Category: Daily Monitor

Police in Nakaseke District have launched a manhunt for a farm worker accused of hacking his colleague to death on Sunday afternoon following a dispute at a farm in Magoma Village, Kikamulo Sub-county.

The deceased has been identified as Emmanuel Ainemukama, 30, who served as the manager at Herbert’s Farm, where both men resided.

Savannah Region Police Spokesperson, ASP Sam Twiineamazima, said the fatal attack occurred at around 2:00 PM while Ainemukama was preparing herbicides for spraying.

The suspect, identified as Nicholas Kabandize, allegedly attacked Ainemukama with a sharp object, inflicting multiple severe wounds-particularly on his left wrist area-before fleeing the scene and leaving him in a pool of blood.

“A colleague came upon the scene, raised an alarm, and promptly reported the matter to Kiwoko Town Council Police Station,” ASP Twiineamazima noted.

Responding officers documented the scene, opened a murder file, and recorded statements from key witnesses. A search for the murder weapon at the scene yielded no results.

Preliminary police investigations reveal that Kabandize and Ainemukama not only worked together on the farm but also shared a residence. According to investigators, the suspect had previously issued threats against the deceased following an ongoing personal dispute between the two men.

The body of the deceased was retrieved and conveyed to Nakaseke General Hospital mortuary for a postmortem examination.

Police say search efforts are actively ongoing to trace and apprehend Kabandize to face justice in court.

ASP Twiineamazima appealed to members of the public who may have information regarding the suspect’s whereabouts to report to the nearest police station immediately, cautioning citizens against taking the law into their own hands as investigations continue.

Pop superstar Shakira has pledged to visit Uganda soon after sponsoring the famous Triplets Ghetto Kids to perform at the 2026 FIFA World Cup finals, their dance coach has revealed.

Addressing journalists on Monday morning following their return at the Nakivubo War Memorial Stadium, Dauda Kavuma-the founder and dance coach of the group-said the Colombian singer-songwriter expressed her desire to deepen her collaboration with the Ugandan dancers.

Kavuma disclosed that following their performance at the World Cup, Shakira and her management team organized an additional show for the group at the Barclaycard Center in New York.

“Shakira and her team did not end with the performance during the World Cup finals. They organized another show for us at the Barclays Center, where she told us she is coming to Uganda because she wants to continue working with us,” Kavuma said.

Despite the eventual success, Kavuma revealed that their travel to the United States was fraught with severe logistical hurdles. The trip coincided with a declared Ebola outbreak in Uganda, during which the US Embassy had temporarily halted visa processing.

Determined to get the kids to the global stage, Shakira’s team initially attempted to secure entry visas for the troupe through Kenya, Mexico, and Colombia, but were unsuccessful. They eventually routed the group to Ecuador, where the dancers underwent a mandatory 21-day quarantine before the embassy could process their US visas.

Kavuma expressed gratitude to local sponsors who supported the troupe during their isolation abroad, including businessman Amos Nzeyi, telecom giant MTN Uganda, Everyday Biscuits, and the Uganda Tourism Board (UTB).

Speaking at the same event, Joseph Byaruhanga, Brand Manager at Pepsi Cola (Crown Beverages Ltd), noted that Nzeyi’s support for the Ghetto Kids traces back to the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, where he saw them perform live.

“When he returned home, he tasked us to find these kids. He gave them Shs100 million to construct a permanent home in Nakawuka, Wakiso District, and he is currently building them a rehabilitation home,” Byaruhanga stated.

Pearl Kitimbo, a Communications Officer at Crown Beverages Ltd, also revealed that world football governing body FIFA presented the Ghetto Kids with an extraordinary souvenir: the official match ball used during the 2026 World Cup finals.

According to Kitimbo, the troupe plans to use the historic match ball during a series of friendly exhibition matches across the country.

Dear Super,

Mumps is one of the commonest childhood viral diseases, particularly among children aged five to nine years. It causes painful swelling of the salivary glands below the ears (parotid glands), affecting one or both glands and resulting in fever. The disease is less severe in children than in teenagers and adults. In severe cases, many organs, including the testes, ovaries, brain, spinal cord and pancreas, may become inflamed, although complications are rare. These complications may include diabetes and, if the ovaries or testes are affected, infertility in both men and women.

