Category: Daily Monitor

Uganda’s World Cup dream has reached its final, most improbable chapter – a high-stakes visit to Boukhalfa’s Hocine Aït Ahmed Stadium, where group leaders Algeria await.

The North Africans, already qualified with a game to spare, have been imperious for much of the campaign, with the 2-1 defeat to Guinea in June last year their only blemish.

Stacked against the odds

The Cranes, who arrived in Algeria on Saturday, know the odds are stacked against them: only a convincing win on Tuesday can keep their faint mathematical hope of sneaking into the playoffs alive.

That glimmer of hope was lit in Francistown on Independence Day, when Jude Ssemugabi’s 54th-minute header from an Allan Okello corner earned Uganda a 1-0 victory over Botswana.

The win came on the back of victories over Guinea in March and Mozambique and Somalia in September, underlining the quiet progress Paul Put’s side have made through the campaign.

‘We knew it would be a tough game,’ said Cranes coach Put after the match in Francistown.

‘Botswana were dangerous with long balls, so we had to stay organised. We had chances to score earlier, and I think the victory was deserved.

Botswana gave one hundred percent and were very aggressive, but I am proud of how my players fought. Now, we prepare for Algeria. It will be a long journey and a difficult game, but in football, you never know.’

Caf rule spanner in the works

In truth, Uganda’s challenge goes far beyond the pitch. Caf’s decision to discount matches against bottom-placed teams – following Eritrea’s withdrawal in November 2023 – changed the complexion of the race for the four best runners-up spots.

The new regulation, quietly communicated to member associations in March 2025, means Uganda’s two wins over Somalia no longer count.

In one stroke, six points and three goals vanished from their tally, dropping the Cranes to 12 adjusted points and sixth in the revised ranking – behind Gabon, Cameroon, DR Congo, Madagascar, and Burkina Faso.

Onyango’s first start

That context makes Tuesday’s mission in Boukhalfa as much about pride as possibility.

The Cranes have never beaten Algeria away, and few visiting sides leave the North African giants’ home soil with anything more than hard lessons.

Yet for Put’s group, this fixture represents both a test of growth and a statement of intent – a chance to measure themselves against Africa’s elite and to carry belief into the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) in Morocco later this year.

The return of legendary goalkeeper Denis Onyango has added emotional resonance to that mission.

Making his first appearance since his 2021 retirement, the Mamelodi Sundowns stalwart – despite not being truly tested – provided both experience and calm in Francistown, marshalling a back line of Toby Sibbick, Elio Capradossi, Jordan Obita and Aziz Kayondo.

‘First of all, I have to thank the team for allowing me back,’ Onyango reflected. ‘After four years of retirement, I was allowed to come back and help where I can.

‘Regardless of whether I play or not, I remain a key member of the team. The coaches have shown trust in me, and I am happy to still play active football with Sundowns.’

Regarding the mission in Algeria, Onyango opined: ‘In football, anything can happen. We do not know what the results in Algeria will be, but we have given ourselves a chance.’

His words mirror the sentiment within the camp – a balance of humility and quiet optimism.

Uganda’s blend of youth and experience has begun to find its rhythm, with players like Ssemugabi, Okello, and Rogers Mato offering attacking spark, while Onyango and the lieutenants in front of him, including captain Khalid Aucho, anchor the team’s leadership spine.

Afcon is the ultimate

While the 2026 World Cup dream may hang by the thinnest of threads, the Cranes’ mission in Algeria is as much about belief and statement-making as it is about arithmetic.

A spirited performance in Boukhalfa could underline the team’s growth and continental ambition, even if qualification ultimately slips away.

‘Now we have 18 points (12 in best four runners-up race) with one game to go,’ Onyango added, reflecting on Uganda’s broader campaign.

‘If we can make the playoffs, it will be great for the team and the country. It is important that we keep winning and stay positive going into the Africa Cup of Nations in two months.’

Uganda will need that same blend of positivity and realism come Tuesday. Against a Riyad Mahrez-inspired Algeria that has already sealed qualification, the Cranes are playing for more than just points – they are playing for progress, pride, and belief.

Fifa 2026 World Cup Qualifiers (Caf)

Final Group G fixtures

October 14

Algeria vs Uganda, Stade Hocine-Aït-Ahmed, Boukhalfa, 7pm

Guinea vs Botswana, Stade Mohamed V, Casablanca, 7pm

Somalia vs Mozambique, Miloud Hadefi Olympic Complex, Bir El Djir, 7pm

Table for best four second-placed teams after Caf rule is applied

Team Pts GD Final opponents

Gabon 16 +4 vs Burundi (H)

Cameroon 14 +9 vs Angola (H)

DR Congo 13 +4 vs Sudan (H)

Madagascar 13 +3 vs Mali (A)

Burkina Faso 12 +4 vs Ethiopia (H)

Uganda 12 +3 vs Algeria (A)

Niger 12 0 vs Zambia (A)

South Africa 11 +1 vs Rwanda (H)

Namibia 9 +1 vs Tusia (A)

Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja used the return of the Kampala City Festival yesterday to promise pothole-free roads to the thousands of city residents who attended.

Ms Nabbanja said road construction works in the city are ongoing and assured residents that Kampala will soon be free of dust and potholes.

‘Road network in the city has improved. I know you like good roads, but potholes will soon become history. The President directed that city roads, including the flyover, Jinja Road, and city centre, from Kubiri to Luweero, Nateete, Masaka, Busega, Mityana, be worked on. Works on roads in the industrial area are ongoing. We have also secured funds to work on Mubende Road,’ she said.

