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A section of health experts has warned that children’s failure to have enough sleep while at school has contributed to increasing cases of mental wellness issues in schools.

Ms Fatuma Kitimbo, a midwife at Kisenyi Health Center IV and women’s health specialist, said that one of the causes of mental health issues among adolescents is not having enough sleep.

‘As a health practitioner and a national trainer, you find that in most schools, especially the private schools, they mind so much about performance and they forget about the health of the children,’ she said

She said that children are sleeping for fewer hours compared to the recommended eight hours.

‘But you find in most schools, children go for preps up to around 10 pm, and as children, immediately after preps, they can’t sleep. Around midnight. And by 3 am to 4 am, they are up for preps again up to around 5 am, where they are given a few, like 30 minutes, again to go to prepare, wash their uniforms, and go back to classes up to 10 am,’ she added.

She said that such a routine makes a child sleep for very less hours, which affects their mental well-being.

She added that those who cannot keep awake for those hours instead interact with their peers, who end up introducing them to drugs to make them keep awake for longer hours, and in the long run, they end up developing mental problems.

She was speaking at the ongoing four-day training of different stakeholders from government Ministries, Agencies and Departments, civil Society Organizations on mental health and psychosocial support and peace building from the Great Lakes countries, organised by the International Conference on the Great Lakes -Regional Training Facility (ICGLR-RTF)

The training is intended to strengthen the prevention and response to Sexual Gender Based Violence through mainstreaming mental health and psychosocial support in peace-building and conflict response initiatives.

In response, Ms Angela Nansubuga, from the Gender Mainstreaming Unit, Ministry of Education and Sports, acknowledged that the government has taken several interventions to deal with issues of mental health and psychosocial support, especially in schools.

‘We need to have issues of violence against children in schools checked early for our learners to be able to stay and complete their learning cycle,’ she said

She said that, as over 50% of the country’s population has mental wellness issues, many learners also face challenges due to various factors that affect them during the teaching and learning processes, leading to situations of mental distress.

She said this has also contributed much to school dropouts, leading to different strikes which affect the school, and cause many learners to start using alcohol and substances that are not appropriate to their age.

She added that as the ministry they have sent out guidelines and circulars to schools to be able to deal with such issues, in addition to training teachers on issues of mental health and psychosocial support.

Ms Ruth Kintu, the Deputy Head of the Child and Family Protection Department, Uganda Police Force, said that to address mental health concerns, the Force has integrated mental health issues into their curriculum, schedules, budgets, and day-to-day operations.

‘Uganda Police Force, as an institution, took up the challenge and established a department under the police medical services. We have a counseling department. Together with the Child and Family Protection Department and Community Affairs, we reach out to our own as much as we reach out to the public,’ she added

She also attributed some of the past homicide incidents to mental wellness among some of their officers

‘In the recent past, we had many cases where our officers were involved in domestic violence or homicides involving guns,’ she said

She cited the unfortunate incident of an Asian who was gunned down by a police officer along Parliamentary Avenue.

‘Much as the matter is in court, we can’t discuss it further, but the plain facts point to the fact of financial stress.

Mr Arthur Katsigazi, a counselor with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs who represented the ICGLR national coordinator and the permanent secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, expressed concern with the increasing cases of sexual violence and exploitation in and around camps for internally displaced persons.

‘This situation is exacerbated by the lack of livelihood opportunities and insufficient humanitarian aid and underscores the urgent need to integrate mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) and peacekeeping programs within affected communities,’ he said

On a day of very prohibitive conditions, Irene Sekabembe held her nerve to emerge triumphant in the Entebbe leg of the NCBA Series at the par-71 course last weekend.

The MTN employee held off the challenges of 182 golfers to prevail on a day when the course endured a very heavy downpour that affected play.

‘I am really excited,’ a beaming Sekabembe said. ‘It has not been an easy journey but I needed all the patience in the world, discipline and determination to cope with the conditions to win the overall trophy,’ she added.

‘You have to be persistent to get what you want, and that is what I did.’ Sekabembe, who plays off handicap 48, returned 45 points to win on countback.

