Category: Daily Monitor

October 3, 2025 marked a very historic and important celebration in my country Luxembourg. It is the day of our Grand Duke Henri’s abdication and the succession ceremony. On this day, in the Grand Ducal palace in the heart of Luxembourg City, there was formal signing of the Act of Abdication by the Grand Duke, followed by the swearing-in ceremony of his son, Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume, the new Grand Duke of Luxembourg.

There was three days of celebrations to mark the events, with the usual ceremonies and receptions that included institutions in Luxembourg, diplomatic corps and other Royal families from all over the world.

Of course, the general public was not deprived from sharing these festivities.

They caught a glimpse of the Royal family as they waved to the public from the balcony of the Grand Ducal Palace, and as the royal couple was travelling to major cities in the north and south of the country. More people were able to meet and greet them. The last day of celebrations (today) we shall have a Sunday mass with Te Deum at the capital’s famous Notre-Dame Cathedral with the invitation done by the Archbishop of Luxembourg.

Grand Duke Henri and his family, are considered among the richest Royal families in Europe, yet this family remains close to its citizens.

I have lived a few years here before going to live abroad, and in it was one of those years when Duke Henri was still Heir Apparent , that we went with my husband to watch a movie in one of the smaller cinemas in Luxembourg City.

It was a new release and the queue was long, a bit further down the line, and in front of us, Duke Henri was in the same queue with his children.

I pointed out that to my husband as our Duke has very distinguished features that I could easily recognise him, a tall slim and extremely good looking man.

Truly representing all the royal blood that was running in his veins of generations of Dukes and kings and royal families, yet, humble.

He was standing in line, waiting for his turn, no VIP treatment and no visible bodyguards harassing the population. They paid for their tickets and entered the hall with everyone else. If anyone can tell me how many royals with billions of worth, will do the same, there maybe people who have other stories to tell.

I tell what I personally witnessed , my respect for the Grand Ducal family grew tenfold after this experience.

Another thing that strikes me about Grand Duke Henri, is that though he is not yet too old, he is only 70 years old, he decided to relinquish his position and give it to his son.

On that, he said this was a ‘natural process’ and that time had come for his generation to retire.

Again, this is another rare case of a head of state who knows his capabilities and who could have clung to the throne much longer, yet he let it go. He stated that he left with great gratitude and humility to let the next generation to take over, a new generation in which he had full confidence.

Congratulations Luxembourg, my beautiful country on this wonderful and historic occasion.

The retired Bishop of Namirembe Diocese, Rt Rev Wilberforce Kityo Luwalira, has urged the government to urgently address the ongoing teachers’ strike, warning that the industrial action risks disrupting national examinations scheduled to start this month.

‘Yes, it is true that some teachers have had their issues, and I trust that they have presented them to the relevant organs to handle. My appeal is that the government, through those responsible, continues to listen to the issues raised by teachers because, as we listen, we can reach a lasting solution,’ he said on the sidelines of commissioning Elite Junior School on Saturday.

The prelate warned that failure to resolve the standoff could cause devastating consequences to the country’s education system, which is already battered.

‘We do not want this to go on and on because it is the learners who will be affected, and the entire system could fall into chaos. Our God has good plans for all learners, and He has positioned parents, teachers, directors, and government officials to look into their education affairs. Let us handle these grievances decisively and move forward in good faith for the good of our children and our country,’ he said.

The prelate’s appeal comes at a time when the fate of more than 430,000 Senior Four candidates scheduled to start the Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) exams next week remains uncertain following the teachers’ industrial action.

Many government schools, especially in rural areas, have been unable to reopen for the third term due to the Arts and Humanities teachers’ strike over unequal pay that began on August 6.

The strike was declared by the Uganda National Teachers’ Union (UNATU) and supported by other labour unions after the government failed to implement a comprehensive salary enhancement for all teachers despite several earlier promises.

The educators argue that the selective salary increment favouring science teachers is discriminatory and undermines morale in the profession.

