Category: Daily Monitor

As voters leaf through manifestos of the eight political parties that have fielded candidates in next year’s presidential poll, a contrast that sets apart the ruling party from others will be hard to overlook.

‘We have . invested in health infrastructure. Uganda now boasts of 78 hospitals, of which 54 are general hospitals, 16 regional referral hospitals, five national referral hospitals and three specialised hospitals,’ the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party states in its manifesto launched on Monday, adding: ‘We have 217 health centre (HC) IVs at constituency level, and 1,553 sub-counties have a health unit of HC III and above. This is contrasted against only 49 hospitals and 597 dispensaries that Uganda had in 1986.’

Not good enough, the National Unity Platform’s (NUP) manifesto screams. Health is, says the leading Opposition party, ‘a right, not a privilege.’ The party, which also launched its manifesto on Monday, says it will ‘progressively increase health spending to 15 percent of GDP to deliver quality, accessible care for all.’ NUP promises to ‘recruit 16 times the current number of doctors and triple all other health workers to match population pressures,’ adding that this is not possible on the watch of the ruling party because of its alleged wastefulness.

‘It is only in Uganda where Museveni has more cars than ambulances attached to public hospitals. Gen Museveni has over 600 vehicles at his disposal yet the total number of ambulances in public facilities is about 178,’ the NUP manifesto thundered. The Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), another Opposition party, is also unstinting in its criticism of the NRM’s provision of medical care to Ugandans across nearly four decades.

‘ For a healthcare system to run efficiently, it requires a combination of well-managed resources, skilled and motivated personnel, effective management, accessible and quality services with emphasis on outcomes,’ the FDC says in its manifesto, adding: ‘To achieve these, a country requires significant financial investment deployed in an efficient and effective manner. Uganda spends approximately $57 (Shs197,000) per capita on health, which is below the WHO-recommended $86 (Shs297,000). Out-of-pocket payments account for 28 percent of the total health expenditure.’

Empirical evidence shows that widespread corruption and malpractice in the public health sector continue to undermine service delivery, depriving patients of essential care and straining limited resources. In an audit report covering the 2023/2024 financial year, the State House Health Monitoring Unit (SHMU) revealed that cases such as theft of medical equipment, drugs, and financial improprieties were uncovered in 17 health facilities countrywide. As a result of the investigations, the SHMU team recovered Shs719m.

The Unit also unearthed forgery of academic documents, neglect of duty, operation of unlicensed clinics, and criminal trespass on health facility land. The SHMU finance and audit output for the Financial Year 2023/2024 revealed massive financial irregularities in several health facilities, with Shs7b reported as unaccounted for or tied to suspicious accountabilities.

According to the report, the irregularities cut across hospitals, health centres, and district health offices (DHOs), with some cases already under investigation while others have been forwarded to the Office of the Auditor General (OAG) for forensic audits. In Tororo District, Tororo General Hospital failed to account for Shs194m, while at Nagongera Health Centre IV, Shs49m was misappropriated, of which Shs7m was recovered. Investigations into both cases are ongoing.

In Iganga District, the DHO’s office failed to account for Shs142m, while Iganga General Hospital posted the largest single irregularity with Shs1.09b unaccounted for, now under review by the OAG.

Bugono HCIV also reported unaccounted funds totalling Shs221m, with files submitted for forensic audit. The report further shows that Wakiso HCIV failed to account for Shs291m, while the DHO’s office in Kamwenge District had Shs1.1b unaccounted for. Rukunyu hospital was implicated in the loss of Shs595m; Bisozi HC IV Shs150m; Kitagwenda DHO’s office Shs493m; and Ntara HC IV Shs216m.

Still in Kitagwenda, several health centres reported missing vouchers, including Nyabani HCIII, Mahyoro HC III, Kanaro HC III, and Kicheche HC III, each amounting to Shs34m. In Manafwa District, Bubulo HC IV failed to account for Shs99m and reported missing vouchers of Shs19m. Bugobero HC IV had Shs123m unaccounted for and missing vouchers worth Shs22m.

In Jinja City, Budondo HC IV had irregularities amounting to Shs52m plus missing vouchers worth Shs25m. Bugembe HC IV failed to account for Shs109m, alongside missing vouchers of Shs143m. Mpumudde HC IV reported unaccounted funds totalling Shs122m and missing vouchers of Shs10m

‘High rates of scheduled and actual absenteeism in lower-level health facilities are forcing patients to self-refer to higher-level facilities. Additionally, installed biometric machines have either been malfunctioning or not properly utilised,’ Dr Warren Naamara, the HMU director, said. The report shows that in many facilities, the infrastructure, essential medicines and health supplies (EMHS), and staffing levels do not match the health care services offered.