The Prime Minister was accompanied by the Executive Director of Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), Ms Sharifah Buzeki, and the Minister of Kampala and Metropolitan Affairs, Ms Minsa Kabanda, among other guests. Residents have long complained about the poor state of city roads, prompting the city authority to direct contractors to work both day and night.

Recently, officials from the Ministry of Works and Transport met with contractors whose projects had stalled due to delayed payments. The two sides agreed that the contractors would resume work as the government seeks funds to clear the outstanding arrears. Ms Nabbanja also told city residents that President Museveni had directed an increase in Parish Development Model funds allocated to city Saccos to match the growing population.

During his recent tour of Kampala, the President pledged to raise the amount given to PDM beneficiaries from Shs1 million to Shs3 million. The festival was organised by KCCA.

The KCCA Executive Director, Ms Buzeki, praised the Cabinet and President Museveni for approving the return of the festival.

She revealed that the proportion of tarmacked roads in the city is set to rise from the current 35 percent to 87 percent, while garbage collection will increase from 55 tonnes to 185 tonnes.

Air pollution levels, she added, are expected to drop from 40 microns to 25 microns. Ms Buzeki further added that the city plans to revive bus transport, create more work opportunities for residents, and position Kampala as a key tourist destination for East Africans and visitors from beyond. The last city festival was held in 2019.

The festival drew more than 500 exhibitors who gathered at the Kololo Independence Grounds to showcase their products. KCCA uses the festival to celebrate culture, unity, innovation, and social life.

By 7am, exhibitors from the business community and food vendors, who had set up their stalls a day earlier, had already arrived to display and sell a variety of goods and services. The event began with a float procession flagged off at Buganda Road by Ms Buzeki.

The procession moved through Kyaggwe Road, Kampala Road, and the Railway Grounds before heading to Kololo for the main celebrations.

Although an afternoon downpour briefly interrupted the event, organisers described it as a sign of blessings. Festivities continued into the night, with revellers entertained by various performances.

One of the shocks of the 2021 General Election came from the newly constituted Jinja South West, where the National Resistance Movement (NRM) candidate Moses Grace Balyeku lost to Timothy Batuwa from the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC). The difference in the number of votes was 1,699. Formerly known as Jinja West, Balyeku had represented this constituency from 2011 when he wrestled it from FDC’s Harry Kasigwa. To become a political force in Jinja, Kasigwa had wrestled it from the NRM’s Henry Kyemba (deceased) in 2001. By the 2006 elections, Kasigwa had buttressed himself in the politics of Jinja so much so that he ensured all the Local Council divisions were under FDC’s control.

In the runup to the 2011 elections, in an effort to wrestle Jinja West from the firm grip of Kasigwa, Balyeku dug into his deep pockets and constructed 120 market stalls in Mpumudde market. He also extended water stand pipes to Kimaka B Village. His success came as no surprise. In 2016, Balyeku easily defended his seat, beating FDC’s Paul Kawanguzi with a difference of 2,742 votes. But Balyeku couldn’t repeat the same feat in 2021 because by that time, he had been involved in some land wrangles.

Land wrangles

Balyeku’s footprints in Busoga land wrangles were exposed in 2018 during the Land Commission inquiry led by Justice Catherine Bamugemereire. The NRM politician was summoned after accusations emerged that he influenced the issuance of a freehold title over plot 24 B Kyabazinga Way in Nalufenya to businessman Thummar Jay Magnalal Patel. This was over a running lease of Jinja Municipal Council and a sub-lease to Tirupati Development. Justice Bamugemereire moved to issue criminal summons after Balyeku snubbed repeated summons by the Commission to provide evidence on the transfer of the land. Justice Bamugemereire also warned Balyeku of attempting to compromise members of the Commission through unnecessary phone calls. As if that wasn’t enough, Balyeku would get entangled in a standoff with then Jinja Resident District Commissioner (RDC) Eric Sakwa, still over land wrangles.

Sakwa, who had appeared before Justice Bamugemereire to pin Balyeku, was thereafter charged with manslaughter. The DPP claimed that between March 22 and April 17, 2020, while in Lwanda Village in Jinja, Sakwa and his co-accused, Bazimbyewa Bumali, alias Chris Umar Dindodi, a resident of Mafubira Zone C in Mafubira Sub-county, Jinja District and businessman Mohammed Simba, alias Meddie, also from the same place, caused the death of Charles Isanga when they stormed his kiosk and tortured him.

The charges were later dismissed by the High Court, but Sakwa said they were cooked by the DPP at the behest of Balyeku. ‘Balyeku is the one who engineered everything; of course, he denies he is the one who does all of that,’ Sakwa said, prompting Balyeku, who owns Baba Television and Baba Radio, to offer a rebuttal.

Balyeku said: ‘I have no problem with Sakwa that necessitates me to go to that level of arresting him. I’m not a police officer, minister in government or army officer, but an ordinary backbencher in Parliament. I don’t have those powers to make the court sit at 4pm.’

When Sakwa was temporarily jailed, there were protests outside the court premises by some civilians who had no kind words for Balyeku. Once the legislator lost to Batuwa, observers familiar with Jinja West politics attributed Balyeku’s loss to the way he handled the Sakwa standoff. Another contributing factor in Balyeku’s downfall was his open support for the removal of presidential age limits from the Constitution. Balyeku had teamed up with Kyaka South MP Jackson Kafuuzi to second the Bill that was tabled by Raphael Magyezi, allowing Museveni’s continued presidency. ‘Age shouldn’t be a factor that hinders the rights and freedom of any Ugandan to vie for the post of President,’ Balyeku said.

