Category: Daily Monitor

Despite efforts to modernise, Uganda is yet to fully adapt to electoral technologies.

All aspects of the electoral process, including communications, verification, and the exercise itself, can be secured and made accountable with technology.

As the government slowly adopts electoral technology, innovators are developing products and services that, if adapted by authorities, could redefine how the population engages in the process.

With the country now in the thick of the campaign period, Events Gallery innovator and architect Zakaria Mukasa Kyeyune said in an interview week that his app prescribes a solution for campaign violence, malice, and misinformation.

‘We are eliminating situations that could lead to disruptions, violence, and even littering during the electioneering period,’ says the innovator, also known as Haji Salongo

He continues: ‘You will be able to know what, where and when everything pertaining to the candidates participating in the election across all the levels is.’

Because it is election period, this is just one of the menus that the app innovation offers, by the innovator who is not just a tech enthusiast but also a professional architect.

If you are a candidate, through the app you can digitally reach out to an audience at any time with your programme and messages, eliminating inconveniences that comes with electoral violence and misinformation during the electioneering period.

‘We bring the candidates to somebody’s hands as opposed to somebody going out for the candidates.

Especially for busy people at work and therefore cannot afford to physically attend campaigns or our people working and living in diaspora this innovation addresses your concern.’

Motivation

We wanted to make it easier for people to navigate events in the most convenient way. And now that we are in the digital era, all you need in gallery of events to select from just like you would do in an art gallery or a shop.

On collaboration and partnership

This is a technology that we wouldn’t mind collaborating or partnering with whoever wishes to work with us. It has value that several sectors both in the public and private sector can immensely benefit from.

‘Can you imagine the value that political parties or electoral agencies wanting peaceful campaigns or clean electoral exercise can extract from this product?’

Or even can you imagine a collaboration with the Nation Media Group the kind of impact we will generate for the better.

‘So, we don’t mind partnerships with anybody or any agencies for as long as we are positively changing or impacting society by way of fostering peaceful democratic processes devoid of voter bribery and violence,’ says Haji Salongo.

Controls

Because we care about the country and the community, the app has controls that ensure sanity prevails.

‘Only registered people can post information and messages. And even when you post it doesn’t go to everyone but the targeted audience. And even then, the administrator will be mindful of foul languages and related insanity.

The administrator ensures community rules which are a set of guidelines and a code of conduct that define acceptable behaviours and content for members of an online community are strictly observed.

‘Once all the boxes are ticked the administrator clicks the button and everyone who is supposed to see your message will see it as you intended it.

‘Note that only two people can alter or edit your message – first is you the person who sends and the second person is the administrator. And that’s all.’

So, for the case of the candidate, you can post all sort of information for as long as it doesn’t offend the community rules. And so are other events.

The app is also interactive. You get to see your messages instantly and can engage with your audience.

Future

For now, because we are in the political season, it may seem like we are all about the election. The app does more than that – it’s actually a gallery of events.

With the population increasingly having access to phones it means more Ugandans are going digitally.

‘Almost 12 million people have smartphones. So, this is why we believe information can be brought to people’s hands via mobile phone rather than people chasing after it,’ he says in interview last week on Thursday.

He continued: ‘So far this is the biggest app in the country, if not in the region. We haven’t seen something like this around the continent yet

The architect and the innovator

Who is this guy? He quipped, when asked if there is any other thing he wishes to say.

‘I’m an architect by profession. It’s my talent and love. This is because I like solving problems. And because of that I can also describe myself as an innovator.

‘My father, Haji Abbas Kazibwe Musisi was an innovator all through his life. His m

The High Court in Kampala has set December 22 as the date to deliver its ruling in a petition challenging the Electoral Commission’s (EC) decision to disqualify Busiro East Member of Parliament aspirant Mathias Walukagga.

Justice Simon Peter Kinobe set the ruling date on Tuesday after hearing submissions from lawyers representing the petitioner and respondents, following concerns raised over service of court documents and computation of statutory timelines.

The petitioner, Walukagga, represented by lawyer Alex Luganda, appeared alongside counsel Erias Nalukoola and Jonathan Erut. The respondents include the Electoral Commission as the first respondent and registered voter John Lubowa Kilimiro as the second respondent.

Lawyers Asuman Nyoyintono and Allan James Mwiiko represented the second respondent, while Patrick Wetaka and Hamid Lugoloobi appeared for the Electoral Commission.

At the start of proceedings, Wetaka informed the court that the Commission had not been aware of the petition, which is why they came to court late.

“We were not aware of the matter. We have just gotten to know it from other platforms,” Wetaka told the court.