Despite the government issuing a seven-day ultimatum early this week demanding that all teachers return to classrooms, union leaders have remained defiant, insisting they will not resume work until the government commits to a clear and time-bound plan for pay harmonisation.

UNATU Secretary-General Filbert Baguma said Saturday that the union was ready to negotiate but not to bow to intimidation from the government.

‘We are open to dialogue, but we cannot be forced back to classrooms when our concerns remain unaddressed,’ he said.

With national exams around the corner, UCE starting on October 11, and UACE in November, the deadlock has caused growing anxiety among parents, school administrators, and learners.

Many schools have been forced to rely on volunteer teachers and retired educationists to coach candidates in the final days before examinations.

‘We have been praying for our students that the Lord gives them sound mind, good health, and calm hearts as they face their final exams. This is what they have been waiting for, so there is no need to be anxious, but rather to rejoice that the moment they have been preparing for has finally arrived,’ Bishop Luwalira said Saturday during the dedication of senior four and six candidates of Elite High School to God as they prepare for their final exams.

He expressed concern that the strike could disadvantage learners who have spent years working hard towards this crucial stage in their education.

Schools across the country have since Friday been dedicating their candidates ahead of the national examinations, with heads of institutions expressing readiness to conduct the exams.

Mr Lawrence Onyango, the head teacher of Elite High School, told this publication in an interview that his school has prepared learners beyond expectation, saying it is their time to shine.

‘Teachers and schools across the country faced several challenges previously, but these have since been resolved. Teachers are now well versed with the new curriculum, and we are hopeful that our learners will perform better in this year’s exams. As a school, we have done all our continuous assessments and submitted them to UNEB. We have also completed all the projects required under the new curriculum and done everything it takes to ensure our learners excel,’ he said.

Meanwhile, the Director of the school, Mr Drake Lubega, said they have broadened their horizons by introducing a primary and nursery section, which is expected to start next year.

‘We want to groom our children right from the grassroots and produce learners who are well grounded in science and technology,’ Mr Lubega noted.

National Unity Platform (NUP) presidential candidate, Mr Robert Kyagulanyi, has urged the Bugiri Municipality electorate to replace the incumbent Member of Parliament, Mr Asuman Basalirwa of Justice Forum (JEEMA) with NUP’s Macelino Egesa Mangeni after the former reportedly betrayed their course.

‘Our brother, the current MP, betrayed us. We believed he would deliver services to the people, but he has failed. We no longer understand his ways. It’s time to vote him out and bring in someone who will work for the people,’ Mr Kyagulanyi said as he campaigned in Bugiri on Saturday evening.

Mr Kyagulanyi, then Kyadondo East MP, backed Mr Basalirwa in a 2018 by-election in which the latter beat four other candidates, including those sponsored by Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) and the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM), to emerge the winner.

However, Mr Kyagulanyi now argues that Mr Mangeni is better placed to address the current challenges facing Bugiri municipality if he becomes its legislator.

Campaigning for Basalirwa

It is worth noting that in the 2018 Bugiri Municipality by-election, Mr Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine, vigorously campaigned for Mr Basalirwa, a move that significantly contributed to his victory.

That by-election followed a contentious 2016 general election result, where Mr Basalirwa’s initial win was challenged, leading to a re-run in 2018.

The final results of the 2018 Bugiri Municipality by-election were as follows:

Mr Asuman Basalirwa (JEEMA) – 3,928 votes (48.22%), Ms Eunice Namatende (FDC) – 928 votes (11.39%).

Mr John Francis Oketcho (NRM) – 3,267 votes (40.11%),Mr Joel Wamono (Independent) – 15 votes (0.18%),Mr Siragi Samanya Lyavala (Independent) – 8 votes (0.10%)

Despite their earlier alliance, Mr Kyagulanyi has now distanced himself from Basalirwa, accusing him of underperformance and betrayal of the people’s trust.

What the Bugiri electorate wants

Several locals who spoke to this publication echoed the need for real change in leadership and emphasised that Uganda’s next president should prioritise key sectors such as health, education, and agriculture.

