Category: Daily Monitor

It is now public information that the Government of Uganda (GoU) is going to deploy our medical experts to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to combat the Ebola scourge that is devastating people in eastern DRC. According to Dr Daniel Kyabayinze, the director of Public Health at the Ministry of Health, all preparations are almost complete, and 160 medics will be stationed in Kasenyi, Ituri Province, and Aru in northern DRC to assist Congolese medics who are currently battling the Ebola scourge with little progress in curbing it.

According to Kyabayinze, the GoU, under the guidance of President Museveni, decided to assist DRC and fight the Ebola scourge where it is emanating. Indeed, it makes a lot of sense. Rather than keeping us on tenterhooks, as we do border screenings and endless border patrolling for those who are trying to sneak into Uganda for treatment, it is much better to go in and battle the pandemic from its source across the border in eastern DRC.

The Congolese know very well that Uganda has good expertise in controlling Ebola. As a country, we have since attained a lot of expertise through international collaborations like the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and the World Health Organisation (WHO). Therefore, it makes a lot of sense to rush and assist our neighbours. Indeed, it is in the spirit of East African Cooperation and the virtues of Ubuntu that define Uganda and, to a greater extent, President Museveni.

One of the four pillars of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) government ideology is Pan-Africanism. Pan-Africanism seeks to unify, empower and uplift people of African descent. Rooted in the belief that Africans on the continent and the global diaspora share a common history and destiny. As Ugandans, we owe it to the Congolese brothers to give a helping hand, especially in such times of great need. As we promote cultural and economic cooperation, plus political self-determination. It is then imperative that we combine efforts to defeat this scourge together.

Some naysayers are already up in arms, talking of how Uganda is making a mistake of throwing its medics at the epicentre of the deadly disease. They are saying President Museveni is risking the lives of our experts beyond our borders. This is unfortunate. If Uganda cannot make sacrifices for its neighbour, then who should?

After all, this is not the first time Uganda has come out to give DRC a helping hand. The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) is in Congo, assisting the Congolese national force to flush out the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) terrorists in Ituri Province. The joint UPDF and FARDC Operation Shujaa has severely degraded the ADF in Ituri Province, neutralising hundreds of fighters, recovering weapons caches and rescuing hundreds of abductees.

Uganda is constructing key strategic roads in eastern DRC to ease trade between the two countries. Currently, Uganda is co-funding and actively constructing a $334m, 223-kilometre road network, deep inside the DRC to boost cross-border trade and regional security. The joint strategic infrastructure project links Uganda to key eastern Congo cities, including Beni, Butembo and Goma.

Similar negative sentiments were expressed in 2007 when Uganda made the patriotic decision to deploy the UPDF in Somalia to fight Al-Shabaab terrorists that were wreaking havoc across East Africa. Most sceptics, including politicians like Hon Ssemujju Nganda, the former Kiira Municipality MP, and top commentators like New Vision columnist Opiyo Oloya, wrote authoritatively that the UPDF mission in Somalia was dead on arrival. Hon Ssemujju predicted doom for the UPDF, arguing that there is no way UPDF can succeed where the American forces had failed.

The giant strategist and devotee Pan-Africanist, President Museveni, ignored the doomsayers and deployed in Somalia. Not only did the mighty UPDF succeed in winning battles, where Americans had failed, it ended the political mayhem that had characterised Somalia for decades. Although there are still pockets of insurgency, what is clear is that Al-Shabaab has been defeated.

Therefore, Ebola can be defeated, but only through robust interstate cooperation, cross-border surveillance and multinational solidarity. Because the virus spreads rapidly across porous borders and can strain isolated health systems, localised efforts must be scaled into regional strategies to contain outbreaks effectively.

The Commissioner for Basic Education in the Ministry of Education and Sports, Dr Cleophas Mugenyi, has revealed that early childhood development has been consistently receiving less than two percent of the ministry’s total allocation, far below Uganda’s early childhood care and education policy aspiration of 10 percent.

While sharing findings about Uganda’s early childhood development policy in relation to the Kulea Watoto program at the National inception meeting of the program’s second phase at Fairway Hotel in Kampala on June 11, 2026, Dr Mugenyi said poor funding of ECD partly explains why children under five continue to experience stunted growth.

‘The 2024 statistics show that over one million, 48 percent of refugee children in Uganda under five years are experiencing stunting growth, while 81 percent of children aged three to four are developmentally off-track because 80 percent of their parents cannot afford early childhood development fees. This highlights critical financial and income barriers amongst parents and guardians,’ Dr Mugenyi said.

According to Uganda’s National Development Plan IV, which runs from 2025 to 2030, early childhood development is a core pillar under human capital development that targets universal ECD access by 2030.

Mondo Kyateka, the Assistant Commissioner for Youth and Children Affairs in the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, reminded parents to stop giving birth to many children and instead have a manageable number they can qualitatively raise.

‘Why are you, parents, producing like you have a contractual obligation to fill the clan? You find a woman producing more than 10 children because the husband was his parent’s only child. It is not sustainable in the long term. Produce children you can afford to take care of instead of giving birth for the streets,’ Mr Kyateka advised.

