Category: Daily Monitor

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

The Electoral Commission (EC) in the week passing conducted a two-day parliamentary nomination exercise countrywide. One would be right to say the said nomination exercise, in comparison to the previous exercises, was generally peaceful. However, events in some areas have raised concern and got the citizenry questioning the role of the EC. In the eastern district of Bukedea, for instance, it was reported that on the first day of the nominations, there were disruptions in Internet connectivity. It is claimed that no sooner had the officials of the electoral body worked on the nominations of the members of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) than the Internet disruptions kicked in.

This saw mainly the independents not nominated, but they had hoped that on the second day of the exercise, they would be worked upon. On Day Two, which was the final day of the exercise, the Bukedea District headquarters was a go area for most people, including some aspirants and journalists. Journalists, the fourth estate, were told to get clearance from the EC if they were to cover the nomination exercise, a public exercise whose coverage was not limited in many areas across the rest of the country.

A candidate from the Opposition National Unity Platform (NUP), Ms Florence Asio, according to her party leadership, was allegedly abducted on her way to the nomination centre and was never nominated. By press time, her current whereabouts, according to the party, are unknown. Among the key roles of the EC that was set up under Article 60 of the 1995 Constitution is to ensure free and fair elections. Free and fair elections, among others, entail that everyone who has the requirements to contest for any elective position, be it presidential or parliamentary, is guaranteed the right to contest.

Opposition groups, including NUP and the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), claim that the EC and local security agencies frustrated their aspirants by blocking their nominations or tampering with the voters’ register. The EC should interest itself in these claims and inquire into the complaints arising from the same. Our elections are many times marred by allegations of rigging and harassment of candidates. Such incidents erode public confidence in elections and are a dent to our young democracy. As we prepare for the 2026 elections, the EC should demonstrate to Ugandans that polls are rooted in fairness, transparency, and respect for all voices.

Abdul, at only 15, was a man in all things but age. His father, like so many other men his age and religion, had five wives and was a potter in some of Kampala’s buildings. He woke up daily to ‘sketch’ life, often disappearing into the city’s busy corridors for weeks and months, leaving behind his wives and 18 children.

Abdul was the eldest and only boy, and with his mother now focusing her efforts on his younger sisters, the unspoken burden to take care of them fell entirely on him.

His schoolbooks were sold for food, and the blue primary school uniform he once wore with pride was replaced by a worn T-shirt and torn shorts.

He started his new life as a hawker, pushing a rickety wooden cart through the dusty, crowded new taxi park of Kampala. The city was a relentless beast, and he learnt quickly to survive.

He shouted above the noise, dodged speeding boda-bodas, and learnt to read the angry desperation in the eyes of his potential customers.

One day, a bigger, older boy named Kijambiya (not real name), with a reputation for bullying and a taste for sniffing jet fuel, demanded Abdul’s earnings. Abdul, taught to be stoic and strong, resisted, earning himself a brutal beating that left him with a broken nose, swollen eyes, and a bleeding face.

He went home that night, the pain a fiery, sharp lesson in the brutality of his new world. When his mother asked what was wrong, he simply said he had fallen into a ditch while fleeing from KCCA law enforcement officers.

He could not risk her knowing the truth lest she would worry more than she already did. His sisters had each other and their mother’s attention. Abdul sought solace in the company of other “broken boys”.

He started joining Sam and his friends, and soon, the occasional sniff of jet fuel became a daily habit, a hazy escape from the grinding reality of his life. It numbed his pain. But the habit came at a cost. The money he once sent back home to his family now went towards his addiction. He began to lash out, first at his friends, then family.

His mother, overwhelmed and heartbroken, could no longer see the son she once knew, only the broken boy he had become.

His mother fell ill and the family had no money for medicine. In a desperate act born of guilt, Abdul stole a bag of posho from a nearby maize milling machine. He was caught and, at just 17, was sent to a juvenile detention centre in Kampiringisa on Masaka road.

As he was led away in a police van, he had become the man his family needed, but not in the way he had ever imagined. He was now another statistic, another unseen boy swallowed by the city, another echo in the silent crisis of broken boys in Uganda.

Abdul represents a complex and pressing issue, though it often remains overshadowed by other societal challenges. While significant and necessary attention has been given to the empowerment of the girl-child in Uganda and overall, in the world, this has inadvertently contributed to a neglect of boys’ needs.

