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For a young graduate, the walk from the lecture room to the workplace can feel like the final step towards economic independence. But for many, it is where another test begins, one that is rarely written on an examination paper: can they do the job?

A degree, diploma or certificate may open the door to an interview. But it does not necessarily mean the person entering the workplace can operate a machine, diagnose a fault, serve a customer, interpret production data or deliver a service to the required standard.

That gap is increasingly becoming a business problem, not just an education problem.

Uganda’s labour market shows the scale of the challenge.

According to the 2025 Labour Market Survey by the Uganda Bureau of Statistics, Uganda’s national unemployment rate among people aged 15 years and above who are in the labour force stands at 12.2 percent. In comparison, the unemployment rate among young people aged 15-24 years in the labour force is higher, at 17.9 percent.

Youth unemployment was higher among females at 21 percent, compared to 15.2 percent among males. The survey also found that 42.6 percent of young people aged 15 to 24, equivalent to about 4 million people, were not in employment, education or training (NEET).

But unemployment is only one side of the problem. On the other side are employers who need people who can actually perform.

Research presented during a dialogue on work-based learning points to an uncomfortable contradiction: people can spend years acquiring qualifications and still require substantial workplace training before they become productive.

For businesses, that can mean additional recruitment costs, supervision, lower productivity, mistakes and time spent bringing new employees up to speed. For young people, it can mean remaining outside the labour market despite possessing certificates that suggest they are qualified.

This disconnect between being qualified and being able to perform is putting work-based learning at the centre of Uganda’s skills debate.

The missing classroom is the workplace

Dr Joseph Muvawala, the executive director of the National Planning Authority, argues that Uganda must stop treating the classroom as the only legitimate source of competence.

‘Over 70 percent of our competent workers are not coming from a formal setting. We should accept it as the biggest delivery window for skills in this country,’ Dr Muvawala said.

His argument is reflected in ordinary economic life. A customer rarely asks a mechanic which university awarded their qualification before handing over a vehicle. What matters is whether the mechanic can identify the fault and repair the car.

Dr Muvawala says his own career shows how workplace exposure can turn theoretical knowledge into usable expertise. He recalled joining the Works Ministry in 1996 as a messenger and later working alongside a transport economist who taught him through practical assignments.

He was sent to roads to count vehicles, identify vehicle types and study traffic movements. What initially appeared to be routine counting gradually introduced him to concepts such as road demand, axle loads and traffic management.

‘I have never gone to any classroom to become a transport economist,’ he said.

For businesses, the lesson is simple: competence is often built by repeatedly applying knowledge to real problems under the guidance of experienced workers.

But in Uganda, much of this learning remains informal, inconsistent or poorly regulated.

Dr Muvawala warned that internships can easily become another missed opportunity if trainees are reduced to running errands instead of being given defined learning tasks.

‘Do not send people for internship without setting a framework of what should happen,’ he said, arguing that institutions should have clear workloads, mentors, assessors and expected competencies for trainees.

The National Apprenticeship Programme is designed around structured employment-based learning and work readiness, combining workplace and off-the-job learning and ending in assessment and certification.

The challenge is turning such programmes from initiatives on paper into a system businesses can use.

A fragmented system has a cost

Christine Arach Alum, a research fellow at the Economic Policy Research Centre, says Uganda does not necessarily lack institutions or initiatives. The bigger problem is that many of them operate without enough coordination.

‘Work-based learning is happening, but the ecosystem is fragmented. So we need stronger coordination,’ Ms Arach Alum said.

She argues that institutions such as the TVET Council and the National Employment Council could play a stronger coordinating role by bringing together government, training institutions and employers.

This matters because a company cannot train when it is unclear what a trainee is expected to learn, how progress should be measured or who is responsible for assessing the outcome.

Ms Arach Alum says structured agreements between training institutions and businesses could help secure placement opportunities, while standardised workbooks and curricula could reduce the supervisory burden on companies.

A large manufacturer may have a human resources department, supervisors and equipment that can accommodate trainees.

