Category: Daily Monitor

Uganda depart Entebbe on Sunday evening with a squad mixing hardened internationals and emerging talent, as coach Paul Put’s Cranes begin their final approach to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.

Put named a 30-man team featuring senior figures such as Denis Onyango, midfielder Khalid Aucho, defender Timothy Awany and forwards Melvyn Lorenzen, Melvyn Lorenzen and Steven Mukwala.

But the narrative around this squad tilts sharply toward renewal, with several players of Ugandan heritage – previously eased into qualifying and friendly windows – now trusted for the main event.

Toby Sibbick, Elio Capradossi and Jordan Obita, together with Mubiru and Lorenzen form that foreign legion of Ugandan heritage.

Romanian-based midfielder Alhassan Baba and teenage winger James Bogere of Masaka Sunshine, plucked from the lower echelons of Uganda’s football landscape after impressing at youth level and the recent U-17 World Cup, are the other names.

His selection marks the most daring of Put’s calls, signalling a willingness to reward rising ability over reputation.

A solid domestic core also made the cut through KCCA’s Charles Lukwago, Ivan Ahimbisibwe and Shafik Kwikiriza, Vipers defenders Rogers Torach and Hilary Mukundane, and forward Allan Okello, as well as SC Villa’s David Owori and Reagan Mpande.

The Cranes’ camp will run for 11 days in Casablanca, with two friendly matches arranged before the team relocates to Rabat – their base for Afcon Group C, where Uganda face Tunisia and Tanzania before travelling to Fes for the key meeting with Nigeria.

Put’s choices reflect a squad still evolving but increasingly assertive in its identity of collectiveness.

What remains is whether this blend of seniority, diaspora quality and raw promise can rediscover the edge needed to move Uganda beyond the last 16, their stop at the 2019 edition in Egypt.

Cranes final squad

Goalkeepers: Salim Omar Magoola – Richards Bay (South Africa), Denis Onyango – Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa), Nafian Alionzi – Defence Forces FC (Ethiopia), Charles Lukwago – KCCA (Uganda).

Defenders: Toby Sibbick – Burton Albion (England), Elio Caprodossi – FC Universitatea Cluj (Romania), Jordan Obita – Hibernian (Scotland), Rogers Torach – Vipers SC (Uganda), Abdu Azizi Kayondo – FC Slovan Liberec (Czech Republic), Isaac Muleme – Viktoria Žižkov (Czech Republic), Timothy Awany – FC Ashdod (Israel), David Owori – SC Villa (Uganda), Hilary Mukundane – Vipers SC (Uganda).

Midfielders: Kenneth Semakula – Al-Adalah FC (Saudi Arabia), Khalid Aucho – Singida Black Stars SC (Tanzania), Ronald Ssekiganda – APR FC (Rwanda), Bobosi Byaruhanga – Oakland Roots SC (USA), Alhassan Baba – FCSB (Romania).

Forwards: Allan Okello – Vipers SC (Uganda), Melvyn Lorenzen – Muangthong United (Thailand), Travis Mutyaba – CS Sfaxien (Tunisia), Denis Omedi – APR (Rwanda), Rogers Mato – FK Vardar (North Macedonia), Reagan Mpande – SC Villa (Uganda), Jude Ssemugabi – Jamus FC (South Sudan), Uchechukwu Ikpeazu – St Johnstone (Scotland), Steven Mukwala – Simba SC (Tanzania), James Bogere – Masaka Sunshine (Uganda), Ivan Ahimbisibwe – KCCA (Uganda), Shafik Nana Kwikiriza – KCCA (Uganda).

Head coach: Paul Put.

Being God’s dog is not glamorous at all. That is why there are very few of our species. Why would anyone enrol as a dog when they can masquerade as a prophet?

However, those who have made the truth sacred know that it is far easier to hear a pack of lies from a prophet than from a dog. Almost always, the prophet will leave big question marks. The dog will leave the truth self-evident.

For instance, prophets have taught ordinary people to recite like parrots, that all rulers are chosen by God. This is a huge, huge claim. It is huge because the ruler is responsible for the livelihood and general wellbeing of millions of people. Whichever entity chooses this ruler must have thought very carefully about the options available, as well as the different methods that could be used to put that person in power. A mistake could mean a crook or a monster getting into power, compromising the prosperity or safety of the citizens.

Therefore, as God’s dog, I must clarify, stating categorically that God is still lying in a condition of divine rest. He cannot take part in the choice of rulers.

The frequency of the parroted lie makes it necessary to just as frequently issue a correction. Indeed, if God were an active player, we would have to conclude from circumstantial evidence that he bears a grudge – or even outright malice – against African hominids.

Why, because Africans have been unfairly burdened with chronic misrule. God would have to explain why He did not identify and propel better human beings into Africa’s leading governance roles. I have recently been hearing some of Uganda’s NRM politicians singing that God wants them to remain in power because they are warriors of sexual morality and champions of the family. Even as a dog, I can tinker-tinker with my snout and manage a kind of laughter.

Warriors of sexual morality?

I suppose they are still trying to milk that old anti-homosexuality stand. But sexual morality is a far wider field than gay and lesbian eccentricity. Why are NRM politicians not citing Fort Portal and Mbarara, the cities that overwhelmingly vote for NRM and also have the highest HIV prevalence rates? Does God want NRM to stay in power because He (God) approves of the activities of these cities as alleged champions of promiscuity and general sexual immorality?

Then again, does God want NRM to stay in power because He approves of the regime’s horrendous corruption? Moreover, if God were part of this, He would face the question whether He is the same God who commanded that ‘Thou shalt not steal’. He would have to explain whether He approves of rigging and stealing elections as a legitimate method for putting His anointed individuals in power.

