Asianet Pakistan Private Limited

At the height of national political campaigns spanning from 2001, 2006, and 2011, elderly men, women, youth, and children would throng the road-sides flashing the V-sign to signify victory in support of their then favourite Opposition presidential candidate and Forum for Democratic Change party leader, Col (rtd) Dr Kizza Besigye.

While singing their traditional songs as a way of marketing the campaigns, they would be seen ululating as they jumped out of their mud and wattle grass-thatched houses in excitement to cheer Dr Besigye in his convoy. The supporters would lay traditional kitenge clothes for the three-time presidential candidate to walk on, and they would offer him gifts such as doves, chickens, goats, and sheep, in a show of great support and solidarity. He received a hero’s welcome across West Nile, in a region whose locals suffered while in exile in DR Congo and South Sudan after the fall of President Idi Amin in 1979.

Dr Besigye, who could roar during campaigns with his trademark ballistic voice, was a darling to the people of West Nile because his messages spoke to the common man’s problems. Key on his agenda at that time was the bad roads, non-connection to the national grid, and the arrests of OPEC boys, the notorious fuel smugglers who carried goods across the borders of South Sudan and Dr Congo. He would also ride on the poverty levels in communities in West Nile to drive his point home. Dr Besigye went ahead to fault the government on the sorry state of health and educational institutions in the sub-region. These factors, among others, won the hearts of the people of West Nile, making the NRM government unpopular. Another factor was the popularity of the late Democratic Party presidential candidate, Paul Kawanga Ssemogerere, who contested in the 1996 elections and won across West Nile with more than 80 percent of the votes.

The same favour and love for the Opposition candidate was reciprocated in support of Dr Besigye’s Reform Agenda and later FDC. Dr Besigye had set up party structures with FDC offices opened in key districts such as Nebbi and Arua. It appeared apparent that massive mobilisation was being conducted right from the grassroots level. It is no wonder that during the 2006 presidential campaigns, the procession from the FDC office in Arua Town, which is about 800 metres to Arua Hill grounds, took about 30 minutes of slow driving as traffic jams were created in the town, with a mammoth crowd following him. That time, the Muslim group played the drum as a way of mobilisation for Dr Besigye. In 2016, the same love for the Opposition was still visible. That time, the late Ibrahim Abiriga, who then served as Arua District Resident District Commissioner, mobilised some NRM supporters for a bull feast to divert people’s attention from attending Dr Besigye’s rally. But this was in vain as people abandoned the feast and dashed to Arua Hill for campaigns. Some of the NRM supporters moved with the animal’s hooves during Dr Besigye’s procession.

How Opposition lost ground

Incensed by the incident, the late Abiriga planned dismantling of the Opposition party support. He moved to various boda boda stages to mobilise support for Mr Museveni. ‘Stop listening to those lies of the Opposition. We should support the government that brought you back from exile. The government works on services in phases. The roads, electricity, schools and hospitals will be done if you support NRM,’ he said in 2016. During the campaigns, the late Abiriga managed to mobilise and pull crowds for Mr Museveni. He spoke vehemently about the completion of the Karuma-Olwiyo-Pakwach-Nebbi-Arua road, which he said was a success for the NRM regime. Some people believed him and were compelled to support the regime. Abiriga’s efforts paid off while in Arua District in 2016, where President Museveni won with 114,888 (57.71 percent) and Dr Kizza Besigye got 68,108 (34.22 percent) out of the 336,384 registered voters. This was the starting point for the NRM to find a foot in the elections.

NRM take over

Pakwach District chairperson Robert Omit Steen said: ‘We appreciate his (Museveni’s) efforts in the last terms of rehabilitating some of the roads, constructing Seed schools in communities, and connecting the region to the national grid. These are services our people needed and so he deserved our support.’

He, however, said there are areas that require the government’s urgent attention such as the revival of the Pakwach Railway Station and port, upgrading of Pakwach Health Centre IV to a hospital status and upgrading of Uganda College of Commerce Pakwach to university status. President Museveni throughout the campaign in West Nile promised to provide scholastic materials, pads for pupils in schools, tarmac the roads, and connect the region to the national grid and this was fulfilled on August 3, 2024. He also promised free Universal Primary Education. This statement won hearts of many of the poor parents, especially in rural areas, who looked at him as a saviour. The NRM has also mobilised various youth groups, women and men to canvas for votes in the rural areas.

