Category: Daily Monitor

In Kijunjubwa Sub-county, Samuel Kaigi oversees a thriving herd of goats – now numbering more than 400. He started with 80 animals just last year and has since turned his small enterprise into a fast-growing venture. Although he has never lost money in his short farming journey, there was something he didn’t know: a national safety net exists to protect his savings should a bank collapse.

Kaigi made this revelation during the Seeds of Gold Farm Clinic at Bulindi Zonal Agricultural Research and Development Institute (Zardi) in Hoima, where he had come to learn more about productive goat farming. ‘I didn’t know that a product like the Deposit Protection Fund (DPF) was there to protect farmers. I thought only business people benefited from such things,’ he admitted.

He was among the hundreds of farmers who gathered at the Farm Clinic to learn from researchers, extension officers and financial experts.

But amid the demonstrations on climate-smart technologies and livestock management, it was a team from the Deposit Protection Fund of Uganda (DPF) that delivered the most unexpected message: where farmers keep their money matters as much as how they grow their crops.

Why farmers avoid banks

In Bunyoro, many farmers keep their money in cash or entrust it to informal savings groups. The region’s rural banking penetration remains low, with few commercial bank branches reaching the more remote sub-counties. Long distances to banking facilities and a lack of proper documentation of farming activities keep many farmers outside the formal financial system.

Meanwhile, mistrust has grown around some Savings and Credit Cooperative Organisations (SACCOs), with reports of mismanagement and some operators disappearing with farmers’ savings. This has left farmers vulnerable – without safe places to store their earnings or build up reserves that could cushion them during hard times. As a result, farmers remain vulnerable and miss opportunities to save or invest safely.

Rural banking penetration in Bunyoro is low: only about 13 per cent of adults have bank accounts, leaving the vast majority outside the formal system.

Nationally, 32 per cent of rural adults hold bank accounts, and just 7 per cent save in commercial banks. The informal and semi-formal systems – such as SACCOs and mobile money – help bridge the gap, but they cannot fully replace the protection and growth opportunities offered by formal banking.

The safety net

The Deposit Protection Fund of Uganda (DPF) is a government-backed institution designed to protect depositors if a bank closes. According to Patrick Ezaga, the Director of Communications at DPF, the fund guarantees payment of up to Shs10m per depositor in case a financial institution fails. This coverage includes 98 per cent of deposit accounts in the country – the majority belonging to low-income earners like farmers. Uganda has more than 24 million bank accounts, but many rural farmers are not among them.

‘Agriculture remains the backbone of livelihoods. We need to be where the farmers gather. Some of them are depositors, and we have to be there to build confidence that their money is safe,’ Ezaga noted during the farm clinic. Ezaga urged farmers to update their personal information and embrace formal banking to reduce the risks associated with idle cash and unregulated financial groups. ‘If you don’t have a bank account, open one today. Idle money is bad money and risky. We want to build confidence that you move your money to safe custody,’ he said.

Why financial inclusion matters for agriculture

Financial inclusion plays a crucial role in agricultural productivity. Farmers who access formal financial services can buy quality inputs, invest in livestock, irrigation, or storage, and plan for the future. Savings and credit also help farmers withstand shocks like droughts, floods, or pest infestations without being forced to sell assets at a loss or take high-interest loans. When farmers keep their money within the formal financial system, they gain access not only to protection like DPF but also to opportunities for growth through credit, insurance, and secure transactions. This financial stability is especially vital in regions like Bunyoro, where climate change has made rainfall increasingly erratic, exposing smallholders to greater risks.

In Uganda, agriculture employs about 70 per cent of the workforce and contributes around 24 per cent of GDP, yet most farmers are underbanked. By linking farm incomes to secure banking, farmers can stabilise their operations, access credit, and improve productivity – all while contributing to broader food security and rural economic growth. For Kaigi, the clinic was more than just a learning opportunity for goat management – it opened his eyes to the importance of securing his earnings. ‘I am going to encourage farmers in my community to open bank accounts,’ he said.

His story mirrors a broader shift that financial experts hope to see in rural Uganda: farmers embracing financial services not just as clients, but as active participants in a system that can protect and grow their wealth. Still, the journey toward full financial inclusion in Bunyoro will require sustained outreach, infrastructure development and trust-building. For many farmers, opening and maintaining a bank account remains a distant idea. But initiatives like the Seeds of Gold Farm Clinic are slowly changing attitudes by bringing information to where farmers are.

