Category: Daily Monitor

An Artificial Intelligence (AI) data centre has been unveiled in Uganda, a first-of-kind project in the East African nation, and hailed as a turning point that will shift the continent’s data from foreign servers back to the continent, giving institutions, researchers, and businesses greater control over their digital assets.

Speaking during the launch breakfast, Synectics Technologies Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Oladele Oyekunle, said the first phase of the project is expected to cost KShs157.2 billion ($1.2 billion.) The facility will run on 100 megawatts of renewable energy and adopt a modular design that allows for expansion as technology evolves. Mr Oyekunle added that the three-year project will begin rollout by mid-next year.

According to him, the initiative has four main goals: to manage and process data, support research and development, and serve as an advisory hub.

It will also host an AI Centre of Excellence, created under a Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) model, to ensure that local engineers, researchers, and universities not only access the infrastructure but also acquire the skills to manage and innovate within it.

The approach is expected to reduce Africa’s dependence on foreign expertise and transform the region into a net exporter of digital skills within five years.

With over 80 acres of land dedicated to this ‘digital city,’ the project aims to foster an ecosystem where African researchers in medicine, agriculture, climate science, and other fields can optimise AI-driven innovations locally, rather than exporting raw data abroad for processing.

The facility is being developed in Uganda by Synectics Technologies in partnership with Schneider Electric, Nvidia, and Turner and Townsend, and is expected to transform Africa’s digital landscape by providing local infrastructure for data processing, research, and AI innovation.

Africa currently accounts for less than 1% of global data center capacity despite having a population of 1.4 billion people, according to the Africa Data Centres Association.

Most African data is still hosted overseas, raising concerns about security, sovereignty, and compliance with data protection laws.

‘At least 30 African countries, including Kenya and Nigeria, have enacted data privacy regulations in recent years, requiring more data to be processed locally,’ Oyekunle noted.

Turner and Townsend’s Head of Real Estate in Africa, Wendy Cerutti, said the facility is designed to meet international standards while securing Africa’s long-term digital future.

‘This project shows that we can deliver world-class facilities here, with predictability, clarity, and impact,’ she said, stressing that the initiative is a long-term infrastructure program aligned with net-zero goals.

Analysts project that AI could contribute up to KES 195 trillion ($1.5 trillion) to Africa’s GDP by 2030, with the data center expected to position the continent as a hub for research, innovation, and skills export.

Schneider Electric East Africa Country President Ifeanyi Odoh said the lack of large-scale infrastructure has kept global hyperscale’s from investing heavily in Africa.

‘It’s not that we don’t have the data. The basic infrastructure fiber, power, redundancy has not been available at scale,’ he said.

The new facility will be supported by multiple fiber routes, redundant transformers, and advanced automation to guarantee reliability.

The urgency of this development is underscored by Africa’s digital infrastructure gap. Despite its population size, the continent continues to rely heavily on Europe and North America for data hosting.

Experts warn that without local capacity, the risks of data misuse and weak compliance will grow as AI adoption accelerates in healthcare, fintech, and education.

By embedding privacy and compliance frameworks into the new facility, Synectics and its partners say they are not only building infrastructure but also trust.

Industry observers see the project as a watershed moment. The creation of an AI factory powered by renewable energy is expected to catalyze digital economies across East Africa and beyond, while also symbolizing Africa’s entry into the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

‘Science is precise whether in Kenya, Uganda, or China. For Africa, this is our time not just to consume technology, but to define our own digital future,’ Mr Oyekunle urged.

Africa faces a growing mental health and suicide crisis we can no longer ignore. Suicide has become one of the leading causes of death among young people globally, claiming more lives each year than war, homicide, or HIV/ Aids.

Suicide rates here are the highest in the world-11.2 deaths per 100,000 people compared to a global average of 9.0 (WHO, 2021).

In Uganda, an estimated 2,500-2,800 people die by suicide annually (World Bank, 2023), and one in eight lives with a mental health disorder.

Yet the country has fewer than 60 psychiatrists and just over 400 psychiatric clinical officers to serve more than 45 million people. Mental health receives less than one percent of the national health budget, leaving most people without access to care.

