Category: Daily Monitor

The High Court Commercial Division has awarded more than Shs1.25 billion in damages and compensation to two traders after finding that managers of the New Park Lockup Owners Association breached a binding agreement that guaranteed pioneer members shops on the ground floor of the redeveloped New Taxi Park complex.

In his judgment, Justice Stephen Mubiru ruled in favour of Kakooza Hussein and Sarah Nabuuma Kakooza, who sued the New Park Lockup Owners Association and eight of its officials over the allocation of lockup shops following the redevelopment of the market.

The defendants are the New Park Lockup Owners Association, Mr John Fred Kiyimba, Mr John Rogers Tusingire, Ms Mada Nagadya, Mr Milton Muhwezi, Mr Wilberforce Lugayavu, Mr Ntake Lule, Mr Muhamad Semanda and Mr Sekalo Mukasa.

The dispute arose from a resolution passed by members of the association on December 11, 2010, which reserved ground-floor lockup shops measuring 10 by 10 feet for original tenants, commonly referred to as pioneer members, provided they fulfilled their financial obligations towards the redevelopment project.

The plaintiffs, Kakooza and Nabuuma, argued that although they paid the required contributions, they were denied the promised ground-floor shops while some units were instead sold to outsiders.

Justice Mubiru agreed, finding that the association and its leaders violated both contractual obligations and fiduciary duties owed to the pioneer members.

‘By continuing to receive the landlords’ contributions despite the missed deadlines, the 1st defendant implicitly indicated that time was no longer strictly of the essence,’ the judge held.

The court found that while the original arrangement required members to pay within specified timelines, the association later obtained a bank loan to finance the project and continued accepting payments from members without enforcing the earlier deadlines.

According to the judgment, this conduct amounted to a waiver of the strict payment timelines, meaning the plaintiffs retained their entitlement to the promised ground-floor shops after completing payment.

Justice Mubiru noted that the association had created a legitimate expectation among pioneer members that they would occupy the ground floor once the project was completed.

‘The directors’ decision to sell the ground-floor shops to the general public was a breach of their fiduciary duties to the plaintiffs,’ he ruled.

The judge emphasised that properly passed resolutions at members’ meetings are legally binding on a company and its directors.

‘Breaching these decisions can render the directors liable for negligence or breach of fiduciary duty,’ he stated.

Evidence before the court showed that Nabuuma completed her payments in September 2016, while Kakooza cleared his obligations in January 2017 after contributing a revised amount of Shs88.5 million each towards the project.

Although the defendants claimed that the plaintiffs had already been allocated shops, the court found no evidence that possession had ever been handed over.

‘There is therefore neither evidence to show that shop units No. 763 and No. 870 have ever been handed over to the plaintiffs, nor that the plaintiffs are in physical possession as claimed by the defendants,’ Justice Mubiru ruled.

However, the court dismissed allegations of fraud against the association and its officials, holding that the plaintiffs had failed to meet the higher standard of proof required in fraud claims.

‘The defendants never acted fraudulently and did not secretly allocate shops on the ground floor to non-pioneer members,’ the judge ruled.

In the final orders, the court directed the defendants to immediately hand over vacant possession of Shop No. 763 and its condominium title to Sarah Nabuuma Kakooza.

The court further awarded her Shs283.5 million in general damages for loss of rental income dating back to January 2017.

For Kakooza, the judge found that all ground-floor units had already been disposed of by the time he completed payment, making specific performance impossible. Instead, the court awarded him Shs957.5 million as damages in lieu of specific performance and an additional Shs15 million in general damages.

The total monetary award amounts to more than Shs1.25 billion, exclusive of interest.

Justice Mubiru also ordered that all damages attract interest at 8 percent per annum from the date of judgment until payment in full and awarded costs of the suit to the plaintiffs.

The Assistant Commissioner for Children Affairs at the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, Mondo Kyateka, has warned against increasing cases of children’s online grooming, trafficking, sexual extortion and exposure to harmful content due to unlimited internet access.

Speaking during a press conference in Kampala on Wednesday, Mr Kyateka called for stronger child protection measures to combat online sexual exploitation, urging parents, schools, the media and security agencies to work together to safeguard children in digital spaces.

He also stressed the need to strengthen child protection systems, promote digital safety, provide psychosocial support to survivors and ensure children exploited online are treated as victims deserving protection and justice rather than punishment.

The call comes amid growing concern over online child sexual exploitation, following the recent arrest of 27 girls and young women in Kampala over alleged online prostitution.

‘As internet access expands, so do the risks facing our children. We must strengthen child protection systems, promote digital safety, and ensure every child exploited online is treated as a victim in need of protection and justice-not punishment,’ Mr Kyateka said.

Executive Director of High Sound for Children, Hadijah Mwanje, said children involved in online sexual exploitation should not be criminalised because many are victims of trafficking, abuse and weak child protection systems.

