Category: Daily Monitor

A section of Ugandans on social media has been left outraged after a video recording showing a police officer slapping a supermarket attendant over unpaid bills went viral.

In the two minutes and 17 seconds of CCTV footage seen by this reporter, the officer who has since been identified as Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Clive Nsiima, attached to Counter Terrorism under Oil and Gas Protection Unit, Kampala Metropolitan Zone, is heard abusively scolding the attendant over a reportedly unpaid bill of Shs 30,000 before smacking her twice.

This reporter has also confirmed that the incident occurred at the Shell fuel station in Kyanja, Kampala, on Tuesday, October 7, 2025.

“…I am parking…have you ever driven such a car?” asks ASP Nsiima, who was dressed in civilian clothes, before turning to another attendant behind the counter and adding:”….do you know she’s there attacking me and beating me over Shs30,000? Even if it is Shs100,000, how much money have I spent here? Do you think I can run away over Shs100,000? Do you know that I can slap you even if this camera is here and we go to court tomorrow?” ASP Nsiima asks before striking the attendant’s face twice.

Her alarm attracted some of the staff who were outside the supermarket, including a security guard, but they seemed helpless as the victim continued wailing.

Reacting to the video, the Director of Criminal Investigations, AIGP Tom Magambo, condemned what he described as “such isolated behaviour” by the officer.

“Be assured that an internal investigation is ongoing to guide further action. The [police] PRO Kituuma Rusoke will provide more updates on the matter,” he added in a post on X.

A source within police said ASP Nsiima has since been arrested after the attendant filed a case of assault and threatening violence at Kensington police post in Kyanja, Nakawa Division, Kampala.

As Uganda prepares to face Botswana in a crucial 2026 Fifa World Cup qualifier today in Francistown, all eyes will be on a battleground that often dictates football outcomes – the midfield.

While goals win games, it is in the engine room where matches are controlled, dictated, and often decided.

For Uganda, the trio of Allan Okello, Travis Mutyaba, Ronald Ssekiganda, Bobosi Byaruhanga, and Kenneth Semakula will be tasked with a delicate but vital mission – to impose tempo, manage transitions, and unlock Botswana’s physical midfield structure.

And make no mistake, Botswana’s midfield will be anything but accommodating.

Botswana coach Morena Ramoreboli has assembled a squad heavy on grit and home-grown cohesion.

The Zebras’ midfield features a compact, hard-working unit made up of Gilbert Baruti, Ronaldo Fortune, and Kutlwelo Mpolokang – all based at Mochudi Centre Chiefs, which gives them club-level chemistry to translate into the national team.

They are joined by Lebogang Ditsele and Thero Setsile, both known for their aggressive pressing and physical duels in the Botswana Premier League.

Add to that the experienced Gape Mohutsiwa, who plies his trade at Mouloudia Club d’Oran in Algeria, and you have a unit that thrives on disrupting rhythm, breaking down play, and forcing turnovers.

For Uganda, that means any attempt to settle into a passing rhythm will be under constant threat.

In contrast, Uganda’s midfield is built less on brute force and more on technical discipline, positional awareness, and game intelligence.

Ssekiganda brings an all-action presence, often deployed as a box-to-box disruptor. His energy will be critical in matching Botswana’s physicality. Alongside him, Semakula – currently with Al Arabi SC in Kuwait – adds defensive balance and composure.

Often the shield in front of the backline, Semakula’s ability to read danger and recycle possession will be essential to resist Botswana’s pressing traps.

But the key orchestrator is returning Byaruhanga, currently at Oakland Roots SC in the USA. A deep-lying operator by nature, Bobosi can turn into Uganda’s metronome.

Add Okello, if he can escape the attentions of Botswana’s ball-hunters and get time on the ball, Uganda will gain the ability to stretch the game, play through the press, and feed the attacking trio.

Coach Paul Put will likely urge his midfielders to keep it simple early on – short passes, maintain shape, absorb pressure.

Transitions will be key. Botswana, though combative, can be caught out of shape when pressing fails. That is where Okello’s anticipation and outlet passes can spring Uganda’s wide men or launch counter-attacks through the middle.

As the Uganda government enacts policy reforms, it must not overlook the need to address climate change effects across the country. The impact of climate change can easily set back the aspiration of attaining middle-income status if not properly addressed. Uganda is the 14th most vulnerable country to climate change globally, and it is ranked as the 163rd in terms of readiness to cope with the impacts, according to facts contained in the Uganda Country Climate and Development Report (CCDR), launched in Kampala by a team of experts from the World Bank.

Measures prescribed

Mr Cyril Desponts, a senior economist with the World Bank in Uganda said to address climate change resilience, it will have to be done sector by sector, including agriculture, energy, and infrastructure, among others.

Agriculture package

Mr Desponts explained that there is a need to promote resilient and productive agriculture and natural resources to achieve lower carbon emissions.

This includes on-farm and landscape measures to promote climate-smart agriculture, increase productivity, support water resource management, and reduce pressures that degrade the environment, and conserve forests and wetlands.

At the farm level, expanding irrigation and improving soil fertility can help counter the expected increase in crop yield variability.

Given the statistical information, he notes that between 2022 and 2050, crop yield could fluctuate between 12 percent and 12.5 percent

Climate change-induced soil erosion is expected to compound this vitality with additional yield decrease ranging from zero to12 percent.

‘Relative negative impacts on crops are concentrated in north and north-eastern Uganda. The country is therefore expected to expand climate-compatible irrigation to moderate yields,’ he said.

It will also need the development of operationalise plans that detail infrastructure needs, establish community-based management irrigation schemes, control water abstraction, monitor compliance, and promote micro irrigation. It is also necessary to raise farmer awareness about soil quality and help to them implement suitable, sustainable practices that can improve soil health. ‘Complementary efforts to transition to grow perennial crops and use drought-tolerant seeds to increase productivity.

