Category: Daily Monitor

A recent study among traffic police officers in Kampala revealed that nearly one in every five officers examined showed signs of noise-induced hearing loss due to prolonged exposure to traffic noise, vehicle horns, sirens, and the daily demands of managing traffic in a busy city. The findings remind us that every police assignment carries occupational risks.

For traffic officers, the danger may be hearing impairment. For Child and Family Protection Officers (CFPOs), however, the risks are often psychological, emotional, and relational. This raises an important question: if prolonged exposure to traffic noise can affect hearing, what are the long-term effects of daily exposure to domestic violence, child abuse, sexual offences, family conflicts, neglect, and trauma on the officers who handle such cases throughout their careers?

The Child and Family Protection Department occupies a unique position within the Uganda Police Force. Unlike many other policing functions, CFPOs work directly with victims of violence, abuse, neglect, and family breakdown. On any given day, an officer may interview a defiled child, comfort a survivor of gender-based violence, mediate a domestic dispute, investigate child neglect, or counsel a family in crisis. These responsibilities are emotionally demanding because they involve human suffering in its most personal form. Repeated exposure to traumatic stories can result in what psychologists describe as secondary traumatic stress or compassion fatigue.

There is a common assumption that officers who specialise in family protection are immune from relationship challenges because of their professional training. However, professional knowledge does not eliminate human vulnerability. Just as doctors fall sick and lawyers become involved in legal disputes, CFPOs may also experience marital stress, parenting challenges, and emotional exhaustion despite their expertise. One of the least discussed occupational hazards within policing is emotional overload. CFPOs are expected to remain calm when victims are crying, objective when listening to disturbing accounts of abuse, and professional while mediating emotionally charged disputes. Over time, the cumulative effect of such experiences can contribute to burnout, anxiety, depression, family conflict, and reduced job satisfaction if adequate support systems are lacking.

This challenge is not a sign of weakness. It is the result of prolonged exposure to trauma without sufficient opportunities for recovery and emotional renewal. The Uganda Police Force has made significant progress in strengthening victim-centred policing. The next frontier should be officer wellness. Just as traffic officers require regular health assessments, CFPOs require psychological support, peer counselling, stress management training, family enrichment programmes, and structured debriefing after traumatic cases.

These interventions are not luxuries. They are investments in organisational effectiveness. An emotionally healthy officer is more resilient, more productive, and better equipped to serve victims and maintain healthy family relationships. As we continue strengthening child protection and gender-based violence prevention efforts, we must also protect those who stand on the front-line of this work.

The well-being of the protector is an essential part of protecting society. An intentional healthy officer strengthens a non-violent healthy family, and healthy happy families build stronger communities and a stronger nation. Life begins and ends at home; let’s all go and be heroes at home first before getting society medals. Your health first, nucleus family and Uganda service follow.

The political theatre at the swearing-in ceremony of President Museveni’s new Cabinet exposed a quiet, yet significant question of faith within the governance structure. While the public anticipated a complete transition of power, a notable group of designated ministers missed taking their oaths. Officially, it is a legal technicality. Realistically, it is a poignant diagnostic test of our current socio-political environment.

At least four nominated ministers-representing roughly five percent of the entire Cabinet-could not take office due to unresolved questions surrounding their dual citizenship status. Under the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda, holding allegiance to a foreign power strictly disqualifies any citizen from occupying critical Executive offices. These include the Presidency, Vice Presidency, Cabinet, and State Minister roles, alongside strategic State security apparatuses like military and intelligence leadership.

While globalisation makes acquiring foreign citizenship normal for ordinary individuals seeking alternative livelihoods, its occurrence within the inner sanctum of State power raises a vital question: What are they seeing that we are not? Why are the people closest to State authority looking for security elsewhere? What are they seeing that ordinary citizens are not? In research, we know that you do not need to enumerate an entire population to diagnose a condition. When a doctor tests you for malaria, they do not drain all the blood from your veins. They draw a single, tiny droplet. That sample tells the definitive story of whether the body requires treatment. The five percent of the Cabinet blocked on Monday is that symbolic drop of blood. They are a diagnostic sample indicating that our political and socio-economic systems are deeply unsettled. If the very individuals trusted to help steer the nation are quietly securing alternative options on foreign shores, it signals an uncomfortable truth about public confidence.

Only recently, President Museveni publicly castigated individuals leaving the country for destinations like Dubai, asserting that Uganda is a “Paradise” and questioning why anyone would willingly leave it for a desert. Yet, the long, winding queues twisting outside foreign embassies in Kampala tell a vastly different story. Millions of ordinary Ugandans are eager to leave, spending hard-earned resources on visa applications and turning foreign diplomatic missions into highly lucrative processing hubs.

The reality is that while ordinary citizens abroad fight for legal survival, and the youth at home seek low-wage labour export jobs, members of the political elite have executed a far more sophisticated, effortless flight of allegiance. When ordinary citizens migrate or fight for foreign status, it is out of economic necessity. When leadership figures do it-quietly acquiring foreign passports while being trusted with State secrets-it points to deep institutional fragility and a lack of long-term confidence in local stability.

