Category: Daily Monitor

Former Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago was yesterday charged with misprision of treason, becoming the latest suspect in a case that has already seen Opposition leader Dr Kizza Besigye and his aide, Mr Obeid Lutale, remanded on treason-related charges.

Mr Lukwago was arraigned before the Makindye Chief Magistrate’s Court after spending two days in incommunicado detention following his arrest by armed men from his home in Wakaliga, Rubaga Division, Kampala as he attempted to go and serve court papers to the Chief of Defence Forces, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, in connection with the Besigye treason case.

A visibly frail Lukwago, who had earlier been handed over to the police and taken to Kiira Police Station, was brought to court shortly after lunch time and charged with one count of misprision of treason. Prosecution alleges that between 2021 and November 2024, in various places including Kampala and Nairobi, Kenya, Mr Lukwago and others still at large, knowing that Joel Wakayima, Frank Kihehere Atukunda, Mr Lutale and Dr Besigye intended to commit treason, failed to report the information to the relevant authorities, including the minister, the Internal Security Organisation (ISO), a magistrate or an officer in charge of a police station.

When the charge was read to him, Mr Lukwago dismissed the allegations. “It is not true. Actually, the people mentioned are my clients. How can I commit the crime when I am their lawyer?” he told court. Misprision of treason is the offence of knowingly concealing information about a planned or committed act of treason and failing to report it to the authorities. Unlike treason itself, which involves direct participation in acts against the State, misprision which is a lesser charge, concerns the failure to disclose knowledge of such acts.

Mr Lukwago has been one of the lead defence lawyers representing Dr Besigye and Mr Lutale, who are facing charges of treason and misprision of treason following their arrest in Nairobi, Kenya in November 2024 and subsequent transfer to Uganda. State Attorney Carol Apia informed court that investigations into the case were still ongoing. Immediately after the charge was read, Mr Lukwago’s lead counsel, Medard Sseggona, applied for his client’s release on bail, citing his deteriorating health and the need for specialised medical care.

“We have instructions to apply for bail,” Mr Sseggona submitted. He told court that Mr Lukwago has a known place of residence in Wakaliga, a family and nearly three decades of legal practice, making him unlikely to abscond. “He is an advocate of this court and has practised law for close to 30 years. He understands the implications of bail and undertakes to appear whenever required by court,” Mr Sseggona said. The lawyer further argued that Mr Lukwago suffers from chronic gastritis, hypertension and respiratory complications that require constant medical supervision, specialised medication and a strict feeding schedule.

He also informed court that his client underwent cervical spinal surgery at Fortis Hospital in Gurugram, India, where a metal implant was inserted, and claimed that the recent arrest and detention had aggravated his condition. “Following the violent arrest and detention, the implant has been affected, leaving him in severe pain and requiring urgent medical attention,” Mr Sseggona submitted. To support the bail application, the defence presented three sureties: Mukono Municipality MP Betty Nambooze, Gulu City Woman MP Betty Aol Ochan and former Buikwe South MP Dr Lulume Bayigga.

However, the prosecution opposed the immediate hearing of the application, arguing that it needed time to verify the medical records and scrutinise the credentials of the proposed sureties. Ms Apia told court that some of the sureties had not attached local council introduction letters and that the medical documents supplied by the defence required verification. “We pray for time to verify the documents of the accused and thereafter respond appropriately to the bail application,” she submitted.

The prosecution initially sought a week’s adjournment, a request that sparked murmurs of disapproval from Mr Lukwago’s supporters who had packed the courtroom. In response, Mr Sseggona urged court to consider his client’s health and, in the event that he was remanded, allow him access to specialised medical care, an orthopaedic mattress, prescribed meals and his personal doctors.

“What the State is doing is inviting the court to conduct an experiment on the accused person,” Mr Sseggona argued.

He proposed that Mr Lukwago be kept under guard at a government medical facility as authorities verify his medical records.

“If the intention is not death, then he can be taken to a government health facility under guard with limited visitation. We do not have a problem with that arrangement,” he submitted. Chief Magistrate Sarah Basemera agreed to grant the prosecution time to verify the documents, but declined to give the full week requested. She remanded Mr Lukwago to Luzira Prison and ordered that he be returned to court on Monday for further directions on his bail application.

What is misprision of treason?

Misprision of treason is a criminal offence that arises when a person knows that another individual has committed, is committing, or intends to commit treason but deliberately fails to report that information to the authorities.

Unlike treason, which involves direct participation in acts aimed at overthrowing or waging war against the government, misprision of treason does not require active involvement in the alleged plot.

