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Rukiga District, now in its eighth year since its formal creation on July 1, 2017, has been the focus of my reflections during our celebration of Uganda’s 63 years of independence. Rukiga, the place that has been my primary home in Uganda since I was a toddler, was one of the six counties of Kigyezi during the colonial and early post-colonial years. Its physical size shrank when its two sub-counties of Nyakishenyi and Nyarushanje were hived off to form Rubabo in 1980, which then became part of Rukungiri District. Our two lost sub-counties deprived us of a significant population of talented people, and productive land and water resources. Our loss was Rujumbura’s gain, for the latter, which had been another county of Kigyezi, would soon become Rukungiri District, founded on priceless transfer of intellectual and entrepreneurial capital that had made Rukiga County one of the best endowed in earlier years.

The loss of Nyakishenyi and Nyarushanje sub-counties was not very bothersome when Kigyezi was a single district. It became important once the balkanization of Uganda into tiny, mostly non-viable districts began in earnest. Tiny Rukiga, with a surface area of 426.3 square kilometres, covers only 0.2 percent of Uganda. One can walk from its northern to southern borders in just 10 to 12 hours, and cross from the west to the east in less than six hours. Rukiga District’s population of 132,255 lived in 29,495 households in 2024. The National Population and Housing Census last year showed a high unemployment rate and many youth not in employment, education, or training. The district’s socio-economic status was found wanting in measures such as improved water and sanitation; use of clean, non-polluting energy for lighting and cooking; and non-subsistence economic activities.

Fewer than 5,000 Banyarukiga had health insurance policies. There was a high burden of mental health, with 10,913 (8.2 percent) reporting psychological distress. Fewer than 5,000 people had access to the internet, a tool that is no longer optional in this era of rapid social, information, communication, and overall economic transformation. Whereas superficial improvements have occurred, such a proliferation of beautiful ‘permanent’ houses, boda boda transportation, and numbers of primary and secondary schools, contemporary Rukiga remains far behind where it ought to have been. One is not surprised by this situation. Like many Ugandan districts, Rukiga came into being without a detailed district-specific development plan. Granting district status to Rukiga was a political decision, not an economic one.

Furthermore, the district lacked an economic and taxation base upon which it would build and sustain its development programme. In the eight years since we celebrated the birth of Rukiga District, we have depended almost entirely on limited funds from the central government treasury. A significant chunk of that money has been spent on the administration of what is essentially Rukiga County, notwithstanding its more romantic designation of a ‘district.’ Interestingly, most district administrators do not live in Mparo, the location of the district headquarters. Many live in Kabaare, and others live in their rural homes a fair distance from their place or work. The road to the district headquarters remains very dusty and rugged in the dry season. It is a muddy, treacherous, pot-holed affair that is no match for what it was like during its colonial and early postcolonial life. Just last week, an elderly woman nearly died when she attempted to wade through a water-filled patch on a bridge not far from the district headquarters.

Simple maintenance of that bridge’s drainage culverts would have prevented such risks. Without changing the current way of doing things, the dependence on Kampala for small amounts to run the district and to fund a few social services like education and healthcare will likely continue for many years. The district administrators and other politicians will be paid their salaries, but most citizens of Rukiga will continue to struggle on the periphery of Uganda’s much praised economic progress. What measures should the people of Rukiga consider pursuing to achieve transformative growth and development? First, Rukiga can only be developed by the people of the district. The government in Kampala has a very limited budget that it has elected to transfer to the districts. Complaining about the unfairness of that practice is unlikely to alter the government’s attitude towards districts like Rukiga that are assumed to be politically inconsequential.

So, Banyarukiga should roll up their collective sleeves, think and plan together, and embark on achievable development projects in their home area. We have done a marvellous job of investing in Kampala, other Ugandan towns and foreign lands. We need to do likewise in the homeland that gave us the foundation upon which we have built our lives in the big towns and cities that we presently call home. It is critically important that we come up with a focused, actionable plan before we proceed with a collective development programme. I strongly believe that the single most important development project that Rukiga needs is construction of all-weather (tarmac) roads. All else will fall in place. None of this absolves the current ruler and his government of their obligation to remember Rukiga District as being part of Uganda.

The current presidential and parliamentary campaigns offer Banyarukiga opportunities to engage the politicians in serious conversations about our district’s sorry state. I urge everyone to take off their partisan colours, wear white as the symbolic colour of our shared district, and peacefully but firmly demand written commitment by the president and his political opponents to ensure that tarmacking Rukiga District’s roads is included in the 2026-2027 national budget. However, even as we work with the rulers and our representatives to try to obtain government funding for all-weather roads, we must invest our intellectual, financial, and human resources into an organised, collective, and cooperative agenda for building Rukiga without waiting for external assistance.

To do so demands that we maintain peace and practice politics of tolerance in our district. Political opponents must not be seen as enemies. They should be considered allies that simply have different perspectives on solutions for our common problems. Our problems in Rukiga affect us together, regardless of our party colours, religious beliefs, or other superficial cleavages. The solutions to those problems need collective action, not continued complaints, and certainly not more empty promises by politicians. Citizens should reject such recycled promises, and insist on written commitments.

Jinja City Council is reportedly losing up to Shs20b due to the absence of an active Area Land Committee in Jinja Southern Division.

