Category: Daily Monitor

Defending champions Namuwongo Blazers sent a powerful statement to the rest of the National Basketball League on Friday night, dismantling UCU Canons 82-39 to clinch the regular-season crown and secure the top seed heading into the playoffs.

Needing victory to leapfrog rivals City Oilers at the summit of the standings, the Blazers delivered one of their most dominant performances of the campaign, overwhelming UCU from the opening tip and never looking back.

What many anticipated would be a competitive showdown quickly turned into a one-sided affair as Stephen Nyeko’s men imposed themselves at both ends of the floor.

UCU struggled to find any rhythm offensively and were restricted to a mere 12 points in the entire first half, while the Blazers piled on the points to storm into a commanding 46-12 halftime lead.

The defending champions continued their relentless display after the break, extending their advantage with ease and putting the game beyond doubt long before the final buzzer.

Congolese forward Fataki Nyembo spearheaded the rout with a game-high 23 points, leading a balanced offensive effort that saw ten of the twelve Blazers players on the scoresheet.

Moses Mugisha provided an instant spark off the bench with 13 points, while Anthony Chukwurah contributed nine points and seven rebounds in another impressive all-round performance.

For UCU, Alier Jongroor and Daniel Muganzi were the only bright spots, finishing with 11 and 10 points respectively on an otherwise difficult night for the Mukono-based side.

The victory marked Namuwongo’s 20th win of the regular season, capping an outstanding campaign with a 20-2 record.

More importantly, it ensured they finished above City Oilers and earned the coveted No.1 seed for the postseason.

With momentum firmly on their side, the Blazers will now turn their attention to the playoffs, where they will face the eighth seed in the quarterfinals as they begin their quest to successfully defend the championship they won last season.

Lady Canons Dominate JKL

Earlier in the evening, UCU Lady Canons produced an equally convincing performance in the women’s division, brushing aside JKL Lady Dolphins 71-48.

The victory underlined UCU’s playoff credentials as the Lady Canons controlled proceedings throughout the contest, comfortably securing a win to maintain their good run.

Nicholas Natuhereza’s charges will play their last game of the regular season against KCCA Leopards on Sunday.

Sylvia Nakituuka scored 19 points and gathered seven rebounds to lead the Lady Canons on the day.

With the regular season concluding on Sunday, attention will shift to the playoffs where both the Blazers and the Lady Canons will be among the leading contenders for silverware.

The Blazers head into the postseason brimming with confidence after securing top spot in emphatic fashion, while the Lady Canons will look to carry their strong form into the knockout stages as they chase championship glory.

National Basketball League

Friday results

W: UCU 71-48 JKL

M: Nam Blazers 82-39 UCU Canons

Masindi District leadership has been thrown into early-term controversy after the removal of its vice chairperson, following revelations he did not meet the minimum academic qualifications required by law.

The development has triggered debate among residents, political leaders, and civil servants, raising fresh questions about the strength of vetting procedures in local government appointments.

Barely three weeks after taking office, the new District Executive Committee led by Chairperson Patrick Wobusobozi was forced into a sudden reshuffle that many observers describe as both embarrassing and revealing.

The changes were announced during an extraordinary council meeting on June 11, 2026, at Masindi District headquarters.

During the meeting, Wobusobozi confirmed that Vice Chairperson Cleophas Bigirwa had been removed after it was discovered he lacked the minimum academic qualification required for the office. Under Uganda’s Local Governments Act, a district vice chairperson must possess at least a Senior Six certificate or its equivalent.

‘We realized that the former Vice Chairperson did not possess the minimum qualification of a Senior Six certificate as required by law,’ Wobusobozi told the council.

He explained that the issue came to light during a routine verification exercise when executive members were asked to submit their academic documents for payroll processing and official verification.

‘This was discovered during verification. His appointment was an oversight, and he could not continue in that office,’ Wobusobozi added.

Following the removal, Bright Mugume, the directly elected councilor for Kimengo Sub-county, was appointed as the new District Vice Chairperson and Leader of Government Business. Mugume had initially served as secretary for Production and Technical Services before his elevation.