A small restaurant, workshop or retail business may have none of these. Taking on a trainee can, therefore, mean taking an experienced worker away from revenue-generating work to provide supervision.

Unless the system recognises that cost, businesses may understandably prefer an experienced employee to an apprentice who still needs supervision.

The result is a cycle that is difficult to break: Employers demand experience, young people cannot get experience without employers, and businesses remain reluctant to bear the cost of providing it.

Skills and budget

Ramathan Ggoobi, the Permanent Secretary at the Finance Ministry, says the issue has moved beyond employability to whether public spending is producing measurable economic returns.

Research he cited from industrial parks found that two-thirds of production workers surveyed were skilled, while 23 percent were unskilled and 11 percent semi-skilled.

But the more revealing finding was that 50 percent of surveyed firms reported that even workers considered skilled could not perform tasks at the required level.

That distinction is important for businesses.

‘The problem of Uganda is that we have the industry, but the people are not skilled. We found that two thirds of the production workers employed by the surveyed firms were skilled workers,’ Mr Ggoobi said.

‘When asked whether these firms faced problems where staff could not implement tasks due to insufficient proficiency, 50 percent of the surveyed firms answered in the affirmative. They said even those who were skilled could not do the work they needed to be skilled for.’

Uganda’s skills challenge is not simply about producing more graduates. It is about producing workers whose capabilities match actual production needs.

Mr Ggoobi says this must also change how the government designs and funds interventions.

‘The government will not fund interventions which don’t create jobs,’ he said, adding that programmes will be measured by the number and quality of jobs they create.

Mr Ggoobi also argues that employers should have a greater say in training curricula because businesses understand where demand is heading.

‘Why don’t you ask the people who are doing the work in the industry, in the services? They should inform the programme,’ he said.

That could make training more responsive to sectors where technology, production methods and customer expectations are changing faster than classroom curricula.

The real test is whether someone can do the work.

Over-reliance on spiritual healing and traditional remedies is frustrating efforts to combat breast cancer among women in the Acholi sub-region, Dr Lucy Ajok, the founder of Acholi Women in Health Foundation, has warned.

Dr Ajok said some women were delaying or abandoning hospital treatment in favour of faith-based healing and herbal remedies, allowing the disease to progress to advanced stages and reducing their treatment options and chances of survival.

In an interview with Monitoron Tuesday, she said that although the government had made progress in breast cancer screening, diagnosis and treatment, reliance on unproven remedies remained a major challenge.

‘There is this over-reliance on unproven remedies; this takes us back to traditional herbs and spiritual healing. These are unproven things that we don’t know whether they can cure cancer or not,’ Dr Ajok said.

She said that while cancer research was advancing globally, the effectiveness of the herbal and spiritual remedies some patients relied on remained unproven.

‘Spirituality is important, but it cannot replace medical services. It can act as a way of comfort, seeing that you have hope in the future, but it cannot replace medical services,’ she said.

Dr Ajok was commenting on the foundation’s latest assessment of breast cancer in the region as the world marks Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October.

She also cited weaknesses in referral and follow-up systems as barriers to timely diagnosis and treatment.

‘Our follow-up system has been a major barrier to accessing cancer treatment, diagnosis and recovery of patients. We have fragmented referrals and follow-up systems, and yes, we have tried to put in a lot as a country, as government and health practitioners, but it is still at its worst,’ she said.

Dr Ajok gave the example of a patient referred from Padibe Health Centre IV to Mulago National Referral Hospital for a CT scan or another diagnostic procedure.

She said health workers who initiated referrals often did not establish whether patients had reached the referral facility, leaving gaps in follow-up and continuity of care.

She also identified gender roles and family responsibilities, particularly motherhood, as barriers that can cause women to prioritise caring for relatives over seeking treatment for themselves.

Dr Ajok called for more research into breast cancer in the Acholi sub-region, saying locally generated data would help identify gaps in healthcare delivery and inform interventions.

‘By having this local data, we would then have evidence of the health gaps in the region. We have to encourage research, especially locally,’ she said.

