Category: Daily Monitor

Arab Contractors, the firm undertaking the construction of the Iganga-Luuka-Kamuli Road, has attributed the delay in works to delays in compensating people affected by the project.

The clarification follows concerns raised by Luuka South MP Stephen Kisa Bakubalwayo in Parliament over delays in the implementation of road construction projects.

During a site inspection led by Luuka District LCV chairman Peter Kafuko Mulyandawo, Arab Contractors’ community liaison officer, Ms Grace Mutale, told journalists that the project could not proceed at full capacity unless all affected landowners were compensated.

Ms Mutale said delays in compensating project-affected people were limiting the contractor’s access to some sections of the road corridor.

‘Some affected people have been compensated, while others are still waiting. We urge leaders to engage the Ministry of Works and Transport to expedite compensation so that the project can proceed,’ Ms. Mutale said.

She said lack of full compensation had restricted the contractor’s access to some sections of the road corridor, affecting mobilisation and continuity of construction works.

Ms. Mutale also condemned acts of vandalism along the road, which she attributed to some members of the local community.

‘We are concerned about people removing road signs for firewood. The signs are vital for road safety, and their removal increases the risk of accidents and disrupts our work,’ she said.

The 54-kilometre Iganga-Luuka-Kamuli Road, stretching from Walugogo in Iganga District to Budhumbula in Kamuli District, is being upgraded to a tarmac road. The upgrade is expected to improve connectivity among the three districts, ease the transportation of agricultural produce and boost trade in the Busoga sub-region.

Luuka District LCV chairman Peter Kafuko Mulyandawo commended the contractor for the progress made so far and urged the government to expedite the compensation process. ‘As a district, we appreciate the progress made, but we urge the government to expedite compensation because delays are hindering the project,’ Mulyandawo said.

Mr. Mulyandawo said district leaders would continue encouraging residents to cooperate with the contractor and protect project property.

Christopher Mugaga, a councillor for Nawampiti Sub-county in Luuka District, said the contractor had committed to addressing challenges faced by residents during construction.

‘The contractor has agreed to water Luuka towns to control dust and maintain the Kiyunga-Iganga Road to keep it passable during construction,’ Mr Mugaga said.

Residents along the road have also raised concerns about excessive dust, particularly during the dry season, as well as poor alternative routes that affect movement.

Luuka South MP Stephen Kisa Bakubalwayo had earlier told Parliament that constituents were frustrated by the slow pace of works, saying the road is crucial to farmers and traders in Luuka, Kamuli and Iganga districts.

‘The road is expected to improve lives and businesses along its route, so delays in completing it are frustrating. We are disappointed by the slow progress,’ Mr Kisa said.

Officials from the Ministry of Works and Transport have said compensation for people affected by the Iganga-Luuka-Kamuli Road project is being paid in phases, prioritising areas where construction is scheduled to begin.

Local leaders said they would engage the Ministry of Works and Transport and Parliament to ensure all remaining project-affected people are compensated, allowing the contractor to complete the road within the set timeframe.

Earlier, Senior Communications Officer at the Ministry of Works and Transport, Mr Allan Ssempebwa, urged residents to remain patient, saying compensation would be paid as funds became available.

‘So far, data has been collected for affected people along 28 kilometres from the Kamuli side, but compensation has been completed for only about eight kilometres. More people will be paid as funds become available,’ he said.

The 54-kilometre road project, valued at Shs300 billion, started in October 2025 and is being implemented by Arab Contractors. It is expected to be completed within 36 months.

Raphael Ouma Bwire was the kind of man who could make a room full of powerful people pause.

At the height of age cheating in schools sport, when the temptation to bend rules for a winning team was immense, Bwire sat on disciplinary panels with the calm demeanour of a tough judge.

He listened. He scrutinised the evidence. Then he made his ruling.

And he did not care whose school was involved.

For years, Bwire formed part of a formidable Copa Coca-Cola Schools Championship administrative trio alongside former National Council of Sports (NCS) general secretary Nicholas Muramagi and Coca-Cola’s former Promotions Manager Kennedy Mutenyo.

Together, they presided over some of the most contentious cases in schools football at a time when the competition was rapidly becoming one of the country’s biggest sporting properties.

For Mutenyo, who worked with Bwire from the time he joined Coca-Cola in 1996, there was one word that best captured his colleague: integrity.

‘Bwire was integrity at its best,’ Mutenyo says.

It was an attribute that was tested repeatedly.

One of the clearest examples came in 2005 in Masaka. A player from Old Kampala SS had his name incorrectly recorded. Rather than dismiss the discrepancy because it involved his own school, Bwire deducted points from Old Kampala in all games the player, Kampi, had played in before they were sent packing.

‘Who else does that? He was so fearless,’ Mutenyo recalls.

That willingness to apply the rules without fear or favour became central to the credibility of Copa Coca-Cola.

The Kitende test

Bwire’s resolve was perhaps most visible in the disciplinary case that resulted in the disqualification of St Mary’s Kitende from the competition in 2005.

During the tournament hosted at Masaka SS, Kitende faced accusations of fielding five mercenary players. The organising committee faced immense internal tension and delayed the ruling for three days before officially enforcing the disqualification.

Bwire insisted that sporting success could not come at the expense of honesty.

Mutenyo says Bwire’s approach helped Coca-Cola develop confidence in the people entrusted with running its flagship schools football property.

‘Copa was in safe hands with Mr Bwire and Mr Muramagi. They never compromised the sponsor expectations,’ he says.

Bwire understood football from the ground up.

He played for Nsambya, Lint and Maroons and represented Uganda Cranes between 1975 and 1978. He was a key member of the Uganda Under-23 side that won the East and Central Africa Championship in Nairobi in 1973.

At Makerere University, where he captained the football team, Bwire was named the university’s Sportsman of the Year for 1974/75.

He later became a key figure in developing young footballers at institutions including Old Kampala SS and St Peter’s Nsambya.

He also served as secretary of the National Football League Committee from 1995 to 2001, succeeding Hajji Abasi Kaawaase Mukasa.

A teacher first

Bwire was an educationist who spent 34 years in the secondary education sector.

Born on December 12, 1951, he began his education at Lumino Primary School before proceeding to St Paul’s College Mbale, Bukedi College Kachonga and Teso College Aloet.

He later obtained a Bachelor of Arts and concurrent Diploma in Education from Makerere University, a Diploma in Physical Education and Health Sciences from Western Australian College of Advanced Education and a Master of Education from Makerere University.

