Category: Daily Monitor

Police in eastern Uganda are investigating a fatal road crash that killed one man and injured more than a dozen people, including four police officers, along the Pallisa-Tirinyi Road on Saturday.

The crash occurred at Rweta C, Nansenyi, near Victory Secondary School in Pallisa Town Council. It involved a Toyota Hiace, registration UA 310BX, and a pedestrian.

Bukedi North Regional Police spokesperson ASP Wilfred Kyempasa identified the deceased as Herbert Ekodat, a 23-year-old mechanic from Kagoli Central in Boliso I Sub-county.

Police said he died instantly after the vehicle veered off the road and landed on him in a water trench.

ASP Kyempasa confirmed that several police officers traveling in the Hiace were among the injured.

They include James AIP Okoeot, Lucky Lajara (CT Tactical), Cpl Isaac Anyou Egimo (CT Tactical), and Alex Ariong (CT Tourism).

Other injured passengers were identified as Ivan Edyou, 17, Ronald Ndakalha, 23, Catherine Biira, 32, Judith Akipo, 34, Phionah Kisaka, 27, Gerald Kizito, 49, John Omongole, 35, Mackline Kyeri Kirunda, 27, Misaki Kanyesigye, 4 months, Silver Oriokot, 10, and Viola Ajimo, 11 months.

Preliminary findings indicate the vehicle was travelling from Kampala to Amuria for an introduction ceremony when the crash occurred.

‘Upon reaching Rweta C, the vehicle’s front tyre reportedly burst, causing the driver to lose control. The vehicle veered off the road, knocking the pedestrian who was walking on the opposite side and eventually landing on him in a water trench, killing him instantly,’ ASP Kyempasa said.

He added that a team led by IP Chekwoti Immaculate, the District Traffic Officer for Pallisa, visited and documented the scene.

A sketch plan was drawn, and the vehicle was later towed to Pallisa Central Police Station for inspection by the Inspector of Vehicles.

The body of the deceased was transferred to Pallisa General Hospital for a postmortem examination, where all the injured victims are also receiving treatment.

Police said inquiries into the crash were ongoing.

According to the 2024 Annual Police Crime Report, the country registered 25,107 road crashes, marking a 6.4 percent increase from 23,608 in 2023.

Fatal crashes alone rose by 6.1 percent, reaching 4,434, while serious and minor crashes also saw significant upticks.

Retired Maj Gen Elly Kayanja has urged Ugandans to embrace integrity, discipline and unity as the foundation of lasting national stability, saying his four decades in the military taught him that a country is built ‘not by force, but by character.’

Speaking in Kampala at the launch of his memoir, The Journey to Remember, the former intelligence man traced his trajectory from a young rebel fighter in the early 1980s to a senior commander involved in Uganda’s security reforms.

He described his life story as one shaped by sacrifice, courage and an enduring belief that Uganda could rise above political turmoil.

Kayanja joined the armed struggle in 1981, at a time when the country was grappling with widespread insecurity.

The Bush-War years, he said, were among the most defining moments of his life-marked by uncertainty, fear and an unwavering sense of duty.

‘We were young, we were unsure, but we believed in building a different Uganda. Those years taught us that progress is paid for with discipline and endurance,’ he said.

As he climbed the ranks in the 1990s and 2000s, Kayanja took on strategic roles in intelligence and military reform.

Colleagues, he noted, often viewed him as a quiet planner who prioritized service above authority.

‘Leadership is not about shouting orders. It is about listening, planning and doing what is right even when it is uncomfortable,’ he said.

Kayanja credited Uganda’s gains in stability to long-term efforts to professionalize the security sector and strengthen public confidence in state institutions.

‘Security is not just the silence of guns. Instead it is the presence of strong institutions and responsible leadership,’ he said.

The retired commander also spoke with emotion about the cost of Uganda’s past conflicts, recalling comrades who died in battle and the personal toll of surviving life-threatening encounters.

‘I lost friends who were like brothers. They are the true authors of Uganda’s peace. Their sacrifice must guide the next generation,’ he said.

Now transitioning into civilian life as an author and mentor, Kayanja urged young Ugandans to build a future anchored in honesty and compassion rather than opportunism.

‘The Uganda we want will be built by people who value honesty and compassion. Dishonesty is what destroys nations,’ he said.

He also called for careful preservation of Uganda’s historical memory, warning that the country risks repeating mistakes if its story is distorted or forgotten.

‘We cannot build tomorrow if we forget yesterday. Our story must be told with honesty – the victories and the struggles,’ he said.

The Bush War enabled veteran President Museveni to capture power in 1986.

