Category: Daily Monitor

Police in Kampala are searching for a woman who allegedly poured boiling water on her four-year-old daughter for eating rice without permission.

The suspect, identified as Macline Zabaki, a resident of K3 Zone in Kyambogo, Nakawa Division, fled the scene immediately after the incident and remains at large.

Addressing journalists at the police headquarters in Naguru on Monday, Kampala Metropolitan Police Spokesperson Racheal Kawala revealed that preliminary investigations indicate Zabaki attacked the minor after discovering that cooked rice had been eaten without her consent.

“The suspect allegedly grabbed a boiling kettle and poured hot water directly onto the child. She fled to an unknown location right after,” Kawala said, appealing to anyone with information regarding Zabaki’s whereabouts to report to the nearest police station.

The four-year-old victim was rushed to a medical facility, where she is currently receiving treatment and recovering from her injuries.

Kawala strongly condemned the assault, urging parents and guardians to refrain from using torture under the guise of discipline.

“We urge parents, guardians, and relatives to prioritize the protection and welfare of young children and adopt non-violent discipline methods,” she added.

In a related development, police at Kira Road are holding a 32-year-old man on allegations of defiling a six-year-old girl in Bukoto, Nakawa Division.

The suspect, identified as Lewis Madibo, had visited the victim’s mother at her residence. Police report that Madibo allegedly committed the crime late in the night after the victim’s mother had fallen asleep. He was subsequently arrested and is awaiting charges.

With schools preparing to close for the holidays, police have cautioned parents and guardians to heighten vigilance, noting a historical surge in cases of child abuse and sexual exploitation during school breaks.

Kawala called on local communities to work closely with law enforcement to ensure children remain safe throughout the holiday period.

The High Court in Kampala has convicted nine people over the gruesome 2018 kidnap and murder of businesswoman Susan Magara, bringing to a close one of Uganda’s most notorious ransom killing cases after eight years of investigations and trial.

In an 84-page judgment delivered on Monday, Justice Alex Ajiji found the accused guilty of kidnapping Magara with intent to obtain a hefty ransom before murdering her in cold blood.

Those convicted are: Yusuf Lubega, Mahad Kisalita, Ismail Bukenya, Abubaker Kyewokya, Hassan Wasswa, Abbas Musa Buwembo, Hussein Kato Miiro, Hajjara Nakandi and Muzamir Ssali.

“Accordingly, I agree with the three court assessors that the prosecution has proved the case against each of you, and you are convicted as charged,” Justice Ajiji ruled.

The judge deferred sentencing to Tuesday. Under Uganda’s Penal Code Act, a murder conviction carries a maximum sentence of death by hanging.

The nine had maintained their innocence throughout the trial.

The night of the abduction

Court heard that on the night of February 7, 2018, Magara was abducted outside her home in Lungujja, Kampala, while speaking on the phone with her friend, Yusuf Muhindo.

Mr. Muhindo testified that he heard a struggle during the call before Magara screamed in Luganda, “Temunkuba” (Don’t beat me), after which the line went dead.

Justice Ajiji noted that the evidence established beyond reasonable doubt that Magara was forcibly taken against her will.

“The screaming by the deceased and the abandoned vehicle with its engine still running prove beyond reasonable doubt that she was forcefully abducted,” the judge stated.

Magara’s Toyota RAV4 was later recovered abandoned with its engine still running, while her mobile phones were left inside.

$200,000 Ransom and severed fingers

The following day, the kidnappers contacted Magara’s family demanding a ransom of $1 million (USD), which was later negotiated down to $200,000 (about Shs700 million).

According to the prosecution, initial attempts to collect the ransom between February 15 and 17 failed after the kidnappers suspected police surveillance.

On February 19, the family received a horrific parcel containing two of Magara’s severed fingers alongside a flash drive with a video showing her pleading with her father to pay the ransom. Forensic evidence confirmed she was alive when her fingers were cut off.

“The severed fingers demonstrated the kidnappers’ determination to procure a ransom through intimidation,” Justice Ajiji observed.

