Category: Daily Monitor

There have been some complaints mainly in the communities living close to lake shores about the harsh treatment they are subjected to by law enforcement personnel when they go fishing on the lakes.

Indeed thousands of them have had to abandon their jobs along the lakes shores on grounds of the reported strict regulations governing fishing these days.

The rules now require that the fishermen are registered, and that they use the right fish nets, among other requirements, to ensure proper sustenance of the lakes and that all forms of aquaculture flourish.

Hundreds of people have been driven out of fishing on the lakes and have become unemployed due to noncompliance with the strict fishing regulations in force.

Some politicians, especially those aspiring to take up leadership positions after the upcoming general elections, have taken advantage of the strict regulations to pledge that when they take over leadership, they will ensure they remove the police and the Uganda People’s Defense Forces (UPDF) personnel from guarding the lakes so that all those people who used to earn their living by fishing can go back to the lakes and fish freely.

On the surface, it sounds like a good idea and a vote winning pledge.

However, a politician who wants to restore unregulated fishing on the lakes in order to create jobs would be grossly mistaken.

Quite a big percentage of our high quality animal protein food is from fish, and if too much pressure is exerted on our water bodies to obtain enough fish for the fast growing population, we will soon run out of fish.

At the time of Independence, in 1962, Uganda’s population was only about six million. The 2024 census recorded a population of 45.9 million.

Wrong gear

If we don’t regulate ‘fish hunting’ on the lakes, given the increased population, the fish will be wiped out within just a few years and still thousands of fishermen will become unemployed. We will also have lost a major source of animal protein, not to mention a big source of foreign exchange.

Due to greed, many fishermen use the wrong fish nets to trap even immature fish. Some have been known to use poison to catch fish. There are cases of armed robbery on the lake. Such bad practices require law enforcement officers, marine police, and, where need be, the support of the UPDF to stop them.

Even under the ongoing strict fishing regulation on the lakes, fish export earnings are already declining.

A quick Google search indicates that Uganda’s fish export earnings declined significantly in 2024, dropping to approximately $107.5m (Shs388b) from $139.8m (Shs505b) in 2023. The drop could be attributed to too much pressure put on the lakes to procure enough fish for the increased population. Much of the fish obtained from our natural fish sources is consumed locally and thousands of Ugandans earn their living as fish traders.

However, the main method currently used to get the fish could best be described as prehistoric and very outdated. It is the Stone Age hunting and gathering method that mankind practiced thousands of years ago.

Expert talks

Paul Ssekyewa, a prominent fish farmer and seed breeder in Masaka City, suggests three mitigation measures.

He says: ‘To keep law and order on the lakes requires the cooperation of the fishermen, policy makers, and law enforcement bodies such as the marine police,’ he says.

‘The fishermen must be sensitised about the importance of sustaining good fishing practices and observing the law. Secondly there should be periodic restocking of our lakes and other water bodies.’

Ssekyewa says many of their fish stocks are dwindling, without a clear regulation arrangement to restock them and that there should be an arrangement to give each one a break of like six months without fishing periodically to allow the fish to regenerate.

‘And in many countries across the world, millions of fish seeds, native to the various water bodies, are released by governments into the ecosystems to sustain the fish populations,’ he says. ‘Thirdly, we must stop the pressure on our lakes by fish farming. We can create thousands and thousands of jobs by training our youth in fish farming skills since we have a lot of water bodies in the form of rivers and swamps nearly everywhere in the country.’

Ssekyewa goes on to say Uganda is very well endowed with fresh water bodies which can facilitate massive fish production and job creation.

Geographically, Uganda, which is located in Africa’s Great Lakes region, is endowed with 69 lakes and has the greatest amount of fresh water in Africa. Nearly one-fifth of its total area is covered by open water or swampland.

He believes those who lost their jobs due to government efforts to curb overfishing on the lakes can turn to fish farming since it is a gainful occupation.

He has been training several university fisheries students sent to his farm for internship and in his view, such young people need not worry about failing to get salaried employment since they have the skills to set up fish ponds and cages.

Encourage training

‘Many of them come from homes located along swamps and all they need is to be encouraged and facilitated to become fish farmers. Their training must have an entrepreneurial focus as a vital component of their course units. It should include value addition – making fish sausages, smoking, filleting, and making ready to eat fish products like fish balls, fish fingers, and fish crumbs and others.’

Fish customers are nearly everywhere and that fish farmers can form cooperatives and put up strong fish retail businesses in every town. There would be plenty of jobs for people transporting fish on motorcycles and other vehicles to far off markets.

Fish farming has not got the attention it deserves in this well-endowed country.

Ssekyewa says our water resources are our greatest treasure. We have the best temperature for farming such fish as catfish and tilapia. They are not expensive to feed since they find a lot of natural food in the water in the form of worms, algae, insects, and plants.

Ssekyewa says the government should pay as much attention to fish farming as it does to other foreign exchange earning sectors such as coffee farming.

‘Fish farming is not just about poverty reduction, it is also about good nutrition and food security,’ he says.

Apart from providing seed to the farmers, it should also avail to them subsidized quality feeds, especially to commercial fish farmers.

‘All other people interested in fish farming but cannot afford manufactured feeds can turn to locally available feed materials like crop residues and decomposed fruits and livestock droppings.’

