Category: Daily Monitor

After a lively opening day dominated by schools and underage categories, the real fireworks are set to take over Lugogo Indoor Stadium as the City Tyres East Africa Badminton Challenge enters Day Two of action on Friday.

Friday’s slate brings the ‘big dawgs’ – the professionals, corporates, Asian community in Uganda, universities, and a new coaches’ category – promising an explosion of smashes, rallies, and roaring cheers in what is shaping up to be the most electrifying edition yet.

The eighth edition of the event has grown in every imaginable way: entries have surged to 1,118 participants, the main draw expanded from 64 to 256, 125 trophies at stake and prize money jumped from Shs8m to Shs11m.

Draw attraction

‘This tournament has grown massively – from a 64-draw in our early years to 128 recently, and now 256,’ said Uganda Badminton Association CEO Simon Mugabi.

‘We have over 40 foreign players and an incredible mix from countries like Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Namibia, South Sudan, Burundi, DR Congo and Thailand. That shows how far the sport has come.’

Even with defending men’s professional champion Augustus Owiny missing in action as he is currently abroad, Mugabi insists the stage remains set for top-class competition. The women’s champion Fadilah Shamika Mohammed Rafi will be among Uganda’s hopefuls eyeing glory as the pros take to court.

Growing partnership

This four-day festival of shuttle action is powered by City Tyres through the Mandela Group, in partnership with Linglong Tyres, ENOC 4T Dealers, India Association of Uganda, and UGASEWA.

For Linglong Tyres, who are marking their 50th anniversary, the event goes beyond competition – it’s a celebration of community and wellness through sport.

‘For our partners at Linglong, this tournament is also about giving back and building bonds,’ said Mahad Twaha, Senior Sales Executive at City Tyres.

Marketing Manager Herbert Bashaasha praised the partnership’s longevity and commitment:

‘City Tyres has supported badminton for close to a decade. The tournament keeps getting bigger, and this year, expect real fireworks. We’re fielding a team ourselves and encouraging fans to come, cheer, and celebrate their individuals and teams of choice.’

Mugabi also teased that the media could soon have their own spotlight: ‘We’ve opened space for journalists to participate – so don’t just cover the sport and blame players for their mishaps, come and play it and see what it takes to hit that shuttlecock!’ he joked.

Colour and Culture

Day One already provided a vibrant start – filled with cheers from school teams, traditional dances, and lively displays from junior players. But as Friday’s slate rolls in, expect the rallies to be faster, the smashes harder, and the atmosphere more electric.

Each category brings its own flavour – from the camaraderie of the corporates to the technical finesse of the Asian community, the passion of the universities, and the tactical edge of the coaches.

‘This is a regional festival,’ Mugabi said. ‘We’ve built a structure that can handle the big numbers, and Lugogo is going to embrace all the energy. Players have been advised to keep time.’

8th City Tyres East Africa Badminton Challenge

Day By Day Tournament Schedule

Oct 16: Schools and Underage (Opening ceremony, colourful displays)

Oct 17: Professionals, Corporates, Asian Community, Universities, Coaches categories

Oct 18: Schools Finals, Professional and Asian Community Knockouts, Coaches and Veterans (High-Stakes semifinals)

Oct 19: Grand Finals and Awards Ceremony (4-6 PM)

The Kampala City Hall Court has released on bail the Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Clive Nsiima, the officer captured in a viral video slapping a fuel station shop attendant in Kyanja, a Kampala suburb after being reminded to pay for items worth Shs30,000.

Presiding Grade One Magistrate Nicholas Aisu granted Nsiima bail at Shs1 million, while his three sureties were each bonded at Shs5 million to ensure his return to court for trial.

“The accused still enjoys the right to the presumption of innocence as he has not pleaded guilty. He has presented substantial sureties, and there is no record showing he has ever jumped bail or has other pending charges,” Magistrate Aisu ruled.

The court noted that despite the public outrage triggered by the viral video, the law presumes every accused person innocent until proven guilty.

ASP Nsiima was arraigned before the same court earlier this week and charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm and malicious damage to property. He is accused of assaulting Pellan Atumuhuriize, a supermarket attendant at a Kyanja fuel station, and damaging her mobile phone.

According to the prosecution, led by State Attorney Mercy Yamangusho, the officer, attached to the Counter Terrorism Directorate, Oil and Gas Department, allegedly committed the offense on October 7, 2025.

“The accused willfully and unlawfully assaulted the complainant before damaging her mobile smartphone,” Ms. Yamangusho stated.

The prosecution had strongly opposed bail, arguing that the officer’s conduct was unbecoming of someone mandated to protect the public.

“The accused is a police officer whose duty is to protect the public, not assault them. His actions are disgraceful and have caused public outrage,” Ms. Yamangusho told the court.

However, defense counsel Hamza Kyamanywa urged the court to grant his client bail, saying the accused had reconciled with the complainant and had fulfilled all legal requirements for temporary release.

