Category: Daily Monitor

The principle that bail is a constitutional right, not a privilege, must be more than rhetorical. It must be lived in every courtroom.

Last week’s decision by the Kawempe Magistrate’s Court to deny bail to 10 members of the major Opposition party, the National Unity Platform (NUP), accused of ‘unlawful drilling,’ tests that principle under the weight of political tension and public scrutiny, leaving a lot of questions than answers.

Chief Magistrate Damalie Agumansiimwe, ruling via Zoom, acknowledged that while bail is constitutionally guaranteed, it is not automatic. She held that the applicants had failed to satisfy key legal thresholds.

The court also accepted prosecutorial concerns such as the flight risk of some of the applicants, witness tampering, and questionable sureties, issues the State argued with urgency and detail.

From the defence side, lawyers insisted that none of the accused faced a life sentence or capital charge, stressing the importance of the presumption of innocence and the right to liberty until proven guilty. They argued that the accused offered fixed residences and solid sureties, and they dismissed the fears of interference as speculative.

Yet the court, prioritising the severity of the allegations and the possible risks, found the defence not persuasive. But this case cannot be divorced from its political context.

Among the accused are prominent NUP figures, including the party’s deputy spokesperson, Alex Waiswa Mufumbiro, and others tied closely to the leadership of Robert Kyagulanyi, alias Bobi Wine.

The impression, whether fact or perception, is that the machinery of justice has too often intersected with the machinery of political control.

When State allegations accuse Opposition actors of organising ‘military-style training’ activities without authorisation, the question is: Do the charges rest on legal merit or political calculus? The big question is whether the ruling of the court is legally defensible or is politically influenced.

The denial of bail extends the pre-trial detention of these individuals, already held since February, into indefinite limbo. In doing so, it places heavy constraints on their ability to mount a defence, maintain personal life, or engage freely in public discourse.

Even if the court remains within its legal discretion, the optics are perilous. The law must not be used to silence or intimidate the political opposition. At stake is more than this particular case. It is the integrity of judicial independence and public confidence in justice on trial.

In politically charged trials, the Judiciary carries a solemn duty to act transparently and impartially to hold the State to its burden, and resist becoming subordinate to political imperatives.

Let the courts demonstrate, not just in rhetoric but in practice, that bail is not a barrier but a bridge, one that enables innocent individuals to remain free until their guilt is proven beyond reasonable doubt. Until then, every denial must be firmly grounded in evidence, not inference, especially when democracy itself is the subject.

KCCA Ladies defeated Sport-S 3-0 in the final of the National Club Championship held in Gulu over the weekend to qualify for next year’s Africa Club Championship.

Shilla Omuriwe’s charges, who defeated Nemostars and VVC in the quarters and semifinals respectively, made light work of Sport-S to add yet another piece of major silverware to their cabin.

Having won the league in 2022, the Club Championship victory is the second biggest honour under Omuriwe’s tutelage.

The Kasasiro Girls got out of the blocks early, tearing through the Sport-S net defence to take the tightly contested first set 25-23.

New signings Moreen Mwamula and Phiona Naziite added steel to the Kasasiro Girls and proved too much for the league champions to handle.

KCCA claimed the second and third sets 25-21 and 25-19 respectively to seal the deal and kick off celebrations.

The two-day tournament was affected by rain on Day One, with several pool matches pushed to Day Two.

‘It was unfortunate that we had to play four games on Day Two but it was a good tournament overall,’ Omuriwe told Daily Monitor after the victory at Pece Primary School in Gulu City.

‘We are grateful to God that He gave us the strength to push through one game at a time,’ the tactician added.

KCCA came out on top of Pool B after defeating Kampala University and Seroma.

Meanwhile Sport-S had to go a five-set thriller against KCB-Nkumba in the semis.

With the victory KCCA now qualifies to represent Uganda in the Africa Club Championship next year.

‘We came to the tournament with an aim of representing the country in the African championship and thank God we got the win,’ Claire Najuuko, the KCCA captain, revealed.

Meanwhile the men’s final between Nemostars and KCCA could not be played to completion due to poor lighting that forced a postponement.

Nemostars took the first two sets 25-21 and 25-20 respectively to move to within a set of defending their crown.

The opportunity to finish it off in the third frame, however, came down crashing when KCCA punched back to take it 25-23.

