Category: Daily Monitor

A High Court judge has ordered journalist and social media commentator Dean Lubowa Saava, proprietor of TV10 Gano Mazima, to pay Shs100 million in damages to Deputy Inspector General of Government Anne Twinomugisha Muhairwe for defaming her through allegations of corruption published on TikTok.

In her judgment delivered on June 24, 2026, Justice Joyce Kavuma held that Lubowa falsely accused Ms Twinomugisha of corruption and misconduct, statements the court ruled were defamatory and intended to injure her reputation.

“The plaintiff’s (Twinomugisha) evidence clearly shows that the statements published by the defendant (Lubowa) were defamatory in nature and intended at causing injury to the reputation of the plaintiff, the Deputy Inspector General of Government,” Justice Kavuma held.

The suit arose from a series of videos published on Lubowa’s TikTok platform, TV10 Gano Mazima, in July 2025. In the broadcasts, Lubowa alleged that Twinomugisha had received Shs200 million in bribes linked to the Kaabong road project and described her as a corrupt official unfit to hold public office.

According to court records, Lubowa claimed that the Deputy IGG had demanded money from engineers working on the project and sent an aide to collect the funds on her behalf. He also accused her of misappropriating money meant for wetlands and questioned her suitability to lead Uganda’s anti-corruption fight.

Twinomugisha denied all the allegations, telling court that she had never received any money from engineers, had never been involved in the alleged transactions, and had never even visited Kaabong District.

Her evidence was supported by Ombudsman Affairs Director Kakooza Savio Ntensibe, whom Lubowa had identified as her personal assistant. Ntensibe testified that he was not Twinomugisha’s aide, had never collected money on her behalf, and had no involvement in the matters raised by the journalist.

The court noted that Lubowa neither entered appearance nor filed a defence despite being duly served with court documents. The case therefore proceeded ex parte.

Justice Kavuma further observed that Lubowa had previously admitted in a criminal plea bargain that information he published about the Deputy IGG was false.

“The defendant in making these claims directly and indirectly insinuated without show of proof that the Deputy Inspector General of Government is part and parcel of the corruption she ought to eliminate,” the judge stated.

She added that Lubowa continued publishing the allegations despite warnings from Twinomugisha to stop, conduct the court described as malicious and reckless.

“The continued publishing of the said defamatory statements shows the desire and intent by the defendant to cause pain to the plaintiff,” Justice Kavuma ruled.

While Twinomugisha had sought Shs300 million in exemplary damages, the court declined the request, finding no evidence that Lubowa had profited from the publications.

However, the judge awarded Shs100 million in general damages, citing the seriousness of the allegations, the wide circulation of the content on a TikTok platform with more than 300,000 followers, and Lubowa’s failure to apologise or defend himself in court.

The court also issued a permanent injunction restraining Lubowa and his agents from making or publishing further defamatory statements about Twinomugisha. He was further ordered to publish a public apology on the same TikTok platform where the impugned statements appeared.

In addition to the damages, Lubowa was ordered to pay the costs of the suit and interest on the award until payment in full.

For months, Peace Kabasweka had been building up to travel to North America for the second year in a row and this time, to compete at the historic Toronto Golf Club during the 112th Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship from July 20-24.

That entire plan got botched last month after Canada placed a 90-day travel and immigration suspension on Uganda following the Ebola virus concerns.

‘It’s such a disappointment though I am hopeful that with more effort to keep my world ranking place lower, I will be invited again,’ Kabasweka told this paper in an interview at Entebbe Club.

With Canada out of the picture, Kabasweka’s plan changed and she opted to replace it with 54-hole Zambia Ladies Golf Open which tees-off at the Lusaka Golf Club on Friday.

‘It’s a great competition, having good players from Kenya and Tanzania joining in, it will help me refocus from practice mode to a structured scoring competition,’ the handicap two player Kabasweka said.

This will be Kabasweka’s second appearance at this tournament, having finished second to Tanzanian Iddy Madina in 2024.

‘My target is to emerge victorious. I have done good practice especially on my short game which has been letting me down.

Special appreciation to Team Kabalaza of Entebbe Club that have sponsored me to participate and I look forward to making them proud by raising the Ugandan flag high in Zambia,’ she added.

Kabasweka is currently ranked 323rd in the World Amateur Golf Rankings (WAGR) but she targets to dip in the top 100 and winning in Zambia could come in handy.

In 2026, Kabasweka picked up top-10 finishes at the Africa Amateur Invitational Championship in Johannesburg, South Africa and the Kenya Ladies Open.

