The row began this morning after Magogo criticised Ugandans who openly promote and follow European football leagues while domestic competitions struggle to attract comparable audiences, sponsorship and commercial investment.

But Kasingye, a retired Assistant Inspector General of Police and a member of SC Villa’s executive, fired back, accusing the FUFA president of shifting blame to football fans instead of addressing what he described as failures in the promotion and management of the local game.

The exchange quickly escalated, with Magogo challenging Kasingye to a televised debate and Kasingye rejecting the invitation, citing a previous confrontation between the two men.

Magogo: Stop Promoting Foreign Leagues

Magogo argued that the popularity of foreign football comes at the expense of Ugandan clubs. He said foreign leagues should be regarded as competing products and questioned how a publicist of a major Ugandan club could simultaneously promote European football.

“I want to invite you for a TV programme. You can choose the moderator and we debate why I find it wrong in promotion of the league that a publicist of one of the biggest clubs also promotes foreign leagues,” Magogo wrote.

He insisted that his argument was not about the wider problems facing Ugandan football, but specifically about the promotion of foreign competitions by people who are expected to champion local clubs.

“Take it or leave it, the foreign leagues are an alternative product of Ugandan club football. We can’t promote it and also believe the Ugandan product will grow,” he said.

Magogo compared the situation to competition between major consumer brands. “Coca-Cola will not promote Pepsi but will learn from its good practices,” he argued.

He then directly challenged Kasingye to explain how his promotion of European football benefits SC Villa. “Please justify how your promotion of European leagues helps promote SC Villa as its publicist,” Magogo said.

The FUFA president also accused Kasingye of using his large following on X to confuse the debate rather than mobilise supporters for SC Villa. “We need your large X following to be mobilized for SC Villa. You confuse us,” he said.

Kasingye: “Listen to Our Views”

Kasingye refused to be drawn into what he described as a debate on Magogo’s terms. He questioned whether appearing on FUFA TV would provide a neutral platform for the discussion.

“You want to debate me on TV? Really? Am I now worthy of your audience?” Kasingye responded. He recalled a 2022 incident in which Magogo called a press conference at Imperial Royale Hotel and said he had been embarrassed before journalists.

“In 2022, you called a press conference at Imperial Royale & embarrassed me before journalists. Then you dismissed them,” Kasingye wrote.

According to Kasingye, he had requested that journalists be allowed to hear his side of the story but his request was rejected.

“I requested you to allow the press come in so that they can listen to my side too. You ignored,” he said. Kasingye has therefore rejected Magogo’s proposal for a debate on FUFA’s platform.

“Now, you want to debate me on FUFA TV? You think I am interested in your chair? Forget it,” he said. Instead, he has urged FUFA to listen to criticism from football stakeholders.

“Listen to our views. If you don’t find them worthy, dismiss them as so. If you find credit, implement them,” Kasingye said.

The Arsenal-SC Villa Question

At the heart of Magogo’s criticism is Kasingye’s simultaneous support for Arsenal and SC Villa. Kasingye acknowledged that he follows Arsenal while also supporting the Ugandan club where he serves on the executive. “If however, you feel that I should stop supporting Arsenal because I also support SC Villa & work on executive, you know who to call so that he can fire me,” he said.

His response reflected a broader argument made by several fans—that following international football should not automatically be interpreted as opposition to domestic football.

Supporters argued that Ugandans can enjoy the English Premier League and other European competitions while simultaneously supporting local clubs.

“Your Incompetence!”

The confrontation became particularly sharp when Kasingye accused Magogo of avoiding wider questions about Ugandan football.

Earlier, he had questioned why FUFA had not been communicating sufficiently with Ugandans about the state of the domestic game and preparations for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.

“If it wasn’t for my response, you wouldn’t have talked about this matter in a federation you lead,” Kasingye said. “In fact, I haven’t heard you in a long time talking about local football.”

He questioned the level of communication surrounding AFCON 2027, which Uganda will co-host with Kenya and Tanzania.

“We’ve not been talking about the foreign leagues since June but neither have we heard FUFA talking about the direction of local football including AFCON 2027,” he added.

Kasingye further questioned Uganda’s preparedness for the continental tournament. “AFCON is near the corner, & you can drop a pin & it will be louder than you telling Ugandans about what’s happening or going to happen about it,” he said. He also criticised FUFA’s communication during Uganda’s World Cup campaign. “World Cup came & went & we didn’t hear you,” Kasingye said.

His strongest attack came when he accused Magogo of blaming foreign leagues for problems that he believes should be addressed by football administrators.

“Somehow, the foreign leagues must be blamed instead of your incompetence. Come on, we’re mature people. Give up & let someone who can overturn this conundrum come up,” Kasingye said.

David Owori Murder Deepens the Anger

The death of SC Villa captain David Owori became another flashpoint in the dispute. Owori was killed during a robbery incident in Kampala, shocking the football community and prompting questions about the safety and welfare of players. Kasingye questioned Magogo’s response to the tragedy, accusing him of failing to attend Owori’s burial and of not holding a subsequent press conference. “A player was murdered. I didn’t hear a single word from you. You didn’t even attend burial. You sent a representative but you even failed to call for a press conference later,” Kasingye said.

For the SC Villa spokesperson, the episode illustrated what he considers to be a failure by football leadership to stand with clubs, players and supporters at critical moments.

