Category: Daily Monitor

When the Covid-19 lockdown forced the world into an unfamiliar stillness, Doddridge Busingye found himself in a quieter studio than he had ever known. Exhibitions were paused. Conversations faded. Nothing seemed urgent. For an artist whose earlier work leaned heavily on social commentary, the silence was unsettling. But instead of scrambling for a new external subject, Busingye turned inward.

He tells this story from his studio, where he describes himself as an upcoming artist. He explains that he understands growth as a man who has steadily built his craft, expanded his medium, and refined his gaze over time.

The boy who drew

The isolation reshaped him and his ideas. Art had already claimed him, but the slowdown tickled something innate. As a child, Busingye grew up in a household where drawing was usual. His older brother pinned sketches to the walls of their shared bedroom. He watched closely, absorbing technique without formal instruction. By Primary Five, he was drawing with confidence. Even earlier, he had illustrated Bible stories into cartoon panels, inspired by the storybooks he encountered at school. Art unfolded naturally in his life. His father, a lawyer, sometimes used drawings instead of reprimands. If someone had taken sugar from the kitchen, a sketch of a mouse with crystals on its whiskers would appear as a silent message. Busingye learnt early that images could communicate what words did not need to shout. Suggestion could be more powerful than accusation. That lesson stayed with him.

Recognition and reward

In secondary school, Busingye’s talent began to translate into recognition. He won art competitions against older students. He was paid to complete assignments and design lettering. Creativity became more than self-expression; it became utility and income. After completing his undergraduate degree in 2015, he pursued a master’s degree, finishing in 2019. During these years, his work centred on portraiture and direct social commentary. He painted what he observed; youth navigating relationships, political symbolism, the tensions of modern urban life. His gaze was outward.

A shift in medium

A significant shift began in 2018 during the Kampala Art Biennale. Exposure to installation art expanded his understanding of medium. He saw how objects, space and context could carry meaning just as effectively as paint. That year, he created ‘The Master Bedroom’, relocating the image of a slum dweller’s bed into gallery space to explore class contrast and urban realities. When the piece sold, it confirmed something fundamental: Busingye’s ideas, not just his brushwork, held value. His practice widened.

Lockdown arrives

Then came lockdown. With public life suspended, Busingye confronted an unfamiliar question; what remains when the outside world goes quiet? The answer was not immediate, but it was honest. He began examining mental health, loneliness, vulnerability and identity. Instead of painting society’s fractures, he painted his own. Instead of reacting to politics, Busingye filtered it through personal experience.

The triptych self-portrait

This inward turn culminated in ‘Tender, the Fractured and the Quietly Extraordinary’, a body of work anchored by a triptych self-portrait. In one panel, he appears fragile and forming. In another, he is boxed in, constrained by invisible pressures. In the final frame, he sits upright, crowned subtly in homage to Basquiat, acknowledging strength without erasing vulnerability. The progression reads like biography: tenderness, fracture, emergence.

Politics with restraint

Even when he addressed politics, his approach shifted. A painting created during an election season depicted a woman holding a cigarette as multiple arms extended flames toward her. The metaphor was clear yet restrained. The citizen stood at the centre while politicians scrambled to offer promises. He chose suggestion over spectacle.

Busingye believes art can ignite conversation, but he also believes it must be handled responsibly. He thinks carefully about bias, interpretation and the emotional consequences of imagery.

Finding an audience

During lockdown, as he shared his work more consistently online, audiences beyond Uganda began to engage. A solo exhibition abroad followed, and recognition grew. Yet he continues to describe himself as upcoming. The word reflects his philosophy more than his status. He views art as an unfolding process. Authenticity, for him, lies in owning the story, not in remaining loyal to one medium or style. If he moves from acrylic to charcoal tomorrow, that shift is growth.

Outside the studio

He confesses that he is a wide consumer outside the studio. Because reading strains his eyes, he listens to audiobooks and lectures. Blues music, especially Leonard Cohen, occupies Busingye’s long listening sessions. He watches films and series for how characters negotiate identity and power. Everything becomes research.

The unfinished work

Isolation reshaped Busingye’s art, but perhaps more importantly, it reshaped his gaze. He no longer paints simply to observe the world but to understand his place in it. And by continuing to call himself upcoming, he signals that the work of understanding is far from finished.

A new study on refugee access to police services in Kampala shows a system that is widely accessed and often described as respectful, yet still constrained by long waiting times, language barriers, and incomplete case resolution. While most refugees say they are ‘helped,’ several leave police stations without their problems fully resolved, exposing a justice system that is accessible in principle but uneven in practice.

What has made the system come under pressure?

