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Members of Parliament on Tuesday expressed alarm about the state of media freedom and democracy in the country after journalists from Nation Media Group (NMG) Uganda were barred from covering parliamentary proceedings. NMG is the biggest independent media house in Uganda with a footprint that includes Daily Monitor, The East African and Ennyanda newspapers; NTV and Spark TV television stations; KFM and Dembe FM radio stations, as well as the country’s biggest news websites and social media platforms.

Butambala County MP Muwanga Kivumbi (NUP) raised the matter on the floor of Parliament during the afternoon plenary session, a few hours after journalists from NMG newsrooms were summarily denied entry into the House, with some threatened with arrest. ‘I understand this morning, one of the credible TV stations, the NTV which is accredited to cover this Parliament, was stopped from entering this Parliament and their accreditation was nearly cancelled,” MP Kivumbi said.

He added: ‘I understand the circumstances come from a few reports they have had, which are uncomfortable to some members in this House, but it is their right. Honourable Speaker, as we go towards election, tolerance and respect for freedom is very critical no matter how uncomfortable it is, they have a right to say so. So, honourable Speaker, as the head of institution, I would like to bring it to your attention, it is a national concern, it happened this morning. This is a people’s House, which we fundamentally think that the media should access.’

The MP did not give details about the reports he cited. By press time, it was unclear whether he was referring to critical reporting about the unclear manner in which the would-be opponents of Speaker Annet Anita Among in the Bukedea Woman MP race had been blocked or withdrew their candidatures. Deputy Speaker of Parliament Thomas Tayebwa, presiding, promised to investigate the matter. ‘I will cross-check with the clerk [to Parliament], but all I know is that we have a process of accreditation and why we have a process of accreditation, it means you pass through certain criteria so that is done administratively, and the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker do not participate in it,’ he said.

‘In fact, I need to interest myself in the guidelines, the dos and don’ts. But I will cross-check with the clerk to see if it is true, [and] what could have prompted it,’ he added. The current accreditation of journalists to cover Parliament runs until December 2025. Parliament’s Director of Communication and Public Affairs Chris Obore, also a former journalist at NMG-Uganda, said he was not in the House when the NMG journalists were barred, but had been briefed about the incident.

‘I have seen on the floor that NMG has not been allowed to cover Parliament, but I have asked, and I have been told that it is security that is responsible, not us [Parliament],’ he said.

‘NMG has not been banned, they were just stopped from covering the session. I have been told that security is investigating a certain issue, which I am not privy to,’ he said. The House spokesperson said he was not aware of how long the restriction on NMG journalists covering the House would last. Other MPs used the moment to challenge and ask for details about ongoing and irregular restrictions imposed on NMG Uganda journalists in the coverage of public events, especially those where security is provided by the Special Forces Command and where the President is in attendance.

‘They have been restricted; they cannot cover the President. I do not know if this is a particular effort to strangle that media house,’ Kira Municipality MP Ssemujju Nganda, a former journalist at Daily Monitor, weighed in. He added: ‘Can the minister responsible for Information clear this, if there is a crime NMG committed, for all of us and the country to know? Because when you are stopped from covering the President, now Parliament follows, we do not know if there will be a declaration to have that media house closed, especially in this election period.’ In response, Deputy Speaker Tayebwa said: ‘On the issues of NMG, if it is the President, the minister for Presidency will come here if we have so much interest in that. But for the presidential candidate, you choose who to cover you.’

Media blackout

Since March 2025, NMG journalists have not been allowed to cover events involving the President. No official explanation has been given, although the unofficial ban started a few days after the media house withdrew its journalists from the Kawempe North by-election after they were targeted by security agents, physically assaulted, and their equipment destroyed. Since then, the journalists have been disinvited and disaccredited from covering the President’s public engagements, including the State-of-the-Nation Address and the Budget Day event in June.

Parliament had earlier requested accredited media houses, including NMG to submit a list of journalists to cover the events. However, the final list released by Parliament excluded NMG reporters, and no explanation was provided. In June, the government, through Parliament, declined to accredit NMG Uganda to cover the President’s State-of-the Nation Address at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds.

The State-of-the-Nation Address is an annual event during which the President presents key updates on the economy, rule of law, human rights, and other national indicators. Journalists from the media house have also been barred from officially covering the NRM presidential candidate’s campaign rallies, and some reporters upcountry have complained of being harassed by security personnel even when they attend the rallies in their individual capacities.

Holding steadfast

Tuesday’s parliamentary plenary session had convened to, among other matters, receive new regulations governing political parties under the Inter-Party Organisation for Dialogue and to approve government’s resolution to borrow over Shs8 trillion from various development banks and partners to finance several activities. The chaos of the Kawempe North by-election campaigns on March 12, 2025, coincided with a sitting of Parliament which passed a Shs4.2 trillion supplementary budget for the Financial Year 2024/2025, which included generous handouts to controversial projects, including Inspire Africa Coffee, the Lubowa Specialised Hospital, and Atiak Sugar Factory.

