Category: Daily Monitor

Hug a Gen Z male on sight. Give him some money while you are at it, because being a man has never been this hard. History tells us our forefathers went to war, fought over food, women, and survival, and somehow survived slave traders and colonial chaos. And here we are, a Gen Z man in 2026, judged by the suffering of ancestors, expected to conquer, hustle, and still post perfectly curated Instagram reels. Honestly, somewhere along the line, someone misplaced the instruction manual. Being a Gen Z male in Uganda today is like being born into an unfinished house and told to decorate it beautifully, and by the way, pay for the bricks. The battles are now mental, with rising female misandry acting as an added weapon. The odds are stacked. The gender ratio is a cruel advantage making us the prize, yet simultaneously the suspect. Stress ,Anxiety, Identity crises, byona byona check, check, and check. You might feel like you need a PhD in emotional management just to survive your own WhatsApp group.

Men’s Mental Health Month rolls around every June, and predictably, most men acknowledge it the same way they handle annual check-ups: ‘I am fine,’ while internally carrying enough baggage to qualify for unpaid Emirates cargo. For Gen Z men, mental health conversations are impossible to ignore. Unlike our fathers and grandfathers, who measured masculinity by silent endurance, today’s young men navigate anxiety, loneliness, economic pressures, social media comparison, and climate anxiety all in one neat, algorithmically optimised stress cocktail.

Previous generations had it rough, yes but they had the offline advantage. Embarrassing moments stayed in the village. Failed attempts were witnessed by only one aunt and a dog. But now one typo online or bad smile can trigger existential dread, unsolicited critique, and passive-aggressive comments from strangers who have never seen your real face. Social media is simultaneously a spotlight and a guillotine, constantly reminding Gen Z men that everyone else seems to be winning the game of life.

Loneliness is the new currency

Uganda’s Gen Z males are hyperconnected, yet profoundly isolated. Fathers had football fields, mosques, kafundas, and gossip corners. Gen Z men have WhatsApp groups, TikTok comment sections, and hundreds of followers. They can scroll for hours and still not find someone to tell: Life is hard and I need help. Vulnerability is risky and expression is a balancing act, speak, and you are weak. Do not speak, and you are broken. Somehow, you are always wrong, even when right. Then the accidental therapist; the barber, the boda guy, the gym instructor, all the unofficial mental health support systems of modern Uganda.

Economic pressures are real!

Past generations had the luxury of a linear script; school, job, marriage, children, and quiet arguments over land boundaries. Gen Z men? Inflation, gig instability, unaffordable housing, and debt have made milestones feel like distant mirages. At 28, their fathers had houses and families. Today’s 28-year-old debates Netflix subscriptions versus buying fuel. Being broke is not laziness; it is a national phenomenon wrapped in a timing mismatch with history.

The crisis of masculinity is the cherry on the stress cake. Grandfathers had clear roles. Fathers were providers, protectors, and emotionally unavailable but consistent. Gen Z men must be available yet strong, sensitive yet masculine, ambitious but humble, financially aware but not greedy. The exam is endless, the marking guide keeps changing, and there are no office hours for support. Influencers online promise wealth and dominance. Neither equips young men for real-life Ugandan adversity.

Mental health issues so visible

Older generations argue, ‘We survived worse.’ True. They endured wars, poverty, dictatorships, and famine. But surviving in silence is not thriving. Boomers did not have Instagram telling them every friend had a six-pack, a house, and two cars. Gen Z men live in the age of constant comparison. Awareness is progress, not weakness. Recognition is not fragility.

Practical interventions:

Gentlemen, sometimes the bravest thing you can do is admit that life is hard without being judged as soft. Imagine a space where saying, ‘I am stressed’ does not automatically earn you a lifetime ban from masculinity. That, my friends, is emotional peer support. And yes, it is okay if it is in a WhatsApp group. Bonus points if someone drops a laughing emoji or makes bad jokes while still being empathetic.

Being a man does not mean bottling every emotion while pretending your life is an uninterrupted convoy. Real strength now includes asking for help, seeking therapy, and expressing emotion without embarrassment. It is okay to admit you are overwhelmed when your Wi-Fi drops in the middle of a TikTok crisis. The new benchmark for masculinity – being human, fully and unapologetically, even if it means occasionally crying over tea with your mates.

Connection matters, people. Whether it is football at the local pitch, church choir practice, or gossiping over a plate of kikomando, these interactions build resilience. Mentorship, sports, friendship circles these are free therapy sessions if done right. And yes, governments, schools, and workplaces need to step up too. Men’s mental health should be integrated into policy, employment, and education systems so future generations do not have to survive on coffee, memes, and awkward gym sessions.

