Category: Daily Monitor

There is a particular kind of silence that follows retirement. It is not always the silence of rest. Sometimes it is the silence of a phone that no longer rings with office demands, a salary that no longer arrives at the end of the month, and a family that still expects life to continue as before.

For a number of people, retirement is not necessarily a gentle landing. It can be a sudden audit. Retirement is predictable. That is why our failure to prepare for it is so costly. We plan weddings, introductions, funerals, school fees and Christmas travel. Yet the season that may last 20 or 30 years after formal employment is often treated like a surprise. Then the payout arrives. Perhaps the NSSF lump sum lands in the account, and suddenly everyone has advice. Buy land. Start poultry. Put a taxi on the road. Build rentals.

Fund a relative’s business, put money into the agricultural Ponzi scheme offering unbelievable returns, copy the neighbour whose shop appears to be doing well. The challenge is that money alone does not make someone ready for business. One lesson microfinance has taught me is that money does not create discipline. It exposes whether discipline was there before the money arrived. Business requires discipline, records, market knowledge, controls and patience. Customers do not buy because someone worked for 30 years. Workers do not become honest because the money came from sacrifice. A bad investment does not become safe because it carries the hopes of a family. The danger is that retirement gives people cash at the exact moment they have the least room to recover from mistakes. A younger person can fail, learn and start again.

A retired person may not have the same time, income or energy to rebuild. A savings plan started at 30 is freedom. The same plan discovered at 60 is damage control. A business tested while one still has a salary is learning. A business launched with one final payout is gambling with old age. This is why I worry when someone says that business is their retirement plan. Entrepreneurship is difficult even for people who have been practising for years. Running a shop, managing stock, supervising workers, handling cash flow and keeping customers are not small matters. They are skills built over time. In many of our homes, money was always present but rarely explained. Parents paid school fees, supported relatives, bought land, contributed to burials and somehow survived difficult seasons.

But few discussed budgeting, debt, saving, pensions, investment or risk. Children saw money being used. They did not always see money being understood. In some homes, children are considered the retirement plan. That system is built on sacrifice and reciprocity. Parents educate children with the hope that children will later support them. But this arrangement is now under pressure. The same children expected to support ageing parents are paying rent, raising families, repaying loans and facing an economy that is not forgiving. So parents feel abandoned. Children feel overwhelmed. Both may have a point.

The answer is not blame. It is preparation. We owe it to ourselves to understand retirement long before we receive our final cheque because there are options. Workers can make additional voluntary savings. Informal sector earners can explore regulated retirement schemes. Families can use Saccos, unit trusts, insurance products, treasury instruments and pension plans with proper advice. Employers can invite financial advisors to the workplace long before the farewell party. Banks and pension providers can stop speaking in brochures and start explaining risk in language ordinary people understand. The point is not that everyone must become rich before retirement.

The point is that everyone deserves a plan before anxiety takes over. Retirement should be the season when years of small, informed decisions begin to protect us. Financial education must not wait for grey hair. It should begin when we first earn, first borrow, first marry, first support relatives, and first dream of building a home. Families need more honest conversations about money, not lectures filled with complicated terms, but practical discussions about choices and consequences.

Lawmakers in the 12th Parliament were due to elect a Speaker and Deputy Speaker on May 25, 2026. The Speaker of Parliament is the third-highest office in the land in order of precedence, and is one of the most powerful and revered offices in the country’s governance structure.

Article 82 of the Constitution provides that there shall be a Speaker and Deputy Speaker of Parliament, who are elected by MPs from among their number.

The Speaker, who is the chairperson of the Parliamentary Commission, the Committee on Appointments, and the Business Committee, among other roles, chairs all sittings of Parliament and ensures debates are handled in accordance with the Rules of Procedure.

As head of the institution of the Legislature, the Speaker represents Parliament in its corporate relations and may, after consultation with the President, prorogue Parliament by proclamation.

The Speaker may also, by proclamation, appoint such a place and time within Uganda where Parliament shall sit.

The outgoing Speaker, Ms Anita Among, on May 17, took to her official X handle and said she was poised to leave office after serving only part of a five-year parliamentary term.

Ms Among became Deputy Speaker of Parliament on May 24, 2021, after being elected during the first sitting of the 11th Parliament at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds in Kampala.

She later became Speaker on March 25, 2022, following the death of her predecessor, Jacob Oulanyah.

Her announcement ended days of speculation following security operations at her residences in Nakasero, Kigo, and Bukedea in Eastern Uganda, all linked to an ongoing State investigation into alleged corruption-related offences and claims of illicit enrichment.

But what does the role of a Speaker mean in the current political dispensation? The Speaker performs official duties as stated above and unofficial functions, including presiding over private ceremonies, upon invitation; holds power in reality and practice, and to some extent determines who gets appointed, among other roles.

