Category: Daily Monitor

Uganda’s cinderella story at the Fifa Under-17 World Cup gained yet another chapter after they reached the round-of-16 stage with a hard fought 1-0 win over Senegal at the Aspire Zone – Pitch 7 ground in Qatar on Saturday evening.

Midfielder Abubakar Walusimbi’s 15th minute pile driver proved sufficient as the Cubs held on for victory cappped by some outstanding shot stopping from goalkeeper Edrisah Waibi.

The result is already a remarkable achievement for the Brian Ssenyondo coached side who became the first Ugandan team at any level to play at the World Cup

They also started the tournament with one point from the opening two games needing a last minute goal to draw against Chile after losing 2-1 to Canada.

But they are gaining momentum at the right time following a second successive victory to build onto the 1-0 win over France in the final group game that sealed progress to the round-of-32 stage.

After a cagey start, the game and particularly the Cubs, sprung to life when Arafat Nkoola collected a loose pass inside the Senegalese half.

He was brought down in a bid to break play but the referee allowed play to continue before the ball was passed out wide to Hamuza Sengooba who returned the ball into the path Walusimbi.

With the midfielder allowed time to set himself up and shoot, his next action turned out to be an unstoppable drive past goalkeeper Vincent Gomis that will leave the young Senegalese defenders with regrets for their half hearted defending.

The goal seemed to awaken the Senegalese who came into the game having not conceded a goal in three games and topped Group C with seven points.

They peppered Waibi’s goal within four minutes of concedimg with efforts from all angles as the young goalkeeper first saving with his feet to block a goalbound shot before a point blank save from the resultant corner was also pushed wide.

Two long range efforts then followed while Waibi also kept out a header from the gangly Senegalese centre forward Bakary Sonko, all before the half hour mark.

There were few clear cut opportunities in the second half that save for the senegalese goalkeeper keeping out a James Bogere effort from a narrow angle after bursting through on goal.

Some smart decision making from Ssenyondo saw the coach make use of Fifa’s new video support system to challenge the referee’s decision to award Senegal a 70th minute penalty with the decision overturned after a VAR review.

The only blip on an otherwise perfect night for the Cubs who are the first Ugandan football team to play at any World Cup was the booking of syar striker Bogere to rule him out of the round of 16 clash against Burkina Faso who defeated Germany 1-0.

Fifa U-17 World Cup

Round of 32 Selected results

Uganda 1-0 Senegal

Burkina Faso 1-0 Germany

Round of 16 – Tuesday

Uganda vs Burkina Faso

Youth leaders in Namutumba have accused district chairperson David Mukisa and his executive of allegedly diverting funds under the government’s Youth Livelihood Programme (YLP), claiming the money has instead been channeled to his ‘family, in-laws, and wives.’

The accusations were raised during the youth’s first district convention held at Kaiti Primary School under the theme Mobilizing, Organizing, and Building a Formidable Youth Populace for Social-Economic Transformation.

‘This isn’t fair, we’re the target group, and we’re also the majority in this country, and this money is meant for us, but it’s benefiting a different category of people,’ said Edirisa Mukama, Chairperson of Kiyanyi Sub-county, who appealed to the Ministry of Gender, Labour, and Social Development to closely monitor how YLP funds are distributed in Namutumba.

YLP, introduced in the 2013/2014 financial year, was designed to address youth unemployment through skills development and income-generating projects. But the youth argue that corruption has blocked their access to opportunities meant for them.

Namutumba Woman MP Mariam Naigaga backed their claims, saying the District Chairperson had allegedly turned the scheme into a family affair.

‘We’ve got a problem here in the district; one person takes all the money meant for the youth and shares it with family, in-laws, and friends, leaving out the targeted people suffering,’ she said, adding: ‘I’m appealing to the Ministry to take this seriously. We’re not happy. We want to see youth benefiting from their programme, not the same people every time.’

But Mukisa dismissed the allegations as politically motivated, saying the district’s high unemployment levels were fueling tension around the limited funds.

‘What has been said about me are lies. I have never benefited from YLP funds nor given money to my family members and in-laws,’ he said. ‘Whoever has evidence should produce it; that’s politics of hatred and blackmail. But as for me, I’m clean,’ he responded.

Mukisa noted that Namutumba’s economy remains largely subsistence, with 49.8 percent of the 71,572 residents unemployed and 18.1 percent of youth jobless, calling on the central government to increase YLP funding.

District Community Development Officer Hadadi Babalanda said that while many youth groups had received support, some had failed to repay their loans, locking others out of the programme.

‘All files showing how funds were disbursed to youth groups are in my office. We urge youth to repay so others can benefit,’ she said.

Permanent Secretary Aggrey Kibenge said the Ministry continues to support youth through YLP and the Parish Development Model (PDM), which allocates 30 percent of funds to youth at parish level. He added that Women Entrepreneurship funds also support groups that include young people.

‘The challenge is organizing youth to access these resources and ensuring none are left behind,’ Kibenge said. He warned that poor investment choices were undermining the impact of the programmes.

‘We can only develop if we invest in productive ventures that yield good returns. Otherwise, youth will keep getting money and remain poor if not guided on enterprise selection,’ he said.

