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Mr Norbert Mao, the Justice and Constitutional Affairs minister, yesterday tabled before Parliament new proposed regulations that will guide the operations of political parties under the Inter-Party Organisation for Dialogue (IPOD). Minister Mao, also the president general of Uganda’s oldest political party-the Democratic Party (DP), said the regulations are aimed at strengthening accountability, structured dialogue, and inclusivity in Uganda’s multiparty political system.

The proposed Political Parties and Organisations (Inter-Party Organisation for Dialogue) Regulations, 2025, that has been referred to the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee for consideration before being considered by the House, is clear, if not bold, enough in its language. It stipulates that political parties that are members of IPOD will be required to participate in at least two-thirds of the organisation’s activities every year. These include: the Summit, Council, business committee meetings, and other engagements determined by the Summit.

According to the regulations seen by the Monitor, parties that will fail to meet the participation threshold will be reported by the IPOD Secretariat to the Council, which will forward a report to the Summit for consideration. The Summit will then decide whether the non-compliant political party qualifies for government funding, as stipulated under Section 14(2) of the Political Parties and Organisations Act.

The regulation is designed to ensure that parties benefiting from public funds remain active participants in national dialogue and political development. In the past, some political parties had either boycotted or irregularly participated in IPOD activities, undermining the purpose of the platform, and these could at the end of the day receive funding from the government. ‘This law is not to punish any political party but to encourage discipline, transparency, and dialogue. IPOD is meant to be a house of conversation for all political players, and we want to institutionalise that spirit,’ the regulations read in part.

New structure

Under the proposed framework, IPOD will operate through three main structures, the Summit, the Council, and the Secretariat, each with clearly defined roles and responsibilities. The Summit will serve as the highest decision-making organ, composed of party leaders and secretaries-general of all member political parties. It will be chaired on a rotational basis every two years, following the alphabetical order of party names. The Summit’s functions will include: exercising strategic oversight over IPOD structures, generating a national dialogue agenda, reviewing recommendations from the Council, and ratifying resolutions. It will meet at least once every six months and operate in accordance with a Code of Conduct appended to the regulations.

The Council, which will act as the implementing arm of IPOD, will be composed of secretaries-generals and two executive members from each political party, one of whom must be a woman. The Council will meet at least once a month to implement decisions of the summit, propose dialogue agendas, monitor political developments, issue statements on the state of political affairs, and create thematic technical committees to support IPOD’s objectives.

The secretariat, currently hosted by the National Consultative Forum, will coordinate IPOD’s day-to-day operations and serve as a link between the council and the summit. It will also be responsible for organising a bi-annual audit of IPOD’s activities. The audit will coincide with the change of leadership, requiring the outgoing chair to present an accountability report outlining achievements, challenges, and recommendations for the next leadership.

Code of conduct

The proposed regulations introduce a detailed Code of Conduct for all political parties and organisations under IPOD. The code outlines principles to guide cooperation, including patriotism, mutual respect, inclusiveness, accountability, gender equity, and utmost good faith. It also sets objectives such as promoting democracy, good governance, and peaceful coexistence among political actors; strengthening the institutional integrity of political parties; encouraging participation of women, youth, and other special interest groups in politics; and fostering cooperation among parties beyond partisan considerations.

The Code of Conduct will serve as a moral and legal compass for IPOD members and ensure that disagreements are resolved within a framework of mutual respect and lawful engagement. To enhance effectiveness, the council will form several committees, including the Business Committee, the Research and Policy Committee, the Conflict Resolution and Mediation Committee, and the Implementation Committee.

What next?

The Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee is expected to review the proposed regulations in detail and present its findings to Parliament in the coming weeks. Once the report is debated and adopted, the regulations will be gazetted and come into force. Yesterday, after tabling the regulations, Mr Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda, the Kira Municipality lawmaker, asked Minister Mao to explain why the National Unity Platform (NUP) party’s request to join IPOD has stalled. ‘I do not know how someone was made a leader and did not see that, but instead told them to follow the process.

Under which regulations was NUP stopped from joining the organisation given the fact that you are just tabling the law?’ Mr Ssemujju said. In response, Mr Mao said NUP has not been stopped from joining IPOD. The Opposition party has instead been given, Mr Mao added, clear guidelines from the Secretariat to follow.

‘I have always said that I can kneel down for NUP to join IPOD. I hope they will be able to join in the next summit and publicly announce their entry and participate in the activities,’ Mr Mao said.

Background

Government first introduced the idea of linking political party funding to participation in the Inter-Party Organisation for Dialogue (IPOD) in 2018. This was part of efforts to strengthen multiparty democracy and promote regular engagement among political actors.

The head of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) mission to Uganda, Ms Joselyn Bigirwa, has said there is a need for countries to profile and address issues likely to cause conflicts in the region to avert emerging crises and ensure its peace and stability.

‘Natural resources-based conflicts are the most common conflicts in the region. The IGAD region is highly dependent on agriculture, natural resources, including mineral extraction, but also a highly pastoralist community where there are a lot of cross-border Trans humans movements, causing a lot of conflicts in the region,’ she said.