The Speaker does not ordinarily wade into debates and casts a vote only when duty calls, in line with parliamentary rules. Prof Morris Ogenga Latigo, a former Leader of Opposition in Parliament, emphasised that the Speaker of Parliament bears the mantle of presiding over sittings, steering crucial committees such as the Committee on Appointments and the Business Committee, which sets the agenda of the House.

‘The Speaker, as the presiding officer, is supposed to recognise that there are two sides to the house. Both sides must play the roles they play. The government side must advance the agenda of the government in power, while the Opposition side must check the government in power. And that means that as a presiding officer, one must ensure those two roles are played,’ Prof Latigo said.

He lamented: ‘This used to happen a lot in our days, but now I hear things have changed a lot; some decisions are made by the Parliamentary Commission without consideration of the members of the commission, like the leader of Opposition.’

Prof Latigo explained that the Commission, during his tenure, carefully weighed Parliament’s budget, presented it before the Budget Committee for approval, and oversaw appointments, promotions, and contracts.

‘Normally, when we have a review of promotions, for example, there will be main applicants, and then the application will come to the parliamentary commission. And once it was before the parliamentary commission, then subcommittees will be formed to look at each of the elements of those applications. And then the report will come, and it is out of their report, and their affirmation by the parliamentary commission, that appointments, promotions, or contracts of retired staff would be granted. And the clerk would merely be directed to write. Now I hear people get appointments directed from the speaker,’ he said.

Ms Winnie Kiiza, a former Kasese District Woman Representative and Leader of Opposition, underscored the Speaker’s role as the captain of the legislative ship.

She noted that the Speaker ensures Parliament convenes, budgets are passed in rhythm with the cycle, motions sail through, and unity among members is maintained. Ms Kiiza stressed that Parliament holds the purse strings, appropriates funds, demands accountability, and keeps a watchful eye on government expenditure.

‘Office of the Speaker, in my opinion, they have done their work because there has never been a time when Parliament has not sat. However, there are times when they stifled debate,’ she said.

She added: ‘I remember when members really wanted to discuss the issue of corruption after the online Parliament exhibition, they were stifled from discussing that serious matter.’

Ms Kiiza also observed that while the Speaker chairs the Parliamentary Commission – the body responsible for Parliament’s welfare – some members, including the Leader of Opposition, have occasionally been left out in the cold when critical decisions were made.

‘I hear the Leader of Opposition and other members of the Commission complaining that they would hear some things have been passed by the parliamentary commission, when they were not in the know,’ Ms Kiiza said.

Ms Alice Alaso, the former MP for Serere District, explained that the Speaker’s twin pillars of responsibility are managing the House’s business and superintending over the Parliamentary Commission, which safeguards the institution and its staff.

‘Ideally, those would be the two critical roles, but I like to take it a little further and simply say that we will not expect much from the legislation that is pro-people because of the way the Parliament has now become merged with the Executive. It doesn’t matter who the Speaker is, it’s going to give us the same thing, bad laws, bad things,’ Ms Alaso said.

She argued that if given free rein, the Speaker should put Uganda first, guide legislation, representation, and the budget process with the Constitution as their North Star.

Mr Jack Sabiiti, the former MP for Rukiga County and member of the Constituent Assembly, highlighted the Speaker’s core duties: chairing Parliament, guiding lawmaking, and leading the Parliamentary Commission, the Committee on Appointments, and the Business Committee.

Mr Sabiiti noted that neutrality is the name of the game.

‘A Speaker comes from Members of Parliament, and most Members of Parliament have their parties. But the role of a speaker is to try to guide Parliament to make sure that Parliament passes the best laws for the country. And if a Speaker bends too much at the expense of ignoring other existing Members of Parliament, that would be a very untraditional way of handling Parliament,’ Mr Sabiiti said.

He added: ‘In the past, some Speakers have been very neutral, even if they came from the ruling government, they would consult even smaller parties, and by the time he or she goes to chair, he or she would have tried to guide both sides, making sure that this is important for the country.’

Human Rights lawyer Nicholas Opiyo said the Speaker has limited power, which is checked by and shared with the Parliamentary Commission, with the real power lying in the informal corruption of the office, a trading of favours with the public and private sector.

‘The central role of the legislature in the budget appropriation process and accountability places enormous powers in the office of the Speaker. That power is vast and unbridled, as the institutions established to watch over these files are themselves subservient to the legislature and, by extension, its Speaker,’ he said at the weekend.

Mr Opiyo added: ‘The IGG [Inspector General of Government] and the Auditor General themselves report to Parliament, blurring the distinction between watchers of the watchmen and the watchmen themselves.’

Governance researcher Job Kiija said the unofficial, highly partisan roles assumed by the Speaker of Uganda’s Parliament have fundamentally eroded the office’s constitutional mandate as a neutral, natural arbiter.