The family eventually delivered the ransom money at Kanaaba in Ndejje on February 23. Despite the payment, Magara’s body was discovered four days later at Kitiko-Birongo near the Entebbe Expressway. A postmortem examination concluded she died from asphyxia caused by manual strangulation.

Overwhelming evidence

During the trial, the prosecution called 45 witnesses, while the court summoned an additional witness from the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA). The defence presented 20 witnesses.

Justice Ajiji ruled that the prosecution’s case was backed by overwhelming forensic and circumstantial evidence-including DNA analysis, telephone records, digital forensics, and crime scene findings.

The court relied heavily on telecommunications forensic expert Frank Nyakairu, whose analysis proved that the accused communicated frequently before, during, and after the kidnapping.

Additionally, some of the accused led investigators to where Magara was held, sites planned for ransom collection, and the spot where her body was dumped.

Several of the convicted individuals also acquired expensive assets-including land and motor vehicles-shortly after the ransom was paid.

“The explanations regarding the source of funds were vague and unsupported by evidence. The rapid acquisition of property shortly after the ransom strongly points to proceeds from the crime,” Justice Ajiji said.

Masterminds at large

Justice Ajiji concluded that the accused acted with a common intention to abduct Magara, hold her captive for nearly three weeks, torture her, and ultimately kill her to eliminate a key witness.

Two suspected masterminds of the operation, Yakub Byensi and Hakim Lugolobi, remain at large.

Magara’s abduction in 2018 sent shockwaves across Uganda and prompted high-level security interventions, including direct involvement from President Yoweri Museveni.

Following the verdict on Monday evening, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) welcomed the judgment, stating that “justice has been served.”

Police in Nakaseke District have launched a manhunt for a farm worker accused of hacking his colleague to death on Sunday afternoon following a dispute at a farm in Magoma Village, Kikamulo Sub-county.

The deceased has been identified as Emmanuel Ainemukama, 30, who served as the manager at Herbert’s Farm, where both men resided.

Savannah Region Police Spokesperson, ASP Sam Twiineamazima, said the fatal attack occurred at around 2:00 PM while Ainemukama was preparing herbicides for spraying.

The suspect, identified as Nicholas Kabandize, allegedly attacked Ainemukama with a sharp object, inflicting multiple severe wounds-particularly on his left wrist area-before fleeing the scene and leaving him in a pool of blood.

“A colleague came upon the scene, raised an alarm, and promptly reported the matter to Kiwoko Town Council Police Station,” ASP Twiineamazima noted.

Responding officers documented the scene, opened a murder file, and recorded statements from key witnesses. A search for the murder weapon at the scene yielded no results.

Preliminary police investigations reveal that Kabandize and Ainemukama not only worked together on the farm but also shared a residence. According to investigators, the suspect had previously issued threats against the deceased following an ongoing personal dispute between the two men.

The body of the deceased was retrieved and conveyed to Nakaseke General Hospital mortuary for a postmortem examination.

Police say search efforts are actively ongoing to trace and apprehend Kabandize to face justice in court.

ASP Twiineamazima appealed to members of the public who may have information regarding the suspect’s whereabouts to report to the nearest police station immediately, cautioning citizens against taking the law into their own hands as investigations continue.

Pop superstar Shakira has pledged to visit Uganda soon after sponsoring the famous Triplets Ghetto Kids to perform at the 2026 FIFA World Cup finals, their dance coach has revealed.

Addressing journalists on Monday morning following their return at the Nakivubo War Memorial Stadium, Dauda Kavuma-the founder and dance coach of the group-said the Colombian singer-songwriter expressed her desire to deepen her collaboration with the Ugandan dancers.

Kavuma disclosed that following their performance at the World Cup, Shakira and her management team organized an additional show for the group at the Barclaycard Center in New York.

“Shakira and her team did not end with the performance during the World Cup finals. They organized another show for us at the Barclays Center, where she told us she is coming to Uganda because she wants to continue working with us,” Kavuma said.

Despite the eventual success, Kavuma revealed that their travel to the United States was fraught with severe logistical hurdles. The trip coincided with a declared Ebola outbreak in Uganda, during which the US Embassy had temporarily halted visa processing.

