Category: Daily Monitor

The saying, “People who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones’ is becoming a reality for some clergy in Uganda today. Some of them have entangled themselves in political issues, so much so that throwing a stone would mean death, closure, crippling, sanctioning, censorship, or complete abolition.

The architects of this glass house phenomenon smoothly executed it like a rat numbing one’s feet, only to wake up when the skin has been nibbled off by the same rat.

A dependence and survival button was pressed at some point, making it difficult for the said clergy and any other institution to operate without the State playing godfather to enable a breakthrough of a certain ceiling, posturing pseudo-success.

This fleeting pseudo-success offered to some clergy presented itself like an entitlement to the national cake.

Little did they know that it was a carrot that would lead them to a point of no return. To maintain this sorrowful pseudo success, many deals have to be made, dirty games have to be played to keep appeasing the insurmountable appetite and interests on both sides. The dirty games played by some clergy appear to be an exchange for some entitlements and privileges.

Much akin to the saying, ‘Scratch my back and I scratch yours’. You can do whatever you want, I will turn the other way like I didn’t see. These fleeting privileges take on many forms, especially material gains. This creates a feeling of arrivalism.

The Baganda put it so well when they say, ‘You don’t speak when you are eating’. This is akin to a saying by Martin Niemöller, a prominent German pastor and anti-Nazi dissident. Niemöller’s original words focus on how the Nazis systematically targeted different groups one by one, while good citizens remained silent because they didn’t belong to the targeted group.

“First they came for the communists, then they came for the socialists, then they came for the trade unionists, then they came for the Jews, then they came for me-and there was no one left to speak for me.”

Biblically, this is similar to a situation when an Egyptian Pharaoh, who didn’t know Joseph, took over leadership and all the privileges of the children of Israel were revoked overnight.

The writing is so clear on the wall, the clergy can read it, but the pseudo fleeting success and privileges have muted, blinded and deafened all their senses. Similar to the saying that they have ears but can’t hear, they have eyes but can’t see and they have mouths but they can’t speak.

The redeeming thing is, God always spares remnants who have not bowed to any idols, these speak the oracles of God either with the fearless courage of John the Baptist, or with the wisdom and humility of Prophet Nathan or the child like faith of David the giant killer.

But some like Pontius Pilate have washed the truth off their hands and opted to please the masses. Deceived in their mind that by doing this they will be protecting the pseudo success and privileges that have numbed the voice of God. In such a situation, God raises prophets from other nations to declare his Word, but when judgement comes, all are washed away, a part from those who will hearken to what the spirit is saying to the clergy and the nation.

God also uses such situations to distinguish the genuine from the self-seeking false men of God. The dilemma that hovers over every clergy, no matter the religion or faith, is whether to speak up and suffer the consequences or keep silent and suffer the consequences.

Every morning at 6am, while most students across Uganda’s higher institutions of learning are still asleep, a different rhythm unfolds at Bukalasa Agricultural College (BAC).

Students are already out on the land – they water, weed, mulch and tend their thriving vegetable plots in the lush expanse they proudly call ‘Paradise Garden.’

Ms Patience Jazmine Nankinga, a final year student, quickly explains that this daily ritual is not punishment; it is preparation.

‘We are in paradise, the garden, where we are planting various crops – different types of vegetables,’ Ms Nankinga, a certificate student, explains, pointing to flourishing cabbages under her care. ‘Some students are focusing on carrots, cabbage, sukumawiki, nakatti and others.

Everyone is having a plot.’ These are some of the crops with a ready market, and they are consumed both within the government-owned institution, which has over 2,000 students, and also outside. The college, which offers both certificate and diploma courses, is located in Luweero, about 50 kilometres from Kampala, Uganda’s capital city. Another student, George William Ntulume, sheds more light by unveiling his daily routine.

‘We grow vegetables and take care of them until maturity. We come here early in the morning and in the evening to do all the management practices for these plants,’ he says.

‘We do watering, weeding, pruning and mulching, so as to have a vibrant culture of agriculture, as well getting the skills we need in future for economic and knowledge purposes,’ he adds. Mr Ntulume says each student does all the practices individually.

He says they do the garden work between 6am and 8am. ‘After that, we go and prepare (clean up), then we have breakfast within the same hour before we go for lectures at 9am. Then we come back at around 5.30pm when lectures are done. I plan to do a diploma after this, and afterwards, I will also pursue a degree,’ he says.

