The sad reaction to the news that he had scored aggregate 29 in last year's Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE) said it all. Robert Wangota, 13 was distraught. 

“I let myself and my parents down. I had expected to perform well and my parents had high hopes in me,” Wangota, who hails from Bubetsye village in Nyondo sub-county, Mbale district in Eastern Uganda, said plaintively.

Wangota had expected better grades having scored aggregate 11 in the mock examinations. He sat his exams at Nyondo Primary School.

Wangota was however not the only pupil from the Eastern region of Uganda who underperformed.

Thousands of pupils from the districts of Mbale and Bududa performed poorly in last year’s Primary Leaving Examinations, which were released in January.

Of the 7,260 pupils from Mbale district who sat the 2017 PLE examinations, 1,327 failed; which is 18.7% of the candidates. In Bududa, there were 454 (16.5%) failures out of the 2,741 pupils who sat the exams.

Where are Uganda’s rap icons?

Lately, a group of young budding Hip Hop Hip Hop artists like Fefe Bussi, Rachel Rey and Da Agent have enjoyed considerable media attention, thanks to a trending rap battle song called-“Who is who”.

But whilst Bussi and his co get the laurels and shine for supposedly putting the spotlight back on Hip Hop with their “who is who” back and forth songs; hordes of the genre’s fans argue that the current crop of artists are not talented enough to transcend the legacy left by the genre’s forerunners.

It is the tag end of Friday and a crowd of gaily men have gathered around a big round pot at Gregory’s lounge in Namatala, Mbale.

As the men converse, a young man comes with a garland of dry banana leaves and two big stones and places them at the rare end of the pot.
The stones are ostensibly to keep the pot standing firm.

There are no prizes for guessing that the men are bidding time to partake on Malwa-a fermented bubbling brownish local beverage, which is in high favour with many urban and rank and file Ugandans.

With a sparkle in her eyes, 17 year old Rita Namutosi excitedly gyrated as high-pitched Gisu traditional drums known as the Indonyi sounded at Mutoto cultural grounds, a stone’s throw away, from Mbale town.

Her collegues from the Mushika clan in Bushika subcounty-Bududa sung an accompanying traditional up-tempo Lumasaba song in praise of a famed Mumasaba ancient warrior; whilst cheering her on with glee.

Namutosi and her friends were donned in antique Gisu feminine wear; which in many ways was reminiscent of the dress code in the years of old in Bugisu.
They had gotten up at the crack of dawn to prep for the Imbalu Parade and Festival, which was held recently [16th of December] at the Lukhobo grounds, just a stone’s throw away from Mbale town.
The Lukhobo is the center of operations for the Mbale district.

Namutosi and her collegues and several other people from the 26 clans of the Bamasaba and Bamasaba from Kenya [from Bungoma and Tranzoia counties] had convened at Mutoto cultural grounds; the previous day.

Mutoto is one of Bugisu’s foremost cultural heritage sites. It is, according to gisu traditional legend, the place where the first Imbalu ceremony was solemnized.

With dry banana fibre wrought skirts, banana fibre wrought head gear, strings of beads and garland of kamabombwe [a fast creeping stem] over their necks; Namutosi and her collegues were in many respects, reliving and retracing the ways of life of the ancient Bamasaba, who ostensibly used the aforementioned, bits and pieces, not only as dancing regalia but as daily costumes.

 By Richard Wetaya

If there is one hustle; which has consistently proven difficult to push in Uganda, it is a rap career.

Through the years, numerous Ugandan rap artists have rhymed for pittance; barely making make ends.

If you are ever in any doubt about the validity of that; ask the Big Trill’s, Lyrical Proof’s, Burney M.C’s, Don M.C’s, Unique’s, etc of this world. They may not share with you their disillusionment, but needless to say, it is a rough and tumble jungle out there.

The law of the jungle applies in the Ugandan rap industry-only the strong hearted survive.

Looked at in the abstract, that status quo has made it hard for both prospective and established rappers, alike.It is just harsh fact that there is no love lost between corporate entities and the rap industry.

The corporate bodies probably don’t foresee any long term gain in supporting the genre.To that end, the prospect of sustaining a rap career in Uganda for many seems as unrealistic as nailing jelly to the wall.

This being Uganda however, you will still find cockeyed optimists, who refuse to look reality in its face. To them a new lease of life will one day dawn for hip hop. That is a long shot. It probably will happen when every emcee embraces the Gravity Omutujju format.The likelihood of that happening is two to one, because lets it straight the guy is not hip hop.

Keko, Uganda’s premier femcee however demures noting that the future is hip hop.

“All these other genres will soon fade out and hip hop will take centre stage,” she states.

The apathy towards Hip hop in Uganda has, by and large, meant less return value for rappers who put in work in the recording booth and that has been manifested in the few and lukewarm radio spins, few endorsement deals, fewer crowds at shows and ofcourse the minimal album or single sales.

“It takes more than the conventional methods of marketing to push a rap career in Uganda. It is twice the hustle and the budget compared to other genres. This leaves most rappers discouraged and frustrated,” states Rugged made, a veteran hip hop emcee and a mainstay on the battle rap scene in Kampala.

By Richard Wetaya
The Silver-bucks, the bulk of whom, are well into their 30’s have once again just proved why Uganda is a basketballing behemoth in the Zone 5 region.
Qualifying for Africa’s biggest basketballing showpiece, for the second time, on the trot, even as the Bucks lost to arch nemesis-Egypt in the finals was not exactly a jarring experience.
Many may have not expected it but by now, all and sundry should know that the Silver-bucks can ball.
They showed and proved that in their Group B preliminary games against Somalia and Burundi and in the semis against Rwanda.
Egypt, which has its own history of fielding old players both on the soccer pitch and basketball court, beat the Silver-bucks 95-72 in the final.