His teaching career began in 1975 at Old Kampala SS, where he served as a classroom teacher before becoming acting deputy head teacher and later full deputy head teacher.

He went on to become head teacher of St Peter’s SS Nsambya from 1991 to 1998, Old Kampala SS from 1998 to 2007 and Kalinabiri SS, Ntinda, from 2008 to 2011, when he retired.

His influence in education extended beyond the schools he headed.

Bwire served on boards and governing bodies of several institutions, including Kololo SS, YMCA Comprehensive Institute, St Balikuddembe Mitala Maria, St Mary’s High School Katale, Makerere College School, City Parents School, St Augustine College Wakiso, Ndejje SS and St Denis Sebugwawo SS Ggaba.

He also served as vice chairman of the management committee of St Joseph’s Girls’ Nsambya.

At Kololo SS, he had served as chairman of the Board of Governors since 2018.

He was also an examiner with the Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB), an external examiner for Makerere University’s Diploma in Education and a UNEB area coordinator for O- and A-Level examinations from 2005.

His public service extended into education policy. In 2002, Bwire served on a Ministry of Education and Sports task force that worked on the strategic plan, sports investment plan and financial plan and made recommendations on the institutional arrangement for sports in the ministry.

He later helped formulate the Physical Education and Sports policy and lectured part-time at Makerere University and Uganda Christian University.

Building Copa

Bwire’s influence extended beyond individual schools.

In 2004, Mutenyo, Muramagi and Bwire began confronting the problem of age cheating through a junior competition. What started with three schools in Kampala’s five divisions eventually developed into a wider primary schools programme.

The initiative was designed to identify and track young talent before it reached secondary school.

By 2006, the programme had expanded to Mbale and later Fort Portal, Arua, Gulu, Lira, Soroti, Tororo, Entebbe, Kabale and Mbarara, among other centres.

The philosophy was to give children an opportunity to compete at the appropriate age, keep records and create a pathway into secondary school football.

Bwire also understood that sporting development required more than football.

When basketball faced challenges, Mutenyo says, the team introduced the Sprite Basketball Championship, which helped schools establish basketball courts and develop the game.

The Copa Coca-Cola itself underwent major changes over the years.

What began as the National Post Primary Sports Association competition was transformed into the Coca-Cola Schools Cup in 1999. The competition gradually moved towards a champions-only model, with Coca-Cola taking over sponsorship at the national championship.

By 2014, the expansion in the number of districts had necessitated regional competitions, creating zones stretching from West Nile and Acholi to Teso, Bugisu, Bukedi, Kigezi, Bunyoro, Tooro, Kampala and other regions.

The tournament was eventually capped at 60 schools, with teams receiving uniforms, meals and other support.

Mutenyo says the competition had become a major property by the time Bwire’s generation had built it into a national institution.

By 2019, the sponsorship had reached about Shs1 billion, according to Mutenyo.

Selfless

Perhaps the most revealing stories about Bwire were about how he conducted himself when nobody was watching.

Mutenyo recalls Coca-Cola once offering him a fully paid trip to South Africa, together with more than $1,000 in per diem. Bwire passed the opportunity to Chris Mugisha instead.

For Mutenyo, that gesture reflected the man he knew.

‘He never wanted to enrich himself unfairly. No wonder he would return balances from the previous competition to the sponsor,’ he says.

The trust between the two men was deep. Mutenyo says funds for football programmes could be deposited on his account before being handed to Bwire in his capacity as chairman, without him ever worrying about accountability.

Even after Bwire left Coca-Cola, the relationship endured.

Mutenyo says the two remained in contact and would often discuss football, including their shared interest in Arsenal.

‘I last spoke to him one month ago,’ he says.

The administrator

Bwire’s sporting responsibilities stretched well beyond Copa Coca-Cola.

He was a member of the National Council of Sports (NCS) board from 2002 to 2007 and chaired its Finance and Administration Committee during the same period.

He was also a founding vice chairman of the Kampala Head Teachers Government Secondary Schools Association (KAHEGOSSA), later serving as chairperson from 2008 to 2010.

His contribution to basketball was equally significant. He spearheaded the formation of the Uganda Basketball Association in 1978 and was a member of Fufa from the same year.

At Old Kampala SS, he served as Games Master from 1977 to 1993.

These roles reflected a career in which education and sport were rarely separate.

Mutenyo remembers him as a man who was not afraid to invest his time in young players.

‘Even when his team was training, he would be at the session. He was very strict on discipline. He loved the game of football. He loved to give players a platform to excel,’ he says.

A final chapter

Bwire’s football legacy was inseparable from his work as an educationist.

He later concentrated much of his energy on developing his school, St Mary’s High Katale in Bunnamwaya, and had ambitions of turning it into a sports school.

His philosophy was consistent with the principles he had applied to Copa Coca-Cola: discipline, education and opportunity.

For Mutenyo, this is particularly important because Bwire belonged to a generation that began to believe seriously in the ability of young Ugandan players.

Mutenyo believes Bwire’s generation helped demonstrate that schools football could be professionally organised without losing its educational purpose. But he fears the values that guided men such as Bwire are becoming harder to find.

‘People are driven by the desire to make money and the desire for their schools to win. Schools football has been commercialised and it’s killing the schools,’ Mutenyo says.

Bwire had been unwell in recent years. According to information from those close to the family, he was receiving treatment at Translink Clinic in Zzana after being hospitalised for more than a week.

He had also suffered a fall at his school about a week before his death and sustained an arm injury. His family and friends were hopeful about his recovery.

He died at about 8pm on Saturday night.

His wife, Rose, was too heartbroken to speak to the media at the time of the interview.

Funeral arrangements were still being finalised, with the family considering a mass at Rubaga Cathedral before the body is taken to St Mary’s High School Katale and later to the family home in Bunnamwaya. A service is planned at St Gyaviira Catholic Church, Bunnamwaya, on Thursday, with burial scheduled for Majanji in Busia at 4pm on Saturday.

For Mutenyo, however, Bwire’s legacy is already settled.

‘Educationist. Integrity. Football,’ he says, when asked to describe his friend in three words.

He believes the best epitaph would be simple: ‘Here lies the man of integrity who loved the beautiful game and grassroots football.’

Mutenyo says the people who worked with Bwire were fortunate.