‘Most facilities, despite being classified as HC III….provide health services equivalent to a HC II such as antenatal care and outpatient services. For example, Kajansi, Wakiso, and Buwambo HC IVs receive EMHS intended for lower-level facilities,’ the report reads. According to the report, officials at health facilities in Wakiso District were found to have misused non-wage primary health care (PHC) funds for personal benefit. The team also discovered cases of mismanagement for personal gain and a lack of financial accountability by most officers in-charge of facilities.

The report further shows that Dr John Mulidho, a senior medical officer (SMO) attached to Iganga Hospital, allegedly worked 46 days from July 2023 to May 2024. He was temporarily suspended from the payroll. Moreover Iganga hospital registered 45,865 patients against a set target of 19,386 for a period of six months, which was 287 percent or almost three times the expected patient numbers. This means the target setting was low or the hospital is getting patients who are not within their population jurisdiction. The Unit wants Dr Mulidho to be forwarded to the Rewards and Sanctions Committee and sanctioned in line with the Uganda Public Service Rewards and Sanctions Framework.

The SHMU also reported payroll irregularities, noting that the PHC payroll, as of June 30, 2023, had 75 excess staff, leading to the creation of fictitious cost centres. One theatre assistant at Bubulo HC IV in Manafwa, Ms Faith Haboya, could not be traced physically or on the payroll. Several staff were found to have abandoned duties. Some were arrested for neglect of duty. In Namayingo District, absenteeism remained high despite salary enhancements.

Audits showed many officers in-charge of health facilities frequently absent, with organised absenteeism through duty rotas at Buyinja HC IV. Health workers reportedly ran private clinics in nearby districts, contributing to absenteeism and mismanagement. EMHS worth billions, procured with public funds, were poorly accounted for.

In Pader District, high absenteeism, late arrivals, poor attitudes, and unsanctioned study leave were noted. Only four of 13 officers in-charge of facilities met attendance guidelines during the SHMU monitoring visits. Stock discrepancies were found at Pajule HC IV, with medicines worth Shs14m unaccounted for.

In Mukono, review of payment vouchers and bank statements at Mukono General Hospital revealed Shs265m in missing payment vouchers and Shs260m in unaccounted or insufficiently accounted funds. Dr Patrick Kitimbo, the DHO, declined to comment on the matter when contacted.

Prof Mwambutsya Ndebesa, a lecturer at Makerere University and political analyst, said Uganda is plagued by a weak accountability system, both politically and financially. He said weak accountability has become a norm and culture in the country. ‘Political corruption must first be fixed before we even talk about financial accountability,’ Prof Ndebesa argued, accusing the ruling party of electing known corrupt officials to its top organ.

Associate Professor Paddy Mugambe, the Dean of the School of Business and Management at Uganda Management Institute (UMI), said there are serious weaknesses in the internal controls across the entire health service value chain. ‘These gaps may be contributing to occurrences that are highly detrimental to the provision of health services,’ he explained. He added: ‘The challenges could also be linked to deeper issues such as the unfavourable working conditions faced by health workers, which may lead to negligence or the intentional misuse of resources at their disposal.’

Mr James Wire, a former chairperson of the Board at Busolwe General Hospital in Butaleja District, said the challenges facing health facilities are multifaceted. They include political interference, where facilities are treated as cash cows by politicians who demand money from their PHC grants.

‘There are questionable recruitment practices that have allowed unqualified individuals to take up critical positions, and poor monitoring which leaves beneficiaries at the mercy of non-compliant technocrats,’ he said.

Poor Administration

Mr Marlon Agaba, the executive director of the Anti-Corruption Coalition Uganda (ACCU), said the biggest problem in hospitals and health centres is poor administration. ‘Health workers are not adequately supervised, and as a result, many fail to perform their duties. This is why funds are often unaccounted for,’ he explained. Mr Agaba also pointed out that medicine management is another major area of concern. ‘Problems occur throughout the entire supply chain-from procurement, issues at the National Medical Stores (NMS), distribution to districts and health centres, and finally delivery to patients,’he said.

He stressed the need to digitalise the medical supply chain up to the end user to curb these challenges. Currently, many health workers run private clinics and pharmacies, which creates conflicts of interest and opportunities for theft.

‘Medicines meant for public facilities often end up in private clinics. Government should implement a policy prohibiting public health workers from owning private clinics or pharmacies while in service.

Such a policy would help reduce absenteeism and resource mismanagement,’ he said. He added that manual record-keeping in health facilities further facilitates fraud, allowing health workers to divert medicines and refer patients to private clinics.

‘There is widespread fraud in the health sector. Some health workers take early retirement to enjoy enhanced pensions at the expense of service delivery. Others abuse study leave, continuing to receive full salaries while defrauding the government.’

The National Unity Platform (NUP) presidential candidate Mr Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, alias Bobi Wine, has demanded an explanation from Electoral Commission chairperson Simon Byabakama over why he was blocked from holding a campaign rally in Iganga Municipality.

Mr Kyagulanyi was scheduled to address supporters in Iganga on Friday, but was intercepted by police and the UPDF while traveling from Mayuge District, where he had earlier held a rally.