Other measures are improving livestock feed systems to improve breeds for about 6.8 million households that own livestock,’ he added

This means heat stress and variable feed source availability will lower livestock production. Therefore, it is important to breed feed that is capable of withstanding climate change shocks. If the government provides means to support improved breeds, this will increase climate resilience, milk production, and increase animal weight.

Restoring degraded wetlands and forest catchments for a natural ecosystem and water storage will also help address climate change. It is a fact that since 1994, up to 40 percent of Uganda’s wetlands have been destroyed due to agricultural land expansion and urbanisation. To curb this, there is a need to establish sustainable management measures through the restoration of forests and wetlands and preservation of the natural ecosystem. The report also highlights efforts for the government to stop unsustainable use of firewood and charcoal sourcing because it leads to deforestation.

It is important to engage the private sector in scaling up climate-positive agriculture and agribusiness. This includes sustainable forest management and nature-based tourism, including farmers using early-maturing and drought-tolerant seed.

Energy and infrastructure sector

Climate shocks could damage the country’s power networks since most of the power lines are exposed to landslides and flood risk. The road networks, too, are exposed to the same climate change dangers. The statistics indicate that 45 percent of national district roads are vulnerable to floods and landslides. This leads to a high cost of road maintenance estimated to be 13.6 to 26 million US dollars by the year 2040, with associated road delays costing $2.6 million to $3.5 million in labour hours lost.

The solution is for the government to build climate-resilient and low-carbon infrastructure system.

In the face of the multiple challenges in as far as infrastructure is concerned, the government will need to invest $33.98 billion to develop climate-resilient transport infrastructure. In the energy sector, the report highlights that Uganda has about 1.2 billion barrels of oil reserves, but exploiting the oil and gas involves risks.

This calls for a low production cost below $30 per barrel. Environmental sustainability to control emissions is required. Ms Joy Mubale from TotalEnergies explained that dealing with the oil production in the Albertine region requires dealing with the communities, meaning conserving the environment is key.

The population depends on agriculture, fishing, and the Murchison Falls National Park is within the region. They have projects that help the communities to devise ways of promoting climate resilience, including the use of agricultural inputs and climate-resilient seeds.

Climate positive urbanisation

To ensure economic growth in the cities to keep pace with the growing population, the government is required to develop climate-resilient, low-carbon urban centres. This requires integrating climate considerations into investments in cities, water transport, energy, natural-based solutions and waste management, and health services.

Urban investments should boost the adoption of lower carbon emissions. Urban planning must reduce exposure to flooding and heat effects, meaning building materials used must not increase heat. For the above solutions to work well, the country will need coordinated effort in mobilising climate finance. The World Bank effort towards the climate change initiative provided $70 billion for the global initiatives, and for Uganda $28.1 billion (about Shs112.9 trillion) is needed for its national climate plan.

Apart from climate finance mobilisation, the country needs to improve the weather forecasts and disaster preparedness. This includes expanding and upgrading the meteorological monitoring networks by establishing a climate data system. This can allow the collection of data, storage access, and analysis from diverse sources, which can be used to make decisions.

Background

The Uganda CCDR highlights how the country can achieve its development goals while addressing climate change effects. It examines the links between climate risks and sustainable growth, emphasising the economic challenges the country faces on its path to upper-middle-income status by 2040. Without urgent action, climate change could drive income losses for up to 80 percent of the poorest households, reduce labour productivity, damage infrastructure, and cause significant GDP losses by 2050.

The report calls for integrating climate action across all sectors, strengthening disaster risk management, unlocking climate finance, and catalysing private sector participation. It identifies investment opportunities in climate-smart agriculture, renewable energy, solar-powered irrigation, nature-based carbon solutions, green construction, and electric mobility. Mobilising the estimated $28.1 billion needed for Uganda’s national climate plan will require strong private sector engagement.

CCDR for Uganda

The CCDR highlights that without urgent action, climate change could drive income losses for up to 80 percent of the poorest households, reduce labour productivity, damage infrastructure, and cause significant GDP losses by 2050.

Three decades later, former Chief Justice Benjamin Odoki says many provisions in the Constitution need to be given a second look because Ugandans have had 30 years of experience. The Constitution was promulgated on October 8, 1995, after it was enacted by the Constituent Assembly (CA) delegates, following close to two years of debate and deliberations. It replaced the 1967 Constitution. ‘There are many provisions in the Constitution which you may need to look at afresh,’ Justice Odoki said as he participated in a commemorative tree-planting programme to mark the 30-year milestone at the Constitutional Square in Kampala yesterday.

He added: ‘When you wrote that Constitution, you could not have known that things would work like this, could you? How could you anticipate? So now, you are seeing what is happening, make a judgment yourself, and rectify whatever you think has gone wrong. ‘I think the Constitutional review is being mooted where you will be able to say ‘this Constitution was misused by so and so and be quoted.’ Everybody who made views of us was recorded and kept in our archives.’

In 2017, Members of Parliament scrapped the presidential age limit, eliminating the 75-year age cap and lowering the minimum age to 18, enabling President Museveni, then 73, to seek another term. The move followed the removal of presidential term limits 12 years earlier, which paved the way for Museveni’s continued presidency. The initial term and age limits were put in place in the original 1995 Constitution. The 2017 amendment sparked controversy, with heated parliamentary debates and the deployment of plain-clothed Commandos from the elite Special Forces Command (SFC) being deployed in the chambers to eject some dissenting MPs from the House.

Ultimately, 317 MPs voted to pass the Bill, with 97 opposing it and two abstaining.

