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In what came across as the first public rejection of what was ostensibly meant to be a bribe, 22 years ago, earlier this month, Justice James Ogoola rejected a ‘soda’ offered to him by a city tycoon whose cases he was presiding over. Justice Ogoola told a court session that he was presiding over on October 7, 2003, that the tycoon, Mr Muhammad Majyambere, offered him an envelope with the ‘soda’ sealed inside it.

“I could not accept the small envelope, because I thought it was against my conscience and code of conduct. I accepted the condolence message. I called you [Majyambere] here to tell you that I did not accept the envelope,’ Ogoola said, looking straight into the embarrassed businessman’s eyes. Whereas Justice Ogoola, who was at the time the head of the Commercial Court, did not reveal how much was involved, Mr Majyambere, later told journalists that the ‘soda’ was in the form of cash amounting to ‘just Shs100,000’. At the time, the tycoon was Djibouti’s consular general to Uganda, and the judge’s going public, it was feared, had not only embarrassed the businessman, but also threatened to strain relations between Uganda and Djibouti.

The offer

The tycoon offered the money to the judge on October 2, 2003, at All Saints Church in Nakasero during a funeral service for the judge’s mother-in-law. The judge revealed that the tycoon had, during the said service, passed on the huge envelope through his wife, whom the businessman had not even known or met before.

At the time, Justice Ogoola’s wife was a resident of the United States of America and had only briefly flown back to Uganda to attend her mother’s funeral. According to The Monitor of October 8, 2003, the judge kept the envelope sealed until October 7, 2003, when he called Mr Majyambere’s lawyers and the media in court to witness the dramatic handover of the envelope.

The judge told the packed court that the big envelope that the tycoon handed over contained both what could be looked at as a normal condolence message along with a smaller envelope that contained the ‘soda’. Inscribed on the small envelope were the words ‘contribution for a soda’. The judge read the words out to the court. According to The Monitor, Mr Majyambere who seemed uneasy as the judge went public on the soda, stood up and raised his hand several times which was an indicator that he had something to say, but Justice Ogoola ignored him and went on to tell the story uninterrupted.

After making the stunning revelations, Justice Ogoola handed over the ‘soda’ envelope to Majyambere’s lawyers, Mr Augustine Semakula of Semakula and Company Advocates and Fred Ntende of Ntende and Company Advocates. He instructed the lawyers to pass on the envelope which was still unopened to their client.

Recusal

Justice Ogoola was suspicious that the offer of ‘soda’ was linked to the three cases involving Mr Majyambere, which he was at the time dealing with.

The cases civil suit number 229 in which Mr Majyambere through his company, East African Foam, sued the Attorney General seeking to recover property worth Shs2 billion. The second case was one in which the tycoon sued the government along with the East African Trade and Development Bank, the Metropolitan Properties Limited and Fulgence Mungerera, a certified public accountant.

He claimed that his property which comprised of a modern foam making factory along 8th Street Industrial Area was fraudulently sold by the government. He was seeking an order of court annulling the sale and a cancelation of the land title on Plot 9-11, registered in the names of Metropolitan Properties Limited. The tycoon also sought compensation for the wrongful sale. The third case was one that had been brought against the tycoon by Trust Bank Limited seeking to recover $50,000 from him.

The judge pulled out of all three cases to avoid any risk of bias in his judgements. “I am now pulling out of his cases. The file is going to be taken back to the registrar for reallocation to another judge who will handle the cases afresh,’ he declared.

Reallocation

However, rather than allocate all three to the same judge, the cases were split up and allocated to different judges. The case in which the tycoon sought to recover property worth Shs2b was, for example, allocated to Justice Edmond Sempa Lugayizi, also of the Commercial Court. Justice Lugayizi retired from the bench in May 2014, having clocked the retirement age of 65 in February that year. The case involving Trust Bank was allocated to Justice Stella Arach-Amoko. Lady Justice Arach-Amoko died on June 17, 2023.

In Defence

Speaking to The Monitor on the evening of October 7, 2003, the tycoon said he was surprised by the judge’s allegation, adding that he had only made a contribution towards the funeral expenses as any other mourner would have done. He admitted that he did not know the judge’s wife and had not met her before. He said it was the master of ceremonies who had pointed her out to him. “It was only Shs100,000 for buying 10 crates of soda. There wasn’t anything beyond that. How could I bribe a judge in church?’ the businessman mused.

