Category: Daily Monitor

Opposition stalwart Dr Kizza Besigye yesterday delivered an emotional address before the High Court in Kampala, detailing what he described as his illegal abduction and detention by state agents and questioning the court’s impartiality in handling his treason case. Dr Besigye, together with his co-accused, Mr Obeid Lutale and Capt Denis Oola, appeared before Justice Emmanuel Baguma of the Criminal Division amid chants from supporters who filled the courtroom gallery.

The hearing began at 11:24am when Justice Baguma entered and called the case. Senior counsel Martha Karua led the defence team alongside lawyers Ernest Kalibbala, Fredrick Mpanga, Eron Kiiza, Elias Lukwago, and Simon Nsubuga, representing Capt Oola. Chief State Attorney Richard Birivumbuka reminded the court that during the previous session, Dr Besigye had sought permission to address the bench in writing, which he did on October 3.

Justice Baguma confirmed receipt of the letter and allowed him to speak. Dr Besigye recounted what he called an abduction from Nairobi, Kenya, in November last year.

‘We were kidnapped, brought back to Uganda, and detained in a military facility for four days – yet we are not soldiers,’ he said. He argued that their arraignment before the General Court Martial, which the Constitutional Court had declared unconstitutional, was ‘a blatant illegality.’ ‘We were remanded to Luzira Prison, where we still remain. Even after the Supreme Court declared our detention illegal, we were never released,’ he said. Dr Besigye also accused the court of bias in handling their bail application.

‘Your ruling, my Lord, stunned us,’ he told Justice Baguma. ‘You said the court was unaware of our predicament, yet all documents were before you. That ruling showed either incompetence or bias,’ he added. He revealed that he and Lutale had filed a complaint against Justice Baguma with the Judicial Service Commission, questioning whether it was prudent for him to continue handling their case. Ms Karua argued that justice ‘must not only be done but be seen to be done’ . Justice Baguma said he would deliver his ruling on October 15.

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) form the backbone of Uganda’s employment, innovation, and trade.

They sustain millions of livelihoods and contribute significantly to domestic revenue. Yet, beneath this entrepreneurial vitality IS a silent struggle, one that plays out each tax season.

The World Bank’s 25th Uganda Economic Update, under the cost of compliance subheading, brings out this struggle with SMEs during a stakeholder engagement, indicating that the tax system is complex, overlapping, poorly understood by most small business owners, and riddled with multiple layers of taxation.

This complexity, the report says, has made compliance not only cumbersome but also expensive, both in time and financial resources.

The report notes that the tax structure includes a wide range of levies, among others, income tax, VAT, excise duty, local service tax, trading licenses, and ground rent, which are administered through separate systems at central and local government levels.

For small businesses that lack the administrative capacity or financial literacy to navigate this maze, the system becomes more of a trap than a partnership.

Burden on the compliant

Ironically, the report notes, it is those businesses that try to comply that feel most penalized, which has made compliant taxpayers increasingly view themselves as easy targets as URA ‘focuses on generating more revenue from [SMEs] rather than finding ways to expand the tax base’.

‘Consequently, they feel they are being targeted as low-hanging fruit,’ the World Bank reveals in part of the report under which it canvassed stakeholder views on tax policy and administration. The tax base remains narrow, covering a small fraction of the country’s large informal sector.

URA focuses its efforts on those already within the system, with compliant taxpayers arguing that URA is fixated on extracting more from existing payers, a strategy SMEs say effectively treats them as ‘low-hanging fruit.’

For many SMEs, the report notes, staying compliant means enduring multiple audits and administrative reviews, while many others escape the tax net, which creates a moral hazard and non-compliance.

Uganda’s tax-to-GDP ratio of around 13.9 percent is one of the lowest in East Africa, well below government’s own target of 18 percent, which the World Bank attributes partly to a limited inclusion of informal enterprises, in addition to exemptions of large companies, which leaves smaller, less influential businesses to bear a disproportionate share of the fiscal load.

Simplifying and expanding

Thus, the World Bank urges government to simplify tax rules and expand taxpayer education, especially for SMEs that struggle to interpret complex tax laws.

Simplified compliance procedures, such as digital filing systems, harmonized tax codes, and user-friendly payment interfaces, could drastically reduce administrative costs.

The World Bank also wants government to build stronger collaboration between central and local governments, given that currently, both levels of government impose overlapping taxes that not only confuse businesses but also inflate compliance costs.