On his part, Timothy Opobo, the Executive Director of AfriChild, said the second phase of the Kulea Watoto two-generation approach that targets children and their caregivers focuses on promoting children’s early learning, health and development, and building parental or caregiver capacity and resilience, as well as protective factors within families.

‘The two-generation approach is better than the one-approach because children’s outcomes are intertwined within their home environment. The quality of a child’s proximal is crucial for their development especially during the early years,’ Opobo said.

Implemented by different partner organisations, phase two of the Kulea Watoto program will run from April 2026 to March 2029 and targets impacting 400 households in Kampala and 600 households in Bidi Bidi refugee settlement in Yumbe district in the West Nile sub-region.

The Vicar General of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Kasana-Luweero, Msgr. Vincent De Paul Mukiibi, has encouraged unmarried teachers to consider marriage, saying some parents have expressed concern about entrusting their children to single teachers.

Msgr. Mukiibi said several parents had approached him with fears that unmarried teachers may pose a greater risk of child abuse, making them uneasy when such teachers are responsible for the care and supervision of their children at school.

He said many parents had confided in him about their anxiety whenever they discovered that unmarried teachers were in charge of their children. He appealed to teachers who are single to consider settling down in marriage and urged those engaging in premarital sexual relationships to embrace holy matrimony.

Msgr. Mukiibi made the remarks on Friday during the Diocesan Teachers’ Day celebrations held at the Luwero Teachers’ SACCO Gardens in Luwero Town Council. He also reminded teachers that the schools in which they serve belong to the diocese and urged them to actively participate in diocesan programmes and activities.

In addition, he advised teachers to prioritise their health by adopting healthy lifestyles. He cautioned against excessive alcohol consumption and encouraged them to prevent lifestyle-related illnesses such as diabetes and hypertension through balanced diets and regular physical exercise.

Msgr. Mukiibi’s comments on child protection are not entirely new in the area. In 2012, Uganda Radio Network reported that the then Bishop of Kasana-Luweero Diocese, now Archbishop of Kampala, Paul Ssemogerere, raised concerns about cases of child sexual abuse in Catholic Church-supported schools within his jurisdiction.

At the time, Bishop Ssemogerere said several cases were going unreported in Catholic-founded schools in Luwero. He made the remarks after learning of allegations that a teacher at St Augustine Primary School in Zirobwe Sub-county, Luwero District, had sexually abused a Primary Six pupil.

According to the report, Bishop Ssemogerere said the incident was the fourth such case brought to his attention. Speaking to URN, he urged the Ministry of Education and the Police to work together to establish the extent of child sexual abuse in Luwero schools.

Kasana-Luweero Diocese covers Luwero, Nakaseke and Nakasongola districts. It oversees more than 150 pre-primary, primary, secondary and tertiary institutions.

Bishop Ssemogerere also recommended more rigorous background checks for teachers seeking employment in Catholic Church-supported schools, arguing that educators entrusted with learners are expected to uphold high moral standards.

More than 360 newly elected local government leaders in Namutumba District have begun their five-year term facing growing public demands for improved service delivery, better accountability and closer cooperation with technical staff.

A total of 368 lower local government leaders were sworn in this week across the district amid concerns over poor roads, inadequate healthcare services, limited education infrastructure and persistent tensions between politicians and civil servants.

Speaking after administering the oath of office, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer Abdul Waweyo warned elected leaders against engaging in conflicts with technical officers, saying such disputes undermine service delivery and district operations.

“The drums of politics, propaganda and trading insults are over. We do not want to see offices becoming battlefields because someone wants to attract the loudest applause,” Waweyo said.

He urged politicians to focus on addressing community needs and maintaining a productive working relationship with government staff.

“If there is no good collaboration between technical officers and politicians, service delivery will not take place,” he said.

Waweyo reminded the leaders that they were accountable to voters and would be judged on their ability to deliver tangible results.

“People’s eyes are on you. We expect hard work, not fights with technical staff. You must prove that you deserve the trust that wananchi placed in you,” he added.

The officials sworn in include 20 sub-county chairpersons, 20 speakers, 20 deputy speakers, 20 vice-chairpersons and 22 committee chairpersons, among other local government leaders.

The elections further cemented the dominance of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) in the eastern Uganda district. Of the 20 elected sub-county chairpersons, 19 belong to the NRM, while only one, from Mazuba Sub-county, represents the National Unity Platform (NUP).

The outcome has prompted debate over the level of opposition representation in local governance structures.

Abdallah Kasalawo, a former Forum for Democratic Change parliamentary candidate for Busiki North Constituency, argued that the near absence of opposition voices could weaken oversight and accountability.

“Without dissenting voices to scrutinise budgets, procurement processes and government programmes, these councils may fail to effectively represent the interests of the people,” Kasalawo said.

He warned that councils dominated by a single political party risk becoming less effective in monitoring public expenditure and service delivery.

Residents, meanwhile, say they expect the new leaders to prioritise key development challenges that dominated the election campaign.

Peter Galimwifuba, a resident of Ivukula Sub-county and supporter of the National Unity Platform, said communities want action on roads, healthcare, education and youth unemployment.

He also challenged claims that politicians are largely responsible for disputes with technical staff.