She finished third both at the Kilembe Ladies Open and Entebbe Ladies Open but victory was hers at the Namulonge Ladies Open at the President’s Cup played in Entebbe.

Her trip south to Lusaka is also a precursor before she pursues a second title at the Uganda Ladies Golf Open at Uganda Golf Club in Kitante come August.

ZAMBIA LADIES GOLF OPEN

Dates: June 26-28, 2026

Venue: Lusaka Golf Club

Format: Stroke-Play

Father’s Day was first organised in 1910 but did not become an official holiday until 1972, sixty-two years later. One might consider this delay a minor bureaucratic footnote, but it tells us something significant about how men were once viewed; as fixtures, not figures; as necessary but not notable.

The holiday arrived late because the acknowledgement of fathers arrived late. There was a widely held, unspoken assumption that men did not need a day dedicated to them. They were seen as not fragile, not sentimental, and, in popular imagination, immune to the sting of neglect.

We now know this perception is not true. Men are not immune; they are not naturally stoic but have been conditioned to be.

They feel pain, they fracture, they fail. They can also flourish, but often only when someone is watching, when someone affirms that their contributions matter. What I wonder is whether we have moved past neglect into something more alarming.

Have fathers, like whales and pangolins, become a species in need of active preservation?

Consider the numbers. In Uganda, roughly one in three children lives in a home without a biological father; 36 percent, according to Unicef. Divorce rates have climbed globally.

Unemployment among men, particularly young men, has become a structural crisis. Substance use disorders disproportionately affect men, leading them to die from drug overdoses at roughly twice the rate of women. These figures represent coordinates on a map of collapse.

We tend to talk about crime, unemployment, addiction, and family breakdown as if they are isolated issues. They are not.

They converge in the home and in the absence of a father. If 30 percent of households lack a father today, we can reasonably expect that figure to rise in the next generation. Fatherlessness is not a static condition; it replicates.

Children who grow up without a father do not simply miss a parent; they miss a vital template. They have no guide for how to navigate parenthood themselves.

The model was once clear: the father was a guide, provider, counsellor, and protector. This role was not always heroic; sometimes, it was merely functional. But it was present and visible, and what is not visible cannot be learned.

In the Bible, John 5:19 states, ‘Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does, the Son also does.’

This reflects the idea of imitation and the transmission of behaviour, assuming a father is present to imitate. What happens when he is absent? What occurs when the only role models are abstract, remote, or completely missing? The answer is not speculative; we are living it.

Daughters are not exempt from this issue. They learn their first grammar of relationships from the man who raises them. If that grammar is incomplete, they may spend years trying to write in fragments. Often, if a father did not stay, they may question why anyone else should. If love was conditional, why should trust be absolute?

I had two years with my father before he left one afternoon to buy groceries and did not return. He disappeared most ordinarily, with the simplest of errands. I do not remember the groceries, but I remember the silence that followed. I also remember his generosity; he gave freely to anyone, without calculation.

That instinct travelled with me. Everywhere I went, people helped me because he had helped them. His currency was goodwill, which retained its value long after he was gone. From him, I learnt that giving is not a loss; it is a deposit.

What we need now is not sentimentalism. We need fathers who stay. We need fathers who are present not because they are perfect, but because they are persistent. We need men who understand that their role is crucial, not optional or transferable.

It is not something that can be outsourced to a paycheck or a weekend. The crisis we face is not about masculinity in the abstract; it is about children who will never know what it means to have a father who shows up. And if they never know, they will never show up for their own children.

Hello John, the combination of symptoms you describe suggests a serious problem that requires immediate attention. Since the overheating occurs within a minute or two of driving and is accompanied by multiple warning lights, a loss of power, and a snapping noise, I advise against continuing to drive the vehicle until it has been properly diagnosed.

It is important to understand that many modern vehicles are programmed to protect themselves when the engine overheats or when critical systems fail. When the engine control module detects abnormal temperatures or other serious faults, it can reduce engine power, disable certain features, and illuminate multiple warning lights. Therefore, while the ETC, engine, SERV 4WD, and oil lights are all activating together, they may not necessarily indicate separate faults; rather, they could be secondary warnings triggered by a primary issue.

One likely cause is a failure in the accessory drive belt system. The snapping sound you hear during acceleration is a significant clue. If the serpentine belt is slipping, damaged, or intermittently losing tension due to a worn tensioner or a seized pulley, several systems can be affected simultaneously.

The belt drives important components such as the water pump, alternator, and air conditioning compressor. If the belt does not effectively turn these components, the engine can overheat quickly, the battery may not charge properly, and the AC might stop cooling effectively.

