Asianet Pakistan Private Limited

Schools in Kibaale, Kagadi, and Kakumiro districts in Bunyoro Sub-region are grappling with acute staffing shortages.

District leaders and education stakeholders attribute the gaps in UNEB performance to the government’s failure to provide adequate funding for teacher recruitment.

According to education officials, the number of teachers is far below what is required to serve the growing student population, making it difficult to deliver quality education.

The Kibaale District Education Officer, Mr John Talagaboine, said some schools have survived by diverting part of the Capitation Grant to pay private teachers.

‘Some schools use the grant to pay private teachers, leaving other activities unfunded. The grant is meant for daily operations, not salaries. Few teachers cannot match the required teacher-to-learner ratio, which affects results,’ he said.

The district is supposed to have 125 secondary school teachers but has only 88 after two retired. At the primary level, the district has 445 teachers instead of the required 556, with 12 retiring this year.

The Kibaale District Chairperson, Mr Godfrey Muhonge Kasanga, said the district has 82 primary schools, with 362 teachers instead of the required 960.

‘Without enough staff, we cannot perform well academically. The workload is too heavy for the few teachers available,’ he said, adding that some learners miss lessons and eventually drop out. At Bubamba Primary School, head teacher Peter Kwemara said six teachers handle all seven classes, forcing the school to hire a private teacher.

‘The same staff also hold offices and other responsibilities, which makes balancing roles difficult. When a teacher is absent, pupils miss lessons, syllabus coverage is delayed, and results are affected,’ he said.

The 2024 UBOS report shows Kibaale has high numbers of out-of-school children. Among children aged 6 to 12, at least 11,902 out of 50,239 were not in school, while 11,009 out of 27,963 aged 13 to 17 were not attending school.

The Kakumiro District chairperson, Mr Joseph Sentahi Senkusu, said many schools have fewer than seven teachers despite high enrolment.

‘The government has restricted the recruitment of private teachers, saying it exploits parents. But without enough teachers, performance will continue to decline,’ he warned.

At Kiriika Primary School in Kakumiro, the head teacher, Mr Augustine Ssekisasi, said the school has more than 900 pupils and only eight teachers. ‘There is a need to stream classes for proper learning, but the structures cannot handle the large numbers. Work overload also affects how we assess learners,’ he said.

Kagadi wage bill

In Kagadi, the Uganda National Teachers’ Union (Unatu) chairperson, Mr Solomon Musinguzi, said the district’s wage bill is too low to support adequate staffing.

‘This has escalated early retirement applications-50 staff have already applied, which is worrying,’ he said. Kagadi District chairperson Ndibwami B Yosia admitted that the district has a deficit of 523 teachers across all government schools.

‘School heads are forced to hire private teachers, yet education is supposed to be free. Parents end up paying because schools must operate. The government should revise the teacher-to-pupil ratio and recruit to full capacity,’ he said.

The Kabukanga Primary School head teacher, Mr Enock Matee, said the school’s enrolment has dropped from 500 pupils in previous years to about 150.

‘We were forced to scrap primary seven after losing teachers who were transferred and never replaced. Of the five teachers, only two are on payroll, while three are privately paid by parents. The Capitation Grant is being used for salaries instead of school activities,’ Mr Matee said.

He added that the school also faces infrastructure challenges, with only two permanent blocks and three temporary structures in poor condition.

At a glance

* Kibaale District should have 125 secondary school teachers but has only 88.

* At the primary level, Kibaale has 445 teachers instead of the required 556.

* Kagadi District faces a deficit of 523 teachers across all government schools.

* Kabukanga Primary School has only two government teachers, with three others privately paid by parents.

Right now, Uganda is experiencing a digital revolution. As internet penetration steadily rises, so does the use of e-commerce, online government services, mobile banking and payment platforms. However all this progress is not without risk, and cyber crime is gradually increasing – especially in rural areas where awareness is low.

To address this issue, grassroot campaigns are stepping in with the goal of empowering rural communities and building stronger awareness among the population. Some have developed innovative solutions to bridge the digital divide and reach out to rural areas so even remote villagers are able to navigate the internet safely.