Uganda hosts more than two million refugees and asylum seekers, making it Africa’s largest refugee-hosting country and one of the top globally. In Kampala alone, nearly 477,000 refugees, about 26.5 percent of the national total, live in urban settlements where they depend heavily on public services for survival, protection, and justice. Unlike those in formal settlements, urban refugees must navigate city systems with limited humanitarian support. Police stations in areas such as Old Kampala, Kabalagala, Katwe and Kawempe have, therefore, become critical entry points for reporting crime, replacing lost documents and seeking protection.

A 2025 survey by SEMA Uganda, covering 384 refugees and asylum seekers alongside 11 police officers, offers a detailed look at how this system functions in practice. It finds a service that is widely used and generally appreciated, but marked by structural inefficiencies that prevent many cases from reaching resolutions. The study adopted a mixed-methods design combining quantitative and qualitative data to capture both refugee experiences and police perspectives. Two structured tools were used: one targeting refugees who had interacted with police within the previous year, and another administered to officers working in refugee-facing units such as CID, the Child and Family Protection Unit, and general duties desks.

Respondents were drawn from high-traffic stations serving refugee populations across Kampala. The approach ensured the findings reflected not only demand-side experiences but also the operational realities within police stations. The respondents reflected the diversity of Kampala’s refugee population. Men accounted for 63 percent of participants, compared to women at 37 percent, while the majority were aged between 25 and 34 years. Most were either formally recognised refugees or asylum seekers, with Congolese, Eritrean and Somali nationals forming the largest groups.

Education levels varied widely, ranging from no formal schooling to postgraduate qualifications, though most respondents had attained secondary or diploma-level education. This diversity is important because it shaped how different groups experienced and interpreted access to police services.

What do the study’s findings reveal?

At first glance, access to police services appears relatively strong. Most refugees described access as either easy or very easy, while only a small minority reported severe difficulty. This suggests that police stations in Kampala are physically and institutionally within reach for many urban refugees. However, this broad picture masks deep inequalities. While a third of respondents live within walking distance of a police station, nearly a quarter travel more than five kilometres to seek assistance, and a small but significant group travels over 10kms. These distances matter in an urban context where transport costs are high and time lost often translates into missed work or delayed reporting of crime. The study shows that access is, therefore, not simply about the availability of services, but about how geography shapes the ability to use them effectively.

One of the most striking findings is the variation in waiting times across police stations in Kampala. At Katwe and Old Kampala stations, refugees reported average waiting times of just under an hour. In contrast, Kabalagala recorded longer delays, while Kawempe stood out with waiting times exceeding one and a half hours. These delays are not merely administrative inconveniences. For several refugees, particularly those who depend on daily income or must travel long distances, waiting time determines whether a case is even pursued. Long queues discourage follow-up, reduce willingness to report incidents, and gradually weaken trust in the system. The data shows a clear pattern: where waiting times are shorter, satisfaction levels are higher. Efficiency, more than any other factor, emerges as a key determinant of refugees’ experiences with police services.

What else does the study disclose?

Beyond physical access and waiting times, communication remains one of the most significant barriers in the system. Only about four in ten refugees reported receiving interpreter support from police stations. In contrast, nearly a third said no interpreter was available at all, while others relied on NGOs or brought their own interpreters. This inconsistency has serious consequences. Many refugees do not speak English or Luganda fluently, and critical information about assaults, theft, or documentation loss is often lost or distorted in translation. Without effective communication, investigations slow down, and the accuracy of statements is compromised. Language, therefore, emerges not just as a logistical challenge but as a structural barrier that affects fairness, accuracy, and ultimately justice outcomes.

Perhaps the most important finding in the study is a contradiction at the heart of refugee-police interactions. An overwhelming majority of respondents said officers were respectful, helpful, and non-discriminatory. Most also felt that services were friendly and fair, particularly towards women. Yet this positive perception of treatment does not translate into successful outcomes. Only a little over half of respondents said their cases were fully resolved, while a significant proportion reported leaving without any resolution. This creates a clear paradox. Refugees feel acknowledged and treated with respect, but the justice process often stops midway. The system performs well in terms of interaction, but less effectively in terms of resolution.

How does this paradox of service delivery impact the refugees?

The gap between assistance and resolution points to deeper structural challenges within the policing system. Some cases are transferred between departments due to jurisdictional confusion, while others stall due to limited investigative capacity or resource constraints. In some instances, refugees are redirected from one station to another, prolonging delays and increasing frustration. For those affected, this creates a cycle of repeated visits, lost time, and growing mistrust in formal justice systems. The result is not rejection of the police, but rather a sense of incomplete justice.

