Category: Daily Monitor

What is yours?

I am doing this concert because of what’s happened with hip-hop this year. I felt compelled to show our progress. In all genres, there have been successes, there have been failures. I feel like this is the end-of-year closing statement for hip-hop. I felt a responsibility to do the show. I was waiting for someone to do orchestra but it ended up pointing back at me.

Where did this idea come from?

Based on our history with Klear-Kut, the quality, mixing and mastering, for long, we were insisting on sound quality. We were insisting on doing quality videos from the start. We insisted on using a band when everyone told us we were insane and should just use a CD because it was cheaper. We insisted on getting out to the whole of Africa and doing tours, all the way from Nigeria to Zimbabwe to Zanzibar, for Bussara festivals and Haifa festival, like we were there for all of that stuff.

This is a challenge I wanted to take on. And also, with more and more people looking at us as godfather status, it does fall upon us to kind of lead the way and blaze a trail. So yeah, we decided to blaze a trail and uplift the sound of bands now from just a six-piece to a 40-piece, a 50-piece.

Who are your supporting acts at this concert?

How do I say this without ruining the surprise? Well, Geosteady is going to be jumping on, Fefe Busi, we will have legendary Babaluku, Lyrical G, and then we are making way for a lot of new rappers and new talents that wouldn’t be able to get on stage. Young guys like Lucas Black, Dennis E, Dahomey and OG Stache. And then we have one surprise act as well from my own family, someone who is beginning their career.

No Bobi Wine this time round?

There is always a chance, of course. I feel like people put a lot of pressure on people to turn up for events but I am not that type of guy. Bobi Wine is running for presidency. I wish he was running for a spot at the local Rolex stand in Wandegeya. He would maybe have a bit more time. But whether he turns up or not, we will be there to celebrate a Navio 10-year milestone.

Will this be your biggest concert?

In terms of pressure with the sound. This is not six channels of sound coming through. This is 40, 50 channels of sound. It is going to be a challenge, but my team and I are up to the task. My hardest? I did six clothing changes for Half the Legend at Katikati in 2009. That was pretty serious and then Sabrina’s in 2001. This is more than a celebration, more than pressure.

What do you want to achieve that you haven’t?

Peace of mind. I have never found true peace of mind other than when I’m with my family. I literally go crazy when I am not with my family.

Is this precedent likely to inspire other artistes?

Definately. But they have to see first. I also have to see if it works. The financial implications behind that. But we are here to disrupt. We are here to show people that hip-hop can work in this country. So instead of saying Navio opened many doors, I hope they say he kicked many.

Are there any other artistes under NavCorp?

NavCorp was founded to aid every artiste, but it is a business thing. I cannot legally do business for NavCorp without having a business entity. But this is the first year that we are actually going to step outside, and decide which artistes we want to bring out. Young blood artistes who can go out there and carry on the legacy that we built.

Having been in the game for 20 years, has a thought of retiring ever crossed your mind?

Some people are already saying this is my last show.

Is it your last show?

It is my 10th show and we will see what the future holds. I hope people come through and we share my music before I go and become a full-time farmer.

If it is indeed your last show, don’t you think Klear Kut should have been on it?

We may have a Klear Kut set on the night. We have three people from three different continents. The magic of Klear Kut was born on the stage, all of us together.

Cyphering, freestyling, you know, that’s how Klear Kut was born. So, we lose a certain element when we are sending songs across the water. That’s not how the Klear Kut vibe was born. We have to record in separate places and release music. Because there’s still a demand for it not just here, by the way but in Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya. So, I’m looking forward to that project.

Is Orchestra a new path you are taking with your music?

We are going to be releasing a compilation of the Navio Greatest Hits in Orchestra format. We always wanted to do it in a different way. So this gives the perfect fit.

So, what’s your biggest project?

Nawuliranga opened great doors for me. The sound, the quality, the execution, the video, the rotation and the fact that it is behind a concert. For rappers, not many concerts come out of a single. But that was a song that was strong enough to do that.

Your last album was the Navio X Project. How is its reception so far?

Sometimes you need to do a project that comes with a critical acclaim and that is exactly what happened with this one. It was such a natural progression from the TV show to taking a studio around with us, to setting up that studio on the River Nile, sometimes, here, there, everywhere. To do 10 songs, 10 different cultures, 10 different language elements on most of the songs, 10 different rhythms, it had not been done before. We are proud pioneers. And yeah, Navio X Project lives on, man. I can’t wait for Volume 2.

