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As Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) examinations began on Monday, a 21-year-old candidate in Ntungamo District was left devastated after discovering she had not been registered to sit her final exams, prompting local authorities to call for an investigation.

Precious Kembabazi, a student at Ruhanga Seventh Day Adventist Secondary School in Itojo Sub County, said she learned only last Friday that her name was missing from the Uganda National Examinations Board (Uneb) register.

‘I showed up for briefing and this is when I knew that I am not registered with Uneb after the deputy head teacher made the revelation,’ Kembabazi said.

She said the school administration had earlier suspended her for leaving the premises without permission, but later told her to return for the candidates’ briefing.

‘They had told me to come on the briefing day, which I did, but they had not registered me to sit the exams. I really don’t know whether this was intentional,’ she added.

Kembabazi, who completed her Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE) at Kagongi Preparatory Primary School and later joined Mama Janet Girls’ Secondary School in Nyakyera before transferring to Ruhanga SDA SS in Senior Three, said her aunt delayed returning her P.7 result slip – a key registration requirement.

‘Having been allowed to do mock exams and continue studying like other students, I thought things had been resolved,’ she said, adding that: ‘I was surprised to be told that my aunt brought the result slip late and that I could not be registered. No one informed me about it.’

The sixth child of Herbert Ruhinda of Kayenje in Rweikiniro Sub County, Kembabazi said she wants justice.

‘My parents may wish to give up, but I will not. I need justice, but I also need to complete this level. We are told that if you do not sit the exams, you go back to Senior One. I have been in class for four years – I need to complete this level,’ she said.

Ruhanga SDA SS deputy head teacher Jonathan N. Kamugisha confirmed that the student was not registered because she had only a photocopy of her PLE pass slip.

‘Her family said it may have been confiscated by her aunt where she stayed. The aunt was arrested but could not produce the slip in time. She only brought it in August when even late registration was done,’ Kamugisha said.

Ntungamo Resident District Commissioner Mariam Kagaiga ordered a full probe.

‘If there is anyone to be arrested, we have to arrest them,’ she said.

‘This girl comes from an area where finishing Senior Four is a miracle. If the parents, school or relatives are involved, they must be held accountable,’ he emphasized.

Rweikiniro Sub County has the district’s highest school dropout rate, with 75 percent of girls failing to complete Primary Seven.

What is the British Chamber of Commerce intended to achieve?

The British Chamber of Commerce was formed with a very bold vision. The British Chamber of Commerce Uganda is a member-driven organisation that promotes trade, investment, and collaboration between Uganda and the United Kingdom.

Through events, advocacy, and partnerships, BCCU supports businesses to grow, connect, and make a lasting impact.

In many ways, we are like a family and looking to expand on our national ambitions. When you look at our five-year development plan, we are looking at the tenfold Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth that the government is focusing on. With our relationship and partnership, we can contribute towards this effort and really maximise on the relationship that we have.

You made a year in September. What highs and lows were registered over the 12 months?

We are now up and running after fulfilling all legal requirements and protocols. As we mark our first Annual General Meeting, we are also celebrating 42 new members who have joined the British Chamber of Commerce. We have huge aspirations and ambitions. Collectively as a Chamber, we are spread across 17 key different sectors, employing more than 20,800 staff with 95 percent being Ugandans.

Within the last 12 months, we have had 15 high-level engagements. Eleven of these engagements were championed by the British Chamber of Commerce, and the others were championed by our partners – all for the benefits of our members and partners. We had several engagements, including with the American Chamber, the Dutch Chamber, the French Chamber, but more importantly, with our national chamber, the Private Sector Foundation of Uganda.

We also have a very good partnership with the government and President Museveni himself.

We also have a good relationship with the technical wing, especially with the Finance Ministry. The Permanent Secretary and the Secretary to the Treasury at the Ministry of Finance has been engaging with us.

We have also had an engagement with the Commissioner General of the Uganda Revenue Authority and Bank of Uganda Governor over the last year. This elevates expectation from our side. This helps us to understand the economy from different lenses. So we have had great partners,

So your priorities over the last year have been met. Is that correct?

