Category: Daily Monitor

Uganda has launched a new National Tourism Policy aimed at boosting earnings from the sector to USD 4 billion (about Shs14.5 trillion) over the next five years and increasing annual tourist arrivals to 2.4 million.

The policy, launched by the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, seeks to address longstanding gaps that have slowed the sector’s growth.

Tourism Minister, Tom Butime described the policy as a turning point, saying, “Uganda can and will become one of Africa’s top five destinations, with tourism contributing at least USD 4 billion, more jobs for our people, and a stronger, more resilient economy.”

Butime stressed the need to translate potential into results, adding, “Potential is not progress. We must convert our resources into tangible products, investments, experiences, and earnings.”

The policy identifies gaps in marketing, safety, service standards, skills development, investment frameworks, and product diversification as obstacles to competitiveness. It also highlights high investment costs, multiple taxation, weak infrastructure at key sites, and inconsistent enforcement of international service standards as key challenges.

Permanent Secretary Doreen Katusiime framed the policy as a national development tool beyond tourism, saying, “We are launching not just a document, but a decisive blueprint for national transformation.”

The policy lays out an implementation framework requiring close coordination between agencies responsible for infrastructure, security, immigration, environment, culture, water, transport, heritage, and investment. It establishes a Tourism Coordination Committee, strengthens monitoring and evaluation, and improves the management of tourism statistics.

The Uganda Tourism Board is tasked with intensifying destination marketing, expanding outreach to source markets, strengthening the country’s brand identity, and working with missions abroad to counter negative travel advisories.

Yewagnesh ‘Yogi’ Birigwa, chairperson of the Uganda Tourism Association, welcomed the new direction, saying, “If the government provides leadership, if the private sector delivers professionalism, and if communities embrace conservation and hospitality, Uganda’s tourism sector will rise to levels we have only imagined.”

The policy targets skills development, calling for stronger links between training institutions and industry needs, better quality assurance, and support for the Uganda Hotel and Tourism Training Institute and the Uganda Wildlife Research and Training College.

Data shows tourism’s economic significance. In 2024, the sector contributed 5.7% of GDP, supported over 803,000 jobs, and accounted for 16% of exports. Domestic tourism expenditure stood at Shs5.09 billion, driven by transport and food services.

The policy sets targets to increase tourist spending, length of stay, tax contributions, and domestic tourism expenditure by 2030.

When Uganda banned alcohol sachets, the intention was clear and commendable: to reduce irresponsible drinking, protect public health, and limit youth access to cheap, highly potent liquor. Breweries complied, shifted production lines, and adhered to new packaging standards, demonstrating goodwill toward a policy rooted in the right motivation. Yet the reality on the ground evolved faster than regulation.

Today, the country finds itself confronting a new, more complex era of illicit alcohol-one that has moved far beyond sachets and into far more dangerous forms. Rather than disappearing, the problem has transformed, and our response must transform with it.

This year, Uganda’s illicit alcohol landscape is increasingly defined by jerrycan-based crude spirits, siphoned and repackaged industrial ethanol, denatured alcohol, and a growing volume of smuggled high-strength liquids circulating in unregulated spaces. These are not simply cheap substitutes for legal products; they are toxic, unpredictable chemical mixtures with severe public health implications.

While the sachet ban removed one dangerous product from the formal market, the behaviours it enabled, low-cost drinking, discreet consumption, and quick intoxication, remained deeply entrenched. Illegal actors quickly filled the vacuum, producing crude and often contaminated concoctions with no ingredient lists, expiry dates, or safety checks, and distributing them widely through informal outlets in trading centres, market stalls, bars, and backroom kiosks.

Addressing this crisis requires recognising that illicit alcohol is not only a health issue, but also a social, economic, and governance problem that demands a multisector response. Youth groups play a vital role because young people listen to their peers more readily than they do to formal authorities, and they are central to shaping the norms that govern drinking behaviour. Faith leaders hold deep moral authority within communities and can influence family-level decision-making and attitudes toward alcohol use. Community leaders serve as custodians of local norms and are often the first to witness harmful consumption patterns or suspicious production activities.