Other overall winners on the day were former national team golfer John Paul Basabose who shot 73 to emerge best in the male gross category. In the ladies, national team golfer Martha Babirye prevailed with a similar gross score.

NCBA golf tournaments are always synonymous with the Money Ball, or the Yellow Ball as others call it.

It was played by all entrants and the winning four-ball had Allan Akira, Esther Aganyira, Sulaiman Kamulegeya and Patrick M. Mugisha who played it superbly and returned a combined 42 points.

In the side bets, Edith Wamalwa and Moses Mukiibi claimed the men and women’s nearest-to-the-pin bragging rights while Martha Babirye and Michael Tumusiime smacked their drives immaculately to triumph in the Longest-Drive competition.

Other subsidiary winners were Ssubi Kiwanuka, Dr Twinemanzi Tumubweine, Sreerag Sasidharan, Aganyira and Lillian Koowe.

NCBA CEO Mark Muyobo congratulated Sekabembe upon his victory and reiterated that she would be joining Jinja winner James Abiria and Gabriel Amani Beau on the team headed to Nairobi.

‘This year, we are sponsoring the top three winners for an all-expense paid trip to Muthaiga Golf Club. However, 24 players have qualified to represent us in the regional finals this year. In Muthaiga, top players from Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania and Rwanda will converge to compete for top honours.’

Muyobo reiterated that the bank would not relent in its support of the game because golf possesses the key attributes that the bank associates with.

Meanwhile the NCBA Group Director of Marketing, Communications and Citizenship Nelly Wainaina and Muyobo engaged in a tree-planting exercise with staff to champion environmental conservation and sustainability.

‘Our target is to plant 10 million trees by 2030 and so far, we are at 2 million. But since 2007, we have planted 9 million trees. We want to maintain this across all our markets in East Africa, which are Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and Tanzania,’ Wainaina noted.

NCBA Muthaiga-bound golfers

Irene Sekabembe – Entebbe winner

James Abiria – Jinja winner

Gabriel Amani Beau – UGC winner

Gross NCBA Series Entebbe winners

M: John Paul Basabose – 73

W: Martha Babirye – 73

Kyaggwe fans are turning to the streets to demand justice in the Masaza Cup. As the tournament inches toward its grand finale on Saturday, supporters of the Mukono-based side are furious that their petition against Buweekula remains unheard.

A group of fans have organised a protest that will begin in Mukono Town before marching to Bulange, Mengo and the Buganda Sports Office. They intend to deliver their concerns directly to Katikkiro Charles Peter Mayiga, hoping Buganda Kingdom’s leadership will intervene before the final is played on Saturday.

Their frustration stems from Kyaggwe’s semi final elimination at the hands of Buweekula. The two sides played to a 1-1 aggregate draw across both legs, but Buweekula prevailed 4-3 on penalties at Bishop SS Ground, earning a spot in Saturday’s final at Hamz Stadium, Nakivubo.

Kyaggwe insist the result should not stand.

In a petition to the Masaza Cup Organizing Committee (MCOC), Kyaggwe claim Buweekula fielded an ineligible player, forward Shafik Ssonko, who wore shirt 9 in the decisive fixture. According to the complaint signed by Kyaggwe Secretary General Fred Mpanga, the player was registered using documents bearing the name ‘Ssonko Shafrick,’ including a National Identification Number (NIN) indicating a date of birth of January 4, 2010.

That would make him under 16, contravening Masaza Cup rules that clearly state no player below 16 may feature in the competition.

Ssonko has been one of Buweekula’s brightest sparks. He scored the only goal as they eliminated defending champions Bulemeezi in the quarterfinals and was named man of the match that day. There are claims his school may have altered his paperwork to ensure he remains eligible for post-primary competitions next season.

The delay in handling the matter has sparked rising agitation ahead of Saturday’s final.

Humal Baganzi, a vocal supporter leading the march, questioned the apparent silence from organisers.

‘How can a petition involving such a serious allegation take this long when the final is on Saturday? If they cannot give us justice on time, we are ready to boycott the third-place play-off. We cannot compete as if everything is normal when our complaint is being ignored’ Baganzi said.