The crisis is especially acute among young people, who face unemployment, family breakdown, substance abuse, bullying, and social isolation.

Misconceptions persist-over 60 percent of learners hold false beliefs about mental health, and fewer than half know where to seek help.

Behind these statistics are young lives cut short, families broken, and communities left in anguish. If we remain silent, we risk losing an entire generation to stigma and preventable death.

It was in this reality that the L.I.V.E. Conference 2025 was born. Its origins were personal: during a weekly staff fellowship, two colleagues shared that each had lost a friend to suicide in the same week.

Their grief underscored the urgency- this was not a distant problem but one in our workplaces, families, and communities. That moment planted the seed for this national gathering.

The L.I.V.E. Conference-Listen. Include. Validate. Empower. Because Every Life Matters- was convened to break the silence, spark a national conversation, and bring families, youth, faith leaders, educators, policymakers, and health professionals together to seek solutions and healing.

The inaugural L.I.V.E. Conference 2025 marked Uganda’s first national platform dedicated exclusively to suicide prevention and youth mental health.

Convened on World Suicide Prevention Day (September 10, ), the conference brought together more than 400 participants- including young people, government leaders, health professionals, civil society organisations, faith leaders, academics, the media, and international partners.

Our aims were clear: Break the silence and normalise mental health care. Deliver actionable policy recommendations, including a national suicide prevention policy, and decriminalisation of attempted suicide.

Launch a youth mental health resource hub with practical support, including a toll-free helpline. Build a sustainable network of partners to carry the work forward. This vision was realised through the dedication of the organising committee, the courage of young people who shared their stories, and the support of our sponsors and partners, youth networks, and civil society organisations.

The discussions and panels raised urgent and critical issues: the trauma and stigma faced by families after suicide, the risks and opportunities of digital culture for young people, the need to expand evidence-based therapies such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), and the persistent gap between Uganda’s mental health policies and their implementation.

Our chief guest, Dr Diana Atwine, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, affirmed that mental health and suicide prevention are central to Uganda’s future. At its conclusion, the conference adopted five urgent national priorities to guide collective action:

Advocate for a national suicide prevention policy.

Decriminalisation of attempted suicide, ensuring care rather than punishment.

Establishment of a government-funded toll-free helpline accessible nationwide.

Expansion of government funding for mental health care in national and regional referral hospitals, schools, and workplaces, with a focus on psychosocial support across all districts

Creation of a national youth mental health resource hub to coordinate resources, information, and community action The L.I.V.E. Conference 2025 was not just an event but the beginning of a national dialogue.

It demonstrated that mental health and suicide prevention are central to Uganda’s development, the well-being of its young people, and the hope of its future. It is only the beginning-replacing silence with listening, exclusion with inclusion, stigma with validation, and despair with empowerment.

If even one life is saved, one family finds hope, or one policy protects the vulnerable, this effort will have been worthwhile. Let us continue this work together. To listen, include, validate, and empower. Because every life matters.

A woman who was yesterday shown on social media being assaulted by a police officer at Shell Kyanja, says she was beaten by the officer because she asked him to pay for condoms and beer he had taken from the shop.

The 25-year-old Pellan Atuhumurize said at around 5am on Wednesday, a vehicle pulled up at Shell Kyanja, and a woman suspected to be a sex worker, stepped out of the car and went to the counter, asking her to pack her condoms. After, she reportedly asked the attendant to follow her to the vehicle for payment.

When she reached the vehicle, a man who was in the driver’s seat, allegedly asked her to go back and bring two canned Tusker Light beers, which she did, and upon handing them over, the driver tried to drive away without paying the bill, but she grabbed him by the collar, which angered him.

‘He stopped the vehicle, jumped out, and followed me inside the shop, where I kept apologising to him, but he refused to listen. Even the woman he was with told him to forgive me, but he refused. He then told me he could slap me in front of the camera, and even if I took him to court, he would win the case,’ Ms Atuhumurize narrated.