Instead, the offence focuses on concealment or silence.

Under Ugandan law, a person can be charged with misprision of treason if they are aware of plans to commit treason and fail to disclose that information to a minister, a magistrate, the administrative officer, or a police officer in charge of a station.

The prosecution is mandated to prove that the accused person had actual knowledge that treason was being planned or had been committed, and also that the accused deliberately failed to report that information to the relevant authorities.

The offence is distinct from being an accomplice or co-conspirator. A person charged with misprision of treason is not accused of participating in the alleged treasonous activities but of withholding information about them.

The charge is relatively rare in Uganda and has only occasionally been invoked in politically sensitive prosecutions involving allegations of threats to national security.

Of life imprisonment

Section 25 of the Penal Code Act that addresses the concealment of treason, provides that: “Any person who knowing that any person intends to commit treason does not give information thereof with all reasonable dispatch to the Minister, an administrative officer, a magistrate or an officer in charge of a police station, or use all reasonable endeavours to prevent the commission of the offence of treason commits the offence of misprision of treason and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for life.”

Misprision of treason attracts up to imprisonment for life, while treason attracts up to death by hanging.

Misprision of treason can be handled by a Chief Magistrate’s Court, while treason is strictly handled by the High Court

The outgoing Kampala Lord Mayor, Erias Lukwago, was on Wednesday charged with misprision of treason before being sent on remand at Luzira Prison.

ANTHONY WESAKA dissects for you what this charge that sounded new to the ears of many means, and the likely punishment on conviction.

Misprision of treason is a criminal offence that arises when a person knows that another individual has committed, is committing, or intends to commit treason but deliberately fails to report that information to the authorities.

Unlike treason, which involves direct participation in acts aimed at overthrowing or waging war against the government, misprision of treason does not require active involvement in the alleged plot.

Instead, the offence focuses on concealment or silence.

Under Ugandan law, a person can be charged with misprision of treason if they are aware of plans to commit treason and fail to disclose that information to a minister, a magistrate, the administrative officer, or a police officer in charge of a station.

The prosecution is mandated to prove that the accused person had actual knowledge that treason was being planned or had been committed, and also that the accused deliberately failed to report that information to the relevant authorities.

The offence is distinct from being an accomplice or co-conspirator. A person charged with misprision of treason is not accused of participating in the alleged treasonous activities but of withholding information about them.

The charge is relatively rare in Uganda and has only occasionally been invoked in politically sensitive prosecutions involving allegations of threats to national security.

Of life imprisonment

Section 25 of the Penal Code Act that addresses the concealment of treason, provides that: “Any person who knowing that any person intends to commit treason does not give information thereof with all reasonable dispatch to the Minister, an administrative officer, a magistrate or an officer in charge of a police station, or use all reasonable endeavours to prevent the commission of the offence of treason commits the offence of misprision of treason and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for life.”

Misprision of treason attracts up to imprisonment for life, while treason attracts up to death by hanging.

Misprision of treason can be handled by a Chief Magistrate’s Court, while treason is strictly handled by the High Court.

Security operatives yesterday handed over former Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago to Kira Division Police Station, a day after he was reportedly picked up from his home by security personnel and taken to an unknown location.

Mr Lukwago, who is also the leader of the People’s Front for Freedom (PFF) and lead lawyer in the treason case involving former presidential candidate Dr Kizza Besigye, was later detained on charges of misprision of treason, which he denies. A detective at Kira Police Station told this publication that Mr Lukwago was delivered to the station shortly before dawn under heavy security.

‘A UPDF vehicle dropped off Lukwago at the station at about 5:40am. He was handed over to the officer on standby before senior police commanders were called in to oversee the recording of his statement,’ the detective said. According to the source, Mr Lukwago was kept in a separate office and allowed access to his phone, through which he contacted his lawyers.

Police speak

Police spokesperson Kituuma Rusoke confirmed the detention. I can confirm that Lukwago was dropped at Kira Police Station this morning, where he is being held on charges of misprision of treason,’ Mr Rusoke said. he offence of misprision of treason relates to failure to report knowledge of treasonous activities to the relevant authorities. Mr Lukwago’s detention follows his arrest on Monday by armed security personnel who raided his home in Wakaliga, a Kampala suburb, and took him to an undisclosed location.

His whereabouts remained unknown for several hours until the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, posted on his official X account indicating that Mr Lukwago was in military custody.

Security sources yesterday claimed that investigators are examining allegations linking Mr Lukwago to meetings in which plans to overthrow the government were allegedly discussed. he sources further alleged that some of the meetings took place in Kampala, Nairobi and Athens and involved discussions on mobilisation and fundraising activities. However, no formal evidence had been presented in court by press time.