Ms Nankinga, on her part, appears to be more interested in becoming an entrepreneur. ‘We have enough skills to start our projects, out there,’ she says.

‘We should focus more on the practical aspect while training as students; that is what will help us. Some other institutions largely focus on theory,’ she adds.

Information from the BAC Crop Science Department indicates that students are assessed on real performance in areas such as the quality of mulching, which must be weed-free, pest-free and effective at conserving soil moisture.

BAC is one of the key partners in the Proliferation of Local Expertise in Development of Green-growth Economy (PLEDGE) project, which seeks to transform training in higher institutions of learning to support green growth, practical skills development and sustainable economic transformation.

The project is being implemented by Mountains of the Moon University, along the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE), which has introduced competence-based training for institutions of higher learning.

Associate Prof Joshua Wesana, the dean of the Faculty of Agriculture at Mountains of the Moon University, says the PLEDGE initiative seeks to change both student and trainer mindsets.

‘In other institutions, if you tell a student to appear on the farm at 5am to prepare cows for milking, some take it as punishment,’ Prof Wesana says.

‘That kind of attitude is what PLEDGE is here to transform.’ He adds that the project will develop national strategies, policies and guidelines for green transition-focused agriculture training, while also building capacity among lecturers and strengthening university-industry linkages through professional councils.

A living model

Mr Gelvan Kisolo Lule, the principal of BAC for the last eight years and a staff member for nearly 30 years, has witnessed the evolution first-hand.

‘I came from university with a lot of theory. When I started training students here, I had to learn practical skills from the farm workers themselves. That experience was very valuable,’ he recalls.

Mr Lule says the BAC curriculum has always been rich with hands-on skills because it was primarily established in 1920 to train farmers. But he says along the way, things started changing as more trainers recruited after university education started introducing more theory than practical skills.

‘So, by the time we reached 1980-1990, we were now coming to about 70 percent theory and 20 percent practical skills,’ he reveals.

‘We were reviewing our curriculum in 2008-2009 and had a farmer stakeholder engagement. The participants were telling us that our students have a negative attitude towards work. They want to be on the farm only to supervise. They don’t want to ‘get dirty’,’ he says.

After the curriculum review, the institution returned to the first principles.

‘So, we said, we have to make them (students) be on the farm. So that’s when we reintroduced the farm practices culture,’ Mr Lule explains.

‘Here, whether you are doing human nutrition or agribusiness, you must be early on the farm every day. You must be on the farm at 6am. By 7am, they are done and starting to prepare for lectures,’ he adds.

Mr Lule also notes that the new curriculum for secondary education is already producing more confident and engaging students who are easier to train in higher institutions of learning.

The competence-based curriculum is designed to shift education away from rote memorisation towards practical skills, critical thinking, and real-world problem-solving

Adopting BAC culture

Prof Pius Coxwell Achanga, the vice chancellor of Mountains of the Moon University, after touring BAC and interacting with learners and tutors, says the model should be adopted even in universities to produce professionals with more practical skills. ‘If you want somebody to learn, you talk to them. If you want them to memorise, you show them. And if you want them to do something, you let them do it,’ he says, adding that universities have much to learn from Bukalasa’s model.

Prof Achanga says they will have deeper collaboration with BAC, including direct staff exchanges.

The NCHE says practical skills, competences and attitudes will, in the 2027-2028 academic year, account for at least 50 percent of students’ marks nationwide, up from the current 40 percent. The plan is to reduce assessments that are largely based on written exams. Prof Mary Okwakol, the executive director of the NCHE, explains further.

‘The competence-based curriculum is an approach which is supposed to equip the students with knowledge, competences, skills and attitudes that can enable them to perform their duties more effectively than they are doing now,’ she says.

The Electoral Commission (EC) Thursday declared National Resistance Movement (NRM) candidate Idah Nabayiga the winner of the Kalangala District Woman Member of Parliament by-election, amidst sharp protests from the leading opposition party, the National Unity Platform (NUP), which has rejected the outcome citing gross electoral malpractice.

According to results announced at 1:53am on June 25, 2026 by the Kalangala District Returning Officer, Mr Agaba Ronald, Nabayiga polled 12,642 votes to secure the parliamentary seat. Her closest rival, Irene Nampala of the NUP, came second with 7,474 votes, representing a victory margin of over 5,000 votes for the ruling party.

