Category: Daily Monitor

On a rainy morning in Kampala, commuters gather under what used to be a structured taxi stage, only to find broken railings, faded signage, and no shelter. Some stand in puddles by the roadside, while others wave down taxis that barely slow down before disappearing into traffic.

‘I have to be at work by 8am, but now I stand in the rain guessing where the taxi will stop,’ says Grace Matovu, a regular commuter at the Namirembe Road stage.

‘The shelter was pulled down months ago. Nobody has come to fix it.’

Once introduced to bring order to the city’s public transport system, these designated pick-up points now stand damaged or barely recognisable. What was designed to bring order has increasingly come to reflect Kampala’s struggle with decay and neglect.

Fourteen years after the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) embarked on re-establishing designated passenger pick-up points across the city, the vision of an organised transport system is under strain.

A vision of order now fading

When modern taxi and bus stages were introduced, the objective was clear; streamline public transport, reduce roadside congestion, and improve safety. Strategically placed shelters, signposts, and metal structures were installed to guide public transport operators.

For a time, the system offered promise. Today, that order is increasingly difficult to recognise.

A field assessment across several parts of Kampala reveals a worrying pattern. Metal railings have been uprooted, signage removed, and shelters damaged beyond use. In some locations, the stages have almost disappeared entirely.

Yet paradoxically, these broken points continue to function as informal pick-up zones. Taxis still stop where stages once stood, but without the infrastructure that guided passengers or offered safety. The result is a return to familiar disorder. Passengers crowd along road edges, exposed to moving traffic, dust, and rain, while congestion builds at points that were once regulated.

For drivers such as Musa Ssemwanga, who has operated a taxi on the Entebbe Road route for 12 years, the destruction is personal.

‘I have seen men cutting the rails at night with hacksaws,’ he says.

‘They come after midnight, sometimes in groups of three or four. By morning, another section is gone. We report it, but the response is slow.’

His frustration is shared by stage managers.

‘We used to have a system,’ says Mr Siraje Bbosa, a stage warden on Jinja Road.

‘The signs told drivers where to stop. Passengers knew where to wait. Now, every day is chaos.’

The cost of vandalism

KCCA has repeatedly attributed the destruction to vandalism and theft of public infrastructure.

Daniel Nuwabiine, KCCA spokesperson, says the destruction of road furniture is part of a wider pattern.

‘I call upon all Ugandans to exhibit a spirit of patriotism and guard against actions that bring chaos to the city,’ he says.

The problem has become serious enough to prompt police action. In January 2024, Kampala Metropolitan Police arrested multiple suspects in connection with vandalism on the Northern Bypass. One suspect was allegedly caught red-handed with metals allegedly cut from a bridge. His arrest led investigators to scrap dealers in Nansana Katooke and Kisenyi, where stolen metals were being sold.

In total, more than 15 suspects were taken into custody, including scrap shop owners, who are said to have purchased stolen public infrastructure knowingly. The operation uncovered a coordinated network: vandals strike at night, strip metal components, and sell them to unscrupulous dealers before dawn.

Despite these arrests, the destruction continues.

The Uganda Police Force Annual Crime Report 2024 noted that out of 14,681 reported cases of thefts from motor vehicles nationwide, more than 60 percent occurred in Kampala and Wakiso districts.

While this figure primarily concerns vehicle vandalism, it points to a broader breakdown in urban safety. The report indicated that 2,947 suspects were arrested in 2024 for vandalism and theft, yet repeat offenders remain a persistent challenge.

For commuters, the impact is immediate. ‘We report when we see people tampering with the stages, but nothing changes,’ says Matovu. ‘Last month, I called KCCA three times about our missing shelter. They said they would send someone. I am still waiting.’

A system with deep roots

Kampala’s organised public transport system is not new. Structured bus services date back to the 1960s and 1970s under the Uganda Transport Company. More recent attempts to restore order began between 2011 and 2012 with the introduction of the Pioneer Easy Bus system.

While those reforms introduced some level of structure, sustaining them has proven difficult.

The economic cost of congestion

The breakdown of organised stages contributes directly to Kampala’s notorious traffic congestion. According to the First African Bicycle Information Organisation (FABIO), traffic congestion costs the Ugandan economy more than Shs50m daily. The city now harbours more than 16,000 taxis, many operating with limited adherence to designated stages.