Imagine a young innovator in Kampala with a promising idea. Instead of refining their product or chasing customers, they’re drafting grant proposals, tailoring pitches to donor priorities, and attending endless workshops-not because they want to, but because they must. This happens a lot in Uganda: donor funding eclipses local investment, banks avoid risk, and family savings are too thin to rely on. To survive, many entrepreneurs become ‘grantpreneurs’-founders who win grants more often than customers. It’s a rational response, but one that bends innovation toward funder tastes rather than real markets.

Those tastes shift constantly. Today it’s Artificial Intelligence (AI), tomorrow climate resilience, next month green energy, then financial inclusion or agtech.

Each shift sends founders scrambling to rewrite their business models. This constant pivoting illustrates the cash-strapped nature of Uganda’s startup ecosystem.

What are the implications?

The result is a startup culture where survival depends less on vision or persistence than on agility in chasing the fashion of the day. ‘Ugandans are excellent innovators and are considered among the most entrepreneurial people in the world. However, innovation does not occur in isolation; it relies on a supportive ecosystem,’ Mr Japheth Kawanguzi, founder of The Innovation Village, says. Mr Kawanguzi points to policies, capital, market access, and technological readiness as critical gaps.

‘Kenya’s ecosystem, for example, is more mature than Uganda’s, providing innovators with better support and funding opportunities. By building a better ecosystem, we can foster more successful entrepreneurs who don’t live to please donors,’ he adds. To see how startups can move beyond ‘grantpreneurship,’ look at those that have made the leap: Rocket Health, Xente, Ensibuuko, MobiPay, Numida, the Agency Banking Company (ABC), and Wazi. ABC, for instance, began like many others, with donor money. Financial Sector Deepening (FSD) Uganda provided technical support to design its structure and strategy; ABI Trust funded its first point-of-sale devices; and the Deutsche Gesellschaft fr Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) underwrote early agent recruitment and awareness campaigns.

From inception, it was a donor-backed project. The difference is that it didn’t stay one. ABC built a business solving two problems at once: banks needed a cost-effective channel to extend services, and consumers needed easier access to financial products. ‘Ultimately, what we were able to figure out is that there was an opportunity. to solve a pain point for the banks and deliver value both for them and for the final consumers,’ recalls Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Richard Jabel.

The early days were precarious. With one bank and fewer than 100 transactions a day, the company could barely cover salaries.

But instead of stalling, the team persisted, onboarding banks one by one until scale took shape. The technical challenge was equally tough. ABC built a shared, multi-tenant platform-rarely attempted elsewhere-allowing competing banks to use the same distribution channel. Convincing rivals to cooperate was hard; integrating their different technologies, monitoring systems, and risk frameworks even harder. The team had to anticipate failures, manage risks, and respond instantly to breakdowns. In agent banking, where funds flow across institutions and agents, even a small error could trigger system-wide consequences.

What else did ABC do?

Once stability came, the next hurdle was investment. ABC needed capital, but donors couldn’t take it further. Through FSD Uganda’s Deal Flow Facility, the company went through the painstaking process of becoming ‘investor-ready.’ That meant rethinking its pitch from the investor’s perspective. ‘They principally want to know three things,’ Mr Jabel says. ‘What’s the opportunity? Is the customer willing to pay? And does unit economics make sense?’ Answering those questions required evidence: paying clients, consistent revenue growth, and margins that proved the model worked.

It also demanded execution capacity. Investors needed confidence that ABC wasn’t a one-man show but a company with governance structures, leadership depth, and ownership of its intellectual property. Cleaning up shareholding, strengthening the board, and passing due diligence were all part of the process. Equally critical was clarity on strategy and capital use. ABC had to map out a five-year plan showing how it could grow into a billion-dollar company, not a dream, but a feasible roadmap.

The real breakthrough, however, was discipline in choosing the right kind of capital. That meant knowing exactly how much money was needed, where it would go, and how fast it could be absorbed. Perhaps the most profound lesson ABC learned was about the kind of capital to seek. Not all money is good money. ‘Some money will hang you,’ warns Mr Jabel. The company deliberately sought patient investors aligned with its vision of financial inclusion, those who understood that margins are thin and returns long-term.

The wrong capital, by contrast, could have forced ABC into sleepless nights and unsustainable growth targets. What ABC built was more than a business. It became an ecosystem solution: shared infrastructure expanding financial access nationwide, underpinned by governance, investor confidence, and patient capital. Its story illustrates one path out of donor dependency, solving systemic problems for real markets with sound governance and long-term capital.

Are there other challenges?

Even for those who avoid the project-manager trap, another challenge looms: building too small for too small a market. Startups design microloans, microinsurance, and microsavings schemes to serve low-income users. While this expands access, it rarely creates the scale or sustainability depth markets require. ‘It is fantastic to design a product that a poor man will be able to afford with their little income,’ he notes, ‘but in absolute terms. there is not so much you can do with Shs500 even if it earns you a 20 percent return,’ Mr Joseph Lutwama, the head of research and insights at FSD Uganda, says.

Too much of Uganda’s innovation, he argues, has focused on ‘micro’-microfinance, microinsurance, microsavings-without addressing the reality that smallness reproduces smallness. ‘A business built on tiny transactions struggles to generate value. As a result, many fintechs remain stuck: their products are too small to sustain themselves, forcing reliance on grants or subsidies to survive,’ he explains.

