Category: Daily Monitor

Mr Ashish Monpara, Chairman of the Modern Group of Industries, has been named Global Leader of the Year 2025. This was during the 26th Edition of the Asian Business and Social Forum on the 19th of September, 2025 at the JW Marriott Marquis Hotel in Business Bay, Dubai.

The Indo-UAE Summit was held under the theme ‘Celebrating the Spirit of Asia,’ where they spotlighted the strengthening of bilateral trade, investment, and innovation between India, the UAE, and the wider GCC region. They also look to foster strategic partnerships across Asia, Africa, and the Americas.

Mr Monpara was recognised for his significant contributions to industrial growth and private sector development across East Africa.

Commonly referred to as the ‘King of Sugar’, he has redefined industrial investment in Uganda, establishing at least one factory every year since 2017. Mr Monpara has set a bold vision for the Modern Group and for Uganda’s economic potential on the global stage.

His company Modern Group of Industries was also recognized as the World’s Greatest Brands 2025. Under his visionary leadership, the Modern Group has grown into one of Uganda’s most renowned industrial conglomerates, expanding across multiple sectors including sugar, alcohol distillation, aluminium profiling, tile manufacturing, and organic fertiliser.

Today, the Modern Group has reshaped Uganda’s industrial landscape. It operates seven factories across 10 industrial verticals, with total investments exceeding US $700 million (approximately Shs2.4 trillion). The group has contributed import substitution worth US $100 million (Shs356 billion) and employs over 4,000 people.

The journey began in 2017 with the launch of Modern Distillers, producing ethanol. In 2018 came Modern Gas, which also generated carbon dioxide for major clients such as Coca-Cola and Pepsi. The following year, the group introduced Modern Aluminium, producing high-quality profiles once imported from Dubai, China, India, and Europe. That same year also saw the birth of Modern Fertiliser.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, the group established two new factories. One was Modern Hygiene in 2020, producing hand sanitiser, a crucial product during the pandemic. In 2021, spotting an opportunity to substitute imported tiles with locally produced, high-quality alternatives, Mr Monpara set up Modern Tiles. The company now employs 1,600 people and controls 45 per cent of Uganda’s tile market.

In 2022, the group expanded further with Kidera Sugar in Buyende District, now awaiting commissioning, plus Lamborghini Drinks and Beverages (Modern Spirits), a partnership that manufactures products in Uganda for export to the United States and Asian markets.

The highlight came in 2023 with the takeover of Kaliro Sugar, at the request of President Yoweri Museveni and Investment Minister Evelyn Anite. From an ailing sugar factory, Kaliro Sugar was completely overhauled to run at full capacity of 2,500 TCD, directly employing 1,500 people and paying our due taxes.

Commissioned in August 2022 by President Museveni, Kaliro Sugar has restored dignity to the district’s sugarcane farmers. Expansion plans are already in motion, with the plant expected to grow to 5,500 TCD within two years and 8,000 TCD in the longer term, a combined daily output of around 200,000 tonnes of sugar.

Leveraging by-products from sugar production, Mr Monpara also launched Modern Power in 2023, generating electricity both for factory consumption and for the national grid, presently at 12MW.

His industriousness and innovation have attracted other accolades, including the Best Foreign Direct Investment Project Award for Modern Tiles at the Annual Investment Meeting Awards in 2022. Modern Group has also emerged among the top tax contributors to the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA), averaging Shs12.5 billion annually.

Over the next three years, Mr Monpara plans to invest another $500 million. Priorities include a sugar refinery to reduce reliance on imported white sugar, a power plant in Buyende to expand capacity ramped up to 50 MW, new ventures in steel production, and pharmaceuticals. The ultimate goal is to cre¬ate 10,000 jobs and cement Uganda’s position as a regional industrial hub.

Reflecting on his journey, Mr Monpara, a first-generation businessman, said he started by investing his own money.

‘I bootstrapped my business by investing from my money. Now, with the business thriving, financing has become more accessible. My advice to every investor is to start with your own investment, and then you can tap into available financing options in the country.’

