Category: Daily Monitor

For years, the release of national examination results has followed a familiar and troubling pattern in Budaka District. Each season brings renewed anxiety, heated public debate and, ultimately, disappointment as hundreds of candidates fail to attain the required standards.

Budaka, located in eastern Uganda, is among the districts that registered a high number of failures in the 2025 Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE), whose results were released on Friday.

According to district education records, the area presented 5,454 candidates. Of these, 245 passed in Division One, 1,705 in Division Two, 1,496 in Division Three and 1,123 in Division Four.

However, 758 candidates were graded Division U, while 46 fell in Division X. Beyond the stark figures on the score sheets lies a deeper story of systemic challenges that continue to undermine learning outcomes in the district.

Education experts and local leaders point to limited access to quality learning resources as a key driver of Budaka’s persistent poor performance.

Many schools, particularly in rural areas, grapple with overcrowded classrooms, inadequate textbooks and severe teacher shortages, conditions that make effective teaching and independent learning extremely difficult.

Without basic instructional materials, even motivated learners struggle to keep pace with the syllabus, widening learning gaps long before they sit their final examinations.

Teacher shortages remain a major concern. Several schools operate with fewer teachers than required, forcing those available to manage large classes and teach multiple subjects.

‘This limits individual attention for learners, especially those who fall behind at an early stage. Over time, these small gaps grow wider and eventually show up in poor examination results,’ said Mr James Mwigo, a parent in Budaka.

Irregular school attendance is another critical factor. Poverty continues to disrupt education in many households, with some learners missing classes to support their families through farming, casual labour or small-scale trading. Others temporarily drop out due to lack of scholastic materials or meals at school.

‘When learners are frequently absent, continuity in learning is lost, making exam preparation extremely difficult,’ Mr Mwigo added.

Infrastructure challenges further compound the problem. Dilapidated classrooms, a shortage of desks and long distances to school negatively affect learners’ concentration, motivation and overall morale.

Despite the grim picture, education stakeholders in the district say there is room for optimism if targeted interventions are prioritised. Local leaders and school administrators have called for increased teacher recruitment, establishment of school feeding programmes, improved access to learning materials and stronger community involvement in education.

Mr Michael Wairagala, a retired teacher, said early childhood education and remedial teaching for struggling learners are essential to reversing the trend.

‘Budaka’s high failure rates do not reflect a lack of ability among learners. They are a result of systemic challenges that require coordinated action,’ he said.

The head teacher of Budaka Family Helper Project Primary School, Mr Eriya Poli, added that although there was a slight improvement in the latest PLE results, failure rates remain high.

‘This is attributed to several factors, including parents failing to fulfil their responsibilities, lack of staff teachers, inadequate accommodation and the absence of school feeding,’ Mr Poli said.

His school registered only six candidates in Division One. Budaka Senior Education Officer Shania Mugala acknowledged the marginal improvement but expressed concern over the high number of ungraded candidates.

‘The Division U figures are worrying. This has been attributed to teenage pregnancies, lack of feeding, teacher shortages, accommodation challenges and inadequate classrooms,’ Ms Mugala said.

She added that while the results were fairly assessed, multiple underlying factors continue to affect performance, including negative parental attitudes and limited political support for the education sector.

‘Political leaders often discourage parents from contributing towards school needs such as feeding and assessment. Later, blame is shifted to teachers, yet without proper support, meaningful improvement is impossible,’ she said.

Ms Mugala also criticised the automatic promotion policy, adding that many learners progress without adequate assessment.

‘The Education Act clearly outlines the roles of parents, teachers and administrators. Without motivating teachers and addressing basic needs like lunch and scholastic materials, better results will remain elusive,’ she said.

Select areas: Division U figures

Palilisa: 1, 285

Tororo District: 1, 017

Butaleja: 775

Budaka: 758

Kibuku: 741

Butebo: 743

Busia District: 382

Busia Municipality: 122

Tororo Municipality: 99

As technology reshapes economies and societies, women remain largely absent from the spaces where digital systems are designed, built, and governed.

Globally, for decades, access to credit has been treated as a shorthand for economic progress.

The assumption is that when households and businesses can borrow, they can smooth consumption, invest, and grow.

Across Uganda, from small traders and salaried workers to entrepreneurs, the lived experience of borrowing tells a more complicated story.

Loans meant to unlock opportunity often become sources of stress. The challenge is not always the absence of credit, but how borrowing decisions are made once money becomes available.

As banks compete on speed, digital access, and product variety, a harder question is emerging: are borrowers equipped to make sound choices after credit is approved?

The shift underway is less about lending and more about lending and borrowing, better.

It is this gap that Absa says it is deliberately targeting. Speaking at the launch of a customer campaign, Moses Rutahigwa, the Absa director of retail and business banking, said: ‘Most times, when we borrow, we take loans without understanding what the loan is for’.

‘We borrow short-term money to finance long-term needs. We mix business money with personal expenses. Before we know it, the loan moves very fast, and the purpose it was meant for is not achieved.’

His point highlights a systemic pattern, where loans intended for growth are diverted to emergencies.

Working capital is absorbed by household pressures. Borrowers begin optimistically. They borrow well, smiling, but the recovery process becomes painful for both customers and banks.

