Category: Daily Monitor

The 2025 NCBA Uganda Junior Golf Series wrapped up its first season for the 2025/6 calendar in style at the Lugazi Golf Club late last month, capping a year of inspiring performances and renewed commitment to nurturing Uganda’s next generation of golf champions.

The grand finale brought together over 100 junior golfers aged between 5 and 18 from across the country, showcasing the best of emerging local talent.

Launched in 2021, the NCBA Junior Golf Series has steadily evolved into a bedrock of Uganda’s sporting calendar, combining competition, mentorship, and education to help young athletes build confidence and discipline both on and off the course.

Speaking at the finale, Mark Muyobo, Chief Executive Officer of NCBA Bank Uganda, reaffirmed the bank’s deep commitment to youth empowerment through sport.

‘Through the NCBA Junior Golf Series, we are helping shape well-rounded individuals by nurturing talent, confidence, and leadership. Golf teaches patience, discipline, and integrity, values that extend far beyond the greens,’ Muyobo said.

This year, he said, has been particularly special, adding that the bank has sponsored Peter Mayende, to compete in the ‘Out of Africa’ tournament in Dubai on December 12th.

This year’s edition built on the momentum of previous seasons, featuring enhanced training camps, improved coaching, and greater international exposure for top performers. NCBA sponsored 24 of the most promising juniors from nine golf clubs across the country, giving them access to elite training and competitive opportunities.

Two of the sponsored players went on to represent Uganda at the Kenya Invitational Tournament, finishing in second and eighth place respectively, results that helped reinforce Uganda’s reputation as the second-strongest junior golf nation in East Africa.

Modeled after the U.S. Kids Golf World Championship, the NCBA Junior Golf Series provides a direct pathway for young Ugandan golfers to qualify for elite global events such as the Rome Classic in Italy and the Big 5 Junior Golf Championship in South Africa.

‘We believe in creating opportunities that empower youth through skill, mentorship, and exposure. The NCBA Junior Golf Series is preparing young Ugandans to succeed locally, regionally, and internationally,’ Muyobo said, adding that since inception, the series has produced breakout stars who have become the new faces of Ugandan golf.

‘Players who once carried golf bags and watched from the sidelines are now competing with confidence. Their success proves that when talent is given a platform, it can flourish,’ Muyobo noted.

Beyond competition, the NCBA Junior Golf Series has become a platform for personal growth. Through mentorship from experienced golfers and professional coaches, participants learn key life skills such as resilience, focus, and teamwork, traits that extend beyond sports.

Theo Van Rooyen, Director of U.S. Kids Golf in Uganda, hailed the series for its impact on grassroots golf development. ‘The NCBA Junior Golf Series has become a pillar of Uganda’s sporting calendar. It has done more than introduce young people to golf. It has ignited a deep and lasting passion for the game while creating opportunities for mentorship and growth,’ Van Rooyen said.

He added that the initiative has bridged the gap between sport and opportunity, connecting young players with the business and sporting communities and building a sustainable pipeline for Uganda’s golf ecosystem.

This year’s finale at Lugazi Golf Club not only celebrated competition but also marked how far junior golf has come in Uganda.

Over the past four seasons, the NCBA Junior Golf Series has evolved from a national event into a regional benchmark for youth sports development, attracting participants from Kenya, Tanzania, and Rwanda.

The tournament’s unique format, combining multi-day competitions with skill-building clinics and mentorship, ensures players are not only competing but also learning. The structure mirrors NCBA’s holistic approach of using sport to instill discipline, confidence, and lifelong values.

Looking ahead, Muyobo said NCBA will continue investing in junior golf through training programs, and expanded exposure opportunities.

‘Our goal is to ensure that the NCBA Junior Golf Series remains impactful, inclusive, and transformative. We want to see Ugandan golfers competing at the highest levels, and it all starts here,’ he said.

The series is also aligned with NCBA’s broader social impact agenda, which includes education, sustainability, and community development. In addition to nurturing talent, each leg of the tournament integrates environmental activities, such as tree planting drives, as part of the bank’s 10 Million Trees by 2030 campaign.

Imagine a truck arriving at your warehouse with goods you know you desperately need. They align with the future you have projected. They represent freedom, protection, and progress.

They carry value that will transform your operations for years to come. But as you stand there receiving these goods, grateful for their arrival, you remain wary of a roadblock just outside your gate. A hinderance with the power to undo everything you have procured. An obstacle that does not care how far the goods have travelled or how important they are for your future.