Ever wondered who feeds the millions of fish in the lakes?

When sunshine or moonlight is reflected on the water, the insects in the air get attracted to the shining water surface where they get caught and eaten by the fish. Some fish are cannibals and eat their fellow fish while lots of others feed on grass, worms, and other organisms naturally found in the water bodies.

Ordinary people with no formal training in fish farming can start by visiting successful farmers to copy and to seek guidance about fish farming, especially where to get the seeds from. The area agricultural services extension officer can also be helpful especially when it comes to pond construction.

The Electoral Commission (EC) faces scrutiny following a stormy closed-door meeting that uncovered glitches in the certified candidacy forms of a retired brigadier general vying for a seat in the 12th Parliament. The glitches in (Rtd) Brig Gen Emmanuel Rwashande’s nomination papers for the Lwemiyaga Constituency and the EC returning officer’s alleged attempts to smuggle new signatures and names sparked backlash in the meeting and stunned Justice Simon Byabakama and his team.

Incumbent Lwemiyaga County MP Theodore Ssekikubo petitioned the EC on November 14, challenging Mr Rwashande’s nomination. Mr Rwashande is the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) flagbearer. Mr Ssekikubo rejected three names Mr Rwashande had used for his nomination on October 22. One of the disputed credentials belongs to a female voter in another district. Drama ensued in the Tuesday meeting after the Ssembabule District returning officer, Mr Gracious Aryaija, presented a document dated November 11, responding to a non-existent petition.

The Aryaija document contained three new names of Rwashande seconders, replacing the two Mr Ssekikubo questioned on account of not being voters in Lwemiyaga and another one being a resident of Kamwenge District. Mr Ssekikubo and his lawyers had earlier requested EC to stamp every page of the original file that was used in the nomination of Mr Rwashande. When Justice Byabakama ordered his staff to bring the original file, the meeting found that the 10 names used to nominate the NRM flagbearer were different. The chairman didn’t allow Mr Aryaija to speak on the matter and called for calm.

Last evening, Mr Aryaija declined to talk about his role in the alleged forgery and instead opted to give a general comment on the matter before the EC tribunal.

‘What I can say is that it’s true there was a petition against Gen Rwashande, but the petition is before the [tribunal] and the tribunal has heard both sides, and is going to pronounce itself soon,’ Mr Aryaija said. Mr Julius Mucunguzi, the EC spokesperson, yesterday acknowledged receiving Mr Ssekikubo’s complaints and added that the hearing is still ongoing to ascertain the validity of some claims.

‘When people petition the Commission, they allege and state many things. The Commission hears the respondent, the petitioner, and any other people who the complaint or petition touches, including adducing evidence for every claim or allegation one makes, either as a petitioner or as a respondent, ‘Mr Mucunguzi said.

He added: ‘And it is on the basis of the evaluation of the entire hearing, evidence, and law, that then the Commission makes the determination of its decision on the petition, and that’s the standard practice.. The nature of complaints are as valid as they are the complaints themselves, so people will raise all sorts of things.

So the real issue is proving them to the satisfaction of the Commission and to guide its decision.’ A week after the EC concluded the nationwide parliamentary nominations, Mr Ssekikubo wrote to Justice Byabakama, on October 29, requesting to be furnished with certified copies of the academic documents of his rival. Mr Ssekikubio said in the letter that he was doubtful that Mr Rwashande fulfilled the academic requirements to stand for the said seat and added that furnishing him with the document would erase all the doubts. In exercising its transparency, the Commission, on November 7, furnished Mr Ssekikubo with the documents as requested, but included all other documents Mr Gen submitted for nomination.

All hell breaks loose

Upon receiving the documents, Mr Ssekikubo, together with his lawyers of C/o M/s Alaka and Co Advocates, studied the documents and discovered multiple anomalies and immediately commenced preparing a petition challenging Mr Rwashande’s nomination. The lawyers discovered that three of the 10 alleged voters who supported Mr Rwashande’s candidature were not eligible. For example, a one Peter Nahurira, a resident of Lwamatengo Village in Ssembabule District, who was the first to sign on the supporter form, is not a registered voter. Another seconder, Ms Jovia Mpirirwe, who signed second on the form and a resident of the same village as Mr Nahurira, is also not a voter.

The other seconder, Ms Aisah Naziwa, who is listed number five on the form, is not a registered voter in Lwemiyaga. Her voter locator information against her alleged National Identification Number belongs to a one Annet Azuna of Kamwenge District. ‘When we discovered these glitches, we demanded that all the pages of the original documents be stamped to avoid anybody from inserting the new list, which was done,’ Mr Ssekikubo said.

On November 14, the Commission tribunal summoned Mr Aryaija to explain these anomalies. Sources that attended the meeting told Daily Monitor yesterday that Mr Aryaija explained that Rwashande had earlier submitted the names, but he was told about these anomalies and rectified them before the nomination date. This submission was rejected after it emerged that the new names were not part of what lawyers called ‘the file of life’.