In this framing, the problem is not credit itself, but credit without clarity.

Industry data reflects both progress and fragility. According to Bank of Uganda, non-performing loans declined to about 3.66 percent as of September last year, reflecting tighter underwriting and stronger recovery processes.

Beneath that improvement, banks still observe weak planning, blurred boundaries between personal and business finances, and loans applied to purposes they were never designed to serve.

The result is a persistent drag on productivity and household stability.

Thus, Absa seeks to reposition financial knowledge as a core growth input rather than a soft add-on.

‘Access alone is not enough,’ Rutahigwa says. ‘Credit, if not well understood and without the right purpose, is not good credit.’

In practice, this means shifting the conversation upstream, before a loan is taken, toward planning, structure, and informed decision-making.

That philosophy is shaping how products are framed. The campaign spans unsecured personal loans, home loans, digital lending, asset finance, and tailored solutions for entrepreneurs and schools.

But the emphasis is deliberately broader than price and speed. The stated objective is to ensure borrowing ‘brings more joy and progress, but not the pressure that sometimes comes with it.’

A central tension in modern banking is speed versus structure. Digital lending has trained customers to expect instant decisions, yet fast money can amplify poor choices.

Rutahigwa argues the two do not have to be mutually exclusive. Delays can carry real costs, missed business cycles, unpaid school fees, or stalled trade.

But speed without purpose only compounds risk. ‘We are not saying just come and borrow,’ Rutahigwa says. ‘Borrow with an informed point of view.’

This thinking aligns with broader regulatory efforts. Bank of Uganda and the Uganda Bankers Association have stepped up financial capability initiatives, from integrating financial education into schools to reaching underserved communities through public platforms.

The recognition is growing that sustainable credit expansion depends as much on borrower behaviour as on lender balance sheets.

For the wider economy, the implications are significant. As more capital flows into households and small businesses, the quality of borrowing decisions will increasingly determine whether credit fuels productive investment or entrenches cycles of distress.

Financial literacy, often treated as peripheral, is emerging as a central driver of resilience.

Coffee entrepreneur Robert Kabushenga pushes the debate further, arguing that responsible borrowing cannot be separated from how well banks understand the people behind loan applications.

He questions whether the industry’s approach to Know Your Customer (KYC) genuinely reflects borrowers’ economic realities.

‘Banks talk about KYC all the time,’ Kabushenga says, ‘but in practice, it is mostly paperwork. Opening an account captures identity, not context. It does not tell you how many enterprises a customer runs or the obligations shaping their financial decisions.’

He notes that weak customer understanding leads to a mismatch between credit products and real needs, particularly for entrepreneurs and farmers. Lenders, he says, often prioritise collateral over cash flows.

‘A farmer comes to borrow to sell coffee, but the bank is more interested in a house in Muyenga,’ he says.

‘That tells you the business itself has not been understood. We keep saying agriculture is not bankable, but have we invested in understanding how agricultural businesses actually operate?’

Kabushenga argues that stronger customer profiling should begin long before a loan is requested. Banks should actively collect and update customer data, track financial behaviour over time, and engage clients early about future financing needs.

‘Call me before I need money and say, if one day you wanted to borrow, this is the information we would require,’ he says. ‘So when the time comes, the bank already understands my business.’

Beyond data, he believes banks should play a clearer advisory role. Lending decisions driven primarily by loan book growth, he warns, risk undermining customer sustainability.

‘The priority should not be how much money you have lent,’ he says. ‘It should be whether you have a quality customer who understands credit and applies it well.’

Financial expert Newton Buteraba locates the borrowing problem at the intersection of risk, timing, and human behaviour.

‘A loan is built around certainty,’ Buteraba, the House of Wealth chief executive officer, says.

‘Repayments are fixed and predictable. But a young business operates on probability. You are still testing the product, the market, and the supply chain. When certainty meets uncertainty, the result is pressure.’

He argues this mismatch explains why borrowing too early can destabilise startups and small enterprises.

At the point a loan is approved, the bank has already defined the repayment path, while the entrepreneur is still figuring out whether revenue will be consistent.

Buteraba also highlights the psychological dimension of borrowing.

‘Most loans are taken under emotional pressure,’ he says. ‘School fees, rent, emergencies, and social obligations create urgency. Short-term relief often crowds out future repayment capacity.’

The imbalance is widened by unequal preparation. Banks approach lending with teams of lawyers, valuers, and risk managers.

Individuals often arrive alone and unadvised. ‘Without guidance, customers negotiate from a position of weakness,’ he says, concluding that sustainable borrowing requires planning before money changes hands.

‘Debt should follow clarity, not urgency. When borrowers understand risk, timing, and obligations upfront, credit stops being a trap and starts enabling growth,’ Buteraba says.

Police in Uganda’s southwestern district of Kisoro have registered a sudden death after a 19-year-old student was allegedly killed by a lightning strike during heavy rainfall, authorities said on Tuesday.

The deceased, identified as Perfect Namara, was struck at around 7:00 pm on February 2, 2026, while inside a house in Kirundo Village, Kasharara Parish, Kirundo Sub-county, according to police.

She was in the house with her father, George Bitwite, and her sister-in-law, Gloria Tuyisishimye, when lightning struck, rendering all three unconscious.