That roadblock is Uganda’s outdated HIV/Aids prevention and Control Act. Despite the funding disruptions that have threatened Uganda’s health system this year, we have been listed among the countries to receive support from the Global Fund and the United States government for the rollout of long-acting Lenacapavir, the twice-yearly injection that offers six months of protection against HIV. Science has delivered an HIV prevention tool that complements the options Uganda already has such as the ABC approach, oral PrEP, the dapivirine ring, and long-acting Cabotegravir.

Lenacapavir offers six months of protection, which means people at risk of HIV no longer need to take a daily pill. This convenience reduces the pill burden, which may in turn improve adherence, strengthen continuity of prevention, and ultimately lower new HIV infections, contributing to a better quality of life. Lenacapavir is also discreet and offers genuine choice. Young women and girls who are exposed to HIV can now select a method that fits their realities. That freedom of choice is empowering, and it naturally reduces stigma because prevention becomes a private, dignified, and self-directed decision.

The economic benefit of Lenacapavir for Uganda’s health budget is significant. Every infection prevented is treatment avoided. The more people who remain HIV-free because of long-acting prevention, the fewer resources the country will spend on lifelong HIV treatment. Now this science arrives in Uganda and meets a law that criminalises having HIV. A law like this creates fear, which means people avoid testing because they do not want to be labelled criminals. When the law makes testing feel dangerous, people stay away from the very services that are meant to help them.

If they do not test, they will not know their status. And if they do not know their status, they cannot make informed decisions about whether to start HIV treatment or whether to use HIV prevention tools, especially if they are at risk. Science has already provided these tools: treatment that suppresses the virus, and prevention options that protect people before exposure. But without testing, none of this reaches the people who need it. Lack of testing also reduces disclosure, breaks trust, and eventually affects adherence because people operate in secrecy instead of safety.

The result is that the law ends up keeping people away from the systems that could protect them. Instead of slowing HIV transmission, it drives it underground. Instead of supporting prevention, it actively undermines it. The law creates the very silence that science is trying to break. Uganda now stands at a moment when science is offering us a new beginning. Long-acting prevention is here. Global partners are ready. Communities are ready. Young women are ready. The only part of the system still living in 2014 is the law. If we want the goods at our warehouse to reach the people they are intended for, we must clear the road ahead.

As Uganda moves toward the polls to choose a new Parliament, this cannot be a forgotten issue. The HIV legislation must be at the top of the legislative agenda. Our next Parliament must decide whether Uganda will move forward with science or remain anchored to a past that no longer protects us.

Tooro Kingdom on Wednesday commissioned a youth incubation center in Kyaka County, Kyegegwa District, aimed at fostering skills development, entrepreneurship, and modern agricultural practices.

The 12-acre facility in Mpara Sub-county will host an ICT training hub, mother gardens for coffee and cocoa seedlings, and a poultry hatchery expected to produce up to 500 chicks every 21 days.

Kingdom officials said the center is part of a broader strategy to empower young people and ensure sustainable access to agricultural resources.

Tooro Kingdom Prime Minister, Mr Calvin Armstrong Rwomire, noted that the initiative follows financial support extended by President Museveni in September, during a meeting with King Oyo of Tooro Kingdom.

‘The funding is enabling the rollout of the Tooro Kingdom Youth Economic Empowerment Program, which seeks to uplift hundreds of young people through agriculture, entrepreneurship, and practical skills development,’ Mr Rwomire said.

He added that the kingdom has distributed 400,000 coffee seedlings and 200,000 cocoa seedlings during the program’s first phase but faced overwhelming demand.

‘We decided to plant our own coffee and cocoa in our own mother gardens and establish our own nurseries so that we can have sustainability within the program. We are setting up incubation centers in all nine counties, and these will host ICT hubs, a hatchery, and other skills trainings such as hospitality,’ he explained to Monitor.

The centers align with King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV’s 25-year Development Plan, which prioritizes socio-economic transformation, agriculture, and ICT education.

Demonstration farms within the centers will train youth and farmers in modern agricultural methods while equipping young people with digital skills.

‘The rollout of the incubation centers will ensure consistent access to quality seedlings and skills training for the youth,’ Mr Rwomire said.

He added that additional governmental and private partners are expressing interest in supporting the project.