A cold shoulder

In the aftermath of amending the Constitution, Museveni rewarded Kafuuzi with the post of Deputy Attorney General. Balyeku was, however, ignored. Even when he lost his parliamentary seat, Museveni didn’t award him with any ministerial job like he did with his NRM cadres who lost in Buganda such as Haruna Kyeyune Kasolo and Ruth Nankabirwa. Still, Balyeku didn’t abandon the NRM; he stood in its primaries and defeated his closest rival, Daniel Kanu, with 9,020 votes against his 2,240 to win the NRM flag for next year’s elections. Other contestants in the race were David Talenga, who placed third with 78 votes. Sakwa trailed in fourth position with 71 votes.

Once he was declared the winner, Balyeku rallied all NRM supporters in Jinja South West to unite and rally behind him. Yet Balyeku’s NRM rivals weren’t contended with his victory, accusing him of importing rowdy youth from other areas, who allegedly threatened voters from participating in the electoral process. Kanu’s petition to an NRM tribunal that handled the disputes that arose from the ruling party’s primaries was thrown out for want of evidence, giving Balyeku a sigh of relief.

This means Balyeku is once again going to face Batuwa, who changed his political home from the FDC to the National Unity Platform (NUP). When he joined NUP, Batuwa insisted that he wasn’t just interested in retaining his seat but rather to see that the NRM is kicked out of power.

‘They have been promising Ugandans things they can’t deliver. They are the reason why Busoga [Sub-region] has really lagged in terms of development. We need to get them out of power,’ Batuwa said.

A doctor’s touch

In his constituency, Batuwa says, since he is a physician, he has directed his energies in improving the condition of health centres that include Jinja regional referral hospital.

‘In the health sector, I have advocated for two health facilities: Jinja Referral Hospital and Kimaka Health Centre III. Kimaka Health Centre III got an allocation of over Shs300m, which has enabled us to place houses for staff and a wall fence. Staff houses enable staff to deal with cases that emerge at night.

In the entire Sub-region [Busoga], it’s only Kimaka Health Centre III that got support of that nature. In Jinja referral, I have been able to mobilise budget support to fund one of the Intensive Care Units. We now have 10 Intensive Care Units and they are operating. We also have oxygen manufacturing equipment. We are no longer ferrying in oxygen. I managed to secure budget support to secure a scan and to ensure that ours is functional,’ Batuwa said.

In Parliament, Batuwa was among the legislators who authored a minority report asking the House to impose a time limit within which alcohol is sold in Uganda. He argued that the same proposal was supported by Nile Breweries Limited and Uganda Breweries Limited, which are the top alcohol manufacturers in Uganda.

‘Suffice to note is that when Uganda Breweries Limited, Nile Breweries Limited and the Uganda Alcohol Industry Association appeared before the Committee as the major players in the alcohol sector, they welcomed the clause on limitation of time and made a few proposals for adjustment in the time, which we have captured in the recommendation. In addition, the literature review revealed that many countries have prescribed a restriction of time for sale of alcohol, and hence Uganda will not be the first country to restrict the time of sale of alcoholic drinks,’ the minority report reads in part.

Counterfeit and substandard medicines pose significant risks to our health because they may contain incorrect ingredients, have incorrect dosages, or may lack active ingredients entirely. The presence of fake drugs continues to be a major challenge in the pharmaceutical industry, particularly in rural areas, as reported by Ismail Bategeka.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), substandard products are those that do not meet quality standards and specifications, often due to poor manufacturing practices or inadequate quality control.

Falsified medical products deliberately misrepresent their identity, composition, or source. These products are often created and distributed with the intention of deceiving consumers for financial gain.

Substandard and falsified medical products pose significant threats to public health globally. They can be ineffective at treating the illness, as they may contain incorrect ingredients or incorrect dosages. They can even be directly harmful to patients if they contain contaminants or toxic substances. They may be indirectly harmful through increased risk of antimicrobial resistance.

Masindi Town, once known for its quiet streets and thriving markets, is currently facing a deadly invasion from medicine bottles and blister packs lined neatly on some shelves in drug shops. From behind the brightly painted doors of the pharmacies, fake, expired, and substandard medicines, smuggled from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) through porous points in neighbouring Buliisa District, are slipping into clinics and roadside stalls.

In a small rented room in Kijura cell, 29-year-old Jane Afisa clutches a faded photo of her three-year-old son, Brian. Tears well in her eyes as she remembers the day she lost him to malaria.

‘He developed a fever and was vomiting. I rushed to a nearby pharmacy and bought anti-malarial drugs. I gave him the full dose. However, his condition worsened progressively. By the time I took him to Masindi (General) Hospital, it was too late,’ she laments.

A postmortem, performed by the hospital, later revealed that the drugs Afisa had given her son were counterfeit and expired. ‘I thought I was saving my child. I did not know that I was killing him, instead,’ she says.

The drugs were probably brought in through Waaki Landing Site on Lake Albert, smuggled in as part of an underground supply chain from the DRC.

According to the 2024 Annual Crime Report, the Directorate of INTERPOL intercepted traffickers on seven occasions, in which eight suspects were arrested and charged in court.