This is why FSD Uganda began promoting what Mr Lutwama calls a ‘platform strategy’: a holistic approach that sees the challenge not as designing cheaper products, but as fixing dysfunctional markets. ‘Financial markets are driven by value,’ he explains, ‘and value comes from buyers and sellers transacting regularly. Unless there is an exchange of value, there will be no need for money and financing.’

Much of Uganda’s ‘last mile’ consists of subsistence households rather than vibrant communities. With little cash and few transactions, they remain unattractive to banks or insurers that depend on volume and value. ‘No amount of tweaking products for the poor can produce scale when the underlying markets are too thin,’ Mr Lutwama says. Agricultural insurance illustrates the point: without subsidies, most smallholder farmers cannot afford premiums, making the product unviable once grants end, the Bank of Uganda Governor, Mr Michael Atingi-Ego, has previously noted.

Mr Lutwama believes the real opportunity lies not in mimicking banks or microfinance institutions, but in leveraging technology to build digital marketplaces. He argues that markets thrive on information, and fintechs are, at their core, information businesses. ‘By connecting buyers and sellers, reducing information asymmetry, and creating transparency, fintechs can catalyse the economic activity that financial services depend on. Your best case is not in becoming a bank,’ he argues, ‘but in building viable and vibrant digital marketplaces where different economic activity can thrive. The moment economic activity begins thriving, money will flow to those places.’

The lesson here is that financial services follow economic activity, not the other way around and that is why banks cluster in cities, where commerce is dense. Indigenous successes like Rocket Health, Xente, Ensibuuko, MobiPay, and Wazi show what happens when companies solve genuine problems and deliver customer value. Their stories prove that the ‘grantpreneur trap’ is not inevitable; with the right ecosystem, Uganda can produce scalable, impactful businesses.

As Kawanguzi emphasises, policy is central. Governments elsewhere are already leading: Tunisia’s Startup Act in 2018 and Senegal’s in 2019 created frameworks that attracted investment, eased incorporation, and incentivised digital entrepreneurship.

Uganda’s own Startup Act, still in development, offers a chance to do the same, galvanising the entrepreneurial community and shifting the balance from donor-driven survival to market-driven growth.

On Wednesday night, teenagers Jemimah Nakawala and Judith Parvin Nangonzi would ideally have been preparing for the next day’s classes at Kibuli Secondary School.

However, the duo was inside the Boulevard SEF Arena 01B shedding tears, far away in Saudi Arabia’s capital Riyadh.

The combo’s fairytale run in the women’s doubles of the table tennis action at the Islamic Solidarity Games had just ended in a 3-1 loss at the hands of Iranians Safaei Shima and Neda Shahsavari.

The Iranians had lost the opener 11-9 in the first game only to return and humble Uganda’s teenagers 11-3, 11-2 and 11-8 in the semifinal contest.

And there were mixed feelings for the youngsters from Nakasero Table Tennis Club despite securing a historic bronze medal and tears of more defeat than delight, clearly showing that they wanted more.

‘I am very happy for this medal, even if it is a bronze medal because it is my first time to play the Islamic Solidarity Games and I feel very happy to win,’ said the 17-year-old Nangonzi late on Wednesday. ‘I dedicate this medal to my family, my club and mostly my coaches,’ she added.

‘First of all, I want to thank my coaches who have supported us. I also want to thank my teammate Parvin for the hard work,’ said the 15-year-old Nakawala. ‘I am so happy, this medal really motivates us to work harder.’

This marked a historic moment for table tennis, with their coach Alvin Katumba watching in Riyadh. The recent rise of a young crop of talent has set a new level of history. The bronze medal in Riyadh is the country’s first table tennis piece of silverware at a global sports championship.

Table tennis has always featured at the Commonwealth Games, including Nangonzi at the 2022 edition in Birmingham, England but never picked a medal.

In Olympic history, Uganda has not made an entry since Mary Musoke made her three-peat at the 2000 Games in Sydney, Australia where she lost all singles matches to Russian Irina Palina and Hong Kong’s Song Ah Sim in Group N.

At the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, USA, Uganda entered Musoke and June Kyakobye in the women’s singles while Paul Batambuze played in the men’s singles and all lost their outings.

Batambuze was the last Ugandan to win a table tennis medal, a bronze with George Yiga and Francis Kateregga at the 1995 All-Africa Games in Harare, Zimbabwe.

Uganda had tasted no table tennis delight not until Nangonzi, Nakawala and Patience Anyango won bronze at the Africa Table Tennis Championships in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia last year.

Last month, Nangonzi, Nakawala and Judith Mirembe pushed Uganda to the 2026 World Championships – a maiden opportunity – via the African Championships in Tunis, Tunisia.

