Category: Daily Monitor

For years, Uganda has been trying to solve a national contradiction. We are one of the world’s greatest coffee-producing countries. Our hills grow it. Our economy depends on it. Entire districts wake up thinking about it. Yet when it comes to actually drinking the stuff, Ugandans have traditionally looked at coffee the way children look at vegetables. We understand its importance. We simply do not see why we should be consuming it. This has frustrated coffee evangelists for decades. Every few months, somebody stands at a conference podium and announces that Ugandans need to drink more coffee. Charts are displayed. Statistics are quoted. Domestic consumption targets are set. Serious people in suits nod thoughtfully. Then everyone breaks for tea. No coffee machine or kettle anywhere in sight, except maybe one miserable tin of instant coffee.

Which is why I suspect the people behind the new Baileys and Java House partnership deserve some sort of national innovation award. They seem to have finally identified the flaw in the strategy. Others had been marketing coffee to Ugandans. What they should have been doing was marketing alcohol with the coffee. Genius.

The Coffee and Baileys menu is exactly what it sounds like: Java House’s premium coffee culture meeting Baileys Irish Cream’s smooth, indulgent personality. It is less a partnership and more an arranged marriage. And somehow it works.

The launch of this partnership is slated for June 20, at Java House Naguru. Guests will sample the menu and participate in a hands-on treat-making experience.

The menu itself is surprisingly impressive. The Baileys Espresso Shot is coffee that arrives dressed for a Friday night and winks at you as soon as you enter the pub. It is like Kungfu. The Espresso gives you the kick while the Baileys cream massages you to pleasure in one fell swoop. Then there is the Irish Mocha, a luxurious combination of espresso, chocolate and Baileys finished with steamed milk. This drink is akin to a cup of flavourful, spiced tea that delivers an alcohol buzz. It has one mission; happiness. The Classic Baileys Hot Chocolate is equally unapologetic. Rich, silky, creamy. The kind of beverage that makes you thankful for finally making it to adulthood. It is essentially a warm hug that has gone to international school.

Yet the real brilliance of the partnership lies elsewhere. It understands modern Kampala where coffee shops are no longer places where people simply go to drink coffee. Cafes are now de facto offices where people sit with their laptops and work all day. They are dating venues, meeting spots and networking hubs. Cafes these days are essentially less chaotic pubs.

They are places where people order one cappuccino or iced coffee and remain seated long enough to witness three shift changes. The partnership understands that with this many people spending so much time in coffee shops, a section of the patrons will want something more than coffee. Like that nervous young man on the first coffee date with the most beautiful girl he has ever met. A Dutch courage comes in handy.

The partnership plugs into Uganda’s culture of Friday night drinking with a Friday Happy Hour between 6pm and 7pm, offering a buy-one-get-one-free deal. Ugandans have never needed encouragement when it comes to Baileys or any other form of alcohol for that matter. And yet, even the few Ugandans who drink coffee prefer to keep it safe with instant coffee. So, somebody looked at the problem, looked at the solution, and connected the dots. This partnership will likely make a few people sip an espresso they would otherwise never have ordered. And if that is even a possibility, which it is, then perhaps history will remember this moment kindly. After all, Uganda has spent decades trying to get more people to drink coffee. Maybe all coffee needed was a drinking buddy.

Jacob Marksons Oboth (Oboth-Oboth), the Speaker of the 12th Parliament of Uganda, is widely known for his cool, collected and highly disciplined demeanour. It is now barely a month since he became Speaker, and his positive impact is already being felt across the country, but more importantly, in the August House itself. This giant and smart former village herdsboy from Muwafu Village, West Budama Central Constituency, Tororo District, and who owes his education to the community, has become the Speaker at the right time.

When his name was finally proposed by the Chief of Defence Forces, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, following the former Speaker’s corruption-related investigations, every Ugandan was in total agreement and approval. Oboth-Oboth has hit the ground running, guiding Parliament without any glitch. This is largely because, despite being a smart lawyer, he is a seasoned legislator who previously headed the Committee on Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, among others. The coming of Oboth-Oboth as Speaker of Parliament was a very timely moment.

