Category: Daily Monitor

Once someone dances by the Nile at 3am, sees sunrise kiss the forest in soft gold, eats a chapati still warm from the pan, and hears 10 languages swirling through the night air, Uganda stops being a mystery. It becomes a memory. A feeling. A place that demands to be revisited.

Ask anyone who has ever staggered out of a Nyege Nyege dance floor, sweat-soaked, delirious, blissfully confused, and they’ll swear: nowhere on earth serves magic the way Uganda does. Perhaps that’s why thousands are already packing glitter, sunscreen, and questionable fashion choices for Nyege Nyege 2025, returning November 20 to 23 at its new home: Adrift Overland Camp and River Club, perched above Kalagala Falls. Picture neon lights bouncing off raging water, music echoing through rocks, tents scattered along the Nile, and dancers drifting through river breeze, forest scent, and unfiltered joy.

To the reveller, it’s enchantment; to Uganda, it’s momentum; to local communities, it’s money in motion. Nyege Nyege is doing something quietly radical: marketing Uganda to the world without a single billboard. Take Jude, for instance, the Nairobi guy, boarding a bus expecting a simple getaway.

When he arrives in Jinja, the festival won’t even have begun, yet the energy will already be spilling from the trees. Tents rising. Grills smoking. DJs releasing basslines. The Nile sending a cool breath across the clearing like a welcome message written in the wind. By midnight, Jude will have a new circle: two Ugandan creatives, a Kigali DJ devotee, a Congolese videographer, and a German backpacker convinced she’s discovered paradise.

By dawn, he’ll be standing at the edge of Kalagala Falls, watching morning pour itself into the river, and realising that what he thought would be a 72-hour escape has become an emotional landmark. That’s the spell Nyege Nyege casts: it pulls you in as a stranger and returns you as something else. While revellers lose themselves in laughter, rhythm, and river mist, the real transformation happens behind the scenes. For days and nights, Jinja and Kayunga become two of the busiest hospitality corridors.

Homes become guest houses; guest houses become boutique stays; boutique stays hang ‘fully booked’ signs weeks in advance. If past trends hold, a Shs50,000 spare room will double or triple in price, because Nyege Nyege never arrives empty-handed. Ms Sandra Nanteza, the founder of Bystays.com, says the shift is nothing short of a tourism revolution.

‘Even small guest houses and homestays that were never online are now fully booked. Hotels are sold out well before the festival, and property owners are welcoming international visitors for the first time.’ Her platform, hosting more than 150 properties and over 30 for the festival alone, has turned grandmothers into hosts, students into guest managers, and entire communities into unexpected tourism entrepreneurs.

But Nyege Nyege isn’t just a festival; it’s a network of micro-economies. Walk through the grounds at 2am and you’ll see them beating like a heart: street-food vendors flipping Rolexes, fish grills smoking beside makeshift bars, young people selling tie-dye shirts, beaded anklets, stencil art, and frozen juice sachets that rescue dehydrated dancers. Boda boda riders zigzag between stages.

Craft sellers from Busoga and Kampala make in three nights what they normally earn in a month. And then there’s the Nile, more than scenery, it becomes a business partner. ‘Accommodation, street foods, parking, and adventure activities, those are the big winners,’ says Mr Dennis Ntege of Raft Uganda, whose rafting and bungee teams scramble to keep up with demand as revellers dance all night, scream down rapids in the morning, nap for an hour, then do it all again.

Still, the biggest untapped opportunity is clear: turning festival-goers into long-stay tourists. Dr Lilly Ajarova, senior presidential advisor on tourism, sees Nyege Nyege as the ignition point of a broader national tourism strategy.

‘The Nyege Nyege Festival is more than a party, it’s a powerful engine for tourism growth. By integrating it with Uganda’s wider tourism offerings, we can attract a new generation of travellers and boost local economies.’ She imagines families in Jinja trained as certified homestay hosts, ensuring that festival income keeps flowing long after the stages go dark. This is echoed by Judyth Nsababera, Uganda’s consul general to Guangzhou, China.

‘The Nyege Nyege Festival is more than a celebration of music and culture, it’s a living expression of Uganda’s creativity, diversity, and global spirit,’ she says. Meanwhile, social media pushes Uganda’s charm far beyond its borders. Every reveller becomes a content creator; every moment, a potential viral clip. A 12-second video of dancers by the Nile can reach millions.

A drone shot of Kalagala Falls becomes a tourism invitation. Simon Kaheru, vice chairperson of the East African Business Council, says Nyege Nyege is also a regional affair. ‘The location in eastern Uganda makes it easier for our Kenyan brethren to hop across the border. Festivals like this can even become places where business partnerships form.’ He imagines young people becoming party tour guides, curating nightlife journeys the way safari guides curate wildlife expeditions; cross-border vendor networks sprouting from dance floors, firesides, and shared meals. He jokes that Nyege Nyege might become the new golf course, where deals happen not over putts, but over beats.

