Category: Daily Monitor

As President Museveni prepares to launch his campaign in Busoga, on Saturday, there is a lingering shadow of Ms Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga’s defeat in a recent poll.

Ms Kadaga, who is the East African Affairs minister, First Deputy Prime Minister and Kamuli Woman MP, lost her position as the National Resistance Movement (NRM) second national vice chairperson (female) in the party’s Central Executive Committee (CEC) poll, which took place in August.

Ms Kadaga lost the CEC seat to Speaker of Parliament Anita Among who garnered 11,680 votes (92.8 percent) against her 902 votes, representing 7.2 percent of the 12,582 total votes cast. Some of the sub-region’s voters have highlighted Ms Kadaga’s defeat as a key issue that could influence Mr Museveni’s support in Busoga.

Mr Meddy Mbetyo, national deputy secretary for mobilising and organising in the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) , said Ms Kadaga’s losing in CEC will impact voting in Busoga because she is currently supporting some independent candidates who lost in the NRM party primaries, which is likely to affect the performance of NRM in Busoga.

He, however, said:’Ms Kadaga has nothing to tell Basoga because at first she told people in Busoga that Museveni is fighting her, now again the same person is telling people that support Museveni. She is giving contradicting statements.’

Mr Solomon Kaswabuli, Namutumba District National Unity Platform (NUP) spokesperson, concured with Mr Mbetyo, by saying that Ms Kadaga’s actions after her defeat, especially in mobilising support for Mr Museveni could further divide voters in Busoga.

He added that Ms Kadaga is ”again doing a disservice” to Ugandans and Basoga by campaigning for Mr Museveni’s re-election, echoing concerns about her role in removing the presidential age limit in 2017 when she was the Speaker of Parliament.

‘Mama Kadaga removed the age limit, now we’re stuck with an 80-year-old candidate. She’s quick to switch sides, saying Museveni’s bad when he opposed her on the NRM CEC post, but now she’s all about him. To me, she’s a hypocrite and a problem for Busoga,’ Mr Kaswabuli said.

Jinja City Deputy Mayor Fazira Kawuma, however, said : ‘The defeat of Ms Kadaga is no longer an issue. In fact, it has turned into an opportunity for President Museveni because she is openly doubling her efforts in canvassing for him votes in the region.’

Ms Kawuma, who went through unopposed on the seat of Female Persons with Disabilities Councillor at Jinja City, on the NRM ticket, explained: ‘Ms Kadaga has become the chief campaigner for President Museveni in Busoga. ..Ms Kadaga launched a task force to campaign for President Museveni in Busoga, which means that all her genuine supporters are rallying behind President Museveni, overtaking the disagreements that cropped up during the CEC elections,’ she said.

Other voters have also listed numerous promises Mr Museveni’s government has not fulfilled over the years. They said these issues could also influence Mr Museveni’s support in Busoga.

The campaign trail, which will end on November 21, in Jinja City, is seen as an opportunity for Mr Museveni to reassure voters and gain more support. However, some Basoga believe it’s time to evaluate and audit Mr Museveni and his government, especially in delivery of promises made in previous campaigns.

‘We love, vote and support NRM here but it seems the presidential pledges have moved from promises to lies and enticement to keep us in hope resurrecting during the campaign,” said Mr Michael Kanaku, the Buyende District chairperson.

The unfulfilled promises include the tarmacking of the Jinja-Ambercourt-Mbulamuti-Kamuli-Bukungu Road, which covers Jinja, Kamuli and Buyende districts), Iganga-Luuka-Kamuli, Iganga-Mayuge-Bwondha, and Kamuli-Kaliro roads, which are crucial for economic development.

Mr Gonzaga Bukenya Mulira, the People’s Front for Freedom party (PFF) mobiliser in Kamuli , said several people are disappointed with Mr Museveni’s unfulfilled pledges, including the tarmarcking of Ambercourt-Mbulamuti-Kamuli -Bukungu Road since 2001.

‘The road has been on Museveni’s list for over two decades, but it’s still in a deplorable state. It appeared in budgets, but construction hasn’t started,’ he said.

Ms Kadaga added: ‘For three decades I have been campaigning and pushing for the 150 kilometre [Ambercourt-Mbulamuti-Kamuli-Bukungu] road, which will open up the economic corridor….” On November 20, Mr Museveni is expected to visit Kamuli, which is Ms Kadaga’s birthplace, with plans to hold a public rally in Namasagali and launch a large bio-pharmaceutical industrial park.

Other issues

Some voters also noted that the sub-region is also waiting for the operationalisation of the Bukungu- Kaberamaido ferry. Mr Museveni pledged to install a ferry on Lake Kyoga and Bukungu that would open up Busoga to Lango and Teso sub-regions for several activities.

Mr Godfrey Mutyaba, the district vice chairperson, said the government has made several promises to the people of Namutumba, which include the tarmacking of the Busembatia-Ivukula-Nangonde and Namutumba-Butaleja-Nabumali roads.