Youth in Kyaka County welcomed the development. Mr John Tumwine, 22, from Mpara Sub-county, said the center opens new opportunities for young people who previously lacked resources.

‘This is something we have been waiting for. Some of us did not have the money to buy good coffee seedlings or pay for ICT training. With the incubation center here, we can learn how to farm better, get free seedlings, and also learn computer skills for business. It will help us earn more and support our families,’ he told Monitor.

Officials said the hatchery will begin distributing chicks from February next year, followed by coffee and cocoa seedlings from the newly established mother gardens, marking a significant step toward youth-led economic growth in the region.

More than 70 per cent of Uganda’s nearly 46m people population is employed in or engaged in agriculture.

Agro-industries can create jobs for rural communities, not only on farms but also in handling, packaging, processing, transport and marketing of agricultural products.

Globally, it is recognised as a driver of development and poverty reduction, which is why Uganda has elevated agro-industrialisation in its Tenfold Growth Strategy. The Agro-Industrialisation Programme Annual Budget Monitoring Report for 2024/2025 financial year shows an overall performance of 72.1 percent by June 30, 2025, rated good, though some sub-programmes lagged.

The Budget Monitoring and Accountability Unit (BMAU) reports that Agricultural Financing performed very well, while storage, agro-processing and value addition, and agricultural market access and competitiveness registered fair results. BMAU attributes progress to increased farmer access to finance through the Parish Development Model (PDM) and Agricultural Credit Facility (ACF), improvements in research, mechanisation, water for production, stronger quality and regulatory services in coffee, fisheries, and dairy value chains. Government is seeking to accelerate commercialisation and competitiveness by adding more value to agricultural output.

In the 2024/25 financial year Budget Speech, government committed to deepen research and genetic development, including support for the anti-tick vaccine manufacturing facility and the Aflasafe laboratory. Spending priorities centred on productivity growth, pest and disease control, value addition, PDM rollout, mechanisation, irrigation, market development, agricultural financing, and institutional strengthening. The programme budget totalled Shs2.231 trillion, with 58.3 percent funded by government and 41.7 percent by external sources.

By the end of June 2025, Shs1.9 trillion had been released and Shs1.352 trillion spent. But external financing disbursement and absorption were weak, largely due to partial delivery of planned outputs, adverse weather, weak planning for donor-funded projects, delays in compensating project-affected persons, phasing-out of off-budget support such as USAID and inadequate staffing.

However, agricultural production and productivity posted good performance, supported by stronger research, technology development and increased production linked to mechanisation, water for production and PDM resources. Agricultural market access and competitiveness recorded fair performance, while financing performed well, with more than 3,000 projects receiving loans through the Agricultural Credit Facility while tens of thousands of farmers insured their investments through the Uganda Agriculture Insurance Scheme. However, access to credit remained uneven, with central and western Uganda attracting the largest share of funds.

The 2018 Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE 63 S may resemble other Mercedes SUVs at a glance, but beneath its familiar lines lies a high-performance machine built with precision, comfort and sheer driving excitement in mind.

There are several Mercedes-Benz sport utility vehicles (SUVs) whose exterior aesthetics may appear similar at first glance, but they each have distinct differences. For example, the Mercedes-Benz ML shares a similar shape with the Bluetec, while the Mercedes-Benz GLS is similar to both but can be easily differentiated by its extended length.

Another less common Mercedes SUV is the 2018 AMG GLE 63 S. Inside, it features user-friendly elements that you would expect in a modern SUV, from the steering wheel and dashboard to the seating.

Comfort and smart controls

The leather-coated steering wheel provides a firm grip and enhances control over the vehicle, giving a cockpit-like feel. It includes various controls such as buttons for answering phone calls and adjusting the infotainment volume. At the centre of the dashboard, there is a nine-inch smart screen, along with many controls mirroring those on the steering wheel, all designed to help you maximise the car’s features.

The AMG GLE 63 S offers several driving modes: comfort, individual, economy, sport, and sport plus. You can switch between these modes using a knob on the centre console, which allows the vehicle to adjust its settings accordingly.

Driving experience

Each mode offers different performance characteristics. For example, the economy mode ensures that the engine operates efficiently, while the sport and sport plus modes are geared towards speed.

During a test drive of the GLE 63 S from Speke Resort Munyonyo to Entebbe via the expressway over the weekend, I noticed that in sport mode, the car accelerated from zero to 100 km/h in just four seconds after the Munyonyo roundabout, as I approached the Busabala junction. As I increased speed, I felt the car becoming more stable and controlled through the steering wheel, especially when navigating corners.