Construction works on the stalled multibillion Busega-Mpigi Expressway project will resume early next year, a Ministry of Works and Transport official has revealed.

According to Eng Isaac Wani, the Commissioner for National Roads, some additional Euros 217m (about Shs909 billion) has already been approved by the African Development Bank to facilitate the completion of the project.

“The approved sum, Euros 217m (about Shs909b), is for the expressway and the added scope of works, including the proposed Busega interchange. The project should resume as soon as possible once the contractor receives financing; give it early next year. But our teams are going to be on site even before that to validate and process compensation of affected persons so that the contractor can resume works with adequate right of way,” he said during an interview on Wednesday.

The project, which is expected to reduce the persistent traffic gridlock along the usually busy Kampala-Masaka highway, had stalled early this year like many other ongoing roads projects due to lack of funds. By the time the project stalled, Eng. Wani said the contractor had covered 46 percent of the work.

“With the approval from the African Development Bank, the increased scope will be implemented and the project completed to meet the desired goals of decongesting this critical corridor,” he added.

To avoid the more than 14km traffic jam along the Kampala-Masaka highway, some motorists currently use Mpigi-Bikondo-Nakawuka Road to connect to the city via Nateete junction. Another section of motorists accessing Kampala City from the direction of Masaka decide to use the Nsangi-Buloba Road to connect to the city through the Mityana-Kampala road because of the unending traffic gridlock.

Mr. Sulaiman Muhammad, a truck driver regularly using the Kampala-Masaka highway, urged the government to expedite the project, saying they are tired of diversions to village routes whenever there is a motor crash involving a heavy truck on the highway.

“We never expected that project to delay like this, but if the project has been funded and they have secured the money, we pray that it is put to good use and have the road completed,” he said.

Mpigi District Chairperson, Mr. Martine Ssejjemba, said he is optimistic that once the Busega-Mpigi Expressway is completed, residents, including the business community, could tap into the many development opportunities that come with improved with road networks.

“This particular road project has been delayed, although the reasons for the delays have already been explained. The unnecessary traffic jams cost the business community, workers, and residents their precious time and money. Mpigi District will benefit more from that project. I also pray that all the Project Affected Persons are compensated before the end of the project,” he said.

The Busega-Mpigi Expressway, which had earlier been projected to cost Shs547bn, kicked off in May 2020. The road starts at Busega in Kampala and takes a south-westerly direction to Mpigi Town through 21 villages, spread over two Town Councils (Kyengera and Mpigi) and two sub-counties (Kiringete and Wakiso).

This new road connects to the existing Kampala-Masaka-Mbarara highway at Lungala Village. The Kampala-Masaka-Mbarara highway leads to the common border with Rwanda via Mirama Hills and Kagitumba. It is among the busiest highways, with an average daily traffic count of 20,908 vehicles using the road daily.

The new road will include four major interchanges to facilitate interconnection with roads at designated points at Lungala, Maya, Nabbingo, and Nsangi in Wakiso District, off both the Northern Bypass and the Entebbe Expressway.

On January 29, 2024, a section of the Kampala-Masaka highway was closed to motorists to allow construction of the Mpigi interchange. Road users were diverted to use a 3.7km road through Mpigi township and rejoin the highway at Kalagala Village in Mpigi District.

The 23.7km road works are being undertaken by the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) and the China Railway 19th Bureau Group Company Limited.

The Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) has emphasised the need for a harmonised regional framework for flight crew and flight dispatch skill testing in the East African Community.

Speaking on behalf of UCAA’s Director General Fred Bamwesigye at the opening of the Regional Workshop on flight crew and flight dispatch skill test standards at Skyz Hotel in Naguru, UCAA’s Director Safety, Security and Economic Regulation Eng. Ronny Barongo said, “The workshop is a crucial step towards aligning the region’s practices with global best standards.”

“The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) emphasises the importance of standardised training and assessment for flight crews and dispatchers,” said Eng. Barongo. He noted that, “this workshop is intended to enhance safety and efficiency, improve competency for flight crew and dispatchers, and strengthen regional cooperation and collaboration.”

The workshop is expected to review and contribute to the development of standardised skill test standards for flight crew and dispatchers, share best practices and experiences in assessment methodologies, and discuss and agree on competency-based training requirements.

He highlighted a notable increase in passenger traffic, from 1,932,094 international passengers in 2023 to 2,243,104 in 2024.

