Category: Daily Monitor

The government has sent 8,000 tsetse fly traps to Kalangala District to help control the biting insects that have recently moved from the shores of Lake Victoria into people’s homes and farms.

Reports of increased tsetse fly bites were first recorded in September, mainly around Mweena Landing Site on Buggala Island.

Residents say the flies, which used to stay close to the lake, have now spread up to 500 metres inland, attacking people on verandahs, in gardens, and along footpaths.

Tsetse flies are vectors of sleeping sickness, a disease also known as Human African Trypanosomiasis. It is spread through bites from infected flies, and diagnosing or treating it is difficult and requires skilled health workers.

‘Tsetse flies have begun to cause mayhem. We used to see them at the lake shores, but now they reach our houses,’ Mr Ibrahim Muyingo, a resident of Mweena Landing Site, says.

He adds: ‘We are very worried about the diseases that could come from their bites. Even though we no longer see anyone with sleeping sickness, if these flies bite humans and animals, we are still at risk.’

Mr Julian Muwonge, a businessman at Mweena Landing Site, says the flies have increased.

‘Farmers and travellers have been at high risk of losing animals and even their lives. By the time we raised the alarm, many people on the shore were complaining of daily bites,’ he says.

The tsetse fly problem in Kalangala goes back to the 1920s, when outbreaks of sleeping sickness wiped out about 60 percent of the population and forced mass evacuations.

The colonial government moved residents to Masaka and Entebbe so that aerial spraying could be carried out. Today, the district still struggles with tsetse fly infestations, which continue to threaten both people and livestock with sleeping sickness and nagana respectively.

Mr Allan Mutagubya, the Kalangala District entomologist, says the current fly per trap per day (FTD) stands at seven.

FTD is a measurement used to determine the average number of flies caught by a single trap over three days.

He, however, says the traps are not enough to contain the flies, ‘We received 8,000 traps from the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, but that number is still far below what’s needed to cover all 64 inhabited islands,’ he says, adding, ‘Even Buggala Island alone cannot be sustainably covered with that number.’

He adds that the district has started deploying these traps in high-risk areas, beginning with Mweena, and is working with Village Health Teams (VHTs) and local leaders to identify more hotspots.

In 2010, the government, through the Creation of Sustainable Tsetse and Trypanosomiasis Free Areas project, donated 20,840 traps to Kalangala. However, local leaders say all those traps have since stopped working.

Isingiro North’s parliamentary contest has taken a new twist after the Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) finally agreed to hear disqualified candidate James Atwine’s appeal.

This reporter has learnt that UNEB has invited Atwine to appear before its security committee to review its decision to nullify his letters of verification of results.

‘The purpose of the hearing is to address to your invalidated letters of verification of results following a consent court order… appear with your legal representative, if any, and any documentation to support your case,’ a UNEB letter URN has seen addressed to Alma Associated Advocates reads in part.

The Electoral Commission removed Atwine from the race on November 10, the decision relying on UNEB’s communication that his verification letters were invalid.The complaint that triggered the inquiry came from Isingiro resident Benson Kazungu, who petitioned the Commission under Article 61 (1) (f) and sections 15 and 46 of the Electoral Commission Act. Kazungu argued that Atwine used invalid verification letters during his nomination on October 22, 2025.

However, Atwine disputed the move. In his defence, he said that UNEB acted without proper review and points to what he describes as an error. For instance, he pointed out that the index number that UNEB reviewed to give its verdict is not his. His is U1436/037.

If UNEB used index number U1436/037, as Atwine says, this would explain why the board concluded the documents belonged to another person.

After spotting the error, Atwine pushed for a hearing. He received no response, so on Wednesday, he camped at the UNEB offices to protest the move to void his academic papers.

When told that UNEB would hear him, Atwine said this was what he had been seeking. He said he had already secured a court order directing UNEB to give him a hearing, but the board had not acted on it.

