Category: Daily Monitor

The government is seeking parliamentary approval to borrow more than Shs8.2 trillion from both commercial banks and development partners to finance key infrastructure and energy projects across the country.

According to details submitted to Parliament yesterday by the Finance State minister Henry Musasizi, the proposed loans are meant to fund the construction of oil roads in Ntoroko District, the upgrading of major roads in Jinja City and Kamuli District, and the establishment of critical power transmission lines across the country. The loans will be obtained from the World Bank, Standard Chartered Bank, and Citi Bank.

The largest portion of Shs4.7 trillion ($1.341m) will come from the International Development Association (IDA) of the World Bank Group. These funds will be directed toward the fourth phase of the Northern Uganda Social Action Fund (NUSAF IV), the second phase of the Development Response to Displacement Impacts Project (DRDIP II), the Uganda Learning Acceleration Programme (ULEARN), the Uganda Cities and Municipalities Infrastructure Development (UCMID) programme, and the Uganda Strengthening Public Investment and Asset Management for Growth and Resilience Programme (PIMPLUS).

The government is also seeking to borrow Shs1.4 trillion (pound 342.5m) from Standard Chartered Bank to finance the construction of the 400kV Karuma-Tororo double circuit transmission line, associated substations, and the 132/33kV Ntinda substation.

Another Shs933.7b (pound 230.4m) will be borrowed, also from Citi Bank, to fund the design and construction of the Jinja-Mbulamuti-Kamuli-Bukungu Road, measuring 127 kilometres, as well as 10 kilometres of Jinja City roads. In addition to this, Parliament will consider a proposal to borrow about Shs781.7b (pound 192.9m) from Citi Bank to finance phase one of the Enhancing Agricultural Production, Quality, and Standards for Market Access Project.

The fifth loan will involve borrowing Shs469.2b (pound 115.8m) from Standard Chartered Bank to finance critical oil roads under Package 6B. This includes the design and upgrading of the Karugutu-Ntoroko Road (56.5km), a link to Rwebisengo (8.2km), and 3.3 kilometres of town roads in Ntoroko District, totalling 68 kilometres. Uganda’s public debt has reached Shs116.2 trillion, according to the latest Annual Debt Statistical Bulletin and Public Debt Portfolio Analysis compiled by the Ministry of Finance.

Of this amount, external debt stands at Shs62.8 trillion ($15.5b), while domestic debt has risen to Shs68 trillion ($16.8b). This represents a 26.2 percent increase in total public debt within a year, up from Shs89.5 trillion recorded in June 2024.

The continuous borrowing trend has sparked concern among economists and policymakers about the sustainability of Uganda’s debt levels. However, the government maintains that the new loans are targeted toward productive sectors that will boost economic growth, improve infrastructure, and enhance service delivery.

Parliament’s consideration of these loans comes months after the House passed the Shs72.3 trillion national budget for the 2025/2026 financial year, with the government indicating plans to borrow Shs32 trillion, about 44 percent of the total budget to finance development programmes.

The remaining Shs34 trillion is expected to be raised through domestic revenue collections by the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA). During the same session, the Ministry of Finance also tabled before Parliament a supplementary expenditure schedule for the 2025/2026 financial year, outlining additional funding for sectors that they said were not adequately catered for in the approved budget. Deputy Speaker of Parliament Thomas Tayebwa, who chaired yesterday’s plenary, referred the loan requirement to the responsible committees.

Legislators react on loans

The Leader of Opposition in Parliament, Mr Joel Ssenyonyi, raised concern over the manner in which parliamentary committees are processing the loan requests worth Shs8.2 trillion. Mr Ssenyonyi said he had received reports that some of the loans had already been approved by the responsible committees and that reports were being signed, even before the requests were formally presented on the floor of Parliament, as required by law.

He noted that while government was seeking to borrow the funds to finance infrastructure and energy projects, the process appeared to have skipped crucial procedural steps. ‘I am concerned that the Committee on National Economy has been meeting and processing these loans before they are tabled in Parliament.

