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The First Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister for East Africa Community Affairs Ms Rebecca Kadaga, has expressed strong dissatisfaction with the government’s failure to adequately equip public hospitals and health centres, especially in rural areas.

Speaking at the weekend during a Kidney Health Camp, organised by Becky’s Child Foundation, Ms Kadaga criticised the government for relying on NGOs to support its health facilities.

“I am not happy that some of our government hospitals are supported by NGOs. Our taxpayers deserve better health services. NGOs should only supplement, not lead, the health sector, “she said.

Ms Kadaga pledged to raise the issue in Parliament and Cabinet, advocating for improved access to affordable healthcare and greater investment in public health facilities.

The Kamuli Woman MP said she had successfully lobbied for the establishment of five kidney diagnostic centres across Busoga, aimed at taking services closer to the people and reducing the need for patients to travel to Kampala.

The centres are in Kamuli, Iganga,Mayuge, Bugiri, Kaliro and Jinja Regional Referral Hospital.

Dr Joseph Gyagenda, president of the Uganda Kidney Association, called for early screening and diagnosis to manage kidney-related illnesses before they advance.

Dr Afizi Kibuuka, the Deputy Director of Jinja Regional Referral Hospital and a consultant, urged health workers to apply soft skills when attending to patients because it is the first diagnostic approach.

Dr Kibuuka noted that making patients feel genuinely cared for not only enhances their experience but also plays a significant role in their healing process, often without the need for additional clinical intervention.

‘Friendly, caring service helps restore patient hope,’ Dr Kibuuka emphasised.

Mr James Waako, Kamuli District Health Officer, noted a critical gap in rural healthcare access, saying most resources are concentrated in urban areas.

‘We need to equip grassroots health facilities so that we can offer screening and advice. Many patients here cannot afford to travel long distances to access some diagnostic requests for investigations,’ he said.

Ms Rebecca Mubeezi, Executive Director of Becky’s Child Foundation, described the health camp as an Independence gift to Busoga.

Ms Mubeezi, who was brought up by Ms Kadaga because she shared a name with her, commended the former Speaker for her leadership and dedication to community health.

‘We screened over 420 people today, and 560 last month, providing not just results but follow-up treatment as well,’ she said.

She also emphasized the need for preventive health services, outreach, and child mentorship, and pledged to mobilize more resources for future health camps.

When I watched that video of the police officer harassing a supermarket attendant at a fuel station in Kyanja, I immediately wished I had not watched it. And yet I went on to watch it five more times. It was depressing, annoying, outrageous, but also scary. It reminded me of the sad reality of how unsafe we can be in what seems like a very safe space.

Perhaps we should have sections in our public entities for common people and then for the rest who occasionally lose their marbles and forget to regulate their emotions.

For instance, a smaller pothole filled lane on the road for us ordinary people and then another lane for the VIPS and Nsiimas of this world because imagine interfacing with that man on a narrow road, he would probably Fuga you off the road with or without street cameras. Anyway me as me, I was scared.

These days, I tiptoe in most public places because you just never know when the gods will go crazy.

The only comfort is that in all of this, God still reigns supreme, and he is able and willing to protect us from the realities of life. I was never really beaten as a child, not because my parents were permissive, but because I was and still am quite the coward of the country. I followed the rules to the dot just to avoid the rod.

So I cannot imagine now as a grown human, being smacked! Eh! These are some of the things that scared me about that video. So now, as ‘people of down’ in Kampala, we have to watch out for Sino trucks, cement mixers, floods, lying politicians, and Nsiima and his 30k.

I heard people blame the security guard and the other people who walked in and did nothing or said nothing to help. Of course, that is the wrong response, and yet if we are being honest, many of us would be those people.

They were too scared to speak up, which is what, unfortunately, many of us are. Too scared to stand up for our rights and the rights of others. Why, well, because most times than not, the price of boldness and heroism is too high compared to the rewards.

Or is it because we are not yet angry enough, or we think we have too much to lose? We all know that the scene that played out in that supermarket in Kyanja will not be the last of its kind. It is just going to be a different cast and props, but the same script.