“The accused has reconciled with the complainant and has presented responsible sureties. He is presumed innocent and should not be detained further,” Mr. Kyamanywa submitted.

Magistrate Aisu, while acknowledging the reconciliation claim, said no formal agreement or supporting evidence had been filed in court. Nonetheless, he found that Nsiima met the conditions for bail.

“Even though his actions went viral on social media, there is no evidence that he poses a flight risk or has any other pending cases,” the magistrate ruled.

Nsiima, a resident of Kyanja, pleaded not guilty to the charges. He will now await trial from home following his release.

The incident that led to his arrest occurred when the shop attendant reportedly demanded payment for items – two cans of beer and a pack of condoms – that Nsiima and a female companion had picked. The confrontation escalated, leading to the assault that was captured on video and widely circulated online.

The footage sparked public condemnation and prompted the Uganda Police Force to arrest and dismiss the officer from service.

In a democracy, public funding of political parties should guarantee participation, not purchase silence. Yet in Uganda, the State has twisted a constitutional safeguard into a political weapon. The 2025 amendment to the Political Parties and Organisations Act (PPOA) is not merely a budgetary adjustment-it’s a redesign of political control. Dialogue, once voluntary, is now a condition for survival. Tellingly, the law was taken through Parliament on the same day as the UPDF Amendment Act, 2025.

After Opposition Members of Parliament led by the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament walked out in protest of the UPDF Bill, the ruling side introduced the PPOA amendment and passed it almost unopposed. What could not survive open scrutiny was passed in silence. The timing was no coincidence-it revealed that whatever the law contained was never meant to serve citizens or democracy.

At the centre of this is the Inter-Party Organisation for Dialogue (IPOD), once hailed as a model of cooperation among rivals. The government has now tethered political funding-previously guaranteed under Section 14A of the 2010 PPOA-to membership in the National Consultative Forum (NCF), of which IPOD is now a statutory organ.

Even worse, funding depends on ‘active participation’ in IPOD activities. In practice, this means membership to IPOD is now totally mandatory for all parties in Parliament, including now the National Unity Platform (NUP)-compelling them to recently ask the IPOD officials to avail them with the MOU documents to sign.

The first IPOD, founded in 2010, was not a government body. It was a donor-funded project run by the Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy (NIMD). Membership was voluntary; parties like NRM, DP, UPC, FDC, and Jeema signed MoUs and received modest logistical support. Until 2022, all parliamentary parties enjoyed dual funding: NIMD support for IPOD members and taxpayer-funded allocations under Section 14A, based on their numerical strength in Parliament.

But cracks appeared. In 2018, the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) withdrew from IPOD activities but remained a member, accusing the government of turning dialogue into theatre while continuing arrests, abductions, and political persecution.

‘We will not be part of a forum that sanitises repression,’ said then party secretary general Nandala Mafabi. FDC’s boycott was genuine, demanding action on earlier IPOD agreements and an end to Opposition harassment. Yet NIMD continued funding FDC, clarifying that the money was for institutional support, not obedience. When NUP entered Parliament in 2021 as the new lead Opposition, it inherited FDC’s scepticism and went further, totally refusing to sign the IPOD MoU. NUP called it a trap that launders dictatorship rather than reforms it, insisting on ending abductions, releasing political prisoners, and stopping the weaponisation of State institutions.

NUP never joined the NGO-run IPOD or received NIMD funds, relying solely on taxpayer funding under Section 14A. In 2022, NIMD withdrew support, undermining IPOD’s credibility. Now IPOD has been nationalised through the 2025 amendment-placing it under the NCF and ministerial control, with funding now conditional on participation. Yet the minister has never issued the statutory instrument required to define how parties join or withdraw from the NCF/IPOD. Normally, these organs would take effect only after the minister’s regulations are published in the national gazette-something we haven’t seen.

Meanwhile, the old NGO-IPOD continues convening summits and soliciting signatures, creating two IPODs: one in law but not practice, and another in practice but not law. This contradiction should worry more than political parties. When the State ties public resources to partisan structures, it normalises conditional citizenship. Today it’s IPOD; tomorrow it could be civil society, media houses, universities, or trade unions forced into ‘national forums’ to access grants or licences.

The government’s message is blunt: since NUP refused to come into IPOD, IPOD will come to NUP. It’s coercion disguised as consultation. Public funding-once a constitutional entitlement-is now a bargaining chip for political silence. The 2025 amendment has not deepened democracy; it has criminalised independence. FDC’s boycott and NUP’s refusal were acts of principle, not defiance. The government could have addressed the oppression and inequality these parties highlighted without tampering with the Constitution. Instead, it has weaponised public funding to reward loyalty. A dangerous precedent now looms, threatening the essence of democratic dissent. The question lingers: Is this IPOD really the IPOD?

When Ugandan trader Dennis Mutagaya received a call that one of his client’s trucks had been broken into while transiting through Kenya, he thought the worst was over once the theft was reported. It wasn’t.