Mr Allan Chekwech, the managing editor of NMG Uganda, yesterday defended the media house’s role. ‘We have a civic responsibility to inform Ugandans on important matters such as the State-of-the-Nation Address, Parliament and all public entities. Even when we aren’t allowed, we have made a decision to cover the sessions otherwise. And we will continue to have a decent analysis of all events across all our platforms,’ he said. ‘We will continue doing quality journalism, especially on public interest matters where accountability and use of taxpayer money are concerned. We, by no means, seek to cause economic sabotage to the country when holding those in power to account.’

Reactions to a story

How government officials reacted to Daily Monitor’s cover headline ‘Goodbye rule of law, till we meet again’ following the passage of the UPDF Amendment Bill, 2025, which reinstated the trial of civilians in military courts.

Quotes

‘Today’s headline by the Monitor Newspaper is unacceptable. Despite my counsel to their top management regarding yesterday’s offensive headline, the paper continues to act with impunity. The media ought to be objective and should always observe minimum broadcasting standards,’ Dr Chris Baryomunsi, Minister of ICT and National Guidance on the social media platform, X, on May 21, 2025.

‘ASSAULT ON DEMOCRACY by the untouchable Monitor. Does the Monitor know that we have Parliament, which is constitutionally mandated to pass laws? Well, somebody tells me that the Monitor is the mouthpiece of the opposition – more so NUP. I wish them the best of luck,’ Uganda Communications Commission Executive Director Nyombi Thembo said on the same platform on the same day.

Healthcare in Africa faces persistent challenges, including inadequate supply of doctors and facilities, drug shortages, and high costs. One critical issue is the lack of a centralised system for patient data.

Data engineer Geraldine Gloria Kyazze has built an AI-powered smartphone application aimed at improving the patient healthcare experience across the continent. Her work was recognised with the Presidential Award for Outstanding Innovation at the 2025 African Youth in AI and Robotics Competition.

Several lower-middle-income and low-income countries face challenges, including a lack of specific standards on electronic data collection, storage, and sharing, as well as non-interoperable ICT systems and technologies.

Personal experience to innovation

Kyazze’s career has shifted from data engineering to healthcare innovation in a short span.

The innovator now leads a team managing her smartphone application, MyMedikoz. Loosely derived from the English words ‘my medicals,’ MyMedikoz is Uganda’s first and only personal health record system.

Her motivation stemmed from a personal experience. ‘During an emergency in October 2023, a health facility administered drugs that caused severe adverse reactions to my mother, putting her life at risk,’ she says.

‘Despite being unreachable all night, our family doctor, upon finding out, simply said she was allergic to that drug. That moment made me realise how dangerous it is for patient records to exist only in the memory of family doctors or scattered across different facilities, rather than being easily accessible when needed.’

From that experience, Kyazze resolved to address patient medical record data. Two years later, MyMedikoz, supported by Artificial Intelligence (AI), is expanding from Metropolitan Kampala to other parts of the country.

‘This challenge is prevalent because only insured patients, who make up just 1.4 percent, have access to coordinated care, while the rest navigate a fragmented system,’ she explains.

How it works

The app stores and integrates patients’ medical records from various disconnected healthcare facilities and presents them alongside insights that can be accessed anytime, anywhere.

Health specialists and patients can access medical histories, including prescriptions, immunisations, medical imaging, allergies, blood tests, and symptom media, for dependents such as children and elders, all from a single account. Additionally, the app allows appointment bookings, at-home lab tests, medications, and prescription management, backed by insurance information.

Currently, MyMedikoz has almost 10,000 users and is also accessible via a web version in Kampala and Wakiso districts. New features include online consultations and a health forum.

Recognition, expert perspective

Its impact in the health-tech space earned Kyazze the Presidential Award for Outstanding Innovation at the 2025 African Youth in AI and Robotics Competition in Cape Town, South Africa. She became the first Ugandan recipient of the award, chosen from 3,256 competitors across 12 categories.

The ceremony, part of a G20 side event, was attended by South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa, African Union Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, and African Union Development Agency CEO Nardos Bekele-Thomas.

Kyazze says the recognition motivates her to continue in digital health.

‘Our theory of change is built on patient-centred care, AI-driven insights, interoperability, and data accuracy. At the individual level, people no longer have to wait for illness to strike; they track their biomarkers, see their health data, receive AI-guided insights, and act early, turning uncertainty into control,’ she said.

‘At the facility level, doctors and nurses can instantly understand patient histories, coordinate care seamlessly, and make informed, life-saving decisions. Real-time evaluated data guides policies, resource allocation, and strategies. This is more than technology; it is a shift toward enabling patients to take control of their healthcare journeys and shaping a healthcare system that collaborates across Africa,’ Kyazze adds.

