Category: Daily Monitor

Shock and fear have gripped residents of Mutai Village along the Jinja-Kamuli Highway following the gruesome murder of an unidentified man suspected to be a police officer.

The deceased was discovered lying lifeless by the roadside early Friday morning by residents heading to their gardens at dawn. The victim was found in a pool of blood with a shattered helmet nearby, drawing panic and large crowds to the scene.

Preliminary police investigations indicate that the victim was ambushed during the night by unknown assailants. Because the victim’s motorcycle was missing from the scene, detectives believe he was assaulted and robbed before being killed.

During the examination of the body, investigators recovered a Uganda Police Force T-shirt, raising strong suspicions regarding his profession. However, no identification documents were found on him.

Detectives were further puzzled by a unique detail: the victim was wearing multiple jackets at the time of his death. Near the body, police recovered two wooden sticks believed to be the murder weapons, alongside clothing items suspected to belong to the assailants. A sniffer dog was deployed to track the attackers, though no immediate leads were established.

The incident has intensified local outcries over a sharp rise in violent crime along the highway, particularly in the Nsuube and Kagoma stretches. Local leaders note that criminals frequently exploit the dark, forested areas bordering the road to ambush vulnerable travellers.

“This place has become a death trap,” said Rajab Kakande, the Defence Secretary of Mutai Village. “Criminals hide in the forest and attack unsuspecting travellers along the highway. We have repeatedly raised concerns, and the stretch from Jinja Roundabout to Kamuli urgently needs increased security deployment.”

The boda boda community, which frequently utilizes the route at night, expressed deep vulnerability following the attack.

Salim Muwaata, the chairman of boda boda riders in Jinja District, confirmed that the area has evolved into a criminal hotspot.

“Many riders now live in fear as attacks are becoming frequent, especially at night. We are calling for increased patrols to protect road users,” Muwaata urged.

The brutal killing has left the Mutai community deeply shaken, with many questioning how such a violent assault could occur unnoticed along a major highway.

By press time, the body had been transported to the Buwenge Health Centre IV mortuary for a postmortem examination. Police have intensified efforts to formally identify the deceased, establish his connection to law enforcement, and track down the fleeing suspects.

Local leaders in Kigezi sub-region have raised concerns over the decreasing bamboo forest cover in Echuya Forest Reserve and are calling for urgent intervention to reverse the trend.

Echuya Forest Reserve sits on the boundary of Kisoro and Rubanda districts and for decades has been known as a bamboo forest because bamboo trees dominated over other species. The reserve covers about 3,403 hectares, with 2,701 hectares in Rubanda and the rest in Kisoro.

It is also habitat for about 10 monkey and baboon species, and over 300 bird species including the highly endangered Grauer’s Rush Warbler. The forest is a key stopover for bird-watching tourists heading to Mgahinga National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable Forest for gorilla tracking.

Recently, most spots that used to host bamboo have been taken over by other tree species. Monkeys and baboons that were always seen climbing bamboo trees next to the Kabale-Kisoro highway are now rarely spotted.

Joseph Nizeye Wa-Senkoko, LCIII chairperson of Kanaba sub-county in Kisoro and member of the Echuya Collaborative Forest Management Committee, said government needs to consider replanting bamboo because it is key in conserving water that feeds major streams flowing into Lake Bunyonyi.

‘While it’s true that bamboo population in Echuya forest reserve is reducing because of colonization by emerging other tree species, there is need for the government and its development partners to initiate a drive of replanting bamboo trees in the area as a way of conserving the biodiversity of the forest. If the bamboo trees are not saved from extinction, wild animals that include monkeys and baboons which have been feeding on bamboo shoots and serving as tourist attractions may disappear,’ Mr Nizeye said.

He added that although residents were encouraged to domesticate bamboo for handicrafts, beehives, furniture, charcoal and building materials, the loss of bamboo in Echuya would trigger a water crisis.

‘Once bamboo trees completely disappear from Echuya forest reserve, there will be a water crisis in the region since bamboo has been instrumental in holding the natural water that serves the community and the wildlife living in the area,’ he said.

Haruna Mutabazi, vice chairperson of the CFM committee in Muko Sub-county, Rubanda, blamed the National Forestry Authority for failing to control illegal bamboo harvesting by investors setting up tourism camps, which has created space for other species.

