Category: Daily Monitor

High Court in Kampala has been asked to intervene in a dispute between the National Unity Platform (NUP) and the government after the opposition party was excluded from receiving statutory political party funding.

NUP, through its Secretary General David Lewis Rubongoya, filed an application for judicial review challenging a directive by the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs dated August 25, 2025.

The directive instructed the Electoral Commission to disburse funds to six political parties, excluding NUP, on grounds that they were not recognised members of the Inter-Party Organisation for Dialogue (IPOD).

In its motion, NUP seeks several remedies, including declarations that ‘the minister’s directive was illegal, ultra vires, irrational, unlawful, procedurally improper, and null and void.’

The party also wants the court to compel the Electoral Commission to release funds to it and issue an injunction restraining authorities from enforcing the directive.

Rubongoya, in a sworn affidavit, told court that NUP has been receiving quarterly statutory funding since the 2021/2022 financial year under Section 14 of the Political Parties and Organisations Act.

He argued that as the second-largest political party in Parliament and an active member of the National Consultative Forum, NUP has a legitimate expectation to continue receiving the funds.

‘The Applicant has been unlawfully, unfairly and unjustifiably excluded by the respondents from all consultations regarding the operationalisation of the Amendment, as well as from the list of political parties entitled to statutory funds,’ Rubongoya stated.

He further said the exclusion has significantly affected the party’s day-to-day operations and preparations for the 2026 elections, including activities leading to the nomination of its presidential flagbearer Robert Kyagulanyi on September 23, 2025.

The Attorney General, representing government, appeared before Justice Collins Accellam on Monday and requested for two days to file a reply to the application.

NUP will then file a rejoinder on Friday, after which the case will return to court on October 10, 2025 for mention.

Meanwhile, lawyers for the Electoral Commission, led by Eric Sabiiti, the Commission’s head of litigation, and Hamidu Lugolobi, asked the court to dismiss the case with costs.

They argued that the application is fundamentally flawed and an abuse of court process citing incompetence, lack of merit, and a frivolous nature.

Sabiiti submitted that the applications were futile and have no chance of success adding that the relief sought was unconstitutional and beyond the High Court’s powers.

He further explained that decisions on political party funding are choices of the political parties themselves and that the balance of convenience favors implementing the statutory provision.

‘The court should dismiss the application,’ Sabiiti said, describing it as an unnecessary strain on the judicial process.

The controversy follows the Political Parties and Organisations (Amendment) Act, 2025, which introduced a requirement that only political parties belonging to IPOD are eligible for government funding.

NUP insists it has never been consulted about the statutory instrument to operationalise the law and has not been availed a copy of the Memorandum of Understanding that other parties are said to have signed to join IPOD.

On September 18, 2025, IPOD held a summit at Kololo Independence Grounds attended by the Democratic Party, Forum for Democratic Change, Uganda People’s Congress, Justice Forum (JEEMA), and the ruling National Resistance Movement.

At the meeting, President Museveni, who had served as IPOD Council chairperson, handed over leadership to Justice Minister Norbert Mao, the opposition Democratic Party president.

According to Rubongoya, NUP was neither invited to the summit nor involved in discussions on the sharing of statutory funds, despite its parliamentary strength.

Justice Accellam has set October 10, 2025 for mention of the case to determine whether the parties have complied with his directions.

Grief has engulfed South Sudanese refugees at Palabek Refugee Settlement Camp in Palabek-Ogili Sub-County, Lamwo District, after a lightning strike killed two refugees and left two others critically injured.

The deceased were identified as Ms Martha Ibalu, 50, a resident of Zone 7, Block 6, and Ms Tereza Eyei, 28, a resident of Zone 4, Block B. They were killed on Sunday afternoon while sheltering from a storm.

Reports indicate that the two women had gone to a nearby bush to burn charcoal when tragedy struck. They had sought shelter under a tree when they were hit by lightning.

Their bodies were taken to Puluda Health Centre III for post-mortem examination.

Two other victims, Mr James Lokiek, 39, a resident of Zone 4, Block 8, and Ms Elizabeth Amuna, 35, a resident of Zone 7, Block 6, survived but sustained serious injuries. They are receiving treatment at Paluda Health Centre III.

The September 28 incident brings the number of South Sudanese refugees killed by lightning strikes since November 2024 to 16, with 36 others injured.

On November 3, 2024, at about 5:30 pm, 14 refugees, 12 children and two adults, died after they were struck by lightning while seeking shelter from the rain at a UN World Food Programme (WFP) food distribution centre in Zone 8, Block 2. Another 34 were seriously injured in that tragedy.