Men’s Mental Health Month is a reminder that Gen Z men are not weaker; they are simply trying to survive a world that comes with Wi-Fi, pressure, and unlimited overthinking. They are aware, connected, overwhelmed, and slowly learning that ‘I am fine, bro’ is sometimes the biggest lie since ‘I am reaching in five minutes.’

They are proving that silence is not strength, memes count as therapy, and occasionally a philosophical boda guy at midnight offers better life advice than half the motivational podcasts online. Young men do not need to be emotionless machines or turn every heartbreak into a podcast series.

Diageo is grappling with asset losses and legal battles in several African countries as it seeks to exit parts of the continent’s beer market, highlighting the difficult operating conditions facing foreign investors.

The company is fighting a multimillion-dollar legal battle over its planned exit from East African Breweries Ltd (EABL) after posting estimated losses of about $365m from the sale of assets in Ethiopia, Nigeria and Ghana.

The British drinks giant is selectively selling its African beer businesses as part of a broader plan to cut costs and boost revenue by focusing on an asset-light, high-margin business model.

The firm is restructuring much of its global business as it seeks to reshape its beer portfolio, which is seen as lower margin and harder to scale profitably.

In 2025, Africa accounted for 9 percent of Diageo’s sales, the same share as Latin America and the Caribbean.

A huge chunk of the group’s sales came from North America (40 percent), followed by Europe (24 percent) and Asia Pacific (18 percent). North America remains Diageo’s largest market and accounts for more than one-third of its net sales.

‘We have made several selective disposals consistent with our long-term strategy of deleveraging and improving balance sheet flexibility. This includes the sale of non-core brands Pampero, Safari, and Cacique, as well as a shift to an asset-light model in many parts of Africa, with the disposal of shareholdings in Guinness Nigeria, Guinness Ghana, and Seychelles Breweries,’ the company says in its latest annual report for 2025.

‘Going forward, we remain committed to actively pursuing disposals of appropriate, non-core assets. We have made progress this fiscal, but there is clearly more work to do.’

Asset shift

An asset-light business strategy reduces a company’s ownership of capital-intensive physical assets, such as manufacturing plants and vehicle fleets, and allows it to rely on outsourcing, leasing, and digital platforms while maintaining a flexible cost structure.

On April 25, 2022, Diageo completed the sale of its Ethiopian subsidiary, Meta Abo Brewery Share Company, to Castel, resulting in a loss of £95m ($125.6m).

About two years later, on September 30, 2024, it completed the sale of its 58.02 percent shareholding in Guinness Nigeria to Tolaram, with the transaction resulting in a loss of $125m.

On January 28, 2025, Diageo announced the sale of its 80.4 percent shareholding in Guinness Ghana Breweries to Castel Group, a transaction that resulted in a loss of $114m.

Asset disposals in other markets, such as Cameroon and Seychelles, however, generated significant gains.

On May 26, 2023, Diageo completed the sale of Guinness Cameroun SA for $475m, resulting in a gain of $343 million, while on April 2, 2025, the group announced the sale of its 54.4 percent shareholding in Seychelles Breweries to Phoenix Beverages, which was completed on July 1, 2025, for about $80m.

The company is looking to divest much of its beer portfolio apart from its flagship Guinness brand and has already moved to separate brewing operations by offloading several beer-related assets across Africa.

In May 2025, the company launched the first phase of its Accelerate programme, a company-wide initiative aimed at building a more agile operating model, with clear cash-delivery targets and a disciplined focus on operational excellence and cost efficiency.

Under the programme, Diageo seeks to deliver sustained performance, including $3b in free cash flow annually from fiscal year 2026, and achieve $625m in cost savings over three years to support reinvestment and improve operating leverage.

‘These changes are creating a stronger platform for optimising investment and enabling more effective resource allocation towards long-term growth,’ the company says.

As a result, Diageo has transitioned towards an asset-light framework, selling several African subsidiaries and shifting increasingly towards licensing arrangements and third-party operators.

A shift towards an asset-light strategy in Africa and the associated divestments has driven a significant pivot towards third-party production and distribution.

Diageo says that its Beer Category Third-Party Operations team will focus on maintaining secure supply solutions through partners while assuring consistent quality of Diageo brands produced at third-party facilities and enhancing Diageo value through supporting the start-up of new partnerships and delivery of innovation projects.

EABL battle

Diageo has also agreed to sell its 65 percent majority stake in East African Breweries (EABL) to Japanese beverage giant Asahi Group Holdings for $2.3b.

But the planned transaction faces a series of lawsuits from minority shareholders and third parties that are delaying its conclusion.

In Kenya, EABL has petitioned Chief Justice Martha Koome to coordinate the multiple court cases challenging Diageo’s planned sale of its 65 percent stake in the brewer and its holding in UDV Kenya to Japan’s Asahi Group.