In prehistoric times, man had to go out hunting, prepared to deal with wild animals that might come at him from any direction, hoping to make a fresh dinner of him.

Eons later, we now must leave our homes armed emotionally, mentally, and for some people, physically, just in case we meet things that are out to get us. I think this might be part of the big, bad world that our mamas warned us about.

And yet even with all this, aren’t you grateful for technology and the things it helps to expose? It might look like postmortem justice, but it still is a plus, and I am pretty sure knowing that they could be caught on camera and exposed for their nasty actions could keep other wild ones at bay if only for a while at least until the full moon.

So, get that camera for your business and home, and whatever other premises you lord over, if you can afford it. It is no longer a luxury or for the banking hall alone. You just never know when it could come in handy.

If you cannot afford them right now, visit the toy section in the supermarket, get a strange-looking toy, and then invite your tallest friends to pose as a camera installation team. Have them install the toys in various vantage points where they can clearly be seen.

Let everyone on the premises know that these are state-of-the-art ‘cameras’ from outside countries that can capture even the sound of heartbeats.

Thinking they are being watched will keep some people acting sane. Please note, make sure to replace the toys with real cameras as soon as you can, before something serious happens or before one sly person discovers your folly.

A suspected case of toxic pollution in River Alupe has left residents of Busia district alarmed after dead fish and livestock were discovered along the riverbanks earlier this week. The river, which supports hundreds of families on both sides of the Uganda-Kenya border, has raised fears of a potential health crisis.

Communities in Buteba sub-county, who rely on the river for drinking water, fishing, and farming, were shocked by the sudden change in the river’s appearance. Residents reported that the water initially had an oily film, then turned green and finally dark.

“Alupe River has always had clear water, but on that morning I saw an oily film. Shortly after, it turned green, and then it became dark,” said Mr Charles Ouma Okitui, a resident of Alupe village. He witnessed fish dying in large numbers and confirmed that a cow belonging to a resident died after drinking the polluted water.

Despite warnings, some residents were seen collecting the dead fish for food. “People are scrambling to pick the fish, but we’re worried it may not be safe for human consumption,” Mr. Okitui said.

The pollution has sparked concerns about the potential health risks associated with using the river water. Mr. Emmanuel Okitui from Amagoro village suspects the pollution may have been caused by a major chemical leak from the Wagagai Gold Mining Company, a Chinese firm investing over $200m in gold extraction and processing.

“Pollution of this magnitude could only have come from Wagagai,” he claimed. However, Mr. Allan Mugarura, the environment officer at Wagagai, denied the allegations, saying the company values the river as much as the community does.

“We need clean water for our operations, so we cannot afford to pollute River Alupe,” Mr. Mugarura said. He added that the company recycles all wastewater through tailing dams and ensures it is reused within the factory.

Local officials have launched investigations into the source of the contamination. Mr. Jimmy Ngolobe, the Busia senior natural resources officer, confirmed that water samples had been collected for testing.

“We’re working with the Ministry of Water and Environment to determine what substance caused the pollution and whether the water poses a danger to human and animal health,” he said.

Environmental activists and local leaders are urging the government to impose temporary restrictions on using the river until test results are released. Ms Mary Birungi, another resident, said the river has been their only water source since boreholes dried up, allegedly due to mining activities.

“We use it for cooking, drinking, and farming. Now we fear for our health,” she said. Ms. Emily Akware echoed the concern, calling for urgent intervention.

“We are appealing to the Ministry of Water and NEMA to investigate and protect the community,” she said.

The incident has raised urgent questions about environmental monitoring around major industrial operations and the preparedness of local authorities to respond to ecological disasters.

Brian Okodi, Jackson Musinguzi, and Aaron Mutenyo scored a combined 13 goals on Independence Day in Lugogo to keep their chase for the 2025 National Hockey League season men’s top scorer’s gong alive.

First, Okodi put Weatherhead up early in the 4th minute in an 8-0 win over Rockets. Then netted another two in the final quarter to take his season tally to 37 goals in 15 matches.