By and large, the qualification milestone vindicates the Silver-back’s 30 something players, most of whom, had been the butt of ill advised jokes on the popular B ball 256 Buzz facebook page.

Before the team even got in camp, there was a hue and cry on the page about the lack of younger guys on the team.
Amos Lesuk, a firebrand member of the group sparked off the back and forth debates on whether the older members of the Silver-bucks or the old crooks as he likes to call them, should still be on the team.
The 30 and above guys on the team; to wit-Stephen Omony, Stephen Ociti, Joseph Ikong, Norman Blick before he was dropped and Ben Komakech were the target of the unflattering jokes and insults.

The firebrands on the page rationalized that some of the older Silver-bucks had, to all intents and purposes, outlived their balling time and to that end, they demanded, they should give way to younger ballers.
Unbeknown to most of the critics, the older Silver-bucks could still ball.

At length, the detractors behind the “get the old guys out of the Silver-bucks” campaign have been forced to eat humbie pie.
The old crooks served the detractors revenge in its coldest form.
Impressive performances in the Afro-basket qualifying tournament in Egypt spoke to the fact.
In the first group B game against Somalia, the older crooks showed how they were far from washed up, leading all scorers as the Bucks won 94-72.
Omony, City Oil’s new recruit scored 17 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists.
Hate him or love him, Omony just seems to get better with age.
Ocitti led all scorers with 33 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 steals, Ikong had 11 points.
In the second game against Burundi, where the Bucks won 99-54, Omony dropped 10 points and 5 rebounds.
Komaketch had 8 points and 6 rebounds, whilst Ikong had 8 and 7 rebounds, respectively.
One of the youngest Bucks-Jonan Otim top scored with 16 points.

By Richard Wetaya
Few players in the Ugandan Basketball league possess as cracking a handle and as lethal a clutch shot as Sudi Ulanga, the KIU Titans shooting guard.
The Tanzanian’s yo-yo handles have long become a byword for breaking opponent’s ankles, metaphorically that is.
With the Friday Night Lights season kicking off this Friday, basketball fans are on the giddy up, waiting with bated breath to stand a treat of Ulanga’s exciting skill set.
With Jimmy Enabu and Joseph Ikong on national duty, FNL fans will look up to Ulanga, to provide the sparks and highlight reels.

Ulanga has quite an impressive pedigree in the National League.
Between the years 2012-2014, he was the most dominant scoring force in the league.
At that time; Ulanga was turning out for the UCU Canons; the most exciting team in the league then.
In tandem with the dunking machine, Desmond Owili, Brian Namake and Ivan Lumanyika- the Ulanga led Canons were a real force to be reckoned with.
His creativity, shot making abilities, dropping of dimes (making assists) and consistent buccaneering play made him an arch nemesis for opposing teams, not only in Uganda, but regionally.
Season in, season out; Ulanga put in performances that set him apart from the rest. In most games, he averaged 20+ points, a feat few players in the league, manage.
Having curved out that pedigree; it came as no surprise when he was named the 2014 regular season MVP.

In his 4 seasons at UCU, Ulanga carved out a place for himself in the University’s basketball hall of fame. He literally carried the team on his back; making
them title contenders and himself; the most electrifying player in the league.
At the start of the 2014 season, he provided another imperious career highlight, dropping a game high 30 points and 7 rebounds on the City Oilers, who were then the champions.
At length, Ulanga did not lead the Canons to the National league title, but he helped build the team’s brand and establish it as an elite force in the league.
The Canons only lost by a hairs breath, at the two to three penultimate and final stage appearances the team made, when Ulanga was at his most dominant.

The national league quarter final playoffs of 2015 provided one of Ulanga’s other standout highlights. By that time, Ulanga, who has become a rolling stone of sorts, had long left the Canons. He was turning out for Power.
His repertoire of skills were on full display in game 3 of the series. He showed off his offensive mettle, dropping a whopping 41 points on the Star Times Falcons.
That game went to double overtime, and at length, Power, emerged triumphant winning the series 2-1.

To thwart the sharp shooting Ulanga, opposing teams often played double or triple teams on him. But even when Ulanga was in the opposing team’s cross hairs, he still showed; he was top of the range, feeding off pick and rolls to hit clutch threes.
If he was not shooting from beyond the arc, he made emphatic drives to the hoop.
When Ulanga was passed the rock (a basketball) in open space, whey faced opposing defenses pushed the panic button.

Ulanga’s first team in Uganda, were the Falcons. He played with them in 2014.
He moved to the UCU Canons after his stint with the Falcons.
In 2015, Ulanga moved to Tiger head Power and a year later, he joined the KIU Titans, his current team.
He was an integral part of the KIU Titans juggernaut that went 5 months unbeaten in the league last year. He however is still chasing his first league title.

At Power, Ulanga did not seem to be at peace. Though he is not the type to lay bare his feelings, Ulanga was evidently unnerved at Power and it did affect his performances.

Ulanga got his mojo back upon signing with the KIU Titans in 2016.
He played a big part in the amazing run that the Titans enjoyed that year.

Ulanga regards the NBL as the best league in the region and as such, he feels obligated to hone his skills, on a day in, day out basis.
As early as 5:30, he is up and jogging. He then does individual ball work for 2 hours before joining his Titans team mates for practice.
During his individual training, he shots the rock for over an hour and a half. 
“I believe a player can only be able to perform when he is well prepared,” Ulanga opines.