Uganda’s housing market is shifting. Young professionals are pooling funds to buy rental units, families are opting for off-plan projects with flexible payment plans, and more buyers are asking how their homes can double as investments, whether through long-term rentals or Airbnb. It is a fast-moving landscape, and standing right at the intersection of dreams and dynamics is Mary Mugoya, a sales executive at Fakhruddin Properties, who has built her career by treating each home not as a transaction, but as a story waiting to unfold.

She does not just talk about square footage or finishing. She listens. On a property tour, she might pause at a window and say: ‘This is where the morning light will pour in,’ or gesture toward a backyard and add: ‘Perfect for tenants or a small Airbnb Garden if you want income.’ For her, real estate is not just about selling structures but helping Ugandans secure both homes and futures. That outlook has carried her from her teenage fascination with Mbale’s estates to her present role as a professional guiding clients through the realities of Uganda’s property market.

Planting the seed

Her journey began long before she sold her first house. As a teenager, she would stroll through the organised neighbourhoods of Busamaga, Namakwekwe, Senior Quarters, Maluku, and Half London, admiring the homes and imagining the lives unfolding within them. She recalls: ‘I used to imagine the families inside. What meals they were sharing, which children were playing in the yard. I knew early on that I wanted to be part of creating those spaces.’

While her peers aspired to careers in medicine or law, Mugoya’s curiosity about houses and neighbourhoods quietly prepared her for the career she would later embrace. Her first professional nudge came from an engineer-contractor who served as her boss. He recognised her eye for detail and advised her to take real estate seriously. ‘He told me, ‘Mary, you should study real estate properly.’ That advice shaped my direction,’ she says. She went on to pursue a degree in real estate at Makerere University Business School (Mubs), and soon after, she was mentored by Rachel N. Kakungulu, a trailblaser who straddled tourism and property.

Kakungulu broadened Mugoya’s perspective, teaching her that selling real estate was not just about square metres, but about lifestyle, experience, and community. Those lessons became part of her ethos when she later joined Fakhruddin Properties under the guidance of Haidry Qusai, who offered her the platform to refine her craft and carve out her own space as a professional. Fakhruddin Properties is a leading reputable property developer from the United Arab Emirates, with a diverse portfolio of properties and a track record of delivering property and facilities management solutions across industrial, commercial and residential properties.

Finding her home

Her baptism by fire came sooner than expected. Covering for colleagues one day, she encountered a client who was abrasive, dismissive, and constantly comparing Ugandan apartments to those in Nairobi, Kenya’s capital. ‘He insulted guards, sneered at apartments, and kept saying, ‘this is not up to Nairobi standards.’ I almost gave up,’ she admits. But she stayed calm, kept showing him the sites, and listened to his complaints with patience.

To her surprise, the man returned that same evening and made a purchase.

‘That was my baptism by fire. It taught me resilience. In real estate, patience and professionalism always pay.’ It was also the moment she knew she was exactly where she belonged. Over the years, Mugoya has learnt that the real heart of her work lies in the site visit. She insists that no brochure, no matter how glossy, can replace standing inside a property. She says: ‘People need to feel the space. It is not enough to see photos, you have to stand in the living room, hear the sounds of the neighbourhood, and ask yourself: ‘Can I imagine my life here?”

Site visits, she explains, help clients connect emotionally to a home while also revealing practical truths. Buyers can assess whether rooms are truly spacious, whether there are signs of water damage, and if the neighbourhood is too noisy for comfort. They can measure spaces for their furniture, envision possible renovations, and get a sense of the environment- schools, shops, public transport, and the general character of nearby properties. Mugoya has watched countless faces soften during these visits, as if a spark has been lit. ‘That’s when I know they have found their home,’ she says. For her, site visits are not simply about due diligence; they bridge the gap between dream and reality.

Service beyond sales

As Uganda’s market has matured, so has her purpose. She recognised a profound truth: a property transaction is not the conclusion of a need, but the genesis of a new set of responsibilities and aspirations. This insight led her beyond the familiar terrain of sales to the strategic field of Property Management at the Global Institute of Property Studies. This was not merely an addition of skills, but a fundamental expansion of her vocation. She transformed her role from a facilitator of deals to a steward of legacies. She now manages properties for the distant diaspora, ensuring their connection to home is not lost to miles. She advises investors with the acumen of a strategist, decoding the language of yields and occupancy rates.

