Category: Daily Monitor

The Katogo Golf Series presented by I and M Bank got a revamped feeling when a bulk of more than 100 players flew to play the ‘Virunga Challenge’ against Kigali Golf Club in Rwanda early this month.

The championship started at Entebbe Club had successfully made a second cross-border leg in a space of two seasons.

The Series now looks to a spectacular finish with a last leg of the 2025 edition at the par-71 course in Entebbe Saturday. ‘What an incredible season we’ve had,’ a thrilled Katogo Golf captain Elly Kibuka Mukasa said.

‘We thank the golfers who have religiously turned up for all this season’s events, including the recent Kigali edition. But most importantly, we thank our sponsors for their support and commitment to the series. We look forward to a memorable time with all golfers this Saturday.’

‘I think we can all agree that by now the Katogo Golf Series needs little or no introduction!’ remarked I and M Bank’s marketing and corporate communications chief Annette Nakiyaga.

‘The series has become one of the biggest, it’s the only tournament that has been able to host some of its events outside the country. We are honored to be part of that growth journey, and we believe the sky is the limit,’ she added.

On a busy day of golf across the country, a sizable field of more than 140 competitors is expected to feature in the fourth leg whose playing format will be ‘In Regulation’ at Entebbe today.

Unlike previous formats of the season like ‘Rejected’, ‘For Better or Worse’ and ‘Daytona’ which required competitors to forms pairings, ‘In Regulation’ tests approach play and short game finesse.

In Regulation is an individual format that where players must hit the greens within a specific number of strokes for each hole. At a par-3, a player’s ball must be on the green for one stroke, two shots for a par-4, and three on for a par-5, which makes an inevitable demand for precision.

And the format punishes a player should they miss out on the aforementioned efficiency. Once a green is missed in regulation, a stroke penalty will added to the player’s score.

However, should the player recover and finish the hole with a par via chipping into the cup or putting finely on that hole, then the penalty stroke will be waived.

Besides an array of prizes including air tickets by RwandAir to be given out at a blue-themed 19th hole prize-giving ceremony set to be hosted by comedian Patrick Idringi and a performance from Elijah Kitaka, Victoria Motors has staked a Mitsubishi Xpander car for a hole-in-one prize on a selected par-3 Hole either No.2, No.6, No.8, No.10, No.12 or No.16.

KATOGO GOLF SERIES

TOURNAMENT NOTEBOOK

Name: Katogo Golf Series

Edition: 2nd

Tournament Purse: Shs650m

Title Sponsor: I and M Bank

Partner Sponsors: RwandAir, Johnnie Walker, Victoria Motors, GA Insurance, Serena Hotel, Lake Victoria Golf Resort and Spa, Time Cop Security, and Goldman’s Luxury

Venue: Entebbe Club

Katogo Captain: Elly Mukasa

Katogo Vice-Captain: Andrew Kibaya

Annual Legs: 5 (Quarterly and a regional leg in Kigali)

Dates: Mar 15, May 31, Aug 9, Nov 29

Modes of play: ‘Rejected’, ‘For Better or Worse’, ‘Daytona’, ‘In Regulation’

I and M BANK KATOGO GOLF SERIES

‘REJECTED’ FORMAT RESULTS

BEST MALE PAIRINGS

Winning Pair: Team P and B (Bob Matsiko and Peter Atwine) 57 nett

Runner-Up Pair: Protons (Michael Andama and Jim Kamanyi) 59 nett (c/b)

BEST FEMALE PAIRINGS

Winning Pair: Fairway Zokka (Edith Wamalwa and Suzan Achieng) 59 nett

Runner-Up Pair: Games Changers (Diana Nabukenya and Rita Apell) 60 nett

‘FOR BETTER OR WORSE’ FORMAT

MEN’S RESULTS

Winning Pair: Kyaayi Mukalu (Mukasa Mulema and Abbas Luyombo) 40 points

Runner-Up Pair: Eagles and Birdies (John Paul Namoma and Jonathan Lukyamuzi) 37 pts (c/b)