Reports are already being signed, yet the House has not formally received the loan requests,’ Mr Ssenyonyi said. In response, Mr Tayebwa acknowledged that some committees were handling urgent loans whose approval deadlines were approaching.

He, however, said he was not aware of the specific loans in question and promised to follow up on the matter to ensure due process is observed. He indicated that the loans are going to be handled on Tuesday and the supplementary budget will be handled on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, some Members of Parliament questioned why their districts were left out of the planned infrastructure projects, yet the entire country will be responsible for repaying the loans.

Kalungu West County MP Joseph Ssewungu expressed concern that despite government’s continuous borrowing, newly created districts such as Kalungu and Mitooma have not been allocated any major road projects. He said residents in these districts also deserve to benefit from the loans since they will contribute to their repayment through taxes.

Tororo District Woman MP Sarah Opendi raised a similar concern, saying government has repeatedly promised to construct the Nabumali-Butaleja-Namutumba road and the road connecting to Tororo since 2000, but the projects have never materialised.

Uganda is losing approximately $500 million (Shs1.74 trillion) annually to money laundering and other illicit financial flows, according to data from the Uganda Revenue Authority and the Ministry of Finance. This figure represents about 0.6 percent of the $88.6 billion that Africa loses annually to such schemes.

Africa loses

At the ongoing high-level Africa Civil Society Conference, focusing on strengthening Africa’s fight against money laundering, terrorism financing, and illicit financial flows, taking place in Gaborone, Botswana, financial experts revealed that Africa is losing up to $88.6 billion annually through money laundering and illicit financial outflows. The Executive Director of Civic Advisory Hub-Uganda, Mr Yona Wanjala, said if Africans were to successfully tackle this challenge, it would save a lot of money to invest in transformation. ‘Africa is grappling with challenges of money laundering and terrorism financing. Statistics reveal that on an annual basis, we lose close to $88.6 billion. If this money were ploughed back, it would help us achieve many goals,’ Mr Wanjala said.

Africa’s commitment

The conference, organised by Civic Advisory Hub-Uganda, Spaces for Change (Nigeria), the Ministry of Labour and Home Affairs of Botswana, and the Institute for Combating Illicit Financial Flows at the University of Botswana, has brought together civil society leaders, government representatives, regional bodies, regulators, and financial institutions to renew their commitment to combating money laundering, countering terrorism, and disrupting its financing across Africa.ing vice

While officiating at the conference held under the theme ”Placing civic space at the heart of combating money laundering, countering terrorism, and its financing in Africa,” the President of Botswana, Mr Gideon Boko, urged African leaders to put an end to the theft of public resources, highlighting it as one of the major sources of laundered funds. ‘What money is this that is being laundered? Where does it come from? Why do we have the problem? This is because of this ingrained weakness or propensity to enrich themselves to amass obscene levels of wealth. Those who hold public office turn the public purse into their own private chest of resources. They steal resources entrusted to them and appropriate these for their own benefits,’ he said

LAUNDERING FIGHT IN UGANDA

As Uganda prepares for its next Financial Action Task Force (FATF) evaluation in 2028, the country faces a critical test in its fight against money laundering and terrorism financing. While the country registered a major milestone by coming off the FATF ”grey list” in February 2024, experts have since warned that the risk of backsliding remains high.

Only 20 women have won the Nobel Peace Prize out of 92 men since the award was established in 1901 through the will of Alfred Nobel, the Swedish inventor and philanthropist.

Last week, the 20th woman, María Corina Machado of Venezuela, joined that elite circle for leading the struggle for democracy in the face of authoritarianism.

Africa’s first female laureate, Prof Wangari Maathai, was honoured in 2004 for her fight for ‘sustainable development, democracy, and peace.’ Her Green Belt Movement made her the conscience of a continent. Uganda, too, once had a woman who seemed destined for similar glory, Beatrice Anywar, famously known as Mama Mabira.

In 2007, Anywar led massive protests against the government’s plan to give away part of the Mabira Forest Reserve to the Sugar Corporation of Uganda Limited (SCOUL). Her courage captured the national imagination; she stood up to power, and Ugandans rallied behind her to save one of the country’s most important ecosystems. That moment defined environmental activism in Uganda and gave her a profile worthy of international recognition.

