Category: Daily Monitor

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.

Court users on Monday voiced frustration over delays in the administration of justice, corruption, and interference with case files during the second Judiciary Court Open Day held in Kampala.

Hundreds of members of the public accused some judicial officers and court staff of delaying judgments, intimidating litigants, and, in some cases, allegedly removing crucial evidence from court files-claims they said have prolonged their search for justice for years.

Ms Josephine Tushabe from Wakiso District told the gathering that her case has dragged on for a decade after vital evidence was allegedly removed from her file.

‘The main issue I have with the Judiciary is the removal of crucial evidence from my case file. This has forced me to move from one court to another for the last 10 years in search of justice,’ Ms Tushabe said.

Another court user, Ms Jane Frances Nabasa, accused magistrates and prosecutors at Kajjansi Magistrate’s Court of mishandling her case.

‘The State Attorney was cooperative at first, but later chased me from her office. A new magistrate who took on my case later claimed I had settled the matter and even signed a compensation agreement, which was not true,’ Ms Nabasa told the meeting.

The complaints also spilled into wider criticism of the Judiciary’s treatment of some lawyers. Mr Yasiin Ssetumbwe, who identified himself as an advocate, while speaking in Luganda, accused the Judiciary of being hostile to legal practitioners, citing the case of Uganda Law Society president Mr Isaac Ssemakadde, who left the country months into his tenure.

Mr Ssemakadde is facing criminal charges, including alleged abuse of the former Director of Public Prosecutions, Ms Jane Frances Abodo, and was also convicted and sentenced to two years’ imprisonment for contempt of court.

‘Some courts are not hearing Ssemakadde’s cases. This kind of treatment scares lawyers,’ Mr Ssetumbwe said, drawing reactions from sections of the audience.

Participants also referenced former Supreme Court Justice Esther Kisaakye, who left the country last year, citing threats to her life, following disagreements within the Judiciary after her dissenting opinion in the 2021 presidential election petition.

As some speakers invoked President Museveni’s name while seeking redress, the Judiciary’s Public Relations Officer, Mr James Ereemye Mawanda, clarified that the Head of State was not present at the event.

‘His Excellency the President is not here. However, the Honourable Chief Justice is represented by the Deputy Chief Justice,’ Mr Mawanda said.

Responding to the concerns, Chief Justice Alfonse Owiny-Dollo, in remarks delivered by Deputy Chief Justice Flavian Zeija, acknowledged the grievances and emphasised the Judiciary’s accountability to the public.

‘It therefore follows that the Judiciary, or the Courts, exercise delegated power. The authority we exercise is given to us by the people of Uganda through the Constitution. Accordingly, we have a duty to account to you, and you have a right to question what we are not doing well,’ the Chief Justice said.

He said the Court Open Day was organised to allow court users to engage directly with judicial officers and justice sector stakeholders, including the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, Uganda Police Force, Uganda Prisons Service, Uganda Bureau of Standards, Uganda Wildlife Authority, and the National Water and Sewerage Corporation.

‘I encourage you to visit the different stalls, ask questions, and engage with the institutions present so that together we can improve service delivery in the administration of justice,’ the Chief Justice said.

At Kiyindi Landing Site in Buikwe District, silverfish (mukene) trader Peruse Logose begins her day confident that she will not return home empty-handed. Where she once earned Shs5,000 a day, she now earns up to Shs200,000 through improved drying, processing, and value addition of mukene. ‘I started hawking mukene on foot,’ she told this publication on December 10. Ms Logose added: ‘Now I own a tricycle and a van, employ 10 people, and supply silverfish across the region.’

Her story reflects changes at several businesses on landing sites that are thriving due to value addition.

At Kikondo (Buikwe District), Katosi (Mukono District) Dei (Pakwach District) and Kiyindi (Buikwe District) landing sites, several women who once dried fish on bare ground now use raised racks and solar dryers to keep it clean and free from dust, stones, and flies, supporting successful businesses. The shift has greatly increased mukene’s value, with a basin that was once sold at between Shs20,000 and Shs30,000 now fetching between Shs50,000 and Shs70,000, and sometimes up to Shs150,000, depending on demand and location.