‘We appeal to the central government to intervene if bamboo tree species are to be saved from extinction in Echuya forest reserve. NFA has disregarded the role of CFM committee members to an extent that they do not invite us for Echuya forest management meetings. CFM committees together with Nature Uganda played a great role in saving Echuya forest from selfish individuals that wanted to introduce Eucalyptus tree species from South Africa while others wanted to use it as Irish potato gardens. The central government should put in place stringent measures to stop illegal bamboo tree harvesting to avoid its extinction,’ Mr Mutabazi said.

Executive Director of NFA, Stuart Maniraguha, said about 30% of bamboo in Echuya has been lost because bamboo is a grass that cannot grow under a forest canopy. When covered, it dries out.

‘What is happening is that nature is trying to redefine and that means that our strict protection of that forest is what would be possible leading to the loss/disappearance of the bamboo. Because if you allow people to do harvesting, then you create gaps that would give in light that will favor bamboo growth. When we realized this trend, in 2021/2022 we started sustainable bamboo harvesting and management and we zoned out areas that were purely under bamboo and we started pruning and thinning activities. We cut out the dry bamboo to allow the new shoots to come up,’ Mr Maniraguha said.

He said the forest is undergoing natural colonization by indigenous species like Macaranga, a process called succession. NFA is now focused on areas that still have pure bamboo, targeting 500 hectares. ‘In 2023/2024, we restored about 80 hectares of bamboo in Bufundi Sub-county in Rubanda district while in Muko Sub-county in Rubanda and Kanaba Sub-county in Kisoro district we did liberation tending i.e. removing all climbers on bamboo and this was done where we found pure bamboo stands,’ he added.

Mr Maniraguha said sustainable harvesting is the only way to keep Echuya’s natural bamboo, locally called ‘Omurugano’. ‘If we strictly close Echuya forest without interventions of such nature then ecology will take its course and the succession will be done and we shall lose the bamboo and grass thus having a tropical forest with those high tropical tree species,’ he said. He added that NFA has renewed CFM committee contracts because they are key stakeholders in forest management.

In March, Kabale University and NFA signed a memorandum of understanding to establish a field research station in Echuya to promote conservation and practical training. Dr Rogers Akatwijuka, Associate Dean of Agriculture and Environmental Science at Kabale University, said the Shs1 billion station will carry out long-term ecological monitoring, conservation education and tourism impact assessment.

‘The objectives include the provision of opportunities to university staff and students to undertake research in Echuya forest ecology, biodiversity conservation, tourism planning and management as well as socio-economic impacts of the protected area,’ Dr Akatwijuka said. Research will focus on forest ecology, climate change, watershed management and ecosystem changes.

Former Kisoro LCV chairperson Abel Bizimana welcomed the move, saying studies will help conserve Echuya, believed to be the water catchment area for crater lakes in Kisoro, Rubanda and Kabale.

‘I implore Kabale University researchers to take keen interest in establishing why certain tree species have emerged in Echuya forest reserve taking up space and overshadowing the bamboo forest cover that has been a characteristic of Echuya forest reserve,’ Mr Bizimana said. He added that the planned takeover of Echuya by Uganda Wildlife Authority as a national park will boost conservation based on research findings.

The Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Executive Board has approved EUR 650.75 million (approximately Shs2.6 trillion) in financing for Uganda’s Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) project. This marks the largest single-project funding ever approved by the bank for Uganda.

The historic milestone was reached on the sidelines of the 51st IsDB Group Board of Governors’ Annual Meetings, held in Baku, Azerbaijan, from June 16 to 19, 2026, under the theme, ‘Regional Integration for Sustainable Prosperity.’

Dr Ramathan Ggoobi, the Permanent Secretary and Secretary to the Treasury (PSST), who led the Ugandan delegation as Temporary Governor, affirmed the government’s commitment to achieving full financial closure for the multi-billion-shilling railway project by November 2026.

The SGR is a strategic flagship venture aimed at modernizing Uganda’s transport infrastructure, reducing freight costs, and improving regional trade links with neighboring East African countries.