In our plans and priorities, we have built a network of leadership and great businesses. Even the smallest business that has any relationship with the UK or any UK business that has any small relationship with Uganda can be integrated as long as it is an authentic company.

We had a pre-budget engagement, talking about what we want to see in the budget. We had a tax engagement where we engaged with URA about tax issues, challenges and opportunities. We just had a session with Trademark Africa where we spoke about trade issues and related barriers, and we also looked at trade opportunities. This is what we are trying to unlock.

How does your plan relate to the national priorities?

We have had some of the leadership forums where we brought in investors from the UK and spoke to them about many issues that relate to trade and investment.

When you want to grow from $50-$500 billion GDP, you need the right partners and the right voices.

The British High Commissioner to Uganda, Lisa Chesney has been a brilliant voice of growth for not only the chamber but also the relationship that we benefit from between the UK and Uganda.

Our members are involved in the government of Uganda’s ‘ATMS’ which refers to Agro-industrialisation, Tourism development, Mineral development, and Science, Technology, and Innovation strategy, and part of the national ten-fold Growth Strategy (TGS) to grow Uganda’s economy from $50 billion to $500 billion by 2040.

This strategic plan hopes to stimulate economic growth through these key sectors. We have members in agro-processing, tourism industry, minerals and mining, and science, technology and innovation.

We have members in education, logistics, green economy, aviation industry and audit, accounting and consulting firms. So we are in diverse sectors of the economy.

In terms of opportunities, there are plenty. Let us not forget the 10-fold growth strategy is a big opportunity. Technology is another big opportunity.

Artificial Intelligence as an enabler. With technology, we can be on the same footing with the rest of the world.

What can happen in China, in India, in the US, in Australia, can also happen in Africa. We just need a bolder vision.

Our members are keen on understanding the potential of optimising on technology, but also to embrace it. That’s why we’ve created Shared Purpose. The other area is sustainability, ESG.

Any low moments so far?

The biggest one our members have pointed out is about the stability of policies. Our members would like to see stable trade, tax, and green business policies. When you want to grow the economy from $50 billion to $500 billion, you need efficiency and transparency. We have seen some ambiguities around certain tax policies.

There are challenges around tax, and we had an opportunity to meet URA Commissioner General and we were handed a point of contact with URA for further engagement and deliberation.

The 2026 General Election is just around the corner. How confident or concerned are you?

We can see some predictability and continuity. Most of our members are investing and not holding back. When somebody is investing, he or she does so with eyes wide open and with a lot of knowledge. We have confidence in democracy and leadership. That is why investment is coming.

Uganda has set its sights on boosting agro-exports to $20 billion by 2040, with the United Kingdom. How will the chamber contribute in this regard?

So the trade value you are referring to is possible. We shall continue supporting businesses to grow, connect, and make a lasting impact.

Elite long-distance runner Jacob Kiplimo is still riding high in delight after his victory at the Chicago Marathon in Illinois, USA on Sunday.

The 24-year-old broke nearly every barrier apart from the world record (WR) as he won his first 42km competitive race with a new national record and personal best mark of two hours, two minutes and 23 seconds.

‘To come here to win the race is a big achievement for me,’ said Kiplimo after he became the first Ugandan to win a World Marathon Major (WMM) and he is also the seventh fastest man in history.

In part, he nearly broke the world record only before his quest faded in the closing miles of the race. Had it happened, he would have become the first man in history to hold both world records over the half-marathon and full marathon at the same time.

Kiplimo’s WR over the 21km came on February 16 when he became the first man to run the distance under 57 minutes by posting 56:42. This time however is yet to be ratified by World Athletics.

For the mark he broke – 57:30 by Ethiopian Yomif Kejelcha – it was ratified by the sport’s global body this month.

Kejelcha won at the Medio Maratón de Valencia Trinidad Alfonso Zurich on October 24, 2024 in Spain to erase Kiplimo’s earlier WR mark of 57:31 set in Lisbon, Portugal in 2021.

It took Kiplimo just 112 days to reclaim his WR mark from Kejelcha, underlining the proficiency of the Ugandan on the road.

In that queue after Kejelcha, Kiplimo’s 21km WR mark is the next for ratification.

