Category: Daily Monitor

History has always been a compass for the future. Across cultures, the present is woven from the threads of the past; our religion, customs, values and traditions all rooted in history. A strong past often lays the foundation for a strong future; the reverse, too, can be true.

In Africa, this truth is particularly vivid. Identity itself is inseparable from history, shaping how people see themselves and their place in the world. Perhaps this is why Pan-Africanists continue to resist imperialism in all its forms: the fight is not only about sovereignty, but also about preserving heritage and protecting the continent’s future.

It was against this backdrop that I embarked on a 21-day visit to Egypt, part of a training programme that brought together 23 African journalists. Beyond classroom sessions, the programme offered an opportunity to explore Cairo’s unique blend of ancient wonders and modern marvels.

At the top of everyone’s wish list? The Pyramids.

‘I hope we’re going to have a trip to the pyramids,’ one colleague whispered hopefully before our schedule was unveiled.

Over lunch, we sat huddled around tables, eager yet tentative in our conversations. But when someone mentioned the pyramids, the energy shifted. Faces lit up, voices grew animated, and I realised in that moment: the pyramids are not just a tourist attraction. They are Egypt’s very identity, a symbol that resonates far beyond its borders.

Back home, the moment I announced my arrival in Egypt, friends urged me to make time for the pyramids of Giza. I had already planned for the visit before leaving Uganda, unaware that the organisers of our programme had arranged it for us.

Colossal structureStanding before the pyramids, I could not help but think of my mother land Uganda remains different in purpose, yet similar in their grandeur and architectural genius. And the journey did not end at Giza.

In Alexandria, our journey took us to the Citadel of Qaitbay, a fortress where the Mediterranean Sea brushes the shore. Built in the 15th century in classic Mamluk style, with imposing limestone walls, the citadel once stood as a bulwark against invading forces.

Despite my usual claustrophobia, I wandered through its narrow passages and stone chambers, struck by the sheer weight of history pressed into every wall.

But Egypt’s story is not only about the past, it is written into its architecture. From residential blocks to commercial hubs and grand monuments, one thing is clear: Egyptians have always built big.

‘Is there anything like a small structure in Egypt?’ I wondered aloud.

Cairo home to an estimated 23 million people squeezed into just 453 square kilometers, is one of the world’s most densely populated cities. Its streets pulse with life around the clock, a city that never truly sleeps.

‘We made sure our people have apartments to reside in,’ explained Ambassador Mohamed Hegazi during our visit to the Organization of African Cities in Cairo. Those high-rise apartments, we realized, were not built as symbols of grandeur but as practical answers to population pressure.

It was in discussions about Egypt’s Vision 2030 that I saw familiar ambitions reflected back at me.

Uganda too, has spoken of smart cities as part of Vision 2040, the country had put in place a number of interventions aimed at re-imagining urbanisation, including legislation, integrated physical planning and strict development control for of urban sprawling, adopting well-planned, high-density settlement for Kampala and medium-density settlement for the regional and strategic cities through construction of high-rise buildings.

In Egypt, that vision has already given birth to New Cairo a modern administrative capital that stands in bold contrast to the historic city, yet remains tied to its identity.

Yet even in its modernity, New Cairo carries the spirit of identity. The city’s architecture, while sleek and contemporary, draws symbolic connections to Egypt’s past. The skyline may be new, but it echoes the grandeur of ancient design.

One of its crown jewels is the Al-Fattah Al-Alim Mosque, a stunning piece of Islamic architecture that could rival the world’s finest hotels. With its vast dome, towering minarets and golden chandeliers glittering inside, the mosque is both a Centre of worship and a magnet for visitors.

Outside, street vendors offered handmade crafts, their stalls a reminder that tradition endures alongside modern development. I bought a bag all covered with the ancient history a piece of Egypt to take home.

Just a short distance away, the country’s largest Roman Catholic cathedral rises into the sky, underscoring Egypt’s religious diversity and the coexistence of Islam and Christianity.

New Cairo offered a striking contrast to the historic capital a city alive with commerce and modernity yet anchored by clear purpose.

‘New Cairo is our smart city, designed for administration,’ explained Ambassador Hegazi.

‘We have streets for banks, streets for embassies, and many other administrative functions. We also have villas, which are modern residences for our people. The project began in 2017 and is now fully operational.’