2025 ISLAMIC SOLIDARITY GAMES

UGANDANS IN ACTION – SATURDAY

TABLE TENNIS – MEN’S SINGLES

ROUND OF 32: Joshua Magaya 0-4 Jellouli Milhane (ALG)

ROUND OF 64: Joseph Sebatindira 1-4 Onur Guluzade (AZE)

ROUND OF 64: Magaya 4-3 Mohammadian Hossain (IRN)

TABLE TENNIS – WOMEN’S SINGLES

QUARTERFINALS: Jemimah Nakawala 1-4 Yousra Ashraf (EGY)

LAST 16: Nakawala 4-0 Saida Kudusova (KAZ)

LAST 16: Judith Parvin Nangonzi 3-4 Chelsea Reene (GUY)

LAST 32: Jemimah Nakawala 4-2 Hoor Fawad (PAK)

LAST 32: Judith Nangonzi 4-0 Amiri Sumayai (TJK)

TEAM RESULTS – WOMEN’S DOUBLES

SEMIFINAL: Uganda 1-3 Iran

QUARTERFINAL: Uganda 3-2 Azerbaijan

TEAM Uganda: Nakawala, Nangonzi

TEAM RESULTS – MEN’S DOUBLES

LAST 16: Uganda 1-3 Guyana

GROUP C: Uganda 8-4 Guyana

TEAM Uganda: Sebatindira, Magaya

TEAM RESULTS – MIXED DOUBLES

LAST 16: Uganda 1-3 Cameroon

TEAM Uganda: Sebatindira, Nangonzi

UGANDA’S MEDALS AT THE ISG

2005 Mecca: Boniface Kiprop (Athletics – 10000 Metres Bronze)

2017 Baku: Halimah Nakaayi (Athletics – 800 Metres Silver)

2021 Konya: Abel Chebet (Athletics – 5000 Metres Silver and 10000 Metres Gold), Kirabo Namutebi (Swimming – 50 Metres Freestyle Silver), Husnah Kukundakwe (Swimming – 100 Metres Breaststroke SB4-SB9 Gold, 200 Metres Individual Medley SM5-SM10 Gold, 50 Metres Freestyle S4-S10, 400 Metres Freestyle S6-S10 Silver, 100 Metres Backstroke S6-S10 Silver, 100 Metres Freestyle S4-S10 Bronze)

2025 Riyadh: Alfred Ojok (Boxing – 80kg Bronze), Gloria Muzito (Swimming – 50 Metres Freestyle Gold, 100 Metres Freestyle Gold, 200 Metres Freestyle Silver), Jesse Ssengonzi (Swimming – 100 Metres Butterfly Bronze), Jemimah Nakawala and Judith Parvin Nangonzi (Table Tennis – Women’s Doubles Bronze)

The 2026 General Election campaigns are officially underway, with 83,597 candidates competing for 45,505 elective positions from President to Sub-County Councilor.

Door-to-door campaigns, mini and massive rallies, as well as media (digital and mainstream) are some of the tactics different Parliamentary candidates in Kampala have deployed to convince voters.

Records from the Electoral Commission (EC) indicate that 113 candidates were nominated between October 23 and 24, to compete for 10 Parliamentary seats in Kampala and the seats include; Makindye East, Makindye West, Nakawa East, Nakawa West, Kampala Central, Lubaga South, Lubaga North, Kawempe South, Kawempe North, and Kampala City Woman Representative.

Kampala central which has attracted only new faces, after its incumbent Muhammad Nsereko gave a shot at the country’s presidency only to be denied chance after failing to secure the required supporter signatures, has attracted numerous contenders from various political parties and Independents.

The key candidates in the Kampala Central race are; David Lewis Rubongoya, the Secretary General of the National Unity Platform (NUP) party, Ms Minsa Kabanda, the Minister for Kampala from the National Resistance Movement (NRM), and business man Abraham Luzzi.

The November 12, Daily Monitor poll titled: Who is your preferred candidate for Kampala Central MP?, that was ran on its official X-platform, and Facebook, both social media platforms, has placed Luzzi in the second position, after Mr Rubongoya. The poll which attracted at least 8,112 participants in 24 hours indicated that Mr Rubongoya would emerge victorious with 75.3 percent, if the polls were to be held today.

Mr Luzzi, an Independent candidate, who has gained fame especially on social media by de-campaigning the politics of giving money and other gifts to voters, holding rallies and urging Ugandans to vote people based on their potential to deliver services, would be the second in the race with 20 percent of the votes, while Ms Kabanda, would be in the third position with four percent of the votes.

Inside the vote hunt

Abraham Luzzi

Unlike other candidates who have launched physical campaigns, including holding rallies and moving door-to-door convincing voters to support them earlier this week, Mr Luzzi has been campaigning through mainstream and digital media.

He believes that rallies are just a waste of time because voters can be reached through the different media platforms instead of political rallies which disrupt their daily activities.

‘The world is going digital, and I completely object to the ordinary, loitering kind of campaigns. I want to set a new yardstick and benchmark with this campaign. I believe I am currently the most popular candidate not only in Kampala, but in the whole of Uganda and beyond,’ Luzzi told reporters while unveiling his digital campaignin Kampala.

He added, ‘People waste a lot of time on traditional campaign methods. I object to seeing youths moving around following politicians in crowds. They should be working instead. That’s why I say: stay at your workplace or your place of convenience and receive my message through digital platforms.’

His key priorities, according to his campaign manifesto titled ‘A better tomorrow for every Ugandan’, includes fighting corruption, reducing the size of the House from the current 556 to 80 MPs, limiting the Cabinet to 50 members, decongesting the Prisons, among others as his major key priorities as he seeks to be elected on January 15, 2026.

