Asianet Pakistan Private Limited

A section of Ugandans on social media has been left outraged after a video recording showing a police officer slapping a supermarket attendant over unpaid bills went viral.

In the two minutes and 17 seconds of CCTV footage seen by this reporter, the officer who has since been identified as Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Clive Nsiima, attached to Counter Terrorism under Oil and Gas Protection Unit, Kampala Metropolitan Zone, is heard abusively scolding the attendant over a reportedly unpaid bill of Shs 30,000 before smacking her twice.

This reporter has also confirmed that the incident occurred at the Shell fuel station in Kyanja, Kampala, on Tuesday, October 7, 2025.

“…I am parking…have you ever driven such a car?” asks ASP Nsiima, who was dressed in civilian clothes, before turning to another attendant behind the counter and adding:”….do you know she’s there attacking me and beating me over Shs30,000? Even if it is Shs100,000, how much money have I spent here? Do you think I can run away over Shs100,000? Do you know that I can slap you even if this camera is here and we go to court tomorrow?” ASP Nsiima asks before striking the attendant’s face twice.

Her alarm attracted some of the staff who were outside the supermarket, including a security guard, but they seemed helpless as the victim continued wailing.

Reacting to the video, the Director of Criminal Investigations, AIGP Tom Magambo, condemned what he described as “such isolated behaviour” by the officer.

“Be assured that an internal investigation is ongoing to guide further action. The [police] PRO Kituuma Rusoke will provide more updates on the matter,” he added in a post on X.

A source within police said ASP Nsiima has since been arrested after the attendant filed a case of assault and threatening violence at Kensington police post in Kyanja, Nakawa Division, Kampala.

President Museveni has urged youth from Africa and the Arab world to embrace collaboration and partnerships rather than division if they are to collectively drive development and transformation in their countries.

While officiating at the Afro-Arab Youth Congress 2025 Speke Resort Munyonyo yesterday, President Museveni, in a speech read by Third Deputy Prime Minister Rukia Nakadama, said young people hold the power to solve their challenges through constructive partnerships.

‘As you engage, remember that your network is your net worth, because the friendships and partnerships you make here have the power to outlive this event. Become bridges of collaboration that can build communities and transform nations,’ he said.

He added, ‘To the young people gathered here, strive to understand the dynamics of the world you live in, because the future is shaped not by chance but by the clarity of your ideology and the strength of your conviction. We encourage the youth to share ideology and commonalities instead of divisions.’

Youth in Africa continue to face significant challenges, including widespread unemployment, poor-quality education that does not align with the job market, poverty, rapid urbanization, limited political participation, and the worsening effects of climate change such as food insecurity and displacement.

Youth unemployment remains a major crisis. According to an African Development Bank Group brief titled Jobs for Youths in Africa (October 2024), one-third of Africa’s nearly 420 million youth aged 15-35 were unemployed. The number of youth lacking an economic stake is projected to reach 263 million by 2025.

The report cites a mismatch between education systems and labor market needs, limited formal jobs, and the prevalence of low-wage, precarious work. It calls for investments in skills development and entrepreneurship as key solutions.

Similarly, youth in the Arab world also grapple with high unemployment, underemployment, and limited access to quality education and economic opportunities.

Mr Museveni said that such challenges can only be addressed through cross-regional collaboration among youth from both Africa and the Arab world.

Mr Abbas Agaba, Secretary-General of the Afro-Arab Youth Council (AAYC), said this year’s conference theme-Amplifying Youth Voices for Peace, Unity and Prosperity-will guide the four-day discussions.

‘We face common challenges of youth unemployment, limited access to resources, climate change, and the need for stronger democratic institutions. Our youths are not a burden; they are the backbone of development. They are not the leaders of tomorrow but of today,’ he said.

The State Minister for Youth, Balaam Barugahara, said the government has placed youth empowerment at the center of national transformation.

‘The government has implemented programmes aimed at harnessing the potential of young people, including ICT innovations, enhancing innovation capacity, and establishing the National Youth Council. This reaffirms that youth are not a problem to be solved but a solution to the challenges,’ he said.

He added that Uganda continues to lead in advancing youth cooperation and inclusion at both regional and global levels.