Another strong possibility is a failing water pump. Even though you replaced the radiator, the cooling system is only as effective as its weakest component. If the water pump is damaged or its impeller has failed, coolant may not circulate properly through the engine, causing temperatures to rise rapidly after startup, even when coolant levels appear normal.

The thermostat should also be inspected. If the thermostat is stuck closed, it will prevent coolant from flowing between the engine and radiator. In such cases, the temperature gauge can move from normal to dangerously hot within a very short time. While thermostats are relatively inexpensive components, they can cause severe overheating if they fail.

The oil warning light is particularly concerning. In some vehicles, this light may illuminate due to extreme engine heat affecting oil pressure readings. However, it could also indicate a genuine oil pressure problem. Low oil pressure can result from insufficient oil, a failing oil pump, clogged oil passages, or internal engine wear. If the engine is genuinely losing oil pressure, continuing to drive could lead to catastrophic engine damage.

You should also consider the possibility of a failing engine cooling fan. If the fan is not functioning correctly, temperatures can rise rapidly, especially in traffic or at low speeds. However, given that your vehicle overheats within about a minute of driving, I would first focus on issues related to coolant circulation and the drive belt before suspecting the cooling fan alone.

Another area that deserves attention is the vehicle’s electrical and computer systems. Modern vehicles rely on sensors to monitor coolant temperature, throttle position, oil pressure, and various other functions.

A faulty sensor or wiring problem can sometimes trigger warning lights and force the vehicle into a reduced-power mode. However, electrical faults alone typically would not explain the rapid overheating and snapping noise, which is why a mechanical inspection should take priority.

The fact that the vehicle struggles to crank is also important. This could indicate that the engine has been under stress from repeated overheating episodes. It may also point to charging system issues if the alternator is not functioning properly due to a slipping belt.

My recommendation is to have a technician inspect the serpentine belt, belt tensioner, pulleys, water pump, thermostat, and cooling system immediately. A diagnostic scan should also be performed to retrieve any stored fault codes from the engine control module. These codes can provide valuable clues about why the ETC, engine, and SERV 4WD warnings are appearing.

Please do not ignore the oil warning light or continue driving the vehicle while it is overheating. Severe overheating can warp cylinder heads, damage head gaskets, seize pistons, and lead to complete engine failure. The sooner the root cause is identified, the better the chances of avoiding an expensive repair.

Every year, thousands of young girls have their childhood interrupted by sexual violence, exploitation and early pregnancy. Many are left to carry not only the physical and emotional scars of abuse, but also the burden of raising children alone while still children themselves.

According to the police report for 2025, eight out of the 10 victims of sexual crimes are girls, many of them aged between 12 and 18. What a tragedy! A girl who once aspired to become a doctor, teacher, engineer or entrepreneur suddenly finds herself forced out of school. When a child is defiled and abandoned, the nation loses potential.

Communities lose future leaders. Families lose hope. Uganda loses productive citizens who could have contributed to economic growth and social transformation. The education system is still struggling to accommodate many such girls. Some schools remain reluctant to welcome them back.

Many teenage mothers become trapped in a cycle of poverty for without education, employment opportunities diminish. Without economic independence, vulnerability to further exploitation increases. This should concern every Ugandan.

The responsibility for addressing this crisis begins at the community level. Local leaders, including LC officials, religious leaders, cultural institutions and community elders must stop treating cases of defilement as family matters to be settled through informal negotiations.

Too often, perpetrators escape justice through financial settlements, while victims are left without support. Communities must reject the culture of silence that protects offenders.

Every case of defilement should be reported and pursued through the justice system. Parents and guardians must be vigilant, maintaining open communication with children and ensuring their safety both at home and in public spaces.

Many policies have been drafted, passed and are in libraries of the Ministry of Gender, but beyond the texts, the girls continue to suffer at the hands of irresponsible and monstrous men. And all we get is a police report that also becomes part of the national statistics.

National leaders must treat the protection of children as a development priority, not merely a social issue. Schools should be encouraged and facilitated to help young mothers continue learning without discrimination.

Cases of defilement must be investigated thoroughly and handled with urgency. Too often, delays in investigations, missing files, compromised evidence and prolonged court processes discourage victims and their families from seeking justice.

The law already provides severe penalties for defilement. What is needed is consistent enforcement. Survivors need long-term support. They need counselling to recover from trauma. They need healthcare services. They need opportunities to continue their education. They need economic empowerment.

Defiled and abandoned teenage girls represent some of the most vulnerable members of our communities. Their plight should not be met with judgment, indifference or silence. Their dreams, education and future matter to all of us.