She added that as she was still listening to him, he slapped her hard, immediately following it up with another and asked her whether she would ever drive the type of car he was driving. In the process, the woman he was with also got scared and removed her belongings from the vehicle.

Ms Atuhumurize said the woman said she could not proceed with the man wherever he was going because she did not know where he was taking her, and the fact that he could beat a woman when she was seeing, showed her that the same could easily happen to her.

The man drove away, leaving her behind. When this reporter reached the fuel station yesterday, he found four relatives of the policeman and a woman trying to establish contact with the family of the assaulted girl, who was within the premises, but they couldn’t reveal her identity.

Following the release of the video of the incident, which went viral on social media, police spokesperson Kituuma Rusoke issued a statement on X identifying the suspect as one of their own, Assistant Superintendent of Police Clive Nsiima, whom he said had been apprehended and was in police custody.

Security sources told this reporter last evening that the officer was being detained and would be taken to the police court on Friday at 10am. Yesterday, Ms Joanita Mukasa Menya, the managing director of Vivo Energy, told guests during a stakeholders breakfast meeting that they can now tell which customer walks into any of their fuel station at any time because with the help of cameras.

Col Samson Mande, one of the heroes of the National Resistance Army (NRA) Bush War that brought President Museveni to power, turned dissident, says he’s back in the ruling party.

Col Mande, a strong critic of NRM, has been living in Sweden since he fled to exile with Lt Col Anthony Kyakabale, first in Rwanda and later to the Scandinavian nation after falling out with President Museveni in 2001.

Lt Col (rtd) Kyakabale returned to Uganda about 10 years ago and met President Museveni before travelling back to Sweden later.

Kyakabale, also a Bush War fighter and a key figure in the Rwandan civil war that ousted former Rwandan President Juvenal Habyarimana in 1994, died last week after a long period of illness, according to family sources.

Col Mande returned to Uganda recently and was introduced by President Museveni to the crowd that gathered at Kololo Independence Grounds, Kampala, as the East African nation marked Independence Day on October 9.

‘All the development that is happening in Uganda is on account of the peace that is available. This peace is lubricated by the longstanding NRM policy of reconciliation and forgiveness on top of our firm stand against crime. Even today, I’m happy to welcome back into peaceful Uganda Col Samson Mande, who had fled into exile on account of, apparently, some internal intrigue. While in exile, he tried to engage in some rebel activities. When our cadres contacted him in Sweden, he happily agreed to come back and disconnect himself from the rebel activities,” Mr Museveni said in his October 9 Independence address before asking Col Mande to take to the podium to address the gathering of mainly NRM supporters, politicians and dignitaries from different countries.

Key opposition supporters shunned the official celebrations, claiming they have, over the years, been turned into a ruling party event at which “a lot of taxpayers’ money is spent on a handful of enablers and beneficiaries of the regime.”

In his brief speech, Col Mande said he changed his stance against the NRM and President Museveni, whom he described as generous.

‘I am back home. Here in Uganda, I have two homes; the first home is my country. Nobody shall be surprised that I’m here because I’m in my home. My second home is the NRM. I’m a founder member of the NRM. NRM was born by us. It is in me, it will remain in me until death puts us asunder,’ he said before quoting 1 Corinthians 13:11 to confirm that he’s a changed man.

‘When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me,’ he said, adding, ‘I know the magnanimity of our dear leader, President Yoweri Museveni, would accept my change of behaviour. Thank you very much. I’m home to stay.’

He said he had returned to Uganda to contribute to the development that he had heard and seen.

‘I went when I was bitter, but now I’m better and I’m loaded with solutions. I will not look in the past because I don’t live in the past tense. I’m looking forward to contributing to national development,’ he added.

Mr Museveni, who has been in power for four decades, and seeking another term in the 2026 polls hailed Mande for the “good job as commander of the 15th battalion in the Siege of Masaka in 1985 and in subsequent assignments.”

“I remember Samson Mande in 1979 operating as a volunteer scout for the Task Force Division of the TPDF under Major – General Silas Mayunga in Mbarara. I was commanding the 9000 strong Fronasa fighting force. Later Mande did a good job as commander of the 15th battalion in the Siege of Masaka in 1985 and in subsequent assignments. We welcome him,” the president said after Col Mande’s speech at Kololo.