‘With the East African Community, Uganda is working to harmonise youth policies, promote cross-border innovations, and enhance mobility. At the African Union, Uganda aligns with Agenda 2063 and the Africa Youth Charter, ensuring youth participation in governance, climate action, and peacebuilding.’

Rwanda’s Minister of Youth, Sandrine Umutoni, emphasized the role of young people in rebuilding Rwanda and urged youth in Afro-Arab nations to recognize their central role in national development.

Participants at the conference are also discussing plans to establish the council’s permanent headquarters on 50 acres of land donated by President Museveni.

‘The futuristic complex will include a modern office block, an international-standard hotel, a sports stadium, a cultural heritage center, and a University of Science and Technology. This is more than a building; it’s a dream city that will stand as a beacon of unity, cultural exchange, and youth empowerment,’ Mr Agaba said.

The Afro-Arab Youth Congress 2025 is expected to mark a turning point in strengthening Afro-Arab relations, with Kampala serving as the birthplace of new policies, initiatives, and youth-led solutions to global challenges.

Uganda is one of Africa’s fastest-growing economies, expanding at an average of 6.1 percent annually. Agriculture is the backbone of our economy, contributing more than a quarter of our GDP and sustaining the livelihoods of millions of people.

With 6.9 million hectares of arable land, two reliable cropping seasons, and a young, skilled workforce, Uganda is one of the continent’s most competitive investment destinations. This is demonstrated by the $3b in foreign direct investment (FDI) the country attracted last year, signaling strong investor confidence.

At the recently concluded African Food Systems Forum in Dakar, Senegal, I had the opportunity to present the Uganda Legacy Programme. This initiative aims to transform five key agricultural value chains: beef, dairy, animal feeds (maize, yellow maize, and soybeans), and coffee.

Developed in partnership with Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), the programme is a public-private partnership designed to mobilise capital, de-risk agricultural investments, and provide marketing grants and blended finance. It directly supports our national development frameworks, including Vision 2040 and the Parish Development Model.

As a ministry, we have identified these five value chains as the pillars of Uganda’s agricultural transformation, with the potential to turn the country into a regional food hub.

With the right investments, these sectors can unlock billions in export earnings, create jobs for our youth, and secure food supplies for the fast-growing continent.

Uganda’s per capita beef consumption is far below the regional average, yet demand is increasing across the East African Community and Comesa markets. By investing in improved cattle breeds, modern abattoirs, cold chains, and vaccine production facilities, Uganda can become a regional supplier of affordable, high-quality beef.

Dairy: This is another underexploited frontier. While current exports are modest, Uganda has the capacity to grow production to over six billion litres annually. Investments in integrated dairy hubs, cold storage, and processing plants would allow Uganda to expand its footprint in the regional market, which is worth more than $1.3b. Maize and soybeans are the backbone of the livestock and poultry industries. The region faces persistent shortages of quality feed, which hinders the growth of these sectors.

Strategic investment in feed production, mechanisation, and processing will not only strengthen Uganda’s competitiveness but also boost food security across East Africa.

Coffee: Uganda is already Africa’s largest exporter of coffee, earning $2.2b in just 19 months, which accounts for 60 percent of Africa’s total coffee earnings. However, the real opportunity lies in value addition.

Investing in roasting, soluble coffee production, and branding would allow Uganda to multiply its returns tenfold while moving up the global coffee value chain. We have set a target to mobilise $1.4b in investments over the next five years.

The plan is to allocate: $400m (Shs1.4 trillion) for coffee to scale production and expand value addition. $300m (Shs1 trillion) for dairy to strengthen pasture development, processing hubs, and cold chain facilities. $500m (Shs1.7 trillion) for beef to expand cattle populations, modernise abattoirs, and establish feedlot systems.

$100m (Shs344b) each for maize and soybeans to boost mechanisation, input financing, and processing capacity, particularly for animal feeds.

This investment is designed to leverage Uganda’s comparative advantages, reduce risks for private investors, and position the country as a leading regional supplier of high-quality agricultural products.

Uganda offers one of the most attractive business environments in Africa. Investors benefit from a 10-year corporate tax holiday, exemption from import duties on agricultural inputs, and zero-rated VAT on essential items like seeds and machinery.