Four of the suspects were sentenced to fines between Shs10m and Shs20m, one case was dismissed, and one case is still pending in court. On May 6, 2025, five districts bordering the DRC signed an agreement aimed at curbing cross-border crimes.

At the time, Gen Taban Amin, the deputy director general for Special Operations in the Internal Security Organisation (ISO), said the deal would stop cross-border theft of vehicles and livestock, and smuggling, among other crimes.

According to Titus Musiime, Buliisa District’s health officer, records at Buliisa General Hospital indicate that in the last two years, there has been a 20 percent rise in drug-resistant infections.

‘We have many patients who come back after completing the treatment cycle, complaining that the drugs did not work. When we perform laboratory tests, we discover drug resistance. We think this is linked to substandard and fake medication, especially common with antibiotics,’ he says.

According to the National Drug Authority (NDA) Annual Report 2024­-2025, there has been a 21 percent increase in adverse drug reactions (ADR) compared to those received in 2023-2024, mostly from antibiotics, painkillers, and even life-saving anti-malarial tablets. In Bwijanga Sub-county, Moses Kabagambe, a 45-year-old farmer, still walks with difficulty after suffering complications from fake antibiotics. After he developed an infection in a wound on his leg, he went to a local drug store.

‘The attendant gave me capsules, which he said would clear the infection. After a few days, my leg began swelling. I was running a high fever. I could not walk. I almost lost my leg,’ he recalls. The doctors informed Kabagambe that the capsules had no active ingredient at all, only starch and colouring.

Smuggled drugs At Runga Landing Site in Buliisa District, small boats cross from the DRC, ferrying fish, fruits, and other items to Wanseko Market. This trade forms the livelihood of several families in the area.

Some locals, though, claim that besides the goods, the boats also ferry drugs, because they are not always inspected at the official customs point.

‘Some traders hide medication inside boxes of deodorants, fuel containers, and other goods. They pass through ungazetted points at night. From Buliisa, they load their merchandise onto trucks or boda bodas to Masindi, Hoima, and beyond,’ says Nicholas Aliganyira, the chairperson of the district health committee.

Along the way, the drugs are repackaged to look like genuine brands, complete with fake seals and expiry dates. In Masindi District, apart from drug shops, fake medicines also circulate openly in informal markets.

On market days, tablets and syrups are spread out on tables alongside vegetables, soap, and sugar.

These tablets include antibiotics, painkillers, and anti-malarial. Some medicine packages have faded labels and missing leaflets, while others are repackaged into small plastic bags.

The common denominator is that the drugs are cheap. Several pharmacists admit that they are struggling to detect these counterfeits.

‘The profit margins in this business are small, and the demand is high. If someone gives you a box of amoxicillin at a cheaper price than the market price, it is tempting.

However, we later discover that some of the drugs do not work,’ says an owner of a drug shop on Station Road in Buliima town council, who asks not to be identified.

These small, mostly unregulated outlets are the last stop in the long journey of the fake drugs. From here, tablets and syrups of unknown quality find their way into people’s hands without checks.

Health workers say that this is where the real danger lies. Dr Alex Felix Ruhuhura, the acting Masindi district health officer, explains that counterfeit medicines can turn a simple illness into a severe health condition.

‘When counterfeit medicines are used for diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis, or HIV, they cause treatment failure, drug resistance, and sometimes death. They also waste resources because patients pay for drugs that do not work and then pay again for proper treatment,’ he says.

For Dr Ruhuhura, the solution starts with creating awareness. People need to know that cheap drugs sold in unlicensed shops are risky.

‘Sometimes wholesalers set very low prices for the drugs they are selling. We do not have the equipment to test the medication before we buy it. Communities, local leaders, and regulators must work together to stop this hidden trade before it claims more lives,’ he notes. Without laboratory equipment, many pharmacies rely on visual checks, which counterfeiters are masters at dodging.

Government reaction

However, the National Drug Authority (NDA) insists that there are no fake drugs in the country. Instead, Abiaz Rwamwiri, NDA’s public relations manager, cautions residents living on the shores of Lake Albert against using drugs from unlicensed traders. ‘We do not have fake drugs. The challenge is that some patients misuse drugs by failing to follow the prescribed dosage, and when treatment fails, they wrongly assume the drugs are fake. Residents and refugees should seek medical care from government health facilities, which are well-stocked with drugs approved by NDA,’ he says.

Besides smuggled drugs coming from across the border, drug shops are also selling expired drugs that have the government seal. Dr Warren Namara, the director of the State House Health Monitoring Unit, says sometimes, the expired drugs are often stolen instead of being destroyed.

‘The drugs are then repackaged and sold, posing a danger to patients. In the 2024/25 Financial Year, equipment and medicines worth about half a billion shillings have been recovered, with several cases currently in court. We have embossed our medicines with clear distinguishing marks, to the extent possible,’ he says.

According to the Parliament Watch, in July 2021, the Cabinet withdrew the Anti-counterfeiting Goods Bill, 2015 from Parliament, stating that there were other laws that can address the gap.

The Bill had been introduced to combat the importation and sale of counterfeit products on the domestic market.

Health officials are urging the government to increase inspections, strengthen border security, and provide drug-testing kits to district hospitals and major pharmacies.

Scope of the problem

Substandard and falsified medical products are a significant global health problem, impacting millions of people and compromising health systems worldwide. These products can be found in all countries, impacting all types of medical products, including life-saving treatments such as vaccines, antibiotics, and cancer therapies.