She even steps into the realm of aesthetics, assisting with interior design, understanding that the soul of a property influences its value as much as its square footage. ‘I do not just sell property. I help clients look after it, shape it, and maximise its value,’ she explains. This philosophy acknowledges that a property is a living asset; it must be nurtured, adapted, and understood in the context of a life and a financial plan. This holistic approach has forged a new kind of relationship, one built not on a single transaction, but on generational trust.

Clients return not out of habit, but because she has become their strategic partner in wealth-building. In a market often characterised by fleeting interactions, she has built a practice on the deep, resilient foundation of fidelity. Her position affords her a unique vantage point, making her a seismograph of the nation’s economic and social shifts. The growing popularity of off-plan buying reveals a collective leap of faith in Uganda’s future, a bet on developers as nation-builders, fraught with both ambition and risk. She sees mortgages as more than loans; they are keys to class mobility for salaried workers, though the heavy lock of high interest rates keeps many doors shut.

The rise of group investments among young professionals is a modern-day adaptation of the communal tradition, a powerful, collective defiance against individual financial limitation. And the nascent promise of rent-to-own models speaks to a silent struggle, offering a flicker of hope to those marginalised by traditional finance. The most significant shift she observes is in the very psyche of the buyer. The question, ‘How do I make this house pay for itself?’ Is not merely a financial query; it is the mantra of a new, pragmatic generation. It signifies the fusion of home and enterprise, where a roof must also be a revenue stream.

Yet, amidst this fervor, she stands as a voice of seasoned wisdom.

‘Property is not a quick fix,’ she cautions. In a world chasing instant returns, her counsel is a call for introspection. She understands that land and brick are woven into the deepest layers of personal and cultural identity in Uganda. Her final advice is not about market trends, but about human nature: ‘Listen to your needs, think long-term, and not rush.’ In this, she does more than sell or manage property; she anchors ambition to foundation, ensuring that the pursuit of profit never eclipses the profound, lifelong significance of the investment.

Principles

Through it all, her values have remained steady. She believes in listening deeply to uncover what clients truly need, even when their initial requests mask a different reality. She has learnt to tell the truth, even if it means advising a client to wait for another project. She stays resilient in the face of difficult encounters, viewing each as a lesson. And she keeps faith in a profession that demands patience and grace. For her, the greatest reward has never been the commission slip but the phone call that comes years later, when a client says, ‘Mugoya, thank you. That house changed our lives.’

Looking ahead, Mugoya wants to mentor young women entering the real estate field and raise the bar for customer service in Uganda’s property sector.

‘This is a male-dominated industry, but women have an edge in empathy and detail. I want more women to see that this is a space for them, too,’ she says.

She also hopes to expand her expertise in management, investment, and design, ensuring Ugandans not only survive but thrive in a housing market that is becoming increasingly diverse, competitive, and creative.

In Uganda’s West Nile region, women play a crucial role in agriculture, but cultural norms restrict their ability to own land and other properties. The Lugbara and Alur communities cherish deep-seated cultural values that limit women’s rights, leading to gender-based violence and disputes over land ownership.

“Culture has dictated that women simply enjoy the land user rights but not the right to own land,” says Paska Aliru, a resident of Polota parish in Logiri village, Arua District. “The customary certificate ownership that includes women is a big achievement for West Nile women.”

Elizabeth Minala, a widow and resident of Polota village, knows firsthand the struggles of women in her community. After her husband’s death in 2019, she was thrown out of her marital home and denied ownership of the land.

“I believe one of the reasons why I was thrown out of my late husband’s home is because of the greed for property, including land,” she says.

Uganda’s Constitution guarantees land ownership to every citizen without discrimination based on gender. However, in the West Nile region, women are often unaware of their rights. Esther Kisembo, Programs Coordinator at ActionAid Uganda, notes that the land awareness camp is a sensitization platform to empower communities about their land rights and customary land registration process.

“Uganda’s Constitution guarantees land ownership to every citizen without discrimination based on gender,” Kisembo says. “It’s unfortunate that in this particular sub-region, the women that form the majority of the population under the farming sector know that they have the land user rights but not the ownership rights.”

