Category: Daily Monitor

Feeding Uganda’s population with a nutritious diet requires moving past mere food sufficiency to ensure access to balanced, bio fortified diets.

It also means addressing systemic challenges across local agriculture such as climate-smart farming, tackling poverty and expanding nutritional education to ensure every region has access to a diverse mix of food.

This is the thinking of legislators under the Uganda Parliamentary Alliance on Food and Nutrition Security (UPA-FNS) and development partners who are set to organise the 5th Parliamentary nutrition week in Iganga from June 22 to 27.

This year’s focus is feeding school children with nutritious food under the theme ‘Nourishing the minds, empowering the future.’

Background

The chairperson of the UPA-FNS, Milton K Muvuma explained the background of advancing the agenda of nutrition in the country, saying legislators started the initiative in 2018

The non-partisan alliance of past and present Members of Parliament works closely with Non-Governmental Organisations such as Food Rights Alliance, Participatory Ecological Land Use Management (Pellum) and Food and Agriculture Organisation among others to address food insecurity and malnutrition through legislation, advocacy and budgetary oversight.

The team holds a nutrition advocacy week every year with the previous one held in Kamwenge, Western Uganda and Moroto in Karamoja sub region.

‘The aim is to achieve comprehensive food security in Uganda which relies interconnected focus areas – namely nutrition balance which transitions from monotonous foods consisting of starch to Energy giving foods such as maize, millet, cassava to body building foods such as beans, groundnuts, milk, fish to protective foods like vegetables and fruits,’ Mr Kavuma says.

‘Others are bio fortification utilising crops specifically bred to address micronutrient deficiencies, such as iron-rich beans and Vitamin A-enriched orange sweet potatoes.’

Nutrition week

The Bukooli Island County Member of Parliament, Mr Peter Okeyo said this year’s focus is on feeding school children.

‘School feeding is an investment in agriculture and the legislators have been encouraging schools to establish school gardens where school children can grow their own nutritious food ranging from vegetables and bio fortified sweet potatoes and beans,’ he noted.

He contends that Busoga used to be a food basket one time but because of sugarcane growing, food is becoming scarce. This leaves children in the region with no food to pack and take to school.

Many children, as a result, have dropped out of school. During the celebrations, the team will sensitize the Busoga community and learners to embrace school gardens.

Role of development partners

Ms Mary Apio, the Advocacy officer at Pellum noted that her team emphasises communities and schools to adopt growing of indigenous crops which are so nutritious in nature to address the issue of feeding on nutritious food.

‘Despite the well-documented benefits of school feeding in boosting enrolment, attendance, retention and learning outcomes, the reality remains that school feeding in Uganda is fragmented, underfunded and lacks strong policy backing,’ she notes.

Giving the statistical data, Ms Apio notes that shockingly, about 67 percent of children in Uganda’s Universal Primary Education (UPE) schools attend classes without the benefit of a school meal.

Out of over 8.2 million learners, only roughly 48,000 receive meals through government-supported programs, mostly reliant on donor-funded initiatives like those of the World Food Programme.

Yet evidence clearly shows that every US dollar invested in school feeding can generate up to nine dollars in economic returns that translate into healthier children, better education outcomes and a more productive future workforce.

This year’s Nutrition Week provides a vital platform to raise awareness and galvanize action. It’s a call to all of us to work together toward meeting Sustainable Development Goal two on Zero Hunger and Uganda’s national nutrition targets under the Uganda Nutrition Action Plan II.

Uganda is among six African countries that will return to the now annual Fifa U-17 World Cup in Qatar that will played from November 19 to December 13.

Uganda which qualified for their first ever U-17 World Cup at last year’s edition joins Egypt, Mali, Ivory Coast, Senegal, and Morocco in defending their slots at the international showpiece. After finishing third in an U-17 Africa Cup of Nations group topped by Ivory Coast and Cameroon, and also included DRC, Uganda had to come from down twice to draw 2-2 with Ghana in regulation time of their World Cup qualification playoff match in Morocco. The Cubs then beat Ghana 8-7 on penalties to advance to Qatar 2026.

Fufa leaders used a dinner held on Tuesday at Sheraton Kampala Hotel to celebrate the players, the achievement, and as a chance to take stock of their efforts in youth football.

“Five years ago the president (Moses Magogo) told us that football development does not need to make noise in the papers. What makes noise is what you do on pitch,” Ronnie Kalema the Fufa executive secretary in charge of football development, said.

“On October 17, 2023, Fufa launched the Technical Master Plan and I want to thank the CEO (chief executive officer of Fufa) Edgar Watson for finding us a football development director, Bashir Mutyaba, that is hands on in implementation. And I also want to to thank the Uganda Youth Football Association (UYFA) for providing space for these young players to get an opportunity to play football and also USSSA (Uganda Secondary School Sports Association), which is playing a big part in developing the game.

“This success is not just a qualification but a reward of the belief, hardwork, and zeal that these young boys showed. It is important to note that the development pathway is not just for the boys but the girls too and we hope they also qualify soon.

“In this same hotel last year, we celebrated our maiden qualification to the World Cup. Who knows, maybe this might become the norm in our country,” Kalema added.

Dreams come alive

The function was attended by key enablers like the Commissioner of Physical Education and Sports in the Ministry of Education and Sports Rev. Canon Duncans Mugumya, National Council of Sports (NCS) assistant general secretary (technical) Milton Chebet, headteachers of Kyaddondo SS, St. Mary’s School Kitende, Kibuli SS, Amus College, and Bukedea Comprehensive, academy representatives from Ebenezer, KCCA, Prosper, Edgars, and Rays of Grace, plus some parents of the players.