He questioned why he is being singled out, claiming his rival presidential candidates have freely campaigned in the same area.

‘I want Justice Byabakama to tell me why only I am being mistreated,’ Kyagulanyi said. ‘I am a presidential candidate like the others, and I am entitled to be treated the same.’

Mr Kyagulanyi added that ever since he arrived in Busoga sub-region, he has been barred from using tarmac roads and holding rallies in urban centers.

‘I have tested the potholes on rural roads, which has delayed us from reaching other venues on time due to long distances and poor road conditions,’ he lamented.

Mr Nasser Mudyobole, the NUP flag bearer for Iganga Municipality MP, said the actions of the police and army show that NRM’s presidential candidate, Mr Yoweri Museveni, lacks support in the region.

‘We defeated him in Busoga in 2021, and we are going to do it again,’ Mr Nassa claimed.

Ms Mercy Walukanba, NUP flag bearer for Bugweri District MP , said she wasn’t surprised by the blockade, noting that Mr Kyagulanyi had also been prevented from opening a party office in Namutumba Town Council on Thursday.

‘We are not scared. This only strengthens our resolve and shows Busoga loves its candidate,’ she said.

Mr Chris Wakalanga, NUP chairperson for Namutumba District, emphasised that Mr Kyagulanyi deserves equal treatment like any other presidential candidate.

According to Mr Kyagulanyi’s campaign schedule, he is expected to campaign in Namayingo and Bugiri today.

However, police said Mr Kyagulanyi cancelled their campaign in Iganga after failing to heed police guidelines.

“The rally in Mayuge was successfully held. On their way to Iganga, Candidate Sentamu and his group were advised to follow the agreed-upon route to Iganga Municipality and specifically to Namungale Grounds. However, they opted to take an alternative route where they encountered our cutoffs. Consequently, they decided to head to Jinja City and cancelled their campaign in Iganga.

We urge him and his team to adhere to security guidelines to ensure smooth and peaceful campaigns,” reads part of the police statement.

On Sunday, famous saxophonist and composer Kenny G performed in Uganda. It was his first time in Uganda but his second in Kenya, where he revealed he had once come for a holiday. Now, Kenny G’s music is one that has transcended generations, most of it, released between the 1970s and 1980s, it still finds ways of staying relevant in some way.

In Uganda, as long as you’re social, you have definitely interacted with his music in one way or another. Thus, even when the concert mainly attracted a relatively older audience, there were still young people in their 30s enjoying it.

But the oddly misplaced people in the audience were the Gen-Zs. See, most of these are in their teenage season and a few have hit 20. ‘So, when I heard there was an international artist, I was excited because dad said he was taking us, but who is this now? Who’s Kenny G?’ One boy wondered while talking to his sister, who wasn’t really as clueless as he was.

‘You have definitely heard one of his songs, I discovered yesterday that I knew his music all along,’ the sister responded. There were many of such young people in the audience, who probably wanted to be anywhere in the world but at the Mistil Gardens, sadly for them, their parents either want them to experience fine music or simply carry them around as accessories.

There were two daughters who kept arguing with their father seeking to know if Kenny G is as big as Rema. The poor man kept laughing telling them Rema is not known beyond Uganda.

Maybe he didn’t notice that the Rema the daughters were talking about and the Rema he was dismissing were two different people, countries and sex.

Well, it’s understandable, two Remas, one did Calm Down and the other Juice wa Mango, they are both popular in their own rights. Just like Chris Evans, one plays Captain America, the Marvel Avenger who lifts Thor’s hammer, while there’s Chris Evans Kaweesa, a Ugandan artist who tells a story of how he was hit with a hammer ten times. different people, same scenarios and same names.

The beauty however, all these young people stayed active through the night, thanks to the DJ set which started with old school and somehow progressed to a Beyonce set from her Beyonce bowl Christmas performance and then the Superbowl performance by Dr Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, 50 Cent, Mary J Bilge and Kendrick Lamar.

It was almost at that time that Kenny G stepped on stage. He started his set with Loving You. It’s somehow hard not knowing Loving You.ok you may not know the song but when you hear it, you will notice you have heard the song before.

The song, like many of his, are famous at Ugandan weddings, but not during the romantic moments. ‘Wait, this is the guy who does food music?’ One of the boys asked. And there you have it, Kenny G’s music is synonymous with being fed, at least in Uganda, whether it’s a house warming, birthday, anniversary or a wedding, this music is played as people are eating.

And in between, the announcer will ask someone to move a car before the music continues. His songs like Silhouette and The Moment have all been played at events while food is being served that people don’t really know which one is which. They only tell the difference when they start playing but still don’t know the titles.

So, often people would turn to each other and ask, so which one is that, the other would answer, it’s also played during meals. When it comes to concerts, Ugandans believe they have to sing along to every song to complete an experience, but this show was a challenge. Thus, most of them kept humming or making that tulululu. sound as he played.