For now, Atwine is still fighting to overturn his disqualification. Other candidates that were nominated for the post include Minister Bright Rwamirama and DP’s Kassim Kagwisagye, who has since withdrawn.

For several weeks, this column has explored very basic tweaks that could improve service delivery, economic growth, and expand opportunities, including jobs. None of the tweaks proposed, from reprioritising job numbers and quality, expanding electricity generation to stay ahead of the demand curve, to cheaper, longer-term financing to get more people on the property ladder, are new or even particularly clever.

Much of it is common sense. A lot of it is well documented in policy briefs written by clever technocrats. The reason much of it does not get implemented, or quickly, with value for money and in tandem with other moving parts, is that the post-independence Ugandan state has mostly exercised the wrong muscles; those that throttle innovation, free enterprise, and are generally only useful for keeping the natives at bay.

This problem is not unique to the current government, but contemporary examples are more useful than anything from forty years ago. Here is an example you should think about but not try at home: if you post a particularly vile comment on social media, threaten or otherwise incite violence, you will most likely receive a knock on the door from security agents within 72 hours, even if you are using an anonymous account.

The reason is that the state has built up its offensive capacity to sniff out people who use the internet and social media in uncharitable ways.

If, on the other hand, you have a fire in your home and call 999 you will be lucky to get a response, and it would be a miracle if a fire tender turned up at your house within two hours.

This is not surprising. As the state has grown long in the tooth, it has invested more in areas that allow it to snuff out dissent, and less in making that dissent less likely in the first place. One is more likely to see a convoy of anti-riot crowd control police vans being imported into the country than to see fire engines.

Sidle to the side of the road to make way for a blaring siren, and nine out of 10 times it will be a government official with a time-keeping problem, not an ambulance, fire engine, or police patrol responding to an emergency call.

The state’s investment in coercive power, be it cyber offensive capabilities or crowd control, has been at the expense of soft executive power to get things done. Fixing this, in my view, has now become the most important national task, up there with forging a new consensus about who we, as a country, want to be when we grow up.

This need not be grandiose undertakings like trying to manufacture cars or send astronauts to the moon. It needs to start with basic considerations like getting motorcycle riders and passengers to wear helmets or enforcing the ban on single-use plastic carry bags.

This ability to articulate, roll out and enforce public policies consistently — or bureaucratic competence, to give it its proper but often maligned name — is the gaping hole in the jigsaw puzzle of our national ethos and development ambitions.

Whether it is growing the economy 10x in less than a generation or making a qualitative leap into middle-income status (the latter promise always evokes images of triple-jumpers sashaying down the pit lane in fancy costumes), we cannot become great if we don’t learn how to fix the small stuff and do so consistently.

This need not be at the expense of the mega stuff. Building a standard gauge railway is great but figuring out how to run trains on time is potentially harder, yet much cheaper. A city whose existing transport system is chaotic and largely unregulated will ruin the best designed rapid mass transit system, even if it was installed overnight for free.

Having built up its coercive muscle, there are few problems that, to state actors, do not look like nails begging to be hammered. But you can’t hammer away at non-enforcement of the building code or use threats of force to build just-in-time supply chains for public projects.

Much of what we need to do is already known and has, in the main, been done by other countries. How to fix the small stuff is our biggest challenge — and opportunity. The brawn guys have had a long runout; how do we prioritise the brains and build our problem-solving muscle?

Just when Paidha Black Angels thought they had stabilized on the pitch under former club captain Villa Oromchan, trouble struck off it.

The Zombo-based side has been sanctioned by Fufa following fan hooliganism during their Fufa Big League clash against Ntungasaze at Bar Okoro Grounds a week ago.

The Fufa Disciplinary Panel (FDP) found that the Black Angels’ supporters assaulted match officials, threw stones at officials and away players injuring one and used abusive language.

Police had to intervene to restore order. In their statement, the panel said, ‘The fans of Paidha Black Angels were very indisciplined. These acts amounted to acts of hooliganism in violation of Article 14(11) of the Fufa Ethics and Disciplinary Code.’