Dual citizenship at the highest levels of government is not merely a legal barrier; it is a profound conflict of interest. How can an official faithfully execute State policy or defend national sovereignty when their ultimate safety net is a foreign passport? If President Museveni truly saw what some of these people swear unto when acquiring the citizenships of these other countries, with the Pan-Africanism that he has been preaching for decades, he would throw up. If the country faces an existential crisis, a citizen with a single passport stays to resolve it. A minister with a foreign passport has the option to simply leave.

The swearing-in ceremony was intended to project strength, continuity, and unshakeable confidence. Instead, it gave us a peek behind the curtain. This elite flight points to a worrisome national trajectory that we can no longer ignore.

To resolve these pending questions, Uganda urgently needs to embrace a comprehensive national dialogue. A structured, inclusive national dialogue offers the ultimate leeway for all Ugandans to redefine where they want their country to go. Rather than allowing the elite to quietly exit, we must bring all stakeholders to the table to fix the underlying structural flaws driving people away. It is only through such a collective conversation that we can restore faith in our institutions, answer the questions raised by the five percent, and ensure Uganda becomes a sustainable home for everyone, rather than a ship its pilots are secretly preparing to abandon.

There was an air of inevitability at Kati Kati in Lugogo on Monday evening as some of the best performers of the 2026 Pepsi University Football League gathered to crown the season’s best.

Having been involved in eight goals in 10 matches for Muteesa 1 University Royal University on their way to claiming their first ever Pepsi University Football League title, Ali Lutwama was the outstanding player in the team.

He ended the evening as the standout player in the entire league too after winning the MVP accolade in addition to being named best midfielder and making the team of the season as Muteesa dominated the awards to cap a successful season.

‘I deserved to win the awards. The season was not difficult because as our assistant coach ssebowa often tells us if you train hard, you fight easy. So we trained hard and fought easy,’ Lutwama said after being handed the accolades by Sammy Odong, the Assistant Commissioner Physical Education and Sports at the Ministry of Education and Sports.

The attacking midfielder scored four goals and contributed four assists to complete the championship with the most assists and collect the Best Midfielder award as Muteesa dominated the awards with head coach George Williams Ssengabi also scooping the coach of the season accolade.

Lutwama believes the awards could be the launch pad for a successful career in the game.

“The awards will contribute greatly to my career and I am hoping these are not the last awards I win. I had not really set my mind on winning the awards but I usually set personal goals that I want to achieve on and off the pitch which has helped me win.God willing I will continue showcasing what I can do with the ball,” he added.

YMCA goalkeeper Ssebabulya Kevin finished second behind Lutwama with Uganda Martyrs University striker Obedgiu Ronald finishing third to complete the top three nominees for the MVP award.

Muteesa defeated YMCA Comprehensive Institute 1-0 in the final courtesy of a Sam Mutambo header to lift their maiden league trophy.

Other outstanding performers rewarded on the night included YMCA’s Kevin Ssenabulya who was named Best Goalkeeper, St. Lawrence University’s Vincent Agaku won Best Defender, and Uganda Martyrs University’s Ronald Obedgiu finished as the league’s top scorer with five goals.

UFL team of the season

Kevin Ssenabulya (GK)- (YMCA), Twaha Bukenya (Muteesa I Royal), Ambrose Anyaka (Ndejje University), Vincent Agaku (St. Lawrence), Jude Asiku (YMCA), David Okema (Kampala University), Gideon Nsubuga (Kampala University), Ali Lutwama (Muteesa I Royal University), Ronald Obedgiu (Uganda Martyrs University, Nkozi), David Aheebwa (MMU), Joel Olupot (Ndejje University)

The Financial Year (FY)2025/2026 has been a mixed bag of achievements and setbacks, marked by ambitious government programmes, strong performances in key sectors, growing public debt, and persistent concerns over corruption and service delivery. As the financial year draws to a close, government can point to progress in wealth creation initiatives, oil and gas development, agriculture and tourism. However, these gains have been overshadowed by rising debt obligations, revenue collection shortfalls, deteriorating infrastructure and allegations of widespread misuse of public funds.

One of the biggest stories of the year has been the struggle by the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) to meet its collection targets.

Between July and December 2025, URA collected Shs16.8 trillion in net revenue against a target of Shs17.9 trillion, leaving a shortfall of slightly more than Shs1 trillion. Although the tax body achieved a 94 percent performance rate, better than the same period in the previous year, the deficit was significant.

The revenue gap was roughly equivalent to the amount allocated to the Parish Development Model (PDM), government’s flagship poverty alleviation programme that dominated the election-year Budget.

The PDM remained one of the most visible government interventions during the year. Despite numerous reports of fraud, kickbacks and beneficiaries receiving less than the amounts approved for them, the programme succeeded in injecting substantial sums of money into rural economies. Government allocated Shs1.1 trillion to the initiative during the financial year, including Shs1.059 trillion for the Parish Revolving Fund. In November 2025, the Ministry of Finance released an initial Shs529b, with each of the country’s 10,589 verified parish Saccos receiving Shs50m directly into their accounts.

To date, government says more than Shs3.26 trillion has been transferred to PDM Saccos since the programme was launched, with every parish receiving at least Shs300m. According to the Ministry of Finance, about 3.2 million Ugandans have accessed the funds and begun transitioning from subsistence farming to participation in the money economy.