The improved quality has attracted buyers from Tanzania, Rwanda, DR Congo, South Sudan, Kenya, and across Uganda. ‘Before, mukene had soil and customers avoided it,’ said Ms Prossy Nabwanika of Kiyindi Kwagalana Mukene Women Development Group last Wednesday. She added: ‘Now, properly dried, a batch that once earned Shs70,000 profit now brings at least Shs300,000. Value addition changed everything.’ Improved earnings have helped women achieve major milestones; at Dei Landing Site in Pakwach District, they pooled savings to buy 13 fishing boats.

In Kikondo, women hire men to fish while managing processing and marketing. Several have joined or formed savings and credit co-operative societies (Saccos), saving up to Shs10 million to reinvest in their businesses. ‘Mukene has boosted our household incomes,’ said Ms Florence Kiguli of the Yagaliza Ofune Group in Katosi, Mukono District. ‘Schools now buy it as an appetiser, and anyone can process it from home.’ Value addition now goes beyond drying, with women producing porridge mixes, snacks, samosas, sausages, bagiya snacks, and instant meals, attracting higher-income consumers.

‘People now buy mukene from supermarkets because it’s clean and tasty,’ Ms Kiguli said. ‘Even the rich have embraced it.’ The Kikondo Women’s NutriFish Processors and Traders Organisation now produces deep-fried mukene and powdered products that fetch higher prices. ‘People once saw mukene as poor quality, but it is now valued, allowing us to start other businesses. I sell charcoal, soft drinks, and sugarcane,’ said Ms Rose Masese, the group’s secretary.

‘I used to sell a basin of silverfish between Shs25,000 and 35,000. Now we sell a basin at between Shs60,000 and Shs80,000. Better markets and processing facilities have made a huge difference,’ she added. Ms Sarah Akwale, the chairperson of the Kikondo Mukene Processors, said the business allows her to support her six children as a single mother. ‘I support my family through mukene. Demand has grown, four of my children finished A-Level, others joined university, and my monthly profit rose from Shs100,000 to Shs10 million, with one boat earning up to Shs4 million a day.’

Despite the progress, processors face challenges such as a lack of certified working spaces, transport limitations, and exploitation by middlemen. ‘Middlemen buy a kilogramme of deep-fried silverfish at Shs14,000 and resell it at Shs40,000,’ said Ms Akwale. She added:’We need secure processing spaces to meet UNBS [Uganda National Bureau of Standards] standards and access export markets.’ Ms Akwale highlighted the challenges faced by local fish traders. ‘I lack a proper place to operate. Authorities sometimes stop fishing, arrest workers, and seize our fishing gear despite our taxes. Removing soldiers from the waters would help the poor,’ she said.

NutriFishPlus fuelling change

Ms Nelly Badaru, a gender expert on the NutriFishPlus Project, said the initiative builds on an earlier NutriFish project by the Department of Zoology, Entomology, and Fisheries Sciences at the College of Natural Sciences (CoNAS), Makerere University. The project has reduced malnutrition by boosting the acceptability and consumption of nutrient-rich small pelagic fishes. Funded by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR), NutriFishPlus aims to scale up Phase I activities to improve incomes and livelihoods in fishing communities. Launched on October 28, the project will run until March 2028. ‘The initial 40-month project promoted the nutritional and economic value of small fish like mukene, which is eaten whole and provides essential nutrients,’ Ms Badaru said.

The project introduced improved technologies such as raised racks, solar dryers, and dust-free spaces, enabling hygienic processing while improving market access and joint marketing. ‘NutriFishPlus focuses on improving technologies, strengthening processing and marketing, empowering women, and promoting alternative livelihoods,’ Ms Badaru added. With a Shs2 billion budget, the current phase is being implemented at five landing sites: Katosi, Kikondo, Bangladesh, Kayago, and Dei, around Lakes Victoria, Kyoga, and Albert, promoting alternative livelihoods and value-added products.

Makerere University provides technical leadership, ensuring women, youth, and fishing communities benefit from clean and high-quality mukene for domestic and export markets. The project also emphasises longer shelf-life products, skills development, and climate-resilient enterprises. Ms Elizabeth Claire Nabuule, the assistant commissioner for Fisheries Co-Management at the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (Maaif), said: ‘People used to think mukene was not important, yet it is a key food for children with measles and malnutrition. Pelagic species like mukene provide essential proteins and help build strong bones,’ she said.