Mr James Mugoya, a resident of Nakavule village in Kapyanga Sub-county, stressed the importance of leaders fulfilling their campaign promises.

‘Most leaders promise a lot but deliver nothing. This has hurt development in the country. We need leaders who will implement their manifestos,’ he said.

Mr John Wetyaki, a resident of Nabukalu Town Council, decried high corruption and impunity among government officials and politicians.

‘Corruption among government officials is destroying our economy. The new president must hold corrupt officials accountable because they are misusing resources that could be used for national development,’ he said.

Last Wednesday, Dr Kizza Besigye walked into the High Court in Kampala flanked by Obeid Lutale and Capt Denis Oola, his co-accused in a treason case the State has been working on for nearly a year.

His arm shot up and frenetically flashed the V-sign as supporters with access from an upper-floor vantage point both musically and lyrically urged that the veteran politician ‘never surrender[s].’

Across four electoral cycles, from 2001 to 2016, Dr Besigye left his rivals in the National Resistance Movement (NRM) party on tenterhooks with energetic displays at rallies where the V-sign was generously flashed.

After sitting out the 2021 presidential poll, it increasingly looks like he will remain behind bars as candidates barnstorm the country before Ugandans cast their votes in January. On Wednesday, the 69-year-old took what has since been described as a defiant stand in court when he engaged Justice Emmanuel Baguma in a direct exchange.

While there is no love lost between Dr Besigye and Justice Baguma, who the former accuses of being biased, a section of leaders in the Kigezi Sub-region have warned that the continued denial of court bail and detention of the four-time presidential candidate will not be without consequences. Mr Leopold Twesigye, the leader of the Opposition at Kabale District Council, told Sunday Monitor that many people in Kigezi may opt for a protest vote against NRM candidates on account of their son of the soil being victimised.

‘Some people in the Kigezi region have a feeling that denying Dr Kizza Besigye his constitutional right to get bail is total victimisation and abuse of the rights of their son. Some people are opting for a protest vote against the NRM party flag bearers and vote for the Opposition members because they feel their son is being victimised,’ Mr Twesigye said on Thursday.

Protest vote

Statistics from the Electoral Commission (EC) show that, in the 2016 General Election, Dr Besigye polled 161,838 votes in Kigezi against Mr Museveni’s 328,678 votes. Mr Roland Mugume Kaginda, a member of Besigye’s People’s Front for Freedom (PFF) party and former lawmaker of Rukungiri Municipality, disclosed that while some people in the area are planning to boycott the 2026 General Election, others are intent on voting out NRM politicians.

‘Majority of the people in Rukungiri District have already started sidelining the NRM party flag bearers by mobilising support for all the Opposition candidates because they feel the son of the soil, Dr Besigye, is being detained illegally. Two Opposition candidates vying for the post of district councillor in Rukungiri went through unopposed because the NRM party members feared competing with them,’ Mr Mugume said.

Dr Thaddius Nicholas Kamara, the Kabale Municipality lawmaker, reiterated Mr Mugume’s claims. ‘Many people who believed in Dr Besigye’s ideology of agitating for change in government leadership through democratic means feel that his continued detention is malicious. Others believe voting for Opposition leaders in the forthcoming general election will be the only way to show their feelings about the continued detention of the son,’ Dr Kamara said. Mr Daniel Eguma, the executive director Kigezi Human Rights Foundation, says PFF party candidates in Kigezi Sub-region may earn a sympathy vote because of the continued detention of their party leader. Mr Eguma said the impact will be most felt in the urban areas where Dr Besigye is the darling of many. Less so in rural constituencies where support for the ruling NRM party remains strong. ‘It’s a stretch’ Mr Edison Turyahabwa, the publicity secretary for the NRM party in Kabale District, told Sunday Monitor that threats of a so-called protest vote and the Opposition getting a sympathy vote are empty and hollow.