The defections

The exodus of devotees from the FDC such as former Arua Central Division MP Kassiano Wadri, former Arua Woman MP Christine Abia, Ms Amina Atako, Ms Nesma Ocokoru, Ms Night Asara to Alliance for National Transformation (ANT) among other party officials also disabled the party’s support base. This left a gap in the leading Opposition party structures. The NRM has also tried to fulfil some of its promises that include construction of major roads, bridges and some anti-poverty projects that are likely to win them another term. The Pakwach District Woman MP, Ms Jane Avur, said: ‘People have realised the gains which we need to protect like the construction of Ora Bridge that connects people of Pakwach and Madi Okollo, the construction of the Pakwach-Nebbi road and the implementation of the Parish Development Model as a game changer.

The construction of Seed schools across the region is a gain.’ However, in a recent interview with the Daily Monitor, Mr Wadri said he does not believe in any gains from the NRM. He said locals in the region have been hoodwinked to think that by voting for an NRM candidate, development would come their way. NRM has 40 MPs in the 13 districts in West Nile, who have been mobilising support for him. ‘Despite this good representation, look at what the locals get in turn, poor state of roads from Nebbi to Arua, the Nebbi-Zombo-Vurra road, the road from Manibe to Terego-Yumbe. No senior political appointments and poverty just thrives on,’ Mr Wadri said. ‘Those that join the NRM party do so for selfish reasons, he added. Mr Wadri also revealed that the ground has not been levelled for all political parties as police often interfere with their programmes.

A child born in Uganda in 2000 would have expected to live up to the age of 48.9. One born today, on the other hand, can expect to live for 66 years, and rising. This is one of the success stories in Uganda’s health sector, and the country’s life expectancy has risen above the sub-Saharan African average to near global levels.

There are many underlying reasons, including mass immunisation that has rolled back many preventable diseases, antiretroviral therapies that have reduced mortality from HIV/Aids, the end of major armed conflicts, and a young population that is yet to face the inevitable turbulence of mid- and late-life ailments.

The expansion of primary health care has seen reductions in maternal and neonatal mortality rates, while expansion in private health care has driven investments in complex medical treatments and procedures.

A close look under the microscope, however, shows the many pathogens and problems that, left unattended, will undermine Uganda’s social and economic transformation, as well as the ability of many Ugandans to live long, healthy and productive lives.

First, for all the progress made over the past decades, the two leading causes of death in Uganda are treatable (malaria) and preventable (HIV/Aids).

In the case of malaria, the incidence rate has been worsening since 2021, according to the World Health Organisation. This speaks to a failure in case management and primary health care, especially at the grassroots.

Similarly, the third-leading cause of death — lower respiratory infections like pneumonia, among others — suggests a lack of awareness of hidden dangers such as air pollution, and a lack of public health messaging to address them.

Growing tobacco consumption among young people through vaping, smoking water pipes, and just second-hand cigarette smoke without any meaningful public health education and behavioural change campaigns will only make this worse.

The second, and related, problem is the growing risk of lifestyle or non-communicable diseases like diabetes, hypertensive disease, among others, which kill about four out of every 10 Ugandans. To this add injuries, including those from road traffic accidents, which claim about 10 percent of fatalities every year.

Some of the fixes in this category are obvious and straightforward. Just forcing boda boda riders and their passengers to wear helmets would reduce the fatality rate from these two-wheeled widow-makers. Enforcing driver learning and regular vehicle inspections would reduce overall road traffic accidents.

Others, however, are harder to see and, therefore, harder to formulate policies around. For instance, the urban low-income-earner diet has changed from organic local food to the refined high-calorie sugars of wheat and antibiotic-flavoured industrial eggs.

The disappearance of public spaces and sports facilities, combined with a growing culture of vertical living in apartment blocks, has taken away free or low-cost exercise options. This pressure on physical space will only increase as the population doubles over the next 25 years.

Crowded into ever denser conurbations, and without common spaces for physical exercise or mental decompression, obesity and its related diseases, combined with mental health disease, are likely to rise. As the population pyramid begins to bulge in the middle, non-communicable diseases could become the leading causes of death.

Public health policy makers, therefore, need to plan for malaria vaccines, as well as running tracks and public parks! This will require new thinking and smarter investments, including in making health care more affordable.

Spending on health as a percentage of GDP, currently at under five percent, will have to triple to meet the pledge in the Abuja Declaration.