Some were in the moment, like a gentleman who kept playing an imaginary saxophone using a Tusker Malt bottle, a sight that drew laughter from those around him. Then there was the sophistication, those who take their Johnnie Walker neat and those looking for themed cocktails. But at the end of the day, regardless of the bill of one’s sophistication, they were all humming wrong saxophone notes.

But then My Heart Will Go On, his closing song happened, this, everyone seemed to know the words, thus, a chance to put lyrics to a song that didn’t have lyrics had come. Everyone sang, and Gen-Zs somehow knew the song too.

On the side…

Kenny G was a master stroke, he was testament that once one keeps walking with a genre, time comes when they become the definition of it. Besides many saxophonists who bounce between variations of saxophones, this man has created a brand out of playing the soprano saxophone. He revealed that he moves with a 25-year-old saxophone, whether it is the same he played, that we didn’t get to know.

Besides his crowd work though, the easy approachable attitude during his performance, he was also the epitome of professionalism. He did his sound check at 4pm, that’s even when he had arrived in Uganda earlier on Sunday morning. The fact that he had performed in Nairobi the previous night didn’t affect him.

He did his sound check and stayed by the venue, especially in the VIP section trying to map the sound. Unlike most artists who choose mystery, avoiding to be seen before they hit the stage, he stayed behind until he was sure the sound was exactly as he wanted it.

That’s class.

The battle for Kawempe North MP seat is two-fold: there is a battle going on at the Court of Appeal between National Unity Platform (NUP) Elias Luyimbazi Nalukoola and National Resistance Movement (NRM) party’s Faridah Nambi, just a few months to the next election. Nalukoola defeated Nambi earlier this year in a by-election that was organised after the death of NUP’s Muhammad Sseggirinya, who had been elected in 2021.

Nalukoola’s victory, which came after security personnel battered voters both before and on the election day, was challenged in the court. The High Court cancelled Nalukoola’s victory because ‘illegal campaigns had been conducted on polling day, and more than 16,000 registered voters were disenfranchised when ballots at 14 polling stations were not tallied.’

The polling stations whose votes were never tallied, Nalukoola insisted, had been ransacked by NRM goons, but still the High Court’s Justice Bernard Namanya nullified the election, saying Nalukoola was the beneficiary. Instead of going back for another by-election, Nalukoola played hardball when he appealed, a process that’s still ongoing, with the Court of Appeal asking him to file necessary documents so that the case is heard by a panel of three justices.

‘The ruling undermined basic tenets of electoral justice. The judge chose to ignore established legal precedents and instead built the case on assumptions,’ Nalukoola said.

While they are locked in a court battle, both Nalukoola and Nambi have started campaigning ahead of the 2026 poll. Unlike other NUP members who have been waiting for the parties’ Election Management Committee (EMC) to give them a green light as NUP’s official candidates for different constituencies, Nalukoola has been under no sure pressure since no person bothered to contest against him within NUP. Umar Magala, who had put up a serious contest in the first primaries, had focused on being the Kawempe Division mayor before he eventually settled for being a councillor at City Hall. Besides the court battle, during the short period he has been in Parliament, Nalukoola has been battling with the legacy of Sseggirinya, who had a god-like status in Kawempe North.

As soon as he was voted into the House, Sseggirinya set up a medical facility that he claimed was free of charge for all constituents. It’s not clear if at all the medical facility indeed provided the health services that Sseggirinya had claimed, but it folded as soon as he was incarcerated. To make sure his constituents don’t see him as a mismatch to Ssegirinya’s legacy, Nalukoola, on setting foot in Parliament, opened up a health facility of his own called ESKEL Medical Services (EMS).

‘The High Court ruling didn’t scare me. The people legitimately elected me. Even if the fresh elections are ordered, we will return with a knockout,’ Nalukoola said, adding that delivering on the promise of the health centre was the clearest indication that NUP would deliver on its promises once it’s entrusted with power.

Another challenge that Nalukoola has to face is that as a former Democratic Party (DP) member, he was always seen with suspicion due to his loyalty to NUP or its principal, Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, being questioned. To end any doubts, when Nalukoola was launching his medical centre, he ensured that Kyagulanyi was the chief guest.

‘This is what servant leadership looks like. Healthcare shouldn’t be a campaign promise but a public right. This centre shows what we can do if we are entrusted with national resources,’ Kyagulanyi said.

NRM on the back foot?

For Nambi, who is the daughter of NRM’s eternal vice chairperson Moses Kigongo, there was the usual drama in the NRM primaries. Nambi defeated her perennial arch-rival, Hanifah Karadi, but even before the votes were counted, Karadi was already complaining. She claimed that the process was tilted in favour of Nambi.

‘We need a levelled ground where everyone votes. We need to look for votes and then people decide such that if you lose, you know it’s as a result of a fair process,’ Karadi said before petitioning, in vain, the NRM’s legal committee that handled election grievances.

