Category: Daily Monitor

It is now public information that the Government of Uganda (GoU) is going to deploy our medical experts to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to combat the Ebola scourge that is devastating people in eastern DRC. According to Dr Daniel Kyabayinze, the director of Public Health at the Ministry of Health, all preparations are almost complete, and 160 medics will be stationed in Kasenyi, Ituri Province, and Aru in northern DRC to assist Congolese medics who are currently battling the Ebola scourge with little progress in curbing it.

According to Kyabayinze, the GoU, under the guidance of President Museveni, decided to assist DRC and fight the Ebola scourge where it is emanating. Indeed, it makes a lot of sense. Rather than keeping us on tenterhooks, as we do border screenings and endless border patrolling for those who are trying to sneak into Uganda for treatment, it is much better to go in and battle the pandemic from its source across the border in eastern DRC.

The Congolese know very well that Uganda has good expertise in controlling Ebola. As a country, we have since attained a lot of expertise through international collaborations like the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and the World Health Organisation (WHO). Therefore, it makes a lot of sense to rush and assist our neighbours. Indeed, it is in the spirit of East African Cooperation and the virtues of Ubuntu that define Uganda and, to a greater extent, President Museveni.

One of the four pillars of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) government ideology is Pan-Africanism. Pan-Africanism seeks to unify, empower and uplift people of African descent. Rooted in the belief that Africans on the continent and the global diaspora share a common history and destiny. As Ugandans, we owe it to the Congolese brothers to give a helping hand, especially in such times of great need. As we promote cultural and economic cooperation, plus political self-determination. It is then imperative that we combine efforts to defeat this scourge together.

Some naysayers are already up in arms, talking of how Uganda is making a mistake of throwing its medics at the epicentre of the deadly disease. They are saying President Museveni is risking the lives of our experts beyond our borders. This is unfortunate. If Uganda cannot make sacrifices for its neighbour, then who should?

After all, this is not the first time Uganda has come out to give DRC a helping hand. The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) is in Congo, assisting the Congolese national force to flush out the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) terrorists in Ituri Province. The joint UPDF and FARDC Operation Shujaa has severely degraded the ADF in Ituri Province, neutralising hundreds of fighters, recovering weapons caches and rescuing hundreds of abductees.

Uganda is constructing key strategic roads in eastern DRC to ease trade between the two countries. Currently, Uganda is co-funding and actively constructing a $334m, 223-kilometre road network, deep inside the DRC to boost cross-border trade and regional security. The joint strategic infrastructure project links Uganda to key eastern Congo cities, including Beni, Butembo and Goma.

Similar negative sentiments were expressed in 2007 when Uganda made the patriotic decision to deploy the UPDF in Somalia to fight Al-Shabaab terrorists that were wreaking havoc across East Africa. Most sceptics, including politicians like Hon Ssemujju Nganda, the former Kiira Municipality MP, and top commentators like New Vision columnist Opiyo Oloya, wrote authoritatively that the UPDF mission in Somalia was dead on arrival. Hon Ssemujju predicted doom for the UPDF, arguing that there is no way UPDF can succeed where the American forces had failed.

The giant strategist and devotee Pan-Africanist, President Museveni, ignored the doomsayers and deployed in Somalia. Not only did the mighty UPDF succeed in winning battles, where Americans had failed, it ended the political mayhem that had characterised Somalia for decades. Although there are still pockets of insurgency, what is clear is that Al-Shabaab has been defeated.

Therefore, Ebola can be defeated, but only through robust interstate cooperation, cross-border surveillance and multinational solidarity. Because the virus spreads rapidly across porous borders and can strain isolated health systems, localised efforts must be scaled into regional strategies to contain outbreaks effectively.

The Commissioner for Basic Education in the Ministry of Education and Sports, Dr Cleophas Mugenyi, has revealed that early childhood development has been consistently receiving less than two percent of the ministry’s total allocation, far below Uganda’s early childhood care and education policy aspiration of 10 percent.

While sharing findings about Uganda’s early childhood development policy in relation to the Kulea Watoto program at the National inception meeting of the program’s second phase at Fairway Hotel in Kampala on June 11, 2026, Dr Mugenyi said poor funding of ECD partly explains why children under five continue to experience stunted growth.

‘The 2024 statistics show that over one million, 48 percent of refugee children in Uganda under five years are experiencing stunting growth, while 81 percent of children aged three to four are developmentally off-track because 80 percent of their parents cannot afford early childhood development fees. This highlights critical financial and income barriers amongst parents and guardians,’ Dr Mugenyi said.

According to Uganda’s National Development Plan IV, which runs from 2025 to 2030, early childhood development is a core pillar under human capital development that targets universal ECD access by 2030.

