Category: Daily Monitor

For 15 years, Judith Namugerwa has dedicated her life to caring for her son, David, who lives with cerebral palsy. Amid poverty, rising care costs, and limited support, her days revolve around one constant responsibility: ensuring her son survives and thrives.

The morning light slips into a small, rented room in Bwaise, Kampala, but for Judith Namugerwa, the day has already begun long before sunrise.

She bends over her 15-year-old son, David Magala, carefully adjusting his body before lifting him from the mat. His limbs do not respond. His weight settles entirely into her arms. No routine allows ease in this moment. Only repetition.

Turning him. Cleaning him. Feeding him. Moving him when she must. Watching him when she cannot leave.

Outside, Kampala is already awake. Inside, life is measured in care that does not pause.

For Namugerwa, 40, motherhood has become full-time labour without relief.

Her son, David, lives with cerebral palsy, a neurological condition that affects movement and coordination. But in this room, the diagnosis is less important than the physical reality: he depends entirely on her for survival.

A birth that changed everything

Fifteen years ago, Namugerwa believed she was building a stable future for her family.

She had already experienced the pain of losing a child during delivery when she became pregnant again. When David was born in 2010, hope returned.

But as he grew, it became clear that he faced developmental challenges. He was later diagnosed with cerebral palsy, a condition that affects movement and coordination.

The diagnosis marked the beginning of a new reality; one filled with medical appointments, uncertainty, and the lifelong responsibility of caring for a child who would require constant support.

By the time David was three years old and still unable to walk, Namugerwa’s life had become centred around his care.

The start of survival

By 2014, Namugerwa had returned to her mother’s home in Masaka with her children, carrying the weight of uncertainty and the growing demands of caring for David.

What followed was a life without stability.

She moved through informal work, temporary shelter, and constant financial strain. At times, she says, she had no choice but to leave her children with her mother while she searched for work in Kampala.

‘I used to pass by and check on them, even when I was not staying with them,’ she says.

In 2019, after giving birth again under difficult circumstances, life became even more unstable. She struggled to cover rent, maintain her income, and care for her children simultaneously.

Between work, shelter, and survival

Eventually, her mother moved to Kampala with David in search of better support. But life in Bwaise brought new pressures. Namugerwa worked as a house help, but when she lost her job and fell behind on rent, stability collapsed again.

She moved between low-paying jobs such as washing clothes, casual labour, and temporary shelter arrangements. At her lowest point, she says, she stayed in a shrine in Kawempe, exchanging labour for food and a place to sleep.

‘It was very difficult. I was trying to find a way to live,’ she says.

A child who needs everything

David’s needs are constant and physical. He cannot walk. He cannot sit unaided and depends entirely on others for feeding, hygiene, and movement.

Namugerwa describes the daily struggle in simple terms: survival through care she can barely afford.

‘David needs good feeding, milk, chicken, but we cannot afford that,’ she says. ‘Sometimes when he asks for chicken, I buy roasted chicken necks and make sauce so that he at least gets its taste.’

Even basic care requires strength she does not always have.

‘You have to clean him when he soils himself. Sometimes I leave him with a neighbour when I go out to work.’

Raising David has largely fallen on Namugerwa’s shoulders. Each day revolves around meeting his needs while finding ways to earn enough money to support the family.

The challenge is not only emotional but physical, requiring constant attention and strength.

When neighbours become support systems

In Bwaise, survival often depends on proximity. For neighbour Susan Nabutto, stepping in has become part of daily life.

‘I had a child with similar needs who passed on, so I understand what it means,’ she says.

She helps when Namugerwa is away, lifting David, bathing him, or keeping him in the sun.

‘At times your chest hurts from carrying him. But he is a lovely child,’ she says.

It is informal care, built not by systems, but by shared experience and necessity.

The weight of stigma and silence

Experts say Namugerwa’s experience reflects a wider reality for many families raising children with cerebral palsy in Uganda.

Daniel Sekyanzi, chief executive officer of Golden Souls Uganda, says stigma remains a major barrier.

‘Many families still associate such conditions with superstition or curses, leading to neglect and discrimination,’ he says.

