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There is nothing more beautiful than a teacher waking up with pride, walking into the classroom with a smile and hope. It is the image of true patriotism, a man or woman who carries in their hands the chalk that writes the destiny of an entire people, who holds in their voice the power to awaken hidden potential in young minds, and who daily performs the quiet miracle of transforming ignorance into knowledge. No teacher, at the beginning of their journey, ever dreams of mediocrity. No teacher chooses this calling with the intention of producing half-baked children or an entire class of failures. No teacher wakes up in the morning thinking of dodging duty, or of standing before their students with despair written on their faces.

Every true teacher longs for excellence, longs to see their pupils succeed, longs to be remembered as the bridge that carried a generation to greatness.

And then frustration comes. Slowly, steadily, cruelly. The same teacher who longed to serve with joy is stripped of dignity by a system that demands everything but offers nothing. The same teacher who desired to give their best is crushed by a government that treats their profession as a burden, not a blessing. Pride withers when the pockets remain empty, when the landlord knocks, when the children at home cry for school fees, when the nation looks the other way.

We demand miracles from them. We demand straight-A results, engineers, doctors, and leaders of tomorrow, yet we deny them the very tools that make miracles possible.

We measure them against the impossible while giving them nothing to stand on. It is hypocrisy of the highest order to rebuke a teacher for poor performance while never asking ourselves whether we have performed our own duty to support them. A teacher is not a machine that can run without fuel, nor a miracle-worker who can conjure success from thin air. A teacher is a human being, with a family to feed, with dignity to uphold, with personal dreams that deserve fulfilment.

And when the nation humiliates its teachers, when it forces them to work in misery, when it robs them of the pride that should be the foundation of their service, the teacher bends, and when the teacher bends, the entire nation collapses with him.

That is why it pains me to see ministers stand at podiums, wagging fingers at striking teachers, their voices swollen with threats and arrogance. Ordering teachers to return to work or face dismissal, yet they know very well that the conditions they have created cannot enable them to produce good results. And that is why their own children are not in public schools. If these schools were as good as they claim, their children would be there. But they know what they serve the nation is not fit for their own.

If public schools are so excellent, why are their own sons and daughters in international schools, elite private academies, or tucked away in foreign boarding institutions? If Uganda’s health system is ‘world-class,’ why do they fly abroad for treatment or book their families into private hospitals the moment a fever strikes? If they genuinely believed in what they force upon ordinary Ugandans, would they not gladly partake in it themselves? They know, deep down, that what they serve the rest of us is not edible, that it is poison.

If our ministers’ children were all enrolled in public schools, the debate about teachers’ salaries wouldn’t go on for decades. Would classrooms still be leaking, textbooks missing, desks broken? Would teachers still be the lowest paid professionals, begging for increments in strikes that never materialise? Of course not. If their own children depended on the pride, energy, and stability of public-school teachers, reforms would not be promises, they would be realities delivered yesterday.

The day we choose to pay them well, to honour them fully, to recognise them openly, will be the day we begin the true transformation of our society. For when a teacher teaches with pride, he plants courage, he builds vision, he shapes character, and he raises a generation capable of carrying this nation beyond its current struggles. But when a teacher teaches in misery, when he is reminded daily that his sacrifice means nothing, then the classroom becomes nothing more than a place of survival, and survival is never enough to build a nation.

The 2025/26 Finance Trust Bank (FTB) Fufa Women Super League (FWSL) returns Fridday with a titanic clash between hosts Kawempe Muslim and defending champions Kampala Queens (KQ).

No matter how that match went, both sides are expected to challenge for the title this season.

Kampala Queens need goals

KQ come up against history as no side has defended the topflight league since it rebranded to the FWSL in 2021. However, they have won it twice since, thereby making them the most successive side post Covid-19.

Despite their turbulence in the coaching department over the years, KQ barely lost matches. You have to go back to 2021 to find a side – apart from Kawempe – that has beaten them in the league. But concerns remain on where goals will come from this season. Last season they scored 34 goals in 22 games and half of those came from Fufa Women Player of the Year Zaina Nandede and their former captain Shamirah Nalugya – who have both since sought greener pastures abroad.