Mr Joe Oloya, the Aswa East Region Police spokesperson, said the victims in Sunday’s incident were caught in the rain while in the bush.

‘It is alleged that on September 28, 2025, at around 4 pm, the victims went to Ajaogala village to burn charcoal. After a while, it started raining and they took cover under a tree where lightning struck them, two died on the spot and two survived,’ he said in a statement issued Tuesday evening.

He added that police detectives are investigating a case of sudden death by lightning.

With the threat of thunderstorms still looming, the Uganda National Meteorological Authority (UNMA) has urged Ugandans to avoid using mobile phones during storms to reduce the risk of lightning strikes.

According to UNMA, the electric circuit in a mobile phone could attract lightning. The authority has issued the warning to help the public minimize risks.

Dr Bob Alex Ogwang, the Executive Director of UNMA, further advised Ugandans to put contingency measures in place to reduce the loss of life from such natural disasters.

Lightning is a powerful natural phenomenon caused by electrostatic discharges between charged regions in clouds or between clouds and the Earth, producing intense light and sound.

Speaking at Kayunga Regional Referral Hospital after touring the facility last week, the Prime Minister, Ms Robinah Nabbanja, said it was because locals voted NRM-leaning leaders into office that they had ‘such a good hospital.’ She said Mukono Municipality, ‘which always votes for Opposition, doesn’t have such a health facility because [Betty] Nambooze doesn’t come to us to request such developmental projects.’ The prime minister’s utterance is quite unfortunate coming from a senior leader of government, which is charged with delivering equitable social services such as education and medical care to citizens countrywide irrespective of their religious, ethnic, and political affiliations.

The government does not need to wait for ‘requests’ to conduct its duties, which citizens pay a lot of money in taxes for. It is incumbent upon the government and its officials at all levels to ensure that all regions of the country have properly functioning schools, hospitals. Roads, bridges and ferries on water bodies must also be in good condition. Furthermore, access to clean water is a fundamental human right that the government should uphold. The responsibility also lies with the government to ensure the safety of the wananchi and their properties. These responsibilities must be fulfilled by the government irrespective of whether Mukono Municipality MP Betty Nambooze, who is a member of the National Unity Platform, or any other top area leader has pointed out a shortcoming or not.

The government employs thousands of people who can easily alert it to challenges experienced by specific areas around the country. What the prime minister uttered recently is similar to remarks made by other National Resistance Movement (NRM) government officials over the years whenever people from areas led by Opposition-leaning leaders complain of poor social services. The disgruntled locals are derisively told that they are reaping the fruits of their choices, with government officials saying, things would have been better had they supported the NRM party.

This is unacceptable. People should not be deprived of services owed to them simply because they do not support the party in power. Being a member of the Opposition is not a crime. It should not be used as an excuse to deprive people of their rights and relegate them to second class citizens. We call upon all candidates– those affiliated with parties and independents– standing for the various positions, from the local government to the presidency, to bear in mind that if they are elected into office, they should treat all people equitably.

President Yoweri Museveni in a tweet on September 23, reassured Ugandans, ‘We are going to fight the theft of drugs at health centres [..] if immunisation has been successful, then all efforts can be effective as well’. The President’s remark mirrored the continued cries from the populace about theft of medicines at health facilities. The President’s concern, and that of the ordinary Ugandan, comes at a time the Government of Uganda has steadily increased the annual budget for National Medical Stores (NMS), a government agency mandated to buy, store, and distribute medicines and medical supplies to government health facilities at no cost.

These medicines, whether for malaria, HIV, maternal care, or childhood immunisation, are purchased and delivered by NMS to public health facilities free of charge, and should in turn be given out to patients at no cost. And yet, despite this huge investment, cries abound of shortage of medicines in health facilities occasioned by theft, patients asked to pay for health supplies provided free of charge by the government through NMS, or medicines being diverted at health centres to private clinics. This is theft. This is economic sabotage. It is not only a crime against government; it is a crime against every Ugandan whose life depends on those medicines. Every vial, every tablet, every kit that goes missing represents a life put at risk.

It is no longer about government not providing medicines, but more about unscrupulous actors robbing families of hope as soon as medicines are delivered at various health facilities across the country. To enhance transparency, all NMS delivery trucks are fitted with GPS trackers to monitor delivery of medicines up to the gates of health facilities in every corner of Uganda. Once dispatched from National Medical stores, an SMS alert is sent to MPs of the respective area, DHOs, RDCs, DISOs, the State House Health Monitoring Unit, plus all officers in charge of health facilities. This message includes a contact of the person receiving and verifying the consignment at the health facility.

