Asianet Pakistan Private Limited

Here’s what Ugandan students consider appropriate gifts during exam season:

I think parents should give their children gifts that are meaningful and helpful to their growth, such as clothes, and other necessities. Gifts should not only be expensive items like cars. What matters most is the love and thought behind the gift, rather than its price.

Precious Nankebe

S6, Comprehensive College Kitetikka

The best gift a parent can give a child is prayers and presence and words of encouragement. Doing too much is gifting luxurious gifts like expensive phones, that is very spoiling.

Raymond Bateze

S2 St Gonzaga Budini SS Kaliro District

In my opinion, acceptable gifts are those that motivate children to work hard and become responsible people. Parents can reward good performance with school requirements, clothes or even an opportunity to participate in activities we enjoy. However, gifts should not make children feel entitled or believe that they deserve everything they ask for.

Bashir Kalanzi Ssempiira,

S6, Comprehensive College Kitetikka

Encouragement is an enough gift. Too much money is doing too much as a parent. Give us average money and a success card with words of encouragement and maybe more physical gifts like a necklace, each time I will see it in exams around my neck, I will remember your words of encouragement. Luxurious gifts like trending shoes and phones is doing too much.

Steven Bwanga

S3 St Gonzaga Budini S.S. Kaliro District

I believe parents should give children gifts that are appropriate for their age and contribute to their well-being. Items such as clothes, learning materials, toys and sports equipment can help us learn and enjoy our childhood. Parents should also understand that not every child needs the same gift, and they should avoid giving things that may negatively affect our studies or behaviour.

Shifurah Arish Nakitende

S2, Comprehensive College Kitetikka

I think parents should give children gifts that make them happy while also teaching them important values. For example, parents can buy us sports equipment, games or other things we need. However, gifts like phones and unrestricted access to social media should come with guidance and rules so that they do not distract us from schoolwork. Above all, love, encouragement and time spent together are also valuable gifts.

Shaban Raish

S3 Comprehensive College Kitetikka

Things like branded cups are acceptable and should be gifted. However, electronics gadgets like phones and laptops are just too much and some students misuse them.

Jalirah Namutamba.

S3 St Gonzaga Budini S.S, Kaliro district

I believe parents should give children gifts that encourage good behaviour, education and responsibility. Things like school bags, clothes and sports equipment are acceptable because they help us develop our talents. Parents should also spend time with their children because attention and guidance are gifts that money cannot buy.

Isaac Mukisa

S2, Comprehensive College Kitetikka

Normally what parents do is fantasize a lot, thinking it’s very expensive gifts that will make us pass, but it’s not. Instead it affects our cognitive reasoning negatively and we end up not performing well because we are more focused on the expensive gifts. Parents, please don’t send us your fantasies, instead come to school physically and encourage us to focus, this is better and a success card too with some small money not more than Shs 50,000.

Jesse Avril Besimire

S3 St Gonzaga Budini S.S. Kaliro District.

Parents should gift things like frame works with encouraging words like Bible verses in success frames. A lot of money distracts us. Money like Shs 200,000 a week is too much, messes with our concentration. Shs 50,000 is enough for the exams period.

Joseph Muwanguzi

S3 St Gonzaga Budini S.S Kaliro District

A success card and a picture frame and some money like Shs 50,000 is acceptable. Overboard is for flower bouquets of money hitting Shs 1m. That is too much and bad.

Maria Joy Nangobi,

S3 st Gonzaga Budini S.S. Kaliro District

Normal success card and a t-shirt branded with the students photo is enough but some parents exaggerate gifting kids lots of money like Shs 1m and some even cars. It affects our concentration

Vivian Norah Akoth

S5 St Gonzaga Budini S.S Kaliro District

Parents need to know that we are all from different backgrounds when gifting. So they shouldn’t exaggerate things like cars, that is over doing it. Gifts like frames with encouraging words and vacuum cups and success cards are enough.

Hudha Namusubo

S.3 St Gonzaga Budini S.S Kaliro District

I think different kids are different, understand your child 1st before gifting them. Gift them things that will make them comfortable. Rich kids can be gifted things like expensive phones, they are already used, poor kids shouldn’t be gifted luxurious things, they will be too excited and lose focus. For rich kids, things like gifting them a house is doing too much, they see no value in studying.

Abubakari Luba

S3 St Gonzaga Budini SS Kaliro District

I think parents should give their children gifts according to their needs and the family’s financial ability. Gifts such as clothes, shoes, and educational materials are good because they support our studies and personal development. Parents should avoid competing with others by buying expensive gifts that may put them under financial pressure.

Ruth Arinda

S5, Comprehensive College Kitetikka

Gifts like prayers, cakes, presence are acceptable but luxurious things like expensive phones is doing too much, they even distract us from concentrating

Ramah Kibedi

S2. St Gonzaga Budini SS Kaliro District

Kyaggwe finally have a Masaza Cup title to show for years of investment, near misses and growing expectations after edging five-time champions Gomba 1-0 in Saturday’s final at Muteesa II Stadium, Wankulukuku.

For a county that had repeatedly threatened to conquer Buganda’s premier football competition without completing the job, the victory was a moment of redemption and the culmination of a project that has steadily gathered momentum over the past three seasons.

Kyaggwe had not won the competition since 2004, when all 18 counties of Buganda Kingdom were brought together in a tournament designed to promote unity and social cohesion among people living in the kingdom.

Their previous best finish was reaching the 2024 final, only to lose 1-0 to Buddu. Gomba, Ssingo, Buddu and Bulemeezi were among the counties that had enjoyed the ultimate prize while Kyaggwe continued to wait.

That wait finally ended in front of a passionate Kyaggwe following that turned Wankulukuku into a sea of celebration. The final was also graced by the Kabaka of Buganda, Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II, who presented the trophy to the victorious county.

