Category: Daily Monitor

Every time President Museveni announces a new Cabinet, Ugandans perform a familiar ritual. Political commentators parse the list for regional signals. Religious communities count their representatives. Ethnic arithmetic is performed on social media and radio talk shows.

Tribal loyalists thank Museveni for ‘remembering and rewarding them’ by appointing their ethnic kin.

Two troubling questions are generally lost in the excitement. First, are the appointees the best people for the job? Second, will they be allowed to be the real leaders of their ministries? The answer to both, after four decades of Museveni’s rule, is mostly no – and the reason is not that Uganda lacks capable people. It is that capable people, have often been a liability rather than an asset. Uganda’s Cabinet appointments have long followed a recognisable logic that has little to do with merit.

Not that Museveni’s Cabinets have been short of bright, educated and able people. Most of those who have served as Cabinet ministers since 1986 rank high on academic and professional achievement scores. His recent preference for ‘fishermen’ over intellectuals and seasoned leaders should not blur that truth. But intellectual excellence and leadership ability has not been a major driver of these appointments. The President rewards personal loyalty.

He accommodates powerful interest groups whose continued support he requires. He distributes portfolios as political currency, placating rivals and binding potential dissidents through the golden handcuffs of ministerial office. What emerges from this process is not a government of Uganda’s ablest citizens. It is a court. And like all courts, it functions primarily to serve the king.

Last week’s Cabinet announcement largely confirms that tradition. The new Cabinet contains a few individuals who are supremely underqualified to serve in leadership of any public organisation. But the majority are very capable appointments, with a few placed in portfolios where their expertise matches the job very well.

For example, Henry Musaasizi at Finance is a serious technocrat who understands the machinery of Uganda’s fiscal architecture.

Katumba Wamala at Public Service brings administrative discipline to a ministry that requires structural reform.

Chris Baryomunsi, moving to Health, is a medical doctor with leadership and political experience. He succeeds Jane Ruth Aceng, another highly capable physician and experienced corporate leader.

Charles Ayume, another experienced medical doctor appointed as Minister of State for Health, is held in high esteem by colleagues and others who know him well.

Jonard Asiimwe Akiiki, at Science, Technology, and Innovation, is a certified professional in mining and petroleum engineering, with an impressive resume that would get him shortlisted by most international head-hunters.

Adonia Ayebare at Foreign Affairs is a veteran diplomat who has represented Uganda at the United Nations with distinction and is deeply embedded in the architecture of regional security and multilateral diplomacy.

These are not token appointments. These, and others I have not mentioned, are people with the knowledge and professional standing to lead their ministries – if they are allowed to. That last clause carries all the weight. The distinction between a minister and a courtier is fundamental. A minister is appointed for competence, given a mandate, resourced adequately, and held accountable for outcomes.

That was how former Kenyan President Emilio Mwai Kibaki governed – with very impressive results. A courtier is appointed for loyalty, expected to reflect the ruler’s preferences back to him, and measured not by what they achieve but by how reliably they stay in line. For the capable ministers, the appointments present a genuine and painful dilemma. They serve in a system where the President is, by all documented accounts, the ultimate micromanager.

Major decisions routinely flow from State House. Ministers who show too much independence, or attract too much public admiration, or are perceived as building their own political profile could find themselves reshuffled out at the next opportunity.

This means the capable appointees face a structurally impossible task: to be simultaneously excellent ministers and compliant courtiers. To exercise real authority without appearing to challenge or outshine the one who gave it to them. To demonstrate independence of thought without appearing to dissent from the President’s position. It is a tight rope that would test anyone, and Uganda’s political history is littered with capable figures who fell off it.

Are you a Ugandan working abroad or looking to travel beyond national borders? If so, you might already be facing the disruptions of the Ebola scare, even though Uganda is not the current epicenter.

Following the recent Ebola outbreak concentrated in the Ituri, North Kivu, and South Kivu provinces of the neighbouring Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Uganda remains on high alert.

According to the World Health Organisation, the outbreak is driven by the Bundibugyo ebolavirus. Going by Ministry of Health data, there are 9 confirmed cases and one reported death in Uganda as of June 1.

The vast majority of these infections are contained in the Kasese and Ntoroko districts near the DRC border, with only a single imported case detected at a hospital in Kampala.

Despite the isolated nature of the Ugandan cases, it has triggered concerns and global responses.

The WHO has declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), prompting increased screening at Entebbe and land borders.

Strict measures

Several countries have issued travel advisories or implemented entry restrictions for travelers from Uganda due to the ongoing Ebola (Bundibugyo) outbreak.

Last week, the U.S. State Department issued a Level 4 ‘Do Not Travel’ advisory for the country. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Department of Homeland Security also implemented enhanced screening and restricted all U.S.-bound travelers who have recently been in Uganda to specific designated airports.

Similarly, the Indian government issued an advisory urging citizens to avoid non-essential travel to Uganda and implemented enhanced screenings at major airports.