With the score at 2-1 and another set or two needed to determine the winner, a stop was inevitable.

The final will now be played in Kampala at a later date, with KCCA looking to replicate the heroics of the women’s team.

Nemostars, on the other hand, will be looking to defend their crown and return to continental volleyball next year. The two-day tournament attracted up to 27 teams.

National Volleyball Club Championship

Women’s final

KCCA 3-0 Sport-S

Men’s final

Nemostars 2-1 KCCA (to be replayed)

The high costs associated with standardising and certifying products through the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) are hindering many agro-processors in northern and north-eastern Uganda, Monitor has learnt.

During a three-day orientation conference for agro-processors dealing in cassava, shea butter, and oil seeds, which began on September 23, many participants expressed frustration over certification costs and delays.

They said these limit market access and suppress production. The conference, held in Gulu City, was organised by the International Trade Centre (ITC), a joint agency of the United Nations and the World Trade Organisation, in partnership with UNBS. It targeted micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) across the Acholi, Lango, and Karamoja sub-regions.

Mr Phillips Okot Ongom, the general manager of Pajule Farmers’ Marketing Co-operative Society, said many small-scale processors are reluctant to pursue certification due to financial constraints.

‘The cost of certification and standardisation is not pocket-friendly, especially considering our low profit margins. The procedures are also lengthy and expensive,’ Mr Okot said.

Ms Nowella Ojara, the team leader at Divine Organic Foods, cited poor budgeting and limited financing as additional barriers to certification. Nearly two years ago, ITC launched the Strengthening Agribusiness Resilience and Competitiveness (STAR) project, funded by the Korea International Cooperation Agency, to build the resilience and competitiveness of agribusinesses and smallholder farmers in the cassava, shea, and oilseed sectors.

However, challenges around product certification remain a major bottleneck, limiting market access, competitiveness, product quality, and safety.

Mr Allan Wayira, STAR project programme officer, said a key challenge is limited access to accurate information and low capacity to comply with certification standards. ‘

Strengthening knowledge and building practical skills are essential for SMEs to comply and grow. That’s why the conference focused on standards compliance, certification readiness, and the implementation of Good Manufacturing and Hygiene Practices (GMP and GHP),’ he explained. But Ms Desire Kenganzi, a certification officer at UNBS, criticised some agro-processors for prioritising profit over consumer safety.

‘Many manufacturers no longer care about quality. They focus on profits and ignore due diligence. If proper certification was followed, toxic products wouldn’t reach the market,’ she said.

She added that processors had been assessed on GMP, GHP, and certification procedures through tailored training. However, certification fees, ranging from Shs500,000 to Shs1,000,000, remain a significant burden for rural enterprises. Mr Michael Ochora, a shea butter processor from Agago District, said knowledge gaps and resource constraints hinder efforts to meet national standards.

‘We lack the practical tools and knowledge to meet both mandatory and voluntary standards. Certification costs make things worse, many genuine processors can’t afford it, so their products miss out on better markets,’ he said.

Hundreds of agro-processors across the region dealing in cassava, shea butter, and oil seeds such as sunflower, simsim, and soybeans continue to lament their lack of competitiveness and market access.

According to UNBS, unless small-scale processors prioritise certification and standardisation, access to external markets will remain limited.

Mr Abubaker Bakulumpagi, principal certification officer at UNBS, said uncertified products cannot compete locally or internationally.

‘Many small-scale processors don’t label or certify their products. Others under-declare ingredients to evade taxes or avoid certification costs, which compromises safety and marketability,’ he said.

Mr Bakulumpagi warned that misleading product labelling and undeclared ingredients pose serious health risks, with uncertified food products contributing to growing healthcare costs and avoidable deaths.

‘People are consuming substandard products unknowingly, and it’s leading to illnesses and fatalities. That’s why we’re losing loved ones, we’re careless with our money and health,’ he added.

UNBS estimates that 54 percent of products on the Ugandan market are counterfeit or substandard, costing the country an estimated Shs6 trillion annually, about three percent of the national budget, in lost revenue.

In October 2024, the Speaker of Parliament, Ms Anita Among, emphasised the need for legal reforms to address counterfeit products.

