Category: Daily Monitor

President Museveni last week ordered three senior officials from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Uganda Police Force on forced leave over a widening Shs31 billion CCTV bribery scandal that has since threatened to expose deep-rooted corruption at the heart of one of the country’s most sensitive national security projects.

The directive, delivered through a sharply worded presidential letter, signalled not only a dramatic escalation in the government’s anti-corruption posture but also growing alarm within the State House over allegations that powerful officials turned a flagship crime-fighting initiative into a marketplace for extortion and kickbacks.

The officials affected include Lt Gen Joseph Musanyufu, the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Internal Affairs; Mr Aggrey Wunyi, the undersecretary of the Police Force; and Assistant Inspector General of Police Felix Baryamwitsakyi.

Their six-month forced leave is intended to pave the way for investigations into claims that officials within the ministry and police demanded bribes from a local technology contractor in exchange for payment linked to the maintenance of the National CCTV and Command Centre system.

At the centre of the scandal is Dealan Associates Ltd, a Ugandan-owned company reportedly contracted to maintain the country’s sprawling CCTV surveillance infrastructure, one of Mr Museveni’s most prized security investments following a wave of high-profile assassinations and urban crime incidents in recent years.

In the President’s letter, the company allegedly completed its work but was denied payment after refusing to yield to demands for kickbacks allegedly channelled through middlemen connected to ministry and police officials.

The revelations have cast fresh scrutiny on Uganda’s expensive surveillance programme, a project repeatedly defended by the government as critical to combating terrorism, violent crime, and organised criminal networks.

Instead, the scandal now threatens to reinforce long-standing public perceptions that corruption remains deeply entrenched within the country’s security institutions despite repeated presidential warnings and anti-corruption campaigns.

Over the years, the Uganda Police Force has consistently ranked among the country’s most corruption-prone public institutions in national integrity surveys, with President Museveni himself publicly rebuking officers over bribery and abuse of office.

What makes the latest development particularly striking is the President’s unusually direct intervention.

By ordering senior technocrats and security officials aside before formal prosecution or disciplinary hearings, Mr Museveni appears keen to project decisiveness and reclaim control over a scandal that risks embarrassing his administration and undermining public trust in State security projects funded by billions of taxpayer shillings.

Yet the forced leave order also raises difficult questions about accountability, procurement transparency, and the hidden power networks that continue to thrive within our country’s sprawling security bureaucracy.

SACCOs serve as a vital link to financial inclusion for individuals at the lower end of the economic spectrum, particularly in rural Uganda where many people are unbanked. However, these Savings and Credit Cooperatives have historically faced criticism for their rudimentary operations, which have hindered their growth.

The advent of new technological tools has enabled these institutions to reach more people and expand their services. This transformation is largely driven by the widespread availability of mobile phones and mobile money, which collectively represent 33.7 million accounts nationwide, valued at $167.3 billion as of 2025.

In Uganda, financial inclusion is central to the country’s development, with fintech companies playing a significant role in this progress. In the Kigezi region, this gap is being bridged by the Savings and Credit Cooperatives (SACCOs), which are community-led initiatives aimed at empowering local residents financially. The number of SACCOs in Uganda has surged to over 31,800, up from just 5,798 in 2015, highlighting their rapid expansion both in rural and urban areas.

‘I can see a few groups have embraced this technology. However, when they are doing the savings, some records are not entered correctly, especially when using phones. Some groups are hesitant to continue using phones or tablets because they have not mastered how to manage these records. This is particularly true for many Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs) that are located deep in rural areas, where a significant number of people are illiterate,’ says Ms Rodias Kyasimire, a trainer for farmer organisations and VSLAs.

For years, the Nyabyumba Farmers SACCO relied on manual systems for managing loans, member savings, share records, and registrations, all recorded in physical books. This process was slow, prone to errors, and often left members frustrated. Moreover, transparency was limited, making it difficult for management to track performance across branches.

General manager, Nyabyumba Farmers Sacco in Kabale district Mr Ambrose Akankwasa, recalls the turning point: ‘As we grew, we saw the need to digitalise our operations. Since then, service delivery has improved tremendously. Transactions are faster, reports are accurate, and members are satisfied because they can now save and pay loans using mobile money.’

Digitisation encourages efficiency and transparency. He notes that digitalisation introduced instant SMS alerts for deposits, creating trust and accountability.

Managers can monitor staff activity across branches in real time, strengthening internal controls. ‘It’s not just a banking system; it’s a management tool,’ Akankwasa explains. ‘We can see what staff are doing throughout the day.’

Growth in numbers

The impact has been dramatic. Within a single financial year, the savings portfolio grew from Shs200 million to Shs800 million, the loan portfolio expanded from Shs700 million to Shs2 billion, the share capital rose from Shs150 million to Shs495 million and membership nearly doubled, from 2,000 to 4,500.

