Category: Daily Monitor

The foreign legion dominated by Ugandans and Ethiopians won in all the professional categories of the Jubilee Insurance Grand Nairobi Bike Race at the Kenyan capital city on Sunday.

Uganda’s Jordan Schleck Ssekanwagi, upstaged his compatriot and defending champion Charles Kagimu in a sprint finish to reclaim the men’s 75km title and seal a double.

Ssekanwagi, 23, who won the inaugural edition in 2019, finished in one hour, 30 minutes and 39 seconds, one second ahead of Kagimu as the Ugandans, who are training mates at Iten-based Team Amani, ruled the roost.

Kenya’s John Muchiri broke the Ugandan dominance to finish third in 1:33:50.

Ethiopia’s Merhamit Hadush, 20, reigned supreme in the women’s 75km race in 1:38:25, beating Uganda’s Mary Aleper, who settled for second place in 1:46:55 as Kenya’s Jamila Abdula timed 1:47:28 for bronze.

An estimated 3,500 cyclists participated in the fourth edition of the race christened ‘Jubilee Live Free Race.’ Uganda’s contingent was 100 riders heavy.

The event is geared towards providing a competitive arena for cyclists as well as serving a powerful advocacy platform for physical activity, holistic wellbeing and environmental conservation.

The race was watched live from the Race Village at the Nyayo National Stadium by Kenya’s Permanent Representative at the United Nations Environment Program (Unep), Ababu Namwamba, Jubilee Insurance chairman, Zul Abdul and Jubilee Insurance Chief Executive officer, Julius Kipngetich.

Ssekanwagi, who also trains with Team Simbas in Kikuyu, Kiambu County when in Nairobi, described the race as tough especially with the women’s peloton going first.

‘It was somewhat chaotic with women in front of us. We had to weave through carefully and fight for a good position to accelerate and avoid collisions,’ said Ssekanwagi, who battled to catch up with Kagimu, who had broken away in the second of the five-lap race.

Toe-to-toe

‘We went toe-to-toe from inside the third lap and I guess I had reserved some power for the sprint finish,’ said Schleck, who defended his Loop Safari Gravel Series title a month ago.

Ssekanwagi, who has been in the country for the last six years, said it’s all about hard work and ‘knowing what you want to achieve’.

He said they had sacrificed a lot, staying away from home just to train in Kenya.

Ssekanwagi noted that the number of cycling communities in Kenya is growing hence the need for more quality races like the Jubilee Insurance race that attracted over 20 nationalities.

‘My dream is to see the region staging the Tour of East Africa or Tour of Kenya,’ said Schleck.

Kagimu, who represented Uganda at the just concluded UCI World Road Championships in Rwanda, was graceful in defeat.

‘Schleck looked stronger at the home straight. This is what we want when a race draws international entries,’ said Kagimu, who also represented Uganda at the Paris Olympics.

He now turns his focus to the Africa Road Cycling Championships scheduled for November in Kwale, Kenya.

Willy Kato won the Black Mamba race followed by Dominik Mugonda and Ssempiijja Aziz.

Caroline Wanjira won the women’s wheelchair race, edging out Merceline Atieno to second place and Rahel Akoth third.

Grand Nairobi Bike Race

Results

Men

John Schleck Ssekanwagi 1.30.39

Charles Kagimu 1.30.40

John Muchiri 1.33.50

Women

Merhamit Hadush 1.38.25

Mary Aleper 1.46.55

Jamila Abdula 1.47.28

At least 29 supporters of the National Unity Platform (NUP) were arrested on Monday, October 6, for allegedly blocking the road as the party’s principal and presidential candidate, Mr Robert Kyagulanyi, alias Bobi Wine, was heading to Mityana District to address campaign rallies ahead of the 2026 polls.

Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson Patrick Onyango said the arrests happened at Bujjuko Trading Centre, where a group of supporters of the country’s main opposition party allegedly blocked the road, disrupted traffic, and caused unrest as they awaited the arrival of Mr Kyagulanyi.

‘Today, October 6, 2025, presidential candidate Kyagulanyi Ssentamu Robert had planned to travel to Mityana District for his presidential rally, although he was expected to use the Mityana Highway, he opted to take Hoima Road,’ Mr Onyango said in a statement, adding that the joint security teams had been deployed to facilitate Kyagulanyi’s movement and maintain order along the designated routes.

However, the situation at Bujjuko escalated when some supporters began drumming, whistling, and blocking traffic despite repeated warnings from security personnel.

‘The group ignored several warnings from our officers; as a result, 29 suspects were arrested and are currently detained at Wakiso Police Division as investigations continue,’ Mr Onyango said.

Police have since urged all presidential candidates and their supporters to adhere to approved route plans and traffic guidelines to ensure public safety and order during the ongoing campaign period.

‘We appeal to all candidates to comply with traffic regulations, follow approved movement plans, and respect the rights of other road users,’ Onyango added.