The absolute increases, however, will have to rise in tandem with more intelligent decision-making such as buying more ambulances than luxury SUVs, and allocating more money to maintenance and staffing.

One obvious low-hanging fruit is the national health insurance scheme, which has been decades in the planning. It would expand coverage and reduce the cost of healthcare for the most vulnerable, providing a guardrail against that very real nightmare of losing it all with one major medical emergency.

Yet even small illnesses carry large costs. In a new paper, Dablin Mpuuga of the Economic Policy Research Centre and colleagues found that 28.7 percent of households spent more than 40 percent of their non-food expenditure on out-of-pocket healthcare costs during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Another 33 percent spent more than 25 percent — money that could have been spent on investment or other forms of consumption.

Fixing the health sector requires a combination of greater investment in prevention and treatment, focusing on outcomes to ensure value-for-money, and derisking inevitable health challenges through a national health insurance scheme.

Ugandans are living longer; we shouldn’t let the cost of healthcare make some wish they could die earlier.

A video recording showing a police officer who has since been identified as Assistant Superintendent of Police Clive Nsiima, attached to Counter Terrorism under Oil and Gas Protection Unit Kampala Metropolitan Zone, slapping a supermarket attendant who reminded him about an unpaid bill of Shs30,000, elicits all kinds of emotions, but for most anger, outrage, and even fear.

That the officer is heard blatantly stating to the victim that he can commit a crime even in front of a camera and get away with it is ominous. But mostly, it dampens the spirit during what should be a jovial period for Ugandans during this 63rd Independence Day.

What sort of independence is this when those like that supermarket attendant, who was assaulted right in front of a camera and the many others we might never know of, whose abuse was never captured on camera, are abused by some among us who swore to keep law and order but instead instigate lawlessness and abuse?

What about the rest who watch as such crime is being perpetrated but are too afraid to do anything or defend the victims because of fear that they too might end up victims and never receive true justice?

While the Director of Criminal Investigations AIGP Tom Magambo, described this as isolated behaviour by an officer, it is hard to unsee and unhear the victim’s shrill cry of pain and the culprit’s arrogant and shameless stance. It will take a lot more to restore broken trust and taper the anguish born from such incidents.

It is good to know that the said offender was arrested and detained, but now what? Sit back and wait for another video recording of an assault? There’s need to restore public trust, quench the embers of anguish. Nip any form of indiscipline or even the indication of it in the bud before it escalates to such levels.

Impunity by security officers, even on the roads, is testament to the fact that there are those among us who feel more entitled to this dear nation than the rest.

Uganda belongs to us all. Everyone must be made aware of this in no uncertain terms. We have enough national challenges to overcome as it is; we can’t let this form of impunity take a permanent slot on that list.

While it seems more than sensible and even rational to blame this sort of behaviour on individual ill manners, the blot on the Force occasioned by one of it’s men can’t be ignored. Something has to give. Much more effort has got to be invested in fighting impunity.

Uganda kept their slim World Cup qualification hopes alive following a 1-0 away win over Botswana at the Obed Itani Chilume Stadium in Francistown, Botswana on Thursday evening.

Forward Jude Ssemugabi got the game’s only goal on 54 minutes after being allowed to steal in a header at the near post from an Allan Okello corner.

The result pushed the Cranes to 18 points from nine games and consolidate second position in Group G after Mozambique lost 2-1 at home to Guinea to remain three points behind in third place.

The results mean the Cranes stay in the running for World Cup qualification albeit through a somewhat complex playoff process after Algeria clinched the available direct spot in the group with a 3-0 win over Somalia to jump to 22 points, four ahead of the Cranes with one game left.

The Cranes now need just a draw to confirm second position in the group although it is only a win that can brighten their prospects of finishing among the top four second placed teams from the nine groups to get into the playoffs.

Only one slot is available from that playoff before Africa’s representative plays the final qualification game against a team from another continent.

By Thursday night, they were just out of those top four positions lying fifth but level on 18 points with Burkina Faso and Cameroon.

But the Cranes will take heart from a second away win this campaign in which they were the better side against hosts Botswana who had little to play for.

Rogers Mato was again the Cranes’ liveliest player but equally as wasteful infront of goal spurning goal scoring opportunities in either half.

They will hope to carry that fight into the final game that is also away to Algeria on Tuesday.

