Category: Daily Monitor

Insurance Regulatory Authority (IRA) is facing one of the most serious leadership crises in its history, with allegations of financial and administrative impropriety against outgoing chief executive officer Ibrahim Lubega Kaddunabbi.

The crisis has escalated into a multi-front battle involving the Auditor General, Ministry of Finance, IRA board, lawyers on both sides of IRA, Kaddunabbi, High Court, and criminal investigations.

At the centre of the dispute is the decision by the IRA board not to recommend the renewal of Kaddunabbi’s contract, a decision that has triggered litigation, competing legal interpretations, administrative directives, and accusations of contempt of court.

The crisis intensified after the Permanent Secretary and Secretary to the Treasury, Ramathan Ggoobi, requested the Auditor General to conduct a comprehensive investigation into claims raised by board chairperson Keto Nyapendi Kayemba concerning financial and administrative impropriety at the IRA.

The resulting Special Investigation Report, signed by Auditor General Edward Akol on May 15, 2026, found several instances of irregular conduct involving the Kaddunabbi.

The Auditor General found that Kaddunabbi increased his salary from the amount originally approved by the Minister of Finance, despite a clear ministerial directive that any future adjustment would only be considered based on Bank of Uganda inflation data and after recommendation by the board.

The report found no evidence that the board ever formally considered or approved the chief executive officer’s salary increments.

Yet his monthly salary rose from Shs46.34m to Shs60.85m between the 2021/22 and 2025/26 financial years. The Auditor General concluded that the salary increases did not comply with the Minister’s conditions regarding inflation and approval procedures.

Investigators also established that Kaddunabbi received leave allowances despite evidence showing that in some periods he had not taken leave, contrary to the Human Capital Management Manual, which only permits payment of leave allowance when leave is actually taken.

The report identified Shs24.3m paid as leave allowance despite leave not being taken, Shs36.8m received irregularly as leave allowance, and Shs87.18m paid as compensation for untaken leave after expiry of his contract.

The Auditor General concluded that the Shs87.18m payment was inconsistent with both the Employment Act and the chief executive officer’s contract because there had been no termination of employment and no evidence that leave had been denied.

A separate finding related to Kaddunabbi’s role as a non-executive director of Africa Reinsurance Corporation (Africa Re) found that Africa Re’s contract and board charter provided extensive benefits to directors, including business-class travel, accommodation, daily subsistence allowances, sitting allowances, and reimbursement of expenses.

Despite this, the Kaddunabbi obtained full per diem payments from IRA for several Africa Re engagements in Cairo, Abuja, Johannesburg, and Kigali.

The report concluded that because the activities were already fully sponsored, the IRA Human Capital Manual only entitled him to 30 percent of the normal per diem. Instead, full per diem was paid, resulting in a quantified loss to IRA of Shs57.4m.

The Auditor General further found that six additional staff members were recruited beyond the positions originally advertised. Although management relied on a broader board resolution following a job evaluation exercise, investigators found that the specific additional recruitments had never been explicitly discussed or approved by the board.

The Auditor General put the resulting loss at Shs647.6m in salaries and benefits after six staff were recruited without documented Board approval.

The investigation found that 39 people were recruited for 30 approved positions, with six excess hires lacking justification, resulting in significant unplanned recurrent expenditure for the Authority.

Board decides against renewal

Against this backdrop, the IRA board resolved not to recommend renewal of Kaddunabbi’s contract.

The dispute reached a critical point after the board’s decision of February 16, 2026, declining to recommend him for another term. That decision became the subject of an application before the High Court.

Board sources say the decision flowed directly from governance concerns raised by internal audit reports, subsequent board deliberations, and the Auditor General’s findings.

Court issues interim order

On May 29, 2026, Justice Joyce Kavuma issued an administrative interim order restraining the board and IRA from implementing or giving effect to the decision not to recommend Kaddunabbi for renewal pending hearing of the substantive application.

In a crucial passage that has since become the centrepiece of competing legal arguments, the Judge held that the issue of renewal remained the substance of the main application and that renewal of contract was an executive function rather than a judicial one.

Court, therefore, preserved the status quo while directing respondents to file affidavits and return to court.

The ruling has subsequently been interpreted differently by the opposing camps. Kaddunabbi’s lawyers maintain that the order froze implementation of the board’s decision, while IRA argues that the order did not amount to a renewal of the expired contract.

Board moves to fill the vacuum

Despite ongoing court proceedings, the IRA board moved swiftly after the expiry of Kaddunabbi’s contract on May 31, 2026, recommending the appointment of Protazio Sande, IRA director of strategy and market development, as acting chief executive officer effective June 1.

The appointment was communicated through the Ministry of Finance and accompanied by a board press release announcing the transition.

The board justified the move as necessary to ensure continuity of operations and maintain regulatory stability of the insurance sector, arguing that Sande’s institutional knowledge and experience would ensure uninterrupted discharge of IRA’s mandate while a substantive chief executive officer is appointed.

Kaddunabbi’s lawyers fight back

Kaddunabbi’s legal team at Arcadia Advocates immediately challenged the appointment.

In a strongly worded Tuesday (June 2) letter to Ggoobi, the lawyers argue that court had preserved the status quo and that the board and Ministry of Finance had acted unlawfully by creating and filling an office of acting chief executive officer, while the case remained pending.