Independent candidates Sharifah Babirye, Flavia Hellen Nagawa, and Agnes Nasuuna garnered 244, 217, and 34 votes, respectively. Out of the 21,038 total ballot papers counted, 20,611 were valid, 427 were rejected, and 67 were spoilt.

“In accordance with Section 72 of the Parliamentary Elections Act, Cap. 177, I declare Idah Nabayiga, who has obtained the largest number of votes, to be the elected candidate,” Mr. Agaba announced.

The election, triggered by the death of the former lawmaker Helen Nakimuli, has been heavily overshadowed by accusations of state-engineered rigging. NUP officials immediately rejected the results, alleging that the military and other state security apparatuses took over several polling stations to tilt the vote in the NRM’s favor.

Throughout the voting process on Wednesday, June 24, and into Thursday, June 25, the opposition party utilized social media to share videos and photos purposed to show blatant ballot stuffing by security operatives and NRM mobilizers.

In a detailed statement shared on X (formerly Twitter), NUP claimed that their polling agents were violently forced away from voting centers to allow individuals to thumbprint entire booklets containing 50 ballot papers each.

“The broad daylight ballot stuffing as captured by vigilant citizens… Soldiers, goons, and even other security operatives were seen stuffing pre-ticked ballot papers in favor of the NRM candidate,” the NUP statement read in part.

The party highlighted specific discrepancies, pointing to a polling station where the NRM allegedly obtained 78 votes written in words, but recorded 125 in figures on the official forms. NUP further accused polling officials of directly indulging in altering results contrary to what was tallied on the ground.

Reacting to the development, NUP President Robert Kyagulanyi, alias Bobi Wine, questioned the circumstances surrounding the by-election, drawing parallels to past controversial polls.

‘Looking at what the regime did in Kalangala yesterday, would anyone be wrong to assume that they killed Hon. Nakimuli to forcefully take over that District, the same way they killed Ffeffeka to take over Kayunga?’ Kyagulanyi posted on X on June 25.

Meanwhile, senior NUP leaders, including Deputy Secretary General Aisha Kabanda, Gorreth Namugga, and Habib Buwembo, revealed that the election was marred by targeted arrests. They stated that many of their supporters and polling agents remain in state detention, and efforts are currently underway to secure their release.

Conceding no defeat, the NUP candidate, Irene Nampala, maintained that she won the mandate of the islanders. She thanked the people of Kalangala for their resilience and noted that she is awaiting the party’s official declaration on the next course of legal or political action, expected tomorrow.

By press time, both the Electoral Commission and the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) had not yet responded to the video evidence and rigging allegations presented by the opposition.

However, Justice Simon Byabakama, the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, criticized the Police for failing to enforce a directive he had recently issued barring vehicles without number plates from participating in election-related activities.

Justice Byabakama stated that he had instructed that all such vehicles be impounded, but was surprised that, despite his orders, the police did not comply, as many vehicles without number plates were still seen operating during the election. He reminded the police of the importance of upholding and enforcing the law.

The EC chief also appealed to the people of Kalangala to continue maintaining the peace they have enjoyed and to avoid causing violence.

Sending money across East Africa or selling goods online to a neighbour should soon cost less and take less time after regional leaders meeting in Arusha this week moved to put money and projects behind long-awaited digital trade rules.

The East African Community is pushing to tear down digital borders, convening the 2026 Digital for Development Forum in Arusha to turn years of strategy papers into actual cables, code, and payment rails for 330 million people.

The high-level Forum opened Tuesday at the EAC headquarters, bringing together central bank governors, MPs, regulators, tech entrepreneurs and donors under the theme ‘From Strategy to Implementation: Building the Digital Single Market.’

arlo Ancelotti told Brazil fans to keep their feet on the ground after Neymar made his long-awaited World Cup return and Vinicius Jr sparkled again as the five-times champions swept Scotland aside 3-0 on Wednesday to finish top of Group C.

After an underwhelming 1-1 draw with Morocco in their opener, Brazil have clicked into gear with successive wins, and Ancelotti said his side were becoming the solid, collective unit he wants for the knockout rounds.

“We’re now playing as a team, that was the aim,” Ancelotti told a press conference. “We’re not perfect, we need to improve a few things – we could be quicker when we’re in possession.

“I’m happy because the team has improved since the opening match. Being solid is very important now that we’ve reached the knockout stages.”