As Tanzania’s recent general election shows, one could say that God so hated Tanzanians that He arranged for them a regime that suppresses their critical voices and kills or locks up its political rivals; and the same God hated them some more by arranging that the regime be re-elected with a 97 percent-majority thrown in the voters’ faces as a final insult.

That would be a contemptuous God, a dishonest God; an evil God. When the God of Abraham, Jacob and Isaac gets up – if he ever gets up – and engages in man’s political processes, I will be the first to report. For now, He remains in a state of divine rest. Clean or mess up your countries; you are on your own.

Refugee women have been urged to apply for funds from the Generating Growth Opportunities and Wealth for Women (GROW) project, an initiative designed to empower women entrepreneurs.

Ms Fridah Mboni, a refugee specialist for the GROW project at the Ministry of Gender, Labour, and Social Development, said while refugees qualify to benefit from the project, many of them have not fulfilled requirements such as need for collateral.

‘Previously, uptake was low because refugee women could not meet collateral conditions. But through consultations with the private sector and project teams, new strategies are being developed so that refugee women can now access loans at a minimum value. Physical support during the application process has also been key, particularly for rural and refugee participants,’ she said.

Ms Mboni was speaking during a Saturday training for refugee women and other Ugandan women from Bunyoro Sub-region conducted by the ministry in conjunction with Enterprise Uganda in Hoima City.

She highlighted the importance of continuous mentorship and hand-holding for both refugee and rural women entrepreneurs.

‘It’s not just about providing loans or online applications. We provide on-the-ground support, verification through local government and settlement officers, and guidance throughout the process. This ensures the women can fully benefit from the GROW project,’ Ms Mboni explained.

The training brought together 450 women from Kiryandongo and Kyangwali refugee settlements. The sessions focused on soft skills, financial literacy, business management, and strategies for mindset transformation to improve enterprise performance and prepare women to meet the demands of emerging markets.

Mr Solomon Osaka, the Refugee Desk Officer at the Office of the Prime Minister in Hoima, said the impact of the training is already visible.

‘Many women have applied for access to common user facilities, like grinding machines, to add value to their products. With electricity now available in the settlements, value addition is feasible and market-ready products can reach consumers outside the camps,’ he said.

Mr Osaka stressed that equipping refugee women with these skills helps them compete effectively and create sustainable livelihoods.

Mr Charles Ocici, Executive Director of Enterprise Uganda, emphasized that the training’s combination of local and refugee women created a dynamic learning environment.

‘Refugees realise they can fit in and quickly become solid business people. Locals, meanwhile, see that refugees-without land, language, or contacts-are coming to do business. It’s a wake-up call for everyone,’ he explained.

He added that efficiency, time management, and proper contract handling were critical lessons for entrepreneurs seeking to compete in the fast-growing oil-related markets.

‘Hoima is now hosting an international community; you see demand for goods like chicken, eggs, goat meat, and pork-not just from locals, but from people attracted by the oil sector. The market opportunities in Bunyoro are immense. The time to adjust to international consumer standards is now,’ Mr Ocici said.

The GROW project also addresses financial barriers faced by refugees. According to Fridah Mboni, Refugee Specialist for the GROW project at the Ministry of Gender, Labour, and Social Development, earlier attempts to provide loans to refugee women faced challenges due to collateral requirements, since refugees cannot own property.

The GROW project is part of a broader trend in Uganda and globally to promote the economic inclusion of refugees, recognising their potential to contribute meaningfully to local economies. By offering technical training, financial access, and business guidance, the initiative seeks to strengthen the self-reliance of women refugees while integrating them into mainstream economic activities.

‘Refugee women can easily be reoriented and made great business people if the message is delivered clearly and honestly,’ Ocici noted. ‘The training also fosters peer learning, with refugees and locals learning from each other. This mutual awareness enhances business competitiveness and collaboration, ultimately benefiting the broader community,’ he added.

With the GROW project, thousands of refugee women across Uganda are expected to gain access to skills, markets, and financial resources that were previously out of reach.

‘This is the moment for refugees and local women entrepreneurs alike to step up,’ Ocici said. ‘The market is growing, opportunities are emerging, and those who prepare themselves now will reap the benefits for years to come,’ he added.

As Uganda and other African nations confront the realities of aging populations and widespread informal employment, the pension sector finds itself at a pivotal moment. With fewer than 20 percent of older persons in Sub-Saharan Africa receiving any form of pension, the urgency for reform is clear. The solution may lie in a powerful but underutilised partner: the insurance industry.

Across Sub-Saharan Africa, pension coverage remains alarmingly low. According to the International Labour Organisation, only 19.8 percent of persons above retirement age receive a pension, compared to the global average of 77.5 percent. In Uganda, the situation is similarly dire. Of the 17.2 million-strong labour force, only 1.97 million are covered by any pension scheme-just 12.6 percent of the active workforce. This gap is largely due to the dominance of informal employment, which accounts for over 80 percent of Uganda’s workforce.

These workers-boda boda riders, market vendors, domestic workers, and artisans are excluded from formal pension arrangements, leaving them vulnerable to poverty in old age. The implications are profound. With life expectancy in Uganda rising from 47 to 63 years the past two decades, and retirement years stretching from under 10 to nearly 17 years, lack of pension savings poses a growing fiscal and social risk. As the population ages, the burden on families and the State increases, unless sustainable retirement solutions are put in place.

The current pension system is fragmented. Uganda has multiple schemes, including the National Social Security Fund (Nssf), the Public Service Pension Scheme, and a few private and occupational schemes. However, these are largely limited to formal sector employees, leaving the vast majority of Ugandans without any form of retirement income. Insurance companies are uniquely positioned to strengthen and expand pension systems. Their role can be transformative in several key areas such as mobilising long-term capital.