After regaining consciousness, the father discovered that his daughter had died at the scene.

Kigezi regional police spokesperson ASP Elly Maate confirmed the incident, saying the case was reported at Kirundo Police Station by George Irinatwe, 46.

‘It is very unfortunate to lose such a young life. Police were promptly informed, and our officers, together with medical personnel, attended the scene to verify the details,’ ASP Maate said.

‘The body of the deceased remains at the scene pending arrangements for a postmortem examination. Inquiries are ongoing, and we extend our deepest condolences to the bereaved family,’ he added.

Police said the victim was a resident of Kirundo Village in Kisoro District. No further injuries were reported following the incident.

Lightning strikes are a recurring hazard in parts of Uganda, particularly during the rainy season.

The natural phenomenon results from electrostatic discharges between charged regions within clouds or between clouds and the Earth, producing intense flashes of light and thunder.

According to government data, more than a dozen people are killed by lightning annually in Uganda, often during heavy rainfall.

Authorities have previously urged communities to observe safety precautions during storms, including avoiding open spaces and unsafe structures, as investigations into the Kisoro incident continue.

Youth leaders from districts that make up the Eastern Uganda electoral area last Wednesday elected Dr Wanyama Judas Thadeo as the 12th Youth Member of Parliament for the Eastern Region.

The process began last week on Tuesday, with delegates arriving at the Islamic University in Uganda (IUIU) in Mbale City, where candidates engaged delegates to canvass for votes.

Mr Wanyama, the ruling NRM party flag bearer, was declared the winner by Mr Deo Atukunda, the Eastern Uganda returning officer. He garnered 1,174 votes, defeating his closest rival, Mr Timothy Kivunike Kadaga, an Independent, who polled 497 votes.

Mr Omaria Emmanuel (Ind) got 438 votes, Mr Masawi Ivan (FDC) polled 19 votes, Mr Wandukwa Simon Gyabi (NUP) secured nine votes, while Ms Nambozo Josephine, another Independent and the only female candidate, received none.

Mr Wanyama, who replaces Mr Bernard Odoi, the Eastern Youth MP in the 11th Parliament, thanked party delegates for the support and urged the youth to now focus on developing the region.

‘I am grateful that we have achieved victory for the position of Youth MP for Eastern Uganda. Politicking is now done, and I pray that we work together for better service delivery,’ Mr Wanyama said shortly after his declaration.

Some delegates said the new MP should prioritise raising key issues on the floor of Parliament, including unemployment, high school dropout rates, early pregnancies and early marriages, to secure practical solutions. Mr Cypriano Gisamu, the secretary for finance of Ikumbya Sub-county in Luuka District, said young people need opportunities to improve their welfare.

‘Many youths are struggling.We need ventures that can enable us to solve the vice of unemployment. Most of our girls and boys are dropping out of school due to poverty,’ Mr Gisamu said.

Mr Masawi Ivan, who also contested on the FDC ticket, said Eastern Uganda remains one of the most marginalised regions.

‘We have seen several reports pointing out Eastern Uganda as one of the most marginalised regions, only ahead of Northern Uganda,’ Mr Masawi said.

Another delegate, Mr Martin Mutambo, said the new MP should lobby for industrialisation and advocate equal opportunities for youth from all regions.

‘As youths from the East, we want a leader who will represent us, not himself. We have papers, but no jobs,’ he said.

During polling, there were reports of electoral violence, open voter bribery and cases of ghost delegates. Police arrested two youth who were found in possession of fake delegate cards.

Mr Edim Francis, a delegate from Soroti City East Division, said the process was flawed, alleging that money was openly distributed at the polling station in the presence of electoral officials, police and Electoral Commission staff.

‘This election was not fair. Money was being distributed and ghost voters were ferried in,’ Mr Edim said. However, Mr Atukunda said the exercise was peaceful and well managed, adding that it was conducted at a single polling station.

‘There were six candidates, and the winner has been declared. This marks the end of the exercise, and the process was successful,’ Mr Atukunda said.

The elections for regional youth representatives were held on January 28 across various regional electoral centres, with the ruling NRM winning in all regions.

In Central Uganda, NRM’s Mr Begiira Samuel was declared winner after garnering 1,001 votes, defeating Mr Kulabako Edward (NUP), who polled 12 votes; Mr Bbale Andrew (DP), who got two votes; Mr Nazimuzra Isaac (Ind), who secured 46 votes; Mr Ssentamu Churchill James (Ind), who polled 34 votes; Ms Nawanyanga Gloria (Ind), who got four votes; and Mr Jjagwe Tony Raymond (Ind), who received one vote.

In Western Uganda, NRM flag bearer Mr Tumwebaze Mwine was declared the duly elected Youth Member of Parliament after defeating eight other candidates with 1,557 votes. NRM’s Elma Kapel Challa was also declared the elected Youth MP for Northern Uganda after garnering 1,245 votes, while her closest contender, Ms Wacha Elizabeth Shakira of UPC, polled 343 votes.

The Electoral Commission (EC) has set February 4 as the new polling date for the election of the Butebo District LC5 chairperson and directly elected district councillors, following the suspension of the exercise over gross irregularities. The entire country was scheduled to elect LC5 chairpersons on January 22.