In 2017, the World Health Organisation estimated that one in 10 medicines in low- and middle-income countries failed quality control tests. The economic burden is also substantial, with billions of dollars lost annually due to ineffective treatments, increased healthcare costs, and loss of productivity.

The issue of substandard and falsified medical products is pervasive and challenging to address due to sophisticated falsification techniques that are difficult to detect and insufficient national resources to respond effectively.

This problem significantly undermines health systems, erodes trust in healthcare, and results in financial losses for both patients and legitimate industries.

The rise in online sales through unauthorised sites has further exacerbated the issue, allowing falsified products to reach consumers more easily. Tackling this problem necessitates robust legal frameworks, regional and international cooperation, heightened public awareness, and stronger enforcement measures.

A suspected case of toxic pollution in River Alupe has left residents of Busia district alarmed after dead fish and livestock were discovered along the riverbanks earlier this week. The river, which supports hundreds of families on both sides of the Uganda-Kenya border, has raised fears of a potential health crisis.

Communities in Buteba sub-county, who rely on the river for drinking water, fishing, and farming, were shocked by the sudden change in the river’s appearance. Residents reported that the water initially had an oily film, then turned green and finally dark.

“Alupe River has always had clear water, but on that morning I saw an oily film. Shortly after, it turned green, and then it became dark,” said Mr Charles Ouma Okitui, a resident of Alupe village. He witnessed fish dying in large numbers and confirmed that a cow belonging to a resident died after drinking the polluted water.

Despite warnings, some residents were seen collecting the dead fish for food. “People are scrambling to pick the fish, but we’re worried it may not be safe for human consumption,” Mr. Okitui said.

The pollution has sparked concerns about the potential health risks associated with using the river water. Mr. Emmanuel Okitui from Amagoro village suspects the pollution may have been caused by a major chemical leak from the Wagagai Gold Mining Company, a Chinese firm investing over $200m in gold extraction and processing.

“Pollution of this magnitude could only have come from Wagagai,” he claimed. However, Mr. Allan Mugarura, the environment officer at Wagagai, denied the allegations, saying the company values the river as much as the community does.

“We need clean water for our operations, so we cannot afford to pollute River Alupe,” Mr. Mugarura said. He added that the company recycles all wastewater through tailing dams and ensures it is reused within the factory.

Local officials have launched investigations into the source of the contamination. Mr. Jimmy Ngolobe, the Busia senior natural resources officer, confirmed that water samples had been collected for testing.

“We’re working with the Ministry of Water and Environment to determine what substance caused the pollution and whether the water poses a danger to human and animal health,” he said.

Environmental activists and local leaders are urging the government to impose temporary restrictions on using the river until test results are released. Ms Mary Birungi, another resident, said the river has been their only water source since boreholes dried up, allegedly due to mining activities.

“We use it for cooking, drinking, and farming. Now we fear for our health,” she said. Ms. Emily Akware echoed the concern, calling for urgent intervention.

“We are appealing to the Ministry of Water and NEMA to investigate and protect the community,” she said.

The incident has raised urgent questions about environmental monitoring around major industrial operations and the preparedness of local authorities to respond to ecological disasters.

The office of the Director of Public Prosecutions has sanctioned Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Clive Nsiima’s criminal case file in which he is accused of assaulting a female attendant at a petrol station shop in Kyanja, a Kampala City suburb.

Police sources privy to the case confirmed to the Monitor that the suspect’s file was sanctioned and they were to produce him in court on Friday, but the documents were submitted late.

‘We couldn’t make it in time on Friday. Hopefully, he will be produced in court on Monday,’ a source said.

Kampala Metropolitan Police Spokesman Patrick Onyango could either confirm or deny the sanctioning of the preferred charges, but he said they have reached the tail end of their tasks.

ASP Nsiima was seen in a viral video slapping a female shop attendant after she demanded that he pay for the items he and a female friend had picked in on October 7.

The viral video prompted the police to arrest and detain him last week. The spokesman of police, Mr Kituuma Rusoke condemned Nsiima’s action, and he said police were conducting an investigation.

Ms Pellan Atuhumurize, the victim, told the Daily Monitor last week that ASP Nsiima and a woman ordered a pack of condoms and two cans of beers, but they attempted to drive off without paying the bills, prompting her to prevent them from leaving, which angered them, leading to the attack captured on the shop’s CCTV camera.

‘A lady alighted from the car and walked to the counter. She asked me to pack her condoms, which I did. She told me that the money was in the car, so I should follow her and pick it,’ Ms Atuhumurize said.

‘When we reached the car, a gentleman inside the car told me to bring him two cans of Tusker Lite. I went back and brought them.’ Ms Atuhumurize said after handing over the items, the man attempted to drive off.

‘I grabbed his collar to prevent him from driving off without paying the bill. Then he stopped the car and got out. He followed me to the shop. He then started abusing me and other people who were in the shop, the man then slapped me twice,’ Ms Atuhumurize said.

A private security guard attached to Tayari Security, attempted to stop the attack but the police officer continued with his aggression.

The former Police Chief Political Commissar, Mr Asan Kasingye, said on his social media platform that the guard works for Tayari Security, a private security firm he heads.

‘I was the first person to be informed. The security guard you see in the video belongs to @TayarisSecurity. There is even more to this story. I am happy it will be investigated thoroughly. Let the police involve us at the company. For example, a pistol was drawn,’ said Mr Kasingye, a retired Assistant Inspector General of Police.

Vivo Energy Uganda, which owns the petrol station, condemned the attack.

