Category: Daily Monitor

A few days ago, Britain’s Prince William spoke about his children spending time outdoors, away from mobile phones and social media. It was an ordinary family comment. Yet I could not help noticing the irony.

Across Africa, millions of parents are working hard to ensure their children acquire the very technologies that some of the world’s most privileged families are increasingly trying to limit. The same pattern appears elsewhere. While wealthy consumers in Europe and North America pay premium prices for organic foods, many Africans are abandoning indigenous foods in favour of imported and highly processed alternatives.

While some societies are rediscovering local identity and cultural confidence, Africa often continues searching for validation from elsewhere. This raises an uncomfortable question: What if Africa’s greatest export is not coffee, gold, or oil, but confidence in itself? Over recent weeks, I have written about Kabaka Mwanga and the Uganda Martyrs, Burkina Faso’s celebration of traditional culture, the search for a more relevant curriculum in our schools, and the debate over whether poverty deserves as much attention as vaccines in preventing disease outbreaks. On the surface, these appear to be unrelated issues. In reality, they all revolve around the same question: Who gets to decide what knowledge matters, what history counts, and what progress looks like? I encountered this question again while discussing curriculum reform.

We want our children to think critically, yet many leave school knowing more about distant rivers, foreign civilisations, and imported ideas than the histories, geographies, and intellectual traditions that shaped their own communities. I encountered it again during recent conversations about traditional spirituality. Whether one embraces Christianity, Islam, or African belief systems is a matter of personal conviction. Yet many Africans can comfortably discuss Greek mythology, Roman history, or Biblical genealogies while becoming uneasy when discussing their own ancestral traditions. Even the debate about Kabaka Mwanga reflects a deeper struggle. History is never merely about facts. It is also about memory. Who is remembered? Who is forgotten? Who is celebrated, and who is condemned?

The stories a society chooses to tell reveal what it believes about itself. Decades ago, Pan-African thinker Stokely Carmichael challenged the world to think differently about power. Political independence, he argued, means little if others continue to control the institutions, narratives, and economic systems that shape your life. Africa’s challenge today may be even deeper. The question is not whether we control our governments. It is whether we control our imagination. Around the world, nations are increasingly searching for development paths rooted in their own histories and priorities. From America First in the United States to cultural confidence in China, India, and, more recently, Burkina Faso, societies are asking how to engage the modern world without losing themselves.

Perhaps Africa should ask the same question. The future of the continent will not be decided by whether we become more Western, more Eastern, more capitalist, or more socialist. It will be decided by whether we can participate confidently in the modern world without surrendering confidence in who we are. People can lose wealth and rebuild it. They can lose power and recover it. But when a people lose confidence in themselves, they often spend generations borrowing the dreams of others. That may be Africa’s most important challenge, and its greatest opportunity, in the twenty-first century.

The telecommunications sector is today one of Uganda’s most important economic engines, connecting millions of people to financial services, education, healthcare, government platforms, and business opportunities.

By March 2026, the sector had grown to more than 47.5 million mobile subscriptions and 17.9 million active internet users, cementing its position as a key driver of the country’s digital transformation.

Yet a study commissioned by Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) suggests that the sector’s growth may be increasingly constrained by one of the heaviest telecommunications tax regimes in the region.

The study on the Impact of the current telecommunications taxation policy on the communications sector raises a fundamental policy question: should telecommunications be treated primarily as a source of government revenue or as a strategic development tool to accelerate Uganda’s digital ambitions?

The answer matters because telecommunications today is no longer simply about phone calls and text messages. It supports e-commerce, mobile money, online learning, digital governance, and access to information.

As Uganda pursues its Vision 2040, the study argues that the affordability and accessibility of digital services will play a critical role in determining the pace of economic transformation.

Cost of staying connected

But the cost of staying connected stands in the way of this target.

The study notes that the telecom sector operates under a complex tax structure that includes a 12 percent excise duty on internet data, 18 percent Value Added Tax (VAT), mobile money levies of up to 0.5 percent on withdrawals, import duties on ICT devices, and various regulatory fees.

While each tax may appear manageable on its own, the study found that their combined effect significantly increases the cost of internet access, digital devices, and telecommunications services.

The study, thus, concludes that these taxes have suppressed consumer demand, slowed broadband adoption, and constrained the expansion of telecommunications infrastructure, particularly in rural areas.

Small and medium-sized enterprises, low-income households, and rural communities are among those most affected because they are more sensitive to increases in the cost of connectivity.

The study, therefore, warns that the result is a widening digital divide, where access to online services increasingly depends on income levels and geographic location rather than availability alone.

The revenue argument

Government’s reliance on telecommunications as a revenue source is understandable.

The sector contributes substantially to public finances. The study indicates that the telecommunications sector accounts for more than 12 percent of national VAT collections and approximately 40 percent of total excise-duty revenues, making it one of the country’s most important tax-generating sectors.

For policymakers facing growing demands for public spending, telecommunications offers a relatively easy avenue for raising revenue from a large and expanding consumer base.

However, the study cautions that revenue generation should not be the only measure used to assess the health of the sector.

Despite its significant contribution to tax collections, the study found evidence that the sector’s relative contribution to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has been declining, suggesting that current taxation policies may be undermining long-term growth and sustainability.

This creates what the study describes as a policy paradox: government may be maximizing short-term revenue while simultaneously limiting the sector’s capacity to generate broader economic benefits.

How consumers respond

One of the study’s most important findings is that telecommunications demand in Uganda is not immune to price increases.

Using econometric modelling and elasticity analysis, researchers found that demand for telecom services is moderately elastic, meaning consumers significantly adjust their behaviour when prices rise.

When taxes increase the cost of internet bundles, voice services, or smartphones, many consumers reduce usage, postpone purchases, or abandon certain digital services altogether. For low-income households, this can mean reduced access to educational resources, online job opportunities, and digital financial services.

For businesses, higher connectivity costs translate into increased operating expenses and reduced competitiveness.

The study concludes that tax-induced price increases lead to measurable declines in usage and adoption over time, slowing progress toward digital inclusion.

Impact on rural communities

The study also highlights the disproportionate impact of telecom taxes on rural Uganda.

Deploying telecommunications infrastructure in remote areas is already expensive due to lower population densities and higher operational costs.

Additional taxes and fees increase these costs further, reducing incentives for operators to expand networks into underserved communities.

Researchers argue that this has contributed to slower infrastructure rollout in rural areas, limiting access to affordable internet services and reinforcing regional disparities in connectivity.

The implications extend beyond telecommunications. Limited connectivity affects education, healthcare, agricultural productivity, and access to government services, making digital exclusion a broader development challenge.

Investors seek policy certainty

Beyond the financial burden, stakeholders interviewed during the study raised concerns about the complexity and unpredictability of Uganda’s telecommunications tax framework.