The cycle of destruction

Despite widespread damage, some stages remain intact, particularly those maintained by private organisations. However, the broader pattern remains one of loss and neglect.

Civil engineer Gob Blick Obita notes that much of the destruction happens at night, when surveillance is limited. He calls for increased security presence around transport infrastructure, particularly during night hours.

Without such measures, he warns, newly constructed stages risk suffering the same fate. He also highlights the economic waste involved, noting that repeated repairs drain public resources.

Scrap, survival, and weak enforcement

James Kato, an engineer with KCCA, says the vandalism is often driven by the theft and resale of metal components as scrap.

‘These vandals are destroying some of these stages and selling the materials as scrap,’ he says. ‘This now calls for heightened security and the arrest of those responsible.’

The January 2024 arrests proved that scrap dealers are integral to the vandalism economy. Yet no public record exists of prosecutions or convictions, raising questions about whether the crackdown has translated into lasting deterrence.

A glimpse of the future

Amid the challenges, new transport initiatives are emerging. Government, through Kiira Motors Corporation, recently launched pilot operations of electric buses under the E-Bus service.

Eng Ian Kavuma, managing director of E-Bus Xpress, says supporting infrastructure such as dedicated bus lanes and improved stages will be essential for the system to succeed. The five-year deployment plan, valued at $315 million, aims to roll out 1,500 electric buses across 14 cities in Uganda. According to projections, the initiative is expected to transport millions of passengers daily by 2031.

Gen Edward Katumba Wamala, former Minister of Works and Transport, has urged the public to embrace the shift towards organised, low-emission transport systems. But for commuters such as Matovu, the electric bus future feels distant.

‘They talk about new buses and new technology,’ she says, pulling her jacket tighter against the morning drizzle. ‘But I just want a roof over my head while I wait. Is that too much to ask?’

The bigger question

As Kampala expands, the fate of its taxi and bus stages raises a deeper question: Is infrastructure enough without protection, discipline, and public ownership?

Police have demonstrated that arrests are possible. Scrap dealers have been identified as a choke point in the vandalism supply chain. And commuters have made clear what they need: functional, protected stages that offer shelter and order.

For now, the city continues to balance between ambition and decay, between modern transport plans and the fragile reality on the ground.

In a landmark legislative session that has cemented the positions of Uganda’s most powerful women in governance, the Parliament of Uganda has officially cleared Vice President Jessica Alupo and Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja to serve historic second consecutive terms in their respective offices.

The high-stakes voting session, heavily dominated by the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party, followed President Yoweri Museveni’s reappointment of the duo on May 26. The decisions mark a monumental milestone in the country’s political history, establishing unprecedented female continuity at the highest levels of the executive arm of government.

Alupo secures historic second term as Vice President

The House overwhelmingly voted to retain Maj (rtd) Jessica Alupo Rose Epel, the Katakwi District Woman Member of Parliament, as the Vice President of Uganda. This approval makes her the first woman in Uganda’s history to hold the prestigious position for two consecutive terms.

During the tense but largely predictable plenary session, a total of 325 Members of Parliament voted “yes” to retain Ms. Alupo. In contrast, 18 members objected to the motion, while four abstained.

The members exercised their constitutional mandate under Article 108 (2) of the Constitution of Uganda, which explicitly states: “The President shall, with the approval of Parliament by a simple majority, appoint a Vice President.”

The motion for Alupo’s clearance was formally moved by Sheema County legislator Ephraim Kamuntu. Mr. Kamuntu highlighted her extensive leadership background, arguing that her reappointment for a second consecutive term is a clear testimony that the appointing authority, President Museveni, heavily trusts her unwavering service and is pleased with her performance.

Ms. Alupo originally served as Vice President from June 2021 to May 2026. Prior to making history in the presidium, she served as the Minister of Education and Sports from 2011 to 2016, and as the State Minister for Youth and Children Affairs from 2009 to 2011.

Despite the smooth numerical victory, various members from the Opposition challenged Ms. Alupo’s clearance. The dissenting legislators demanded that the movers of the clearance motion present tangible constitutional achievements to the House, rather than simply trading her personal achievements, loyalty, and educational background as the primary qualifications for the office.

Nabbanja follows suit with resounding parliamentary backing

In a nearly identical legislative sweep, Parliament also cleared Ms. Robinah Nabbanja for another term as the Prime Minister of Uganda. A total of 320 members voted in favor of her clearance, while six members voted against the motion, and two abstained. Like Alupo, Ms. Nabbanja will be serving her second term as the Premier, a position she has firmly held since 2021.

Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng Ocero, the Lira City Woman MP, moved the motion for Nabbanja’s approval as Prime Minister and Leader of Government Business. Dr. Aceng premised her motion under Rule 58 of Parliament’s Rules of Procedure and Article 108A of the Constitution, which mandates the appointment of the Prime Minister by the President with a simple majority from among MPs or persons qualified to be elected as such.

The motion was strongly seconded by a trio of influential MPs: Fredrick Ruhindi (Nakawa East), Dennis Namara (Buyaga West), and Esther Anyakun (Nakapiripirit District Woman MP).

Under Article 108 (A) subsections 2(a) and 2(b), the Prime Minister is legally responsible for coordinating and implementing government policies across ministries, departments, and public institutions.

Defending Nabbanja’s credentials, Dr. Aceng presented a comprehensive statistical breakdown of Nabbanja’s performance during her first tenure, arguing that she oversaw an exemplary and unprecedented discharge of Government Business before the 11th Parliament:

82% of the total Bills indicated in the Legislative Programme were formally introduced.

96% of Motions were successfully submitted.

99% of Prime Minister’s Questions were responded to.

95% of questions directed to Ministers were answered.

97% of questions for oral answers were addressed.

93% of Ministerial Statements were presented.

98% of Action Taken Reports by Ministers on parliamentary resolutions or recommendations were tabled.

100% of Treasury Memoranda were submitted. Dr. Aceng concluded her defense by reminding the House that Ms. Nabbanja remains a pioneering and deeply inspirational leader, holding the distinct honor of being the very first woman to ever occupy the office of Prime Minister in Uganda. With both approvals sealed, the executive top tier remains unchanged, signalling policy continuity for the ruling NRM government.

They have been asked, ‘are you two related?’ more times than they can count. Geoffrey Rurekyera and Mellon Kasande just laugh, then explain, again, that they are husband and wife, not siblings.

For most couples, public attention typically comes from romantic photos, engagement announcements, or wedding celebrations. However, Geoffrey Rurekyera and Mellon Kasande often draw attention for an unexpected reason: people frequently ask, ‘Are you two related?’

The couple, who married in January, have spent years explaining to strangers, friends, and even social media followers that they are husband and wife, not siblings.

‘It has happened so many times that we now laugh about it,’ Geoffrey says. ‘People always think we are brother and sister because of how much we resemble and how close we are.’

These comments began long before their wedding. Geoffrey, the station manager of Kazo FM in Kazo District, first met Mellon, a social worker based in Mbarara City, during a friend’s birthday party in Kazo Town in 2022, during the Covid-19 pandemic.

‘I noticed her immediately,’ he recalls. ‘She was calm, beautiful, and simple. I felt drawn to her instantly.’ After being introduced by a mutual friend, the pair exchanged contact information and began communicating regularly. What started as casual conversations gradually turned into a deeper connection.

‘We discovered we had many things in common,’ Geoffrey says. ‘We both loved peaceful environments, valued prayer, and enjoyed simple moments together.’

A first date

About two weeks after their initial meeting, Geoffrey invited Mellon to lunch at a hotel in Mbarara City. To keep the atmosphere relaxed, he brought along a friend, while Mellon was accompanied by her sister.

‘I was nervous because I wanted everything to feel natural and comfortable,’ he recalls.

‘When she arrived, she was wearing simple trousers and a blouse, along with the same smile I had noticed at the party.’

What was intended to be a short lunch turned into hours of conversation about family, work, faith, and personal dreams.

‘We laughed a lot and spoke freely without pretending to be anyone else,’ Geoffrey says.

‘By the end of the day, I already knew I wanted to see her again.’

For Mellon, Geoffrey’s humility stood out from the very beginning.

‘He is soft-spoken, kind, and humble,’ she shares. ‘That is what attracted me to him.’

As their relationship grew stronger, so did the comments about how much they resembled each other.

One of the moments Geoffrey remembers most happened in 2023 while the couple were relaxing at a hangout in Mbarara.

‘We were seated talking and laughing when some people passing by started debating whether we were a couple or siblings,’ he says with a smile.

‘One of them said we resembled each other so much.’

The reactions only intensified online. Geoffrey, who has a large TikTok following, says many people flooded their engagement photos and videos with comments questioning whether the two were siblings.