A 13-year-old Primary Four pupil was shot dead and two other students were injured on Wednesday when security forces opened fire to disperse rioting students in Koboko Municipality.

The deceased has been identified as Buruga Ramathan, a pupil at Nuru Islamic Primary School and resident of Gbulagbulanga cell. He died instantly after being hit by a stray bullet.

Chaos erupted after a violent confrontation between students of St. Charles Lwanga College and Kochi Secondary School, triggered by a recent football match. The rivalry spilled into the streets Wednesday morning, with students blocking the busy Koboko-Oraba road.

According to Emmy Mitala, the Resident District Commissioner for Koboko, a joint team of Uganda Police Force and UPDF was deployed to restore order.

‘The rowdy students started stoning the officers and damaging the patrol vehicle. In turn, officers released bullets to disperse the crowd. Unfortunately, a stray bullet hit Ramathan Buruga, who died instantly,’ said SSP Josephine Angucia, West Nile Regional Police Spokesperson.

Two other students sustained injuries from stray bullets. They include Hamid Mahazim, 16, wounded in his left foot, and Khalifah Rajab, a Senior Four student at Nyarilo Secondary School. All injured students are receiving treatment at facilities including Koboko Hospital.

Police have condemned the violence and opened an investigation under SD Ref 59/24/06/2026.

‘We condemn acts of strikes by students because they are not only illegal but can be destructive and fatal,’ SSP Angucia said. ‘We encourage students to share their challenges and grievances with their leaders and administrators for proper management.’

Uganda’s fight against the Bundibugyo Ebola strain is increasingly being shaped by the majority being imported cases, now standing at 15 out of the country’s 20 confirmed cases originating from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), compared to only five cases resulting from local transmission.

The figures have reinforced concerns that Uganda’s battle against Ebola could continue prolonging the outbreak even as local transmission appears largely under control.

Health authorities say the majority of recent patients have crossed into Uganda seeking treatment, forcing the country to repeatedly activate costly surveillance systems, contact tracing operations and emergency response measures.

The latest developments have prompted Uganda and DRC to launch a joint 90-day cross-border Ebola response plan aimed at tackling the outbreak at its source rather than waiting for infected individuals to enter Uganda. The bilateral framework was launched on Tuesday.

“Uganda and the DRC have launched a bilateral framework to strengthen cross-border collaboration in controlling and mitigating the Bundibugyo Ebola Virus outbreak starting with Aru Territory, Ituri Province where residents frequently cross between the two countries for trade, healthcare and social interactions,” a statement by the Ministry of Health, reads .

Speaking on the rationale behind the intervention, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Dr Diana Atwine, acknowledged that Uganda may never completely stop infected people from crossing into the country as long as the outbreak continues in Democratic Republic of Congo.

“We believe we will not be able to stop the inflow of patients because they are looking for care. The best is to make sure we go to the source and work with our counterparts in DRC,” Dr Atwine said.

She said the movement of patients across the border has significantly complicated Uganda’s response efforts.

‘Many patients arrive after interacting with numerous people during their journey, creating extensive contact-tracing workloads for health teams. It is giving us a lot of work to track all those people,” Dr Atwine noted.

“Ebola’s magic bullet is not big science. It is simply to test quickly the potential person who is sick, isolate them and ensure there is less contact with patients. Establishing laboratories closer to outbreak hotspots will reduce delays in diagnosis and help contain the epidemic more effectively,” she added.

She added that the strategy offers a second benefit by reducing the number of Congolese patients travelling into Uganda for treatment.

“It will help us prevent people travelling long distances from DRC to come to Uganda for care and, therefore, causing even more people here to fall sick because they come through taxis and the border,” she said.

Under the arrangement, Uganda plans to deploy approximately 40 health workers at each treatment centre, with two centres expected to become operational initially.

‘One facility will be established in Aru, while another will be located in Kasenyi along the Lake Albert corridor in Rwampara, areas identified as major routes used by travellers crossing into Uganda. A third treatment centre may be established depending on the evolution of the outbreak,’ Dr Atwine explained.

Beyond the public health threat, continued transmission in DRC is also carrying economic consequences for Uganda.

Dr Atwine noted that cross-border trade, transport and business activities have already been affected as authorities intensify control measures.

“Even business along those districts is affected because markets have been suspended, flights are suspended and human traffic has significantly reduced around the border,” she said.

She argued that investing resources in controlling the outbreak inside the DRC would ultimately cost less than dealing with prolonged disruptions to trade and economic activity.

However, perhaps no group has felt the impact of imported Ebola cases more directly than health workers.

Several imported cases sought treatment in Ugandan health facilities before Ebola was confirmed, exposing doctors, nurses and support staff and forcing authorities to place large numbers of healthcare workers under quarantine.