“In October 2025, the airport recorded 101,713 departing and 112,452 arriving passengers, totaling 214,165 passengers, with an average of 6,908 passengers per day. This represents a significant increase of 32,568 passengers compared to October 2024.”

Eng. Barongo hailed the framework as a game-changer for the sector. “The regional formulation framework is going to help our pilots and fire dispatchers mainly in the area of improving safety, enhancing efficiency, and also improving collaboration among the partner states,”

Mr Paul Lukanga, the Director Technical at Civil Aviation Safety and Security Oversight Agency (CASSOA), said the agency is working to harmonise pilot licensing standards across the region. “The goal is to ensure that pilot qualifications issued in one Country are recognised and valid in all eight East African countries.”

“The main objective is that the same pilot qualifications that we issue in Uganda should be applicable in all eight East African countries, so that we have, as a region, better standards and safe skies,” Lukanga said.

The challenge, Lukanga explained, is that while the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) sets minimum requirements, individual countries have their own higher standards. This creates disharmony, making it difficult for pilots licensed in one country to fly in another.

“For example, the minimum age requirement to become a pilot is 16 years, but Uganda sets it at 18 years, while Burundi sets it at 20 years. CASSOA aims to harmonise these standards, ensuring that pilots and flight dispatchers meet the same requirements across the region.”

Captain George Mazige, Vice President of the Uganda Professional Pilots Association, said, “Our wish as pilots is for the harmonisation of these practical test standards across the region,” Mazige said. “We have Ugandans who train across East Africa, and when they come back home, they’re subjected to fresh examinations, which has a cost implication and is cumbersome.”

Mazige explained that harmonising test standards would ensure that the quality of exams in Uganda is the same as in Kenya or Tanzania. “This means students who train in Uganda and Ugandan students who train across the region will be licensed automatically,” he said.

The harmonisation of flight crew and dispatch skills test standards is expected to improve safety and efficiency in the region’s aviation industry, making it easier for pilots and flight dispatchers to operate across East Africa.

The UCAA and CASSOA are working together to ensure that the harmonisation process is successful and that the region’s aviation industry is aligned with global best standards.

The outcome of the workshop is expected to inform the development of a regional framework for flight crew and dispatch skill testing, which will be implemented across the East African Community.

There is an old story about a man who owned a goose that laid a golden egg every day. Hoping to get all the eggs at once, he killed the goose-only to find none inside. He had destroyed something valuable out of impatience.

Uganda’s real estate sector is much like that goose. It is a growing contributor to the economy, but if overtaxed or poorly supported, it could be stifled. Recent data shows strong interest in real estate development, with mortgage uptake rising by 33 percent from Shs526 billion in 2022 to Shs702 billion in 2023. In the 2023/24 financial year, corporate income tax brought in Shs434.5 billion, with rental income tax contributing Shs41.26 billion.

While these figures reflect growth, they also raise concerns about the burden placed on corporate landlords especially through Uganda’s rental tax system.

Rental tax burden

Rental tax in Uganda is levied on income earned from leasing immovable property. For individual landlords, the system was simplified in FY22/23: those earning less than Shs2.82 million annually pay no rental tax, while those earning more pay 12 percent on the excess.

However, for companies, the rules are stricter. A company can only deduct expenses up to 50 percent of its gross rental income, even if its actual costs are higher. The remaining income is taxed at 30 percent. Any expenses beyond the 50 percent cap cannot be carried forward to future years.

This policy was introduced to limit excessive deductions by companies, which the government believed were reducing their tax contributions. But in practice, it is creating financial strain for corporate landlords.

Consider Company Z, which spent Shs2 billion to build a commercial property. In one year, it earned Shs200 million in rental income. However, it also incurred: Shs90 million in mortgage interest (at rates of 16-18 percent),

Shs20 million in maintenance costs,

Shs20 million in broker commissions,

Shs10 million in depreciation (industrial building allowance).

Total expenses: Shs140 million.

Under current law, only Shs100 million (50 percent of rental income) is deductible. The remaining Shs100 million is taxed at 30 percent, resulting in a tax bill of Shs30 million. This means Company Z pays tax on income it did not actually earn, due to the cap on deductions.

This example highlights a broader issue. Commercial bank lending rates in Uganda range from 18 percent to 20 percent, making borrowing expensive. For companies investing in real estate, interest payments often exceed other costs. Yet, the law limits how much of this interest can be deducted from taxable income.

On top of rental tax, property owners also pay Local Service Tax and ground rent to local governments-effectively taxing the same asset multiple times. These costs are often passed on to tenants, resulting in higher rents, especially in urban areas.

To support real estate growth, Uganda could consider allowing full deductions for mortgage interest, or at least excluding interest from the 50 percent cap. This would ease the financial pressure on corporate landlords and encourage more investment in housing and commercial property.