‘The NRM party support in the Kigezi [Sub-]region is massive and cannot be shaken by sentiments of a few individual Opposition leaders. Many people in this [sub-]region have benefited from the NRM government poverty eradication programmes such as the Parish Development Model, Youth Livelihood Funds, Emyooga, the Uganda Women Entrepreneurship Programme, among others. I strongly disagree with those politicians claiming that NRM party flag bearers will lose in the 2026 General Election because of Dr Kizza Besigye’s detention,’ Mr Turyahabwe said. Similarly, Mr Chris Turyomurugyendo, the assistant Resident District Commissioner (RDC) for Kabale District, said the detention of Dr Besigye is not connected with the politics of Kigezi.

90 percent target

‘People from the Kigezi [Sub-]region should not be diverted by some Opposition politicians using the issue of Dr Besigye, and they should continue with their mobilisation strategies to ensure President Museveni and all the NRM party candidates win the 2026 General Election with more than 90 percent. The arrest and detention of Dr Besigye has no negative impact in the politics of Kigezi [Sub-]region because the charges he is facing did not originate from this region,’ Mr Turyomurugyendo concluded. Away from lush greenery and cultivated fields of Kigezi, and to the concrete jungle of Kampala, Dr Besigye wrote a letter to Justice Baguma on Friday.

‘Being a person accused of a serious offence, I find it strange and oppressive if I cannot raise a concern directly in open court. If each time a written submission of the concern has to be made and time fixed for your response, the case may never be concluded. Meanwhile, I remain confined in prison,’ Dr Besigye wrote.

‘Be that as it may, prior to raising my concern in writing, I request you to point me to the provisions of the law that bar an accused person from orally raising concerns in court, touching their trial during audience with the judge in the presence of their lawyers,’ he added. Court is expected to reconvene on the eve of Independence Day-on Wednesday-to consider the concerns Dr Besigye penned.

Today, Uganda joins the rest of the world in celebrating teachers. Held annually on October 5, World Teachers’ Day, according to Unesco, ‘commemorates the anniversary of the adoption of the 1966 International Labour Organisation/Unesco recommendation concerning the status of teachers, which sets benchmarks regarding the rights and responsibilities of teachers, and standards for their initial preparation and further education, recruitment, employment, and teaching and learning conditions’.

Unfortunately, the day will be marked in Uganda when teachers have withdrawn their labour over salary disparities.

Teachers, mostly in secondary schools, are in the third week of their strike, which started on September 15. In July 2022, the government implemented a substantial pay rise for science teachers, increasing salaries by up to 300 percent.

Under the adjustment, graduate science teachers’ pay rose from Shs1.1m to Shs4m, and Grade V science teachers’ pay from Shs796,000 to Shs2.5 million. Currently, a graduate arts teacher earns a gross salary of Shs1,078,162 and takes home Shs841,931, while their science counterpart earns Shs4m gross and Shs2,858,000 net.

The minister of Public Service, Mr Muruli Mukasa, this week issued a stern warning to the striking teachers, declaring the industrial action illegal and directing teachers to resume work within one week. But labour unions have joined the Uganda National Teachers’ Union (Unatu) to reject the government’s seven-day ultimatum to end their strike, insisting that teachers will not return to classrooms until their demand for salary enhancement is addressed. But as we celebrate World Teachers’ Day, let us take time and reflect on all the challenges facing our teachers beyond their salaries. For long, teachers, especially in rural areas, have complained about poor working conditions.

Many of these schools are understaffed, have limited classrooms and accommodation, as well as limited textbooks and science apparatus.

Teachers also face limited professional development opportunities. We should stop treating the training of teachers as a one-time event, but rather a continuous process that must follow them through their careers if we want to transform our education system.

All these challenges have led to the demoralisation of teachers who play a key role in driving learning and innovation in schools and societies. It is our appeal, therefore, that all stakeholders, both from the government and private sectors, come together to tackle the challenges that teachers are facing today.

It is through addressing some of these bottlenecks and coming up with new policies that we shall transform our education sector to meet the demands of the 21st Century.

Prefects, a show that screened on NTV Uganda, has been nominated for the International Emmy Awards. Starring a dominantly Kenyan and Ugandan cast, Prefects was nominated for Best Kids Live Action category in the awards that will take place in New York on November 23.

