Category: Daily Monitor

Jinja was built by the river. Its beauty, industries, and identity are partly drawn from the current of the mighty River Nile. In the 1950s, the city was Uganda’s shining star: clean, orderly, and ambitious. The Owen Falls Dam harnessed the Nile to light up a young nation. Factories rose, mills turned, trains rolled through the Jinja Railway Station, and life pulsed to the pace of machinery.

But as the years turned, that pattern faded. The factories went quiet, workers left, and the town that once defined modern Uganda was forced to reinvent itself. Older folks tell tales with nostalgia, of a Jinja that was wonderful, with tarmacked roads and strong buildings. It could have been the best-planned town. That memory isn’t all lost. Jinja has evolved. The factories may have fallen silent, but the river still flows with new sound and direction that redefine the city as Uganda’s adventure capital.

If you stand by the Source of the Nile, you’ll feel the vibration beneath your feet. Tourism is its new face. At Bujagali and Itanda Falls, the Nile crashes over rocks in thunderous joy. The foamy white waters in Jinja have become the heartbeat of Uganda’s adventure story. ‘People come here for the thrill,’ says Mr Andrew Kamugisha, a local tour guide and adventurer. He adds: ‘But they end up staying for peace. Jinja gives you both- the rush of life and the calm that follows it.’

Born on the scenic shores of Lake Bunyonyi in Kabale, Mr Kamugisha went east in 2021 after studying Uganda’s top tourism destinations.

He says: ‘Jinja stood out. It’s not just about adrenaline. It’s about heritage, stories, and the feeling that you’re standing where the world begins.’ For Mr Ali Byende, the founder of Tubing the Nile, the river is both playground and provider. ‘I grew up near the water,’ he says. ‘As a child, I watched tourists rafting and laughing. I wanted to create something that belonged to us, something simple, safe, and joyful.’ After meeting tourism entrepreneur Amos Wekesa, Mr Byende turned his dream into reality. ‘He told me, ‘If you have the Nile, you have your future.’ That’s how Tubing the Nile was born.’

Today, his company welcomes hundreds of visitors every month. From calm floats for families to rapid-filled adventures for thrill seekers, it’s one of Jinja’s most beloved experiences. ‘We have learned to listen to the river. It’s powerful, but also kind. Tourism should give back to the people who protect it. That’s how Jinja stays alive,’ Mr Byende says. Yet, the city’s story flows beyond its waves. Its streets buzz softly with history, of dreamers, traders, and factory men. The John Speke Monument marks where the British explorer stood in 1862 to ‘discover’ the Nile, though locals laugh softly and remind you the river was never lost.

The Jinja War Memorial and Railway Museum honour those who built and defended the nation. Walk through the India Quarter, and you’ll see old art deco façades, their faded paint now framing cafés, galleries, and backpacker lodges. ‘The old buildings still speak,’ says Grace Waiswa, a local historian. ‘They remind us that Jinja has always been a place of connection between land and water, between people and progress.’

The Basoga, Jinja’s first storytellers, keep those roots alive. Their word ‘Ijinja’ means ‘stone’, a fitting name for a town, now a city, built on endurance. On weekends, drums echo by the riverside as dancers move to ancestral rhythms. ‘Our dances celebrate the Nile,’ says Mama Sylvia, a performer from Budondo. ‘We dance because the river gives us life.’ Modern Jinja glows with renewal. The New Nile Bridge, opened in 2018, sweeps over the river in steel arcs, glowing blue at night like a ribbon of hope. The Source of the Nile Gardens are lush again, with walking trails, picnic lawns, and boats waiting to take visitors to the exact point where the river begins its journey north.

Downriver, lodges bloom along the banks. There, tourists wake to the soft roar of the river and sleep under stars so clear they could be counted. And it won’t matter if you spend $25 or $300 a night, either way, River Nile is always part of your story. Today, Jinja stands tall as one of Uganda’s five tourism cities, alongside Entebbe, Fort Portal, Mbarara, and Gulu. It is a recognition of its beauty, energy, and potential. The Uganda Hotel and Tourism Training Institute (UHTTI) and the Jinja Tour Guides Association (JITOGA) are grooming a generation of storytellers, guides, and entrepreneurs ready to define Uganda’s next tourism chapter.