The gear lever in the GLE 63 S is not a traditional long gear stick; instead, it fits comfortably in your palm for selecting park, drive, or reverse. If you are driving this car for the first time, it may take a few minutes to get used to how the modern gear lever operates, as it functions differently from conventional ones that require more physical effort to shift.

Regardless of hot or cold weather, the car offers both heated and ventilated seats, allowing you to easily enjoy warm or cool air at the touch of a button on the steering wheel. Additionally, rather than just lighting up when low on fuel, the fuel gauge in the AMG GLE 63 S will not only indicate low fuel but also display a message on the smart screen asking if you would like to search for a nearby refuelling station.

Exterior

When it comes to exterior aesthetics, the AMG GLE 63 S boasts an aggressive front bumper and quad exhaust pipes at the rear, with two on each side of the vehicle. If you are a motorist who enjoys the roar of the engine, these exhaust pipes provide a thrilling sound reminiscent of a rally car, especially when driving in Sport Plus mode. For optimal comfort, it is recommended to drive on 22-inch wheels.

Under the hood, the AMG GLE 63 S is equipped with a 5.5-litre V8 Biturbo petrol engine that produces 577 horsepower.

This engine consumes 11.7 litres of fuel per 100 kilometres. AMG represents the pinnacle of performance within the Mercedes-Benz lineup, and the distinct AMG badging throughout the vehicle sets it apart from other SUVs on the road.

To ensure proper maintenance, it is advisable to use high-octane fuel from reputable stations and an OW-40 synthetic oil grade. It is also recommended to service the vehicle at a trusted dealership to maintain an accurate service record, and if replacement parts are needed, sourcing them from Dubai or China is a good option.

Cost

Mujib Tusuubira, a car dealer at mujibexotics.com, says the AMG GLE 63 S is priced at Shs300m.

Understanding model differences

Gilbert Wavamunno, the managing director of Spear Motors Limited, clarifies that Bluetec is a fuel system rather than a specific model from Mercedes. The ML, E, and C are examples of models. The ML-class transitioned to the GLE-class with the model change that began around 2018; however, the new coupe version, the GLE-class coupe, was first introduced in 2016.

Wavamunno explains, “The GLE-class (formerly the ML-class) offers two body configurations: a traditional SUV and a coupe-style SUV. The coupe design was created to attract buyers who desired an SUV but were turned off by the traditional boxy styling.

These customers may have previously driven saloon cars but wanted more space and higher ground clearance. They did not consider an SUV until they saw the sleeker coupe shape. That is why we offer two body styles to cater to different segments of the SUV market.”

Regarding Bluetec, it is a badge indicating that the vehicle is equipped with a diesel engine that uses AdBlue, a liquid additive designed to treat diesel emissions. This system reduces the emissions released from the exhaust of a diesel engine.

In the latest models, this feature is generally not advertised, as all diesel vehicles are identified by a ‘d’ in their model designation such as the E220d, where the “d” signifies diesel. The AdBlue system is now standard in all diesel passenger vehicles.

The excitement ahead of the 2025 Nile Special National Pool Championship Open, set for December 21, took a sudden, somber turn after reigning women’s champion and top seed Marion KisakyE popularly known as Sheilla Ankah was hospitalized following a nasty accident in Entebbe.

Kisakye, who was on her way back from picking up a sibling at Entebbe Airport in her Toyota Mark X, was reportedly involved in a crash when a Fuso truck lost control and rammed into the car she famously won at last year’s championship.

The vehicle then veered off the road into a small stream. Reports indicate that a breakdown lifter sent to recover the car mishandled it, causing further damage.

Both Kisakye and her sibling were rushed to an undisclosed hospital and admitted into the intensive care unit. Speaking from her hospital bed, Kisakye reassured fans:

‘Thank God I finally left the ICU last night (Wednesday) and I’m recovering. All will be fine.’ Her sibling, however, remained in critical care at the time of reporting.

Rise and rise

Kisakye’s rise in Ugandan pool has been remarkable. She first captured attention in 2017 at Ronz Pool Club in Jinja, claiming the Pool Association of Uganda (PAU) Christmas Cup.

But it was last year that she truly made history, breaking the long-standing dominance of sisters Rukia Naiga and Rashida Muteesi to win the 2024 PAU Grand Open. She then stepped up to clinch the Nile Special National Open at Lugogo, driving away in the very car now involved in the accident.

