Category: Daily Monitor

Police in Rukiga District are searching for a man suspected of killing his 11-month-old daughter in a shocking domestic incident.

On Friday, Kigezi region police spokesperson Elly Maate identified the deceased as Obvious Ainomigisha and said the incident occurred on November 13 at around 4:00 p.m. at Nyakasa Cell, Bucyundura Parish in Kashambya Sub-County.

‘It’s alleged that the suspect had spent three months away from home and returned on 13/11/2025. He found his wife taking a cow for grazing at around 1600hrs. He followed her with a stick and started beating her on the back, and yet she had a baby tied on the back. The baby was hit on the face with a stick and died instantly,’ Maate told reporters.

He added that the mother, weeping, removed the child from her back while the suspect took the baby to a nearby clinic for medical attention, where it was confirmed the child had already died. The suspect then fled the scene.

Police were notified immediately and visited the scene to record statements from witnesses. The body of the deceased has been taken for postmortem examination.

‘Efforts to have the suspect apprehended are being made so that he is charged accordingly. Inquiries are at hand to establish the reason for which the wife and her daughter were being beaten,’ Maate said.

The incident has sparked shock and fear in the community, with authorities urging residents to report any information that could lead to the suspect’s arrest.

The investigation is ongoing, and police emphasized that anyone found harboring or assisting the suspect will be dealt with under the law.

A travel company has dragged a non-government organization to court, seeking to recover over Shs43 million for unpaid travel services.

In a suit lodged before Buganda Road Chief Magistrate’s Court on Friday, Gallivanter Agency Limited claims that on May 9, 2025, it provided air travel services to Global Election Observation Mission Limited staff. Services included processing and re-issuance of air tickets.

On May 13, 2025, the defendant allegedly acknowledged in writing its indebtedness of USD 6,806 (about Shs 26 million) to the plaintiff.

The plaint further states that the agency issued another invoice on May 14, 2025, bringing the total debt owed to USD 11,393, equivalent to Shs 43,293,400million.

‘The plaintiff provided travel services of processing air tickets to the defendant’s staff, which were duly acknowledged and received. The defendant, however, failed to make full payment for the services rendered,’ the court documents read in part.

Gallivanter Agency accuses the NGO of issuing three cheques on May 19, 2025, toward payment of the debt, all of which were dishonoured by the bank.

‘The defendant only issued three cheques towards payment of the plaintiff’s debt, but they all bounced and were dishonoured,’ the plaint adds.

The travel agency states that on June 2, 2025, the defendant’s Chief Executive Officer committed in writing to pay the debt in four instalments of Shs10 million each, to be completed by July 30, 2025. However, the plaintiff claims the agreed payment plan was not honoured.

Gallivanter Agency asserts that the NGO made only one partial payment of USD 638 (about Shs2,424,400), leaving a balance of $11,393.

The company also notes that the defendant acknowledged the outstanding debt in its reply to a demand notice, which was attached to the plaint as evidence.

In the said letter dated August 25, 2025, and written through Stabit Advocates, Global Election Observation Mission admitted entering into an arrangement with Gallivanter Agency and confirmed owing the claimed amount.

‘Our client acknowledges that she entered into an arrangement with your client for the said respective services and further acknowledges that she made promises to clear the monies involved therein as claimed,’ reads the letter signed by Stabit Advocates on behalf of the NGO.

The NGO, however, attributed the delayed payment to the late arrival of donor funds.

‘Our client is a non-governmental organization that solely derives its income from donors and funders. The funds were delayed due to unforeseen circumstances,’ the letter adds.

The defendant requested additional time to settle the debt. ‘Our client has been in talks with her funders, and the funds are expected to be available within sixty (60) days. We pray for further time within which to clear the outstanding debt,’ the NGO’s lawyers wrote.

Gallivanter Agency is asking court to enter judgment in its favour and order the defendant to pay Shs 43,293,400 with interest at the court rate until payment in full, as well as the costs of the suit.

The case has been allocated to the Chief Magistrate’s Ronald Kayizzi for hearing.

President Museveni is set to commission a Shs349 billion ($100 million) cassava processing plant in Kamuli District, aiming to transform the economic landscape of the Busoga sub-region ahead of the January 15, 2026, general elections.