Cybersecurity Challenges in Rural Uganda

Rural Uganda faces significant barriers to effective cybersecurity education and awareness. It isn’t just that awareness about cyber threats, cybersecurity best practices, or tools like VPN providers is scarce – the problem is reaching people in rural regions that have underdeveloped digital infrastructure, limited electricity, and high data costs.

Many rural dwellers do not own their own devices, and rely on communal device sharing as well as intermediaries for charging. Not only does this increase the risk of unauthorized access, but it also means that information is often passed along second-hand instead of being accessed directly – which causes misinformation to flourish and leads to poor cybersecurity practices.

As things stand there is a rapid adoption of digital tools in rural areas, spurred by initiatives like the UN Capital Development Fund’s program for inclusive digital economies. However that in itself is a double-edged sword as it has outpaced education efforts – leaving rural communities vulnerable and targets for cybercriminals.

Grassroot Campaigns to Promote Cybersecurity

To reach rural communities more effectively, Uganda has turned to grassroot cybersecurity campaigns that meet people where they are, and use more accessible methods. Its National Cybersecurity Strategy 2022-26 got the ball rolling by emphasizing the need to embed cybersecurity in school curricula and build a solid foundation for long-term digital resilience.

The National Information Technology Authority-Uganda (NITA-U) has also stepped up with several campaigns that have a rural focus. One of them was its ‘Be Safe Online’ initiative that engaged schools and community leaders to deliver cybersecurity education to communities with low digital literacy.

Additionally, NITA-U has built community-based tech centers in rural areas under the Digital Uganda Vision to bridge the digital divide, and provide tailored programs on cybersecurity awareness. However its biggest push to enhance rural cybersecurity to date is the freshly launched Beera Ku Guard campaign.

As a collaboration between NITA-U and the Personal Data Protection Offer (PDPO), Beera Ku Guard is a six-month, nationwide public awareness campaign to promote cybersecurity. It intends to target rural communities by using local language messaging as well as rural-friendly communication channels such as radio, television, SMS, community forums and in-person workshops.

Complementing NITA-U’s work, the PDPO will focus on avoiding technical jargon, and translating rights and responsibilities into simple, relatable language. It intends to integrate storytelling, infographics, and interactive quizzes into the Beera KU Guard campaign to make complex concepts relatable and engaging for rural audiences.

Overall this campaign aims to reach at least 70% of Uganda’s population and is the largest grassroots cybersecurity education campaign so far. By instilling basic cybersecurity best practices among rural communities, it plans to educate them on how to safeguard mobile money PINs, avoid malicious links, identify suspicious emails, and secure personal data.

Other organizations have also been reaching out to rural communities. Some have partnered up in building mobile labs with solar-powered computers to reach areas that have low internet penetration and limited electricity supply. Others, such as Unwanted Witness and Civil Rights Defenders, train human rights defenders in rural areas on cybersecurity basics.

What’s Next?

Empowering rural Uganda isn’t something a one-off grassroots campaign can solve, but the Beera Ku Guard initiative is a good start and showcases the government’s commitment to delivering cybersecurity education to its most vulnerable, rural communities. By prioritizing accessibility, cultural relevance, and collaboration with local communities, it is not only lighting the way but laying a solid foundation that future campaigns can build on.

As new and disruptive technologies such as AI are set to enhance cyberthreats by enabling better deepfake videos, more convincing phishing emails, and automated cyber attacks – the need to empower rural Uganda and ensure they can protect themselves is greater than ever before. The grassroots campaigns that are being run are not only essential, but prove that with the right approach it is possible to empower rural communities with the knowledge and skills they need.

For the third time in a row, Robert Kasibante, the presidential candidate of the National Peasant Party (NPP), has failed to show up for his scheduled campaign rallies, leaving many of his supporters disappointed and questioning his seriousness in the race.

On Thursday, Kasibante was expected to hold rallies in Kyenjojo District before proceeding to Fort Portal City for an afternoon address, but was a no-show

In an interview later in the day, Kasibante admitted that while he had set off from Kampala intending to attend the events, he encountered “challenges” along the way that forced him to abandon the journey.