The proposed Anti-Counterfeit Goods and Services Bill, 2024, aims to rid the market of substandard goods. The Anti-Counterfeit Hub Africa reports that more than half of Uganda’s 45.6 million people cannot distinguish between genuine and fake food products. Traders and manufacturers often exploit consumer ignorance to sell expired or substandard goods.

Complex formalisation process Despite government efforts to promote agro-industrialisation as a path out of poverty, MSMEs continue to face challenges in formalising operations. Processors cited the difficulty of complying with multiple regulatory bodies, including the Uganda Registration Services Bureau, Uganda Revenue Authority (URA), and the National Social Security Fund (NSSF),as additional burdens.

‘Formalisation requires a business environment that supports voluntary compliance. If the costs of formalisation exceed the perceived benefits, no one will make that transition,’ said Mr Ochora.

According to URA data, in FY2019/2020, wholesale and retail trade contributed Shs4.85 trillion (28.35 percent) to total tax revenue. The manufacturing sector contributed Shs3.49 trillion (20.43 percent). Despite these contributions, the formal tax base remains narrow, with modest gains over recent years.

The Uganda Investment Authority (UIA) reported that in FY2021/2022, 2,107 manufacturing firms employed 150,685 Ugandans. While income tax turnover improved slightly, reaching Shs22.1 trillion in 2020/2021, up from Shs19.3 trillion in 2019/2020, compliance remains a challenge.

UIA’s 2023 State of Investment Memo urged the government to simplify the tax regime for SMEs, reduce collateral demands, and create safeguards to encourage formalisation.

Uganda’s political class has a love affair with titles. ‘Honourable’, ‘Right Honourable’, the prefixes roll off tongues as though dignity itself were being manufactured in bulk.

Yet the bearers of these lofty labels are often the very names listed in corruption reports, procurement scandals, and betrayals of public trust. At what point do we stop clapping for this colonial theatre and admit that the show is more farce than honour?

Britain’s medieval relics

The titles we so freely distribute are not Ugandan inventions. ‘Honourable’ and ‘Right Honourable’ trace back to an aristocratic and parliamentary order rooted in medieval hierarchy. They once carried weight because they were embedded in rigid class systems. But even in Britain today, they feel increasingly outdated. What exactly does ‘Right Honourable’ mean in a modern democracy?

Why should a 21st-Century MP in Westminster sound like a courtier from the 1600s? Britain, clinging to monarchy and pageantry, keeps these relics partly out of nostalgia. But Uganda did something stranger: we adopted them wholesale without ever asking if they were still relevant, even to their mother country. We embraced the vocabulary of medieval hierarchy while promising ourselves that we were building a modern republic.

From ‘honourable’ to ‘dishonourable’

In Uganda, ‘honourable’ has become the slipperiest word in the dictionary. It sticks automatically to Members of Parliament, regardless of their record. Even those caught red-handed in corruption scandals continue to be addressed with reverence in chambers, on airwaves, and at public functions.

The Luganda equivalent, ow’ekitiibwa, once evoked respect. Today, it has been twisted by sarcasm into a synonym for ‘thief.’ The satire has become so entrenched that when a non-Luganda-speaking MP recently discovered the translation, Parliament itself burst into laughter.

That moment of collective humour revealed something deeper: the people no longer see honour in those who wear the title. From inflated allowances to vanishing billions, the so-called honourables have transformed what was meant to dignify into a running national joke. It is no accident that young Ugandans, scrolling through memes, no longer treat ‘honourable’ as a mark of respect. It is shorthand for privilege, arrogance, and scandal.

The titles we abandoned

What makes the satire sharper is that Uganda once had titles that truly carried both honour and responsibility. In Buganda, katikkiro (prime minister), omuwanika (treasurer), and Ssabalangira (chief prince) were not empty badges. They were functions tied to duty, reputation, and accountability to the community. To be called by one of these names was to be measured daily against the values it represented. In discarding our indigenous titles for borrowed prefixes, we swapped responsibility for costume jewellery. The imported terms sound grand but carry no teeth. The indigenous terms sounded ordinary but carried weight.

Time for a Ugandan reset

Uganda must stop pretending. If we want leaders who command respect, let the honour be earned, not conferred by colonial grammar. Call our MPs Representatives. Call them Legislators. Let them introduce themselves by the work they do, not by the dust of an imported hierarchy. Until then, every corruption scandal involving an ‘honourable’ will remind us of this national irony: we imported the titles, we exported the scandals, and we left the honour behind.