“Leadership must stand with players, clubs and fans during difficult moments,” he said.

Fans Reject the “Foreign Football” Argument

Several football followers joined the debate, arguing that Magogo’s position places too much responsibility on supporters.

Seasoned sports journalist Mark Namanya compared football to music, arguing that Ugandans should not be forced to choose between local and international entertainment.

“At the risk of turning my voice hoarse, you can’t stop me from enjoying music by Peabo Bryson because you want me to drop it for A-Pass. It is possible to enjoy both,” Namanya wrote. Mutebi Alex Kato was even more direct. “If someone chooses to watch the EPL over the Ugandan league, it’s a product issue. Put out a better product,” he said.

The argument was echoed by other fans who said supporters naturally gravitate towards competitions that offer superior football, facilities, broadcasting, marketing and match-day experiences.

One contributor, Bright Lee, told Magogo that fans could not be blamed for following competitions they enjoy. “You can’t blame fans for supporting what they really like. A lot that’s happening in Ugandan football actually forces most football fans to seek refuge in European clubs,” he wrote.

Marketing Becomes a Major Battleground

The debate also exposed concerns about the marketing of the Uganda Premier League. Lule Hassan argued that local football needed a deliberate and professional marketing strategy.

“Marketing the UPL should be taken seriously and intentional. The game in Ug isn’t marketed enough, first to the locals and then internationally. Unfortunately, clubs can’t do this alone,” he said. Magogo responded by asking him to define what he meant by marketing. “What do you mean by marketing?” the FUFA president asked. The exchange underscored one of the central questions facing Ugandan football: whether the domestic game has been sufficiently packaged to compete for the attention of fans who can watch some of the world’s biggest leagues on television and digital platforms.

Grassroots Football Under Scrutiny

The argument subsequently moved beyond the top flight. David Keneta Dronyi called for greater support for grassroots and lower-division clubs, arguing that the foundation of Ugandan football is struggling.

“Fund clubs, most especially grassroots football, most especially clubs in lower divisions,” he said. He questioned how smaller clubs could survive while dealing with registration costs, referee payments and other expenses without adequate support.

Magogo challenged the argument by asking whether the Tanzanian federation pays the costs of clubs in the same manner being demanded in Uganda.

The exchange reflected a wider disagreement about the responsibility of FUFA, clubs, sponsors and government in financing football development.

Fans Question Magogo’s Record

The confrontation also reopened old grievances about Magogo’s tenure. One contributor, R. Abdul Karim, referred to previous disputes involving club owners and former football administrators, accusing Magogo of fighting several clubs and personalities. Those allegations were made on social media and were not independently substantiated in the exchange.

Another fan, Simon Sharp, questioned whether lessons from Magogo’s visit to Manchester United’s Old Trafford had translated into meaningful improvements in Ugandan football infrastructure.

“African football can learn from European football without simply trying to suppress interest in it,” another contributor argued.

Others questioned Magogo’s comparison between European leagues and Uganda’s domestic competitions, saying the two products operate at vastly different financial and sporting levels.

“Those two are equal heavyweights. You can’t compare any team in your league to a European team,” one user wrote in response to Magogo’s Coca-Cola-Pepsi analogy.

“Use Foreign Football to Build Local Football” Not everyone agreed that foreign football should be treated as an enemy.

Joash Marcus pointed to Rwanda’s partnerships with major European clubs as an example of how the global football industry could be used to strengthen domestic football.

“Kagame’s partnerships with major European clubs show that foreign football can be strategically leveraged to strengthen, rather than replace, domestic football,” he wrote.

His argument was that Uganda could use the popularity of European football to create international partnerships, improve standards, attract investment and expose local players and clubs to better systems.

Calls for Magogo to Change Strategy

Some fans acknowledged Magogo’s contribution to Ugandan football but argued that the federation needs a fresh approach. Kakande Chrispus said Magogo had made significant contributions but should consider succession.

“No doubt, you have done good for this game in Uganda, just like Dr Lawrence also did good,” he wrote. He suggested that Magogo could identify and support a successor who would preserve the gains of his administration while introducing new ideas.

The Real Battle: The Product

At the centre of the increasingly bitter exchange is a fundamental disagreement over responsibility.

Magogo’s position is that local football cannot grow without local support. More spectators mean greater gate collections, sponsorship opportunities, commercial value and resources for clubs to improve.

Kasingye and his supporters counter that fans are consumers. They will follow a product that gives them quality football, good facilities, reliable organisation, compelling marketing and an enjoyable match-day experience. The two positions are not necessarily mutually exclusive.

Ugandan football needs supporters, but supporters also need reasons to support it.

The explosive Magogo-Kasingye exchange has therefore exposed a much deeper problem than the popularity of European football. It has raised questions about FUFA’s communication, the marketing of the Uganda Premier League, grassroots development, club financing, player welfare and the direction of the sport ahead of AFCON 2027.

For now, the football debate has moved from the terraces to social media, with Magogo challenging critics to defend their positions in public and Kasingye insisting that FUFA must first listen to the voices of clubs, players and supporters.

The biggest question remains unanswered: should Ugandans be blamed for choosing foreign football, or should the country’s footb

Money rarely transforms life in loud or dramatic ways. More often, it works silently, reshaping futures through the habits we repeat, the choices we normalize, and the mindset we carry into every financial decision. True wealth is not built through sudden windfalls or viral success stories; it grows through discipline, patience, and intentional living.