“I had reached Zigote [Mityana district] and got some challenges, so I canceled the journey. Let me see if I can make it tomorrow [Friday] for Kabarole District, where I am expected,” Kasibante explained.

This was not the first time Kasibante failed to appear for campaign events. On Wednesday, he was expected in Mubende and Kyegegwa districts but never showed up.

Similarly, on Monday, he missed planned rallies in Mityana and Kasanda districts. Since the official start of the campaign season, the NPP candidate has not conducted a single rally, despite a clear campaign program issued by the Electoral Commission.

Voters in Fort Portal expressed frustration after waiting in vain for the candidate. Some accused Kasibante of lacking an advance team to mobilize supporters, prepare venues, and communicate changes in his schedule.

“We were happily waiting for him so that we could share our demands, in case he got the mandate to lead. He was going to be the first presidential candidate to reach Fort Portal and Tooro sub-region, but now he has not come,” said Joshua Arinaitwe, a resident of Kisenyi in Fort Portal.

Arinaitwe added, “If he has financial challenges, he should declare them openly to Ugandans. The Electoral Commission needs to look into this issue. If he is not able to proceed with the campaign, his nomination should be canceled.”

Political analyst Dan Agaba suggested that Kasibante’s repeated absence could undermine the credibility of his campaign and discourage potential supporters.

“Without actively engaging citizens, experts warn, Kasibante risks being perceived as unserious and unprepared for national leadership,” he said.

Tooro Kingdom has launched a youth economic empowerment program in partnership with the Ugandan government, targeting agriculture, entrepreneurship, and skills development for thousands of young people across the kingdom.

The initiative follows President Museveni’s pledge on September 16 to collaborate with Tooro in agriculture, education, sports and tourism, as part of support for the kingdom’s 25-year Development Plan.

‘During our discussion, we explored the Kingdom’s framework and expressed our commitment to supporting it. We also agreed to collaborate in the areas of agriculture, education, sports, and tourism,’ Museveni posted on X.

Tooro King (Omukama) Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV has in recent addresses underlined that the long-term development plan provides the kingdom with strategic direction, identifying agriculture as a cornerstone.

Demonstration farms are being set up to train youth and farmers in modern practices.

Tooro Prime Minister Calvin Armstrong Akiiki said the launch fulfilled Museveni’s pledge made during two meetings with the monarch.

He noted that resources were already being mobilized to ensure the program’s implementation.

‘The first initial batch of the seedlings is going to be purchased by the government, and 90 percent of the gardens have been supported by the government, with the promise of giving 100 percent support,’ Armstrong said.

He added: ‘We thank the president because when we met him in October, he specifically pointed at this project, which we had introduced to him in May. He said in October, it would start by giving us this funding.’

The program will cover all nine counties of Tooro Kingdom, with plans to distribute 3 million coffee seedlings, 2 million cocoa seedlings, and 3 million chickens.

At least 50,000 young people are expected to directly benefit from agriculture support.

Extension workers will guide the selection process for beneficiaries, who will receive seedlings and support to establish gardens within a month.

‘We are distributing coffee seedlings across Tooro Kingdom to encourage youth to actively participate in farming. This program is about providing livelihoods and equipping young people with entrepreneurship skills,’ Armstrong added.

The initiative will roll out in two phases, beginning with distribution of seedlings before establishing nurseries, mother gardens and demonstration farms to guarantee sustainability.

Officials expect the program to boost household incomes for youth-led families and link Tooro’s young people with national wealth creation initiatives such as the Parish Development Model and Operation Wealth Creation.

The launch comes ahead of King Oyo’s tour of the kingdom’s nine counties starting October 6, where he is expected to popularize the program.

The gloves are off, and the battle lines are firmly drawn.

Ugandan football finds itself on the edge of a slippery slope as Vipers president, Lawrence Mulindwa, digs in his heels against Fufa’s controversial new league format.

What once looked like a simmering disagreement has now boiled over into an open war that could drag the local game into a bottomless pit.