However, the exercise in Butebo District descended into chaos, forcing the EC to halt all district-level elections. What was expected to be a routine local government election instead spiralled into violent scenes marked by destruction of property, massive ballot stuffing and the breakdown of the electoral process.

The unprecedented decision to suspend polling raised serious concerns about the integrity of elections and political stability at the grassroots. Butebo was among the districts slated to elect local leaders on January 22, but the process degenerated into disorder across several areas.

In a January 22 statement, the EC announced the postponement of all elections in the district, including those for district chairperson, directly elected district councillors and district women councillors, citing widespread disruptions that made credible polling impossible.

EC chairperson Justice Simon Byabakama said polling materials, including ballot papers, had been tampered with, destroyed or lost during violent confrontations, undermining the exercise.

‘The Commission informs the general public that it has received reports of serious interruptions to the electoral process in Butebo, which resulted in the damage to and loss of critical electoral materials, including ballot papers,’ the statement read.

‘These incidents significantly affected the polling process in several sub-counties across the district. In view of the above, and in order to safeguard the integrity of the electoral process, the EC has taken the decision to postpone the elections for all elective positions in Butebo,’ the EC added.

The Commission later announced that a new polling date had been confirmed.

According to the EC roadmap, which designated February 4 as the polling date for local government council elections at sub-county, town council and municipal division levels nationwide, the Commission has now appointed the same date for district-level elections in Butebo.

The EC says voting would be conducted by universal adult suffrage and would take place at all polling stations across the district from 7am to 4pm. The Commission called upon all stakeholders and voters in Butebo to participate peacefully and observe electoral laws and guidelines.

‘The Commission calls upon candidates, their agents, supporters and the people of Butebo to remain calm and maintain peace,’ the EC indicates.

The Commission noted that disruptions had compromised the integrity of the election process, leaving the Commission with no option but to suspend the entire exercise until conditions allowed for a peaceful and credible vote.

The Butebo LC5 race has attracted several candidates, including Mr James Okurut (Independent), Mr Sam Keddi (NRM), Mr Isaac Kimbugwe (Independent) and Mr Yassin Lobba (FDC).

The district has 165 polling stations and about 69,000 registered voters. Mr Bulaimu Bwaliwonaki, a resident of Kabwangasi Town Council, told Daily Monitor that violence erupted after the EC delivered electoral materials that were tampered with.

‘We were surprised when we closely scrutinised the materials only to discover that they had brought fewer ballot papers, with only one declaration form instead of the eight required,’ he said.

‘People began raising concerns across the entire district, with reports of some polling stations receiving pre-ticked ballot papers. This sparked widespread protests,’ Mr Bwaliwonaki added.

He cited areas including Kanyum, Kachulu, Kanginima, Butebo Town Council, Kashebai, Kiruluma, Obokora and Odipanya, where candidates’ agents were allegedly chased away.

Ms Beatrice Agudo, a candidate for district councillor representing Butebo Town Council and Kabilai, said her agents were severely beaten, with some admitted to health facilities.

‘We intercepted a box full of pre-ticked ballot papers, yet the materials delivered earlier already had anomalies, including fewer declaration forms and ballot papers,’ Ms Agudo said.

She added that her counterpart, Mr Edward Ojulu, who was contesting for district councillor representing Butebo Sub-county, was also beaten and was receiving treatment at Pallisa Hospital. We were unable to verify this by press time. Ms Agudo also cited an incident in Kashebai A and B, where a presiding officer allegedly issued five ballot papers to a single voter, triggering serious confrontation.

‘At Odipanya Polling Station, officials attempted to replace a box containing pre-ticked ballot papers with the one initially delivered,’ she said

‘This was broad daylight theft of the people’s decision. The EC’s decision to postpone the elections was therefore welcome.’ She criticised the slow response by security agencies despite reports being made to the EC in Butebo.

Another voter, Mr Abubakar Namunyi, also expressed disappointment, describing the exercise as marred by ballot stuffing, violence and destruction of voting materials.

‘The chaos in Butebo is being engineered by some prominent individuals in the district, but we shall not allow a few people to decide on behalf of the people of Butebo,’ Mr Namunyi said.

He alleged that some polling officials had been compromised and were found with pre-ticked ballot papers. At the EC offices in Butebo, heavy security deployment was observed as police and the army patrolled hotspots to prevent further violence. Senior police officers from the region held a nearly four-hour meeting with candidates after calls to suspend the exercise intensified.

Aspirants speak

Mr Keddi said the irregularities were unacceptable. ‘The exercise was marred by massive rigging even before polling day. A large number of ballot papers were impounded, already pre-ticked,’ Mr Keddi said.

He said the EC’s suspension decision, though drastic, was necessary to protect the credibility of the process.

‘The chaos we are witnessing is being caused by high-profile individuals pursuing personal interests. Right from the NRM primaries, I have faced such challenges,’ he said.

Mr Okurut said he was disappointed by the suspension, citing the financial burden.

‘The EC’s decision to suspend the elections completely disorganise us. Running as an Independent candidate is costly, and the resources we have committed are substantial.’

Persistent flooding in Ntoroko District has once again highlighted deep inequalities in access to quality education after several flood-affected primary schools registered poor performance in the recently released Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE) results. According to the PLE results, only five candidates from Ntoroko District attained First Division.