Timothy Ntumba (3), Umar Mufumbiro, and Ashiraf Tumwesigye also scored for Weatherhead as they moved to 35 points.

Musinguzi scored just two to move his season tally to 29 goals as Wananchi beat Makerere University 10-0. But his teammates were clearly looking for him to stretch his tally as they constantly allowed him to take on penalty corner duties in the match.

Elias Okello and Emmanuel Baguma also bagged braces while Abdul Karim Wamala, Shafiq Byamukama, Martin Okello, and Innocent Tumukunde also scored one apiece as Wananchi kept their seven point lead at the top with three matches to end the season.

Availability matters

Meanwhile, Mutenyo looked like he was not going to enjoy the party. He has missed a few games for his team and was trailing on 19 goals before Thursday.

He had scored just twice by the end of the third quarter as Kampala Hockey Club (KHC) Stallions led Wananchi Wabalozi 11-0. The other goals had come from Alfred Agaba (3), Jordan Mpiima (2), Emmanuel Stewart Ssempebwa (2), James Mugisha, and Richard Ssemwogerere.

In the final quarter, Mutenyo ran riot scoring seven more as KHC doubled their lead to 22-0 and took the number of goals scored that afternoon to 40. Mpiima added three and Brian Gilbert Bayuule got the other as KHC kept second with 36 points.

Okodi and Mutenyo’s sides face off later this month and history has showed that their will be marginal gains for them, if any, in that match.

But after that Weatherhead play Makerere University and Badgers in November. Okodi, the favourite to win this award, scored a hat-trick in a 9-0 win over Makerere in the first round but did not score in their 2-2 draw with Badgers.

KHC will then also take on mid-table sides Thunders and Rockets, whom they beat 2-0 with Mutenyo – who now has 28 goals – scoring one.

The two, however, have worry as Musinguzi has only sides in the lower half of the table in Badgers, KHC Originals, and Weatherhead Titans left to play. Musinguzi did not score in the 6-1 first round win over Badgers but scored once in the 10-1 win over Titans and twice in the 13-3 win over Originals.

NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE

INDEPENDENCE DAY RESULTS – MEN

Weatherhead 8-0 Rockets

Wananchi 10-0 Makerere University

KHC Stallions 22-0 Wananchi Wabalozi

Men’s Table

Wananchi 15 14 1 0 162 19 43

KHC Stallions 15 11 3 1 107 19 36

Weatherhead 15 11 2 2 126 17 35

Thunders 15 8 0 7 53 46 24

Rockets 15 7 2 6 50 51 23

Badgers 15 6 3 6 57 36 21

KHC Originals 15 5 3 7 37 73 18

Makerere University 15 3 1 11 18 73 10

Weatherhead Titans 15 2 1 12 24 73 7

Wananchi Wabalozi 15 0 0 15 4 233 0

Uganda has assembled a team of 43 swimmers to defend the Africa Aquatics Zone III Swimming Championships title at the 10th edition due this week at Kasarani Aquatic Centre in Nairobi, Kenya.

Namanya Ampaire, headed for his 8th Zone III competition since its inception in 2015, and Peyton Suubi – going for her 5th time, have been appointed captains to lead the age group team that will be coached by Thomas Tamale with support from Kezia Wairimu and Simon Peter Mulumba.

“I believe this team is strong because we again have the best two swimmers per event, no compromises,” Ampaire Namanya said during their flag off on Sunday at Speke Resort Munyonyo, where the team has been training on various weekends to find long course experience.

Suubi equally believes in the squad selected and will also be trusted to do some heavy lifting for the team in her new 15-16 girls’ age group.

“I believe it will be nice in this age group. 13-14 was very competitive and prepared me well for this one,” Suubi said.

The flag off ceremony presided over by National Council of Sports (NCS) senior sports officer Ann Nankya was mainly a source of encouragement for the swimmers.

Encouragement

Paralympian Husnah Kukundakwe, fresh from her World Championships, advised the swimmers not to change their routines at the competition.

“Focus on the things you have been working on in training. Give every race your all and remember to have fun,” Kukundakwe said.