Despite Karadi’s grievances in which she claimed that, among others, declaration forms were fabricated, Nambi has moved on with her campaign. She, however, faces a history of NRM losing in Kawempe North since 2001 when Latif Ssengondo Ssebaggala toppled Jamad Luzinda, the father of socialite Desiree Luzinda. Ssebaggala would represent Kawempe North from 2001 to 2021 before being ousted by Sseggirinya.

In 2021, Sseggirinya won the constituency by a landslide when he garnered 41,197 votes. His closest rival, Suleiman Kidandala, who defied NUP and stood as an Independent, polled 7,512 votes. Sseggirinya’s victory soon turned into a nightmare after he spent most of the term either in prison or in hospital. Arriving in Parliament in 2021 was a dream come true for Ssegirinya, who had started his political career back in 2006, when he started making the phone calls discussing the political events of the day.

Still a student at Pimba Secondary in Kyebando, Kawempe North constituency, Sseggirinya often shredded the ruling NRM party. At first, whenever he would make a phone call, Sseggirinya would introduce himself as the ‘eddoboozi ly’e Kyebando’, loosely translated as ‘voice of Kyebando.’ Later, when his ambition grew, he started signing in and off the radio calls by describing himself as the ‘MP to be for Kawempe North.’

Sseggirinya legacy

Sseggirinya would go on to beat the odds by making it to the House before being arrested alongside fellow lawmaker Allan Ssewanyana (Makindye West) in connection with the machete killings in the Greater Masaka districts. The two were granted bail on September 21, 2021, but were immediately re-arrested from the outskirts of Kigo prisons on fresh murder charges preferred against them stemming from the Lwengo District machete killings, where more than 20 people were killed. For the one-and-a-half years Sseggirinya and Ssewanyana spent on remand, rumours circulated that their imprisonment had nothing to do with the crimes they had allegedly committed but rather with their dealings with powerful people within the NRM party. Even after their release, rumours persisted that the shackles were broken after they reportedly struck a deal with President Museveni.

Then Leader of the Opposition in Parliament (LoP) Mathias Mpuuga, who was at the forefront of having the MPs released, denied participating in any such deal. But by the time the two MPs were released, sources say they had been ostracised by the Kamwokya/Kavule leadership.

In fact, anybody from NUP who associated with them was seen as a pariah. The situation was made worse when both Sseggirinya and Ssewanyana were unusually mute after their release. When Sseggirinya died this year, NUP apportioned blame to the NRM regime, saying it quickened his demise through incarceration.

In the Kawempe North elections, Nambi, as the NRM candidate, will have to carry the cross of Sseggirinya’s death.

Guinness gives this hearty beef stew it’s rich, brown colour and adds a lot of flavour.

Ingredients

500ml bottle of Guinness

1½ kg boneless beef

150g bacon, diced

4 large tomatoes, finely chopped

2 tbsp tomato paste

2 medium-size onions, sliced

4 large cloves garlic, minced

1 tsp beef masala

2 celery stalks, finely chopped

3 large carrots

2 small chicken stock cubes

2 heaped tbsp corn flour

1 tbsp Royc, 3 tbsp oil

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Method

Season the beef with 1 tsp each of salt and black pepper. Heat 2 tbsp oil in a large, heavy bottom saucepan and brown the beef all over on high heat, for a few minutes. Do this in batches until all the beef has been browned. Transfer to a clean plate, cover and set aside.

Heat the remaining oil in the same saucepan and fry the bacon until crispy. Remove from the pan and set aside.

Fry the onions and garlic in the bacon fat over medium heat, until golden. Add the beef masala and chicken stock cubes and cook stirring for a few seconds.

Add the tomatoes, carrots and celery and cook stirring, scraping all the bits stuck to the bottom of the pan into the sauce. Reduce the heat and simmer until the tomatoes are cooked. Add the tomato paste and continue cooking for a few minutes, stirring all the time. Mix the Royco and corn flour with 4 tbsp of water, making sure there are no lumps and add this to the tomato mixture. Cook stirring for a few minutes.

Add the Guinness, stir well and simmer for a few minutes. Return the bacon and beef to the pan and give everything a good stir. Add enough water to just cover the beef. Bring to the boil and then reduce the heat to very low. Cover the pan and cook over low heat until the beef is tender.

Serve piping hot with your favourite staples and a fresh vegetable salad.

The Executive Director of the Uganda Media Women Association (UMWA), Ms Margaret Sentamu, has implored journalists to report sensitively on issues of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) to help eliminate the vice in Uganda.

While launching the 2025 Gender Media Awards at UMWA offices on October 3, Ms. Sentamu emphasised the media’s responsibility to report on GBV issues with fairness, objectivity, and sensitivity.