“The Deputy CAO says politicians fight technical staff, but in many cases it is the technical officers who frustrate politicians,” Galimwifuba said.

According to local leaders, inadequate road funding, poor transport infrastructure, weak accountability systems and the lack of seed secondary schools and Health Centre IIIs remain among the district’s most pressing concerns.

Amuza Wamugere, the newly elected chairperson of Bugobi Sub-county, said poor infrastructure continues to affect access to essential services.

He noted that some students travel up to 14 kilometres to attend secondary school in neighbouring Butaleja District because the sub-county lacks a government seed secondary school.

“I have entered office, but my biggest challenge this term is inadequate road funding from the central government and poor healthcare services,” Wamugere said yesterday.

The new leaders now face the challenge of translating campaign promises into tangible improvements as residents demand better roads, schools, health facilities and greater accountability in the use of public resources.

Reigning Airtel Masaza Cup champions Buweekula will begin the defence of their title against former champions Kyaddondo on Saturday at Mubende NTC as Buganda’s flagship football tournament kicks off its 2026 season.

The opener launches a campaign expected to run through October and feature 104 matches across the kingdom.

At the official handover of team uniforms and competition rules at Bulange Gardens, Buganda Prime Minister Charles Peter Mayiga urged counties to embrace unity and fair competition.

“Football brings that unity. When we are together no one can defeat us. But I call upon organisers to exercise integrity. We don’t want boardroom wins this season,” Mayiga said.

The tournament has invested heavily in administration and safety, with team managers trained in football administration, media personnel prepared for competition coverage and medical staff receiving refresher courses. Organisers also trained an additional 540 stewards for pitch management, bringing the event’s operational workforce to unprecedented levels.

Airtel renews commitment

At the launch, Airtel Uganda Managing Director and CEO Soumendra Sahu reaffirmed the telecom’s long-standing support for the tournament, describing it as a key platform for talent development and social impact.

He praised the Kingdom leadership for sustaining grassroots football structures that continue to nurture young players and unite communities.

Sahu said the tournament had evolved beyond sport into a platform for driving social change through initiatives such as HIV/AIDS awareness campaigns and community outreach programmes.

‘We are honoured to continue this partnership, which drives football development while uniting communities around meaningful social impact. The tournament has grown into a powerful platform for positive behavioural change, using the game to champion HIV/AIDS awareness, the Emmwanyi Terimba campaign, and other community programmes that are improving lives and strengthening social wellbeing across the kingdom,’ Sahu said.

Airtel has remained a consistent supporter of Kingdom initiatives including the Kabaka Birthday Run, Bika Tournament, coronation events and the Masaza Cup.

He said the partnership reflects a shared commitment to service, unity and youth development, urging the public to continue supporting Airtel in return.

Growing

Buganda Minister of Youth, Sports and the Arts Robert Sserwanga said the 2025 edition attracted more than 385,000 spectators and generated over 10 million social media engagements.

“Our calendar starts from Gombolola competitions and schools as well as the Masaza Cup. We are starting a journey of 104 games until October,” Sserwanga said.

Masaza Committee chairman Ronald Mulondo said county leaders are committed to a smooth competition after the controversy that followed last season’s third-place play-off.

“All counties are ready to compete, but we must follow the kingdom’s pillars above our loyalties. The Masaza Cup helps raise issues of federalism and nurture talent,” Mulondo said.

Champions confident

Buweekula coach Ibrahim Kyobe, formerly assistant to title-winning coach Felix, is backing his team to repeat last season’s success.

“We want to defy the odds and defend our trophy. We have added hungry players,” Kyobe said.

Among Buweekula’s attacking options are Peter Ssemyalo, Martin Seguya, Fred Tumwesigye and Charles Musisi, while key returning players include Patrick Kagulire, Shafiq Ssali, Brian Muwayire and Eliezer Feni.

But Kyaddondo captain Trevor Kalule said his side is targeting a return to glory after last winning the trophy in 2008.

“We expect good results and need our fans to back us,” Kalule said.

This year’s sponsors include Airtel, Centenary Bank, Nirvana, UNAIDS, Uganda Aids Commission and Plascon.

Airtel Masaza Cup

Opening fixture

Saturday, June 13, 2026

Buweekula vs Kyaddondo

Mubende NTC, 3pm

Groups

Masengere: Kyaggwe, Mawokota, Bulemeezi, Gomba, Ssese, Busiro

Bulange: Buweekula, Buluuli, Busujju, Kyaddondo, Buddu, Buvuma

Muganzirwazza: Ssingo, Bugerere, Kooki, Kabula, Butambala, Mawogola

An Audit into Uganda’s remand homes and the national rehabilitation centres (RRCs) has exposed serious gaps in the juvenile justice system, with children being held beyond the legal remand period, facing limited access to healthcare and education, and living in overcrowded facilities.

The new value-for-money audit report on the management of remand homes and the national rehabilitation centre under the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development (MoGLSD) paints a troubling picture of a system struggling to rehabilitate and reintegrate juvenile offenders. According to the report by the Auditor General, Mr Edward Akol, as of December 2025, Uganda operates seven remand homes: Fort Portal, Mbale, Naguru, Gulu, Masindi, Arua, Kabale, and one National Rehabilitation Centre, Kampiringisa, mandated for the protection, rehabilitation, and reintegration of juveniles in conflict with the law.