‘There is need for sensitisation. Children with cerebral palsy need love and proper care, not rejection.’

‘It is not witchcraft’

Evelyn Kharono Lufafa, a counselling psychologist, says cerebral palsy is a neurological condition caused by brain development challenges before or during birth.

‘It is not witchcraft or a curse. It is a brain disorder,’ she says.

She adds that early acceptance by parents is critical for access to therapy, rehabilitation, and support services.

‘When parents accept the condition, they can support the child better. Without acceptance, children are often hidden away and neglected,’ she adds.

Despite everything, Namugerwa continues to care for her son each day, sustained by small acts of resilience and occasional help from neighbours.

Her biggest challenge remains the same: survival.

For now, life continues in cycles of care, exhaustion, and brief relief.

‘I just want him to be okay,’ she says.

And so, every morning, she lifts him again.

There are no promises that tomorrow will be easier, only the certainty that it will require her again. Yet each morning, she returns to the same task without complaint, lifting her son as gently as she can, holding together a life that has long depended on her strength.

The cost of caring for a child with cerebral palsy

Cerebral palsy is a lifelong condition caused by early brain damage that affects movement, posture, and muscle control. It varies in severity and may require therapy and support to improve mobility and daily functioning.

The condition often requires long-term support, including physiotherapy, specialised feeding, medical care, and constant daily assistance.

Physiotherapy sessions, where available in private facilities, can cost between Shs30,000 and Shs100,000 per visit, making regular treatment unaffordable for most households.

Many children require soft or blended foods, higher nutritional intake, and assisted feeding, which increases household food expenses. Items such as adult diapers, often needed for older children with mobility challenges, can cost Shs20,000 to Shs40,000 per pack, creating recurring monthly costs.

The police on Sunday raided a church in Masaka City and arrested 67 Congolese nationals for illegally gaining entry and settling in Uganda.

The dozens, which include 54 adults and 13 children, were believed to have been in the country for over two years and were attending a service at Sumayiya Church in Nyendo-Mukungwe, belonging to the Born Again denomination, when the security rounded them up.

‘The group was apprehended at a church known as Sumayiya Church, which is used by Born Again Christians,’ Southern Regional Police spokesperson Twaha Kasirye said on Monday.

Security says the Congolese national fled their home country after conflicts broke out about two years ago. They are being held at Masaka Central Police Station.

The Police spokesperson explained that the suspects were residing in different parts of Nyendo Division, including Kaddugala, Mukudde, Mukungwe and Kako, among others, but would regularly gather at the church for Sunday services.

He added that Police preliminary investigations discovered that the group lacked valid immigration documents, noting that a charge of illegal entry into the country will be preferred against them.

Police have also cautioned religious institutions against hosting foreign nationals without verifying their legal status, warning that such actions could contravene immigration regulations.

‘The group will be arraigned in court and charged accordingly,’ Kasirye said.

The Uganda Law Society (ULS) is demanding an immediate and unconditional release of former Kampala Lord Mayor, Erias Lukwago, who was on Monday morning abducted by armed men from his home in Wakaliga.

Addressing journalists in Kampala on Monday, ULS Acting Secretary General, Babu Ssali, described the incident as an attack on the legal fraternity and the rule of law, demanding that Mr Lukwago, who is also Acting President for People’s Front for Freedom (PFF) party and lawyer for Kiiza Besigye, who is in jail for treason, be released within 24-hours.

‘An attack on one advocate is an attack on the entire bar and on the rule of law itself, he said

Mr Lukwago was abducted by unknown armed men and whisked away in two white Toyota Hiace vehicles commonly known as drones, just hours after he raised an alarm on his social media pages regarding a security presence at his home.

Mr Sali threatened to take legal redress if their demands are not met within the set period.

‘If the demands are not met within 24 hours, we have set up a team which is going to be led by the rule of law committee that will seek redress and recourse both domestically and internationally, and this will be against the CDF personally in this capacity,’ he said

They also called for full disclosure of Lukwago’s whereabouts and immediate access granted to ULS representatives and his family.

The ULS is also demanding immediate intervention by the Chief Justice and the Attorney General to guarantee the security of all advocates, judges and litigants under Article 128.1 of the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda and to ensure that the trial proceeds without further military interference.