Legal producers contribute by maintaining safe, regulated alternatives and supporting responsible consumption efforts, helping ensure consumers are not forced toward cheaper, more dangerous products. Enforcement agencies, while critical, cannot shoulder the burden alone; their efforts must sit within a broader system that prioritises disrupting dangerous production without criminalising already vulnerable consumers. This national crisis, therefore, requires a calibrated response that balances enforcement with community mobilisation, awareness, and support for safe alternatives.

Smarter, intelligence-driven enforcement is necessary to dismantle illegal production networks, strengthen border surveillance, and conduct routine inspections in known hotspots. This does not mean an increase in punitive measures against consumers; rather, it means making illegal production risky and unprofitable for those who deliberately undermine public health.

Equally important is community mobilisation. Transformative change happens when local leaders, LC structures, village health teams, and neighbourhood associations are empowered to identify dangerous alcohol, raise alarms early, and reshape norms around consumption within their own communities.

Alongside this, youth-focused awareness campaigns are essential. Schools, universities, sports clubs, and youth organisations must lead a national conversation about the true dangers of illicit alcohol, using culturally relevant messaging that resonates with young people and stimulates informed decision-making. Strengthening the availability of safe, regulated alternatives must also remain part of the solution.

Supporting legal producers, including small-scale distillers who comply with health and quality standards, provides consumers with affordable options that reduce their reliance on illicit products. A healthy, competitive legal market is one of the strongest defences against the spread of dangerous, unregulated alcohol.

Uganda is losing the battle against illicit alcohol, not because policymakers lacked intention, but because the illicit market innovated faster than the national response. We now need an equally adaptive, collaborative, and community-rooted strategy. The sachet ban was a decisive first step, but it was never intended to be the final one.

This moment calls not for blame, but for leadership. We acted once by banning sachets; now we must follow through with smarter enforcement, stronger community mobilisation, normative change, and youth empowerment. The future health and productivity of our nation’s young people depend on it.

After nine years of lying idle, a key water project in northern Uganda has come back to life. The government has fully restored Leye Dam in Kole District, marking a major boost for irrigation, fishing and other production activities that had stalled for nearly two decades.

Leye Dam, located in Leye Village, Telela Parish in Ayer Sub-county, was constructed around 2006 by the Ministry of Water and Environment with World Bank funding. The Shs4 billion multipurpose facility was expected to transform the area by supporting irrigation, aquaculture, and other economic ventures. But by 2016, the dam had become heavily infested with aquatic weeds, making it unusable.

Eng Ronald Kato Kayizzi, the Assistant Commissioner for Water for Production, said the infestation crippled all activities that the dam was built to support.

‘Leye Dam became impossible for people to utilise it for the intended purpose. And the investors and communities that had come in with the fish cages could no longer do business. But we also think that the aquatic weed was attributed to people who brought in infested fishing nets from other water bodies,’ he said during a visit to the site on Wednesday, November 26, 2025.

He said government intervened to rehabilitate the dam and restore its functions. ‘It has been restored, and the ministry, through the department of Water for Production and our regional office, is going to ensure that we undertake micro-scale irrigation by the beneficiaries who are around the water body,’ he added.

The rehabilitated dam was officially commissioned on Wednesday, November 26.

Mr Joe Okello, chairperson of the water user committee, praised the contractor who cleared the weeds, saying the dam is ‘now back in action’ and providing the much-needed water for production.

Kole LC5 chairperson Moses Andrew Awany described the restoration as a milestone, especially at a time when the country is struggling with the effects of climate change and its reliance on rain-fed agriculture.

The Ministry of Water and Environment has intensified efforts to address water management challenges, including removing water hyacinth and other invasive weeds choking Uganda’s water bodies.

According to Kole Resident District Commissioner Jillian Akullo, the successful restoration demonstrates the NRM government’s commitment to strengthening water infrastructure and promoting sustainable water management.

Sustainability plan

As part of the sustainability strategy, beneficiary communities will be encouraged to take up apiary and ventures such as duck rearing, with ducks helping to control aquatic weeds biologically.

The district has also set up a technical support team comprising the production, community services and water departments to develop an operation and management plan focusing on watershed protection.

