Category: Daily Monitor

Rebeccah Gumobare is an events planner and decorator. After obtaining a bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences from Makerere University, she got a job at Crane Bank. She worked diligently for two years, but the administration decided to post her to a remote branch in Kabale. ‘I did not want to be far away from Kampala. This was a challenge for me, and I had to make a decision to leave formal employment, which can be very demanding, unlike self-employment,’ Gumobare recalls.

She then decided to venture into business and opened a boutique named, Fashion Forward in Ntinda, importing and selling clothing from China and Dubai.

In 2016, while pursuing a Master’s degree in Business Administration at the Eastern and South African Management Institute in Arusha, she encountered challenges balancing her studies with the boutique. Consequently, she closed the business in 2017 to focus on completing her degree, but after school, she was left unemployed. In 2020, during the Coronavirus pandemic, she found herself at home with time on her hands. To occupy herself, she began organising small picnics and decorating her compound.

Her first project was Sharon Karogora, her sister in-law’s baby shower, a wife to her brother. Impressed by her creativity during the event, her sister in-law and other guests encouraged her to continue, suggesting she could turn her talent into a source of income. Thus, Zuri Lifestyle Events was born, a name meaning ‘beautiful’ or ‘lovely’ in Swahili. ‘I wanted to create beautiful moments for people,’ Gumobare explains. She began by organising small events for family and friends, such as birthdays, gradually building her experience and reputation.

Zuri Lifestyle Events

Zuri Lifestyle Events offers a range of services, including event planning and décor for weddings, bridal and birthday showers, corporate events, and destination parties. In response to client requests, Gumobare has even travelled to countries such as Zanzibar and Zambia to execute events. She takes pride in the company’s growth, from its humble beginnings to a thriving business that now employs five permanent staff members, while sourcing additional casual laborers as needed for event operations.

The business has also expanded her social network, allowing her to meet a wide array of people, including key figures who have become part of her professional and personal life. To meet specific client needs, she often collaborates with other decorators for items or specialized equipment, such as lighting, that may not be part of her inventory.

Gumobare observes that many decorators in Kampala tend to follow modern trends, often replicating concepts they find online, which can make their work appear monotonous and predictable. In contrast, she prides herself on creating unique designs, through building concepts from scratch to set her apart in the industry.

‘I focus on timeless designs that will not go out of fashion tomorrow,’ she explains. ‘I prefer neutral tones and classic colors like white and black, which remain elegant and enduring.’ Gumobora adds.

Marketing the business

Although Gumobare has not heavily invested in social media marketing, she promotes Zuri Lifestyle Events through platforms such as Instagram, Twitter, and Snapchat. However, most of her clients come through referrals, as she rarely acquires them directly from social media. ‘When I do my work, I make sure it is executed perfectly so that it is appreciated and leads to the next client,’ she explains. When a client contacts her, she arranges a meeting to understand their vision and the specifics of the event. From there, she designs a concept from scratch and presents it to the client. Once approved, Gumobare provides a quotation tailored to the event, taking into account factors such as theme, color scheme, location, venue, and guest numbers.

Gumobare also recalls one of her favourite experiences at Sandra Kekirunga Muhwezi’s event. The client, a party planner herself, had her own clear ideas and vision for the celebration.

For Gumobare, she executed the work meticulously, and the client was extremely pleased with the results. She notes that this event marked a turning point, as it led to numerous subsequent opportunities and referrals in her career.

Challenges

Like many saturated industries, Gumobare notes that the events and décor sector in Uganda includes a number of unprofessional operators. She explains that, in the absence of an association to protect business owners, suppliers often create challenges, sometimes taking payment without delivering, failing to show up, or providing substandard or incorrect goods. In such cases, there is little recourse, and money can be lost in the process.

‘People can be self-centered. During negotiations, everyone may seem aligned, but once payment is made, their approach changes.’ She notes. Gumobare also faces challenges with clients who delay payments and casual laborers who require close supervision, often completing tasks perfunctorily before leaving. Nevertheless, she has learned to be more patient, recognizing that people come from diverse backgrounds and work at different paces.