Justice Kinobe questioned the explanation, asking why the Commission had not checked the Electronic Court Case Management Information System (ECCMIS), where the matter had been filed.

Luganda explained that the petition had been fixed for hearing on Tuesday, noting that summons had been signed only a day earlier.

“The petition has been fixed for today for hearing. We got summons signed yesterday, and we have effected service today. The respondents have not been able to respond, and we seek timelines for responding,” Luganda submitted.

He also raised a substantive issue regarding computation of time, pointing out that although the EC’s ruling was dated November 25, the petitioner only received it on December 9.

“Does this still stand?” Luganda asked, seeking clarification on when statutory timelines should begin to run.

Justice Kinobe invited the Electoral Commission to respond. Wetaka said the Commission had no objection: “We begin counting the days right from the date they received the ruling.”

The judge ruled that the issue was settled and turned to the question of timelines for filing responses.

Nyoyintono, appearing for the second respondent, requested three days to file a response. “We would pray for three days,” he said.

Justice Kinobe directed that the Electoral Commission be given only one day to reply, prompting Lugoloobi to protest the tight schedule.

“We have many petitions to handle. A day will not be enough,” Lugoloobi argued.

In his ruling, Justice Kinobe maintained the compressed timelines, stressing the urgency of electoral disputes.

“By close of business tomorrow, December 17, file your response. On the 18th, any rejoinder should be filed and served. By the 19th, the EC should serve. If you comply with the timelines given, you will have the judgment on December 22,” the judge ordered.

The petition arises from the Electoral Commission’s decision to disqualify Walukagga from contesting for the Busiro East parliamentary seat, on grounds that he lacked the requisite minimum academic qualifications.

Walukagga argues that he was duly nominated on October 23, 2025, and that his academic documents, including a Mature Age certificate issued by the Islamic University in Uganda and equated by the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE), were valid.

The court’s ruling on December 22 is expected to determine whether Walukagga remains disqualified or is reinstated as a candidate in the Busiro East parliamentary race.

The ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) presidential candidate, Yoweri Museveni, has encouraged families of the bush war veterans to support the NRA/M revolution born and nurtured from the Greater Luweero areas as the country prepares for the 2026 General Election.

While addressing the NRM supporters at two separate rallies in Kyankwanzi and Kiboga districts on December 16, 2025, Mr Museveni, 81, said the mammoth gatherings that braved the heavy rains to turn up to listen to his message was a clear sign that the war veterans families are ready to protect the peace and gains ushered in by the NRM government that cannot be thrown away in an election.

‘When the NRM government came to power, the first major contribution was peace. I thank the people of Kyankwanzi for turning up in big numbers despite the heavy rains. You have shown the world that when you decide to do something, you do it wholeheartedly,’ he said while addressing his first rally at Butemba Sub-county in Kyankwanzi District on December 16, 2025.

According to the president, from the 1966 crisis, when Obote fought Kabaka Mutesa, the 1971 fighting between Milton Obote and Idi Amin, the 1979 wars and the 1981-1986 liberation war, the country experienced turmoil. The people only tested peace after the NRM government captured power.

‘The country has, for the last 40 years, experienced peace that cannot be destabilized. The neighbouring countries admire the peace in Uganda. We should work to protect this peace as one people,’ said Mr Museveni who is seeking to extend his rule to 2031.

According to him, one of the key pillars for the current peace is because of his party’s ideology, through which members have been urged to reject sectarianism and politics of identity, which partly contributed to the earlier instability in the country.

For the people of Kyankwanzi, it is very easy to audit what the NRM government has done in the last 40 years. When the NRM government came to power in 1986, there was no tarmac throughout Kyankwanzi District. The tarmac ended at Busunju- Kampala, with the rest of the road in poor condition. The people of Kyankwanzi now boast of good roads and other infrastructure. The tarmac now cuts through Busunju, Kiboga, Hoima, and Buliisa to Lake Albert.

Because the people should be able to live good lives, the NRM government ensured that these areas have electricity.

‘Our plan was to first extend electricity to the Sub-county headquarters but we now have the power beyond the Sub-county headquarters. It is true that in some villages, the power lines have not reached but we are certain that power will get to all these areas,’ he said.

Out of the 486 villages in Kyankwanzi District, 420 have access to safe water, representing 84% water coverage.

‘In the next term, the remaining villages will access clean water,’ he said.

Mr Museveni rallied Kyankwanzi and Kiboga residents to embrace the government-led wealth creation programmes to ensure that each family has side income activities that support the family welfare while generating additional income for better livelihoods. The Parish Development Model (PDM) and Emyooga are largely aimed at engineering wealth creation for better livelihoods.