The report also recommends shifting from multiple issue-based audits to comprehensive audits, which would reduce redundancy and prevent unnecessary harassment of businesses, as well as build lasting trust to renew the social contract between government and taxpayers.

However, the report also notes that SMEs say that government should not focus on merely collecting more taxes, but be fair and efficient, without causing undue burden.

SMEs, which make up more than 90 percent of the private sector, feel crushed under the weight of administrative red tape or treated as cash cows for short-term revenue gains.

Instead, the report notes, they should be supported through an enabling tax environment that encourages growth, job creation, and innovation.

To widen the tax base, the World Bank argues that simplifying the tax regime, broadening the base, and improving transparency are essential steps that will reward compliance, and only by shifting from a culture of enforcement to one of partnership can government transform its tax system into a genuine engine for inclusive and sustainable growth.

URA yesterday said, they were intentional on addressing the issues raised in the report, noting that tax education and sensitization ‘is a priority and to ensure focus, a fully fledged division has been created to do the job down to the last person in the trade eco system’.

URA commissioner customs Asadu Kigozi Kisitu, said tax education and sensitization drives are already underway, in addition to simplification and harmonisation of processes and procedures such as obtaining a TIN and reviewing and harmonizing tax legislation not only in Uganda but EAC as a region.

A child born in Uganda in 2000 would have expected to live up to the age of 48.9. One born today, on the other hand, can expect to live for 66 years, and rising. This is one of the success stories in Uganda’s health sector, and the country’s life expectancy has risen above the sub-Saharan African average to near global levels.

There are many underlying reasons, including mass immunisation that has rolled back many preventable diseases, antiretroviral therapies that have reduced mortality from HIV/Aids, the end of major armed conflicts, and a young population that is yet to face the inevitable turbulence of mid- and late-life ailments.

The expansion of primary health care has seen reductions in maternal and neonatal mortality rates, while expansion in private health care has driven investments in complex medical treatments and procedures.

A close look under the microscope, however, shows the many pathogens and problems that, left unattended, will undermine Uganda’s social and economic transformation, as well as the ability of many Ugandans to live long, healthy and productive lives.

First, for all the progress made over the past decades, the two leading causes of death in Uganda are treatable (malaria) and preventable (HIV/Aids).

In the case of malaria, the incidence rate has been worsening since 2021, according to the World Health Organisation. This speaks to a failure in case management and primary health care, especially at the grassroots.

Similarly, the third-leading cause of death — lower respiratory infections like pneumonia, among others — suggests a lack of awareness of hidden dangers such as air pollution, and a lack of public health messaging to address them.

Growing tobacco consumption among young people through vaping, smoking water pipes, and just second-hand cigarette smoke without any meaningful public health education and behavioural change campaigns will only make this worse.

The second, and related, problem is the growing risk of lifestyle or non-communicable diseases like diabetes, hypertensive disease, among others, which kill about four out of every 10 Ugandans. To this add injuries, including those from road traffic accidents, which claim about 10 percent of fatalities every year.

Some of the fixes in this category are obvious and straightforward. Just forcing boda boda riders and their passengers to wear helmets would reduce the fatality rate from these two-wheeled widow-makers. Enforcing driver learning and regular vehicle inspections would reduce overall road traffic accidents.

Others, however, are harder to see and, therefore, harder to formulate policies around. For instance, the urban low-income-earner diet has changed from organic local food to the refined high-calorie sugars of wheat and antibiotic-flavoured industrial eggs.

The disappearance of public spaces and sports facilities, combined with a growing culture of vertical living in apartment blocks, has taken away free or low-cost exercise options. This pressure on physical space will only increase as the population doubles over the next 25 years.

Crowded into ever denser conurbations, and without common spaces for physical exercise or mental decompression, obesity and its related diseases, combined with mental health disease, are likely to rise. As the population pyramid begins to bulge in the middle, non-communicable diseases could become the leading causes of death.

Public health policy makers, therefore, need to plan for malaria vaccines, as well as running tracks and public parks! This will require new thinking and smarter investments, including in making health care more affordable.

Spending on health as a percentage of GDP, currently at under five percent, will have to triple to meet the pledge in the Abuja Declaration.

The absolute increases, however, will have to rise in tandem with more intelligent decision-making such as buying more ambulances than luxury SUVs, and allocating more money to maintenance and staffing.