The report cites frequent amendments, overlapping levies, and inconsistent interpretations of tax laws as key concerns among operators and investors.

The study notes that these factors have weakened investor confidence and reinforced market concentration among dominant industry players.

Telecommunications investments often require substantial capital and long planning horizons. Investors, therefore, place a premium on policy stability and predictability.

The study argues that a more streamlined and consistent taxation framework could encourage greater investment in infrastructure, innovation, and emerging technologies.

Taxes versus revenue

Perhaps the most controversial finding in the report is that reducing some telecom taxes could ultimately increase government revenue.

Through fiscal simulations, researchers found that lowering excise duty and VAT on telecom services and devices could stimulate consumer uptake, encourage private investment, and expand overall market activity.

As more people gain access to affordable connectivity, economic activity grows. More businesses participate in the digital economy, more transactions occur online, and more consumers become active users of digital services.

The study argues that these broader economic gains could yield higher long-term fiscal returns than the current model of imposing relatively high taxes on a smaller user base.

In essence, researchers contend that a larger, more dynamic digital economy could eventually produce more tax revenue than a heavily taxed sector experiencing slower growth.

The choice for government?

The UCC study stops short of calling for the complete removal of telecommunications taxes. Instead, it advocates a balanced approach that recognises both government’s revenue needs and the sector’s role in national development.

The study’s central argument is that telecommunications should increasingly be viewed as an enabler of economic growth rather than simply a source of tax revenue.

Affordable internet access, smartphones, and digital services create benefits that extend well beyond the sector itself, supporting innovation, productivity, financial inclusion, and public service delivery.

Thus, for government, the challenge is finding the right balance.

For a sector that serves more than 47 million mobile subscribers and 17 million internet users and plays a pivotal role in the economy, the question now is whether tax policy will help unlock its full potential or continue to constrain it.

As the country pushes forward with its digital transformation agenda, the answer may determine how quickly Uganda expands digital inclusion, grows its economy, and bridges the gap between those connected to opportunity and those left behind.

For nearly five years, Friends of Boxing has been impacting boxing in somehow subtle ways, but the non-profit organisation is now throwing total chaos into the ring to change Ugandan boxing in unprecedented ways.

‘When I ask you to mention the best five boxing fights in Uganda recently, you will mention Shakib vs Rickman, Shakib vs. Barista Timo, but why not real boxers? Frank Lulinda, FOB’s head of marketing and development, challenged the audience of boxers, trainers, and promoters during a brief with Uganda Professional Boxing Commission (UPBC) inside Madhvani Hall at the UMA Show Grounds, in Lugogo on May 29.

Why aren’t our boxers winning as they should? Why don’t they get the visibility they deserve? Lulinda further asked, important questions that inspired FOB’s two-year partnership with UPBC.

‘We want to ensure that a professional boxer has different trainers: a fitness trainer, a nutritionist, a physiotherapist-though many cannot afford even one,’ he added.

Lucrative belt

The deal, UPBC president Eddie Bazira promised, will afford boxers financial literacy and health insurance, among others. But no promise excited boxers more than the FOB Championship Belt, where the winner will bag Shs6m. And the loser, a generous Shs2.5m ‘to at least compensate for his or her sweat during training and all the preps,’ Lulinda announced.

What’s more, it will not be just one. They will be belts across all weight divisions. ‘Wow! Unless I’m bewitched, I must win one of those belts,’ one professional boxer exclaimed from the audience, smiling like a toddler seeing an ice cream corn. ‘Weight isn’t my problem. I need a few weeks to switch from one weight division to another.’

Another said: ‘I have never fought for even Shs3m. So, I feel like I have already started training for the title fight. And for the money.’

UPBC will sanction the titles, and only ranked fighters will vie for them.

‘If Uganda has talent, as we all believe, we must invest in it. And it must shine,’ Lulinda asserted, triggering optimism that has not been seen in boxing circles recently.

The UMA event was itself classy, with most clad in immaculate white polo shirts with FOB logos. The lighting was equally good, and few, except the chief guest, Michael Mawanda, of the Patriotic League of Uganda, complained about the high temperatures inside the hall. The attendance was good, the dinner sumptuous.

Amid the boxers’ excitement, Twaha Kimbugwe, a promoter, wanted to know how promoters would benefit from this arrangement.

Once a promoter announces an event, Lulinda said, FOB will take over the duties of marketing the event, under an agreement over the revenue sharing. That is relief.

Fighters in the mood

‘It’s been long since I last fought in Uganda. I have been fighting in Kenya. But I will soon be fighting home again,’ Catherine Nanziri, a former ABU champion, unbeaten in eight fights, announced.

Nanziri, who is also the FOB ambassador, clarified that FOB is not a commission, ‘We are just boxing. We want to transform lives through boxing. That’s why our training sessions entertain amateur and professional boxers.’

Frank Kiwalabye, who has won 21 of his 24 fights, commended UPBC for sustaining pro boxing ‘even before we joined.’

‘And now that UPBC has brought on board a partner who is putting a tangible purse on a title fight, is great. I have seen it in other countries. If I get Shs6m in one fight, plus more from my sponsors, then I can prepare better for title fights abroad,’ Kiwalabye said. ‘So, whoever is trying to threaten FOB is doing a huge disservice to boxing.’

Joseph Lubega, aka Joe Vegas, may be soon saying goodbye. But the former ABU and WBC-International light heavyweight champion said many boxers spend more in training than what they get paid for fights. ‘Some get just Shs150,000-Shs200,000 for fights, which doesn’t make sense. But if you get Shs6m after training for three months, that’s amazing. Now all a boxer needs is focus, train well, rest, and have discipline.’

Walking the talk

Even before FOB came out of its shell, its work is evident. Since 2021-

as the world rose from Covid-19 and its dire disruptions, FOB has held more than 12 fight nights and over 50 sparring sessions in different ghetto communities, attracting the least known of boxers and renowned ones like Tokyo 2020 Olympians Shadir Musa Bwogi and Nanziri, Glasgow-bound Alfred Ojok, among others.

FOB promises to be ‘in every boxer’s corner,’ using boxing to empower at-risk youth, build community, and fight for a better future in Kampala.

‘The few times I have worked with them, I felt valued,’ one coach spoke anonymously to avoid penalties from UBF. ‘They approach you nicely, and they give you something at the end of the day. Other donors only focus on boxers and forget the coaches.’

During the launch of the two-year partnership at Eureka Place, Ntinda, on May 15, Lulinda said: ‘We want to set up proper structures. A Ugandan boxer should expect support, sponsorship, good trainers and coaches, and the limelight for their work.’

Threats, bans, and the law

Some, if not all, of these proposals sound like lines picked from Moses Muhangi’s script. In his early days as Uganda Boxing Federation (UBF) president, Muhangi took boxers to donate blood at military barracks, to charity runs, and to anti-HIV/AIDS campaigns, to rebrand boxing and endear it to the public.