“From last year’s U-17 team, we have four or five players that have moved to Europe. We will probably have more now because scouts are starting to look at us. Remember this is an annual tournament so, academies should double their efforts now and have players on the national team,” Roberts Kiwanuka, also director Rays of Grace academy, said.

Maybe Ugandan players can dream a little more now. Emmanuel and Shamim Mubiru, the parents of Trevor Mubiru, who scored the decisive kick in the shootouts against Ghana spoke of the anxiety in the moment and the their sons’ dreams.

“My stomach started hurting as soon as he walked up. But it had already showed signs when he was kicked a few times in the match,” his mother said while the father – a comedian and radio presenter – said “I tried playing football at Kajjansi Progressive between 1992 and 1997 but those were tough times where we had no shoes and opportunities. I am glad Trevor is now fulfilling my dreams.”

These dreams, captain Owen Mukisa said have seen them endure “sleepless nights, hard training, and criticism from our own fans. But we never gave up.”

“It is a great honour that we are and we want to thak for Fufa for giving us this opportunity. To achieve this was not easy but we promise to work even harder to make our country proud at the World Cup,” Mukisa added.

Pushing for dominance

According to Mugumya and USSSA president Justus Mugisha, Uganda will soon do even better at the World Cup. Last year in Qatar, Uganda beat France and drew with Chile after losing to Canada to make the knockout stages as one of best third-placed teams. Uganda went on to beat Senegal in the Round of 32 before losing to Burkina Faso in the Round of 16.

“This (return to the World Cup) fills me with pride because it shows we are doing this the right way,” Mugisha, who doubles as Fufa’s vice president, said.

“When you win once, it can be by chance. But when you qualify twice, one year after another, it shows there is a lot of work done. As players you have put in a lot but you have been pushed by your academies, primary and secondary schools which pay fees for you, and then programmes of Fufa.

“I have a lot of confidence that Uganda is going to dominate youth football very soon. The same schools that have players have dominated international schools’ football.

“This year, our Caf U-15 team was second in Africa. Two years ago, we went to China for ISF Schools Football World Cup where Amus were number two and Bukedea were third in boys’ football. Previously we were in Morocco (Caf U-15) were St. Noa Girls were second,” Mugisha added before he was complemented by Mugumya who recognized that at the 2024 ISF World Cup in China Amus and Bukedea beat schools from Germany, Nigeria, and Brazil among others thereby setting a right basis for better hope.

“Now that we will have a World Cup for U-15s soon, we have to go deeper and put in the work when these kids are Under 13. We need partnerships with primary schools,” Mugisha added.

Vision getting clearer

Fufa have put in work at the lower grassroots and just probably need to re-engineer the focus.

“Our vision has always been to be the number one football federation in Africa and to do that you must be chilling with the big boys. You only need to read the list of those that have qualified for the World Cup back-to-back to that it is possible for us to chill with them,” Magogo said before delving into their works.

“This has not come accidently but through deliberate plans by the federation. In 2015, we started the Fufa Juniors League. Before that, we did not have any organized competition for players other than the Premier League.

“In 2018, we realized we need to go lower and introduced Odilo which is the Primary School version by Fufa. Now today we have many competitions but they are just to cast a net so we can be able to tap as much talent as we can.

“We started the Fufa TV Cup to make sure the traditional schools are also involved in football. Of course when we start things they are not usually popular but we do so because we are tall enough to see tomorrow.

“I am glad to announce that we have two players in this squad that have played the Fufa TV Cup; John Brian Owino and Inshirah Mahyoub,” Magogo explained before further highlighting their Masterplan.

“The Technical Master Plan is the encyclopedia, bible of all of this. And everything you are going to see is coming from that well thought, structured, planned, resourced programme.

“If you want to chill with the big boys you must source talent. We have scouts in 46 districts of Uganda looking for talent aged 11 years and below.

“Once talent is identified, there must entities that absorb it such that there is a deliberate effort to develop them. That is why we have licensed 67 academies graded as two, three, and four (school programme) and these have been submitted to National Council of Sports for licensing.

“As a federation, we have drawn a football curriculum with five subjects; technique (friendship between player and ball), tactics (relationship between a player and those around them on pitch), conditioning (relationship between a player and their body), psychology (relationship between the player and the mind), and the relationship between player and the environment they live in.

“We also established Schools of Excellence which have our coaches and have given us 30 bursaries for the identified players,” Magogo shared.

The Fufa president also reserved congratulatory remarks for the players.

“I am told there is a storm in Ghana right now after we beat them but I have told their (Football Association) president to take heart as we have been victims of Ghana many times at various levels.

“The boys deserved to qualify because they played entertaining football. They were deliberate and taking decisions on the field of play.

“These youth pathways have created players like Byaruhanga Bobosi, Kenneth Ssemakula, Rogers Mato, Travis Mutyaba, Aziz Kayondo, Allan Okello, and James Bwogere who have since moved to the national team. And we believe that even these ones who are here have a journey because we intend to qualify for the (U-17) World Cup every year for the next five years so we have a pipeline of players feeding the senior national team.

“Even more importantly, I want to thank government led by President (Yoweri) Museveni and the (Minister of Sports and Education) First Lady (Janet) for funding these teams because we are now able to go. The U-17 World Cup was not invented today but has been around since 1985,” Magogo concluded.