Eighteen years later, however, the environmental defender has become the minister of Environment, and is now silent while the forests she once protected come under assault once again. On Monday, October 13, 2025 (pg 2), the Daily Monitor reported that the government had allocated 150 acres of Kitubulu Central Forest Reserve in Entebbe to a Chinese investor, Tian Tang Group, to build a $500 million complex of government offices, hotels, malls, and a hospital.

The plan, championed by State Minister for Investment Evelyn Anite with the approval of President Museveni, is justified as creating an ‘alternative capital city.’ The question, though, is whether we need to destroy a protected forest in pursuit of that vision.

Would China itself allow Ugandan investors to build malls in its reforested lands? According to FAO, China planted roughly 90 million acres of new forest between 2016 and 2020, while Uganda loses between 125,000 and 300,000 acres each year through deforestation.

The contrast is staggering: as China plants, Uganda clears. Local leaders, led by Entebbe Mayor Fabrice Ruhinda, say they were never consulted about the giveaway. They argue that Kitubulu Forest, one of the few remaining natural habitats along Lake Victoria, serves as a vital buffer protecting water quality and biodiversity.

In a democracy, their voices matter; mayors represent the wananchi, and projects of such scale should not proceed without public participation. Infrastructure is important, yes, but not at the cost of the very environment that sustains us. The same government that touts climate-action commitments at international conferences cannot justify turning its back on local conservation for short-term commercial gains.

Development could still proceed with far less environmental damage: a smaller parcel, say, 10 to 15 acres, within already degraded or idle land around Entebbe could host the proposed government complex. Uganda has vast brownfield sites, former industrial zones, and underutilised state land that could be repurposed without touching a protected forest.

True modernisation should balance economic growth with ecological integrity; building concrete over carbon sinks is neither visionary nor sustainable. And where is Mama Mabira? Her silence is deafening. The woman who once stood up to protect Uganda’s lungs now sits at the table of those cutting them down.

In Uganda, they say, you don’t talk while eating. So, one wonders, did Beatrice Anywar trade her chance at a Nobel Peace Prize for a ministerial appointment, and with it, her voice for Uganda’s forests?

The National Drug Authority (NDA) has ordered an immediate recall of all batches of the anaesthesia drug Bupitroy Heavy from the Ugandan market, citing severe and potentially fatal side effects. In an October 16 letter addressed to the pharmacist-in-charge at Abacus Pharma (A) Ltd, the NDA Secretary, Dr David Nahamya, said the regulator had received multiple complaints from health facilities over an extended period.

‘The National Drug Authority (NDA) has received multiple complaints from health facilities concerning the product noted below over an extended period, including: Severe, life-threatening adverse drug reactions, some with fatal outcomes,’ Dr Nahamya stated. NDA also noted that the drug, whose generic name is Bupivacaine, failed to deliver its intended pharmacological effect, resulting in inadequate anaesthesia and treatment failures.

‘You are hereby instructed to conduct an immediate recall of all batches of this product on the market,’ the letter reads. The NDA classified the action as a Class A recall, the most serious category. The regulator says a Class A recall signifies a ‘reasonable probability’ that the drug could cause serious health consequences or death, requiring urgent removal from circulation to protect patients.

An NDA source underscored the urgency of the recall: ‘This is a critical measure to safeguard public health. A Class A recall signals that the drug’s risks significantly outweigh its benefits, posing a substantial threat of serious harm or fatality,’ the source said. Abacus Pharma has been instructed to submit a detailed recall status report within three days. The report must include the quantity and distribution of the drug, a list of clients notified, and feedback received.

Global regulatory bodies such as the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the UK’s Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency list Bupivacaine as a widely used aesthetic. According to the US National Centre for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), the drug was first discovered in 1957. Locally, NDA records confirm that Bupivacaine is registered for human use in Uganda, meaning it passed regulatory assessment and was approved for sale. The NDA letter did not cite specific product defects. However, sources suggested that ‘by the time of testing the product was fine. Maybe issues came from how the drug was stored.’ The NDA drug register lists Troikaa Pharmaceuticals Limited as the licence holder, with Abacus Pharma (Africa) Ltd serving as the local technical representative.

