Category: Daily Monitor

School trips are such an exciting thing for children. It is an opportunity to leave the school compound, during the term to spend a day having fun. Who wouldn’t want that? So, yes, most students look forward to them.

In the days when going to the Source of the Nile was the thing, at only Shs20,000, a trip was done. Can I hear the millennials shout? The school kitchen was the source of the meals, so that never featured on the items being paid for. Regarding transportation, the school bus or a hired coaster did a good job and so the needed charge was fuel.

But today, the dynamics are changing. The cost of a school trip per child is sometimes sufficient to fund a family getaway. Imagine paying Shs60,000 for your child’s school trip only to learn that they moved from Kyengera to Kampala and only toured Garden City. Look here, transport from Kampala to Kyengera is not more than Shs5,000. So, what makes the bill Shs60,000, yet they could also have asked the parent to pack lunch for the child that day?

If that does not sound like robbery, how about paying $500 (Shs,880,000) for your child’s trip to Queen Elizabeth Game Park, only for them to visit Kasese Town and Kilembe Mines. What happened to the park? Was it impossible to write the Kasese Town tour? But also, was all this money only sufficient for transport, accommodation and feeding? Haaaa, then the child returns with bedbugs in their beddings and you wonder what kind of accommodation that was. To add salt to the injury, some schools communicate about the school trip a month to the day. And because the schools know how much the children love these trips, they pressure them to ensure their parents pay. What stopped them from including this in the end-of-term circular?

This became a heated argument during one of the Man Cave X spaces, as Mr Newton Buteraba, a financial expert, pointed out the habit. What happened to planning? One wonders if the schools come up with these trips at the last minute. Suffice it to note, school trips have become another business. You could compare it to the development fund, whose money seems to fall into a bottomless bag. Schools’ administrations, please practice the honesty you preach.

Veteran Ugandan dancehall musician David Sifaayo, popularly known by his stage name Master Parrot, has tragically passed away following a road crash along the Kampala Northern Bypass on Monday evening.

According to eyewitnesses and preliminary police reports, the fatal crash occurred in the busy Masanafu area on June 1, 2026. The Muliro singer was reportedly struck by a speeding motorcycle while attempting to cross the highway. Master Parrot sustained severe injuries and died at the scene before he could be rushed to a medical facility. His body has since been transported to the City Mortuary Mulago pending a post-mortem examination.

Master Parrot rose to prominence in the early to mid-2000s, a period widely regarded as the golden era of contemporary Ugandan dancehall and Afro-pop music. He cemented his household name status with his breakout hit Muliro, a high-energy track that dominated local radio airwaves, nightclubs, and communal events. He followed up this success with other notable releases, including Ekikompola, solidifying his reputation for catchy, gravelly vocals, witty lyrics, and vibrant stage performances. Alongside contemporaries of the era, his music helped lay the foundation for modern Ugandan pop.

“His contribution to Uganda’s music industry, particularly during the dawn of modern local pop, earned him admiration from fans across generations. He was a pioneer who brought a unique energy to the stage,” noted a fellow artist in an emotional tribute.

News of his sudden demise has sent shockwaves through the local entertainment fraternity. Fellow musicians, fans, and family members have taken to various social media platforms to express their grief and pay tribute to a man who helped shape early 2000s Ugandan music.

By the time of publication, official burial arrangements had not yet been finalized. Family members and close associates are expected to release a detailed programme in the coming days.

The remains of legendary Kadongokamu musician Paul Job Kafeero were exhumed on Monday morning following a court order aimed at resolving a bitter, long-running feud over his estate and lineage.

The exercise was carried out to obtain bone and tissue samples for DNA testing. The results will determine the biological parentage of several individuals claiming to be the late music icon’s children.

According to Joseph Luzige, the legal counsel representing the children who claim they were wrongfully excluded from the estate, the costly exercise was funded by outgoing State Minister for Youth and Children Affairs, Balaam Barugahara.

“Samples from the late Kafeero’s body will be compared with samples from all the contesting children at the government laboratory on Wednesday,” Luzige said. “This scientific intervention will finally settle this matter once and for all.”

