Category: Daily Monitor

After applying to replace Bart Katureebe as Chief Justice in 2020, Alfonse Owiny-Dollo ran into Justice Frederick Martin Egonda-Ntende, then his colleague at the Court of Appeal. Owiny-Dollo, then Deputy Chief Justice, asked Justice Egonda-Ntende if he had applied to replace Katureebe as Chief Justice.

‘You want them to reject me once again,’ Justice Egonda-Ntende responded.

Later this year, Justice Egonda-Ntende, in accordance with Ugandan law that makes it mandatory for Court of Appeal justices to retire at 70, will hang up his wig.

The unassuming jurist last week used ‘a special sitting’ organised by the Judiciary as his sendoff to give a glimpse of what the public may have missed after he was shut out of the three top positions – Principal Judge, Deputy Chief Justice, and Chief Justice – in the judicial branch of government.

Citing the example of Alex Waiswa Mufumbiro, the National Unity Platform (NUP) publicist who has been in jail since last year alongside other Opposition activists, Justice Egonda-Ntende took a dig at the Judiciary for enabling the Executive to jail political opponents.

‘Multiple weeks ago, I read and viewed in both print and broadcast media the story of a couple of young children mourning and burying their mother alone without their surviving parent, the father held on some minor, obscure, and yet unproven charge in a subordinate court,’ Justice Egonda-Ntende said.

‘The charges don’t involve loss of life or threat to life, property, or reputation. The father was held in pretrial custody, denied bail, long past the constitutionally permitted period for denial of liberty. What society treats its children like this without questioning the persons caught up in such a criminal justice system?’ he added.

It has been 13 years since Justice Egonda-Ntende was appointed by President Museveni to the Court of Appeal, having served as Chief Justice of Seychelles for five years from 2009 to 2014.

When the jurist went to Parliament for vetting, members of the Appointments Committee felt that Justice Egonda-Ntende would be ‘underemployed’ if deployed to the Court of Appeal.

The committee members, led by then Speaker Rebecca Kadaga, asked President Museveni to reconsider the appointment since, in their view, Justice Egonda-Ntende was highly qualified for the Supreme Court. The plea fell on deaf ears.

In the coming years, several justices, including Ezekiel Muhanguzi, Percy Night Tuhaise, Paul Mugamba, Christopher Madrama, Catherine Bamugemereire, Ruby Opio Aweri, and Prof Lilian Ekirikubinza-Tibatemwa, who found Justice Egonda-Ntende at the Court of Appeal, would be promoted to the Supreme Court – but not him.

Overlooked

Justice Egonda-Ntende’s judicial career has been punctuated by near misses and political rejection by the regime that has been in power since 1986.

For instance, when he returned from Seychelles in 2012, where he had served as Chief Justice for three years, the Uganda Law Society (ULS) fronted his name to fill the position of Chief Justice following the retirement of Justice Benjamin Odoki.

President Museveni, however, unilaterally decided to extend Justice Odoki’s tenure as Chief Justice for two more years, prompting a Constitutional Court judgment that later rendered the move unconstitutional.

In the end, Justice Bart Katureebe, Museveni’s former Attorney General, was appointed Chief Justice, while Steven Kavuma, Museveni’s former junior Defence minister who had been serving as acting Chief Justice and acting Deputy Chief Justice, permanently took the Deputy Chief Justice slot.

When Justice Kavuma retired in 2017, Justice Egonda-Ntende gave it another shot, only for Museveni to appoint Justice Owiny-Dollo, his former junior minister in charge of the Northern Uganda Reconstruction Programme (NURP).

However, when Makerere University announced in 2023 that it was awarding Justice Egonda-Ntende an honorary Doctor of Laws degree in recognition of his contribution to Uganda’s legal fraternity, there was no stopping the praise.

‘Lawyers rarely agree on something, but on Dr Egonda-Ntende’s honorary doctorate, all have said this was the best pick anyone could make. You just have to read his judgments or attend his court. Congratulations, Doctor. We are proud of your achievements,’ lawyer Julius Galisonga said.

In his acceptance speech on January 29, 2024, Justice Egonda-Ntende reflected on his judicial journey.

‘Starting to serve in the Judiciary, I thought I knew much of what needed to be tackled from the outside. Once inside, I understood that legal acumen and zeal, obviously essential attributes of any judge, were insufficient to breathe life into the otherwise lifeless words of our Constitution and other laws,’ he said.

‘One had to double as a development practitioner, a change agent, to contribute to the transformation of the Judiciary into an effective and efficient body that renders justice to all without fear or favour, ill will or affection. I have dedicated the last 33 years to these ideals,’ he added.

Transformative

It is illuminating to unpack how Justice Egonda-Ntende has attempted to breathe life into Uganda’s Constitution, which some critics argue lost meaning following several regressive amendments.

‘Justice Egonda-Ntende has a lifetime track record of turning everyday cases into transformative judicial experiences not only for parties before court but for all court users and society at large, stretching as far back as the early 1990s,’ said Isaac Kimaze Ssemakadde, the exiled president of the Uganda Law Society.

One of the most talked-about cases involving Justice Egonda-Ntende was the first constitutional petition handled by the newly formed Constitutional Court, in which Gen David Tinyefuza, now Sejusa, insisted he had retired from the army.