The Uganda Investment Authority (UIA) has also simplified procedures through a One-Stop Centre, which brings together 16 government agencies to ensure efficiency and ease of doing business.

Beyond these incentives, Uganda provides strategic access to vast markets. Investors can tap into EAC, which connects them to 300 million consumers, and Comesa, which extends this to 600 million.

Furthermore, the African Continental Free Trade Area opens up a continental market of 1.3 billion people with a combined GDP of $3.4 trillion.

The sectors we have selected represent Uganda’s strongest comparative advantages and the clearest path to shared prosperity.

The opportunities are compelling, the risks are mitigated, and the incentives are generous. What is needed now are investors willing to join Uganda in shaping the future of Africa’s food systems.

Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) together with the government have launched a safety campaign across landing sites in the island district of Kalangala aimed at reducing water accidents and cases of drowning on Lake Victoria. Hundreds of fishermen and travellers have in recent years drowned in the lake after their boats capsized. Police records show that in Kalangala alone, there were 165 fatal drowning cases and 16 non-fatal incidents last year.

It is these grim statistics that have prompted NGOs to work with the government to commence community safety campaigns across all islands, where most fishermen have been trained in swimming, first aid, and sensitised on the importance of wearing life jackets. Spearheaded by the National Baria’s Association, a new organisation for all workers in the fishing sector, the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (Maaif), Red Cross Uganda, Marine Police, and Swim Safe Uganda, the campaign began in Bufumira Sub-county and moved across all the 64 inhabited islands in Kalangala.

‘We have trained locals on how to survive drowning, help each other during accidents such as capsizing or fire outbreaks at landing sites, and administer first aid before professional rescue arrives,’ Mr Elly Ntegge Wasajja, the chairperson of the association, said. ‘We want to see everyone going to the lake with a life jacket. That way, we can prevent unnecessary deaths,’ Mr Wasajja added. Ms Mercy Namuganza Bazira, the project coordinator, said the campaign that is supported by the International Fund for Fisheries Safety, an organisation based in the United Kingdom, will run for seven years, covering 800 landing sites on Lake Victoria with a budget of £30,000 (about Shs120.6 million).

She said as part of the campaign, over 200 life jackets have already been distributed to fishermen, boat crews, passengers, and islanders. ‘The safety of fishermen means fewer orphans left behind when their fathers drown. We cannot stop accidents entirely, but with the right training, lives can be saved and families stay,’ she said. Four months ago, several islanders escaped death narrowly after their cargo boat got trapped in a fishing net, only to sink after heavy waves hit it near Lwamunyo Island.

They were rescued by fishermen, but neither the rescuers nor the traders had life jackets.

In September last year, two fishermen drowned in Lake Victoria after their boat overturned. A statement from the Association of Fishermen and Lake Users of Uganda (AFALU) showed that pulling up the net from the lake to the boat forced the boat to overturn. Again, last year, an expecting mother on the Banda landing site in Bufumira Sub-county lost her husband on the very day he was supposed to take her to the nearest health facility to give birth. ‘He went out in the evening to cast his nets, but never returned. Around 10 pm, I began to worry, but thought maybe he was still on the lake. In the morning, I received the sad news that he had drowned,’ she said.

On that day, her husband had promised to work late so he could raise money to take her to the hospital for delivery. ‘It was the community that helped me deliver safely. But he was no more,’ she added. Mr Godfrey Senyonga Kambuggu, the chairperson of AFALU, said many fishermen are using the wrong type of life jackets, further placing them at risk. ‘Some jackets cannot support their weight. They end up wearing it for formality; the government needs to help fishermen get the right jacket,’ he said. Mr Silver Ssemugenyi, the Red Cross manager in Kalangala District, said fishermen continue to work under risky conditions.

‘Many boats are worn out, poorly maintained, and their operators don’t wear life jackets. Research shows that 89 percent of drowning deaths result from not wearing jackets. With one, a victim can stay afloat for at least four hours after capsizing,’ he said. The Red Cross is training first aiders at landing sites to offer immediate help before victims are referred to hospitals or health centres. Mr Moses Kalanzi, the chief executive officer of Swim Safe Uganda, said some accidents are inevitable due to weather changes on the lake.