The Daily Monitor has also seen the November 11 letter that was allegedly authored by Mr Aryaija, responding to Ssekikubo’s issues. He explained that, ‘On September 19, 2025, Rwashande submitted his documents for verification prior to nomination day, and his candidature account was opened in the application for candidate registration. Supporters were captured, and out of the 10 submitted, only 7 were accepted by the system.’ ‘We advised him to collect more supporters, which he submitted on September 30, 2025 prior to nomination day, as it can be found on the official nomination page of [the] Electoral Commission, where his nomination is supported by 12 supporters from the Electoral Area as per the list here attached, extracted from the official nomination application,’ Mr Aryaija added.

The list attached to his letter shows that three new names were inserted in the spots of the problematic seconders. For instance, Mr Nahurira was replaced by Mr Ndyomugenyi Abert, a farmer and resident of Karushonshomezi Village; Ms Mpirirwe was replaced by Nathan Karakyire, also a farmer and resident of Karushonshomezi Village, while Ms Naziwa was replaced by Mr Ezra Ndibarema, a farmer and resident of Nyamiryango Village. The Commission is expected to further hear this petition, which has thrown (Rtd) Brig Rwashade’s parliamentary dream into shambles. Section 28 (1) (c) of the Parliamentary Elections Act Cap 177 mandates all aspiring members of Parliament to submit a list of 10 supporters from their constituency who second their candidature.

Guideline 4 of the Parliamentary Nomination Guidelines issued by the EC indicates that the nomination papers of all candidates sponsored by a political party or organisation shall be endorsed and SEALED by their political party/organisation. In this case, the guidelines emphasise that the Secretary General of that political party will sign the said papers. Unlike the original Rwashande nomination form, which contains the list of three disputed seconders, which was signed by Mr Richard Todwong, the Secretary General of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) that sponsored him, the Aryaija insertion form was endorsed by an administrative secretary of the ruling party on September 10, 2025.

Another red flag is that the two lists were stamped by NRM on September 9 and 10, yet Mr Aryaija, in his letter, told the EC Secretary that Rwashande submitted the first list on September 19, scrutinised by the EC officials, and asked to correct when he resubmitted on September 30, about three weeks before the nomination. Efforts to get a comment from Mr Rwashande were futile as his known mobile phone number was off by press time. Counsel Nice Gakire of Gakire, Nkunda and Co Advocates, a firm representing Mr Rwashande in the matter, last evening declined comment on the issues at hand and requested to first confer with her client on whether she can go ahead and discuss the petition.

WHAT THE LAW SAYS

Section 28 (1) (c) of the Parliamentary Elections Act Cap 177 mandates all aspiring members of Parliament to submit a list of 10 supporters from their constituency who second their candidature. Guideline 4 of the Parliamentary Nomination Guidelines issued by the EC indicates that the nomination papers of all candidates sponsored by a political party or organisation shall be endorsed and SEALED by their political party/organisation.

In this case, the guidelines emphasise that the secretary general of that political party will sign the said papers. The incumbent Lwemiyaga County MP claims his opponent and NRM flagbearer Emmanuel Rwashande did not present the required number of supporters to endorse his nomination, among others. Mr Julius Mucunguzi, the EC spokesperson, has acknowledged receiving Mr Ssekikubo’s complaints and noted that the hearing is still ongoing to ascertain the validity of some claims.

Government and private stakeholders have been urged to tackle the rising number of preterm births in Uganda, with statistics indicating that more than 200,000 babies are born prematurely every year.

Preterm babies are infants born before 37 completed weeks of pregnancy, often weighing less and with underdeveloped organs such as the lungs, brain, and liver.

Elizabeth Turaha, Founder of Maama Tulia Ministries, highlighted the urgency of the problem, citing the growing numbers and associated health risks.

‘In Uganda, over 200,000 babies are born preterm every year, and prematurity is the second leading cause of neonatal death after birth asphyxia. We have seen that preterm babies are still growing. So, we need to do a lot. We need everyone on board to come and we do this together,’ she said.

‘As Maama Tulia, right now we are focusing on retinopathy of prematurity because we have seen cases of babies becoming blind. So this year we have screened more than 1,500 babies of retinopathy of prematurity, and 300 babies that had retinopathy of prematurity,’ she added.

Ms Turaha made the remarks on Thursday, 20 November 2025, during the announcement of a fundraising partnership with SMACK Pirates Association, an alumni group of St Mary’s College, Kisubi, aimed at raising funds to support preterm babies. The initiative, which takes on Sunday, November 23, coincides with World Prematurity Day, observed annually on November 17.

Explaining the causes of prematurity, Ms Turaha said: ‘For prematurity, the causes, I can say, there are so many risk factors of having a preterm baby. First of all, my case was preeclampsia, high blood pressure during pregnancy. That is one of the causes. And also, if you are young, under 18 years, you have a chance of having a preterm baby. Or if you are sickle cell, malaria, and malnourished, and infections, those are the causes.’

She added: ‘Yes, for the risk factors of prematurity, a baby who is born under 32 weeks, and also this baby may be a low birth weight. And also, if this baby has been on oxygen for more than two weeks, and also infections, those babies can have retinopathy of prematurity.’

Dr Anyase Ronald Amaza, the chairman of SMACK Pirates Association, also stressed the lack of awareness about preterm birth.

