Category: Daily Monitor

Sickle cell disease contributes nearly 16 percent of all deaths among children below five years in Uganda, the Ministry of Health has revealed, highlighting the growing impact of a condition health experts say remains a major but neglected public health challenge.

Health officials estimate that about 20,000 babies are born with sickle cell disease in Uganda every year, with between 6,000 and 9,000 dying before their fifth birthday.

Speaking on June 18 ahead of World Sickle Cell Day, the Director General of Health Services, Dr Charles Olaro, said improving survival among children living with the disease is essential in reducing Uganda’s under-five mortality rate.

“It is estimated that about 20,000 newborns are born each year with sickle cell disease and about 6,000 to 9,000 of them die before their fifth birthday. This contributes to 16 percent of under-five mortality which is a slight increase from the 2024 statistics [15 percent],” Dr Olaro said at the Ministry of Health headquarters in Kampala.

He added that an estimated six to seven million Ugandans carry the sickle cell trait, increasing the risk of children inheriting the disease.

“If we have to change the trajectory of under-five mortality, then it means that we have to improve the care and survival of children who are living with sickle cell disease. Also approximately six to seven million people nationwide are carrying the sickle cell trait which puts every newborn at risk of transmission,” he said.

Uganda is ranked among the countries with the highest number of people living with sickle cell disease globally, a burden attributed to the widespread presence of the sickle cell gene.

The Ministry of Health estimates that about 13 in every 100 Ugandans carry the sickle cell trait, with prevalence rising to about 20 percent in some parts of northern and eastern Uganda.

Dr Sarah Kiguli, a paediatrician at Mulago Hospital, said the disease is now spread across the country, although some regions record higher prevalence rates.

“The high-burden regions include Acholi, Lango, central Uganda and south-western Uganda,” she said.

To reduce new infections, the Ministry of Health has intensified newborn screening and promoted premarital testing to help couples understand their genetic status before having children.

Dr Mariam Ajambo, the National Coordinator for Sickle Cell Disease at the Ministry of Health, said awareness of one’s sickle cell status remains critical in preventing transmission.

“Before anyone gets a child, they should know their partner’s status regarding the sickle cell trait so that carriers do not marry fellow carriers. That is the ultimate way through which we can fight this disease and eradicate it,” Dr Ajambo said.

She added that the ministry is expanding community screening services, particularly in rural and hard-to-reach areas, to improve early diagnosis and access to treatment.

Treatment gaps

Health officials say access to essential medicines remains a key challenge in managing sickle cell disease.

Dr Olaro said health facilities need to include Hydroxyurea, a medicine used to reduce complications associated with the disease, in their annual procurement plans.

“The hospitals have to include it in their plans so as to be considered during the supply of medicines because it is an essential medicine. Once we have accurate data, we can quantify how much Hydroxyurea is needed and the resources required,” he said.

Sickle cell disease is an inherited blood disorder that affects the shape and function of red blood cells, causing complications such as severe pain episodes, anaemia, organ damage and other health problems.

Experts say early diagnosis, access to treatment and increased public awareness are key to reducing deaths and improving the quality of life of people living with the condition.

Data from the 2024 sickle cell disease survey shows varying prevalence levels across the country. East-Central Uganda, covering areas such as Busoga, Bugweri, Bukedi and parts of Teso, recorded a disease prevalence of 1.5 percent, while Mid-North regions of Acholi and Lango recorded 1.3 percent.

Mid-Eastern Uganda recorded 1.2 percent, North-East 1 percent, Central Uganda 0.8 percent and Kampala 0.7 percent. Mid-Western and West Nile regions recorded 0.5 percent, while South Western Uganda recorded 0.2 percent.

According to the 2024 Annual Health Performance Report, sickle cell disease ranks 12th among leading causes of admissions in health facilities, accounting for 1.5 percent of admissions.

Speaker Jacob Oboth-Oboth and his battalion of newly elected Members of Parliament have assumed office with promises of accountable, transparent and corruption-free leadership.

As is often the case at the beginning of every parliamentary term, Ugandans have been presented with fresh pledges, renewed optimism and assurances of better governance. Yet beyond the speeches and ceremony lies a more important question: will the 12th Parliament demonstrate that it exists primarily to serve the people of Uganda?