Police have, over the past week, clashed with some opposition presidential candidates, including Kyagulanyi and Forum for Democratic Change (FDC)’s Nathan Nandala Mafabi, over campaign routes. On Friday, Mr Kyagulanyi was forced to cancel rallies in Iganga after security blocked his intended route.

The security agencies reiterated their commitment to facilitating peaceful campaigns while enforcing the law against acts that disrupt public order.

However, the NUP and FDC camps have accused the police and sister security agencies of impartiality and selective application of the law, claiming that supporters of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) have on several occasions been seen violating traffic and electoral laws but are never arrested or interrupted.

When 19-year-old Doreen Foni fled the violence in South Sudan with her family in 2015, she hoped for safety and a chance to study. But life as a refugee soon proved that survival was only the beginning of her struggle. At Maaji Refugee Settlement in Adjumani District, Foni’s dream of education faded with every passing day.

The nearest school was about 10 kilometres away, too far for many girls to attend. Poverty, long distances, and lack of school materials kept most of them at home. In 2017, she finally enrolled at Zoka South Primary School and began preparing for her Primary Leaving Examinations.

Just as things were looking up, the Covid-19 pandemic struck, shutting schools for almost two years. When classes resumed, her parents could no longer afford secondary school fees. Stuck at home and without options, Foni entered a relationship that led to teenage pregnancy.

‘Life became unbearable,’ she recalls. ‘My parents took me to my boyfriend’s home, but he gave little support. I had to dig in gardens and sell firewood to buy food.’

During her pregnancy, Foni’s health deteriorated and she was diagnosed with anaemia. She gave birth at Adjumani General Hospital – but even then, her dream of returning to school never died. Her parents, however, discouraged her, saying the baby was too young to leave behind.

Foni’s story mirrors the struggles of many refugee girls in Adjumani. Across the district, teenage pregnancies, early marriages, and poverty have robbed hundreds of girls of their education.

According to the Adjumani District Education Office, more than 1,800 cases of sexual violence were recorded in the last five years – 515 of them in 2021 alone.

The figures paint a grim picture of young girls forced into adulthood too soon. ‘Many of these girls are victims of circumstance,’ says Mr Philip Akuku, the district education officer. ‘We’ve seen a rise in teenage pregnancies during and after the Covid-19 lockdown, but we’re working to bring the girls back to school.’ Amid this crisis, a glimmer of hope has begun to emerge.

Organisations such as War Child Canada and the Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE) have stepped in with school re-entry programmes that give young mothers a second chance at education. Through the initiative, girls like Foni can now study under the Accelerated Learning Programme, which allows mothers to attend school while their babies are cared for at nearby centres.

‘I’m back in school and hopeful again,’ says Foni with a smile. ‘I want to become a health worker and help others.’

Grace Jua Kalisto, 24, shares a similar story. She dropped out of school after her uncle, who supported her, passed away. Forced into early marriage, she soon became a mother of two, her education dreams shattered. ‘I tried brewing alcohol to raise school fees, but it was never enough,’ she says.

Her turning point came when FAWE set up a child-care facility at Maaji Secondary School, allowing mothers to attend lessons while their babies are cared for nearby.

‘I no longer have to trek long distances to breastfeed. I can attend classes without worry,’ Grace says.

Ms Jessica Abedchan, the deputy head teacher at Maaji Secondary School, says the programme has transformed lives.

‘Attendance has gone up by 60 percent, and the dropout rate has fallen from 20 percent to just five percent,’ she says.

FAWE project officer Nancy Asibazoyo notes that more than 480 girls have so far returned to school through the initiative.

Still, experts warn that more needs to be done. Dr Gerald Amatre, a consultant at the Ministry of Education and Sports, says teenage pregnancies, gender-based violence, and HIV infections continue to threaten the future of many young girls.

‘The average age of first sexual intercourse in Uganda is 17 for girls,’ he says. ‘Many of these should still be in school.’

The different types of heart disease diagnosed in hospitals differ by age group. Among children, congenital heart defects top the list. Conditions such as a ventricular septal defect (a hole between the heart’s chambers) are among the most common.

Rheumatic heart disease also begins in childhood, but its effects often appear later, in the teenage years or twenties. By then, the damage to heart valves may be severe.

For adults, hypertension dominates. Patients often present with hypertensive heart disease, which, if untreated, progresses to heart failure.

Coronary artery disease, which is responsible for heart attacks, is also rising. The prevalence of heart disease is rising due to different prevalent conditions, as Beatrice Nakibuuka and Bill Oketch report.

A family in Kole District has sold everything they own in an attempt to raise money to treat their son, who has been battling heart disease for the last 17 years. Headed by a widow living with disability, this underprivileged family cannot afford to take their son, Daniel Epur, for specialised treatment.