The purpose is to ensure visibility and transparency from dispatch up to the delivery point and for stakeholders to verify deliveries real-time. After NMS delivers medicines to health facilities, the responsibility shifts to facility managers and local authorities to ensure that the medicines and health supplies delivered are efficiently utilised. Furthermore, the government has intensified the roll out of the Electronic Medical Records (EMR), a system that will create a traceable link between what NMS delivered and what was given out to patients. This is where the vigilance and participation of all Ugandans comes in because systems alone are not enough.

Beyond the government’s initiatives, the fight against theft of government medicines requires citizens, patients, parents, teachers, religious leaders, youth to stand up against theft and report any suspicious behaviour to the nearest police station or to the State House Health Monitoring Unit on 0800-200-447. To the extent possible, government medicines are now clearly labelled and easy to identify with a ‘Government of Uganda, not for sale’ or ‘UG’ label on every tablet.

National and district leaders, when you receive a dispatch and delivery SMS alert from NMS about medicines and health supplies, please, demand accountability from health workers; ask questions when you are told there are no drugs; demand delivery notes which show quantities and type of medicines and health supplies received. To the citizenry, refuse to buy government-labelled medicines. Report suspicious activity to authorities. Silence and indifference only embolden thieves. Lasting change will only come when every Ugandan understands that safeguarding government medicines is not the duty of a few. It is the responsibility of all of us.

At the beginning of every election season, it is amusing to see especially the media preparing the country for the election. It paints a picture that anticipates the possibility of a stiff and uncertain competition; full of tension and excitement. It ostensibly puts the incumbent President, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni at risk of losing his long-term grip on power. To lend gravitas to the election, the media forms all sorts of special desks, command centres, election coverage teams, and headlines or columns like ‘Decision time Uganda,’ or ‘Uganda decides,’ or ‘Your vote, your future,’ They arrange talk shows and interviews with experts of all walks of life analysing the election. NGOs come up with situation rooms focusing on the election. Opposition candidates are profiled and prominence is given to their strategies and intentions to ‘remove the dictator’ this time round.

They include voter mobilisation and vote protection measures. Yet in what appears like an anti-climax, at the end of the day and after all the mellifluous noise and drama, Museveni is announced winner by the Electoral Commission (EC.) The NRM party he heads takes the lion’s share of seats in parliament and the local councils, leaving the opposition crying fraud. This time round the situation will not be any different. Nothing much has changed in the context in which Ugandan general elections are held under the NRM, since the last election. The NRM is for all intents and purposes a state party. In many instances you can’t tell where the party ends and the state or the government begins. Many public servants are appointed because of their ethnicity and allegiance to the ruling party.

They behave like party officials shamelessly carrying out programmes intended to perpetuate the NRM in power and by extension, disadvantage the opposition. The election is merely a smoke screen whose outcome is predetermined. It is simply a ritual without spiritual connotations. It aims to portray the ruling party and president as democratic. It legitimises the government and its actions as representative of the people. For instance, an elected government, has the mandate to commit Uganda and its assets when borrowing from multilateral lending organisations like the World Bank. A military junta or unelected cabal is viewed as parochial without the power to speak and act for the majority.

The unfettered access to public finances, especially through corruption which noticeably increases towards an election, grants the NRM a war chest that makes the party competitively unassailable. It can even be used to buy off the opposition or create its own weak opposition parties to give the semblance of a competition. Then in many instances most government programmes financed by the taxpayer are portrayed as a favour from the NRM government. There is a concealed promise of more services if the people vote for the government and vice versa. The late John Nagenda once wrote that the people of northern Uganda did not deserve any government services because they did not vote for the NRM! Secondly, the EC which conducts the election is appointed by Museveni who is also a candidate in the election.

Even with all the aesthetics performed in long, black, branded gowns that give a magisterial look of people managing a free and fair process, the slant towards the incumbent and NRM is difficult to ignore. You have a legislature teeming with ruling party MPs. It’s speaker has made it abundantly clear that she serves for the pleasure and comfort of the president. She would never pass a Bill that disadvantages him. This coupled with opposition MPs who are held hostage to privileges like per diem means that you can hardly get meaningful laws from the legislature. Not even laws like electoral reforms that disadvantage the project to perpetuate the incumbent in power. The Judiciary is not very different. The appointments are by the President. He has made it clear at every opportunity that the best judicial officers are those who ‘understand’ the history of the country; the ones nicknamed ‘cadre judges.’