‘We should treat these children as victims of exploitation, not offenders,’ Ms Mwanje said, urging government to strengthen digital safety laws, regulate children’s access to social media and ensure survivors receive psychosocial support, rehabilitation and legal assistance.

Tabitha Ssuubi of Raising Voices said parents also have a critical role to play in protecting children online. She noted that many parents hand over mobile phones to children to keep them occupied while attending to other responsibilities, without considering the risks.

‘Children often end up consuming content intended for adults because they use their parents’ phones without supervision,’ she said, urging parents to monitor children’s digital activities and guide them on safe internet use.

The Uganda Child Rights NGO Network Thematic Group on Ending Sexual Violence against Children also called for urgent action to address the growing challenge of online child sexual exploitation.

Executive Director of UCRNN, Wamala Domon, said widespread use of smartphones and early access to digital devices, especially in some international schools, has increased children’s exposure to harmful online content. He said many children create social media accounts without parental guidance and often misrepresent their ages to bypass age restrictions, exposing themselves to inappropriate and exploitative content.

‘We urged parents, schools, technology companies and government agencies to strengthen supervision, enforce age-appropriate digital safeguards and promote online safety education to protect children from exploitation,’ Mr Kyateka concluded.

Kigezi Bishop emeritus George Katwesigye and his wife Laura Kyansiimire Katwesigye, have for the past five decades, opened Scripture together every single day. As they prepare to celebrate their Golden Jubilee in December this year, the couple reveals that praying and reading the Bible together daily has been the bedrock of a marriage that has weathered every storm. Add to that a habit of apologising whenever one offends the other, and a small altar in their sitting room where they gather each evening with their grandchildren for praise and worship.

“Theological salvation, praying and reading the Bible together, working for the Church, and commitment to remain role models has kept us together for all these years,” says the retired bishop.

From poverty to the pulpit

Born on March 23, 1949, in Nyakarambi, Rukiga District, George Katwesigye is the son of the late Eliphaz Bampebwa and Zewuria Nyakaishiki. His father was a chief church warden; his mother, a dedicated member of the Mothers’ Union.

But the church’s mercy, he says, is what made him. After completing Primary Seven at Kihanga Primary School, his parents could not afford school fees. So the boy formed an association called the Nyakarambi Land Breakers, a group of young boys hired to dig for wealthier families. In 1966, he was hired as a licensed teacher at Kihiihi Primary School in Kanungu District, then transferred to Buzooba Primary School in Rukiga, closer to home. There, his hard work earned him a promotion to deputy head teacher.

Because he was a committed and well-behaved Christian, in 1968 the authorities at Kihanga Church of Uganda parish sponsored him for a two-year lay leader course. He completed it in 1969 with a certificate. By 1970, he had passed interviews, and the Rwenzori Diocese, with a recommendation from the Province of the Church of Uganda, gave him a sponsor for a three-year provincial certificate in theology. On December 12, 1972, he was ordained a deacon. In 1974, after completing a diploma in Theology, he became a priest. The then-Archbishop of the Church of Uganda, Janan Luwum, appointed him diocesan secretary of Kampala Diocese, where he also served as treasurer.

A courtship of six months

In 1976, he married his fiancée, Laura, after dating for less than seven months.

“I had always dreamt of marrying a teacher because in those days, teachers were well behaved and respected,” he recalls.

Laura, for her part, was drawn to his words. “He spoke the word of God all the time,” she says. “It was my prayer to marry a born-again Christian.”

After their wedding, Katwesigye was deployed as a priest at All Saints Church, Nakasero, where he served from 1977 to 1990, rising from curate to dean. He later earned a scholarship to study a Bachelor of Theology at the University of Wales, followed by a Master’s degree in the same field. Returning to Uganda, he was posted to St Andrews Church of Uganda, Bukoto, where he spent about five years. In 1997, he was appointed provincial secretary at Namirembe Cathedral; a role in which he led a team to lobby for the establishment of Uganda Christian University, Mukono. On January 18, 1998, he was elected Bishop of Kigezi Diocese. He served until 2014.

I submitted every difficult situation to God

Katwesigye reflects on his 16 years as bishop with characteristic humility.

“I was able to serve because I presented every difficult situation to God for redress. I never used my own wisdom. I always sought God’s guidance, and forgave those who offended me.”

His advice to clergy is direct: “For a church leader to succeed, they must fully accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. Love the Christians and serve them wholeheartedly. See church ministry as a calling, not employment. The slogan ‘Let us do God’s work and allow Him to do ours’ can help any clergy succeed, by avoiding the temptation to mix God’s work with petty trade, which brings conflict among believers.”