Days later, the Kenyan authorities slapped his client with a tax bill for the very goods that had been stolen.

‘The truck was Kenyan-registered, and the theft happened within Kenya,’ Mutagaya recalls, his frustration still evident.

‘Yet authorities compelled the importer to pay taxes for the stolen goods before releasing another of his trucks that wasn’t even involved.’

The disputed tax, Kshs6.1m (about Shs163m), left the exporter stranded for months, missing shipping deadlines and losing contracts.

‘Kenya’s policy, we were told, is that once you lose cargo in Kenya, you pay taxes for it, even when it’s stolen,’ Mutagaya says, doubting if this ‘makes sense’.

‘If cargo is in transit and gets stolen, responsibility should lie with the host authorities, not the victim.’

His ordeal is not isolated. Across Uganda’s logistics sector, traders are crying foul over what they call ‘punitive and outdated’ customs rules and unilateral enforcement practices by Kenya, Uganda’s biggest trade partner and the gatekeeper of East Africa’s busiest trade route.

For Uganda, Kenya is more than just a neighbor; it’s the country’s main corridor to the sea.

More than 80 percent of Uganda’s international trade flows through the Port of Mombasa, making it the single most critical artery for the landlocked nation’s economy.

Each year, more than 10 million tonnes of Ugandan imports and exports pass through Mombasa, accounting for nearly a third of the port’s total throughput.

The corridor also serves Rwanda, South Sudan, and parts of eastern DR Congo, but Uganda is the anchor client, the one that keeps Kenya’s logistics chain humming.

Yet, as Mutagaya’s experience shows, that dependence comes with vulnerability, and Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) clearly understands this pain.

URA Commissioner for Customs, Asadu Kigozi, says as someone responsible for facilitating trade, “I understand the pain’.

‘Our biggest challenge remains infrastructure at Malaba and Busia. The efficiencies achieved at the Port of Mombasa are often lost at the border.’

Kigozi says both Uganda and Kenya must move beyond border bottlenecks and adopt ‘smarter, digital systems’ that make cargo movement predictable and transparent.

‘You cannot release 1,400 trucks a day from Mombasa and expect them to pass through a single-lane post. We need systems where a truck scanned in Mombasa doesn’t have to be scanned again at Malaba,’ he says.

The message was clear: the future of East African trade depends not on slogans of integration, but on the reality of working systems and mutual trust.

Kenya understands how important Uganda is, with the country’s High Commissioner to Uganda, Joash Maangi, acknowledging the growing frustration.

‘Customer is king, and we value Uganda as our largest trading partner. Both governments are committed to eliminating barriers that hinder the free flow of goods and services,’ he says, pointing to reforms initiated by President William Ruto, including 24-hour operations at Mombasa Port, reduced weighbridge checks, and faster clearance to make the Northern Corridor more efficient.

But Maangi defends Kenya’s controversial customs policy on transit goods, saying it was designed to prevent tax evasion by unscrupulous traders who divert cargo into the local market.

‘The law was meant to prevent abuse of the system. But we are improving coordination to ensure genuine traders are not unfairly punished.’

Still, the policy’s blunt application continues to hurt legitimate importers. Ugandan freight companies have previously warned that unless the two governments create a joint redress mechanism, the cost of doing business in the region will continue to rise.

But beyond the growing cost of doing business, the policy is a test of integration, in which Ugandan traders continue to be affected by delays, red tape, and what many traders call ‘bureaucratic arrogance.’

The episode over stolen cargo is just the latest flashpoint in a decade-long tug-of-war between regional policy and national interest.

As officials trade promises of reform, traders like Mutagaya are still waiting, not for speeches, but for systems that work.

‘We just want fairness,’ he says. ‘When cargo moves smoothly, both Uganda and Kenya win.’

The High Court in Kampala has issued a temporary injunction stopping the Uganda Law Society (ULS) from holding its annual general meeting (AGM) scheduled for this Saturday, October 18, 2025, at Imperial Resort Beach Hotel, Entebbe.

Justice Bernard Namanya delivered the ruling on Thursday, restraining the ULS, its members, and officials from convening or holding the AGM until the final determination of the main case or until further orders of the court.

The injunction also bars the implementation of resolutions passed at the ULS general meeting held on September 17, 2025, at Imperial Royale Hotel, Kampala.

“A temporary injunction is hereby issued restraining the Uganda Law Society, its members and any of its officials from convening and holding an Annual General Meeting on 18th October 2025 or on any other date or future date until the final determination of Miscellaneous Cause No. 267 of 2025,” Justice Namanya ruled.

The ruling follows an application by ULS members Martha Nabijewa and Tonny Tumukunde, who argued that the current ULS Council is not lawfully constituted because key statutory members, including the Attorney General, the Solicitor General, the Secretary (Mr Munaabi Phillip), and Central Region Representative (Mr. Turyamusiima Geoffrey), did not participate in council decisions leading to the two meetings.