The crisis is fuelled by a combination of factors:

Poverty: The financial hardships faced by many Ugandan families disproportionately impact boys.

Societal expectations that boys will become the future breadwinners often leads to them dropping out of school to engage in child labour to supplement family income. This perpetuates a cycle of poverty and limits their educational and career prospects.

Child labour: The pressure on boys to earn money for their families is a major cause of school dropout, leaving them ill-equipped for the modern economy. This is particularly prevalent in areas with plantations, fishing communities, and mining areas. Neglect and preferential treatment: As society focuses on uplifting girls, boys are increasingly neglected. A 2024 report highlighted that while attention to girls is vital, neglecting boys leads to higher crime rates, homelessness, and domestic violence.

Family breakdown: Children from unstable families are particularly vulnerable. A 2025 study noted that family breakdowns are a common factor leading children to live on the streets. Domestic violence: Boys who witness or experience violence at home suffer severe mental and physical stress, impacting their academic and social development and perpetuating a cycle of violence.

Poor parenting styles: Studies in Uganda have linked neglectful and authoritarian parenting to negative outcomes for children, including anxiety, insecurity, and poor social skills.

In contrast, authoritative parenting is associated with positive development. Harmful gender roles: Traditional notions of masculinity place immense pressure on boys to be stoic, strong, and financially independent. This prevents them from seeking emotional support and leads to stress, anxiety, and depression. Peer and social influence: Factors such as peer pressure, loneliness, and the influence of social media can drive boys toward substance abuse, gambling, and other high-risk behaviours.

What are some of the effects?

The neglect and trauma ‘broken boys’ experience have severe consequences for them and society including:

Increased criminal activity and violence: Higher incarceration rates: A 2020 report from the Uganda Bureau of Statistics found that 78percent of the prison population was male, with many entering the system at a young age due to a lack of support. A 2021 report indicated that boys make up 70 percent of the street children in Kampala, where they are vulnerable to abuse and often turn to crime and substance abuse for survival. Boys who experience violence are more likely to become perpetrators, fuelling an intergenerational cycle of violence.

Substance abuse and gambling: Many boys resort to alcohol, drugs, and sports betting as a coping mechanism for their difficult circumstances. This leads to addiction, financial instability, and long-term health problems.

Psychological trauma: Abuse, neglect, and family instability cause severe mental and emotional stress, leading to depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, and anger issues.

Emotional suppression: The expectation that “real men” do not show emotion causes boys to suppress their feelings, preventing them from developing healthy coping mechanisms and seeking help.

Unemployment: High school dropout rates leave many boys with limited skills, making them unemployable and trapped in a cycle of poverty and hopelessness.

Poor family outcomes: The instability and psychological trauma of broken boys can lead to them becoming unreliable partners and fathers, further destabilising families.

Stunted development: The lack of educational opportunities, mentorship, and a safe environment limits boys’ potential, impacting their personal growth and the nation’s overall development.

Solutions

Addressing this crisis requires a multi-faceted approach.

Balanced gender focus: Policies and programs should equally support both boys and girls to address the imbalance and ensure all children have opportunities.

Mentorship: Establishing mentorship programmes where older men guide young boys can provide positive role models and constructive outlets for their energy.

Psychosocial support: Providing accessible counselling and psychological support services is crucial for helping boys navigate trauma, emotional distress, and societal pressures.

Vocational training: Initiatives focusing on vocational training can provide practical skills for the modern economy, offering a path to self-employment and economic stability.

Inclusive education: Educational programmes should prioritise boys’ retention in school by addressing their specific learning needs and challenges, such as harsh discipline and academic pressure.

Addressing gender stereotypes in schools: Educational institutions and teachers should be trained to avoid reinforcing harmful gender stereotypes and create inclusive learning environments for all children.

Parenting education: Community-based programmes can sensitise parents on appropriate parenting styles, the dangers of neglect, and the importance of providing a stable and nurturing environment.

Community support systems: Creating secure, community-led environments where boys can express their concerns and access support without judgment is vital.

Family reconciliation: Organisations working with street children should prioritise family reconciliation efforts where possible, addressing the root causes that led children to the streets. The silent crisis of broken boys in Uganda is a systemic issue with profound causes and far-reaching effects.

A Senior Three student at St Mary’s College Kisubi (SMACK) has died after drowning in the school’s swimming pool, sending shockwaves among students, teachers, and parents of one of Uganda’s top schools.