Justice Odoki, however, said there’s a full chapter about amending the Constitution, and he is not able to say whether it was misused or not. ‘I only wrote what I thought people had said, like when you write a judgment, according to evidence which I got at that time. I don’t have any evidence up to now as to what people want. ‘That’s why I didn’t want to even talk about the constitutional review, which I would recommend, with due respect, but it’s not my job. Yes, you need the constitutional review.’

He was also quick to caution that the Constitution should not be touched unless it is necessary.

‘There are certain provisions which, if you make, could conflict with the Constitution. That’s the problem. The amendments must be in line with the available laws.

‘We found that there is no Constitution that cannot be amended, but we only argue that it must not destroy its basic character. If they cut off your ear, you may live, but if they cut off your head, it’s a different story. So, there are certain fundamental things in the Constitution which I think should be preserved.’

The Constitution is still young

Justice Odoki noted that the framers of the Constitution had been blamed for making it ‘too detailed’, but to the contrary, it is still ‘young and growing’, adding: ‘We are still learning to see what can work for Uganda and what cannot work for it.’ ‘We were not quite sure what would work for Uganda, that’s why you can say even in a political system, we put there two systems (NRM and multiparty politics), but we didn’t know which would work better. ‘But now it’s for the people of Uganda to judge, not for the former Chief Justice or the former chairperson of the Constitutional Commission. I think you are seeing the momentum now.’

He said he has no qualms about the entire Constitution being changed, especially if the changes are being made by the people and not him, because it is not a personal judgment. On concerns that the Constitution has been used to entrench power and undermine democracy, Justice Odoki said how the Constitution is used is not his business. ‘How you are using the Constitution is not my business; you can put it in your pocket (or) in your wardrobe. That’s your business.’

Asked what he makes of the changes that have happened within the Constitution that he spent time putting together, Justice Odoki said Ugandans have the right to do whatever they want with the Constitution, and he doesn’t form personal opinions on issues of national importance. Ms Sarah Bireete, the Executive Director of the Centre for Constitutional Governance, who was in attendance, said 30 years ago, the Ugandan Constitution was adopted with a vision of a just, democratic, and a united nation, intended to provide a framework for governance that safeguards the rights and freedoms of every Ugandan.

‘It was and it is still a beacon of hope for the future, challenges notwithstanding; however, whereas there has been progress in matters regarding the rule of law, in matters regarding the conduct of people who exercise power over the citizens, there have been numerous challenges as citizens of this country.’ She cited the Constitution’s alleged failure to safeguard the fundamental rights and freedoms of Ugandans, and to resolve challenges like land conflicts and land rights, especially for the poor and the vulnerable.

Cautioned.

“We found that there is no Constitution that cannot be amended, but we only argue that it must not destroy its basic character. If they cut off your ear, you may live, but if they cut off your head, it’s a different story. So, there are certain fundamental things in the Constitution which I think should be preserved.” – Former Chief Justice, Benjamin Odoki

EC SAYS

Mr Julius Mucunguzi, the Electoral Commission (EC) spokesperson, who represented EC chairperson Justice Simon Byabakama, said since the 1995 Constitution was established, Ugandans have been able to exercise the provisions of Article 1 Clause 4 to choose their leaders through regular, free, and fair elections.

National Unity Platform (NUP) flag bearer Robert Kyagulanyi, alias Bobi Wine, has promised to lower power tariffs for Ugandans if elected President in the January 2026 polls.

He questioned the current high power tariffs, saying they are a burden to both ordinary and industrial users.

‘The new Uganda will be different. The high power tariffs, where you are purchasing a unit at Shs1,000, will be reduced to Shs500. We must get a new independence because we are not yet liberated. Your vote will be the beginning of a new meaningful liberation,’ he told the crowd at Bamusuta Playground in Kiboga Town Council, Kiboga District, on Wednesday.

Mr Kyagulanyi, who vowed to reach out to at least 20 million voters in the remaining two months to the General Election, rallied his supporters not to be intimidated, but to turn out in big numbers on the polling day and cast their ballot.

‘These people are trying to find a means of interrupting the vote. The other time (2021 polls), they used the COVID-19 pandemic to disrupt the campaigns and voting. We don’t know about their next plans. Ensure that you support each other during the voting period. We must turn out in big numbers and overwhelm their machinations,’ he said.

Mr Kyagulanyi, who will be campaigning in Nakaseke District on October 9, urged the electorate to shun ruling National Resistance Movement flag bearers, arguing that many are either children or grandchildren of individuals who have plundered the country’s wealth or directly benefited from President Museveni’s government in the last four decades.

‘Ensure that your respective votes go to the NUP candidates,’ he added.

Earlier in the day, before crossing to Kiboga, Mr Kyagulanyi first campaigned in Kyankwazi District, where he held a rally and made several stopovers.

He said he was shocked to find many roads in both districts in a sorry state despite the four decades NRM has been in power uninterrupted.

‘I last used some of these roads when I came here for musical shows several years ago, but indeed, nothing has changed. I am here not to ask for votes, but to give me an opportunity to fix these bad roads in three years,’ Mr Kyagulanyi said.

Kyagulanyi’s campaign tour-running under the theme ‘Building a New Uganda Together’- has, since last week, seen him crisscross several districts in Busoga and now in Buganda, drumming up support ahead of the January polls.

Kyankwanzi and Kiboga form part of the Luweero Triangle, which was the epicentre of the five-year guerrilla war (between 1981 and 1986) that catapulted Mr Museveni to power. Residents in both districts experienced significant losses during the war with thousands of lives lost, and the survivors were left to cope with the loss of family members, destruction of property, amid a shattered economy. While the war ended 40 years ago, its effects have haunted generations.