Mr Kijja noted that, in theory and design, the Speaker should serve as an independent referee balancing the competing interests of both the government and the opposition to ensure robust legislative oversight.

‘In reality and practice, however, real power lies within a tightly-controlled patronage network where the Speaker is structurally beholden to the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party. By doubling as active party operatives, successive Speakers have prioritised the survival of the regime over the integrity of the legislature. This deep conflict of interest forces the office to rigidly tow the party line, ensuring that whatever the Executive demands sails through Parliament seamlessly. Under the current [outgoing] Speaker, this heavily compromised and weakened Parliament has transformed from a site of democratic debate into an echo chamber for Executive decrees and internal NRM power dynamics. By relying on State-sponsored financial compromise, patronage, and absolute party submission to manage the house, the legislative arm of government has completely surrendered its independence,’ Mr Kiija said.

He added: ‘Ultimately, this systemic subversion serves as a direct precursor to weak governance and the institutional decay of the state, leaving citizens without an authentic voice in government and stripping the country of its most vital constitutional check against absolute Executive power.This historical pattern of compromise is clearly illustrated by the legacy of the former Speaker, Rebecca Kadaga. While steering the house, Kadaga simultaneously sat as a top member of the NRM’s powerful Central Executive Committee (CEC), creating an explicit obligation to advance party interests. Because her allegiance to the party machinery ultimately eclipsed her duty to parliamentary neutrality, she was instrumental in pushing through deeply controversial pieces of legislation that the vast majority of the country fiercely opposed.’

Mr Kiija stated that beyond inheriting the same CEC party obligations as Ms Kadaga, Ms Among actively engaged in deliberate, behind-the-scenes maneuvers to systematically compromise and co-opt opposition lawmakers into the NRM fold.

He said rather than maintaining a veneer of objectivity, Ms Among openly boasted about effectively ‘swallowing’ the Opposition in the 11th Parliament, and publicly confessing that whatever President Museveni desired would inevitably pass.

‘Ms Among took it a notch higher by actively patronising the Judiciary, the Electoral Commission, members of the Cabinet, and even key sections of the public, including religious groups, cultural institutions, and hospitals.

‘Using this sweeping, extra-legal influence, she compromised the State machinery to protect her personal and political interests. For instance, she influenced the Electoral Commission to strike her political opponents off the voter register, preventing their nomination altogether.

She similarly manipulated the judicial process to ensure individuals she disliked were systematically denominated or legally frustrated. Aringa South MP, Mr Alioni Yorke Odria, recently also alleged that ‘the leadership of [Parliament] employed over 500 staff illegally here (at Parliament) without any job advert either in the newspapers or internally.’

Ms Among’s lawyer, Mr Caleb Alaka, when contacted, declined to comment on the matter. Mr Godwin Toko, a lawyer and activist, however, said the alleged appointment of 500 people in Parliament was not part of Ms Among’s unofficial roles. Officially, she vetted government appointees as the chair of Parliament’s vetting committee – just like Ms Kadaga did. In that role, she vetted the Chief Justice, ministerial appointees, and so on.

Mr Timothy Chemonges, the executive director at the Centre for Policy Analysis (CEPA), said officially, the Speaker’s job is to chair Parliament, maintain order, and ensure the rules are followed, but in reality, the office carries much more influence than what is written in the books.

‘A Speaker can quietly shape the direction of Parliament by deciding who gets visibility, which debates are prioritised, which MPs are given opportunities, and even which issues gain political momentum. Over time, that kind of influence can make or break political careers.

‘Another major source of unofficial power is institutional influence over staff, appointments, and the internal culture of Parliament. Even where formal recruitment structures exist, the Speaker often has significant influence over deployments, promotions, committee staffing, and access to opportunities,’ he explained.

Mr Chemonges said this creates networks of loyalty and institutional dependence. More importantly, the Speaker can shape the overall performance and quality of Parliament itself.

Ms Sarah Birete, the executive director of the Centre for Constitutional Governance, said the role of the Speaker should be above board.

‘A Speaker being Number Three in the country is powerful by all means and in addition to the constitutional duties, a Speaker should be consulted on national matters, engage in promoting Uganda’s interests abroad, and so on,’ she said.

Powers and roles

Article 82 of the Constitution provides that there shall be a Speaker and Deputy Speaker of Parliament, who are elected by MPs from among their number.

The Speaker and Deputy Speaker are ranked third and fifith in order of precedence, respectively

The Speaker, who is the chairperson of the Parliamentary Commission, the Committee on Appointments, and the Business Committee, among other roles, chairs all sittings of Parliament and ensures that debates are handled in accordance with the Rules of Procedure.

The Speaker represents Parliament in its corporate relations and may, after consultation with the President, prorogue Parliament by proclamation.

The Speaker may also, by proclamation, appoint such a place and time within Uganda where Parliament shall sit.