Digital platforms have allowed members from distant areas, including Kampala, to join and transact without traveling.

‘Even farmers far away can deposit, withdraw, and check balances from their phones,’ Akankwasa says.

Overcoming resistance

He notes that at first, members and board members resisted the change, fearing fraud and balking at system charges. But once they experienced faster loan approvals, instant notifications, and reduced travel costs, attitudes shifted.

‘Technology has given members a true and fair view of their accounts. They are satisfied now,’ Akankwasa notes.

When it comes to costs Vs benefit, there, he notes thatwhile system procurement and subscription fees seemed burdensome initially, the Sacco quickly realized the benefits outweighed the costs. Mobile banking transactions generate commissions, turning the system into a revenue stream.

‘Last year, after covering all costs, we made a profit of over Shs10 million from the system,’ Akankwasa reveals.

Nyabyumba Farmers Sacco now sees digitalisation as the cornerstone of its success. With portfolio-at-risk reduced to 10.5 percent and a target of 5 percent by year’s end, the institution is confident in its trajectory. ‘Every day, we are refining our digital systems to minimize errors and maximize growth,’ Akankwasa says.

Nyabyumba Farmers Sacco’s backbone for growth. Mr Akankwasa says the shift to digital banking has not only transformed service delivery but also created new revenue streams. ‘On those SMS alerts, there is a commission we receive. So the system makes money for the institution,’ he explains.

Beyond revenue, digitalisation has cut costs. ‘If we needed 10 staff before, now we can operate with five. We save on labour and transportation because I can monitor branch activity remotely. The system is of merit, and Nyabyumba cannot operate without it,’ Akankwasa adds.

Challenges

The journey has not been without hurdles. Internet connectivity remains a challenge, especially in rural areas like Kabale. Resistance to change also slowed adoption, with members and board members initially fearing fraud or high costs. ‘At first, members saw system charges as burdensome. But once they experienced faster loan approvals, instant SMS alerts, and reduced travel costs, they embraced it,’ Akankwasa says.

Mandatory SMS notifications are covered by the Sacco, while optional alerts are paid for by members. ‘We are working to balance costs and benefits, but overall, digitalisation has given us a robust system. It is the cornerstone of our growth,’ he concludes.

For those at the bottom of the financial pyramid, savings and credit cooperatives (SACCOs) serve as their link to the financial system. However, the rural landscape of Kigezi presents challenges, with geographical distance cutting many individuals off from services. Technology is essential for bridging that gap.

To fully embrace financial technology, even the rural population must adapt to new methods, though this uptake has been slow. Nationally, smartphone penetration is still only 16%, which means many rural users rely on USSD-based services to access SACCO innovations.

Mr Emmanuel Nkurikiyimana, general manager of Chahi Dukore Sacco Ltd in Kisoro, states: ‘Some members are not informed about how to use these digital platforms. People may have money, but they often have a mentality of keeping their savings at home instead of depositing them.’

Mr Darius Bushande, branch manager of Rukiga Sacco in Rubanda, highlights the impact of digitisation on rural banking. Farmers now use ordinary mobile phones – not necessarily smartphones – to make deposits, withdrawals, and check account details conveniently from home. This has reduced travel costs and made services more accessible, even for those in remote areas.

The technology is simple, relying on USSD codes rather than internet access, making it easy for customers to adopt. Transaction costs are manageable, and the system has helped expand financial inclusion to both men and women, especially those deep in villages.

Currently, Rukiga Sacco has over 2,000 members, with about 10 percent actively using digital services. This translates to roughly 50 mobile money transactions per day. Since adopting digital systems, the Sacco has seen significant growth in profitability, earning around Shs3 million per month from transaction fees, revenue that did not exist before.

Digitisation has also improved loan access and repayment, making it easier for customers to borrow and settle obligations. Overall, Bushande notes that the system has boosted efficiency, expanded membership, and strengthened the Sacco’s financial performance.

Outlook

For upcoming cooperatives considering digitalisation, Akankwasa emphasizes the importance of setting priorities.

‘A system acts as a backbone. It is a management tool and an internal control system that provides a true and fair view of the institution. Manual processes are prone to errors and can lead to biased reports. No cooperative will grow if it does not embrace technology,’ he states.

Nyabyumba utiliss a cloud-based system that is compatible with ordinary phones and computers, making it accessible even to farmers using basic devices.

‘It is an investment, not a liability. It helps mobilise resources and generate income. Even affordable phones costing between Shs20,000 and Shs30,000 can access services through USSD codes,’ Akankwasa explains.

Digitisation will enable Saccos to function similarly to commercial banks within the next five years.