Local leaders are taking steps to address the issue. John Bosco Odama, the Logiri LC3 Subcounty Chief, acknowledges that land-related wrangles are a major source of community disputes in the region. “The women use the land but have no ownership rights,” he says. “But both the cultural leaders and the community are now realizing the importance of customary certificate registration where women are allowed to register ownership.”

The Ministry of Lands, Housing, and Urban Development is working with partners, including ActionAid Uganda, FIDA Uganda, and Eastern and Southern Small Scale Farmers Forum, to promote customary certificates registration and land awareness. Denis Obbo, the Communication and Information Officer at the Ministry of Lands, notes that the initiative aims to formalize land ownership and empower communities, especially women, to claim their rights.

The Lugbara Kari Pronouncement, a document detailing several interventions aimed at empowering the Lugbara people, clarifies the right of the girl child to education, property inheritance, and women’s land-related rights. As the government and partners work to address the issue, women in West Nile are hopeful that their struggles will soon be a thing of the past.

Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIGP) Charles Kataratambi, who was in charge of the Uganda Police Force’s Human Rights and Legal Services Directorate, has died. Kataratambi passed away yesterday, after battling long-term health complications.

The police spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner of Police Rusoke Kituuma, said in a statement yesterday said: ‘The Uganda Police Force fraternity deeply regrets to announce the untimely passing of Assistant Inspector General of Police Kataratambi Charles, director of Human Rights and Legal Services, which occurred on Thursday. Details regarding burial arrangements will be shared in due course. The UPF conveys heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of the departed officer. May his soul rest in eternal peace.’

AIGP Kataratambi had been in and out of the hospital for several years. The police have not yet released details regarding the cause of death or where he passed away.

A life of service

Several senior security officers and former classmates from Namilyango College described Kataratambi as intelligent, bookish, and principled.

After completing his secondary education, he joined Makerere University in 1996 to pursue a law degree. It was during this time that he formed close friendships with two peers who would also go on to serve in public service: Senior Commissioner of Police (SPC) Fred Enanga, now Deputy Director of International Relations in the Police, and Senior Police Officer (rtd) Simeo Nsubuga, now a commissioner at the Uganda Human Rights Commission.

SCP Enanga remembered him as “a bright, smart, and loving person.’

‘Charles always stood out. He had empathy, appreciated teamwork, and showed early signs of leadership. At some point, we thought he might venture into politics,’ Enanga said.

‘While I studied Economics and Simeo pursued Education, Charles was immersed in Law.’

After university, Kataratambi proceeded to the Law Development Centre for a Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice. The trio later reunited unexpectedly in August 2001 at the Police Training School.

‘We were surprised to see each other again in uniform. The bond continued. He liked cracking jokes and was among the brightest officers, especially with his legal background,’ Enanga said.

Kataratambi joined police as one of 58 university graduates recruited in the aftermath of the 2001 Judicial Commission of Inquiry into police corruption.

Mr Simeo Nsubuga noted that his brilliance and legal expertise quickly set him apart. He began his career at the CID headquarters in the Serious Crimes Department, an unusual posting for a recruit. His competence and professionalism led to several leadership roles within the police.

Kataratambi rose to prominence during General Kale Kayihura’s tenure as Inspector General of Police. He frequently provided legal guidance to officers during a time of intense political protests and public demonstrations. He gained public attention when he was appointed head of the Media and Political Crimes Unit at CID.

The unit often summoned journalists from leading media outlets, including Monitor Publications Limited, The Weekly Observer, The Independent, and CBS Radio, over cases related to sedition and sectarianism.

While many journalists were interrogated and released on police bond, often repeatedly extended, few of the cases were ever taken to court. Instead, the files were quietly shelved. In January 2009, Ms Anne Abeja, then company secretary of Monitor Publications, expressed frustration over the drawn-out summons.

‘It is frustrating! We have been reporting since Friday, and on Monday the bonds were extended again,’ she said at the time.

‘We appeared in Mr Kataratambi’s office, waited, and he simply told us the bonds were extended.’

Despite public criticism, insiders said he was executing a delicate balancing act between press freedom and State interests.

Leadership roles and setbacks

In August 2010, he was transferred to the Land Protection Police Unit, then later to the Flying Squad Unit. After two years, he returned to CID and also served as head of investigations for Kampala Metropolitan Police. In March 2014, he was appointed commander of the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), which was later elevated to a division.