When I spoke recently with my in-law, Deryn, who lives in Canada, our conversation began like many family chats, weather, work, and health. But it quickly turned into a deeper reflection on agriculture, the backbone of Uganda’s economy and a quiet force in Canada’s prosperity.

From two continents apart, we found ourselves dissecting the differences, challenges, and opportunities that define farming in our respective countries. I started by sharing: Here in Uganda, agriculture is life.

Nearly 70 percent of our people depend on it, mostly through smallholder farms averaging two to three acres.

Yet, despite the sweat and commitment, productivity remains low. Our farmers depend on rain-fed systems, basic tools, and traditional practices that have changed little in generations. It is not that our farmers lack knowledge – they lack support. Access to modern inputs, financing, irrigation, and markets remains patchy.

Deryn: That’s a stark contrast to Canada, where fewer than two percent of the population work in agriculture, yet we produce enough food to feed not only ourselves but also export to much of the world. The difference, I believe, lies in technology and infrastructure. Here, almost every process – from soil testing to harvest – is guided by data, machines, and research.

Our farmers operate like engineers; they rely on precision agriculture, drones, and satellite imagery to monitor crops. To me, this was impressive, here some farmers still rely on the sight of clouds to plan planting. We are rich in fertile soils and favorable climate, but poor in harnessing science and innovation.

Deryn says one thing that drives Canada’s agriculture is the seamless link between universities, research institutions, and farmers. ‘Every new seed variety, irrigation method, or pest-control strategy comes from years of scientific testing. Farmers trust the data because it’s homegrown and transparent’.

While here we have strong institutions like National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO) and Makerere University, but their breakthroughs rarely reach the ordinary farmer in Kasese, Gulu, or Masindi. The communication gap between research and rural practice is wide.

Deryn: And yet, Uganda’s agricultural potential is enormous – rich volcanic soils, multiple growing seasons, and diverse agroecological zones.

Canada has a short growing window; our farmers must make the most of 120 frost-free days. But we compensate with technology and planning.

Uganda could lead Africa if it modernized its systems while protecting its environment.

In Uganda, Agricultural policies are often well-written but poorly executed. Farmers’ cooperatives are weak, and youth are not seeing agriculture as a dignified career. Access to affordable credit remains a dream for most smallholders.

In Canada, farmers are organised into powerful associations. They influence policy, negotiate fair prices, and advocate for sustainable practices. Government subsidies and insurance programs protect them from market shocks or climate losses. It’s not perfect, but it gives farmers confidence to invest long-term.

Exactly the kind of structure we need. Here, one drought or disease outbreak can push a farmer back into poverty. The resilience systems are thin. And yet, with better organisation and value addition, agriculture could employ millions more productively and drive industrialisation.

Our conversation explored the way climate change is reshaping global agriculture and youth participation into meaningful Agriculture. From where Deryn sits, Uganda and Africa at large are not short of potential, they’re short of systems.

The day African countries view farming as a strategic industry rather than a subsistence activity, everything will change. We must move from talking about potential to realising it, whether in Toronto or Tororo, farming deserves investment, innovation, and dignity.

KCCA beat Mbarara City 2-1 at Rwamanja Stadium in Kamwenge on Friday to reclaim first place on the StarTimes Uganda Premier League table, edging ahead of rivals SC Villa by a point.

The visitors – boosted by the return of co-head coach Brian Ssenyondo from U-17 World Cup duty, alongside youngsters Brain Jjara and Steven Oyirowth, who made the bench – got off to a bright start.

Herbert Achayi, also back from national team commitments, rose highest in the 16th minute to head in Joel Sserunjogi’s well-weighted corner for a 1-0 lead.

Mbarara City, who entered the match second from bottom with just one win all season, hit back in the 26th minute when Muhammad Kanyike received a ball from Gaddafi Kacancu and bamboozled his marker to slot past Charles Lukwago.

Five minutes into the second half, KCCA restored control. Achayi turned provider, swinging in a precise cross that Ivan Ahimbisibwe guided home to make it 2-1.

The Kasasiro, now on 17 points, move one clear of SC Villa, while Mbarara remain in early-season trouble after failing to capitalise on last season’s boardroom victory in this corresponding fixture.

Villa could return to the summit if they win the big clash against unbeaten defending champions Vipers SC in Kitende on Saturday. Maroons at home to NEC is the day’s other fixture.

The Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) has impounded a Fuso truck carrying 10 tons of smuggled wheat flour from Kenya, in what officials say is part of a growing wave of illicit trade across the eastern border.

Monitor has learned from URA sources that more than 100 tons of smuggled wheat flour have been intercepted in the last quarter alone as smugglers exploit the region’s vast and porous borderlines.