Once upon a time, in our ancestral homesteads of Kigyezi, when a couple struggled to bear children, the whisper of blame rose and inevitably landed on the woman’s head. She was the suspected vessel of barrenness, the silent culprit.

The man, by cultural decree, was deemed fertile by default. His masculinity was beyond question. Only when the winds of fate betrayed him, his wife leaving him,often times after a practice known as “okushenda” remarrying, and quickly cradling another man’s child would doubt creep in.

Then, and only then, would society begin to suspect that the king may indeed have no clothes as per Hans Christian Andersen’s epic, The Emperor’s New Clothes. In some parts of Uganda, specifically Kigyezi, Ankole, and beyond, a quiet cultural innovation was devised to safeguard the man’s honour.

The husband’s brother, in scandalous whispers, even the husband’s father, would be invited to ‘help’ in the noble duty of extending the family lineage. This delicate arrangement, known as “okwarira,” ensured the man’s name was preserved in history, though his seed was not. After all, as Shakespeare asked, what is in a name?

In our cultures, apparently, everything. Indeed, history is not short of great men whose thrones were warmed by heirs they did not sire. Even kings in distant lands, royalty draped in gold, sometimes failed to father children.

King Henry VIII is suspected to have suffered infertility. But like in our hills, arrangements were quietly made, dynasties preserved, and the illusion of invincible manhood upheld. Science, that relentless investigator, has exposed what our grandmothers suspected but dared not say aloud: men, too, can be infertile.

And more alarmingly, the evidence shows that global male fertility has been in decline over the last two decades. Why? The jury is still out, but the suspects are plenty.

Extreme exercise, the kind that turns boys into muscle-sculpted statues but quietly kills their sperm. The cocktail of cigarettes and alcohol that numbs the body but also sabotages reproduction. Recreational drugs that offer fleeting highs but permanent lows in the testicular department. And then there is the environment plastics, toxins, and pollutants that sneak into our bodies and alter the delicate architecture of sperm.

Sometimes, despite the brilliance of modern laboratories, the cause remains unknown. A mystery wrapped in biology. For the man who grew up on tales of indomitable masculinity, this is an uncomfortable truth. The hunter, once certain of his quiver, discovers his arrows are blunt.

But unlike in the days of okwarira, science has armed us with new tools.

In poetic terms, science has become the benevolent brother, the discreet helper who ensures men otherwise doomed to childlessness can father their own children. And so, the untamed monster of male infertility is slowly being caged. What was once a silent curse is now a treatable condition. Couples who would once have turned to cultural compromises can now find solace in clinics and laboratories. Brothers, fellow Old Boys, we must speak of this matter with honesty. Male infertility is not a punishment. It is not witchcraft, as some of our patients come in convinced of who could have even been responsible for the witchcraft. It is not even a failure of masculinity. It is a medical condition, sometimes lifestyle-induced, genetic, and environmental.

Like hypertension, diabetes it can affect anyone, regardless of wealth, status, or charm…should I add cohort? In our youthful days, we were taught to conquer the world. Today, we must also learn to conquer silence. To those who suffer quietly, know that the doors of science are open. To those who still mock, know that the laughter may yet echo back. As a community of men, let us lead with compassion. Let us support the science that is giving hope to thousands of families. And let us remember, in love and humility, that the measure of a man is not merely in his ability to sire, but in his ability to care, to nurture, and to stand by his family whether with one child, 10, or none. In the grand story of life, children are indeed a blessing. But so is truth. And it is only when we face the untamed monster of male infertility with honesty and courage that we shall tame it not just for ourselves, but for generations to come.

When Prof Sarah Ssali walked into the ivory towers of Makerere University more than two decades ago as a young lecturer, few would have imagined that she would one day rise to occupy one of the institution’s highest offices. Last month, Prof Ssali etched her name into the 100-year history of Uganda’s oldest university as the new deputy vice chancellor for academic affairs (DVC-AA), replacing Prof Umar Kakumba, whose tenure was not renewed.

Her appointment not only signals a new phase in Makerere’s leadership but also reinforces a long-overdue conversation about gender and representation in higher education, as she is only the second woman in a century to sit among the institution’s top three administrators, after the vice chancellor and deputy vice chancellor in-charge of finance and administration. ‘It is interesting that in 100 years I am only the second female Deputy Vice Chancellor.