‘Storms and heavy waves will always be part of the lake. But if fishermen know what to do, they can save themselves and others. On every landing site, we are training at least 200 fishermen in water safety and rescue,’ he said. At Kitobo Landing Site, the village chairperson, Mr Musa Buyondo, said leaders are often left supporting bereaved families. ‘Every year we help widows and orphans of drowning victims. Some fishermen still don’t believe in life jackets; they sleep on them or leave them unused. Others think jackets don’t add value to their fishing. This mindset must change,’ he said. He urged the government to make life jackets mandatory for all boat users on water bodies.

Government target

Two years ago, the Ministry of Water and Environment announced that they needed Shs25 billion to implement the National Water Safety Strategic Plan for drowning prevention in Uganda. The government has a target of reducing the risk of drowning among the high-risk communities, and to reduce the number of deaths by drowning in the country by at least 25 percent by the year 2028.

The National Unity Platform (NUP) has expressed interest in joining the Inter-Party Organisation for Dialogue.

NUP’s intention to join the organization they were initially reluctant to is contained in a letter dated 7th October, 2025 that the party’s Secretary General, Mr David Lewis Rubongoya authored to the IPOD’s Secretary of Council of the .

‘As you are aware, Parliament recently passed the amendment to the Political parties and Organisations Act (2005), making it mandatory for all political parties under the National Consultative Forum to either be part of the Inter-Party Organisation for Dialogue (for political parties with representation in Parliament) or the Forum for Non-Represented Political Parties and Organizations,’ Mr Rubongoya’s letter reads in part.

It adds ‘the National Unity Platform would like to sign the MoU given that we are members of the applicable constitutive organ of the National Consultative Forum by law, as we await the decision of the Constitutional Court.’

The request to join IPOD comes almost two weeks after the same party asked the High Court to intervene on the impasse between the government and NUP after the opposition was excluded from receiving the statutory political funding.

‘The National Unity Platform is currently challenging the referenced amendment before the Constitutional Court; we are cognizant that it is the current and binding law.’

The NUP’s decision to seek Court intervention came after the Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Mr Norbert Mao, in August this year, directed the Electoral Commission to only disburse funds to the other six political parties with representation in parliament, with the exclusion of NUP.

The opposition party that currently boasts of the majority opposition representation in Parliament was sidelined on the grounds that it was not recognised as members of the IPOD. The court decision is yet to be delivered.

As the country marks the 30th anniversary of the 1995 Constitution, which was enacted to be the blueprint for transforming economically, politically, socially, and in governance, unresolved and emerging issues have taken centre stage. Scholars and commentators opine that it’s time for a rethink of either a constitutional review or national dialogue. The 1995 Constitution, promulgated on October 8, was hailed as progressive especially with novel additions such as Chapter Four on the Bill of Rights. It was, after all, the result of a comprehensive countrywide consultation by the Uganda Constitution Commission led by now retired Justice Benjamin Odoki and meticulous drafting by the Constituent Assembly composed of the best minds at the time.

It was envisioned as a blueprint to close the door on Uganda’s dark past and enable the nation to progress into a democracy based on the principles of ‘unity, peace, equality, democracy, freedom, social justice, and progress. It provided avenues to cure concerns that had plagued the nation, through principles of sovereignty of the people, separation of powers, good governance, the rule of law, and accountability. While progress has been made, the country stands at a crossroads polarised by toxic politics, poisoned by corruption, divided by inequality, marred by poor service delivery, rogue acts by security agencies, and human rights abuses from 1986 to date, amid fears of the country dangerously backsliding.

Issues such as political transition, land, and citizenship, which the Constitution was designed to address, remain contentious, as new questions related to technology and natural resources raise fresh questions. Former Principal Judge [retired] Justice James Ogoola says a national dialogue is best to forge a way forward. ‘We need a national dialogue to take us to a new age. Things like the Buganda Question, the Busoga Question, the Karamoja Question, and the Youth Question. There are issues on land, and mineral resources are now coming up. The opportunities are immense, but the danger of messing up is also immense. Let’s get a round table where 50 million people will be represented effectively,’ Justice Ogoola argued.

Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister Norbert Mao said the proposed Constitutional Review Commission was set back by funding challenges but it remains on course. ‘I think the Constitution will have to be reviewed. I can state that that is going to happen in the next term. When I joined the ministry, the major challenge found was money. Having a comprehensive review of the Constitution is very costly. But I proposed to the President an alternative; I proposed that we should just expand the terms of reference of the Law Reform Commission, co-opt some new members and then the Law Reform Commission can do the job of reviewing the Constitution,’ Mr Mao said.

He added: ‘… the issues that keep citizens awake as far as we know are human rights. Others want term limits brought back. There is contention on citizenship. So the Constitutional Review Commission is a political process, but it is also a process that should be a process of rigorous scholarly review of what the Constitution has delivered and what it has failed to deliver.’ Term limits that were locked in to ensure that a President rules for only two terms were purged 20 years ago. With the Executive overreach, there is hardly a parliament to speak about, while the Judiciary is at crossroads as evidenced by the continued keeping of political activists in prison.

Poverty, social injustices and income inequality are grim. The national budget has grown in scope and size- to Shs72 trillion currently-amid fiscal indiscipline, bloated administration, corruption which is the fuel of the clientele patronage system, and poor budget execution. The right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association, provided for in Chapter Four of the Constitution, if for political reasons or to express discontentment with government, is gagged by the Public Order Management Act, or selectively applied such as in the case of police escorting supporters of the Patriotic League of Uganda to protest outside the Germany embassy in July.

While peace and security is the NRM’s unique selling point, the army and intelligence outfits are commanded at the whims of the commander-in-chief, which has also led critics to believe that even in the event of the incumbent losing elections, peaceful change of power is impossible. The country ranks poorly in governance, at 49 percent out of 100, according to the Mo Ibrahim Index of African Governance. Politics is the most lucrative business as politicians engage in budget theft and scheming for commissions during appropriation, while professionals like doctors are paid a pittance. A 2021 study by the Afrobarometer found that 70 percent of Ugandans support the reintroduction of age and presidential term limits.

Dr Kabumba Busingye, a constitutional law don at Makerere University, argued that in the years to come, Uganda must cure the disconnect between the culture of the nation and the provisions of the Constitution.

‘It’s not so much a post-mortem; the patient is dead or dying. We should be already thinking ahead of how a new Constitution might look like. What kind of significant reforms would have to happen; both constitutional and state structure. For all intents and purposes, if you are talking about a CDF who talks about having people in their basement, that is not a state structure you can engage with; it’s a criminal gang with state power. You can’t have a conversation,’ Dr Kabumba argued.

Retired General Mugisha Muntu, candidate for the Alliance for National Transformation (ANT) in the January 2026 election, is widely considered to have no chance of victory.

It is, by popular reckoning, a two-horse race between incumbent President Yoweri Museveni and Robert Kyagulanyi, better known as Bobi Wine, of the National Unity Platform (NUP).

Bobi Wine, the narrative goes, would likely win if the election were free and fair. But given the well-oiled machinery of manipulation that has defined Uganda’s elections for decades, the crown will almost certainly be claimed by Museveni.

There are other contenders-including our own Joseph Kabuleta-but the national narrative revolves around these three men because they best capture Uganda’s fractured political soul: each representing a different facet of a nation wrestling with its past, its possibilities, and its future.

We can accept, without much debate, that Muntu will not command Bobi Wine’s youthful frenzy nor Museveni’s state-backed muscle. Even if every vote were counted in broad daylight, Muntu would still trail. And yet, that is precisely why he must run.

In Africa’s theatre of political noise, Muntu cuts a strangely disarming figure-stubbornly moderate, allergic to drama, and often dismissed as “too decent for politics.” But in an Africa-and a Uganda-suffocating under the cult of personality, where power has long been the reward for those who shout, threaten, steal, or shoot the loudest, decency has become the most radical act of all. The contrast with Museveni and Bobi Wine could not be sharper. Museveni embodies continuity-a towering presence who has shaped Uganda’s political DNA for nearly 40 years.

His rule is a web of centralised authority, where loyalty routinely trumps competence, and governance fuses military threat with a paternalistic promise of progress.

Museveni’s policies in latter years orbit around a single conviction: that the state, under his stewardship, knows best. It is a politics of maintenance, not imagination.