RAO69 Samson Mande was at the heart of the 5-year guerilla war that brought President Museveni to power in 1986, and later authored the Establishment document that transformed the motley NRA into today’s formidable UPDF. As destiny would dictate, Col. Mande was elbowed out a few years after they captured power, got incarcerated and tortured in dungeon before he fled into exile, first to Rwanda, and onward to Sweden.

Uganda’s Intelligence later accused him of plotting to overthrow President Museveni’s government using the People’s Redemption Army (PRA) rebel group.

He was also involved in veteran opposition politician Dr Kizza Besigye’s escape in August 2001.

WHO IS MANDE?

Col Samson Mande’s UPDF service number RO 69 which puts him among the top 100 National Resistance Army Bush War fighters.

He commanded one of the first six independent units during the Bush War in the Luweero Triangle in 1983. He commanded 1st Battalion, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Battalion, 9th Battalion and Task Force which operated in Kyadondo-Matuga-Bombo-Masulita and Mukono District.

His Task Force merged with the late Brig Chefe Ali’s UNLF troops in 1984 to form the Western Axis frontline and the 11th Battalion in Rwenzori. By 1985 the 11th Battalion had captured enough weapons and trained enough personnel to form the 15th battalion, the crack battalion which Col Mande commanded as the NRA fighters advanced on the capital Kampala, which fell on January 26, 1986.

Uganda, like much of sub-Saharan Africa, is living through the harsh realities of climate change. Scientific evidence confirms that global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are rising due to human activities such as burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and unsustainable agriculture.

These emissions are the main drivers of global warming and extreme weather. Yet the people who depend on climate-sensitive livelihoods like smallholder farmers, charcoal burners, brick makers, and fisherfolk are also bearing the greatest burden.

The National State of the Environment Report 2024, released by the National Environmental Management Authority (Nema), shows that several districts are now facing severe climate shocks with unpredictable rains, hailstorms, prolonged dry spells, droughts, and water shortages.

Uganda has recognised these threats in its Nationally Determined Contribution , updated in 2022. The country committed to reducing its GHG emissions by 24.7 percent below business-as-usual levels by 2030, an increase over its earlier target of 22 percent.

Most of the mitigation (about 82.7 percent) is expected to come from agriculture, forestry, and other land use.

Despite these commitments, a significant gap remains in access to climate finance at the grassroots. Large, complex projects dominate the funding landscape, but little of that capital reaches local innovators.

Local Governments, farmer groups, and Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) remain sidelined, despite their deep knowledge of local challenges and solutions. This is the ‘missing link’ in Uganda’s climate response. Grassroots actors are not short of ideas.

Communities in the Mount Elgon region are practicing terracing and tree planting to prevent landslides. Smallholder farmers in the north are adopting drought-resistant seeds, water harvesting, and solar dryers, reducing post-harvest losses.

Youth and women entrepreneurs are producing briquettes, eco-bricks, and paving blocks from recycled plastic. These solutions show that Uganda’s communities are not merely passive victims; they can lead both adaptation and mitigation.

Yet these initiatives remain underfunded and poorly scaled, leaving communities to shoulder the climate burden. Unlocking climate finance for grassroots solutions requires deliberate action.

Policymakers must prioritise mechanisms that decentralise resources directly to local communities. Climate funds should be channeled through Saccos, Village Savings and Loan Associations, and farmer cooperatives already embedded in local settings.

These institutions can provide ‘green microfinances’ for affordable items like solar kits, clean cookstoves, water harvesting tanks, and climate-smart seeds.

Partnerships between Local Governments, development finance institutions, civil society, academia, and the private sector can further provide technical capacity, monitoring, and scaling of local best practices.

Such shifts would empower grassroots climate ambassadors such as farmers, women, and youth innovators, who can replicate successful models nationwide. Uganda’s fight against climate change will be won or lost at the grassroots.