Canada and The Bahamas have temporarily suspended entry for individuals arriving from outbreak-affected areas in Uganda.

Meanwhile, entry to Jordan and Bahrain, both Gulf countries, where more than 200,000 Ugandan migrant workers earn their livelihoods, has been temporarily suspended for certain travelers arriving from affected African nations.

In Oman, another Gulf nation with a significant Ugandan workforce, the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority released directives requiring airlines and travelers to strictly comply with precautionary health measures regarding travel to and from Uganda.

Furthermore, Taiwan’s foreign ministry issued red travel warnings, urging the public to avoid traveling to the region. As a result of these sweeping travel restrictions, Uganda’s labour externalization, tourism industry, and supply and logistics chains are expected to temporarily take a hit until the situation normalizes.

Impact

Speaking to Nation Media Group on Thursday, the head of public relations at the Uganda Tourism Board (UTB), Mr Simplicious Gessa, noted that the impact on the tourism industry, though still in its early stages, is already hurting.

He cited the Level 4 travel advisory issued by the U.S. Department of State-the highest level of warning-which indicates a high likelihood of life-threatening risks such as active conflict, widespread crime, severe disease outbreaks, or terrorism.

‘Because of that, we have registered several cancellations from certain markets, such as the U.S., which has gone ahead to issue a travel ban,’ Mr Gessa said.

‘Such advisories heavily affect our business here. They cause a lot of cancellations, and indeed, the impact is already felt within our tourism circles.’

He continued: ‘The damage will not only be felt in gorilla tracking permits, but also in the overall number of tourists and travelers coming into the country.’

Amidst these challenges, Mr Gessa stressed that Uganda is not the epicenter of the disease, and as a result, business continues as usual.

‘People must know that Uganda is actually safe,’ he said. ‘We are open and welcoming to every traveler coming to this country.’

Billions in losses

In another interview, the chief executive officer of the Uganda Hotel Owners Association (UHOA), Ms Jean Byamugisha, told NMGU that since last week, hotels have been getting cancellations amounting to billions of shillings, reminiscent of the Covid-19 pandemic days.

We have been on an upward trajectory. We’ve just hosted a very successful Pearl of Africa Expo. We have been bidding for more conferences and events. People have been acknowledging Uganda, and more inquiries have been made.

‘Now, all the work we have been doing in the past has evaporated because of this news about Ebola.

‘People who are supposed to go to the UK for a conference and all that have had their visas canceled because of Ebola.

‘I also think it’s because the virus is referred to as ‘Bundibugyo.’ So, when people Google the name and it brings them to, say, Uganda, they avoid the country. So, we are taking a greater hit than the DRC, or even Rwanda, which is much closer to the DRC.’

Economic shockwaves of Ebola on businesses

Ebola virus outbreaks harm businesses primarily through reduced economic activity, localised mobility restrictions, supply chain disruptions, and mass consumer aversion (fear of infection). According to the Economic Policy Research Centre (EPRC) in Uganda, such epidemics spike the cost of doing business while severely depressing both domestic and international market demand.

The specific effects of Ebola on the commercial landscape include:

The hospitality collapse

Cancellations: News of outbreaks often triggers panic, leading to a steep drop in international arrivals. Tour operators and hotels in Uganda have historically faced massive cancellation rates of up to 40 percent as foreign travelers avoid affected regions.

Revenue losses: Occupancy rates and restaurant dining volumes plummet, forcing the services sector into below-potential performance.

Supply chain disruptions

Border restrictions: Quarantine measures and regional border closures (such as those between Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) significantly slow down cross-border trade.

Input costs: The cost of doing business spikes. Companies face higher operational expenses due to mandatory investments in health and safety compliance (for example disposable masks, hand sanitisers, and temperature scanners).

Labour and productivity

Workforce reductions: Mobility restrictions, localised lockdowns, and illness cause labour shortages.

Rising demands: Employees often demand higher compensation to justify the risk of working during an epidemic, exacerbating production costs for businesses.

Sector-specific shocks

Agriculture and markets: Fear-driven behaviours extend to the agricultural sector. For instance, outbreaks have previously caused sharp declines in the sales and slaughter rates of livestock (such as pigs), disrupting livelihoods in rural and peri-urban areas.

Businesses adapt by scaling up digital integration and relying heavily on government and health awareness campaigns to reassure customers that operations are safe.

The 2026 USSSA Boys Football Championship in Lira City delivered more than just a new winner and standout performances. Beneath the goals, upsets and individual brilliance, the tournament exposed shifting power dynamics, governance questions and welfare concerns.

Kitende’s trophy drought concerning

Record 11-time champions St Mary’s Kitende are going through an unfamiliar spell of decline. For three consecutive editions, they have finished third, their last triumph dating back to Fort Portal in 2023.

For a side that once set the standard for dominance, this is now a worrying trend rather than a temporary dip.