‘When you look at other countries, they construct schools, roads and health facilities and end at that. It is the NRM government in Uganda that has gone a step further to ensure that individuals generate their own wealth for better livelihoods. When individual wealth comes together, the Country benefits which partly explains the ongoing success in the coffee industry. Uganda now produces 10 million bags of coffee compared to the 3 million bags in 1986,’ Mr Museveni said.

The second national vice chairperson of the NRM party, Moses Kigongo and Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among, earlier told President Museveni that Kyankwanzi is among the areas with many absentee landlords, with a bigger section of the residents experiencing land-related disputes. She commended the President for championing the land purchase programme through the land fund, which will ensure that people in Kyankwanzi benefit. Ms Among revealed that some of the residents are settled on land claimed by the National Forestry Authority (NFA) and face eviction.

While on his different campaign trails, President Museveni has said that the land disputes in many areas where absentee landlords are settled will be resolved through the land fund. ‘Government will buy land from the landlords,’ he said while addressing supporters in Mubende District on December 15, 2025.

Earlier a section of residents and NRM supporters at Butemba Sub-county revealed that while they support the NRM government because of the peace and wealth creation programmes, senior officials within the same government are evicting and grabbing land from the less privileged residents.

Ms Elizabeth Tushabe, a resident of Butemba Town Council, claimed that many land grabbers hide in the name of big offices such as State House to evict the poor from their respective Bibanja.

‘We want the president to help the poor Bibanja holders to safely utilize the land without any evictions. Many people, including those working in government offices use the army and police to intimidate the poor and take away their land. The powerful people have the ability to bribe all government offices, including courts of law,’ she said.

Kyankwanzi and Kiboga districts are part of the cattle corridor areas that register high illegal evictions and land grabbing cases. In Kyankwanzi District, the Sub-county of Butemba is among the areas affected by the land related disputes.

The 2024 National Housing and Population Census puts the population for Kyankwanzi District at 275,432 while the Electoral Commission updated register for Kyankwanzi District puts the number of registered voters at 133,173 voters. In 2021, Mr Museveni got 39,859 votes (60.99%) while the leading opposition candidate, Mr Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu got 31,842 votes (37.53%).

A new health sector performance report shows that more people have died in hospitals between July 2024 and June this financial year than in the same period in the previous financial year. The 2025 report shows there were 51,718 deaths in the FY 2024/2025, compared to 47,991 in the FY 2023/2024.

‘Regional Referral Hospitals and General Hospitals account for 60.5 percent of all facility deaths. The country recorded a 7.2 percent increase in the number of deaths compared to the previous 2023/2024 financial year,’ the report states.

Not all hospitals fully report admissions and deaths, with only 71 percent of facilities reporting fully to the Health ministry systems. This indicates the figures presented in the performance report for the sub-programme may not be the exact number of deaths in the population, but a good pointer to what is killing many people.

Although the new report indicates the health sector generally performed poorer than in the previous financial year, our assessment also shows there was nearly a 10 percent increase in the number of admissions, which could partly explain the rise in hospital deaths.

‘Overall, the leading causes of death remain the same (when compared with the previous financial year). If aggregated, motorcycle accidents, motor vehicle accidents, and other injuries could be the next leading causes of death after malaria,’ the report reads.

‘Neonatal deaths increased from 4,208 in 2023/2024 to 4,447 in 2024/2025 financial years. This is a 5.7 percent increment in the number of neonatal deaths,’ the report reads further. More than 32 percent of neonatal deaths are premature babies; a condition that requires management. Injuries from all causes accounted for 4.8 percent of the deaths, after malaria at 5 percent.

The report also says death due to hypertension is on the rise, accounting for 4.5 percent of all inpatient deaths compared to 2.8 percent in the previous year. To gauge the overall performance of the health sub-programme, the report authors reviewed 27 out of the 32 key outcome indicators.

The five not assessed due to lack of data were prostate and breast cancer screening rates, young people accessing age-appropriate sexual and reproductive health information, vaccination against Covid, and comprehensive knowledge of malaria prevention methods.

Among the indicators assessed were vaccine coverage for different population types and different types of vaccines, use of insecticide-treated bed nets, coverage and adherence to ARVs for the general population living with HIV/Aids and for preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV/Aids.

They also assessed TB, leprosy, trachoma, disease outbreaks management, tobacco non-smoking rate, cancer screening rates, anaemia screening in antenatal visits, health facility deliveries, maternal and newborn deaths, vitamin A coverage, and folic acid uptake in pregnant women.

