Asianet Pakistan Private Limited

The headline, ‘Over 90,000 Kampala students found with mental health cases in one year’, in the Daily Monitor of October 23, is alarming. And because numbers don’t lie, this is clearly a crisis that deserves urgent and adequate attention and action.

According to Kampala Capital City Authority data, 90,530 cases of mental health disorders were registered between July 2024 and June 2025, marking a 12.2 percent increase. Compared to the previous year. Most common mental health conditions reported in Kampala include epilepsy (29 percent), bipolar disorder (19 percent), schizophrenia (14 percent), substance abuse and alcohol disorders (6.3 percent), and depression (5.3 percent).

Dr Bitjuma Luwedde, a national mental health trainer speaking in regard to these statistics, warned of a worrying rise in suicide cases among students in both secondary schools and higher institutions of learning. He pointed out the rise in the number of suicides and suicide attempts caused by academic pressure, post Covid-19 trauma, family conflict, financial hardship, bullying, and unmet emotional needs. He said drug abuse, sports betting, and addiction to online platforms have worsened the crisis.

What Dr Luwedde mentions here is nothing new. The problem is that we haven’t yet been jolted enough by the state of mental affairs, especially of our young people, who make up the majority of our population, to take effective, adequate action. We must start by appreciating the magnitude of the problem and then attempt to solve or counter it with solutions that match its size.

Dr Luwedde mentions key points of weakness, such as the absence of a coordinated national response, weak community support systems, and limited data.

Surely these numbers speak loud enough for all stakeholders to hear. We must improve, fund and generally prioritise mental health care in the country. Schools and all institutions of learning must budget for mental health care of their students not as a minor footnote in the budget but as the critical issue it now is. Schools must employ or partner with professional mental health practitioners.

Allocating a teacher or two to deal with students’ issues and calling them the school counsellor is good, but it is not adequate to deal with the beast that is mental disorders. The teachers, while well-meaning and with basic psychology and counselling training, might not be fully equipped to deal with the mental health needs in these institutions. This is not limited to students alone, of course.

We all need good mental health, but it will not be achieved if there is no proficient plan and adequate facilitation to achieve it. The KCCA numbers should incite us all to be aware of the need for good mental health and get off our collective laurels to do something.

When Sitoyo Lopokoiyit, managing director of M-Pesa Africa, walks onto the stage at the 2025 Fintechs Annual Gathering at the Sheraton Hotel in Kampala, he starts with a smile and a memory.

‘The last time I was here was almost 18 years ago,’ he says. ‘There was no expressway, no new airport. This was the only big hotel in town.’

He still Googles ‘what to do in Kampala,’ he jokes, finding the same suggestions, Jinja mostly, and laughs at how little has changed.

Young Africans and money

But his tone soon turns global. Lopokoiyit tells a story about his 17-year-old son in South Africa who once called him with a stock tip.

When Donald Trump’s trade threats sent US tech stocks tumbling, the teenager urged him to buy Nvidia shares at $94. Lopokoiyit did, and now they are worth about $182.

The anecdote draws laughter, but his message lands firmly.

‘My son has run my finance account since he was 13,’ he says. ‘Last year he made $25,000, and he is still in high school.’

Young Africans, he argues, are engaging with money in ways their parents never imagined.

‘For them, money isn’t just for sending, it’s for investing. That’s what we must harness.’

By 2050, Lopokoiyit notes, Africa will have 2.6 billion people, 65 percent under 25.

‘That is the largest youth population in the world, with the skill sets to power the globe,’ he says.

Japan’s median age is past 60, and China’s population is shrinking. ‘The best place to be in the world today is Africa.’

Yet, he cautions, ‘technology is a double-edged sword.’ Artificial intelligence could empower the continent, or quietly erase it.

‘If we are not careful, the story of Africa will be rewritten by people in Silicon Valley who’ve never been here,’ he warns. He cites the Cambridge Analytica’s 2018 scandal, when data from millions of Facebook users was used to manipulate elections.

‘If one company could do that, then imagine what is possible now,’ he says. ‘This is a new kind of colonialism; control of the individual.’

Lopokoiyit shifts to the global fintech landscape; cloud computing, APIs, crypto, and AI are blurring the lines between banks and telecoms, citing Nubank in Brazil and Revolut in UK, digital banks each worth more than $70b.

‘They are not just apps, they are buying banking licenses and even telecoms,’ he says. ‘The line between banks and telecoms is disappearing.’

For African fintechs, survival means thinking beyond peer-to-peer transfers to savings, credit, investments, and cross-border payments.

M-Pesa, he says, already handles 220 million transactions daily, five times PayPal’s volume.

Still, global markets value PayPal at about $90 billion, while M-Pesa’s valuation remains far lower.

