Category: Daily Monitor

On October 11, Stamford Bridge hosted what should have been a celebration of nostalgia and charity: the Chelsea versus Liverpool legends match, organised to raise funds for the Chelsea Foundation’s community work.

The crowd came for the familiar faces: John Terry, Claude Makélélé, John Obi Mikel, and even Diego Costa’s trademark mischief. But the quiet story of that evening belonged to two players who, for many, symbolised more than the sport itself: Chelsea Women’s legends Gemma Davison and Katie Chapman.

When the pair came off the bench to join their male counterparts, the moment was small but significant: a gesture of inclusivity in a game long defined by its gendered walls. Yet, just two days later, that gesture was met with derision in Chelsea FC’s Facebook comments. Among the hundreds of supportive replies were two that cut deep: ‘Who left the kitchen door open?

Did these ladies play? And if yes, why?’ On the surface, it might seem trivial. The kind of online trolling that thrives in football comment sections. But dismissing such remarks as ‘banter’ is precisely how everyday sexism survives. These words echo a much older script: that a woman’s rightful space is domestic, not athletic; that the kitchen, not the pitch, defines her domain.

It is the same patriarchal logic that has long policed who gets to play, coach, or lead in sport. Chelsea’s decision to include Davison and Chapman was, undeniably, symbolic, but symbols matter. They communicate possibility. Yet symbolism without structure risks slipping into tokenism: gestures that project progress while the real architecture of inequality remains untouched.

Football institutions, like many workplaces, often rely on such performative inclusion; photo opportunities that check the ‘diversity’ box without redistributing real power. If the sport were genuinely egalitarian, women would not have to ‘break barriers’ to appear on the same turf as men. They would be there because merit, not gender, was the measure. The irony is that women’s English football has never lacked talent.

Names like Sam Kerr, Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw, Alessia Russo, Mary Earps, and Guro Reiten, among others, have proven that excellence knows no gender. What persists instead is structural exclusion, where leagues, sponsorship deals, and broadcasting hierarchies still privilege men.

The ‘kitchen door’ remark is not simply misogyny in isolation. It is a symptom of masculine fragility. Critical gender scholars call it the defence of hegemonic masculinity; the idea that manhood is tied to dominance, control, and the exclusion of women from spaces of prestige. Men who mock inclusivity in football often imagine they are defending tradition. In truth, they are defending anxiety: a fear that sharing space will somehow diminish them. Patriarchy sells men a dangerous myth that equality is emasculation, that power must be hoarded, not shared.

Yet, as critical masculinities research shows, this ‘power’ is a burden too. It traps men in roles of providers, performers, and protectors, cutting them off from empathy and shared humanity. If football is ever to reflect real equality, men must see inclusion not as a threat but as liberation from rigid roles and zero-sum thinking.

A level playing field benefits everyone. To be fair, Chelsea’s gesture, however small, deserves recognition. Progress is never linear; it comes in steps, not leaps. But football must go beyond gestures. Equality cannot be reduced to cameo appearances or photo ops. It must be embedded in budgets, leadership structures, and fan culture. That means ensuring equal pay in professional leagues, increasing visibility in media coverage, and promoting educational programs that dismantle sexist fan attitudes.

When someone asks, ‘Who left the kitchen door open?’ the better question is: Why was it ever closed? Women have always belonged on the pitch: not as guests, not as exceptions, but as equals. The sooner we stop framing inclusion as intrusion, the sooner football will start resembling the humanity it claims to inspire.

A section of the legal fraternity has critcised President Museveni for questioning the Judiciary following the acquittal of a suspect accused of threatening to kill a gold investor, Mr Carlos Cohen.

In his letter dated October 3, the President wrote to Chief Justice Alfonse Owiny-Dollo, requesting a review of the case of Joram Itungo, formerly a State House staff.

‘By copy of this letter, I request the Chief Justice to review the case of Joram Itungo. How did he get bail and acquitted in such a serious accusation notwithstanding?’ the President wrote.

The President’s letter has since kicked up a storm in the legal circles, with lawyers describing it as interference with the independence of the Judiciary that is granted by the Constitution.

Article 128 of the 1995 Uganda Constitution states that the Judiciary is independent and cannot be controlled by any person or authority.

‘It really shows how there is no separation of powers. It’s now exceedingly common for the President to direct judges on what to do. You remember the time when he directed them not to grant bail, and the letters regarding the Muslim property wrangles, that is wrong,’ Mr Anthony Asimwe, the vice president of the Uganda Law Society, said yesterday.

Mr Asiimwe warned that such unconstitutional directives have a high chance of eroding the public confidence in the institution of the Judiciary and could make them start looking for justice elsewhere.

Similarly, Senior Constitutional Lawyer, Mr Peter Walubiri said the President used the wrong channels in addressing his grievance.

‘He simply had to appeal to the High Court; that is the normal way of doing things. Also, he should have gone through the DPP to see that an appeal was lodged. But if the President suspected some kind of indiscipline, then he should have filed a complaint with the Judicial Service Commission. That is not the work of the CJ. Why doesn’t he take an interest in people’s trials that haven’t taken place for decades, which is clearly overbearing on the Chief Justice,’ Mr Walubiri said. Another lawyer, Mr Eron Kiiza, also did not have kind words for the President.

‘This doesn’t look good with the Judiciary. But Museveni has the machinery to investigate if there was corruption involved; he needed to file a complaint to the JSC and not to the Chief Justice. He should be open-minded if he wants justice.’

According to court documents, the prosecution alleged that Mr Itungo conspired with a security guard, Abraham Eramu, to murder the investor in exchange for a Shs36m reward. Court documents further showed that on August 5, 2023, the investor, Mr Cohen, a Portuguese national, reported for his usual work chores at his Ntinda-based gold refinery known as Feldstein Trading refinery.

As he was going about with his work, unknown people from security agencies and the Financial Intelligence Authority (FIA) stormed his office. They began to search his office and allegedly went away with $52,000 that he had kept in his safe deposit box.

Following the alleged harassment, Mr Cohen wrote to the then Inspector General of Police, Mr Martins Okoth Ochola, and also copied in President Museveni, who regretted the incident but promised to take stern action.

