Category: Daily Monitor

When Bunyama Primary School opened its gates in 2022, residents of Bunyama Island in Kalangala District celebrated what they thought was the dawn of better education.

Built to accommodate more than 200 children in Bunyama Parish, Bujumba Sub-county, the school was meant to save parents from ferrying their children to Bugala Island, five miles away, in search of learning facilities. Three years later, that promise feels broken. Enrolment has never exceeded 95 pupils. A visit to the school last week revealed only three teachers on duty, handling all classes. Both Baby Class and Primary One learners share a single room, while Primary Two and Three occupy another.

Primary Four and Five are separated by a wooden partition, with only Primary Six enjoying its own space. The entire school has just four classrooms. Primary Five and Six were only introduced this year after a parents-teachers meeting aimed at boosting enrolment. But the effort has not stopped families from putting their children in boats every day to cross to Bugala Island for schooling. ‘More than 30 children cross daily from Kagoonya Landing Site to Bugala. Others are even taken to schools outside Kalangala,’ said Ms Judith Naziwa, the LC3 councillor for women.

The hurdles

According to Bujumba Sub-county records, Bunyama Parish has more than 2,000 residents, including more than 400 children. Yet Bunyama Primary struggles to keep even a quarter of them in class. The only other learning centre on the island is a small private nursery near Kagoonya fishing village, which teachers say also affects enrolment. ‘We receive pupils at the start of term, but after six weeks they disappear when parents migrate to other islands in search of better fish catches,’ complained Mr Joseph Nsubuga, one of the teachers.

‘The long distances children walk also discourage attendance. From landing sites like Kisujju or Kagoonya, pupils trek four to seven kilometres daily through thick forests. Parents fear for their safety,’ he added. Mr Nsubuga believes a boarding section would be a game-changer. ‘If we had a boarding section, children would stay here and wouldn’t miss school even when their parents move away for fishing on distant islands,’ he said. Local leaders argue the school was neglected soon after construction.

‘It has no fence, no security. Even the solar panels were stolen and the water system destroyed by locals, which has worsened the school environment,’ said Mr John Lutalo, the speaker for Bujumba Sub-county. Kalangala District chairperson Rajab Semakula said all government-built schools in the district are designed as day schools, even though they are expected to serve multiple islands. ‘How can children from another island access a school daily? We have repeatedly asked the government to bend the rules and allow Kalangala to have boarding sections in all our schools,’ he said.

Parents’ struggles

For many parents, poverty is the bigger hurdle. ‘I cannot afford the requirements at Bunyama Primary School,’ said Ms Brenda Nakajubi, a mother from Kagoonya fishing village. ‘It’s cheaper for me to send my children to another school, even if it means crossing by boat every day,’ she added. Others fear the journey itself. ‘Some of us cannot risk letting young children walk long distances,’ said Mr Farouk Mulijo.

‘And the standards at Bunyama Primary School are not convincing. That’s why I don’t take my children there,’ he added. Even children question the school’s standards. Cain Ssentumbwe, who once studied at Bunyama Primary School but later transferred to Kibanga Primary on Bugala Island, said poor teaching drove him away. ‘Sometimes teachers would ask the best pupils to teach others. There were not enough textbooks. I lost interest,’ he claimed.

Pupils’ concerns

Maria Naziwa, a Primary Four pupil, recalled dangers on the way to class. ‘We sometimes meet snakes on the paths or even in classrooms. After that, we fear to return. I had to leave the school for another, for safety,’ she said. District Education Officer Emmanuel Nseko said the funding model makes survival harder for island schools. ‘The government allocates capitation grants depending on pupil numbers. A school like Bunyama, with fewer than 100 children, gets about Shs1 million a term, yet operational costs are the same as schools with hundreds of pupils,’ he explained. He urged the government to give special consideration.

‘One sub-county can have seven islands and only one day school. Without tailored funding for island schools, Universal Primary Education will remain a dream here,’ he added.

The opposition National Unity Platform (NUP) on Monday unveiled a four-member elections tribunal committee to receive complaints from parliamentary aspirants who failed to secure the party flag in the recently released results.