By decentralising climate finance, scaling local solutions, and supporting both adaptation and mitigation, the country can move from survival to proactive climate leadership. Addressing this missing link is the only way to ensure no Ugandan community is left behind in the face of a changing climate.

When visitors book a stay at a lodge situated in Uganda’s lush national parks or perched by the shores of Lake Victoria, they are not just paying for a bed and breakfast; they are investing in an experience. They expect harmony; the roar of distant waterfalls, the serenity of wildlife grazing nearby, and a space that allows them to disconnect from the chaos of everyday life. Yet, for many lodge owners and investors, these expectations are dashed by avoidable design mistakes made long before the first guest walks through the door.

Sheila Kogo-Malinga, the chief executive officer of Lodge Solutions, a consultancy that guides hospitality investors from concept to operation, says these mistakes often begin at the very start of a project, in the planning phase. By the time they are discovered, fixing them can cost five times more than getting it right in the first place. ‘Your lodge’s architecture is the foundation of your entire business. If you get it wrong at the start, you will spend years fighting fires, giving discounts to unhappy guests, and ultimately watching your dream become a burden,’ Kogo-Malinga says.

Uganda’s tourism sector is on the rise, driven by global interest in its diverse natural attractions, including mountain gorilla trekking in Bwindi, safaris in Kidepo Valley, and boat cruises on the Nile. A well-designed property can command higher room rates and consistent bookings, while a poorly planned one can quickly become a financial liability. Kogo-Malinga outlines four common design mistakes that repeatedly derail hospitality investments, offering lessons for those looking to build lodges that are both functional and profitable.

Trying to do too much

One of the most frequent and costly errors is a lack of clarity about the lodge’s purpose and audience. In a bid to capture every possible market, many investors attempt to create a property that is simultaneously a luxury spa, a family resort, a corporate retreat, and a nightlife destination. The result, Kogo-Malinga says, is confusion and conflict. She recalls a case where a lodge designed to be a wellness retreat also included a lively bar area. Guests who had come seeking peace for spa treatments were forced to endure loud music booming through the walls late into the night. Negative reviews soon followed, forcing the lodge to discount its rates drastically to retain customers.

‘You cannot be everything to everyone,’ Kogo-Malinga explains.

‘If your target is high-end gorilla trekkers in Bwindi, your design should reflect luxury, privacy, and connection with nature. If you are catering to families near Entebbe, you need to prioritise play areas, family suites, and casual dining spaces. Mixing these visions creates chaos.’ Defining a clear concept early on not only guides architectural decisions but also helps determine everything from staffing needs to marketing strategies. Without this clarity, investors risk spending billions on buildings that never quite meet any guest’s expectations.

Technical flaws that break the business

Even when a lodge’s concept is well-defined, technical oversights can wreak havoc. Among the most common are issues with swimming pools, water heating systems, solar installations, and kitchen power planning. These may sound as minor details, but in hospitality, they directly impact guest satisfaction. Swimming pools, for instance, are notoriously challenging in Uganda’s diverse landscapes. In hilly areas such as Kisoro or Kabale, improperly designed infinity pools frequently develop leaks, leading to endless repairs and high maintenance costs. Guests expecting a serene dip instead encounter closed-off areas under construction, dampening their experience.

Water systems are another critical concern. Tourists expect hot showers, especially after long treks through muddy forests or chilly evenings near high-altitude parks. However, many lodge owners underestimate the need for robust backup systems. In places such as Bwindi, a stretch of cloudy weather can leave solar-powered heaters ineffective. Without alternative sources, guests may face the unpleasant surprise of cold showers, a detail that quickly finds its way into online reviews.

Kitchens present their own set of challenges. A lodge that plans to serve gourmet meals requires heavy-duty equipment such as industrial ovens, fridges, and freezers. Yet, many investors fail to account for the immense power load these appliances demand. When the kitchen is fully operational, the entire electrical system may collapse, disrupting service and tarnishing the lodge’s reputation. ‘These are not glamorous issues, but they make or break your business,’ Kogo-Malinga warns. ‘Too often, investors cut costs by skipping technical expertise during design. Fixing these problems later is far more expensive and damaging to your brand.’