Col Samson Mande, one of the heroes of the National Resistance Army (NRA) Bush War that brought President Museveni to power, turned dissident, says he’s back in the ruling party.

Col Mande, a strong critic of NRM, has been living in Sweden since he fled to exile with Lt Col Anthony Kyakabale, first in Rwanda and later to the Scandinavian nation after falling out with President Museveni in 2001.

Lt Col (rtd) Kyakabale returned to Uganda about 10 years ago and met President Museveni before travelling back to Sweden later.

Kyakabale, also a Bush War fighter and a key figure in the Rwandan civil war that ousted former Rwandan President Juvenal Habyarimana in 1994, died last week after a long period of illness, according to family sources.

Col Mande returned to Uganda recently and was introduced by President Museveni to the crowd that gathered at Kololo Independence Grounds, Kampala, as the East African nation marked Independence Day on October 9.

‘All the development that is happening in Uganda is on account of the peace that is available. This peace is lubricated by the longstanding NRM policy of reconciliation and forgiveness on top of our firm stand against crime. Even today, I’m happy to welcome back into peaceful Uganda Col Samson Mande, who had fled into exile on account of, apparently, some internal intrigue. While in exile, he tried to engage in some rebel activities. When our cadres contacted him in Sweden, he happily agreed to come back and disconnect himself from the rebel activities,” Mr Museveni said in his October 9 Independence address before asking Col Mande to take to the podium to address the gathering of mainly NRM supporters, politicians and dignitaries from different countries.

Key opposition supporters shunned the official celebrations, claiming they have, over the years, been turned into a ruling party event at which “a lot of taxpayers’ money is spent on a handful of enablers and beneficiaries of the regime.”

In his brief speech, Col Mande said he changed his stance against the NRM and President Museveni, whom he described as generous.

‘I am back home. Here in Uganda, I have two homes; the first home is my country. Nobody shall be surprised that I’m here because I’m in my home. My second home is the NRM. I’m a founder member of the NRM. NRM was born by us. It is in me, it will remain in me until death puts us asunder,’ he said before quoting 1 Corinthians 13:11 to confirm that he’s a changed man.

‘When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me,’ he said, adding, ‘I know the magnanimity of our dear leader, President Yoweri Museveni, would accept my change of behaviour. Thank you very much. I’m home to stay.’

He said he had returned to Uganda to contribute to the development that he had heard and seen.

‘I went when I was bitter, but now I’m better and I’m loaded with solutions. I will not look in the past because I don’t live in the past tense. I’m looking forward to contributing to national development,’ he added.

Mr Museveni, who has been in power for four decades, and seeking another term in the 2026 polls hailed Mande for the “good job as commander of the 15th battalion in the Siege of Masaka in 1985 and in subsequent assignments.”

“I remember Samson Mande in 1979 operating as a volunteer scout for the Task Force Division of the TPDF under Major – General Silas Mayunga in Mbarara. I was commanding the 9000 strong Fronasa fighting force. Later Mande did a good job as commander of the 15th battalion in the Siege of Masaka in 1985 and in subsequent assignments. We welcome him,” the president said after Col Mande’s speech at Kololo.

RAO69 Samson Mande was at the heart of the 5-year guerilla war that brought President Museveni to power in 1986, and later authored the Establishment document that transformed the motley NRA into today’s formidable UPDF. As destiny would dictate, Col. Mande was elbowed out a few years after they captured power, got incarcerated and tortured in dungeon before he fled into exile, first to Rwanda, and onward to Sweden.

Uganda’s Intelligence later accused him of plotting to overthrow President Museveni’s government using the People’s Redemption Army (PRA) rebel group.

He was also involved in veteran opposition politician Dr Kizza Besigye’s escape in August 2001.

WHO IS MANDE?

Col Samson Mande’s UPDF service number RO 69 which puts him among the top 100 National Resistance Army Bush War fighters.

He commanded one of the first six independent units during the Bush War in the Luweero Triangle in 1983. He commanded 1st Battalion, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Battalion, 9th Battalion and Task Force which operated in Kyadondo-Matuga-Bombo-Masulita and Mukono District.

His Task Force merged with the late Brig Chefe Ali’s UNLF troops in 1984 to form the Western Axis frontline and the 11th Battalion in Rwenzori. By 1985 the 11th Battalion had captured enough weapons and trained enough personnel to form the 15th battalion, the crack battalion which Col Mande commanded as the NRA fighters advanced on the capital Kampala, which fell on January 26, 1986.