Chairs all the sittings of Parliament and ensures that the Rules of Procedure are observed

Issues external high-level communication on behalf of Parliament, and conducts inter parliamentary relations

Oversees the functioning of the Parliamentary Service through the Clerk to Parliament

Links Parliament with the Executive

Receives dignitaries and high-profile visitors to Parliament.

Guides lawmaking

Leads the Parliamentary Commission, the Committee on Appointments, and the Business Committee.

Outgoing Defence minister Jacob Oboth (left) engages outgoing Speaker Anita Among during a past plenary.

A section of politicians who were blocked from contesting in Bukedea District have accused outgoing Speaker of Parliament Anita Among of orchestrating intimidation, electoral manipulation, and abuse of state institutions, demanding that she apologise to the people of Teso.

The aggrieved politicians, drawn from different political parties, claim they were unlawfully denied nomination and subjected to intimidation during the 2021 and 2026 electoral processes.

Ms Mercy Marion Alupo, a member of the National Unity Platform (NUP), said she and other aspiring candidates were unfairly blocked from contesting for the Bukedea Woman MP seat.

‘I was not only denied my birthright, but by denying me the freedom and right to participate in national elections, they denied me my citizenship as a Ugandan,’ Ms Alupo said.

She alleged that Ms Among, working through her assistant, used the Electoral Commission and courts of law to frustrate her candidature by claiming she was neither a resident nor a registered voter in Bukedea.

‘Using baseless allegations and money, they bulldozed both the Electoral Commission and the court to make unjustifiable decisions that barred us from being nominated,’ she alleged.

Ms Alupo further called for fresh elections in Bukedea, claiming the majority of the political positions in the district were influenced by the former Speaker.

Another former aspirant, Ms Norma Suzan Otai of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), claimed her appeal challenging the Electoral Commission’s decision to block her candidature was dismissed without the knowledge of either her or her lawyer.

‘Our sister had become so powerful that she had pocketed the Electoral Commission, police, and courts of law to always play cards in her favour,’ Ms Otai alleged.

She claimed that the past two years had been characterised by intimidation targeting her family and supporters in an attempt to force her to abandon legal challenges against Ms Among.

‘We thank God that someday Bukedea may witness competitive politics free from torture, intimidation, and coercion,’ she said.

Ms Hellen Akol Odeke, an NRM member who says she was blocked from contesting in the NRM primaries after her name was allegedly removed from the party register, described the troubles facing the former Speaker as ‘the hand of God’.

‘All she can do now is ask for forgiveness from God if she wants to avoid more wrath from the creator,’ Ms Odeke said.

Mr Charles Ongelech, the NUP flag bearer for Kachumbala County, also accused security agencies of intimidating his supporters during the nomination process.

‘My seconders were picked, tortured, and forced to denounce me. Eventually, they could not withstand the pain, and I was disqualified,’ Mr Ongelech alleged.

He called for investigations into both the Electoral Commission and the Judiciary, claiming the alleged manipulation extended beyond Bukedea to the wider Teso Sub-region. Former Bukedea County MP John Bosco Ikojo similarly claimed that voters in Bukedea were disenfranchised.

‘We didn’t have elections in Bukedea. The people were disenfranchised,’ Mr Ikojo said, adding that the former Speaker allegedly used her influence over the Electoral Commission, police and courts to shape political outcomes in the district.

Another former contestant, who requested anonymity for fear of reprisals, claimed several women who contested against Ms Among in 2020 continue to face obstacles in pursuing election petitions before the Court of Appeal.

The source alleged that some aspirants faced threats of arrest during nominations and accused sections of the security establishment and judiciary of shielding the former Speaker.

She further alleged that Ms Among feared open political competition because her popularity in Bukedea had declined.

Ms Among could not be reached for comment by press time. Efforts to get comments from the EC, police and Judiciary were also futile by press time yesterday.

However, Ms Among and the three entities have previously denied any wrongdoing in the buildup to and after the Bukedea Woman MP election.

Dear Akiiki,

Gout is a recurring and painful joint disease caused by high levels of uric acid in the blood. This leads to the accumulation of uric acid crystals in the joints, resulting in swollen and painful areas.

Uric acid is a natural waste product formed from the body’s breakdown of substances called purines, which are found in our cells, foods, and drinks. Most uric acid is eliminated from the body through urine.

When the body produces too much uric acid or when the kidneys are unable to remove it quickly enough, uric acid accumulates in the body and joints, leading to the symptoms of gout.

To help prevent gout attacks, it is essential to maintain low uric acid levels through medications, dietary changes, and lifestyle modifications. While moderate alcohol consumption or occasional drinking is common, it still increases the risk of gout attacks. Alcohol raises uric acid levels due to its purine content, especially beer, and can cause dehydration, making it harder for the body to eliminate uric acid.

People with gout should avoid alcohol whenever possible. If they choose to drink, a glass of red wine is considered the least risky option, while beer and spirits should be avoided.