Fortunately, mumps mostly affects children, where it may not cause infertility. However, if a boy is affected after puberty, or if both testes become inflamed by the disease, infertility may result. In men, apart from a drop in sperm count, there may be some shrinkage of the testicles in some cases, but rarely will there be permanent infertility. Mumps is not a chronic disease whose persistence leads to infertility. Immunisation and proper management of mumps are, therefore, required to prevent the rare complication of infertility.

Most male infertility is usually due to sperm delivery problems, such as impotence or blockages to the vas deferens, low sperm counts, or poor sperm quality. The latter two are usually caused by lifestyle factors, including obesity, emotional stress and illicit drugs, apart from environmental, genetic or medical conditions. Some fertility problems in men can be corrected, while others may not. However, this requires the couple to visit the doctor together for expert help. In cases where the problem is not correctable, assisted reproduction, including IVF, or adoption may help.

The Electoral Commission (EC) has officially unveiled the roadmap for the Adjumani West Constituency by-election, setting polling day for September 17, 2026.

The parliamentary seat fell vacant following the death of veteran statesman, decorated military officer, and former Second Deputy Prime Minister, Gen. Moses Ali. Gen. Ali passed away at the age of 87 at Nakasero Hospital in Kampala, where he had been receiving specialized medical treatment for several days as public concern over his health grew.

Gen. Ali’s remarkable political and military career spanned more than five decades, during which he served under successive Ugandan administrations in various high-profile roles-including cabinet minister, rebel leader, senior military commander, and Deputy Leader of Government Business in Parliament. Having been sworn in as the representative for Adjumani West County in the 12th Parliament in May 2026, his passing marked the end of an era for one of the nation’s most influential public figures.

Unveiling the election schedule during an address on Monday, August 3, 2026, EC Chairperson Justice Simon Byabakama advised all prospective candidates to carefully review their statutory documentation and immediately consult the commission if they identify any paperwork issues prior to the official nomination exercise.

Official campaign activities will run for seven days, starting on September 9 and concluding on September 15, 2026. Justice Byabakama emphasized that a mandatory schedule harmonization meeting with the local Returning Officer will take place immediately after nominations to maintain order and prevent political clashes between rival groups. “Candidates will gather before the Returning Officer to harmonize their campaign programs so that we are clear. If a candidate is in Pachara Sub-County that day, another candidate should not be there to avoid clashes,” Justice Byabakama stated.

He further appealed to all participants to strictly observe electoral laws and guidelines during the short campaign period.

“Campaigns officially run from September 9 until September 15. That is enough period for relative and responsible campaigning. In any case, if the people do not know you by now, seven days will not work for you,” he noted.

Speaking during a stakeholders’ meeting, Deputy Resident District Commissioner Emmanuel Okwari reassured the public that the district leadership remains committed to ensuring the by-election is conducted in a peaceful and conducive environment.

Okwari noted that the greatest threat to a peaceful election is the conduct of some candidates, particularly the use of inflammatory language, hate speech, and incitement of supporters. He urged all contestants to exercise restraint and focus on presenting their manifestos to voters rather than engaging in divisive rhetoric.

Commending the participation of cultural and religious leaders in promoting harmony, Okwari also challenged media houses to uphold professional standards. He suggested that the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) work closely with relevant stakeholders to monitor campaign messages and enforce compliance against hate speech.

Reminding candidates that only one person will emerge victorious, Okwari urged all participants to respect the democratic process and accept the will of the electorate, reaffirming the commitment of the district security committee to deliver a peaceful by-election that reflects the legacy of the late Gen. Moses Ali.

Echoing these calls for calm, the Regional Police Commander for North West Nile, Joseph Mwesige, appealed to candidates and supporters to honor Gen. Ali’s memory through peaceful conduct.

Mwesige emphasized that elections should be a contest of ideas where voters freely choose their representative. Warning against electoral violence, he pointed out that Adjumani has in the past been associated with election-related clashes-a reputation he stressed must not be repeated. He called on all political actors to reject intimidation and work together to ensure a peaceful, credible, free, and transparent process.

Speaker of Parliament Jacob Oboth-Oboth has pledged to work with Mukono District leadership to secure land for a modern regional hospital, saying access to quality healthcare must drive the area’s development agenda.

Speaking during a thanksgiving service at Mt. Lebanon Church in Mukono on Friday, July 31, 2026, the Speaker said the project would be a priority as Parliament considers legislation that responds to Ugandans’ needs.

‘I pledge to work with the leaders of Mukono to identify land for the construction of a modern regional hospital,’ Oboth told the congregation. ‘Our people deserve dignified health services close to home, and Parliament will support initiatives that deliver that.’