In the same reshuffle, Nelda Asaba, councillor for Bwijanga Sub-county and Bulima Town Council, was moved from secretary for Finance to secretary for Production. Simon Byaruhanga, councillor for Pakanyi Sub-county, was appointed secretary for Finance and Administration, while William Mwambu, the councillor representing persons with disabilities, retained his position as secretary for Social Services.

The extraordinary council meeting was not without tension. District Speaker Patrick Tibigambwa questioned how such an oversight could occur in the first place and demanded clarity on whether proper vetting procedures had been followed before Bigirwa’s appointment.

Wobusobozi defended the process, saying both he and the Chief Administrative Officer had reviewed available documents at the time of appointment. Chief Administrative Officer Samuel Kaija Ruhweza also confirmed to the council that the academic papers presented did not meet the required standard of equivalence to Senior Six.

However, the removed Vice Chairperson, Cleophas Bigirwa, has disputed the decision, insisting that he possesses valid academic qualifications.

‘I was appointed and sworn in, and no one raised a red flag. They should have followed the right procedure before removing me,’ he said.

Bigirwa said he holds an equivalent Senior Four certificate and a certificate in public administration, and argued that the National Council for Higher Education should have been involved in verifying his documents.

‘I am seeking legal guidance because this decision has damaged my reputation,’ he added. He also expressed frustration that he was removed entirely instead of being reassigned to another docket within the executive.

The incident has raised broader concerns about how leaders are screened before assuming public office. Masindi resident Enock Mugisha said the verification process should be completed before appointments are announced.

‘When these issues are discovered after an appointment, it embarrasses both the institution and the individual,’ Mugisha said. ‘The law is clear. Local government leaders must meet minimum qualifications because they handle public resources and policy decisions.’

Another resident, Musa Mugenyi, said the incident reflects weaknesses in the recruitment and screening system.

‘This shows that proper checks were not done before announcing leaders. It is worrying,’ he said.

The reshuffle also comes amid growing concerns from Muslim leaders in Masindi District about representation in top leadership positions. Khalifan Balikagira, speaking on behalf of the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council in Masindi, said the current executive does not reflect religious balance.

‘We have been completely excluded from key leadership positions in the district,’ he said.

During the same council sitting, attention also turned to the District Service Commission, which had been non-functional for six months. The council approved Adolf Kato, a former Deputy District Education Officer, as Chairperson of the DSC. Sharif Kahwa, a retired head teacher, was also appointed as a member representing urban entities.

Councillor Babyesiza Wahid raised concerns about lack of professional diversity among the new members, saying most come from education backgrounds.

‘We need wider professional representation in future appointments,’ he said.

Despite the controversy, the council proceeded to approve the new appointments, signaling a desire to move forward and stabilize district operations.

For Chairperson Wobusobozi, the reshuffle represents an attempt to correct an administrative error and restore compliance with the law. But for many observers, the incident remains an early test for the new leadership in Masindi District.

Ugandan pre-teenage duo Joseph Sebatindira and Patience Anyango did not win medals at the WTT Youth Contender Helsingborg 2026 but coach Alvin Katumba picked lessons which could be valuable in the coming tournaments especially the African Youth Championships next month.

Sebatindira has won multiple titles at WTT Under 11 championships since the age of nine, but reproducing the same dominance at the Under 13 category may take some more time and hard work. Inside the Helsingborg Arena late last week, Sebatindira won all his three matches in the

U13 Boys’ Singles. He defeated Max Takkavuori of Finland 3-2, Sigge Leigert of Sweden 3-0, and Vilgot Almroth of Sweden 3-1 to lead Group 1 on six points.

But he lost the quarterfinal to 2-3 to Israel’s Ilay Davidov, who would later lose the semi-final 3-0 to eventual champion Hachim Tissafi Idrissi of France.

Sebatindira tried his luck at the U15 Boys’ Singles. He lost Sweden’s to Erik Kogerfelt 1-3 in the group and defeated Luxemborg’s Vincent Schlotthauer 3-1 to reach the Round of 16. He, however, lost 3-0 to Poland’s Hubert Kwiecinski.