Beyond PDM, Uganda continued making progress towards commercial oil production. The 2025/2026 Budget allocated approximately Shs876b towards mineral-based industrial development and the oil and gas sector, particularly the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (Eacop) and refinery projects.

Despite continued opposition from international environmental groups, implementation of the projects has advanced steadily, keeping hopes alive that Uganda could begin earning oil revenues in the near future.

Tourism also continued to demonstrate its importance to the economy.

The sector earned approximately $1.7b in foreign exchange last year, maintaining its position among Uganda’s leading foreign exchange earners alongside coffee, gold and remittances. However, the recent Ebola outbreak has created uncertainty for the industry. Although Uganda is not the epicentre of the outbreak, fears surrounding the disease have already triggered booking cancellations worth billions of shillings, threatening the recovery momentum the sector had built.

Agriculture, another pillar of the economy, remained relatively resilient throughout the year. Government allocated Shs1.8 trillion to the Agro-industrialisation Programme and an additional Shs1.4 trillion directly to the Agriculture ministry and Fisheries and its affiliated agencies. Favourable weather conditions and strong export earnings boosted the sector, with coffee alone generating $2.4b in export revenues during 2025. Nevertheless, experts warn that Uganda’s heavy dependence on rain-fed agriculture remains a major vulnerability. Prolonged droughts or erratic weather patterns could quickly undermine production, employment and broader economic growth.

Infrastructure spending

Out of the approved National Budget of Shs72.4 trillion, the transport and infrastructure sector received Shs6.92 trillion. Of this amount, Shs4.28 trillion was earmarked specifically for road construction and maintenance. Yet many road users say the investment has not translated into noticeable improvements on the ground. Several roads across the country have deteriorated over the past year, while many rural access roads remain in poor condition and become nearly impassable during heavy rains.

But perhaps the biggest concern emerging from the FY2025/2026 is Uganda’s rapidly expanding public debt. According to projections, public debt is expected to reach approximately Shs130 trillion in FY2026/2027. Debt servicing obligations are projected at more than Shs33.6 trillion, including Shs14.1 trillion in interest payments and Shs4.18 trillion in principal repayments.

This means nearly 40 percent of domestic revenue collections will be spent servicing debt, leaving less money available for healthcare, education, agriculture, infrastructure and job creation. While Uganda is not currently classified as being in debt distress, analysts are increasingly concerned about the pace at which public debt is growing. The Civil Society Budget Advocacy Group (CSBAG), working alongside AHF Uganda Cares, notes that public debt has risen from about Shs86.8 trillion in FY2022/2023 to Shs94.9 trillion in FY2023/2024 and is projected to climb further to around Shs130 trillion in the coming financial year.

Uganda’s debt-to-GDP ratio has also risen above 50 percent, a level that requires careful fiscal management. Experts warn that growing debt increases exposure to exchange rate fluctuations, interest rate shocks, refinancing risks and revenue uncertainties, while reducing government’s ability to respond to future economic challenges.

The effects are already being felt across public services. CSBAG notes that government is projected to spend Shs33.6 trillion on debt servicing in FY2026/2027 compared to Shs13.5 trillion for Human Capital Development, Shs2.26 trillion for agro-industrialisation and about Shs2.5 trillion for wealth creation programmes. This growing debt burden raises concerns that repayments are increasingly crowding out investments needed to improve service delivery and stimulate economic transformation. Evidence from recent audit reports paints a worrying picture.

Auditor General’s report

According to the Auditor General’s report for FY2024/2025, Mulago National Referral Hospital received only Shs18.25 billion against a requirement of Shs72.4 billion for specialised medicines and medical supplies, leaving a funding gap of approximately 75 percent. The same report found that 136 secondary schools lacked science laboratories, 182 schools had no libraries and 380 schools faced classroom shortages. The Universal Secondary Education and Universal Post O-Level Education and Training programmes also registered a capitation funding gap of about Shs26.65 billion.

These findings suggest that the consequences of rising debt are increasingly being felt by ordinary citizens through weakened public services and missed development opportunities. Alongside debt, corruption continues to pose a major threat to public finances. Billions of shillings intended for essential public services continue to be lost through inflated budgets, procurement irregularities, domestic arrears and abuse of public funds.

The Inspectorate of Government has repeatedly warned that political protection of high-profile individuals in Parliament and government programmes has fuelled large-scale corruption. Some estimates place the annual cost of corruption at as much as Shs10 trillion. As the country prepares for another financial year, the story of the FY2025/2026 Budget is one of both progress and warning. While government has made gains in wealth creation, agriculture, oil development and economic expansion, rising debt, persistent corruption and service delivery gaps continue to threaten the sustainability of those achievements.

The challenge going forward will not simply be spending more money, but ensuring public resources deliver meaningful results for citizens while keeping the country’s debt burden within manageable limits.

Leaders in Kyotera District have tasked government officials implementing the Parish Development Model (PDM) to abandon English and use local languages, particularly Luganda, during community sensitisation meetings. They argue that the continued use of English is severely limiting public understanding and stalling the progress of the flagship poverty alleviation initiative.