Dr Joseph Gavin Nyanzi, the chairperson for Ethics and Professionalism at the Uganda Medical Association, said the outbreak has created anxiety among health workers despite government efforts to support those affected. “A number of our colleagues, doctors and nurses, have been exposed.

Fortunately, government responded by putting all these who had contact with the first Ebola patients under quarantine,” Dr Nyanzi said. Although official figures remain unavailable, he estimated that more than 100 health workers linked to one private health facility alone may have been affected by quarantine measures.

“Several hospitals and clinics where Ebola patients sought treatment have tightened access controls, intensified screening measures and carried out extensive disinfection exercises to prevent further transmission,” Dr Nyanzi said.

Dr Nyanzi said the disruptions have raised concerns among patients seeking routine healthcare services as facilities balance service delivery with infection prevention requirements.

‘The exposure of health workers has disrupted service delivery in some facilities, with hospitals limiting access to non-emergency cases and carrying out extensive disinfection exercises.’

Unlike previous Ebola outbreaks where vaccination played a role in protecting frontline responders, health workers are now relying heavily on prevention and control measures.

He warned that shortages of personal protective equipment remain a concern, particularly in private health facilities.

“Where these protective gears are not available, our colleagues are not really comfortable attending to patients until they are protected,” he said.

The Ugandan government has taken full ownership of the HIV response following shifts in international aid, committing domestic resources to eliminate the epidemic as a major public health threat by 2030.

With a target to end mother-to-child transmission, Uganda now allocates roughly Shs1.9 trillion annually to the national HIV/AIDS response. The Uganda AIDS Commission says Shs1.5 trillion covers the baseline cost of life-saving antiretroviral therapy and laboratory monitoring, while wider epidemic management requires up to Shs1.9 trillion.

Dr Sr Grace Mary Akiror, board member on the UAC, said despite the withdrawal of some external support in recent years, government continues to provide medication free of charge at health centres.

She said the epidemic disproportionately affects women and young girls who often fall prey to exploitation due to socio-economic pressures.

Statistics indicate that 78 per cent of young people affected are girls and women, a vulnerability worsened during school holidays when girls are placed in high-risk environments like serving alcohol or working late in markets.

However, a stark gender paradox exists in health outcomes. While women are more frequently infected, men have higher mortality rates. Dr Sr Akiror attributed this to behavioral factors.

‘You and I are aware that most of these women fall prey not because they want to, but because they are forced to. Others get in knowingly or unknowingly. So, it is within our mandate, you and I, to continuously sensitise the public, including the men, to ensure that protection of each other is key,’ she told journalists in Lira City on Tuesday, June 23, 2026.

Sr Dr Akiror was in Lira with UAC officials to participate in the 2026 Provincial National Widows’ Day commemorated under the theme ‘Justice, dignity and economic power for widows.’

She emphasised that while women and girls remain the most vulnerable, ending the epidemic by 2030 requires personal responsibility, community support, and sustained government funding.

‘And you see, I talked about women having that higher percentage, but again, women, men die more than the women. Why? Women try to adhere to what they have got, and they take their medication effectively,’ she explained.

‘But the men mix with alcohol, non-attendance, even going to the hospital is an issue, and they fall prey. They detract, they don’t take their medicines in time, where a woman becomes very supportive in this area. That’s why the men, they relapse, and that’s why the men die more than the women, much as women are more vulnerable and infected.’

Beyond medical treatment, Dr Akiror said social factors like land grabbing and domestic stigma hinder the fight. Widows are frequently chased from land by relatives, stripping them of economic stability needed to maintain health.

Dr Akiror highlighted that love and support are clinical necessities.

‘We must show love to those who are infected, because that will encourage them to take their treatment effectively. But if we don’t show love, the stigma aspect makes them step back and not go for their medication,’ she said.

UAC identifies media as a critical partner, tasked with exposing injustices and transmitting accurate health information in local languages such as Leb Lango to reach rural communities.

Rt Rev Prof Alfred Olwa, Bishop of Lango Diocese, said the Church of Uganda is actively creating awareness, visiting patients, and mobilizing support through parish, archdeaconry, and diocesan structures.

‘As Church of Uganda, especially the Diocese of Lango, we have in our structure, in the parish level, the archdeaconry level, and the diocesan level, through the arm of our health department, especially the public health department, we have representatives,’ he said.

According to Bishop Olwa, those representatives create awareness about disease prevention and healthy living, and link up with pastors on the ground.

‘So they are able to visit these patients, they are able to pray with them, they are also able to raise support among Christians where possible,’ Bishop Olwa said.