Social life and hooking a Ugandan lass
Anybody who has scrapped acquaintances with Ulanga speaks golden of his good naturedness. It is a virtue that has endeared him to many, not only in player’s circles, but for good measure, to members of the fairer sex.
It came as no surprise 2 years ago when he got engaged to a gorgeous Ugandan lass- Sandra Munduru.
The pair met in 2010 when Ulanga was playing for the Falcons.
Incidentally, Munduru was also a Ball player, turning out for the A-1 Challenge.
Munduru introduced Ulanga to her parents last year in Arua. The Pair have a child together and their wedding is slated for this year.
Born and bred in Dar es Salam, Ulanga was ushered into Ugandan basketball by the late legendary Kenyan coach Smatts Olumbo.
Before coming to Uganda, Ulanga had played with his home team, the Sinza Warriors (2004-2006), Savio Basketball club (2006-2008) and later Vijana City Bulls (2008/9).
He won the Tanzanian national league twice; first with Savio (2008) and later with Vijana, where he was the top scorer.
Before his Tanzanian national league accomplishments, Ulanga had made his mark in Kenya in the high school basketball championships.
He won the Kenyan national high school championships with Laser Hill academy 4 times. He joined Laser Hill Academy on a scholarship.

Ulanga was introduced to the game of basketball around 2000 by his elder brother, who by then was playing professional basketball.

http://www.newvision.co.ug/new_vision/news/1443943/excitement-builds-afcon-finals-inch-closer

The past year was, without question, one of the best years for Hip Hop in Uganda.
As it drew to a close, the first ever Ugandan Hip Hop awards were held. A number of Uganda's elite Emcees (rappers) were rewarded.
If successfully holding the awards was not momentous for the much maligned genre, then I do not know what was.
The awards may just be the springboard that the genre needs to catapult to greater heights and for good measure; the impetus that Hip Hoppers; both male and female, need to put out quality music and videos.

By Richard Wetaya

The African Cup of Nations soccer competition is set to kick off in Gabon on Saturday and as you would expect, there is a real palpable sense of anticipation, not only amongst Uganda Cranes fans but multitudes of soccer fans across the African continent.
For the next one month or so, soccer enthusiasts across the continent are going to put everything else on the back burner; to stand a treat of Africa’s greatest soccer showpiece.
With the Cranes playing at the tournament for the first time in three decades, the excitement in this pearly part of Africa is beginning to catch on.
Every Ugandan (soccer loving or not) should be excited. Why? Well, because we do not often get to see the Cranes play at that stage.
The Cranes made history by qualifying and by playing at the tournament; they will also be making history.

Behind the excitement however, there is a real cautious or ambivalent optimism amongst some fans about the Cranes chances of advancing beyond the group stage.
The Cranes are in group D and are set to lock horns with formidable opponents in Ghana, Egypt and Mali.
Only a naive person will demur the fact that the aforementioned are not soccer juggernauts. Mali you could argue is the exception herein.

Ugandan football acolytes are of course wary of the impressive pedigrees of the above opponents.
You may argue that the Cranes have impressively competed against the Black Stars of Ghana in recent games and that should be reason enough to be upbeat. Granted! But let’s not forget though that the Black Stars have that experience mill up their sleeve and by now, I figure they should have a trick up their sleeve on how to overcome Uganda and the other opponents.

At issue, too for most fans is the less than impressive Cranes striking force.
Making that worse is the fact that some Cranes players have not been getting adequate play time with their teams, denoting they will turn out for games with their fitness in question.
Mawejje and Isinde have been without clubs but remarkably they made the final team. The fact that they made the team does speak volumes about their readiness and fitness, so a benefit of doubt to them is due.
Just hoping our opponents do not read this though. Regardless who are they not to be petrified of the Cranes. They put on shorts one leg at a time just like the rest of the other teams at the competition, so much as they are special, the Cranes are special too.
The Cranes are the best team in East Africa; the tale tattles spying for the Ghanaians, Egyptians and Malians should be brought to terms with that fact.
The Cranes will compete, you can bet your last dollar.

To compete favorably however, the often maligned Cranes striking force led by Geoffrey Massa needs to step and show some real mettle; as there will be no second bites at the cherry in the group stages if we draw or lose.
It is going to be a battle of wills and the team needs to take its chances or else they will rue.

In recent Cranes games, Massa has looked more of a niddle noddle spent force than a real striking threat.

 
I stand corrected but it will be foolhardy to expect goals from a guy who hardly gets play time at his club down in South Africa.
Massa obviously has a chip on his shoulders, given the flake fans and the media have thrown at him over his recent below par Cranes performances.
Many figure, Massa may use the criticism to his advantage; cognizant of what is at stake.
This Nation’s cup may just be his swan song, so it must be in his interest to prove that he is still up to the mark.
He will want to prove something to his critics.

With Massa’s proficiency in question; the Cranes may hypothetically struggle upfront, except when Geoffrey Sserunkuma, Yusuf Ssentamu and the inexperienced Muhammed Shaban firmly pick up the striking gauntlet.
If for some reason, they do not pick it up, then our chances of getting out of that group will be as hard as nailing jelly to the wall.
It will be a herculean task for the Cranes if we do not score goals. Goals win games.
Football is football as the mantra indeed goes but without a potent striking force, any team will struggle. Nobody wants the Cranes to struggle like that proverbial lame duck over a stile after turning the pages of history.

Luckily however we have a one Farouk Miya; Cranes best kept secret.
The young lad star’s has been on the ascendancy and his growing legendary status was buoyed and propped up with that crucial goal he scored against the Comoros to earn the Cranes a berth at AFCON after 3 decades.
Miya is one guy who can run an opposing team’s defense ragged and he is a good ball distributor to boot.
Miya and Moses Oloya-the other attacking Cranes midfielder are like two peas in a pod; they make haste and are very pacey and skilful on the ball when given space.
The two will come in handy for the Cranes.

Uganda has been bidding time. The nation has waited long to see the Cranes compete at Africa’s biggest soccer event.
Its time everybody gets behind the team-Tulumbe.