Bobi Wine, by contrast, represents rupture-the raw, impatient backlash against that order. His politics vibrate with defiance, energy, and moral outrage.

The rallies, the anthems, the digital crusades-all form part of a generational uprising against a suffocating gerontocracy. He gives voice to millions of educated (and uneducated) but unemployed youth, the connected yet excluded, those who have never known a Uganda not ruled by Museveni.

His economic vision remains sketchy, but his mission is clear: dismantle Museveni’s grip first, and the rest will follow. In that sense, some analysts argue, he is the other face of the same coin.

Caught between the old guard who refuse to leave, and the impatient youth who refuse to wait, Muntu stands on a different hill altogether.

His vision privileges systems over personal rule, institutions over charisma. Where Museveni consolidates authority, Muntu is inclined to distribute it; where Bobi Wine energises crowds with charisma, Muntu looks to build confidence through steady capability.

His commitment to internal democracy within ANT and his focus on constructing a party from the ground up demonstrate a strong belief in the gradual, unflashy task of forging institutions. It is the kind of effort Uganda’s post-1986 system pledged but seldom achieved. It is the kind of work Uganda’s post-1986 order promised but rarely delivered.

Uganda’s problem, like that of much of Africa, has never been a shortage of heroes. It has been a chronic addiction to saviours. We fall for personal magnetism, for defiance, for the gun that promises deliverance. Rarely do we trust the quiet man who wants to govern well.

Muntu is that quiet man: a man who fought in the bush but does not glorify it; who believes in democracy without turning it into theatre; who knows the system’s flaws yet refuses to let betrayal harden into bitterness. It is painstakingly dull politics.

Every society that eventually matures and succeeds must pass through this quiet stage-when politics becomes boring again, when rallies sound less like crusades and more like policy conversations.

Muntu’s contest is a necessary step towards that kind of political adulthood. He normalises restraint in a country intoxicated by confrontation.

This posture becomes more suited to the moment when one considers that across Africa, democracy isn’t just crumbling because of coups, corruption, or leaders who start as democrats but turn into autocrats.

It is also fading because people are losing hope that honesty can ever come out on top. When good folks step back from the fight, the corrupt, sly, and heartless take over without a challenge. And so, in Uganda’s longer story, his bid may yet prove the more significant act.

For in the end, the redemption of this country-and perhaps of this continent-may not come from those who win power, but from those who run to remind us that power is not a trophy to seize, but a trust to hold.

In the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant (Matthew 18:21-35), a servant who fails to pay a debt of $100,000 (according to the Message version of the Bible) begs his master for forgiveness, which, mercifully, is granted, and his heavy debt is written off. But when this lucky chap steps out and meets a fellow servant who owed him only $10, he grabs him by the throat and demands for his money.

The poor fellow pleads to be given more time to pay back, but the man refuses and gets him arrested. When the king heard this, he summoned the man and said furiously, ‘You evil servant! I forgave you that tremendous debt because you pleaded with me.

Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant as I had mercy on you?’ Then he ordered that the silly chap be jailed until he should pay all his debt, $100,000!

This sobering account captures the fate that will befall the hard-hearted who refuse to forgive or have mercy on others. As we gather for the 27th Uganda National Prayer Breakfast, it’s perfectly right to reflect and remind ourselves that we are an imperfect lot that are in urgent need of mercy and forgiveness; a race of broken people that are here for a short-while before we are summoned to the Judgment Seat by the King of kings and the Lord of lords to give account of how we lived our lives; how we treated others and utilised our God-given talents.

As a country on the cusp of another election cycle, it’s easy to resuscitate old mistakes and reopen old wounds among opposing camps in the hope of garnering a sympathy vote. It’s possible to ride on a wave of lies and false promises and build on sand. This is a precarious period, and the only way to come out of it unscathed is to remind ourselves about the power of forgiveness and reconciliation, which is the theme of this year’s National Prayer Breakfast.

In the iconic words of Martin Luther King Jr, ‘We are tied together in a single garment of destiny, caught in an inescapable network of mutuality.’ Therefore, we cannot escape our interconnectedness, and because we are inevitably linked, it would be costly to keep grudges or hate one another. Which is why fellowships like the National Prayer Breakfast are fundamental in building oneness, leading to reconciliation and healing and orchestrating blessings not only on the nation but the region too.