Mr Kyagulanyi, like many other opposition politicians who came before him, said the government has deliberately neglected the area despite the significant role it played in bringing the incumbent President Museveni into power. Many civilian veterans still demand compensation for their contribtion and losses they suffered.

Many lack basic needs and social amenities like decent housing, health centres, electricity, safe water supply, while many roads are impassable. For example, in Kyankwanzi District, the biggest health facility is a health centre IV and patients who need special medical care travel to either Kiboga District or Hoima City. Residents are also facing eviction threats from their ancestral land by largely powerful individuals within Mr Museveni’s government.

Despite all these, the area has over the last three decades largely been loyal to Mr Museveni, generously contributing to his vote pool, until the 2021 national election, when NUP made some inroads, specifically in Kiboga, where the party won the district woman MP seat.

Wetland conservation is the practice of protecting, managing, and restoring wetlands so they can maintain their ecological functions and continue providing benefits to humans and wildlife.

According to the National Environment Management Authority (Nema), wetlands cover about 13 percent of Uganda’s land area.

The same report indicates that Uganda lost roughly 7,500 square kilometres (about 750,000 hectares) of wetlands between 2000 and 2021 – a reduction that represents nearly a quarter of the country’s historical wetland cover.

Other government estimates put current coverage at between 8 and 13 percent, depending on the year and method used. This degradation has been driven mainly by human activities such as subsistence and commercial farming, sand mining, brick-making, and urban expansion. While these activities create short-term livelihoods, they undermine long-term resilience by threatening biodiversity, worsening floods, and polluting water bodies like Lake Victoria and River Nile.

Recognising the seriousness of wetland loss, the National Environment Management Authority (Nema) and other stakeholders have stepped up interventions. These include public awareness campaigns through radio talk shows, posters, and community sensitisation meetings. School outreach programmes are nurturing environmental awareness among young people, while enforcement actions such as evictions of encroachers have been carried out in some wetland areas

For wetland protection to be sustainable, the conversation must go beyond top-down enforcement and occasional awareness drives.

Communities at the frontline of wetland use need to become champions of conservation. This requires creative, culturally relevant, and participatory approaches.

First, community radio campaigns in local languages can help reach rural households that depend heavily on wetlands. Radio remains the most accessible medium in Uganda, and localised programmes can foster dialogue and ownership. Second, religious leaders who command influence across faiths should integrate conservation messages into sermons. Framing wetland protection as a moral and spiritual duty can inspire behavioural change. As stewards of creation, believers can be reminded that ‘we are our brother’s and nature’s keepers.’

Third, partnerships with telecommunication companies could embed conservation messages into daily life through caller tunes, SMS alerts, and mobile ringtones. Such innovations make environmental awareness constant and inescapable. Fourth, whistle-blower community networks should be encouraged, with small incentives or recognition for reporting illegal wetland encroachment. Local monitoring is often more effective than distant enforcement agencies.Lastly, the government should provide alternative livelihood options for wetland-dependent communities. Promoting eco-tourism, fish farming outside wetlands, and climate-smart agriculture can reduce pressure on fragile ecosystems while still supporting livelihoods.

In summary, wetlands are more than patches of swampy land; they are Uganda’s life-support systems. They regulate water, provide food, store carbon, and sustain biodiversity.

Allowing them to disappear unchecked is not just an environmental loss – it is a threat to national food security, health, and climate resilience.

Strengthening wetland conservation requires a shift from isolated interventions to inclusive, community-driven strategies backed by strong policy enforcement.

In the minimalist glow of a Kampala studio, where the air hums with the faint echo of distant traffic and the weight of untold stories, Allan Okello sits like a man who has measured every scar.

At 25, he is Uganda’s fleeting wizard – a slightly-framed playmaker in the spirit of the No. 10, conjuring from midfield with the sleight of a poet’s hand: silk passes that unravel defences, free-kicks that curl like unanswered prayers.

His thunderbolt against Mozambique in World Cup qualifying, a 30-yard lash from Jude Ssemugabi’s roll-on pass, still reverberates – Uganda’s 4-0 romp, Okello’s first-half probe blooming into second-half salvation.

He has so far scored in the Cranes’ last three qualifiers, against Guinea, Mozambique and Somalia, each goal an act of resurrection more than celebration.

At the 2024 African Nations Championship (Chan), he emerged Uganda’s top scorer with three goals and some assists as the Cranes reached their first-ever quarterfinals – a tournament that seemed to cleanse him of years of doubt.

Vipers’ faithful now chant ‘Ssalongo’ – father of twins in social speak, but also a bearer of doubles, including his first at KCCA – after he tallied 19 league goals from midfield last season, a league-and-cup conquest that etched his name into Kitende’s lore.

And now, with Cranes qualifiers against Botswana and Algeria looming, Okello’s boots tread the thin line between legacy and longing – each touch a stake in Uganda’s slim Fifa 2026 World Cup dream.

Yet as he unfolded his tale on The Game of Life – a YouTube podcast I host – the voice that narrated these glories trembled at the edges, a quiet war etched in pauses and averted eyes.

The Journey

Okello’s journey is no linear ascent, no bootstraps romance. It is football’s brutal arithmetic: subtract a mother’s fierce light at 13, divide by the isolation of Algerian exile, multiply by mentors’ fleeting grace, and what emerges is not triumph alone.

A ledger of losses – witchcraft’s hex, hospital silence, lockdown’s void – balanced precariously by faith’s unyielding thread. ‘God didn’t forget me,’ he repeated, a mantra polished by countless whispered prayers.