In many African societies, people living with albinism struggle to find social acceptance. In environments pervaded with albino phobia, stigma and negative stereotypes, it is a tall order.
There are people living with the condition however who are intent on shedding the negative stereotypes associated with albinos. One of those people is Gerald Byamukama; a 15 year old from Rubirizi district in western Uganda.
Many people ill advisedly regard albinism as a handicap, but I prefer to look at it differently, Byamukama says.

“Albinism is not a handicap in any kind of way. The only handicap I see is placing limits on myself because of people’s illusions about my condition. As long as my attitude is right, I know I can bring a value to my life. Albinism is not by choice and it should not be a basis for anyone to judge me or to hold me in a low regard. There are many great albino people out there making a difference in their societies and I intend to do the same,” a buoyant Byamukama says. “The difference in my skin appearance does not make me any less human as some people would want to make it seem. Albinos have rights just like normal skinned people and nobody should infringe on them. Nobody will make me hate myself. I will also not let people patronize me under the guise of trying to be friends,” he says. There have been moments however, when Byamukama has been inundated by some people’s indifference. “On several occasions, I have faced discrimination and disdain. People have called me ridiculing names. Some have even gone to the extent of calling my condition a punishment from the gods. It got to a point when I started hiding in the house, almost the whole day.  I can only wonder how life is for that beat down, often stigmatized and socially withdrawn albino child or adult who lives in an environment where traditional myths and superstitions about albinism abound. There is need to promote greater awareness of albinism throughout the country,” Byamukama says.

Before he passed on, my late grandfather, had always offered me good counsel.
“Have the grace to forgive. Let not your mind be held captive by memories of having been wronged in your childhood,” he told me.
My grandfather knew about my broken childhood experiences. He knew I had grown up resentful, depressed and disillusioned on account of the abuse I suffered at the hands of my late Dad.
The rejection and constant physical abuse I was subjected too at a young age had left me wretched and unnerved.
As a result, I grew up devoid of self esteem, will power and strength of character.
The indelible negative upshot as a result was my poor performance in school. My human relationship skills were also at a low ebb.
To most people, I came across as an eccentric introvert, yet in actual sense, I was just a young boy beset and inundated by a mood disorder I had no idea to overcome.
It was hard for me to figure out why I was at the receiving end of my late Dad’s anger.
Theories as to why, he did whatever he did to me came up later but I was too young to fathom.
When I got older, I was brought to terms with the harsh reality but I was to laden with bitterness and last thing I wanted to hear was talk about Dad and what he did to me.
It was not like I was not his child or I was disrespecting him. Far from it.
As fate would have it, Dad eventually chased me out of his house.
As a result, I spent close to 9 months living with a bunch of other young boys on the cold streets of Mbale town.
We subsisted on left over meals from Mukwano restaurant on Naboa road. Often we were chased. All the while, I could not go to school, though I was supposed to be in school.
Majority of the time however, we slept hungry. A short and a t-shirt is all I had on me.

Through mum’s efforts however, I was reinstated back home but I did not know who I was no more. The little self esteem, mum tried to bestow in me, at an early age was all gone.
I was disenchanted with Dad. What he had subjected me too had put a heavy damper on almost every aspect of my life.

I was young but my smile was always locked away. My friends frolicked but I was hesitant to join in because I felt worthless.
I bore a grudge; retaining bitterness in my heart at Dad for the wrongs he had done to me.
My anger did not draw forth any positives however and I was constantly depressed.

There was a silver lining however when I went and visited my ageing but deeply religious grandfather,(Bartholomew Wangasa) in Magale, Manafwa district.
Wangasa is the father to my mother.
He always had something positive to say to me.

First thing he talked to me about was Forgiveness.
“Forgiveness is a redeeming virtue, Richard. Your dad abused and mistreated you but remember the bitterness and anger you kindle for him will only burn you more. Look at it in perspective now and learn to forgive because when you forgive, your heavenly father will also forgive you,” Grandfather told me.

As if to emphasize his point he refered me to read Mark 11:25 and Matthew 6:14-15 which essentially talk about how God will forgive us our trespasses, if we learn to forgive others.

Grand father also laid emphasis on the fact that lingering unforgiveness was a sin.
“God will not bless you if your heart hangs on to unforgiveness. Unforgiveness only breeds bitterness, resentment and anger. If you read the parable of the unforgiving debtor in Math 18:21, you will get my drift,” he told me.

At length, I let go of the bitterness. It was hard but grandfather had prevailed upon. All gratitude to him. Reading helpful Biblical chapters he referenced like Ephesians 4:24, 31, 32 also came in handy.
Now whenever the opportunity presents itself and wherever there is need, I share with my friends my experience and how I have been able to cope.
I can not say I have completely forgotten and overcome all the hurt and ramifications of the abuse I suffered.
There are times when memories play back. There are times too when I inevitably predispose to depressive thoughts.
By and large, however, I have moved on.
I and my dad were on speaking terms before his demise.
The anger and bitterness was gone.

THE VIRTUES OF FORGIVENESS, A PSYCHOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE
Paul Wanetosi, a psychologist at Wanale community counseling initiative, Mbale says forgiveness as a precept helps people offset depression and other negative energies.
“The anger, resentment and bitterness fire you kindle in your heart only burns you more, not the person who wronged you. Forgiveness means you are letting go of the past, even if it is hard to forget. Mandela’s case is a classical example. Holding onto unforgiveness disrupts relationships. This eventually fans the fires of chronic stress, putting the body at risk of disease. When you forgive, you heal your emotional or physical wounds. Forgiveness allows you to redirect your emotions to more constructive activity. It may take a while but when you forgive people who have wronged you, your body lets go of all the feel bad chemicals responsible for mood disorders like depression and anxiety,” Wanetosi explains.