‘And we realized that prematurity is something which is neglected. I’m a pharmacist, but I don’t know much about it, surprisingly. Many of our doctor colleagues also don’t know much about it, because they do not work in that sphere. If we, the health workers, are not as aware, then what about the public? That means we need more and more support for them. And when we got to know that Maama Tulia needs support, as pirates, we said we’ll support them,’ he said.

Dr Amaza added: ‘We said, no, we’ll support you the entire way, more than a year, and we shall follow through to ensure that there’s a great impact. Luckily, I’m a medical person, so I’ll follow through the entire time. I don’t know up to when, but I want to see babies have a better life, and if we can save more Ugandans, it will be something great for all of us.’

The upcoming fundraising event is scheduled for Sunday, November 23, 2025, at the Sports Grounds of the International University of East Africa (IUEA), Kansanga, Kampala.

The event will feature a purple ribbon campaign, symbolising solidarity with preterm infants, alongside soft engagement and interactions between fans, teams, and parents. A dedicated Mama Tulia Ministries booth will offer guidance, fundraising support, and educational materials on prematurity, while a Neonatal/Child Health Specialist from the Uganda Ministry of Health will deliver a brief keynote address highlighting national efforts to address preterm births.

Maama Tulia, a non-profit organisation, works with vulnerable mothers of premature babies by addressing their physical, economic, spiritual, and emotional needs. Ms Turaha said the organisation aims to screen 5,000 babies this year, expanding services to hospitals in Central and Western Uganda, including Buera Hospital in Kasese and the Chinese Hospital in Naguru.

President Museveni yesterday commissioned a $50 million (Shs180.49b) starch factory in Namasagali Sub-county, Kamuli District during his re-election campaign .

The factory is owned by Dr Matthias Magoola, the founder of Dei Biopharma, an entrepreneur who the President has praised by for his innovative spirit. The facility, established by Dei Biopharma, will produce starch, glucose, and maltose for pharmaceutical and food industries, with plans to extract more than 100 derivatives from cassava, maize, and potatoes.

This project is part of a larger $10 billion (Shs36.09b) investment plan to establish a biotech hub, including a 1,000-bed hospital for sickle cell and cancer treatment, and a vaccine facility. President Museveni revealed that he has been supporting Mr Magoola’s pharmaceutical ventures, including a malaria cure, financially. Mr Museveni also warned Basoga against infighting, urging them to appreciate and support progressive individuals instead of frustrating them.

‘I met this young man through his uncle, and I helped him when he had issues with India. I facilitated his legal work, and now we appreciate his innovation and should support him,’ he said.

The incumbent also encouraged Dr Magoola to forgive those who doubted him, adding that some people didn’t take him seriously in the past. “I don’t know why Africans don’t like innovation; they are used to sleeping. Africans like to criticise. Congratulations, Magoola, but forgive everyone disturbing you. That’s how I also started fighting, and people thought I was mad,’ Mr Museveni said. Dr Magoola said the investment is meant to make Uganda competitive in drug manufacturing by reducing dependence on imported inputs.

He noted that almost 99 percent of the starch and other ingredients used in tablet and capsule production are imported, making African pharmaceuticals expensive. ‘We are among the first companies in Africa to manufacture our own pharmaceutical ingredients…The facility aims to make quality medicines affordable for Ugandans and Africans, creating jobs and driving industrial growth,’ Dr Magoola said. He added that the plant will require 500 metric tonnes of cassava daily, opening a stable and lucrative market for farmers across Busoga, Bukedi, Lango and Teso sub-regions.

President Museveni also promised to establish an industrial park in Namasagali once he is re-elected. He was campaigning in Kamuli District. He also added that industrialisation is the way to go as the country strives to solve the problem of unemployment. ‘Industrial jobs currently triple those of the government. Therefore, if you assure me of land, an industrial park will come to Namasagali as requested, ”Mr Museveni said. The President said the already established industries in the country are employing 1.3 million people compared to 480,000 jobs being occupied by civil servants.

The First Lady and Education minister, Ms Janet Museveni, added her voice to Mr Museveni’s call for support. ‘I request you to tell your neighbours and friends to support NRM. It has got a strong pillar for service delivery,” Ms Museveni said, adding: ‘I can honestly assure you that education will improve year by year.”

The First Deputy Prime Minister and Kamuli Woman MP, Ms Rebecca Kadaga told Kamuli residents that her political grievances caused during the NRM structure elections in August ended.

‘The disagreements we had were forgotten in the interest of the party. So let’s support our president,” Ms Kadaga, who lost in her re-election bid for NRM’s Second National Vice Chairperson (Female) in the Central Executive Committee, said. She also urged President Museveni to intervene in the reopening of Busoga University, among others.

First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports Janet Kataaha Museveni has praised students, staff and partners of the Mulago School of Health Sciences, saying Uganda’s progress in health-care delivery depends on a skilled and ethical workforce.

Her message, delivered by State Minister for Higher Education John Chrysostom Muyingo during the 17th graduation ceremony of the Uganda Institute of Allied and Management Science-Mulago, reaffirmed government commitment to strengthening health-training institutions.

Ms Museveni said the graduates’ success reflected the sacrifices of parents, the dedication of lecturers and the resilience of learners who continue to choose health service as a national calling.

‘Each graduand stands as proof that the training offered here meets national standards and responds to the health-care needs of our nation. This is what the public expects from you,’ she said, adding that the progress achieved reflects Uganda’s long-term investment in health education.