The concerns were raised during a heated district stakeholders’ meeting on June 8, 2026. Local leaders accused some technical officers of failing to effectively communicate crucial operational guidelines to the intended beneficiaries.

Mr Moses Kyewalyanga, the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) chairperson for Nabigasa Sub-county, noted that many residents are unable to fully comprehend the procedures and requirements of the programme due to language barriers.

“Most of the people we serve are ordinary villagers whose level of formal education is limited. When officers stand before them and explain government programmes in English, many leave the meetings without understanding anything,” Mr Kyewalyanga said.

He warned that communication gaps could derail the initiative. “PDM was designed to uplift households from subsistence to commercial production. If beneficiaries cannot understand how the programme operates, we risk excluding the very people it was intended to help. Officers should use Luganda or other local languages to make the information accessible.”

Launched by President Yoweri Museveni in February 2022, the PDM is the government’s premier strategy aimed at moving the 39 percent of Uganda’s population living from hand-to-mouth into the money economy. Under the initiative, each of the 10,694 parishes across Uganda receives Shs100 million annually, which is lent to selected beneficiaries to invest in lucrative agricultural value chains and income-generating enterprises.

Despite the nationwide rollout, local leaders argued that many Kyotera residents still lack basic knowledge about its implementation.

However, the Kyotera District Commercial Officer, Mr Mathias Kisekulo, dismissed allegations that technical staff were failing to communicate effectively with communities.

“Our officers understand the communities they serve and are trained to engage beneficiaries appropriately. We continuously assess the situation on the ground and ensure that information reaches the intended people,” Mr Kisekulo countered.

Mr Kisekulo revealed that Kyotera District has so far received Shs23.57 billion under the PDM programme since 2022, with the funds distributed across all the district’s 66 parishes.

The language debate drew mixed reactions, prompting a wider discussion on political accountability. The district NRM vice chairperson, Mr Enos Mugisha, challenged the local politicians to stop shifting blame and take greater responsibility for monitoring activities within their jurisdictions.

“It is surprising that some leaders claim they do not know what is happening in their own areas,” Mr Mugisha said. “You are elected to represent these communities. Demand accountability reports from your sub-county chiefs and parish officials. You should be the first source of information for your people, not the last.”

Mr Mugisha also urged leaders to actively utilise Parish Development Committees to gather information on wider service delivery issues, including education, healthcare, and access to clean water.

On his part, the acting Kyotera Chief Administrative Officer, Mr Mohammad Nfitumukiza, warned civil servants against negligence, promising disciplinary action against those who fail to perform their duties.

“We shall not tolerate complacency among public servants. Any officer who neglects their responsibilities will face disciplinary measures, including dismissal where necessary,” Mr Nfitumukiza warned.

The Kyotera Resident District Commissioner, Mr Apollo Mugume, urged all implementers to uphold transparency and strict accountability to ensure the project yields visible results.

“This is a presidential initiative and the government expects results. Every officer handling PDM funds must remain vigilant and ensure the programme achieves its intended purpose of transforming livelihoods,” Mr Mugume said, adding that rigorous monitoring would continue to prevent irregularities.

Right from its inception in 2022, a section of Ugandans, especially Opposition politicians, have expressed skepticism about whether PDM will succeed where previous wealth-creation programmes faltered. In Kyotera, leaders maintain that bridging the communication gap is the first step toward proving the skeptics wrong.

Lira University has been plunged into a leadership crisis that has split senior management and drawn battle lines in WhatsApp groups and other informal fora.

The standoff at the 11-year-old institution stems from Vice Chancellor Prof Jasper Ogwal Okeng’s decision to handpick Senior University Librarian Dr Andrew Ojulong as acting vice chancellor, bypassing the Deputy Vice Chancellor in-charge of Academic Affairs, Associate Prof Okaka Opio Dokotum. Documents and investigations seen by this newspaper reveal that whenever the vice chancellor previously went on leave, he delegated authority to the deputy vice chancellor (Academic Affairs). This time, however, he appointed Dr Ojulong to act on his behalf ‘until further notice’, a decision the University Council revoked on May 29.

That same evening, Prof Ogwal Okeng fired back via WhatsApp, issuing an ‘important notice to Lira University staff’ in which he openly challenged the council.

‘It has come to my notice that the council has held a meeting where they have backed the illegality of removing Dr Andrew Ojulong from carrying out the assignment in the office of the vice chancellor,’ he wrote. He added: ‘As far as I am concerned, l am urging all staff to disregard the illegal action of the council chair, and we should support Dr Andrew Ojulong in the assignment given by the vice chancellors.’

Dr Ojulong quickly replied: ‘Dear vice chancellor, thank you very much for your wise guidance, confidence and steadfast leadership. I sincerely appreciate the trust you have placed in me and the management oversight even while you are attending to your health. ‘Your encouragement strengthens my resolve to continue executing the responsibilities you have entrusted to me with utmost dedication, profound appreciation and respect. May the Almighty God restore your health and bless you.’ To which the vice chancellor responded: ‘Thank you Andrew for your resolve. Those fellows have no authority to cause any changes in the university. Good night.’

