Category: Daily Monitor

Every early December, the Uganda Seniors Open has become a permanent fixture on the Uganda Golf Union (UGU) calendar.

The championship, always staged at the Uganda Golf Club (UGC) in Kitante is back and the players aged 55 and above will compete in the gross category over 36 holes this weekend.

This year’s edition, which tees-off on Saturday, is a unique one as it will be the 10th edition. ‘The game of golf has really evolved,’ stated Uganda Seniors Golf Society (USGS) chairman David Balaka.

‘Back in the days, people used to think it was a game of elderly people but with time, the young people have picked interest and taken over this game,’ he said while flanked by vice chairperson Ruth Ssali and committee member John Muchiri present.

‘To encourage the elderly to continue playing at a competitive level, it is why this association was born,’ he explained. USGS now brings together close to more than 200 golfers around the country.

The Seniors Open is the ultimate piece of silverware and USGS has stuck together with Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) for all editions.

UCAA deputy director general Olive Birungi Lumonya’s putt at UGC’s par-4 Hole No.18 green officially got the event launched at the beginning of the week.

‘We consider golfers as a critical stakeholder in the work we do. This partnership has reached 10 years,’ said Birungi before announcing a Shs15m sponsorship. ‘This (event) has become one of the Authority’s major activities as we celebrate the Civil Aviation Week (December 1-7).’

‘We believe that games like golf can be actively played by seniors, they come in handy in keeping healthy. Golfers are known to be frequent fliers,’ she added before announcing that UCAA will open its new terminal at Entebbe International Airport projected to take on 3.5 million passengers annually.

A field of more than 120 players will compete at this showpiece with sponsors Crown Beverages offering 1800 bottles of soft drinks to players, according to Pepsi brand manager Sandra Againe.

Golf kit firm Pro Golf Master led by Abbey Bagalana has offered the trophy and silverware package for the championship.

‘I am delighted to be a part of a major tournament like this and it is a critical step in our growth as a brand in golf in Uganda and Africa,’ said the professional player Bagalana.

Of the expected field, UCAA will field a team of seven players comprising single-handicappers like Michael Tumusiime, Joseph Adrapi and Paul Kalemba as well as Marvin Kagoro, Collins Aritua and Sheila Ajok.

‘CAA has a formidable team which can play the Ryder Cup format with any organization,’ said Adrapi.

John Katto and Jeniffer Opio were the best players at last year’s edition.

2024 UGANDA SENIORS OPEN GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP

Overall Winner Nett (M): John Katto 141 nett

Overall Winner Nett (L): Jeniffer Opio 141 nett

Gross Winner (M): John Muchiri 161 gross

Gross Winner (L): Gertrude Acato 176 gross

Professionals Winner: Ronald Otile 282 (-6)

SENIORS CATEGORIES – MEN

PLATINUM 80+ YRS

Winner: Arthur Gakwandi 145 nett

GOLD 75-79 YRS

Winner: Abe Luka 146 nett

Runner Up: Sam Zaramba 155 nett

SILVER 65-74YRS

Winner: Fred Kasumba 148 nett (c/b)

Runner Up: Denis Tindyebwa 148 nett

BRONZE 55-64YRS

Winner: Charles Odere 149 nett c/b

Runner Up: Moses Turyatemba 149 nett c/b

SENIORS CATEGORIES – LADIES

GOLD 65 YRS+

Winner: Ruth Ssali 152 nett

Runner Up: Gertrude Kityo 154 nett

SILVER 55-64 YRS

Winner: Edrae Kagombe 146 nett

Runner Up: Katy Kabenge 151 nett

One big prevalent challenge in talent monitoring and development is found at the under-13 level skill building as well as the retention stage in any sport after secondary school.

Cricket Uganda has laboured with those grades, especially the latter as a lot of talent matches away from the semi-professional pursuit to corporate life.

But Cricket Uganda’s partnership with BatBall Uganda Limited is helping to close out that gap. Batball, an organisation focused on developing youth cricket through a structured pathway of tournaments, staged a pivotal Batball X Jinja T10 Championship for teenagers in Jinja recently.

With four franchises Bulls, Elephants, Leopards and Rhinos, a group of youngsters competed over 16 matches in a 10-over per innings format at Jinja Secondary School Cricket Ground with the competitors picked from the Cricket Uganda Boys’ schools’ development program.

‘The purpose of this tournament was to give talented young Ugandan cricketers a professional stage to shine while strengthening the full pathway from school cricket to elite cricket,’ remarked Batball Uganda CEO Aakarshit Madaan.

Batball partnered with Cricket Uganda and identified promising talent from the Boys Schools Cricket Week this year and merged them with university-going players as well as some faces from the country’s U23 pool.