According to official details, the new IsDB funding will target critical infrastructural nodes along the network. Specifically, it will finance the construction of the 553-meter Jinja Nile Bridge, the 2.12-kilometer Mbuya-Kampala tunnel, and six major stations including Tororo, Iganga, Jinja, Lugazi, Kampala East, and Kampala City. Additionally, the funds will construct three mechanical workshops in Kampala East, Jinja, and Tororo.

By the end of May 2026, Uganda and the IsDB maintained eight active public operations (loans and grants) valued at USD 896.55 million, heavily dominated by the Integrated Transport Infrastructure Services Program.

Other ongoing IsDB-funded projects in the country span crucial sectors, including the upgrading of several national roads (such as the Muyembe-Nakapiripirit and Rwenkunye-Apac-Lira-Acholibur routes), the construction of the Masindi Port Bridge, irrigation schemes in Unyama, Namalu, and Sippi, vocational education, and the establishment of regional oncology centers in Arua and Mbale.

Speaking at the Governors’ Round Table, Dr. Ggoobi commended the bank for launching the IsDB Concessional Fund (ICF) in 2026. The fund aims to boost concessional financing to 15 per cent of annual approvals, bridging the gap between rising global debt and sustainable development.

“This fund is crucial in light of declining traditional foreign aid flows, both in volume and reliability, which has widened the financing gap,” Dr Ggoobi noted.

He urged multilateral lenders to reform, calling for a global financial architecture that is more inclusive, adaptive, and responsive to the needs of member countries.

In a fresh bid to curb the staggering number of motorcycle-related fatalities on Ugandan roads, the Traffic Police directorate is planning to partner with tech platforms to stream road safety campaigns directly to boda boda riders and their passengers.

The development was revealed by Traffic Police spokesperson, SP Michael Kananura, during the closure of the six-month ‘Beera Ku Digital’ skills training programme for riders in Kampala on Friday.

According to SP Kananura, conventional sensitization methods like radio and television have failed to yield the desired behavioral change among riders due to the fast-paced nature of their job.

‘Motorcyclists are very busy, and they may not listen to us on radio or television,’ SP Kananura said. ‘We are going to engage the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) and other partners to see how best we can integrate road safety messages into these digital platforms so that riders and passengers can access them directly.’

The shift to digital communication comes at a time when the boda boda sector remains the leading contributor to the country’s grim road safety record. Recent Annual Crime and Traffic Safety reports consistently rank motorcycle accidents as the top killer on Ugandan roads.

SP Kananura revealed that the situation has escalated into a severe public safety crisis, with motorcycles now dominating accident logs.

Out of every 10 recorded road crashes in Uganda, eight are motorcycle-related.

Authorities frequently intercept single motorcycles carrying between three to five passengers.

A majority of fatalities are attributed to severe head injuries because riders either completely shun helmets or opt for cheap, substandard alternatives.

Beyond road safety, the police believe digital tracking and registration on these platforms will help combat urban motorcycle thefts and boost passenger security by creating a digital footprint for every trip.

The Beera Ku Digital pilot project-implemented by IMPACT Outsourcing in partnership with Simba Automotives and funded by the UCC’s Universal Service Access Fund-aimed to bridge the digital gap for urban transport workers.

The initiative exceeded its initial targets, training 3,389 riders across the greater Kampala metropolitan area with phase one (December to February) which covered Mukono and Wakiso districts witnessing at least 1,741 riders trained while phase two which covered Kampala City Divisions left 1,648 riders enrolled for the tarining.

The multi-agency training sessions combined digital literacy with crucial state services. The National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) helped riders register for National IDs, while MTN Uganda and Pearl Bank onboarded them onto the Wendi mobile wallet for financial inclusion.

Organizers estimate that through peer-to-peer knowledge sharing within various boda boda stages and associations, an additional 20,000 people were reached indirectly.

Mr James Stephen Mpango, the Manager for Projects Monitoring and Evaluation at UCC, noted that while the commission traditionally focuses on rural communities, schools, and farmers, it became apparent that urban transport workers were being left behind by the digital economy.

Responding to riders’ concerns regarding the high cost of smartphones and internet data bundles, Mr. Mpango urged them to look at the long-term return on investment.