For many citizens, Parliament has often appeared distant from their daily realities. While political debates dominate headlines in Kampala, ordinary Ugandans continue to grapple with challenges that demand urgent attention. From traders in urban centres to farmers such as my good friend Hanyerere in the rice fields of Butaleja, citizens expect a Parliament that listens to their concerns and responds to their needs.

This challenge is not new. Since Independence in 1962, Uganda’s constitutional and political journey has been marked by a recurring struggle between legislative independence and executive dominance. In the early years of independence, Parliament played a significant role in political debate, representation and accountability. Over time, however, a series of political crises altered the balance of power. The 1966 constitutional crisis marked a defining turning point. The suspension of the Constitution and the subsequent concentration of power in the Executive fundamentally weakened institutional checks and balances. Parliament increasingly found itself overshadowed by a powerful Executive, while periods of instability and authoritarian rule further eroded the culture of representative governance.

Recognising these historical weaknesses, the framers of the 1995 Constitution sought to rebuild Uganda’s democratic institutions. They deliberately established a system founded on the separation of powers, assigning Parliament three key responsibilities: legislation, representation and oversight of the Executive. These functions were intended to ensure that government remained accountable to the people.

However, questions have persisted over the past three decades regarding Parliament’s willingness and ability to exercise its constitutional mandate independently. Ugandans have witnessed incidents that raised concerns about the autonomy of the institution, including the deployment of security operatives within parliamentary premises. Whether such perceptions are entirely justified is ultimately secondary. Public trust depends not only on what Parliament does, but also on whether citizens believe it acts independently and in their best interests.

To its credit, Parliament has on several occasions demonstrated the courage and effectiveness envisioned by the Constitution. Parliamentary committees have exposed corruption, uncovered misuse of public funds and demanded accountability from public officials. These moments serve as important reminders that Parliament can be a powerful guardian of the public interest when it fully embraces its mandate.

The 12th Parliament assumes office at a time when many Ugandans are asking difficult questions about governance, service delivery and economic opportunity. The issues confronting the country are neither abstract nor partisan. The rising cost of living continues to strain household incomes. Youth unemployment remains a major concern despite Uganda’s youthful population. Public health facilities face shortages of medicines, equipment and personnel. Teachers, health workers and other public servants continue to raise concerns about remuneration and working conditions.

The legacy of the 12th Parliament will not be determined by the number of Bills passed or motions adopted. Rather, it will be measured by whether Ugandans experience tangible improvements in their lives. A Parliament that asks difficult questions is not undermining government. It is strengthening it. The challenge before the 12th Parliament is therefore to prove that it exists to serve the people of Uganda.

Mweshimiwa Rais, I thank you for your insightful speeches and writings on Ugandan, Pan-Africanist and global issues throughout the years. Since my formative years, I recall listening to your speeches on Radio Uganda and later watching them on television, where I learnt a great deal.

I learnt politico-historic phrases like the ‘abrogation of the constitution’ from you. I vividly recall you once asking, ‘Obote, son of Opeto, how could you abrogate the constitution!?’

From you I also learnt words like ‘red herring’ and ‘disenfranchisement’, when you described the rigged 1980 elections whose fraudulent outcome disenfranchised voters because it did not reflect the will of the majority.

I recall attending your rally at Bakijjulula, Bulera sub-county in 1987, where you advocated for mechanisation to spur commercial farming. At that rally you spoke of rehabilitating the country. You said, ‘Uganda yagwa mu ttaka’ and likened the process to peeling dirt from a piece of cassava once it falls from the cooking pot.

From the days of rebuilding after a five-year civil war, ‘Uganda yagwa mu ttaka’, to attaining lower-middle-income status, ‘Uganda etandise okumpomera’ as you put it post-Covid, to the current plan to grow a $66b economy to $500b by 2040, the country has surely come a long way.

While African states like Uganda, Ethiopia, Ghana and Botswana make centrifugal leaps forward, I am concerned that nobody has answered the clarion call you made in your May 12, 2021 inauguration speech at Kololo: ‘Where is Africa’s centre of gravity?’