‘Bwire has only gone ahead of us. We need to celebrate him. They are lucky to have a man like him and we were lucky because we worked with the best man. He set standards many people cannot get.’

With Bwire gone and Muramagi now incapacitated, Mutenyo says only Michael Mpiima of Ssaku SS remains from the later generation of administrators who helped shape schools football.

For those who knew Bwire, the challenge now is not merely to remember him. It is to preserve the standards by which he lived.

BWIRE AT A GLANCE

Born: December 12, 1951 Died: August 8, 2026 Profession: Educationist and sports administrator Teaching career: 34 years Key schools: Old Kampala SS, St Peter’s SS Nsambya, Kalinabiri SS Football: Uganda Cranes player (1975-1978); East and Central Africa U23 champion (1973), Makerere football captain; Sportsman of the Year, 1974/75

Club career: Nsambya, Lint, Maroons

Major honour: East and Central Africa U23 champion, Nairobi 1973

Sports administration: NCS board member (2002-2007); secretary, National Football League Committee (1995-2001)

President Museveni has warned public officials against divided loyalty, calling for a strict re-examination of Uganda’s dual citizenship legal framework while demanding an uncompromising stand against corruption.

Speaking on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, at State House Entebbe during the swearing-in ceremony of three newly appointed ministers, Mr Museveni emphasized that individuals holding public trust must maintain unwavering commitment to the nation.

The newly sworn-in officials include Amb. Adonia Ayebare, who takes over as Minister of Foreign Affairs; Shartsi Kutesa Musherure, appointed Minister of State for Finance, Planning and Economic Development in charge of Micro-Finance; and Witonze Juma Kisekka, who assumes office as Minister of State for Internal Affairs.

Although President Museveni congratulated the new appointees, he quickly pivoted to pressing administrative and national policy matters, urging the ministers to prioritize eliminating corruption and systemic inefficiency within government departments through rigorous supervision and strict operational accountability.

The ceremony marked the end of months of delay for the trio following their appointments earlier in the year. Amb. Ayebare and Ms Musherure were appointed to the cabinet in May 2026, but their swearing-in was deliberately put on hold by the President to resolve legal scrutinies regarding dual citizenship status and ensure eligibility.

Meanwhile, Mr Witonze’s delay stemmed from a later nomination process. President Museveni named him to the cabinet after Parliament’s Appointments Committee rejected the original nominee for the Internal Affairs docket, Dr Lawrence Muganga, over his own unresolved multiple citizenship issues.

Addressing the central theme of his address-national identity, allegiance, and regional geopolitics-the 81-year-old leader questioned the current implementation of dual citizenship. He argued that the policy was originally a compassionate concession designed to accommodate Ugandans forced into political exile during the country’s turbulent past, rather than a permanent loophole for conflicting allegiances.

“On the issue of citizenship… we are going to have to clarify this issue very clearly,” Mr Museveni stated.

He recalled how historical conflicts, beginning with the 1966 Buganda crisis under Kabaka Mutesa II and subsequent political upheavals, forced waves of Ugandans to flee into neighboring states and abroad.

The President drew a firm line between the global Ugandan diaspora and citizens residing within neighboring East African states, asserting that dual citizenship should strictly apply to those in distant diaspora communities rather than adjacent countries.

“For the neighboring countries, logically, the dual citizenship does not apply… should not apply in my opinion. We should clarify it, that this one here is for the diaspora,” Mr Museveni noted.

Elaborating on regional integration, the President reiterated his long-standing advocacy for the political federation of the East African Community (EAC), challenging regional partners to pursue complete political unification rather than half-measures that compromise national sovereignty and civic loyalty.

“Now, we have been telling our neighbors that we should form the East African Federation. This is what we have been saying for the last 65 years. Let’s form the East African Federation. If you want us to be one citizenship, let’s have one country, what is the problem?” Mr Museveni argued.

Criticizing current citizenship overlaps across regional borders, the President described multi-state allegiances without political federation as irrational and detrimental to state security.

“You can’t say we continue having different kingdoms, then some of the kingdoms offload their citizens on another kingdom and then they continue with loyalty to the other kingdom. It’s not rational. It’s nonsensical,” he declared, adding that individuals must ultimately decide where their true allegiance lies.

Taking to his official X (formerly Twitter) account shortly after the ceremony, the President reaffirmed his directive, urging the new cabinet members to maintain zero tolerance for graft while reiterating that the East African Federation remains the ultimate long-term solution to identity and integration challenges across the region.

As per Monitor Publication’s assessment of the exercise, while the majority of candidates who emerged victorious subscribed to the NRM party, a good fraction was declared winners unopposed.

In Gulu City’s Queens Parish in Pece-Laroo Division, the Electoral Commission (EC) declared NRM’s Baltham Akera unopposed amidst protest from the supporters of his opponent George Ochan after his candidacy was annulled over irregular nomination.

Whereas Mr Ochan vowed to challenge the results in court, the EC explained that his candidacy was cancelled after learning that he was irregularly nominated since he did not appear in the list of his village’s executive council.

In Arua City, at Old Bus Park/Bazar ward, Mr Abu Juma was elected chairman after the formation of the executive committee, which turned chaotic as members opposed the inclusion of those who are not in the register.

This halted the exercise for some time, and it was later resolved in a meeting where the elections were concluded.

“People wanted to confuse these LC2 elections with the NRM executive committee at that level; that is why they were including members who are in their register,” Mr Mahmood Ijosiga, a member of the NRM Entrepreneurs League, said.

Information shared by Arua City Electoral Commission Returning Officer, Mr Oshurian Ezale, indicates that out of 54 parishes in Ayivu East and West divisions, 36 contestants for the LC2 positions were unopposed.

In Adjumani District, Mr Dominic Ondoga, the former LC2 chairperson for Ciaha Parish, has been re-elected unopposed to serve another five-year term.

Speaking to the Monitor Publication yesterday, Mr Ondoga said he would prioritise engaging relevant leaders to fence the parish office as a measure to curb the rampant theft of government property as well as the push for the fencing of Oliga Primary School.

He also pledged to work with other authorities to ensure that all primary schools in the parish are adequately equipped with desks.

In Soroti City, at Senior Quarters Parish that comprises 11 cells, queues had formed by 10am as residents said they were looking for leaders who could address insecurity, poor health services, and access to government programmes like the Parish Development Model (PDM), Emyooga, etc.