But eight years later, he seems to have slowed down, with the bi-weekly Uganda Boxing Champions League his only consistent project since late 2021.

Now FOB wants to fill that yawning gap. They insist they are not a commission, but even before they register with the National Council of Sports, UBF sees them as rivals. And their biggest sin is partnering with the ‘wrong people’-UPBC.

Lulinda said FOB is open to working with any leadership that welcomes them. ‘UPBC warmly welcomed us, and we are proud to work with them.’

But UBF responded with venom. Abdul Tebazaalwa, a member of the UBF licensing commission, in an audio circulated on WhatsApp groups, warned that ‘any boxer, coach, club or ring official who associates with FOB will automatically be banned by UBF…because Friends of Boxing are enemies of boxing.’ Two weeks later, Muhangi amplified that warning, asking members to shun the FOB-UPBC dinner at Lugogo. He later thanked them for heeding our message.’

Interestingly, though, one of the senior boxers attended the ‘illegal dinner,’ and hours later, he fought on a UBF-sanctioned event.

Kiwalabye and his promoter, whose event was sanctioned by UBF last year, both enjoyed the ‘illegal’ FOB-UPBC dinner and the FOB open training session, which attracted boxers-young, old, amateur, professional, active, retired-coaches, ring officials, fans, promoters, and administrators at Panamera Bar in Naguru on June 13. Now, warnings became bans: ‘Whoever attended this illegal event when he or she’s a boxer in the Champions League, he or she’s automatically out of the Champions League,’ UBF declared, accusing participants of violating the UBF code of conduct. ‘Coaches who were there, their certificates are no longer working, whether at the entrance or the field of play.’

In an April 9 letter, the National Council of Sports declared its recognition of UBF as the sole entity responsible for managing boxing in Uganda and that whoever seeks to organise any boxing event should seek UBF clearance. The letter further requested the UBF president to liaise with the police ‘for enforcement of this directive in case of any further challenge.’

Against that background, UBF threatened to raid the event and arrest the participants. But UPBC challenges the NCS letter as misleading and undermining the sports minister’s recommendations guiding UPBC and UBF into forming a single body, as the National Sports Act, 2023 dictates.

Bazira thus assured all potential victims that no one will arrest or ban them, because attending ‘a boxing training session is not a crime.’ Muhangi has a record of banning critics and dissidents. But how serious will he be against FOB, which also pays school fees for some boxers? Must those boxers or their parents denounce FOB and lose out on the school fees? Or should they stick with FOB against UBF and be denied a sporting chance? It’s a serious dilemma.

Enemy within

Yet Muhangi or UBF may not be the only enemy to the FOB-UPBC agenda.

UPBC and FOB must also be ready for internal fights among promoters over which boxer should fight for the lucrative title. Bout results may also be swung in some boxers’ favour. But isn’t it better for orphans to fight over gold than over nothing?

Joanita Ainembabazi repaid the faith that the coaches at Kampala Queens (KQ) have put in her by delivering the club’s first ever Fufa Women Cup.

The physically imposing forward is hugely talented but has rarely been handed a lead role or had a team playing to her strength as a hold-up striker.

With injuries affecting Kamiyati Naigaga, their lead striker for this season, KQ’s coaching team led by Ethiopian coach Firew Asefa Hailegebreal handed the keys to the team to Ainembabazi.

She quietly started showing glimpses of confidence in the Finance Trust Bank Fufa Women Super League (FTBWSL).

The goals were not necessarily coming as she scored just two in the final five league games but you could see her teammates trying to find her with regularity. The plan to play long balls and directly could also easily be ignored as KQ were already out of the title race.

In the Fufa Women Cup, which essentially started at the end of May for KQ in the Round of 16, that plan came full circle.

“We have been playing to her strengths as a player who can keep the ball and bring others into play,” KQ’s assistant coach Shafic Mutebi, said in the aftermath of their 2-0 win over Kawempe Muslim in their maiden final held on Sunday in front of a sizeable crowd at Fufa Stadium Kadiba.

“When we lost the league, we redefined our ambitions and tailored them to fighting for the Cup because we still had a chance in it. We had to do things differently,” Mutebi, who also returned to KQ in March for a third stint at the club, added.

The plan

Ainembabazi scored in the 4-1 demolition of She Kasese in the Round of 16. She also scored the lone goal as they eliminated St. Noa Girls in the quarterfinals and scored in both legs of the semifinals against Lady Doves as KQ ran away 4-0 aggregate winners.

In the final, her physicality caused problems for Kawempe’s defence as it could neither proactively win the ball ahead of her or reactively take it off her.

Eventually in the 38th minute, she pounced. Kawempe’s keeper Saidah Namwanje made a mess of Catherine Wujja’s long ball that was headed anywhere but towards goal.

With Kawempe’s key defender Hadijah Babirye waiting on the sideline to be admitted back into play by referee Shamirah Nabadda, Ainembabazi was left unmarked. She reacted to Namwanje’s ‘save’ first with a well cushioned volley that found the back of the net to give KQ a 1-0 lead going into halftime.

“I am happy with the success but I want to thank my coaches and teammates for helping me get to this point,” Ainembabazi, who had stints in India, Tanzania, and three Ugandan clubs before joining KQ last season, said after being named tournament top scorer with five goals and most valuable player.

Reaction

At the start of the second half, Kawempe coach Ayub Khalifah reacted by pushing rightback Samalie Nakacwa to the wing to utilize her speed while winger Asia Nakibuuka dropped. Captain Agnes Nabukenya was also moved to striking and Latifah Nakasi dropped to midfield.

At the hour mark, creative midfielder Dorcus Kisakye made way for the combative Zainah Nambozo to win the ball closer to KQ’s goal.

All changes helped Kawempe take control and create a number of chances but they failed to capitalize.

Eventually, the quartet of Nakacwa, Nabukenya, Nakasi, and Nakibuuka returned to their original positions.

But KQ turned to Loyce Komugisha and later Patience Nabulobi to take the steam out of anything Kawempe were trying to build in midfield. It did not help that the latter also took off Krusum Namutebi, who had dominated the centre of the park, for Mebel Adong and dropped Nambozo deeper.

The constant changes and anxiety left Kawempe uncoordinated that twice in stoppage time, they let KQ through on the break. Eventually, they paid for it when Naigaga raced past Aminah Nakato and on-rushing Namwanje to make it 2-0.

“It hurts to lose two finals but this was not the final edition of this competition. Eventually, one day, we will win it,” Khalifah said of the competition that he is yet to find its way to Kawempe’s trophy cabinet.

Kawempe’s consolation was a best defender’s award for Nakacwa but KQ also had the best goalkeeper and midfielder in Sharon Kaidu and Shamusa Najjuma respectively.