The nominations saw some incumbents like Allan Ssewanyana, Medard Ssegona, Joyce Bagala, and Aloysius Mukasa replaced due to performance concerns and perceived incompetence.

Other MP hopefuls like David Musiri, musician Ibrahim Mayanja aka Big Eye and comedian Obedi Lubega, better known as Reign, also failed in their bid to be party flagbearers in their respective constituencies.

The committee is headed by Dr Moses Kanaabi, NUP organizing secretary, alongside lawyers Marvin Saasi, Fatuma Cassim, and Jonathan Elotu. They are tasked with receiving petitions, harmonizing complaints, and maintaining unity among defeated aspirants.

Speaking at party headquarters in Makerere-Kavule before traveling to Jinja, NUP president Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, alias Bobi Wine, urged aggrieved candidates to report complaints only to the committee, not on social media.

‘The data show us in some places we had over ten MP contenders vying for the same seat, but the party flag can only go to one best candidate. To those who did not win, we encourage you to be decent, disciplined and stay on the voyage seeking for change, not for survival,’ he said on Monday.

Bobi Wine emphasized that parliamentary contests should not be ‘do-or-die’ and tasked both successful and unsuccessful candidates to unite behind the party’s vision for a new Uganda through a ‘protest vote’ in 2026.

NUP Secretary General David Lewis Rubongoya said the committee has two days, starting today, to register complaints.

‘The results will be released in segments; the committee has set only two days to register complaints and petitions from the aggrieved aspirants and then later will give its judgement as we did in the local government elections,’ he said.

NUP Election Management Committee (EMC) member Harriet Chemutai stressed that the process was conducted democratically and transparently, with candidates assessed on 60 percent ground strength and 40 percent vetting to select credible contenders.

‘The unsuccessful candidates would line up behind the party-selected ones,’ she said, urging unity ahead of the 2026 polls.

The parliamentary nomination exercise began on June 1, culminating yesterday with the release of the results. Nomination by the Electoral Commission (EC) for all political parties is scheduled for October 15 and 16.

NUP flagbearers: Key constituency results

Kampala

Woman Rep: Shamim Malende

Kawempe North: Elias Nalukoola Luyimbaazi

Kawempe South: Fred Nyanzi Ssentamu

Nakawa East: Alex Waiswa Mufumbiro

Nakawa West: Joel Ssenyonyi

Lubaga North: Abubakar Kawalya

Lubaga South: Euginia Nassolo

Makindye West: Zahara Maala Luyilika

Makindye East: Ali Kasirye Nganda

Kampala Central: David Lewis Rubongoya

Wakiso

Woman Rep: Betty Ethel Naluyima

Entebbe Municipality: Joyce Nabatta Namuli

Busiro County South: Charles Matovu

Busiro County East: Mathias Walukagga

Busiro County North: Ronald Ssemaganda

Kyadondo County East: Muwadda Nkunyinji

Makindye Ssabagabo Municipality: David Sserukenya

Nansana Municipality: Zambali Bulasio Mukasa

Kira Municipality: George Musisi

Mukono

Woman Rep: Re-evaluate

Mukono County North: Abdallah Kiwanuka

Mukono County South: Robert Maseruka

Nakifuma County: Sulaiman Kiwanuka

Mukono Municipality: Betty Nambooze Bakileke

Mityana

Woman Rep: Proscovia Namukisa (Nabbosa)

Mityana County North: Isaac Tomusange

Mityana County South: Freddie Grace Kintu

Mityana Municipality: Francis Zaake Butebi

Busuju County: David Lukyamuzi Kalwanga

Kassanda

Woman Rep: Flavia Kalule Nabagabe

Bukuya County: Robert Mutebi

Kassanda County North: Patrick Nsamba Oshabe

Kassanda County South: Frank Kabuye

Kayunga

Woman Rep: Harriet Nakwedde

Bbale County: Charles Tebandeke

Ntenjeru County North: Frederick Ssali Kafeero

Ntenjeru County South: Patrick Nsanja

Butambala

Woman Rep: Aisha Kabanda

Butambala County: Muhammad Muwanga Kivumbi

Gomba

Woman Rep: Betty Ssentamu

Gomba East County: Godfrey Saazi

Gomba West County: Lukwago Gonzaga

Mpigi

Woman Rep: Re-evaluate

Mawokota County North: Hillary Innocent Kiyaga (Dr Hilderman)

Mawokota County South: Martin Ssejjemba

KL Lady Dolphins will start their chase for a fifth National Basketball League title when they face UCU Lady Canons in the semifinal series that tip off on Wednesday at YMCA, Wandegeya.

