Asianet Pakistan Private Limited

At the 60th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, several Nordic countries joined international calls urging China to address human rights violations in East Turkestan/Xinjiang , Tibet and Hong Kong.

Finland highlighted restrictions on civic space in Hong Kong and the situation of ethnic and religious minorities, urging China to follow the recommendations of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and treaty bodies.

Sweden expressed continued concern over conditions in Hong Kong, Tibet and East Turkestan/Xinjiang, calling on China to comply with recommendations from the Universal Periodic Review and the OHCHR report.

Denmark repeated its serious concern about the human rights situation across the three regions, aligning with other European voices that stressed the need for greater freedoms of religion, expression and assembly.

The Nordic statements came alongside similar positions from Germany, Ireland, Switzerland, Australia, Japan and the United Kingdom. Together, they reflect a broad international call for China to respect international law and improve protections for minorities and civil society.

On Monday, when Harriet Chemutai-the head of the National Unity Platform’s (NUP) Elections Management Committee (EMC)-handed over to the party’s principal, Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, the long-awaited list of endorsed parliamentary candidates for next year’s election, pandemonium was expected to follow. And it has. For the entirety of this term, questions have been asked about what Uganda’s leading Opposition party would do to its so-called rebels. The term ‘rebels’ in NUP has two classifications.

The first includes Members of Parliament (MPs) who drifted to the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party as soon as they won seats in Parliament in 2021. These included Twaha Kagabo (Bukoto South), Bashir Kazibwe Mbaziira (Kawempe South) and Jimmy Lwanga (Njeru Municipality). The three chose not to subject themselves to the EMC’s processes ahead of the selection of NUP flag-bearers in the next elections.

Another category of rebels emerged when NUP had a grand fallout with its then deputy president in charge of the Buganda Region, Mathias Mpuuga. This was over the so-called Shs500m service award. Once the fallout came to light, NUP honchos made it clear to its 50-odd MPs that they had to choose between the party and Mpuuga. Some like Hillary Kiyaga, alias Dr Hilderman (Mawokota North); Michael Kakembo Mbwatekamwa (Entebbe Municipality); Joyce Bagala (Mityana District Woman Representative); Juliet Nakabuye Kakande (Masaka City Woman Representative); Medard Lubega Sseggona (Busiro East); Abed Bwanika (Kimaanya-Kabonero); and Veronica Nanyondo (Bukomansimbi Woman Representative) tilted towards Mpuuga.

Consequently, Nakabuye, Mbwatekamwa and Bwanika didn’t bother to subject themselves to the NUP processes when nominations got underway. This was after they moved to Mpuuga’s Democratic Front (DF). The ‘rebels’ who appeared before NUP’s EMC included Sseggona, Kiyaga, Nanyondo and Bagala. Of these, only Kiyaga and Nanyondo have reclaimed the NUP tickets. Sseggona and Bagala were thrown out. The decision to throw out Sseggona, arguably one of the best constitutional lawyers in the country, and replace him with Kadongo Kamu musician Mathias Walukagga, who can barely express himself in English, has shocked many. Sources within NUP, however, told Saturday Monitor that it wasn’t a shock since the party had long moved on from the veteran politician.

Sseggona fallout

NUP’s move to deny Sseggona the ticket is largely attached to his move to side with Mpuuga during the service award standoff. Sseggona made it even clearer to the electorate that he was not going to sign a motion fronted by Theodore Ssekikubo, the Lwemiyaga County legislator, aimed at punishing Mpuuga. ‘I am a wise and educated man. Those who are signing are just excited over nothing. They are just abusing Mpuuga for no reason. They were in Parliament when the budget [for service awards] was tabled. It is the same budget where [Moses] Kigongo, [Edward] Ssekandi, and [Rebecca] Kadaga were given money as former speakers,” he said, adding: ‘When you talk, they shout at you. When you keep quiet, they say you were compromised. Who amongst us sleeps hungry?’

Sseggona said the entire House was to blame for the service award. He also had a few choice words for NUP principal Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, alias Bobi Wine, for mishandling the service award saga. ‘If you are a leader and you are the first to make such a statement, it’s wrong because as a leader, when you speak, nobody else is going to speak,’ Sseggona said, referring to Bobi Wine.

Sources say, with that, NUP had had enough of Sseggona. ‘There was no way back for Sseggona. He didn’t apologise. He didn’t try to reach out to the party’s leadership after making statements,’ a source familiar with NUP’s decision-making, said. Unlike Sseggona, who clearly rebelled, Walukagga has been using musical concerts to show how he is loyal to Bobi Wine, and he believes that put him ahead of those who were jostling to replace Sseggona. ‘At Maggere,’ Walukagga said, referring to Bobi Wine’s home in Kasangati township. ‘I can enter any time. I don’t need an appointment.’

Though NUP had credible alternatives-such as businessman Emmanuel Magoola and Allan Ssempala Kigozi-to replace Sseggona, sources say once the EMC tested the ground to inform their decision-making process, they discovered that Walukagga was immensely popular. ‘It’s clear that Sseggona was out of NUP’s calculations, leaving Walukagga the strongest on the ground when compared to other people [Magoola and Kigozi]. It had to be Walukagga because he is too strong on [the] ground and he is one of their own,’ a source familiar with NUP decision-making processes said.