While MyMedikoz has been praised for innovation, experts note that digital health adoption faces challenges. Dr Sarah Mbabazi, a Kampala-based healthcare policy analyst, says: ‘Apps such as MyMedikoz show promise, but uptake depends on patient access to smartphones, reliable internet, and trust in digital record-keeping. Privacy, data security, and rural accessibility remain critical issues.’

The App

Founder: Geraldine Gloria Kyazze

Innovation: MyMedikoz App

Stance: Enhancing medical information accessibility and enabling patients to own, manage, and share personal or dependents’ health records anytime, anywhere, across multiple devices

Reach: 8,500 users

Recognition: Presidential Award for Outstanding Innovation at the 2025 African Youth in AI and Robotics Competition

Funding pursuit: $300,000 (about Shs1 billion)

Uganda is increasingly turning to its railway network to ease the movement of cargo in and out of the country.

While rail transport is cost-effective in terms of time and money, the system has yet to deliver on its full promise.

As of last year, Uganda Railways Corporation (URC) moved more than 290,000 tonnes of cargo, generating more than Shs19b in revenue.

However, this figure falls significantly short of the one million tonnes needed annually to break even.

‘There was a slight improvement in cargo movement compared to the previous year,’ said Benon Kajuna, the URC executive director.

‘We are still stabilizing operations. Last year, we moved about 290,000 tonnes, roughly 25,000 tonnes per month, but the target is to move 70,000 tonnes per month.’

As the company strives to grow its cargo business, there are still unanswered questions, including diversifying its cargo beyond staples like steel, wheat, fuel, and wood to include a broader range of imports.

Optimising a stretched fleet

Currently, URC operates with just two locomotives, which shuttle between Kenya and Kampala, leading to frequent delays.

Earlier this year, cargo was stranded at the border due to maintenance issues and fuel shortages.

Despite these setbacks, Kajuna remains optimistic. ‘We are optimizing the few assets we have to handle both cargo and the growing passenger business,’ he said.

‘Cargo volumes are increasing, albeit slowly. We expect to stabilise once we acquire more assets.’

URC seeks to scale up from the current 295,000 tonnes per year to 1.2 million tonnes annually within five years.

However, to achieve this, URC must cover a Shs1.7 trillion investment gap, largely attributed to a former concessionaire’s failure to invest in the system.

Shifting cargo trends

Originally, Uganda’s railway was designed to transport copper and agricultural exports from the north and southwest.

That business faded in the early 1990s, and the railway now primarily moves steel, petrol, and wheat imports.

Efforts are underway to encourage businesses to shift their cargo to rail, but reliability remains a concern.

Still, the railway is gaining traction for transporting coffee and plywood exports, two sectors on the rise.

Government to the rescue

URC urgently needs a facelift: new locomotives, upgraded container depots, and a refreshed workforce. But with limited revenue, URC is relying on government support.

‘We’re currently earning about Shs19b, which is far below our target,’ Kajuna said. ‘We need government support whenever we fall short financially.’

The Ministry of Finance plans to inject Shs189b over the next two years to help URC stabilize operations.

The funds will go toward rehabilitating more than 600 wagons, purchasing equipment for the Tororo-Gulu line (expected to be operational by February next year), and servicing the critical Malaba-Kampala corridor.

Staffing is also a concern, with ‘most of our workers’, according to Kajuna, past retirement age.

‘We need to recruit and train new staff over the next three years.’

Digitising for the future

Globally, rail systems operate 24/7. In Uganda, however, train services run on an eight-to-five schedule, limiting efficiency and growth.

URC sees digitization as the key to unlocking its potential.

The digital overhaul will begin with internal systems, particularly fuel management, URC’s largest cost centre, before expanding to billing, booking, and payment platforms.

‘Digitisation is already underway for our passenger services. Now we need to develop systems for cargo,’ he says.

This digital shift also serves as a rehearsal for managing the future Standard Gauge Railway (SGR), which will be fully digital once operational.

As Uganda ramps up its manufacturing ambitions, a modernized railway will be essential for moving both imports and exports.

But to get there, URC and the government must invest over Shs3 trillion in the next five years to ensure efficiency and reliability.

I have been married for three years, and recently, my wife has developed a habit that is starting to unsettle me. Every night, she lights a candle and speaks softly to what she refers to as her ‘protector spirit.’ She claims it has guided her since childhood and shields us from harm. At first, I thought it was just her way of praying, but it has grown increasingly strange. Sometimes she laughs, whispers, or even cries during these ‘conversations.’ When I ask her about it, she insists that I should not interrupt; that I might ‘offend the spirit.’ There are nights when she even asks me to sleep on the couch so the spirit can ‘rest peacefully.’ I love my wife deeply, but this behaviour is starting to frighten me. I am not sure whether to view it as a sincere spiritual belief or a warning sign. How can I support her without losing my peace of mind or making her feel like she is being attacked? David

Dear David,

I understand why this is disturbing your peace; it does not seem like a normal occurrence. When the person you love begins to communicate with something that is not visible, and it does not resemble a typical prayer to God, it can be unsettling.