Since the beginning of 2025, floods have submerged classrooms, staff houses and learning materials, forcing learners to abandon permanent school structures and continue studying in makeshift tents, where many remain to date. Some of the affected schools include Masaka, Umoja and Rwangara Primary Schools, where flooding destroyed property and disrupted learning.

At Umoja and Rwangara, pupils have been studying in temporary tents after classrooms were partially submerged. Schools in Kanara and Butungama sub-counties, which were among the worst hit earlier in the year, recorded mainly Second and Third Division results.

Education leaders attribute the poor performance to prolonged displacement, poor learning environments and repeated disruptions to the school calendar. At Masaka Primary School, the head teacher, Mr Vincent Asiimwe, said the school registered 28 candidates, none of whom attained First Division.

‘Out of the 28 candidates, 17 passed in Second Division, 10 in Third Division and one candidate did not turn up for the exams,’ Mr Asiimwe said.

He compared the performance with 2024, when the school produced one First Division candidate with Aggregate 10, despite similar challenges.

‘With the persistent floods, I believe we have performed fairly well. Parents want First Division, but given our situation, this was very difficult because we did not complete the syllabus properly,’ he said.

Mr Asiimwe explained that the school closed before the end of the first term, conducted mock examinations in the second term while teaching in flooded classrooms. This culminated in low concentration levels, even in the third term. ‘For the whole of last year, all school structures, including staff quarters, were submerged. We shifted and erected tents, and that is where learners have been studying.

Even when schools reopen, that is where we expect to continue from,’ he said. He added that the learning environment continues to undermine learners’ potential.

‘If the environment were conducive, these children would perform much better. Some pupils miss classes whenever their communities flood and families relocate to safer places,’ he said.

Flooding has also caused a sharp decline in enrolment at Masaka Primary School, from 695 pupils in 2024 to 342 in the third term of 2025, as displaced families moved away with their children. At Umoja Primary School, the head teacher, Mr Benson Ajuna, said flooding has crippled learning for years, with many buildings at the school partially submerged since 2019.

‘Since schools reopened after Covid-19, our pupils have been studying under tents at Rwenyena IDP camp. This learning environment is the main reason for our poor performance,’ he said.

In 2025, the school registered 30 candidates, with 29 scoring Second Division and one scoring Third Division. In 2024, all 21 candidates attained Second Division. ‘For me, these results are good, considering what we go through. But parents want First Division, which we can achieve if learning conditions improve. We need permanent school structures,’ Mr Ajuna said. At Rwangara Primary School, five out of 43 candidates attained First Division, while 38 scored Second Division.

In 2024, four flood-affected schools, Umoja, Rwangara, Kachwakum and Kamuga, were forced to share one examination centre at Rwangara Primary School. Out of 86 candidates who sat PLE, none attained First Division; 76 scored Second Division, seven scored Third Division and three missed the examinations.

Although Ntoroko District registered 1,408 Primary Seven candidates in 2024, with 125 pupils (nine percent) attaining First Division, educationists say district-level performance masks the hardships faced by learners in flood-prone communities.

In 2023, Rwangara Primary School, which served as an examination centre for flood-affected schools, registered 56 candidates, three of whom attained First Division.

Education leaders say this shows that learners in flood-prone areas can excel if provided with stable learning environments, adequate infrastructure and timely government intervention. Head teachers, parents and community leaders have called upon government, humanitarian agencies and development partners to prioritise the construction of permanent, flood-resistant school structures and to relocate schools from high-risk flood zones.

‘These children are not failing because they are weak. They are failing because the system has failed to protect their right to learn,’ said one teacher, who asked not to be named for fear of reprimand.

There have been many lamentations about the fall of great parliamentarians, especially from the Opposition, and how it will affect the 12th Parliament and the Opposition.

Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda, Medard Lubega Ssegona, Asuman Basalirwa, Mathias Nsamba Mpuuga, and Jonathan Odur have been very vocal on the floor of the 11th Parliament. They lost their deposit in the January 15 election.

For many, the blame was on the Opposition National Unity Platform (NUP) party leader Bobi Wine whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi Sentamu. That he made efforts to see them off by placing candidates against them in order to bring in lower calibre leaders who he can tower over and control.

This is because he allegedly is insecure and detests people who are superior to him intellectually and in stature plus experience as politicians. But it also means that the great parliamentarians have not built bases of their own and are dependent or vulnerable to the influence of others. No doubt the names above have been star performers on the floor of the 9th, 10th and 11th parliaments. Social media exponentially gave them reach with the clips of their debates going far and beyond.

So is Uganda doomed that they are out of Parliament? The answer, especially for those seeking change from the four decades of Museveni rule lies in the tangible impact debates on the floor of Parliament have had.

Ever since the multiparty dispensation was reinstated in 2005, the Opposition has only played a cursory role in the most important matters on the floor. Yes, there have been many significant pronouncements and insights that awaken those who follow the debates. They have highlighted issues of social justice, corruption, and the welfare of Ugandans at home and abroad. In some instances, they have influenced government action on treatment of people.

