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The Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) has issued a seven-day ultimatum to traders operating in unauthorised areas, including roads, walkways, and other non-gazetted spaces, to vacate or face enforcement action.

The directive, announced in a public notice dated October 24, 2025, aims to restore trade order, improve public safety, and promote a clean, organized, and livable city.

According to KCCA Spokesperson Daniel Nuwabine, the enforcement operation will officially begin on Friday, October 31, 2025, focusing on the Central Business District, particularly areas like Ben Kiwanuka Street, Luwuum Street, Namirembe Road, Nakivubo Road, Allen Road, and Kikuubo Lane.

“This operation is not meant to punish anyone but to ensure public safety and restore order in the city,” Nuwabine emphasized, reassuring traders that the move is intended to benefit the community.

To support vendors affected by this directive, the government has made available over 2,320 free workspaces in KCCA-owned markets across the city. “The government has made available trading spaces in various KCCA-managed markets across the city,” Nuwabine said, encouraging traders to take advantage of these spaces.

Traders interested in securing a stall are required to apply through the Market Allocation Committees and Market Administrators, who have been instructed to expedite the allocation process.

“Vendors are required to present an LC1 introduction letter and a copy of their National ID when applying for a stall,” he added, noting that the spaces are completely free of charge.

KCCA has identified several markets with available spaces, including Nakawa Market (100 spaces), Luzira Market (120 spaces), and Ntinda New Market (100 spaces) in Nakawa Division; Usafi Market (1,000 spaces), City Abattoir (250 spaces), and Kamwokya Market (250 spaces) in Central Division; and Busega Market (500 spaces) in Lubaga Division.

In addition to relocating traders, KCCA has imposed an immediate ban on food preparation and vending using charcoal stoves (sigiri) or other fire-generating equipment in taxi parks and along city streets, citing serious fire hazards that endanger lives and property.

“We encourage all vendors to take advantage of the free market spaces available,” Nuwabine said, appealing to the public to cooperate with the exercise. He assured that enforcement teams would act with fairness and professionalism.

Nuwabine reaffirmed the KCCA’s commitment to creating a safe, organized, and inclusive trading environment for all city dwellers, underscoring the importance of collaboration in achieving this goal.

The recent death of Raila Odinga on October 15 plunged Kenya and the region into mourning for a giant of its politics. Across the region, eulogies fittingly crowned him the best president Kenya never had, a testament to his decades-long struggle for democracy and his immense political influence. Yet, his death also invited a sobering, continent-wide reflection on the unique political phenomenon he embodied: the powerful Opposition leader whose legacy is ultimately defined by the office they never held.

Raila’s legacy was shaped, greatly, by his role as a perpetual challenger. His enduring popularity was likely preserved by never facing the incumbency’s constraints. Had he governed, he would have confronted the same systemic governance challenges that often diminished the legacies of other leaders, most of whose inadequacies he personally highlighted. His political influence and appeal, stemming from a public that never saw his presidency, were rooted in his ability to criticise the governments in power, free from the practical burdens of leadership. Because it is easier to heckle than to play the piano.

This is not unique to Raila, but rather the central dilemma facing many African democracies. Often, politicians wield immense moral and political authority from the Opposition benches. They self-anoint as voices of the voiceless, uncompromising critics of corruption, inefficiency, and authoritarian overreach. Their supporters, justifiably frustrated with the status quo, project onto them all the solutions the incumbent has failed to provide. They are, in the public imagination, the perfect alternatives to the imperfect regimes.

However, the leap from critic-in-chief to chief executive is a gorge that many fail to cross. The role of an Opposition leader is to identify problems; the role of a president is to solve them, often with limited resources, within fractured political systems, and against a backdrop of impossibly high expectations. The very systems Opposition leaders critique – democratic backsliding, authoritarianism, human rights abuse, political repression, corruption, injustice, patronage, bloated bureaucracies, and powerful international financial institutions – do not vanish upon swearing-in. They become the new leaders’ in-tray.