Mr Lukwago’s family members, political allies and friends were initially denied access to him at Kira Police Station. Ms Doreen Nyanjura, a former Kampala Capital City Authority deputy lord mayor, said police officers informed her that only Mr Lukwago’s legal counsel would be allowed to see him. I told them I wanted to see my boss, but they informed me that only his lawyer was allowed access while he recorded his statement,’ Ms Nyanjura said.

His lawyer, Mr Medard Lubega Sseggona, was later granted access to him. Several Opposition figures criticised the manner of Mr Lukwago’s arrest, saying it is an abduction rather than a lawful arrest because authorities did not immediately disclose his whereabouts.

Professor James Tumine, the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at Kabale University, has warned that the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) against Real Intelligence (RI) in teacher training undermines the brain’s ability to be innovative and creative, as required when administering lessons to learners.

He emphasised that AI should only be used as a tool to guide technological advancements, not to replace Real Intelligence, which fosters critical thinking, especially in the teaching profession.

‘Concentrate on Real Intelligence (RI) instead of Artificial Intelligence (AI) because it gives students a chance to use their brains to be innovative and creative,’ Prof Tumwine said.

Artificial intelligence (AI), which is part of computer science, is a system capable of performing activities that require human intelligence, such as learning, reasoning, problem-solving, understanding language, and making decisions.

Meanwhile, real intelligence involves the use of the mental capacity to learn, adapt, and solve complex problems.

Prof Tumwine raised the concern on Thursday while delivering a keynote address to the council of the Uganda National Institute for Teacher Education (UNITE) from the Kabale Campus.

UNITE is the body designated to take over all teacher training in Uganda and offer bachelor’s degrees, a move which was aimed at phasing out Grade III and diploma-level qualifications.

However, Professor Betty Akullu Ezati, the Vice Chancellor UNITE headquarters in Kampala, noted that their strategic direction is the vocationalisation of teacher education, which focuses on practice and hands-on experiences as an integral part of teaching and learning.

She outlined several challenges, including the poor state of equipment and facilities such as laboratory and library resources in all their campuses, which need upgrading to suit the standard of a degree-awarding institution.

The council was in the area to assess the state of infrastructure at the Kabale campus.

UNITE Vice Chairperson Ms Teopista Birungi Mayanja told stakeholders that they will take charge of regulating the education system by emphasising professionalism.

Many couples believe love is enough to weather any storm. But as real-life experiences reveal, relationships often fail not because love disappears, but because trust, communication, emotional readiness, shared values, and life’s pressures slowly erode the foundation beneath it.

‘She loved him. He loved her. Yet it still ended.’

For many people, that is the hardest truth about relationships to accept. We grow up believing that love conquers all; that if two people care deeply enough for each other, they can overcome any obstacle. Yet real life often tells a different story.

For Felix Eapul, founder of Besania Counselling and Wellness Centre, the relationship once felt like everything love promises.

‘There was a woman who fell for me in 2014,’ he recalls. ‘She handed me everything; her heart, her body, her soul, as if love were something sacred placed carefully in my palms.’

For a time, it felt complete. ‘The kind of connection that makes the world look dipped in gold.’

But beneath that glow were wounds he had not yet faced.

‘Two years before I met her, I lost my mother. She was my compass, anchor and true north. Without her, I was a ship cast into a violent sea.’

Grief lingered, unprocessed, alongside parts of himself he had not yet outgrown.

‘There was always a shadow trailing behind me; my reckless, playboy nature.’

Love, in that moment, could not steady him. It could not heal what he had not confronted. Slowly, the relationship gave way.

‘It ended in January 2018,’ he says quietly.

‘She will always have a place in my heart. I look at her from a distance now; she is settled, married, and I hope she found what she was looking for.’

There is no bitterness in his reflection, only recognition that love, however genuine, is not always enough.

Love needs more than feeling

‘Sometimes love just ain’t enough,’ Patty Smyth sings alongside Don Henley. It is a line that has lingered far beyond the song itself because, for many people, it rings painfully true.

‘I always say love is important, but love alone is not enough,’ says Martha Namukose, director of Gold Oak Decor and More.

For her, love is only the beginning. What sustains a relationship is everything that surrounds it.

Communication is not merely talking. It is expressing feelings, needs, expectations and frustrations honestly. Effort and consistency matter too; the discipline of showing up, making time and choosing each other, both when it is easy and when it is not.