Mondo Kyateka, the Assistant Commissioner for Youth and Children Affairs in the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, reminded parents to stop giving birth to many children and instead have a manageable number they can qualitatively raise.

‘Why are you, parents, producing like you have a contractual obligation to fill the clan? You find a woman producing more than 10 children because the husband was his parent’s only child. It is not sustainable in the long term. Produce children you can afford to take care of instead of giving birth for the streets,’ Mr Kyateka advised.

On his part, Timothy Opobo, the Executive Director of AfriChild, said the second phase of the Kulea Watoto two-generation approach that targets children and their caregivers focuses on promoting children’s early learning, health and development, and building parental or caregiver capacity and resilience, as well as protective factors within families.

‘The two-generation approach is better than the one-approach because children’s outcomes are intertwined within their home environment. The quality of a child’s proximal is crucial for their development especially during the early years,’ Opobo said.

Implemented by different partner organisations, phase two of the Kulea Watoto program will run from April 2026 to March 2029 and targets impacting 400 households in Kampala and 600 households in Bidi Bidi refugee settlement in Yumbe district in the West Nile sub-region.

The Vicar General of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Kasana-Luweero, Msgr. Vincent De Paul Mukiibi, has encouraged unmarried teachers to consider marriage, saying some parents have expressed concern about entrusting their children to single teachers.

Msgr. Mukiibi said several parents had approached him with fears that unmarried teachers may pose a greater risk of child abuse, making them uneasy when such teachers are responsible for the care and supervision of their children at school.

He said many parents had confided in him about their anxiety whenever they discovered that unmarried teachers were in charge of their children. He appealed to teachers who are single to consider settling down in marriage and urged those engaging in premarital sexual relationships to embrace holy matrimony.

Msgr. Mukiibi made the remarks on Friday during the Diocesan Teachers’ Day celebrations held at the Luwero Teachers’ SACCO Gardens in Luwero Town Council. He also reminded teachers that the schools in which they serve belong to the diocese and urged them to actively participate in diocesan programmes and activities.

In addition, he advised teachers to prioritise their health by adopting healthy lifestyles. He cautioned against excessive alcohol consumption and encouraged them to prevent lifestyle-related illnesses such as diabetes and hypertension through balanced diets and regular physical exercise.

Msgr. Mukiibi’s comments on child protection are not entirely new in the area. In 2012, Uganda Radio Network reported that the then Bishop of Kasana-Luweero Diocese, now Archbishop of Kampala, Paul Ssemogerere, raised concerns about cases of child sexual abuse in Catholic Church-supported schools within his jurisdiction.

At the time, Bishop Ssemogerere said several cases were going unreported in Catholic-founded schools in Luwero. He made the remarks after learning of allegations that a teacher at St Augustine Primary School in Zirobwe Sub-county, Luwero District, had sexually abused a Primary Six pupil.

According to the report, Bishop Ssemogerere said the incident was the fourth such case brought to his attention. Speaking to URN, he urged the Ministry of Education and the Police to work together to establish the extent of child sexual abuse in Luwero schools.

Kasana-Luweero Diocese covers Luwero, Nakaseke and Nakasongola districts. It oversees more than 150 pre-primary, primary, secondary and tertiary institutions.

Bishop Ssemogerere also recommended more rigorous background checks for teachers seeking employment in Catholic Church-supported schools, arguing that educators entrusted with learners are expected to uphold high moral standards.

More than 360 newly elected local government leaders in Namutumba District have begun their five-year term facing growing public demands for improved service delivery, better accountability and closer cooperation with technical staff.

A total of 368 lower local government leaders were sworn in this week across the district amid concerns over poor roads, inadequate healthcare services, limited education infrastructure and persistent tensions between politicians and civil servants.

Speaking after administering the oath of office, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer Abdul Waweyo warned elected leaders against engaging in conflicts with technical officers, saying such disputes undermine service delivery and district operations.

“The drums of politics, propaganda and trading insults are over. We do not want to see offices becoming battlefields because someone wants to attract the loudest applause,” Waweyo said.

He urged politicians to focus on addressing community needs and maintaining a productive working relationship with government staff.

“If there is no good collaboration between technical officers and politicians, service delivery will not take place,” he said.

Waweyo reminded the leaders that they were accountable to voters and would be judged on their ability to deliver tangible results.

“People’s eyes are on you. We expect hard work, not fights with technical staff. You must prove that you deserve the trust that wananchi placed in you,” he added.

The officials sworn in include 20 sub-county chairpersons, 20 speakers, 20 deputy speakers, 20 vice-chairpersons and 22 committee chairpersons, among other local government leaders.

The elections further cemented the dominance of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) in the eastern Uganda district. Of the 20 elected sub-county chairpersons, 19 belong to the NRM, while only one, from Mazuba Sub-county, represents the National Unity Platform (NUP).