Africa’s pension and insurance sectors collectively manage over $777 billion in assets. Yet, much of this capital remains locked in short-term, low-risk instruments such as government securities. Redirecting even a portion toward infrastructure, housing, and industrial development could significantly boost economic growth.

In Uganda where infrastructure financing needs are estimated at over $1.4 billion annually, tapping into these domestic resources could reduce reliance on foreign aid and borrowing.

Insurance companies, with their long-term investment horizon, are natural partners in financing roads, energy projects, and affordable housing. Countries like Ghana and Nigeria have already begun exploring frameworks that allow pension and insurance funds to invest in infrastructure through public-private partnerships. Uganda can follow suit by creating investment vehicles that meet both regulatory requirements and development needs. Secondly, insurance firms can develop hybrid products that combine life insurance with retirement savings, offering protection and income security.

These products can be tailored to the needs of informal workers, who often have irregular incomes and limited financial literacy. Kenya’s Mbao pension plan is a successful example. It allows informal workers to contribute as little as KES 20 (about Shs600) per day via mobile money. Rwanda’s Ejo-Heza long-term savings scheme offers government top-ups for low-income savers, incentivizing participation. Uganda has begun similar efforts with the Mazima Retirement Benefits Scheme and the Kampala City Traders Association Provident Fund.

However, these remain underutilised due to limited awareness, incentives and weak distribution channels. One of the greatest challenges in retirement planning is ensuring individuals do not outlive their savings. Lastly, low levels of financial literacy and mistrust in formal institutions hinder pension uptake, and this is something that requires building trust and financial literacy. Many Ugandans are unaware of the benefits of saving for retirement or fear losing their money in poorly managed schemes. Insurance companies can lead public education campaigns to promote a culture of savings and build confidence in financial systems.

This is vital in Uganda, where 50 percent of eligible NSSF contributors are non-compliant, limiting fund growth and sustainability. Community outreach, radio programs, and partnerships with religious and cultural leaders can help demystify pensions and insurance. Uganda is at a strategic inflection point. The public service pension fund Bill 2024 proposes a shift from a non-contributory to a contributory scheme, with public servants contributing five percent of their salary, topped up by 10 percent from the employer. This reform aligns with the broader goals of the National Development Plan IV, which emphasizes inclusive growth and social protection.

The Regional Police Commander of Rwizi, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Alfred Bangambaki, survived an armed robbery at his residence in Mbarara City on Saturday night, fatally shooting one of the attackers during the incident.

SSP Bangambaki, husband of former deputy police spokesperson Commissioner of Police Polly Namaye, was waylaid alongside his colleague, Areba Munda, as they drove into his home.

Two assailants armed with machetes smashed the vehicle window, injuring Munda on the face from flying glass fragments.

‘The assailants smashed the car window with the machete, and the fragments injured Areeba’s face. Areeba made an alarm prompting SSP Bangambaki to use his firearm to shoot at the thugs,’ a police source said.

One of the attackers was killed instantly, while the other fled the scene on a motorcycle.

Authorities have since launched a pursuit and have called for reinforcements to track down the fleeing suspect.

Police recovered the body of the deceased assailant and took it to the hospital for postmortem examination and possible identification.

Investigators also retrieved a machete, mobile phones, and cash from the suspect’s body.

‘The case is still under investigation,’ the source added.

The incident comes amid rising attacks targeting law enforcement officers. Just days prior, Assistant Superintendent of Police Emmanuel Bagenda, Officer-in-Charge of Ntawo Police Station in Mukono District, was gunned down by armed thugs, who also stole his rifle.

The suspects in that case remain at large.

Security authorities have urged vigilance and reinforced protective measures for officers in high-risk areas, while investigations into both incidents continue.

In its 2024 annual crime report, the Uganda Police reported a notable 4.1% decline in crime compared with 2023.

Ugandan fashion brand Axarya has unveiled its latest drop just in time for the festive season. Known for its versatile ready-to-wear, the brand has cultivated a loyal following with collections that blend ease, modern tailoring, and everyday elegance. The new release, Effortless Inevitability, stays true to that ethos – and from the pieces we’ve previewed, it’s shaping up to be the kind of wardrobe you’ll want on rotation all holiday long.

We spoke with Axarya’s Creative Director, Lincoln Axarya, about the inspiration, process, and the evolving landscape of ready-to-wear in Uganda.

Describe this collection in your own words.

It’s all in the name: Effortless Inevitability. The Linen Chic Collection blends relaxed tailoring with clean structure. These are pieces that carry you from day to night, offering high-end comfort without losing the polished aesthetic Axarya is known for. It is an intentional design for the intentional professional.

Who did you design this collection for?

For the modern-day nomad and the intentional professional – someone who values comfort and quality, whether they’re in the boardroom, hopping between cities, or taking a quiet-luxury escape.

This is for men and women who believe distinction comes from intention. They appreciate quality, subtlety, and purpose. They’re confident, understated, and see clothing as an investment in their personal brand.

What sparked the idea for this collection?

The theme was local luxury and breathability. You don’t need to leave Uganda to experience a retreat, so we created pieces that feel just as good in the Kampala heat as they do at a destination like Milele in Magere. The driving feeling was effortless sophistication – clothing that feels like a vacation.

How does this build on Axarya’s identity?

Axarya is rooted in God, modesty, unique elegance, and refined quality. This collection strengthens that identity through texture, a focused colour palette, and thoughtful construction. We kept our signature elements but reimagined them in linen blends that drape beautifully while maintaining structure. It reaffirms our belief that engineered minimalism elevates presence without compromising class.