FUFA WOMEN CUP

FINAL: Kawempe Muslim 0-2 Kampala Queens

MVP: Joanita Ainembabazi (Kampala Queens)

Top scorer: Joanita Ainembabazi – 5 goals

Best goalkeeper: Sharon Kaidu (Kampala Queens)

Best midfielder: Shamusa Najjuma (Kampala Queens)

Best defender: Samalie Nakacwa (Kawempe Muslim)

Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba has asked the High Court in Kampala to dismiss an application in which remanded opposition politician Dr Kizza Besigye accuses him of making public death threats and prejudicial statements that allegedly undermine his right to a fair trial.

The request is contained in an affidavit sworn on June 18 by Lt Col Daniel Atwiine, the head of the Special Investigations Bureau of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), on behalf of Gen Muhoozi and two other UPDF officers, Col Peter Ahibisibwe and Lt Col Ephraim Byaruhanga, named as respondents in the case.

In the affidavit, Lt Col Atwiine describes the allegations raised by Dr Besigye and his co-applicant, Hajj Obeid Lutale Kamulegeya, as misconceived, speculative and founded on hearsay.

“That I swear this affidavit in opposition to the Applicants’ application and in support of the Respondents’ prayer that the application be dismissed with costs,” Lt Col Atwiine states.

Dr Besigye, a four-time presidential candidate currently on remand facing treason-related charges, petitioned the High Court seeking declarations that statements allegedly made by Gen Muhoozi violated his constitutional rights and prejudiced his pending trial.

According to court documents filed before Justice Emmanuel Baguma, Dr Besigye contends that Gen Muhoozi repeatedly made public statements threatening to kill him and portraying him as guilty before the determination of the criminal proceedings against him.

“The 1st respondent’s adverse and prejudicial public statements threatening death, violence, torture and execution, and characterising the 1st applicant as a criminal, individually and cumulatively, give rise to violations of, and continuing threats to, human rights and freedoms,” the application states.

The court documents further argue that such statements create pressure on the Judiciary and compromise the right to an independent and impartial hearing.

“Public pronouncements of guilt, and of a predetermined fatal outcome, made by such a figure while assessors are yet to be empanelled and witnesses heard, contaminate the atmosphere of an independent and impartial court and pressure the trial court,” the application adds.

Among the social media posts cited by Dr Besigye is one allegedly published on January 16, 2025, stating: “We will hang KB on Heroes’ Day. That’s the best day for him to die.”

Another post allegedly made on February 19, 2026, read: “Besigye wanted to kill Mzee, so as far as we are concerned, UPDF, he is a dead man walking.”

A third post allegedly stated: “I think we might hang Besigye by next month. If we don’t hang him, we will shoot him dead. That will be a great day for Uganda.”

Dr Besigye is also seeking a declaration that the treason and misprision of treason charges brought against him are inconsistent with principles of fair trial, human rights, the rule of law, and extradition law, rendering them null and void.

However, in his response, Lt Col Atwiine rejects claims that Dr Besigye and Hajj Lutale were abducted by Ugandan security operatives from Nairobi, Kenya.

He states that while carrying out his duties on behalf of the UPDF, he received intelligence reports indicating that the applicants were engaged in activities considered a threat to Uganda’s national security.

“We received information that the Applicants were coordinating with other people within and outside Uganda to mobilise, recruit, train, and acquire arms with the intention of overthrowing the legitimate government of Uganda,” Lt Col Atwiine states.

The affidavit also disputes allegations that Col Ahibisibwe and Lt Col Byaruhanga participated in the alleged abduction and transfer of Dr Besigye and Hajj Lutale from Kenya to Uganda.

According to the applicants, they were in Nairobi on November 16, 2024, attending a book launch at the invitation of Kenyan opposition politician and former Justice Minister Martha Karua when they were seized by Ugandan security operatives.

They allege that they were transported to Uganda without any extradition proceedings and subsequently detained incommunicado at Makindye Military Barracks.

The Applicants further claim they were denied access to lawyers, family members, and medical personnel and subjected to various human rights violations, including torture, unlawful detention, and violations of their right to a fair hearing.

But Lt Col Atwiine denies the allegations and maintains that the applicants were informed of the reasons for their arrest and granted access to their rights.

“I know that the Applicants were informed of the reasons for their arrest, rights to access medical doctors, lawyers, family, and friends. I know that Makindye Military Police Detention Centre is a lawful detention facility,” he states.

Court records show that Dr Besigye and Hajj Lutale were initially charged with security-related offences under the UPDF Act and unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition before being remanded to Luzira Prison.

The charge sheet was later amended on January 14, 2025, to include additional offences related to treason and misprision of treason and a third accused person, Capt Denis Oola Oyaa.

Justice Baguma, at the last court appearance, directed the respondents, including Gen Muhoozi, to file their responses within one week and scheduled the hearing of the application for June 30.

Dr Besigye is seeking the following orders from the court;

The impugned criminal proceedings against him and Lutale be nullified and terminated on account of the violation of their right to a fair trial.

Directing Gen Muhoozi and the Attorney General to facilitate and/or meet the costs they have incurred in torture treatment and rehabilitation at the African Centre for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture Victims (ACTV), or any other comparable facility.

Unconditionally released from detention.

Costs of the application be provided for.

Such other or further relief as the court may deem fit and just to grant.

The oil regulator, the Petroleum Authority of Uganda (PAU), is yet again butting heads with French oil giant TotalEnergies EP and its Chinese contractor, Sinopec International Petroleum Service Corporation (Uganda) Ltd, over the latter’s non-adherence to local content guidelines.

Inside accounts and documents seen by this newspaper reveal that Sinopec International Petroleum Service Corporation Ltd, the engineering, procurement, supply, construction and commissioning (EPSCC) contractor on the troubled Tilenga oil project spanning the districts of Nwoya and Buliisa, has for two years continued to engage in businesses ring-fenced for Ugandan companies to maximise value addition by way of local content.

TotalEnergies EP operates the Tilenga project. PAU, which before the ongoing development and construction phase had ring-fenced 25 business fields strictly for Ugandans, appears to have its hands tied in order not to antagonise the current pace to kick start commercial oil production by the end of this year. On the other hand, Sinopec has remained defiant. The 25 business fields ring-fenced for Ugandan companies include hotel and catering, transport and logistics, security, civil works, human resource management, survey, camp management, and provision of labour, among others. These were recommended in the 2014 Industry Baseline Survey commissioned by the government and the oil companies on fostering local content. Put simply, the ongoing tangling implies that to make an omelette, one has to break a few eggs.