Mr Itungo was arrested on allegations that he conspired with security personnel to kill the investor. But in his judgment, Buganda Road Court Chief Magistrate Ronald Kayizzi, acquitted him because there was no evidence of a meeting of minds between Mr Itungo and the security guard, Mr Eramu.

‘The essence of criminal conspiracy is proof of agreement. For the court to rule that there was an agreement in cases of conspiracy, the conspirators must have agreed to carry out an illegal act. The minds of the conspirators must have met,’ Magistrate Kayizzi held.

The magistrate stressed that under Ugandan law, conspiracy requires an actual agreement between two or more people to commit an unlawful act. ‘In this case, Eramu himself rejected the alleged assignment. There was no agreement,’ he explained. He added that there was no independent evidence corroborating the alleged plan.

As Kalangala District gears up for the 2026 parliamentary elections, voters are bracing for a familiar showdown. Most of the politicians who battled in the 2021 polls are returning, eager to reclaim or retain their seats in what is shaping up to be a rematch across the islands.

In Kyamuswa County, incumbent Moses Kabuusu of the People’s Front for Freedom (PFF) seeks re-election. His main challenger is once again Ms Carolyn Nanyondo Birungi of the NRM, who narrowly lost in 2021 when Mr Kabuusu polled 3,863 votes against her 3,471.

Two former contenders – Dr Cyrus Kambugu (NUP), who garnered 1,099 votes, and Mr John Mwesigwa (Independent) with 549 – have not declared interest this time. Instead, the National Unity Platform (NUP) has fronted a new flagbearer, Daudi Nkambo Ssenungi, to take on the old rivals.

The Kalangala Woman MP race also features familiar opponents. Ms Hellen Nakimuli (NUP) will again face Ms Aidah Nabayiga (NRM), whom she defeated in 2021 with 9,791 votes to 8,519. Ms Lydia Nakimera, who came third with 932 votes, has not announced a fresh bid. Notably, all four main contenders – Mr Kabuusu, Ms Nanyondo, Ms Nakimuli, and Ms Nabayiga – went through their party primaries unopposed, underscoring their dominance within respective political camps.

Speaking to Monitor, Mr Kabuusu said he still has the energy and vision to address Kyamuswa’s pressing challenges, particularly in infrastructure.

‘When I constructed the wooden cargo boat MV Seddume to transport vehicles to Kyamuswa, it proved my commitment to improving water transport. We need vehicles on the islands, yet before 2021, there was no reliable way to bring them,’ he said.

He cited his lobbying for improved road networks and modern water transport, which has led to more vehicles and boda bodas now operating on the islands. He acknowledged government efforts but said the district still faced serious sanitation and healthcare challenges.

‘Most of our diseases come from drinking dirty water; that’s why I’ve been extending clean water and toilets to villages and landing sites,’ he said. Mr Kabuusu also urged fishermen to diversify their livelihoods.

‘If fishermen abandon illegal gear and embrace agriculture, pressure on the lake will ease. My goal is for residents to own land, grow oil palm and food crops, access clean water, and enjoy better health,’ he said.

However, NRM’s Nanyondo argueD that Kyamuswa has lagged behind due to lack of representation within the ruling party. ‘The NRM is in power, but we have no MP from here.

We must rely on MPs from other districts to reach government. Why go through Kyotera or Lwengo when we can have our own?’ she asked.

She said the depletion of Lake Victoria’s fish stocks has crippled the local economy.

‘Those who once sold tonnes of fish now manage barely 100 kilogrammes. Some have parked their boats. Kyamuswa lives on fishing – and only the NRM government can fix this,’ she said. Ms Nanyondo further called for renewed focus on transport and healthcare. Former Woman MP Aidah Nabayiga said Kalangala lost its lobbying power after she left Parliament.

‘Kalangala has benefited from the oil palm project, which has improved livelihoods – parents can now pay school fees. But when I was in Parliament, I constantly lobbied for Kalangala. That isn’t happening now,’ she said.

She cited borehole projects she initiated and urged revival of key infrastructure such as the Bugoma-Mulabana road and a public transport vessel for Kyamuswa. But incumbent Hellen Nakimuli insisted that Kalangala’s voice is now stronger in Parliament. ‘We used to think we didn’t have MPs – no Kalangala issue was ever raised on the floor. Now, fisheries and health matters are discussed. Kalangala has a voice the government listens to,’ she said.

Ms Nakimuli said her focus remains on empowering women and youth through skills training. ‘We have young mothers and women making brooms from oil palm trees. They need better skills and markets. The men too must learn new trades and stop seeing the lake as the only solution,’ she said.

According to Mr Bambalazaabwe Semakula, a Kalangala political analyst, the return of the same contenders reflects not just popularity but also the logistical hardships of campaigning across the islands.

‘Kalangala isn’t like other places. A politician might walk more than 10 kilometres before meeting voters and must spend heavily on fuel to reach even a handful of people,’ he said, noting that such conditions deter new entrants. Mr David Zanic Javiira, a voter in Bujjumba Constituency, agreed that incumbents enjoy an advantage.

‘They attend local meetings, contribute to community events, even buy alcohol at gatherings, that keeps them popular,’ he said. He added that parties also prefer tried-and-tested politicians.

As National Resistance Movement (NRM) presidential candidate Yoweri Museveni concludes his campaign trail in West Nile today, residents and leaders of Adjumani District have tabled their key demands, ranging from economic empowerment to resolution to end the longstanding Apaa land conflict.

The conflict which has raged on for nearly two decades with seemingly minimal interventions to contain it, has resulted in significant violence, displacement, and loss of lives, affecting over 30,000 rural dwellers.

The Apaa land dispute revolves around a 1,000 km² fertile land area east of the Albert Nile, with 831 km² claimed by the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA).

For years, the Adjumani-Amuru boundary (Apaa) dispute has fueled tensions between the two communities (Acholi and Madi), occasionally flaring into violence, displacements and bloodshed.

Mr Dulu Lillian, a resident of milia and a farmer expects President Museveni Museveni who is seeking re-election after 40 years in power, to address the boundary issue between Adjumani and Amuru.

‘For me as a farmer, all I need is the president to pronounce himself on the issues of the border between Amuru and Adjumani because the conflict has caused the death of so many people from both Acholi and Madi. Otherwise, without finishing the Apaa conflict we are worried of even giving him votes’ she said.