A wife’s sacrifice

Laura Kyansiimire Katwesigye was born in 1956 in Nyabushabi village, Kyanamira Sub-county, Kabale District. Her late father, James Byandagara, was a church warden at Nyabushabi Church of Uganda. Her late mother, Joyce Byandagara, was a committed Mothers’ Union member. She completed primary school at Nyabushabi Primary School, then joined Kigezi High School, where she finished her O-levels in 1974. She began working as a licensed teacher in various primary schools.

For years, she put her own education on hold to support the family. In 1982, her husband finally allowed her to join Shimoni Primary Teachers’ College to formalise her teaching profession. She later attended Kaliro National Teachers’ College under a recess programme, obtaining a diploma in primary education in 1995.

When her husband was elected bishop, she taught at Hornby Primary School from 1998 to 2004, then transferred to Kigezi High School Lower Primary School, where she taught until her retirement in 2016. She also served as president of the Mothers’ Union for two terms (1998-2006) and again from 2010 until her retirement.

Secrets for a successful marriage

The couple, who have six children and fourteen grandchildren, say trusting God in everything has made both their marriage and their careers successful.

“Saying ‘I am sorry’ whenever one of us offends the other has saved our marriage to this day,” Laura says. “I served 32 years as a primary school teacher because I worked faithfully, understood my job, and loved my profession.”

Bishop Katwesigye adds: “I never used my own wisdom. I always sought God’s guidance.”

In their sitting room stands a small altar. Every evening, they gather there with some of their grandchildren, praising, worshipping, and reminding the next generation that the same God who sustained fifty years of marriage is still in the business of keeping promises. With December 2026 drawing near, the Katwesigyes are preparing a thanksgiving for their five decades of marriage. In those 50 years, they have been blessed with six children and 14 grandchildren. As his parting short, Bishop Katwesigye stresses: “Let us do God’s work and allow Him to do ours.”

They have walked that truth long enough to know it holds.

The first thing that catches your eye at the Buganda Women Convention is the colour. Thousands of women, dressed in brown Gomesi and cream sashes, fill the venue with a sense of pride and purpose. Around them are women from different faiths, professions and communities, each wearing an outfit that reflects their identity. Yet despite the diversity, there is a visible sense of unity. For many participants, this annual gathering has become a platform for learning, networking and empowerment. As a journalist covering Buganda Kingdom affairs, I attended the convention for the first time in 2023. What I initially considered as another assignment on my reporting schedule quickly became an eye-opening experience that changed how I viewed women’s leadership, entrepreneurship and community development.

The excitement that greets the arrival of the Nnaabagereka of Buganda, Sylvia Nagginda, immediately reveals the significance of the convention. Women rise to their feet, singing and waving handkerchiefs in celebration. Their enthusiasm reflects the admiration they have for a woman many regard as a mentor and role model. Watching thousands of women gathered under one roof, I realised that the convention is not merely an annual event. It is a movement that continues to inspire women to pursue opportunities, support one another and contribute to development.

A platform for empowerment

What stood out during my first convention was the diversity of participants. Entrepreneurs sat alongside farmers. Teachers exchanged ideas with market vendors. Community leaders interacted with young women beginning their careers. The gathering served as a reminder of the important role women play in Uganda’s social and economic transformation.

One notable aspect of the convention is the support it receives from male leaders within the kingdom. The Katikkiro of Buganda, Charles Peter Mayiga, has consistently used the platform to encourage women to embrace leadership, entrepreneurship and active participation in development. His message has remained consistent over the years.

“When women are empowered, families, communities and society benefit,” Mayiga has repeatedly emphasised during convention engagements.

Beyond speeches, the convention focuses on practical solutions that women can apply in their daily lives. Discussions centre on entrepreneurship, financial literacy, savings, agriculture, technology and wealth creation. The message is simple, economic independence matters.

Seeing the impact

Over the years, I have listened to numerous testimonies from women whose lives have changed after participating in the convention. Some have established small businesses after receiving encouragement and support from family members. Others have joined savings groups and cooperatives, enabling them to access capital and invest in income-generating activities.

Many have expanded farming enterprises, ventured into retail trade, tailoring and food processing, while others have strengthened their leadership roles within their communities. Their stories demonstrate how access to knowledge, mentorship and networks can create opportunities for transformation.

Celebrating 10 years

During celebrations marking the convention’s 10th anniversary, the Nnaabagereka reflected on the journey that led to its establishment. She explained that although Buganda previously had a general convention, there was no dedicated platform focused specifically on women’s issues.

“Before, there was Buganda Convention, but it would sometimes come after long intervals. Together with Christine Mugerwa, we discussed the need for a women’s convention and agreed to establish one. Today, we are celebrating 10 years,” Nnaabagereka Sylvia Nagginda said.

The initiative was spearheaded by women leaders including Sarah Nkonge Muwonge, Hajati Mariam Nkalubo and others who believed women needed a stronger voice and organised platform within the kingdom. Looking back, the Nnaabagereka acknowledged that the journey was not easy.