The invisible spaces

While guest rooms, lounges, and dining areas are designed to impress, the behind-the-scenes spaces that keep a lodge running smoothly are often neglected. This oversight leads to daily operational frustrations that inevitably spill over into the guest experience. Staff quarters, for instance, are frequently placed too close to guest areas, leading to noise complaints as workers move about during early morning or late-night shifts. Conversely, positioning staff accommodation too far away can cause service delays, with guests waiting uncomfortably for meals or housekeeping. The balance must be carefully planned.

Without dedicated storage for tools, cleaning supplies, and broken furniture, these items often end up scattered in guest pathways or hidden awkwardly behind curtains. This creates a sense of disorganisation and lowers the perceived value of the property. Even parking, a seemingly minor detail, can make a significant difference. Guests paying top dollar for a luxury room do not want to open their curtains to a view of parked cars. Parking areas must be strategically located, accessible yet discreet, to preserve the natural beauty and tranquillity that visitors seek.

Why getting it right matters

Poorly designed properties risk falling behind as bad reviews spread rapidly on platforms such as TripAdvisor and Booking.com. Conversely, a lodge built on strong architectural and operational foundations will hold its value for decades. It will attract repeat guests, command higher room rates, and build a loyal customer base. This not only benefits the individual investor but also strengthens Uganda’s overall tourism brand.

‘Good design is not an expense, it is an investment,’ Kogo-Malinga concludes. ‘When done right, it saves money, prevents headaches, and ensures that your dream project becomes a lasting legacy.’

Uganda kept their slim World Cup qualification hopes alive following a 1-0 away win over Botswana at the Obed Itani Chilume Stadium in Francistown, Botswana on Thursday evening.

Forward Jude Ssemugabi got the game’s only goal on 54 minutes after being allowed to steal in a header at the near post from an Allan Okello corner.

The result pushed the Cranes to 18 points from nine games and consolidate second position in Group G after Mozambique lost 2-1 at home to Guinea to remain three points behind in third place.

The results mean the Cranes stay in the running for World Cup qualification albeit through a somewhat complex playoff process after Algeria clinched the available direct spot in the group with a 3-0 win over Somalia to jump to 22 points, four ahead of the Cranes with one game left.

The Cranes now need just a draw to confirm second position in the group although it is only a win that can brighten their prospects of finishing among the top four second placed teams from the nine groups to get into the playoffs.

Only one slot is available from that playoff before Africa’s representative plays the final qualification game against a team from another continent.

By Thursday night, they were just out of those top four positions lying fifth but level on 18 points with Burkina Faso and Cameroon.

But the Cranes will take heart from a second away win this campaign in which they were the better side against hosts Botswana who had little to play for.

Rogers Mato was again the Cranes’ liveliest player but equally as wasteful infront of goal spurning goal scoring opportunities in either half.

They will hope to carry that fight into the final game that is also away to Algeria on Tuesday.

When the Women’s 2025 Africa Rugby Cup kicks off in Nairobi, Kenya next month, Uganda’s Lady Cranes Sevens should’ve acclimatised enough and ready for battle.

The team drove to the Kenyan capital midweek ahead of the 27th edition of the Safari Sevens to be held from Friday through to Sunday.

Lady Cranes Sevens suffered a heartbreak when major reshuffles at World Rugby altered the Sevens format forcing Uganda Rugby Union to pull the team out of the Challenger Series to concentrate on the fifteens code.

However, with the Africa Sevens returning next month, the Lady Cranes have every reason to battle in Nairobi.

At Safari Sevens, Uganda will challenge for the title they won in 2023 against defending champions Costa Blanca Barbarians, Belgium, Zimbabwe and Kenya Lionesses’ first and second teams.

But the team’s head coach Charles Onen is not shaken.’We’ve a tough contest ahead of us,’ Onen admitted, adding that, ‘We won it in 2023 fell short in 2024 but we want to bounce back and win it as a motivation for the Africa Cup.’

Fastest

Onen has gone for experience in his squad even in the absence of Peace Lekuru as Agnes Nakuya steps in to wear the armband.