However, Mr Akol revealed that these facilities are grappling with significant challenges, including overcrowding, aging infrastructure, inadequate health units/sickbays, lack of access to education, and inadequate rehabilitation services. The RRCs in Uganda are vital to the juvenile justice system because they provide safe custody, rehabilitation, and reintegration services for the juvenile offenders (JOs). The audit revealed that 41 percent of juveniles charged with minor offences had stayed on remand beyond the legally recommended three months under Section 94(5) of the Children Act. Similarly, 45 percent of juveniles facing capital offences had exceeded the six-month remand period.

The report indicated that out of 9,204 JOs admitted to the facilities during the period the audit was conducted, 5,757, representing an average of 63 percent, lacked social inquiry reports-critical documents required by courts to understand a child’s family and social background before determining appropriate intervention. ‘This delayed court proceedings lead to overstay on remand. In addition, the resettlement of juveniles upon release becomes a challenge due to scanty information of the child’s social and family background,’ Mr Akol noted.

The Auditor General attributed the delays in the administration of juvenile justice to poor coordination among institutions, including the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Judiciary, and the Internal Affairs ministry.

Outstanding gaps

Healthcare access remains inadequate, with only 143 of 203 JOs sampled getting medical check-ups immediately on admission. All eight remand and rehabilitation centres audited lacked a resident medical practitioner or health personnel, contrary to Rule 11(1) of the Children’s Home Rules, 2013, which requires the RRCs to employ the services of a registered nurse as a full-time staff member.

To fill the void, informal working arrangements with nearby government medical facilities, where doctors and other medical personnel visit when needed, have taken root. The report further revealed gaps in nutrition support for juveniles with chronic illnesses, with some children on long-term medication failing to receive specialised diets. Eighteen juveniles, representing nine percent, were not provided with a specific menu/diet tailored to their medical conditions, which can jeopardise or complicate existing health conditions. Mr Akol revealed that six (75 percent) out of eight remand homes and rehabilitation centres are operating beyond their recommended capacities, with congestion levels ranging from 110 percent to 229 percent. Fort Portal and Mbale remand homes were identified as the most overcrowded, housing juvenile populations of 129 percent and 122 percent above their individual recommended holding capacities of 45 each.

The other challenges included staffing gaps and delays in the resettlement of JOs who had completed their committal orders. At the time of the audit (October 2025), 115 (29 percent) out of 413 juveniles at the centre had completed their committal orders but had not yet been reintegrated into their communities. The report also highlighted poor recreational facilities in most remand homes, with only Arua and Kampiringisa having sufficient outdoor playgrounds for games such as football and volleyball. The rest mainly relied on indoor games like ludo.

Access to education also remains another major challenge, with the report indicating that, at Kampiringisa National Rehabilitation Centre, only 35 out of 140 juveniles who expressed interest in formal education were attending either primary or secondary school due to a lack of on-site educational facilities. ‘Although skilling programmes were being offered in hairdressing, tailoring, shoemaking, and agricultural activities, other skilling activities like carpentry and tailoring were not offered due to a lack of modern and functional equipment. Some equipment, dating as far back as the 1950s, was dilapidated and unsuitable for effective skills training,’ Mr Akol noted.

He also noted that despite the enactment of the Children Act in 1997, Uganda has never developed specific regulations to guide the management of remand homes and rehabilitation centres, creating inconsistencies in operations across facilities. The Auditor General highlighted inadequate funding of Shs640 million annually (less than 0.3 percent of the overall budget of the MoGLSD) to the RRCs (financial years (FYs) 2022/2023-2024/2025), which affected the effective management of the RRCs.

Interventions

Justice and Constitution Affairs minister Norbert Mao explained that the government is working around the clock to solve major challenges in a phased manner. For the issues of delayed justice, Mr Mao noted that the government, in collaboration with development partners, has initiated the establishment of court spaces within remand homes. He explained that the government is putting in place diversion programmes which aim at redirecting children who have committed minor offences away from the formal justice system. Among others, the government aims for judicial officers to visit remand homes and conduct special juvenile sessions.

‘We have set a target as the administration of justice programme to reduce this backlog in the justice system to 15.2 percent, and we expect to achieve that in the Financial Year 2029/2030,’ Mr Mao said, adding that non-custodial sentencing, bail reforms, and infrastructure expansion are ongoing to reduce the numbers in the facilities. Mr Mao further noted that the MoGLSD is exploring verification of the age of juveniles to weed out adults from remand homes, and the construction of the Moroto remand home to decongest other remand homes like Mbale is in the final stages.

He, however, stated that when it comes to reintegrating the children, some families are unwilling after their detention.

‘Sometimes when children are in prison, parents feel a sense of relief. When we return these children home, families often have a negative attitude and do not want to receive them.’ Then junior Youth and Children Affairs minister in the MoGLSD, Mr Balaam Barugahara told this publication on May 6 that the government is already taking steps to address challenges in juvenile remand homes, including removing unsafe infrastructure, expanding skilling programmes, speeding up trials, as well as plans to establish more remand homes to reduce the congestion.