If you had to choose between R. Kelly and Keith Sweat, who would you work with?

Keith Sweat gave me a different level of respect. He introduced me to Major Seven who has done songs for Lil’ Kim, Jay-Z and Rick Ross to Buju to DJ Khaled. So for him to have been in the studio and for Keith to have said, hey man, check this guy out was really amazing. Major Seven heard me rap once and he was like, yo bro, you got it bro and said I should move to the States.

Ugandan food exporters are struggling to compete in global markets due to the country’s landlocked status, with entrepreneurs citing high transportation costs and logistics delays as major barriers to international trade. Mr Elie Nsabimana, the chief executive officer (CEO) and founder of MIECA Uganda Limited, says while demand for Ugandan organic foods such as matooke, cassava, and sweet potatoes is growing in North America, Europe, and the Middle East, the cost of getting those goods out of the country is undermining profits and slowing scale-up.

‘We are exporting over 100 containers of food every year, but we cannot satisfy the market because transport from Uganda to the port of Mombasa is very expensive,’ Mr Nsabimana tells Monitor during a visit to MIECA’s new 20-acre food processing facility in Buwama, Mpigi District. Mr Nsabimana, whose company employs more than 500 workers and sells over 70 value-added food products globally, says Uganda’s inland location increases the final price of goods.

This makes them less competitive compared to products from West African countries like Ghana, Nigeria, and Cameroon that have direct access to the Atlantic Ocean. ‘Our competitors in West Africa are close to the sea. They move goods directly from the factory to the ship. For us in Uganda, we must first go through Kenya, via Mombasa to access the Ocean. That journey eats into our margins,’ he says.

Road transport

Uganda depends on road transport through Kenya to access the Port of Mombasa, which is its primary gateway for international trade. According to data from the Uganda Freight Forwarders Association (UFFA), this route adds between 25 percent and 40 percent to the logistics cost of an export container, depending on the weight, perishability, and mode of transport.

MIECA, which stands for Mugisha Import and Export Company, started operations in 2018 with a focus on adding value to traditional Ugandan foods. Its flagship product is matooke (green bananas), which the company dehydrates, grinds, or vacuum-seals for long shelf-life export. Mr Nsabimana claims that Uganda’s matooke is in high demand abroad because it is still organic and chemical-free.

‘Our land is virgin. We don’t use chemical fertilisers, so when our matooke reaches the international market, people love it. But the problem is not demand; it is getting the goods there affordably and consistently,’ he added. The company exports to Canada (with stores in Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, and Montreal), the United States, France, Belgium, Oman, the United Arab Emirates, and Australia. However, despite this global presence, Mr Nsabimana says MIECA remains constrained by limited access to affordable shipping, high fuel costs, delays at the border, and lack of access to financing. Mr Nsabimana warns that the lack of investment in export infrastructure is limiting Uganda’s competitiveness in agro-processing.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs, in collaboration with the African Union (AU) Peace and Security Council, has destroyed 100 illegal firearms in Jinja as part of the 9th commemoration of Africa Amnesty Month (AAM).

The destruction ceremony, held at Gaddafi Barracks in Jinja on Friday, symbolises Uganda’s commitment to regional peace and disarmament efforts.

The event was presided over by Minister of Defence and Veteran Affairs, Mr Jacob Oboth Oboth, along with officials from the African Union Peace and Security Council (AU-PSC) and the United Nations Office on Disarmament Affairs (UNODA).

Mr Oboth Oboth revealed that nearly 150,000 firearms and light weapons have been recovered over the past 25 years through various disarmament initiatives.

“The destruction of these recovered weapons sends a clear message to criminals that Uganda is steadfast in promoting peace and stability both domestically and regionally,” he emphasised.

Mr Simon Peter Mundeyi, Spokesperson for the Ministry of Internal Affairs, noted that over 32,000 firearms have been recovered from communities since 2000, particularly in cattle-rustling hotspots in Karamoja, Northern Uganda, and the Rwenzori region.

“The Commission calls on anyone in possession of illegal firearms to come forward voluntarily and surrender them,” Mr. Mundeyi said. “No one who does so will face criminal prosecution.” The residue of the burnt firearms will be carefully collected and transported to Nakasongola for recycling.