The tycoon told The Monitor that he had made another contribution, which he dropped in the offertory bag as it was being passed around. ‘It is clumsy to attend a funeral and not make any contribution,’ Mr Majyambere said. He said unbeknownst to Justice Ogoola, a friend of his, who he did not name, had introduced him to the judge’s deceased mother-in-law as far back as 1994.

As such, he needed no invitation to attend the funeral of a friend, he said. The newspaper quoted him, adding in Swahili, ‘I have attended funerals of other people I did not even know.’

Elevation

Justice Ogoola left the Commercial Court at the end of July 2004 when he was named Principal Judge, taking over from Justice Herbert Ntabagoba, who died in April 2020. He retired from the Judiciary in 2010 after clocking 65 years of age, which is the mandatory retirement age for judges of the High Court.

However, whereas the public rejection of the alleged bribe will stand out as one of the things that will define his legacy, his poetry in the wake of the November 2007 invasion of the High Court premises in Kampala will no doubt stand out.

The court was invaded by armed men clad in black T-shirts and military fatigue bottoms and wielding special military grade assault weapons. Their mission?

Abort hearing of a bail application by suspected rebels of the People’s Redemption Army (PRA). The men had, along with Opposition leader Kizza Besigye, been charged with treason.

The invasion meant that the hearing that was meant to be presided over by Justice Edmond Ssempa Lugayizi did not take place.

Justice Ogoola subsequently described the invasion as a ‘despicable act’, a ‘rape of the Judiciary’ on ‘a day of infamy’.

That, much more than the rejected ‘soda’, is what is most likely to define his legacy as a defender of the pillars of justice.

When I was in primary school, we learnt about the creation myths that different groups of people came up with to explain why things were the way they were. Most of them were very interesting, much more so than the boring scientific explanation behind such phenomena as the rising of the moon, setting of the sun and so on.

What was not included in our textbooks, though, was a chapter on various myths about education that the parents in my time entertained. I will attempt to shed light on some of these myths.

1. Myth: Bathing with cold water is good for young people. It makes them tough and alert.

Truth: No, it does not. It merely makes them hate cold water or avoid bathing altogether. Just consider your average boda boda rider.

2. Myth: Boarding schools are places where young people learn important life lessons they cannot learn at home.

Truth: I guess so. I mean, it is rather difficult to hone one’s thieving skills under the watchful eye of a parent or guardian.

3. Children should not be fed good food in school. It will make them too comfortable.

Truth: We now have a generation of hungry, angry people in positions of influence, who have been starving since their school days and are now attempting to make up for lost time by eating the country, piece by piece.

4. Myth: Sciences are the key to success in life. Everyone must excel in the sciences.

Truth: You can lead a cow to the Science lab, but you cannot make it successfully titrate a solution. Neither can you enter this cow’s brain and make it understand Physics. Maybe it can absorb a bit of Biology as it chews the cud, but that is absolutely it.

5. Myth: Homework is good. More homework is even better. It is a sign that the teachers are hard at work.

Truth: If this is true, how come, having done all their homework, no opposition candidate has ever been successful in the elections?

6. Myth: There is a direct correlation between corporal punishment and passing exams

Truth: Are high-yield dairy cows beaten twice a day for a specific number of minutes? I rest my case!

State-owned Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC) has confirmed the death of its senior engineer, whose body was recovered on Sunday after drowning at Busowoko Falls in Jinja District.

Eng Gershom Rwakasanga, who served as UNOC’s Manager for Terminals Development and Operations at the Jinja Storage Terminal, reportedly slipped and fell into River Nile on Saturday evening while taking photographs with his daughter at the scenic falls.

According to authorities, the body was discovered early Sunday by sand miners working downstream along the Nile.

The miners reportedly found it trapped underwater, entangled in their sand collection equipment.

‘The body was found with his wallet, money, and two smartphones,’ a local source told Monitor.

The miners immediately alerted local leaders and police, who coordinated with fishermen to retrieve it.

Eyewitnesses familiar with the deceased said the fatal incident occurred between 5:00 and 6:00 p.m as he ‘approached a scenic area near the rapids to take photographs.’

‘Tragically, he is believed to have slipped and fallen into the powerful falls, where he was quickly swept away by the current,’ one of the eyewitnesses suggested.

Busowoko Falls, located along the River Nile more than 20 kilometers from Jinja town, has in recent years become a magnet for local and foreign visitors, despite its strong currents and slippery rocks.

Ashraf Kitamilike, a tour guide at Busowoko Beach, said the engineer was a familiar visitor.