Bupivacaine is used as a local aesthetic during surgical procedures. According to NCBI, common side effects include nausea, vomiting, chills, headache, back pain, dizziness, sexual dysfunction, restlessness, anxiety, vertigo, and tinnitus. More serious adverse effects include blurry vision, tremors, convulsions, myoclonic jerks, coma, and cardiovascular collapse, which can be fatal. A 2023 report by Dr Fourutan Shafiei and colleagues at the Kendall Regional Medical Centre in the US advises clinicians to ‘exercise caution in patients with hypersensitivity to sulfites, liver impairment (the liver clears amides), kidney impairment, impaired cardiac function, heart block, elderly, debilitated, or acutely ill patients.’

It remains unclear whether clinicians in Uganda followed all recommended guidelines when administering the drug or were fully aware of its risks. NDA sources reiterated that a Class A recall is only issued when the drug’s risks outweigh its benefits. ‘It is supposed to address a situation in which there is a reasonable probability that the use of, or exposure to, a volatile product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death,’ another NDA source added.

Rising trend

In August, NDA ordered the withdrawal of calcium gluconate, a critical medication for heart conditions, over safety concerns. Between 2021 and 2022, NDA records show that at least 19 drugs and medical devices were recalled in Uganda due to safety or potency issues, reflecting the regulator’s active post-market surveillance efforts.

The Austrian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ms Beate Meinl, has called on International community to consider financing Uganda’s refugee response amid hard economic times, noting that the East African nation hosts one of the largest numbers of refugees in the world.

“The international community should recognise how important it is to further support Uganda and strengthen the refugee response. I will convey to my country that we need to continue with refugee support,” Ms Meinl said amid a thunderous applause from the urban refugees who were present during her visit to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Kansanga access centre, Kampala.

Ms Meinl, who was flanked by Uganda’s Commissioner for refugees in the Office of the Prime Minister, Mr Patrick Okello, the Austrian ambassador to Uganda, Ms Yvonne Katja and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees staff, commended Uganda for the open-door policy and noted that the country needs a boost to accommodate the swelling number of refugees.

Available records indicate that Uganda hosts 1,955,370 refugees and asylum seekers, the majority of whom are women and children.

The continuous aid cuts are frustrating Uganda’s refugee response efforts amid refugee influx from the neighbouring war-torn Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and South Sudan, among others.

Ms Meinl disclosed that through the Federal Agency for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid, Austrian Development Agency (ADA), and the Foreign Disaster Fund, Austria has provided humanitarian assistance worth about 120 million euros since 2004 to mitigate humanitarian crises across the globe.

In Uganda, she said Austria’s humanitarian commitment is implemented through UN agencies and Civil Society, noting that ADA has contributed 4.1 million euros to the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) assistance to UNHCR in Uganda between 2024 and 2025.

The WASH interventions aim to increase access to clean drinking water within the 13 refugee settlements across Uganda and ensure dignified conditions and sanitation services to the refugees.

According to her, the ADA financial contribution, funds 65 percent of the prioritised critical WASH needs of UNHCR Uganda and benefits 1,217,250 people, 941000 refugees and asylum seekers, in addition to 276250 host community members.

Ms Katja said Austria remains deeply committed to refugee protection and humanterian assistance as a shared global responsibility.

Ms Joyce Lawa, a single mother of four and an urban refugee from South Sudan who has lived in Kampala for close to 10 years appealed to the government of Uganda to consider offering jobs to refugees who are professionals so that they can easily make ends meet.

Ms Lawa noted that her efforts to acquire a degree in Business Administration from Makerere University Business School (MUBs) are still fruitless given that her attempts to search for a formal job have been in vain.

“We have refugees who are teachers, medical doctors, engineers, among other professions but it is not easy for us to get jobs. Besides, the process of certifying our academic documents is not an easy one,” Ms Lawa said.

Mr Patrick Okello, the Commissioner for Refugees in the Office of the Prime Minister said Uganda’s open door policy has seen refugees enjoy more or less rights as citizens.