India and Kenya remained the leading destinations for money sent out of Uganda in 2025 by foreigners working in the country.

However, outbound remittances declined sharply amid growing economic pressures that squeezed household and business budgets.

The Bank of Uganda Cross Border Remittance Dashboard, which tracks remittance inflows and outflows, indicates that money sent abroad fell by 20 percent to Shs1.45 trillion ($402 million) in 2025 from Shs1.8 trillion ($502 million) in 2024.

The decline was also reflected in transaction volumes, which dropped from 2.66 million to 2.12 million over the same period.

The figures suggest that foreign workers, expatriates, migrant communities, and other residents, including Ugandans, who regularly transfer money abroad, reduced their remittances as living costs increased and economic conditions tightened both in Uganda and overseas.

Despite the decline, the ranking of recipient countries remained largely unchanged, with India, Kenya, US, UK and Canada continuing to account for the bulk of funds leaving Uganda.

India remains top destination

India retained its position as the largest recipient of outbound remittances from Uganda, receiving about Shs460b ($124m), more than double the amount sent to any other country.

The outflows were largely driven by tuition payments for Ugandan students enrolled in Indian universities, medical expenses for patients seeking specialised treatment, and payments to suppliers by businesses importing pharmaceuticals, machinery, and vehicle parts.

The country’s dominance reflects India’s growing role as a destination for education, healthcare and trade services used by Ugandan households and businesses.

Kenya’s regional pull

Kenya followed in second place, receiving Shs164b ($44m). Its position reflects strong commercial and social ties between the two countries.

Kenya remains East Africa’s financial hub, with many Ugandan companies maintaining regional banking relationships and making payments for insurance, logistics, and technology services through Kenyan institutions.

Cross-border trade also contributes significantly to remittance flows, alongside family support payments and education-related transfers.

US, UK and Canada complete top five

US ranked third, receiving Shs157b ($42m), followed by UK at Shs103.6b ($28m) and Canada at Shs74b ($20m).

Education continues to be a major driver of transfers to these countries, with Ugandan families paying tuition and upkeep for students pursuing studies abroad.

Transfers are also linked to family support and financial obligations within long-established Ugandan communities living overseas.

The report shows that while the overall sums are substantial, most transactions are relatively small.

About 93 percent of transfers were valued between $0 and $499, with the average transaction standing at $152 (Shs562,400).

The payments typically cover school fees, medical deposits, family support, and settlements between small traders and suppliers.

Digital channels gain ground

The report highlights the growing shift toward digital payments, with digital channels accounting for 57.5 percent of outbound remittances, compared to 42.4 percent through cash-based channels.

Banks handled the largest share of transfers at 57.2 percent, followed by forex bureaus at 29.4 percent and payment service providers at 13 percent.

The growing use of mobile money platforms and digital payment systems is making cross-border transactions faster and more accessible, particularly for transfers within the East African region.

Early 2026 data

Data from the Bank of Uganda interactive remittance dashboard, which was launched in partnership with the International Fund for Agricultural Development, also suggests the downward trend has continued into 2026.

Outbound remittances stood at $38m in January, $36.3m in February, $36.8m in March, and $35.2m in April. India remained the leading destination each month, followed by Kenya, US, UK and Canada.

However, May recorded a sharp drop, with outbound remittances falling to just Shs5.49b ($1.46m) across 20,210 transactions, compared with Shs130.2m recorded in April.

The figures highlight the continued dependence on foreign education, healthcare, and regional business services that drive money out of Uganda.

Uganda received $2.5b in inflows while sending out only $402 million, resulting in a net inflow of $2.1b.

For every dollar sent out, more than six dollars flowed in, underscoring the country’s position as a major recipient of international remittances.

US remains the largest source of remittance inflows, contributing $700m, nearly a third of all incoming funds.

This reflects the strength of the diaspora community in North America and its continued commitment to supporting families, investments, and livelihoods back home.

UK and Canada also played significant roles, reinforcing the importance of traditional diaspora markets.

The story does not end in the West. The Middle East, particularly Saudi Arabia and the UAE, contributed a combined $640m.

These inflows highlight the growing influence of migrant workers in the Gulf region, whose earnings continue to fuel household consumption, education, healthcare, housing, and small business development in their home country.

The comparison

While India, Kenya, US, UK, and Canada are the leading destinations for outbound transfers, only three of these countries, US, UK, and Canada, are also major sources of inflows.

India is the largest outflow destination, receiving approximately Shs460b ($124m). However, it does not appear among the major inflow corridors, indicating that Uganda receives relatively little in remittances from India.

