea.

There is a syndicate between some of the powerful politicians, EC and some elements in the security, which is being done to suffocate the political interests of others,’ Mr Opus says. This is a concern echoed by Kevin Asio, who says ‘when this impunity is allowed to continue, it could spread to other regions of the country.’ ‘[In] Bukedea, when one questions those in power, they get arrested, their business suffocated and others taken in detention,’ says the resident of Bukedea. ‘The culture we are setting is not the best; it is killing political competition and, in the long run, service delivery,’ Asio says. However, Mr James Angura, who supports Speaker Among, says outsiders are trying to paint a bad picture of Bukedea. ‘We, the people of Bukedea, are happy with what the Speaker has done for us, and for now, there is no need to have a replacement,’ Mr Angura says.

He says in the last 10 years, Bukedea has been getting better services, ‘and we can’t miss such a development-oriented leader.’ Mr Angura supports the EC, saying matters surrounding some of the aspirants are still in court. ‘If court pronounces the case in their favour, then EC can go ahead and nominate them.’ But Mr Benson Ekwe, the Executive Director of Public Affairs Centre (PAC), says whatever is happening in Bukedea is a black spot in the political engagement of the country. ‘It is like a football league, when you bar other teams from contesting, then it becomes a fix,’ he says. Mr Ekwe says Teso Sub-region has two big political personalities – Speaker Among and Vice President Jessica Alupo – but in the case of Katakwi District, where the Vice President comes from, political contestation is being allowed. ‘I wonder what makes Bukedea so special that journalists and other Opposition candidates are being denied access to the EC.’

However, EC spokesperson Julius Mucunguzi says the best way to have the matters addressed is by having the aggrieved parties file formal complaints to the right entities: the courts of law and EC itself. ‘Verbal complaints can’t get redressed because they lack specifics,’ he says. On Thursday evening, NUP president Robert Kyagulanyi, aka Bobi Wine, posted on X: ‘Here we go again! The whereabouts of our candidate for Bukedea Woman MP, Florence Asio, are unknown currently. Her phone number, as well as the phone numbers of the comrades she was travelling with from Soroti to Bukedea for her nomination, are all [switched] off! We’re in touch with their relatives who are desperately looking for them.

Conspicuously, comrade Alupo Mercy Marion, who was waiting at the EC offices all day, is also not reachable on phone at the moment- we can only hope she’s fine. Shamelessly. Anita Among is chest-thumping that she is unopposed!’

However, in a post on X on Friday morning, Mr Chris Obore, the Director, Communication and Public Affairs at Parliament, wrote: ‘Don’t invest in hating AAA [Annet Anita Among]. She will always defeat you in Bukedea. You think hiring our children to try to break her is a winning strategy? You got it wrong. Every meeting you held, we knew. She is unopposed. Now use your hired machinery on social media to rant. Bukedea has spoken.’

What they say

Mr Chris Obore, Parliament spokesperson:

Don’t invest in hating AAA [Anita Among]. She will always defeat you in Bukedea. You think hiring our children to try to break her is a winning strategy? You got it wrong. Every meeting you held, we knew. She is unopposed.

NUP president Robert Kyagulanyi:

Conspicuously, comrade Alupo Mercy Marion, who was waiting at the EC offices all day, is also not reachable on phone at the moment- we can only hope she’s fine. Shamelessly. Anita Among is chest-thumping that she is unopposed.

Emmanuel Dombo, spokesperson NRM party:

‘Hon Anita Annet Among, the Woman MP Bukedea, 2nd National Vice Chairperson, NRM, and Speaker of Parliament, has nominated, and therefore elected unopposed as Woman MP Bukedea District. We congratulate her upon this victory.’

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.