Ms Nabuule added that China rejects poorly processed mukene, and Uganda currently has only one factory in Buikwe producing export-quality fish.

Promoting small pelagic fishes is a priority of Maaif under the Agricultural Sector Strategic Plan to tackle hunger, malnutrition, and food insecurity while improving fishing community livelihoods.

The Chief of Defiance Forces (CDF), Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has urged Ugandans to remain peaceful during the campaign period and as they cast their ballots on January 15, 2026.

Speaking at a pipping ceremony of senior and general officers who were promoted last month to different ranks held at the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs headquarters in Mbuya today, the First Son, who also serves as a senior presidential advisor on special operations, appealed to Ugandans to cast their votes peacefully and go home thereafter, instead of hanging around the polling stations.

According to him, vote counting will be transparent, and it will be done in the open as each contestant’s agents will be present to witness the process.

‘The international observers will be present and so will the media. So, there is no need to hang around saying that they are protecting votes. The process will be transparent,’ Gen Muhoozi said.

His remarks come on the heels of a sustained campaign by the opposition National Unity Platform (NUP) leadership calling on its supporters to protect their votes, accusing Gen Muhoozi’s father, President Yoweri Museveni, who has been in power for nearly 40 years, of vote rigging.

NUP presidential candidate, Mr Robert Kyagulanyi, who is challenging Mr Museveni for the second time, has argued that no law bars voters from hanging around polling stations after casting their ballots.

He has accused President Museveni and his agents of ballot stuffing during previous elections, the latest being the 2021 bloody polls in which he lost.

Riding on the campaign slogan ‘Protest Vote,’ the musician turned politician said Ugandans are legally allowed to stand a few meters away from the polling stations as they monitor and safeguard their election from being rigged.

Gen Muhoozi, however, said there is enough scrutiny to ensure the election process is transparent, free and fair and above all credible.

‘Those who try to cause trouble, as I have heard some people proclaim, will be dealt with swiftly and with all the tools we have at our disposal and in accordance with the law,’ he added.

Gen Muhoozi said UPDF has the internal role to remain vigilant and guard against reactionary groups which may want to cause trouble.

‘We will not accept disturbances or disruptions of any kind against our people; we will take proactive measures and make sure that peace is secured around the clock,’ he said.

To the newly decorated officers, Gen Muhoozi said promotions signify deeper obligations to the nation and their subordinates.

‘This ceremony is not merely a change of insignia or ranks, it represents more responsibility and heavier tasks,’ Gen Muhoozi said.

Citing Luke 12:48 ., Gen Muhoozi said a lot is expected of the newly-decorated officers.

He lauded President Museveni, who is the Commander-in-Chief for his strategic leadership, which he credited for shaping the UPDF into a growing, professional force for peace across Uganda, the region, and the continent.

On behalf of the promoted officers, Lt. Gen Jack Bakasumba, the Chief of Joint Staff and the most senior among them, thanked Gen Muhoozi and Gen (rtd) Museveni for their trust and confidence.

Lt. Gen Bakasumba pledged that the decorated Generals and officers would uphold the UPDF values of integrity, courage, and discipline in their work. He also thanked the CDF for his strategic leadership and mentorship of the entire UPDF.

The ceremony was attended by several high-ranking UPDF officials, including the Commander Land Forces, Lt. Gen Kayanja Muhanga, Commander of the UPDF Air Force, Lt. Gen Charles Okidi and Ms Edith Butuuro, the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs.

Some of the newly decorated officers include Lieutenant Generals Jack Bakasumba and Francis Okello, Major Generals James Kinaalwa, Deus Sande, Charles Byanyima, William Bainomugisha, and Christopher Ddamulira; Brigadier Generals Mcdans Kamugira, Fred Zakye, and Paddy Ankunda; among other Generals and Colonels.

Uganda Airlines is in the spotlight after several passengers reported missing their flights in the past few days.

Several intending travellers with Uganda’s national carrier have taken to social media to express their frustration after they were left stranded without help at Entebbe International Airport departure check-in counters.

In a December 13 statement, the airline reported disruptions of its scheduled flight operations and noted that it was focusing on ensuring the full restoration of its regular service; however, this did little to quell agitated travellers online.