Borrowing from physics, that question hit me harder when I thought of the symbolism behind the ANC’s military wing, ‘Umkhonto we Sizwe’, Spear of the Nation. So I ask: Where is our spear of the continent? Unfortunately, that question still hangs.

This huge, resource-rich continent of 11.7 million square miles, home to 1.6 billion people, has no centre of gravity. Where Europe has NATO, the largest, resource-richest continent in the world is without a ‘centre of gravity’. Everyone knows what happened when NATO declared a no-fly zone over Libya in 2011 and rained bombs that destroyed the country, totally ignoring African leaders.

Western aggression on Libya and the assassination of Muammar Gaddafi sent echoes of the abduction, torture and murder of Patrice Lumumba in 1961. Despite those glaring lessons, it is still business as usual. Africa has no standing defence formation.

Does Africa have a unified foreign policy in dealing with the rest of the world? Does Africa form a united front in pushing and negotiating for African interests? For instance, you are opposed to foreign military bases in Uganda, yet President William Ruto has hosted French military cooperation in Kenya.

We speak of African solutions to African problems, yet DRC’s president has actively sought American intervention in the conflict with Rwanda, offering mineral deals to Washington, whose intelligence agency was complicit in the murder of DRC’s most revered leader, Lumumba.

Is Africa united in holding the world accountable for reparations for slavery, or is it scattered voices from one or two countries? A continent exploited as one entity negotiates as fragmented states. It is ironic that the only union we speak of in Africa exists in the name ‘African Union’. One can say there is no unity in the African Union.

Your Excellency, while it might still be polarising to push for the Nkrumah-Nyerere-Gaddafi line of a United States of Africa, we should not repeat the mistake of pre-colonial African chiefs who failed to take defence measures to protect territorial sovereignty against invasion, slavery and colonialism.

With your able leadership of the East African Community, I am confident you could reach out to IGAD, ECOWAS and SADC with an idea whose time has come: the African Defence Treaty.

Since NATO was formed by treaty, Africa can execute a defence treaty. Member states can raise funds to train and equip a standing army, a navy, a coast guard and air defence to deter external aggression.

An African navy and coast guard would deploy to fight piracy in our waters and help prevent the tragic loss of Africans who drown in the Mediterranean seeking illegal passage to Europe.

Every year, World Refugee Day reminds us of a simple but powerful truth: safety is a fundamental human right. This year’s theme, ‘Until everyone is safe,’ challenges us not only to respond to crises but also to ask what it truly means for people affected by displacement to live in safety, dignity, and hope.

The latest global statistics from the UNHCR and the World Bank Group provide a breakdown of the displaced population as 117.3 million people. This means roughly 1 in every 69 people on Earth is currently displaced.

Approximately 45.7 million people are forcibly displaced across Africa, making it the continent with the largest displaced population globally. Uganda currently hosts 2,024,416 registered refugees and asylum-seekers. This officially makes it the largest refugee-hosting country in Africa and one of the largest in the world.

For millions of refugees and displaced people, safety extends beyond physical protection. It means having access to education, livelihoods, healthcare, social inclusion, and opportunities to rebuild their futures. It means belonging to communities where they can thrive rather than merely survive.

As humanitarian needs continue to grow amid conflict, climate shocks, and economic uncertainty, the international community faces a critical choice. We can continue to focus solely on managing displacement, or we can invest in solutions that enable people and communities to become more resilient over time.

Lasting safety is achieved when humanitarian response and development efforts work hand in hand. Experience has shown that emergency assistance is most effective when it lays the foundation for recovery, self-reliance, and long-term stability.

Whether delivering life-saving support during crises, supporting access to essential services, or creating opportunities for economic empowerment, our goal remains the same: to enhance the dignity, safety, and self-reliance of displaced and host populations through timely emergency response and integrated, community-driven development programmes.

Faraja, a woman from DRC currently in Uganda, tells of her journey from a refugee settlement to a trained mechanic, showing the power of opportunity. Through skills training and support, refugees rebuild their lives with dignity and confidence.

This approach recognises that refugees and host communities share a common future. Investments in skills development, livelihoods, social cohesion, and sustainable community systems benefit everyone. They help restore dignity, rebuild lives, and strengthen communities against future shocks.