Once in power, the elegant symphony of criticism must give way to the difficult, often frictional, practice of governance. The politician who promised to eradicate corruption now must manage party loyalists who demand reward for their years in the struggle. The leader who railed against national debt must now negotiate with the International Monetary Fund and World Bank under conditions they once denounced. The champion of the marginalised must make brutal budgetary choices that inevitably leave some constituencies and foot-soldiers feeling betrayed. The piano keys are stubborn, and the sheet music is written in the ink of complex reality.

This is not to say that Opposition leaders are unqualified or that their ideals are disingenuous. No! In any case, almost every great leader has once been in Opposition. It is to argue that the skills required to be a successful Opposition figure are fundamentally different from those required to be an effective head of State. The former thrives on ideological purity and powerful rhetoric, the latter demands compromise, pragmatism, and the management of often-ugly trade-offs. The populist appeal that mobilises millions on the campaign trail can quickly sour when difficult, unpopular reforms are necessary.

Therefore, while Africa rightly mourns the passing of its great what-if figures and yearns for replacements, it must also advance its political analysis. The true measure of a leader should not solely be their power as a critic, but a sober assessment of their potential for pragmatic and effective governance.

Bear it that the most popular politician is not always the most capable governor, and the crown of Opposition often appears more golden than the thorny crown of incumbency. Raila’s monumental legacy is secure, but it is a reminder that in the theatre of politics, the most beloved performer is sometimes the one who never had to conduct the entire orchestra.

The Wednesday morning news that at least 46 people had been confirmed dead and several others injured following a four-car crash on the Kampala-Gulu Highway left the nation in mourning. The crash at Asili Farm in Kitaleeba Village in Kiryandongo District, according to police’s preliminary report, involved two buses of different transport companies, a lorry truck and a Toyota Surf.

But the tragic accident is a stinging indictment of our failure to enforce basic road safety. The head-on collision between two buses is not an ‘accident’, but rather a predictable result of negligence and unchecked recklessness. For too long, Uganda has quietly accepted a horrific level of road carnage. Year after year, the numbers climb, from 4,534 fatalities in 2022 to more than 5,100 in 2024. The victims are not statistics; they are parents, children, and productive citizens lost to a preventable epidemic.

According to the Uganda Police Force’s most recent annual crime report, a total of 25,107 road traffic crashes were recorded in 2024, reflecting a 6.4 percent increase from 2023. The Wednesday crash, the Force’s initial reports say, was caused by two bus drivers attempting careless overtaking manoeuvres simultaneously. This is not new. Police data confirms that careless overtaking and speeding account for nearly half of all crashes. Our roads are narrow, often poorly marked, and frequently used by heavy-goods vehicles, fast buses, and vulnerable pedestrians.

It is our appeal that we move beyond the cycle of tragedy, momentary outrage, and swift forgetfulness. The President’s pledge of Shs5 million assistance to the bereaved families is appreciated, but the most important assistance the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) government can offer is the guarantee of safety on public roads.

To do this, police must enforce the traffic laws, regardless of who is occupying the car or who it belongs to. We suffer from a culture of impunity where a section of road users, especially the ‘connected’ and those driving government cars, flout traffic laws because they are seen as untouchable. All violators of the law should face severe penalties.

The government should ensure all cars are roadworthy. The government must immediately re-establish and enforce a mandatory, rigorous vehicle inspection system to pull cars in dangerous mechanical condition off the roads. Also, transport companies must be held directly responsible for the conduct of their drivers. Any operator whose vehicles are involved in fatal crashes due to reckless driving should face sanctions, including the permanent suspension of their license.

Until the government demonstrates a strong commitment to transforming road discipline, the bodies will continue to pile up. This week’s tragedy should be the final wake-up call.

In a powerful joint statement, 28 World Food Prize Laureates, together with world-renowned chef and humanitarian José Andrés, made an urgent call to double investment in emergency food assistance and sustainable agriculture. They declared that hunger is a collective challenge that demands engagement from every corner of society.

Issued in honour of the late Dr Norman E. Borlaug, founder of the World Food Prize, the Laureates stated that while progress has been made since the world first affirmed the human right to food more than 75 years ago, hunger continues to exact a heavy toll globally.

Over 700 million people still go hungry, more than two billion lack reliable access to food, and nearly one in four children suffer from stunting.