Tour guide Kamugisha says: ‘We want to show that tourism isn’t just about profit. It’s about pride, telling our story to the world.’

Challenges

Challenges, however, remain. For example the rough roads to Bujagali, fading heritage buildings, and the underdeveloped zero point, where Lake Victoria releases the Nile. Yet the optimism flows deeper than the setbacks. ‘The river has never stopped,’ Mr Byende says with a grin. ‘Neither will we.’ As dusk settles, the sun rises and shines colourfully upon Jinja. The bridge lights shimmer on the water. As she packs her drums, Mama Sylvia says:’The Nile is our pride. It gives us work, peace, and stories.’

In Jinja, you don’t just visit but flow with it, feeling its pulse in the rapids, its calm on the streets and its people.

Key facts on costs

Location: Jinja lies 80kms east of Kampala. It will take you about two hours by car via the Kampala-Jinja Highway. Travellers can use YY Coaches or Nile Coach for a Shs15,000 fare. If you are to hire private transfers, you will part with Shs150,000 to Shs300,000, depending on the type of vehicle and size. You can also hire a safari van from Shs100,000 to Shs150,000 and handle its fuelling.

What to Do: At Bujagali and Itanda Falls, the Nile turns wild, and you can engage in white-water rafting at $140 (Shs498,200) to $180 (Shs640,500) for a full day or $100 (Sh356,700) – $120 (Shs427,800) for a half-day trip, depending on the rafting levels you choose. Tubing the Nile rates range from $30 (Shs106,800) to $50 (Shs178,200), or kayaking and paddleboarding on calm waters for $40 (Shs142,500) to $60 (Sh213,800). For land-based excitement, go quad biking or ATV riding through sugarcane fields and villages for$50 (Shs178,200) to $90 (Shs320,559).

There is horseback ride for $40 (Shs142,500) to $70 (Shs249,459), bungee jumping from a 44-metre platform over the Nile costs around $115 (Shs409,808), while zip-lining at Griffin Falls in nearby Mabira Forest offers a leafy escape for $35 (Shs124,724) to $50 (Shs178,200). A sunset cruise on the Nile costs $25 (Shs89,000) to $40 (Shs142,708), depending on boat, company and amenities. A cultural and heritage tour of the city for will cost you from $20 (Shs71,216) to $30 (Shs106,824) which includes stopping by the John Speke Monument, Jinja Railway Museum, and the India Quarter, where colonial-era architecture meets modern-day creativity.

Where to Stay: For luxury, Lemala Wild Waters Lodge, charges from $250 (Shs890,367) to $400 (Shs1,424,588) per night, the Haven Eco-Lodge charges from $120 (Shs427,376) to $200 (Shs712,320), Living Waters Resort from $90 (Shs320,544) to $150 (Shs534,954), depending on the type of room and amenities included.

Mid-range travellers have options at Jinja Nile Resort from $110 (Shs392,300) to $200 (Shs712,320), Nile Village Hotel and Spa from $80 (Shs285,309) to $130 (Shs463,817), 2 Friends Guesthouse from $60 (Shs214,069) to $100 (Shs356,782), among others.

On a budget, Nile Lux, Adrift River Base Camp and Nile River Camp and others will charge you anywhere from $25 (Shs89138) to$80 (Shs285,309) per night.

Family-friendly options: Families can enjoy safe boat rides at the Source of the Nile, picnics at Nile Park Gardens, and gentle cycling tours around Budondo and Buwenda villages. The Jinja Sailing Club also offers family-friendly boat trips and fishing experiences.

Travel tip: Pack light clothes, sunscreen, insect repellent, and a waterproof camera. Stay at least two nights- one for adrenaline and another to relax. Also carry cash for ease in paying for some services.

President Museveni yesterday issued a stern warning to individuals extorting money from beneficiaries of government anti-poverty programmes as he campaigned in Kiryandongo District. He emphasised that the NRM government has made significant efforts to support wealth creation among Ugandans, including extending funds through initiatives such as the Parish Development Model (PDM), the National Agricultural Advisory Service (Naads), Entandikwa, and others.

The President said he had received reports of extortion, particularly under PDM, where some intended beneficiaries of the Shs1m receive less than their entitlement.

‘That money is meant to get you out of poverty. I am going to fight anyone who steals it from you,’ he warned.