In Uganda today, politics remains the main gateway to national leadership. If you want to be minister or head a government agency, your quickest ticket is usually political connections, not competence. Meanwhile, in our universities, private companies and diaspora, there are Ugandans with world class skills and ideas, yet they remain locked out of leadership.

The NRM’s 2026 – 2031 manifesto calls for protection of gains and driving Uganda to High-Middle income status. However, the question in mind is, what gains are we protecting if our ministries are led by loyalists instead of experts?

Other nations have learned to tap into their brightest minds, regardless of politics. For example, Rwanda attracts professionals from its diaspora, while Singapore actively picks talent from its private sector and academia, grooming them to lead in government.

Omar Sultan Al Olama, appointed at 27 years of age as a minister of State for Artificial Intelligence in the UAE, has been a key figure in driving the UAE’s efforts to become a global leader in AI governance and digital transformation. These countries understand that leadership is about expertise and vision, and not just politics.

In Uganda by contrast, we remain stuck in a political bubble, where our ministries are led by politicians rewarded for loyalty, not by experts scouted and picked for competence. The results; underfunded health systems and struggling education reforms, for example. Many of our young innovators and business leaders, however, are sidelined unless they join the political cue. Imagine if our ministries were deliberately led by experts!

Imagine if we created a national leadership reserve programme to identify high achievers from the private sector and universities, preparing them for public service! Imagine our diaspora talent, instead of being reduced to remittances, was actively recruited to shape policy and governance!

Our country’s greatest resource is not oil or fertile lands, it is the intellect and creativity of its people, yet such voices are rarely elevated to national decision making tables.

Even if politics cannot be separated from leadership, it does not have to crowd out competence, else we continue to waste the country’s greatest resource by treating government as a political prize instead of a national responsibility.

A nation that ignores its brightest minds is a nation that ignore its future. We should not wait for crisis to start valuing competence in leadership. The time is NOW, because protecting the gains is not just about keeping the status quo but building for the future. Real progress and real gains are secured not with slogans or loyalty but with smart decisions made by brilliant minds at the helm.

Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) presidential candidate Nathan Nandala Mafabi has pledged to reintroduce cotton growing in the Lango sub-region if elected, aiming to boost incomes for local farmers and revive a once-thriving cash crop.

Mafabi made the promise while campaigning in Amolatar Town on October 10, citing the struggles farmers face from low cotton prices and exploitation by middlemen.

‘Cotton was once being grown here and coffee was being grown in Mountain Elgon. Any dress, shirt or trouser has some cotton on it, and a dress or shirt of cotton is more expensive than that of polyester,’ Mafabi said.

He added: ‘So what happened to our coffee? One old man told me that the cotton prices are low. That’s dangerous for us because we should go back, grow cotton and make money out of it because other countries are growing cotton and making money out of it.’

Cotton production in Lango has declined sharply due to unstable prices, pests, and diseases.

Mafabi’s plan seeks to improve market access, supply quality seeds, and support farmers through cooperatives. Over 300 cooperatives in the sub-region have collapsed, weakening cotton production and sales.

Reviving the crop, Mafabi said, could create jobs, increase household income, and stimulate economic growth. He further promised that an FDC administration would allocate 10% of the national budget to agriculture and revive the Cooperative Bank to provide affordable loans and credit to Ugandans.

Mafabi’s manifesto includes allocating Shs100 million to every village to spur rural development, removing military presence from lakes to support fishing communities, and offering tax exemptions for small and medium enterprises.

Community leaders in Lango welcomed the proposal.

‘We have the land, the knowledge, and the will. All we need is leadership that believes in us,’ said David Okello, a farmer in Dokolo.

The cotton industry faces challenges from climate pressures, water scarcity, and socio-economic disparities.

According to the June 2025 edition of The ICAC Recorder, transformative strategies are needed rather than incremental adjustments.

ICAC Chief Scientist and Editor Dr Keshav Kranthi stressed that solutions require listening to farmers, investing in collaborative science, and managing water and carbon responsibly.

Mafabi’s promise highlights a campaign focus on reviving traditional cash crops to support rural communities and strengthen Uganda’s agricultural sector. How effectively these pledges translate into action will be closely watched by farmers and policy analysts alike.

Kampala City Traders Association (Kacita) and the Ministry of Works and Transport (MoWT) are locked in a bitter exchange over delays being experienced by car importers during motor vehicle registration.