‘We have planted a number of trees, and as part of the Roots campaign, the Ministry of Water and Environment has a plan to plant the number of trees equivalent to Uganda’s population every year,’ Eng Kato said.

‘So, we are encouraging everyone in your homestead. to plant a tree, where there is a possibility to plant as many as a hundred.’

Communities are also being encouraged to conserve wetlands and other ecosystems. Eng Kato said those who had encroached on low-lying catchment areas have been persuaded to move and will be supported to adopt alternative livelihoods.

‘So, we are going to ensure that they get alternative livelihoods to what they have been doing. Instead of rice, we are moving them to irrigation of high-value crops,’ he said.

Hello Paul, I drive a 2015 Audi A6 with the auto start-stop feature. Recently, my battery has started to fail, and as a result, the start-stop function is not working. Can I replace the expensive AGM battery with a cheaper lead-acid battery? How can I restore the start-stop function? Andrew

Hello Andrew, there are two main issues here. First, your AGM battery is likely nearing the end of its lifespan, which is typically around seven to 10 years. Second, the auto start-stop feature has been deactivated because it requires a reliable battery to function properly.

This system relies on a good battery to keep accessories such as the AC and lights operational while also enabling the engine to restart when you press the accelerator. When the system detects that your battery is aging, it disables the auto start-stop feature to prevent you from getting stranded. Therefore, it is important not to be tempted to replace your AGM battery with a cheaper lead-acid battery.

Let me briefly explain how an AGM battery works and how it compares to traditional lead-acid batteries. An AGM (Absorbent Glass Mat) battery is maintenance-free, offers better resistance against road and engine vibrations, and is spill-proof due to a fine glass mat that absorbs and contains the electrolyte. This sealed design allows you to safely use the AGM battery in your car cabin, while also enjoying a longer lifespan of seven to 10 years for the best brands.

AGM batteries are specifically designed to meet high electrical demands and endure frequent charging and discharging cycles. This makes them suitable for vehicles with numerous accessories or automatic start-stop features, such as your Audi A6. A standard lead-acid battery is not recommended in this case, as it will fail prematurely.

The automatic start-stop function places high demands on the battery that conventional batteries simply cannot meet. Key performance differences include frequent cycling; start-stop systems turn off and restart the engine multiple times during a single journey, such as at traffic lights or stop signs. AGM batteries are built to withstand many charge and discharge cycles.

While the engine is off, the battery needs to provide sufficient power to all electrical systems, including lights, infotainment, safety systems, and AC ventilation. AGM batteries have a high reserve capacity to meet these demands.

Furthermore, AGM batteries are compatible with the Battery Management System (BMS) in your Audi. This system monitors the battery’s charging condition and overall status and is programmed specifically for AGM battery characteristics. Installing a different type of battery could cause malfunctions, reduce, or deactivate the start-stop system.

I strongly recommend replacing your current AGM battery with another AGM battery to ensure good performance and longevity.

Downgrading to a conventional lead-acid battery would be counterproductive, as it would deteriorate quickly and cause the loss of the start-stop function. Additionally, you may experience malfunctions with other electrical features in your Audi, as the BMS might shut these off.

In some vehicles, after replacing the battery, the new battery may need to be registered with the vehicle’s BMS using a diagnostic tool to ensure proper charging and functioning.

Reactivating the automatic start-stop feature after battery replacement often also requires a diagnostic tool, so you may need to consult a professional garage or mechanic for assistance.

Almost four days before its tee-off, the draw for the field to compete in the subsidiary category at the fifth Equity Naro Golf Open at the Mary Louise Simkins Golf Club in Namulonge was already full.

That packed schedule for 120 players who compete on the final round of the three-day Naro Open will tee-off this morning at the nine-hole par-70 course in Namulonge.

The championships coincides with 17-year celebrations for title sponsors Equity Bank who cashed in a package of Shs200m as well as the 75th anniversary National Crops Resources Research Institute (NaCRRI).

NaCRRI, which hosts Namulonge Club and boasts of plans to expand it to 18 holes, in light of fast development of the nearby Kira Municipality and Kyadondo East constituency, is run by run by the National Agricultural Research Organisation (Naro).