A few days before our departure, we gathered on a rooftop bar along the Nile, the moment I decided as journalist to do something because I had come to the realization that Africa had great potential ‘Africa has great potential, and amazing things are happening in Africa as journalists, we need to amplify our stories against white hegemony.’

This decision sealing the collective lesson from the 61st training course for young African journalists: that Africa’s future lies in progress, but progress rooted firmly in its identity.

I am mentored by one of Uganda’s best businessmen (name withheld). And one of the peculiarities that I kept noticing about him was this insane micromanagement. At first, I used to wonder; ‘why doesn’t this person just trust his employees? And let them be?’ But the more time I spent with him, the more I realised that if he were to put a foot off the brake, this business would sooner than later deteriorate. It would continue to exist but not with the same attention to detail.

In this process of observing and shadowing this businessman, I arrived at new conclusions when it came to micromanagement. Micromanagement in general gets a bad rap. Most employees will always pinpoint it as one of the qualities they detest in their line managers. Yet, I am now of the school of thought, that we need to make a distinction about the form of micromanagement. Although micromanagement could be problematic, intentional micromanagement is what makes the biggest differences in many Ugandan businesses.

It is not enough to trust that people will do their job, one ought to verify, one ought to inspect, to supervise. Because once the micros start going wrong, the macros soon follow suit. It is from this businessman that I learned; ‘the most important thing is to hold tension on the small things, for the small things soon grow into big things.’ He works by one principle – ‘zero compromise. If you notice something going wrong, capture it immediately and address it.’ He believes that there are no small mistakes in business. It is the small mistakes that grow into big mistakes. It is the small behaviours that soon become the big behaviours. In business, it is always a slippery slope. You ignore a skewed behaviour, an employee who arrived 10 minutes late, and that late coming will grow into an hour, then it will become a day.

It is an instructive lesson for all those who run and manage businesses – be intentional in your micromanagement and know what you are watching out for.

The Japanese have a similar concept – it is about going to the Gemba. In Japanese business management philosophy, the Gemba is the ground, the place where the action happens. They believe a proper businessperson or manager must always do their walks to the Gemba as frequently as possible. If one is managing a school, they should take a walk to the kitchen, see where the school food is being prepared, sit in one of the classrooms, and that is how you drive the right behaviour. You go see and then ask why.

This business mentor arrived at the same Gemba principle through trial and error. If you take a walk with him through his businesses, he will notice the small things, pause, and ask whoever is responsible why it is happening. And if it is a behaviour, he will follow up. Why? Because this is also how you build a culture of high performance. It is like the football manager who practices touch line sensitivity. The best football manager keeps their foot on that line, they sense, they watch, they feel the game, and by being close to the line, they can read the game better and make the timely decisions.

Another case in point was Dr J.C Muyingo when he was a headteacher at Uganda Martyrs SSS Namugongo. Sometimes, a teacher would arrive late only to find Dr Muyingo camouflaged at the back among the students. And that was always enough to send the message – that at Namugongo, lessons start on time. It is this intentional micromanagement that builds the culture of high performance. The manager sets a high standard, lives by it, then he inspects for that standard.

Intentional micromanagement acts as a reminder to the employees – that this is what we are about. This is the company’s mission, these are the values, this is our purpose. And in doing so, the leader only gets a chance to do their number one job – coaching the right behaviour. Organisations behave, and this behaviour is a summation of all the employees’ behaviours. Organisations that cannot set the right behaviour will soon fail to produce the right results. Behaviour becomes culture, culture becomes process, and process becomes results or outcomes. Organisations that behave right will perform right.

All this is not possible with intentional micromanagement, without managers or leaders remembering to go to the Gemba. Thus, a distinction must be made between the destructive micromanagement (one born of a clueless manager), and intentional micromanagement (the kind that sets out to coach the right behaviour).

This lack of intentional micromanagement has created a management crisis in the country, as quite often, employees do not know what is expected of them. They are over-trusted with almost no guidance. It is akin to footballers being sent out to the stadium and just told to play football. What kind of football? What kind of attitude when winning?

It is thus high time we all made a rethink of micro-management, and appreciated the fruits of intentional micromanagement.

The government has cautioned that continued misuse of online platforms to spread misinformation, hate speech, and Artificial Intelligence (AI)-generated distortions could prompt restrictions or even temporary shutdowns.

The Uganda Communications Commission (UCC), the country’s communications regulator, said while no official decision has been made, the behaviour of users will determine the course of action.