They contend that Ggoobi lacks authority under the Insurance Act to appoint an acting chief executive officer and that the board relied on provisions of the Human Capital Management Manual that allegedly do not create the office of acting chief executive officer.

They further argue that the appointment violates court’s preservation order and threatens contempt proceedings if the decision is not withdrawn.

Arcadia also accuses IRA and its lawyers of selectively quoting the High Court ruling and misrepresenting its effect. In a separate communication, the firm rejects Dentons’ interpretation of the ruling and warns that further actions taken contrary to the order could attract contempt proceedings.

Dentons responds aggressively

IRA’s external lawyers, Dentons Advocates, responded with an equally forceful cease-and-desist letter, accusing Kaddunabbi of entering IRA premises without authorisation on June 1 and falsely presenting himself as the chief executive officer despite the expiry of his contract.

Dentons maintains that court did not renew Kaddunabbi’s contract and that the ruling explicitly recognises that renewal remained an unresolved issue reserved for determination in the substantive case.

Dentons characterises Kaddunabbi’s actions as corporate trespass, unlawful interference with statutory functions, usurpation of authority, and a potential abuse of judicial process. They demanded that he immediately cease entering IRA premises or interfering with management and operations.

They warn that ‘your client, who is presently under active investigation by [CID] following adverse findings of financial and administrative impropriety against him, ought to know that such lawless conduct will inevitably attract severe civil and criminal sanctions’.

The tone of the exchange underscores the extent to which the dispute has moved beyond a routine employment disagreement into a full-scale institutional confrontation involving competing claims to authority within IRA.

CID drawn into the conflict

The dispute has now extended beyond employment and governance issues into the criminal sphere. Dentons copies its cease-and-desist correspondence to the Director of Criminal Investigations and expressly warns that if investigations establish administrative impropriety, criminal liability should arise.

Simultaneously, correspondence from the opposing side has also been copied to CID, suggesting that both camps are positioning themselves for possible criminal investigations linked either to audit findings or alleged violations of court orders.

Although no criminal charges are known to have been filed, CID has become a stakeholder in a dispute that began as an employment matter.

Ggoobi under pressure

The Ministry of Finance, through the Ggoobi, initially triggered the Auditor General’s investigation after receiving allegations from the IRA board chairperson.

Now the same Ministry finds itself drawn into a separate controversy over the appointment of an acting chief executive officer. Kaddunabbi’s lawyers argue that Ggoobi exceeded his statutory powers and unlawfully intervened in the management of IRA.

Meanwhile, the board insists that the appointment was necessary because the chief executive officer’s five-year term had expired and IRA could not operate without a substantive accounting officer.

Ggoobi, thus, finds himself at the intersection of two related but distinct disputes: alleged financial impropriety and the legality of IRA’s leadership transition.

The Insurance Act limits the IRA chief executive officer to two five-year terms, or 10 years. Yet Kaddunabbi has led IRA since 2010, serving for more than 15 years.

This has raised questions about the legality of his continued stay beyond the statutory limit.

The debate is not primarily about his performance, but whether IRA complied with term-limit provisions designed to promote accountability, leadership renewal, and good governance.

What happens next?

The future of IRA now depends on several parallel processes unfolding simultaneously.

Court must determine whether the board lawfully declined to recommend Kaddunabbi for renewal and whether subsequent actions by either side violated the interim order.

The Ministry and the board must also decide whether to pursue recoveries, disciplinary measures, or other administrative actions arising from the Auditor General’s findings concerning salary adjustments, leave payments, Africa Re expenditures, and recruitment practices.

At the same time, the possibility of criminal investigations remains open as allegations of financial loss, abuse of office, and unlawful interference continue to circulate among the parties.

What began as an internal governance dispute has evolved into a major test of one of Uganda’s most important financial sector regulators.

The Auditor General has documented irregularities involving salary enhancements, leave payments, travel expenditures, and recruitment decisions.

The Board has acted on governance concerns by refusing to recommend contract renewal.

The courts are now being asked to determine whether those actions were lawful, while lawyers on both sides exchange accusations of contempt, trespass, and abuse of authority.

For IRA, the battle is no longer merely about one executive’s future.

It has become a wider struggle over governance, regulatory credibility, ministerial authority, judicial oversight, and public accountability within the insurance sector.

The eventual outcome will likely shape not only the future leadership of IRA but also public confidence in the institutions responsible for regulating the insurance industry.

Behind the preparations is a team of experienced academics, administrators and church leaders whose combined expertise is helping shape one of Uganda’s largest annual religious events. From fundraising and infrastructure development to security, worship and pilgrim welfare, the university’s leadership has become instrumental in coordinating this year’s commemorations.

Prof John Mulindwa Kitayimbwa

At the centre of the preparations is John Mulindwa Kitayimbwa, the Deputy Vice Chancellor in charge of Academic Affairs at UCU and chairperson of the Martyrs’ Day Organising Committee.

Born and raised in Namungoona, Prof Kitayimbwa attended Kasubi Church of Uganda Primary School before joining King’s College Budo and later Makerere College School for his advanced studies.

He graduated from Makerere University with a Bachelor of Science with Education, specialising in Mathematics and Chemistry, before pursuing a Master of Science in Mathematical Sciences at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology.

After teaching at Makerere University, he joined UCU in 2005 as a lecturer in Mathematics. His academic journey later took him to the University of Cambridge, where he earned an MPhil in Computational Biology and subsequently completed a joint PhD programme between Cambridge and Makerere University.