Letting go of anger and hurt by way of forgiveness is key in improving mental and emotional health.
“There is no greater nourishment to one’s emotional and mental growth than through forgiveness. Retaining bitterness in one’s heart adversely affects emotional growth in all areas of life. It robs one of the energy to stay healthy. Research shows that emotions such as anger and resentment often brought forth by unforgiveness, amongst other factors are risk factors for heart attacks. Letting go of negative emotions is therapeutic. It makes you feel better, happier and relate better. It also creates a sense of inner peace, hence less stress,” Wanetosi says.

The English poet, Alexander Pope put it well when he said to err is human; to forgive is divine.
“Forgiveness is a moral virtue that God himself exhorts us to practice. Learning to forgive is essential in moving along with God. It is an act of love as taught to us by Christ. It is a gift that we give to ourselves to live more peace filled and spiritual lives,”Pastor Fred Sseremba of the Living word ministries, Kyebando says.

Forgiveness sustains relationships and makes hope for reconciliation possible.
“When forgiveness is given a chance, damaged relationships can be repaired and rekindled. Relationships which are not necessarily shaky will benefit in a sense that there will be sustenance,” Sseremba says.

James Whistler, a famous nineteenth century American painter once said painting is visual poetry. While he may have said it in a different context, parallels can undeniably be drawn between his statement and the ingenious paintings of 35 year-old Ugandan visual artist, Veroniccah Muwonge.
It is easy to notice at first blush, that Muwonge wields a skilful painting brush. Hers is a paint brush that sketches expressionist and evocative art pieces. Most if not all of Muwonge’s paintings are heartfelt portrayals of everything from nature, traditional African cultures, people’s behaviours and everyday experiences of people she meets. In a sense, her art works represent an inward significance that is not outwardly obvious.

“I believe I was born to create. To create beauty in form of art. Painting feeds my soul. It is like food to me, I can not live without it. I use my art paintings to stimulate the mind. I enjoy making a world within another world. It is how I see art. The art process begins with imagination, generating ideas, and making up our own reality, fantasy, and dreams in a new form.  Art is a universal language so I use it to bring out ideas that people know but do not give much thought to. Painting as a medium of communication is fun for me because I love color and its powerful effect on human emotions,” Muwonge says.

INSPIRATION TO PAINT
Casting her mind back, Muwonge says she was inspired and eventually made the decision to become an artist whilst in high school in Trinity College, Nabbingo and Taibah high school in the early 90’s.
“I thought I would become a performer growing up. I also enjoyed playing soccer, netball and ping pong but I just knew what I wanted to do with my life early on. I do not remember anyone influencing me to become an artist,” she says.
Muwonge however started painting professionally in 2003.

Traces of Muwonge’s artistic talent showed early as she narrates.
“I noticed how much I loved to draw whilst I was young. I drew a lot at the ages of 5/6-10. I knitted, wove, built tiny mud houses and learned to sew and crotchet at a young age. A ceramics piece was the first artistic piece I sold. I was in my senior 3 then,” she reminisces.

Tadeo Masereka may be visually impaired but he never loses sight of his purpose in life. The buoyant 23 year old hopes to rise from his handicap one day and become an inspiration to both the blind and non blind in Uganda.
“People with disabilities are often looked down upon in Uganda. The blind, just like able bodied people should live and work with full responsibility. Being blind, I have experienced prejudice and discrimination on several occasions and I am hoping I can be the change. I envisage studying law at the university. I want to advocate for the rights of less privileged people especially the blind. At times, it seems as if we have no voice. With belief, courage and determination, I know I will make it,” Masereka says animatedly.
 
At present, Masereka is a senior three student at SAAD memorial secondary school in Kisinga, Kasese. From the look of things, he interacts freely with other students, though discrimination has stared him in the face, on occasion.  Masereka however tells me he has no qualms about being discriminated against.
“I consort with many people around school. I have had cases where people ask me impolite questions and treat me with impertinence but I have learnt to take things in my stride. If you were in my position, you would agree it is the best recourse. Anger is never an antidote if you are a person living with a disability,” Masereka says.

Just before the early morning school assembly on the day I visited his school, Masereka was joined by a posse of his friends around their classroom block.
They seemed to be exchanging pleasantries. There was poise about him as he moved around with his walking stick and as he spoke to his friends.
I noticed all of his friends were of 20/20 vision.  
The fact that almost all his classmates are of normal visual acuity, I thought to myself must be some kind of disadvantage to Masereka.

Franca Lucy Nacuge, Masereka’s teacher was however quick to dispel my thoughts.
“Masereka’s handicap has not in any way affected his performance in class. He has been giving a good account of himself. He is brilliant at reading Braille (Braille is a method ofreadingand feeling text through touch, rather than sight). He reads Braille books avidly. He is also excellent at communicating by means of the manual alphabet. Learning to spell words with manual language was not a tall order for him. He struggled a bit with his enunciation but he gradually got better. In class tests and exams, Masereka excels and is always amongst the top five. He has a great potential and I think if he does not get any distractions or financial challenges along the way, he will achieve his goal,” Nacunge says.

Masereka has created good rapport with his teachers, just like he has done with classmates. During class lessons, he is always attentive and active especially when questions are paused.
His teachers generally have a high opinion of him, saying he has been exceptional in his relations with others and in his class performance.
He comes to school early, well tucked in and always smart. He is also always open minded, inquisitive and eager to learn. It has helped him perform well in class. He has a bright future ahead of him. He is also deeply spiritual and reads the Braille Bible often. It is his valued possession. He has learnt great stretches of the Braille Bible by heart and has committed to heart verses that help him whenever he is feeling low. His spirituality has helped him a great deal especially in dealing with his visual limitations,” says Godfrey Abine, one of his teachers.