‘If we were American, our valuation would be ten times higher,’ he says, a frustration and a challenge to Africa to value its own innovation.

Emergency of crypto

Africa already sees $150b in annual crypto activity. Stablecoins moved $18b last year, with Kenya alone drawing $3.3b, more than official remittances.

But Lopokoiyit sounds a warning: ‘Every mobile-money account in Africa is already a stablecoin. For every shilling in M-Pesa, there’s one in a bank. We built this 18 years ago.’

Dollar-based digital currencies, he says, risk eroding sovereignty. ‘If we dollarize our markets, our currencies will weaken, taxes will vanish, and we will enrich companies like Tether and Circle in the US.’

He points to the UAE, which channels all transactions through its own national stablecoin. ‘Africa must do the same, or we will lose control of our money.’

The SME factor

‘Seven out of ten jobs in Africa come from SMEs,’ he reminds the audience.

‘Governments can’t create jobs at that scale; it’s farmers, traders, and boda-boda riders who drive nearly half of GDP.’

Thus, he says, there is need to drive momentum for the section of society that drives job creation.

At M-Pesa, he says, the solution has started with separating personal and business wallets.

‘Now we can build products around them; credit, savings, and insurance, tailored for small businesses,’ he says.

He urges fintechs to read political manifestos, because ‘they often spell out problems worth solving’.

He cites Kenya’s fertilizer subsidy programme, which built on Safaricom technology, enrolled 6.3 million farmers, distributed $400m directly, boosted maize yields by 40 percent, and helped keep inflation under 4 percent.

‘It even stabilized the shilling,’ he adds.

Safaricom has also digitized 18,000 hospitals and health-claims systems, cutting fraud and unlocking valuable health data.

‘What am I doing digitizing hospitals?’ he asks with a grin. ‘It’s data, and data drives opportunity.’

Throughout his presentation, Lopokoiyit balances gravity with humor. He teases regulators who demand local data centres but use Gmail, and jokes about fintechs chasing ‘ridiculous valuations.’

‘The fintech community must build on our platform,’ he says. ‘M-Pesa will open its APIs, agent networks, and compliance systems, [but] I can’t do it all, so build for your customers. We will compete, yes, but the platform will be open.’

His verdict on Kampala

By the time he steps down, Lopokoiyit has painted a future both hopeful and urgent. Africa, he insists, is the world’s next growth engine, but only if it claims its digital sovereignty.

The continent must guard against AI-driven recolonisation, resist quiet dollarisation, and empower SMEs with the tools to thrive.

It must work with governments, embrace innovation, and put young Africans at the center.

‘We have the resources, the culture, and the people,’ he says. ‘The best place to be in the world today is Africa. And the big tech companies know it. If they are not here now, they won’t be big tech in 20 years.’

In Kampala, he’s not just giving a fintech keynote; he is sketching a blueprint for Africa’s digital destiny.

‘The continent is no longer waiting to be told its story; it is already writing it,’ he notes.

The defence hearing in a case involving nine people accused of conspiring to defame Pastor Robert Kayanja and trespassing at Rubaga Miracle Centre Cathedral Friday continued before the Mwanga II Magistrates Court with the seventh accused dramatically changing his oath.

The 23-year-old Peter Serugo, who is currently serving a sentence for aggravated robbery at Luzira Prison, informed the court that he would not testify under oath despite having indicated in February that he would give sworn evidence.

Chief State Attorney Jonathan Muwaganya noted the change, saying: ‘He had previously recorded his intention to testify under oath on February 25, 2025. The record should reflect that he has willingly changed his mind.’

Serugo became the fifth accused person to switch from sworn to unsworn testimony, a move attributed to the fear of cross-examination, which tests the credibility of witnesses.

He faces multiple charges, including conspiracy to defeat justice, conspiracy to commit a felony, criminal trespass, and giving false information to police.

While narrating his account, Serugo told court that in 2017, he was living with his mother in Lungujja when he saw Pastor Kayanja on Channel 44 Television distributing school bursaries and inviting youths who had dropped out of school to join church programs.

‘I went there with my cousin after my friend, Joel Karungi, told me that his mother worked at Rubaga Miracle Centre and that the pastor had helped many children return to school,’ Serugo said.

He stated that they attended a night fellowship and were later called among those who wanted to get saved.

‘One time as I was slashing at the church, Pastor Kayanja summoned me to his office. My friend Joel led me there since I did not know where it was,’ he said.

Serugo claimed that during the encounter, the pastor closed the office door, hugged him for six minutes, caressed him, and said he was handsome.

‘He promised me money and foreign travel.’ Serugo told court. He alleged that the pastor later gave him Shs500,000 and told him not to tell anyone.