The foundation of every healthy financial life is simple but powerful: live below your means. This is not about denying yourself joy; it is about reclaiming control. When spending consistently stays below income, money stops being a source of anxiety and becomes a tool. Lifestyle inflation, the habit of upgrading everything the moment income increases, creates the illusion of progress while quietly draining freedom. No matter how much you earn, without discipline you will always feel behind.

While discipline protects wealth, skills create income. Mastering a high- income skill can fundamentally alter your financial trajectory. Skills such as coding, sales, design, writing, public speaking, or strategic thinking allow you to solve real problems for others. Unlike a job title, skills are portable. They travel across industries, borders, and economic cycles. When income is tied to value creation rather than hours worked, your potential expands dramatically.

However, income alone does not create wealth, assets do. A job may pay the bills, but it stops paying when you stop showing up. Assets, on the other hand, continue to grow with time. Businesses, investments, real estate, intellectual property, and well-structured ventures generate value repeatedly. Shifting your mindset from “How much do I earn?” to “What do I own?” is a defining moment in any wealth journey.

Relying on one income stream is increasingly risky. Building multiple sources of income is not about working endlessly; it is about building resilience. Side businesses, consulting, dividends, rental income, online platforms, or royalties each provide a layer of security. When one stream slows down, others help stabilize your progress. Multiple incomes don’t just increase earnings, they reduce fear, and better your assurance.

One of the most underestimated tools in wealth-building is time. Starting to invest early allows compound growth to work in your favor. Time is the greatest multiplier money has. Even modest investments, when given enough time, can grow into something significant. The longer you wait, the harder money has to work later. Starting early reduces pressure and increases options.

Equally important is understanding what to avoid. Bad debt, especially debt acquired for appearances or social status, is a silent trap. Borrowing to impress others often leads to long-term stress and limited flexibility. Debt should be intentional, structured, and used to acquire or grow productive assets, not liabilities that depreciate the moment they are purchased. Another transformative habit is learning how to sell. Selling is not about manipulation; it is about communication and influence. The ability to clearly express value, persuade ethically, and build trust opens doors in business, leadership, and personal growth. Every opportunity, whether a job, a partnership, or a business deal, requires someone to believe in what you offer.

In the modern world, opportunity increasingly lives online. Expanding your digital presence allows you to offer value at scale. The internet is the largest wealth-creation platform of our time, enabling people to build audiences, businesses, and credibility beyond physical boundaries. A thoughtful digital presence can attract opportunities you never actively searched for.

Your environment also plays a critical role. Being around high achievers elevates your standards and reshapes your thinking. The people you spend time with influence what you consider normal, possible, and acceptable. Surrounding yourself with individuals who challenge you encourages growth and makes complacency uncomfortable.

True wealth extends beyond money into time freedom. Building time wealth means creating systems that reduce constant trading of hours for income. Delegation, automation, and leverage allow you to focus on high-impact activities while freeing time for family, creativity, and rest. Money is useful, but time is irreplaceable. Underlying all these habits is a commitment to lifelong learning. The world evolves rapidly, and those who remain curious stay relevant. Wealth increasingly belongs to the adaptable, to people who continuously refine their skills, broaden their thinking, and remain open to change rather than clinging to outdated models.

Finally, remember that wealth-building is a long journey, not a sprint. Sustainable progress rewards patience, consistency, and long-term thinking. Quick wins fade; strong habits endure. Those who understand this stop chasing shortcuts and start building foundations. In a nutshell, Money habits don’t change overnight. They change quietly, through daily choices made with intention. And over time, those choices turn paychecks into possibilities, effort into freedom, and income into lasting impact.

Opinion: Nations are not undone in a single dramatic moment. They are gradually weakened when their moral foundations are treated as instruments of convenience. Uganda today stands at such a crossroads. The recent controversy surrounding a postponed Mass offered for political detainees, including Dr. Kizza Besigye, has once again exposed an unsettling fragility in our civic culture, we oscillate between demanding prophetic courage from the Church and condemning it whenever its discernment fails to align with our partisan appetites.

The public theatre that followed was telling. Accusations of capitulation competed with allegations of state overreach. Yet, beneath the surface lay, a deeper and more strategic question arises. What is the rightful place of moral institutions in the architecture of a modern state? And perhaps more importantly, what kind of nation are we constructing when we alternately weaponise and vilify those institutions?

The Strategic Value of Moral Institutions 

Uganda’s formation was neither purely political nor purely territorial. It was civilisational. Institutions such as the Catholic Church, the Church of Uganda, and traditional polities like the Buganda Kingdom were not peripheral actors. They were incubators of literacy, conscience, diplomacy, and leadership formation. They shaped the moral grammar of the state long before constitutions were drafted. To reduce such institutions to mere registrable entities before the Uganda Registration Services Bureau is legally defensible, yet symbolically profound. It signals a shift from reverence to routine administration. There is nothing unlawful about regulation.

However, when moral institutions lose their gravitas and are treated as ordinary interest groups, the state inadvertently impoverishes its own ethical compass. The strategic direction of any country depends not merely on economic growth or security apparatuses, but on the vitality of its moral intermediaries. Those entities capable of speaking uncomfortable truths to both rulers and crowds.