The heart condition, which has baffled this family in Abilonino Village, Agege Parish, Bala Sub-county, started in 2008, a few months after the child’s birth. The mother, Florence Amongi, had just lost her husband, who was trampled to death by a cow. He left her with nine children.

‘He was diagnosed with heart disease at Lira Regional Referral Hospital (LRRH). He stopped going to school seven years ago.In 2019, we sold one acre of land at Shs2.5m to pay for a surgical procedure. However, the money was not enough. We ended up using the money on medication from a private clinic,’ she says.

In 2023, the family sold their only goat to buy painkillers for Epur. Unfortunately, his medical documents were destroyed after one of the grass-thatched huts in the family compound was engulfed in a fire.

Whenever the boy’s condition worsens, his siblings carry him on their backs to soothe him.

However, he always cries from the pain. In 2023, at least 8,784 people died of heart disease-related conditions across the country, according to data from the District Health Information System (DHIS2). Dr David Okino, the District Health Officer (DHO) of Kwania, says the government has invested in health facilities and training of specialists to mitigate the disease.

‘All public health facilities have been encouraged to increase the orders and supply of medicines that help in managing various chronic health conditions, such as anti-hypertensives, to reduce the cost burden to the population. In addition, regular health screening has been encouraged,’ he says.

Awareness drives undertaken by different groups of health workers are ongoing to sensitise the populace about the problem.

The government, through the community health department, has conducted health education talks in various public and private health facilities. However, the level of awareness creation might not be as required, especially for persons in rural settings,’ Dr Okino adds.

A national problem

Heart disease has quietly become one of the most pressing health challenges in the country. For years, Uganda has focused on malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV, yet medical practitioners now warn that unless urgent interventions are put in place, cardiovascular diseases will soon overtake these traditional killers.

Dr Peter Lwabi, the deputy executive director of the Uganda Heart Institute (UHI), says the numbers have risen sharply over the years.

‘We are seeing more children, young people, and middle-aged adults being diagnosed with different types of heart disease. Many of these are preventable. We need to act now before the numbers overwhelm the health system,’ he cautions.

According to UHI, one in every four Ugandan adults lives with high blood pressure. Hypertension, as doctors call it, is the leading risk factor for heart disease. Because it often does not have symptoms, the disease silently damages blood vessels for years before leading to devastating events such as stroke or heart failure.

Every year, Uganda welcomes about 1.6 million babies. Of these, roughly 16,000 are born with congenital heart defects and abnormalities in the structure of the heart present at birth.

Around half of these infants require urgent surgery, yet the majority do not receive it because UHI, the country’s only specialised heart hospital, cannot meet the overwhelming demand. Another group at risk is school-aged children, particularly those affected by rheumatic heart disease (RHD).

This entirely preventable condition develops from untreated throat infections, yet it still afflicts an estimated 300,000 Ugandan children.

‘No child should lose their future because of a sore throat that was never treated,’ Dr Lwabi stresses.

The burden is not limited to children, though. Cardiovascular diseases now account for more than a third of annual deaths in Uganda, joining diabetes and hypertension as major contributors to the growing wave of non-communicable diseases (NCDS).

The country faces a double challenge: infectious diseases remain deadly, but the quiet rise of lifestyle-related conditions adds an equally dangerous threat.

‘The available data shows the prevalence of heart conditions and hypertension seems to be the highest at 23.4 percent in men and 24.4 percent in females. This implies that the prevalence is at 23.9 percent,’ Dr Lwabi says.

Most affected areas

Most literature reveals a high prevalence in the urban districts. Kampala reports alarming figures, with hypertension and related conditions linked to urban stresses such as poverty, crime, alcohol consumption, smoking, social environments, and limited access to healthy diets.

People in urban areas often consume more processed foods, engage in less physical activity, and face greater stress.

Health facilities in towns also tend to screen more patients, which means cases are detected more often compared to rural areas. But that does not mean the countryside is safe. In places such as Karamoja, Busoga, and West Nile, the apparent lower numbers may only reflect a lack of diagnostic facilities. The true burden could be far higher than reported.

What causes heart disease?

The causes of heart disease are varied and often interlinked. Hypertension remains the biggest driver, silently damaging the heart and blood vessels over time. Left uncontrolled, it causes strokes, kidney failure, and heart failure, which conditions are increasingly becoming more common in Ugandan hospitals.

Congenital heart defects contribute significantly to childhood cases. While the causes are often unknown, factors such as maternal infections during pregnancy (including syphilis and measles), harmful drug use, and genetic conditions raise the risk.

Rheumatic heart disease (RHD), however, tells a different story. It is not congenital but develops after repeated untreated throat infections caused by streptococcal bacteria. These infections scar the heart valves, eventually leading to heart failure and sometimes sudden death. Unlike congenital conditions, RHD is entirely preventable if children receive timely antibiotics.