I watched as Masereka used his fingers to make sense of a document he had been writing as Nacunge taught. I sat transfixed, eager to see how he uses Braille reading.
I was amazed at how effortlessly he went about it and by all accounts, it has been a success for him.
“If Masereka was not using Braille reading, I figure he would not be performing as well as he has been performing. Unlike those with vision, he reads both at day and night time. We have taught him how to use Braille mathematical sets for subjects such as arithmetic and maths and also how to use invaluable materials such as Parkins Braille and geometrical sets. These have helped him a lot. The bottom-line however is that he learns and internalizes things fast,” Nacunge says.

After school, Masereka studies type writing. Nacunge has also chosen to take him under her stewardship.
Just like in his class sessions, Masereka is quick witted when it comes to type writing.  Nacunge says plans are in place to purchase him a desk top computer to get him in line with current trends.
“He should be learning how to operate and use a computer by now but we have been limited by funds. The sooner we get one the better, because he is very eager at learning new things,” Nacunge says.

Masereka is also passionate about music. He wants to study guitar, piano and drums in the future.
“Music is something I have a fascination for. I am inclined to singing and I want to develop my talent. Maybe one day I can make money out of singing. Singing is therapy for me. It sustains me in those quiet lonely hours when I retreat into that deep silence that only the blind know,” Masereka says.

Masereka has also been employing his entrepreneurial side in his free time. With a little financial support from friends and with training from the National Union of the disabled persons of Uganda, he managed to establish a small poultry business 3 years ago.
The business has grown by leaps and bounds albeit with challenges.
“The main challenge in the business has been finance and finding someone trustworthy to do the day to day running whilst Iam away at school. Financial and management challenges aside, the business has helped me a great deal. It has opened up my entrepreneurial side and with time, I plan to take root in another business, preferably a printing and photocopying business. This business has taught me how to make money on my own, rather than depend on others. I have always wanted to be independent,” Masereka says.

Besides the entrepreneurial skills, Masereka has also received trainings on human rights and HIV/AIDS prevention.
He has been returning the favour by sharing the knowledge he received with classmates and people in his community and other areas.
Masereka was born to John and Mary Ndyahikaho.


 





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Thirty one years after the discovery of HIV, a cure still remains a distant reality.
The very complicated nature and variety of HIV has meant that the virus has resisted even the most vigorous of attempts by scientists to eliminate it and to quell its spread.
That a cure has eluded scientists this long, is in a way, an indictment in itself, but it is worth noting that there have been real glimmers of hope, in recent years, principally in the area of scientific research on drugs to mitigate and suppress the deadly virus.
Those glimmers of hope have manifested in the radical advances made by scientists in developing antiretroviral therapies that control HIV viral replication in a person’s body and allow an individual’s immune system to strengthen and regain its capacity to fight off infections.
The antiretroviral therapies may not be curative but they have, by and large, led to favourable outcomes amongst many people living with HIV, not only in Uganda but world over.
The upshot has been many of them living longer.

By Richard Wetaya
Few Ugandan basketball fans had heard of Stanley Ocitti until he made his debut for the Silver-Bucks (Uganda’s men’s national basketball team) at the 2015 Afro Basket in Tunisia.
Ocitti put on a clinic, impressing with his repertoire of skills, ranging from the fluid perimeter shots, deep range and aggression on both ends of the court.

His debut heralded a new dawn for the much maligned Silver-bucks front court.
In the estimation of many, the Silver-bucks had at long last, gotten a reliable offensive weapon; a 6 ft 8 and a 104 kg big man with mid air flair; a big man who executed well in the paint, cleaned the boards but also adeptly shot the mid range and rainmaker shots (three pointer).
Fans who had long gotten accustomed to blip on the radar performances from previous Silver-buck's big men like Sam Gombya were energized.
 
Ocitti’s game demanded attention. The guy who patterns his game after Tim Duncan seemed to be the spring that was missing from the Silver-bucks stride.
The other guys on the Silver-buck's team, principally Captain Steven Omony-seemed to feed off his-on court-aura and drive.

Of court, the 35 year old is as modest as they come. Basketball though has taken him places and made him a rolling stone of sorts.
In his playing career, he has made stops in leagues across the globe.
Besides playing in the United States, he has also brought his skills to bear in the Australian, Norwegian, Japanese, Dutch, Canadian, British, Hungarian leagues, amongst others.


Ocitti has played professional basketball for 11 years and once dropped 63 points in a league game in the Netherlands. Get it-63.
In the United States, whilst he played in the National Collegiate Athletic Association or the (NCAA), he came up against NBA greats such as Carmelo Anthony, Ray Allen and Ben Gordon, etc.
The NCAA organizes athletic programs for Colleges and  Universities in the United States and Canada and helps more than 450,000 college student-athletes compete annually in various college sporting disciplines . 

Ocitti’s accomplishments with the Connecticut Huskies in the NCAA stood him in a good stead.
The anticlimax however was that it did not propel him into the NBA- the best Basketball league in the world.
Ocitti looks back philosophically on the missed chance.
“As a younger player, I was unaware of the ins and outs of the NBA. So I didn’t really get a lot of interest from the NBA. Looking back on it now there are definitely some things I could have done differently. I however enjoyed my collegiate experience. The Connecticut Huskies are a power house and to be a part of a championship team was really humbling. Going up against future NBA stars like Carmelo Anthony was really amazing” he opines.

In the 5 games, Ocitti played for the Silver-bucks at the Afro-basket in Tunisia; he brought flair to bear; averaging 14.6 points and 6.4 rebounds per game.
He was by far, Uganda’s premier best scorer. The Legend-Steven Omony came in a close second.