Similarly, Kenya, which receives about Shs163b ($44m), contributes only minimal inflows to Uganda despite being a key regional trading partner.

The corridor is therefore characterized by strong outbound economic activity rather than reciprocal remittance flows.

A different pattern emerges for US, UK, and Canada. Although Uganda sends Shs156b ($42m) to US, it receives approximately Shs2.59 trillion ($700m) in return, making the country the largest source of remittances and generating a net inflow of over Shs2.4 trillion.

UK displays a similar trend, sending about Shs1.22 trillion ($330m) to Uganda while receiving only Shs104b ($28m).

Canada also remains a strong net contributor, with inflows of about Shs407b ($110m) compared to outflows of only Shs74b ($20m).

This shows that Uganda’s remittance surplus is heavily supported by diaspora communities in North America and Europe. In contrast, India and Kenya primarily function as destinations for trade- and business-related payments.

This highlights the strategic importance of strengthening diaspora engagement in US, UK, and Canada while monitoring major outbound corridors such as India and Kenya to better understand the economic activities driving these transfers.

Preparations are intensifying across Uganda ahead of the long-awaited Local Council (LC1) elections, with the Electoral Commission embarking on the verification of residents and compilation of village registers as the country prepares for the first nationwide grassroots polls in years.

The Electoral Commission Chairperson, Justice Simon Byabakama Mugenyi, announced that Ugandans will go to the polls on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, to elect LC1 chairpersons. The nationwide exercise will be conducted simultaneously in all 71,214 villages across the country. Following the release of the electoral roadmap, political parties have intensified grassroots mobilisation ahead of the polls.

Western Uganda

In Kabale District, the National Resistance Movement (NRM) publicity secretary, Mr Edison Turyahabwa, said the party had stepped up mobilisation to ensure its flag bearers win the forthcoming LC1 and LC2 elections.

“We are mobilising support to ensure our LC1 and LC2 flag bearers win the forthcoming elections because victory at the grassroots strengthens the party and makes it easier to popularise and implement government programmes,” he said.

However, the National Unity Platform (NUP) chairperson for Kabale District, Mr Derrick Katebire, called on the Electoral Commission to display village registers on time to enable the public to verify voters and prevent electoral malpractice.

“We shall receive applications from members seeking to contest the LC1 and LC2 positions, vet them where necessary, and hope the intimidation of our supporters witnessed during previous elections will not recur,” he said.

In Mbarara City, Mr Adson Oketcho, the LC1 chairperson of Kakiika Cell in Mbarara City North Division, who has served the area for 25 years, said he is seeking another term to build on achievements in road improvement, security and community mobilisation.

‘I have achieved a lot during my leadership, but challenges such as unemployment, insecurity and drug abuse among the youth remain. I also support voting by lining up because it is transparent and helps prevent electoral malpractice,’ he said.

However, Mr Oketcho expressed concern over the increasing commercialisation of politics, saying some candidates had already begun spending heavily to influence voters.

In Fort Portal City, there appears to be little excitement as political activity remains subdued and campaign materials are largely absent from public spaces. While the ruling NRM party has already conducted internal primaries and selected flag bearers, residents say awareness about the electoral roadmap remains low and more civic education is needed to encourage participation.

Mr Haruna Kibirago, a Democratic Party (DP) supporter in Fort Portal City, said many Opposition parties may struggle to field candidates due to limited preparation time and weak internal party structures.

‘It is unfortunate that our party president has been spending more time associating with NRM instead of organising the internal affairs of DP. As things stand, I am not sure whether our party will front candidates in all areas,’ Mr Kibirago said.

He added that the delay in conducting the elections has created challenges even for parties that completed their internal processes long ago.

‘We need these chairpersons, but the roadmap has come on very short notice. Other political parties may not have enough time to organise their primaries. Even within the NRM, which conducted its primaries earlier, some of the flag bearers have since passed away before the elections could be held,’ he said.

‘I know of about four NRM flag bearers whom we have buried. Political party flags are not inherited, which means the party will have to identify and endorse new candidates to fill those positions before the elections take place,’ Mr Kibirago added.

Mr Alex Mujuni, another resident, welcomed the planned elections but criticised the continued use of the lining-up method of voting.

‘Voting by lining up behind candidates compromises voter privacy. We have seen secret ballots in parliamentary and presidential elections. Government should provide funds for secret ballot voting even at village level. This is about choosing local leaders, not party politics,’ he said.

Mr Robert Baluku, a boda boda rider in North Division, said there is need for increased voter education to avoid confusion during the voting process.