The Laureates called on governments, international organisations and civil society to urgently strengthen support for emergency food relief, especially in conflict-affected regions such as Gaza, Sudan, Yemen and Haiti. They also urged long-term investment in agricultural innovation to help farmers produce more with fewer resources, ensuring food systems remain resilient amid climate and economic shocks.

‘Let us double down-not in words, but in action,’ the statement reads. ‘We must double emergency food assistance and double investments in sustainable agricultural development.’

Among those to endorse the statement were 2017 World Food Prize Laureate, Akinwumi Adesina, recognised for driving agricultural transformation across Africa and the 2009 World Food Prize Laureate, Gebisa Ejeta, who was honoured for his research in creating sorghum hybrids that are resistant to both severe drought and the destructive parasitic Striga weed.

The signatories also included the 2020 World Food Prize Laureate and leading soil scientist, Rattan Lal, whose work on carbon sequestration has shaped global climate-smart agriculture and Cary Fowler, joint 2024 World Food Prize Laureate and founder of the Svalbard Global Seed Vault, known for championing crop diversity and global food resilience.

The Laureates and Chef Andrés are urging world leaders to take four decisive actions:

Prevent famine by sustaining and scaling support for emergency food relief, especially in conflict zones such as Gaza, Sudan, Yemen, and Haiti.

Confront long-term food insecurity by accelerating sustainable agricultural productivity through bold investment in transformative innovation and locally led systems.

Promote shared prosperity by creating policies that allow science, trade, and innovation to flourish.

Foster a culture of shared responsibility, ensuring that governments, industry, and individuals play their part in ending hunger.

By uniting humanitarian action with sustainable development, the Laureates reaffirmed their shared vision of a world where hunger is history and the right to food is realised for all.

In this compelling memoir, the author, Jeff B. Kagonyera, takes readers on a journey that begins with comfort and security, only to be abruptly interrupted by tragedy.

Born into a stable and respected polygamous family in Rukungiri, the early years of the author’s life were marked by dignity, community respect, and the warmth of family. However, the sudden death of his father in 1956 when he was just six shattered this idyllic world, thrusting him into a reality of responsibility, deprivation, and uncertainty.

What makes this memoir remarkable is not only the recounting of hardship, but the way in which the author transforms grief into motivation. A pivotal moment in the author’s life came one morning in 1960, when his elder brother, George Mondo Kagonyera, returned from studying in Nairobi.

The sight of Mondo-neatly dressed, calm, confident, and with smooth, light-brown feet encased in blue sandals-struck the young author profoundly. Seeing the contrast with his own rough, barefooted life, he realized the transformative power of education.

That moment sparked a determination within him to pursue schooling, setting him on a path that would shape the rest of his life. The memoir vividly recounts the author’s perseverance: offering his labor to neighbors, working under the sun, and saving every coin to enroll in school.

The author’s reflections on kindness, generosity, and the obligations we hold toward others add a moral and spiritual dimension that elevates the work beyond personal narrative.

What resonates most is the hopeful message threaded throughout: no matter the circumstances, determination, faith, and the support of good people can create a path forward. The author’s honesty, humility, and gratitude for those who helped him along the way make this memoir not only inspiring, but deeply human.

The foreword by Prof Mondo Kagonyera underscores what the memoir vividly demonstrates: this journey of resilience extends far beyond personal triumph.

The author’s professional career, spanning roles at Uganda Commercial Bank (UCB) and later private business, exemplifies the same integrity, diligence, and perseverance that shaped his youth. Beyond career achievements, he emerges as a man of deep compassion, loyalty, and generosity, extending support to family and community alike.

What makes Thorns in My Footsteps so compelling is its universal resonance. It is a story of resilience, yes, but also of hope, moral courage, and the transformative power of determination.

The memoir shows readers that no matter how thorny the path, obstacles are not meant to stop us-they are meant to strengthen us for the journey ahead. It is a narrative both personal and instructive, demonstrating that where one starts does not determine where one ends.

Thorns in My Footsteps is not only Jeff Byarugaba Kagonyera’s story; it is a beacon for all who dare to believe that determination and resilience can shape destiny.