‘Namulonge is not just a venue. It is a nursery of talent,’ notes Equity Bank managing director Gift Shoko, who boasts of 20 years’ golfing experience and a current handicap index of 16.2.

‘It is where many of Uganda’s greatest golfers took their very first swing.and it is a community that continues to nurture young players who later rise to national and international acclaim,’ he said.

‘This is why Equity Bank is deeply invested in Namulonge, because when you invest in the foundations of talent, you invest in the future of sport, of community, and of opportunity.’

To spice up the action, Namulonge will today welcome the foreign legion comprising players from Kenya and a quintet of five Zimbabweans in Godwin Matanga, Tendai Kennedy Chadyiwa, Peter Mauchi, Evaristo Mudhikwa and Morgan Gwata.

‘We are also thrilled to welcome seasoned golfers from Zimbabwe, who are already in the country and ready to take on the greens, a testament to how far this tournament has come,’ Shoko stated.

Shoko entered in the field along with Equity Bank’s executive director Claver Serumaga. To honour Equity Bank’s achievements, the par-4 Hole No.17 at Namulonge is uniquely branded over 247 yards.

‘Together, we affirm one truth: Progress in banking, in agriculture, or in sport, is greatest when organisations unite with purpose and shared ambition,’ added Shoko.

Namulonge has this year hosted the two-day Namulonge Ladies Open also sponsored by Equity Bank back in May and the K and K Invitational Pro- Am in July and the magnitude of the Naro Open is set to give the year a fitting end.

Saidi Kirarira knows what to do when to get a good result in golf. On sensing his scores were slackening, he opted to hit more balls at the range.

The practice seemed to put him back on track quickly. Weeks after charging after polishing his grip, swing and putting, Kirarira returned to the podium last week.

Playing off handicap nine, he returned an unmatched round of 64 nett to become the overall winner of the November Monthly Mug presented by MTN at Entebbe Club.

‘I planned my game and did early preparation including a few range sessions and games,’ the legal expert said. ‘Before we headed to Kigali, Rwanda for the I and M Katogo tournament some days ago, my game was getting rusty,’ he admitted.

Kirarira had taken a while out of action but a return to the basics of the game began to pay off at Lake Victoria Serena Golf Resort and Kigo before the round in Entebbe.

‘Playing 39 at the front and 41 at the back because this was a social match, I knew that I could do better. I worked on my driving and short game to include chipping and putting. The maximum times I was putting were two.’

He produced 14 pars and a sweet birdie on the long par-5 Hole No15 and the four bogeys on the par-3 Holes No.2, No.8 and No.10 didn’t stop him.

Kirarira, who joined the game of golf in 2021 thanks to Jamil Maningi, was safe home to a second overall win in a space of 14 months.

MTN ENTEBBE MONTHLY TEE

NOVEMBER LEG RESULTS

Overall Winner: Kirarira Saidi 64 nett

Guest Winner: Nelson Mutai 61 nett

Seniors’ Winner (55+): Richard Mucunguzi 70 nett

LADIES’ RESULTS

GROUP A

Winner: Rukia Nalwoga 70 nett

Runner-Up: Maxi Byenkya 74 nett

GROUP B

Winner: Peace Hellen 71 nett (c/b)

Runner-Up: Barbra Kiwanuka 71 nett

MENS’ RESULTS

GROUP A

Winner: Dickson Agaba 70 nett

Runner-Up: Paul Habyarimana 71 nett

GROUP B

Winner: Ronald Osekeny 68 nett

Runner-Up: Collins Nuwagira 70 nett (c/b)

GROUP C

Winner: Musa Baguma 67 nett

Runner-Up: David B. Kateregga 69 nett (c/b)

Fifa will next week at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C conduct the group stage draw for the 2026 Fifa World Cup which will be played in Canada, Mexico and the USA.

Of the 16 venues, 11 will be in the USA across the States of New Jersey, Massachusetts, Missouri, Kansas, Pennsylvania, California, Florida, Texas and Washington.