‘There are several reasons, but the most important among them is that I feel I am unjustly being harassed over my testimony before the Parliamentary Committee on Defence and Internal Affairs. To require me to appear before the High Command so that action is taken against me is rather too high-handed,’ Sejusa argued at the time.

In their judgment, Justices Seth Manyindo, then Deputy Chief Justice, Galdino Okello, Alice Mpagi Bahigeine, Patrick Tabaro, and Egonda-Ntende agreed that Sejusa ceased being an army officer when President Museveni appointed him presidential adviser.

‘Similarly, under the Public Service Standing Orders, a public servant is engaged on a full-time basis. It follows that an army officer cannot be a public servant at the same time. And so, when, in 1993, the President appointed the petitioner to a public service job as presidential adviser on contract terms, he thereby took him out of the Army,’ part of the judgment read.

The justices also noted that there was mounting evidence that the Army Council allowed officers to accept assignments in public service while remaining army officers.

‘This practice contravenes Section 5(1) of the NRA Statute,’ the judgment further stated.

The ruling was later overturned by the Supreme Court.

Kiss of death?

If in the Sejusa case Justice Egonda-Ntende was part of a panel, he stood alone in 2002 when he annulled the election of Amama Mbabazi, then widely seen as Museveni’s closest ally, as Kinkizi West Member of Parliament.

Justice Egonda-Ntende nullified Mbabazi’s victory after Garuga Musinguzi, who belonged to the Opposition pressure group Reform Agenda, proved the election had been marred by fraud, violence, and intimidation.

‘It is convenient to take the following three items together – violence and force were unleashed on the petitioner’s supporters by the UPDF, Presidential Protection Unit (PPU), and other security and governmental agencies to intimidate and stop them from voting for the petitioner, and instead vote for the respondent,’ he ruled.

Ruling against the political establishment appeared to place a target on Justice Egonda-Ntende’s back and effectively blocked any pathway to Uganda’s apex court.

That was despite the jurist – who holds a Master of Laws degree in Information Technology and Telecommunications Law from the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, United Kingdom – earning recognition outside Uganda.

In the 1990s and early 2000s, he helped set up an independent judiciary in East Timor, where he served as a judge of the Court of Appeal.

When he later took his seat at the Court of Appeal, which doubles as the Constitutional Court, Justice Egonda-Ntende joined four other justices in ruling that police officers and state agents implicated in human rights violations should be held individually liable rather than shielding behind institutions.

Following the abuse of interim applications by litigants and advocates, Justice Egonda-Ntende, together with Justices Kenneth Kakuru and Elizabeth Musoke, also ruled that it was unconstitutional for a single judge to hear interim applications arising out of constitutional petitions.

They held that such applications should instead be heard by a panel of five Constitutional Court justices, sending shockwaves through the Judiciary.

Army in politics

Justice Egonda-Ntende once had an opportunity to kick the military out of Parliament after Ellady Muyambi, a private citizen, filed a petition arguing that soldiers should not sit in Parliament under a multiparty political system.

The five justices who heard the appeal, however, held differing views.

‘From the foregoing, it is clear that the Constituent Assembly was alive to the contentions raised by the petitioner. However, it recommended that it was important to have army representation in Parliament,’ Justice Egonda-Ntende, who wrote the lead judgment, explained.

‘It is also clear that the Constituent Assembly intended for the army to be represented in Parliament during both systems of government [Movement and multiparty]. It was never intended by the framers of the Constitution for army representation in Parliament to be in abeyance during the multiparty system,’ he concluded.

Soft Ethiopian melodies drifted through the gardens at Ethiopia’s ambassador’s residence in Kololo on Tuesday evening as diplomats, academics, journalists, and guests gathered under African Union colours to mark Africa Day.

The event marked 63 years since African leaders met in Addis Ababa to establish the Organisation of African Unity, the precursor to the African Union. While the evening carried celebration, the conversations kept returning to one question: Is Africa being built for the next generation?

Ethiopia’s ambassador to Uganda, Etsegenet Bezabih Yimenu, framed the discussion around the AU’s 2026 theme on sustainable water availability and sanitation under Agenda 2063.

‘Water is not just a basic human right. It is the source of our industrialisation, food security, health and economic dignity,’ she said.

The conversation soon turned to the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, a project that has become both a national symbol for Ethiopia and a continental talking point.

‘The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam is a triumph of local engineering financed entirely by the sweat and resources of the Ethiopian people,’ the ambassador said, calling it proof that Africa has ‘the capacity, intellect and sovereignty to solve its own infrastructure challenges.’

Professor Emmanuel Kasimbazi, a Makerere University law scholar and environmental governance expert, warned that water stress and sanitation crises are rising faster than many governments expect.

‘The Africa we want cannot be built on parched earth. You have water on your table. You do not have oil. You cannot drink oil,’ he said.

Kasimbazi argued the water crisis is now a development emergency affecting food systems, health, education, and industry. ‘We are not just losing water. We are losing the very foundations of our future prosperity. Technically we agree. Politically, we don’t agree,’ he said of Nile Basin cooperation.

Carlos Ogik, Executive Director of Inside Diplomacy, pushed the discussion beyond infrastructure.

‘Water is not just a social issue. It is a health issue, an economic issue, a climate issue, a security issue and a development issue,’ he said.