The August House had been debased to incredible levels. Going by what is coming out through the mass media and the investigative organs of government, the honourable House had been reduced to a deals house. Days after Oboth-Oboth became Speaker, an air of political and financial serenity began to be felt. As is the norm, he must be studying the systems before he makes a complete cleanup that Ugandans are eagerly waiting to see. Before the dust even settles, he reallocated nearly Shs24b from the Office of the Speaker, directly to parliamentary committees.

This move aims to ensure parliamentary committees are fully funded to execute their oversight mandates, without relying on centralised or discretionary travel funds controlled by the Speaker. Parliament has faced persistent corruption allegations, with reports of questionable spending, cash handouts and abuse of office fuelling public scrutiny and demands for accountability. Matters were not helped by the various exposés of various media houses, which dug out the dirt that involved most legislators. This was so terrible that it generated outrage. Some serious MDAs, mandated to deliver serious services to Ugandans, do not get such funds for a whole financial year.

Against that backdrop, primitive or ostentatious display of wealth by public officials only deepened public frustration, reinforcing perceptions of inequality, breeds resentment and diverts capital from productive investments. It also triggers costly, competitive ‘status games’ among Ugandans. No wonder becoming a Member of Parliament (MP) has become a matter of life and death! Showing off wealth increases the risk of theft and scams and fosters a toxic culture of materialism, where self-worth is solely tied to possessions. In brief, Oboth-Oboth has his plate full. He will have to reset the ethos in the 12th Parliament, but the good thing is, he has the goodwill of all Ugandans. We wish you all the best, ladit OO.

The Muslim community in Kampala and surrounding districts has successfully secured over 63 acres of land for new burial grounds. This major milestone aims to avert a growing crisis following the exhaustion of existing burial sites, most notably the prominent Nkoowe Cemetery.

The breakthrough was announced during a press briefing by the Salaam Muslim Cemetery Committee, led by prominent cleric Imam Iddi Kasozi. The initiative, dubbed the Salaam Muslim Cemetery Project, was launched in response to an urgent need for a dignified, accessible, and sustainable resting place for the community’s deceased.

Over the past 17 years, the Muslim community heavily relied on the eight-acre Nkoowe Cemetery, which hosted approximately 22,000 graves for both adults and children. Having now reached full capacity, the search for alternative land became critical.

According to Imam Kasozi, the committee has acquired two distinct parcels of land totalling 63.7 acres:

Wobulenzi: 20 acres, purchased at Shs460 million.

Sanga-Matugga: 43.7 acres, acquired at a cost of Shs2.324 billion.

To date, Shs2 billion has already been paid for the Sanga-Matugga property, leaving an outstanding balance of Shs324 million.

‘This project was started out of an urgent and genuine community need,’ Imam Kasozi stated. ‘The existing Muslim burial grounds, particularly Nkoowe I, had reached capacity, leaving the community with an immediate responsibility to secure a sustainable burial ground.’

Addressing questions regarding the time taken to finalize the purchases, Imam Kasozi explained that the committee had to reject several potential sites due to issues like swampy terrain, land disputes, poor road access, inadequate acreage, and unclear ownership documents.

‘Since this project is funded by public contributions, we had a duty to proceed carefully and responsibly,’ Kasozi defended. ‘It would not have been proper to rush into acquiring land that could later expose the Muslim community to legal, environmental, or operational challenges.’

Between 2023 and the present, the committee mobilized approximately Shs2.44 billion through generous contributions from individual Muslims, institutions, businesses, mosques, and well-wishers. Of this, Shs2.42 billion has already been spent on land acquisition and administrative logistics, leaving a balance of roughly Shs20 million pending final reconciliation.

The Chairperson of the Committee, Hajji Harunah Kibirige, outlined the next steps, which include clearing the remaining Shs324 million balance, securing formal land titles, and preparing the sites for operations.

Planned infrastructural developments at the new sites include:

Opening and marking clear boundaries.

Constructing access roads and dedicated parking areas.

Fencing the properties for security.

Developing a comprehensive land-use plan to ensure orderly burials.