The Peril of Precedent and the Tyranny of Selective Outrage 

It is intellectually insufficient to lament perceived state pressure upon the Church while ignoring previous episodes where public agitation coerced ecclesiastical decisions. When Mathias Mpuuga prepared for a thanksgiving service amid intense political turbulence, sections of society mounted a vociferous campaign against the Church’s involvement.

The pressure was not subtle. It was orchestrated, emotional, and unrelenting. Representation was delegated. The precedent was set. We must be candid.  Societies that legitimise mob interference cannot credibly protest institutional interference. The logic is identical; only the source of pressure differs. Edmund Burke once warned thus; “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” Yet, he might well have added that the triumph of disorder requires good men to act without principle. Selective outrage corrodes legitimacy. If we defend autonomy only when it favours our cause, we are not defending principle. We are defending preference.

The Instrumentalisation of Faith 

There is also a sobering spiritual dimension. In moments of national distress, prayer services become symbolic rallying points. But faith must never be reduced to political theatre. It is neither a tactical lever, nor a revolutionary shortcut. The great civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. understood this delicate balance. He mobilised the Church not as a partisan weapon, but as a moral conscience.

Luther`s words resonate across continents. “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” Crucially, he did not ask the Church to echo every political slogan. He asked it to illuminate the moral law above politics. Similarly, Desmond Tutu reminded the world thus; “If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor.”

Yet, Archbishop Tutu’s courage was rooted in spiritual integrity, not populist impulse. He defended the autonomy of the pulpit precisely because its credibility depended upon independence from factional manipulation. Uganda must ask herself; Are we strengthening that independence, or are we eroding it through relentless politicisation?

Religion and Power: A Necessary Tension 

It is tempting to declare, cynically, that religion ultimately bows to politics. History offers examples where this appears true. Yet, history also shows that when politics becomes unmoored from moral restraint, its excesses multiply. Consider the quiet influence of faith communities in transitional societies, how they mediate, reconcile, and humanise.

Even where they lack coercive authority, they possess moral capital. And moral capital, once squandered, is not easily replenished. A state confident in its legitimacy does not fear prayer. A Church confident in its mission does not fear scrutiny. The tension between altar and statehouse is not inherently destructive. It becomes destructive only when one seeks to dominate or instrumentalise the other.

The Strategic Imperative for Uganda 

If Uganda is to chart a stable and dignified future, three strategic recalibrations are imperative. One, Institutional Respect Over Political Expediency: Religious and cultural institutions must not be reduced to platforms for temporary political mobilisation. Their long-term credibility is a national asset. Two, Consistency in Civic Engagement: Citizens must resist the temptation to pressure institutions today and demand their protection tomorrow. Ethical consistency is the bedrock of mature democracies.

And three, Reaffirmation of Moral Leadership: The Church must guard its prophetic voice with prudence and courage, speaking truth to power without succumbing to partisan choreography. As Nelson Mandela wisely observed, “A nation should not be judged by how it treats its highest citizens, but its lowest ones.” How we treat detainees, dissenters, and even institutions with which we disagree reveals the calibre of our democracy.

A Call to National Maturity 

Uganda’s destiny cannot be secured through outrage cycles. It requires moral steadiness, institutional dignity, and leadership capable of transcending factional impulses. Let us therefore elevate the discourse. Let us resist the seduction of mob energy masquerading as civic engagement. Let us protect the sanctity of institutions even when their decisions unsettle us.

For tomorrow, when we seek the Church’s mediation in moments of national fracture, its authority must remain intact. When we seek moral clarity in turbulent times, its voice must not be compromised by memories of having been bullied into submission. The strategic direction of this country will not be determined solely by elections, security deployments, or economic metrics. It will be determined by whether we preserve the moral ecosystems that sustain justice, dignity, and restraint.

Lest I Forget

If Uganda is to rise into a future worthy of its history, then the altar must neither be commandeered by the crowd nor intimidated by the throne. It must stand—calm, principled, and resolute—reminding both citizen and ruler alike that power without conscience is perilous, and that nations endure only when their moral foundations remain unshaken.

Let’s face it, our education system has taught students how to find x, recite Shakespeare, and cram the digestive system of an insect. But one thing it still struggles to teach is how to create value, solve real problems, and more importantly, earn money without writing love-like application letters to HR managers.

But a quiet revolution is knocking. A new breed of students; young, curious, slightly rebellious, is rising. They are no longer waiting for job offers; they are designing logos, mixing organic soaps, knitting, baking cookies with banana flour and selling airtime via apps. Welcome to the era of student-preneurs.

It starts in school. Not with a lecture, but with a project. Not a project where they build a volcano that explodes on the Head Teacher’s shoes, but one where students are challenged to spot a problem in their community and solve it using innovation, grit, and a dash of passionate chaos.

The best schools now run “business clubs” where students don’t just write business plans, they implement them. They start piggery farms, bake cakes during break time, and produce herbal sanitizers that may or may not kill 99% of germs, but definitely kill boredom.

Let’s be clear: a school project should not just earn a grade, it should unlock a future. A boy who starts a poultry project learns more about economics, patience, and life than he would in three years of abstract commerce theory. He also learns that chickens are ungrateful creatures who don’t lay eggs when you need them most.