Produced by Peripheral Vision International, Prefects will face off with TV shows such as Dodger (UK), En af Drengene [One of the Boys] (Denmark), Escola De Quebrada [School of Funk] (Brazil) and Gong! My SpectRacular Life (Germany). Prefects is a youth drama series produced by Peripheral Vision International and originally broadcast on Citizen and NTV Uganda.

Set in a fictional Mvule Secondary School, the show follows a diverse group of student leaders as they grapple with the responsibilities of power, the pressures of adolescence, and the challenge of balancing authority with empathy.

With a dominantly Ugandan and Kenyan cast, the series is grounded in East African realities while drawing on universal themes of identity, friendship, and leadership that resonate with young audiences everywhere. It is a story that takes its audience on a memory lane, especially those who went to boarding schools and had to stomach the wrath of student leaders.

With a cast blending seasonal and new actors such as Kenyan actors, Melvin Alusa, from shows such as Country Girl, The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, Subira and Mission to Rescue, Vanessa Okeyo from the Showmax hit, Second Family, content creator, Aziad Nassenya to Ugandans, Natasha Sinayobye, Tracy Kababito from films, Mukisa, Katera and I Eat What I Want, Mushema Houlsen and Rachel Nduhukire both from the TV series Sanyu.

Of course they are joined by stage and screen actor, Michael Tamale, who by the time of the production had most of his credits on stage, he has since made moves on screen as well. Prefects is a bust of Afrocentrism from production and costume design, there is no way you can mistake the identity of Mvule students. Their African roots scream on the screen yet they still manage to be Gen-Zs, cool and energetic as they want to be.

But Prefects is not the only African TV show nominated for the International Emmys, Charlotte Hope is nominated for Best Actress for her role on Catch Me a Killer, a Showmax original. School Ties, a South African documentary is also nominated in the Best Documentary category.

Other nominated shows include Cake and Playroom Live, both from South Africa. Besides Prefects, however, there is more for the local film industry to celebrate, earlier last week, Mathew Nabwiso, the president of the Producers’ Guild of Uganda became a member of the International Emmys.

Nabwiso, known for films and TV series such as Rain and Sanyu was part of the 48 members who were announced by the International Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.

Nabwiso follows in the footsteps of Leonard Amanya, who joined the International Emmys and many other academies across the globe, paving the way for many Ugandans.

The Namasagali Old Students Association (NOSA) has consecrated a beautifully designed mausoleum in memory of the Late Sir Fr. Damien Grimes at Namasagali Chapel in Kamuli District.

The event was a celebration of his enduring legacy and a rallying call for alumni to return, rebuild, and restore the past glory of Namasagali College.

During the ceremony, the alumni raised Shs20m in cash and pledges to support the construction of a new administration block at the college.

The mausoleum, a symbol of both religious and educational tourism, is a work of art adorned with elegant tiles, sacred Catholic Church colors, and a tomb designed in a sharp V-shape with a slanted roof entrance.

Chairperson of the old students, Ms Maureen Mwagale, described the mausoleum as a home worthy of the man who touched countless lives through his service and love.

“Fr. Grimes was controversial, yes, but full of conviction,” she said. “Today, we don’t just unveil a building, we consecrate a legacy. This is a sacred sanctuary that must be guarded with the same devotion Fr. Grimes showed to us.”

First Deputy Prime Minister, Ms. Rebecca Kadaga, who presided over the consecration, praised the alumni for giving their founding father and mentor a lasting and dignified legacy. “He now rests in peace, at a place of his choosing, surrounded by the love of those he served,” she said.

Uganda’s Ambassador to Moscow and former State Minister for Karamoja Affairs, Mr. Moses Kizige, urged fellow alumni to uphold the virtues Fr. Grimes instilled – unity, safety, and “service.” “His Sunday ‘Life, Safety, and Welfare Lectures’ remain our compass,” he said. “Let us not deviate, for even asleep, a lion remains a lion. We must, in unison, strive regardless.”