Mr Alex Emuron Esekeya won with 59 votes, beating opponents Andrew Auruku (8 votes) and Patrick Asonya who got 2 votes.

Mr Emuron, who has also played a big role in restoring sanity, security and peace in the area, has pledged to treat residents of Senior Quarters equally and ensure that the elderly remain peaceful, united and secure.

In Oyam District, voters at Abela Parish in Alekt Sub-county elected NRM’s Denis Owani. Mr Owani polled 86 votes, defeating the incumbent, Mr Benson Odongo of the opposition Uganda Peoples Congress party who got 55 votes.

Mr Odongo became LC2 chairman following the death of Gilbert Anek in 2013.

In Malaba Town Council, the elections officer, Mr Simon Okwate, told this newspaper that in most wards, NRM flag bearers went through unopposed.

“Unlike the LC1 elections, the LC2 elections have been the most peaceful elections where my ward supervisors reported no competition for positions,” he said.

In Malaba Ward, Mr Albino Otabong was re-elected to serve his 6th term.

In Budaka and neighbouring districts, the NRM party swept the majority of LC2 chairperson seats. Out of 76 parishes in Budaka, 46 NRM flag bearers went through unopposed, and the remaining 30 were also NRM-leaning.

The Budaka District NRM chairperson, Mr Musa Kyebene, said the ruling party won in almost all parishes. “This win shows the party’s strengths and popularity,” he said.

In Mbalala, the elections were largely peaceful. The incumbent LC2 chairman of Nsoma Ward, Mr Kiti Yahaya, retained his position unopposed.

Meanwhile, in Masindi, Mr Patrick Alimawu, the incumbent chairperson of Western Ward, was elected unopposed after no candidate came forward to challenge him.

Other NRM candidates in Masindi also went through unopposed, including Mr Deogratius Jakisa (Kijura Parish), Mr Muhammad Lukumu (Kamugo Parish), and Mr Ahmed Gunya (Kiruhi Parish).

In Kibaale District, the majority of parish candidates were also elected unopposed.

Ms Jackline Aluhairwe, the district returning officer, said out of the 57 parishes in Kibaale, elections were conducted in only 11 parishes, while 46 parishes did not have elections because candidates were unopposed.

In Fort Portal City, the elections were similarly characterised by limited activity. According to the Electoral Commission Returning Officer, Mr Isaac Byamugisha, the city has 25 parishes, but polls were conducted in only seven, including the Northern Division.

In Mbarara, the EC Returning Officer for the city, Ms Violet Atuhairwe, said: “We have 23 wards in Mbarara City, and we are conducting elections in only two wards because the other 21 went through unopposed.”

In Biharwe West Ward, Mr Johnson Rushegyera Mugisha (NRM) won with 38 votes against Mr Abdul Ssegawa (independent), who garnered 27 votes.

Mr Wilber Twesigye (NRM) won in Rwakishaki Ward with 77 votes against Mr Francis Kahangwa (independent), who got 50 votes.

In Ibanda District, voting was peaceful in several parishes.

Returning Officer Ntamuh Ahas said Buhweju District has 105 parishes, but 67 parishes had unopposed candidates.

“The exercise kicked off at 9am with the arrival of participants, and by noon, the exercise came to an end. We did not register any case of violence,” he said.

In Kamwenge District, returning officer Daniel Nayebare said candidates for the LC2 chairperson’s seat in 28 out of 71 parishes went through unopposed, and the voting exercise was peaceful as voters elected their new leaders.

“All the candidates that went through unopposed belong to the NRM party. The voting exercise is peaceful as we have not registered any cases of violence or disputes,” Mr Nayebare said.

The Rubanda assistant returning officer, Mr Godfrey Arinaitwe, said elections in the 70 parishes in the district were peaceful.

The Kabale District Returning Officer, Ms Aisha Nansubuga, said around 10 candidates for the LC2 chairperson’s seat went through unopposed.

“We have 79 parishes in Kabale District and about 10 candidates vying for the LC2 seat went through unopposed, although they have to appoint their executive committee members. The election exercise has been peaceful with no challenges so far registered,” Ms Nansubuga said.

At the voting exercise that took place at Christ the King Church ground in Kabale Town, Ms Jemimah Kabakira-bo (NRM) retained her position as LC2 chairperson for Central Ward in Kabale Municipality.

She polled 37 votes, defeating her only opponent, Ms Medius Byaruganda (independent), who got 3 votes.

In Mityana Municipality, NRM’s Idi Kisekka won the Katakala Ward seat after defeating two other contenders, Noah Wamalwa and Godfrey Lumu, after garnering 54 votes.

In Mukono, NRM candidates emerged as winners in many parts of Mukono Central Division, though the exercise was marred by allegations of electoral irregularities.

At Fairland Playground in Nakabago, where elections for Ntawo Ward were conducted, Dr Paul Kiwuka got 70 votes, defeating John Ronald Ssebunnya Ssekingo, who got three votes.

However, Mr Ssebunnya rejected the results, accusing his opponent of electoral malpractice. He alleged that Dr Kiwuka influenced voters by offering free transport and claimed that some individuals who participated in the election were not on the official register. Mr Ssebunnya also questioned Dr Kiwuka’s eligibility, arguing that as a government employee, he should not have contested.

In response, Dr Kiwuka dismissed the accusations, maintaining that the election was conducted in a free and fair manner. He denied any involvement in voter bribery or manipulation.

ABOUT THE ELECTIONS

Elections for LC2 chairpersons, also known as Parish or Ward Chairpersons, were conducted in 10,718 parishes across Uganda yesterday, Electoral Commission spokesperson Julius Mucunguzi told the media.

The law provides for an executive committee at parish administrative unit consisting of eleven (11) members including the chairperson, vice chairperson. The law also requires that at least four of these members must be female.

Poverty levels in Busoga have remained a concern, despite the sub-region’s abundant agricultural and natural resources, with stakeholders saying more can be done to lift households out of poverty.

The 2019/2020 Uganda National Household Survey (UNHS) put poverty in Busoga at 29.4 percent, above the national rate of 20.3 percent. However, the latest 2023/2024 UNHS shows that monetary poverty in Busoga declined to 18.9 percent.

Stakeholders believe the poverty rate can be reduced further if the sub-region makes better use of its available resources and expands opportunities for households to earn sustainable incomes.

Mr David Mukisa, the Namutumba District chairperson, suggests that the historical cultivation of crops in different districts should be revived because they have the potential to generate significant wealth.

