Category: Daily Monitor

Chinese mining operations across Africa have come under intense scrutiny for corruption, regulatory violations and environmental damage in recent years. From mass protests in Congo to court convictions and community resistance elsewhere, mounting evidence points to the exploitative practices of Chinese mining firms, which have led to public revenue loss, haphazard extraction and damage to the environment and livelihoods in many African nations. It, however, led to protests and strict legal action against the Chinese actors by some African countries.

In 2025, thousands of people protested in South Kivu Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), against corruption, mismanagement, and environmental violations involving Chinese mining companies. Alleging that Chinese mining companies engaged in unfair practices and exploitation, they stated that gold was extracted without declaring profits and often without valid operating permits.

A state audit found that mining companies underreported USD 16.8 billion in revenue between 2018 and 2023, leading to huge losses to the government exchequer and depriving locals of their rightful dues. China has about 76 percent share in cobalt mining in the country as 35 Chinese mining firms are operating at 61 sites.

President Museveni yesterday launched the National Wetlands Strategic Plan 2026-2036, setting a national target to increase the coverage of intact wetland coverage from 9.3 percent to 11 percent in the next decade.

Mr Museveni, represented by the Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja, called for the wise and sustainable use of wetlands, urging Ugandans to draw on traditional knowledge that once effectively protected these ecosystems long before modern laws existed. These remarks and the launch were made during the World Wetlands Day celebrations at National Forestry Athority (NFA) head offices in Bugoloobi, Kampala under the theme, ‘Wetlands and traditional knowledge: celebrating cultural heritage.’

‘Uganda is endowed with an extensive network of wetlands, which are vital for our survival. These ecosystems are important for rain formation, water purification, and act as habitats for a wide range of wildlife such as birds, fish, plants, and amphibians,’ the President noted. ‘In the absence of wetlands, key sectors like agriculture, fisheries, tourism, the craft industry, and hydro-power generation would be negatively impacted. For generations, wetlands have shaped our people’s customs, beliefs, and ways of life,’ he added. The President further observed that across Uganda, wetlands have been protected as sacred sites and cultural landscapes.

‘Over the years, cultural norms and taboos have regulated access and prevented the overuse of these ecosystems. It is evident that long before modern environmental laws, our leaders understood and practised the principle of wise use,’ he said. He explained that in many parts of Uganda, papyrus has long been used for making crafts, roofing materials, household mats, and for royal ceremonies, while many communities continue to rely on wetlands for traditional medicinal purposes. ‘Indigenous practices, such as seasonal and restricted access to wetlands, protection of the fish breeding areas, et cetera, have ensured the wise use of wetlands for generations,’ Mr Museveni said.

‘As Uganda moves towards modernity, we must ensure that development does not erase this wisdom, but rather uphold it. Uganda remains committed to conservation, sustainable use, and management of wetlands,’ he added. The President appealed to communities to support wetland restoration efforts and embrace alternative livelihood practices that do not degrade wetlands. ‘I urge communities living near wetlands to engage in fish farming at the edges of the wetlands,’ he said. ‘This commitment has been expressed through the restoration programs, enhanced enforcement, and the community engagement efforts, and the development of the National Wetland Sector Strategic Plan to guide all conservation efforts.’

Information from the Ministry of Water and Environment indicates that the main objective of the plan is to ‘increase national intact wetland coverage from 9.3 percent to 11.0 percent and sustainably manage wetlands for enhanced ecosystem services, climate resilience, and community livelihoods.’ Data from the Ministry indicates that although the wetland coverage was 15.6 percent in 1994, the intact proportion (not degraded) has greatly declined to 9.3 percent as of 2022. But the overall wetland coverage, including those that are degraded, is now at 13.9 percent.

Role of wetlands As justification for the new plan, the Ministry states that despite the known significant role wetlands play and tangible socio-economic benefits, the country is struggling to protect them. Mr David Okurut, the commissioner for wetlands management in the Ministry, said wetlands contribute $1b to the economy every year. He said socio-economically, wetlands sustain agriculture, fisheries, raw materials, and trade, supporting over 80 percent of Uganda’s population either directly or indirectly. The Ministry states that ecologically, wetlands regulate water flows, recharge groundwater, mitigate floods and droughts, and “store significant carbon-peatlands” alone store an estimated 192 megatons of carbon.

This carbon sequestering is essential in mitigating climate change. ‘Despite these benefits, wetlands continue to be undervalued and degraded. Weak enforcement, fragmented mandates, inadequate data on economic values, limited community incentives, and insufficient financing have accelerated wetland loss,” the Ministry states. ‘At the same time, growing opportunities-such as climate finance, legal reforms, political commitment, and integration of wetlands into national planning frameworks- create a strong case for renewed and strategic investment,’ the Ministry adds.