Ex-DP members unwelcome?

Sseggona, who on Wednesday confirmed that he will seek to return to the House as an Independent, said politics shouldn’t be treated ‘as a joke’ that is a preserve for ‘comedians and clowns.’ He also reckons getting rid of him isn’t attached to Mpuuga’s conundrum but rather NUP has wanted to get rid of ‘them.’ By ‘them’ Sseggona seems to be alluding to the Democratic Party (DP) members who decamped to NUP in the run-up to the 2021 elections. The theory is that these former members haven’t been fully embraced by NUP’s honchos and thus have been thrown out one after the other.

To some extent, this theory holds water in the sense that many of the former DP members have been denied tickets in favour of people who are said to have the NUP DNA. This became apparent in the NUP flag-bearer race for Kawempe Division Mayorship. The race pitted Emmanuel Sserunjongi, alias Ow’eddembe, who is deemed to be loyal to NUP leadership at Kavule Makerere, against Latif Ssebaggala Ssengendo, a former DP member. Sserunjongi beat Ssebaggala to the flag, forcing the latter to declare his intention to stand as an Independent.

Another example is the tussle for who would be NUP’s flag-bearer for Wakiso District chairperson. The race pitted Emmanuel Kigozi Ssempala, alias Ssajjalyabeene, a former DP member, against Nasiifu Najja, who is one of Bobi Wine’s aides. Before NUP emerged as a political force in 2021, Ssempala had been the legislator of Makindye Ssebagabo Municipality, formerly known as Kyaddondo South. Yet in 2021, after decamping, he was denied the NUP ticket in favour of David Sserukenya. Still, Ssempala defied NUP and stood as an Independent, but Sserukenya was too powerful as he emerged victorious with 35,892 votes. Thus, when Ssempala applied to be the NUP flagbearer for Wakiso District chair, it didn’t come as a surprise that he was easily turned down in favour of Najja, who is considered to have a NUP DNA.

Bagala shunned

This battle between people who are considered to have DP roots was on play in the battle for Mityana District Woman representative. The battle pitted Bagala, a former DP member, against Prossy Mukisa Nabbosa, who is considered to be close to Mityana Municipality legislator Francis Zaake, who is, in turn, said to be close to Bobi Wine.

Bagala was among the NUP members who initially threw their weight behind Mpuuga, saying they have a similar political background, meaning DP. Bagala was among the masterminds of Mpuuga’s much-vaunted thanksgiving service last year in Masaka City. Bagala had been dropped from the shadow cabinet where she had served as Information minister, as soon as her ally Mpuuga was dropped by Kyagulanyi as the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament (LoP). The LoP reins were promptly handed to Joel Ssenyonyi, who is considered to have the NUP DNA.

Bagala, nevertheless, opted to stay put in NUP in favour of joining the DF. She reportedly sent emissaries to NUP’s top honchos, saying how she was repentant, adding that she had never disassociated herself from NUP in the first place. Bagala, who was now facing a challenge from Nabbosa, started appearing at NUP’s headquarters, something that she had stopped doing after associating herself with Mpuuga. Our sources say it seemed at one point that Bagala had been given the thumbs-up for the NUP ticket ahead of Nabbosa. When the final list emerged, however, the incumbent had been dumped. ‘Losing the party card is not the end of the journey,’ Bagala said, insisting that she was going to stand as an Independent. ‘My commitment to the people of Mityana remains unshaken, because leadership is about service, not symbols.’

Olive branch extended

NUP’s top brass has not been entirely unforgiving. Kiyaga was among the people who were considered to be out after saying he couldn’t criticise Mpuuga on account of the latter being a Muganda and a Catholic. Sources say in previous months, Kiyaga has been sending apologies to the NUP honchos that could have made them rethink their position.

‘He has put in a lot of effort to see that his apologies are accepted. Additionally, the vetting committee had to assess the alternatives they had in place. If they weren’t convincing in terms of popularity, then they had to accept the apologies,’ a source familiar with NUP decision making said. This means NUP picked Kiyaga because, among the alternatives they had, he stands a better chance of defeating NRM’s Amelia Kyambadde, who has thrown her hat into the ring again.

Another rebel with DP roots who has been forgiven is Nanyondo of Bukomansimbi. Nanyondo infamously had a standoff with LoP Ssenyonyi over her refusal to sign Ssekikubo’s motion. In fact, Nanyondo withdrew her signature from the motion, saying LoP Ssenyonyi had tricked her into doing so.

‘As you know, I arrived late at the meeting and the issue of censure was not mentioned, but various other issues were discussed. The list I signed, I thought it was an attendance list,’ Nanyondo said. ‘But when I left the meeting, I realised that it was a censure list, and yet those who were signing were present at the table. If I were to sign, there is still more time to do so.’

NUP’s decision to give Nanyondo the ticket in the Bukomansimbi Woman Representative race, sources say, is informed by a lack of a better alternative.

‘I don’t think they like Nanyondo a lot, but they looked at the alternatives and came to the conclusion that they had to stomach her. That’s the difference with Busiro East, where they felt they could do away with Sseggona because he isn’t popular on the ground. Sseggona’s opponents like Walukagga are popular,’ a source familiar with NUP’s vetting process said.