Inequalities in experience: The study also highlights clear differences in how refugees experience policing based on gender, education, and nationality. Women are more likely than men to report difficulties in accessing services, often due to mobility constraints, childcare responsibilities and safety concerns. Education also plays a role. Those with vocational or secondary education generally reported smoother access, while respondents with no formal education experienced significantly higher levels of difficulty. At the same time, more educated refugees sometimes reported higher frustration, possibly because of higher expectations of service delivery.

Nationality further shapes experience, with Somali and Congolese refugees generally reporting better access and satisfaction compared to other groups, while Rwandan and Ethiopian respondents reported more difficulties. These differences reflect variations in community networks, language compatibility, and settlement patterns within the city.

So, is there a missing accountability loop?

Despite the importance of accountability, awareness of feedback mechanisms remains extremely low. Only a small fraction of respondents knew how to formally provide feedback on police services, even though the vast majority believed that feedback is important and could improve service delivery. This disconnect suggests that while refugees are willing to engage constructively with institutions, the channels for doing so are either weak, invisible, or ineffective. Most respondents expressed a preference for face-to-face engagement, reflecting the importance of trust and personal interaction in feedback processes.

What does law enforcement have to say?

From the perspective of police officers, the challenges are equally complex. Officers report difficulties related to language barriers, limited awareness of refugee laws, and cultural differences that sometimes complicate case handling. Resource constraints, including logistical challenges in managing detainees, further strain the system. These insights underline the fact that challenges in refugee policing are not one-sided but reflect broader institutional pressures within urban law enforcement.

What are the standout takeaways from the study?

The findings of the study present a nuanced picture of urban refugee policing in Kampala. On the surface, the system is accessible, widely used, and generally respectful. Refugees can reach police stations, interact with officers, and receive assistance. Yet beneath this accessibility lies a more complicated reality. Long waiting times, language barriers, and weak case resolution mechanisms mean that many interactions do not result in full justice outcomes. The system, in effect, is open but incomplete. The central challenge moving forward is not simply improving access, but ensuring that access translates into understanding, efficiency, and resolution. Without that shift, refugees will continue to be helped, but not fully heard, and certainly not fully served.

Vice President Jessica Alupo on Friday launched the Uganda Wildlife Education and Conservation Centre in Mbale City in a move aimed at boosting tourism and trade in the Eastern Region and increasing tourist visits to eastern Uganda.

While addressing leaders and other stakeholders, Ms Alupo said the facility is a calculated move by government to anchor tourism as one of four sectors to drive Uganda’s GDP to $500 billion.

‘Today’s occasion marks an important milestone in Uganda’s conservation and tourism development journey,’ she said.

She added that for decades, wildlife education had been centered at Entebbe Wildlife Education Centre.

‘For decades, wildlife education was centered at Entebbe Wildlife Education Centre. Distance and cost have limited access for many Ugandans, particularly school-going children,’ Ms Alupo said.

She said the establishment of the Mbale centre represents a deliberate effort to decentralise conservation education and urged leaders to mobilise children from Kenya and across Eastern Uganda to visit.

Minister of State for Tourism Suzan Nakawuki called the launch ‘a milestone’ and said tourism is key under government’s tenfold growth strategy. ‘Tourism creates jobs, generates foreign exchange, and supports local enterprises,’ she said, adding that tourism depends on conservation.

UWA Executive Director Dr James Musinguzi said the centre is part of a plan to decongest Entebbe Zoo and regionalise conservation education.

‘This is the first of its kind since 1952, when Entebbe Zoo was formed. When people get closer to these animals, they get connected. Through that, they act to protect these animals,’ he said.

He added that the centre is already creating jobs. ‘Farmers will supply food from their gardens, and that resonates with putting people in the money economy.’ He said Gulu and Kyenjo centres are next.

UWA Board of Trustees Chairperson Prof. James Kalema underscored the critical role of conservation education in safeguarding Uganda’s natural heritage.

‘Conservation took another step closer to the people. The new centre will serve as a bridge between communities and conservation efforts by promoting environmental awareness, strengthening public engagement, and encouraging greater participation in protecting the country’s rich biodiversity,’ he said.

Mbale City Woman MP and State Minister for Public Service Lydia Wanyoto asked government to establish more skilling centres in Bugisu to curb high youth unemployment and provide low-cost housing around the industrial park.

She also said leaders now want an airstrip to ease movement and boost tourism.

‘We want to improve the city infrastructure. We want the government to boost us with an airstrip that is going to ease movement within the regional districts, to the international borders and also boost tourism,’ Ms Wanyoto said.

The zoo is located along the Mbale-Tororo road on part of the NFA forest reserves. According to UWA, their agreement with NFA gave them 62 acres of land but they have only utilised 37 acres.

The centre is expected to boost tourism earnings from the region, which has been posting about Shs10 million annually, compared to Bwindi and Murchison Falls areas that earn a billion shillings.

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.’