To streamline the remaining fundraising goals, Hajji Kibirige announced that the committee is expanding its collection methods to digital platforms. Well-wishers will soon be able to contribute via mobile money, bank transfers, QR-code payment systems, and online pledge registration platforms to boost convenience and financial transparency.

While burial plots at the new cemeteries will be provided entirely free of charge, families will be required to pay nominal fees for the operational services provided at the site.

Hajji Kibirige appealed to the public for continued financial and moral backing, describing the project as a form of Sadaqah Jariyah (continuous charity).

‘A great milestone has been achieved, but the project still requires additional support to clear the remaining balance and prepare the land for proper use,’ Kibirige said. ‘This is a lasting investment for the Muslim community that will provide a dignified resting place for generations to come.’

Kenyan bars and restaurants in Kampala are renowned for their goat meat, ugali (posho) and sukuma wiki (collard greens), which is what my friend and I ordered for over the weekend, at Makutano Bar and Grill, a Kenyan restaurant in Kansanga, Kampala. The word ‘makutano’ is derived from the Swahili verb ‘kutana’, which means ‘to meet’ or ‘to gather together.’ Loosely translated, ‘mukutano’ means ‘a place where people meet or gather,’ and judging from the crowd of urban youth and middle-aged patrons at the restaurant, some of whom were Congolese, Rwandan, Ugandan and of course Kenyan nationals, whoever gave the eatery its name achieved their mission.

Location and facilities

Located in Kansanga on Ggaba Road and opposite Absa Bank, Makutano Bar and Grill is a fairly large establishment that comprises a lounge, a terrace restaurant, an alfresco sports bar whose counter is built around the trunk of a huge tree, and a car wash that can cater for at least eight cars at a go. The lounge downstairs is spacious with huge rectangular, concrete openings that serve as windows, which are partially covered with blinds. It is clean but basic with a well-stocked bar as its main focal point and could do with new upholstery and a furniture update. A wide staircase carpeted with artificial grass leads to a terrace restaurant upstairs, where most customers prefer to eat. Here, the floor is carpeted wall to wall with artificial grass and furnished with brown plastic wicker chairs and tables that are neatly arranged with a small sink at one corner of the restaurant.

Ambiance

The décor in the terrace restaurant in keeping with the rest of the establishment, is rustic with a mixture of potted and artificial hanging plants. The light bulbs on the ceiling are set in elongated semi-circular, carved wooden lampshades, while others have been placed in quaint hurricane lamps along the walls and create a cozy atmosphere when lit in the evenings. Two large speakers blare out contemporary music which though fairly loud does not drown out conversation. Patrons enjoy lively theme nights on various days that include live band music, quiz and Karaoke nights, music played by popular DJs and the screening of the current World Cup football tournaments, on two large television screens mounted on the walls of both ends of the restaurant.

The menu

Apart from the usual Kenyan fare of ugali, meat/offal, sukuma wiki and kachumbali (a tomato, onion and green pepper salad), the menu is wide and includes chicken, liver and fish. Matooke, Kalo, fast food, soups, pasta, burgers, salads and pizzas are also on the menu, as well as a wide variety of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.

The service

Our fruit juice arrived after 25 minutes and our food exactly an hour after the order had been taken. Meanwhile, a group of five who came in after us, were promptly served. The aroma of their roasted leg of goat filled the air, increasing our hunger pangs and making us wish we had ordered the same. By the time our food arrived, we were famished! The only consolation being that it was delicious and piping hot. The meat portions here are served in kilos and half a kilo of boneless meat, which goes for Shs36,000 and adequate for two, so too are the individual portions of posho and Sukuma wiki, which cost Shs3,000 and Shs2,000 respectively. I later realised that one way of being assured of prompt service, was to order in advance, which is such a shame for walk-in customers, especially since the chefs who cook the food know how to prepare delicious meals.

The bathroom

I was pleasantly surprised to find the bathroom clean and well supplied with toilet paper and liquid soap, considering the fairly large number of customers. An electric hand-drier would have been an added bonus.

Overall impression

We enjoyed our meal at Makutano, the snail-paced service not withstanding and will definitely pay another visit, to try the roasted leg of goat, only that this time I will call and make my order well in advance.

AT A GLANCE

Name: Makutano Bar and Grill.