One obvious low-hanging fruit is the national health insurance scheme, which has been decades in the planning. It would expand coverage and reduce the cost of healthcare for the most vulnerable, providing a guardrail against that very real nightmare of losing it all with one major medical emergency.

Yet even small illnesses carry large costs. In a new paper, Dablin Mpuuga of the Economic Policy Research Centre and colleagues found that 28.7 percent of households spent more than 40 percent of their non-food expenditure on out-of-pocket healthcare costs during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Another 33 percent spent more than 25 percent — money that could have been spent on investment or other forms of consumption.

Fixing the health sector requires a combination of greater investment in prevention and treatment, focusing on outcomes to ensure value-for-money, and derisking inevitable health challenges through a national health insurance scheme.

Ugandans are living longer; we shouldn’t let the cost of healthcare make some wish they could die earlier.

JKL Lady Dolphins can confirm their place in the National Basketball League finals with victory over UCU Lady Canons when the two sides face off tonight in Game Four of the semifinal series at Lugogo Indoor Stadium.

The defending champions have won back-to-back games to take a 2-1 lead in the series having lost the opener.

Wednesday night’s 65-61 win saw the four-time champions dig deep and rely on their experience to get over the line and put one foot in the finals.

The Lady Canons led by nine points (34-25) going into the halftime break and despite leading by as many as 14 points at some point, JKL came back in the fourth frame to snatch the victory.

Four-time MVP Hope Akello recorded 20 points, 13 rebounds and five assists in the game while Brenda Ekone registered 17 points and eight rebounds.

For the Lady Canons, Matrina Anyango got a team-high 15 points and collected five rebounds while Shillah Lamunu had a double-double of 11 points and 14 rebounds.

Backs against the wall

UCU’s Game One victory now looks a distant memory, with tonight’s assignment putting the university side in a win-or-go-home situation.

Nicholas Natuhereza’s charges shot three-for-29 from three-point range on Wednesday and will need much better percentages to get past a more experienced JKL side.

The scoring burden has largely rested on Lamunu’s shoulders in the series and more senior players like Bridget Aber and team captain Hajara Najjuko will have to do more for UCU to stay alive.

Stopping Ekone’s transition has also proven a challenge in the last two games and that has seen her score 33 points and help the defending champions take charge of the series.

Akello has also dominated the paint to pour in 36 points the last two games. Limiting the duo could be the start of a comeback for UCU but that is easier said than done.

National Basketball League Playoffs

Semifinal result

Game Three

JKL 65-61 UCU

Game Four, Friday -Lugogo

UCU vs. JKL, 7pm

As Uganda marks 63 years of independence, reflections from across the country paint a mixed picture; pride in peace and development tempered by frustration over poverty, corruption, and a sense that true independence remains elusive.

In Kampala, Ms Beatrice Nyangoma remembered how her parents once marked the day with joy and food. ‘Previously, people went to the market to buy rice and meat. Now few people even feel bothered – maybe because of how we’re being governed,’ she lamented. In Rakai District, Gragam Wasajja believes Uganda’s independence remains incomplete as long as citizens remain poor.

‘Real independence is people having money in their pockets,’ he said. ‘Many Ugandans still live below the poverty line and can’t access basic services,’ he added. From Mpigi District, elders shared cautious praise.

Mr Joseph Ssenkatuuka, 86, of Buwama Town Council, acknowledged visible progress in infrastructure. ‘Our roads are far better than before independence,’ he said. ‘But all this borrowing from the World Bank and others worries me. Let Parliament block unnecessary loans – we must depend on our own money,’ he added. His neighbour, Livingston Lumala, 72, said while peace has been maintained, government investment in health and social services has declined. ‘The only notable successes are personal gains, not community services. ‘Our health centres today need treatment themselves,’ he said. In western Uganda, residents of Mbarara also spoke of economic hardship overshadowing celebration. Mr Evaristo Bainomugisha, 70, said the mood has shifted from jubilation to survival. ‘In the past, we would be in a celebratory mood on the eve of independence.

Now people are too burdened by poverty to care,’ he said. At Mbarara Central Market, Mr Alex Tindiwensi, 64, expressed fear and anger over what he called declining freedoms. ‘You can’t talk of independence when people’s rights are abused and others live in fear,’ he said. ‘We are witnessing the same terror they used to talk about in the past,’ he added. Economy Retired civil servant Martin Twinoburyo agreed, arguing that Uganda’s economy remains dominated by foreigners. ‘If the country can’t sustain itself economically, then we can’t talk of independence,’ he said. ‘We may have peace, but there’s little to be excited about.’ Mr Eron Kaggwa, 80, said he has seen progress in how the country marks the day.