Masters’ female captain Abisagi Mugenyi Namugenze said “you have not been training in vain. Just have faith that you will represent yourself and the country well, and that we will come back standing tall.” Her message was for the entire contingent and not just the 31 masters swimmers that will be coached by Henry Kakooza.

Uganda Aquatics general secretary Max Kanyerezi urged the athletes to work as a team and deliver another title while president Moses Mwase applauded the hard work put into non-residential training over the past weeks by the athletes and also announced without divulging details sponsorships from NCS, Uganda Airlines, and Speke Resort.

Maryanne Isabirye, who serves as Kanyerezi’s assistant and is also team manager, reserved her praise for parents who are the main sponsors of the athletes.

“Times are hard but when you get thousands to invest in something that has no immediate returns, that is sacrifice,” Isabirye said.

The Zone III competition started in 2015 and attracts mostly countries from eastern Africa although countries from other zones, especially the southern (IV) are usually invited.

The competition, graded through points, has age groups 12 and Under, 13-14, 15-16, and 17 and Over. Uganda, which will be aiming for a 5th record title, won the competition when it hosted it in 2015 and 2021, plus in 2023 when it was in Rwanda and in 2024 when it was in Burundi.

Kenya hosted and won in 2019 and will be looking to make home advantage count again.

Africa Aquatics Zone III Swimming Championships

Age group team

Alba Ihunde, Ashton Regina Suubi, Gabriella Eleanor Nakimuli, Gabriella Opolot, Jehan Babirye, Jinan Nakato, Nisha Pearl Najjuma (12 and Under girls)

Crystal Ssemanda, Mackayla Ssali, Paula Nabukeera, Theresa Kikambi, Tyrah Muganzi, Zara Mbanga (13-14 girls)

Alexis Mary Akol, Paloma Kirabo, Peyton Suubi, Rahmah Nakasule, Sonia Mwere (15-16 girls)

Tara Kisawuzi (17 and Over girls)

Elijah Ayesiga, Giovanni Cruz Mbanga, Jeremiah Ssempijja, Jordan Musoke, Kristian Bwisho, Raymond Ssali (12 and Under boys)

Benjamin Ssali, Elijah Mukisa, Jayson Aronda, Jonathan Kaweesa, Kigundu Ssango, Manuel Ssemanda (13-14 boys)

Daniel Rukundo, Ethani Ssengooba, Isaiah Kuc, Peterson Inhensiko, Shaun Murungi (15-16 boys)

Ampaire Namanya, Kyle Kaweesa, Jordan Munyikwa, Malcolm Nahamya, Mathew Mwase, Pendo Kaumi (17 and Over boys)

Masters team

Abisagi Mugenyi Namugenze, Belinda Eleanor Illamai, Christine Kesende, Dorothy Ssemanda, Esther Nadunga, Isabella Omara Sigombe, Jackline Mbabazi, Kezia Wairimu, Linda Namayanja, Michelle Mugisha Ayesiga, Olivier Nalwadda, Patricia Ejalu, Rachael Amito, Resty Kiwuka, Sandra Arinaitwe, Takia Nabirye (women)

Aksam Magoola, Alex Kateeba, Benon Ojwiya, Charles Obwana, Donald Rukare, Dunstan Rukare, Ivan Muhoozi, Habib Yawe, Henry Kakooza, Ismail Munaaba, Patrick Magezi, Paul Kaganzi, Peter Mugisha, Peter Ssebanakitta, Phillip Nuwagaba, Yuda Morris Ssekamatte (men)

The Ntungamo Resident District Commissioner (RDC), Ms Miriam Kagaiga, has warned headteachers in the area against stopping students from sitting for examinations due to outstanding school fees.

Ms Kagaiga made the call during a meeting with headteachers at the examination store at Ntungamo Police Station on Monday morning.

“We all know what is happening in our families, we understand the struggles schools are going through, but more especially the struggles we are all going through as parents,” Ms. Kagaiga said. “I ask you to bear with parents, especially during these exams, that no student is turned away from doing exams over school fees.”