The eastern Uganda-Kenya border stretches over 800 kilometres, with long, unmanned and informal crossing points that make surveillance difficult.

URA officials say smugglers have taken full advantage of these weaknesses, often using remote routes to sneak goods into the country.

Mr Moses Wanjala Owino, the URA Manager for Enforcement and Border Control in the eastern region, confirmed that the truck, registration number UAV 196P, was impounded on Friday in Kapchorwa.

‘It was smuggling wheat flour from the Kapchorwa side and it had over 10 tons of wheat flour. When you look at our statistics, in the last quarter alone, we have intercepted wheat flour in excess of 100 tons that was trying to come in illegally through different borders,’ Mr Wanjala said.

He added that the vast, unprotected border terrain continues to frustrate enforcement efforts.

‘Our border is porous from Lake Victoria to Karamoja. All those areas have no natural barrier like a river cutting through, and this is a very big challenge. There is also hostility from some border communities that disrupt our teams in trying to enforce the law. They don’t use gazetted border points; most times they pass via ungazetted routes that are not manned,’ he said.

Mr Wanjala noted that wheat flour is not the only commodity being smuggled into Uganda.

‘Besides wheat, the other items smuggled in large quantities include rice, garments and, of late, mobile phones,’ he said.

Despite the challenges, he insisted that URA will continue to fight smuggling aggressively, describing it as a serious threat to Uganda’s economy.

‘Smuggling brings unfair competition where people who have smuggled goods compete with someone who is paying taxes. It distorts the market and affects the operation of local industries that cannot produce at full capacity,’ he said.

Local business owners say the impact has already been devastating.

Mr James Opolot, who runs a hardware retail shop in Malaba, warned that traders may be forced out of business altogether if authorities do not curb the influx of illegal goods.

‘Currently, cement from Kenya is being ferried directly to construction sites, leaving us without customers, especially in the porous points in Buteba Sub-county in Busia District,’ he said.

He added that his daily sales have dropped drastically.

‘Initially on good days, I would make sales of at worst 200 bags, but currently I hardly sell even 10 bags in a day,’ he said.

In Namisindwa District, businessman Mr Amos Mafabi said smugglers use a wide range of transport methods-including bicycles, motorcycles and vans-to move goods such as wheat flour, rice and cement.

‘For example, a bicycle boda boda can carry three 50kg bags of cement, a motorcycle can carry five, and vans can load as many as they can. This has to stop,’ he said.

One of East Africa’s top disc jockeys (DJs) and a core member of Uganda’s Nyege Nyege collective, DJ Kampire, known for her vibrant, bass-heavy sets, says she is inspired by the fun of dancing and nightlife.

‘When I first started DJing, it was because I had a wide range of music that I loved that I also wanted to hear on club speakers, not just the usual top 40 dancehall pop songs that we hear every day on Kampala dance floors. There is a wide range of African dance music, new and old, that deserves to be heard,’ she tells Monitor.

Forging her reputation through memorable sets for the Nyege Nyege Festival in Uganda over the last decade, Kampire, a key figure on the Ugandan and East African electronic music scene who now tours worldwide, is celebrated for her brilliantly curated sets spanning the full range of African music styles from the 1970s and 1980s to the present day.

Kampire’s album, A Dancefloor in Ndola, released by Strut Records in August 2024, is a testament to her music versatility.

This pioneering compilation marks an evolution in Strut’s approach to compilations, showcasing emerging DJ talent from across the world and embracing an innovative approach to musical discovery from the next wave of selectors.

The 13 popular songs on A Dancefloor in Ndola include Princess Aya Shara’s O Wina Tienge, Meta Beya’s Mivé Temoin, African House Party Project’s P-Coq, V-Mash’s Naughty Boy, Di Groovy Girls’ Ririmi Rotsombela, Tshala Muana’s Djepue, Lady Isa’s Djambo, Pembey Sheiro’s Sala Mi Toto, Princesse Mansia M’Bila’s Ngoma Mansia, Samba Mapangala’s Mashariki, Zaire All Stars’ Je T’aime Au Pluriel, Gaza Sisters’ Mabazi, and Bwaluka Founders Band’s Kimbera.

‘There are styles of music on the compilation which are often considered unsophisticated from rural areas. I and other contemporary African artists and DJs draw inspiration from them; it is part of what makes us ourselves,’ Kampire says of the compilation.

On A Dancefloor in Ndola, Kampire also shines the spotlight on many incredible women in African music from the 1980s, including Congolese legends like Pembey Sheiro, Feza Shamamba and Princesse Mansia M’bila to V-Mash and Di Groovy Girls from South Africa.