Wealth creation

Mr Museveni reminded residents that while the government has invested heavily in infrastructure such as roads, this alone does not eradicate poverty at the household level. He urged them to work hard and focus on wealth creation. He said NRM began sensitising Ugandans about wealth creation even before coming to power, and many have since embraced the guidance. Among them is Mr Fred Byamukama, who practices the four-acre model of commercial agriculture and now earns substantial income.

Mr Byamukama said, his four acres accommodate poultry, coffee, piggery, and pineapple enterprises. Inspired by the President’s model, he now keeps 25,000 poultry birds from which he collects about 11,000 eggs daily, roughly 303 trays, earning him a net income of about Shs55m per month. He also earns from dairy farming, producing 120 litres of milk per day, amounting to about Shs7.6m monthly.

Mr Museveni said Mr Byamukama’s success proves that even small pieces of land can generate wealth, saying the four-acre model was first included in the 1996 NRM manifesto.

When Opposition National Unity Platform (NUP) party presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, aka Bobi Wine, arrived in Mbarara City on November 7, thousands of supporters flooded the Mbarara High School playground to receive him-forcing his campaign team to change venues for the day. The first rally was held inside Mbarara City instead of Rubindi in Mbarara District, where supporters had also gathered in large numbers. Soon after leaving the city for Rubindi on the Mbarara-Ibanda road, Mr Kyagulanyi’s convoy ran into a heavy and unusually layered security deployment near Bwizibwera.

What followed, eyewitnesses and party officials say, was a sweeping police ambush that resulted in the arrest of dozens of his supporters. An eyewitness claimed the first group of security personnel waved the convoy through-only for a second, a more fortified contingent to block and isolate supporters’ vehicles further ahead. ‘They created a way for the cars carrying the supporters, but a few kilometres later, another deployment stopped them. They started pulling people out, beating and arresting them,’ the eyewitness recounted.

Mr Kyagulanyi himself attempted to engage the officer commanding the operation, but was told only that the supporters had ‘committed crimes’-with no explanation of what those crimes were. For four days, relatives, lawyers, and even medical volunteers were denied access to the detainees held at Mbarara Central Police Station. Mr Joshua Tumukunde, the head of NUP’s legal team, told Daily Monitor that police blocked all efforts to verify the number of those arrested or their condition.

‘Parents, advocates, doctors wanting to take food or medicine were blocked,’ Mr Tumukunde said. Only on November 11-after anguished relatives stormed the police station-were the detainees produced in court. But what transpired next added another layer of frustration. The suspects first appeared before Grade One Magistrate Esther Bagala, who was representing Chief Magistrate Andrew Kabombo.

Ms Bagala declined to handle the matter fully due to her temporary role but proceeded to rule on three bail applications, granting some suspects freedom.

The rest were remanded and told to return on November 19. But on the appointed day, the court did not sit. The Chief Magistrate was in Bushenyi, and no other judicial officer stepped in. ‘Even the suspects were not brought,’ Mr Tumukunde said. Lawyers secured a new date-December 3-, but again, proceedings stalled. Mr Tumukunde explained that the State Attorney was absent.

‘The court waited more than 20 minutes, but she neither appeared nor explained her absence,’ he said. On December 4, the bail hearing resumed, only for prosecutors to request more time, citing a high volume of applications. The court adjourned again to December 8, when the State Attorney informed the magistrate that the Chief Magistrate had travelled to Kampala for official duties. Another adjournment followed, to December 11 (today).

Lawyer Allan Musasire addressed the court on Monday, expressing worry about what he called the State’s disregard for constitutional rights. ‘Your Worship, the sureties travel from far and keep wasting their money,’ he said, adding: ‘Among the accused we have parliamentary contestants- Fostine Wanikina (Butiru, Manafwa District), Emmanuel Kihembo (Bukanga North, Isingiro), Moses Arinaitwe (Kinkinzi West, Kanungu), and Sarah Kiconco (Rwampara). Their continued detention violates the presumption of innocence.”

Human rights monitors and legal experts say the Mbarara detentions echo a recurring pattern observed in past election cycles-where mass arrests, prolonged detention, and delayed court processes effectively serve as a tool of political control. But for dozens of families waiting anxiously for today as the court is expected to resume its business, the questions are more immediate: Will the court finally sit? Will their loved ones get a fair hearing? And will the law protect them when politics has already intervened?