Similalrly, managing large events is particularly demanding, as Gumobare often takes a hands-on approach and rarely delegates. Combined with setbacks from inconsistent suppliers, this can be exhausting and at times discouraging. However, the appreciation she receives for her work, along with referrals and the income generated, provides motivation to persevere and continue growing her business.

In Uganda, flowers available to decorators are often limited, and Gumobare resorts to sourcing unique and high-quality blooms from Naivasha and Nairobi in Kenya. These suppliers typically require full payment upfront, and on two occasions, she was scammed, having paid for flowers that were never delivered.

Advice

Gumobare advises aspiring entrepreneurs that the hustle never stops. She emphasizes patience, noting that financial rewards do not come immediately, and while success may take years, consistency and dedication will eventually pay off. For clients planning events, she stresses the importance of knowing exactly what they want. If they are uncertain, engaging an events planner early is crucial.

‘Some clients book services just two weeks before their special day,’ she explains. ‘At that point, the items and décor they desire may no longer be available, resulting in compromises. Booking three months in advance allows proper planning and ensures a unique, well-executed event rather than relying on copied concepts.’

Future plans

Gumobare envisions growing Zuri Lifestyle Events into a prominent brand with a presence in the international market, recognising that the Ugandan events industry is highly crowded. As someone who enjoys traveling, she is particularly interested in organising destination weddings, such as beach ceremonies, which she finds less physically demanding.

Although she has not yet received formal training in event planning, she looks forward to attending a short course at the South African School of Weddings and Events to further enhance her skills and expertise.

It is a high stakes start to the 2025/26 Finance Trust Bank (FTB) Fufa Women Super League (FWSL) as challengers Kawempe Muslim host defending champions Kampala Queens (KQ) in the Valley on Saturday.

The last time the ‘Queens of Soccer’ visited the Valley last December, they ran away 4-1 winners against a demotivated Kawempe that were on the verge of losing their stars Phionah Nabulime and Hadijah Nandago.

Kawempe avenged the loss later in May at MTN Omondi Stadium Lugogo but KQ had already cushioned their lead at the top and subsequently won the title.

‘Both games are in the past and I do not want to be dragged into them now but I am surprised that a loss that came in December is everyone’s focus yet our win is more recent,’ Kawempe coach Ayub Khalifa defiantly said in a pre-match press conference.

KQ return to find a better stocked Warriors’ side. Latifah Nakasi has joined from Uganda Martyrs Lubaga and is tasked with taking the goalscoring burden off Agnes Nabukenya, who is also needed to be a midfield enforcer.

Fullbacks Aminah Nakato and prodigal daughter Asia Nakibuuka, who returns after three seasons at KQ, bring in title winning experience – especially after Kawempe also lost Jolly Kobusinge to KQ. But Nakibuuka could return to a forward role as was the case in her breakout years in Kawempe pre-Covid-19.

Brenda Nankya has also been promoted from the Kawempe side playing in the second division while Claire Kebirungi is expected to command more minutes. The concerns still remain in the areas of creativity as captain Shakirah Nyinagahirwa continues to struggle from injury and has been ruled out by the coach.

Late decisions remain over the involvement of Dorcus Kisakye and Sumaya Nabuto, who suffered injuries with the U-20 Women’s national team.

Polishing

Meanwhile, KQ have had a better pre-season environment given their involvement in the Caf Women’s Champions League Cecafa Qualifiers in Nairobi, Kenya.

The results were far from ideal but having their new players like fullbacks Kobusinge and Catherine Wujja, central defender Marrion Amangat, Ethiopian midfielders Turist Lema and Meadin Sahilu, and attacker Joanita Ainembabazi tried out in such a competitive environment was a huge bonus.

However, the Ethiopians were only here for the Cecafa tournament. The Zambians Square Maiwase and Precious Phiri remain but have to come up to speed as they were barely used in Nairobi.

Coach Firew Asefa Hailegebreal must have used the last two weeks post-tournament to polish them alongside forwards like Peace Muduwa and Shamusa Najjuma. The presence of quality domestic players like Catherine Nagadya, Kamiyat Naigaga, Sumaya Nalumu makes KQ’s options deeper.