From Lira’s carefree streets to Paradou’s shadowed apartments, Okello played not just for glory, but for breath itself. This is the story of a boy who buried his heart on a village hillside – only to unearth it on pitches where every touch became tribute.

The cradle was Lira, northern Uganda’s sun-flayed heartland, where football seeped into Okello’s veins like water through parched soil.

Born the first of four to Patrick Ojom, whose winger’s dash for Pamba FC still fuels fireside yarns – ‘right-footed, position seven, those old ways,’ Okello mimicked with a grin – and a mother whose love was labour incarnate, he grew amid a footballing lineage.

Uncle Bob Obira, the topflight veteran of KCCA and Express, loomed largest: a colossus whose shadow pulled a seven-year-old Okello from village idyll to Kampala’s sprawl.

‘Coming to the city was big, very big,’ Okello recalled, eyes alight with the wonder of it.

Obira’s house became a sanctuary, his training pitch a rite: the boy, small as a sparrow, slotted into adult scrimmages, dazzling with precocity.

‘His (Obira’s) friend said, ‘Who’s this young boy? He is special,” Okello laughed – then paused. ‘At eight, dawn runs – 5 a.m. slogs at my uncle’s – felt like punishment. But Uncle, thank you. I’m making you proud.’

Obira’s creed was simple: every game, give your best. You don’t know who’s watching. The lesson stuck – a compass in chaos.

The Rupture

At 13, in Form One at Kibuli SS, the call came not from father but uncle: ‘Daddy’s busy.’

Homeward bound, five minutes in their town house, then a blur to the village burial ground.

‘They told me to see the person we lost,’ Okello said, voice a thread. The casket’s lid lifted – his mother’s still, swollen face. ‘First time I knew,’ he whispered. ‘No warning.’

Whispers of witchcraft swirled: hexes targeting the boy first – midnight breathlessness, seizures that left him ‘switched off, like dead’ – his mother’s crusade across northern clinics and pastors’ altars the counter-spell.

‘She fought for my health so hard,’ he said, guilt’s barbs surfacing. ‘Looking for pastors, praying. without her, I wouldn’t be speaking now.’

The darkness turned. Her legs ballooned; ‘witchcraft stuff,’ they called it. The moment she got better, they lost her.

‘We almost lost Dad too – he went crazy,’ said Okello. Depression engulfed him – a year without football, life monochrome.

‘Everything ended. I loved her so much.’ He clung to faith’s frayed rope. ‘Keep fighting, keep praying,’ he told listeners. ‘I’m the right example – God didn’t forget me.’

Every goal since has been a dedication: arms skyward, Mom, see me. Pain’s alchemy – loss as fuel, memory as medal.

‘Part of the reason I never gave up football was losing her,’ he said. ‘Mom, I wish you were alive to see where I am right now.’ Faith – that unyielding north star – pulled him through.

Football, Mutebi, and KCCA

At Kibuli SS, education and football collided. No bursary at first; his father strained to pay.

Coach Hassan Tembo fought for him, negotiating a cut in fees by half. Providence struck: a full bursary, then prominence in the school team with Saidi Mayanja. ‘Coach Abdallah Mubiru believed in me. You need a coach who believes,’ Okello said.

Okello then had an opportunity for trials at – wait for it – SC Villa trials. Well, that sojourn lasted only three days, and neither he nor Mayanja got a look-in.

But in KCCA’s rondo, coach Mike Mutebi spotted the boy’s poetry amid 30 hopefuls: ‘Don’t let that boy in there – sign him straight away,’ Mutebi told Richard Malinga, who had scouted Okello from school football.

A year shadowed the seniors – full drills, junior matches, unpaid but immersed.

Julius Poloto and Ronald Kikonyogo were promoted; Okello waited. After Vipers’ 3-1 loss at Nakivubo, Mutebi said: ‘Be patient. Definitely I’m going to promote you next year. Trust me, trust what I’m doing.’

The boy nodded, but fire simmered. ‘I felt when it was 2-1, I wanted to go inside.’ Mutebi’s retort: ‘Stop being funny, but I like that confidence.’

But he was sold. He had to tie the boy to some agreement. Salary dawn, pre-contract risk: ‘I’m going to take my risk. from my pocket if needed.’ That was Mutebi’s resolve.

Their bond? Paternal, profound – Mutebi’s silence at half-times a trust’s quiet language. ‘When he speaks at half-time, you know you’re doing badly.’

Mutebi has not coached since leaving KCCA in 2019, something that is not sitting well with Okello.

The Vipers player’s plea, who admitted to missing Mutebi, now ached with urgency, pleading with KCCA’s most successful manager to come back to the dugout

‘Not for me as a player but for those young kids outside there that need a really good coach like him. Come back to football and give that another five years or three years. We are going to see another great talent coming.’

While still in charge at Lugogo, Mutebi’s timing was genius. He threw Okello on the bench in a Caf preliminaries match away to Angola’s Primero de Agosto.

It was an Angolan storm for young Okello – bench terror, clearances like thunder. ‘Wanted to kill me,’ he quipped, ‘Agosto was attacking us like we had stolen something.’

He didn’t play that one but Mutebi did bring him on away to Mamelodi Sundowns for a 10-min cameo in the 2-1 defeat: ‘Nothing to lose,’ he told me.

Next was at home vs. Onduparaka: sleepless vigil for Okello, with Poloto the midnight counsel.

He was in the lineup for a home debut, with Mutebi shockingly handing him set-piece duties from his idol Muzamiru Mutyaba. Teammates vowed: ‘We’ll chase – you enjoy.’

First goal: Fanta’s (Mutyaba’s nickname) cross, roofed volley – yellow for shirt-tug joy. He added two more as KCCA romped to a 7-0 victory. ‘I had prayed to God for only one goal, now I had three.’