MEN’S HALF-MARATHON

WORLD RECORD PROGRESSION

56:42* by Jacob Kiplimo (UGA) in Barcelona (ESP) on Feb 16, 2025

57:30 by Yomif Kejelcha (ETH) in Valencia (ESP) on Oct 27, 2024

57:31 by Jacob Kiplimo (UGA) in Lisbon (POR) on Nov 21, 2021

57:32 by Kibiwott Kandie (KEN) in Valencia (ESP) on Dec 6, 2020

58:01 by Geoffrey Kamworor (KEN) in København (DEN) on Sep 15, 2019

One day, while sitting at home with her cousin, Wamala offered to accompany her cousin to a job audition for television presenters at Record TV, one of the private Ugandan television stations. Initially hesitant, Wamala agreed to tag along.

As her cousin auditioned, she waited patiently – until a manager approached her and asked why she was not auditioning too. On a whim, Wamala gave it a try. To her surprise, she aced the voice test and landed the job. Ironically, her cousin did not make the cut.

This unexpected turn of events marked the beginning of Wamala’s career in communications. Who knew that a chance encounter would lead her down a path she never planned for, but ultimately loved?

While at Record Television, Wamala began as a news anchor, later transitioned to hosting an evening show, and eventually became the host of the popular morning programme Day-Breaker, which revolutionised morning television in Uganda.

Day-Breaker marketed Wamala to professionals in the Public Relations (PR) industry who head-hunted for her to join Scanad Uganda, an advertising agency. Here, she learned the ropes of PR and communications. She quickly rose through the ranks, from a PR executive to a PR manager and handled major accounts such as Uganda Breweries Limited (UBL), DStv, and KCB.

With extensive experience in public relations, stakeholder engagement, and crisis management, Wamala has established herself as a leader in her field.

‘I have always been drawn to the dynamic nature of communications,’ she says. ‘Every day is different, and there is always something new to learn,’ she notes.

After years at Scanad, Wamala joined Multichoice Uganda, where she worked as a communications professional, handling crisis communications and stakeholder engagement.

While transitioning to Multichoice Uganda, she faced skepticism from some quarters. Someone doubted her ability to fill the shoes of her predecessor, but Wamala proved them wrong, making a lasting impact as the company’s mouthpiece and earning industry recognition.

She later joined the British High Commission, where she serves as the communications manager.

For the last six years at the British High Commission, Wamala has had the opportunity to work with various stakeholders, navigating complex communication challenges and achieving significant results. She attributes her success to her ability to adapt and learn quickly.

‘In communications, you need to be agile and responsive,’ she advises. ‘You can’t be afraid to take calculated risks and try new things.’

Wamala’s love for public relations is evident.

‘PR is one of the greatest professions out there.’ She believes that the diverse exposure, continuous learning, and professional growth that the field offers make it incredibly rewarding.

‘Regardless of where you find yourself, you adapt and learn so much about various sectors you represent,’ she notes.

Presidency at PRAU

Wamala served as the president of the Public Relations Association of Uganda (PRAU) from 2023 to 2025. Her theme was ‘Revival,’ and she focused on reviving the association’s past glories and improving its services to members.

Throughout her career, Wamala has demonstrated her ability to adapt to different environments and organisations, and her willingness to learn and take on new challenges.

As a result, she is a respected figure in the PR ecosystem where she has made significant contributions to the development of the profession in Uganda.

Wamala attributes her success to a combination of competence and soft skills, particularly humility.

‘Being approachable, respectful, and kind can indeed leave a lasting impression on people,’ she advises.

Trends in communications

Wamala says that as a communicator, one of the key trends shaping the future of the industry is the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and ESG (Environment, Social, and Governance). She believes that AI is here to stay and will continue to transform the way people work.

‘We need to leverage AI to enhance our effectiveness and efficiency,’ she advises.

‘It’s about augmenting our capabilities,’ she elaborates.

Data analytics is another area that Wamala thinks is crucial for communications professionals. By analysing data, PR professionals can demonstrate the value and impact of their work, making it easier to secure buy-in from stakeholders.

‘Data analytics helps us measure the success of our campaigns and make data-driven decisions,’ she explains.