Location: Ggaba Road, Kansanga, opposite ABSA Bank.

Food: Good.

Specialty: Kenyan fare.

Drinks: There’s a well-stocked bar and a wide variety of non-alcoholic drinks.

Service: Very slow, consider ordering in advance.

Ambiance: Rustic, some places need updating.

Budget: Shs52,000 for two and to up to Shs205,000 for a platter for five, sodas/water inclusive.

Rating: Certainly, worth a visit.

Entertainment: Contemporary music, various theme nights and the World Cup football tournaments.

As Uganda struggles to create enough jobs for its rapidly growing youth population, agroecology is emerging as a promising pathway to employment, entrepreneurship and income generation.

At a recent mentorship workshop organised by Participatory Ecological Land Use Management (PELUM) Uganda at the American Centre in Kampala, more than 30 young people and women gathered to explore opportunities in agroecology-based enterprises, ranging from poultry farming and beekeeping to fruit processing and climate-smart agriculture.

For many participants, the event offered a different perspective on agriculture-not as a subsistence activity, but as a business with the potential to create wealth and jobs. Throughout the engagement, speakers stressed that while unemployment, limited access to capital and shrinking formal employment opportunities continue to frustrate many young Ugandans, opportunities still exist for those willing to innovate and embrace entrepreneurship. Delivering a keynote address virtually from Nairobi, Kenya, mentorship expert Victor Mwiiru urged participants to stop waiting for ideal conditions before pursuing their ambitions.

‘Do not wait for bells to ring. Grab any opportunity available,’ Mwiiru said. ‘Along the way, you will discover what you truly desire. Study your neighbourhood, identify the missing links and become the solution.’ His remarks reflected a growing recognition that agriculture remains one of the few sectors capable of absorbing large numbers of young people while addressing food security and environmental challenges. Mwiiru encouraged participants to take advantage of government-supported incubation hubs and enterprise development programmes that nurture innovators and start-ups.

‘Apply to join the next cohort in incubation centres. Discover yourself, know your strengths and market your abilities confidently,’ he said. According to him, agroecology-linked enterprises such as poultry farming, livestock rearing, fruit processing and beekeeping have significant potential to create jobs and improve household incomes. ‘Poultry farming, livestock rearing, fruit processing and beekeeping hold enormous potential to generate employment, create wealth and improve household incomes for both urban and rural communities,’ he noted.

PELUM Uganda’s Julius Caesar Ssemambo said support systems for aspiring agripreneurs already exist, but many young people are either unaware of them or fail to utilise them. He explained that mentorship programmes expose participants to successful entrepreneurs, experienced farmers and innovation experts who provide practical guidance on business development. ‘There are programmes such as the Nelson Mandela initiatives, Yalta and Africa Women in Agroecology platforms capable of transforming lives if young people embrace them seriously,’ Ssemambo said.

David Sembajwe, another facilitator, said agroecology offers opportunities in value addition, climate-smart agriculture and sustainable income generation, particularly for women and youth. As climate change increasingly affects agricultural production, interest in environmentally sustainable farming practices is also growing. Agroecology promotes efficient use of local resources while reducing dependence on costly external inputs, making it attractive to small-scale farmers and start-up entrepreneurs.

The workshop also highlighted how mentorship can inspire practical business ideas. Participant Esther Sebagala said the engagement had motivated her to start a small fruit-processing venture using locally available produce.

In 1991, I arrived at King’s College, Budo. The school was filled to the rafters with the brainiest students I had ever encountered. Academically, I promptly found myself at the bottom of a class of 58 students. My father called it a disaster. The headmaster, Mr Sam Busulwa, believed it was a culture shock. Hitherto, I had never studied in a Ugandan school before. I had only schooled in ‘outside countries’ and international schools. Budo was neither. It was a hard-knock establishment where the knocks were reserved for those rudderless students who could not establish themselves academically. Subsequently, I was floundering in the dark before this came to light by Mr Busulwa’s illuminating influence.

Each Monday morning, of every week, students eagerly looked forward to his addresses during school assembly. In the school church, he would hold court with a powerful speech marrying a clear, singular message on what it meant to be a Budonian and how every student fitted that appellation by their very presence at the school.