There is a dangerous thing that happens when you buy a smartphone in Uganda. The phone does not simply connect you to the internet. No. It connects you to seven different versions of Kampala at the same time. One small Tecno Spark with a cracked screen protector and suspicious battery life can carry a church WhatsApp group, three political wars on X, a soft-life Instagram personality, six unfinished TikTok drafts, and a Facebook account still using a graduation photo from 2014. All inside one device surviving on 14 percent battery and prayer.

At this point, social media in Uganda is no longer technology. It is geography. Every app feels like its own district with separate laws, slang, transport system, and unemployment rate. Moving from one platform to another feels like crossing East African borders without a passport. One minute you are on LinkedIn discussing ‘leveraging innovation for sustainable impact,’ sounding like a United Nations consultant. Two seconds later, you are on TikTok watching a grown man cry over a heartbreak while frying cassava in Nateete.

And the funniest thing is that every platform has citizens. Entire tribes. Entire behaviours. The same Ugandan transforms completely depending on where you find them. On LinkedIn, they are ‘honoured and humbled’ to attend webinars. On X, they are political analysts with anger issues. On Instagram, they are holding wine glasses they did not buy. On WhatsApp, they are borrowing transport money with urgency that sounds medically certified. A single Ugandan can switch personalities faster than a politician during campaign season. And somehow, all these people are living inside one phone with no storage space left.

In this article we profile the commonly used social media apps, and if it walks like a duck, swims like a duck, or quacks like a duck the probably it is…? Facebook: The uncle who still says ‘Gud Morning Frends’ Facebook was the first social media platform to properly arrive in Uganda and change lives permanently. Before influencers, podcasts, and TikTok dances in supermarket aisles, Facebook was already here connecting relatives, exposing family secrets, and teaching Ugandans how to argue digitally. Ironically, it also remains officially ‘banned’ in Uganda, a fact that makes absolutely no difference because people still use it freely, companies still advertise there, politicians still campaign there, and somewhere right now, an auntie in Mityana is posting ‘Gud evening dear frnds’ with a sparkling flower GIF from 2008. It is probably the only illegal place in Uganda where businesses run promotions comfortably.

The younger generation now talks about Facebook the way people discuss black-and-white television. To them, it feels ancient. Archaeological. A place for uncles, aunties, former guild leaders, and people who still type ‘HBD’ with deep emotional commitment.

But despite the jokes, Facebook remains dangerously active. The crowd there is massive. Entire lives are happening on that app. Facebook in Uganda is not an app, it is an LC1 meeting with internet bundles. A digital village trading centre where politics, gossip, prayer requests, business, heartbreak, and fake news all rent the same room.

Somebody posts a missing dog and suddenly the comments are discussing land grabbing, witchcraft, fuel prices, and why children no longer greet elders. And no platform respects unnecessary long captions like Facebook. Birthday posts there look like witness statements submitted to court. Facebook aunties are entrepreneurs by force; everyone is selling ginger, rice, blankets, or original Turkey bedsheets.

X: Kampala’s loudest student

X, formerly Twitter, is what happens when caffeine, WiFi, unemployment, sarcasm, and unresolved anger meet in a dark room and decide to start a republic. Ugandan Twitter users behave like they are permanently trapped inside a debate hall. Every single person on that app believes their opinion is breaking news and the funniest thing is that people tweet not because they have thoughts but because they desperately want strangers to clap for those thoughts. The entire app survives on attention-seeking disguised as intellectualism. Tweeps cannot simply disagree peacefully. No. Somebody must be cooked publicly. Somebody must lose employment opportunities. Somebody’s old tweets from 2017 must be resurrected like ancient scriptures. And everyone starts threads. Banange, Twitter people type ‘THREAD’ like they are releasing leaked CIA documents.

‘THREAD: Why chapati prices explain the collapse of modern masculinity.’ Twenty-seven tweets later, you are somehow discussing colonialism, potholes in Kampala, and emotional trauma caused by UACE results. Relationships also die there publicly. One screenshot can destroy a marriage before breakfast. ‘Men are embarrassing,’ someone tweets, and immediately the timeline gathers like people surrounding an accident on Jinja Road. Retweets flying everywhere. Fake relationship experts emerging from nowhere.

Instagram (IG): The soft-life cousin who never sweats

Instagram is a witness protection programme for struggling people. The moment someone opens IG, poverty immediately loses network. Rent disappears. Loan apps become spiritual matters. Everybody suddenly becomes a lifestyle influencer. Nobody on IG has ever suffered in a taxi at Clock Tower traffic. Nobody is sweating. Nobody is begging a conductor to stop masso awo. Everybody is glowing under soft lighting while drinking iced coffee that costs more than transport from Kampala to Jinja. Instagram men are also committed to organised lying. Somebody posts airport photos with a visible passport and laptop bag like they are negotiating oil deals in Dubai, meanwhile they are attending a cousin’s introduction in Kigali. Gym people wake up at 5am to professionally document suffering. ‘Consistency.’

Relationships there move like Netflix trailers; matching outfits, drone shots, forehead touching then two weeks later all photos disappear like classified government documents. No questions asked. Instagram is basically Kampala with beauty filters and denial. Outside is not healing anybody, outside is expensive.

TikTok: The hyperactive student

TikTok is chaos wearing earphones. Aboda boda rider becomes a philosopher overnight and a rolex vendor suddenly reviews restaurants like he trained in Paris. Somebody cries over heartbreak at 2pm and by evening has gained 40K followers and a partnership selling waist trainers. TikTok in Uganda moves faster than fuel price rumours. One sound starts in Kampala in the morning and by sunset aunties in Mbarara are attempting a choreography routine their knees rejected spiritually. TikTok users have no shame, and honestly, that is why the app works. One video teaches budgeting, the next is a man barking at goats.