Acholi Women in Health Foundation is a non-profit organisation that focuses on safe motherhood, reducing maternal deaths in the Acholi sub-region, HIV screening and tackling teenage pregnancy through community-based health education.

Cancer burden

Uganda records about 4,000 new breast cancer cases annually, according to figures attributed to the Uganda Cancer Institute (UCI), with women aged between 30 and 50 among those most affected.

During the 2025/26 financial year, cervical cancer accounted for 18.2 per cent of cancer cases registered at the UCI facility in Gulu, followed by breast cancer at 11.2 per cent, prostate cancer at 9.2 per cent, oesophageal cancer at nine per cent and blood cancers at nine per cent.

Dr Fadhil Geriga, the head of the institute, said some religious groups continued to regard cancer as supernatural, while others attributed the disease to witchcraft.

Such beliefs can complicate efforts to encourage patients to seek timely medical assessment and treatment, highlighting the need for community education alongside improved access to cancer services.

Sports State Minister Peter Ogwang and a retired Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) officer are embroiled in a dispute over an alleged Shs20 million debt dating back about five years, with the minister threatening legal action over claims that he has failed to repay the money.

Mr Simon Julius Engeku, a retired lieutenant and former candidate for Kapir County in Ngora District, accuses Mr Ogwang of borrowing the money during an event in Soroti at which Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba was hosted.

Mr Engeku claims the minister approached him for the money to settle bills for some people invited to the event, promising to repay it later.

‘I gave the minister the money in presence of some reasonable persons as witnesses, but paying back the money has become a problem, my repeated reminders to my brother have not yielded any positive result,’ Mr Engeku said.

However, Mr Ogwang, the MP for Ngariam County in Katakwi District, has denied ever borrowing money from the retired officer and threatened to sue him for defamation.

The minister said attempts to portray him as indebted to Mr Engeku would not go unchallenged, giving the retired officer an opportunity to withdraw his statements or face him in court.

On Monday, October 27, 2026, Mr Ogwang, through his lawyers, Wamimbi Advocates and Solicitors, issued a notice of intention to sue Mr Engeku over a video posted on his TikTok account in which he alleges that the minister has refused to repay the Shs20 million.

‘Our client has become aware of a video published on your TikTok account in which you falsely allege that, approximately five years ago, during Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba’s visit to Teso, you advanced Shs20m to our client through certain intermediaries. Our client categorically denies the allegations and states that he has no knowledge of any transaction,’ the lawyers’ letter reads.

The lawyers described the statements as malicious and defamatory, arguing that they portray the minister as dishonest and as someone who fails to honour his financial obligations.

They demanded that Mr Engeku immediately remove the video from TikTok, issue a clear and factual clarification with equal prominence, and do so by Friday this week.

The lawyers warned that failure to comply would result in legal proceedings against him.

The dispute centres on sharply conflicting accounts of the alleged transaction. While Mr Engeku maintains that he lent the minister the money in the presence of witnesses, Mr Ogwang denies any knowledge of the transaction.

The minister’s threatened legal action now places the dispute over the alleged debt before a potential court process, although no court proceedings have been confirmed in the information available.

Every day, many Ugandan households face the challenge of finding affordable fuel to prepare their meals, with charcoal and firewood remaining the main sources of cooking energy for many families, especially in rural communities and low-income urban settlements.

As the government moves to restrict charcoal use, an important question remains: what alternatives are available for ordinary Ugandans who cannot afford expensive cooking technologies

The cutting down of trees for charcoal production and firewood collection has contributed to deforestation, environmental degradation and climate change.

Women and girls are among those most affected by this crisis because cooking responsibilities often fall on them. In many communities, women spend hours collecting firewood or searching for affordable charcoal, time that could otherwise be used for education, income-generating activities and rest. Smoke from traditional cooking methods also exposes families to harmful air pollution, increasing the risk of respiratory illnesses and other health complications; therefore, reducing dependence on charcoal and firewood is necessary. But restrictions alone will not solve the problem if households have no affordable and reliable alternatives.