Henry Malinga’s charges have dominated the division in the last six years, winning four of the five championships on offer.

Only the Lady Canons have managed to stop them by winning the league in 2022 after a thrilling seven-game series.

Led by four-time MVP and Gazelles assistant captain Hope Akello, JKL go into the series as favourites, riding on the experience and embarrassment of riches in every possession.

Akello is averaging a double-double of 15 points and 12 rebounds this season and possesses JKL’s key to the finals.

She is also surrounded by several other winners on the team, including Ritah Imanishimwe, Agatha Kamwada, Brenda Ekone and Evelyne Nakiyingi. Veteran Flavia Oketcho is also still in the fold.

The Dolphins ended the season as the top seed and went on to sweep UPDF Lady Tomahawks in the quarterfinals.

A clash with the Lady Canons will present a much tougher challenge, though, and the defending champions will be required to engage second gear in order to progress to the semis.

The ever-changing face of the Lady Canons has never been an excuse at the big stage. Regardless of who leaves and who stays, the university side remains competitive.

And despite losing Shakirah Nanvubya and Azidah Nabayunga at the end of last season, the team has remained competitive and cannot be written off in the series.

Nicholas Natuhereza’s charges have largely relied on young talent this season, with the likes of Shillah Lamunu, Matrina Anyango and Sylivia Nakituuka handed big responsibilities.

The experience of Hajara Najjuko and Bridget Aber has also come in handy on several occasions and will be crucial at this stage of the season.

In the other semifinal clash, the JT Lady Jaguars will face off with Magic Stormers, who eliminated KCCA Leopards 2-1 in the quarterfinals.

National Basketball League Playoffs

Women semifinals

Game One, YMCA

Stormers vs. JT L. Jaguars, 7pm

JKL vs. UCU, 9pm

Dear Tingasiga: I have never voted in a Ugandan general election. I was a little boy when Uganda went to the polls in 1961 and 1962. However, my interest in these things was already bubbling within me, thanks to my father who invited me to attend political party leaders’ campaigns. We attended rallies by Benedicto Mugumba Kiwanuka, the leader of the Democratic Party (DP), and Apolo Milton Obote, the leader of the Uganda Peoples Congress (UPC.) The rallies, held in our local marketplace, were simple affairs, presenting humble men who spoke with smiles, and made their promises before working the crowds. However, that election was shocking, even to a little boy whose mother was a Roman Catholic and the father a Native Anglican.

The ecumenical life which we had been accustomed to was overthrown by a frightening level of conflict. Friends and neighbours became enemies. The next election, held on April 25, 1962, was marred by worse conflict, election rigging, complete with underage ‘voters,’ and results that ended Kiwanuka’s leadership. He had served our country as chief minister for one year and as our first prime minister for just under one month. There is a marvellous photograph, taken in May 1962, that shows a smiling Apolo Milton Obote hoisted by several jubilant men celebrating the recent electoral victory of the UPC/Kabaka Yekka (KY) alliance. I have written about that photo in the past, but it is worth repeating, for it has a strong message for us.

The men in the photograph are cabinet ministers in the new government, probably certain of many happy years ahead, free men in the finest country on the continent. Alex A Ojera from Acholi bears most of the prime minister’s weight. Felix Kenyi Onama from West Nile/Madi looks into the camera, his arms steadying the victorious prime minister. Ali Akbar Adoko Nekyon from Lango, the prime minister’s cousin, lends a brotherly hand. Behind him is Grace Stuart Katebariirwe Ibingira from Ankole, age 30, waving in triumph. James Joseph Trevor Simpson from Buganda, the only European in the cabinet, grins with satisfaction. He is the Kabaka Yekka member of parliament for Kyaggwe North East .