According to her, issues like large numbers of educated unemployed youth and mineral exploitation need to be looked into to avert the negative impacts on the region’s stability.

‘In most parts of the region but also beyond the IGAD region, there is a lot of violent extremism majorly by youth because of unemployment that the youth are now engaging in issues of instability and joining rebel groups, something that IGAD must work around to ensure that it does not happen,’ she said at the opening of a three-day IGAD Conflict Early Warning and Response Mechanism (CEWARN) meeting of regional experts from the seven member states in Entebbe on Tuesday.

Ms Bigirwa said the region, being highly conflicted and unstable, has led to low social, economic, and political development.

The Director CEWARN Mr Camlus Omogo, said currently, the regional bloc is facing multiplicity and interrelated conflict drivers, with some emanating from environmental issues, economic and governance challenges.

‘The Horn of Africa has historically faced recurring human security challenges, including political instability, violent conflict, displacement, and environmental shocks’ he said.

He added, ‘By anticipating and analysing these threats, CEWARN and its partners aim to enhance regional cooperation, recognising that many of these crises transcend national borders and require collective resilience and preparedness’.

Mr Omogo said the meeting will equip regional decision makers with actionable insights and predictive analysis that enable proactive and coordinated responses to emerging crises.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary, Mr Vincent Bagiire, in a speech delivered on his behalf by Mr Solomon Kasasira, a Foreign Service officer with the ministry, said there is need for strong governance mechanisms and regional solidarity to curb the region’s shared challenges and conflicts.

‘A secure and peaceful IGAD region will facilitate trade, tourism and investment among the member states and push the per capita incomes and GDP to greater height,’ he said.

Mr Bagiire said Uganda will continue to support strategies aimed at strengthening Government capabilities, peaceful co-existence of different political groups and reintegration of returning refugees.

‘The continued conflicts in the region urgently require our collective attention and action. By closely working with IGAD member states, peace and security can be achieved and lead to economic development for the region’s 280 million people,’ he said.

The High Court in Kampala has dismissed an application by the National Unity Platform (NUP) in which it had sought to block the government from excluding it from receiving statutory political party funding for the July-September 2025 quarter.

Justice Collins Acellam, who delivered the ruling via email on October 29, 2025, said the application had been overtaken by events since the Electoral Commission (EC) had already released the funds to political parties that are members of the Inter-Party Organisation for Dialogue (IPOD).

‘This court cannot restrain the implementation of a lawfully enacted statute through an interim order. To do so would amount to suspending an Act of Parliament, which is beyond the jurisdiction of this court sitting as a civil court,’ Justice Acellam said.

The dispute arose from a directive issued by the Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs on August 25, 2025, instructing the EC to exclude NUP from the list of political parties entitled to receive statutory funding. The directive followed amendments to the Political Parties and Organisations Act, which now require that only parties belonging to IPOD and actively participating in its activities qualify for state funding.

NUP, through its Secretary General, Mr David Lewis Rubongoya, filed the application seeking an interim order to stop implementation of the directive until the court determines its main case challenging the legality of the amendment and the directive itself.

Mr Rubongoya stated in his affidavit that enforcement of the directive would cripple NUP’s operations as a national political party and cause irreparable harm, arguing that the party is legally entitled to quarterly funding.

NUP’s lawyers from Pace Advocates and Kiiza and Mugisha Advocates contended that the minister’s directive had no legal basis and breached the party’s right to fair administrative treatment. They argued that IPOD only became a statutory organ after the President assented to the amended law in June 2025, and therefore, NUP could not have been compelled to join before that date.

‘The applicant has never received any formal invitation or lawful communication regarding membership in the IPOD contemplated by the 2025 Amendment,’ NUP argued, adding that its past refusal to join the old IPOD was based on its operation as a private entity outside government control.

The Attorney General, represented by Senior State Attorney Johnson Natuhwera, opposed the application, describing it as incompetent, frivolous and overtaken by events. He maintained that the minister’s directive was lawful and anchored in the amended Act.

‘The minister’s letter dated August 25, 2025, is founded in law. What is being sought by the applicant is unconstitutional and ultra vires,’ Mr Natuhwera told court.

He explained that Parliament amended the Political Parties and Organisations Act in May 2025 to restrict government funding to parties that are members of IPOD, and that the President assented to the law on June 15, 2025, making it enforceable.

Mr Natuhwera added that the EC had already disbursed the funds to all qualifying political parties in compliance with the new legal framework.

In his ruling, Justice Acellam said that while NUP had identified a legal right it sought to protect, it failed to show that irreparable harm would occur if the interim order was not issued.

He noted that the court could not issue orders reversing a completed process.

‘The purpose of an interim injunction is to preserve the status quo, not to reverse a completed event,’ he stated.

The judge cited earlier decisions, including Theodore Ssekikubo and Others vs Attorney General and Another, emphasising that courts should not issue orders rendered useless by the passage of events.