Historically, Kitende never went long without silverware. Their previous longest wait came between 2009 and 2010 before Buddo SS and Bishop Nankyama interrupted their dominance. This current three-year stretch feels different.

What stands out most is not just the results, but the leadership gap. In their peak years, Kitende had on-field generals like Noordin Bunjo and Dan Birikwalira, players who carried authority. That presence appears missing.

Head coach Hassan Zungu is now under growing scrutiny in a system where patience is scarce. At Kitende, success is not negotiated, it is expected. And with project owner Lawrence Mulindwa known for high standards, the pressure is unmistakable.

Kyaddondo mean business

While much attention has been on Kitende’s decline and Amus’ rise, one of the clearest structural shifts has been Kyaddondo SS Matugga stepping into contention.

The school, rooted in a strong sporting culture, is rapidly becoming a multi-discipline powerhouse, competing strongly in football, hockey, netball, volleyball, basketball, athletics and even emerging sports like pool.

Their progress has been steady: quarterfinalists last year and now semi-finalists after eliminating defending champions Buddo, a statement result achieved in just their third major appearance.

Kyaddondo is part of the KCCA-linked schools of excellence programme, alongside Kibuli, Masaka and Old Kampala.

Head teacher Hajji Ismail Waliggo, who also doubles as a rally driver, believes the trajectory is clear.

‘We are building athletes who can compete at both national and international level. This is not about participation; it is about producing winners,’ Waliggo said.

USSSA awards raise credibility questions

The tournament’s individual awards sparked as much debate as the football itself.

USSSA came under scrutiny for decisions that left many neutrals questioning the selection criteria.

The Most Valuable Player award went to Bukedea striker Simon Wanyama, who also won the title in 2024 with St Julian. While his impact was notable, debate remains over whether he was the standout player of the tournament.

Amus midfielder John Brian Otim, who produced one of the goals of the competition and consistently dictated games, was widely tipped as the more influential figure. Others, including Bukedea teammates Ryan Giggs Osinya and Charles Lwanga, were also cited as having more all-round impact.

The top scorer award stirred more controversy. St Peter’s Tororo forward Matthew Ethan Mukwhana was credited with 12 goals, many of which came in classification matches.

The exclusion of goals from the main championship phase raised questions about the weight given to different stages of the tournament, especially given disparities in match duration and squad strength used in classification fixtures.

Capacity building is working but …

Efforts to professionalise the tournament through capacity building in refereeing, media and administration are beginning to show results.

Student referees have improved overall match control and incidents of overt match manipulation seem limited. Results reporting and communication have also improved significantly, with more timely updates and structured pre-match briefings introduced during the final stages.

However, challenges remain in enforcement of age eligibility rules. While systems to identify ineligible players have improved, enforcement still relies heavily on team-by-team verification rather than independent audits, leaving room for inconsistencies.

There are also concerns about the growing reliance on interns across refereeing and media roles, which, while building experience, sometimes places too much pressure on inexperienced personnel in high-stakes environments. Mainstream media engagement remains limited.

Welfare is the weakest link

Despite improved organisation, player welfare continues to lag behind expectations.

Teams raised concerns about long distances between venues in Lira, with some schools commuting up to 8km for matches and struggling with scheduling that saw early kick-offs clash with meal times.

Bukedea coach Ronald Ssali also highlighted the physical strain on teams, arguing that squad depth remains a major concern in such a congested format.

‘A 20-man squad is too small for a tournament where you can play up to eight matches of 80 minutes in a short period. Fatigue becomes inevitable, and recovery is not enough,’ Ssali noted.

There were also reports of teams missing lunch entirely on matchdays, forcing some schools to prepare their own meals despite a participation fee of Shs3m per team. With 64 schools contributing up to Shs190m to the championship, questions persist over adequacy of welfare provisions.

Residents and leaders in Lwengo Town Council, Lwengo District, have issued a one-week ultimatum to the Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL) to restore power, warning of massive protests over a crippling three-month blackout.

The prolonged electricity outage, sparked by a faulty transformer, has brought economic activity to a virtual standstill and severely disrupted service delivery across several government institutions, security agencies, and private businesses.

Among the worst hit are the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA), the judicial courts, public schools, the police, and the Lwengo District headquarters.

To maintain basic service delivery, government departments have been forced to rely on expensive alternative energy sources, straining local budgets.

A visit by this publication to the NIRA offices revealed that the institution is running entirely on a generator. Officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, disclosed that they spend approximately Shs200,000 daily on fuel to keep registration equipment running.

Similarly, at the Lwengo District headquarters, officials revealed they are burning through Shs150,000 per day on generator fuel to sustain minimal administrative operations.

The economic toll on local traders and residents has been equally devastating. Mr Deo Ssekatawa, who operates a poultry feed processing plant and a maize flour milling business in Central Zone, said the lack of power ultimately forced him to shut down his operations entirely.

The blackout has also triggered a socio-economic ripple effect. Ms. Sylvia Nansikombi, a resident, noted that the timing of the outage has compounded the burden on parents ahead of the new school term.