He warned that no country can industrialise or build resilient health systems without sustainable water. But for Ogik, the deeper barrier is mindset.

‘Once we liberate our minds from dependence on what is foreign, that becomes the first step towards achieving the Africa we want,’ he said.

Public policy advocate Patience Namanya brought the continental debate down to daily life. She recalled growing up in a Pan-African household and learning African flags before mathematics, and linked water insecurity directly to girls’ education.

‘Water is not only about industrialisation, it is also about the future of Africa’s young people,’ she said. Namanya pointed to girls who spend hours fetching water instead of attending school, warning that climate change and poor sanitation are deepening vulnerability.

‘Young women should not only sit at the table for photographs, but to define what the future means for them,’ she said.

Former Finance Ministry undersecretary Betty Kasimbazi added a stark note.

‘The next war will be started by water,’ she said, recalling conversations at international climate conferences. She praised Ethiopia’s long-term planning while lamenting corruption and political indecision elsewhere on the continent.

After the speeches, the mood shifted. The DJ moved from Bob Marley’s Africa Unite to Philly Bongoley Lutaaya’s Born in Africa, Ali Mohammed Birra’s Eshurruru, and Eddy Kenzo’s Sitya Loss. Ambassador Etsegenet, her friend Yogi Biriggwa, and other guests took to the floor, closing the evening with dance and music that spanned the continent.

Mr Jacob Marksons Oboth-Oboth, the Speaker of the 12th Parliament, has been hailed as an experienced, hard-working, and down-to-earth gentleman, who colleagues believe will mark a new dawn for an institution grappling with allegations of corruption and maladministration. At 55, Mr Oboth-Oboth clinched the Speaker’s seat with 441 votes out of the 519 cast. As Speaker of Parliament, Mr Oboth-Oboth now steps into the third-highest office in the country’s order of precedence. He will preside over the Legislature, which holds the power to make laws on any matter for peace, order, development, and good governance, as enshrined in the Constitution. But his rise to the coveted office was no walk in the park.

Mr Oboth-Oboth kept his powder dry after being passed over twice by his party until fortune finally smiled on him a fortnight ago. As the rug was pulled out from under Ms Anita Annet Among, the former Speaker now under investigation for alleged illicit enrichment and abuse of office, a red carpet was rolled out for Mr Oboth-Oboth. His bid was endorsed by the Chief of Defence Forces, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba and his Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU). That endorsement gave Mr Oboth-Oboth the courage to try his luck a third time. With PLU’s backing, he also secured the nod from the Central Executive Committee of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM), the party with the largest number of MPs. The West Budama Central MP brings to the table 15 years of legislative experience, including chairing key committees.

He led the Committee on Rules, Discipline and Privileges in the 9th Parliament, and later chaired the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee in the 10th. ‘He is serious with his work, and he gives good direction. He is very knowledgeable about the law. He is humorous and has his way around the members. Even then, he will meet his targets. Plus, he stood out to me as an honest man,’ Ms Robina Gureme Rwakoojo, who deputised him on the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee, said. Born and bred in Tororo District, Mr Oboth-Oboth rose from a tough childhood to become a lawyer and Intellectual Property expert. He holds a Bachelor of Laws degree from Makerere University, a postgraduate diploma in legal practice from the Law Development Centre, and a master’s degree in election and cyber law from the University of Minnesota, US.

He also earned a Certificate in Management from Uganda Management Institute. His academic journey began at Tororo High School (1995-1997) and continued at Dennis Sebugwao School. Information from The Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs (MODVA) shows his most recent deployment was as deputy attorney general of the Tieng Adhola Cultural Institution, before joining the government as a State Attorney in the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, based in Mbale. While pursuing his Master’s degree in the United States, he built bridges with allies and donors who later invested in his election bid, including initiating projects in his constituency. He threw his hat into the political ring in the 2011 elections. On his first attempt, he trounced then-State minister for Labour, Dr Emmanuel Otaala, to represent West Budama South, a seat he held through the 11th Parliament.

He became the first legislator to win a second successive term in his constituency since 1996. In the 2026 elections, he switched to the newly-created West Budama Central. Mr Oboth-Oboth served his first two terms on the Independent ticket but worked hand in glove with the NRM, chairing committees along the way. During this time, he was praised yet also viewed with suspicion by both government and Opposition. In a 2020 article, ‘Oboth-Oboth, the accidental politician,’ he told this publication that such suspicion was simply a reflection of his objectivity. But his inclinations often showed through the cracks. In 2017, he spearheaded the Committee that endorsed the removal of the presidential age limit, one of the most defining and polarising moments for the country.

The Constitution Amendment Act of 2017, which amended Article 102(b), allowed President Museveni free rein to run for office beyond 75. Yet, while many of the frontline proponents of the law were shown the door in the 2021 elections, Oboth-Oboth bounced back. He officially joined the yellow party in the run-up to the 2021 elections. No sooner had he joined the NRM than he set his sights on the leadership of Parliament. Mr Oboth-Oboth first threw his hat into the ring in 2021, bidding for the position of Deputy Speaker. He, however, stepped aside when the party chose Ms Among. In 2022, he raised the stakes, this time aiming for the Speaker’s chair following the death of Jacob Oulanyah.