‘Out of the 27, the sector achieved 25.9 percent compared to 40.8 percent in the 2023/24 Financial Year; made some progress, though did not achieve the annual target for 40.8 percent compared to 25.9 percent the previous year,’ the report reads.

The report also shows there was ‘minimal, no progress or decline in 33.3 percent of outcome indicators, same as the 2022/2023 financial year. This shows some decline in performance over the last year.’

Why poor performance

The Health ministry highlighted in the report disruptions in donor funding (the dismantling of United States Agency for International Development [USAID]), limited human resources, inadequate equipment, and patients arriving late at hospitals as some of the main reasons for the poor performance.

The health system relies heavily on foreign donations, with USAID serving as one of the major partners. USAID had been supporting the health sector through placement of health workers in Ugandan health facilities, which remain largely understaffed; supporting community health interventions and bridging gaps in drug supplies.

‘Slow progress or non-achievement of some targets was due to low coverage of HIV-positive pregnant women initiated on ARVs for EMTCT (91 percent), HIV-exposed infants with first DNA/PCR test within 2 months (83 percent), ART retention rate at 12 months (80 percent) which declined compared to the previous year due to partner funding shortfalls resulting from the work stop orders that affected access of HIV/Aids commodities and supplies,’ the report reads further.

The report further indicate that performance was also affected by the high numbers of leprosy patients in West Nile and Tooro region due to influx of refugees from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and South Sudan, stock-out of HepB vaccines upon roll out of HepB birth dose, limited awareness about cancer screening services, as well as poorly equipped facilities.

‘Under maternal health services, there is late antenatal care attendance affecting uptake of IPTp (vaccine), and inadequate supplies for anaemia screening during prenatal visits,’ the report reads.

Injuries

A total of 2,106 deaths due to injuries were reported by hospitals between July 2024 and June 2025. But the Police Crime report says 5,144 people were killed in road accidents in 2024 compared to 4,806 people killed in 2023. Some of the people who die in accidents may not be captured in the Ministry of Health system, which largely relies on reports from hospitals. Officials, experts speak Dr Diana Atwine, the permanent secretary at the Health ministry, while commenting on the report, said they have tried their best to ensure the services remained uninterrupted amid challenges faced in the 2024/2025 Financial Year. ‘We are looking at what we have achieved and where we have not achieved; we are strategising again to see that we can achieve.

We want to deliver health services that are anchored on patient-centeredness, on quality, efficiency and a resilient system,’ she notes. Dr Atwine says they want to address the headache of health financing, with the revival of the push for a national health insurance scheme. She adds that they will do this immediately after the January 2026 General Election to follow up on the Bill, which they have already submitted to Cabinet, but has not yet attracted any feedback. ‘In a space where the financing is volatile and unpredictable, we need to make sure we look at alternative health financing because we still have a big percentage of our population that is experiencing catastrophic spending –out-of-pocket spending,’ she says. ‘So one of the areas we want to focus on in the next five years is to ensure we have predictable health financing, and one of them is to resurrect National Health Insurance Scheme discussions,’ she addes.

Dr Atwine also highlighted mindset issues among health workers, which have been affecting service delivery and general performance. ‘We may have infrastructure, but our human resource is the greatest asset that we have. And we just need to, as leaders in the health sector, on a day-to-day basis, start realigning our thinking in a manner that brings and aligns our values with the values of the institutions to achieve the results,’ she says. ‘One of the values of our sector is patient-centred. It is a process, and we continue to mentor and coach our staff so that they really understand what we mean when we talk about a people-centred approach, which encompasses value, quality, excellence, respect, selflessness and sacrifice,’ she adds.

Prof Rhoda Wanyenze, the Dean of Makerere University School of Public Health, highlights inequalities in accessing healthcare, gaps in quality of care and inefficiencies in service delivery. ‘Quality and equity are critical pieces in universal health coverage, and a resilient system must be able to deliver that. We need integrated systems and efficiency,’ she says. ‘To improve efficiency, we need to innovate and be able to adopt technologies and also improve over time,’ she says. Among the efficiency issues that Prof Wanyenze highlights are inappropriate surgeries, gaps in procurement and distribution of medicines and health supplies, and inappropriate and overuse of medicines.

‘When we do caesarian sections that we don’t need, you are wasting supplies, you are wasting people’s time, and you are doing many things. There is absenteeism and skills and cadre mix, and how they are allocated to the jobs they do, are the other areas of inefficiencies,’ she says. ‘There are administrative costs in fragmented parallel systems, and there are also leakages -inadequate performance management systems, fraud and corruption,’ she adds. Prof Wanyenze also says many drivers of illnesses such as pollution, climate change, and tobacco smoking, are outside the control of the health sector and require more stakeholders to be brought on board to address.