Eyes should also focus on Thunderbirds’ youngster Comfort Anganyika who wheeled faster than everyone to scoop the top try scorer’s award in the just-concluded Nile Special National Sevens.

‘We have a good young team that is ready to represent. We were lucky that the players were able to balance playing for their clubs over the weekends and then train on Wednesdays for the team,’ Onen added.

Lydia Namabiro will deputise for the armband. Other players travelling include Yvonne Najjuma, Fazira Namukwaya, Suzan Adong, Grace Nabaggala, Juliet Nandawula, Sandra Amoli, Tina Akello, Racheal Mufuwa and Janat Nandudu.

In the men’s category, Nile Special Sevens newly-crowned champions Walukuba Barbarians and Rugby Cranes will battle for the flag after the Jinja team was invited to take part.

2025 Safari Sevens

Men

Pool A: Kenya Shujaa, French Renegades, UK Select, Walukuba Rugby

Pool B: Shogun, Uganda, Nyati, KCB Rugby

Pool C: Kenya Morans, Zimbabwe, Apache, ReUnion

Rugby Canes team: Allan Olango, Roy Kizito, Jeremiah Ojambo, Fat Moses Watmon, Patrick Okello, Ivan Bulima, Karim Arinaitwe (captain), Gift Wokorach, Jones Kamiza, Shakim Ssembusi, Daniel Otim, Julius Oyuk

Women

Pool A: Costa Blanca Barbarians, Shogun, Kenya Cubs, Mwamba Select

Pool B: Kenya Lionesses, Uganda, Belgium, Tunisia

Lady Cranes team: Agnes Nakuya (captain), Lydia Namabiro, Yvonne Najjuma, Fazira Namukwaya, Suzan Adong, Grace Nabaggala, Juliet Nandawula, Sandra Lona Amoli, Tina Akello, Comfort Anganyika, Racheal Mufuwa, Janat Nandudu

When Uganda gained independence from Britain in 1962, the euphoria of self-rule carried a promise, that all citizens would share in the new nation’s opportunities. But for millions of Ugandans living with disabilities, the road to inclusion has been long, uneven, and still unfinished.

More than six decades later, even though Uganda is often praised for having one of the most progressive legal frameworks on disability rights in Africa, the reality on the ground tells a different story. Persons with disabilities (PWDs) remain among the most marginalized groups in society.

From charity to rights

‘The immediate post-independence years were dominated by the charity model,’ says Ronald Kamusiime, a researcher with the Disability Research Group at the Medical Research Council/Uganda Virus Research Institute.

At that time, disability was largely handled by missionary and welfare institutions. Opportunities in education, employment, and public life were scarce, with many people excluded altogether.

The tide began to shift in the 1970s with the formation of disability organisations such as the Uganda National Association for the Blind and the Uganda National Association of the Deaf.

Their work was interrupted by political upheavals, but by the late 1980s, a new force emerged, the National Union of Disabled Persons of Uganda (NUDIPU), which unified the voices of persons with disabilities and amplified advocacy.

‘The 1995 Constitution as amended was a turning point,’ Ronald explains. ‘For the first time, the rights of persons with disabilities were entrenched in law.’

Since then, Uganda has passed several disability-specific laws. On paper, Uganda shines – but in practice, challenges persist. ‘Budgets are small, local governments lack technical capacity, and accessibility laws are poorly enforced,’ Kamusiime says.

‘We want to show our abilities, not disabilities’

For Ms Victo Nalule, CEO and founder of the Tunaweza Foundation, progress is not only personal but collective.

‘We still have a lot of challenges in terms of identifying different kinds of disability,’ she says.

‘Invisible disabilities such as hearing or visual impairments often go unrecognised, leaving communities unsure how to engage. It has to start from us standing up and saying, despite my disability, this is who I am.’

Through Tunaweza, Nalule is determined to change the narrative. The foundation runs several initiatives, including an iHub where young people with disabilities learn computer skills, as well as projects in soap making and tailoring.

‘We want to showcase abilities,’ she says.