Again, the NRM preferred Ms Among, pairing her with Thomas Tayebwa to steer the 11th Parliament. Instead, President Museveni tapped Oboth-Oboth to serve in the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs; first as State minister for General Duties in 2021, before promoting him to full minister in 2024, in a Cabinet reshuffle that ushered PLU members into the fold. At the time, however, there was no clear sign that Mr Oboth-Oboth was in PLU’s good books, even though he worked closely with its chairperson, Gen Kainerugaba.

The two, nonetheless, enjoyed a cordial working relationship. In 2024, Muhoozi was the special guest at Mr Oboth-Oboth’s thanksgiving ceremony in Tororo. In his speech, Gen Muhoozi praised Mr Oboth-Oboth for his ‘flexibility and accommodating methods of work’. He then tasked him with ensuring the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) was well represented in Parliament. ‘One of your most important roles is to act as our representative in government. We are very sure you’ll represent the interests of UPDF in Cabinet and Parliament very well. We do not expect any issues on that front with you as minister,’ Gen Muhoozi said. As Minister of Defence and Veteran Affairs, Mr Oboth-Oboth was charged with formulating national defence policies, overseeing the UPDF, and safeguarding the welfare of military veterans.

In May 2025, Mr Oboth-Oboth tabled the UPDF Amendment Act, which sought to improve soldiers’ welfare and reintroduced the trial of civilians in military courts. Fast forward to 2026, as the race for Speaker took on many twists and turns, Gen Muhoozi was the first to toss Mr Oboth-Oboth’s name into the hat. Mr Oboth-Oboth himself had not yet expressed interest when he received the endorsement on May 15. ‘He is the best minister we have had,’ Gen Muhoozi posted on X. At his thanksgiving ceremony that followed on May 16 in Mukono, Mr Oboth-Oboth accepted PLU’s endorsement, saying his leadership has always been rooted in servant leadership and humility. In earlier campaigns in 2021, he had also expressed confidence that his competence, integrity, and wealth of experience made him the best candidate for parliamentary leadership.

Ms Lydia Wanyoto, the Woman MP for Mbale City, who dropped out of the race, agreed: ‘We were many people who were interested in the speakership because we thought we should change the leadership of Parliament. But when Oboth-Oboth came up, most of us were persuaded to leave because we had a good candidate,’ she said. ‘The tradition has been that Deputy Speakers and Speakers have been chairing the Legal and Parliamentary Committee. That’s the training ground. He ideally should be a good parliamentary leader because of the grooming at the committee level,’ she added. Ms Jessica Alupo, while nominating Ms Oboth-Oboth, yesterday described him as one with a deep understanding of constitutional governance, parliamentary procedure, rule of law, legislative drafting, and conflict resolution.

‘He is knowledgeable in law, parliamentary procedures and processes, and is a fair, firm, and strong communicator, bold and decisive, goal-oriented, even-tempered, resilient, and emotionally intelligent. Those characteristics will enable him to easily command this august House. He will maintain order, facilitate debate, enforce rules of procedure, navigate governance issues, make firm, decisive, sound, and rational decisions, manage crises that may arise, and navigate complex political and diplomatic relations,’ Mr Frank Tumwebaze, who seconded his nomination, said.

Mr Oboth-Oboth’s standing as a leader now faces its biggest test, as the 12th Parliament must climb a steep hill to shed the shadow of the 11th, a House branded not only as a rubber stamp for the Executive but also as one riddled with maladministration. Speaking shortly after assuming the Speaker’s chair, Mr Oboth-Oboth pledged to run a corruption-free Parliament, committed to oversight and independence. ‘I pledge a corruption-free Parliament. Under my leadership, we will cultivate a culture of absolute integrity and zero tolerance to corruption. Accountability begins with us. In the next five years, we will hold the Executive and other government bodies accountable,’ he said.

Before Mbale city fully wakes, the Mbale-Tirinyi road, which leads to Mbale-Sino Industrial Park, is alive with activity. Hundreds of young men and women move from either direction of the road, most on foot and a few others on boda-bodas from their respective villages within Mbale City and neighbouring areas to the park. By the time the factory gates open at 7am, the area is packed. Lines begin to form as security guards carry out checks to allow the workers to enter. Among these is Beatrice Logose, a 22- year old Senior Three dropout, who now works as a crane operator in UniSteel Investment Uganda Limited, one of the factories operating in the park, which opened in 2018. ‘I am working and happy because as a school dropout, I never imagined anyone would employ me. However, when I came to the park seeking employment, I got an opportunity.

After acquiring skills, I can now operate a crane and other heavy machines,’ Ms Logose says, adding that the only requirement to get the job was a letter from the village chairperson and a National Identity Card. She adds that although they work with machines, their safety is guaranteed through the use of improved technology and personal protective equipment such as gumboots, gloves, helmets, overalls, safety shoes and belts. Ms Logose is one of the over 13,500 employees working in the park. The park, which was commissioned in 2018 with a total investment portfolio of $600m (Shs2.3 trillion), sits on 619 acres of land Ms Ariana Nanyanzi, a Senior Four drop out from Bulubandi in Iganga District, who works as an excavator operator, says she earns Shs900, 000 per month. She says this money helps her to adequately take care of her needs.