He further claimed that one night, after a church service, Pastor Kayanja approached him in his office, turned off the lights and made sexual advances towards him.

However, during earlier proceedings, the prosecution presented video evidence showing Serugo and his co-accused confessing to being members of a street gang called Kiffesi who had hoped to reform.

The state contends that during the Covid-19 lockdown, the accused, motivated by money, conspired with another pastor to fabricate allegations of sodomy to tarnish Pastor Kayanja’s image.

Prosecution also cited medical reports from Mulago and Nsambya police doctors, which indicated that the complainants’ anal muscles were intact, contradicting their claims of sexual assault.

Chief State Attorney Muwaganya urged the court to compel the defence to specify how many more witnesses they intended to present.

‘It has been ten months since the defence commenced. We need to know how many witnesses are remaining to ensure judicial efficiency,’ he said.

Trial Grade One Magistrate Adams Byarugaba adjourned the matter to November 6, 2025, when the last defence witness, Reagan Ssentongo, is expected to testify.

Edrine Sebalu is an entrepreneur dealing in electricals in Nakasero Kiyembe lane. Coming from a strong business background, with nearly every family member engaged in entrepreneurship, in 2019, after completing his A-Level, Sebalu chose to join his father at the garments shop.

However, seeking to earn beyond his daily allowance, Sebalu introduced gomesi linens and event chiffons to his father’s shop, supplying nearby arcades and earning a notable profit. Around this time, one of his cousins in Dubai sent him a consignment of used phones.

Sebalu recalls. ‘While managing my father’s business, I ventured into phone sales, connected with renowned suppliers, and quickly discovered it was even more profitable.’

When universities reopened for the new academic year, his father sent him back to school. During his second semester, the Covid-19 pandemic forced students to return home. While at home, Sebalu watched his cousin, an engineer, begin securing projects and even start his own company.

‘My father was constantly on my case. I felt the pressure of not doing anything, especially as he kept reminding me that I was a man and needed to step up,’ he says.

Navigating the phone business

Near the end of the lockdown, his cousin sent another shipment of Japanese phones and planned to start a phone shop, inviting Sebalu to manage it. These initially operated online through Jiji, Facebook Ads, and Instagram, successfully attracting clients.

After two months of testing the waters, they opened a shop, bringing in another relative to work with Sebalu. As business grew, they expanded into vending and wholesaling button phones across Kampala’s suburbs, but challenges soon emerged.

‘As we vended the phones with my relative, I tracked sales and stock, but week by week, both inventory and money decreased,’ Sebalu recalls. ‘Even after reconciling daily accounts, discrepancies persisted. Losses kept rising, and whatever was missing, we had to cover together.’ The experience was frustrating, as his efforts were not yielding any profit.

Before quitting, an idea struck Sebalu. He approached a friend, an experienced player in the phone business, about opening a new shop and asked if he could supply phones to him on credit. With his friend’s approval, Sebalu arranged for another person to stand in for him at his cousin’s shop and also hired an auditor, ensuring he left the business on a clean slate.

‘All my life, the one person I wanted to impress was my father. When I was cleared, I spoke to him about starting my own business, believing it would make him proud and that he might even offer me a loan as support. Instead, he was bitter, upset that I had worked for my cousin briefly and had even failed to focus on my studies,’ recounts Sebalu.

Although this did not deter him, by the end of 2021 Sebalu secured a subrented space for Shs700,000, set up a counter, and invested Shs1m through Alibaba to purchase phone covers to accompany the phones he had obtained on credit. Since he did not want to take his cousin’s clients, Sebalu had to start afresh.

The business gradually gained momentum, with many customers buying multiple items at once, especially in December, when the phones were more affordable. Being the sole supplier of Japanese phone covers gave him a sense of pride and brought in significant profits.

The following year, Sebalu returned to university for his examinations but was inconsistent at work. The person he had left in charge was also preparing to return to school, and upon his return, Sebalu discovered that several phones were missing.

‘I was upset, but as usual, I let it pass and focused on my business,’ he recalls.

Additionally, in the phone business, there are always unscrupulous clients, and Sebalu experienced this firsthand. One early morning, a client contacted him through Jiji to deliver three iPhone Xs, each valued at Shs1.8m.

Sebalu went to Namungona for the delivery, but to his shock, the client arrived with two large men who attacked, and beat him up, stealing the three phones along with cash and two others he had on hand.

‘By then, I was worth Shs9m, but the money had to cover multiple expenses. I returned to the hostel and gradually repaid the debts, while also covering rent and my tuition. It was a challenging and demotivating period, with immense pressure.’

He adds, ‘I even had to sell some of my own stock to meet obligations. I resumed the business, but after just two months, the second lockdown was imposed.’