An Artificial Intelligence (AI) data centre has been unveiled in Uganda, a first-of-kind project in the East African nation, and hailed as a turning point that will shift the continent’s data from foreign servers back to the continent, giving institutions, researchers, and businesses greater control over their digital assets.

Speaking during the launch breakfast, Synectics Technologies Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Oladele Oyekunle, said the first phase of the project is expected to cost KShs157.2 billion ($1.2 billion.) The facility will run on 100 megawatts of renewable energy and adopt a modular design that allows for expansion as technology evolves. Mr Oyekunle added that the three-year project will begin rollout by mid-next year.

According to him, the initiative has four main goals: to manage and process data, support research and development, and serve as an advisory hub.

It will also host an AI Centre of Excellence, created under a Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) model, to ensure that local engineers, researchers, and universities not only access the infrastructure but also acquire the skills to manage and innovate within it.

The approach is expected to reduce Africa’s dependence on foreign expertise and transform the region into a net exporter of digital skills within five years.

With over 80 acres of land dedicated to this ‘digital city,’ the project aims to foster an ecosystem where African researchers in medicine, agriculture, climate science, and other fields can optimise AI-driven innovations locally, rather than exporting raw data abroad for processing.

The facility is being developed in Uganda by Synectics Technologies in partnership with Schneider Electric, Nvidia, and Turner and Townsend, and is expected to transform Africa’s digital landscape by providing local infrastructure for data processing, research, and AI innovation.

Africa currently accounts for less than 1% of global data center capacity despite having a population of 1.4 billion people, according to the Africa Data Centres Association.

Most African data is still hosted overseas, raising concerns about security, sovereignty, and compliance with data protection laws.

‘At least 30 African countries, including Kenya and Nigeria, have enacted data privacy regulations in recent years, requiring more data to be processed locally,’ Oyekunle noted.

Turner and Townsend’s Head of Real Estate in Africa, Wendy Cerutti, said the facility is designed to meet international standards while securing Africa’s long-term digital future.

‘This project shows that we can deliver world-class facilities here, with predictability, clarity, and impact,’ she said, stressing that the initiative is a long-term infrastructure program aligned with net-zero goals.

Analysts project that AI could contribute up to KES 195 trillion ($1.5 trillion) to Africa’s GDP by 2030, with the data center expected to position the continent as a hub for research, innovation, and skills export.

Schneider Electric East Africa Country President Ifeanyi Odoh said the lack of large-scale infrastructure has kept global hyperscale’s from investing heavily in Africa.

‘It’s not that we don’t have the data. The basic infrastructure fiber, power, redundancy has not been available at scale,’ he said.

The new facility will be supported by multiple fiber routes, redundant transformers, and advanced automation to guarantee reliability.

The urgency of this development is underscored by Africa’s digital infrastructure gap. Despite its population size, the continent continues to rely heavily on Europe and North America for data hosting.

Experts warn that without local capacity, the risks of data misuse and weak compliance will grow as AI adoption accelerates in healthcare, fintech, and education.

By embedding privacy and compliance frameworks into the new facility, Synectics and its partners say they are not only building infrastructure but also trust.

Industry observers see the project as a watershed moment. The creation of an AI factory powered by renewable energy is expected to catalyze digital economies across East Africa and beyond, while also symbolizing Africa’s entry into the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

‘Science is precise whether in Kenya, Uganda, or China. For Africa, this is our time not just to consume technology, but to define our own digital future,’ Mr Oyekunle urged.

As Uganda marks 63 years of independence, several presidential hopefuls have reflected on whether the country has achieved the vision of its founding fathers.

While the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) celebrated what it termed decades of peace, stability, and development, Opposition figures argued that persistent governance failures, corruption, and inequality have rendered independence meaningless. NRM Communications Director Emmanuel Dombo said the last four decades under President Yoweri Museveni’s leadership have been years of steady progress and recovery.

‘Of the 63 years of independence, the NRM government and His Excellency Yoweri Kaguta Museveni have been in charge of the affairs of the country for almost 40 years. These have been years of consistent progress and development,’ Mr Dombo said. ‘Unlike the years before 1986, when we had many presidents and a failed economy, from 1986 we have had one president who has enabled Uganda to attain peace, stability, and development.’