‘We strongly condemn any form of violence or misconduct towards our staff or customers. We are in close contact with the attendant to ensure she receives the support she needs, and we are working with the Uganda Police to ensure the perpetrator is held accountable for his actions,’ a statement by Vivo Energy Uganda reads in part.

Other incidents in the country

Last year, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Julius Ahimbisibwe was suspected of shooting his ex-wife and injured her. Months later, SSP Ahimbisibwe was found dead in his home on suspicion that he had taken his life.

In February 2024, the Officer-in-charge of Alebtong District, ASP Moses Acaye, is alleged to have shot dead a civilian he accused of killing his relative in a mob action incident in Adjumani District.

ASP Acaye is still on the run. Another incident happened in December 2024, when a police officer, Constable Charles Bahati, shot dead a truck driver Julius Ssemwaka at Nakasero in Kampala City. Constable Bahati is still on the run.

With four swimmers topping their age categories, School of Tomorrow Uganda (Sotu) defended their Uganda Aquatics National Independence Championships title at Greenhill Academy Kibuli on Saturday.

Sotu, which is mostly a collection of swimmers that study at home and could otherwise swim as individuals scored 1,494 points while Aga Khan Academy finished second on 1,255 points, and the The North Green School (TNGS) got their first podium finish with 1,145 points just ahead of the hosts (1,135).

Sotu’s Jonathan Kaweesa was the biggest points collector with 80 points from topping all of his four individual races in the 13-14 years age group. The swimmers took part in the 50m backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly, and 25m freestyle events.

Kaweesa was so ahead of his age group’s grid that Hill Preparatory School’s Arthur Nsubuga followed with 61 points while the host’s Paulsen Kilara was third with 50 points.

In the 13-14 girls’ category, Sotu’s Zara Mbanga came top with 70 points after topping the 50m breaststroke, coming second in both the 50m backstroke and butterfly, and third in 25m freestyle.

Aga Khan’s Tyrah Muganzi topped the 50m backstroke and butterfly – the only events she did – but finished 6th just ahead of Aga Khan’s Crystal Ssemanda (36 points), who topped the 25m freestyle and came third in her other only event (50m back). The two finished behind Sotu’s Mackayla Ssali (63 points), Hillside Primary School’s Chloe Nazziwa (51), British School of Kampala (BSK) Rafters’ Paula Nabukeera (48), and TNGS’ Angella Businge (47).

15 and Over

Sotu also had Pendo Kaumi (60) and Peyton Suubi (76) top the 15 and Over boys’ and girls’ age groups respectively.

Kaumi topped the senior boys in 50m fly and back, plus 25m free to earn his points while Suubi took charge of the 50m events and came third in 25m free behind Vienna College Namugongo’s Karimah Katemba and Aga Khan’s Paloma Kirabo.

Katemba and Kirabo finished second (68 points) and third (66) in the senior girl’s category respectively. For the senior boys, TNGS’s Nathan Nsereko (53) and Sotu’s Ian Aziku (51) were second and third respectively.

11-12 Years

Mushirah Nabatanzi topped the 11-12 year old girls with 76 points after topping the 50m breaststroke and fly events, plus 25m freestyle. Liorah Lumu, who topped the 50m backstroke, finished second overall with 67 points while Hill Preparatory’s Alba Ihunde (61) was 3rd.

For the boys, Kristian Bwisho of Shree Sahajanand scored 73 points after topping 50m breaststroke and 25m free. Elisha Kato, who represented Hill Preparatory, topped the 50m backstroke while Elijah Ayesiga of Sotu topped the 50m fly as both 12 year old boys finished joint second with 68 points.

10 and Under

Hill Preparatory’s Raan Batuk topped the 10 and Under boys with 72 points after topping the 50m breaststroke and 25m free events.

Hillside’s Ashley Kimuli topped the 50m fly and 50m back events but finished third on 61 points – four behind Greenhill’s Austin Wanyama.

For the junior girls, Aga Khan’s Denorah Natabi scored 71 points after topping 50m breaststroke and 50m backstroke.

Light Academy’s Paulette Wakabi was second overall (65 points) and topped the 25m freestyle while Greenhill’s Paula Aryemo topped the 50m fly. Aryemo, however, finished 5th overall a point behind Shree’s Nyla Musoke (45 points) in 4th while The Olive School’s Talitha Siima was 3rd with 60 points.

Relays

In the mixed 4x50m medley relays, Greenhill topped the 10 and Unders ahead of Hill Preparatory and The Olive School while Sotu topped the other age groups.

In 11-12, Hill Preparatory and Greenhill joined Sotu on the podium while Aga Khan and BSK Rafters came second and third in the 13-14 age group. Ndejje University and Aga Khan joined Sotu on the 15 and Over age group podium.

In the mixed 4x25m freestyle relays, Greenhill topped the 10 and Unders while Sotu topped the 11-12 and 13-14 age groups. Aga Khan topped the 15 and Over age group.

In the gender medley relays, The Olive School topped the 10 and Under girls’ 4x50m medley relay while Greenhill topped the boys.

Sotu topped both the boys and girls’ medley relays in the 11-12 age group. In 13-14, Aga Khan topped the girls while Sotu topped the boys. Sotu also topped the 15 and Over boys while Greenhill topped the girls.

Vision for Africa topped the 10 and Under girls’ 4x25m freestyle relay while Greenhill topped the boys.

Again, School of Tomorrow topped the 11-12 boys and girls while Aga Khan and Sotu topped the 13-14 girls and boys respectively.