This history is crafted to show NRM as the best thing that has happened in this country since sliced bread. Museveni has always reacted angrily to judgements that don’t go the way he wishes. He has derogatorily advised that judges should concern themselves with matters of ‘who stole a chicken’ and not issues of management of the state. A lot of their actions suggest that they have understood him. The continued incarceration of very many opposition National Unity Platform (NUP) supporters abducted and jailed without charge. Many have appeared in courts visibly tortured. The baseless denial of bail to Dr Kizza Besigye, Obeid Lutale and others says a lot about the Judiciary. It makes it unimaginable to assume that this institution in its current state can rein in the ruling party if the opposition sought relief in case of a bad election.

Like NRM began as a military movement, so it has remained albeit with minor tweaks. As is with the proverbial duck, NRM walks, talks and quacks like a military organisation. The national army and increasingly militarised police force is firmly in NRM’s grip and behave like enforcement departments within the party. They view threats to the NRM as threats to the country and defending the NRM as defending the country and vice versa. When doing so, the opposition is the enemy to be crashed. We have already seen police officers angrily tearing posters belonging to the opposition and opening fire where the people resist this awful behaviour. They take shelter under all sorts of misinterpretations of the law, especially the Public Order Management Act, to block the opposition from campaigning and reaching out to the electorate. Meanwhile, the NRM is escorted during processions and campaigns freely. In such an environment to speak of holding a free and fair election is outlandish and irresponsible.

High blood pressure, also called hypertension, is quietly causing serious health problems in Uganda. Many people don’t even know they have it until it’s too late. It’s now one of the top causes of early death and disability in the country.

Hypertension can lead to heart attacks, strokes, kidney failure, and blood clots. It is much more common than many people think. According to a 2023 national health survey, about 22 percent of Ugandans have high blood pressure, that is more than four times the number of people living with HIV (five percent).

Many don’t know they have it

Experts at UMC Victoria Hospital and the Uganda Heart Institute (UHI) are especially concerned because most Ugandans have never had their blood pressure checked, especially men. Over 70 percent of men have never tested their blood pressure and don’t know if they have hypertension. Take John (not his real name), a 33-year-old who went for a routine check-up at UMC Victoria Hospital. He felt mostly fine but sometimes had irregular heartbeats after exercising, occasional headaches, and had gained a lot of weight in the past six months. He didn’t think anything was wrong.

But when his blood pressure was measured, it read 131/88, a sign of Stage 1 hypertension, and doctors found that some of the blood vessels in his heart were narrowing, increasing his risk of a heart attack. ‘I was shocked,’ he said. ‘The doctor advised me to start exercising more and eating healthier food, including more fruits and vegetables.’ John also shared that several family members, including his sister and relatives on his mother’s side, have had high blood pressure, one even died from complications.

Importance of early detection

Dr Barbara Kakande, a heart specialist at UMC Victoria Hospital, says it’s critical to detect high blood pressure early. ‘Normal blood pressure is about 120/80,’ she says. ‘If it goes above 130/80, that’s considered high.’ Even young people can have serious issues. ‘Sometimes people come in with normal blood pressure, but we find their kidneys are failing, or their heart is enlarged, or they’ve already had a stroke,’ she explains. To find hidden cases, doctors sometimes use 24-hour monitors that give a fuller picture than one-time checks.

What high blood pressure does

If left untreated, high blood pressure can harm nearly every part of the body. The brain can cause strokes, eyes may lead to blindness, heart can cause heart attacks, kidneys may stop working, in legs , poor blood flow can lead to amputation. Dr Kakande says each patient is different, so they investigate which organs are affected and adjust treatment accordingly.

What causes it?

One common cause of heart problems is atherosclerosis, when fat, cholesterol, and other substances build up in blood vessels. This can block blood flow, cause clots, and trigger heart attacks or strokes. According to the STEPS survey, the prevalence of hypertension is 22 percent. Grading the prevalence of hypertension according to the International Society of Hypertension, the proportion of normal blood pressure was 64 percent, high normal blood pressure 14.7 percent, grade 1 hypertension 14.8 percent, and grade 2 hypertension 6.6 percent.

Signs and symptoms

Dr John Omagino, director of UHI, says symptoms may include: Headaches, dizziness, chest pain, blurred vision, shortness of breath But many people don’t have any symptoms at all. That’s why regular check-ups are so important. If a general doctor hears something unusual, like a heart murmur, they may refer patients for further tests like an echo-cardiogram, which uses sound waves to show how the heart is working.

Your genes might play a role

Dr Kakande says Africans are more likely to develop high blood pressure due to genetics. Some people naturally produce more harmful substances that tighten blood vessels, or fewer protective ones that relax them. Also, people born with small kidneys or low birth weight have a higher risk. Many individuals are also more sensitive to salt, which raises blood pressure.

Lifestyle

Our diets today are part of the problem. Dr Kakande says modern eating habits, like fried foods, chips, and fatty meats, are increasing the risk of hypertension.