Nostalgia

Although born in Kenya to Ugandan parents, Kampire spent her formative years in Ndola, Zambia, where her parents were employed. A Dancefloor in Ndola is inspired by artistes and songs that formed part of her soundtrack during that time.

‘At 17, I didn’t pick up on my dad’s music, but now I love and collect those records. I’m constantly referencing them in my music sets today. I love that feeling of shared nostalgia where people recognise a song they haven’t heard in a long time. It is a touchstone for me when I’m playing.’

On how she came to sample each of the tracks on A Dancefloor in Ndola, Kampire said: ‘I had a number of conversations with the label about the mood for the compilation and what I was trying to achieve. I started out with a much longer list of about 200 tracks and then over the course of about two years, this list was whittled down by the reality of what we could and could not get rights to. If we couldn’t use a particular song, I would dig again and try to find other tracks that were in a similar mood or of the same era.’

As to how her fans have received this album, she says: ‘I’ve really enjoyed hearing from people who say it reminds me of their own childhoods or that they too grew up in Ndola, Zambia.’

According to Kampire, the African House Party Project’s P-Coq-with its iconic music video-and Sala Mi Toto by Pembey Sheiro are fan favourites.

Global sensation

One of Mixmag’s picks for Top Ten Breakthrough DJs of 2018, Kampire’s set on Boiler Room broadcast from the 2018 Nyege Nyege Festival was a legitimate ‘Internet moment,’ with thousands of shares on Facebook by electronic music fans watching online.

Kampire’s DJ mixes have been featured on Resident Advisor, Dekmantel and Fact magazines, which saw her chosen among the best mixes of 2019 on Pitchfork and Fact magazines’ end-of-year lists. Her Rinse FM radio residency has seen her shine a light on other East African DJs and artists, including Hibotep, Faizal Mostrixx and Catu Diosis.

Kampire toured four continents in 2019, playing every tastemaster festival across Europe and making her US debut by headlining a Nyege Nyege showcase at Red Bull Music Festival, New York.

Best friend and Nyege Nyege day one Decay joined her in the summer of 2020, where they brought the best of Ugandan party culture to European festival stages with their show ‘Bunu Bop.’

The Resident Advisor magazine describes Kampire as ‘a scene-leading DJ who can connect the dots between music, the past, present and future of African club music.’

‘When people ask me what music I play, I usually say African electronic dance music, but I play a wide variety of genres including gqom, baile funk, singeli, global bass, bubbling, St Lucian soca, and a lot more that is not so easily defined,’ she says.

Asked how she ended up in music as a DJ, Kampire responds: ‘I was working in the arts in Kampala, and for fun traveling to music festivals on the continent as much as I could. I remember going to Sauti za Busara in 2014 and having such a great time both at the main festival and the afterparties that followed, and thinking ‘wow, I think I may have found my people.’

She adds: ‘Around the same time friends were setting up the first edition of Nyege Nyege festival. I saw artists like DJ Marfox, and Gafacci who were not mainstream artists but were making a living from their art. When, a few months later Derek Debru (Nyege founder) encouraged me to start DJing, I just thought it would be a way to subsidize going to African music festivals. I didn’t think it would turn into a career, but here I am 10 years later.’

Not an old boys’ club

One whether she’s encountered resistance from men who still dominate the DJ trade, Kampire, says: ‘I’ve been lucky enough to start DJing at a time when people have created space for women in nightlife. Of course, there are still challenges related to being in a minority in the scene but thankfully I have mostly had good experiences.’

Kampire says she is interested in the African music styles from the 1970s and 1980s because those sounds ‘permeated my childhood.’

There also seems to be a consensus among music lovers that the best African music was produced in the 1970s and 1980s. Kampire is not convinced, though, arguing that the music on the continent is diverse.

‘I don’t really feel the need to pick an era of African music and say it’s the best. The continent is so diverse and dynamic that I am sure there is incredible music being made and performed every minute of every day. I do really love Congolese music though and my personal favourite eras are the golden age of Franco and TP OK Jazz, and also soukous of the late 1980s and early 1990s when acts like Diblo Dibala were ascendant. That music still hits the dance floor today.’

Nyege Nyege influence

As to how her association with the Nyege Nyege collective has propelled her DJ career, Kampire, says: ‘I really wouldn’t have a DJ career if it wasn’t for Nyege Nyege, and it was my association with the festival and its platforming of underground East African music that enabled me to tour as a DJ and travel.’

Kampire continues to bring African dance music to clubs and festivals around the world. This year alone she has performed in Kenya, Ghana, Mexico, Panama, Canada, Australia, the Netherlands, Italy, Portugal, Norway, France, Switzerland and Belgium.