LADIES’ RESULTS

Winning Pair: Hot Birdies and Bling (Edith Wamalwa and Anne Abeja) 37 pts

Runner-Up Pair: Slice N Dice (Esther Aganyira and Florence Namara) 36 pts

DAYTONA FORMAT – WINNERS

Winning Pair: Harami (Moses Ochole and Mulungi Sseruwo) 609

Runner-Up Pair: Team Street (Charles Kakaire and Albert Otete) 630

Top Ladies’ Pair / 5th Runner-Up Pair: Luo Queens (Anne Abeja and Ruth Akello) 666

The Alliance for National Transformation (ANT) party presidential candidate, Maj Gen (Rtd) Mugisha Muntu, has stated that President Yoweri Museveni cannot effectively fight corruption because those involved in it are key to his regime’s survival.

Muntu made the remarks while addressing a campaign rally in Butebo District, emphasising that the regime’s reliance on corrupt individuals to maintain power undermines its ability to tackle graft.

“Change is to take you forward, Gen Museveni can no longer take you forward because fighting corruption and arresting the corrupt won’t be possible because they are the very people who support him. The corrupt know he wants power, he also knows they want money; he leaves them to steal so that they also support him to keep in power, and that’s how they keep fooling you,” he said.

Gen Muntu said that there are many development and empowerment initiatives that would transform the lives of all Ugandans, but unfortunately, these are less known or completely unknown by citizens because the corrupt want to steal everything and remain untouched.

“Initiatives like PDM would be good, but they are limited to a small amount, a farmer would need for example to purchase a milling machine, rice sorting machine, or a cooking oil squeezing machine but this PDM shs1 million is very little,” he said.

He added, “Even the sensible empowerment funds available are not known to citizens, there is for example money called Agricultural Credit Facility (ACF) which is at an interest rate of 12% but have passed through several districts and farmers don’t know about it because the corrupt intend to steal such funds.”

A report by the Inspectorate General of Government (IGG) revealed that Uganda loses up to shs9.1 trillion to corruption annually. The same report says the figures could be higher, except some of the areas investigated did not have data to quantify the costs.

Gen Muntu decried that the most underdeveloped areas like Butebo are the lead supporters of President Museveni, and yet he has long failed to develop such areas.

“The less developed areas like Karamoja, Kisoro, Bundibugyo and you here in Butebo, you are the lead supporters of Gen Museveni, what happened?” asked Muntu.

He told Butebo voters that much as President Museveni has always said the ballot cannot take him out of power, they should strongly come out to vote against him.

“Buganda decided and changed, I was in FDC and while there we at a time captured Teso, Acholi, and some parts of the west, he sees the ballot as a mere paper but for as long as you decide like Buganda, he will go,” he said.

Dar es Salaam. Scenes of jubilation, relief and emotional breakdowns played out at the Kisutu Resident Magistrate’s Court yesterday after 198 out of 216 treason suspects were discharged and set free.

The mass release took place on Tuesday, November 25, 2025, after the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) filed a notice indicating that the State no longer intended to proceed with the charges against them.

However, 18 suspects, among them the well-known cosmetics entrepreneur Jennifer Jovin, popularly known as ‘Niffer’, remain on remand as the DPP continues with the case against them.

Relatives of the suspects began arriving at the court early in the morning, forming small clusters in the waiting shed as they anticipated the day’s proceedings.

One relative carried a bouquet of flowers to welcome a family member expected to be freed, while another held balloons with the message: ‘Welcome home my husband.’

The long wait ended at 2:30pm when the first group of 116 suspects arrived aboard two Tanzania Prisons Service buses.

A second group of 99 suspects reached the court at 5:16pm. Upon arrival, officers from multiple security agencies took their particulars, including fingerprints and photographs.

The registration process continued until around 6:20pm, when the cases were called before various magistrates handling preliminary proceedings before the files are transferred to the High Court, the only court with jurisdiction to hear treason cases.