‘These are not just promises, but commitments that the government made to the people of Namutumba. We are still waiting for the government to fulfil them,’ Mr Mutyaba said. He added: ‘The people of Namutumba are tired of waiting. They want to see action, not just words.’

‘ Mr James Wafula, the vice chairperson of the Bugiri Central Market Fishmongers Association in Bugiri District, said during a presidential campaign rally, in 2021, Mr Museveni pledged to build a new market under the Uganda Support to Municipal Infrastructure Development(USMID) project, but nothing has been done.

‘We have never received any feedback on the President’s pledge, yet NRM members are now asking for our support… but we’ve learnt and know what to do this time around,’he said.

Mr Julius Kayiira Nabambula, the NUP flagbearer for Jinja Southern Division councillor, said President Museveni had failed to resolve the issue of rampant poverty in Busoga.

‘The previous regimes had a better approach to addressing poverty. Busoga had the capacity to provide loans to others, but now we are struggling to make ends meet,’ he said.

Busoga Sub-region has consistently been ranked among the regions with the highest poverty levels in Uganda.

According to the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (Ubos) report released in 2021, the poverty levels in the sub-region stand at 14.5 percent, with 1.162 million people living below the poverty line. Busoga has a population of 4.4 million, according to the 2024 Ubos Census report.

Mr Nabambula added that the current government has failed to revive cooperative unions that bring together farmers and fishermen. Meanwhile, Mr Isa Budugo, the chairperson of the Uganda National Association of Sugarcane Growers, expressed disappointment over the government’s failure to fulfil its promises to farmers.

‘The President also promised to buy Mayuga Sugar factory for farmers, but this promise has not been fulfilled,”he said. Mr Budugo, who is also a candidate on independent ticket for Kagoma North MP in Jinja District, said the President promised vehicles to chairpersons of sugarcane farmers’ groups, 22 tractors for Busoga districts, and a Shs145b revolving fund for fertilisers but none have been delivered.

Mr Budugo added: ‘The sugarcane industry is struggling because the government has not fulfilled its promises. The farmers are not getting the support they need, and as a result, the production of sugarcane has declined, and the purchase prices for sugarcane are still low.”

Farmers continue to suffer from low raw cane prices, which have fluctuated significantly, dropping from Shs240,000 per tonne in December 2023 to Shs125,000 by November 2025.

The NUP flagbearer for Bugabula South Constituency, Pastor Andrew Muwanguzi, said the President pledged to remove soldiers on lakes but this has not been fulfilled.

In 2017, President Museveni launched the Fisheries Protection Unit (FPU) under the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) to safeguard water bodies.

The unit’s primary objective is to curb illegal fishing practices, including the use of prohibited gear and the catching of undersized fish, thereby promoting sustainable fishing and protecting aquatic resources.

Mr Ibrahim Ndhoga, the Bugweri District chairperson candidate on the FDC ticket, said Mr Museveni’s promise to construct a stadium for Busoga Sub-region in memory of the late Ugandan goalkeeper, Abel Dhaira, remains unfulfilled. Dhaira succumbed to cancer in 2016.

He also expressed concern over the closure of Busoga University despite the sub-region’s need for a public university.

”Busoga University was closed nine years ago, and it has not been reopened. This is a big challenge for the people of Busoga, who have to travel to other parts of the country to access university education.

The President should fulfil his promise and reopen the university,” Mr Ndhoga said. Busoga University was shut down by the National Council for Higher Education in 2017 due to irregularities, including employing unqualified staff, and awarding fake degrees to more than 1,000 students.

Mr Mathias Mutatyama, the Busoga Kingdom representative in Busoga’s parliament (Lukiiko), urged the government to return the assets that belong to the institution, just as it has done with other cultural institutions.

He said these assets include land hosting the sub-counties in the 11 chiefdoms of Busoga. These sub-counties include Budondo, Butagaya, Busedde, Kagoma and Buyengo.

‘The assets remain in government hands. We have been waiting for far too long, and it’s time for action… If we had control of our assets, we could generate income and develop our region. But as it stands, we are unable to do so,” he said.

City socialite Bryan Kirumira, commonly known as Bryan White was on Friday returned to hospital on the orders of court after he appeared at Makindye Chief Magistrates Court lying on a mattress, screaming in pain.

His feet were wrapped in bandages as he was brought before Grade One Magistrate Lorna Patience Kukundane.

On seeing his condition, Magistrate Kukundane halted proceedings.

‘We are unable to read the charges. Take this man back to hospital,’ she directed, as prison officers lifted him out of the courtroom.

Despite being the lead suspect, Kirumira’s condition prevented his formal appearance in the case in which he is charged with human sacrifice, manslaughter, and several related offences connected to the death of Carol Nalubwama, a 25-year-old woman who allegedly sustained fatal burns at his Kyamula residence in Kampala’s Makindye Division.