The pledge was made during the official launch of the Greater Mukono Inter-Religious Forum. The Forum brings together Anglican, Catholic, Muslim, Seventh-day Adventist and Orthodox leaders to promote unity, peace, and community development.

Oboth said the proposed hospital aligns with government’s goal of strengthening service delivery across districts. He added that he will invite President Museveni to visit Mukono to witness the unity displayed and to support development projects in the area. The Speaker is a resident of the district.

Mukono District Chairperson Francis Lukooya Mukoome welcomed the pledge and thanked the President for ongoing projects including roads and street lighting. He said a regional referral facility would ease pressure on existing health centres and cut referral costs for residents.

Bishop Samuel Lwandasa, chair of the Greater Mukono Inter-Religious Forum, said faith institutions have been at the forefront of healthcare, education and peace, and will partner with government to ensure the hospital serves all communities regardless of faith.

‘The Forum will coordinate efforts in education, healthcare, peace building and livelihood programs across the district,’ Bishop Lwandasa said.

The thanksgiving was organized to thank God for the Speaker’s election and to launch the Inter-Religious Forum. The Forum presented Oboth with a Holy Bible as a symbol of faith and guidance in leadership.

In his address, the Speaker described his election as ‘a sacred trust bestowed upon me by the people of Uganda through their elected representatives.’ He pledged to protect the dignity of Parliament, promote constructive dialogue, and ensure accountability in public office.

He called on religious leaders and citizens to continue praying for Parliament and national leaders, urging that leadership be rooted in humility, integrity and service.

Mukono Municipality MP Betty Nambooze described the event as a homecoming and prayed for wisdom upon the Speaker’s leadership, noting his record of fairness and neutrality in Parliament.

Mukono General Hospital, which was until 2019 a Health Centre IV, attends to at least 200 outpatients every day and between 7,500 and 8,000 deliveries a year from Mukono, Buvuma, Buikwe, Kayunga and parts of Wakiso.

The elevation of Mukono Health Centre IV to a hospital brought the number of hospitals in the district to two. The other is St Francis Naggalama Hospital, a Catholic Church-run facility in Nakifuma County.

Police in Jinja District have launched an investigation into the murder of a boda boda rider whose body was discovered Monday morning in a sugarcane plantation in Mutai Village, Buwenge Sub-county.

The deceased, identified as Yosia Kayima, was a resident of Namulesa Ward in Jinja City. Preliminary findings indicate that unknown assailants killed Kayima before fleeing with his motorcycle.

Local residents discovered the body early Monday morning and alerted local leaders, who subsequently notified the police. Officers documented the crime scene before transferring the body to a mortuary for a postmortem examination.

Rising wave of crime

The Vice Chairperson of Mutai Central, Mr. Lazaro Isabirye, said he alerted the authorities immediately after receiving news of the incident. He noted that violent attacks by unidentified assailants have become alarmingly frequent in the area.

“This is not an isolated incident. We have lost at least five people in similar attacks in recent months. The situation has created widespread fear, especially among boda boda riders who operate at night,” Mr. Isabirye said.

He urged security agencies to intensify both daytime and nighttime patrols and strengthen intelligence operations to restore public confidence.

Ms. Namaganda Katwaalo, the Woman Representative for Mutai Busibe, condemned the killing and called for urgent, collaborative security measures.

“These repeated murders are deeply worrying. Security agencies must work closely with local communities to identify those behind these attacks before more innocent lives are lost,” Ms. Katwaalo said.

Leaders demand CCTV surveillance

Highlighting the growing danger, Jinja District LCV Chairperson Mr. Moses Bataala categorized the area as a hotspot for violent crime. He urged the government to intervene by installing surveillance cameras along the main road passing through Mutai.

“Security cameras would not only deter criminals but also provide crucial evidence to help investigators identify suspects and improve public safety,” Mr. Bataala noted.

Confirming the incident, the Acting Resident District Commissioner (RDC) for Jinja District, Mr. George Wilson Bameka, assured the public that security agencies are actively pursuing the perpetrators.

“We are aware of the increasing insecurity in the area, and investigations are underway,” Mr. Bameka said. “We appeal to members of the public to remain calm and cooperate with investigators by providing any information that could lead to the arrest of the suspects.”

By press time, the deceased’s motorcycle had not yet been recovered, and police investigations into murder and aggravated robbery remain ongoing.

