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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.

The Constitutional Court has ruled that Ugandans have no constitutional right to recall Members of Parliament (MPs) under the current multiparty political system, dismissing a petition that sought to reinstate the right of recall for voters.

In a unanimous judgment delivered by Justice Musa Ssekaana, the court upheld the validity of Article 84(7) of the Constitution and Section 85(2) of the Parliamentary Elections Act, which restrict the right of recall to the defunct Movement political system.

Other justices are: Hellen Obura, Margaret Tibulya, Moses Kazibwe Kawumi and Asa Mugenyi.

‘The right to recall a Member of Parliament shall only exist where the movement political system is in operation,’ the justices stated, affirming the constitutional position.

The petition filed by Shamil Atabua Letia, challenged Section 21 of the Constitutional (Amendment) Act, 2005, which introduced Article 84(7) and Section 85(2). Letia argued that the amendment was unconstitutional because it deprived Ugandans of a fundamental democratic right to hold their elected leaders accountable through recall.

He claimed that the 2005 constitutional amendment unjustifiably reverses or abridges universally accepted democratic principles by barring Ugandans from exercising their right of recall of elected Members of Parliament during the multiparty dispensation.

Letia further argued that the recall right was integral to Uganda’s constitutional design as adopted by citizens during the 1995 Constitution-making process. He asserted that Ugandans, in the 2005 referendum that reintroduced multiparty politics, did not surrender their right to recall.

However, the Attorney General, represented by Senior State Attorney John Natuhwera, defended the amendment as constitutional, asserting that the recall mechanism was tied specifically to the Movement system of government, where MPs were elected on individual merit rather than through party sponsorship.

The respondent submitted that ‘the Constitution being a living document. adapts to the progress in societal norms and values,’ adding that the amendment was intended ‘to clarify what the multiparty political system chosen by the people of Uganda entails.’

The Attorney General also argued that the petition was res judicata, claiming that similar issues had been determined in previous cases such as Nobert Mao vs Attorney General and Ssekikubo and Others v Attorney General.

However, Justice Ssekaana rejected the argument, holding that ‘the issue of res judicata is devoid of any merit,’ as none of the cited cases had addressed Article 84(7) directly. The court thus proceeded to rule on the constitutional questions raised.

In his detailed judgment, Justice Ssekaana emphasised that Parliament has the constitutional power to amend the Constitution by way of addition, variation, or repeal, provided that the proper procedures are followed.

He stated that the 2005 amendment was validly enacted under Article 259 of the Constitution and reflected the realities of Uganda’s transition from the Movement to a multiparty system of governance.

‘At its promulgation, the Constitution was operating under a Movement System of Government and it was clearly providing for a right of recall of Members of Parliament. This constitutional instrument of recall had to be amended to address the new changes,’ the judge explained.

The court found that the recall mechanism was incompatible with party-based politics, noting that the direct right of recall could no longer be exercised in the new political dispensation where members stand for election under their parties.

The court reasoned that under the multiparty system, accountability of MPs should be managed internally within political parties, not directly through voter recall.

‘The political parties should retain the measure and control of their Members of Parliament who were voted into office by virtue of the connection and relations with such political party. It should be up to the political party to find means and ways of removing its members,’ court held.

On the issue of alleged discrimination, the court held that the amendment was not discriminatory, explaining that mere differential or inequality of treatment does not per se amount to discrimination.

‘The differential treatment or inequality of treatment about the right to recall a Member of Parliament under the Movement political system and Multiparty political system is reasonably justified due to the uniqueness of the two political systems,’ Justice Ssekaana ruled.

He concluded that the petitioner had failed to discharge his burden to prove the unconstitutionality of Article 84(7) and dismissed the petition without costs.

‘The Constitutional (Amendment) Act, 2005, which removed the right of recall of Members of Parliament under a multiparty political system, was informed by the change of the political system and was well guided by the national objectives and directive principles of state policy,’ the judgment stated.

The decision reaffirms that Ugandan voters cannot petition to remove MPs before the end of their five-year term, leaving accountability mechanisms to internal party processes and the next general election.