The society noted that it was considering escalation of the matter to international legal platforms, including the International Criminal Court, if the alleged violations persist.

ULS further accused security agencies of cultivating a climate of fear around the legal profession, citing previous incidents involving advocates Eron Kiiza, Caleb Alaka and Kato Tumusiime, whom it said faced intimidation while representing clients in politically sensitive matters.

‘Any continued pattern of such behaviour shall be viewed as a direct assault on the rule of law and constitutional order, and shall attract command responsibility consequences for you personally under Uganda law and international law,’ it noted.

Kenyan lawyer Karua speaks out

The developments have also drawn concern from Kenyan senior counsel Martha Karua, who is part of the legal team representing opposition politician Dr Kizza Besigye and his aide Obeid Lutale in an ongoing human rights case before the High Court.

Ms Karua linked Lukwago’s arrest to his role in the case, saying the lawyer had sought court summons to facilitate service of legal documents on Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, one of the respondents in the matter.

“It is suggesting that General Muhoozi is above the law. The Constitution of Uganda clearly states nobody is above the law because any action targeting a lawyer for serving in the courtonli process amounts to direct interference with the administration of justice,’ she noted.

She further highlighted that detaining defence counsel mid-trial for attempting to serve court documents strikes at the heart of the right to a fair hearing under Article 28(3)(d).

‘A trial without counsel is no trial at all. The military has no mandate to arrest, detain or threaten lawyers appearing before civilian courts. This action further violates Articles 20, 40(2) and 221 of the Constitution, as well as the UN Basic Principles on the role of lawyers,’ Ms Karua added.

What we know

Armed security operatives on Monday morning raided the Wakaliga home of prominent human rights lawyer and former Kampala Lord Mayor, Advocate Erias Lukwago, violently arresting him just hours after he revealed difficulties in serving court process to the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba.

The arrest sent shockwaves through the country’s political landscape, drawing fierce and unified condemnation from across the opposition divide.

The operation, which unfolded at approximately 10am, occurred shortly after Lukwago had concluded a press briefing at his residence.

His wife, Nalngo Zawedde Lubwama Lukwago, said security personnel wearing uniforms belonging to elite Special Forces Command (SFC) scaled the perimeter wall to gain entry into the compound, and picked him from the bedroom.

She further alleged that plainclothes operatives, suspected to be the commander of the unit, assaulted her when she attempted to intercede.

Just hours before his arrest, Lukwago informed the press that his team was actively struggling to serve Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba with a human rights enforcement lawsuit filed by Besigye.

The suit stems from allegations that Gen Muhoozi made explicit death threats against the jailed opposition leader.

Farmers in Budaka District have been urged to embrace modern agricultural practices to improve productivity and fight food insecurity as hundreds gathered for an agricultural expo showcasing innovations in climate-smart farming.

The expo, held at Budaka Saza grounds, attracted farmers from Budaka, Pallisa and Butebo districts and featured exhibitors displaying improved seeds, irrigation technologies, animal breeding services and agricultural financing options.

Organised by the district production department under the theme ‘Modern farming is a key driver to socio-economic empowerment,’ the event aimed at equipping smallholder farmers with practical skills and reliable information to boost agribusiness.

District Production Officer, Mr Asuman Kawanga, said many farmers continue to suffer losses due to fake inputs and limited access to certified suppliers.

‘Farmers have been facing a challenge of accessibility of agricultural inputs and, worse still, procuring fake seeds and pesticides. This expo will guide farmers on the right companies and right information,’ he said.

He added that improved access to quality inputs would significantly raise productivity and help address poverty and food insecurity in the region.

Mr Kawanga also urged farmers to shift from subsistence farming to commercial agriculture, warning that continued land fragmentation was undermining production.

He noted that most households in the district now operate on less than one acre due to population pressure, a trend he said threatens future food security.

Extension officers demonstrated climate-smart techniques, including drip irrigation and soil fertility management, which farmers described as transformative.

‘I never imagined one could grow vegetables during the dry season. Today I have learned about drip irrigation, which uses very little water but keeps crops alive,’ farmer Mr Moses Mukama said on Sunday.