‘We need a multi-sectoral approach and a call for us to focus more on promotion and prevention. Our system cannot cope with just curative services unless we turn off the tap,’ she says. ‘We have been talking a lot about pollution. Some people feel that maybe we should start wearing masks in some places in Kampala. Have you reflected on the food we eat and how it’s handled right from the garden? These days, we use herbicides, pesticides, heavy spraying, and we don’t know what we are eating. We need to think about some of these issues,’ she adds.

Dr Paul Onzubo, the Maracha District Health Officer (DHO), who doubles as the deputy national chairperson for the Association of DHOs, highlights the low funding for health service delivery in local governments, yet the majority seek care in health centres and district hospitals. He says at least 40 percent of the health budget should be earmarked for service delivery in local governments if the ministry is serious about reducing deaths and improving access to quality care. ‘Finance is the engine. Financing for health service delivery in local governments is on a negotiation basis, but we need to have a fixed allocation that should go to local governments’ service delivery,’ he says.

Dr Onzubo says the five percent of the resources going to local governments is too low. He proposes up to 40 percent should be spent in local governments since the bulk of health services are delivered at that level. The new report says Health Centre (HC) IIIs accounted for the largest share of inpatient admissions at 32.8 percent, followed by HC IVs (24.8 percent) and General Hospitals (24.5 percent). Although tertiary level facilities like national and regional referral hospitals contributed a smaller overall proportion (4.3 percent and 11 percent respectively), they carried the heaviest caseload, averaging 58 and 70 new admissions per day, far exceeding the 14 daily admissions at general hospitals. Clinics and HC IIs have minimal inpatient admissions, less than 2 percent combined.

Police have intensified patrols and redeployed officers across major cities and towns as security agencies brace for the Christmas and New Year festivities, which coincide with preparations for the 2026 General Elections.

Addressing the media in Kampala yesterday, police spokesperson, Mr Rusoke Kituuma, said officers had been redeployed from various units based on threat assessments to ensure public safety during the festive period.

‘With only about 10 days to Christmas and roughly 17 days to the New Year 2026, all security agencies are on heightened alert to ensure Ugandans celebrate in a peaceful and orderly manner,’ Mr Rusoke said.

He added that the festive season, marked by travel, family reunions, and public celebrations, often comes with a spike in criminal activity, including theft, house break-ins, and acts of violence. ‘Crime does not occur randomly. It follows identifiable patterns influenced by time and season. During major holidays, particularly in December, property-related crimes such as burglary, shoplifting, and personal theft tend to increase,’ Mr Rusoke said. He said the enhanced deployment is intended to deter crime and swiftly respond to any security threats during what is traditionally a high-risk period. Police also urged members of the public to remain vigilant, cautioning against carrying large sums of money or moving with valuable property.

The overlap between the festive season and the election period, police said, presents additional security challenges that require heightened alertness, responsible behaviour and increased situational awareness, particularly on the roads.

Meanwhile, the Directorate of Traffic Police and Road Safety has announced stepped-up enforcement during the Christmas period. Traffic police spokesperson Michael Kananura said officers would be deployed on major highways and urban roads to curb crashes.

‘Do not rush. Leave early, drive safely, and arrive home in peace, not in pieces. Stop and stretch every two hours, avoid night driving where possible, stay hydrated, and always wear your seat belt,’ Mr Kananura said, urging the public to cooperate with security personnel to ensure an incident-free festive season.

Devis Kipsang is a 12-year-old hailing from Eastern Uganda. Kipsang is battling a serious heart condition that has left him in constant pain and unable to live a normal life. While he had been relatively stable, in June 2025, his health began to deteriorate rapidly.

His family first noticed that his stomach was swelling abnormally, causing him intense pain and discomfort. The swelling worsened over time, making it difficult for him to eat and move freely. Alarmed, his caregivers sought medical attention, and opted for a scan which later revealed that the problem was not originating from his heart.

The doctors explained that Kipsang has a congenital heart defect, where openings developed in the walls of the heart. This condition leads to oxygen-rich blood mixing with de-oxygenated blood, reducing the amount of oxygen circulating in the body. As a result, vital organs particularly the liver are overworked. This strain caused his liver to enlarge, leading to the visible swelling of his abdomen.

Kipsang was initially taken to Kapchorwa Hospital, but due to the complexity of his condition, he was referred to Mulago National Referral Hospital for specialized care. Here, a detailed medical assessment and an A4 medical report confirmed that his heart condition requires corrective surgery, which must be performed in India.