“Let’s go back to our original setting of emphasising the cultivation of various crops in areas where they flourish best since they are lucrative and see whether residents will remain poor,” Mr Mukisa says.

Mr Mukisa notes that in Namutumba District, one can use two acres of land to grow groundnuts, which can yield Shs10 million in a season.

He explains that groundnuts will always have a ready market because they are multi-purpose.

“This is a crop which can be consumed at home, as well as being utilised in the production of many things, so whoever goes into growing it will make money,” Mr Mukisa says.

Mr Mukisa, who advises residents to grow rice, saying that rice is always in high demand in the country. He says Busoga has a favourable climate for rice growing, but people are reluctant to engage in rice farming despite its potential to become an export crop for the sub-region.

Food security

Mr Rogers Kifuma, the Kaliro assistant Resident District Commissioner, says millet and oranges used to generate significant income for residents, but they have since abandoned growing them.

Mr Kifuma also millet prices rarely fluctuate, so any pack of it sold in a super section can improve their income.

“Millet and oranges grow well on Kaliro’s soils, but people are no longer growing them. If their cultivation is revived, poverty in Busoga will reduce,”

He observes that Kaliro currently imports many goods without exporting much, not even milk, which was commonly available when the district was a cattle corridor is now scarce. He sees locals have stopped rearing cattle on a large scale, a practice that should be revived.

Mr Kifuma argues that if residents in Busoga should be encouraged to grow food crops, saving money on food will reduce poverty, because they lack enough food despite having large families.

“Government should come up with a law criminalising anybody found without food crops, because this has proved to be another cause of poverty in the area, and do organize will reduce poverty,” Mr Kifuma says.

MAJOR SUGGESTIONS

Revive commercial farming

Grow crops suited to each area

Promote groundnut farming and rice growing

Revive millet and orange farming, large-scale cattle rearing

Encourage households to grow food crops

Promote smaller families

Expand government livelihood programmes such as PDM and Emyooga

Use government funds to boost businesses

Create more jobs within Busoga

Promote annual crops such as tomatoes, watermelons and maize, and invest in fish farming*

Educate children and equip them with skills

Encourage boda boda businesses

Jobs and businesses

Mr Abubaker Walubi, the chairperson of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party in Iganga District, says people in Busoga should avoid large families, arguing that having many children leaves families with little or nothing to save.

“These many children we produce in Busoga make us spend more than we earn. Therefore, residents should have fewer children until they are left with cash in their pockets,” he says.

He adds that the Parish Development Model (PDM), Emyooga and other programmes can help eradicate poverty in Busoga.

He explains that the Shs1 million that the government gives to people through PDM can empower them to boost their business.

The Buyende District chairperson, Mr Sharifu Mbinga Muziransa, proposes that each district in Busoga should create jobs for residents so they can earn income and contribute to the development of their local areas.

“For us in Buyende, we are developing a system of ensuring only people born in the district are employed so that they invest in the district because we have found that non-residents simply take the money back to their areas of origin,” Mr Mbinga says.

He stresses that growing annual crops such as tomatoes, watermelons, and maize can also improve the incomes of locals. He also identifies fish farming as an alternative way of fighting poverty in Busoga, given that the sub-region is surrounded by water bodies.

Education and skills

Mr Muatumu Musembya, a retired headteacher who now manages Buwenge Bm Primary School in Jinja District, urges parents to educate their children, saying it gives them a better chance of securing jobs in public offices, providing them with a stable source of income.

“If a child is not educated, there is no chance of serving in public offices when region academic title in set. Therefore, all residents should use schools within their reach to educate their children in preparation for continuous income generation and to prevent gaps in income that may arise upon the retirement of their parents,” Mr Musembya says.

Mr Eric Mutooya, the Busoga Sub-region boda boda coordinator, encourages people to engage in the boda boda industry because it is lucrative.

“On average, a boda boda rider can earn Shs10,000 a day. That is why many of them have been able to educate their children. Those who are jobless can join this sector as there are no academic qualifications required.

“He says that the problem with boda boda riders is reckless spending; otherwise, the money they earn can help increase household incomes in Busoga.

Prayer week

Meanwhile, the Busoga Consortium for Development has begun preparations for the fourth Busoga Prayer Week, scheduled for September 21 to 27. The event brings together religious, political and cultural leaders to mobilise efforts towards reducing poverty and accelerating socio-economic transformation in the sub-region.

The High Court in Kampala has ruled that jailed opposition leader Dr Kizza Besigye could have engaged his preferred lawyer, Kenyan Senior Counsel Martha Karua, remotely through Zoom despite her being barred from entering Uganda.

Justice Simon Peter Kinobe said the Judiciary’s rules on electronic filing and virtual proceedings provide for remote participation in court proceedings by judicial officers, parties and witnesses.

The judge said Dr Besigye’s lawyers could have applied for appropriate directions from the trial court to enable Ms Karua to participate virtually in his treason trial.

‘The court may, on its own motion, or on application by a party, allow proceedings to be conducted virtually. These provisions demonstrate that physical presence within Uganda is not, in every circumstance, indispensable to participation in judicial proceedings,’ Justice Kinobe ruled on Tuesday.

He added: ‘In the circumstances of the present case, the Applicants could have sought appropriate directions from the trial Court regarding remote participation by Hon. Martha Karua, SC, if they considered such participation necessary for the effective preparation and conduct of their defence.’

The ruling comes amid a prolonged dispute over Dr Besigye’s choice of legal representation, which has contributed to delays in the commencement of his treason trial.

On June 22, Ms Karua, who is also a Kenyan politician, was denied entry into Uganda at Entebbe International Airport and declared persona non grata by the Ugandan government.

She had travelled to Kampala to join the defence team representing Dr Besigye and Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago, who were facing charges arising from an alleged plot to overthrow the government.

Following Ms Karua’s exclusion from Uganda, Dr Besigye’s trial faced delays as he insisted on being represented by lawyers of his choice, including Ms Karua and Mr Lukwago.

The court has since attempted to provide state-appointed lawyers to represent him, but Dr Besigye has rejected them, insisting on his preferred counsel.

The dispute escalated on July 29 when Dr Besigye collapsed in the court dock after protesting for nearly 30 minutes against the state-appointed lawyers.

He was subsequently rushed to Mulago National Referral Hospital for medical attention.

Mr Lukwago is currently on remand at Luzira Prison on related charges of misprision of treason.