His research has focused on computational biology, particularly the evolution of viral diseases such as HIV, influenza and Ebola.

In 2015, he felt called to ordained ministry and began theological studies at UCU. He completed a Master of Divinity in 2019 and was later ordained as a priest in the Church of Uganda under Kampala Diocese.

Since his appointment as Deputy Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs in October 2019, Prof Kitayimbwa has combined academic leadership with pastoral ministry. As chairperson of the organising committee, he has overseen preparations aimed at ensuring a successful and spiritually enriching commemoration.

David Mugawe

Working alongside him is David Mugawe, the Deputy Vice Chancellor in charge of Finance and Administration and co-chairperson of the organising committee.

Born at Mbale Hospital more than five decades ago, Mugawe grew up within the academic environment of Makerere University, where his father served as a senior lecturer.

He attended Kitante Primary School and King’s College Budo before pursuing higher education at Makerere University and later obtaining a master’s degree in the United Kingdom.

At UCU, he oversees finance, administration and institutional planning. For the Martyrs’ Day celebrations, he chairs the Finance and Fundraising Sub-Committee and coordinates security arrangements.

His focus has centred on improving safety and security, water and sanitation services, and beautification works at the Anglican Martyrs’ Site to ensure pilgrims worship in a safe and dignified environment.

Prof Aaron Mushengyezi

Aaron Mushengyezi, the Vice Chancellor of UCU, serves as patron of the organising committee.

Before joining UCU, Prof Mushengyezi spent 23 years at Makerere University, where he served as Head of the Department of Journalism and Communication and later Dean of the School of Languages, Literature and Communication.

Born on July 24, 1969, he obtained both his undergraduate and master’s degrees from Makerere University before earning a PhD from the University of Connecticut.

As Vice Chancellor, he has focused on strengthening university systems, expanding research and steering institutional growth. During the Martyrs’ Day preparations, he has played a key role in coordinating efforts between UCU, the national organising committee, government agencies and the Church of Uganda.

Archbishop Stephen Kaziimba Mugalu

The spiritual head of the Anglican Church in Uganda, Stephen Kaziimba Mugalu, also serves as Chancellor of UCU.

Born in Buikwe District in 1962, Archbishop Kaziimba holds a Master of Divinity and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Western Theological Seminary in Michigan, United States.

Before becoming Archbishop in 2020, he served as Bishop of Mityana Diocese for more than a decade. He is widely recognised for promoting reconciliation, church growth and community development.

As Archbishop, he entrusted UCU with organising the Anglican Martyrs’ Day celebrations and continues to provide overall spiritual and institutional guidance.

Bishop Alfred Olwa

Another key figure in the preparations is Alfred Olwa, the Bishop of Lango Diocese and Chairperson of the UCU Governing Council.

Born in 1964, Bishop Olwa studied theology in Uganda, the United Kingdom and Australia. His academic journey included studies at Bishop Tucker School of Divinity, Wycliffe Hall Oxford, London School of Theology and Moore Theological College in Sydney, where he earned a PhD.

As chairperson of the university’s governing council, he has overseen major developments at the Anglican Martyrs’ Site, including the construction of walkways, installation of improved sanitation facilities and ongoing work on the amphitheatre.

These improvements are intended to enhance safety, accessibility and the overall worship experience for pilgrims.

Collective effort

Together, these leaders represent a blend of academic excellence, administrative experience and spiritual leadership.

Their combined efforts have helped position UCU at the heart of this year’s Anglican Martyrs’ Day celebrations, ensuring that preparations remain organised, safe and focused on the spiritual significance of the annual commemoration.

As Uganda continues to navigate evolving public health and logistical challenges, the university’s leadership remains central to delivering a celebration that reflects both faith and resilience.

The Nakawa Chief Magistrate’s Court has issued a stern warning to businessman Mukesh Shukla, the proprietor of Shumuk Aluminium Industries, directing that his long-running criminal trial be concluded without further delays.

The directive was issued by Chief Magistrate Christine Nantege during proceedings in which Shukla, who is accused of Shs220 million fraud, appeared in court after a prolonged absence that had raised concerns over his commitment to attend trial.

According to the complainant, Shahid Mahmood Alvi, the court ordered Shukla’s arrest upon his appearance and detained him for about three hours before allowing the proceedings to continue.

“The court noted that he had been missing for a long time in this case. When he appeared, he was arrested and held for about three hours,” Shahid said during a phone chat with our reporter.

The court also cancelled the sureties that had previously guaranteed Shukla’s attendance and ordered that fresh sureties be presented.

Shukla’s wife and son subsequently stood surety for him, assuring the court that he would continue attending all future proceedings.

“The magistrate cancelled his earlier sureties and directed that family members should stand as his guarantors. His wife and son accepted responsibility to ensure he attends court,” Shahid added.

During the session, Chief Magistrate Nantege reportedly emphasised the need to bring the matter to a close, warning against any further delays.

The magistrate fixed July 15, 2026, as the final date for the continuation of the hearing and directed that the cross-examination must be completed on that day.

“The court gave a final date of July 15 and made it clear that the cross-examination has to finish on that day,” the complainant said.

The case stems from allegations that Shukla and others fraudulently obtained more than Shs220 million from a business associate through false representations relating to land transactions.

Shukla, who serves as the Chief Executive Director of Shumuk Aluminium Industries, is jointly charged with obtaining money by false pretence and conspiracy to defraud alongside his company, manager Judith Ayebare and accountant Kadikar Dharamdip Anilkumar.

