Category: Daily Monitor

As Uganda marks 63 years of Independence, it is worth pausing to reflect on those who have fed, built, and sustained this nation quietly — our farmers.

From the green ridges of Kisoro to the plains of Karamoja, from the coffee slopes of Bugisu to the cattle corridors of Ankole, the story of Uganda is, at its heart, the story of agriculture.

Yet, as we celebrate six decades of political freedom, our farming sector remains stubbornly chained to poverty, outdated tools, and uncertainty.

The hand hoe – that emblem of struggle – still defines the life of millions. It is heartbreaking that, in 2025, most Ugandan farmers continue to depend on luck and rain instead of technology, irrigation, and access to markets.

The promise of modern agriculture has been repeated in countless speeches since 1962, but for most rural communities, progress remains painfully slow. Government initiatives often start with fanfare and fade with the budget year.

Tractors are commissioned but rarely maintained; cooperatives are revived but underfunded; and subsidies, when they come, are captured by middlemen before they reach the smallholder who needs them most. Independence was meant to deliver dignity, self-reliance, and prosperity.

For farmers, that dream has been postponed again and again. Uganda’s economy still relies heavily on agriculture – employing over 70 percent of our population – yet the sector receives less than three percent of the National Budget. How can we talk of Independence when the backbone of our nation is starved of support? The irony is that our land remains one of Africa’s most fertile.

Uganda could easily become a food powerhouse for the region – exporting quality coffee, beef, milk, fruits, and grains. Global demand for organic produce is rising. Urban and diaspora markets are hungry for Ugandan products. But without investment in value addition, storage, and processing, farmers will continue to sell cheaply and import expensively.

Climate change is another storm. Unpredictable rains, prolonged droughts, and crop diseases are threatening livelihoods. Yet, agricultural insurance, research, and irrigation remain token efforts. We cannot keep asking farmers to be resilient without giving them the tools to adapt.

Uganda’s Independence story must now enter a new chapter – one that prioritises agricultural liberation. That means freeing farmers from subsistence to enterprise, from hand hoes to mechanisation, and from middlemen’s traps to market power.

It means ensuring every regional block has functional irrigation systems, farmer cooperatives that truly work, and youth who see farming as a profitable career, not a punishment.

As we wave our flags and sing the national anthem, let us remember this: true independence is not just political – it is economic and agricultural.

A nation cannot claim freedom when its farmers are still chained by poverty, poor policies, and neglect.

Uganda’s first generation fought for political liberation; ours must fight for agricultural transformation. Only then shall we feed our people with pride and truly stand tall as an independent nation.

‘That evening, Linda walked home slowly. The sky was painted in hues of orange and violet, the kind of sunset that made the world feel like a painting. As she turned the corner near the old chapel, she saw him.

He stood across the road, leaning against a rusted bicycle, his gaze steady and unflinching. He wasn’t from the village-his clothes were too clean, his posture too confident. There was something about him that felt out of place, like a comma in the middle of a sentence.

Their eyes met. He didn’t smile. He didn’t look away. Linda felt something stir inside her. Not recognition, but curiosity. Not warmth, but heat. She walked past him, her steps measured, her heart suddenly loud,’ reads some of page 12 from the novelette, The Space Between Us, by Kibirige Desire Edward.

First, let’s get the word ‘novelette’ out of the way. It’s a noun and generally assumed to be derogatory. It means ‘a short novel, typically one that is light and romantic or sentimental in character.’

It’s a work of narrative fiction that is longer than a short story but shorter than a novel, typically between 7,500 and 17,500 words. It is often considered a “long short story” or a “short novella”, this gives it a sort ‘neither here nor there’ quality, which explains why the word is often assumed to be derogatory.

It’s derogated, probably, towards the demand that it makes up its mind to become the literature it can and should be. And not a compromise between the two. Well, that’s what I think.

Although this novel was well-written, it’s a little too tidy for my literary palate. The sentences are the same or of similar length. The language is a little repetitive and seems unnatural. Detached, impersonal and frequently laconic, it has little ‘drawing power’. Seemingly alienating the reader by its formulaic approach to storytelling.

An approach which seems suspiciously AI-complaint. I am not saying this novelette is generated by AI, but the changes in style, tone, or tense did raise a red flag. Nonetheless, let’s wave that away by giving the author the benefit of the doubt.

I felt that although the story is well-paced, despite its intermittent tautology, it would have done itself and its readers a world of good if the diction and story was more Ugandan. It’s true. Love stories are of a universal nature. Love exists wherever it maybe found or nurtured.

It has no borders. However, love can be context-specific and couples-specific in its peculiarity. That’s why there are no two identical love stories. My thinking is that a Ugandan love story must involve things like Gonja, for one. There’s nothing that says I love you in these parts than giving a love interest food that’s a staple and thus stapled to the dos of interacting with who we seek to ‘do’ or say ‘I do’ too.