“They have a right to work when they qualify for specific professions. Those who have qualifications in courses like medicine and engineering, among others. We normally advise them to take their papers to the National Council of Higher Education (NCHE) for certification and upon certification of documents, they can compete for the available jobs like any other person,” Mr Okello clarified.

He also noted that the government is supporting refugees to be self-reliant by encouraging them to explore different sources of income.

Hooded thugs armed with house- breaking implements force their way into 16 shops at JBK Plaza on Luwum Street in Kampala City at the weekend and made off with money and property worth millions of shillings.

The break-in happened on Saturday night after traders had locked the shops, but the arcade cleaners got to know of the incident on Monday morning. The traders told the Daily Monitor that besides their merchandise, they had left mobile phones, laptops, clothes, and cash in their shops, thinking that they were safe since the plaza had security guards. One of the victims said the thugs broke the locks and disabled the CCTV cameras before they stole the properties and money.

By press time, the victims were still assessing their stock to establish how much they had lost. It is not clear whether the building had an insurance policy against such incidents. The Kampala Metropolitan Police Deputy Spokesman, Mr Luke Owoyesigyire, yesterday said: ‘Investigations have started. We have been able to identify one of the suspects, who is the guard at the plaza. He was captured by one of the CCTV cameras that the thugs were not able to notice or disable. The guard is on the run. Efforts to apprehend them are in high gear.’ Mr Owoyesigyire said the affected shops were detailing in mobile money, jewellery, forex bureaux, and mobile phones.

Cash valued at Shs120m has so far been established to have been stolen. According to the CCTV footage, which the police have obtained, the thugs were also wearing gloves and masks to avoid detection. But the guard, who allegedly guided them, had not covered his face. By the time the police arrived at the scene, the guard had already taken off. Mr Owoyesigyire said they deployed scene of crime officers to the plaza, and they have recovered evidence that would help the detectives in their investigations. ‘Police officers searched the room of one of the suspects. They have recovered photographs of a suspect dressed in a military uniform and holding a machine gun.

We are investigating whether he was once a member of any security agency in the country,’ he said. Boots that are a monopoly of the military were also recovered in his room. One of the managers of the plaza said they had been with the guard for close to 16 years. The guard, 50, allegedly told them he was retired from the army. Break-ins are the fifth-highest committed offences in the country, with 13,511 cases in 2024, according to the police crime report. Property worth Shs35 billion was lost in break-ins in the same period. Some of the shop owners have been carrying their expensive items with them to their home and bringing them back in the morning to avoid losing them.

Background

Criminals have been using the opportunity to target shop owners on the way or at home. High incidents of shop break-ins prompted owners of the arcades to establish gates at the entrances and exits. At night, the gates are closed. Some arcade owners release dogs and set alarms inside the buildings to alert security personnel once there is any break-in. However, due to high power tariffs, many arcade managers switch off lights at night, which compromises the security of the buildings.

Ms Patricia Kiggundu, a tax manager at PwC, shares insights on how potential investors may be discouraged from entering the rental market due to the Income Tax Act.

What are the key changes to rental income taxation that took effect on July 1, 2022?

Many people view rentals as a way to secure a fallback position through their savings.

However, it is crucial to understand the realities of taxation in this area. When deciding to invest in rentals, individuals should be aware of their tax obligations.

Many people wake up one day and decide they want to create a new source of income, whether it is building a family home or investing in rental units like small apartments or studio rooms.

If you rent out properties or land, or if someone occupies your buildings, you are generating rental income. The tax authorities expect that this income will be taxed.

The government identified a challenge in collecting sufficient tax revenue, especially from individuals and corporate landlords.

As of July 1, 2022, the government wanted to simplify the tax regime for individuals involved in rental activities.

One of the most significant changes is the removal of the previous 75 percent deduction of rental income for computing chargeable tax for both individuals and corporate landlords. Now, you cannot claim any expenses related to your rental properties if they exceed Shs2.8 million. If your annual rental income is Shs2.8 million shillings or less, you are not required to pay any tax.