But even with them, KQ drew in seven matches and won by just a goal in three matches. The coaches have expressed concerns over the lack of goals too as that became apparent in their attempts to take a domestic double as then second tier side St. Noa Girls Zana eliminated them plus the fact that they did not win a match in their last three FWSL games.

It was further highlighted at the Caf Women’s Champions League Cecafa Qualifiers, where they failed to score in three of their four games and could only beat also-rans Denden from Eritrea – albeit emphatically 7-0.

This time KQ has the stability in the dugout but will that be enough to propel the players?

Kawempe must click quickly

Meanwhile, Kawempe scored more than one goal in just eight of their 22 games. The lack of firepower after Hadijah Nandago and Phionah Nabulime’s transfers out of the country cost them a title defence and the Fufa Women Cup which they lost 1-0 to Amus College.

In the second half of last season, Kawempe added Jovia Nakagolo from Uganda Christian University and her power runs gave the attack a new dimension. But she is far from lethal.

That is why the addition of Latifah Nakasi, who scored 25 goals in the last three seasons, from Uganda Martyrs High School (UMHS) has been highly welcomed. But she will need to hit the ground running and take some goal scoring burden off Agnes Nabukenya, who balanced midfield roles and scored 12 – eight more than any other players – of Kawempe’s 30 goals last season.

The never-healing injury of Shakirah Nyinagahirwa means that Asia Nakibuuka, who returned from KQ as a defender, could have a forward role akin to one she played during her formative years at Kawempe. Jolly Kobusinge left for KQ and her left back position could be competed for by both new signing Aminah Nakato and Claire Kebirungi.

Lady Doves itching

Kawempe and KQ are outright favourites but questions linger on who will challenge them for the title.

Lady Doves team manager Godfrey Nsingwire said they ‘feel ready to challenge for the championship’ after finishing 4th in the 2023/24 season and third – just nine points behind KQ – last season.

‘We have also not lost any players apart from Diana Nantongo (who was not on the periphery in the squad). And we have added four; Patricia Aturinda from She Geme, Florence Asiimwe from Taggy, and then two from Wakiso Hill in Justine Birabwa and Teopista Apino,’ Nsingwire shared.

Ivan Ntambi has replaced Fred Alinaitwe as coach since the latter does not have the minimum Caf B license. The club is also confident that Dorcus Kwikiriza’s return from a long term injury will take the goalscoring burden of Resty Kobusobozi, who was top scorer last season with 17 goals.

Amus could double down

Amus had an excellent first season in the topflight last season. They finished 4th and also won the Fufa Women Cup.

Their players are constantly called up to the national teams – both senior and youth – and coach Frank ‘Video’ Anyau has all reasons to believe that Amus can challenge for the title.

Makerere University want more

At the multi-club press conference held at FTB offices on Lumumba Avenue on Wednesday ahead of the new season, Makerere University coach Fred Ndawula said ‘anyone who tells you they are not challenging for the title at the start of the season must be mad.’

‘However, things happen along the way and goals change. This season, we want to challenge ourselves and be more consistent,’ he added.

Unfortunately for Makerere, who were proper mid-table with 21 points off the top and 10 behind Amus, their star player last season Zaina Namuleme left for Kenya Police Bullets at the end of the season,

‘She was with us for just a season but even before that, we were a competitive side. She was also good because the team was playing as a unit and coaches make players. We shall make other players,’ Ndawula said.

She Corporate refresh

A host of players bid their farewell at the end of the season and were followed out of the door by coach Mustafa Kayinda and his entire technical staff at the start of August.

The new season presents a new look She Corporate under the guidance of Burundian coach Belyse Ininahazwe. Former Olila High School coach Saddam Pande has returned after a quiet one year sabbatical as an assistant coach forming a good coaching unit.

However, after leaving Makerere University Business School (Mubs) Nakawa last season, the club continues to search for belonging.

Part of last season was played at the Kyabazinga Stadium Bugembe and the club informed its fans that Fufa Technical Centre, Njeru will be their home for the new campaign. It remains to be seen whether this refreshed look will return the 2022 vibe to She Corporate.

Life beyond Nakasi for UMHS

UMHS are admittedly one of the core sides of the FWSL but they have perhaps lost a key player too many over the last three seasons.