Vulnerable elderly residents and child-headed families in Nabilatuk and Nakapiripirit districts have begun receiving direct cash transfers of Shs250,000 alongside emergency relief food to combat a worsening famine and associated health complications in the Karamoja sub-region.

The financial intervention, spearheaded by international humanitarian organization Action Against Hunger (AAH) as part of a UGX 276,000-per-beneficiary rapid drought emergency response, targets over 500 destitute individuals who lack family support systems.

According to Mr. Ben Lokiru, the LC5 Chairperson for Nabilatuk District, recent community death reports linked to the ongoing food crisis have predominantly impacted the elderly and households headed by children.

‘The current situation that the elders find themselves in is worrying. As a district, we didn’t have this budget, but now that humanitarian agencies have come to our rescue, these elders and child-headed families will have a sense of respite,’ Mr. Lokiru said.

He noted that widespread climate shocks-characterized by prolonged dry spells-left hundreds of acres of gardens scorched across the sub-region.

Alongside the cash payouts meant for food purchases and urgent medical care, the central government has dispatched direct relief food to the affected communities.

Nabilatuk Resident District Commissioner (RDC), Mr. Linos Lotem Tumkori, confirmed that beneficiary households are receiving an initial ration of 20 kilograms of maize flour (posho) and 10 kilograms of beans, with additional relief supplies currently being budgeted.

‘The current situation is not the best, but we are happy to have a government that cares for its people and has created a peaceful environment for humanitarian organizations to operate,’ Mr. Tumkori said. ‘As civil servants, we expect those taking care of the elders to use this money strictly for their welfare and to seek urgent medical attention where needed.’

For many recipients, the relief comes at a critical moment. Ms. Grace Sagal, a 78-year-old resident of Kakomongole Sub-county in Nakapiripirit District, shared that she had gone four consecutive days without a proper meal prior to receiving the funds.

‘This year, we had countable days of rainfall, which destroyed our crops,’ Ms. Sagal explained. ‘I am confident this money and the government food will push me and my grandchildren through the coming days. We are now fairly cushioned from the severe crisis for a while.’

Widespread crisis across Karamoja

The interventions in Nabilatuk and Nakapiripirit reflect a broader humanitarian crisis affecting all nine districts of the Karamoja sub-region.

According to a recent analysis by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC)-of which the Government of Uganda is a partner-an estimated 473,000 people in Karamoja are currently experiencing high levels of acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 3 or worse).

Consecutive seasons of failed rainfall, rising food prices, and localized insecurity have severely depleted household food reserves, pushing acute malnutrition rates among children and vulnerable adults to alarming levels across the region. Humanitarian agencies and local government leaders continue to call for sustained, long-term interventions to build community resilience against recurring climate shocks.

Mention Adam Smith, and most people immediately think of capitalism, self-interest, and the pursuit of profit. He is routinely presented as the intellectual father of the modern economic system, the man who taught the world that individuals seeking their own advantage would ultimately benefit society.

Yet after watching a recent documentary on his life and work, I was struck by a different Adam Smith altogether. Before writing The Wealth of Nations in 1776, Smith wrote another book, The Theory of Moral Sentiments. In it, he argued that human beings possess a natural capacity for sympathy – the ability to imagine ourselves in the position of others and to care about their wellbeing.

Far from depicting people as isolated profit-seeking machines, Smith saw them as social beings whose actions are shaped by conscience, empathy, and moral obligation. This raises an uncomfortable question. If Adam Smith understood the importance of human relationships, how did his name become associated with a world that often appears to reward individual gain over collective wellbeing? Perhaps the modern world remembered Adam Smith’s economics but forgot his morality. As I listened to the documentary, I found myself thinking about Ubuntu, or Obuntu, as it is known in many parts of East Africa. Ubuntu is often summarised as, ‘I am because we are.’ It is the idea that our humanity is realised through our relationships with others. A person is not merely an individual but a member of a family, a community, and a wider moral universe.

The similarities are striking. Smith spoke of sympathy. Ubuntu speaks of interconnectedness. Smith argued that human beings naturally care about one another. Ubuntu goes further and suggests that we become fully human through one another. Neither philosophy celebrates selfishness as a virtue. This matters because Africa today stands at an important crossroads. Across the continent, governments are pursuing economic growth, attracting investment and encouraging entrepreneurship. These are necessary goals. Poverty is not a cultural value, and wealth creation remains essential to development. Yet many Africans increasingly sense that something is being lost.