Doing being the operative verb denoting how our interactions are choreographed by how we treat one another. Herein lies the devil in the details. In some cases, in this vein, love is expressed by the exact opposite of what it appears to be. The author somewhat agrees.

‘The Space Between Us is more than a story-it’s a mirror held up to the quiet fractures that form in relationships when truth is replaced by silence. I didn’t write this to cast blame or glorify betrayal. I wrote it to explore the emotional terrain that so many walk alone: the longing for connection, the ache of absence, and the choices we make when our hearts feel unheard,’ explains the author.

‘Linda’s journey is not unique. It echoes the experiences of countless people who find themselves torn between loyalty and desire, between what they have and what they crave.’

Language barriers in refugee camps are partly to blame for the poor acquisition of Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) services by refugees in both urban and rural camps, experts revealed this week, calling for deployment of sign language interpreters.

Speaking at a stakeholders’ dialogue convened by Makerere University School of Public Health (MakSPH) to address sexual and reproductive health in Uganda’s refugee contexts on October 17, Maria Goretti Kemirembe, a Family Planning Coach at Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), said health workers often struggle to communicate with refugees due to language barriers.

‘We have only one interpreter at the facility and this makes communication nearly impossible whenever he is absent. In such cases, health workers resort to using gestures or guesswork to understand their clients, which often leads to incomplete medical histories and misunderstandings about contraceptive options,’ she said.

She cited Kisenyi Health Centre IV, one of the busiest public health facilities in Kampala, which serves an estimated 40,000 refugees annually, mainly from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia, and South Sudan.

Her remarks came shortly after researchers presented findings from several studies conducted in refugee-hosting areas, which highlighted persistent barriers to accessing sexual and reproductive health services and support for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV).

According to the findings, language barriers and limited awareness of where to seek care remain the biggest challenges, even though refugees are entitled to use the same health facilities as members of host communities.

Uganda is now home to over 1.9 million refugees, making it the largest host country in Africa.

Under the 2006 Refugee Act, refugees in Uganda have the right to work, move freely, and access health, education, and social services.

Robert Andeoye, Settlement Commandant for refugee settlements in Adjumani District, said research data is crucial to guiding interventions, especially as donor funding for refugee programs declines.

‘The research data would guide planners to prioritise interventions in the most affected areas, especially at a time when donor funding for refugee programs is declining,’ he said.

Andeoye added that women face the biggest challenges in settlements, particularly regarding sexual and reproductive health rights. He called for increased awareness to address abuses.

Healthcare providers serving refugees also cited language barriers as a major obstacle. Interpreters are in short supply, undermining the quality of care and limiting refugees’ ability to make informed contraceptive choices, they said.

Lucia Santolaria, Programmes Officer with Farmamundi, a Spanish NGO supporting health and humanitarian interventions in Kampala, Kyaka, and Adjumani, said the organisation is conducting a needs assessment to identify critical service gaps.

‘We already provide mental health support, sexual and gender-based violence prevention, and livelihood interventions, but translation has so far relied on volunteers from within refugee communities,’ she said.

Dr Chris Baryomunsi, Uganda’s Information Minister, said the government, together with development partners, is increasing funding for refugee management to bridge the gap.

‘As we do this, we are calling for global de-militarisation because if there is no war, everyone will stay in their country and there would be no need for refugees. But for now, Uganda continues to welcome refugees from countries currently under war,’ he said.

Refugee settlements in Uganda have long been praised for their progressive policies, but officials caution that declining donor support, resource constraints, and systemic barriers like language and gender disparities continue to challenge the delivery of essential services.

Like many districts across the country, Mayuge District, located in the eastern part of Uganda, suffers from poverty on top of its many outcries to the government.

As a way of combating this situation, the government, through the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, zeroed in on Mayuge as the area where it should focus its next oil palm project. This was based on the benchmark of the transformation of livelihoods in Kalangala District, where Oil Palm production is flourishing.

With a loan of $261m from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) to the Government of Uganda, meant to finance the 10-year National Oil Palm Project, the wait was no more. Last week, at Mayuge District headquarters, Mr Fred Bwino Kyakulaga, the State minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, presided over the official launch of the National Oil Palm Project.

The ceremony was attended by district council members and various farmers who testified to their delight about the current progress and also expressed their gratitude to the government for this life-changing derivative.

However, often, government projects such as these habitually suffer from a lack of integrity, efficiency, proper management, transparency and accountability.

As such, to properly manage the funds and achieve the utmost positive results and outcomes, the government selected Equity Bank to manage the loan.

Through this, the bank is not only holding and dispensing the funds, but also providing capacity-building to the smallholder farmers. The bank has schooled farmers in developing various financial and investment solutions, incorporating enablers to reduce risk and maximise success.

The process

Oil palm seedlings take 18 months before they can be ready to plant, and the bank says that within two years, 896 farmers have been able to benefit from these funds. The farmers have been taught how to dig proper holes supported with pesticides and fertilisers, and have been given seedlings which are ready to plant.