Walk me through the design process.

It started with fabric, and cut linen was non-negotiable. We wanted a Linen Chic aesthetic that drapes well and endures. Washability and everyday wearability were also key. We used quality-assured fabrics so every piece feels like an investment, not a trend.

Ready-to-wear in Uganda is growing. What’s your take on where it stands today?

It’s at a very exciting stage. Consumers are shifting from low-quality, transactional buying toward intentional, quality-driven choices. The conversation has moved from ‘How much is it?’ to ‘How long will it last, and how often will I wear it?’ That shift validates our focus on presence and quality.

Are Ugandans embracing ready-to-wear more than before?

Absolutely. People want speed and consistency. They’re influenced by global aesthetics and want that look immediately, at a fair price and with reliable quality. Ready-to-wear cuts out the time, stress, and uncertainty of custom tailoring. People want to pick up a two-piece, style it effortlessly, and stand out.

How do you balance creativity with wearability?

By grounding every design in effortlessness and comfort. If a piece is difficult to wear or style day-to-day, it does not make the cut. The creativity is in the details – texture, subtle pattern work, and cuts that help the wearer feel at ease. The designs are meant to blend seamlessly into an existing wardrobe.

What do you hope this collection adds to the Ugandan fashion conversation?

We want to shift the mindset from fashion as decoration to fashion as an intentional lifestyle investment. We want people to see that Ugandan brands can deliver global-level luxury and functionality. And we hope it inspires more African designers to create with purpose.

Which piece feels most personal to you?

The Sage Linen Chic Long Set. Sage symbolises tranquility and wisdom. It captures the essence of our Milele retreat, deep relaxation with clear purpose. It embodies the heart of the collection, though every piece in the palette was crafted with intention.

What reaction are you hoping for when people experience the collection?

I want them to feel the calm energy. To feel like they’ve acquired a piece that truly reflects who they are. The ideal reaction is: ‘This is the brand I want to be connected to, not just creatively, but as a lifestyle.’

You will discover snow in Kampala before you find another Ugandan football club with the history, romance and competitive legacy of Sports Club Villa (SC Villa).

And such stature did not emerge by accident – Villa’s story is a tapestry woven from bold breakaways, eras of tactical reinvention, charismatic leaders and a restless ambition that kept pushing the club beyond the familiar boundaries of Ugandan football.

To understand how this identity was shaped, you only need to listen to those who have chronicled the club’s journey from its earliest days.

Few have observed that evolution more closely than veteran football journalist Hassan Badru Zziwa, whose reflections remain a compass for understanding Villa’s unmatched resonance.

As he has written in his several works with the Observer, ‘Villa’s rise was not accidental; it was built on structure, leadership and a relentless desire to challenge the established order.’

Villa’s story is one of brilliance, ambition, collapse and rebirth or an attempt at it – a mirror of Ugandan football itself.

There has not been any official communication from the club if they will specially commemorate their 50-year founding anniversary, but to relive the Jogoos journey, we will take you back on these pages.

From Kisenyi youth to Express exiles

Villa’s roots stretch back to the 1950s, when youths from Mengo-Kisenyi gathered near Nakivubo Settlement Primary School, playing informal sports and forming unstructured teams.

By the late 1960s, this loose collective trained at Nakivubo Stadium and became Nakivubo Boys.

In 1968, Express strongman Joseph ‘Jolly Joe’ Kiwanuka transformed the group into a feeder side. But leadership challenges saw Nakivubo Boys fold temporarily.

Some founders turned it into Bata FC, before the team was re-registered as Nakivubo Boys in January 1975 under Edward Luyimbazi Mugalu, George Faison Ddamulira, Fred Kawuma, Fred Sebatta and Dan Lule.

‘Several former Express players and officials joined Nakivubo Boys in that spell,’ Zziwa told this writer – an early infusion that would shape the club’s future power.

A short-lived transition to Nakivubo Villa followed before the club formally adopted the name Sports Club Villa in 1982.

Promotion to the top-flight in time for the 1979 season, just two years after re-registration, placed Villa on the national stage – a rise as swift as it was symbolic.

Kawooya blueprint and Musisi miracle

The arrival of Patrick Edward Kawooya in 1979 altered the club’s destiny. Zziwa calls it ‘the turning point.’

Kawooya brought some order to Villa’s operations: naming the training ground in Nsambya Villa Park, instituting structured training, improving recruitment, and introducing player names on jerseys.

He hired elite coaches – George Mukasa, David Otti, Polly Ouma, Geoff Hudson, Timothy Ayiekoh, Paul Hasule – and assembled stars such as Magid Musisi, Jimmy Kirunda, William Nkemba, Ronald Vubya and Sam Mubiru.

Villa’s first league title came in 1982, quickly followed by a league and cup double. Things accelerated, with league and cup titles and a quarterfinal run on the continent in 1983.

In 1992, Magid Musisi’s groundbreaking transfer to Rennes (France), becoming the first Ugandan player to move directly to Europe.

Part of the transfer fee reportedly funded residential properties in Kampala – a taste of Villa’s business potential that, as the club later admitted, remained largely untapped.

‘SC Villa got absorbed into the unmatched sporting success and slept on the job for important matters of ownership, governance and business,’ the club reflected on their official website.

Geoff Hudson glory years

English coach Geoff Hudson brought tactical structure, physical conditioning and psychological preparation that elevated Villa to continental respect.

Under him, Villa reached the Africa Club Champions Cup (Champions League today) final in 1991 and the Caf Cup (Confederation Cup today) final in 1992.

Hudson’s impact extended beyond results – he helped professionalise an entire generation.