However, in 2015, his career suffered a blow when he was arrested over allegations of mishandling a bank fraud case. Though eventually cleared, he spent nine years without deployment.

Despite this, he maintained close ties with his colleagues and continued attending events, including the 2019 funeral of his police training squad-mate, Commissioner of Police Christine Alalo.

In 2024, he was promoted to the rank of AIGP and appointed director of Human Rights and Legal Services. Though his health deteriorated soon after, he remained dedicated and continued attending work and meetings.

‘He remained respectful of authority. Even though I left the police and he held a higher rank, he would salute me at meetings since I’m now a presidential appointee,’ said Mr Nsubuga.

Both Enanga and Nsubuga expressed deep sorrow over his death. AIGP Charles Kataratambi is survived by his wife and children.

There will be a funeral service today at All Saints Church, Nakasero, and burial will take place tomorrow in Rubaya Village, Kashari, Mbarara District.

Each year, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) gathers the world’s leaders in New York to deliberate on pressing global issues. This year’s meeting comes at a moment of disruption; political regimes in superpower nations are shifting, international priorities are tilting toward peace and security, and social services risk being sidelined. For Africa, this disruption is not merely a challenge it is a wake-up call.

For decades, Africa has relied heavily on the developed world to finance its priorities in health, education, and infrastructure. The dependency created a cycle in which donor agendas often shaped African policy, while domestic priorities were left underfunded. Much of the aid and loans were consumed by administrative costs or burdened with conditionalities that undermined sovereignty. As Kwame Nkrumah once said, ‘Political independence is only the prelude to a new and more involved struggle for the right to conduct our own economic and social affairs.’ That struggle is still with us.

The global order itself is evolving. The financing of development is being redefined, with donor fatigue and economic slowdowns in the Global North limiting external resources. Simultaneously, Africa is no longer the same continent that emerged from colonialism decades ago. Today, Africa holds vast mineral wealth, fertile soils, and one of the most favourable climates for renewable energy. Most importantly, it is home to the world’s youngest population, over 400 million youth aged 15-35, projected to double by 2050. This demographic reality gives Africa not just energy but bargaining power.

Yet power without unity is fragile. Africa’s minerals, oil, and agricultural potential can strengthen its leverage in negotiations, but only if countries act collectively. The African Union and regional blocs must step forward as strong institutions that articulate one voice on trade, financing, and global governance. As Julius Nyerere reminded us, ‘Unity will not make us rich, but it can make it difficult for Africa and the African peoples to be disregarded and humiliated.’

The disruptions shaping today’s world may be Africa’s opportunity. As global powers focus inward, whether on security concerns, migration, or climate shocks, Africa can reposition itself not as a recipient but as a partner. With over $4 trillion in local capital available in African pension funds, banks, and sovereign wealth funds, the capacity to finance infrastructure and social services exists within the continent itself. What is required is political will, accountability, and the courage to mobilise domestic resources.

Institutions like the IMF and World Bank have long shaped Africa’s economic pathways, often keeping countries in cycles of debt and dependency. The time is ripe to imagine and build African-led alternatives: strong regional development banks, sovereign funds, and financial instruments that respond to African realities rather than external prescriptions. At UNGA, Africa must send a clear message: that its sovereignty is not negotiable, and that true partnerships must respect the continent’s priorities. This means proper negotiations on mineral value chains,climate justice financing, and fair-trade terms. It also means ensuring that social services, health, education, and jobs remain central even as peace and security dominate global headlines.

Africa’s young population is both its greatest challenge and its greatest opportunity. Ten to 12 million youth enter the labour market each year, yet only about three million formal jobs are created. If Africa invests in education, health, and innovation, this demographic wave can fuel economic transformation. If neglected, it risks becoming a source of instability. The disruption of today is therefore Africa’s chance to reclaim its sovereignty. It is a call to own its economy, take charge of its health systems, and design education that serves its people.

With minerals beneath its soils, favourable conditions for agriculture and energy, and a youth population ready to lead, Africa holds more bargaining power than ever before. But unity is the key. The African Union must rise to its mandate, and regional blocs must present common positions. Only then can Africa negotiate from strength, not weakness. The world is shifting, but so is Africa. UNGA is not just a global stage; it is a mirror reflecting how prepared Africa is to step forward. This is the moment to transform disruption into sovereignty, dependency into self-determination, and potential into power.

The Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) presidential candidate, Mr Nathan Nandala Mafabi, has urged residents of Iganga District to vote him, promising to lead a corruption-free government with a focus on grassroots development.

While speaking to residents in Nkaatu Igamba, Northern Division, Iganga Municipality yesterday, Mr Mafabi emphasised that tackling corruption at the local government level would be his top priority if elected president.

Mr Nadanala argued that many of the challenges affecting service delivery and development in Uganda originate from mismanagement and embezzlement within local councils and district offices.

According to Mr Nandala, funds meant for roads, health centre, schools, and community projects are often stolen or misused before reaching the intended beneficiaries.

By cleaning up corruption at the grassroots, Mr Nandala believes national development will become more efficient, transparent, and impactful.

‘Each year, government officials steal Shs10 trillion. If elected President, I will recover that money and redirect it to real development, starting with the villages,” Mr Nandala said.

He further pledged to upgrade Nakavule Hospital into a referral facility, citing its strategic location in the Busoga Sub-region, which also serves Bukedi and the surrounding areas.

Mr Nandala also said he will replace the Parish Development Model development Saccos, allocating Shs100 million to each village annually.

‘In my government, I will start by developing villages, then parishes, because true development begins at the grassroots,’ he added. He promised to establish an industrial park in Iganga to boost employment and economic growth.

On healthcare, he committed to ending ‘medical tourism,’ stating that no government official, including Members of Parliament and ministers, would seek treatment abroad.

Mr Nandala also said he will revive cooperatives across the country, abolishing university tuition fees to enable more students to access higher education, construct staff housing for civil servants, provide free electricity connections, reduce power tariffs, and tarmac all roads across Uganda

‘The people will be connected to the power grid without paying connection fees, and electricity will be affordable,’ he said.

Local leaders in Iganga welcomed his message but stressed the urgent need for a president who can tackle unemployment, corruption, poor service delivery, and the lack of security in urban areas.

Mr Lubega Yusufu, an aspiring district councillor for Iganga Central Ward, called for improved street lighting, noting that darkness in the municipality had become a security risk.

The National Unity Platform (NUP) presidential candidate, Mr Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, aka Bobi Wine, has promised to establish value addition factories across Uganda to support farmers and improve their incomes.

While addressing a crowd at a well-attended rally in Bulumba Trading Centre in Kaliro District yesterday, Mr Kyagulanyi said one of the main reasons farmers remain poor is because they do not benefit fully from their produce.

He added that the lack of value addition facilities to improve quality and attract high profit margins had left farmers in losses. Mr Kyagulanyi cited an example of the cotton ginnery in Bulumba, which he said used to help local residents earn more money through processing their cotton locally.

Mr Kyagulanyi also observed that the ginnery once served as a valuable economic driver for the area, but has since become dormant, allegedly due to neglect and poor policies by the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) government.

‘This ginnery in Bulumba was helping residents get more money from cotton because there was value addition right here. But now it has been made inactive by the NRM government,’ Mr Kyagulanyi said.

‘People work so hard to grow crops, but they earn very little because they are forced to sell raw materials instead of processed goods,’ he added. In Jinja District, he said Uganda’s cotton production has been falling due to low yields and abandonment of the crop by farmers.

Uganda’s cotton sector was liberalised in 1994 when the lint marketing board was disbanded.

Mr Kyagulanyi pledged that his government, once elected, would not only build value addition factories in every region of the country, but would also ensure there is a ready market for processed goods.

According to Mr Kyagulanyi, this will create jobs, raise household incomes, and reduce poverty across rural Uganda.

Mr Kyagulanyi also highlighted the challenges faced by sugarcane farmers in the Busoga Sub-region. He expressed concern that although sugarcane is widely grown in the area, farmers remain poor due to low prices offered by millers and middlemen.

Mr Kyagulanyi decried the situation where sugarcane farmers cannot even afford to buy sugar for their own households, despite being the producers of the raw material.