‘These days, there’s a lot more effort. Government is putting in more energy to celebrate independence,’ he said. And Mr Daniel Sande, 70, reminisced about the 1980s when independence celebrations drew crowds nationwide. ‘Back then, everyone participated – there was even an Independence Cup. Today, it’s mostly the youth,’ he recalled.

At the height of national political campaigns spanning from 2001, 2006, and 2011, elderly men, women, youth, and children would throng the road-sides flashing the V-sign to signify victory in support of their then favourite Opposition presidential candidate and Forum for Democratic Change party leader, Col (rtd) Dr Kizza Besigye.

While singing their traditional songs as a way of marketing the campaigns, they would be seen ululating as they jumped out of their mud and wattle grass-thatched houses in excitement to cheer Dr Besigye in his convoy. The supporters would lay traditional kitenge clothes for the three-time presidential candidate to walk on, and they would offer him gifts such as doves, chickens, goats, and sheep, in a show of great support and solidarity. He received a hero’s welcome across West Nile, in a region whose locals suffered while in exile in DR Congo and South Sudan after the fall of President Idi Amin in 1979.

Dr Besigye, who could roar during campaigns with his trademark ballistic voice, was a darling to the people of West Nile because his messages spoke to the common man’s problems. Key on his agenda at that time was the bad roads, non-connection to the national grid, and the arrests of OPEC boys, the notorious fuel smugglers who carried goods across the borders of South Sudan and Dr Congo. He would also ride on the poverty levels in communities in West Nile to drive his point home. Dr Besigye went ahead to fault the government on the sorry state of health and educational institutions in the sub-region. These factors, among others, won the hearts of the people of West Nile, making the NRM government unpopular. Another factor was the popularity of the late Democratic Party presidential candidate, Paul Kawanga Ssemogerere, who contested in the 1996 elections and won across West Nile with more than 80 percent of the votes.

The same favour and love for the Opposition candidate was reciprocated in support of Dr Besigye’s Reform Agenda and later FDC. Dr Besigye had set up party structures with FDC offices opened in key districts such as Nebbi and Arua. It appeared apparent that massive mobilisation was being conducted right from the grassroots level. It is no wonder that during the 2006 presidential campaigns, the procession from the FDC office in Arua Town, which is about 800 metres to Arua Hill grounds, took about 30 minutes of slow driving as traffic jams were created in the town, with a mammoth crowd following him. That time, the Muslim group played the drum as a way of mobilisation for Dr Besigye. In 2016, the same love for the Opposition was still visible. That time, the late Ibrahim Abiriga, who then served as Arua District Resident District Commissioner, mobilised some NRM supporters for a bull feast to divert people’s attention from attending Dr Besigye’s rally. But this was in vain as people abandoned the feast and dashed to Arua Hill for campaigns. Some of the NRM supporters moved with the animal’s hooves during Dr Besigye’s procession.

How Opposition lost ground

Incensed by the incident, the late Abiriga planned dismantling of the Opposition party support. He moved to various boda boda stages to mobilise support for Mr Museveni. ‘Stop listening to those lies of the Opposition. We should support the government that brought you back from exile. The government works on services in phases. The roads, electricity, schools and hospitals will be done if you support NRM,’ he said in 2016. During the campaigns, the late Abiriga managed to mobilise and pull crowds for Mr Museveni. He spoke vehemently about the completion of the Karuma-Olwiyo-Pakwach-Nebbi-Arua road, which he said was a success for the NRM regime. Some people believed him and were compelled to support the regime. Abiriga’s efforts paid off while in Arua District in 2016, where President Museveni won with 114,888 (57.71 percent) and Dr Kizza Besigye got 68,108 (34.22 percent) out of the 336,384 registered voters. This was the starting point for the NRM to find a foot in the elections.

NRM take over

Pakwach District chairperson Robert Omit Steen said: ‘We appreciate his (Museveni’s) efforts in the last terms of rehabilitating some of the roads, constructing Seed schools in communities, and connecting the region to the national grid. These are services our people needed and so he deserved our support.’