According to Mr Bernard Mbayo, the Speaker of Jinja City Council, the lack of a functioning committee has stalled major development and investment opportunities since Jinja became a city.

“We cannot continue losing such significant amounts of money when we have capable individuals ready to support the development of both the city and the wider community,” said Mr Mbayo.

The council has now taken action to address the issue, with four members of the Area Land Committee for Jinja Southern Division being officially sworn in.

The newly sworn-in members include; Mr Isaac Mudhola as the interim Chairperson, Mr Issa Mwehenzi Kukunda, Mr Musa Wanda, and Ms Zurah Mutesi.

Town Clerk Mr Moses Otimong warned the committee members against engaging in any illegal land transactions, saying, “You have officially been sworn in today to commence your duties. Positive results are expected. Do not engage in any illegal land transactions without consulting the technical team, or you will be held personally accountable.”

Jinja City Mayor Mr Peter Kasolo Okocha also cautioned the committee members against backdating land titles or converting land ownership to freehold without following due process.

The new committee has been tasked with fast-tracking the titling of all public land in the city, particularly schools, health facilities, and other government properties.

An elder in Jinja City, speaking on condition of anonymity, stated that the biggest problem facing the city is the election of leaders through bribery.

“They lack genuine interest in the city’s progress and are driven by greed,” the elder said, adding that Jinja’s diverse tribal backgrounds can also make development challenging.

The council’s action comes after a court case was filed by Mr Morisho Shafik, the elected Chairperson of the Area Land Committee, against the council for its failure to officially swear him into office.

Background

Jinja City was established in 1901 by the British as an administrative center. Its name is derived from the local word “ejjinja”, meaning ‘rock,’ referencing the flat rocks along the Nile River.

The city was officially planned in 1948 and grew into an industrial hub following the completion of the Owen Falls Dam in 1954. Jinja was granted city status on July 1, 2020.

On March 7, the Jinja City Land Board was elected and sworn in. While Jinja Northern Division has had a fully constituted Area Land Committee, the Southern Division had remained without one due to delays in the swearing-in of its chairperson now resolved through the recent council action.

Jacob Kiplimo is back on the lips of the globe after he conquered any barriers present to win the Chicago Marathon in Illinois, USA on Sunday.

Kiplimo ran a superb second half of the 42km race to win his first global marathon on the second attempt in a time of two hours, two minutes and 23 minutes.

‘To come here to win the race is a big achievement for me,’ Kiplimo said after the race. ‘He ran very well,’ his coach Peter Chelangat said. When road races come his way, Kiplimo rarely misses the target.

Since missing a medal at the 10000 metres final during the Paris Olympics in France, Kiplimo has won four of seven road races in 13 months.

Kiplimo for long threatened the marathon world record (WR) mark of 2:00:35 set by Kenyan the late Kelvin Kiptum during his victory in Chicago two years ago.

With about 8km left to complete the race, Kiplimo threatened Kiptum’s time, with the predictor placing his finish at 2:00:13, totally blistering yet unimaginable.

But even if he mathematically withered out of that momentous pursuit, Kiplimo still finished strong to become the seventh fastest marathoner in history.

For a 24-year-old who only debuted with second place in a pretty respectable 2:03:37 at the London Marathon in England on April 27, Kiplimo is now only bettered by six names: Kiptum, Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge, Ethiopians Kenenisa Bekele and Sisay Lemma, Kenyans Sabastian Sawe and Benson Kipruto in that order.

‘I told you we only needed a better run an improvement from that of London,’ Chelangat stated, ‘We were hoping for an improvement from the previous one.’

In Chicago, Kiplimo’s mark was the quickest a marathoner has run on that flat course with long straights. Whereas Kiplimo was visibly worn out in the final mile evidenced by his collapse to the floor after the tape, the man from Bukwo had done his hard work much earlier.

A half-marathon WR holder at 56:42, Kiplimo had been pitted against defending champion Kenyan John Korir. The goal was to attempt Kiptum’s mark.

They kept in their own lead group and went out first, under WR pace by 10 miles with the cast comprising pace setters and other Kenyans Philemon Kimaiyo, Amos Kipruto and Timothy Kiplagat.

After the halfway mark, Korir who won the Boston Marathon in Massachusetts, USA in April, and Kiplimo, broke away and held a 10-second gap over the rest of the group.

Thereafter, Kiplimo just charged forward by calmly exuding his customary poetry on the road and left Korir for dead, thereby establishing a 12-second lead over Korir over the next 5km up to 30km. His pace at that stage was projected for a 2:00:16 finish.

And for that entire period, even if he kept looking back in check of a potential challenger, Kiplimo was purely against the clock for the WR. He breezed past the 35km mark in 1:39:53 and still under the WR pace – a predicted finish of 2:00:30.

His legs however gave way in the closing stages but neither in the race could deny him the victory, a history feat making him the first Ugandan to ever win a World Marathon Major (WMM).

The WMMs are seven: Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Sydney, Chicago and New York. A pile of Ugandans including 2012 Olympic champion Stephen Kiprotich, Jackson Kiprop, Stephen Kissa, Victor Kiplangat and Joshua Cheptegei have run there before but none had taken the ribbons away at the finish-line.