The journey towards a cashless economy remains uneven. Despite record-breaking growth in digital transactions, the amount of cash circulating in the economy continues to rise.

In the 12 months to June, cash transactions, according to Bank of Uganda, rose sharply, underlining the country’s enduring reliance on physical money.

Bank of Uganda’s Integrated Annual Report 2024/25 shows currency in circulation grew by 9 percent, from Shs8.21 trillion in the 2023/24 financial year to Shs8.98 trillion.

Banknotes alone rose by 10 percent, from Shs7.98 trillion to Shs8.74 trillion, while coins rose by 4 percent to Shs236b due to ‘higher withdrawals relative to deposits,’ even as both inflows and outflows declined by 5 percent, suggesting more people preferred to hold onto cash than redeposit it.

Bank of Uganda also noted that while inter-bank recycling of currency improved, ‘demand for cash is anticipated to remain strong in line with projected gross domestic product growth of 7 percent in the 2025/26 financial year’.

Under the 2017/22 strategic plan, Bank of Uganda had planned to reduce cash in circulation by 2023, but later conceded that achieving a cashless economy would take some time.

Bank of Uganda director for research, Adam Mugume, has previously said that people have to first gain trust in electronic payments, have their money kept within the banking system, and have a wide distribution of points of sale for the cashless economy to hold.

Surging digital payments

Bank of Uganda data shows that cashless payments have sharply expanded.

For instance, the Integrated Annual Report shows that the value of mobile banking transactions rose by 39.4 percent from Shs11.1 trillion to Shs15.5 trillion, while volumes rose by 20.9 percent to 33.7 million transactions.

The growth was largely due to a 6.5 percent increase in active mobile banking users to 2.1 million.

Agent banking recorded massive growth, with transaction values rising by 76.1 percent to shs29.4 trillion, while volumes rose by 50.5 percent.

The number of agents grew by nearly 49 percent, reaching 22,793 across the country, although the share of active agents dropped to 48 percent due to rapid network expansion.

Payment system operators, who facilitate bill payments, bulk transfers, and remittances, reported an even steeper rise, with transaction volumes rising by 29.1 percent, while values rose by 49.3 percent to Shs57.5 trillion.

The trends, Bank of Uganda says, ‘reflect increased use of digital payments and related funds transfer interlinkages across financial sector agents’.

The numbers tell a story of transformation; digital payment volumes are soaring across all channels, but also reveal resilience in attachment to cash.

‘Although digital payment platforms, including mobile wallets, online banking, and fintech solutions, are growing steadily, cash is likely to stay the main retail payment method in the near future,’ Bank of Uganda report notes.

Mixed progress on cashless vision

The National Payment Systems Act, 2020, set out an ambitious path toward a digital-first economy, supported by Bank of Uganda’s e-Payment Strategy (2022/26).

The central bank has since rolled out major projects, including a third clearing session for the Automated Clearing House, the Real-Time Gross Settlement Replacement, and migration to ISO messaging standards, all designed to speed up retail payments and align systems with global best practices.

But while these reforms have improved transaction efficiency, especially for banks and corporate clients, the benefits are slower to reach micro and small businesses.

The cost of data, unstable connectivity, and low financial literacy remain persistent barriers.

Pricy cash system

The shift to a cashless economy would also be important in managing the cost of cash, which Bank of Uganda says remains pricy.

For instance, during the period under review, the central bank processed Shs12.5 trillion in banknote withdrawals and Shs11.7 trillion in deposits, illustrating the scale of cash handling required each year.

Usage of e-payment has lagged due to a number of issues, with consumers concerned over cyber threats.

Bank of Uganda cites the drop in internet banking usage by 6.6 percent, from 0.96 million to 0.9 million active users, partly due to ‘potential user concerns about the cyber threat landscape.’

The slow adaptation is also related to cost, with mobile money fees and withdrawal charges remaining a deterrent for low-income users.

Transaction costs, Bank of Uganda notes, can consume up to 3-5 percent of small payments, making cash the cheaper and more trusted option.

Cash also retains strong cultural and psychological significance in Uganda.