On November 15, 2025, Museveni will launch his campaign trail in Busoga, which will conclude on November 21 in Jinja City.

During the tour, he is also scheduled to inaugurate the Kamuli starch processing facility, spearheaded by Dr Matthias Magoola of Dei BioPharma Ltd, which will provide a profitable market for local cassava farmers and create over 30,000 jobs.

The starch processing facility will require 500 metric tons of cassava daily, equivalent to 50 trucks, and is expected to directly create 40,000 high-paying jobs, officials said.

“We’re creating 40,000 high-paying jobs directly, especially in Busoga where poverty is high, not because people are lazy, but because they lack a market for their produce,” Dr Magoola said.

He added: “This factory is value addition, empowering locals and bridging the market gap.”

The facility will produce glucose, maltose, and fructose, marking the first large-scale production of these products in East Africa, and positioning Uganda to compete in global markets, including Europe, the United States, and China.

Dr Magoola said the initiative also aligns with President Museveni’s vision of empowering local manufacturers and generating tax revenue for the government.

“The biggest problem in Africa is that we lack technology. We grow cassava for food only, and we aren’t producing anything out of it. That’s why many farmers don’t have a market for cassava,” he said, noting plans to expand production to over 100 cassava-based products in the future.

Dr Michael Mugabira, Site Manager of the Busambu Village facility, urged farmers to focus on productivity and quality by adopting certified seeds and best agronomic practices.

“Our focus is now on productivity, as the market is secured,” he said.

Local residents welcomed the development. Mary Nabende, a Kamuli resident, said, “We’re happy to see this factory targeting cassava, our main crop. We’ve lacked a market, but this is an opportunity for us.”

Youth councillor Promise Viola Aliyinza said the plant would engage young people, channeling them into productive ventures.

“The youth were redundant, exploited, and into bad practices, but now they’ll be reconstructed, engaged, and earning,” she said.

Earlier this year, the Greater Busoga Sugarcane Growers Union (GBSGU) signed a memorandum of understanding with Dei BioPharma Ltd to supply cassava for pharmaceutical production.

Chairperson Godfrey Biriwali said cassava is faster-maturing and more profitable than sugarcane.

“An acre of cassava can yield Shs2.5m in 8 months, compared to sugarcane’s Shs3m in 18 months,” he said.

Kamuli district LCV Vice Chairperson, Sarah Sambya, called for farmers to embrace cassava as a sustainable commercial crop. ‘Cassava is more than just a crop – it’s a sustainable solution for food security and economic growth. Let’s shift from sugarcane, which has depleted our resources, to cassava, which offers a ready market and a greener future,’ she said.

Dei BioPharma’s products have received certification from the USA Food Department for global use, further assuring farmers of a stable market and competitive prices.

For Uganda Cranes budding goalkeeper Denis Kiggundu, life between the sticks has become a delicate balancing act – a classic catch-22 moment.

Once hailed as Vipers’ emerging guardian angel after inspiring their Uganda Cup triumph, the young custodian now finds himself watching from the sidelines at Kitende, even as he remains firmly within national coach Paul Put’s plans.

Last season, Kiggundu was the toast of Vipers’ Uganda Cup campaign. In his mid twenties, kiggundu started every match, producing commanding performances that culminated in a nerveless display in the final against KCCA, helping the Venoms clinch the silverware.

His agility and composure under pressure earned him widespread praise, making him a key figure in Uganda’s Chan 2024 preparations – where he even featured in a pre-tournament friendly against Senegal.

Briefly shot at power

However, the winds have since shifted. When Belgian coach Ivan Minnaert took charge at Vipers, he shocked many by elevating Kiggundu above established first-choice Alfred Macumu Mudekereza – the Congolese shot-stopper who had joined from Bukavu Dawa (DR Congo) in 2022 and dethroned Burundian Fabien Mutombora to become Vipers’ number one.

Under Minnaert’s early plans, Kiggundu started all four Caf Champions League qualifiers against African Stars (Namibia) and Power Dynamos (Zambia), a sign of faith that the young goalkeeper had truly come of age.