Commander Ernest Nuwagaba of the Uganda Rapid Deployment Capability Centre emphasized Uganda’s commitment to continental arms control frameworks and the AU’s Silencing the Guns initiative. Africa Amnesty Month, established in 2017 and extended to 2030, aims to promote the voluntary surrender of illicit small arms and light weapons, key drivers of conflict, displacement, and insecurity across Africa.

The AU and UN have supported similar disarmament activities in Liberia and Togo, reinforcing the international focus on controlling arms flow into and within Africa. In Kampala, the ceremony was graced by H.E. Ambassador Tebelelo Alfred Boang of Botswana on Thursday.

The Archbishop of the Church of Uganda, Stephen Samuel Kaziimba Mugalu, has expressed concern over the appointment of Sarah Mullally as Archbishop of Canterbury.

In a statement issued on October 3, Archbishop Kaziimba was particularly concerned about appointing a person who has reportedly supported behaviours that contradict the biblical doctrines.

Biblical doctrines of marriage define it as a permanent, lifelong, heterosexual, and monogamous covenant between one man and one woman, initiated by God.

“I am writing to share the sad news that the Rt Rev Sarah Mullally, the Bishop of London, has been appointed as the next Archbishop of Canterbury. Our sadness about this appointment is her support and advocacy for unbiblical positions on sexuality and same-sex marriage that reveal her departure from the historic Anglican positions that uphold the authority of Scripture for faith and life,” he states.

He added, “As a founding member of Gafcon, the Church of Uganda considers this appointment to further deepen the tear in the fabric of the Anglican Communion that began in 2003 with the TEC consecration as Bishop of a divorced father of two living in a same-sex relationship. The tear in the fabric of the Anglican Communion has now reached the highest level of the Communion. There appears to be no repentance. Make no mistake.”

He described the contentious decision as a grievous decision at the highest levels of the Church of England to separate itself from the vast majority of the global Anglican Communion.

He extended his prayers to those in the Church of England who are disillusioned by the appointment and hand of fellowship to them through Gafcon and the Global South Fellowship of Anglicans.

“As we declared in our 2023 Gafcon statement from Kigali, we no longer recognize the Archbishop of Canterbury as having global authority and the office is certainly no longer an ‘Instrument of Communion,’ he added.

‘With this appointment, the Archbishop of Canterbury is reduced simply to the Primate of All England,” he said.

He assured Christians in the Church of Uganda that, through Gafcon and the Global South Fellowship of Anglicans, they are part of a worldwide communion of Anglicans who continue to proclaim the historic and Biblical faith of Anglicanism – faithfulness to Christ and submission to the authority of Scripture.

He explained that the future of Gospel-centred mission in the Anglican tradition is bright, noting that: ‘The fields are ripe for harvest; we pray for labourers to go into the harvest.’

As we declared at our 2018 Gafcon meeting in Jerusalem, ‘We will proclaim Christ faithfully to the nations.’

Uganda’s Anti- Homosexuality Act criminalises homosexuality and same-sex marriages.

Mullally was appointed as the new Archbishop of Canterbury on October 3, becoming the first woman to lead the Church of England in 1400 years’ history.

She is expected to be installed next year in March.

The Kitagwenda Resident District Commissioner (RDC), Mr Isaiah Byarugaba Kanyanahane, has called upon the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) to swiftly intervene and stop the rampant distribution of untaxed alcohol in his locality.

According to Mr Kanyanahane, the consequences of this illicit trade are devastating. “Our people are dying silently, and the chaos we witness in the community is because of that,” he said. “These drinks are poisonous, and that’s why we call upon the URA and government officials to intervene and save the situation.”

He added that the community has lost many young people to the effects of these illicit drinks, which are sold at cheaper prices due to tax evasion.

The RDC accused the manufacturers of deliberately avoiding tax compliance, disguising their products as exports, and dumping them in Kitagwenda and other hard-to-reach areas. “We have lost many powerful youth who take these types of Waragi because it’s sold at a cheaper price because it has not paid tax, and they end up losing their minds,” he said. “This habit of manufacturing and dumping Waragi is too much in our areas, and now we call upon the URA to take immediate action on these so-called investors.”