‘From this, 56 players were selected purely on merit, in addition to availability, and recent performances,’ said Madaan. ‘Batball X delivered global visibility through free worldwide streaming, secured sponsorship to ensure financial sustainability, and produced high-octane, competitive games with thrilling results.’

On the pitch, Elephants led by Hassan Bagaga, from the Jinja SS system, defeated the Bulls by 18 runs after setting 69-6 with Ronald Magezi stroking 32 runs off 23 balls including three boundaries.

Daniel Keith Amani of the Bulls had picked figures of 3/5 and five dots in two overs but it did not seem enough.

The Bulls struggled to bat to their target, Amos Luhakana top-scoring with 14 off 21 while Amani made with 13 off 15 as Elephants’ Elvis Chomba produced a spectacular over of 2/4 and three dots.

Another trumpet soundly bowling from Abraiz Ali Mir of 1/10 and eight dots with a maiden over of two just had the wheels come off the charging Bulls’ feet to take home the prize money of Shs2m.

Amani finished as the tournament’s best batsman with 159 runs while Bagaga wrapped up the showpiece with 11 wickets but the more familiar Pius Oloka finished as the player of tournament for the Leopards with 112 runs and 11 wickets.

‘This tournament adds value to Uganda’s entire grassroots ecosystem – more competition, more visibility, more commercial interest, and a stronger pipeline feeding into national pool and international cricket,’ added Madaan.

The senior players will feature at the forthcoming Batball Maxx Challenge Cup, which serves as grading qualifiers for the Maxx T20 main event due next year.

Batball was supported by Bellevue Hotel, Saffron, Dafabet, Minhas Motors, Mayuge Stones, Roke Telkom, Keshwala Group and the Jinja Association of Cricket Clubs (JACC).

2025 BATBALL X JINJA T10

TOURNAMENT FINAL

Elephants 69/6 Bulls 51/8

(Elephants won by 18 runs)

3RD PLACE PLAY-OFF

Leopards 94/3 Rhinos 81/5

(Leopards won by 13 runs)

SEMIFINAL RESULTS

Rhinos 37/10 Elephants 38/2

(Elephants won by 8 wickets)

Leopards 87/5 Bulls 88/5

(Bulls won by 5 wickets)

INDIVIDUAL AWARD WINNERS

Best Batsman: Dan Keith Amani (Bulls) 159 runs

Best Bowler: Hassan Bagaga (Elephants) 11 wickets

Player Of The Tournament: Pius Oloka (Leopards) 112 runs and 11 wickets

Uganda has moved back to the sixth ranking in world netball, pushing Wales to seventh place, according to the updated International Netball Federation (INF) ratings released Thursday.

This comes after Uganda registering an unbeaten run at the recently concluded Netball Celtic Cup in Scotland.

The INF has also revealed that the top six countries, hosts Australia, which tops the ranking, second-placed New Zealand, Jamaica, England, South Africa and Uganda, will automatically qualify for the 2027 Netball World Cup.

World Netball president Dame Liz Nicholl has credited the top-ranked nations for their hard work.

‘Congratulations to the first six teams that have qualified to be invited to the Netball World Cup. This is a special moment for the athletes, support teams and their national federations,’ Nicholl was quoted by World Netball media.

‘To have all five of our regions once again represented in the top six of the world netball rankings highlights the global and competitive nature of our growing sport,’ she added.

Malawi, this year’s host of the Africa Netball Championships, has maintained its eighth ranking.

In other rankings, the biggest limp came from Canada, which moved up 17 places from 47th to 30th among others.

Top Six

Australia

New Zealand

Jamaica

England

South Africa

Uganda

Uganda’s drinks market is set for a major shake-up with the arrival of three internationally acclaimed premium alcoholic brands, a launch that local distributor Power Liquors says will redefine drinking culture and position Uganda as a regional hub for high-end beverages.

The brands – Offshore Alkaline Vodka from Australia, Tequila Ley .925 from Mexico, and Vodka Cruisers by Asahi Beverages – will be unveiled on December 13, 2025 under Pearl Liquors Uganda Ltd, the parent company of Power Liquors.

Power Liquors CEO Stuart Raymond Kasule said most Ugandan consumers have grown up on conventional spirits, many of which cause hangovers and harsh side-effects. His mission, he said, was to introduce ‘an entirely different experience.’

‘Most Ugandans have been used to drinking spirits. However, most of the spirits bring hangover and other side effects; We wanted to sell more than drinks – we wanted to sell an experience,’ Kasule said on Thursday, 04 December 2025.