One locally promising option is briquettes produced from agricultural residues such as coffee husks, rice husks and sawdust, as well as other suitable organic materials.

These can provide alternative cooking fuel while creating employment opportunities for women and young people involved in production and distribution.

Biogas is another option that uses biodegradable materials such as animal manure and food waste to produce fuel for cooking while helping communities manage organic waste.

Clean cooking stoves designed to use less fuel can also reduce charcoal and firewood consumption, although their environmental benefits depend on the fuel used, stove design and emissions produced.

The government has also promoted gas cylinders as an alternative to charcoal. But while liquefied petroleum gas, commonly known as LPG, generally produces less harmful smoke inside the home than traditional charcoal and firewood cooking, it is not a fully clean and renewable energy source.

LPG is a fossil fuel whose production and transportation contribute to greenhouse gas emissions, and its continued use maintains dependence on fossil fuels rather than supporting a complete transition to renewable energy.

The cost of purchasing a cylinder and stove, paying for refills and transporting gas can also be too high for households with irregular incomes.

Fear of using gas is another challenge in many communities. Some people worry that cylinders may explode or catch fire, particularly when they have not received practical training on safe use.

Although LPG can be used safely with properly maintained equipment and appropriate precautions, households need clear demonstrations on connecting regulators, checking for leaks using soapy water, keeping cylinders upright in well-ventilated areas, turning off the gas supply after cooking and keeping cylinders away from flames and excessive heat.

Suspected leaks should never be checked with a naked flame, users should turn off the supply if it is safe to do so, avoid operating electrical switches and seek assistance from a qualified technician.

Donating cylinders without providing training, affordable refills and reliable maintenance services will not guarantee sustained use.

The government must therefore move beyond banning charcoal and invest in locally led cooking solutions that respond to the realities of Ugandan households rather than committing public resources to new fossil fuel projects.

It should prioritise affordable briquette production, household and community biogas systems, genuinely clean electric cooking where electricity is accessible and reliable and efficient cooking technologies that reduce fuel consumption.

Women-led enterprises and local manufacturers should receive financial support, training, equipment and access to markets to make these solutions widely available.

The government should also work with local leaders, community organisations and women’s groups to demonstrate how alternative cooking technologies work, address safety concerns and ensure that low-income households can afford them.

Subsidies and financing should prioritise women and vulnerable families, while standards and monitoring should ensure that promoted technologies deliver real health and environmental benefits.

The Cabinet has halted a contentious plan to redevelop Constitution Square into a commercial real estate complex, bringing an end to a high-stakes tug-of-war over Kampala’s premier green space and historic landmark.

Announcing the decision on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, Minister of ICT and National Guidance Justine Kasule Lumumba confirmed that the executive body resolved to reverse the development proposal and preserve the site’s historical, legal, and environmental integrity.

“Cabinet has decided to reverse the proposal for the development of City Square, formally known as Constitution Square, and retain the site’s existing legal status. This decision followed consideration of the site’s history, its legal protection, and the environmental and urban planning issues raised by the proposal,” Ms Lumumba stated during a press briefing.

She emphasized that Constitution Square remains a strictly protected heritage site under Ugandan law.

“Its protection dates back to 2007 and is recognised under the Museums and Monuments Act, 2023, and the heritage protection instrument issued in 2024. The protected site covers approximately 1.172 hectares, comprising plots 5, 6 and 7. It also contains the 1945 War Memorial, which commemorates Ugandan soldiers who lost their lives in the First and Second World Wars,” Ms Lumumba explained. “The Square and its memorial are part of our national history. Decisions about the site must respect that history and its protected status. The public should therefore be clear: Cabinet has reversed the development proposal. Constitution Square will retain its existing legal status.”

The Cabinet’s sharp U-turn comes just days after senior government officials and private investors were actively pushing to transform the public park. The initiative stemmed from an August 30 directive in which President Museveni instructed the Minister for Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) and Metropolitan Affairs, Ms Minsa Kabanda, to evaluate a proposal submitted by businessman Hassan Bulwadda. Mr Bulwadda had sought to construct an eco-friendly commercial complex featuring a high-end hotel, a shopping mall, and solar-powered amenities on the two-acre property.