There is also a need to revisit the broader rental tax provisions in the Income Tax Act. The current system may discourage formalisation of property ownership under companies, which contradicts recent government efforts to promote structured succession and prevent land fragmentation.

A recent amendment to the Income Tax Act (FY25/26) exempts individuals from capital gains tax when transferring assets to a company they control. This is a welcome move, allowing families to consolidate property under one entity without tax penalties. But the rental tax cap still makes this setup less attractive financially.

Uganda’s real estate sector is a valuable asset. It supports jobs, provides housing, and contributes to government revenue.

But if corporate landlords are overburdened with taxes and limited in how they manage costs, the sector’s growth could slow down.

The government has made positive steps, such as simplifying taxes for individuals and encouraging family asset consolidation. Now, it is time to take the next step: reconsider the 50 percent cap on deductible expenses for companies, especially interest on loans used to build rental properties.

If nurtured wisely, the real estate sector can continue to lay golden eggs for Uganda’s economy. But if squeezed too hard, we risk losing the goose altogether.

Global investments in the energy transition grew by 20 per cent between 2022 and 2024, reaching $2.4 trillion, with $807 billion directed towards renewable energy technologies, according to a new joint report by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI).

The report, titled “Global Landscape of Energy Transition Finance 2025,” reveals that 96 per cent of renewable energy investments went to the power sector, with solar PV hitting a record $554 billion in 2024, up 49 per cent. However, investment in factories producing solar, wind, battery, and hydrogen fell by 21 per cent to $102 billion.

Speaking on the report, IRENA Director-General Francesco La Camera emphasised the need for a faster pace, stating, “Funding for renewables is soaring but remains highly concentrated in the most advanced economies. As countries gather at COP30 to advance the ‘Baku to Belém Roadmap to 1.3 trillion,’ scaling finance for emerging and developing countries is essential to make the transition truly inclusive and global.”

La Camera pointed out that 90 per cent of investments remained concentrated in advanced economies and China, leaving emerging and developing countries behind. He called for smarter deployment of public funds to unlock private investment and emphasized the need for stronger multilateral cooperation and scaled-up climate finance.

“We need to fix the slit,” La Camera said, requiring $29-30 trillion in cumulative investment in renewables, grids, flexibility measures, energy efficiency, and conservation in the next five years to achieve the Paris Agreement goals.

The report notes that annual investments in renewables increased by only 7.3% in 2024, compared to 32 per cent in 2023, falling short of the required trajectory to achieve the UAE Consensus on renewable energy.

Investment in renewable power, grids, and battery storage exceeded fossil fuels investment in 2024. Battery factory investment nearly doubled to $74 billion, reflecting rising demand for storage in grids and electric vehicles (EVs).

China accounted for 80 per cent of global investment in manufacturing facilities for solar, wind, battery, and hydrogen technologies between 2018 and 2024.

Ian Kazibwe made a triumphant return to the grand finale of the Nile Special National Pool Open on December 21, 2025, claiming victory at the Vibe Life qualifiers in Nyanama on Friday night.

Missing last year’s event after being beaten by Jamil Kateregga, Kazibwe had his revenge this time, eliminating Kateregga 5-1 in the quarterfinals.

His journey, however, nearly hit a snag in the Round of 16, where casual player Baker Hassan pushed him to the brink before Kazibwe edged through. This marks the second time Kazibwe has qualified for the grand finale.

‘Last year was tough, losing to Kateregga, but I came back stronger. I almost lost in the early rounds, but I kept my focus. Winning today and qualifying for the grand finale again shows the hard work pays off,’ Kazibwe, who was previously eliminated in the Round of 16 at Lugogo, said.

Kazibwe will be joined by casual player Laban Ariho and businessman-turned player Vincent Ssekibuule. Ariho stunned veteran Isaac Lwanga in the quarterfinals 5-3, while Kazibwe’s semifinal performance was flawless, whitewashing Ariho 5-0. Ssekibuule defeated 2009 champion Fred Namanya Bonde 5-1, sending Namanya to the losers’ bracket with a guaranteed spot in the playoffs.

The final lived up to the hype. Kazibwe, trailing 2-0, staged a comeback to defeat Ssekibuule 5-3 and claim the first qualifying place and the Shs100,000 cash prize.

Drama continued in the third-place playoff as Ariho denied Namanya a place in the final, taking victory in a decisive frame. Top seed Joseph Kasozi presented the winners with their cash prizes at a ceremony that concluded at 5am.

Meanwhile, the ladies’ first regional qualifier at Were Beri in Kireka also delivered drama. Former 2018 champion Ritah Nimusiima fell 5-4 to Sharon Oyenboth in the final, but both secured places at the Lugogo grand finale alongside Julie Namuhanga.