The student, identified as Peter Kirwana, allegedly drowned at around 5:40 pm on Friday while taking part in swimming lessons.

Kampala Metropolitan Police Deputy Spokesperson ASP Luke Owoyesigyire confirmed the incident, saying police had opened an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the student’s death.

‘We are holding the school swimming coach on charges of rash and negligence to help us with the investigations,’ Mr Owoyesigyire told Monitor.

According to police, Kirwana was seen struggling in the pool before the coach pulled him out, but he was already having difficulty breathing.

‘He was rushed to Kisubi Hospital, where he was pronounced dead,’ Mr Owoyesigyire added.

The body was later transferred to Mulago National Referral Hospital for a postmortem examination.

The incident marks the second -reported- drowning of a student in a school swimming pool since August, raising renewed concerns over safety measures in elite schools.

On August 3, Kevin Nsamba, a Senior Six student at Seeta High School, drowned during swimming practice at the school’s Mbalala Campus in Mukono District. The coach in that case was arrested and later released.

In a brief statement on Saturday, St Mary’s College Kisubi head teacher Brother Simeon Simon Mpanga confirmed the death but did not offer further details.

Kirwana was due to be buried on Sunday in Narozali, Masaka.

‘Our hearts go out to the family, friends, and loved ones during this difficult time. May Peter’s soul rest in peace,’ Brother Mpanga said.

The news of Kirwana’s death triggered panic and anger among parents and alumni, many of whom demanded clarity on how a supervised swimming session turned fatal.

Swimming has become increasingly popular among Uganda’s elite schools over the past decade, prompting institutions to construct their own pools to reduce off-campus drownings in lakes and rivers.

However, experts have repeatedly warned that most schools lack certified lifeguards and safety protocols.

Over the past six years, the government’s unbridled appetite to borrow has hit a notch higher, currently placing liability of over Shs2.5m on each Ugandan, including newborns.

About the same time last year, with pretty much the same population of nearly 46 million Ugandans, according to the Uganda Bureau of Statistics, every Ugandan carried a debt burden of Shs2.3m.

This liability has since increased by nearly Shs280,000, which is more than the wages earned monthly by half of the working labour force in the country, according to a survey conducted by the Economic Policy Research Centre (EPRC). The average salary of 50 percent of the labour force in the country is about Shs200,000.

Paying this debt off would take about 10 years if each Ugandan citizen makes a prompt annual payment of Shs280,000 each without fail over the next decade.

‘Uganda’s total public debt, currently at Shs116 trillion, presents a significant per capita burden, approximately Shs2.58m per citizen,’ Ms Peninah Naiga, a public debt researcher, told Business Outlook.

She added: ‘The growing public debt portfolio raises concerns about [the] government’s ability to sustain these payments without putting a strain on available resources for funding Budget activities to achieve the desired economic and service delivery plans in the National Development Plans.’

The Office of the Auditor General, in its report to Parliament in the Financial Year (FY) ended June 2023, indicated that the public debt increased by 104 percent in five years from FY2018/2019 to FY2022/2023.

This debt liability owed to multilateral institutions, creditors, financiers, suppliers and banks must be paid by mostly the youth, who collectively currently bear a debt burden of Shs56.3 trillion, going by the Uganda Debt Network (UDN) expert analysis on public debt and its management.

The issue, Mr Julius Mukunda, the executive director of Civil Society Budget Advocacy Group (CSBAG), says is not about whether to borrow or not. It is about making every coin count, something that hasn’t been apparent over the years.

A section of the population believes the government is going about borrowing business in a manner that could mortgage the country’s future or simply compromise the country’s long-term economic stability. This fear has been corroborated by a team of public debt experts and policy analysts, who revealed that the country’s public debt has grown at an alarming rate, raising critical concerns about the country’s fiscal/financial health and long-term economic resilience.

In freefall

Our investigation indicates that public debt surged from approximately Shs45 trillion ($12.82b) in FY2018/2019 to an estimated Shs113 trillion ($32.3b) in FY2024/2025.

A major catalyst for this debt accumulation has been the Covid-19 pandemic and the resultant measures undertaken by the government, including shutting down the economy for a substantial part of the two-year lockdown, straining public finances while increasing reliance on external support.