Mr Ambayo Godfrey Newton, an Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) member said they expect the president to talk about reviving cooperatives and promoting cash crops that can bring income to the people of Madi Sub-region.

‘What I expect as the president visits Adjumani is that in order to eradicate poverty, we need the president to promote the growing of cash crops that can earn money for the people of Madi. We used to have cooperatives but these cooperatives are no more. Government tried the Parish Development model, but the PDM is like giving a fish to someone, instead of the fishing net. We need initiatives that are sustainable,’ he said.

According to Mr Sile Swaib, Vice Chairperson Boda Boda Association, corruption has frustrated service delivery and until it is addressed, all government development efforts are in futility.

‘We are happy about the visit of the president, we are also aware his government initiated youth loans programme but it was mismanaged due to corruption. Some of us are university graduates yet the only option we have is riding boda boda for a living. We have the PDM which has good intentions but unfortunately some of us have not benefitted. We are being sidelined from benefiting,’ he said.

Mr Ben Anyama, the Adjumani District chairperson hopes that the President will address the issue of war claims and compensation for properties lost during the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) insurgency.

‘The issue that I want the president to address is the issue of the compensation of war claims. Many people in Adjumani lost their properties during the war. The president started by compensating Lango,Acholi but for us there is nothing that has been done. This is betrayal. We also need his clear position on the issues of Apaa land,’ he said.

The President’s visit comes at a time when Adjumani leaders are pushing for increased government attention to post-conflict recovery, infrastructure development and livelihood programmes.

The residents of Adjumani hope that Mr Museveni’s visit will draw attention to their plight and lead to a lasting solution to the Apaa land conflict.

Every October, the world turns pink to raise awareness about breast cancer, the most common cancer among women globally and one of the leading cancers in Uganda.

Below are some of the most frequently asked questions about breast cancer, with expert answers from UCI.

What is breast cancer and what causes it?

Breast cancer is a disease where cells in the breast grow abnormally and form a lump or mass. If not detected early, these cells can spread to other parts of the body. It can occur in both women and men, though it is much more common in women. The exact cause is not known, but several factors can increase a person’s risk. These include age, as the risk increases with advancing years; a family history of breast cancer, especially among close relatives such as a mother, sister, or daughter; and genetic mutations such as BRCA1 and BRCA2. Lifestyle factors such as alcohol use, obesity, physical inactivity, and unhealthy diets also raise the risk. Hormonal factors, including early menstruation, late menopause, or use of hormone replacement therapy, may further contribute.

What are the warning signs of breast cancer?

Common signs and symptoms include a lump or thickening in the breast or underarm area; changes in the size, shape, or appearance of the breast; dimpling or puckering of the skin; nipple discharge, especially if it is bloody or unusual; nipple pain or inversion; and redness, scaling, or swelling of the breast skin or nipple. Anyone who notices these changes should see a health professional immediately.

Can it be prevented?

While not all breast cancers can be prevented, it is possible to reduce risk. Maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly, limiting alcohol intake, and breastfeeding, which has protective benefits, can help. It is also advisable to avoid unnecessary use of hormones and undergo regular screening to detect cancer early.

Breast self-examination is a simple technique where women regularly check their own breasts to detect any changes early. To perform a BSE, stand in front of a mirror with your arms raised and look for any visible changes. Then, feel each breast in circular motions using your fingers, including the armpit area. This should be done monthly, preferably a few days after your period ends. All women aged 20 and above are encouraged to perform breast self-examinations every month.

When should I start screening?

Women aged 20 to 39 years should perform monthly self-examinations and have a clinical breast examination every three years. Women aged 40 and above should have annual mammograms and clinical breast examinations. Those with a strong family history or genetic predisposition are advised to start screening earlier, as recommended by their doctor.

Is breast cancer curable?

Yes. When detected early, breast cancer can be successfully treated. Treatment options include surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, hormonal therapy, and targeted therapy. Many women treated at UCI go on to live long, healthy lives.

Where can I get screened or treated?

Screening and treatment services are available at the Uganda Cancer Institute which serves as the national referral and regional centre of excellence for cancer care. Services are also provided at regional cancer centres in Mbarara and Gulu, as well as partner hospitals and health facilities.

What should I do if I am diagnosed with breast cancer?

Do not panic. Breast cancer is treatable, especially when detected early. Visit the Uganda Cancer Institute or the nearest regional cancer centre for evaluation and management. The UCI provides counselling, diagnosis, treatment, and psychosocial support to help patients through their journey.

Do men get breast cancer?

Yes. Although it is rare, men can also develop breast cancer. The warning signs are similar to those in women, including lumps, nipple discharge, and changes in breast appearance. Men with a family history of breast cancer should also seek regular check-ups.

What is UCI doing to fight breast cancer in Uganda?

UCI leads the national response through early detection and screening programmes across the country, public education campaigns, and community outreaches. The Institute also provides advanced diagnosis and treatment services, trains health workers in oncology, and conducts research and innovation to improve outcomes. In addition, UCI partners with local and international organisations to expand access to cancer care.

How can I support awareness?

You can wear pink during October to show solidarity, share information, and encourage women to get screened. Supporting patients and survivors emotionally and socially, participating in community events organised by UCI and its partners, and contributing to cancer screening and patient care programmes are all valuable ways to help.

Two-time champions Ssingo have booked their place in the 2025 Masaza Cup final, where they will face Buweekula on November 1 at Hamz Stadium, Nakivubo.

Ssingo sealed their qualification with a 2-1 aggregate victory over Bugerere after a goalless draw at Ssaza Grounds in Mityana. Their 2-1 win in the first leg proved decisive in a contest that saw both sides finish with 10 men.

Buweekula, meanwhile, overcame Kyaggwe 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 aggregate draw to return to the final for the first time since 2012. The dramatic semifinal second leg at Bishop’s SS Mukono was played under heavy rain on a waterlogged pitch, but it drew a capacity crowd that witnessed one of the most intense matches of the season.

Collins Ssemmanda gave Buweekula hope with the only goal of the day, levelling the tie 1-1 on aggregate, but the shoot-out brought heartbreak for the home side. Calvin Peter Emayu fired his penalty over the bar, and captain Julius Kalule Kato’s effort was parried away by Buweekula’s goalkeeper to end Kyaggwe’s dream of reaching a second consecutive final.