When contacted yesterday, Principal Judge Jane Frances Abodo denied the allegations that the Judiciary is conniving with the regime to oppress supporters of the NUP party. ‘I want to categorically state that the Judiciary is not conniving with the regime to oppress NUP; we are independent. We expect this to be said, given the political season we are in; however, in the Judiciary, we don’t look at political parties but the cases that come in,’ Justice Abodo explained.

Abel Sikowo got his ultimate encouragement in long-distance running at the weekend thanks to victory at the Singapore Marathon.

Over the past half-a-decade, Sikowo transitioned from running the 3000 metres steeplechase race to road running, often supporting Joshua Cheptegei’s plans.

He moved to half-marathon distance before debuting over the 42km in late 2023, with huge guidance from Ruiter.

And on Sunday, Sikowo emerged victorious at a marathon distance with spikes after posting a time of two hours, 15 minutes and 40 seconds.

‘The race was very good,’ Sikowo told this paper this week. In Singapore, Sikowo came second to Kenyan Geoffrey Yegon last year but he was elevated to number when the Kenyan failed a doping control test six weeks after.

The conditions were so testing for Sikowo that his celebrations involved swimming out in a mass of water with his manager Youri Verbaas and training mate Mathew Chekwurui in Singapore after his race.

‘I’m very happy how mature he was handling the race mentally because in the last four weeks he was struggling with an Achilles injury,’ Sikowo’s coach Ruiter reacted.

Chekwurui came fifth in 2:16:08 while the most experienced Solomon Mutai, who won a bronze medal at the World Athletics Championships in Beijing, China, came eighth in 2:20:07.

Sikowo had initially returned to the training program but the pain returned on Tuesday, but he displayed a stellar mindset, in part thanks to his experience in marathons.

‘Abel is having a lot of experience nowadays in running the marathon,’ said Verbaas, ‘He did a lot of pacing and he knew the course well. Mathew is learning the marathon and did extremely well.’

The conditions, calibrated by high temperatures and humidity, were as well testing. ‘From the beginning they (Sikowo and Chekwurui) were not pushing hard. I told the boys again (and they know) it’s all about saving energy and cooling the body as much as possible and they did,’ stated Ruiter.

In the final 10km, like in 2024, Sikowo began to control the race much more and the lead group was reduced to four racers at 35km.

That cast included Chekwurui and with 4km left, Sikowo enjoyed a solo lead, hanging to bear with the hard conditions before charging to a wide smile at the tape.

SINGAPORE MARATHON

MEN’S 42KM RESULT

1 Abel Boniface Sikowo (UGA) 2:15:40

2 Mathew Samperu (KEN) 2:15:46

3 Wisley Kimeli (KEN) 2:15:53

4 Mathew Job Chekwurui (UGA) 2:16:08

8 Solomon Munyo Mutai (UGA) 2:20:07

SIKOWO AT A GLANCE

Full Name: Abel Boniface Sikowo

Born: Feb 27, 1999

Major Race: 2:10:33

Coaches: Addy Ruiter, Denis Okudach

Manager: Youri Verbaas

Traders in Nebbi Municipality are demanding compensation from local authorities after construction works for a taxi park and bus terminal in the area hit a snag.

The traders, who spoke to this publication, said about 534 of them paid Shs500,000 each for 4×4 metre rooms, 418 paid Shs200,000 each while eight of them paid Shs3 million each for bus terminal spaces, but have never realised value for their money for the last four years due to the stalled project.

In an interview with Monitor on Tuesday, the secretary of Nebbi Drivers and Transporters Cooperatives, Mr Powel Ongei, said the traders got Shs40 million bank loans with the hope of generating revenues on completion of the project.

‘The municipal council must bear the losses that were incurred. We lost both the money and materials at the site in the process of constructing the lockups, which mostly stopped at the ring beam level,’ Mr Ongei said.

The traders who had paid for the spaces, were to occupy them after completion. They now accuse the municipal authorities of failing to enforce the law and act technically to guide the developers since there was delay in the construction of Nebbi Modern Market.

The municipality council had hoped that the project would generate more than Shs500m annually in local revenue.