The outcome has prompted debate over the level of opposition representation in local governance structures.

Abdallah Kasalawo, a former Forum for Democratic Change parliamentary candidate for Busiki North Constituency, argued that the near absence of opposition voices could weaken oversight and accountability.

“Without dissenting voices to scrutinise budgets, procurement processes and government programmes, these councils may fail to effectively represent the interests of the people,” Kasalawo said.

He warned that councils dominated by a single political party risk becoming less effective in monitoring public expenditure and service delivery.

Residents, meanwhile, say they expect the new leaders to prioritise key development challenges that dominated the election campaign.

Peter Galimwifuba, a resident of Ivukula Sub-county and supporter of the National Unity Platform, said communities want action on roads, healthcare, education and youth unemployment.

He also challenged claims that politicians are largely responsible for disputes with technical staff.

“The Deputy CAO says politicians fight technical staff, but in many cases it is the technical officers who frustrate politicians,” Galimwifuba said.

According to local leaders, inadequate road funding, poor transport infrastructure, weak accountability systems and the lack of seed secondary schools and Health Centre IIIs remain among the district’s most pressing concerns.

Amuza Wamugere, the newly elected chairperson of Bugobi Sub-county, said poor infrastructure continues to affect access to essential services.

He noted that some students travel up to 14 kilometres to attend secondary school in neighbouring Butaleja District because the sub-county lacks a government seed secondary school.

“I have entered office, but my biggest challenge this term is inadequate road funding from the central government and poor healthcare services,” Wamugere said yesterday.

The new leaders now face the challenge of translating campaign promises into tangible improvements as residents demand better roads, schools, health facilities and greater accountability in the use of public resources.

Have you ever met someone, really liked the way they look, dress, smell etc, you immediately start imagining some sort of happy ever after? Naturally you summon the courage to ask them out on a date; they say yes. Your heart does a few cartwheels. The excitement is through the roof. Date night comes, food orders are placed, the lighting is epic, the wine starts flowing and they start talking. Then it hits you.

You are witnessing a crime against human intelligence because every time they speak, you feel a few brain cells poorer. You get dumber by the word. How do you react? Last week, our boy was faced with such an existential crisis. He is an avowed sapiosexual. No; I do not mean those frauds whose online profiles spell out ‘sapiosexual’ right next to a badly lit grey image of Sisyphus pushing a rock. You know, the lot whose main obsession seems to be playing Einstein on apps whose admission criteria is having a pulse, a smartphone and decent internet connection.

Two lines into their profiles and you find a barrage of retweeted Full Figure insults and Kasuku’s latest case of foot-in-mouth disease. No, he is not like that. Our boy is different. He believes that the fate of the human species is perilously hanging on the intellect of people we choose to date and ultimately procreate with. His choice of partners are clearly the kind who at dinner will casually shift gears from discussing the intricacies of the limbic system to offering a blistering critique of the works of Søren Kierkegaard and wash it down with a reflection on Ramathan Ggoobi’s economy that seems to only work for ‘the haves and have-mores’.

We know him as the brother who does not go for dates unless he has exhaustively done a deep dive into his intended’s online life with a comb. You cannot fool him easily. Until that is, last month when on his way to a business meeting in Cape Town, he saw a girl he simply described as ‘a literal portrait of grace and beauty. A dream’. He made the approach. She told him she was going to Kigali for the BAL basketball tournament. He got her number and set up a date on return. And this is where it all seemed to go south.

After the basic pleasantries and superficial talk about their shared love for basketball, the conversation moved to more weighty issues. According to him, she might as well have stayed home because she did nothing but take him through endless loops chasing intellectual shadows. Fed up with trying to understand her, our guy started pushing back with facts. She was irate. He sipped his wine and leaned back. It was, to him, like an invite for an earful about how he does not listen, is inconsiderate and a know-it-all. He called for the bill, ordered for a cab for her and walked. Never to text again.

During our usual drinkup, a nosy fella asked how the date went. He shot back: ‘I absolutely like this lady but that date felt like I was explaining gravity to an excited poodle which merely wanted a belly rub’. He was clearly irate and wanted to vent. He continued: ‘if you do not know something and I show you that you do not know, why then is that gonna break down to: ‘you are a know-it-all’?’ He said he felt drained. Part of me hopes he goes on more dates like this.

The government’s agenda to monetise the economy continues to take shape, with wealth-creation programmes such as the Parish Development Model (PDM) taking the lead. To date, the government has invested close to Shs11 trillion directly into wealth-creation initiatives targeting households in the subsistence economy, farmers, youth, women, and businesses. Keeping this momentum during his budget speech, the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Mr Henry Musasizi, announced an additional Shs2.4 trillion in wealth-creation programmes.