She recommends going back to traditional meals: boiled foods, vegetables, and fruits, just like our parents used to prepare. Use healthy oils like olive or sunflower oil and avoid deep-frying. Cutting back on salt is also key because it increases water in the body, raising blood pressure and straining the heart.

Prevention and management

Dr Omagino, on the other hand, also emphasises exercising regularly, avoiding tobacco and limiting alcohol, and maintaining a healthy weight and managing stress. ‘For those already diagnosed, proper treatment prescribed by a qualified doctor, combined with healthy living, helps control blood pressure and protect vital organs. There is no miracle pill or single cure. Treatment is lifelong, and it must be individualised,’ he adds.

Vipers coach Ivan Minnaert has turned his full focus to the upcoming Caf Champions League second preliminary round showdown against Zambia’s Power Dynamos, a tie that promises to be a real litmus test for the Ugandan side’s continental ambitions.

The Venoms will host the Zambian giants at St. Mary’s Stadium in Kitende between October 17-18, before travelling to Kitwe for the decisive return leg a week later. The aggregate winner will progress to the lucrative group stages of Africa’s premier club competition.

Minnaert is under no illusions about the challenge ahead, especially after Dynamos showed resilience in ejecting Ivorian powerhouse ASEC Mimosas.

The Zambian side edged through on penalties after a 1-1 aggregate draw-Dynamos winning 1-0 at home before losing by the same scoreline in Abidjan, where ASEC were reduced to 10 men after Seydou Sacko’s 64th-minute dismissal. Dynamos kept their nerve in the shootout, converting all five of their penalties while ASEC faltered once.

Vipers, on the other hand, advanced after a composed 2-0 aggregate win over Namibia’s African Stars. A goal in each leg was enough to ensure safe passage, and while the performance wasn’t entirely fluent, Minnaert believes it was a justified result.

‘If you see the two games, you see that we deserved to win and go to the second round,’ he said. ‘Karisa (Milton) was disappointed not to start, but I told him he would come in and make an impact – and he did. This is what I expect from my players,’ Minnaert revealed.

League distraction

Despite their progress on the continent, the club’s domestic situation remains unsettled. Vipers, alongside SC Villa and Nec, are yet to confirm their participation in the newly proposed Uganda Premier League format, citing its vagueness and lack of clarity.

The duo notably boycotted Saturday’s joint press conference meant to rally support for a league double-header featuring Vipers vs Kitara and KCCA vs SC Villa at Namboole on Saturday.

Nonetheless, Minnaert remains focused. ‘We have no league games, so we will use the time to prepare. The Fifa break will take some players, but we will continue to train. The most important thing is that we qualified,’ he stated.

Vipers are eyeing a return to the group stages for the first time since 2023, when under then-coach Roberto Oliveira ‘Robertinho’, they knocked out Real de Bangui (Central African Republic) and five-time African champions TP Mazembe of DR Congo – a feat they are eager to replicate.

With a burning ambition, and Minnaert’s steady hand on the tiller, Vipers are quietly plotting to tame the unpredictable Aba Yellow of Kitwe.

Caf Champions League

Second preliminary round

Vipers vs. Power Dynamos

The Presidential Advisory Committee on Exports and Industrial Development (PACEID) has partnered with Arise Kollections to promote cocoa growing for export.

Uganda’s cocoa bean exports hit a record high in February 2025, earning $68.7 million (Shs254 billion), a significant boost to the country’s economy. According to the latest Bank of Uganda report, this represents a 42 percent increase in cumulative revenue compared to the 2024-2025 period.

This remarkable performance marks a milestone for Uganda’s cocoa industry, which has been steadily growing in recent years. The upward trend began in December 2024, when Uganda exported cocoa beans worth $44.2 million, followed by $67.8 million in January 2025.

Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony of the Arise Kollections Leadership and Skilling Centre in Kigogola Village, Kasawo Sub-county, Nakifuma-Mukono District, PACEID Chairman Mr. Odrek Rwabwogo said the partnership will expand market opportunities in countries such as the United Kingdom and the United States of America.

‘We can do aggregation and finance that aggregation as primary production before we can go to secondary production, which is processing, which is what the country requires,’ Mr Rwabwogo said.

He noted that in Uganda, women-headed businesses constitute about 90 percent of the job market, with 64 percent of those businesses owned and run by men. ‘I am happy to see that you are reducing those numbers progressively, and you are doing it in Nakifuma,’ he added.

Prof Gudula Naiga Basaza, a board member of Arise Kollections, said the launch of the 30-acre centre is aimed at promoting agro-industrialisation and facilitating export-ready production.