‘My manifesto outlines an uncompromising stance on corruption, emphasising immediate and severe consequences for those who misuse public resources. The plan introduces the death penalty by hanging for anyone found guilty of causing gross public financial loss or embezzlement of public funds. This includes offenses such as deliberate contract delays, bribery in awarding tenders or contracts, or any form of mismanagement of public funds’ he said

Among his key political reforms are; reducing Parliament to 80 MPs, and save Shs415 billion annually, limiting Cabinet to 50 Ministers, appointed on merit and not drawn from Parliament., abolishing by-elections, saving between Shs10 billion and Shs20 billion per year, shifting to digital and video-based campaigns, cutting election costs by 70-80 percent, and setting qualifications for MPs, including a bachelor’s degree, a minimum net worth of Shs500 million and an annual business turnover of Shs1.5B billion.

‘Key justice reforms include: replacing jail terms with fines for minor offenses to promote efficiency, reducing prison overcrowding by 40 percent through alternative punishments, introducing blood money as an option for murder cases, but only with consent from the victim’s family, establishing express 24-hour courts as a paid service for urgent justice, fast-tracking corruption-related cases, ensuring trials are completed within two months, and enforcing the death penalty or full recovery of stolen funds plus 10% annual interest for corruption crimes,’ he said.

Rubongoya

Unlike Luzzi who opted for the digital campaign, Mr Rubongoya officially launched his campaign at a rally in Kamwokya and set out urgent reforms aimed at transforming urban services, expanding economic opportunities, and improving governance in the capital.

He identified immediate priorities including overhauling the taxation system to ease residents’ financial burdens, upgrading education facilities and healthcare services, and improving roads, drainage, and waste management across the division.

He also emphasised the need to create more employment opportunities, promote economic empowerment, provide affordable housing for low-income earners, and enhance access to technology and internet connectivity.

He said, ‘Our commitment is to push for a Kampala which works for everyone. All these programs are better pushed if there is a government that truly represents the people, which is why everyone needs to play their part in the #ProtestVote2026.’

Minsa Kabanda

NRM flagbearer Minsa Kabanda has vowed to champion the welfare of market women and residents of informal settlements while challenging the notion that the ruling party cannot win in the city.

‘We are going to change the narrative. The people of Kampala Central deserve inclusive development, and the NRM has the means to deliver it,’ she said.

Christmas is around the corner, and for many Ugandans, that means one thing, going to the village. Every year, bus stations and highways fill with families heading home to celebrate. It is not just a journey of distance; it is a journey of belonging.

Yet, every so often, someone questions why people, especially Africans living in cities, feel compelled to build houses in their home villages. Economists argue that this tradition makes little financial sense. The rural house sits empty most of the year, they say. It does not generate income, and the money could instead be invested in urban property or business ventures.

But to interpret this act only through an economic lens is to miss its deeper meaning. For many Africans, building a house in the village is not about financial return, it is about belonging. It is an expression of identity, continuity, and responsibility to one’s roots. In most African cultures, home is not where one lives, it is where one comes from. Philosopher John Mbiti famously wrote:’I am because we are; and since we are, therefore, I am.’ This world-view, known as Ubuntu, reminds us that identity is communal, not individual. A house in the village symbolises that connection.

To build in one’s ancestral home is to affirm, ‘I know where I come from.’ It is a bridge between generations, the living, the dead, and the unborn. The house becomes a place for gathering, remembrance, and reconciliation. It reassures parents that their children will not vanish into the anonymity of the city. It reassures children that they have a home beyond the uncertainties of urban life. This sense of rootedness has profound psychological and social value.

Studies in sociology and wellbeing show that people with strong cultural and familial ties experience greater resilience, stability, and a stronger sense of identity. In societies facing rapid modernisation, such anchors are vital for balance. Even economists agree that this ingredient is pivotal for building things together, even family businesses. Africans have always understood that not everything of value has a price. Some of the most meaningful social acts; kneeling to greet elders, helping a neighbour, contributing to a burial, or hosting visitors, do not have monetary returns. Yet these gestures form the moral fabric that holds communities together.

Kneeling to greet an elder may never earn you a paycheck, but it could earn you respect, trust, or even a good husband or wife. Greeting elders along your village path may not bring you income, but it could earn you their blessing, or even their votes, should you ever run for office. Building a house in the village belongs in the same category. It is an act of loyalty and continuity. It says, I belong here. I value the people who raised me. I will not let modernity erase where I came from.

Building a home in the village is also a mark of responsibility. It signals maturity and accountability, proof that one has not forgotten their origins.

In African thought, success is not fully yours until it benefits others. Wealth that isolates is considered incomplete. This is why even people of modest means continue to build or renovate homes in their villages. Just as communities pool funds to build churches or mosques, often before investing in profit-making ventures, people build homes out of faith, identity, and moral duty. Economists may call this ‘irrational,’ but it reflects a social philosophy that places people above profit and values the eternal over the immediate.

As we prepare to travel home for Christmas, it’s worth reflecting on why that house matters. The world today often measures wealth by accumulation. African traditions measure it by relationship, the strength of family ties, the wellbeing of neighbours, and one’s moral standing in the community. A house in the village, therefore, is not an idle asset, it is a statement of identity and values. It bridges the gap between modern living and traditional belonging. It offers psychological safety, social recognition, and a spiritual sense of completion.

When all is said and done, none of us leaves this world with what we built or earned. Yet what we prioritised here. Relationships, generosity, faith, and community, may well be the true legacy we leave behind. A house in the village may not yield economic profit, but it pays lifelong dividends in dignity, belonging, and peace of mind, and that is worth far more than money.