In total, 314 suspects had earlier been charged with treason, divided into six separate groups and accused of involvement in events connected to the general election held on November 29, 2025.

Before Senior Resident Magistrate Aaron Lyamuya, 20 suspects were discharged, except for Niffer and her co-accused, Mika Chavala.

The decision triggered intense emotional reactions. Niffer’s mother broke down in tears and collapsed, prompting those nearby to assist her.

Inside the courtroom, one of the freed suspects nearly fainted while standing in the dock, forcing prison officers to help him sit down.

Outside, relatives, friends and neighbours received the discharged suspects with cheers, hugs and shoulder-hoisting celebrations. Amid the joy, some family members broke down as they reunited with loved ones they had not seen for nearly a month.

The last group of suspects walked free at 8:48pm. Some, unfamiliar with the courthouse layout, became disoriented and mistakenly headed towards a corridor leading to the women’s washrooms before bystanders redirected them to the main exit.

‘I wasn’t even protesting’

Joseph Martin (24), a Kigamboni resident and one of those released, maintained that he had not participated in any protest. A student at a mid-level college, he said he earns money by transferring music to mobile phones using his laptop.

He recounted that on October 29 he travelled to Kijitonyama for work and ended up spending the night at a friend’s house. The next day, October 30, he was arrested alongside the tenants of that house.

‘That day, officers passed by and when people saw them, everyone rushed inside. The officers came in and dragged us out, asking why we were running. They ordered us to lie down, and one of them said, ‘Anyone who lifts their head, shoot’,’ he recalled.

He said that despite their police uniforms, the officers spoke Kiswahili in a strange and rough manner, which made him suspect that they were not familiar with the language. He said they tied them up and bundled them into a vehicle.

With this development, a total of 245 suspects have been freed by the court since Monday, November 24, 2025.

Globally, the failure in effective family planning after birth for women results in 141million unintended pregnancies, 29 million unsafe abortions, and 150,000 maternal deaths annually! It is predicted that spacing out births for two or more years could prevent over 30 percent of maternal deaths and 10 percent of child mortality. Refugee women face additional challenges in family planning uptake due to language and cultural differences, lack of social support, pressures to replace lost children, and aid distributed based on household size.

Additionally, like many other African contexts, African refugee couple members exhibit different readiness and desires, with women generally having higher knowledge and readiness and men with more decision-making power. A team of researchers from the University of Michigan (UM) and Bishop Stuart University (BSU) has been exploring the key role of men in family planning and how to engage couples together in family planning decisions and behaviours.

While adopting the Uthando Lwethu, a couples’ counselling model that has shown great success in engaging couples for HIV testing and counselling, the UM and BSU research team developed Urukundo Rwacu, meaning ‘Our love’ in Kinyabwisha, which is a group-based couples counselling intervention to transform gender norms, promote reproductive health knowledge, and enhance couples’ relationships and communication skills to ultimately help couples navigate challenging conversations and decisions around family planning. We believe the intervention will be a game-changer in addressing the negative statistics that arise from initiatives that only address women and in the absence of men.

The preliminary findings of qualitative research UM and BSU teams conducted with Nakivale refugee stakeholders have pointed to the critical importance of men being engaged in decisions and behaviours that concern postpartum family planning, including the demystifying various inaccurate myths around various methods of family planning, spacing of children, and the determinants of babies’ weights, so that African refugees can discuss and decide together as couples.

It was noted that engaging men in family planning decisions may be best if conducted as groups of couples so that overall gender norms and peer pressure work for couples to discuss, decide, and act together, with additional times for individual couples to practice and debrief privately as well.