Right to counsel

In his ruling, Justice Kinobe said there was no evidence that Dr Besigye had been prevented from obtaining legal advice from Ms Karua through lawful means, including remote communication.

‘The evidence further does not establish that Hon. Martha Karua, SC, was thereby precluded from advising the Applicants, preparing pleadings, settling legal strategy, consulting with advocates on record or otherwise participating in the Applicants’ defence through lawful means,’ the judge said.

However, the judge cautioned that the availability of virtual proceedings should not be interpreted as removing an accused person’s constitutional right to counsel of choice.

‘The Court must, however, emphasise that the availability of virtual proceedings does not, of itself, extinguish the constitutional right to counsel of choice; rather, it is one of the mechanisms through which meaningful legal representation may, where appropriate, be facilitated,’ Justice Kinobe ruled.

The judge was interpreting Rule 32 of the Judicature (Electronic Filing, Service and Virtual Proceedings) Rules, 2025, which provides for the phased implementation of video conferencing and virtual court platforms.

The rules allow courts, either on their own motion or upon application by a party, to permit proceedings to be conducted virtually.

The four-time presidential candidate and Hajj Lutale had asked Justice Kinobe to declare that they are entitled to be defended by advocates of their own choice, including their lead counsel, Karua.

They had also asked to declare that the blocking, detention and expulsion of their lawyer Karua at Entebbe, and her classification as a prohibited immigrant and as a persona non grata – the sole ground stated being “persona non grata,” which is not a ground recognised by the Uganda Citizenship and Immigration Control Act, Act No. 3 of 1999, was unconstitutional.

They reasoned that the said acts were taken without lawful authority, without any hearing, in bad faith and for an improper and collateral purpose, and were contrary to the constitution.

Dr Besigye’s treason case is scheduled to resume next Tuesday before Justice Emmanuel Baguma.

The prison authorities are expected to furnish the court with a medical report on Dr Besigye’s condition and whether he is medically fit to stand trial.

Prosecution alleges that Dr Besigye, Hajj Obeid Lutale, and Captain Denis Oola participated in meetings held in Uganda and abroad between 2023 and 2024 as part of a plan to overthrow the government.

The three accused persons deny the allegations.

The ruling National Resistance Movement has swept almost all LCII seats in Kampala and surrounding areas, extending its dominance from last week’s LCI elections.

In Lubaga Division, NRM candidates won all 12 parishes where voting was completed, according to the party registrar Mr Robert Kato.

‘The NRM has won 100 per cent of the LC II elections in the 12 parishes,’ Mr Kato said.

Among those declared winners are Fredrick Kalema of Nateete Parish, Richard Masaba of Rubaga Parish, Naava Matembe of Lungujja Parish, Mahad Kaweesa of Namirembe-Bakuli Parish, Richard Ssemakula of Libya Parish, Fred Kazibwe of Ndeeba Parish and Abudallah Kitata of Najjanankumbi II Parish.

Voting in Kisubi Parish was not completed after the exercise was marred by violence. Mr Kato said the chaos was allegedly triggered by opponents who ferried voters from other areas.

The Electoral Commission is expected to announce a new date for the Kisubi Parish election after reviewing the circumstances that led to the cancellation. Attempts to get a comment from EC officials in Rubaga were futile after journalists were blocked from accessing their offices.

In Kisenyi One Parish, Central Village, incumbent Adam Kassim Kyazze was unopposed and retained the position. In Buwanika Village, Kisenyi One Parish, elections did not take place after LC1 elections were suspended following violence over alleged malpractice.

‘The register was not followed. People from other villages came to vote for their candidates. The exercise turned violent forcing the security personnel to shoot in the air to disperse the rowdy crowds,’ said Mr Swaleh Tibamwenda, the current LC1 Chairperson for Buwanika Village, who has held the position for 40 years and is seeking re-election on the NRM ticket.

Mr Tibamwenda said the introduction of multiparty politics has changed how leaders are chosen. “Unlike in the past when people voted local leaders basing on their ability to lead, the introduction of multiparty politics has seen leaders elected on the basis of the party they subscribe, a decision that has given an opportunity to non-performers to take on leadership roles,” he said.

In other Kampala results, Mr Tampler Kaweesa, running as an independent in Nakasero III Parish, got 18 votes against NRM’s Hamis Kwesiga Balinda who got 42 votes. In Kololo IV Parish, NRM’s Alisen Alex Nyangabyaki was elected unopposed.

Wakiso goes NRM

In Nansana Municipality, Wakiso District, all six parish chairpersons were declared unopposed. Five of the six wards were won by NRM candidates, with the South Ward going to Democratic Party’s Ssematimba Kasanafu.

The winners include Mr Sulaiman Kajubi, Chairperson Kazo Ward, Ronald Ssemwaka, Chairperson Nansana North Ward, Mr Yusuf Nakibinge, Chairperson Nansana West Ward, Mr Kasanafu Ssematimba, Chairperson Nansana South Ward, and Mr Richard Kasenge, Chairperson Nansana East Ward.

Nansana Division Chairperson Mr Samuel Mugabi said the municipality had shifted politically. “We’ve got five chairpersons who have been unopposed, and they’re only waiting to be declared by the EC, meaning that Nansana has totally changed from opposition to NRM,’ he said.

He also warned outgoing chairpersons against withholding office stamps. ‘The issue of the stamps: in the previous elections, there was a problem that there were some LCs who never wanted to bring back the stamps. But this time round, I want to inform the outgoing chairpersons, please bring back the stamps to the incoming chairpersons, so that they serve their people,’ he added.

Close contests and disputes

In Nsambya, Makindye Division, Ibirot Walter was elected LCII chairperson at Nsambya Railway Primary School polling station after defeating incumbent Bashir Juma. Walter secured 26 votes against Juma’s 14.

‘The elections have been peaceful and I would like to commend the voter for turning up, and also thank the incumbent Chairman Mr Bashir Juma who’s also known as Chairman Bashir, he worked but now it is time for a new person to take on the role,’ Mr Ibirot said.

Juma, the NRM flagbearer, rejected the outcome. ‘I am not content with the outcome of the election because there are issues surrounding this polling station that need to be addressed,’ Juma said. He said he would seek clarification but did not specify the issues.

In Nakawa Division, voting for LC2 Chairperson of Naguru I Parish was delayed for several hours over claims involving serving police officers. Mr Emeritus Barigo Simon alleged that one LC1 committee member and another contestant, Mr Salim Latif Chebet, were serving officers. Mr Chebet has since withdrawn.