Some supporters had travelled overnight to beat the National Cleaning Day restrictions, which limited movement between 7am and 10am. Their voices remained prominent inside and outside the stadium, creating an atmosphere that underlined the importance of the occasion.

Second-half substitute George Isingoma Kato delivered the decisive moment, finishing a well-worked move after combining with David Mugalu on the right flank. The attack unsettled Gomba’s defence, with Collin Ssemanda losing possession before Kato capitalised to beat goalkeeper Bashir Ssenyonga.

Kato, who is also a reserve player at Vipers SC, had joined Kyaggwe’s campaign at the quarter-final stage but made an immediate impact when called upon in the final.

“It’s a very special moment for me as a player. I came on and made the difference,” Kato said.

Patience pays off

The goal rewarded a Kyaggwe side that had controlled much of the first half but initially lacked the composure to turn its superiority into goals.

Mugalu and Lauben Lubwama were among those who found promising opportunities but failed to convert, while Gomba relied on the defensive organisation marshalled by Herbert Onen to keep the contest tight.

Kyaggwe continued probing until Kato found the breakthrough against opponents who have built a reputation for delivering in decisive matches.

Head coach Ronald Ssali credited his players’ patience and the contribution of his technical team.

“We had many moments but I’m happy we were patient to wait for our winning moment. This is a final and patience is key,” Ssali said.

He also acknowledged the support of fellow coaches William Kyeswa and Juma Ssekiziyivu, who helped maintain the team’s preparations, particularly when he was away with Bukedea Comprehensive School at the FEASSA Games in Tanzania.

“I have behind me a strong team of coaches and they made this work easy for me. Each one’s contribution was key in our success,” he added.

The triumph was particularly significant for kit sponsor Samuel Kasasa, whose connection with the county stretches beyond financial support.

Kasasa played for Kyaggwe as a left back for 10 years before retiring in 2014. He had hoped to step away from the game after hanging up his boots but was instead persuaded to become one of the team’s financial supporters.

He accepted the responsibility despite uncertainty over whether the county would ever get its hands on the trophy.

“There have always been signs but we have been unlucky on many occasions. I can’t believe that we are now among the winners,” Kasasa said.

Investment finally rewarded

Kyaggwe’s breakthrough has not been accidental. The county has built a strong supporter base over the past three seasons under the leadership of its county chief, Vincent Matovu, while retaining a core of experienced players around whom younger talent has been introduced.

Defenders Vincent Agaku, Emmanuel Shikanga, captain Julius Kato and Godfrey Arijole have provided continuity to a team that has gradually become one of the competition’s most consistent challengers.

Their progress has also been supported by improved player welfare and financial backing from politicians, Members of Parliament and businesspeople associated with the county.

The victory also carries a measure of redemption after last year’s elimination against eventual champions Buweekula. Kyaggwe had raised complaints about the circumstances surrounding their exit and felt their grievances were not adequately addressed by the organisers.

But this time, there was no room for another near miss. The trophy is theirs.

Celebrations spread across Mukono and surrounding communities after the final, with supporters lining roads from Seeta towards the Jinja-Kayunga roundabout to await the returning team and its trophy.

Bars and entertainment spots organised victory parties that continued late into the night, despite persistent rain and chilly conditions.

Government has embarked on an 18-month, Shs10.5b project to develop a national electricity distribution master plan aimed at guiding network expansion, reducing connection costs and supporting government’s ambition to achieve universal access by 2030.

The plan will provide a comprehensive picture of the country’s existing electricity distribution infrastructure and identify areas requiring new connections, upgrades and alternative energy solutions.

Under government’s 2030 target, half of the population will access electricity through the national grid, while the other half will be connected through off-grid solutions, particularly solar systems.

Ministry of Energy commissioner for rural electrification Abdon Atwine said the project seeks to address weaknesses in the current approach to electricity planning, which largely focuses on taking power to districts and sub-counties.

He said the absence of integrated planning has sometimes resulted in public facilities being established far from existing electricity infrastructure, creating expensive demands for grid extensions.

‘That is something we want to address by working with our stakeholders … to have a robust plan in terms of upgrading our network and extending the grid,’ Atwine said in an interview.

The master plan is expected to bring together electricity infrastructure planning and the development priorities of other government ministries, helping ensure that new public facilities and investments are considered when decisions on network expansion are made.

‘It is a study that will take us 18 months, for Shs10.5b … after 18 months, we should be a harmonised sector,’ he said.

Turkish technology firm Basarsoft has been contracted to undertake the studies, including mapping the electricity distribution network using Geographic Information Systems (GIS).

The exercise will involve collecting data on existing electricity infrastructure, identifying underserved communities and assessing potential demand to inform future investment decisions.

Basarsoft General Manager Tuncay Kucukpehlivan said the use of GIS would provide government with a reliable and continuously updated database to support electricity planning.

‘We are trying to establish a GIS database by studying all the fields and visiting all villages. We will collect existing infrastructure and potential demands. In this way, we will see the existing system and the demands for the future,’ he said.

The company plans to deploy about 200 field staff to undertake the surveys, which have already started.

The field exercise, Kucukpehlivan said, is expected to cover targeted areas within six months, followed by approximately three months of data evaluation.

The findings will then be used to develop the master plan, with outputs produced progressively across different regions rather than waiting for the entire countrywide exercise to be completed.

He said the process would also allow the Ministry of Energy to access data as it is collected, enabling it to monitor progress and understand emerging findings.

‘There will be regions to be covered; as the data comes, we will open that data also to the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development to see what’s going on, and after evaluating the data, we start producing the outcomes,’ he said.