The biggest challenge to male engagement in postpartum family planning efforts in Nakivale refugee camp is the dwindling financial assistance to refugees, following the withdrawal of funding and drastic cuts by donor agencies like the USAID, WFP, UNICEF, etc. Hence, Urukundo Rwacu will be paired with village savings groups for pregnant couples to collectively save, with the intervention contributing to the savings when both members of the couples attend sessions together. Thus ‘When couples save together, they feel they are building their home together. It motivates them to support each other and to stay committed,’ as one of the research participants stated.

Despite the overall enthusiasm around Urukundo Rwacu, research participants also expressed concerns around dwindling supplies as well as overburdened healthcare services. The lack of tools to work with also compounds the problem. While some local efforts are being made to address the plight of refugees, such as the recent consignment of food and clothing delivered to Nakivale refugee camp by the Provincial Church of Uganda and Ankole Diocesan teams, there is a massive need for interventions at a global level.

In fact, 50,000 refugees arrived from DRC Congo since the beginning of 2025, but there was a $307 million reduction in USAID funds for humanitarian programmes and aid in Uganda.

The operators of fast-food restaurant chain, KFC Uganda, have raised a red flag over what they described as a high-handed manner in which they are being handled by the tax collector.

As a result, the investor says their confidence has been seriously hurt following the military-like raid on their premises.

This publication has seen a protest letter from Kuku Foods Uganda Limited, the operator of KFC restaurants in Uganda, detailing Uganda Revenue Authority intrusive and overbearing engagement despite the fast-food restaurant chain being one of the major investors in the hospitality sector.

When contacted, URA spokesperson, Mr Robert Kalumba, said allegations being levelled by the KFC investors are overblown out of context.

“That account of events as reported is over exaggerated and so far from the trut,’ he said.

The letter, dated 20th November 2025 and addressed to the URA Commissioner General, appears to condemn the manner in which an enforcement operation was conducted at their offices, with the Kuku Foods investors, describing the development as violation of legal procedure, departing from established administrative practice.

According to the company, URA officers accompanied by armed personnel entered its Kampala offices on 19th November and remained there from morning until almost midnight, forcefully extracting electronic information from company devices without prior notice and under armed supervision.

Kuku Foods stresses that while Ugandan law grants the tax authority power to enter a taxpayer’s premises, those powers are meant to be exercised through a defined sequence of steps that typically begins with a written request for information.

The company says it had received no such request, nor had it ignored or failed to comply with any statutory obligation. It notes that the scale and manner of the operation were excessive and unjustified, raising serious concerns about necessity, proportionality and adherence to lawful procedures.

The company further protests URA’s decision to reopen a tax audit covering July 2019 to February 2022., a period Kuku Foods investors said accounted for and ‘fully audited.’

Note that reopening a concluded audit is legally permissible but only under grounds of fraud or deliberate misrepresentation, none of which URA has alleged or communicated to the investors, according to the letter.

URA officers reportedly accessed devices and extracted information without clarifying how the data would be stored, secured or utilised. Kuku Foods argues that such opacity exposes it to legal risk under Uganda’s data protection laws, particularly given its position as a multinational franchise operator holding sensitive employment, customer and operational data.

This is not the first case. For a while now businesses across sectors have reported repeat audits, reversals of administrative positions without explanation and aggressive adversarial enforcement actions that disrupt operations.

These trends have become recurrent themes in investor conversations and policy dialogues, intensifying debate about the stability and clarity of Uganda’s tax administration environment at a time when the country is seeking to attract long-term investment.

According to civil society organizations, Uganda’s tax regime is not progressive, calling for predictable and fair tax regime across sectors.

In its letter, Kuku Foods asks URA to explain the legal basis for reopening previously audited years and requests that any inquiry be confined to the unexamined period beginning March 2022. The company also seeks written assurances that future engagements will follow legally prescribed procedures. It notes that it may consider legal recourse should the issues remain unresolved.

According to the investors, this matter, if not handled amicably, could raise questions over treatment of investors by the tax collector.