He added that he intended to apply the technology on his half-acre plot.

Assistant District Agricultural Officer Ms Irene Kwetega said the aim of the expo was to shift attitudes among farmers and promote practical skills.

‘We are not just giving farmers skills. We are changing attitudes,’ she said.

Veterinary officials also used the event to provide animal health services, including rabies vaccination and dog castration.

Budaka District Veterinary Officer Dr Peter Owori said more than 300 dogs were vaccinated and 150 castrated during the outreach.

Local leaders commended the initiative, saying it would strengthen agricultural development in the district.

Budaka LC5 Chairperson Mr Anthony Kateu called for increased investment in extension services and market access, while Deputy Resident District Commissioner Mr Stephen Ogwang said the expo supported government efforts under the Parish Development Model.

‘This is not just a show. It is a movement towards self-reliance,’ he said.

Richard Mugolo, the Chief Administrative Officer, said the initiative would improve household incomes if farmers fully embraced the training.

As the event closed, farmers left with seedlings, brochures and contacts of input suppliers, with many describing the expo as a turning point in their farming practices.

The High Court in Kampala has fixed June 29 to deliver its ruling on an application by former Insurance Regulatory Authority (IRA) Chief Executive Officer Alhaj Kaddunabbi Ibrahim Lubega seeking interim orders that would allow him to remain in office pending the determination of his substantive case challenging the decision not to renew his contract.

Justice Joyce Kavuma of the Civil Division set the ruling date on Monday after lawyers representing the Insurance Regulatory Authority (IRA) and Mr Kaddunabbi informed the court that they had complied with earlier directions and filed all the necessary responses and submissions.

‘The ruling for interim orders will be on June 29,’ Justice Kavuma said.

The application arises from a dispute over the Authority’s decision not to recommend Mr Kaddunabbi for reappointment to a second five-year term as Chief Executive Officer.

In affidavits filed before the court, the Insurance Regulatory Authority and its former Board chairman, Dr Isaac Nkote Nabeta, argue that there is no contract left for the court to preserve because Mr Kaddunabbi’s five-year term expired on May 31, 2026.

Through their lawyers from Dentons Advocates led by counsel John Musiime, the respondents contend that the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development has already appointed Mr Protazio Sande as Acting Chief Executive Officer effective June 1, 2026, rendering the interim relief sought by Mr Kaddunabbi legally untenable.

According to Ms Francesca N. Kakooza, the Authority’s Board Secretary, Mr Kaddunabbi’s contract was a fixed-term engagement running from June 1, 2021, to May 31, 2026, and automatically expired by operation of law.

She states that on April 29, 2026, the current Board Chairperson, Mr Keto Nyapendi Kayemba, directed Mr Kaddunabbi to proceed on his outstanding leave and undertake a formal handover process ahead of the expiry of his contract.

The Authority says the handover process has since been completed and that Mr Sande has assumed office as Acting Chief Executive Officer.

IRA further argues that granting the interim orders sought by Mr Kaddunabbi would create confusion within the regulator by effectively placing two individuals in the position of Chief Executive Officer at the same time.

According to the Authority, such a scenario would undermine governance structures, create uncertainty over the management of public resources, and negatively affect the operations of Uganda’s insurance regulator.

The dispute stems from a Board resolution made on February 16, 2026, declining to recommend Mr Kaddunabbi to the Finance Minister for reappointment.

The Authority says the decision was informed by findings from internal reviews and audits that raised concerns regarding governance and financial management.

In response, Mr Kaddunabbi filed a judicial review application challenging the Board’s decision, arguing that it was illegal, irrational and procedurally unfair.

He seeks declarations quashing the decision and orders restraining the Authority from implementing it.

Mr Kaddunabbi contends that he was denied a fair hearing before the Board reached its decision, despite consistently receiving outstanding performance evaluations and meeting all requirements for reappointment.

He also argues that he had a legitimate expectation of being fairly considered for another term after serving the regulator for more than a decade.

Court records indicate that Mr Kaddunabbi formally applied for renewal of his contract on May 28, 2025, in line with the Authority’s Human Resource Management Manual and the Insurance Act.