Trust goes beyond fidelity. It is emotional safety; the ability to be vulnerable and still feel secure.

Respect follows closely behind. It is how partners honour boundaries, value each other’s opinions and preserve dignity even during disagreements.

Then there is compatibility.

‘You may love each other,’ she says, ‘but if your values on family, finances, lifestyle or faith differ, there will always be a clash.’

It is a practical view of love; one that acknowledges its beauty without overlooking its limitations.

When trust disappears

For Timothy Jumba, a voice-over artist, the missing piece was trust.

‘It was not once, not twice,’ he says. ‘The missing element was always trust.’

Relationships that began with affection gradually became defined by suspicion. Conversations turned into interrogations.

Questions carried hidden accusations

‘We both felt too exposed,’ he explains. ‘It became about questioning each other.’

And with that, something essential began to disappear.

‘Men do not want to be interrogated. They want to feel comfortable with the person they love.’

Comfort is often overlooked in conversations about relationships, yet it may be one of the most important ingredients.

People want to feel accepted rather than constantly scrutinised.

Without that sense of ease and security, even genuine love can become strained.

‘There is a lot of jealousy when it comes to lovers,’ he adds. ‘And that is where the fight begins.’

The pressure of modern relationships

For poet Mitch Isabirye, the challenges facing relationships extend beyond the individuals involved.

‘We have glorified not caring,’ he says. ‘Relationships feel like a competition; who cares less, who texts first.’

In today’s digital culture, love is often performed rather than lived. Social media rewards appearances, while vulnerability increasingly feels risky.

‘Social media sells us a fantasy far from reality. It does not give people time to cultivate genuine relationships,’ he says.

Then come the financial realities that quietly shape romantic expectations.

‘A bare minimum date in Kampala is like Shs100,000,’ he notes. ‘If you earn one million, going out four times a month is half your salary.’

For some, maintaining a relationship can begin to feel financially overwhelming.

‘To some extent, it feels like something I cannot afford.’

Yet his most striking observation is not about money.

‘Love is a feeling that can diminish,’ he says. ‘So, when that happens, you need someone who will not be mean to you.’

It is a reminder that long-term relationships depend as much on character as they do on emotion.

At some point, the intensity of romance settles. What remains is how people choose to treat each other.

‘People are not allowed to be vulnerable,’ he adds, ‘because at some point, someone will use it against you.’

The cost of poor communication

For Ruth Mugabi Sanyu, a beauty queen, the breakdown was quieter.

‘Yes, I have been in a relationship where there was love, but it still did not work out,’ she says.

Looking back, she believes understanding was the missing ingredient.

‘My partner did not fully appreciate the importance of open, detailed conversations.’

The problems did not arrive dramatically. They accumulated slowly through misunderstandings, assumptions and issues that were never fully discussed.

‘External influences were never clearly addressed, and this gradually created distance.’

Over time, the emotional gap widened. Her conclusion today is straightforward.

‘Love alone is not enough.’

The common thread

Across all these voices, one truth emerges. Love is present. It is real, felt and undeniable. Yet it is not always sufficient on its own.

What often determines the fate of a relationship is everything surrounding love: trust, communication, emotional readiness, shared values, kindness and the willingness to keep choosing one another over time.

Sometimes love is there; deep, genuine and overwhelming; and still it does not last. Love may begin a relationship. But it is not always what holds it together.

What experts say

Relationship counsellors often observe that while love may bring people together, successful relationships require a broader set of skills and commitments. Emotional maturity, effective communication, conflict resolution, trust and shared goals often determine whether a relationship survives difficult seasons.

Love may create the connection, but healthy habits help sustain it.

Without those habits, even relationships built on deep affection can struggle under the weight of unresolved issues, changing circumstances and unmet expectations.

When Emmanuel Katongole, 54, completed his 20-year IT consultancy job at the Ministry of Finance in 2023, the Zoology and Botany graduate embarked on research into any project that could give him a return on investment with minimal supervision.

First, he thought of venturing into goat rearing but soon found out that the business was feasible with at least 200 goats for a start-up. However, he chose to keep a few of them for emotional support because it feels good looking at them.

His idea was of a project which can be supervised most cost-effectively without a lot of travel and investing time.

This was a departure from his initial 2015 idea of building a 29-bedroom hotel in Kisaasi trading centre, which he started but stopped at the foundation level.

As he continued to research, he stumbled upon the idea of fish rearing, specifically catfish, because Tilapia required a lot of water management, which would bother him, while the Nile perch, on the other hand, had not yet been domesticated for rearing at home.

He settled for Catfish because of their carnivorous nature-they eat anything which is almost rotting.