‘Eng Rwakasanga has been a regular client who comes with friends, but yesterday he showed up with his daughter in a relaxed mood,’ he observed.

‘He first came driving, we showed him where to park, but after parking he changed his mind and was shown another option. He moved out of the car and said, ‘Today I don’t need a guide, I’m just going to sit,” Kitamilike added.

Kitamilike told Monitor that visitors saw the engineer and his ‘visibly teen’ daughter exchanging phones as they took photos when the tragedy occurred.

‘In a few minutes, the daughter shouted ‘Daddy!’ when he had fallen,’ he recalled.

Richard Ksakakya, one of the local rescuers, said divers immediately tried to locate the body but failed until the following day when sand miners found it.

Jinja City Deputy Resident Commissioner, Marine Kasonzi, who led the search alongside fishermen and local leaders, thanked the community for their cooperation.

‘We are going to make a police report of what happened and take the body to Jinja Regional Referral Hospital for postmortem before it is handed over to the family for burial,’ he said.

Kitamilike told Monitor that visitors saw the engineer and his ‘visibly teen’ daughter exchanging phones as they took photos when the tragedy occurred.

‘In a few minutes, the daughter shouted ‘Daddy!’ when he had fallen,’ he recalled.

Richard Ksakakya, one of the local rescuers, said divers immediately tried to locate the body but failed until the following day when sand miners found it.

Jinja City Deputy Resident Commissioner, Marine Kasonzi, who led the search alongside fishermen and local leaders, thanked the community for their cooperation.

‘We are going to make a police report of what happened and take the body to Jinja Regional Referral Hospital for postmortem before it is handed over to the family for burial,’ he said.

Busowoko Beach Managing Director, Abudala Suuta, described the drowning as ‘an unfortunate incident and the first of its kind’ at the facility.

‘There are safety measures always in place – that is why when visitors come, tour guides take them through precautions to avoid such incidents,’ he explained.

He added that the management has installed warning signs to prevent visitors from going beyond certain points.

‘The water may seem calm to the eyes, but it’s different underneath,’ Suuta cautioned.

Tributes pour in

In a statement, UNOC extended condolences to his family and colleagues, sending its ‘collective thoughts and prayers to all affected by this tragic loss.’

More tributes poured in online.

‘I learnt with profound sadness the tragic death of comrade Rwakasanga. I worked with him when I was Deputy RCC Jinja City. I condole with the family and UNOC staff. RIP,’ Rubaga Deputy RCC Henry Kitambula wrote on X.

‘The Nile waters claimed your life. You were good, you have gone but shall forever live in our hearts,’ a man identifying himself as Anatoli Kihuka Bamusiima also eulogized.

UNOC said further details and funeral arrangements would be communicated in due course.

Busowoko Falls, located along the Nile at Busowoko village in Butagaya Sub-county, Jinja District, hosts activities such as camping, kayaking, tubing, water massage, and bird watching.

Each time there is no electricity in our house and yet I know Uganda produces 2,000 megawatts, has three power companies and a regulator, I ask myself: Why do we live with this colossal failure and make it seem normal? I ask this question with anger because I fail to comprehend how we have lived with outages for decades – and the power companies, the regulator, the government, the President, the politicians, the clergy are all doing pretty much nothing about it.

If you do not know how serious a problem this is, read on. In 1997, the Uganda Electricity Board (UEB) was unbundled, and in the years that followed, three companies were created: Uganda Electricity Generation Company Limited (UEGCL), Uganda Electricity Transmission Company Limited (UETCL) and Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL).

The Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERA), which supervises the electricity industry and is responsible for tariffs, also came into being. The unbundling of the UEB sought to boost power generation, transmission and distribution and ensure every electricity consumer gets reliable and adequate electricity. But there has never been a time – even in Kampala, the capital – when power outages seemed like a thing of the past. Never! And this should bother everyone who cares about how Uganda is managed.

When Umeme secured a concession in 2005 to distribute electricity and the government embarked on constructing power dams, the hope was that we would leave power outages behind. Regrettably, power outages continued in real earnest just one year after Umeme secured the concession. In 2006, it was hard to see, for example, lights near Parliament, the Uganda Broadcasting Corporation, etc – prominent landmarks in the heart of Kampala. Yes, no electricity in central Kampala. Some problems take really long to solve, so we had to be patient. We waited for a marked improvement in power supply and reliability in vain. For 20 years – enough time for any country that is managed well to bring its electricity problems under control – we got nothing. Absolutely nothing in terms of reliable and adequate power.