World’s only alkaline vodka

The headline product of the launch is Offshore Alkaline Vodka, the world’s only patented alkaline vodka, produced using premium Australian alkaline water.

Kasule said Offshore is unique not only globally but also scientifically.

‘Offshore vodka is the number one alkaline vodka in the world. No one else can ever make alkaline vodka because the company has patent rights,’ he explained. ‘Clubs keep asking how it can be alkaline – which means no hangover – and still be vodka. But the science is in the water. You get drunk like anybody else, but you wake up fresh and clean,’ he explained.

Offshore Alkaline Vodka will enter the Ugandan market at an accessible launch price of around Shs150,000, a strategy aimed at building mass appreciation for its unique profile.

Luxury tequila with global prestige

Also launching is Tequila Ley .925, produced by Mexico’s renowned Hacienda La Capilla – a brand famous for crafting the world’s most expensive tequila bottle, valued at $3.5 million.

Kasule said Uganda is now joining an exclusive global club of markets handling the tequila.

‘Ley .925 is a premium tequila – flavored, smooth, and produced by the same people who once created the world’s most expensive bottle,’ he said. ‘We’ve signed a contract to supply their brand in Uganda, and their bottles look amazing.’

The company will also become the sole distributor of Lamborghini Tequila and Casino Azul, further cementing Uganda as an emerging destination for luxury spirits.

Affordable ‘cocktails on the go’

The third major brand – Vodka Cruisers from Asahi Beverages, one of the world’s biggest beverage manufacturers – targets Uganda’s youthful, on-the-go consumer market.

Marketed as ‘cocktails on the go,’ Vodka Cruisers will be introduced in four flavours: lemon-lime, pineapple, raspberry and blueberry.

Kasule said the product solves a lifestyle problem.

‘Everyone loves a cocktail, but you must go to a club and find a mixologist. With Cruisers you just walk into a supermarket and buy a six-pack,’ he said.

The drinks will be priced at Shs12,000-13,000, significantly lower than club cocktails that average Shs25,000.

‘It’s going to be very affordable,’ Kasule emphasised. ‘Supermarkets will set their own prices, but we’ll supply at wholesale to keep it accessible.’

Why Uganda is attracting premium brands

Kasule said international brands have embraced Uganda because of its strategic location, strong youth market and the return of diaspora investors eager to build global partnerships.

‘The reason for creating Power Liquors was to embed international standards into our local market,’ he said. ‘We worked with companies in Australia and Mexico to bring their brands here.’

Asahi Beverages, he added, is now exploring East African distribution through Uganda – a move that could spark future production and logistics investments.

Kasule believes the triple launch is more than a business milestone – it is a new narrative for Uganda.

‘Uganda has not been known for premium beverages,’ he said. ‘With these partnerships, we’re changing that story and placing Uganda on the global map.’

Intellectual property refers to creations of the mind, inventions, literary and artistic works, and symbols, names, and images used in commerce. Intellectual property is divided into two categories, which are industrial property that includes patents for inventions, trademarks, industrial designs, and geographical indications, and copyright. Copyright covers literary works such as novels, poems, and plays, films, music, artistic works such as drawings, paintings, photographs, and sculptures, and architectural design. Rights related to copyright include those of performing artistes in their performances, producers of phonograms in their recordings, and broadcasters in their radio and television programmes.

While there is not yet an accepted definition of Traditional Knowledge (TK) at the international level, it can be said that TK is knowledge, know-how, skills, and practices that are developed, sustained, and passed on from generation to generation within a community, often forming part of its cultural or spiritual identity, and includes traditional cultural expressions (TCEs). A tradition is a belief or behaviour passed down within a group or society with symbolic meaning or special significance, with origins in the past. It means whatever information follows is known only by oral tradition, but is not supported, and perhaps may be refuted by physical documentation, by a physical artefact, or other quality evidence. It is presumed that at least two transmissions over three generations are required for a practice, belief or object to be seen as traditional.

Culture, on the other hand, is the beliefs, values, mindsets, and practices of a group of people. It includes the behaviour pattern and norms of that group, the rules, the assumptions, the perceptions, the logic, and reasoning that are expressed and are specific to a group. Traditional knowledge and traditional cultural expressions are properties; they involve innovations and need to be protected under intellectual property through patents, copyright, or any other form in which the particular traditional knowledge and traditional cultural expression fall.

For such a tradition and practice to be patented, there must be three key elements: novelty, not obvious, and orally or practically disclosed by the community or whoever is claiming ownership. For novelty, the invention must be new. In TKs and TCEs, novelty is assessed by comparing the invention with prior art. Prior art is proved by either published, publicly used, or known by the members of the community claiming it, and must have been orally and or practically disclosed by the person or community claiming it. It must be secret information only known and practiced by that community.