Meanwhile, in the U13 Girls’ Singles, Anyango, a two-time and reigning African U12 champion, finished third in a group of four, thus failing to qualify for the next round.

Anyango first lost to Finland’s Kamilla Kadar 0-3 and to France’s Alyssia Bataille 2-3, rendering her 3-0 victory over Sweden’s Nina Lazic useless in the qualification bid as Kadar and Bataille advanced with six and five points respectively.

This was quite an opportunity missed because unlike the boys’ U13 singles category which had four groups, the girls’ entries were only seven, split into two groups. That means reaching the knockouts was just inches loser to the medal bracket.

In the U15 Girls’ Singles, Anyango defeated Sweden’s Alice CHEN 3-0 and France’s Lisa Zhao 3-0 to lead Group 3 on four points. But she lost the Round of 16 tie to Spain’s Eloisa Barreda 3-1.

Sebatindira and Anyango defeated the Swedish pair of Erik Kogerfelt and Alicia Enbom 3-2 in the groups of the U15 Mixed Doubles but lost to another Swedish pair of Emil Ellermann and Siri Benjegard 3-1.

‘The performance was good but not the best as we expected,’ Coach Katumba told Daily Monitor. ‘We picked up some lessons that as we improve, others also improve, and thus we must keep working 100%. Plus, some players are not technically gifted but are tactically good in game situations. So, we need to focus more on our tactics.

‘Thirdly, the losses came at a time when we have a training camp here, though it is short, but at least it gives us room to improve on our weak areas and also sharpen our players in the game situation as we prepare for the Africa Youth Championship next month.’

U13 Boys’ Singles – Group 1

Sebatindira 3-2 Max Takkavuori (FIN)

Sebatindira 3-0 Sigge Leigert (SWE)

Sebatindira 3-1 Vilgot Almroth (SWE)

Quarterfinal

Sebatindira 2-3 Ilay Davidov (Israel)

U15 Boys’ Singles – Group 7

Sebatindira 1-3 Erik Kogerfelt (SWE)

Sebatindira 3-1 Vincent Schlotthauer (LUX)

Round of 16

Sebatindira 0-3 Hubert Kwiecinski (POL)

U13 Girls’ Singles – Group 2

Anyango 0-3 Kadar (FIN)

Anyango 2-3 Bataille (FRA)

Anyango 3-0 Lazic (SWE)

U15 Girls’ Singles

Anyango 3-0 Lisa Zhao (FRA)

Round of 16

Anyango 1-3 Eloisa Barreda (SPA)

U15 Mixed Doubles – Round of 32

Sebatindira / Anyango 3-2 Kogerfelt / Enbom

U15 Mixed Doubles – Round of 16

Sebatindira / Anyango 1-3 Ellermann / Benjegard

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.

Judicial officers have been urged to adopt a human rights-based approach to the administration of justice and to ensure that fairness, equality, and respect for court users remain central to their work.

Speaking at the closure of a two-day training for selected judicial officers on applying a human rights approach in judicial work in Kampala, Supreme Court judge Mike Chibita said the concept extends beyond legal decisions to the conduct and attitude of judicial officers while serving the public.

Justice Chibita, who serves as the chairperson of the Governing Council of the Judicial Training Institute (JTI), said judicial officers must demonstrate courtesy, integrity, and professionalism in their daily interactions with court users.

‘We have been reminded that a human rights approach is reflected not only in the decisions we make but also in how we conduct ourselves as judicial officers. It demonstrates through courtesy to court users, integrity in the discharge of our duties, timely delivery of judgments and rulings, and our willingness to simplify court processes and explain proceedings in the language that litigants can understand,’ Justice Chibita said on Thursday.

He noted that judicial power is exercised on behalf of the people and should therefore inspire public confidence in the Judiciary.

‘The administration of justice is not merely a legal function; it is a public trust. Judicial power is exercised on behalf of the people, and therefore every interaction we have with court users should reinforce public confidence in the Judiciary,’ he added.

Justice Chibita further cautioned judicial officers against any form of discrimination, stressing that courts must remain accessible and fair to all persons regardless of their background.

‘We must remain vigilant in ensuring that our courts are places where every person receives equal treatment and where no one is disadvantaged because of their gender, age, disability, social status, ethnicity, or any other characteristic,’ he said.