‘We need to have more remand homes, at least in every district or every sub-region,’ he stated, adding that the ministry is advocating to the government that magistrates have special sessions in a remand home for speedy trials. Mr Barugahare, now the Local Government minister, also noted that the government agreed to increase skilling programmes, as well as give them startup capital after they are integrated into communities. He consequently urged the community to embrace juvenile offenders after they are released and integrated into communities.

Former West Budama North-East MP and lawyer Fox Odoi-Oywelowo said the government must have a responsive juvenile justice system to prevent children from becoming hardened criminals. ‘We need to make our juvenile justice system just, humane, and tolerant, responsive to the needs of young children. You can’t deal with young offenders like you are dealing with adults,’ Mr Odoi-Oywelowo, who was also the chairperson of the Committee on Human Rights in the 11th Parliament, said.

He added: ‘We must also strengthen the capacity of the social workers. Children must not be completely detached from their families. You maintain some form of semblance of connection to the families and relatives.’

Recommendations

Mr Timothy Opobo, the Executive Director of AfriChild Centre, noted that the challenges highlighted in the Auditor General’s report are long-standing and largely brought by inadequate investment in Uganda’s juvenile justice system. ‘The issue of overcrowding is based on the fact that these remand homes are not enough. Yet children are being brought from across different districts to the few available facilities.’

Mr Opobo emphasised the need for the government to establish more remand homes and rehabilitation centres in the country to decongest the available ones. He also blamed limited funding for poor welfare and logistical challenges affecting the facilities, noting that children are not taken to courts because remand homes lack transport means. ‘There is a need to review the budgets, the budget allocations to these Remand Homes so that they address those logistical concerns, including issues to do with hygiene,’Mr Opobo said.

He further called for specialised personnel to support rehabilitation and mental health services for JOs, highlighting the need for more psychologists, psychiatrists, and social workers to help in rehabilitating the children. Mr Akol highlighted that most of the JOs are mainly implicated in delinquencies of theft, break-ins, sexual-related offences, assault, and narcotic/drug trafficking. Data from the Uganda Police Annual Crime Report 2025 shows that 3,303 juveniles were involved in crime, including 2,908 males and about 400 females, up from 2,268 cases recorded in 2024.

In his recommendations, the Auditor General noted that the historical context of the RRCs, combined with the increase in Uganda’s population, underscores the urgent need for reforms in the juvenile justice system. Adding that although the juvenile system is fulfilling its mandate, Mr Akol noted there is an urgent need for improvements in the management and care of juveniles within the justice system to meet contemporary needs, while upholding the rights of juveniles during their rehabilitation and reintegration into society.

He further emphasised the urgent need for improvements in the management and care of juveniles within the justice system to meet contemporary needs, while upholding the rights of juveniles during their rehabilitation and reintegration into society.

Masindi General Hospital is operating under severe strain, with rising patient numbers, critical staff shortages, and overstretched maternity services, according to hospital management.

Hospital executive consultant Dr Rogers Musinguzi has revealed the facility is handling an unusually high number of maternal cases while operating with less than half of the required workforce.

Dr Musinguzi said the hospital receives an average of 472 mothers every month for delivery, with a striking 372 of those undergoing caesarean section. He noted the high number of surgical deliveries is putting additional pressure on already limited theater staff, equipment, and medical personnel.

‘Most of our deliveries are now by caesarean section. This is not normal for a general hospital. It reflects both late referrals and complications at the time mothers arrive,’ Dr. Musinguzi said.

The consultant added that Masindi General Hospital is also handling about 900 admissions, a figure he described as overwhelming for the available staff and infrastructure.

According to Dr. Musinguzi, the hospital is operating with only 134 staff members out of the required 343, leaving a gap of more than 200 health workers. He said the shortage is affecting every department, but maternity and emergency services are the most affected.

‘In maternity, the workload is extremely heavy. A midwife is supposed to attend to about two mothers, but here one midwife is attending to up to 12 women at a time. This leads to exhaustion and affects service delivery,’ he said.

Health workers reportedly work long hours without adequate rest, a situation Dr. Musinguzi warned could increase the risk of medical errors and burnout. He further revealed the hospital has gone three years without new recruitment of health workers, worsening the crisis.

‘We have not recruited any staff in three years. This has created a dangerous gap in service delivery,’ he said.

Dr. Musinguzi also highlighted severe shortages in key medical positions. The hospital is supposed to have four consultants, but currently has none. Out of 19 medical officers required, only six are available, with one currently on academic leave, leaving just five active doctors handling a high patient load.

‘At times, one doctor runs the entire hospital for 48 hours. This is not sustainable. It puts both patients and staff at risk,’ Dr. Musinguzi said.

The consultant added that such conditions make it difficult to maintain quality care, especially in emergency and surgical cases.

The hospital is also experiencing a significant shortage of nurses. Dr. Musinguzi said Masindi General Hospital requires at least 46 nurses but currently has only 30. This gap has placed enormous pressure on existing staff, particularly in maternity wards where demand is highest.

‘Healthcare workers are exhausted. They are doing their best, but the numbers are simply overwhelming,’ he said.

The high rate of caesarean sections has also raised concern among health experts, who say it could be linked to late referrals from lower health facilities and complications that are not managed early.