Readers will close this book with a renewed belief in the possibility of triumph, even in the most challenging of circumstances. Even the simplest moments; a helping hand, or an act of kindness-can set in motion a journey that changes a life forever.

Thorns in My Footsteps, a 200-page memoir published by Gomes Book House, shows that the thorns in your footsteps need not stop you; each step, no matter how painful, can lead to growth, purpose, and a life well-lived.

A former principal assistant secretary at the Ministry of Lands’ Zonal Office in Lira District has been remanded over allegations of fraud linked to the sale of Uganda Railways Corporation (URC) land, the Anti-Corruption Court in Kampala ruled on Friday.

Francis Ateng, 49, appeared before Chief Magistrate Rachel Nakyazze and was remanded to Luzira Prison until November 7, 2025, when he will return for sentencing.

Ateng faces 11 charges related to land fraud, including abuse of office, fraudulent procurement of a certificate of title, forgery, uttering false documents, and conspiracy to commit a felony.

The alleged offences concern URC land in FRV 2020 Folio 13, Plots 42-50 Mukwano Road in Lira City, and are said to have occurred between January 2018 and 2020.

He was jointly charged with businessman Joseph Ocen, who initially impersonated URC Managing Director Charles Kateba but later became a state witness following a plea bargain. Ocen had earlier admitted to impersonation.

Court heard that on January 17, 2018, Ocen falsely represented himself as Mr Kateba and signed an application for a special certificate of title and statutory declaration for the Mukwano Road land at the Lands Ministry Zonal Office in Lira.

Ateng denied conspiring with Ocen, but evidence presented by eight prosecution witnesses convinced the court of his involvement in facilitating the issuance of the certificate and in the allocation and separation of the URC land.

Documents, including Ocen’s National Identity, email, and TIN number, were used to complete the application.

Robert Okello, a subordinate of Ateng, allegedly uploaded the falsified title documents onto the Uganda National Land Information System.

Handwriting experts and URC officials, including Managing Director Kateba and Secretary Grace Okot, testified that the documents were forged.

‘I find prosecution has discharged its burden. I find Ateng Francis guilty on counts of abuse of office; fraudulent procurement of a certificate of title; multiple counts of forgery; uttering a false document; and conspiracy to commit a felony. You have a right of appeal on conviction,’ Chief Magistrate Nakyazze ruled.

President Yoweri Museveni has called on institutions of higher learning to move beyond imparting technical skills alone, emphasising the need for graduates to be equipped with values that drive socio-economic transformation.

Speaking through Vice President, Ms Jessica Alupo at Bishop Stuart University’s (BSU) 21st graduation ceremony in Mbarara City on Friday, Museveni stressed the importance of inculcating values like patriotism, honesty, and selflessness alongside technical efficiency.

“I urge institutions of higher learning to focus on transforming the minds of managers and leaders to go beyond technical efficiency and encapsulate skills like value addition alongside other values such as patriotism, honesty, and selflessness,” Museveni said.

He believes this approach will empower Uganda’s graduates to combat social evils like corruption effectively.

“We will have a formidable force in Uganda to fight social evils like corruption if we embrace this kind of education,” Museveni added, urging graduands to be exemplary in their work.

The President also encouraged the graduates to remain relevant, focusing on people’s needs and using their skills to transform their communities.

“Go out there and be relevant to our societies… use the acquired knowledge and skills to cause transformation of your homes, communities, and country,” he said.

Bishop Stuart University’s Chancellor, Rt. Rev. Sheldon Mwesigwa, acknowledged government support for the private university, citing funding for infrastructure development.

“We thank government for supporting us… that’s why we’ve been able to offer skills and values needed for our graduates to thrive in this competitive world,” Bishop Mwesigwa said.

University Vice Chancellor Prof. John Mugisha advised graduands to stay innovative and acquire new skills amid rapid changes in the job market.

“This is the start of your journey; you have to be innovative… consider starting your own business or social enterprises,” Prof. Mugisha said.

A total of 1,660 students graduated, with 866 males and 794 females.

Prominent businessman Eddy Kisekka, proprietor of the popular Eddy’s Palace entertainment complex in Kalangala Town Council, died early Saturday in a motor accident along the Bugoma-Kalangala Road.