A senior source at the institution wondered what this portends for the university. According to Section 40.1 of the Universities and Other Tertiary Institutions Act, the council is the supreme organ of the university. The Act states that, ‘. . . in the absence of the vice chancellor, the deputy in-charge of Academic Affairs shall act.’ ‘In the absence of the vice chancellor, the deputy vice chancellor (Academic Affairs) shall perform the functions of the vice chancellor. It is the law, and the council is supreme; we have a real crisis of leadership,’ the source said.

He added: ‘The main argument is whether a deputy vice chancellor’s reappointment should involve a senate search committee and fresh competition with others for the position. To me, that is the process of recruiting a deputy vice chancellor, not the process of reappointment.’ The council’s decision to revoke Dr Ojulong’s appointment has left Assoc Prof Dokotum battling those who oppose his bid for another five-year term, with his current tenure set to expire on June 30. When contacted for a comment on Sunday, June 7, 2026, Assoc Prof Dokotum acknowledged authoring letters challenging the developments, although he appeared reluctant to divulge details.

‘These are all facts in the public domain. That’s why you were also aware of the Dr Ojulong acting vice chancellorship. The council revocation has already been discussed on radio Voice of Lango. I don’t want to be seen as venting in the media. Frankly, I’d rather you cite what I wrote,’ he said. In a letter to the university secretary, Assoc Prof Dokotum asserted that he is the substantially appointed and serving deputy vice chancellor (Academic Affairs), having been appointed in 2021.

‘I am now seeking for a statutory reappointment under Section 32 of the Universities and Other Institutions Act, Cap 26, through a service evaluation process without recourse to competition from new applicants. The law ring-fences and protects my position subject to performance appraisal,’ his five-page May 4, 2026 letter reads in part.

Assoc Prof Dokotum was responding to an opinion by the university’s legal department, which had sought an interpretation of Section 32 of the Act following an April 10, 2026 letter from the chairperson of the Lira University Academic Staff Association to the chancellor. The legal department challenged Assoc Prof Dokotum’s direct reappointment for a second term, advising instead that the position be opened to competition through a formal senate search process.

Assoc Prof Dokotum countered that such guidance ‘had no basis, considering that there is a sitting deputy vice chancellor eligible for reappointment.’

‘I received a formal notification from the vice chancellor dated February 2, 2026, that my current contract as deputy vice chancellor (Academic Affairs), which commenced on July 1, 2021, will expire on June 30, 2026, in accordance with the terms and conditions of my contract,’ Assoc Prof Dokotum’s letter reads in part.

It adds: ‘In that letter, he (the VC) also quoted Sections 3.5 of Lira University Human Resource Management Manual, 2017, which states that I am eligible for reappointment pending successful performance appraisal by my supervisor. He then stated that I should express interest in the job accompanied by my performance appraisal.’ For context, Assoc Prof Dokotum cites Articles 31 and 32 of the Universities and Other Tertiary Institutions Act, which stipulate that a vice chancellor and deputy vice chancellor are appointed by the chancellor.

‘Any previous appointments not done by the chancellor are in caretaker capacity,’ he adds. The University Council has since granted Assoc Prof Dokotum an additional three-month contract effective July 1, 2026, to allow the vice chancellor to complete his appraisal. Assoc Prof Dr Judith Abal, the dean of the Faculty of Management Sciences, was reportedly introduced at the 104th top management meeting as Assoc Prof Dokotum’s successor during the planned transition, with the intention of advertising the deputy vice chancellor (Academic Affairs) position. He was instructed to ‘work with her’ to prepare for the transition.

Dr Abal told this publication that the only person who could respond to the allegations was the university’s senior communications officer, Mr Patrick Opio.

Mr Opio, however, declined to comment, saying he was ‘somewhere in the village.’ Dr Ojulong did not respond to repeated calls, texts, or WhatsApp messages. Instead, he sent the university’s senior security officer, Mr Emmanuel Peace Opolo, to confirm that he owned the correspondence posted in the WhatsApp group. According to Mr Opolo, the University Council recently convened at Gracious Palace Hotel in Lira City. During the meeting, some staff, including the Secretary, Mr Augustine Oyang Atubo, were reportedly forced out.

‘They deliberated and came up with a position as council to extend these people’s contract for three months, awaiting the recovery of Prof Ogwal Okeng and the transition. But three people declined the offer for three months. They said their term is over,’ Mr Opolo said. ‘So, the council did not have a meeting at the time the university secretary was pushed out. It was adjourned for storytelling and peddling lies,’ he added. Mr Opolo downplayed the crisis, saying: ‘First of all I assure the country that there is no chaos at the university. The university is operating normally. Our roles of conducting research, teaching and scientific innovations are going on normally. Staff are working very well.’

He added: ‘I confirm that there is peace at the university. What we want is that if Assoc Prof Dokotum has issues, the university has structures and systems that he should submit to.’ According to Mr Opolo, nobody hates Assoc Prof Dokotum. ‘We still recognise him as our deputy vice chancellor in charge of Academic Affairs until the expiry of his contract this month. And we shall continue to accord him assistance, honour him and continue to work with him even after the expiry of his contract.’