This instantly made me feel part of the school by merely going to the school. With emotional resonance and flawless delivery, furthermore, Mr Busulwa rhetorically transformed abstract concepts into unforgettable aphorisms by deeply connecting with the student’s needs, using compelling storytelling, and leaving a lasting call to action.

His new book titled 85 Letters To My 40 Year Old Self: Looking Back at 85! reads like those cherished Monday sermonettes at Budo all those years ago, right down to the exclamation mark in the book’s title.

His speeches were often mightier than the question mark by the way their impact called for an exclamation mark. They turned me into a Budonian, those speeches. This book is not likely to convert you to a Budonian if you are not one. However, it will help you locate the excellence in you that ‘Busu’ (our nickname for Mr Busulwa) brought out in us at Budo.

To be sure, the book is what another famous Budonian, the late John Nagenda, would have termed a humdinger (something extraordinary). A lifetime of wisdom is distilled into letters every generation should read. Their central question being, what would you say to your 40-year-old self if you had the wisdom of 85 years?

In a broader literary context, this technique of an older narrator stepping in to offer wisdom to a younger version of themselves relies on authorial intrusion or is used in the genre of autofiction. As the author looks back, they use that memoir to reflect on or converse with their past self, it frequently blends into autofiction or retrospective narrative. Mr Busulwa’s book is to the latter. Also, in this literary genre, if an older character (who represents the author) breaks the fourth wall to directly address their past, it is a form of authorial intrusion.

In Mr Busulwa’s deeply reflective and inspiring book, with a readable Foreword by Katikkiro of Buganda kingdom Charles Peter Mayiga, the revered and legendary educator writes heartfelt letters to his younger self, sharing lessons shaped by decades of leadership, faith, service, and learning. With honesty and clarity, he reflects on the choices that shape a life; purpose, character, health, relationships, and the quiet discipline required to grow into one’s calling.

These letters are not only written to the man he once was, but to anyone seeking direction, meaning, and fulfillment. Mr Busulwa, I can personally testify, has dedicated his life to shaping generations through education, leadership, and mentorship.

It is telling that the means by which he expresses his educator credentials are letters. It recalls the phrase ‘man of letters’ and thereby literally and literarily turns Mr Busulwa into one. Incidentally, the phrase man of letters primarily refers to a highly educated scholar, intellectual, or professional writer who is deeply engaged in literary pursuits.

Historically originating in the 17th century, a ‘man of letters’ (or ‘woman of letters’) describes someone whose life and livelihood revolve around literature and ideas. They are usually critics, essayists, historians, or journalists. So you can see that I am who I am because of the lettered past Mr Busulwa exposed me to. This book is surely a timeless guide for anyone who wishes to live wisely, age gracefully and leave a meaningful legacy. In letter 21 of these 85 letters, each letter forms a chapter, Mr Busulwa advises that we stay true to our calling and, largely thanks to him, I personally have.

It is the desire of every farmer to produce and to maintain high crop yields all the time. However to achieve this goal requires paying constant attention to the soil and meeting the nutritional needs of the crop plants growing on the farm. Certainly there are other factors responsible for soil fertility and productivity apart from regular application of fertilizers. They include sufficient rainfall, high water holding capacity, absence of pests and diseases among others. Peter Bamwesigye, Principal Agriculture Officer, Lwengo District, says it is good for the farmer to incorporate green plant material into the soil.

‘During cultivation the weeds should be buried into the soil, and not left on the surface to dry and be burnt,’ he says. ‘Upon rotting green weeds enrich the soil with organic matter, which is good for the soil.’ Bamwesigye also suggests the use of mulches to preserve soil fertility. He says the mulching material should be vegetable or organic like maize stalks, bean husks, dry grass, banana leaves, Napier grass, tree leaves, and a few other such materials. Mulching mitigates soil erosion by wind and water. It conserves soil moisture and facilitates rain infiltration.