The RDC noted that some head teachers have been failing to register students for examinations and turning them away at the examination hall, a practice she said would not be tolerated.

“We can’t allow this vice to happen in our district,” she warned. “We must make sure that all students who were eligible for registration sit their exams. If anyone has committed that offense, they will be dealt with.”

Ms Kagaiga had summoned the headteacher of Ruhanga Adventist Secondary School over a student who had complained about not being registered despite paying for registration.

The student, Precious Kembabazi, had been turned away from school and told she wouldn’t be allowed to sit for exams.

In response, headteachers expressed optimism about the start of the exams, citing timely delivery and preparation of candidates.

“We are blessed that the exams arrived in time, our candidates are prepared, hope the exams will be done well, and students shall get good results,” said Ntungamo High School headteacher, Mr Wilson Byamukama.

At Kyamate Secondary School, 350 students sat for the first Geography paper, with the school’s deputy headteacher, Mr Jonas Kasasira, noting that it was the biggest number ever, and the students were well-prepared.

It is not often that the local league – the StarTimes Uganda Premier League – makes the front pages of this publication. We have often reserved space on the front page for some great sports stories. Most of these tell the story of success that makes us all very proud as Ugandans or despair that shakes our hope and confidence in our ability to compete with the world.

This is how athletes like Joshua Cheptegei, Peruth Chemutai and Jacob Kiplimo became regular features on what is the most important page of any newspaper. There has also been room for the national teams of football, rugby and netball et al as their stories of triumph represent the odds many of us have to beat every day.

However, there are days when that page has been reserved for crises like unpaid bonuses, rogue television deals, ticket fraud and the pain of former sportspersons who brought joy to Uganda. Media can be seen as a tool for advocacy since these people come from within our families and communities. It also remains a major tool for accountability and demand for transparency.

The latter is the major reason behind the local league making the front page seven days ago. Empty stands of Mandela National Stadium (Namboole) were splashed here. Clearly, the game is in crisis again after some years of progress. The issue emanates from the local federation, Fufa, choosing to radically reform the league while injecting Shs3.4b. Many clubs and fans contested the reforms, arguing that there wasn’t adequate consultation before rolling out the now-infamous new format.

The clubs have since come around and agreed to play, some under protest, except Vipers, which chose not to show up at Namboole for their game against Kitara. The message from fans was loud and unequivocal – the majority are not happy. Someone has got to pay attention and listen – something is not right. Vipers have decided to lead this crusade against the reforms. It’s become a lonely war for them as their peers have chosen to coil. However, the fans, an important part of the football ecosystem, have clearly sided with the seven-time league champions.

Neither side is willing to budge in a debate that is not about sainthood. The war could escalate quickly if the warring parties do not choose dialogue as a means of conflict resolution. There have been accusations of blackmail by Fufa to force clubs to toe the line. This has become a war of extremes, yet the goal for all parties is the same – to have stadiums full for games.

As the world recently commemorated International Safe Abortion Day under the theme ‘Safe abortion is life-saving healthcare,’ the conversation inevitably turned to a related but often overlooked issue: the quality of post-abortion care (PAC). PAC is one of the most critical yet under-discussed health services in Uganda.

Every year, women face life-threatening complications from unsafe abortions, which the 2022 Uganda Demographic and Health Survey (UDHS) estimates contribute to 8-11 percent of maternal deaths. Yet the quality and availability of PAC remain inconsistent across health facilities. While Ugandan law permits PAC and recognises it as an essential health service, the reality is that many health centres lack the basic infrastructure, supplies, and skilled personnel needed to provide lifesaving care. At the heart of this issue is access.

For many women, the nearest facility for emergency obstetric care is a Health Centre (HC) III, the first line of care for most rural communities. These facilities are meant to provide basic emergency obstetric services, yet many are unequipped to handle complicated PAC cases. In my engagements with healthcare providers, I have come to learn that a woman who presents with heavy bleeding or sepsis may find that the HC has a dilapidated procedure bed, no electricity, or no trained provider.