Two years later he was counting two league titles and as many Uganda Cup trophies, as well as the Cecafa Kagame gong.

Illness ambushed him later in 2019 as a move abroad loomed. He was hospitalised for three weeks without hearing from KCCA: ‘No call, no visit.’ His agent at the time, Isaac Mwesigwa, paid bills.

Paradou exile, and Vipers rebirth

Paradou AC of Algeria eventually got their man, signing the then 18-year-old to a four-year deal in January 2020.

After a painful Covid lockdown, delayed payments and unfulfilled promises of having someone from Uganda live with him as part of his contract, Okello eventually did play some football.

Deployed in positions alien to his abilities, he endured – all he wanted was playing time.

But everything changed when a new coach replaced the one who had given him a lease on life, even if it meant pushing him out of position.

The exile nearly broke him. But Vipers President Lawrence Mulindwa’s call – ‘Come to Vipers’ – offered reprieve.

Treatment of a long standing injury first, then rebirth. ‘He (Mulindwa) said, ‘I know you’re going through a lot. Tell me everything,” Okello recalled. ‘I said, “I’m injured – treat me, and I’ll give you a better season.’

Okello had spent four months without a club after he agreed with Paradou to mutually terminate his contract with a year of it left following the end of a season-long loan to KCCA.

Mulindwa did. Okello delivered – 19 goals from midfield, a league-cup double, Chan redemption with Cranes, and now a run of goals lighting Uganda’s road to 2026.

Okello, Lira’s son, carries casket shadows and maternal light. Mom, see me. ‘In football’s ledger, he doesn’t just balance – he rises, a colossus as quiet as dawn.

You can watch my full conversation with Okello on The Game of Life with Andrew Mwanguhya on YouTube.

Okello Fact File

Full Name: Allan Okello

Date of Birth: July 4, 2000 (25)

Place of Birth: Lira, Uganda

Height: 1.79 m (5ft 10in)

Weight: 65 kg

Position: Attacking Midfielder

Current Club: Vipers SC (Uganda Premier League)

Jersey Number: 10

Former Clubs: KCCA (2016-2020, 2022 loan), Paradou AC (Algeria, 2020-2023)

National Team: Uganda Cranes (Senior debut – since 2019)

Agent: NextPro Sports

Contract Expiry: June 30, 2026

Major Honours

With KCCA

Uganda Premier League (2016/17, 2018/19)

Uganda Cup (2016/17, 2017/18)

Cecafa Kagame Cup (2019)

With Vipers SC

Uganda Premier League (2024/25)

Uganda Cup (2025)

Uganda National Team

Chan 2024 Quarterfinalist (Top Scorer with 3 Goals

Scored in 2026 World Cup Qualifiers vs Guinea, Mozambique and Somalia

Individual Awards

Fufa Male Player of the Year (2019) | Fufa Young Player of the Year (2018) | Airtel Fans’ Favourite Player (2018) | Football256 Player of the Year (2019)

Lawyers representing two Kenyan activists allegedly abducted in Uganda last week have petitioned the Civil Division of the High Court in Kampala, seeking orders to secure their release from incommunicado detention. The activists, Nicholas Oyoo and Bob Njagi, were reportedly arrested shortly after attending a campaign rally for presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi, known as Bobi Wine, who is the leader of Uganda’s opposition National Unity Platform (NUP).

Kiiza and Mugisha Co Advocates filed the petition, naming Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces, the Chief of Defence Intelligence and Security, the Inspector General of Police, and the Attorney General as respondents. The petition includes an affidavit by Mr Koffi Atinda, a colleague of Njagi, who claims to have witnessed the arrest after Bobi’s rally in Kaliro District in eastern Uganda.

‘The respondent’s military arrest and detention of the applicants at the 2nd respondent’s detention facility since Wednesday, 1st October, 2025, in Mbuya is incommunicado detention, illegal and unlawful,’ Mr Koffi states. Mbuya is the headquarters of the Ministry of Defence and Veterans Affairs.

‘The applicants have since been in an illegal and incommunicado detention for more than 48 hours, without trial or charges,’ he adds. Mr Koffi said his colleagues, members of the African Movement, had come to Uganda to show support for Bobi Wine, whom they also consider personal friends. He recounts: ‘It’s during their stay that they were brutally arrested by men wielding guns in military and civilian clothes, around Kaliro District at Starbex Petrol Station, where they had parked their vehicle. I witnessed the arrest and survived by a whisker.

They were taken in a Toyota Hiace van, commonly known as Drone, at a terrible speed to a place one of them said was Mbuya.’ He expressed concern for the activists’ safety, citing past instances of military harassment and torture of critics of President Museveni. ‘It’s important that this honourable court brings to an end the illegal military detention of the applicants and orders their unconditional liberty,’ he pleaded.

By press time, it was unclear when the court would hear the habeas corpus application, though the Constitution mandates fast-tracking of human rights cases. The Kenya High Commission in Kampala reportedly inquired about the activists’ whereabouts following petitions from Vocal Africa and the families of Oyoo and Njagi, though no response had been confirmed. Police, however, deny involvement.

Assistant Commissioner Kituuma Rusoke told the media: ‘I am not briefed by the police that we have them in our custody. At the moment, I do not have any information that they are in police custody.’

He suggested the publication seek clarification from other security agencies. Maj Gen Felix Kulayigye, the director of public information in the Defence Ministry, said Bobi Wine had not provided proof of the alleged abduction and challenged him to provide evidence, including vehicle registration, for verification. ‘In law, the onus of proof lies in the hands of the accuser,’ Maj Gen Kulayigye said. Bobi Wine maintains that the Kenyans were targeted for supporting him and demanded their release. Conflicting accounts exist over the arrest location, with Bobi posting on X that the duo was ‘picked up mafia-style . from a petrol station in Kireka [Waliso District] and driven off to an unknown destination.’