The resulting master plan is expected to provide a basis for prioritising electricity investments, coordinating network expansion with public infrastructure development and identifying where grid connections or off-grid solutions would be more appropriate.

For years, health workers in Kalangala struggled to transport blood samples from health facilities scattered across the district’s islands to laboratories on the mainland, with the process costing a lot of money and delaying diagnosis for patients who need timely treatment.

At Bukasa Health Centre IV on Bukasa Island in Kyamuswa County, for example, health workers spend more than Shs400,000 transporting samples to Kalangala Health Centre IV on Buggala Island, the district’s main sample collection point, Dr Michael Suuna, the facility’s in-charge, said on October 28.

‘This money is for fuel for the rider and their allowances to transport just one unit of blood. How much more will we need if the blood were coming from Mazinga Health Centre III, which is near the Tanzanian border?’ he asked.

Beyond the financial burden, the transportation arrangement has left health workers waiting for laboratory results for more than a week, delaying decisions on diagnosis and treatment.

‘When we send samples at Kalangala Health Centre IV, we have to wait over a week to get results. This delays us in diagnosing patients in time,’ Dr Suuna explained.

The ministry of Health is now turning to drone technology to address these logistical challenges, with a new sample transportation network expected to reduce reliance on boats and vehicles, hence shorter delivery times and improved access to specialised laboratory services for island communities.

The drone-powered sample transportation network was rolled out on October 27 following route tests conducted on October 20.

The project is expected to connect selected island health facilities directly to the Central Public Health Laboratories in Butabika, Kampala, where samples requiring specialised testing can be analysed.

The ministry has partnered with Samanga Solutions Limited to roll out the beyond-visual-line-of-sight (BVLOS) drone delivery project for laboratory samples, medicines, blood products, vaccines and other essential medical commodities. The operations are managed by Drone Plus.

The cost of delayed diagnosis

At Kalangala Health Centre IV, samples from health facilities across the district are consolidated before being transported by vehicle through Masaka to laboratories in Kampala.

Mr Frank Kisakye, the facility’s in-charge, said the health centre operates a laboratory with limitations, including specialised tests that must be referred to higher-level laboratories.

‘We have a level-three laboratory, so we collect all samples from the 16 health facilities in Kalangala. The car gets them from Kalangala Health Centre IV via Masaka mainland to the laboratories in Kampala,’ he said on October 233.

Mr Kisakye explained that the existing transportation arrangement serves districts across the Greater Masaka region, with vehicles collecting and distributing samples according to established schedules before they reach their destinations in Butabika, Kampala City.

Consequently, samples do not always reach the reference laboratories immediately after collection.

‘When the car collects the samples on Tuesday, they would reach Butabika laboratories on Thursday, hence a long time to get results and depriving patients of timely treatment,’ he said.

Mr Brian Ssemanda, the laboratory in-charge at Kalangala Health Centre IV, said the delays affect samples requiring specialised testing, including those used for monitoring HIV viral loads, hepatitis and tuberculosis, as well as specimens collected from suspected yellow fever cases and for disease surveillance.

Records at Kalangala Health Centre IV indicate that the facility sends between 800 and 1,200 samples monthly to reference laboratories.

‘When there is a delay, it affects patient management and decision-making by the health workers managing that patient. For better diagnosis or patient management, faster sample delivery is key,’ Mr Ssemanda said on October 27.

He added that the current system also places a financial burden on health facilities because riders have to travel by boat to collect specimens from lower-level facilities scattered across the 64 inhabited islands.

‘Moving to lower health facilities to collect samples is costly in terms of fuel costs,’ he said.

Vehicle system

The system, ministry officials said, relies mainly on motor vehicles to transport samples between hubs and reference laboratories. However, it has often faced operational challenges, particularly in hard-to-reach areas where facilities are separated by water or have limited transport connections.

Ms Phiona Namara, the air quality supervisor at the Ministry of Health under the National Health Laboratory and Diagnostic Services, said samples from some facilities would reach the central laboratory only once a week.

‘Oftentimes, samples reached the central lab once a week, yet if there was a problem, none came through,’ she said (when?).

Mr Mark Lwanga, chairperson of Buligo Village on Buggala Island, on October 23 said the technology offers hope to islanders who have long struggled to access timely medical attention.

He said patients from remote islands sometimes travel by boat to Kalangala Health Centre IV, where their samples are collected before being transported by road to Kampala.

‘We have been using boats to transport patients that needed to be checked, sometimes braving the rough lake and rainy season, worsening patients’ conditions,’ Mr Lwanga said.

How the drone system will work

Ms Prossy Mbabazi, who oversees the project at the ministry of Health, said the initiative will reduce diagnostic turnaround time and ease pressure on the existing transportation system.

‘The initiative is expected to ease pressure on the existing sample transportation system, which has been relying on vehicles and water transport to connect health facilities on the islands to collection centres and laboratories on the mainland,’ she said.

The ministry expects the shorter transportation time to enable samples to reach laboratories earlier and, where laboratory schedules permit, be tested on the same day they are collected.

Ms Namara said the network will use an optimised, dynamic schedule to respond to demand.

‘We intended to pick samples from the different islands daily. However, we will use an optimised schedule to visit islands only when there are active samples to collect or deliveries to make,’ she said on October 23 .

Ms Namara added that the drone can make two trips a day whenever samples are available for collection or medical supplies need to be delivered.

The initial routes will serve Koome Island in Mukono District, Jaana, Bukasa and Bubeke islands in Kalangala District.

The programme is expected to expand to Bufumira, Lulamba, Kachanga and Mazinga islands after the initial routes have been completed and assessed. The Ministry also plans to extend the same service to another island district of Buvuma.

‘When we finalise those routes, we shall add on other islands like Bufumira, Lulamba, Kachanga and Mazinga islands in Kalangala District. After exhausting Kalangala District, we shall head to Buvuma Islands,’ Ms Namara said.