Police said the crash occurred around 4 a.m. near a sharp corner leading to Maboga Village when a Toyota Fielder carrying Kisekka and five others overturned after a tyre burst. The group was returning from a youth concert in Bugoma.

Kisekka died at the scene, while four passengers – Lodovic Kiberu, Aisha, Docus, and another occupant – sustained serious injuries and were rushed to SIAAP health facility in Bugoma Village. One passenger, identified only as Nicholas, escaped with minor injuries.

Jude Mutebi, one of the first responders, described a desperate scene saying: ‘Eddy died in my arms as we tried to put him in another car to rush him to a health facility. Docus was badly injured on the stomach, Aisha was bleeding, and Lodovic complained of chest pain.’

Police had not released an official statement on the crash by press time.

Kisekka’s death has stunned the business and tourism community in Kalangala, where he was known for his investments in hospitality and agriculture.

Eddy’s Palace is among the islands’ leading entertainment destinations.

‘His place wasn’t just a business, it was a sanctuary for those who loved the beauty of Ssese. His impact on tourism will be felt for years,’ said Joseph Kakembo of Bassesse Tours and Travel.

Robert Sunday Kigozi, councilor for Kalangala Town Council Ward B, praised Kisekka as a self-made entrepreneur.

‘He began with a small pork joint and later built an entertainment centre known across the islands. He created jobs for youths and encouraged others to start their own businesses,’ Kigozi said.

Local leaders also remembered Kisekka’s humanitarian work. David Omongoti, focal person for the district disaster committee, cited his support during recent twin fires in Lutoboka.

‘When Lutoboka suffered twin fires recently, he helped us provide relief before government support arrived,’ Omongoti said.

Joseph Nkambwe, leader of the Islands Oil Palm Farmers’ Block, added, ‘We’ve lost a youthful investor with a clear vision for Kalangala’s development.’

Former district chair Willy Lugoloobi highlighted the limitations of local health facilities, noting that Kalangala Health Centre IV could not handle severe emergencies.

‘If we had a fully-fledged hospital, maybe Eddy’s life could have been saved. By the time the ferry reopened at 6 a.m., it was too late,’ he said, urging the government to upgrade the facility.

The stretch of road has seen multiple fatalities in recent years, including the deaths of Geoffrey Lubega in March 2024 and Faisal Wahabu Sonko months later, prompting calls for improved road safety and emergency response.

In today’s business world, digital transformation is no longer a buzzword thrown around in boardrooms, it’s the air we breathe. The question is not if disruption will come knocking, but when it will crash through your front door. The real test for any organisation is: how do you respond when the inevitable happens? The strategic playbook offers several options of response and management of the digital transformation trajectory. The choice rests on the business leader. Each has its own charm, risks, and punchlines. Choosing the wrong one is like bringing a machete (panga) to a chess match: tough, but not very effective.

Option one: Double down. This is when you tell yourself, ‘We shall not be moved.’ You invest heavily in your current business model, hoping that throwing more fuel on the fire will keep it alive. Sometimes it works. Think of Netflix doubling down on streaming before anyone else. But it can also end like Kodak, clinging to film while the world went digital. As Warren Buffett once stated:’The rearview mirror is always clearer than the windshield.’

Option two: Fight back. Here, the organisation acknowledges disruption but chooses to fight with its own tools. It’s a bit like Arsenal deciding to outplay Manchester City at their own passing game. It’s brave, sometimes brilliant, but often exhausting. Traditional banks offering mobile wallets to counter fintech apps is a good example. They may not invent the wheel, but they make sure it spins in their favour.

Option three: Retrench. This is corporate code for ‘panic politely.’ Companies cut costs, close branches, and shrink operations to survive. It may save cash in the short run but risks starving the future. As Peter Drucker famously said, ‘The best way to predict the future is to create it.’ Retrenchment, without reinvention is just slow-motion surrender.

Option four: Migrate away. Sometimes the smartest thing to do is admit the old model is dead and pivot completely. Remember Nokia’s glory days with phones? They could have migrated into smartphones earlier instead of sticking with the snake game. Migration means embracing new markets, products, or even entirely new industries. It’s bold, terrifying, and often the only way to stay alive.