‘Of course, apart from the game against Denden (from Eritrea, which KQ won 7-0), we struggled to score goals and that has been our area of focus,’ KQ’s assistant coach Sharon Kizza, said.

This clash comes and ideally should have little impact on the direction of the campaign as whoever drops points can recover later. But the FWSL is no normal league as history has proved.

Over the years, Kawempe have dropped games and points everywhere and anywhere. But since 2022, no other side in the league other than KQ. That puts pressure on Kawempe to ensure they put KQ in a chasing position.

‘The records do not lie. It is absurd that only Kawempe can beat KQ and we definitely need more teams in the league to show they can compete against everyone and for the title,’ Khalifa said.

FTB Fufa Women Super League

Saturday in Kawempe

Kawempe Muslim vs. Kampala Queens, 4pm

Probable XIs

Kawempe: Josephine Nambuya (GK); Samalie Nakacwa, Aminah Nakato, Hadijah Babirye, Sharifah Nakimera; Krusum Namutebi, Agnes Nabukenya, Latifah Nakasi; Asia Nakibuuka, Jovia Nakagolo, Shadia Nabirye

KQ: Sharon Kaidu (GK); Catherine Wujja, Jolly Kobusinge, Marrion Amangat, Jamilah Nabulime; Shakirah Nankwanga, Zaitun Namaganda, Shamusa Najjuma; Kamiyati Naigaga, Peace Muduwa, Joanita Ainembabazi

Presidential candidate Mubarak Munyagwa of the Common Man’s Party has called on the youth in Busoga sub-region to embrace politics as a tool to end poverty and push for development.

Speaking at a campaign rally in Iganga District on Thursday, Munyagwa said the region’s stagnation was rooted in poor representation at the national level.

‘Busoga has been left behind in serious politics, and its youth are not actively involved in shaping the region’s future,’ he told the crowd.

‘When young people join politics, they gain the power and energy to bring real change to their communities. This will be possible once you elect me as your president,’ he added.

Busoga, with a population of 4.37 million people according to the May 2024 census, accounts for 9.5 percent of Uganda’s total population.

Iganga alone hosts over 426,000 residents, of whom more than 230,000 are women. Munyagwa argued that the region’s demographic weight could be turned into political leverage if the youth mobilised and organised.

He turned his criticism to the state of healthcare, highlighting overstretched and under-equipped hospitals.

‘If elected, my government will ensure that hospitals are fully equipped and accessible, unlike what is happening now,’ he said, pledging round-the-clock medical services, better funding, and improved working conditions for health workers.

On education, Munyagwa said rural schools were neglected compared to urban ones, creating structural inequality.

‘All schools under my leadership will follow equal policies and meet the same standards,’ he promised, adding that: ‘A village school in Iganga will be just as good as a school in Kampala. We will use taxpayers’ money to make this vision a reality.’

He pledged to upgrade school infrastructure, ensure fair teacher deployment, and provide adequate teaching materials nationwide.

Munyagwa framed his campaign as one aimed at fairness and inclusion, declaring: ‘This is a people’s campaign. Together, we will build a nation where no region, no community, and no citizen is left behind.’

Busoga’s challenges remain formidable. As of the 2021 elections, Iganga’s four constituencies recorded 186,519 votes, with opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi taking 58 percent against President Museveni’s 38 percent.

Residents continue to cite poor road infrastructure, unemployment, weak health and education services, corruption, land disputes, gender-based violence and low agricultural productivity as key concerns.

Iganga voting pattern -2021

Total votes- 186,519

Museveni- 35.660-37.96%

Bobi Wine -54,712-58.23%

Munyagwa- not in race

A 33-year-old man, Mustafar Manirabuka, also known as Katonda, has pleaded guilty to charges of defacing campaign posters of President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni in Busia District.

Appearing before the Busia Chief Magistrate, Thomas Okoth on Thursday, Manirabuka admitted to destroying the posters along Majanji Road in Busia Town on September 22, 2025.

According to the Resident State Attorney, Julius Danx Tuhairwe, the incident occurred on September 22, 2025, when Manirabuka allegedly used a sharp knife to destroy five campaign posters of President Museveni.