They make for good headlines. Where they are overwhelmed, they have on a few occasions voted with fists and flying chairs. They have walked out in protest too. But in the end it is what the NRM, with its numbers wants, that carries the day.

The good thing about a politician being in Parliament is that it obviously is lucrative. A person with some money in the pocket may be facilitated to fight for social justice, as they are not seriously distracted by the hunt for money to buy bread and pay school fees. The next lot is assured of Shs315 million for a vehicle the moment they swear in. There is a hefty salary, per diem, foreign travel at the taxpayers’ expense, and other health, education, and housing allowances.

There are opportunities for corruption and self-enrichment too as we have seen in the cases where some members of oversight committees get paid to look the other way. Besides, one may influence development and infrastructural development in their areas if they play their cards well.

But in many cases, they must be ‘good’ or ‘friendly’ Opposition. They must make compromises, and this may in turn dent their credentials and limit the extent to which they may go to fight for social justice and hold the government accountable.

I suspect that is the reason why, surprisingly, many voices mourning the loss of the good Opposition parliamentarians are actually from the NRM. In any autocratic setting like Uganda’s, it is safer to have a predictable and controllable opposition.

There is an impression created that if one is not elected, they become irrelevant and cannot constitute or lead significant opposition to the government. That is why when people fail at the election they go into hibernation and wait for the next election cycle. It creates an impression that for one to fight for social justice, they must be paid. That is the certificate of authenticity. It is like taking up employment by the government. This narrows down the forces of Opposition.

Throughout history the most prominent forces of change have not been in paid positions. Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela and even Yoweri Museveni and his band of Luweero revolutionaries. They simply had an idea and went for it. They were motivated, made sacrifices and the money plus followers came in with time.

Today’s preferred genetically modified Opposition figures are those who speak out loud but will not go to extremes to challenge the status quo like taking to the streets. They create an impression that they are doing something about changing the situation, whereas not. This pacifies the people into relaxing from taking matters in their hands

If you look at the most significant challenges to the status quo in Uganda’s history, they were mostly led by the intelligentsia. But they were never from the controlled confines of Parliament.

They followed the Bismarckian tenet of negotiating with the weight of force in the picture. The Bataka Movement in Buganda in the 1920s fight for indigenous rights. The early struggles against the British rule and exclusive plus exploitative economic policies in the 1940s, plus the Augustine Kamya-led late 1950s boycotts and how they influence the independence of Uganda.

The 1971 coup had forces outside Uganda to back the guns that shot Obote out of power. It was not speeches and resolutions on the floor of the house. The concentration of the intelligentsia in the composition of the first cabinet helped steady the ship.

The 1978-9 war against Idi Amin’s dictatorship. The 1981-86 so-called revolution led by Yoweri Museveni, against Milton Obote’s second helping.

That aside, entrenched systems like the one run by the NRM for the last 40 years needed sustained opposition from all possible spheres of influence. Alas, religious organisations like the church and the mosque in Uganda are almost co-opted with clerics receiving money and vehicles from the Executive. These are no Janani Luwums. Trade unions and labour movements are another. In Uganda, they are now dead. You instead have workers MPs who are predominantly NRM, pretending to represent workers. The intelligentsia and student movements are supposed to turn universities into hotbeds of influential thought. Most scholars are now muted as opinion is weaponised if it does not tow the line.

The captains of industry form a big and influential part of keeping governments in check as they sponsor alternative ideas. They have been replaced by foreign investors, many of whom are faces for local politicians who use them to get free land and exemption.

The Opposition politician is almost the last stand in the line. Now they are controlled in the narrow confines of Parliament with money and other goodies. If they ‘escape’ and mobilise outside of this net out of genuine desire for change without expecting monetary rewards, it can be re-awakening that turns crisis into opportunity. It will create another front that will give the NRM a headache it would rather do without but can’t easily control.

Unfortunately, knowing Uganda well, most of the figures there in are going to go mute. Occasionally appearing on TV and radio talk shows as they wait to go back in the parliamentary rat race in five years’ time, to speak and earn big as their way of haplessly opposing the status quo.

As the 2026 academic year begins, various universities are unveiling new and proposed academic programmes aimed at better aligning higher education with the demands of the job market and national development needs.

This initiative is a direct response to current concerns about the mismatch between graduate skills and labour market demands. Concerns have been raised regarding the practicality of some university courses, with employers pointing out that many graduates are missing essential skills for the workplace.

Makerere University

At Makerere University, the country’s oldest public institution of higher learning, four new programmes have been introduced aimed at strengthening research and responding to national needs.

According to the academic registrar, Prof Buyinza Mukadasi, the programmes are targeting global needs, particularly in economic management, climate change adaptation and agricultural development.

‘The world now lies on research and value addition which is critical. For instance, the meteorology programme is intended to address the shortage of trained weather and climate experts, at a time when Uganda continues to experience extreme weather events that affect agriculture and disaster preparedness,” he explained.

PROGRAM DURATION

PhD in Accounting and Finance 3 years

PhD in Management 3 years

Bachelor of Science and Meteorology 3 years

Bachelor of Science in Horticulture 4 years

Kyambogo University

The Vice Chancellor of Kyambogo University, Prof Eli Katunguka, stressed that the proposed programmes to the NCHE intend to meet societal and professional needs, as institutions adjust to changes in the economy and technology. ‘The proposed programmes respond to gaps in advanced training, research and specialised skills required in the public sector, private industry and community development. These programmes reflect our commitment to skills-based training, inclusion and responsiveness to societal needs and have been developed in line with NCHE standards and are aligned to Kyambogo’s mandate as a skills-oriented institution.’