Imagine over 15,000 guests from the political, diplomatic, social, business, and religious circles all coming together to pray and fellowship. This is pleasing in the sight of God. As a force, prayer is unmatched. Not only does it change us on the inside, it also stirs in us a longing to do and be better. It leads to harmonious co-existence and makes it easy for people to forgive and get along easily. This is what the nation needs at such a time as this.

As we gather for this year’s National Prayer Breakfast, may we be reminded by the parable of the unforgiving servant that failure to forgive is detrimental.

And may we heed its theme and make manifest the power of forgiveness and reconciliation.

On the morning of September 27, around 10am, Mr David Ahumuza, a resident of Kitembe in Central Division, Fort Portal City, stood at a public notice board dressed in a sports jersey, clutching a pen and a small notebook. His eyes scanned the freshly pinned list of weekend football fixtures – the kind of games he hoped would change his fortunes.

Every Saturday, Sunday, and sometimes even during midweek fixtures, Mr Ahumuza spends his days inside sports betting houses. Unlike many of his peers who gamble online using smartphones, he does not own one. That forces him to travel to town whenever he wants to place his bet. ‘During weekends and even some weekdays when there are soccer games, I come to town to place my bets. I spend all day here because when you stake and win, you get cash instantly,’ he explained.

Mr Ahumuza, 27, holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, but since graduating in 2023, he has failed to secure stable employment. He now works at a mobile money outlet, earning Shs150,000 per month, an income he says cannot meet his daily needs. Betting, he added, has become his fallback position.

‘On a good day, depending on the amount I stake, I can walk away with Shs100,000. There was a day I staked Shs10,000 and won Shs650,000, and I used that money to pay rent and buy household items,’ he said.

‘My life is now dependent on betting because I am addicted. I see it as the only source of income to survive. My parents don’t know I am into betting. In the last two years, I have made more than Shs2 million, but I cannot tell how much I have lost. In a single week, I can stake more than Shs100,000,’ Mr Ahumuza added.

In Fort Portal, the number of physical and online betting companies has grown, attracting youth desperate to escape poverty and unemployment. But the promise of quick riches often leads to addiction and financial ruin. Mr Brian Kato, a 25-year-old boda boda rider in West Division, recalled staking Shs5,000 and winning Shs700,000. ‘For the first time, I felt betting had improved my life. I bought a mattress and a second-hand television,’ he said.

Different outcome

For Ms Jane Tuhaise, 22, a chapatti vendor in Kisenyi, the outcome was different. Her small stall collapsed after she used her daily profits to bet for six months.

‘At first, I thought I would double my capital and grow my business. But in five months, I had lost everything. I no longer sell chapati because all my money went into betting,’ she said.

Some gamblers bet daily on their phones. With Internet access and mobile apps, the temptation is constant. Mr Moses Arinaitwe from Karambi in North Division said he spends hours scrolling through fixtures on his smartphone and sometimes misses work. ‘I wake up and the first thing I check is the betting odds. Sometimes I bet three or four times a day. Even when I lose, I feel like the next game will recover everything,’ he said.

Widespread

Mr Arinaitwe added that even people with formal jobs participate. ‘These days, betting is for everyone. With smartphones, it’s hard to monitor them. Rich people with government jobs are betting. We are happy this betting is regulated,’ he said. Betting has also become a communal activity. In Central Division, groups of friends pool their money to increase their chances. One such group of five recently staked Shs50,000 and won Shs1.2 million. ‘We used part of it to buy a goat for celebrations, and each member took home some cash. It felt like teamwork,’ said Mr Ahumuza.

According to the 2024 Uganda Bureau of Statistics (Ubos) Report, Fort Portal City has 137,549 residents, with 37,932 aged between 18 and 30. During the day, the population rises to about 440,540 due to inflows for business and social activities. About 20,321 residents own mobile phones, all of whom reportedly use the internet.