‘We are already performing like microfinance banks. Soon, members will be able to use ATMs at our facilities, apply for loans from home, and receive money instantly. This will reduce fraud and errors, leading to greater satisfaction for both staff and members,’ he adds.

The Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) has commenced the disbursement of Shs2.8 billion under the long-awaited Shs80 billion national cattle restocking programme.

However, the intervention has faced immediate scrutiny, with critics and local leaders describing it as a “drop in the ocean” given the government’s decades-old unfulfilled compensation promises.

Out of 16,000 households targeted across the war-torn Acholi, Lango, and Teso sub-regions, only 559 households have received funding in the initial phase. This leaves over 15,400 registered families still waiting, even as the government races against a tight June 30 deadline to exhaust the funds before the close of the 2025/2026 financial year.

Under the current implementation guidelines, each verified beneficiary household is entitled to Shs5 million-an amount the government estimates is equivalent to purchasing five head of cattle. The intervention aims to restore livelihoods in communities where decades of insurgency, Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) rebel activity, and rampant Karimojong cattle rustling systematically wiped out the regions’ livestock economy.

For over two decades, President Museveni’s administration has promised full compensation and restocking for northern and eastern Uganda. Successive government programmes-including the Northern Uganda Social Action Fund (NUSAF) and various court-ordered compensation pledges totaling over Shs2 trillion-have been marred by bureaucratic delays, corruption scandals, and inadequate budgetary allocations.

Local leaders note that while the Shs80 billion allocation appears substantial on paper, it pales in comparison to the actual volume of livestock lost between the 1980s and early 2000s, which is estimated in the millions.

Mr Horace Bashaija, the Assistant Commissioner for Northern Uganda at the OPM, acknowledged the vast deficit but defended the phased approach.

‘We carried out an independent assessment of the restocking programme. The findings show that we still need to continue, because the need is extensive across the three sub-regions. On funding, we may need to do this in a phased manner, depending on the availability of resources over the financial years,’ Mr Bashaija said.

He added that while Acholi, Lango, and Teso remain the primary focus due to their unique history of conflict-induced livestock depletion, other regions will remain excluded from the current phase.

In a departure from past restocking initiatives-which were heavily criticized for corruption, inflated procurement costs, and the supply of sick or low-quality breeds-the government has shifted to direct cash transfers.

Mr Alex Kakooza, the Permanent Secretary in the OPM, emphasized that this new model places the responsibility of purchasing livestock directly on the beneficiaries to foster ownership and stimulate local economies.

‘We are giving money to individuals, and these individuals will go and look for animals on their own. Government is not buying cattle for them,” Mr Kakooza stated.

Recognizing that the available Shs80 billion cannot cover all affected households, Mr Kakooza explained that strict verification metrics have been introduced to vet applicants. “Because this money is not enough, we prioritize the elderly, former abductees, female-headed households, and persons with disabilities,’ he added.

The programme is being implemented through Parish Development Committees (PDCs), which vet beneficiaries before uploading their profiles onto the Parish Development Management Information System (PDMIS)-a digital portal managed by the Ministry of ICT.

Data from the OPM indicates that 11,504 beneficiaries (71.9 percent of the target) have been successfully uploaded onto the system. However, payments are lagging due to technical bottlenecks and slow verification processes at the local government level.

Mr Kakooza issued a stern warning to district leaders, noting that unspent funds risk being returned to the Consolidated Fund if the exercise is not completed by the end of June. Districts cited as lagging behind in data submission include Lamwo, Nwoya, Pader, and Agago.

‘We must ensure timely verification and submission of beneficiary data. If funds are not spent within the required period, they risk being returned to the Treasury,’ the Permanent Secretary warned.

To expedite payments and minimize middlemen, the OPM has partnered with PearlBank Uganda to disburse funds directly to verified beneficiaries using the Wendi mobile wallet platform, allowing for direct transfers to mobile money and bank accounts.

Beyond the financial deficits, experts are raising concerns over the sustainability of the project. Past restocking phases suffered high animal mortality rates due to a lack of veterinary support.

To address this, Mr Bashaija noted that local governments will be required to provide technical oversight.

‘There are issues of extension workers coming in to support beneficiaries with skills transfer, how to care for the animals, watering, deworming, and vaccination, so that the animals remain productive,’ he concluded.

Feedback.Students defend school trips as educational and memorable experiences, though critics warn inflated costs risk excluding learners from valuable opportunities beyond classrooms.

I do not think school trips are overpriced. The money that students are charged to go on the trips is necessary for paying the access fee for the places that we visit. Schools do not profit much from these trips because the money is used to make preparations for the trips. These trips give us a chance to see the things we have been taught in class, so we connect the theoretical knowledge that we have learnt in class to a practical experience. Samantha Andrea Ksetita, S.1 Makerere College School

School trips are important because we get to practically experience what we have been taught. However, sometimes schools exaggerate the prices that students are required to pay for the trips and some students are left out of the experience as a result.