In support of his application, he submitted reports highlighting achievements registered during his tenure, including growth in insurance premiums, increased claims settlements, expansion of regional operations, construction of Insurance Tower, automation of regulatory functions, and implementation of key sector reforms.

While acknowledging his eligibility for consideration, the Authority maintains that qualification for reappointment did not amount to an automatic entitlement to a second term.

Court documents show that Mr Kaddunabbi joined the insurance regulator in 2011 as Chief Executive Officer of the former Uganda Insurance Commission before it transitioned into the Insurance Regulatory Authority.

Following amendments to the Insurance Act in 2017 introducing term limits for chief executive officers, he was appointed under the new legal framework to serve a five-year term beginning in June 2021.

If his earlier service is taken into account, Mr Kaddunabbi has served a combined total of 16 years at the helm of Uganda’s insurance regulator.

The court’s forthcoming ruling on the interim application is expected to determine whether he can temporarily reclaim the office as the main judicial review case proceeds.

When your upper back tooth starts aching, it is easy to assume the problem is dental. But sometimes the real cause is higher up in the face. Sinusitis, an inflammation or infection of the air-filled spaces behind the forehead, eyes, and cheeks, can create pain that closely mimics a toothache. Understanding this link can save time, money, and unnecessary dental treatment.

The upper jaw sits directly beneath the maxillary sinuses, which are hollow spaces located in the cheekbones. When these sinuses become inflamed due to a cold, allergy flare-up, or sinus infection, they can create pressure that affects the roots of the upper molars. Because the nerve pathways serving the upper teeth and the sinus lining are closely connected, inflammation inside the sinuses can be ‘felt’ as pain in the teeth. This discomfort is often dull, constant, and may involve several upper back teeth on one side of the mouth.

How to tell sinus pain from dental pain

Sinus-related toothache usually behaves differently from a true dental problem. It tends to affect more than one upper tooth at the same time, often on one side. The pain is typically a dull, aching pressure rather than a sharp or stabbing sensation.

It also often comes with other sinus symptoms such as nasal congestion, a runny nose, facial pressure, reduced sense of smell, or worsening pain when bending forward. In contrast, dental pain is usually more localised to a single tooth and may become worse when biting or when exposed to hot or cold foods.

Timing can also offer clues. Sinus pain may fluctuate with head position or feel worse in the morning, while dental pain tends to remain consistent and is often triggered by chewing or temperature changes. Despite the overlap in symptoms, not every toothache linked with sinus issues is caused by sinusitis. A severely decayed tooth, dental abscess, or failed dental work can produce similar pain and may even spread infection into the sinuses. Warning signs that point to a dental cause include swelling in the gums or face, visible tooth decay, pus, or sharp pain when biting on a specific tooth. These symptoms should be evaluated by a dentist as soon as possible.

What to do at home

Mild sinus-related discomfort can often be managed with simple home care. Steam inhalation or warm compresses placed over the cheeks can help ease sinus pressure. Staying well hydrated and using saline nasal sprays may also help to thin mucus and relieve congestion. Over-the-counter pain relievers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen can reduce both pain and inflammation when used correctly according to dosing instructions. It is also important to avoid smoking and to stay away from known allergens that may worsen sinus irritation.

When to seek medical or dental care

Professional care is necessary when symptoms persist or worsen. A dentist should be consulted if the pain is sharp, localised to a single tooth, or accompanied by swelling of the gums or face, as these signs may indicate a dental infection.

A medical doctor or ENT specialist should be seen if there is fever, severe facial swelling, persistent nasal discharge, a blocked nose that does not improve, or symptoms lasting more than 10 days despite home treatment.

Lawyers spend their days absorbing the burdens, fears, and uncertainty of others, yet the profession rarely asks who carries their own emotional weight when the files are closed. In a profession built on speaking for others, the most important voice that often goes unheard is that of the lawyer himself.

One of the most powerful things a lawyer does is give a client peace of mind. A client walks into a lawyer’s office carrying a problem that has occupied their thoughts for weeks, sometimes months. They arrive anxious, frustrated, confused, and often afraid of what lies ahead.