He further found that the balance of convenience favoured the respondents, who were implementing a valid law.

‘There is no status quo to maintain and no imminent threat posed to the applicant,’ he ruled.

Justice Acellam concluded that the application lacked merit and dismissed it with costs, noting that any potential losses to NUP could be addressed in the pending main case.

The main suit challenging the 2025 amendment and the minister’s directive remains before the High Court.

Donor-funded project inflows rose modestly in the 2024/25 financial year but remained well below target, continuing a multi-year trend of underperformance in external grant disbursements.

Data contained in the Bank of Uganda September State of the Economy Report indicates that government received Shs1.36 trillion in grants, far short of the Shs2.88 trillion that had been budgeted, creating a Shs1.53 trillion shortfall.

The central bank attributes this gap to absorption challenges in government projects, which delayed donor disbursements and affected the implementation of externally financed programmes.

‘The underperformance in grants was largely due to delays in the readiness of some budgeted projects for execution, which slowed the release of external project support,’ the report noted.

Despite the underperformance, grants remain a critical component of Uganda’s fiscal framework, supplementing tax and non-tax revenues to support national development priorities, including infrastructure, education, and health.

However, although the 2024/25 receipts were higher than the Shs1.01 trillion recorded in the 2023/24 financial year, they remain almost 50 percent below pre-pandemic levels, when Uganda consistently received more than Shs2.5 trillion in project grants annually.

The improvement, though modest, signals partial recovery in donor disbursements following years of disruptions caused by Covid-19 and changing global aid priorities.

However, the report indicates that Uganda still faces significant challenges in effectively absorbing external financing, a problem that has persisted for several years.

Over the past three fiscal cycles, grant inflows have been uneven, reflecting both domestic and external factors.

In the 2022/23, project grants amounted to about Shs2 trillion, before dropping sharply in the 2023/24 financial year and only slightly recovering in the 2024/25 financial year.

The pattern is attributed to inconsistent project implementation, bureaucratic delays, and stringent donor requirements tied to governance and accountability.

The Bank of Uganda report identifies slow procurement processes, land acquisition disputes, and limited project readiness as the main bottlenecks undermining timely disbursement of external funds.

These factors not only erode donor confidence but also hinder progress on critical projects in infrastructure, water, and social services.

Capital expenditure for the 2024/25 financial year also fell short by Shs2.03 trillion, a reflection of the same structural weaknesses in project execution.

‘When projects lag behind schedule, donors often defer or withhold funds, affecting both disbursement performance and service delivery,’ the report notes.

Such delays have ripple effects, leading to cost overruns, contract disputes, and reduced development impact.

Despite the drop in external financing, Uganda’s fiscal deficit narrowed to 6.1 percent of GDP, better than the projected 7 percent.

This improvement was driven largely by strong domestic revenue mobilization.

The report indicates that tax collections grew by 16.1 percent, boosted by higher corporate income tax, value-added tax and import duties.

Total government revenue, including taxes, non-tax revenue, and grants, rose to Shs33.43 trillion, representing a 16 percent increase from the previous year.

The robust tax performance helped cushion the impact of lower donor disbursements, enabling government to maintain funding for key priorities such as infrastructure, health, and education.

However, Bank of Uganda warned that relying heavily on domestic borrowing to bridge the financing gap could lead to higher interest costs and crowd out private sector credit, particularly in a tightening monetary environment.

‘While revenue performance has improved, the cost of financing the deficit domestically is rising. This could constrain private investment and slow economic recovery if not managed carefully,’ the report warns.

Grants have historically played a central role in Uganda’s development financing. Five years ago, they accounted for about 15 percent of total government revenue.

Today, that figure has fallen to below 5 percent, underscoring the declining reliance on donor aid amid shifting global funding patterns and Uganda’s efforts to expand its domestic revenue base.

Nonetheless, external grants remain important, not only as a source of budgetary support but also for technology transfer, technical expertise, and concessional project financing that domestic borrowing cannot easily replace.

Thus, unless government addresses absorption capacity challenges, Uganda risks missing out on critical concessional resources needed to accelerate economic growth and reduce dependence on expensive commercial loans.

After 60 days of vigorous campaigns nationwide, Tanzanians are casting their ballots today to choose the next President of the United Republic, Members of Parliament and councillors.

With 17 presidential candidates to pick from, the ballot paper represents a wide menu of visions and promises on the country’s future.

As voters weigh their options, the spotlight falls on who these candidates are, what they have said on the campaign trail, and how they intend to reshape Tanzania if given the mandate.

Incumbent President Samia Suluhu Hassan of Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) has been asking voters to trust the continuity of her reform path.

She has urged citizens to build on the momentum achieved since she took over leadership in 2021, saying her administration opened space for dialogue, strengthened diplomacy and restored confidence among development partners.

She said at one of her rallies, ‘Our work has only just begun. We must finish what we started, ensuring water, health, education and jobs reach every household.’

She has promised to employ thousands of teachers and medical workers within the first 100 days and complete the national health insurance rollout that protects vulnerable groups without discrimination.