Further exacerbating the situation are geopolitical tensions particularly the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the suspension of concessional aid from key development partners such as the World Bank and the US government.

Experts say mismanagement by way of not utilising the loans properly after acquiring them-moreover at unfavourable terms-emerged have not helped matters.

As a result, Uganda’s debt-to-GDP ratio, which is a measure of the country’s debt burden, has increased from 49 percent in FY2023/2024 to an estimated 52 percent in FY2024/2025, surpassing the 50 percent ceiling the IMF recommends for low-income countries.

It has also breached the Charter for Fiscal Responsibility (CFR), a document outlining the government’s commitment to properly manage public debt within the 50 percent threshold.

On account of the growing risks, which include fear that Uganda might not meet her public debt obligations, Moody’s downgraded Uganda’s credit rating from B2 to B3. Observers say this also signals the economy’s heightened vulnerability to external shocks and the tightening of global financing conditions.

As borrowing terms become more restrictive and expensive, Uganda faces rising debt servicing costs, which strain the National Budget and limits the government’s use of taxation and spending to influence the economy-fiscal policy flexibility.

Addressing these challenges requires prudent debt management and policy realignment, experts say, to safeguard economic growth, something the deputy Secretary to the Treasury at the Finance ministry, Mr Patrick Ocailap, acknowledges.

‘What makes you think we are not already ahead of that curve – we think ahead.’

The burden

Of the Shs72 trillion in the FY2024/2025 National Budget, more than 57 percent is allocated to debt servicing, a significant burden on the shoulders of the taxpayer.

External debt repayments alone amounted to Shs4.1 trillion ($1.17b), with interest payments and related fees comprising 31 percent of this total. Overall, Uganda spent Shs21 trillion ($5.99b) on debt servicing, equivalent to approximately 67 percent of total revenue collected.

This level of expenditure, Ms Naiga says, severely limits the government’s capacity to invest in critical sectors such as health, education, and infrastructure. This is because it diverts resources away from public services and development programmes, undermining social progress and economic transformation.

Furthermore, she said: ‘External repayments place pressure on foreign reserves, reducing Uganda’s ability to respond to external shocks and increasing vulnerability to global economic fluctuations.

The Business Outlook investigation also uncovered the country’s increasing reliance on non-concessional loans or simply funds borrowed with unfavourable terms. Coupled with a rise in public administration expenditures, this has further exacerbated the debt situation.

As of June 2025, domestic debt comprised approximately 52 percent of the total public debt portfolio, indicating a marked shift toward internal borrowing.

A value for money audit on the management of public debt by the Finance ministry reveals that public debt management in Uganda still remains a public concern.

The report of the Auditor General that became public in late December 2024, noted that in spite of an earlier audit undertaken on Management of Public Debt by the Finance ministry in 2015, the problems identified and recommendations made to address key concerns as high cost of domestic borrowing, inadequate technical and economic assessments of new loan uptake the challenges around public debt management still remain.

The report also discloses that several loans have been poorly utilised due to delays in project readiness and execution.

For instance, 15 projects were approved without prior feasibility studies, while others faced decade-long delays caused by unresolved land acquisition issues, lack of counterpart funding, and weak inter-agency coordination.

Although, according to UDN analysis, government-guaranteed debt exposure decreased from $59.8m (Shs210b) in 2024 to $44.61m (Shs156.5b) in 2025, overall risk remains elevated due to weak oversight and the underperformance of debt-funded projects.

To mitigate these risks, the UDN expert analysis shared with Business Outlook recommends that authorities strengthen State-Owned Enterprises governance frameworks, improve transparency, and enforce robust monitoring and reporting systems.

Our investigation also found out that Uganda’s current debt trajectory is increasingly misaligned with global and regional development frameworks.

This was also corroborated by UDN expert analysis of the debt structure, revealing that the poor performance of debt-funded projects hinders progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially those related to employment, infrastructure, and innovation.

‘Public debt is sustainable’

Uganda’s debt, however, Finance minister Matia Kasaija says, is sustainable and is projected to remain so in the medium to long term. He said over the last 10 years, the areas which public debt has financed include integrated transport infrastructure and development of industrial parks.

To maintain public debt sustainability, he said the government is looking to increase revenue collection and reduce borrowing.

And where borrowing is necessary, it will be through concessional financing from international financial institutions such as the World Bank, IMF, African Development Bank, Islamic Development Bank, the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA), among others. The World Bank cleared Uganda this past workweek to partake of its concessional loans.