The project had gained strong backing from the Attorney General Sam Mayanja, who defended the President’s constitutional authority to explore the redevelopment. Mr Mayanja insisted that modernizing the site would rid the city centre of criminal elements while introducing structured green spaces and water fountains similar to global capitals like London and Paris.

At the same time, Mr Mayanja dismissed claims by city businessman Hassan Basajjabalaba, who had recently appeared before Parliament’s Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (Cosase) asserting that he held a valid 49-year lease on the land dating back to 2001.

“A lease on public property does not confer permanent proprietary rights on a lessee. It confers on the user a period of time, and the developments are attached in the middle of the title deed as conditions,” Mr Mayanja said in an exclusive interview prior to the Cabinet decision. “I don’t know whether it was Basajjabalaba or one of his companies that was granted the lease some years ago and was rescinded. It remained public property and I don’t understand his claim… He cannot flog a dead horse; let him continue making threats until he gets tired.”

However, the proposal to alienate the public square triggered fierce resistance from environmentalists, urban planners, and political leaders. Kampala Lord Mayor Ronald Balimwezo and Leader of the Opposition in Parliament Joel Ssenyonyi vehemently opposed the giveaway, warning that stripping Kampala of its core green space would destroy its ecological balance and civic identity.

In a formal petition to the government, Mr Balimwezo noted that the location dates back to 1903 when the colonial administration designated it as Government Square, acquiring deep civic and constitutional significance over the past century.

“City Square must be left open. It is the City Square that helps us breathe, take in the air. It must not be played with. That is our take,” Mr Balimwezo said.

With Cabinet’s latest resolution, the legal protections anchored under the Museums and Monuments Act of 2023 take absolute precedence, ensuring that Constitution Square will remain an open, public heritage sanctuary in the heart of the capital.

Tooro King (Omukama) Edward Rukidi Nyabongo I has given the kingdom’s interim Prime Minister, Calvin Armstrong Rwomiire Akiiki, until November 12, 2026, to submit a report on his work to the Kingdom Supreme Council.

In his first address at the opening of the Tooro Kingdom Supreme Council on Tuesday at the Mucwa Kingdom headquarters in Fort Portal City, the king said the council would first review the report and then submit its findings to the monarch within seven days.

‘That is why I appointed Calvin Armstrong as acting Prime Minister, to help manage the transition period. His appointment was not meant to start a new administration during this period. Now, I want a report from the acting Prime Minister detailing what has been done and what has not been done,’ he added.

Nyabongo I said the report would promote accountability within the kingdom and help establish where to begin, adding that under his reign, the kingdom would be accountable to the people it serves, including the government and its partners.

‘This council will take seven days to analyse the report and submit its findings to my office. My office will then take seven days to review the council’s report before I return here to the council on November 27, when the Omukama will give the way forward,’ he said.

Shortly after his address, the Supreme Council, chaired by Engineer Julius Mwirumubi, selected a seven-member committee to receive and review the acting Prime Minister’s report and submit its findings to the king.

The committee comprises Asuman Kisembo, Sam Mugisa, Kamara Adolf, Amos Monday, Olivia Mutamba, Florence and Mugisa Murambara.

Nyabongo I added that those whose appointments to positions in the interim administration under the acting Prime Minister had been made in error should remain calm and patient until the Supreme Council had examined the reports and reached a decision.

The king’s pronouncement that some ministers had been appointed in error was met with applause from council members.

Shortly after his appointment as acting Prime Minister to oversee the transition, Mr Armstrong also reshuffled the cabinet, dropping some ministers who had served during the reign of the late Omukama Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV and replacing them with new ministers.

‘Let us reduce the things that divide us and direct our energies towards building our Kingdom and strengthening our unity,’ the king said.

He added: ‘Within our cultural institution of Tooro, I am your Omukama; but before God, we are all equal. Therefore, in all our work, let us act together with integrity and humility, without intimidating others or allowing ourselves to be intimidated.’