Mulindwa, who once presided over Fufa for eight years, has come out swinging, insisting the Venoms will not kick a ball under the federation’s freshly minted three-group league structure.

To him, the so-called reforms are not just ill-timed but a direct attack on clubs’ autonomy, stripping them of hosting rights, benefits, and their place at the heart of the competition.

‘Time and again, we raised pertinent issues,’ Mulindwa thundered in a letter dated October 2, 2025, ‘but to our surprise and dismay, Fufa has never formally responded.

Instead, we have been ridiculed, blackmailed, rebuked, and ostracized for demanding legitimate answers to issues affecting the sporting integrity of the League.’

The flashpoint came when Fufa included Vipers in Saturday’s double-header at Namboole – Kitara vs. Vipers and KCCA vs. SC Villa – despite the club’s loud and clear objections.

‘We find this unethical and disrespectful,’ Mulindwa stated, blasting the move as a total disregard for the struggles of privately owned clubs that have kept Ugandan football afloat.

Like a striker refusing to play offside, Mulindwa refused to be trapped.

While Villa and Nec have bent under pressure, Vipers have stood firm, refusing to be ‘conscripted’ into fixtures without answers.

In his letter-copied to the Minister of Education and Sports, National Council for Sports, UPL officials, sponsors, fans, and stakeholders-he made it clear.

‘Vipers shall not participate in the new format until our concerns are formally addressed. We shall use all available means within football laws to seek redress and protect our rights.’

Fufa, for its part, has dug in its boots, vowing to press on with reforms it claims will bring ‘renewed competition.’

But with fans already staying away in droves – stadiums recording shockingly low turnouts in the first two match days – the stage is set for a bruising showdown.

This is no longer just a league reform debate – it is a full-blown football war.

And as every fan knows, when two elephants fight on the pitch, it is the grass-Ugandan football-that suffers most.

For some, it is still yet to sink in that Uganda did not pick up a medal at the recent World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan.

There were shortcomings for 3000 metres steeplechase runner Peruth Chemutai, while marathoners Abel Chelangat, Victor Kiplangat and Stephen Kissa in that order as well as Stella Chesang all succumbed to the humidity on the Tokyo streets.

A portion of that medal miss is attributed to Jacob Kiplimo and Joshua Cheptegei’s absence. They both opted for 42km races elsewhere with Kiplimo geared for the Chicago Marathon in the USA next weekend.

‘I decided to withdraw from the World Championship to have more time to concentrate on preparations ahead of the Chicago Marathon,’ Kiplimo stated.

That October 12th race in the State of Illinois will be Kiplimo’s second career marathon. ‘Proud to be there and can’t wait to start in Grand Park,’ he added.

Kiplimo is a prolific runner on the road. In February, he reclaimed the 21km world record (WR) after he won the Barcelona Half-Marathon in Spain with a time of 56 minutes and 42 minutes.

The 24-year-old is the first man to run that distance under 57 minutes. Thereafter, Kiplimo produced the fastest marathon debut by a Ugandan – finishing second behind Kenyan Sabastian Sawe with a time of two hours, three minutes and 37 seconds at the London Marathon in England on April 27.

On the all-time marathon list, Kiplimo ranks joint 46th and of all the fastest 50 men ever, he is the only third individual not to come from Kenya or Ethiopia, simply outstanding.

When race organizers for Chicago set up the men’s field, the Ugandan was entered and race talk is skewed towards a rivalry with defending champion Kenyan John Korir.

Last year, Korir emulated his brother Wesley Korir’s 2012 triumph with a time of 2:02:44. Chicago offers a flat course which is always ideal for fast times as well considering the weather forecast is more accurate closer to the race day.

In 2023, the late Kenyan Kelvin Kiptum lowered the marathon WR to 2:00:35 while winning in Chicago. That became the third time in history that the men’s marathon WR was being set in Chicago.

By pitting Korir against Kiplimo and notwithstanding other entries like Kenyan trio Timothy Kiplagat, Amos Kipruto and CyBrian Kotut as well as Belgian Bashir Abdi all who are faster than the Ugandan, a fast race is expected in Chicago.