Kirumira’s name appeared on the charge sheet, but it was his wife, Daisy Nalunga, and four others who were formally read the charges before Grade One Magistrate Teddy Nakawuki.

The co-accused Daphine Abaho, Naava Nakato, and Joyce Irene Nambalirwa were present as the charges were read by the court clerk in a tense courtroom.

Magistrate Nakawuki ordered them remanded to Luzira Prison.

‘The accused persons are hereby remanded until December 18, 2025, when they will appear before the Chief Magistrate for mention of the case,’ she ruled.

According to the charge sheet, the accused face a total of seven counts, including human sacrifice, manslaughter, rash and negligent acts, possession of narcotics, conspiracy to commit a felony, and giving false information to police officers.

Prosecution alleges that on October 22, 2025, at Kyamula Zone, Kirumira killed Nalubwama for the purpose of performing or furthering witchcraft or ritual acts, contrary to the Prevention and Prohibition of Human Sacrifice Act.

In a separate count, he is accused of manslaughter, with the state alleging that between October 22 and 27, he unlawfully caused her death by burning her and later taking her to Kiruddu Hospital, where she died.

Kirumira is also charged with rash and negligent acts for allegedly failing to take precautions against danger from combustible materials in his possession. Another count accuses him of possession of marijuana after leaves and seeds were reportedly recovered from his home.

Nalunga, Abaho, and Nakato were jointly charged with conspiracy to commit a felony. Prosecution alleges that on October 22, they conspired with Kirumira to commit a ritual murder by setting fire to candle wax while massaging the deceased with petrol and ghee while also administering honey.

The trio, together with Kirumira, also faces a charge of giving false information to police, allegedly misleading officers at Mildmay Uganda Hospital, Katwe Police Station, and Kampala Metropolitan South Headquarters by claiming Nalubwama was burnt on October 27 and admitted to Kiruddu Hospital, whereas evidence shows she was burnt earlier on October 22 and first taken to M. Mabirizi Nursing Home.

The fifth accused, Joyce Irene Nambalirwa, a 41-year-old administrator at the nursing home, was charged separately with manslaughter and causing death by a rash and negligent act. Prosecution states that she failed to refer Nalubwama to a major hospital for advanced treatment despite the severity of her injuries.

Police investigations indicate that Nalubwama died at Kiruddu Hospital after sustaining severe burns at Kirumira’s home.

Kirumira reportedly told detectives that a gas cylinder explosion caused the burns while she was cooking.

However, her family disputed this account, with her father, Ssalongo Tom Mutyaba, telling police that Kirumira had called him claiming his daughter died while being treated at a shrine.

Detectives who visited Kirumira’s residence reported finding grass-thatched structures suspected to be shrines within the compound.

The courtroom remained tense as the charges were read, with relatives of the deceased quietly listening to the details.

Uganda’s financial services industry is at an inflection point. For years, conversations around banking revolved around how to bring the unbanked into the formal system. The focus was on bricks-and-mortar expansion – more branches, more tellers, more paperwork.

Today, the centre of gravity has shifted. With mobile penetration at over 70 percent and a youthful population that prefers speed to formality, the industry is being forced to reimagine banking not as a place one goes to, but as something one carries in the palm of their hand.

The most striking demographic insight is that uptake of digital banking products is highest among Ugandans aged between 18 and 39. This is the cohort that is not only numerically dominant but also shaping the country’s financial culture. They are impatient with bureaucracy, intolerant of hidden fees, and deeply at ease with technology. For this group, a bank that cannot be accessed instantly on USSD or a smartphone may as well not exist.

It is no coincidence that the bulk of new digital accounts across the industry are being opened by these younger customers. The revelation of this is that many fund their accounts immediately upon opening them – a sign of trust that has been hard-earned in a sector historically viewed with suspicion. The implication for the industry is clear: design banking that is frictionless, transparent, and mobile, and Ugandans will respond.

One of the biggest barriers to financial inclusion has long been cost. Ledger fees, maintenance deductions, and high transfer charges discouraged low-income earners and informal traders from keeping money in banks. By contrast, the new generation of digital products is leaning toward zero or near-zero fees. It is wise to have no maintenance charges and allow free or low-cost transfers between wallets and accounts. This shift is more than a marketing gimmick. It is a structural recalibration that changes the entry point into banking for millions.

When costs fall away, savings rise. And when people start saving formally, they begin to access credit, insurance, and investment opportunities. That progression – from holding an account to building financial resilience, is what the industry has long aspired to achieve but has often stumbled over because the price of entry was too high. Another feature of digital banking is how it flattens geography. In the past, financial services radiated out from Kampala, reaching rural communities slowly, if at all. Today, whether one is a farmer in Chicungwanyi or a trader flying out of Entebbe to Dubai, the same product can be opened and operated instantly. Digital platforms cut across borders, attracting users from both rural Uganda and the diaspora.