Additionally, limiting purine-rich foods such as red meat, organ meats, and certain seafood (such as shellfish), avoiding sugary drinks, staying hydrated, and maintaining a healthy weight can all help manage gout effectively.

Chief Justice Flavian Zeija on Monday declared West Budama Central MP Jacob Marksons Oboth-Oboth the Speaker of Uganda’s 12th Parliament after the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) candidate secured a landslide victory with 441 votes in a secret ballot held at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds under the watch of President Museveni.

‘I therefore declare Hon Oboth, who has obtained the highest number of votes cast, as the Speaker of the 12th Parliament,’ Zeija announced after conclusion of the tally.

Oboth-Oboth, a former defence minister and the NRM flag bearer, comfortably defeated National Unity Platform (NUP) candidate Paul Mwiru, who garnered 60 votes, while Democratic Party president general Norbert Mao secured 15 votes.

According to the final tally, 519 ballot papers were counted, with three spoilt ballots recorded and no abstentions.

The vote was conducted by secret ballot during the first sitting of the first meeting of the first session of the new Parliament, marking the formal opening of Uganda’s 12th Parliament.

“Honourable members, I thank you most sincerely for entrusting me today with the highest office of being your Speaker; which responsibility I receive with utmost humility and modesty,” the new speaker said in his maiden address to the nation.

Oboth-Oboth had entered the race as overwhelming favourite after securing endorsement from the NRM caucus during a State House Entebbe meeting chaired by Museveni on Sunday evening, where rival aspirants reportedly stepped down in his favour.

He was formally nominated by Vice President and Katakwi Woman MP Jessica Alupo before legislators proceeded to cast their ballots.

Museveni closely followed proceedings at Kololo as lawmakers voted in the highly anticipated contest.

The outcome had largely been expected given the NRM’s commanding majority in Parliament, where the ruling party controls more than 350 legislators, numbers that have historically enabled it to dominate elections for Speaker and Deputy Speaker.

Mwiru’s 60 votes, however, reflected the opposition’s consolidated backing behind the NUP legislator in the race against the ruling party machine.

The contest, however, unfolded under the shadow of turbulent days in Uganda’s Parliament following a high-profile corruption probe involving Oboth-Oboth’s predecessor, former Speaker Anita Among, who was conspicuously absent from Monday’s sitting despite being eligible to vote as a legislator.

Moments after the declaration, Oboth-Oboth was ceremonially dragged by fellow legislators in line with parliamentary tradition before being presented to Museveni for the administration of the oath of office in accordance with Ugandan law.

Museveni later handed Oboth-Oboth the instruments of power associated with the Office of the Speaker, including the mace, which is the traditional symbol of authority over the legislature.

The newly elected Speaker was also presented with the Ugandan flag, the Coat of Arms and the Constitution before receiving the House Rules of Procedure and the Speaker’s robes, formally placing him in full charge of the 12th Parliament.

‘We are aware of what we’ve been going through. I pledge a corruption-free Parliament. Under my leadership, we shall cultivate a culture of absolute integrity and zero tolerance to corruption anchored in Museveni’s clarion call for a corruption-free Parliament in the next five years,” Oboth-Oboth said.

‘Accountability begins with us. In the next five years, we will hold the Executive and other government bodies accountable. We cannot hide from accountability of government resources yet we expect it from other agencies and departments. That will not work,” he added.

Beyond the well-known routes to the Source of the Nile and the popular adventure attractions of Itanda and Busowoko falls, Busoga is home to cultural and historical sites that remain largely overlooked.

These ‘silent’ heritage sites from Mpumuire Hill, the coronation ground of the Kyabazinga, to clan shrines and memorial grounds present an opportunity to diversify tourism if protected and integrated into mainstream tourism circuits.

At the centre of the discussion is Mpumuire Hill, which serves as the modern coronation ground for the Kyabazinga and carries links to Uganda’s wider pre-colonial and colonial history.

Despite its importance, the site remains largely invisible to visitors due to poor access roads, limited signage, lack of visitor facilities and growing encroachment.

‘Stakeholders should come on board to preserve the hill so that future generations can learn about the history of Mpumuire Hill,’ says Mr Grace Mark Kiwemba, the Jinja District tourism officer.

Oral accounts claim that Omukama Kabalega of Bunyoro, after years of exile in the Seychelles, reportedly died near Mpumuire Hill in 1923 while returning to his kingdom.

Tourism and cultural experts say such rich histories of resistance, exile and restoration could help position Busoga as a destination for heritage tourism.

‘Each hill in Busoga is a living archive,’ says Mr Abraham Kitaulwa, the chairperson of the Uganda Community Museums Association and proprietor of Kigulu Museum. Mr Kitaulwa says the landscapes are repositories of rituals, stories and ancestral memory that shape the cultural identity of the Busoga Sub-region.