In a world increasingly concerned with environmental impact, every sector, including security, has a responsibility to adopt sustainable practices. In Uganda today, the private security industry is a critical part of daily life. From guarding homes and offices to managing cash-in-transit operations and supporting national infrastructure, security firms play an essential role in stability and growth. But as the world confronts the dual crises of climate change and environmental degradation, the question is no longer how we keep people safe, but how we do it sustainably.

For security companies in Uganda and the wider East African region, sustainability should not be just a trend; it ought to be a critical component of our mission to provide sustainable safety and security for our customers and communities. “Green security” is the new frontier, a strategic imperative that benefits not only our planet but also security operations and the Ugandan economy.

Uganda faces mounting environmental pressures that cannot be ignored. This alignment to sustainability is more critical than ever, given Uganda’s ecological challenges. The country has faced significant deforestation, with forest cover plummeting from 24 per cent in 1990 to an estimated 9 per cent in recent years, as reported by the National Forestry Authority (NFA) and consistent with data from Global Forest Watch. This loss, which has averaged around 90,000 hectares annually between 2015 and 2020, highlights a clear need for every industry to take action. This loss has fuelled climate stress, flooding, and resource scarcity.

Meanwhile, according to the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS, 2017), 95 per cent of Ugandan households rely on charcoal, wood, or other forms of biomass for their household cooking needs, while only 5 per cent rely on alternative and modern energy, i.e. electricity, gas or kerosene. This dependence fuels deforestation, drives indoor air pollution, and ultimately contributes to broader social and security risks, from resource-based conflicts to urban unrest, making sustainability a core issue for the private security industry.

The private security industry, with its extensive operations, has a significant environmental footprint. This includes everything from the fuel consumed by patrol vehicles to the electricity used for surveillance systems and the waste generated from uniforms and equipment. Embracing green security means working deliberately to reduce this footprint and aligning business practices with Uganda’s national green growth agenda.

The scale of the industry amplifies both its responsibility and its potential for change. Private security firms employ tens of thousands of Ugandans and are deeply embedded in communities, giving them a unique opportunity to lead the transition to greener practices. Unlike industries focused solely on profit, the security sector is entrusted with public trust. By adopting sustainable practices, firms not only protect that trust but also lower costs and reduce future risks.

The opportunities for green transformation within the private security sector are wide-ranging. Security companies operate extensive patrol and cash-in-transit fleets that consume large amounts of fuel. By shifting to fuel-efficient or hybrid vehicles and adopting innovative routing systems powered by digital tools, they can cut emissions while improving response times.

Replacing kerosene lamps and diesel generators with solar-powered guard posts can cut carbon footprints while enhancing safety in off-grid areas. Offices and training facilities also present opportunities for impact. By investing in energy-efficient buildings, adopting waste segregation practices, and embracing paperless reporting systems, firms can make operations both greener and more efficient. Even in areas such as uniforms and equipment, sustainability is possible. Thousands of uniforms are produced and replaced each year, and exploring eco-friendly textiles or recycling programs could reduce waste while enhancing corporate reputation.

Community engagement is another frontier for green security. Security firms work closely with estates, schools, and businesses, giving them a unique platform to lead community sustainability initiatives. Through initiatives like tree planting, recycling drives, and e-waste collection campaigns, private security companies can expand their role from protecting individuals to safeguarding communities and the environment. At the same time, the adoption of digital surveillance and intelligent monitoring systems can reduce reliance on fuel-heavy patrols, cutting emissions while enhancing efficiency, particularly in Kampala, where traffic congestion adds to urban pollution.

The business case for green security is compelling. Uganda’s electricity sector is a prime example of a green economy in action, with over 90per cent of its electricity generation coming from clean, renewable sources like hydropower and solar, a fact widely cited by the Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERA). For the security industry, this makes grid power a sustainable and reliable alternative to fossil fuels.

With fuel costs on the rise, renewable-powered solutions offer companies a chance to lower operational expenses in the long run. Furthermore, global and regional clients, such as banks, embassies, NGOs, and multinational corporations, are increasingly demanding sustainability in their procurement processes. A private security company that integrates green practices becomes a partner of choice for organisations keen to align with Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) standards, a trend gaining significant traction in Uganda’s corporate landscape.

