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Inside Uganda’s health care waste problem: no budget, no data, and no oversight

An audit of Uganda’s Health Care Waste Management (HCWM) has revealed widespread failures in handling infectious medical waste, with health facilities struggling to safely dispose of Health Care Waste (HCW) amidst inadequate funding, weak enforcement of regulations, poor segregation and treatment practices, lack of reliable waste data, and limited monitoring.

According to the Value for Money Audit Report on the Effectiveness of the Ministry of Health (MoH) and Public Health Facilities in the Management of Health Care Waste 2025 report, although the Ministry of Health has developed several policies, regulations and guidelines to govern health waste management, critical gaps still exist in the current HCW management regulatory framework.

According to the audit findings, for the financial year 2022/2023 to 2024/2025, the Ministry had no budget for HCWM and work plans, and major activities such as construction of incinerators were purely reliant on the development partners, who have since withdrawn their funding.

However, in response to the funding challenges, the audit indicates that the Ministry has since allocated Shs5b to budget for the gap left by development partners and has guided that health facilities allocate 10 percent of their Primary Health Care (PHC) budget to HCWM.

‘Following the withdrawal of the USAID support, the Ministry issued a circular on 13th February 2025 directing all health facilities to integrate HCWM into their budgets beginning in FY 2025/26. This was aimed at improving sustainability and ensuring consistent funding for HCW activities,’ the Audit reports states.

According to the report, the average annual PHC funding available for HWM amounts to approximately shs60,000 for HC II facilities, Shs120,000 for HC III facilities, shs600,000 for HC IV facilities, and shs7,500,000 for hospitals which the Auditor General says is unlikely to cause any impact.

Mr Edward Akol the Auditor General, explained that although a new HCWM Strategy (2025/26 to 2029/30) has since been developed, it has not yet been implemented by the time of the audit.

The audit further reveals significant deficiencies in HealthCare Waste (HCW) storage whereby of the 25 heath facilities assessed, 17 (64%) lacked appropriate storage infrastructure. Eight of the 17 facilities (47%) had no dedicated HCW storage area at all, and the remaining nine (53%) had storage areas that had no sheds, and or enclosed.

At Mityana General Hospital, Lira, Mbarara and Gulu regional referral hospitals HealthCare Waste was compacted inside storage rooms that lacked secure locks, while in facilities such as Mbarara, Gulu , Lira , Iganga General hospital, HCW was stored in the open, posing a risk of un-restricted access and potential exposure to infections.

The auditor General revealed that all the 25 sampled and inspected facilities lacked compliant temporary storage areas, and waste is frequently retained for longer than the recommended duration due to inadequate infrastructure and unreliable treatment or disposal arrangements.

‘These weaknesses show that current practices do not provide the necessary safeguards for the safe handling, containment, and storage of HealthCare Waste prior to treatment, thereby posing significant health and environmental risks,’ Me Akol stated.

Of the 25 facilities assessed, 48 percent had incinerators, however, functionality was inconsistent: 8 facilities (67%) had operational units, though none had emission-control systems or the capacity for complete combustion of sharps and glass waste, the remaining 4 facilities (33%) had non-functional incinerators, resulting in continued reliance on alternative and often unsafe waste treatment methods.

Furthermore, of the 25 health facilities assessed, 52 percent had no incinerators and among these 6 with non-functional and relied on off-site Health care waste treatment through private providers for collection, treatment and disposal, while several without incinerators resorted to open burning HCW within their premises.

‘These gaps indicate inadequate investment in compliant HCW treatment infrastructure and expose health workers, patients, and nearby communities to avoidable health and environmental risks,’ Mr Akol said.

The report further noted that Health facilities, including those equipped with incinerators, are currently overwhelmed by large volumes of untreated HealthCare Waste given the limitations in capacity of the existing HCW treatment infrastructure increasing exposure to infections and heightening public health risks and environmental risks.

Mr Akol stated that the treatment processes and infrastructure currently available in health facilities are insufficient to ensure the safe and compliant treatment of HealthCare Waste, noting that many facilities continue to rely on inappropriate methods such as open burning and the use of incinerators that lack emission-control systems.

‘As a result, infectious waste is not fully decontaminated, and hazardous pollutants continue to be released into the environment. This leaves healthcare workers, patients, and surrounding communities exposed to preventable health and environmental risks,’ he said.

Mr Akol also found out that of the 25 health facilities only Gulu, Jinja, and Iganga Regional Referral Hospitals had lined ash pits for the final disposal of incineration residues. Six facilities disposed of HealthCare Waste offsite, while 17 relied on ordinary waste pits, with placentas and pathological waste placed in placenta pits.

Additionally, it was further noted that early in 2025, a placenta pit at Nsangi Health Centre III had collapsed due to a weakened slab, causing a serious occupational accident when a midwife fell into the pit while disposing of a placenta

Mr Akol also highlighted inappropriate waste segregation, noting that there was a mix up of infectious and non-infectious Waste in the same bins, unmatched bin liners, unlabeled waste bags, absence of dedicated temporary storage spaces, absence of temperature and emission meters at incinerators.

The Auditor found out that health facilities didn’t measure or report the volume of waste they generate, no clear indicators to assess treatment efficiency and emissions control, and no standards governing the design of common-user waste pits leading to difficulties planning and monitoring.