Mr Museveni, on his part, appealed to Ugandans to reflect on their actions and make a positive contribution towards wetland conservation. ‘Protecting these wetlands not only means protecting the ecosystems but also our cultural heritage, identity, and social cohesion,’ he said. ‘Let us take collective responsibility to raise awareness, restore degraded wetlands, promote sustainable land use practices, and adopt proper waste disposal practices,’ he added.

Degradation of wetlands in Uganda is driven by many factors, with some, especially in urban areas and for major projects, people get permits from the government to alter (degrade) wetlands as they do construction and other projects. But in many rural communities, people are also degrading wetlands without first getting these permits. Many people have degraded wetlands for rice and vegetable farming, brick and sand mining, settlement, and over harvesting of wetland resources like papyrus for craft, among others.

A joint operation by Uganda’s army and police has led to the recovery of two firearms from youth accused of terrorizing local communities in Kaabong District, authorities said on Tuesday.

The second rifle was recovered on Monday evening at Nanyangaese Rock Cave in Toroae Village, Losogolo Parish, Kaabong East Sub-county, from a man police identified as a ‘notorious warrior’, Lorot Lemu.

The weapon was loaded with 14 rounds of ammunition, according to IP Mike Longole, the police public relations officer for the Mt Moroto region and the Anti-Stock Theft Unit (ASTU).

‘The suspect was arrested at the Kaabong cattle market by ASTU personnel from Kaabong CPS Operation Squad, led by D/Cpl Opale Isaac. He later led the joint security team to Nanyangaese Rock cave, where the gun was recovered,’ IP Longole told Monitor.

The first operation occurred on Sunday, February 1, when an SMG rifle with a single round of ammunition was recovered from another armed youth, Guti Lopul, in Lomunyang Village, Teregu Parish, Kathile Town Council.

The suspect had been terrorizing Kathile and Morungole sub-counties through road ambushes and robberies.

‘The gun was surrendered to local leaders, who handed it over to security personnel,’ IP Longole said, adding that these operations mark progress toward lasting peace in Karamoja.

For decades, the Karamoja sub-region has faced insecurity linked to heavily armed communities and cattle raids.

However, ongoing disarmament by the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) has reduced attacks and allowed residents to carry out their daily lives with greater security, police and army officials maintain.

‘Karamoja is heading toward enduring peace thanks to security operations and swift intelligence in identifying the wrong elements in the communities,’ IP Longole noted.

Authorities emphasized that continued vigilance is necessary to maintain the fragile calm in the area, as some youth remain armed and pose potential threats to local residents.

Uganda’s insurance industry is entering a phase of expansion, driven by capital-intensive investments in oil and gas, infrastructure, and agriculture, even as insurance penetration remains low at around 1 percent of GDP.

Speaking at the official rebrand of Marsh Uganda to OLEA Uganda Insurance Brokers, Insurance Regulatory Authority (IRA) CEO Ibrahim Kaddunabbi Lubega said the transition reflects structural shifts in Africa’s insurance sector rather than a single corporate deal.

‘Across Africa, insurance uptake averages about 3 percent, compared with over 7 percent globally. Yet the region remains one of the fastest-growing insurance markets,’ he said, citing economic expansion, infrastructure projects, and rising risk awareness as key growth drivers.

On January 30, Kaddunabbi noted that Uganda is entering a period of long-term, complex investments that require advanced risk management, particularly in oil and gas, transport corridors, and energy infrastructure.

‘These projects present risks from construction and environmental liabilities to operational safety and business interruption. Insurance is critical for bankability and investor confidence,’ he said.

Infrastructure development is a major contributor to insurance demand, he added, with roads, energy, water, and urban projects relying on effective risk transfer to secure financing.

Agriculture, which employs most Ugandans, is another growth area. According to the Ministry of Finance, Uganda’s agricultural insurance scheme has disbursed over Shs40 billion to 885,000 farmers, with a total insured value of Shs2.47 trillion.

Kaddunabbi said brokers will play an increasing role in expanding crop, livestock, and agribusiness insurance solutions.

Despite these opportunities, low insurance penetration highlights the need for stronger brokerage capacity, trust, and innovative products.

The rebranding follows Pan-African broker OLEA Insurance Solutions’ acquisition of Marsh Uganda, part of a wider trend of regional players expanding as global firms consolidate.

Fiona Magezi, formerly Head of Client Servicing at Marsh Uganda, was appointed Managing Director of OLEA Uganda, while Paul Muhame became Board Chairman. OLEA operates in 26 African countries and offers life and non-life insurance, including property, health, transport, cyber, and political risk coverage.

Kaddunabbi said regulatory oversight and professionalism are essential for sustained growth.