Even when women reach hospitals, quality is not guaranteed. Essential supplies such as lignocaine (for pain management), vaginal specula, and manual vacuum aspiration (MVA) kits are not always available. While the Ministry of Health made progress in 2023 by adding the misoprostol/mifepristone combipack to the Essential Medicines and Supplies List, its use is restricted to HCIVs and above.

This restriction means that HCIIIs and IIs, the most accessible facilities for many rural women and girls, cannot provide this highly effective treatment for incomplete abortions. The problem is not just supplies, but also people. PAC requires skilled health workers who can provide care with both technical competence and compassion. Yet training gaps remain wide.

In several learning engagements, health workers have openly shared their hesitation to provide PAC due to stigma, fear of legal repercussions, or personal values. Others expressed the need for refresher training to manage complex complications. For women, these gaps translate into delays, judgmental attitudes, or outright denial of care, even when PAC is fully permitted by Ugandan law. Beyond the health system, different actors also shape the quality of PAC in Uganda.

Policy gaps remain a major challenge, for instance, police officers often do not understand what PAC entails and sometimes arrest health workers under the mistaken belief that they are performing illegal abortions, even though PAC is permitted by law. At the community level, harmful social norms and stigma discourage women from seeking timely care, while lack of family or peer support can leave them isolated at critical moments.

At individual level, limited knowledge and decision-making power among women and girls further restrict their ability to recognise emergency symptoms and demand quality PAC services. The human cost of these systemic weaknesses is sobering. Women continue to die not because PAC is unavailable in theory, but because in practice the service they receive is of poor quality.

A young woman who walks into a facility with heavy bleeding should not have to wait hours for a referral, endure a painful procedure without anaesthesia, or be turned away because supplies ran out. Yet these are realities many Ugandan women face, as shared repeatedly in learning meetings with health providers across districts. Improving quality of PAC requires investment on multiple fronts. First, infrastructure: facilities must be equipped with functional procedure beds, sterilisation equipment, and reliable power and water supply.

Second, every HC that provides PAC must be routinely stocked with lignocaine, MVA kits, specula, and the combipack, not just on paper, but in reality. Third, health workers need regular training and mentorship not only to provide PAC safely, but also to deliver it with dignity and respect. Uganda has made progress before, and it can do so again. But for women in villages far from district hospitals, progress will only matter if these medicines and supplies are available where they seek care. Every woman deserves the assurance that if complications arise, the health system will protect her, not fail her.

A land dispute between the Ntungamo Muslim community and the Ntungamo District Local Government has sparked security and political controversy, prompting intervention from the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

The Muslim leaders accuse the local government of grabbing land allocated to them in the 1970s and attempting to sell it to private individuals.

“For over 15 years now, we have been fighting to have full access to our land but the district administration has been against us,” said Hajji Hakim Kibonge, a Muslim leader in the area. “The politicians at the district level are conniving with local leaders at Rugarama Sub County and want to take the land, unfortunately, they want to sell it to private individuals. Every time our people want to use the land, they are arrested, and everyone seems to be against us.”

The disputed land is over 100 acres and Hajji Kibonge claims that they have the necessary documentation.

“We were allocated here (District Muslim Mosque centre- Ntungamo town) in the 1920s, but a few years ago, we saw National Forest Authority (NFA) come and erect mark stones in front of our buildings claiming they are in a forest reserve,” said Hajji Swaleh Kashangirwe, the Ntungamo District Khadi. “We also had a conflict with some neighbours. In Rweikiniro, people had grabbed over 50 per cent of our land, now the district wants to take even the one we thought was secure.”

The Ministry of Internal Affairs has stepped in to address the issue, with Hajji Musa Lukandwa, the presidential assistant in charge of mobilisation and security, urging Muslims to remain calm and fight for their rights without thinking they are being attacked because of their religion.

“There was a time when all Muslim leaders were moving with bond forms from police in their pockets, until Gen Kahinda (Minister for Internal Affairs) intervened,” Hajji Lukandwa said. “If they were not suspects of terrorism, it was because they were fighting for their land. It’s becoming different, and government is attending to different factors. I believe most of these grievances will be addressed.”