‘It is heartbreaking that people in Busoga grow sugarcane, but the prices remain extremely low. Yet, sugar and other products made from sugarcane are very expensive. Many of the very farmers who grow it cannot afford to buy even a kilo of sugar for tea,’ he said. Mr Kyagulanyi called on the people of Busoga and all Ugandans to make a protest vote against the current government, which he accused of failing to support the ordinary citizen.

Key issues

Kaliro District faces several development challenges, including the alleged selling of government jobs, particularly in education and local government.

Poor road infrastructure, especially in rural areas, limits access to markets, schools, and health services. Access to safe water remains low, with many communities relying on unsafe sources. In the education sector, poor performance is driven by a lack of qualified teachers and limited learning materials.

The Pharmaceutical Society of Uganda (PSU) has announced Shs2 million as the minimum standard professional fee payable to pharmacists as their net monthly pay per pharmacy practice setting. Currently, the government does not have a national labour law specifying minimum wage for all employees in the country.

PSU, in a notice undersigned by their Secretary Dr Stephen Lutoti, indicated that the significant resolution was passed by the PSU during their Annual General Meeting held on September 26,2025 at Imperial Royale Hotel, Kampala.

‘As a byelaw subject to the Pharmacy and Drugs Act Cap 309 and recognising the economic rights enshrined under Article 40 of the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda, the PSU resolved that, effective immediately, the minimum standard professional fee payable to pharmacists shall be two million Uganda shillings (Shs2,000,000) as net monthly pay per pharmacy practice setting,’ the notice reads.

‘This resolution aims to uphold fair compensation for the professional services rendered by pharmacists across Uganda. It is noteworthy that this professional fee pertains to the base remuneration for pharmacists’ services and does not encompass additional benefits, allowances, or rewards that may be negotiated or provided based on individual agreements, performance, or organizational policies,’ PSU stated further.

Speaking to this reporter earlier this year, Mr Aggrey Kibenge, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, said there are still disagreements hindering the plan to have the national law on minimum wage.

‘Minimum wage is not yet resolved. It is at Cabinet level and we are waiting [for their resolution]. It has never been concluded,’ Mr Kibenge said. ‘There is a question of making sure that you take care of all dimensions; you don’t only think about the workers, you also think about the employers. That balance, I think, is what they have not yet sorted out.’

But PSU, in their September 30 notice, asked employers and organizations engaging the pharmacists to respect the resolution. They also indicated that subject to Uganda’s labour laws and contracts entered into, additional benefits and allowances can be provided to complement the professional fee.

‘All members of the PSU are expected to comply with this minimum professional fee standard and bring it to the attention of persons/ organizations that engages pharmacists,’ the society stated.

‘As part of applying for annual membership certificates and certificates of practice, pharmacists are required to provide a copy of their employment/engagement contract reflecting adherence to this standard. Contracts can be contract of Services or contract for services that should be in compliance with the Employment Act,’ they added.

The Electoral Commission (EC) Tribunal is today expected to convene to look into election matters, including the fate of three women who were sued after declaring their intentions to contest against the Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among, in the forthcoming elections.

Ms Zipporah Akol sued Ms Hellen Odeke Akol, Ms Susan Norma Otai, and Ms Marion Mercy Alupo, asking the court to block their nomination on the grounds that the three aspirants are not legitimately registered as voters in Bukedea District and should, therefore, be disqualified.

The Electoral Commission was also listed as a respondent in the suit, with all four parties required to file their defence. However, by Monday, only Ms Alupo had filed her response, while the EC requested for more time to prepare its defence. The court pushed the matter to Monday next week.

A source told Monitor yesterday that the Commission is slated to sit today to decide whether to back the three women or remove them from the register. The source added that the chances of the Commission declining to support the trio are very high.

EC speaks out

In an interview, the EC’s Manager for Public Relations, Mr Julius Mucunguzi, explained that petitions are a core part of the Commission’s work.

Mr Mucunguzi further said the complaints are normally lodged by parties themselves, but did not confirm if the case of the three petitioned aspirants will come up in the meeting. ‘The Commission is currently hearing many petitions. I have not checked which one is on the agenda, but it is true that the Commission will be meeting tomorrow (today). The Commission always meets on Tuesday and Thursday.’