This matters for inclusion because the financial needs of rural Ugandans are no less pressing than those of urban professionals. If anything, they are more urgent: remittances, school fees, agricultural inputs, and emergency health costs are the rhythms of rural life, and they demand financial tools that are simple, secure, and ever-present.

The opportunity before Uganda’s financial industry is immense. Every month, tens of thousands of Ugandans are still joining the formal system for the first time. With each account opened, the base for credit scoring, insurance underwriting, and investment deepens. But challenges remain. Customers are demanding that everything be free, yet not all costs can be absorbed by banks, especially when third-party wallets impose their own charges. Data privacy and cyber-security are also rising concerns, requiring constant investment and vigilance. And while digital channels are expanding reach, financial literacy lags behind.

The Ugandan banking industry is now competing less on who has the tallest branch in the CBD and more on who can deliver the simplest, safest, and most affordable experience on a phone. The battle is about trust, transparency, and technology. Across the sector, banks and fintechs are innovating to lower costs, deepen access, and make banking a daily companion rather than a distant institution. In the next few years, success for the industry will be measured not only in profit margins, but in how many new Ugandans are brought into the fold, how evenly uptake is spread across gender and geography, and how well digital accounts serve as springboards to broader financial services.

The future of banking in Uganda is not in marble-floored branches but in the feature phone of a boda rider, the smartphone of a trader, and the USSD string of a farmer. For an industry long searching for the silver bullet of financial inclusion, the answer may finally be here – delivered in real time, and in the language of the next generation.

President Museveni, the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) presidential flagbearer, has promised to elevate Budaka Health Centre IV to a district general hospital. The announcement was made on November 13 as he addressed thousands of supporters at his campaign rally at Budaka Saza grounds, drawing cheers and applause from the crowd.

‘It is government policy that each district should have a general hospital. This will be worked on even at constituency level so that we have health centre IVs and IIIs at sub-county level,’ the President said.

The President had made a similar pledge during the 2016 campaigns, and local residents have repeatedly asked him to fulfill this promise. He also assured constituents that addressing gaps in education infrastructure would be a priority in his next term.

‘Our policy is to have one government primary school per parish and one secondary school per sub-county. Parishes without primary schools will get them, and sub-counties will also benefit,’ he said.

Mr Museveni is currently campaigning in Budaka and Kibuku districts, seeking a seventh term in office in the forthcoming general election. He is campaigning under the theme: ‘Protecting the Gains and Making a Qualitative Leap into High Middle-Income Status.’

He highlighted other government achievements, including wealth creation, job opportunities, service delivery, market access, unity, and political stability.

Local district leaders, including NRM district chairperson Musa Kyebene, had previously written to authorities requesting the elevation of Budaka Health Centre IV to a general hospital in line with the President’s earlier promise.

The President also emphasised the importance of wealth creation at household level, urging residents to participate in government programmes such as the Parish Development Model and Operation Wealth Creation.

‘Ever since we came into power, I have urged people to embrace poverty alleviation programmes so that the biggest enemy, poverty, can be addressed,’ he said. He cautioned government-aided schools against charging illegal fees.

‘The government introduced programmes to provide free education, but it is wrong for government-aided schools to demand illegal fees. This must stop,’ Mr Museveni said.

He also highlighted government achievements in infrastructure development, including roads, electricity, water, and railways.

He pledged to improve connectivity by working on the road linking Budaka to Butaleja districts to ease transport.

Commenting on poverty, the President said: ‘People often confuse development with wealth. It is high time Ugandans engaged in productive enterprises to improve their livelihoods.’

He added that the NRM government has brought peace through strong institutions, a foundation for continued development in the districts.

Police have launched an investigation into a network of suspected fraudsters posing as pastors by day and traditional healers by night, before ripping off unsuspecting Ugandans millions of shillings.

According to preliminary police findings, the suspects lure their gullible victims through fabricated testimonies and so-called miraculous healings. However, behind the scenes, their places of worship double as traditional shrines, where they stage rituals to extort money and valuable property from their victims.

The Kampala Metropolitan Police Deputy Spokesperson, Mr Luke Owoyesigyire told this reporter on Thursday that the criminal gang has been operating in Kiijo Village, Nabale Ward, Nakifuma Nagalama Town Council, and Nanfumba Village, Mayangayanga Parish, Kimenyedde Sub County in Mukono District.

He said the suspects have been advertising on radio stations claiming that they cure several ailments before giving out contact numbers for consultations.

The unsuspecting victims who contacted them for consultation were invited to different rented houses in Kampala where they would be robbed of the property and money.

”During the so-called healing sessions, the suspects would later direct their clients or relatives to remote locations in Kiijo or Nanfumba, where they would be ambushed, assaulted, and robbed of their money and valuables,’ Mr Owoyesigyire said.

According to police, some of the tricks deployed by suspects include convincing the victims to carry large sums of money for blessing or business exchange rituals, promising to turn Ugandan Shillings into United States Dollars.