The government wants commercial oil production to start as soon as possible. So, the Chinese contractor estimated that to quicken things, delivering the key infrastructure required for oil to start flowing, they will do things their own way, including breaking some rules on local content regulations. Sinopec was co-awarded the Shs7.4 trillion ($2b) EPSCC tender for the Tilenga project, alongside McDermott Uganda Ltd in 2021. According to PAU, McDermott was assigned the engineering, procurement and construction component for the Central Processing Facility (CPF), 4,000 personnel capacity temporary camp, and a facility designed to pump and treat water from Lake Albert for use in oil activities.

Sinopec snapped up the EPSCC for, among others, well pads, a site of facilities for oil and gas drilling, and flowlines, and the labyrinth of pipelines cutting through the River Nile connecting the well pads in Nwoya to the CPF in Buliisa. Sometime in 2022, as McDermott’s parent company based in Texas, battled financial headwinds, Sinopec took on expanded work on the project. However, arising out of numerous field visits, by early 2025, PAU technocrats on one hand, and TotalEnergies EP/Sinopec executives on the other, were on different wavelength regarding some work methods on the project.

Nothing ventured nothing gained

After several exchanges over the matter, in July 2025, PAU technocrats met the executives of TotalEnergies EP/Sinopec, over breaching of local content regulations, particularly on business activities ring-fenced for Ugandan companies. The meeting was followed by a forthright correspondence dated August 21, by the outgoing PAU Executive Director, Mr Ernest Rubondo, to the TotalEnergies EP General Manager, Mr Philippe Groueix, pointing him to Sinopec’s disregard of advisories on local content guidelines and dragging feet on awarding tenders for works supposed to be undertaken by local companies.

For instance, Mr Rubondo cited that out of the work scope for backfilling a 45km road stretch inside Tilenga, Sinopec had only awarded 15km to a local firm, Prand Engineering Ltd, and subjected the rest to competitive bidding. The Chinese firm then took on 40 percent trenching, citing ‘complexity of work’, which in turn affected Prand Engineering Ltd ability to deliver. ‘The purpose of this letter is, therefore, to advise that the above issues are expeditiously addressed, and that the full trenching and backfilling scopes are fully subcontracted to the Ugandan companies as required by the legislation. Please advise the Authority on progress made on this matter before September 15, 2025,’ Mr Rubondo wrote. However, that date came and passed.

On November 7, Mr Rubondo fired off another letter to Mr Groueix, complaining that Sinopec had now taken on the construction of camp facilities in Buliisa without ‘consent’ granted by the regulator in breach of Regulation 108 of the Petroleum Regulations, 2016. In another letter dated November 8, the regulator suspended construction of the 4,000-camp, but both TotalEnergies EP and Sinopec appeared defiant. TotalEnergies EP responded to the regulator on November 26 and December 8, 2025, detailing remedies being taken, including submitting an application for the camp, months after construction had commenced.

They also detailed that the camp had been constructed by Sinopec’s subcontractor, Plumbase-Anhui Sijian Joint Venture. The company also argued that it had obtained permission from the Buliisa District Local Government and that the camp would be decommissioned by the end of 2027, after the construction phase is completed. On January 5, 2026, PAU yet again wrote to TotalEnergies EP noting that Plumb Base-Anhui Sijian Joint Venture’s bid evaluation had not been submitted earlier to PAU for both their records and commercial evaluation and that the aforementioned permit from Buliisa Local Government and Environmental and Social Audit from the National Environment Management Authority (Nema) had not been submitted.

Sinopec declined to comment on the matter when contacted by this newspaper. Inexplicably, the company placed several bid notices for interested companies to work with; one of the requirements being registration on the National Supplier Database. TotalEnergies EP, too, did not immediately respond to our inquiries on the issue.

Concerns under review

Mr Didas Muhumuza, the manager for corporate affairs at PAU, told this newspaper that these concerns are being reviewed through established oversight and compliance processes, which are currently underway. ‘National content is a statutory priority for PAU, and the Authority monitors how licensees, contractors, and sub-contractors meet their obligations throughout project implementation.

Where activities are reserved for Ugandan companies, that requirement applies to all parties operating on a project, and PAU engages licensees directly to ensure compliance,’ he said. On whether the Authority slept on the job or has the spine to rein in errant oil companies, other than lamenting only in the correspondence, Mr Muhumuza said: ‘Uganda’s petroleum laws and regulations give the Authority a clear mandate and a range of enforcement measures where non-compliance is established. The Authority applies these measures on the basis of facts confirmed through its assessment, and it is following that process in relation to the matters raised.’

However, during field visits in April and May 2026, PAU technocrats were startled to establish that Sinopec had further ventured into transport and logistics, imported some 200 vehicles, including trucks, buses, pick-up trucks, and cranes-and food supply and catering, which are supposed to be undertaken by Ugandan firms.

During a meeting on the same on June 4 between PAU and TotalEnergies EP/Sinopec, the Chinese company detailed a roadmap for corrective measures. Insiders say it remains to be seen to what extent the company will go, especially in light of ongoing frantic efforts to put the final touches on key infrastructure required to kick start commercial production. The chief executive officer of TotalEnergies SE, speaking at the release of the company’s 2025 financial results in February, said the project will be operational between October and December.

When Acii (not real name) began leaking urine uncontrollably after a prolonged labour at the age of 17, she did not think she was suffering from a childbirth injury. Like many young women in her community, she believed she had been bewitched.

Her family took her to traditional healers, administered herbs, and sought spiritual interventions, hoping to reverse what they thought was a curse. Instead, her condition worsened.

“My boyfriend advised me to seek help from a traditional birth attendant. I thought it was witchcraft. My family first took me to witch doctors, and we also tried traditional herbs because we believed someone had bewitched me. The condition only became worse,” Ms Sanyu recalls.

Today, Acii, now 21, is among a growing number of obstetric fistula survivors in Namayingo District using their experiences to educate teenage mothers about the dangers of delayed medical treatment and harmful cultural beliefs.

Health workers in the district say misconceptions linking obstetric fistula to witchcraft continue to prevent many young mothers from seeking timely care, leaving them to suffer in silence from a medically treatable condition.

Obstetric fistula is an abnormal opening between the birth canal and the bladder or rectum, usually caused by prolonged obstructed labour without timely medical intervention. The condition results in the uncontrollable leakage of urine or faeces and often leads to stigma, social isolation, and psychological trauma.

According to the Ministry of Health, more than 200,000 women in Uganda are living with obstetric fistula.

A long journey to recovery

For Acii, the road to recovery was long and painful. After losing her baby during childbirth, she spent months searching for a cure through traditional means before learning that surgery could repair the condition.

She sought treatment in Soroti and Jinja before eventually undergoing a successful operation during a free fistula repair camp in Namayingo.

“After all those attempts failed, I sought treatment in Soroti, then Jinja, before finally reaching Namayingo. It was my third operation, and this time I was successfully treated,” she says.

Now fully recovered, she has become an advocate for awareness.