Today’s humanitarian landscape demands more than short-term solutions. It requires partnerships that bridge immediate needs and long-term development outcomes. Donors, governments, private sector actors, and civil society organisations all have a role to play in creating inclusive and sustainable pathways for people affected by displacement.

As we mark World Refugee Day, let us remember that safety is not merely the absence of danger. It is the presence of opportunity, dignity, and hope.

Achieving this requires collective commitment, innovative partnerships, and sustained investment in people and communities. Because the work is not complete until everyone is safe.

First things first, I think we need to agree who gets to be called Ellah as a short name because me thinks that short form belongs exclusively to Pamela. But anywho, in this Uganda we all have fam, just not the first family. With that said, we have all now been entangled in Stellah Nantumbwe’s story like unpaid consultants and long distance cousins hence in-laws. This week, the former Miss Uganda found herself at the centre of a very public marriage breakdown that somehow upgraded into a national conference on love, morality, and poor life choices. As usual, you got to pick a side; are you Team Stellah or Team Saidi? Team Saidi got the majje, though!

It started like a fairytale. Tyler Perry kind of; colourful wedding, cameras flashing, social media captions screaming God’s timing is perfect, and Ugandans briefly believing love still exists outside WhatsApp stickers. Then, as usual, reality showed up uninvited, separation followed. Then came the allegations; claims that Stellah and her mother had allegedly cleared the matrimonial home like professional liquidators after a Black Friday sale. Our anti-corruption Afande treated the situation like a national audit, publicly calling for repentance, restoration, and possibly emotional reconciliation if the universe agrees.

But Stellah said, hold my camera. The Ugandan in her won despite her British accent. Instead of long press statements or emotional interviews, she dropped a video tour of the house like an Airbnb review gone wrong. Bedroom, bathroom, sitting room all on display.

What Ugandans saw did not match the looted mansion aesthetic being circulated. A simple bed, basic furniture, rumpled sheets, and a general aesthetic that suggested budget living rather than Dubai relocation package. She calmly pointed out what was hers, including her shoes, and clarified she left in her own Lexus, the same one allegedly used during the marriage. One camp defended her: ‘So this is the mansion we are accusing her of looting?’ Ugandan Thought Leaders said even the bed looks like it applied for sponsorship and got rejected.

Many questioned the entire marriage economy: ‘Big wedding, small reality.’ Relationship analysts emerged overnight, advising people to date the lifestyle, not the promises, like people who have PhDs in heartbreak economics. Meanwhile, the intervention itself became part of the spectacle. People debated why a senior government official was now deeply involved in a celebrity marriage dispute, turning a private breakup into a public moral lecture with national attendance. The verdict was unofficial but clear nobody agreed on everything, but everyone agreed the content was elite. Stellah had not only defended herself, she had also accidentally given the country a masterclass in receipts culture.

For years, science lessons in many Ugandan primary schools have relied heavily on textbooks, blackboards and verbal explanations, leaving many pupils struggling to understand concepts they rarely see or test in real life.

But the introduction of mini science laboratories is beginning to change that reality, giving young learners an opportunity to experiment, observe and interact with scientific concepts.

The compact laboratories, equipped with basic scientific tools and materials aligned with the primary school curriculum, are being introduced to help transform science education from theory-based teaching to practical learning.

The shift follows training of teachers and head teachers from 20 government-aided primary schools in Namutumba District on how to use science kits to improve classroom learning.

Education experts say practical learning helps children understand scientific concepts better by allowing them to actively participate in the learning process.

‘Children learn best by doing,’ said Mr Emmanuel Gulele, a science teacher at Nawanmpandu Primary School.

‘When pupils conduct experiments themselves, they develop curiosity, creativity and critical thinking skills that cannot be achieved through theory alone.’

He said many learners have traditionally memorised scientific facts to pass examinations without understanding how the concepts apply to everyday life.

‘These mini science laboratories are helping to bridge this gap by turning lessons into interactive experiences,’ he said.

The one-day training held at Kalamira Primary School was organised to strengthen teachers’ ability to deliver hands-on science education under Uganda’s competence-based curriculum.