‘Three suspects; Ali Kakumba, alias Dalausi alias Dr Lubwama; Nasser Kijjoma and Michael Walusimbi have been arrested. They confessed to participating in several similar fraudulent schemes. A search was conducted in their homes and several exhibits including mobile phones, SIM cards, land sale agreements, and other items used in their deception were recovered,’ ASP Owoyesigyire said.

Many victims have reported to police that when they demand refunds for promised blessings, financial breakthroughs, or healing that never materialized, the suspects resort to threats and intimidation. The police have received reports of individuals being harassed into silence after realizing they had been conned.

When Muslim youth attacked businesses suspected of selling pork in Yumbe District early this month, they did more than spark chaos; they exposed Uganda’s deeper struggles with coexistence, marginalisation, and the fear of radicalisation.

Yumbe, sitting at the crossroads of religion, refugees, and border insecurity, became a mirror of the country’s uneasy balance between faith and national identity.

On Tuesday, November 4, violence erupted in Yumbe Town after Muslim youth attacked businesses owned by Christians, accusing them of selling ‘forbidden meat’ in a Muslim-majority area. Police responded with tear gas to disperse the crowds. Dozens were injured and several people arrested.

According to Daily Monitor’s report, ‘Yumbe erupts in violence as youth mobs protest pork sale,’ the unrest began when police attempted to arrest Sheikh Kasim Abdallah, the Imam of Munir Mosque, who had urged Muslims in a viral video to reject the sale of pork in Yumbe.

But the ‘pork attacks,’ as locals now call them, were not merely about meat. They revealed a community perched precariously between faith and fear – between a proud cultural identity and a growing anxiety over extremism.

To understand Yumbe’s flare-up, one must revisit Uganda’s long and uneasy history of religious coexistence – and the unique pressures that define life on the northern frontier.

Legacy of faith and power

Uganda’s religious landscape has always reflected its political evolution. Christianity arrived under colonial rule, accompanied by missionary education, access to power, and entry into the civil service. Islam, though established earlier through trade and intermarriage, was sidelined both during and after colonialism.

Muslim scholars have long wrestled with a painful paradox: how a community central to Uganda’s early identity and resistance to colonial rule became politically and economically marginalised in the modern state.

They attribute this disparity to the late 19th century, when British colonial rule aligned with Christian missions – both Anglican and Catholic. Christianity became the language of administration and social mobility, while Islam, which had taken root through trade from the East African coast, was branded ‘foreign’ and politically suspect.

The 1900 Buganda Agreement entrenched Christian dominance in administration, education, and land ownership. Muslims, who had opposed British rule during the Buganda civil wars, were excluded from the emerging civil service and formal education systems – the very gateways to postcolonial leadership.

In the northwestern districts of Yumbe, Moyo, and Arua, Islam took deep root – not just as faith but as social fabric, binding clans across borders with South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo. This has produced a deeply devout yet misunderstood community, often caricatured by outsiders as conservative or insular.

For Yumbe’s residents, their Muslim identity is less about ideology and more about survival in a region neglected by the political centre. Decades of exclusion, colonial and postcolonial alike, have left lasting scars.

Muslim youth organisations and scholars continue to voice frustration over systemic imbalance. Despite educational progress, Muslims remain underrepresented in politics, academia, and the upper echelons of public service. For Muslims in northern and western Uganda, where they are minorities, the perception of ‘double exclusion’ – both regional and religious – is sharper still.

Muslim NGOs such as the Uganda Muslim Youth Forum warn that such marginalisation can fuel vulnerability to radical ideologies, especially in border districts like Yumbe and Arua, where poverty, refugee influxes, and identity politics collide.

‘Religion here is not just about faith,’ said a community elder in Lodonga Sub-county. ‘It’s about identity – and who gets to define morality in a place that feels forgotten.’

The border as bridge and risk

Yumbe sits less than 30 kilometres from the South Sudan border, a frontier that is a more porous bridge than barrier. Kinship ties stretch across the line, with clans sharing language, trade, and intermarriage.

Yet this porosity carries risk. Smuggling, small arms, and cross-border influences have long concerned security agencies. When Bidibidi Refugee Settlement was established in 2016 – now home to more than 270,000 South Sudanese – the district’s demography and economy transformed.

The influx injected aid and business opportunities but also intensified pressure on land and services. Refugees opened butcheries and food stalls – some reportedly selling pork. What began as economic competition soon acquired moral overtones.

Local officials, including Resident District Commissioner (RDC) Sulaiman Bukya, attempted mediation. Yet the following day, hundreds of youth still marched to the RDC’s office, protesting the perceived arrest of the Sheikh over his October 30 TikTok video.

Marginalisation and extremism

Uganda’s security agencies have long monitored the West Nile corridor for signs of radicalisation. Though there is little evidence of organised extremist cells, the ingredients are evident: high unemployment, porous borders, weak governance, and disillusioned youth.

Yumbe’s young people are particularly exposed. Many spend days in mosques and nights online, consuming sermons from global clerics. Most remain peaceful, but a few voices online promote a narrative of moral decay and persecution.