In history, no man has ever held both WRs over the 21km and 42km at the same time and Kiplimo lived within that space for the greater part of yesterday. ‘Yes, almost,’ added Chelangat about the WR.

Put simply, it is only a matter of time before Kiplimo shatters that mark, barring of course, any unforeseen circumstances. The courses in London, Berlin and Chicago suite that debate.

2025 CHICAGO MARATHON

MEN’S 42KM RACE RESULT

1 Jacob Kiplimo (UGA) 2:02:23

2 Amos Kipruto (KEN) 2:03:54

3 Alex Masai (KEN) 2:04:37

4 Conner Mantz (USA) 2:04:43

5 Huseydin Mohamed Esa (ETH) 2:04:50

KIPLIMO IN 2025

Oct 12, 2025: Chicago Marathon (1st, 2:02:23)

Aug 27, 2025: Buenos Aires 21K (1st, 58:29)

Apr 27, 2025: London Marathon (2nd, 2:03:37)

Feb 16, 2025: Barcelona Half-Marathon (1st, 56:42)

FASTEST MARATHONERS – BEST TIME

2:00:35 by Kelvin Kiptum (KEN) at Chicago Marathon on Oct 8, 2023

2:01:09 by Eliud Kipchoge (KEN) at Berlin Marathon on Sep 22, 2022

2:01:41 by Kenenisa Bekele (ETH) at Berlin Marathon on Sept 29, 2019

2:01:48 by Sisay Lemma (ETH) at Valencia Marathon on Dec 3, 2023

2:02:05 by Sabastian Sawe (KEN) at Valencia Marathon on Dec 1, 2024

2:02:16 by Benson Kipruto (KEN) at Tokyo Marathon on Mar 3, 2024

2:02:23 by Jacob Kiplimo (UGA) at Chicago Marathon on Oct 12, 2025

The Office of the President has rolled out a district-wide mobilisation campaign in Rubanda to strengthen accountability, promote citizen participation, and improve access to government information, in what officials say is part of efforts to consolidate the ruling NRM’s development agenda ahead of the 2026 elections.

Launched under the theme ‘Protecting the Gains for Quality Service Delivery,’ the campaign was flagged off on Tuesday by Maj. Martha Asiimwe, Head of the RDC Secretariat and the Anti-Corruption Unit, at Rubanda Town Council headquarters.

According to Rubanda Resident District Commissioner Eric Ssewandigi, the drive targets every administrative level – from villages to town councils – to ensure that citizens understand how government resources are managed and how they can benefit from them.

‘Government programmes are running smoothly across the district. The few challenges we encountered, especially during the implementation of the Parish Development Model, were rectified. Those who extorted money from beneficiaries were arrested and forced to return the funds,’ he said.

Ssewandigi warned against political sabotage ahead of the 2026 polls, stressing that beneficiaries of the Parish Development Model (PDM) and Emyooga will play a key role in mobilising support for President Museveni.

Presenting figures on the government’s investment, Rubanda District Chairperson Stephen Ampeire Kasyaba reported that Shs 13.3 billion had been disbursed under PDM to 69 SACCOs, benefiting 13,441 people. He said Shs 2.25 billion was released under Emyooga, of which Shs 1.1 billion has been recovered, while the Youth Livelihood Programme extended Shs 920 million to 1,583 beneficiaries.

‘The Uganda Women Entrepreneurship Programme provided Shs 614 million to 172 groups, benefiting 1,774 members, while Shs 115 million supported 422 Persons with Disabilities,’ Kasyaba said, urging residents not to ‘betray President Museveni’ given the government’s investment in the district.

Chief guest Maj. Asiimwe hailed Rubanda for giving the NRM over 98 percent support in the 2021 elections and revealed that the government had injected Shs 3.3 trillion into PDM nationwide, with each of the 10,594 parishes receiving Shs 100 million annually.

But she also issued stern warnings to local leaders and contractors. ‘Mishandling PDM, Emyooga, and UPE/USE funds will not be tolerated. Contractors who deliver shoddy work, absentee health workers, and thieves of medicines are enemies of progress,’ she said.

Asiimwe noted that Uganda’s tarmac road network had expanded from 1,900 kilometres in 1986 to over 6,850 kilometres today. She lauded Rubanda and the wider Kigezi region as peaceful and strategically positioned as a gateway to Rwanda, Burundi, and DR Congo.

Highlighting the district’s tourism potential, with attractions like Lake Bunyonyi and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park drawing more than 1,000 tourists annually, Asiimwe urged leaders to leverage opportunities in commercial agriculture, manufacturing, services, and ICT – the four pillars of wealth creation outlined by President Museveni.

‘Leadership is like medicine; you diagnose problems and prescribe solutions. The NRM is the medicine that has worked,’ she concluded.

A 36-year-old cival servant has been charged with theft of Shs31 million money he withdrew from his account which the prosecution says belonged to another person who coincidentally shares his name.

On Tuesday, Collins Wafula, a resident of Mende Buga in Wakiso District, appeared before Buganda Road Chief magistrate Ronald Kayizzi on charges of theft contrary to sections 237(1) and 244 of the Penal Code Act.

Prosecution, led by State Attorney Grace Amy, stated that between July and September 2025, at Kampala Central Division, Wafula stole Shs31 million, the property of Collins Juma Wafula.