Agriculture is the backbone of Uganda’s economy, contributing about a quarter of GDP and employing more than 70 percent of the population. Yet, for the millions of smallholder farmers who sustain the sector, farming remains a high-risk venture.

Access to affordable credit is limited, insurance penetration in agriculture is almost negligible, and climate change continues to magnify uncertainties.

Financial institutions have long considered smallholder farming too risky, while insurance companies remain hesitant to cover weather-dependent ventures. With unpredictable rains, prolonged dry spells, and rising input costs, small farmers are often left to absorb shocks alone.

But in the Rwenzori region, spanning districts such as Kabarole and Bunyangabu-cooperatives and Savings and Credit Cooperative Organizations (Saccos) are emerging as a lifeline, offering smallholder farmers a fallback position and an opportunity to grow from subsistence to sustainable commercial agriculture.

For Titus Nuwe, the secretary of Kyankara Burungi Bweka Outside Catering and Farmers Group in Kyankara (Rwenzori region in Fort Portal) collective action has been the difference between despair and survival. ‘Being in a cooperative gives us a fallback position in case of calamities,’ he says.

‘When one part of the project is affected, we still have another to rely on.’ Started in 2017, the group has grown into a multi-activity cooperative, combining outside catering, pumpkin growing, and beekeeping. The latter was introduced in 2024 under the Apero Project, with just 10 beehives. Today, the group manages 30, thanks to support from development partners like the BRAIN project, which provided a honey extractor.

‘Beekeeping needs little attention and gives a high return. With the extractor, we produce cleaner honey without damaging the combs, so bees resume production faster,’ Nuwe explains.

But even beekeeping has its setbacks. Continuous rains this year reduced bee activity, leaving the insects to consume much of their honey stock. Adding that what would have been a devastating blow was softened by the cooperative’s diversified activities. Pumpkins-pollinated by the same bees-offered a safety net, while the catering arm of the group provided additional income.

‘The strength of a cooperative is that even when one project fails, others keep us afloat,’ Titus adds.

Saccos as community banks

Beyond farmers’ groups, Saccos have become the rural equivalent of banks-offering credit, savings, and stability. Kijura SACCO, based in Kabarole, is a prime example of how these institutions are reshaping rural finance. According to General Manager Gerald Ngiramahoro, the Sacco has seen exponential growth in recent years. Its assets now stand at Shs6.25 billion, up from just under Shs2 billion before interventions from the Breakthrough Entrepreneurship Project.

‘As of August, our savings stood at Shs 2.7 billion, loans at Shs 4.73 billion, and membership had exceeded 10,000-compared to only 6,000 a few years back. Our share capital has also more than doubled to Shs 1.26 billion,” Ngiramahoro says.

Part of this transformation has been institutional reform. Following recommendations from the project, Kijura Sacco recruited an internal auditor-an unusual move for many community financial institutions.

‘The internal auditor has greatly strengthened our internal controls and transparency,’ Ngiramahoro explains.

‘Members now trust us more, and that trust has been reflected in higher savings and borrowing.’ The Sacco’s ability to extend affordable credit has helped farmers expand farms, invest in livestock, and acquire inputs without turning to exploitative moneylenders. This role has made Saccos indispensable in de-risking agriculture.

Shamim Nalubega, communications manager, BRIGHT Project IFDC, the project has strengthened smallholder farmers’ access to formal financial services, with 5,328 households benefiting from loans and support.

‘Four Saccos secured Shs2 billion for onward lending, while three cooperatives received Shs 300 million through the Blended Finance Facility from Pearl Capital Partners. Five Saccos have also refined their agricultural loan products, including input loans, micro-loans, and green financing,’ she says.

Adding that strategic partnerships have further boosted market access and inputs, with 38 memorandums of understanding signed with private companies, cooperatives, Saccos, and farmer groups, and nine agricultural input sale points established.

Seed multiplication efforts reached 4,373 farmers through 25 training sessions, while seven local seed businesses and a partnership with Farm Inputs Care Centre Ltd support tissue culture plantlets. Additionally, 15 cooperatives and Saccos (65,894 members) and 258 farmer groups (9,983 members) have been empowered to improve production, bulking, market engagement, and financial access.

Partnerships driving transformation

Government and development partners are also playing a catalytic role in helping smallholder farmers transition to modern, resilient agriculture. In Bunyangabu District, the District Agricultural Officer, Gerald Tumwesigye, highlights collaborations with organizations such as IFDC, which have equipped farmers with training, inputs, and financial literacy.

‘We’ve worked with several partners to organize our farmers into cooperatives,’ he says.

Noting that initiatives such as International Fertiliser Development Centre (IFDC) and the BRIGHT project have provided modern beekeeping equipment such as KTB hives, alongside training on value addition. Nutrition-sensitive initiatives like kitchen gardening are helping families grow vegetables at home, addressing malnutrition and reducing dependency on market food.

‘It’s encouraging to see women and youth growing their own food and feeding their families.

‘These simple innovations are sustainable and impactful,” Tumwesigye notes. The district has also tackled land degradation in its highland areas by supporting tree nurseries and replanting bare hillsides, reducing erosion and flood risks.