“We remember where we started from when things were not easy, but we remained hopeful. The current status of the Buganda Women Convention shows that initiatives built on unity and purpose can be promoted and protected,” she said.

Personal reflection

After attending the convention over the years, I have come to understand why it continues to attract thousands of women. I learnt that this gathering has grown beyond an annual meeting. For many of us, it is now a learning centre, a networking hub, and a mentorship platform all in one. I saw that successful women in business, leadership, and community development regularly return to share their experiences, which has created a culture of peer learning and support. This stressed to me that my breakthrough can become a bridge for someone else.

The Nnaabagereka challenged me directly: If I am to spearhead change in business, agriculture, and the environment, I must start from my own home. I must become a good example and strengthen cooperation with my family members first. I cannot lead change outside if I have not modelled it inside my own house.

The convention’s financial literacy programme encouraged me to strengthen my financial management skills, embrace technology, and actively identify new market opportunities. My good intentions will not feed my family or grow my business without financial literacy.

On health and environmental conservation, the message was clear to me: “We must ensure the trees we plant are protected and allowed to grow.” I learnt that restoration requires ongoing care, not just ceremonial planting. Start the work and then stay for the maintenance.

Sarah Nkonge Muwonge, one of the convention’s pioneers, reminded me that as generations change, more women are coming on board with purpose. I am one of them. I am here to improve my income, develop my community, and transform my country.

Beyond the colourful attire, songs and celebrations lies a powerful platform that equips women with knowledge, confidence and practical skills.

For me, the Buganda Women Convention has been more than an event to cover. It has been a lesson in the power of collective action, mentorship and leadership. As the convention enters its second decade, its message remains clear; when women are equipped with opportunities, skills and support, they become powerful agents of change in their homes, communities and the nation.

Former Kampala Mayor and People’s Front for Freedom (PFF) president Erias Lukwago was expected to appear before a Kampala court on Wednesday, more than 48 hours after armed operatives seized him from his Wakaliga residence and held him at an undisclosed location that Uganda’s military chief Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba repeatedly referred to as his “basement”.

The veteran opposition politician and lawyer was arrested on Monday in an operation that drew condemnation from opposition leaders, lawyers and rights activists, with questions lingering over the circumstances of his detention and the case he could face.

Fresh details obtained by Monitor indicate that authorities have linked Lukwago, one of the defence lawyers for detained four-time President Museveni challenger Dr Kizza Besigye, to the same case in which the opposition leader is facing prosecution and has remained in detention for more than 500 days.

Speaking exclusively to Monitor early Wednesday, police spokesperson Kituuma Rusoke confirmed that Lukwago is in custody at Kiira Division Police in Wakiso District, near Uganda’s capital.

Police told waiting friends and relatives that only his lawyer Medard Lubega Sseggona would be allowed to access him for now, until 1pm when new guidance would be issued by the authorities. His wife, Zawedde Lubwama Lukwago, was among those who had been denied access by press time at 11:30am.

Rusoke, speaking via phone, earlier revealed to Monitor that police were due to prefer charges against him and submit the file to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for review and sanction before court proceedings begin.

Rusoke confirmed that the charges being considered are “treason and misprision of treason.”

The development came after a dramatic operation on Monday morning in which security operatives reportedly entered Lukwago’s bedroom in Wakaliga and took him away.

After a barrage of social media posts about Lukwago’s detention, Gen Muhoozi continued commenting on the matter on Tuesday night, appearing to contradict his earlier suggestions that the opposition politician could be released.

At about 10:06pm, Gen Muhoozi posted: “Lukwago will be in prison for a minimum of 10 years!”

The post came shortly after he had indicated that Lukwago’s release was under consideration following what he described as appeals from his wife, Charlotte Kainerugaba.

“Nothing has made me release Lukwago. No pressure from anywhere. I wanted to keep him in my basement forever! It is just Jesus Christ, the Bachwezi and Charlotte,” the 52-year-old military commander wrote on X.

‘I will HANG Kizza Besigye’

Gen Muhoozi, in a post on his official X (formerly Twitter) account on Monday, made a fresh and strongly worded statement targeting Dr Besigye. He claimed that he would ‘hang’ Besigye if given the opportunity, alleging that Besigye once sought to kill his father and would not escape what he described as ‘punishment he richly deserves.’

Besigye, a longtime opponent of President Museveni, is facing treason-related charges.

Lukwago is part of his legal defence team and also represents him in a separate case against Gen Muhoozi arising from social media posts that allegedly threatened the four-time presidential candidate’s life.

The Opposition political parties have closed ranks to demand the immediate release of Mr Erias Lukwago, one of the lead lawyers in Dr Kizza Besigye’s treason trial.

Mr Lukwago, also the immediate former Lord Mayor of Kampala Capital City, was abducted by men in military uniform from his home in Wakaliga, Kampala, on Monday morning. Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), later confirmed the abduction in a post on his X-handle, saying Mr Lukwago was in military detention.