It was sweet revenge for Buweekula, who had been eliminated by Kyaggwe at the same stage last season.

Buweekula head coach Felix Ssekabuuza could not hide his delight after the victory.

‘This win means everything to us. We have worked hard all season, and beating Kyaggwe – a team that stopped us last year – makes it even more special. Now we shift focus to the final. We respect Ssingo, but we are coming for the trophy,’ Ssekabuuza said.

This will be Ssingo’s sixth appearance in the Masaza Cup final. They have won the Buganda Kingdom tournament twice, while Buweekula – who have lost two previous finals – are still chasing their maiden crown.

The tournament is sponsored by Airtel Uganda, Pilsener King, Centenary Bank, among others.

Airtel Masaza Cup

Semifinals (2nd leg) results

Kyaggwe 0-1 Buweekula (Agg: 1-1, Pens: 3-4)

Ssingo 0-0 Bugerere (Agg: 2-1)

Finals

Ssingo vs Buweekula

November 1, 2025 – Hamz Stadium, Nakivubo

Nowadays, strokes can happen at any age, even among young adults. According to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), stroke prevalence has increased for young adults (18 to 44) and middle-aged adults (45 to 64) by up to 15.7 percent. While the causes are known, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, and a sedentary lifestyle, for some people, such as Josephine Nakanwagi, deep emotional stress and heartbreak can be a risk factor, as Gillian Nantume writes.

Today’s society expects a 30-year-old woman to be settled in her job, probably with a husband and children. But the expectations sometimes do not meet the reality. Instead of sitting in an office somewhere, Josephine Nakanwagi sits on the verandah of her parents’ home in Namukozi Village, Mityana Town Council, Mityana District.

Her eyes are on a small stall near the dusty road, where she has placed Irish potatoes in small baskets, onions, and tomatoes, hoping that villagers will stop by to purchase them.

Although her speech is a bit slow, she is coherent. She takes tentative steps in the black high stilettos that were once her pride, bought for Christmas Day in 2023. She can only walk so far. However, she is comfortable in flat shoes.

Nakanwagi suffered a stroke on March 16, 2024, three months after she had given birth to a baby boy. Before her maternity leave, she had been working as a procurement officer for Sipro Educational Services Limited.

‘There was no sign that showed that I was heading towards a stroke. I was not stressed. However, two weeks before, I had experienced shortness of breath to the extent that I would step out of the house at night to try and get enough oxygen,’ she narrates.

When she visited a hospital, after carrying out some tests, the health workers informed her that her pulse rate was very high. Her blood pressure was also high. They gave her an appointment to see a specialist on Saturday, March 16, at 3pm. Unfortunately, she had a stroke at noon, three hours before her appointment.

‘I decided to wash my clothes before going to the hospital. Before I hung them, I went to check on my baby, who was sleeping. As I lifted him, I felt something hit me hard on the forehead. I put the baby down and walked to the bedroom. That thing hit me again on the forehead,’ she says.

Extremely dizzy, Nakanwagi went outside the house and called to her neighbours. As they came towards her, she fell forward into their arms. She was still conscious and told them to take her to a nearby clinic.

‘I was put on a drip. The nurse called my sister, but by the time she arrived, my tongue was becoming heavy. I was losing the ability to speak. At 6pm, I was driven to Mengo Hospital in Kampala. My sister had come with the baby and asked me to breastfeed him. I put him on the breast and then, I blacked out,’ she says.

Nakanwagi regained consciousness as she was being wheeled into the ward. She was placed on several drips, and a catheter was inserted into her after she failed to urinate.

‘I was admitted for three days, but there was no change in my situation. I could not lift my arms. My mouth was tightly shut. I could see and know the people who visited me, but I could not talk. I was given medication that dried up the milk in my breasts,’ she adds.

An MRI scan showed that Nakanwagi had a tear in one of the nerves in her brain. She was referred to Mulago National Referral Hospital.

‘Every time the ambulance hit a pothole, my teeth would bite my tongue. It was painful. At Mulago, part of the procedures included hitting my legs with a small hammer, but I could not feel them. After two weeks and three days in the ward, without any change, I was discharged,’ she notes.

Attending a rehabilitation centre

Justina Nankumbi, Nakanwagi’s mother, decided not to take her daughter back to her rented home in Kampala City. Instead, she took her to the family home in Namukozi, with the knowledge that she was going to spend the rest of her life caring for her.

However, among the several visitors who came to commiserate with the family were a group of girls whom Nakanwagi had studied with at Mityana Secondary School. One of them, Faith Nakigudde, proved to be a lifesaver.

‘I thank her because if it were not for her, my life would be a mess now. She advised my mother to take me to the Stroke Rehabilitation Centre in Wampewo (on Gayaza Road) and offered to pay for all the expenses I would incur during my stay there. I spent two months at the Centre,’ Nakanwagi recalls.

She underwent physiotherapy every day. On Fridays, the patients would be taken for a gym session, and in the afternoon, they would have outdoor activities.

‘I felt dizzy the first time I was put in a wheelchair because I had spent months lying down. But after a week, I could sit with support, and my neck could remain in one position. When the doctor told me I would walk again, I did not believe him. However, after two weeks at the centre, I could sit on my own in a chair, and I could move my arms slightly. I could also crawl,’ she says.

Within a month, Nakanwagi could stand and walk short distances. She had also started talking, and the nurses could understand her. Part of the exercises that enabled her to use her arms and hands again was sorting beans.

‘I had to sort small beans, pick them one by one, and drop them into a bucket. At first, it was so difficult because my fingers could not move even when my brain commanded them to move. The doctors kept telling me to relax and not force myself. But by the time I left, I could easily pick up the beans,’ she explains.

Nakanwagi was also taught how to speak again using words from the alphabet.

‘Words with the letters s, p, and x were so difficult to pronounce. Even today, I still have difficulty writing. However, I am improving,’ she says.

Nankumbi praises her daughter’s strength and resilience in the face of an almost impossible situation.

‘We saw a change in her condition after three days. When she urinated on the bed, we were so happy. Previously, she had been urinating through a tube. Later, she could point to the toilet instead of doing everything on the bed. She did not pity herself, pushing herself to do the physiotherapy as guided by the doctors. Instead, I was the one who would cry. I tried to hide my tears from her,’ she explains.