Golden era and Mugabe dynasty (1986-2004)

The golden era, stretching from 1986 to 2004, began under Kawooya and solidified under Franco Mugabe, the latter helped by his executive of Omar Mandela, Ddamulira, Zzimwe, Tushar Ruparelia, Chris Mubiru and William Nkemba.

For example, between 1986-1992 before Kawooya handed over to Mugabe the following year, Villa won six league titles, three Uganda Cups, one Cecafa Club Championship, doubles in 1986, 1988, 1989, as well as continental finals in 1991 and 1992

Mugabe continued the dominance thereafter, adding eight more league titles, four Uganda Cups, three Cecafa Cups – with a spice of doubles in 1998, 2000, 2002.

Some of the players he recruited for that success included Edgar Watson, Hassan Mubiru, Andrew Mukasa, Hakim Magumba, Timothy Batabaire, Denis Onyango, Livingston Kyobe, Phillip Obwin, Arthur Byasiima and Aggrey Bigala, among others.

Coaches defined these eras

Behind these successes were meticulous coaches including Geroge Mukasa, who won the club’s first league title in 1982, David Otti (three stints), Polly Ouma, Hudson, Timothy Ayiekoh (three stints), Paul Hasule, and Micho Sredojevic.

Hasule – first as a player, later as coach – embodied Villa’s blend of discipline and emotional intelligence.

Micho modernised Villa further, helping Basena over the line for the 2002 league title, clinching another in 2003, and leaving in April of 2004 only for Sam Timbe to complete the job a month later as he lifted that year’s championship. The Serb also won one Uganda Cup.

Former Uganda Cranes and Villa defender, Obwin, intimated to this publication that ‘Micho brought systems. He taught us formations, how to think faster.’

The 90s and early 2000s also deepened the ferocious VEK rivalry – Villa, Express, KCCA – shaping Uganda’s football identity and raising competitive standards nationwide.

The long decline

After 2004, Villa entered a period of steep decline driven by governance failures, ownership ambiguity, political interference and poor succession planning.

Despite winning the 2004 league title, the warning signs were evident: a scandalous 22-1 win over Akol, the 2012/13 dual-league fiasco, and internal chaos all reflected the fragility of Ugandan football.

The consequences for Villa were stark: nearly 20 years without a league title, close brushes with relegation, a shrinking fanbase, a carousel of short-term coaches and match-fixing allegations among others.

Even landmark achievements, like Musisi’s 1992 transfer and the continental successes, failed to inspire structural reform. Little wonder that as you read this, the club still has no permanent place to call home.

As Zziwa observed, Villa’s sporting success had masked deep business and governance deficits.

Ownership and governance

To address decades-old ownership paralysis, the founders transferred the club to the Villa Members Trust (VMT), a body corporate under the Trustee Incorporation Act (CAP 165).

This comes with an annual membership of Shs50,000, with paid up members electing the club leadership. This was intended to encourage transparency, accountability and fan ownership.

Uptake has, however, been slower than hoped, but the Trust represents the most serious governance reform in the club’s history.

The present – cautious optimism

Under president Omar Mandela, in office since 2021, Villa have rebuilt some critical structures, strengthened recruitment with a strong bias on youth, improved training and restored a semblance of identity.

The 2023-24 league title, Villa’s record 17th, ended a 20-year drought and they are off to a competitive start in the 2025/26 campaign.

Still, challenges remain: No permanent stadium, limited financial muscle, and scaling the Trust model

Yet Villa now possess more than hope – they have a starting point, history, identity and a fanbase reconnecting with its club.

At 50 years, SC Villa stand as a club that has endured, evolved, and continue to define Ugandan football even when they – at times – feel lost.

SC Villa Fact File

Name: Sports Club Villa (SC Villa)

Nickname: The Jogoos

Founded: January 1975 as Nakivubo Boys

Name changes: Nakivubo Boys ? Nakivubo Villa (1980) ? SC Villa (1981/2)

First topflight season: 1979

Former training ground: Villa Park, Nsambya

Current training ground: East High Grounds, Kisaasi

Home ground: Fufa Kadiba Stadium

Club legal owners: Villa Members’ Trust

League Titles (17): 1982, 1984, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1994, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2024

Ugandan Cup (9): 1983, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2009, 2015

Cecafa Club Championships (3): 1987, 2003, 2005

Continental highs

African Cup of Champions Clubs (Champions League today)

1991 finalists

1983 quarter-finalists

1993 quarter-finalists

Caf Cup (Confederation Cup today)

1992 finalists

1984 quarter-finalists

Notable successful Villa coaches

George Mukasa

David Otti (three spells)

Timothy Ayiekoh (three spells)

Polly Ouma

Geoff Hudson (United Kingdom)

Paul Edwin Hasule

Moses Basena

Micho Sredojevic (Serbia)

Sam Timbe

Ibrahim Kirya

Dušan Stojanovic (Serbia)

Notable players

Magid Musisi

Paul Hasule (Most decorated player)

Ronald Vvubya

Sunday Mokili

Godfrey Kateregga

Moses Ndaula

Twaha Kivumbi

Sula Kato

William Nkemba

Stephen Bogere

George Otto

Joseph Dramiga

Adam Semugabi

Idi Batambuze

Robert Ssemakula

Paul Mukatabala

Wilson Nsobya

Sam Tamale

George Mukasa

Timothy Ayiekoh

Edgar Watson

Hassan Mubiru

Denis Onyango

Andrew Mukasa

Abbey Mutanda

Mike Mukasa

Jamil Kasirye

Geoffrey Kisitu

Shaban Mwinda

Rogers Nsubuga

Davis Kamoga

Livingstone Kyobe

Dan Kitalo

Zaid Tebesiggwa

Edward Nansamba

Sam Mubiru

Enock Kyembe

Said Abedi

Charles Katumba

John Kawesi

Yusuf Ssonko

Issa Kawooya

Alex Olum

Hakim Magumba

Andy Mwesigwa

Mathias Kaweesa

Ali Kayongo

Isaac Kirabira

Steven Bengo

Emmanuel Okwi

Geofrey Bukohore

Godfrey Walusimbi

Tonny Ndolo

Timothy Batabaire

Kenneth Semakula

Past club patrons

Kezekiah Ssegwanga Musisi

George Faison Ddamulira

Henry Balamaze Lwanga

Gerrald Wasswa Kasozi

Franco Mugabe (Current)