On governance, she has repeatedly said she believes in structured reconciliation, noting that ‘A nation moves forward when people talk, not when they shout at one another.’

Gombo Samandito Gombo of the Civic United Front (CUF) has taken a bold stance on social welfare and equality.

He has insisted public resources must directly lift citizens out of hardship. At a rally in Pemba, he proclaimed, ‘Education is a right, not a privilege. From nursery to university, every child will learn for free because Tanzania cannot afford to waste talent.’

His manifesto also announces universal free healthcare and a complete overhaul of the pension system.

He calls the current formula punitive, telling supporters, ‘A retiree should enjoy dignity, not debt.’

Mr Gombo also proposes guaranteed employment opportunities or government-backed self-employment initiatives for youth, with a single digital tax to simplify compliance and reduce corruption.

Kunje Ngombale Mwiru of AAFP emphasises constitutionalism and agricultural transformation.

He has framed governance failures as a problem of obedience rather than legal deficiency.

‘The Constitution is clear,’ he said, ‘but leaders bend the law to suit themselves. Under AAFP, government will obey the law without negotiation.’

His agricultural plan includes mechanisation, ward-level laboratories and timely distribution of seeds and fertilisers to end unreliable harvests.

He stresses equal land rights and insists women must be central to rural development, saying, ‘When a woman owns land, the whole family rises.’

NRA’ Hassan Almas of has kept a low-cost campaign centred on moral authority and peace.

He often reminds supporters that leadership must never come through chaos or intimidation.

‘God first, the people second, and the Commission third,’ he stated after submitting his nomination papers. Almas urges Tanzanians to prioritise harmony, adding, ‘No ambition is worth breaking this country’s peace.’

Coaster Kibonde of Chama Makini appeals strongly to struggling youth and families. His signature pledge, Care Makini, aims at universal health insurance fully funded by the State.

During a rally in Tabora he said, ‘Healthcare must not depend on the weight of your wallet but the beating of your heart.’

He promises every young person five acres for mechanised agriculture and the means to cultivate it, aiming to turn rural Tanzania into a centre of profitable agribusiness.

NLD’s Doyo Hassan Doyo has built his reputation as an austerity warrior.

He shocked many when he arrived to collect nomination forms in a bajaji, a symbolic gesture to reject state extravagance.

‘Leadership is not a luxury club,’ he told supporters.

He plans to auction high-end government vehicles immediately and cap spending on officials’ cars at Sh30 million, including for the presidency.

He also vows free maternal care and policy reform ensuring hospitals cannot retain bodies over unpaid bills. His refrain has been, ‘Every shilling saved must go to the people.’

Abdallah Kadege of UPDP has called land ownership the gateway to freedom and wealth, promising policies that enable every family to secure productive land.

He insists citizens cannot be empowered if bureaucracy or elites own everything. ‘The first capital of a poor person is land,’ he said. On media freedom, he added, ‘The press must reach and speak for those in the margins – even where there is no highway.’

Majaliwa Kyara of SAU has urged voters to consider the link between farming practices and public health.

He has argued strongly against heavy chemical inputs, warning that ‘We are feeding diseases to our children.’

Kyara also pushes for curriculum changes aligned to industrial employment and wants youth-driven industry clusters that supply national and regional markets.

David Mwaijojele of CCK has struck a chord among public servants with his pledge that all government workers should retire to the comfort of their own homes, financed through a combined contribution scheme.

‘A worker must leave service with dignity, not rent arrears,’ he told a rally in Iringa. He insists such a model will also free employment opportunities for younger Tanzanians waiting to enter the labour market.

Mazrui Alfphan of UMD proposes deeper decentralisation of education management.

He advocates for regional governments to run nurseries, primary and secondary schools while the Union prioritises universities and national industries.

Alfphan has said, ‘Regional empowerment means real accountability. Services improve when those responsible live with the people they serve.’

He imagines a revitalised National Service driving large-scale industrial production through youth skills programmes.

Wilson Elias Mulumbe of ADC has promised to restore public infrastructure and revive shuttered State industries that once powered the economy.

‘We are tired of investors who buy factories only to kill them,’ he declared.

He pledges free healthcare, free electricity connections and a complete renovation of police housing facilities.

His campaign is anchored in reversing what he sees as the damaging consequences of careless privatisation.

Haji Khamis of NCCR-Mageuzi has presented corruption as the single largest threat to Tanzania’s development.

He has accused successive leaders of ignoring damning findings by the Controller and Auditor General.

On stage in Tanga, he said, ‘CAG reports are not fairy tales, they are confessions of theft. Under my leadership, those names will not collect pensions, they will collect charges.’

Additionally, pledged legal frameworks ensuring factories give employment priority to local youth.

Salum Mwalimu of Chaumma speaks to workers who feel left behind by economic growth. He has vowed to increase the net minimum wage to Sh800,000 and restore discipline in public service.

‘Tanzanians are tired of leaders who remember problems only when they want votes,’ he told supporters.