But football is cruel. Costly blunders against Dynamos – mistakes that saw Vipers miss out on the lucrative group stages – proved fatal to Kiggundu’s rise.

Mudekereza reclaimed the gloves, and in the first two league matches of the season against Entebbe UPPC and KCCA, he reminded everyone why he is regarded among the region’s best.

Against Entebbe at Bugonga, Mudekereza delivered a vintage display: producing a superb one-handed save from Isa Bugembe’s curling free-kick and an instinctive close-range block to deny Samuel Kawawa.

He was deservedly named Man of the Match as Vipers won 1-0. The message was clear – the Congolese wasn’t surrendering his spot easily.

For Kiggundu, the timing couldn’t be worse. As Paul Put fine-tunes his Afcon 2025 squad ahead of Group C clashes with Tunisia, Tanzania, and Nigeria, the young keeper remains in the extended pool – alongside veterans Denis Onyango and Ismail Watenga Jamal (both South Africa-based) and Bul’s Tom Ikara.

Put, known for conservatism approach, has faith in Kiggundu’s potential, but even he knows that match fitness and regular football are non-negotiable for a place on the Morocco-bound plane.

Chan miss

Kiggundu’s Chan journey mid this year hinted at his potential, but reality bit hard there too. Despite making the final squad, he watched from the bench as Joel Mutakubwa started all four matches, with Crispus Kusiima as backup.

Now, the task ahead is steep. If Kiggundu is to be part of Uganda’s goalkeeping future – especially in the post-Onyango, post-Jamal era – he must reclaim his Vipers spot soon.

His aerial command, game reading, and communication still need sharpening, and only consistent game time will bring that maturity.

For now, he stands at a crossroads – admired by the national coach but overshadowed at club level by a resurgent Mudekereza.

The season is still young, and if form and fate align, Kiggundu could yet script his redemption. But until then, Uganda’s wannabe custodian remains trapped in the cruel paradox of needing to play to be picked – but unable to play because he is not picked.

The National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) has raised alarm over the poor state of research in Uganda’s universities, warning that many institutions risk being reduced to “glorified high schools” due to their overreliance on tuition fees and limited research output.

Speaking during the launch of the fourth Consortium of Uganda University Libraries (CUUL) journal in Kampala, Prof. Mary Okwakol, Executive Director of NCHE, said the council’s latest annual survey paints a worrying picture of the country’s higher education sector.

“The survey indicators show that our research is not progressing as it should. Many institutions, the majority in fact, do not conduct meaningful research. Most universities are focused mainly on tuition, which is why people say they could be glorified high schools,” Prof Okwakol said.

She emphasised that NCHE assesses universities’ research capacity through indicators such as library resources, innovation output, and publication standards.

“Research is a very important aspect of the higher education mandate. Libraries are a cornerstone of any university, supporting both learning and innovation,” she noted.

Prof Okwakol commended CUUL for reviving academic publishing after a two-decade hiatus, describing the initiative as a platform to consolidate research from member institutions and promote innovation and commercialization.

“We are very happy with CUUL for launching the first journal after 21 years, which will collect publications from member institutions. Through this collaboration, we are not only publishing research but also identifying innovative ideas and advancing them,” she said.

Mr Andrew Ojulong, CUUL Executive Director, raised concerns over the low enrollment of students in Library and Information Science (LIS) courses. He cited public perception, limited awareness, and inadequate ICT infrastructure as key barriers.

“Ugandan publishers are very few; we have only a handful of journals. The launch of the Uganda University Journal is a timely addition that can boost academic publishing and encourage more local scholars to participate,” Mr Ojulong said.

The CUUL journal launch was attended by Vice Chancellors, librarians, and academics from Ugandan universities, who pledged to support the initiative and promote research and innovation in their institutions.

A Ugandan comedian recently said, ‘In Uganda, they tell you to trust the process, naye does the process know that you are trusting it?’ Munange good people, that is how I also trusted the process and got a glimpse of the new Uganda, aka Uganda empya. Do not ask me to explain how I saw it, after all, you do not question your mehn of Gaad when they keep making trips to heaven. Just trust the way the animals trusted the pigs on Animal Farm, the same way everyone believed Molly’s sugar Candy Mountain. So what saw I?