For many farmers, the impact of mycotoxins remains a persistent threat, undermining animal health, crop yields and human wellbeing.

At the 1st Animal Production Society of Uganda conference held at Pope Paul Hotel in Kampala, Dr Ochieng Odede of DSM-Firmenich, South Africa, presented a stark warning to stakeholders in agriculture and animal production: the consequences of mycotoxin contamination are pervasive, yet often overlooked.

Dr Odede illustrated his point with the story of an anonymous poultry farmer, whose chicken stock experienced a sudden decline in egg production. After careful investigation, it was discovered that the feed consumed by the birds was contaminated with mycotoxins.

‘It is a silent killer. Farmers may not notice the immediate effects, but the cumulative impact on productivity, immunity, and overall health can be devastating,’ Dr Odede remarked.

Dr Odede emphasised that mycotoxins arise from a combination of biological, environmental, and human factors. The type of fungus and its strain, alongside the susceptibility of the crop, are key biological drivers. For instance, some strains of Aspergillus produce high levels of aflatoxins under the right conditions. Crops weakened by pests, disease, or physical damage are far more vulnerable.

Environmental conditions amplify the risk. Warm, humid climates, erratic rainfall, droughts, and floods all stress plants, creating a fertile environment for fungal growth. Soil quality, irrigation, and temperature fluctuations also influence contamination. Post-harvest, poorly ventilated or humid storage can allow fungi to thrive, further increasing the mycotoxin load.

Agronomic practices also matter. Inadequate crop rotation, planting susceptible varieties, delayed harvesting, improper drying and careless storage can all contribute. Overreliance on fungicides may inadvertently encourage resistant fungal strains.

“The perfect storm of conditions can lead to widespread contamination,” Dr Odede noted.

Surveys over the past decade show that almost every maize crop tested contained aflatoxins. Wheat and rice were also significantly affected, with 88 per cent of wheat and 79 per cent of rice samples testing positive, while oats were less affected at 14 per cent. Another dangerous toxin, ochratoxin A, is commonly found in coffee, wheat, oats, and various vegetables.

In Uganda, tests revealed 404-420 feeds contaminated, with the highest level reaching 6,568 µg/kg of fumonisin B1 (FB1). In simple terms, feed has had very high levels of fumonisin B1, enough to make livestock sick if they ate it.

Mycotoxins impose a heavy financial burden on farmers. In livestock, contaminated feed reduces growth and productivity, forcing farmers to absorb losses in meat, milk and egg production. Northern Uganda studies indicate that only about 7 per cent of feed samples were free from mycotoxins.

Government reports estimate that Uganda loses at least S$38 million annually in potential export revenue due to contamination, illustrating how mycotoxins threaten both livelihoods and the national economy.

A hidden danger

Dr Odede emphasised that mycotoxins affect the immune systems of livestock in varied ways depending on species, toxin type, and dosage.

In pigs, aflatoxin B1 reduces lymphocyte proliferation in piglets, compromises macrophage and neutrophil function, and deregulates antigen presentation. Trichothecenes such as deoxynivalenol (DON) and T-2 toxin can either suppress or stimulate immune responses, with prolonged exposure reducing secondary immune function. Fumonisins disrupt cytokine balance, induce apoptosis and impair antigen-presenting cell maturation, while ochratoxin A affects cytokine expression. Even zearalenone, primarily known for its effects on fertility, can compromise immune cell viability and antibody production.

Poultry are similarly affected. Early exposure to aflatoxins may initially boost humoral immune responses, but chronic exposure depletes lymphoid organs such as the thymus, spleen, and bursa of Fabricius, suppressing antibody synthesis.

DON and T-2 toxin impair protein synthesis and reduce lymphocyte counts, while fumonisin B1 and ochratoxin A compromise macrophage function and organ development.

Ruminants benefit slightly from the natural detoxification capacity of the rumen, which can degrade some mycotoxins, but aflatoxins remain a concern. Chronic exposure in calves and transition cows can even reduce the effectiveness of vaccines.

Humans face similar risks. Consumption of contaminated foods can lead to liver damage, stunted growth, immune suppression and even cancer. Aflatoxin B1, in particular, is highly carcinogenic, while aflatoxin M1, which appears in milk, poses a significant risk to infants and young children. Ochratoxin A can damage kidneys and suppress immunity and fumonisins can affect multiple organs, including the brain and reproductive system. Repeated exposure, even at low levels, is particularly dangerous for children, pregnant women, and agricultural workers.

Climate change and the rising threat

Climate change is exacerbating the problem. Rising temperatures, increased humidity, and erratic rainfall patterns encourage fungal growth and mycotoxin production. Extreme weather events stress crops, reducing their resistance and increasing susceptibility to fungal infection.

According to European Environment Agency reports, exposure to mycotoxins such as DON is already affecting 14% of European adults at harmful levels, and the risk is projected to rise globally.

‘The fungi producing these toxins are highly sensitive to environmental conditions. When we alter the climate, we inadvertently give them an advantage,’ Dr Odede noted.

Managing the threat

Effective management of mycotoxins requires an integrated approach. Agronomic strategies include crop rotation, breeding resistant varieties, careful irrigation, timely harvesting and proper drying.