The FDP further held the club accountable, noting that the ‘Clubs are responsible for the conduct of their supporters during a match. Paidha Black Angels had failed to adequately discharge this responsibility, leading to an attack on match officials and the away team players.’

The FDP thus sanctioned the club Shs500,000, a deduction of two points and two goals, and a formal warning regarding future conduct. The fine must be paid into Fufa’s account within 14 days, with proof submitted to the panel.

The ruling comes at a difficult time for Paidha Black Angels, who remain in the relegation zone with just seven points from seven games.

They did, however, secure a positive result in their last outing, beating Kaaro Karungi 2-0 at home on Sunday after the ruling was made.

Elsewhere, the Big League action saw Blacks Power come from a goal down to beat Ntungasaze 2-1, extending a four-point gap over Wakiso Giants.

Newcomers Nebbi Central also claimed a 2-1 win over Kiyinda Boys, moving into third place with 14 points, level with Wakiso, who lost 1-0 away to Iganga United. Iganga now occupy the promotion slots with 13 points from nine matches.

The Fufa ruling underscores the importance of discipline off the field. As the FDP concluded, ‘Paidha Black Angels FC is warned as to its future conduct.’ For the Zombo side, the challenge is now twofold: recovering results on the pitch while ensuring such incidents never happen again.

2025/26 FUFA BIG LEAGUE

Results

Onduparaka 1-1 Kiyinda Boys

Nebbi Central 1-1 Kigezi Homeboyz

Catda 1-0 Kataka

Blacks Power 2-1 Ntugasaze

Mbale Heroes 0-2 Soltilo Brightstars

Paidha Black Angels 2-0 Kaaro Karungi

Nebbi Central 2-1 Kiyinda Boys

Iganga United 1-0 Wakiso Giants

Young Elephant Acad 1-0 Bunyaruguru United

After embracing block farming, many women in Serere District are now able to own livestock, land, and other valuable assets.

One of the beneficiaries, Ms Joyce Mary Ariokot, the chairperson of Omunyolo Women’s Group, says their yields and earnings have improved. ‘We managed to harvest 19 bags of millet from three acres of land last season. We are waiting to sell it when prices go up,’ Ms Ariokot adds.

After selling the harvest, each member receives her share of the money, which she then invests in ventures of her choice.

Many of the women opt to buy livestock, which they see as a dependable way to improve their livelihoods because animals can be sold to meet needs such as school fees and medical bills.

The women are engaging in block farming with support from Women and Girls Rights Advocacy Uganda (WAGRAU), a non-profit organisation. Ms Joyce Mary Adeke, a mother of six, says she now owns three sheep.

‘We were taught how to care for our livestock by WAGRAU, so they are doing well. It has really changed our lives. I am now able to own something I couldn’t even imagine 10 years ago,’ she says.

Ms Lillian Ayodo, a widow, says the first pig she owned helped her expand her crop production.

‘I used the first litter of seven piglets from my pig to hire two acres of land. I grew simsim in the first season and millet in the second. My pig gave birth again in June to seven piglets, and I sold six of them at Shs60,000 each,’ Ms Ayodo says.

Meanwhile, Ms Laker Akello, another group chairperson, says they harvested 15 bags of ground nuts from the two gardens that were hired for them.

She adds that they spent Shs100,000 to hire land for brick-making, which earned them Shs1.2m in return.

Beyond farming and livestock investment, the women meet weekly to save money. They gather at the treasurer’s home, each contributing between Shs1,000 and Shs2,000 depending on capacity.

The group also offers loans to members, which are repaid within an agreed period.

Ms Deborah Akello, the executive director of WAGRAU, says their model involves supporting farmers by hiring gardens, ploughing land, buying seeds, and providing markets for produce, while the women handle planting, weeding, and harvesting.

She adds that this model challenges norms and practices that historically prevented women from profiting from their own labour.