“The reopening of schools has created additional challenges for many parents. Businesses that previously provided our daily income have been completely crippled, leaving many families unable to raise school fees for their children,” Ms. Nansikombi lamented.

Beyond the economic losses, the prolonged darkness has compromised public safety. Mr Twaha Mukasa, the chairperson of Central Zone Village, reported a sharp spike in criminal activities since the transformer broke down.

“Thieves are now breaking into homes under the cover of darkness. As local security personnel, we are finding it increasingly difficult to combat crime because we cannot effectively patrol the area without streetlights or security lights,” Mr Mukasa said.

The crisis has also fueled allegations of corruption. Ms. Hadijah Nakaggwa, another Central Zone resident, accused UEDCL of discrimination, alleging that the utility company bypassed regular channels to reconnect wealthy individuals to alternative power lines while leaving less privileged residents in the dark.

Local leaders have condemned UEDCL’s sluggish response, warning that public patience has run out.

The Deputy Resident District Commissioner (RDC), Mr Bonny Venture Rwatangabo, strongly criticized UEDCL for negligence, noting that his office had written multiple letters to the company with no tangible results.

Lwengo District Chairperson, Mr Kizito Abasi, revealed that he recently had to intervene to stop furious residents from destroying power infrastructure in protest.

‘People have run out of patience. Earlier this week, residents were planning to demonstrate and cut down the electricity poles connected to the faulty transformer, but I managed to calm them down,” Mr. Kizito said.

He added: “I appeal to UEDCL to resolve this matter within one week. If they fail, I will personally lead the affected residents to storm the UEDCL offices.’

When contacted, Mr Michael Kabanda, the UEDCL manager for the Masaka region, acknowledged the crisis and stated that the company is sourcing a replacement transformer. He urged the residents of Lwengo to remain calm and patient as technical teams work to restore the grid.

Former Trade Ministry Permanent Secretary Geraldine Ssali and her co-accused will now have to defend themselves in court after the Constitutional Court struck down a provision of the Human Rights Enforcement Act that had been used to challenge criminal prosecutions over violations of non-derogable rights.

In a landmark ruling delivered on Monday, a panel of five judges declared Section 11(2) of the Human Rights Enforcement Act unconstitutional. The section had required courts to nullify criminal proceedings and acquit accused persons whenever their non-derogable rights were found to have been violated.

The judges are Oscar Kihika, Margaret Tibulya, Moses Kawumi Kazibwe, Asa Mugenyi and Musa Ssekaana.

The decision removes a key legal hurdle that had threatened to derail prosecution of Ssali, Igara East MP Michael Mawanda Muranga, Elgon County MP Ignatius Wamakuyu Mudiimi, lawyer Julius Taitankoko Kirya, principal cooperative officer Leonard Kavundira, and former Busiki County MP Paul Akamba over alleged mismanagement of Shs3.8 billion meant for Buyaka Growers Cooperative Society Limited.

The constitutional petition was filed by Faruku Muhamed and others, while the related constitutional reference arose from criminal proceedings involving Akamba. Akamba had challenged his prosecution, arguing he was tortured by security operatives during arrest and that the violation of his rights entitled him to an acquittal under Section 11(2).

The Constitutional Court ruled the provision was inconsistent with the Constitution because it allowed accused persons to be acquitted without a full trial. ‘The Constitution is unequivocal that an acquittal may only ensue upon the conclusion of a trial in which the court has received, scrutinised and evaluated the evidence,’ the judges held.

The court further found the provision unfairly denied victims of crime the opportunity to be heard and undermined accountability. ‘Any statutory provision that has the effect of denying victims of crime an opportunity to be heard, or that undermines their legitimate interests in the adjudicative process, must be scrutinized with the highest level of constitutional vigilance,’ the court stated.

The judges also rejected arguments that the right to a fair hearing belongs only to accused persons. ‘The right to a fair hearing is not confined solely to accused persons. Article 28(1) expressly guarantees a fair hearing to ‘a person’ and not merely to ‘an accused’,’ the court ruled.

For Ssali and her co-accused, the ruling means the Anti-Corruption Division of the High Court can proceed with hearing substantive corruption and money laundering charges that have been pending for months amid procedural delays.

Prosecution alleges Ssali abused her office during the 2021/2022 financial year by irregularly introducing Buyaka Growers Cooperative Society onto a list of entities eligible for government compensation for war losses despite the cooperative not appearing in the approved supplementary budget. She is also accused of authorizing payments totaling Shs3.8 billion to Kirya and Company Advocates in contravention of Treasury Instructions.

The state contends that between 2019 and 2023, the accused persons conspired to defraud government of more than Shs3.4 billion earmarked for compensating cooperatives affected during the 1981-1986 liberation war and subsequent insurgencies.