She said demonstrations have shown that the drone can fly from Butabika, collect samples from health facilities in Kalangala and return within two hours.

‘With this drone technology, we have already demonstrated that within two hours, a drone can to fly from Butabika, land on Buggala and other islands, pick up the samples, and return so they can be tested on the same day they are collected,’ Ms Namara said.

The Kalangala drone initiative is being introduced into an existing national laboratory transportation system that serves thousands of health facilities.

According to the Ministry of Health, the National Health Laboratory and Diagnostic Services operates a hub-and-spoke transportation model comprising 100 laboratory hubs serving more than 3,000 health facilities across the country.

The ministry plans to purchase two additional medical logistics drones to support service delivery in other districts in eastern and northern Uganda.

Hope for communities

For residents of Kalangala, the project addresses challenges that extend beyond the movement of laboratory samples.

Mr Lwanga said the successful launch of the drone project has raised expectations that the new service will shorten the time required to transport samples and obtain results.

‘We have seen it take like an hour to reach the Kaala Grounds. We believe this has reduced the time it takes to transport the samples and get back results,’ he said.

Patient transportation woes

Kalangala District has only 16 health centres, with only two health center IVs providing improved health services.

A resident of Nkose in Mazinga Sub-county, nearest to the northern border with Tanzania’s Bukoba Islands, has to travel a minimum of 11 nautical miles on the lake to reach the nearest Kachungwa Health Centre III, which only handles maternity health services, HIV treatment, and minor illnesses.

If one has a major illness or any complication, it is better to travel to Rakai and Masaka since they appear nearer than Bukasa and Kalangala health centre IVs. Sometimes, patients reach the main health centres, only to be referred to Masaka.

For one to move from one island to the nearest health centre, he or she needs to hire a boat, coxswain, engine, and fuel to reach the nearest health facility.

For instance, to travel from Kitobo, an outlying island, to Bufumira Health Centre III, one needs to buy 20 litres of fuel at a cost of Shs80,000, hire a coxswain at Shs40,000, and a boat and engine at Shs50,000 to go to a health centre and pick up tablets that can be sold at Shs3,000 in a private clinic.

It is against this background that medics in the district are pushing the government to invest more money in the area’s health sector. Most of the health centres in Kalangala face shortages of diagnostic tools, specialists, and essential equipment.

Uganda’s decision to designate the last Saturday of every month as National Cleaning Day is a commendable response to the country’s sanitation and public-health challenges. Kampala alone generates an estimated 2,000-2,500 tonnes of solid waste daily, yet only about 50-60 percent is collected and properly disposed of.

The uncollected waste often blocks drainage channels, pollutes communities and contributes to disease. The National Cleaning Day, therefore, provides an opportunity not only to clean communities, but also to build a culture in which citizens recognise cleanliness as a shared responsibility.

After three National Cleaning Days, however, it is becoming increasingly clear that the success of this initiative will require more than directives and enforcement. While some citizens have embraced the exercise, others have resisted participation, sought excuses to avoid it or viewed the restrictions as an inconvenience imposed by government.

Yet the benefits of cleaning drainage channels, removing waste from roadsides, and maintaining public spaces are enjoyed by everyone. A cleaner environment reduces health risks, improves communities, and can reduce flooding associated with blocked drainage. The long-term objective should, therefore, be mindset change: citizens should participate because they understand the benefits, not simply because security officers are present.

The government must also recognise that resistance is likely to increase when citizens do not fully understand the rules or perceive enforcement measures to be unfair.

The tragic shooting of 28-year-old boda boda rider Ronald Jjuuko Kizito during the second National Cleaning Day illustrates how quickly a well-intentioned environmental initiative can become associated with human rights violations. The circumstances remain a matter for investigation, but Parliament was told that the rider had been responding to a medical emergency when an altercation arose after he was stopped for allegedly violating movement restrictions.

A programme intended to create cleaner and more harmonious communities should not become a source of confrontation between citizens and the State.

Mindset change must also influence how citizens understand cleaning itself. Sweeping rubbish and leaving it by the roadside merely shifts the problem rather than solving it. Waste left uncollected can return to drainage channels and public spaces. National Cleaning Day must, therefore, involve the entire waste-management chain: cleaning, collection, transportation and proper disposal. Citizens have responsibilities, but local governments and responsible authorities must equally ensure that collected waste is promptly removed.

The Constitution provides a useful balance. Article 39 guarantees every person the right to a clean and healthy environment, while citizens have a corresponding duty to protect that environment. Article 25 also recognises reasonable communal or civic obligations. The National Cleaning Day can, therefore, promote legitimate civic responsibility. However, restrictions and enforcement must remain lawful, reasonable and proportionate, because they affect movement, businesses and livelihoods.

A clean Uganda will not be achieved through enforcement alone. It will be achieved when citizens understand that protecting the environment safeguards their health, strengthens their communities, and benefits the nation, and when government creates the systems that make responsible behaviour possible.

Security forces said Monday that they had arrested controversial Lt. Gen (rtd) Peter Elwelu in Soroti City following a manhunt over his alleged involvement in subversive activities aimed at destabilizing the Teso sub-region.

Lt. Gen. Elwelu, who previously served as the Deputy Commander of Land Forces and Senior Presidential Advisor, had reportedly been on the run as intelligence agencies intensified operations targeting suspected rebel operations and unauthorized military stockpiles in eastern Uganda. Security agencies revealed that a recent operation linked to the general led to the recovery of 15 firearms, military fatigues, and two pickup trucks.

“Renegade UPDF General Peter Elwelu has this evening been arrested by the security forces in Soroti City,” said Col. Chris Magezi, the Acting Director Defence Public Information (DDPI) for the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs.