Mr Akol also sighted lack of coordination meetings among the Ministry of Health, National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), local government councils, District Health offices and health facilities during the financial year 2022/23 and 2024/25 even when the ministry established national and regional WASH/ HCWM steering committees.

The Government has taken steps to improve HCWM from generation to final disposal through developing regulations, such as the National Guidelines for Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) in healthcare facilities 2022, the National Environment Waste Management Regulations 2020 and National Health Care Waste Management operational guidelines 2025, among others.

Mr Akol recommended the Ministry of Health to prioritise HCWM by providing sufficient resources at the national and facility levels, engaging with the local governments and relevant regulatory bodies, to strengthen supervision of HealthCare Waste management in both public and private health facilities.

He further urged the Ministry to fast-track dissemination and implementation of the recently developed HCWM Strategy (2025/26-2029/30), operational guidelines, regulations and SOPs to ensure that all health facilities apply harmonised standards for HealthCare Waste quantification, treatment, emissions control and final disposal.

‘Disseminate and enforce implementation of the recently developed HCWM guidelines at facility level to ensure effective control of waste at source and strengthen compliance with national HealthCare Waste management requirements,’ he said.

Mr Akol also asked the management of health facilities to ensure availability of color coded bins and liners at all waste generation points to prevent waste, enforce strict adherence to prescribed HealthCare Waste collection schedules and container fill limits as well as establishing and enforcing formal contracts with licensed waste handlers.

He also advised management of health facilities to enforce strict adherence to prescribed HealthCare Waste collection schedules and container fill limits in order to prevent occupational injury and infection risks.

According to data from MOH the approximate volume of medical waste handled annually by the different categories of health facilities is as follows; 10million tonnes for National Referral Hospitals, Two million tonnes for Regional Referral Hospitals, 500,000 tonnes for General Hospitals, 100,000 tonnes for Health Centre IVs, and 20,000 tonnes for Health Centre IIIs.

Dr Herbert Nabaasa. Commissioner of Environmental Health said that the Ministry has put in place strategies to improve HCWM noting that under their National Healthcare Waste Management strategy, the ministry is committed to ensure effective collection, transportation, treatment and safe disposal of healthcare waste.

The ministry has undertaken several strategic reforms to this effect, these include; strengthening the legal framework, infrastructure development, human resource, and improving coordination.

According to Dr Nabaasa. Commissioner of Environmental Health at the Ministry of Health, the ministry has established five regional incinerators in Gulu, Lira, Mukono, Fort Portal and Mbarara to improve health care waste management.

Dr Nabaasa explained that these regional incinerators will serve all health facilities in the region, case in point, the incinerator at Mbarara regional referral will serve health facilities in Ankole region districts of Bushenyi, Ntungamo, Ibanda among others.

He explained that regionalisation of incineration is to reduce the emission footprint associated with many incineration points that have previously been in the several health facilities, improve efficiency, and mitigate the problem of indiscriminate healthcare waste disposal by unregulated healthcare waste producers and handlers as well as reducing maintenance costs.

‘Our aim is to ensure that we increase efficiency in terms of monitoring, because when you centralise it, it is easier to know the final destination of waste. You can track where waste is being generated up to where it is being destroyed,’ Dr Nabaasa said.

He explained that working with licensed companies, they will be able to transport and track waste from different health centers to the regional incinerator for disposal.

‘They have arrangements with hospitals to ensure that all the hospitals have their waste collected, transported, cleaned and destroyed. Our task in the ministry is oversight, regulation, standardisation, monitoring and ensuring compliance in all these matters,’ he said.

Dr Nabaasa noted that the Ministry has also developed a tracker to capture data that will help in knowing how much waste is generated from each health facility.

‘We have made it digital in a sense that it should be easy to find out anybody who picks waste from a facility has to input it into a tool. So when you pick from a facility they fill in the data, and receive it here at the Ministry because it will be displayed on our dashboard,’ he said.

Dr Alfred Yayi , Senior Executive Consultant Jinja Regional Referral hospital noted that HCWM challenge was due to the funding gap created by withdrawal of donor support that had previously financed them since health farcicalities relied entirely on donor support.

He explained that at Jinjia, medical waste was previously collected and managed by Green label Services Limited with funding From USAID and funding was terminated, the hospital struggled with waste and started accumulating since there was no allocated budget for it.

‘Fortunately, USAID through Green Label had constructed a new incinerator, which we needed operational, so to address the electrical challenges and make it functional we provided the fuel as a hospital management within our operational funds to run it and is currently used to burn waste produced at our facility,’ Dr Yayi said.

However, he noted that the issue remains funding noting that the incinerator which runs twice a week for five hours consumes approximately 200 liters of diesel every week making it very expensive.

‘There are other private health centers and government health centers that are asking us to help them but because of the high operational costs, we are unable to support other facilities, we only handle the waste we generate from our hospital,’ Dr Yayi said.

According to Dr Yayi, the hospital has since created a budget line for healthcare waste management in the coming financial year, setting aside an estimated Shs60 million for fuel and maintenance of the incinerator.

‘We had to repurpose our funds because the support we had been relying on was no longer available. Going forward, we have budgeted for waste management because it is something that cannot be ignored,” he said.

He also noted that currently with support the Ministry of Health has also partnered with Green label Services Limited to continue supporting government health facilities in waste management.

