Category: Daily Monitor

Detectives at Kira Road Division Police Station in Kampala are investigating the circumstances under which a 64-year-old university lecturer died after his decomposing body was found in his house.

Dr Tom Patrick Mugizi, a resident of Kisota Zone, Kikaaya Parish, Nakawa Division in Kampala District, was found dead on January 3, 2026.

He has been a lecturer at Victoria University and Makerere University Business School (MUBS) in Kampala.

Kampala Metropolitan Police deputy public relations officer, ASP Luke Owoyesigyire, said the lecturer’s death was reported on January 3, 2026, by his sister, Ms Annet Runtemu Nsasiirwe.

She raised concern after repeated attempts to reach her brother on phone from December 31, 2025 proved futile.

‘A neighbour was requested to check on him and found the deceased lying dead in his bed in a decomposing state. The house was found open and there was no indication that any property had been stolen,” ASP Owoyesigyire said.

Police officers later visited and documented the scene, recorded statements from relevant witnesses, and conveyed the body to Mulago City Mortuary for autopsy.

Preliminary findings indicate that Dr Mugizi had a history of chronic illness, although the exact cause of death is yet to be established.

Police said that investigations into his death are ongoing as they wait for the autopsy report to guide further action.

In a statement posted on their X handle, Victoria University described Dr Mugizi as a dedicated and esteemed lecturer.

“His wisdom, humility, and commitment to shaping minds will never be forgotten. Our heartfelt condolences go out to his family, friends, colleagues, and students during this difficult time,” the statement reads in part.

A 31-year-old truck driver and a 30-year-old casual laborer have died after sand collapsed on them at a mining site in Kanungu District.

Police identified the driver as Umar Mbonigaba and the other victim as Simon Izobaryomwe, both residents of Kanyamisinga Village, Nyakashojwa Parish, Katete Sub-county, Kanungu District.

They were pronounced dead at the scene, although only Mbonigaba’s body had been recovered by press time.

Izobaryomwe’s body and an Isuzu Tipper truck, registration number UBQ 884U, were yet to be retrieved by Monday morning following the Sunday evening incident.

According to the Officer in Charge of Kanungu Central Police Station, Ms Esther Nakato, another casual labourer, Junior Tumwebaze, 24, and resident of the same village, survived with injuries following the sudden collapse of sand at the mining site where they were working.

Tumwebaze was rescued by colleagues and rushed to the hospital for medication following the Sunday evening incident.

First responders were seen using rudimentary tools in their search and rescue operation at the site.

Kanungu Resident District Commissioner, Mr Ambrose Mwesigye Amanyire on Monday, January 5, 2026, ordered police to cordon off the mining site until the district security committee announces measures and guidelines to follow at all sand mining sites in the district.

Authorities in the district said more than 10 people have lost their lives in similar accidents in the recent past.

Strict measures had earlier been imposed, including the use of mechanised equipment such as graders to level steep slopes. However, operators and workers continue to rely on casual labour, a practice that has contributed to repeated loss of life.

Across East Africa, institutions are operating in an environment that appears familiar on the surface but has fundamentally shifted underneath. Markets are expanding, regulatory frameworks are tightening, and public visibility has increased significantly. Yet many organisations continue to manage reputation as though scrutiny is occasional, containable, and largely reactive. It is not.

As the region navigates 2026, East Africa is entering a period of heightened reputational accountability driven by forces that boards, chief executives, and political leaders can no longer afford to treat as peripheral. Legal processes are increasingly visible, civic engagement is more organised, and digital platforms have dramatically reduced the distance between institutional decision-making and public judgment. Reputation risk is no longer episodic. It has become structural.

One of the most consequential shifts is the changing relationship between institutions and the public. Historically, authority was reinforced by distance. Decisions were communicated selectively and often long after they were taken. Today, authority is tested by transparency. Decisions are interrogated in real time by employees, customers, regulators, civil society, and digitally connected audiences, who expect clarity, accountability, and responsiveness. This shift has fundamentally altered the balance of narrative power.

Court proceedings, regulatory interventions, and internal governance disputes increasingly unfold in the public domain, often before formal outcomes are reached. In recent years, institutions across the region have learned that reputational judgment now extends well beyond legal compliance. Organisations have suffered sustained credibility loss not because misconduct was proven, but because leadership appeared slow, defensive, fragmented, or disengaged during periods of scrutiny. In 2026, silence will be interpreted not as caution, but as avoidance.

At the same time, activism in East Africa has evolved. It is more decentralised, more persistent, and less dependent on traditional media or formal advocacy structures. Employees raise concerns publicly, consumers mobilise around service failures, and communities document environmental and social impacts in real time. A labour dispute, regulatory inquiry, or procurement decision that might once have remained contained can now escalate into a broader reputational challenge within days. Screenshots, partial disclosures, and secondary narratives often shape perception long before facts are fully established.

Reputation, once challenged, is rarely reset. It is redefined.

For CEOs and boards, this is no longer primarily a communications challenge. It is a governance imperative. Reputation can no longer be managed after decisions are made. It must be embedded within decision-making itself. As reputational scrutiny intensifies, 2026 will test leadership maturity across the region. CEOs, boards, and political leaders must prioritise decision transparency and integrated governance. Fragmented responses signal internal uncertainty and weaken institutional credibility.