‘Investors would not commit resources without confidence in the market. Brokers must evolve from transactional roles to strategic risk management partners,’ he said.

Medical experts at Mulago National Referral Hospital have started conducting new kidney transplants to save patients with kidney failure. Dr Rosemary Byanyima, the hospital executive director, confirmed the development to the Monitor yesterday evening and said they would provide more information later.

‘We are working, but we are going to invite the press on day four because we are working almost like for two weeks, so we don’t want to disrupt people when they are working,’ she said. Mr Emmanuel Ainebyoona, the spokesperson of the Ministry of Health, said: ‘The 5th edition of kidney transplants’ in Mulago Hospital started yesterday, and that eight pairs are expected to be worked on.’

Mulago Hospital conducted the first kidney transplant in December 2023, along with a team of medical experts from India. This successful surgery involved getting a healthy kidney from a donor and transplanting it into a 24-year-old man whose kidneys no longer functioned.

After completing the third edition of the transplants in July 2025, Prof Frank Asiimwe, the transplant surgeon, said they were aiming to make organ transplantation a habit at Mulago Hospital.

‘When something happens for the first time, one could say it was an accident or a fluke; that was December 2023,’ he said. ‘The second time (in 2024), one may think it was a coincidence. But when it happens for the third time (in July 2025), it has become a habit.

‘ The July 2025 surgeries brought the total number of patients who have benefited from the free transplants at Mulago to nine, since the maiden transplant. It is estimated that the government spends around Shs40m to do each transplant. Dr Peace Bagasha, a kidney specialist at the facility, explained how they select beneficiaries.

‘For one to be eligible for transplants, they should be a dialysis patient. So far, we have over 400 patients on dialysis in Uganda, making them potentially eligible patients for transplant,’ she explained last year. ‘Patients with terminal kidney disease also become eligible for transplant.

Our 16-year-old had serious malaria, and this is one of the causes of kidney failure,’ she added. Besides the requirement that the patient’s donor must be a close relative, Prof Asiimwe also indicated that they assess the patient’s ability to continue buying the medicines that they should take after the transplants. He said it costs around Shs1.5m per month. The organs should be donated free of charge (no buying or selling of organs), and the donors should not be coerced, according to the provisions in the Uganda Human Organ Donation and Transplant Act.

Background

In July 2025, Mulago National Referral Hospital’s medical experts collaborated with doctors from Kidney Care in the United Kingdom to perform four additional kidney transplants in Uganda. The new surgeries brought the total number of patients who had benefited from the free transplants at Mulago to nine, since the maiden transplant was done in December 2023. It is estimated that the government spends around Shs40m to do each transplant.

Opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) presidential candidate Nathan Nandala Mafabi has dismissed the January 15 presidential election results, alleging widespread irregularities under the watch of the Electoral Commission (EC).

Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday at Mountain Inn Hotel in Mbale City, Nandala, who came third, called the election a selection process, accusing the EC of facilitating vote rigging for the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) candidate Yoweri Museveni.

Final results announced by the EC declared incumbent President Museveni the winner with 7,946,772 votes, or 71.65 percent, securing a seventh term.

Robert Kyagulanyi, commonly known as Bobi Wine, of the National Unity Platform (NUP) came second with 2,741,238 votes (24.72 percent), while Nandala received 209,039 votes (1.88 percent).

Mugisha Muntu of the Alliance for National Transformation (ANT) got 59,276 votes (0.53 percent). Other candidates included Frank Bulira Kabinga (RPP) with 45,959 votes, Robert Kasibante (National Peasants Party) with 33,440 votes, Mubarak Munyagwa Sserunga (Common Man’s Party) with 31,666 votes, and Elton Joseph Mabirizi (Conservative Party) with 23,458 votes.

‘We don’t accept the outcomes of that election. The EC should be disbanded and reconstituted,’ Nandala said, displaying NRM circulars allegedly instructing voter bribery.

He cited shooting and arresting of opposition supporters, internet shutdowns, direct voter inducements, and military interference in marking ballots for NRM as evidence of a flawed process.

Accompanied by FDC national chairman Jack Sabiiti, party president Patrick Oboi Amuriat, MPs, and other party members, Nandala also criticized the EC’s refusal to implement electoral reforms recommended after the 2016 elections, including the Supreme Court ruling following Amama Mbabazi’s challenge.

‘Ugandans should prepare for high inflation, rising living costs, higher taxes, and increased crime due to money spent in this election,’ Nandala warned.

He also criticized the judiciary for recent vote recounts in Masaka, calling them staged in favor of NRM candidates.

‘Opposition candidates are not granted the opportunity for recounts, while incompetent magistrates conduct them only in favor of NRM,’ he said.