When he scanned his environment in Kisaasi, Katongole found out that there were a lot of intestines of chicken and fish which were being thrown away.

During the onset of the 2020 lockdown, there were idle youths who approached him and requested him to allow them to roof the hotel structure and sleep there while providing security, something he willingly accepted because the place had become bushy.

Later, when he asked the youths whether they could collect intestines for him to feed the fish, they accepted, which to him was more or less free labour he had locked into his project.

He also learnt that unlike Tilapia and Nile Perch, which are top feeders, Catfish are bottom feeders.

Katongole decided to seal off the partitions on the would-be first floor to prevent the water from seeping, and introduced 11,000 fish fingerlings into the project in March this year.

Through Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Gemini, Katongole researched the behaviour of fish feeding; he discovered that in Southeast Asia, fish feed is very cheap.

The fingerlings need startup feed to depend on for their foundation, which is imported from the Netherlands, but afterwards, they can feed on anything.

He then bought a meat mincer at Shs1m, which can mince up to one ton of intestines or meat in one hour.

He mixes the minced intestines with cassava flour to bind them and lets the mixture dry up under the sun. It is the same machine which turns the mixture into pellets.

To him, the feeding aspect for the fish was done because he was getting the feeds more or less free of charge, and now he is off the commercial feeds.

Asked why he abandoned the hotel business, he said he was motivated by the 24-year-old boy in Busega, a city suburb, who calls himself Mr Big Fish, who buys a kilo of fresh Catfish at Shs7,000 and sells a kilogram of smoked fish at Shs40,000 for export to Europe.

He observes that at Busega, which is now the Kampala Fish auction market, trading starts at 3 am and by 7 am business is done.

Katongole hopes that by September, when the fish mature, he will be able to harvest between 8,000 and 10,000 and sell at Shs7,000 per kilogram.

He boasts that unlike other animals like cows and goats where farmers are price takers, he does not need to drive his fish to the market.

The buyers will have to drive to his farm and take them at his price, and if they are not interested in his price, he will continue feeding them and even attract higher prices.

He intends to install a water recycling system and establish vertical beds for growing vegetables, which will also become part of his farm produce.

From a chance meeting at a Makerere University career fair to a carefully planned wedding, Juma Ssegujja and Mercy Jorine Nassolo chose patience, simplicity and intentionality, building a relationship that grew quietly over time into marriage without pressure or spectacle.

It began as a chance meeting that neither of them was seeking.

In March 2023, at a career fair at Makerere University, Juma Ssegujja, 28, known to many as Jomma, a banker and economist at the Bank of Uganda, shared insights with students about what awaited them after graduation.

Among the crowd was Mercy Jorine Nassolo, 25, a final-year student in Agribusiness Management, who had only intended to stop by briefly. She had travelled from Kakiri in Wakiso District that day, balancing errands and ambition, unsure if she would even stay.

However, she lingered long enough for a conversation that would quietly change the course of her life.

‘I was asked to speak at the fair about what lay ahead for students after graduation,’ Juma recalls.

After his talk, Mercy approached him for guidance and requested his contact information.

‘I had no intentions towards her at the time, but I helped her through the application process,’ Juma says.

What followed was nothing dramatic, just a series of messages, consistency, and silence that gradually filled up with familiarity. Mercy smiles as she remembers, ‘Jomma was consistent in texting, and he still is to this day.’

A love that started simply

By June, something had shifted. Juma began to see in Mercy the qualities he admired; she was disciplined, intelligent, and grounded. He described her as ‘my tribemate,’ noting that their age difference was just right.

Mercy, in turn, recognised Juma as intentional, thoughtful, and steady.

‘He was visionary, intelligent, and solution-oriented,’ she says. There was no rush and no grand declarations, just the slow unfolding of two lives getting to know each other. Their first date reflected everything they would later become.

Juma chose Forest Park in Buloba for their outing. They met at Old Kampala Taxi Park and travelled together by taxi, side by side, like any ordinary couple beginning something they did not yet fully understand.

‘It was simple but memorable,’ Mercy reflects. ‘Despite our financial situation at the time, I felt comfortable because I knew we would build together.’ Under the shade of trees, over shared meals and easy laughter, something unspoken took root.

Distance, growth

Their love did not flourish in comfort; it grew through distance, time, and patience.

After graduation, Mercy moved upcountry for a farm management job. The miles between them tested what had begun so gently.

Juma worried about her career path and encouraged her to return to Kampala’s job market. Eventually, she did, securing a role with ABSA Bank.