The trial has faced repeated interruptions, including adjournments caused by absent prosecutors and the pending Constitutional Court proceedings. Last week, Anti-Corruption Division Judge Jane Okuo Kajuga adjourned the case to June 29, 2026, after state prosecutors failed to appear because they were attending a national prosecution symposium.

With the Constitutional Court having resolved the legal challenge at the centre of Akamba’s defence, attention is expected to shift back to the Anti-Corruption Division, where prosecutors will seek to present evidence against Ssali and her co-accused in one of the country’s most closely watched corruption cases.

In the recently passed Value Added Tax (VAT) Amendment Act, 2026, Parliament approved an increase in the VAT registration threshold from Shs150 million to Shs250 million. The Act has now been assented to by the President, and it will take effect on July 1, 2026.

The threshold was last adjusted in the 2015/2016 financial year, when it was raised from Shs50 million to Shs150 million. At the time of increasing the threshold to Shs150 million, Government cited factors such as growth in the economy, inflation as well as depreciation of the shilling that had made the Shs50 million too low.

The Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) has now reported that the need to further increase the threshold to Shs250 million stems from a significant proportion of VAT-registered taxpayers being small businesses contributing minimally to the government’s total VAT revenue. Many file nil returns month after month and in the process, continue to bear compliance costs while adding to the administrative workload of the URA. Raising the threshold is expected to allow the URA to concentrate enforcement resources on larger taxpayers and at the same time, free smaller businesses from VAT compliance obligations.

For Small and Medium Enterprises (‘SMEs’) with an annual turnover below Shs250 million, the amendment opens a window to deregister from VAT with effect from 1 July 2026, significantly reducing compliance costs, including the requirement to file monthly VAT returns even in periods with no sales.

However, the decision to deregister requires careful consideration. VAT registration offers several advantages, particularly the ability to claim input VAT on business-related expenses and capital investments. This can improve cash flow, especially for businesses that incur significant VAT on purchases or operate in sectors where clients are also VAT-registered and can recover VAT.

Remaining VAT-registered, even voluntarily, allows businesses to maintain these benefits. However, it also means continued compliance obligations as VAT-registered entities must file monthly returns regardless of whether they have made sales in a month or not. Failure to do so attracts penalties at the higher of the tax due or Shs200,000 per month.

For businesses that choose to deregister, the process involves submitting an online application through the URA web portal, outlining the reasons for deregistration. URA approval is required and may involve a review of the business’s historical turnover to confirm eligibility under the new threshold.

Implications of deregistration

It is also important to consider the tax implications of deregistration. Once a business exits the VAT system, it can no longer claim input VAT on purchases. Instead, VAT incurred becomes part of the cost base and may be deductible for income tax purposes when computing taxable profits. While this provides some relief, it does not offer the same immediate cash flow advantage as input VAT recovery.

Another key consideration is invoicing compliance. Deregistration from VAT does not eliminate the requirement to issue invoices through the Electronic Fiscal Receipting and Invoicing System (EFRIS) that is, electronic receipts. Under the Income Tax Act, all business expenses must be supported by valid documentation, including EFRIS-generated receipts or invoices. Non-VAT registered businesses are, therefore, still required to use the system to support their transactions and to avoid disadvantaging their clients whose expenses would be disallowed for income tax purposes if they are not supported by electronic receipts.

Ultimately, the higher VAT threshold is a welcome development for SMEs, particularly those operating at the lower end of the turnover spectrum. It reduces administrative burdens and allows businesses to focus more on growth rather than compliance.

However, the choice to deregister should not be made solely based on reduced compliance. Businesses must weigh the potential savings against the strategic benefits of remaining within the VAT system, including competitiveness, cash flow management, and alignment with customer expectations.

With 1 July approaching, now is the time for SMEs to review their turnover levels, assess their eligibility, and evaluate the broader commercial implications of deregistration. Getting professional advice at this stage may also be beneficial to ensure that the decision aligns with the business’s long-term objectives.

The morning sun rose gently over the undulating hills of Zombo, casting long rays across the fertile lands of Nebbi and Zombo districts. By 7am, small-scale farmers were already working their gardens. Women carried baskets of food to market, while men debated football, politics and life at trading centers.

For generations, Nebbi with 299,398 people and Zombo with 312,621 have been known for their beauty, hardworking communities, rich traditions and strong agricultural backbone. The two districts, home mainly to the Alur people, carry stories of resilience, unity and hope.

At Kango trading center, 69-year-old Joseph Opio sat beneath a tree watching traders arrange sacks of coffee by the roadside. ‘In those years, we grew a lot of maize, cassava, beans and Irish potatoes and hunger was not heard of. The land was very fertile and people envied us for the gift. But these days, people sleep hungry because they sell all food items because of high demand for food and money for upkeep,’ he said.

Coffee has become the new mainstay. Zombo’s cool highlands and fertile soils make it one of the leading Arabica coffee-growing areas in the region, prized for its unique flavor. ‘You cannot miss taking coffee once you visit a family here. Even when you are in the garden, we sipped coffee while working,’ Opio said.