East Africa’s reputation reckoning is not driven by scandal alone. It is driven by expectation. Citizens, consumers, employees, and investors now expect institutions to demonstrate visibility, accountability, and ethical consistency in how decisions are made and communicated. As the region deepens economic integration and digital participation, reputational scrutiny will only intensify. 2026 will be a defining year for institutions that understand this shift and act decisively.

The reckoning is not approaching. It is already here.

Some of the people who died in 2025 included the head of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis, politicians and sports personalities

Pope Francis Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, was the head of the Catholic Church from March 2013 to April 21, 2025, when he passed away. He was 88. He had battled bronchitis and pneumonia. The pontiff died a day after appearing for Easter Sunday Mass at the Vatican. While he had been weak and his health worried many, his death caught many off guard, especially after that Easter appearance. Eulogies and raw grief poured in from across the world. The Pontiff had visited Uganda in 2015 He is remembered as the embodiment of humility, kindness, empathy, and servant leadership. He was a strong advocate of climate change and the environment, promoted unity between religious denominations, and issued apologies to survivors of sexual abuse by Catholic priests.

Raila Odinga (1945-2025)Odinga was born on January 7, 1945 to Jaramogi Odinga, who was Kenya’s first vice president after independence and Mary Juma Odinga in Maseno, Kenya. He died in India where he was receiving medical treatment. Several eulogies commended Raila for his role in Kenya’s politics spanning more than three decades, with some noting that he was the president Kenya never had, having lost five presidential elections including the most recent one of 2022. President William Ruto eulogised Raila, a former prime minister, as a man who ‘dedicated his entire adult life to the service of our nation. The father of our democracy, a tireless champion for social justice, a renowned Pan-Africanist, and a statesman without equal.’ He added that Raila ‘played a defining role in shaping Kenya’s modern political history’.

George Wilson Kanyeihamba (1939 – July 14, 2025) The celebrated jurist, former Supreme Court judge, constitutional scholar, and politician, died on July 14 at the age of 85. He was one of Uganda’s most respected legal minds, famed for his strong defence of constitutionalism and the rule of law. He was a member of the Constituent Assembly that drafted the 1995 Constitution, an Attorney General, and held several ministerial positions, including minister of Justice. In 2006, he was among the justices who ruled that the re-election of President Museveni was marred by irregularities substantial enough to warrant nullification.

Rajiv Ruparelia (1990-2025) Prominent businessman, Rajiv Ruparelia, died in a motor accident in the wee hours of May 3. He was 35 years. He was driving on the Kajjansi-Munyonyo Expressway when he rammed into concrete barriers, setting his car ablaze and killing him. He died just hours before a friend’s wedding, where he was to serve as a groomsman. Following the fatal accident, social commentators and Parliament accused the Ministry of Works of gross negligence in managing road infrastructure, citing the unmarked, poorly-lit barricades that had been placed without notification. He was the son of businessman Sudhir Ruparelia and managing Director of the Ruparelia Empire, overseeing real estate, education, and hospitality businesses. Rajiv was also a renowned rally driver. He was described as a man of the people and a philanthropist. He was survived by a wife and a three-year-old daughter.

Muhammad Ssegirinya The MP for Kawempe North passed away at Rubaga Hospital on January 9 after a longed illness. He was 37. Ssegirinya was elected to Parliament in the 2021 election, where he served for about a year before he was arrested over machete attacks in the Greater Masaka Sub-region that left about 20 people dead. He was on remand for nearly two years, alongside Makindye West legislator, Allan Ssewanyana. The two were granted bail in September 2021, only to be rearrested While in prison, Ssegirinya’s health deteriorated. He spent long periods in hospitals in Uganda, Kenya, and the Netherlands Ssegirinya is remembered for his humour and vocal advocacy for his conconstituents and the underprivileged. His story, from a regular caller on radio shows to a parliamentarian, also serves as a great inspiration to many Ugandans. He delivered critical and pertinent political commentary and steadily rose to prominence. Following his death, the State dropped the murder and terrorism charges against him.

John Kazoora Maj (rtd) John Bashaija Kazoora was a veteran of the National Resistance Army who participated in the five-year guerrilla war that brought President Museveni to power in 1986. He died in his sleep, having felt unwell after having lunch with some guests on Easter Sunday, April 20. He was 69. Maj Kazora also served as MP for Kashari. The bush war veteran, who became an outspoken critic of President Museveni, was also an author and was famed for his memoir Betrayed by My Leader. He was eulogised as an honest and morally upright man who worked tirelessly for community development.

Brig Charles Oluka Brig Charles Oluka was the director general of the Internal Security Organisation. He died at Seguku Hospital, where he was rushed after falling ill. He was 57 years old. He had been promoted to the rank of brigadier general only a year earlier. He took over the reins of the spy agency in 2020 and played a key role in rebuilding the reputation of the agency after years of gross allegations. He was buried in Kalaki District on February 8

Cedric Babu Ndilima Born in 1978, the media personality and sports administrator, Cedric Babu, died aged 50 in a hospital in Nairobi, Kenya. He succumbed to heart-related complications. He was airlifted to the Nairobi hospital after he collapsed during a tennis tournament in Kigali, Rwanda. He died days after a public fundraising had been launched to collect funds for a heart transplant. The deceased was also a media personality who hosted shows like Cedric Live on the national broadcaster, UBC, and was deeply involved in tennis promotion in Uganda, including participating in the leadership of the Uganda Tennis Association. The son of a prominent politician, Capt Francis Babu, Cedric was also involved in politics. He was a close political associate of Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba and his Patriotic League of Uganda.