Inventive step (non-obviousness). The invention must not be evident or obvious to a person skilled in the relevant field or technology based on what is already known in that field or another technological field. The invention must be capable of being produced or used in any kind of industry or be able to provide a practical benefit. ”Invention of tradition” is when a new practice or object is introduced in a manner that implies a connection with the past that is not necessarily present.

History of Ankole cattle

For some 6,000 years, a group of very similar cattle with long horns have played a role in the lives of African tribes. Various breeds of cattle were mixed through generations as humans moved across the African continent, until the distinctive Sanga breed was produced. Sanga cattle are the background type for many of the individual breeds now available. One of the oldest breeds of these is Ankole cattle, which are deemed as cattle of kings.

Ankole cattle and other artefacts play important roles in the lives of the African tribes. The herds are a sign of wealth within the tribe, are milked for milk and to make yogurt and other milk products. The cows provide status for a man within the Ankole tribe, his wealth is measured by the number and quality of cattle he owns, and they are used as bride wealth (Enjugano). It is noteworthy that there is a secret knowledge and process involved in coming up with the Ankole cows. These cows have long horns with different colours and shapes, which need to be protected by intellectual property through TKs and TCEs. The most important process involved in ensuring a variety of Ankole cows is through a strict selection of the bull for a particular kraal (Okubikira).

Okubikira is the process of selecting the type of cows you want to have in future, in terms of colours, the type of horns the cows will have and sometimes cows without horns (Enkungu). For a herdsman, to select the bull (Enumi Yokubikira), he considers many factors, including the bull’s lineage such as its mother, grandmother, great grandmother, its father, great grandfather, up to its great, great, grandparents. The trace of the lineage helps the kraal owner to know the ancestries, the colour he wants, should it have dots (Obugondo), Kiremba, Muraraa, Kyasha, Mpuga, Kiroko, Nshanga, Bihogo, Mbindi, Mayenje, Ngabo, Baraasi, or other colours, and whether they have horns (Amihembe), no horns (Enkungu). If he wants horns, should they be pointing to each other (Ekikome), be pointed in different directions (Ekitaraa), be pointing down (Orukondo) or should the left horn be slightly below the right horn (Ekimosho)?

It is after the initial process of Okubikira, that the kraal owner goes for the second process known as Okuchoka, which is the selection of cows with the same design (Ibaara), with or without horns (Enkungu). It is on such and more processes used to determine features of an Ankole cow that need to be protected through TK and TCEs.

The Ankole cows were imported to Germany as zoo specimens in the early 20th Century, spread to other European, and American zoos. In 2016, the total number of the Ankole breed in Europe and America was thought to be approximately 1,500 heads, of which 80 percent of them are in USA and are used for tourism and trade show exhibitions to generate financial benefits.

Mr Cyril Ramaphosa, South Africa’s president, published a book titled Cattle of the Ages: Ankole Cattle in South Africa. He sells a copy at between $54 (Shs192,000) and $86 (Shs 307,000) on Amazon. Mr Ramaphosa, the American and European companies, however, do not remit the above financial benefits to the Banyankole Community.

In conclusion, Banyankole with long-horned cattle should unite, register their TK and TCEs in long-horned cattle, protect their identity, culture and claim financial benefits from those receiving financial benefits from their heritage, stop them from further abuses.

Court has sentenced a Vuka Africa Ltd finance manager to a fine of Shs100,000 or, in default, to serve two months in jail after he pleaded guilty to failing to register with the Personal Data Protection Office (PDPO) before collecting and processing clients’ personal data.

The trial Grade One Magistrate, Geoffrey Akena, sitting at the Chief Magistrate’s Court of the Standards, Utility and Wildlife Division, sentenced Dennis Habu after he pleaded guilty to failure to register as a data collector, processor, and controller, contrary to Section 29(1) of the Data Protection and Privacy Act and Regulation 15 of the Data Protection and Privacy Regulations, 2021.

Mr Akena noted that the offence is common and requires deterrence, but also observed that the accused was a first-time offender who had shown remorse and had not wasted court time.

However, the court withdrew a charge of unlawful disclosure of personal data after a reconciliation agreement was presented, indicating that the complainant, Aloyo Nyeko Omega, had withdrawn interest in the matter.

During the proceedings, the State informed court that it had received a signed reconciliation agreement dated December 2, 2025, addressed to the PDPO, confirming that the complainant and Vuka Africa Ltd had reached an amicable settlement.

Magistrate Akena admitted the reconciliation letter into the record and ruled that the accused would not be required to plead to the charge of unlawful disclosure of personal data.