The direct beating of rain drops on the soil is prevented which prevents the formation of deep gouges in the garden. Mulching is another way of fighting weed growth. Weed seeds don’t easily germinate under mulches and the crops grow well without competing with weeds for both light and soil nutrients. Upon decay organic mulches turn into manure which enriches the soil with plant nutrients and organic matter. Soil scientists recommend that the soil should be replenished regularly since with every harvest soil nutrients are taken from the farm with the harvested crops.

To grow the crops consume soil nutrients which become part of them and when they are harvested the nutrients are lost to the farm. They must be replaced for the farm to remain fertile and productive. It is also good to apply other organic manure such as livestock droppings, farmyard beddings, and urine. Not all farmers can get sufficient organic manure all the time. With the guidance of the area Agricultural Extension Officers farmers can resort to purchasing artificial or inorganic fertilizers from farmers’ shops.

Medics in the Masaka sub-region have rolled out the use of injectable Lenacapavir amid calls for behavior change as a preventive measure in the fight against HIV.

Addressing journalists in Masaka City during a health science café on June 19, Robert Bbosa, Infectious Diseases Institute Masaka Region Biomedical Prevention Specialist, urged people in the region to work on behaviors that expose them to the risk of infection while using available biomedical prevention products.

He explained that several health facilities in the Masaka sub-region have been supplied with LEN doses.

‘People are turning up in big numbers to get the product. However, few facilities have been supplied with the doses in the first phase, but those that may not be able to obtain the injectable Lenacapavir can use other available preventive measures, as they are also proven to offer protection to users,’ Bbosa said.

Health facilities that have supplies of LEN, according to Mr Bbosa, include Masaka Regional Referral Hospital with about 40 doses, Sembabule Health Centre III which got 30, Bukakkata Health Centre III with 40, and Kasensero Health Centre III, among other facilities, though some like Sembabule and Kasensero have already reported stockouts.

‘We have about 26 facilities in the Wakiso-Masaka cluster which are benefiting in the first phase of the supply of LEN. Five of these facilities are in Masaka, and the rest are in Wakiso. Four facilities have already received LEN and TASO Masaka is yet to receive the commodity,’ he added.

He said health workers have been sensitized on how LEN is administered, and the public is being educated about LEN and other options so people can get the right information about the commodity.

‘LEN is offering people alternative preventive measures they can choose from, so people should not be so excited about LEN and abandon the other available measures like PEP, PrEP, and the ring, and the existing injectable option, because some have similar efficacy levels,’ he added.

Masaka is giving priority to expectant mothers, adolescents, and groups at high risk of infection, such as people who use drugs and those exposed to domestic violence, among other vulnerable communities, to receive LEN.

Masaka District Health Officer, Dr Faith Nakiyimba, however raised concern over high cases of new infections among adolescents in the sub-region despite several efforts put in place to fight new infections.

She blamed the increasing number of new infections on complacency, but said she is optimistic the new product will boost the fight against HIV since people have gotten used to available preventive measures.

‘Greater Masaka sub-region registered 8,154 new HIV infections within the last six months. Of these, 4,814 were females, 3,112 were males, and 124 were children below the age of 15. This is still a big number and we are optimistic that the new commodity will boost the fight against such high cases still registered,’ she added.

She said Masaka was given priority to benefit in the first phase of the rollout of Lenacapavir since the district has high numbers of people at high risk, such as truck drivers, mobile communities at landing sites, and people involved in commercial sex work.

‘The challenge we have with oral PrEP as a preventive measure is that incidentally some people drop off along the way despite people seeking PrEP in large numbers. We think that the rollout of LEN is going to address some of these challenges, but people are advised to use other preventive measures which are readily available if they cannot access it,’ she added.

What you need to know about LENThe medication is available in both injectable and tablet forms. During initial administration, healthcare workers inject the drug on both sides of the abdomen, about five centimeters from the navel. On the same day, the recipient takes two tablets, followed by another two tablets the next day.

This combination initiates six months of protection against HIV infection.Subsequent six-month doses require only the injection, without additional tablets. Lenacapavir is not a vaccine, but a preventive medication.

Masaka sub-region, where the first HIV case in Uganda was identified in 1982, has consistently had the highest HIV burden in the country according to data from three consecutive national HIV/AIDS surveys: 10.6% in 2011, 8.0% in 2016 and 8.1% prevalence in 2020.