Take the case of a girl in S.3 who starts blending fruit juice and packaging it in reused mineral water bottles. Or Michelle doing knitting in S.2. By the end of the term, she has loyal customers, a proper label, and is already explaining to her parents what “profit margin” means. That’s not a project, that’s a startup.

Then there’s the young genius who repairs broken radios in school, charges his classmates to fix their cracked phones, and secretly runs an electronics lab under the physics teacher’s nose. Before you know it, he has employees, and he’s still 16. Imagine if we nurtured that spark instead of killing it with rules about tucked-in shirts.

The magic lies in guiding student passion. Some are born artists, let them design clothing lines or modeling. Others are herbal scientists, let them create organic toothpaste or mosquito repellents. Some are natural marketers, they can sell a rock to a farmer. Why not let them sell school-branded merchandise instead?

And the best part? These projects don’t just teach business, they teach character. Students learn resilience when their first idea flops, leadership when they have to manage their peers, and humility when their parents ask them to use their profits to buy sugar for the house.

Let’s also address the elephant in the classroom, unemployment. Uganda produces thousands of graduates each year and only a handful of jobs. If we want a future where our children are not professional job seekers with 17 cover letters and no rent, we must start them young. With ideas, not just degrees.

Imagine a curriculum where a student can choose between “Advanced Calculus” and “How to Start a Profitable Rabbit Farm.” Or where end-of-term assessment includes pitching a business idea to real investors, not just answering whether Napoleon was a hero or a villain.

We also need to involve the community. Parents should stop calling student projects “hobbies” and start treating them like the first boardroom meeting of a future empire. Teachers should mentor, not micromanage. And let’s not forget, many of these kids have digital skills their teachers don’t. Let them explore!

The most powerful outcome of this movement is not money. It’s self-belief. A student who starts a detergent business or a tech app at 17 won’t fear unemployment at 25. They won’t depend entirely on a salary to survive. They’ll face life with ideas in their heads and fire in their hearts.

So, let the school projects go beyond posters and diagrams. Let’s see more candle-making, app development, chapati machines, mushroom farms, graphic design portfolios, and financial literacy fairs. Let the classroom spill into the marketplace, because that’s where the future is being built.

In conclusion, it’s time to stop asking students, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” and start asking, “What problem do you want to solve, starting now?” Because the future doesn’t belong to those who wait for jobs. It belongs to those who create them before they even finish their UNEB registration.

The writer is the General Manager, Commercial Banking at Centenary Bank.

Are you faint-heartened? Business requires that brilliant founder, the lightning-

bolt idea, and sometimes mythical overnight success. Yet anyone who has

actually, built a business knows the truth is far less glamorous and far more

demanding. Real success is forged through grit with focus: inner strength, guts,

innovation, tenacity, and that unteachable fire within. As the saying goes, “Talent

may start the race, but grit is what drags you across the finish line.” In business,

brilliance opens doors, but endurance keeps them open.

Grit itself is silent and deeply unfashionable. It doesn’t announce itself on TikTok

or wear expensive suits. It only shows up, every day, especially when things are

not working. Many ventures collapse not because the idea was weak, but

because persistence ran out. This is why it is often said, “Success in business is

less about having the right answers and more about refusing to stop asking the

questions.” Grit is the habit of standing back up, repeatedly, without giving up.

Focus is what gives grit direction. Without focus, effort becomes noise; with

focus, it becomes force. Businesses rarely fail from a lack of ideas, they fail from

too many distractions. Leaders who chase every opportunity end up mastering

none. As one sharp insight puts it, “Focus is not about doing more things; it is

about doing fewer things exceptionally well.” Focus allows grit to work like a laser

instead of a floodlight.

Inner strength is what sustains leaders during the tough seasons of business:

delayed payments, regulatory pressure, staff turnover, and quiet self-doubt at 2

a.m. Inner strength is choosing composure over complaint and progress over

panic. When external conditions destabilize, inner strength steadies the ship. After

all, “Markets test strategy, but pressure tests character.” In business, character

outlives any business plan.

Then comes guts, the willingness to act without guarantees. Every meaningful

business decision involves risk, and waiting for certainty is often just fear. Guts is

launching before you feel ready, backing your judgment, and taking responsibility

for outcomes. As the saying goes, “Courage in business is not knowing

everything will work; it is moving forward even when it might not.” Without guts,

ideas remain permanently trapped in notebooks.

Innovation is often misunderstood as technology or big budgets, yet it usually

begins with discomfort. When survival is at stake, creativity wakes up.

Public – Centenary Bank

The most innovative solutions emerge when resources are scarce and pressure is

high. This is why it’s true that “Innovation is rarely born from comfort; it is forged

in constraint.” Businesses that innovate consistently do not wait for perfect

conditions, they respond intelligently to imperfect ones.

Tenacity is what turns innovation into results. Ideas are plentiful; follow-through is

rare. Tenacity means staying with a strategy long enough for it to mature, refining

it when it stumbles, and resisting the urge to abandon ship at the first sign of

turbulence. As one blunt truth reminds us, “Most people don’t fail, they quit just

before things start working.” Tenacity is the patience to let effort compound.

At the core of it all burns the fire within. This fire is not hype or temporary

motivation, it is purpose anchored in responsibility. It is the internal voice that

says failure is not fatal, but giving up is unacceptable. This fire fuels learning,

resilience, and long-term vision. In fact, “When motivation fades, purpose is what

keeps the engine running.” Businesses led by people with inner fire do not

merely survive, they evolve.