Ugandan TikTok Lives are another level of madness. TikTok Live feels like a digital trading centre mixed with a church crusade and a boxing match. People are insulting each other passionately while strangers send galaxies, lions, and universes worth actual school fees. Before, celebrities needed TV stations. Now all you need is confidence, a ring light, and the willingness to embarrass yourself. Even serious corporate employees who send emails saying ‘Kind regards’ are secretly recording dance trends in office bathrooms during lunch break.

TikTok also turned Uganda into a nation of relationship counsellors. A 22-year-old surviving exclusively on vibes and borrowed WiFi is advising married couples: ‘Know your worth queen.’ Everybody on TikTok suddenly has soft life advice while sharing apartments with three cousins and one mosquito net. But somewhere inside all the chaos, TikTok did something beautiful. It gave ordinary Ugandans visibility. Markets, ghettos, salons, pork joints, and boda stages suddenly found audiences. Kampala became one giant performance with background music and unnecessary confidence.

LinkedIn: The corporate pastor of social media

LinkedIn is where Ugandans go to wear invisible suits. People type there like they are addressing shareholders during a national emergency. Nobody simply gets a job. ‘Honoured and humbled to begin this exciting leadership journey…’ bro, you are an intern at a company with one office printer and unstable WiFi. LinkedIn users are passionate about innovation, synergy, digital transformation, sustainable ecosystems, and impact. Impact on what exactly? Everybody there sounds like they personally advise the World Bank during tea breaks.

LinkedIn users also love fake humility. ‘I am deeply grateful to announce…’ followed by a professional photoshoot where they look like candidates for UN Secretary General. Graduation photos become presidential portraits; crossed arms, serious face, suit tighter than Uganda’s economy. As if Makerere handed you control of inflation personally and unemployment there is treated like a spiritual growth journey. ‘After months of reflection, I am open to new opportunities.’ Translation: My contract expired peacefully. LinkedIn networking is also suspicious. ‘Dear esteemed professional, I hope this message finds you well…’ The message never finds you well. It finds you jobless and emotionally available. Everybody suddenly becomes a thought leader after attending one webinar with free certificates.

WhatsApp: Uganda’s real national infrastructure

Forget roads. Forget electricity. WhatsApp is Uganda’s real infrastructure. The time WhatsApp stopped working, half the country entered national mourning. Businesses collapsed and relationships failed. WhatsApp is where actual Ugandan life happens. Family groups. Church groups. Burial contribution groups. SACCO groups. Wedding committees that operate like temporary governments. And groups that died in 2021 but nobody exits because leaving feels like disrespecting ancestors.

You wake up with 347 unread messages. Most are ‘Amen,’ ‘Noted,’ and 37 praying hand emojis. Then one uncle sends blurry photos from 2013 with the caption: ‘Memories.’ WhatsApp aunties are also the Ministry of Misinformation. ‘Pliz share and save lives.’ Suddenly garlic cures heartbreak, ulcers, and fuel prices simultaneously. Voice notes on WhatsApp working like documentaries. Somebody sends a seven-minute audio while walking through wind, taxis, chickens, and construction noise. WhatsApp fights are also legendary, especially in family groups. One funeral contribution debate exposes generational trauma immediately. Some people only appear during eating, silence. Then somebody exits dramatically. Meanwhile statuses became Uganda’s emotional broadcasting station. People post heartbreak songs, gym videos, political opinions, food, memes, and indirect messages.

Snapchat: The campuser still living in 2018

Snapchat feels like somebody who peaked during university fresher’s week and never emotionally recovered. Snapchat users still behave like it is 2018. Dog filters. Blurry party videos. Captions like meet my people, meanwhile everybody in the photo met 30 minutes ago near the bar queue. Snapchat is basically campus energy preserved in a laboratory. Private stories are especially dangerous. People post content there that should remain between them and God. Somebody is crying over a heartbreak at 2am with Future playing loudly in the background.

And somehow Snapchat users still believe disappearing messages protect them. Banange, screenshots exist, even when it reports, what will you do ? Ugandans can expose an entire relationship faster than gossip moves in a salon. Snapchat is where people go to act mysterious, emotional, toxic, and unavailable while using flower crown filters. It is less of a social media app and more of a digital hostel corridor with WiFi.

Telegram: The suspicious guy wearing shades indoors

Telegram is an underground operation. It feels like a man in shades whispering: I know someone. Everybody there is either planning wealth or planning crime. No middle ground. Telegram groups are full of crypto prophets, forex pastors, betting experts, and leaked movies. Telegram forex groups, especially operate like digital witchcraft. Charts. Candles. Lamborghini wallpapers. Somebody in Kasokoso with a borrowed laptop is teaching financial freedom. And somehow Telegram users still trust strangers with anime profile pictures. Telegram feels like Kampala after midnight; suspicious, chaotic, and somehow still functioning.

The Ministry of Health of Uganda has reported two new cases of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in Kampala, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in Uganda to nine (9), including one death.

Dr Charles Olaro, the Director General of Health Services at the Ministry, said in statement on Friday the confirmed cases are Congolese nationals.

He said the first one is an individual who presented with symptoms consistent with Ebola.

“Our rapid response teams acted swiftly to isolate the patient as soon as symptoms were noted. All contacts of this new confirmed case have been identified and are under close follow up,” he stated.