To better understand the situation, it is important to consider the time before your marriage, specifically during your dating days. Could her family have been involved in any activities related to what she is currently experiencing? You have not provided enough details, but when discussing faith, have you noticed any tendency within the family to appeal to spirits? This is relevant because she claims to have had a protector since childhood. This insight could help you determine whether her actions are an individual choice or if they are rooted in her family’s traditions and values.

One important factor to consider is how her behaviour aligns with your own values, both moral and religious. Are you comfortable with the idea of being “protected” by her spirit? What if this is just the beginning, and embracing this might lead to situations that you find difficult to tolerate? Additionally, consider the potential impact on your children, if you have any.

If her behaviour does have a spiritual aspect, relying solely on psychological approaches may not provide enough guidance for addressing this matter. It may be necessary for you to seek spiritual advice from your religious leader or another suitable person, especially if your wife’s conduct could have significant consequences.

However, could it be that your wife is seeking special attention from you? If that is the case, she has certainly succeeded in capturing it. You have not provided much context, but it is possible there are issues between the two of you that have not received the necessary attention. This might be the case, especially if you can confirm that there is no connection in her family history to speaking with ‘spirits.’ You may need to explore the possibility that something has been neglected, and she is trying her best to get your attention. If this is true, you should take action to address the underlying issues so that her conversations with spirits cease.

Another possibility, aside from the two mentioned above, is that your wife may be experiencing a mental health condition that manifests as hallucinations. Hallucinations involve seeing, feeling, hearing, or even smelling things that are not actually there. This might lead someone to speak to a non-existent person, believing they are having a conversation.

Such symptoms can be indicative of conditions such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. However, these symptoms typically do not appear suddenly; you may have noticed inconsistencies in her behaviour over time.

If it turns out that your wife might have a mental health disorder, professional help would be necessary.

Before taking any steps to address this situation, it could be beneficial to gather some background information from your wife’s friends and possibly her family.

Understanding the context of her behaviour will help you decide on the appropriate approach to take based on your findings. Throughout this process, it is essential to continue loving her and remain committed to addressing whatever is at the root of her behaviour.

Pray for deliverance

Victorious Judy. Make secret prayers and separate that spirit from your wife. Some battles are not physical but spiritual. Go on your knees, pray for deliverance, and ask God to break every ungodly tie that binds her. Remember, not every spirit in a marriage comes from love; some come to destroy.

This is a warning sign

Shalot Shaz Kirungi. These things of empewo (evil spirits) are prevalent among some tribes. When you see such signs, do not ignore them. It is either witchcraft or a serious mental condition. Whichever it is, take it seriously because it is a clear warning sign.

Seek professional help

Jacob Obalin. Seek help from Butabika National Referral Hospital before things get worse. What you are describing could be a mental health issue, not witchcraft. Many people struggle silently until it is too late. A medical evaluation and counselling could help you understand what is really happening. Do not delay; early intervention could save your marriage and her life.

Pray together

Donavan Alecs Nyakojo. Do you know you might have married a ghost? Sometimes spirits take on human form and live among us. If that is the case, your children could face spiritual attacks or misfortune. Protect yourself through prayer, fasting, and seeking divine discernment before it is too late.

For better, for worse

Nachie Urshie Mpanga. What are you running from, really? Marriage is not just for the good days; it is also about standing firm when strange things happen. Maybe she needs love, help, or healing, not abandonment. Face it with courage and find out the truth before you decide to walk away.

Leave before its too late

Phoebe Miriam. David, your wife is a Satanist. Leave before her darkness consumes you. The signs are clear; her actions and words reveal who she truly serves. Run for the hills while you still can and start a new chapter free from that evil bond.

This could be stress

Ronald Kato. Calm down. Not everything strange is witchcraft. Sometimes women go through stress or postpartum depression and start acting differently. Sit her down, talk to her with love, and if possible, take her for counselling. You might be fighting emotions, not demons. Pray, but also think wisely.

Take her to church

Brian Mugisha. Take her to church, not to shrines. I saw my cousin go through something similar until pastors prayed for her. Sometimes spirits attack marriages to destroy peace. Keep fasting, keep believing, and cover your home with the blood of Jesus. The devil fears unity; do not give him a chance.

The National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) has announced that over five million national identity cards have been printed and are ready for collection, four months after launching a mass enrolment and renewal campaign aimed at issuing at least 33 million cards nationwide.

The ambitious exercise, which began on May 27, 2025, seeks to renew 15.8 million expiring IDs and register 17.2 million new citizens, as the country replaces cards issued a decade ago that are now expiring.

NIRA communications officer Peter Okwalinga told Monitor that the IDs have been printed and dispatched across the country, including in Kampala, Wakiso, Mityana, and Tororo, and are now ready for distribution.

‘The ID issuance was rolled out in the entire country. All districts have IDs, only that some haven’t shared how they will distribute them,’ Okwalinga said on Tuesday.

He noted that NIRA is improving communication systems to notify applicants once their cards are ready.