His solution to food security is modernising agriculture and stabilising produce prices so farmers can earn predictably.

Saum Hussein Rashid of UDP has adopted a simple message: citizens must have cash in their pockets. She insists growth on paper does not change life unless wealth spreads to households.

‘Development must first be felt at home, in the money parents use to buy food and school items,’ she said during a rally in Mbeya.

She promises rapid expansion of agro-processing regions to ensure farmers profit, not struggle.

Yustas Mbatina Rwamugira of TLP focuses on economic reforms that make hospitals functional and sustainable.

He has argued that ‘A nation that cannot treat its sick cannot claim to be developing.’

He also promises access to three daily meals for every citizen and affordable credit for small entrepreneurs to lift grassroots commerce.

Abdul Juma Mluya of DP campaigns on strong social sector reforms, promising free childbirth services in every health facility and curriculum modernisation that prepares youth for a technology-driven world.

He insists, ‘The dignity of a nation begins with how it treats mothers and teachers.’ He has pledged better salaries and structured motivation for civil servants.

George Bussungu of ADA-TADEA brands his campaign as a digital revolution, claiming Tanzania must become a producer, not merely a consumer, of new technologies.

He declared, ‘If data is the new gold, then every Tanzanian must have a mine.’

He also pitches subsidised 20 kilogrammes of cooking gas per month for low-income families to cut household energy costs and protect forests.

The first-ever International Cricket Council (ICC) Women’s Cricket Week came alive in Uganda with a full-house celebration at Gayaza High School on October 22, where over 300 enthusiastic learners took to the field for a day of drills, mentorship, laughter, and inspiration.

The event – held in partnership with the touring Canadian women’s team and Uganda’s Victoria Pearls – mirrored global celebrations taking place across continents, coinciding with the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup action in Asia where Australia outclassed England by 6 wickets in a classic encounter.

From the opening warm-up stretches to the final cheers of the mini-games, the atmosphere at Gayaza was electric. ‘Canada brought the vibe, Uganda the heart, and Gayaza the energy,’ Cricket Uganda captioned the day’s recap on its official social media channels – and few would disagree.

Equality and inclusion

Cricket Uganda’s Hon Secretary Denis Musali described the day as a true reflection of what intentional inclusion can achieve. ‘The purpose of Women’s Cricket Week is to grow the involvement of girls in sport and use it as a tool for equality, inclusion, and teamwork,’ said Musali. ‘The enthusiasm of the girls left a big impression. If we remain deliberate about opportunities for them, there’s a lot of hidden talent waiting to be unearthed.’

Cricket Uganda Acting CEO Evelyn Kabongerwa Shinyekwa echoed that optimism. ‘This was an exciting day for the girls – a reminder that cricket is now a global sport. Our role is to build pathways and make resources available so that these girls can dream, train, and compete at the highest level,’ she said.less opportunities

The school’s proud alumna and Cricket Uganda Women’s Representative on the board Leila Namaganda Ondeko drew cheers from the young crowd as she shared her story. ‘When I started playing cricket, I didn’t know the game would take me this far,’ she said. ‘Cricket gave me leadership, friendship, and a career. There are endless opportunities in the sport – from doctors and physiotherapists to analysts and psychologists. Take your chance on cricket.’

For the girls of Gayaza, it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Ramona Nanono, one of the standout students, spoke for many: ‘Being a cricketer improves communication and confidence. I was so happy to learn from Canada and Uganda’s players. I discovered I’m a good spinner – my balls were turning! Uganda Cricket should bring such activities every year; they’ll make more girls fall in love with the game.’

Canadian international Jasmina Oldham described the day as an honour and a joy. ‘The first-ever ICC Women’s Cricket Week is special. When I started, I played with boys. But today, seeing so many young girls laughing, playing, and enjoying the game was amazing. I hope this spark keeps spreading – here in Uganda and back home in Canada.’

GLOBAL CONNECTION

Grassroots Power. From Gayaza to Hong Kong, Cyprus to Eswatini, Women’s Cricket Week linked young girls worldwide under one message – equality through sport. Uganda’s celebrations reinforced why Gayaza High School remains the cradle of women’s cricket in the country – a place where some of the first Victoria Pearls were born, and the next generation is already warming up.

To most Ugandans, the name “The Juilliard School” would mean very little. Within the global arts scene, however, it is a mark of exceptional prestige. This is the world Patrick Kabanda now inhabits, a world of policy briefs, Cambridge University Press publications, and World Bank forums for which his Juilliard training uniquely prepared him. Yet the origin of his journey was not a prestigious concert hall, but the quiet stillness of Namirembe Cathedral.

There, the pipe organ did not merely produce sound; it breathed. It rumbled as distant thunder before softening into a whisper so delicate it felt as a prayer woven into air.

For a young Kabanda, that moment was a profound revelation. He possessed neither the language of development economics nor the vocabulary of public policy. His only guide was a sense of awe that powerful wonder which serves as the first and most vital teacher for any artist.