“The second case is a contact to a previously confirmed case,” he added.

Dr Olaro appealed to the public to be vigilant and report suspected Ebola cases.

“The public is reminded of the following Ebola symptoms: sudden fever, fatigue, muscle pain, vomiting, diarrhea, and unexplained bleeding,” the Ministry said.

“If you or someone you know has these symptoms, call our toll-free number immediately. When an individual reports early, the chances of survival are high,” the Ministry added.

To report a suspected case of Ebola, call the Ministry of Health hotline immediately on 0800-100-066 or send an alert SMS on 6767 or U-Report on 8500.

What Uganda has done to curb Ebola

Closed border with DR Congo

Put restrictions on public gatherings within Uganda

Enhanced awareness and community engagement on Ebola prevention

Established isolation/quarantine centers

Enhanced contact tracing and isolation of contacts

How Ebola spreads

Blood of infected person

Urine

saliva

faeces

Sweat

Vomit

Unsterilised equipment used by an infected person

Soiled clothing of an infected person

Handling wildlife whether alive or dead (especially bats and monkeys)

Prevention

· Avoid physical contact with anyone showing the Ebola symptoms

· Practice hand washing and maintain good hand hygiene at all times

· Avoid contact with body fluids that include urine, blood, sweat, saliva, vomitus, and stool

· seek appropriate health care services immediately when you experience Ebola-like symptoms

· Handling and burial of dead bodies of suspected Ebola patients should be supervised by the health team

· All public places should institute hand-washing facilities at their premises.

The Uganda National Examinations Board has set June 30 as the deadline for normal registration of candidates for the 2026 Primary Leaving Examinations, Uganda Certificate of Education, and Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education. The extension is meant to accommodate newly accredited centres.

UNEB Executive Secretary Mr Daniel Odong said registration is already underway.

‘The registration of the 2026 candidates is under way for PLE, UCE, and UACE. Normal registration has been extended to June 30th, 2026 to accommodate the new centres that have been accredited,’ he said while giving an update at the Media Centre on May 29.

He warned that no registrations will be accepted after July 31. Late registration will attract a surcharge of 100% for PLE and 50% for UCE and UACE, running from July 1 to July 31.

‘Late registration, attracting a surcharge of 100 percent for PLE and 50 percent for UCE and UACE candidates will start on July 1st, 2026 and close July 31st, 2026,’ Odong said.

Centres were urged to complete registration early to avoid last-minute congestion at the deadline.

On fees, Odong said government will continue paying registration for all candidates sponsored under Universal Primary Education, Universal Secondary Education, and Universal Post O-level Education and Training. For privately sponsored candidates, fees remain Shs34,000 for PLE, Shs164,000 for UCE, and Shs186,000 for UACE.

He cautioned heads of centres and school directors against charging extra fees disguised as UNEB charges. ‘Such an offence attracts a penalty to two thousand currency points (Forty Million Shillings) or a term of imprisonment not exceeding ten years or both,’ he said, citing Section 33 of the UNEB Act, Cap 259, which makes it an offence to charge fees not prescribed by UNEB. The board will also withdraw the examination centre and, if the offender is a registered teacher, they will be deregistered.

Parents and members of the public asked to pay inflated ‘UNEB fees’ were advised to report to the nearest police station.

Mr Odong also warned heads of centres and their representatives to remit all UNEB fees and ensure students are fully registered.

‘Any one who fails to do so commits an offence, and is liable, on conviction, to a fine not exceeding two thousand currency points (Forty Million Shillings) or a term of imprisonment not exceeding ten years or both, as provided for in section 32 of the UNEB Act, CAP 259,’ he said.

Offenders will be required to refund money to learners or sponsors and compensate them.

Government-aided schools were put on notice not to register privately sponsored candidates as government-sponsored. Any head of centre or school director found doing so will pay twice the amount defrauded.

Dear Diary,

I no longer believe anyone in Kampala is actually broke. I think we are all just participating in a city-wide financial improv exercise.

Every single day, people are on X tweeting about the economy collapsing, and every single night, those exact same people are ordering tequila towers in Kololo like descendants of oil money. A Kampala person could have Shs14,000 left in their account and still confidently reply: ‘Say less. Outside-st!’

Because somehow, despite fuel prices peaking everyday like an overzealous mountain climber, despite rent behaving like it has a personal vendetta against your bloodline, and despite school fees season arriving with the emotional trauma of a military operation, this city simply will not stay home.

This month alone, rent, school fees, Yaka (yes, I still refuse to call it Light), and National Water bills all landed at the same time like a coordinated spiritual attack. Naturally, everybody spent the entire week lamenting. ‘School fees week!’ Others declared the economy needed a National Day of Prayer, that fuel was now basically liquid gold, and that everyone desperately needed a side hustle.

Then Friday reached.

And suddenly, Bandali Rise looked like the economy had fully recovered and the IMF had just forgiven all our debts. The parking was full, the whisky was flowing, and people were laughing loudly with fully moisturised, tax-free confidence. At this point, our entire financial system seems to be operating on Eddy Kenzo mathematics: ‘If you earn Shs4,000, spend Shs5,000, and save Shs1,000.’ Economically? It makes absolutely no sense. But spiritually? Very Kampala! Everybody is financially distressed by daytime, and financially irresponsible by sunset. At 11am, people are reposting fuel prices and discussing the budget like senior economic analysts. By 8pm, the exact same analysts are under fairy lights saying, ‘Bring one more round. Life is short!’ And just like that, cement money is gone.