Digital money

In Uganda empya, things of cash will be things of the past. Your money will move with you. Okay, this also means your poverty will move with you. Those things of ‘let me see what I can do’ will be lies of the past. Kubanga, what will you be doing when all your wallets are digital? Mbu you will just put someone’s NIN in a search bar, and it will display their financial health. Whether they are in red, amber or green. Of course, my Mulawa, Bulindo and Najjera people, you just know these ones will be in Magenta.

Now, not only that. Mbu going forward, your Pastor or Prophet or Bishop will be collecting offertory from the source. You will just get a notification; ‘Apostle Busulwa collected this month’s tithe.’ Anti money will be flying in the air, and everything will be connected to source.

The oil and gas people

These ones you should watch closely. Soonest, there will be a new term in people, the people who work in Oil and Gas (O and G). Of course, not to be confused with your Ogs. Once the oil starts to flow bulungi, these will be the chaps shutting down the whole Bandali street. Mbu they will be to Uganda what the telecom guys were in the early 2000s, displaying their IDs for all to see. The new rizz will be the chaps associated with O and G people. The current O and G people are camouflaging, they are quasi. But when the real dons arrive, they will enter a bar and say, ‘whoever has no bottle on their table, I have bought out the table.’

No more heartbreaks

People are wondering, will the relationships last longer in the new Uganda? No, good people. Everything just gets shorter. You think Ye is making those shoes for who? It is to make up for the coming crisis of the imps. Mbu there is no way you can expect your relationship to last long when the inhabitants of that relationship cannot sum up to six feet in height. What more signs do you need? The only beauty in the new Uganda is that again, you will be able to do a better background check. You will put in someone’s NIN and see that currently; the person you are dating is being claimed by these six people. You will get details that Sam is being claimed by an HR manager in Lubowa and a trader next to the Nakivubo channel.

In the new Uganda, you will enter with eyes open. You will see the abyss and fall in willingly. You will cry tears in advance. But perhaps, in the new Uganda, there will even be no hearts. Because as we speak, does the person reading this have one? No! In new Uganda, we shall have paper hearts. Just for just.

Corruption for all

When I got to this one, things got fuzzy and foggy. I could not see clearly. This chap had matured into a proper adult. Mbu in old Uganda, if you paid after the deal, in new Uganda, you would pay to even be considered for the deal. You will pay so that you can be paid. Mbu apparently in the new Uganda, people pleaded with the gods and said – ‘tokuba nyo.’ Mbu when you throw a stone in Uganda, before it even lands, it will hit about five corrupt chaps. Mbu kids these days start specialising from primary school. They learn from mummy and daddy who keep promising people with the same line – ‘first wait, let me call you back.’ Naye what do people mean by that line. As in, I wait on the call, then you call back. How does that work?

As usual in the new Uganda, people will keep their real sources of income a ka-secret. We shall have formal jobs, but our bu-real sources will be a mystery. We shall work in boutiques, keep them closed for most of the time, but we shall not miss flights. We shall move from Doha to Kuala Lumpur. You chaps can hate on our hustles, and keep yearning – ‘involve me, involve me.’

Agriculture = Aura farming

The only serious agricultural activity I saw in the new Uganda was aura-farming. Mbu every day, people will wake up to farm aura. If you need an explanation, it is clear you are not the target generation. You should just be confirming your NSSF details and whether you qualify for early access. Mu Uganda empya, there will be one job only, farming aura, and maxxing out on aura. You will only visit places that give you an opportunity to increase your aura. You will only make friends that increase aura. Everything will be based on the aura currency. If you are rich but you have no aura, your money will mean nothing to us. It is aura or nothing. Mbu restaurants will even add meals on their menu just for aura purposes. That is why instead of mukene or silver fish, some chaps now call them ‘baby sharks’, again, it is all about aura.

Instead of boyfriend or girlfriend (very imperialistic terms), you talk of your person oba your partner. Mbu then the boundaries can be stretched just in case you need to add another person on the team. Again, blame it on aura.

Potholes and boda bodas

Pause here. Swallow some water, sip something. When you close your eyes, can you really imagine a Uganda without potholes? Let us repeat this exercise. Breathe in, breathe out, again, can you imagine a Uganda without boda bodas? You see the other gender cannot live without their boda guy. Nga boda guys deliver all sorts of things, even emergency whatever.