Board of Trustees

Gerrald Ssendawula

McDusman Kabega

Omar Ahmed

Franco Mugabe

Fredrick Ivan Kawuma

Moses Matovu

William Nkemba

Past Villa presidents

1975-1979: Daniel Musoke Kiwalabye (Assumed office as Founding Chairperson of Nakivubo Boys)

1979-Dec 1993: Patrick Edward Kawooya (Assumed office through consensus with founding members)

Dec 1993-July 2010: Franco Mugabe (Assumed office through Club Delegates Election)

Aug 2010-Jul 2012: Fred Muwema (Assumed office through Club Elders Appointment)

Aug 2012-Jul 2014: Salim Ssemanda (Assumed office through Club Elders Appointment on Interim Basis)

Aug 2014-Jul 2018: Ben Immanuel Misagga (Assumed office through Club Delegates Election)

Jul 2018-Nov 2021: William Nkemba (Assumed office through Club Elders Appointment on Interim Basis)

Nov 2021-To date: Hajji Omar Ahmed Mandela (Assumed office unopposed through Villa Members Trust Club Election)

Club Executive Committee Members

Omar Ahmed Mandela – President

William Nkemba – CEO

Daniel Bakaki – Senior Vice President

Salim Ssemanda – Vice President Fan Mobilization

Baker Mugaino – Vice President Administration

Sam Mubiru – Vice President Technical

Isaac Walukagga – ExCom member in charge of legal and constitutional affairs

Asan Kasingye – ExCom member and Villa spokesperson

Sarah Adong – ExCom member in charge of women affairs

Khasim Nziraguhanga – Secretary General

John Ninkunda and George Katemba are all praises for the Gorilla Conservation Coffee project that was started by the non-governmental organisation Conservation Through Public Health (CTPH) to support the organic Arabica coffee farmers around Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (BINP) to earn higher incomes from their farms.

Ninkunda is a 53-year-old mixed farmer in Rushambya Cell, Southern Ward, Butogota Town Council, Kanungu District in southwestern Uganda. He grows Arabica coffee, tea, cassava, maize and potatoes on his three and half acres of land. Married with five children, Ninkunda suffered a stroke and he has been in a wheelchair for the past nine years. He was among the first farmers to join the gorilla coffee project in 2015.

‘When we harvest the coffee, we sort it and pour water into the container. The best coffee will stay at the bottom of the water, while the bad coffee will float on top. They pay us after two or three days according to the kilograms they have bought,’ he says.

In a good season, he can harvest between 300 and 350 kilogrammes of Arabica coffee from one and a half acres, earning between Shs900,000 and Shs1,050,000.

‘I am very happy and pleased with this project. We are able to earn money to pay school fees for our children. Organic farming is the best because you will be selling high quality coffee at a high price. Those with large tracts of land are earning lots of money and are building houses,’ Ninkunda says, adding:’Growing coffee is protecting our environment, which results in rain that nourishes our gardens and good harvests.’

Katemba, 51, is married with four children. He is also a mixed farmer in Rushambya Cell with two acres of land. He grows coffee on one acre, and bananas and tea on the rest of the land.

Harvesting anywhere between 200 and 300 kilogrammes of coffee, he earns between Shs600,000 and Shs900,000 every season.

‘We sell them organic coffee and we don’t spray it because we were trained not to. If I had more land, I would grow more coffee. I am pleased with this project because I earn money immediately CTPH buys my coffee. Payment does not take many days like it is with other buyers. With the income from coffee, I pay school fees for my four children, and buy food that I do not grow plus other items for my household. Because the money from the coffee project is timely and predictable, I am able to buy goats and other forms of wealth,’ Katemba says.

Pursuit of fairness

CTPH started up a social enterprise called Gorilla Conservation Coffee in response to a realisation that smallholder coffee farmers around BINP, home to the critically endangered mountain gorillas, were not getting a fair price for their coffee. This meant they had to depend on the gorillas’ habitat to meet their basic needs for food and fuel wood, putting the wildlife, habitats and community members all at risk.

A donation from the sale of the coffee goes towards supporting the conservation and public health programmes in the community.

Benjamin Tumuramye, a CTPH Gorilla Conservation Coffee extension worker, says gorilla coffee is a social enterprise of CTPH.

‘Its main objective is to conserve gorillas, their habitants, and improve the people’s livelihoods by encouraging the people living around the outskirts of BINP to grow coffee of which Gorilla Conservation Coffee pays them a premium price, which is always above the market price,’ he says.

‘We offer free coffee management training to farmers and bring the market nearer to the farmers. We provide shade trees to farmers with the aim of mitigating climate change. These are environmentally friendly trees that encourage the farmers to grow in their coffee plantations. We started with over 100 coffee farmers in 2015, and today, we have 630 farmers working directly with, us of which 230 are women. We are encouraging women to take part in coffee farming. We focus on small-holder farmers by helping them to bring the market closer to them,’ he adds.