The Ministry of Education, in partnership with River Flow International, conducted the training focusing on effective use of science kit materials, experiment design, lesson planning and learner engagement.

River Flow International science outreach officer Mr Nebert Nagaba said the training aimed at equipping teachers with skills to effectively use the science kits and make primary science lessons more practical and engaging.

‘The teachers were given hands-on experience with science kit materials, learning how to integrate them into their lessons to make complex scientific concepts more accessible and exciting,’ he said.

The government began distributing science kits to selected schools during the 2025/26 financial year as a pilot programme, with plans to expand the initiative to schools across the country.

Mr Nagaba said each selected school received four kits, with each kit costing between Shs7 million and Shs8 million.

He explained that some schools had received the materials but lacked the skills to use them effectively.

‘Ever since the instructional materials were delivered to respective schools, they have been lying idle. It was incumbent upon us to begin these trainings in order to empower teachers with skills and usage of the instructional materials,’ he said.

Mr Nagaba said the initiative is intended to address persistent poor performance in science by simplifying concepts that have often been taught abstractly.

‘Most science concepts have been theoretical, which has made it more complicated for learners to understand. But with this new model, these concepts have been simplified,’ he said.

From teacher-centred to learner-centred education

The head teacher of Kalamira Primary School, Mr Wandera Bagaga, who also chairs the Namutumba Teachers Association, said many teachers lacked confidence in conducting practical science lessons despite receiving the kits in 2025.

‘This training is intended to empower teachers on the use of science kits to demonstrate to learners because government is shifting from theoretical to practical,’ he said.

He said the kits contain models such as skeletons, kidneys, ears and teeth, allowing learners to physically interact with learning materials.

‘The instructional materials will make learners understand fully compared to the use of theoretical methods. It will turn to learner-centred learning,’ Mr Wandera said.

Ms Aliza Lydia, a science teacher at Kalamira Primary School, welcomed the approach, saying many schools had not fully utilised the science kits because teachers lacked adequate training.

‘We hope that it will be a child-centred approach. It will focus on moving from teacher-centred to child-centred learning,’ she said.

Mr Wilberforce Namunyi, deputy head teacher at Bulagala Primary School, said practical learning would motivate pupils and increase their interest in science.

He said the previous approach made it difficult for learners to relate scientific concepts to everyday experiences.

Mr Isaac Isiko, a science teacher at Kasozi Primary School, said the new approach would improve interaction between teachers and learners.

‘Formerly, the teacher was the custodian of knowledge, but emphasis is now being put on learner-centred approaches where the learner is the most active participant while the teacher is a guide,’ he said.

As Uganda seeks to improve science education and nurture future innovators, educators say the success of the mini laboratory programme will depend on continuous teacher support, proper maintenance of equipment and ensuring that practical learning becomes part of everyday classroom instruction.

Fishermen dealing in silverfish commonly known as mukene in Mpigi District have appealed to government for urgent support, saying prolonged restrictions on fishing activities have left many households struggling to survive.

The fishermen raised their concerns during a meeting with the Deputy Chief of Defence Forces, Lt Gen Samuel Okiding, at Ssenyondo Landing Site on Bunjakko Island in Mpigi District on June 18.

The engagement came amid intensified operations by security agencies on Lake Victoria aimed at eliminating illegal fishing practices and restoring declining fish stocks.

For years, authorities have carried out operations targeting illegal fishing gear and methods, which they say have contributed to depletion of fish resources. However, some fishing communities argue that the enforcement measures have disrupted livelihoods, especially for those who depend on mukene fishing and processing.

The fishermen told Gen Okiding that they had been unable to fully operate for the past five months despite participating in government sensitisation programmes on fisheries regulations.

Through their leader, Mr Richard Masanke, the mukene dealers said the restrictions were threatening investments in the sector, including a Shs48 million fish-processing machine acquired to improve the quality of silverfish.

“If fishing activities remain disrupted, that investment could become useless,” Mr Masanke said.

Local leaders called for a balance between conservation efforts and protecting the livelihoods of fishing communities.

Mr Deo Ssendegeya, the LC3 chairperson of Buwama Sub-county, said fishermen support the continued deployment of soldiers on the lake because of their role in fighting illegal fishing.