The project, on completion, was expected to boost local revenue for the council in an effort to implement the basic priority of garbage collection and road maintenance but failed to meet its targets for the last four years.

The Nebbi Municipal Mayor, Mr Geoffrey Ngiriker, said the construction of the taxi park and bus terminal was aimed at providing temporary accommodation for the traders who will be displaced by the construction of Nebbi Modern Market and also de-congest the street loading and unloading of passengers and parking.

Local developers who signed an agreement under the Public Private Partnerships (PPP) with Nebbi Municipality to construct a taxi park and bus terminal are also demanding compensation after the project works stalled.

Why the project stalled

Mr Ngiriker explained that the project stalled because some of the developers were cash-strapped due to the negative impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and halted most of their activities thereafter.

He said with the coming of Uganda Cities Infrastructure Modernisation Initiative Development (UCIMID) programme, they hoped the project would be completed and the developers would benefit eventually.

‘The municipal council will engage the local developers on how to harmonise the compensation since the Nebbi taxi park and bus terminal project will be taken by UCIMID in the next financial year,’ Ngiriker said.

A local developer of the project, Mr Mohammed Ozelle, said due to poor planning by the municipal council, the developers lost billions of money in the construction.

‘We buried all our money in the construction with expectation of immediate realisation of the revenue but now, we are all poor and failing to service the loans we acquired,’ Mr Ozelle said.

The Municipal Principal Physical Planner, Ms Flavia Oyenboth, said the council has been allocated Shs2.4 billion from the UCIMID programme. The funds have been earmarked for the construction of Nebbi taxi park and bus terminal, with the work slated to commence in the next financial year.

Ms Oyenyboth assured the developers that they would be compensated as sitting tenants for 20 years after the completion of the taxi park under the UCIMID programme.

‘We will compensate the developers as the sitting tenants based on the agreed resolution with the council through mutual understanding,’ she said.

Aboout the project

The memorandum of understanding between the developers and Nebbi Municipality was signed in 2021. The municipality council had hoped that the project would generate more than Shs500 million annually in local revenue.

The developers would use the lock-ups at taxi and bus park terminals for 15 years from the date of commissioning, but the project stalled and the site was abandoned.

Gender-based violence (GBV) remains one of the most pervasive and entrenched human rights violations in Uganda. It cuts across all regions, age groups, and social classes, manifesting as physical, sexual, emotional, or economic abuse. Despite notable policy reforms and advocacy campaigns, the scale of GBV continues to threaten Uganda’s social stability, public health, and economic growth.

According to the 2016-2022 national report, about 56 percent of Ugandan women aged between 15 and 49 have experienced physical violence, while 22 percent have experienced sexual violence. The 2023 Uganda Police Annual Crime Report recorded 14,846 cases of sex-related violence and 10,741 child-related offences, reflecting both the persistence of GBV and its devastating reach.

Further, research by the Forum for Women in Democracy (FOWODE) revealed that approximately 33 percent of Ugandan households report having experienced some form of gender-based violence. Another national survey by UN Women found that 56 percent of married women between the ages of 15 and 39 have suffered violence at the hands of their partners.

The forms of GBV in Uganda are diverse, including intimate partner violence, rape, defilement, sexual harassment, economic deprivation, and harmful traditional practices such as early and forced marriages. Although the prevalence of female genital mutilation (FGM) has declined nationally, it remains a pressing concern in some districts.

The persistence of these forms of violence is deeply rooted in gender inequality, patriarchal norms, and cultural beliefs that tolerate or justify abuse. Many Ugandans still perceive domestic violence as a private matter rather than a criminal offence, with about 62 percent of respondents in a Women’s Rights and Legal Aid Forum survey agreeing that domestic violence should be handled within the family.

Economic hardship and poverty further exacerbate GBV in Uganda. Financial dependency often traps women in abusive relationships, while limited access to education and employment reduces their ability to seek justice or escape cycles of violence.

Weak law enforcement also remains a major challenge. The UN Women report shows that only 26.6 percent of GBV-related cases reported to the police are investigated, and merely 4.8 percent result in convictions. This discourages victims from reporting, perpetuating impunity and silence.