As the top seed for this year’s championship, Kisakye received a bye in the qualifiers, alongside Naiga, Muteesi, and Amina Faith Nganda. Her winning streak extends beyond national borders; just a month ago, she helped lead Uganda’s national team to gold at the 2025 Ultimate Pool Championship in South Africa.

While Kisakye recovers, the pool community rallies behind her, hoping their queen will return stronger than ever to defend her crown.

Francis Gimara, Chairman of the Gulu City Marathon, is confident that all loose ends have been tightened ahead of the second edition of the event happening on Saturday in Gulu.

The Kaunda Grounds will be a beehive of activity when the world descends on Gulu the run premised on celebrating culture and heritage.

Having had about 600 runners participating in last year’s first edition, organizers of the event looked to stretch that number to 1,000.

But by the time of writing this, up to 1,500 elite and recreational runners had registered to take part.

‘Initially we expected about 1,000 runners this year but we registered 1,500. We actually sold out with a couple of days to the event which is a testimony of the evolving running culture, a good sign that people care about their health, one of the aims the marathon wants to achieve,’ Gimara said at a presser held Wednesday morning at Kampala Club.

Gimara added that other aspects like security, course readiness, and the like have been taken care of and they’re good to go.

‘The course was assessed this year by Gavin Wright, one of the very few World Athletics accredited route measurers in Africa. He’s the very person who assessed the Tusker Lite Mt Rwenzori Marathon route in Kasese before it was accredited by World Athletics,’ Gimara stated.

The race will have a global timing system this year, which means that elite runners can qualify for major events by posting good times in Gulu.

With lifestyle diseases on the rise in Uganda, the marathon looks to provide yet another big platform for everyone to run as a way of curbing them.

Themed ‘Running for Culture and Heritage,’ the Gulu City Marathon will feature the 42 km full marathon, 21 km half marathon, 10 km, and 5 km fun and family runs.

All runners who complete their races will receive finisher medals as a celebration of their achievement.

As a way of giving back to the Community, the marathon wills continue with its CSR trajectory and 10 % of the event proceeds will go towards the Martin Aliker Youth Skilling Centre in Abole, Omoro District.

A medical camp has also been organized by Uganda Baati, one of the event’s sponsors and will offer free services like HIV testing, cancer screening, immunization and family planning to revellers.

‘The Gulu City Marathon addresses many issues and we are proud to be a partner. We believe it will also help spotlight Gulu’s growth, resilience, and rising appeal as a destination worthy exploring,’ said Jackie Tahakanizibwa, the Head of Corporate and External Affairs at Uganda Baati.

The run is also aimed at showcasing the resilience of Gulu, a place that was previously ravaged by war and made the headlines for the wrong reasons.

Tusker Lite, the event’s lead sponsor, will elevate the marathon after-party with a VIP experience featuring local and national artist performances, premium refreshments, and an unforgettable celebration atmosphere.

‘The Tusker Lite Mt. Rwenzori Marathon, which marked its fourth edition this year, has given us valuable experience and insight. We are now bringing that energy and expertise to the Gulu City Marathon,’ said Denise Nazzinda, the Tusker Lite Brand Manager at Uganda Breweries Ltd.

‘We want to fuel experiences that celebrate individuality, progressiveness, and vibrant social energy.’

The ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party presidential candidate, Mr Museveni, will today begin his campaign tour of the Rwenzori Sub-region before proceeding to the Tooro Sub-region, collectively referred to by the Electoral Commission (EC) as the Mid-Western region. The area comprises 10 districts and Fort Portal City.

The incumbent is expected to launch his campaigns in Kasese District today before proceeding to Bunyangabu later in the day.

Tomorrow, he will campaign in Bundibugyo and Ntoroko, concluding his Rwenzori tour. On Saturday, Mr Museveni will officially begin his Tooro Sub-region campaigns in Kitagwenda, Kabarole, and Fort Portal City.

While Mr Museveni received the most votes in the 2021 presidential race in Rwenzori, residents said several long-standing issues, especially land disputes, poor state of roads, hospitals and schools, persist.

In Bundibugyo District, the district councillor representing Ngamba Sub-county, Mr Moses Bagambe, said the tarmacking of the Ntandi-Kikyo-Bundibugyo Town Road, a mountainous route that connects cocoa and coffee farmers to markets, needs urgent attention.