However, he appealed to government to provide immediate assistance to legitimate fishermen affected by enforcement measures.

New fisheries committees

Gen Okiding used the meeting to unveil a new fisheries governance structure under which seven-member committees will be established at landing sites to replace the dissolved Beach Management Units (BMUs).

He said the new committees would strengthen accountability, improve management of landing sites and protect genuine fishermen from exploitation.

“Some people have been disguising themselves as fishermen while engaging in illegal activities on the lake. The new structures will help identify and protect legitimate fishermen,” Lt Gen Okiding said.

He added that former BMU members would not be eligible to serve on the new committees, saying the move was intended to promote transparency and restore confidence in fisheries management.

Mpigi District Chairperson Peter Kawuki welcomed the reforms, saying they would provide a better platform for fishermen and leaders to address concerns.

“There have been concerns about the way some fishermen were treated, but these committees will provide a better platform for engagement. Leaders should embrace them,” Mr Kawuki said.

He added that under the proposed framework, fishermen would operate within designated working zones, while individual fishermen would be limited to owning a maximum of 10 boats to improve regulation.

Gen Okiding also revealed that government was considering financial support for districts with landing sites to support fisheries development and improve the welfare of fishing communities.

During the visit, security personnel destroyed illegal fishing nets recovered during recent operations.

Gen Okiding said government had consulted the Uganda Revenue Authority, which denied clearing prohibited fishing nets into the country, adding that investigations were underway to identify those importing and distributing illegal gear.

FPU reforms

The Fisheries Protection Unit (FPU) has since 2017 been involved in combating illegal fishing on Lake Victoria. However, in 2023, fishermen demanded that management of the lake be returned to them following continued illegalities under the FPU command.

In December 2025, President Museveni directed the dissolution of landing site committees established under the FPU and ordered reforms in fisheries management.

The directive, contained in a December 26, 2025 letter from Acting Director of Defence Public Information Col Chris Magezi, provided for replacement of the committees with new structures comprising representatives of indigenous fishermen and investors.

The restructuring process is being overseen by the Deputy Chief of Defence Forces and Inspector General, Lt Gen Samuel Okiding, and the Chief of Defence Intelligence and Security, Maj Gen Richard Otto.

The FPU was renamed the 155 Marines Battalion and placed under the command and administration of the UPDF Marines Brigade. Maj Joseph Ssebukeera was appointed commander of the new battalion, while Brig Michael Nyarwa heads the UPDF Marines Brigade.

Tell us, Uganda dala esinga bulaya?

Uganda will always be home. Bulaya is beautiful and has its perks, but nothing beats the warmth of our people, the food, the laughter, and that feeling of belonging. There is just something special about home.

Now that you are part of the club, is marriage truly a bed of roses?

It is definitely a bed of roses, but roses come with thorns. Marriage is beautiful, rewarding, and full of joy, but it also requires grace, patience, sacrifice, and a lot of learning.

There is a talent show in heaven. Which song are you singing?

The new song I am yet to premiere called Mwaba. If heaven is celebrating Jesus, then that is one song I would sing with everything in me.

What is the most bizarre thing a fan has asked you to pray for?

Someone once asked me to pray that their crush would dream about them every single night until they fell in love.

We would like to crown one memer from your WhatsApp status. Who is taking the award?

I think I would not be crowning a memer, but rather the silent viewers. The ones that never react, never comment, never post, but somehow, they know every detail of your life. Those ones deserve a trophy.

What is one question you have always wished someone would ask you in an interview but nobody ever has?

‘Beyond the stage, the music, and the spotlight, who is Levixone when nobody is watching?’ I think that answer would surprise a lot of people.

So, who is Levixone when nobody is watching?

Beyond the stage, I am just Lucas. I love God by loving people, and I serve God by serving people. I enjoy the simple things in life, spending time with family and friends, sharing a good laugh, and finding joy in everyday moments. I am constantly learning, growing, and challenging myself to become a better man.

Music is what I do, but my relationship with Jesus is who I am. Everything else flows from that. At the end of the day, I want my life to reflect God’s love, whether I am on a stage in front of thousands or simply having a conversation with one person.