In a September letter to the Commissioner of Road Safety and Transport in the Ministry, Mr Winston Katushabe, the city traders’ body expressed concern and called for urgent enhancement measures to improve the dashboard monitoring tool for motor vehicle registration.

In the letter signed by Abel Mwesigye, the Kacita chief executive, the traders expressed ‘disappointment that the tool’s deployment occurred much later than originally promised, prolonging the very operational challenges it was designed to resolve.’

What is the background to this pain point?

Due to significant delays in the vehicle registration process, traders were frustrated at the losses whose brunt they continue to bear. They approached the MoWT-which oversees motor vehicle registration-for solutions. After several monthly discussions, the ministry deployed a dashboard monitoring tool to help provide visibility on the registration process.

The measure was welcomed by Kacita, but it didn’t take long for it to morph into a pain point, thanks to its perceived limited functionality.

Besides complaints about the tool’s limited functionality, traders also said it provides no visibility on Motor Vehicle Registration (MVR) application processes across the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA), the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) and other attendant MVR stages at the ministry.

Users cannot, for one, view progress at each stage. They cannot also identify responsible officers, hence reducing the possibility of officer accountability.

So what are the aggrieved parties calling for?

They are essentially pushing for three things.

Firstly, a non-negotiable, immediate, practical dry-run of the process to identify and rectify errors, define clear handover points and establish genuine accountability between URA, UNBS and the Ministry’s MVR department before the system is declared operational.

Secondly, a full stakeholder integration, with mandatory inclusion of URA and UNBS along with full visibility on each partner’s responsibilities and real-time progress. Lastly, they insist on incorporation of feedback from system users. The traders said they have ‘patiently supported this initiative’ and need to see tangible and urgent resolution of the bottlenecks.

What’s the MoWT’s position?

Well, on their part, the ministry, through the Commissioner of Road Safety and Transport in the Ministry, Mr Winston Katushabe, told traders that the issues they were raising in their letter had been raised in a stakeholder meeting at the start of September. He added that resolution of the same was work in progress.

Mr Katushabe wondered as to the motive behind Kacita’s letter, which, according to him, appeared to discredit the efforts made by the ministry and relevant stakeholders in developing the dashboard.

He said the traders’ letter might be ‘a hidden motive potentially driven by interests that are not entirely aligned with the collaborative spirit the ministry has fostered among stakeholders.’

Mr Katushabe said the dashboard was ‘a collective effort aimed at streamlining the motor vehicle registration process’ and called for constructive dialogue and collaboration to address the challenges raised by the traders.

Using art, games, and virtual reality to turn the tide against health illiteracy, showing that creativity can be used to pass on health information.

Thinking that issues of health can be communicated with simplicity through art seems like a distant reality. However, a section of youth has embraced the idea and is using art as a tool to combat health illiteracy. Their choice of action is informed by statistics, which indicate that globally, 30 percent to over 50 percent of adults have limited health literacy, thus creating barriers to disease prevention, effective self-care, and health management.

Therefore, where traditional health systems and policies have fallen short, solutions are being found in unexpected places such as theatre stages, spoken word circles, dance studios, interactive games, and virtual reality. The youth are turning to art not as a means of entertainment but as a tool to break the silence, undo stigma, and bring health education closer to the people.

A collective experiment

At the heart of this movement is the African Health Grid Foundation (AFHEG Foundation), a youth-led organisation founded in Uganda to advance health literacy through creative education, technology, and storytelling. Recently, AFHEG brought together 26 organisations, including youth movements, media innovators, tourism advocates, and art collectives for the Young Leaders for Arts and Health Kampala Summit, a pilot project designed to shape the future of using art for public health communication in the region.

Founder and Chief Executive Officer of AFHEG, Phillip Andrew Mwebaza, says: ‘The Kampala Summit was intended as a pilot that will later be implemented across East Africa, through turning art-based health advocacy into a regional force for literacy and empowerment.’

Why art and creative play

Uganda’s health challenges are not only medical but also cultural and social. Conversations around sexual health, menstruation, contraception, or mental illness remain shrouded in stigma. Climate change is reshaping disease patterns, and many communities struggle to grasp the links between environment and health.

‘However, art provides a language that policy briefs cannot. Theatre skits can unpack taboos. Songs cross linguistic and generational divides. Films humanize statistics. Virtual Reality (VR) simulations make climate change and health risks feel immediate. Games simulate health challenges and allow participants to learn by doing,’ Mwebaza explains.