During this period, Sebalu decided to retrieve his phones from the shop and market them online. He acquired a bike to make deliveries himself. Even then, on one occasion, a client he arranged to meet at Ham shopping grounds ran off without making payment.

While the business was challenging, Sebalu faced multiple obstacles, including covering losses caused by employees to avoid legal issues, dealing with fellow entrepreneurs who took items without paying, and managing clients who returned damaged goods for cash.

To make ends meet, he even sold clothes every morning until 8pm before resuming phone sales.

‘All the money I had been making from the phone business was just disappearing, and my progress had come to a standstill. I felt like I had reached a dead end, so I decided to quit the business,’ Sebalu recalls.

Later, a relative asked him to get a loan of Shs5m from the bank and she failed to repay it. What truly broke Sebalu, however, was being robbed while visiting his father. Under immense depression, he decided to stay home for a while.

Sebalu’s recovery phase

When one of his brothers opened an electrical shop, he asked Sebalu if they could work together. Overwhelmed by depression, Sebalu first sold off his phone just to have peace on the journey. Here, he learnt the value of patience. Using the money he earned as salary, along with some from the phones he had left at his former shop, he rejoined the phone business.

He kept his phones at iconnect store and sold them gradually while working, marking the beginning of his comeback.

‘It is a business I have loved ever since I was a child,’ Sebalu says.

He called back his friend to help at the shop and also opened a gaming centre in Wandegeya, equipped with five PlayStation screens, four consoles, furniture, and cameras. However, the venture did not perform as expected and operated at a deficit, prompting him to eventually give up and redirect his focus.

Building Les electricals

With savings of Shs30m, Sebalu opened Les Electricals in 2024, initially stocking only a few high-demand items he knew would sell quickly. Attracting clients was not easy at first, but he leveraged Jiji for marketing and compiled a contact list of engineers, sharing product prices and availability through broadcasts to generate interest.

Although walk-in clients are limited due to the shop’s location, Sebalu plans to secure a more visible space to increase exposure, as roughly 70 percent of his sales currently rely on online channels.

Sebalu says he is proud of how far the business has grown. He has managed to purchase a piece of land in Matugga, resumed his studies, and is now close to completing his degree. Physically and mentally, he feels well and at peace.

As market trends continue to evolve, he makes it a point to introduce something new every time he restocks his inventory. One of the major challenges Sebalu faces is clients taking items on credit and delaying payments, often remaining unresponsive, which affects cash flow. Despite this, his business continues to flourish.

To stay ahead of the competition, he has focused on a strategy he calls ‘maximising sales,’ with the goal of selling to clients who will return. He keeps his prices competitive, acknowledges the influence of established companies such as CHINT, and is constantly looking for ways to improve his marketing efforts.

Sebalu says that thriving in business requires discipline and consistency, particularly in turning up and managing day-to-day operations. He has no plans of closing Les Electricals and aims to grow it to the scale of established firms.

This year, he plans to implement consistent marketing campaigns on TikTok to expand his reach and further boost his clientele.

Before graduating, he plans to develop a database to efficiently manage and control his business, avoiding the challenges he faced in the phone trade. Additionally, he intends to import customised goods from China to diversify his offerings.

On a broader scope, Sebalu envisions becoming an investment banker while owning his own company or bringing a foreign company to operate locally.

As advice to young people, he urges them to pursue their passions and focus on careers or businesses they truly love.

Future plans

To stay ahead of the competition, he has focused on a strategy he calls ‘maximising sales,’ with the goal of selling to clients who will return.

He keeps his prices competitive, acknowledges the influence of established companies such as CHINT, and is constantly looking for ways to improve his marketing efforts.

Dear Diary,

Today, I want to talk about something that has been plaguing womankind since the dawn of time, but has recently reached pandemic levels; short men with the confidence of LeBron James. And before the pitchforks come out, I don’t body shame.

I really don’t. I have a backside flatter than a 75-inch Samsung Flat Screen and I still dare to wear leggings in public. Who am I to judge anyone’s physical mis-proportions? But what I will judge is the audacity. The unearned, unexplained, absolutely bewildering audacity.

Last Thursday, I had one of those days. You know the ones, where your soul is leaving, your patience is drained, and your tired is tayad! I perched at the bar, legs crossed for balance and sanity, ready to sip my whiskey in peace and ponder about why my laundry multiplies faster than my savings.

I wasn’t being picky about company, until Mr. Booster Seat. He was perched at the other end of the bar, legs dangling like a child waiting for his Happy Meal, nursing a tall Nile Special that looked like a skyscraper in his hands. And this man, this tornado of misplaced confidence, looked at me like I’d been specifically marinated for him.