‘Some people kept asking why I was marrying my sister,’ he says. ‘Even during our wedding preparations, there were still people making those comments.’

Instead of letting the remarks bother them, the couple chose to embrace the humour in the situation.

‘At first it felt strange,’ Mellon says. ‘But eventually we got used to it because we understood people were just reacting to how close and comfortable we are with each other.’

The proposal

After two years together, Geoffrey decided it was time to take the relationship to another level.

On April 24, 2025, he organised a surprise proposal at Las Vegas Hotel in Mbarara City.

‘I was excited but also very anxious,’ he says. ‘I kept thinking about every possible outcome.’

The nerves quickly disappeared when Mellon said ‘yes’.

‘It was overwhelming happiness,’ Geoffrey recalls.

‘I felt relieved and peaceful because I knew I was taking a big step with the woman I loved.’

For Mellon, the proposal marked the beginning of a new chapter she had already imagined in her heart.

‘During our courtship, I had already realised he was the person I wanted to spend my life with,’ she says. ‘My answer was always going to be ‘yes’.’

A wedding filled with joy

After receiving blessings from both families, wedding preparations officially began. Geoffrey says their parents fully supported the relationship, especially because the two families had known each other for years.

The couple also attended pre-marital counselling sessions where they learnt the importance of communication, trust and teamwork in marriage.

On January 9 this year, Geoffrey and Mellon exchanged vows at Emmanuel Cathedral Rushere in Kiruhura District in front of more than 1,000 guests.

The ceremony was officiated by North Ankole Bishop Emeritus Stephen Namanya, who is also Geoffrey’s cousin.

From the decorations and music to the brass band and reception, the couple describe the wedding as colourful and memorable.

‘Everything went smoothly,’ Geoffrey says.

‘If I had the chance to change anything, I would only take more photos.’

Advice

Today, the couple say the comments about being siblings no longer bother them. Instead, they see them as part of a unique love story they will probably keep explaining for years to come.

‘Marriage is a journey that needs patience, understanding and communication,’ Geoffrey says. ‘You have to support each other and keep God at the centre of everything.’

And whenever strangers still ask if they are related, the couple simply laugh and correct them one more time.

The Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI) has announced plans to test potential vaccines targeting the Ebola Bundibugyo strain, which has triggered outbreaks in Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Currently, there is no approved vaccine or specific treatment for infections caused by the Ebola Bundibugyo strain, raising concerns about preparedness in case of another outbreak.

Speaking during the launch of UVRI’s 90th anniversary celebrations in Kampala on Tuesday, the institute’s director, Prof Pontiano Kaleebu, said discussions are underway to begin testing two candidate vaccines designed specifically for the strain.

‘There are two vaccines for Bundibugyo that we are discussing for testing in phase one and phase two trials,’ Prof Kaleebu said.

He explained that one of the vaccines uses a similar construct to the Ebola Zaire vaccine, while the second candidate, known as ChAdOx, was developed by scientists at the University of Oxford.

‘These two vaccines are being discussed for testing,’ he said. Prof Kaleebu added that scientists are also exploring whether existing Ebola vaccines could provide broader protection against different strains of the virus.

‘We are discussing the approach of using a prime boost with the existing Ebola Zaire vaccine and the Ebola Sudan vaccine to see how broad they can act. This will mainly be a laboratory study,’ he said.

However, he clarified that UVRI is not directly developing a new Ebola Bundibugyo vaccine. ‘For now, we are working on vaccines for Covid-19 and for Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever,’ Prof Kaleebu said.

He added that although Covid-19 cases have significantly reduced, the virus has not disappeared completely and infections continue to occur in milder forms.

Prof Kaleebu also explained the historical connection behind the naming of CCHF, saying one of the viruses linked to the disease was characterised at UVRI.

‘The disease is called Crimean-Congo because there were two similar viruses, and one of them, the Congo virus, was characterised at UVRI,’ he said.

As part of its 90-year celebrations, UVRI is also highlighting its scientific contributions to global public health, including the discovery and identification of several important viruses.

Prof Kaleebu said the institute has identified at least 40 viruses and virus strains since its establishment in 1936. Some of the most notable discoveries include the West Nile virus, Zika virus and Semliki Forest virus. .

‘Some of these viruses may not appear dangerous now, but you never know. Zika virus was discovered here in 1947, but it only became a major global concern decades later during outbreaks in Latin America,’ Prof Kaleebu said.