He adds that one of the health literacy board games that AFHEG has developed can teach people how to manage diseases, understand vaccinations, and respond to health emergencies. “Through the board game, players learn by doing, and that experience often sticks much longer than lectures or information on leaflets.”

In regard to theatre, Ian Elijah, a Music, Dance and Drama specialist but also a creative director, noted that, “When participants act out scenarios or improvise, they internalize health messages in ways that are emotional, memorable, and culturally relevant.”

Emmanuel Rukundo, CEO of Keepers XR, described the role of VR. “VR immerses people in realistic health scenarios. Participants can experience the consequences of choices in a safe, simulated environment, which builds understanding and encourages responsible health behaviors.” During the summit, which was also attended by mental health advocates, they stressed the importance of artistic interventions. Faith Agumya, Founder of Kwa Imani Community, highlighted art therapy as a powerful tool for mental wellness. “Creative expression helps people process trauma, reduce stress, and build emotional resilience,” said Agumya.

Fahima Ibrahim, CEO of Nuru Minds Foundation, added that, “Art therapy bridges the gap for those who might struggle with conventional counselling, especially in low-literacy or underserved communities.” At the summit, youth participants engaged with games such as Superbugs Clash, a collaborative board game designed by AFHEG to raise awareness about antimicrobial resistance, as well as spoken word, dance, visual art, community theatre, and VR simulations. Each activity was designed for specific reasons, such as sparking empathy, create dialogue, and inspire action towards health in ways that traditional leaflets and lectures cannot.

“Policies may touch the head, but art touches the soul,” reflected Jessica Sheillah Aanyu, President of the YALI Uganda Chapter. “When you put them together, you create transformation.”

Voices from the frontline

Speaking at the summit, Prof Patrick Engeu Ogwang, the scientist behind Covidex, reminded the youth that solutions must be rooted in local realities. “Look for challenges in your society,” he urged. “Create solutions to address them, test and improve them, and ensure they truly meet the needs of the people. Innovation is not about copying from elsewhere. It starts where you are.”

For Jovia Kusiima, Vice Chair of the EU Youth Sounding Board, the urgency lies in breaking the silence around mental health and sexual and reproductive health. “Change often begins with something as simple as a story, a song, or a poem,” she said, adding, “Creative expression dismantles stigma and opens conversations many fear to start,” she noted. For Nakuya Niona Kasekende Ssebukulu, Programme Officer for Population, Health, Environment and Development at Regenerate Africa, she said. “But we must safeguard accuracy, ethics, and cultural sensitivity. That means working with health experts, fact-checking content, and ensuring communities are empowered, not victimized.”

The summit was attended by over youth leaders, art and health influencers, and university students. Mwebaza noted that the purpose of using art to tackle health illiteracy is for impact. “If a young person watches a play about mental health and seeks help, that is impact. If a policymaker hears a spoken word piece and rethinks how to design a law, that is impact as well.”

Uganda’s challenges mirror those faced globally. Centers for Disease Control surveys indicate that many adults struggle with health information. Across Europe, misinformation surged during the COVID-19 pandemic. In Africa, low literacy levels and digital divides magnify these challenges.

Uganda’s youth-led model offers hope. It demonstrates that health literacy cannot be built through clinics alone or through laws written in inaccessible language. It must also be nurtured in community halls, school theatres, art exhibitions, digital storytelling platforms, and VR spaces, where people can see, feel, and live the message.

Eleven inmates and four prison warders were critically injured on Friday when a Mitsubishi Fuso truck ferrying prisoners to Masindi Prison overturned along the Masindi-Kijunjubwa Road, police said.

The incident occurred around 3:00 p.m. near Kamurasi Primary School, according to a statement issued on October 10, 2025, by Albertine Region Police spokesperson SP Julius Hakiza Allan.

‘Preliminary reports indicate that the vehicle, which had been hired to transport firewood to Masindi Prison, failed to climb a hill near Kamurasi Primary School and rolled backwards, overturning and causing injuries,’ Hakiza said.

The driver, identified as Julius Atugonza, is currently on the run. Police have launched a manhunt to apprehend him while investigations continue to establish the exact cause of the crash.

All injured individuals were evacuated to Masindi Hospital under prison guard for medical attention.

The injured prison officers were identified as Sgt Emmanuel Nkenkya, Cpl Felix Egaru, L/Cpl Peter Emurwoth, and warden Peter Aurah.