And that is not all. ‘Equity is also employing modern banking systems to track every transaction, verify beneficiaries and ensure funds reach the genuine oil palm farmers in record time,’ says Catherine Psomgen, Equity Bank’s director of public sector and social investment.

Mr Kyakulaga said, ‘This move is going to go a long way in transforming the people of Busoga from the chronic poverty which has affected them for so long.’

So far, the project is at phase one with Mayuge, Bugiri and Namayimba as the first beneficiaries, with the other parts of Kamuli, Iganga, Jinja City, Bugweri, Namatumba, Luuka and Kaliro set for the next year. To benefit from this, each farmer or a group of farmers must possess five hectares of land for which each will receive $6,500 (Shs23 million). Farmers with half of the required land will also get half of that money.

However, for appropriate use, not all the money is transferred directly to the farmer’s account. The largest chunk will be managed through the bank and the Ministry of Agriculture. Here, the ministry’s suppliers deliver pesticides, fertilisers, trim the trees and also educate the farmers on maintenance.

The rest is then remitted to the farmer’s account and followed up for accountability. ‘Without exporting, Uganda has a ready market for palm oil, soap, cosmetic products and various items which require palm oil as a raw material. At harvest each farmer will be directly earning Shs2.5m monthly, and that runs for about 25-30 years. So, the Government of Uganda has answered the Busoga poverty and job crisis issue with this oil palm project,’ Mr Kyakulaga said.

Deal

To benefit from this, each farmer or a group of farmers must possess five hectares of land to which each will receive $6,500 or Shs23 million. Farmers with half of the required land will also get half of that money.

Once an undisputed starter at Vipers, Rogers Torach now finds himself in unfamiliar territory – watching from the bench as new Congolese recruit Kevin Dasylva Bady swiftly endears to the Kitende faithful.

Last season, the defensive pairing of Torach and Hilary Mukundane was at the heart of Vipers’ league and Uganda Cup double.

Their chemistry, understanding, and steel at the back not only helped Vipers dominate locally but also translated into international success, anchoring Uganda’s first-ever qualification to the Chan quarterfinals.

Torach zestfully skippered Uganda Cranes past the group stages – and famously stepped up to take the high-pressure final penalty in the 3-3 thriller against South Africa at Namboole.

New dawn

But football evolves quickly, and with the arrival of Bady from AS Simba Kamikaze, Torach’s once secure place in the starting XI has come under serious threat.

In his mid 20s, the Congolese defender has brought a different aura to the Venoms backline – combining elegance, pace, and tactical intelligence with confident ball distribution.

Bady impressed heavily in the Caf Champions League preliminary round, helping Vipers dispatch Namibia’s African Stars 2-0 on aggregate.

His assured performance alongside Mukundane has now positioned him as a first-choice centre-back under coach Ivan Minnaert, heading into Sunday’s crunch tie against Zambia’s Power Dynamos at St Mary’s Stadium, Kitende.

What makes Bady’s rise even more significant is that it disrupts the once rock-solid Torach-Mukundane partnership.

Both Torach and Mukundane are known for their physicality and man-marking attributes, but Bady adds a new dimension – calm, game-reading ability, and agility – which complements Mukundane’s no-nonsense style perfectly.

Meanwhile, Torach’s options are narrowing. Even a potential shift to the right-back position is complicated, with Nicholas Wadada, Grant Masiko, and Ashraf Mandela all ahead of him in that pecking order.

At the national level, things haven’t been kinder. Torach has been edged out of the senior Cranes setup by a trio of foreign-born defenders – Toby Sibbick, Joseph Obita, and Erio Capradossi – further complicating his competitive rhythm and visibility.

Ready to step up

Yet, all hope is not lost. Torach has always been known for his grit and determination. His Chan heroics – stepping up as captain, outmuscling top forwards, and bravely converting a high-pressure penalty – remain fresh in fans’ memories.

His resilience, work ethic, and professionalism could yet see him bounce back. Injuries, suspensions, or dips in form could offer him a path back into the starting lineup.

As Uganda heads toward the 2026 General Election, the increasing number of party-leaning Independents is emerging as a serious challenge for both the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) and the main Opposition party, National Unity Platform (NUP).

In several districts across Uganda, many disgruntled NRM and NUP aspirants who lost the party flag have already announced their intentions to contest the upcoming elections as Independent candidates.

These politicians cite a range of grievances, including alleged irregularities, voter bribery, and manipulation during the party primaries, which they claim undermined the credibility of the nomination process.

The move by these Independent aspirants is already stirring debates about the future of party cohesion, the role of internal dispute resolution, and the impact on Uganda’s broader electoral dynamics. The problem is not limited to the ruling party. In Opposition strongholds, especially within the NUP, several aspirants who failed to secure the flag have also opted to run as Independents, accusing party leaders of favouritism and lack of transparency.