Physical techniques such as heat treatment, irradiation and careful sorting can reduce contamination, although cost and efficiency remain challenges. Chemical treatments can control fungi but may pose regulatory or safety concerns, while biological control using atoxigenic fungal strains or beneficial microbes offers a promising environmentally friendly solution.

Dr Odede stressed that no single method is sufficient.

“Prevention starts in the field but must continue through storage, processing, and animal feed management,” he said.

Regulatory frameworks, monitoring and awareness among farmers are equally crucial.

Managing mycotoxins

A combination of strategies is often necessary to tackle mycotoxins effectively. Agronomic methods, such as genetic crop improvements and environmentally friendly seed treatments, help prevent contamination in the field.

Physical techniques like sorting, heat treatment, irradiation, and the use of adsorbents can reduce toxin levels in stored crops and feed.

Chemical approaches, including specific fungicides and antioxidants, can also mitigate contamination, although their use is increasingly restricted due to safety concerns.

Biological control has emerged as a promising, environmentally friendly alternative. Non-toxic strains of fungi can outcompete harmful ones, while beneficial bacteria and yeast can inhibit mycotoxin-producing fungi. Enzymes that break down toxins in the digestive systems of animals are also showing potential.

Mycotoxins exemplify the interconnectedness of plant, animal and human health. Protecting crops safeguards animals and ultimately people.

Dr Odede emphasised that tackling these toxins requires a holistic ‘One Health’ approach, combining plant protection, veterinary care, food safety and environmental stewardship.

‘From healthy crops to safe food, the steps we take on the farm ripple across the entire food chain. Preventing mycotoxin contamination is not just a matter of agriculture-it’s about protecting the health of our communities and future generations,’ he said.

For many young women facing poverty in rural areas in Uganda, dropping out of school marks the end of opportunity. But for Judith Aceng, who hails from Kasese District, it became a springboard for a new life, trading textbook uncertainty for the tangible promise of a hammer and cement mixer.

Aceng’s inspiring journey, shared at the ‘Ignite Her Dream’ vision forum and fundraising gathering organized by Aitenga Women Empowerment Organization (AWEO), stands as one of testaments to the transformative potential of targeted skills development in non-traditional fields.

Judith’s education journey became clouded in primary four due to financial challenges. However, in 2023, she enrolled in a construction skilling programme under a UN Women-supported initiative. Undeterred by the male-dominated nature of the industry; a fact that, she said, motivated her further, she mastered the trade.

Today, the construction graduate says she earns an average of about Shs15, 000 daily. This income has given her the means to support her mother and establish a newfound sense of confidence and pride.

“Her success is a reminder that when young women are given tools and the opportunity to thrive, they can break down the barriers that limit them,” noted Ms Natasha Butorac, Programme Specialist at UN Women Uganda.

The forum, held at Makerere University on Friday afternoon, served as a stark reminder of the uphill battle still faced by women.

UN Women statistics cited at the event revealed that only 34 percent of young women in Uganda have basic literacy and numeracy skills, and a mere one in three girls complete secondary education.

Furthermore, systemic inequality persists, women earn approximately 40 percent less than men for similar work and shoulder a disproportionate burden of unpaid care work, limiting their access to education and employment. Only 27 percent of women use formal financial services compared to 39 percent of men.

“These sobering statistics demonstrate the critical importance of focusing on women’s economic empowerment and access to alternative pathways to education,” Ms. Butorac stressed, urging stakeholders to increase commitment to gender equality.

Aitenga Women Empowerment Organization, established in 2023 by Ms Ling Chang, reinforced its commitment to equipping young women with skills for self-sufficiency, particularly among teenage girls.

“We need people who can think independently for their survival in the community,” Ms. Chang stated, highlighting the organization’s focus on basic business management and development alongside skills training in programs like tailoring and their Starting Points Entrepreneur Initiative.

UN Women lauded this organisation’s leadership and underlined the value of promoting value-added skilling in non-traditional fields like mechanics, welding, and construction. These fields often offer greater income-generating potential in less saturated markets and help dismantle gendered stereotypes.

The UN Women representative further urged partners to “value, reduce, and redistribute unpaid care work,” calling for investment in care systems like affordable childcare to truly achieve gender-transformative empowerment.

Mr Benard Makuba Mujuni, Commissioner of Equity and Rights in the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Development, acknowledged the critical role of civil society in complementing government efforts.

He specifically pointed to the potential of the “creative economy, like bitenge designers,” and the need for “embracing technologies in renovation” for modern skill acquisition.

The forum concluded by recognising the crucial role of the private sector, with Mr. Sunil Lakhani, General Manager of Smartec Electronics, present as a key partner demonstrating corporate support for the empowerment agenda.

Smartec Electronics donated Shs.2.4million to Aitenga Women Empowerment Organization to continue spreading the gospel of women empowerment in the country.

Despite the celebratory tone, a poignant moment came with a collective appeal from the NGO community for better operational support.

“Save us (the NGOs); access to government personalities and support from the government is still limited,” was reiterated, highlighting administrative hurdles faced by organisations working on the ground.

Ms. Butorac concluded the event with a strong economic message: “Investing in women is not charity-it is a human right and a smart economic decision… When women thrive, communities thrive.”