Uganda’s dominance shone bright on Sunday as captain Janet Mbabazi’s charges subdued Canada Women by 12 runs in the fifth and final T20 International to complete a perfect clean sweep in the third edition of the Victoria Series at Lugogo.

The victory underscored Uganda’s sheer-will to remain consistent, show discipline, and self-belief as they aim to maintain their ranking in the ICC Women’s T20I rankings and holding firm to their status quo as Africa’s second-best side behind Zimbabwe.

Clinical Performance

The hosts, asked to bat first, posted a modest 101 for 4 in 20 overs. Skipper Mbabazi led from the front with a composed 26 off 31 balls, supported by Rita Musamali’s patient 20 not out and Proscovia Alako’s explosive late cameo of 17 from 7 balls, which gave Uganda a competitive total.

Canada’s bowlers showed discipline through Amarpal Kaur (1/11) and Tiffany Thorpe (2/20), but Uganda’s calm approach ensured steady partnerships across all phases of play.

Bowling brilliance

Defending the small total, Uganda’s bowling unit once again stole the show. The reliable Naume Jane Amongin ripped through Canada’s top order with figures of 3 for 12, while tournament debutant spinner Teddy Oyella was the surprise package, taking 4 wickets in the final over to seal the victory.

Amongin’s early strikes left Canada reeling at 14 for 4, and although skipper Amarpal Kaur (37 off 35) and Vandana Mahajan (22 off 33) attempted a rescue act, Uganda’s bowlers maintained relentless pressure to close out the innings at 89 all out.

Confidence Booster

Captain Mbabazi said the team’s cohesion and focus on execution were key to their success: ‘We knew little about Canada coming into this series, but our focus was on our own basics. The bowlers were exceptional, and the batters built partnerships when needed. This win gives us belief ahead of tougher assignments.’

Uganda will next be moving to Thailand for the newly-initiated ICC Women’s Emerging Trophy early next month with one goal on their minds when they compete with the top eight Associate Nations – to continue improving.

Milestone moment

All-rounder Immaculate Nakisuuyi, marking her 100th WT20I cap, was named Most Valuable Player of the series, combining all-round excellence with leadership and composure as she finished with 81 runs, 4 wickets and five fielding dismissals.

‘This was all about teamwork and sticking to our game plan,’ said Nakisuuyi. ‘It’s a great confidence booster for our next tournament in Thailand.’

Canadian captain Amarpal Kaur, who took the Best Batter’s gong with 118 runs, lauded her team’s learning curve:

‘We’ve taken valuable lessons from this series – especially about playing under pressure and adapting to new conditions. Uganda were simply better prepared and they proved their ranking.’

Team Uganda celebrated their victory with a dinner ceremony at Lugogo last evening with their counterparts after receiving their medals and trophy from LycaMobile Uganda’s Chief Operations Officer Arvind Kakkar and Marketing Director Vikram Lal alongside Cricket Uganda chairman Jackson Kavuma.

VICTORIA SERIES 2025

Result – Game 5

Uganda 101/4 | Canada 89/10

Uganda won by 12 runs

Uganda won series 5-0

INDIVIDUAL AWARD WINNERS

Player of Match (5th WT20I):

Naume Jane Amongin (Uganda) – 3/12 and 2 catches

Best Batter:

Amarpal Kaur (Canada) – 118 runs @ 39.33, Highest Score: 37

Best Bowler:

Kevin Amuge (Uganda) – 10 wickets, 83 runs in 20 overs, 75 dot balls, Best Bowling: 3/7

Most Valuable Player:

Immaculate Nakisuuyi (Uganda) – 81 runs, 4 wickets, 5 fielding dismissals (251 points)

The upcoming United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) will be the first to take place in the Amazon, sending a powerful symbolic message about the central role developing economies must play in the global response to the climate crisis. But at a time of geopolitical fragmentation and low trust in multilateralism, symbolism is not enough. Developing economies must plan and propel the green transition. Africa is no exception. So far, Africa’s climate narrative has been one of victimhood: the continent contributes less than 4 percent of global greenhouse-gas emissions, but it is highly vulnerable to the effects of climate change.