“We have a predicament of two police officers taking part in elective politics; one is contesting and yet he’s a serving Police officer while another was elected at the village committee and yet the law is clear a civil servant does not have to take part in elective politics,” said Mr Barigo.

Mr Gilbert Twesigye, the Electoral Commission Returning Officer for Nakawa Division, allowed voting to proceed, saying he had not received any communication from EC headquarters stopping the exercise.

“I have not received any communication from the headquarters stopping me from holding these elections today, meaning we’re going to hold the election as you proceed with your petition; the headquarters will give you feedback because the headquarters petitioned the headquarters and didn’t issue me a copy of your petition,” Twesigye said.

Mr Barigo and his supporters boycotted and left the polling station. The election proceeded and Ms Namwena Zaamu emerged winner with 12 votes.

The NRM, which has been in power for 40 years since the bush war that brought President Museveni to power, continues to use state structures to consolidate its position across the country since multiparty politics was reintroduced in 2005.

A former inmate at the Guantanamo Bay detention facility has been sentenced to six years in prison for soliciting support for the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a terrorist organisation.

Justice Susan Okalany of the International Crimes Division of the High Court sentenced Mr Jamal Kiyemba, alias Abdallah, on August 4, after finding him guilty of soliciting support for the rebel group.

In sentencing him, Justice Okalany said she had considered the gravity of the offence, the need for deterrence and protection of society, as well as several mitigating factors.

These included Kiyemba being a first offender, the isolated nature of his conduct, the absence of evidence that he recruited, financed or participated in violence on behalf of the ADF, his personal and family circumstances, remorse and mental condition.

‘Having considered the gravity of the offence, the need for deterrence and societal protection, and the mitigating factors… I am convinced that a lengthy sentence is unwarranted,’ Justice Okalany ruled.

The judge also took into account the period Mr Kiyemba had already spent on remand at Luzira Prison.

‘In my view, the time already spent in custody, together with the sentence imposed… should be carefully balanced against the gravity of the offence and the need for deterrence and justice,’ she held.

Justice Okalany ordered that the six-year sentence run from the date of conviction. However, Mr Kiyemba had already spent four years, two months and 19 days on remand, he has about one year and nine months left to serve.

The judge also considered the period Mr Kiyemba had spent in detention, including about four years at the US detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, although he was never convicted of an offence there.

EXONERATED

Despite convicting Mr Kiyemba of soliciting support, the court acquitted him of belonging to a terrorist organisation, saying the prosecution had not provided sufficient evidence to establish that he was a member of the ADF.

The ADF support case

Mr Kiyemba was convicted on July 29 after the court found prosecution evidence sufficient to prove that he had solicited support for the ADF.

The prosecution’s key evidence came from a concerned civilian who told court that on January 29, 2022, at about 9:30am, he heard Mr Kiyemba at the Old Taxi Park in Kampala shouting, ‘Long live ADF’, while urging members of the public to support the rebel group.

The witness further said Mr Kiyemba warned that bloodshed would continue in Kampala if people failed to support the ADF.

The concerned civilian reported the matter to a military officer, who mobilised between 10 and 12 armed soldiers to arrest Mr Kiyemba.

Justice Okalany found the witness credible and said his evidence remained consistent and unshaken during cross-examination.

She added that the military officer had acted reasonably after receiving the report and that the prosecution had proved its case that Mr Kiyemba solicited support for the ADF.

‘Therefore, I find that the prosecution has convincingly proven that the accused solicited support for the terrorist organisation, specifically the ADF,’ she ruled.

Acquitted of belonging to ADF

Despite convicting Mr Kiyemba of soliciting support, the court acquitted him of the charge of belonging to a terrorist organisation, saying the prosecution had not provided sufficient evidence to establish that he was a member of the ADF.

Justice Okalany rejected the argument that Mr Kiyemba’s alleged declaration of support for the ADF automatically amounted to an admission of membership.

‘…In the present case, that affirmation or admission must be of belonging to, or being a member of, a terror organisation,’ she said.

The judge said merely expressing support for an organisation, without additional evidence, did not meet the legal threshold for proving membership.

The court also dismissed another charge of rendering support to a terrorist organisation, saying the relevant legal provision relied upon by the prosecution did not apply to the facts of the case because it concerned support rendered to natural persons rather than organisations.

Insanity defence rejected

During the trial, Mr Kiyemba raised a defence of insanity, saying he suffered from bipolar affective disorder and could not appreciate or remember what he allegedly did on the day of the incident.

The court, however, rejected the defence after finding that the evidence showed he was capable of making mental assessments and judgments at the time of the incident. Mr Kiyemba’s conviction and sentence, therefore, relate only to the offence of soliciting support for the ADF.

Authorities in Kabale District have launched a major operation aimed at restoring approximately 60 percent of the wetlands degraded over the last decade, warning that recalcitrant encroachers face forced eviction.

Speaking on Friday, the Kabale District Natural Resources Officer, Mr. Henry Tumwesigye, revealed that while officials have prioritized community sensitization on the dangers of wetland degradation and the benefits of restoration, forceful measures will be applied against those who resist voluntary vacation.

‘With the support from the Ministry of Water and Environment, we have embarked on wetland restoration activities and strict measures of protecting the intact wetlands in our district,’ Mr. Tumwesigye said. ‘It is estimated that about 60 percent of the wetlands have been degraded in Kabale District, and this has been as a result of the increasing population and the need for agricultural land.’

Mr. Tumwesigye requested special funding from the central government to establish physical boundary markers separating public wetland areas from private land to mitigate future encroachment risks. He further urged local residents to adopt climate-smart technologies on uplands rather than relying on wetland degradation for crop production and general farming practices.

The ongoing effort builds on enforcement measures undertaken earlier this year. In May, Mr. Tumwesigye, alongside environmental police officers, led an operation that destroyed a banana plantation belonging to St. Peter Kabasigaba Catholic Church in Kagarama Parish, Buhara Sub-County, after it was found planted inside the protected Kabanyonyi-Kyanamira wetland.

‘With support from the United Nations Development Program for mitigating climate-related threats like floods and soil erosion, we are targeting to first restore 19 wetlands that were recently degraded,’ Mr. Tumwesigye added. ‘The 24-hectare Kabanyonyi-Kyanamira wetland, which is the largest of these restoration projects, will be prioritized.’