As a country, our level of financial optimism needs to be studied by scientists. Nobody has money, yet every high-end bar, and kafunda are packed. Nobody is okay, yet every brunch on Sunday is two hours of waiting before you can get served. People are publicly discussing budgeting strategies while privately financing their enjoyment through WhatsApp messages that begin with: ‘My guy, send me something small quick quick … I am expecting some ka-money!

We no longer pretend enjoyment is optional. Rent may wait, and savings may collapse, but the vibes must survive. We have mastered the art of emotional budgeting. We may not have inner peace, and we definitely do not have emergency funds, but we shall have grilled pork, Double Black, and Amapiano under good lighting. Because suffering privately is no longer enough. It must also be aesthetic.

And nobody lies better to themselves than a Kampala person making a ‘quick plan.’ There is no such thing as ‘one drink’ in this city. It is a slippery, dangerous slope where one drink inevitably becomes pork, pork becomes a bottle contribution, and the bottle contribution becomes the fateful phrase, ‘Let us pass somewhere small.’ Before you know it, it is 3am, you have acquired three new best friends, and someone is pitching a crypto-farming business idea nobody will remember tomorrow.

Maybe financial discipline is important. Maybe we should all save more. Maybe the economy is genuinely terrifying. But somewhere in Kampala, a person whose account balance is currently reading 2K is swirling a glass of wine. It is the most aggressive form of positive self-deception. We are all just one Mobile Money notification away from total financial collapse, but colleagues, money is coming!

The moment the music stops and the lights go down, that is when the real accounting starts. Until then? We are all CEOs of Vibes Inc.

Parliament has elected Jacob Oboth-Oboth as Speaker and Thomas Tayebwa as Deputy Speaker of Uganda’s 12th Parliament. But beyond who occupies the chair, the bigger national question remains the same: can Parliament restore public trust? One of the biggest misunderstandings about leadership and power is the belief that public downfall begins with scandals, arrests, or humiliation. Most times, it begins much earlier. It begins when institutions slowly lose public trust. It begins when leadership stops being seen as service and starts being seen as distance, privilege, and power for its own sake.

Watching the recent events around Anita Among unfold in Uganda, one cannot avoid reflecting on some of these wider lessons about leadership, institutions, public trust, and political culture. This article is not about declaring guilt or innocence. Courts and institutions exist for that. It is about what young African leaders should learn from moments like this. And to reflect on this moment honestly, one must first acknowledge something important: Among was not politically weak. She was politically skilled. She understood mobilisation, symbolism, coalition-building, parliamentary procedure, and institutional control. That is precisely why she rose so quickly.

But leadership contains a dangerous paradox: the same qualities that help leaders rise can also create distance between institutions and the public if not carefully managed. Over time, the public image around her increasingly became intertwined with the identity of Parliament itself. To many Ugandans, she became the face of Parliament during a period when frustration around governance, accountability, and public expenditure was growing. That perception was amplified by visible political mobilisation, luxury optics, growing visibility, and the increasing perception of personalisation of public institutions.

Then came social media. Previous eras of politics were largely controlled through newspapers, radio, party structures, and elite conversations. But social media changed political accountability completely. The Parliament Exhibition period transformed Parliament from an institution into a viral public conversation. Today, one TikTok clip can damage a public image faster than a whole Opposition rally. Because Among had become the dominant public face of Parliament, much of that frustration concentrated around her personally. But beyond personalities, Uganda must ask itself a more important question: What kind of leadership culture are we building?

Ugandans are not angry because leaders are successful. Ugandans actually admire success. The problem starts when public institutions begin looking like private kingdoms while ordinary citizens are constantly being told there is no money for hospitals, jobs, medicines, schools, or service delivery. That is where public trust begins collapsing. And this is why the conversation about value for money matters so much. If a road costs billions, citizens should see the road. If Parliament spends public money, citizens should see public value.

If leaders speak of service, institutions should reflect service. Uganda is also entering a broader political transition. President Museveni’s long leadership has shaped nearly every major institution in the country. At the same time, the 12th Parliament already reflects signs of generational change. Several long-serving political figures lost their seats, while many new faces entered Parliament across the country. That transition creates both opportunity and danger. Opportunity, because Uganda needs fresh leadership energy and ideas. Danger, because transition periods can tempt leaders into building visibility faster than credibility, influence faster than trust, and ambition faster than institutional grounding.

Part of the lesson may therefore not simply be about power itself, but about timing, balance, and political maturity during transition.

Ambition is not the problem. Uganda needs ambitious leaders. But sustainable leadership is built progressively, not aggressively. It is built through legitimacy, institutional trust, public confidence, and discipline.

For over a decade Betty Amongi has been one of Uganda’s most visible UPC faces in the NRM government. From Lands, Housing and Urban Development to Kampala Capital City, and finally Gender, Labour and Social Development until May 26, 2026, the former Oyam South MP served across key ministries.

Now, she is missing from President Museveni’s ‘Kisanja No More Sleep’ Cabinet list. She has also lost her parliamentary seat. The exit raises questions about loyalty, alliances, and what happens when political calculations shift.

From bride price to Cabinet table

Amongi’s political and personal story is tied to UPC president Jimmy Akena Obote. On April 7, 2013, Akena paid bride price at Minakulu Primary School in Oyam: 20 heads of cattle, Shs20 million, and 12 goats. President Museveni attended as chief guest and reportedly contributed Shs50 million.

The closeness extended to politics. Back in 2015, Museveni hinted at an NRM-UPC alliance. Akena’s faction then rallied behind Museveni in 2011, 2016 and 2021 elections.