The company argues that parallel suits filed in different courts had produced conflicting rulings, with one court halting the transaction after others declined to stop it.

It warned that the fragmented litigation risked forum shopping, inconsistent judgments, and prolonged uncertainty, potentially undermining investor confidence.

Under the deal, Asahi agreed to acquire Diageo Kenya, which holds a 65 percent stake in EABL that holds stakes in Uganda Breweries Limited, Seregenti Breweries in Tanzania, UDV Kenya, and Kenya Breweries Limited.

Diageo’s African challenges include currency volatility, shifting regulatory hurdles, taxation pressures, and legal battles that continue to complicate its exit from some markets.

Diageo is among several British companies scaling down operations on the continent and redirecting resources to investments and markets they consider to offer stronger growth and returns.

UK firms, including Barclays, Standard Chartered, and Atlas Mara, which had acquired seven African banks, have also reduced their footprint in parts of Africa.

History has always been captivated by visible power. We celebrate those who built nations, commanded armies, transformed economies, and occupied positions of influence. Entire civilizations have devoted themselves to documenting the individuals who wore the crown, sat on the throne, signed the laws, and shaped institutions.

Yet in our fascination with public authority, we have often overlooked a more profound question: who shapes the human beings who wield that power?

Behind every leader, decision-maker, entrepreneur, or statesman exists a private world rarely examined by history. Who restores courage when confidence falters? Who offers reassurance when responsibility becomes overwhelming? Who influences the thoughts that ultimately become public decisions?

These questions do not diminish authority; they deepen our understanding of it. French philosopher Michel Foucault challenged the notion that power exists only within governments, institutions, and formal structures. He argued that power also moves through relationships, expectations, language, and everyday interactions. It does not merely command; it shapes. It influences what we fear, what we desire, what we believe, and ultimately who we become. The most consequential forms of power, therefore, are often the least visible, arriving quietly through trust, admiration, intimacy, validation, and emotional access.

This reflection becomes particularly significant during Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month, when society is increasingly confronted by a difficult paradox. Men are often celebrated for resilience, achievement, and their capacity to carry responsibility, yet many remain discouraged from expressing vulnerability, grief, fear, or emotional exhaustion. This reality invites a deeper question. If a man can lead institutions, influence societies, and command significant authority, yet still long for understanding, affection, affirmation, and emotional peace, where does power truly reside?

The answer is neither that men are weak nor that women secretly control them. Rather, it reveals a universal truth about the human condition: Every person possesses vulnerabilities, and whoever is granted access to those vulnerabilities is entrusted with a remarkable form of influence. Perhaps this is the most overlooked economy in human society; the economy of emotional access. We carefully study wealth, political authority, and information because they are measurable, yet we rarely examine the invisible exchanges of reassurance, acceptance, encouragement, and emotional security that shape the decisions of those who may hold extraordinary public power.

The conversation inevitably extends to gender and the expectations societies construct around it. Thinkers such as Simone de Beauvoir and Judith Butler challenged us to question how much of what we regard as natural roles is genuinely chosen and how much is inherited through culture and tradition. Such inquiry is not an attack on tradition itself; rather, it is an invitation to intellectual honesty about how authority, identity, and expectation are formed. Yet regardless of gender, the central lesson remains unchanged: power without ethics is merely control wearing a more sophisticated disguise.

Perhaps humanity’s greatest mistake has been assuming that power belongs only to those who can be seen. We have studied the crown, analysed the throne, and documented the empire, yet rarely have we examined the private kingdoms that shape the individual wearing the crown. The question, therefore, is not whether men possess greater power than women, or women greater power than men. Such debates are ultimately too narrow for the complexity of human experience. The more enduring question is what we choose to do with the influence another person’s vulnerability places in our hands.

The highest form of power has never been the ability to make another human being smaller. It has always been the capacity to hold influence while preserving dignity, freedom, and humanity.

Our story of June 15 on the worrying rise of reports of suicide and violence by students in Mbale City is another reminder that our education sector should be concerned about more than capitation grants, teachers’ salaries, academics, infrastructure, and grades. It is another reminder that learners are first human beings with personal struggles not just index numbers behind a school desk, cramming notes to pass exams.

In the month of June alone, a number of student suicide related deaths have been reported. These include a 16-year-old senior three student at Mbale High School who died on June 9, on June 11, a 19-year-old Senior Five student at Mbale Progressive Secondary School, and, more recently, a 14-year-old from St Mary’s college who was hospitalised after reportedly overdosing.

According to police, 14 student cases linked to suspected suicide attempts and mental health emergencies have been reported this year.

In 2025, police records indicate that the Elgon region registered 11 suspected suicide cases, compared with 13 cases in 2024.