He, however, said there are areas that require the government’s urgent attention such as the revival of the Pakwach Railway Station and port, upgrading of Pakwach Health Centre IV to a hospital status and upgrading of Uganda College of Commerce Pakwach to university status. President Museveni throughout the campaign in West Nile promised to provide scholastic materials, pads for pupils in schools, tarmac the roads, and connect the region to the national grid and this was fulfilled on August 3, 2024. He also promised free Universal Primary Education. This statement won hearts of many of the poor parents, especially in rural areas, who looked at him as a saviour. The NRM has also mobilised various youth groups, women and men to canvas for votes in the rural areas.

The defections

The exodus of devotees from the FDC such as former Arua Central Division MP Kassiano Wadri, former Arua Woman MP Christine Abia, Ms Amina Atako, Ms Nesma Ocokoru, Ms Night Asara to Alliance for National Transformation (ANT) among other party officials also disabled the party’s support base. This left a gap in the leading Opposition party structures. The NRM has also tried to fulfil some of its promises that include construction of major roads, bridges and some anti-poverty projects that are likely to win them another term. The Pakwach District Woman MP, Ms Jane Avur, said: ‘People have realised the gains which we need to protect like the construction of Ora Bridge that connects people of Pakwach and Madi Okollo, the construction of the Pakwach-Nebbi road and the implementation of the Parish Development Model as a game changer.

The construction of Seed schools across the region is a gain.’ However, in a recent interview with the Daily Monitor, Mr Wadri said he does not believe in any gains from the NRM. He said locals in the region have been hoodwinked to think that by voting for an NRM candidate, development would come their way. NRM has 40 MPs in the 13 districts in West Nile, who have been mobilising support for him. ‘Despite this good representation, look at what the locals get in turn, poor state of roads from Nebbi to Arua, the Nebbi-Zombo-Vurra road, the road from Manibe to Terego-Yumbe. No senior political appointments and poverty just thrives on,’ Mr Wadri said. ‘Those that join the NRM party do so for selfish reasons, he added. Mr Wadri also revealed that the ground has not been levelled for all political parties as police often interfere with their programmes.

Health and fitness experts have called for urgent reforms to curb the rising fatal and other life-threatening incidents in Ugandan gyms and military recruitment exercises. The experts indicated that the incidents highlight critical safety lapses like inadequate health screenings and poor emergency preparedness.

The recent death of 22-year-old Solomon Dono, who collapsed and died during a UPDF recruitment in Apac District on August 15, despite on-site medical aid, joins a troubling pattern that includes businessman Abas Kasagga’s alleged fatal heart attack in a Kampala gym in April. Kasagga was pronounced dead upon arrival at Kibuli Hospital, a nearby facility where he was rushed to. These are not isolated cases. Mustafa Katende’s 2018 gym collapse and the death of Margaret Kabasa during a fitness test in Pallisa in May all highlight the magnitude of the problem.

Many exercise-related incidents are unreported because they are not fatal. ‘As physiotherapists, we usually take exercises as medicine. Just like medicine, you take it according to what is affecting you,’ explains Mr Isaac Kakooza, former president of the Uganda Association of Physiotherapy (UAP), now with Mobile Phyzio Uganda. Mr Kakooza emphasises the importance of understanding one’s health status before starting a fitness routine.

‘There are specific types of exercises which each individual is supposed to do depending on their fitness level,’ he says, adding:’Some people get these kinds of problems (attacks), because sometimes they don’t go into that length of finding out their state of health.’ The physiotherapist paints a scenario where individuals with pre-existing conditions like high blood pressure or heart problems might unknowingly exacerbate their situation through ill-advised exercise.

‘When someone goes to the gym, the gym first of all is supposed to have a professional who can, for example, take the person’s blood pressure,’ Mr Kakooza asserts. ‘Someone could be having high blood pressure. when you do exercise, your blood pressure also goes up, (meaning the condition can worsen). This means you are not supposed to be doing certain types of exercise,’Mr Kakooza says.

Col David Opeero, the head of the UPDF recruitment team in Apac District, in comments about the death of Dono, says they always do preliminary health checks before the fitness drill and have a robust emergency response system and team, which tried to rescue Dono. ‘During the run, one of the participants collapsed. He was put in the ambulance that was following them, the way we evacuate any other participant who faints in the run,’ he explains.