This disparity fuelled the calls for ‘climate justice’ that helped to produce ambitious climate-financing pledges from the industrialised economies at past COPs. But with those pledges going unfulfilled, and Africa’s climate-finance needs rising fast, moral appeals are clearly not enough. A shift to a more strategy-oriented discourse is already underway. The Second Africa Climate Summit (ACS2), which took place in Addis Ababa last month, positioned the continent as a united actor capable of shaping global climate negotiations. It also produced several initiatives, such as the Africa Climate Innovation Compact and the African Climate Facility, that promise to strengthen Africa’s position in efforts to ensure a sustainable future.

Instead of continuing to wait for aid, Africa is now seeking to attract investment in its green transition, not because rich countries ‘owe’ Africans – though they do – but rather because Africa can help the world tackle climate change. But success will require progress on four fronts, all of which will be addressed at COP30. The first is the cost of capital. Because systemic bias is embedded in credit-rating methodologies and global prudential rules, African countries face the world’s highest borrowing costs. This deters private capital, without which climate finance cannot flow at scale. While multilateral development banks (MDBs) can help to bridge the gap, they typically favour loans – which increase African countries’ already-formidable debt burdens – rather than grants.

The second area where progress is essential is carbon markets. Despite its huge potential for nature-based climate solutions, Africa captures only 16 percent of the global carbon-credit market. Moreover, the projects are largely underregulated and poorly priced, with limited community involvement. Africa is now at risk of falling into a familiar trap: supplying cheap offsets for external actors’ emissions, while reaping few benefits for its people. The third imperative for Africa at COP30 is to redefine adaptation. Rather than treating it primarily as a humanitarian project, governments must integrate adaptation into their industrial policies. After all, investment in climate-resilient agriculture, infrastructure, and water systems generates jobs, fosters innovation, and spurs market integration.

The final priority area for Africa at COP30 is critical minerals. Africa possesses roughly 85 percent of the world’s manganese, 80 percent of its platinum and chromium, 47 percent of its cobalt, 21 percent of its graphite, and 6 percent of its copper. In 2022, the Democratic Republic of the Congo alone accounted for more than 70 percent of global cobalt production. But Africa knows all too well that natural-resource wealth does not necessarily translate into economic growth and development. Only by building value chains on the continent can Africa avoid the ‘resource curse’ and ensure that its critical-mineral wealth generates local jobs and industries.

This imperative must be reflected in discussions within the Just Transition Work Programme at COP30. These four priorities are linked by a deeper philosophical imperative. The extractive logic of the past – in which industrialisation depended on exploitation and destruction – must give way to a more holistic, just, and balanced approach, which recognises that humans belong to nature, not the other way around. Africa can help to lead this shift, beginning at COP30. If Africa is empowered to achieve green industrialisation, the rest of the world will gain a critical ally in the fight for a sustainable future.

Recently, I finally picked up John Maxwell’s Mentoring 101 book. It’s quite a small read – you could easily read it in two hours – but within its pages lies wisdom that is worth every leader’s time. It reminded me why, in the end, leadership is less about personal success and more about the success of others.

‘The greatest legacy of a leader is not what they achieve but who they develop.’ Leaders do not just add, but they multiply potential into other leaders through mentorship. Mentoring can be defined in many ways, but I want to define it today as an intentional, relational, and generational process of raising leaders. It doesn’t happen by accident – it requires deliberate investment in people. Real leadership is measured not by how many followers you have, but by how many leaders emerge because of your influence.

The general idea is that great mentors identify potential, create time, and walk the journey with others; they create an environment of trust, honesty, and encouragement, with a goal of not just transferring skills, but shaping character and values that will outlast them. You do not have to be perfect mentor. You can mentor in spite of your imperfections because true mentorship demands authenticity and vulnerability from the mentor. However, any mentor must show some level of growth in the areas of their imperfections. So, from a leadership perspective, there is a simple framework we all can adopt if we want to start on a mentorship journey: First step is model, then teach. People do what they see. Before you can effectively teach someone how to think, lead, or behave, you must show them what that looks like in real life. Secondly, ask questions that stretch thinking.

A mentor’s role is not to give answers but to help the mentee find answers through the mentoring engagement. You should be able to ask great thought-provoking questions that encourage critical thinking, self-awareness and problem-solving skills. Thirdly, always celebrate progress, not perfection. In mentoring, growth is more important than flawlessness. The mentor’s goal is to help the mentee take consistent steps forward, even if those steps are small, messy, or imperfect. As leaders who are developing other leaders, we must appreciate that People grow in stages, not all at once. Lastly, prepare mentees to go further than you did. Mentoring is about legacy, not cloning.