‘UPC Museveni were campaigning for Museveni,’ said NRM spokesperson for Lango, Jacob Ocen. He contrasted that with ‘UPC Akena’, the faction he said opposed Museveni.

A shift in 2026

The equation changed when Akena declared he would challenge Museveni in 2026. The Electoral Commission later disqualified him from the presidential race. Amongi also left Oyam South and contested in Lira City against NRM’s Jane Ruth Aceng. She lost with 26,199 votes to Aceng’s 38,074.

With both the seat and Cabinet position gone, Lira residents are asking if Amongi is paying for Akena’s fallout with Museveni. ‘Instead, UPC’s Santa Alum, Oyam South Member of Parliament, has been appointed as Minister of State for Economic Monitoring, Office of the President,’ according to the May 26, 2026 appointments.

Akena quickly distanced the party from Alum’s appointment. ‘UPC party was neither consulted nor engaged regarding this appointment. Accordingly, Ms Alum’s acceptance or service in the said position shall be understood as an individual decision and not a position taken by or on behalf of the Uganda People’s Congress,’ he said in a statement.

Akena added that while UPC had submitted a framework for ‘possible future structured political engagement’ with NRM, ‘no active cooperation agreement, governing arrangement, or formal working partnership presently exists between the two parties.’ ‘UPC therefore remains an independent political party in opposition, guided by its constitutional structures, principles, and longstanding commitment to constitutionalism, democratic governance, national unity, social justice, and practical people-centered development,’ he said.

NRM’s Ocen says the alliance with Akena’s faction is over. ‘When you look at the current situation, it means Museveni has shifted allegiance from Akena by opening a new chapter of dealing with UPC. Akena said in a statement that they were not consulted on the appointment of Santa Alum, yet according to NRM they were no longer relevant. This means they’re completely out of the alliance,’ Ocen explained.

What next for Amongi?

The outgoing Gender minister struck a reflective tone after her Lira City loss. ‘I assure them of my continued commitment to working with the people, listening to them, standing with them, and pursuing the vision we have consistently shared,’ she said. ‘However, politics has a way of teaching difficult lessons: the impunity and undemocratic methods one uses against opponents can, in time, return to haunt them. That is a lesson all politicians should reflect upon.’

Lango Paramount Chief Eng Dr Michael Moses Odongo Okune welcomed Museveni’s appointments, noting Lango got four slots: Dr Jane Ruth Aceng as ICT Minister, Santa Alum as State Minister for Economic Monitoring, Sam Engola as Minister of Relief and Disaster Preparedness, and Dr Mercy Faith Lakisa as State Minister for Youth and Children’s Affairs.

‘We are grateful for the recognition,’ he said. ‘You should show respect and be transparent while handling public resources,’ he urged the new ministers.

Martha Kay, be honest… Range Rover ekyali yo?

This is genuinely one of the top three questions I get almost every day.

I never know whether people ask because they are happy for me or because they want to laugh at me. But one thing is for sure. I am definitely a Range Rover girl for life.

When was the last time you sat on a boda boda?

I actually sat on a boda boda two weeks ago.I had a photoshoot that day, and the photographer had a very tight window for me, so while rushing between the hairstylist and makeup artist, I got caught in insane traffic and ended up taking one. It was thrilling, and it definitely saved me a lot of time.

What is the most dramatic thing you have ever done because of love? And do not protect yourself.

I am generally not very externally dramatic. I am quite composed and not very impulsive. But I have noticed that whenever I am in love, I tend to cancel plans and stay on trips or at events much longer than I should, simply because I want a little extra time with my person.

Kiss, marry, kill: Michael B. Jordan, Maurice Kirya, and Patrick Mukasa. Explain your choices properly, please.

I would marry Michael B. Jordan because that man is fine, rich and successful. I do not know much about his character, but I think I would be set up for life.

I would kiss Maurice Kirya because everything about him feels romantic. The voice, the calmness, the whole vibe are very soft, life-coded. His face is a much-welcome plus.

Patrick Mukasa has to die.

I just looked him up on X, and apparently, I blocked him at some point. I genuinely do not remember why, but it looks like he is already dead to me.

Do you have a ‘peasant habit’ you are willing to confess?

I do not know if this counts as a peasant habit, but I genuinely enjoy Kasuku, Zubeda and Uncle Chumi TikToks. They are chaotic, hilarious and every day I learn a new Luganda word/insult I look forward to them daily.

What is one Kampala rumour you heard about yourself that even you were impressed?

At one point, people had me as the second wife of a certain government official that I had actually never met in person. Apparently, he had bought me a house and a Range Rover.

Meanwhile, I was and still I am living in my mother’s house, and at the time, I was driving a car I personally could not stand. More recently, since the weight loss, there have also been plastic surgery rumours, which honestly impressed me a little. I was like wow… Ugandans really believe in my financial capacity.

What is the most toxic thing Kampala dating has normalised?

I think Kampala dating has normalised ‘tugabane’ a little too much. People no longer care whether somebody is married or actively seeing someone else.

The new mentality is that as long as you are good to me while you are with me, the rest does not matter, and I find that really sad. Also, relationships have become very transactional.

It feels less like a genuine connection and more like an exchange. That is why so many people are bitter now. Romance is dying. I miss the good old days!

Wama, do you kneel for your man when serving him his food?

Honestly, if I really love someone, I become very soft naturally, so I cannot confidently say never. I just think those things mean more when they happen genuinely, not when they feel like a compulsory performance expected from women.