‘When USAID funding was stopped, the Green Label could not support us because they had no funding but recently, the Ministry of Health has contracted them support our region, think with the funding from government and lately, we are engaging them to support us especially on the technical aspects when the machines don’t work well,’ Dr Yayi said.

Responding to waste segregation challenges, Dr Yayi also acknowledged challenges highlighted in the audit regarding the mixing of infectious and non-infectious waste, however he noted that the challenges emerge during transportation from wards to waste holding areas.

He explained that health workers generally separate waste correctly at source using colour-coded bins for infectious, non-infectious and pharmaceutical waste, while sharps are disposed of in safety boxes.

‘We discovered that sometimes the waste handlers tend to mix this instead of transporting them separately for their own convenience, sometimes they mix them. So we have noted that and our Infection Prevention and Control Committee is sensitizing them to ensure that the waste is not mixed,’ Dr Yayi noted.

The audit found that many health facilities do not measure the amount of waste they generate, making planning difficult.

Dr Yayi said the hospital has recently begun paying closer attention to waste volumes because it now bears the cost of treatment.

‘When Green Label was handling this for us, I think there was not much focus on how much we were generating because there was a third party handling it for us. But now that we are the ones handling it, we have had to establish how much we are generating, how much we need to burn it, how many days we need to run the incinerator,’ he said.

He urged health facilities across the country to stop relying entirely on partners but also begin to budget for HCWM.

“Time is up for us to plan for waste management. We need to build capacity for segregation, transportation and disposal of waste, and we need to budget for it because depending on partners is no longer sustainable,” he said.

At Mbarara regional referral hospital, waste management remains a challenge largely because the facility generates large volumes of waste while relying on a small incinerator.

Mr Halson Kagure, the communication and Public relations officer of the hospital, however, stated that the hospital is constructing a big regional incinerator expected to serve all health facilities in the region.

‘This is a facility handles the catchment area of the whole western region and it does generate a lot of medical waste, so without that incinerator the situation could have been alarming,’ Mr Kagure said.

He added; ‘Besides, now we are putting up a mega incinerator which is going to be used or which is going to be accessed by all health facilities in this region.’

Responding to issues of poor waste segregation raised by the Auditor General, Mr Kagure noted the hospital has strengthened waste segregation through its continuous quality improvement program.

‘Under this project, we ensure that there is proper waste management by putting in place different bin liners. When you come to the facility you will find they are black or non- hazardous, yellow for the medical waste that is hazardous and red for those medical wastes which are very hazardous and harmful,’ Mr Kagure said.

He maintained that the hospital has made significant progress in sanitation and waste management compared to previous years.

Dr Charles Kabugo is the Executive Director of Kiruddu National Referral Hospital said that HCWM challenges are usually at lower level health facilities, noting that national hospitals like Kiruddu have well guided waste management processes.

‘At Kiruddu we have no challenges, we have a company that picks waste twice/three times a week and the disposal mechanism is spelt out by the Ministry of Health and we pay them off the system. For us we have never had any issues, it’s the small health centers that real dump waste is swamps and other places.

The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) spokesperson, MS Naomi Namara Karekaho said that while the Authority develops regulations to guide waste management, the implementation largely rests with governments and facility managements.

‘The environmental regulatory framework is fairly new, while some of the hospitals existed long before NEMA came into force. In addition, many health facilities are under local governments, which are the frontline managers of waste,” Ms Karekaho said.

She explained that NEMA’s role is primarily regulatory, ensuring that standards and guidelines are in place to protect the environment from harmful waste disposal practices.

“NEMA provides the regulations that are supposed to guide them on how to manage waste so that it does not harm the environment, which we have done, but we are not the frontline managers of how waste is managed in different jurisdictions,” she said.

Osun account frozen over suspicious funds movement, says EFCC

Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday explained why it placed a Post No Debit (PND) on the Osun State bank account with First Bank.

The anti-graft agency froze the account because of alleged fraudulent handling of N11 billion ecology funds, intervention funds and Federal Account Allocation Committee (FAAC), EFCC spokesman Dele Oyewale said in statement last night.

But Governor Ademola Adeleke berated the agency, describing the action as an abuse of due process, insisting that the commission obtained no court order before directing the bank to freeze the state account.

He said the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice has been directed to challenge the EFCC action before the Federal High Court (FHC) in Osogbo, the state capital

In the EFCC statement, Oyewale said the state has been under probe since March with the state’s accountant-general and some government officials already quizzed.

The PND order was placed on the affected account because the EFCC intercepted huge transfers of funds to different suspicious accounts since August 2.

According to the EFCC, there were huge transfers of funds into different corporate entities and it had to swiftly halt the trend to save public funds.

The action has nothing to do with August 15 Osun governorship poll, Oyewale clarified in the statement.

It reads: ‘The EFCC is compelled to publicly address issues pertaining to its preventive moves in freezing the bank account of the Osun State government, without prejudice to the imminent governorship election in the state.

‘The commission has been busy investigating the Osun state government since March, 2026, regarding alleged fraudulent handling of Ecology Funds, Intervention Funds and Federal Account Allocation Committee, FAAC account to the tune of N11, 000,000, 000 (eleven billion naira only).

‘To this end, some officials of the state government, especially the accountant-general of the state have had interview sessions with EFCC investigators.