The only reason we shall keep the boda bodas is because the other gender is as loyal to them, the way men are loyal to their barbers and premier league clubs. And now, also, don’t you think we shall maintain something that reminds us of the old Uganda. What shall a new Uganda mean if we do not have a historical context? Our Nakivubo channel is now a storeyed complex. No, the gods decided in new Uganda, we shall keep at least a pothole per Ugandan citizen. Because who will feed the families of those that keep filling the potholes?

And besides, the potholes and boda bodas go together. You know when the boda guy is jazzing some incoherent kibozi, and their wind is whistling through your eyes, and ears, and then he hits a pothole or hump, and the next thing you hear is just you saying – ‘iyeee, mmmmh.’ Mbu usually that is the moment that signifies the end of one episode, as he embarks on a new episode.

President hangs in Bulwadda

This one is more interesting. Although the President has been getting harder to reach in old Uganda. In the new Uganda, the president will be accessible. Every month, State House will be sharing the president’s party schedule. You know how they share the current election campaign schedule, same way they will be sharing all the places where the president will be aura farming.

You will just get a notification; ‘this week, the president will be in Bulwadda Estate, Kyanja.’ What is with that excuse of an estate? Do those people even cook? Mbu everything there is just delivered. Even the residents of those apartments are just delivered. Mbu the ka-estate does not really have permanent owners, everyone there is either dealing in something or dealing out something. Mbu if you get pregnant for a guy in Bulwadda Estate, it is on you. But… I digress! In the new Uganda, our Prezzo will have days when he chills in Bulwadda, he will even tell us about the new flavours, you know of what? Stop acting proper.

Then, there will be a public holiday for content creators. In fact, it will be mandated that every bar, restaurant, lounge have a place for content creators. Parents should embrace for the new age when their kids are proper streaming as a career.

Back then, when we told people digital will be a department in the workplace, they argued. In the new Uganda, streaming will be a proper career option. Even the President will be a streamer. Of course, your wild mind is wondering; ‘even on OF?’ Clearly, you are not the target audience of this newspaper.

Elections… for what?

I thought UEDC.whatever the name, had improved its services mu Uganda empya, because why is it that when I got to serious topics, it was just blacking out. Mbu in the new Uganda, we shall have leadership on a daily bundle. There will be many presidents, many mayors, you will just subscribe to your own mayor. For example, if you want Sarah is Tall for the month of August, you get that one. Then your friends will tell you; ‘gwe, Kampala yetaaga engineer’ and boom, you subscribe to yinginiya. Will there be elections? I said, when I got to this topic, things were confusing. The only words I remember were ‘as if.’ Whatever you do with that information, it is up to you.

#BanKikomando

The biggest change in the new Uganda was that you will not have that option of ‘meere yonna’ going forward. Is it your father’s farm where you get all foods? Mbu even kikomando will exist no more. Rolex will remain, but Kikomando has lost aura. Mbu there is not a single way of eating kikomando without reducing aura points.

The good thing in the new Uganda, millennials will be the grandparents, Gen-Zs will be the parents, and Gen-Alphas, the children, then you will experience a melange en melange. In the new Uganda, the children will parent their parents. Isn’t it already happening? Luckily, I woke up just in time, just in time when Engineer Na-debts was insisting they add a culvert.

The Civil Society Budget Advocacy Group (CSBAG) has warned that Uganda’s economy is at risk due to persistent domestic borrowing and low tax collections.

Executive Director Julius Mukunda stated that the country’s total public debt has risen to Shs120 trillion, with half of it being domestic, and that the government is paying 15-17 per cent interest on domestic debt compared to 2-3 per cent on concessional loans.

“Uganda’s total public debt has risen to about Shs120 trillion, half of which Shs60 trillion is domestic. Borrowing from local banks now accounts for 50 per cent of total public debt, up from 30 per cent in FY2021,” Mukunda said.

He added that interest payments have risen to Shs7 trillion in FY2025, up from Shs3 trillion in 2019, meaning that for every Shs100 collected in taxes, Shs25 is spent on interest alone.