In the sun-baked plains of Nakaseke Town Council, where dust once ruled and harvests trembled at the mercy of the skies, a quiet but powerful transformation is unfolding.

In Kakinzi Village, businessman Mushin Nsubuga has turned a stubborn stretch of parched earth into a flourishing commercial farm, proving that with the right spark of technology, even the driest soil can learn to sing again. Just two years ago, Mr Nsubuga’s five-hectare coffee farm struggled to survive.

The land was notoriously hard, water sources unreliable, and yields modest, averaging only two tonnes per harvest. Livestock farming was out of the question. Without dependable water, animals simply could not be sustained. Everything changed in 2024 at an agriculture expo in Kampala, where Mr Nsubuga encountered Sprinktech, a Ugandan company specialising in water and energy solutions.

What followed was not merely a business deal but the beginning of a rural renaissance. Sprinktech conducted a scientific survey to locate underground water reserves and designed a custom solar-powered irrigation system tailored to the harsh terrain. Solar panels now harvest sunlight daily, storing energy in batteries that power a submersible pump. Water is lifted into large reservoirs and distributed through a drip irrigation network that feeds coffee plants at their roots with surgical precision. The result is a farm that no longer waits anxiously for rain clouds to negotiate terms.

Barriers eased

Financial barriers were eased through a Results-Based Financing (RBF) programme implemented by Equity Bank Uganda, in partnership with Energising Development (EnDev) Uganda and GIZ. The initiative incentivizes suppliers to deliver high-quality solar solutions to farmers at affordable rates, opening the gates of modern agriculture to communities long locked out. Within a single year, the transformation has been tremendous, for instance; farm size expanded from five to 10 hectares, coffee production jumped from two tonnes to 10 tonnes every six months, annual revenue doubled from Shs10 million to Shs20 million.

And with water no longer a limiting factor, diversification followed naturally. Nsubuga has introduced goat and poultry farming, with plans to rear 500 layer chicken and establish a piggery. What was once a survival farm is fast becoming a multi-enterprise agribusiness. Perhaps the most remarkable change lies beyond the farm’s boundaries. Clean water from the system is now shared with neighbouring households, reducing long treks to distant sources and improving health outcomes. Seasonal farm activities have created new employment opportunities, injecting income into local homes.

Farm manager Micah Mwiima says the impact has been immediate and profound. ‘The transformation goes beyond the farm. Our neighbours now have access to clean water for domestic use and safe drinking. We also hire people from the community, especially during busy seasons when coffee needs extra care.’ Inspired by Nsubuga’s success, other residents are beginning to invest in coffee farming, turning Kakinzi into an emerging agricultural hotspot. Equity Bank’s Equi-Green loans, starting from as little as Shs200,000, are helping thousands of households and small businesses across Uganda access renewable energy technologies.

More than 44,000 households and 500 micro, small, and medium enterprises have already benefited, signaling a broader shift toward climate-resilient rural development. Though the land still demands careful, phased irrigation due to its stubborn nature, the trajectory of Kakinzi Village has changed forever. What was once a dry, uncertain landscape is now a 20-million-shilling enterprise and a beacon of possibility. Mushin Nsubuga’s farm stands as living proof that when sunlight, innovation, and accessible financing converge, the soil does more than produce crops. It produces hope. And in Nakaseke, hope is growing in neat green rows

On a hot afternoon, the harsh sunlight cuts straight through the roof of Apuce Health Centre II in Ayami Sub-county, Lira District.

Outside the consultation room, a mother rests on the cemented floor, her baby curled tightly against her chest. Inside the Outpatient Department (OPD), the queue is frozen. Dozens of patients sit shoulder-to-shoulder on wooden desks meant for three people but crammed with five.

These mothers have travelled from as far as Apuce and Arwotomito parishes. Some walked for over an hour with infants strapped to their backs; others endured bumpy rides on boda bodas over rough murram roads. They wait patiently because, in this rural stretch of northern Uganda, there is simply nowhere else to go.

Established in 2012 to serve an isolated rural catchment area, Apuce Health Centre II has become a lifeline, handling between 750 and 800 clients every month.