What is the best part about being you?

Seeing lives transformed through the gift and calling God has placed on my life. Nothing compares to knowing your work is impacting people.

50/50 in relationships. Are you for or against?

I am for 100/100. Two people fully committed, fully invested, and both bringing their best.

Which Kampala street has offended you the most?

Any street that suddenly becomes a parking lot during rush hour. One minute you are moving, next thing you are stuck in traffic for hours.

How many broken hearts did you leave behind when you got married?

Only God knows the number. I just pray everyone healed, moved on, and found their own blessing.

You are delegated to play Cupid for a day, which Ugandan celebrities would you pair just to see what happens?

Let me respectfully pass that one before Ugandan Twitter comes for me.

In your opinion, do opposites truly attract?

Sometimes they do. Differences can be exciting and help people grow, but shared values are what keep a relationship standing when the excitement settles.

Is love really blind?

Love is not blind. Love sees the flaws, the imperfections, and the challenges, then chooses commitment anyway. That is what makes it powerful.

What is something people do in Kampala that confuses tourists?

Giving directions using landmarks that no longer exist. ‘Turn left where you will see a big tree.’ Meanwhile the tree disappeared in 2019.

Who is hardest to convince; landlords, boda riders, or event promoters?

Event promoters, especially when you are asking for the balance after a successful show. Suddenly everyone becomes difficult to find.

If your search history leaked…

I would survive. It is mostly sermons, flights, music ideas, and random questions about life.

Would you renounce citizenship abroad for a ministerial job in Uganda?

My heart will always be for Uganda, but that is a decision I would take to God in prayer first. Purpose should always be bigger than position.

What keeps you up at night?

Thinking about purpose, impact, legacy, and how to reach more people with a message of hope.

Vincent Byamukama has not won any professional golf event in a decade. He last savoured a tournament victory at the 2016 Entebbe Open.

A dig into that history only happened hours after Byamukama became the latest leader of the MTN Pro-Tee Series at Entebbe Club on Thursday.

He carded a round of two-under 69 to move to five-under overall after 54 holes and thereby assume a two-lead over the rest of the field in the quest for the biggest cut of the Shs15m kitty.

And yet, Byamukama had maintained second place initially, with Marvin Kibirige leading on Day One and David Kamulindwa after Day Two.

‘Good tee-shots and putting, that’s all,’ Byamukama described his performance, comprising initial rounds of 69 and 70. ‘My game is just there. When I tee-off and putt well, that’s my weapon.’

He admits Thursday’s round was a difficult one, evidenced by a double-bogey on par-5 Hole No.1 and bogeys at par-4 Hole No.3 and par-3 Hole No.6. ‘At a certain time, I was over par but I came back strong on the back nine,’ said.

‘It (course) was a bit hard, they pushed the stones back on the tees and the greens are tough so you need to be so careful and keeping your shots in play.

And true, Byamukama sunk six birdies in 10 holes; par-4 Holes No.9, No.13 and No.14, par-5 Holes No.11 and No.18 and the short par-3 Hole No.16.

Indeed, he has not tasted glory in 10 years but the 2013 Uganda Professionals Open champion is not under pressure. ‘I am used to finishing anywhere, it is just a game of golf,’ he said ahead of Friday’s closing round.

‘I take my things slowly. If I win it, well and good, if not, it’s okay. I just need two under or three under to be able to win,’ Byamukama added.

He is ahead of Abraham Ainamani who carded a round of three-under 68 including an eagle on 15th green to move to three-under overall while Kamulindwa is third at -2 overall after shooting 73 including four painful bogeys.

For his round of 68 comprising a horrifying triple-bogey at par-5 Hole No.1 and then six birdies, Bulhan Matovu is in fourth place, a stroke behind Kamulindwa at -1 overall.