The main suit challenges the legality of the September 17 general meeting and the subsequent notice calling for the October 18 AGM. The applicants cited Section 9 of the Uganda Law Society Act, which provides that the Council must include the Attorney General and Solicitor General, and argued that any meetings convened without their participation are illegal.

“The affairs of the society continue to be managed by an improperly constituted Council,” they stated in their affidavits.

In response, ULS Vice President Anthony Asiimwe and Chief Executive Officer Christine Awori argued that the September 17 meeting was not convened by the Council but by members themselves under Section 16 of the Uganda Law Society Act, which allows members to requisition a general meeting.

They further stated that the applicants sought to sow discord within the society and disrupt the election of ULS nominees to the Judicial Service Commission, which was one of the agenda items for the Saturday AGM.

However, Justice Namanya noted that the notices for both meetings were issued by order of the ULS Council and, given that the Council’s legal status was in question, the process leading to the AGM was tainted.

Justice Namanya found that the main suit raised serious legal questions requiring determination, including whether the current ULS Council was properly constituted and whether it lawfully convened the two meetings.

“This court is satisfied that there are serious questions to be tried in the main suit,” he said, citing the pending Court of Appeal Civil Appeal No. 98 of 2025: ULS and Another v. Mugisha Hashim and Others, which challenges an earlier High Court ruling declaring the ULS Council unlawfully constituted.

The judge emphasised that the decision in Mugisha Hashim v. Uganda Law Society, delivered in February 2025 by Justice Musa Ssekaana, remains binding because it has not been set aside or stayed.

Justice Namanya added that allowing the ULS to proceed with the AGM could cause irreparable injury, particularly regarding the election of nominees to the Judicial Service Commission, a constitutional body that advises the President on judicial appointments.

“The election of nominees by the Uganda Law Society for appointment to the Commission must be devoid of any illegality,” he stated.

The court also noted that the censure of Council members Phillip Munaabi and Geoffrey Turyamusiima at the September 17 meeting may have violated their right to a fair hearing.

In conclusion, the court issued two main injunctions: one halting the October 18 AGM and another suspending the implementation of all resolutions from the September 17 meeting. “This order covers both physical meetings and electronic meetings by whatever means,” the judge clarified.

The judge held that the costs of the application will abide by the outcome of the main suit, which is scheduled for hearing on October 20, 2025, before the High Court of Uganda.

Nisha Pearl Najjuma got Uganda rolling at the Africa Aquatics Zone III Swimming Championships at Kasarani Stadium in Nairobi with two gold medals on Thursday.

The 12 year old topped her age group’s 200m backstroke in a time of two minutes, 50 seconds and 98 microseconds (2:50.98) and 50m breaststroke in 39.17 seconds.

“Not a bad start,” is all she said in the aftermath of the early Thursday medal ceremony.

Her teammate Gabriella Eleanor Nakimuli clocked 2:57.40 to finish 4th in the backstroke behind Kenya’s Thandiwe Kamanga and Tanzania’s Pearl Carlos.

Alba Ihunde was also 4th in the 50m breaststroke behind Tanzania’s Heydleen Magashi and Kenya’s Aisha Hassan.

In the same age group, Giovanni Cruz Mbanga got the boys’ 200m backstroke (2:46.85) gold with Kristian Bwisho finishing 4th (2:57.80) behind Kenya’s AbdulKadir AbdulKadir and Tanzania’s Amani Kessi.

Bwisho collected 50m breaststroke (37.45) bronze behind silver teammate Elijah Ayesiga (37.03) and Kenyan winner Don Ndirangu.

In the 13-14 age group, Jonathan Kaweesa brought home the boys’ gold in the 200m backstroke (2:33.46) while Jayson Aronda (2:37.61) joined the podium in 3rd behind Tanzania’s Max Missokia.

Kaweesa (34.26) also marginally edged teammate Kigundu Ssango (34.49) to silver in the 50m breaststroke that was won by Kenya’s Baraka Nyakundi (32.90).

Tanzania’s Crissa Dillip denied Zara Mbanga girls’ gold in both the 50m breaststroke and 200m backstroke.

Dillip topped the latter in 2:36.86 as Mbanga finished in 2:42.09 to get silver. Paula Nabukeera was 5th in this race behind Kenyan duo Alma Ngaruiya and Aariana Barchha.

Dillip (36.53) was a second faster than Mbanga (37.55) in the breaststroke but Uganda had more to rejoice about as Mackayla Ssali (38.61) joined the podium.

Bigger fights

In the 15-16 boys’ 200m backstroke, Shaun Murungi (2:24.00) and Daniel Rukundo (2:34.03) finished 1st and 2nd but Uganda had no one on the podium in 50m breaststroke. Rukundo (32.86) and Peterson Inhensiko (33.33) finished behind Kenyan duo Neo Olengo (30.81) and Jeremy Kego (32.52) plus Tanzania’s Austin Okore (32.53).