Ultimately, business success is not a straight climb; it is a stubborn series of

recoveries. Grit sharpens focus, focus strengthens courage, courage drives

innovation, innovation demands tenacity, and tenacity feeds the fire within.

Remove one, and momentum weakens. Combine them, and even ordinary ideas

can build extraordinary enterprises. As experience repeatedly shows, “The real

competitive advantage in business is not intelligence, it is endurance.”

In conclusion, if business feels hard, you are not failing, you are forging and

learning. Difficulty is not a signal to stop; it is an invitation to grow stronger. Stay

focused. Act bravely. Innovate relentlessly. Persist stubbornly. Feed the fire.

Because in the end, those who win in business are rarely the most gifted. They

are simply the ones who decided, again and again, not to quit.

The writer is the General Manager Commercial Banking at Centenary Bank

Key AI-related Developments & News

The country is moving toward formal regulation and governance of AI, a national AI policy is being drafted to steer ethical use, protect privacy, and support home-grown innovation. The government has formed a national AI task force to guide responsible deployment and ensure AI benefits reach a broad section of society.

Figure 1: National AI task force. (Courtesy Internet)

 Educational and research institutions for example Makerere University and Victoria Univerisity are increasingly playing key roles in AI development. There’ve been conferences and collaborations aimed at leveraging AI for health, education, and local innovation.

Public-sector institutions, including Bank of Uganda, are exploring AI’s potential in finance (e.g. digital payments, possibly digital currency), agriculture, healthcare, and education signaling a push toward data-driven and efficient public services.

How AI Is (or Could Be) Transforming Society in Uganda

Health & Public Services

The offline-capable AI framework for medical supply chains could help deliver medicines and resources more reliably especially in hard-to-reach or crisis-prone regions.

AI can strengthen diagnostics, disease surveillance, and data-driven health interventions if local tools and health-system integrations follow through.

Figure 2 Robots support surgery work in Operation rooms. (Courtesy Internet)

Governance, Efficiency & Digital Public Services

The push for policies and a national AI task force suggests Uganda aims to embed AI in public administration responsibly potentially improving transparency, reducing bureaucracy, and making services more accessible.

Digital-first services (e.g. e-government portals, streamlined data management) could help bridge urban/rural divides.

Education, Research & Skill Building

Universities and institutions are pivoting toward AI both in research and training preparing students for a more digital, AI-driven economy.

Over time, this could lead to more local innovators developing context-relevant AI solutions, reducing reliance on imported tech.

Economic Transformation: Finance, Agriculture, Tech Startups

AI in finance (digital payments, data analytics) can increase financial inclusion, transparency, and efficiency. In agriculture, AI tools (and IoT + data-driven frameworks) can help small-scale farmers optimize yields, respond to climate change, and increase productivity. Stimulating a local AI/tech startup ecosystem could drive job creation, especially for youth and tech-savy populations.

What Needs Attention.

 Experts and civil society warn about the risks of AI misuse, digital inequality, and dependence on foreign tech unless Uganda invests in local, context-aware solutions.

There’s concern around data privacy, governance, and potential exploitation — for instance, in copyright law: current Ugandan laws recognise only humans as creators, not AI, which may create legal grey areas.

 Digital infrastructure like internet access, electricity, broadband remains uneven. For AI to benefit broadly, technological access and digital literacy need to expand, especially in rural or underserved areas.

 There’s a risk of widening inequality: those with access to tools, training, and infrastructure could benefit first, while others might be left out. Responsible policy, inclusive education, and local solutions are key.

What Comes Next

Implementation of the national AI policy and how well it balances innovation with privacy and ethics. Growth of local AI/tech startups and home-grown solutions rather than dependence on imported technology. Expansion of digital infrastructure (internet, electricity) and up-skilling of the workforce especially youth and rural populations.

 Use of AI in public services (health, agriculture, education, finance) to improve inclusion, efficiency, and sustainability. Civil society and regulatory measures to ensure fairness, accountability, and to avoid digital divides or exploitation. Overall, AI in Uganda is at an inflection point  there’s strong momentum, interest from government and institutions, and real potential to transform many sectors. If managed well (with good policy inclusion, infrastructure, and local innovation), AI could help Uganda leap forward.

By the AI Ambassador

]]> https://theinvestigatornews.com/2025/11/the-innevitable-change-ai-takes-centre-stage-in-ugandas-digital-future-as-the-country-moves-towards-a-formal-regulation-and-governance-of-ai-policy/feed/ 1 https://theinvestigatornews.com/2025/11/twent-seven-years-after-being-sent-home-to-die-moses-nsubuga-aka-super-charger-proves-hiv-isnt-a-death-sentence/#utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=twent-seven-years-after-being-sent-home-to-die-moses-nsubuga-aka-super-charger-proves-hiv-isnt-a-death-sentence Wed, 26 Nov 2025 17:07:46 +0000 https://theinvestigatornews.com/?p=7926 Moses Nsubuga, codenamed Super Charger, was formerly a Radio personality and singer. Aged approximately 56 years, the lanky subject of this story, has a marvelous story to his side, which is, first of all, a testament to God’s miraculous powers of healing. Based on the HIV scourge, Super Charger’s story is a stark reminder that though the virus is a nightmare, it’s not necessarily a death sentence.