The US government under President Donald Trump is keen on using sports diplomacy to strategically grow relations with the rest of the world.

One particular initiative is leveraging on this first-ever 48-team Fifa World Cup and in that line, the U.S Embassy Kampala and local football body Fufa are on course to craft a partnership.

A Fufa delegation led by executive member Ronnie Kalema, CEO Edgar Watson and competitions director Aisha Nalule held talks to forge a partnership around the world’s biggest football showpiece.

‘This collaboration is a strong testament to the power of football diplomacy and its ability to bring nations together through shared values of football development,’ said Kalema.

The U.S Embassy team was led by culture and education attaché Lana Surface and she was in company of public engagement specialist Veronica Ssempebwa, experiential learning coordinator for public affairs Peter Eriki, American Center director Lydia Nanteza and press coordinator Suhail Mugabi.

It is a crucial bond as the USA will celebrate 250 years of independence on July 4, 2026 – a day which will have two round-of-16 matches at the Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia and the NRG Stadium, Houston.

On a similar day this year, eventual champions English club Chelsea beat Brazilian outfit Palmeiras 2-1 at Lincoln Financial Field in the quarterfinal of the Fifa Club World Cup and the skies were greeted with fireworks.

‘As America prepares to celebrate 250 years, we see this partnership as a timely and strategic platform to further strengthen Uganda and America relations,’ noted Kalema.

The two parties plan to work on improving football in the country both on and off the pitch with planned synergies in technical advancement, youth empowerment and sustainable football development.

‘Fufa remains committed to harnessing such partnerships to grow the game, inspire our communities, and elevate Uganda’s presence on the global football stage,’ added Kalema.

Watson highlighted the urge for technical improvements in areas like sports science encompassing fitness, dieting and nutrition.

The U.S Embassy as well is keen on opening up envoy workshops for student-athletes, schools’ football, Fifa World Cup watch parties and documentary screenings, as well as sessions on mental health.

The government has executed a Shs884 million rural electrification project in Kanungu District, which has powered Mpungu Tea Factory in Kinyambeho, Mpungu sub-county, whose production had stalled since its commissioning two years ago.

The project includes the installation of two 500kVA, 33/0.433kV transformers at Mpungu Tea Factory, extension of 1.31kms of Medium Voltage (MV) power line, extension of 1.71 km of Low Voltage (LV) power line, and installation of one 50kVA, 33/0.433kV transformer at Omukimanyu Village.

The cost excludes way leaves as the residents provided free land access for the power lines.

Ms Ruth Nankabirwa, the Minister of Energy and Mineral Development, at the commissioning, said the project was prompted after learning that the factory operated on a generator for some time, and had to shut down due to high running costs.

‘As a ministry, we understood that without electricity, your investment would stall, jobs would be delayed, and economic returns would remain unrealised,’ Ms Nankabirwa said on Tuesday.

She added that the ministry continues to ensure that factories operate without interruption, farmers add value to their produce, households can access affordable energy, and Uganda moves steadily toward middle-income status.

By powering Mpungu Tea Factory, Ms Nankabirwa says the government has catalysed a value chain that will transform the economy of the district, which has already started being witnessed with the fast-growing nature of surrounding trading centres.

The factory, a subsidiary of Kayonza Growers Tea Factory Limited, a small holder owned tea factory in Kanungu District with over 8,000 shareholders, was commissioned on July 8, 2023, and was expected to directly employ about 220 people and boost household incomes, but delayed electricity connectivity made that impossible.

Other challenges include; load shedding, which has made the cost of running a generator almost six times that of electricity, a very poor terrain, which requires strong logistical support and equipment to obtain timely and better services from the Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL) in case of a technical fault on the line.

The total cost of the project is $5.7m (about Shs20.8 billion), when fully complete, with funding through a long-term loan of $4.5m from Oiko Credit, a Dutch funding entity, and $1.2m from Kayonza Growers’ Tea Factory Limited. The delay in operationalisation of the factory has, however, resulted in the accumulation of interest payments.

Mr Sam Kajojo, the Kanungu District LC5 chairman, described the latest development as ‘a big milestone that can leverage on the cost of production and accrue profits’.