Mary Busingye Karooro Okurut She was an educator, author, politician, and women’s rights advocate. She died on August 10 at Aga Khan Hospital in Nairobi, aged 71. She served as a press secretary to President Museveni, minister in-charge of General Duties in the Office of the Prime Minister, minister of National Security and minister of Gender and Social Issues. She also represented Bushenyi District in Parliament and was a lecturer at Makerere University’s Literature Department. She married politics and education with advancing the rights of women and girls and is credited with starting a reusable sanitary pads factory in Bushenyi in an effort to keep girls in schools. She, however, died before the completion of the factory. Karooro is also remembered for her generosity and charitable acts, including providing free education for orphans and vulnerable.

Rhoda Nakibuuka Nsibirwa Kalema Also known as Mother of Parliament, the woman of many firsts and veteran politician died on August 3, at the age of 96. She joined politics in 1961 in the Uganda Peoples Congress party. She went on to serve in different portfolios in different governments. She served as Deputy Minister of Public Service between 1989 and 1991 and represented Kiboga District in the Constituent Assembly. Here, she contributed to the drafting of the 1995 Constitution She was a founder member of the Uganda Patriotic Movement, the party under which Mr Yoweri Museveni contested for the presidency in the 1980 disputed election. After retiring from politics, she concentrated on advancing the women’s rights movement. She was the daughter of Buganda Prime Minister, Martin Luther Nsibirwa, and Veronica Namuddu. She attended Gayaza High School, King’s College Budo, and pursued social work studies in Scotland, and obtained a diploma from the University of Edinburgh.

Henry Mulindwa The news of the passing of Henry Mulindwa hit like a lightning bolt in the Nation Media Group-Uganda (NMG-U) newsroom. The Daily Monitor journalist and supplements editor died aged 41 in July, after a long battle with kidney complications. He had worked at the publications for 13 years. He is remembered by colleagues for his dedication to his duties, warmth, and easy-going nature. He was a mentor to many. Mulindwa was described by his supervisors as a passionate and dedicated employee who gave his best towards his work. But what perhaps stood out most about Mulindwa was his jolly persona and a good sense of humour

Aloysius Atwiine The NMG-U newsroom was again plunged into mourning after the death of Aloysius Atwiine, a cameraman and business reporter. He joined NMG-U in 2017. He passed away in July after a short illness. Family revealed he had been undergoing treatment for kidney disease and diabetes, but lost the battle at Mbarara Hospital. He was laid to rest in his ancestral home in Mitooma District. Family, colleagues, and friends remember Atwiine as a supportive colleague, a hardworking journalist, and a humble soul. To his father, he was a happy and joyful son. He was dedicated, cooperative, eager to learn, and a champion of peace and collegiality in the newsroom. He was survived by a wife, two children, and six siblings.

At 75, Mr Deogratious Mukasa Tinako Ssalongo does not count his years by birthdays or retirement dates, but by former students who stop him in the street to say thank you. Long after the school bell should have gone silent for him, Tinako still walks into classrooms with purpose believing that as long as students keep succeeding, his work is not yet done. ‘I am motivated by the success of my students,’ Mr Tinako says softly, his eyes lighting up. ‘When you teach students, they pass and are successful. You get motivated and feel like continuing with the profession.’

We meet him at Nyamitanga College of Business Studies in Mbarara, where he serves as the academic registrar and also teaches economics, human resource management and customer care. Impeccably dressed in a suit, tie and his trademark cowboy hat, Mr Tinako cuts the image of a much younger man.

It is only upon closer look that you realise you are standing before a living archive of Uganda’s education history.

Passion for teaching

Born on October 22, 1950, in Kagarama village, Kabingo Sub-county in Isingiro District, Mr Tinako’s journey into teaching began long before he stepped into a classroom. His father was a teacher, and as a child, he admired the profession from a distance – an admiration that slowly grew into purpose. ‘It is not by accident that I became a teacher,’ he says. ‘Even though my father was one and I used to admire teachers,. So, teaching has remained my passion to date.’ His formal teaching career began in 1977 at Namasagali College, where he taught until 1980. Those years, he recalls, were deeply fulfilling.

‘I felt happy when I started teaching because it was what I had longed to do for a long time. I enjoyed good relationships with students and their parents,’ Mr Tinako explains. Among his former students are some of Uganda’s most recognisable public figures, including former Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga. He speaks of their achievements with quiet pride, not self-praise. ‘I think I made a big contribution in the lives of many Ugandans because most of my former students are in key positions of leadership and civil service,’ he says.

Brief detour

Mr Tinako’s path, however, was not without detours. In 1980, he ventured into politics, contesting for the Isingiro North parliamentary seat on the Uganda Patriotic Movement (UPM) ticket. He lost. The political climate that followed pushed him back to the classroom. This time at St Joseph’s Vocational School in Mbarara.

‘The atmosphere was not conducive,’ he recalls. ‘So I went back to teaching.’ When relative stability returned between 1981 and 1983, he rejoined Namasagali College, teaching until mid-1986. Later, he served on the Greater Mbarara District Service Commission, and in the same year became the founding principal of Nyamitanga Secretarial College.

His career would go on to blend education, public service and administration, including roles as a district council executive committee member and principal personnel officer for Greater Mbarara, before his official retirement in 2010. Yet retirement never truly arrived. Instead, Mr Tinako returned , again to Nyamitanga, where he continues to serve and teach. A firm believer in discipline, Mr Tinako says order and guidance were central to his approach. ‘No wonder at Namasagali and St Joseph’s I was in charge of students’ discipline,’ he says. ‘I interacted closely with students, counselled them, told them of the sacrifices their parents were making to see them attain education and become valuable citizens.’