Mr Abudu Sallam Waiswa, the head of Litigation, Prosecution, and Legal Advisory at UCC, urged Ugandans to take responsibility for reporting harmful content.

‘There is no government position yet that the Internet will be shut down before or during elections. Internet shutdowns are caused by circumstances and us as users. So, all of us should commit to be responsible users so that there will be no need to look at the Internet as a security threat to the peace and security of all Ugandans,’ he said.

Mr Waiswa added: ‘If you see anybody misusing the Internet, falsifying information, sharing pictures that are not palatable, sharing information that you know is fictitious, please call that person to order, even before UCC or government does, and there will be no need to restrict its use or even suspend it.’

Speaking at a joint press briefing with election stakeholders in Kampala yesterday, the UCC official highlighted the growing challenges posed by AI, noting that Uganda currently has no specific AI law.

However, Mr Waiswa said existing legislation, including the Computer Misuse Act, can be applied to penalise anyone using technology to spread hate or destabilising content. He cited prior engagements with Facebook (now Meta) as an example of the difficulties in regulating global platforms. ‘We have many laws that reprimand anybody misusing communication platforms and technologies, including AI. If you use technology to share anything that amounts to hate speech, that’s an offence,’ Mr Waiswa said.

He explained that previous complaints to Facebook from Ugandans, including fraud and defamation cases, were often ignored or met with brief responses, with the platform claiming the content did not violate its community standards.

‘Those standards are not Ugandan laws and cannot override our sovereign right to regulate communications,’ Mr Waiswa added.

Facebook was suspended in Uganda in 2021, when it had about 1.9 million users, though UCC estimates around 1.5 million still access it via VPNs.

Mr Waiswa warned that VPN users remain visible to regulators and accountable for illegal online behaviour.

He stressed that ongoing engagement with the platform could lead to its restoration once concerns are addressed.

Mr Richard Kamugisha Baabo, the acting secretary of the Electoral Commission, said African Union member states met in Porto-Novo, Benin, last year to discuss online platform abuse. He noted that executives from Google, Meta, X (formerly Twitter), and TikTok attended the meeting.

‘We appreciated their inventions and creativity, but we asked why they had not put mechanisms to regulate their platforms,’ Mr Baabo stated.

Counting the cost

According to TOP10VPN, Uganda lost Shs390 billion in 2021 due to Internet restrictions, ranking fifth globally in terms of economic impact.

On the morning of November 28, Meshach Okello, 33, woke up in his home in Buseyi Village in Nakalama, Kigulu County, Iganga District, without the slightest sense that this day would become the last of his life.

To his family, the conversations they had with him that morning were not unusual. To them, it was simply another workday for a man whose life was grounded in routine, responsibility, and love for those who depended on him. His elder wife, Ms Elizabeth Takwemazayo, remembers the moment with painful memories.

“He left early, like he always did,’ she says softly, her voice wavering as she recalls watching him walk away from their home. Ms Takwemazayo didn’t seem worried, not even a little, but he didn’t mention the rally, and nothing felt different.

To her, his gentle departure remains a haunting memory because nothing in that morning hinted at suspicion that would later turn to his life. Okello’s journey to manhood was shaped largely by his maternal uncle, Mr Dan Kifuuse, a man he had lived with since Primary Two. ‘I picked him from the village because I saw something in him. I knew the boy had a bright future,’ he recalled.

Together, the two formed a bond that blended fatherhood and mentorship. Mr Kifuuse guided him through school, supporting him jointly with Okello’s father, and he graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Human Resource Management from Kampala University. After graduation, Okello’s uncle welcomed him into his timber business, handing him administrative duties and trusting him without hesitation. His uncle said Okello reported for work that morning, like he normally did.

The two worked together from morning until lunchtime, and after having lunch together at the workplace, he later on asked the uncle to allow him attend a campaign rally in Iganga Town. ‘I never knew that the simple conversation we shared would become the final memory for all of us who spent that day with him,”Mr Kifuuse said slowly, as if tasting the memory. He added: ‘We ate together. After lunch, he looked at me and said, ‘Uncle, allow me to go to the rally.’ I didn’t think much of it. I told him to ‘go.”