Irreverence for music

Growing up in Uganda, music was present but not always respected. It lived in church services, wedding bands and the energy of community gatherings. People loved it, but they did not always believe in it. The unspoken message was clear; music could decorate life, but it could not define it.

Careers were to be built in medicine, law, engineering and such professions. Music, at best, was tolerated. At worst, it was dismissed. The phrase many young artistes heard repeatedly, ‘MDD — Music Dance and Drama, is for unserious people’, hung in the air like a warning. Kabanda heard it too. But what he also heard, more powerfully, was the voice of the organ.

Joining Julliard

He joined the choir the way many Ugandan children do, not as a declaration of artistic ambition but as part of church culture. Yet from the beginning, he approached it differently. When others sang and went home, he stayed behind, studying the music sheets, trying to understand the notes and architecture behind them. Access to instruments was not always guaranteed. Sometimes practicing meant waiting for someone with a key.

Other times, it meant copying scores by hand because photocopying was a luxury. These early acts of persistence were small, almost invisible, but each one sharpened his discipline. In those moments, without knowing it yet, he was learning a language he would one day use beyond music; the language of systems, access, and opportunity.

‘To go from Kampala’s cathedral loft to The Juilliard School in New York is not a leap most people imagine possible. Juilliard is a world of precise excellence, where brilliance is expected and competition is woven into the floorboards,’ Kabanda says.

But Kabanda arrived with intent. He practiced, performed, studied, until he belonged and excelled.

Winning the William Schuman Prize for outstanding achievement and leadership in music was more than an award; it was a global acknowledgment that the boy from Namirembe had stepped into a lineage of world-shaping artistes.

But even at his peak as a performing organist, something in him remained restless. It was not dissatisfaction with music, it was a deeper realisation about what music had given him, structure, discipline, reflection and resilience.

‘I began to see that what I had learned through the organ — how to listen, practice, and layer complexity. They were the very skills missing in many national development conversations,’ he says.

Nation building with art

Nations built roads and stadiums, but where were the music schools, rehearsal spaces, cultural policies, grants for young creators? Why did national budgets treat art as leisure instead of infrastructure?

This restlessness led him to a surprising new setting: The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts. Fletcher is one of America’s oldest graduate schools of international relations. There, surrounded by economists, diplomats, and policy strategists, he began to translate his artistic insight into a new vocabulary.

While others drafted papers on trade agreements and bilateral negotiations, he wrote one titled ‘Where Culture Leads, Trade Follows.’ It was not poetic indulgence but strategic argument.

‘If Africa could trade its minerals and coffee, why could it not trade its cultural capital with equal seriousness? If global trade agreements could standardise tariffs on machinery, why not create structures to protect and export artistic labour?’ Kabanda argued.

In hallowed spaces

From there, he entered arenas most artistes never see. At the World Bank, he co-authored research influencing how creative industries are understood in development economics. At UNDP, Kabanda contributed to reports on digital inequality and cultural access. But perhaps his most significant contribution came through a book, titled The Creative Wealth of Nations, published by Cambridge University Press with a foreword by Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen.

The book does not romanticise the arts and the author does not claim that music alone will heal economies. Instead, he argues something more powerful, that without creativity, economies may grow, but they will not evolve. They will produce labour without innovation, infrastructure without imagination and GDP without identity. For African nations, that message is both urgent and personal. The continent is rich in rhythm, story, colour, design, improvisation, yet its policies rarely reflect that.

Why art matters

This ability to unite policy and art is what defines him most, not just as a musician or a policy thinker, but as a connector of worlds people think are separate. He believes that a nation that funds science and ignores art will build factories but struggle to inspire invention. He believes that cultural respect is not a sideshow, but a sign of national maturity.

And he believes that one of the highest forms of development is when a young artist no longer has to justify their existence. Today, when he sits at an organ, the posture is familiar- focused, patient, listening for balance between silence and surge. And when he sits at a policy roundtable, his approach is not so different.

He listens, arranges and adjusts registers. To him, good policy, like good music, is about harmony, not the absence of conflict but the intentional arrangement of difference into something that moves people.

Kabanda plays two instruments. One is made of pipes and keys. The other is made of policy and words. Both, in his hands, are tools of creation, not just of music, but of possibility. And through them, he invites the world to listen to Africa’s sound of survival and sound of imagination.

As the international community grapples with pressing global issues, the dynamics of conditional donor funding within the United Nations (UN) development system have come under intense scrutiny. The recent UN reforms, which celebrate 80 years of advancing global development, highlight the critical need for accountability in donor-recipient relationships. However, this good intention can sometimes become muddied by the complexities of external influence. Conditional funding-financial assistance given with specific requirements concerning governance, human rights, and socio-economic conditions-can create a dichotomy that presents both opportunities for progress and dangers for local autonomy.

On a positive note, such funding imperatives can ensure that development efforts align with crucial global values like sustainability and human rights. Yet, they also risk infringing on the sovereignty of the countries they aim to support. Imagine a scenario in which a donor country stipulates certain human rights norms as prerequisites for its funding. While these conditions are often intended to promote positive change, they can disregard the unique social fabric and governance structures of the recipient nation. This raises a challenging question: should a country compromise its own cultural values to meet the expectations imposed from abroad?