Last season’s standout, Rosette Kirabo, missed out after losing to Namuhanga in the second round.

‘I want another car. The one I won in 2018 is now old, but winning starts from here,’ Nimusiima said.

Regional qualifiers heat up

The action continues this weekend at multiple regional venues.

At Masaka Sports Club on Saturday, Henry Mbabaali will aim to qualify for the grand finale, facing a 32-man draw that includes youngster Simon Nsubuga, Timothy ‘Boika’ Lutaaya, and veteran Fred Muweesi.

At Adi’s Spot in Kireka, homegrown talents Moses Omara and Eddy Kawuki will seek to secure their places.

Sol View in Iganga will host Busoga’s top players, with regular qualifier Frank Mugabo expected to be among the frontrunners.

Amoo Bar in Namuwongo will see action on Friday, with Ivan Kanyesigye, Ivan Kafuleka, Solomon Nkwakira and Bruce Abahairwe among the main contenders.

King’s Spot in Mpala, Entebbe, will provide another opportunity for three players, with Eria Kimuli among those expected to challenge for qualification.

Nile Special National Open

Qualified

Vibe Life: Ian Kazibwe, Vincent Ssekibuule, Laban Ariho

Nature Gardens: Ahmed Kaddu, John Omunyin, Joseph Epodoi

Ladies – Were Beri: Sharon Oyenboth, Ritah Nimusiima and Julie Namuhanga

Top seeds- men: Joseph Kasozi, Mansoor Bwanika, Ibra Sejjemba, Ibrahim Kayanja, Caesar Chandiga, Glorious Ssenyonjo, Azali Lukomwa, Simon Lubuulwa

School sports is growing by leaps and bounds if the sums of money involved are anything to go by.

On Saturday at their Annual General Assembly held at Front Page Hotel – Namasuba, Uganda Secondary School Sports Association (USSSA) reported they plan to spend about Shs15.5b in 2026.

USSSA hope for timely funding from government (about Shs9.6b). USSSA also spends what they receive from their members for games.

They are projecting that Shs88m will come from the Elite Games due in first term at Janan Secondary School in Bombo, Shs195m from the National Boys’ Football Championships due in the first term holiday at Lira Town School, Shs560m from Ball Games I also due in the first term holiday at Seroma Christian High School in Mukono, and Shs1.69b from Ball Games II due in second term at Sacred Heart SS Gulu.

USSSA also hopes to get Shs818m from the FEASSSA Games expected to be in Tanzania in the second term holiday and Shs10m from the National Swimming Gala due in second term at Seroma.

However, USSSA and the participating schools share costs. So, usually, the money collected from schools is almost a drop in the ocean. USSSA spends almost double or triple for the aforementioned games. For example, the swimming gala is expected to take up Shs30m while Ball Games II expenses could chew up about Shs2.6b.

Among major budget increments, USSSA has also extended Shs650m and Shs500m to support their 19 zones (for their games and athletics) and the Uganda Primary Schools Sports Association (UPSSA).

“Uganda’s performance in athletics has declined and we have been tasked by the Ministry (of Education and Sports – MoES) to have a martial plan that will grow participation at zone level.

“We have earmarked funds to ensure we have a competition every month and a camp every holiday in all zones,” said USSSA president Justus Mugisha, who was flanked by his executive at an AGM graced by Permanent Secretary MoES Kedrace Turyagyenda and Commissioner for Physical Education and Sports Rev. Canon Duncans Mugumya.

Integrating primary schools

Meanwhile, USSSA’s support to UPSSA hads always been a point of contention with the former suspected of trying to assimilate the latter. However, Mugisha insisted the only plan is to have both bodies operate independently under a new umbrella body Uganda Schools Sports Association (USSA).

“We are in a dilemma because the law herre allows UPSSA to organize games for children aged eight to 14 while USSSA organizes for those aged 15 to 20.

“USSSA is affiliated to all international bodies but UPSSA cannot because only one body from a country can affiliate. Now, we have a crossfire because the International Schools Sports Federation (ISF) has games for students aged eight to 19.

“So, we have been advised by the Ministry to form an umbrella body for the sake of affiliation and presenting teams to international bodies. This will be led by the presidents and vice presidents of these associations, an ASSHU (Association of Secondary Schools Headteachers of Uganda) representative as an exofficio, and a representative from district sports officers since primary schools closely connected to them,” Mugisha shared.

Mugumya revealed they asked that “each association seeks permission from its AGM to join this umbrella body. The AGMs can propose interim leaders for this body, who can then come up with constitution, which is needed to form a legal basis for affiliation, and a way forward.”