She noted that modern, well-equipped learning environments were essential for producing health workers capable of meeting complex demands, describing the groundbreaking of a new classroom block and administration building as a major step toward expanding Mulago’s training capacity.

‘A modern and conducive learning environment is essential for producing competent allied health professionals,’ she said.

She also praised President Kaguta Museveni’s leadership for prioritising stability, peace and national empowerment.

UIAHMS Principal Rose Nassali highlighted the institution’s growth into a centre of excellence serving 3,725 learners across five academic departments.

She said Mulago now operates at a dual and distinctive status within Uganda’s TVET landscape, a shift driven by institutional reform, improved governance and sustained investment.

‘This new dispensation has opened doors to greater innovation, stronger governance and expanded opportunities for the learners we serve,’ she said.

Nassali reaffirmed the school’s mandate as a National TVET Health Training provider but raised concern over staffing shortages.

She said Mulago’s substantive staffing stands at only 13 percent despite government recruitment and promotions.

‘We have 77 staff members supported through Governing Council appointments, but this remains far below what is required for an institution of this size and mandate,’ she said, appealing for additional deployment and praising existing staff for ‘exceptional teamwork and dedication.’

Commissioner for Health Education and Training Hajati Safina Musene said the planned classroom block would expand learning space, research opportunities and skills laboratories.

‘The classroom block we plan to construct gives us hope that we will soon have adequate classrooms, administrative facilities and skills laboratories to support research, innovation and practical excellence,’ she said.

Musene noted that hostel space remains insufficient despite government interventions, adding: ‘The facilities we have are not yet enough, but we pray that with time, accommodation will be adequate for the over 5,000 students who want to join this institution and reside here.’

Urging graduates to uphold professionalism, she said: ‘Serve our clients-both healthy and not healthy-with dignity, pride and excellence. They are the reason we train you.’

Aboojo CC and Ismaili Community clash for the ultimate T20 crown, in the UG20 2025 final at the lakeside oval in Entebbe this Sunday at 2pm, after a season that has literally traversed the entire country, producing drama, skill, and unforgettable moments.

Aboojo CC stormed into the final with a thrilling, rain-affected nine-over semifinal against favourites GM Sugar. Early jitters saw them slump to 18/2, but roving captain Pascal Murungi and Amos Ahura rebuilt with composure and courage.

Murungi’s 57 off 26 balls, a display of fearless strokeplay, turned the contest, while sharp fielding by Fortunate Alijuna and key wickets from Brian Asaba stifled GM Sugar’s chase, leaving them 21 runs short.

Raw firepower

‘We’ve been playing so well in the T20s; we want to keep bringing our A game each and every time we get a chance,’ Murungi said. He recalled the defining moment of the season against GM Sugar in a rain-shortened nine-over contest: ‘We had a discussion in the change room-stay calm, trust our skills. I kept my head down, targeted some bowlers, and we executed. That’s the approach we carry into Sunday.’

Ismaili Community, on the other hand, relied on experience and discipline to see off Avengers in a tense low-scoring semifinal. Early setbacks at 52/2 were steadied by Pervaiz Ali’s vital 40-run innings, helping the team post a defendable 121.

Avengers seemed on course at 35/0, but Ismaili’s bowlers, led by tournament standout Ghulam Hunzai (23 wickets), tightened the screws, backed by sharp fielding, eventually skittling the opposition for 109/7.

Experience is key

‘The last seven matches we have been winning, and momentum is high and on our side,’ Hunzai said. He added that experience would play a key role in the final: ‘Young Aboojo swing the bat and take chances, but in this game, experience matters-and that’s where we have the upper hand.’

Sunday does indeed promise a thrilling contrast: Aboojo’s aggressive batting and fearless fielding versus Ismaili’s disciplined spin attack and tactical experience.

With Murungi in confident form after returning from the Zimbabwe Premier League plus the likes of experienced Ivan Thawithemwira, Joseph Baguma and Matthew Musinguzi, Aboojo will be buzzing. For Ismaili, Hunzai’s men including Kamran Walid, Junaid Khan and Cricket Cranes skipper Riazat Ali Shah, will be banking on their clinical winning streak.

A fair crowd is anticipated for this beautifully-scripted season-ender.

UG20 2025 LEAGUE

Fixture – Final

Aboojo CC vs. Ismail Community,

2pm – Entebbe Oval

Results – Semifinals

Aboojo 94/3 GM Sugar 73/5

Aboojo won by 21 runs

Ismail Community 121/10 Avengers 109.7

Ismaili Community won by 12 runs

Talking Point

POWER CLASH

Spin Battle. Aboojo brings raw firepower led by Murungi’s fearless batting. Ismaili counters with spin wizards Hunzai and Junaid Khan, whose combined 40 wickets have been pivotal in controlling tight matches. Sunday promises a masterclass in contrasting styles: audacious strokeplay versus calculated discipline.

The government on Thursday launched a Shs47 billion water supply and sanitation project designed to expand access to safe, reliable water in Ndorwa East constituency in Kabale District and parts of neighbouring Rubanda District.