Brazil will face the second-placed team from Group F, with the Netherlands, Japan or Sweden possible opponents in the Round of 32.

The biggest roar in Miami came for Neymar, who played his first minutes for Brazil after almost three years out of the side. Ancelotti said the 34-year-old had earned his chance after returning to full fitness.

“He got the chance to play because he deserved it, he worked hard to recover,” Ancelotti said. “I think that in this World Cup, given his qualities, he can help the team. He played for just a few minutes, but he played well.

“Neymar doesn’t need any motivation to play, no player needs motivation to wear the Brazil shirt. He’s 34-years-old and still has the same passion as a young boy.”

Vinicius also drew praise from the Italian after he scored twice and dazzled up and down the left wing.

“Vini is in great form at the moment and the team helps him a lot,” Ancelotti said. “He can play in various positions, both on the inside and on the wing.

“It’s very rewarding to see Vinicius like this, I had no doubt he could reach this level. I wasn’t the one who discovered Vini, he’s a top-class player, one of the best in the world.”

Ancelotti said Brazil had achieved their first objective by topping the group but warned against getting carried away.

“I haven’t set a target for how far we can go,” he said. “The aim isn’t just to play well, the aim is to win. A manager is judged by victory or defeat, not by whether the team plays well or badly.”

Asked what he would tell an increasingly excited Brazilian public, Ancelotti smiled and said: “Stay calm.”

A long-running, high-stakes dispute over the multi-billion estate and lineage of the late Kadongo Kamu music legend, Paul Job Kafeero, has finally been laid to rest. DNA test results released by the Uganda Police Forensic Directorate have delivered a stunning revelation, confirming that only four out of 25 individuals claiming to be his children are his actual biological offspring.

The highly anticipated results were unveiled on Thursday afternoon at the Police Headquarters in Naguru. Tensions ran high as dozens of claimants, family members, and legal stakeholders gathered in a hushed room to hear the definitive scientific findings.

Reading the results, the Director of Forensic Services for the Uganda Police Force, Acting Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIGP) Andrew Mubiru, announced that a staggering 21 claimants had been scientifically excluded.

According to the official forensic report, only the following four individuals share a biological match with the late maestro:

Simon Peter Kafeero

Elizabeth Nagawa

Thomas Swazi Kafeero

Benedict Kafeero

“Science does not lie,” AIGP Mubiru noted during the briefing. “These forensic results provide an indisputable, legal framework to finally establish the rightful heirs to Kafeero’s name and estate.”

The massive DNA verification exercise was conducted under the direct supervision of the Ministry of Local Government and the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development. Key officials overseeing the process included the Minister of State for Youth and Children Affairs, Balaam Barugahara-who funded the costly exercise-and the Director of the Government Analytical Laboratory, Kepher Kuchana Kateu.

Paul Job Kafeero, who tragically passed away in 2007 at the age of 36, remains one of the most influential and celebrated figures in the history of Ugandan music. Renowned for his deep storytelling, mastery of the acoustic guitar, and timeless hits like Walumbe Zaaya and Buladina, his music still enjoys massive airplay and generates substantial royalties.

However, because Kafeero died intestate (without a valid will), his vast musical catalog, intellectual property, and extensive land holdings became the center of bitter family feuds. Over the last two decades, the number of individuals claiming to be his children grew exponentially, stalling the distribution of his estate and sparking intense public debate. The chaos eventually prompted the family and legal administrators to turn to the government and police for intervention.

The scientific breakthrough follows a dramatic turn of events last week, when the remains of the music icon were exhumed from his resting place following a strict court order. The exhumation was necessary to obtain viable bone and tissue samples for accurate comparative testing.

Government Chief Pathologist, Dr. Moses Byaruhanga, who oversaw the sensitive procedure, defended the decision as a necessary measure to put an end to years of internal family rancour.

“This definitive test will remove all doubts and anxiety regarding the true lineage of Paul Job Kafeero’s offspring,” Dr. Byaruhanga stated prior to the testing.

Earlier, Stella Nantongo, one of Kafeero’s widely acknowledged children, expressed the emotional weight the family carried throughout the process, describing the exhumation as a painful but unavoidable step.

“This is the last thing we wanted to happen to our father’s resting place,” Nantongo said. “But if it is the only way to solve the underlying issues tearing the family apart, then it is good that it has been done.”