However, if your rental income exceeds this threshold, you will be taxed, with only a flat deduction of Shs2.8 million allowed, regardless of your actual expenses.

Understanding these changes is crucial for complying with tax regulations and optimising your rental investment.

What does ‘gross’ refer to in this context?

In this context, ‘gross’ refers to the total annual rental income before any expenses or deductions are taken into account. It represents the full amount of money collected from rent, allowing municipalities to determine property rates based on this figure.

If an individual is running apartments and earning income from them, the new law states that you cannot claim any expenses or losses associated with those apartments if they exceed Shs2.8 million. For clarification, this means: If you earn an annual rental income of Shs2.8 million or less, you are not obligated to pay any tax on that income. However, if your rental income exceeds Shs2.8 million, you will be subject to taxation.

Who collects property rates?

Property rates are collected by local authorities, such as the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) in Kampala. Property owners need to account for these rates alongside other taxes, such as a 12 percent tax on rental income.

Can property rates be deducted as an expense for tax purposes?

Currently, individual landlords are not allowed to deduct property rates as an expense when calculating their rental income tax, even though these rates are legitimate business costs. This is a significant issue for landlords, as it increases their overall financial burden.

How does the tax treatment differ for corporate landlords?

A corporate landlord is someone who operates rental properties through a registered company. Corporate landlords operate rental properties through a registered company and are subject to different tax rules.

Unlike individual landlords, corporate landlords face limitations on deducting expenses to prevent over-claiming. The government felt they were not getting enough from corporate landlords.

As of July 1, 2022, laws cap the deductible expenses for corporations at 50 percent of their gross rental income. But the expenses and losses you can claim are capped at 50 percent of their gross rent. This means if a corporate landlord earns Shs200 million in rent and incurs Shs125 million in expenses, it can only deduct Shs100 million for tax.

Currently, the law caps deductible expenses for corporations at 50 percent of their gross rental income, limiting their ability to claim expenses for tax purposes compared to individual landlords.

How do these tax policies affect the rental market and living costs?

The high tax rates and limitations on expense deductions create a challenging environment for landlords. Increased operational costs are often passed on to tenants, leading to higher rents and escalating living costs. This can make housing less affordable and perplexing, as it deters investment in maintaining and improving rental properties.

What has the government proposed to improve the tax environment for landlords?

During discussions for the FY 2025-2026 budget, the government indicated that it aims to create a tax environment that is predictable, voluntary, and fair.

However, we are yet to see whether these intentions will translate into tangible changes to the rental tax laws that could alleviate the financial strain on landlords and tenants alike.

What are the implications for future investment in rental properties if current tax laws remain unchanged?

If the tax laws remain unchanged, potential investors may be discouraged from entering the rental market due to the unfavourable tax structure. This can lead to a stagnant rental market, further straining the availability and affordability of housing.

The government’s aim to position Uganda as a tourist hub relies on having an attractive infrastructure and housing market, which may be jeopardised by restrictive taxation.

What challenges are landlords facing, particularly in urban areas and how can landlords advocate for their interests to the government?

Landlords in urban areas especially those with properties in malls and commercial spaces, are facing significant challenges. Many tenants are struggling to afford the rent, leading to calls for waivers.

However, landlords also have their financial obligations, such as paying interest to banks, creating a difficult balance between collecting rent and supporting tenants.

Leaders in the Kigezi Sub-region have raised concern over the growing cases of depression among young people, warning that the crisis is spiraling into a public health emergency that demands immediate attention.

Speaking during a youth engagement event held at Kirigime Guest House in Kabale Municipality, the President of Green Environment Promotion (GEP), Ms Evelyne Ninsiima Kikafunda, said the number of young people silently battling mental health challenges is alarming.

‘The number of youths silently battling depression is alarming,’ Ms Ninsiima said. ‘Many are breaking down mentally because they have no one to talk to.’

She attributed the growing mental health crisis to unaddressed depression, social pressure, and a lack of professional counseling in schools and communities.

‘We are losing our children not because they are weak, but because their pain is unheard,’ she said. ‘Without proper counseling, stress turns into despair.’