The Bugarama-Karweru Piped Water Supply and Sanitation System, implemented under the Climate Smart Water and Sanitation Investment Project (CWIP), is expected to benefit more than 43,000 people across 117 villages in nine parishes.

The government said the total cost includes works for the Rwere-Kateretere area in Rubanda District.

Officials said the project will use a combination of pumping and gravity-flow technologies, drawing water from the Kahama, Kashija and Kacuro springs as well as Lake Bunyonyi.

The design is intended to withstand dry seasons and ensure stable supply as climate pressures intensify.

Residents said the project marks the end of years of severe water shortages. Tukamushaba Macklean, a resident of Karweru in Maziba Sub-county, said families had depended heavily on rainwater harvesting.

She said the scarcity forced people to walk long distances – sometimes up to two kilometres – to find water. She is optimistic the new system will ease the pressure on households. ‘

Now that water will be available, the cost of living will also improve,’ she said.

The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Water and Environment, represented by Eng Felix Twinomucunguzi, said the project would significantly improve sanitation at household and community levels because gravity-fed supply would bring water closer to homes.

‘Government plan focuses on safe-water distribution across the country, and iam sure that all, homes will draw water closer,’ Twinomucunguzi noted.

Kabale Woman MP Catherine Ndamira welcomed both the water and electricity aspects of the project, urging communities to maintain good hygiene and protect the environment as infrastructure expands.

Ndorwa East MP Wilfred Niwagaba, who officiated as chief guest, said the system would end decades of water stress in the villages targeted by the project.

He asked residents to support the contractor and safeguard the infrastructure as work progresses.

‘This was a long-term Request from my people, and with my lobbying skills, the project has been launched. We thank the Ministry of Water and Environment for the answered call and most importantly, your patience,’ Niwagaba said.

The Ministry of Water and Environment said the project will roll out in phases to ensure reliable supply, with implementation expected to accelerate once distribution lines are completed.

After watching that TikTok about staying delulu being the only solulu, I could not help but agree that perhaps the only solution to surviving life’s chaos, especially here in Kampala and maybe Uganda at large is a healthy dose of delusion. This might just be the most accurate life philosophy for anyone living in Kampala. If you look clearly , you will notice we run on three things: vibes, Inshallah, and delulu. It is what keeps us waking up every morning to chase that job someone promised to connect us to in 2021, this is a cue not to be that uncle or auntie who keeps collecting CVs and ghosting.

This delulu fuel is what makes your friend continue dating a man who just needs time to figure himself out, or that guy who insists his music career is just one hit away eight years and three singles later, and always needs an urgent 20K. Delusion, as defined by the Oxford English dictionary, is the persistent belief in something false despite clear evidence to the contrary but here, it is a lifestyle.

Kampala’s brand of delusion is endearing, sometimes painful, but always deeply human. It reflects a city that dreams loudly, even when reality whispers otherwise. Those tiny lies we tell ourselves to keep going, to keep shining, and to keep believing that tomorrow will somehow be better. Let’s take a quick pilgrimage through Kampala’s favourite delulus, the sacred beliefs we hold onto despite every warning from logic, the economy, and even God Himself.

Government delulu

Every season, Kampala collectively renews its subscription to hope. It is automatic; no reminders, no expiry date. A friend once told me that the most expensive commodity to sell in Uganda is hope. Be a hope merchant, and you could buy your dream car faster, which could possibly explain why your favourite man of God drives that car. Comrades business is good in the hope industry. Watching government launch initiatives in Uganda is like a recurring TV series; same plot, new cast, same ending. Government delulu always gets us when we believe this time they are serious.

But serious with what exactly, fixing potholes? Reducing corruption? Improving the economy? My friend, that is not seriousness; that is déjà vu. Every season promises to fight corruption, and every year, corruption wins by knockout in the first round. We attend press conferences, cut ribbons, form committees, and take selfies in front of unfinished projects. As for service delivery, eh, the government has mastered the art of aura farming. They arrive with bulldozers, cameras, and promises, dig up the old tarmac, then ghost.

A few weeks later, the only progress is a new banner reading, ‘Road Under Construction’, but the only person working is the guy changing the banner. Still, we line up at rallies, wave flags, and shout slogans, fully aware that we have seen this movie before. But that is the beauty of the Kampala spirit we never stop believing. Political delusion here is not a weakness; it is a national renewable energy source. It powers our resilience, our blind optimism, and our endless ability to say, ‘Maybe this time will be different.’ Stay delulu, comrades it is the only solulu.

Tiers will change a person who does not want to change. The real miracle workers are communication and acceptance, not introduction ceremonies and matching kitenge. And of course, the ‘I would rather cry in a Bentley than smile at Food Hub’ brigade, owedde! I am not saying rich men do not exist, some do, but ask yourself, do you fit their description? You want to marry loaded prince charming but still complain about the price of Sunday brunch. Where exactly will mandem find you? Y’all are confusing God;

He is still recalculating your location. Every Kampala babe is convinced she is destined to marry a rich, six-foot prince charming who will whisk her away to Dubai.It is like a Disney movie, only sponsored by delusion and heartbreak. Standards are good, yes, but maybe trade the unicorn for someone emotionally available, with an actual address and working SIM card. Then there’s the I will only marry from my tribe, ati The men in my tribe are wiser.