Mukunda advised the government to prioritise concessional financing, reduce high-interest domestic debt, and enforce fiscal discipline by limiting supplementary budgets to genuine emergencies.

“The government should prioritise concessional financing and reduce high-interest domestic debt. Each percentage point drop in domestic interest rates could save Uganda Shs300-400 billion annually,” he said.

The S and P Global Ratings revised Uganda’s Economic Outlook from “Stable” to “Positive”, citing the economy’s resilient growth, strong external trade position, and recovery momentum. However, Mukunda warned that growing domestic debt burden, persistent supplementary budgets, and low tax revenues threaten fiscal credibility and inclusive growth.

“We need to expand taxes by ensuring that everyone pays their fair share. We have also engaged the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) to partner with districts to strengthen rental and property tax collection,” Mukunda said.

Mukunda emphasized the need for the government to address national content challenges, such as technical capacity and financial access, to ensure that the benefits of oil and gas are fully realized by all Ugandans. He also called for transparency in the management of oil revenues, saying that the government should ensure that the Petroleum Fund is managed transparently.

The S and P Global Ratings also based their decision on Uganda’s strong and resilient growth, record-rise in foreign exchange reserves, improved external balance, return of concessional financing, low inflation, and currency stability, and a thriving banking sector.

Mukunda further noted that Uganda’s positive rating outlook is encouraging, but the government must ensure that growth is inclusive, borrowing is affordable, and public money delivers real value.

“CSBAG remains committed to working with government and partners to promote fiscal responsibility, debt transparency, and citizen participation in national budgeting so that every shilling borrowed and spent transforms lives,” he said.

The Uganda National Examinations Board (Uneb) has explained that the discrepancy in one of the Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE) examination papers was a typographical error.

The Economics Paper Two, sat on Tuesday morning, was dated ‘November/December 2024’ instead of 2025, raising concerns among candidates and parents that the board could have mistakenly distributed a past paper.

Images of the examination paper quickly circulated on social media, prompting Uneb to issue an official corrigendum clarifying the mix-up.

In a November 11 letter, addressed to all area supervisors, Uneb Executive Director Dan Odongo said the year on the paper should have read 2025, not 2024, and directed that candidates proceed with the examination.

‘Please take note that the year should read 2025, and not 2024, as is on the examination paper. The candidates should proceed with the examination,’ the letter read in part.

Speaking to Monitor on November 13, Uneb spokesperson Jennifer Kalule described the incident as a minor typographical error that did not affect the content or integrity of the paper.

‘Yes, it is true there was a typing error in the header where we erroneously wrote 2024 instead of 2025. However, the content of the paper was truly 2025 and not a past paper as alleged on social media,’ Ms Kalule said.

She added that the Board immediately acted upon learning of the error by communicating to all examination centres through the online portal and professional supervisors’ forums.

‘The Board was able to quickly communicate to all our centres through the portal and other professional forums. We wish to allay the fears of the public and to assure them that the Economics paper was a current 2025 paper and not a past paper,’ Ms Kalule added.

Uneb’s quick response helped calm concerns among supervisors and candidates who had already started the examination by the time the clarification was issued.

However, Uneb did not explain the source of the typographical error. Traditionally, the Uneb prepares three sets of test papers for each subject every year. Two of the three sets are usually supplementary, in case of any emergency.

Uneb distributes one set to all candidates, reserving the two supplementary papers for emergencies, such as leakage or other errors in one of the sets.

Uneb is currently conducting the UACE examinations across the country, the final series in this year’s national exams cycle.

This comes on the back of the completion of the Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE) and Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) exams.

About 166,402 candidates are sitting for this year’s examinations, which commenced on Monday, in more than 2,000 centres nationwide, marking a slight increase from last year.

Just like last season, the Kabalega Rally will decide the 2025 National Rally Championship (NRC).

This year’s championship, due November 21-23, will see leader Ronald Ssebuguzi (Ford Proto) come head to head with new kid on the block Musa Ssegaaabwe (Mitsubishi Evo 9), former national champion Ponsiano Lwakataka (Subaru N12B), and Duncan Mubiru (Ford Proto).

During the launch of the event this week at Uganda Olympic Committee offices in Lugogo, the organizers of the event UMOSPOC said that they are ready to organize a safe event.