Several people had told me that Josephine had become a vegetable and would grow old like that. But the doctors at the centre consoled and counselled us. They even brought pastors to pray for us,’ she says.

What caused the stroke?

It is now one year and a month since Nakanwagi was discharged from the Stroke Rehabilitation Centre. Although she insists that nothing prepared her for the stroke she suffered, her mother, Justina Nankumbi, tells a different story.

Nankumbi says her daughter was too young to suffer a stroke. She was in love and had just had a baby – every young woman’s dream.

‘She came to live with me after giving birth so that I could take care of her and the baby. During that time, my other daughter called me and told me she was going to reveal the secrets of Josephine’s boyfriend. I begged her not to,’ she says.

Nankumbi adds that her daughter’s dream had always been to complete her studies, get married, and have children. Nakanwagi’s boyfriend had promised to marry her if she gave him a child. Unknown to her, her ‘boyfriend’ was a married man.

‘That man had informed my other daughter that he could not marry Josephine as he had promised, since he was already married. But he would take care of the child. My daughter decided to keep the information to herself until Josephine gave birth,’ Nankumbi notes.

She adds that her daughter’s boyfriend had even suggested to her sister that Nakanwagi should abort the child because he had enough children.

‘When I returned from an errand in town, I found Josephine crying desolately. I asked why she was crying, but she told me there was no problem. I called my other daughter, and she told me she had let out the secret. I blamed her. How can you tell a new mother that the father of her child does not want the child?’ Nankumbi asks.

Two days after the episode, Nakanwagi returned to Kampala, but after a few days, she called her mother, telling her that she was feeling a lot of heat in her chest. The next call Nankumbi received was to inform her that her daughter was admitted to Mengo Hospital.

Nankumbi believes the heartbreak that resulted from getting to know her boyfriend’s true colours is what caused Nakanwagi’s stroke.

‘I think the stroke came from her depression. I had always advised my daughters not to go for married men because they are not responsible towards the children they have outside marriage. Married men are always compelled to lie. Josephine did not know that the man had a wife,’ she says.

Her life today

An enterprising young woman, when she was discharged from the Stroke Rehabilitation Centre, Nakanwagi knew that she had to continue with her physiotherapy at home, if she was to get better in record time.

‘The stroke changed my outlook on life. Many people know about stroke, but those who are victims do not know how to go about it. They think their life is over. They admire those who can talk and walk. At some point, I feared talking with people I did not know. I could not sit with them or look at them. I thought they would be judging me,’ she says.

As a procurement officer, the mother of one used to be a confident young woman. However, the incapacitating stroke took her confidence and self-esteem. However, she is trying to regain her confidence.

‘When I am at home, I walk confidently. But when I am in a strange place, I have difficulty walking because I have a feeling that people are looking at me and judging me. This makes me fail to walk. Sometimes, I wait for people to walk away before I can slowly cross the road,’ she explains.

To keep herself busy, Nakanwagi opened a stall in front of her parents’ home, which allows her to interact with people she is not familiar with.

‘Besides selling Irish potatoes, tomatoes, and onions, in the evenings, I fry emamba (marbled lungfish) and cook porridge. People, especially those who do not cook at home, flock to the stall. I buy a big fish at Shs50,000 and sell it in small pieces of Shs1,000. My neighbour boils cassava, which people eat with the fish. I find myself talking to people every evening,’ she says.

The stall is by the roadside, and several people pass by it on their way home after work. Nakanwagi hopes to look for a formal job next year.

‘Most employers require experience before they can hire you. Unfortunately, I do not have that, but I still remember how I used to do my procurement job. I spent 10 years working in procurement. I also have a certificate in software engineering. I can now focus on a computer and even code a website,’ she says.

Advise to caregivers

From experience, Nakanwagi has advice for caregivers of stroke patients. She calls on them to be encouraging to their charges, who in most cases, are also suffering from depression.

‘It is not easy to look after a stroke patient. Besides doing everything for them, they also need to be counseled that they are still useful in life. Encourage them to adhere to their physiotherapy to get better, and keep telling them that they are improving. If not, you will kill their self-esteem,’ she explains.

In most cases, immediately after the stroke, patients regress, and it takes time, hard work, and determination to get back to where they were before they fell ill.

‘I used to be a hands-on person, doing my own house chores. Nowadays, I make sure to follow the physiotherapist’s advice because I do not want to be a burden to my family. I force myself to try out things until I perfect them. For instance, washing a handkerchief was a challenge, but I kept trying and within a week, I could wash it clean,’ Nakanwagi notes.

Before the stroke, as a firstborn, Nakanwagi used to pay her siblings’ school fees. They paid her back with love, caring for her unceasingly until she got back on her feet.

Nakanwagi’s need for a formal job is to go to a place where people do not know her. In such a situation, no one will feel sorry for her when she makes mistakes or when she is slow. They will not be concerned about what happened to her.

She believes this will give her the courage to take on tasks that her family would otherwise tell her not to perform, because they fear she will be straining herself.

Since she gave birth, Nakanwagi’s boyfriend abandoned her and their son.

Stats

According to the World Health Organisation, annually, 15 million people worldwide suffer a stroke. Of these, five million die and another five million are left permanently disabled, placing a burden on family and community. Stroke is uncommon in people under 40 years; when it does occur, the main cause is high blood pressure. However, stroke also occurs in about eight percent of children with sickle cell disease.

High blood pressure and tobacco use are the most significant modifiable risks. For every 10 people who die of stroke, four could have been saved if their blood pressure had been regulated. Among those aged under 65, two-fifths of deaths from stroke are linked to smoking. Atrial fibrillation, heart failure and heart attack are other important risk factors.

The incidence of stroke is declining in many developed countries, largely as a result of better control of high blood pressure and reduced levels of smoking.

The tide has finally turned in Ugandan football – and with it comes a long-overdue sigh of relief.

After weeks of tension, boycotts, and fractured relationships, the controversial league format imposed by Fufa was deservedly suspended on Saturday.

What began as a top-down decision quickly spiraled into one of the most divisive episodes in the sport’s recent history, uniting fans, clubs, and stakeholders in rare resistance.