The Omukama pledged to work closely with the Supreme Council, thanking its members for welcoming him and assuring them of his commitment to serving the people.

The Omukama concluded by calling on kingdom leaders and other stakeholders to promote unity and mutual respect, warning against divisions that could undermine working relationships within the cultural institution.

The Ministry of Finance’s communication regarding the revision of allowances for public servants involved in monitoring donor-funded projects has caused a brouhaha, which the author of the letter attributes to a casual interpretation of the correspondence.

The letter, dated September 21, 2026, was written by the Deputy Secretary to the Treasury, Mr Patrick Ocailap, on behalf of his superior, the Permanent Secretary and Secretary to the Treasury. It is intended to rationalise allowances across donor-financed projects.

‘The basis of my communication was not escalating anything. If you read carefully, the letter does not impute anything,’ Mr Ocailap said.

He added that the communication should not be deliberately misunderstood or used inappropriately, saying the country was at a time when prudence and frugality were necessary.

‘We cannot be asking people to tighten their belts yet we are doubling expenses? The question is, do you read the letter properly? Because we are rationalising and not wasting,’ Mr Ocailap told Monitor when contacted on Tuesday.

When asked whether another circular would be issued to correct the impression that public servants’ allowances for monitoring and evaluation under donor-funded projects had been increased, he said it was not necessary because all it took was to read the letter carefully.

‘You need to read the communication very carefully,’ Mr Ocailap said in an interview with Monitor, adding: ‘That letter, if you read the first paragraph, it’s referring to a statute issued in February this year to all accounting officers, advising them on how to budget for this year.’

‘The communication talks about the programmes which were still under negotiation at that time, but have since been completed after the statute had been issued,’ he clarified, adding that ‘it needed guidance for application for this year and onwards, when dispatching staff for monitoring those projects.’

According to Mr Ocailap, the letter communicates the harmonisation of allowances between donor-financed programmes and government-funded programmes.

Follow the rules

‘So now, after all that, everything must follow the government-set rates, because the donor-funded [programmes] use set rates which are very high. So, we say, no, no, no, because it’s government money, whichever way it comes, the rates should apply like the letter guided. So, look at it as an equaliser rate,’ Mr Ocailap said.

Having harmonised the allowances, Mr Ocailap noted that there were conditions that had to be met, as outlined in the letter.

‘You must have funds within the budgets which are available for you this year to use,’ he explained, adding: ‘This means that for programmes to be implemented and personnel deployed, the funds must be explicitly budgeted.’

‘Furthermore, budgeting does not permit indiscriminate spending; expenditure must strictly adhere to quarterly cash limits. For example, if an institution has a budget of Shs13 million but the quarterly cash limit is capped at Shs10 million, plans must adjust to what is affordable, such as reducing five planned trips to two if fuel costs double,’ Mr Ocailap said.

Discipline

According to Mr Ocailap, the directive is a rationalisation measure intended to bring institutions that missed the initial planning circular into alignment with the government’s allowance policy.

Once aligned, they must fulfil two strict conditions: first, funds must be available in the budget, as spending without a budget is prohibited; second, even where a budget exists, expenditure on allowances must be restricted to the actual cash allocated for that quarter.

‘This is fundamental fiscal discipline that needs no further belabouring,’ Mr Ocailap said, ruling out the issuance of another circular to clarify what he described as a misconception regarding fieldwork allowances for donor-financed projects.

What the letter is about

Mr Ocailap’s letter explicitly directed implementers of donor-financed projects to apply the revised duty rates and facilitation allowances.

The updated structure covers political leaders, judges, public officers and local government leaders involved in monitoring development projects.

Although the letter highlights increases in official government rates for overnight stays and daytime official travel, Mr Ocailap noted that it was intended to rationalise allowances rather than increase them indiscriminately.

Under the categories for political leaders, specified officers and elected local government leaders, some rates have doubled.

However, Mr Ocailap argued that without the revision, the overall cost could have been much higher.