Determined to get the kids to the global stage, Shakira’s team initially attempted to secure entry visas for the troupe through Kenya, Mexico, and Colombia, but were unsuccessful. They eventually routed the group to Ecuador, where the dancers underwent a mandatory 21-day quarantine before the embassy could process their US visas.

Kavuma expressed gratitude to local sponsors who supported the troupe during their isolation abroad, including businessman Amos Nzeyi, telecom giant MTN Uganda, Everyday Biscuits, and the Uganda Tourism Board (UTB).

Speaking at the same event, Joseph Byaruhanga, Brand Manager at Pepsi Cola (Crown Beverages Ltd), noted that Nzeyi’s support for the Ghetto Kids traces back to the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, where he saw them perform live.

“When he returned home, he tasked us to find these kids. He gave them Shs100 million to construct a permanent home in Nakawuka, Wakiso District, and he is currently building them a rehabilitation home,” Byaruhanga stated.

Pearl Kitimbo, a Communications Officer at Crown Beverages Ltd, also revealed that world football governing body FIFA presented the Ghetto Kids with an extraordinary souvenir: the official match ball used during the 2026 World Cup finals.

According to Kitimbo, the troupe plans to use the historic match ball during a series of friendly exhibition matches across the country.

Dear Super,

Mumps is one of the commonest childhood viral diseases, particularly among children aged five to nine years. It causes painful swelling of the salivary glands below the ears (parotid glands), affecting one or both glands and resulting in fever. The disease is less severe in children than in teenagers and adults. In severe cases, many organs, including the testes, ovaries, brain, spinal cord and pancreas, may become inflamed, although complications are rare. These complications may include diabetes and, if the ovaries or testes are affected, infertility in both men and women.

Fortunately, mumps mostly affects children, where it may not cause infertility. However, if a boy is affected after puberty, or if both testes become inflamed by the disease, infertility may result. In men, apart from a drop in sperm count, there may be some shrinkage of the testicles in some cases, but rarely will there be permanent infertility. Mumps is not a chronic disease whose persistence leads to infertility. Immunisation and proper management of mumps are, therefore, required to prevent the rare complication of infertility.

Most male infertility is usually due to sperm delivery problems, such as impotence or blockages to the vas deferens, low sperm counts, or poor sperm quality. The latter two are usually caused by lifestyle factors, including obesity, emotional stress and illicit drugs, apart from environmental, genetic or medical conditions. Some fertility problems in men can be corrected, while others may not. However, this requires the couple to visit the doctor together for expert help. In cases where the problem is not correctable, assisted reproduction, including IVF, or adoption may help.

The Electoral Commission (EC) has officially unveiled the roadmap for the Adjumani West Constituency by-election, setting polling day for September 17, 2026.

The parliamentary seat fell vacant following the death of veteran statesman, decorated military officer, and former Second Deputy Prime Minister, Gen. Moses Ali. Gen. Ali passed away at the age of 87 at Nakasero Hospital in Kampala, where he had been receiving specialized medical treatment for several days as public concern over his health grew.

Gen. Ali’s remarkable political and military career spanned more than five decades, during which he served under successive Ugandan administrations in various high-profile roles-including cabinet minister, rebel leader, senior military commander, and Deputy Leader of Government Business in Parliament. Having been sworn in as the representative for Adjumani West County in the 12th Parliament in May 2026, his passing marked the end of an era for one of the nation’s most influential public figures.

Unveiling the election schedule during an address on Monday, August 3, 2026, EC Chairperson Justice Simon Byabakama advised all prospective candidates to carefully review their statutory documentation and immediately consult the commission if they identify any paperwork issues prior to the official nomination exercise.

Official campaign activities will run for seven days, starting on September 9 and concluding on September 15, 2026. Justice Byabakama emphasized that a mandatory schedule harmonization meeting with the local Returning Officer will take place immediately after nominations to maintain order and prevent political clashes between rival groups. “Candidates will gather before the Returning Officer to harmonize their campaign programs so that we are clear. If a candidate is in Pachara Sub-County that day, another candidate should not be there to avoid clashes,” Justice Byabakama stated.