‘I use part of the money to support the education of my siblings. I am happy that I have made the excavator my dream machine,’ she says. After dropping out of school due to lack of fees in 2021, Ms Nanyanzi joined a busy garage in Mbale- Sino Industrial Park to work as a mechanic. She started as a spanner girl and she navigated the male-dominated space with confidence, fixing vehicles and in the long run, earned respect from clients and colleagues alike. ‘As a spanner girl, the mechanics, all of them men, often sent me to bring different spanner types. While some ridiculed me, others supported me until l learnt the trade,’ she says. After two years as a mechanic, Nanyanzi, whose childhood dream revolved around machines, shifted from the garage to the machines department, mainly operating excavators, within the same industrial park.

‘I picked interest in the excavator machines but most of my male colleagues, told me I could not handle what they called a man machine. To prove them wrong, I joined the department of machines and was given a master to try my luck,’ she says, with a beaming smile. Ms Rose Nambozo, another employee, says after numerous job searches within Mbale City, she finally got a job at Mbale Sino Industrial Park. ‘Before joining the park, my situation was bad. I am thankful that with this job, I can provide my children with education, medication, pay rent and meet my basic needs,’ she says. Ms Nambozo says the establishment of the park is a blessing to the single mothers and school dropouts in the region. She says the park gives mothers a three-month maternity leave and provides pads to the girls and women working in the park.

‘I appeal to single mothers and other women to apply for the jobs so they become productive,’ she says. Ms Brenda Nagudi, working at Chint Metres Electrical (U) LTD as an electrical engineer says they are provided with rings to protect them from electric shocks as they carry on their duties. She adds that she has learnt how to assemble, soldier, and repair electricity meters, skills she now uses even within her community to earn more money. ‘The working environment is generally friendly, especially for women. We work from 7.30am to 6pm and are paid on time,’ she says. Ms Lilian Namuddu, an inventory manager at Chint Meters and Electrical (U) LTD, says there are rarely any accidents because the workers are provided with protective gears.

Changing faces of city

Mr Abdullah Madoi, the mayor of Industrial City Division in Mbale City, says the park has changed the skyline of Mbale City. ‘This area has now transformed from subsistence farming to a thriving industrial hub benefiting thousands of families,’ he says. Mr Kennedy Mushemeza, the public relations manager for Sino-Uganda Mbale Industrial Park, says employees are paid according to their skills and productivity, with more skilled and productive workers earning higher wages. ‘Out of 13,500 employees in the park, 65 percent are female,’ he says.

Mr Laurent Zhang, the administration manager of the park, says the recruited workers undergo fresh training to equip them with skills for future sustainability. ‘A person without a skill can be trained in various skills such as tailoring, electronics, electrical engineering, welding, painting, construction, among others,’ he says. He adds that employees undergo continuous training in high-tech factories such as phone and television assembly plants, to ensure long-term sustainability. The Mayor of Mbale City, Ms Joyce Matuka Kidulu, says apart from job opportunities, the park has increased access to affordable goods and skills development.

As Bugiri Municipality swears in a new set of leaders, residents say they’re done with promises. Their message is simple: fix the market, clear the drains, repair the roads, and stop the garbage piling up.

‘We are happy that the NRM party took over almost all elective positions in Bugiri Municipality. As leaders in power, we must deliver to the people’s expectations if we want to retain our positions,’ said Saidi Kagere, NRM chairperson for Bugiri Municipality.

Kagere said poor road maintenance and alleged misuse of government funds remain top concerns heading into the new term.

‘Issues of theft of government money and the poor road network are still big challenges as we enter the new political term. However, as residents, we are ready to work with our leaders to improve household incomes and fight corruption,’ he said.

The stalled construction of Bugiri Central Market sits high on the list. Traders say the facility is overcrowded, unsanitary, and a disaster waiting to happen.

‘The two pit latrines we have been using are already full and some people have resorted to using polythene bags to ease themselves,’ said Badiru Kilego, chairperson of the Bugiri Central Market Traders Association.

He said the problem worsened after traders operating outside the market were evicted, increasing congestion and the risk of fire and disease outbreaks.

‘We are working under threats because anything can happen at any time, including fire or disease outbreaks. We need immediate intervention,’ Kilego said.

Bugiri Central Market is one of the municipality’s main sources of local revenue, making the neglect even more frustrating for vendors.

Mayor Ayubu Kisubi Mulikiliza said new pit latrines are already planned for the 2026/2027 budget.

‘We received all the complaints from Bugiri Central Market and we are working around the clock to ensure the issues are addressed as soon as funds are released by the central government,’ he said.

Newly elected MP John Francis Oketcho pledged to take the market issue to Parliament when the House sits.

‘I am also an entrepreneur and I understand these challenges. I will engage the line ministry on the construction of Bugiri Central Market soon after the new ministers are appointed,’ Oketcho said.

He also appealed for unity across political lines. ‘I know some of you supported my brother Basalirwa and other candidates, but do not fear to approach me for services because we are all residents of this area.’

Bugiri District Woman MP Eunice Namatende said she would focus on women and vulnerable groups, particularly single mothers running small businesses under the GROW project.

‘Single mothers are among the vulnerable people who need support because of the responsibilities they carry. Some lost their partners while others were abandoned,’ she said.

NRM National Treasurer Barbara Nekesa Oundo warned leaders against misusing public funds, saying monitoring of government projects would be tightened this term.