A midwife at the hospital, who requested anonymity, described the situation as ‘extremely difficult,’ saying staff often work beyond their limits.

‘You can be handling several mothers at the same time, some in labor, others in surgery recovery. It is very exhausting,’ the midwife said.

According to hospital management, Masindi General Hospital has not received any significant staffing boost in the past three years despite increasing patient numbers. This has widened the gap between demand and available health workers, especially in critical departments such as surgery, maternity, and emergency care.

Masindi District secretary for social services William Mwambu called for urgent government intervention to address staffing gaps and improve working conditions.

‘We need immediate recruitment to save both mothers and health workers from burnout. The situation is critical,’ Mr. Mwambu said.

Masindi General Hospital serves patients from Masindi, Buliisa, Kiryandongo, and surrounding districts, making it one of the busiest health facilities in the region. However, the growing population and increasing number of referrals have not been matched with a corresponding expansion in staffing and infrastructure.

With only 134 staff out of the required 343 and critical shortages in doctors, nurses, and consultants, the hospital is operating under conditions experts describe as ‘near breaking point.’

Gin likes to think of itself as sophisticated. It comes in elegant bottles, talks endlessly about botanicals and somehow sounds more refined than most spirits. Yet in Uganda, gin has achieved something even more impressive: it has become loved. It is the drink that appears at weddings, introductions, birthday parties and celebrations where nobody is entirely sure what is being celebrated. Long before craft cocktails and Instagram-worthy garnishes became fashionable, Ugandans had already embraced gin.

Historians trace its popularity to the colonial era, when imported spirits became widely available across East Africa. One popular account suggests that imported brands arriving after the World Wars became known as ‘war gin,’ a name that gradually evolved into ‘waragi’, now one of the most recognised names in Uganda’s drinking culture.

Whether folklore or fact, the story reflects a deeper truth; few spirits are as woven into Uganda’s social life as gin. That relationship eventually produced Uganda Waragi, a brand so iconic that for many Ugandans, it became their first introduction to alcohol itself. Today, June 13, as the world marks World Gin Day, Uganda celebrates a spirit that continues to evolve with changing tastes.

‘Uganda has gone beyond seeing gin as just another spirit. Consumers have developed a genuine palate for gin,’ says Steven Baguma, Reserve Brand Ambassador at Uganda Breweries Limited.

The country’s affection for the category is evident in the enduring popularity of Uganda Waragi, which has long occupied a unique place in local drinking culture, as well as the growing appetite for premium international expressions such as Tanqueray. Together, they tell the story of a market that is increasingly embracing both heritage and exploration. Consumers are becoming more interested in what separates one gin from another, from the botanicals used in production to the stories behind individual brands.

‘People often see gin as just a clear spirit,’ says Jane Apio, Reserve Brand Mixologist at Uganda Breweries Limited. ‘But gin is actually a blend of botanicals such as juniper berries, coriander, cinnamon and licorice.’

At the heart of every gin is juniper berry, the ingredient that legally defines the spirit. Around it, distillers add herbs, spices, fruits and flowers to create distinctive flavours.

For Kampala mixologist Molly Ayat of Aurous Bar and Restaurant, that character is gin’s greatest strength.

‘All gin starts as a neutral spirit and then gets personality,’ she says. ‘The botanicals are what make every gin different.’

That versatility has helped gin remain relevant across generations. While the classic gin and tonic remains a favourite, bartenders are increasingly experimenting with local ingredients and creative serves.

‘If you have jackfruit, for example, you can make a very nice cocktail with gin and jackfruit,’ says Apio.

Across Kampala’s nightlife scene, gin has become the foundation for colourful cocktails and premium drinking experiences. According to Baguma, consumers increasingly care about more than just the drink itself.

‘People are looking for meaningful experiences,’ he says. ‘The bottle matters, the story behind the bottle matters, the food pairings matter.’

Yet despite all the experimentation, one serve still reigns supreme. Gin and tonic. The gin and tonic blend best shows off the character of gin. It gives you exactly what you are looking for; the freshness, the botanicals and the character.

Perhaps that explains gin’s enduring appeal. It is sophisticated without being intimidating, traditional without feeling old-fashioned and versatile enough to keep reinventing itself.

And in Uganda, where life’s best moments are often marked by gathering together and raising a glass, gin continues to feel perfectly at home. And in people’s breast pockets.

Few things in Uganda are revered and reviled in almost equal measure as the boda boda. The two-wheeler, which comes in handy when the country’s cities reach gridlock during peak hours, has many desperate lows. Recent anger at the motorcycle taxi has been fuelled by the idea that the true index of the collective heart of its operators was on full display when a national rugby player, Sydney Gongodyo, was caught in the cross-hairs of vigilantism.

The mob in the Kampala suburb of Bukoto, whose violent temperament instantly asserted itself at the allegations of a mugging, for the most part, was comprised of boda boda riders. Much of the criticism in the aftermath of Gongodyo’s death has consequently been aimed at that constituency. ‘…his face, as you see, it was distorted by these savages. But as you can see in the pictures, he was a very handsome young man, [and a] very obedient son,’ Mr James Gyabi said of how his son, ruthlessly ploughed down by a boda boda rider in his last hours, was mortally wounded.