As cities expand and economies modernise, traditional networks of support are weakening. Extended families are under strain. Community obligations are often portrayed as obstacles to success. The language of competition frequently drowns out the language of solidarity. The result is a paradox. Societies may become wealthier while individuals feel more isolated. Economic growth may increase even as social trust declines. Adam Smith himself might have recognised the danger. He understood that markets do not operate in a moral vacuum.

They depend on trust, honesty, restraint, and cooperation. Remove these foundations and markets cease to serve society; instead, society begins to serve markets. Africa’s challenge, therefore, is not to choose between Adam Smith and Ubuntu. It is to recognise that both point towards an important truth: prosperity and humanity must grow together. The future may not belong to societies that generate the greatest wealth, but to those that successfully balance wealth creation with human dignity, social responsibility, and community wellbeing. In that sense, the most important lesson from Adam Smith is not economic at all. It is that a healthy society requires more than successful markets. It requires people who still care about one another.

During the Nation Media Group-Uganda shutdown for a month, a lot transpired in the education sector, ranging from the suspension of school study tour trips to Uneb closing the registration of candidates intending to sit for their final examinations starting this October. We bring you the highlights

Arts teachers’ pay enhanced.

In July, the government started implementing the long-awaited 25 percent salary increment for primary and secondary arts teachers as well as BTVET instructors, funded by a Shs568 billion allocation in the Financial Year (FY) 2026/2027 budget.

This marked the beginning of a broader push to harmonise pay with science teachers. According to the new salary scale, Education Assistants (Grade III teachers) in primary schools now earn about Shs700,000 per month, up from about Shs500,000.

Salaries for head teachers increased from about Shs1 million to about Shs1.5 million, while deputy head teachers now earn about Shs1.4 million, up from about Shs750,000.

For the FY2026/2027, the Ministry of Public Service allocated Shs9.78 trillion for the public service wage bill to facilitate such increments.

The Public Service Minister, Gen Katumba Wamala, said wage bill discipline remains a government priority. While the pay increase is a step toward harmonising public service pay, some teaching unions like the Uganda National Teachers’ Union (Unatu) have said the 25 percent adjustment falls short of the 300 percent raise science teachers received in 2022, leading to dialogue over future phased increases.

Science teachers continue to earn substantially more than their arts counterparts under the government’s differentiated salary policy. A graduate Science teacher currently earns Shs4 million while a diploma holder earns over Shs2million.

A science head teacher earns Shs6.5m up from Shs2.3m, while a deputy headteacher (science) earns Shs4.5.m

24 pupils perish in Kapchorwa

On July 16, families were grief-stricken after a school bus crash claimed the lives of at least 24 pupils of King David Junior School, Ndejje, and their director, Mr Tadeo Ssekade, among other occupants, as they returned from a study tour at Sipi Falls in Kapchorwa District.

The incident occurred at around 8pm at Chekwatit Hill, a renowned accident black spot in Kapchorwa . Over 60 other pupils sustained serious injuries. Preliminary investigations by the police indicated that the school bus developed a mechanical failure.

The driver lost control on the steep hill, causing the vehicle to veer off the road. The bus thereafter hit a large stone, and overturned. The survivors were rushed to health facilities in Kapchorwa and Mbale.

Govt suspends school study trips

Following the tragic accident, Education ministry officials immediately convened an inter-ministerial meeting to come up with immediate and long-term interventions to prevent the recurrence of such incidents involving learners.

Speaking at a press conference organised by the ministries of Education, Gender, ICT and National Guidance, Works at Uganda Media Centre on July 17, Acting Education Minister Dr John Chrysostom Muyingo announced the suspension of study trips for learners travelling in groups within and outside Uganda until further notice.

Last call for late registration for 2026 candidates

On July 27, 2026, the management of the Uganda National Examinations Board (Uneb) made the final call for the heads of examination centres to register the remaining candidates for the 2026 Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE), Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) and Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE) under the late registration phase.

Uneb’s spokesperson Jennifer Kalule Musamba, in a statement issued on July 27, said July 31 would be the last chance for candidates to register for the 2026 national examinations that are expected to commence in two months.

The grace period for normal registration of 2026 candidates ended on June 30. The registration fees for the normal phase stood at Shs34,000 for PLE, Shs164,000 for UCE, and Shs186,000 for UACE.

Normal registration was followed by the late registration phase that commenced on July 1 and ended on July 31.

Ms Kalule said the late registration phase attracted a surcharge of 100 percent for PLE candidates and 50 percent for UCE and UACE candidates.

The current registration fees now stand at Shs68,000 for PLE, Shs246,000 for UCE candidates, and Shs279,000 for UACE candidates.