The Deputy Chief Justice, Dr Flavian Zeija, has praised the Judiciary’s growing adoption of digital technology and artificial intelligence, saying the reforms will ease access to justice and strengthen public trust in the courts.

Presiding over the open court day at the Ntungamo Chief Magistrate’s Court on Friday, Dr Zeija said the judiciary was steadily adapting to technological change through digital courts, electronic filing and online or mobile payments for court services such as bail and application fees.

‘The world is fast advancing and there is this AI (artificial intelligence), as court we are slowly adapting and we shall see all this ease access to our processes. We are implementing electronic court case management, and now our users can pay for services using Mobile money, someone is able to file a case from home on a computer and when a judge comes in the morning, he will find a case at their desk,’ Justice Zeija said.

He noted that digital payments would reduce delays that have kept many suspects in detention, especially over weekends or in districts without commercial banks.

‘Police has had a habit of bringing suspects to court on Friday afternoon knowing that even if a suspect is granted bail it will be late to pay the bail money as banks would have closed so they can stay for the weekend. Now you pay with mobile money and simply bring a receipt. No one will sleep in cells because they have failed to pay over banks closing. Some areas where there are courts have no commercial banks and people travel long distances to bank for court services,’ he said.

Dr Zeija added that the rollout of High Court sessions countrywide would be supported by digital systems enabling suspects to appear from prison while judicial officers sit in court, reducing transport challenges and easing hearings.

He also said mobile courts would be deployed to hard-to-reach areas and busy trading centres to bring justice closer to the public.

‘We are having mobile vans fitted well with the bench and where people can sit, we shall take such to places like markets and we also take there suspects and officers. This will aid us in accessing witnesses too. In places like Islands on Lake Victoria, we shall have well-built boats state of the art to reach out to such. We want people to feel court presence and this justice be done,’ he said.

He warned judicial officers against taking bribes and urged improved customer care, timely judgments, mediation and better public sensitisation through radio.

Ntungamo Chief Magistrate Gordon Muhimbise said improved staffing, welfare and more court sessions were boosting public confidence. Mbarara Resident Judge Justice Allan Nshimye said digitalisation had reduced file loss and improved efficiency.

On her part, Ntungamo RDC Miriam Kagaiga said cooperation between courts and security agencies supported peace and stability. Court users, however, raised concerns over victimisation of guarantors in money-lending cases and slow appeals.

Uganda Peoples Congress (UPC) contested president, Mr Jimmy Akena, is all about badmouthing President Museveni for all his recent political woes. Mr Akena missed the nomination to stand as a presidential candidate in 2026 simply because of a court ruling challenging his status as UPC party president. This was after his fellow senior UPC officials Joseph Ochieno and Dennis Enap went to court contesting his stay in office beyond the mandatory two five-year terms.

Strangely, after that debacle, Mr Akena is all over accusing President Museveni of frustrating his presidential ambitions and undermining Uganda’s oldest political party. In his delusion, he has publicly urged people in the Lango Sub-region to shun President Museveni and deny him votes come January 15, 2026. The Electoral Commission (EC), in its September 22 communication, argued that Akena’s term as UPC president expired on August 1, and, therefore, he lacked the mandate to stand as the party’s flagbearer. Clearly, Akena’s woes were orchestrated by his colleagues, who apparently, were stopping his mechanisations to change the party constitution and have him re-elected for the third term.

Speaking in Lira City during a recent homecoming event organised by some party loyalists, Akena said the ruling government has persistently interfered with institutions to weaken UPC’s influence. ‘Today, I decided to start with a gospel song, and the key of the song is that my tomorrow must be greater than today, and it doesn’t matter what they do to me, what they say, whatever they do, I am moving ahead for a better tomorrow,’ he said.

Mr Akena knelt when the national anthem was sung as a sign of protest, urging all UPC supporters and well-wishers to protest the perceived injustice in the same manner. He claimed that it is only he who had the master card to deny Mr Museveni the legal 50+1 automatic victory required by EC. First, Mr Akena does not own the minds and souls of the people of Lango. He is lost in his father, Milton Obote’s, near-cult status he had during those many years he reigned as president of Uganda.

Mr Akena has failed to realise that the generation of his father is literally no more and that the new generation wants to make judgments using their own lenses.

They know better what President Museveni has done for Lango, and no wonder they have overwhelmingly voted NRM in the previous general elections and that there is nothing Mr Akena can do now to change the course of events. NRM got more than 70 percent in the 2021 General Election. Without a doubt, people in Lango will not fall for Mr Akena’s propaganda.

That is pure escapism on Mr Akena’s part, and no sensible Ugandan can believe him with such excuses. An apology to Ugandans, and more especially to his UPC party, is what is required of him, 1) for being insolent to his party constitution and 2) for causing his party such turmoil that made them fail to have a presidential candidate in the 2026 elections.

Probably, to further save his face from the embarrassment, he and his legal team have filed a legal challenge to the EC, hoping to be pronounced the legitimate party president and, therefore, be included on the ballot paper. How this can be done remains to be seen since the presidential ballot papers are already being printed, going by what is being reported. Mr Akena should just eat the humble pie and accept his fate. It is not an offence to make a mistake, but it becomes a punishable one when one insists on a mistake. We all make mistakes, but we must learn to own up and probably offer a legitimate apology. Akena, you can’t wriggle out of this.