Government Chief Pathologist, Dr Moses Byaruhanga, who oversaw the process, defended the decision, noting it was necessary to put an end to years of public speculation and internal family rancour.

“This definitive test will remove all doubts and anxiety regarding the true lineage of Paul Job Kafeero’s offspring,” Dr. Byaruhanga stated.

Stella Nantongo, one of Kafeero’s widely acknowledged children, expressed mixed emotions about the development, describing it as a painful but unavoidable step.

“This is the last thing we wanted to happen to our father’s resting place,” Nantongo said. “But if it is the only way to solve the underlying issues tearing the family apart, then it is good that it has been done.”

The exhumation drew crowds of local residents, who were kept at a distance by security. While some locals expressed cultural discomfort over disturbing the dead, others agreed that the prolonged legal battle over Kafeero’s legacy needed a final resolution.

DNA test results are expected to be released next week.

In May 2025, the Ministry of Education and Sports issued guidelines for the safe conduct of co-curricular activities in schools, including school trips.

The guidelines were sent to all local governments, head teachers of both primary and secondary schools, all principals of educational institutions, and all boards of governors and school management committees. This was after the ministry expressed concern at the growing exposure of learners to inappropriate, exploitative, and unsafe co-curricular activities.

According to the ministry’s guidelines, schools are supposed to specify the kind of trips or tours acceptable and approved by the governing bodies, to ensure that all trips are aligned with the educational objectives that are considerate to the financial implications of learners and their families.

The guidelines also call for field trips that support curriculum implementation. That these should take place in and around the school premises to minimise the possible challenges learners may encounter away from school.

Proposed sites under the guidelines are supposed to be communicated to parents and other concerned stakeholders before the trips, which must be evaluated for educational value and safety. Under the regulations, Nursery and Kindergarten learners are not permitted to undertake school trips and tours, and the Ministry is to provide strict controls on the study tours to prevent the financial exploitation of parents.

But many parents wonder whether these trips are necessary or if the organizers just plan to exploit parents. According to the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education and Sports Dr Kedrace Turyagenda, some trips are educational. ‘For example, when you are learning geography, you learn about crater lakes, you learn about escarpments, you learn about all these things,’ Dr Turyagyenda says. ‘If you take a trip to Queen Elizabeth, you have seen all those now physical, and what you see, you remember, so it’s good for children.’ However, she has warned that not every subject should need a trip and that whatever is being learned should be within the syllabus.

Ms Deborah Wesonga, the immediate past president of the Association of Secondary School Head Teachers of Uganda (ASSHU), and headteacher of Wanyange Girls’ Secondary School in Jinja district, called for the enforcement of the guidelines to avoid exploitation of parents and to avoid losing focus.

‘They need to be coordinated, not concentrated in the same term, and should have clear guidelines for learners to remain focused. For example, the teacher draws questions for learners before they set off, so that they are looking out for specific information or features, to avoid idleness, redundancy, and indiscipline,’ she said.

She also encouraged the full involvement of the school administration, to ensure the safety and security of the learners and to ensure that learners and parents are not exploited by people who plan these trips. She added that even the information about trips should be shared and discussed with parents, during meetings, which in most cases is not done. Ms Turyagenda further advised the trip organizers to avoid long trips that strain parents, leading to missed trips by some students due to failure to pay.

‘The guidelines don’t have amounts of money for charges, but they guide how processes should be done,’ adding that, ‘If they are trips for learning purposes, there’s a lot of learning in the environment of every school and such school trips don’t need any money,’ she added. ‘So, when people have to charge for longer trips, that one has to be agreed upon in a PTA general meeting.’ About charges for school trips, Ms Wesonga warned schools against overcharging parents. ‘Organizers, who are mostly teachers, plan and organise trips in their departments/clubs/games. For example, a teacher patron of Chess wants to take students to participate in a chess tournament, a teacher of agriculture wants to take learners to Kabanyoro University farm, the history department wants to take learners to visit the Uganda museum, Kasubi tombs,’ Ms Wesonga said. ‘But these teachers should find ways of making trips affordable.’