Needless to say, such cases are not unique to Mbale City or the Elgon region. There have been a number of recorded cases from various parts of the country. This means as a nation, we can no longer sit back and hope that our young people somehow survive school and all its attending challenges and make it through life as long as we pay school fees and provide them with pocket money.

Well-thought-out and planned programmes and interventions must be designed to cater to the mental health of learners. Of course, schools are not solely responsible for learners’ mental health. Even if it is true that they spend a lot more time in school, deliberately taking care of their mental health must be a shared objective of all stakeholders. This includes parents and guardians, religious leaders, all community leaders, and the learners themselves.

Learners must be empowered to deal with mental health challenges long before any such issues arise. They must be taught to anticipate them, know how to recognise them, and how to deal with them in a healthy manner. They too can then be ambassadors of mental health and be able to help their peers. Teachers and school administrators must know that beyond assessments, competencies, and curriculum changes, learners have emotional stress, peer pressure, and other challenges. Interacting with them with this in mind makes positive impact effective.

On June 20, we marked World Refugee Day. We celebrated the courage and contributions of refugees and recognise the extraordinary generosity of Uganda’s host communities.

Under the leadership of the Government of Uganda and the coordination of the Office of the Prime Minister through the Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework, Uganda has become a global example of how refugee protection, self-reliance and development can go hand-in-hand.

However, as global humanitarian needs outpace shrinking international funding, women and girls disproportionately suffer the consequences. Historically, they are the first to lose vital access to education, reproductive health care, and protection against gender-based violence. This must not become the new normal.

For a pregnant woman living in a refugee settlement, access to a skilled midwife and local health facilities can mean the difference between life and death. For a survivor of gender-based violence, timely health care and psychosocial support provide a pathway to healing and recovery. For adolescent girls, access to education, information and health services helps protect their rights and unlock their potential. These are investments in human dignity, resilience and hope.

While new refugees continue to arrive in Uganda due to ongoing conflict, the situation is also increasingly protracted, which – in combination with reduced funding – necessitates solutions that go beyond short-term responses. The Humanitarian-Development-Peace nexus provides a pathway to weather the storm of shrinking resources by linking immediate lifesaving assistance with investments in national systems, social cohesion, and opportunities for young people. Under the leadership of the Government of Uganda, and with support from Denmark, Sweden, Iceland and the Netherlands, large-scale programmes are demonstrating how this vision can be translated into action. These programmes together with humanitarian and development objectives, strengthen health systems, empower adolescents and young people, prevent gender-based violence and harmful practices, and expand access to quality sexual and reproductive health services for refugees and host communities alike.

Through investments in frontline health workers, youth empowerment initiatives, stronger referral systems and enhanced capacities of national and district institutions, some of these programmes are helping to ensure that immediate humanitarian gains are translated into lasting development outcomes. By investing simultaneously in people, institutions and communities, they contribute to greater resilience, social cohesion and peaceful coexistence.

Importantly, the benefits of these investments extend far beyond the immediate crisis. Women and girls who can safely give birth, complete their education, live free from violence and exercise their rights are better equipped to contribute to their families, communities and societies. The dividends are lifelong and intergenerational. Investing in women and girls is therefore not only a humanitarian imperative, but also a strategic investment in human capital, economic development and peace.

As the humanitarian system undergoes important reforms, efforts to improve efficiency, strengthen localisation and enhance sustainability are both necessary and welcome. But efficiency must never come at the expense of the most vulnerable. Reproductive health services, maternal care and protection from gender-based violence are not secondary considerations. They are essential foundations for sustainable development and peace.

World Refugee Day reminds us that solidarity is measured not only by the doors we open, but by our collective commitment to ensuring that hope, dignity and opportunity endure. In an era of constrained resources, our challenge is clear: to deepen partnerships, strengthen systems and ensure that refugee women and girls are not left behind, but are empowered to live healthy, safe and dignified lives.

Because investing in their health, dignity and rights is not only the right thing to do. It is an investment in stronger communities, human capital, more resilient societies and a more peaceful and prosperous future for all.

Finals are rarely decided by a single moment but more often, they are shaped by a chain of small advantages accumulated over 80 minutes through a cleaner lineout, a more accurate exit kick, a stronger bench, or a forward pack that continues winning collisions when fatigue blurs decision-making.

As Stanbic Black Pirates and Toyota Buffaloes prepare for Saturday’s 2026 Uganda Rugby Premiership final at Kings Park Arena, the season data already points clearly to where the contest will tilt.

Pirates arrive with the league’s strongest record at 13 wins from 15 matches. They have scored 83 tries and conceded just 17, the best defensive return in the competition. Buffaloes, at 11-3-1, have been more uneven but more adaptable after scoring 55 tries and conceding 24 on their path to the final.

The detail is not just in the results but in how each side builds those results.