This is intended to accelerate the monetisation of the economy and further expand the wealth creation initiative. To lift nearly 15 million people out of subsistence farming and into the money economy, Uganda has maintained its previous budget theme. The focus for Financial Year 2026/2027 remains the ‘Full Monetisation of Uganda’s Economy.’ This will be driven by commercial agriculture, industrialisation, services, digital transformation, and market access. Delivered yesterday at the Kololo Independence Grounds, the budget speech made it clear that the government wants to fast-track its ambitious blueprint: growing the economy to $500b over the next 14 years.

The strategy aims to achieve double-digit growth by focusing on the Agro-industrialisation, Tourism development, Mineral-based development (ATMS), including oil and gas), and Science, Technology, and Innovation. It is for this reason that in the 2026/27 financial year (FY), the government has allocated 95.6 percent of discretionary resources to the ATMS and their key enablers. This budget prioritises production, productivity, value addition, exports, and job creation. According to Mr Musasizi, this budget launches Uganda into the ‘Kisanja No More Sleep’.

Agro-Industrialisation

Under the agro-industrialisation pillar of the ATMS framework, a total of Shs2.2 trillion was allocated, marking the highest funding ever dedicated to the programme. This historic allocation will primarily fund agricultural research and innovation, including the commercialisation of anti-tick vaccines and the expansion of irrigation for water-for-production. Funds will also be used to enhance agricultural extension services by recruiting more workers and facilitating their outreach to farmers.

Furthermore, the budget will support the provision of high-quality agricultural inputs, post-harvest handling, and storage. These investments will complement ongoing financing for agro-processing, value addition, quality assurance, certification, and the expansion of market access The sole intention of the allocation is to enhance value addition.

Tourism

The tourism sector, which earned the country $1.8b (Shs6.74 trillion) in the 2025/26 financial year, will receive an allocation of Shs567.3b in the next budget. According to Mr Musasizi, this funding will support the continued development of the sector in the coming financial year. Specifically, the money will fund the branding and marketing of Uganda as a tourism and investment destination. It will also develop tourism infrastructure, build highway sanitation facilities, and construct refreshment centres at tourism sites. Additionally, part of the budget will be spent on enforcing hospitality standards, boosting wildlife conservation in national parks, supporting health tourism, and expanding commercial diplomacy.

Mineral, oil and gas

Here, Shs473.51b has been allocated for mineral-based industrial development, mining, and oil and gas. The ministry concerned will use the funds for continued mineral exploration, quantification and certification; the capitalisation of the Uganda National Mining Company; and the establishment of mineral markets and buying centres. It will also cater to the operationalisation of EACOP and the development of the oil refinery.

Science, innovation, technology

Slightly more than Shs1.1 trillion has been provided in the 2026/27 Budget for Science, Technology and Innovation, ICT, and the creative industries. According to the Budget Speech, this will fund the commercialisation of innovations, especially Kiira Motors vehicles, coffee, Dei BioPharma drugs and vaccines, and banana products, and the establishment of a Hi-Tech City. Further, funds will be invested in scientific research and innovation. The budget will also support the expansion of digital infrastructure to increase coverage, reliability, and affordability of the internet, government services, and e-commerce. It will also be spent on the growth of business process outsourcing (BPO) for job creation and the expansion of free-to-air signals.

Security

The government has allocated Shs10.21 trillion to security, governance, and rule of law institutions for FY 2026/27. Priority interventions include the continued modernisation, training, and welfare of the UPDF. The funds will fully equip the National Referral Military Hospital and complete the UPDF Headquarters. Additionally, the allocation will support border security, counterterrorism, and regional peace support operations, while enhancing community policing, crime intelligence, forensics, and CCTV coverage.

The budget will also bolster cybersecurity infrastructure, protect critical national assets, and improve immigration services, NIN/ID enrolment, and e-passport issuance. These efforts run alongside the ongoing fight against corruption and continued cattle restocking in the Acholi, Lango, and Teso sub-regions.

Infrastructure development

Some Shs8.79 trillion has been allocated for transport infrastructure development in the next financial year. The funds will cover the construction of the Malaba-Kampala standard gauge railway and the completion of the rehabilitation of the meter gauge railway. It will further finance the construction, upgrade, and maintenance of national, city, district, urban, and community access roads. The money will also fund the construction and maintenance of strategic bridges, the development of water transport systems such as ferries and ports, and the operationalisation of Kabalega International Airport. In addition, the allocation will support the continued upgrade of regional aerodromes and the expansion of Uganda Airlines.