The annual KQ raid has taken Catherine Nagadya, Shamusa Najjuma, Sumaya Nalumu, and now goalkeeper Sharon Kaidu. She Corporate has helped themselves with Daphine Nyayenga, Viola Namuddu, and Kevin Nakacwa over the years.

But Kawempe taking Nakasi is a huge blow. Former assistant coach Shafic Mutebi also quit and coach Edward Ssozi has replaced him with a trusted assistant in John Ssaka.

Ssaka insisted on Wednesday, without letting much out, that ‘the target is top three’. It is highly likely that Angel Auki Kigongo will be handed the keys to the team with Brenda Munyana as one of her main support casts.

Rines good if they avoid trouble

Last season Rines had a good run in the first half of the season accumulating 17 points to sit in 5th place. However, in the second half, they returned to type – getting just eight points more to finish 8th.

That was still their best points tally in three seasons. Previously, they had higher finishes in 6th and 5th but those had just 21 (2022/23) and 24 points (2023/24) respectively.

You get the feeling that for as long as he can guarantee safety, coach Taddeo Bright Nyanzi will be okay.

She Maroons taking it a game at a time

She Maroons assistant coach Abdi Mohammed said they will not limit themselves this season but will try to win every game.

‘Every game comes with its own challenges but we are not going to limit ourselves in terms of what the girls can achieve this season. The sky is the limit for us.

‘We want to entertain our fans so that they can look forward to watching the next game,’ Mohammed said.

Last season, She Maroons was undone by the inconsistency of their players in terms of appearances and what they produced on pitch when they were available.

Olila dealt Amangat blow

One player you trusted to defend the honour of Olila HS was Marrion Amangat. For all their troubles going forward, which left them winning just five games last season and surviving relegation by two points, she was the reason they survived through 10 draws.

They conceded 24 goals – six of which came from two walkovers to Lady Doves and Rines. And the only time they conceded more than twice in a match was in 3-0 away losses to Kawempe and KQ, plus a 2-1 home loss to Lady Doves. The other two losses ended 1-0 in favour of Amus and UMHS.

If they can defend with heart as they did last season, they might survive – but for now, they look like good candidates for the drop.

St. Noa expectations

Everyone has waited for years to see St. Noa in the topflight league. They have a great school project and have fed FWSL clubs with talent for so many years.

Their quarterfinal triumph over KQ in the Fufa Women Cup also enhanced their reputation big time. But they have also had players like striker Sylvia Kabene and goalkeeper Lillian Nakirya, whose youth national team exploits have endeared them to many and bought them star status.

Kabene has moved to Malta while Nakirya seems to continue to attract interest from many circles.

Even more interesting is that St. Noa have appointed former Cranes midfielder and captain Tonnie Mawejje as captain.

‘When he was at KQ as assistant coach, Mawejje took care of some friendlies and his brand of football was exciting. Now, we wait to see if he can implement it in his own team,’ one enthusiast said.

Asubo targets achievable

Swalleh Kamya has returned to theAsubo dugout after quitting towards the end of their promotional campaign in the second tier Fufa Women Elite League (FWEL) last season.

Former captain Desire Katisi Natooro has also moved on to Kenya Police Bullets and Kamya is already expressing concerns about it.

‘We need good replacements but then our club does not have a strong financial muscle as KQ or Kawempe. We have added Fatumah Nakasumba (from Wakiso Hill) but we would like more.

‘However, the targets (to stay in the league) from our bosses are achievable ,’ Kamya said.

FTBFWSL FIXTURES

Saturday 10amAsubo vs. She Maroons, Kampala Quality KisaasiShe Corporate vs. Uganda Martyrs, FTC NjeruAmus College vs. St. Noa, Kachumbala Sunday, 10amLady Doves vs. Olila HS, Katusabe MasindiMakerere University vs. Rines SS, Makerere

As the 2026 General Election approaches, residents of Bugisu Sub-region say they are disappointed with the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) government for failing to fulfill several pledges made by President Yoweri Museveni.

Bugisu comprises seven districts, Mbale District, Mbale City, Bulambuli, Sironko, Manafwa, Bududa, and Namisindwa, with a combined population of about 1.8 million, according to the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS).