DAY THREE LEADERBOARD

1 Vincent Byamukama 69 70 69 208 -5

2 Abraham Ainamani 72 70 68 210 -3

3 David Kamulindwa 72 66 73 211 -2

4 Bulhan Matovu 74 70 68 212 -1

5 Rodell Gaita 69 72 72 213 E

T6 Grace Kasango 74 70 70 214 +1

T6 Andrew Ssekibejja 74 68 72 214 +1

T8 Irene Nakalembe 73 73 69 215 +2

T8 Silver Opio 72 74 69 215 +2

T10 Abbey Bagalana 73 73 71 217 +4

T10 Tom Jingo 73 72 72 217 +4

12 Deo Akope 75 72 71 218 +5

13 Samuel Kato 76 71 73 220 +7

14 Emma Ogwang 73 74 76 223 +10

On June 11, Uganda listened as the Minister of Finance presented the National Budget for Financial Year 2026/2027 at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds. It was a budget about growth, jobs, production, and wealth creation. But one question remained hanging in the air: where are persons with disabilities in this national transformation? Uganda has made commendable progress in laws and policies. The Constitution recognises the rights of persons with disabilities.

The Persons with Disabilities Act, 2020, provides a legal framework for accessibility, participation, and equal opportunity. We have disability representation at all levels. On paper, Uganda speaks the language of inclusion. But in national planning and budgeting, persons with disabilities are still too often given tokenism.

The new budget is a good example. It mentions the National Special Grant for Persons with Disabilities, which has supported thousands of beneficiaries across local governments. This is important and should be appreciated. But a grant is not inclusion. A grant may help a person survive. It does not necessarily open the classroom, the farm, the market, the digital platform, the health facility, or the workplace.

That is the central weakness of the budget. Persons with disabilities appear mainly as beneficiaries of social protection, not as farmers, students, entrepreneurs, innovators, workers, taxpayers, and wealth creators. Yet these are the very identities the budget claims to promote for every Ugandan. Take education. Uganda speaks strongly about inclusive education. But inclusion is not achieved by enrolling a child with a disability in school and leaving the barriers untouched. A learner with a hearing impairment needs sign language support, trained teachers, visual learning materials, and accessible examinations. A visually impaired learner needs braille, screen readers, tactile materials, and accessible science and mathematics tools. Without these reasonable accommodations, the child is counted but not included.

The same applies to agriculture. The government rightly identifies agriculture as central to Uganda’s economy. But where are persons with disabilities in the agrifood budget? Where are the targets for farmers with disabilities in extension services, irrigation schemes, mechanisation centres, cooperatives, agricultural credit, and value chains? Where are adapted tools, accessible farmer trainings, sign language interpretation, braille and audio materials, accessible digital platforms, and deliberate mobilisation through organisations of persons with disabilities?

Wealth creation risks

We see the same risk in wealth-creation programmes such as PDM, Emyooga, youth funds, women’s funds, agricultural credit, and small-business financing. If community mobilisation is not accessible, if forms are not usable, if loan information is not available in formats that persons with disabilities can understand, and if local leaders do not deliberately include them, then these programmes may carry the name ‘for all’ while leaving many behind.

Digital transformation also needs caution. More Internet, smartphones, mobile money and e-government services are good. But digital progress without accessibility creates a new form of exclusion. Government websites, mobile applications, online forms, public information videos, and digital payment systems must be accessible to persons with different impairments. Otherwise, Uganda will build a digital economy where persons with disabilities are connected in statistics but disconnected in reality.

Real inclusion requires a twin-track approach. Persons with disabilities must be deliberately mainstreamed in all national programmes, while disability-specific interventions are also funded. That means budgeting for reasonable accommodation, assistive technologies, accessible infrastructure, inclusive communication, disability-disaggregated data, OPD participation and accountability.

The budget has already been approved by Parliament and the Executive. But implementation is still ahead. That is where change can still happen. Newly appointed ministers should not wait for the next budget cycle. Even where their ministry budgets were not designed inclusively, they can issue ministerial directives requiring that at least 10 percent of this financial year’s ministries’ targets deliberately reach persons with disabilities. Since recent census reporting places disability prevalence at about 13 percent, a 10 percent target is modest, practical, and fair.

Parliament, the Equal Opportunities Commission, the National Council for Persons with Disabilities, the National Planning Authority, the Ministry of Finance, local governments, and organisations of persons with disabilities all have a role. They must ask one simple question: how many persons with disabilities are benefiting, and what barriers have been removed? Persons with disabilities are not asking for pity. They are asking for systems that work.