The rally in Iganga Town drew large crowds. Supporters danced, sang, chanted, and followed the motorcade of National Unity Platform (NUP) presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi, alias Bobi Wine. Okello, usually reserved and soft-spoken, went for the rally. But between 5pm and 6pm, the uncle said as Okello walked back from the rally with a neighbour, who worked near their timber stall, he saw Okello falling down. He had been shot. The neighbour told Okello’s uncle: ‘We were walking together holding hands,’ he said. ‘Then suddenly, Okello fell. I thought he had fainted. When I bent to lift him, he wasn’t breathing. People around us began shouting that he had been shot.’

Eyewitnesses later said one of the occupants of a tinted vehicle without number plates, that was moving around the rally venue, allegedly shot Okello. NUP’s Iganga Municipality flag bearer, Mr Abedi Nasser Mudiobole, who says he also witnessed the shooting, described Okello as a calm and non-violent man. ‘A car without number plates drove in, its windows were lowered and its occupants started shooting [at people at the rally]. Okello was not among those pelting stones,’ he added. Sources said the driver of the alleged vehicle sped off after Okello’s shooting.

Okello’s father, Mr Willison Magoola, 86, said witnesses later told him that the shooters appeared to be security personnel. ‘They followed him. When they came close, one of them shot him in the face,’ he recounted. Busoga East Police spokesperson Michael Kasadha maintains that the shooting occurred after some NUP supporters allegedly attacked police officers, stoning them and damaging police vehicles, an incident that left several officers injured. He, however, said police are investigating the matter.

Alliance for National Transformation (ANT) presidential candidate Maj Gen (Rtd) Mugisha Muntu has said Uganda needs to consistently grow its economy by 10 to 12 percent annually if regions like West Nile are to achieve meaningful transformation.

While campaigning in Adjumani and Moyo on Wednesday, Gen Muntu said reviving cooperative structures and restoring the Cooperative Bank would be central to empowering farmers and stimulating rural economic growth.

‘We intend to reestablish support for cooperatives and revive the Cooperative Bank to strengthen agricultural credit,’ he said.

He added: ‘This can be done either through commercial banks or by establishing a dedicated agricultural bank focused exclusively on supporting farmers.’

Gen Muntu said prioritising agricultural financing, agro-processing, and tourism would uplift an estimated 70 percent of Ugandans who rely on agriculture for survival. He said, expanding the agro-processing sector would not only provide stable markets for farmers but also spur industrial growth and create more jobs.

‘A vibrant agro-processing sector increases economic activity, supports industrial expansion, and ultimately creates more employment opportunities,’ he said. ‘With discipline and consistency, these interventions can pull the population out of poverty.’

Turning to tourism, Gen Muntu said Uganda was underutilising one of its most promising economic sectors, particularly in West Nile. He pointed to the navigable stretch of the River Nile between Murchison Falls and Dufile, where he said investment remains minimal despite vast potential.

He called for comprehensive feasibility studies by tourism experts to guide strategic investment, especially in infrastructure. Key priorities, he said, should include improving the road network along both banks of the Nile from Pakwach to Dufile to attract private investment in hotels, water transport, birding facilities, and related services.

‘The wetlands along this stretch host numerous bird species, and Uganda is home to 20 percent of the world’s bird population,’ he said.

‘There are bird lovers across the globe who would happily visit such areas if the infrastructure and facilities were developed.’

Gen Muntu said developing tourism would create new markets for local producers and stimulate broader economic development in the region.

Tourism expert Emmanuel Barigo, who also serves as director for Northern Uganda Tourism, said West Nile is strategically positioned and could employ thousands of youth if its road network challenges are resolved.

He said the region has multiple tourism assets, including the Nile stretch from Pakwach to Moyo, the Zoka Central Forest Reserve, home to rare bird species, and the Kei Mountain range.

‘We are already working on some of these issues. West Nile has many tourism features, but what we need now is an improved road network to fully operationalise the region,’ Barigo said.

Uganda is stepping up efforts to strengthen its capacity to deliver Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs), with government officials across central and local government departments receiving targeted training to better manage the complex process of designing, procuring and implementing PPP projects.

To date, more than 1,000 government officials have received basic training in PPPs, according to figures from the Ministry of Finance.

The capacity building drive, undertaken by the Public-Private Partnership Unit of the ministry, has so far produced 30 internationally certified PPP practitioners.

The Unit has also undertaken over 20 awareness campaigns that has reached more than 500 civic, business and government leaders. This is critical to making Uganda’s PPP programme effective, credible and transparent.