A collective path forward

For now, cooperatives and Saccos remain the most practical fallback for smallholder farmers. They provide credit where banks will not, pool resources to withstand shocks, and offer a sense of solidarity in a sector vulnerable to climate change.

As Nuwe puts it, ‘Even when one season is bad, the group continues. That’s the strength of working together. With stronger institutional support, reliable extension services, and continued partnerships, the cooperative model could be the key to unlocking the full potential of Uganda’s agriculture-ensuring that smallholder farmers not only survive but thrive.’

Entrepreneurs in Uganda have been challenged to broaden their horizons and look beyond domestic and regional markets if they hope to achieve sustainable growth over the next two decades.

The message came on Monday, September 29, during a training session organised by Enterprise Uganda in Kampala, which brought together a mix of business owners, exporters, and sector leaders.

Mr Charles Ocici, the Director General of Enterprise Uganda, outlined the country’s ambitious ’10-fold growth strategy,’ emphasising the need for Ugandan businesses to target continental and global markets.

‘As a country, we have come up with a 10-fold growth strategy. This 10-fold growth strategy will not work out if you are looking at the domestic market,’ Ocici told participants.

‘The timeline for this growth is within the next 15 to 20 years. This cannot happen when we focus just within Uganda or even within the smaller East African region. We have the ability to sell what we have been selling on a modest scale on a much bigger scale, within Africa and beyond,’ he added.

Ocici pointed to examples such as Singapore and Senegal, which leveraged their limited resources to make a global impact, urging Ugandan businesses to identify unique advantages and expand them internationally.

Ms Prisca Beesigomwe, the Acting Executive Director of the HortiFresh Association, a body representing Uganda’s fresh fruits and vegetables sector, said smaller players can also participate in export markets by integrating into established value chains.

‘Many people think the export market is only for established brands,’ Ms Beesigomwe explained.

‘But smaller players can latch themselves into the value chains of the export market. Even a coffee producer in Masaka can be part of the export market if they connect to the market value chain. Size doesn’t matter; what matters is your role in the chain,’ she added.

Ms Beesigomwe highlighted regional markets such as Kenya, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and South Sudan as accessible starting points before targeting stringent markets in the Middle East and Europe.

Mr Apollo Ssegawa, the Managing Director of CURAD (Consortium for Enhancing University Responsiveness to Agribusiness Development), emphasised that successful exports begin with understanding market demand.

‘A Ugandan exporter can maximize the current demand by knowing what the market wants. You must always start with the market. What standards are expected there? What products do they want? Then work backwards to deliver exactly that,’ Ssegawa said.

He noted that exporters often make the mistake of producing what they grow best locally rather than what international buyers demand, resulting in low returns. Ssegawa advised compliance with global standards such as GlobalGAP and obtaining Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) certification.

‘For export markets, first, develop a good product suitable for the local market. Then, package it professionally, brand it, get UNBS certification, and only then look to regional and international markets,’ he said.

Mr Ssegawa also warned against over-promising to buyers, particularly for seasonal products. ‘You cannot promise an export market 100 tonnes when you know your capacity is only 10 tonnes. Manage your production capacity and sign contracts that match your available supply.’

The training highlighted the critical need for Ugandan entrepreneurs to professionalise production, adopt global standards, and carefully plan supply chains to avoid under-delivery while capitalising on expanding regional and international opportunities.

Mr Ocici concluded with a call to action: ‘If we leverage our advantages and sell on a bigger scale beyond our borders, we can transform Uganda’s economy, just as smaller countries have done. The opportunity is here; it is up to us to take it.’

The session formed part of Enterprise Uganda’s broader agenda to equip local entrepreneurs with the knowledge, networks, and tools to compete in regional and global markets, supporting the country’s long-term growth ambitions.

On Sunday, famous saxophonist and composer Kenny G performed in Uganda. It was his first time in Uganda but his second in Kenya, where he revealed he had once come for a holiday. Now, Kenny G’s music is one that has transcended generations, most of it, released between the 1970s and 1980s, it still finds ways of staying relevant in some way.

In Uganda, as long as you’re social, you have definitely interacted with his music in one way or another. Thus, even when the concert mainly attracted a relatively older audience, there were still young people in their 30s enjoying it.

But the oddly misplaced people in the audience were the Gen-Zs. See, most of these are in their teenage season and a few have hit 20. ‘So, when I heard there was an international artist, I was excited because dad said he was taking us, but who is this now? Who’s Kenny G?’ One boy wondered while talking to his sister, who wasn’t really as clueless as he was.

‘You have definitely heard one of his songs, I discovered yesterday that I knew his music all along,’ the sister responded. There were many of such young people in the audience, who probably wanted to be anywhere in the world but at the Mistil Gardens, sadly for them, their parents either want them to experience fine music or simply carry them around as accessories.

There were two daughters who kept arguing with their father seeking to know if Kenny G is as big as Rema. The poor man kept laughing telling them Rema is not known beyond Uganda.

Maybe he didn’t notice that the Rema the daughters were talking about and the Rema he was dismissing were two different people, countries and sex.