Tumuramye says when one buys a bag of Arabica Kanyonyi Coffee Blend, ‘your purchase helps pay an extra $50 (about Shs176,000) per kilogramme over market trading prices to our farmers, and $1.50 (Shs5,000) back to CTPH’s continued efforts in maintaining the healthy livelihoods of Bwindi.’

Tumuramye further explains that their farmers practice organic farming in a bid not to contaminate the environment and the industrial agro-chemicals are some of the causes of cancer and other diseases.

‘Our farmers have embraced this coffee because of the premium prices and training that we offer to them. When they grow their coffee and we pay them a premium price, they earn money to take their children to school, buy food, and their incomes have improved. Since they began earning from this coffee, they no longer go into the forest to hunt for game meat, wild fruits, and cut down trees for charcoal burning. And this has helped to reduce human-wildlife conflicts,’ Tumuramye said. Tumuramye says their coffee is single origin, medium roasted 100 percent Arabica coffee from Bwindi.

‘Our coffee is well processed and selective hand picking is done while harvesting it. They harvest coffee twice in a year during the two coffee seasons from February to May, and August to November,’ he says.

CTPH approach

In her memoir, Walking With Gorillas, Dr Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka writes that when they started CTPH in 2003, the idea of addressing human, animal, and environmental health together was just emerging.

‘Very few understood that people and animals can make each other sick and that, in turn, this can have enormous impacts on conservation, public health, and sustainable development. At CTPH we developed a multidisciplinary approach to address these issues, but because it didn’t fit into a neat category it was difficult for donors and policy makers to understand the potential benefits.’

CTPH promotes biodiversity conservation by enabling people, the endangered mountain gorillas, other wildlife, and livestock to co-exist through improving their health and livelihoods in and around Africa’s protected areas. CTPH’s projects are founded on the belief that conserving wildlife must go hand-in-hand with supporting neighbouring communities, providing public health and hygiene services, as well as information on the conservation.

The organisation was established in recognition of the major risks associated with humans living in close quarters with wildlife, particularly with closely related primates, including the spread of zoonotic diseases.

CTPH had to find other ways to sustain its conservation efforts. They founded the social enterprise Gorilla Conservation Coffee to protect endangered gorillas by creating prosperity for the local human communities, Kalema-Zikusoka writes.

She adds: ‘Since we started Gorilla Conservation Coffee in 2015, we have steadily increased the volume of coffee purchased from farmers living around BINP. To date, we have bought more than 100 tonnes of premium Arabica coffee from our partner farmers. This represents not just bags of coffee, but real livelihoods transformed. ‘

Kalema-Zikusoka says farmers are central to CTPH’s efforts.

‘By offering them a reliable, above market price, we have helped stabilise household incomes, improved their ability to support their families, and reduced the pressure to enter the forest to meet basic needs.

Every kilogramme we purchase is a step toward strengthening community wellbeing, and in turn, strengthening gorilla conservation where a donation from every coffee bag sold is put aside to sustain community health, gorilla health and conservation education programmes of Conservation Through Public Health NGO.’

Asked how the project is contributing to climate change mitigation, Kalema-Zikusoka says: ‘Gorilla Conservation Coffee was designed from the start to protect gorillas by supporting the people who share a landscape with them. But over time, it has also grown into a quiet force for climate resilience.’

She adds: ‘First, by creating a stable market for high-quality coffee, we encourage farmers to continue planting and maintaining shade-grown coffee, which thrives under the forest canopy. This farming method protects biodiversity, improves soil structure, prevents erosion, and stores significantly more carbon than sun-grown alternatives.’

‘Second, by reducing farmers’ reliance on the park for firewood, bush meat, or land for cultivation, we help minimise deforestation and forest encroachment, which are major drivers of carbon emissions. Keeping Bwindi’s forest intact means keeping one of Uganda’s most important carbon sinks healthy.

‘Third, we provide training in climate-smart agriculture, including mulching, organic fertiliser use, water conservation, and better post-harvest handling. These practices not only improve yields but also strengthen the landscape against drought and extreme weather, both growing threats in the region.’

Tea vs coffee

The recent drop in the price of tea is forcing farmers in Kanungu District to abandon tea for other cash crops, especially coffee. Ninkunda says in 2024 the price of tea fell to Shs100 per kilogramme, down from Shs500 about three years ago.

‘The price has now increased to Shs350 per kilogramme. We are now abandoning growing tea. Some farmers are uprooting their tea plantations and replacing tea with coffee and other crops.’ Katemba concurs, saying the ‘drastic price fall of tea has brought us problems.’

Winning hearts

Gorilla Conservation Coffee won the top prize in the Food category at the 2024 PEA (People. Environment. Achievement.) Awards held at The Savoy Hotel London in England in June.

The judges were bowled over by the way Kalema-Zikusoka is giving smallholder farmers on the outskirts of Bwindi access to global agricultural commodity markets, increasing incomes and resilience while reducing threats to forest resources and mountain gorillas.

‘CTPH’s biggest contribution to the communities surrounding Bwindi is improving their health and livelihoods, which in turn fosters a greater commitment to conservation. By providing health services through Village Health and Conservation Teams, promoting sustainable agriculture, and supporting alternative livelihoods through Gorilla Conservation Coffee, we’ve empowered these communities to live in harmony with the gorillas and the environment,’ Kalema-Zikusoka says.

‘The wolf shall dwell with the lamb. A small child will lead them.’ (Isaiah 11:1)

The Christian season of Advent is underway. It is observed as a time of waiting and preparing for the coming of Jesus. During Advent, we are presented with God’s vision of a new world; a world at peace. This vision is, however, so old that some people think it will never become real.