‘These ongoing investigations of the state government would not have warranted any placement of Post No Debit order on its account but for the precipitate and unwarranted movement of funds from the accounts to different suspicious accounts since August 2, 2026.

‘The Commission noticed huge transfers of funds into different corporate entities and had to swiftly halt the trend by freezing the accounts from which such heavy funds are being moved.’

The EFCC said it acted within its establishment mandate to prevent fraud.

It added: ‘The EFCC’s preventive mandate is a public-inclined framework of safeguarding public funds, assets and resources.

‘The commission cannot watch idly while a state government’s account is being pillaged.

‘While the commission is fully aware of the impending governorship election in Osun State, it has a responsibility to act in defence of the sanctity of the funds of the state.

‘It will be uncharitable for the commission to allow an excuse of an upcoming election to fold its arms to perform its legally-assigned functions.

‘It is equally needful to state that the commission is keeping watch over the finances of other states like Osun State. Many of these states are on the investigative radar of the Commission to ensure accountability and probity.

‘The commission has always pointed out that it is non-partisan and non-sectarian but always working in the overall interests of Nigerians.

‘The Osun State government account was frozen to save public funds from being looted.

‘The public is enjoined to ignore false narratives and deliberate demonization of the works of the EFCC. The interests of all Nigerians are greater and will always be protected by the commission.

Adeleke kicks

Adeleke insisted that the freezing of the account was the latest in what he described as sustained intimidation against his administration and members of the ruling Accord party ahead of the governorship election.

‘We received a letter from our banker this morning forwarding a letter from the EFCC instructing the bank to freeze Osun State Government account,’ the governor told reporters during news conference at the Oke Fia Government House.

He went further: ‘This action was taken without any court order. We are supposed to be in a democracy where the rule of law must always prevail.’

‘We will not accept a situation where federal agencies trample on the constitutional rights of sub-national governments.’

The governor challenged the agency to publicly explain the basis for freezing the account and provide evidence to justify the action.

‘All I ask is for the EFCC Chairman (Olanipekun Olukoyede) to explain to the good people of Osun State and to Nigerians in general why he froze Osun State Government account and show proof to support whatever reason he presents,’ he said.

The governor also linked the development to what he described as months of political persecution against his administration.

He maintained that despite the development, his administration would continue with its re-election campaign.

YBA urges Lagos to mandate Yoruba content on radio, TV

The Yoruba Broadcasters Association (YBA) has called on the Lagos State Government and the Lagos State House of Assembly to enact policies and legislation to ensure the preservation and promotion of the Yoruba language through broadcasting.

The call was made during a press conference by the Chairman of the Implementation Committee and First National President of the association, Prince Adefunso Ademigbuji, who expressed concern over the declining presence of Yoruba-language programming on radio and television stations operating in Lagos State.

Speaking on the theme, ‘Preserving Yoruba Language and Culture Through Broadcasting: A Call for Policy, Inclusion, and National Responsibility,’ Ademigbuji said the gradual disappearance of Yoruba content from the media space poses a serious threat to the survival of the language and the cultural heritage of the Yoruba people.

‘Lagos State is predominantly a Yoruba-speaking environment and a major centre of Yoruba history, culture, commerce, and creativity. The Yoruba language is not merely a means of communication; it is the vessel through which our people transmit history, values, wisdom, and identity from one generation to another,’ he said.

According to him, while older media organisations such as Raypower FM and African Independent Television (AIT) have maintained Yoruba-language programming, many newer stations operating in Lagos no longer carry regular Yoruba programmes.

‘This is a serious concern. If the language of the people is absent from the media space, where will the next generation learn it?

A language does not disappear in one day; it disappears gradually when it is no longer heard on the radio, seen on television, or considered relevant in public life,’ he said.

Ademigbuji noted that although broadcasting is a business, it also carries a responsibility to serve the public interest and preserve cultural identity.

‘Broadcast stations do not merely sell airtime; they shape society. There must be room for cultural responsibility, public interest, and national development alongside commercial considerations,’ he said.

He emphasised that Yoruba broadcasting can remain relevant and commercially viable by addressing contemporary issues such as entrepreneurship, agriculture, technology, education, healthcare, governance, security, youth development, and economic reform.

The association also appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to grant at least one major national interview in the Yoruba language, describing the move as a symbol of inclusion and recognition for millions of Yoruba-speaking Nigerians.

‘We believe such an interview would send a powerful message that indigenous languages matter. This appeal is not about exclusion, but about inclusion and cultural recognition,’ he said.

The YBA further urged the Lagos State Government to develop a comprehensive policy framework for promoting the Yoruba language and culture across broadcasting, education, and public communication.

Additionally, the association called on the Lagos State House of Assembly to enact legislation requiring all broadcast stations operating within the state to provide regular and meaningful Yoruba-language programming.

‘We are not calling for the cancellation of English-language programmes or the exclusion of other Nigerian languages. We are calling for balance, inclusion, and cultural responsibility,’ Ademigbuji stated.

Highlighting the economic importance of indigenous-language broadcasting, he explained that millions of traders, artisans, farmers, and small business owners operate primarily in local languages and often struggle to understand government policies communicated solely in English.

‘Yoruba broadcasting can help explain tax reforms, economic policies, financial literacy, agricultural initiatives, job opportunities, and government programmes in a language people understand. Indigenous-language broadcasting is not only about culture; it is also about economic inclusion,’ he said.