This shows that while we’ve made some gender gains, progress is still much slower than it should be.’ Prof Ssali said in an interview with Daily Monitor. Following her announcement, the news reverberated not only through the corridors of Makerere but across the region. But the journey to this appointment was neither quick nor straightforward.

The position of DVC-AA carries with it enormous responsibility, and Makerere, true to its tradition, subjected applicants to a demanding and rigorous vetting process.

Candidates had to present evidence of outstanding academic scholarship, a strong record of administrative leadership, extensive research output, proof of mentorship at postgraduate level, and broad international networks. For many, such requirements would have been overwhelming, but for Prof Ssali, the process became both a test of patience and a journey of rediscovery.

She recalls that it took her several months to put together her application, combing through past records, old research projects, and student supervision reports, only to realize that she had accumulated far more achievements than she had ever stopped to celebrate. It was a reminder, she said, of how important it is for scholars to keep meticulous records and to remain conscious of the networks and partnerships that enrich their academic careers.

She is convinced that many women, despite being equally qualified, hesitate to apply for such positions because they fear stepping out of the safe zone and competing with men at the very top. In her case, she decided to take the risk, and her courage has now paid off.

Appointment, gender representation

Her appointment carries immense symbolism not just for Makerere but also for women across the country who aspire to leadership.

In her own words, it is both a privilege and a burden, saying she is acutely aware that as one of the very few women in such a position, her performance will be judged through a harsher lens than that applied to her male counterparts.

‘When a man fails, he is simply described as a bad manager; but when a woman fails, people are quick to generalize it as evidence that women cannot lead,’Prof Ssali Noted.

For this reason, she carries the appointment as a trust, not only for herself but also for the many young girls and women who see in her story a possibility for their own.

It is this realisation that has made her deeply humbled by the flood of congratulatory messages she has received from across the globe, many of them accompanied by reminders that she must keep academic standards high, defend merit, and do her very best.

Her plans for the university

The office of DVC-AA is at the very heart of Makerere’s identity as a university. It is here that teaching, research, curriculum development, graduate training, quality assurance, and student welfare converge.

Prof Ssali believes that education is not only about the content delivered in classrooms, but also about the environments in which learning takes place. She argues that the difference between a graduate of Makerere and one from Oxford is not always the curriculum itself but the conditions of study.

‘A student who spends three or four years in broken lecture rooms, with malfunctioning projectors, inadequate chairs, dirty washrooms, and no access to clean drinking water, cannot emerge with the same sense of dignity and seriousness as one who has studied in a carefully maintained and stimulating environment, ” she said.

To remedy this, she said that is slated to work hand- in -hand with management and the strategic plan of the institution to introduce a Lecture Room Essentials Checklist, a tool that will track whether basic requirements in teaching spaces are available and functional. She said while such details may appear minor to outsiders, she insists that they are critical in shaping how students perceive their learning experience and how much they respect the knowledge being imparted.

Alongside improving the physical environment, she is also committed to deploying technology as a means of enforcing accountability and enhancing academic standards. She explained that the biometric system, which has long been used to track administrative staff attendance, is being extended to lecture rooms to ensure that lecturers are present and punctual, while students will use the Student Attendance Management System app to register their own attendance.

This, she believes, will create a culture of mutual accountability between lecturers and learners, explaining that the two have been pin-pointing figures against each other over absenteeism. Additionally, she indicated that they are going to strengthen the Student Evaluation of Courses and Teaching tool, which allows students to assess their lecturers in structured ways. This, she notes, is a better alternative to the often uncoordinated complaints and casual social media commentary that have previously shaped perceptions of teaching quality.

Prof Ssali’s vision is not confined to undergraduate teaching. She is deeply concerned about the imbalance between Makerere’s undergraduate and postgraduate output. Currently, she points out, 87 percent of Makerere’s graduates are at undergraduate level, while only thirteen percent are postgraduates. For an institution that aspires to be research-led, such figures are unsustainable.

Her strategy is to strengthen graduate training by improving supervision, instituting mechanisms that minimize the time students spend lingering in incomplete programs, and ensuring that academic programs are re-accredited to meet current global and local needs.