And granted Kiplimo is still a novice at the 42km distance, his half-marathon WR title equates to a full marathon time of 1:59:46, a performance under Kiptum’s WR. And it explains why he holds much attention.

While preparing, Korir has hinted at beating that WR by Kiptum and in April, he won the Boston Marathon in Massachusetts, USA.

‘I am confident that I will be able to defend my title at the Chicago Marathon this October,’ Korir said in a statement. ‘My training is going well, and I am focused on achieving another personal best time.’

The five men 2022 Abu Dhabi Marathon champion Kiplagat, 2022 London Marathon winner Kipruto, Kotut, Abdi and Kiplimo have all broken the 2:04:00 mark and that bodes well to push Korir or any under the 2:01:00 mark thereby facing Kiptum’s mark.

CHICAGO MARATHON

Date: 2nd Sunday in October (before Columbus Day)

2025 Date: October 12

Location: Chicago, Illinois, USA

Event type: Road

Distance: 26.219 miles (42.195 km)

Established: 1977 (48 years ago)

Course records – Men: 2:00:35 *WR by (Kelvin Kiptum – 2023) | Ladies: 2:09:56 *WR by Ruth Chepngetich – 2024)

MEN’S WORLD RECORDS IN CHICAGO

Steve Jones in 1984

Khalid Khannouchi in 1999

Kelvin Kiptum in 2023

2025 CHICAGO MARATHON

ELITE MEN’S FIELD

John Korir (KEN) 2:02:44

Timothy Kiplagat (KEN) 2:02:55

Amos Kipruto (KEN) 2:03:13

CyBrian Kotut (KEN) 2:03:22

Bashir Abdi (BEL) 2:03:36

Jacob Kiplimo (UGA) 2:03:37

Philemon Kiplimo (KEN) 2:04:01

Geoffrey Kamworwor (KEN) 2:04:23

Huseydin Mohamed Esa (ETH) 2:04:39

Daniel Ebenyo (KEN) 2:06:04

Galen Rupp (USA) 2:06:07

Hiroto Inoue (JPN) 2:06:14

Zouhair Talbi (MAR) 2:06:39

Conner Mantz (USA) 2:07:47

Matt Richtman (USA) 2:07:56

Rory Linkletter (CAN) 2:08:01

CJ Albertson (USA) 2:08:17

Hideyuki Tanaka (JPN) 2:09:27

Patricio Castillo (MEX) 2:10:40

Ryan Ford (USA) 2:11:08

Marc Scott (GBR) 2:11:19

KIPLIMO AT A GLANCE

Date of birth: November 14, 2000

Major events: 5000m, 10000m, Half-Marathon, Marathon

Coach: Iacorpo Brasi, Peter Chelangat

Personal Bests: 12:40.96 (5000m), 26:33.93 (10000m), 56:42 (21km), 2:03:37 (Marathon)

Manager: Federico Rosa

Management: Rosa Associati

KIPLIMO IN 2025

Apr 27, 2025: London Marathon (2nd, 2:03:37)

Feb 16, 2025: Barcelona Half-Marathon (1st, 56:42)

KIPLIMO IN 2024

Dec 31, 2024: NN San Silvestre 10K (2nd, 26:32)

Nov 17, 2024: NN Zevenheuvelenloop (1st, 40:42)

Sept 15, 2024: Copenhagen Half-Marathon (2nd, 58:09)

Aug 2, 2024: Paris Olympics, 10000m (8th, 26:46.39)

May 30, 2024: Oslo DL, 5000m (3rd, 12:40.96)

May 17, 2024: LA Grand Prix, 5000m (4th, 12:52.91)

Mar 30, 2024: World Cross-country (1st, 28:09)

Feb 10, 2024: National Cross-country (1st, 29:04)

Jan 14, 2024: Valencia 10K Ibercaja (1st, 26:48)

UGANDA’S FASTEST MARATHONERS

BEST TIME BY ATHLETE

2:03:37 by Jacob Kiplimo at London Marathon on Apr 27, 2025

2:04:48 by Stephen Kissa at Hamburg Marathon on Apr 24, 2022

2:05:09 by Victor Kiplangat at Hamburg Marathon on Apr 24, 2022

2:05:12 by Filex Chemongesi at Toronto Marathon on Oct 20, 2019

2:05:59 by Joshua Cheptegei at Tokyo Marathon on Mar 2, 2025

2:06:33 by Stephen Kiprotich at Tokyo Marathon on Feb 22, 2015

President Museveni has urged Ugandans to take charge of their economic destiny by making better use of the Parish Development Model (PDM) to create their own wealth.