Unfortunately, in many parts of Uganda, throat infections still go untreated. Other culprits are linked to lifestyle and metabolism. Rising rates of diabetes, obesity, and high cholesterol, especially in urban populations, are fuelling the epidemic. As Ugandans shift from traditional diets to fast foods and sugary snacks, the risks multiply.

The role of lifestyle

Dr Lwabi emphasises that modern lifestyles are worsening the situation. Many jobs, particularly in cities, involve long hours of sitting.

‘People increasingly use cars and motorcycles instead of walking. Even children now spend more time watching television or playing video games than engaging in active play. Dietary habits are changing too. Fast foods, fried snacks, and heavily salted meals are becoming common,’ he says.

A study in Kampala revealed that about 10 percent of adolescent school children are already obese. Childhood obesity is a dangerous trend because it raises the likelihood of developing hypertension and diabetes in adulthood.

Substance use further complicates the picture. Tobacco, whether smoked or chewed, significantly increases the risk of heart disease, while alcohol consumption is rising, particularly among young adults.

‘Stress and lack of sleep, often overlooked, also add to the burden. Our bodies are not designed to run on constant stress and little rest. Over time, the heart pays the price,’ Dr Lwabi explains.

Beyond the statistics lies the devastating impact on families. Treating heart disease is extremely expensive. Many patients travel abroad to countries like India or Kenya for surgeries not available locally, spending millions of shillings in the process. For families with limited income, this is impossible, leaving children and young adults to die from conditions that are treatable elsewhere.

At Mulago National Referral Hospital, where UHI is based, the waiting list for surgery is long and growing. Each year, only a fraction of patients receive the operations they desperately need. The rest must wait for charity support or face declining health.

Prevention

The most powerful weapon against heart disease is prevention. Regular health checks are vital, especially for adults over 30. Detecting hypertension, diabetes, or high cholesterol early can prevent complications. Dietary change is another key step.

Ugandans are encouraged to embrace traditional diets, while reducing salt, processed foods, and fried meals, and promoting physical activity. For children, schools can make a difference by encouraging active play and sports while limiting sedentary habits.

Public campaigns to reduce tobacco and alcohol consumption are equally critical. Stress management and adequate sleep should not be underestimated either. On the medical side, early treatment of sore throats will drastically cut down rheumatic heart disease cases. Expectant mothers should also be supported with antenatal care to reduce the risk of congenital heart defects caused by infections or harmful substances.

Cardiovascular Disease Outlook in Africa

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are emerging as a major cause of death across Africa. According to the World Health Organisation, non-communicable diseases now account for 37 percent of all deaths in the African region, up from 24 percent in 2000. Among these, CVDs are the most frequent, responsible for roughly 13 percent of all deaths and 37 percent of NCD-related deaths.

Hypertension remains the leading risk factor for heart disease and stroke in Africa. Yet fewer than a third of people living with hypertension are on treatment, and only about 12 percent have the condition under control. Lifestyle factors such as tobacco use, physical inactivity, unhealthy diets, and harmful alcohol consumption contribute to nearly 80 percent of coronary heart disease and stroke cases. Rising obesity and high cholesterol, often outcomes of modern diets and sedentary lifestyles, further increase the risk.

Challenges in healthcare access

Access to healthcare is a significant challenge. Many people, especially in rural areas, lack essential medications and services to manage cardiovascular conditions. Specialized facilities and trained medical personnel are limited, leaving large segments of the population vulnerable.

Preventive measures

Prevention is key. Regular health screenings can detect risk factors early, while promoting balanced diets, physical activity, and reduced tobacco and alcohol use can reduce the risk of heart disease. Public awareness campaigns are vital to educate communities about CVD risks and the importance of early intervention.

Conclusion

The rising prevalence of cardiovascular diseases in Africa presents a serious public health challenge.

Combating it requires improving healthcare access, promoting preventive strategies, and encouraging healthier lifestyles across the continent.

Jailed Opposition leader Dr Kizza Besigye has fired off a strongly worded letter to High Court Judge Emmanuel Baguma, demanding to know the law that stops him, as an accused person, from raising his own concerns orally during trial.

The four-time presidential candidate, who is facing treason charges alongside Mr Obeid Lutale and Capt Denis Oola, wrote the letter following a heated exchange in court on October 1.

Besigye insisted on addressing the judge directly despite being represented by a team of 10 lawyers led by Kenyan senior counsel Martha Karua.

The letter

In the letter dated October 2, Besigye accuses Justice Baguma of denying him a fundamental right to be heard. ‘First, you outrightly declined my request because I am represented by lawyers,’ Besigye wrote.

‘Being a person accused of a serious offence, I find it strange and oppressive if I cannot raise a concern directly in open court.’

He further recounts how, after extensive back-and-forth with his legal team, the judge ruled that any personal concerns from the accused could only be submitted in writing, a condition Besigye argues could lead to undue delays. ‘If each time a written submission of the concern has to be made and time fixed for your response, the case may never be concluded,’ he warned. ‘Meanwhile, I remain confined in prison.’