Prof Moses Muhwezi, the principal of Makerere University Business School (Mubs), said the university is actively developing and refining programmes across multiple fields, including health management, innovation, auditing, business intelligence and energy management. ‘These programmes are designed to meet current labour-market demands, public-sector reform priorities, and learner-centred education,’ Prof Muhwezi said. He added: ‘We are moving beyond traditional theory-driven models toward skills-based, learner-centred, and employment-ready education.’ Under the CBC model, 80 percent of assessment is based on practical work, including projects, assignments and real-world tasks, while exams account for only 20 percent.

MUST

The Vice Chancellor of Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Prof Pauline Byakika-Kibwika, said a proposed faculty would help address persistent challenges affecting agriculture and livelihoods in south-western Uganda, including low productivity, animal and crop diseases, climate shocks, limited extension services and weak value addition. She added that the university aims to align the new faculty with national priorities under the Fourth National Development Plan (NDP IV), particularly increasing production, productivity and value addition while promoting environmental conservation. ‘We will directly contribute to national development through training, research and innovation in agriculture, environment and veterinary sciences,’ she said.

Victoria University

Victoria University has introduced a Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence and Data Science and in Cyber Security and Digital Forensics for the 2026/2027 academic year. Mr Conan Businge, the university’s marketing and student recruitment manager, said the courses are designed to respond to a rapidly changing job market and skills gap in Uganda and globally being created by digital transformation. ‘Some of the courses we have started are those the country badly demands for at this time, with the changing job market globally. We design these with a global outlook, since we don’t only teach Ugandans but also students from more than 50 countries and need to be trained to work anywhere in the world,’ he said.

Kampala International University

KIU Vice Chancellor, Prof Muhammed Ngoma called for a broader shift away from teaching-only models towards universities that are driven by research, innovation and problem-solving. ‘Universities must move away from knowledge reproduction to knowledge creation and research should inform public policy, industry and national development. With time, we shall introduce bachelor’s degree programmes in the same areas,’ Prof Ngoma said. ‘Our goal is to produce graduates who are confident, competent, relevant to society and competitive in the job market,’ the university added.

Kampala University

Mr Julius Ssekatawa, the university’s public relations officer, said: ‘All these ones [programmes] are new and already accredited. We have been observing them and they are new on board in response to market and public demands.’ He cited developments in Uganda’s oil and gas sector as a key motivation. ‘We have seen people retire after many years of work but fail to manage retirement. We thought it is necessary that people are prepared for that stage of life,’ he said.

The indiscipline exhibited by motorists and cyclists on Ugandan roads is appalling. The epitome of this unruliness is the ubiquitous motorcycle taxis, popularly referred to as boda bodas. Many boda boda operators are a law unto themselves, behaving in a reckless manner that is not only a danger to other road users but also to themselves.

It is a common sight to see them dangerously weaving in and out of traffic. They routinely run red lights without a care in the world.

To them, traffic lights seem to be an unnecessary bother, a hindrance to be wantonly disregarded.

They ride on pedestrian walkways to escape traffic jams and in the wrong lanes. Using boda bodas, with their inherent recklessness, is like playing Russian roulette.

To make matters worse, most boda boda operators and their passengers do not wear helmets, rendering any accidents that occur potentially life-threatening.

The matter is further compounded by the fact that traffic police officers seem to have given up on reining in these hellraisers.

They routinely behave outrageously in full view of the police and get off scot-free.

Indiscipline is also exhibited by drivers of motor vehicles who do not stay in their lanes in an attempt to escape traffic jams, and in the process they exacerbate the congestion on roads.

Some even have the audacity to drive on pedestrian walkways, endangering the lives of those travelling on foot.

Overloading of vehicles and speeding are also rampant on our roads, causing needless deaths. Furthermore, many motor vehicles and motorcycles on our roads are in dangerous mechanical conditions.

Some drivers are not knowledgeable about traffic rules, while others do not have licences. Even those who are well versed with traffic rules disobey them, only following them when police officers are present and in places where CCTV cameras have been installed.

Top among the violators of traffic rules are drivers of government vehicles, who run roughshod over other road users.

They drive at breakneck speed, create illegal lanes on roads, mount pavements, and commit other illegalities with utter impunity. The police seem powerless to stop this unbecoming behaviour.

To return sanity to our roads, we call upon the government to empower the police to enforce traffic rules. There should be no untouchables. Everyone who breaks traffic laws, irrespective of their economic, political, or social standing, should face the full force of the law.

We implore the public to follow traffic rules because they are meant to safeguard lives. Put on seat belts at all times when travelling by car and wear helmets when riding motorcycles.

The authorities must ensure that all vehicles on the roads are in good mechanical condition. We also urge police officers to desist from taking bribes from errant drivers and cyclists and letting them escape justice.

As we roll into another month, many professionals still hope to get fresh opportunities, change jobs, climb the corporate ladder, or strengthen their careers.