Every day, lawyers meet people at some of the most difficult moments of their lives: a widow seeking justice after losing a loved one, a couple going through divorce, a family locked in a land dispute stretching years or even generations, a business owner facing financial collapse, or a person accused of a crime and afraid of losing their freedom. For the client, these are moments of crisis. For the lawyer, they are often routine files.

The lawyer listens carefully, studies the facts, and offers reassurance.

‘Now that you have shared your problem with me, it is no longer yours. It is mine. Go and do your work.’

The client leaves feeling lighter. Sometimes the reassurance is even simpler: ‘Consider it solved’.

Whether spoken in confidence or comfort, such words carry weight. They transfer hope, ease anxiety, and remind the client that they are no longer alone in carrying their burden. This is what lawyers do every day. They listen to people’s problems, absorb their worries, and translate uncertainty into legal strategy. They provide clarity where there was confusion and direction where there was despair.

But when their own minds are heavy, who do they speak to? Who listens without judgment? Who helps them carry their burden, even for a moment? For many, the answer is not clear. And that uncertainty reveals a quiet reality within the legal profession, one built on service, where lawyers are trained to solve problems, manage disputes, and provide answers in moments of uncertainty. They are expected to be composed, confident, and constantly available. What is rarely addressed, however, is the emotional burden that comes with continuously engaging with human suffering.

Over time, the profession develops a culture where strength is expected, and vulnerability is quietly discouraged. Yet lawyers remain human. They experience stress, fatigue, disappointment, and emotional exhaustion like everyone else. The difference is that they often carry these emotions while also holding the burdens of many others.

The impact of legal work on a lawyer’s mental health is rarely dramatic. It is subtle and gradual. A lawyer may become emotionally drained but call it being busy. They struggle to sleep but blame deadlines. They lose motivation but convince themselves it is normal pressure.

They feel constantly tired but continue working because it is expected. Slowly, stress becomes routine, exhaustion becomes normal, and burnout becomes invisible. Because it develops gradually, it is often ignored. In many ways, the profession has normalised excessive emotional load.

A lawyer’s mind is their most important tool. Every legal opinion, negotiation, submission, cross-examination, and courtroom argument depends on clarity of thought, focus, and emotional stability. When that mind becomes overwhelmed, everything is affected.

Decision-making weakens, concentration drops, patience thins, and even the quality of legal work may suffer.

This is why mental health in the legal profession is not only a personal issue but also a professional one. A healthy mind produces better lawyering. A strained mind struggles to sustain quality over time.

One of the biggest challenges in addressing mental health among lawyers is silence. Many do not speak about stress or burnout because they fear it will be seen as weakness. The profession often rewards endurance and quiet suffering. Yet silence does not remove the problem; it only hides it.

Behind many confident court appearances are tired lawyers. Behind well-prepared submissions are overwhelmed minds. Behind calm professional voices are individuals carrying unseen pressure.

As conversations around mental health continue to grow, the legal profession must reflect on its own culture. Rest should not be mistaken for weakness. Seeking support should not be seen as failure. Acknowledging stress is not incompetence; it is awareness. Lawyers cannot continuously carry the emotional weight of others without creating space to care for their own wellbeing.

At the heart of law is human experience, pain, conflict, loss, and hope. Lawyers stand at the centre of it every day. They are not separate from the human condition they serve; they are part of it.

And so the question remains: if lawyers spend their lives listening to everyone else, who listens to the lawyer? Because behind every file is a human being, and that human being sometimes needs the same peace of mind they so often give to others.

June is Men’s Mental Health Month, a time to have honest conversations about the struggles men carry, often silently. While discussions frequently focus on finances, relationships, work pressures, and societal expectations, there is another aspect that is rarely talked about seriously: football.

To many, football is entertainment. To millions of men around the world, however, it is much more than that. It is identity, community, hope, and sometimes an emotional escape from the realities of everyday life.

I know this because I have lived it. I became an Arsenal supporter during the famous 2003/2004 ”Invincibles” season. At the time, I was still a primary school pupil.

I am now a grown man. Life has happened. Responsibilities happened. Yet through it all, Arsenal remained a constant companion.