Muscular men loaded coffee beans onto trucks bound for Kampala, Mbale, Arua, Lira, Masindi and Gulu. For farmers like Denis Odarowa, who inherited a two-acre plantation, coffee has been transformative. ‘Coffee changed my life,’ he said while sorting ripe red cherries. ‘I paid school fees for my younger brothers and built my mother a better house.’

Social policy analyst Sam Kumakech calls Zombo the food basket of the region. ‘We produce huge amounts of bananas, coffee, Irish potatoes, vegetables which are organic. The fine Arabica coffee places huge opportunities because many farmers can reap from it,’ he said.

Being on the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo also opens cross-border trade. Ministry of Trade statistics show over 2,500 traders ply routes to and from DRC weekly, with trucks carrying building materials, fuel and other goods through Goli and Padea border points daily. Local industries are emerging too, including wine and coffee processing plants in Paidha town employing dozens of youth.

Tourism is another untapped opportunity. Zombo has Leda, where two rivers meet; Ajere Hills with traditionally known ‘magic’ waters; Nyagak River falls and meanders where hydro-power dams sit; and royal tombs dating back centuries. ‘We have royal tombs that are dated centuries ago that are still visible in Zombo district,’ Kumakech said. ‘We need the tourism sites which need to be developed right from Pakwach to Zombo because these can create economic opportunities. Even our cultural sites, dances, cuisines remain a hidden treasure for us.’

In Nebbi, hidden gems include the burial site of Nyipir at Kucwiny, Nduru Hill, and Biku Church in Goli, home to what is said to be the smallest church in the world. ‘The Alur King’s Royal Palace still needs development. We have Nyagak which has falls, the Agu Hills for hiking and picnics. From Agu Hill, you can have the view of Lake Albert in Panyimur in Pakwach district,’ said Zombo District Tourism Officer Jovian Kayenyparwoth.

Cross-border trade, however, is hampered by insecurity. Last year, Col. Disanoa Laula, Administrator of Military Affairs in Mahagi Territory, admitted challenges remain. ‘We have challenges in managing our economy due to border conflicts and crimes which shouldn’t be the case. If we all speak the same language, we can manage and transform our economy,’ he said.

Across the two districts, young people increasingly see agriculture as business, not just survival. The rolling hills produce bananas, maize, beans and groundnuts, and markets overflow during harvest.

Culture remains the glue. Marriage ceremonies, clan meetings and traditional dances unite communities. At a recent celebration in Paidha, dancers moved to Agwara trumpets, Ndara xylophones and Adungu instruments while elders narrated stories of the Alur kingdom. ‘Our young people need to be exposed to our traditional culture because some are staying in the cities where different cultures are being practiced,’ said Alur Kingdom Prime Minister Prince Lawrence Opar Angala. ‘Through cultural events that now take shape to guard against erosion, people are made to know their culture.’

Nebbi’s plains in Erussi, Ndhew and Atego support crop farming and livestock, while trade routes link the districts to DRC. President of Greater Nebbi Forum Emilio Odongo sees more potential. ‘We still have huge demands for development of the hotel industry because we have huge economic and tourism opportunities. Fish farming is a huge opportunity because we have a cool environment,’ he said. ‘Coffee and cocoa are standing as huge export earning crops. If we can promote commercial cocoa growing, then the chocolate production can be done in Kampala, which is not far for transportation.’

Challenges persist. Roads like Nebbi-Goli-Paidha-Warr-Vurra remain in poor state, though some feeder roads have improved. Farmers still struggle with poor storage, changing weather and fluctuating prices. ‘In the financial year 2024/25, we managed to work on most of our feeder roads. So, this was to enable our farmers to transport their goods to markets easily because people need money in their pockets,’ said Zombo LC5 Chairperson James Oyullu.

Farmers are adapting through savings groups and women’s associations that add value to cassava flour, simsim paste and dried fruits. At sunset, Nebbi town glows quietly as motorcycles buzz through streets and traders close shop.

For elders like 78-year-old Celestina Acikani of Kango Sub-county, the lesson is clear. ‘We survived to live long because we worked together. The land gave us organic food, and culture gave us our identity. We did not tolerate laziness, everyone was a hard worker,’ she told children gathered around a fire.

Today, Nebbi and Zombo stand as symbols of resilience in West Nile. From coffee hills at the Congo border to valleys in Erussi, farmers step into gardens with hope.

‘I am targeting to earn Shs 28 million in two years in the piggery and the practicing of good agronomics in onion growing,’ said Ezekiel Onyuthi, a farmer in Gonyobendo. ‘There is a huge market for onions both in our local markets and DRC.’

As drums of tradition beat across hills and valleys, the message remains: progress and heritage can thrive together. These districts are more than lines on a map. They are living examples of how culture and agriculture can shape communities, strengthen economies, and inspire hope.

A new UNICEF report has exposed critical gaps in Uganda’s secondary schools, showing hundreds lack the electricity, devices and internet needed to roll out digital learning.