The workshops have been designed to equip both central and local government officials with practical project management skills. Sessions cover project preparation, value-for-money assessments, contract management, and risk allocation. The training also emphasises transparency and compliance with the PPP Act, which sets the legal foundation on how partnerships with private investors must be structured. Beyond government offices, the PPP Unit has placed significant emphasis on public awareness.

More than 20 outreach campaigns have been held over the recent years, drawing participation from civil society organizations, politicians, and business leaders. Collectively, these efforts have reached over 500 senior officials including LC5 chairpersons, RDCs, CAO among others whose decisions and advocacy shape the public infrastructure investment climate.

PPPs succeed only when the wider public are well informed about processes involved and safeguards put in place to ensure transparency. If people believe PPPs are secret deals made behind closed doors, we lose their trust even before the first spade hits the ground,’ adding, ‘Such awareness and process ownership campaigns help our people know their rights, and they help their leaders to answer their questions clearly.

The timing of these capacity building and awareness campaigns is important. Uganda has ambitious public infrastructure targets. From roads and power to health facilities, university student hostels and ICT. Financing these projects purely using the national budget is difficult, making PPPs an attractive option.

Without properly trained personnel to structure, negotiate and manage PPPs, such partnerships can expose governments to unnecessary risks or lock the country into unnecessary and costly contracts. By certifying 30 officials under the internationally recognized APMG framework, Uganda is signaling that its PPP practitioners meet global standards.

Professionalization not only improves technical performance but also reassures investors that Uganda takes the governance of partnerships seriously.

‘Every certified official becomes an asset during deal structuring and later at negotiations stage.”

Investors notice when a government team speaks the same technical language they do. Yet challenges remain. The PPP Unit must continuously undertake the training as new projects, especially in energy, roads and other infrastructure sectors are initiated. Local governments, in particular, struggle with staff turnover, which erode gains from earlier training workshops.

Officials at the PPP Unit acknowledge this problem but insist that the training must continue. Looking ahead, the PPP Unit plans to undertake more training programs and expand public awareness campaigns.

For government, investors, and the general public alike, the message is consistent: Uganda’s PPP journey depends on capacity as much as capital.

Building skills, establishing consistence, structural predictability and awareness today, is an investment in sustainable partnerships tomorrow.

For decades, Ms Raleh Tiko, a farmer of Okavu village in Logiri Sub-county in Arua District has been stuck to the use of traditional methods of farming, hence she could attain losses at the end of every season.

The future was bleak for her because she would spend more money in the farming process than the profit. She has been stuck to weeding her coffee once, failed to provide nutrients for it, not sprayed it against pests and diseases, hence realizing low profit.

‘I didn’t know how to do mulching, post-harvest and use of organic inputs. But since I received training, I have realized that I am gaining some profit,’ she said.

Tiko is a coffee grower in Logiri. After following the agronomics, Tiko has been able to earn more money from coffee.

‘I had been earning Shs 1 million a season. But last season, I got Shs 2 million. This money helped me to pay school fees for my children,’ she added.

One of Tiko’s children had dropped out of school because of school fees. She mainly depends on coffee growing as a source of income. All is not lost for Tiko because she now aims at earning Shs3 million a season, which money she said would enable her to meet other pressing needs.

Most small holder farmers have in the past been using traditional farming methods and so, realised low yields. But as farming is being promoted as a business, the farmers such as Tiko are now reaping the benefits of embraCing good agronomic practices.

Equally, Mr Ezekiel Onyutha of Gonyobendo Village in Erussi Sub-county in Nebbi District, said: ‘I want to buy more land because I am now getting the required money from onion growing. I have realised improved production since I am using the right seedlings, good practices.’

His target is to reap Shs28 million in the next two years because of the abundant market of the Onions. To attain this, Mr Onyutha plans to increase the land size, start a piggery project to generate more income.

Another farmer, Mr Jimmy Adoroti of Logiri Sub-county in Arua District, said: ‘I was given five grammes of tomato seeds which made me realise Shs1.3 million in the first season. In the second season, I earned Shs2.6 million. I converted the money to business.’

Mr Adoroti recounts that: ‘I bought 3 tons of maize from Masindi and sold it in Arua City and earned Shs6 million. This has helped me to pay school fees and now I am planning to build a decent house from what I will earn in the next season.’

Some of the farmers have also adapted to irrigation, especially those in Onion and Tomatoe production. They no longer rely on rainfall and are able to produce all seasons.