Her experience in crisis management has taught her the importance of being prepared.

‘You can’t anticipate every crisis, but you can prepare for it,’ she advises, adding: ‘Having a crisis committee and regularly testing your crisis approach can help you respond more effectively.’

As a working mother, Wamala has learned to prioritise and manage her time effectively.

She schedules her day, week, and month, making sure to leave time for her loved ones.

‘Being present for your loved ones is essential,’ she advises. ‘It is not about achieving perfect work-life balance, but about making time for what is important.’

Her commitment to mentorship and volunteerism is inspiring. She believes that giving back to the community and sharing her knowledge with others can lead to unexpected opportunities and benefits.

‘Mentorship is crucial in helping young professionals navigate their careers,’ she notes.

To young professionals in communications, Wamala says, ‘Be self-aware, patient, and committed to learning. Stay agile and curious, and keep sharpening your skills to stay ahead in the field.’

Her parting words are a testament to her positive attitude and enthusiasm for the industry: ‘The opportunities are endless, and the learning is continuous.’

Challenges

Wamala acknowledges that challenges exist in PR, including navigating the ‘noise’ in communications. However, she emphasizes the need to stay focused and adapt to changing circumstances.

Crisis management is the other challenge she encounters. ‘Having a team with diverse perspectives and expertise can help organisations respond more effectively,’ she notes.

Wamala’s career offers valuable lessons for aspiring communications professionals. By embracing continuous learning, developing soft skills, and building strong relationships, individuals can achieve success in this dynamic field.

Wamala’s experience and insights offer a valuable guide for anyone looking to build a successful career in this exciting field.

When Jude Ssemugabi netted on his Uganda Cranes debut against Congo on September 9, 2024, many thought it was a flash in the pan.

Fast-forward a year later, and the once-underestimated forward is now a mainstay in coach Paul Put’s national team setup, his name now inked among Uganda’s most consistent offensive weapons.

And as the Cranes prepare to face Algeria today at the Stade Hocine-Aït-Ahmed in Boukhalfa, Ssemugabi may be one more dazzling performance away from fully cementing his reputation on the grand stage.

It has been an unconventional journey. In his late 20s, Ssemugabi is not your typical breakout star. He honed his craft quietly at Wabigalo and Lake Victoria academies before lighting up the Masaza Cup with Ssaza Ssingo in 2018.

His exploits earned him a move to Mbarara City, where he was instrumental in their rise to Uganda’s top flight. However, it was his two-season stint at Kitara that truly brought him national attention – scoring 16 goals across all competitions and leading Kitara to the Stanbic Uganda Cup triumph.

His next move, though, stunned many. Despite reportedly receiving an offer from Vipers – the Caf Champions League representatives – Ssemugabi chose a less glamorous path, signing with South Sudanese side Jamus in July. Critics quickly labeled it a backward step. But Put saw otherwise.

Impressive stats

Rather than fading into obscurity, Ssemugabi’s international stock soared. Since his debut, he has scored four times in 14 appearances: against Congo, South Africa, Somalia, and most recently, Botswana in a crucial 1-0 World Cup Qualifier win last Thursday.

His versatility – able to play across the front line – and relentless work rate have elevated him to a permanent starter under Put.

‘I know where I came from. I don’t expect everyone to understand my journey,’ Ssemugabi recently posted on X. ‘God didn’t consult anyone when He placed this dream in me. I’ll keep pushing.’

Indeed, his self-belief has borne fruit. Regardless of today’s result against Algeria – a must-win clash if Uganda are to keep their 2026 World Cup hopes alive – Ssemugabi has already made a compelling case to be on the Cranes’ plane to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco this December.

Facing Algeria’s seasoned backline of Ramy Bensebaini, Aïssa Mandi, Rafik Belghali, and Jaouen Hadjam is no easy task. But with his blistering pace, improved finishing, and tactical discipline, Ssemugabi is poised once again to lead Uganda’s attack.

Should he find the net tonight, it will not just be another goal – it could be the crowning moment of his national team redemption story.

From being doubted to becoming indispensable, Ssemugabi’s rise is not just about talent – it is a story of grit, sacrifice, and unwavering faith. And today, under Boukhalfa’s floodlights, the icing on the cake might just be waiting.

The Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) Presidential Candidate, Mr Nathan Nandala Mafabi, has pledged to ensure equal pay for both science and humanities teachers.

While addressing locals in Bukwo Town in Bukwo District in Sebei Sub-region, Mr Nandala said it is unfortunate that children are not studying since the term began due to the ongoing teachers’ strike over low pay.

‘Our children are not going to school because our teachers are striking because they are not being paid well. For example, a mathematics teacher teaches in English. That means an English teacher is the one who taught him English to be able to teach Math in English. Why would you then pay an English teacher little money?’

Mr Nandala asked. The teachers under the Uganda National Teachers Union (Unatu) have been on strike since September 15, protesting unequal pay structure that favours science teachers over their arts counterparts.

Mr Nandala said if he is elected president, his government will invest in education so that the children get quality education to accelerate the economic development of the country. He added that the country has a lot of money but because of corruption, it is being stolen by a few.

Mr Nandala said small businesses will be capitalised and given tax exemption to grow so that the ordinary people have money in their pockets.

‘The businessmen are suffering because of loans, taxes. But we have a plan for small businesses. They will be given capital and will not be taxed until they grow; this will bring money into people’s pockets,’ Mr Nandala said.

He also revealed that the FDC manifesto includes a plan for each village to receive Shs100 million for economic development. PDM He claimed that the current Parish Development Model (PDM) was originally an FDC initiative, but the government has failed to implement it effectively.

‘Every year, Shs10 trillion is lost to corruption. If I get the opportunity to lead this country, I will ensure that this money is channelled into development,’ Mr Nandala, who is also the chairperson of Bugisu Cooperative Union (BCU), said.

He pledged that the Uganda Agriculture Bank will be established and Sebei Cooperative Union restored to act as an engine to steer economic growth in the sub-region.

‘We are going to invest money in agriculture, and the government will be in charge of marketing through cooperatives. This is the time for change and I am your own. You have suffered for 40 years, but it’s time to get money in your pocket,’ he said.

Mr Nandala, in his campaign trail, also described himself as a hardworking man, committed to working with all Ugandans, regardless of tribe or religion, to develop the country’s economy.

‘We want to transition leadership from military rule to civilian rule. President Museveni came into power to solve insecurity and that has largely been handled,’ he said.

Residents interviewed in Bukwo said the poor state of roads and bridges has increased the cost of transporting their agricultural produce, keeping them in poverty despite the region’s fertile soils and favourable weather.

They added that access to quality agricultural inputs remains a major challenge, and finding reliable markets for their produce is equally difficult.

‘This has left lots of farmers incurring heavy losses during the harvesting season. This is worsened by the absence of storage facilities and value added projects in the region,’ Mr Martin Chebet, a resident of Bukwo Town Council, said.

Mr Mark Cherop, a project officer working with Kapchorwa Civil Society Organisations Alliance (KACSOA), said there is a need for the government to establish storage facilities per parish or sub-county in Sebei Sub-region to spur economic growth.

Uganda’s Lady Rugby Cranes Sevens will head into the 2025 Africa Women’s Sevens with confidence after clinching silver at the Safari Sevens over the weekend in Nairobi.

Uganda fielded three teams at the annual tournament, the men’s and women’s national sides and national sevens champions Walukuba Barbarians as an invitational team, but it was the Lady Cranes who flew the flag highest.

The Lady Cranes began strongly, edging Belgium 12-10 and sweeping Tunisia 34-12 in their pool matches before suffering a 17-5 defeat to hosts Kenya Lionesses in their final group game.

They roared back in the knockout stages, thrashing Kenya’s emerging side, the Cubs 34-0 in the quarterfinals before edging out 2024 winners Costa Blanca Barbarians 17-12 in the semifinals. That set up a rematch with the Lionesses in the final.

National Sevens top try scorer Comfort Anganyika and Lydia Namabiro both crossed the line in the final, but Uganda’s missed conversions proved costly as they fell 14-10 to a more clinical Kenyan side.

Uganda will now return to Kampala to begin immediate preparations for the Africa Women’s Sevens, scheduled for next month at the same venue in Nairobi.