NUP recently unveiled its much-anticipated list of parliamentary flag-bearers ahead of the 2026 General Election. The list, which has sparked mixed reactions across the political spectrum, saw several of the party’s well-known incumbents lose their positions to new faces.

In Wakiso District’s Busiro East constituency, long-serving legislator Medard Lubega Sseggona was replaced by Mathias Walukagga, a popular musician-turned-politician.

Similarly, in Mityana District, Woman MP Joyce Bagala, who has been among NUP’s most outspoken female legislators, lost the party flag to Proscovia Mukisa.

The reshuffle continued in Kampala, where Makindye East MP Derrick Nyeko was replaced by Ali Kasirye Nganda Mulyannyama, and Allan Ssewanyana of Makindye West lost to Zahrah Maala Luyirika.

In Lubaga South, Aloysius Mukasa bows out for Nassolo Euginia, while Kazibwe Bashir, the outspoken Kawempe South MP, ceded his position to Fred Nyanzi Ssentamu, a senior brother to party president Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu (Bobi Wine).

Winds of change

In the 2021 elections, NUP made a historic breakthrough by capturing 57 parliamentary seats, the majority of them from Buganda region, with only two seats won outside the region. This stronghold, however, has also exposed the party to internal pressures as it balances loyalty, merit, and public perception among its growing support base.

Mr Moses Mukiibi, a political analyst, says this trend reveals a deep crisis of internal democracy within Uganda’s political parties.

‘When defeated candidates contest as independents, they divide the party’s voter base and weaken its collective bargaining power. It also shows that parties are struggling to manage disputes arising from flawed primary processes.’

The number of Independent MPs in Uganda’s Parliament has been steadily growing over the years, reflecting both the internal weaknesses of political parties and the increasing confidence of individuals to contest outside traditional party structures.

For instance, in 2006, Parliament had 284 members, with the NRM dominating at 191 MPs, followed by the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) with 37, and 36 Independents, the Uganda Peoples Congress (UPC) with nine, and the Democratic Party (DP) with eight. By 2011, the size of Parliament had increased to 350.

The NRM maintained a commanding lead with 250 MPs, while FDC held 34, DP had 12, and UPC had 10. Elsewhere, the Independents rose slightly to 41. In 2016, the number of legislators further grew to 426, with the NRM securing 298 seats, FDC 36, DP 15, UPC six.

The Independents, meanwhile, jumped to 66, a significant rise. The 2021 Parliament, which expanded to 529 MPs, continued the trend. The NRM retained majority control with 336 MPs, followed by NUP with 57 seats. FDC had 32, DP and UPC nine apiece, whereas Independents reached 74.

This steady growth in the number of Independents points to a broader trend in Uganda’s politics, where discontent with party primaries, internal disputes, and personalised local politics increasingly drive candidates to contest outside formal party lines.

It also underscores how party loyalty is often secondary to individual popularity and financial strength at the constituency level. The coming weeks are expected to test the party’s unity, as some of the displaced incumbents weigh their political options.

Mr Patrick Masika, a political analyst, says the spike in the number of Independents reflects growing frustration among party loyalists.

‘The NRM primaries have increasingly become a source of conflict rather than unity,’ said Mr Masika. ‘The aftermath often weakens the party’s cohesion at the grassroots level, as those who lose turn their supporters against the official flag bearers.’

Going round in circles?

According to the Electoral Commission (EC), nominations for MPs are scheduled to take place on October 22 and 23.

Monitor has learnt that more than 210 MPs from the ruling party who lost out in the NRM’s recent primaries have announced plans to contest as independent candidates, rejecting calls from the NRM secretariat to step aside. ‘President Museveni went to Luweero, and people died because he was fighting vote rigging.

Unfortunately, vote rigging has followed him into his political party. He knows what happened in our constituencies; that is why he formed the Election Tribunal.

We will campaign for him because he isn’t the one who rigged us out; the people know who did,’ Mr Barnabas Tinkasimiire, the Buyaga West lawmaker, said, adding that the general election would give them ‘a safer chance’ to reclaim voter trust, unlike the primaries which he described as ‘a sham where one person votes ten times, they count the child on the back, the womb, everything but the actual voter.’ Mr Richard Wanda, the Bungokho Central lawmaker in Mbale District, equally questioned the authority of the NRM secretariat to block Independents.

‘If the party had organised credible primaries, it would have the moral right to stop members from running as independents. But since it failed, the Constitution gives us the right to contest,’ Mr Wanda argued.

Candidate Museveni, the NRM presidential flag-bearer, has cautioned the party’s lawmakers who lost in recent party primaries against contesting as independent candidates in the forthcoming elections.

‘Where there are NRM and opposition candidates, I wouldn’t advise you to come as Independent, because if you do and things go wrong, you will be the one to blame. Where there are only NRMs in the race, even there I would prefer you use the law, so that you don’t confuse our people,’ Mr Museveni said this week.