Mr. Kanyanahane also highlighted the financial implications of this illicit trade, noting that it deprives the government of much-needed revenue. “The habit makes the government lose taxes because the manufacturers end up selling untaxed products,” he said. “I call upon the URA to take immediate action on the manufacturers who don’t comply with government policies and end up dumping products in hard-to-reach areas like Kitagwenda, hence the government losing revenue.”

The URA introduced Digital Tax Stamps in 2019 to protect the supply chain of excisable goods and curb illicit trade. The system requires manufacturers and importers to affix unique stamps on their products, enabling URA to verify tax compliance and track products. Over 1,100 manufacturers and 300 importers have enrolled on the platform, which has been implemented in partnership with SICPA Uganda under the aegis of URA and the Ministry of Finance.

Efforts to get a comment from the URA were unsuccessful by press time, as the known number of Commissioner for Public and Corporate Affairs, Mr Robert Kalumba, was off by press time.

World Egg Day was established in Vienna, Austria, in 1996, when it was decided to celebrate the power of the egg on the second Friday of October each year.

Since then, egg fans the world over have come up with new creative ways to honour this incredible nutrient powerhouse, and the day of celebration has grown from strength to strength, year in and year out.

The event is a global one that highlights the versatility and nutritional benefits of eggs. This year’s theme is the mighty egg; packed with natural nutrition, celebrates the powerful role eggs play in nourishing people across the globe. Thanks to the Poultry Association of Uganda, this year’s event will be held next week from Thursday 9- to 11 at Old Kampala Senior Secondary School. This educative occasion brings together poultry farmers and industry experts for a greatly rewarding weekend of learning and networking.

You will discover innovative and hitherto unknown rearing techniques and innovations as well as poultry related exhibits. Take advantage of this expo to link up with other members of the poultry community thus gaining new knowledge and insight.

Eggs have become a staple in kitchens worldwide, transcending cultural and geographical sectors and boundaries. Be it a sublime delicate French quiche to a hearty and robust Café Javas breakfast, eggs form a central role in untold culinary ventures.

To wit, in Uganda, the Rolex has become a household favourite and the country’s most famous egg dish while at the same time being an affordable picker upper for even the budget conscious student or the common man.

This universal appeal of eggs is a testament to their versatility and the joy that they bring to our tables, not forgetting our palates. Nothing stimulates the seasoned (if you will pardon the pun) cook’s imagination or the nutritionists enthusiasm than a good fresh egg. Unbeknownst to many a layman, eggs have the unique property of containing all the balanced nutrients from which a complete organism develops.

Eggs are responsible for transforming cake doughs by providing a structural framework for leaven, can thicken custards and make them smooth, not to mention tenderizing timbales and produce fine-grained ice creams. No mention of eggs would be complete without speaking of how they bind gravies and mayonnaise, clarify or enrich soups, glaze rolls, and insulate pie doughs against becoming soggy.

Eggs create magnificent and wondrous meringues and soufflés, and last but not least, make ideal luncheons and unexpected fare. Inasmuch as fresh eggs do all those things better than old eggs, and because there is no comparison in taste between the two, it is a false economy to use inexpensive eggs; make it a point to always buy the very best and fresh quality you can find.

A good pointer is to buy from a place which has a high turnover of dairy products. It doesn’t matter if their yolks are light or dark or if their shells are light or white or brown——so long as their shells are not shiny. While the definitive test remains that of tasting for good flavor, the failsafe method of determining the freshness is by placing them in a bowl of cold water. Simple; those that float are a must to avoid and should be immediately discarded.

Strange as it may seem after stressing the purchase of fresh eggs, there is one caveat to be observed. Do not use eggs that are fresher than three days old for hard cooked eggs or for beating and baking. Funnily enough, if you do so, hard cooked eggs will turn greenish and become problematic to peel and believe it or not, cakes may fail to rise properly because the eggs will not beat to the optimum required volume.

At all cost, never, never use a doubtful egg with any odor or discoloration, in particular an egg that is cracked: you are courting the danger of salmonella developing. Ideally speaking, eggs ought to be bought and measured by weight, alas tradition is against this sensible approach.For purposes of the Ugandan kitchen, since eggs are not graded unlike in more advanced countries, the larger the egg the more preferred and a guestimate would assume that egg to weigh in at 56.699 grams or 2 ounces. Don’t expect the same texture or flavor from eggs or other fowl. The storage of eggs is not difficult providing you follow a few simple rules.