Under the revised rates, for example, the Vice-President will receive Shs500,000 per night when spending a night away from home to monitor a project, up from Shs210,000.

For a specified officer such as the Chief Justice, the rate has been increased by Shs285,000, while elected local government leaders will receive an additional Shs90,000 under the revised rates.

Policy and budget experts weigh in

When contacted, the executive director of the Civil Society Budget Advocacy Group (CSBAG), Mr Julius Mukunda, said he had a different interpretation of the circular.

‘My understanding is that this circular was emphasising the revisions that were made in 2018 when they doubled the allowances. Then the Ministry of Finance found out that certain projects have got rates that are not in tandem with the current rates of the circular. And as such, it is now harmonising the rates across the board,’ he said.

He added: ‘My only query is that whereas the government is telling us to tighten our belts, yet we are seeing increased rates, I would have rather seen a different circular revising these rates downwards, actually taking them back to the 2018 rates.’

The annual KT Rach Women’s Basketball Tournament is stepping up efforts to promote women’s basketball and nurture young talent, with its fifth edition dedicated to secondary school girls.

The tournament, scheduled for Sunday, October 25, at Lugogo Indoor Stadium, aims to empower young girls through sport while providing them with an opportunity to develop their basketball skills and pursue their ambitions.

Organiser Racheal Kuliva said the competition goes beyond the pursuit of trophies, emphasising its role in inspiring the next generation of female athletes.

‘The fifth edition (Secondary Schools Edition) of the KT Rach Women’s Basketball Tournament is more than just a competition; it is a platform for empowering young girls, nurturing talent, and inspiring the next generation of women in sport,’ Kuliva told Daily Monitor.

Up to 14 schools have been selected to compete in the day-long event, which seeks to strengthen the foundation of women’s basketball by encouraging young girls to embrace the sport and develop their abilities in a competitive environment.

Mirembe Secondary School, Kira Secondary School, Kyadondo Secondary School, St Noah Girls, St Julian, Watoto Schools, Mbogo Mixed, Ndejje Secondary School and Lowell Girls are among the participating institutions.

Kuliva also acknowledged the contribution of sponsors and partners, whose support remains central to the tournament’s growth and its broader mission of creating opportunities for female athletes.

‘We are grateful to our sponsors and partners, both new and returning, for their continued support as we work together to grow women’s basketball and create opportunities for young female athletes to thrive,’ she added.

The tournament’s focus on secondary schools reflects the importance of grassroots development in building a stronger women’s basketball structure, giving young players a platform to showcase their potential and gain valuable competitive experience.

Beyond the schools’ competition, the event will feature a showdown between Team Siima and Team Park, with the winners set to take home Shs1.5 million.

A men’s All-Star game will also form part of the day’s entertainment, with Raymond Muhumuza and Peace Nakirijja having selected star-studded teams to entertain the fans.

As the KT Rach Women’s Basketball Tournament enters its fifth edition, its emphasis on talent development and empowerment highlights the role school competitions can play in expanding participation and creating pathways for girls to progress in the sport.

The Confederation of African Football (Caf) has asked its 54 member associations, including Uganda, to recommend whether the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) should be staged every two or four years, reopening a debate that could shape the Cranes’ future continental campaigns.

In a letter dated October 23 seen by this paper, acting Caf general secretary Samson Adamu has asked the members to submit their recommendations and comments before 1pm on Wednesday, October 28.

‘Caf President Dr Patrice Motsepe has requested that I obtain the recommendation of your Member Association on whether the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) should take place every 2 years or every 4 years,’ the letter reads.

The consultation follows Motsepe’s December 2025 announcement that Afcon would move to a four-year cycle after the 2028 edition, with an African Nations League proposed to provide regular competition and additional revenue. The announcement attracted uproar from sections of African football stakeholders who felt that Caf was bending to the desires of Fifa president Gianni Infantino as well as aligning to the wishes of European football calendar.

U-turn?

However, speaking at a Caf strategy conference in Cabo Verde on October 9, Motsepe said the governing body was reconsidering the arrangement. He reiterated the position during a virtual Executive Committee meeting on October 22.