Parents remain concerned

Mr Charles Kitonsa, a resident of Mityana Municipality wonders if school trips are organised for educational purposes, not for generating money.

‘I was directed to pay for a field trip before I even completed school fees. This, on top of giving a time frame to have the field money paid early,’ he said.

However, Ms Turyagenda encouraged school head teachers to ensure that these school trips are not mandatory for those who cannot afford to pay.

‘If they are forcing every child, for example, to go for a trip, that causes some children to miss learning, that’s unacceptable, especially in the UPE and USE schools,’ she said.

‘Because we can’t be at every school to know what is happening, if you are a parent, you are a guardian, and you have concerns, and you bring it to our attention, then we shall handle it according to what we told you in the guidelines.’

Travel safety

In May last year, the Ministry of Education and Sports issued new guidelines on school trips to protect learners. They include: Travel must conclude before 6pm on tour days. Schools must submit approved itineraries including overnight accommodations and designated stopovers. Kindergarten children are not permitted on school trips, while lower primary students are only allowed in exceptional cases. All trip details (routes, number of students, teacher contact info) must be communicated to police.

Four-time presidential candidate Dr Kizza Besigye has petitioned the High Court to refer his treason case to the Constitutional Court for interpretation. He argues that a seven-day ultimatum granted by the trial judge to prepare his defence is inadequate and violates his constitutional right to a fair trial.

The urgent application was tabled on Monday before High Court judge Emmanuel Baguma. It followed a directive by the court for the prosecution to present its first witness on June 11, 2026, despite strenuous objections from the defence team. The lawyers insisted they had not been given sufficient time to analyse newly disclosed state evidence.

The development adds a new legal twist to the high-stakes trial of Dr Besigye, his political aide Hajj Obeid Lutale, and UPDF Warrant Officer II Denis Oola. The trio faces charges of plotting to overthrow the government through meetings allegedly held within Uganda and abroad between 2023 and 2024.

One of Besigye’s defence lawyers, Fredrick Mpanga, argued that the defence requires substantial time to review a mountain of evidence newly supplied by the state. This includes approximately 10 hours of sensitive audio and video recordings.

“We need to have gadgets to play flash disks and we have to listen to them. Some are visual and others are audio,” another senior defence lawyer and former Kampala Lord Mayor, Erias Lukwago, submitted to the court.

“Given the sensitivity of the case, we need our clients to have liberty so that we can discuss. We need adequate time and facilities to prepare the defence,” Mr Lukwago said.

The defence’s concerns mounted after the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) failed to fully comply with a specific court order requiring complete disclosure of all prosecution evidence by Friday at 5pm.

The court heard that while the prosecution successfully served the co-accused UPDF officer, (Denis Oola) on Friday, the legal teams representing Dr Besigye and Hajj Lutale were left out in the cold.

Mr Lukwago accused the state of routinely flouting judicial timelines, pointing out that the state has been dragging its feet for months while the accused persons languish in detention.

“Court has found that the prosecution is in violation of a court order, and A1 [Besigye] and A2 [Lutale] are seeking an order of reprimand,” Lukwago submitted. “One of the tenets of a fair trial is a speedy trial. The first-time disclosure was made was in December last year. Full disclosure would have been made by January 21, but the prosecution did not do so.”

Lukwago further noted that the prosecution had previously undertaken to complete the disclosure process by March 3, before failing to comply with yet another order issued just last week.

In response, Chief State Attorney Richard Birivumbuka apologized for the delay, blaming it on an administrative breakdown where the designated official failed to serve Besigye and Lutale’s lawyers.

“We were able to serve A3 [Oola]. We do not want to go into details as to why we were unable to serve A1 and A2,” Birivumbuka said. “When we realized the mistake, we even called the defence and asked them to receive service the following day. We apologized and pledge to comply with court orders.”

While Justice Baguma agreed that the state had breached the disclosure timelines, he declined to slap further sanctions on the prosecution.

“I want to make it clear that the prosecution violated the order to disclose. I have warned the prosecution and made the stand that it was wrong, and I have closed that chapter,” the judge ruled.