‘We shall give him a salute if he comes. The media is not a solution to the problem. He is a man in the boardroom. Let him come to the boardroom. Let him also come along with people to support his proposals or advise on his proposals. For us as management, we have people who are competent enough to be part of the mediation team,’ he added. Mr Opolo also emphasised the need for reconciliation, saying: ‘We are a Christian-based institution. Let him not fear anybody. So, he should feel safe and comfortable with the team.’

Lira University, based in Lira City, was first established in 2009 as a constituent college of Gulu University. It officially opened its doors to pioneer students in August 2012 and later attained full autonomous status as a public university through an Act of Parliament in 2015.

When Charles Kwoyelo smiles, the gap left by two missing teeth tells part of a story he would rather forget. Leaning on a walking stick, the resident of Panykel Village in Pajimo Parish, Labongoakwang Sub-county, recalls the violent nightclub brawl six years ago that left him injured and symbolised a life that was spiralling out of control. For years, Mr Kwoyelo lived a troubled life marked by alcoholism, violence, hooliganism and crime. ‘I was a gang leader and we used to waylay young girls and women at night. My parents and the community had given up on me,’ he says.

‘I convinced myself that because I was a person with a disability, I had no value,’ he adds. Today, however, Mr Kwoyelo is now a respected community leader, councillor representing persons with disabilities in Labongoakwang Sub-county, and chairperson of a male action group (MAG) championing the fight against sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV). His journey began in 2024 when the sub-county community development officer (CDO) encouraged him to join one of the newly established male action groups.

‘When the groups were being formed, the CDO ensured I attended every training and outreach programme. Many people in the community knew me because of my past, so they used me as an example that people can change,’ he says. To encourage his participation, group members elected him chairperson. ‘They made me the head of the group and that changed everything. I developed a love for the trainings and lessons on good conduct, leadership and life skills. It made me appreciate the value of working with others.’

The group members underwent regular training in conflict resolution, mediation, leadership and community mobilisation. They also used drama performances in churches, markets and public gatherings to raise awareness about peaceful coexistence and the dangers of gender-based violence.

The experience transformed Mr Kwoyelo’s outlook and unlocked leadership abilities he never knew he possessed. ‘Leading the group gave me confidence. I later contested for a position representing persons with disabilities in my parish and won. Earlier this year, I was elected councillor for persons with disabilities at the sub-county,’ he says.

He adds that the leadership role has enabled him to mentor idle youth, encourage school attendance and promote positive behaviour among young people.

‘Whenever we find young boys loitering in video halls and trading centres, we talk to them about hard work and avoiding bad practices,’ he says.

His story mirrors a broader social transformation taking place in parts of northern Uganda, where communities are increasingly challenging cultural practices and social norms that perpetuate gender inequality and violence against women and girls.

In Labongoakwang Sub-county, men and women are working together to promote gender equality and address practices that have historically disadvantaged women. Ms Rose Odano, the head of the Women’s League under Pajimo Chiefdom, says the changes have become increasingly visible over the last two and a half years. ‘Today, women participate in land mediation and conflict resolution alongside men. We even have female elders who help resolve land boundary disputes,’ she says

Ms Odano adds that many traditional practices that humiliated women are gradually being abandoned. She cites cultural ceremonies performed after the birth of twins, where women were traditionally subjected to degrading treatment, including being stripped naked and publicly ridiculed through offensive songs and rituals. ‘Today, many of these practices are disappearing because women have become more aware of their rights and are willing to challenge harmful traditions,’ she says. Mr Charles Oyoo Adot, the representative of persons with disabilities in Pajimo Chiefdom Council, says the intervention has strengthened community efforts to protect girls from child marriage and other forms of abuse.

‘Our capacities as a cultural institution have improved, and we work closely with male action groups to encourage men to reject harmful practices that disadvantage women and girls,’ he says. According to Mr Oyoo, community-based initiatives such as youth farming groups are helping reshape attitudes among young men. ‘The groups teach responsibility through hard work. The proceeds help young people support themselves and their families, but they also create opportunities to discuss equality and respectful relationships,’ he says.

The male action groups are part of the Spotlight Initiative-2 programme implemented by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the European Union, ACORD Uganda and Marie Stopes Uganda. Ms Dinah Teddy Atek, the community development officer for Labongoakwang Sub-county, says the groups have become an important tool in the fight against gender-based violence. ‘They have received training on gender-based violence and sexual and reproductive health rights. Today, they conduct community dialogues and awareness campaigns, including in schools,’ she says.

Musician Ykee Benda reflects on his first car, a Toyota Harrier bought from music savings, describing it as both a breakthrough and a costly early decision that taught him hard lessons about money, timing and success in Uganda’s entertainment industry.

For many Ugandan artistes, the first real sign that the hustle is finally paying off is not a mansion or a sold-out concert. It is the first car. The first time you stop jumping on boda bodas. The first-time friends begin taking your calls more seriously. The first time the industry starts treating you differently.

But while many celebrities romanticise that milestone, Ykee Benda, real name Wycliffe Tugume, looks at his first car with a mix of pride and laughter, pressure and pain, and a few lessons he says only money can teach you properly. His first car was a Toyota Harrier, bought from savings made through music. It changed how he moved around Kampala, boosted his confidence, and upgraded his public image overnight.