‘He was brought to the hospital, first aid was administered to him, unfortunately, he didn’t make it, he died.’ Col Opeero further explains that in the recruitment process, ideally there are four stages. ‘The first one is to identify and confirm that we have the right people who are short-listed, then document verification,the third one is the preliminary physical check done by the medical officers, then the fourth one is the short run, and eventually the medical examination,’ he says. Dr Charles Oyoo Akiya, the commissioner for Non-Communicable Disease Control and Prevention at the Ministry of Health, highlights how one can exercise safely.

‘First of all, do a general fitness check by a qualified health worker, know your general health status: heart condition, blood pressure, blood sugar, and so on,’ he says. ‘Secondly, ensure the gym is safe and the equipment is in good mechanical condition. Thirdly, a qualified/ licensed or professional instructor is available to guide you. And forth, first aid services are handy, including emergency referral systems,’ he adds. Mr Kakooza says weightlifting, although essential in muscle strengthening, greatly strains the cardiovascular system (heart and blood pathways), causing a significant concern that should be balanced well with health safety.

Danger signs

‘When you’re lifting something heavy or exerting a lot of force, your body will demand energy. And then when it demands too much energy, of course, it goes hand in hand with demanding more oxygen, and by that, your heart will be required to pump or to overwork so that it can supply that kind of blood. And if it’s overworking beyond its limits, of course, anything can happen to you,’ he explains. Mr Kakooza stresses the significance of recognising one’s limits during exercise. The point of panting, he explains, should allow for continued conversation. Reaching a level where breathlessness prevents speech is a danger sign, indicating an intensity that might be too high. ‘When you’re doing exercises, you can reach a point when you’re panting. That panting has to be at a certain level where you can pant, but while you can still talk.

But when you reach a level where you pant and you cannot even talk, you’re just trying to catch your breath, that’s not a good intensity level,’ he says. ‘If you’re so fatigued so quickly at a simple exertion during an exercise, it’s good to go for a check-up to see why your body demands so much oxygen and you’re not taking it in the way it is required. Usually, it’s good to first see a cardiologist and see whether there’s any problem,’ he adds. The physiotherapist also advises seeking medical check-ups for persistent fatigue during simple exertion, as it could signal underlying health issues. The absence of mandatory health screenings and professional guidance in many gyms is a worrying trend.

‘When they go to these gyms, they don’t even ask those things, they just all of a sudden jump on something and they just start doing without anyone asking them these, without anyone measuring their blood pressure,’ Mr Kakooza laments. UAP, has long advocated for stricter regulations within the fitness industry. ‘It would be good for each gym to have a physiotherapist supervising it. Just like you see pharmacies are supervised by pharmacists. So gyms are also supposed to be supervised by physiotherapists,’ Mr Kakooza advises. He points to the recent regulation by the National Council of Sports mandating physiotherapists in sports clubs, highlighting their crucial role in guiding training, preventing injuries, and managing emergencies.

Echoing the need for greater oversight, Dr Akiya acknowledges that gyms are largely private entities regulated by the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife, and Antiquities. Dr Akiya also reminds the public that physical activity doesn’t solely rely on gyms. Simple activities like walking, jogging, dancing, and sports can be equally beneficial and accessible. For gym owners, Dr Akiya’s message is clear: ‘They must employ professional instructors, physiotherapists, first aiders, etc., and ensure a safe environment within their gym facilities.’

As Uganda marks 63 years of independence, legal experts and rights advocates reflect on the nation’s unfinished journey toward freedom, one where human rights remain the truest test of sovereignty.

When Uganda raised its flag on October 9, 1962, jubilation swept across the nation. The Union Jack was lowered, and the anthem of freedom filled the air, a young country declaring its sovereignty and its right to self-determination.

Six decades on, many Ugandans are asking: what has independence truly delivered? Beyond the symbolism of self-rule, what does freedom mean when human rights remain fragile? It’s a question that continues to frame Uganda’s post-independence journey, and one that legal minds still wrestle with today.

‘Independence gave us a flag,’ says Crispin Kaheru, a member of the Uganda Human Rights Commission. ‘But the right to development is what will ultimately give that flag meaning in people’s daily lives.’

Uganda’s human rights record since independence reads like a book with both inspiring chapters and difficult pages – marked by both achievements and setbacks.

The promise unfulfilled

Kaheru sees independence not as an event of 1962, but as a continuing promise, one that can only be fulfilled when every Ugandan enjoys dignity, equality, and opportunity.