The Gist

27 years ago, Super Charger’s relatives virtually declared him a dead man who was just clutching at straws. Under that stunning belief, an aunt with whom he was staying in Entebbe, returned his cousin to their ancestral village, at least to be closer to his eternal resting place ahead of his looming demise and burial.

The Aunt took the decision to supposedly spare the family of a two million shillings expenditure. This figure is what it required then, to transport a body back to their Kitalaganya ancestral village, located after Nakasongola, for burial. Upon his arrival at Kitalaganya village, Super Charger’s relatives, who were convinced beyond any lingering doubt of his imminent death, went ahead and dug a grave ahead of his actual demise.

In another dramatic act of advance preparation for his looming demise and burial, the relatives procured the necessary materials required to dress up Super Charger’s body ahead of his imminent death. Thereafter, the relatives reclined and waited for his final hour on earth, ahead of meeting his creator from across the bridge.

The dramatic acts, followed the victim’s failure to regularly take his critical life-saving drugs, which saw the virus developing a stubborn resistance to that critical line of treatment, crucial to boost an HIV victim’s immune system and to suppress the fatal disease.

Frail and unable now, to take care of his fragile situation by himself, Super Charger relocated to his aunt’s residence located in Entebbe. Here, after treating him without positive results, she returned him to the village to die, convinced that his condition was irreversible. But in a miraculous reversal of his misfortunes, a former member of Parliament from Buikwe, Sarah Nyombi, who was Super Charger’s  bosom friend, fortunately, learned of his tribulations.

Immediately, Nyombi picked up the ailing man from Kitalaganya village, where he had been deposited to die. Deturmined to bankroll his required specialized medication, she brought him back to town. Nyombi’s swift intervention proved a game changer, resuscitating a man whose relatives had prematurely written off, leaving him dangerously teetering around his grave.

Nyombi’s action of compassion not only turned around a hopeless situation, but also potentially serves as an inspiration for those positively living with HIV, who may feel inclined to take their lives. Furthermore, the extremely commendable act of compassion potentially serves as an instruction to the relatives of HIV holders who may be nursing ideas of abandoning them to their devices.

Super Charger’s living experience dismantles the misguided notion that simply because someone has HIV, they are therefore as good as dead. The genesis of Super Charger’s HIV positive status, is traced to 1994. But, it was not until 1998 after his positive status was finally medically established.

That followed Super Charger getting unwell and suspected HIV to be the cause of his ill-health, based on his former reckless rounds of sex-capades. As he pondered on his next course of action, curiosity took the better of Super Charger, prompting him to go to the formerly Baumann House, premised at Uganda’s original HIV Testing and Treatment Center. His suspicion was proved spot on.

Upon disclosing to his wife, of his positive status, she unceremoniously abandoned him at Baumann House where, she had accompanied him to take the test. By way of a recap, Super Charger’s has been a story of adversity and of  triumph over adversity all at the same time.

The story is overshadowed by acts of abandonment and of rescue by people who were central to the main actor’s life and heart. Most of all, Super Charger’s is a story anchored on perseverance, hope coupled with a strong desire to live amidst adversity posed by a tragic  disease overcame by his never-say-die spirit.

As he continues to positively and graciously live, Super Charger’s fervent prayer and hope is that the much-awaited for, and still elusive cure for the virus, finds him alive and kicking. His prayer and hope is a pointer to his strong sense of hope that has kept him going since the dark days when he was written off and a grave for him dug ahead of his burial.

As the cure continues to defy top notch scientists, Super Charger, in the meantime, urges those carrying HIV to take the available treatment and life-support drugs religiously and to desist from acts that could spread the disease and those that can endanger as well as lead to premature loss of their lives.

]]> https://theinvestigatornews.com/2025/11/the-business-of-film-in-uganda-stakeholders-call-for-investment-structure-and-policy-support-organized-by-the-ministry-of-ict-and-national-guidance-in-partnership-with-multichoice-uganda/#utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-business-of-film-in-uganda-stakeholders-call-for-investment-structure-and-policy-support-organized-by-the-ministry-of-ict-and-national-guidance-in-partnership-with-multichoice-uganda Mon, 24 Nov 2025 12:57:26 +0000 https://theinvestigatornews.com/?p=7946 Editorial

Uganda’s film industry is at a turning point. Once considered a creative niche space, it is now emerging as a vibrant sector with rising talent, improved production quality and growing commercial potential. Yet behind the glitz on screen lies a complex business ecosystem that stakeholders say needs deliberate investment, strong regulation and recognition of film as both an economic driver and a cultural pillar.

This call to action dominated discussions on the first episode of The Ugandan Podcast Season 4, organised by the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance in partnership with MultiChoice Uganda. Brian Mulondo, Local Content Manager at MultiChoice Uganda, highlighted the industry’s transformation over the past six years, crediting sustained investment in local productions. “Since the launch of Pearl Magic channels, we’ve seen a boom across all aspects of the industry,” Mulondo said. “Uganda has moved from having only a handful of professional cinematographers and sound engineers to a thriving ecosystem of skilled talent thanks to initiatives like the MultiChoice Talent Factory.” Today, Uganda can support multiple large-scale productions simultaneously with no shortage of competent crews. Mulondo added that MultiChoice’s commissioning model has empowered independent filmmakers to produce high-quality content now recognized on continental platforms such as the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards. Through commissioning and content acquisition, filmmakers earn, grow and retain ownership of their work after licensing periods.