Ultimately, this practice risks undermining local ownership and stifling the innovative potential within these communities, reducing their ability to craft solutions that genuinely reflect their aspirations. Moreover, accountability often suffers in the complex landscape of multi-stakeholder engagements. While the UN has established mechanisms such as the United Nations Independent Systemwide Evaluation Mechanism (UNISWEM) for enhancing transparency and effective resource management, these systems can falter when faced with the shifting conditions imposed by donors.

This can lead to a cycle of dependency where recipient nations struggle for their priorities to be recognised, creating an environment where donor countries hold disproportionate power over the developmental agenda. To mitigate these risks, a thoughtful re-evaluation of thought processes surrounding conditional donor funding is essential. A collaborative approach that respects the autonomy of recipient nations while maintaining accountability could pave the way for more sustainable development outcomes. Ongoing dialogue between donors and recipients about the terms of funding can help align shared interests and cultural considerations.

Moving forward, it is imperative that discussions around best practices in accountability also empower recipient nations to reclaim their developmental narratives. Aligning funding with local priorities is crucial to creating a fairer and more effective developmental landscape that favours genuine agency.

Addressing these intricate challenges is no small feat, yet it remains vital for ensuring meaningful progress. Prioritising the voices and needs of recipient countries, including citizens with the greatest need, will enable the United Nations to more effectively fulfil its mission of promoting inclusive and sustainable global development.

As we increasingly recognise the complexities of international development, partnerships must be built on respect for local autonomy, allowing communities in need to thrive according to their own vision of success.

The Inspector General of Government (IGG) has downplayed claims raised by health activists that Masaka Regional Referral Hospital is being mismanaged.

Health activists under the Southern Region Social Rights Association (SRSRA) had written to the IGG alleging that some hospital officials were charging fees for CT scan services without properly accounting for the proceeds. The activists also complained about the scrapping of meals previously provided to needy patients, among other issues.

However, in a letter responding to the activists’ concerns, the IGG said investigations had revealed that the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Dr Diana Atwine, had authorised the charging of fees for the use of the CT scan at the regional hospital. ‘The fees collected for accessing CT services range between Shs120,000 and Shs200,000, depending on the service the patient requires. The funds collected under this arrangement are used for periodic repairs, maintenance and replacement of some consumables, on top of the extra funds received by the private wing of the hospital. In the end, these become part of the non-tax revenue generated by the hospital,’ read part of the IGG September 1 letter.

The letter is signed by Mr Robert Luminsa Lugoloobi, the director of anti-corruption at the Inspectorate of Government. The IGG further said the hospital had limited the supply of meals to selected groups of patients, such as malnourished children, psychiatric patients and traffic crash victims brought in by police, due to financial constraints. ‘The purpose of this communication, therefore, is to inform you of our findings and consequently the decision to close the file,’ the letter added

However, the activists have criticised the IGG, saying the investigations were shallow and based on ‘lies’ gathered from hospital administrators. Mr Swaibu Sulambaaya, the chairperson of SRSRA, questioned where the current hospital administration had allocated funds previously used to provide meals for all inpatients. ‘Giving a single meal to patients is not too much. The patients in the wards they claim to give food are few, and we think adding the number of needy patients in other wards is possible. By the way, the people they replaced in office used to feed almost all patients at the hospital,’ Mr Sulambaaya said.

In 2023, the hospital administration started reducing food rations to patients, citing financial constraints. Since then, meals have only been provided to patients in critical wards, such as the psychiatric ward and those brought in by police. Before scrapping meals for most inpatients, the hospital management offered three meals daily: porridge with milk for breakfast and posho and beans for both lunch and supper. On Wednesdays, inpatients were served a special meal of pilao (meat and rice).

According to hospital records, only about 20 percent of patients receiving medical services at Masaka Regional Referral Hospital can be given food. The facility admits more than 360 patients daily. ‘The hospital receives only Shs80 million annually for meals, compared to at least Shs250 million required by the facility to feed the growing patient population,’ said Masaka Hospital Principal Administrator, Mr Robert Mpanga. Mr Mpanga added that they appreciated the concerns of the activists and the patients who seek medical services at the facility. He said the hospital had continuously requested the Ministry of Health to allocate more funds so that more patients could be provided with meals.

Food crisis

In 2009, the then hospital management claimed that the Shs44 million they were receiving to buy food and drugs was channelled by the government to the National Medical Stores, leaving no budget for free meals. Free meals were later reinstated in 2014 before management suspended them again in 2023.

In June, the SRSRA members called on Masaka Regional Referral Hospital to include road traffic crash victims among the few inpatients receiving free meals, citing a growing humanitarian concern. They said many patients admitted after accidents were too weak to purchase food and drinks and risk complications when taking medication on an empty stomach.