‘Reconciliation is admitted, and since the complainant and the accused reconciled in writing, the accused will not plead to it,’ he ruled.

The remaining count related to Vuka Africa Ltd’s failure to register with the PDPO before collecting and processing personal data.

The State told court that Habu, as finance manager and representative of the company, was responsible for ensuring compliance.

Brief facts presented in court indicated that Vuka Africa Ltd, a courier company contracted by Jumia Uganda to provide delivery services, collected customers’ personal contact details without being registered as required by law.

‘It is not in dispute that the said company at the time of the commission of the offence was not registered in the database of the PDPO as a company that collects personal data,’ the prosecution stated.

When asked whether he had heard and understood the facts, Habu responded: ‘Yes.’

Court then convicted him on his own plea of guilt.

The State noted that the offence was non-violent and that the accused had no previous criminal record. ‘The State takes cognisance of the offence which is non-violent in nature,’ the prosecutor said. ‘We pray for a punishment the court deems fit.’

In mitigation, the defence asked for leniency.

‘The accused person is remorseful, he has not wasted court’s time, and the company has since sought the required registration,’ defence counsel submitted. ‘We ask for a lenient punishment and preferably a fine within the confines of the law.’

In delivering the sentence, Magistrate Akena said court had considered the guilty plea, the accused’s remorse, and the fact that he was a first-time offender.

‘The accused has pleaded guilty. the State has indicated he is a first-time offender and it is not a violent crime, but it is a very rampant offence,’ the magistrate said.

He added that the court would show leniency. Court then sentenced Habu to three months’ imprisonment or a fine of five currency points (Shs100,000), and in default, two months in prison.

The magistrate informed the convict: ‘You have a right to appeal.’

As G20 leaders met in Johannesburg last month, they faced a grim reality: many developing-country governments are spending more than they can afford on debt service. To keep funds flowing to foreign creditors, policymakers have been forced to cut spending on education, health care, and infrastructure. These countries have so far avoided default, but at the expense of their own development.

The fact that governments across Africa, Asia, and Latin America must close hospitals and cancel school-lunch programmes to service their debt is not only a moral failure; it is also a strategic one. A world where countries cannot invest in sustainable growth and development will struggle to achieve stability, prosperity, and climate resilience. Five years ago, amid the Covid-19 pandemic, the G20 launched the Common Framework for Debt Treatment to help heavily indebted countries restructure their debts in an orderly, prompt, and equitable manner. But the promised relief has not materialised. According to the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, 37 out of 67 low-income countries eligible for concessional funding are in or at high risk of debt distress, yet only four; Chad, Zambia, Ghana, and Ethiopia , have applied for restructuring under the mechanism. Their experiences have revealed the weaknesses of the Common Framework: it offers far too little relief , and too late.

In response, the G20 has outsourced the problem to technocratic bodies, tasking them with accelerating the process and increasing relief. While this technical work is important, it is not enough. Debtor countries still fear that the policy is half-hearted. Policymakers now talk less about a ‘debt crisis’ and more about a ‘debt morass’ , a world where everyone is stuck, waiting for a change that never comes. Meanwhile, foreign private creditors have been withdrawing their capital from developing economies since 2022. The message is clear: the risks are too high, and no meaningful solution is in sight. When investors leave, governments are left scrambling to borrow from other sources.

Multilateral development banks (MDBs) and the IMF have come to the rescue. As a result, their share of developing countries’ external debt has soared, exceeding 75 percent in around 20 countries. This creates a vicious cycle: when multilateral organisations that don’t take a haircut in restructurings hold most of a country’s sovereign debt, private creditors become even more reluctant to invest. To escape the debt morass, G20 leaders must restore confidence in the Common Framework and act with a sense of urgency. That means reassuring debtor countries that applications for relief will be handled quickly, fairly, and generously. The recent G20 leaders’ communiqué, and their finance ministers’ declaration on debt sustainability, merely reiterated the technical work and thus fell short of what is needed. Stronger commitments must be backed by tangible action.

First, G20 leaders must reduce the stigma of restructuring. When debt becomes a drag on growth, seeking relief and committing to reform should be seen as responsible economic governance. Second, relief must be meaningful. A token reduction that leaves countries with still-limited fiscal space only prolongs the crisis. G20 leaders must proactively replenish debt-relief funds. While taxpayers in high-income countries, many with their own ballooning debts, may balk at these costs, continuing to bail out private creditors indirectly through MDBs is also expensive. The sooner debt relief is provided, the cheaper it will be.