‘I’ve had many wonderful opportunities to perform around the world so it’s hard to pick favourites,’ she tells Monitor, adding, ‘I still say that one of my favourite gigs ever was Nyege Nyege 2017 at the Tropical Disco stage. We were all just so in it together, the crowd was incredible and really came to dance, we ended the set all singing Zangalewa, it was magical.’

Kampire was joined by, among others, DJ Travella, DJ Diaki, and Arsenal Mikebe at this year’s edition of the Nyege Nyege Festival at the Kalagala Falls, a sacred and stunning location on the Nile River. She did not disappoint.

The future

As to where she is headed after this year’s Nyege Nyege Festival, she says: ‘I’ve been travelling like crazy this year, so I think the Nyege Nyege might be my last big gig of the year.’ Asked to describe the current state of the music industry in Uganda, Kampire says: ‘We have such a rich musical heritage in this country. I think that our music industry is at its best when it embraces the diversity of sounds being made here from kadodi to acholitronix and beyond, and not just the pop and dancehall that makes it onto mainstream radio.’

Her advice to a young person who would wish to take up DJing as a livelihood is simple: ‘Do it because you love music and want to create community, not because you want to be rich or famous.’

As to what she would have been if she were not a DJ, she says, ‘I think I would still be working in the arts in the background, fundraising, producing events, curating and the like.’ She adds: ‘I like to be at home with my plants and my dog, in my garden or in the kitchen cooking.’

The Uganda Broadcasting Corporation (UBC) is battling five people, including a Muslim Cleric, a Resident District Commissioner and two former employees for the ownership of the Gulu-based Mega FM radio.

The radio is listed as one of the 11 radio stations that the national broadcaster runs across the country. The dispute has seen at least 17 members of staff sacked amid accusations that they had taken sides with the national broadcaster.

The members of staff were shown the door on November 5. This followed an altercation that saw the radio go off air for close to half an hour, with some of them dragged to the police station on charges of trespass.

The sacked staff are demanding more than Shs55 million in unremitted contributions to the National Social Security Fund (Nssf); Shs178 million in unpaid gratuity; Shs32 million in unpaid health allowances; and Shs66 million in personal savings with an internal savings scheme.

Who are the parties involved in the dispute?

The ownership dispute for the station that broadcasts on the frequencies 102.1 FM and 103.1 FM, has been raging on since 2019. It has pitted the Corporation on the one hand, as well as Ms Irene Jovia Atek and four others on the other hand.

It took shape after it emerged that Ms Atek and four others had registered the station as a company limited by guarantee and not shares.

The four others in Ms Atek’s corner are Sheikh Musa Khalil, the Assistant Mufti in-charge of Northern Uganda; Mr Stephen Odong, the Resident District Commissioner (RDC) of Kabong; Mr Nicky Afa-ei, who is also the Programmes Officer at the station; and Mr Ahmed Kato, a businessman based in Gulu.

The dispute has since ended up in court, with Ms Atek and her associates demanding that court orders that the Mega FM bank account with Stanbic Bank, Gulu branch, be unfrozen.

They are also seeking orders to the effect that UBC refunds all the money that it had ‘illegally taken’ from the said account; that it stops ‘intermeddling with the affairs of’ Mega FM; ceases ‘interrupting the management and operation’ of the radio; and that it ceases ‘threatening to deregister’ Mega FM from the companies registry.

Monitor understands that the last hearing of the case was two Wednesday ago. Ms Atek declined to discuss matters related to the dispute when we contacted her last week. She said: ‘The matter is before the courts so I cannot comment about it. You could maybe talk to our lawyers.’

What’s the background to the dispute?

The discovery that Ms Atek and her associates had registered the station as a company limited by guarantee and not by shares prompted UBC to relieve her of her duties as the station manager. Ms Atek had held the post since 2011.

She was also stripped of her powers as one of the principal signatories to the station’s bank account with Stanbic Bank.

Prior to the contested registration by the four, the radio was registered with the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) as Mega FM on February 27, 2002 by Ms Jennifer Gales, the wife of Mr Huub Gales, who was the second manager of the station. Ms Gales was given the registration number 132886. However, on October 2, 2023, Ms Gales deregistered the company, opening the door for Ms Atek and her associates to register it as their own.

The motive behind the decision to register could not be established, but questions regarding the ownership of the station have been raging on since about 2006. Back then, Mr James Nsaba Buturo, who was the Information minister at the time, signed Statutory Instrument Number 18 of 2006. This effectively placed the station under UBC.

The decision drew strong protests from sections of the community, who insisted that the radio belonged to the Acholi community. The feeling is driven by the circumstances under which the radio was established. The radio was-thanks to the Anglican Kitgum Bishop Emeritus McLeod Baker Ochola II-named Mega, a Luo word that translates to ‘mine.’