‘We want the President himself to tell us when this road will be constructed,’ Mr Bagambe said.

The Bughendera County MP, Mr Moses Kiiza Acrobert (NRM), emphasised the need for the government to construct more classrooms and staff quarters in hard-to-reach schools.

He argued that quality education cannot be delivered when teachers live in dilapidated structures, and pupils study under trees.

‘A polytechnic here would greatly transform the human capital of this area,’ Mr Kiiza said.

Residents also want Mr Museveni to revamp Bundibugyo Main Hospital and to address the absence of a standard market in Bundibugyo Town Council.

Medical staff and patients are hoping for a clear renovation plan, while vendors working in cramped and unsanitary conditions demand action on constructing a modern market facility.

Land wrangles in Kasese

In Kasese District, residents from Kilembe Sub-county and Bulembia Division want Mr Museveni to intervene and resolve a long-standing land dispute affecting more than 40,000 people as the government moves to revive Kilembe Mines.

Mr Kule Walyuba, the chairperson of the Kilembe Natives Voice, said the problem dates back to 1954 when colonial authorities leased over 3,000 hectares to Kilembe Mines Ltd.

‘In 1954, the colonial administration leased our land to Kilembe Mines Ltd. Titles were granted under colonial law, and compensation was not fully made to affected individuals. After independence in 1962, the new government upheld these titles, effectively maintaining foreign occupation of our land,’ he said.

Mr Walyuba noted that without titles, residents cannot access credit or carry out long term economic activities, and fears have heightened following the handover of Kilembe Mines Ltd to Sarai Group through the Uganda National Mining Company (UNMC).

Another land-related issue is that of the Banyabindi community , where locals were evicted from their ancestral land to pave the way for the creation of Queen Elizabeth National Park in 1952. Since that time, the affected population, now estimated at more than 21,116 households, has remained landless, despite several government pledges to address their plight.

In Ntoroko District, leaders and residents said critical issues have persisted for more than a decade, particularly infrastructural delays and the plight of flood-displaced households.

Kanara Town Council chairperson David Kor said the long-awaited tarmacking of the 50-kilometre Karugutu-Ntoroko Road is a key priority.

‘The road was earmarked in 2014, but 10 years later, nothing has been done. During the rainy season, vehicles heading to DR Congo get stuck, paralysing transport,’ he said.

According to the draft NRM manifesto for 2026-2031, the Karugutu-Ntoroko Road is currently under procurement.

Mr Kor added that locals displaced by Lake Albert floods in 2019 are still living in camps, despite multiple government promises.

‘The government committed to resettle these families, but to date nothing has materialised,’ he stated.

Previous poll results

In the three districts of Rwenzori Sub-region, Mr Museveni won with a total of 156,147 votes (Kasese: 109,275 votes; Ntoroko: 19,670 votes; and Bundibugyo: 27,202 votes) in the 2021 General Election.

The National Unity Platform (NUP) presidential candidate, Mr Robert Kyagulanyi (Bobi Wine), who came second, polled a total of 119,328 votes in the three districts.

The High Court in Kampala on Thursday postponed plea-taking in the treason case against veteran opposition politician Col (Rtd) Dr Kizza Besigye, his aide Hajj Obeid Lutale and UPDF captain Dennis Oola, after the defence revealed they had filed a constitutional petition and a related application seeking to stay the criminal proceedings.

The four-time presidential contender’s lawyers told the court presided over by Justice Emmanuel Baguma on Thursday that they had filed a constitutional petition together with the stay application. They argued that taking a plea, as the state had submitted before the stay application was resolved, would prejudice their clients.

In his ruling, Justice Baguma said he had carefully listened to both parties and confirmed that the application was received on the electronic filing system on December 3 at 7:36 pm and allocated a file number that morning.

‘It is therefore true that the application is not yet fixed. Although the session had been set for plea-taking, the interests of justice required that the stay application be handled first. For the interest of justice, it is my view that the application is disposed of first,’ he ruled.

He ordered that the prosecution be served immediately.

‘Prosecution served today and file and serve response by 11th,’ he directed, adding that any rejoinder by the defence must be filed by December 18.

He fixed December 22, 2025, as the date for arguing the application for stay of the proceedings and set the same day for mention of the main treason case.