The consequences of GBV are both personal and national. Survivors suffer long-term physical injuries, emotional trauma, stigma, and diminished participation in education and the workforce. Families and communities experience disintegration, broken relationships, and disrupted child development.

The national economy bears a heavy toll as well. A 2023 report by FOWODE estimated that Uganda loses about 31 trillion Ugandan shillings annually nearly 15 percent of its GDP due to GBV-related costs such as lost productivity, healthcare expenses, and legal proceedings.

Although Uganda has enacted strong laws such as the Domestic Violence Act and the Prevention of Trafficking in Persons Act, implementation remains inadequate. Limited funding for survivor shelters, legal aid, and psychosocial support, especially in rural areas, undermines the country’s capacity to respond effectively. Cultural resistance to change, poor coordination among institutions, and insufficient data collection further weaken national efforts.

To end GBV in Uganda, prevention must take centre stage. Changing societal attitudes that normalise violence requires continuous public education, community dialogues, and the engagement of men and boys as allies in promoting gender equality.

Strengthening access to justice and ensuring survivor-centred services should become government priorities, supported by increased funding and effective accountability systems. Better data collection and reporting are also essential for guiding interventions and tracking progress.

Gender-based violence in Uganda is not merely a women’s issue, it is a national crisis that undermines human dignity, public health, and economic development. The statistics paint a grim picture of a society still battling deep-seated inequalities.

Unless deliberate, coordinated, and adequately funded actions are taken, Uganda risks losing more lives, more potential, and more of its future to an entirely preventable problem. Ending GBV must therefore remain a moral and national imperative for Uganda’s sustainable development and the well-being of its people.

Farmers in the Greater Kibaale Sub-region are steadily embracing the government-backed Micro-scale Irrigation Scheme. The irrigation scheme aims to improve food production and reduce dependence on unpredictable rainfall.

Across Kagadi, Kibaale, and Kakumiro districts, more farmers are co-funding the system, installing water units, and turning previously dry seasons into productive periods.

According to data from the three districts, a total of 298 farmers have benefited from the scheme. Many more are still waiting for a chance to co-fund and join.

The irrigation system was introduced to enhance the production of crops and vegetables for both home consumption and market supply, while reducing over-dependence on rainfall.

Kagadi District Agricultural Officer Desire Mpalana said 80 farmers have co-funded the system over the last two financial years (2023/2024 and 2024/2025), and a total of 65.5 acres have been irrigated under the scheme so far.

‘The district has seven demonstration farms where we conduct farmer training. Three irrigation methods are applied: sprinklers, drag hoses, and drip lines. A farmer co-funds, depending on the size of land they want to irrigate,’ Mr Mpalana said in an interview with the Daily Monitor early this week.

Mr Hassan Matovu, the principal agricultural officer for Kibaale District, said the central government has spent more than Shs1.82 billion on the system in the district. He added that 83 water systems and eight demonstration farms have been installed.

‘This technology aims to promote consistent production and increased food and vegetable growing. It works best for small-scale farmers, though it can also be applied in large-scale farming,’ he said.

Mr Matovu explained that the government contributes 75 percent of the installation cost, while farmers pay the remaining 25 percent.

Although the scheme faced initial challenges, he said uptake has gradually improved. He advised co-funding farmers to plan strategically to remain competitive and profitable. Mr Matovu said farmers must meet certain requirements to qualify for the scheme, including having access to a reliable water source, the ability to co-fund, and sufficient land for production.

In Kakumiro District, agricultural engineer Joseph Kwezi said crops such as pineapples, coffee, watermelon, pastures, passion fruit, tomatoes, and other food crops perform well under the irrigation system.

‘Regular water supply boosts both quality and quantity of production,’ he said, adding that the system enables farmers to more easily enter the money economy.

He said 720 farmers expressed interest in the system, 580 farms were assessed by the technical team, and 171 farmers committed Shs1 million each.

He, however, said only 113 systems were installed, leaving a deficit of 58 due to funding limitations. Mr Kwezi added that the demand for the system in Kakumiro is now higher than when it was first introduced.

Mr Everest Murubya of Mugarama Sub-county in Kibaale District said the irrigation system has helped increase his income.

‘After the installation, I grew two acres of pastures for my animals. This has increased milk production, and I now earn daily from milk sales,’ he said.