She also intends to make better use of Makerere’s more than seven hundred Memoranda of Understanding with international universities and research institutions, which, beyond financial benefits, often carry opportunities for equipment, technical support, and visiting scholars.

For her, MoUs should move from being ceremonial documents to instruments of real academic growth. Having served on committees that dealt with student affairs and quality assurance, she has seen first-hand the struggles many students face, whether it is financial stress, mental health challenges, or the lack of meaningful mentorship.

She laments that many students end up looking to celebrities and social media influencers as role models, often with problematic consequences. She believes universities must reclaim their responsibility in shaping students’ intellectual and social lives.

As part of this, she plans to strengthen counselling services and reduce the stigma that surrounds seeking mental health support. She is also passionate about sports, which she regards as an integral part of holistic student development. Reflecting on her own student days, she recalls how sports anchored and balanced them, yet today, despite Makerere having excellent facilities, student participation remains low. She wants to revive a vibrant sports culture, not just for competition but for the discipline, resilience, and community it fosters.

Challenges encountered

Balancing such an expansive vision for the university with her personal life is not without its challenges. Beyond her academic persona, Prof. Ssali is a wife, a mother of two, a grandmother, and guardian to seventeen children whose welfare and education she supports. She admits that she, too, grapples with the same issues that many parents face school fees, responsibilities, and the daily challenges of family life.

Yet she believes these experiences ground her and make her more empathetic, especially towards students struggling with similar pressures. Her story, she insists, should inspire young girls, particularly those who doubt themselves because they did not attend elite schools. She is quick to remind them that she did not go to Uganda’s most celebrated secondary schools. She studied at Tororo Girls and later Fairway in Mbale, and yet through commitment and persistence, she has risen to one of the highest positions at the country’s premier university.

Who is Prof Ssali?

Prof Sarah Ssali is an accomplished scholar in the field of social sciences. She has taught and conducted research for decades, producing influential work on issues of health, governance, and women’s empowerment. As a professor, she is admired for her mentorship of young academics and her dedication to advancing scholarship that speaks directly to Uganda’s socio-economic realities. Her academic credentials speak for themselves. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences, a Master’s degree in Gender Studies, and a PhD in International Health and Development.

Over the course of twenty-three years, she has lectured, researched, and administered at Makerere, serving as Director of the Institute of Gender and Development Studies, editing five international journals, participating in thirty-eight research projects, and publishing forty-six peer-reviewed articles alongside eight book chapters. She has supervised twenty-seven graduate students, including PhDs, and has sat on the University Council since 2010, chairing committees on quality assurance, student affairs, and staff development. Beyond her academic contributions, she has served in various leadership roles within the university, demonstrating the competence, resilience, and integrity that prepared her for her new appointment.

Beyond Makerere, she sits on boards such as the National Curriculum Development Centre Governing Council, the Uganda Institute of Bankers’ Senate, and previously chaired the advisory board of the Carnegie-funded Next Generation Social Science in Africa programme. For her, success will not just be measured in policies passed or buildings constructed but in the young people whose lives are transformed within the university’s walls. She carries the quiet but firm conviction that women can, and must, lead in spaces that have long been male-dominated.

Pregnancy is a time of joy and change, but it is also a critical period to prioritise oral health. Pregnancy hormones, particularly estrogen and progesterone, can make gums more sensitive to plaque, leading to gingivitis, a condition marked by red, swollen, or bleeding gums.

If untreated, gingivitis may progress to periodontitis, a more severe gum disease linked to complications such as preterm birth or low birth weight. Poor oral health can also allow bacteria to enter the bloodstream, potentially affecting the baby’s development. Keeping your mouth healthy protects both you and your little one.

Common concerns

During pregnancy, up to 75 percent of women experience gum inflammation due to hormonal changes. Gingivitis can progress to periodontitis, which may eventually cause mobile teeth or even tooth loss. Tooth decay is also a concern, as morning sickness, sugary cravings, and dry mouth can increase the risk of cavities.

After vomiting, it is important to rinse the mouth with water to neutralise acids and avoid brushing immediately to protect enamel. Some women may develop pregnancy tumours, also known as pregnancy epulis. These are harmless, non-cancerous gum growths that usually resolve after delivery, but a dentist should be consulted if they cause discomfort.