At Namasagali, discipline took an innovative form: a student-run court system. ‘We had a court system like the normal courts today, led by a chief justice,’ he recalls. ‘It was handled by students who would discipline fellow students.’ He smiles as he adds, ‘No wonder Ms Rebecca Kadaga became Speaker of Parliament because she was once the chief justice of the school court at Namasagali.’

Asked whether he has faced challenges in his long teaching journey, Mr Tinako pauses before responding. ‘I have not had any regrets in teaching. I have enjoyed my work life and making a positive contribution to people, that is what keeps me moving.’Though he acknowledges that time will eventually force him to step away, he speaks of retirement with acceptance, not sadness. ‘One time I will retire,’ he says. ‘Time must come, especially as one grows very old.’

His two cents

His advice to younger teachers is firm and heartfelt: teaching must be more than employment. ‘Teachers should not join the profession just as a job,’ he advises. ‘They must be committed and do it as a passion.’ He also calls on government to address salary disparities between science teachers and those in the humanities.

‘All these teachers went to the same schools.

They all teach under similar situations and are all important for this country,’ he says. ‘We need lawyers and judges. The government cannot do without professionals in humanities. This issue should be addressed very first.’ To parents and the wider public, Mr Tinako makes a strong case for vocational education. ‘There is still a negative attitude towards vocational education, but we need to change with time,’ he says. ‘We need to embrace skills development subjects like building and construction, catering to earn a living because there are no jobs.’

His education journey at a glance

Mr Tinako’s own education journey mirrors his belief in discipline and excellence. He attended Kigarama Church School and Kashaye Primary Schoo. He hen joined St Paul’s Seminary Rushoroza in Kabale, before St Edward’s Bukumi, in Mubende then Ntare School in Mbarara District. Tinako later Makerere University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts with a concurrent diploma in education. He has also served on boards and management committees of several schools, including Ntare School and Immaculate Heart Girls’ School, Nyakibale in Rukungiri.

In northern Uganda, a WhatsApp group is breaking the mold. With 93 members, Dokolo North Community Initiative (DNCI) in Dokolo District is channeling energies into development, inspiring generations to come.

Unlike typical groups stuck in politics and gossip, this collective focuses on solving critical issues.

Members contribute money to address pressing needs in education, health, environment, and agriculture. Already, they have installed a 600-watt solar system at Atabu Health Centre II in Bata Sub-county and another 600-watt solar system at Abalang Health Centre II in Okwalongwen Sub-county. The installed solar systems now ensure reliable power for critical medical services.

Local leaders have acknowledged that this initiative has transformed the two government facilities, enabling healthcare workers to provide quality care.

Impactful interventions

At Atabu Health Centre II, Bata Sub-county, for instance, midwife Susan Acai has been delivering babies by torchlight for years.

The facility, established in 1990, has struggled with power outages, forcing Acai and her team to rely on unreliable solar power and torches to assist with deliveries.

This health facility, which has only three technical staff against the required nine personnel, serves a population of about 1,700 people on a monthly basis.

“We’ve been performing about 20 deliveries by torchlight every month,” Acai says. “The solar installed by the Ministry of Health in the outpatient department (OPD) was unreliable, going off at night, so we used torches to conduct deliveries.”

This dire situation had left patients concerned for their safety. But there is hope: the Dokolo North Community Initiative on January 3, 2026 commissioned a solar system installed at the facility, aiming to provide reliable power.

The impact is significant, says Acai. With solar power, healthcare facilities can ensure consistent electricity for critical medical equipment, vaccine storage, and emergency services. This upgrade will improve patient care, reduce risks, and boost staff confidence.

Acai’s story highlights the struggles faced by rural healthcare facilities in Uganda. Reliable energy access is crucial for quality healthcare, and initiatives like the Dokolo North Community Initiative are making a difference.

For one to join this particular WhatsApp group, however, you have to pay a lifetime fee of Shs100,000 in addition to Shs20,000 for annual subscription. Also, whenever there are issues to be addressed in the communities, members are asked to contribute whatever amount of money they can afford to.

All the money collected goes to support the community, according to the project manager, Prof Marus Eton of Muni University’s Faculty of Management Science.

“We discuss various issues, but our main focus is community development,” says Prof Constant Okello-Obura, the group chairman, also a staff at Makerere University’s College of Computing and Information Sciences.

Their projects have sparked hope and unity, inspiring others to join.

‘We started the group in 2017 with only 89 members but four joined on December 29, 2025,’ says Prof Okello-Obura.

Vision

The group was started with the vision to instill the culture of responsibility in the minds of the younger generation and make members understand the local situation better.

‘And the only way you can understand the local situation better is when you get involved in the lives of the people. And secondly, we also said, how can we make ourselves learn from one another? Because we have so many people doing different things,’ the group chairman explains, adding: ‘We have professionals, among others, medical doctors, engineers, businesspersons, teachers, professors, and surveyors.’

Mission

Their mission is coming together and benefiting from one another in terms of expertise.

‘Then, we also said now, within ourselves, we know the importance of networking. How do we network with a purpose to benefit our people? Because I can be in Agwata, here, when actually I don’t know somebody from Bata,’ Prof Okello-Obura explains.