Education Ministry officials, UNICEF representatives, school heads and other stakeholders gathered in Gulu City on Tuesday for the launch of From Unplugged to ICT-Ready, a Digital Readiness Assessment of Secondary Schools in Uganda carried out in 3,257 schools nationwide.

Ms Janet Akao, Education Officer at UNICEF Uganda, said the findings were worrying. ‘We found that 41% of these schools are semi-plugged, where they had unstable electricity, limited devices and very unreliable internet, and that’s a big number, while 39% of the schools are completely unconnected and did not have internet, associated devices, and teachers,’ she said.

She revealed that only 20% of schools in the country are connected to both electricity, devices and internet.

‘While up to 41 per cent of the schools were found to be semi-plugged, only 20 per cent of schools in this country are connected to both electricity, devices and internet,’ Akao added.

The study was commissioned last year by UNICEF and the Ministry of Education with funding from the Mastercard Foundation to assess ICT infrastructure needs and the capacity of schools for ICT integration. It will guide the Leaders in Teaching Uganda program, a five-year initiative from 2025 to 2030 that seeks to transform secondary education in 2,091 schools.

Of the 3,257 schools assessed, 1,527 were government-aided secondary schools, 1,040 were private community schools, 521 were private faith-based schools, 17 were universities and one was a UNITE campus.

School heads said the teacher gap is a major obstacle. ‘The instructors we have now are not professional teachers, and what are we going to do if, in many of our secondary schools, the teachers are not yet trained? Are they going to pass the right information to the learners, or are they going to mislead the learners?’ Sr Hellen Lamunu, headmistress of Sacred Heart Girls School in Gulu City, wondered.

Ms Proscovia Aber, Gulu City Inspector of Schools, said the Northern Region is trailing the rest of the country.

‘These findings, for the case of Northern Region Uganda is worrying, because as the region is trailing in almost everything, internet connectivity, we are at the lowest, ICT infrastructure and electricity connection, we are still at the lowest, including the capacity of our teachers, majority of our teachers do not have access or lack the ICT gadgets,’ Aber said.

She however expressed optimism that district education departments and stakeholders are working on policies to bridge the gap.

Mr Abubaker Bbuye, Principal Education Officer at the Education Ministry, admitted Uganda lacks professional ICT teachers.

‘We recruited a big number, and we gave them the opportunity to go and study; they used their two years to get better qualifications and went elsewhere for greener pastures. If you had 106 recruited, only about 46 are in service; the rest went for better opportunities,’ Bbuye said.

‘The problem with ICT, once the people are skilled and they get better skills, they move to places where they need challenges, a school setting may not be a kind of challenge to some of these so-called good boys and girls in terms of ICT,’ he added.

Bbuye said government is banking on research by the World Bank that is yet to be disseminated.

‘There was research done, not disseminated yet, by the World Bank, on the readiness of ICT in schools. Not yet disseminated, they looked at the readiness of schools in terms of equipment, in terms of the actual usage, etc., that will help us to determine our status,’ he said.

For decades, residents living along the boundaries of Kabwoya Wildlife Reserve faced a difficult choice whenever they needed water.

Some trekked for kilometres to the shores of Lake Albert, risking attacks from crocodiles, while others ventured into protected wildlife areas in search of water and other resources.

The daily struggle not only endangered lives but also fuelled tensions between communities and conservation authorities as some residents crossed into the reserve and engaged in illegal activities, including poaching.

Today, however, access to water is helping transform relations between people and wildlife.

At least 100,000 residents in water-stressed communities surrounding Kabwoya Wildlife Reserve are benefiting from 600 rainwater harvesting tanks installed under the World Bank-funded Investing in Forests and Protected Areas for Climate-Smart Development (IFPA-CD) project.

The programme, which began in 2021 and is expected to conclude this month, covers communities in Kabale and Buseruka sub-counties in Hoima District as well as Kabwoya and Kyangwali sub-counties in Kikuube District.

The tanks, ranging from 5,000 to 10,000 litres in capacity, have been distributed free of charge to vulnerable households, schools, health centres, churches and police posts.

According to Raymond Kato, Senior Warden of Kabwoya Wildlife Reserve, the intervention was designed to tackle both water scarcity and human-wildlife conflict.

‘People were fetching water from the lake and reserve, exposing themselves to danger. Some were attacked by crocodiles while others entered protected areas in search of water and other resources. The tanks promote peaceful co-existence between communities and wildlife,’ he said.

Kato said improved access to water has significantly reduced movement into the reserve, easing pressure on wildlife habitats and strengthening conservation efforts. The current phase of the project cost about Shs800 million.

Beyond water provision, the initiative has supported beekeeping, facilitated the formation of resource users’ associations and established five regulated resource access agreements allowing communities to legally collect firewood, medicinal herbs, thatching grass and black soil under controlled conditions.