The prisoners injured in the crash include Stephen Charles Oryem, John Ainebyona, Godfrey Tata, Brian Akampurira, Innocent Kasamba, Muhammed Muasami, Justus Arinaitwe, Godfrey Immanga, David Okello, Sande Mathias, and Moses Opar.

‘The wreckage has been towed to the police yard for inspection,’ SP Hakiza added, noting that: ‘A search for the driver is underway, and investigations are ongoing to determine the exact cause of the accident.’

The incident highlights ongoing concerns about prisoner transport safety in Uganda.

Authorities have urged the public to come forward with any information that may aid in the capture of the missing driver and in clarifying the circumstances leading to the crash.

Sudanese photographer Amar Abdalla has won the grand prize in the 2025 East African Photography Award (EAPA) competition for his captivating work titled ‘Temporary Homes.’ Chosen from a competitive pool of submissions from across the region, Amar’s collection of photographs are a chilling reminder of the consequences of civil unrest through his exploration of his family’s displacement by the war, highlighting their daily experiences in the new environment and how they adapt to their new home while keeping vivid memories of their old one.

His story also reflects on how they cope with the challenges of displacement and find ways to live and belong even in temporary places. Amar takes home a Fujifilm X-T5 camera and XF 16-50 kit, courtesy of Fujifilm Middle East FZE. EAPA now in its eighth year, is open to East African visual storytellers Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Sudan, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda. It celebrates documentary and artistic work that reflects the contemporary existence of people, the planet, and other stories of life in East Africa.

This year, EAPA continues to grow steadily with Sudanese photographers taking centre stage this year, showcasing their talent and resilience despite the challenging circumstances in their country. The winners of the 14th edition of the Uganda Press Photo Award (UPPA), EAPA, and 10th edition of the Young Photographer Award (YPA) were announced on September 25, 2025 at MoTIV Uganda in Kampala. Badru Katumba (Uganda)’s portrait, ‘What Next,’ winner of the Planet category, was also selected as the overall Single Image winner. The powerful image captures people looking for their loved ones after flooding and landslides in Masugu on November 29, 2025. Through this poignant portrait you get to share the sense of loss in the wake of devastation.

UPPA continues its tradition of recognizing the best documentary photography and photojournalism in Uganda. Timothy Akolamazima won the top UPPA prize with a story ‘Beyond the Barre: Stories of Ballet in Uganda’ that explores the quiet rise of ballet in a country where it exists on the cultural fringe, documenting the resilience, passion, and determination of young dancers who pursue the art despite economic, social, and structural barriers.

Katumba and Akolamazima each took home a Fujifilm X-T50 camera and XF 16-50 kit, courtesy of Fujifilm Middle East FZE. Agaba Joel Gabriel took home the 2025 YPA top prize. Agaba is a Kampala-based DJ, photographer, and theatre maker whose multidisciplinary practice explores memory, place, and belonging through experimental works rooted in preservation and everyday life.

YPA is an educational initiative aimed at nurturing emerging photographers with a passion for documentary photography or photojournalism. The winner, along with the runners-up, will have the opportunity to participate in an intensive Mentorship Programme. This programme offers a bootcamp-style course, providing hands-on learning about photography, while also guiding participants in developing a documentary photography project under the mentorship of an industry professional.

An exhibition presenting all the winning images from this year’s competitions opened to visitors from September 25 at MoTIV Uganda until October 13.

The show also features work from Barbra Mercy Leni, a winner of last year’s YPA, showcasing the outcome of her participation in this year’s Emerging Photographer Mentorship Programme.

WINNERS

EAPA

1. Amar Abdalla (Sudan)

2. Jeremiah Onyango (Ke)

1. Israa Alrrayah (Sudan)

2. Don Odhiambo (Kenya)

1. Katumba Badru (Uganda)

2. A. Ochieng Onyango (Ke)

1. Natnael Ashebir (Ethiopia)

Uganda Press Photo Award

1. Timothy Akolamazima

2. Serina Efrance Kirabo

Young Photographer Award

1. Agaba Joel Gabriel

2. Victor Kibalama

Joseph Cwinyaai acknowledges he has indeed lived long in amateur golf. The truth is that he has hit that ceiling by winning almost every piece of silverware available at every club or annually.

In September, he toasted to his second title at the Uganda Amateur Open in Lugazi. A month later, Cwinyaai still bosses the stage after he rose from four shots behind to win the amateurs quest with a nine-shot victory at the Stanbic Entebbe Open.