In response to the growing disquiet, Hannington Musoke, the Principal Sports Officer at Buganda Kingdom, urged patience.

‘Communication to the concerned parties will be issued as soon as possible through our official channels,’ Musoke told Daily Monitor, assuring supporters the issue is being reviewed.

Meanwhile, finalists Ssingo wait in the wings after edging Bugerere in the other semifinal. They hunt a third Masaza Cup title, hoping the showdown will not be overshadowed by such drama.

Airtel Masaza Cup

Saturday November 1, 2025

Final: Ssingo vs Buweekula, 3pm

Third-place play-off

Kyaggwe vs Bugerere, 12pm

Venue: Hamz Stadium, Nakivubo

Hawa Namyalo was a beacon of hope amid adversity. Her fight against ovarian cancer inspired me to push through the rigors of life. The journey to the Uganda Cancer Institute (UCI) with my niece Hawa started in September 2024 after we were referred by Kiruddu Hospital . This was after she had been operated to remove fibroids in May 2024, and her tummy kept swelling with fluid. Then came endless tests, biopsies, journeys to the pathology lab, and back. The medics were not upfront, blood test results were lost, and there was a myriad of heart-wrenching experiences.

There was a time we paid for blood tests, only to come back days later, and the nurses said the results could not be traced. Some individuals in the laboratory seemed to have mixed up stuff, and we had to pay more money to redo the tests. I was so broken that I had to sit my patient down, excuse myself, and get a moment to cry but I had to stay strong for Hawa. Several weeks and months passed by without being started on any sort of treatment, even after the tests, x-ray, phlebotomy tests, and scans done on her.

I could see that the postponements in starting medication and seeing specialists were derailing her, but I encouraged her until she was later started on chemotherapy. I sat and watched her have chemotherapy. This is the time I had to tell her stories that uplifted her soul, for time to pass by quickly as the drips emptied, going on to forge good relationships with the nurses and other patients who kept giving us hope that Hawa would get better.

Fear and relief

One lady from Mbarara told me that she almost died, but chemo saved her, so there was no need to worry about Hawa. The chemo effects, like hair loss, kicked in, but thankfully, Hawa showed all the signs of improvement with an immense glow, a sharp contrast from the bony and weary patient I had entered the gates of UCI with, and I was thrilled. She suddenly had her appetite back, and we were feeding her on a high-protein diet, like the doctor had recommended. She loved boiled eggs.

With the improvement, the doctors said she would soon be ready for an operation to remove her uterus and do away with the swollen tummy and the ever-recurring build-up of fluid in her uterus. This was relieving, and we were so excited to finally see that Wednesday come through, only for the doctors to postpone the operation to the last Wednesday of October. I was infuriated, but there’s nothing much I could do since the doctors said her potassium levels were too high and this could jeopardise the success of the operation. So she had to be put on medication to stabilise that.

She was later discharged and told to return on the last Wednesday of October, only for me to receive a phone call at around 4am on Tuesday that she had breathed her last! I cried each time memories of her smiling and laughing kept crossing my mind. I cried each time I remembered how I combed through the UCI corridors trying to find a solution to the problem. I howled each time I remembered that I had deluded myself into believing that her joy and laughter was a sign that she would be alright just after the operation.

Hawa was laid to rest the same day at 4pm in Kalungu, following the Islamic rites, amid tears, but also with the satisfaction that I and other family members had done our best. As I reflect on Hawa’s journey, I am reminded of the importance of timely diagnosis and treatment. Cancer can affect anyone, and we must seek medical attention at the earliest signs of illness. I am sure if Hawa were given a second chance to live, she would ask all of us to do periodic check-ups and act swiftly in case of any diagnosis.

I am also sure she would wish for a better state of affairs in the health sector because the doctors try to do their best, but they can only do much with the meagre resources at hand. UCI has limited resources, equipment, personnel, and medication. This can lead to delays in treatment, as was the case with Hawa. Despite these challenges, most of the health workers at the UCI are dedicated to their work and strive to provide the best possible care to their patients.