Selection puzzle

The first contest sits inside the team sheets.

Buffaloes are monitoring Aaron Tukei following concussion protocols. If cleared, he returns as one of their most efficient finishers, with seven tries this season and a proven ability to finish broken-field opportunities.

They also regain several Sevens players, including Daniel Otim, Ronald Ogwang and Moses Watmon, whose pace and physicality add late-game flexibility. Watmon in particular has been central to Buffaloes’ ability to win collisions, force turnovers and score from disordered phases.

Pirates face more structural disruption as utility Captain Isaac Massa is expected to miss through concussion, while the absence of late Sydney Gongodyo removes a key lineout target and one of their strongest ball carriers. Gongodyo featured in three of the five games he started this season, in a pack responsible for nearly 45 percent of Pirates’ carries.

Humphrey Tashobya, who partnered with him against Buffaloes in the regular season, has stepped into that role over the last two matches but the adjustment is collective rather than individual.

The air game

Pirates’ attack begins in the air. In their regular-season meeting with Buffaloes, two of their three tries came from lineout possession. That single detail defines their attacking identity that a clean aerial ball is their most reliable entry into scoring positions.

Without Gongodyo, the lineout responsibility shifts to Douglas Komakech, Frank Kidega and Tashobya. Their timing and accuracy were tested in the semifinal against Heathens, where Pirates occasionally lost rhythm under pressure.

Buffaloes will counter through Joseph Teko and Victor Baguma, a pairing that has grown in consistency and rehearsed the partnership five times this season. Their aim is to slow the Pirates’ timing and force less organized attacks.

The kicking equation

Territory may decide this final as much as possession and Buffaloes’ control point is Yasin Waiswa, who enters with 104 points this season and a 62% goal-kicking success rate, according to Isa Metrics data.

Pirates face a less settled picture at fly-half. William Nkore has converted 55 of 92 kicks this season and offers structure while Timothy Kisiga provides greater accuracy at 66% and has previously operated across multiple backline positions, including fly-half, centre and fullback in last season’s final.

Buffaloes, by contrast, have clarity as Waiswa dictates tempo and territory, supported by a kick-chase system designed to test Pirates’ aerial defence.

The collision layer

If the lineout defines possession, the breakdown will define the momentum.

Alex Aturinda has been the season’s most influential forward, finishing as the Premiership’s top try scorer with 13 and adding four assists across competitions. Alongside him, Haruna Muhammad has scored 11 tries, both ahead of what Kisiga tallied as the season’s best last year, giving Pirates two consistent strike threats from forward dominance.

Aturinda’s influence goes beyond finishing. In their earlier clash with Buffaloes, he assisted Haruna’s try, underlining his dual role as scorer and creator. If you don’t trust the partnership, then replay the lethal but beautiful carry and try against Heathens. Buffaloes must therefore manage his access to space rather than eliminate him. That responsibility falls to David Bajjananseko and Douglas Musoke, whose work in slowing the ball and controlling collisions will determine Pirates’ attacking speed.

The duel between Bajjananseko, three tries from 14 games, and Pirates’ Zziwa at the breakdown is equally important. It will decide whether Pirates play on the front foot or are forced into defensive phases.

Managing malaria time

The clearest tactical lesson from the only regular-season meeting is the split. Pirates scored all their points in the first half while Buffaloes controlled the second. That pattern may not repeat but it remains instructive.

Pirates have since improved their finishing profile, particularly in the playoffs where they outscored opponents 112-36. Buffaloes arrive with fresher legs and added depth from their Sevens contingent, having scored 91-62 across their playoff run.

UGANDA RUGBY PREMIERSHIP

Final – Saturday, 4 pm

Pirates vs. Buffaloes, Kings Park Arena

Men are always told to stay strong, keep moving and carry their burdens quietly. Yet beneath the jokes, bravado and everyday routines often lie fears, doubts, pressures and emotions that rarely make it into conversation. In this candid edition, media personality Gaetano Kagwa reflects on vulnerability, stress, loss, self-doubt and the unspoken ways men navigate their mental wellbeing.

When was the last time you laughed so hard you cried?

Quite recently, actually. It happens a lot on the morning show with Lucky. At least once a week, there will be a moment where we laugh so hard there are actual tears involved.

How would you describe your current mental state?

With the way the world is right now, my mental state is one of amusement and fear at the same time. My current state of mind is basically; try and stay alive, stay coherent, stay organised and keep moving because the world is in such a messed-up place.

What are your silent thoughts made of?

Mostly wondering how much more money URA plans to take from me. Every time I blink, there is a new tax somewhere. At this rate, they are about to start taxing us for breathing.

A mosquito buzzing in your ear or your woman saying, ‘We need to talk’?

The mosquito buzzing endlessly. Every single time!