‘This is the 8th edition of the Kabalega Rally and we are happy to be a club which is organizing a championship decider for the second year running. Last year, Jas Mangat won the event and consequently the 2024 Championship,’ UMOSPOC vice president Justin Mugoma, said.

He added that: “We have assembled experienced technical and human resources in all departments so that we can have a safe event.”

The second deputy prime minister and minister for tourism in Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom Apollo Rwamparo urged the organizers to publicize the routes where the cars are going to pass so that they have an accident-free event.

‘This event is big and it’s the second to Empango. We therefore expect a lot of people who are coming from different parts of the country. As a kingdom, we call on the organizers to do a drive and give awareness to the public on where the cars are going to pass,” said Rwamparo.

The past winners of the event include Godfrey Lubega ( 2016), Hassan Alwi (2017 and 2018), Arthur Blick Jr (2019), Rajiv Rupaerlia (2021), Yasin Nasser (2023), and Jas Mangat (2024).

NRC Standings after Gulu Rally

1-Ronald Sebuguzi – 294 points

2-Musa Ssegaabwe – 241.5 points

3-Ponsiano Lwakataka – 235 points

4-Duncan Mubiru – 197 points

5-Aine Sodo – 184.6 points

6-Micheal Mukula Jr – 131 points

Three organised criminal gangs have launched a fresh wave of attacks in Kiryandongo District, targeting residents in their homes and pedestrians travelling at night with electronic gadgets and cash.

The attacks, which have intensified over the last three months, have left communities in fear and disrupted night-time movement.

According to security officials, the gangs, identified as the Gaza Group, Pentagon Group, and Agu Group, operate mainly in Bweyale and Kigumba townships, areas experiencing rapid population growth due to increased business activity.

Authorities say the fast-developing townships have become a haven for some of the most notorious criminals in the district.

Each gang reportedly has a commander who directs its operations. The groups are accused of a range of violent crimes, including robbery, murder, house break-ins, and serious assaults.

Security sources reveal that the gangs typically move in groups and attack without warning, armed with machetes and iron bars. Their targets include phones, cash, motorcycles, and household items.

Mr Jonathan Akweteireho, the Deputy Resident District Commissioner (RDC), says the thugs have taken over several streets and neighbourhoods, terrorising residents mostly at night.

‘They break into people’s houses armed with machetes, stealing television sets, laptops, mattresses, phones, anything they can find. They also waylay boda boda riders and other residents returning from work, snatching phones and riding off with motorcycles,’ he said.

He urged members of the business community to avoid moving with large sums of money or valuables at night and appealed to the public to report suspicious behaviour.

He also confirmed that security forces are conducting targeted operations to dismantle the gangs’ networks.

‘We have gangs of people, some call themselves Gaza, others call themselves Agu, there are those called Pentagon, especially in Kyigumba and Bwoyale towns. But we keep doing operations, but they keep growing us as well, and it also speaks to the fact that we need to do a lot at household level. You see most of these kids are below 20, and we are watching keenly,” he said.

Residents say the situation has deteriorated, forcing many to live in constant fear.

Ms Judith Kayom, a resident of Kigumba Town Council, said the gangs strike under the cover of darkness, leaving communities sleepless.

‘They move in groups and are always armed with machetes and iron bars. They are very violent. We appeal to security to intensify night patrols,’ she said.

Jimmy Ochaya from Bweyale noted that many people now close their businesses as early as 7 p.m. to avoid attacks.

‘We are not secure at all. These criminals invade homes armed with pangas and iron bars. Residents are living in fear, we need urgent intervention,’ he said.

Ms Juliet Adoko, a resident of Kiryandongo Town Council, called for enhanced surveillance and increased patrols to curb the rising crime rate.

Kiryandongo has previously recorded with similar attacks. In 2023, both police and military personnel were heavily deployed in Bweyale and Kigumba following a surge in criminal gang activity.

Then, as now, the gangs used machetes to break into homes, target travellers, and snatch motorcycles.

Despite ongoing security efforts, residents say the gangs have re-emerged stronger, prompting renewed calls for sustained and visible enforcement to restore safety in the district.