The mausoleum is a testament to Fr. Grimes’ life’s work, values, and vision, and a permanent reminder of what it means to lead with compassion, discipline, and enduring purpose.

It is often said that no nation can be great or rise above the quality of its educational system, and no educational system can rise above the quality of its teachers. This truth underscores the urgent need to see teacher professional development not as a luxury but as the foundation of educational transformation.

Professional development is not a one-time event; it is a lifelong journey that begins with initial teacher preparation and continues until retirement. Teachers remain the most important change agents in education, and how we nurture their growth directly shapes how students learn.

As we celebrate World Teachers’ Day 2025, we reflect on the lessons learned from our journey in rethinking professional development. Early on, we noticed a troubling trend: professional development was often treated as an isolated event rather than a continuous process.

More than half of the teachers we interviewed admitted that continuous professional development (CPD) had little or no impact on their classroom practices. They described one-off workshops where they listened to trainers, collected handouts, and then returned to classrooms where nothing fundamentally changed.

Such models checked accountability boxes for trainers but rarely transformed teaching or improved student learning.

This realisation challenged us to reimagine professional development-its purpose, its design, and its sustainability. From this journey, three critical lessons have emerged: Effective professional learning is not about transferring information; it is about fostering growth. Teachers, like their students, need time and space to practice, reflect, collaborate, and apply new skills in real classrooms.

Professional development that is ongoing, context-specific, and supported by coaching or peer collaboration produces genuine improvement. Equally important is focus. The guiding question should always be: How will teacher development improve student learning? When there is a clear link between teacher growth and learner success, professional development becomes relevant and meaningful.

Programmes such as those designed by Enabel are showing promise in this direction: equipping teachers to design inclusive lessons, adopt learner-centred methodologies, use assessment to guide instruction, and integrate technology purposefully.

The goal is not simply to inform teachers but to transform them so that teaching becomes more engaging, inclusive, and impactful. Professional development must respect teachers as professionals.

It cannot be imposed top-down; it must grow from teachers’ voices, experiences, and needs. Teachers respond best when they are treated as co-creators-identifying challenges, shaping solutions, and sharing expertise.

Programs that honour teacher participation foster ownership, trust, and long-term commitment. We must also recognise professional development as an investment, not an expense. Done well, it changes how teachers teach, how students learn, and how schools succeed.

Investing in teachers is, ultimately, investing in the future of the nation. True professional development is not a requirement to be checked off-it is a pathway to lasting change. When it is continuous, collaborative, and connected to real classroom practice, it empowers teachers to refine their craft, build confidence, and keep improving.

Sustained professional development creates a cycle of continuous improvement where teaching evolves and learning flourishes.

At its best, professional development becomes self-sustaining because it fuels teachers’ intrinsic motivation. It shifts professional growth from something done to teachers into something done by and with them.

This is where transformation truly takes root. On this World Teachers’ Day, we call on all stakeholders in education to recognise that professional development is not an add-on to education; it is its cornerstone. If we want teaching to change and learning to improve, we must move beyond one-off workshops and embrace sustained, collaborative, and purpose-driven professional learning.

Teachers deserve to be empowered as learners themselves, curious, capable, and central to educational change.

Teachers need time dedicated to professional development. They need access to tools and technology to practice and innovate. Their competences must be recognised and licensed.

When teachers grow, students succeed. And when students succeed, the nation rises. Let us celebrate and invest in our teachers, not just today, but every day, because they hold the key to a brighter future for us all.

KCCA registered their first win of the 2025/26 StarTimes Uganda Premier League season with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over rivals SC Villa at an empty Mandela National Stadium, Namboole, on Saturday night.

Man of the Match Ivan Ahimbisibwe opened the scoring for the hosts on 30 minutes, finishing off an Ashraf Mugume assist to give KCCA the advantage.

Villa levelled from the spot on the hour mark through Najib Yiga after a foul in the area, but Umar Lutalo restored KCCA’s lead two minutes from time with a superb direct free kick.

KCCA’s Filbert Obenchan and Herbert Achai were cautioned, while Villa saw four players – Diego Ssemugera, Geoffrey Lubangakene, Simon Ssemayange, and David Lukwago – booked.