‘Complaints about the cost of devices and data are legitimate,’ Mr. Mpango acknowledged. ‘However, when you look at the trends over the last decade, the cost of digital services has reduced significantly compared to many other commodities. Embracing technology reduces the need for costly travel and paperwork.’

Mr Gideon Nkurunungi, the Chief Executive Officer of IMPACT Outsourcing, emphasized that the training went beyond transport applications to encompass broader livelihood skills.

‘We trained riders on how to use digital tools to access opportunities, save money, invest, and safely apply for loans without falling into predatory traps,’ Nkurunungi said.

Despite the success of the pilot, organizers highlighted that a lack of legal identification remains the biggest roadblock to formalizing the sector. Hundreds of riders remain locked out of digital banking, mobile wallets, and ride-hailing apps simply because they do not possess National IDs-a challenge officials say must be urgently addressed to fully professionalize the boda boda industry.

Five people were killed and nine others injured on Thursday when a speeding fuel tanker rammed into a commuter taxi parked along the Masaka-Kyotera-Mutukula Highway, police said.

The crash occurred at around 11:00 a.m. at Botera Village and involved a fuel tanker registration number T813 DYP and a commuter taxi registration number UBH 378W.

According to eyewitnesses, the taxi had stopped by the roadside to allow a passenger to disembark when the trailer, which was travelling from Masaka towards Kyotera, crashed into it.

“The commuter taxi overturned several times following the collision, killing five people and injuring others,” said Andrew Kityo, an eyewitness.

Kityo said the taxi was clearly parked off the road and questioned how the trailer driver failed to notice it.

“Despite the road being under construction, it was visible that the taxi was parked by the roadside. We wondered how the trailer driver ended up knocking it without noticing it,” he said.

The Southern Regional Police spokesperson, Mr Twaha Kasirye, confirmed the crash and said investigations had commenced.

“I can confirm that five people died and nine survived. Six of the injured were rushed to Kalisizo General Hospital, while others were taken to Masaka Regional Referral Hospital,” Mr Kasirye said.

Police towed the wreckage of both vehicles to Kalisizo Police Station for inspection as investigations into the cause of the crash continue.

The crash adds to growing concerns over road safety in Uganda following a rise in traffic fatalities.

According to the 2025 Annual Police Crime Report, road traffic deaths increased to 5,383 in 2025, up from 5,144 in 2024, averaging about 15 deaths per day.

The report shows a steady rise in road fatalities over the past four years, from 4,534 deaths in 2022 to 4,806 in 2023, before climbing further in 2024 and 2025.

Pedestrians remained among the most vulnerable road users, accounting for a significant proportion of fatalities. Police data shows that 43 percent of pedestrian deaths occurred while crossing roads, 32 percent while walking along roadsides, and nine percent while standing by roads.

Weekend travel continued to record the highest number of crashes, with Fridays registering 3,921 incidents, Saturdays 3,913, and Sundays 3,870. Fatalities were also highest on Sundays, with 810 deaths recorded, followed by Saturdays with 729.

A 19-year-old Senior Five student has died after she was allegedly electrocuted while ironing clothes at a rented house in Mbale City.

The deceased, identified as Adongo Evaline, a student at Gill Sherlock Memorial Secondary School, was found dead on Friday morning at her residence in Namabasa Zone 3A, Doko Ward, Industrial Division.

Elgon Region Police spokesperson SP Rogers Taitika said the incident happened at about 5:45am.

‘Police preliminary investigations indicate that Adongo was ironing clothes inside the sitting room when she came into contact with an electric current and died instantly,’ Mr Taitika said.

He said homicide detectives, Scene of Crime Officers and other investigators visited the scene, where they documented evidence and observed fresh burn marks on the deceased’s left hand, consistent with electrocution.

Preliminary findings indicated that the house had an illegal electricity connection.

The property, owned by Pastor Wabutwa Hassan of Namabasa Zone 3A, was reportedly being rented by nine students, both male and female.

Police arrested Mr Wabutwa and detained him at Industrial Division Police Station to assist with investigations into the circumstances surrounding the student’s death and possible liability.

Adongo’s body was taken to Mbale City Mortuary for a postmortem examination as investigations continue.

Mr Taitika conveyed condolences to the student’s family, her school, fellow learners and the wider Mbale community.