Despite the distance, they remained close through long phone calls, prayer, and conversations that stretched into the late hours of the night. Later, when Juma acquired a car, it felt less like a possession and more like a bridge connecting their hearts, preventing them from drifting apart.

Turning point

Three years into their relationship, life began to weigh heavily upon them. Friends were getting married, expectations grew louder, and time felt burdensome. During the 2025 Hallelujah Challenge, Mercy prayed for direction and clarity about the future of her love story. In March 2026, she received an answer she did not expect.

Juma invited her to KK Beach to meet his father. She arrived unaware that everything had already been set in motion.

At the beach, she found both families waiting.

‘I was still processing everything when they told me that our kukyala would be in March and the introduction in May,’ she recalls. Her heart was racing, but her story was already moving into its next chapter.

Kukyala and introduction

On March 7, Juma and his family arrived at Mercy’s aunt’s home in Vvumba for the kukyala ceremony. Despite the short notice, she approached the preparations with calm determination, using savings from their joint account and working within a modest budget. It was not about extravagance; it was about meaning.

Weeks later, on May 16, the introduction ceremony took place at her father’s home in Matugga. Juma’s family aimed for simplicity, with few meetings, clear planning, and fulfilled commitments. His parents were deeply involved, providing support and ensuring every detail was taken care of. In contrast, Mercy’s family infused the day with warmth and celebration, even hiring artistes such as Haruna Mubiru and Jovan Luzinda. For Juma, it was a moment of admiration.

‘Everything was very well organised,’ he remarks.

When it came to their wedding, the couple opted for something uncommon: they prioritised calm over spectacle. After visiting several venues, they chose Fairway Hotel, not for its grandeur, but for the ease, control, and peace of mind it offered. Their guest list remained intimate, with around 60 people. Invitations were sent digitally, not out of convenience, but by intention. Juma encapsulated their approach by saying, ‘Information is an asset only if you have the finances.’ This was their way of ensuring love would not become a performance.

On June 21, they exchanged vows at the Wakiso District Headquarters with only a few witnesses present. There were no crowds or noise, just two people choosing each other. Later, they took photos at Rock Stone Gardens and enjoyed a small lunch together.

That evening, they received a blessing at Antioch Church before preparing for a private reception the following day.

At the reception, close friends served as MCs. The entrance was simple, the speeches heartfelt, and the atmosphere calm, almost sacred. What left a lasting impression on them was not the decor or the schedule, but the absence of pressure. ‘We were stress-free because everything had been planned early,’ Mercy says. In that calm, their love felt complete in a way that noise never could.

What love means to them now

To Juma and Mercy, love is no longer a question; it is a practice. It is commitment. Trust. Patience. Communication. Intentionality.

In their quiet life together, they read, pray, attend marriage cell meetings, watch football, listen to podcasts, and simply enjoy being at home.

They advise couples to talk openly, save together, seek counselling, and prepare early. Looking ahead, they dream of a honeymoon they have not yet taken, children they hope to raise, land they plan to buy, and a home they will one day build together.

The beauty of choosing simplicity

In a world that often measures love in noise, expense and spectacle, Juma and Mercy chose something softer. They chose consistency over chaos. Planning over pressure. Meaning over display.

And somewhere between a career fare and a quiet taxi ride, their story became what many hope for, but few build: A love that did not rush but arrived fully formed in its own time.

More than a decade after the discovery of rare earth mineral deposits in eastern Uganda raised hopes of economic transformation, mining operations in the Busoga sub-region have yet to begin, leaving local leaders and residents frustrated over missed opportunities and prolonged uncertainty.

The government announced the discovery of rare earth minerals in 2013, identifying major deposits in Bugweri, Mayuge and Bugiri districts. The find attracted investor interest and raised expectations of jobs, infrastructure development and increased local revenues.

However, despite the government signing an agreement with Rwenzori Rare Metals (RRM) to develop the project, commercial production has not commenced.

Bugweri District Natural Resources Officer Fred Wamukunyu said mining activities are now running nearly a year behind schedule.

“Mining and production of rare earth minerals in the areas where they were discovered were scheduled to begin in July last year. However, the information available to me suggests that operations may now start in October this year,” Wamukunyu said.

He attributed the delays to the slow issuance of a mining licence, amendments to Uganda’s mining laws and unresolved compensation issues affecting residents expected to be displaced by the project.

The amended Mining Act provides for local communities to receive 15 percent of proceeds from minerals extracted in their areas.

Wamukunyu said the minerals are used in the manufacture of products such as smartphones, laptops, wind turbines and automotive components, making them increasingly important in the global transition to digital technologies and clean energy.