Videos show Njagi on stage beside Bobi at a campaign rally. The activists reportedly arrived in Uganda on Monday with some Ugandans before joining Bobi’s campaign. Rights groups have circulated posters demanding their immediate release. Security agents in plain clothes have previously been accused of abducting, detaining, and torturing Opposition members, some of whom later face treason charges in court. On Sunday, Dr Hannington Mutebi, the former Assistant Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Kampala, condemned the abductions during a confirmation ceremony at St John’s Church, Makerere.

‘The government should champion the rule of law and not abduct citizens and dissenters into safe houses and prisons. Everyone’s rights must be respected, and alleged offenders should be brought to court,’ he added.

In an era where savvy investors are looking to optimise their portfolios, unit trusts have emerged as a compelling choice. These investment vehicles not only provide cost-effective access to the bustling fixed income and stock markets but have also gained traction in Uganda’s financial landscape.

Among these, the UAP Umbrella Trust Fund stands out as a powerful asset, helping investors outpace inflation while ensuring security and convenience. Imagine investing borrowed money for essential expenses, such as school fees. If navigated wisely-where the loan interest rate is lower than the returns from your chosen fund and the investor exercises discipline, the outcome can be positive.

This article dives into the world of unit trusts, offering a vital guide for families and savvy savers in Uganda, where traditional banking solutions often fall short and astute investing can lead to both financial growth and peace of mind.

Unit trusts are gaining traction as a practical means of wealth accumulation in Uganda, particularly for short-term objectives such as education financing. They offer yields that outperform standard bank interest rates and are subject to regulatory oversight. They are also designed with beginners in mind.

As the financial landscape transforms, unit trusts stand as a beacon of oversight and quick investment access.

According to Isaac Simbwa, a global markets dealer, institutional banking, corporate and investment banking at Absa Bank, the allure of unit trusts lies in their ability to diversify risk while tapping into the expertise of professional fund managers.

‘Unit trusts pool resources from multiple investors with a shared goal, building a portfolio of diverse financial instruments, ranging from equities to bonds and cash deposits,’ he explains.

For those weighing unit trust options, Absa features three distinct offerings: the UAP Money Market Fund, the UAP Balanced Fund, and the UAP Umbrella Trust Fund. Each fund is crafted to meet different investment goals, underscoring the importance of aligning choices with personal financial objectives.

When diving deep into unit trusts, consider your investment timeline: Are your goals short-term or long-term? The balance between immediate liquidity, prospective returns, and risk tolerance is crucial.

‘If you aim to save for a child’s upcoming school fees within three months, unit trusts or treasury bills could be the right fit, ensuring your capital remains safeguarded while earning reliable interest.

Meanwhile, for those eyeing long-term wealth accumulation, the bond market may provide more enticing returns-outpacing unit trusts by 300 to 400 basis points over five years,’ he adds.

Evaluating diverse asset classes is imperative. An investor may notice subtle differences in returns-while one asset class yields 12 percent, another might shine at 12.5 percent or 12.1 percent.

Right investment

Simbwa emphasizes that selecting the right investment goes beyond mere interest rates. It is about aligning with one’s risk appetite and investment ambitions.

For those focused on cash management, utilising a unit trust can be a strategic way to build capital over a year.

Simbwa adds: ‘For wealth seekers, diving into the bond market may unlock higher yields and leverage the compounding interest effect and the liquidity that numerous banks offer, allowing cash-out in mere hours-is a considerable advantage in urgent situations.’

The decision rests on understanding your investment goals. Pose the right questions: ‘Are you preparing for immediate expenses, or are you cultivating a nest egg for the future?’ he asks.

Different investment vehicles resonate with unique individuals based on their financial aspirations.

No one size fits all

In the realm of Collective Investment Schemes (CIS), no one-size-fits-all solution exists, Simbwa notes.

‘In the vast ocean of investment opportunities, no single unit trust or asset class dominates. Each investment vehicle is tailored with specific objectives in mind, addressing a variety of risk profiles and investment horizons. For example, a parent budgeting for educational costs may opt for a three-year bond, where a long-term investor might favour a 20-year bond to enrich capital growth,’ he explains.

As you navigate your investment journey, keep sight of the ambitions that drive your choices.

‘By aligning these aspirations with the available asset options, you will be better positioned to pinpoint which unit trust aligns most closely with your financial goals,’ he elaborates.

Mr Sanjay Rughani, chief executive officer of Standard Chartered Bank, emphasizes that when considering returns, it is important to assess not only the financial aspect but also your comfort level with the associated risk.

He notes that the Standard Chartered product called Shillingi offers an attractive rate, which currently stands at 12.5 percent.

‘This rate applies when you lock in your funds; even if you invest for just three days, you will receive returns based on the duration your money is held,’ Sanjay notes.

Mr Richard Patrick Byarugaba, board chair of Old Mutual Investment Group (OMIG), highlights that unit trusts are becoming increasingly popular as they can serve both as a consistent source of daily earnings and as a means of building long-term passive income.

As a financial services strategist and personal transformation coach, Byarugaba emphasizes the potential of unit trusts to transform investment strategies in Uganda.

He recognises the untapped potential of collective investments and collective savings, noting that the fastest-growing sector in Uganda is indeed in this area.

Byarugaba pointed out the prevalence of savings societies in towns across Uganda, indicating a strong local commitment to collective saving initiatives.

Growth of unit trusts

During Old Mutual Investment Group Uganda’s 2025 annual general meeting, Mr Zac Kisesi, managing director of Old Mutual Investment Group Uganda, shared impressive growth figures for their unit trusts.