Umeme’s concession expired and was not renewed. Some of us were greatly relieved. And we said good riddance! But people who are knowledgeable about Uganda’s electricity problems warned that celebrating the exit of Umeme – which maintains it had major accomplishments, although the people it served always lived with outages – was premature. UEDCL took over from Umeme this past April, and from what we have witnessed so far, Uganda is plugged into failure and is going to deal with a long, dark power story.

Electricity consumers are now dealing with excuses that have zero bearing on curbing outages and ensuring people get adequate electricity. UEDCL is saying it has distributed electricity for only a few months. That there is equipment that Umeme ought to have replaced but did not, so its time and financial resources have to be spent fixing the mess Umeme created. These excuses no longer make sense. Daily Monitor reported on October 6 the rift between ERA and UEDCL, saying it was contributing to the power outages. But we had outages for 20 years when Umeme was the main electricity distributor.

We have to admit we are dealing with failure of almost inconceivably epic proportions. We have failed to fix a problem we have lived with for more than 40 years.

I did mention politicians at the beginning and alluded to their failure to act. But, in retrospect, I guess I am naive. How do you expect them to fix outages when they never see them and assume everyone else – at least in Kampala – has the same luxury?

How do you expect ministers to fix outages when they have electricity 24/7 in their homes? If the politicians knew how we are suffering, they would act.

In Fumba Town, Zanzibar, a wall now carries the face of a chimpanzee wrapped in bright kitenge fabric. The mural, titled Wrapped, is one of Joseph Wamala Kyeyune’s most celebrated works, created as part of the Wild Mural Projects. Inspired by a visit to Ngamba Island in Uganda, where he witnessed the care given to rescued chimpanzees, Kyeyune painted the piece as a reminder of how much humans take from nature, and how little we give back. ‘The mural came from my interest in giving a rare and endangered gift of a species wrapped in fabric,’ he explains. Finished in five days and sealed with his recurring post stamp motif, the mural stands as both artwork and message: a timeless reminder of our debt to the wild.

That sense of message and meaning runs through much of Kyeyune’s work. A painter and muralist born and raised in Kampala, he has built his career on questioning elitism, probing social mobility, and exploring the grey spaces where saint meets sinner. His figurative paintings are alive with serigraphy, text, and recreated found images, from iron sheets and vehicle number plates to post stamps that carry the vibrancy of the streets into galleries and public spaces.

Intentionality

Kyeyune’s journey into art was intentional. In 2012, he enrolled at Michelangelo College of Creative Arts, pursuing a diploma that introduced him to formal technique and theory. By 2016, he was at Kyambogo University, refining his skills through a degree in Industrial Art and Design. ‘Back then, I just wanted to create. But over time, art became a mirror for society and for myself. I realized it could be both a gift and protest,’ he recalls.

Those early years laid the foundation for an artist whose work would increasingly reflect the pulse of the streets as well as the questions of conscience. Every artist has their turning points, and for Kyeyune, a number of such moments stand out vividly. His exhibition Saints and Sinners in Kaberamaido District was a site-specific installation where he transformed an ordinary hall into an ephemeral gallery. The exhibition was about unlocking possibilities in people’s minds.

He says: ‘It was my way of giving back to those who inspire us.’

The KLA Art Biennale in 2018 placed him under the mentorship of African art masters Simon Njami and Godfried Donkor, sharpening his understanding of curation, storytelling, and the role of the artist as both witness and participant. In 2024, at the BlaxTARLINES Residency in Ghana, he found what he calls a new lens: ‘From Ghana, I learned to treat art not only as a commodity but as a gift, a shared human inheritance.’

At the Bayimba Festival in 2017 and 2019, designing stage backdrops pushed him to scale ideas to reach entire audiences. And at Sanaa Fest in Australia in 2020, his exhibition I Am Because We Are explored multiculturalism and earned him a residency, broadening his sense of how art interacts across cultures and identities. Each milestone did not just elevate his career; it stretched his practice and expanded his philosophy.

But to measure Kyeyune’s work only by exhibitions and accolades would be to miss its heart. Through Vodo Art Society, the collective he co-founded, art becomes a communal experience. ‘We have created experiential exhibitions for the public to see, internalise, and provoke them to question their purpose,’ he says.

Impactful

With Vodo, he has helped curate works like Saints and Sinners in Kaberamaido and Zzadde by Yiga Joshua at Motiv. He has also painted murals in collaboration with organisations like Pollicy, sparking community conversations about mental health and Covid-19. At Mulago Cancer Institute, he painted with children battling cancer, transforming sterile corridors into colourful spaces of play and resilience.