But even as he now drives a fleet that includes a Mercedes-Benz 4MATIC, a Camaro and a Noah for business trips, he says that Harrier arrived a bit too early in his financial story.

What was your very first car, and how did you get it?

My first car was a Toyota Harrier. I bought it from music savings. I really worked for that money; it was not a gift or anything like that.

Was it your dream car at the time?

Dream car? No. At that time my dream was simpler, just to stop using boda bodas and feel like I had achieved something in life.

Where did you buy it from?

From the bond. And honestly, everything felt like a ceremony back then. I even remember fuelling with Shs100,000 and feeling like a big boss. Today you laugh, but at that time it was serious business.

What was the biggest sacrifice you made for it?

That one is easy, I chose a car over land. Looking back, land is quietly minding its business appreciating… while a car is just there depreciating and asking for fuel. But when you are young and finally get money, you do not think like an accountant; you think like someone who has finally escaped hardship.

Did people believe you when you said you were buying it?

Oh yes. Some people even started respecting me faster. In fact, in music, some people only believe your hustle when they see it parked outside.

Did anything embarrassing or unexpected happen with it?

Yes, unfortunately. I knocked a boda boda man in Muyenga, Kampala. I do not even like revisiting that memory. Whether it was my fault or not, the trauma is shared. And then the car also decided to embarrass me on its own; it broke down at a very critical time during my early concert days. Imagine trying to look like you have arrived… and the car itself has not arrived anywhere.

How did owning it change your image?

It changed everything. In this industry, image is not optional, it is part of the job description. The car gave me confidence, but it also changed how people spoke to me, negotiated with me, even how seriously they took appointments.

Was it more of a status symbol or a work tool?

Both. It was my office, my taxi, and my billboard at the same time. In entertainment, even transport has branding value.

Would you buy that same car again today?

No chance.

Why not?

Because now I know better. That car was expensive for my level at the time. I should have started smaller, built the base, then upgraded later. But when you are young, you do not buy what you can afford, you buy what your dreams are wearing.

What does it represent to you now?

It represents growth. And proof that money from music is real, because some people only believe after seeing four wheels. But more importantly, it reminds me that consistency works.

What did it teach you about success?

To slow down. Honestly, that is it. Sometimes we are so excited to ‘arrive’ that we spend the arrival money before we actually arrive.

Favourite memory in one sentence?

Ah, taking my then-girlfriend on nice dates without boda bodas stress. That feeling was sweet. Very sweet.

Worst moment in it?

The accident. No debate.

How does it compare to what you drive now?

Now I choose cars depending on the mission. I have a Mercedes-Benz 4MATIC, a Camaro, and a Noah for business trips. Back then, it was just one car doing everything, hustle, image, survival, everything. In hindsight, that first Toyota Harrier was not just transport. It was his first taste of arrival and a very expensive lesson that sometimes success needs patience more than parking space.

Who is ykee benda?

Ykee Benda, born Wycliff Tugume, is a Ugandan singer, songwriter and music executive known for blending Afrobeat, RandB and pop influences into mainstream Ugandan music.

He rose to prominence with early hits such as Farmer, Malaika, and Banange, which helped establish him as one of the country’s most consistent contemporary artists. Over the years, he has built a reputation not only as a performer but also as a businessman in the entertainment industry.

Beyond music, Ykee Benda is the founder of Mpaka Records, a label aimed at nurturing new talent and creating structure in Uganda’s evolving music scene.

There is a question that appears simple, yet has the power to save a life:

“How are you really doing?”

As Uganda joins the rest of the world in observing Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month this June, the theme for 2026; “Breaking the Silence, Building Resilience” calls upon us to confront a reality that has remained hidden for far too long. It challenges societies, families, workplaces, and communities to acknowledge that mental wellbeing is not a luxury, nor is it a sign of weakness; it is a fundamental human necessity.

For generations, men have been taught to be strong, resilient, and dependable. These qualities are admirable. However, somewhere along the way, strength became confused with silence. Many men learned that vulnerability was weakness, that emotional pain should be endured privately, and that asking for help was somehow a failure of character.

Across the world, millions of men struggle with depression, anxiety, stress, burnout, substance abuse, loneliness, and emotional trauma. Yet many suffer quietly, often reaching a breaking point before seeking support. Mental health challenges frequently manifest not through words, but through anger, withdrawal, addiction, relationship difficulties, declining physical health, and, tragically, suicide.

The modern Ugandan man carries immense expectations. He is expected to provide for his family, lead his household, support relatives, navigate economic uncertainty, and remain emotionally composed regardless of the circumstances he faces. Whether he is a young graduate searching for employment, a father struggling with financial responsibilities, an entrepreneur battling business uncertainty, or a professional navigating workplace pressures, the burden can be overwhelming.

Phrases such as “be strong,” “man up,” and “men do not cry” may be culturally familiar, but they often discourage honest conversations about emotional wellbeing. While intended to build resilience, they can unintentionally create isolation. True resilience is built through connection, support, self-awareness, and the courage to seek help when needed. The strongest men are not those who carry every burden alone; they are those who recognise when they need support and have the courage to ask for it.