While Manirabuka pleaded guilty to the charges, he disputed the number of posters involved.

“It is true I destroyed the posters, but they were four, not five as the prosecution claims,” he told the court.

Manirabuka further explained his motive, stating that he and his family had supported and campaigned for President Museveni for years without any recognition or reward.

“I tore the posters so that the message could reach the President that there is a family in Busia that has campaigned tirelessly for him over the years without being acknowledged,” Manirabuka said.

The Chief Magistrate, Mr Okoth, remanded the accused to Masafu government prison, pending sentencing and conviction.

Manirabuka, a resident of Busia Town and a Musoga by tribe, had reportedly gone into hiding after defacing the posters near Busia Police Station along Majanji Road.

He was later tracked down by police detectives and arrested on Custom Road in Eastern Division, where he had been hiding.

As the political campaign season gains momentum with the various presidential candidates embarking on their campaign trails in different parts of the country, in Alebtong District, little-known youth are embarking on a campaign trail of their own. One to sensitise and teach locals about the dangers of climate change. In the Daily Monitor of Wednesday, October 1, a story titled, ‘Youth in flood, drought-prone areas rise to climate challenge’, highlighted how hundreds of youth trained by a local non-governmental organisation, Change Lead Agency Social Support, educate their community on the impacts of climate change.

Climate change, for many in rural areas, sounds like a distant, irrelevant issue that they need not bother themselves with or that is a preserve of non-governmental organisations and a topic for intellectual discourse at global conferences. In fact, according to Moses Omara, executive director of Change Lead Agency Social Support, there are some members of the community who still believe that climate change is a result of God’s anger and not man’s activities. This is why the youth engaged in this noble project should be commended and supported by the various stakeholders.

The youth who walk through villages from about 10am to 6pm, engaged in door-to-door campaigns in Amugo and Abako sub-counties in Alebtong District sensitise people on the dangers of wetland encroachment, bush burning, which explains rising temperatures, changing rainfall patterns, and increased frequency of extreme weather events affecting crops, livestock, and overall livelihoods, among other aspects. Alebtong District, like many other parts of the country, has suffered climate challenges such as floods, which destroy acres of food crops and homes.

The climate challenges in the area are said to be mainly a result of unregulated charcoal burning, which reduces the land’s ability to absorb water, increase surface run-off, and increases flood risk. There’s also a problem of poor agricultural practices, such as over-grazing and cultivation on steep slopes, leading to soil erosion and increased runoff and silting of River Moroto. Omara says they have come up with mitigation and adaptation approaches to fight climate change.

Climate challenges are real and dealing with them should not be relegated to just a few in society. Societies should be helped to understand the consequences of their personal day-to day actions and choices on the environment. Such sensitisation and awareness drives as is being carried out by the aforementioned youth brings the concern down to the grassroots and encourage informed behavioural change. This is why looking out for and supporting such initiatives is key. It is a plus that the main participants are young people. They, after all, are the future and are bound to suffer the effects of a misused Mother Earth more.

As Maj Gen (rtd) Gregory Mugisha Muntu, the Alliance for National Transformation (ANT) presidential flagbearer, embarks on his campaign in Mitooma and Rubirizi districts today, residents are eager to hear his stance on issues that have long affected the area.

Bordering Queen Elizabeth National Park, the two districts have faced persistent human-wildlife conflict. Residents want government to erect an electric fence to prevent animals from straying into communities.

‘We want the government to intensify the process of putting up the electric fence to stop the wild animals from invading our communities,’ said Ms Jeniva Nalongo, a resident of Rubirizi. She added that the area’s tourism potential remains underdeveloped despite its proximity to major attractions. ‘Our tourism sector is underdeveloped yet we are surrounded by great features. We need a facility to help us benefit directly from the park.’

Mr John Twesigye Ntamuhiira, the MP for Bunyaruguru County, faulted the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) over what he termed excessive force.

‘Killing people on site in the national park is a very big issue. A warden should use skills to disable an intruder but not kill him. Yes, the person is wrong to enter illegally, but shooting amounts to murder,’ he said. Land ownership remains another thorny issue. Many residents cannot secure land titles because the area is still registered under the defunct Ankole Kingdom.