‘I can be in Agwata when I don’t know somebody in Adok, but we exist. So, we said, no, let’s come together. So, the idea was to bring together the entire Dokolo but then we said, no, it will be difficult to mobilise people.’

Challenges

The group’s general secretary, Hamza Okello, says just like any group, DNCI is faced with limited resources to address community challenges identified. He says this is a call to partners and other organisations to join in and support work already being done by DNCI.

‘We also urge sons and daughters of Dokolo North to join the group and support in mobilising more resources to enable DNCI to reach out to more vulnerable people in the community,’ he says.

Okello, who doubles as the Principal Private Secretary to Lango Paramount Chief, adds: ‘We also call up the management of the health facilities given the solar system to maintain them well and use it to the benefit of the patients who come to their facilities.’

Prof Okello-Obura further says at the beginning, some people thought they were interested in politics. But eventually, they realised that that was not the purpose.

‘Then we said in order to make us work with the local leaders and also the national leaders, we need to start this thing from Dokolo North, because at least the local leaders know us. Even our MPs know us. So, it makes it easy to work with the people they know,’ Prof Okello-Obura adds.

Indeed, that is how Dokolo North Community Initiative came into existence and was very much embraced by its members.

Dokolo North County consists of Bata, Amwoma, Okwalongwen, Dokolo, Agwata, and Adok sub-counties; Bata and Agwata town councils.

‘As I said, some people were skeptical, thinking we were politically motivated, but they realised none of us was interested in the politics of the day, but we just wanted to come together and work for the benefit of a common person there in the community,’ says the group chairman.

He adds: ‘Also, we felt that as local people, if we are to lobby for support, we know the situation much better; we know what the government is doing, we know what the Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) are doing and where are the gaps, and we are the most well-placed to identify those gaps and lobby to close the gaps.’

Since its inception, Dokolo North Community initiative has implemented a number of activities. They handed over bedsheets and mattress covers, sanitizers and disinfectants to six health centres in Dokolo North County, and distributed textbooks to all the six government-aided secondary schools in the area.

Each of the beneficiary health centres also received one wheelbarrow and spades in order to assist in garbage management.

The group also supported people who were affected by floods, and sponsored the education of a vulnerable student who is currently studying at Busitema University.

‘We realised also within the health centres that there are cases where the health workers were conducting deliveries without power. Some were using small phone’s torches and when you engage them, some of these things result in the death of newborns,’ Prof Okello-Obura says.

‘So we said no, these are our mothers, these are our sisters, these are our daughters who are going to these health centres to deliver much as we also have neighbours coming. What can we do because there’s no light? At least let us try to see that we have lights in the maternity and delivery room so that we get rid of this challenge.’

People speak out

This group’s impact extends beyond immediate fixes. They are cultivating a culture of collective responsibility, empowering members to drive change, according to Alex Ojok, Bata LC3 chairman.

‘It’s very hard to find an organised group like Dokolo North Community Initiative. My daughter-in-law was delivered at Atabu Health Centre II on December 28, 2025. But without power, nurses struggled to save both the mother and her newborn using flashlights in their mobile phones,’ says Bosco Okello.

Teddy Atim of Awigwen Village, Atabu Parish in Bata Sub-county, says: ‘Our health workers are very welcoming and committed but the only challenge is that they are very thin on the ground and the drugs which are delivered to the health centres do not last long.’

Tonny Francis Obua of Okalopyen Village in Atabu Parish says: ‘Services will improve if Atabu and Alapata health centre IIs are upgraded to health centre III. This is because the upgrade will come along with adequate manpower, resources, drugs and supplies.’

In a world where social media often divides opinions, Dokolo North Community Initiative shows what is possible when people unite for a common good.

Their story is a testament to the power of community-driven development, proving that even the smallest actions can spark significant change.

Coordinators of a controversial poverty alleviation programme linked to a senior Ugandan presidential adviser have voiced concern after the government suspended its activities in southwestern Uganda, saying the move has dampened the morale of thousands of prospective beneficiaries.

The government on Saturday halted the registration of members for the ‘Boona Bagigahare Nyekundire’ programme, which had been operating across 12 districts in southwestern Uganda under the leadership of Senior Presidential Adviser on Agriculture and Local People, Peace Rugambwa.

The suspension followed formal complaints from the Catholic community in Kabale Diocese, prompting a closed-door reconciliation meeting involving Rugambwa, church leaders led by Kabale Diocese Vicar General John Vianney Sunday, security officials headed by Kabale Resident District Commissioner, retired Major Godfrey Katamba, and ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) leaders.

The decision was communicated by Deputy Speaker of Parliament Thomas Tayebwa.

On Monday, district coordinators meeting in Kabale town appealed to the government to lift the suspension after the January 15 General Election, arguing that the programme had raised expectations among rural communities struggling with poverty.

‘It’s with deep pain that the program which was intended to help the local people get out of poverty was suspended and yet it was their hope for the bright future. We had mobilized many people, and they were ready to embrace it. We appeal to the government to lift the suspension because it a good program which the whole country can take up in fighting poverty at village level,’ said Centenary Bamwiine, a coordinator from Rwampara District.

Other coordinators present included Asiimwe Mwamba from Ntungamo and Alex Matata from Kisoro.

Rugambwa dismissed what she described as false rumours that she had been removed from her advisory role and urged programme coordinators to remain loyal to President Museveni and the ruling party.