They say big boys do not cry. How do you deal with loss,Gae?

First of all, thankfully I am not a big boy. But seriously, men cry too. We may have grown up being told to toughen up, but we are still human beings. When things get hard, the tears come. Maybe not publicly, maybe not often, but they come.

What emotion do you find hardest to express?

Vulnerability. Opening up can feel risky because once people know where you are vulnerable, it can be used against you. So sometimes it is easier to keep certain emotions tucked away.

Wama, are men stupid?

Absolutely. We were born that way and we will probably die that way. Men have this incredible talent for taking the simplest things and turning them into complicated puzzles for absolutely no reason. They say men cannot multitask, and when we try, it can be a complete train wreck. But we are also capable of brilliance. Men somehow manage to be the smartest and the dumbest people at the same time.

What is the weirdest thing you have worried about that turned out to be nothing?

Leadership. For years, I thought managing people was not for me. I worried I would be exposed as someone who did not know what he was doing. Yet every time I have been put in a leadership role, I have handled it pretty well.

Who is the first person you call when you need to talk?

Funny I have never had to do that. I try to figure things out on my own first. However, if I absolutely had to call someone, it would probably be one of my brothers.

What is a completely harmless thing that stresses you out?

Monday. Every Sunday morning, I start thinking about Monday and immediately become stressed. Then Monday comes, I get through it and realise it was not that bad.

What is your go-to emotional release practice?

Either I will watch something hilarious like a comical movie or something on my phone, or I will go play squash. A few games of squash can clear my head faster than almost anything else. Other times, I want complete solitude so I can think, reflect and clear the mental clutter.

What makes you feel safe?

Family. Even when I do not say anything, they somehow know when something is off. They show up when I need them, even when I have not asked. It is comforting knowing they are always there in the background.

Which version of yourself brings you the most joy?

Friday evening Gaetano. That is the version that is about to have a cold one or two or three or four with the boys, unwind, laugh and enjoy life with zero judgement and zero pressure. It is beautiful.

‘The little things.’ What does that mean to you?

‘The little things’ are often not so little in reality; they quietly add up into something significant. For me, it starts with something as basic as waking up and being able to move through my day freely. Freedom can feel ordinary because it is part of everyday life, but it is actually one of the greatest things we have. You do not always recognise its value until you see people who have lost it.

The girls say when they call just to check on men, you tell them, ‘Come home.’ True or false?

A little true. Physical presence is comforting. It is nice talking on the phone, but when someone is actually there, it is different. You can talk, connect and simply enjoy being in each other’s company.

What do you wish women understood more about men?

We are generally quite simple. We do not enjoy overcomplicating things, we prefer clarity, solutions, and moving forward. If plans are made, we would rather just follow through than turn them into something heavier or keep revisiting issues that were already settled in 2010. At the core, it is the basics that matter most: feed us, clothe us, ensure the children and the family is good, engage us in things we enjoy, and we are usually okay.

Would you rather never be stressed again or never self-doubt again?

Never be stressed again. A little self-doubt can sometimes help you improve. Stress, on the other hand, just comes with headaches, grey hairs and problems nobody asked for.

Would you rather know what people think about you or never be bothered at all?

Never be bothered at all. I have reached a point in my life where I am comfortable with who I am.

What is the most misunderstood emotion men experience?

It has to do with how we as men love. Men love differently. Not less. Differently. I think there is often this expectation that men should love the same way women do, but we are not the same biologically. Women experience emotions differently, and men do too. Hormones play a role in that, so the way we process and express love is not identical.

What mental health hill would you die on?

I believe in treating others the way you want to be treated. If you do not want people to treat you a certain way, then do not treat them that way. It is really as simple as that. I will do the best I can in whatever I take on, but I do not believe in forcing what I cannot give. If I canno do something, I cannot do it. I would rather be honest about my limits than pretend. Otherwise, I would be lying to myself and to you as well. So, I try to live by that principle. Do right, be real, and let things be what they are.

What mental health coping habit should men get more credit for?

We are not really used to asking each other, ‘What is wrong?’ or ‘Are you okay?’ People often say men should open up more emotionally, and maybe that is true in some cases, but in our circles, we do not usually get too deep into each other’s personal struggles unless it is really necessary.

There is a kind of unspoken understanding among men. We know people go through things, but we do not always sit and unpack it with each other. Sometimes you only speak up when things really get to a point where you cannot manage on your own.

Some people may see that as a flaw, but it works in its own way. It is like a quiet system we understand. We do not overstep into each other’s personal space unnecessarily.

Hit us with your most totally random thought. Extra points if it could get you cancelled.

If I fart and it does not smell to me… does that mean it does not smell to anybody else? Or is my nose just used to my own farts?