Tips

Brushing twice daily with a medium-bristle toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste ensures all tooth surfaces are cleaned gently. Warm saline rinses can help maintain gum health and reduce inflammation, serving as a safer alternative to commercial mouthwashes.

Flossing every day removes plaque and food particles between teeth, reducing the risk of gum disease. A balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and dairy supports strong teeth, while limiting sugary snacks and drinks helps prevent cavities.

Staying hydrated is also important, as water helps combat dry mouth, which can increase cavity risk. Routine dental check-ups are safe during pregnancy, ideally in the second trimester, and it is essential to inform your dentist about your pregnancy and any medications you are taking.

Is dental treatment safe?

Most dental procedures, including cleanings and fillings, are safe during pregnancy. The second trimester is generally the best time for non-emergency treatments.

X-rays with proper shielding are usually safe, but any concerns should be discussed with your dentist.

Local anaesthetics are typically safe as well, though confirmation with a healthcare provider is recommended. Good oral health during pregnancy is simple: brush, floss, eat well, and see your dentist regularly.

Youths in Kamuli District’s ghettos have spoken out against what they describe as longstanding government neglect and lack of meaningful support.

During a community engagement event, youth leaders urged local and central government officials to invest in skills training, job creation, and social services tailored to their needs.

“We are not happy with the government,” said Ms. Promise Violet Aliyinza, a youth leader. “What we need is an opportunity to channel our energy into productive ventures, like chapati making, poultry, brickmaking, among other skill training opportunities.”

The youths expressed frustration over being sidelined in development programs and called on the NRM party and its presidential candidate to use grassroots-based human resources rather than importing campaign mobilizers from Kampala.

Mr Igoola Waiswa, the group’s spokesperson, said, “The truth is, we are just deprived of access to government programs like the Parish Development Model (PDM), whose stringent requirements keep us out.”

The youths feel isolated by the government and political actors, which pushes them into acts of defiance not out of rebellion, but as a cry to be seen, heard, and supported.

“In our hearts, feelings, and decisions, we are born, raised, and bred under the NRM, and we expect equal treatment like others,” Mr. Igoola said.

In response, Mr John Robert Batambuze, Assistant RDC, encouraged the youth to formalize their associations and actively participate in government programs.

“We welcome your positive energy and your commitment to the NRM. Mzee and Mama Kadaga are pillars of our party, and through your leaders, we will help boost your poultry and chapati projects with inputs and support,” he promised.

He urged the youths to avoid being used by self-seeking politicians and individuals and to take ownership of their development path. The youth leaders emphasized that they need tangible support and opportunities to break the cycle of poverty and hopelessness in their communities.

October 3, 2025 marked a very historic and important celebration in my country Luxembourg. It is the day of our Grand Duke Henri’s abdication and the succession ceremony. On this day, in the Grand Ducal palace in the heart of Luxembourg City, there was formal signing of the Act of Abdication by the Grand Duke, followed by the swearing-in ceremony of his son, Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume, the new Grand Duke of Luxembourg.

There was three days of celebrations to mark the events, with the usual ceremonies and receptions that included institutions in Luxembourg, diplomatic corps and other Royal families from all over the world.

Of course, the general public was not deprived from sharing these festivities.

They caught a glimpse of the Royal family as they waved to the public from the balcony of the Grand Ducal Palace, and as the royal couple was travelling to major cities in the north and south of the country. More people were able to meet and greet them. The last day of celebrations (today) we shall have a Sunday mass with Te Deum at the capital’s famous Notre-Dame Cathedral with the invitation done by the Archbishop of Luxembourg.

Grand Duke Henri and his family, are considered among the richest Royal families in Europe, yet this family remains close to its citizens.

I have lived a few years here before going to live abroad, and in it was one of those years when Duke Henri was still Heir Apparent , that we went with my husband to watch a movie in one of the smaller cinemas in Luxembourg City.

It was a new release and the queue was long, a bit further down the line, and in front of us, Duke Henri was in the same queue with his children.

I pointed out that to my husband as our Duke has very distinguished features that I could easily recognise him, a tall slim and extremely good looking man.

Truly representing all the royal blood that was running in his veins of generations of Dukes and kings and royal families, yet, humble.