As significant contributors to emissions and resource use, security companies are uniquely positioned to champion Uganda’s transition to sustainable practices. By piloting solar-powered guard posts, adopting energy-efficient offices, and introducing eco-friendly patrol fleets, they can set new benchmarks for the entire industry. When sustainability is embedded into their core operations, forward-looking security firms demonstrate that proper protection extends beyond safeguarding lives and assets today; it is also about securing a cleaner, safer, and more resilient tomorrow.

Uganda’s environmental challenges are urgent and interconnected with national security. The private security sector, with its vast reach and influence, cannot afford to be a bystander. By embracing sustainability, firms like SGA Security Uganda can redefine what it means to protect, shielding both people and the planet for generations to come.

The author, Mr Philemon Nabeeta, is the GA Security Uganda Head of ESG and Investigations .

National Resistance Movement (NRM) presidential candidate Yoweri Museveni yesterday asked Ugandans to grant him another term in office, saying he would establish an industrial park in Ankole Sub-region for value addition.

Addressing a rally in Isingiro District yesterday, Mr Museveni said an industrial park would create jobs, improve standards of living and lead to development of the sub-region and the country.

‘I want to bring an industrial park in Ankole like the one in Mbale, but I have failed to get land. I had my land in the refugee settlement and told my people that I would get land for an industrial park, but people left the hills and are fighting for the same land. They want to grow sweet potatoes, yet they are already growing them elsewhere,’ he said.

Museveni added: ‘Kagyera water, we wanted to save the people of Mbarara who were suffering with water scarcity because they mishandled River Rwizi, which reduced the amount of water in the river. I decided to bring them water about 35 miles from Mbarara, but in this plan, Isingiro will be considered.’

He added that the irrigation scheme would extend water to the locals for both irrigation and industrial use, to enable them add value to their produce and give employment for the residents. ‘You will get water for drinking and irrigation, and you have to abandon the leadership of darkness and ignorance. You cannot have people without knowing the importance of irrigation,’ he said

The President said: ‘For example, Dr Muranga in our farm in Bushenyi of the presidential banana project, in our project, she collects 53 tonnes of matooke every hectare. Banyankore around his neighbourhood collect around five tonnes in a hectare, but for Dr Muranga, because of irrigation and applying fertilisers, he earns 10 times than them.’

He called upon locals to embrace government programmes such as the Parish Development Model to alleviate poverty.

He also promised to repair roads in the sub-region that are in a bad condition.

‘We worked on Mbarara-Kikagati road, there is a remaining small portion of Kikagati Kitwe Mirama hill road and Rwekubo, Rugaga- Bukanga road, we know all those roads, we have always wanted to work on them, but the leaders you chose want to chase a lot of things,’ Mr Museveni said.

The Speaker of Parliament, Ms Anitah Annet Among, who was also present at the rally, requested people to vote for NRM flagbearers in order to get the services they need.

She said: ‘The Parliament has already approved the money for the Kafunjo-Mirama-Ntungamo road. We thank Mr President for the Kagera water project, all the villages have started receiving water, and Mbarara City as well.’

In the 2021 election, Isingiro District had 233, 099 registered voters, and President Museveni polled 188,609 votes while Mr Robert Kyagulanyi got 8,769 votes.

According to a Uwezo Uganda report, a total of 270 teachers, representing 18 percent of the workforce in Namutumba District, are absent from duty daily.

The report titled ‘Are our children learning?’ states that this trend leaves learners without the expected competencies and contributes to the district’s poor performance in national examinations.

Teacher absenteeism in our schools is an age-old problem that can only be solved, or at least reduced, when the real causes are dealt with. Sadly, it persists, and this has in turn greatly affected the performance of pupils not only in Namutumba but in many other parts of the country. According to the report, some of the reasons that the problem persists is partly because some school administrators and teachers deliberately disengaged from the automated attendance system.