The association also stressed the role of indigenous-language broadcasting in public security, noting that security messages are more effective when communicated in languages citizens understand clearly.

Ademigbuji announced that the association would formally submit a petition to the Lagos State House of Assembly seeking legislation that would make Yoruba-language programming compulsory for all broadcast stations operating in Lagos State.

Among its demands are the establishment of minimum standards for the quality and duration of Yoruba-language programmes, a monitoring mechanism to ensure compliance, and stronger collaboration among government, broadcasters, cultural organisations, and language experts.

He said the proposed legislation would not only protect the Yoruba language but also create employment opportunities for broadcasters, producers, writers, actors, musicians, researchers, and other creative professionals.

‘This is not a campaign against English or any other Nigerian language. It is a campaign for recognition, preservation, inclusion, and responsibility. We want a Lagos where a child can grow up speaking both English and Yoruba confidently,’ he said.

Ademigbuji concluded by urging government agencies, media organisations, regulators, and stakeholders to support efforts aimed at preserving the Yoruba language for future generations.

‘A language that is heard is a language that lives. A language that is taught is a language that grows. And a language that is used in public life is a language that has a future,’ he said.

Gombe ADC spokesman quits party

Zaune announced his decision in a resignation letter dated August 5, 2026, addressed to the ADC Ward Chairman of Zaune Ward in Dukku Local Government Area.

In the letter, Zaune expressed gratitude to the party for the opportunity to serve in various capacities at the local government, state and national levels.

‘I sincerely appreciate the party for the opportunity to serve in different capacities at the local government, state and national levels. I wish the party well in its future endeavours,’ he stated.

Zaune did not disclose the reason for his resignation or indicate his next political move in the letter.

His resignation comes after the recent exit of the ADC State Secretary, Ahmed Gana, who left the party a few weeks ago and subsequently joined the All Progressives Congress (APC) in support of Jamilu Isiyaka Gwamna.

Katikkiro Mayiga challenges Buganda legislators to lead with ideas, not titles

Buganda Kingdom has challenged members of the Buganda Lukiiko to redefine their role beyond debating issues in the Kingdom’s legislature, urging them to become a source of innovative ideas capable of driving Buganda’s social and economic transformation.

The message dominated the opening of the Buganda Lukiiko retreat at Mengo on where the Kingdom’s top leadership called on legislators to uphold integrity, professionalism and a stronger sense of public service.

Opening the retreat, the Speaker of the Buganda Lukiiko, Mr Patrick Luwaga Mugumbule, said the annual gathering is intended to give members time to reflect on their work over the past year, assess their performance and identify ways of improving service to the people of Buganda.

He said the retreat also strengthens unity among members and provides an opportunity to align their work with the Kingdom’s priorities.

‘This retreat allows us to evaluate how we have served the Kingdom during the past year and determine how we can become better representatives of our people,’ Mr Mugumbule said.

He described the retreat as an important governance tool and appealed to the Kingdom leadership to institutionalise it as a permanent programme within the Buganda calendar.

The retreat is being held under the theme, ‘Raising the Standard and Conduct of Members of the Buganda Lukiiko.’

Delivering the keynote address, Buganda Katikkiro Charles Peter Mayiga said the effectiveness of the Lukiiko will not be measured by the number of meetings it holds but by the quality of ideas generated by its members.

‘The greatest responsibility of a Lukiiko member is to think. Nations develop because of ideas. When ideas are lacking, development stagnates,’ Mr Mayiga said.

He challenged legislators to move beyond their ceremonial status and actively contribute solutions to the challenges facing Buganda.

According to the Katikkiro, members should first understand the Kingdom’s development programmes before attempting to explain or defend them in their constituencies.

Among the initiatives he highlighted were the Mwanyi Terimba coffee campaign, the Kingdom’s housing and brick-making projects, staff welfare reforms and the Situla Omutindo programme.

He urged legislators to critically assess these initiatives and propose practical improvements instead of merely supporting them.

Using the Ente ya Kabaka programme as an example, Mr Mayiga challenged members to ask themselves what new ideas they could contribute to strengthen agriculture rather than simply praising existing projects.

He posed similar questions about trade, asking whether businesses in Buganda are operating sustainably, keeping proper records and contributing meaningfully to economic growth.

He said legislators should provide answers to such questions through policy recommendations and practical proposals.

Mr Mayiga also reflected on the history of the Buganda Lukiiko, describing it as one of the Kingdom’s oldest governance institutions.

He said the Lukiiko has evolved from a traditional council of clan leaders advising the Kabaka to a modern legislative institution whose members are appointed by the Kabaka to represent the interests of Buganda.

Katikkiro noted that although the structure of the Lukiiko has changed over the years, its core mission remains unchanged: providing ideas that strengthen the Kingdom and improve the welfare of its people.

He commended members who have supported the Mwanyi Terimba initiative, saying it has enabled many families to improve their incomes through coffee growing.

Beyond policy discussions, Mr Mayiga reminded members that leadership is also judged by personal conduct.

He said titles alone do not command public respect, arguing that true leadership is earned through integrity, discipline, humility and dedication to service.

‘The respect people give you should come from your conduct and commitment to serving them, not simply because you hold office,’ he said.

He added that as the retreat continues, members are expected to deliberate on ways of strengthening representation, improving oversight of Kingdom programmes and enhancing the contribution of the Buganda Lukiiko to the Kingdom’s development.