Besigye concludes the three-page letter with a pointed challenge: ‘I request you to point me to the provisions of the law that bar an accused person from orally raising concerns in court during any audience with the judge, even in the presence of their lawyers. Following your response, I will take that law into consideration to guide me.’

The letter follows last week’s tense courtroom standoff, where Besigye rose in the dock before plea-taking to address the judge. ‘A very good morning, my Lord,’ he began confidently, adding that he wished to raise a matter of concern. Justice Baguma quickly interrupted: ‘Are you still represented, or are you putting off your lawyers?’

Besigye clarified that he remained represented but wanted to personally explain the circumstances of their appearance in court. The judge, however, maintained that only his lawyers could speak on his behalf unless they formally withdrew from the case.

Senior Counsel Karua, supported by colleagues Frederick Mpanga and Ernest Kalibbala, urged the court to allow Besigye to speak.

Mr Kalibbala argued: ‘Appointing lawyers does not close the mouth of the party. No law bars any accused person in the dock from raising or responding to issues in court.’

Eventually, Justice Baguma relented but imposed conditions, ruling that Besigye must submit his concerns in writing and return to court on October 8 for a response.

The ruling prompted murmurs among the packed courtroom before prison warders swiftly escorted Besigye and his co-accused out under tight security.

The Federation of Uganda Football Associations (Fufa), as the country’s football governing body, holds the ultimate responsibility for the sport’s health.

However, recent moves by Fufa to exert greater control over the operational aspects of the Uganda Premier League (UPL), particularly regarding venue selection, format, and match organization, have sparked significant resistance from the clubs.

While the intent may be to improve professionalism, a comparison with successful global leagues suggests that a domestic football association should primarily govern, not manage, the top-tier competition.

The Uganda Premier League needs autonomy to thrive, and the current ‘top-down’ approach undermines the very clubs that are the competition’s lifeblood.

The core of the issue stems from the principle of commercial and operational independence.

Clubs are legally registered entities that bear the vast majority of match-day expenses.

When Fufa dictates venues, the capacity of clubs to generate crucial revenue from gate collections, which they largely shoulder the cost to run, is compromised. This forced appropriation of operational control and potential income unlawfully interferes with the financial autonomy of the clubs.

Furthermore, a centralized, and often non-consultative, approach to match organization leads to several practical and competitive drawbacks.

By dictating venues and sometimes even appropriating income, Fufa places severe financial and operational strain on clubs who rely on home gate receipts to cover their running costs.

Loss of Identity and Fan Engagement: A core part of club football is the home stadium advantage and the tradition of playing in the club’s established location. Undermining a club’s ability to host matches in its preferred venue alienates the local fan base and weakens the club’s identity, which is a major commercial asset.

Undermining Sporting Integrity: Recent proposals, like multi-phase league formats with point resets or uneven distribution of home and away matches, have been criticized by clubs like Vipers SC and SC Villa for undermining sporting integrity and penalizing consistency. An imbalanced schedule created by a centralized decision-maker can lead to sporting disadvantages.

Commercial Liability: Sponsors and broadcasters seek a simple, marketable, and predictable product. A complex, fluid, and unpredictable competition format dictated without consensus becomes a commercial liability, deterring long-term investment.

A global can help too. Across the world’s most successful football nations, a clear separation of powers exists between the Football Association (FA) and the top professional league. The FA serves as the regulator, licensor, and overall governing body that oversees national teams, lower tiers, and enforces Fifa/Caf/Uefa regulations.

The professional league, however, is typically run as a separate commercial entity, often a company owned by the member clubs, responsible for its own commercial operations, match organization, and scheduling.

The English Premier League (EPL): The FA of England is the overall governing body, but the Premier League operates as a corporation jointly owned by its 20 member clubs. The Premier League is fully responsible for setting its fixtures, commercial deals (broadcasting and sponsorship), and managing match operations. The FA’s role is supervisory and regulatory (e.g., controlling the rules of the game and sanctioning officials). This autonomy allowed the English Premier League to become a global commercial powerhouse.

Spain’s LaLiga: LaLiga is managed by the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional (LFP), an organization distinct from the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF). The LFP manages the professional aspects, including match scheduling, commercial rights, and financial regulations, while the RFEF focuses on governance, referees, and national team duties.

The German Bundesliga: The Deutsche Fußball Liga (DFL) is a separate entity responsible for running the Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2. The DFL manages all business aspects, including the centralized marketing of media rights, giving the clubs direct control over their product.

For the Uganda Premier League to truly professionalize, attract major corporate partners, and secure a greater broadcast deal, it must be granted operational and commercial autonomy. FUFA’s most constructive role should be:

Licensing: Establishing and strictly enforcing clear criteria for club licensing, stadium quality, financial fair play, and governance.