Head coach Charles Onen praised his players’ resilience despite the narrow loss.

‘We didn’t really bring our A-game in the final because we lost it towards the end, but I congratulate the girls for putting up a spirited fight. A 14-10 result against the Lionesses is not bad,’ Onen said after the final.

‘Those are the results, and we can’t change anything, but we shall build from there as we gear up for the next tournament next month.’

Meanwhile, the men’s side, the Rugby Cranes Sevens, endured a difficult campaign, losing all their group matches to Kenyan sides Nyati (24-14), KCB (40-14), and Shujaa’s Shogun (35-14) before beating Apache and Reunion to settle for the Challenger Trophy.

Invitational side Walukuba Barbarians also faced a tough outing, falling 55-0 to Kenya’s A side Shujaa, 41-26 to UK Select, and 38-21 to French Renegades before suffering another heavy 50-0 defeat to Reunion in the Challenger semifinal.

The tournament was overshadowed by tragedy as Belgium Women’s head coach Warren Abrahams collapsed and passed away on Friday while on the touchline.

Hosts Kenya dominated the event, winning both the men’s and women’s titles as they prepare for the upcoming World Sevens Tier 2 Series.

2025 Safari Sevens – Lady Cranes 7s results

Preliminary rounds

Uganda 12-10 Belgium

Uganda 34-12 Tunisia

Kenya Lionesses 17-5 Uganda

Quarterfinal: Uganda 34-0 Kenya Cubs

Semifinal: Uganda 17-12 Costa Blanca Barbarians

Final: Kenya Lionesses 14-10 Uganda

Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Clive Nsiima’s career is on the line after the police disciplinary court recommended his dismissal as he battles offences related to the same incident in criminal court.

After convicting ASP Nsiima of behaving scandalously in the police disciplinary court on Friday, he was produced in City Hall Court, a criminal court, and charged with assault and malicious damage of property before he was remanded to Luzira Prison.

ASP Nsiima is accused of assaulting Ms Pellan Atuhumuriize, a shop attendant at a fuel station in Kyanja, a Kampala suburb, on October 7. Ms Atuhumuriize said the police officer assaulted her after she demanded that he pay for the items he and a female friend had picked from the fuel station shop.

The incident was captured on a CCTV camera and the video circulated on social media, prompting his arrest. In a Monday statement, the police said their disciplinary court recommended his dismissal from the Uganda Police Force.

‘He appeared in the police disciplinary court on Tuesday, October 7, and Friday, October 10, where he was charged with behaving scandalously. The court recommended a sentence of dismissal,’ a statement reads in part.

If ASP Nsiima doesn’t appeal the sentence, his case will be submitted to the Police Authority, which has the power to dismiss an officer at the rank of ASP and above. The Police Authority is chaired by the minister of Internal Affairs.

Other members on the Police Authority are: the Attorney General, the Inspector General of Police, the Deputy Inspector General of Police, a senior officer in charge of administration at the headquarters of the Force, and three other persons appointed by the President.

The Minister of Internal Affairs, Maj Gen (rtd) Kahinda Otafiire, has previously expressed his opinion of dismissal of officers, saying it isn’t a good thing since it affects many people beyond the defaulter.

Despite the police disciplinary action, ASP Nsiima was also produced in a criminal court on offences related to the same incident. Unlike many suspects escorted in handcuffs, he walked gracefully with one hand in his pocket, flanked only by plain-clothed officers.

According to the charge sheet prosecution alleges that ASP Nsiima willfully and unlawfully damaged a mobile smartphone, Infinix Hot 10, Blue in colour, the property of Ms Atuhumuriize.

ASP Nsiima pleaded not guilty to the offences before presiding Senior Principal Grade One Magistrate Nicholas Aisu. Senior State Attorney Mercy Yamangusho informed the court that investigations were complete, requesting that a hearing date be set.

‘Investigations are complete, Your Worship. We seek a hearing date,’ Ms Yamangusho told the court. However, Nsiima’s lawyer, Mr Hamza Kyamanywa, rose to inform the court that the complainant and accused had since reconciled, citing Section 160 of the Magistrates’ Courts Act, which encourages reconciliation in certain criminal matters.