New system to settle Uganda-China transactions in Yuan

Uganda and China are set to deepen their trade ties following the introduction of a new payment system that will allow businesses to settle trade bills directly in Chinese yuan, reducing reliance on the dollar.

A report by Stanbic Bank indicates that access to China’s Cross-Border Interbank Payment System (CIPS), facilitated through its parent network Standard Bank, will enable faster, cheaper, and more predictable transactions for Ugandan traders dealing with Chinese counterparts. The system is expected to significantly cut transaction costs and reduce settlement timelines from several days to just a few hours.

By removing the need to route payments through the dollar, businesses will also avoid double currency conversions and foreign exchange risks. According to the report, the adoption of CIPS eliminates the role of multiple intermediary banks, a key source of delays and additional charges in international trade payments. ‘It will cut settlement times from standard multi-day processing down to just a few hours, protect local importers and exporters from unexpected shifts in dollar exchange rates, and offer full visibility and predictability over payment statuses so businesses can resolve delays quickly,’ the report states.

This will enhance transparency and traceability of payments, offering businesses clearer cash flow planning and reducing traditional clearance bottlenecks that have long complicated cross-border transactions. Under the new arrangement, outward telegraphic transfers are charged an equivalent of Shs60,000 per transaction, excluding external correspondent bank fees, while inward transfers attract a charge of 0.25 percent of the transaction value, with a minimum of $10 and a maximum of $50. Currency conversions between the shilling, dollar and Chinese yuan will attract a forex spread determined by Stanbic Bank’s Global Markets division, based on prevailing market conditions.

Stanbic also offers yuan-denominated accounts for businesses and individuals engaged in trade with China, helping them hedge against forex volatility. Speaking at the launch of the system, Stanbic Chief Executive Mumba Kalifungwa said the move would strengthen Uganda’s position as an attractive destination for Chinese investment. ‘Chinese cumulative Foreign Direct Investment in Uganda has surpassed the $1b mark, with licensed investments reaching approximately $1.2 billion. This follows a strong period where direct investment capital exceeded Shs3 trillion. China consistently ranks among Uganda’s top two sources of foreign investment,’ he said.

State Minister for Trade David Bahati described China as a critical trade and industrial partner, noting that investments from the country continue to grow, particularly in manufacturing, industry, and the oil sector.

‘I am extremely pleased with the launch of this payment system. It will accelerate payments for goods and services between the two countries, and I encourage more Chinese industrialists to invest in Uganda,’ he said. With trade between the two countries steadily expanding, the adoption of yuan-based settlement is expected to streamline transactions, improve efficiency, and further strengthen the Uganda-China economic corridor.

Ohakim’s supporters renew 2027 push, say Imo needs experienced leadership

Supporters of former Imo State Governor, Ikedi Godson Ohakim, have renewed their call for his return to the state’s political leadership as the successor to Governor Hope Uzodimma in 2027.

They argued that Ohakim’s experience, administrative record and commitment to good governance remain relevant to the future development of the state.

The call was made in Owerri during a press conference and birthday celebration organised by various support groups under the umbrella of Bring Back Ohakim (BBO 2027) and allied movements to mark the former governor’s birthday.

Ohakim left office as governor on May 29, 2011, after serving a single four-year term.

The groups said the event was not only to celebrate another year of Ohakim’s life but also to highlight what they described as his leadership contributions, institutional reforms and people-oriented programmes during his tenure as governor.

Speaking on behalf of the movement, Director General of Bring Back Ohakim (BBO 2027), Capt. Bishop C. Johnson (rtd), described Ohakim as a ‘distinguished son of Imo State, visionary statesman, accomplished administrator, institution builder and transformational leader.’

According to him, the former governor’s administration introduced the ‘New Face of Imo Agenda,’ which focused on social development, infrastructure, environmental renewal, security, institutional reforms and human capital development.

The supporters listed the Clean and Green Initiative, which they said transformed the state’s environmental outlook through the Environmental Transformation Commission (ENTRACO), the establishment of the Imo Road Maintenance Agency (IROMA), the Imo Freeway concept, Ring Roads, Imo Municipal Transport System and education reforms among the achievements of the former administration.

They also highlighted the 10,000 Graduate Employment Programme, describing it as a merit-based intervention that restored hope and dignity to thousands of young Imolites.

On security, the group said Ohakim’s administration adopted an intelligence-driven approach that strengthened public safety through collaboration among security agencies, community vigilance and investment in logistics and equipment.

‘Few leaders understand the security architecture of Imo State as thoroughly as Dr. Ikedi Ohakim. His experience, credibility and established relationships within the security community uniquely position him to contribute meaningfully to restoring peace, public confidence and stability across the State,’ the statement said.

The movement further claimed that support for Ohakim’s return had continued to grow across the state, with endorsements from professionals, artisans, market women, youths, elders and Imolites in the diaspora.

It said a petition calling for his return had received the endorsement of over 100,000 Imolites, stressing that the movement was motivated by performance, competence and experience rather than nostalgia.

‘This is not a movement driven by nostalgia. It is driven by performance, competence, experience and integrity. It is driven by the conviction that proven leadership matters,’ the group stated.