‘What beer can they give you?’ He offered, with the flourish of someone who definitely rehearsed that line in the mirror. ‘Black Label. Four shots. Neat,’ I replied, hoping the whiskey order would communicate the universal signal for Go Away! But no.

‘Madam, no one is buying you that!’

‘You are wrong. I am,’ I quipped.

You would think that would be the end of it. A polite closing of the conversational door. But hell knows no fury like a short man whose beer has been rejected by a whiskey-drinking girl. He shot off his barstool, and I mean literally launched himself, to stand and lecture me about why I should not assume he could not afford my drink.

It took every ounce of my willpower not to pick him up and place him on the bar counter so we could have this argument eye to eye. Here is what really gets me, this man’s confidence did not come from nowhere.

Somewhere, somehow, a kind-hearted woman looked at him and said, ‘You may be short, but it is sort of cute.’ She meant well. She was probably having her own moment of looks are not everything, let me give love a chance. She nurtured him. She suffered for it.

And then she launched him onto the rest of us.

Because now, every time we politely decline, every time we say ‘no thank you,’ every time we choose our whiskey over his beer, we get the speech.

‘You don’t know what you’re missing. Clearly you’ve never been with a real man.’ Sir, the only thing I’m missing out on is a quiet evening and my four shots of Black Label.

Short Kings, and yes, I’m talking to the ones we ditch our six-inch heels for so we don’t look like giraffes holding hands with a garden gnome: you already have so many shortcomings. Don’t add attitude to the cocktail.

Every time you see a 5’2′ man strutting around like a Greek god, chest puffed out, head tilted back as if he’s surveying his kingdom, just know; there’s a beautiful woman somewhere who accidentally created that monster and is now in therapy. She will never make that mistake again.

But the damage is done.

He is out here. Confident. Unshakeable. Delusional.

Next Thursday, I am drinking at home.

The National Unity Platform (NUP) presidential candidate, Mr Robert Ssentamu Kyagulanyi, alias Bobi Wine, has pledged to withdraw all soldiers currently deployed on Lake Albert and other water bodies across Uganda if elected President.

The presidential hopeful made the pledge during his campaign rally at Kigorobya Trading Centre in Hoima District on Wednesday, accusing the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) Fisheries Protection Unit of harassing and torturing fishermen under the guise of enforcing fishing regulations.

‘Our people continue to die on our lakes across the country. When I become President, my first executive order will be to remove all the soldiers from the lakes. Those who have been tortured will be compensated,’ he said.

Mr Kyagulanyi argued that the continued military deployment on Uganda’s lakes, initially justified as a conservation measure, has instead resulted in widespread abuse and economic hardship for fishing communities. He added that many Ugandans have lost their lives on the lakes without accountability.

Lake Albert, which borders Hoima, Buliisa, and other districts in the Bunyoro Sub-region, has long been a flashpoint for tension between fishermen and security forces. Fishermen have often accused soldiers of wrongfully confiscating their nets and boats under the guise that they are using illegal gear, leaving them impoverished. In 2017, President Museveni deployed soldiers under the Fisheries Protection Unit (FPU) to curb illegal fishing on Uganda’s major lakes.

However, numerous reports from local communities allege that the FPU has since deviated from its mission, engaging in extortion, brutality, and illegal seizures. The FPU denies any wrongdoing.

During the same rally, Mr Kyagulanyi also promised to establish a public university in the Bunyoro Sub-region, saying the government has neglected the region’s education needs for decades.

‘For nearly 40 years, the government has ignored the establishment of a public university in Bunyoro. Once we are in power, we shall build one here. This will make education accessible to our students and create jobs for our people,’ he said.

President Museveni has repeatedly made similar pledges. The government is reportedly in advanced stages of constructing Bunyoro Public University, to be located at Bulera Core Primary Teachers College in Hoima, with the UPDF Engineering Brigade expected to undertake the project.

Jobs, education, industrial growth

Mr Kyagulanyi emphasised that his administration would prioritise job creation, free education, and industrial development, arguing that current government efforts focus too narrowly on road construction.

‘We intend to create jobs across all sectors, not just through roads and agriculture. We shall set up factories and industries that will employ our people,’ he said. He added that despite Bunyoro’s wealth in natural resources, its people have not benefited due to corruption and poor governance.

While concluding his third day of campaigns in the Bunyoro Sub-region, covering Kibaale, Kagadi, Kakumiro, Kikuube, Hoima District, and Hoima City, Mr Kyagulanyi criticised the government for what he termed neglect of the oil-rich region.

‘This region has oil, yet the people of Bunyoro have not benefited from it. Once elected, we shall ensure that this wealth transforms the lives of our people,’ he said during a rally in Kikuube District.

He pledged that under his administration, Bunyoro would receive 30 percent of the oil proceeds, compared to the current one percent share allocated by the government.