Again, we ask, why do they take the trouble of disengaging from the system? This is one of the questions that must be answered.

In our story in the Daily Monitor of Thursday, November 27, (270 teachers absent daily in Namutumba schools-report), the District Internal Security Officer, Mr Gilbert Ninsiima, attributed the absenteeism to failure by inspectors of schools and head teachers to conduct their duties. He says this only goes to show that inspectors are not reaching schools. But will inspection alone solve the problem? Without dealing with issues such as low pay, poor working conditions, lack of accommodation, high pupil-teacher ratio increasing workload and stress levels, which are some of the real drivers of teacher absenteeism, efficient schools inspection will not achieve much.

It is also common knowledge and quite understandable that, because of poor pay, many of the teachers spend a considerable amount of time doing part-time work to supplement their meagre income. No amount of inspection will change anything if the real causes of teachers not showing up to work are not addressed conclusively.

Of course, it goes without saying that we don’t condone absconding from work, but we can’t run away from the realities on the ground. This is a symptom of compounded challenges which we can no longer continue to gloss over. Automated attendance systems are a great idea if the basic survival and motivational needs of the teachers are taken care of.

The race for the Uganda Cup reaches its decisive stage on Saturday as league champions Black Pirates host Kobs, while Heathens clash with Buffaloes in a Kyadondo derby.

In 26 years of the competition, only three sides Heathens (14 titles), Kobs (7) and Pirates with two titles have ever lifted the trophy.

Buffaloes are the only semifinalists yet to win it, but their hard-fought victory over league finalists Hippos has underlined their growth into a genuine contender.

At Kings Park, Pirates arrive in blistering Cup form. They have overpowered every opponent in their path, highlighted by a commanding 68-20 quarterfinal demolition of Impis which was the biggest score line of the stage.

Captain Isaac Massa has been the heartbeat of this run with 74 points, combining four tries with precision off the boot but the skipper insists their momentum is a product of collective discipline rather than individual brilliance.

‘It’s a gradual process where everyone has been pulling in the same direction,’ Massa said. ‘But it’s another big game that we take minute by minute. We’ll go and review the quarters and see what we’ve to improve in the next match.’

Pirates’ firepower is further boosted by Haruna Mohammed (38 points) and leading try scorer Jeremiah Okello, who has crossed seven times.

Their opponents Kobs, although disrupted by cancellations throughout the tournament, appear to be finding their tempo again.

They posted a massive 102-3 win over Fort Portal Tyrants and edged Buffaloes 16-14 in a gritty contest at Legends.

Head coach Timothy Mudoola is unfazed by Pirates’ form. ‘Pirates are looking good beating everyone but that doesn’t move us,’ he said.

‘This is the only remaining trophy to close the season and we want it. We’re going in there to give a fight.’ With seven Uganda Cup titles already, Kobs’ pedigree remains undeniable.

Across at Kyadondo, fourteen-time champions Heathens are showing renewed bite under coach Tolbert Onyango.

Their physically imposing style powered them past Impis, Kitgum Lions and a solid 35-17 win over Victoria Sharks. Onyango expects a bruising semifinal.

‘We expect it to be a fast-paced game with lots of tackles,’ he warned. ‘We shall stay in the fight to the last whistle because where you snooze, you lose.’

Buffaloes, however, believe their moment is coming. ‘It’s always tough to face Heathens but we have grown and matured enough to handle any opponent now,’ said coach Andrew Owor who has been handling the team in the absence of Charles Onen.

‘The squad has grown and we’re ready to give a fight in the remaining fixtures.’

2025 UGANDA CUP

Semifinal fixtures – Today

Pirates vs. Kobs, Bweyogerere – 4pm

Heathens vs. Buffaloes, Kyadondo – 4pm

Obstetric fistula remains one of the most devastating yet preventable childbirth injuries that continues to affect women in Bukedi Sub-region.