‘Some leaders connive with civil servants to embezzle government funds, but this time we are putting emphasis on monitoring all government projects to ensure our pledges are fulfilled,’ Nekesa said.

She thanked residents for voting overwhelmingly for President Yoweri Museveni and urged leaders to put aside divisive politics and focus on service delivery.

Police in the Wamala Region are investigating the circumstances under which a young couple was found dead inside their locked house in Mubende District, in an incident that has left residents grappling with more questions than answers.

The deceased have been identified as Ronald Tumusiime, 28, a peasant, and his wife, Justine Kamukama, 25, both residents of Lwensama Cell in Nabingola Town Council.

Their bodies were discovered on April 20 at about 5pm after neighbours reportedly heard their two-year-old child crying persistently from inside the house, with no response from the parents.

According to preliminary police findings, a neighbour, Mr Elvis Senabulya, grew suspicious when the child’s cries continued for several hours. Upon checking, he found the main door locked from the inside. He peeped through a window and reportedly saw the couple lying motionless on the floor.

He immediately alerted local leaders, who notified officers at Nabingola Police Station. Police, reinforced by the Mubende District homicide team, later forced entry into the house to access the scene.

Investigators said the house bore visible signs of a violent struggle, with several household items broken and scattered. Both bodies had deep cut wounds, suggesting that a physical confrontation may have preceded the deaths.

Initially, police indicated that residents had reported hearing the couple quarrelling on the night of April 19, raising suspicion of a possible domestic dispute. However, this account was later contested by Mr Julius Kaggwa, the chairperson of Lwensama Village, who dismissed claims that neighbours had overheard any altercation.

‘None of the residents heard them quarrelling. The homes are spaced at a distance from each other,’ Mr Kaggwa said, adding that the theory of a domestic fight did not, in his view, fully explain the circumstances at the scene.

The bodies were conveyed to Mubende Regional Referral Hospital for postmortem examination as detectives seek to establish the precise cause of death and reconstruct the sequence of events.

Wamala Region Police spokesperson SSP Lameck Kigozi earlier condemned all forms of domestic violence and urged couples experiencing conflict to seek timely intervention from authorities and community leaders before disagreements escalate into tragedy.

However, following the release of preliminary postmortem findings, local leaders advanced a different theory, suggesting that the couple could have been killed by unidentified assailants.

‘We all initially thought this was a case of domestic violence, but the postmortem report indicates that the woman had a fatal wound on the neck, while the husband sustained a severe head injury from a hammer,’ Mr Kaggwa said.

He questioned the likelihood of the injuries being self-inflicted, arguing that certain details at the scene raised suspicion.

‘You cannot tell me that someone would fatally injure his wife and at the same time inflict such harm on himself, yet there was no object inside the house that could explain the head injury,’ he added.

Mr Kaggwa further claimed that the scene appeared staged.

‘It looks like this was carefully planned. Their phones were destroyed, the house was locked after the attack, and the keys were thrown outside into the compound, leaving the two-year-old child inside crying helplessly,’ he alleged.

Mr Charles Lubwama, the chairperson of Nabingola Town Council, said Mr Tumusiime had last been seen on Sunday evening in the trading centre, where he reportedly joined other residents to watch an English Premier League match between Manchester City and Arsenal.

Local leaders said there had been no known public disputes between the couple, whom neighbours described as loving and generally peaceful.

The incident has sent shockwaves through the community, with residents expressing disbelief at what they described as an unexpected and disturbing tragedy.

Police have since recorded statements from key witnesses as investigations continue into what exactly transpired inside the house in the hours leading to the couple’s death.

Second-term Deputy Speaker of Parliament Thomas Tayebwa has cautioned newly sworn-in Members of Parliament against placing financial pressure on parliamentary leaders, warning lawmakers against treating the offices of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker as ‘moving ATMs’ for personal handouts.

Speaking Tuesday during the opening of a one-week orientation programme for new MPs in Kampala, Mr Tayebwa said the culture of legislators constantly seeking money from presiding officers had become unhealthy and contributed to deeper institutional problems within Parliament.

‘The most important issue, and I want to be honest on this as I request you honourable colleagues, [please] don’t look at a Speaker as a moving ATM,’ Mr Tayebwa said.

‘I had previously feared coming to the office because when you come to the office, members have already surrounded you. If I don’t have Shs10 million or Shs20 million, I don’t enter the office,’ he added.

Mr Tayebwa urged MPs to live within their means, noting that legislators already receive salaries and should not create the impression that parliamentary leaders are personally responsible for their financial welfare.

‘Each one of us will receive a salary. I think let’s really not behave as if others are more well-off, but share our poverty, and bond together. But that business of expecting money from the Speaker all the time is what has caused some of us problems,’ he said.

The Deputy Speaker made the remarks barely a day after he was sworn in for a second term, having served in the same role during the 11th Parliament under former Speaker Anita Annet Among.

Mr Tayebwa now deputises Jacob Oboth-Oboth, the Budama West Central MP and former Defence minister, who won Monday’s Speaker race by a landslide.

Ms Among, the Bukedea District Woman MP, had initially expressed interest in retaining the Speakership but later withdrew from the race following ongoing investigations by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations into allegations of corruption and self-enrichment.