Dr Joshua Ssejjengo Luyimbazi Zake from Buganda, perhaps the most academically accomplished member of the first cabinet, suppresses a smile. Matthias Mbalule Ngobi Ikoona from Busoga, arms thrust forward, appears to be dancing with joy. The Isebantu Sir William Wilberforce Bwamiki Kadhumbula Nadiope, the Kyabazinga of Busoga, beams as he offers a triumphant royal wave. The only man in the photograph whose facial expression hints at ambivalence, if not outright displeasure, is Dr Emmanuel Bijjugo Sajjalyabene Lumu from Buganda. Does he have misgivings about the prognosis that awaits the delicate arrangement that has placed their fate in the hands of Obote, a man who had not had any leadership or other executive experience?

Things fell apart rather quickly. JT Simpson, who was both chairman of the Uganda Development Corporation, and minister of Finance, resigned his seat in 1964, left the government, and repaired to Nairobi, Kenya. That became his home for the rest of his life. Obote imprisoned Ibingira, Ngobi and Lumu, together with Ministers George Magezi and Balaki Kirya, on February 22, 1966. They had been allegedly plotting to overthrow him from the prime minister’s office. Nekyon resigned from the Obote cabinet in April 1967, remained politically active for decades, and died of illness in Kampala on May 4, 2018. Onama had an uneasy relationship with Obote, even when the latter made him one of the most powerful men in the country.

According to the late Cuthbert Obwangor, Onama (and Basil Bataringaya) were behind the assassination attempt on Obote on December 19, 1969. Onama was believed to have been involved in the successful plot coup d’état that ended Milton Obote’s first presidency on January 25, 1971. Ibingira, released from prison in February 1972, served briefly as an ambassador to the UN, but remained at the periphery of Uganda’s power structure. He never rose to the role that his brief shining moment in our history had promised. He died of natural causes in Bujumbura, Burundi on an uncertain date in December 1995. After his release from political prison in February 1971, Dr Lumu returned to his professional career, and shunned active politics for the rest of his life.

He practiced medicine in Kisenyi in central Kampala and retired at 80 years of age. He died of natural causes at his home in Kampala on December 11, 2019. He was 103 years old. Alex Ojera, the only one in that photo who appeared to have remained loyal to Obote, joined the ill-fated armed force that invaded Uganda from Tanzania on September 17, 1972, with the goal of regaining power. Ojera surrendered to the Uganda Army, was arrested and executed sometime in October 1972. Milton Obote, overthrown twice by his soldiers, died of a natural cause in a South African hospital on October 10, 2005, ending 20-years of a second exile that he had spent in Lusaka, Zambia.

On the other hand, JT Simpson was knighted with The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (KBE) on January 1, 1965. He enjoyed a successful business career as chairman of Simpson and Company in Kenya and died in Nairobi at the age of 86 on April 10, 1994. In addition to his vast wealth in Kenya, Sir James’ estate in England and Wales alone was valued at £302,858 (equivalent to £769,259 today.) We remember the early 1960s with nostalgia. We rightly consider the first parliament and executive branch to have been populated with patriotic gentlemen. Yet they engaged in political battles that kept the country on the edge of our seats.

The leaders’ conflicts had supporting acts at district levels. In Kigezi we had the Banyama-Baboga wars that left deep and wounds in their wake. The Catholic-Anglican tensions hibernated a little when the UPC people were engaged in their suicidal factional fights. However, that religious tension occupied subterranean territory, with episodic eruptions, usually triggered by political campaigns and so-called elections. Just like the chief protagonists in the early post-independence battles are all dead and largely forgotten, their cheerleaders and foot soldiers are long forgotten. All gained from those fights were damaged relations and wasted opportunities.

Many believed the lies of opportunistic politicians without stopping to ask themselves what the fight was about. Whereas I understand the complexities of politics and the struggles for control that trigger epic battles between comrades and fellow kinspeople, I wish I could persuade all Ugandans that these religious and ethnic verbal fights are just not worth it. That is as true for the under-employed youth in Mparo and Bukedea, as it is true for those battling for control of State House or the parliamentary speaker’s chair. It is not worth it.