“I want other girls to know that this is not witchcraft. It is a medical condition, and it can be treated,” she says.

Her story mirrors that of 26-year-old Awelle (not real name) from Madowa Village.

Awelle developed fistula after complications during her second pregnancy. Having successfully delivered her first child with the help of a traditional birth attendant, she returned to the same attendant during her second pregnancy.

However, prolonged labour forced her to seek emergency medical care. Doctors performed a Caesarean section, but her baby did not survive.

“I did not know what had happened to me. I was leaking urine all the time and thought it was witchcraft,” she says.

The condition eventually contributed to the breakdown of her marriage before she was referred for specialised treatment.

Today, she encourages other women to seek medical help immediately if they experience similar symptoms.

Teenage pregnancies increase risks

Health experts say teenage pregnancies remain a major driver of obstetric fistula cases.

Uganda’s adolescent pregnancy rate remains among the highest in the region, with nearly one in four girls becoming pregnant before adulthood. Many pregnancies occur among girls aged between 12 and 17 years, when their bodies are not fully developed for childbirth.

Medical experts explain that younger mothers are more vulnerable to prolonged obstructed labour, increasing the risk of fistula and other childbirth complications.

Globally, an estimated two million women are living with obstetric fistula, with between 50,000 and 100,000 new cases reported annually, mostly in low-resource countries.

According to health workers, misconceptions about fistula are compounded by fear and stigma, particularly among teenage mothers.

Ms Abagail Musenero, a registered midwife at Bumonoli Health Centre III, says many pregnant teenagers avoid health facilities because they fear being judged.

“Teen mothers fear health facilities because they think we will judge them,” she says. “Sometimes we have to conduct community outreaches to identify them and encourage them to start antenatal care early.”

She notes that delayed referrals from traditional birth attendants remain a significant challenge.

“We still have many traditional birth attendants conducting deliveries in villages instead of referring mothers early to health facilities. By the time many women arrive here, they have already developed serious complications,” Ms Musenero says.

She adds that some women arrive after many hours of labour with severe bleeding, retained placentas or fistula-conditions that could largely be prevented through skilled birth attendance.

Despite these challenges, Ms Musenero says awareness campaigns are beginning to make a difference, with more women attending antenatal clinics and choosing to deliver in health facilities.

Community education as the solution

Community leaders and health advocates are increasingly focusing on education to tackle both teenage pregnancy and fistula.

Mr Wilberforce Mukone, a male champion working with Naguru Teenage Centre, says stigma remains one of the biggest barriers to healthcare access for pregnant adolescents.

“Many young girls fear going to health facilities because they are ashamed of being questioned about becoming pregnant at a young age,” he says. “That is why many of them opt for traditional birth attendants.”

Through school visits, village meetings, and sensitisation campaigns, community volunteers are educating young people about family planning, early antenatal care, and safe delivery practices.

They also help identify women living with fistula and refer them for treatment whenever repair camps are organised.

Health workers believe sustained community education is the most effective way to dispel myths surrounding fistula and ensure more women seek medical care early.

For survivors like Ms Sanyu, the message is simple but urgent: fistula is not a curse.

“It can happen to anyone during childbirth,” she says. “The important thing is to seek treatment because help is available.”

With support from UNFPA and the Government of Iceland, several fistula repair camps have been organised, successfully treating many young women.

However, survivors say more needs to be done, noting that many teenage mothers living with fistula remain in communities without access to treatment due to stigma, poverty and limited awareness.

Candidates and their supporters traversing Kalangala District’s islands ahead of the Woman MP by-election have been asked to exercise extreme caution on Lake Victoria due to strong winds and rough waters.

Water transport is usually risky between March and August as a result of seasonal winds and turbulent waves.

According to Kajubi Twahika, the Kalangala assistant resident district commissioner, political actors canvassing for votes must prioritise safety by wearing life jackets, avoiding risky water processions and postponing journeys whenever weather turns dangerous.

‘The prevailing weather conditions have made water transport increasingly risky, particularly for campaign teams moving between islands. Let them always wear life jackets and avoid sailing whenever the waves become too strong,’ Mr Twahika said during an interview on Sunday.

He cautioned against the growing practice of conducting campaign processions on boats, saying such activities could easily lead to fatal accidents.

‘We ask those who carry out processions on the lake while in boats to stop doing so because a boat can easily lose balance. This can result in a serious or fatal water accident,’ he added.

The warning comes as Kalangala prepares for a Woman MP by-election scheduled for June 24 following the death of former district Woman MP Hellen Nakimuli. Five candidates are contesting the seat: NRM flag bearer Aidah Nabayiga, NUP’s Irene Nampala, and independents Hellen Flavia Nagawa, Babirye Sharifa Kaala and Susan Nasuuna.

Candidates were allocated a 10-day campaign period running from June 12 to June 22 to canvass votes across the district’s 64 inhabited islands.

Bujumba County MP Willy Lugoloobi said Kalangala experiences strong seasonal winds locally called ‘Kisaawa’ which often make navigation dangerous.

He advised campaign teams to avoid unnecessary travel, especially those unfamiliar with water transport.

‘You may think a boat is new because it has been freshly painted, yet the timber underneath is rotten. If necessary, people should avoid risking their lives by travelling under such conditions,’ Mr Lugoloobi said.

The MP, who is serving as an agent for Ms Nabayiga, said his team adjusted strategy to minimise movement across the lake.

‘Because of the strong winds, we have decentralised our mobilisation efforts. Leaders within sub-counties are spearheading support for our candidate to reduce unnecessary travel. Where movement is necessary, we wait until the lake becomes calmer before travelling,’ he said.

According to Mr Yusuf Nsubuga from the meteorological department, the strong winds are caused by weather systems affecting the region.

‘The strong winds on Lake Victoria are a result of air movements originating from the Indian Ocean and moving westwards towards the Atlantic Ocean. These weather systems can generate strong winds and rough waters, particularly on large water bodies such as Lake Victoria,’ Mr Nsubuga said.

Kalangala, an island district prone to unpredictable weather at the convergence of multiple wind patterns, is particularly vulnerable during this period. Strong winds often trigger sudden turbulence and high waves capable of capsizing small wooden boats used to transport people and goods between islands.

Despite difficult weather, no campaign activities have been suspended. Independent candidate Babirye Sharifa Kaala recently experienced delays after her team waited for waves to calm before proceeding.

Rajab Semakula, the Kalangala District NUP chairperson, said their teams adopt night travel because the lake is generally calmer then.

‘After a rally, for example in Bunyama, we did not rest. We collected our equipment and travelled to Mazinga Sub-county while the lake was still calm. We set off at 11pm and by 2am we had reached Nkose, where we spent the night,’ Mr Semakula said.

He said the party takes several precautions before any journey.