What has been UBC’s response, if any?

In February 2024, the Board of Directors of UBC suspended Ms Atek amid accusations of forgery, abuse of office, uttering false documents and financial impropriety. The matter was later referred to police and the Inspector General of Government. On April 12, 2024, Detective Senior Superintendent of Police (D/SSPP), Topher Gomei Nakoko, the Aswa West Regional CID officer, summoned Ms Atek to appear before him to answer the allegations levelled against her. The matter was first reported at the Police CID Headquarters in Kampala.

Sources in the police in Gulu indicate that the investigation did not take off. In a letter dated April 19, 2024, Dr Chris Baryomunsi, the Minister for Information Communication, Technology and National Guidance, asked Ms Atek to step aside to allow for investigations to take place undeterred. ‘In order to facilitate an impartial investigation of this matter, this is to direct that you vacate the office of Mega FM with immediate effect. You are required to hand over office to Mr Olara L. Lamara, who has been appointed by the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance to oversee the operation of the radio during the investigations,’ the letter reads.

The letter was copied to, among others, the Attorney General, the managing director of UBC, the chairman of the Board of Directors of UBC and the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of ICT.

Sources at the station told Saturday Monitor that Ms Atek did not leave office, with one disclosing that ‘she did not handover. She instead changed locks to several offices and chased the accountant, the Human Resource officer, sub-editors, journalists, reporters, marketers and news anchors. She also called a meeting on July 17, 2024 where she reportedly told the staff that the radio does not belong to [the] government.’

Have there been any other attempts to defuse the situation?

On October 16, 2024, a team of officials, including those from the Ministry of ICT, the offices of the Attorney General and the Solicitor General and some from Operation Wealth creation, met the staff in an effort to defuse the situation, but the effort failed. UBC subsequently issued a statement in which it announced that it had relieved Ms Atek of her duties.

‘Dear esteemed public, UBC hereby informs the public that Ms Jovia Atek Irene, who until recently was the station manager, Mega FM Radio, a portfolio of UBC, has been relieved of her duties effectively immediately. Ms Irene Atek Jovia has served in the same capacity since 2011. As of this notice, therefore, Ms Irene Atek Jovia, no longer represents UBC in any capacity, officially or otherwise,’ the statement reads. The statement, which was complete with a photograph of her, added: ‘UBC-Mega FM management will not be responsible for any dealings involving her. The public is hereby advised to exercise great caution in matters regarding UBC. Any engagement with her concerning UBC is undertaken at your own risk.’

Has there been any pushback from Atek?

Yes. Ms Atek, through her lawyers, pushed back, challenging UBC’ ownership of the station. While she did not want to speak to us last week, a March 20-letter indicates that she stated that the radio belongs to the Acholi Community. ‘Mega FM is established and seated on its land, donated by Gulu District Local Government and UBC/Radio Uganda, which was established way back and had its own broadcasting/transmission equipment installed at Bobi at Oyiteoliye in and UBC radio Uganda-Gulu FM, was established in the year 2005 and yet radio Mega FM was established in the year 2002, a span of three years. And our client is not claiming any of the broadcasting equipment of UBC Radio Uganda Gulu FM if at all it exists,’ the letter reads.

HOW WAS THE RADIO ESTABLISHED

The radio was established with funding from the British government, which through the defunct Department for International Development (DFID), a former UK government department that was responsible for administering overseas aid and promoting sustainable development and poverty elimination in mostly the under developed world, provided £800,000 (about Shs3.2 billion).

The British also funded the construction of the Independence House, which houses the radio. The funding was in response to a request made by sections of the Acholi community living in the diaspora after the first Kacoke Madit conference held in the United Kingdom in April 1997. The idea was to create a radio that could be used to reach out to rebels of the Lord’s Resistance Movement/Army and encourage them to end the war that was raging on in Acholi land at the time.

After the 2019 registration, on October 31, 2023, the radio was registered with the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) as Mega FM Limited and issued with a registration number 80034251180797. Documents that Saturday Monitor has seen indicate that it was registered as a company limited by guarantee without share capital.

Ugandans are now used to State Houses agencies (or task forces or units, or other). Many of these units or task forces carry out activities that many Ugandans call ‘a replication of activities legally designated for the formal institutions of government’.

There is the State House Anti-Corruption Unit, Medicines and Health Services Monitoring Unit, Investment Protection Unit, etc.

The agencies or units are so ubiquitous that what matters is not how they are created and by whom. Rather, what matters is a particular unit’s public visibility and a genuine attempt to solve problems for which this or that particular unit was created.