But Bank of Uganda is betting on the Central Bank Digital Currency, which is currently undergoing different stage tests that could be a game-changer in offering a secure, low-cost digital alternative to cash.

Since Uganda Hockey Association (UHA) elected to have the Independence Tournament out of Kampala, Wananchi had established themselves as Kings and Queens of grass with back to back titles for their men and women’s sides in Mbarara, Jinja, and Masaka.

However, this year’s edition held over the weekend at Duhaga Secondary School in rainy Hoima, saw Kampala Hockey Club (KHC) Stallions and Weatherhead dethrone Wananchi in the men and women’s categories respectively.

Wananchi beat KHC 1-0 courtesy of a deflection at the post from Innocent Tumukunde when the sides met in the men’s round-robin stage earlier on Sunday.

By the time the sides met, KHC had dispatched hosts Duhaga 5-0, Rockets 1-0, Kyaddondo SS 2-1 on Saturday. They then went on to beat Badgers 4-1 on Sunday in the last round-robin game to ensure nine of their 12 players had scored in the tournament.

Wananchi, on the other hand, beat Badgers 5-1, Kyaddondo 2-0 on Saturday then Duhaga 4-0 before losing 1-0 to Rockets on Sunday.

But before the final which was a goalless affair in the allowed time, the talk of the tournament was Duhaga keeper, Derrick Tumusiime, a Senior Two student who faced and saved three penalty strokes against his team.

‘I have only managed to train these kids for a week and their progress is promising,’ Lucky Arafat, who played in this tournament for Busoga College Mwiri when it was in Jinja in 2023 and now plays club hockey for Makerere University, said.

‘I found most of their sticks broken and I had to improvise with the two I have,’ Arafat said.

Penalty drama

In the final, both sides defended resolutely but KHC should have been out of sight early in the first half. Paul Kayanga was shoved while clean through on goal – albeit from a tight angle – and umpire Julius Sseruyange awarded a penalty stroke.

Alfred Agaba uncharacteristically placed it wide of the mark. In the second half, Kayanga had another opportunity in the circle, turned his back toward goal for an improvised shot but was shoved again. The other umpire Kenneth Tamale thought that was only worth a penalty corner, which Wananchi defended well.

In the ensuing shootout, Richard Ssemwogerere put KHC ahead and the advantage was maintained as Jordan Achaye, the men’s top scorer with six goals, missed for Wananchi.

Agaba converted and Shafik Byamukama halved the deficit for Wananchi. Stewart Kavuma made it three for KHC and Emmanuel Baguma’s strike for Wananchi ricocheted off the post and onto the puncher of his brother and KHC goalkeeper Richard Kaijuka leaving the crowd stunned.

Even with Baguma, who was eventually named best player of the tournament, walking away distraught and Sseruyange ruling it a missed opportunity, Tamale claimed it was a clean strike.

‘The umpire said that by the time I punched the ball, it had gone past the line, but how is that possible if I was standing on the line in the start and then moved forward after Baguma’s attempt?’ Kaijuka wondered in the aftermath.

Captain Jordan Mpiima scored KHC’s fourth and Elias Okello kept Wananchi in contention. James Mugisha had a chance to win it for KHC but missed and Tumukunde leveled matters. In the sudden death phase, Byamukama missed as Wananchi went first in a reversed order but Ssemwogerere could not capitalize.

Baguma gave Wananchi the advantage then Agaba brought KHC level. Okello then missed and allowed Mpiima to win it for his team in the first final they have played since the tournament started going out of the capital in 2022.

Balanced Weatherhead

For the women, Mariam Tara scored twice – one goal in either half – for Weatherhead to win 2-1 over Wananchi in the final. Women’s top scorer Jolly Alimo scored Wananchi’s lone goal and her 7th of the tournament in the final.

Wananchi beat KHC Swans on penalties in Mbarara and Jinja then 1-0 in Masaka last year and were high on expectation. But the Swans had a depleted squad in Duhaga and filled it with students from the school.