Allison Nakandi, S.2 Makerere College School

School trips may be expensive. However, they give students an opportunity to break the monotony of the school schedule and have fun as well as make life long memories. At the end of the day, the experience that we get is worth the money that we are asked to pay.

Jemimah Blessed, S.4 Makerere College School

I think school trips are generally fairly priced. It is important that schools integrate some school trips into the term because they are educative and they entertain students.

Aksam Kasule Jjingo, S.1 Makerere College School

Trips allow us to learn more outside of the school environment which is refreshing. They make learning more interesting. It is also easier to memorise something that you learned during a school trip because you will associate the concept you learned at the trip with the fun experience that you had.

Rebecca Kwagala, S.1 Makerere College School

School trips expose us to nice places and we get to learn from people who are actually involved in the day to day activities of the concepts that we learn about in class.

Fahad Jjuuko, S.2 Makerere College School

School trips help to improve students’ social skills and their life experience. Students get to learn while having an enjoyable experience. Sometimes the trips come at a high cost, however factors such as the duration of the trip and transportation costs are considered by the school, so the cost is often justified.

Aman Agaazi, S.1 Makerere College School

School trips help us to practically witness what we have learned in class and give us a break from the class room environment so they are important. The money we pay to go on school trips is fair and necessary because it enables schools to coordinate the trips.

Yorkabel Kaleab, S.1 Makerere College School

School trips enable us to learn more about our country. Looking at the places that schools usually visit, I think that the price of school trips is usually fair. If you google some of the places that schools usually take students, you will notice that if a person was to visit those places individually they would probably be charged at a higher cost than the price set by the schools.

Emmanuel Ssekwe, S.1 Mengo Senior School

As a student, I believe schools are often unrealistic with the costs of trips. While such excursions are meant to broaden our horizons, the financial burden they impose can be exclusionary. Many families struggle to meet basic educational expenses, so detached from the socio-economic realities students face. Schools should balance educational enrichment with affordability, ensuring that opportunities are accessible to all rather than reserved for the privileged few.

John Bush Bisaso, S6 Pope John Paul II High School, Nakaseke

School trips are important in learning process because they support practical learning.. that is to say that learners are able to see things outside and relate to what they learn in class..

Phoebe Amongin, S4 Priscilla Comp girls SS -Katakwi

Study trips are important because it aids memory and research. When students go for study trips, they can easily remember what they have learnt…

Irene Amoding, S4 Priscilla Comp girls SS -Katakwi

Study trips help to instill confidence and independence in students. When students go for study trips, they gain confidence and will be able to ask questions.

Janet Norah Ongaria, S4 Priscilla Comp girls SS -Katakwi

Study trips help students to gain research skills. When students go for trips, they gain research skills through asking questions.

Irene Akol S4 Priscilla comp girls SS -Katakwi

Study trips promotes creativity and innovation in the learners. Learners get skills from the places they have visited and apply in their daily life..

Norah Adite S4 Priscilla comp girls SS -Katakwi

I don’t support the idea of students going for study trips because they are a waste of resources. Students can learn everything they need using technology.

Elizabeth Ikwap S4 Priscilla comp girls SS -Katakwi

Study trips are a waste of time and are so expensive. Parents shoulder the burden of paying for the study trips.

Josephine Akiteng S4 Priscilla comp girls SS -Katakwii

Study trips enable learners to know the geographical area of a place. When students go out for trips, they are able to know new places.

Joseph Oupot S4 Priscilla comp girls SS -Katakwi

School trips help to improve students’ social skills and their life experience. Students get to learn while having an enjoyable experience. Sometimes the trips come at a high cost, however factors such as the duration of the trip and transportation costs are considered by the school, so the cost is often justified.

Aman Agaazi S1 Makerere College School

School trips help us to practically witness what we have learned in class and give us a break from the class room environment so they are important. The money we pay to go on school trips is fair and necessary because it enables schools to coordinate the trips. Yorkabel Kaleab S1 Makerere College School

Hundreds of residents in Maziba Sub-county, Kabale District, have expressed frustration over the government’s failure to extend electricity to communities surrounding the Muvumbe Hydropower Station, nearly a decade after the facility began generating power for Uganda’s national grid.

The 6.5-megawatt hydropower plant, constructed by Muvumbe Hydro (Uganda) Limited, began operations in March 2017 after construction started in 2015. Despite hosting the facility, many residents in the area remain without access to electricity.

Maziba Sub-county chairperson Onesmus Mutungye told Monitor that it was unacceptable that communities hosting the power station had remained in darkness for nine years.

“We appeal to the government to intervene in this matter because it is embarrassing to have such a big hydroelectric generating power station that does not provide electricity to all the villages, trading centres, community institutions such as churches, schools and health centres,” Mutungye said.