He was standing in line, waiting for his turn, no VIP treatment and no visible bodyguards harassing the population. They paid for their tickets and entered the hall with everyone else. If anyone can tell me how many royals with billions of worth, will do the same, there maybe people who have other stories to tell.

I tell what I personally witnessed , my respect for the Grand Ducal family grew tenfold after this experience.

Another thing that strikes me about Grand Duke Henri, is that though he is not yet too old, he is only 70 years old, he decided to relinquish his position and give it to his son.

On that, he said this was a ‘natural process’ and that time had come for his generation to retire.

Again, this is another rare case of a head of state who knows his capabilities and who could have clung to the throne much longer, yet he let it go. He stated that he left with great gratitude and humility to let the next generation to take over, a new generation in which he had full confidence.

Congratulations Luxembourg, my beautiful country on this wonderful and historic occasion.

The retired Bishop of Namirembe Diocese, Rt Rev Wilberforce Kityo Luwalira, has urged the government to urgently address the ongoing teachers’ strike, warning that the industrial action risks disrupting national examinations scheduled to start this month.

‘Yes, it is true that some teachers have had their issues, and I trust that they have presented them to the relevant organs to handle. My appeal is that the government, through those responsible, continues to listen to the issues raised by teachers because, as we listen, we can reach a lasting solution,’ he said on the sidelines of commissioning Elite Junior School on Saturday.

The prelate warned that failure to resolve the standoff could cause devastating consequences to the country’s education system, which is already battered.

‘We do not want this to go on and on because it is the learners who will be affected, and the entire system could fall into chaos. Our God has good plans for all learners, and He has positioned parents, teachers, directors, and government officials to look into their education affairs. Let us handle these grievances decisively and move forward in good faith for the good of our children and our country,’ he said.

The prelate’s appeal comes at a time when the fate of more than 430,000 Senior Four candidates scheduled to start the Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) exams next week remains uncertain following the teachers’ industrial action.

Many government schools, especially in rural areas, have been unable to reopen for the third term due to the Arts and Humanities teachers’ strike over unequal pay that began on August 6.

The strike was declared by the Uganda National Teachers’ Union (UNATU) and supported by other labour unions after the government failed to implement a comprehensive salary enhancement for all teachers despite several earlier promises.

The educators argue that the selective salary increment favouring science teachers is discriminatory and undermines morale in the profession.

Despite the government issuing a seven-day ultimatum early this week demanding that all teachers return to classrooms, union leaders have remained defiant, insisting they will not resume work until the government commits to a clear and time-bound plan for pay harmonisation.

UNATU Secretary-General Filbert Baguma said Saturday that the union was ready to negotiate but not to bow to intimidation from the government.

‘We are open to dialogue, but we cannot be forced back to classrooms when our concerns remain unaddressed,’ he said.

With national exams around the corner, UCE starting on October 11, and UACE in November, the deadlock has caused growing anxiety among parents, school administrators, and learners.

Many schools have been forced to rely on volunteer teachers and retired educationists to coach candidates in the final days before examinations.

‘We have been praying for our students that the Lord gives them sound mind, good health, and calm hearts as they face their final exams. This is what they have been waiting for, so there is no need to be anxious, but rather to rejoice that the moment they have been preparing for has finally arrived,’ Bishop Luwalira said Saturday during the dedication of senior four and six candidates of Elite High School to God as they prepare for their final exams.

He expressed concern that the strike could disadvantage learners who have spent years working hard towards this crucial stage in their education.

Schools across the country have since Friday been dedicating their candidates ahead of the national examinations, with heads of institutions expressing readiness to conduct the exams.

Mr Lawrence Onyango, the head teacher of Elite High School, told this publication in an interview that his school has prepared learners beyond expectation, saying it is their time to shine.

‘Teachers and schools across the country faced several challenges previously, but these have since been resolved. Teachers are now well versed with the new curriculum, and we are hopeful that our learners will perform better in this year’s exams. As a school, we have done all our continuous assessments and submitted them to UNEB. We have also completed all the projects required under the new curriculum and done everything it takes to ensure our learners excel,’ he said.

Meanwhile, the Director of the school, Mr Drake Lubega, said they have broadened their horizons by introducing a primary and nursery section, which is expected to start next year.

‘We want to groom our children right from the grassroots and produce learners who are well grounded in science and technology,’ Mr Lubega noted.