‘When they digitised the country, it brought out the issue that the whole district is under Ankole Kingdom. People cannot easily get land titles because they are not bona fide occupants,’ Mr Ntamuhiira explained.

He urged government to inject funds into the Road Fund so absentee landlords can be compensated. ‘This way, people who have been on the land for centuries can fully enjoy their rights.’

Poor infrastructure is also a major grievance. Residents cite the long-delayed upgrade of Katerera road, which would connect Rubirizi with Ibanda, Kitagwenda and Kamwenge.

‘Connectivity is a challenge. Kyambura-Katerera-Kabujogyera road has been a big issue and it would be the easiest route to Kampala, besides linking tourists from Kibale to Queen Elizabeth National Park,’ Ms Nalongo said.

Farmers in Ndangara and Nyakiyanja parishes also complain of wild animals destroying crops, while others clash with UWA and the National Forest Authority over access to Kalinzu Forest Reserve.

Speaking ahead of his campaign, Gen Muntu outlined his vision for the region. He pledged to promote a banking system that includes both commercial and development banks. ‘These banks will provide funding at lower interest rates with longer repayment terms, enabling entrepreneurs to create jobs,’ he said.

Health

Gen Muntu emphasised the importance of leaders with ’empathy, honesty and strong organisational skills’ to drive development.

He noted that corruption-free leadership was vital for delivering quality education, healthcare, and efficient transport. He also promised to establish a government-run national health insurance programme to ensure access to quality healthcare for all.

As Europe doubles down on migration deals with Tunisia, Libya, and Rwanda-and Italy ships asylum seekers offshore to Albania while Britain clings to its Rwanda plan-Uganda is betting on a different answer.

Each of these European policies speaks to the same fear: that Africa’s young people, without economic pathways at home, will head north. Uganda sits at the heart of this tension. More than half its population is under 18, and another 22.7 percent are aged 18-30, according to the Uganda Bureau of Statistics.

By 2050, the population is projected to nearly double to 86.5 million. Without jobs, this ‘youth bulge’ risks spilling across borders-feeding Europe’s migration crisis and fueling instability in East Africa.

‘Many youths still get lured onto risky migration routes,’ warned State Minister for Labour Esther Anyakun, noting that of the more than 500,000 Ugandans working in the Middle East, barely half migrated using regular channels.

At the launch of Uganda’s five-year migration governance plan, government representatives described the country as a ‘regional epicentre for migration-a nexus where people migrate to, through, and from.’ Recently, the Cabinet also approved Uganda’s first National Migration Policy (2024), calling it a framework to ‘harness migration for development while minimising the risks of irregular migration.’

It is against this backdrop that policymakers, employers, and civil society gathered in Kampala on September 17 for the launch of Africa Youth Pathways, Resilience and Systems Change (AYPReS)-a and the Partnership for African Social and Governance Research (PASGR).

The program’s target is ambitious: move 30 million Africans, 70 percent women, into dignified work by 2030. In Uganda, one of the first proving grounds, the government has also earmarked Shs5 billion for a Graduate Volunteer Scheme and Shs19.48 billion to revamp skilling centers in the 2024/25 budget.

Making policy stick

Many think-tanks about the youths do believe that Uganda’s jobs crisis isn’t about a lack of ideas but that most ideas never move from paper to practice.

The argument here is that policies often arrive too late, miss political timing, or collapse under budget shortfalls, leaving evidence buried in reports while unemployment festers.

Think tanks like the PASGR argue the answer is the Utafiti Sera ‘research-to-policy’ house-less an academic hub than a pressure valve between evidence and power.

The model maps influence, convenes policymakers early, and pushes research into live debates before the window closes. In Kenya, a similar house helped shape the 2023 Social Protection Act, guided reforms in university financing, and brought agriculture and health evidence into cabinet decisions.

‘The lesson,’ says Rosebella Apollo, a programme officer in research and policy at PASGR, ‘is that evidence changes policy when it’s co-created, politically legible, and timed to the window of opportunity.’ Prof. Paul Bukuluki, a social work researcher and lecturer at Makerere University, warns that evidence without fiscal backing is ‘like planting seeds on a rock.’