Energy

Government has allocated Shs2.07 trillion to energy development. This fund will be directed toward expanding generation capacity by commencing the 380-megawatt Kiba hydro-electricity plant, a floating solar plant at Isimba, and 500 megawatts of utility-scale solar in the Elgon and Acholi regions. It will also cater to preparatory work for nuclear energy generation at Buyende, the expansion of transmission and associated substation infrastructure, rural electrification, and industrial power connections.

Health

The government has allocated Shs5.23 trillion to the health sector in FY 2026/27. The funding will focus on maternal and child health, nutrition improvement, expanded immunisation, and the prevention and treatment of non-communicable diseases. It will also fund the provision of essential medicines, the strengthening of specialised healthcare services, the improvement of emergency response systems, and exploration of feasible pathways toward universal health coverage

Water and sanitation

Government has allocated Shs1.013 trillion in FY 2026/27 to further expand access to safe water and sanitation services across the country. The objective is to ensure universal access to safe water and sanitation services.

Education and sports

Government has allocated Shs6.66 trillion to further improve the education of Ugandans. Priorities will be in expanding access to quality UPE and USE, strengthening STEM and vocational education, and improving teacher welfare and training. There will also be emphasis on pre-primary teachers, curriculum reform, strengthening public universities and research institutions. It will also be used in completing critical sports infrastructure for AFCON 27. Beginning FY 2026/27, an additional Shs568.65b has been allocated to enhance salaries for primary school teachers and arts teachers in secondary schools and Business, Technical, and Vocational Education and Training (BTVET) institutions.

Social protection

Government has allocated Shs173.5b for social protection, which will focus on expanding economic empowerment programmes, strengthening labour standards, supporting youth employment initiatives and promoting women’s economic participation. It will also be used to enhancing social protection systems; and establishing a robust labour market Information System. According to Mr Musasizi, Shs13.5 trillion has been allocated to invest directly in Ugandans through health, education, social protection, and water and sanitation next financial year.

Manufacturing

The government has allocated Shs1.03 trillion to the manufacturing programme for FY 2026/27. Priority interventions include industrial infrastructure development, particularly in industrial parks, additional capitalisation of Uganda Development Corporation (UDC) to drive industrial development. Part of the allocation will be spent on value addition to agricultural raw materials and minerals, supporting market access for Ugandan manufactured products and strengthening the functionality of special economic zones. Additionally, it will support industrial research, including the establishment of regional industrial incubation hubs.

Environment

To safeguard the environment and adapt to climate change, the government has allocated Shs494b next financial year. These funds will protect 1.26 million hectares of forest reserves and wetlands. They will also be used for the restoration of 10,000 hectares of degraded wetlands and demarcate critical riverbanks and lakeshores, particularly along the Nile. According to Mr Musasizi, the funds will also upgrade meteorological services and early warning systems to deliver accurate forecasts for agriculture, aviation, and climate monitoring. In addition, Shs361.88b has been allocated to the Contingency Fund to strengthen our national disaster response

Social protection

The government has earmarked Shs173.5b for social protection. This money will fund economic empowerment programmes, protect labour standards, support youth jobs, and boost women’s financial inclusion. The funds will also strengthen social safety nets and build a reliable labour market information system. Overall, Musasizi noted that Shs13.5 trillion will go directly into human capital development through health, education, social protection, water, and sanitation. ‘This investment reflects the government’s conviction that people are Uganda’s greatest asset,” Mr Musasizi said

Justice

Under this programme, some Shs665.55b has been allocated for FY 2026/27 to expand access to justice, further decentralise appellate services, and recruit and deploy judicial officers. Funds will also be pumped into reducing the case backlog through alternative dispute resolution and mobile courts, as well as digitising court processes, case management, and e-filing. Furthermore, the allocation will support strengthening prosecution, forensic services, and anti-corruption efforts, alongside upgrading court infrastructure and circuit operations.

Parliament

Next financial year, the government has allocated Shs1.2 trillion to enable Parliament to fulfil its constitutional mandates of legislation, appropriation, oversight, and effective representation.

Agricultural Credit Facility and UDB

The government has cumulatively capitalised Uganda Development Bank (UDB) with Shs1.6 trillion to provide long-term patient capital to strategic sectors vital for industrialisation and value addition. The government has injected Shs371.7b into the Agricultural Credit Facility to boost farming loans. Commercial banks joined the cause, helping distribute Shs1.35 trillion to over 14,000 farmers. Another Shs47.68b is set for the new financial year.

Uganda’s Electoral Commission tribunal has dismissed a petition challenging the nomination of two candidates contesting for the Kikuube District chairperson seat, clearing the way for the June 18 by-election in the oil-rich western district.

The petition was filed by Philip Mbabazi Burnet, who sought to overturn the nominations of Paddy Kisembo, the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) candidate, and Fenekansi Timanyire of the opposition National Unity Platform (NUP).