He further appealed to all participants to strictly observe electoral laws and guidelines during the short campaign period.

“Campaigns officially run from September 9 until September 15. That is enough period for relative and responsible campaigning. In any case, if the people do not know you by now, seven days will not work for you,” he noted.

Speaking during a stakeholders’ meeting, Deputy Resident District Commissioner Emmanuel Okwari reassured the public that the district leadership remains committed to ensuring the by-election is conducted in a peaceful and conducive environment.

Okwari noted that the greatest threat to a peaceful election is the conduct of some candidates, particularly the use of inflammatory language, hate speech, and incitement of supporters. He urged all contestants to exercise restraint and focus on presenting their manifestos to voters rather than engaging in divisive rhetoric.

Commending the participation of cultural and religious leaders in promoting harmony, Okwari also challenged media houses to uphold professional standards. He suggested that the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) work closely with relevant stakeholders to monitor campaign messages and enforce compliance against hate speech.

Reminding candidates that only one person will emerge victorious, Okwari urged all participants to respect the democratic process and accept the will of the electorate, reaffirming the commitment of the district security committee to deliver a peaceful by-election that reflects the legacy of the late Gen. Moses Ali.

Echoing these calls for calm, the Regional Police Commander for North West Nile, Joseph Mwesige, appealed to candidates and supporters to honor Gen. Ali’s memory through peaceful conduct.

Mwesige emphasized that elections should be a contest of ideas where voters freely choose their representative. Warning against electoral violence, he pointed out that Adjumani has in the past been associated with election-related clashes-a reputation he stressed must not be repeated. He called on all political actors to reject intimidation and work together to ensure a peaceful, credible, free, and transparent process.

Speaker of Parliament Jacob Oboth-Oboth has pledged to work with Mukono District leadership to secure land for a modern regional hospital, saying access to quality healthcare must drive the area’s development agenda.

Speaking during a thanksgiving service at Mt. Lebanon Church in Mukono on Friday, July 31, 2026, the Speaker said the project would be a priority as Parliament considers legislation that responds to Ugandans’ needs.

‘I pledge to work with the leaders of Mukono to identify land for the construction of a modern regional hospital,’ Oboth told the congregation. ‘Our people deserve dignified health services close to home, and Parliament will support initiatives that deliver that.’

The pledge was made during the official launch of the Greater Mukono Inter-Religious Forum. The Forum brings together Anglican, Catholic, Muslim, Seventh-day Adventist and Orthodox leaders to promote unity, peace, and community development.

Oboth said the proposed hospital aligns with government’s goal of strengthening service delivery across districts. He added that he will invite President Museveni to visit Mukono to witness the unity displayed and to support development projects in the area. The Speaker is a resident of the district.

Mukono District Chairperson Francis Lukooya Mukoome welcomed the pledge and thanked the President for ongoing projects including roads and street lighting. He said a regional referral facility would ease pressure on existing health centres and cut referral costs for residents.

Bishop Samuel Lwandasa, chair of the Greater Mukono Inter-Religious Forum, said faith institutions have been at the forefront of healthcare, education and peace, and will partner with government to ensure the hospital serves all communities regardless of faith.

‘The Forum will coordinate efforts in education, healthcare, peace building and livelihood programs across the district,’ Bishop Lwandasa said.

The thanksgiving was organized to thank God for the Speaker’s election and to launch the Inter-Religious Forum. The Forum presented Oboth with a Holy Bible as a symbol of faith and guidance in leadership.

In his address, the Speaker described his election as ‘a sacred trust bestowed upon me by the people of Uganda through their elected representatives.’ He pledged to protect the dignity of Parliament, promote constructive dialogue, and ensure accountability in public office.

He called on religious leaders and citizens to continue praying for Parliament and national leaders, urging that leadership be rooted in humility, integrity and service.

Mukono Municipality MP Betty Nambooze described the event as a homecoming and prayed for wisdom upon the Speaker’s leadership, noting his record of fairness and neutrality in Parliament.

