Category: Daily Monitor

Striker Isaac Amutuhaire scored in the second minite of added time to condemn Police to a 2-1 loss to Kitara at the Police Arena in Startimes Uganda Premier League action played on Thursday evening.

The result meant Police missed an opportunity to return to the top of the table as they stay on 14 points, two behind leaders SC Villa.

They trailed as early as the 11th minute when Patrick Kaddu converted a penalty after goalkeeper Edward Kasibante fouled Amutuhaire in the box.

Kasibante was also called upon towards the end of the first half to deny Jimmy Kalema as Kitara went into the break with just a one goal lead.

Police improved slightly in the second half and leveled through a Lawrence Tezikya header on 63 minutes.

But they failed to build on that momentum save for a Charles Baale effort that was palmed away by Meddie Kibirige.

Kitara also responded by employing aerial balls behind the Police backline in a bid to overcome their high line.

The tactic eventually yielded fruit im added time when Amutuhaire raced onto a lofted pass and side stepped the ball past Kasibante before rolling the ball into an empty net.

The result sent Kitara into fourth position with 13 points, one behind Police.

In Njeru, Bul suffered a second successive defeat after their 25 game unbeaten run by going down 2-0 to visiting UPPC.

Ambrose Kigozi scored both goals for the Printers who are also fifth with 13 points as Bul dropped to eighth with 10 points.

UPL Thursday results

Police 1-2 Kitara

Bul 0-2 UPPC

For years, the Mary Louise Simkins Golf Club in Namulonge and Equity Bank have nurtured a seamless relationship. Whereas many of the kind dwindle or fade, the aforementioned finds a newer groove each passing year.

At the start of the week, Equity Bank reaffirmed that when executive director Claver Serumaga announced a Shs200m contribution towards the fifth Equity Naro Golf Open which will tee-off this morning at the par-70 course.

Perhaps, that is the biggest contribution to a club known to nurture the current crop of many corporate golfers and some amateurs and professionals.

The three-day championship, which also coincides with the 75th year anniversary of the National Crops Resources Research Institute (NaCRRI), will be used to mark 17 years of the financial institution.

‘It carries with it a deep and meaningful milestone. Equity Bank is celebrating 17 years of serving the people of Uganda,’ remarked Serumaga flanked by Namulonge Club chairman Herbert Kamuntu, NaCCRI director of research Titus Alicai and tournament director Kenneth Kamusiime

’17 years of growth, partnership, innovation, and shared prosperity. 17 years of walking hand in hand with individuals, families, and businesses to transform lives and livelihoods,’ he said of Equity Bank’s success, impact, and partnerships in Uganda’s financial sector.

As a result, the 247-yard par-4 Hole No.17 will be rebranded to symbolically mark the feat for the bank. Part of the package for sponsorship at the course housed by NaCCRI, run by the National Agricultural Research Organisation (Naro), will cater for logistics of the showpiece and tournament silverware.

The professionals, whose title is held by Namulonge’s own Marvin Kibirige, will play for Shs10m kitty while amateurs will compete for Shs5m. Both sets tee-off this Thursday and will compete over 36 holes, ending Friday.

‘I am ready to defend, I am in good shape mentally well,’ noted Kibirige who a fortnight ago capitulated to lose the Kinyara Open title in Masindi to David Kamulindwa.

The sizable field of the subsidiary class will compete on Saturday as Namulonge caps a busy 2025, which also had other tournaments including the Namulonge Ladies Open in May sponsored by Equity Bank and the K and K Invitational Pro-Am in July.

‘This is truly an honour and privilege for our club,’ said Namulonge lady captain Sheila Aine. ‘The Equity Namulonge Golf Open offers us an opportunity to showcase our beautiful course and to continue building and supporting women’s golf in Uganda. We are excited for this edition and deeply appreciate the sponsors and partners who have come on board,’ she added.

Female competitors like 2022 winner Meron Kyomugisha are entered. Kyomugisha topped the lady amateurs at the Kinyara Open.

2024 EQUITY BANK NARO GOLF OPEN

PROFESSIONALS FINAL LEADERBOARD

1 Marvin Kibirige 67 62 129

2 Tom Jingo 65 70 135

3 James Koto 68 70 149

T4 Phillip Kasozi 67 73 140

T4 David Kamulindwa 70 70 140

T4 Abraham Ainamani 69 71 140

T7 Rodell Gaita 69 72 141

T7 Ronald Otile 72 69 141

9 Deo Akope 71 72 143

T10 Vincent Byamukama 73 71 144

T10 Davis Kato 74 70 144

As World Nuclear Day, December 2, approaches, I am compelled to write this open letter to the African Development Bank (AfDB) ‘s new president, Sidi Ould Tah. The AfDB has said Africa is not ready for nuclear power, and that the Bank will not include this zero-carbon source of energy in its investment portfolio. Readiness is subjective. Africa will not be ready for nuclear when countries start building nuclear power plants; the continent will be prepared when financing is assured, capacity is built, plans are drafted, and public education begins in earnest.