‘Not good enough’

However, other presidential candidates offered contrasting views, questioning the significance of the peace and stability the NRM boasts about. Maj Gen (rtd) Gregory Mugisha Muntu, the presidential flag-bearer of the Alliance for National Transformation (ANT), said Uganda’s independence remains incomplete, arguing that the country is held captive by a governance system driven by selfish interests.

‘It’s unfortunate that the country, at the age of 63, is still caught up in a vicious cycle of poor governance, having leaders who are short-sighted and mainly focused on themselves,’ Gen Muntu said. ‘They pursue material acquisitions or power for psychological satisfaction, and under leadership driven by self-interest at the expense of citizens, challenges such as inadequate infrastructure, poverty, poor education and health systems, and high unemployment persist,’ he added.

Gen Muntu, who was the army commander from 1989 to 1998, said Uganda will only make meaningful progress when the country addresses the question of governance. ‘Until we resolve the issue of governance, it will remain the same. Any Ugandan who wants a better future must focus on how to get good, honest men and women into leadership, people who will build a stable, peaceful country where everyone is equal before the law and has equal opportunities,’ he said. The Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) presidential candidate, Mr Nathan Nandala Mafabi, echoed similar sentiments, noting that, while Uganda has made strides since independence, significant challenges abound. ‘A lot has happened in our country since the British colonial government exited 63 years ago. We have had an ugly past, and although we are not where we want to be, we hope to get there,’ Mr Mafabi said.

‘We want to see a country where the rule of law is respected and human rights are adhered to. Poverty rates remain high, and that’s why, as FDC, we are presenting ourselves to Ugandans to give us a chance to lead this country beginning 2026 so that we fix the economy and put money in people’s pockets,’ he added. Gen Muntu urged Ugandans to reflect on the nation’s direction.

‘As we celebrate 63 years of independence, citizens should reflect on where we want this country to be in the near future. We deserve a better Uganda, and I have the experience needed to fix the economy and improve people’s livelihoods,’ Mr Mafabi said.

‘Concentration of power’

The Conservative Party’s presidential candidate, Mr Elton Joseph Mabirizi, took a more critical tone, saying Uganda’s performance today is worse than it was under British rule. ‘Before independence, regional governments had autonomy to utilise their own resources for development. Today, everything is centralised, and regions that produce the most wealth remain underdeveloped,’ Mr Mabirizi said.

He attributed this to corruption and excessive centralisation of power. ‘Despite Uganda being rich in natural resources, many regions have not benefited because of poor governance and corruption at the central level. Federalism is the only way to unlock regional potential and ensure equitable development,’ he said.

The Conservative Party Secretary General, Mr Alfred Kasozi, also criticised the government for what he called the collapse of key national assets.

‘The NRM government doesn’t manage parastatals. The policy of taxation has failed, people are being overtaxed, and the government doesn’t own anything. Parastatals like Uganda Commercial Bank, Uganda Railways, and UTL have been privatised and are now run by a few people,’ Mr Kasozi said. He explained that education has become increasingly expensive and that Uganda’s democracy has been undermined by constitutional amendments removing term and age limits.

‘The NRM government has totally killed service delivery. On paper, it looks developed, but on the ground, it’s totally different,’ he said.

Independence values

‘We must reflect on the values for which independence was fought accountability, equality, and self-governance, all of which have been eroded,’ he added. Mr Robert Kasibante, the presidential flagbearer of the National Peasants Party (NPP), said peasants have been left behind despite decades of self-rule. ‘Many peasantry communities have been excluded from key leadership and government positions of influence under Gen Museveni’s regime, which has consumed 40 of the 63 years of our independence. This has denied peasants the true benefits of independence,’ he said, adding: ‘The Electoral Commission, Parliament, and the Judiciary lack autonomy. We promise to empower all arms and agencies of government for better and more efficient service delivery.’ Mr Kasibante called for greater inclusion and accountability as Uganda moves toward another election cycle. ‘Uganda marks 63 years of independence amid calls for transparency, accountability, and economic inclusion of marginalised communities,’ he said.

Flag independence

Mr Habib Buwembo, the mobilisation head at the National Unity Platform (NUP), Uganda’s leading Opposition party, said the country cannot be considered independent when citizens still rely on handouts from President Museveni. He cited loss of businesses, killings on fishing lakes, and restricted celebrations as tell-tale signs. Mr Buwembo added that the country still uses colonial-era laws and that Opposition parties are denied resources and freedom to operate, proving that Uganda’s political and economic independence remains elusive. ‘We cannot continue celebrating independence when Ugandans are still economically enslaved and politically oppressed.