Court records indicate that the accused allegedly obtained approximately USD 27,950 and more than Shs116 million from Alvi Auto Village Ltd between November 2020 and November 2021 while purportedly claiming to be leasing or renting out two plots of land in Banda Industrial Area and Nakawa Industrial Area.

The prosecution alleges that the representations were false and were made with the intention of defrauding the complainant.

When the charges were first brought before court, Shukla was remanded to Luzira Prison after being arrested from his Nakawa office and produced before the then Nakawa Chief Magistrate Elias Kakooza.

At the time, Shukla sought release on bail through his lawyers, arguing that he was a family man with a fixed place of residence, substantial sureties and deep roots in the community.

He also expressed willingness to reconcile with the complainant and reportedly offered to deposit Shs20 million as a gesture of good faith.

However, the criminal proceedings have continued, with the court now signalling its intention to bring the matter to a conclusion after years of litigation.

A road crash involving a vehicle and motorcycle in Lwengo District on Wednesday morning left two Christians dead.

The victims are identified as Josephine Nakitto, 83, and Alex Ssenono, 25, the rider, both residents of Bugonzi Village in Lwengo District.

They met their deaths when the speeding vehicle rammed into the motorcycle they were travelling on.

They were travelling to Mbiriizi Catholic Parish to attend Mass in celebration of the Uganda Martyrs.

One of the victims died on the spot while the other succumbed to injuries while being rushed to Masaka Regional Referral Hospital.

Eyewitnesses say the government-owned Toyota Hillux vehicle, which was speeding, veered off the road and rammed into the motorcycle. It happened at Kyetume Village in Lwengo District at around 9am.

The Greater Masaka Regional Police spokesperson, Mr Twaha Kasirye, confirmed the incident and said investigations into its cause had commenced, adding that the driver fled the scene.

The bodies were taken to Masaka Regional Referral Hospital mortuary for post-mortem examinations.

The Chairperson of Lwengo Rural Sub-county, Kizito Lawrence, called on the government to install more road signs, particularly warning signs at bends, and implement speed-control measures along the road.

Parliament’s Appointments Committee, chaired by Speaker Jacob Oboth Oboth, has rejected the designation of Victoria University Vice Chancellor Dr Lawrence Muganga as State Minister for Internal Affairs over holding multiple citizenships.

A source who attended the vetting and spoke to this publication on condition of anonymity said Dr Muganga failed to convince the Committee he would renounce citizenship of two other countries, Rwanda and Canada.

The Committee, before meeting the nominee, carried out due diligence and found he holds three citizenships: Uganda, Rwanda and Canada. ‘We asked him about the issue of multiple citizenship because we found that he holds three citizenship including Rwandan, Canada, and Uganda. He said that he denounced Rwanda when he became a Canadian and the Committee was convinced but failed to convince us with evidence that he denounced the two citizenship,’ the source said.

Unlike other minister-designates such as Calvin Echodu, State Minister for Foreign Affairs in charge of International Affairs, and Adonia Ayebare for Foreign Affairs, who presented evidence of renouncing US citizenship, Dr Muganga did not. ‘The Committee took some good time discussing Adonia’s issue until he presented the evidence that he had started the process then we cleared him. But Muganga failed to convince us with evidence yet he will be holding a sensitive ministry of the Internal Affairs,’ the source added.

After presenting his CV, Speaker Oboth asked Dr Muganga about his dual citizenship status. Shortly after the session, Dr Muganga addressed reporters and dismissed claims linking him to Rwandan citizenship. ‘Before I came here, I definitely had two citizenships-that’s the Ugandan citizenship and the Canadian citizenship. Like every young person who really aspires to do better, you leave this country and you go to different countries, trying to work there, and you get some money, you help your people you left back home. You help your brothers, your sisters, your parents, and even your friends. So, that is me,’ he said.

He added: ‘Many Ugandans do that. And as I speak right now, there are some who are at the airport leaving the country. Before you know it, they will have citizenship of other countries. But that does not take away one’s love for the country. I am Ugandan…Uganda is my country.’

On May 28, city lawyer and Democratic Front Deputy Secretary General Deric Fredric Namakajo petitioned Parliament through the Clerk’s office seeking to block Dr Muganga’s vetting. He accused him of holding Ugandan and Canadian citizenship and cited Section 19D of the Uganda Citizenship and Immigration Control Amendment Act, 2009, which bars dual citizens from holding sensitive state offices.

Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa, speaking on behalf of Committee Chairperson Speaker Oboth, said four nominees were found with dual or multiple citizenship during vetting.

‘We did a verification with the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and we discovered that we had three colleagues who had dual citizenship, and one colleague who had multiple citizenship. So, we have looked at it extensively, and all of them have approved renouncing their citizenship in the other countries,’ he said.

‘They have taken a patriotic step of choosing Uganda above all. Especially, you know, these are painful decisions that are made. Some of these people have families in those countries. Whatever they have been made in those countries, they send back to Uganda, back to Uganda. But they have taken the painful decision of renouncing their citizenship in other countries. So, we consider that, and we appreciate them for being patriotic,’ Tayebwa added.

Leader of Opposition Joel Ssenyonyi said the law must be followed. ‘If somebody has got dual or multiple citizenship, can they first renounce citizenship of the other countries so that the law is followed. If there can be proof that this person has renounced citizenship of these other countries now, they are solely citizens of Uganda then we can discuss other issues,’ Ssenyonyi said.