He added: “At the beginning of the project, we thought it would provide electricity to boost the development of cottage industries for value addition, but nine years later Maziba Sub-county has remained the way it was before the hydroelectric generating power station was established.”

Maziba comprises 65 villages and lies along Uganda’s border with Rwanda.

Mutungye said two government-supported agro-processing projects, a Shs400 million coffee processing factory and a Shs400 million pineapple processing plant, remain idle because they have never been connected to electricity.

He added that the area is a major producer of coffee, bananas and pineapples, but farmers continue to sell raw produce to middlemen due to the absence of value-addition facilities.

“Farmers are left with no option other than being exploited by middlemen and the youth have remained unemployed,” he remarked.

The senior Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL) area manager for Kabale, Lovinsa Nshemerirwe, said the hydropower project was developed by an Independent Power Producer (IPP) whose role was limited to generating electricity for supply into the national grid.

“Muvumbe hydroelectric generation dam was constructed by an Independent Power Producer and it was not their mandate to provide power to the community members but rather to generate power and have it connected to the main electricity grid to boost electricity supply,” Nshemerirwe explained.

She advised residents to petition political leaders to lobby for rural electrification infrastructure.

“The complaining individuals should petition their area Member of Parliament and the district leadership to lobby the Rural Electrification Agency to construct electricity lines, and as UEDCL we shall connect them after they have applied for electricity connection in the area,” she said.

Ndorwa East MP Protazy Begumisa acknowledged the problem and pledged to engage the government to address the lack of electricity in the area.

“Lack of electricity in some parts of Ndorwa East constituency where Muvumbe hydroelectric power station is located is a real problem,” Begumisa said, adding: “Some areas do not have access to telecommunication networks because of lack of electricity and road network to hilltops where telecom masts can be constructed. I will try my level best to lobby the Office of the Prime Minister for support.”

The legislator said he would also use personal resources to support electricity extension in some villages.

“My approach for this term of office is to talk less and work for the people,” he added.

Located in Kigarama Village, Nyanja Parish, the Muvumbe Hydropower Station was licensed by the Electricity Regulatory Authority in 2014 to generate and sell power to the Uganda Electricity Transmission Company Limited for integration into the national grid.

Residents say that ‘while the project has contributed to national electricity supply, its failure to benefit host communities has undermined local economic development and delayed efforts to establish agro-processing industries in one of Kabale’s key agricultural areas.’

The culture of male traditional circumcision among the Bagisu is one of the admired cultures worldwide, which the tribesmen believe is a way of promoting boys to men. The culture is full of rituals, performed from the stage of preparing the candidates to the last point of facing the surgeon, locally referred to as umushebi.

The activity involves removing the foreskin of the reproductive organs of the boys, who are usually between 14 to 18 years of age, every even year for more than 200 years ago according to historians and cultural enthusiasts.

The culture accompanied by the traditional dance, kadodi, is directly connected to nature and the current weather patterns, the reason negative effects of climate change are now affecting the way the rituals are performed. This year’s Imbalu (circumcision) launch is scheduled to take place on August 1. The Imbalu culture is practised among the Bagisu, a tribe settled at the slopes of Mount Elgon in eastern Uganda, occupying the districts of Mbale, Manafa, Bududa, Namisindwa, Sironko and Bulambuli. Mr Yazid Masaba, an elder from Wanale clan in Mbale City, says climate change now poses a threat to the culture.

‘This may lead to abandoning of some of the precious rituals that define and beautify the Imbalu (circumcision), such as mudding, which is done in sacred swamps and wells,’ he says.

With the disappearance of some sacred swamps and drying up of wells, Mr Masaba says some components of the ritual are being abandoned. ‘In some circumstances, where drought has persisted in the months of August and December, some wells in most areas start drying and water is waited for as it comes from the ground. This is affecting our Imbalu rituals,’ he says. Each clan among the Bamasaba has a sacred swamp where the boys are taken to be smeared with mud on the last day before going to face the knife. In the rural areas, where the swamps are known, people are only allowed to cultivate or do any work from there during the year which is not for circumcision (odd year).

Mr Seth Muboolo, a resident of Bukonde Sub-county and a member of Butanga clan, says one risks his crops or any constructive work if he or she carries out work in the known sacred swamps during the circumcision year. ‘All these rituals require to be performed in places where natural water is stored, but climate change sometimes has brought changing weather patterns, which renders some rituals to go unperformed,’ he says. In this culture, boys are prepared and as a sign that one is ready to face the knife that fateful even year, the family prepares part of the millet that they use for brewing malwa, a traditional alcohol made from fermenting millet, maize or cassava.