He also grows passion fruit and watermelon to supplement his income. Fr Godfrey Kirabo, a beneficiary in Kagadi District, said the system has significantly reduced reliance on rainwater.

‘As farmers, we depend on rainfall, which delays production. This system allows timely farming throughout the year,’ he said, adding that productivity now depends more on the farmer’s dedication and availability rather than the seasons. Mr Jonani Tumusiime, a coffee farmer in Mugarama, said he is willing to co-fund but has not yet been selected.

‘My coffee would be doing better with a reliable water supply. On my three-acre farm, I currently harvest eight sacks instead of the 16 I would expect at peak harvest,’ he noted.

Another beneficiary, Ms Aisha Kanyarutoke, said proceeds from her tomato and watermelon harvests on a four-acre farm have enabled her to buy a plot of land, pay school fees, and meet household needs. However, she pointed out that pesticides are becoming increasingly expensive, making pest control difficult.

‘To increase productivity, we want the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry to support us with the right seed varieties and affordable pest-control measures,’ she said.

A taxing night in the Pursuit Swim League ended with Talons still top of the overall standings.

The swimmers had to compete in the 50m backstroke, breaststroke, and butterfly sprints in under one hour, then added three relays.

Jets’ William Sanford carried the night, from an individual perspective, with personal bests (PBs) in 50m breaststroke (38.30) and backstroke (32.70). He marginally missed the 50m fly one by 30 microseconds.

His younger teammate Nadrah Nalukenge also had two, lowering her breaststroke time to 59.10 and the backstroke one to 47.30. Each of them bagged 20 scores for Jets.

Shawn Kimbowa’s 42.90 in the 50m breaststroke collected 10 scores for Talons while Yolanda Magola clocked 46.90 in the 50m backstroke to also score 10 for Flames.

David Mwere also clocked 56.40 in breaststroke and 50.50 in the backstroke to earn Astros 20 scores.

With Pendo Kaumi absent, Ian Aziku could not do the relays alone, so he opted to provide pace for the top swimmers in the 50m breaststroke and fly. But despite his presence and push, there were no PBs for Tara Kisawuzi, Ethan Kalungi, Elijah Wamala, and Adriel Lumu on the night.

Instead Talons consolidated by topping two of the three relays; 6x25m, 4x25m, and 2x25m freestyle to top the night and stay top of the standings.

They topped the 4x25m and 2x25m free. Colts topped the 6x25m free with Talons finishing second ahead of Astros, Jets, and Flames in that order.

In the 4x25m, Colts came second and was followed by Jets, Astros, and Flames.

Aziku did both legs in the 2x25m relay for his team and finished second in a heat that was topped by overall winners Talons.

November/December Circuit

Match 3

Talons: 150 scores; worth 6 match points

Jets: 130; worth 5

Colts: 110; worth 4

Astros: 100; worth 3

Flames; 40; worth 2 points

Kaumi and Aziku – 1 point

Overall standings

Talons – 19 points

Jets – 18 points

Flames – 10 points

Astros, Colts – 9 points

Kaumi and Aziku – 8 points

Police in Mpigi District have recovered additional human remains from a shrine in Lunyerere Village, Kammengo Sub-County, intensifying a criminal inquiry into suspected ritual practices linked to the disappearance of several children.

Detectives on Tuesday sealed off the home of 29-year-old Ivan Muwanga after residents raised concerns about unusual activity at the site.

After a search, officers found several skulls concealed in metallic containers and buried within the compound, discoveries that triggered unrest as residents stormed the area before police dispersed them.

Muwanga, who was nearly attacked by the crowd, was arrested and detained at Mpigi Central Police Station.

On Wednesday, investigators returned to the scene with a court order and exhumed more remains, including material believed to belong to minors. The purpose for keeping the remains remains unclear.

Residents say tensions have grown over months of unexplained disappearances.

Vincent Miiro, the secretary for defence on the Kammengo Village committee, said repeated requests by locals for an urgent village council meeting went unanswered.

‘It was hard to believe what we saw inside the shrine because the owner has been known for manufacturing local liquor, until a girl reported a narrow escape when the same man chased her. It was her mother who filed a case with police,’ he told Monitor.

Miiro added that villagers were alarmed after a child who had gone missing was later found dead without all parts accounted for, an incident locals believe may be connected, though police have not confirmed any link.