True independence means freedom for all citizens, not just those in power,’ Mr Buwembo said. Mr Moses Bigirwa, the Common Man’s Party (CMP) secretary general, said Uganda’s politics remain unstable and that the country cannot be considered truly independent until institutions are freed from individual control. ‘Uganda is still grappling with the political question within it. Individuals in power still act like the colonial rulers who granted us independence. Whoever gets into power does so forcefully, and leaving power becomes a tug of war,’ he told Daily Monitor. He, however, expressed optimism that President Museveni could still rebuild confidence among Ugandans. ‘Mr Museveni should rebuild trust. Public institutions should be independent and fair so that citizens can freely elect leaders of their choice. That’s the only way Uganda can become truly independent,’ he said.

The Ugandan cricket fraternity is mourning the passing of Baker Elonge Otema, a devoted servant of the game whose contribution to cricket – both on and off the field – spanned over four decades.

Elonge, who was 63, breathed his last at Jinja Hospital after complications on Tuesday night allegedly due to body organs failure. He was, until his passing, the Development Officer for Eastern Uganda and the Nile Region under the Cricket Uganda (CU).

With the best

Born in Northern Uganda but raised in Jinja, Elonge’s love affair with cricket began at Victoria Nile Primary School in Jinja and later flourished at King’s College Budo, where he learnt the finer points of the game.

A medium pacer with a deceptively short run-up, he played for Uganda, Jinja Association of Cricket Clubs (JACC) in the 1980s and 1990s, where his jovial spirit and sportsmanship made him a beloved teammate.

Off the pitch, he was affectionately known as the ‘King of Main Street’, a nod to his ever-present charm and social nature in the heart of Jinja Town.

Baker, as those in cricket called him, connected deeply with people of all walks of life – young and old, cricketers and non-cricketers alike – always ready with a smile, story, or light-hearted tease.

Timeless teacher

When his playing days ended, Elonge found renewed purpose in umpiring, earning recognition as one of Uganda’s first international umpires after he earned his qualification papers in Gauteng in 2003, alongside the late Francis Ekalungar.

His witty approach and fairness in the middle inspired a generation of umpires, including Patrick Makumbi Musoke, now on the International Cricket Council (ICC) Development Panel.

In his later years, Elonge devoted himself to coaching and youth development, guiding cricket in Eastern Uganda with passion, humility, and wisdom.

His mentorship shaped countless players and officials, leaving a legacy of integrity, discipline, and love for the game. His calm demeanor, sharp eye for talent, and open heart endeared him to all.

Heartfelt tributes

Tributes have poured in from across the cricket community:

‘He was a gentleman to the end,’ wrote Bob Kisubi. ‘A calm, cool, and collected man,’ added Frederick Mpanga. ‘Big big shame, Baker’s loss. Thanks to God for his life,’ said veteran Pithy Ndiko – a man who did it all with him. ‘One of the few who kept cricket in the East moving,’ remembered Robert Okot.

‘Baker was always kind and full of good humour. He had the shortest bowling run-up I’ve ever seen, yet the biggest heart of anyone I knew in cricket,’ said Guy Kimbowa Lutaaya, a former captain and teammate at JACC.

Elonge, who was elected as chairman of the national umpires and scorers association in 2018, will be laid to rest in Amononeno Village, Alebtong District on Friday evening, with details of the burial arrangements forthcoming. Cricket Uganda (CU) has pledged to honour his memory fittingly for a man whose life embodied the spirit of cricket.

Rest well, Baker – your impact will stay for eons.

TIMELINE

Full Name: Baker Elonge Otema

Date of Birth: February 2, 1962

Died: October 8, 2025

Age: 63 years

Born: Northern Uganda

Residence: Jinja District

EDUCATION

Schools:

Victoria Nile Primary School, King’s College Budo and Makerere University Business School

(MUBS) Nakawa

ROLES PLAYED

LC II Chairman, CU Development Coach, Talent Scout and Umpire Mentor

The Talking Point

LASTING LEGACY

Scripting His Own Story. For more than four decades, Elonge shaped the game’s soul-first as a reliable medium pacer for JACC, later as one of Uganda’s first international umpires, and ultimately as a development officer nurturing young cricketers across Eastern Uganda. Even after leaving the umpire’s crease, he remained a pillar of mentorship, urging growth, fairness, and joy in the game. His colleagues recall his quick wit and unmatched humility-an eloquent servant of cricket whose laughter and lessons will echo through generations.