Mr Kajojo, however, says the farmers need support, with all of them demanding salary arrears for 1 2 months, adding that because of that, some of them have lost property to loan sharks and financial institutions, while others have committed suicide.

Mr Robert Kakuru, the Mpungu Sub-county LC3 chairperson, says the factory had lay idle for the past two years due to power, while metals had reportedly started rusting.

Mr Kakuru, however, noted that three villages, including Ahakikome, Bweyongyezo, and Akaharere, signed consent forms to allow the power lines to pass through their communities, but they remain without electricity. Mr Paul Mwesigwa, the UEDCL managing director, however, says if financing allows, those communities will be served.

BACKGROUND

The idea of setting up a tea factory was conceived in 2017 when Kayonza Growers Tea Factory Limited, with two tea processing lines, received an overwhelming production of green leaf from its farmers and estates in excess of 15 million kilograms.

With this kind of production, Kayonza stood to lose a lot in terms of quality and costs and therefore decided that a new processing facility be established to take care of increased production and the expansion of tea in the district.

While the government is formulating a National School Feeding Policy that will soon be rolled out across the country to keep learners in school and improve performance, Karamoja has already reported remarkable success.

The sub-region is showing how a simple hot meal can boost education. Years of hunger and food insecurity has forced families in Karamoja to depend heavily on relief supplies and community feeding initiatives.

Through coordinated efforts by development partners, local governments, and school administrators, the region has witnessed a turnaround.

Children who once dropped out of school to herd animals or dig for food now sit in class because of a meal.

Heads of institutions revealed that when schools in the sub-region run out of food, attendance, especially in primary schools, drops drastically.

For many of these learners, the hot meal provided at school is the only one they will eat that day, as hunger and food insecurity remain a reality across several districts in Karamoja, forcing children to rely on school meals.

While some might argue that most of these children attend school merely for food, the programme has become a powerful tool for keeping them in class.

Development partners, including the World Food Programme (WFP), and heads of institutions say the feeding initiative has not only increased enrolment but also improved learner retention and performance in the region. Statistics from WFP indicated that the school feeding programme in the region has led to a 16 percent rise in enrolment and improved attendance from 57 percent to 71 percent.

In an interview with the Monitor, the Head teacher of Pajar Primary School in Kaabong District, Mr Okello Kizito, said the feeding programme has given children a reason to wake up and go to school, even when home conditions are harsh.

He explained that in schools, one can easily tell when food runs out because learner attendance drops drastically.

‘Food attracts many learners. When food gets finished here, learners do not come. It is hard to have a total of 1,000 attending school when food is finished,’ Mr Okello said earlier this month.

He further explained that the school has an enrolment of 2,363 learners, with more girls (1,230) than boys (1,133).

‘Learners are attracted to school because of the continuous supply of food recently. We have the highest number of pupils in the entire district,’ he said.

Similarly, the Head teacher of Kalongar Primary School, Ms Dorothy Adongo, said school meals in the sub-region have helped to boost learner attendance while reducing malnutrition and gender-based violence against children, especially the female learners.

‘There is an improvement compared to previous years. You know this district is among the hunger-stricken districts in the [sub] region. So, you find that hunger pushes learners to schools where they know food is a guarantee,’Ms Adongo said.

She added: ‘Distribution of food has thus contributed greatly to the retention of learners in schools because when they eat breakfast and lunch at school, they cover the gap at their homes because when they go home, they have none. This makes them stay at school because they know there is nothing to eat at home.’

Ms Adongo said some homes have one meal a day, usually in the evening. Hence, if children can have meals at school, that gap is greatly covered.

‘Food is a trap, therefore, keeping learners at school. When we have no food, the numbers we get at school that day are very few compared to when we have food,’ she said.

As the government moves to implement the national school feeding policy, Karamoja’s experience offers a clear lesson that sometimes, keeping a child in school begins with a plate of food.

WFP feeding 255,000 learners

The World Food Programme (WFP), in partnership with the Ministry of Education and Sports, is currently supporting school feeding in 320 schools across Karamoja, reaching about 255,000 learners daily with two meals.