He added that UVRI scientists played a key role in identifying the Ebola Bundibugyo strain during the 2007 outbreak in western Uganda.

‘Although the final characterisation was done by the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention because we did not yet have all the required technology, our scientists worked closely with CDC to identify Bundibugyo as a new Ebola strain,’ he said.

Dr Charles Olaro, the director general of Health Services at the Ministry of Health, praised UVRI for its contribution to disease surveillance and emergency response.

Taxpayers subject to Uganda’s transfer pricing rules should prepare for tougher transfer pricing audits and a greater risk of disputes following Parliament’s passing of Clause 9 of the Income Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2026. The Bill now awaits presidential assent and once signed into law, will take effect on July 1, 2026. As governments intensify efforts to combat tax avoidance and evasion, tax authorities globally are increasingly demanding greater transparency in cross border transactions. Multinational groups are now expected to demonstrate that related party dealings reflect arrangements that independent parties would have accepted under similar conditions.

In Uganda, this requirement also applies to local groups with related party transactions above Shs500 million in aggregate in a year. Historically, much of the burden during transfer pricing audits rested with the Uganda Revenue Authority to challenge pricing arrangements and prove that profits reported in Uganda did not reflect economic reality. However, under the proposed amendment, taxpayers will effectively be expected to demonstrate from the outset that their related party transactions are commercially justifiable, priced at arm’s length, and supported by reliable documentation.

For taxpayers subject to Uganda’s transfer pricing rules, this will fundamentally change how transfer pricing is approached. It will no longer be viewed merely as a year end compliance exercise. Businesses will increasingly need to explain the commercial rationale behind related party transactions, identify which entities perform key functions, determine which parties bear risks, and demonstrate that profits reported in Uganda align with actual economic activities undertaken locally. As a result, future URA audits are expected to become more rigorous, evidence driven, and focused on commercial substance.

Once the amendment comes into force, taxpayers will be required to maintain robust transfer pricing documentation covering the full value chain of related party transactions, including accounting records, cost allocation methodologies, and the parties’ actual conduct, all supported by reliable evidence. Failure to provide sufficient documentation demonstrating compliance with the arm’s length principle upon request will increase the risk of disputes. Consequently, the adequacy of transfer pricing documentation is likely to become an increasingly contentious area between the URA and taxpayers.

Transfer pricing documentation will, therefore, become significantly more important than a routine compliance file prepared for regulatory purposes. Generic group documentation alone will not suffice. Even where multinational groups maintain regional transfer pricing files and global master files, local substantiation will become ever more critical. Taxpayers will need contemporaneous records that clearly connect legal agreements, accounting treatment, and the operational reality. Accounting consistency is also expected to attract closer scrutiny. Differences between transfer pricing positions and financial statements including revenue recognition, cost allocations, and inter-company balances will increasingly trigger attention.

Essentially, transfer pricing will need to become more integrated into finance, governance, and operational reality. Ultimately, future transfer pricing disputes in Uganda will depend as much on credibility as on calculations. The key question will no longer simply be whether a taxpayer’s profit margin falls within an acceptable range, but whether the taxpayer can present a coherent, evidence based, and commercially credible explanation of how its related party arrangements operate in reality. Clause 9 therefore signals a broader evolution in Uganda’s transfer pricing enforcement framework and further aligns the country with international standards.

Businesses that continue to treat transfer pricing as a compliance afterthought will face increased financial and reputational exposure. Those that proactively align their policies, documentation, and operational conduct with the new expectations are likely to be better positioned to manage audits and engage constructively with the URA. More than ever, transfer pricing health checks and robust documentation will be critical for multinational groups and local group companies seeking to ensure compliance with Uganda’s transfer pricing framework and minimize exposure to principal tax, penalties and the related cost of disputes. Businesses that proactively review their transfer pricing policies, governance frameworks, and supporting documentation will be better positioned to manage future audit risks and evolving compliance expectations.

President Museveni has made swift, last-minute adjustments to his newly announced Cabinet list, swapping the roles of two high-profile nominees ahead of the parliamentary vetting process to correct an apparent constitutional oversight.

In an official statement released by the State House Press Unit, the President announced that Ms. Justine Kasule Lumumba will now take over as the Minister of Information, Communications Technology (ICT) and National Guidance. Meanwhile, Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng Ocero has been designated as the new Government Chief Whip.

The realignment comes just days after the initial Cabinet announcement, which had sparked intense political and legal debate across the country.