“Lt. Gen. Elwelu has been on the run over involvement in subversive activities and plans to destabilize Teso. The security forces recently recovered 15 guns in his possession, military fatigues, and two pickup trucks. He will be charged and prosecuted in the courts of law accordingly.”

Elwelu’s arrest marks a dramatic downfall for one of the country’s most polarizing military figures.

He gained national and international prominence in November 2016 when he commanded the military raid on the Buhikira Palace of the Rwenzururu King Charles Wesley Mumbere in Kasese, an operation that resulted in the deaths of over 100 people.

Despite widespread criticism from human rights organizations over the Kasese incident, Elwelu was subsequently promoted through the ranks, eventually serving as Deputy Chief of Defence Forces before being transferred to presidential advisory roles.

Military sources indicate that Elwelu is currently being held at a secure facility as joint security teams finalize investigations ahead of his arraignment before the General Court Martial.

Anthony Nam smiles warmly as he welcomes visitors into his modest office at Aloni Primary School in Iceme Sub-county, Oyam District. As head teacher of the government-aided institution located in Aloni Parish, his quiet composure reflects a newfound optimism for a school community that has spent years navigating systemic educational hurdles.

Mr Nam is among more than 360 educators spanning 32 schools across Oyam, Arua, Alebtong, and Kole districts who have benefited from a comprehensive capacity-building initiative designed to overhaul classroom instruction. Organised by the Foundation for Inclusive Community Help (FICH), a local non-governmental organisation, and supported by Echidna Giving, the three-year foundational learning programme brought on board all 14 teachers at Aloni in a bid to drastically boost learning outcomes.

Reflecting on the school’s progress from his office, Mr Nam notes that the intervention addressed long-standing gaps in lesson delivery and teacher preparation.

‘I have seen a great change. The greatest is in teachers’ preparation,’ Mr Nam said. ‘I used to struggle with teachers on lesson plans, schemes of work, and preparing teaching and learning aids. The training has really helped both the teachers and the learners. Learning has become something interesting.’

A follow-up training conducted in March 2026 targeted the creation of practical teaching resources, forcing school administrators to re-evaluate common assumptions regarding teacher readiness fresh out of training colleges.

‘We take it for granted that teachers were trained in their colleges and so they know what to do,’ Mr Nam explained. ‘But they didn’t know, and the few who were trying were using very old methods. Now the training has updated them. They can make the lesson plan, prepare the scheme of work, and at least prepare the learning aids.’

To support classroom implementation, FICH provided beneficiary schools with essential supplies, including Manila cards and markers, supplementing the limited materials procured by administration teams.

Beyond individual instruction, the training helped curb teacher avoidance linked to skill deficiencies. According to Mr Nam, educators who previously lacked confidence tended to dodge tasks for fear of exposing their technical gaps. Following the workshops, staff at Aloni instituted departmental team scheming across mathematics, English, social studies, and science, allowing teachers to draft schemes of work collaboratively.

While top-tier primary leaving results remain elusive, school leaders emphasize that foundational progress is taking root. Aloni Primary School last registered a First Grade candidate in the Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE) in 2014. In the 2025 PLE, none of the 60 candidates achieved a Division One score; however, 58 qualified to transition into secondary education and post-primary vocational institutions.

More recently, mock examination results released in September 2026 for 44 candidates showed 10 scoring second grade, 20 in third grade, six in fourth grade, and eight ungraded. Candidates across the district are set to sit their final UNEB exams on November 3 and 4.

‘Though we did not get any learners in Division One in PLE in 2025, first of all, I am focusing on those who could transition to the next level of education,’ Mr Nam said. ‘To me, that is a fairly good result.’

The impact of the pedagogical shift is echoed in neighboring institutions. At Loro Primary School in Loro Town Council, Mr Samuel Bwonyo, the teachers’ representative on the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA), highlighted how practical teaching approaches are replacing rote learning.

‘The methodologies we were introduced to during the sessions have made me more of a model teacher,’ Mr Bwonyo said. ‘When I teach a topic in agriculture, the learners should go back and practise it, so that it becomes life-changing, not theoretical as we were doing before.’

Local government education officials have commended the targeted intervention, noting visible improvements in lower-primary literacy levels across the district.

Mr David Adea, the Oyam District Education Officer, noted that FICH’s field model sets it apart from standard development programmes operating in the region.

‘If you go to schools where they operate, you will find the level of literacy has improved,’ Mr Adea said. ‘Most children are able to read and write. That is the bedrock of our education.’

Mr Adea emphasized that mastering early literacy and numeracy in Primary One through Primary Three provides pupils with the necessary tools to grasp complex concepts in upper primary classes. He urged funding partners to expand the project beyond the current 32 schools, praising its additional support toward girls’ education and life skills development across the district.

Conflicting signals are emerging over claims of talks between the State and jailed Dr Kizza Besigye as well as former Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago, who are reported ill and battling treason charges.

Both Dr Besigye’s family members and officials from his party, the People’s Front for Freedom (PFF), have dismissed reports of any overtures from Gen Salim Saleh and Justice Minister Norbert Mao.

Gen Saleh, who is President Museveni’s brother and national overseer of Operation Wealth Creation, had, during a Friday meeting with ruling NRM party parliamentary leaders and regional whips at his operational base in Kapeeka, Nakaseke District, last week, revealed that Dr Besigye was in critical condition when he intervened to transfer him from prison to a specialised health facility outside Kampala City.

Gen Saleh said he was prompted to intervene following a post on X by the country’s army commander, who is also First Son and his nephew.

‘I got that tweet on the 25th of August from the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU) leader, the Chief of Defence Forces, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba. He said Kizza Besigye’s problem is mine,’ Gen Saleh said.