The learners eat porridge in the morning and have lunch in the afternoon as part of efforts to improve education outcomes and child nutrition .

While a significant portion of the support comes from the World Food Programme (WFP) through donations and mobilisation, the Government of Uganda (GoU) in this financial year (2025/2026) allocated Shs500 million to purchase food for learners.

The funds will be provided annually to supplement ongoing donor contributions. Mr James Kingori, the head of WFP in Karamoja, in an interview with Daily Monitor, said the initiative covers all nine districts of Karamoja and extends to Katakwi in the Teso Sub-region. Karamoja comprises the districts of Karenga, Kaabong, Kotido, Abim, Napak, Nakapiripirit, Moroto, Nabilatuk, and Amudat.

The food provided mainly consists of cereal-based dishes such as rice or maize, complemented by pulses like beans and cooking oil. WFP is also introducing green gram for additional protein and green vegetables to improve nutrition in the sub-region.

However, about 30 percent of the schools in Karamoja, about 80 community schools, are not part of the feeding programme, and the differences are stark. These schools, according to WFP officials, are privately owned.

Mr Kingori said schools that do not provide meals face high absenteeism and dropout rates as hungry children find it difficult to stay in class. In contrast, schools under the feeding programme have higher enrolment and retention rates.

‘In schools where children get meals, attendance is consistent and learning outcomes are better. But community schools that are not covered often struggle because children come to class hungry or stay at home altogether,’ he explained.

Mr Kingori also revealed that the government is set to use Karamoja’s school feeding policy as a blueprint for the forthcoming national policy. He added that whereas several children go to school to eat, they end up learning something at the end of the day.

‘There is usually no food at their homes, so they go to school to eat food, and at the end of the day, they are learning something,’ he said.

Ms Olivia Adoch, the WFP Programme Policy Officer, said to promote local production and improve community livelihoods, WFP has been purchasing school food from local farmers.

Initially, food was brought in from neighbouring districts, meaning the people of Karamoja were not benefiting directly. As a result, WFP now buys maize and beans from within the sub-region to feed learners.

‘We usually send out expressions of interest and farmers with enough produce tend to bid jointly. So far, we have about 10 farmers’ organisations on our roster, and these have mastered the art of providing quality produce,’ Ms Adoch said.

She added that WFP packages maize and beans according to the number of learners in each school and delivers the items to respective schools for a full term.

Schools with milling capacity produce maize flour, commonly known as posho, while others without the means boil maize and beans together. Also, schools are required to meet the cost of paying cooks, with heads of institutions indicating that each learner is expected to contribute Shs30,000 to cater for expenses such as milling posho, paying cooks, and other related needs.

Feeding during holidays

For more than 60 years, WFP has provided food aid in Karamoja, but the agency is now shifting its focus from dependency to empowering communities to produce their own food.

The new approach, supported by donors such as the governments of Ireland and China, and the Novo Nordisk Foundation, emphasises local production and sustainability.

‘It is high time we recognise Karamoja’s capacity and potential. We are moving away from bringing food from outside the region to empowering communities to feed themselves,’ Mr Kingori said.

Under the Homegrown School Feeding Programme, WFP purchases food from local farmers, who are organised into groups for bulking and storage.

Last year alone, WFP purchased food worth $1.9 million (about Shs6.85 billion) from Karamoja farmers, a record for local procurement that significantly boosted the local economy. The food grown within communities also helps feed learners during holidays.

About School Feeding Programme Policy

In December 2024, the government made a U-turn and announced plans to begin feeding learners in all public schools across the country, a significant shift in education policy.

The Minister of Education, Ms Janet Museveni, made the revelation during the presentation of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) Manifesto Progress Report for the ministry in financial year 2024/2025.

She disclosed that the ministry had approved proposals to include school feeding in the national budget for the 2025/2026 financial year.

‘This is a programme that is ongoing and we hope and pray that perhaps by 2026, the government may have found a way to provide feeding in schools, at least for primary schools to start with,’ Ms Museveni said.