Why small-holder farmers matter

The world’s smallholder farmers produce around a third of the world’s food, according to detailed new research by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO).

It says, five of every six farms in the world consist of less than two hectares, operate only around 12 percent of all agricultural land, and produce roughly 35 percent of the world’s food, according to a study published in World Development.

Therefore, farmers in Nebbi and Zombo are well-positioned to tap into the lucrative market for the Onions, Tomatoes, especially in the neighbouring South Sudan and DR Congo that relies heavily on goods from West Nile. The boom in cross border trade also is an opportunity for the small-holder farmers in the two districts.

But the farmers are being hindered by bad roads linking Sub-counties to the markets.

During the close-up of the project on November 25 at Hotel Le Confidentiel in Arua, Mr Aggrey Chombe, the Executive Director for Agency for Community Empowerment, encouraged farmers not to give up by doing self-learning to improve on farming.

‘Do agriculture as a business and become independent because once a project ends like this, you should be able to continue. You should continue repairing those community roads where you can easily transport your goods to the markets,’ he said.

The game changer

The Project Officer at the Agency for Community Empowerment (AFCE), Mr Muddy Oyikuru, explained that the Power of Voices project started in January 2021 to December 2025, where 1,388 farmers were trained, including 665 females and 723 males.

The aim was to empower and to introduce value chain crops in the region with each partner in the consortium such as Uganda Agribusiness Alliance (UAA).

Oxfam Uganda, Southern and Eastern Africa Trade and Information Negotiations Institution (SEATINI) Uganda, Eastern and southern Africa small scale farmers forum (ESSAFF), and Civil Society Budget Advocacy Group (CSBAG), was assigned a particular role to improve on the knowledge and value chain crops in the three West Nile districts, of Arua, Nebbi and Zombo.

Mr Muddy however, stressed that one of the issues farmers have reported during the implementation of the project is the poor roads.

‘The biggest problem here is poor roads, which have really given farmers a setback in improving their livelihoods through farming,’ Mr Oyikuru said.

The Programme Manager for Oxfam, Ms Pauline Apolot, said there was a need for farmers to continue being exposed to good agronomics to overturn losses. ‘Those exposures are good because you need to learn best practices in order to attain more yields and income for your families.’ She noted that they would continue working with the district leadership to link farmers to the markets and ensure that the roads linking to markets are motorable.

Hindrances

Head of Programs Development, Quality and Management, at Uganda Agribusiness Alliance (UAA), Ms Mariam Akiror, noted that the initial aim was to link farmers to the buyers, but because of the terrain of the area, even after linking farmers to the buyers, the hindrance to the road access has been a big challenge to the farmers.

She added that, Much as UAA is trying to link farmers to the buyers, there is still need for government intervention to improve on the road access for farmers in the regions.

The Nebbi District chairperson for production, Mr Francis Owonda, said they would continue monitoring the existing projects of the farmers to ensure continuity. ‘We also ask the government to enhance the budget for extension workers to help farmers adapt to modern farming methods,’ he said.

For nearly a century, globalisation has been the dominant force shaping the world’s economic and political systems. From the ashes of World War II emerged a global order built on multilateralism, free trade, and international cooperation.

Institutions such as the United Nations, the World Bank, and the World Trade Organisation were designed to foster shared prosperity and prevent future conflict. That era is fading.

Across the globe, nations are turning inward. The United Kingdom’s 2016 Brexit vote was an early tremor. Since then, the rise of nationalist and populist governments has accelerated the shift toward deglobalisation. Africa has long been a passive participant in the global order.

Despite being home to over 1.4 billion people and endowed with vast natural resources, the continent has rarely had a seat at the table where global decisions are made. Instead, it has often been treated as a marketplace, a battleground, or a source of raw materials and its role defined by others rather than by its own strategic interests.

Today, as the world fractures into regional spheres of influence, China in Asia, Russia in Eastern Europe, and the United States in the West, Africa faces the risk of being carved up once again. But this time, the contest is not just over land or minerals; it is over data, digital infrastructure, and economic influence. Without a unified strategy, Africa could become a playground for competing global powers.

There is, however, a glimmer of hope. The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), launched in 2021, represents a bold step toward economic integration. If fully implemented, it could increase intra-African trade by more than 50 percent and lift 30 million people out of extreme poverty, according to the World Bank.