In the aftermath, some national commentators were quick to warn of creeping radicalism. Yet such framing risks oversimplifying a complex local reality. For most Yumbe residents, the clashes were not about global jihad but about dignity, discipline, and frustration with an absent state.

The danger lies in the perception gap – between what the centre fears and what the margins feel.

Yumbe’s fragility is structural, not incidental. The district has one of the lowest secondary school completion rates in Uganda. Health and sanitation services remain inadequate, and livelihoods precarious. In such conditions, religion becomes both an anchor and an outlet – a source of moral guidance, but also a lens through which all grievances are viewed.

Yet interfaith coexistence has long been part of Yumbe’s DNA. Christian minorities, mainly Pentecostals and Catholics, have lived peacefully alongside Muslims. Intermarriage is common, and community leaders often attend each other’s ceremonies. The recent violence shocked many locals precisely because it disrupted this delicate harmony.

Policing the soul

The government’s immediate response has been security-heavy – patrols, arrests, and surveillance. Yet real stability in Yumbe demands more than policing; it requires investment in youth, dialogue, and dignity.

Border districts such as Yumbe should not be seen only through a security lens. They are also laboratories of coexistence. Projects that unite refugee and host youth through trade, sports, and vocational training could do more for peace than any roadblock.

Local radio stations and mosques, trusted information channels, must be part of any de-radicalisation strategy.

Most importantly, the government must listen. Political fragility thrives where communities feel unheard, and where the state’s presence is defined only by uniformed men with guns.

As Uganda heads toward another election cycle, Yumbe’s lesson is clear: development and dignity remain the most powerful antidotes to radical ideology.

If unaddressed, such flashpoints could turn Yumbe from a humanitarian haven into a hotspot of resentment and insecurity. But with inclusive governance, Uganda can transform this fragile frontier into a frontier of peace.

Background

The Yumbe pork chaos erupted on November 4 when Muslim youth in Yumbe Town attacked businesses owned by Christians, accusing them of selling pork in a predominantly Muslim community. The violence, which left several people injured and led to arrests, was reportedly triggered by an attempt to arrest Sheikh Kasim Abdallah, an imam who had earlier posted a video on social media urging Muslims to oppose the sale of pork.

Though framed as a dispute over ‘forbidden meat,’ the unrest exposed deeper frustrations over unemployment, cultural identity, and marginalisation.

The deputy secretary general of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM), Rose Namayanja, has insisted that party-leaning independent candidates vying for different electoral positions ahead of the 2026 general election must withdraw from the race and support flag bearers to enable the party emerge victorious.

Namayanja made this directive while addressing NRM leaders and supporters in Nakawa Division on Wednesday, saying independents should sacrifice and step aside for the party’s sake.

“We have to make sacrifices to strengthen our party. Emulate others. The independent candidate for Makindye West constituency agreed to step down. It is never too late for others to follow the same path,” she advised amidst thunderous applause.

Tensions are rising in areas where independent candidates are competing with party flag bearers, and Namayanja urged supporters to forgive each other and unite to grab Kampala from opposition parties.

“If the flag bearer loses, the independent candidate will equally be considered a loser,” she warned.

Namayanja emphasised the party’s resolve to collaborate with lower party structures to mobilise votes for NRM candidates and liberate Kampala from opposition.

“We have barely two months to the finishing line, and we want to tap into the untapped potentials of these structures,” she said.

“We want them to move parish to parish, village per village, door to door, apartment to apartment, compound to compound, individual to individual. We are going around the five divisions to tell our people what to do. We have what it takes to liberate the whole of Kampala from the opposition,” Namayanja added.

She expressed confidence in NRM’s victory, saying, “The votes are not at the NRM Secretariat, they are not in sub-counties, they are in villages. If President Museveni and Salim Uhuru can win, all the flag bearers can. The writing on the wall is very clear that victory for NRM is certain.”

Namayanja also assured NRM members that opposition parties are no longer a threat, noting that some have joined the ruling party.

“The First Lady of UPC is a minister in NRM government. For DP, we carried the hoe and put it in the bus. We left them with a pole, they can feel free to fix it with an axe. Others are divided,” she said.

State House Comptroller Jane Barekye tasked area leadership to ensure households benefit from the Parish Development model (PDM) and Skilling programmes to get out of poverty.

When Uganda stunned Scotland by 51 runs at the ICC U-19 World Cup in the West Indies three years ago, one name stood tall amid the celebration-Christopher Kidega. His fiery spell of 3 for 23 helped the Baby Cricket Cranes secure 13th place-their best-ever finish at the global event, bettering outings in Dhaka (2004) and Colombo (2006).

It was a coming-of-age moment for a teenager whose right-arm medium pace and fearless stroke play were already drawing comparisons with the country’s emerging greats.