He also promised to provide meals for all learners in public schools to boost academic performance and reduce dropout rates.

Mr Jackson Magambo Mulindambura, the district councillor for Kiganja Sub-county, highlighted the persistent challenges faced by communities along Lake Albert, which borders Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

He said although the lake connects Uganda to the DRC, there is no proper market infrastructure to facilitate cross-border trade, calling on the next President (2026 to 2031) to prioritise infrastructure and connectivity to boost local commerce.

Ninety minutes separate Vipers from the promised land of the Caf Champions League group stages – and standing in their way is a fired-up Power Dynamos side, buoyed by both a 2-1 first-leg advantage.

There is also the fever of Zambia’s 61st Independence Day celebrations on Friday.

For the Ugandan champions, Ndola’s Levy Mwanawasa Stadium is more than just a game; it’s a date with destiny, and an afternoon that could define their continental ambitions.

When these two sides met a week ago at St Mary’s Stadium, Kitende, the Venoms’ faithful believed they had finally found their rhythm under Belgian tactician Jacky Ivan Minnaert.

Yunus Sentamu’s sharp finish early in the second half ignited wild cheers and a brief glimmer of hope. Yet, that joy was short-lived.

Power Dynamos, the 1991 Caf Winners’ Cup champions, clawed their way back through Moses Sumah’s equalizer before a cruel own goal from Derrick Ndahiro turned delight into despair.

The 2-1 defeat left Vipers staring at a mountain that must now be climbed on foreign soil.

Lethal onslaught

Still, Minnaert refuses to let go of belief. The Belgian, whose side has shown elements of a work in progress, remains bullish ahead of the return leg.

‘We are Venoms; we are Vipers,’ he declared defiantly. ‘We believe 200 percent that nothing is done. The positives we carry from the first game is that we have 90 minutes to play, and we can still do it.’

The mathematics is simple but daunting. Vipers must win by at least 2-0 to progress – a task that demands twice the energy, twice the precision, and twice the belief they showed at Kitende.

For a club that last reached the lucrative group stages in 2022 under Brazilian coach Roberto ‘Robertinho’ Oliveira, the hunger to return among Africa’s elite is palpable.

The Venoms’ tested guns – Allan Okello’s creative spark, Sentamu’s predatory instincts, and Milton Karisa’s leadership – must all come alive if the script is to be rewritten.

Power show

Yet, Power Dynamos appear in no mood to loosen their grip on the tie. Their coach, Oswald Mukuka Mutapa, has already laid bare his tactical mastery and unyielding ambition.

‘We knew what Vipers wanted to do and we anticipated a tough game,’ he revealed after the first leg.

‘We just had to diffuse whatever they brought to us. After the equaliser, they pushed up and left spaces behind – we capitalised, and that led to the own goal. This is not the end; it’s only half time, but we are a team on a mission.’

Mukuka’s words speak volumes about Dynamos’ intent to finish the job in front of their home crowd.

With the home advantage, historical pedigree, and a partisan Ndola crowd behind them, the Kitwe giants will fancy their chances of sealing qualification to the group stages for the first time in over a decade.

For Vipers, however, this is no ordinary match – it is a test of character, of resilience, of whether they truly belong at the top table of African football.

The Venoms must summon every ounce of venom in their fangs to silence the Mwanawasa roar.

On Zambia’s Independence Day, they will need to pull off a mini miracle to keep their continental dream alive.

Caf Champions League

Second Preliminary Round

Friday – Second leg

Power Dynamos (2) vs. (1) Vipers, 4pm

Electricity has long been a barometer of economic vitality. The more a country consumes, the more it produces.

In East Africa, this relationship between power and prosperity is becoming increasingly clear.

World Bank data on peak electricity demand versus GDP across East Africa shows Uganda trailing regional giants like Kenya and Tanzania, both in energy usage and economic output.

Yet it also reveals the country’s immense potential, and the urgency of closing its energy gap if it is to accelerate industrial growth.

Kenya tops East Africa in both economic size and power consumption, with a peak electricity demand of 2,316 megawatts, supporting a GDP of $124.5b.

It’s followed closely by DR Congo, with 2,174 megawatts and a GDP of $70.75b. Tanzania comes in at 1,944 megawatts for $78.78b in GDP.

Uganda ranks fourth, with peak demand of 1,176 megawatts and an economy valued at $53.65b.

Government has recently indicated that the economy has now expanded to $61b. It was not immediately clear whether the consumption had expanded as well.

However, despite ranking below its peers, Uganda’s power consumption relative to its GDP suggests a growing, but still underpowered, economy.

Ministry of Energy data shows that, as of November 2024, about 2.3 million households from rural and urban areas, which represent 60 percent of households, had access to electricity, 22 percent of which were on-grid access.