For years, eco-friendly building materials were seen as a cost, a premium feature for niche projects or developers with an environmental conscience. But in 2025, that logic has flipped. Across Uganda’s construction sector, green materials are being recognised as a direct driver of financial returns, asset value, and market differentiation.

Paint as a utility

In any building, paint is more than decoration. It is a functional layer that affects air quality, tenant health, maintenance cycles, and even energy efficiency. Traditional paints release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) for months after application, sometimes years. These gases contribute to respiratory illnesses, allergies, headaches, and long-term health complications; problems that directly impact tenant satisfaction, retention, and even liability.

“Eco-friendly paints use plant-based oils, natural earth oxides, and mineral ingredients such as clay and chalk instead of chemical solvents,” explains Maruf, the Quality Control Manager at Regal Paints. “The result is zero or extremely low VOC emissions. That means safer air for everyone inside and fewer complaints for the developer.”

Low-VOC paints allow faster move-in after construction, reducing vacancy periods. They also resist peeling and moisture damage better than conventional alternatives, cutting repainting costs by up to 30 percent over a decade.

But paint alone is just the starting point. The full financial advantage comes from layering multiple eco-friendly materials throughout the building.

Beyond paint

Dr Apollo Bulegeya, the managing director of Eco-Concrete Ltd, notes that a truly smart investment in green construction looks at the whole building envelope. Here are the key categories every developer should evaluate, each with its own economic logic.

He says: ‘We look at the energy, water and waste management costs are they affordable to occupants, we look at the ventilation. Durability we look at the climate resilience and power of the material to withstand environmental shocks among others.’

Sustainable concrete alternatives: Traditional cement is expensive and carbon-intensive. Fly ash concrete, slag cement, and hempcrete reduce cement content by 30-50 percent, lowering material costs while improving durability against moisture and cracking. Hempcrete provides natural insulation, cutting HVAC energy bills by 20-40 percent annually, a saving that compounds over the building’s life.

Fast-growth timber: Bamboo matures in three to five years versus 30+ years for hardwood. It is stronger per kilo than steel in tension and costs significantly less than imported timber. Ideal for flooring, ceiling panels, and even light structural use, bamboo adds a premium aesthetic that commands higher residential and hospitality rents. Uganda has growing local bamboo plantations, reducing import dependency and foreign exchange risk.

Water-saving fixtures: Low-flow faucets, dual-flush toilets, greywater recycling systems, and rainwater collection tanks reduce water bills by 30-50 percent annually. In urban areas with rising municipal water tariffs, this is a direct operating expense saving that improves net operating income and building valuation.

Solar-ready roofing: Reflective white or green roof coatings lower indoor temperatures by 5-10°C, reducing air conditioning load and energy bills. Designing roofs for future solar panel installation avoids costly retrofits later. Developers can install solar and sell power back to tenants as a revenue stream, especially as government net-metering policies improve across East Africa.

The economic case

Moses Lutalo, the Managing Director of Broll Uganda Ltd, a leading property management firm, urges developers to put the final user in mind. ‘If you are venturing into housing, eco-friendly materials are the way to go,” he says.

Here is why eco-friendly construction is now a smart investment:

Green-certified buildings earn 12-18 percent rent premiums while attracting quality tenants. Low-VOC materials enable immediate occupancy, cutting vacancy losses. And over a decade, durability saves up to 40 percent on maintenance.

Several commercial banks and development finance institutions in Uganda now offer preferential interest rates two to three percent lower than standard construction loans, for projects that meet eco-friendly material benchmarks. For a Shs5b project, that difference saves more than Shs100m in interest over a typical loan term. That is real money returned to the developer’s bottom line.

Latifah Nakasi’s lone goal was enough to secure Kawempe Muslim a 1-0 win and eliminate her former employers Uganda Martyrs High School (UMHS) Lubaga from the Fufa Women Cup at the Round of 16 stage last Saturday.

The match was played in front of sizeable crowd that braved the hot afternoon weather. But despite being one between two eternal rivals and one of only two Women Cup matches on the day, the present eyeballs did not make a viable case for those advocating for women’s games in the league to be moved back to the afternoon.

Morning matches are a clear distraction to the growth of women’s football but the afternoon is also packed with competitive options that even women’s football fans won’t overlook. That Saturday had the men’s Uganda Cup final lined up at the same time at Fufa Technical Centre, Njeru.

The U-17 women’s national team Teen Cranes was also battling Kenya away in Nairobi for a place in the World Cup while some could have been readying themselves to watch the Uefa Champions League final between Arsenal and PSG.

However, crowds are the least of Kawempe’s worries now. They just want to win their first ever Fufa Women Cup and are thankful to have competitive games that will usher them into preparations for the Caf Women’s Champions League later in the year.

“We want to win the trophy but we are not telling the girls that it is a do or die affair,” coach Ayub Khalifah, who led Kawempe to a sixth Finance Trust Bank Fufa Women Super League (FTBFWSL) title early last month, said.

“It was pleasing to see how they managed the game because we want them to remain competitive as we put plans together to prepare for the Champions League.”

For UMHS coach Edward Ssozi, an early end to a season of inconsistencies gives them “time to reflect and prepare better for next season.”

Kawempe, UMHS, and six others were just joining the Cup competition after earning a bye in the Round of 32.