He credits Uganda’s progress in the post-independence era, a strong constitutional framework, the establishment of oversight bodies such as the Uganda Human Rights Commission and the Equal Opportunities Commission, and greater civic awareness.

However, he candidly acknowledges the inequities that persist.

‘The benefits of development are unevenly distributed. We still have marginalized and rural communities,’ Kaheru notes.

‘Episodes of radical politics and political intolerance continue to undermine the broader human rights environment.’

The paradox is clear: Uganda has the laws and institutions to protect rights, yet the lived reality often betrays equality. Youth unemployment, rural poverty, and environmental degradation remain stubborn challenges. Rights are guaranteed on paper, but not always in practice.

This tension between promise and practice also runs through Uganda’s constitutional evolution.

The constitution and institutional independence

If Uganda’s independence was the birth of a nation, the 1995 Constitution was meant to be its anchor , a modern charter enshrining civil, political, and socio-economic rights.

For Alex Martin Musiime, a constitutional lawyer and human rights advocate, it remains one of the most progressive documents on the continent.

‘Our Constitution was the strongest document to protect human rights,’ Musiime says. ‘The challenge only came in when it started being changed for political expedience.’

He applauds Parliament and the courts for progressive decisions – from outlawing the automatic death penalty to defending freedom of expression.

However, he is critical of constitutional amendments that scrapped presidential term limits and the age cap, as well as legislation that has eroded civil liberties.

‘Parliament has, in many ways, legislated backwards,’ he says. ‘The UPDF Amendment Act of 2025 extended military jurisdiction over civilians – a step that militarizes justice and undermines the civilian judiciary.’

Musiime also criticizes the Anti-Homosexuality Act, describing it as ‘a dangerous precedent that turns popular sentiment into persecution.’

Janice Nkajja, an international law student and anti-corruption advocate, argues that the country’s formal independence has not translated into personal or institutional independence.

‘State independence in itself is independent of citizen independence,’ she says. ‘At this point, we need protection from our own state.’

She points to the harassment of anti-corruption activists and the paralysis of oversight bodies like the Human Rights Commission, which, she says, has become ‘a state of limbo.’

For her, independence celebrations mean little when free expression is still criminalized and dissenting voices are silenced.

These contradictions reveal a deeper malaise, the urgent need to realize true separation of powers to ensure institutional efficiency and protection of citizens’ rights.

Achievements and the missing link

Still, amid disillusionment, Uganda’s human rights journey has not been without gains. Education and healthcare access have improved. Civil society, though often constrained, remains vibrant. Courts occasionally assert their independence, as seen in rulings protecting journalists or striking down unconstitutional provisions.

However, these moments of light often flicker against a backdrop of impunity. Arbitrary arrests, land evictions, and the use of security laws to stifle protests remain common. The very institutions meant to safeguard citizens are too often the sources of abuse.

For Musiime, true independence requires not just better laws but stronger enforcement. ‘Judges, police, and rights bodies must act as protectors, not partners, of the powerful,’ he says.

Concurring with Musiime, Ivan Katureebe, a lawyer at the Federation of Uganda Employers, emphasizes the need for intentional implementation and enforcement.

‘Uganda has no shortage of good laws,’ Katureebe says. ‘What we lack is the consistent will and capacity to enforce them. Human rights protection will only be real when enforcement stops depending on who is involved.’

He also argues that human rights discourse in Uganda is incomplete without public education.

‘There is need for sensitisation of the public, not just about their rights but also their obligations,’ he adds. ‘Respect for rights is mutual. Citizens, employers, and the State must each play their part if human dignity is to be truly upheld.’

Uganda’s independence story is still being written. And for Kaheru, its next chapter must translate freedom into shared prosperity.

‘Human rights without development are decorative. Development without human rights is dangerous. The right to development is the bridge between the two,’ says Kaheru.

For the first time in over a decade, the Masaza Cup final will return to the heart of Kampala. Nakivubo War Memorial Stadium, newly refurbished and recommissioned by President Yoweri Museveni on April 25, 2024, has officially been confirmed as the host venue for the 2025 Masaza Cup final. Kyaggwe, Buweekula, Bugerere and Ssingo will play in this year’s final showdown at Nakivubo after reaching the semifinals over the weekend.

This announcement came after a comprehensive inspection tour on Monday by Buganda Kingdom’s Minister for Sports, Youth and Arts, Robert Sserwanga, who expressed his delight at the stadium’s readiness.