I acknowledge the tireless efforts of the health workers who fought alongside her, and as a country, we must recognise the importance of investing in our healthcare system and providing the resources to support those affected by cancer. Rest with the angels, Hawa. May the Almighty God admit you to Jannah.

Civil society groups have warned that Uganda’s democracy is under threat from the growing commercialisation of politics, calling for urgent reforms to regulate campaign financing ahead of the 2026 general elections.

Speaking at a joint dialogue organised by the Anti-Corruption Coalition Uganda (ACCU), Executive Director Marlon Agaba said the country risks losing public trust unless a comprehensive Campaign Finance Law is enacted to curb the influence of money in elections.

‘We urge Parliament, the Ministry of Justice, and the Electoral Commission to fast-track the legal framework before the elections, while also urging citizens to reject cash-for-votes and demand accountability from their leaders,’ Agaba said on Tuesday.

He warned that without clear rules on political donations and spending, Uganda’s democracy could be ‘hijacked by dark money.’

Agaba urged voters to ‘choose substance over handouts’ and use social media and community networks to expose vote-buying.

‘Ugandans deserve clean politics that can take the country to the next level in leadership,’ he added.

Henry Muguzi, Executive Director of the Alliance for Finance Monitoring (ACFIM), said monetised politics has become a national crisis, noting that the high cost of elections fuels corruption, patronage, and voter manipulation.

‘We are now at a point where everyone appreciates there is a problem. But for real change to happen, citizens themselves must join the campaign to demand transparency in campaign financing,’ Muguzi observed.

He called for a law requiring real-time disclosure of campaign donations, public audits of party accounts, and harsh penalties for electoral bribery.

Sylvia Atim of ActionAid International Uganda said campaign finance reform is not just a domestic issue but also an international obligation under Articles 7 and 8 of the UN Convention Against Corruption and the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption.

‘These reforms are fundamental for free, fair, and credible elections,’ Atim said. ‘Without them, Uganda risks turning electoral contests into financial transactions rather than platforms for ideas, policies, and leadership.’

CSOs have long demanded a campaign finance law, but pressure has intensified as the 2026 elections draw closer and vote-buying in party primaries becomes more blatant.

Recent internal contests exposed widespread cash handouts and allegations of flagbearers being ‘sold to the highest bidder,’ confirming fears of entrenched political corruption.

Civil society groups now hope the 12th Parliament will prioritise campaign finance legislation and that citizens will demand transparency and accountability from both politicians and electoral institutions.

‘The window for legal action is narrow,’ Atim warned, adding: ‘The responsibility falls equally on lawmakers, citizens, and watchdog organisations to ensure democracy prevails over money.’

Recently, Uganda marked its annual Customer Care Week. Across banking halls, insurance firms and corporate offices, staff in ties and uniforms, traditional garb and branded T-shirts gathered to celebrate customers. There were gift hampers, tokens of appreciation, surprise visits, themed dress days, and outreach programmes. It was all in the name of ‘thank you’ to the people who keep the cogs of commerce turning. But as the festivities fade and the banners come down, there is one message that should linger: customer care must be more than an annual show. It must be a 365-day practice, woven into every part of operations.

However good these endeavours are, they sometimes serve as a veneer, an annual window dressing that hides a more troubling reality: in many places, when the week of fanfare ends, so do the extra attentions and service improvements. Customer complaints pile up, feedback loops go cold, and promises fade into silence.

The dangers of this are that expectations are set too high during the celebration, then dashed when ‘normal service’ resumes. Customers may feel misled if the service they experience most days is far below what was promised during the celebration. Extra staff, special offers, and gifts all cost time and money.

If those are not matched with structural changes (staff training, process improvements, responsiveness, accountability), the effect is superficial. When customer care becomes seen as a PR exercise, it can breed cynicism among customers and demotivation among staff. If Uganda’s businesses are going to celebrate customer care week annually, that is good. But for real transformation, companies must treat customer care as the backbone, not the ornament. Here are ways to make that shift: Collect and respond to customer feedback daily, then close the loop: show what was changed because customers spoke up. Senior executives should regularly spend time interacting directly with customers. Not just during customer care week, but as part of their weekly/monthly routine. That signals value and builds insight.