The coroner, who conducted a postmortem on Gongodyo, had a lot on their plate, documenting as many as 17 skull fractures and a loss of vision brought on by the grotesqueness of the mob attack. It was apparent, Mr Gyabi noted at Gongodyo’s burial on Tuesday, that ‘my son died in excruciating pain.’ The grieving father is not alone in drawing critical attention to an outrage that deserves to be condemned. There is almost complete unanimity that the people who constituted the mob that brutally descended on Gongodyo in Bukoto took leave of their collective senses.

A bad rap

Arrests made thus far have already breached the double-digit mark. Yet the capture of one of the notorious participants in the mob violence, barely minutes after Gongodyo had been laid to rest, underscored just how indispensable boda boda riders have come to be in Uganda’s surveillance architecture. As Mr Obed Mugwiisa, allegedly captured in various citizen-generated videos and images mercilessly pummelling Gongodyo with a log, ran out of runway, having been at large for nearly five days, one of the boda boda riders who took part in the high-profile capture said something telling.

‘I was with [the Uganda Police Force spokesperson Kituuma] Rusoke at Mulago today, and assurances were made that [the suspect] would be apprehended,’ a male voice droned on as the suspect was encircled by fellow boda boda riders evidently doing the bidding of the police. A statement that the police put out following Mr Mugwiisa’s arrest did not disclose the nature of the operation. For many, it didn’t need to. The relationship that has over the years been cultivated by the two parties, making sections of boda boda riders vital cogs in the country’s security apparatus, comes as anything but a vulgar surprise. It was Mr Abdallah Kitatta and Boda Boda 2010-the vigilante outfit of motorcycle taxi operators he marshalled-that brought this terrible secret into plain view before the former’s spectacular fall in January of 2018.

Before doing jail time after being convicted of illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, Mr Kitatta was a force of nature. Self-willed, demanding, and uninhibited, he once described himself as ‘the link between the boda boda fraternity and the government.’ Unimaginable horrors transpired on his watch. Many have scars to show for either wittingly or unwittingly squaring up to the erstwhile Boda Boda 2010 patron. Others are six feet under.

‘We cannot be intimidated. Their time is up. We are going to hunt them down like cockroaches,’ Mr Kitatta once warned anyone who dared to make his vigilante group of boda boda riders the subject of snide remarks. His was the sort of power that no one thought possible when the boda boda announced itself to Ugandans in such an understated manner. Its modest dimensions were encapsulated in an unremarkable calling card of toing and froing either side of the Ugandan and Kenyan borders.

The cross-border trade that turned the so-called no man’s land into a flourishing commercial rendezvous installed cyclists in the transporting business as a permanent fixture deeply woven into the fabric. Their labour-intensive art, so crucial in circumventing tedious paperwork at the border, was christened the hail cyclists used to capture the imagination of potential customers-border-border. Or, to use the unmistakable eastern Uganda intonation, boda boda. Its labour-intensive nature notwithstanding, the manually cycled boda boda continued to be a roaring success after becoming ubiquitous in eastern towns (now cities) like Mbale and Jinja.

Kampala, Uganda’s capital, was also soon bitten by the bug. The manual bicycle was on its way to becoming a symbol of not just rural mobility but also economic independence. When the downtown folk on the margins settled down into a routine of work and sleep, the boda boda established itself as a mainstay.

BMK entry

One businessman, however, thought the envelope could be further pushed. It is this defiance of routine that, despite rubbing off wrongly on critics, convinced the late Bulaimu Muwanga Kibirige, alias BMK, that a revolution could be teed off by transitioning from manual bicycles to motorised motorcycles. ‘The introduction of motorcycle-based services resulted from the initiative of a local firm, BMK (Uganda) Ltd. A trade visit to Cyprus in 1992 exposed the owner to the use of motorcycles by local farmers. This example and the knowledge that Japan disposed of large numbers of second-hand and reconditioned motorcycles led to their introduction into Uganda in the same year,’ John Howe wrote in a 2003 peer-reviewed article.

‘BMK was alone in the market until 1994, when several other firms followed. It was at this time that the phenomenon appears to have taken off […] Between 1994, thought to be the point of service take-off, and 2,000, some 90,000 motorcycles were imported. The overwhelming majority of these are operated commercially and-allowing for scrapping due to old age and accidents, and pre-1994 baseline import levels to reflect non-commercial operations,’ Howe further revealed.

Writing in his memoirs, My Story of Building a Fortune in Africa, the late Ugandan tycoon, BMK, provides granular details about how he imported used, motorised Japanese motorcycles. Hundreds received the two-wheelers on credit-friendly terms, making the machines even more ubiquitous. The foundational base upon which the boda boda sector, as we know it to be today, would squat had been laid. The juggernaut would thunder through not only Kampala’s central business district (CBD) but also its suburbs. Not long after, major towns across the country would jostle for a slice of the pie.