According to the International Energy Agency, Africa’s energy demand will increase by 60 percent by 2040. The continent thus urgently needs reliable, industrial-grade power to drive manufacturing, create jobs, and sustain growth. Incremental solutions will not meet this challenge. Currently, South Africa is the only African country operating a commercial nuclear plant. Still, over a dozen others are developing programmes or planning their first facilities. This readiness is why, Mr president, you should champion a strategic shift by embracing nuclear energy, albeit under rigorous conditions.

Nuclear energy offers what much of Africa’s current mix lacks: reliable, round-the-clock, low-emission baseload power. For countries such as Ghana, Kenya, and Uganda, which are already exploring nuclear options, nuclear energy could anchor heavy industry, mineral processing, and grid stability. Significantly, global institutional barriers are falling. In June, the World Bank lifted its decades-long ban on nuclear financing, signalling a global shift in perception. The AfDB’s own exclusion, rooted in valid past concerns over cost and complexity, is now outdated.

Next-generation reactors and Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) have changed the equation: they require lower upfront capital, can be built faster, and fit smaller grids. Once running, they offer stable power prices for decades – something few other technologies can match. No one is asking the AfDB to fund every reactor. But the Bank must move from spectator to catalyst. If it remains on the sidelines, African nations will continue signing opaque bilateral nuclear deals with non-African powers, often on unfavourable terms.

Our asks are;

Lift the ban and realign policy: Amend the Bank’s energy financing framework to recognise nuclear power as an eligible, strategic technology for Africa’s clean-energy transition permitted in well-defined, high-readiness cases where affordability, safety, and long-term sustainability are demonstrably met. Establish a nuclear readiness framework: Develop and publish clear criteria covering grid capacity, regulatory strength, waste management, and financing integrity so member states know what it takes to proceed responsibly. Champion transparency and governance: Use the Bank’s convening power to set standards for procurement integrity, ensuring nuclear deals are conducted openly, not behind closed doors.

Hello Paul, my car seats are very comfortable, but I spend hours in traffic every day. Lately, my back has been hurting after driving. Could this be caused by the type of seat or my driving posture? Are there seat adjustments, cushions, or modifications that can improve comfort and protect my spine during long commutes? Sarah

Hello Sarah, the type of seat in your car and your driving posture can lead to back pain, especially after hours of driving in traffic. Fortunately, most modern car seats come with several adjustment options that allow you to change the incline, recline, and position of the seat.

A poor driving position can strain your muscles and spinal cord, putting pressure on the discs and impeding blood flow. Staying in one position for a long time, combined with the vibrations from the road, can cause pressure on the spinal discs and tighten your muscles.

Moreover, your hand position while driving can also contribute to discomfort. Holding the steering wheel with one hand can twist one side of your spine, adding strain to your shoulder and neck.

Even if a seat feels comfortable, its shape and firmness can still lead to back or neck pain. Seats without proper lumbar support or those that cause you to slouch can be problematic. Additionally, if the seat is too soft and sinks, or if it is positioned too high or too low, discomfort can arise.

Stop-and-go traffic can put a strain on your lower back and legs. The tension of waiting in traffic can affect your lower back, especially if your legs are relatively stationary and your seating position cannot be changed. This uncomfortable posture can be hard to maintain for long periods. To improve your comfort and protect your spine during long commutes, consider making a few adjustments:

Seat position: Determine the best distance from the pedals. Keep your knees slightly bent. Sitting too far back may cause you to lean forward, straining your lower back, while sitting too close can overly flex your hips and create tension.

Backrest angle: An angle of recline between 100 and 110 degrees is ideal. A backrest that is too upright can strain your shoulders and lower back, while one that is too reclined may cause you to slouch.

Seat height: Your hips should be slightly higher than your knees. If your knees are lower than your hips, it can round your spine and compress the discs.

Steering wheel distance: Position your hands close enough to the steering wheel so that your elbows have a gentle bend of about 120 degrees. Being too far can lead to hunched shoulders, while being too close can create shoulder tension.

If you are experiencing extreme discomfort, you might consider adding lumbar support. Many modern cars have weak or ineffective lumbar support. You can use a lumbar cushion to fill the inward curve of your lower back, helping you maintain a neutral spine. The lumbar cushion should be firm, non-slip, and adjustable.

If the base of your car seat is uncomfortable, seat cushions or wedges can help. There are cushions specifically designed for different problems, such as the Coccyx cushion, which has a cut-out at the back to relieve pressure on the tailbone. For better weight distribution, consider a memory foam seat pad. Wedge cushions can also help by slightly lifting your hips to alleviate pressure in your lower back or tailbone.

Furthermore, adopting some intentional habits can help during your commute. Shift your weight and roll your shoulders every 15 minutes. Adjust your posture to straighten your spine and tilt your pelvis forward or backwards periodically. These small movements can help reduce muscle fatigue.

The Commissioner for Community Health in the Ministry of Health, Dr George Upenytho, has revealed that the government has started plans to review clinical guidelines to include skin cream for persons living with albinism so that they are procured and accessed.