‘The tragedy happening at Uganda Airlines is far beyond even my 2019 doomsday predictions. One plane is stuck in Lagos, another in London, passengers stranded, airline rapidly falling apart as top management loot with impunity. Even God cannot save this airline,’ businessman Andrew Mwenda posted on his X platform on December 15, 2025.

Mr Mwenda’s post was accompanied by a video showing congested counters with piles of luggage and passengers. In the video, a female voice is heard saying the staff had abandoned their counters after passengers complained about their poor service.

However, researcher and social commentator, Timothy Kalyegira, replied, noting that the Airlines would fail due to the state of affairs in the country.

‘Uganda Airlines WILL fail. Why? Same reason you’ve not had power at home for the last 15 hours. If you, Andrew, are this frustrated by the state of things, how about the millions of long-suffering citizens who are not a phone call away from people in high places?’ he posted.

For over a week, passengers have been complaining about the carrier’s poor service.

‘Uganda Airlines, if you don’t pull up your socks and stop operating an airline line like a taxi, then people will opt for other airlines plying the same routes and forfeit their patriotism. Last week’s Wednesday flight to Zanzibar was cancelled and pushed to Thursday. Yesterday’s (Wednesday) flight from Zanzibar to Entebbe was delayed until midnight, only for passengers to reach the airport and again told the same flight was pushed to today, Thursday,’ journalists Sudhir Byaruhanga posted on December 11, 2025.

However, media personality Allan Kasujja urged Ugandans to keep supporting the national carrier.

‘Sigh! My heart goes out to the crew many of who are amazing professionals. They take immense pride in their work. I’m sure it’s not too late. We mustn’t allow Uganda Airlines to fail’ he said.

When this reporter visited Entebbe Airport on Monday, December 15, 2025, operations went on normally with intending travellers and returnees moving along their businesses with slightly heightened security deployment at the departures section.

However, one thing amiss was the blank Departure Flight Schedule screens in the departure lounge meant to guide intending travellers on their airlines flight time.

In contrast to the departures section, arrival schedule screens remained on; both in the arrivals waiting area and the offices area, which also formerly housed the waiting lobby for departing passengers.

According to a traveller using another airline who preferred anonymity, the screens were switched off at around 11 am after bustling movements and meetings of top UCAA and other aviation officials, but no reason was given to the passengers.

However, this publication couldn’t independently verify this assertion.

A source in the Airline who preferred to remain anonymous told this reporter that on Sunday night, the Uganda Airlines A330-800neo plane had been over booked and couldn’t transport all the passengers at the time.

‘Some of the passengers were complaining that they had booked two months before, others online but they were all here. The plane took those it could and the rest stayed. The included businesspeople who had perishables and many disgruntled travellers. They are the ones who recorded the videos,’ the source said.

When contacted, Uganda Airlines spokesperson Ms Shakila Rahim Lamar, admitted that the airline has been having regrettable technical problems with one of its aircrafts which has led to the delays and disruptions in the flight operations, which it is remedying.

She, however, dismissed reports that the Dubai-bound Airbus was overbooked for Sunday’s flight.

‘On Sunday, passengers had booked the Airbus to Dubai, but it developed a technical problem, and we downgraded from the Airbus to a smaller one, then we had to do a first-come, first-served basis,’ she said.

She added, ‘Some of them who had emergencies or can’t wait, we rebooked them onto another flight; those who could wait, we are planning for them, we have an office at the airport where they all went, and they were talked to,’ she said.

Ms Shakila said all their aircrafts are operational; however, their operations are hindered by unplanned technical issues, which she declined to divulge further.

‘There are seven, but we have technical issues. So, you find that one is out, two are out because of technical issues. That’s why the disruptions are there…When I say we have a technical issue, it means the aircraft. Because of safety, it has to be put away to be able to be examined and then fixed, and then it’s back on the line,’ she said.

According to her, the airline has been lodging passengers who can wait in a hotel and those unable to are rebooked on other airlines as per the International Air Transport Association (IATA) regulations.

‘The major problem is that we don’t have a fleet. When one is down, it causes a ripple effect around the next one. That’s the problem, and right now, we have so many people travelling, coming home. When you go to Saudi Arabia, Air Saudia, they’re having massive disruptions. Look at Air League, they’re having massive disruptions down in South Africa, and we also have shares with them. So you find that some airlines that don’t have fleets are going through this,’ she added.