Ms Kalule tasked all concerned parties to ensure the learners in candidate classes are all duly registered. By June 30, over1.5 million candidates had registered for the three national examinations.

Makerere College renovation kicks off

The government commenced the renovation works for Makerere College, one of the country’s traditional schools.

This is part of the government’s efforts to eliminate hazardous asbestos roofing from public institutions.

The project, worth Shs461 million, is funded through the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) and implemented by the Uganda People’s Defence Forces Engineering Brigade for one year. Makerere College was founded in 1945 by Makerere University.

Its main O-Level campus is located on the prestigious Makerere Hill, in Kampala, a few metres from Makerere University, Uganda’s oldest premier university that was founded in 1922.

The A-Level campus is found in Mulawa, Kira Town Council, Wakiso District. Several Ugandan traditional schools built during the colonial era were roofed with asbestos sheets, given that they are durable and fire-resistant.

However, these roofs are being replaced by normal iron sheets given the health hazard that they expose occupants to.

Health experts warn that weathered or broken asbestos fibres can cause cancer when inhaled and or swallowed.

Competence-based education taskforce inaugurated

The government inaugurated a task force that is going to oversee the implementation of competence-based education in Education institutions of Uganda.

The launch was presided over by the Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Education and Sports, Dr Kedrace Turyagyenda (represented).

The taskforce comprises officials from universities, the Ministry of Education and Sports, associations of small-scale industries, and Private Sector Foundation.

The Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) has officially deregistered 90,000 companies that failed to file their annual returns for five consecutive years and missed the statutory deadline to restore their status.

In a notice released on Monday, August 3, 2026, the Registrar of Companies confirmed that the drastic action was taken pursuant to Section 130(6) of the Companies Act, Cap. 106.

The affected entities were initially struck off the register following public notices published on July 20, August 14, and August 30, 2023. At the time, affected firms were granted a 12-month grace period to apply for administrative restoration and regularize their affairs.

With that statutory window now closed without response from the affected businesses, the Registrar moved to remove them permanently from the official database.

Why the crackdown happened

Under Ugandan law, every registered company is required to file annual returns with URSB. These filings serve two key purposes: confirming that the business is actively operating and verifying that vital records-such as directorship, shareholding, and registered address-remain accurate.

Speaking on the enforcement exercise, Dennis Nabende, Principal Communication Officer at URSB, emphasized that the move is aimed at maintaining a clean, credible, and functional business register.

“Annual returns are not just paperwork. They tell us and the public whether a company is still active and whether its details are current,” Nabende said. “When companies fail to file for five years, the law requires us to strike them off. We gave them one year to restore, and those who did not have now been deregistered.’

While being struck off serves as an initial warning phase allowing companies to clear outstanding returns and penalties, complete deregistration marks the end of administrative leniency.

Severe consequences for business owners

The legal implications for the affected 90,000 companies are immediate and severe:

Loss of legal personality: A deregistered company legally ceases to exist. It can no longer execute contracts, open bank accounts, sue, be sued, or conduct business in its registered name.

Loss of name protection: The company’s name immediately returns to the public domain. Any third party can now reserve and register a new company using the exact same name, putting long-established brand identities at risk.

“When your company is deregistered, you lose the legal protection of that name. Anyone can now take it,” Nabende warned. “The only way to get it back is through a court process, and that is expensive.”

URSB confirmed that the complete list of all 90,000 deregistered entities has been published on its official portal (https://ursb.go.ug/) to provide clear guidance to banks, suppliers, government agencies, and the general public.

Officials advised business directors checking the list to verify both exact company names and registration numbers. URSB noted that many firms were struck off due to sheer compliance neglect rather than official closure-particularly entrepreneurs who register companies but never trade, or those operating informally while ignoring statutory duties.

What happens next?

For former business owners seeking recovery, the administrative route is now closed:

Court Reinstatement: Former directors or stakeholders who still hold active assets, property, or pending contracts under a deregistered company must apply directly to the High Court. The applicant must convince the court why the company failed to comply and why it should be reinstated.

New Ventures: Entrepreneurs whose former business names are now vacant-and have not been claimed by others-may apply to reserve and register them afresh to launch new entities.

URSB has urged all currently active companies across the country to file their annual returns promptly and keep their contact information updated to avoid a similar fate.

This exercise marks the largest compliance clean-up by the bureau in recent years, signaling a strict stance on statutory corporate reporting in Uganda.