Members of USSSA agreed but also proposed to have an odd number of leaders on the USSA. Mugumya suggested that they include the leadership of District Education Officers.

Mugisha supported the idea saying “I have realized that the more you have all these power centres near you, the easier it is to implement your mandate.”

Speaking mandates, USSSA will also hold elections next year.

USSSA ZONES: Acholi, Ankole, Bugisu, Bukedi, Bunyoro, Busoga, Kampala, Karamoja, Kigezi, Lango, Luwero, Masaka, Mpigi, Mukono, Rwenzori, Sebei, Teso, Wakiso, West Nile

USSSA HOSTS 2026

Elite Games – Janan Secondary School, Bombo Campus

Boys’ Football – Lira Town School

Ball Games I – Seroma Christian High School, Mukono

Ball Games II – Sacred Heart SS Gulu

Swimming – Seroma Christian High School, Mukono

When torrential rains pounded Kampala for nearly four hours on the morning of October 31, the city’s low-lying commercial spaces turned into pools of brown water, swallowing parts of shopping arcades and streets.

For two days, traders watched helplessly as their merchandise was destroyed by flood water, leaving them counting losses costing into billions of shillings. Walking through the flood-hit arcades, the scene was grim.

Many shops remained shuttered, with water-soaked plywood and broken shelves strewn across the floors.

Renovators were painting walls and patching up soaked partitions, while traders carefully sorted through soggy stock, trying to salvage anything that could be washed and sold again.

Across French Plaza, Totala Business Centre, Pentagon Plaza, and other affected buildings, water finally began receding from the basements after a valiant effort by the police fire brigade department, Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) , and traders.

But the traders spoke in low voices about the heavy reality of their destroyed goods. Some shops have remained closed for weeks due to extensive damage and delayed government compensation.

‘Everything was soaked, my business records, clothes, machines, even the phones I use for content creation. Totally everything,’ said Ms Ruth Nanyonjo, a boutique owner in the Capital Centre building, seated on a crate outside her shuttered shop, arms crossed and frustration showing on her face.

‘The water stayed for almost two days. Even after it dried up, the smell of sewage was unbearable. I am still cleaning instead of selling.’

The deluge, described by many as the worst in recent years, paralysed business across the city. Traders say the water rose to the beam level inside their shops, destroying even items placed on higher platforms.

Two weeks and three days later, many traders remain stranded. Shelves stand empty, capital has been wiped out, and some have borrowed to renovate and restock. Others are still waiting for a government intervention.

Traders lament

Most traders say Kampala Capital City Authority KCCA teams have only recorded names and shop numbers, without conducting asset valuation or collecting account details for relief . Others say they have not been approached at all.

At French Plaza, Mr Herbert Lukwago, who operates 12 shops, said goods worth Shs1.8b were destroyed. ‘The message about the disaster found me in China,’ he said.

‘I booked the earliest flight back, hoping to save something, but most of my goods had perished and couldn’t be sold again.’

By the time of the interview, Mr Lukwago and his workers were sorting through soaked carpets and other damaged merchandise, trying to retrieve anything usable.

‘KCCA has a team moving around writing down shop occupants and numbers. But it is not fair that they are promising relief instead of compensation. The government knows this problem started with approvals for drainage channels, yet all the bodies are avoiding responsibility,’ he said.

Mr Lukwago added that the losses have pushed many traders to unbearable mental strain.

‘They have put us in a tricky situation of borrowing from people. Others are quitting. Personally, I am contemplating suicide. I have failed to sleep ever since this tragedy. What you work for your entire life perishes in hours, yet we pay all these taxes,’ he lamented.

Documents he shared show business loans exceeding Shs100m, placing his mortgaged properties at risk. His neighbours across the flood-hit plazas are facing the same despair.

Mr Yusuf Abdallah Kaziba, who occupied five shops in French Plaza, estimated his losses at Shs12b. ‘Since we rented here eight years ago, this is the first time we have seen destruction on this scale,’ he said.

‘We wrote to the Office of the Prime Minister asking for help with loan compensation. They replied that they cannot send an assessment team, not even in two weeks, because they were handling issues in Bulambuli.’ He added that some newborn baby merchandise had undergone chemical reactions after being soaked in water, making them unsafe for sale.

‘I had five shops, but now I have managed to reopen only one with brand-new merchandise.

These commodities are sensitive to babies’ skin, so we cannot return those that were in the dirty water. The rest is gone, yet these businesses depend on loans.’

Just a few shops away, Ms Judith Nakaggwa, who ran two shops at Totala Business Centre and French Plaza, said her entire stock worth Shs150m was destroyed.

‘I started as a hawker until I saved enough for my own shop. I didn’t manage to save anything, and I’m severely traumatised. As a single mother, my children may not sit final examinations. Even feeding them is hard. I borrow from colleagues who are also not working,’ she said.