At the lower end of the table are Rwanda and Burundi, whose economies and energy demands remain modest.

Rwanda’s peak demand is 262 megawatts with a GDP of $14.25b, while Burundi trails at 70 megawatts and $2.16b.

The power-GDP connection

Economic output and electricity consumption have a near-linear relationship; as industries expand, urbanization rises, and household incomes improve, demand for energy surges.

Kenya’s manufacturing and service sectors are far more energy-intensive than Uganda’s, reflecting its larger industrial base and higher electrification rate.

Uganda’s per capita electricity consumption remains below 200 kWh per year, far less than Kenya’s estimated 500 kWh. This deficit limits industrial capacity, slows mechanization in agriculture, and raises production costs for small and medium enterprises, all of which directly constrain GDP growth.

Data shows that while Uganda’s GDP is roughly 43 percent of Kenya’s, its electricity demand is barely 50 percent, which underscores how access to reliable and affordable energy remains one of Uganda’s biggest barriers to economic transformation.

Government has made substantial investments in generation capacity over the past decade, including flagship projects such as Karuma Hydropower Station (600 megawatts) and Isimba Dam (183 megawatts).

Yet much of this remains underutilized due to transmission bottlenecks and limited demand from industry.

Uganda’s installed capacity, according to the Electricity Regulatory Authority, has grown from 60 megawatts in 1954 to 2052.7 megawatts as of January 2025. The growth creates a surplus of about 876.7 megawatts, which has not been helped by low factory production capacity, which stands at about 55 percent, according to Uganda Manufacturers Association, and high tariffs that have made rural connectivity almost out of reach.

Thus, for Uganda to compete, it will need to boost not just power generation, but electricity consumption per capita, particularly in manufacturing and agro-processing.

The Tenfold Growth Strategy, which targets a $500b economy by 2040, cannot be realised without a corresponding surge in power demand and consumption.

The country’s challenge is no longer about producing electricity; it’s about absorbing it into a productive economy. As new hydropower projects come online, the focus must shift to connecting households, powering factories, and ensuring that electricity becomes the backbone of growth.

In the regional race between megawatts and money, Uganda’s next leap will depend on how quickly it can turn kilowatts into jobs, exports, and industrial momentum.

As the data shows, powering prosperity isn’t just about energy; it’s about using it to spark transformation.

The Energy Ministry has already revealed that the next phase of Uganda’s electricity sub-sector will be creating jobs, powering exports, and supporting agro-industrialisation.

Geoffrey Macho, the outspoken Member of Parliament (MP) for Busia Municipality, has pulled out of the 2026 parliamentary race, as the nominations for candidates closed at the Electoral Commission offices in Busia on Thursday.

Macho, who has served as MP since 2016 and was re-elected in 2021, was not among the nominated candidates when the nomination period ended.

He had finished third in the National Resistance Movement (NRM) party primaries earlier this year, with Ismail Sowedi Mulemya declared the party’s flag bearer for the Busia Municipality seat.

Efforts to reach Macho for comment were unsuccessful, but sources close to him indicated that frustrations following the primaries influenced his decision.

‘He invested heavily and was hopeful of winning the party’s flag, but after losing the primaries, his morale dropped, and he decided not to return as an independent candidate,’ a source said.

The MP intends to focus on his business ventures, including schools and a hospital, over the next five years, according to the same source.

Macho’s withdrawal leaves a crowded field of 41 candidates competing for Busia District’s five parliamentary seats, including the district woman representative.

The district, created in 1997 from the former Tororo District, has four constituencies: Samia Bugwe North, Samia Bugwe South, Samia Bugwe Central – carved out of Samia Bugwe South in 2020 – and Busia Municipality.

List of nominees

Busia District Woman Representative

Eight candidates are contesting the woman MP seat: Akello Phanice Mary (NUP), Anyango Janet Hope (NRM), Taaka Moreen (Independent), Nahauli Shams (Independent), Auma Scovia Juliet (Independent), Nabulindo Jane Kwoba (Independent), Auma Hellen Wandera (Incumbent, Independent), Akware Dorothy (Independent).

Busia Municipality

Ten candidates are vying for the parliamentary seat: Makhoha Samuel (PFF), Mulemya Sowedi Mulemya (NRM), Wanyama Kennedy (NUP), Kakaire Hussein (FDC), Taaka Lilian (DF), and independent candidates Barasa Livingstone Ouma, Kibedi Moses, Elukudo Emmanuel, Taabu Sarah, Wesonga Michael Khajuba.