‘Many youths complain about poor services and leadership, but they rarely participate in local elections. This is an opportunity for them to elect leaders who understand community challenges,’ he said.

Eastern Uganda

In the Busoga Sub-region, the Electoral Commission’s regional election officer, Mr Deo Natukunda, said preparations are on course, with activities set to begin next Monday ahead of the July 28 polls. He said all districts in the sub-region will kick off the exercise with the training of polling officials and the distribution of election materials, a process expected to run for five days.

“We are rolling out our programme on Monday, including training polling officials and distributing all the necessary materials to staff. The exercise will last five days,” Mr Natukunda said.

He said each village will have a register update officer to verify residents and update the village register to ensure only eligible residents are included.

Mr Natukunda urged residents to participate in the verification exercise, adding that only those whose names appear on the updated village register will be allowed to line up and vote for their preferred candidate on polling day.

Several incumbent LC1 leaders in Jinja City have expressed confidence ahead of the upcoming village elections, citing their leadership records and strong support from residents. Mr Watmon Okidi, the incumbent chairperson of Kisima 1 Island Village on Lake Victoria in Jinja South Division, has led the fishing community since 1986.

Having served for about 40 years, he said residents persuaded him to seek another term. He added that if re-elected, it would be his final term of office.

“It is not me who wanted to contest again, but because of my good leadership, residents have asked me to lead them for the next five years,” Mr Okidi said. Meanwhile, Mr Henry Batambuze (NRM), the incumbent LC1 chairperson of Main Street West Village in Jinja South Division, who has been in leadership for 20 years, said his tenure focused on promoting government programmes among ghetto youth and single mothers, among others In Mbale City, aspiring LC1 candidates and residents said they are ready for the forthcoming polls, while calling for a free, fair, and transparent electoral process. Mr James Magambo, an aspiring candidate for Link Cell in Northern City Division, said he is prepared to contest on the NUP ticket.

However, Mr Robert Magomu, an opinion leader in Kinyole B Cell, Northern City Division, appealed to the Electoral Commission to ensure Resident District Commissioners (RDCs) do not interfere with the electoral process. ‘RDCs are NRM cadres, yet some masquerade as government officials overseeing elections,’ he alleged.

Meanwhile, Ms Annet Nambozo, an NRM supporter and resident of Mulukhu in Industrial City Division, said women are ready to participate actively in the elections.

‘As women, we shall fully participate in electing our new leaders because village leaders directly affect service delivery in our communities. We want leaders with integrity,’ she said.

West Nile In Arua City, the incumbent LC1 chairperson of Awindiri Cell, Onzivu Ward, Mr Alex Oyer (NRM), said he is confident of retaining his seat, citing his leadership record and support from residents.

Mr Oyer, who has served as LC1 chairperson for 14 years after assuming office at the age of 23, said his administration has prioritised youth empowerment through skills training in metal fabrication and poultry keeping, helping many young people improve their livelihoods.

“I am ready for the elections and confident of victory because we have worked well with the people,” he said, adding that addressing insecurity, including rising cases of theft and phone snatching, remains one of his priorities.

He also urged candidates and their supporters to conduct peaceful campaigns and observe electoral guidelines, especially since voting will be by lining up behind candidates.

Mr Oyer faces competition from independent candidates Muzamil Omirambe and Rashid Saidi, a former secretary for education and publicity who lost in the NRM party primaries.

Meanwhile, Mr Fred Kabango Turyakira, the LC1 chairperson of Booma Cell, said he would seek another term on a platform of tackling poverty and insecurity through initiatives such as backyard farming and neighbourhood watch programmes.

He, however, added that voting by lining up could be challenging in urban areas, where many residents may not have time to queue for long periods. He also urged the Electoral Commission to intensify voter civic education and warned that commercialised politics could undermine the election of capable leaders.

Central Uganda

In Masaka City, incumbent LC1 leaders and aspirants welcomed the Electoral Commission’s roadmap but called for the timely updating of village registers to ensure all eligible residents participate in the polls.

Muhamad Mustapha Ssempala, the chairperson of Gayaza Cell, said he is ready for the elections but expressed concern over the tight campaign schedule and the lack of an updated voters’ register. “The elections are long overdue, and we welcome the roadmap.

However, the Electoral Commission should update the register to ensure all eligible residents vote. Those who served well will be re-elected, while those who did not meet people’s expectations will be voted out,” he said.

Jamiru Walugembe, the chairperson of Kimaanya B Cell, who has served for more than 30 years, also welcomed the elections but urged the Electoral Commission to update the village registers before polling day.

“It would be risky to conduct elections using an outdated register. We are ready to seek a fresh mandate from the people,” he said.