Caf’s letter identifies financial sustainability, players’ interests, the international match calendar and the development of African football among the considerations guiding the decision. It also acknowledges the financial uncertainty surrounding the proposed alternative competition, the Africa Nations League.

The letter now states that the Africa Nations League Pan African, which was suggested to replace the current Afcon format, ‘would require several years before it could make significant financial contributions to Caf and its Member Associations’ if Afcon were held every four years.

Fufa’s proposal carries implications beyond the 2027 finals, which the country will co-host with Kenya and Tanzania. The Cranes returned to Afcon in 2017 after a 39-year absence and reached the round of 16 in 2019, the team’s first knockout-stage appearance since 1978. The team returned again last year after missing two editions and then qualified for 2027 as co-hosts to make the ninth appearance.

Caf noted that its executive committee will consider the relevant factors before deciding the tournament’s frequency. The 2027 tournament remains scheduled to take place in East Africa, regardless of the outcome of the consultation.

Kings, queens and cultural leaders from across Africa have started arriving in Uganda ahead of the fourth coronation anniversary of His Highness Papa Emorimor Paul Sande Etomeileng Emolot III, the King of the Iteso, scheduled to take place in Kenya from October 29 to 31.

The celebrations will be held at Achunet Stadium in Malaba, Amagoro Division, Busia County, under the theme ‘Celebrating Our Cultural Diversity and Heritage, Building Our Palace.’ They are being organised by the Iteso community in Kenya.

By Tuesday morning, several kings and traditional chiefs had arrived at Entebbe International Airport in Uganda, where they were received by officials of the Iteso Cultural Union (ICU) with traditional songs before proceeding for the celebrations in Kenya.

Among those who had arrived were the paramount chief of the Khoi-San community of South Africa, Nkozi Molefe Phallarg, representing the Basotho community, and Prince Kwazi Zulu, the younger brother of Zulu King Misuzulu kaZwelithini.

Others included Prince Thulani Zulu and Prince Ngobese Wardile, the head of protocol and ambassador of the African Kingdoms Diaspora Alliance (AKDA).

Speaking upon arrival, Prince Thulani Zulu said the gathering offered African communities an opportunity to reconnect with their roots and strengthen ties across the continent.

‘We need to go back to our roots as Africans and regroup. We need to come together and understand where we come from,’ he said.

He added that spirituality was an important unifying factor among African communities, despite differences in culture, customs and nationality.

Queen Cynthia Nzilikazi Khumalo of the Mzilikazi royal house in South Africa said African royals needed to support one another and strengthen their relationships, noting that colonial-era borders had divided communities that historically shared cultural ties.

Organisers said Kenyan President William Ruto and his Ugandan counterpart, President Museveni, had confirmed their attendance at the celebrations.

Other expected guests include King Mswati III of Eswatini, Zulu King Misuzulu kaZwelithini and the king of the Ndebele kingdom in Zimbabwe.

The three-day event will feature exhibitions, a symposium, a football tournament, cultural displays and traditional songs, among other activities intended to celebrate Iteso heritage and promote unity among African communities.

David Emoot, an ICU official and Teso Kingdom ambassador to the Southern African Development Community (SADC), who is also the secretary-general of the anniversary celebrations, said organisers expected more than 80 kings, 80 queens and over 50,000 visitors.

He added that more than 100 delegations from the diaspora were expected to attend the event.

Mr Emoot also called for greater recognition of the Iteso community in Kenya, where he said approximately one million Iteso live, compared with about eight million in Uganda.

Dr Chris Obukui, the chairperson of the planning committee, said the celebrations would strengthen relations between Uganda and Kenya while promoting unity among Iteso communities on both sides of the border.

Since his enthronement in 2022, Papa Emorimor has promoted cultural pride and the use of cultural institutions as catalysts for development, with a focus on education, entrepreneurship, cultural identity and environmental stewardship.

The anniversary is expected to bring together traditional leaders, cultural institutions and communities from across Africa to celebrate shared heritage and strengthen cultural ties.