For the girls, Paloma Kirabo was 3rd in the 200m backstroke (2:47.41) as Kenya’s Ruth Wangari Lindkvist and Tanzania’s Filbertha Demello took gold and silver respectively.

Female captain Peyton Suubi brought Uganda back to the top in the 50m breaststroke (36.39) but Kirabo was a distant ninth.

In the 17 and Over age group, Tara Kisawuzi competed alone in the 200m backstroke then finished second in the 50m breaststroke behind Kenya’s Duini Caffini.

For the senior boys, Pendo Kaumi bagged 200m backstroke bronze (2:28.57) behind Sudan’s Saleem Mohamed Ziyad (2:12.88) and Tanzania’s Romeo-Mihaly Mwaipasi while Malcolm Nahamya (2:39.50) was 5th behind Burundi’s Flack Zacharie Harinzimana.

In the 50m breaststroke Kyle Kaweesa (31.04) and captain Ampaire Namanya (32.08) brought home gold and silver respectively while Burundi’s duo of Nicky Terry Irakoze and Tony Lilia Uwineza were joint 3rd (33.77).

Expanded categories

In the expanded age groups, Dillip still made her presence felt in the 14 and Under girls’ 800m freestyle – winning it in 10.26.69 ahead of Uganda’s Ssali (11:01.11) and Tyrah Muganzi (11:03.62).

In the boys’ group, Missokia (10:04.86), Kenya’s Andrew Ogola (10:24.81), and Rwanda’s Kean Sheja (10:36.90) finished ahead of Uganda’s Elijah Mukisa (10:41.06) while Manuel Ssemanda (11:02.66) was 8th.

For the 15 and Over boys, Uganda’s Jordan Munyikwa (10:33.94) and Isaiah Kuc (10:34.30) finished 4th and 5th respectively. But Suubi showed her prowess across all distances again as she topped the senior girls in 10:08.66. Sonia Mwere was 7th in 11:35.71.

Masters take a dip

For the masters, Aksam Magoola, Phillip Nuwagaba, and Ivan Muhoozi were 5th, 6th, and 7th respectively in their 25-29 men’s 50m breaststroke. Benon Ojwiya and Habib Yawe were 4th and 5th in the 30-34 group.

Yuda Morris Ssekamatte and Henry Kakooza topped the 35-39 and 40-44 men respectively. Dunstan Rukare won the 45-49 men’s silver as Ismail Munaaba finished 5th.

Paul Duke Kaganzi was 4th in the 50-54 age group while Peter Mugisha, Donald Rukare, and Patrick Magezi finished 1st, 2nd, and 3rd respectively in the 55-59 age group. Peter Ssebanakitta and Charles Obwana were 1st and 4th in the 60 and Over age group.

For the women, Resty Kiwuka and Michelle Mugisha Ayesiga finished 1st and 3rd in the 25-29 age group respectively. Kezia Wairimu – who is coaching the age group swimmers, Belinda Eleanor Illamai, and Sandra Arinaitwe were 1st, 2nd, and 3rd in the 30-34 age group while Linda Namayanja and Rachael Amito were 3rd and 4th in the 35-39 group as were captain Abisagi Mugenyi Namugenze and Christine Kesende in the 40-44 age group plus Grace Kigundu and Isabella Omara Sigombe in the 45-49 category.

Patricia Ejalu was second in the 50-54 age group.

Raila funeral takes over

Meanwhile, the swimming had to stop in the early afternoon after the Kenyan government changed the venue for the public viewing of deceased leader Raila Odinga’s remains from Nyayo Stadium to Kasarani.

The 100m butterfly and 4x50m medley relays were postponed to Saturday (by press time). But the decision to stop was commendable as it allowed the swimming group to act in solidarity with the mourning country.

It was also a sound decision because just after the swimming delegation had left, Police fired teargas into the mammoth crowd to calm matters.

After years of public outcry over its deplorable condition, the government has finally commenced the rehabilitation of the 89.3 kilometre Kyenjojo-Kyegegwa-Mubende Road.

Motorists and residents have endured unbearable travel conditions along this route, which connects the Tooro Sub-region to Kampala and further links Uganda to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) Because of its bad state characterised by potholes and gullies, several lives have been lost to accidents and many people maimed. The road’s poor state also crippled businesses.

Travel time between Kyenjojo and Kyegegwa, which previously took about 30 minutes, increased to three hours due to the poor road surface, and transport fares doubled from Shs5,000 to Shs10,000. Traders and transporters incurred heavy losses as vehicle maintenance costs soared, while perishable goods often fail to reach markets in time. The Ministry of Works and Transport expects to complete the roadworks in 18 months. The project is expected to cost Shs190 billion.

The project had initially been budgeted for in the 2013/2014 Financial Year, but progress stalled due to funding shortages.