This year’s observance invites us to rethink what strength truly means. It means creating homes where fathers, husbands, brothers, and sons can speak openly without fear of judgment. It means building workplaces that recognise mental wellbeing as an essential component of productivity and performance. It means encouraging friendships where conversations go beyond work, finances, and daily routines to include genuine emotional check-ins.

Most importantly, it means listening.

Sometimes the most powerful act of support is not offering solutions but offering presence. A phone call, a conversation, a moment of sincere concern, or simply asking, “How are you really doing?” can make a profound difference. Mental health is not merely a personal issue. It is a family issue, a workplace issue, a public health issue, and a national development issue. When men thrive mentally and emotionally, families become stronger, workplaces become healthier, communities become safer, and nations become more resilient. As we commemorate Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month 2026, let us challenge the culture of silence.

Let us normalise conversations about mental wellbeing. Let us encourage help-seeking without stigma. And let us remind every man that strength is not measured by how much pain he can hide, but by the courage he demonstrates in confronting it. This June, call a man in your life.

Ask him a simple question:

“How are you really doing?”

Then listen.

The conversation may be more important than you realise.

The government has allocated Shs5.23 trillion towards health services in the country in the 2026/2027 financial year, an amount lower than the Shs5.87 trillion in the 2025/2026 financial year.

Finance Minister Henry Musasizi, while delivering the budget speech in Kampala on Thursday, highlighted the achievements in the 2025/2026 financial year and revealed priorities for the next financial year.

‘The government has allocated Shs5.23 trillion to the health sector in the 2026/2027 financial year. The funding will focus on: maternal and child health, nutrition improvement, expanded immunisation, and prevention and treatment of non-communicable diseases,’ he said.

The Minister also said their priority is on the provision of essential medicines, strengthening specialised healthcare services, improving emergency response systems and exploring feasible pathways towards Universal Health Coverage.

Among the key achievements in this financial year, Mr Musasizi said was an increase in domestic allocation towards drugs and health supplies in the 2025/2026 financial year to shield the country from shocks caused by the declining donor funding.

‘Government sustained its policy of progressively increasing investment in essential medicines and health supplies. Accordingly, funding through the National Medical Stores was increased by Shs145.33 billion to Shs862.93 billion in the 2025/2026 financial year,’ he said.

According to a 2025 report by Uganda National NGO Forum and the Center for Health, Human Rights and Development (CEHURD), the country’s health sector is buckling under a catastrophic drop in donor support. Donor support contributed up to 49 percent of the funding for the sector in 2022, according to the report authors.

The report shows that in 2022, the external (donor) funding towards the sector stood at Shs2.3 trillion. But in 2025, external funding had declined to Shs1.3 trillion.

The report further indicates that this sharp decline, by more than half within four years, amid insufficient increases in domestic resource allocation to plug the gaps and increasing health needs, has exposed deep structural vulnerabilities and left many vulnerable Ugandans struggling to access essential care.

But Mr Musasizi said the government will continue to increase domestic financing for essential health commodities to substantially reduce reliance on donor support.

‘This will guarantee uninterrupted access to essential medicines like antiretroviral medicines, antimalarial drugs, vaccines and immunisation supplies, laboratory commodities, and anti-tuberculosis medicines,’ he said.

The Minister also said the government continued to modernise healthcare infrastructure and equipment, where 17 Regional Referral Hospitals and 25 General Hospitals were equipped with Neonatal Intensive Care Units. He said, in addition, 14 Regional Referral Hospitals received CT scan machines.

‘Construction and upgrading of 31 health facilities across Karamoja is ongoing. The government also completed high-capacity medical waste incinerators in Fort Portal, Gulu, Mbarara, KCCA and Lira. Busolwe, Gombe and Kawolo Hospitals were also rehabilitated,’ he said.

Mr Musasizi said the government also continued to promote preventive healthcare through immunisation, disease prevention and nutrition programmes.

He also highlighted expansion of specialised healthcare services in oncology, cardiology and other fields, reducing the need for treatment abroad.

‘The Uganda Heart Institute conducted 634 cardiac interventions, including open-heart, closed-heart, vascular and catheterisation procedures. In April 2026, the Uganda Cancer Institute successfully performed the country’s first bone marrow transplant,’ he said.

Water and sanitation

Mr Musasizi said they have continued to invest heavily in water and sanitation, which largely falls under the Ministry of Water and Environment.

‘Government has allocated Shs1.013 trillion in the 2026/2027 financial year to further expand access to safe water and sanitation services across the country,’ he said. ‘The objective is to ensure universal access to safe water and sanitation services.’

The Minister also highlighted past achievements in the sector. ‘Access to clean and safe water remains fundamental to public health, human dignity and economic productivity. Government has, therefore, continued investing heavily in water supply and sanitation infrastructure across the country,’ he said.

‘Access to improved water sources continues to expand, with 71 percent of households now having access. Coverage stands at 68 percent in rural areas and 74.5 percent in urban areas,’ he said.

He also said in the 2025/2026 financial year, safe water access was extended to 553 villages. ‘Over 200 large solar-powered water and sanitation systems, several public sanitation facilities and faecal sludge treatment plants were completed in several districts,’ he added.