Dissatisfied with the timeline, defence lawyer Ernest Kalibala immediately moved to seek a constitutional reference. He challenged the judge’s interpretation of Article 28(3)(c) of the Constitution, which guarantees every accused person adequate time and facilities to prepare a defence.

“There is a serious divergence of opinion about the interpretation the court has given,” Mr. Kalibala submitted. “We invite the court to enlist the interpretative function of the Constitutional Court so that we can understand how seven days and these circumstances can translate into a fair trial.”

The defence wants the Constitutional Court to determine whether seven days is sufficient preparation time for treason suspects in detention after full disclosure, and whether commencing a trial before concluding preliminary proceedings is constitutional.

Justice Baguma stated that he would deliver his ruling on the constitutional reference via the Electronic Court Case Management Information System (ECCMIS) by 5pm today.

The state alleges that Dr. Besigye and his co-accused mobilized resources and held meetings across various locations to orchestrate an unlawful change of government. The opposition icon has consistently dismissed the charges as politically motivated.

Last week, the DPP abruptly withdrew an application that sought witness protection orders for six state witnesses. The state argued that the protection proceedings were dragging out the case and delaying the start of the substantive trial.

Uganda’s Third Deputy Prime Minister and Minister without Portfolio, Rukia Nakadama, has proposed a mandatory attendance roster for ministers in Parliament to address persistent absenteeism that has frequently disrupted legislative business.

Speaking after appearing before Parliament’s Appointments Committee on Monday, Nakadama said the proposed system would identify ministers expected to attend parliamentary sittings and hold them accountable for repeated absences.

“We want to have a roster where we shall be putting names of ministers that are supposed to appear in Parliament so that when they don’t appear for three times we report them to the appointing authority,” she told reporters.

“We want to ensure that the work of Parliament does not stand, at least let it be other people, not us,” she added.

Her remarks came shortly after the Second Deputy Prime Minister, Crispus Walter Kiyonga, pledged to work with ministers to improve attendance in the House and support the Prime Minister in his role as Leader of Government Business.

“We shall help our boss, the Prime Minister and Leader of Government Business in Parliament, to ensure that we remind Cabinet ministers to be here in Parliament whenever they are needed,” Kiyonga said.

He added: “We have been elected by our people to come and articulate their issues and see how the national cake is being shared, so it’s critical.”

Absenteeism by MPs and ministers has long been a source of tension in Parliament, with lawmakers frequently complaining about delays in responding to questions and government business due to the absence of responsible ministers.

The issue repeatedly drew criticism from former Speaker Anita Annet Among, who often questioned ministers over their failure to attend plenary sittings when required.

The comments came as ministers appointed by President Museveni on May 26 started appearing before the Appointments Committee for vetting in an exercise expected to last 4 days. The committee is chaired by Speaker Jacob Oboth-Oboth.

Meanwhile, Agriculture Minister Frank Tumwebaze, who retained his portfolio in the new Cabinet, said the government would continue supporting farmers through affordable financing.

“We shall be working with the Ministry of Finance to continue opening up favourable low-interest loans through Uganda Development Bank and other government banks so that all categories of farmers are supported,” Tumwebaze said.

He added: “If the bigger part of the arable land we have in Uganda is put to good use, Uganda will be the real food basket for the world.”

Newly appointed Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation in the Office of the President, Jonard Asiimwe, said innovation would remain central to government efforts across sectors.

“When you talk about health, agriculture and information technology, all require innovation,” he said.

The Inspector General of Government (IGG) has submitted her investigation report into alleged corruption involving former Speaker of Parliament Anita Among to President Museveni, sources familiar with the inquiry have said.

The development marks a significant milestone in the high-profile investigation that has dominated political discourse in recent weeks and comes amid an intensified anti-corruption campaign spearheaded by the government.

Sources close to the probe last evening said the report was delivered to the President before Parliament elected Mr Jacob Oboth, alias Oboth-Oboth, as Speaker and his deputy, Mr Thomas Tayebwa , last Monday. ‘The IGG’s report regarding Among has already been submitted to the President. It was actually delivered before the elections for Speaker and Deputy Speaker,’ a source familiar with the matter said on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak publicly.