Which brings me to the Presidential Task Force on Land Matters and Environment, a State House initiative focused on combating land grabbing and environmental degradation in Uganda. It is led by Brig Moses Lukyamuzi (who is also a presidential assistant).

The task force investigates land disputes, enforces court orders and works to resolve issues through mediation and collaboration with other government bodies like the police and the Uganda People’s Defense Forces (UPDF).

Its activities are aimed at bringing justice to victims of illegal land acquisition and ensuring compliance with land and environmental laws.

The Presidential Task Force on Land Matters and Environment’s mission is to fight land grabbing and environmental damage by investigating illegal activities and enforcing land and environmental laws. They investigate land disputes and ensure justice for victims.

Enforce court orders on disputed land and work with other government bodies, including the police and UPDF, to maintain order and investigate land-related crimes.

They also mediate in land disputes to find peaceful resolutions and address environmental degradation alongside land issues. Duh! Typical Uganda tings, no? One may ask whether the formal institutions of government don’t have such mechanisms.

As we said earlier, these State House units are many. So, visibility is of the essence. That is why I am giving flowers to Ms Phiona Barungi of the Presidential Task Force on Land Matters and Environment.

Ms Barungi is now the (unofficial) face of the Presidential Task Force on Land Matters and Environment. She is very visible on social media in her effort to resolve intractable land disputes.

Although I have never met her in person, I have watched many audio-visual clips in which she carries out activities aimed at settling land disputes. She is thorough and seems to have a very solid investigative team.

She explains her mandate, but makes sure (in a subtle way) the audience knows she carries some power or influence to turn things up against land grabbers.

In typical Ugandan way of doing things, her task force is low on mainstream media visibility. Although Barungi puts on a tough face during the course of her fieldwork, she doesn’t flaunt her delegated authority, which reminds me of my experience with one of those State House units on this or that.

Once upon a time, I was a close friend to the head of one of those ubiquitous State House units of anti- or anti-that. My friend used to call me to join them on some of their field trips.

My observation was that they were acting childish and didn’t seem to be interested in solving problems. I started declining their invites; however, they continued picking my mind on some issues.

One day, they told me they wanted prosecutorial powers. I advised them against it, asking: Is there a real need for such powers? I advised them to create and keep a good working relationship with the DPP. I suggested that they should ask the Directorate of Prosecution to deploy some attorneys in the unit (instead of having unit prosecutors like the IGG).

When Susan Namirimu was 12 years old, curiosity led her to a sewing machine that only her mother used-and not very often. She had no idea that this curiosity would ignite a passion that would eventually touch the lives of young women many kilometres away from her home in central Uganda.

Despite her enthusiasm, her mother often dismissed her requests to learn. ‘You’re still too young for this,’ Namirimu recalls.

With the help of a woman who frequently visited their home to do cleaning, Namirimu finally learned the basics.

‘She taught me how to use the machine,’ she says. ‘In about ten minutes she showed me where to put the thread, where to step, and I was good to go.’

From there, the young girl began practising using old curtains and bedsheets to create makeshift dresses-unaware that this early curiosity was setting her on a path that would later transform the lives of female youth in Northern Uganda.

The journey to her new home, Gulu

In 2010, Namirimu moved to Gulu to study Quantitative Economics at Gulu University. Even there, miles from home, her passion for fashion followed her.

‘All throughout university, I still thought it was just a hobby,’ she says.

After completing her degree in 2014, she returned home and seriously considered turning her interest into a business-specifically, a fashion shop in Gulu. Her mother was hesitant, but her father gave her full support.

‘I told my father I was going back to Gulu to start a business in tailoring and design,’ she recalls with a smile.

No real skills, little confidence

When she launched her tailoring and fashion business, she quickly hit a major challenge: a shortage of skilled labour.

They reached out to vocational institutions hoping to take on interns who could later be recruited. But the tailoring graduates who came in were, in her words, ‘half-baked’ and lacked confidence. Many required a year or more of additional training before they could produce quality work.

A Uganda Bureau of Statistics labour force survey reflects this issue, showing that nearly 30 percent of institutionally trained youth remain unemployed due to inadequate practical skills.

Faced with this gap, Namirimu realised she needed to go beyond simply running a fashion shop-she needed to build an academy.

The birth of Mtindo Academy

Together with co-founder Morgan Ginn, she established Mtindo Academy, designed to close the skills gap and provide employment opportunities for young women. Their model allows learners to learn while they earn, overturning the long-standing norm in which students graduate from tailoring schools with basic theory but almost no confidence or market-ready skills.