For more than two decades, Arsenal supporters have lived through periods of waiting, anticipation, disappointment, false dawns and endless hope. Every season seemed to begin with renewed belief and end with familiar heartbreak. There were near misses, painful defeats, questionable transfers, managerial transitions and countless moments that tested loyalty.

Along the way came the banter, relentless banter. As Arsenal supporters, we often became the punch line and yet we stayed.

We defended the club in conversations. We argued in WhatsApp groups. We endured memes. We switched off our phones after defeats. We convinced ourselves that next season would be different.

People who are not passionate football supporters may find this difficult to understand. Why should the outcome of a match played thousands of kilometres away affect a grown man’s mood?

The answer lies in emotional attachment.

Thankfully, those emotions never spilled over onto my loved ones. My family was largely spared from the frustration that accompanied disappointing results. But some of my friends witnessed a different version of me.

There were weekends when Arsenal lost and I became unusually quiet. There were times when I avoided football conversations altogether. There were moments when rival fans’ jokes felt less amusing than they probably intended.

This is where men’s mental health enters the conversation. Several men are conditioned to suppress emotions. We are taught to be strong, resilient, providers, protectors and problem-solvers. We celebrate toughness but rarely vulnerability. As a result, countless men carry stress quietly.

The pressure to provide for a family, the fear of unemployment, relationship struggles, debt, workplace challenges, health concerns and unspoken loneliness.

When football becomes one of the few emotional outlets available, the highs become extremely high and the lows become surprisingly deep. This can have ripple effects far beyond the stadium. A man frustrated by a football result may become irritable at home or carry that disappointment into the workplace. Some withdraw socially, others become argumentative while a few turn to unhealthy coping mechanisms.

As I reflect on my own journey as an Arsenal supporter, I realise the story was never really about football. It was about loyalty, hope, emotional investment and enduring seasons of waiting.

Football will always matter to millions of us. The joy, passion and community it creates are beautiful things. But no football club should ever matter more than a human life.

As we observe Men’s Mental Health Month, let us remember the men in our lives. Check on them, call them, listen to them, walk with them, hold their hands when life becomes heavy, because sometimes the strongest man in the room is carrying the heaviest burden in silence.

And sometimes, what he needs most is simply someone who cares enough to ask.

At least 20 more Ugandans who have expressed willingness to denounce war and return to the country have been trapped inside the fighting zones controlled by rebels fighting against the Sudanese government.

On Monday, Maj. Gen Richard Otto, the UPDF Chief of Defence Intelligence and Security, told political, religious and cultural leaders in Gulu City that the government had received intelligence about the individuals but can only rescue them upon engaging the rebel groups.

‘There are 20 more (Ugandans) who wanted to return home, but where they are, we shall need to hold further engagement with those territories because they are in areas manned by Sudanese rebels,’ Gen Otto said without stating the specifics of the rebel groups who controlled such areas.

Gen Otto was speaking during the reception of 46 new Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) returnee arrivals who arrived in Uganda on Monday morning via Gulu airfield following their repatriation from the Central African Republic (CAR).

The group, including 23 children and 13 mothers, landed at Gulu Airfield in Gulu City on Monday afternoon aboard Aerojet flight 5Y-RNG after departing from Juba International Airport in South Sudan on Sunday morning.

Gen Otto explained that the group comprised defectors from both the LRA and the Sudanese People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-iO).

‘We have two groups here, the LRA and SPLM-IO members, of the 46, six of them are foreigners, and I want to thank the six foreigners for encouraging their colleagues to join these Ugandans and come home through a safe path, even if it was not far to cross to the Central African Republic.’ Gen Otto said.

The non-Ugandans, you are going to be taken back to your countries, and the government of Uganda will coordinate with your countries and will be taken back home, so rest assured, there is no problem, he told the returnees.

According to Gen Otto, the group left Wao, South Sudan to Uganda after an initial attempt to take off to Uganda on Sunday failed due to bad weather.

‘We were expecting these children yesterday, but the weather was not friendly; it was very harsh, so what happened we had to cancel the flight, but finally they landed this morning in Gulu.’ Gen Otto said.