Ms Shakila said the airline, which operates 25 flights per day, will rely on the leased aircraft to support and relieve the airline on the technical problem issue.

About the departures schedule screens being off, the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) Manager Public Affairs, Mr Vianney Luggya, said the screen blackout was a result of a power fluctuation.

‘It was just a power fluctuation; it has nothing to do with anything else and has since been rectified,’ he said.

When President Museveni kicks off his vote hunt in Buganda Sub-region today, starting with Mubende District, he steps onto a terrain far more complicated than any political battleground he has faced in recent times.

For the next 28 days, Mr Museveni will be crisscrossing the districts of Buganda and will hold his final rally at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds next month. Buganda, the cultural, demographic, and economic heart of Uganda has become a sub-region where the weight of unaddressed grievances hangs as heavily as the banners of competing political parties.

For a leader who once commanded comfortable margins here, the Buganda sub-region now presents a challenging examination of both legacy and legitimacy.

Mr Museveni arrives not as an unchallenged incumbent who seeks to extend his rule beyond 40 years, but as a man confronted by a rising tide of distrust, one that even he has publicly acknowledged. At the national evangelical convention held at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds in May, the President and First Lady Janet Museveni issued a startling and rare public joint apology, accepting failures in governance, corruption, security personnel excesses, and the alienation of citizens, especially in Buganda and the whole country. ‘We acknowledge that we’re human…and have made mistakes in one way or the other. Forgive us, oh Lord,’ The Musevenis said solemnly from the podium. Yet several political observers remain unconvinced. Some said the apology, profound as it sounded, may have arrived too late to change hearts hardened by years of frustrations.

The land question, poverty

Nowhere is this frustration more evident than in the land conflicts plaguing Buganda. Land in the sub-region is not just an asset, it is heritage, identity, and security. And yet, stories of land grabbing and illegal evictions continue to dominate local conversations. Residents speak of eviction notices appearing overnight, of machete-wielding thugs hired by faceless speculators, of wrangles where even valid land titles offer little protection. The government’s Land Fund, originally designed to solve precisely these problems, remains largely ineffective for Buganda Sub-region, its operations opaque, slow, and inadequately financed.

Victims, often poor peasants, have no structured government programme to help them rebuild their lives. Mr Museveni’s government may argue policy complexity, but on the ground, the story is simpler: people feel abandoned by the State and exploited by powerful interests acting in its shadow. In Buganda’s political calculus, unaddressed land grievances amount to a haemorrhage of trust.

Compounding the land crisis is the sub-region’s growing economic anguish. The high cost of living has tightened its grip on households and businesses alike. The rising prices of fuel, food, and essential commodities are not unique to Buganda, but the sub-region’s heavy reliance on small and medium-scale enterprises has amplified its vulnerabilities.

When Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL) took over power distribution from Umeme in April, several citizens expected relief from high tariffs and unreliable power supply. Instead, unreliable power supply has crippled workshops, factories, welding shops, tailors, and agro-processors. Machines stall mid-production; perishables spoil; investors lose patience. For a sub-region that prides itself on entrepreneurial dynamism, the power crisis feels like a betrayal. Mr Museveni, as he seeks to court voters in Buganda, will have to answer a painful question from traders in Kisekka, and manufacturers in Namanve Industrial Area and elsewhere: How can a government that prides itself on industrialisation fail at the basic task of keeping the lights on?

The unreturned properties

No political conversation in Buganda today is complete without the subject of unreturned kingdom properties. In 2013, the government handed over some land titles to the kingdom, a gesture that was widely celebrated. But the deeper issue remains unresolved. As of May 2025, the government still owes the kingdom more than Shs700 billion, mainly in accumulated rent arrears for buildings and land occupied by ministries and agencies. What frustrates officials at Bulange -the official seat of Buganda Kingdom is not the complexity of the dispute, but the lack of urgency. For the Financial Year 2025/2026, no funds were allocated toward settling the arrears.