The roadworks commenced after King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV of Tooro raised the issue during his 30th coronation anniversary on September 12, appealing directly to President Museveni to prioritise the road’s repair. The king emphasised that the road’s poor condition had negatively affected tourism, trade, and the overall economic growth of the Tooro Sub-region. Before the commencement of the works, frustrated residents of Kyegegwa District had resorted to filling potholes with sand and murram in a desperate attempt to make the road passable, accusing the government of neglect.

Road’s rehabilitation

The State Minister for Transport, Mr Fred Byamukama, in an interview with this publication on Tuesday, said: ‘Some contractors demanded unrealistic figures. In 2019, one quoted about Shs220 billion, which the government could not sustain. When we went back to inquire this year, the cost exceeded Shs300 billion. By using our own engineers and equipment, we shall deliver this road at about Shs190b.’ Mr Byamukama added that the Cabinet has approved Shs1.69 trillion to address major road challenges across the country, with Parliament now reviewing the allocation.

The project manager, Mr Moses Omonyokol, a senior engineer at the Ministry of Works, said the rehabilitation will give the road ‘a new lease of life.’

‘We are undertaking full rehabilitation, which some may call reconstruction. The process involves milling the failed sections, compacting the base, adding a new layer of crushed stone aggregate, and applying a 65 millimetre asphalt layer. After that, we will carry out road marking, install signage, and restore proper drainage,’ he said.

At major towns such as Kyegegwa and Kyenjojo, the design includes street lighting, pedestrian walkways, and improved drainage to enhance safety.

Mr Omonyokol said the team has already begun work in Kyegegwa, tackling the most damaged 12 kilometres of the 51-kilometre section between Kyegegwa and Kyenjojo. ‘We are starting with the worst sections to ease transport while gradually covering the entire road, and the community will be engaged to provide murram for the works,’ he said.

He added: ‘We appeal to residents with murram deposits to come forward so we can negotiate fairly. We also ask the public for patience, as some temporary traffic disruptions are inevitable.’ The minister said this in-house model of work is helping the government save costs and build capacity. Mr Byamukama also revealed that the contractor on the Mityana to Mubende Road, which had stalled since 2021, has now been directed to resume work within two weeks.

‘The contractor is already on site carrying out front maintenance. By December, they should have reached Mubende, and full rehabilitation will continue without interruption,’ he said. He assured the public that, with the current funding, the ministry will rehabilitate all roads in poor condition, including Busunju to Hoima, Rukungiri, and Mbarara to Ishaka, among others. ‘This time, there will be no stoppages. We have the money, we have the machinery, and we have the engineers. Our goal is to ensure that Ugandans can transport their goods with ease,’ he said.

As Africa faces worsening droughts, floods, and water insecurity, ministers and leaders from across the continent are uniting ahead of the 2025 Sector Ministers’ Meeting (SMM), scheduled for October 22-23 in Madrid, Spain.

The meeting, co-convened by the Government of Spain, UNICEF, and the Sanitation and Water for All (SWA) partnership, will bring together ministers responsible for water, sanitation, environment, climate, and finance from more than 60 countries. Under the theme ‘Breaking Silos: Uniting Political Leadership to Integrate Water, Sanitation, and Climate Action,’ the meeting will emphasise the need for coordinated action to strengthen climate resilience and safeguard vulnerable communities.

According to the WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme, nearly 400 million people in sub-Saharan Africa still lack access to safe drinking water, while more than 700 million do not have access to safely managed sanitation. At the same time, climate change continues to exacerbate existing vulnerabilities – from prolonged droughts in the Horn of Africa to devastating floods in the Sahel and chronic water shortages in Southern Africa. These interlinked crises are undermining health, education, food security, and economic growth across the region. In response, African governments are working to align national policies on water, sanitation, and climate adaptation.

The SMM will serve as a key platform to showcase progress, share innovations, and mobilize partnerships to close access gaps.

‘Water, sanitation, and climate change are deeply connected. This meeting is a chance for African governments to show leadership in building systems that protect people and the planet,’ said Muyatwa Sitali, Acting CEO of the Sanitation and Water for All (SWA) partnership.

Governments attending the SMM are expected to endorse a Leaders’ Pact on Water Security and Resilience, committing to measurable actions that expand access to safe water and sanitation while strengthening climate resilience. A Mutual Accountability Mechanism will also be launched to track progress and promote transparency among governments, donors, and civil society organisations. The SMM will further link to major global processes, including COP30 in Brazil and the UN 2026 Water Conference, ensuring that Africa’s perspectives shape international water and climate policy.

Across the continent, countries are already advancing national initiatives to address water and climate challenges. Kenya is investing in climate-resilient water infrastructure, Ghana is prioritising universal sanitation coverage, and Ethiopia is integrating water management into its climate adaptation strategy.

The SMM will provide an opportunity for African ministers to exchange lessons, strengthen south-south cooperation, and accelerate progress toward Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6) – ensuring availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.