Samia Bugwe Central

Nine candidates: Wanyama Richard Hamala (NRM), Ouma Benard Wabwire (NUP), Barasa Titus (EPU), Macho Hudson (DP), Ngwabe Deogratius (PFF), and independents Hughes Edward, Ouma Parrick, Mbirike Erick, Nyangweso Dennis (Incumbent MP).

Samia Bugwe South

Six candidates: Maganda Julius Wandera (NRM), Achoka Egesa Freddy (NUP), Okumu Justus (FDC), Egesa Patrick (DP), Were Godfrey Odero (Incumbent, Independent), Bwire Robert Ngwabe (Independent).

Samia Bugwe North

Seven candidates: Mulimba John (NRM, Incumbent and state minister), Deogratius Hasubi Njoki (DP), Amam Vincent Egesa (NUP), and independents Deborah Mulayi Peace, Wandera John Paul, John Emurot Okumu, Gerald Padde Auku.

Ugandans will vote parliamentarians of the next house on January 15, 2025, same day for electing president.

We do not get many fashion events in Kampala, and that’s exactly why when one comes around, it instantly makes its way onto everyone’s calendar. This October, Tanqueray is stepping into the city’s daytime social scene with Showtime, a fresh, fashion-infused experience happening at Zara Gardens on October 25, 2025.

Announced during an intimate tasting at Zara Gardens last Friday, the event will blend fashion, food, and flair in a way Kampala hasn’t quite seen before. The afternoon affair will feature a runway presentation curated by Bold in Africa, bringing together a mix of Ugandan designers and creatives under one roof.

The event will also mark the local debut of Tanqueray’s new global campaign, It’s Showtime, which aims to turn everyday moments into something spectacular. The first edition’s theme, Made in Uganda, pays homage to the country’s culinary heritage, while giving it a refreshing, modern spin. ‘Showtime is a strategic investment in Uganda’s premium lifestyle and creative economy,’ said Dianah Tinkamanyire, Director of IT at Uganda Breweries, during the exclusive menu sampling.

‘It’s a platform where talent and taste converge to celebrate culture and position Uganda on the global map of luxury.’ Nancy Nansikombi described the upcoming launch as a multisensory experience; one that connects people to the brand through food, fashion, and storytelling.

‘With Showtime, we’re reimagining daytime experiences in Kampala,’ she said.

‘We want to celebrate Uganda’s culinary mastery, spotlight local creatives, and create a series of unforgettable moments that keep people looking forward to the next edition.’

Fashion Takes the Spotlight

For the fashion crowd, Showtime promises to be more than just another party. With a runway by Bold in Africa, the event will double as a platform to amplify Ugandan fashion and the stories behind it. Among the designers showcasing that day will be Lamara, a contemporary fashion brand by Abwoyo Nadia Gisella, known for its elegant yet daring approach to women’s wear.

‘When I talk about amplifying Ugandan fashion and encouraging people to come dressed in Ugandan creations, I don’t mean traditional wear,’ Nadia shared ahead of the event. ‘It’s about celebrating the creativity, craftsmanship, and stories behind what’s made here. It’s about giving recognition to Ugandan fashion designers, and platforms like Showtime create that spotlight. They remind people that fashion here is alive, evolving, and world-class. The more we show up wearing Ugandan designers, the more we push the industry forward.’

‘Fashion is one of the easiest ways to express culture and identity,’ Nadia adds. ‘And if we can do that while having a good time, why not?’

A Taste of Culture and Creativity

The Showtime event is as much about flavor as it is about flair. The culinary lineup for the day draws from familiar Ugandan staples, but with an unexpected twist. Think matoke served with citrus-infused sauces, or the famous Rolex reinvented as delicate canapé rolls paired with the signature Tanqueray cocktail. The ‘Made in Uganda’ theme isn’t just about the clothes; it’s about every detail, from the ingredients to the clothes, all designed to showcase the best of Ugandan creativity.

If the previous collaborations between Bold in Africa and Kampala’s creative circles are anything to go by, the runway should be one of the day’s highlights. We can expect a mix of ready-to-wear and statement looks from minimalist silhouettes to bold, print-heavy designs.

Lamara is likely to bring its signature balance of structure and softness, celebrating femininity with tailored pieces that feel modern yet rooted in the ‘Buy Uganda, Build Uganda’ ethos. Although not confirmed, I would love to see other Ugandan brands on that runway, such as Eguana Kampala, Shwanda, Miss Shee, and Kona.

Style Meets Sustainability

The event will also feature Good Glass UG, an eco-conscious lifestyle brand that turns glass waste into stylish barware and décor. Their presence brings the broader conversation about sustainability and local innovation, something both we are yet to fully embrace as an industry and a country at large.

In a city that thrives on social gatherings, Showtime arrives with a refreshing sense of purpose. It’s not just another excuse to dress up, but rather it’s an invitation to do so meaningfully.