‘The accused withdrew Shs31 million from an account where the complainant’s money had been mistakenly deposited. Inquiries in this matter are complete. I pray that this case be fixed for hearing,’ Amy told court.

According to brief facts presented, the complainant, Collins Juma Wafula, opened an account with Finance Trust Bank in 2020 before traveling abroad.

Upon returning to Uganda in 2025, he could not recall his account details and was mistakenly issued account number 210212001194 belonging to the accused, also named Collins Wafula.

Believing it was his own account, the complainant deposited Shs38, 780,500 as part of his wedding preparations, with contributions made by several relatives.

Later, he discovered the funds had been sent to a different person’s account.

‘He contacted the accused, who promised to assist in transferring the money back to the rightful account,’ prosecution noted.

Adding…..’However, instead of doing so, the accused withdrew Shs31 million leaving Shs7.5 million in the account, and then switched off his phone and disappeared.’

Upon his arrest, Wafula allegedly admitted to using the money for personal purposes.

Wafula, through his lawyer Hassan Kamba, applied for bail, arguing that he was wrongly accused of stealing the money.

‘The accused is deemed innocent until proven guilty. The State is exaggerating the facts. This money was wedding contributions which was collected thus was not a loose to the complainant as the state indicates. Being honest is not an offence,’ Kamba said.

Kamba presented three sureties: Nicholas Wafula, the accused’s father and a farmer; Racheal Nafula, his sister and an assistant lecturer at Bugema University; and Alexander, his brother-in-law, a civil servant in the Department of Agriculture in Bugoma District.

‘We have supplied copies of the accused’s national ID and a letter from the local council where he stays. The accused works in Busia Town Council and will not abscond. Sick or not, we shall bring him to court,’ Kamba added.

However, State Attorney Grace Amy objected to the bail application, saying: ‘The accused is charged with a felony of a grave nature. The value involved is high. His residential particulars are contradictory, and if he jumps bail, it will be difficult to trace him.’

In his ruling, Chief Magistrate Kayizzi granted Wafula bail, emphasizing that the offence is bailable.

‘The accused still enjoys the presumption of innocence. He has presented substantial sureties,’ the magistrate ruled.

Wafula was released on a cash bond of Shs500,000, with each surety bonded at Shs5 million not cash. He was also barred from leaving the country without the court’s permission.

The case was adjourned for hearing November 16.

This week, the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party presidential candidate, Mr Yoweri Museveni, headed to West Nile, one of the poorest sub-regions in the country, for his re-election campaign. President Museveni is currently traversing the West Nile, a region NRM snatched from the Opposition in the 2011 polls. The West Nile Sub-region has an estimated population of 3.3 million according to 2024 Uganda Bureau of Statistics (Ubos) data, and hosts around 736,892 refugees in the districts of Adjumani and Arua. In this sub-region, approximately 60 percent of young people are neither in employment, education, nor training.

A former Madi-Okollo Member of Parliament, who is seeking another term in office, Mr Martin Drito Andi, explained that the area was highly contested and had long been won by the Opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) until 2011, when he won the parliamentary seat on the NRM ticket. He said the region, bordering South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, previously chose the Opposition as a protest vote because of rampant poverty. Mr Drito added that this compelled the government to introduce poverty alleviation programmes.

‘We were then able to get some consideration, for example, Madi-Okollo District was granted. We then got bridges on Ora river, so the area getting to NRM was beneficial to us,’ he said. The government has also introduced initiatives like Emyooga and the Parish Development Model (PDM), which aim to mobilise poor households to engage in income-generating activities and sustainable agriculture for food security.

Poverty in West Nile

However, despite the NRM government’s effort, poverty still continues to afflict the sub-region. From the dusty streets of Arua Town to the rural villages of Moyo, Adjumani, Obongi, Koboko, Maracha, Nebbi, Pakwach, Terogo, Yumbe, Zombo, and Madi-Okollo, the struggle to make ends meet is a daily reality for millions. Many families live on meagre incomes, lacking access to necessities like clean water, healthcare, and education. The statistics are stark. West Nile’s poverty rates are among the highest in the country, with many households living below the poverty line. The Uganda Bureau of Statistics (Ubos) census report, indicates that West Nile has 1.8 million working-age individuals.

However, about 574,590 are employed, while 106,341 are unemployed, with 372,612 of those being youth. According to the 2023/2024 Uganda National Household Survey released by Ubos, despite the national poverty rate declining from 20.3 percent in 2019/2020 to 16.1 percent, West Nile remained among the regions with the highest poverty rates, with approximately 730,000 people affected. Mr Drito, attributes the pervasive poverty in Madi-Okollo and West Nile as a whole to the lingering effects of colonial-era cash crops, which are no longer viable sources of sustainable income for the region. ‘We must move away from the colonial legacy of cash crops like tobacco and cotton that were imposed on us, because these are crops that have not improved the livelihoods of our people.’