‘Seeing Nakivubo bounce back as a top-tier facility is exciting for everyone who loves the game. It holds a lot of history for the Masaza Cup, and we are thrilled to bring the final back here where so many great memories were made,” Sserwanga said.

The iconic stadium last hosted the Masaza Cup final in 2013, a match in which Mawokota edged Ssingo 1-0 thanks to a late winner by future Uganda Cranes star Farouk Miya. Since then, the final has rotated among Wankulukuku, Namboole and St. Mary’s Stadium Kitende.

Tickets Go Digital

Sserwanga also confirmed that online ticket sales will begun on October 8. Early bird tickets are priced at Shs25,000 for ordinary seating and Shs40,000 for VIP. From October 20, ordinary tickets will rise to Shs30,000, VIP to Shs50,000, while VVIP tickets- which grant access to the lavish executive boxes equipped with personal TV screens – will be available at Shs150,000.

‘We urge fans to embrace the convenience of online ticketing early Nakivubo’s revamped structure means reduced seating capacity compared to the past. With a cap at 35,000, tickets will be limited, so don’t wait till the last minute,’ Sserwanga added.

In contrast, Namboole Stadium, the most frequent host of the final over the past decade, currently accommodates 38,000 fans. Past finals at Namboole have consistently seen crowds surpassing normal capacity.

The return of the final to Nakivubo is not just symbolic, but a significant nod to the stadium’s rich heritage. Built as a memorial to Ugandan soldiers and positioned at the very centre of Kampala, Nakivubo now offers a modern football experience with enhanced seating, security and hospitality options – particularly in its VVIP section, considered the most glamorous in Uganda.

The 2025 Masaza Cup final is expected to draw nationwide attention, not only because of the venue change but also due to the strength of its corporate backing. The tournament is sponsored by Airtel, Pilsner King, Plascon, Nirvana, Centenary Bank, as well as Uganda Aids Commission and UNAIDS, who continue to support the kingdom’s efforts in promoting youth development and health awareness through sport.

Masaza Cup 2025

Semifinals – Oct. 11, 2025

Kyaggwe vs Buweekula

Ssingo vs Bugerere

Masaza Cup final host venues

2025: Nakivubo

2024: Namboole

2023: Wankulukuku

2022: Wankulukuku

2021: Kitende

2020: Kitende

2019: Namboole

2017: Namboole

2016: Namboole

2015: Namboole

2014: Wankulukuku

2013: Nakivubo

2012: Nakivubo

The business environment remained favorable for investors in September 2025, but purchase and staff costs continued to climb, pushing overall input prices higher.

The Stanbic Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) survey shows that output charges rose for the 13th month as companies passed increased costs on to customers. Prices of key inputs such as cement and paper products went up, while wage bills increased in line with higher employment levels.

The rise in input prices was broad-based across all sectors. Despite rising inflationary pressures, the private sector continued to expand, with the headline PMI rising to 54, up from 53.3 in August. This was the eighth month of improved business conditions. A PMI reading above 50 indicates expansion.

The continued growth was driven by a rise in new business and stronger demand. Companies reported an upturn in output as they adjusted production to meet increased orders.

All monitored sectors, including agriculture, industry, construction, wholesale and retail, and services, recorded growth in output and new business.

‘Private sector momentum remained strong in September, with robust consumer demand driving new orders and output,’ said Christopher Legilisho, Stanbic Bank economist.

‘Businesses remain optimistic about future activity, with expectations of sales and hiring in the next 12 months,’ he said, noting that inflationary pressures persisted as purchase prices, wages, and output charges all rose.

However, Legilisho said business confidence remained high, reflecting optimism about the economic trajectory.

The survey indicated that firms expanded capacity in September to accommodate increased orders, resulting in further growth in employment and input purchases.

Job creation extended to an eighth consecutive month, with most firms hiring temporary workers

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Staff costs also rose, continuing a trend that began more than 18 months ago, as firms attributed higher wage bills to workforce growth.

Meanwhile, Uganda Bureau of Statistics reported that annual headline inflation for the year to September rose to 4 percent from 3.8 percent in August.

Input price inflation, largely driven by higher fuel and utility costs, persisted across all sectors. Similarly, output prices rose as firms sought to recover rising costs.

Nevertheless, the agriculture and construction sectors recorded slight declines in selling prices.