Ms Ninsiima called for urgent strengthening of counseling programs in secondary schools and higher institutions of learning, emphasizing that mental health support should be treated as a necessity, not a luxury.

‘Every school should have active counseling sessions,’ she said. ‘Mental health support is not a luxury, it is a necessity.’

She also urged students to resist peer pressure and avoid harmful habits such as drug abuse, which she said are worsening the mental health crisis among young people.

‘Do not let friends push you into habits that destroy your future,’ she advised. ‘Stay focused, be disciplined, and set achievable goals.’

Ms Ninsiima appealed to leaders, parents, and institutions across Kigezi to treat mental health as a regional emergency.

‘If we address these issues today, we shall raise a generation that is strong, productive, and hopeful,’ she said. ‘Our youths need healing, not judgment.’

Her remarks come amid a disturbing rise in suicide cases across the sub-region.

In April, Nikita Kiconco, a Senior Six student at Solberg College in Kabale District, took her own life on Easter Sunday.

In July, Victor Mugarura, a 22-year-old first-year student at Kabale University, was found dead by hanging.

And in August, Victor Nkamwesiga, 37, a resident of Kanungu District, also died by suicide.

The growing list of such incidents has left communities in shock and underscored the urgent need for mental health interventions and community-based support systems.

Meanwhile, Minister of Finance (General Duties), Mr Henry Musasizi, who was the guest of honour at the same event, urged young people to take a proactive approach to addressing unemployment and social frustration by creating their own opportunities.

‘The World Bank and Ministers of Finance globally are worried about the growing number of young people who graduate every year but remain jobless,’ Mr Musasizi said. ‘We are now asking ourselves: how do we shape policy to directly respond to this challenge?’

He encouraged students to use their education to generate income and make purposeful career plans.

‘The knowledge you acquire from university should help you secure a job or generate income. I am a Minister today not by accident; I planned for it. Nothing just happens. You must plan for what you want to become,’ he emphasized.

Mr. Musasizi also advised learners to surround themselves with positive influences and avoid peers who discourage personal growth.

‘The type of friends you associate with matters. Friends can either build you or derail you. Surround yourself with people who challenge and inspire you,’ he said.

On governance, the Minister encouraged youth to participate actively in politics and demand accountable leadership.

‘If youths neglect politics, they risk being ruled by incapable leaders who prioritize personal gain over service delivery,’ he said. ‘Tenure should not be the reason for voting. Focus on leaders who have made real sacrifices to improve people’s lives.’

Both leaders’ messages converged on a common theme, that the future of Uganda lies in empowering its young people, not only economically but also emotionally and mentally.

Parliamentary aspirants in Luweero, Nakaseke, and Nakasongola Districts will only be allowed to appear at nomination venues with a maximum of four people, as the Savannah Regional Police enforces tight security restrictions ahead of the two-day nomination exercise scheduled for October 22 and 23, 2025.

According to the new police guidelines, no processions or rallies will be permitted during the nomination period, and any candidate found violating these directives will face disciplinary action under the law.

The Savannah Regional Police Spokesperson, ASP Sam Twiineamazima, said the measures are intended to maintain order and ensure compliance with the Electoral Commission’s (EC) nomination procedures.

‘In compliance with Electoral Commission guidelines, no rallies or processions are allowed during the nomination days. All highways must remain clear to ensure normal traffic flow,’ ASP Twiineamazima said.

He explained that each aspirant will be limited to one vehicle carrying a maximum of four occupants – the proposer, seconder, official agent, and the candidate.

Nomination venues have been designated in each district, with the Luweero District Headquarters Council Hall serving as the main site for aspirants in Luweero.

ASP Twiineamazima emphasized that official campaign activities will not commence until November 10, 2025, after the nomination process concludes.

‘Candidates and their supporters must understand that the nomination period is strictly for the submission of nomination papers, not for campaigning,’ he said.

Police have also developed detailed traffic management plans for all three districts to prevent congestion and ensure safety. Access to certain roads will be restricted, and candidates will be required to enter and exit the nomination venues using designated routes.

‘These traffic plans are designed to ensure order and smooth movement. We expect all candidates and their supporters to strictly adhere to them to avoid disruptions,’ ASP Twiineamazima added.