Former Obongi County MP, who is also the Forum for Democratic Change Deputy Party President for Northern Uganda, Mr Hassan Kaps Fungaro, said despite efforts to reduce poverty, progress remains hindered by gaps in leadership, strategy, resource utilisation, mobilisation, and a lack of unified resolve among the people. Mr Fungaro accused the NRM government of employing bad methods to combat poverty in the region, arguing that these tactics are instead contributing to the persistence of poverty in West Nile. ‘President Museveni and his NRM government have been employing a deceptive strategy. They visit villages, identify hard-working individuals such as successful farmers, and dub them ‘model farmers’, creating a false impression that they were the driving force behind the person’s achievements.

In reality, these individuals have worked tirelessly on their own initiatives, utilising their own resources and expertise. By showcasing these individuals as examples, the government aims to inspire others, yet it fails to acknowledge the self-driven efforts that ultimately led to their success,’ he said. Mr Fungaro also accuses the local government technical staff of following what he termed as flawed ruling regime’s ideologies, rather than utilising their public administration skills to enable citizens develop.

‘Technical personnel, including chief administrative officers, lack the necessary ideological framework to effectively address our problems. Instead, they operate subjectively, guided by the teachings from Kyankwanzi, and consistently praise NRM without critically examining or speaking out against its shortcomings, thereby failing to provide meaningful redress.’ He added, ‘A review of Obongi’s budget over the past four to five years reveals a concerning trend; a significant decline from Shs42 billion to around Shs16 billion. This consistent reduction in funding year after year points to a deeper issue of leadership gaps.’

What candidates promise

Mr Fungaro said if FDC, which has fielded Nathan Nandala-Mafabi as its presidential candidate, is entrusted with leadership, it will establish a Uganda-Sudan regional market to promote cross-border trade that he added would reduce poverty in the sub-region. ‘There was a market in Juba where food items like tomatoes were sold, and people from our region benefited by selling there and improving their lives without government intervention. We believe that if there’s a market, people will find ways to utilise it. Therefore, our government will focus on creating access to markets, as that’s the key to economic growth,’ he said. Gen Gregory Mugisha Muntu, the Alliance for National Transformation presidential flagbearer, asserts that under his leadership, he will establish a supervisory system that tracks issues affecting communities at the grassroots level, including poverty alleviation initiatives.

This way, Gen Muntu added, they will be able to tackle corruption and poverty across regions. ‘With honest political leaders at the helm, they will combat corruption and provide effective oversight. This involves having good leaders at the national level who closely supervise activities at all levels, from districts to sub-counties and parishes,’ he said. Gen Muntu said for West Nile specifically, he aims to improve road networks and invest in extension services to better equip local farmers. ‘For West Nile, our priority will be investing in agriculture and education, focusing on raising educational standards and vocational training for graduates,’ he said. Gen Muntu added: ‘By getting these investments right, poverty can be effectively addressed.

After all, countries with limited natural resources have achieved prosperity through healthy, well-educated, and productive populations, demonstrating that investing in human capacity is a key driver of wealth creation.’ Mr Drito said under the NRM government, they aim to promote the growth of cash crops in the sub-region, which have proven to be more lucrative than traditional colonial-era cash crops such as tobacco. ‘From our economic research, three cash crops like coffee, cocoa, and macadamia are effective in poverty eradication, and looking at our soil and rainfall patterns, we shall be liaising with the Ministry of Agriculture in sourcing seedlings for distribution in the upper Madi constituency. I have been talking to a few business associates who already have a market for these products, he said.

He added that Madi-Okollo possesses significant mineral deposits, which the government plans to survey and exploit in the near future, to utilise these resources to benefit the people of West Nile ‘Madi-Okollo County has a history of mineral exploitation, with deposits of limestone and traces of gold. There is also evidence of oil reserves, with oil flowing from Mwanyiribu through parts of Okollo towards Rhino Camp,’ he said. Mr Drito added: ‘To harness these resources effectively, a physical survey will be conducted to map the constituency’s mineral wealth. This will enable responsible exploitation, creating jobs, attracting investors, improving road infrastructure, and driving development in the mining sector, ultimately benefiting the local population.

Museveni’s campaign launch

While he launched his campaigns in West Nile on October 7, President Museveni said the NRM government is committed to alleviating poverty in West Nile through the Parish Development Model, among other government programmes.

Ms Evelyn Anite, who is leading Museveni’s re-election campaign in West Nile, said the President has big plans for the people of West Nile.

The NRM leader seeks to create new fund streams, targeting specific groups such as religious and cultural leaders, unemployed university graduates, and fishermen. ‘With football, you have players and spectators, but in wealth creation, I don’t want spectators. Everybody must be a player,’ he said, drawing applause.

President Museveni also addressed concerns from fishing communities, explaining the government’s plans to reorganise and modernise the fisheries sector.

He showed videos of his fish ponds in Lango Sub-region, demonstrating the potential of aquaculture as an alternative to wild fishing.

‘From a fish pond of 20 by 50 metres, my people are earning Shs100m. The government can build such ponds for you so that you get out of the wetlands,’ he said.

The President further proposed a special Fisheries Development Fund to support the industry’s modernisation and reduce conflicts between enforcement units and local communities.

Uganda Cranes will be live in Algeria on Tuesday – but with ears and eyes also turned to Cameroon and DR Congo – as the chase for the remaining Caf World Cup playoff berths reaches fever pitch.