Well, it’s understandable, two Remas, one did Calm Down and the other Juice wa Mango, they are both popular in their own rights. Just like Chris Evans, one plays Captain America, the Marvel Avenger who lifts Thor’s hammer, while there’s Chris Evans Kaweesa, a Ugandan artist who tells a story of how he was hit with a hammer ten times. different people, same scenarios and same names.

The beauty however, all these young people stayed active through the night, thanks to the DJ set which started with old school and somehow progressed to a Beyonce set from her Beyonce bowl Christmas performance and then the Superbowl performance by Dr Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, 50 Cent, Mary J Bilge and Kendrick Lamar.

It was almost at that time that Kenny G stepped on stage. He started his set with Loving You. It’s somehow hard not knowing Loving You.ok you may not know the song but when you hear it, you will notice you have heard the song before.

The song, like many of his, are famous at Ugandan weddings, but not during the romantic moments. ‘Wait, this is the guy who does food music?’ One of the boys asked. And there you have it, Kenny G’s music is synonymous with being fed, at least in Uganda, whether it’s a house warming, birthday, anniversary or a wedding, this music is played as people are eating.

And in between, the announcer will ask someone to move a car before the music continues. His songs like Silhouette and The Moment have all been played at events while food is being served that people don’t really know which one is which. They only tell the difference when they start playing but still don’t know the titles.

So, often people would turn to each other and ask, so which one is that, the other would answer, it’s also played during meals. When it comes to concerts, Ugandans believe they have to sing along to every song to complete an experience, but this show was a challenge. Thus, most of them kept humming or making that tulululu. sound as he played.

Some were in the moment, like a gentleman who kept playing an imaginary saxophone using a Tusker Malt bottle, a sight that drew laughter from those around him. Then there was the sophistication, those who take their Johnnie Walker neat and those looking for themed cocktails. But at the end of the day, regardless of the bill of one’s sophistication, they were all humming wrong saxophone notes.

But then My Heart Will Go On, his closing song happened, this, everyone seemed to know the words, thus, a chance to put lyrics to a song that didn’t have lyrics had come. Everyone sang, and Gen-Zs somehow knew the song too.

On the side…

Kenny G was a master stroke, he was testament that once one keeps walking with a genre, time comes when they become the definition of it. Besides many saxophonists who bounce between variations of saxophones, this man has created a brand out of playing the soprano saxophone. He revealed that he moves with a 25-year-old saxophone, whether it is the same he played, that we didn’t get to know.

Besides his crowd work though, the easy approachable attitude during his performance, he was also the epitome of professionalism. He did his sound check at 4pm, that’s even when he had arrived in Uganda earlier on Sunday morning. The fact that he had performed in Nairobi the previous night didn’t affect him.

He did his sound check and stayed by the venue, especially in the VIP section trying to map the sound. Unlike most artists who choose mystery, avoiding to be seen before they hit the stage, he stayed behind until he was sure the sound was exactly as he wanted it.

That’s class.

As voters leaf through manifestos of the eight political parties that have fielded candidates in next year’s presidential poll, a contrast that sets apart the ruling party from others will be hard to overlook.

‘We have . invested in health infrastructure. Uganda now boasts of 78 hospitals, of which 54 are general hospitals, 16 regional referral hospitals, five national referral hospitals and three specialised hospitals,’ the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party states in its manifesto launched on Monday, adding: ‘We have 217 health centre (HC) IVs at constituency level, and 1,553 sub-counties have a health unit of HC III and above. This is contrasted against only 49 hospitals and 597 dispensaries that Uganda had in 1986.’

Not good enough, the National Unity Platform’s (NUP) manifesto screams. Health is, says the leading Opposition party, ‘a right, not a privilege.’ The party, which also launched its manifesto on Monday, says it will ‘progressively increase health spending to 15 percent of GDP to deliver quality, accessible care for all.’ NUP promises to ‘recruit 16 times the current number of doctors and triple all other health workers to match population pressures,’ adding that this is not possible on the watch of the ruling party because of its alleged wastefulness.

‘It is only in Uganda where Museveni has more cars than ambulances attached to public hospitals. Gen Museveni has over 600 vehicles at his disposal yet the total number of ambulances in public facilities is about 178,’ the NUP manifesto thundered. The Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), another Opposition party, is also unstinting in its criticism of the NRM’s provision of medical care to Ugandans across nearly four decades.

‘ For a healthcare system to run efficiently, it requires a combination of well-managed resources, skilled and motivated personnel, effective management, accessible and quality services with emphasis on outcomes,’ the FDC says in its manifesto, adding: ‘To achieve these, a country requires significant financial investment deployed in an efficient and effective manner. Uganda spends approximately $57 (Shs197,000) per capita on health, which is below the WHO-recommended $86 (Shs297,000). Out-of-pocket payments account for 28 percent of the total health expenditure.’

Empirical evidence shows that widespread corruption and malpractice in the public health sector continue to undermine service delivery, depriving patients of essential care and straining limited resources. In an audit report covering the 2023/2024 financial year, the State House Health Monitoring Unit (SHMU) revealed that cases such as theft of medical equipment, drugs, and financial improprieties were uncovered in 17 health facilities countrywide. As a result of the investigations, the SHMU team recovered Shs719m.