Weatherhead, inspired by a balanced midfield of Annet Awat, Anitah Atim, and women’s MVP Hildah Star Balondemu were deserved champions as they beat both KHC and Wananchi 1-0 and Duhaga 5-0 in the round robin on Sunday after beating Kyaddondo 1-0 on Saturday.

UHA Independence Open

Finals

Men: Wananchi 0(5)-0(6) KHC Stallions

Women: Weatherhead 2-1 Wananchi

MVPS

M: Emmanuel Baguma (Wananchi)

W: Hildah Star Balondemu (Weatherhead)

Top Scorers

M: Jordan Achaye (Wananchi) – 6 goals

W: Jolly Alimo (Wananchi) – 7 goals

President Museveni has appointed High Court Judge Aisha Naluzze Batala as Uganda’s new Inspector General of Government (IGG), replacing Beti Olive Namisango Kamya, whose term expired last month.

Justice Naluzze, who currently serves in the Land Division of the High Court, becomes the country’s new anti-corruption chief pending parliamentary approval.

The appointment of the woman, who was appointed a High Court judge in 2023, restores leadership to the watchdog office, which had been vacant since Betty Kamya’s four-year tenure-and that of her deputies-expired on September 22.

Born in 1977, Justice Batala has been appointed to the top graft-fighting role after President Museveni exercised his constitutional powers, presidential assistant for press and mobilisation Faruk Kirunda confirmed Tuesday evening.

Kirunda also said the president retained Kamya’s two former deputies, Dr Patricia Achan Okiria and Anne Twinomugisha Muhairwe, to continue serving in their positions.

‘The names of the appointees have been forwarded to Parliament for vetting,’ he said in a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter).

The Office of the Inspector General of Government (IGG) is a constitutionally established body mandated to promote good governance and fight corruption in public office.

It had been operating without substantive leadership since Kamya’s contract ended, raising concerns about its effectiveness in tackling graft.

Kamya, a former Kampala minister and presidential candidate, was appointed in 2021 and had pledged to ‘name and shame’ corrupt officials.

Her tenure drew both praise for her public advocacy and criticism over limited prosecutions in high-profile corruption cases.

Justice Batala’s appointment comes at a time when Uganda faces persistent public pressure to rein in misuse of public funds and enforce accountability across government agencies.

Since September 22, the office of the IG was virtually toothless and was being administratively run by a Permanent Secretary.

Parliament is expected to vet the nominees in the coming days before Justice Batala formally assumes office.

The IGG earns a monthly salary of Shs36m, with the deputies earning Shs32m. Article 223(7) of the Constitution says the IGG and Deputy IGG shall hold office for a term of four years, but shall be eligible for reappointment only once. The appointment of Justice Batala comes at a time when Uganda loses a whopping Shs10 trillion annually to corruption schemes.

Who is new IGG Batala?

Justice Batala was appointed to the High Court Bench in 2023, and prior to her appointment yesterday as the new ombudsman, she was attached to the Land Division of the High Court. Prior to her being appointed to the High Court Bench, Justice Batala had worked as a prosecutor in the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for about 18 years and rose through the ranks up to the rank of Assistant DPP.

While working as a government prosecutor, she handled cases from the lowest courts (Magistrate Courts) to the highest (Supreme Court) with a record of 80 percent success. Justice Batala was born on June 25, 1977. Before joining the government, Justice Batala was in private practice where she worked with F Mukasa and Co Advocates, where she worked as a legal assistant from 2003 to 2005. In 2020, while a prosecutor in Masaka, she was recognised for her outstanding fight against the cancer of corruption by LASPNET.

Education background

The new IGG holds a master’s degree in Management Studies from Uganda Management Institute, a Post Graduate Diploma in Public Administration and Management, a Post Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice from Law Development Centre (LDC), and a Bachelor’s Degree in Laws from Makerere University.

She studied at Taibah High School for both O-Level and A-Level.

Wetland conservation is the practice of protecting, managing, and restoring wetlands so they can maintain their ecological functions and continue providing benefits to humans and wildlife.

According to the National Environment Management Authority (Nema), wetlands cover about 13 percent of Uganda’s land area.