The facility absorbs a massive regional health burden, offering critical services including:

HIV testing, counselling, and antiretroviral (ART) care

Tuberculosis (TB) diagnosis and treatment

Malaria prevention and management

Antenatal care (ANC) and family planning

Nutrition screening and laboratory services

Yet, for over a decade, the facility’s staffing levels failed to match the desperate community demand. The entire unit relies on just six staff members: three technical personnel (an assistant nursing officer, a health assistant, and a midwife) and three support staff.

Sister Lilly Epila, the assistant nursing officer in-charge, remembers the dark days when she had to run the facility single-handedly.

‘I was posted here in June 2015 to take full charge. From that time, I was working without a midwife,’ Sr. Epila recalls.

For a brief window between 2022 and 2023, a comprehensive enrolled nurse was posted to the facility. Because comprehensive nurses possess basic midwifery knowledge, Sr. Epila assigned her to antenatal care. “Pregnant mothers were crying because we were not palpating them,” she says.

However, the nurse was soon transferred, leaving the antenatal unit vacant once more. Pleas from the Health Centre Management Committee and Ayami Sub-county leadership to the District Health Officer (DHO) for a replacement initially fell on deaf ears.

The turning point came in early 2024 through an intervention by the Community Score Card (CSC)-a participatory social accountability tool commissioned by the Catalyzing Strengthened Policy Action for Healthy Diets and Resilience (CASCADE) project.

What is a Community Score Card? The CSC is an accountability tool that brings community members, local leaders, and service providers together to grade the quality of public services. By independently assessing indicators and holding dialogue sessions, communities can directly voice challenges, track solutions, and demand transparency. Under the CASCADE project, the CSC specifically targets health and nutrition outcomes.

The CSC assessment highlighted glaring gaps at Apuce HC II. Because there was no midwife, expectant mothers were shunning the facility, opting for traditional birth attendants instead. This directly contributed to poor maternal and child nutrition outcomes in the sub-county.

The data-driven advocacy worked. By September 2024, the district finally deployed an enrolled midwife, Ms. Judith Ajwang, to the facility. The score card dialogues also prompted the sub-county to connect the facility to electricity.

‘Right now, we have both the midwife and electricity,’ says a relieved Sr. Epila. ‘The power helps us attend to clients at night. When someone knocks at midnight, we are no longer scared because the light guarantees our safety. You step out with confidence.’

When this reporter visited Apuce Health Centre II, the newly deployed midwife, Ms. Judith Ajwang, was a blur of activity, methodically screening expectant mothers.

At the ANC unit, mothers undergo rigorous checks: Hemoglobin (HB) tests to catch anemia early, nutrition assessments using Mid-Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC) tape, and routine screenings for HIV, sickle cell, syphilis, and Hepatitis B.

‘On average, I see between 28 to 35 mothers daily. Since 2012, there was no proper midwife here, so we are still sensitizing the community that services are available,’ Ms Ajwang says.

Her efforts are yielding massive results. ‘When I drew up the annual work plan, my target was to register 200 new mothers for this financial year ending June 30. As of today, I have already registered 220. I am going beyond my target.’

For local residents, the impact is life-changing.

‘We used to travel to Aromo Health Centre III, which is about seven kilometers away, just for antenatal care,’ says Janet Akello, a mother of seven from Arwotomito Village. ‘Now that we have a midwife, the services have been brought closer to us.’

As a Health Centre II, Apuce is technically not accredited to conduct standard deliveries; its mandate is limited to ANC mapping, testing, and referring high-risk cases to larger units. However, reality often overrides policy. Ms. Ajwang has already had to perform two emergency deliveries since her arrival.

Despite the recent victories, the structural deficit remains alarming. Ms. Ajwang frequently operates in a “midwife alone” scenario-performing tasks meant for a team of nine. She simultaneously juggles antenatal care, family planning, postnatal checkups, and diagnostic testing.

While the health centre is currently transitioning to digital documentation using tablets to improve data tracking, healthcare experts warn that technological upgrades cannot replace human resource shortfalls. For Apuce HC II to fully guarantee patient safety, the district must move swiftly to bridge the critical staffing ceiling gaps that still hold this rural community hostage.