Getrude Nakamoga, a resident, urged local leaders to strengthen oversight of new settlers.

‘This should serve as a warning for all local leaders to keep vigilant before letting strangers settle in their areas,’ she said.

Katonga Regional Police spokesperson Lydia Tumushabe confirmed Muwanga’s arrest and the ongoing investigation.

‘We’re to base on the evidence we’ve gathered to prepare a file to be sanctioned to court. All necessary procedures will be followed to know where the suspect got these remains from,’ she said.

Tumushabe revealed that police have so far recovered multiple skulls, bones and two bodies, with all remains transferred to Mulago City Mortuary for examination.

‘We call upon all people who claim the disappearance of their relative to come and assist police in investigations,’ she said.

This is not the first time Mpigi has grappled with similar cases. In June last year, security operatives found 17 skulls in an abandoned shrine in Kabanga Village belonging to a suspect linked to a high-profile killing in the Buganda Kingdom.

Concerns over the activities of traditional healers have surfaced elsewhere, including Mubende and Luweero districts, where authorities in recent years have intervened following allegations of criminal practices under the guise of spiritual work.

Opposition National Unity Platform (NUP) presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, alias Bobi Wine, on Thursday accused President Museveni’s government of neglecting Bundibugyo District by failing to establish a cocoa-processing factory for nearly four decades, despite the area being Uganda’s leading cocoa producer.

Addressing supporters in Bundibugyo District, Kyagulanyi said farmers had been forced to sell raw cocoa because the state had not invested in local processing facilities.

‘I used to come to Bundibugyo for music concerts, and about 70 percent of Uganda’s cocoa comes from this district. But there is no factory processing chocolate after 40 years,’ he said, adding: ‘If the government cared for farmers, vehicles would be coming here to pick chocolate like it is in other countries, and we would have Ugandan chocolate made in Bundibugyo.’

He claimed the government had instead chosen to locate a cocoa factory in another district, leaving Bundibugyo farmers dependent on fluctuating prices offered by middlemen.

‘Prices keep changing because the regime does not want to govern a population that is economically empowered,’ he alleged.

During his own campaign visit to Bundibugyo last week, Yoweri Museveni, Uganda’s president since 1986, pledged to set up a cocoa-processing factory in the district if re-elected.

He said earlier delays stemmed from difficulty in securing a reliable investor, but that one had now been identified.

‘We now have a serious investor who will come and produce chocolate here. We don’t need just one factory; we need many. That is why we need more land,’ Museveni said.

On Thursday, Kyagulanyi also criticized the condition of Bundibugyo District Hospital, saying it has remained in a state of disrepair since its construction in the 1960s during Milton Obote’s presidency.

‘President Museveni was here talking about healthcare, but Bundibugyo Hospital lacks even an X-ray machine, and most facilities have no ambulances,’ he said.

The opposition leader pledged to overhaul Uganda’s healthcare system by equipping all health facilities with ambulances, ensuring oxygen supply, recruiting additional medical workers-with more doctors than nurses-and raising salaries for teachers, health workers and police officers.

Kyagulanyi said these reforms would be funded by eliminating corruption, which he claimed costs the country Shs 10 trillion annually, and by reducing the size of Parliament.

‘Uganda loses Shs 10 trillion every year. In five years, that’s Shs50 trillion. Our national road network is 26,000 kilometers, and working on all of them would cost Shs30 trillion. If we arrest those who steal public money, we can fix all our roads in three years,’ he explained.

He also faulted the government for failing to build additional international airports and for lagging behind regional countries on railway development.

He said poor infrastructure forces upcountry residents to travel long distances on deteriorating roads just to reach Entebbe International Airport.

Before arriving in Bundibugyo, the NUP leader campaigned in Ntoroko District, where he again accused the state of neglecting health facilities that lack ambulances.

He also claimed the government spends disproportionately on security operations aimed at trailing him instead of investing in essential services.

‘In the new Uganda, we shall not buy bullets; we shall buy drugs for all health facilities. The police will do its work of maintaining law and order, and we shall release all political prisoners,’ Kyagulanyi said.

Uganda votes on January 15, 2026 to decide parliament and president with incumbent Museveni in the race that could stretch his rule to nearly 50 years in power.