‘I am not form but still never the less, I am the most experienced amateur currently,’ he said after powering to victory over the 54-hole stroke-play championship with a best aggregate score of three-under 210 gross.

Sensing there is a new breed of players emerging, Cwinyaai may delay to decide on when to turn professional but at least, he has set the bar relatively high for self.

‘I set a standard for myself that every Ugandan amateur event that’s a 54-hole tournament, I have to finish under par at least that’s my target always,’ he said.

Some fresh talent has come through and beaten him, case in point Reagan Joseph Akena on the last hole of the 2024 Uganda Open in Entebbe.

But, Cwinyaai has often stood firm enroute to his second Entebbe Open title in three years and in great part, his experience got him a psychological edge over Day One leader John Musiimenta.

‘I feel good and happy, all smiles since the victory. As usual playing regulation golf and making the putts count and God the almighty by my side,’ Cwinyaai described his three rounds.

He trailed Musiimenta by four strokes when the latter fired an opening round of three-under 68 on Day One. Cwinyaai then fired two-under 69 to assume a one-shot lead as Musiimenta had scored 74.

In the final round, Cwinyaai carded 69 again comprising five birdies on Holes par-3s No.2, No.6 and No.12, par-4 No.5 and par-5 No.11 and whereas he made a double-bogey on par-4 Hole No.9, Musiimenta’s card wasn’t tidier.

‘My irons worked so well that I was striking them well. On No.9, it was just bad decision making right from the tee-box up to the green at No.10, it was a one-off bad shot from iron play but I responded positively with back-to-back birdies,’ stated Cwinyaai.

Musiimenta finished on 77 for the day and could only settle for second played on six-over 219 gross, with that capitulation engineered by five bogeys and despite a sweet eagle on the 11th green, Musiimenta struck a quintuple bogey on par-4 Hole No.13.

Cwinyaai’s clock in the amateur ranks is definitely winding and as he makes up his mind, the Sunshine Development Tour events next door in Kenya could meanwhile keep him busy.

2025 STANBIC ENTEBBE OPEN

AMATEURS FINAL LEADERBOARD

1 Joseph Cwinyaai 72 69 69 210 -3

2 John Musiimenta 68 74 77 219 +6

T3 Michael Tumusiime 73 75 73 221 +8

T3 Abdallah Kakooza 76 74 71 221 +8

T5 Peter Mayende 71 78 74 223 +10

T5 Joseph Kasozi 74 70 79 223 +10

T5 Ibrahim Bagalana 77 77 69 223 +10

T5 Charles L. Mulyanga 74 73 76 223 +10

T5 Derrick Musana 72 78 73 223 +10

T10 Pius Ochieng 77 74 73 224 +11

T10 Titus Okwong 76 77 71 224 +11

T10 Joseph R. Akena 71 77 76 224 +11

ENTEBBE OPEN

CAST OF WINNERS (AMATEURS)

2025: Joseph Cwinyaai

2024: Titus Okwong

2023: Joseph Cwinyaai

Importers and distributors of drugs, under their umbrella body, the Uganda Pharmacy Promoters Association (UPPA) have threatened to close their businesses next week over a sudden 5 per cent tax hike on imported pharmaceutical products.

They claim that the tax hike, from 12 per cent to 17 per cent, was introduced by the National Drug Authority (NDA) without consulting stakeholders.

Speaking to the press on Friday, Kirti Shah, the UPPA chairman, expressed frustration over the sudden increase, saying, “In 2022, NDA increased the fees to 12 per cent, and this year, another fare of 17 per cent has been placed without our knowledge. When we met with them, we were not given a clear structure of fees placed, which was without our knowledge.”

Mr Hussein Oria, UPPA’s Secretary General, emphasised that the tax hike will have far-reaching consequences, particularly for ordinary citizens who rely on medicines for their livelihood.

“The increase of the fares will affect our operations, but they affect the citizen more in the long run. People don’t have resources; the community is already burdened because they won’t have resources to buy the medicines. If the costs are so high, then investors will have no business,” he said.

The association has already written to Health Minister Jane Ruth Aceng, informing her of the situation and requesting her intervention. In the letter, UPPA warned that failure to respond to their plea will leave them no option but to close their businesses in Uganda.