Joseph Luzige, the legal counsel representing the children who feared they might be wrongfully excluded, emphasized that the scientific intervention was the only way to achieve finality.

Thursday’s announcement marks the end of months of grueling anxiety and public speculation. For the 21 individuals whose claims were disproved, the results deliver a heavy emotional and legal blow, effectively cutting off any future claim to the musician’s lucrative estate. Conversely, for the four confirmed children, the results bring profound relief, allowing the true heirs to properly manage, protect, and preserve the rich legacy of one of Uganda’s greatest traditional music icons.

June is men’s mental health awareness month, a timely reminder that behind many strong faces are silent battles that often go unnoticed.

Across Uganda and around the world, men continue to face significant mental health challenges, yet many suffer in silence due to stigma, societal expectations, and limited support systems.

From an early age, boys are often taught to be strong, independent, and emotionally resilient. Phrases such as ‘man up,’ ‘boys don’t cry,’ and ‘be strong’ may seem harmless, but they can discourage emotional expression and help-seeking behaviour.

As a result, many men learn to suppress pain rather than process it. The silent struggles men face are diverse.

Depression, anxiety, substance abuse, loneliness, unresolved trauma, father wounds, financial stress, unemployment, relationship breakdowns, and the pressure to provide for families can all take a significant toll on mental well-being.

Unfortunately, these struggles are often hidden behind work, alcohol use, anger, withdrawal, or risky behaviour rather than openly discussed. One of the most concerning realities is that men are less likely than women to seek professional mental health support. Many fear being judged as weak or incapable.

Others simply do not know where to turn for help. This delay in seeking support often allows problems to escalate, affecting families, workplaces, and communities. Fatherhood presents another challenge. Many men are expected to lead and provide for their families, yet few receive guidance on emotional well-being, healthy relationships, or parenting.

Men who grew up without positive male role models may struggle with identity, self-worth, and emotional connection, creating cycles of pain that can be passed from one generation to the next.

Loneliness is also emerging as a major but overlooked issue. While social media has increased connectivity, many men lack genuine friendships where they can openly discuss their fears, disappointments, and personal challenges.

The absence of safe spaces for honest conversations can leave men feeling isolated even when surrounded by others.

Addressing men’s mental health requires practical and collective action. First, we must normalise conversations about emotional well-being.

Men should be encouraged to speak openly about stress, sadness, anxiety, and personal struggles without fear of ridicule.

Vulnerability should be seen as courage, not weakness. Second, families, faith communities, schools, workplaces, and community organisations should create safe spaces where men can connect, share experiences, and support one another.

Peer support groups, mentorship programmes, and men’s fellowships can play a critical role in reducing isolation. Third, mental health services must become more accessible and responsive to the unique needs of men.

Healthcare providers should be trained to recognise how mental health challenges may present differently in men and to engage them in ways that reduce stigma.

There is also a need for stronger public awareness campaigns and policy interventions. Governments, civil society organisations, and development partners should invest in mental health education, prevention programmes, and community-based services that specifically target men and boys.

Mental health should be treated as a public health priority, not an afterthought. Finally, men themselves must be empowered to prioritize self-care. Seeking help, building healthy relationships, exercising, maintaining spiritual well-being, and developing emotional awareness are not signs of weakness. They are essential components of a healthy and productive life.

As we mark Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month, let us remember that strong men also need support. Behind every statistic is a father, son, brother, husband, friend, or colleague whose life matters.

By breaking the silence, challenging harmful stereotypes, and building supportive communities, we can create a future where men are not only expected to be strong but are also given the support they need to thrive.

The conversation about men’s mental health is not just about men-it is about stronger families, healthier communities, and a more compassionate society for all.

The May 25, 2025 election of Speaker and Deputy Speaker of Parliament returned the Rt Hon Jacob Marksons Oboth and Rt Hon Thomas Tayebwa in those respective positions. With the change of leadership comes an opportunity for the leaders to implement their vision, and for the led to offer all necessary support and commitment to ensure they deliver their mandate.

This involves maintaining the good practices of old, but also offering a new paradigm to meet the needs of the universal consensus that the 12th Parliament ought to be better than the 11th.

This is not strange, it is the promise of governance and leadership – that the coming years are supposed to be better than the previous years, for that is the mark of positive change and progress.