At the recent Zone 5 Afro Basket qualifiers in Egypt, Ocitti again showed his mettle, averaging 14.8 points and 5.5 rebounds per game for the Silver-bucks.
Just a few months earlier, he had laid down the law as he played for the City Oilers at the FIBA Africa Champions cup for men in Egypt.
He averaged 16.8 points and 9.8 rebounds per game and got an Honorable mention from the organizers after the tournament.


In his career, Ocitti has stacked up quite a number of trophies. He was part of the 1998-1999 Connecticut Huskies men’s basketball team that won the Big East regular season championship in the United States.
The Connecticut Huskies represent the University of Connecticut.
The Huskies went on to win the Big East basketball championship and later the NCAA men’s division/tournament championship also known as March madness.
Ocitti later played for Suny Binghamton- the state University of New York basketball team.

In 2006, he was part of the Norwegian national championship team-the Asker Aliens.
In 2009, Ocitti was part of the Hamamatsu Higashimikawa Phoenix team in Japan which won the Japan regular season championship.
In 2013, he was voted Defensive player of the year at the University of Worcester in England. In England, he got 4 team of the week honorable mentions.

The experience of globetrotting as a player is something Ocitti has relished.
“If you cannot make it to the NBA, then the next best thing is to go overseas and try your luck in the international leagues. I had always wanted to see the world and through basketball, I have been able to experience different cultures,” he says.

Though he is calling time on his playing career, Ocitti says he is still open to playing for the Silver-bucks.
“Am focused on playing as long as the team needs me. As of now, am in the process of becoming an internationally licensed agent. Iam intent on helping Ugandan players get exposure at the international level. There is a lot of talent in Uganda. As things stand now, there are many hard working people associated with Ugandan Basketball and I feel there is a bright future ahead for the next generation of ballers. For the young Ugandan players, just focus on the fundamentals and do something to get better every day, no matter how small,”

OCITTI-UPBEAT ABOUT THE SILVER-BUCKS
“It’s been great playing for the Silver Backs and the Oilers. There has been a lot of success for both teams at the East African regional level. The next step is to have success at the continental and international levels. I hope we can really just organize better and show the world that Uganda can compete on the bigger stages,” he reckons.

Ocitti was born in Kampala in 1980. He began playing basketball at age 12, inspired by his elder sibling.

By Richard Wetaya
The idea of personal branding has been gaining traction in recent years.
Many proponents

American Historian, Henry Adams put it aptly, when he said teachers affect eternity and can never tell where their influence stops. That maxim in many ways speaks to the legacy and influence of 60 year old veteran teacher, Mary Khalayi Mayatsa.
Mayatsa, a mother of 9 has been teaching for 40 years and is on the face of it, not about to slow down. She recently decided to come back in harness and teach, though she had formally retired. “I retired honorably as a secondary school head teacher. I still teach because I want to serve as an example and to help others achieve,” the Mbale based mayatsa says.

Mayatsa’s erstwhile students speak of her in high terms especially as regards the influence she had on them. 28 year old Rogers Wekesa, a construction worker says Mayatsa molded her into the disciplined and hard working person he is today.
“She was an outstanding teacher and a strict disciplinarian who emphasized hard work and diligence to all her students. In many respects, the precepts she stressed to me at school have laid a strong path for me in life. That path has seen me bring a value to my life and to other people’s lives,” Wekesa says.

Mayatsa came out retirement in 2012. She is currently head teacher at Nyanga Integrated Primary school in Bumboi, Mbale. The school is family owned and a brain child of her late husband, George William Mayatsa, who himself was an Educationist.
At present, the school only has only a Primary section, though it had a Vocational section in its early fledgling days. In Mukhuwa and Bumarobole village, Bumboi, where the school is located, Mayatsa has struck quite a chord with the locals.
“Most people living in the villages surrounding the school are thankful that the school is operating again and that Mayatsa is in charge. She is a lady with a big heart and down to earth as a person and as a teacher. She like her late husband has helped a lot of people in this area and not only in terms of education. In many ways, the teaching service she is offering now at the school is a welcome development as most of our children are now going back to school,” Idi Makhafu, an elder in Mukhuwa village notes.

ACADEMIC FORTUNES CHANGE
There was a favourable change in Nyanga’s academic performance trajectory when Mayatsa took over the reins in 2013 after her retirement. 12 out of 14 school pupils got second grades in the PLE exams that year. That was quite a feat considering that the school was just getting back on track and is located in a remote place, devoid of power and short on teachers. Last year 15 pupils sat for PLE exams. 12 got second grades. The rest got third grades. Mayatsa expects even better results this year and even more pupils to enroll at the school.
She teaches Mathematics. Erick Sakwa, deputy RDC Jinja, one of Mayatsa’s erstwhile students says the good performance of the school’s pupils in the years after Mayatsa took over speaks volumes about her dedicated efforts towards teaching.

ON MAKING THE TRANSITION TO TEACH IN PRIMARY
Mayatsa is a secondary school teacher by training but she says making the transition to teach in Primary was not a tall order. “I had to break the mould and bring my wealth of experience to bear at the school. We had few teachers and I owed to myself to myself, my family and the school to teach and pass on knowledge. The area where the school is situated has many children but few go to school. I wanted to be part and parcel of the change in that status quo in the area,” Mayatsa says.

LOOKING BACK AT HER BEGINNINGS
Mayatsa begun teaching and tutoring in the late 70’s. “After completion of my studies at Kyambogo and Makerere, I taught at Shimoni teacher training College. That was from 1976-1981. From 1982-1991, I tutored at Nyondo Primary teachers College in Mbale. From 1992-2002, I taught and also shouldered responsibilities as a deputy head teacher at Mbale high school.  From 2003-2009, I was head teacher at Wabwala Secondary school,” she says.