The kadodi drummers, say without swamps, the making of the drums is also hard and in the long-run as swamps disappear within Bugisu Sub-region, it might affect the sound that has attracted a following from all over the world. Mr Wilson Wasukira, an elder from Sironko Town Council in Sironko District, also expressed concern over Mt Elgon losing green vegetation that harbours the Colobus monkeys, whose skins are used by Imbalu candidates. ‘Wildlife conservation is part of the key aspects for the Bamasaba culture to thrive in modernity as the candidates to be circumcised are decorated by skins of black and white Colobus monkeys and also their tails but soon we will lack those things,’ he says. Elders say traditional herbs, which were used for healing circumcision wounds are also disappearing and the locals are now using modern medicine.

Mr Joseph Weyusa, an elder from Mbale City, says circumcision is losing the economic benefit for candidates. ‘Today, Imbalu culture has changed due to religion and also modernity, with some parents believing that when a boy is circumcised culturally – through practices such as Kadodi dances and making malwa – he is no longer religious and is going astray,’ he says. Mr Moses Kutoyi, an elder and minister for culture and heritage in the cultural institution, says although climate change is affecting Imbalu, they will work hard to preserve it. Mr Kutoyi explains that during the circumcision year, cultural norms require families to observe peace – no divorce, no domestic violence and minimal quarrels.

‘Unity is essential because family members must work together in preparations such as cultivation, sowing millet and ensuring adequate food and birds for the circumcision ceremonies,’ he says. He emphasises that there are only two recognised Imbalu seasons in the region: August and December. ‘The August season is determined through a ritual involving a bird performed in July, which confirms the timing of circumcision. The December season mainly caters for school-going boys,’ he says.

Documentation of the Imbalu ceremony in Bugisu dates back to 1804, although it is believed that the practice began many centuries earlier. Registration of candidates for circumcision in the current season has already started. By April, the Bugisu Cultural Institution is expected to release the full list of candidates. In 2024, a total of 6,024 boys were circumcised across the Bugisu Sub-region. The Bugisu Cultural Institution believes that this number is likely to surpass the 2024 figure in the upcoming season.

What was expected to be one of the biggest religious gatherings in Uganda this year has become a test of faith, resilience, and obedience for the Catholic faithful in Kasese Diocese. For months, the Diocese of Kasese had been preparing to animate the national Uganda Martyrs Day celebrations scheduled for June 3 at Namugongo Catholic Shrine.

Committees had been formed, pilgrims mobilised, and plans finalised for thousands of worshippers expected to gather at the historic shrine. But the outbreak of Ebola in Uganda compelled government and church leaders to cancel the national celebrations, bringing preparations to an abrupt halt.

Despite the disappointment, church leaders in Kasese say the faithful will still commemorate the Uganda Martyrs in a meaningful way through parish-level celebrations across the diocese. Speaking during a press briefing at the Perpetual Adoration compound in Kasese Town on Saturday, Bishop Francis Acquirinus Kibira Kambale of the Diocese of Kasese, said the cancellation was unfortunate but necessary to protect public health.

‘Last year in June, we were authorised by the chairperson of the Uganda Episcopal Conference to prepare for the national celebrations of the Uganda Martyrs at Namugongo for this year, 3rd June 2026. We had reached the peak of our preparations. Unfortunately, due to the Ebola outbreak, the government postponed our celebrations,’ Bishop Kibira said.

The diocese, which comprises 14 parishes and two pastoral centres, had invested significant effort and resources into preparations. Many Christians were eagerly waiting for an opportunity to lead the national celebrations, an honour that rotates among dioceses across the country. According to Bishop Kibira, the decision to cancel the gathering followed guidance from the Uganda Episcopal Conference.

‘We had the guidance from the chairperson. He advised us to hold parish-level celebrations on 3rd June, following the usual format of Sunday Masses in parishes and outstations,’ Bishop Kibira explained. As a result, Catholics will gather in their local churches instead of travelling to Namugongo. Masses will be celebrated in areas where priests are present, while catechists will lead prayer services in locations without resident priests.

The decision reflects Church’s effort to balance spiritual obligations with public health concerns. The Ebola outbreak has continued to raise concern among health authorities. On May 14, 2026, the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Health, Dr Diana Atwiine, announced that an Ebola patient had travelled from the Democratic Republic of Congo, the centre of the outbreak and was admitted to Kibuli Hospital before he died.

By Saturday, Uganda had registered one imported Ebola-related death and seven confirmed cases, prompting the government to strengthen surveillance measures, including the closure of the Mpondwe-Lhubiriha border crossing in Kasese District. The outbreak has had a direct impact on pilgrimage activities.

Before the cancellation, more than 70 pilgrims from the Democratic Republic of Congo had already arrived in Kasese on May 15. The pilgrims had been received at Kabuyiri Catholic Shrine and were preparing to begin their traditional foot pilgrimage to Namugongo.