Tension deepened when President Museveni offered to construct a Shs58 billion building named Lwattamu House for a section of Buganda clan heads in Mengo, a move widely interpreted as an attempt to bypass or weaken the mainstream kingdom administration. Mr Museveni oversaw the ground breaking ceremony for the construction of the six-storey Lwattamu House on July 25. Katikkiro Charles Peter Mayiga’s absence from all events related to the project-from negotiations to the ground-breaking ceremony- was a silent, but unmistakable message.

Officially, the kingdom remains politically neutral. Unofficially, the mood at Bulange reflects a quiet resistance against what they perceive as attempts by the State to infiltrate cultural structures. Yet the kingdom has recently been more open in hosting political actors across the spectrum. Mr Mayiga himself recently hosted a group of ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party leaders led by Mr Haruna Kasolo (NRM vice chairperson for Buganda Region), while Central Broadcasting Services (CBS) Radio- the kingdom mouthpiece has resumed giving airtime to National Unity Platform (NUP) politicians after years of tension-culminating in the December 10 appearance of NUP spokesperson and Leader of Opposition in Parliament Joel Ssenyonyi.

Among the loudest voices challenging Mr Museveni’s renewed bid is that of NUP president Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine. The latter claims that over 400 of his supporters, many from Buganda, are languishing in prisons on trumped-up charges. Others have been maimed by security operatives as they follow him on the campaign trail. Dozens more bear scars from brutal encounters with security operatives during the 2020-2021 campaign period.

Whether the government disputes these numbers or not, the psychological effect is undeniable. In Masaka, Mukono, Mpigi, Kyotera, and Kampala City, the memories of violence shape political identity. For several families, politics is not an abstract debate, it is a missing son, an injured daughter, a trial that never ends.

Mr Siraje Nsanja, a political scientist, said Mr Museveni’s apology at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds in May could have been partly aimed at healing these wounds, but healing requires more than contrition.

‘It demands political and judicial reforms, accountability for past abuses, and the release or fair trial of detainees. Without concrete steps, Buganda’s youth, already disillusioned, may view the apology as mere choreography,’ he said. Mr Nsanja added: ‘As Museveni steps into Mubende to launch his campaigns in Buganda , he will discover whether the apology he offered, the promises he will make, and the reforms he undertakes can convince voters that he still deserves another chance-or whether the region has already moved on.”

Can Museveni win Buganda back?

As Mr Museveni begins his campaigns in Buganda today, the question is not whether he can draw crowds; they will come, as they always do. The real question is whether or not his message will resonate in a sub-region that feels chronically unheard. ‘To win back the Buganda vote, Museveni must confront-not avoid-the issues that have eroded trust and these should include: presenting a clear, time-bound plan for resolving land injustices, restore economic confidence by stabilising power supply and reducing the cost of living, commit to honouring the full spectrum of obligations to the Buganda Kingdom ,address political repression by reviewing cases of political detainees and curbing security excesses and transforming his Kololo apology from symbolism into actionable governance reforms,’ Mr Abdul Nadduli, a former minister without Portfolio and currently a presidential advisor, said.

He added: ‘Anything less, risks deepening the political gulf that has widened over the past decade.’ On the other hand, Mr Nsanja argued that the NRM may exploit the disunity of Opposition parties and candidates in Buganda to win some parliamentary seats, especially in rural constituencies where poverty alleviation programmes like the Parish Development Model (PDM) are registering some success. ‘The Opposition is relatively weak on ground and lack a clear message rather than saying Museveni…should go. If they [Opposition] were united, they could have galvanised support and given NRM a hard time in the entire region, but because of their internal weaknesses, NRM still enjoys reasonable support in rural districts like Lyantonde, Sembabule,’ he explained.

The NRM insists it has learnt from its 2021 defeat in Buganda. Former NRM vice chairperson for Buganda Godfrey Kiwanda said the party commissioned an internal survey after the polls, identifying eight issues behind its loss. Among them were rising land grabbing cases, poverty, a deteriorating relationship with Buganda Kingdom, internal party wrangles, and the impact of Covid-19. ‘Since then, we have taken major steps.The Land Fund budget was increased; several victims have received titles, and our relationship with the Buganda Kingdom is very strong now,’ Mr Kiwanda said.