Mayatsa says she cherished the experience of teaching at the threshold of her career, because of the consistent acknowledgement and respect, teachers got.  “Notwithstanding challenges like low pay and the turmoil the country was experiencing, teaching in the years of old was in many respects a worthwhile endeavour. There was a certain fulfillment that deeply endeared us to the teaching profession. Most people formed the decision to join the teaching trade because of the acknowledgements and laurels teachers often got. It was hard to find people who joined the profession as a last resort, like the way it is these days. The government needs to rethink the issue of teacher supervision and evaluation to improve the quality of teachers being churned out,” she says.

The Ministry of health in Uganda has secured $20 million from the Global Financing Facility to foster the result based financing initiative, which aims at improving the quality of health care at health facilities country wide.
Prof. Anthony Mbonye, the Director of health services in charge of Clinical and Community Health in the Ministry of Health revealed this while addressing Journalists at the first national symposium on universal health coverage that took place last week at Silver springs Hotel.

“The hope is that more private and public health facilities will get accreditation because the more a facility avails services to pregnant women and children of immunisable age, the more funding it gets. This performance based funding is meant to improve quality of care at health facilities and to make sure health workers get allowances, uniforms and buy supplies. This will be one of our stronger paths to universal health coverage,”He said.

 At the symposium, there were further earnest deliberations on how best Uganda can build an understanding on attaining universal health coverage. Universal health coverage, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) is the goal that all people have access to health services and do not suffer financial hardship in paying for them. It ensures that all people have access to needed promotive, preventive, curative and rehabilitative health services of sufficient quality. The symposium was convened by Makerere University School of Public Health under the umbrella of the Supporting Policy Engagement for Evidence-based Decisions (SPEED) project- an initiative that focuses on advancing Universal Health Coverage in Uganda.

Speaking on the opening day of the symposium, Prof. Freddie Ssengooba of the Makerere University School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences (MakCHS) noted that the trajectory towards achieving universal health coverage in Uganda is gaining momentum, notwithstanding the many challenges, the country faces.  "As a nation, we need to begin positioning ourselves on how best to achieve this development agenda. Universal health coverage is central to the question of how health should be represented in the new development agenda that will succeed the Millennium Development Goals this year," said Ssengooba.

"The process of developing the new Health Sector Strategic and Investment Plan (HSSIP) of 2015-2020 by the Ministry of Health is a welcome development and a step in the right direction. The goal of Universal Health Coverage which is being inserted into Uganda's health policy is still new to many. These deliberations are meant to help us understand the idea of Universal Health Coverage and what its implications are for the different stakeholders like the government, the private sector and academia."

       Whilst everyone acknowledges that the goal of attaining universal health coverage will be no mean feat, the government seems intent on making it feasible and bringing changes to bear especially as regards the provision of cost effective health interventions for the poorest of its citizens, a key prerequisite if the programme is to fall in line with the requirements of the WHO. Mbonye noted that the government was obliged to provide interventions such as antenatal care, family planning, curative and rehabilitative care to all its citizens. "In South Eastern and Eastern Uganda, a Voucher system has been introduced to enable poor pregnant women to access antenatal and delivery health care services at every visit. A woman will only be required to pay 3000 shillings. The Voucher scheme will be rolled out in the next six months countrywide," Mbonye said.

"The pilot project registered many successes. It is on the basis of that, that we were able to get funding from the World Bank for the scheme. We are also working on the National Health Insurance Initiative, which essentially aims at improving our health indicators. It is now with the Parliamentary council and there is green light from the Ministry of Finance regarding funds for it."   Dr. Patrick Kadama, the Executive Director of the Platform on Human Resources for Health at the African Centre for Global Health and Social Transformation underscored that for Uganda to accelerate towards universal health coverage (UHC), a number of critical reforms need to be put forth to achieve equity.  "There is need for reforms to manage the social determinants of health through stronger inter-sectoral action. We also need reforms to introduce patient centered or family based health care services, and reforms to strengthen health governance and management," Kadama explained.

 SOME OF THE CHALLENGES HIGHLIGHTED THAT MAY IMPEDE PROGRESS TOWARDS ATTAINMENT OF UNIVERSAL HEALTH COVERAGE IN THE NEXT 5 YEARS

Low access to safe, clean drinking water and sanitation
          Dominic Kavutse, an engineer from the Directorate of Water Development, Ministry of Water and Environment noted that the current access to safe water supply and sanitation in Uganda stands at 65%. 
          "That leaves 35% of the Ugandan population with access but not safe access.  That translates into 10 million Ugandans exposed to water-borne diseases due to consuming unsafe water. There are 110,000 water points in the country.  Out of the budget we have we are able to produce new water sources for about 800,000 people per year but the population increases by at least 1.2 million people per year. At the present rate of investment, the coverage of water supply and sanitation is going down," Kavutse said.

The inaptitude of the health system in Uganda
            Dr. Stephen Lock, the acting head of Cooperation, Delegation of the European Union noted that whilst there have been notable declines in the infant mortality ratios and HIV related deaths, the health system in Uganda is still lagging behind in terms of providing assurance to Ugandans of adequate social protection.  "Deaths for example related to pregnancy and child birth remain unacceptably high with an estimated 20 women dying daily while giving birth in Uganda. There are still pertinent questions to answer regarding the functionality of public hospitals which are the most visible aspects of health system capabilities," Lock stated.
 
Out of the pocket payments as a major barrier to health access
       "Direct payments have serious implications for health. Making people pay at health facilities or other points of delivery dissuades them from using services (particularly health promotion and prevention). That in essence means they do not receive treatment early and they steer clear of health checks. The absence of financial protection in Uganda's health system calls for concerted action aimed at reducing the large proportion of out-of-pocket payments currently present in total health financing." Ssengooba observed.