Amid all these ambitions and resolutions, one quality stands out as a true differentiator: executive presence.

In today’s fast-paced business environment, where competition is intense and innovation drives success, executive presence is far more than a buzzword.

It is an invisible currency that shapes how professionals are perceived, how teams are inspired, and how organizations thrive.

From personal appearance and body language to confidence and decisiveness, executive presence signals leadership long before results are delivered.

It is about projecting mature self-confidence, navigating unpredictable situations, making tough decisions swiftly, and holding one’s own among strong-willed peers.

It is the ABC of leadership: appearance, behavior, and communication, woven together to create influence and impact.

Alfred Geresom Musamali, a retired public servant and seasoned communications and public relations consultant, says that executive presence is not reserved for CEOs or boardroom veterans.

‘It is about how you carry yourself, how you communicate, and how you inspire confidence in others. Whether you’re leading a team or just starting in your career, executive presence is what makes people believe in you,’ he says.

Musamali notes that presence begins with first impressions. The way you dress, your posture, and even how you enter a room send powerful signals.

‘People should feel energy and assurance the moment they walk in. That is the power of presence, it tells others where you belong,’ he says.

But appearance is only the beginning, and confidence is the anchor. Professionals who speak with clarity and authority reassure colleagues and managers alike.

‘Confidence inspires trust. It makes people believe you can handle responsibility, even in uncertain situations,’ Musamali emphasizes.

Equally important is communication. Executive presence means engaging, not just talking. Asking questions, encouraging input, and listening actively build respect and collaboration.

‘It’s about connection as much as command,’ Musamali says.

And when challenges arise, presence becomes the ultimate test. Those who remain calm, decisive, and transparent in difficult moments stand out.

‘In times of crisis, presence is the difference between panic and progress,’ he says.

For those aspiring to grow, he adds that executive presence is not just an inherent trait; it is a skill that can be cultivated.

‘Mentoring others, demonstrating commitment, and consistently delivering results embeds presence into your professional identity. It can be taught, shared, and multiplied,’ he says.

Discipline and commitment

For Paul Mwesigwa, the Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited managing director, executive presence goes beyond appearance. It is rooted in professionalism, discipline, and commitment to service.

At UEDCL, he says, these values are anchored in a strict code of conduct that guides how staff present themselves both in the field and in the office.

‘In the field, professionalism means dressing appropriately in protective gear, not suits and ties,’ Mwesigwa says.

‘It also means speaking respectfully in the community. We do not tolerate foul language. Failure to comply leads to disciplinary action, and persistent offenders are dismissed. That is the culture we instill in our employees.’

He notes that field staff are judged not by words, but by delivery, because ‘nobody is waiting to hear what you are saying; they are waiting for the service’.

In the office, executive presence takes a different form. Staff are expected to be presentable, punctual, and reliable.

‘For any assignment, you must keep time and deliver on time. That is how professionalism is measured,’ he notes.

Commitment is another pillar of UEDCL’s culture. Teams are expected to work around the clock to restore power whenever faults occur.

‘If power goes off at 10pm, our teams alert one another immediately. If it can be resolved at 1am, it is restored. That is the level of dedication we demand and the culture we are building,’ Mwesigwa says.

For UEDCL, executive presence is not merely a leadership style; it is about embedding professionalism, discipline, and commitment across the entire workforce.

Skills

For Milka Singh, the Clarke International University deputy chancellor, skills and confidence are central to executive presence.

‘Education alone is not enough,’ he says. ‘A degree may sharpen the mind, but without skills, graduates often think only in terms of employment. Skills bring more than technical ability; they bring confidence. And confidence empowers individuals to create, to lead change, and to stand on their own without waiting for someone else to lift them.’

He distinguishes a knowledge and a skills-based economy, saying: ‘When you educate a child without skills, they return home seeking support. But when you give them skills, they return with solutions and value. That is the difference today.’

Singh emphasizes the need for continuous skills development through apprenticeship in cases where someone is looking for what could be essential in building their confidence.

He also highlights the importance of early career experience, whereby the first three years are critical in building confidence, experience, and transforming into professionalism.

AI, skills, and efficiency

Michael Nyitegeka, the Refactory executive director, says the intersection of artificial intelligence, skills, and efficiency is redefining executive presence.

‘Engagement, growth, and motivation are at the heart of process efficiency,’ he says, explaining that ‘as businesses embrace automation, efficiency improves, allowing organizations to streamline operations and focus on higher-value outcomes’.

He notes that while generative AI tools can now draft CVs, generate speeches, or even build websites, this is only the beginning.

‘That is just the tip of the iceberg. The real value of AI lies in how effectively it is used, and that depends on domain knowledge,’ he says.

‘A lawyer, for example, will use generative AI far more critically and effectively than someone without legal training. Without expertise, you risk taking AI outputs as gospel truth. With expertise, you interrogate, refine, and apply them with precision.’

Nyitegeka notes that while AI may simplify tasks, true efficiency belongs to those with skills and knowledge.

‘I encourage people to acquire domain expertise. Templates can generate a website, yes, but only someone with technical competence can configure it, optimize it, and adapt it to business needs. The person who understands the engine can go in and change it. That is where real value lies,’ he says.