‘We should stop giving other people the power to control our destiny. A number of times we rely on aid and donations to achieve our goals, but the message here is let us focus on trade,’ she said.

Prof Basaza added that Uganda has about 42.6 percent of youth who are unemployed, with Nakifuma Sub-county recording about 47 percent youth unemployment.

The founder of Arise Kollections and Cocoa Farms, Ms Agnes Kitumba, said the new hub is part of a dream that began 14 years ago in Namugongo, where she ran a smaller half-acre facility.

‘My dream was born to go out there and take the services to our local communities. After 14 years of running a business in town, where we always had to recruit girls from less advantaged societies, we realised the cost of living in town is high,’ she said.

Ms Kitumba added: ‘Our dream is that we can take the opportunity to the rural community and build the community so that we reduce rural-urban migration, where youth think they can only make it when they move to urban areas.’

She also appealed to Ugandan entrepreneurs to embrace partnerships as a key to linking manufacturers and producers with buyers.

Head of Program Development, Quality, and Management at Uganda Agribusiness Alliance (UAA), Ms Mariam Akiror, said their role is to ensure agribusiness entrepreneurs comply with national and international standards along the value chain to remain competitive globally.

‘We were able to bring them together to meet the United Arab Emirates investors, who are interested in different agriculture value chains such as cocoa and ginger,’ she said.

Ms. Akiror added: ‘We are interested in agriculture careers, profiling, and promotion, ensuring that our young Ugandans fall in love with agriculture and begin to look at it as both a career and a hobby, because agriculture is the oxygen of our country.’

Agronomist at UAA, Ms Medias Kukunda, noted that the new centre will support farmers with market linkages for their products.

Currently, major cocoa-growing districts in Uganda include Bundibugyo, Buikwe, Mukono, Jinja, and Masindi. Other significant producers are Hoima, Mubende, Mayuge, Mpigi, Luweero, Masaka, and Kasese. Districts across eastern, western, and central Uganda are also known for cocoa cultivation.

The National Resistance Movement (NRM) yesterday launched its 2026-2031 manifesto, presenting five key priority areas that it says will shape Uganda’s development over the next five years, should it secure another term in office. The new blueprint under the theme ‘Protecting The Gains’ shows both continuity and shifts from the party’s previous manifesto for 2021-2026, which was themed ‘Securing Your Future’ and built around five broad pillars including wealth and job creation, social services, justice and equity, security, and economic and political integration. The 2026-2031 manifesto maintains an emphasis on employment, but shifts the focus toward industrialisation as a key engine of economic growth.

Speaking at the launch of the manifesto in Kampala, the NRM secretary general, Mr Richard Todwong, said they plan to increase Parish Development Model allocations to Shs300 million for Kampala and metropolitan areas, and provide additional support for households headed by PDM beneficiaries, signalling continuity with previous commitments while scaling up urban impact. Agriculture remains central in the new manifesto, but its role has shifted from rural poverty alleviation to serving as a foundation for industrial growth.

Similarly, infrastructure, which was highlighted in the 2021-2026 manifesto as a tool to overcome gaps in electricity, transport, and water access, is now elevated to a standalone priority area. The oil and gas sector, which was a minor component in the previous manifesto, now emerges as a major focus, signalling Uganda’s intent to leverage petroleum development as a driver of jobs, industrialisation, and national revenue. Education and health remain in focus, but their prominence has decreased compared to the previous term. Below and on page 5 are the key priorities in 2026-2032 manifesto.

Human capital development

The National Resistance Movement (NRM) considers investment in human capital as central to Uganda’s socio-economic transformation. Recognising that development cannot occur without a healthy, educated, and skilled population, the party has prioritised education, healthcare, and access to clean water. Building on previous investments in immunisation and universal education, the manifesto emphasises reforms to make institutions of learning produce more job creators rather than job seekers. The NRM also pledges to train more professionals such as doctors, engineers, nurses, and science teachers, while harnessing the talents of young Ugandans in sports, music, and the arts by investing in supportive infrastructure and programmes. The party indicated that it will maintain free Universal Primary Education (UPE) and Universal Secondary Education (USE) and expand access to post-secondary and vocational training.

The party pledges to recruit more teachers, improve teacher-to-pupil ratios, rehabilitate schools, construct new seed secondary schools, expand infrastructure in public universities, and operationalise Bunyoro and Busoga universities. Investments will also target instructional materials, staff housing, teacher salaries, and the alignment of curricula to market demands, particularly in science, technology, engineering, and vocational education. In healthcare, efforts will continue to digitise healthcare through e-Health systems, improve diagnostic capacity with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and digital X-ray machines, expand reproductive and maternal health services, and enhance mental health care and disease prevention programmes, including immunisation and malaria eradication initiatives.