‘Impact is not about numbers,’ he insists. ‘It is about provoking thought, opening possibility, and gifting art as something more than decoration.’ Kyeyune’s signature style combines figurative painting with serigraphy, text, and found images. The incorporation of everyday materials-iron sheets, number plates, stamps-connects high art to street vernacular. It’s a deliberate move, one that collapses the divide between the gallery and the roadside billboard.

‘I’m inspired by breadwinners, the labourers and vendors who put their lives on the line to provide for others. Their sacrifices are the true embodiment of love and humanity,’ he says. Within those daily struggles, he sees the intersection of saint and sinner, a recurring theme in his work. The post stamp, which appears in Wrapped and other pieces, is more than a graphic element.

For him, it symbolises a message sealed and delivered, a record of a time and place. He draws inspiration from ‘all things life throws at us,’ but particularly from people who live and love beyond themselves. ‘I usually like to highlight breadwinners. the sacrifices they make are a true embodiment of humanity.’

His murals and canvases carry this philosophy: to timestamp existence, to show both beauty and contradiction, and to remind viewers that art is not an isolated luxury and is part of daily life.

Ubiquitous

Today, Kyeyune’s work can be seen both online-on his Instagram @the.Wamala.Art and Vodo Art Society’s website, and in public walls and galleries across Uganda and beyond. But his vision stretches forward. ‘On my wish list,’ he says simply, ‘is to always evolve.’ That evolution, for him, is not about chasing trends but about deepening his authenticity, widening his community, and holding on to art’s role as both mirror and gift.

‘Explore different forms of art,’ he advises young creatives. ‘Enjoy every season of self-discovery. Be present. Be part of a community. Study the business, but don’t be swallowed by it. Observe more. Fill in the blanks.’ In Fumba Town, where a chimpanzee wrapped in fabric watches over the streets, those blanks are already being filled, strokes of colour, fragments of truth, and reminders of humanity’s shared responsibility. And from Kampala to Zanzibar to Adelaide, Wamala Kyeyune continues to paint those truths, one wall, one canvas, one borrowed story at a time.

Team Uganda’s ultimate goal at the ITTF-Africa Senior Table Tennis Championships which started in Tunis, Tunisia on Sunday is qualifying for the London 2026 World Team Table Tennis Championship due in April next year.

Uganda sent six players. The ladies include Parvin Judith Nangonzi, Jemimah Nakawala and Judith Mirembe, while the boys include team captain Jonathan Ssenyonga, David Odoi and Joshua Magaya and will contest in seven medal events, including men’s and women’s singles, doubles, mixed doubles, and team competitions.

Nigeria and Egypt are the favourites but Uganda’s most experienced players have painted a picture of hope.

‘Last year, we won bronze, and this year we want to do even better, though other players are also plotting for us,’ said Nangonzi, who alongside Nakawala and Patience Anyango won the bronze at the 2024 edition in Addis Ababa. That was Uganda’s first continental bronze in 25 years.

Ssenyonga said after intense training under the guidance of 1996 Olympian Paul Mutambuze and Alvin Katumba, ‘we are ready to tussle it out with the powerhouses on the continent.’

‘We shall strive to get the medals and qualify for the world championships.’

Mutambuze, the head coach, tasked his team to strive to finish among the top eight teams to reach the World Championships next year.

‘I think the girls have more chances of even winning a better medal than bronze,’ Mutambuze, who played at the 1996 Olympics, said on the team’s departure.

Meanwhile, Joseph Ssebatindira and Patience Anyango are in Sheffield for the World Hopes Week while national top seed Sam Ankunda is starting his UCE exams this week.

‘Among the boys, we will miss Joseph. Ssenyonga is experienced and ranked in the world. The other two are not experienced but on a good day, they can do something.’

Uganda Table Tennis Association president Cyrus Muwanga also travelled with the team to Tunis for the Africa Table Tennis Federation annual general meeting.