Regulation: Overseeing refereeing, maintaining the rules of the game, and serving as the ultimate judicial and appeals body.

National Team Focus: Concentrating resources on the national team, grassroots development, and lower-tier competitions that genuinely require the FA’s direct management.

The UPL clubs, perhaps through a dedicated, independent league company, should be empowered to organize their own matches, select their own venues based on licensing standards of their home stadia, and collectively manage the league’s commercial operations.

By shifting from a ‘manager’ to a ‘governor’ role, FUFA can ensure the integrity and standards of the game, while giving the clubs the operational freedom necessary to turn the UPL into the self-sustaining, marketable, and financially robust league Ugandan football deserves.

Maumbe Mukhwana Memorial Vocational Institute, built just two years ago at a cost of Shs3.6 billion, was intended to be a model of technical excellence. The institution, named after liberation hero Jack Maumbe Mukhwana, is one of President Museveni’s nine pledges of vocational institutes.

Today, it is a sign of neglect with no tutors, electricity, water, fence separating the girls’ dormitories from those of the boys, and pit-latrines that overflow forcing students to relieve themselves in the bush. Last week, frustration over the poor state of the school boiled over.

Students locked the principal, Mr James Ulyeni, inside his office for more than five hours, demanding his immediate transfer. Police and district education officials later intervened and convinced the students to let go. They then took him away.

Guild president Bernard Mooli said the students have gone on strike three times since last year, each time demanding the transfer of the principal. Mr Mooli revealed that the school has so many problems, which they have reported to the district authorities, but nothing has been done. He said since reporting back three weeks earlier, students had not had a single lesson.

‘This is supposed to be a skills institute, yet we don’t have practicals. When we go for internship, we struggle,’ he said. Mr Deo Obote, a student, said: ‘We don’t have qualified teachers to teach us. The toilets are full, so sometimes we go to the bush. Some girls are already suffering from infections. Even meals are delayed.’

Mr Moses Mugabi, a student, said the overflowing toilets, lack of water, and a broken solar system have left the school without electricity or safe sanitation facilities.

He revealed that government-sponsored students pay Shs450,000 per term, while private students pay Shs760,000. Ms Glades Nambozo, another student, said: ‘Last term, I was admitted to the hospital for a week after getting an infection. Many other girls are suffering too.’

Mr Haningtone Bakumba, the senior education officer for Mbale District, said the government was supposed to deploy 15 tutors when the institute was set up. Instead, only the principal and the bursar are permanent staff. He added that the school relies on volunteer instructors who have now gone eight months without pay.

Mr Daniel Kitakuyi, an entrepreneurship tutor, said they have lost the morale to teach. He added that several tutors have refused to report to school this term because of the non-payment. Even the security guard, Mr Mutwalimb Zemwa, has gone 18 months without his Shs90,000 monthly salary.

‘I work day and night, alone, without even a torch. My life is at risk,’ he said. Mr Bakumba added the school’s performance is poor, blaming it on weak administration. He explained that some tutors are often dismissed in the middle of the term, while equipment meant for practical lessons has gone missing. He also revealed that the school is deeply in debt, with suppliers demanding more than Shs160 million. Mr Paddy Khaukha, the Mbale District Education Officer, acknowledged that the students’ grievances are genuine.

He partly blamed the challenges on the principal but also admitted that the district authorities had failed to provide facilities that support proper learning.

‘Where we have reached, to save the institution, the Ministry of Education and Sports should send another principal. Let the current principal be transferred to another place,’ he said.

He added: ‘This is the third time the police have rescued the principal. We don’t want to reach a situation where we have to answer why the principal has been lynched by students. The truce between the principal and students will not last.’

He said the ministry should post permanent tutors to support the school, and urged the government to speed up the process of recruiting them. He noted that the institution is a presidential pledge that should be fulfilled, not mismanaged.

Mr Ulyeni said he is ready to be transferred if the ministry decides so. He denied the allegations against him, arguing that the problems at the school are due to limited government funding, with only Shs55 million sent for the entire financial year. He also blamed the situation on students delaying to pay their fees.

Mr Ulyeni explained that the Shs55 million from government and student fees is what he uses to run the school, but it is not enough to pay tutors, clear supplier debts, or buy materials for practical lessons, which are expensive. He noted that presidential-pledge institutions are not funded the same way as government-aided schools.

He added that he had written to the Ministry of Education about the challenges but nothing had been done. On the issue of pit-latrines, he blamed the problem on heavy rains and the waterlogged nature of the area, which causes the water levels to rise.

As dusk settles over Kampala, its skyline glitters with new towers and estates, some unfinished, many unoccupied, and most untaxed.

They stand as monuments to ambition and inequality, symbols of a nation where wealth is visible but revenue is invisible.

From Kololo’s mansions to the glittering lakeside estates in Munyonyo, Uganda’s real estate sector is booming.