He further assured candidates that the Uganda Police Force remains committed to maintaining peace and order throughout the nomination exercise.

‘We acknowledge and congratulate all aspirants who have expressed interest in serving their people. The police are committed to providing a secure and conducive environment for citizens to exercise their civic rights peacefully and orderly,’ he said.

The police also urged all candidates to cooperate fully with security personnel and warned that any breach of the set guidelines – including unauthorized gatherings or processions – will attract legal action.

‘We appeal for calm and cooperation from all stakeholders. Anyone found violating these directives will face consequences as provided by the law,’ ASP Twiineamazima cautioned.

The restrictions come as part of broader national efforts to ensure peaceful, transparent, and organized nominations ahead of the 2026 general elections.

Political scientists use the term court politics to describe a situation where all state affairs revolve around one person – often a despot or totalitarian ruler.

The phrase originates from the royal courts of medieval Europe, where everything centred on the king and his inner circle. This form of politics contributed to the outbreak of the Wars of the Roses in 15th Century England between the Lancastrian and Yorkist branches of the Plantagenet dynasty.

The Lancastrians, being the king’s family and loyalists such as Thomas, Earl of Somerset, enjoyed privileged access to Henry VI. They lobbied for titles and offices for their friends, however unqualified, sidelining the Yorkists who were of noble blood and often more competent. Resentment grew as the Yorks accused the king of being surrounded by evil counsellors – particularly Somerset and Queen Margaret’s relatives.

Nothing in the kingdom moved without the king’s decree. His word was law, and those close to him wielded immense power. Queen Margaret’s influence was so great that she effectively ruled through her husband, confiscating Yorkist estates and stripping Richard, Duke of York, of his command. Frustrated, Richard rebelled, claiming to rescue the king from corrupt advisers. The ensuing wars destroyed the Plantagenet line and ushered in the Tudors – what some historians call the end of the legitimate British monarchy. Centuries later, Adolf Hitler built a similar court around himself. After 1933, nothing in Germany was done without his consent. Power depended entirely on proximity to the Fhrer. His inner circle – Bormann, Keitel and Lammers – controlled access to him and recommended loyalists for positions regardless of competence.

When Hitler later suspected Bormann of overreaching, he discarded him – proof that favour in such systems is fleeting. Court politics thrives wherever autocrats wield absolute authority. Once, monarchs filled this role; today it is military rulers, one-party strongmen and revolutionary leaders whose parties dominate parliament. Political scientists call them personalist dictators. Their will outweighs the people’s, and their appointees are chosen not for merit but for loyalty. These aides, in turn, surround the leader with praise and falsehoods, assuring him of public love and opposition weakness while isolating him from reality. This pattern is familiar in Africa – from Mobutu’s Zaire and Kabila’s Congo to Moi’s Kenya. Uganda under Idi Amin was no exception. Amin abolished Parliament, subdued the judiciary, and ruled by decree.

Power was shared only among those with access to him – mostly his military comrades, fellow West Nilers and Muslims. When he expelled Asians, confiscated businesses went not to competent managers but to loyalists. Like Hitler with Bormann, Amin had his right-hand man, Maliyamungu, through whom all power passed. Many Ugandans today question President Museveni’s choice of lieutenants, viewing many as unqualified. Yet, like the princes described by Machiavelli, he is appointed by loyalty, not merit. Because of court politics, the President can impose anyone – however incompetent – upon the public. Loyal cadres who lose elections become commissioners; army officers head technocratic institutions. Many spend more time praising the leader than serving citizens, comparing him to God or vowing to die for him.

Court politics has become so entrenched that Ugandans now joke, ‘To get a job, you must know someone who knows someone.’ In essence, meritocracy counts for little; access and favour rule. No one is loyal to the office they hold, only to the patron who appointed them. The ultimate chain of loyalty leads back to one man. What most of these cadres fail to grasp is that the ruler’s interests are never static. No one enjoys permanent favour. When one clique falls, another rises – each eager to please. As history reminds us, whether in Europe’s royal courts or modern Uganda, it remains a game of use and dump.