‘We ensure that everyone wears a life jacket. We also prefer using wooden boats because they are able to withstand waves better, and we always travel with experienced coxswains,’ he said.

Mr Semakula added that teams sometimes move at very slow speeds to guarantee safety.

Top officials from NRM and NUP have pitched camp in the district ahead of Wednesday’s election. NUP leaders expressed fears the poll may not be free and fair, alleging bribery and intimidation.

‘At this time, so much money has been distributed to voters. Many youths now have no other work except following where money is being given. Such acts deny voters their right to choose leaders freely,’ Mr Semakula said.

Mr Richard Kiganda, NUP secretary general for Kalangala, also alleged plans to manipulate results.

‘What we hear is that they are doing everything possible to rig the votes. But we want to tell them that we are also ready to protect our votes and ensure that the people’s choices are not wasted,’ Mr Kiganda said.

Addressing a rally in Kalangala Town Council on Friday, Ms Rose Namayanja Nsereko, deputy secretary general of the ruling party, dismissed the allegations, saying the opposition is gripped with fear of losing.

Security has been heightened as activities enter the final stage. NUP leaders over the weekend claimed they were denied permission to hold their final rally at Kaala Grounds in Bujumba County.

‘We had prepared to hold our final rally at Kaala Grounds, but we have been informed that we should not have it there on the last day,’ Mr Kiganda said.

Kaala Grounds in Buligo Village is near Kibanga Primary School playground, where President Museveni is expected to address the NRM’s final campaign rally today, Monday.

However, Kalangala Deputy Resident District Commissioner Mr Henry Sebunya defended security arrangements, saying authorities would not allow activities that could compromise public order.

‘We shall not allow any person who is preparing to cause insecurity,’ Mr Sebunya said.

Vanilla’s allure goes far beyond its flavour and fragrance. Its lucrative value has made it a magnet for thieves.

The crop’s lucrative nature attracts both opportunistic thieves and organised criminal groups, making security a constant concern for farmers. Many vanilla growers say theft is their greatest fear, often forcing them to spend sleepless nights guarding their fields.

Unlike most crops, vanilla requires intensive security, with some farmers hiring armed guards to protect their gardens during the harvesting season.

High stakes

According to players in the vanilla sector, these security measures significantly increase production costs, reducing farmers’ profits despite the crop’s high value.

‘We can never stop worrying about thieves. It’s one issue that sends chills down my spine almost all the time. Our gardens are now guarded like barracks.

‘Otherwise, you lose your harvests and potentially your life,’ a vanilla farmer told BD Life at a two-day conference in Kampala last week.

Mr Joseph Lukandwa, a senior member of the Association of Vanilla Exporters of Uganda, backed up these claims.

He noted that vanilla theft became a major issue between 2010 and 2016. During that time, he said the price of the crop hit an average of Shs350,000 per kilogramme. This was about 25 times more than a kilo of Arabica coffee.

‘This caused a lot of insecurity. There were many thefts of vanilla beans. In some cases, people were hurt and some lost their lives,’ Mr Lukandwa said.

‘Vanilla farmers were compelled to hire security guards. Some were armed to keep thieves away.’

The situation also hurt the quality of the product as farmers were harvesting premature beans before thieves could raid the gardens, affecting the quality, which caused challenges on the global market.

Given concerns relating to theft, the project ‘Vani-Coops was born. As part of the project activities, a two-day multi-stakeholder conference was held in Kampala, to, among other things, address the theft of vanilla crops.

According to the country representative at ISP Uganda, Ms Stefania Ceruso, theft is a major concern within the vanilla value chain.

As the two-day deliberations ended, it became clear that a better understanding of the harvesting window, coupled with improved harvesting practices, is key to addressing the problem of vanilla theft.

‘Declaring the harvesting window is one of the tools to reduce the possibility of theft and the sale of low-quality vanilla, Ms Ceruso said.

‘While we are concerned and involved in ending this, the regulation and enforcement of these measures remain the responsibility of the relevant authorities,’ says the ISP representative in Uganda.

Price volatility

While vanilla theft is less common than it once was, farmers remain on high alert.

Although prices have fallen sharply in recent years, vanilla still commands about Shs20,000 per kilogramme-around twice the price of coffee. That premium still makes the crop valuable enough for farmers to guard closely.

In an interview, Dr Robert Okello Ongom said vanilla theft must be nipped in the bud because it ruins crop quality.

Dr Ongom, a horticulturist and team leader at Makerere University’s Department of Crop Science and Horticulture, revealed that the university is working with the government to create an official vanilla harvesting calendar to fight theft.

He explained that the Ministry of Agriculture uses a scientific model developed by the university to determine the official harvesting dates for vanilla. This helps ensure that beans are harvested at the right stage of maturity, maintaining high quality and protecting farmers’ earnings.

He added that following the designated harvesting period is crucial for maintaining the reputation of Ugandan vanilla in export markets.

Harvesting beans too early or too late reduces their quality, which can lower their value and weaken buyer confidence in Uganda’s vanilla.

Uganda has two harvesting seasons, each lasting about three months.

‘If the harvest window is declared, growers only need to guard their fields for a total of six months instead of all 12 months of the year,’ Dr Ongom said. ‘This makes protecting the vanilla much cheaper for farmers.’

Beyond theft

Uganda is the second-largest exporter of vanilla in Africa and globally renowned for premium vanilla beans.

The country accounts for a substantial share of global exports, with major destination markets including the United States, Tanzania, Switzerland, France, and the Netherlands.

Ugandan vanilla is celebrated for its premium quality and distinct flavour. Farmers remain heavily impacted by volatile international vanilla market prices, which have seen significant fluctuations in recent years.

Already, the sector cultivated primarily in the Central, Eastern and Western regions of the country is fending off challenges ranging from fluctuating global prices and premature harvesting and post-harvest handling challenges.

This is despite the sector providing a critical source of livelihood for nearly 70,000 smallholder farmers across nearly 40 districts in the country.

Some of the districts where vanilla is largely grown include Bundibugyo, Kasese, Ntoroko, Bunyangabu, Rubirizi, and Ibanda. This is in addition to Kayunga, Mukono, Mpigi, Jinja, Kamuli, and Luwero.

Speaking in an interview last week, Mr Kizito Odongo, the acting principal agricultural officer in charge of horticulture at the Agriculture Ministry, noted that vanilla remains a high-value, non-traditional cash crop prioritised by the government to boost household incomes.

To safeguard farmers against rampant theft and poor quality, Odongo stated that the Ministry is assisting local governments in developing ordinances and bylaws.

‘Several challenges have been noticed over the years, right from 2019, with theft being one of them,’ he explained.

‘This is in addition to price volatility and quality issues, all of which the government is addressing.’

To enforce quality control and promote self-regulation at the local level, the Ministry introduced the National Vanilla Harvest Window in 2019.