Mbabazi argued that the Kikuube District Returning Officer unfairly denied his nomination, citing inconsistencies in his academic qualifications and insufficient supporter endorsements. He also alleged that Kisembo’s and Timanyire’s nominations did not comply with provisions of the Local Governments Act.

However, after reviewing submissions from the parties and the returning officer’s report, the Electoral Commission tribunal dismissed the complaint.

In a ruling signed by Electoral Commission Chairperson Justice Simon Byabakama Mugenyi, the commission said the petition lacked merit.

The tribunal found that Mbabazi presented a Degree of Associate of Arts in Real Estate from a United States institution during nomination but failed to provide certification from the National Council for Higher Education, a legal requirement for foreign academic qualifications.

The commission also established that both Kisembo and Timanyire met the required threshold of supporters for nomination.

“In light of the above observations, the commission found no merit in the petition and the same stands dismissed,” the ruling said.

The tribunal upheld the returning officer’s decision to nominate both candidates.

On Friday, Kisembo welcomed the ruling and called for unity among NRM supporters ahead of the vote.

“I am so excited with this news. Mbabazi had concerns and wanted to be heard. The commissioners listened to all parties and came up with a final decision,” he said.

He urged party members to avoid divisions arising from the dispute.

“The ruling was good on my side but it should not disunite us as a party. This is the right time for NRM members to come together and work for the development of Kikuube,” Kisembo added.

He also appealed to Mbabazi to work with him should he win the election.

“Mbabazi had a good development agenda for the people of Kikuube. I call upon him to collaborate with us if I win the by-election,” he said.

Timanyire, however, questioned the basis of the ruling and expressed disappointment that Mbabazi would not appear on the ballot.

“It is unfortunate that the petition has been dismissed. I do not know the basis of the ruling, but if Kisembo had lost the case, NUP would have remained the only candidate and been declared unopposed,” he said.

Timanyire said voters should have been given a broader choice of candidates.

“I am not happy because Philip came for nominations and claimed he had all the required academic documents. He was denied the opportunity to contest. I wanted voters to have at least three candidates on the ballot paper,” he added.

Mbabazi’s lawyer, Anatoli Byakora Kaija of Okello Oryem and Company Advocates, said his client was considering further legal action.

“As team Philip, we will not keep silent. We intend to go to court,” Kaija told journalists.

The prospect of a court challenge means the dispute could continue even as campaigns enter their final days.

Kikuube Resident District Commissioner Godwin Angalia called for calm and tolerance among supporters of all candidates.

The by-election was triggered by the death of former district chairperson Peter Banura Araali, who died in a road crash on April 4.

The Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) has announced plans to deploy Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) soldiers in and around Mt Elgon National Park as part of efforts to strengthen conservation and protect the park from continued encroachment.

The move comes amid growing concern over illegal activities inside the protected area, including cultivation, tree cutting and poaching, which conservation officials say are threatening one of Uganda’s most fragile ecosystems. Mt Elgon National Park, which stretches across Bugisu and Sebei sub-regions, has for years been at the centre of recurring disputes between park authorities and neighbouring communities over boundary demarcation and access to resources.

Speaking during a stakeholders’ engagement ahead of the official launch of the Mbale Satellite Centre of the Uganda Wildlife Education and Conservation Centre (UWECC) in Mbale City recently, the UWA Commissioner for Community Conservation, Mr David Musingo, said the authority had sought support from the military to reinforce conservation efforts. Mr Musingo said the UPDF officers, who are currently undergoing training under the 3rd Division in Moroto, would help secure the park and support the enforcement of conservation laws.

‘People want to cut trees and others want to cultivate crops, knowing very well that it is a protected area. We are going to properly mark the boundaries so that our people do not get into trouble. Here we are going to add guns because the people want a hard way. We have invited 4,000 UPDF soldiers to join us to protect Mt Elgon,’ he said.

Justification

He added that UWA personnel had endured years of attacks while carrying out their duties. ‘Our rangers have been speared and others have been killed. I know our people have also been harassed. We are going to quickly use a gun and it will be a bit harder because we cannot watch when our people are being killed,’ Mr Musingo said. Despite supporting stronger enforcement measures, the commissioner emphasised that education and community engagement remained the most sustainable solutions to conservation challenges.

He explained that the newly established Mbale Satellite Centre would serve as a hub for wildlife education and sensitisation, helping communities understand the importance of conservation and the economic opportunities associated with tourism. ‘For me, I believe in the reduction of guns and increasing what you call educators. We need to create harmony, and that is why this centre has been opened,’ he said. Mr Musingo also raised concern over the disappearance of black-and-white colobus monkeys from parts of Mt Elgon National Park, attributing the decline to hunting for traditional Imbalu circumcision regalia.