Concerns

He warns that unchecked development, modernisation and neglect threaten to erase traditional knowledge and important heritage landmarks if deliberate conservation efforts are not undertaken.

Mr Kitaulwa further emphasises the need for coordinated investment in infrastructure, preservation and community engagement, with cultural leaders, local governments and tourism authorities working together to integrate heritage sites into broader tourism strategies.

Busoga already hosts several attractions that demonstrate the region’s tourism potential. The Source of the Nile remains one of Uganda’s leading tourist sites, while the New Jinja Bridge has emerged as a modern landmark.

Adventure tourism at Itanda and Busowoko falls, including rafting, kayaking, tubing and quad biking continues to attract local and international visitors. The region is also home to cultural and commemorative sites such as Igenge Palace, the John Speke Monument and the World War Memorial. Other attractions, including Kagulu Hill and the Bishop Hannington Shrine, continue to draw visitors beyond Jinja City. However, many culturally significant sites remain undocumented, unmarked and absent from tourism promotion campaigns.

‘I witnessed the 2014 coronation of Kyabazinga William Nadiope Gabula IV when he was lowered to sit on a stool under a tree on the hill,’ recalls Mr Kenneth Kibuuka, a resident of Mafubira.

‘That moment showed the hill’s spiritual and historical value, but without protection it could eventually be swallowed by farms or housing,’ he adds.

Officials say simple interventions could unlock the tourism potential of such sites. Ms Hellen Namutamba, the Busoga Kingdom minister for Tourism and Heritage, says government and cultural institutions have already started investing in tourism infrastructure to improve access to key heritage sites in the sub-region.

‘We secured Shs2 billion for the construction of access steps at Kagulu Hill to improve accessibility for visitors and boost tourism activities at the site,’ Ms Namutamba says.

She adds that President Museveni pledged to improve the Kamuli-Kagulu Hill road to ease transportation for tourists. ‘The state of the road becomes difficult during rainy seasons, which affects movement of visitors,’ she says.

Government funding

Ms Namutamba further adds that the government injected Shs7 billion into the upgrading of the Bifulubi-Kyando road leading to the Bishop Hannington Shrine in Mayuge District.

‘We are also seeing accommodation facilities coming up around these tourism sites, including the Century Hannington Resort Cottages in Mayuge District, which will support the growing number of visitors,’ she adds.

Despite these efforts, major gaps remain. These include inadequate site management plans, absence of a coordinated inventory of heritage assets, weak interpretation systems such as guides and signage, insecure land tenure around cultural sites and limited conservation funding.

Local leaders are now calling for partnerships involving Busoga and Bunyoro kingdoms, district authorities, the Uganda Tourism Board, donors and community museums to map, preserve and market heritage assets.

Mr Edward Munaaba, the minister for general duties in the Office of the Busoga Kingdom Prime Minister, says cultural tourism can play a wider socio-economic role.

‘Heritage sites are symbols of identity, education and income generation,’ Mr Munaaba says.

‘When integrated with environmental restoration and community participation, they can create sustainable livelihoods while preserving tradition,’ he adds.

Stakeholders propose a revitalisation strategy that includes a cultural heritage inventory, legal protection for key sites, improved visitor infrastructure, training for local tour guides, establishment of community-run interpretive centres and targeted marketing campaigns.

Key heritage sites

Source of the Nile

Kagulu Hill

Bishop Hannington Shrine

Igenge Palace

Itanda Falls

John Speke Monument

Mpumuire Hill

The Bishop of Kabale Diocese, Rt Rev Callist Rubaramira, has urged Christians to avoid handshakes and unnecessary travels as Uganda battles a confirmed Ebola outbreak.

Speaking during Pentecost Sunday Mass at Our Lady of Good Shepherd Rushoroza Cathedral, Bishop Rubaramira said Ugandans must take the threat seriously and strictly follow preventive measures.

‘I discourage you from making handshakes because they can accelerate the spread of Ebola,’ he told hundreds of worshippers.

‘If possible, let us embrace the elbow bump, a popular hygienic and non-contact way of greeting, just as we did during the COVID-19 pandemic.’

He warned that unnecessary physical contact and travels to affected areas could increase the risk of transmission.

‘We must take this outbreak seriously and adhere to all preventive measures,’ he said. ‘Let us combine our efforts in prayer and ask God to protect our country and heal those already affected.’

Parish Priest of Rushoroza Cathedral Parish, Rev Fr Christmas Austen, said the parish had already placed hand sanitizers at entry points.

‘Even though we have not registered any Ebola case in Kabale, it is important to remember that cases have been confirmed in the country,’ he said. ‘That is why we have implemented Standard Operating Procedures. I encourage Christians to maintain proper hygiene by washing their hands thoroughly and frequently with soap and water.’