Prophet Isaiah describes an ideal world where the wolf lives with the lamb, where the child puts his hand in the cobra’s lair without fear, where justice blooms like a new dew. In its historical context, this saying is part of a description of an earthly paradise that will follow the restoration of Israel after its destruction in a series of wars.

Isaiah might have chosen the wolf to illustrate his message, owing to a number of reasons. Wolves have negative qualities, such as being deceptive and harmful to people. Positively, the wolf symbolizes both communal harmony and personal autonomy, the spirit of resourcefulness, and adaptability, even under the most dire circumstances. It represents qualities like loyalty, courage and spiritual depth. Wolves are complex, highly intelligent animals who are caring, playful, and above all devoted to family. The character of a wolf encourages us to work hard and never to give up.

At a human level, Isaiah’s vision carries a political, ecological, ethical, and spiritual prophecy that reveals to us that peace always begins with a small beginning, rooted in God. Peace has the face of the Messiah; filled with the Spirit of wisdom, intelligence, advice, strength. Finally, peace has a requirement, which is justice for the little ones and rights for the poor. God identifies with the poor; how we treat them is how we treat Him (Proverbs 14:31).

Isaiah’s message speaks directly to our hearts. A country has no peace when justice falters. People have no peace when land is unscrupulously being grabbed, when forests are destroyed, when wetlands are being encroached on, and when the weakest are not protected. Isaiah thus teaches us that peace is never a political decoration; it is a spiritual and moral commitment that pushes us to build with an open heart and not with opposing political, tribal/cultural or religious camps.

Saint Paul in Romans 15:4-9, reminds us that division is contrary to the Gospel, and that Christ came to gather the nations, Jews as well as Gentiles. He offers us three pillars of peace. The first pillar is memory: ‘What was written has been for our instruction.’ Therefore, he asks us neither to repeat past mistakes nor to fuel resentments. The second pillar of peace is patience. Peace cannot be decreed; it is woven over time. Thirdly, peace arises from hearts that are open to God and have experienced repentance and conversion.

In Matthew 3:1-12, John the Baptist lays down the conditions of possibilities for a peace that necessarily begins with a radical conversion. He denounces, without fear or favour, what prevents peace: hypocrisy, hidden violence, economic injustices, corruption, religious manipulation and the exploitation of the poor.

To truly realise peace, we are invited us convert our words, our relationships, our way of managing the land, the forests and the common goods. We should convert our way of treating the poor. We should seriously convert our relationship to power, to money and to truth.

We are further taught that peace is a fruit, born on a tree with roots. If the roots are rotted by selfishness, corruption, injustice, violence, discrimination and betrayal of the truth, then the fruit will be bitter. As Christians and as citizens, we build bridges, not walls. We seek the truth without hatred; refuse manipulation and promoting dialogue. Dialogue, as opposed to monologue, refers to one entity with all the information simply giving it to others without exploration and clarification of meaning through discussion.

Therefore, one must dare to promote transparency and mediation, respect for the common good and protection of the weak. In the sphere of the ecology, we should not destroy tomorrow with today’s carelessness. We are called to plant, protect, reforest, raise awareness and educate. Only then will Psalm 72:7 find its fulfillment: ‘Justice shall flourish in His time, and fullness of peace forever’.

Uganda’s First Lady Janet Kataaha Museveni has made a rare public commendation of the Daily Monitor newspaper, highlighting its impartial reporting of her parliamentary victory nearly two decades ago, as she urged voters in Ntungamo District to support the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) ahead of the January 2026 elections.

Speaking on Saturday during an NRM entry meeting and commissioning of village-level mobilization at Kyamate Secondary School in Ntungamo municipality, Janet Museveni recalled her own parliamentary campaign in Ruhaama constituency.

The praise is notable given the historically tense relations, with Nation Media Group outlets, including Daily Monitor and NTV Uganda, facing closure or threats and legal challenges since the mid-2000s, and in 2025 being barred from covering President Museveni and Parliament at the height of government control over politically sensitive reporting.

‘When I was still MP for Ruhaama county in 2006, my votes were reported perfectly by Daily Monitor. You see Monitor has been reporting ill but my votes were reported well,’ she said.

‘The first time. it said this woman got the biggest votes of all MPs who were contesting that year, yet people had discouraged me not to stand. But I said if God, my God, has sent me, I cannot fail to secure win,’ she added.

The First Lady, who also chairs the NRM district chapter, called on the people of Ntungamo to back President Museveni and all NRM flag bearers with near-unanimous votes.

‘Kindly let Ntungamo District vote 100% such that people can debate on it. When we did the president’s rally here recently, I promised him we shall secure 99% votes, leaving only 1% for other parties,’ she said, urging the electorate to give NRM ‘the full 100%.’

Janet Museveni linked support for the party to Uganda’s peace and security, stressing that the NRM government had restored stability after decades of turmoil.

‘I urged the general public to vote for the ruling NRM party to safeguard the country’s peace and security, saying that peace and stability enjoyed today were a nightmare for decades and should not be taken for granted,’ she said.

She warned that failure to support the party could risk a return to political instability and ethnic divisions, while commending the government’s role in ‘liberating the country’ and restoring hope to Ugandans forced into exile under past regimes.

The meeting, attended by at least 63 grassroots NRM members and flag bearers, also launched a parish-level mobilization campaign for the party.

James Tweheyo, NRM Workers League chairperson, described the door-to-door strategy as ‘essential for securing 100% votes for the president and all party candidates.’

Vice Chairman NRM Ntungamo District, Yona Musinguzi, pledged to mobilize communities, while official statistics show the district now has 315,037 registered voters and 812 polling stations, up from 268,541 in 2021.

In the last presidential election, Museveni secured 86.52% of votes in Ntungamo, far ahead of opposition candidates.