Reward not only sales and revenue, but also indicators like customer satisfaction, problem resolution time, repeat business, net promoter score, or similar metrics.

Outreach (like tree planting, giving out kits) is valuable, but should be aligned with the core business. For example, in sectors like insurance or banking, incorporating financial literacy, better access, fair pricing, and transparency are more directly tied to customer well. To corporates, I say: use customer care week not only as a showcase, but as a benchmark. What you do this week should mirror what you do every week. If not, then re-examine your commitment.

To regulators and industry bodies: set minimum service standards and customer rights, and monitor compliance. Too often, customers suffer silently because there is no mechanism enforcing accountability beyond marketing slogans. To customers: demand better. Use feedback channels. Be vocal where service is good and where it is not. Your voice matters; companies do respond when the cost of losing you becomes higher than the cost of improving service.

The Fifa Museum in Zurich, yesterday, opened its doors to a fresh, interactive exhibition exploring how innovation is reshaping the world’s most popular sport – from the dressing room to the broadcast booth, and from referees’ wrists to fans’ phones.Developed with Fifa’s Innovation Team, the show titled ‘Innovation in Action’ takes visitors behind the scenes of football’s evolving tech universe. It tells the story of how systems like Video Assistant Referee (VAR), goal-line technology, wearable trackers, and data analytics now drive the game – tools that continue to spark debate among fans from Kampala to Zurich.World of innovation’This is about showing people the side of football they don’t usually see,’ says Marco Fazzone, Managing Director of the Fifa Museum. ‘Visitors can step inside the world of football innovation and experience it hands-on.’Organised around five themed areas – Broadcasting and Media, Intelligent Data, Refereeing and Fair Play, Staging the Game, and the Innovation Lab – the exhibition blends storytelling with touch-and-try tech.Fans can walk through how match footage evolved from grainy black-and-white to 4K ultra slow motion, or slip into a referee’s shoes with headset replays that simulate match-day pressure.Statistics on equipAmong the highlights are the Fifa Player App, which tracks player data in real time, and Canada goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan’s famous bottle marked with penalty statistics from the Women’s World Cup 2023 – a nod to how analytics now influence crucial match moments.There’s also a first-of-its-kind referee body cam tested at the Fifa Club World Cup 2025, offering fans a unique view of officiating from inside the game.Visitors are encouraged to test their decision-making skills as referees, act as goal-line technology operators, or even direct a live TV broadcast.For budding African innovators, the Innovation Lab lets them submit ideas that could shape the future of football – a concept that might inspire local federations like Federation of Uganda Football Associations (Fufa) to explore new tech adoption for domestic competitions.The exhibition runs until March 31, 2026, at the Fifa Museum in Zurich, with entry included in the regular ticket. For Ugandan fans, it’s a glimpse into what the future of the game could look like – smarter, faster, and fairer, yet still full of raw emotion.

President Museveni yesterday appointed Mr Lino Anguzu as the new Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). Mr Sandor Walusimbi, the senior press secretary to the President, confirmed the development on his X handle last evening. ‘HE @KagutaMuseveni has appointed Mr Lino Anguzu as the new Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). Mr Anguzu, who has been serving as Assistant DPP, replaces Jane Frances Abodo, recently appointed Principal Judge,’ Mr Walusimbi posted.

He added: ‘The President has forwarded his name to Parliament’s Appointments Committee for approval.’ Mr Anguzu becomes the first DPP post the 1995 Constitution to be appointed from within the institution itself. The previous three directors, Richard Buteera, Mike Chibita, and Abodo, have been appointed from the Judiciary, though Justice Abodo spent a greater part of her career in the DPP’s office as a prosecutor before she was appointed as a High Court Judge in the Judiciary.