The same report indicates that Uganda lost roughly 7,500 square kilometres (about 750,000 hectares) of wetlands between 2000 and 2021 – a reduction that represents nearly a quarter of the country’s historical wetland cover.

Other government estimates put current coverage at between 8 and 13 percent, depending on the year and method used. This degradation has been driven mainly by human activities such as subsistence and commercial farming, sand mining, brick-making, and urban expansion. While these activities create short-term livelihoods, they undermine long-term resilience by threatening biodiversity, worsening floods, and polluting water bodies like Lake Victoria and River Nile.

Recognising the seriousness of wetland loss, the National Environment Management Authority (Nema) and other stakeholders have stepped up interventions. These include public awareness campaigns through radio talk shows, posters, and community sensitisation meetings. School outreach programmes are nurturing environmental awareness among young people, while enforcement actions such as evictions of encroachers have been carried out in some wetland areas

For wetland protection to be sustainable, the conversation must go beyond top-down enforcement and occasional awareness drives.

Communities at the frontline of wetland use need to become champions of conservation. This requires creative, culturally relevant, and participatory approaches.

First, community radio campaigns in local languages can help reach rural households that depend heavily on wetlands. Radio remains the most accessible medium in Uganda, and localised programmes can foster dialogue and ownership. Second, religious leaders who command influence across faiths should integrate conservation messages into sermons. Framing wetland protection as a moral and spiritual duty can inspire behavioural change. As stewards of creation, believers can be reminded that ‘we are our brother’s and nature’s keepers.’

Third, partnerships with telecommunication companies could embed conservation messages into daily life through caller tunes, SMS alerts, and mobile ringtones. Such innovations make environmental awareness constant and inescapable. Fourth, whistle-blower community networks should be encouraged, with small incentives or recognition for reporting illegal wetland encroachment. Local monitoring is often more effective than distant enforcement agencies.Lastly, the government should provide alternative livelihood options for wetland-dependent communities. Promoting eco-tourism, fish farming outside wetlands, and climate-smart agriculture can reduce pressure on fragile ecosystems while still supporting livelihoods.

In summary, wetlands are more than patches of swampy land; they are Uganda’s life-support systems. They regulate water, provide food, store carbon, and sustain biodiversity.

Allowing them to disappear unchecked is not just an environmental loss – it is a threat to national food security, health, and climate resilience.

Strengthening wetland conservation requires a shift from isolated interventions to inclusive, community-driven strategies backed by strong policy enforcement.

As the Uganda government enacts policy reforms, it must not overlook the need to address climate change effects across the country. The impact of climate change can easily set back the aspiration of attaining middle-income status if not properly addressed. Uganda is the 14th most vulnerable country to climate change globally, and it is ranked as the 163rd in terms of readiness to cope with the impacts, according to facts contained in the Uganda Country Climate and Development Report (CCDR), launched in Kampala by a team of experts from the World Bank.

Measures prescribed

Mr Cyril Desponts, a senior economist with the World Bank in Uganda said to address climate change resilience, it will have to be done sector by sector, including agriculture, energy, and infrastructure, among others.

Agriculture package

Mr Desponts explained that there is a need to promote resilient and productive agriculture and natural resources to achieve lower carbon emissions.

This includes on-farm and landscape measures to promote climate-smart agriculture, increase productivity, support water resource management, and reduce pressures that degrade the environment, and conserve forests and wetlands.

At the farm level, expanding irrigation and improving soil fertility can help counter the expected increase in crop yield variability.

Given the statistical information, he notes that between 2022 and 2050, crop yield could fluctuate between 12 percent and 12.5 percent

Climate change-induced soil erosion is expected to compound this vitality with additional yield decrease ranging from zero to12 percent.

‘Relative negative impacts on crops are concentrated in north and north-eastern Uganda. The country is therefore expected to expand climate-compatible irrigation to moderate yields,’ he said.

It will also need the development of operationalise plans that detail infrastructure needs, establish community-based management irrigation schemes, control water abstraction, monitor compliance, and promote micro irrigation. It is also necessary to raise farmer awareness about soil quality and help to them implement suitable, sustainable practices that can improve soil health. ‘Complementary efforts to transition to grow perennial crops and use drought-tolerant seeds to increase productivity.