He noted that the deposits are located in Buwaya Sub-county in Mayuge District, Buwunga Sub-county in Bugiri District and Makuutu Sub-county in Bugweri District, where a mineral testing laboratory is also being established.

But local leaders say global market conditions have also slowed the project’s momentum.

Hussein Kamali, the LCIII chairperson of Buwaya Sub-county, said company officials had cited weakening international demand for rare earth minerals during recent discussions.

“During my last meeting with officials of Rwenzori Rare Metals, they told me that the market for the mineral abroad had weakened. They said it would not make economic sense to rush into production without a ready market, considering the high costs involved in mining and processing,” Kamali said.

He warned that prolonged delays risk undermining community support for the project.

Kamali said a two-year Land Access Agreement signed between residents and RRM expired in September last year, potentially complicating future operations.

“If the project continues to delay, some residents may withdraw their support,” he said.

According to Kamali, uncertainty over compensation and relocation plans has left many affected residents unsure whether to continue developing their land or prepare for displacement.

Several commitments contained in agreements between the company and local communities also remain unfulfilled, he added.

An RRM board member, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak publicly, acknowledged that weaker international demand had affected the sector but said it was not the sole cause of the delays.

“While demand for the mineral has reduced on the international market, it has not caused the delays in production,” the official said.

Bugiri District chairperson Davidson Mulumba Kasaija said election-related disruptions had also slowed progress toward implementation of the project.

“We expected many benefits to come with the start of mining, which would have improved the lives of residents. The delay is denying them those opportunities,” Mulumba said.

He said local authorities had anticipated employment opportunities, improved social services and infrastructure development linked to the mining project.

Former Ibulanku Sub-county chairperson Ibrahim Ndoga said communities in Bugweri had expected roads and other public infrastructure to be upgraded to support mining operations.

“We were expecting roads to be constructed in the Makuutu area, since heavy machinery used in mining would not be able to use the current roads, which are in a poor state,” Ndoga said.

He added that the district is also missing out on expected royalty revenues that could have supported local development programmes.

For now, communities that once anticipated a rapid transformation driven by one of the world’s most sought-after mineral resources continue to wait as licensing, compensation and market challenges delay the start of production.

Millions of learners in public primary schools will have to wait longer for the much-anticipated government-funded school feeding programme after the Ministry of Education and Sports revealed that a national policy to guide its implementation is still being drafted.

The delay comes months after the government announced plans to introduce a nationwide school feeding programme in Universal Primary Education (UPE) schools, raising hopes among education stakeholders that the initiative would help address hunger and improve learning outcomes.

On December 5, 2024, while presenting the National Resistance Movement (NRM) Manifesto 2021-2026 progress report for the education sector, Education and Sports Minister Janet Museveni announced that government had approved plans to introduce school meals in all UPE schools, with implementation expected to begin in 2026. The programme is expected to benefit at least 9.1 million learners enrolled in 12,557 government primary schools, according to data from the 2025 Baseline Education Census by the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS).

The announcement marked a significant shift in government policy. For years, government maintained that feeding children was solely the responsibility of parents and guardians. However, the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Dr Kedrace Turyagyenda, said implementation cannot proceed without a comprehensive policy framework approved by Cabinet. ‘You cannot start implementing something without a policy to guide it. When it came to implementation, it became necessary to first have the policy approved by Cabinet,’ Dr Turyagyenda said in an interview.

‘This is a government commitment that must clearly explain how the programme will be implemented, who will do what, and how responsibilities will be shared,’ she added. According to Dr Turyagyenda, consultations with stakeholders are ongoing and substantial progress has been made in drafting the policy. However, she acknowledged that the programme is unlikely to be rolled out in the 2026/27 financial year because the budget has already been approved. ‘Developing a policy requires extensive consultations and technical work. Once it is completed, it will be submitted to Cabinet for approval,’ she said.

The delay means that, for now, millions of learners in government schools will continue relying on parents and guardians for meals, with many children still attending classes on empty stomachs. The government’s pledge had been welcomed by schools, particularly those struggling to provide meals after restrictions were placed on parental contributions. According to the Uganda Bureau of Statistics National Service Delivery Survey 2021, only 49 percent of government primary schools provide lunch to learners, while 16 percent reported that pupils go without lunch altogether.

The situation is more pronounced in rural areas, where 20 percent of government primary schools reported that learners did not receive lunch, compared to eight percent in urban areas. Despite the delays, Dr Turyagyenda stressed that parents remain legally responsible for feeding their children until the policy is approved and implemented. ‘In the meantime, the law requires parents to feed their children, so every parent should make every effort to ensure that their children are eating,’ she said.