The Unit also unearthed forgery of academic documents, neglect of duty, operation of unlicensed clinics, and criminal trespass on health facility land. The SHMU finance and audit output for the Financial Year 2023/2024 revealed massive financial irregularities in several health facilities, with Shs7b reported as unaccounted for or tied to suspicious accountabilities.

According to the report, the irregularities cut across hospitals, health centres, and district health offices (DHOs), with some cases already under investigation while others have been forwarded to the Office of the Auditor General (OAG) for forensic audits. In Tororo District, Tororo General Hospital failed to account for Shs194m, while at Nagongera Health Centre IV, Shs49m was misappropriated, of which Shs7m was recovered. Investigations into both cases are ongoing.

In Iganga District, the DHO’s office failed to account for Shs142m, while Iganga General Hospital posted the largest single irregularity with Shs1.09b unaccounted for, now under review by the OAG.

Bugono HCIV also reported unaccounted funds totalling Shs221m, with files submitted for forensic audit. The report further shows that Wakiso HCIV failed to account for Shs291m, while the DHO’s office in Kamwenge District had Shs1.1b unaccounted for. Rukunyu hospital was implicated in the loss of Shs595m; Bisozi HC IV Shs150m; Kitagwenda DHO’s office Shs493m; and Ntara HC IV Shs216m.

Still in Kitagwenda, several health centres reported missing vouchers, including Nyabani HCIII, Mahyoro HC III, Kanaro HC III, and Kicheche HC III, each amounting to Shs34m. In Manafwa District, Bubulo HC IV failed to account for Shs99m and reported missing vouchers of Shs19m. Bugobero HC IV had Shs123m unaccounted for and missing vouchers worth Shs22m.

In Jinja City, Budondo HC IV had irregularities amounting to Shs52m plus missing vouchers worth Shs25m. Bugembe HC IV failed to account for Shs109m, alongside missing vouchers of Shs143m. Mpumudde HC IV reported unaccounted funds totalling Shs122m and missing vouchers of Shs10m

‘High rates of scheduled and actual absenteeism in lower-level health facilities are forcing patients to self-refer to higher-level facilities. Additionally, installed biometric machines have either been malfunctioning or not properly utilised,’ Dr Warren Naamara, the HMU director, said. The report shows that in many facilities, the infrastructure, essential medicines and health supplies (EMHS), and staffing levels do not match the health care services offered.

‘Most facilities, despite being classified as HC III….provide health services equivalent to a HC II such as antenatal care and outpatient services. For example, Kajansi, Wakiso, and Buwambo HC IVs receive EMHS intended for lower-level facilities,’ the report reads. According to the report, officials at health facilities in Wakiso District were found to have misused non-wage primary health care (PHC) funds for personal benefit. The team also discovered cases of mismanagement for personal gain and a lack of financial accountability by most officers in-charge of facilities.

The report further shows that Dr John Mulidho, a senior medical officer (SMO) attached to Iganga Hospital, allegedly worked 46 days from July 2023 to May 2024. He was temporarily suspended from the payroll. Moreover Iganga hospital registered 45,865 patients against a set target of 19,386 for a period of six months, which was 287 percent or almost three times the expected patient numbers. This means the target setting was low or the hospital is getting patients who are not within their population jurisdiction. The Unit wants Dr Mulidho to be forwarded to the Rewards and Sanctions Committee and sanctioned in line with the Uganda Public Service Rewards and Sanctions Framework.

The SHMU also reported payroll irregularities, noting that the PHC payroll, as of June 30, 2023, had 75 excess staff, leading to the creation of fictitious cost centres. One theatre assistant at Bubulo HC IV in Manafwa, Ms Faith Haboya, could not be traced physically or on the payroll. Several staff were found to have abandoned duties. Some were arrested for neglect of duty. In Namayingo District, absenteeism remained high despite salary enhancements.

Audits showed many officers in-charge of health facilities frequently absent, with organised absenteeism through duty rotas at Buyinja HC IV. Health workers reportedly ran private clinics in nearby districts, contributing to absenteeism and mismanagement. EMHS worth billions, procured with public funds, were poorly accounted for.

In Pader District, high absenteeism, late arrivals, poor attitudes, and unsanctioned study leave were noted. Only four of 13 officers in-charge of facilities met attendance guidelines during the SHMU monitoring visits. Stock discrepancies were found at Pajule HC IV, with medicines worth Shs14m unaccounted for.

In Mukono, review of payment vouchers and bank statements at Mukono General Hospital revealed Shs265m in missing payment vouchers and Shs260m in unaccounted or insufficiently accounted funds. Dr Patrick Kitimbo, the DHO, declined to comment on the matter when contacted.

Prof Mwambutsya Ndebesa, a lecturer at Makerere University and political analyst, said Uganda is plagued by a weak accountability system, both politically and financially. He said weak accountability has become a norm and culture in the country. ‘Political corruption must first be fixed before we even talk about financial accountability,’ Prof Ndebesa argued, accusing the ruling party of electing known corrupt officials to its top organ.

Associate Professor Paddy Mugambe, the Dean of the School of Business and Management at Uganda Management Institute (UMI), said there are serious weaknesses in the internal controls across the entire health service value chain. ‘These gaps may be contributing to occurrences that are highly detrimental to the provision of health services,’ he explained. He added: ‘The challenges could also be linked to deeper issues such as the unfavourable working conditions faced by health workers, which may lead to negligence or the intentional misuse of resources at their disposal.’