The latest abduction fits a familiar pattern of Opposition figures who have faced a similar fate and has been roundly condemned by the majority of Opposition political parties this publication spoke to.

At the time of his abduction, Mr Lukwago was preparing to serve Gen Muhoozi with a court order issued by High Court judge Justice Emmanuel Baguma, directing him to file his defence in a case in which Dr Besigye sued him for human rights violations after his abduction from Nairobi, Kenya, and subsequent death threats allegedly issued by the CDF.

Over the years, Gen Muhoozi, also President Museveni’s son, has seemed to take delight in taking on those who cross swords with him or his father.

While the UPDF Act bars serving army officers from dabbling in partisan politics, Gen Muhoozi has thrown caution to the wind, forming a political pressure group directly aligned with the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party and openly declaring his ambition to succeed his father as President of Uganda. For the Opposition, it is a long, agonising road they must walk, with no light at the end of the tunnel.

Mr Robert Kyagulanyi, aka Bobi Wine, the principal of the National Unity Platform (NUP) party, called Mr Lukwago’s abduction absurd and said this pattern mirrors what his bodyguard Wdward Ssebuufu, alias Eddie Mutwe, endured.

‘On Muhoozi’s orders, military men have raided and abducted Lukwago from his home in Wakaliga before whisking him away in a drone to an unknown destination. The abduction has been confirmed and closely followed by posts on Twitter [X] from Muhoozi, boasting that he has taken him to the ‘basement’ to torture him just like he did to comrade Eddie Mutwe in April 2025! I call upon all of us to reject and resist this brazen impunity,’ he said.

Equally, NUP Secretary General David Lewis Rubongoya called out the CDF to set Mr Lukwago free and urged all Ugandans to condemn the abduction.

‘The abduction of [People’s Front for Freedom] PFF leader, Hon Erias Lukwago is absurd. The lawlessness must be condemned by all people of good conscience,’ he posted.

Mr Patrick Amuriat Oboi, the president of the Opposition Forum for Democratic Change, the party Mr Lukwago once belonged to before breaking ranks to form the PFF alongside Dr Besigye and others, yesterday said the abduction shows that the country has finally hit rock bottom in terms of the rule of law.

‘Well, I think that for a long time now, we have not enjoyed the rule of law and I think this is just reaching its climax,’ Mr Amuriat yesterday told this publication by phone.

He added: ‘What precipitated yesterday was certainly a statement to the nation that the rules don’t apply. And I think this is taking us back in the days when pandagari [board the track] was the order of the day, when disappearances were the order of the day. And I really want to believe that our institutions, the Attorney General, the advisory government and legal matters or Parliament need to rise up to the occasion.’

Mr Amuriat said what Gen Muhoozi is doing is instilling fear in Ugandans who disagree with him by wielding force and guns.

‘I think the bottom line is great fear and the statement being made is ‘dare me and you are going to be in hot soup’. So, what I see happening is loud silence happening among the political elite and resignation on the part of the population, which now feels subdued and that is not good for a country like ours and for a leader who has got his focus and eyes on the presidency of this country,’ he said.

Ms Alice Alaso, the Secretary General of Alliance for National Transformation (ANT) party, said what happened to Mr Lukwago is akin to what used to happen in Europe before colonialism set in.

‘They came with the reign of terror. It is no longer something of the 1970s. It is something of the European history because abducting Erias Lukwago and I don’t want us to deal with Lukwago’s abduction as an isolated event,’ she said.

She added: ‘It is something that should be treated in light of the human rights and the increasing intolerance the regime has towards any form of criticism. Whether institutional, the way the Lukwagos are doing, through courts of law, or even individuals expressing different views. And so the regime has become totally scared.’

Ms Alaso wondered whether President Museveni is still at the helm or has relinquished most of his powers to his son.

‘And then, what the CDF has done, has he taken over because, yes, it is a shame to say that there has been a hijack of all institutional powers. And the CDF is now the law, so that should worry all of us. It should concern and worry all of us in this position. Whether you are in the army, or you are in the business sector, or you are in the media, anywhere, nobody is safe. The CDF is wielding a lot of power.

‘So, it looks like President Museveni has already handed over power because, since when does a military chief, who should be defending territorial sovereignty, the borders of the country, begin to have the power to just arrest the citizens and keep them basically without trial? So, it looks like President Museveni already handed over power and we are not in safe hands of Muhoozi. We are heading to very dark days for the country,’ she said.

Is the rule of law dead?

The abduction of Mr Lukwago is reminiscent of the 1970s, when armed military men would storm the homes of those deemed opposed to the government, abduct them, and torture some to death, while those who survived carried the scars of torture to the grave.