Since then, Kipsang’s condition has continued to worsen. He now spends most of his time lying at home in the village, battling persistent pain, extreme fatigue and a severely reduced appetite. His caregivers say he has grown visibly weaker, and his life has significantly declined.

While his family is overwhelmed financially as Kipsang’s father is physically disabled and unable to work, his has left the family without a steady source of income. His grandfather, who has been supporting him, says their only asset is a small piece of land which, even if sold, would raise no more than Shs10 million, far below what is required.

The doctors have estimated that the family needs Shs48m to cover medical expenses, including visa processing, travel costs and hospital bills for the surgery in India.

With limited options, the family is appealing to the public for help to save Kipsang’s life.

Arat Sukukon, Kipsang’s grandfather says, ‘I am seeking support in terms of funds to enable us to contribute towards Kipsant’s heart surgery.’

Uganda has taken a significant step towards confronting the growing health toll of pollution as the government and stakeholders develop the country’s first-ever Health and Pollution Action Plan (HPAP).

The plan, being developed by the Global Alliance on Health and Pollution (GAHP) in partnership with the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) and supported by the UK government, aims to reverse the trends of pollution-related diseases that are silently killing thousands of lives and costing billions of shillings in lost productivity.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), air pollution alone is responsible for an estimated 30,000 premature deaths in Uganda every year. The most prevalent and harmful air pollutant, PM2.5, penetrates the respiratory system and enters the bloodstream, contributing to higher incidence of asthma, stroke, heart disease, lung diseases, and cancer.

Speaking during the validation of the draft plan, GAHP country coordinator Emmanuel Tebandeke said, “We have invoked an action plan, which can be used as a roadmap to guide the implementation of the different interventions, so in this action plan, we have all the different interventions that have been proposed.”

Tebandeke added, “We are looking at investing resources in setting up biogas plant waste to Energy pilot projects to see how this can reduce on the volume of waste which can be generated in rural communities, get incentives in the form of micro loans to help communities transition from wood and charcoal to cleaner sources like biogas and solar to reduce on the impact of pollution.”

GAHP Executive Director Maria Paola Lia said that the HPAP is designed to move beyond problem identification by grounding decisions in data and economic analysis.

“We don’t want this to sit on a shelf. We want to be the start of something, the fight is not in our hands. We need to unite forces to make sure we can cause change,” Ms Paola said.

Principal Monitoring and Evaluation Officer at NEMA, Nickson Ahimbisibwe, stressed that the HPAP is a locally owned framework that complements the existing air quality and waste management regulations.

“People say that we have a number of documents, plans, strategies, but we don’t implement them. So with this one, we have started with it, we have developed it ourselves. Let us implement it,” Mr Ahimbisibwe said.

Dr Didacus Namanya, Climate and Health Focal Person, Ministry of Health, Uganda, said that the burden of pollution-related diseases is believed to be substantial; however, there are limited studies and surveys providing precise statistics.

“Exposure to both indoor and outdoor air pollution increases the disease burden and exacerbates existing health conditions. Priority should therefore be given to research to identify the most affected populations, promote mask use in hotspot areas, improve air quality, and raise awareness at all levels,” Dr Namanya said.

Residents of Fort Portal City in Kabarole District, who experienced brutality meted out by security personnel between December 9 and 11 during the campaigns of National Unity Platform (NUP) presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, aka Bobi Wine, have said the incidents will influence voting patterns.

They said the use of excessive force by security personnel could altered the mindset of some voters. In the 2021 General Election, Mr Kyagulanyi garnered 8,440 votes (23.22 percent) in Fort Portal, while President Museveni got 25,753 votes (70.8 percent). During Mr Kyagulanyi’s recent campaign tour of the Tooro Sub-region, which ended last Saturday, business activity in Fort Portal was largely paralysed.

Mr Kyagulanyi, who had planned to campaign in Bunyangabu, Fort Portal City and Kabarole District last Tuesday, was only allowed to hold a rally in Bunyangabu under tight security. His campaigns in Fort Portal and Kabarole were blocked from 3pm. In one incident at Buteebe Trading Centre, security personnel fired tear gas and beat up several people who had gathered to welcome Mr Kayagulanyi. Ms Generous Kabagenyi, a resident of Rwengoma, said her bean and maize gardens were destroyed during the chaos.