Representing the Minister for Internal Affairs, Maj Gen Willis Byarugaba noted the Muslims’ concerns and asked them to avoid religionising their issues. “I believe no one is taking your land because you are Muslims,” he said.

“Like there are thieves anywhere, we also need to find out much and resolve these matters. Fortunately, some are in court.”

The leaders accused the district leadership of not acting when called upon and instead siding with land grabbers.

The Ntungamo RDC, Ms Miriam Kagaiga, noted that some issues are beyond their jurisdiction, making them remain observers.

About 10 years ago, banks raced to invest in internet banking. Billions of shillings were sunk in a new digital banking innovation that promised to recoup the shine that had been taken away from the banking sector by mobile money.

It was a race of two faces: catch up in a race that the sector had seemingly lost to mobile money, and set up the future of banking.

However, years later, cybercriminals have turned an otherwise good innovation into their turf, where they occasionally turn up – clean people’s accounts, shop expensively, with owners of such accounts only getting notifications of transactions whose only excuse is a vague explanation from their bankers of ‘you shared your PIN with strangers’.

And now banks are staring at billions of invested capital in platforms, where the numbers are tanking, and targets are failing to spur further investment.

Uganda’s financial sector is rapidly digitising, but the surge in cyber threats is casting a shadow over the promise of seamless online banking.

The Bank of Uganda Integrated Annual Report 2024/25 reveals that while digital transactions continue to grow, internet banking usage has declined, signaling growing public concern about cybersecurity vulnerabilities.

‘This reduction reflected potential user concerns about the cyber threat landscape,’ Bank of Uganda said.

The report notes that in the 12 months to June, active internet banking users dropped by 6.6 percent, from 0.96 million in June 2024 to 0.9 million in June 2025.

Transaction volumes also dropped sharply by 19.5 percent, from 9.7 million to 7.84 million, while total transaction value fell to Shs113.9 trillion.

Apart from the decline in existing users, the uptake remains very low when compared to the more than 20 million accounts in the banking sector.

The contrast

In contrast, mobile banking, which benefits from stronger public trust and simplified authentication, rose by 6.5 percent in the same period, with transaction values soaring by nearly 40 percent.

This divergence paints a clear picture that while Ugandans are increasingly embracing mobile wallets, they are retreating from internet banking, amid fears of hacking, phishing, and data breaches.

But in its report, Bank of Uganda noted that it had made cybersecurity a cornerstone of its digital transformation agenda by enhancing its cybersecurity framework to align with international standards and expanding the capacity of its Security Operations Centre for real-time threat monitoring.point protection, firewalls, and intrusion detection systems, the central bank noted, have been upgraded, supported by regular cyber drills and business continuity simulations.

Bank of Uganda governor Michael Atingi-Ego said in the report that these measures are essential to maintaining ‘an efficient, stable and resilient financial system,’ noting that cyber and technology risks now sit alongside traditional economic risks in the central bank’s supervisory framework.

Bank of Uganda is also reinforcing resilience by operationalizing an AI-enabled Payments Control System through its Anti-Fraud Consortium, designed to detect and neutralise fraudulent activities across payment networks.

Ugandan’s concerns mirror a broader continental trend. During the 2024 Comesa Symposium for Central Bank Governors, cybersecurity and digital banking emerged as top discussion points, with central banks across Africa acknowledging that rapid digitalization, while transformative, had expanded the attack surface for cybercriminals.

To bolster monitoring, the central bank plans to roll out SUPTECH, a supervisory technology system enabling real-time data collection from financial institutions, which will help in detecting irregularities early and enforce compliance across banks and fintechs.

However, the challenge now lies in balancing innovation with security.

As digital finance deepens, Uganda must safeguard both financial stability and consumer trust.

The central bank’s efforts to modernize payment systems through the National Payment Switch integration promise faster and more secure transactions, but these upgrades also demand stronger cyber defense mechanisms.

For Uganda’s digital economy to thrive, the future of internet banking will depend not just on technology, but on trust. For now, as the numbers suggest, users have lost that trust, and they are retreating.