Mr James Wire, a former chairperson of the Board at Busolwe General Hospital in Butaleja District, said the challenges facing health facilities are multifaceted. They include political interference, where facilities are treated as cash cows by politicians who demand money from their PHC grants.

‘There are questionable recruitment practices that have allowed unqualified individuals to take up critical positions, and poor monitoring which leaves beneficiaries at the mercy of non-compliant technocrats,’ he said.

Poor Administration

Mr Marlon Agaba, the executive director of the Anti-Corruption Coalition Uganda (ACCU), said the biggest problem in hospitals and health centres is poor administration. ‘Health workers are not adequately supervised, and as a result, many fail to perform their duties. This is why funds are often unaccounted for,’ he explained. Mr Agaba also pointed out that medicine management is another major area of concern. ‘Problems occur throughout the entire supply chain-from procurement, issues at the National Medical Stores (NMS), distribution to districts and health centres, and finally delivery to patients,’he said.

He stressed the need to digitalise the medical supply chain up to the end user to curb these challenges. Currently, many health workers run private clinics and pharmacies, which creates conflicts of interest and opportunities for theft.

‘Medicines meant for public facilities often end up in private clinics. Government should implement a policy prohibiting public health workers from owning private clinics or pharmacies while in service.

Such a policy would help reduce absenteeism and resource mismanagement,’ he said. He added that manual record-keeping in health facilities further facilitates fraud, allowing health workers to divert medicines and refer patients to private clinics.

‘There is widespread fraud in the health sector. Some health workers take early retirement to enjoy enhanced pensions at the expense of service delivery. Others abuse study leave, continuing to receive full salaries while defrauding the government.’

The Manager Conservation education awareness at Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), Ms Vanice Mirembe has urged Ugandans to embrace the use of clean energy in order to combat the rapid environmental degradation caused by deforestation across the country.

‘Most Ugandans, about 75 percent are still using firewood, the other percentage, they are using electricity, which is very costly and a very small percentage, not more than percent, are right now using the clean energy in the form of gas, briquettes, and other methods’ she said.

Ms Mirembe made the remarks at the first Uganda Wildlife Authority clean energy exhibition, targeting schools at the Uganda Wildlife Conservation Education Centre (UWEC-CA) on Friday.

‘Currently, there is a lot of pressure on our forests, on the environment, on protected areas, because most of the neighboring communities have cut down all the vegetation and trees for firewood. We are doing everything possible to ensure that the public knows about clean energy to reduce the amount of pressure mounted on the forests’ she said.

She added, ”When we start at a young age, children get to know that you can use briquettes, they’ll go back home and talk to their parents, and also grow up into great conservationists, knowing that they have to understand the need to reduce pressure on the environment’.

Ms Mirembe further said UWA is carrying out sensitization of communities around protected areas to resort to energy saving stoves and various methods that use less energy than firewood.

‘Currently, we have MOU’s with communities around protected areas, they are looking for firewood everyday but it is not sustainable, climate change is here, with all its negative impact. Some of them come looking for firewood, and the best thing is to tell them to pick the invasive species, turn them into briquettes’ she said.

Ms Mirembe noted that UWA has projects in communities around protected areas supporting them in construction of energy cooking stoves, making briquettes among other interventions which has led to a drop in the number of people depending on firewood in the protected areas.

Mr Francis Ruhinirwa, a conservation education officer at UWEC-CA said the clean energy exhibition is aimed at creating awareness about the alternative fuel possibilities in Uganda instead of using firewood.

‘Majority of our visitors here are actually school groups which use firewood as a source of energy, our estimate is that a school comprised of about 500 learners, can use up fuel of a term that is equivalent to possibly an acre of firewood. Now, if we have about 40,000 schools, that is a lot of forest degradation that we are experiencing’ he said.

Mr Ruhinirwa said the exhibition which showcased biofuels, solar energy, eco and fuel-saving stoves, electric bikes and cookers is set to become an annual event to increase awareness of alternative fuels aimed at reducing the amount of firewood that is being used especially in schools.

As we begin the campaign period ahead of our country’s general elections early next year, it is important that we reflect a bit on the need to avoid civil unrest which is one of the major factors that disrupt farming. We will be listening to several different politicians, many of whom could be spreading misinformation and disinformation about fellow candidates and the different political parties in the race for the various political offices.

They might also engage in sowing seeds of discord like highlighting economic inequality, ethnic discrimination, political oppression, and corruption. The farmers make the majority of voters and they will be the largest group targeted by the aspiring leaders as they mobilise support. The danger is that such language could erode public trust and spread widespread discontent that may result in civil unrest instead of better governance.

False narratives can deepen divisions and stroke hatred especially in a situation where thousands of young people are not in gainful employment and feel excluded from the sharing of the national cake. We also have to factor in the use of social media nowadays which does not appear to mind about truthful spreading of news and information.