Event: ITTF-Africa Senior Championships 2025

Dates: October 12-19, 2025

Venue: Rades Multisports Hall, Tunis, Tunisia

Events: Men’s and women’s singles, doubles, mixed doubles, and team events

In the remote, rugged lands of Amudat District in Karamoja Sub-region, where health services are often stretched thin and traditions such as female genital mutilation (FGM) and child marriage persist, one woman has quietly stood as a guardian of women and children for more than two decades. Esther Acheng, the Amudat Assistant District Health Officer (ADHO) in charge of maternal and child health (MCH)

Acheng’s journey began in 2000, when she graduated from Matany School of Nursing as an enrolled nurse. At school, she was recognised with a certificate of merit for good conduct – a trait that would define her career. Her first assignment was at Matany Hospital paediatric ward, where she worked tirelessly as the officer-in-charge for two years. Even then, her dedication earned her a glowing recommendation for her hard work.

From Matany, she joined Moroto Catholic Diocesan health facility, where she would serve for 15 years. It was here that her passion for reproductive and child health deepened. In 2008, the Catholic Diocese awarded her a scholarship to pursue a diploma in nursing. By 2012, the facility was recognised by the district as the best performing in the region, a testament to her leadership and commitment.

Seven years later, Acheng was promoted and transferred to Amudat District Local Government, where she surrently serves as ADHO. Her work has not gone unnoticed: last year, she was recognised by the Ministry of Health for her outstanding contribution to safe motherhood. This year, she has again been nominated, unopposed, for the same award.

But Acheng’s story is not only about hospital wards and official recognition. She has quietly taken on another mission: protecting vulnerable girls. For the past four years, she has supported children from disadvantaged families, including those who have fled FGM and child marriages. At a local safe centre, she has sheltered and supported 12 girls. With the help of other well-wishers, some have progressed to secondary school. Acheng personally supports two girls in secondary school and six in primary school, ensuring their dreams of education are not cut short by harmful traditions.

‘To me, saving a mother’s life or giving a girl a chance to escape FGM is not just work, it is my calling,’ she says softly, her eyes reflecting fortitude and compassion. Sarah Narupei, a retired health worker in Moroto District, lauds Acheng for her selflessness beyond professional duties. ‘She is not just a health worker – she is a mother to many. Despite growing up in a humble family, she has used her position to change lives, especially for vulnerable children. She pays tuitionfor some of them and ensures they stay in school.’

In a region where maternal mortality remains a challenge and girls continue to face the risk of harmful cultural practices, Acheng represents the bridge between health, hope, and humanity. She is not only a nurse and health officer but a mother to many, a mentor, and a quiet warrior for change. Reflecting on her inspiration to join nursing, she recalls: ‘A nurse in our village worked so well at the health centre and always looked smart in her uniform. I wanted to be like her.’ Early in her career, while working at Moroto Catholic Diocesan health facility, which had no midwife, Acheng oversaw numerous safe deliveries, which became a defining moment in her passion for maternal health.

‘I used to work alone, but our health facility delivered many mothers safely, and that’s why I was recognised in 2012.’

‘I was helped by others to study, and I feel I should give back to God with the little I have,’ she explains. These children are identified through integrated outreaches, Village Health Teams (VHTs), the safe centre at Kalas Girls Primary School, and social networks like the Karamoja Development Forum. ‘All the girls I’m helping are still in school; one of my former girls is now a midwife,’ she shares. Funding their education and basic needs is a constant challenge, but she negotiates with schools and relies on her salary, allowances, and contributions from well-wishers.

Background

Acheng was born on October 22, 1976 in Aremo Central, Morulem Sub-county, Abim District, to Mary Amollo and Paulino Ochan.

She began her education at Morulem Girls Primary School in 1986, where she sat for her Primary Leaving Examination (PLE). She then attended Kangole Girls Secondary School, completing Senior Four (UCE) in 1996 before pausing formal education. She later pursued a certificate in nursing, which became the foundation for her further professional development, eventually upgrading her qualifications to a diploma and bachelor’s degree in nursing.

During her school years, Acheng held several leadership positions, including dormitory captain at the primary level and class administration coordinator at secondary school. She was also an active choir member.

‘I come from a polygamous family; we are 23 children. Out of all of us, only 10 managed to complete tertiary education-four became health workers and seven became primary school teachers. The rest dropped out of school because our parents were peasants and could not afford to support all of us,’she said.

‘I, too, was supposed to drop out of school in Primary five. However, I approached the headteacher of my primary school, a nun, who allowed me to stay in school during the holidays if I helped dry and clean beans left in the food store for the next term. That’s how I managed to complete my primary education, sitting for my PLE in 1992 (I had started Primary One in 1986),’

Acheng says Secondary school brought its own challenges. ‘I was almost forced to drop out in the second term of Senior one, but I sought help from my stepsister, who assisted me until I completed my certificate in nursing. After S4, someone approached my parents to propose marriage, but I refused. My father was so impressed with my decision. That same vacation, I began teaching at my former primary school, Morulem Girls,’said.