He added: ‘In this case, if you are annoyed and stand as an independent, and then the other flag-bearer is there, what if now you divide the vote and the opposition takes the constituency? How will you forgive yourself?’ Mr Museveni cited the last election in Buganda where the NRM lost over 21 seats due to vote-splitting between party candidates and independents. The NRM chairperson further advised that any candidate who believes they were cheated should pursue legal action.

Mr Theodore Ssekikubo, the Lwemiyaga County lawmaker, who was among the Independents who met Mr Museveni confirmed that the NRM chairperson ‘promised to investigate the election irregularities that marred the NRM primaries.’

Political observers say these investigations will barely move the needle. If anything, they warn that the growing wave of independents could split the NRM vote in several constituencies, giving opposition candidates a potential advantage.

Monetisation

The competition for elective positions in Uganda has become increasingly intense, with tension mounting across most districts as more individuals enter the political arena. According to political analysts, the surge in interest for elective offices is largely driven by the growing monetisation of politics. Analysts further note that the huge financial benefits attached to political positions-including high salaries, allowances, and influence over government contracts-have made politics one of the most lucrative ventures in the country.

As a result, even those with little public service experience are increasingly drawn into the race, seeing elective office as a fast route to wealth and social status.

For instance, during Uganda’s first election under NRM in 1996, there were only 900 elective positions across the country, from presidential to local government roles. Today, that number has increased to about 3.3 million elective positions across 146 districts, underscoring the heightened competition.

It doesn’t help matters that lawmakers are remunerated well. They are entitled to a base monthly salary of Shs25m, a one-off vehicle allowance of Shs150m, a subsistence allowance of Shs4.5m per month, a town running allowance of Shs1m, medical allowance of Shs500,000 and a plenary sitting allowance of Shs150,000, among others.

Fissures

Mr Ronald Kyagulanyi, a senior lecturer at Muteesa I Royal University, said when a candidate fails to go through the party primaries, it often means that the party no longer favours that individual or believes there is someone more suitable for the flag. This is without consequences.

‘Each candidate has their own supporters, and at the end of the day, they end up sharing votes between the official flag bearer and the Independent candidate,’ Mr Kyagulanyi said. While Opposition parties like NUP have fences to mend, the ruling NRM appears to be most affected.

Dr Juma Kakuba Sultan, a lecturer in the Department of Political Science at Kyambogo University, told Monitor that the deepening divisions within NRM following its recent primary elections stem from a combination of procedural grievances, political ambition, and broader questions about internal democracy.

‘The lack of strong internal party democratic institutions has made many NRM candidates who were defeated in the party primaries claim that the process was marred by irregularities such as vote rigging, biased returning officers, and manipulation of voter registers. Such claims reflect a lack of confidence in the NRM Electoral Commission,’ he opined.

Mr Timothy Chemonges, the executive director of the Centre for Policy Analysis (CEPA), has said the ongoing divisions within the NRM reveal a serious decline in the party’s internal democracy. ‘What’s happening inside the NRM right now tells us a lot about how weakened its internal democracy has become,’ Mr. Chemonges said.

‘These are not just isolated cases of politicians refusing to concede defeat-they point to a deeper loss of trust in the party’s own systems.’

According to him, the elections have turned into contests of influence rather than fairness, where loyalty is often rewarded over legitimacy. ‘In the end, the NRM’s internal elections now mirror the same problems that plague our national politics-limited transparency, patronage, and the sense that rules only apply when they suit those in control,’ he concluded.

Last weekend, I had an intriguing conversation with a friend, who said: ‘I honestly don’t understand why people think that in a few years, Artificial Intelligence (AI) will take over everything, and that people won’t even be needed at work anymore.’

That comment stayed with me. It revealed just how quickly society has normalised the fear that AI could, one day, replace the very people it was designed to assist. But if you think about it, if a person or company genuinely believes AI can entirely replace human effort, it has already lost something far more essential.. its ability to think critically and creatively.

Kara Swisher, a prominent technology journalist and commentator, says AI was not created to replace human intelligence, but to augment it. It is meant to simplify processes, eliminate repetitive tasks, and enhance decision-making.

Yet, it cannot replicate human emotion, empathy, ethics, or the instinct that drives purpose-driven innovation. Similarly, in Humans + Machines: Reimagining Work in the Age of AI by H. James Wilson and Paul R. Daugherty, the authors emphasise that AI is most powerful when humans and machines collaborate, leveraging the unique strengths of both.

Of course, for many of us, the media we grew up consuming, from the Terminator movies to countless sci-fi shows have shaped our imagination and often exaggerated what AI can actually do.

Now, as a late millennial, you catch my drift: those early portrayals still influence how I think about technology today. Yet I would like to believe the reality is far less dramatic and more encouraging: AI is an agent as well as a tool, not a threat. In public relations and communications, human understanding remains irreplaceable. You cannot automate intuition. You cannot programme emotional connection.

You cannot teach a machine to care about people, perception, or trust and these are precisely the foundations of a brand’s credibility and long-term success.