PDM is a key plank of President Museveni’s strategy to transform subsistence households into the money economy by promoting economic development in rural parishes and urban wards.

Mr Museveni, while campaigning in Amolatar District yesterday said the programme has the potential to propel millions of Ugandans towards prosperity.

‘So, I am appealing to all Ugandans, chase can (poverty) from your home, and do it by doing something that will bring food on your table but also money in your pocket. And the government has already given you how to start,’ he told a rally at Amolatar Secondary School.

‘This PDM money, Shs100 million per parish. In five years, that is Shs500 million in one parish. And in the third year, the ones who get first, go back to the circle. The money will never come back to the government. It will remain in your parish,’ he said.

About PDM

The PDM is a seven-pillar strategy that focuses on production, processing, and marketing, as well as infrastructure and economic services, financial inclusion, social services, mindset change, and governance.

Mr Museveni emphasised that by tapping into these pillars, Ugandans could unlock their potential and become active participants in the country’s economic growth.

He urged Ugandans to embrace the initiative, saying people can actually take ownership of their economic development and create a brighter future for themselves and their communities.

In February 2022, President Museveni launched PDM as a multi-sectoral strategy for transforming subsistence households into the money economy of the country.

Under this ambitious programme, 30 percent of the allocation to every parish or ward is meant for women, 30 percent for the youth, while older persons and PWDs are supposed to fetch at least 10 percent each.

To increase household food security, incomes and quality of life of Ugandans, beneficiaries are supposed to be organised and supported to, among others, identify, prioritise and respond to their own needs.

However, the government’s implementing agency – the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development – previously said that persons with disabilities or PWDs and older persons are not consuming all their allocations.

‘The report that we have in our ministry is indicating that older persons and persons with disability are not consuming all their money. Some of the monies are being returned or are being given to other interest groups and other beneficiaries,’ Ms Betty Amongi, the Gender minister, told this newspaper in Lira City on September 10.

Unfulfilled pledges

President Museveni said he is aware of the promise he made concerning the upgrade of the Namasale -Amolatar-Ochero-Dokolo road to bitumen.

However, he did not commit on when the government would fulfil the promise. On the issue of resolving the ongoing conflict between the fishing community and the Fisheries Protection Unit (FPU), the head of state said he would first consult leaders in the districts surrounding the water bodies before committing himself.

PDM key areas

Production and marketing: Citizens can engage in agricultural enterprises such as coffee, cotton, and maize production, and benefit from government-supported initiatives like the e-voucher system for farm inputs and the e-extension service.

Financial inclusion: The PDM promotes access to financial services, including savings, credit, and insurance, to help households manage their finances effectively and make informed investment decisions.

Infrastructure development: The government is committed to improving infrastructure, such as roads, markets, and water facilities, to facilitate economic activity and enhance the quality of life.

Walking through Republic Street, Naboa Road, Pallisa Road, or Kumi Road in Mbale City, you don’t see the signs of a growing city.

Instead, you see old, cracked buildings with peeling paint and collapsing verandas, once proud commercial spaces now left to rot. Many of these buildings are nearly 100 years old and have been neglected for decades. Some are stuck in complicated ownership battles, with no one taking responsibility to fix or develop them.

Back in 1972, when President Idi Amin forced Asians to leave Uganda, their shops, homes, and plots, including many in Mbale, were handed over to Ugandans through a government body called the Departed Asians Property Custodian Board. But 50 years later, confusion caused by that same board, along with the Uganda Land Commission, has left many of these properties in a legal mess. Some plots have been given to several people at once, leading to constant court cases.