‘We extend our deepest condolences to the family of Adongo Evaline, her school, fellow students, and the entire Mbale community during this difficult time,’ he said.

Police warned the public against illegal electricity connections, describing them as dangerous and criminal.

Mr Taitika also urged residents to observe safety precautions when using electrical appliances, including avoiding ironing with wet hands or on wet surfaces.

He advised landlords to ensure rental properties have properly certified electrical installations before allowing occupants to move in.

The Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Ltd (UEDCL) interim management on Monday terminated the contracts of the seven senior managers, perceived to be loyalists to the ousted Managing Director Paul Mwesigwa, who were first sent on forced leave on May 6.

The septet: Ms Justine Nakagiri Ssemwanga, head of internal audit; Mr Boniface Barongo, head of human resources and administration, alongside Ms Beatrice Tumuheirwe , manager-HR business partner; Mr Jonan Kiiza, head of corporate and stakeholder affairs; Mr Protaze Tibyakinura, chief of engineering and technical services, Ms Barbrah Kyomuhendo, head of technology and applications; and Mr Geoffrey Musafu, manager of applications, were first sent on forced leave to pave way for investigations into the ‘workplace culture’ and poor performance since the company reassumed management of the country’s power infrastructure from Umeme Ltd on April 1, 2025.

On Monday, according to inside accounts, the septet was called by the company’s human resource office to pick their letters detailing termination of employment after June 30 when the current contracts run out, as per the Ministry of Public Service guidance on the merger of government agencies and departments, named Rationalisation of Government and Public Expenditure (RAPEX). The Ministry of Public Service put a hiring freeze on non-critical personnel to agencies and departments targeted under RAPEX, while the subsisting employees, in this case of the three electricity agencies: Uganda Electricity Generation Ltd (UEGCL), Uganda Electricity Transmission Company Limited (UETCL), and Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Ltd (UEDCL), were handed two-year contracts renewable upon expiry. While the group was initially sent on a one month forced leave in May, which was extended in June, it was the RAPEX technicality that was invoked to end the contracts.

UEGCL, UETCL and UEDCL, alongside the Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERA), were midwifed from the then vertically integrated Uganda Electricity Board (UEB), which was unbundled following the enactment of the Electricity Act in November 1999. The Electricity (amendment) Act, 2022 provides for a re-merging of the three entities to form a vertically integrated Uganda National Electricity Company (UNEC) with departments for generation, transmission, and distribution, while the regulator, ERA, will remain a standalone. Cabinet guided earlier on that UNEC operates as a joint venture with 51:49 shareholding with a private player. However, along the way the same government that mulled the unbundling and rebundling of the three companies appears to be reading from different scripts.

In 2024, President Museveni reportedly directed a contract to be awarded to SMS Construction, to construct a mega office block for UETCL along 3rd street, Industrial Area, which project is behind scheduled and is marred in controversy, while UEDCL occupies a mega block in Nakasero, and UEGCL continues to rent in Bukoto. Nonetheless, the merger plans appear to be on the shelf for now. However, inside sources maintain that a section of government officials and commission agents continue to window shop for another concessionaire to partner with UEDCL. Some insiders claim some of the problems plaguing the distribution side of the power business are border on internal sabotage and deliberately inflicted, including claims of hiring online influencers to fuel commotion about power outages at some point. Power outages persist and service hasn’t improved that much across parts of the Greater Kampala Metropolitan as several substations are yet to be rehabilitated, the online clamour reduced slightly following the ouster of Mr Mwesigwa, who some say, besides his shortcomings as flagged by ERA had also made enemies on several fronts, especially on stalling procurement tender by some companies backed by their political godfathers.

Consequently, the former Energy Minister Ruth Nankabirwa sent Mr Mwesigwa on forced leave on April 29 reportedly on the orders of President Museveni who raised several concerns/issues regarding the company’s operations including the increase in electricity losses from 15 percent to 19 percent following the commencement of UEDCL’s operations of the National Distribution Network on 1 April 2025.’ Two months later, insiders said that UEDCL appears to be stuck on his fate since there is no fixed duration for forced leave under the Employment (amendment) Act.