‘For me, he didn’t even know that he had given me a very good opportunity. Because of politics, I had lost touch with KB (Kizza Besigye) completely.’

Both Gen Saleh and Dr Besigye are war veterans who fought in the five-year Bush War in Luweero Triangle that brought the National Resistance Movement (NRM) to power in 1986, with Dr Besigye having served as Museveni’s personal physician.

Following Gen Muhoozi’s post, Gen Saleh said, ‘What followed was very extraordinary for me. By the time I went to the hospital, I found my friend [Dr Besigye] almost dead in prison.”

‘So, my first action was taking him from the prison to a proper medical centre. I took him to the Joint Clinical Research Centre (JCRC) in Lubowa; the same bed I would be in if I were under intensive care. That is a facility where I am a founding member,’ he said.

However, Mr Wasswa Birigwa, the national chairman of the PFF party that Dr Besigye championed, countered Gen Saleh’s claims, saying there have never been any talks between Dr Besigye or PFF and the government, neither with Gen Saleh nor their agents.

‘I, together with six PFF members, visited Dr Besigye one week ago. He told me he is not in talks with the government or their agents over their release. But his demands remain clear: to be released on bond, so he seeks first-class medical attention, then returns and continues with his treason case,’ Mr Birigwa said.

‘Unless one of them is lying, but the doctor [Besigye] that I know cannot lie to me because he is the one who asked the authorities to call me. He told me the only messages he received from Gen Saleh were greetings, and twice, I mean just greetings.’

Dr Besigye, who has previously run against Mr Museveni for the presidency four times, has been on remand since his arrest in Nairobi, Kenya, and subsequent extradition to Uganda in November 2024.

He was then charged with treason alongside his political aide Mr Obeid Lutale, and retired UPDF officer Capt Denis Oola.

The State alleges the group participated in covert meetings in Athens, Geneva, and Nairobi to plot the overthrow of the government led by President Museveni, also the elder brother of Gen Saleh.

Concerns over Dr Besigye’s declining health intensified earlier this year when his wife, the UNAIDS Executive Director, Ms Winnie Byanyima, raised the alarm. She reported that the veteran politician was suffering from severe stomach and leg pain, fever, dehydration, and mobility challenges. She accused the prison authorities of withholding timely specialised care from the veteran Opposition politician.

Mr Birigwa, however, confirmed yesterday that Dr Besigye is receiving treatment from the Lubowa-based hospital, but was unequivocal that he has not agreed to any talks with Gen Saleh.

‘I was with Dr [Besigye], and what has changed is the venue, but they are still prisoners. He cannot speak and uses the alphabet [to communicate]. And when it comes to walking, it’s worse because you see the situation Sam Mugumya [former Dr Besigye aide] was in, learning to walk in the viral video; but for doctor, he cannot even do that. He walks on crutches and with support from someone,’ he said.

Mr Birigwa also confirmed that Mr Lukwago, one of Dr Besigye’s lawyers, who was arrested last year and charged with misprision of treason and was remand to Luzira Prison in the same case, is also receiving treatment in the Lubowa-based JCRC facility.

Justice Minister Norbert Mao first made the claims last week of behind-the-scenes negotiations aimed at finding a broader political solution to the cases involving detained Opposition politicians Dr Besigye and Mr Lukwago.

Mr Mao, who is also president general of the Democratic Party (DP), told the media that the discussions were being conducted under the direction of President Museveni and involved government officials, family members and political organisations associated with the two Opposition figures.

He said the initiative, led by Gen Saleh, was intended to promote national reconciliation while ensuring the rights and health of the detained politicians were protected.

‘The instruction of the President is: talk to everybody who has a stake in the lives of the Lord Mayor and Dr Besigye, so that, for the sake of Uganda, we find harmony,’ Mr Mao said.

He described the negotiations as the most challenging of three parallel processes because they require patience, discretion and engagement with several parties.

However, Gen Saleh, during the Friday meeting, declined to classify the engagement as formal peace negotiations. Nonetheless, he expressed optimism that the dialogue could produce a shared vision for the country in the coming months.

‘Don’t ask me whether we are in peace talks or not,’ he said. ‘For me, the moment I got that tweet, I said, ‘Aha, now God has helped me to reconnect with an old colleague [Dr Besigye]. We are working out, and I hope we shall convince each other in the next three to six months to have a combined outlook of the Uganda you guys want to have,’ he said.

PFF dismissive

This is not the first time that PFF is dismissing such overtures.

Immediately, Mr Mao made the disclosure, former Buikwe South County MP and senior PFF party member, Dr Lulume Bayiga, dismissed the claims.

Mr Bayiga, like Mr Birigwa, said Dr Besigye and Mr Lukwago are insisting on only their bail application to allow them to get first-class treatment, and then face their charges in court.

But Mr Mao said the negotiations were also intended to address the case of Mr Lukwago. Mr Mao said he expected to provide a fuller account of the negotiations at an appropriate time, saying the discussions remained ongoing and involved competing interests and strong emotions.

He urged Ugandans to support the efforts aimed at reconciliation rather than a political contest. ‘Pray for us that, for the sake of Uganda, we manage to focus on what matters most,’ he said.

But Dr Besigye’s family, like his PFF party, has distanced itself from any such political deal with the government or their agents.

Writing on her official micro-blogging site X recently, Ms Byanyima rejected any claims of behind-the-scenes bargaining, insisting her husband’s fundamental rights and health are non-negotiable.

‘There are no negotiations for Kizza Besigye’s release. His health and his rights are not matters for negotiation,’ Ms Byanyima stated. She criticised the High Court for proceeding in his absence while he remains hospitalised.

‘My focus is on his health and on his right to bail and the best possible medical care,’ she wrote.