Burkina Faso’s 3-1 win over Ethiopia and Niger’s 1-0 victory over Zambia on Sunday moved both sides to 15 points, leaving them anxiously watching results from elsewhere. Gabon, already on 16 with a game to spare, are assured of a playoff slot.

That leaves a scramble for the remaining three places among Burkina Faso (15), Niger (15), Cameroon (14), DR Congo (13), Uganda (12) and South Africa (11) as the final group-stage fixtures unfold across the continent on Tuesday – and Monday night in Cameroon’s case.

Mathematical maze

For Uganda, the equation is brutally simple – yet painfully complicated.

Victory in Boukhalfa is non-negotiable. The Cranes ideally need to beat a team they have never beaten on home soil by a margin that improves their goal difference from +3 to at least +5 and then hope Cameroon and DR Congo fail to win.

Actually, a draw for Cameroon, who will have already played by the time Uganda face Algeria, and defeat for DRC, would be enough for the Indomitable Lions to progress on goal difference.

If both Cameroon and DR Congo triumph, Uganda’s fate is sealed regardless of their result.

This chaotic permutation is the direct consequence of a Caf rule change, quietly communicated to member associations in March 2025 following Eritrea’s withdrawal from Group I in November 2023.

The regulation – discounting matches against bottom-placed teams when ranking runners-up – erased six points and three goals from Uganda’s record after their two wins over Somalia were annulled.

The adjustment plunged the Cranes from what would have been 18 points and a healthy goal buffer to just 12 points, forcing them into a desperate race in a contest rewritten by administrative decree rather than just results on the pitch.

Against the odds

Tuesday’s clash at Stade Hocine-Aït-Ahmed in Boukhalfa, Tizi Ouzou, north-central Algeria, is daunting. Algeria, already qualified, are almost flawless at home this campaign, with the 2-1 defeat to Guinea last year the only blemish.

Uganda have never beaten Algeria away, and history makes the task formidable. Yet for Paul Put’s side, this fixture is as much about a statement of growth as it is about survival.

‘We know Algeria will be a difficult game,’ said Put. ‘They are one of Africa’s strongest sides, but football can surprise you. We just have to believe, stay organised, and take our chances.’

Onyango’s return and leadership spine

The Cranes are expected to field the same XI that edged Botswana 1-0 in Francistown last Thursday – a match that marked Denis Onyango’s first start since 2021.

The veteran goalkeeper, recalled after four years of international retirement, adds leadership behind a defensive line of Toby Sibbick, Elio Capradossi, Jordan Obita and Aziz Kayondo.

Ahead of the line Khalid Aucho will anchor midfield alongside Kenneth Ssemakula, while Allan Okello, Jude Ssemugabi, and Rogers Mato carry the attacking load just behind Stephen Mukwala.

‘Regardless of whether I play or not, I remain a key member of this team,’ Onyango said. ‘The coaches have shown trust in me, and in football, anything can happen. We have given ourselves a chance.’

Algeria – star-studded and assured

For Algeria, the match is largely about maintaining rhythm and finishing the group strongly.

Coach Vladimir Petkovic may rotate lightly but will rely on Riyad Mahrez and Mohamed Amoura, scorers in the 3-0 win over Somalia last week, to lead a technically superior and experienced squad.

‘We respect Uganda,’ Petkovic said. ‘They have shown resilience and good organisation under their new coach. But we want to finish strong at home in front of our fans.’

Final push

For Uganda, victory alone is not enough – they must win, and then wait.

Their resilience will be tested under Boukhalfa’s floodlights. A win could yet drag them into the playoff conversation – or, if results elsewhere go their way, even into a historic November showdown.

Regardless of the numbers, Put’s Cranes are playing for more than points. The Cranes are playing for belief, respect, and momentum, heading into the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco in December.

Fifa 2026 World Cup Qualifiers (Caf)

Final Group G fixtures

October 14

Algeria vs Uganda, Stade Hocine-Aït-Ahmed, Boukhalfa, 7pm

Guinea vs Botswana, Stade Mohamed V, Casablanca, 7pm

Somalia vs Mozambique, Miloud Hadefi Olympic Complex, Bir El Djir, 7pm

Table for best four second-placed teams after Caf rule was applied

Team Pts GD Final opponents

Gabon (advanced) 16 +4 vs Burundi (H)

Burkina Faso 15 +6 Completed

Niger 15 +1 Completed

Cameroon 14 +9 vs Angola (H)

DR Congo 13 +4 vs Sudan (H)

Uganda 12 +3 vs Algeria (A)

South Africa 11 +1 vs Rwanda (H)

At 63, Joy Mirembe’s lifelong yearning for motherhood was fulfilled this month with the birth of twin girls. A resident of Rwentobo, Ntungamo District, Mirembe’s hands bore the marks of decades spent nurturing others -relatives’ children, orphans from the village, even strangers’ offspring who found solace in her home.

She had educated them through primary schools, secondary institutions, and universities, watching them blossom into married adults with businesses and families of their own. Despite her boundless generosity, the one dream that remained out of reach was bearing children of her own.

‘It has been a long period of time trying to have children, but I failed to conceive,’ Mirembe narrates to the Monitor.

‘I visited many hospitals, but they couldn’t really get the real problem, which was making me not conceive and have children,’ she adds.