The sub-region lies on the slopes of Mt Elgon’s Wanale Ridge and is dominated by subsistence farming. Poverty levels are high, with roughly 28 percent of the population living below the poverty line.

Despite these challenges, Bugisu voted overwhelmingly for NRM in the 2021 elections, winning 20 out of 24 parliamentary seats. President Museveni secured victories in all districts except Mbale City, where NUP’s Robert Kyagulanyi (Bobi Wine) received 42,267 votes against the incumbent’s 29,717. Residents argue that despite their continued support for the party in most districts, critical issues remain unresolved.

Road infrastructure

One of the most pressing concerns is the 25.8km Bududa-Bubulo circular road, which connects Manafwa, Bududa, and Namisindwa. The road has been in poor condition for years, and residents have awaited its construction since Mr Museveni assumed office.

Mr Robert Mafabi, a resident of Bududa Town Council, said the road becomes impassable during rainy seasons, and broken bridges prevent farmers from transporting produce to markets.

‘The poor state of this road has blocked many opportunities for Bududa,’ he said. Local leaders recently launched a ‘no road, no vote’ campaign after the road was omitted from the 2025/2026 national budget. Mr Kamoti Wilson Wasunguyi, the incumbent Bududa District chairperson who lost the NRM primaries, attributed his defeat to the poor state of the road. ‘I know why I lost. I promised that the road would be tarmacked based on the President’s manifesto, but when voters asked why it had not been done, I had no answer,’ he said, adding that the road remains a major hurdle for party mobilisers in Bududa.

Disasters and resettlement

Bugisu continues to experience natural disasters such as landslides, floods, and falling rocks. Bududa District has been particularly affected, with repeated landslides since 2010, causing loss of property and lives. Some families have been relocated to Kiryandongo and Bunambutye IDP camp, yet many remain in tents without compensation.

‘Some families relocated last year to Bunambutye resettlement camp are still living in tents. They have not received any compensation from the government,’ said Mr Charles Walimbwa, a Bududa Town Council resident.

‘We demand a special ministry to handle Bugisu affairs and a long-term plan to protect people from disasters that destroy lives and property,’ said Mr Akim Watenyeri, the vice president of Uganda Peoples Congress (UPC).

Trade and border challenges

Farmers and traders face difficulties at the Lwakhakha border in Namisindwa, where goods are manually offloaded and checked due to a lack of scanners.

‘This damages agricultural produce and lowers its market price in Kenya,’ said Mr Moses Kigai, a trader. He added that the government should establish storage facilities for produce awaiting export and negotiate with Kenyan authorities on tariffs, taxation, and rejection of Ugandan products.

Agriculture and coffee pricing

Bugisu is known for Arabica coffee, yet fluctuating prices disrupt farmers’ planning and income. ‘The price of coffee keeps changing each season, affecting our planning. The government should regulate prices and build proper facilities for drying and storage,’ said Mr Yasin Walimbwa, a coffee trader in Mbale City.

Farmers also struggle with poor road networks, which hinder the transport of produce to markets. Many sell cheaply to Kenyan traders who purchase directly from gardens, reducing potential profits.

Political representation

Despite their electoral support for NRM, locals say Bugisu is underrepresented in government appointments. The region currently holds two state minister positions-Karamoja Affairs and Elderly Affairs-and two permanent secretary roles.

‘We currently have only two state ministers and about two permanent secretaries. We want to know why Bugisu is always left out,’ said Mr Emmanuel Biara Wepukulu, the NRM flagbearer for Bulambuli County.

Education and regional governance

Residents are also advocating for the establishment of Mbale University of Science and Technology to enhance education and opportunities in the sub-region.

They call for a dedicated ministry for Bugisu, similar to ministries created for Teso, Karamoja, Luwero Triangle, and Bunyoro, to address recurring natural disasters and other local issues.

‘Such a ministry would allow the sub-region to handle its own problems, including natural disasters,’ said Mr Steven Masiga, a researcher and Mbale City resident.

When Ijo Irama made the long journey from Metu Sub-county to Moyo Hospital in late September 2025, he hoped a weeklong surgical camp would finally bring relief from a condition he has endured for years. Instead, he left with his hopes shattered.

‘I came expecting surgery, but after days of waiting, I was not attended to,’ he said, visibly worried as the camp closed two days earlier than planned.