What is clear is that the race for Buganda sub-region’s political soul is far from over. Of the total 21.6 million voters countrywide, Buganda has 6.8 million voters – making it the sub-region with largest number of voters and a battleground for the January polls. Since President Museveni assumed power in 1986, Buganda is among the sub-regions where he has been gathering many votes. But this trend changed in the 2021 polls following the emergence of Bobi Wine with his People Power Movement.

A candidate for the Ntungamo Women MP seat, Ms Winnie Twinomugisha Ndiyo, has spent over two weeks in Ntungamo prison over failed payment of a loan obligation from a SACCO.

Ms Twinomugisha who was nominated under the People’s Front for Freedom (PFF) party says she took the loan from Rubaare people’s SACCO two years ago as she processed papers to move out of the country for work.

“I had taken a loan of about Shs5M (which has since accumulated over interests) as I processed papers to go to Dubai for work. I had been convinced by the Ruhaama East MP (Benjamin Kamukama- NRM) who exports labour that I can earn some money through working there. It turned out that he was a conman and I only reached there to find that I would have no work. I had given him all the money I had. I returned only to face debts,” Ms Twinomugisha said.

She was sent to prison as a remanded civil debtor on November 26 by Magistrate Grade I Edgar Kakuru.

Ms Twinomugisha, a former journalist, participated in the 2020 NRM primary elections for women MP, losing to Ms Bata Kamateneti who was later elected in 2021. Ms Kamateneti also lost the race in 2025 to newcomer Ms Viola Namanya.

“After I was nominated, I was approached by several NRM people to cross back to the party which I rejected. They were offering to pay for my loans but my question was why now. I had agreed on a repayment plan with the SACCO and had started clearing without default. However, as I was on the campaign trail, they called me that bailiffs had arrested my father, when I reached court I was the one taken in, fortunately, my father was released. They were so dishonest and they breached our agreement, I can’t know why,” she said.

The Ntungamo PFF district chairperson, Mr Nazario Ahimbisibwe, says the party branch in Ntungamo is engaging party lawyers to see what they can do about the situation without necessarily thinking about repayment of the loan.

“We want our candidate out, we understand the loan is her personal business but she is our candidate. It is a great challenge that many people are being oppressed for loans, not only opposition people but also NRM leaders. We are engaging the party legal system to see how she can be back on the campaign trail but also save her from the situation,” Mr Ahimbisibwe said.

According to an officer at Ntungamo prison, there are at least 5 civil female debtors that are politicians or wives of politicians. Most of the debtors are either Sacco borrowers or money lenders borrowers.

The Ntungamo resident district commissioner, Ms Miriam Kagaiga, says money lenders and SACCOs and courts promotion of custodial debt collection is hindering women access to credit over fear which may make many withdrawal from doing business.

“Many women are surviving on soft loans to do business, harassing them with custody over failure to pay is too much. Most women have no land to use for collateral and opt for different options, when they delay or fail to clear in time they end up in jail, I think we need more alternatives,” Ms Kagaiga noted.

Police in Bugiri have arrested two people for allegedly being in possession of counterfeit money.

The suspects were arrested in an intelligence-led operation and have been identified as Ali Mutale (49), a resident of Nawanyingi Village in Iganga District, and Allan Kyemba (32), a resident of Walugogo in Iganga Municipality.

Busoga East police spokesperson, Mr Michael Kasadha, revealed that on December 12, 2025, Betty Wazenda, 46, a resident of Mugona village, Ndifakulya Parish in Kapyanga Sub County in Bugiri District, made a report about two men whom she could not identify.

Ms Wazenda told police that she had been given counterfeit Ugandan currency notes worth approximately Shs3 million, under the pretext that the suspects could provide her with more.

“The duo were arrested following an intelligence-led operation while travelling in a Toyota Premio, registration number UAN 003Y. Upon arrest, the vehicle was searched, and items of evidential value were recovered,” Mr. Kasadha said.

Police have established that the suspects are part of a wide counterfeit dollar racket operating in the Busoga sub-region and beyond.

“They have been involved in similar criminal activities in Iganga, Bugweri, and Bugiri, where they fleece and rob unsuspecting businessmen of their money,” he added.

Mr. Kasadha said that further investigations are ongoing to apprehend more suspects and cautioned the public against falling victim to counterfeit currency scams, even if the notes appear genuine.