Mentoring isn’t about creating copies of yourself; it’s about raising people who can surpass you. This simple framework is not just theoretical, it’s applicable to anyone serious about leadership growth. As someone who has spent years mentoring and walking alongside potential leaders, I’ve seen people discover purpose, confidence, and clarity through mentorship. Not because of grand programmes or speeches, but because someone took the time to listen, challenge, and believe in them. For me, mentoring is both a privilege and a stewardship responsibility. We live in a world that celebrates personal achievement. Things like titles, platforms, and accomplishments. But I have come to believe that the only people worth celebrating are those who reproduce themselves in others. This truth applies to every sphere of influence. In business, great leaders don’t just build companies – they build people.

They take joy in identifying potential in their teams, mentoring them, and watching them rise to take on greater responsibilities. The real measure of a leader’s success is not how indispensable they are, but how unnecessary they become because they have empowered others to lead. In every sphere, reproducing yourself in others is the highest expression of leadership. It requires humility to step aside and let others shine. A candle does not lose it’s light by lighting another candle. When one log with fire is put together with other logs, it helps to create a bonfire. The question every leader must ask is this: Who is growing because of me? Do you have an intern or mentee?

My challenge to every leader reading this is simple: Don’t just build systems; build people. Management is about building systems that work; Leadership is about building the people who make the systems work. Don’t just focus on success; focus on succession. Don’t just lead today; invest in tomorrow. Leadership that doesn’t reproduce itself ends with itself. I am not here to teach people how to mentor. I just want to remind us why it matters. Great leaders do not build followers; they build tomorrow’s leaders by focusing on investing in them today.

For the third time in their proud history, Buweekula find themselves one step away from lifting the coveted Airtel Masaza Cup – and this time, their dream may finally come true if Kalema’s red-hot form continues to blaze.

The forward was once again decisive as Buweekula edged Kyaggwe 1-0 in the semifinal return leg to force penalties, eventually sealing a 4-3 shootout victory after a 1-1 aggregate draw.

His sharp instincts and relentless work rate have turned Buweekula into one of the tournament’s most balanced and dangerous attacking sides.

‘It was been all about consistency for me this season,’ said Kalema – the season’s wonder boy for Buweekula. ‘When I am confident, I know I can achieve and the whole team plays with more purpose.’

Crucial goals

Buweekula, twice beaten finalists, have built their campaign around teamwork, resilience, and a hunger to finally lift the prestigious trophy. But above all, they have found their spark in Kalema’s boots, which have delivered crucial goals throughout this year’s edition.

The final against Ssingo on November 1 at Nakivubo’s Hamz Stadium promises to be an emotional spectacle – a fan-favourite clash expected to draw a mammoth crowd that will turn the newly refurbished stadium into a sea of colour and sound.

Pilsner incentives

Beyond footballing talent, however, lies another key motivator: the Pilsner King Shs285m incentives, a unique reward programme that has kept players fighting for more than just silverware.

According to Lillian Kansiime, Pilsner King Brand Representative, ‘The passion on display since June is what true spirit is all about. This tournament showcases the finest talent and the deepest community pride. To reward all this passion, we believe a king deserves a king, and as Pilsner King, we are proud to celebrate these moments of excellence with the players and fans all the way to Nakivubo.’

Her remarks capture the growing feeling that the Pilsner King campaign has injected a fresh layer of motivation into the Masaza Cup, celebrating effort, skill, and personality as much as results.

For Buweekula’s top scorers, Kalema included, that incentive could be the hidden nudge they need to finally conquer the mountain. And if his boots stay firing from all cylinders under Nakivubo’s bright lights, Buweekula’s third time might just be their lucky one.

Airtel Masaza Cup

Results – Semifinals (2nd leg)

Kyaggwe 0-1 Buweekula

(Agg: 1-1, Pens: 3-4)

Ssingo 0-0 Bugerere

(Agg: 2-1)

Final – November 1

Ssingo vs. Buweekula, Nakivubo Stadium

Pilsner King – Top Scorers

Jimmy Kalema (Buweekula) 7 goals

Shaban Kayongo (Ssingo) 5 goals

Shafik Ssonko (Buweekula) 4 goals