Ijo was among more than 1,000 patients who turned up in Moyo. In Arua and Nebbi, over 2,000 gathered. The overwhelming turnout, according to health officials, exposed deep cracks in a system where routine surgeries remain out of reach for many.

Every morning, patients trekked to the camp sites. By afternoon, many went home without being seen as doctors and nurses struggled with the numbers. With paperwork stalled and new patients turned away, some were left stranded, uncertain if they would ever get the surgery they came for.

Prof Moses Galukande, president of the Uganda Association of Surgeons, said the overwhelming demand showed urgent need for government support.

‘We have very many willing souls ready to help the poor. Even specialists in the diaspora have been asking to participate,’ he told Monitor.

He added: ‘But you need a degree of serenity to cause people to travel from very far.’

Over 200 surgeons and health workers were deployed across West Nile’s district hospitals, health centre IVs and regional facilities. Yet resources were quickly stretched thin.

Dr Alex Andema, director of Arua Regional Referral Hospital, argued that such initiatives should not be left to surgeons alone.

‘Why don’t we as the people of Uganda take this on? Maybe we think of budgeting for this every year on a rotational basis. This can bridge the gaps we have,’ he said.

At Moyo Hospital, Dr Richard Idro said his team had already carried out more than 98 operations despite financial constraints.

Medical Superintendent Dr Fred Chandi warned that extending the camp by just a few days would cost Shs 7.5 million, money they did not have.

Lawmakers have taken note. Arua Central Division MP Jackson Atima promised to raise the matter in Parliament.

On his part, Ayivu West MP John Lematia said the camp had given new hope to desperate patients.

‘Some had lived with ailments for more than 10 years because they cannot afford the costs,’ he revealed.

For Ijo and many others, the closure meant another return to long queues and unaffordable bills. The camp brought hope, but also a stark reminder of the fragility of health care in West Nile.

The Ministry of Works and Transport has announced that the Lira-Kamdini section of the North Eastern Road Corridor is ready for commissioning, three years after reconstruction works began.

According to Mr Allan Ssempebwa, the ministry’s senior communications officer, the road is now fully paved, marked, and motorable, eliminating the bottlenecks that had long hindered the movement of goods and people along this critical trade corridor.

‘The upgraded route enhances connectivity between Uganda and regional neighbours, including South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo, linking them to the Port of Mombasa,’ Mr Ssempebwa said during a press briefing in Kampala on September 30.

His statement follows an inspection of the project by the State Minister for Works and Transport, Mr Musa Ecweru, who urged road users to prioritise safety now that the road is complete.

‘We’ve had a challenge in many places where an improved road becomes a death trap for the travelling public because motorists ignore speed limits and road signs,’ Mr Ecweru cautioned.

The Lira-Kamdini road is part of the broader 340km North Eastern Road Corridor Asset Management Project (Neramp), which covers the Tororo-Mbale-Soroti-Dokolo-Lira-Kamdini stretch.

The contract was awarded to Portuguese construction firm Mota-Engil Africa and is funded by the World Bank at a cost exceeding Shs500 billion.

According to the contractor, the road has a lifespan of over 20 years if properly maintained. They have tentatively set the end of this month as the timeline for inviting the public to fully access and benefit from the road.

During his visit, Mr Ecweru also inspected works on the Lira-Dokolo highway, which are progressing steadily.

In Akapiri Sub-county, Ngora District, the minister addressed residents, urging them to support the ongoing road development and take necessary safety precautions.

‘For the contractor to deliver quality work, residents must cooperate. For example, children should not cross the road recklessly during construction. If an accident occurs, the World Bank could suspend funding,’ he warned.

He added that the corridor is designed to accommodate heavy equipment, especially those destined for Uganda’s oil development projects, hence the presence of vehicles with high axle loads.

The Neramp project includes three main components: engineering works, project management and monitoring, and social risk management.

Although the main contract began in August 2018, reconstruction of the Lira-Kamdini section, known as Lot 2B, commenced in November 2022 and was initially scheduled for completion in October 2024. The entire Neramp project is expected to be completed by 2027.

Community impact

Residents have already began experiencing the positive impact of the road, even before its official completion. Traffic volumes along the Lira-Kamdini section have increased, indicating growing economic activity and improved connectivity in the region.