Next week on June 30, two USA-based organisations, Project Syndicate (www.projectsyndicate.org) which prides itself as ‘The World’s Opinion Page’, and the Meliore Foundation, will host conversation on the topic: ‘Can democracy survive without independent journalism?’ The conversation will cover three areas, namely:

Without Fear or Favour – protecting journalists from legal and political intimidation.

The Accountability Business – finding a new model to sustain serious journalism that holds power to account.

Unflooding the Zone – safeguarding the shared factual basis on which democracy depends. Had this meeting been organised by Africans here in Africa, perhaps the question would have been framed the other way round: ‘Can independent journalism survive without democracy?’

From our side of the universe, the former feeds off the latter. In Africa, it is democracy that protects independent journalism. Without democracy, independent journalism has always been bludgeoned, leaving a trail of blood and tears. Whichever way, both are in many ways akin to the proverbial chicken and egg question. What came first? The chicken or the egg? Independent journalism supports the healthy functioning of democracy while a vibrant democracy guarantees independent journalism. Uganda has over the years witnessed spurts of both. One of the lowest moments of the independent journalism was in January 1973 when Fr Clement Kiggundu, then editor of Munno newspaper was abducted by military men and killed in cold blood. His body was found two days after his disappearance, dumped in Namanve forest near Kampala.

This was just in the nascent stages of Idi Amin’s military dictatorship – two years after he had grabbed power in a putsch.

His ‘crime?’ According to the article, ‘African Witnesses: Fr Kiggundi, In Defence of the Truth’ (www.comboni.org), ‘When then President Idi Amin decided to expel all the Indians from the country, Fr Kiggundu had the courage to write in the newspaper that it was an unjust decision. In defence of the expelled Asians, Fr Kiggundu insisted that all those expelled were not only businessmen, but they included women, children and the elderly.’

Another of his ‘crimes’?

‘It was also believed that besides criticism of the expulsion of Asians, Amin was annoyed with the newspaper’s publication of a litany of complaints by women whose husbands had disappeared without trace. The women organised a meeting in Kampala in November 1972. During the meeting, they accused the government of kidnapping their husbands and taking them to unknown places. Others were discovered dead while those whose freedom was bought were found tortured.’

‘During that meeting, the women appealed to government to stop arresting and torturing innocent civilians. They also asked the authorities to release those in captivity. Government media outlets such as Radio Uganda and the Uganda Argus newspaper shunned the meeting and never gave it publicity. Munno stepped in and gave the women’s concerns prominence.’

Yet another ‘crime’?

‘Fr Kiggundu was covering the killing of Kiwanuka, and Amin was afraid that he might discover too many things.’ One of former Prime Minister Benedicto Kiwanuka’s sons recalls his father talking about a conversation he had with Fr Kiggundu during a lunch, shortly before both were abducted and killed by armed men linked to the State. Kiwanuka reportedly said: ‘We cannot abandon our country because we are menaced. If we have to die, better to die as martyrs.’

Fifty three years on today, Uganda’s independent journalists are back to covering the same stories of abductions of citizens. Of mothers and wives wailing about their missing sons and husbands. Some of the abducted citizens are missing after five or so years on (presumably dead), others are languishing in prisons in stalled trials, and others are seen (or out) with stories of torture.

Are we learning the same lessons?

Clearly, our journalism – and our democracy (or whatever we want to call it) – may not be where it was in 1973 – at least not yet. But the parallels in the stories are not lost. If journalists are writing the same stories of abductions, torture, disappearances, mothers and wives wailing, etc and facing (or not facing) the same risks, is this what is sometimes described as a time warp? Whatever the case, journalism and democracy live in a symbiotic relationship which makes the question of whether one can survive without the other neither here nor there.

The Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Mr Henry Musasizi, recently read the National Budget speech for the Financial Year (FY)2026/2027. The Budget has both some hits and misses. I will start by highlighting what I think are its positive aspects.

The recent economic performance and outlook are positive. The economy is doing well, growing at 6.4 percent and nominal GDP is estimated to increase to $69.3b.

The projected GDP growth of 10.2 percent in FY2026/2027 is good, although it might be overly ambitious.

This is considering the conflict in the Middle East, which has resulted in significantly higher global oil prices, coupled with the recent Ebola outbreak in DR Congo , which has been a public relations and communications crisis for the country, negatively impacting our tourism sector and economic activity in general.

This is irrespective of whether commercial oil production commences during this period, which will almost certainly strengthen economic growth.

Under its FY2026/2027 financing strategy, government plans on expanding alternative sources of financing, including Public-Private Partnerships, venture capital, innovative instruments such as SUKUK, and listing of commercially viable public enterprises on the stock exchange.

If implemented, this will go a long way in reducing the pressure from government’s traditional funding sources such as government securities, which could lead to lower interest rates in these instruments and have a knock-on effect on interest rates in the economy as a whole.