‘We have lost all the black-and-white colobus monkeys in some areas because of hunting for Imbalu attire. We need to repopulate them again,’ he said. The stakeholders’ meeting also focused on the progress of the new Mbale Wildlife Centre, a facility that UWA officials believe will boost tourism in eastern Uganda and provide an important platform for conservation education.

Located along the Mbale-Tororo highway, the centre has been under construction since 2024. Most of the structures have already been completed, and several animals, including lions, monkeys, leopards, zebras, waterbucks, an ostrich and peacocks, have already been introduced.

The facility is being managed by the Uganda Wildlife Education and Conservation Centre and is expected to function both as a zoo and an educational centre. According to Mr Musingo, the project is intended to attract visitors to eastern Uganda and encourage them to explore other tourism destinations within the Bugisu and Sebei regions. ‘We have brought this facility to bring development to the region. It is going to spur tourism because animals themselves are a teaching aid,’ he said. He noted that Mbale’s strategic location near the Kenyan border and along major transport routes positions it well to benefit from regional tourism.

Mr Musingo revealed that tourism earnings from Bugisu remain significantly lower than those recorded in some of Uganda’s more established tourism destinations. ‘Few tourists are going to Mt Elgon National Park. I saw figures of about Shs10 million a year, yet in places such as Bwindi and Murchison Falls people are getting close to Shs1 billion,’ he said. UWA officials argue that expanding tourism infrastructure and increasing awareness about the region’s attractions could help close the gap. Acting Chief Warden of Mt Elgon National Park Godfrey Matanda backed the proposed military deployment, saying wildlife rangers had suffered repeated attacks while protecting the park.

‘More than 30 rangers have been injured and about five have died. We cannot continue like this. The guns are coming to keep the mountain safe, and for many years UWA has suffered so much in the hands of the locals,’ Mr Matanda said. The tourism sector has welcomed the development of the Mbale Wildlife Centre. Mr Saleh Naminya, the Chief Executive Officer of Casa Uganda Safaris and Lodges, said eastern Uganda had long struggled with limited tourism product development despite possessing significant attractions.

‘We now have an opportunity to add this unique wildlife centre to our coffee tourism and cultural experiences. Besides the animals, the setup gives visitors an opportunity to see wildlife in a more natural environment. This is the opportunity we have been waiting for,’ he said.

Benefits of centre

Mr Naminya said the facility would create opportunities for hotels, tour operators and entrepreneurs across the region. ‘To the hotel industry, it is a business opportunity, and for entrepreneurs, more opportunities are going to come up. This is a great opportunity but also exposure for our children,’ he said. Mr Moses Buyera, the head teacher of Mbale Secondary School, said the centre would reduce the costs schools incur when organising educational tours to Entebbe.

‘For schools in Mbale, this has answered the question of where children will be going for tours because we have been hiring buses, incurring a lot of costs and enduring long journeys to reach Entebbe. We hope all the animals will be here so that people will not have a reason to move to Kampala,’ he said. UWA officials also used the meeting to remind communities about regulations governing wildlife management. Mr Annuel Ainemagara, an animal keeper at UWA, warned residents against keeping wild animals without licences or attempting to rescue wildlife without authorisation.

‘It is only UWA-trained rangers and animal keepers who are authorised to conduct wildlife rescues in communities. One of the advantages of having this zoo in the community is that we shall also be rehabilitating animals, and we expect the community to cooperate,’ he said. Some participants, however, raised concerns that require attention if conservation efforts are to succeed.

Mr Mike Mungoma Matepe, a resident of Bulambuli District, appealed to UWA to help communities address increasing crop destruction by birds, particularly among rice farmers.

Retired entomologist and former Makerere University lecturer Peter Kiwuso said there was a need for extensive public awareness campaigns to address fears and misconceptions surrounding the wildlife centre. ‘Some people are saying they are bringing lions to terrorise people and their domestic animals. On the issue of the colobus monkey, we also need to provide alternatives for Imbalu headgear and tails,’ he said.

Mr Dan Mirembe, the officer-in-charge of the Mbale Wildlife Centre, said management plans to introduce additional species, including the Laurent frog, a rare amphibian found only on Mt Elgon and currently facing extinction threats. He urged communities living near protected areas to adopt farming practices that minimise human-wildlife conflict.

‘Communities should learn to adapt to living near conservation areas by planting crops that are not commonly eaten by animals,’ he said.

Social protection advocates, representatives of persons with disabilities and lawmakers have urged the Ugandan government to increase funding for social protection programmes, warning that budget cuts could leave vulnerable groups without critical support.

The appeal came after the government allocated Shs173.6 billion to the social protection sub-sector in the 2026/27 financial year budget, a 57.1% decline from the Shs404.1 billion allocated in the outgoing fiscal year.