During her tenure, Ms Among became widely associated with generous donations to MPs, institutions and communities during public and private events, a trend Mr Tayebwa suggested had created unsustainable expectations among legislators.

‘Some of you have been saying Tayebwa is mean, yet I have been contributing up to Shs10 million. Where do I get such kind of money? Won’t I be forced to divert your money and give it to you by other means?’ he asked.

Mr Tayebwa said Parliament’s leadership intends to establish a more transparent and structured support system for MPs instead of relying on personal appeals or informal financial assistance from presiding officers.

‘Don’t put financial pressure on your presiding officers. Kindly bear with us so that instead of only those who can access me being the ones to benefit, we would rather have a system which is very clear on how each one of you can benefit, whatever small it might be,’ he said.

‘You don’t need to first come and beg me to be your friend. It should be through a well-defined system, and I think that will help all of us really to be objective and clear,’ he added.

Mr Tayebwa, who belongs to the ruling NRM party, also pledged fairness in managing parliamentary debates, promising equal treatment for legislators regardless of political affiliation or personal differences.

The Nnabagereka of the Buganda Kingdom, Sylvia Nagginda Luswata, has called on the Programme for Accessible Health Communication and Education (PACE) to sustain efforts aimed at expanding access to reproductive health services, particularly among vulnerable communities.

The Queen made the remarks while presiding over the 7th Annual General Meeting of PACE Uganda in Kampala on Tuesday, where she emphasised the need to protect the dignity and health rights of vulnerable populations.

‘As we move forward, PACE Uganda must remain focused and mission-driven to meet the challenges ahead, including resistance to reproductive health information and services and the difficulty of reaching vulnerable communities,’ the Nnabagereka said.

She urged stakeholders to strengthen collaboration and innovation in order to improve access to quality reproductive healthcare across the country.

‘Let us reaffirm our collective commitment to advancing PACE Uganda’s mission – supporting communities, protecting rights, and expanding access to quality reproductive health for all,’ the Nnabagereka, who is also PACE’s patron, said.

‘With gratitude for our partners, confidence in our teams, and renewed resolve to overcome challenges, I invite everyone here to continue collaborating, innovating, and leading with compassion so that together we can build a healthier, more equitable future for Uganda,’ she added.

Speaking at the same event, PACE Uganda Board Chairman Fred Wabwire Mangen said the organisation remains focused on strengthening governance, accountability, and sustainability amid a changing global funding environment.

‘We are a multidisciplinary board, and that breadth is a deliberate strength which sharpens our risk management, diversifies our perspective, and holds us to high standards of transparency and ethics,’ Prof Wabwire said.

He noted that the organisation is adapting to shifts in global donor priorities by focusing on data-driven decision-making, cost efficiency, and funding diversification.

‘The global funding landscape is shifting, with increased emphasis on results, efficiency, and sustainability. These shifts do not alarm us but rather affirm our strategic direction,’ he said.

Prof Wabwire said the board intends to prioritise stronger partnerships, community-based systems, and programmes capable of delivering long-term impact beyond donor cycles.

‘PACE is here for the long term. And the Board’s job is to make sure the organisation is structurally and strategically equipped to fulfil that commitment,’ he added.

PACE Uganda works to promote universal health coverage through community-centred healthcare programmes aimed at improving reproductive health, family planning, maternal care, and adolescent health services.

The Executive Director of PACE Uganda, Dr Lillian Sekabembe, said recent donor funding cuts, particularly from the United States Agency for International Development, had negatively affected reproductive health programmes targeting teenage pregnancies in northern and eastern Uganda.

Dr Sekabembe said the organisation has since been forced to diversify its funding sources and redesign programmes to ensure sustainability.

‘By expanding our donor base, being more efficient and effective in the delivery of services, and reducing dependence on donor projects, we have been intentional about improving our efficiency,’ she said.

Early last year, the United States administration implemented a broad freeze on foreign assistance, leading to significant reductions in USAID funding to Uganda.

The cuts disrupted several health and humanitarian programmes, including HIV/AIDS services, and forced the closure of some specialised clinics across the country.

Health organisations have since warned that continued donor funding reductions could undermine gains made in reproductive health, HIV prevention, and adolescent health services unless alternative financing mechanisms are developed.

Ugandan government officials on Monday blamed unethical procurement practices, weak contract execution and poor business organisation among local firms for their continued failure to win and retain major public infrastructure contracts.

Officials from the Ministry of Kampala Capital City and Metropolitan Affairs and the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Authority said many Ugandan contractors were losing out to foreign companies not because of limited technical ability, but due to poor project management, weak compliance with procurement rules and diversion of project funds.

The concerns were raised during a supplier conference in Kampala under the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area Urban Development Programme (GKMA-UDP), one of Uganda’s largest urban infrastructure projects.

‘We have deliberately created opportunities for local contractors, but many are not reciprocating,’ said Monica Edemachu Ejua, undersecretary in the Ministry of Kampala Capital City and Metropolitan Affairs.

Her remarks come amid growing criticism from local contractors who accuse government agencies of favouring Chinese and other foreign firms in the award of lucrative infrastructure contracts.

But Edemachu said local companies often perform strongly during bidding stages only to fail during project implementation.

‘They are good at submitting bid documents but their performance is poor,’ she said.

Uganda’s procurement laws reserve at least 30% of government contracts for local firms in selected sectors as part of efforts to promote indigenous business growth.