For the past 15 years, the Sanitation and Water for All (SWA) partnership – hosted by UNICEF – has brought together governments, civil society, private sector actors, and development partners to advance the human rights to water and sanitation. With a network of more than 500 partners worldwide, SWA promotes political commitment, institutional strengthening, and accountability to deliver lasting results for people and communities.

On a bright and joyful day recently, Oswald Ssebwolero Ssemmanda, 95, and Florence Eugenia Nambi Ssemmanda, 84, celebrated an extraordinary milestone; 69 years of marriage. The occasion, filled with warmth, laughter, and heartfelt tributes, was a testament to enduring love, resilience, faith, and unwavering commitment. The celebration brought together family, friends, and community members, with Katikkiro Charles Peter Mayiga as the chief guest. Reflecting on the milestone, he said:’Today, we honour and celebrate 69 remarkable years of the Ssemmandas.

This is indeed a milestone celebration; 69 years of marriage is no mean achievement. These must have been years of an intimate bond between you, years of deep love, unwavering faithfulness, devotion, commitment, resilient, steadfast work and shared memories. It is a privilege for me to celebrate this special milestone with you. I wish you a wonderful celebration and continued blessings in your marriage journey ahead.’

A union rooted in faith, tradition

The Ssemmandas’ journey began long before their wedding day. In the 1950s, arranged marriages through family connections were the norm. Oswald, then 25, and Florence, just 15, first met during their introduction ceremony, a practice designed to ensure compatibility, family reputation, and adherence to clan rules.

Ssemmanda was born on August 9, 1930, at Kisubi Hospital to Joseph Bakatema Balirwana Ssalongo and Musubika Alibaayagadde Balirwana Nnaalongo of Nkozi. Florence, the seventh of 10 children, was born in Busujju on June 5, 1941, to Daudi Bukenya Masiko and Maria Nababi.

‘This method helped strengthen marriages and made them long-lasting,’ Ssemmanda explains. ‘It was taboo for a girl to run away from her husband or divorce once legally married.’ Their formal wedding took place on June 1, 1956, at Lubaga Cathedral, Kampala, one of Uganda’s oldest and most historic churches. By then, Oswald had already built a foundation for his life and career, ready to share it with a partner who shared his values and faith.

Early life and ambitions

After completing Primary Six, Ssemmanda had hoped to join Kisubi Technical School. Although he did not qualify for a scholarship, he did not give up on his dreams. He apprenticed as a shoemaker under Leo Kayondo, a respected craftsman, with support from his father, a prominent cotton farmer. ‘After my 12 months of training, I started making shoes independently,’ Ssemmanda recalls. ‘I supplied shoes to schools, police, and prisons. It was by God’s grace that I managed to grow my business and support my family.’

In 1950, he joined an Asian-owned shoe company in Kampala as a supervisor. His earnings allowed him to buy a Raleigh bicycle for Shs333. At the time, this was a substantial amount of money, equivalent to several months’ wages for many workers. Owning a Raleigh bicycle in the 1950s was not just practical; it was a symbol of success, mobility, and status. He also managed to build a modest thatched house on a portion of land given to him by his father at Kabulamuliro on Entebbe Road.

Meeting the love of his life

Once his home was ready, Ssemmanda sought a wife. In those days, elders arranged marriages based on family reputation, discipline, and clan compatibility. Through a trusted intermediary, he was introduced to Florence, then a teenager who had just completed Primary Three. ‘I saw her and liked her immediately,’ Ssemmanda says. ‘After a month, I wrote to her family expressing my love. She replied she loved me too and was ready to marry.’

Faith played a crucial role in their union.

‘I loved my devotion to the Holy Bikira Maria,’ Ssemmanda adds. ‘I prayed for guidance to find the right wife, and God answered my prayers. It was not just me seeking her; she, too, prayed for a husband who would be the right life partner. And that was me.’ After fulfilling all traditional requirements, including paying ‘omutwalo’ (bride price) of Shs550, local brew, gomesi, and kanzu, Oswald and Florence officially became husband and wife on June 1, 1956.

Building a life together

After the wedding, the couple focused on building their home and family. Ssemmanda continued building his shoemaking business, securing contracts to supply shoes to schools, prisons, and police. He also cultivated crops to provide for the family. ‘It is by the grace of God that we have managed to live together happily,’ he says.

‘We were brought up in God-fearing families, so respect for God and for each other has been paramount.’ Despite humble beginnings, the Ssemmandas were blessed with 13 children, a gift that arrived after three years of waiting, a period filled with worry and gossip. ‘We thank God for our children,’ Ssemmanda reflects. ‘Whenever I see them, I remember the years without a child and the words we heard from people saying my wife was barren. God answered our prayers, and almost every year, a child came.’

Florence has been a steadfast partner throughout: ‘All through the 69 years, my husband has been loving, kind, and peace-loving. He is tolerant, which has helped us stay together. Trusting in God and praying have guided our lives. I have never regretted any day in my marriage.’