‘It’s not true that I was dropped from the position of being a senior presidential advisor on Agriculture and the local people. When President Museveni saw the letter accusing me of registering people, he called me and said that he had sent the Tayebwa that we reconcile with the accusers and that is what was done,’ she said.

She called on coordinators to continue political mobilisation despite the suspension.

‘I want to appeal to our team members in the 12 districts of South Western Uganda that although the registration exercise has been halted, they must continue with mobilization to ensure that president Museveni and all the NRM party flag bearers win the election with 100 percent in the name of Jesus Christ,’ Rugambwa added.

Uganda heads to the polls on January 15, with southwestern Uganda regarded as a key support base for the ruling party.

Mr Gawaya Tegulle’s commentary, ‘A year of darkness, 2025: Many more dams, much less electricity…’ (Daily Monitor, December 28, 2025), raises important questions about Uganda’s electricity sector. While public debate on such matters is vital, it must also reflect the technical and economic realities that shape the performance of the Electricity Supply Industry. Uganda’s current phase is not a story of failure, but of deliberate restructuring, a transition aimed at securing long-term reliability, affordability, and sustainability.

Mr Tegulle suggests a ‘paradox’ where increased generation has resulted in ‘less light.’ On the contrary, 2025 marks the most significant turning point in Uganda’s energy history. To characterise it as a ‘year of darkness’ ignores the systemic transition currently underway to ensure long-term reliability and affordability. Uganda’s installed capacity now stands at 2,052.6MW following the full commissioning of the 600MW Karuma Hydro Power Plant (HPP). Mr Tegulle’s suggestion that this is ‘theoretical power’ misunderstands how energy systems evolve.

In energy planning, generation must always lead demand. This deliberate surplus ensures the ‘spinning reserve’ needed to guarantee energy security and attract industrial investment. Indeed, this surplus has already attracted large consumers, including new data centres that require up to 500MW. Uganda’s electricity sector is no longer planning for survival; it is planning for industrialisation. The suggestion that new dams have not translated into more electricity is contradicted by the grid’s performance metrics.

Before Isimba HPP was commissioned in late 2018, Uganda’s installed capacity stood at 963MW. The addition of Isimba (183MW) and the subsequent full commissioning of Karuma HPP (600MW) in June 2024 steered the country’s capacity to 2,007MW. More importantly, the energy actually dispatched to the grid-the electricity consumers use-has risen sharply. In 2018, dispatch was 4,078GWh. By 2024, following the full integration of Karuma, this jumped to 6,623GWh. In 2025 alone, Isimba and Karuma contributed approximately 27 percent of the total power to the grid.

To date, Isimba has contributed a cumulative 6,647GWh, while the newer Karuma has already added 2,022GWh. These are not ‘idle’ assets; they are the backbone of our supply. The recent power interruptions are not evidence of failed generation, but rather of a distribution network that’s in need of modernisation and significant investment. The government’s takeover of distribution through UEDCL in April 2025 was a structural reform aimed at resolving this very issue. To support this, the government has already secured $100m for immediate grid reinforcement, focusing on replacing fragile infrastructure and expanding the ‘Path of Light’ to the West Nile and northern regions, a practical step toward long-term reliability.

The assertion that electricity is a ‘luxury’ is contradicted by the facts. The Lifeline Tariff (Shs250 for the first 15 units every month) continues to protect low-income consumers, reaching over 200,000 households. ERA has also maintained the Declining Block Tariff for manufacturers and the Cooking Tariff (Shs412 per unit) to promote the use of clean energy. With Karuma’s commissioning, the weighted average generation tariff has actually decreased. Mr Tegulle’s concerns regarding the so-called ‘paying for darkness’ refer to the historical challenge technically known as ‘deemed energy.’

This challenge has been systematically addressed. The completion of 400kV transmission lines from Karuma to Kawanda and Olwiyo, along with the construction of the Agago Sub-station, has eliminated key bottlenecks that once forced Uganda to pay for unused power. The focus is now on developing more power generation facilities as demand is rising at an unprecedented level. Building a resilient power sector is an engineering and financial marathon, not a sprint for political optics.

The year 2025 does not represent ‘darkness,’ but rather a year of rationalised efficiency and strategic realignment, where short-term inconvenience gives way to long-term stability. Uganda is not slipping into darkness; it is powering toward an inclusive, data-driven, and secure energy future, one that lights every home and fuels every industry by 2030. It is stepping into a well-planned, state-led future where electricity catalyses socio-economic transformation, lights every home, and fuels every industry by 2030.

Even though James Mugerwa, 19, lost both his parents to Aids, he still thinks HIV is a myth or just a fairytale. A resident of Tanya village in Rakai District, where the first Aids case in Uganda was recognised around 1982, Mugerwa argues that his parents could have died of any other disease and wonders why people refer to Aids an epidemic.

‘I have not seen people dying of Aids-related infections. I was told that whoever got infected experienced symptoms like fever, vomiting, diarrhoea, become sickly and slim, with multiple scars.

But none of those signs manifested in my parents before they died 20 years ago. I was 10 years at the time, old enough,’ Mugerwa reasons. I found Mugerwa’s reasoning quite narrow-minded. Yet, there is quite a number of youth who think like Mugerwa that HIV is a myth. At just 19, Mugerwa could probably be forgiven for being sceptical about the existence of HIV and Aids. A number of young people, especially those born in the 2000s after the spread of HIV had reduced think HIV is not a problem.