‘After the sale of crops, the women meet as a group to divide earnings. We support them in making informed investment decisions,’ she says.

The women’s groups were established at different times. Omunyolo and Amureme started in 2023, while Aima, Ojepai, Okulonyo, and Akonyakinai began in 2025.

The Victoria Pearls will have their character and ambition instantly examined when they open their ICC Women’s Emerging Nations Trophy campaign against highly-fancied Scotland on Thursday at the Terdthai Cricket Ground in Bangkok.As one of the top-18 ranked T20I nations as of May 1, 2025, Uganda earned its ticket to this new ICC innovation-a tournament designed to give emerging sides more game time against higher-ranked opposition.For coach Deus Muhumuza and assistant Brian Masaba, the calculation is simple: every outing is both an examination and a priceless opportunity. ‘They are stronger teams and that is where we need to head, so what better way to actually understand your levels,’ said Muhumuza at the team’s flag-off by National Council of Sports (NCS) assistant secretary general (technical) Milton Chebet.Uganda’s preparations have been steady all year-from the Women’s Day Cup and Lyca T20 Cup at home to the tours of Namibia and Rwanda, the Africa T20 World Cup Qualifiers in Windhoek, and the recent 5-0 whitewash of Canada in Lugogo. But this assignment is steeper.Lowly ranked’We are ranked second last amongst all the teams, so definitely we are going to have to work harder than everyone else,’ admitted skipper Janet Mbabazi.The Pearls enter today’s matchup against a Scotland side they have never beaten. In their two T20I meetings, Uganda was bundled out for 43 in 2018 and 52 in 2024, with Scotland cruising to emphatic wins each time.The Scots have also enjoyed a longer acclimatisation period in Thailand, taking part in a quadrangular warm-up series in which they went unbeaten, and showing their pedigree at the Women’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier with a stunning victory over West Indies and tight affairs against Pakistan, Ireland and Thailand.It is no surprise that Scotland arrive ranked 11th in the world-seven places above Uganda-and appear battle-hardened. Uganda only landed in Bangkok on Tuesday and managed a single session yesterday before today’s 9:30am start (5:30am EAT).Spin-friendly conditionsStill, in Bangladesh-like heat and on turning surfaces, the Pearls have their own quiet confidence built on consistency and expanding depth. Young guns like Malisa Ariokot and Irene Mutonyi have been drafted in for bowling options, while form players Esther Iloku, Rita Musamali and Mbabazi will anchor the batting. Experience from Consy Aweko and Immaculate Nakisuyi adds calm in pressure spells.

‘It is not every day that we get to play countries with ODI status. Our plan is to finish in the top four. We want to work on our rankings as a team and also go to places where teams like Scotland have gone,’ Mbabazi emphasised. ‘All of us have plans to market our individual games and sell our brands to the world. We want to take care of our processes and the things that are in our control as a team.’With ICC placing a premium on rankings-teams must remain in the top 18 to secure at least $250,000 (Shs870m) in annual high-performance funding-Uganda are aware that every win counts. Scotland will test Uganda’s resolve, but the tournament offers multiple chances to grow, adapt and spring upsets. For a team hungry to rise, today is about signalling intent in unfamiliar but fertile territory.TALKING POINTSTEEP TESTNew Ground. This tournament marks the first time Uganda will face multiple ODI-status sides in a single global event outside a World Cup qualifier, sharpening the learning curve and accelerating growth. With Scotland already acclimatised, unbeaten in warm-ups and historically dominant in this fixture, Uganda must rely on discipline, simple plans and execution under pressure to turn the tide.ICC WOMEN’S EMERGING NATIONS TROPHYFixtures – Day One (Thailand)Thailand vs Netherlands, 05:30amTerdthai Cricket Ground, BangkokPapua New Guinea vs United Arab Emirates, 05:30amAsian Institute of Technology Ground, BangkokScotland vs Uganda, 09:45amTerdthai Cricket Ground, BangkokNamibia vs Tanzania, 09:45amAsian Institute of Technology Ground, BangkokNUMBERS UTILITY2 – Previous T20I meetings between Uganda and Scotland; both won by Scotland.11 – Scotland’s global T20I ranking, the highest in the tournament.18 – Uganda’s T20I world ranking, the mark they must protect to retain ICC funding.250,000 – Minimum annual ICC dollars (Shs870m) tied to top-18 status.5-0 – Uganda’s series result against Canada last month.5 – Teams in the tournament with ODI status.8 – Total competing nations in the inaugural event.