Whether from your backyard chicken coop or market, eggs must not be washed until ready for use, as they are covered with a soluble film which protects the porous shell against bacterial contamination. The best place for storage is the refrigerator. As for egg whites, when stored in the fridge, make sure that they are tightly covered and they are good for four days and then best used for recipes where they are specified.

To store unbroken egg yolks, we recommend storing them covered with water which is then drained off prior to being used.

In conclusion, should you ever have any doubts which eggs in the fridge are fresh or hard boiled, we pull out of our hat an old conjurers trick; a quick test is to twirl them on their pointed ends, and voila and behold, the boiled eggs will spin like a top while the others simply topple over wily-nilly!

When 10 people, including two children, were killed by illicit alcohol in Kyotera District in 2023, there was an understandable outpouring of grief. While the community mourned, police seized huge volumes of the local brew waragi and health authorities prohibited its production and sale.

But such a crisis-driven response, while necessary in the moment, failed to address the wider problem, which still exists today.

The uncomfortable truth is that the Kyotera tragedy was not an isolated incident but a symptom of a much larger crisis that continues to devastate Uganda’s economy and endanger public health.

Today, illicit alcohol dominates our market in ways that should alarm every policymaker and citizen who cares about Uganda’s future. The scale of the problem is staggering. In 2024, illicit alcohol sales represented an overwhelming 67 percent of the total alcohol market in volume terms, and 40 percent in value terms, according to a damning Euromonitor report. This means more than two out of every three alcoholic drinks consumed in Uganda are produced and sold outside the regulatory framework designed to protect consumers and ensure fair taxation.

The fiscal haemorrhaging is equally dramatic. Illicit alcohol is bleeding Uganda’s treasury of Shs3 trillion annually – a figure that has grown by a shocking 80 percent since 2020. To put this in perspective, that loss is significantly more than half of what the government plans to spend on education this year. However, most Ugandans do not fully grasp the economic dimensions of this crisis.

Research shows that while consumers are concerned about health risks related to illicit alcohol, only 10 percent associate illicit beverages with tax evasion or the loss of government revenue. This disconnect between public perception and economic reality is part of the problem. The Shs3 trillion we are losing annually to illicit alcohol represents foregone investments in hospitals, schools, roads and other essential infrastructure. Every bottle of illegal waragi or counterfeit whiskey sold represents stolen resources that could have been used to improve the lives of all Ugandans. The irony is bitter. At a time when government is striving to increase domestic revenue by almost Shs5 trillion by 2027, criminal networks are stealing more than half that amount annually just from alcohol alone. It is economic sabotage on a massive scale.

The solution requires more than incident-driven responses. We need comprehensive reforms that address the root causes of illicit alcohol proliferation. This includes better regulation of ethanol production that fuels counterfeits, stronger enforcement against illegal distilleries and public education about the true costs of illicit alcohol consumption. We also need to examine whether our tax policies are inadvertently encouraging illicit trade. When legal alcohol becomes prohibitively expensive due to high taxes, consumers inevitably turn to cheaper illegal alternatives, creating a vicious cycle that undermines both public health and revenue collection.

We need sustained political will and coordinated action to tackle the illicit trade crisis. Uganda cannot afford to wait for another tragedy like the Kyotera one to act. We need smart policymaking and decisive action before the trillions lost to illicit trade become even more devastating to our economy and our people’s lives.

Uganda finds itself in a tight corner as it doesn’t have an Inspector General of Government (IGG).

Likewise, the country will soon find itself without a substantive Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) should Justice Jane Frances Abodo, who was recently appointed the Principal Judge, take the judicial oath before the President.

Recently, the office of the ombudsman fell vacant after the contracts of Ms Beti Kamya expired alongside those of her two deputies, Patricia Achan Okiria and Anne Twinomugisha Muhairwe.

This means the government institution constitutionally mandated with fighting corruption is toothless, as it cannot sanction new corruption charges against suspected corrupt government officials.

The expiry of the four-year contracts of Ms Kamya and her two deputies did not come as an accident. This was known, but no action was taken. Article 223(7) of the Constitution says the IGG and Deputy IGG shall hold office for a term of four years, but shall be eligible for reappointment only once.