The nurse says she faced constant struggles in getting school requirements, and her stepsister often helped by paying her school fees. ‘These experiences are why I deeply sympathise with vulnerable children-I understand exactly what it feels like to struggle to stay in school. Even my siblings faced similar challenges. My brother and sister, whom I supported, dropped out, except for the last-born sister, who joined S1 the same year I finished my certificate. I started paying her school fees, determined to ensure she stayed in school,’she said.

Acheng enjoys singing and dancing, and she is among the elder children in her family. She is married and has four children-three boys and one girl. Two of her children are currently at university, one is in Senior Six, and another in Senior One. Working in Karamoja comes with challenges, particularly interference from traditional birth attendants, who often encourage women to deliver in villages instead of health facilities.

Despite this, Acheng has introduced innovative approaches to reach mothers in hard-to-reach areas, including integrated health outreaches, radio talk shows, and spot messages. On working with cultural leaders and traditional birth attendants, she says, ‘They are referral points for pregnant mothers, but some don’t cooperate, taking deliveries into their own hands.’

Beyond her professional work, Acheng has held multiple leadership and community positions. She serves as deputy chairperson of the Health Committee in Amudat District, coordinator for the African Women Economic Empowerment Council, treasurer for Ethur Community Amudat, and treasurer of the Amudat Savings Initiative. She is also a board member of Hope for Karamoja Children Foundation and a member of the Health Unit Management Committee at Kosike HCIII in Amudat District.

Reflecting on her childhood, she recalls, ‘In Primary Two, I was given scholastic materials for being the most disciplined at school.’ She also notes with pride that all her children aspire to pursue medical courses.

Delicate balance

Balancing her office duties with her support for vulnerable children is demanding.

‘It is hard, but I plan all that I am supposed to do the next day every evening. I use my salary and allowances to pay their school fees, and some well-wishers contribute too,’ she notes. Her motivation comes from her commitment to humanity: ‘The work for humanity, most especially saving mothers, keeps me going after 25 years in service.’ Acheng credits her family and mentors for her journey.

‘My biggest support has been my family, including my sister Awili Santina Obin and her husband, my husband Gabriel Okangas, a nun called Rev Sr Dinavence Tushabomwe, Brother Gunther and the hospital administrator at Matany Hospital,’ she lauds. Her legacy is one of nurturing future champions in safe motherhood and promoting good leadership across Karamoja and Amudat.

What ought to be done

Looking forward, she dreams of accessible, quality maternal and child health services throughout the region in the next decade. She emphasises the continued fight against FGM and child marriage: ‘Communities must be sensitised, and the FGM Act of 2010 strengthened. Young girls should know their rights, prioritise education, avoid early marriage, and always liaise with the health department and security services.’

Amudat district, in the Karamoja Sub-region, continues to face significant challenges in reproductive health, including persistently high maternal and newborn mortality rates. The maternal mortality ratio in Karamoja remains among the highest in the country. Daily Monitor reported in August that many health facilities in the district fail to meet the standards required for basic emergency obstetric and neonatal care.

Utilisation of maternal and neonatal services is also low, as many women do not attend sufficient antenatal visits or follow-up postnatal care. A large number of births still occur without the presence of a skilled health provider. Health centres, particularly those at lower levels, often lack essential infrastructure, equipment, medicines, and trained personnel. Poor roads, difficult terrain, and the remoteness of many communities make travel to health facilities challenging. In addition, many people cannot afford transport costs or any applicable fees, further limiting access to care.

Some practices discourage contraceptive use, encourage polygyny and early marriages, impose taboos on certain foods that affect nutrition during pregnancy, and limit women’s decision-making power. Low male involvement in family planning remains a critical issue. When men are excluded, contraceptive uptake is lower, discontinuation rates are higher, and conflicts over family planning can arise.

What Others Say

Sr Pross Nantege, Head teacher of Kalas Girls Primary School in Amudat District,

Acheng is passionate about her work and dedicated to helping vulnerable children, especially girls who are victims of FGM and early marriages. She described Acheng is a woman who grew up as a well-behaved girl – a trait that has helped her excel in everything she does. Acheng is a committed and trustworthy leader who has a deep passion for her work and for children. She loves supporting children in schools by paying their tuition and providing scholastic materials.