When organisations rush to replace humans with technology, they risk losing authenticity and the human touch that builds relationships and sustains reputations. The leaders who will thrive are those who see AI not as a replacement, but as a strategic partner that allows people to think more deeply, create more thoughtfully, and act with purpose

Now don’t get me wrong, AI is powerful. But it remains a reflection of the human mind that created it. The real danger lies not in AI itself, but in human smugness and believing machines can substitute creativity, empathy, and judgment.

So, perhaps the question isn’t whether AI will take over everything. The real question is: shall we allow it to take over our ability to think, to feel, and to lead with humanity? As a Ugandan navigating a rapidly changing world, I see enormous opportunity.

AI can lift us, streamline our work, and solve problems that would have taken decades. But its promise will only be realised if we remember that humans must remain at the heart of innovation, as well as decision-making.

The government, through the Uganda Vocational and Technical Assessment Board (UVTAB), has resolved to streamline the assessment and accreditation cycle for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) candidates in both formal and informal training institutions, in a bid to create a more structured and efficient assessment system.

According to Mr Onesmus Oyesigye, the Executive Secretary of UVTAB, the current system has been inconvenient for the board, as institutions and individual trainers have been presenting candidates for assessment at any time throughout the year.

‘Assessment has been continuous. As soon as they finish, they come here for assessment. Every day, there are trainees walking in here, and they are not few,’ Mr Oyesigye said during a media engagement at the UVTAB offices in Kampala on October 16.

He added, ‘We have discussed at the board level to ensure that assessment is regulated. The board has guided that we develop an assessment cycle that can be followed by all trainers. Even visitors who come to your home need to be regulated, it is only in a restaurant where people just walk in at any given time.’

Mr Oyesigye explained that UVTAB staff have been deployed to the field almost every month to conduct assessments, an arrangement he described as unsustainable.

The board is now engaging training institutions and other stakeholders to agree on a harmonized assessment calendar.

‘The training normally takes three months. We shall discuss with those involved in that type of training, but most probably, we are going to assess students four times a year, in March, June, September, and December, so that the trainings are synchronized,’ he said.

UVTAB is responsible for assessing and certifying competencies acquired through both formal and informal TVET programmes.

Mr Oyesigye further revealed that once the TVET Council completes the accreditation of all training providers as required under the TVET Act, 2025, informal training institutions will be required to present their candidates for assessment and accreditation through formally accredited providers.

‘Walking in here and presenting candidates for assessment is going to cease. The process is going to be orderly. The formal training providers will carry out recognition of prior learning so that, by the time accredited providers present candidates, they are ready to be assessed at a specific level of the TVET Professional Framework that will soon be launched,’ he said.

On staffing, Mr Oyesigye noted that the Ministry of Public Service had approved UVTAB’s new structure and that more staff will be recruited to improve service delivery.

He clarified that the merger of the Uganda Business and Technical Examinations Board (UBTEB) and the Directorate of Industrial Training (DIT) to form UVTAB did not significantly affect staffing levels, as most personnel from the previous institutions were retained under the new assessment body.

Release of May-June 2025 Assessment Results

Meanwhile, UVTAB will today, October 17, release the first set of assessment results since the merger. The examinations were conducted between May 2 and June 27, 2025.

According to Mr Oyesigye, a total of 30,169 candidates registered for the May-June 2025 end-of-programme assessments from 499 centres across the country, 61 percent from informal providers and 39 percent from formal institutions.

Of these, 17,423 were female, while 13,196 were male.

The assessment covered various TVET programmes, including Technology Education and Training, Business Education and Training, Home Science Education and Training, Sports Education and Training, and Informally Acquired Skills.

The release ceremony is expected to be presided over by the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Janet Museveni, at the UVTAB National Skills Assessment Centre on Kyambogo Hill in Kampala.

President Museveni has urged European countries to seize Africa’s growing economic opportunities and increase investment on the continent, saying this would foster shared prosperity between Africa and Europe.

Speaking on Wednesday, during a meeting with an Austrian delegation on the sidelines of the 19th Ministerial Meeting of the Coordinating Bureau of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) at Speke Resort Munyonyo, the President said Africa remains a fertile ground for investment that Europe continues to overlook.

‘I feel sorry that Europeans are our relatives, speaking English like me, because I don’t speak Russian, but the Europeans have not been taking advantage of that, and yet they are also near Africa. They are not far away,’ he said.

Mr Museveni humorously added that some European nations should even be ‘members of the African Union,’ given their historical and cultural connections to the continent.

‘But somehow, they have neglected the opportunities in Africa, including business investment,’ he said.

The President compared Europe’s cautious approach with China’s robust engagement on the continent, saying while China has deepened trade and infrastructure cooperation across Africa, Europe remains hesitant.

‘When you see the Chinese come here and they are really doing great work, you wonder why our European people are totally sleeping,’ he said.