Eh! The classic Kampala tradition of marrying within your tribe, religion, or raceas if love requires a clan meeting first. It’s like refusing to try any food beyond your favorite Rolex stand. Maybe, just maybe, compatibility is not written in your surname. Because if you think you will get a perfect life partner just because they are your tribemate, my friend, you are delusional. But stay delusional, it is the only solulu.

‘Next year i will be a billionaire’ Delulu!

Every boda stage has that one jamma who swears he is one deal away from becoming rich. We are the land of just wait for my container. My friend, that container is now old enough to apply for a NIRA ID. Now do not get me wrong, it is good to lock in. In Uganda, anyone can chase the bag and actually get it. Yes, I said anyone. With real consistency and work, greatness is possible. But the problem starts when you make friends with someone who is genuinely locking in or locked in, and suddenly you also enter delulu mode believing things will ‘just work out’ without doing the actual work.

Kampala’s hustle culture has slowly turned into a fantasy lowkey, everyone has a side gig, a forex account, and a business plan that starts with I know people. But the people seem to be in witness protection because 10 years later, the deal is still maturing. And then there is the crypto cousin, the self-declared financial educator. You ask how it works, and he hits you with ‘you would not understand’, and honestly we also do not understand how you lost all your savings in two months and still have the energy to post motivational quotes. Wealth does not come from group chats and vibes; it comes from sweat, discipline, and a financial plan more realistic than your shein plug. You see, even successful scams need some thorough cooking.

Just study hard, jobs will look for you

‘Let me work hard at school for a great job.’ Ah yes, the classic Ugandan fairytale. The university degree, that shiny piece of paper we were told would unlock doors to corporate heaven. Every graduate in Kampala has that one black folder filled with CVs, certificates, and most importantly dreams. You walk into every interview believing this is your moment. They shake your hand, nod politely, and you leave already budgeting your first salary. You even start practicing how you will say my colleague instead of my G. Then weeks later, silence.

You call HR and they are still processing. My brother, they processed you out the moment you left the building. The delusion continues; I will get a great job because I went to a good university and had amazing grades, Please. The truth is, Kampala’s job market does not just want good grades it wants skills. Communication, adaptability, problem-solving the soft skills no lecturer ever mentioned between PowerPoints. And of course, connections. Because sometimes it is not about what you know, but who your uncle plays golf with. Still, we keep waking up, polishing our shoes, and sending more applications because giving up is not an option.So yes, stay delulu because in this city, no HR can kill faith this strong

‘My friends are my family’ delulu!

In Kampala, friendship is a full-time job with no salary, no benefits, and plenty of emotional overtime. You will lend someone your last 50K, and when it is time to be repaid, they will hit you with, but are you that kind of person? Suddenly, you are the villain for expecting accountability. We love calling everyone my person, my twin, my ride or die. Meanwhile, that same ride or die has been riding your ex and dying to take your gig. Loyalty here has terms and conditions and most people did not read them before signing.

Many Kampala friendships are powered by alcohol and shared trauma. Remove the bottle or the gossip, and suddenly, you are two strangers awkwardly liking each other’s statuses. Yet every weekend, you will find yourselves shouting ‘Squad goals’, while posing for pictures like you are auditioning for Real Housewives of Bandali. Even if the friendship ends in betrayal, at least the photos will slap on Instagram. Still, we keep showing up for brunches, birthdays, and broken promises because in this city, hope is the friendship glue. So stay delulu maybe your next brunch squad will actually have genuine people. Or at least better mimosas.

‘I’m moving abroad soon’ delulu

Ah yes, the national anthem of Kampala dreamers: ‘I am processing my papers.’ Everyone in this city has that one friend who is ‘almost leaving. You ask, which country? or what is the plan ? and they reply, Eh, you will see and we will see from there respectively. In Kampala, everyone thinks life abroad is paved with gold until their cousin sends a photo from outside wearing three jackets in June and eating microwaved beans for dinner. We have been sold this dream that the moment the plane lifts off from Entebbe, problems will melt like sugar in tea.

But truth is, adulting is hard everywhere, only difference is the accent. Life abroad is not as glossy as the influencers make it look either. Behind every soft life caption is a rent reminder, an unpaid invoice, or a broken iPhone screen being held together by faith and a screen protector. Still, this chaos has its rhythm; the boda rides that double as therapy sessions, the katogo that slaps different after a long week, and the small wins that feel like national celebrations. If you have got no clear plan, maybe do not rush to run away. This Kampala hustle, loud as it is, builds muscle financial, emotional, and mental. Because while others are chasing visas, the real jackpot might just be mastering the art of surviving and thriving right here at home. Stay delulu , your breakthrough might be one more chaotic Monday away.

A father with speech and hearing impairments, who allegedly used his three-year-old daughter as bait to solicit sympathy from passers-by on the streets of Kampala, has been committed to the High Court to stand trial on charges of child trafficking.

Mr Faruk Malingumu, 36, a resident of Katwe in Kampala District, is accused of exploiting his daughter, Jamila, to solicit money from the public. If convicted of the offence of trafficking in persons, he faces a maximum sentence of death by hanging.