Third, private creditors should be required to do their part. Based on the comparability-of-treatment principle, every dollar of debt relief from official creditors must be matched by private creditors. G20 leaders must support national legislation that enforces this policy. The self-regulatory approach taken over the past two decades by bondholders has not worked with other private creditors, and all it takes is a single holdout creditor to scupper a debt-restructuring process.

Some argue that debt relief will make borrowing more expensive for debtor countries in the future. The reality is their borrowing costs are already prohibitively high. Cleaning up their balance sheets would attract investors more quickly than implementing austerity measures. Investors, having incurred losses, will become more discerning and demand risk premiums from countries that fail to improve their debt management, a welcome incentive for good governance.

The G20 must contend with a confluence of geopolitical, climate, and economic shocks. But the developing world’s debt morass cuts across them all. Only by addressing this underlying challenge can we hope to overcome all the others. G20 leaders have already committed to debt relief. Now they need the courage to finish the job.

Every few centuries, the world undergoes a demographic shift so dramatic that it alters global power, reshapes economies, and reorganises entire populations. The last great shift, the labour shortages in Europe from the 14th to 17th centuries, contributed to the rise of the transatlantic slave trade. Today, a new shift is underway, but instead of chains and ships, it arrives dressed in policy language, ‘skills partnerships,’ and diplomatic courtesy.

Europe is ageing rapidly and irreversibly. This is not a political opinion; it is a statistical emergency. Eurostat’s 2025 Demographic Report* warns that: Europe’s median age will rise to 49 years by 2050; the working-age population is shrinking by three million people every year; and fertility rates remain among the lowest in the world, with Southern Europe as low as 1.2. This demographic crash has profound consequences. Fewer young workers means fewer taxpayers to fund social services, fewer caregivers for Europe’s expanding elderly population, and fewer workers to sustain industries already struggling with shortages. It is in this context that Europe is increasingly turning its gaze outward, and the gaze has landed squarely on Africa.

In recent months, several European states have either proposed or quietly begun exploring new labour-recruitment channels targeting African youth. In the Netherlands, a prominent government advisory body recommended sourcing workers from Kenya, Uganda, and Indonesia, a proposal that made headlines in the Dutch newspaper Algemeen Dagblad. Germany has expanded its ‘Triple Win’ recruitment scheme for care workers, targeting African countries after bilateral negotiations with Ghana and Kenya. Portugal and Italy are reviewing quotas for agricultural and logistics workers sourced from outside the EU.

These shifts are not random: Africa has the youngest population on earth, with a median age of under 20. Uganda’s median age, just 17, is even younger. If Europe is facing a demographic winter, Africa is experiencing a demographic summer. The contrast is now driving political strategy. But Ugandans must understand a crucial truth: this is not a humanitarian opportunity – it is a structural demand. Whenever a wealthy region faces a demographic crisis, history shows that it looks outward for labour. History also shows that the conditions of that labour seldom prioritise dignity or rights for those recruited. The modern language has changed – ‘labour mobility,’ ‘legal pathways,’ ‘skills circulation’, but the power relations remain the same.

This is the uncomfortable déjà vu: a continent with demographic privilege becomes a target for a continent with demographic decline. Yet Uganda enters the 2026 election season with no meaningful national conversation about this emerging global scramble for African workers. Our debates remain stuck in personalities – who sings better, who draws larger crowds, who insults who while tectonic global forces quietly position Uganda’s youth as the next export commodity.

This is not a partisan issue. It is a national survival issue. If Uganda does not develop a clear, sovereign policy on external labour recruitment, we risk repeating the mistakes of our past, allowing external powers to determine the fate of our young people while our leaders prioritise short-term political calculations. The urgent questions for Ugandans as we approach the ballot box are, therefore, not simply: Who do you support? Who speaks most passionately? But: Who understands the global demographic storm heading our way – and who has a plan to protect Uganda’s youth from becoming Europe’s demographic solution?

Because the world is reorganising. And if Uganda is not prepared, we will be reorganised by it.

Essay 2 – ‘Soft Words, Hard Realities: How Modern Policy Language Masks Exploitation.’ Ciao

Police have arrested four members of a little-known religious sect after followers kept the body of a deceased believer for nearly a week, hoping he would rise from the dead, local authorities and residents said.

The victim, 26-year-old Ashe Segawa, fell critically ill at his ancestral home in Butinindi Village, Mukono District, but was reportedly denied medical treatment under the instructions of the group’s self-proclaimed spiritual leader, Prophet Suzan Nelima, also known as Nelima Margret [Nabbi].

‘He was not allowed to eat even when he was very sick,’ Abbey Kafeero, Segawa’s brother told Monitor on Wednesday.

He added: ‘When he died, she told us not to inform anyone because he would be resurrected after seven days.’