Terrible past

It has been 40 years since the first reported case of a ‘mysterious pneumonia-like symptoms’ transformed into a deadly epidemic that quickly became a very familiar part of our daily lives, a very scary, very fatal disease so simple to name with two words-‘HIV/Aids.’ Today, people living with HIV and Aids do not manifest the symptoms that were obvious decades ago. The time when practically in every home people used to mourn every other day in Rakai, which had the most devastating effect of HIV, is becoming history.

Many people living with HIV today are living a healthy life in spite of the fact that they have HIV

Yes, once upon a time, before the medical treatment, Aids was a diagnosis that was most feared with almost no hope of being alive after getting it. Death was automatic. But today, with all of the medications and treatment plans available, people are generally living longer lives.

Reason to worry

Does this now make HIV and Aids a ‘manageable’ disease, no different than high blood pressure or diabetes? Or have we, sadly, become a little too familiar with this infectious epidemic and forgotten just how many people in our community are still dying? Have we become complacent? Experts and activists have warned that ‘dangerous complacency’ may cause a resurgence of the epidemic that has claimed more than 35 million people. In the late 1980s and the 1990s, Aids was a scourge. At least everyone saw it as that. Everybody seemed determined to protect themselves from a condition so deadly.

As a result, infection rates took a nose dive and Uganda as a country was placed on a global pedestal for its efforts towards fighting the spread of HIV. Songs on the radio, plays on TV, in theatres, communities and schools made sure they painted a detailed picture of its heart-wrenching devastation. HIV and Aids was deemed a one way passage to a painstaking, painful death. Abstinence and faithfulness campaigns thus took centre stage, and everyone seemed ready to listen, learn and strictly follow instructions to the letter. Peace Baguma, a person living with HIV, says that those who could not abstain, at least never forgot to wear a condom. Years later, after the introduction of successful HIV treatments such as ARVs, people infected with HIV are able to live healthy, normal lives without fear or dying and leaving their children orphaned.

Finally, it is possible to have children free of HIV. It is not unexpected to be HIV positive and die of old age. A case in point is Major Rubaramira Ruranga who got HIV at age 32 but today he is 76 years old. ‘As a result, people have relaxed and become complacent, but sadly, infection rates have not,’ he says. Recently, a report from the MOH revealed that new HIV infections have hit an all-time high. What has been remarkable progress has in no time turned into an uphill battle once again,’ says Baguma. Ronald Mwesige, coordinator of Rakai Network of Aids Service Organisation (RANASO), agrees with others that people, especially today’s generation, have become complacent, which is hindering HIV fight.

The reduction over the years in the prevalence of HIV and the availability of ARVs has made many people think that HIV is no longer a problem. ‘Also the absence of scare crows-the very ugly signs and symptoms- that could scare people no longer happen. Someone who is on ARVs looks more health and energetic than the one without an HIV virus,’ says Mwesige. Daniel Mugaga, senior clinical officer of Rakai District, concurs with Mwesige, saying the use of antiretroviral therapy has led to the disappearance of the clinical Aids among the population, thus encouraging the young generation not to fear, since they have not seen people dying of Aids and have not seen those ugly pictures of Aids, only hear the stories, says Mugaga.

In a nutshell, the main two things that make the young generation not to fear or to be complacent, thinking that HIV and Aids is a fairytale are, one, the disappearance of the ugly AIDS symptoms which were so much pronounced during the onset of the pandemic, and two, they have not seen people dying of Aids. People who are said to be HIV positive look every-inch healthy. According to the Aids Information Centre, in 2023, an estimated 1.4 million people are living with HIV, and an estimated 28,000 Ugandans died of Aids-related illnesses. The epidemic is firmly established in the general population.

As of 2023, the estimated HIV prevalence among adults (aged 15 to 49) stood at 6.5 percent. Women are disproportionately affected, with 7.6 percent of adult women living with HIV compared to 4.7 percent of men. Other groups particularly affected by HIV in Uganda are sex workers, young girls and adolescent women, men who have sex with men, people who inject drugs and people from Uganda’s transient fishing communities.

The Uganda Aids Commission (UAC), Director General, Dr Nelson Musoba, is concerned about studies that have shown that adolescent girls and young women with multiple risk factors do not consider themselves at risk of acquiring HIV, neither do they worry about it. ‘In fact the popular belief is that a young girl would rather get infected with HIV than getting pregnant. But this is largely due to misinformation and lack of access to the right information. Dr Musoba says emphatically. ‘Those who say HIV is no longer a problem because there is treatment, should know that treatment is not curative, it is for life, it is not easy to take and drug resistance is always knocking at the door,’ he adds.

Why the increase in infections

Mugaga says that the increase in prevalence is partly attributed to the success of the treatment strategies. While the infection rate remains the same, people who get infected no longer die, meaning the population remains the same. Mugaga also adds that complacency in the general public is one of the main reason. People live positive, happy, healthy lives as long as they adhere to the treatment. There are also those on medication who have become complacent, stopped swallowing drugs thinking they have improved. ‘Because fewer people are dying, people are not as afraid of infection as they were before when Aids meant dying.

There is also some among leaders at all levels who think HIV issues are old and tired, thus stopped sensitising communities,’ says Baguma. He stresses that HIV is still a dangerous communicable disease. It can be spread to other people. Hypertension, diabetes, asthma, epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease and other chronic medical conditions are non-communicable-cannot be spread. Today, medical and public health professionals are facing the challenge of fighting an epidemic that does not scare people any more, meaning when complacency multiplies the afflicted can suffer needlessly or silently. ‘Every day, we see the sad and destructive consequences of people who seem to be willing to risk HIV infections just to enjoy sex the way they like it.