Cranes tower over Kampala, gated communities expand across Wakiso, and rural towns are dotted with new rentals and shopping complexes.

But, behind this frenzy is a revenue blind spot, referenced by the World Bank in its 25th Uganda Economic Update.

The report, published last week, details the property and real estate boom, but reveals a glaring mismatch in which property-related taxes (land rates, rental income tax, and stamp duties) contribute less than 0.4 percent of GDP.

While the elite continue to invest heavily in land and property, government captures very little of this growing wealth, with the World Bank describing real estate as ‘the fastest-growing store of private wealth and one of the least taxed’.

The real estate boom

Uganda’s wealth distribution is tilting sharply. The World Bank shows that the top 10 percent of Ugandans now control nearly 40 percent of the national income, while the bottom 40 percent share just 13 percent.

Much of this wealth is concentrated in urban property, which has become the investment of choice for high-net-worth individuals, politicians, and corporates.

‘Real estate is now a parallel economy. It absorbs much of Uganda’s savings, foreign remittances, and undeclared income,’ the World Bank notes in the 25th Uganda Economic Update.

This, as a result, the report notes, has created a price bubble, in which land prices have risen by more than 400 percent in the last decade in Greater Kampala.

Low tax returns

The real estate sector contributes barely 2 percent of all domestic tax collections, the World Bank notes, helping little to lift Uganda’s tax-to-GDP ratio, which has stagnated at about 13.2 percent in the last three years, far below the sub-Saharan average and government’s own target of 18 percent.

The World Bank attributes this difficulty to taxing the real estate to money lost through trade misinvoicing, smuggling, and corruption.

Uganda is estimated to lose between $550m and $750m annually to such outflows, much of which re-enters the economy disguised as property investment.

‘Real estate has become a preferred destination for recycled wealth. It offers anonymity, asset appreciation, and weak enforcement,’ the World Bank notes

This, the report says, distorts the housing market through inflated land prices and deepening inequality.

Thus, while a small elite accumulates luxury assets, millions of Ugandans face rising rent, poor housing, and limited access to land.

World Bank’s data shows Uganda’s Gini coefficient, which measures inequality, has risen to 0.44, up from 0.42 in 2020, a clear sign of widening inequality.

The bottom 60 percent of Ugandans, mostly in rural areas, now earn less than Shs10,000 per day, while the urban middle class faces stagnant wages.

Yet property and wealth remain untaxed, leaving Uganda’s fiscal burden to salaried workers through pay-as-you-earn and consumption taxes.

‘Uganda’s tax system is regressive. High-income individuals benefit most from tax exemptions and weak enforcement,’ the report says.

The politics of taxing real estate

Efforts to tax high-end property have repeatedly stalled due to political resistance.

But URA, with technical support from the World Bank and IMF, has revived plans for a high-net-worth individual compliance unit, tasked with mapping luxury property, tracking asset transfers, and linking land ownership to income declarations.

However, the unit remains weak, according to the World Bank, due to resource limitations and access to data.

For instance, the Update notes that because of limited resources, the unit only audited 44 high-net-worth individuals between 2012 and 2021, despite managing a register of over 1,200 individuals.

Therefore, the World Bank says there is need to improve property and wealth tax administration, which could add 2.5-3.5 percent of GDP to domestic revenues or roughly Shs4 trillion annually.

‘If Uganda wants to finance its growth without debt, it must tax its wealth. And that wealth is sitting in land, not in the banks,’ the report says.

Journalists play a crucial role in elections through information dissemination and voter education, helping citizens understand electoral laws, procedures, candidate platforms, and polling processes. By keeping the electorate informed, they enable voters to make sound decisions when choosing their leaders.

The media is often referred to as the Fourth Estate after the Judiciary, Executive, and Legislature. There is no doubt that it shapes public discourse, facilitates political participation, enhances accountability, and counters misinformation.

As Ugandans return to the polls for the sixth time since Independence, and the fifth under President Museveni, the role of the media remains central. In this election, eight political parties are contesting with the aim of unseating Museveni, though many remain sceptical about their chances of success.

The main concerns continue to centre on the independence of the Electoral Commission (EC), widely viewed as being under the influence of the ruling regime, and the conduct of sections of the security forces, some of whom are accused of serving partisan interests rather than upholding national unity and democratic principles.

The media in Uganda has for years faced significant challenges, including restrictions, harassment, violence, restrictive laws, the digital divide, and competition from the rising tide of misinformation on social media. As citizens head to the polls, the role of journalists should be at the forefront of the democratic process.

The eight candidates representing the eight political parties recognise the critical importance of the media. The National Resistance Movement (NRM), identifies the media as a central tool for communication and national mobilisation.

Its manifesto commits to ensuring that government policies and programmes are widely disseminated through media platforms with nationwide reach. This reflects a strong emphasis on media as a top-down channel for policy communication and a vehicle for demonstrating political accountabilities Beyond messaging, the manifesto highlights infrastructure as the backbone of communication.