Other measures are improving livestock feed systems to improve breeds for about 6.8 million households that own livestock,’ he added

This means heat stress and variable feed source availability will lower livestock production. Therefore, it is important to breed feed that is capable of withstanding climate change shocks. If the government provides means to support improved breeds, this will increase climate resilience, milk production, and increase animal weight.

Restoring degraded wetlands and forest catchments for a natural ecosystem and water storage will also help address climate change. It is a fact that since 1994, up to 40 percent of Uganda’s wetlands have been destroyed due to agricultural land expansion and urbanisation. To curb this, there is a need to establish sustainable management measures through the restoration of forests and wetlands and preservation of the natural ecosystem. The report also highlights efforts for the government to stop unsustainable use of firewood and charcoal sourcing because it leads to deforestation.

It is important to engage the private sector in scaling up climate-positive agriculture and agribusiness. This includes sustainable forest management and nature-based tourism, including farmers using early-maturing and drought-tolerant seed.

Energy and infrastructure sector

Climate shocks could damage the country’s power networks since most of the power lines are exposed to landslides and flood risk. The road networks, too, are exposed to the same climate change dangers. The statistics indicate that 45 percent of national district roads are vulnerable to floods and landslides. This leads to a high cost of road maintenance estimated to be 13.6 to 26 million US dollars by the year 2040, with associated road delays costing $2.6 million to $3.5 million in labour hours lost.

The solution is for the government to build climate-resilient and low-carbon infrastructure system.

In the face of the multiple challenges in as far as infrastructure is concerned, the government will need to invest $33.98 billion to develop climate-resilient transport infrastructure. In the energy sector, the report highlights that Uganda has about 1.2 billion barrels of oil reserves, but exploiting the oil and gas involves risks.

This calls for a low production cost below $30 per barrel. Environmental sustainability to control emissions is required. Ms Joy Mubale from TotalEnergies explained that dealing with the oil production in the Albertine region requires dealing with the communities, meaning conserving the environment is key.

The population depends on agriculture, fishing, and the Murchison Falls National Park is within the region. They have projects that help the communities to devise ways of promoting climate resilience, including the use of agricultural inputs and climate-resilient seeds.

Climate positive urbanisation

To ensure economic growth in the cities to keep pace with the growing population, the government is required to develop climate-resilient, low-carbon urban centres. This requires integrating climate considerations into investments in cities, water transport, energy, natural-based solutions and waste management, and health services.

Urban investments should boost the adoption of lower carbon emissions. Urban planning must reduce exposure to flooding and heat effects, meaning building materials used must not increase heat. For the above solutions to work well, the country will need coordinated effort in mobilising climate finance. The World Bank effort towards the climate change initiative provided $70 billion for the global initiatives, and for Uganda $28.1 billion (about Shs112.9 trillion) is needed for its national climate plan.

Apart from climate finance mobilisation, the country needs to improve the weather forecasts and disaster preparedness. This includes expanding and upgrading the meteorological monitoring networks by establishing a climate data system. This can allow the collection of data, storage access, and analysis from diverse sources, which can be used to make decisions.

Background

The Uganda CCDR highlights how the country can achieve its development goals while addressing climate change effects. It examines the links between climate risks and sustainable growth, emphasising the economic challenges the country faces on its path to upper-middle-income status by 2040. Without urgent action, climate change could drive income losses for up to 80 percent of the poorest households, reduce labour productivity, damage infrastructure, and cause significant GDP losses by 2050.

The report calls for integrating climate action across all sectors, strengthening disaster risk management, unlocking climate finance, and catalysing private sector participation. It identifies investment opportunities in climate-smart agriculture, renewable energy, solar-powered irrigation, nature-based carbon solutions, green construction, and electric mobility. Mobilising the estimated $28.1 billion needed for Uganda’s national climate plan will require strong private sector engagement.

CCDR for Uganda

The CCDR highlights that without urgent action, climate change could drive income losses for up to 80 percent of the poorest households, reduce labour productivity, damage infrastructure, and cause significant GDP losses by 2050.