The setback and spark

Fast-forward to early 2025, and the story briefly darkened. Kidega, then a senior figure in Uganda’s U-19 outfit, endured heartbreak in Lagos, Nigeria, where the team failed to qualify for the next World Cup, slumping to fifth and getting relegated to Division II for the first time.

‘That tournament really broke us,’ Kidega recalls quietly. ‘But for me, it also lit a fire. I wanted to show that as players we can bounce back, that our cricket wasn’t done.’

That renewed focus has become evident in this year’s UG20 2025 League, where the boy once known for raw talent has matured into one of Uganda’s most consistent performers.

Captain’s burden and brilliance

Leadership changes everything.

Now entrusted with the Avengers CC captaincy for two years by club patron and mentor Nirav Sevak, Kidega has embraced responsibility with a mix of youthful zeal and growing tactical awareness.

‘Yes, being captain has pushed me harder,’ he told Saturday Monitor.

‘It puts me in a position of do or die. As captain, your performance must inspire. It has made me mentally tougher and more focused.’

Last weekend, he showcased that maturity with a composed 55 off 35 balls-laced with seven fours and a six-as Avengers beat Premier CC by 48 runs at Lugogo Oval. Despite going wicket-less in his three-over spell, the boy that goes by the moniker Kris Danger also held onto two sharp catches, adding another layer to his all-round impact.

Numbers that speak

Across 207 professional matches as per the Cricclubs Uganda database, Kidega has amassed 3,576 runs and 128 wickets, and in the T20 format alone, his strike rate (SR) of 129.14 stands tall among Uganda’s elite.

In the UG20 2025 League, he leads the run charts with 360 runs at 130 SR, bagging three Player of the Match awards-level with teammate Pius Oloka. His runs have come with authority and flair, often setting the tone atop the order.

His CricClubs profile tells a deeper story: 110 T20s, 69 wickets, and 59 catches-proof that Kris Danger 66 is as reliable in the field as he is destructive with the bat.

Mental game and mentorship

‘I’ve worked on my mental side,’ Kidega explains. ‘After talks with national team players like batsman Robinson Obuya, I learnt how to pace my innings and control emotions. That’s been the biggest shift this year.’

Sevak, his mentor and captain-turned-patron, has been pivotal too. ‘Nirav is a father figure,’ says Kidega. ‘He challenges me to lead beyond stats-to inspire belief in the dressing room. He also wants me not to rest on my laurels.’

That bond was on display last Sunday, as Sevak’s mid-over advice steadied his young captain’s nerves during a tense bowling spell at Lugogo.

‘I want him to be a consistent player. To chip in good shows repetitively. I want him to let his figures speak for themselves. I am happy captaincy has made him grow in the game,’ Sevak disclosed.

Emerging eagle

Kidega’s consistency has not gone unnoticed. His inclusion in the Uganda Emerging XI earlier this season marks another milestone-proof that selectors and national coaches are grooming him for senior national duty.

With age on his side and performances stacking up, few doubt that a Cricket Cranes debut is only a matter of time.

League quarterfinal fever

As Kidega’s Avengers march into the UG20 2025 League quarterfinals, the tournament has served up breathtaking cricket.

GM Sugar (14 pts) and Wanderers CC (10 pts) dominated Group A, while Aboojo CC (13 pts) and Rounders CC (12 pts) emerged from Group B. Kutchi Tigers CC (16 pts) and Ceylon Lions (10 pts) sealed Group D, joining Ismaili Community CC and Avengers CC among the final eight.

Rain and drama punctuated the last group weekend, with Ceylon Lions’ 157-run rout of Patidar CC and GM Sugar’s 217/1 masterclass among the highlights. Now, the knockout stage beckons-with the spotlight firmly on whether young leaders like Kidega can carry their sides deeper into the championship.

‘My goal is simple,’ he smiles. ‘To be Player of the Tournament – and win something for Avengers. I believe God has better plans for me in this game.’

AT A GLANCE

Full Name: Christopher Kidega

Nickname: Kris Danger 66

Born: October 29, 2006

Age: 19

Jersey No: 66

Batting Style: Right-hand bat

Bowling Style: Right-arm medium fast

Playing Role: All-rounder

Current Club: Avengers CC

Other Teams: Uganda U-19, Uganda Emerging XI, Strikers, Itanda Kayakers, Kololo SS, Aziz Damani Development, Ceylon Lions, Uganda Select XI, Thunderbolts, Central Rhinos

Talking Point

FUTURE FOCUS.

Golden Generation. With talents like Kidega, Oloka, and Yashashvi Joshi driving Avengers CC’s rise, Uganda’s next cricketing era feels imminent. The question is no longer if these stars will step up to the senior stage-but when. The UG20 2025 League is a platform shaping the country’s cricketing future-and Kidega, like many others, stands at its very core.

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

Recently, the madness of driving in Kampala was the subject of a LinkedIn post that went viral for all the hilarious reasons.

