In Gulu, northern Uganda, young criminal gangs known as aguu instill fear through theft and violence. Patrick Ochen, a 27-year-old former child soldier and ex-agu, now leads efforts to rehabilitate these youths, offering them a path away from crime.

The Lendu tribe, known as Ndrukpa in Uganda, is set to enthrone Jimmy Agenunga as their king, Rapia III, between February and May 2024. The Lendu, a Central Sudanic speaking people, are one of Uganda's smallest tribes and have faced historical subjugation and exclusion, particularly by the Alur tribe. Dr Agatha Alidri, a scholar at Gulu University, has conducted detailed studies on the Lendu, funded by the Carnegie Corporation through Makerere University. The Ndrukpa kingdom, established in 2009 following inter-tribal conflict, seeks to restore dignity and recognition for the Lendu. Despite challenges such as limited land, education, and government attention, the Lendu are hopeful for the future under Agenunga's leadership.

The article discusses the efforts of Ugandan farmer Geoffrey Mabirizi Nsereko and organizations like NaCRRI, Cedo, and HarvestPlus in promoting biofortified crops, specifically beans with increased iron content and sweet potatoes enriched with Vitamin A. Nsereko's farm is part of a larger initiative to combat nutritional deficiencies by providing biofortified foods to a billion people by 2030. The article highlights the role of crossbreeding in enhancing the nutritional value of crops and the distribution chain from seed breeders to smallholder farmers. It also mentions the goal of expanding the number of Ugandan families growing biofortified crops to three million households by 2021.

Universities in Uganda, including Gulu University, are being urged to adopt digital tools for teaching and learning, especially in light of the Covid-19 pandemic. The pandemic has highlighted the necessity of e-learning, which has been supported by research and initiatives such as the Building Stronger Universities (BSU) program. Despite challenges like staff resistance and inadequate ICT infrastructure, there are efforts to integrate digital learning, supported by organizations like the National Curriculum Development Centre and the National Social Security Fund. The article emphasizes the urgency of digital transformation in education to ensure continuity and accessibility.

The article discusses the complex situation in Northern Uganda following the end of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) conflict, highlighting the challenges of prosecuting individuals who were both victims and perpetrators. It emphasizes the need for transitional justice and criticizes the Ugandan government for its lack of political will and ineffective policies. The International Criminal Court's trial of Dominic Ongwen is seen as a beacon of hope, though it is overwhelmed by the high expectations of the victims. Experts call for a more citizen-driven approach to transitional justice and institutional reforms to ensure accountability.

The National Social Security Fund (NSSF) has initiated a project to set up digital libraries in government-aided schools across Uganda, starting with a UGX 450 million investment. This initiative aligns with the National Curriculum Development Centre's (NCDC) recent rollout of a digital syllabus for secondary schools. The launch event in Jinja saw the distribution of tablets pre-installed with the digital syllabus and financial literacy content to Mpumudde Seed Secondary School. The project, part of NSSF's Corporate Social Responsibility, aims to enhance digital learning in over 10 schools, including Nabumali High School, Sir. Tito Winy SS, and Kasasa SS. The NCDC, in collaboration with Sensal Systems, developed the Virtual Learn project to integrate ICT into education, addressing the evolving technical demands of the modern world.

In Uganda, a significant portion of the population relies on biomass energy for cooking, with firewood being the most common source. The country's forest cover has drastically decreased from 24 percent in 1960 to 11 percent in 2015, largely due to agriculture and energy needs. Innovations in energy-efficient cooking stoves and charcoal production methods, such as retort and casamance kilns, have been introduced to combat environmental degradation and improve cost-effectiveness. These technologies can increase charcoal output from wood by up to 40 percent. The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development has been promoting these innovations since May 2014 in various districts. Despite the benefits, the cost of these technologies may be prohibitive for some.

Human rights advocates in Uganda commend Inspector General of Police Martin Okoth Ochola for disbanding the Flying Squad unit, a move seen as progress in reducing human rights abuses and restoring public trust in the police. Dr. Livingstone Sewannyana of the Foundation for Human Rights Initiative and Robert Ssempala of the Human Rights Network of Journalists Uganda both express approval of the decision. Ochola has also closed the Nalufenya detention facility and reassigned the Flying Squad's commandant, Herbert Muhangi. The activists urge further actions to combat corruption and improve the police's investigative capacity.

Supporters of Simon Muyanga Lutaaya, a talk show host, have initiated a fundraising campaign to secure his release from prison. Lutaaya was imprisoned for failing to pay petition costs to Kenneth Lubogo, a lawmaker. Lubogo denies involvement in the arrest, suggesting Lutaaya may have staged it for public sympathy. Despite the controversy, the fundraising drive continues, led by former minister Asuman Kiyingi and former MP Salaam Musumba.

The article discusses President Yoweri Museveni's efforts to promote local solutions to climate change in Uganda, such as irrigation techniques and water conservation. It highlights the president's past environmental mistakes, including allowing deforestation for palm oil production, but acknowledges his recent initiatives to encourage adaptation to climate variability. The journalist, who is also the President & CEO of the Uganda Science Journalists Association, reflects on a project called 'water smart agriculture' under the Global Water Initiative East Africa managed by CARE, which demonstrated that smallholder farmers could increase yields through water conservation methods. The article emphasizes the importance of local, low-cost innovations in agriculture to combat the effects of climate change and ensure food security in Uganda.

Jackson Kitamirike, a water quality specialist, observes the environmental degradation in western Uganda's Fort Portal and the challenges of managing water in the Albertine Rift valley. The region has faced destructive floods, with rivers Mubuku and Nyamwamba contributing to siltation in Lake Albert. Uganda's Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) initiative, influenced by international conferences and supported by Denmark, aims to address these issues through coordinated development and management of water and land resources. Despite efforts, including tree planting by WWF-Uganda, challenges such as poverty, institutional weaknesses, and lack of coordination hinder progress. The urgency of IWRM is underscored by the potential for increased natural hazards and the necessity to adapt to climate change.