The result lifted KCCA to third place on four points from two matches, while Villa, playing their first game, sit second from bottom without a point.

The match had been scheduled as part of a doubleheader, but the earlier fixture between Kitara and Vipers SC did not take place after Vipers failed to turn up in protest of the new league format. The fixture remains listed as ‘To Be Decided’ (TBD) on the UPL website.

Earlier on Saturday morning, Buhimba United Saints claimed their maiden top-flight victory with a 2-0 win over Calvary at Butema Royal Park in Hoima.

Anwara Mustafa Ntege struck in the 26th minute before Swadik Moro added a second in the 44th to seal the result. Moro, who was later substituted, was named Man of the Match.

The win, Buhimba’s second successive victory, sprung them to the table leadership on six points.

Buhimba’s Muber Erick and Calvary’s Opio Daniel were the only players booked in the game, which had been rescheduled after heavy rain washed out play the previous day.

All the success of the Uganda senior 7s teams can easily be attributed to one man. Tolbert Onyango.

Players have come and left in the last decade but Onyango has been the constant face.

But that has now changed following Wednesday’s announcement from the union confirming that he was stepping down from his role as the team’s head coach.

‘It is with mixed emotions that I write to inform you of the decision by Mr. Tolbert Onyango to step down as the Head Coach of the Uganda National Rugby Sevens Team after an extraordinary 10-year tenure,’ Uganda Rugby Union President Godwin Kayangwe revealed.

‘Onyango has been an integral figure in shaping Uganda’s rugby landscape, and his departure marks the end of a remarkable era,’ he added.

Onyango took on the mantle of the Uganda 7s team in 2015 and went on to transform the setup, helping Uganda to scale heights like never before.

That he is a winner is a no brainer. Uganda has won the Rugby Africa Sevens Championship four times with him at the helm.

The first one, won in Nairobi, Kenya, in 2016 might have come as a surprise but what followed at home in 2017 was a glimpse of what to expect of Uganda in the 7s code of the game.

Two more African titles came in 2022 and 2024.

The 2017 and 2022 victories were special as they helped Uganda secure qualification to the Rugby World Cup Sevens and the Commonwealth Games.

With names like Eric Kasiita, Philip Wokorach, Michael Wokorach, Adrian Kasito, Ian Munyani, Aaron Ofoyrwoth, Desire Ayera, Alex Aturinda, Pius Ogena and Nobert Okeny, Onyango took Uganda places.

Respect

In his decade-long journey, Onyango has earned Uganda respect on the African continent.

His final engagement with the team was the 2025 Rugby Africa Men’s 7s in Mauritius where Uganda finished fifth.

He leaves at a time the team is seemingly going through a rebuilding phase, with new faces joining the set up.

Allan Olango, Mark Osuna, Jones Kamiza, Arnold Ocen, Karim Arinaitwe and Malcolm Okello are some of the new kids on the block.

Their journey, however, will have to be shaped by a different tactician.

The Union has now named Allan Otim as the Caretaker head of the Rugby Sevens team.

‘In light of Coach Onyango’s departure, the Uganda Rugby Union is pleased to announce the appointment of Allan Otim as the Caretaker Head of the National Rugby Sevens Team,’ Kayangwe’s communication revealed.

Otim has worked with Onyango over the years and is expected to continue with the team’s targets.

Making it to the world series remains as Uganda’s biggest target.

‘We are confident that under his guidance, the team will continue to build on this strong legacy and deliver outstanding performances.’

Otim will have his work cut out and comparisons to Onyango will come naturally. It remains to be seen whether he, or any other coach, will be able to fill the big shoes left by Onyango.

Key achievements during Onyango’s tenure at Rugby Cranes 7s:

Africa Men’s 7s Champions – 2016, 2017, 2022 and 2024

2018 – Rugby World Cup Sevens debut

2022 – Qualified for Commonwealth Games, 2020 Tokyo Olympic qualifiers and RWC Sevens.

2024 – African Games champions