According to the prosecution, Mr Malingumu had been begging around Kitgum House for several months, moving with the toddler perched on his shoulders while holding a placard asking for transport back to Soroti. His activities came to the attention of police after a senior officer received a photo on WhatsApp, prompting a chain of events that culminated in his arrest on November 7, 2024. The indictment signed by the Director of Public Prosecutions states that on November 7, 2024, on Kampala Road, Mr Malingumu received, harboured, or transported the three-year-old girl by means of abuse of power or a position of vulnerability for purposes of financial exploitation.

‘The first report was made by SSP Carolyn Kushemererwa, who received the photo on November 4, 2024. The picture showed Mr Malingumu carrying the juvenile with a handwritten placard appealing for assistance. She traced the source of the image and established that the man had been stationed near Kitgum House for months, routinely begging with the child,’ the court documents read in part. The documents further state that Kushemererwa then forwarded the photo to SP Grace Nampijja, who, in turn, reported the matter to the officer-in- charge of Kampala Road Police Post. Acting on the report, AIP Wangwe arrested the suspect at the traffic lights on Entebbe Road.

Upon his arrest, Mr Malingumu was found with Shs4,800, believed to have been collected from street begging, and which has since been exhibited as evidence.

He was subsequently taken to Kampala Central Police Station, where, due to his speech impairment, he recorded a statement with the assistance of a sign language expert. He confirmed that he had been arrested with the child in town. Police also interviewed his older daughter, Merisha, who reportedly told investigators that the accused often left the rest of the children at home and moved only with the youngest to the streets to beg for money.

Medical examinations presented by the prosecution indicate that on November 12, 2024, the accused was examined at CPS Kampala HCII and found to be mentally sane, but with speech impairment. The three-year-old victim was also examined and found to be mentally sound. The prosecution intends to rely on several exhibits at trial, including the placard, photographs of the accused with the child, medical forms, and the cash found on him at the time of arrest. Alongside the indictment, the DPP’s office has also acknowledged receipt of a handwritten letter from Luzira Upper Prison authored by Mr Malingumu on April 10, in which he appeals for leniency.

However, in his letter to the DPP, Mr Malingumu states that he was arrested with three of his biological children and that the charge of aggravated trafficking in children resulted from a misunderstanding due to his inability to verbally communicate with officers. ‘I could not explain myself because of my deafness and officers misinterpreted the situation. I was arraigned before Buganda Road Chief Magistrate’s Court and later remanded to Luzira Upper Prison,’ the letter reads in part. He further told the DPP that during a visit on April 7, 2024, his mother informed him that she did not know the whereabouts of the children with whom he had been arrested.

In his appeal, he described himself as the sole provider for two women, one of them pregnant, and 11 biological children. He pleaded with the DPP to consider his release so he could return home and take care of his family. The trial chief magistrate, Ronald Kayizzi, committed him to the High Court for trial at the next court’s convenient date.

International clashes between Uganda and Tanzania have grown into some of East Africa’s most fiercely contested fixtures.

From senior teams to youth competitions, the derby consistently delivers and nowhere has the rivalry sharpened more intensely than in boys’ U-17 football across Cecafa and the continent.

Since Caf restructured the Africa U-17 Cup of Nations qualification format in 2018, devolving preliminary competition to regional blocs, the Cubs and Serengeti Boys have met seven times.

Their renewed rivalry began with a 1-1 draw in the 2018 Cecafa group stage before Tanzania went on to lift that year’s regional title.

Months later, Uganda struck back in the semifinal in Dar es Salaam, winning 3-1 on their way to the championship and their historic first Afcon qualification.

The teams met again at the final tournament in Tanzania, where Uganda completed a double with a commanding 3-0 win, although both sides eventually exited in the group stage.

Uganda extended their dominance during the 2021 Afcon qualifiers, beating Tanzania 3-1 in the final as both teams booked spots before the tournament was cancelled due to Covid-19.

Tanzania responded in Ethiopia during the 2022 Cecafa edition for Afcon 2023 qualifiers, winning bronze after edging Uganda on penalties following a 1-1 draw.

Their latest chapter unfolded over the last year. They drew 1-1 in the opening match of the 2025 Afcon and Fifa U-17 qualifiers before the Cubs clinched a 2-1 win in the final through goals from Arafat Nkoola and James Bogere.

Both nations qualified for Afcon in Morocco, where they were again placed in the same group. Uganda prevailed 3-0 in their head-to-head via Simon Wanyama, Richard Okello and Bogere goals that earned them a World Cup playoff slot that they later sealed with a 2-1 victory over Gambia.

That rivalry is rekindled this evening in Dire Dawa as they face off for top spot in Group B of the 2026 Afcon and World Cup Cecafa qualifiers.

Tanzania lead on goal difference after emphatic wins over Sudan (6-0) and Djibouti (11-0), while Uganda have dispatched Burundi 4-0 and Sudan 9-0.

Cubs head coach Kingston Layrea knows what this fixture demands but exudes composure.

‘It’s one of our most important games because they’ve been doing very well and will make it very competitive,’ he said. ‘But we’re well prepared and ready for whatever they will throw at us.’

2026 Afcon/World Cup U-17 qualifiers Friday fixturesKenya vs. Rwanda, 1pmEthiopia vs. Somalia, 4pmDjibouti vs. Burundi, 5pmUganda vs. Tanzania, 8pm