However, the exercise faces potential legal and financial hurdles. The Kabale LCV Chairman, Mr. Denis Nzeirwe Ndyomugyenyi, called for a cautious approach to the restoration drive, noting that a section of encroachers possess valid legal titles issued by previous administrations.

‘Some time back, the government issued land titles to the farmers that had picked interest to carry out farming practices in wetlands before it accepted to have wetlands turned into arable land for agriculture,’ Mr. Ndyomugyenyi said. ‘Evicting some people from wetland use will require the government to compensate them because they own such pieces of land legally with land titles.’

Concerns over post-eviction economic stability have also been raised by local leadership. The LCIII Chairman for Maziba Sub-County, Mr. Onesmus Mutungye, noted that while farmers in his area voluntarily vacated the Upper Maziba Ikona wetland after receiving alternative livelihood support, additional state assistance is urgently needed.

‘After sensitization community meetings conducted by the government and its partners, farmers that used to have crop gardens in the Upper Maziba Ikona in Maziba Sub-County vacated after receiving livelihood items that included some heifers, goats, chicken, and pigs, among others,’ Mr. Mutungye explained. ‘After realizing that the alternative livelihood items received were not matching with the economic gains, a few individuals are being tempted to return to the restored wetland. Giving someone five chickens as an alternative livelihood to vacate the wetlands where they used to harvest crops worth millions of shillings is not realistic.’

Mr. Mutungye appealed to the government and development partners to provide matching economic projects or full monetary compensation to affected farmers, enabling them to purchase alternative land for sustainable agriculture, food security, and long-term income generation.

A growing coalition of African scientists is mounting a coordinated push to strip legacy pathogens of their geographical identifiers, arguing that place-based names for deadly viruses inflict lasting economic damage on communities.

The campaign gained momentum after the World Health Organisation dedicated the 2026 outbreak of Bundibugyo ebola as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.

The virus affected both Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo).

The virus, which can kill up to 50 percent of infected people, is named after Bundibugyo, a cocoa-growing district in Western Uganda, at the foot of the Rwenzori Mountains. Although Uganda declared its outbreak over in July, some foreign travel advisories remain in place, while cases continue in neighbouring DR Congo.

“People of Bundibugyo feel stigmatised when they go somewhere with the disease,” the Health Minister, Dr Chris Baryomunsi, said at the weekend.

No infections have been reported in Bundibugyo during the latest outbreak. The virus was first isolated in the district during the 2007 outbreak, when scientists identified a genetically distinct Ebola strain.

Jean Kaseya, director general of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), said the concern had reached the highest levels of governance.

“It’s a concern we are hearing from the scientific world; we speak about it to avoid the stigma,” he said, adding: “I was told today by the vice president that there is someone from Bundibugyo who reacted to this.”

He added that discussions were underway with international scientific bodies to explore renaming pathogens that carry geographical labels.

“This is an ongoing conversation we have with the scientific community in the world to see how to approach that, especially as we know that some countries refused to be named after Covid-19,” he said.

How virus naming evolved

Prof Pontiano Kaleebu, director of the Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI), said the naming of viruses has long been debated because of its potential to stigmatise communities.

“So the name Bundibugyo, why is it called Bundibugyo? At one time, the naming/creation of viruses had decided to stop using these names which tend to profile, label countries and regional areas. But this still continues,” he said.

“We have Ebola Sudan, we have Ebola Zaire, now we have Ebola Bundibugyo. As you know, this virus was first described in the area of Bundibugyo, and the name was given so.”

Prof Kaleebu explained that the name Ebola itself comes from a place in what was then Zaire, near the Ebola River.

Dr Baryomunsi explained that when Ebola was first identified in 1976, different strains were named after the locations where they were detected.

“The strain in Sudan was different from the strain in Congo, Zaire as it was then,” he said.

“The one in Zaire was called Ebola Zaire. It was named after a country. Then the one in Sudan was named Ebola Sudan.”

As scientific understanding improved, naming conventions started moving away from country names to more local geographical locations.

“Now when we got the strain of Bundibugyo, it is a strain, the strain in Bundibugyo was different from the other one of Zaire and Congo. Genetically, they were different,” he said.

“So it was named Ebola Bundibugyo. And we had earlier discussed that the people of Bundibugyo feel stigmatised when they get associated with the disease.”

Bundibugyo Ebola virus has caused three known outbreaks: in Uganda in 2007, in DR Congo in 2012, and in 2020.

BACKGROUND

In 2022, the World Health Organisation (WHO) adopted mpox as the preferred name for monkeypox to reduce racist, stigmatising, and misleading language.

The case for renaming

Prof Kaleebu said scientists are exploring how to address both existing virus names and those that may be assigned in the future.

“Change of names has been done, and for some viruses that were a little bit too stigmatising, the change was made,” he said.

“There are some viruses where a change was made, but I think there is more concern when you become a little bit more specific to a group, and that is being addressed. For this one of Bundibugyo and the rest, it’s also being addressed.”

He said virus names are assigned by international experts through a formal scientific process.

“We have what we call the nomenclature group,” he said. “When the viruses are discovered, there is a group that comes together to give them names, and that is where it’s an international nomenclature group that names these viruses.”

According to the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV), scientists have identified more than 17,500 viruses.

Uganda’s place in virus history

Uganda has contributed significantly to global virology, with several important pathogens first identified within its borders.

Besides Bundibugyo Ebola virus, the Zika virus was discovered in the Zika Forest near Entebbe. It became globally notorious after the 2015 outbreak in Brazil was linked to microcephaly and other congenital abnormalities. The WHO later declared the Zika-related birth defects emergency a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.

West Nile virus, first isolated in Uganda’s West Nile region in 1937, remains a globally significant mosquito-borne disease capable of causing meningitis and encephalitis.

Other viruses named after Ugandan locations include Bwamba virus, Semliki Forest virus, and the Bunyamwera virus.

A broader global shift

The campaign to rename place-based pathogens reflects a wider change in global health communication.

In 2021, the WHO introduced the name Omicron for the coronavirus variant first reported from South Africa.

The agency said many people had begun referring to it as the “South African variant,” leading to stigma and economic consequences.

“As a result, people often resort to calling variants by the places where they are detected, which is stigmatising and discriminatory,” the WHO said.

“To avoid this and to simplify public communications, WHO encourages national authorities, media outlets, and others to adopt these new labels.”