Attempts to get a comment from the UEDCL management were futile by press time. The acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Ms Joselynne Rwakakooko is reportedly away for a conference in South Africa. Her understudy, Mr Isaac Mufumbiro, the head of strategy, compliance and regulation, did not answer queries by this newspaper. Mr Mufumbiro said he was in the hospital but promised to call back. He did not. Attempts to reach him again were fruitless.

According to the UEDCL human resource organogram, as the head of strategy, compliance and regulation, Mr Mufumbiro ranks among the mid-level managers alongside head of projects and construction, head of human resource, head of corporate and stakeholder affairs, and head of procurement.

Above them are six senior officers at the level of ‘chief,’ who were sidestepped to designate their underling as acting CEO, which insiders point to bubbling workplace paranoia. Mr Isaac Katewanga was named chief commercial officer, replacing Ms Rwakakooko, in the May reshuffles that saw former Umeme staffers take charge of UEDCL lock, stock, and barrel. Others who were named are Mr Steven Illungole succeeding Mr Kiiza; Mr Sylver Hategekema replacing Mr Tibyakinura; Mr Samuel Omoding replacing Mr Barongo; Mr Nickson Ahabwe replacing Ms Nakagiri Ssemwanga; Mr Richard Opiyo replacing Ms Kyomuhendo; Mr Francis Damulira in place of Mr Masaffu; and, Ms Christine Atuhaire succeeding Ms Tumuheirwe. They were all named in acting capacity.

Speaking during the company’s 21st Annual General Meeting in May, Ms Nankabirwa, who was dropped in the recent Cabinet reshuffle and made senior presidential advisor, defended Mr Mwesigwa’s ouster adding that while UEDCL’s financial performance had improved somewhat, this had been overshadowed by persistent customer complaints and electricity connection challenges. Umeme, which operated the power infrastructure from 2005 to March 31, 2025, closed off with energy losses-unusable energy generated during conversion, transmission, or usage, typically manifesting as waste-averaging at 16 percent, up from 38 percent in 2005.

UEDCL was given the target of reducing targets further to 13.7 percent, and as per Ms Nankabirwa’s April 30 letter had instead increased by roughly six percentage points. In comparison, Kenya and Tanzania, which have more installed electricity capacity than Uganda stand at 22 and 17.9 percent.

Meanwhile, the preliminary arbitration proceedings in London between Umeme Ltd and the government over payment of the $234.7m buyout are scheduled to kick off later this month.

Leaders in Nakapiripirit District have proposed new district by-laws and ordinances to regulate excessive alcohol consumption, particularly the abuse of illicit local waragi, which they say is undermining development and livelihoods in the Karamoja sub-region.

The proposal emerged during a multi-stakeholder meeting organised by ActionAid Uganda with support from the European Union under the theme of ending harmful practices and enhancing socio-economic opportunities for young people.

The meeting brought together local leaders, religious leaders, security officials and development partners to discuss social challenges affecting communities in the district.

Speaking at the meeting, Nakapiripirit District Vice Chairperson David Loitakori Pedo expressed concern over increasing alcohol consumption among men and youth, saying many spend their time drinking instead of engaging in productive activities such as agriculture.

He said excessive alcohol use has fuelled poverty, family neglect and alcohol-related illnesses.

“We need strong district by-laws with clear penalties to regulate the sale and consumption of illicit alcohol. We can also consider measures such as increasing taxes on local waragi or banning it altogether,” Mr Loitakori said.

He added that many parents spend money on alcohol instead of paying school fees, contributing to school dropout rates and worsening poverty.

Mr Loitakori also criticised the practice of settling cases of defilement and child marriage through informal negotiations rather than allowing the law to take its course.

The Archdeacon of Nakapiripirit Archdeaconry in the Karamoja Diocese, Rev. Felix Iluka Jim, said alcoholism remains one of the leading causes of poverty in the region.

He noted that some residents cut down trees for charcoal production and use the proceeds to purchase alcohol, worsening environmental degradation.

“If other districts have managed to control alcohol abuse, Nakapiripirit can also take decisive action to restore sanity and encourage people to engage in productive work,” he said.

District Community Development Officer Denis Atheyo linked excessive alcohol consumption to rising cases of HIV/AIDS, sexually transmitted infections, domestic violence, child neglect, early marriages and school dropouts.