Daisy Awilo Omech, project monitoring and evaluation officer, ActionAid Uganda,

‘Acheng is an exceptional health officer whose dedication to maternal and child health is inspiring. She often visits expectant mothers in remote villages to ensure they receive proper care. Her guidance has empowered many women to seek professional healthcare.

‘She is respected not just for her professionalism, but also for her kindness, patience, and ability to make every mother feel valued and cared for. Her work has saved countless lives uplifted the community.’

Emmanuel Koriang, project officer at ActionAid Uganda

‘ Acheng is one of the most dedicated assistant district health officers in charge of maternal healthcare. She has helped reduce risks associated with home births and traditional birth attendants. She is compassionate, patient, and always ready to offer guidance and support to both mothers and healthcare staff.

Her initiatives in maternal health education, antenatal care, and postnatal follow-ups have greatly improved the wellbeing of mothers and children in the district. Women call her ‘Mama Health’ because of her selflessness. She treats every patient equally and is a role model for healthcare workers in the region.’

Projections by Stanbic Bank have indicated that East African Community (EAC) trade growth projection is to hit 30 percent in the next five years from the current 11.5 percent.

The projections show that intra-EAC trade is growing twice the size of GDP, which is at 12 percent growth, yet GDP for EAC states is growing at six percent.

‘The growth of trade is being accelerated by mainly tourism across the EAC member countries, mainly among Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda and free movement of people,’ the projections show.

It further adds that emphasis on infrastructure development by respective governments in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda is fostering tourism inflows. The lender indicates that most of Kenya’s tourists hail from the United States of America (USA).

The number totals 10 percent, followed by Uganda (9.5 percent visitors) and Tanzania (8.4 percent visitors) in that order.

Stanbic Bank projects this will be driven by free movement of services and service suppliers. This aims to help the region increase services trade-within the EAC and beyond-in pursuit of the aims of the EAC Treaty.

Achieving the above calls for a two-pronged approach.

This, for starters, necessitates putting in place enabling framework to address the multitude of different crosscutting and sector-specific regulatory, procedural and business environment obstacles that make it difficult for EAC services firms to do business across the border in other EAC Partner States.

It also, secondly, requires putting in place to support EAC services firms build their productive and export capacity in order to actually make trade in services happen.

Based on this, the strategy is guided by a vision of a globally competitive services sector for equitable and sustainable economic development of the EAC region with a Mission to facilitate an integrated, globally competitive, export-oriented EAC services sector.

The week ending saw Uganda mark 30 years of the existence of the 1995 Constitution. In the run-up to the commemoration, a series of events was lined up.

Outgoing Deputy Chief Justice Richard Buteera, while presiding over the launch of the first compendium of public interest litigation cases in Uganda since 1996, decried the non-compliance of court orders, especially by the other two arms of government, the Executive and Legislature.

He cited the Supreme Court’s decision in the Amama Mbabazi vs Yoweri Museveni election petition of 2016, in which the justices proposed 10 recommendations that they believed, if implemented, would greatly improve the electoral process in the country. Some of the recommendations included: extending the filing and determination period of presidential petitions from 30 days to 60, allowing oral testimony in addition to affidavits, increasing the time for fresh elections from 20 days, and enacting a law to regulate the use of technology in elections.

Others were sanction officials who deny equal airtime to candidates on public media, banning campaign donations by all candidates, including the sitting President, to ensure a level playing ground, prohibiting public servants from participating in political campaigns, and enacting the law to include the Attorney General as a respondent in presidential election petitions. But according to Justice Buteera, the other two arms of government have adamantly refused to have most of these recommendations implemented, almost a decade later.

We strongly associate ourselves with the retired jurist’s concerns that court decisions and recommendations shouldn’t be issued in vain. Article 128(3) of the 1995 Constitution demands that all organs of the State must ensure they assist the courts to ensure their effectiveness. Likewise, Article 212(d) demands that the Uganda Police Force cooperates with the civilian authority and other security organs and the general public, a duty which is essential for the administration of justice.

Based on the aforementioned constitutional provisions, all other government institutions, including the Executive and Legislature, should assist the courts in ensuring there is better administration of justice in the country, and more especially around the electoral process. This is because noncompliance with the court orders undermines the powers of the Judiciary and also erodes the general public’s confidence in an institution that is meant to be the last line of defence.

Uganda is currently in the thick of electioneering, and we believe if all the 10 recommendations of the highest court in the land had been implemented, it would have been a big step towards achieving a proper democratic election where a losing candidate would admit to having fairly been beaten.