Amus defence

Kawempe set up a quarterfinal clash, expected to be played this weekend, with second tier (FWEL) side Wakiso Hill who made home advantage at Maya Ground in Wakiso count as they beat FWSL runners up She Corporate 4-3 on penalties after a 2-2 draw in regular time on Sunday.

Still within Kawempe on Sunday, Cup holders Amus College came twice from behind to draw 2-2 with home and FWEL side URA before eliminating them 4-1 on penalties.

Amus will still return to Kampala to play She Maroons in the quarters at Luzira Prisons. Maroons beat 2019 Cup winners Makerere University 2-1 with first half goals from Kauthara Naluyima and Lillian Mutuuzo.

Meanwhile, Kampala Queens (KQ) also beat FWEL (Elite) side She Kasese 4-1 at MTN Omondi Stadium, Lugogo on Sunday.

Shamusa Najjuma bagged a brace while Joanita Ainembabazi and Zaitun Namaganda scored one apiece. Nahiya Kizza scored for the visitors.

KQ will now face St. Noa Girls in a repeat of one of last year’s quarter finals. St. Noa beat Kawempe-based Kampala Regional League side Dream Girls 4-0 with a brace from Patricia Nayiga and goals from Mary Ayugi and Lillian Nabukeera.

After beating Western Regional League side Sheema Girls 3-1 away from home, Lady Doves will host 2018 Cup winners Uganda Christian University (UCU) Lady Cardinals in the quarters. UCU also beat fellow second tier side Bul 3-1.

Unlike in the previous rounds where matches went directly to shootouts after teams were tied in regulation time, the quarterfinals will still be one-legged affairs but will have extra time before penalties in case of ties.

The suspension of fishing activities at major landing sites in Mayuge District has pushed hundreds of families deeper into poverty, with education officials warning of a worsening school dropout crisis, child labour and rising teenage pregnancies linked to collapsing household incomes.

In 2017, President Museveni directed the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) to deploy on Uganda’s major lakes to curb illegal fishing practices and protect rapidly declining fish stocks. Former chairperson of the Association of Fishers and Lake Users of Uganda (AFALU) eastern region, Mr Phillimon Kudera, defended the continued enforcement operations, saying they remain necessary to restore fish breeding grounds and eliminate destructive fishing methods that once threatened the survival of the fishing industry.

‘Despite the poverty and hardships many fishing communities are currently facing, the operation is still necessary to protect fish stocks and secure the future of the fishing sector,’ he said.

However, the crackdown has also disrupted livelihoods for thousands of households that rely on fishing and related activities at landing sites along Lake Victoria. Many parents can no longer afford school fees, scholastic materials, or basic needs, forcing children out of classrooms and into survival work.

Local leaders and education authorities say the crisis has triggered a worrying trend, with children abandoning school for fishing-related labour, petty trading in items such as bananas and snacks, sand mining, and farming activities, while others, particularly girls, are falling into early motherhood.

Families losing livelihoods

Bwondha Women League leader Amina Namigambo said the suspension of silverfish (mukene) trade has devastated household incomes.

‘We used to earn a living from selling silverfish, but now we can no longer afford school fees or even basic needs for our children,’ she said.

Ms Namigambo warned that girls who drop out of school are increasingly vulnerable to exploitation and early pregnancies.

‘Some have been impregnated because they are no longer in school. Men lure them with chapati and later defile them,’ she said. She added that the economic pressure has also increased domestic violence in households.

‘Domestic violence is very rampant because of poverty. If you ask your husband to look for money for school fees, he insults you,’ she added.

Fishing restrictions blamed for poverty

The LC1 chairperson of Bwondha A, Mr Twaha Kalulu, said many fishermen are struggling after government operations against illegal fishing cut off their main source of income. He admitted that destructive fishing practices had previously worsened fish stocks, including use of poison and paraffin.

‘Some people used to engage in illegal fishing because they thought it would make them rich quickly. Some fishermen used poison and paraffin, which depleted fish stocks and pushed many families deeper into poverty,’ he said.

Mr Kalulu added that after Nile perch and tilapia declined, communities turned to silverfish fishing using illegal nets and ‘hurry-up’ methods, which were later banned.

‘The suspension of fishing activities has created widespread poverty, and many parents can no longer afford to take their children to school. Cases of teenage pregnancy have also become common in the area, with some girls becoming child mothers as early as 12 years old,’ he said.

Education system under strain

Mr Hawali Isabirye, the Uganda Taxi Operators and Drivers Association (UTODA) chairperson in Bwondha Town Council, said the area has only one government primary school. This serves six parishes and Jagusi Island, leading to severe congestion. As a contribution, Mr Isabirye said transport operators provide free boat transport for pupils.

However, he said the situation is unsustainable due to congestion and limited learning space. For instance, some classes accommodating up to 300 pupils.

Ms Juliet Kyebogola, the senior Community Development Officer of Bwondha Town Council, said unemployment caused by the fishing suspension has exposed deep education gaps.

She said Bwondha has no government secondary school, forcing learners from six parishes to walk up to three hours to attend classes. The nearest secondary school is about 16 kilometres away, a distance many parents cannot afford due to financial hardships worsened by the suspension of fishing activities.

‘The highest level many children attain here is primary education. Parents no longer have money to take their children to expensive private secondary schools, nor can they afford transport to government secondary schools outside the area. Therefore, many children end up dropping out,’ she said.