“A 2019 UMWA study revealed that 90% of GBV story sources were men, while over 90% of survivors were women and girls,” she said. “This gap demonstrates how much work remains for our media to amplify women’s voices and report on gender issues with depth, balance, and empathy.”

Ms Sentamu noted that journalists often rely on police statements and narrations from others instead of survivors, which can perpetuate judgment and hinder the fight against GBV.

“The media can play a key role in shaping public opinion and changing attitudes, deconstructing existing gender stereotypes and ending violence against women and girls,” she added.

The awards aim to motivate journalists and media houses to adopt gender-responsive journalism. Ms Joanita Sanyu Nankya, Program Officer at UMWA, stated that the awards will cover stories published between August 1, 2025, and October 15, 2025, and will recognize outstanding reporting in three thematic areas: GBV, Sexual Reproductive Health Rights, and Refugee Rights.

“The awards come at a critical time in Uganda’s media landscape,” Ms. Nankya said. “Responsible reporting can play a significant role in challenging gender stereotypes, influencing attitudes, shaping policy, and protecting rights.”

Ms Cotilda Babirekere, Project Officer Gender at UMWA, added that the awards will not only celebrate outstanding journalism but also build a movement of responsible journalism that prioritizes human dignity, equality, and justice.

Award recipients will receive certificates and trophies, and their work will serve as a standard and inspiration for journalists in Uganda and beyond.

Entrepreneurs in Uganda have been challenged to broaden their horizons and look beyond domestic and regional markets if they hope to achieve sustainable growth over the next two decades.

The message came on Monday, September 29, during a training session organised by Enterprise Uganda in Kampala, which brought together a mix of business owners, exporters, and sector leaders.

Mr Charles Ocici, the Director General of Enterprise Uganda, outlined the country’s ambitious ’10-fold growth strategy,’ emphasising the need for Ugandan businesses to target continental and global markets.

‘As a country, we have come up with a 10-fold growth strategy. This 10-fold growth strategy will not work out if you are looking at the domestic market,’ Ocici told participants.

‘The timeline for this growth is within the next 15 to 20 years. This cannot happen when we focus just within Uganda or even within the smaller East African region. We have the ability to sell what we have been selling on a modest scale on a much bigger scale, within Africa and beyond,’ he added.

Ocici pointed to examples such as Singapore and Senegal, which leveraged their limited resources to make a global impact, urging Ugandan businesses to identify unique advantages and expand them internationally.

Ms Prisca Beesigomwe, the Acting Executive Director of the HortiFresh Association, a body representing Uganda’s fresh fruits and vegetables sector, said smaller players can also participate in export markets by integrating into established value chains.

‘Many people think the export market is only for established brands,’ Ms Beesigomwe explained.

‘But smaller players can latch themselves into the value chains of the export market. Even a coffee producer in Masaka can be part of the export market if they connect to the market value chain. Size doesn’t matter; what matters is your role in the chain,’ she added.

Ms Beesigomwe highlighted regional markets such as Kenya, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and South Sudan as accessible starting points before targeting stringent markets in the Middle East and Europe.

Mr Apollo Ssegawa, the Managing Director of CURAD (Consortium for Enhancing University Responsiveness to Agribusiness Development), emphasised that successful exports begin with understanding market demand.

‘A Ugandan exporter can maximize the current demand by knowing what the market wants. You must always start with the market. What standards are expected there? What products do they want? Then work backwards to deliver exactly that,’ Ssegawa said.

He noted that exporters often make the mistake of producing what they grow best locally rather than what international buyers demand, resulting in low returns. Ssegawa advised compliance with global standards such as GlobalGAP and obtaining Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) certification.

‘For export markets, first, develop a good product suitable for the local market. Then, package it professionally, brand it, get UNBS certification, and only then look to regional and international markets,’ he said.

Mr Ssegawa also warned against over-promising to buyers, particularly for seasonal products. ‘You cannot promise an export market 100 tonnes when you know your capacity is only 10 tonnes. Manage your production capacity and sign contracts that match your available supply.’

The training highlighted the critical need for Ugandan entrepreneurs to professionalise production, adopt global standards, and carefully plan supply chains to avoid under-delivery while capitalising on expanding regional and international opportunities.

Mr Ocici concluded with a call to action: ‘If we leverage our advantages and sell on a bigger scale beyond our borders, we can transform Uganda’s economy, just as smaller countries have done. The opportunity is here; it is up to us to take it.’

The session formed part of Enterprise Uganda’s broader agenda to equip local entrepreneurs with the knowledge, networks, and tools to compete in regional and global markets, supporting the country’s long-term growth ambitions.

The government, through the Minister of Energy and Mineral Development, has announced locations for the proposed mineral markets and buying centres in Uganda.

Ms Agnes Alaba, Commissioner for Geological Survey and Minerals, revealed that the proposed areas are located in selected regions endowed with huge mineral deposits.