‘We are currently improving our feedback channels to make sure whoever’s card is printed gets a message about where to pick it up. In the meantime, people can check for their cards manually at their registration areas,’ he added.

The authority’s renewed push comes amid growing public concern over expired cards.

Uganda’s first batch of national IDs, issued between 2014 and 2015, began expiring in August 2024, leaving many citizens inconvenienced to access essential services that require valid identification, including banking, travel, and voting.

NIRA officials say the mass exercise is crucial ahead of the 2026 general elections, where IDs will be mandatory for voter verification.

According to NIRA Executive Director Rosemary Kisembo, the exercise will cost the government Shs666.85 billion, covering new card production, upgraded technology, and personnel.

Out of that, Shs183 billion will go toward purchasing new IDs, Shs293 billion for data centres and registration kits, and Shs190.85 billion to pay 13,864 workers engaged in the nationwide operation.

The rollout is seen as critical for improving service delivery, security, and electoral integrity.

Still, citizens across several districts have complained of slow feedback and limited information on collection schedules, a challenge NIRA says it is ‘addressing through enhanced communication systems and partnerships with local governments.’

‘Our focus is to make sure every Ugandan who registered gets their card on time,’ Okwalinga said.

It all began on a Sunday morning. The congregation at the church had gathered as usual, each person carrying their own quiet prayer. Among the orderly ushers stood a young man named Henry Jassa, looking sharp in his suit, exuding the calm assurance of someone who serves out of calling. In one of the pews sat Linda Ochen, radiant in her quiet grace, unaware that destiny had seated itself beside her story.

With a smile, she recalls: ‘I remember thinking that he was kind, funny, and confident without trying too hard.’ That day, he offered her a bottle of water, an act so small it could have easily gone unnoticed, yet it lingered in her memory.

It was not the water itself that touched her; it was the thought behind the gesture. That simple act would later take root in her heart, like a seed of something divine. For Jassa, this moment is just as vivid.

‘The story started in church in 2018,’ he reflects. ‘I believe it was God who brought us together.’ His voice softens when he speaks her name, Linda, just as someone sharing a prayer that has finally been answered.

Love in the details

For her, love did not come as a whirlwind of grand gestures but through something much rarer: consistency. He kept showing up at church and in her life. She says: ‘He remembered small details about me. He encouraged my dreams and made time to really listen. That is when I knew he was not here to play games.’

Jassa smiles at the memory. ‘Her love and commitment to serving God left me with no other choice,’ he says, shaking his head in quiet amusement at his good fortune.

‘The more I got to know her, the more I realised she was kind, honest, patient, and hardworking, a woman bringing peace and light into my life.’ While so many people chase love that glitters, they found each other in the gentle glow of shared purpose.

The lovebirds prayed, laughed, and grew together like two branches reaching toward the same sky. The day he professed his love was fittingly another Sunday. After the service, when the last song had faded and the congregation had drifted away, he asked if they could talk.

‘I told her plainly,’ he recalls, ‘that I wanted to build a future with her, not just date casually.’ There was no pretense or dramatic flair, just truth. She smiled, her heart quietly catching up to what her spirit already knew.

The reaction left him filled with joy. ‘She smiled, and I knew then I had found my partner.’ In that simple exchange, words spoken in the courtyard of their church, began a love story not born of convenience but of conviction.

Marriage rooted in faith

Both Ochen and Jassa entered marriage not as flawless individuals, but as partners eager to learn and grow together. For Ochen, marriage represents a friendship strengthened by faith. She explains: ‘A marriage rooted in love, friendship, and faith is essential. It is a partnership where we communicate openly, grow together, and create a home filled with laughter and respect.’

Jassa shares this vision with tenderness, saying: ‘I envision a partnership where we support each other’s dreams and face challenges as a team. I want our marriage to be peaceful, purposeful, and inspirational.’

Their shared vision serves as the guiding principle of their union. At the heart of their home lies faith, not merely as a ritual, but as a steady rhythm; a quiet pulse that sustains their love, especially when life becomes chaotic.

Weathering life’s storms

Like any couple, they have faced their share of challenges. ‘Balancing our careers and spending quality time together has been one of the biggest obstacles,’ Ochen admits. As a monitoring and evaluation officer, her days often blend into reports, deadlines, and strategy meetings. Jassa on the other hand works in the hospitality industry, where he frequently has long shifts and irregular hours.

‘Sometimes, we need to remind ourselves that love requires time, not just promises,’ she says

.

He nods thoughtfully. ‘We have learnt to accept that challenges will arise, but we do not blame each other. We take a moment to pause, talk, and forgive quickly. It is not always easy, but it is worth it.’

They have come to understand that marriage is not a fairytale; it is faith in action. It is about choosing patience when tempers flare, showing kindness when silence would be easier, and selecting love even when the day feels long.

Teamwork

One of their greatest strengths as a couple is their transparency. She explains: ‘We are open about finances. We both contribute to household expenses based on our incomes and plan for significant financial goals together. We also maintain a joint account for family needs and separate accounts for individual projects.’