He also emphasized the need to empower litigants by ensuring they understand court processes and can meaningfully participate in proceedings affecting their rights.

‘Court users should not be passive observers in proceedings that affect their rights. We must ensure that litigants understand the processes before them and are enabled to participate in the pursuit of justice meaningfully. Our decisions must consistently reflect fairness, openness, and adherence to human rights standards,’ Justice Chibita said.

In a related development, Principal Judge Jane Frances Abodo highlighted the growing significance of forensic science in the adjudication of criminal cases, noting that advances in criminal activity require corresponding improvements in judicial approaches.

‘As crime becomes increasingly sophisticated, so too must our approaches to adjudicating criminal matters,’ Justice Abodo said.

She cited statistics presented during the training, indicating that more than 70 percent of court cases whose outcomes depend on forensic evidence are successfully resolved.

‘The statistics shared yesterday by the Executive Director of the Judicial Training Institute were particularly insightful. Learning that over 70 percent of cases taken to court whose outcome depends on forensic evidence are successfully resolved is a powerful testament to the reliability and significance of forensic science in the pursuit of justice,’ she said.

The training, organized by the Judicial Training Institute, sought to equip judicial officers with knowledge and skills to integrate human rights principles into judicial processes while enhancing access to justice and public confidence in the courts.

Many times, Sydney Gongodyo was the driving force behind a Black Pirates attack. The flanker in the No. 7 jersey would lead the charge over the gain line, and moments later the fans would rise in celebration as Pirates crossed for a try before the fly-half added the extras.

On Tuesday, that same jersey was retired.

No player at Stanbic Black Pirates will wear the No. 7 shirt again. The club decided in honour of Gongodyo, the 27-year-old Rugby Cranes forward who was buried on Tuesday at his ancestral home in Buweri Town Council, Budadiri in Sironko District, on Heroes’ Day.

Perhaps, a fitting, if not heartbreaking, coincidence for a man who gave everything for club and country and was laid to rest on the day Uganda honours its heroes.

That day, Pirates formed one final rolling maul. There were no points to score and no try-line to reach this time. Instead, teammates carried Gongodyo’s casket shoulder to shoulder, walking him to his final resting place the way rugby players do everything together.

Then they turned back, alone.

Back for duty

The No. 7 jersey stays behind and memories remain but rugby does not stop.

The Union postponed the Uganda Rugby Premiership semifinal between Pirates and Heathens that was originally scheduled for June 7, to allow players, officials and supporters time to mourn.

That time has now passed and the two sides will finally meet on Saturday afternoon at Kyadondo as Pirates marks the beginning of life without Gongodyo.

The circumstances surrounding his death have shaken the rugby fraternity and country at large, sparking wider conversations about mob justice and public safety.

Those questions will not disappear when the whistle sounds and neither will the grief but rugby has a way of demanding presence. Head coach Marvin Odongo faces a challenge of channeling what his players are carrying into something purposeful rather than paralysing to match the demands of a knockout contest.

‘It is a chance to play for Gongodyo, to celebrate his memory in the way he loved most, and to keep alive the dream he helped build,’ Odong and Pirates will be telling themselves.

Good form

Heathens edged Victoria Sharks 20-18 in a tense quarterfinal second leg to advance 26-18 on aggregate. They will acknowledge the occasion but they will also arrive intent on winning.

Pirates, meanwhile, can draw confidence from their own form after their 48-6 dismantling of Walukuba Barbarians in the quarterfinal first leg showcased the attacking quality and physical dominance that made them title contenders.

In the other semifinal, Makerere Impis will be hoping Lady Luck shows up at Kyadondo on Friday. The side that staged a second-leg coup to eliminate Kobs now face a sterner assignment, needing to overturn a 20-11 deficit against Buffaloes. It is a steep hill, but Impis have shown they do not read the script.

2026 UGANDA RUGBY PREMIERSHIP

SEMIFINAL FIXTURES

Friday – Buffaloes vs Impis – Kyadondo, 4.30pm

Saturday – Heathens vs. Pirates – Kyadondo, 4pm