If elections are not well conducted they could be the springboard of civil unrest, war, and genocide. Where do such terrible evils leave our small farms? The videos that we have seen on TV, of people fleeing their countries or their regions of settlement, never depict them carrying their crop fields. They only show desperate men and women carrying their mattresses and just a few other personal belongings. Some of the videos display people carrying along a few sheep and goats and you really wonder if they are sure of grazing ground wherever they are headed to spend their refugee years. No farmer will run away with his or her garden if a civil war breaks out tomorrow.

Farmers must therefore take this campaign and election period very seriously. They should pay due attention to what the political candidates and their agents are saying and promising. Their choices should be governed by careful consideration after listening to all the candidates and not really because of gifts such as money or items like, sugar, salt, bars of soap, and loaves of bread.

The farmers should indeed elect candidates who have the best plans for developing agriculture. They should seek to know the truth by reflecting deeply about what the different candidates are promising.

Dear President Museveni, as you conclude the presidential campaigns in Lango Sub-region this week, I wish to bring to your attention the case of the NRM enthusiast many Lango NRM people refer to as the ‘Luttamaguzi of Lango’, who was martyred and has never been recognised by the NRM and the government.

John Carlo Ogwal, aka Ogwal ‘Cadre’ was the first Resistance Council (RCIII) chairman of Chawente Sub-county in the then Apac District. He took his work and love for NRM so seriously that people nicknamed him ‘Cadre’ in reference to the political mobilisers in the District Administrators’ (now RDC) office.

In 1987, there was festering rebellion in parts of Lango led by elements who used to say they wanted to bring Obote back.

On March 30 1987, Ogwal Cadre, who also dealt in cattle trade, called a meeting at Apwori Trading Centre in Chawente, to mobilise locals against letting their children join the rebellion. As he was doing that, the same rebels, ironically led by a notorious fellow, descended on his home and found he wasn’t around. They arrested his wife and forced her to take them to where he was addressing the group.

Ogwal Cadre was arrested and tortured, with the rebels taunting him, ‘lwong Museveni bin lari’ (call Museveni to save you!) He had enough courage to tell them in Leb-Lango ‘Let me die if it brings peace’. The rebels walked him a few kilometres away to Apyelamot on Aduku-Aboko-Chawente Road. They stopped at a spot where he met his death.

Among those watching was Basil Okello Onach, then a student and now the immediate former Kwania District chairman, whose home was and is still near the scene of the event.

Ogwal was just 40 years old. Ogwal Cadre’s home is in Adakingo Village in Atongtidi Sub-county in Kwania District. Ogwal is survived by his wife and children. After his gruesome killing, all his children dropped out of school.

I understand that until last year when the late Brig Charles Oluka sent an officer to document the family, not a single government or NRM official has ever visited the family.

It would be befitting, Mr President, if this NRM cadre is given a posthumous honour in whatever form, either by erecting a monument in his memory, a national medal or both, or indeed whatever honour you may deem befitting.

Spending unusually lengthy hours inside churches to pray has been blamed on the rising poverty burden among the youth across the Acoli sub-region.

On Friday, while gathering for the 2025 Annual Prayer Breakfast organised by Favour of God Ministries in Gulu City, religious leaders said that the poverty puzzle among the youth cannot be solved unless the youth begin to practice their faith with actions.

Rev. Samuel Francis Opiyo, the Gulu University (Church of Uganda) Chaplain, said that young people are too lazy to work and have now resorted to spending unnecessarily long hours in church praying to God.

‘Many of our youth are very lazy, and all the time they are in church praying, praying, and praying. It’s good to pray, but there is time for everything. There is time for prayer and there is time for work. What will God bless if you are not doing anything?’ Rev. Opiyo told the congregation.

He implored religious and political leaders to encourage the youth to focus on work and live by the examples of Jesus’ apostles, who lived by their works.

‘It is a huge problem that we need to address because our prisons are full of young people, energetic men, who should be doing something to fight poverty. Gender-based violence is too much in Northern Uganda; people are killing each other because of poverty, yet the solutions lie with us here,’ he added.

Because the youth are stuck in poverty, Bishop James Ochan, the head of born-again churches of Northern Uganda, said, they have resorted to prostitution, while the males have become drug addicts and robbers on the streets of urban centres across the region.

‘If your stomach is empty, it doesn’t matter how many prayers you say. You need to survive, and that has driven our young people to the streets, robbing and killing others. Young girls are in the streets. If you walk in the streets of Gulu City, you will find young people selling themselves.’ Bishop Ochan said.

According to Bishop Ochan, the problem is exacerbated by a lack of practical Christians to guide those going astray.

‘We are not having practical Christians. What are we doing as leaders in this region? Poverty is something manageable only if we can join hands as the body of Christ and encourage our people to work. We need to reevaluate our priorities and help the young people,’ the prelate said.

However, according to Bishop Godfrey Loum, the Northern Uganda Diocese bishop, the division among the political, civil and religious has exacerbated the poverty problem in the region.

‘Bluntly, the church thinks the political leadership is corrupt and incompetent, but the political leadership thinks the church does not have the moral authority. How can we talk to God’s people if I don’t have that? The people are on their way. But we in leadership, can’t we hold ourselves accountable?’ Bishop Loum wondered.

Brothers and sisters, we are gathered here as leaders of people and communities that are still rising from the ruins of war. It is very difficult for people who are in survival mode to differentiate what is right and what is wrong, and it is our role to guide and direct them, he added.