Speaking during the event, Chairman of the Organising Committee, Ven. Dr. Amarachukwu A. Duru JP, said the celebration was an opportunity to appreciate Ohakim’s contributions to the development of Imo State and his service to humanity.

He noted that the former governor’s journey from the private sector into public administration demonstrated resilience, courage and commitment to service.

‘Beyond politics, his story is one of perseverance. He represents the fact that leadership requires courage, patience and the ability to stand in the face of criticism and challenges,’ Duru said.

Chief Ohakim, a Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who joined the event virtually from his base in the United States, expressed deep appreciation for the loyalty and commitment demonstrated by his supporters. He said he was overwhelmed by the show of love and solidarity, describing the gesture as a testament to the enduring bond between him and the people.

‘I am overwhelmed with joy for this remarkable display of love and commitment. Your support and faith in me remain a source of great encouragement. I sincerely appreciate your loyalty and prayers, and I assure you that your confidence will never be taken for granted,’ Ohakim said.

Three killed, 11 injured in Jinja-Iganga Highway crash

Three people have been killed and 11 others injured in a road crash involving a commuter taxi and a trailer at Kakira Junction along the Jinja-Iganga Highway. Police attribute the accident to suspected reckless driving.

The crash occurred in the early hours of Thursday when a commuter taxi collided with a trailer. The three victims died on the spot, while 11 injured passengers were rushed to Jinja Regional Referral Hospital for treatment.

Hospital sources indicate that seven of the survivors are in critical condition after sustaining severe head injuries, while the others are reported to be in stable condition.

Steven Balaza, a motorcyclist who responded to the scene, said he joined other rescuers and security personnel to retrieve victims who remained trapped inside the wreckage for more than 10 minutes.

‘Calls for help from the injured initially received little response because there were few road users at the scene at the time of the crash,’ Balaza said.

Kiira Regional Police spokesperson James Mubi confirmed the accident, saying the bodies of the deceased had been taken to Jinja Regional Referral Hospital mortuary for postmortem examinations.

‘Police are working with emergency medical responders to ensure the injured receive the necessary treatment while efforts continue to establish the identities of both the deceased and the injured so that their families can be informed,’ Mubi said.

He said preliminary investigations point to reckless driving as the likely cause of the crash, although traffic investigators are still finalising their inquiries before releasing a comprehensive report.

Mubi added that the wreckage of the taxi is also being examined by the Inspector of Vehicles to determine its roadworthiness as part of the ongoing investigations.

Investigation of fake PFIPC: ICPC recommends Adeyemi’s prosecution, sanctions for negligent officials

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has recommended the prosecution of the self-styled Director-General of the fake Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew, as well as administrative sanctions against public officials whose negligence allegedly enabled the operations of the fictitious agency.

ICPC Chairman, Dr Musa Adamu (SAN), disclosed this on Thursday after presenting the commission’s interim investigation report to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the State House, Abuja, exactly 30 days after the President directed the anti-corruption agency to probe the activities of the fake organisation.

Adamu said the commission’s findings established that Adeyemi was never appointed by the Federal Government and that the PFIPC was never created by any law, executive order or other valid government instrument.

He also said the commission recommended institutional reforms to strengthen internal controls across Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to prevent similar incidents in future.

‘Some of the recommendations which we have submitted to Mr. President are, one, that Mr. Adeniyi Adeyemi should be prosecuted. Two, administrative sanctions be imposed on public officers whose acts of omission and negligence facilitated the illegal operation of PFIPC/PEAC.

‘Our investigation found that some public officers failed to do due diligence and failed to adhere to the standard procedures that are supposed to be complied with in their ministries and departments, and that gave Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew the opportunity to conduct this illegal act.

‘We have also recommended institutional reforms because there is need for stronger internal controls in the MDAs to block this kind of illegal activity from happening again’, Adamu said.

The ICPC chairman said President Tinubu had directed the commission on July 7 to investigate the matter and submit its findings within 30 days, a timeline the agency met with the submission of the interim report.

He described the President’s decision to make the findings public as a demonstration of transparency and accountability.

‘The President has taken the right decision in the spirit of transparency and accountability and directed ICPC to address the media for the benefit of Nigerians, so that Nigerians will know what our investigation discovered’, he said.

Adamu disclosed that investigators established that the appointment letter presented by Adeyemi was forged, alongside several other documents used to legitimise the operations of the fake agency.

‘We have discovered and it has been established that Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew was never appointed by the Federal Government or any authority of government. The Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council… was never established by any law or executive order or any other valid instrument of government, and the appointment letter presented by Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew was completely forged alongside similar documents used to perpetrate the illegal activities of the fake agency’, he said.

According to him, the gazette relied upon by the suspect to justify the existence of the agency was also forged.

‘If you recall, there was a gazette, a law which was forged as an instrument which he used to support the fake agency. That gazette or the law that was gazetted is an illegal law that has never passed through the processes as provided by the law’, he stated.

The ICPC chairman further revealed that the fake organisation illegally appropriated the identity and facilities of the former Presidential Economic Advisory Council (PEAC).

He said investigators found that the office formerly occupied by PEAC was unlawfully accessed after its lock was broken.

‘What we discovered is that the office used by the fake agency through Adeyemi Matthew was the office of PEAC. The lock was broken and he had access to the office. That was how he was able to get inside that office.

‘Also, false projection, false representation, widespread impersonation and a wide range of illegal activities were perpetrated by the fake DG of the fake agency, Adeniyi Adeyemi’, he added.