Mukono General Hospital, which was until 2019 a Health Centre IV, attends to at least 200 outpatients every day and between 7,500 and 8,000 deliveries a year from Mukono, Buvuma, Buikwe, Kayunga and parts of Wakiso.

The elevation of Mukono Health Centre IV to a hospital brought the number of hospitals in the district to two. The other is St Francis Naggalama Hospital, a Catholic Church-run facility in Nakifuma County.

Police in Jinja District have launched an investigation into the murder of a boda boda rider whose body was discovered Monday morning in a sugarcane plantation in Mutai Village, Buwenge Sub-county.

The deceased, identified as Yosia Kayima, was a resident of Namulesa Ward in Jinja City. Preliminary findings indicate that unknown assailants killed Kayima before fleeing with his motorcycle.

Local residents discovered the body early Monday morning and alerted local leaders, who subsequently notified the police. Officers documented the crime scene before transferring the body to a mortuary for a postmortem examination.

Rising wave of crime

The Vice Chairperson of Mutai Central, Mr. Lazaro Isabirye, said he alerted the authorities immediately after receiving news of the incident. He noted that violent attacks by unidentified assailants have become alarmingly frequent in the area.

“This is not an isolated incident. We have lost at least five people in similar attacks in recent months. The situation has created widespread fear, especially among boda boda riders who operate at night,” Mr. Isabirye said.

He urged security agencies to intensify both daytime and nighttime patrols and strengthen intelligence operations to restore public confidence.

Ms. Namaganda Katwaalo, the Woman Representative for Mutai Busibe, condemned the killing and called for urgent, collaborative security measures.

“These repeated murders are deeply worrying. Security agencies must work closely with local communities to identify those behind these attacks before more innocent lives are lost,” Ms. Katwaalo said.

Leaders demand CCTV surveillance

Highlighting the growing danger, Jinja District LCV Chairperson Mr. Moses Bataala categorized the area as a hotspot for violent crime. He urged the government to intervene by installing surveillance cameras along the main road passing through Mutai.

“Security cameras would not only deter criminals but also provide crucial evidence to help investigators identify suspects and improve public safety,” Mr. Bataala noted.

Confirming the incident, the Acting Resident District Commissioner (RDC) for Jinja District, Mr. George Wilson Bameka, assured the public that security agencies are actively pursuing the perpetrators.

“We are aware of the increasing insecurity in the area, and investigations are underway,” Mr. Bameka said. “We appeal to members of the public to remain calm and cooperate with investigators by providing any information that could lead to the arrest of the suspects.”

By press time, the deceased’s motorcycle had not yet been recovered, and police investigations into murder and aggravated robbery remain ongoing.

Vulnerable elderly residents and child-headed families in Nabilatuk and Nakapiripirit districts have begun receiving direct cash transfers of Shs250,000 alongside emergency relief food to combat a worsening famine and associated health complications in the Karamoja sub-region.

The financial intervention, spearheaded by international humanitarian organization Action Against Hunger (AAH) as part of a UGX 276,000-per-beneficiary rapid drought emergency response, targets over 500 destitute individuals who lack family support systems.

According to Mr. Ben Lokiru, the LC5 Chairperson for Nabilatuk District, recent community death reports linked to the ongoing food crisis have predominantly impacted the elderly and households headed by children.

‘The current situation that the elders find themselves in is worrying. As a district, we didn’t have this budget, but now that humanitarian agencies have come to our rescue, these elders and child-headed families will have a sense of respite,’ Mr. Lokiru said.

He noted that widespread climate shocks-characterized by prolonged dry spells-left hundreds of acres of gardens scorched across the sub-region.

Alongside the cash payouts meant for food purchases and urgent medical care, the central government has dispatched direct relief food to the affected communities.

Nabilatuk Resident District Commissioner (RDC), Mr. Linos Lotem Tumkori, confirmed that beneficiary households are receiving an initial ration of 20 kilograms of maize flour (posho) and 10 kilograms of beans, with additional relief supplies currently being budgeted.