Ssemmanda, in turn, praises her:

‘You are not just my spouse but my best friend, greatest adventure, and sweetest dream come true. Growing old with you is not just a promise, it is my greatest privilege and sweetest blessing.’ Florence smiles and recalls the qualities she sought in a husband: ‘When I was ready to marry, I wanted three things: a God-fearing man, a man working in Kampala, and a man who did not have children. God gave me all three.’

A celebration to remember

Their anniversary celebration was vibrant, with family, friends, and community members attending. Katikkiro Mayiga shared heartfelt words recognising the milestone: ‘It is a privilege to celebrate this milestone with you. I wish you continued blessings in your marriage journey ahead.’ Ssemmanda expressed his gratitude: ‘We do not take your visit for granted, knowing how busy you are with Kabaka’s duties. Today will remain in our family history forever.”

Children celebrate their parents

On behalf of the 13 children, Maria Muzeeyi Ssempewo said: ‘We admire our parents’ character. They are exemplary and have taught us what true partnership means. Even five years of marriage can be a challenge in today’s generation, but you have shown us that lasting love is possible.

Seeing you stick together for 69 years gives us hope. You have raised us well, built a strong legacy, and your relationship remains our family’s greatest treasure. Watching your love grow stronger each day gives us all hope for lasting happiness. God must have had a hand in your union from the very beginning.’

Words of wisdom

Having spent nearly seven decades together, the couple shares valuable advice for young couples: ‘Love and submission are key virtues in a lasting relationship,’ says Florence. ‘Without them, a marriage cannot survive life’s storms.’ Ssemmanda adds: ‘To the best of my memory, we have never been hospitalised for any serious illness. My wife is careful with her diet, and that is why we are still strong.’

They also stress that disagreements are natural but manageable. ‘Harmony depends on self-control and forgiveness. No marriage is free from misunderstandings, but what matters is finding solutions and moving on.’ They caution against seeing wealth as the goal of marriage: ‘Couples can rise from grass to grace through hard work. Affluence as the alpha and omega of marriage is unsustainable.’

For 69 years, Oswald and Florence Ssemmanda have exemplified what committed marriage looks like. Their life together is a living testament to faith, endurance, and mutual respect. From humble beginnings, they built a family, a home, and a legacy that inspires everyone around them. Their love story is not just a celebration of longevity but a blueprint for enduring happiness, showing that marriage thrives on faith, shared purpose, and courage to face life’s challenges together.

Children

1.Mary Claudius Nabulime: Fashion designer

2.Charles Kyeyune: Deceased

3.Joseph Kalega Kiwanuka: Church catechist

4.Josephine Namuyanja: Home economics fashion and design teacher

5.John Mary Ssempewo: Accountant

6.Norah Margaret Nambi: School matron

7.Joseph Gyaviira Ssemmanda: Health worker

8.Elizabeth Namyalo: Accountant

9.David Ssenyonga: Print production

10.Jude Thaddeo Kafuuma: Mental health clinician, books publisher

11.Ann Marie Nandegeya: Health worker

12.Berna Nanziri: Court stenographer

13.Jacent Nampewo: Home health aide

The death of former Kenya Prime Minister Raila Amollo Odinga has brought business to a standstill at the Busia border.

Trucks on both the Kenya and Uganda sides of the border remained parked as supporters of the leading opposition leader mourned his passing.

In Busia, Uganda, businesses were at their lowest, with trucks destined for Kenya forming a queue stretching over 1 kilometre.

“Movement of trucks across the border is at its lowest because the Kenyans are mourning the death of Raila Odinga,” said Mr Yahaya Kamba, a clearing agent at the Busia border.

Mr David Oundo, a money changer at the border, said his business had been affected, as few Kenyans were crossing the border to exchange money.

“We depend on Kenyans who cross the border looking for exchange of money and that is how we get profits,” Mr Oundo said.

Ms Aisha Junika, who operates a garments shop along the customs road, said she had not made any sales since Odinga’s death.

“I have been selling my clothes to Kenyans and making good sales each day but following the death of Odinga, the business was at its lowest,” she said.

In Busia, Kenya, supporters waved tree branches and held a peaceful march to mourn Odinga’s passing.

Governor Paul Nyongesa Otuoma described Odinga as a political icon and a true Kenyan.

“It’s sad and indeed sad that the giant of democracy, the true leader of our nation has left us,” he said.

The governor urged Kenyans to stand for the values Odinga stood for and to continue his legacy.

“Dear countrymen and people of Busia county, the best respect and honour is to stand for the values Raila stood for,” he said.

On the streets of Kenya, supporters of Raila Odinga, some waving his posters, filled the roads, paralysing transport along the Busia-Kisumu highway.

“People have closed shops, trucks have been parked because of the death of Baba,” said Mr Joseph Omondi, one of the Raila’s supporters.

Odinga died of a heart attack at Devamatha hospital in Southern India, where he had been hospitalised.

He was a key figure in Kenyan politics, having waged five unsuccessful presidential bids and played a crucial role in shaping the country’s leadership.