The format’s vague structure and unfamiliar phases confused even seasoned followers of the game and, in the process, dealt a heavy blow to the very heartbeat of Ugandan football.

As the chaos clears, it’s hard to find a single individual or institution that can claim victory. Fufa’s authority has been questioned, club leadership has been strained, and fans were left feeling betrayed.

But amid the wreckage, something greater appears to have been salvaged – hope. Hope that the game still belongs to the people.

Hope that meaningful consultation will return. And hope that this painful chapter, however unnecessary, may just spark the reset Ugandan football desperately needed.

Hard lessons

From the outset, Vipers stood firm in defiance, refusing to honour the new format. They insisted they were fighting for the soul of the game, a message that found resonance across fan terraces and boardrooms alike.

While many clubs reluctantly continued, it was clear the league was headed for a crisis. The resistance crescendo on Saturday afternoon when a visibly deflated Magogo, crestfallen and reflective, admitted defeat.

‘We have listened to the clubs and other stakeholders and agreed that we revert to the old format for this season,’ said Magogo. ‘We will go back and make more reviews, further consultations and get back to it next season.’

But even that suggestion – of possibly revisiting the rejected format after testing it in a lower division – came off more like a PR gimmick than a serious commitment.

Many believe it’s an attempt to mask the bitter reality: the experimental format lacked a single clear benefit and exists nowhere else in the global football ecosystem.

‘We have also agreed that this particular format is tried and tested in a lower league competition, which Fufa will choose, such that at the end of the season, FUFA will sit and analyse its pros and cons,’ Magogo added.

Lasting dent

The backlash was always brewing. The infamous Namboole double-header, where Vipers refused to show up against Kitara, symbolized the boiling point.

Empty seats, silent terraces, and boycotting fans painted a grim picture that some believe has cost Ugandan football a generation of supporters – and possibly a few sponsors, too.

Clubs like KCCA and SC Villa, though they played under protest, were not spared either. Financial losses were quietly admitted, especially after KCCA’s matches against Kitara, SC Villa, and Lugazi.

SC Villa, under Serbian coach Zeljko Kovacevic, may be right to blame their poor start on external distractions and internal turmoil from the protest stance.

KCCA reached a new low when they reportedly hired casual labourers to fill the empty spaces left by frustrated fans at Lugogo in their clash with Lugazi. A move that further emphasized how detached the league had become from its most crucial stakeholder – the fan.

The bitter fallout also exposed deep cracks between Fufa and Vipers, reigniting old tensions between Magogo and his mentor Lawrence Mulindwa (the Venoms boss). Whether this relationship can mend remains uncertain, especially after such a public standoff.

Uncertainty looms

While Fufa maintains the ongoing first round will proceed, followed by a traditional second round to determine the season’s winner by aggregate points, the damage is evident.

The jury is out on whether this turbulent start will destabilize the entire 2025/26 season.

For now, football feels like the winner. Clubs and players, once voiceless, now feel liberated. Fans are smiling again. But the million-dollar question remains: how does Ugandan football move on in harmony from this setback?

StarTimes Uganda Premier League

Weekend results

Buhimba Saints 1-0 Kitara

KCCA 0-0 Lugazi

Mbarara City 1-1 Bul

URA 1-1 Express

Nec 2-2 Police

A total of 730,668 people aged 10 years and above in the Tooro and Rwenzori sub-regions are living with various mental health disorders, according to the 2024 National Housing and Population Census. The sub-regions have a total population of 3,378,840 people.

The census report states that the disorders include psychological distress, bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety, psychosis, and suicidality. This hints at a widespread and growing mental health burden in the sub-regions. Kasese District has the highest number of people affected, 169,711 individuals; followed by Kyegegwa District with 159,281; and Kyenjojo District with 118,219, the report states.

It adds that the three districts alone account for more than half of the total mental health cases in the two sub-regions.

Despite the high demand for care, Fort Portal Regional Referral Hospital is the only specialised facility with a mental health unit serving the sub-regions. However, the facility is understaffed, underfunded, and overwhelmed.

The unit’s principal psychiatrist, Dr Martin Ibanda, says due to the increasing number of admissions, the facility is overwhelmed.

Rising cases

Dr Ibanda explains that the rising numbers have forced some patients to sleep on the floor, while others are discharged earlier than recommended to create space for new admissions.

‘We are handling about 100 patients every day. To serve them better, we established specific clinic days: on Mondays and Fridays, we conduct major ward rounds; Tuesdays are for epilepsy patients; and Wednesdays are dedicated to patients with drug-related mental disorders,’ he says.

He adds that the hospital conducts quarterly outreach programmes in various districts to follow up on patients who have previously visited the facility.

‘We are supposed to have regular outreaches and home visits, but this remains a challenge because we are not well facilitated. We should be visiting patients and their caretakers in their communities to offer support, but limited resources make this difficult,’ Dr Ibanda explains.

The principal psychiatrist emphasises the urgent need for the government to equip lower-level health facilities in districts to manage mental health cases before they reach the regional hospital.

‘District health facilities need to provide mental health services so that patients can first be attended to before coming here. That way, this facility can handle only referred cases. After we discharge patients here, those lower facilities should also provide follow-up care to help reduce congestion at the regional hospital,’ he says.

He adds that drug and substance abuse are the leading cause of mental health disorders in the sub-regions. He says poorly equipped lower health centres are causing overcrowding at the regional referral hospital.

Patients who should be checked at nearby facilities keep coming back because those centres lack mental health services.

Dr Ibanda adds that feeding admitted patients is also a challenge, as limited funding allows the hospital to provide only one meal a day.

Staffing challenges

Dr Ibanda says the mental health unit is supposed to have seven psychiatric clinical officers, but currently, only four are available. Similarly, the facility is expected to have 28 psychiatric nurses, yet only 16 are on staff.

‘The government has not recruited enough professionals in mental health. Even the few available are overstretched. When I go for support supervision, I often find a single psychiatric-trained nurse who is also running the HIV clinic, yet they must still attend to mental health patients,’ he says.

He adds that the regional referral hospital lacks a rehabilitation centre for patients recovering from substance abuse and other mental health conditions.