Today, October 3rd, Germany is celebrating its National Day. 35 years ago – after 41 years of separation – East and West Germany were reunited. East Germany was a communist dictatorship with a state-run economy and part of the Soviet-led Warsaw Defence Pact. West Germany was a liberal democracy with a free market economy and part of the Western Defence Alliance, Nato. It seemed completely unimaginable that they would ever be one country again. In 1987, US President Reagan visited Berlin and appealed to the Soviets: ‘Mr Gorbachev, TEAR DOWN THIS WALL!’ Germans in East and West very much welcomed his strong words – but nobody believed that this would actually happen.

It was not Mr Gorbatchev, the new Soviet leader since 1985, who tore down the wall, but it was his new policy of restructuring and opening (known as Perestroika and Glasnost) that encouraged and allowed the people of East Germany to demonstrate peacefully in 1989, claiming their right to determine their future by chanting ‘We are the people!’ This finally led to the heavily guarded Berlin Wall being opened in November 1989, and the two countries became one again, without a single shot being fired. Nobody would have thought this was possible even a few months before it happened. To me, this is still a true miracle for which I am immensely grateful.

What led up to these events? After Nazi-Germany had lost World War II, the Allied Powers divided it into four sectors. The US, the British, and the French became West Germany, and the Soviet Russian sector became East Germany in 1949. People in the East were not happy with the political and economic conditions they lived in. On June 17, 1953, about one million citizens took to the streets all over East Germany, but the demonstrations were brutally crushed by Soviet tanks. When the economic and political situation did not improve and more and more people left the East to go to the West, the East German leadership reacted on August 13, 1961 by putting up a wall with barbed and electrical wire, and thousands of mines. In the following 28 years, several hundred East Germans were killed by their own border patrols while trying to flee to the West.

Looking back, it seems to me that it was the ignorance of the Communist party claiming to know what is best for the people that led to its downfall. It was considered criticism of government policy as a hostile act that threatened the stability of the system. Therefore, the opposition went underground. It is actually this lack of dialogue, this disconnect between a government and its citizens, that was the threat to stability. Who knows, maybe East Germany would still exist if the party leadership had been willing to listen to critical citizens and enable real participation from civil society.

This year, we are happily looking back on 61 years of development cooperation between Germany and Uganda. For two generations now, Germany has been supporting the Ugandan people in many different ways. It is Uganda’s ambitious strategies and objectives that guide our cooperation. Without the ownership of the Ugandan Government and the Ugandan people, our cooperation would not only be a bad partnership, but it also simply wouldn’t work. We can support and contribute to Uganda’s programmes, but they will only be successful with the mobilisation of its own funds for development, reform-oriented policies, and political decision-making.

In societies like Uganda’s, with its huge share of young people, the opportunity to participate freely and with equal opportunity in the political and economic realm is a fundamental element of future stability and prosperity. That is why we provide solid and transparent cooperation on good governance, civil society, and human rights, because they are the basis for social stability and development. Just to avoid a common misunderstanding: Good governance is not about telling somebody else how to run their show! Germany wants to help more Ugandans to access services, e.g. in the education, water and sanitation, energy, and health sectors. For this reason, we are here to support Ugandan efforts to help ensure that resources are correctly used, corruption is reduced and citizens are involved in decision making. To this end, we support both government institutions like the Office of the Auditor General and national and local civil society organisations.

A lot has been achieved, and a lot remains to be done. Germany is looking forward to many more years of trustful and efficient cooperation.

The Minister for ICT and national guidance Chris Baryomunsi has advised Ugandans to come up with other technological ways to facilitate communications, other than crying about the reopening of Facebook, a social media platform the government closed during the 2021 general election.

Mr Baryomunsi was categorical in his remarks, challenging universities and tertiary institutions to invest more in the ICT sector to come up with research and innovations that do not only translate into policy but also inform the industry.

‘There has been a constant cry (by the public) of reopening Facebook. It was just an innovation by an individual. Why are we unable to come up with something of our own or any other social media platform that can facilitate communication? You cannot avoid technology today and matters of digital transformation. Whether you hide your head in the sand, technology will be at your doorsteps. Gone are the days when issues of technology were for the western world. We have to embrace technology, live with it and integrate issues of technology in our daily lives,’ he said.