The financial system remains resilient, well-capitalized, and profitable despite a challenging global and domestic environment, Bank of Uganda (BoU) says in its Integrated Annual Report for the 2024/25 financial year.

Commercial banks and other supervised financial institutions, BoU says, have maintained adequate capital and liquidity buffers, supported by strong earnings and improved asset quality.

These fundamentals, BoU says, have safeguarded the stability of the financial sector even as external risks and domestic fiscal pressures persist.

‘The financial system remained safe and sound during the year under review, with sufficient capital, liquidity, and profitability to absorb potential shocks,’ the report states.

The report shows that non-performing loans (NPLs), a key measure of banking sector health, declined to 3.7 percent, from 4.3 percent the previous year, which reflects effective credit risk management, closer supervision, and continued post-Covid-19 recovery in several sectors, particularly trade, agriculture, and manufacturing.

Banks also posted robust profits, underpinned by rising interest income, higher efficiency, and improved credit performance.

Credit to the private sector expanded by 8.8 percent during the year, supported by the Agricultural Credit Facility and Small Business Recovery Fund, which eased access to affordable credit for small and medium enterprises.

BoU says the sector’s liquidity position remains strong, with banks fully compliant with the Liquidity Coverage Ratio and Net Stable Funding Ratio, now prudential requirements across all supervised institutions.

To further enhance resilience, BoU says it conducted bottom-up stress tests on domestic systemically important banks and a sector-wide crisis simulation exercise to evaluate the system’s response to shocks.

The results, BoU notes, confirmed that the financial sector has the potential to withstand moderate macroeconomic and credit pressures without breaching regulatory thresholds.

The central bank also intensified its anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing supervision, issuing new sectoral risk assessments and guidance to strengthen the integrity of the financial system.

Through active liquidity management operations, including standing lending facilities and repo transactions, BoU ensured stability in short-term interbank rates, while investor confidence for both domestic and offshore remained strong, helping contain government securities yields and sustain orderly market conditions.

On a sunny afternoon at the 31st Uganda Manufacturers Association (UMA) trade fair, a small crowd forms around a vibrant exhibition booth. Handcrafted baskets sit beside neatly packaged coffee, organic skincare oils, colorful textiles, and artisan chocolates, all branded Made in Uganda.

It’s more than just a slogan. It’s the name of a new e-commerce platform that is determined to become a symbol of pride, innovation, and ambition for Ugandan entrepreneurs eager to take their products to the world. The Made in Uganda platform seeks to connect local producers to global consumers.

For decades, Ugandan manufacturers, artisans, and small-scale enterprises have produced remarkable goods, but access to international markets has remained a distant dream.

Now, through this online marketplace, local producers can showcase their products to buyers both at home and abroad.

From coffee and crafts to fashion and food, the platform curates a wide range of goods that tell a distinctly Ugandan story, one of creativity, resilience, and quality.

‘I am very excited that UNBS has played an important role in getting these products onto the market,’ said Ms Patricia Ejalu, the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) deputy executive director, while touring the Made in Uganda booth.

The entry of Made in Uganda coincides with a growing confidence in the quality of local goods.

Working closely with UNBS, the platform ensures that every product listed meets national and international standards.

This focus on certification builds consumer trust, a critical step toward global recognition. Moses Byaruhanga, the head of Made in Uganda, says the mission is to transform and open new doors for Ugandan products.

‘Consumption of Ugandan products has traditionally been local. We want to create market access so these products reach international shelves. We have already onboarded over 2,000 unique products, most of which are certified. Some still need support, but the momentum is strong,’ he says.

Beyond e-commerce, Made in Uganda is also nurturing a new generation of small-scale producers, many of them young innovators with big dreams but limited capacity.

Dr Ezra Rubanda Muhumuza, the UMA executive director, sees the platform as a launchpad for these emerging entrepreneurs.

‘Our partnership with the Science, Technology and Innovation Secretariat is helping young innovators who make high-quality products in small quantities. We are profiling them, commercializing their work, and guiding them toward industrialization. Made in Uganda is a wowing innovation for this year’s Trade Fair.’