In his Pentecost homily, Bishop Rubaramira reminded Christians that the day marks the birth of the Church and challenged them to sustain it through courage, faith, and service.

‘On Pentecost, we celebrate the birth of the Church, and therefore we must be ready to sustain it forever,’ he said. ‘Let us be courageous in spreading the Good News through the guidance of the Holy Spirit.’

He urged Catholics to be open about their faith in public, noting that some avoid making the sign of the Cross for fear of being identified.

‘Be proud of your identity and stop the fear,’ he said.

The bishop also called on parents to teach Catholic prayers and values at home, describing families as ‘the first church and the first school,’ and stressed forgiveness and unity as tools for peace in communities.

Pentecost, celebrated 50 days after Easter, commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles and marks the birth of the Church.

A visibly agitated President Museveni has issued a stern ultimatum to his incoming cabinet, vowing to summarily dismiss any government minister who fails to effectively implement wealth creation programs meant to lift millions of Ugandans out of poverty.

Speaking on Monday at the Kololo Independence Grounds during the first sitting of the 12th Parliament, the head of state declared that his patience with underperforming and self-serving leaders had completely run out. The address, marked by uncharacteristic bluntness, sets a demanding tone for his seventh presidential term, which he recently christened “Term No Sleep.”

A Shift from ‘preacher’ to enforcer

Addressing the freshly sworn-in legislators, the Vice President, and parliamentary leadership, President Museveni expressed deep frustration that despite billions of shillings channeled into poverty alleviation initiatives, a vast section of the population remains trapped in economic stagnation. He squarely blamed this failure on local and national leaders who lack empathy and diligence.

“I don’t want to hear that there is poverty in the homestead that has not accessed this money if they have the land,” Museveni warned. “I demand this. And anybody who is a minister, if I come to your area and I find that you have not done it, I will sack you.”

The President emphasized that the era of gentle reminders is officially over, drawing a sharp contrast between his past leadership style and his current disposition.

“All these years, we have been introducing programs for the poor people… Now I’m in a position to really be very rough with people who want a level of leadership, but don’t care about the people they lead,” he said. “In the past, I’ve been polite. I talk as if I’m a preacher like John the Baptist. But now, as President of Uganda and Chairman of the NRM, I will be very, very, very rough with the people who want titles, but don’t want to help, or who betray the people they lead.”

Doubling down on the Parish Development Model

Central to the President’s economic enforcement strategy is the Parish Development Model (PDM), the government’s flagship grassroots development initiative. Mr Museveni revealed plans to scale up financial allocations, announcing an increase in PDM funding from Shs 100 million to Shs 200 million annually per parish.

‘I am now in a very bad mood. “Because in the past, my case was not so strong because people would say ‘how do we start?’ But now capital is there, Shs 800 million in each parish already. Use it,”Museveni told the gathering.

The shadow of corruption and the fall of the Speaker

The President’s fiery rhetoric comes at a politically charged moment, as the state moves aggressively against high-profile corruption within the legislature. The opening of the 12th Parliament marks a dramatic transition of power, following intense investigations into the former Speaker of Parliament, Ms Anita Annet Among.

Ms. Among, who assumed the speakership in 2022, is currently facing a rigorous probe regarding illicit wealth accumulation and abuse of office. The investigation, reportedly sanctioned directly by President Museveni and heavily backed by the Chief of Defence Forces, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, escalated significantly on May 16. State operatives executed coordinated raids on her Nakasero residence, followed by searches at her properties in Kigo and Bukedea, as well as her parliamentary office. Multiple items were seized as potential prosecution exhibits.

During her tenure, Ms. Among drew public scrutiny for her opulent lifestyle, characterized by designer clothing, luxury vehicle collections, and rapid real estate expansion. Her philanthropic donations frequently rivaled or surpassed the financial dispensations of the presidency itself.

Public anger regarding parliamentary spending peaked in 2023 following the online “#ParliamentExhibition” organized by the civic group Agora, which exposed systemic financial mismanagement, dubious procurement, and excessive per diems within the House.

A new era for Parliamentary leadership

The fallout from the anti-corruption crackdown has reshaped the leadership of the 12th Parliament. Mr. Jacob Marksons Oboth has assumed the role of Speaker, assisted by his deputy, Mr. Thomas Tayebwa. Both belong to the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM).

The duo now faces the monumental task of restoring public confidence in an institution deeply stained by allegations of institutionalized greed and tone-deaf leadership. While presiding over their election, Museveni did not mince words, explicitly warning the new leadership against the diversion of public resources.

However, political analysts remain skeptical about whether the President will fully execute his threats. Skeptics point back to the 2023 Karamoja iron sheets scandal, where several cabinet ministers were caught diverting relief materials meant for vulnerable communities. Despite promising decisive political action at the time, Museveni allowed the implicated ministers to retain their portfolios through the end of the previous term.