Ms Kyebogola added that although enrolment stands at about 2,000 pupils, nearly 90 percent fail to transition to secondary school. She called on the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) to intervene and ensure equitable access to affordable education services.

Declining performance

Mr John Muyinda, the headteacher of Bwondha Primary School, said the school has an enrolment of about 2,050 pupils and continues to face severe congestion. He said absenteeism is high, with between 300 and 400 pupils missing school daily due to engagement in informal work.

Moreover, some classes, especially Primary Four and Primary Five, have up to 380 pupils, making teaching extremely difficult. Currently, the teacher-to-learner ratio stands at about 1:90, far above acceptable standards, with 20 teachers instead of the required 25.

Mr Muyinda added that infrastructure is overstretched, with pupils in Primary One sitting on the floor due to lack of desks.

‘At one point, out of about 2,000 pupils, only 60 contributed food for school feeding. Most children come without anything to eat,’ he said.

Mr Muyinda said this has affected performance, with last year’s Primary Leaving Examination results showing only three first grades out of 240 candidates. ‘The rest were in second and third divisions or failed,’ he said. He warned that without a secondary school nearby, many pupils drop out after Primary Seven.

‘The nearest secondary school is far and expensive. Many children stop after P7 or join fishing and boda boda work,’ he said.

District alarm over dropout rates

Ms Allen Jalia Nabirye, the Mayuge District Education Officer (DEO), said the suspension of fishing activities has worsened school dropout, child labour and teenage pregnancies in landing site communities.

She said education access remains severely constrained, with about seven sub-counties lacking secondary schools and many primary schools overcrowded.

‘In some schools, one classroom has up to 300 learners, making teaching and learning very difficult even for experienced teachers. In some cases, desks are removed to create more space for learners,’ she said.

Ms Nabirye revealed that the transition rate from primary to secondary level stands at only 22 percent in the entire district.

‘This low transition rate is largely due to distance, poverty, and the lack of nearby government secondary schools,’ she explained. She added that child labour is widespread, with children engaged in drying and cleaning silverfish, farming, sand mining, and plantation work, particularly in sugarcane fields.

‘Some children are involved in drying silverfish, cleaning fish, digging in gardens, and sand mining. Others are taken to plantations or rice fields to work,’ she said.

Ms Nabirye noted that many children drop out due to hunger and financial constraints.

‘When we talk to learners, they tell us that at school, there is no food, but when they go for sand mining or other work, they earn money, sometimes Shs1,000 or even Shs3,000 per day,’ she said.

She added that hunger in schools is a major driver of absenteeism, with many children attending classes without food after only taking supper the previous night.

‘This leads to children abandoning school because they are hungry, yet at work they can earn something to survive,’ she said. She further linked the crisis to teenage pregnancies. ‘Because of poverty and time spent out of school, we are seeing increased cases of teenage pregnancy and early motherhood,’ she said.

Equal Opportunities Commission intervention

Speaking at a sensitisation meeting at Bwonda Landing Site, EOC spokesperson Yusuf Muziransa said research by the commission showed that education remains poorly prioritised in fishing communities due to poverty, long distances to schools and negative perceptions about its value.

‘Many parents in fishing communities believe education is not beneficial because some people study and still fail to get jobs,’ he said.

Mr Muziransa said the commission had deployed a team to investigate rising school dropouts, teenage pregnancies and early motherhood in Bwondha Town Council, noting that many affected girls never return to school after becoming pregnant.

Mr Muziransa further noted that the area has only one health centre serving several islands, with limited staff and resources, including a single midwife.

He said the commission would compile its findings into a report for relevant ministries and stakeholders, warning that teenage pregnancies and early motherhood could worsen if urgent intervention is not made.

CHILD LABOUR

At Bwondha Trading Centre in Bwonda Town Council, a 15-year-old was found among adult workers loading fish onto trucks instead of attending school. Barefoot and visibly exhausted, the teenager said he earns between Shs15,000 and Shs20,000 a day. He hands it to his mother to support his siblings in a struggling household where his father is unemployed and battling alcohol addiction. While he desires to study, he says family survival is important. Therefore, he continually struggles while loading heavy baskets of fish onto trucks.

He is among dozens of school-going children now engaged in child labour at landing sites, including fish loading and vending bananas and snacks, as education increasingly competes with survival needs.

An 86-year-old widow has regained access to her late husband’s land after nearly two decades of exclusion by some of her own children, following intervention by the Office of the President.

Tears flowed as Cornelia Nalwada returned to her family home in Buwamba Village, Njeru Municipality, on Wednesday, ending a 19-year ordeal that had left her isolated from the estate she helped build with her late husband.

For years, Nalwada said she was prevented from using the land, denied contact with some family members and subjected to humiliation following her husband’s death.

“This son of mine is the third-born among the nine children I had with their late father. I loved him dearly and trusted him. After their father died, we worked together and shared responsibilities, but he suddenly changed and stopped me from carrying out any activities on the land,” she said.

The widow said the dispute left her dependent on neighbours and well-wishers as she struggled to survive away from her home.

“We could spend years without greeting one another. They treated me like a stranger and used all sorts of words to portray me as a bad person in the village,” she said.

At the centre of the conflict was her third-born son, Andrew Sserubiri, who allegedly accused his mother of causing misfortunes within the family, including failed marriages and other personal setbacks.

Nalwada maintained that she never sought to sell any part of the estate and only wanted peace within the family.