Minister Baryomunsi made these remarks on October 2, 2025 while opening the two-day national conference on communications (NCC) at the national information and communications technology hub at Nakawa in Kampala.

Held under the theme harnessing digital innovation to power sustainable local solutions for Uganda’s development goals, the ninth NCC organised by the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) in partnership with International Business, Science and Technology (ISBAT) and Gulu Universities aimed at advancing research, knowledge exchange and collaboration between government, academia and industry stakeholders.

For his part, the executive director of UCC George William Nyombi Thembo said that much as academia is good at innovating, they must understand that the private sector always has their ears and minds glued to the market 24/7.

‘Whatever we do at the end of the day must have commercial value. Anything that would have sustainable academic value must have commercial value. We cannot achieve that without involving the private sector. Through the private sector, we serve society. Digital innovation is not about new technology. It is about developing inclusive and sustainable solutions that improve livelihoods and strengthen service delivery to drive Uganda’s competitiveness in the global digital economy,’ Mr Nyombi said.

‘Instead of asking us (government) about Facebook, ask whether the void created by Facebook necessitates people to create and innovate because innovation is a function of necessity. If Facebook was important, create something different like Facebook that is Ugandan made,’ Nyombi added.

Mathew Mathai Kattampackal, the Vice-chancellor of Isbat University said the 2025 NCC aims at fostering multi-stakeholder collaboration and inspire actionable solutions that are contextually relevant to Uganda’s development priorities.

‘This year’s theme reflects a shared commitment of leveraging on technology to address the pressing socio-economic challenges facing Uganda today. It provides a unique platform for industry leaders and experts, from the academia, innovators and practitioners to exchange knowledge, share experiences and co-create ideas that align with Uganda’s development agenda and sustainable development goals,’ Kattampackal said.

The NCC that ended today (October 3 2025) is Uganda’s flagship platform for dialogue and innovation in ICT. Since its inception, the conference has promoted research, policy, and technological solutions to advance national development.

A magistrate’s court in Masaka on Friday dropped aggravated robbery charges against 12 opposition supporters linked to the National Unity Platform (NUP), who had been detained for five months following their arrest at a local football match.

The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) maintained the robbery charge against one suspect, Reagan Sseremba, who will continue to face both aggravated robbery and assault charges.

The other 12 accused now face only a single count of assaulting a police officer.

The case stems from a May 4, 2025 incident during the Sebina Cup football tournament in Nyendo.

Prosecutors allege that the youths attacked officer David Kisami, stole his Tecno 35 phone worth Shs100,000, Shs100,000 in cash, and assaulted him.

Those cleared of the robbery charge include Mutima Emma, Kiweewa Godfrey, Nuwamanya Vincent, Tamale Patrick, Kakeeto Patrick, Yiga Peter, Ssengoozi Dennis, Kayondo Jacob, Mujuzi Lawrence, Kakiga Ezra, Musaniya Ivan, and Fred Ssebaale.

Presiding Magistrate Selsa Biwaga confirmed the DPP’s withdrawal of the aggravated robbery charges and proceeded to read the remaining charge of assault causing bodily harm.

Defense lawyers Alexander Lule and Herbert Zikusooka applied for bail, arguing the youths had spent five months in detention on what they described as unfounded charges.

They said the accused were merely spectators at a football match and could not have anticipated carrying identification documents.

State prosecutor Caroline Namuwenge objected to bail, saying the accused had failed to present national identity cards. But the magistrate sided with the defense and granted bail of Shs100,000 each.

‘There is no risk of interference with investigations, which are already complete,’ Biwaga ruled, allowing the 12 to regain their freedom.

Zikusooka later told reporters the legal team would petition the DPP.

‘It is implausible for 13 people to violently steal a single phone,’ he said, condemning the prolonged detention of what he described as young, self-employed citizens.

Relatives of the released suspects expressed relief outside court. But Justine Namasembe, mother of the remaining suspect Sseremba, decried what she called a false accusation that has left her son in jail.

Tournament organizer Gyaviira Lubowa Sebina and local leaders also alleged the charges were politically motivated, saying they were intended to intimidate their community.

The case was adjourned until November 4.