They are Ugandans, but some of them were working for SPLM-IO in South Sudan after being recruited. You remember the conflicts in South Sudan? There were some legal recruitments along the border, and some of them were abducted. Those who were in South Sudan were forced to join that group. Otto stated.

According to Terra Renaissance, the NGO partnering with the government to repatriate the returnees, the returnees are set to spend six months at the SOS Children’s Village in Gulu, during which they will undergo psycho-social rehabilitation before integration into their communities.

Mr Jimmy Fred Otema, the head of the sub-office for Terra Renaissance, explained that the rehabilitation will also involve life skills training.

‘Now that we have received these formerly abducted persons, we are going to provide comprehensive support towards rehabilitation, including psychological and medical rehabilitation (rehabilitative therapy) in collaboration with a major hospital here in the north,’ Mr Otema stated.

He also stated that the NGO will, in extreme cases, collaborate with major hospitals in Kampala to treat the physical and other invisible wounds and also provide nutritional rehabilitation.

According to Mr Otema, the NGO will also introduce the returnees and their children to basic literacy and intensive skills training, once they are reunited with their families.

‘Just like we have done to the rest of previous returnees, as part of our integration efforts, we will do intensive skilling of the returnees so that they gain skills that are good enough competing the job markets here or to be able to create jobs by themselves.’

‘We will do so by first empowering them in the skills for 18 months, and after which we will then equip them with the tools and the necessary capital and inputs so that they start their own businesses and become self-reliant and independent,’ he added.

Meanwhile, Mr Martin Okumu, the deputy Prime Minister for Acholi chiefdom, asked communities to welcome and embrace the returnees, stressing that they will undergo all the cleansing ceremonies before reuniting with their families.

‘We are organising a special reception for these people, just like we did with the previous groups, a traditional ceremony, where each of them will step on an egg as a cleansing process that we traditionally believe washes off the sins of an individual and the bad omen associated with the calamities they went through from captivity,’ Mr Okumu explained.

Previous arrivals

The group’s arrival followed the arrival of a group of 14 former abductees who landed at Entebbe Airport earlier this month.

According to the UPDF, the group is set to be relocated to Gulu for rehabilitation any time from next week.

Residents of Kisima I and Kisima II islands in Jinja City are grappling with a rising bilharzia outbreak, driven by continued reliance on unsafe water sources after the collapse of previously installed safe water systems.

The breakdown of water facilities established by development partners has forced many households to draw untreated water directly from Lake Victoria, increasing exposure to waterborne diseases.

Local leaders and residents blame poor maintenance and weak oversight for the failure of the systems. They say installations by Water Mission, a Christian engineering nonprofit that provides safe water solutions in developing countries, have fallen into disrepair.

As a result, many families now depend on lake water for domestic use, despite health warnings over infection risks.

Jinja Resident City Commissioner (RCC) Salim Komakech, during an outreach visit to the islands over the weekend, expressed concern over the rising infections, saying Jinja City remains among the worst affected areas in the country.

He cited Ministry of Health data showing increasing bilharzia cases, including at least one death reported this month.

Health authorities, he said, have intensified community sensitisation campaigns to curb the outbreak.

Mr Komakech noted that poor sanitation and hygiene practices in fishing communities continue to drive transmission.

The situation has been worsened by limited functionality at Kisima Health Centre III, where lack of electricity has left key diagnostic equipment, including laboratory machines, idle since commissioning.

Residents say access to safe water remains a major challenge. Ms Justine Akello said households are forced to buy water from the mainland at about Shs 2,000 per 20-litre jerrycan.

‘It is costing us a lot. Even using lake water is risky,’ she said.

Ms Twali Jamawa, the secretary for women affairs on Kisima II Island, called for urgent investment in safe water and sanitation facilities, including toilets.

Jinja City Health Officer Dr Fredrick Isabirye said surveillance findings indicate a worrying prevalence of bilharzia in the area.

He said stool samples collected from 60 residents showed that 30 tested positive for the disease.

Dr Isabirye said open defecation remains a key driver of transmission in communities lacking adequate sanitation.

‘Thirty out of 60 samples tested positive,’ he said, adding that emergency drug supplies have been requested from the National Medical Stores.

He said treatment and sensitisation campaigns are being expanded across affected communities.