Ebola warning curbs celebrations

In addition to economic and political warnings, President Museveni abruptly halted the celebratory mood at Kololo over health concerns, following a surge in physical contact among legislators.

Admonishing MPs for hugging and shaking hands following the leadership elections, the President reminded the assembly of a brewing regional health threat, noting that the Ministry of Health had confirmed two new cases of Ebola on Monday.

“Do you know there is Ebola? Why do you hug? Is there a danger? Please set an example,” Museveni urged, referencing transmission risks linked to the ongoing outbreak in the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo. “Stop this shaking of hands and all this.”

East African Community (EAC) member states have launched intensive negotiations aimed at dismantling cross-border communication barriers. The week-long convention seeks to advance a harmonized Regional Mobile Roaming Framework, a critical milestone expected to slash cross-border telecom costs and accelerate the bloc’s ambitious Single Digital Market agenda.

Running from May 25 to 29, 2026, the high-level meeting in Dar es Salaam brings together telecom experts, policymakers, heads of communications regulatory bodies, and regional institutions. Operating under the EAC’s Technical Committee on Telecommunications, delegates are working to overhaul outmoded roaming structures.

Efforts to connect East Africans affordably are not new. Discussions on regional roaming date back to 2013, eventually birthing the One Network Area (ONA) initiative in 2014. While the ONA successfully lowered voice tariffs in participating countries, its implementation has remained uneven across the wider bloc.

George Lwevoola, the meeting’s Chairperson and Principal Regional Integration Officer at Uganda’s Ministry of EAC Affairs, noted that over a decade of joint initiatives has provided “valuable lessons that continue to inform the development of a sustainable and harmonized regional roaming framework.’

Host representative Philemon Machaine, Tanzania’s Principal ICT Officer, welcomed delegates by emphasizing that the ultimate outcomes “will contribute significantly towards reducing the cost of telecommunications services and improving communication across the region.’

Despite past frameworks, significant regulatory gaps persist. East African traders, transport operators, tourists, and students continue to grapple with unpredictable, inflated bills when crossing borders.

According to the EAC Secretariat, the primary culprits behind these sticky prices include: inconsistent commercial and regulatory practices between partner states; exorbitant interconnection and transit costs; varying tax disparities and cross-border fraud risks and a critical lack of consumer awareness regarding existing roaming discounts.

More importantly, the original 2014 framework is heavily outdated, focusing almost exclusively on voice calls. In today’s digital economy, the lack of affordable, cross-border mobile data severely stifles e-commerce, digital payments, and logistics tracking.

‘Affordable and seamless communication across borders is essential for deepening regional integration, supporting trade, and enabling East Africans to fully participate in the digital economy,’ stated Andrea Ariik Malueth, the EAC Deputy Secretary General for Infrastructure.

To resolve these systemic bottlenecks, delegates are reviewing a comprehensive regional study funded by the World Bank under the Eastern African Regional Digital Integration Project. The study provides a technical and legal roadmap to transition the bloc into a modern digital ecosystem.

The resulting draft framework introduces aggressive remedies, including establishing strict cost-based tariffs, strengthening consumer protection laws, and harmonizing regulatory enforcement across all member states. It also aims to guarantee a standardized quality of service, ensuring that data speeds do not plummet when users cross a border.

The Dar es Salaam convention is a collaborative effort, featuring key regional institutions such as the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), Smart Africa Alliance, and the East African Communications Organisation (EACO).

Over the course of the week, heads of regulators will validate the World Bank-backed study and refine the draft framework. The finalized policy roadmap will then be forwarded to the Sectoral Council on Transport, Communications and Meteorology for formal adoption.

If ratified, the new framework will fulfill a core pillar of the EAC Common Market Protocol-effectively transforming East Africa into a single, highly connected digital marketplace where communication costs no longer hinder economic growth.

Three people died Sunday night after the van they were travelling in hit an elephant a few kilometres from Karuma Checkpoint inside Murchison Falls National Park.

The crash happened at about 8:00 PM and involved a Toyota Hiace vehicle carrying seven Uganda Revenue Authority officials who were returning to Kampala from Arua after official duty.

Police say the driver knocked down a crossing elephant and lost control of the vehicle. Three occupants, including URA tax educator Robert Wamala Rumanyika, died on the spot. Four others, including the driver, were critically injured.

‘Police responded promptly and rushed the injured victims to Kiryandongo Hospital for medical attention,’ said police spokesman Mr Michael Kananura. ‘They were later transferred to Kampala for further management.’

The bodies of the deceased were taken to Anaka Hospital Mortuary pending postmortem examinations.

Kananura urged motorists to be cautious when driving through national parks and wildlife-protected areas, especially at night.

‘Motorists are strongly urged to exercise extreme caution while driving through national parks and wildlife-protected areas, especially at night, and to strictly observe speed limits to avoid such incidents,’ he said.