It was posted by a foreigner (mzungu) from the US, who has been driving in Kampala for three months. His fearless sense of humour and good grace made light of the terror he experiences on our roads, making it easier for us to look in the mirror and laugh at our own madness. It is one of those posts you hope not to bump into while playing with your phone during a meeting because you will burst out laughing, guaranteed.

As a new driver on these wild streets, our complex driving culture does not make much sense to him. But it does to us. There is method in the madness. We shall now allay his concerns and answer his questions, blow by blow.

1. Driving in Kampala is a full sensory experience

The mzungu says: ‘If you can listen to music while driving, you deserve a national award. The only sound in our vehicle is my wife’s exasperated gasp as I narrowly avoid turning another boda boda driver into modern art.’

Our take: Your sense of humour, sir, is enviable. You deserve your flowers for that little image you painted there. About the wildebeest called boda bodas, we also do not know what happened to them. We believe they are all under the spell of a reckless, juvenile principality in heavenly places. We are speechless with you. We are in awe with you. Every so often, we have to park on the side of the road just to take a moment to fear bodas. If God himself were not hovering over Kampala protecting them, they would all turn into modern art (ahem).

2. Pulling into oncoming traffic is a rite of passage

The mzungu says: ‘In Texas, it is reckless endangerment. In Kampala, it is how you prove your faith in humanity. If you cannot trust that the oncoming driver will slow down, you are never getting onto Ggaba Road.’

Our take: Pulling into traffic, particularly during rush hour, is war. The mentality here is ‘eat or be eaten’. You always know the oncoming driver will not let you go first, but what he does not know is that you are no coward. You will not let them go first either. You must assert yourself and enter the road, no matter how bitterly he protests. The key is to do it firmly but safely, hesitation can leave you stuck for ages. And while at it, you have to be on the lookout for a boda boda appearing out of the blue.

According to a Kampala traffic officer, this aggressive merging is not just bravado; it is statistically where most minor collisions occur, which explains why defensive driving skills are a survival necessity.

3. Being pulled over in Kampala is a pre-emptive measure

The mzungu says: ‘In the US, officers usually stop you after you have done something wrong. Here, they pull you over first, then decide what you have probably done. Pro tip: confidently mention your ‘high-level government connections.’ Odds are your bluff will not be called.’

Our take: Traffic stops here can feel a little unpredictable to outsiders. Officers often carry out random checks to ensure compliance with road safety standards. When you are stopped, it is best to stay calm, courteous, and cooperative; sometimes it is just about keeping the day moving smoothly.

4. Car horns are polite language tools

The mzungu says: ‘In the US, horns translate roughly to ‘What are you doing?’ In Kampala, they mean: ‘Dear boda boda rider, I am approaching on your right, kindly do not die.”

Our take: For the record, you do not know how much hooting goes on in Kampala until you have gone to another country and returned. We are a hooting nation. We hoot when the person in front of us at the traffic lights delays for more than two milliseconds after the light has turned green. We hoot when the two-storey Sino Truck is inching too close and, of course, we hoot to say ‘What are you doing?’ Heck, we even shout expletives and hoot with both hands if someone has got on our nerves too much.

However, when it comes to hooting at boda bodas, it is often out of self-preservation. We are simply trying to avoid confrontation-because tensions between boda boda riders and car drivers can flare up fast.

5. Ugandan patience is unmatched

The mzungu says: ‘In the US, time is money. Here, time is optional. Ugandans do not take themselves too seriously, and thankfully, they extend that grace to mzungus like me, who probably should not be behind the wheel in any country.’

Our take: Ugandans may have many flaws but one thing we get right is that we treat foreigners with patience, grace, and kindness. Having said that, being on time is a futile move in Uganda.

Arriving on time will almost always mean that you sit and wait for the rest to arrive. So why bother? We let the mzungu go first because being on time means a lot to them. It means nothing to us, except, of course, if we are a government official with lead cars. In that case, we will do whatever it takes to keep time, even if it means driving down the wrong lane.

6. Flashing headlights: A mystery solved

The mzungu says: ‘Sometimes, oncoming drivers flash their headlights at me. Are they: A) welcoming me to Uganda? B) Warning me about the police up the road? C) trying to communicate the meaning of life through Morse code? I am leaving this mystery to my East African friends: What does it actually mean?’

Our take: Assuming that your car is not tinted and that oncoming drivers can see beyond the glare on your windscreen, flashing headlights is most probably an act of greeting. Because in our culture, you have to be nice to the visitor no matter what. It was beaten into us from childhood.

In fact, we secretly compete to be the nicest to the visitor, and flashing headlights at you on the road is the least we can do under the circumstances. But it might also imply that they recognise that you have the same cool car as theirs, or they are giving you first priority to enter or exit the road. And yes, the meaning of life is to be nice to the visitor.

Driving in Kampala may feel like chaos to outsiders, but there is rhythm in the madness. Danger, humour, patience, and an unmistakable Ugandan spirit all coexist on these streets.

So, to our mzungu friends, welcome to the madness. We got you.