“We already have checkpoints, but the question remains how this illegal alcohol continues to enter the district. We need stronger enforcement and community cooperation to stop the illegal trade,” Mr Atheyo said.

He called on security agencies and the Office of the Resident District Commissioner to strengthen surveillance along routes used by alcohol smugglers.

Assistant Resident District Commissioner Luke Lobunei said the District Security Committee had already declared the entry and consumption of illicit waragi illegal and intensified enforcement operations.

According to Mr Lobunei, security agencies have confiscated and destroyed about 40,000 litres of illicit alcohol intercepted at checkpoints.

“Not all alcohol is illegal. We are targeting illicit waragi because it is harmful to people’s health, reduces productivity, causes infertility and destroys families,” he said.

He added that district by-laws would complement existing enforcement efforts by introducing penalties for those involved in the sale, transportation and distribution of illicit alcohol.

ActionAid Project Officer Emmanuel Koriang said the meeting sought to identify practical solutions for addressing harmful practices affecting young people.

He said stakeholders agreed to strengthen protection for girls, improve case management systems for gender-based violence and expand access to skills development opportunities.

“When communities lose trust in the justice system because cases are negotiated, it undermines efforts to protect children. We want to see perpetrators prosecuted and justice delivered,” Mr Koriang said.

Alcohol abuse remains one of the most significant social and economic challenges facing Karamoja, with illicit waragi widely blamed for poor health outcomes, low productivity, domestic violence and persistent poverty.

Recent data from the Uganda Bureau of Statistics indicates that alcohol consumption in Karamoja remains significantly higher than the national average. Survey findings show that 47.8 percent of adults in the region consume alcohol, while a 2025 contextual analysis found that 71.7 percent of men and 62.4 percent of women had consumed alcohol within the month preceding the survey.

Leaders say stronger enforcement, community awareness and locally enacted by-laws could play a key role in reducing harmful alcohol consumption and improving livelihoods across the region.

Industrial players and labour advocates have renewed calls for the government to revive and enact the long-delayed Minimum Wage Bill, arguing that stagnant wages are leaving many Ugandan workers unable to cope with rising living costs.

The appeal comes amid growing concerns that increasing household expenses, fuel-related costs and global economic shocks are eroding workers’ purchasing power, particularly among those in the informal sector.

Speaking to the Monitor on Wednesday, organisational psychologist Barbara Oketta said many employers continue to take advantage of gaps in existing labour laws to underpay workers.

“As we speak, employers continue to thrive on the ambiguity of existing wage bills and laws by underpaying their employees and unfairly treating them at their places of work,” Ms Oketta said.

She noted that informal workers, including farm labourers and domestic workers, remain especially vulnerable because many operate without adequate legal protections.

Ms Oketta also linked low wages to increasing labour migration, saying many Ugandans seek employment abroad in search of better pay.

“The major reason why domestic workers prefer to work in the Middle East and other parts of the world is the prospect of better pay,” she said.

She argued that fair remuneration is essential if Uganda is to improve household welfare and achieve its ambition of becoming an upper middle-income economy.

Kenneth Tumusiime, a member of the Uganda Manufacturers Association, warned that continued delays in implementing a minimum wage framework could accelerate the loss of skilled professionals to foreign labour markets.

“Uganda risks losing experienced professionals, including doctors, engineers and teachers, to better-paying economies if workers continue to feel undervalued,” he said.

The Minimum Wage Bill, 2015, introduced by former Workers’ MP Arinaitwe Rwakajara, sought to establish mechanisms for wage regulation and worker protection. However, President Yoweri Museveni declined to sign it in 2019, arguing that the concerns it addressed were already covered under the Minimum Wages Advisory Boards and Wages Council Act.

The proposed law would have created Minimum Wage Boards mandated to recommend wage levels and enforce compliance through fines and imprisonment for offending employers.

Meanwhile, the government says it is focusing on improving employability through skills development programmes.

Addressing journalists during the orientation and oath-taking workshop of Sector Apprenticeship Committees in Kampala, Skills Development Officer Zachary Kansiime said Shs12 billion has been allocated in the 2026/27 financial year to support apprenticeship training in agriculture, manufacturing, construction, oil and gas and related sectors.