Mirembe says things turned right side up for her last year when a friend connected her to the fertility specialist in a Kampala-based facility, Sali International Hospital.

She was managed jointly by medical workers in Sali International Hospital in Bukoto and Mukyala Mabirizi Hospital in Makindye until she gave birth.

Dr Hassan Twineamatsiko, a doctor at the Kampala-based Mukyala Mabirizi Hospital, who also managed her, says he referred her to Sali International Hospital because the Makindye-based facility doesn’t yet provide fertility services.

‘Several tests were performed: ultrasound scans and hormonal essays, and they came out very fine. No fibroids, no other abnormalities,’ he explains.

Intervention Dr Twineamatsiko adds that after the tests, Mirembe was started on hormonal treatment to reactivate her reproductive system since she has already reached menopause.

‘The mother was started on hormonal therapy. And that was a treatment scheduled to happen for a full month for her to regain her menses,’ he explains.

‘She started on the treatment, and she saw her menses back. She went back to the hospital. Of course, they had planned everything to do In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) procedures,’ he adds.

IVF is a specialised medical procedure where the egg retrieved from the mother is fertilised with a man’s sperm in the laboratory and the embryo (fertilised egg) is transferred back to grow in the uterus.

The technology was first successfully applied in 1978 in England.

‘So, the egg and the sperm preparations were done, and then she had embryo transfer. And that was in early February,’ Dr Twineamatsiko says.

‘She was given a return date. Coming back next time, when they did a scan, they found two embryos, and from that time she started antenatal. Fortunately, she had a full antenatal.’

Dr Joseph Kafuuma, a fertility specialist at Women’s Hospital International and Fertility Centre in Bukoto, Kampala, says the chance of producing preterm babies is higher with IVF pregnancies. He says this is because multiple pregnancies involve multiples, ‘twins/triplets/quadruplets/quintuplets, among others. These are usually associated with premature delivery.’

According to a 2018 report by Sarah Murray from the University of Edinburgh, pre-term birth in multiple pregnancies is likely to be ‘multifactorial, different from singletons, and remains largely unknown.’

But Mirembe did not experience this. C-section birth Dr Twineamatsiko says Mirembe initially received her antenatal care at Sali International Hospital, and then later during her pregnancy and during birth she was managed at the Makindye-based hospital.

‘She was going to hit the nine months of pregnancy between September 26 and October 3. But before this, we had to start those injections we call corticosteroids, which we always give in case this baby is born premature, they are able to breathe well, and the risk of death is low,’ he explains.

‘The drug improves fetal lung development and reduces inflammation of the lungs. We also had to repeat a number of tests,” he adds.

The medical scientists also did tests to assess the performance of the heart, liver and kidneys.

‘We had to do an electrocardiogram (ECG) and echocardiogram (ECHO) to look at the performance of the heart because, as one ages, we expect these organs to weaken,’ Dr Twineamatsiko recounts.

‘We also did liver and kidney function tests on the mother. We also did other tests. ECHO came out with some significant issues, and we worked with cardiologists on this.’

The team of medical workers and experts scheduled Mirembe for elective C-section operation on October 4 at the Makindye-based facility.

Dr Twineamatsiko says they had to get a good team: an obstetrician and a paediatrician, an anaesthetist, a midwife, and a running nurse.

‘So it was a team of around six members in the theatre, so that we could get the best out of them. We went in at around 6am, and this was completed at 8am, and we came out with our two baby girls, twins, and the mother was fine,’ he shares.

The first one had a birth weight of two kilogrammes, and the second one was 2.6 kilogrammes. Surprisingly, the mother is also expressing breast milk despite her age,’ he adds.

Reward from God Mirembe, full of excitement and reflecting on her journey of how she raised other people’s children, says giving birth to the twins is a reward from God.

‘I think that’s why, even up to this age I am in, the Lord has been able to bless me with these children. It was not by my own making, but it has been really God’s blessing,’ she says.

She adds that the total cost of the IVF procedure and care until the fourth month of pregnancy was Shs30 million.

‘Then, for antenatal care, for the drugs, I used to pay for them separately. I got pregnant at the age of 63 years after trying several times and I failed to get pregnant,’ she says.

The Alliance for National Transformation (ANT) presidential candidate, Maj Gen (rtd) Gregory Mugisha Muntu, has urged voters in Rakai and Kyotera districts to support National Unity Platform (NUP) and other Opposition candidates in the 2026 General Election.

He explained that the ANT does not have flagbearers for most positions in the two districts. While campaigning on Sunday in several trading centres, including Kifamba, Kibaale, Rakai, Lwanda, Ssanje, Kalisizo, and Kyotera, Gen Muntu emphasised the importance of unity among Opposition parties to achieve a peaceful change in Uganda’s leadership.

‘Our mission is to achieve genuine change in the governance of this country. I urge you to vote for all capable Opposition candidates who can stand firm against the regime,’ he told cheering crowds.

Among the NUP candidates he endorsed were Grace Nalubega (Rakai District Woman MP), Rose Fortunate Nantongo (Kyotera District Woman MP), Saddam Kiggundu (Rakai Town Councilor), Geoffrey Lutaaya (Kakuuto County MP), and John Paul Mpalanyi (Kyotera County MP).