The responsibility to mould good leaders is shared by the led too, and as Speaker Oboth Oboth said, a Speaker makes good MPs, and conversely MPs make a Speaker good.

There can only be one Speaker and one Deputy Speaker at a time as by law established, therefore; however, deserving another MP might think they are, it is best to work with and through the Speaker in order to deliver to the public expectations.

All MPs are leaders in their own right but they chose to have a leader of leaders among them. Parliament has, undeniably, had its fair share of bad press in the few days leading to the election, and this is about time we allow the Speaker the latitude to implement his vision, and the space to exercise his discretion and improve Parliament for the better.

It is important that the public is not quick to judge his methods and approach, because institutional building is a painstakingly incremental process which demands the input of everyone. With Speaker Oboth’s cool headed and open minded posture, it is undoubtedly clear that we shall get the Parliament everyone deserves.

The media and the public are called upon to play their watch dog role professionally, and everyone else needs to make their contribution to building a Parliament everyone can be proud.

With a new dispensation comes pressures exerted on the new leadership, most often with a mind on quick fixes, demanding of the leadership a kind of magic wand to instantly solve or wish away serious institutional challenges which never emerged in a short span in the first place.

It is critical that the leadership is given time to settle in, and the Speaker, in his inaugural address, already outlined his vision for Parliament, and deserves unconditional support in having it fully implemented and realised.

It is incumbent upon the institution’s stakeholders to stand out firmly in support of the new leadership, drop the partisanship, break away from negative forces that are ought to diminish and frustrate the new leadership. Instead, it is time to embrace the change at Parliament with an open heart and a mind slow to judgment, but most importantly, hands ready to offer assistance and support whenever sought.

Let discussion/dialogue be the dominant method of work away from hostile dependency, after all, democracy is mostly framed as a discussion itself.

Government has called for science-driven conservation interventions to tackle mounting threats to Uganda’s biodiversity, warning that habitat loss, climate change, human-wildlife conflict, poaching and illegal wildlife trade continue to threaten the country’s ecosystems.

Speaking at the inaugural National Biodiversity and Conservation Research Symposium in Mukono District on Monday, the Minister of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, Mr Tom Butime, said Uganda needed responses rooted in science, innovation and collaboration to safeguard its natural heritage.

The minister said Uganda’s biodiversity, which ranges from the Rwenzori Mountains and tropical forests to savannah grasslands and freshwater ecosystems, remains a source of national pride and a key pillar of the country’s tourism economy. However, he warned that increasing pressure on natural resources, population growth and climate-related challenges continue to test the resilience of ecosystems across the country.

‘These are not challenges Uganda faces alone, but they demand a distinctly Ugandan response, one rooted in science, driven by innovation and strengthened through collaboration,’ Mr Butiime said.

The three-day symposium, held under the theme Biodiversity Under Threat: Science, Innovation and Collaborative Responses, brought together researchers, conservation practitioners, policymakers, students and development partners to share findings and explore solutions to emerging conservation challenges.

The event was jointly organised by the Uganda Wildlife Authority and the Uganda Wildlife Research and Training College. Mr Butiime said conservation could no longer be left to wildlife managers and researchers alone.

“Conservation is a shared national responsibility involving government, the private sector, academia, civil society, local communities and development partners,” he said, and urged scientists and conservationists to ensure that research findings are translated into practical solutions capable of strengthening Uganda’s conservation architecture.

The symposium attracted 105 abstract submissions from researchers across different disciplines. Following peer review, 91 abstracts were accepted and 71 were eventually presented, including 60 oral scientific papers, six conservation experience presentations and five poster presentations. The presentations covered biodiversity monitoring and species recovery, ecosystem restoration, climate change and One Health, conservation governance, ecotourism, conservation financing and technological innovation.

Dr James Musinguzi, the Executive Director of UWA, said scientific research remains central to effective wildlife management and biodiversity conservation. ‘Effective conservation can only be achieved through sound scientific evidence generated from research to inform management interventions and decision-making,’ he said.

Dr Musinguzi said UWA has supported numerous researchers, institutions and conservation partners through its Wildlife Research Grant Scheme and other collaborative initiatives aimed at generating knowledge that contributes directly to conservation and sustainable resource management. He said the authority intends to make the symposium an annual event to strengthen knowledge sharing and evidence-based conservation.

‘The knowledge generated and shared through this forum will strengthen our collective ability to develop and implement evidence-based interventions that deliver meaningful conservation outcomes,’ he said.