Growing the economy and creating wealth.

NRM has outlined a comprehensive strategy to grow Uganda’s economy over the next five years, aiming to fully monetise the economy, double its size, and ensure that every adult Ugandan actively participates in producing goods or services. Central to this plan is the commercialisation of agriculture, which the party says will target the remaining 33 percent of households still engaged in subsistence farming. They intend to provide affordable and patient capital, guide citizens in selecting profitable enterprises, and invest in the entire agricultural value chain, from research to markets.

Post-harvest management will be strengthened through community grain stores, milk coolers, maize and rice milling equipment, and farmer training, while extension services, cold chain facilities, and export compliance support will ensure higher quality and value addition for agricultural products. Value addition is a key focus, particularly for commodities like coffee, cotton, tea, and minerals, which have historically been exported raw, leading to the loss of billions in potential revenue, jobs, and foreign exchange. The NRM pledges to expand local processing facilities for coffee, fruits, cassava, sugar, and tea to retain more economic value within the country, boost household incomes, and create sustainable employment opportunities.

The manifesto also prioritises investment in manufacturing as a driver of economic growth, emphasising local production of goods previously imported, including soap, sugar, cement, steel, paper, dairy, and processed foods. Manufacturing contributes significantly to GDP and exports, and the government aims to continue expanding this sector to reduce import dependence and create jobs. Tourism will be leveraged as a growth engine, with efforts to increase visitor numbers, length of stay, and spending. Investment in science, technology, and innovation, alongside ICT, is also highlighted to support high-value industries and build a knowledge-based economy.

Infrastructure development

The party has also identified infrastructure as a cornerstone of Uganda’s socio-economic transformation, emphasising that development cannot occur without reliable roads, electricity, water, railway, and ICT. Over the past decades, the party indicated that it has prioritised connecting the country, improving energy access, and modernising transport and communication systems. Between 1986 and 2024, Uganda’s tarmac road network expanded from 1,000 km to 6,306 km, with an additional 1,135 km under construction. Investments have included city roads, traffic signal systems, and feeder roads under the District, Urban, and Community Access Roads (DUCAR) programme, representing 87 percent of Uganda’s road network. The NRM has also distributed modern road construction equipment to districts and allocated funds to ensure routine maintenance, although corruption remains a challenge the government pledges to address.

Rail transport is being strengthened through rehabilitation of the metre gauge railway from Malaba to Kampala and Tororo to Gulu, as well as the construction of a new standard gauge railway to reduce freight costs and transit time, improving regional connectivity. Water transport investments include modernisation of Port Bell, Jinja Pier, Bukasa Port construction, and ferry upgrades, while air transport development involves Uganda Airlines expansion, construction of new airports in Hoima and Kidepo, and upgrading domestic aerodromes. In energy, Uganda now generates more than 2,052 MWs, with new dams and private-sector plants enhancing electricity access nationwide. Transmission networks have been expanded, connecting all districts except Buvuma and Obongi.

To meet rising urbanisation, NRM promises affordable housing through land development, private-sector collaboration, and capital support via Housing Finance Bank and the National Housing and Construction Corporation. By continuing to expand transport, energy, ICT, and housing infrastructure, NRM aims to create an enabling environment for wealth creation, economic growth, and improved quality of life across Uganda. The government pledges to modernise both social and economic infrastructure across the country, ranging from roads and electricity to schools, hospitals, and internet connectivity. By reducing the costs of doing business through improved infrastructure, the party believes wealth creators will enjoy better profits and reinvest more in the economy.damal]

Democracy, good governance, and security.

The National Resistance Movement (NRM) has maintained that democracy, good governance, and security are pillars for Uganda’s sustainable development. In advancing democracy, the party commits to conducting regular, free, and fair elections while promoting inclusivity. Women, youth, people with disabilities, workers, and the elderly will continue to have opportunities to participate in policy formulation and decision-making at all levels of government through affirmative action.

NRM will also leverage digital technologies to enhance the transparency and efficiency of electoral processes while strengthening the capacity of the National Electoral Commission to conduct civic education, monitor elections, and resolve disputes promptly. Inter-party dialogue will also be promoted through continued support for the Inter Party Organisation for Dialogue (IPOD), fostering collaboration and political stability.

Decentralisation remains a core strategy for citizen empowerment and the pledged to induct new elected leaders on their oversight responsibilities, fill critical vacancies in local governments, and facilitate barazas to encourage dialogue between citizens and local authorities. Corruption is a major challenge, and NRM promises to strengthen investigative institutions, including the Inspectorate of Government, Office of the Auditor General, Directorate of Public Prosecutions, and other anti-corruption agencies.