He also threw his support behind Independent candidate Alexander Mackay Muhinda for the Rakai District Chairperson seat, describing him as ‘a strong voice for the Opposition.’ Rakai and Kyotera, both largely rural and agrarian, continue to struggle with poor infrastructure, low incomes, limited access to healthcare, and frequent water shortages.

‘Imagine, President Museveni has promised to tarmac these roads for nearly 40 years yet look at their state,’ Gen Muntu said.

He pledged to prioritise public service reform if elected, with a particular focus on improving the welfare of teachers and local government employees.

‘The least-paid government worker should earn at least Shs2.5 million, according to findings from one of the government’s own research institutions. It’s shameful that the state cannot fulfil such recommendations,’ he said.

Gen Muntu questioned why Ugandans continue to vote for a leader who has been in power for nearly four decades. ‘I declined a ministerial post when Museveni replaced me as army commander. Even Dr Kizza Besigye, who once stood by him, is now in prison. What makes you think things will change under the same leadership?’ he asked. He said suppression of Opposition voices and intimidation of supporters of Opposition parties reflected what he called a ‘new form of imperialism’ within the ruling establishment.

2021 polls

In the 2021 presidential elections, President Museveni received 25,598 votes in Kyotera District, representing 33.78 percent of the 124,872 total votes cast. The National Unity Platform (NUP) candidate, Robert Kyagulanyi, got 49,132 votes (64.84 percent), while Gen Muntu managed 151 votes (0.20 percent).

In Rakai District, Mr Museveni secured 47,288 votes (57.83 percent), Kyagulanyi received 33,267 votes (40.69 percent), and Gen Muntu got 232 votes (0.28 percent).

Uganda’s President Museveni has been urged to use his position as chair of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) to rally international support for peace and restraint amid escalating tensions between the United States and Venezuela over sanctions and military deployments in the Caribbean.

The call was made by John Ndabirano, who recently served as an international observer in Venezuela’s elections, during a press conference at the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela’s embassy in Kampala on Tuesday.

Ndabirano condemned what he described as ‘a looming act of military aggression’ by the United States, warning that such actions threaten regional stability and violate international law.

‘We strongly denounce the threat of military aggression by the United States, which has deployed warships and a nuclear submarine in Caribbean waters near the Venezuelan coast,’ Ndabirano said.

He added: ‘This operation follows the same playbook of lies that preceded the wars in Iraq in 2003 and Libya in 2011.’

In recent weeks, Washington has increased military and political pressure on Venezuela, deploying at least eight warships, one submarine, and F-35 aircraft to Puerto Rico, bringing thousands of sailors and marines into the region.

The US government has said the operation targets boats allegedly involved in ‘narco-trafficking.’

The Trump administration also doubled its bounty on Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro to $50 million, accusing him of narcotics trafficking and working with cartels to smuggle fentanyl-laced cocaine into the United States.

Venezuelan Ambassador to Uganda, Fatima Fernandez, dismissed Washington’s accusations, saying the sanctions imposed on her country were unilateral and illegal.

‘Venezuela has not been sanctioned by the United Nations. What is being applied to Venezuela are measures by countries that believe they have the power to impose sanctions on others. That goes against the Charter of the United Nations, its principles, values and objectives,’ Fernandez said.

She revealed that more than 1,000 unilateral coercive measures have been imposed on Venezuela, affecting key sectors such as energy, health, and banking.

‘These measures are not to protect human rights as claimed, because sanctions prevent us from buying medicines, food and guaranteeing education to our people. The goal is regime change, to suffocate the economy and take control of Venezuela’s oil and natural resources,’ she added.

There was no immediate response from either the Ugandan presidency or Washington to the appeals made in Kampala.

Venezuela, which holds the world’s largest proven oil reserves estimated at 383.8 billion barrels, also ranks fourth globally in natural gas and second in gold. Fernandez said the country’s wealth has made it a target for economic and political pressure.

She added that state oil company PDVSA has lost nearly 87 percent of its production since 2015 due to sanctions, resulting in an estimated $230 billion in revenue losses.

‘Dialogue over threats’

Ndabirano said Uganda’s current chairmanship of the Non-Aligned Movement gives it a moral responsibility to champion peace and oppose unilateral aggression.

‘Our government should mobilize NAM member states, the African Union and the East African Community to demand an immediate cessation of hostilities and the withdrawal of warships from the Caribbean,’ he said, adding: ‘Uganda should also defend the CELAC Peace Proclamation of 2014, which calls for Latin America and the Caribbean to remain a zone of peace.’

He urged African nations not to repeat the ‘complicit silence’ that preceded the wars in Iraq and Libya, adding that ‘any aggression against a sovereign country is never justified.’

Amb Fernandez echoed this call, saying Venezuela remains open to diplomatic engagement.

‘We are a peaceful country, but we will not give our country away without defending it. We prefer dialogue over threats, because threats destroy mutual respect. The most civilized way to resolve disputes is through talks, not warships,’ she said.

She added that President Nicolás Maduro has continued to unite the people, military and police ‘as one force defending sovereignty, security and peace.’

The 81-year-old Ugandan leader is on Wednesday expected to address the NAM midterm review meeting in Kampala, where foreign ministers will adopt the Kampala Declaration under the theme ‘Deepening Cooperation for Shared Global Affluence.”