The core functions of the DPP are directing police investigations, instituting and taking over criminal proceedings in all courts (except courts martial), and discontinuing such proceedings. The DPP is also responsible for managing and prosecuting criminal cases, ensuring that criminal cases are examined for sufficient evidence before court proceedings, and ensuring adherence to criminal prosecution standards.

Last evening, the legal fraternity wished Mr Anguzu good luck in his new appointment. ‘I have known him for many years as a fine lawyer, a wonderful man, and a decent public servant. He embodies the virtues that sustain the rule of law: humility, fairness, and an unyielding sense of duty,’ Mr Elison Karuhanga, a lawyer with Kampala Associated Advocates (KAA), posted on his X handle. He continued: ‘As he takes up this solemn charge, may he keep faith with the Constitution to act always in the public interest, in the interest of administration of justice, and to prevent abuse of legal process under Article 120 (5).

Who is Lino Anguzu?

Until his appointment as the new DPP, he was the Assistant DPP, having grown through the ranks from the lower position of State Attorney. From 2019 to date, he had been the head of the department of International Crimes, whose roles include the management of complex criminal cases, directing police investigations, providing policy direction, planning, and general administration. From 2015 to 2019, Mr Anguzu, while at the rank of Senior State Attorney, served as the prosecutor at the International Crimes Department, and he was responsible for prosecuting the first international crimes cases at the International Crimes Division of the High Court, a division that specialises in handling cases of terrorism and human trafficking.

Between 2004 and 2010, Mr Anuguzu, who was at the rank of State Attorney, served as the Resident State Attorney in Mbale and Arua districts, where his responsibility was to head the district prosecution services. Before he joined the office of the DPP, Mr Anguzu, between 2003 and 2004, served as the Legal Officer with FIDA Uganda. His duties involved providing legal aid to indigent persons on a pro bono basis.

Education background

The new DPP designate started his primary education at Arua Demonstration School, in Arua City, from where he sat his Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE) in 1991. He then joined St Joseph’s College Ombaci in Arua, where he sat for his Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) in 1995. In 1998, he sat for his Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education from St Charles Lwanga College, Koboko.

He then joined Makerere University to pursue a Bachelor’s Degree in Laws, which he completed in 2003. He later joined the Law Development Center (LDC) for the post-graduate diploma in legal practice the following year. He also holds a diploma in Project Planning and Management from Uganda Management Institute UMI and a Master of Public Infrastructure Management from Makerere University.

High-profile cases he has prosecuted

Dr Kizza Besigye

Given his seniority in the office of the DPP, Mr Anguzu prosecuted Dr Besigye in the treason case following the disputed presidential elections in 2016. Dr Besigye had been accused of illegally swearing-in himself in as the President of Uganda. Dr Besigye case file was transferred to Nakawa Chief Magistrates Court. The office of the DPP, after almost four years without prosecuting Dr Besigye, withdrew the case against him. Then DPP, in an interview, attributed the delay in prosecuting the treason case to delays police investigations.

2010 Kampala bombings

Mr Anguzu was instrumental in co-prosecuting the high-profile terrorism case commonly known as the Kampala twin bombing case. He deputised the lead prosecutor, Susan Okalany (now a High Court Judge), following the murder of the then lead prosecutor, Joan Kagezi, in 2015. The 13 Kenyan and Ugandan suspects, who were later found culpable, were behind the twin bombings at Ethiopian Village in Kabalagala and Rugby Club in Kyadondo that left at least 76 football fans dead. Mr Anguzu, while appearing before then presiding Judge Alfonse Owiny-Dollo (now Chief Justice) in 2021, asked for the maximum punishment of death by hanging for the heinous crime that the accused had committed. Justice Dollo sentenced them to life imprisonment, the second-highest punishment in criminal law.

At least three people are dead following a road crash involving a Kampala-bound Juba Express bus and a fuel tanker along the Kampala-Gulu Highway in Luwero District on Wednesday evening.

The 8:30 p.m. collision occurred at Nakkazi Village when the Juba Express bus, registration number SSD 251Z, reportedly attempted to overtake several vehicles and rammed head-on into a fuel tanker, registration UAV 190Q.

Eyewitnesses said the victims included a woman and her child who died instantly, while the husband succumbed to his injuries en route to Luwero General Hospital.