Sotu, again, topped the 15 and Over boys while BSK topped the girls.

UGANDA AQUATICS INDEPENDENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS

How They Finished

School of Tomorrow – 1,494

Aga Khan – 1,255

The North Green – 1,145

Green Hill Academy – 1,135

BSK Rafters – 1,052

Hill Preparatory School – 984.5

Shree Sahajanand School – 586

Vienna College – 557

Hillside P/S Naalya – 536.5

The Olive School – 375

Top performer per age group

10 and Under

G: Denorah Natabi (Aga Khan) – 71 points

B: Raan Batuk (Hill Preparatory) – 72

11-12 Years

G: Mushirah Nabatanzi (Educare Jr.) – 76

B: Kristian Bwisho (Shree Sahajanand) – 73

13-14 Years

G: Zara Mbanga (School of Tomorrow) – 70

B: Jonathan Kaweesa (School of Tomorrow) – 80

15 and Over

G: Peyton Suubi (School of Tomorrow) – 76

B: Pendo Kaumi (School of Tomorrow) – 60

Uganda has assembled a team of 43 swimmers to defend the Africa Aquatics Zone III Swimming Championships title at the 10th edition due this week at Kasarani Aquatic Centre in Nairobi, Kenya.

Namanya Ampaire, headed for his 8th Zone III competition since its inception in 2015, and Peyton Suubi – going for her 5th time, have been appointed captains to lead the age group team that will be coached by Thomas Tamale with support from Kezia Wairimu and Simon Peter Mulumba.

“I believe this team is strong because we again have the best two swimmers per event, no compromises,” Ampaire Namanya said during their flag off on Sunday at Speke Resort Munyonyo, where the team has been training on various weekends to find long course experience.

Suubi equally believes in the squad selected and will also be trusted to do some heavy lifting for the team in her new 15-16 girls’ age group.

“I believe it will be nice in this age group. 13-14 was very competitive and prepared me well for this one,” Suubi said.

The flag off ceremony presided over by National Council of Sports (NCS) senior sports officer Ann Nankya was mainly a source of encouragement for the swimmers.

Encouragement

Paralympian Husnah Kukundakwe, fresh from her World Championships, advised the swimmers not to change their routines at the competition.

“Focus on the things you have been working on in training. Give every race your all and remember to have fun,” Kukundakwe said.

Masters’ female captain Abisagi Mugenyi Namugenze said “you have not been training in vain. Just have faith that you will represent yourself and the country well, and that we will come back standing tall.” Her message was for the entire contingent and not just the 31 masters swimmers that will be coached by Henry Kakooza.

Uganda Aquatics general secretary Max Kanyerezi urged the athletes to work as a team and deliver another title while president Moses Mwase applauded the hard work put into non-residential training over the past weeks by the athletes and also announced without divulging details sponsorships from NCS, Uganda Airlines, and Speke Resort.

Maryanne Isabirye, who serves as Kanyerezi’s assistant and is also team manager, reserved her praise for parents who are the main sponsors of the athletes.

“Times are hard but when you get thousands to invest in something that has no immediate returns, that is sacrifice,” Isabirye said.

The Zone III competition started in 2015 and attracts mostly countries from eastern Africa although countries from other zones, especially the southern (IV) are usually invited.

The competition, graded through points, has age groups 12 and Under, 13-14, 15-16, and 17 and Over. Uganda, which will be aiming for a 5th record title, won the competition when it hosted it in 2015 and 2021, plus in 2023 when it was in Rwanda and in 2024 when it was in Burundi.

Kenya hosted and won in 2019 and will be looking to make home advantage count again.

Africa Aquatics Zone III Swimming Championships

Age group team

Alba Ihunde, Ashton Regina Suubi, Gabriella Eleanor Nakimuli, Gabriella Opolot, Jehan Babirye, Jinan Nakato, Nisha Pearl Najjuma (12 and Under girls)

Crystal Ssemanda, Mackayla Ssali, Paula Nabukeera, Theresa Kikambi, Tyrah Muganzi, Zara Mbanga (13-14 girls)

Alexis Mary Akol, Paloma Kirabo, Peyton Suubi, Rahmah Nakasule, Sonia Mwere (15-16 girls)

Tara Kisawuzi (17 and Over girls)

Elijah Ayesiga, Giovanni Cruz Mbanga, Jeremiah Ssempijja, Jordan Musoke, Kristian Bwisho, Raymond Ssali (12 and Under boys)

Benjamin Ssali, Elijah Mukisa, Jayson Aronda, Jonathan Kaweesa, Kigundu Ssango, Manuel Ssemanda (13-14 boys)

Daniel Rukundo, Ethani Ssengooba, Isaiah Kuc, Peterson Inhensiko, Shaun Murungi (15-16 boys)

Ampaire Namanya, Kyle Kaweesa, Jordan Munyikwa, Malcolm Nahamya, Mathew Mwase, Pendo Kaumi (17 and Over boys)

Masters team

Abisagi Mugenyi Namugenze, Belinda Eleanor Illamai, Christine Kesende, Dorothy Ssemanda, Esther Nadunga, Isabella Omara Sigombe, Jackline Mbabazi, Kezia Wairimu, Linda Namayanja, Michelle Mugisha Ayesiga, Olivier Nalwadda, Patricia Ejalu, Rachael Amito, Resty Kiwuka, Sandra Arinaitwe, Takia Nabirye (women)

Aksam Magoola, Alex Kateeba, Benon Ojwiya, Charles Obwana, Donald Rukare, Dunstan Rukare, Ivan Muhoozi, Habib Yawe, Henry Kakooza, Ismail Munaaba, Patrick Magezi, Paul Kaganzi, Peter Mugisha, Peter Ssebanakitta, Phillip Nuwagaba, Yuda Morris Ssekamatte (men)

It is not often that the local league – the StarTimes Uganda Premier League – makes the front pages of this publication. We have often reserved space on the front page for some great sports stories. Most of these tell the story of success that makes us all very proud as Ugandans or despair that shakes our hope and confidence in our ability to compete with the world.