For many believers, the cancellation was heartbreaking. Uganda Martyrs Day is one of the most significant events on the Catholic calendar, that attracts millions of pilgrims from Uganda and neighbouring countries. But Bishop Kibira urges Christians not to lose sight of the deeper meaning of the day. He said the commemoration should remain a moment for believers to reflect on the courage, sacrifice and faith demonstrated by the Uganda Martyrs.

The bishop encouraged Christians to use the day to strengthen their relationship with God and renew their commitment to Christian values. He said the day should help every believer to grow in faith, love for Christ, love for neighbours and commitment to their various vocations in life. He also appealed to Christians to remain vigilant and follow health guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health.

‘In all our institutions, let us do our best by observing the recommended standard operating procedures as provided by the government through the Ministry of Health. I call upon you to listen and to follow the guidance of the parish priests and the government authorities in our different places regarding pastoral and health measures, respectively,’ Bishop Kibira said. He also called on Ugandans to continue praying for the country and particularly for health workers who are at the forefront of the Ebola response.

The cancellation has been particularly difficult for the organising committee, whose members had spent months preparing for the national event.

Rev Fr John Baptist Kule, the organising chairperson, described the announcement as a major shock. ‘We received the news with shock. I want to ask everyone to take courage because the Episcopal Conference has requested that we animate next year in June,’ Rev Fr Kule said. Despite the setback, he remains optimistic that the preparations already undertaken will not go to waste.

He encouraged contributors and supporters who had invested resources in the preparations to remain hopeful, saying the next celebration is only a year away. ‘In the meantime, the organising committee is going to evaluate our preparations, identify the gaps and improve where necessary,’ he said.

The announcement that Kasese Diocese would host the Uganda Martyrs celebrations had generated excitement throughout the region early this year. Local institutions had already started preparing for the occasion. According to Joseph Nzukwa, the head teacher of Kasese Secondary School, some of his students travelled to Namugongo to participate in the liturgy during the May 30 celebrations, despite the cancellation of the larger gathering. Meanwhile, government authorities continue to tighten border surveillance to prevent the further spread of Ebola.

Standard Chartered Bank Uganda and Absa Bank Uganda Limited have received regulatory approval from the Bank of Uganda for Standard Chartered to sell its Wealth and Retail Banking (WRB) business to Absa, a transaction the banks say marks ‘an important milestone for Uganda’s banking sector.’

In a joint statement issued June 1, the lenders said the approval ‘reflects continued confidence in the strength, stability, and regulatory oversight of the country’s financial system.’

It also, they said, ‘reinforces Absa’s position as a well-capitalised financial institution with a strong governance framework and a long-term commitment to the Ugandan market.’

‘There is no immediate change for customers, and day-to-day banking operations will continue as usual,’ the statement read, adding: ‘Clients will continue to access banking services through the same channels, and any future changes will be communicated clearly and in advance, in line with regulatory requirements.’

A deliberate withdrawal

The Uganda transaction is the latest chapter in a continent-wide retreat by Standard Chartered, which has been systematically shedding consumer-facing operations across Africa as part of a strategic overhaul led by Chief Executive Bill Winters.

In November 2024, the London-headquartered bank signalled intent to explore a sale of its retail and wealth operations in Botswana, Uganda and Zambia.

By June 2025, it had already completed the transfer of its Tanzanian wealth and retail business to Access Bank. Earlier divestments covered Angola, Cameroon, The Gambia, and Sierra Leone.

Standard Chartered is doubling down on affluent, cross-border clients and large corporates, segments where it commands a pricing premium and can deploy capital more efficiently.

Its Corporate and Investment Banking arm in Uganda is unaffected by the sale.

Sanjay Rughani, CEO and Managing Director of Standard Chartered Uganda, has previously noted: ‘This decision reflects our continued commitment to align our operations with Standard Chartered’s global strategy, focusing on our core strengths in Corporate and Investment Banking.’

He confirmed the bank would continue supporting clients through trade finance, capital markets, and advisory services.

Absa’s ambitions

For Absa, the acquisition is a calculated step in a longer game. Since rebranding from Barclays in 2020, the Johannesburg-based lender has been building out its retail and SME banking operations across the continent, seeking to fill the void left by retreating international players.

Adding Standard Chartered’s Ugandan retail book gives Absa a deeper customer base and a broader product portfolio in one of East Africa’s fastest-growing economies, putting it in more direct competition with dominant local players like Stanbic Bank, Centenary Bank, Equity Bank, and dfcu Bank.

‘This transaction supports Absa’s strategic Pan-African growth ambitions and further strengthens Absa’s position in Uganda’s financial services landscape. It will enable Absa Uganda to broaden its retail and wealth management offerings and deliver increased convenience and value to our customers,’ said Charles Russon, Group Executive for Africa Regions, Absa.