Statistics from UBOS put 78,876 as the population of persons living with albinism above two years. Despite this sizable population, access to essential skin protection products such as sunscreen has remained a major challenge.

People with albinism have struggled to obtain these creams, with many forced to buy them from private clinics at as high as Shs30,000. Advocates say these costs are prohibitive, especially for low-income families whose members require daily use of sunscreen to prevent severe skin damage and cancer.

However, during the official opening of the review of the National Action Plan, Dr Upenytho said this change is possible and already underway.

‘We think it’s not a difficult thing. We need to just review the clinical guidelines, including the skin cream in that clinical guideline. And the procurement can be done, depending on the needs, facility by facility, through the National Medical Stores. We think that is something we can do. Because the number of people who have albinism is not very big,’ he said.

He added, ‘We are cognizant of the needs, especially the unmet needs of people who are living with albinism. The main focus for now is on the eyes and on the skin. We know that in the eyes, eventually, they develop poor vision. And in the skin, because of the nature of the skin, they are prone to cancer of the skin.’

Dr Upenytho further said, ‘There are programmes already running within the national health programme under the Cancer Institute, which look at the screening of various forms of cancer, which can also be a problem for people with albinism. Now, that needs to be extended to even lower facilities.’

The government is also distributing green glasses that can be offered at community and village levels using screening and identification of these conditions by community health workers, including VHTs. ‘If they identify, screen, and find those who can benefit from reading glasses, we offer them for free,’ he said.

Ms Olive Namutebi, Executive Director of Albinism Umbrella, said the cost of sunscreens remains a significant barrier. A mere tube of 100ml goes for about Shs30,000, yet it is required frequently by their community.

‘Shs30,000 for a 100ml sunscreen with sun protection factor 50. You know, for our skin we need 30 and above. But being costly is one thing, and being available is another. I’m giving you a quote for a pharmacy, but these pharmacies are not in all places where we need them,’ Ms Namutebi said.

She added, ‘The challenge that persists is having the sunscreens on the essential drug list. That has not yet been done, but looking at an alternative, we have been able to push through the national non-communicable diseases.’

Under the Ministry of Health, she said, ‘We still need the sunscreens, we need ophthalmologists for the eye, but we also need more awareness under the community awareness services that they give. There is a huge challenge of awareness about disability, especially for persons with albinism. A lot of ignorance is there.’

The police have resumed using dogs in crowd control 18 years after they were withdrawn over concerns that they were inflicting serious injuries on civilians during demonstrations.

Officers from the Police Canine Unit were seen setting dogs on supporters of National Unity Platform presidential candidate, Mr Robert Kyagulanyi alias Bobi Wine in Kawempe Division, Kampala City on November 24.

Around two police dogs were seen grabbing Bobi Wine’s supporters, while they were walking to attend their candidate’s rally.

Human rights activists and legal experts have condemned the use of dogs in crowd control.

The Uganda Law Society Vice President, Mr Anthony Asiimwe, said: ‘If the State permits its law-enforcement agencies to unleash living creatures of political coercion, and to arrest innocent bystanders, what does it say about the rule of law in our country? Such intimidation tactics are unacceptable in a democratic state.’

The Uganda Police Force had earlier, in the late 1990s and early 2000s, used canines during demonstrations.

But the then Inspector General of Police, Gen Kale Kayihura, ordered a halt to their deployment in cases of protests in 2007.

Gen Kayihura’s directives came after a police canine handler set a dog on a Daily Monitor photojournalist, Mr Joseph Kiggundu, to stop him from taking photographs of the arrest of Opposition politicians during a demonstration at the Constitution Square in Kampala City.

The police dog bit Mr Kiggundu, which prompted journalists to demonstrate outside the Central Police Station in Kampala City. Gen Kayihura later invited the journalists led by Mr Geoffrey Wokulira, who was also a journalism rights activist, for a dialogue at Kibuli in Kampala.

Kayihura halts deployment

Gen Kayihura directed the halting of the deployment of the police dogs during demonstrations, saying he had received several reports that they bite innocent people and inflict serious injuries on them.

The police canine unit has dogs carrying out different tasks like sniffing, crowd control and guarding. Dogs trained for arrests bite the suspects or their clothes and hold onto them until their handlers intervene. These dogs often leave their targets with serious injuries.

The deployment of police dogs on the streets strain the police canine services in the rural areas and sensitive places where they are critically needed.

Police have 200 dogs around the country. Some districts don’t have a single dog yet the police plan is to have two dogs per a station.

There are 2,200 police stations in the country. At least one dog has been deployed in each district, which police authorities say is a drop in the ocean given the high demand of the canine services in rural areas.

In 2024, canine unit dogs were involved in 19,899 tracking cases and led to 15,579 arrests and recovery of 6,920 exhibits. In December 2020, the Minister of Internal Affairs, Mr Kahinda Otafiire, said the number of dogs in the country is still small, adding that each sub-county should have a police dog.

‘Since I was there, I said we need around 700 dogs. How many do you have now? Two hundred dogs! How can you have 200 dogs when we have 2,000 sub-counties?’ Otafiire said.

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.