‘I have already changed my mind. I cannot vote for NRM anymore. People were beaten in front of my home, and my children inhaled tear gas. It felt like a war zone. If soldiers stop us from seeing Bobi Wine, then we shall respond in the ballot box,’ Ms Kabagenyi said. From Buteebe Trading Centre to Fort Portal City, a distance of about three kilometres, businesses were closed from around 7pm as security personnel used tear gas and force to clear the roads while escorting Mr Kyagulanyi to his hotel. Mr Haruna Kibirango, a Democratic Party (DP) member, said it was unfortunate that the violence occurred after President Museveni had concluded his campaign activities in Fort Portal.

‘These soldiers are decampaigning NRM. How do you beat people today and expect them to vote for you tomorrow?’ Mr Kibirango said, adding: ‘People who own roadside businesses work in the evening. That is when they were ordered off the streets. Many have loans, and during the running battles, some lost property.’

Ms Agnes Kabasomi, a resident of Kisenyi, said she had supported the NRM for many years, but the actions of security personnel made her reconsider. ‘I ask myself why we were beaten just for standing by the roadside to wave at Kyagulanyi. If waving at him earns beatings, then I will vote for him,’ she said. Mr Tom Mugisha, an NRM supporter, said Mr Museveni should institute investigations into the conduct of security personnel.

‘We are struggling to convince people to vote for President Museveni. They ask us why security beat them, and we have no answer,’ Mr Mugisha said. However, Mr Kikora Masereka, the NRM chairperson for Karagura Sub-county, said the ruling party should not be blamed for the actions of security personnel.

‘Voters need to separate the NRM from the UPDF. We are a political party, and I don’t believe the NRM instructed soldiers to beat people. The UPDF is supposed to be non-partisan, and whatever happened was carried out within their own command structures. As a party, our focus is on campaigning and securing votes,’ Mr Masereka said. Despite being blocked from campaigning in Fort Portal City and Kabarole District, Mr Kyagulanyi was also allowed to campaign in Kyenjojo, Kyegegwa and Ntoroko districts, but under tight security.

Police position

The Rwenzori West Police spokesperson, Mr Vincent Twesige, defended the actions of security personnel, saying Mr Kyagulanyi was blocked for failing to adhere to agreed campaign routes. ‘He did not follow the agreed routes to the campaign venues. Campaigns run from 7am to 6pm, and after that security is mandated to disperse crowds. Electoral Commission guidelines also prohibit campaigning in business areas,’ Mr Twesige said. He also denied claims that NUP supporters were arrested and are in their custody.

The Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) presidential candidate, Mr Nandala Mafabi, has pledged to release former FDC leader, retired Col Dr Kizza Besigye, on his first day in office if elected president in the forthcoming January general election. ‘If I become the president of Uganda, Dr Kizza Besigye will be released on my first day in office. For now, I do not have the power to release him,’ Mr Mafabi said.

Mr Mafabi criticised continued support for the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM), arguing that its poverty alleviation programmes have failed to improve Ugandans’ livelihoods. ‘Supporting the NRM party by 90 percent means supporting bad leadership because all its programmes on poverty eradication, including Entandikwa, Kulembeka, Bonna Bagaggawale (Prosperity for All), Emyooga, Operation Wealth Creation, and now the Parish Development Model, have not eradicated poverty in Uganda,’ he said.

Mr Mafabi was speaking during a radio talk show in Kabale Town on Saturday last week, where he unveiled the FDC manifesto before responding to questions from listeners. Many callers questioned why he had not openly advocated for Dr Besigye’s release during his campaigns in the Kigezi region. Dr Besigye, who hails from the Kigezi Sub-region, is one of the founding members of the FDC party. He was arrested last year in Kenya together with his aide Obedi Lutaala, and is currently facing treason charges. One caller, Mr Pius Nyakambu, likened Mr Mafabi’s candidature to ‘hosting a party while there is a funeral in the same family.’ Another caller, Mr Abed Rubanda, asked what had become of the relationship between the FDC party and Dr Besigye.

Mr Rugasha Habuhutu questioned why the candidate had remained tight-lipped about Dr Besigye’s detention throughout his Kigezi campaign. Other callers challenged Mr Mafabi to state how many times he had visited Dr Besigye in prison since his arrest a year ago. In response, Mr Mafabi said he had stood surety for Dr Besigye in various courts of law, saying he does not ‘play to the gallery.’ On the question of prison visits, he referred the callers to the People’s Front for Freedom (PFF), explaining that Dr Besigye now subscribes to a different political party. Mr Mafabi also criticised the NRM government for establishing an iron ore factory in Ntungamo District while the raw materials are found in the Kigezi region.