At Pentagon Plaza, shoe dealer Mariam Kulwadda said traders feel abandoned.

‘What hurts us most is the change in communication. The government first said it would send evaluators for compensation. Now they speak of relief, which we doubt will even reach the right people.’

She added that some officials and online commentators have accused basement traders of not deserving compensation, despite being legal tenants who pay all required taxes. Some traders, like Ms Jamirah Namubiru, a phone-accessories dealer, are painstakingly rebuilding.

‘When I first entered the shop, the phones were all spoilt, and even the shop itself was destroyed,’ she said, stepping over piles of broken plywood and bent metal frames.

‘The water peeled off the wallboards, the display lights blew, and all my cable trays were floating.’

KCCA speaks out

KCCA spokesperson Daniel Muhumuza Nuweabine said the Authority is working under the directive of the prime minister, who was instructed by the President to track all traders affected by the city floods.

‘We are still assessing with two teams, one from KCCA and another from ISO. Once the verification is complete, we shall compile all the details and submit a full report to the prime minister,’ Mr Nuweabine said.

He explained that while compensation had been discussed, the process became complicated, prompting government to opt for a relief programme coordinated through the Office of the Prime Minister.

The ODM @20 celebrations in Mombasa at the weekend may have exposed underlying differences, suspicion, intrigue and scheming that could threaten the party’s existence if not handled with grit.

There was already tension in the air as the delegates made their way to the port city for an event attended by President William Ruto, who was once a member of the party.

Mr Ruto is now a member of United Democratic Alliance (UDA). However, the conflict escalated at the weekend when Ms Winnie Odinga, daughter of the late party leader Raila Odinga, publicly appeared to question the competence of her uncle, Dr Oburu Oginga, to lead the party.

Last Friday, she sensationally alleged that unnamed party leaders were plotting to ‘sell’ the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) founded by her late father in 2005, which is now led by her uncle. She questioned whether those managing the ODM-UDA relationship had the same capacity as her late father.

‘The broad-based relationship is complicated,’ she said. ‘Those managing it now, are they capable? Because it’s only one Baba Raila Odinga who would manage it.’

She demanded a National Delegates Convention (NDC) to give members the power to decide who should steer the relationship, a move that would possibly put Dr Oginga on the chopping block after confirmation as the ODM leader by the National Governing Council on Thursday, October 13.

‘That’s why we want an NDC to decide on the people they’d want to manage it.’ Her remarks resonated with some party loyalists who fear that ODM is losing leverage under the broad-based arrangement.

Her argument was simple: that ODM’s relationship with the broad-based government was complex, delicate, and historically managed only by her late father Odinga himself. Those currently tasked with maintaining it, she implied, were either unserious or incapable. ‘Because it’s only one Baba Raila Odinga who would manage it,’ she insisted.

She argued that ODM was a party of values and ideologies, and that its future should not be decided in ‘boardrooms or through pillow talk’.

While Odinga’s side of the family has dominated politics and party affairs since the inception of ODM and its precursors, such as LDP and NDP, we gathered that there is fear in the former prime minister’s household that they will now be overshadowed by Dr Oginga’s side in the new power matrix.

To remedy this, some family members are said to have favoured the appointment of an outsider as party leader, but things happened so fast, Dr Oginga was designated interim party leader before his brother could be buried.

On Sunday, an Odinga family source told the Nation that Winnie’s tone and timing were shaped by an internal dispute that had been brewing for weeks.

According to this source, the first open sign of this tension emerged when Winnie failed to participate in the ceremony that appointed her brother Raila Junior as the Raila family spokesperson, a symbolic role intended to unify the family’s voice.

Sharpest critique

Her absence did not go unnoticed. ‘It was not accidental. It was deliberate,’ the family insider said. This fracture would later manifest at the Mama Ngina Waterfront in Mombasa during the main ODM 20th anniversary celebrations on Saturday.

At the heart of the tension lies the question of ODM’s position in President Ruto’s broad-based government, a political arrangement the late Odinga embraced before his demise in India on October 15.

While Dr Oginga insists that this was Odinga’s last directive to the party, Winnie and her allies view the arrangement with suspicion and believe it is being mishandled by people who ‘cannot manage what only Baba could’.

During the Mombasa meeting, Winnie did not mince her words and delivered the sharpest critique yet of the party’s current leadership and direction under her uncle Dr Oginga.

‘She cast aspersions on the capacity of Dr Oginga and the party’s officials to lead the party and navigate it through the broad-based framework,’ a party official told the Nation. Her remarks electrified a section of the crowd – but they also infuriated some party officials who saw them as disrespectful to the party leader and the team currently in office.