In the original Cabinet lineup announced, Ms Lumumba had been named Government Chief Whip, replacing Mr Hamson Obua. Concurrently, Dr. Aceng was assigned to the ICT and National Guidance docket, replacing Dr. Chris Baryomunsi, who had been moved to the Ministry of Health.

However, the appointment of Ms. Lumumba as Chief Whip immediately raised legal red flags. Under Ugandan law, the Government Chief Whip must be a serving Member of Parliament and a member of the ruling party. Because Ms Lumumba does not hold a seat in the current Parliament, her initial nomination breached these statutory requirements-an error political observers attribute to an oversight by the appointing authority.

“His Excellency President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has made slight changes to the proposed list of Cabinet Ministers earlier submitted to Parliament for approval,” the State House Press Unit statement read, effectively rectifying the layout friction.

The sudden swap repositions two of some of Uganda’s most prominent political figures into vastly different arenas. As the outgoing Health Minister, Dr Aceng widely praised for her technical expertise and leadership during public health crises, now transitions into a highly political, parliamentary-wrangling role. As Chief Whip, she will be tasked with enforcing party discipline, mobilizing lawmakers, and securing voting majorities for government business.

A seasoned political mobilizer and former NRM Secretary General, Lumumba’s vast experience in strategic communication makes her a natural fit for the ICT and National Guidance ministry, despite the initial detour.

The traditional responsibilities of the Chief Whip demand deep legislative experience and strong bridges within the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) caucus. While Dr. Aceng faces a steep learning curve in managing parliamentary dynamics, Ms Lumumba’s veteran communication skills are expected to inject fresh energy into the government’s digital and public relations agenda.

Following the release of the 2026-2031 Ugandan cabinet list by President Museveni, his son who serves as the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, publicly aired his frustration over the exclusion of his close political allies.

A central point of contention is the dropping of veteran politician Henry Okello Oryem, who had served as the State Minister for Foreign Affairs (International Affairs) since 2004.

Adonia Ayebare who has been serving as Uganda’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations since 2017 was named by Mr Museveni to replace Mr Oryem. Muhoozi-who has historically referred to Oryem as an “elder brother” dating back to their childhood days in exile-took to X in the wee hours of Thursday morning to declare that anyone undermining his allies’ appointments is actively fighting their political movement.

The snub extends to wider members of Muhoozi’s political pressure group, the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU). While the PLU expected to secure a substantial layout of senior government seats in the wake of the 2026 election cycle, the new parliamentary agenda shows a distinct shift, prompting the CDF to openly label the architects of the new cabinet lineup as “enemies.”

“I didn’t see my big brother Okello Oryem in the cabinet? Surely can that be possible? Whoever is fighting us in these appointments is an enemy,” Gen Muhoozi posted.

Following the Cabinet announcement, the 12th Parliament has scheduled its 2nd sitting on Thursday, May 28, 2026, explicitly to move motions seeking parliamentary approval for the appointments of the Vice-President, Prime Minister, and to vary the number of Cabinet Ministers to accommodate the new lineup.

Political commentators say Gen Muhoozi’s public outburst underscores an escalating behind-the-scenes power struggle between the traditional establishment and his PLU faction over influence in the new government.

On a sunny Thursday, May 21, 2026, Gifter Aber took the oath of allegiance and oath of office as the newly elected Mayor of Laroo-Pece City Division in Gulu City. The ceremony at the Division Headquarters drew a packed compound and cheers from supporters.

The inauguration was more than routine. Aber made history as the first elected female mayor in the Acholi sub-region.

A mother of four, she defeated veteran politicians Moses Abonga, former Division Chairperson of Laroo, and incumbent Geoffrey Otim in a hotly contested race. The NRM flag bearer secured 8,081 votes against Otim of the Democratic Party with 5,403 votes. Moses Abonga of the People’s Front for Freedom came last with 1,005 votes.

Her opponents had argued she lacked leadership experience. Aber rejected that view, saying her opponents had been in politics for years without delivering. ‘I am a better option considering the fact that my opponents have been in politics for a long time and have failed to deliver,’ she said.

Before running for mayor, Aber served as female youth councillor for Queens’ Ward.

In her maiden speech, she struck a reconciliatory tone. ‘The election was bitter, but it is time to move forward and deliver services to the citizens of Gulu City,’ she said.