Now, let’s add some light. Doubling down is like insisting on eating rolex every day, it’s comforting until cholesterol sends you a warning. Fighting back is like trying to out-dance the youth at a Ugandan wedding, you may win applause for effort, but your knees will file a complaint. Retrenchment is the corporate equivalent of going on a diet by locking the fridge, it works until hunger gets creative. Migration? That’s moving houses because the landlord is raising rent every year, it hurts, but your budget will thank you.

The smartest organisations don’t pick one option blindly. They weigh them, test them, and sometimes combine them. A company might retrench to save resources, then migrate to a new product line, all while fighting back with its existing brand. Agility is no longer optional, it’s the default survival kit. Digital transformation doesn’t reward the biggest, but the smartest. Just ask taxi drivers who ignored Uber, or small shops that embraced Jumia and kept their shelves moving. The lesson is clear: disruption punishes arrogance but rewards adaptability.

One of the smartest things leaders can do is to reframe disruption as opportunity. Instead of asking, ‘How do we protect what we have?’ Ask: ‘What new value can we create?’ After all, nobody clapped for Nokia when they launched another keypad phone, but the world cheered when Apple reinvented the smartphone.

That aside, thriving in the digital age is about mindset. Leaders who view disruption as the enemy end up in endless battles. Those who see it as a teacher build stronger, future-proof organisations. As the African proverb goes: ‘When the music changes, so must the dance.’

Whether you double down, fight back, retrench, or migrate away, the key is to be intentional and data-driven. Don’t react emotionally, react strategically. Remember: technology doesn’t disrupt businesses; leaders who ignore it do. Are you playing it safe and hoping for the best? Or will you be smart and choose the option that sets you ahead? Because in the digital age, it’s simple: you’re either smart, or you’re sorry.

Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) have launched a five-year Disability Manifesto (2026-2031) demanding inclusive reforms in education, health, and employment, ahead of Uganda’s 2026 general elections.

The manifesto, unveiled by the National Union of Disabled Persons of Uganda (NUDIPU) on October 24, outlines policy priorities the community wants addressed by the next government.

NUDIPU executive director Esther Kyozira said the proposals seek to transform access and equity for the more than 12 percent of Ugandans living with disabilities.

‘The government should provide school fees waivers for children with disabilities and targeted education grants to reduce caregiver financial burdens,’ she said.

Kyozira said the government must ensure reasonable accommodation and assistance throughout the education process, including during examinations.

‘Government should offer specialized learning support by introducing technology training programs tailored for learners with visual impairments, provide assistive devices like hearing aids or software, and regularly build the capacity of teachers in inclusive education,’ she said.

The manifesto calls for the creation of a National Child Disability Assistance Programme to help parents and caregivers meet medical and education costs for children with disabilities.

In health, PWDs urged the government to revitalize orthopedic workshops and finance local production of assistive devices such as prosthetics and wheelchairs. They also want health workers trained in disability-inclusive care in collaboration with organizations representing PWDs.

PWD Member of Parliament Alex Ndeezi said the government must guarantee universal access to healthcare and remove tax barriers on mobility equipment.

‘The government must ensure the free provision of assistive devices such as wheelchairs, white canes, adaptive shoes, and hearing aids,’ he said.

Ndeezi also called for deliberate efforts to sensitize the Electoral Commission and political party officials on disability inclusion ahead of the 2026 elections.

‘The government should, in consultation with NUDIPU, strengthen collaboration with organizations of persons with disabilities before constituting structures for their representation,’ he added.

Kyozira said the manifesto serves as a strategic advocacy and accountability tool to advance inclusion and dignity.

‘It provides a roadmap toward an inclusive Uganda where persons with disabilities are accorded equal opportunities to participate and contribute to national development,’ she said.

Apollo Mukasa, executive director of the Uganda National Action on Physical Disability (UNAPD), urged the government to expedite judicial reforms.

‘The government of Uganda through the Judiciary and the Ministry of Gender should operationalize the Judicature Rules for handling cases of Persons with Disabilities,’ he said.