Gen Muhoozi has, for much of recent years, waded into controversy, including diplomatic issues that fall under the ambit of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. One thing that stands out is that, over the years, he has walked the talk, especially in dealing with Opposition figures.

Since the abduction of Dr Besigye in November 2024, Gen Muhoozi has repeatedly warned that he would kill the man who treated his father during the five-year bush war that brought President Museveni to power.

It is these threats that earned him a court summon that Mr Lukwago was supposed to deliver before his abduction.

Mr Fred Ebil, the Secretary General of Uganda Peoples’ Congress (UPC) party, said the events taking place are a stark reminder of the 1970s, when dissenting voices were silenced by the barrel of the gun, and prayed that the country doesn’t slip back into the dark old days.

‘I don’t think we should go back to the same politics and security situation of the 1970s where people could be abducted in broad daylight and never to be seen again. So, I urge the government and especially the security personnel, most especially their leaders, to restrain from that kind of political situation that will drag us back to our past. We’ve come a long way and we are not ready to go back there,’ he said.

The Justice Forum (Jeema) party also condemned what it called the unlawful abduction of the former Kampala City Lord Mayor on the very day he was scheduled to serve a court summon on the CDF.

A statement issued by the party said: ‘This incident reflects a disturbing and growing trend in which certain individuals act with impunity, disregarding the laws of this country while presenting themselves as untouchable on account of historical contributions to nation-building.’

It added:’No one is above the law. Those who claim privilege today are not the first to contribute to this nation. The true fathers of our independence, who endured prison, exile, and sacrifice for Uganda’s freedom, never demanded an inch of its land or a share of its resources for personal gain.’

The party said it rejects the distortion imposed upon Ugandans that some people are more equal than others and can act with impunity. ‘Uganda is not a private estate. It belongs to all 45 million Ugandans, who are equal before the law and must equally observe it.

Jeema, therefore,demands the immediate and unconditional release of former Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago within the next 24 hours; calls upon all State agencies to uphold the Constitution and protect citizens from arbitrary detention;urges millions of Ugandans to rise and defend the sanctity and dignity of our country by holding to account all persons who intend to violate the rule of law.

The sanctity of our nation rests on one principle: equal citizenship under the law. We shall not surrender it,’ the statement concluded. We were unable to get responses from the Democratic Party, whose president Norbert Mao is the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, and the ruling NRM party.

David Kamulindwa fired a superb round of five-under 66 to assume a one-shot lead at halfway stage of the MTN Pro-Tee Series at Entebbe Club on Wednesday.

Kamulindwa surged to the top of leaderboard in quest for the biggest share of the Shs15m kitty but his group partner Abbey Bagalana shared a part of the limelight at the par-71 course.

Bagalana, who also made the cut at +5 of the 72-hole championship, carded a beautiful hole-in-one at the par-3 Hole No.12 green, witnessed by Kamulindwa and Tom Jingo.

‘You don’t expect a hole-in-one but as long as you are playing and you do practice, things like that happen,’ said Bagalana, who finished with a round of two-over 73 including three birdies.

Bagalana hit Titleist 2 Black ball into the cup using a Ping S-55 Wedge club. ‘It was the right club and I was in the zone.

My game wasn’t too bad but being that I wasn’t competing, the competitive mood is not there but it is going to come back,’ Bagalana added.

Meanwhile, it is Kamulindwa setting the pace after he struck seven birdies at par-5 Holes No.1, No.11 and No.15, the par-4s No.4, No.9, No.13 and No.14.

His only blemish were two bogeys on the par-3 Holes No.6 and No.16. Following his round of one-over 72 comprising a triple-bogey at the par-4 Hole No.9 on Tuesday, Kamulindwa is at an aggregate four-under.

And he is followed by Vincent Byamukama who maintained second place with a round of 70.

Rodell Gaita is third at one-under overall after shooting 72 while Andrew Ssekibejja and Abraham Ainamani are joint-fourth at level-par overall.

DAY TWO LEADERBOARD

1 David Kamulindwa 72 66 138 -4

2 Vincent Byamukama 69 70 139 -3

3 Rodell Gaita 69 72 141 -1

T4 Andrew Ssekibejja 74 68 142 0

T4 Abraham Ainamani 72 70 142 0

6 Marvin Kibirige 68 75 143 +1

T7 Grace Kasango 74 70 144 +2

T7 Bulhan Matovu 74 70 144 +2

9 Tom Jingo 73 72 145 +3

T10 Irene Nakalembe 73 73 146 +4

T10 Abbey Bagalana 73 73 146 +4

T10 Silver Opio 72 74 146 +4

After over a year marked by procedural hold-ups, constitutional disputes, and postponements, the High Court is prepared to continue hearing the Shs3.8b fraud case involving the former permanent secretary of the Ministry of Trade, Ms Geraldine Ssali, along with five co-defendants.

According to a hearing notice issued by the High Court, the case will come up before Justice Jane Okuo Kajuga today for mention.