President Museveni, who has been juggling his ongoing presidential campaigns and national duties, emphasised that Uganda and Africa at large are ready to welcome more European investors, given the many cultural and linguistic linkages that already exist.

‘We have a lot of linkages. Many Africans now speak English, some speak Portuguese, and many of them are Christians, so we have cultural and historical bonds that make collaboration easier,’ he said.

Africa’s untapped potential

Highlighting the continent’s immense potential, the President noted that Africa’s vast landmass and youthful population make it a strong frontier for future investment.

‘Africa is 12 times the size of India. You can fit India into Africa 12 times. Until recently, the population of India was bigger than that of Africa. But now, because of modern science, we have been able to suppress our enemies. At last, Africa is now 1.5 billion, and in the next 27 years, it will be 2.5 billion,’ he said.

Mr Museveni said Africa’s demographic growth offers a massive consumer base and labour force, arguing that with the right investments, both Africa and Europe stand to gain economically and politically.

‘Europe should not miss this opportunity. Africa is ready for business, and what we need are partnerships that create jobs, add value to our products, and build our infrastructure,’ he said.

The Austrian delegation was led by Foreign Affairs Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger, who informed President Museveni that Austria was developing a comprehensive African strategy to strengthen its engagement with the continent.

‘We have been long-standing partners, and next year we will celebrate the 60th anniversary of our bilateral relations,’ Ms Meinl-Reisinger said.

She added that Austria was moving beyond traditional development cooperation to focus more on trade and investment.

‘We see opportunities in Africa as a very young, dynamic, and innovative continent..your country’s average age is 16 years; it’s truly amazing. So, I would very much appreciate intensifying our bilateral relations,’ she said.

Ms Meinl-Reisinger revealed that Uganda and Austria were finalising a memorandum of understanding on mobility and migration, which will allow more Ugandans to travel to Austria for business, education, and professional opportunities.

She also highlighted the European Union’s Global Gateway Initiative, through which Europe is channelling pound 600 million towards sustainable agriculture, especially coffee production, and climate change mitigation in Africa.

‘Europe understands that it’s about proving that we are reliable partners,’ she said. The Austrian minister reaffirmed her country’s commitment to partnership and multilateralism in a changing global order.

A young family in Iyama Village, Alebtong Parish, Aloi Sub-county, Alebtong District, is facing unimaginable challenges. The family is headed by a 15-year-old girl, Rachel Acen, who is responsible for her five siblings, aged between 13 and three years.

The children’s lives turned upside down after the death of their father, Nelson Ongora, on June 3, 2021. Their mother, Janet Akello, seemingly overwhelmed with the thought of raising six children on her own, fled the home six months ago.

‘Immediately after our father died, I dropped out of school. I was in Primary Three at Iyama Primary School. I do not know why our mother abandoned us. We heard that she is in Lira City. We lack food, clothing, bedding, and bathroom facilities. When nature calls, we go to the bush,’ Acen says.

At 4 p.m. when this reporter visited the family, they had not eaten anything since morning. There is neither a matchbox nor food in the leaking grass-thatched hut. One of the children, feeling unwell, sits outside the hut.

‘Her temperature is rising, and she is moody. When my siblings fall ill, we walk to Alebtong Health Centre IV, which is four kilometres away. But I have been busy in the garden. I did not know that she was feeling unwell,’ Acen adds.

The children have planted cassava in a half-acre garden behind their hut, and sesame in another half-acre field in the neighbouring village.

A Good Samaritan, Rev Boniface Ongora, the overseer of New Jerusalem Christian Church, offers to take the sick child to a nearby clinic for treatment.

The children sleep on one torn polythene sheet and cover themselves with one bedsheet. Two of them study in the nearby Blessed Hope Nursery and Primary School under a scholarship program. However, after Primary Seven, they will drop out to help their siblings in the gardens.

Questionable well-wishers

Olivia Auma also heads a young family in Apado Cell, Apado Ward, Alebtong Town Council. The 17-year-old girl takes care of her two siblings, one of whom is 13 years old and the other 15 years old. Their mother, Sarah Akao, died in 2012, while their father, Samuel Ewich, disappeared in 2014.

Sadly, in 2018, while thatching the roof of their hut, Auma fell off. The accident left her disabled, unable to walk properly. Currently, she digs and performs other household chores while on her knees.

‘I am paralysed from the waist down. Our huts now leak when it rains, and we only eat one meal a day. We have a bathroom, but we have to use a neighbour’s pit latrine because we do not have the money to hire someone to sink one for us,’ she explains.

Last year, a stranger adopted one of her brothers and took him to Apac District. Since then, the siblings have not had contact with him. Although Auma does not know his whereabouts, she believes he is in safe hands.

In the neighbouring Ipale Cell, 17-year-old Dolly Apio has been facing similar circumstances ever since her parents, Jimmy Acuma and Miriam Amolo, fled the home, leaving her to shoulder the responsibility of caring for her two siblings. ‘I am in Primary Six at Alebtong Primary School, but I have not reported to school since the Second Term due to a lack of school fees. Our mother was the first to leave after a fight with our father in 2022. Our father abandoned us early this year,’ Apio laments.