“We are looking at establishing designated markets and buying centres around Karamoja region, Busia, Wagagai, Kassanda, Kampala, Buhweju, Entebbe, and Ruhama, among others,” Ms. Alaba told stakeholders during a sensitization workshop on October 3, 2025.

In Karamoja, buying centres will be established in Kaabong and Amudat Districts, while a mineral market will be located in Moroto District. Evaluations are also underway in Kampala and Entebbe to identify suitable locations for mineral markets.

“The areas selected are merely pilot sites, and we will expand to other locations,” Ms. Alaba said. The government targets to establish some markets and centres before the end of the current financial year, with gold, tungsten, and tin being the initial minerals traded.

Ms. Alaba emphasized that only processed and refined minerals will be traded, and prices will be regulated to ensure fair trade. The Ministry of Energy is working with the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs to develop regulations for dealers, miners, and traders.

Minister of State for Mineral Development, Ms Phiona Nyamutoro, noted that Uganda’s mining sector remains predominantly informal, resulting in exploitation and revenue loss.

“Uganda is endowed with minerals, but informal trade, lack of transparency, and limited access to global markets have held us back,” she said.

Participants acknowledged that formalizing the industry will protect traders and investors from scams and suggested clear technical guidance for the private sector.

Mr Blair Michael Ntambi, GIZ Advisor on Sustainable Development of the Mining Sector, welcomed the initiative, saying it aligns with Uganda’s ambitions under the Mining and Minerals Act 2022.

The guest list underscored its significance, with Hon. Anthony Wamala, Minister of Culture, and Nnaalinnya Lubuga Agnes Nabaloga in attendance. Many left convinced that this was the beginning of a new era-where bark cloth could shed its stigma and find renewed relevance in daily life.

‘This exhibition was more than a display of clothing; it was a call to action to challenge the stigma around traditional materials and provide an alternative, innovative way of using them,’ Katende affirmed.

At POATE, Katende was not alone. The showcase became a tapestry of Uganda: Gabriel channelled the warrior traditions of the Lango, his garments evoking resilience and ancestral memory. Aminata Mayanja reimagined the Bagisu Imbaluinitiation, her beadwork echoing the rhythm of the Kadodi dance. Sanvra, from Buganda, crafted a refined bark cloth kanzu adorned with cowry shells for continuity and fertility. The Ankole were represented in garments inspired by their long-horned cattle, symbols of dignity and pastoral pride.

Together, the designers created a living cultural map, proving heritage is not static but alive, adaptive, and globally relevant. Katende’s work carries urgency because of its environmental edge. Bark cloth is harvested without cutting the tree, regenerates annually, and requires no chemicals. Banana-fibre textiles recycle agricultural waste into fabric. Raffia and cowry shells carry symbolism as well as beauty, leaving no ecological footprint.

‘These are not just fabrics. They are knowledge systems,’ Katende insists. ‘They remind us of who we are, and they show us a path forward.’ IGC Fashion embodies this ethos. Many of Katende’s pieces travel beyond the runway into museums and galleries, sparking curiosity and education. His self-taught journey, sourcing bark cloth from Masaka and fabrics from Owino, underscores a grassroots process with a global outlook.

At heritage sites like the Kasubi Tombs, bark cloth continues to serve sacred roles. Yet in Katende’s hands, it is also modern, adaptable, and globally resonant. As the lights dimmed at POATE, and as guests left the Woven Worlds exhibition carrying Mutuba seedlings, the message was the same: awakening. Katende’s manifesto stitched in bark cloth urged Uganda-and the world-to see heritage not as relic but as resource, not as past but as future. Gugumuka-Awaken-was not just a costume. It was a declaration, bold and unapologetically African: ‘Awaken to who we are, to what we have, and to the solutions hidden in our heritage.’

In a tourism expo dominated by safaris, wildlife, and landscapes, Ugandan designers reminded audiences that creativity and culture may be the country’s greatest treasures. Fashion, in their hands, became a bridge between past and future, heritage and innovation, art and activism.

And for Katende, The Evolution of Olubugo and Woven Worlds are more than exhibitions. They are manifestos-stitched in bark cloth, rooted in Mutuba, and carrying Uganda’s fashion renaissance into the future.

Agriculture is the backbone of Uganda’s economy, contributing about a quarter of GDP and employing more than 70 percent of the population. Yet, for the millions of smallholder farmers who sustain the sector, farming remains a high-risk venture.

Access to affordable credit is limited, insurance penetration in agriculture is almost negligible, and climate change continues to magnify uncertainties.

Financial institutions have long considered smallholder farming too risky, while insurance companies remain hesitant to cover weather-dependent ventures. With unpredictable rains, prolonged dry spells, and rising input costs, small farmers are often left to absorb shocks alone.

But in the Rwenzori region, spanning districts such as Kabarole and Bunyangabu-cooperatives and Savings and Credit Cooperative Organizations (Saccos) are emerging as a lifeline, offering smallholder farmers a fallback position and an opportunity to grow from subsistence to sustainable commercial agriculture.