This approach has fostered not just trust, but also teamwork. ‘It is about honesty. You cannot claim to be united in love while being divided in your plans,’ he adds.

When asked what keeps their marriage thriving, he responds without hesitation: ‘Teamwork, patience, and faith.’

‘We treat our marriage like a living thing; it needs care, time, and attention to grow.’ She agrees, saying: ‘Commitment is not about just having butterflies in your stomach. It is about choosing each other every day, even when emotions fade and challenges arise. Do not just marry someone who makes you laugh; marry the one who inspires you to be better.’

This advice seems to resonate deeply with them, forged through prayer, laughter, and late-night conversations about the future.

Looking ahead

Henry and Linda Jassa’s love story is one deeply rooted in faith and purpose. As they look ahead, they hope to expand their family ‘by God’s grace’ and build a home that extends beyond themselves, a haven where others can experience warmth, wisdom, and the beauty of faith-built love.

To them, marriage is more than companionship; it is a ministry that shows love still works when two people walk together in purpose.

Their bond thrives not on perfection but on presence; shared laughter, prayer, forgiveness, and simple daily acts of care. From meeting in church to building a joyful home, their journey is a testament to enduring love, one grounded in faith, grace, and the quiet strength of commitment.

At least 1.7 million meals will be distributed to vulnerable families across Kampala in the coming month following a Shs492 million donation from the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The contribution, delivered to the local NGO Haba Na Haba, aims to sustain single mothers, the elderly, sex workers, and other food-insecure groups, according to CEO Jessica Bagenda, who spoke at the launch of the ‘One Billion Meals Endowment’ campaign in Mutungo-Bina, Kampala, on Tuesday.

‘We feed vulnerable people, including single mothers with over five children, the elderly, and sex workers. Each box is expected to sustain the family for a month,’ Bagenda said.

The food packages include 5kg each of rice, flour, and beans, 1 liter of cooking oil, wheat flour, 1kg of sugar, 1 liter of milk, and three packets of salt. Beneficiaries span Kampala, Makindye, Budaka, Wakiso, and Iganga districts.

Bagenda stressed that hunger persists despite Uganda’s agricultural wealth.

‘Uganda is rich in agricultural potential and human capital, yet the reality remains stark. Food insecurity and chronic malnutrition undermine national development and constrain the potential of young lives,’ she said.

The 2023 Uganda Demographic and Health Survey reports 24.4% of children under five are stunted, 3.2% wasted, and a growing number overweight, highlighting ongoing nutritional challenges.

Local leaders welcomed the intervention. Mutebi Kimera, executive director of the Cross Generational Network in Masajja, said many urban residents face daily food insecurity.

‘When you reach our community, you will be amazed. Despite being in an urban area, many people sleep hungry,’ Kimera said.

‘They move around washing clothes to earn a living. This food will sustain families for a month alongside daily meals from local markets,’ he added.

The UAE Embassy in Kampala-Bujumbura, represented by Chief of Protocol Mohamed Shaban Bukenya, urged the government to support similar initiatives.

‘We began with 200 meals; now it’s a billion. This is a great achievement, and we hope to expand to other parts of the country,’ Bukenya said.

The campaign marks a significant step in addressing food insecurity in Uganda, combining international support with local efforts to reach some of the country’s most vulnerable populations.

Alliance for National Transformation (ANT) presidential candidate, retired Maj Gen Mugisha Muntu, failed to hold two scheduled campaign rallies on Tuesday in Bundibugyo and Ntoroko districts of Uganda’s Rwenzori sub-region, leaving supporters disappointed.

Supporters, who had waited from morning until late evening, were informed in the afternoon that the events had been cancelled. Later, Muntu addressed a press conference in Fort Portal City, attributing the cancellations to ‘logistical anomalies,’ without providing specific details.

‘Today, we were scheduled to go to Bundibugyo and Ntoroko districts. Unfortunately, we encountered a logistical anomaly and were unable to make it. We have now decided to write to the Electoral Commission to request a reschedule,’ Muntu said, adding that the rallies would be rescheduled for December and January 2026 to ensure all party supporters are reached.

The ANT flag bearer noted that since the start of the presidential campaign, he has visited 32 districts and two divisions of Kampala, reaffirming his commitment to reach all 147 districts and cities before the election on January 15, 2026.

‘It is unfortunate that the people who expected us today could not meet with us. We sincerely apologize. Such inconveniences happen in campaigns of this nature – you face challenges along the way, but flexibility is key,’ he said.

Muntu also addressed the party’s financial constraints, noting that ANT relies solely on contributions from citizens, as the party does not yet hold parliamentary representation to access government funds.

‘We don’t have any member of parliament yet to get money from the government. We rely on contributions. If people believe we are the right solution, they should support us financially,’ he said, emphasizing that daily operational costs for reaching voters across the country remain high.