“Many employers ask these people for experience, yet most of them are just out of school. The programmes aim at creating practical training of the youths in the world of work,” Mr Kansiime said.

The programme targets youth aged between 18 and 35 years and offers a monthly stipend of Shs549,000 to support transport, accommodation and workplace participation.

According to a 2025 labour study, only 34 percent of Ugandan workers possess job-relevant skills.

Uganda Bureau of Statistics data further shows that 89.2 percent of Ugandans work in the informal sector, compared to just 10.8 percent in formal employment.

The report found informal employment is highest among young people, accounting for 97.3 percent of workers aged 15-19 and 93.9 percent among those aged 20-24.

In a June 17 statement, Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development Permanent Secretary Aggrey Kibenge acknowledged persistent gaps between education and labour market needs.

“Many young people complete training without sufficient workplace experience, making the transition into employment difficult,” he said.

As debate over wages, job quality and labour protections intensifies, pressure is mounting on policymakers to decide whether skills development alone can address Uganda’s employment challenges or whether long-delayed wage reforms should return to the centre of the national agenda.

Lack of basic clothing, including underwear and decent maternity wear, is discouraging some pregnant women in Bugiri District from attending antenatal care services, with local leaders warning that the situation is pushing vulnerable mothers towards Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs).

Local leaders and expectant mothers say poverty, fear of stigma and alleged mistreatment by some health workers are among the barriers preventing women from seeking care at health facilities.

Speaking on Thursday during the introduction of Early Years Count Uganda, a non-governmental organisation supporting maternal and child welfare, Bugiri District Secretary for Health and Education Ms Martha Namboozo said some women avoid antenatal clinics because they lack essential personal items required during pregnancy.

‘As leaders, we need to address this matter because many of these women are more comfortable seeking services from Traditional Birth Attendants. Some health workers laugh at them because of their poor dressing,’ Ms Namboozo said.

She said some expectant mothers feel embarrassed attending health facilities because they lack decent clothing, including underwear, while others have damaged or worn-out garments.

Ms Namboozo noted that the challenge is more pronounced among women in rural communities where household incomes are often prioritised for food, school fees and other basic needs, leaving items such as maternity wear and underwear unaffordable.

She added that limited support from spouses during pregnancy has worsened the situation for some women.

Ms Aisha Namukemo, a resident of Kayogera Village in Muterere Sub-county, said some expectant mothers avoid antenatal clinics due to fear of humiliation.

‘Sometimes we fear going for medical check-ups due to harassment by some health workers and because we lack some of the required items. However, we are grateful that the government occasionally provides mama kits,’ she said.

Ms Namukemo also cited long distances to health facilities as another challenge affecting access to maternal healthcare, urging authorities to extend antenatal services to lower-level health centres.

Another resident, Ms Hadijja Kagoya from Kimombasa Ward in Bugiri Municipality, appealed to the government to support vulnerable pregnant women.

‘Government should consider supporting pregnant women because many of them are abandoned by men after conception and are left to fend for themselves,’ she said.

The Bugiri District Vice Chairperson, Mr David Okelo Nalugada, pledged to present the concerns before the district council for discussion and possible action.

‘We are going to monitor health facilities across the district and come up with resolutions that will ensure our people benefit fully from government programmes,’ he said.

He also warned health workers against exploiting patients seeking medical services.

However, health workers defended antenatal procedures, saying physical examinations are necessary to monitor the health of both mothers and unborn children.

Ms Juliet Nafula, a midwife at Bugiri Hospital antenatal clinic, said health workers maintain privacy and confidentiality during examinations.

‘We therefore encourage all expectant mothers to come for antenatal services because they are offered free of charge,’ she said.

‘One of the major challenges we face is that many men are reluctant to accompany their wives for antenatal services, partly because they fear HIV testing,’ she added.

Nafula urged local leaders to intensify community sensitisation on the importance of early and regular antenatal visits, noting that low attendance remains a challenge in the district.

For your information

Many pregnant women abandon underwear, especially in the third trimester, to relieve physical discomfort.

The growing baby causes pressure on the pelvis and bladder, while hormonal changes increase skin sensitivity.

Restrictive bands or synthetic fabrics can lead to irritation, sweating, and pain.