While recognising government efforts in leadership inclusion, Nalule calls for representation beyond tokenism, where more PWDs are assimilated into mainstream leadership roles rather than being relegated to designated seats.

Policies that promised progress

Uganda boasts a plethora of legislation recognising the rights of PWDs in areas such as equality, non-discrimination, employment, and inclusive infrastructure. These include the 1995 Constitution (as amended), the Employment Act (2006), the Building Control Act (2013), the Land Act, and the Road Traffic and Safety Act.

The Persons with Disabilities Act (2006, amended in 2020), which established the National Council for Persons with Disabilities, reaffirms these rights. Uganda also ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2008 and, in 2023, adopted the Revised National Policy on Persons with Disabilities to mainstream inclusion across all sectors.

Madina Mutesi, a human resource practitioner and entrepreneur, believes these laws reflect one of independence’s greatest gifts, the ability to design Uganda’s own systems while embracing the rights of all citizens.

Yet implementation falters. Buildings without ramps and accessible infrastructure remain common. Employers are still hesitant to hire PWDs due to misconceptions. Government funds for disability programmes are often inaccessible due to bureaucracy and weak monitoring.

‘Even in government institutions where 64 scholarships are allocated to PWDs annually, lecture rooms often lack interpreters, inclusive teaching materials, or trained staff,’ she adds.

Glimpses of change

There are, however, signs of progress. Programmes like We Can Work, funded by the Mastercard Foundation and implemented by Light for the World, support persons with disabilities through skills development and employment opportunities. NGOs such as Sightsavers and Christian Blind Mission continue to push for practical inclusion. Government initiatives, though uneven, signal growing recognition.

‘We are the change we want to see,’ Madina emphasizes. ‘It starts with you and me creating a world where everyone, regardless of impairment, lives with dignity.’

The unfinished journey

Uganda has travelled far since 1962, from charity handouts to a rights-based framework, but the gap between law and lived reality remains wide.

As the country celebrates 63 years of independence, Ms Victo reiterates:

‘We want to celebrate independence with dignity, with inclusive transport, education, employment, and innovation. There is still a lot to be done, but we look forward with hope.’

A video recording showing a police officer who has since been identified as Assistant Superintendent of Police Clive Nsiima, attached to Counter Terrorism under Oil and Gas Protection Unit Kampala Metropolitan Zone, slapping a supermarket attendant who reminded him about an unpaid bill of Shs30,000, elicits all kinds of emotions, but for most anger, outrage, and even fear.

That the officer is heard blatantly stating to the victim that he can commit a crime even in front of a camera and get away with it is ominous. But mostly, it dampens the spirit during what should be a jovial period for Ugandans during this 63rd Independence Day.

What sort of independence is this when those like that supermarket attendant, who was assaulted right in front of a camera and the many others we might never know of, whose abuse was never captured on camera, are abused by some among us who swore to keep law and order but instead instigate lawlessness and abuse?

What about the rest who watch as such crime is being perpetrated but are too afraid to do anything or defend the victims because of fear that they too might end up victims and never receive true justice?

While the Director of Criminal Investigations AIGP Tom Magambo, described this as isolated behaviour by an officer, it is hard to unsee and unhear the victim’s shrill cry of pain and the culprit’s arrogant and shameless stance. It will take a lot more to restore broken trust and taper the anguish born from such incidents.

It is good to know that the said offender was arrested and detained, but now what? Sit back and wait for another video recording of an assault? There’s need to restore public trust, quench the embers of anguish. Nip any form of indiscipline or even the indication of it in the bud before it escalates to such levels.

Impunity by security officers, even on the roads, is testament to the fact that there are those among us who feel more entitled to this dear nation than the rest.

Uganda belongs to us all. Everyone must be made aware of this in no uncertain terms. We have enough national challenges to overcome as it is; we can’t let this form of impunity take a permanent slot on that list.

While it seems more than sensible and even rational to blame this sort of behaviour on individual ill manners, the blot on the Force occasioned by one of it’s men can’t be ignored. Something has to give. Much more effort has got to be invested in fighting impunity.