Trade alone is not enough. Economic integration must be matched by political unity, institutional coordination, and a shared vision for the continent’s future.

If Africa fails to unite, the consequences will be severe and far-reaching. Some of them include economic vulnerability. Many African economies remain heavily dependent on commodity exports. This makes them highly susceptible to global price shocks which can destabilise national budgets and deepen poverty.

While the African continent has witnessed seven military coups in just the past three years, which poses a consequence of security and political instability with fragile institutions, contested elections, and unresolved conflicts that undermine peace and development, there is also another consequence of climate crisis.

Africa contributes the least to global greenhouse gas emissions yet suffers the most from climate-related disasters. Droughts, floods, and desertification are already costing the continent between two percent and five percent of its GDP annually.

This is on top of high youth unemployment, with 12 million young people entering the labour force annually, with only three million jobs created.

There’s also geopolitical marginalisation: In a world increasingly shaped by digital governance, artificial intelligence, and climate diplomacy, Africa risks being sidelined. Without a unified voice, the continent will continue to be excluded from critical global negotiations and decision-making platforms.

Uganda, often seen as a bellwether for East Africa, embodies both the promise and peril of the continent. The economy is growing by 6.3 percent in FY2024/25, one of the highest in the region. Inflation is under control at 3.5 percent, and the country is investing in infrastructure and oil production.

Beneath the surface, deep fissures remain. Public debt has risen to 52.4 percent of GDP, raising concerns about fiscal sustainability.

Youth unemployment remains high, with over 70 percent of the population under 30 years. Corruption continues to erode public trust, with Uganda ranking 142 out of 180 on Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index. Political polarisation and ethnic divisions threaten national cohesion. Uganda’s upcoming general elections in 2026 offer a critical opportunity to reset the national agenda. Political leaders must move beyond vote-buying and divisive rhetoric. They must articulate a vision for unity, inclusion, and national development.

This means political leaders must promote peaceful, credible elections; encourage dialogue across political and ethnic lines; invest in youth employment and education; strengthen institutions to fight corruption and embrace pan-African cooperation as a strategic imperative.

Elections should not be about personalities or patronage but about values, vision, and the future of the nation. The 21st Century will not be kind to the fragmented. As global alliances shift and transactional diplomacy becomes the norm, Africa must choose, unite and shape its destiny, or remain divided and be shaped by others.

Uganda, as a young and dynamic nation, can lead by example. By prioritising peaceful elections, inclusive governance, and national dialogue, it can become a beacon of unity in a continent yearning for cohesion.

A long-standing client has taken Centenary Rural Development Bank to the Commercial Division of the High Court, accusing the financial institution of illegally deducting more than Shs1.1 billion from his accounts.

Mr Emmanuel Musisi, trading as Commrade General Supplies, argues that the bank manipulated his loan computations, imposed unlawful penalties, and made unexplained withdrawals, ultimately causing the disappearance of funds he now wants the court to order refunded.

In his suit, Mr Musisi seeks to recover what he describes as a liquidated sum of Shs1.1 billion, alleging it represents accumulated overcharges, irregular interest calculations, and fraudulent deductions. ‘.The plaintiff (the businessman) prays for an order of recovery of a liquidated sum of S1.1b arising from overcharges on interests, penalties, and variances in loan balances, illegal deductions on loans, and facilities advanced to the plaintiff by the defendant,’ the documents show.

According to the case documents, the disagreement stems from an agricultural loan of Shs505 million that the businessman allegedly obtained in 2018. The facility was to be repaid quarterly over a 120-month period, with the final instalment due in 2028.

However, by May 2023, five years into the repayment schedule, Mr Musisi says he began receiving persistent pressure from the bank’s loan recovery team, urging him to ensure timely payments.

He found this unusual because, by his calculation, he had already paid Shs662 million, which he believed had fully settled the principal. The repeated calls from the bank, he says, heightened his suspicion that something was amiss.

Matters allegedly escalated when individuals he describes as ‘strangers’ began making claims regarding his secured property, prompting him to lodge a caveat to prevent any unauthorised transfer.

‘Following claims from strangers then, the plaintiff instructed his lawyers of M/S Kitimbo Associated Advocates to lodge the registered proprietor’s caveat to avoid a possible fraudulent transfer without notice,’ the court documents show. After halting further payments, Mr Musisi commissioned an independent audit by Gingo and Partners, Certified Public Accountants.