Muntu highlighted urgent local issues in Ntoroko District, where over 10,000 residents have been displaced by recurring floods from Lake Albert since 2019 and remain in makeshift camps despite government promises of resettlement.

He cited similar cases in Buliisa District, where flood-displaced residents at Wansenko Landing Site have relied on short-term government relief with little long-term support.

‘It is unfortunate that for about six years, hundreds of displaced citizens have continued to suffer without proper housing or support. Instead of allocating funds to address such crises, public resources are being embezzled, leaving people in endless misery,’ Muntu observed.

Outlining his priorities if elected, he pledged to focus on environmental conservation and invest in long-term flood control measures, including tree planting and constructing protective structures to prevent further displacements.

He also proposed water extension projects to channel water from Lake Albert and River Semuliki to homes, livestock, and farms to mitigate the effects of prolonged dry spells.

Muntu further addressed widespread public grievances, noting that citizens in all visited districts have complained about corruption in public service recruitment and shortages of medicines in health facilities.

‘In every district we have covered, people lament the sale of government jobs. Parents sell their property to educate their children, and later sell remaining land to buy jobs. In my government, anyone caught selling jobs will face imprisonment,’ he said.

Both Uganda and Tanzania are gripped by election campaigns, but Tanzania goes to the vote first today, with Uganda following in January 2026. Both countries’ campaigns are similar in that the opposition is being brutalised.

In Tanzania, unmarked vans (“drones” in Uganda-speak) are abducting opposition supporters. Both countries also torture. They also arrest East African activists who show solidarity with the opposition. Two Kenyan human rights activists, Bob Njagi (chairman of the Free Kenya Movement) and Nicholas Oyoo (the movement’s secretary general), were abducted in Uganda on October 1, 2025, shortly after attending Bobi Wine’s rally.

Uganda pulled a page straight out of the Tanzanian playbook of repression. Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi and Ugandan journalist and lawyer Agather Atuhaire were abducted in Dar es Salaam in May 2025 while observing opposition leader Tundu Lissu’s trial. They were tortured, and Atuhaire was sexually assaulted, before being driven and dumped near their countries’ borders with Tanzania-Atuhaire near Mutukula. I never thought I would ever say this, but here we are: in their violence and madness, Uganda seems “better” than Tanzania, or the latter is worse.

Consider this: in the months leading to the vote in Tanzania, over 80 opposition members have disappeared, more than 600 have been jailed, and at least five have been killed. No 600 opposition supporters have been detained in Uganda, and the number reported to have disappeared so far this year-mostly foot soldiers of Bobi Wine (Robert Kyagulanyi) ‘s National Unity Platform-is about 12. Leading candidates like Chadema’s party’s Lissu were arrested on April 9, 2025, and charged with treason for social media posts alleging election rigging. His trial drags on.

ACT-Wazalendo’s presidential candidate, Luhaga Mpina, was also arrested in April. With that, Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan effectively became unopposed, having neutralised her primary challengers. In Uganda, they will tear-gas the candidate and his supporters on nomination day. In the end, though, you will get nominated-unless you are Kizza Besigye, of course. There is also an unwritten rule in Uganda: you don’t touch pastors, priests and bishops who criticise election malpractices and abuses. You can rebut or even insult them, but you don’t lay a hand on them.

Not so in Tanzania. Father Charles Kitima, a Catholic priest and outspoken critic of state repression, was brutally attacked in his Dar es Salaam office, his jaw broken after he denounced electoral injustices. Days later, Father Emmanuel Mshana met the same fate, beaten by unidentified assailants believed to be tied to the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) for his fiery anti-corruption sermons. In Arusha, Pastor Mchungaji Steve, known for fiery prophecies against the ruling party, was abducted, beaten, and dumped in Kilimanjaro, barely alive.

These events took me five years back, during the Covid-19 lockdown. I was involved in an Africa trend-tracking exercise for an international organisation, following patterns of infection and vaccination across the continent, minus Tanzania, which refused to acknowledge the virus and stopped releasing data after about a month. We would plot the rise or fall of infections and vaccinations. We also tracked the pandemic’s effect on education, the economy and society in general-for example, a sharp rise in cybercrime, gangs, and transnational crimes like human trafficking as fewer security forces patrolled borders.

We also tracked lockdown enforcement. There was a considerable increase in abuses by police and military, and a rise in the killing of journalists across Africa.

There was one exception in East Africa: Uganda. Excluding journalists shot, injured or beaten while covering Bobi Wine’s campaigns, the rest were not molested. Uganda had the lowest figures for abuse and obstruction. I was struck by that and looked back 10 years, finding that far more journalists and activists had been killed in other African countries-including those that are demonstrably more democratic than Uganda, such as South Africa.

That is when I began to suspect that Uganda must have a manual for brutalising journalists and opposition supporters-probably one approved by the Commander-in-Chief himself. The likelihood of this first became apparent in how Museveni spoke about Bobi Wine’s detention and torture in Arua in August 2018, and later what we learnt about the abduction and torture of the acid-tongued writer Kakwenza Rukirabashaija in early 2022.