Patrick Kiconco Katabazi, the Rukiga County legislator speaking on behalf of the Parliamentary Forum on Social Protection, said government investment in social protection should match efforts to expand infrastructure and other development programmes.

“The government should promote balanced development. As it develops infrastructure and education systems, it should also improve people’s standards of living because no one will utilise the developed structures if people remain vulnerable,” Katabazi told reporters on Thursday.

He criticised the allocation, noting that social protection accounts for only a small share of funding under the Human Capital Development programme despite growing economic shocks and vulnerabilities.

“It is unfair for social protection to account for only 1.3% of the Shs13.6 trillion allocated to the Human Capital Development programme when vulnerabilities remain widespread,” he said.

The budget allocates funds to several programmes, including Shs121 billion for the Senior Citizens Grant, Shs15.5 billion for the newly introduced Child Disability Benefit, Shs7.6 billion for the Social Development Grant and Shs24 million for support to street children.

Esther Kyozira, Chief Executive Officer of the National Union of Disabled Persons of Uganda (NUDIPU), welcomed the introduction of the Child Disability Benefit, describing it as a significant step towards supporting children with disabilities and their families.

“This recognises that children with disabilities face extra costs for care, transport and assistive devices. It means more children with disabilities can stay in school, access care and improve their chances of reaching their full potential,” Kyozira said.

However, she warned against stagnation in future funding.

“We want to see this allocation grow. Experience shows that once some social protection grants are introduced, they remain at the same level for many years. We are requesting government to ensure annual increments,” she said.

Finance Minister Henry Musasizi said the Social Assistance Grants for Empowerment (SAGE) programme had so far benefited 489,673 people through funding amounting to Shs836.1 billion.

He also said 72,772 beneficiaries had received Shs48.5 billion under the National Special Grant for Persons with Disabilities across 171 local governments.

Under the 2026/27 budget, the Senior Citizens Grant is expected to support 305,000 Ugandans aged 80 years and above.

Advocates, however, expressed concern over the government’s failure to implement a Cabinet resolution passed in October 2025 that proposed lowering the eligibility age for the Senior Citizens Grant from 80 to 65 years and increasing the monthly benefit from Shs25,000 to Shs35,000.

Katabazi said implementing the reforms would require an additional Shs252 billion but argued that failure to provide the funding leaves many older Ugandans vulnerable.

“This non-funding leaves the majority of older persons aged 65 years and above without any form of pension cover and vulnerable to poverty,” he said.

On the first Tuesday of this month, while travelling from the Bwaise interchange on the Northern bypass, specifically heading to the Nambole Interchange, we encountered an unexpected traffic jam near the last curve before the interchange. It quickly became apparent that the queue likely originated at the interchange or possibly from Bweyogerere, which is a common destination for many drivers in this area.

As we approached the curve, I noticed that the driver of the double-cabin pick-up truck had to brake suddenly from a speed of about 80 km/h. We managed to come to a safe stop, and I was grateful for that. However, I immediately started to worry that a larger vehicle, like a heavy goods truck or large bus, following closely behind us, might not be able to stop in time. The size and weight of those vehicles, combined with the possibility that their drivers might be distracted, could lead to a more dangerous situation.

Thanks to divine intervention, the increasing number of cars behind us managed to come to a stop safely. However, as we continued moving forward at a slow pace, we reached the final curve of this section 45 minutes later and noticed that a Volkswagen Golf hatchback had been crushed by a lorry that couldn’t stop in time. The impact from behind caused the hatchback to collide with another truck in front of it. As a result, it sustained damage to both the rear, which shattered the back windshield, and the front, and crumpled the hood.

During my postgraduate studies in transportation engineering, I became aware of the potential dangers we had narrowly avoided. I observed many accidents while moving on such freeways abroad, since they are with numerous freeways and expressways, where sudden traffic queues often form, forcing vehicles travelling at high speeds to halt abruptly. This experience made me grateful. On straight stretches of road, attentive drivers may spot these queues early enough to brake in time, especially on gently sloping sections.

However, on curved segments, the situation is much more hazardous due to limited visibility, which can prevent drivers from recognising the impending danger until it’s too late. However, these developed countries, which boast extensive freeways and expressways, have attempted to allay the likelihood of accidents by implementing systems that alert drivers to potential dangers, such as traffic queues, at least half a kilometre in advance. They achieve this through digital screens that display real-time conditions ahead or updated speed limits; failing to comply with these limits may result in fines.

Additionally, emergency response teams on specific expressways place warning signs about traffic slowdowns or accidents from considerable distances. One of the most cost-effective solutions would be to deploy traffic police to slow down vehicles before they reach these congested areas. Without such measures, the risk of accidents may increase, and many lives could be at stake, especially considering that a significant portion of the vehicles on these routes are heavy goods trucks.