It could simultaneously deepen our financial and capital markets by expanding the fixed income instrument menu and diversifying the investor pool as well as increasing the counters on the Uganda Securities Exchange (USE), which hasn’t had an Initial Public Offering (IPO) in years.

Capital markets can provide a platform to raise large-scale, long-term capital, a necessity if government is to achieve its tenfold growth strategy. I now want to highlight some of the misses. On top of the list is percentage of the Budget that debt servicing is going to consume.

At Shs33.4 trillion, this is 39.6 percent of the total Budget, a massive increase from Shs27.5 trillion in the current fiscal year.

Of this total amount, interest payments alone equate to Shs12.35 trillion. Interest payments as a percentage of government revenues are 26.87 percent, up from roughly 25 percent in the current fiscal year.

So, this means that for every Shs1,000 that government earns, Shs269 goes towards paying interest on loans. This is a worrying trend, as these statistics present a more realistic picture about how sustainable our national debt is, rather than the more commonly referenced debt to GDP ratio, now at a reported 53 percent.

Under the new tax policy measures, government has introduced a five percent withholding tax on interest payments made by Ugandan companies to foreign financial institutions whom they have borrowed from.

This is a major ‘own goal’ for several reasons. It will either discourage capital inflows or increase the cost of doing business, or both. Financial institutions such as commercial banks are the largest recipients of such foreign funding, most of which is lent to Ugandan companies and individuals.

Financial institutions are likely to reduce such borrowings because of the additional costs or pass on these costs to these customers, making borrowing more expensive. It must be noted that these capital inflows have played a part in the stability of the Uganda Shilling, as they are typically disbursed in foreign currency.

When it comes to the Budget allocations, the amounts provided for the tourism sector and mineral development, mining, oil and gas, are relatively small, considering they are key pillars of government’s ATMS tenfold growth strategy.

Tourism receipts increased to $1.86b in 2025, putting it in the top three net-foreign exchange earners for the country. H

owever, it is only with a more intentional approach that the sector will grow, as it has the potential to be the top foreign exchange earner. Uganda is naturally endowed but adequate funding, focus and promotion is what will help it will realise its full tourism potential.

This is over and above the enablers that government has put in place. When you analyse the amount allocated to mineral development, mining, oil and gas, most of it goes towards oil and gas.

And yet Uganda’s mineral potential far exceeds its oil and gas sector potential, being blessed with deposits of precious metals, iron ore, rare earth elements, uranium, base metals, 3Ts and industrial minerals.

Mining is capital-intensive, so it is imperative that government allocates enough funding for geo-data generation, exploration and development. Lastly, I want to highlight our general budget planning and the consistent use of supplementary budgets. Supplementary budgets are not merely financial adjustments.

They are a test of how credible the original Budget was, how well government institutions planned for predictable obligations, and whether additional resources are resolving avoidable planning gaps.

History shows that they repeatedly cater for predictable expenditures such as wages and institutional arrears.

Further to this, the associated additional funding requirements for supplementary budgets also contribute to the constant increase in domestic borrowing.

Hello Juliet, even if a car appears to be perfectly repaired after what seems to be a minor accident, it can still have underlying issues that impact its performance and handling. Since you have mentioned that the steering feels unusual and the ride quality has changed, it would be wise to have the vehicle inspected.

Several problems can remain concealed after accident repairs. For example, poor wheel alignment can affect steering precision, leading to the car pulling to one side. In severe cases, improper alignment can result in uneven tyre wear.

Additionally, minor accidents can cause bent suspension components that affect ride quality and handling. Parts such as control arms, steering tie rods, shock absorbers, or wheel knuckles can be slightly bent and may not be easily detected during a visual inspection.

Damage to wheels or tyres can also disrupt car stability and ride comfort. Impact during an accident can slightly alter the shape of the wheels or cause internal tyre damage, resulting in vibrations or an uneven ride.

Repairs after seemingly minor accidents can sometimes overlook subframe misalignment. Even a small collision can shift the front or rear subframe, negatively impacting handling and steering precision.

Accident impacts can also damage or distort the chassis frame or unibody structure. Even minor damage can affect the vehicle’s comfort, stability, and handling.

Furthermore, steering system components such as the steering rack, linkages, power steering hoses, or the pump may also be affected, leading to compromised ride quality.

Be on the lookout for signs such as uneven tyre wear, steering pull, vibrations, or unusual noises. If you suspect structural damage, having the vehicle measured on a chassis alignment machine can confirm whether all dimensions are within the manufacturer’s recommended range.

It is advisable to visit a reputable garage to rule out any unseen post-accident damage. A properly repaired vehicle should drive and feel the same way it did before the accident.