Mondo Kyateka, the Assistant Commissioner for Youth and Children’s Affairs at the Labour and Gender Ministry, cautions that if fertility and youth joblessness aren’t addressed urgently, ‘the system breaks down.’ Both argue that the real test is not producing research but wiring it into budgets, protections, and working programs that blunt demographic pressure. That shows the problem is structural and the solution could be systemic.

Skills that work

Uganda’s education system has long churned out certificates without the skills employers need. The result has been many graduates armed with diplomas but no work-readiness. Government data estimates that youth aged 18-30 account for between 64 and 70 percent of the unemployed.

The government is now trying to fix the mismatch. It is rolling out competency-based technical and vocational education (TVET), introducing micro-credentials, recognizing prior learning (critical for refugees without papers), and making workplace placements mandatory to bridge classrooms with industry. Employers echo that view.

‘Youth need action, preparedness, resilience,’ says Evelyn Kisakye of the Federation of Uganda Employers, which is running a Work Readiness program with Enabel to channel graduates into agriculture, tourism, and the green economy. ‘Opportunities exist, but they reward those who show up ready.’

If Uganda succeeds in aligning skills, demand, and social protection, it won’t just create jobs-it could reshape the global migration story. If it fails, Europe’s border walls may prove too thin to hold back the tide.

Makerere University’s School of Law lecturer, Mr Robert Kirunda, has been appointed a member of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA), becoming only the second Ugandan to serve on the prestigious international body.

The appointment was confirmed in a statement released by the Law School on Thursday.

“Congratulations to Mr Robert Kirunda, Lecturer @MakerereLaw, he was appointed a member of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA). He is the second Ugandan to receive this appointment,” the statement reads. The PCA, headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands, was established in 1899 to facilitate arbitration and other forms of dispute resolution between states.

Over the years, it has developed into a modern, multi-faceted institution addressing disputes involving states, state entities, intergovernmental organisations, and private parties.

Mr Kirunda, who teaches at Makerere Law School and also practices as an advocate, will contribute to the court’s mandate, which includes handling disputes related to territorial and maritime boundaries, sovereignty, human rights, foreign investment, and international trade.

Uganda’s representation at the PCA is seen as significant in strengthening the country’s profile in international law and arbitration.

Makerere University School of Law emphasised that Kirunda’s appointment was a reflection of his expertise and contribution to legal scholarship.

“This appointment highlights the growing impact of Ugandan legal professionals on the global stage,” the School noted.

His appointment comes at a time when international arbitration continues to play a critical role in resolving complex disputes between nations and global entities.

The PCA currently has 122 contracting parties, including Uganda, and operates as one of the world’s oldest institutions for the peaceful settlement of international disputes.

The government has issued a stern ultimatum to striking teachers, giving them seven days to return to class or risk dismissal for abandoning duty.

The teachers, mainly from secondary schools, laid down their tools on September 15, 2025, demanding salary enhancements and fulfillment of past government pledges.

Speaking to the media in Kampala on Thursday, Ministry for Public Service Muruli Mukasa said the ongoing industrial action was unlawful and is in breach of existing labor laws.

“Their strike has disrupted learning in several parts of the country, with pupils and students left unattended barely a month into the third term,” he said.

Mukasa added that government would consider teachers who fail to report back to school within the stipulated period to have voluntarily resigned.

“You are hereby enjoined to call off the industrial action, and for your members especially those who are participating to resume duty immediately and not beyond one week, or else you will be regarded as having abandoned duty and resigned accordingly,” he said.

Minister Mukasa revealed that government has demonstrated commitment to improving the welfare of teachers and other public servants through a phased salary enhancement plan.

“A total of Shs 2.5 trillion has been committed to salary enhancement since the 2018/2019 financial year,” he said.

He added that the government has already drawn up an enhancement plan for the 2026/2027 financial year, which includes a pledge to raise the salaries of humanities teachers by 25 percent of the approved targets.

“These proposals have been submitted to the Ministry of Finance for consideration in the forthcoming budget,” he said.