“What I need most is care and affection from my children. I have never wanted to sell my husband’s property. I only want us to live together peacefully as one family,” she said.

The breakthrough came after the widow reported the matter to the Office of the President in Njeru Municipality.

Assistant Resident District Commissioner Chris Richard Kakwezi launched investigations, which found that Sserubiri had allegedly taken control of the estate without obtaining Letters of Administration, a legal requirement for managing the property of a deceased person.

Kakwezi also criticised local leaders for failing to address the widow’s complaints despite years of reported grievances.

“It was negligence for local leaders to watch an elderly widow suffer for years without intervening or referring the matter to higher authorities,” he said.

Investigations further revealed that portions of the disputed land had allegedly been sold without proper documentation or records at the village level.

The findings prompted a reconciliation meeting attended by clan leaders, relatives, residents and members of the deceased’s family.

During the meeting, clan head John Wagonda Muguli said some family members believed Nalwada had forfeited her rights after leaving her marital home for several years before returning following her husband’s death.

“In our culture, when a woman leaves her marriage for many years without formally communicating, some people interpret it as divorce,” Muguli said.

Government officials, however, maintained that cultural beliefs could not override a widow’s legal rights.

Sserubiri defended his actions by claiming that his father had verbally entrusted him with responsibility over the property before his death. He acknowledged, however, that there was no written will or supporting documentation.

The meeting reached an emotional climax when Nalwada demanded a public apology from her son.

In front of relatives and community members, Sserubiri knelt before his mother and asked for forgiveness, admitting the pain he had caused.

Witnesses said many attendees were moved to tears as the pair embraced for the first time in nearly two decades. Grandchildren later gathered around the elderly woman, symbolising what residents described as a long-awaited reconciliation.

Kakwezi ruled that Nalwada remains the rightful caretaker of the estate until administrators are formally appointed in accordance with Uganda’s succession laws.

“The widow has every right to occupy and utilise her late husband’s property. Until proper legal procedures are followed, she remains the legitimate caretaker of the estate,” he said.

For Nalwada, the ruling marked more than the resolution of a land dispute.

After 19 years of estrangement, she has regained not only her home but also her place within the family she feared she had lost forever.

Residents of Buggu Village in Wakiso District accused Uganda’s environmental regulator on Tuesday of carrying out a surprise eviction during an ongoing wetland restoration campaign, saying authorities reneged on an earlier agreement to first demarcate affected areas before enforcement.

The operation, conducted by the National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) with support from police and the military, targeted structures in Buggu Village, Busabala Parish, triggering scenes of panic as residents rushed to salvage household property, livestock and construction materials.

Residents said they had attended a meeting on May 29 at Busabala Playground with officials from NEMA, the National Water and Sewerage Corporation, the Makindye-Ssabagabo Resident District Commissioner’s office and local leaders, where they were informed that NEMA would return on June 19 to demarcate affected areas before any eviction.

Instead, enforcement teams arrived on June 2 with excavators, they said.

“We feel betrayed,” said Busabala Muslim Imam Muhamood Ssebagala.

“NEMA had agreed to return on June 19 for demarcations, but to our surprise they came with excavators on June 2. Many people were not prepared and have suffered huge losses.”

Ssebagala said some affected families had lived in the area for more than two decades and now faced uncertainty over where to relocate.

The operation left some residents scrambling to remove mattresses, furniture, roofing sheets and other belongings from structures marked for demolition.

“We are going to sleep outside,” said Ivan Ssentongo, one of the affected residents.

“I have spent more than seven years here. We were expecting demarcations first, not demolitions.”

The dispute has drawn political attention, with Makindye-Ssabagabo Member of Parliament David Sserukenya calling on NEMA to suspend the exercise and honour commitments made during the May 29 meeting.

Sserukenya argued that authorities should focus on preventing illegal developments in wetlands before construction begins rather than demolishing homes after residents have invested heavily in them.

“They told people they would return on June 19 for demarcation, but they came back on June 2 for demolition,” he said.

“People had gone to work and returned to find their property destroyed.”

The legislator also called for investigations into allegations that some developers had reclaimed parts of Lake Victoria by dumping soil into the water body, contributing to flooding in nearby communities.

He further criticised aspects of the Entebbe Expressway drainage system, saying inadequate culverts had worsened flooding in some residential areas.

NEMA rejected accusations that it had violated any agreement.

William Lubulwa, the agency’s public relations officer, said he was unaware of the May 29 meeting cited by residents and maintained that occupants of the affected wetlands had been repeatedly warned to leave.

“People in these wetlands have been notified since 2023,” Lubulwa said.

“I don’t want to speak on behalf of the locals. If NEMA was part of that meeting, then this must have been the agreed action.”

Lubulwa said the wetland restoration campaign would continue in other parts of the country, including Wakiso District, Mbale City and areas along River Rwizi in Mbarara City.

He urged the public to avoid settling or constructing structures in protected wetlands, warning that such activities undermine fragile ecosystems and contribute to environmental degradation.

The latest operation forms part of a broader government campaign to restore degraded wetlands and reduce flooding in urban and peri-urban areas.

Last week, NEMA resumed enforcement activities in Lubigi Wetland, leaving hundreds homeless as authorities demolished structures deemed illegal.

On Monday, the agency also halted construction activities in Lumpewo Wetland in Ndejje, Makindye-Ssabagabo Municipality, issuing a 21-day ultimatum for illegal structures to be removed.