Crocodile risk reduced

The project has also financed new infrastructure within the reserve, including 20 staff houses for junior officers and a residence for the senior warden. For residents, the changes have been immediate.

At Kyehoro Landing Site, fisherman Santo Oyer remembers the dangers that once accompanied every search for water.

‘We used to make several trips to the lake every week. During the rainy season the routes became slippery, and there was always fear of crocodiles. Since the tanks were installed, many families no longer have to make those risky journeys,’ he said on Monday.

For 76-year-old Thereza Tibangaina of Nyakabale Village, access to water has become less of a daily burden.

‘I used to walk about five kilometres to fetch water. Sometimes I had to buy water because I could not manage the journey. Now I can get water much closer to home and it has made life easier for me,’ she said.

The benefits extend beyond households. At Kikuube Health Centre IV, six rainwater harvesting tanks now support sanitation services for an estimated 20,000 people.

‘These tanks have restored sanitation services at the health facility and support a catchment population of about 20,000 people. Clean water is critical in maintaining hygiene standards and preventing infections,’ said facility in-charge Richard Kugonza.

Welcome relief to households

Schools are also reporting improvements. Christopher Mbabazi, head teacher of Kikuube Union Vision Secondary School, said seven tanks installed at the school have reduced the time students spend collecting water.

‘Previously, students spent a lot of time queuing at boreholes to fetch water. The tanks have reduced those interruptions and enabled students to concentrate more on their studies. We have observed improvements in attendance and academic performance,’ he said.

Local leaders say the intervention has eased pressure on limited water sources.

Geoffrey Kumakech Demaya, LC1 chairperson of Kaiso B Village, said the area’s more than 3,000 residents previously relied on a single borehole.

‘The tanks have provided welcome relief to many households. Although more water infrastructure is still needed, this project has greatly reduced the pressure on the few available sources,’ he said.

According to district records, safe water coverage in Hoima District increased from 74.29 percent in 2024 to 75.07 percent in 2025.

Security agencies have also benefited, with police officials reporting reduced expenditure on water at police facilities.

For conservationists, the gains are equally significant.

Kabwoya Wildlife Reserve, which stretches along the shores of Lake Albert and hosts one of Uganda’s largest populations of Uganda kob, is experiencing reduced human pressure as fewer residents enter the protected area in search of water.

Officials say this is helping wildlife habitats recover while complementing ongoing conservation and wildlife-restocking efforts.

As the IFPA-CD project nears completion, communities around the reserve are already witnessing how a basic service can generate far-reaching benefits.

What began as a response to chronic water shortages has evolved into a model supporting conservation, public health, education and community livelihoods.

While appearing before Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee during the scrutiny of the December 2025 Auditor General’s report, Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary Dr Diana Atwine shockingly revealed that two million babies were born in Uganda in 2025.

She further noted that the number would have been higher at around three million if it wasn’t for infant mortality.

According to the 2024 National Population and Housing Census, the population stands at 45.9 million, growing at 2.9 percent annually. Even more concerning, half of it, some 22,750,701 are children under the age of 18.

The Uganda Bureau of Statistics (Ubos) has over the past years disseminated several reports and the figures deserve a national conversation.

Despite the country’s Total Fertility Rate falling from 7.1 children per woman in 1991 to 4.5 children per woman in 2024, the population growth remains significantly high, and experts still expect Uganda to produce about 1.5 million babies on average every year. There’s worry the real number may already exceed those projections.

Approximately seven million Ugandans live below the poverty line, living on a dollar a day, an equivalent of about Shs3,800 a day, indicating that several households continue to struggle to afford basic living. Reports indicate that 27 percent of Ugandans, roughly 12.2 million people, already face simultaneous deprivations in education, health, and living standards.

The recently released Harmonised Integrated Survey portrays an intriguing shifting structure of the household itself. The proportion of male heads decreased by two percent from 66.3 percent in 2021/22 to 64.3percent in 2024/2025, and five-member households increased by 5.8 percent from 44.6 percent to 50.4 percent in the same period.

Interestingly, poverty is more prevalent and pronounced among female-headed households compared to male-headed households. On the other hand, the rate at which children are orphaned is equally alarming.

Another report shows that 2,873,622, representing 13percent of children, were orphans having lost either one or both parents in 2024 alone. This has led to the creation of households headed by children and youth, a recipe for disaster for the nation at large.

There’s never been an opportune time to advocate for access to reproductive health. Several countries in the recent past have reversed the trend by accelerating contraceptive use.

Neighbouring Rwanda increased contraceptive use nearly four-fold from 17 percent in 2000 to 64 percent in 2023, driving its fertility rate from 6.1 to 3.8 children per woman. Studies indicate that Ethiopia and Malawi have embarked on the same path, demonstrating the possibility.

The new government does not need to benchmark very far away from home, practical case studies are in the neighbourhood.

For a manageable dependency ratio, stronger per capita public spending, and socio-economic transformation, time to act is now. We have the data; we need the political will to act.