According to documents filed in the High Court’s Civil Division in Kampala, Ms Akol claims the Electoral Commission did not followed due procedure in publishing the voters’ roll in May 2025, and that in the 10 days allowed for objections, complaints were raised that Ms Odeke did not originate from or reside in Malera Parish, Ms Otai was not from Kopeta Parish, and Ms Alupo was not a resident of Kotolut Parish.

In her petition, Ms Akol wants the court to declare the three women unregistered voters, bar the EC from nominating them, and rule them ineligible to stand.

The respondents have dismissed the claims. Ms Alupo insists she has proof she is a registered voter in Bukedea, Ms Odeke has described the case as ‘machinations,’ while Ms Otai is demanding an explanation from the EC on how her name was deleted.

The EC has not publicly confirmed the details. Meanwhile, the NRM party, which earlier nominated Ms Among unopposed for the Woman MP slot after Ms Odeke was disqualified, maintains that the case is part of local political manoeuvring.

What law says

Under Uganda’s Parliamentary Elections Act, 2005, a valid candidate for Parliament must be a Ugandan citizen, a registered voter, and meet the minimum educational requirement. Disqualifications include non-voter registration or failure to meet residence and origin requirements.

The High Court session in which Opposition leader Dr Kizza Besigye was expected to enter a plea on treason charges turned dramatic yesterday as he engaged Justice Emmanuel Baguma in a direct exchange, insisting on speaking for himself despite being represented by a team of 10 lawyers.

The fully packed courtroom was tense, with prison warders and anti-riot police monitoring closely as supporters craned their necks to catch a glimpse of the four-time presidential contender.

The case has become a rallying point for his followers, and Dr Besigye’s rare opportunity to address the judge directly drew murmurs across the public gallery.

As proceedings opened, Chief State Attorney Richard Birivumbuka announced the prosecution’s readiness: ‘The accused are in court and the case is for plea taking. We are ready to proceed.’

But Dr Besigye immediately raised his hand.

‘A very good morning, my Lord; I wish to raise a matter of concern before we proceed with this business,’ he said. Justice Baguma looked up from his notes.

‘Good morning. Are you still represented, or are you putting off your lawyers?’ ‘My Lord, I put off my representing until I finish my submission. I will be brief. It is about our presence here. To give it a background, I would like to inform this court that.,’ he added.

Before he could continue, the judge cut in: ‘We must follow the procedure. Since you are represented, you cannot simply disregard your lawyers.’ The standoff lasted several minutes as the court fell silent. Finally, the judge ruled that Dr Besigye’s legal team must handle his concerns. ‘I have listened to you. I am saying the 10 lawyers represent you, unless they put in writing that they are no longer representing you. I am directing that the 10 lawyers get all the concerns and address them to the court,’ Justice Baguma said.

The ruling prompted a flurry of submissions from the defence.

Senior Counsel Martha Karua rose first. ‘The few minutes you have given us are not sufficient to receive instructions. Our client still wants to raise the concerns himself, and he believes it is within your powers to hear him. We cannot cite any law that bars a represented person from speaking in court without dismissing his lawyers. We plead with the court,’ she said. Lawyer Ernest Kalibbala stressed that legal representation does not remove the accused’s personal right to speak.

‘While it is true we are a team of 10 lawyers, the accused retains overall authority to determine any matters he wishes to speak on,’ Mr Kalibbala argued.

‘… No law bars any accused person in the dock from raising or responding to issues in court,’ he added.

The judge softened slightly but set conditions.

‘I have listened to Besigye and his lawyers that he wants to raise his concerns,’ Justice Baguma said. ‘But on condition that they are put in writing. I am giving you until Friday, and you will come back here on October 8 for my response,’ he added. The ruling drew whispers among the packed audience before warders moved Dr Besigye back into custody under tight guard.

The dramatic exchange is the latest turn in the long-running treason case against Dr Besigye and co-accused Obeid Lutale, who are accused of conspiring to overthrow the government. Both men deny the charges.

Earlier this month, they refused to appear before the same judge for their second bail application, accusing him of bias.

Their lawyers, led by Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago, have consistently sought Justice Baguma’s recusal, a request the judge has rejected.

What next

With the new directive, the court will reconvene on October 8 to consider Dr Besigye’s written concerns, alongside pending issues in the treason proceedings. Until then, the Opposition figure and his co-accused remain on remand.