Mr Yasin Kawanguzi, a lawyer and former city leader, said, ‘We see ramshackle buildings in the middle of town because ownership is unclear.

No one invests in property they are battling for in court,’ he said. One example is a building on plots 33 and 35 on Pallisa Road. It was torn down in May 2024 for being unsafe, even though a family claiming ownership protested the demolition.

Over a year later, the prime plot still sits empty at the city entrance.

This problem is not limited to one street. Almost every major road in the city centre, Naboa Road, Bishop Wasike Road, Republic Street, Kumi Road, and Pallisa Road, has buildings stuck in ownership disputes.

Locals call them ‘ghost buildings’, run-down, neglected, and stuck in legal battles. City leaders blame the Departed Asians Property Custodian Board and the Uganda Land Commission for giving out ownership documents to multiple people for the same buildings.

Mr Namugali, a city leader, said, ‘These properties were never properly returned to the city. Some buildings have five or more people claiming ownership, each with a letter from a different government office.’ Because of this, investors are staying away, and the city looks abandoned in some places.

Another example is Plot 29 on Republic Street, where a long-standing dispute continues. The family of the late Zubair Magomu said they bought the property in 1972 and later formalised ownership. But someone else claiming to represent the original Indian owners later showed up with papers and evicted the Magomu family.

Community leader Robert Mudebo said this is a national issue, but worse in Mbale.

He added: ‘One building can be claimed by 10 different people. Who will spend money renovating a property they could lose tomorrow?’ he added. Residents believe the only way Mbale can grow into a modern city is if the government sets clear rules to settle these ownership issues.

Mr Abdulsalam Namonye, who has led the North Road Cell since 1986, said: ‘All over town, buildings are falling apart because of court cases.

The custodian board should fix these disputes instead of letting middlemen profit.’ He also said his building on Plot 8, Kumi-North Road, was taken from him unfairly in 2005.

A past land investigation by the Bamugemereire Land Inquiry exposed how some people used fake claims to grab hundreds of these properties. Mr Joseph Kibande, a senior official from the Ministry of Lands, said the mess is not the ministry’s fault.

‘The custodian board is responsible for these properties. We only help those who have been cleared by the board,’ he said. Attempts to get a comment from the Departed Asians Property Custodian Board were unsuccessful by the press.

The Departed Asians Property Custodian Board, created by a 1973 law, was meant to manage the properties left behind after Asians were expelled. But decades later, the same board is now being blamed for the confusion that has left Mbale’s City centre crumbling.

Background

Mbale was officially declared a city on July 1, 2020. It was one of the first towns to be granted city status in Uganda, with Jinja, Mbarara, Gulu, and others also elevated at the same time. Mbale was previously an urban municipality. The elevation was part of a broader initiative by the government to create new cities.

As Europe doubles down on migration deals with Tunisia, Libya, and Rwanda-and Italy ships asylum seekers offshore to Albania while Britain clings to its Rwanda plan-Uganda is betting on a different answer.

Each of these European policies speaks to the same fear: that Africa’s young people, without economic pathways at home, will head north. Uganda sits at the heart of this tension. More than half its population is under 18, and another 22.7 percent are aged 18-30, according to the Uganda Bureau of Statistics.

By 2050, the population is projected to nearly double to 86.5 million. Without jobs, this ‘youth bulge’ risks spilling across borders-feeding Europe’s migration crisis and fueling instability in East Africa.

‘Many youths still get lured onto risky migration routes,’ warned State Minister for Labour Esther Anyakun, noting that of the more than 500,000 Ugandans working in the Middle East, barely half migrated using regular channels.

At the launch of Uganda’s five-year migration governance plan, government representatives described the country as a ‘regional epicentre for migration-a nexus where people migrate to, through, and from.’ Recently, the Cabinet also approved Uganda’s first National Migration Policy (2024), calling it a framework to ‘harness migration for development while minimising the risks of irregular migration.’