Obstetric fistula, as defined by the United Nations, is a hole between the birth canal and the bladder or rectum caused by prolonged, obstructed labour without timely medical care.

The result is constant leakage of urine, stool, or both, leading to infections, chronic health complications, depression, and deep social exclusion.

Despite years of awareness campaigns and periodic intervention programmes, many women in the sub-region still live with the condition in isolation, battling pain, stigma, and a deep sense of abandonment.

For 35-year-old Loy Kayendeke of Bukomolo Village in Kabwangasi, Pallisa District, the journey to motherhood became a lifelong struggle after a prolonged, obstructed labour at home caused her birth canal to rupture.

‘I did not have money for transport to the health facility, and the labour went on for too long; by the time I reached help, it was too late,’ Ms Kayendeke recalls.

For the past two years, she has lived with constant pain, difficulty sitting, and persistent irritation in her private parts. Her story mirrors that of many women across Bukedi, where delays in reaching skilled care remain the leading cause of fistula.

Another survivor, 28-year-old Shamin Gimbo of Maizimasa and a mother of 10, has endured fistula symptoms for eight years.

‘I developed the condition soon after giving birth; I went from health facility to health facility, but nothing improved until I was advised to undergo surgery,’ she says.

Similarly, Ms Agali Sumbatala, a mother of four from Kabwangasi, began experiencing uncontrollable urine leakage after the birth of her last child. The condition has left her socially isolated.

‘Even fellow women have started discriminating against me; the stigma has become part of my life,’ she reveals.

In Katubai Village, Kachulu Sub-county, Ms Sumini Musibika has lived with fistula for two years. She lost her baby during labour and later underwent an operation, but the bleeding continued and her condition worsened.

‘I went to Kabwangasi and Namatala health centres, but nothing changed. I still urinate constantly, and it smells. My life has never been the same,’ she recounts.

Ms Hajira Kayendeke of Molotome village, Kabwangasi, a mother of five, describes severe pain that affects even her ability to bend or do household work.

According to Ms Jesca Mwigala, the chairperson of the Butebo District Women’s League, cases of fistula are rising across communities.

‘Our assessment in various sub-counties showed that not fewer than 50 women exhibit signs of fistula,’ she says.

In Puti Sub-county alone, 10 women have already been identified, though many more remain hidden.

‘A good number of women are suffering silently. They fear coming out, either because of shame or lack of awareness,’ Ms Mwigala says.

She adds that the condition is straining marriages, as many husbands continue to demand sexual relations even when their wives are in severe pain.

While the Ugandan government has made efforts to address this burden such as the National Obstetric Fistula Strategy (2011/12-2015/16), investment in specialised training, and establishment of repair centres, gaps remain, particularly in rural regions like Bukedi.

Civil society groups have stepped in to help. Ms Halima Namakula, executive director of Women at Work International (WAWI), says the organisation is committed to raising awareness, especially among young mothers and girls who marry early.

‘We have girls married at 13, and by 20 they already have four children,’ she says. ‘This back-to-back childbirth is extremely dangerous,’ she adds.

Many communities lack basic knowledge about fistula-its causes, prevention, and treatment.

WAWI continues to screen women and provide free treatment, recognising that many cannot afford surgery and often suffer silently.

In Kibuku District, Women’s League leader Hadijja Munaba reports at least 18 identified cases, most are still hidden due to fear and shame. Butebo Woman MP Agnes Amede urges women to seek early medical care rather than hiding.

‘This challenge has become so common; It’s time for our communities to take fistula seriously,’ she ways.

The Pallisa District Health Officer, Dr Godfrey Mulekwa, reports only three cases in the last five years, crediting strong referral support from partner organisations.

Disease prevalence

According to the National Library of Medicine, Uganda’s prevalence of vaginal fistula symptoms stands between 16.3 and 22.5 per 1,000 women of reproductive age, translating to approximately 140,000-200,000 women living with the condition. More than 1,900 new cases are reported each year.