Residents said the family and sect members continued praying over the body in fasting vigils, believing in a ‘seven-day resurrection miracle.’

The stench from the decomposing body eventually alarmed neighbors, who contacted local authorities.

‘When we entered the house, the smell and filth were unbearable. We had warned the chairman days before, but nothing was done,’ said one villager who had reported the matter earlier but preferred anonymity due to sensitivity of the case.

Butinindi Village Chairman Peter Kayiira condemned the sect’s actions and vowed swift intervention.

‘We will ensure the sick are taken to hospital and that families are informed. What has happened here is unacceptable,’ he said.

Uganda has virtually unregulated churches and religious associations, which continue to sprout in different parts of the country, often exploiting poverty and limited oversight to gain followers, experts say.

Speaking to Monitor, Kayiira also warned against the spread of such religious groups that mislead vulnerable communities.

Police confirmed the arrests of Mary Nakalanzi, the deceased’s mother, and two relatives accused of hiding the body.

The self-proclaimed prophet is believed to have fled.

‘Following the pastor’s instructions, the family denied him access to medical care, relying solely on prayer. Tragically, Segawa succumbed to his illness,’ said ASP Luke Owoyesigyire, Deputy Public Relations Officer for Kampala Metropolitan Police.

Authorities have registered a case of rash and negligent conduct at Kisoga Police Station and plan to conduct a postmortem to determine the exact cause of death.

The police issued a stern warning that ‘practices endangering life under the guise of religion are criminal offenses.’

‘Another ill man’

Witnesses also reported another gravely ill man at the sect’s makeshift church, lying on the floor as members prayed around him. Villagers say he is too weak to speak and has been denied medical care.

Residents condemned the sect for other extreme practices, including forbidding members from working and preventing the sick from seeking hospital care.

‘Jesus will provide,’ they said the leaders often told followers.

Bishop Michael Kyazze, president of the Coalition of Pentecostal Evangelicals, said desperation in communities is making people vulnerable to manipulation by self-styled prophets.

‘Believers must critically examine and question the teachings of new religious figures. Failure to do so exposes them to spiritual and physical danger,’ he noted.

Police investigations are ongoing, and authorities urged the public to always seek medical care while religious leaders stressed that spiritual beliefs should never override the duty to preserve life or respect the dignity of the deceased.

The clock is ticking down to December 21 when the highly anticipated Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon 2025) kicks off across several Moroccan cities.

Uganda are locked in, with high-stakes Group C encounters against Tunisia on December 23, Tanzania four days later and Nigeria wrapping up the pool action.

The Cranes will be based in Rabat for their group fixtures, with the rest of the continent contingent spread across other Moroccan host cities – each offering its own atmosphere, conditions and logistical quirks.

From coastal stadiums to high-altitude arenas inland, Afcon 2025 is stretching the tournament footprint wider than ever.

Here’s where everyone else will be stationed or play their matches as the competition kicks off. All kick-off times in East Africa Time (EAT).

RABAT – Cranes, Group C royal getaway and more

Venue 1: Complexe Sportif Prince Moulay Abdellah

Capacity: 69,500

City: Rabat

An iconic venue seven kilometres from Rabat centre, it was inaugurated in September after 2000, 2014 and 2023 renovations. Home to Morocco’s national team, it hosted Afcon 1988, Fifa Club World Cups 2014/2022, 2019 African Games, and 2022 Women’s Afcon.

Matches (EAT)

December 21: Morocco vs Comoros – 22:00

December 26: Morocco vs Mali – 23:00

December 29: Zambia vs Morocco – 22:00

January 4: R16 – 1st Group A vs 3rd Group C/D/E – 19:00

January 9: QF – Winner 40 vs Winner 39 – 22:00

January 14: SF – Winner 47 vs Winner 46 – 23:00

January 18: Final – Winner 49 vs Winner 50 – 22:00

Venue 2: Stade Annexe Olympique Complexe Sportif Prince Moulay Abdellah (Home to Uganda’s Group C)

Capacity: 21,000

City: Rabat

Completed in nine months and inaugurated May 2025, it features World Athletics-certified 400m track, natural grass pitch, crescent roof, advanced LED lighting, underground parking, cryotherapy rooms, VIP lounges, and an on-site TV studio.

Matches (EAT)

December 23: Tunisia vs Uganda – 23:00

December 27: Benin vs Botswana – 15:30

December 30: Tanzania vs Tunisia – 19:00

Venue 3: Complexe Sportif Prince Heritier Moulay El Hassan

Capacity: 22,000

City: Rabat

Built on FUS Rabat site with no athletics track; glazed terracotta façade inspired by Berber motifs for natural ventilation. Includes five levels with VIP boxes, lounges, media zones, command centres, and optimised crowd flow.