The application in question seeks two orders: that the hearing of the treason case be stayed pending the outcome of the Constitutional Petition challenging that is seeking interpretation on whether a judge facing a complaint before the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) can fairly preside over a case involving the same complainant, and that the applicants be released on bail.

The grounds include the pending constitutional petition challenging acts said to affect their right to a fair hearing, the applicants’ extended stay on remand, their presumption of innocence, and their eligibility for bail.

Prosecution led by the Assistant Director of Public Prosecution, Mr Thomas Jatiko, informed the court that the matter had been fixed for plea-taking and scheduling, and the prosecution was ready to proceed.

However, defence lawyer Ernest Kalibbala said the accused had filed a Constitutional Petition raising issues of recusal, referral and the continuation of the criminal trial. He said the petition’s declarations would directly affect the High Court proceedings.

Mr Kalibbala added that the defence had also filed Criminal Application No. 814 of 2025 seeking an order staying the trial pending disposal of the petition. He informed court that the State had not yet been served, but service would be completed during the day.

Mr Jatiko responded that the prosecution had no knowledge of the application and had prepared for plea-taking.

‘We were last in court on November 6. It is almost a month now. We were prepared for plea-taking,’ he said. He asked the court to direct the defence to serve the State first and to allow the prosecution adequate time to file a response.

Mr Kalibbala said taking a plea was part of the hearing process and any pending questions regarding a fair hearing affected all stages, including plea-taking.

‘We pray that the application is fixed and disposed of first,’ he said, proposing a hearing within the following week. He argued that the one month suggested by the prosecution was too long.

The National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) has attributed the continued water shortages in parts of Kampala to the shutdown of the Katosi Water Works two weeks ago.

In an interview yesterday, Mr Samuel Apedel, the NWSC corporate communications manager, described the vandalism of power transmission lines at Nakapinyi Village in Nama Sub-county, Mukono District, as economic sabotage.

The incident, he said, severely affected water supply to factories in Mukono, Namanve, and Ggaba water treatment plants.

‘Some people within the security circles have described the vandalism on the power lines as economic sabotage because factories and homes had to be load-shed at night while electricity was diverted to Katosi to pump water,’ Mr Apedel said.

He added that NWSC expected the system to stabilise within 24 hours from yesterday after resuming full-capacity pumping on Sunday. The current shortages are mainly affecting residents in hilly areas of the city.

When asked why areas such as Entebbe Road and parts of the city centre, which are not served by Katosi, are also facing shortages, Mr Apedel explained that the Katosi shutdown created a 90 million litre deficit.

Ggaba Water Works, which produces 240 million litres daily, had to redistribute water to cover the shortfall, as the combined output of Katosi and Ggaba is 330 million litres per day.

He noted that NWSC’s interconnected reservoirs such as the Naguru reservoir, help maintain continuity of supply.

Water from Ggaba was pumped to Naguru to supply areas including Mulago, Buwate, Kamwokya, and Namugongo, increasing overall demand on the system.

For two weeks, residents of Kampala suburbs have gone without piped water following the vandalism of an electricity line at Nakapinyi Village on November 19, which left a suspected vandal dead.

The shortages have been worsened by the current dry spell, which has made November unusually hot and dry. NWSC explained that areas located on hills such as Namugongo, Naalya, Mulago, Buwate, and Kamwokya, are the last to receive water.

Air trapped in pipes during shortages delays system recovery and pressure rebuilding. Other water-stressed areas include Nakawuka, Kajjansi, and Sisa and Mpigi, where NWSC is building a new reservoir.

Mr Mohammed Lubogo, the corporate communications officer at the Uganda Electricity Transmission Company Limited (UETCL), said vandalism of pylons is a recurring problem.

He cited the recently built Jinja-Tororo line, where vandals reportedly stole cables and angle bars before the line could be powered. In the Nakapinyi case, authorities arrested three suspects after tracing call logs from the phone of the deceased vandal found at the scene.

Meanwhile, private water bowser operators have been supplying affected areas. Mr Ambrose Mugoya, a bowser driver, said he has been delivering water to Kireka and Kamuli Road estates.

His colleague, Mr Farouq Kajubi, has been supplying Ntinda, Naguru, Kololo, Muyenga, Luzira, Bugolobi, and Mbuya, catering to both residences and factories.

Mr Sam Bagenda, another driver, reported focusing on areas including Bugolobi, Luzira, Mukono, Buziga, Kisaasi, Seeta, Nabusungwe, Mulawa, and Namanve Industrial Park.