Key commitments include: Expanding broadband and mobile network coverage, with government reporting that 89 percent of the population is now served by 3G or higher services.

Providing free Wi-Fi at border posts and upgrading older sites from 2G to 3G. Extending the national backbone fibre network to connect government ministries, local government offices, and other critical institutions.

To implement these objectives, several agencies operate under the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance, including the Uganda Broadcasting Corporation (UBC), Media Council, of Uganda Media Centre, and Vision Group, among others. The government has often voiced concern about what it calls ‘irresponsible’ or distorted media coverage.

President Museveni and State agencies have emphasised the need for more disciplined and centralised communication, particularly in responding to negative reporting and in safeguarding Uganda’s image. This reflects an ongoing tension between State-driven communication goals and the independent media’s watchdog role.

While strong on communication and infrastructure, the NRM manifesto is notably weaker on press freedom and media independence. There are no explicit commitments to protect journalists from harassment, intimidation, or censorship. Mechanisms to ensure media diversity, fairness, or editorial independence are not detailed.

Oversight and accountability in government communication remains limited, with little transparency on the use of public resources for State communication.

Government reports indicate significant progress on infrastructure targets such as broadband expansion, network coverage, and digital connectivity of institutions. Manifesto Week has become a regular platform to showcase these achievements. However, the independence and credibility of such self-reporting remain questionable.

The remaining political parties continue to call for greater press freedom and freedom of expression for both Ugandans and the media. However, their commitments are often vague, with no clear strategies on how these freedoms will be fully protected and promoted.

Climate change is no longer a future threat-it is a daily reality for Uganda. From floods sweeping away homes along Lake Victoria to prolonged droughts leaving families in Karamoja hungry, and landslides burying villages in Bududa, the country is already facing the brunt of the climate crisis.

These disasters undermine food security, destroy livelihoods, and reverse hard-won development gains. Between 2010 and 2024, Uganda suffered repeated floods, droughts, epidemics, and landslides, leaving lasting scars.

Today, shifting rainfall patterns are reducing crop yields, and by 2050, Uganda could lose up to one-third of all food crop production. With agriculture contributing a quarter of the economy, these losses mean increased hunger, reduced household income, and rising unemployment. Critical infrastructure like roads, bridges, and hydropower plants are also under threat, costing the nation billions.

The burden is not shared equally. Youth, who make up 78 percent of Uganda’s population, face vanishing opportunities in farming and related sectors. Women, meanwhile, walk longer distances for water and firewood during droughts, sacrificing time for education and income-generating activities.

Climate change in Uganda is personal, immediate, and demands political action. Uganda already has progressive frameworks, including the National Climate Change Policy (2015) and National Development Plan III, which promote low-carbon growth and climate-smart agriculture.

More recently, the National Adaptation Plan (2023) and commitments under the Paris Agreement pledge a 24.7 percent emissions reduction by 2030. Promising initiatives like ClimSA have strengthened early warning systems, and gender-responsive policies are slowly gaining traction.

But the greatest hurdle remains implementation. Weak coordination, inadequate funding, and competing priorities-particularly oil development-continue to slow progress. This is where politics must step in. Parliament can anchor climate action by mandating climate impact assessments for all Bills, ensuring dedicated budget allocations for green initiatives, and strengthening accountability.

Mainstreaming climate action into politics is not a burden but an opportunity to protect vulnerable communities, create jobs, and grow the economy sustainably. Green jobs present a unique chance to tackle unemployment while safeguarding the environment.

Already, solar and biogas projects are equipping youth with skills in clean energy installation. The Green Jobs Programme is supporting the informal sector through apprenticeships and industrial hubs.

Initiatives in agroforestry, organic farming, and recycling are proving that sustainability and job creation can go hand in hand. Women and youth-led enterprises are leading the way in innovation.

However, barriers such as lack of green skills and limited access to finance must be addressed through targeted education reforms, tax breaks, and subsidies for green enterprises.

Environmental justice remains central. Communities displaced by projects like the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (Eacop) or those in Karamoja losing land to mining often face exploitation without fair consultation or compensation.

Polluted water sources in West Nile highlight how environmental harm deepens inequality. Courts and young activists are demanding accountability through principles like polluter pays, ensuring corporations-not ordinary citizens-bear the costs of damage.

Uganda’s just transition initiative launched in 2024 offers hope of building a green economy without deepening inequalities. But for it to succeed, politics must amplify the voices of youth, women, and indigenous communities in decision-making.

Mainstreaming climate action is not just a policy choice-it is a political responsibility and an electoral opportunity. By embedding climate in governance, creating visible green jobs, and protecting vulnerable communities, both ruling and Opposition leaders can present a vision of Uganda that is resilient, fair, and future-ready.