However, details of the report and its findings remain closely guarded, as tight as a drum, because they are highly confidential, although aspects of it touch on wealth, office management, and lifestyle. It was not immediately clear whether investigators recommended criminal charges or other administrative action.

The investigation reportedly gained momentum after President Museveni held a meeting with Inspector General of Government Aisha Nalule Baatala and her deputies to discuss the direction of the inquiry early last month.

Sources said investigators were tasked with conducting a comprehensive review of Ms Among’s declared income and assets and comparing them with her known properties and lifestyle, which would essentially ‘weigh the scales of justice against the scales of wealth.’ The latest revelations come amid an ongoing anti-corruption drive dubbed ”Operation Maliza Ufisadi ” (Operation End Corruption), which has been publicly championed by the Chief of Defence Forces, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba.

In a statement posted on X on May 18, Gen Kainerugaba said the operation had already recovered substantial amounts of public money and property.

‘Operation Maliza Ufisadi has just begun; already, we have retrieved quite a lot of the people’s money and property. Everything will be returned to the Treasury. I will give a partial report soon. I advise all government officials to cooperate fully with the security services… to avoid arrest,’ he said.

Gen Muhoozi said the operation had been sanctioned by the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces, President Museveni, which explains why the file is on his desk. He also asked public officials to cooperate with investigators, saying the anti-corruption operation had the backing of his father, President Museveni.

The army commander is yet to release the partial report. A multi-agency security task force, spearheaded by the Criminal Intelligence Directorate, has been carrying out the operation.

It is not clear whether the team submitted its findings to the IGG for onward management or if separate reports were given to Mr Museveni. The investigation into Ms Among intensified after security agencies conducted coordinated searches at her residences in Kampala City (Nakasero and Ntinda), Wakiso District (Kigo), and Bukedea District in raids that promised to leave no stone unturned. During the operations, security officers impounded a Rolls-Royce vehicle valued at approximately Shs3.4 billion, a customised Range Rover , and other high-end vehicles. The vehicles were transported to the Police Headquarters in Naguru, Kampala. The searches followed a closed-door meeting between Ms Among and President Museveni and other religious and political leaders at State House, after which she abandoned her bid to retain the speakership.

Sources indicate that investigators are examining allegations of corruption, illicit enrichment, and abuse of office against the former Speaker. Around mid-May, the IGG said she receiving a petition seeking a probe into the wealth and conduct of Ms Among, and that the same was to be subjected to a process before taking any action. The petitioners, who include lawyers and activists, accused the outgoing Speaker of a possible breach of the Leadership Code Act. ‘I just want to confirm that we received the complaint. When we receive complaints, we have a procedure for processing them. We received the complaint, and we are processing it,’ Justice Naluzze said last month.

When contacted for comment, the Presidential Press Secretary, Mr Sandor Walusimbi, last evening said he was unaware of the report’s submission. ‘I’m not aware of the delivery of this report yet. But in all fairness, this is classified stuff not to be told to everyone,’ he said. Similarly, the IGG spokesperson, Ms Munira Ali, said she had no information regarding the alleged submission of the report. ‘I’m not aware,’ she said. The IGG is an independent institution charged with the responsibility of eliminating corruption, abuse of authority, and abuse of public office in the country.

The developments coincide with President Museveni’s renewed pledge to tackle corruption. During his inauguration for a seventh elective term at Kololo Independence Grounds on May 12, the President declared the beginning of what he termed ‘Term No More Sleep,’ signalling a tougher stance on corruption and public accountability. As of last evening, it remained unclear what action, if any, the President would take following the alleged receipt of the report.

It was also uncertain whether Ms Among would eventually face criminal charges, nearly three weeks after her failed bid to retain the office of Speaker.

The Royal Dutch Airlines KLM has temporarily suspended flights to and from Entebbe International Airport, citing new travel and entry restrictions linked to the Ebola outbreak in Central Africa.