Mr Robert Baluku, the Principal of the Uganda Wildlife Research and Training College, said Uganda’s biodiversity faces growing threats from climate change, habitat degradation, invasive species, illegal resource extraction and rapid land-use change.

‘These challenges threaten not only wildlife and ecosystems but also the livelihoods and well-being of millions of people who depend on natural resources,’ he said. Mr Baluku noted that addressing biodiversity loss requires more than awareness campaigns, calling instead for evidence-based decision-making, innovation and collective action. He highlighted the increasing use of technologies such as Geographic Information Systems, remote sensing, drones and spatial modelling to monitor habitat changes, ecosystem degradation and wildlife corridors.

Researchers at the symposium also highlighted the need to bridge the gap between scientific findings and conservation action. Dr Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka, the founder and chief executive officer of Conservation Through Public Health, shared examples of how research has informed wildlife health programmes, community interventions and conservation policies around protected areas.

She noted that studies conducted around Bwindi Impenetrable National Park helped shape integrated approaches linking human health, wildlife health and livelihoods, while research during the Covid-19 pandemic informed measures aimed at protecting great apes from disease transmission.

‘It is often a challenge translating findings from research into policy and practice,’ Dr Kalema-Zikusoka said. Prof John R.S. Tabuti of Makerere University warned that despite gains in species recovery, community conservation and ecological monitoring, the underlying drivers of biodiversity loss remain largely unresolved. He described biodiversity loss as a complex challenge driven by interconnected pressures including population growth, agricultural expansion, infrastructure development and fragmented governance systems.

Participants expressed hope that the knowledge generated through the symposium will help inform policy, strengthen conservation management and contribute to the long-term protection of Uganda’s wildlife and ecosystems.

The United States government has imposed sweeping financial sanctions on a network of Rwandan mining companies and executives accused of smuggling conflict minerals out of the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to bankroll the Rwanda-backed March 23 Movement (M23) rebel group.

The penalties, announced Thursday, June 25 by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), target Gasabo Gold Refinery LTD, its Chairman Jean Malic Kalima, General Manager Bosco Kayobotsi, and three other Rwandan mining companies controlled by Kalima: Bugambira Mines LTD, Wolfram Mining and Processing LTD, and Rwinkwavu Mining Corporation LTD.

According to U.S. authorities, Gasabo Gold Refinery has acted as a critical conduit for Rwandan government officials and M23 rebels to launder illicitly extracted gold. The U.S. Treasury revealed that earlier this year, at least 60 kilograms of gold-valued at millions of dollars-were plundered from M23-occupied areas in South Kivu and escorted across the border by Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) soldiers directly to the Kigali-based refinery.

“The United States will not allow rogue groups to profit from the illicit mineral trade and destabilize the region,” U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent said in a statement. “The Democratic Republic of the Congo’s mineral wealth rightfully belongs to the Congolese people.”

Washington noted that the illicit trade funds weapons, pays fighters, and perpetuates severe humanitarian crises, including forced labor, child labor, and sexual violence. The statement pointed to a catastrophic March 2026 mine shaft collapse at the M23-controlled Rubaya coltan mine, which killed over 200 people, including children, as evidence of the dangerous conditions under rebel-held operations.

The U.S. move is designed to enforce the Washington Accords for Peace and Prosperity, a peace framework brokered by U.S. President Donald Trump and signed by the leaders of the DRC and Rwanda on December 4, 2025. The accords mandate transparent, traceable, and licit mineral supply chains through a Regional Economic Integration Framework.

This enforcement action follows a string of previous U.S. sanctions issued throughout early 2026 targeting actors driving the eastern DRC conflict. On March 2, 2026, OFAC sanctioned the Rwanda Defence Force for actively training and fighting alongside M23 as the rebel group captured major regional capitals, including Goma and Bukavu.

Under the new sanctions, all U.S.-based assets and property interests belonging to the designated individuals and entities have been frozen. Furthermore, U.S. citizens and global financial institutions are broadly prohibited from transacting with them, risking severe civil or criminal penalties for non-compliance.

The U.S. Department of the Treasury emphasized that while the ultimate goal of the sanctions is to drive a positive change in behavior rather than to punish, it remains committed to dismantling supply chains that smuggle eastern DRC’s minerals through Rwanda to major global refining hubs like China.