Meanwhile, the FDC national chairman, Mr Jack Sabiiti, accused residents of the Kigezi Sub-region of failing to demand for Dr Besigye’s release when President Museveni addressed several rallies in the area last month. ‘President Museveni was here in the Kigezi region last month, and nobody raised the issue of Dr Besigye’s detention. He even addressed a rally in the area where Dr Besigye was born, but no one raised the matter,’ Mr Sabiiti said. He added that the FDC had formally written to the government seeking an explanation for Dr Besigye’s prolonged detention but had not yet received a response.

‘All of us are sympathetic to Dr Besigye. We worked with him in founding the FDC party. Although disagreements arose, I do not wish to see Dr Besigye in prison,’ Mr Sabiiti said.

Mr Sabiiti urged Ugandans to vote for Mr Mafabi, citing his leadership potential, education, among others. Mr Mafabi also apologised to residents of Kabale District for failing to hold a campaign rally there, blaming poor road conditions encountered in Kisoro District. He promised to make arrangements to address FDC supporters in Kabale at a later date. Mr Mafabi explained that he squeezed his campaign programme because they were given a few days, and yet they do not have helicopters at their disposal like President Museveni.

There is a humbling cancer research study entitled The Regional Cancer spectrum in Uganda: A population-based cancer survey by sub-regions 2017-2020, authored by Francis Okongo, Catherine Amuge, Alfred Jatho, Nixon Niyonzima, David Martin Ogwang and Jackson Orem. All authors except David Martin Ogwang are affiliates of the Uganda Cancer Institute. Mr. Ogwang works with Lacor Hospital.

The first alarm is the rising proportion of cancer related deaths to all mortalities in Uganda, 30 percent of all mortalities are cancer related. The second and most alarming research outcome for this study, which is now five years old, and therefore dated is the low survival rate. Just 20 percent of all cancer patients survive the diagnosis. The average crude cancer incidence is 35.4 per 100,000 with the central region, the most urbanized region reporting 63.8 and Karamoja lowest at 12.8 per 100,000 population.

Kampala, Gulu, Kabale, Iganga and Bushenyi top out the districts with the highest crude cancer incidence. This number is remarkable, for both conventional and unconventional reasons. Kampala is an outlier; it’s an urban district with a concentration of lifestyle accelerants. Gulu’s featuring in the top five attests to other chronic illnesses associated with two decades of war. The next three districts each have their own unique reasons. Kabale is a highly concentrated mineral basket, the coldest district nationally.

A number of rare minerals occur in the hills of Kigezi, as are radioactive ones like uranium. Bushenyi may be dietary related, aflatoxins while the reasons for Iganga still need more exposure from focused studies.If you have had a cancer patient in Uganda, the experience brings both sadness, concern and lingering trauma. Helplessness defines one part of the experience. The dead body gurneys wheeled out to the small mortuary at the base of the cancer patient are a daily reminder of the high mortality rate associated with cancer.

When you walk into the Cancer Institute, you are told three or more patients expire everyday. The lucky ones die with a full diagnosis and have been treated for a number of years. For these and their loved ones’ death is a punctuation mark, a release from agony and pain. For many others, they die with a stage-based diagnosis but sometimes, the primary site of the cancer is yet to be detected. In the lifestyle basket are existing chronic illnesses, HIV related for example. Others are excessive alcohol consumption, still a major topic of debate.

How much is enough. Methods of production, contraband. Some studies blame diets, but pay little attention to pollution of the entire food chain. Often local authorities impound contaminated food, where products like transformer oil are used to fry; or even formaldehyde are injected into meat to preserve its’ shelf life. Interesting that beef from market stalls in the metro region tastes different from beef sold in upcountry markets.Sometimes, innocently thought-out public health interventions, birth control for example is associated with the rise in ovarian, cervical and breast cancers that start with hormonal imbalances from long use.

In the United States, forever chemicals in all sorts of products are blamed for a rise in incidence of all sorts of cancers. In the black populations hair straightening products to imitate the Western look have been blamed for other cancers. In babies, baby powder for hygiene of infants was also blamed for other cancers. It is possible, products being promoted today are the cancer of tomorrow.

This dialogue needs more participants as we face an upsurge in male associated cancers; cancer of the prostate, oesophagus, liver, and stomach; female associated cancers; cervical, breast, oesophagus, ovary and Kaposi carcinoma. This study is very informative for decision makers. Cancers of the oesophagus for both genders speaks to diet.

Cancer of the liver speaks to alcohol abuse. Interesting lung cancer is on the decline; tobacco consumption has dropped even though it has been replaced by deadlier narcotics especially in young people. For everybody else, early detection and moderating risk factors is key.