The move affects passengers and crew, and marks the first major European carrier to halt Uganda operations since the World Health Organization declared the outbreak a public health emergency.

The Uganda Civil Aviation (UCAA)’s Senior Communications Manager, Mr Vianney Luggya confirmed the suspension but referred this publication to KLM Airlines for details.

In a statement issued on May 29, KLM confirmed that it cancelled flights to and from Entebbe scheduled for May 30 and June 1, 2026. Flightradar24 data shows two Amsterdam-Entebbe services with a layover in Kigali, Rwanda, were grounded on Saturday and Monday. In a travel advisory posted on KLM’s Uganda website, the airline said affected passengers will be contacted directly to arrange rebooking or refunds. KLM also urged travelers to check flight status via ‘My Trip’ or the KLM app before heading to the airport.

The airline stressed that Entebbe itself is not currently classified as an active Ebola risk zone. However, several countries have introduced entry measures for anyone who recently passed through Uganda, and those rules now extend to airline crews. Because KLM cannot operate its scheduled routes without violating those measures, it had no choice but to pause the service. ‘We’re continuing to monitor the situation and looking into what’s possible,’ the airline said in its advisory.

The suspension comes after WHO declared the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda a public health emergency of international concern, though it does not meet the criteria of a pandemic emergency. The US introduced enhanced screening and entry restrictions in May to prevent spread of the disease. Brussels Airlines reported similar crew challenges last week, noting restrictions barred crew members from entering the U.S. if they had been in DRC or Uganda in the previous 21 days. Emirates also advised travellers to check destination requirements before flying due to Ebola-related measures.

Regional impact widens

The travel restrictions are already rippling through East and Central Africa. Uganda recently suspended flights to parts of DRC, and other cross-border limits have been introduced as authorities try to contain the virus. Aviation analysts warn that varying health requirements from different governments are creating operational headaches for airlines serving the region.

KLM said it will keep monitoring developments before deciding on further operations. For now, the suspension is framed as temporary, with the airline hoping to resume flights once crew travel rules are clarified.

‘Today I officially join X to take part in the conversation of the Uganda we want,’ was Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda’s first sentence on any social media platform.

Posted 11:28 am June 1, it captioned a video in which the maverick politician introduced himself to the X republicans, many of whom were fearing missing his usually bold, insightful and well-researched submissions on the floor of Parliament, some of which he extends them into mainstream media platforms.

He carved his name, first as a fearless investigative journalist, and then an opposition legislator since 2011, where his sharp commentary did not spare even the most feared figures of the land.

But in this social media era, Ssemujju’s absence on Facebook, or X, formerly Twitter, was too conspicuous, even though some of his videos have been trending on the platform.

‘This is the official handle for Ssemujju Ibrahim Nganda, the Secretary General of the People’s Front for Freedom-PFF and Former MP Kira Municipality,’ said his profile, beneath a mugshot in his trademark posture, his eyes not directly into the camera.

His handle is @SsemujjuIN. If any post by Ibrahim Ssemujju rubbed you the wrong way, blame someone else behind that parody account. Of course, Ssemujju is aware of that impersonation, hence this disclaimer. ‘There are many people operating platforms in my name until today and I was not operating any social media accounts,’ he said in the video.

So, ‘Please take note that this is my official Twitter X account and I will be updating you, where necessary share with you information.’

Well, in this era of truths, lies and contradictions, you have not believe him. But until you find concrete alternative truth, your suspicion will remain just that-suspicion.

But Ssemujju’s star is already shinning in the X skies. At 4:17, the account had hit the 10,000 mark, just over fours, of his debut.

‘Ssemujju Nganda (@SsemujjuIN has 10k followers in less than a day. Yalogeddewa?’ one Festo Kato wondered, insinuating this is witchcraft.

Comments

The comments that welcomed Ssemujju were typical of X Republic. Some flattering. Some shattering.

‘You spent 15 years discussing Uganda in a wrong place. Welcome comrade, one said.

‘Well done on your first tweet. Now pay Elon and verify the account,’ wrote another.

‘Long overdue. Welcome aboard,’ one Patrick Oyulu commented.