It is against this backdrop that policymakers, employers, and civil society gathered in Kampala on September 17 for the launch of Africa Youth Pathways, Resilience and Systems Change (AYPReS)-a and the Partnership for African Social and Governance Research (PASGR).

The program’s target is ambitious: move 30 million Africans, 70 percent women, into dignified work by 2030. In Uganda, one of the first proving grounds, the government has also earmarked Shs5 billion for a Graduate Volunteer Scheme and Shs19.48 billion to revamp skilling centers in the 2024/25 budget.

Making policy stick

Many think-tanks about the youths do believe that Uganda’s jobs crisis isn’t about a lack of ideas but that most ideas never move from paper to practice.

The argument here is that policies often arrive too late, miss political timing, or collapse under budget shortfalls, leaving evidence buried in reports while unemployment festers.

Think tanks like the PASGR argue the answer is the Utafiti Sera ‘research-to-policy’ house-less an academic hub than a pressure valve between evidence and power.

The model maps influence, convenes policymakers early, and pushes research into live debates before the window closes. In Kenya, a similar house helped shape the 2023 Social Protection Act, guided reforms in university financing, and brought agriculture and health evidence into cabinet decisions.

‘The lesson,’ says Rosebella Apollo, a programme officer in research and policy at PASGR, ‘is that evidence changes policy when it’s co-created, politically legible, and timed to the window of opportunity.’ Prof. Paul Bukuluki, a social work researcher and lecturer at Makerere University, warns that evidence without fiscal backing is ‘like planting seeds on a rock.’

Mondo Kyateka, the Assistant Commissioner for Youth and Children’s Affairs at the Labour and Gender Ministry, cautions that if fertility and youth joblessness aren’t addressed urgently, ‘the system breaks down.’ Both argue that the real test is not producing research but wiring it into budgets, protections, and working programs that blunt demographic pressure. That shows the problem is structural and the solution could be systemic.

Skills that work

Uganda’s education system has long churned out certificates without the skills employers need. The result has been many graduates armed with diplomas but no work-readiness. Government data estimates that youth aged 18-30 account for between 64 and 70 percent of the unemployed.

The government is now trying to fix the mismatch. It is rolling out competency-based technical and vocational education (TVET), introducing micro-credentials, recognizing prior learning (critical for refugees without papers), and making workplace placements mandatory to bridge classrooms with industry. Employers echo that view.

‘Youth need action, preparedness, resilience,’ says Evelyn Kisakye of the Federation of Uganda Employers, which is running a Work Readiness program with Enabel to channel graduates into agriculture, tourism, and the green economy. ‘Opportunities exist, but they reward those who show up ready.’

If Uganda succeeds in aligning skills, demand, and social protection, it won’t just create jobs-it could reshape the global migration story. If it fails, Europe’s border walls may prove too thin to hold back the tide.

A 33-year-old man, Mustafar Manirabuka, also known as Katonda, has pleaded guilty to charges of defacing campaign posters of President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni in Busia District.

Appearing before the Busia Chief Magistrate, Thomas Okoth on Thursday, Manirabuka admitted to destroying the posters along Majanji Road in Busia Town on September 22, 2025.

According to the Resident State Attorney, Julius Danx Tuhairwe, the incident occurred on September 22, 2025, when Manirabuka allegedly used a sharp knife to destroy five campaign posters of President Museveni.

While Manirabuka pleaded guilty to the charges, he disputed the number of posters involved.

“It is true I destroyed the posters, but they were four, not five as the prosecution claims,” he told the court.

Manirabuka further explained his motive, stating that he and his family had supported and campaigned for President Museveni for years without any recognition or reward.

“I tore the posters so that the message could reach the President that there is a family in Busia that has campaigned tirelessly for him over the years without being acknowledged,” Manirabuka said.

The Chief Magistrate, Mr Okoth, remanded the accused to Masafu government prison, pending sentencing and conviction.

Manirabuka, a resident of Busia Town and a Musoga by tribe, had reportedly gone into hiding after defacing the posters near Busia Police Station along Majanji Road.

He was later tracked down by police detectives and arrested on Custom Road in Eastern Division, where he had been hiding.