Now in office, Aber says her priorities are fighting corruption and improving security. The challenges are immediate: solid waste management, insecurity, low revenue collection, and corruption.

Gulu City generates 130 tons of solid waste daily, but only 47% is collected and disposed of properly. With Gulu Main Market located in Laroo-Pece Division, garbage management is a pressing task. The market alone accounts for nearly 10% of the city’s refuse.

The city has only two garbage trucks, each traveling 12km daily to the Pabwo dumping site. A Shs 7.5 billion waste plant is nearing completion, but Aber says revenue collection must improve to sustain services.

The division projects Shs 2 billion in local revenue annually. About 40% of that goes to waste management, and Shs 300 million is spent each year managing waste in the central business district. Revenue leakage, however, remains a problem. ‘I will never condone corruption. Our revenue officers will be in trouble if they touch local revenue,’ Aber warned.

She also outlined how she plans to work: three days in the office and two days in the field monitoring government programmes.

Security is another urgent issue. Two days after her swearing-in, Chris Nyeko, a lab technician at Gulu University Health Centre IV, was killed by unknown assailants. His body was found on Laroo Road, about 500 metres from Gulu University Police Post.

Aber said she will meet security agencies to restore order. ‘This will not be a talk show. Results are what the people of the Laroo-Pece Division and Gulu City demand, and results are what we shall deliver,’ she said.

She has already begun meetings with police and UPDF leadership. In the last two months, Gulu City has seen a rise in homicides and gun-related violence. Since January, at least 10 people have been murdered in cases linked to shootings, domestic violence, and suicide.

Roads in the annexed areas also need urgent attention. Most are all-weather roads in poor condition. Lt Gen Charles Otema Awany, Commander of the Reserve Force, urged Aber to act. ‘Local investors would want to invest where the roads are in good condition. There is power and water. Therefore, you should make sure that roads are in good condition, there is electricity and water in the annexed areas,’ he said.

Currently, fewer than 20,000 people in Gulu City are connected to the national grid, and only 13,000 have access to clean water. Nearly 80% of road works have been funded by the World Bank and JICA, the Japanese development agency.

Roads earmarked for upgrade include Bro Elio, Okidi Dakamoi, Phillip Ojok, Mama Cave, Bishop Wani, Alex Ojera, Peter Abe, Princess, Louis Otika, Lower Churchill Drive, and Ben Ocan.

Since Gulu was elevated from municipality to city in July 2020, total road length has grown from 249.2 km to 482.3 km in four years.

The Enterprise Cup was born from the sea. In 1930, sailors aboard a British Royal Navy vessel, HMS Enterprise, docked at Mombasa, donated a trophy to be contested among the rugby clubs of East Africa.

Nearly a century later, a revised design of that trophy will sit at the centre of RFUEA Ground in Nairobi on Saturday afternoon, waiting to be lifted by one of two clubs whose stories could not be more different and whose collision could not feel more inevitable.

One was built in the sugarcane fields of Kakamega while the other was born in the lecture halls of Makerere University.

Built in the plantations

Kabras Sugar RFC did not exist until 2013, when West Kenya Sugar Company, owned by the Rai family, whose patriarch, Jaswant Rai, built one of Western Kenya’s largest agro-industrial empires, decided that rugby was a worthy extension of their ambitions.

They earned instant promotion to the Kenya Cup in 2014 and within a season, they were in the final and by 2016, they were champions.

What followed has been one of the most remarkable ascents in East African sporting history with five consecutive Kenya Cup and Enterprise titles and an unbeaten run of 54 matches that stretches back to 2022.

Their philosophy is deeply forged from Australian and South African coaching disciplines. They had Australian Mike Bishop between 2015 and 2016, then South African Henley Du Plessis from 2019 – 2020, Zimbabwean Mzingaye Nyathi handled the Covid transition in 2020 – 2021 before elevating his deputy and South African Carlos Katywa from 2022 to date.

Coupled with deep investment in Western Kenya’s own schoolboy talent, Kabras has turned a sugarcane town into East Africa’s most feared club rugby address.

As captain George Nyambua acknowledged after this season’s Kenya Cup triumph, ‘the success begins not in the gym but in the fields with the farmers of Kakamega whose sugarcane harvest funds the machine that has consumed Kenyan rugby whole’.