Measures include digitisation of government services, whistleblower protection, monitoring of local leaders and capacity building for the Anti-Corruption Division of the High Court. In security, NRM will continue to maintain well-trained, community-focused forces. Investments in the welfare of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces, police, and prisons personnel will be prioritised, alongside improved forensic capabilities and civilian engagement to protect lives and property, ensuring a safe and stable environment for socio-economic growth.

Regional integration and political federation.

The National Resistance Movement (NRM) underscores Pan-Africanism as a core principle, emphasising the importance of regional integration for Uganda’s prosperity and the continent’s development. Africa’s population of 1.4 billion is dispersed across numerous small states, limiting internal markets and constraining economic growth. Low incomes and limited regional connectivity further hinder trade and market expansion. NRM notes that strategic infrastructure projects, such as the Mpondwe-Beni highway linking Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, are critical in easing cross-border trade and improving regional connectivity.

By facilitating the free movement of goods, services, and investments across Africa, the party aims to ensure Ugandan producers have access to broader markets, reducing reliance on external economies and increasing domestic prosperity. To achieve this, NRM promises to actively support the implementation of the East African Community (EAC) Political Federation, including the promulgation of the EAC Constitution. The party will work with EAC member states to remove non-tariff barriers, promote Kiswahili as a unifying language, and leverage the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement to boost intra-African trade. President Museveni who launched the manifesto yesterday evening explained how they plan to achieve all the above, but put more emphasis on putting more money in the economy and alleviating people from poverty.

Speaking at the launch, the NRM First Vice Chairperson, Mr Moses Kigongo, asked the party leaders and cadres to desist from fighting each other and work together towards the same goal. ‘Fighting must stop. We must move as a team and ensure that we campaign as one person. This time, it is going to be very smooth for us because we are going to use our structures at the grassroots. We are very firm on the ground,’ Mr Kigongo said. The Second National Vice Chairperson, Female, and the Speaker of Parliament, Ms Anita Among, indicated after the launch that they are slated to move from door to door to hunt for votes for their boss.

Uganda’s High Court on Monday ordered the long-awaited trial of former Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) commander Jamilu Mukulu to begin this week, with prosecutors lining up 55 witnesses to testify against him and 29 co-accused.

A panel of four judges said the trial will open Wednesday, nearly a decade after Mukulu was arrested in Tanzania and extradited to Uganda.

‘I have heard the submissions of both counsels. The balancing of the arms of justice requires a quick and expeditious resolution of this matter, but it should also be noted that in the interest of justice this matter should be heard on its merits,’ said Justice Michael Elubu, who led the bench.

Other judges are Stephen Mubiru, Andrew Bashaija and Susan Okalany. They rejected defence requests to dismiss the charges.

Mukulu, accused of leading the Islamist-inspired ADF rebel group, faces multiple counts of terrorism. The case has dragged on through years of adjournments and pre-trial hearings.

During Monday’s session, defence lawyers raised complaints about Mukulu’s treatment in detention.

‘Our client is denied food from his family, yet other inmates are allowed. He is forced to buy food at three times the market price and is kept in a cell without ventilation, feasted on by mosquitoes. He is also not allowed sunlight,’ said defence counsel Kasumba.

The judges ordered prison authorities to respond by Wednesday and advised the defence to file a formal complaint with the Uganda Human Rights Commission.

‘This court will hear from both sides in the interest of justice. Institutions like the Human Rights Commission have visitation rights to prisons and can file reports to assist the court,’ Justice Elubu said.

The ADF, originally a Ugandan rebel group, has been blamed for deadly attacks in both Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Mukulu’s trial is one of the most high-profile terrorism cases in Uganda in recent years.

Case background

Mukulu, jointly charged with 37 others, faces 20 counts, including terrorism, murder, aggravated robbery, attempted murder, and belonging to a terrorist organisation.

According to the indictment, Mukulu is introduced as the leader of the ADF and the Salaf Muslim community in Uganda, accused of issuing orders to his co-accused to carry out murders and robberies in Bugiri, Tororo, Namayingo, Kampala, Wakiso, Jinja, Mbale, Budaka and other districts.

He is further indicted for the murders of two Muslim clerics, Sheikhs Dakitoor Muwaya and Yunus Abubakar Mandanga, in Mayuge and Bugiri, respectively, as well as the killing of two police officers, Muzamir Babale and Karim Tenywa, attached to Bugiri Police Station. The group is also alleged to have robbed firearms, ammunition, money, and other property.

Prosecution, led by Assistant DPP Jatiko, contends that the offences were committed with social, political, economic or religious aims ‘in order to cause fear and panic among members of the public and government at large.’