It seems the manual says things like: “break only one leg and arm, not both”; “hit the head and face, but don’t pluck out the eyes”; “lash the back with wire, don’t slice with a blade”; “for women, beat and then humiliate by exposing their intimate parts”; “break no more than half the ribs”; and “but whatever you do, don’t kill.” Cruelty in East Africa has become both a language and a craft. Tanzania’s version is raw and total. Uganda’s is methodical, selective and coldly bureaucratic. The difference is not moral; it is only tactical. And that might be the most terrifying part.

A man has been released from jail after being on remand without trial since 1997. It was at 11:13am on Monday, when the court clerk read out Alfred Byamukama’s file and presented it to the Mbarara High Court Judge for a ruling on the application for dismissal of his case. It is alleged that Byamukama had a physical altercation with a village-mate in March 1997, whom he struck in the head before the victim died on the way to the hospital. Byamukama is said to have had a mental challenge at the time of the incident.

At the time of his incarceration, then aged 27, Byamukama was first detained at Mwizi Police Station for one week in the then Mbarara District, present-day Rwampara District. From Mwizi, Byamukama was transferred to Mbarara Central Police Station, then Kyamugorani Prison, before being transferred to Luzira Upper Prison in Kampala in 2001. While making her ruling, Mbarara High Court Judge Joanita Bushara Mugerwa dismissed the case on grounds that the prosecution delayed to handle the matter, the case was on file for a long time, and Byamukama’s right to a fair hearing was violated.

‘The application of dismissal has been granted, and the order of detention is set aside. This case is dismissed due to gross unconstitutional delays on the side of prosecution and the violation of the applicant’s right to a speedy trial. The applicant shall be released immediately and unconditionally, unless he’s being held for other cases,’ the judge said. ‘I have spent most of my productive and energetic years in prison. I don’t know where to start from but the mission is to build afresh. I feel like I have been reborn, and I will do all it takes to make the rest of my life meaningful,’ Byamukama said shortly after he was released from prison.

What the law says

Hakim Ngobi, a lawyer, said Byamukama’s case took so long to be handled because he was found to be of unsound mind after his arrest in 1997. With an unsound mind, court proceeded under Section 43, Clause 1 of the Uganda Trial on Indictments Act (originally the Trial on Indictments Decree, 1971), which says if someone is of unsound mind and is unable to make their defence, court is mandated to send them to detention and forward their file to the (Justice) minister for them to make their orders.

‘Byamukama’s file got lost in the system because he was treated and got well before 2005. The minister responsible did not follow up on him because there are many prisoners like him and nobody knows about any orders made by the minister. This caused the delay in finalising his case,’ Ngobi said. Article 28 of the Constitution provides for a right to a fair hearing that comes with a speedy trial, depending on the case. ‘For someone of unsound mind, one may argue that they aren’t ready to make their defence.

However, the breach was from the minister’s office not making such orders. On the side of prisons, they didn’t make timely updates on the health status of Byamukama. They later made the updates, and it is the reason he was arraigned in court and released. ‘The right to a fair hearing is non-derogable, meaning no one can take it away from anyone at any cost. It was the basis on which the judge dismissed the case because Byamukama’s right was grossly taken away, given the time frame that has passed,’ Ngobi added.

Ngobi added that prisoners of unsound mind, who may require the minister’s order, fall into different categories. They include those who are discovered unable to make their own defence during trial. Under Section 46 of the Trial and Indictment Act, they are sent to prison to be treated and be taken back to court after recovering. As such, the trial can commence from where it stopped. The second category of prisoners under the same Act, are those known to be already insane by the time of committing the offence.

Courts send such people into detention to be treated after making a special finding of not guilty due to insanity. ‘If it comes to the court’s attention that they are well, the minister is empowered to discharge these people without going back to court or the court can discharge them without any other trial. The challenge is that the minister responsible hasn’t been making such orders, meaning prisons get stuck with such people even after treatment.

Until his dismissal, Byamukama was the latter,’ Ngobi said. Until 2018, there were more than 35 inmates awaiting the minister’s orders. When the minister started making orders in 2022, a total of 29 prisoners have since been released. Byamukama is the latest ex-prisoner whose case was dismissed and set free.

Legal help

Ms Canaan Nkamuhabwa, the legal officer at Justice Defenders Uganda, an organisation that offers legal aid to the most vulnerable poor people who cannot afford lawyers, said the organisation started working on cases of prisoner’s awaiting the minister’s orders in 2018. These have been in prison for long periods and neither been tried, nor convicted because they were found to be of unsound mind at the time they committed the offence.

‘We have been representing his case and many others since 2018, writing letters to the minister, courts and the Director of Public Prosecution for remedy. The petition in court and at Parliament was done on their behalf and Byamukama was the chief petitioner. He finally got cause-listed for trial in September 2025 and we put in an application for his release that was decided in our favour,’ Nkamuhabwa said.