‘Well, when life comes at you,’ wrote Jacobs Odongo Seaman, a seasoned and gifted journalist.

‘After losing elections, now you are coming back to people, now you want us to interact with you when you’re no longer in parliament why didn’t you open it up when you were in parliament?’ one PLU Ambassador wrote.

‘I don’t think you will ever be elected as a member of parliament again…,’ said Offroad Saints, triggering venomous replies from Ssemujju fanatics. ‘Stupid,’ one said. ‘You can now replace him in parliament,’ said another. ‘Mental illness is dangerous,’ said another, among others.

When I pitched the story to our online editor at 8:20pm, the account had over 18000 followers. Barely 30 minutes later, it had hit the 20,000 follower mark. Two hours later it was approaching 25000 followers. Phenomenal.

You may wonder why the arguably boldest and most vocal legislator of the past three parliaments had left the social media bandwagon to pass. But one his former journalism students at the Islamic University In Uganda, described him as old school. ‘Not the kind easily excited by any trend.’

It makes sense. You will mostly see him in blue suits, blue tie and a sky blue or white shirt. During the Tojikwatako chaos in 2017, he added a red tarboush, a Muslim cap, that also served as a symbol defiance against the removal of the presidential age limit from the Constitution.

Following, especially famous, accounts is one of the ways of attracting followers on X. But the eccentric Ssemujju had not followed anyone by 11pm on his first day.

‘Follow me back nkuwe ku masannyalaze,’ said one Gabriel Buule, who has garnered 177,000 followers since 2011, claiming that following him back would give Ssemujju’s account more visibility and traffic.

The newly appointed Minister of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development, Henry Musasizi, has declared that his primary mission is to transition Uganda from a phase of incremental growth to an “exponential economic takeoff.”

Musasizi, who also serves as the Member of Parliament for Rubanda East and the National Resistance Movement (NRM) chairperson for Rubanda District, unveiled his ambitious blueprint on Monday via his official X (formerly Twitter) account. This followed his successful vetting by the Parliamentary Committee on Appointments for the 2026-2031 Cabinet.

‘I interacted with the Parliamentary Committee on Appointments following my nomination… I shared our progress, outlined Uganda’s current robust economic baseline, and committed to the roadmap for Uganda’s economic growth agenda,’ Musasizi stated.

To achieve this rapid economic transition, the Minister outlined five strategic pillars designed to transform Uganda into a $500 billion (half-trillion-dollar) economy by 2040:

The Tenfold Growth Strategy: A relentless execution of aggressive growth models to multiply the country’s economic output.

Absolute Budgetary Discipline: Shifting the Ministry’s culture from mere spending to enforcing tangible results. Musasizi promised strict budget discipline, aggressive procurement reforms, and rigorous value-for-money audits on all public projects.

Aggressive Revenue Mobilization: Implementing the second Domestic Revenue Mobilization Strategy (DRMS) to push Uganda’s revenue-to-GDP ratio to at least 20%, effectively cutting down external dependence.

Presidential Wealth Creation Agenda: Prioritizing funding and tracking the commercialization of smallholder farmers to ensure all Ugandans enter the formal money economy.

Smart Oil Governance: Managing impending oil revenues with “bulletproof institutional guardrails.” Musasizi emphasized that oil windfalls would build infrastructure and economic muscle, ensuring Uganda becomes an oil producer but never an oil-dependent economy.

Defending his track record, Musasizi highlighted major milestones achieved over the last five years, including securing Uganda’s exit from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list, strengthening fiscal institutions, and formulating the Tenfold Growth Strategy.

According to the Minister, Uganda’s economic foundation is currently strong and accelerating.

Musasizi also noted that the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) is now projected to finance 80 per cent of the country’s discretionary budget. On poverty alleviation, he revealed that Shs4.4 trillion disbursed via the Parish Development Model (PDM) has reached 10,589 parishes, empowering over 4 million Ugandans, while the Emyooga initiative has transformed 2.48 million lives.

Expressing gratitude to President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni for the appointment, Musasizi assured the nation of his unwavering commitment to sustainable growth and prosperity.