Matches (EAT)

December 24: Algeria vs Sudan – 18:00

December 28: Algeria vs Burkina Faso – 20:30

December 31: Equatorial Guinea vs Algeria – 19:00

January 6: R16 – Winner Group E vs 2nd Group D – 19:00

Venue 4: Stade El Barid

Capacity: 18,000

City: Rabat

In Agdal District, home to Union Touarga SC; it features natural grass pitch, VVIP/VIP areas, media stands, and landscaped forecourts with shops and dining. Minimalist style with a sunken pitch for excellent sightlines.

Matches (EAT)

December 23: DR Congo vs Benin – 15:30

December 27: Uganda vs Tanzania – 20:30

December 30: Botswana vs DR Congo – 22:00

January 4: R16 – 2nd Group B vs 2nd Group F – 22:00

CASABLANCA

Venue: Stade Mohammed V

Capacity: 67,000

City: Casablanca

In MaSrif District, it opened in 1955 and IS nicknamed ‘Donor’. It has hosted Morocco’s greatest football moments and top African competitions, drawing massive crowds for eight Afcon 2025 matches in its historic bowl.

Matches (EAT)

December 22: Mali vs Zambia – 17:00

December 24: Burkina Faso vs Equatorial Guinea – 15:30

December 26: Zambia vs Comoros – 20:30

December 28: Equatorial Guinea vs Sudan – 18:00

December 29: Comoros vs Mali – 22:00

December 31: Sudan vs Burkina Faso – 19:00

January 3: R16 – 2nd Group A vs 2nd Group C – 22:00

January 17: Third-Place Play-Off – 19:00

AGADIR

Venue: Grand Stade D’agadir

Capacity: 45,480

City: Agadir

On the Atlantic coast and inaugurated October 2013; it’s a modern landmark of Moroccan football with ocean breezes, blending high-energy stands and elite facilities for coastal drama in Afcon 2025.

Matches (EAT)

December 22: Egypt vs Zimbabwe – 23:00

December 24: Cameroon vs Gabon – 23:00

December 26: Egypt vs South Africa – 18:00

December 28: Gabon vs Mozambique – 15:30

December 29: Angola vs Egypt – 19:00

December 31: Mozambique vs Cameroon – 22:00

January 5: R16 – Winner Group B vs 3rd Group A/C/D – 19:00

January 10: QF – Winner 41 vs Winner 44 – 22:00

FES – Cranes final group clash versus Nigeria

Venue: Complexe Sportif De Fes

Capacity: 45,000

City: Fes

On Fes-Sefrou road and completed in 2003 after 1992 planning; it fuses traditional Moroccan zellige-tiled arches with modern VIP boxes, media towers, and tiered stands for pitchside intensity and historic energy.

Matches (EAT)

December 23: Nigeria vs Tanzania – 20:30

December 27: Nigeria vs Tunisia – 23:00

December 29: Uganda vs Nigeria – 19:00

January 5: R16 – Winner Group C vs 3rd Group A/B/F – 22:00

MARRAKECH

Venue: Grand Stade De Marrakech

Capacity: 45,240

City: Marrakech

Located 11km north of the city centre, this premier sports complex combines modern design with versatility for football and athletics, offering world-class facilities and a vibrant atmosphere for competitions.

Matches (EAT)

December 22: South Africa vs Angola – 20:00

December 24: Côte d’Ivoire vs Mozambique – 20:30

December 26: Angola vs Zimbabwe – 15:30

December 28: Côte d’Ivoire vs Cameroon – 23:00

December 29: Zimbabwe vs South Africa – 19:00

December 31: Gabon vs Côte d’Ivoire – 22:00

January 6: R16 – Winner Group F vs 2nd Group E – 22:00

January 10: QF – Winner 43 vs Winner 42 – 19:00

TANGER

Venue: Grand Stade De Tanger

Capacity: 68,000

City: Tanger

Ten kilometres southwest of the city centre, it was opened in 2011 and named after explorer Ibn Battuta; an architectural gem reflecting Tangier’s historical legacy, with sweeping stands and windswept intensity near Europe’s gateway.

Matches (EAT)

December 23: Senegal vs Botswana – 18:00

December 27: Senegal vs DR Congo – 18:00

December 30: Benin vs Senegal – 22:00

January 3: R16 – Winner Group D vs 3rd Group B/E/F – 19:00

January 9: QF – Winner 38 vs Winner 37 – 19:00

January 14: SF – Winner 45 vs Winner 48 – 20:00