She adds that villagers informed them that their mother is living in Lira City, although they do not know what she is doing there. Word has it that their father lives in the nearby Omoro Sub-county.

‘The world has abandoned us. We have no one to turn to. On a lucky day, we eat one meal, but on some days, we go to bed with empty stomachs. Today, we are going to boil beans and eat them with fresh cassava. We do not have clothes and beddings,’ Apio adds.

Lack of leadership

Due to poverty and HIV-related illnesses, several children have been left as orphans in northern Uganda, with nobody to take care of them. Most of these vulnerable children are left with poor grandparents, while some are homeless.

David Kennedy Odongo, the LC5 chairperson of Alebtong District, says the vulnerable members of society continue to suffer because the district does not have adequate resources to support them.

‘The central government provides for 98 percent of our budget. The remaining two percent comes from the collection of local revenue, which is inadequate. It is challenging for the district to budget and plan for its vulnerable residents. Some of them are living a demeaning,’ he explains.

Odongo adds that the plight of child-headed households should be an eye-opener to both local and central governments.

‘The Parliament must allocate special funds to rural districts because we cannot leave these households to go on suffering. They need necessities like food, clothing, and proper housing, which the districts are too constrained to provide,’ he says.

Some of the children in these child-headed families cannot exploit their talents because they do not have the opportunity to go to school. This is detrimental to the country’s priority of human resource development as a key driver to the middle-income status.

‘Thousands of vulnerable children could be suffering within communities because some civil servants are sleeping on the job. In every village, we have an LC1 chairperson who reports to the LC2 chairperson. The LC2 chairperson reports to the LC3 chairperson, who reports to the district. We have parish chiefs. These are community workers who should identify these cases and forward them to our attention,’ Odongo says.

The LC5 chairperson appeals to development partners, well-wishers, and churches to step in and support child-headed households.

Rev. Juliet Angora, a teacher and leader of the New Jerusalem Christian Church, says once in a while, the church distributes five kilograms of maize flour to the neediest child-headed households.

‘If the number of orphans increases, it will most likely increase the number of children ending up on the streets as beggars and thieves,’ she says.

There are concerns that the rise in the proportion of child-headed households and child labourers means a rise in percentages of illiteracy, teenage pregnancy, and HIV prevalence rates.

Sidebar

A 2016 study titled, Child-headed households in Rakai District, Uganda: a mixed-methods study, published in Paediatrics and International Child Health, an international forum, indicates that child-headed households (CHH) are the result of a rational and conscious decision by children to maintain the surviving family unit. The eldest child had taken on either a maternal or paternal role to support the family.

‘These child carers reported being faced by complex scenarios that demanded decisions: which sibling would attend school? For which sibling could they seek malaria treatment? Some were forced to consider prostitution as the only viable option in order to feed the family. Issues of property and emotional attachment to the family land often informed the very foundation for the establishment of the CHH,’ the report reads in part.

Education

A significant number of respondents (37.5 percent) had received no education. For those who were in primary school, 18 percent indicated a system whereby they were forced to alternate between time at home and at school, and 30 percent were regularly sent home for not having the appropriate clothing or equipment.

All respondents expressed a desire to attend school. Activities and demands of the home had resulted in a high drop-out rate. Sometimes the eldest sibling reported passing over the opportunity to attend school in favour of a younger sibling.

Living conditions

The mean number of occupants per household was four, but there were as many as seven in one house. Forty-five percent of respondents resided in houses described as ‘semi-permanent brick or mud’, 27 percent lived in a ‘mud house without iron sheets’ and seven percent had housing identified as a ‘temporary grass hut’.

Twenty-eight percent of respondents did not have a mattress. Toilet facilities were minimal: 35 percent of respondents had no lavatory in the home and used the bush, 45 percent shared a lavatory with neighbours and 53 percent used a pit latrine.

Health

In terms of where they attended for illness, 50 percent identified a government clinic, 27.5 percent traditional methods, and 22.5 percent said they had nowhere to go for medical attention. Of the 50 percent who did have access to a government health clinic, 25 percent claimed that the clinic frequently had no medication.

In principle, health centres are accessible to all, but stigmatisation and a lack of money and transport prevent many from receiving treatment. One child recalled being arrested by police officers because of his inability to pay for the medication that he had received for his sick grandmother.

Security and fear

Fear was a major theme: 50 percent expressed fear of their possessions being taken from the house while they attended school, 48 percent reported fear in having to travel to a well to fetch water, and 38 percent were afraid of ‘violence’. Of the 16 girls interviewed, five stated that they had been raped, and another reported attempted rape.

In environments of conflict, disease, and natural disasters, children can be scattered and the traditional family unit fragmented or destroyed. As the number of orphaned children multiplies, it is likely that CHHs will become less transient and more common.