Dr Oginga, now the ODM Party Leader, responded with the calm authority that close allies and family members say has defined his decades in politics.

He reminded the audience not only of his role in founding the party but also of the bond and respect he shared with his late brother.

‘I’m here as a founder member of the ODM party,’ he said.

‘I stood with Raila Odinga for the 80 years he lived with us. I never betrayed Raila. I was older than Raila, but we grew up as twins. We worked together and I respected him politically, but at home in the Jaramogi family, I was his chairman.’

Dr Oginga was referring to his position as the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga family spokesperson, a post he explained his late brother respected, even as he recognised him as the family’s political leader.

Turning to his niece Winnie, Dr Oginga appeared not to have been ready for a confrontation, instead choosing to handle her concerns privately at a family level.

‘Winnie said that we look for somebody to mediate between us and the broad-based government. We shall discuss that back at home as a family.’

Dr Oginga then shifted from family dynamics to party strategy, urging ODM to rebuild and expand. ‘Let us boost our numbers through registration. Politics is about numbers. If our numbers decline, we shall not have the strength to bargain.’

On the broad-based government question, Dr Oginga stated: ‘It’s Raila who left us in the broad-based government. If it comes to 2027, we shall look at the best person to talk with – or go it alone. For now, we won’t cross the bridge before we reach it.’

At the ODM founders’ dinner later on Saturday evening, before a gathering led by President William Ruto and the party’s veterans, Dr Oginga emphasised that ‘parties are formed to capture power’, adding that it remains ODM’s main agenda in 2027.

His stand on the broad-based government was both a defence of Odinga’s decision and a direct contradiction to Winnie’s call for a review of the association.

The Uganda Cranes may have beaten Chad 2-1 in a routine friendly on paper, but beneath the surface ran a far more gripping subplot – the captain’s armband is still searching for a steady bicep.

For the third straight outing, coach Paul Put kept everyone guessing. With regular skipper Khalid Aucho benched and former captain Denis Onyango – fresh from a four-year retirement – expected by many to reclaim his old crown, Put tore up the script.

Instead, he handed the armband to centre-back Jordan Obita, a defender with fewer than ten caps, a left-back by trade, and a man many still consider a newcomer.

The move didn’t just raise eyebrows; it set the tone. Under Put, the Cranes’ leadership is no longer a settled affair – it is up for grabs, and the Belgian is clearly willing to shake the tree to see who stands tall.

Everyone’s chance

Even more telling? This wasn’t a one-off gamble. Barely months ago, the same gaffer had entrusted the band to another fresh face, Elio Capradossi, before the Italy-born centre-half had even clocked seven appearances.

If the trend says anything, it’s that Put is crafting a new hierarchy, one bold decision at a time.

With Afcon just a month away, the Cranes’ captaincy isn’t just rotating – it is roving, roaming from arm to arm in search of the perfect fit. And in Morocco, Obita stepped forward like a man ready to make the armband his own.

Against Chad, Obita offered more than leadership symbolism; he backed it up with a mature, influential performance. Paired with Toby Sibbick in the absence of Capradossi, he anchored the backline with composure, timing, and vocal organisation – traits Uganda has desperately lacked at the heart of defence in recent years.

‘We could have played a lot better, we gave them the ball a lot. Sometimes we were a bit slow in passing but the positive of the day was winning. It was a massive privilege to get the armband. It calls for responsibility and I’m really happy and proud of getting a win.’

His influence from the back, coupled with his versatility across the left side of defence, continues to mould him into the sort of composed, modern leader the Cranes have missed.

Aucho on the spot

Equally symbolic was Put’s decision in midfield. With Aucho watching from the bench, naturalised Ghanaian Al Hassan Baba was handed the anchoring role, partnering US-based Bobosi Byaruhanga in a double pivot.

Baba – on debut – showed energy and positional sense, a clear signal that competition for Aucho’s long-held seat at the heart of midfield is no longer theoretical.

Put is clearly widening the door – and the message is unmistakable: no one’s place is guaranteed, not even the official captain’s.

‘We are happy with the win but we lost a lot of possession, we gave them the opportunity to come into the game. Now we have to prepare for the Morocco game which will be at another level but we have to try to do our best.’

That ‘another level’ is not poetic exaggeration. Morocco, hosts of the upcoming AFCON and already qualified for the 2026 World Cup, present a stern test one likely to force Put into more experimentation.

More rotations. More calls that challenge the traditional order. And yes, perhaps even another shift in the armband.

What is clear is that the Cranes’ armband has not yet found a permanent home. In Obita, Put tested a new heartbeat – and the defender showed promise of becoming more than a stopgap.

For now, the band remains roving – and Obita has thrown his hand firmly into the ring.