The powers that be should have either renewed the contracts of the trio, as they are eligible for another four-year term, or appointed new office bearers if their stint in the first term was not satisfactory.

Having a leadership gap in the office of the ombudsman has grave implications. It means corrupt government officials can freely move around, and yet we lose about Shs10 trillion annually to corruption schemes.

This is huge money that which, if put to proper use, can make a great difference, say in infrastructure development, an increase in salary for civil servants, among others. The IGG’s mandate is to eliminate corruption, promote and foster the rule of law and principles of natural justice in public offices, and enforce the Leadership Code of Conduct.

On the other hand, the office of the DPP could soon become vacant after the President recently appointed Justice Abodo as the new Principal Judge.

Justice Abodo has since been vetted by Parliament, and she is expected to be sworn in any time. Once she is sworn in, it means the office of the DPP will also be vacant.

For now, the DPP can sanction certain big corruption charges from the office of the IGG and have the suspects arraigned before courts.

However, this is dependent on how long Justice Abodo stays in that office. Given the high corruption rates and the amounts of money taxpayers lose to corruption, we appeal to the appointing authority to fill the positions if we are to fight the vice.

In a world where conservation often evokes images of boots on the ground, rifles slung over shoulders and rangers patrolling thick forests, one man has added rhythm, song and drama to the fight for nature. Valerian Kisambira, the awareness and education officer at the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), is redefining what it means to serve both people and wildlife.

A paramilitary conservationist with the heart of a performer, Kisambira has carved out platform, where law enforcement meets art, and where conservation education is delivered not just as information, but as inspiration.

His journey began in uniform, serving as a ranger with UWA, but his story could never be told without the stage. A proud graduate of Makerere University with a degree in Drama and Film, Kisambira fuses his artistic training with his conservation career, demonstrating that the arts are not a distraction from environmental work but a powerful tool to advance it.

‘I’m an actor. I know how to read a crowd, and how to move them.’ That understanding of human emotion and communication has made him one of the most effective educators in Uganda’s conservation landscape.

Through music, Kisambira has created advocacy that lingers long after the performance. His song Fallen Rangers is a solemn tribute to conservation heroes, who died in the line of duty, ensuring their sacrifices are remembered.

Another track, In the Jungle, is an energetic anthem celebrating the resilience of rangers, who work tirelessly to protect Uganda’s biodiversity. These are not just songs, but rallying cries-performed at awareness campaigns, ranger memorials, and national events, where they evoke both mourning and motivation.

Kisambira has also taken conservation to the screen. In 2020, he was the artistic director and lead actor in Taasa Ekkula, a television drama aired on Bukedde TV that tackled poaching, the illegal wildlife trade, the Uganda Wildlife Act of 2019, and the complex realities of human-wildlife coexistence.

The series reached millions of viewers and transformed primetime entertainment into a national conservation education campaign. For Kisambira, the camera is as potent a tool as the ranger’s rifle-each in its own way a weapon for protecting wildlife.

Yet his artistry stretches far beyond conservation messaging. He has featured in popular television series such as Salamia, Prestige, Hotel Mara and Popi, while also directing films like Salamia and Sweet Smiles. On stage, his repertoire is extensive, with productions including Kyekango, Mmaliride, Esobi yekyabakade, Kapapula, Siyomu, Togunsalira, Nkesa Lukya, Kabuze Kata and many others. Through his troupe, Ugaborns Entertainment, which he co-founded, he has nurtured talent and brought socially conscious theatre to communities across Uganda.

This year, Ugaborns marks a milestone-10 years of performance-with a production titled Scandalous! Onobiwulira!!, premiering at Club Obligato, a celebration of a decade of storytelling. What makes Kisambira remarkable is his refusal to abandon either side of his calling. Even after obtaining further qualifications-a Diploma in Wildlife Conservation and a Bachelor’s in Conservation and Natural Resources-he continues to direct, write, and perform, co-directing Ugaborns while serving full-time with UWA.

In his world, the ranger and the actor are not contradictions but complements. His life’s work demonstrates that conservation is not just about science, law, and policy-it is also about storytelling, song, and soul. Whether he is standing before an international forum, a village baraza, or a theatre audience, Valerian Kisambira speaks from the heart and performs with purpose.