Namirimu also saw an urgent need for a major uplift in Northern Uganda’s apparel industry.

Mtindo embraced an experiential, hands-on approach from day one-an approach that was later accredited by the Directorate of Industrial Training (DIT).

From kitenge fashion to industrial apparel

In its early days, Mtindo focused on colourful Kitenge fashion-bold, African-inspired designs sold through their Made in Uganda shop on Awich Road in Gulu City.

But to create jobs at scale, Namirimu recognised the need to diversify.

‘We realised that uniforms, because of their constant demand, could offer sustainable employment while maintaining quality craftsmanship,’ she explains.

This shift led to the establishment of Mtindo’s industrial production unit, now comprising sweater knitting, embroidery and large-scale tailoring

The facility now produces hundreds of garments each month and employs over 40 staff, most of them graduates of Mtindo Academy.

Mtindo Design Studio produces high-quality school and corporate uniforms, sweaters, and branded apparel for reputable institutions such as Ocer Campion Jesuit College, Sacred Heart Girls School and Lacor Seminary

For years, many schools in the region relied on suppliers from Kampala or even neighbouring Kenya. Mtindo is reversing that trend.

‘It shows that ‘Made in Gulu’ can meet national quality standards,’ Namirimu says-underscoring the broader benefits of developing a local apparel industry.

‘Every order placed here means more jobs created for young women and more money staying within the local economy of Gulu.’

Mtindo thrives on

Above the Cynibel Supermarket in Gulu City, visitors are greeted by the hum of sewing machines and the lively chatter of young women working with precision and confidence. These sights and sounds give Namirimu-a founder, CEO, and mentor-a deep sense of purpose.

Students learn not only in the classroom but through hands-on participation in real production during their internship.

Mtindo Academy and the studio share the same floor with professional tailors, embroidery specialists, and knitting technicians.

‘It’s a dynamic learning environment where training and production flow together,’ she explained to Monitor in early November 2025.

This setup gives students both technical expertise and confidence, and it allows Mtindo to immediately employ the top graduates-creating a sustainable cycle of empowerment.

A vision beyond fabric and thread

Mtindo’s mission is about more than garments-it is about restoring dignity and expanding possibility. With more than 38 students enrolled last year in its one-year programme, the academy is providing new pathways out of poverty, especially in post-conflict Northern Uganda where opportunities remain scarce.

‘Each job we create represents a family that can afford school fees, healthcare, and a better future,’ says Namirimu, adding: ‘That’s what drives us every day.’

As Mtindo continues to grow, its strategy remains rooted in community empowerment: creating more jobs, expanding training opportunities, and fostering a culture that values Ugandan-made products.

Police in Bukedi North Region are investigating the theft of electoral materials from the Butebo District Electoral Commission (EC) office after six lamps, each valued at Shs150,000, went missing under unclear circumstances.

The missing lamps were part of a consignment received earlier this month and stored inside the EC office premises, which were undergoing renovation at the time. The theft was reported under Butebo CRB 326/2025.

Bukedi North Regional Police Spokesperson, ASP Wilfred Kyempasa, confirmed the incident, saying the theft is believed to have occurred at an unknown time between November 17 and 22, while painters contracted to renovate the building had access to the rooms.

The complaint was made on November 27, 2025, by Mr John Orichom Puis, a 34-year-old Elections Assistant/Secretary attached to the Butebo District Electoral Commission.

According to the report, the Electoral Commission rents the premises from the landlord, Mrs Mwanamoiza Kikomeko Margaret, who hired painters from Kampala to carry out renovation works.

‘The renovation exercise, mainly painting, began on 17 November 2025 and was completed by 22 November 2025. Earlier, on 9 November 2025, the district received a consignment of electoral materials, mostly lamps and sealing tapes, which were stored in one of the rooms within the premises,’ ASP Kyempasa said.

On November 21, the painters reportedly moved the materials outside to allow painting and later returned them to the room and locked it. District staff also locked the room but did not verify whether all the items were intact.

Police say that on November 22, the painters shifted property belonging to the Commission driver into the same room so it could also be painted.

However, on November 27, when Orichom and the office attendant began reorganising the rooms after the renovation, they noticed that one of the boxes containing lamps was poorly sealed. Upon checking, they found that six lamps were missing. The office attendant conducted a thorough search and confirmed the loss.

ASP Kyempasa said police have opened a case file of theft, visited and documented the scene, photographed it and recorded statements from key witnesses.

He added that detectives are working to trace the suspects involved in the incident.

Police noted that the painters were residents of Kampala and were hired by the landlord, not the Electoral Commission, which limited the EC staff’s knowledge of the workers who had access to the rooms.

Investigations into the theft are ongoing.