Police in Buikwe District have recovered the body of Joseph Ndawula, a resident of Namulesa Village, Ngogwe Sub-county in Buikwe District, who went missing more than a month ago.

The body was discovered on Sunday, buried in a shallow grave next to his house. The police arrested three suspects in connection with the murder of Ndawula. During interrogation, one of the suspects reportedly implicated the two others in the crime.

‘The trio later led the police to a place behind his house where they had buried the remains,’ a statement released by the Ssezibwa Police Spokesperson, Ms Hellen Butoto, on Sunday reads in part.

Mr Fred Ntulume, a resident of Namulesa Village, told this publication that they started looking for Ndawula in October, about two weeks after he went missing.

One of the suspects, a casual worker, reportedly told Ndawula’s son, Mr Paul Balamuse, and other residents that the deceased had travelled to Busoga Sub-region and would return soon.

Mr Ntulume said they had earlier thought that Ndawula had gone to Koome Island. ‘But after a long time without seeing our resident back to his home, we began making further inquiries and searching for him,’ he said.

Mr Ntulume said residents of Namulesa Village had grown increasingly suspicious of one of the suspect’s behaviour and of the people who were reportedly frequenting Ndawula’s home in his company.

On November 14, the suspect reportedly sold one of Ndawula’s pigs, claiming he needed the money to send to Ndawula to help him return from Busoga.

However, the buyer, a resident of the area, became suspicious and alerted the Local Council officials and the sub-county security team.

Ndawula’s known phone number was also not available, prompting his family to file a missing person case with the police.

After police and local residents intervened, the security team broke into the missing farmer’s house on November 15. Inside, they found his national ID and a SIM card.

The team then launched a search for the key suspect, who had already gone into hiding. On November 15, the key suspect was arrested and taken to Lugazi Police Station.

It was not clear when he would be taken to court by press time. Police said they were still conducting investigations into the case. Mr Bamulese said his father was buried on Sunday after the police gave them permission to do so.

The race for Kioga North parliamentary seat in Amolatar District is shaping up as a straight contest between Mr Geoffrey Ocen of the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) and Mr Peter Okodo, the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) flagbearer, after incumbent MP Mr James Olobo shifted to Kaberamaido County.

Mr Ocen, also the district LC5 chairman, said his candidacy is motivated by the challenges facing the local fishing community, particularly the deployment of Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) soldiers attached to the Fisheries Protection Unit (FPU).

‘If I am in Parliament, I will come out with a Private Member’s Bill to address the size of the boat which is affordable to the ordinary citizens and they can use it for catching fish for both consumption and for sale at village markets,’ he said.

He criticised the Fisheries and Aquaculture Act, 2023, arguing it generalises regulation instead of empowering local leaders elected by the community to manage fishing activities.

‘My closeness with the local community has made me aware of the problems they are facing in regard to the fishing activities. Therefore, if I go to Parliament, I will have the law amended.so that when the army removes soldiers from the lake, there is no gap in regulating the fishing activities,’ he told Monitor.

Ocen also pledged to lobby for Amolatar Health Centre IV to be upgraded to a general hospital, citing the need for specialized doctors, equipment, and better ambulance support. He called for amendments to the Public Finance Management Act to allow more direct allocation of funds to local government accounts.

‘So, there is a need for an amendment.If it’s kept at the Bank of Uganda, it’s just a way of not giving money to the districts because it’s always only indicated in the papers,’ he added.