In doing so, he embodies a powerful truth: saving nature is not only about protecting wildlife, but also about touching human lives in ways that inspire care, pride, and action. He is, in every sense, a ranger with a voice-one who sings, acts, and educates his way into the hearts of communities, proving that conservation, too, can take centre stage.

Admittedly, like other questions I ask in this column, this too is rather rhetorical, but it is neither academic nor redundant; it is fundamentally a practical question at play in Uganda’s current political landscape.

Let me say upfront that it is impossible to have political parties that consistently uphold the ethos and ideals of democracy while operating in a system that, at its core, is autocratic, undemocratic, and, in many respects, antidemocratic.

Nearly every political party in Uganda that is of some consequence and relevance suffers from a severe internal crisis of democratic credibility. Unsurprisingly, the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) ranks the worst!

The topmost position of party chairman and presidential candidate is not contested; instead, it is ‘ring-fenced’ for the incumbent – Mr Yoweri Museveni, who has never faced a credible challenge for the leadership of the party. Ditto the position of party vice chairman.

The last time there was a possibility of a credible challenge with the then NRM Secretary General, Mr John Patrick Amama Mbabazi, seeking to unseat Mr Museveni, the former was swiftly hounded out of the party.

For long, at least since Uganda officially returned to multiparty politics in 2006, never mind that it has been more in name, internal party elections in the NRM have consistently been chaotic and conducted in ways that are anything but democratic.

Across the political divide, on the Opposition side of the political ledger, matters are not any different, certainly not qualitatively better than the ruling party.

In the two oldest political parties, the Democratic Party )DP) and Uganda People’s Congress UPC), the respective party presidents, Mr Norbert Mao and Mr Jimmy Akena, face serious allegations of being in office illegally or at a minimum illegitimately. As for the Forum for Democratic Change, FDC, well, much has gone horribly wrong; there is really no FDC to talk about.

The latest credibility crisis is with the party presently holding fort as the largest Opposition party, at least going by numbers in parliament and having the leading Opposition presidential candidate – that is, the National Unity Platform (NUP) of Mr Robert Kyagulanyi, alias Bobi Wine. For a while, allegations swirled in the shadows; now they are wildly in the open, presenting utterly damaging optics for a party positioned to bring change. To put it mildly, there is a mockery of democracy in how NUP leadership positions are determined, and especially in the latest high-stakes iteration of selecting party candidates for elections.

The opacity characterising naming parliamentary flagbearers has done little favour to the party’s moral standing and credibility. Not unlike the ruling NRM, many on the losing side of NUP’s internal processes have come out with a bitter taste, vowing to run independently in the general elections.

But unlike NRM, which purports to conduct universal suffrage polls in the primaries, despite the questionable credibility of the processes and outcome, NUP does not even pretend to follow a transparent and democratic process in choosing party flagbearers.

This should deeply worry all Ugandans keen on a truly democratic political culture, but we shouldn’t at any rate, be surprised because the overarching system cultivated and entrenched by the NRM and Mr Museveni for decades is fundamentally undemocratic.

To expect Opposition parties to behave angelically in a corrupted and morally corroded political system is either to display naivete or demonstrate crass dishonesty. If we were candid and fully realistic, we would not waste resources, energies, and emotions on political party activities, including party primaries, precisely because we do not have a multiparty system to write home about.

Mr Museveni, as a person, and the ruling group more generally, has never believed in pluralism and party politics, the reason activities of political parties were expressly banned from the outset in 1986.

After two decades of explicitly outlawing political parties and effectively ruling under a defacto one-party state, albeit disguised as a ‘Movement’ system, the supposed official return to party politics in 2006 was more in form than substance, just as the preceding system of ‘no-party’ democracy was essentially in name.

In any political system, the ruling party or group, or whatever one may call it, often sets the pace, template, and modus operandi that is likely replicated among those on the other side of the political divide.

This is not to excuse Opposition parties for not behaving differently and showing the moral high ground; it is to say that Opposition party behaviour often reflects the political system in place.

Today, NUP is less a vehicle for ‘removing the dictator’. Rather, it is a vessel for obtaining a seat in Parliament or Local Government in areas where it is possible to win using the ‘protest vote’ slogan and beating the state machinery, plus overcoming an election management body that is neither independent nor credible.