What is the brokest you have ever been?

I am actually very financially disciplined; I save 60 percent of all my earnings. But in 2023, I lived in Nairobi for almost a year without working due to health complications, so I was surviving mostly on my savings.

That is my definition of broke; when nothing is really coming in, and I have to become extremely cautious about how I spend. If I have to ask myself if I really need something, then I am broke and suffering and I know I must apply more pressure.

If all your exes sat on one table, what is the first thing they would agree on about you?

They would probably agree that I am very different privately from what people assume publicly. I’m actually very playful and easy-going.

People usually assume I am more intimidating than I actually am, so that normally surprises them.

What is one thing people think is ‘soft life’ but is actually financial indiscipline?

I think a lot of people have confused soft life with aesthetics. New hair, brunches, trips, designer bags…The moment your lifestyle is driven more by appearances than peace, it stops being a soft life. It becomes pressure.

I was once there, and trust me, it was not worth it at all. There is soooo much more you can use your money for than pleasing strangers who will scroll by in two minutes. Avoid!

What is your biggest ‘I cannot believe I did that in public’ moment?

More recently, I was seated next to a big Kenyan artiste at an event and the MC, who was on stage wearing sunglasses, reached over to greet him. Because of the shades, I genuinely thought he was greeting me.

So, I stood up to high five him at the exact same moment the artiste did and ended up knocking all the drinks over the table onto basically everybody around us while the whole event watched. (Including the Kenyan star) I wanted the ground to open up and swallow me because I could have simply remained seated and minded my business.

Which Kampala friendship red flag do people ignore too much?

I am very big on loyalty, so I find it strange how casually people speak badly about the same friends they publicly claim to love.

And nowadays, when you question it, people just say, ‘But everyone talks about everyone,’ as though that somehow makes it okay.

What is the pettiest reason you have ever stopped talking to someone?

If I have to keep explaining my jokes to you multiple times, I am going to cut you off. Life is too short, man.

In Kampala, what disappears faster; genuine friendships or that ka end-of-month salary?

That salary disappears with unbelievable confidence. It is truly traumatising.

One permanent message from your new body to your old body.

It is possible, my love. You can, and you will do this. Stop obsessing over how long it is going to take because the time will pass anyway. Put the fork down. That extra slice of bread, that soda… none of it will matter as much as the self-control you build along the way.

One day, you will look in the mirror and realise that the hardest part was simply deciding not to give up. And trust me, the pride you will feel in yourself will be worth every difficult day. Of course, the hot body is a sweet, sweet bonus. Just start. Now.

Government has moved to reform and modernize Uganda’s veterinary sector with the launch of an online database platform aimed at improving animal health, public health and trade in animal products.

The online system is designed to improve regulation, licensing and monitor veterinary practitioners across the country.

State Minister for Animal Industry Mr Bright Rwamirama called it a milestone for professionalism and accountability.

‘It reflects Uganda’s commitment to strengthening professional regulations, improving public service and delivery, modernizing government systems and enhancing public trust in veterinary services. We have been having challenges in trade in animal products and this is one of the ways we are going to achieve,’ Mr Rwamirama said.

The Uganda Veterinary Council was established under the Veterinary Practitioners Act 2024, which gave it a broader mandate for professional regulation.

Supported by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the platform will maintain an updated national database of licensed practitioners and establishments, improve verification of professionals, and support inspection and compliance monitoring.

Mr Rwamirama said farmers can now use the system to confirm if a vet is registered and licensed, a move expected to weed out quacks.

‘I have seen people calling themselves doctors or veterinarians, riding in the bushes on motorcycles and treating animals with no competence at all. And this has escalated the problem of microbial resistance,’ he said.

He stressed the sector’s role in national development: ‘Veterinary professionals occupy a uniquely important place in Uganda’s national development agenda. They are indispensable to livestock production, animal health, welfare, veterinary and public health, food safety, trade and livelihood of millions of Ugandan households. The profession is central to our agricultural transformation agenda, public health, security and Uganda’s participation in regional and international trade in livestock and animal products.’

Government is also finalizing plans to establish a Veterinary and Food Authority to consolidate oversight of animal health, food safety and veterinary public health. Mr Rwamirama noted that more than 75 per cent of human diseases are of animal origin, making the One Health approach critical for trade and consumer confidence.

‘If we are to trade and reassure consumers that our standards and practitioners are very conscious of this, then we shall reach instant markets and improve our international trade in animal and animal products,’ he said.

Dr Caroline Asiimwe, chairperson of the UVC digital systems and data governance committee, said the platform ends the era of manual records and fragmented systems.

‘Technological platform marks the beginning of a new era in the regulation and coordination, the transparency and the modernisation of the veterinary practice in Uganda,’ she said.

The system will also improve communication between the council and practitioners while giving the public access to verified professional information.

UVC Chairperson Dr Halid Kirunda said the expanded mandate under the 2024 Act requires a modern, data-driven regulatory system.

‘This marks the operationalisation of the Veterinary Practitioners Act 2024. It is strongly believed that it will help to strengthen the oversight of the UVC, improve compliance, and support Uganda’s broad animal health and veterinary public health and food safety systems,’ Dr Kirunda said.

FAO Uganda Country Representative Mr Ezana Kassa said strengthening veterinary governance is critical for public health, food systems and resilient agriculture.

‘This system will enhance registration, licensing, renewals and the tracking of continuous professional development for veterinary professionals to support the efficient management of well over 4,600 registered professionals across the country while improving efficiency, transparency, accountability and access to regulatory services,’ he said.