Just a year prior, total investments in Old Mutual’s unit trust products stood at approximately Shs2.1 trillion. This has risen to around Shs2.8 trillion.

In terms of dollar-denominated unit trusts, they have increased from about $24 million to $47 million, largely due to enhanced customer experience and the dedication of their investment advisors.

This growth reflects a significant advancement in financial inclusion in Uganda, with a remarkable 67 percent increase in total unit holders-from 30,165 to 50,416,’ he notes.

Kisesi expressed pride in the fact that more than 20,000 new investors joined Old Mutual’s unit trusts in just one year, underscoring the growing awareness and accessibility of investment solutions available to Ugandans.

The financial results were equally encouraging. OMIG’s chief financial officer, Mr John Golooba, reported a 43 percent increase in total assets under management, amounting to Shs2.407 trillion.

Each of their funds performed admirably, with the Umbrella Fund yielding 11.77 percent, the Money Market Fund returning 11.28 percent, and the Balanced Fund achieving a return of 12.64 percent, all surpassing their respective benchmarks.

Notably, the Dollar Fund more than tripled in value to $39.22 million, with a net return of 5.03 percent, credited to a strategic reallocation towards fixed income and longer-dated government bonds.

Given the current economic climate, characterised by rising interest rates driven by the government’s domestic financing needs, OMIG recalibrated its portfolios to focus on higher-yielding long-term bonds. For instance, bond exposure in the Umbrella Fund grew significantly, and the allocation to tenors above 10 years rose to 47.4 percent.

Comparing returns of unit trusts vs traditional methods

In contrast to traditional savings methods, such as those offered by the National Social Security Fund (NSSF), which recently announced the successful growth of its voluntary savings scheme, unit trusts appear to offer more attractive returns.

NSSF has seen 32,000 members contributing Shs21 billion in just seven months through its Smart Life Flexi portfolio, which attracts micro-savers from the informal sector.

While NSSF reports a focus on accessibility and cutting administrative costs through digitisation to attract savers, the tangible returns seen in unit trusts-especially with their performance over the past year-suggest that for those seeking better investment outcomes, unit trusts could be a more favourable option.

Mr Patrick Ayota, NSSF’s managing director, acknowledges the rapid uptake of their voluntary savings scheme and the positive shift in saving behaviours among Uganda’s population.

However, the growth and performance of unit trusts indicate that they may be the smarter choice for investment, especially for those looking to maximise returns and grow wealth over time.

While both unit trusts and traditional savings methods play essential roles in personal finance, for those aiming for higher returns, investing in unit trusts with a reputable firm might present a more lucrative opportunity.

When JOO and his estranged wife, MBO, parted ways in 2008, their property dispute highlighted a question now central in Kenyan courts: Does marriage automatically entitle a spouse to half of everything?

The Supreme Court and earlier the Court of Appeal delivered a clear answer-No. According to the courts, matrimonial property is not shared by default but through contribution. Both financial and non-financial input, including domestic work and emotional support, count, but a spouse must prove such contributions. Judges emphasised that equality does not mean duplication.

A spouse who invested money, acquired land, or developed assets cannot be stripped of half simply because of marriage. Similarly, a homemaker who sacrificed career opportunities to raise children or manage the household should not walk away empty-handed-but they must demonstrate effort, not entitlement.

Before the JOO vs MBO case, courts relied on the 2007 Echaria vs Echaria ruling, a property dispute between former diplomat Peter Mburu Echaria and his estranged wife, Priscila Mburu Echaria. The High Court initially granted Ms Echaria an equal share of their 118-acre Tigoni Farm based on Section 17 of the Married Women’s Property Act, 1882, which presumed co-ownership of property acquired during marriage.

Mr Mburu appealed, and in February 2007, a five-judge Court of Appeal bench, including Philip Tunoi, Emmanuel O’kubasu, Erastus Githinji, Philip Waki, and William Deverell, changed the landscape of matrimonial property law. The court ruled that a spouse must prove contribution to acquire a share of property registered in the other spouse’s name. Distribution should reflect the contribution of each party.

Court of Appeal judge Patrick Kiage echoed the principle in 2017. ‘The reality remains that when the ship of marriage hits the rocks, flounders and sinks, the sad, awful business of division and distribution of matrimonial property must be proceeded with on the basis of fairness and conscience, not a romantic clutching on to the 50:50 mantra,’ he said.

He added that justice ‘does not get to be served by simply cutting up a contested object. into two equal parts.’ Section 7 of the Matrimonial Property Act reinforces this: ‘Ownership of matrimonial property vests in the spouses according to contribution. and shall be divided between the spouses if they divorce or their marriage is otherwise dissolved.’

FIDA challenged the section in 2018, arguing for automatic equal rights under the Constitution, but the High Court dismissed it, noting that allowing such a claim could create a ‘loophole for fortune seekers.’ The Supreme Court, presided over by Deputy Chief Justice Philomena Mwilu, stressed that Article 45(3) of the Constitution ensures equality only at the point of dissolution and does not automatically grant co-ownership. ‘Nowhere in the Constitution. do we find any suggestion that a marriage between parties automatically results in common ownership,’ the judges said. Equity, the court added, considers indirect contributions.

Even if a spouse lacks direct financial input, their support may have enabled the other to acquire property. ‘Equity advocates for such a party who may seem disadvantaged for failing to have the means to prove direct financial contribution not to be stopped from getting a share,’ the judges said.

The court warned that interpreting Article 45(3) to allow automatic 50:50 division would encourage marriages where one party contributes nothing but expects half the property upon divorce. Such an outcome, the Supreme Court concluded, could not have been the law’s intention.