“It doesn’t make sense to continue working yet the final consumer of our product is burdened. There will be no business to continue to serve the community; there will be no sense to supply to retail and wholesale pharmacies in the country. We will stop importation of medicines too,” Mr Oria said.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), exempting essential medicines and active pharmaceutical ingredients from taxation can improve affordability and access. The WHO recommendation highlights the need for governments to consider the impact of taxation on healthcare delivery and access to medicines.

NDA speaks

Mr Abiaz Rwamwiri, the spokesperson of NDA, said he had not received the document but that the changes made on the fares for imported drugs is meant to encourage productivity of drugs at home through Buy Uganda Build Uganda (BUBU).

”I have not seen their complaint but the NDA made changes on drug importation to ease access to medicine made at home,” Mr Rwamwiri said.

UPPA Concerns

a) Increased verification fees from 2% to 3% for non-BUBU products:

It is proposed by UPPA that NDA maintains the 2% since Uganda Revenue Authority also charges 2.5%.

b) Increased verification fees for non-BUBU products from 12% to 17%. UPPA recommends that NDA maintains 12% or else NDA bans importation of the same.

c) Reinstating products on the register:

The Regulations impose new fees charges of $500 per year of suspension. UPPA recommends that an annual retention fee of $500 is payable for so long as product is available in the market since NDA needs to continue undertaking quality monitoring through its PMS (Post Market Surveillance) systems.

d) Amendment of application for registration:

It is recommended that there is no need to pay these fees, since it’s part of the $2000 paid for dossier assessment/product registration fees.

e) That the Application fees for premise approval of Ugx. 1,000,000/= is unnecessary and exorbitant, there is a need to waive it, since it is nonrefundable.

f) On syringes, Under the new regulations, they impose NDA verification fees of 20% which is too high, yet Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) also charges 25%. NDA and URA need to lower charges but also recommend that one body be mandated to charge these taxes. NDA could reduce to 2% as previously done.

g) Laboratory analysis fees:

These fees are exorbitant, and as such, they recommend that there is need to consult with other regulatory agencies within the region. The costs are overly segregated hence the need to consolidate them to affordable limits.

GMP fees: The new Regulations separate Non beta lactam (general products), penicillins and cephalosporins, each category charged $8000 yet previously this would cover 5 lines and then $2000 per additional production line. UPPA recommended that NDA reverts to the previous portfolio. Also consider penicillin and cephalosporins as beta lactam units, not as separate ones.

Hello Paul, I have never cared much about my windscreen wipers until the rainy season started. Now they leave streaks and do not clear the water properly, making it hard to see. How often should wipers be replaced, and are there better types for heavy rains in Uganda? Can bad wipers cause accidents? David

Hello David, windscreen wipers play a crucial role in ensuring your road safety, especially during the current rainy season. When wiper blades are old or of poor quality, they can leave streaks or smears of water, dirt, or grime on your windscreen as they move across it. These streaks can reduce visibility while driving in the rain, increasing the risk of accidents. Wiper blades are rubber components attached to the wiper arms, and they help clean precipitation and debris from your windscreen through a backward and forward motion. It is essential to remember that wiper blades should be replaced every six to 12 months, depending on how often you use them and the weather conditions.

In Uganda, with our tropical rains, it is wise to check the condition of your wipers more frequently. When inspecting your wiper blades, pay close attention to any cracks or signs of wear and tear. Cleaning the wiper blades with a soft, non-fluffy cloth is important, and if necessary, consider replacing them.

When you decide to buy new wiper blades, focus on the quality and performance of the products available. Many motorists fall victim to roadside hawkers selling counterfeit or substandard wipers, which can cause streaking and have poor wiping performance. Instead, look for reputable brands sold in established parts shops. These quality wipers are often made from good rubber materials and feature durable designs. Some wiper brands incorporate a blend of silicone, making them more durable and resistant to cracking compared to pure rubber blades.

These silicone blades tend to perform better during heavy rainfall. Additionally, beam blade wipers possess a flexible design that adapts to the shape of your windscreen, ensuring consistent contact and improved performance in removing water, dirt, or grime, thus minimising streaking. On the market, you will also find latitude wipers that repel water better during heavy storms, helping you maintain visibility and stay safe. Bad wipers can lead to accidents by reducing visibility due to streaks and failing to clear water from the windscreen.

This may prevent you from seeing oncoming traffic or obstacles ahead, resulting in delayed reactions to corners, approaching vehicles, or sudden changes on the road, significantly increasing the likelihood of an accident.