However, Mr Mao yesterday reaffirmed that the talks are going on and asked PFF officials to stop allegedly politicising the issue.

‘You heard from the horse’s mouth. Gen Saleh is the one in charge of those talks. The position of the government is clear, that’s dialogue. The health of Dr Besigye now should not be politicised, and if you ask me for my honest opinion, I will tell you he needs specialised medical treatment which can’t be offered in Uganda, and to get out of the country he needs bail; these are things that can be discussed other than politicking the issue,’ he said.

He added: ‘The charges against Dr Besigye faces are more than a political conflict; it escalated into being accused of plotting to kill the President. That’s one of the top cases that one should not play with.…Someone who is battling such case must be healthy to instruct their lawyers yet he cannot speak. At this point, I expect PFF to stop politicising the matter. As the government, we are open to dialogue, and if you ask me if the negotiations are going on, I will tell you Gen Saleh has the details.’

Saleh spokesman speaks

In reaction yesterday, Mr Dusman Okee, the spokesperson for Gen Saleh, said, ‘Gen Saleh has always maintained that his cardinal concern has been the health of Dr Besigye. Some of us who’re close to him saw him so upset with the Prison authorities and those who were trying him. He wondered why people could see Dr Besigye was almost dead and yet went on to say he was acting in court.’

He added, ‘If there are talks, they will pass through the legal and other processes. But what is at stake now is Dr Besigye’s health.’ Mr Okee said, ‘The politicians should know that Gen Saleh has been involved in peace talks, even with those he fought against. Both Dr Besigye and Gen Saleh are bound by the blood of those who lost their lives in the liberation struggles.’

Besigye, Lukwago case

The prosecution alleges that the accused participated in meetings in Uganda and abroad, including in the cities of Athens, Geneva, and Nairobi, as part of a plan to overthrow the government. They have denied the charges.

The treason trial is ongoing before Justice Emmanuel Baguma of the High Court in Kampala, but in the absence of Dr Besigye and his preferred defence lawyers.

Dr Besigye and Mr Lutale were arrested in Nairobi, Kenya, on November 16, 2024, and brought to Uganda to face trial. They have since remained on remand.

A four-time presidential candidate and longtime critic of President Museveni, Dr Besigye’s detention has attracted public concern, particularly over his health and access to medical care.

The prosecution also alleges that Mr Lukwago knew that Dr Besigye and Mr Lutale had travelled to Nairobi in Kenya to attend a secret meeting at which a plan to assassinate President Museveni was discussed, but that he failed to report the information to the State authorities.

The prosecution further alleges that Mr Lukwago knew about and facilitated the travel of 32 recruits to Kenya for military training.

It also accuses him of knowing about meetings held outside Uganda, allegedly attended by Dr Besigye, at which plans to overthrow the government using firearms were discussed, but that Mr Lukwago failed to report the alleged activities.

The prosecution contends that Mr Lukwago, Dr Besigye, Mr Lutale and others acted with a common intention to commit the offences relating to treason.

For many Ugandans, Yokana Mbuuse was the comedian whose facial expressions, unusual dance moves and unmistakable comic timing could turn an ordinary moment into laughter. Known popularly as Kapere Lufotose, he built a name in Uganda’s entertainment industry by turning the very physical features that had exposed him to ridicule into an unlikely source of fame.

But beyond the stage, television appearances and the familiar Lufotose character was another side of Kapere that deserves attention following his sudden death: the husband and father.

On Sunday, November 1, 2026, Kapere collapsed while visiting his daughter at Jolibo Day Care and Junior School in Wakiso District. He had gone with his wife, Lydia Nakandi, popularly known as Mama Trump, for the school’s visitation day. He was reportedly in the company of other parents when he suddenly collapsed and was rushed for medical attention. He was later pronounced dead at a hospital in Buddo.

In an account of the final moments, Nakandi told Daily Monitor that the couple had spent time with their daughter at school. Kapere even stepped onto the stage and danced with her.

It was an ordinary family commitment, the kind that often goes unnoticed in the busy routines of parenthood. Yet, in the circumstances of his death, it has become one of the most poignant details of his final day.

There is something particularly heartbreaking about the fact that, on the day he died, Kapere had made time to be with his child. His last public outing was not a performance, a comedy show or an industry engagement. He was there as a father.

That detail offers a different way of remembering a man whose public identity was largely shaped by his ability to make people laugh.

A marriage built beyond appearances

Kapere’s family life was not an incidental part of his story. He and Nakandi had been together for about 14 years, having built a relationship that survived public scrutiny, financial difficulties and the prejudices that often surrounded their union.

Their story was not without its complications. In a February 12, 2026 interview with Daily Monitor, the couple opened up about their relationship and the journey that brought them together. Nakandi had seen beyond the physical appearance that had made Kapere a subject of public ridicule, while he regarded her support as one of the most important things in his life.

They eventually formalised their union in a matrimonial ceremony at Miracle Centre Cathedral in Rubaga in May 2017, during a mass wedding organised by Pastor Robert Kayanja.

They went on to raise four children together.

For Kapere, fatherhood carried a particular meaning. Having grown up without the consistent paternal support he needed, he understood what it meant for a child to miss the presence of a father. He was determined to give his own children a different experience.

In the February interview, he spoke passionately about the responsibilities of fathers, arguing that men should not leave the burden of raising children entirely to their wives.

‘Men should not leave that burden solely to their wives,’ he said, reflecting on the demands of parenthood and the role father’s ought to play in raising their children.

It was not simply an observation about parenting. It was a position informed by his own childhood experiences.

The boy who grew up without a father

Kapere’s early life had been difficult. His mother died when he was still an infant, and he was raised by his grandparents in Nansana. He later spoke publicly about the strained relationship with his father and the emotional difficulties of growing up without the paternal care he desired.