Okodo, the ruling NRM party candidate, said his priority is addressing the displacement of communities around Lake Kyoga due to frequent flooding.

‘For the last 10 years, the community who live around Lake Kyoga have been experiencing frequent floods caused by the rising water levels on the lake and most of them have been forced to leave their homes. I will lobby the government to come out with a special programme to support the affected families,’ he said.

He also pledged to promote the 4-acre model advocated by President Museveni, aiming to transform local land into viable agribusiness and lift residents from poverty.

‘We are entering into a money economy and I want to assure my people that even if we don’t have enough land, I want to work with you and train you on new ways of farming. We must make sure that agriculture becomes a real business,’ Okodo said.

Uganda will hold its General Election on January 15, 2026 to decide new lawmakers and president of the East African country for the next five years.

About Kioga North

Kioga North Constituency has a total population of 97,955, comprising 46,981 males and 50,974 females, according to the 2024 National Population and Housing Census.

The constituency consists of eight sub-counties, one town council, and 52 parishes.

There are 61,127 registered voters in Kioga North, including 31,578 females and 29,549 males, according to the Electoral Commission. The constituency also has 129 polling stations.

Formal export posted a mixed performance in the third quarter of 2025, with coffee emerging as the main source of resilience amid broad declines across non-coffee commodities.

Bank of Uganda data show that total formal exports returned a value of $1.25b in July, before falling to $1.06b in August and slipping further to $947.33m in September.

The downward trend in overall earnings underlines the pressure facing key export sectors, even as coffee continued to provide stability.

Coffee factor

Coffee remained the most reliable performer over the three months, returning $249.87m in July, but dipped to $202.75m in August, before recovering to $218.55m in September.

The September rebound, following the August setback, underscores the crop’s relative strength in a challenging export environment.

With global demand for coffee holding firm and Uganda’s production capacity remaining robust, the commodity once again acted as a crucial buffer for the country’s external sector.

However, beyond coffee, non-coffee exports, which make up the bulk of the export basket, declined from $932.83m in July to $789.95m in August and then to $663.94m in September.

This represents a drop of nearly 30 percent over the quarter and explains much of the contraction in total exports during the period.

The decline points to weakening performance in several key product lines and heightened vulnerability to shifts in global commodity markets.

Gold’s declining returns

Gold, historically Uganda’s leading non-coffee export, was at the centre of this decline. Export receipts from gold stood at $584.18m in July, but slipped to $526.33m in August, before declining sharply to $410.99m in September.

Given gold’s outsized contribution to non-coffee exports, its slowdown had a significant impact on the overall numbers. Yet, on the international market, gold prices have been on the rise.

Other traditional commodities also struggled to maintain momentum. Tea exports declined throughout the quarter, dropping from $5.13m in July to $3.65m in August and $3.51m in September.

For a sector that has often been associated with stability, the steady fall raises questions about pricing, demand, and production dynamics in the tea-growing regions.

Volatile path

Cotton exports followed a similar but more volatile path. Earnings rose slightly from $1.08m in July to $1.17m in August, hinting at a possible improvement, only to more than halve to $0.54m in September.

The September slump reflects seasonal factors in harvesting and ginning, or short-term logistical and market challenges, but it also mirrors the broader softening seen in non-coffee exports during the quarter.

Equally uneven

Tobacco exports were equally uneven. Revenues stood at $1.14m in July, jumped to $2.31m in August, but then dropped to $1.21 m in September.

The brief surge in August was not sustained, leaving the quarter as a whole characterised more by volatility than growth. Taken together, the numbers illustrate an export sector divided between steadiness and fragility.

On one side, coffee continues to demonstrate resilience, rebounding in September and remaining a dependable source of foreign exchange, while on the other, non-coffee exports, led by gold, tea, cotton, and tobacco, lost traction over the quarter, pulling down export earnings from about $1.25b in July to under $1b by September.