‘The current situation is not the best, but we are happy to have a government that cares for its people and has created a peaceful environment for humanitarian organizations to operate,’ Mr. Tumkori said. ‘As civil servants, we expect those taking care of the elders to use this money strictly for their welfare and to seek urgent medical attention where needed.’

For many recipients, the relief comes at a critical moment. Ms. Grace Sagal, a 78-year-old resident of Kakomongole Sub-county in Nakapiripirit District, shared that she had gone four consecutive days without a proper meal prior to receiving the funds.

‘This year, we had countable days of rainfall, which destroyed our crops,’ Ms. Sagal explained. ‘I am confident this money and the government food will push me and my grandchildren through the coming days. We are now fairly cushioned from the severe crisis for a while.’

Widespread crisis across Karamoja

The interventions in Nabilatuk and Nakapiripirit reflect a broader humanitarian crisis affecting all nine districts of the Karamoja sub-region.

According to a recent analysis by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC)-of which the Government of Uganda is a partner-an estimated 473,000 people in Karamoja are currently experiencing high levels of acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 3 or worse).

Consecutive seasons of failed rainfall, rising food prices, and localized insecurity have severely depleted household food reserves, pushing acute malnutrition rates among children and vulnerable adults to alarming levels across the region. Humanitarian agencies and local government leaders continue to call for sustained, long-term interventions to build community resilience against recurring climate shocks.

Mention Adam Smith, and most people immediately think of capitalism, self-interest, and the pursuit of profit. He is routinely presented as the intellectual father of the modern economic system, the man who taught the world that individuals seeking their own advantage would ultimately benefit society.

Yet after watching a recent documentary on his life and work, I was struck by a different Adam Smith altogether. Before writing The Wealth of Nations in 1776, Smith wrote another book, The Theory of Moral Sentiments. In it, he argued that human beings possess a natural capacity for sympathy – the ability to imagine ourselves in the position of others and to care about their wellbeing.

Far from depicting people as isolated profit-seeking machines, Smith saw them as social beings whose actions are shaped by conscience, empathy, and moral obligation. This raises an uncomfortable question. If Adam Smith understood the importance of human relationships, how did his name become associated with a world that often appears to reward individual gain over collective wellbeing? Perhaps the modern world remembered Adam Smith’s economics but forgot his morality. As I listened to the documentary, I found myself thinking about Ubuntu, or Obuntu, as it is known in many parts of East Africa. Ubuntu is often summarised as, ‘I am because we are.’ It is the idea that our humanity is realised through our relationships with others. A person is not merely an individual but a member of a family, a community, and a wider moral universe.

The similarities are striking. Smith spoke of sympathy. Ubuntu speaks of interconnectedness. Smith argued that human beings naturally care about one another. Ubuntu goes further and suggests that we become fully human through one another. Neither philosophy celebrates selfishness as a virtue. This matters because Africa today stands at an important crossroads. Across the continent, governments are pursuing economic growth, attracting investment and encouraging entrepreneurship. These are necessary goals. Poverty is not a cultural value, and wealth creation remains essential to development. Yet many Africans increasingly sense that something is being lost.

As cities expand and economies modernise, traditional networks of support are weakening. Extended families are under strain. Community obligations are often portrayed as obstacles to success. The language of competition frequently drowns out the language of solidarity. The result is a paradox. Societies may become wealthier while individuals feel more isolated. Economic growth may increase even as social trust declines. Adam Smith himself might have recognised the danger. He understood that markets do not operate in a moral vacuum.

They depend on trust, honesty, restraint, and cooperation. Remove these foundations and markets cease to serve society; instead, society begins to serve markets. Africa’s challenge, therefore, is not to choose between Adam Smith and Ubuntu. It is to recognise that both point towards an important truth: prosperity and humanity must grow together. The future may not belong to societies that generate the greatest wealth, but to those that successfully balance wealth creation with human dignity, social responsibility, and community wellbeing. In that sense, the most important lesson from Adam Smith is not economic at all. It is that a healthy society requires more than successful markets. It requires people who still care about one another.