Minister Mukasa urged that the teachers’ strike does not meet the legal requirements for industrial action.

“No certificate of dispute was issued by the Public Service Negotiating and Consultative Council before the strike commenced, making it unlawful,” he said.

The General Secretary of the Uganda National Teachers Union (UNATU), Filbert Baguma, responded to the warning, saying that government knows where the teachers are and therefore there is no reason for intimidation and threats.

“What we need are the answers and not the threats and intimidation; the industrial action continues,” he said.

As the ultimatum clock ticks, anxiety remains high among teachers who have not resumed their duties since the term started. The standoff between the government and teachers continues, with no immediate resolution in sight.

Walking through Republic Street, Naboa Road, Pallisa Road, or Kumi Road in Mbale City, you don’t see the signs of a growing city.

Instead, you see old, cracked buildings with peeling paint and collapsing verandas, once proud commercial spaces now left to rot. Many of these buildings are nearly 100 years old and have been neglected for decades. Some are stuck in complicated ownership battles, with no one taking responsibility to fix or develop them.

Back in 1972, when President Idi Amin forced Asians to leave Uganda, their shops, homes, and plots, including many in Mbale, were handed over to Ugandans through a government body called the Departed Asians Property Custodian Board. But 50 years later, confusion caused by that same board, along with the Uganda Land Commission, has left many of these properties in a legal mess. Some plots have been given to several people at once, leading to constant court cases.

Mr Yasin Kawanguzi, a lawyer and former city leader, said, ‘We see ramshackle buildings in the middle of town because ownership is unclear.

No one invests in property they are battling for in court,’ he said. One example is a building on plots 33 and 35 on Pallisa Road. It was torn down in May 2024 for being unsafe, even though a family claiming ownership protested the demolition.

Over a year later, the prime plot still sits empty at the city entrance.

This problem is not limited to one street. Almost every major road in the city centre, Naboa Road, Bishop Wasike Road, Republic Street, Kumi Road, and Pallisa Road, has buildings stuck in ownership disputes.

Locals call them ‘ghost buildings’, run-down, neglected, and stuck in legal battles. City leaders blame the Departed Asians Property Custodian Board and the Uganda Land Commission for giving out ownership documents to multiple people for the same buildings.

Mr Namugali, a city leader, said, ‘These properties were never properly returned to the city. Some buildings have five or more people claiming ownership, each with a letter from a different government office.’ Because of this, investors are staying away, and the city looks abandoned in some places.

Another example is Plot 29 on Republic Street, where a long-standing dispute continues. The family of the late Zubair Magomu said they bought the property in 1972 and later formalised ownership. But someone else claiming to represent the original Indian owners later showed up with papers and evicted the Magomu family.

Community leader Robert Mudebo said this is a national issue, but worse in Mbale.

He added: ‘One building can be claimed by 10 different people. Who will spend money renovating a property they could lose tomorrow?’ he added. Residents believe the only way Mbale can grow into a modern city is if the government sets clear rules to settle these ownership issues.

Mr Abdulsalam Namonye, who has led the North Road Cell since 1986, said: ‘All over town, buildings are falling apart because of court cases.

The custodian board should fix these disputes instead of letting middlemen profit.’ He also said his building on Plot 8, Kumi-North Road, was taken from him unfairly in 2005.

A past land investigation by the Bamugemereire Land Inquiry exposed how some people used fake claims to grab hundreds of these properties. Mr Joseph Kibande, a senior official from the Ministry of Lands, said the mess is not the ministry’s fault.

‘The custodian board is responsible for these properties. We only help those who have been cleared by the board,’ he said. Attempts to get a comment from the Departed Asians Property Custodian Board were unsuccessful by the press.

The Departed Asians Property Custodian Board, created by a 1973 law, was meant to manage the properties left behind after Asians were expelled. But decades later, the same board is now being blamed for the confusion that has left Mbale’s City centre crumbling.

Background

Mbale was officially declared a city on July 1, 2020. It was one of the first towns to be granted city status in Uganda, with Jinja, Mbarara, Gulu, and others also elevated at the same time. Mbale was previously an urban municipality. The elevation was part of a broader initiative by the government to create new cities.