Adamu said the investigation uncovered weaknesses in verification procedures, inter-agency oversight and government administrative processes, some of which were allegedly exploited through negligence and connivance by certain officials.

‘Our internal report found that there are weaknesses in verification, inter-agency oversight and government processes. Those weaknesses were exploited by Adeniyi Adeyemi with some level of negligence and connivance,’ he said.

However, he said investigators found no evidence that Federal Government funds were allocated or released to the fake agency.

‘Our investigation found that no funds of the Federal Government were approved or disbursed to the fake PFIPC/PEAC. We also discovered that there were no weaknesses found in the systems of the State House and the Central Bank of Nigeria in our investigation. Also, the fake appointment letter of Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew did not originate from the Presidency’, Adamu explained.

The ICPC also uncovered two additional fictitious government agencies allegedly created by Adeyemi to expand his activities.

According to the commission, the suspect established the FCT Investment Promotion Agency (FIPA) and the Foreign Investment Promotion Agency and Public Private Partnership (FIPA-PPP), using forged legislative instruments presented as enabling laws.

‘The ICPC discovered that Adeniyi Adeyemi also created two additional fictitious government agencies apart from the one already known in the public domain.

‘Our investigation unravelled two other fake government agencies, namely FCT Investment Promotion Agency (FIPA), and Foreign Investment Promotion Agency and Public Private Partnership (FIPA-PPP).

‘To facilitate the creation of the additional two fake agencies, he used forged legislative instruments styled as enabling Acts and used them to support the opening of bank accounts. We discovered that he opened two bank accounts in a commercial bank, which he used in these illegal activities’, Adamu said.

He explained that after gaining access to the PEAC office, Adeyemi altered the name of the fake organisation from Foreign Investment Promotion Council to Foreign Intervention Promotion Council in an attempt to broaden its activities into areas reserved for revenue-generating government agencies.

Responding to questions from journalists, the ICPC chairman confirmed that investigators had interrogated Adeyemi and obtained his statement.

‘Yes, we did. He’s among the persons that we have interacted with, and we have taken statements. What he told us we have noted, and we have drawn our findings based on that.

‘We are going on with the investigation, which is a criminal investigation, and we are trying to round it up and see how we are going to file the charges’, he said.

He declined to comment on allegations involving about N400 million, saying the matter forms part of the ongoing criminal investigation.

‘For the issue of the N400 million, I don’t want to go into that allegation, which is criminal. Once we finish everything and we are going to court, people will see what we really discovered in our investigation on that,’ he said.

Adamu also disclosed that the commission had engaged several government institutions during the investigation, including the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, the Budget Office and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).

He said interactions with the institutions exposed procedural weaknesses that contributed to the activities of the fake agency.

The ICPC chairman stressed that the report submitted to the President was only an interim one, adding that investigations into Adeyemi and his collaborators would continue until sufficient evidence was assembled for criminal prosecution.

‘This report, like I said, is an interim. We have continued with the investigation of the activities of Mr. Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew and his collaborators, so that we unravel more, so that we can file criminal charges against him that can stand the test of time before a court of competent jurisdiction,’ he said.

He added that President Tinubu acknowledged receipt of the interim report and commended the commission for completing the assignment within the stipulated timeframe.

Tinubu orders EFCC to vacate freeze on Osun account

President Bola Tinubu has ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to vacate the order freezing the accounts of the Osun State Government.

In a statement issued by the State House on Thursday, the president said while he was not opposed to the EFCC’s exercise of its statutory powers, the timing of the action raised some concerns.

‘It has come to my notice that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) obtained a court order on August 5, 2026, freezing the accounts of the Osun State Government.’

‘I must state that I feel deeply embarrassed not by the EFCC’s exercise of its mandate backed by a court order, but by the timing of the agency’s action. This is so because every action taken by an institution of State, especially at the Federal level, is always credited to me, as the President, even when I may not have had any prior knowledge of the action.

‘Since assuming office, I have consistently maintained that anti-corruption and law enforcement agencies must be allowed to discharge their statutory responsibilities independently, professionally, without fear or favour, or political interference. I have therefore deliberately refrained from directing or interfering in the operational activities of the EFCC or any other investigative or prosecutorial agency because I firmly believe that strong democratic institutions, operating within the confines of the law, are indispensable to democratic good governance and the rule of law.

‘As President, I am committed to allowing institutions of State to function and take any action they consider necessary in the interest of proper governance without the need for any prior approval. Indeed, that is why institutions are set up by law with clearly defined powers.

‘While I am yet to be fully apprised of the facts which informed the action of EFCC in approaching the court to obtain the said order freezing the Osun State Government account, I am not in the slightest doubt that the timing of the action of EFCC is inauspicious, and therefore I feel compelled to intervene.

‘Osun State is only a few days away from its gubernatorial election. Therefore, nothing ought to be done to give an impression that the EFCC or indeed any other agency of the federal government is being used to interfere with the election.

‘Based on the foregoing premise, I am duty-bound to issue a directive on this issue in consonance with the overriding public interest in preserving public confidence and the integrity, credibility, and fairness of our democratic process.

‘Accordingly, I have directed the EFCC to immediately proceed to the court to vacate the order and discontinue whatever action it has instituted against the Osun State Government in this regard.’