State Minister for Higher Education, Mr John Chrysostom Muyingo, told Daily Monitor that the formulation of the national school feeding programme is underway and the country will be briefed once it is ready. ‘The ministry put up a committee to develop this policy and I am hopeful they are in its final stages,’ he said.

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Dr Kendrace Turyagyenda, did not pick her calls when we attempted to contact her regarding the progress of the said committee.

However, sources indicated that the committee is in the final stages of formulating the policy as they conduct consultations with key stakeholders across the country.

Once finalised, the government will be required not only to incur the cost of buying food for all learners in public schools but also to equip schools with kitchens, utensils, storage rooms, and pay cooks to ensure meals are prepared daily.

Voters in Kachumbala County, Bukedea District, have expressed discontent following the Electoral Commission’s (EC) recent decision to nullify the candidacy of Charles Ongelech, the National Unity Platform (NUP) parliamentary candidate.

The ruling, which effectively paved the way for incumbent Patrick Isiagi Opolot to be declared unopposed, has sparked outrage among constituents who feel their democratic rights have been undermined.

The ruling, issued on November 25, 2025, by the EC chairperson, Justice Simon Byabakama Mugenyi, stems from a petition filed by George William Atum on October 31, 2025. Atum challenged the validity of the signatures submitted to support Ongelech’s nomination, claiming that six out of the ten required signatures were invalid. The EC’s subsequent review deemed Ongelech’s nomination irregular, leaving him with only four valid signatures, thus disqualifying him under Section 28(1) of the Parliamentary Elections Act, Cap. 177.

Residents highlighted Ongelech’s manifesto, which focused on improving education and health services in the county. Many expressed disappointment that they would not have the opportunity to vote for a candidate who resonated with their needs. Several community members raised concerns regarding the process that led to Ongelech’s disqualification.

David Oumo, a voter from Apade Village in Kawo Parish, criticized the EC, stating: ‘The Electoral Commission is no longer a body to trust in this country. They have shown blatant partiality and intimidation of the rule of law, especially against opposition candidates.’ Oumo emphasized that the people of Kachumbala County should have the right to choose their representative freely. ‘Imagine, getting a Division One in our education system here is a miracle,’ he lamented, stressing the importance of having representatives who understand local challenges.

Jesca Kongai pointed out past irregularities during the Bukedea Woman MP seat elections, questioning, ‘Why do they fear competition? Why not let the people choose their leaders based on their track records?’

John Otule Okapel voiced his frustration, claiming that the EC has aligned itself with the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM).

‘The Commission is supposed to be neutral, but it seems they are conspiring with the NRM. Our leaders fear competition, and it’s our constitutional right to contest,’ he said. Peter James Okello, a resident and one of the signatories supporting Ongelech, reported feeling threatened for backing the NUP candidate.

‘We were approached to endorse Ongelech legally. Now, we are seen as traitors for exercising our constitutional rights,’ he lamented. Okello called on the EC to return to the people, gather accurate information, and allow for a fair electoral process. Charles Ongelech has since stated that he feels ‘a lot of injustice’ has occurred and has been consulting with his lawyers to explore options for appeal.

He accused certain political figures of manipulating constituents with false promises to undermine his candidacy. ‘I am not withdrawing. The people of Kachumbala asked me to stand, and I will not betray them,’ he declared, despite the challenges he faces. The initial hearing regarding the petition took place on November 6, 2025. Ongelech’s legal team sought an adjournment to allow him to attend, which the Commission granted, rescheduling the hearing for November 7.

However, the EC later claimed that neither Ongelech nor his lawyers appeared at the rescheduled hearing, a statement Ongelech vehemently denies. During the proceedings, witnesses presented by Atum testified against their endorsement of Ongelech, but the lack of cross-examination from Ongelech’s side weakened his position. The EC concluded that the testimonies from the witnesses were unchallenged, leading to the decision to nullify his nomination.

As the dust settles on this contentious decision, the community of Kachumbala County remains on edge. Many view the EC’s ruling as an affront to their democratic rights, raising questions about the integrity of the electoral process in Uganda.

With Patrick Isiagi now positioned as the unopposed candidate, the upcoming elections in Kachumbala County will reflect broader tensions surrounding electoral fairness and representation in the country.