David Wandera, Managing Director of Absa Bank Uganda, said the bank would leverage existing infrastructure and digital platforms to absorb the new business, calling it ‘an opportunity to welcome new customers and colleagues into the Absa family, while reaffirming our long-term commitment to Uganda’s economic development.’

What next?

The deal is approved but not yet final. As the official statement made clear, the transaction becomes effective only once ‘the remaining conditions set out in the transaction agreement have been fulfilled.”

The Bank of Uganda’s approval is widely read as a vote of institutional confidence, in Absa’s financial standing, in the robustness of the transaction structure, and in the capacity of Uganda’s banking sector to absorb one of its most significant ownership transfers in recent memory.

Boys and men must become active participants in the menstrual hygiene movement. Their involvement is not about taking over spaces meant for girls and women, but about becoming supportive allies who challenge stigma, promote respect, and help create enabling environments.

Boys should grow into informed and empathetic men. Fathers should feel confident discussing periods and purchasing sanitary products for their daughters. Male leaders should champion policies and budgets that prioritize menstrual health.

Engaging men and boys is critical for transforming harmful gender norms and building communities where girls feel safe, respected, and supported. When boys are included in conversations about menstrual health, stigma reduces, empathy increases, and supportive behaviors become more common. Menstrual health education should therefore not be limited to girls alone-it must involve everyone.

However, awareness alone is not enough. We need robust accountability and sustained commitment. First, political goodwill is essential. Governments at national and local levels must prioritize menstrual health in policies, budgets, and public service delivery.

Menstrual hygiene should not depend solely on NGOs or temporary projects. It must be integrated into education, health, water and sanitation, and gender programming. Second, we need evidence-based data to inform action. Too many girls in rural communities remain invisible in policy discussions because their realities are underreported.

Third, financing matters. Without adequate investment, schools cannot build girl-friendly sanitation facilities, provide emergency menstrual supplies, or deliver comprehensive menstrual health education. Menstrual products remain unaffordable for many families struggling with poverty.

Governments and development partners must increase financing for menstrual health and hygiene interventions, especially in underserved rural areas. Finally, we must listen to the lived realities of girls and women themselves.

Policies and programs cannot succeed if they are designed without the voices of those most affected. Girls understand the barriers they face every day-fear of embarrassment, lack of privacy, pain management challenges, stigma, and economic hardship. Their voices should guide solutions.

Menstrual Hygiene Day should therefore be more than a symbolic celebration. It should be a call to action.

A period-friendly world is possible-a world where no girl misses school because of menstruation, where periods are discussed openly without shame, where schools provide safe and dignified sanitation facilities, and where boys and men stand as allies for gender equality and dignity.

Menstruation is not a women’s and girls’ issue alone. It is a community issue, a public health issue, a human rights issue, and a gender justice issue.

The government is set to introduce new regulations aimed at strengthening environmental governance and natural resource management at district and urban levels across the country. The proposed regulations, being developed by the National Environment Management Authority (Nema), seek to operationalise Sections 27, 28 and 29 of the National Environment Act, 2019, which provide for the establishment, functions and financing of District Environment and Natural Resources Committees.

Officials say the regulations will offer a clear framework for implementing environmental laws and promoting the sustainable use of natural resources.

Speaking during a strategic meeting in Kampala last week to discuss the roadmap for completing the regulations, Mr James Muhindo, a senior legal officer at Nema, said the new legal framework would guide the establishment and operation of environment and natural resource committees at district and urban council levels.

‘The regulations provide for the establishment of urban and district environment and natural resource committees and also define their functions as well as procedures for their operation,’ he said. According to the draft regulations, the committees will comprise between 12 and 14 members, including Members of Parliament, district chairpersons, environmental officers, resident district commissioners and other key stakeholders, supported by a secretariat.

‘The committees will ensure that environmental concerns are mainstreamed into all district and urban council plans and projects while promoting sustainable management of natural resources,’ Mr Muhindo said.

He revealed that the final draft regulations are expected to be completed by July before being submitted to the Attorney General and the Ministry of Finance for clearance. The regulations are expected to be approved by the Minister of Water by December. The draft regulations have been developed jointly by Nema, the environmental advocacy organisation Environmental Management for Livelihood Improvement Bwaise Facility, and the World Wide Fund for Nature.

Stakeholders at the meeting emphasised the need to involve local communities in environmental conservation efforts if the country is to achieve sustainable management of natural resources.

Mr Robert Bakiika, a technical adviser at the Ministry of Water and Environment, said civic education should be prioritised to help communities understand environmental laws and their responsibilities. ‘I really believe that if we continue to make our communities understand environmental and climate change terminologies, we will achieve self-compliance, which offers more sustainable solutions,’ Mr Bakiika said.