Uganda National Teachers’ Union (UNATU) Secretary General Filbert Baguma said hunger continues to undermine learning, attendance and academic performance. ‘We continue talking about school dropouts and poor performance, yet these issues are directly linked to feeding. You cannot expect much from a child who has not eaten,’ Mr Baguma said. Economist Kenneth Asiimwe of the Civil Society Budget Advocacy Group (CSBAG) said the government may be proceeding cautiously because of the financial implications of feeding millions of learners nationwide. ‘It is an expensive programme and not something government can rush into. Proper planning is necessary because poorly designed programmes often fail,’ Mr Asiimwe said.

However, he warned that repeated delays could erode public confidence. ‘When government makes commitments and implementation keeps being postponed, it creates a trust deficit between citizens and the state,’ he said.

Before halting their operations in Kampala, in a crackdown to restore degraded wetlands, the authorities responsible for environmental management and protection razed areas of Busabala in Makindye-Ssabagabo Municipality, Wakiso District.

The two-day operation conducted on June 2nd and June 4th by the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) and the Ministry of Water and Environment, with assistance from police and the military, left over 100 families displaced.

Just like single mothers dominated the Kawaala II eviction saga, where a similar operation was carried out, in Busabala, men evacuated their families and remained behind to pursue justice.

Mr Fred Namuyimbwa, who was running a piggery farm in Buggu village, was one of the victims. He lost all his houses in this NEMA operation. Over the weekend, he was sharing a shelter with pigs in a temporary pigsty structure.

The enforcement team had mercy on him, and his pigsty was spared to allow him to remove his animals. He has over 50 pigs and piglets combined.

‘I had a very big family, and today they are all scattered. My wife went back to their home with some of our young children,’ he said.

He, however, said he cannot cry for the lost property. Together with other victims, they are pushing for compensation or looking for well-wishers to help them relocate.

‘The destroyed property is like losing a child; we buried them and are now looking forward to how we get compensated,’ Mr Namuyimbwa said.

The farmer has stood the test of time, including coldness due to the swampy nature of the area. Being an open structure, even rains inconvenience his stay here.

He is not sure when he plans to relocate his farm, appealing for financial assistance from any good Samaritan to get him land where he can establish a new farm.

‘I have endured the malodorous stench that comes from the waste materials, but not sure if I will not get diseases. I cannot abandon my farm because thieves will steal my pigs,’ he added.

Mr Godfrey Lumu, a father of 10 children, was also left displaced. He is planning to start from scratch after losing his residential house in the operation. He said he cannot be accepted with his family to rent anywhere.

‘Even if you are the landlord, can you accept me when I tell you that I have 10 children? Obviously no,’ he said.

Similarly, Mr Richard Katende lost his storied structure and eight rental houses. To settle in this place, he bought three plots of land and acquired an agreement signed by the area chairperson.

He used the remaining poles from his house to erect a makeshift tent where he sleeps with his wife at night, whereas the rest of the family members remain displaced.

‘I had a big number of people I was taking care of, including my children and relatives. I cannot trace them because they were all displaced,’ he said.

He appealed to the Uganda Law Society to intervene in their issue, and they seek justice in courts of law, to at least get compensated with some small funding that can buy them land elsewhere.

‘By the time I bought a plot of land in this area, it was totally dry land. However, when investors started pouring soil in the lake, Lake Victoria water levels increased,’ he said.

Mr Katende said if the government is to restore wetlands, they must first touch the big fish, with big investments near the lake. Other than that, the wetlands will keep spreading.

He said they were given two weeks to leave the evicted area.

Some women who are still stranded said they no longer have privacy with this ‘surprise’ crackdown as they now share shelter with men at night.

‘When it gets dark at night, we all gather under one tent and sleep. The situation is very bad, especially for us who had all our investments in the same area,’ Ms Agnes Kadogi said.

She said their children have dropped out of school; they don’t have food, and everything in their daily life has turned miserable ever since that fateful day.

Ms Margaret Nabukeera said their children are falling sick every day due to the cold weather and mosquitoes biting them. They cannot go anywhere to look for food because once you go, your property remains at risk of being stolen.

During his inaugural speech as minister for water and environment, Rtd. Maj Gen. Kahinda Otafiire commended restoration works by NEMA to stop all developments in the wetlands by people without a valid license.

He said fragile ecosystems like wetlands are meant to filter water before it’s discharged to major water bodies and also act as habitats for only fish, frogs, and crocodiles, among others.