Admissions

On average, Masaka Regional Referral Hospital receives at least 1,800 outpatients and about 360 admissions daily, including a minimum of 40 new deliveries. But the hospital continues to receive less funds.

The National Forestry Authority (NFA) has accused the Ministry of Lands of issuing land titles in central forest reserves, exacerbating encroachment and degradation. Mr Aldon Walukamba, the NFA’s communications and public relations manager, said the ministry has allowed titling of forest land and delayed cancelling fraudulent titles. ‘There is no response on the 435 illegal land titles countrywide, which we submitted to the Ministry of Lands for cancellation, despite several written follow-ups. Only three titles in Mabira Forest were cancelled, and even then, this was after a court ruling made in our favour.

Therefore, the Ministry of Lands continues to issue land titles without consulting the NFA and also delays their cancellation, which has contributed to the continued destruction of forests across Uganda,’ Mr Walukamba told the Daily Monitor on Monday. He added that they have listed some illegal land titles carved within Kitubulu Forest Reserve in Entebbe for cancellation, but no action has been taken yet. The contested land titles include Plots 7 and 8 in the names of David Hood Mpigi, Plot 18 in the name of Deborah Mbabazi, Plot 6 in the name of Mulkin Enterprises Ltd, Megha Industries (U) Ltd with Plots 13-17, New Nordic (U) Ltd with Plots 19-21, and Triple Sound Investment Ltd with Plots 369 and 371.

‘We have applied to the Ministry of Lands to cancel eight land titles that were fraudulently made within Kitubulu Forest Reserve, but up to now, they have not responded,’ Mr Walukamba said, adding, ‘However, Plots 23-25 and Plot 11 that earlier belonged to Megha Industries were cancelled, and the proprietor has instead applied for a licence from NFA.’ Defending her docket, the Minister of Lands, Ms Judith Nabakooba, said most freehold titles usually originate from districts and that her ministry is at the receiving end.

‘So, it is a chain. But because the ministry prints titles, most people believe it’s the Ministry of Lands that issues such titles. This is a mistake made from the district up to the ministry level because the area land committee picks up the information and takes it to the district land board. We, therefore, expect the districts to be the gatekeepers because they are the custodians of such public land. But if they endorse and give a no-objection, that means they are facilitating the entire titling of such forest reserves,’ the minister explained.

However, Ms Nabakooba allayed NFA’s fears, saying all illegal land titles in forest reserves will soon be cancelled. ‘We have cancelled quite a number of titles, although at times we are blocked by court orders because some people take the government to court, which stagnates the process. But now, in such circumstances of court orders, I have instructed my officers to first caveat the land in question so that no further developments and transfers are made,’ she said.

Prof Gilbert Bukenya, the presidential adviser on environment, called for the sacking and imprisonment of public servants who participate in giving away forested land.

The former vice president added that the government faces hundreds of court cases by individuals whose titles are cancelled. ‘The government cannot be losing money, time and resources when the officers who committed such anomalies are left to roam freely,’ Prof Bukenya said. Following the controversial giveaway of part of Kitubulu Central Forest Reserve to multiple developers, the Entebbe Municipality leadership led by Mayor Fabrice Rulinda, Katabi Town Council Mayor Ronald Kalema, among other leaders, last week embarked on a campaign to plant trees in the degraded part of the forest.

‘On top of this tree-planting campaign, we have written a letter to the President addressing ourselves on this matter. I have also filed a case in relevant courts of law if Kitubulu Forest is tampered with in the name of development. This is not a matter of politics, nor of personal ambition. It is a matter of truth, of reason, and of love for one’s country. Kitubulu is not just soil and trees. It is the living barrier that has stood between Lake Victoria and the lives of thousands of Ugandans who live, work, and raise their children along its shores,’ Mr Rulinda said.

‘I am not against investors. Uganda welcomes investors, and Entebbe thrives because of them. But investment must never be detrimental to the environment, to reason, or to national interest. What is being proposed for Kitubulu, a hotel project under the Tian Tang Group, is not urgent, nor is it necessary. Entebbe is not short of hotels. What we lack is balance and respect for the natural systems that protect us,’ Mr Rulinda added. The tree-planting campaign follows reports that part of the central forest reserve was given away to the Tian Tang Group of Companies, which was allegedly granted a licence by the NFA to operate on 60 hectares (148.2 acres) out of 80 hectares (197.6 acres) of the forested Kitubulu land.

This comes barely two months after some of the operation licences were reportedly revoked by NFA. Kitubulu Central Forest Reserve measures approximately 197 acres. However, local authorities say a total of 120 acres have since been parcelled out to developers, leaving only 77 acres of the forested area. The forest has over the years lost part of its land to developers who have since erected recreation parks.

Forest cover

Uganda’s forest cover has declined drastically over the past three decades, shrinking from 24 percent in 1990 to the current 12.7 percent, according to the National Forestry Authority (NFA). NFA’s 2020-2025 strategic plan aims to raise forest cover in Central Forest Reserves from 43 percent in 2021 to 59 percent by 2025.