For Titus Nuwe, the secretary of Kyankara Burungi Bweka Outside Catering and Farmers Group in Kyankara (Rwenzori region in Fort Portal) collective action has been the difference between despair and survival. ‘Being in a cooperative gives us a fallback position in case of calamities,’ he says.

‘When one part of the project is affected, we still have another to rely on.’ Started in 2017, the group has grown into a multi-activity cooperative, combining outside catering, pumpkin growing, and beekeeping. The latter was introduced in 2024 under the Apero Project, with just 10 beehives. Today, the group manages 30, thanks to support from development partners like the BRAIN project, which provided a honey extractor.

‘Beekeeping needs little attention and gives a high return. With the extractor, we produce cleaner honey without damaging the combs, so bees resume production faster,’ Nuwe explains.

But even beekeeping has its setbacks. Continuous rains this year reduced bee activity, leaving the insects to consume much of their honey stock. Adding that what would have been a devastating blow was softened by the cooperative’s diversified activities. Pumpkins-pollinated by the same bees-offered a safety net, while the catering arm of the group provided additional income.

‘The strength of a cooperative is that even when one project fails, others keep us afloat,’ Titus adds.

Saccos as community banks

Beyond farmers’ groups, Saccos have become the rural equivalent of banks-offering credit, savings, and stability. Kijura SACCO, based in Kabarole, is a prime example of how these institutions are reshaping rural finance. According to General Manager Gerald Ngiramahoro, the Sacco has seen exponential growth in recent years. Its assets now stand at Shs6.25 billion, up from just under Shs2 billion before interventions from the Breakthrough Entrepreneurship Project.

‘As of August, our savings stood at Shs 2.7 billion, loans at Shs 4.73 billion, and membership had exceeded 10,000-compared to only 6,000 a few years back. Our share capital has also more than doubled to Shs 1.26 billion,” Ngiramahoro says.

Part of this transformation has been institutional reform. Following recommendations from the project, Kijura Sacco recruited an internal auditor-an unusual move for many community financial institutions.

‘The internal auditor has greatly strengthened our internal controls and transparency,’ Ngiramahoro explains.

‘Members now trust us more, and that trust has been reflected in higher savings and borrowing.’ The Sacco’s ability to extend affordable credit has helped farmers expand farms, invest in livestock, and acquire inputs without turning to exploitative moneylenders. This role has made Saccos indispensable in de-risking agriculture.

Shamim Nalubega, communications manager, BRIGHT Project IFDC, the project has strengthened smallholder farmers’ access to formal financial services, with 5,328 households benefiting from loans and support.

‘Four Saccos secured Shs2 billion for onward lending, while three cooperatives received Shs 300 million through the Blended Finance Facility from Pearl Capital Partners. Five Saccos have also refined their agricultural loan products, including input loans, micro-loans, and green financing,’ she says.

Adding that strategic partnerships have further boosted market access and inputs, with 38 memorandums of understanding signed with private companies, cooperatives, Saccos, and farmer groups, and nine agricultural input sale points established.

Seed multiplication efforts reached 4,373 farmers through 25 training sessions, while seven local seed businesses and a partnership with Farm Inputs Care Centre Ltd support tissue culture plantlets. Additionally, 15 cooperatives and Saccos (65,894 members) and 258 farmer groups (9,983 members) have been empowered to improve production, bulking, market engagement, and financial access.

Partnerships driving transformation

Government and development partners are also playing a catalytic role in helping smallholder farmers transition to modern, resilient agriculture. In Bunyangabu District, the District Agricultural Officer, Gerald Tumwesigye, highlights collaborations with organizations such as IFDC, which have equipped farmers with training, inputs, and financial literacy.

‘We’ve worked with several partners to organize our farmers into cooperatives,’ he says.

Noting that initiatives such as International Fertiliser Development Centre (IFDC) and the BRIGHT project have provided modern beekeeping equipment such as KTB hives, alongside training on value addition. Nutrition-sensitive initiatives like kitchen gardening are helping families grow vegetables at home, addressing malnutrition and reducing dependency on market food.

‘It’s encouraging to see women and youth growing their own food and feeding their families.

‘These simple innovations are sustainable and impactful,” Tumwesigye notes. The district has also tackled land degradation in its highland areas by supporting tree nurseries and replanting bare hillsides, reducing erosion and flood risks.

A collective path forward

For now, cooperatives and Saccos remain the most practical fallback for smallholder farmers. They provide credit where banks will not, pool resources to withstand shocks, and offer a sense of solidarity in a sector vulnerable to climate change.

As Nuwe puts it, ‘Even when one season is bad, the group continues. That’s the strength of working together. With stronger institutional support, reliable extension services, and continued partnerships, the cooperative model could be the key to unlocking the full potential of Uganda’s agriculture-ensuring that smallholder farmers not only survive but thrive.’