This is how athletes like Joshua Cheptegei, Peruth Chemutai and Jacob Kiplimo became regular features on what is the most important page of any newspaper. There has also been room for the national teams of football, rugby and netball et al as their stories of triumph represent the odds many of us have to beat every day.

However, there are days when that page has been reserved for crises like unpaid bonuses, rogue television deals, ticket fraud and the pain of former sportspersons who brought joy to Uganda. Media can be seen as a tool for advocacy since these people come from within our families and communities. It also remains a major tool for accountability and demand for transparency.

The latter is the major reason behind the local league making the front page seven days ago. Empty stands of Mandela National Stadium (Namboole) were splashed here. Clearly, the game is in crisis again after some years of progress. The issue emanates from the local federation, Fufa, choosing to radically reform the league while injecting Shs3.4b. Many clubs and fans contested the reforms, arguing that there wasn’t adequate consultation before rolling out the now-infamous new format.

The clubs have since come around and agreed to play, some under protest, except Vipers, which chose not to show up at Namboole for their game against Kitara. The message from fans was loud and unequivocal – the majority are not happy. Someone has got to pay attention and listen – something is not right. Vipers have decided to lead this crusade against the reforms. It’s become a lonely war for them as their peers have chosen to coil. However, the fans, an important part of the football ecosystem, have clearly sided with the seven-time league champions.

Neither side is willing to budge in a debate that is not about sainthood. The war could escalate quickly if the warring parties do not choose dialogue as a means of conflict resolution. There have been accusations of blackmail by Fufa to force clubs to toe the line. This has become a war of extremes, yet the goal for all parties is the same – to have stadiums full for games.

Since its February 2022 launch, the Parish Development Model (PDM) has raised hopes across Uganda. This flagship programme aims to shift 39 percent of households from subsistence to a money-based economy. Each subsistence household in an enterprise group or parish PDM Sacco has received Shs1m on a two-year grace period, and six percent annual interest.

Most funds target agricultural enterprises. Across Ugandan villages, most people have received the cash. But PDM is not just about handing out money. Cash is only one piece of the puzzle. Transformation depends on access to land, skills, quality inputs, market access, and the ability to overcome deep-rooted structural challenges-especially in agriculture, which remains largely rain-fed. The hidden crisis is land pressure and fragmentation.

One of the most urgent challenges facing PDM beneficiaries is the issue of land tenure security and land pressure. Land is a fundamental resource underpinning agricultural production and is vital for economic growth and investment, especially of farm enterprises. According to a 2024 Uganda Bureau of Statistics (Ubos) report, only 58 percent of adults have secure land tenure, with just 17 percent owning agricultural land. Uganda’s 2.9 percent population growth rate is among the highest globally, contributing to land fragmentation, particularly in rural areas. With a population density of 190 people per square kilometre, pressure on land is mounting. As a result, households cultivate smaller plots, and in many parishes, farmland is overused or no longer viable for sustained production. Farmers are cultivating land continuously, depleting soil fertility.

Although Ubos reports an average household size of 4.2 acres, some families of up to ten survive on less than half an acre. Land that once produced both food and cash crops is now depleted and yields little. Small parcels hinder the adoption of modern farming practices that could transform production into profitable enterprises, creating a major contradiction to the PDM’s goals.

With soils depleted, farmers are turning to fertilisers, pesticides, and herbicides. But the market is flooded with unregulated counterfeit, overpriced products, often misused due to inadequate training. The result is poor yields, environmental damage, health risks, and unsustainable farming. Farmers spend more on soil fertility, pests, and weeds, yet harvests remain low-trapping low-income households who hoped PDM would lift them from poverty.

The belief that Shs1m guarantees success ignores land shortages. True agricultural growth will depend on land security, good inputs, knowledge, infrastructure, and markets. For the PDM to succeed, loans must be seen to build lasting productivity, not an end. The Presidential Four-Acre Model suggests one acre each for cash crops, food, pasture/dairy, and fruit trees.

Yet many beneficiaries have under two acres, some less than one. Their success depends on making small plots highly productive through smart enterprise choices and sustainable practices. What needs to change? Match enterprises to land size by replacing one-size-fits-all with support tailored to land, soil, and market conditions.

Boost small-plot productivity with high-value, space-efficient enterprises like poultry, mushrooms, vegetables, and zero-grazing dairy, backed by quality inputs, irrigation, and skills training. Regulate agro-inputs and train farmers to enforce strict quality standards for fertilisers and pesticides and provide training to ensure safe and effective use.

Support soil fertility and land management by encouraging organic farming, certified compost, biofertilizers, and water harvesting. Make agricultural extension central to PDM with trained agricultural officers in every parish to give farmers guidance beyond the initial disbursement. The PDM bold ideas require planning, context, and follow-through. It should never be about asking, ‘Have people received the money?’ but rather, “Do they have what they need to succeed with it?’