However, officials said the policy cannot compensate for poor delivery standards and financial indiscipline.

Edemachu accused some contractors of diverting project advances into unrelated businesses, leading to delayed or substandard works.

‘Once we have advanced monies to our contractors, they remove the money and go and do another business,’ she said.

The GKMA-UDP programme, which oversees major infrastructure works in Kampala and surrounding metropolitan areas, has increasingly relied on foreign contractors, particularly Chinese firms with stronger financial and technical capacity.

Officials also raised concerns over weak environmental, occupational safety and social safeguard compliance among local companies.

Sophia Nassali Masagazi, a legal officer at PPDA, said a 2025 survey under the GKMA-UDP programme found many local bids failed during preliminary evaluation because of incomplete documentation and weak joint venture arrangements.

‘The biggest gap identified was from the joint ventures,’ Nassali said. ‘Many of the bids fail because of preliminary issues that really just need bidders to properly organise themselves.’

She also warned contractors to prepare for the rollout of Uganda’s electronic government procurement system, expected to become mandatory for all procuring entities in the next financial year.

Officials said the conference aimed to strengthen the capacity of local suppliers, contractors and consultants to improve competitiveness and compliance in future public procurement processes.

A couple of years ago Chef Gadson came up with the idea of setting up a restaurant in midtown Kampala that serves only pork, an idea which in itself is unusual though by no means unique. Pork joints in and around Kampala abound and are a dime a dozen, albeit none are situated in the heart of the city­ center. Not to mention that few of them care about décor and­ ambiance. In general, they are of dishevelled appearance with scant regard for any semblance of smartness or comfort.­

While The Pork Planet was by no means posh, by any standard it was comfortable, neat and tidy.­ From the very beginning, going back to October 2021, The Pork Planet has been a success story with one major drawback, the size of the place being that of a postage stamp. When we discovered the place, sometime last year, much to our disappointment, it was tiny and could barely accommodate a baker’s dozen at a seating. By any stretch of the imagination making ends meet with such small numbers­ of diners was bound to be an uphill and difficult task to run a restaurant profitably, given the low seating capacity and save­ for a miracle, sooner or later the business was bound to run into strong head winds in terms of cash flow.

Gadson was­ acutely aware of this challenge back then and told me that he was making plans to expand sooner or later.

Nature abhors a vacuum and as good luck would have it, a vacancy occurred plum next to his place and Chef Gadson took up the­ opportunity with both hands without any hesitation. The first­ order of business was to draw up a budget and seek funds for the venture. Luckily he had saved some money for a rainy day and coupled with this and other means he worked out a plan of action and timetable and got the ball rolling.­

Fortunately, business was able to carry on apace while the­ renovations were taking place. The first step was to break down the wall in the middle, which was not a difficult task­ since the partition was not permanent. Next was to do a bit of interior decoration, acquire tables and chairs, tablecloths and a few more flat screens and he was good to go. He also­ put up colorful illustrations on the wall that depicted the place and within no time Gadson managed to achieve a wonderful transformation of the place while at the same time more than doubling the dining capacity.

Another new feature was coming up with ideas like Bucket Night every Friday and Saturday offering five beers for Shs 20,000 as well as having a greater variety of alcoholic beverages. Depending on the demand, he is also thinking of employing a barista and creating an array of cocktails and mock tails.­ On our recent visit to The Pork Planet the first thing that one notices outside is the huge sign board outside which is prominently displayed. Once inside, we were bowled over and all agog at seeing this new outstanding facelift which give new breadth and depth to the place.

As for the food, as good as expected with the signature dish still being the bountiful­ katogo with the large mousakala matooke ‘fingers’ served­ with pork and costing a very pocket friendly tenner. The only meat served is pork with accompaniments of fried rice, cassava, Irish potatoes and greens. The service is quick and­ efficient and the place is clean and tidy. The standard of the­ food is consistent and never a disappointment.­

Chef Gadson is a hands-on person and spends a lot of his time at the restaurant ensuring that all is well and service runs smoothly.­

IF YOU GO…

Our Rating: Not to be missed­

The Place: Kampala Pork Planet

Address: The Plaza, formerly Gandesha Plaza. Off Jinja Road, next to the former railway station, currently the head office for the Uganda license Office­

The Space: Since our last visit last year in June, they have more than doubled the seating capacity and also added a­ small terrace.­

The Crowd: People from around town including late Friday night revelers for whom they open all night.­

The menu: Pork menu: Kikalayi special Shs20,000, Planet Kikalayi special mega Shs30,000, Planet grills Shs20,000, Planet grills mega Shs30,000, Planet ribs special Shs30,000, Planet roast Shs20,000, Pork Katogo Shs 10,000

Bucket night: Every Friday and Saturday night 5 beers at Shs­20,000.­

Cold drinks: Beer Shs5,000, Smirnoff ice Shs6,000, Tusker cider Shs 6,000, juice Shs

5,000

The damage: The buffet is a very reasonable Shs30,000 and is available every Friday and Saturday. As might expected the only meat served is pork.­

RATINGS: Not to be missed, worth a visit, OK/so so, don’t­ waste your time.­ These ratings are purely the reviewer’s personal reaction to food, ambience and service with price being factored into consideration. The menu listings and prices are subject to change without notice.­