‘When we treat patients and they regain their senses, especially those with drug abuse issues, we are supposed to rehabilitate them before reintegrating them into the community. Unfortunately, we don’t have a rehabilitation centre. Those who can afford it go to private facilities or to Butabika hospital in Kampala.’

Depression

Dr Ibanda says: ‘Depression accounts for about 32 percent of the patients we attend to. It often goes unnoticed because many patients take time to disclose their condition. In severe cases, depression can lead to attempted suicide. Most of these patients don’t come directly to the mental health unit-they first report to the general ward and are later referred here after being identified.’

Dr Archbald Newton Sebahire Bahizi, the executive director of Fort Portal Regional Referral Hospital, says the hospital recently trained some health workers to begin handling mental health patients.

‘We trained some of the health workers from district health facilities at health centre IV level to start handling such patients and to open up clinic days at their facilities,’ he says.

He emphasises that addressing the growing mental health crisis requires a multi-sectoral approach that goes beyond the health sector alone.

‘To end this vice, we need a multi-sectoral approach. For instance, when police are having community policing meetings, a health worker should be brought on board to talk about these issues – in schools, churches, and other community gatherings,’ Dr Bahizi explains.

Sensitsation

Dr Bahizi notes that sensitisation is key to ending stigma and misconceptions surrounding mental illness.

‘People need to know that a mental health disorder is not witchcraft or a family curse. Our people need to be sensitised so they know where to seek help,’ he says.

He warns that lifestyle choices and substance use are contributing to the problem.

‘People need to shun all possible causes. Today, a lot of things are being produced, and people consume them for relief but in the long run, they affect the body and mind. When it becomes severe, some people end up committing suicide, while others turn violent,’ Dr Bahizi says.

Mr Isaac Mugisa, the executive director of Humura Vulnerable Children and Youth Support Organisation in Fort Portal City, says with funding from NASF, they are implementing a one-year project in Fort Portal aimed at raising awareness about mental health. The project targets about 500 victims through breaking the silence on mental health advocacy.

‘We want to end stigma, restore hope, and strengthen communities. We are holding community dialogues, training teachers, health workers, and youth leaders on how to support mental wellness,’ he says.

Mr Mugisa adds that they are also working on policy advocacy with Fort Portal City to prioritise mental health in planning, ensuring there is a budget to address it, and establishing support groups and referral pathways for affected individuals.

The Kasese District Health Officer, Dr Amon Bwambale, says during the 2024/2025 financial year, the district recorded 642 mental health cases, of which 160 were linked to drug and substance abuse.

Dr Bwambale attributes the rise in mental health cases to poverty, unemployment, negative social influence, alcohol consumption, and substance abuse. He also cites anxiety, depression, manic episodes, epilepsy, and an increase in suicide cases across the district.

‘We need to work together to integrate mental health actions and responses into our health programming. This will help promote people’s mental wellbeing and advocate for policy changes that prioritise mental health,’ he says.

Statistics on mental health in Tooro and Rwenzori sub-regions for people aged 10 years and above [Ubos 2024]

Fort Portal City: Psychological distress 11,298, bipolar disorder 2,865, depression 8,005, anxiety 3,831, psychosis 1,609, suicidality 919.

Bunyangabu District: Psychological distress 18,635, bipolar disorder 7,019, depression 12,144, anxiety 3,994, psychosis 2,218, suicidality 867.

Kabarole District: Psychological distress 17,953, bipolar disorder 5,487, depression 12,015, anxiety 5,213, psychosis 2,529, suicidality 1,264.

Kyejonjo District: Psychological distress 49,684, bipolar disorder 23,324, depression 26,634, anxiety 11,411, psychosis 4,989, suicidality 2,177.

Kyegegwa District: Psychological distress 51,581, bipolar disorder 20,768, depression 31,950, anxiety 19,476, psychosis 9,554, suicidality 1,348.

Kamwenge District: Psychological distress 24,186, bipolar disorder 6,522, depression 14,503, anxiety 7,511, psychosis 4,710, suicidality 1,336.

Kitagwenda District: Psychological distress 15,061, bipolar disorder 6,173, depression 7,637, anxiety 2,327, psychosis 1,424, suicidality 715.

Kasese District: Psychological distress 68,803, bipolar disorder 25,997, depression 42,043, anxiety 18,608, psychosis 10,123, suicidality 4,137.

Bundibugyo District: Psychological distress 25,286, bipolar disorder 11,291, depression 13,309, anxiety 6,886, psychosis 4,394, suicidality 1,856.

Ntoroko District: Psychological distress 6,984, bipolar disorder 2,305, depression 4,829, anxiety 2,197, psychosis 1,089 and suicidality 548.

In the past two weeks, in separate moves, the family of Geoffrey Kazinda and Kazinda himself petitioned Chief Justice Alfonse Owiny-Dollo seeking his intervention to expedite the delivery of his appeal, after five years of inactivity.

Kazinda fears that if the Chief Justice retires on January 18 next year without having issued the ruling in his appeal, he risks being allocated a new panel of justices, hence the case further dragging. But how did Kazinda, who has now spent over 13 years in Luzira Prison, end up embroiled in these endless legal battles, where he has also represented himself?

In mid-May 2012, Kazinda sought permission from his then supervisor and permanent secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), Mr Pius Bigirimana, to seek medical attention after he fell sick. His request was granted, and the same was not supposed to go beyond July 9, 2012, but before his return, he was replaced with another Principal Accountant.

On July 18, 2012, Mr Bigirimana filed a complaint with the then Inspector General of Police, Gen Kale Kayihura, reporting that Kazinda had been declared away without official leave. In the letter, Mr Bigirimana complained, among other things, that he had received information that, a week before he wrote the letter, Kazinda had sent his driver to smuggle some files from the office, which prompted him to put a second lock on the door to his office.

Mr Bigirimana had also complained that Kazinda was allegedly involved in the manipulation of the transfer of funds from programmes, hence he was seeking the police’s action against him.

Acting on the tip of Mr Bigirimana, the police swung into action and stormed the home of Kazinda’s mother, Ms Teopista Nanfuka, from where they retrieved several government documents, including a laptop that was the property of OPM. The search was done in the absence of Kazinda.