The five co-accused are Igara East MP Michael Mawanda Maranga, Elgon County MP Ignatius Wamakuyu Mudimi, former Busiki County MP Paul Akamba, lawyer Julius Taitankoko Kirya and principal cooperative officer Leonard Kavundira.

Major breakthrough

The development comes days after the Constitutional Court removed a major legal obstacle that had stalled progress of the prosecution.

In a landmark ruling delivered earlier this month, a panel of five Constitutional Court judges declared Section 11(2) of the Human Rights Enforcement Act unconstitutional, holding that courts cannot terminate criminal proceedings and acquit accused persons solely because their non-derogable rights were violated during arrest, detention or investigation.

The justices are Oscar Kihika, Margaret Tibulya, Moses Kawumi Kazibwe, Asa Mugenyi and Musa Ssekaana.

“The Constitution is unequivocal that an acquittal may only ensue upon the conclusion of a trial in which the court has received, scrutinised and evaluated the evidence,” the judges ruled.

The constitutional challenge had arisen from criminal proceedings involving Mr Akamba, who argued that he had been tortured by security operatives and that the alleged violation of his rights entitled him to an acquittal under the contested law.

The court, however, found that the provision undermined the rights of victims and improperly interfered with the criminal justice process.

“The right to a fair hearing is not confined solely to accused persons. Article 28(1) expressly guarantees a fair hearing to ‘a person’ and not merely to ‘an accused’,” the judges held.

The ruling effectively cleared the way for the Anti-Corruption Division of the High Court to proceed with the long-awaited trial. It is alleged that the accused persons participated in a scheme that led to the irregular release and diversion of billions of shillings earmarked for compensation of war-loss claimants.

According to the prosecution, Ms Ssali allegedly abused her office during the 2021/2022 financial year by introducing Buyaka Growers Cooperative Society Limited onto a list of entities eligible for government compensation despite the cooperative not appearing in the approved supplementary budget.

The state further alleges that she authorised payments amounting to Shs3.8b to Kirya and Company Advocates in disregard of established Treasury procedures and financial management regulations. Proceedings have repeatedly stalled since the suspects were committed to the High Court for trial.

Apart from constitutional litigation, the matter also suffered several adjournments arising from procedural applications and scheduling challenges.

The latest setback occurred earlier this month when the hearing failed to take off after state prosecutors were unavailable because they were attending a national prosecution symposium, prompting Justice Kajuga to adjourn the proceedings.

With the Constitutional Court challenge now resolved and all parties formally notified of today’s hearing, attention is expected to shift to the prosecution’s evidence against the six accused persons.

Court records show that the Director of Public Prosecutions intends to pursue charges relating to corruption, causing financial loss, conspiracy to defraud, money laundering and abuse of office.

If the hearing proceeds as scheduled, prosecutors are expected to begin presenting witnesses and documentary evidence aimed at demonstrating how public funds meant for compensation of war victims and cooperatives were allegedly diverted through irregular processes.

Sugar industry stakeholders have expressed concern over government’s proposal to double excise duty on sugar from Shs100 to Shs200 per kilogram, warning the move could depress sugarcane prices and further strain farmers already grappling with rising production costs.

The Shs200 rate is a concession after farmers and industry leaders successfully lobbied against an earlier proposal to raise the duty to Shs300 per kilogram. But growers say even the revised rate will hurt.

‘We pushed for the tax to remain at Shs100 per kilogram because any increase directly affects farmers. Millers deduct taxes before calculating farmers’ share, meaning the burden is eventually passed on to growers,’ said Julius Katerevu, chairperson of the Uganda National Association of Sugarcane Growers, UNASGO.

Katerevu, who also chairs the Greater Mukono Sugarcane Growers Cooperative Society Ltd, urged government to accompany any tax measures with interventions that protect farmers’ incomes and address the controversial 5 per cent sugarcane trash deduction imposed by some factories.

‘Farmers are already operating at a loss and sugarcane supplies are declining. Government should ensure that the cost of production is protected and that growers receive a fair return on their investment,’ he added.

Isa Budhugo, a member of the Uganda Sugar Stakeholders Council, said the proposed hike risks shifting the burden onto farmers because cane prices are tied to sugar prices.

‘Increasing the excise duty on sugar from Shs100 to Shs200 per kilogram will ultimately hurt sugarcane farmers. Since cane prices are determined by sugar prices, the higher tax could either force millers to raise sugar prices or lower the prices paid to farmers,’ Budhugo said.

He noted the proposal comes as farmers grapple with rising costs of fertilisers, agrochemicals and fuel, which have already squeezed profit margins.

The average farm-gate price of sugarcane currently stands at about Shs125,000 per tonne, down from around Shs175,000 a decade ago. Industry players fear the duty increase could exert further downward pressure on cane prices.