Born at Makerere

Black Pirates came from a different kind of hunger entirely. They were founded in 1996 by a group of young men fresh out of Makerere University, that include Edmond Owor, Patrick Umatete, Stephen Ojambo, Innocent Kyakuha and others who had grown up playing rugby in halls of residence and decided, with the particular boldness of the recently graduated, to build something of their own.

They had no money, no ground and no history. Their first win came against Nile RFC. For years, they were the club that everyone else tolerated as an upstart outfit in a domestic landscape dominated by Heathens and Kobs.

When they won their first Uganda Cup in 2007, it came wrapped in controversy. Nobody quite took them seriously until they made it impossible not to.

They are the big force in Uganda, having won three Rugby Premiership titles in 2018, 2023 and 2025, four Uganda Cup titles in 2007, 2016, 2017 and 2025 and the 2024 National Sevens Series.

Monopoly and the mission

The reinvention came slowly and then all at once under former Cranes flanker Marvin Odongo, who took the coaching reins in 2022 and transformed Pirates into a domestic monopoly.

This season, they finished top of the Premiership regular standings before dismantling Walukuba 76-6 in the quarter-finals with the authority of a side that has run out of meaningful domestic opposition.

The Enterprise Cup, with its cross-border format revived this season for the first time in years, offered Ugandan rugby a genuine test.

Pirates met it without flinching as they dispatched eight-time Kenya Cup champions KCB in the quarter-final and then, record 25-time Enterprise Cup winners Nondescripts to set up this grand finale, fifty years in the making.

The sailors who donated the Enterprise Cup trophy in 1930 could not have imagined a final quite like this one that will go down in the books of history and one that East Africa truly deserves.

2026 ENTERPRISE CUP – final

Saturday, May 30, 2026

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RFUEA Grounds, Nairobi – Kenya

President Museveni has sent shockwaves through Uganda’s security establishment by ordering three top officials to go on a six-month forced leave to pave the way for an intensive anti-corruption investigation.

The directive targets Lt. Gen. Joseph Musanyufu (Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Internal Affairs), Mr Aggrey Wunyi (Under-Secretary, Uganda Police Force), and Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIGP) Felix Baryamwitsakyi.

In a scathing letter dated May 23, 2026, and officially received by the Ministry of Internal Affairs on May 28, 2026, President Museveni revealed that the officials are being investigated over allegations of corruption and extortion linked to the maintenance of the National CCTV and Command Centre project.

According to the presidential directive addressed to Ms Lucy Nakyobe Mbonye, the Head of Public Service and Secretary to Cabinet, the crisis stems from a whistleblowing report presented to the President by the Minister for Internal Affairs, Major-General (Rtd) Kahinda Otafiire.

The report details how a local Ugandan company, Dealan Associates Limited-owned by Ugandan scientists-was systematically denied payment after refusing to pay bribes to Ministry and Police officials.

“At some point, there was no budget to pay them. Maj Gen Kahinda Otafiire liaised with Ministry of Finance and they got Shs 31.37 billion… Yet, the Ugandan contractor was not paid because the Ministry officials, through a middleman, Hassan, were demanding for bribes,” President Museveni’s letter, a copy of which was seen by this publication, reads in part.

The President ordered that Barbra Katisi, an official representing Dealan Associates Limited, be paid her money immediately, while the alleged middleman, identified as Hassan Serunjogi, be criminally charged if evidence permits.

The National CCTV project was rolled out aggressively by President Museveni following a wave of high-profile assassinations and rampant urban crime between 2017 and 2019, including the murders of AIGP Andrew Felix Kaweesi and MP Ibrahim Abiriga.

Mr Museveni noted that he initially arranged with Chinese tech giant Huawei to supply the road cameras. However, when Huawei faced stringent US and European Union sanctions in 2019, the tech firm tactically partnered with Dealan Associates Limited to manage the local maintenance, repair, and operation of the critical security infrastructure.

The sudden stalling of payments to the local contractor raises severe questions regarding the current operational health of Uganda’s multi-billion-shilling security camera network.

The State House Anti-Corruption Unit (SHACU) has been tasked with spearheading the investigation into Lt. Gen. Musanyufu, Mr. Wunyi, and AIGP Baryamwitsakyi over the next six months.

In the letter was copied to Vice President Jessica Alupo, Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja, Internal Affairs Minister Kahinda Otafiire, and the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr Museveni has directed Ms Nakyobe to immediately designate an acting Permanent Secretary to ensure Ministry operations are not crippled.

Efforts to reach the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the affected officials for comment by press time were futile.