This was the genesis of Kazinda’s legal battles that he had to fight off as several corruption cases were slapped against him before the Anti-Corruption Division of the High Court in Kampala. It was the prosecution’s case that the documents recovered were in three categories: cash withdrawals used by government departments to withdraw cash from Bank of Uganda, security papers used in effecting funds from one account to another, and the third category of evidence recovered were letters addressed to the director of banking.

The prosecution further claimed the signatures attributed to Mr Bigirimana from the recovered documents were forged. He was therefore indicted and convicted of offenses of abuse of office and sentenced to five years in jail, forgery, and sentenced to two years on each of the 37 counts, making documents without authority, an offense that saw him handed five years, and unlawful possession of government stores that saw him sentenced to two years imprisonment.

The court said all the sentences were to run concurrently. But being dissatisfied with the conviction and the sentencing, Kazinda appealed before the Court of Appeal. Some of the grounds that he raised in his appeal were that the trial judge erred in law and fact when he failed to properly evaluate the whole evidence and relied on insufficient, uncorroborated, and incredible evidence to come to a wrong conclusion.

Three justices, Geoffrey Kiryabwire, Stephen Musota, and Night Percy Tuhaise, set aside the conviction and sentences of the Anti-Corruption Court, reasoning that the offenses were not proved by the prosecution.

‘This appeal, therefore, succeeds. We accordingly set aside the judgment and orders of the trial court and order for the appellant’s immediate release unless he is held on other lawful charges,’ the trio justices held.

In their judgment dated March 12, 2019, the trial justices observed that the prosecution failed to prove that all the alleged documents were found in the home of Kazinda’s mother.

They also found that the deadline for Kazinda to hand over office had not yet expired at the time of his arrest and that even though some of the security papers were found in his possession, he was still an employee of OPM. The justices also took a swipe at the prosecution for doing a shoddy investigation.

‘Before we take leave of this appeal, we wish to express our displeasure at the poor conduct of investigations in this case. The investigations were bungled and lacked professionalism. It left a lot to be desired,’ they held.

While the first case file was ongoing, Kazinda was again slapped with another batch of corruption charges. They included conspiracy to defraud, forgery, and uttering of false documents.

He was convicted and sentenced to five years’ imprisonment on the charge of embezzlement and three years on the count of conspiracy to defraud.

He had jointly been charged with two others, Shamim Masembe and Hussein Katumwa, the proprietor and manager of Total Ntinda, respectively.

His co-accused were also convicted and sentenced to a fine of Shs10m and one year imprisonment in default for the offense of conspiracy to defraud.

Again, Kazinda, being dissatisfied with the decision of the Anti-Corruption Court, appealed to the Court of Appeal, claiming that the trial judge erred in law and fact when he convicted him of embezzling Shs316m, whereas the facts of the prosecution case were incompatible with the offense according to the indictment.

Upon review of the judgment of the Anti-Corruption Division of the High Court, three justices of the Court of Appeal concluded that the prosecution didn’t prove the charges of embezzlement and conspiracy to defraud against Kazinda and his co-accused.

‘After full consideration of the facts, the evidence, and the submissions of counsel on all sides, we find that the offense of conspiracy to defraud was not proved. The essential elements of embezzlement and conspiracy to defraud had to be proved beyond a reasonable doubt,’ the justices Elizabeth Musoke, Stephen Musota, and Night Percy Tuhaise held on August 7, 2020.

Adding: ‘The conviction of the 1st appellant of the offenses of embezzlement and conspiracy to defraud is quashed and the sentences set aside. We order that the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd appellants be set free forthwith unless held on other lawful charges.’

Kazinda’s complaint

In 2014, Kazinda petitioned the Constitutional Court, challenging what he called the piece-meal manner in which the DPP was preferring several charges but arising from the same facts, a scenario he said amounted to double jeopardy.

He was seeking: ‘A declaration that the facts of the Director of Public Prosecutions in splitting and sequentially initiating charges of offenses founded on the same facts within different cases against the petitioner (Kazinda) before his conviction contravened Articles 28 (1), 28 (9) and 120 (5), an abuse of law.’

He also sought an order to permanently prohibit the State from using any process of any court to initiate and prosecute him for any offenses similar in character or founded on the same facts whatsoever arising out of or in connection with his former employment at OPM.

In a majority judgment of three to two, on August 7, 2020 agreed with Kazinda and went on to permanently stay all the proceedings against him. The three justices also directed the Anti-Corruption Court to immediately discharge Kazinda from prison. ‘An order sought is to permanently stay proceedings against the petitioner (Kazinda) in pending criminal cases No.47 of 2013, No. 62 of 2014, now 101 of 2014 and directing the Anti-Corruption Court to immediately discharge the petitioner in the above cases and any future cases whose offenses are founded on the same facts,’ Justice Musota who wrote the lead judgment stated. Following the decision of the Constitutional Court, directives to the Anti-Corruption Court, then presiding judge Margaret Tibulya, terminated the proceedings against Kazinda.

‘The proceedings against A1 (Kazinda) are hereby discontinued in accordance with the Constitutional Court order in the Constitutional petition No. 30 of 2014 of 7th August 2020. He is hereby set free unless he is held on other charges,’ Justice Tibulya ruled.

Likewise, Justice Lawrence Gidudu on October 19, 2020, in heeding to the Constitutional Court directives, permanently stayed Kazinda’s trial in criminal case 56 of 2018 before discharging him.

Attorney General petitions

The decision and directives of the Constitutional Court didn’t go down well with the Attorney General, who then appealed to the Supreme Court in a bid to overturn the same.

The Supreme Court, led by Chief Justice Dollo, on February 12, 2021, stayed the implementation of the Constitutional Court orders that included releasing Kazinda from prison until the appeal of the Attorney General was heard and determined.

Kazinda’s appeal

Some of the grounds that he raised in his appeal were that the trial judge reportedly erred in law by failing to properly evaluate the whole evidence and relied on insufficient and uncorroborated evidence to come to a wrong conclusion.

Three judges-Geoffrey Kiryabwire, Stephen Musota, and Night Percy Tuhaise-set aside the conviction and sentences of the Anti-Corruption Court, reasoning that the offences were not proved by the prosecution.

‘This appeal, therefore, succeeds. We accordingly set aside the judgment and orders of the trial court and order for the appellant’s immediate release unless he is held on other lawful charges,’ the judges held.