Robert Atugonza, chairperson of Masindi Sugarcane Growers Association Limited in Bunyoro, said the formula used to determine cane prices is based on the net sugar price after taxes.

‘The more taxes imposed on sugar, the less money remains to be shared between millers and farmers. The proposed increase of Shs100 per kilogram means farmers stand to lose about Shs9,000 on every tonne of cane supplied,’ Atugonza said.

Atugonza, a council member on the Uganda Sugar Industry Stakeholders Council representing farmers in Bunyoro and Tooro, said farmers are not opposed to taxation but want support measures.

‘We are not opposed to taxation, but the government should avoid overburdening farmers who are already spending heavily on fertilisers, transport and labour. Increasing taxes without corresponding support measures will only weaken the sector,’ he said.

David Christopher Mombwe, chairperson of the Busoga Sugarcane Growers Association, said farmers are effectively bearing the cost of both VAT and excise duty through the pricing formula.

‘Government should first establish who is actually paying these taxes before increasing them. As farmers, we sell raw cane and do not engage in sugar processing, yet the taxes ultimately affect the prices we receive,’ Mombwe said.

Godfrey Biriwali, chairperson of the Greater Busoga Sugarcane Farmers’ Union, warned farmers could abandon cane growing if concerns over pricing and the 5 per cent trash deduction are not addressed.

‘You cannot reap where you did not sow. Government and millers should first implement the agreed cane pricing formula and remove the 5 per cent trash deduction before introducing new taxes,’ Biriwali said.

‘Without action on these issues, we shall embark on a massive sensitisation campaign urging farmers to grow other crops instead of sugarcane. Farmers cannot continue producing at a loss while more deductions and taxes are imposed on them,’ he added.

Uganda’s sugar industry supports thousands of farmers and workers, particularly in Busoga where cane remains a major economic activity.

Industry players are urging Parliament and the Ministry of Finance to reconsider the proposal before it is implemented, warning that failure to address farmers’ concerns could accelerate a shift to alternative crops and further reduce production.

The proposed excise duty increase is among tax measures intended to boost domestic revenue and help finance the Shs84.3 trillion national budget for 2026/27.

Government has allocated Shs2.26 trillion to agro-industrialisation in the same budget, the highest allocation ever to the sector. But stakeholders argue higher taxation on sugar could undermine those efforts by reducing incentives for production and lowering incomes at farm level.

The government has embarked on drafting the Anti-Corruption Confiscation and Recovery Rules that will regulate procedures for confiscating property belonging to persons convicted of corruption.

The Anti-Corruption Act provides for prevention of corruption in both public and private sectors and mandates confiscation of property of persons convicted of corruption. Section 73 of the Act also empowers the Chief Justice to make rules regulating confiscation and recovery orders, but implementation has stalled due to existing gaps.

Speaking during a high-level validation exercise on the draft rules on June 16 in Kampala, Under Secretary, Directorate of Ethics and Integrity, Joel Wanjala, said government wants to tighten that area.

‘There has been a gap, one, in the assessment of the value of these assets that are confiscated. Two, in the management and accountability for the income that is arising from the confiscated assets. Who monitors the income that comes from it? How are they managed, When it comes to disposal of these confiscated assets, how do we do it? So that is a concern,’ Wanjala said.

The Inter-Agency Forum Legal Task Force developed the draft Anti-Corruption (Confiscation and Recovery Orders) Rules, 2026, after the Chief Justice, in a letter dated May 17, 2024, gave permission. The task force was chaired by the Directorate of Ethics and Integrity and included other anti-corruption agencies, the Attorney General’s Chambers, and Uganda Law Reform Commission. The draft will be submitted to the Judiciary Law Reform Committee.

Inspector General of Government Aisha Naluzze Batala said the prolonged absence of confiscation procedure rules had created a critical legal gap.

‘The prolonged absence of confiscation procedure rules has left a critical legal gap in the implementation of the Act. So, without the court-approved procedures, the Chief Justice is mandated to prescribe, but no coherent framework has existed to govern the confiscation proceedings, the management and the disposal of confiscated property by receivers and administrators, or the distribution of the proceeds arising therefrom,’ Batala said.

She added that the deficiency had left courts, prosecutors, and appointed administrators without a procedure guide necessary to implement confiscation orders effectively and consistently.

Once finalized, the rules will strengthen the fight against corruption by providing a clear framework for recovering assets acquired through corrupt practices.

The Inter-Agency Forum, IAF, is a government-led coordination platform established to unite all 20 Anti-Corruption Agencies in the country. Chaired by the Minister of Ethics and Integrity, it harmonizes accountability programs and investigations to improve national service delivery and combat financial fraud.

The forum unites key stakeholders including the Inspectorate of Government, SH-ACU, CID, ODPP, DEI, FIA, PPDA, and OAG to share intelligence, conduct joint inspections, and streamline anti-corruption strategies.