‘Over the last six years, we have seen remarkable progress in the quality of vanilla,’ Odongo added.

Meanwhile, the government is also promoting agroforestry to maximise land productivity. By mimicking natural ecosystems, this sustainable practice provides economic, social, and environmental benefits. ‘

‘You can have other crops like bananas growing together with vanilla, including other fruit trees, to increase your income,’ Mr Odongo said.

Connecting markets

Uganda can easily become the leading producer of vanilla in the world. But, there is a need for some effort to spur its growth across global markets.

The government is already promoting vanilla as a high-value crop. Given its demand, Vani Coops project, an Italian-funded initiative, aims at supporting vanilla growers in the districts of Mukono, Luwero and Jinja.

‘We decided to start this project to ensure a more equal distribution of value along the vanilla value chain, starting from where the value actually begins, with the growers.

‘We are cooperating with all stakeholders to support the growth of the sector and, especially, to increase knowledge and opportunities for vanilla growers in Uganda.

‘The project addresses different segments of the vanilla value chain. We start with the growers. The idea is to connect Ugandan vanilla with the Europeans, and particularly the Italian market. This can be through different actions, especially by strengthening the capacity of growers to connect directly with buyers,’ Ms Ceruso, said, noting that the project, which started in November 2025, will last three years.

Ms Ceruso said the project is supported by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation under the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with a project budget of around pound 1.2 million.

‘We are targeting about 20,000 farmers across the three districts of Jinja, Iganga and Mukono,’ Ms Ceruso said.

As for the Italian Ambassador to Uganda, Mauro Massoni, Italian involvement in Uganda goes beyond just a focus on health to also areas that provide economic and income-generating benefits.

Since my arrival in Uganda two and a half years ago, I have felt that while health remains very important, we should also expand our focus to other sectors, particularly agriculture.

For instance, Amb Massoni noted that this project is focused on improving both quality and production, while increasing the opportunities for farmers to earn more money. One way of doing that is by opening up new markets

‘This project can create added value in the vanilla sector and generate new export opportunities for this product in my country Italy.’

A walk through farm pathways, drainage channels, rubbish heaps, farmland and wetlands reveals used agrochemical containers abandoned by farmers. The sight partly paints a picture of chemical residual matter reportedly degrading biodiversity.

A section of conservationists in Uganda estimate that over 85 percent of farmers who integrate agrochemicals, acaricides and other farm chemicals into their practices dump used containers on farm pathways, in drainage channels and bushes, endangering ecosystems.

The careless disposal policy partly accounts for reduced soil fertility and high temperatures among other climate change related challenges.

While agrochemical manufacturers place cautionary user instructions on products for proper handling, storage and application, instructions regarding disposal of used containers are often missing.

A bigger percentage of end users are unaware about the dangers of residual chemical waste disposal, according to Mr Amos Masaba Kabala, a conservationist attached to Safe Earth Support for All.

‘Farmers use chemical containers at the garden side, bushes and drainage channels. The chemical residue spills and sinks into the soil while some of the toxic substances evaporate into the atmosphere. The toxics also find their way into the water bodies through the water runoff,’ he says.

The Agricultural Chemicals Control Act, 2007 mandates proper labeling, handling and disposal of agrochemicals. The National Environment Waste Management Regulations, 2020 classify pesticide waste and empty containers as hazardous waste. The laws prohibit improper disposal, burning or littering and hold individuals and businesses fully responsible for cleanup and disposal.

Conservationists demand strict adherence to international safety standards for agrochemical waste poorly disposed of on farms, pathways, water channels and other open spaces. They are rallying for public awareness and possible revision of guidelines to counter irreversible effects partly blamed for climate change and health complications.

The National State of Environment Report 2024 prepared by Nema in coordination with the Ministry of Water and Environment pins industrialisation and use of a multitude of agrochemicals as driving factors of environmental pollution. The report identifies agrochemicals on the open market linked to pollution and cautions end users on risk factors.

It states that surface water bodies in Uganda receive large amounts of phosphorus and nitrogen that account for eutrophication. About 90 percent of agrochemicals contain large amounts of phosphorus and nitrogen. The report condemns poor waste disposal including open dumping and burning of waste, which contribute to environmental degradation, water contamination and air pollution. It recommends a coordinated approach involving infrastructure improvement, policy reform, public awareness and promotion of sustainable consumption.

Mr Abdul Salabwa, an agro input dealer and conservationist, says government has a duty to protect the environment by guiding farmers on proper disposal methods.

‘The farmers tell us that they collect the agrochemical waste material and burn it in the open air which is very dangerous. The dark fumes that get into the air carrying toxic substances are dangerous to humans, ecosystems and the entire biodiversity,’ he says.

Toxic substances left unattended degrade the environment and wipe out microbial enzymes important for plant health. Vegetation is drying up while aquatics are equally affected, Mr Johnson Semanda Beebwa, an environment actor, reveals.

‘When you visit farmers’ gardens, the used agrochemical containers are a common sight. It is likely that a bigger section of farmers are ignorant about the dangers that come with the littered agrochemical residues. Only a few farmers get to read and comprehend the user instructions,’ he says.

Dr Miriam Catty Nagudi, a food scientist and conservationist, says the UN through FAO and WHO provide the International Code of Conduct on Pesticide Management with voluntary standards from production to disposal.

‘It’s unfortunate that we do not have strict guidelines to help farmers in disposing of agrochemical residual. The fact is that even the manufacturers at many times skip that crucial stage of disposing of the agrochemical residual or used containers that in many cases carry high concentrations of residues. The entire ecosystems get affected because of the carelessness,’ she says.

At a sensitization meeting for eco-farmers by SEFSA on May 4, 2026, stakeholders including farmers denied knowledge of proper disposal. Mr Francis Okiror, a farmer from Kigumba Town Council, said burning agrochemical residue in open air is common practice targeting plastic waste elimination.

‘A bigger section of the farmers are not aware about the dangers of burning the agrochemical residual products in the open air. It is also common knowledge that we don’t have the other alternatives. The agrochemical residues are littered on the farms, drainage channels and the bushes,’ he said.

Another farmer from Masindi Port said he was advised to dig a shallow pit and bury waste. Experts say this is wrong because residue sinks into soil and containers remain intact with toxic chemicals that can spill out.

The solution

Experts advise farmers to triple-rinse containers with water to highly dilute content before disposal. Containers should have a collection area but must contain no chemical residue. Farmers are cautioned against burning containers or burying waste. Containers should not be reused for food or drinks even after rinsing.

Farmers are advised to link up with agronomists and extension staff for advice on handling expired agrochemicals and used containers.

The World Health Organisation estimates worldwide pesticide exposure causes 20,000 deaths annually and at least 3 million cases of acute poisoning, many caused by mishandling of pesticide waste and containers.