Strong showing

However, government and other stakeholders in the export sector could be encouraged by coffee’s strong showing, even as concern over the breadth and depth of the decline across other export categories seems to be a source of worry.

Bank of Uganda data highlights the importance of diversifying export products, adding value along the value chain, and strengthening competitiveness in global markets.

Without renewed momentum in non-coffee sectors, Uganda’s export performance will remain heavily dependent on a single commodity, exposing the wider economy to shocks beyond its control.

The High Court has set strict timelines for parties to file their responses in a case where two Kampala traders’ associations are seeking an injunction against businessman Hamis Kiggundu, his company Kiham Enterprises Ltd the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), and Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) over alleged illegal construction works on the Nakivubo Drainage Channel.

During a session presided over by the High Court Civil Division Registrar Simon Kintu Zirintusa, lawyers representing all parties appeared, although some had not yet filed their replies.

The applicants Kampala Arcaders Traders Association (KATA) and UNATA Traders Association Uganda Limited are challenging ongoing construction works that they say have caused flooding and destruction of traders’ merchandise in downtown Kampala.

Mr Joseph Luzige, representing the traders, informed court that although the respondents had been duly served several had not filed their responses within the expected time.

‘This application was supposed to come up for hearing. We served all the respondents and that is why they are in court. None has filed their reply, however, they are still within their timeline. The 3rd and 4th (Kiggundu and his company) have filed a Miscellaneous Application fixed for December 8 before a judge,’ Luzige said.

He asked court to set a hearing date, pending the respondents fulfilling their obligations.

NEMA’s lawyer Christopher Kayongo, together with KCCA lawyer Dennis Byaruhanga, requested seven more days to file their responses.

On behalf of Mr Kiggundu and Kiham Enterprises, Counsel Arnold Gimara confirmed they had filed both their response and an additional application which challenges the competency of the traders injunction request.

‘As highlighted by counsel, we have filed our response. The applicants were aware of the application which already has a hearing date of December 8. That application takes precedent,’ said Gimara.

He argued that their preliminary objection raises serious questions of law that ought to be heard first.

‘The application raises serious questions of law against the competency of this application and we pray that it is struck out. Court orders, Rule 91 and Rule 15(3) guide that where an objection of law is capable of disposing of the matter, the objection shall be heard first. We pray that the instant application for an injunction be given a mention date.’ Mr Gimara told court.

Mr Gimara insisted the applicants had been duly served and urged court not to proceed until the objections are considered by a judge.

In response, Mr Luzige opposed the request for additional time, insisting the respondents’ statutory 15 days to file a reply would lapse on Saturday.

‘If granted more time, it will be stretching the law. Counsel Gimara was saying you stay proceedings, but these are two stand-alone applications and you have powers to hear this one first,’ Mr Luzige submitted.

He added that while the law requires points of law to be addressed first, none had been raised in the matter currently before the registrar.

But Registrar Zirintusa granted the respondents seven days up to November 27 to file their replies, with rejoinders expected by December 1 and the matter was adjourned to December 11 for mention.

In a separate application filed before the high court judge, Mr Kiggundu and Kiham Enterprises asked court to dismiss the traders’ main suit, arguing that the traders associations lack the legal capacity to sue them.

‘The plaint in the suit be struck out for failure to disclose a reasonable cause of action. and the suit dismissed for being demonstrably frivolous, incurably defective, totally misconceived, incompetent and an abuse of court process,’ the application reads in part.

They argue that the traders’ claim is rooted in flooding caused by natural rainfall, which cannot constitute a valid legal action.

‘An act of nature cannot constitute a valid and tenable action against any person,’ the application states.

Kiggundu and his company further assert that the suit is speculative, particularly regarding allegations that they lacked approvals to redevelop the Nakivubo Channel. They maintain that valid approvals were in place and were on court record.

‘There is no live or triable dispute over the approval of the ongoing project,’ they contend.

This dismissal application will be heard by Justice Bernard Namanya on December 8, three days before the injunction application returns for mention.