His education was also disrupted by ill health. A hernia forced him to leave school, after which he took on different jobs, including working at construction sites and as a gatekeeper, before finding his way into entertainment.

Perhaps these experiences helped shape his determination to remain present in his children’s lives. Whatever difficulties he encountered, he appeared keen not to reproduce the absence he had experienced growing up.

Fame, financial struggles and the dream of a family home

That commitment, however, did not mean life was financially comfortable.

Kapere’s career had its difficult periods. Although he enjoyed recognition and popularity, fame did not always translate into steady income. He had spoken about the challenges of getting comedy engagements and the difficulty of making a reliable living from the entertainment industry.

In 2023, he publicly expressed his frustration at not having a permanent family home, saying he wanted to build a house for his wife and children. He later acquired land in Mukono, where he hoped to establish a home for his family.

The dream was significant because it represented more than owning property. It was about giving his wife and children a place of their own, away from the uncertainty of rented accommodation.

Even in the days leading to his death, financial pressures remained part of the family’s reality.

Nakandi told Daily Monitor that they were living in a rented home in Makindye-Luwafu and had fallen behind on rent by one month, amounting to Shs320,000. She said Kapere had spent some time without work, while she too had stopped working.

She recalled receiving a call from the landlady demanding payment and telling them to leave if they could not afford the rent. Kapere reportedly stepped outside and stood against a wall, seemingly contemplating their next move.

The account is a sobering reminder that the life of a recognised entertainer can be very different from the image audiences encounter on stage or on television. Behind the laughter, Kapere was dealing with the same pressures that confront many ordinary households: rent, work, financial uncertainty and the responsibility of raising children.

It would be easy to remember him only through the difficulties he faced, but that would be an incomplete account of his life.

The comedian behind the character

Kapere’s entry into comedy was itself an unusual story. He was introduced to comedian Allan Mujuni, popularly known as Amooti Omubalanguzi, after someone recognised his potential in his distinctive appearance. He eventually joined Amarula Family, where he performed alongside Amooti and Nicholas Mpiirwe, known as Messe Bontwe.

His physical comedy, expressive face and dancing helped him become one of the group’s recognisable figures. He also appeared in Robert Kyagulanyi’s music video Mr Money, further extending his visibility beyond comedy performances.

But the man who could command an audience with a facial expression also had ambitions that extended beyond entertainment. He wanted a family, a home and a future for his children.

In one of the details that now gives his story added poignancy, his manager told the media that Kapere had expressed a wish to be buried on land he had personally purchased in Mukono. He had shared that wish with his wife, close friends and son, Trump. The land he had acquired with hopes of building a family home had also become the place where he wished to be laid to rest.

It is a striking detail in a life marked by the search for stability.

Beyond the laughter

Kapere’s death should not be turned into a competition over who was a better husband or father, nor should his family life be used to judge the private choices of other entertainers. But his story does invite reflection on a responsibility that often receives less attention than fame, money and public recognition: showing up for one’s family.

In an industry where the public often knows entertainers through their performances, relationships and controversies, Kapere’s life offers another dimension worth remembering. He was a comedian who made a living from laughter, a man who faced financial setbacks and a husband and father who wanted to provide his family with a home and a sense of security.

On Sunday, he went to school to spend time with his daughter. He danced with her, as fathers do, and shared a moment that would ordinarily have become just another family memory. It turned out to be one of their last.

For all the laughter Kapere gave Uganda, perhaps one of the most enduring parts of his legacy will be the man who, despite his struggles, kept trying to fulfil the responsibilities of husband and father.

This last week has seen hundreds of schools holding dedication days for their primary leaving candidates. This relatively new practice – less than 12 years in the making, looks innocent on the surface, but a lot has been going on behind the scenes.

To the average parent, it looks like a call to go and pray for one’s child and hopefully enable them to succeed in the coming exams. I attended a dedication ceremony recently and realized that much more is at play.

After the formal prayers were concluded, there were school heads from schools parents had never even heard of, or dreamed of sending their learners to. These school heads were laden with gifts, success cards and a speech for the candidates, at which they were being encouraged to consider these their new homes, after January 2027, when the PLE results are in.

The students had been rehearsing for a performance, which they put on to great effect. Two of the headteachers then picked out some of the students and offered them bursaries for senior one to senior four.

Quite the attractive package for parents hustling to find the tuition fees to pay for learners, in this economically bleak times.

But who are these school heads, and why were they at the primary school in the first place? The answer lies far from the amphitheater where all these events were happening. The secondary schools, mostly private entities, are using some of these primary schools as hunting grounds for candidates.

The primary schools appreciate the gesture, as it comes with some revenue from the visitors. The dedication ceremonies represents much needed revenue from the secondary schools in exchange for a platform to lure students for the next learning level.

In some secondary schools, this practice is even more pronounced where some unknown high schools tend to assure senior four candidates of all manner of treasured learning and sports facilities, as well as affordable tuition at these campuses, if the candidates agree to join them for senior five.

This unregulated practice among school heads started over a decade ago as a measure of moving away from the archaic practice, where parents ‘cautioned’ their children against failing their exams, often with threats of severe punishment, if they don’t meet the expected outcome – success. It was reasoned that the students needed more divine help, rather than threats of pain and regret, if they don’t pass.

Dedication days seemed to be going well in the beginning, but when opportunity meets need, a lot of issues can go sideways, if unregulated.

Right now schools looking for students to fill their classrooms at the next learning level have met institutions looking to send their candidates to next academic journey. And some have decided that those in need must pay for the opportunity offered.

Right in the middle are the parents and their children who have no idea that they are part of a lucrative annual transaction. For now, it is too early to worry about who benefits or loses out in this transaction.