‘Your Worship, I am instructed to inform the court that the complainant and the accused have since reconciled.

The complainant has filed an additional statement to that effect. In the circumstances, I seek to apply for bail for the accused. We have three sureties present in court,’ Mr Kyamanywa said.

But the prosecution strongly opposed bail, arguing that the accused’s conduct as a law enforcement officer aggravated the offence.

‘The accused is a police officer whose role is to keep law and order. The fact that he has been charged with an offence of violence against a woman, a girl, for that matter, leaves a lot to be desired,’ Ms Yamangusho stated.

After hearing both submissions, Magistrate Aisu reserved his ruling. ‘This court will deliver its ruling on the bail application on October 16,’ the magistrate said.

The National Unity Platform (NUP) presidential candidate, Mr Robert Kyagulanyi, alias Bobi Wine, has pledged to revamp cooperatives in order to fight rampant poverty in Bukedi Sub-region.

While addressing a rally at Bugola Primary School in Budaka District yesterday, Mr Kyagulanyi said the sub-region has remained poor because the ruling government ‘killed’ the cooperatives in the area.

‘My government will revamp cooperatives that were rooted here and empower farmers and we will treat all Ugandans equal. Most government resources have been plundered by few people leaving the vulnerable Ugandans to suffer. This is the only chance Ugandans have to decide whether to remain in oppression or build a new Uganda,’ he said.

According to the 2024 National Housing and Population Census, Bukedi’s poverty rate stands at 37 percent, compared to the national average of 35 percent. The sub-region is among the poorest, with about 88.3 percent of households still depending on subsistence farming despite government efforts to improve livelihoods.

Government data shows that Bukedi’s per capita income is 43.7 percent, with a GDP per capita of $135 (Shs459,054). On August 22, 2024, President Museveni launched the first Bukedi Development Plan aimed at reducing household poverty. The plan has a total investment budget of Shs657.36 billion, to be implemented between 2024 and 2040. In Phase One (2024 to 2030), Shs177 billion is needed; Phase Two (2031 to 2036) will require Shs352 billion; and Phase Three (2036 to 2040) will need Shs128.36 billion for various development projects.

Mr Kyagulanyi, however, said the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) government has deliberately kept some areas poor. ‘This country is so rich, but it is unfortunate that the state of roads, health sector and education are in deplorable condition in some areas,’ he said. He added that President Museveni is now living in history, and yet we are looking at the future.

‘It’s upon Ugandans to vote either for the past or future, light or darkness, failure or success,’ Mr Kyagulanyi said. Mr Moses Kirya, a farmer from Budaka District, said although the President encouraged them to grow mangoes and cassava, the prices remain very low. He added that the next government should focus on improving the prices of agricultural products.

‘We sell a bag of mangoes at Shs5,000 and Shs2,000 for a basin of cassava. This is too little,’ Mr Kirya said.

A Senior Four student at Olila High School in Soroti City West, gave birth on Monday during her first Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) paper.

The 21-year-old experienced labour pains during her geography paper.

She was rushed to Soroti Health Centre III, where she gave birth to a baby girl before returning to do her biology paper in the afternoon.

“I thank God that He has relieved me from this pain and also managed to go back for my second paper and I hope to succeed,” she said.

After completing her second paper, she returned to the facility at about 5:30pm to attend to her baby.

She explained that the pain was so sharp that she could not stand sitting for the first paper as she only wrote her name and random number then went to the health facility.

With a smile on her face, the student bravely said she will pass and hopes to be a doctor in future

Ms Joan Apolot, a midwife at Soroti Health Center III, confirmed that the girl arrived at the facility with due labour and gave birth to a baby girl at exactly 1:05pm weighing 1.9kgs.

“She gave birth normally with no tear or C-section,” Ms Apolot said.

Ms Joyce Aguti, the mother of the student narrated that when she first heard the news of pregnancy in March, she cried in shock but gathered strength for her daughter saying she could not change what had already happened.

“My daughter disclosed to me that she had conceived, I cried but after gathering courage I told her not to abort the child,’ Aguti said.

The student advises young girls to focus on their studies first and avoid temptations.