Let leaders at all levels, parliamentarians, LCs, RDCs, sub-county chiefs and household leaders get involved in the campaign to reduce infections to zero,’ she says. He also regrets that the preventive messages being used today are wanting and need to be revitalised to become more aggressive such as the ‘drumming’ campaign used decades ago. He also expresses concern that there was a decrease in messages on risk avoidance due to lack of funding. The deterioration in sexual The number of people engaging in unprotected casual sex is on the increase, while many couples are having extra-marital sexual relationships. Condoms use with the alcohol uptake among the population does not become effective because they forget them when they are drunk.

Originally people would be tested and those who were found positive would start preparing for their final journey since there was no treatment. Testing became meaningful and about 70 percent of the population tested. This was boosted by the input of PMTCT which was rolled out in 2003 into most health center 3s, and there was now a ray of hope for many since there was drug for the sick and there also chances of getting an HIV negative baby. If leaders at all levels come on board again, the resurgence of HIV can be averted. Nobody wants diabetes or high blood pressure. But really you do not want HIV neither. Nor do you want anyone else to suffer from it. Help keep yourself and the entire community safe. Be aware. Get tested. Use protection,’ warns Baguma.

WHAT THEY SAY

KYOTERA

Dr George William Walugembe, the Kyotera District health officer, says people have relaxed and compare the epidemic to malaria or any other treatable disease. ‘This mindset is putting us off-track and we may fail to realise the 2030 goal to eliminate the epidemic. If we keep on preventing and then live recklessly it means we are doing nothing,’ he says.

KALANGALA

The same complacency is an issue in Kalangala, according to Dr Hillary Batakalamire, the district health officer. He says the youth and fishermen in particular, have a tendency to lead reckless lives, forgetting that HIV still exists. Much as information about HIV is considered commonplace, Dr Bitakalmire explains that it is within this time that the campaign about the epidemic should be strengthened. ‘Youth tend to invent new behavioural practices, while ignoring strategies that were formulated to protect them against thye virus. But we are trying to push the campaign on condom use, being faithful, and abstinence among the youth,’ he says.

MASAKA

Olivia Nakamwagi, the Aids focal person, says the younger generation believe availability of anti-retroviral drugs, condoms and other initiatives, including safe male circumcision, mean HIV is no more. ‘Well, the strategies are available but it does not give them room to live carelessly. We have continued sensitising people about protecting themselves,’ Nakanwagi says.

Tanzania’s opposition party Chadema has demanded the unconditional release of its national chairman, Mr Tundu Lissu, who has been facing treason charges since early last year.

The opposition party has also called for constitutional reforms, the establishment of an independent electoral commission, an international investigation into killings and abductions, and the lifting of the suspension on Chadema’s political activities.

Delivering the party’s 2026 New Year’s message, Chadema National Vice Chairman for the Mainland, Mr John Heche, said 2025 was an extraordinary year.

‘It was a year of difficult decisions and great pain, but also a historic awakening of Tanzanians’ resolve to demand justice, freedom, and genuine democracy,’ he said.

Mr Heche said Chadema made history through its national general assembly, where Mr Lissu was elected party chairman.

However, as of January 3, 2026, it has been 269 days since Mr Lissu’s arrest and detention in a case he described as false, arbitrary, and politically motivated.

‘The party wants Mr Lissu released unconditionally, because he is not guilty, has not lied, and has not incited violence,’ he said.

On internal unity, Mr Heche said: ‘Differences of opinion within a democratic party are not divisions; they are the foundation of robust debate and strong decision-making. When we agree to disagree respectfully and unite once decisions are made, Chadema gains unshakable moral and political strength.’

Reflecting on the October 29, 2025, General Election, Mr Heche said it left Tanzania with political wounds that will take time to heal.

He cited the abuse of state institutions, including the Registrar of Political Parties and the courts, against government critics and the opposition, particularly Chadema, which was allegedly barred from political activity under false pretexts.

Mr Heche praised the No Reforms, No Election movement as a historic sign of public awareness.

‘Without systemic reforms, elections are not a solution but a problem. Citizens’ voices have become a philosophy of political liberation,’ he said.

Regarding deaths reported during the election period, Mr Heche said: ‘These were not ordinary political events; they were serious human rights violations against the principles of international law. That is why Chadema insists on a credible, independent, internationally represented investigation.’

He stressed that internal mechanisms alone cannot address the scale of the harm.

‘A nation that values its global reputation cannot remain silent while its citizens’ blood is shed without truth and accountability,’ he said.

‘We want a Tanzania governed by a living constitution, a pact of rights between citizens and the state, not empty words. A nation ruled by law that protects human rights as the foundation of dignity, not at the mercy of a few rulers,’ Mr Heche added.

He said Chadema is demanding a new constitution to restore the integrity of votes, accountability, and access to justice for all, alongside an independent electoral commission to safeguard citizens’ voices.

‘Reconciliation cannot exist without justice, and justice requires accountability. Without acknowledging wrongdoing and holding perpetrators responsible, reconciliation becomes a form of memory suppression,’ he said.

The opposition party also criticised the Registrar of Political Parties for involvement in legal actions that suspended Chadema’s political activities and seized party assets, describing the moves as attempts to silence the voice of justice and democracy.