From a regulatory perspective, Ruth Kibuuka, Manager of Content Development at the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC), stressed that the industry cannot thrive without structural and policy support. “Twelve years ago, UCC introduced local content quotas for broadcasters, but we quickly realized that while broadcasters were willing, the available content lacked quality,” she said. This prompted UCC to invest in capacity building, training over 10,000 filmmakers in directing, producing, scriptwriting and cinematography. Kibuuka emphasized film’s economic and cultural significance, noting its potential to employ millions while preserving Uganda’s heritage. She underscored the need for strong regulatory frameworks for quality assurance and intellectual property protection, citing UCC’s collaboration with the Uganda Registration Services Bureau and the Uganda Film Festival as key milestones.

Judithiana Namazzi, a TV host and producer, pointed to professionalism as a persistent challenge. “Many entrants lack training, which affects execution,” she said, urging creatives to embrace research, continuous learning and constructive criticism. “Excellence matters. If you accept a job, do it well because you never know who is watching,” Namazzi advised, adding that spotlighting women in film is critical to inspiring more female participation.

Award-winning filmmaker Loukman Ali noted that while Uganda’s creative talent is growing, the business ecosystem remains underdeveloped. Drawing comparisons with Nigeria, he observed that brands there actively seek product placement opportunities because they understand film’s commercial value. “In Uganda, brands still view film with skepticism, which forces filmmakers to self-fund, a cycle that affects quality and distribution,” Loukman said. He called for accelerated policy processes, warning that bureaucratic delays often render regulations outdated in a fast-evolving industry. “Technology is shaping the industry quickly and by the time policies come to light, the industry has already moved a step further,” he added.

Uganda’s film industry is brimming with potential, but unlocking its full value requires more than talent. It demands investment, robust policy frameworks and a mindset shift among brands and stakeholders to view film not just as art but as a business capable of driving economic growth and cultural influence.

A prominent German language school with branches in Uganda, Rwanda and Kenya has begun an extensive regional review to examine academic consistency across its three East African centres.

Opinion: Too often, organizations equate strategy with documentation, a written plan that sits stored away in a computer folder or in the CEO’s book shelf. True strategy, however, is dynamic. It lives in decisions, guides culture, and informs how institutions adapt and grow. It helps organizations balance short-term pressures with long-term purpose, ensuring sustainability beyond immediate results.

In today’s competitive world, success is no longer determined by ambition alone but by the strength of one’s strategy. Across Africa, organizations and governments are setting ambitious targets, embracing innovation, and driving meaningful change. Yet, too often, good intentions fall short because they are not anchored in a clear, coherent strategy that guides every decision, resource, and action.

One may put in the effort, however, the difference between progress and stagnation lies in direction, and I believe that strategy gives that direction. It is what turns ideas into outcomes, plans into impact, and ambition into measurable success.

At the International Association for Strategy Professionals (IASP) Uganda Chapter, we believe that strategy must sit at the heart of every institution’s culture. Whether in business, government, education, or civil society, strategic thinking helps organizations define their purpose, align their resources, and stay focused in the face of uncertainty. That is why we are intentional with preaching the gospel through annual strategy leadership conferences like the one scheduled for 30-31^st October 2025.

Uganda’s economic growth and development vision under initiatives like the National Development Plan (NDP IV) present immense opportunities. But opportunity alone is not enough. For these ambitions to be realized, they must be backed by thoughtful planning, disciplined execution, and continuous evaluation which are ideally the symbols of effective strategy, hence a mindset shift.

Also, as institutions embark on digital transformation, financial management, human capital development, and sustainability, there is need guidance from a strategic framework. Technology, for instance, is only as powerful as the strategy that governs its use. Without clear priorities, even the most advanced tools risk becoming expensive distractions rather than enablers of progress.

Africa is undergoing significant transitions in its economic, social, and technological landscapes, which require deliberate and collaborative strategic approaches to ensure sustainable growth. The continent is not short of talent, ambition, and ideas to lead in innovation and growth. The missing link are deliberate innovative strategies and partnerships to turn potential into measurable impact.

As the continent advances, our ability to anticipate change will define our competitiveness. Strategic foresight, which is the discipline of preparing for multiple futures, allows organizations to remain agile in uncertain environments. It helps leaders recognize patterns, manage risk, and respond proactively rather than reactively.

Sustainability must also be embedded into every strategy. Aligning institutional goals with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) ensures that growth benefits people and the planet. Whether addressing climate resilience, gender equality, or decent work, strategy remains the link between aspiration and achievement.

To move from potential to progress, every leader must embrace strategy as a mindset. Leaders must seek out avenues committed to empowering professionals and institutions to develop, implement, and sustain effective strategies. We must envision a future where strategy is not confined to the boardroom but becomes a national culture that influences how we plan, work, and lead. The time is ripe to explore cutting edge strategies that can accelerate progress towards the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and enhance regional economic integration.

For Uganda and Africa at large, the next decade must be defined by strategic leadership that plans with clarity, acts with purpose, and delivers with consistency.

Our continent has everything it needs to succeed. What remains is to think strategically and act deliberately toward a shared future of sustainable growth.

The writer is the President, International Association for Strategy Professionals (IASP) Uganda Chapter