The bigger picture

The report shows 14,729 unemployed youth aged 18 to 30, and 11,336 aged 15 to 24 who are not in employment, education, or training. Another 4,878 unemployed residents fall within the 14 to 64 age group, while 17,341 children aged 13 to 17 are out of school. Among individuals aged 10 and above, 1.8 percent use the Internet for online services such as gambling and shopping. Within Tooro Sub-region, 1.3 percent of internet users engage in betting.

The Lotteries and Gaming Act No 7 of 2016 established the NLGRB to licence and regulate gaming while safeguarding citizens from its negative effects.

The Board began operations in 2017, with the core goal of supervising the sector and protecting Ugandans from the adverse social and economic impacts of betting.

Betting growth

The National Lotteries and Gaming Regulatory Board (NLGRB) Annual Report 2023/24 shows strong growth in the gaming industry. During the fourth year of its Strategic Plan (FY 2020/21-FY 2024/25), revenues remitted to the Treasury rose by 27.7 percent to Shs194 billion. Stakes increased by 78 percent to Shs4.3 trillion, while payouts grew by 87 percent to Shs4.0 trillion. Of the 1,967 licence applications, 1,397 were approved and 267 rejected.

The addictive experience.

My life is now dependent on betting because I am addicted. I see it as the only source of income to survive. My parents don’t know I am into betting. In the last two years, I have made more than Shs2 million, but I cannot tell how much I have lost. In a single week, I can stake more than Shs100,000,’ David Ahumuza, resident

National Unity Platform (NUP) presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi, alias Bobi Wine, has pledged to return land grabbed from bona fide occupants within his first 100 days in office if elected president. Speaking at a rally in Kassanda District yesterday, Mr Kyagulanyi decried the plight of landless Ugandans.

‘Whoever has lost land to grabbers should just mark where that land is. I assure you, you will get it back in the first 100 days of my government,’ he told cheering supporters.

Like many districts in Buganda Sub-region, Kassanda has long been plagued by violent land wrangles, with residents accusing landlords and wealthy investors of forcefully taking ancestral land. At the same rally, Mr Kyagulanyi also promised to cut Uganda’s Cabinet to 20 ministers and reduce Parliament’s size, arguing that President Museveni’s administration has fostered a culture of wasteful spending. ‘I promise to cut extravagant and non-essential public expenditure-starting with reducing the Cabinet to a maximum of 20 ministers and slashing the number of MPs. Our legislators should go to Parliament to make laws that benefit the people, not to enrich themselves,’ he said.

Uganda currently has 529 MPs, one of the largest legislatures in Africa, with members among the continent’s best-paid. Flanked by several NUP MPs, the two-time presidential candidate vowed to fight corruption, which he said costs Uganda Shs10 trillion annually. He argued the money could instead fund infrastructure, health, and education.

‘This area has gold, and at least $2 billion is generated from this mineral every year. But this wealth benefits only a few government officials. We shall use such resources to repair roads, improve schools, and equip health centres. It’s not rocket science-it’s about honest leadership,’ he said.

Kassanda North MP Patrick Nsamba accused the government of neglecting the district as punishment for supporting Opposition candidates in the last general election. After Kassanda, Mr Kyagulanyi campaigned in Mubende District, another gold-rich area with 30,000 artisanal miners, many living in poverty despite the mineral’s value.

Uganda exports about 35,418 kilogrammes of gold annually, with two to five tonnes produced locally. A 2022 Auditor General report faulted the Uganda Revenue Authority for failing to collect Shs340 billion in gold taxes. Residents of both districts complain of poor infrastructure, limited health services, lack of electricity, and unsafe water. The Mityana-Mubende road, a key trade route, remains in disrepair, raising transport costs. ‘This road is a lifeline for traders, but its condition has made transport unbearable,’ said trader Joseph Musoke.

Similarly, the Lusalira-Kasambya-Nkonge-Sembabule road project has stalled, with compensation delays for displaced residents. Kassanda, carved out of Mubende District in 2019, lacks a district hospital and relies on Mubende Regional Referral Hospital. None of the three counties have functional Health Centre IVs. Large parts of Kassanda and Mubende remain off the national electricity grid, while urban areas experience frequent blackouts. Unsafe water sources shared with livestock continue to threaten residents’ health.

Mr Kyagulanyi is expected to campaign today in Kyankwanzi and Kiboga districts.