The audit report, according to his suit, revealed significant discrepancies in the interest and penalties charged on his loan account. It allegedly showed that Centenary Bank had, over several years, made unauthorised deductions which accumulated to Shs1.1 billion.

The businessman claims that despite repeatedly alerting the bank to the need for a proper reconciliation of his accounts, his concerns were ignored. He further says he reached out to the Bank of Uganda seeking regulatory intervention, but the central bank did not resolve the issues to his satisfaction.

His legal team later advised him to pursue a formal reconciliation with Centenary Bank, but he insists the institution remained unresponsive. In a statement, Centenary Bank disputed the allegations.

The bank asserts that Mr Musisi defaulted on his loan obligations ‘despite several restructures and engagements,’ forcing the institution to begin the legal process of recovering the loan through the sale of property pledged as security.

‘When the bank decided to recover through disposing of his property given as security, he sued the bank, claiming that he had been overcharged interest and proceeded to caveat his property in order to prevent the bank from selling,’ the bank said.

‘The bank shall adhere to the court process until the suit is concluded or otherwise resolved between the parties,’ it added.

Vipers arrive at Lugogo on Friday like a side dancing on the edge of perfection – ruthless, rhythmic and crackling with championship electricity.

The reigning kings have sliced through Entebbe UPPC, Maroons, Express, UPDF and KCCA, dropping points only in the tense 1-1 draw with SC Villa, and their reward is a sharp rise to fourth place with 16 points from six matches.

Victory over Nec could thrust Ivan Minnaert’s men to the top of the Uganda Premier League table, at least for 24 hours, before pacesetters KCCA (17 points) face Bul on Sunday and SC Villa (17 points) visit Maroons.

Venomous raid

That sense of upward motion – fast, fiery and irresistible – is the ecstatic mood surrounding tonight’s clash at the MTN Omondi Stadium-Lugogo, where a Vipers side in seamless form confronts a Nec team still negotiating the uncertainties of life under new coach Badru Kaddu.

Nec sit ninth with 10 points from eight games, and their rhythm has been inconsistent, with just one win in their last four matches. Yet within that patchiness lies the potential to surprise – something Vipers, despite their current glow, must keep in mind.

Minnaert’s blueprint is beginning to shine. The Venoms play with a growing sense of clarity – quick in transition, elegant in combination play, and ruthless in exploiting space.

Their recent 5-1 demolition of UPDF felt like the unveiling of a side finally synchronised. Gusto Mulongo’s brace, Robin Kane’s long-range bullet, Milton Karisa’s instinctive finishing, and the playmaking artistry of Allan Okello demonstrated the depth and variety of Vipers’ attacking options.

Add the movement and sharpness of Usama Arafat and the predatory instincts of Yunus Sentamu, and Minnaert possesses one of the league’s most complete forward lines.

Guns out

Nec’s challenge tonight is therefore as psychological as it is tactical. Kaddu has hinted at improvement, praising his side’s evolving play and pointing at players like Marvin Kavuma, who scored against Maroons and continues to carry Nec’s attacking burden.

“I can see my boys improving and playing better football. We still have to learn to score more goals. We have the objective to compete so we have to be better against our next opponents (Vipers) and I hope Marvin (Kavuma) can lift us again as we aim to go top where we belong,” Kaddu revealed after the 1-all draw with Maroons on Saturday.

But to contain Vipers, Nec must elevate their defensive discipline, avoid the lapses that have haunted them, and be decisive in transition.

The fixture’s recent history offers mixed signals: the last four meetings have produced two Vipers’ wins, a draw and a Nec win – evidence that either side can dominate when conditions tilt their way.

Nec’s best chance lies in frustrating Vipers early, denying Okello space to dictate tempo, and hitting on the counter where their fowards – Kavuma, Paul Mucureezi, Cromwell Rwothomio and Charles Waibi can cause problems.

Earlier, at the Bombo Barracks, Paul Kiwanuka’s UPDF, third from bottom with six points from eight matches will host fellow strugglers Lugazi – tenth with nine points from as many games.

StarTimes Uganda Premier League

Friday

UPDF vs. Lugazi, 4pm

Bombo Barracks

Nec vs. Vipers, 8pm

MTN Omondi Stadium

Nec vs. Vipers last four meetings

Vipers 3-1 Nec

Nec 3-1 Vipers

Nec 0-0 Vipers

Vipers 4-1 Nec