The kidnappers held her captive for nearly three weeks, demanding up to $1 million before accepting about $200,000 (approximately UGX 700 million). During her captivity, they cut off two of her fingers and sent them alongside a video of her pleading for help to pressure her family into paying the ransom.
Akena referred to historical statements by President Museveni acknowledging the destruction of food supplies and the destitution of about 2.7 million people during that period. He argued that the loss of cattle deprived communities of daily nutrition, household income, school fees, draft power, and soil fertility, leaving effects that continue to be felt today.
The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 2024 CHOGM is taking place in Apia, Samoa, and started from October 21-26, 2024, under the theme, One Resilient Common Future: Transforming our Common Wealth. It will be the first CHOGM to be held in a Pacific Small Island Developing State.
As Uganda faces rising temperatures and irregular rainfall patterns, initiatives like these are crucial in ensuring sustainable farming practices that are able to cope with future climate changes.
The government of Uganda, with support from the World Bank, has launched the GROW project, financed by a grant from the World Bank worth USD 217 million, to boost women enterprises.