Wounds inflicted

Spreading like wildfire, the boda boda became the get-out-of-jail card of many young people for whom youth unemployment dealt a bad hand in the 2000s. And still does to date. Yet its consequences have proven to be double-edged. For every bill paid or food put on the table, there are accusations of boda boda riders possessing more than just a hard-wired inclination to grind and fiddle. If they are not being accused of the role played in the broader ethos of state-centric control, as indeed Mr Kitatta was, then it is for visiting grievous crimes upon hapless residents in Uganda, as indeed Mr Mugwiisa is.

Less acknowledged, but no less instructive, are the self-inflicted setbacks. For one, studies have shown that the vast bulk of the anywhere between 300,000 and 800,000 petrol-powered boda bodas that are currently in use in Kampala predispose their operators to lifestyle diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, and obesity. This is mainly due to the punishing work schedule the boda boda riders take up. The sedentary hours on the bike, poor dietary habits, and high-stress navigation, per a study by University of Cambridge researchers, create a chaotic mix of peril and promise. The fact that the likely outcome is mostly the former means that the two-wheelers only succeed in compounding the country’s disease burden.

‘Urban boda boda drivers in Kampala are typically men, with limited alternative options for gainful employment. Many of them joined the informal transport industry after migrating from more rural areas. With limited job security and resources, they face a high burden of health risks due to their occupation, which carries the risk of injury alongside the disease risks associated with air pollution,’ the team from the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL) revealed in a report.

But it is the injuries they inflict on others that-perhaps rightly-stick out like the metaphorical sore thumb. Since the start of this year, anecdotal evidence has pointed to a telling spike in crime attributable to boda boda riders. And it’s not just the accidents brought on by operating wantonly. From phone thefts to mob violence, boda boda riders have appeared grimly determined to leave behind a trail of destruction this side of the year. The passing of Gongodyo has shown just how bad things can get. It remains to be seen whether the high-profile death can deliver the moment of introspection needed to course correct. Critics say regulation of the chaotic sector at the front of the queue. Ditto de-politicising a sector that seen through the lens of many appears untouchable. So much for the humble beginnings at the Uganda-Kenya border.

After taking the first step into implementing the minister’s resolutions to streamline the transition of amateur and professional boxing arms into one federation, Uganda Professional Boxing Commission (UPBC) seek consistent protection and guidance from all the necessary government offices.

This follows a letter from National Council of Sports in April that gave Uganda Boxing Federation (UBF) exclusive authority to oversee all boxing activities in Uganda. To UPBC, that letter contradicts the guidelines and resolutions issued by sports minister Peter Ogwang after a meeting with UPBC and UBF on February 27.

The minister’s resolutions implored both sides to forge a pathway leading to one body governing boxing, as the National Sports Act 2023 stipulates. These included: ensuring that UBF completes the registration as an association under the National Sports Act by June 7; transition into a federation that incorporates amateur and professional aspects; ensuring that UPBC registers under UBF in order to participate in leadership and governance of the sport and ensuring that UBF membership includes representatives from UPBC and other stakeholders.

Against that background, UPBC invited UBF to a stakeholders meeting at Copper Chimney Restaurant on May 22 but UBF did not turn up. And their response renders all the minister’s recommendations irrelevant.

For instance: ‘These matters are being handled by NCS, the regulator. For your information Uganda Boxing Federation submitted its application to the NCS on 20th June 2025, since then many engagements are ongoing between the UBF and NCS regarding the application,’ a May 14 letter by UBF president Moses Muhangi, read in part.

‘It is not provided for anywhere; neither in the UBF constitution nor in the National Sports Act, Cap 151 that once a Sports Body has submitted its application to the NCS, that the same can be subjected to a third-party discussion thereafter, or that it can be withdrawn and or resubmitted for consideration by the NCS. What is provided for in the Sports Act Cap 151 is that the application can be upheld by the NCS or rejected and in case of a rejection the applicant can appeal to the Minister. For this we decline to meet with you to discuss resolutions 1.1’

That rigidity and unwillingness to cooperate was evident in the entire UBF response, which UPBC president Eddie Bazira called mere excuses.

‘Many of our stakeholders-boxers, promoters, trainers-who are affected by this standoff are on our side. They are no longer in business, and it is incumbent on us to ensure that we solve this impasse so that everyone returns to business,’ Bazira said at the meeting.

‘That is why we I plead to the chairman and secretary general of the NCS to guide us in this struggle to incorporate all boxing stakeholders and all their constructive interests for the good of the sport.’

However, Muhangi has always faulted UPBC for dodging the stakeholder meetings UBF hosted last year.

Start afresh

Peter Lubulwa, the head of the UPBC legal committee, said NCS was wrong to give UBF mandate over professional boxing.

He said Members of Parliament, who framed the new Sports Act did not consider the uniqueness in boxing that the amateur and professional aspects are different.

‘That said, there’s room for change. We must start with UBF voting for a new executive according to the 2013 UBF Constitution, the only one recognised by NCS,’ Lubulwa suggested.

‘Now that new UBF executive will have the legal mandate to engage with UPBC to agree on constitutional amendments to include provisions for professional boxing.’

He added that the current UBF executive is illegal because it was voted according to the 2025 constitution and outside the Sports Act 2023.

Now the new constitution blessed by all stakeholders, should guide the roadmap for inclusive elections to form a federation. ‘We must agree on the voters register, among others. I pray that the government uses its power to guide us to this destination.’