Several other passengers sustained injuries and were also rushed to the same facility.

‘The Juba Express bus was overtaking other vehicles at high speed when it hit the tanker head-on,’ said Mathius Sepuuya, a bystander at the scene.

He identified the tanker driver as Musa Nyago, who was returning home in Kiyenje after work when the crash occurred.

Another eyewitness, Godfrey Byakatonda, blamed the crash on the bus driver’s recklessness and the narrowness of the busy highway.

‘The driver was careless, and this part of the road is too narrow for buses and heavy trucks. We keep losing lives because of reckless driving and the narrow state of the road,’ he said.

By press time, police had towed the wreckages of both vehicles to Luwero Central Police Station (CPS).

Officers at the scene said they were not authorized to speak to the media, and police headquarters had yet to issue an official statement.

The incident adds to a series of fatal crashes along the Kampala-Gulu Highway, one of Uganda’s most dangerous transport corridors.

Just last week, another collision in Kiryandongo District claimed at least 46 lives when two buses traveling in opposite directions collided head-on after both attempted to overtake simultaneously.

Traffic police have repeatedly warned motorists against reckless driving, speeding, and dangerous overtaking, which remain the leading causes of fatalities along the highway linking Kampala to northern Uganda and South Sudan.

Downpour on Monday washed away a major road linking Iganga and Luuka districts in eastern Uganda, severing transport between the two agricultural hubs and leaving farmers and traders stranded.

The section at Namadope Swamp, which separates the two districts, collapsed after hours of torrential rain, making the route impassable for vehicles and motorcycles.

The road is a vital corridor for transporting rice, sugarcane, and other produce to markets in Iganga and beyond.

‘This swamp has long been in a poor state, but our area Members of Parliament have failed to take action,’ said Mr Dan Magino, a rice farmer from Luuka whose fields were destroyed by the floods.

‘This time we are going to vote wisely so that we can get quality services from leaders who love our area,’ he added.

Magino said he had relied on the swamp area for rice cultivation, but the rising waters swept away all his crops. He appealed for government intervention to prevent further damage to livelihoods.

For local transporters, the collapse has brought frustration and higher costs. Mr Joseph Isabirye, a boda boda rider who frequently uses the route, said fuel consumption has increased since riders must now take longer alternative routes.

‘We used to use one litre of fuel for a trip, but now we spend one and a half litres. It’s becoming too costly for us,’ Isabirye said.

Traders dealing in sugarcane and food produce have also been hit hard. The damaged road was the shortest and most reliable link between the two districts.

Eyewitness Ms Suzan Nagobi said a FUSO truck was swept away when the rain intensified. ‘The truck got stuck in the middle of the road as the water rose, and moments later, it was washed away,’ she said.

Mr Emmanuel Onyango, a traveler from Buyende heading to Tororo, said he was forced to turn back after finding the flooded section impassable.

Local authorities have acknowledged the recurrent nature of the problem. Mr Julius Blessing Mubi, the Assistant Resident District Commissioner (RDC) for Luuka, confirmed the destruction and said emergency measures were underway.

‘It’s unfortunate that this road always collapses during election periods,’ Mr Mubi said, adding that: ‘We have already contacted Arab Contractors to carry out emergency maintenance as we look for a lasting solution.’

The Namadope Swamp crossing has been a persistent bottleneck during heavy rains, with repeated warnings from residents about its fragile condition.

Monday’s floods have renewed calls for durable infrastructure to sustain one of Busoga region’s key trade arteries.

Ministry of Works responds

Allan Kyobe Ssempebwa, the senior communications officer at the Ministry of Works and Transport, Wednesday morning said “emergency restoration works are underway at the Swamp along the Iganga-Bulopa Road.”

“The Ministry of Works and Transport In-House Supervision Team, together with the contractor (Arab Contractors), is on site undertaking urgent interventions to reinstate the affected section,” he revealed.

Ssempebwa emphasizied that “the works are progressing well and the road section is expected to be fully restored and reopened to traffic by the end of today.”