Amuriat praised Nandala’s manifesto, saying it could have driven Uganda forward, and promised a comprehensive party report to ‘rewrite the history of Uganda.’

He urged the international community and election observer missions to engage in genuine discussions to strengthen democracy.

‘This was a great shame to our nation, and I am sure President Museveni will not be proud of this 72 percent victory,’ he said.

Sabiiti added that FDC will determine its participation in future elections after its national delegate’s conference and executive committee meetings.

‘As for now, the question is whether we should contest again. The party will decide after internal consultations,’ he noted without revealing the exact dates for the said conference.

Nandala joins at least five other candidates who have rejected the presidential vote outcome, including Robert Kasibante, who is challenging it in court.

Former military chief Gen. Mugisha Muntu ruled out a legal challenge, citing a lack of evidence, while Bobi Wine said the masses would have to respond to what he described as an illegal EC tally. Other candidates have remained silent, and none has openly conceded to Museveni.

Outgoing Butambala County legislator Muhammad Muwanga Kivumbi and 24 co-accused appeared in court Tuesday as prosecution amended the charge sheet in their terrorism case.

The accused, including two women, appeared before Butambala Chief Magistrate Deogratius Ssejemba on Tuesday.

The men were transferred to Kitalya Prison, while their female counterparts were remanded to Luzira Women’s Prison.

Prosecution, led by Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Racheal Bikhole, withdrew seven initial charges of inciting violence and causing malicious damage to property against the 24 accused, and successfully applied to terminate proceedings on these counts.

Kivumbi, 52, who also serves as National Unity Platform (NUP) vice president in charge of Buganda Region, now faces a single count of terrorism under the Anti-Terrorism Act.

Ms Bikhole told court that further investigations were ongoing and requested an adjournment.

Defence lawyer Medard Ssegoona expressed concerns over the handling of the case, questioning the ‘impartiality of investigators.’

The defence team also includes outgoing Kampala Mayor Erias Lukwago, Bugiri Municipality legislator Asuman Basalirwa, and Robert Jurua.

Mr Ssegoona argued that the charge had shifted from inciting violence to terrorism without Kivumbi recording a statement at Kira Police Station after his arrest.

He added that ‘Kivumbi was first produced in court on January 23 without notification to his next of kin or personal lawyers, potentially violating his constitutional rights.’

The defence further said Kivumbi ‘had not refused to record a statement but sought to include his personal observations, including allegations of killings by police and military personnel at his Bugoye Village home.’

At Kira Police Station, Mr Basalirwa noted that Kivumbi began recording a voluntary statement, but the detective halted proceedings when he mentioned the deaths of 10 people (the state recorded seven), insisting those references be omitted.

Basalirwa described this as an attempt to dictate the statement’s content.

Mr Ssegoona requested the appointment of impartial investigators and an independent probe into the alleged killings.

‘Who actually pulled the trigger and killed? . We insist this matter be pursued vigorously,’ said Lukwago, calling the failure to investigate the reported deaths an abuse of office under Article 120 of the Constitution.

The case stems from post-election unrest in Butambala District following the January 2026 General Election, during which security forces reportedly shot several individuals.

Kivumbi maintains he is a victim of the events at his Bugoye Village residence.

The presiding magistrate adjourned the case to February 17 for further mention.

President Museveni has urged judges to prioritise their mental and physical wellness, warning that unchecked pressure from heavy caseloads and public scrutiny undermines productivity and delays justice delivery.

In a speech read by Vice President Jessica Alupo during the 27th Annual Judges’ Conference in Kampala yesterday, the President said a healthy, organised Judiciary is better placed to clear cases, manage pressure and deliver predictable justice.

‘Let us be honest. Backlogs are not caused by laws alone. They arise from systems, organisation, leadership and human capacity. Judges are human beings. They carry heavy workloads, face public pressure and handle emotionally demanding matters,’ Mr Museveni said.

‘If that pressure is not well managed, it affects output. Judicial wellness is, therefore, not a peripheral concern; it is a strategic governance issue,’ he added. According to the latest Judiciary census case file report, there are 167,353 cases pending across all court levels, of which 46,542 are classified as backlog. A case is considered backlogged if it remains unresolved for more than two years. On average, each judicial officer is handling about 305 pending cases, including 85 backlog cases. This year’s conference is themed ‘Judicial Wellness: A Tool for Effective Case Management.’

The President described the theme as ‘timely and strategic’, noting that while the 1995 Constitution vests judicial power in the people, the promise of accessible, timely and impartial justice cannot be realised if judges are overwhelmed or unsupported. ‘Fatigue leads to delay; delay leads to dissatisfaction; and dissatisfaction leads to instability,’ he said. Chief Justice Flavian Zeija said the nature of cases handled by judges can have a profound impact on their mental wellness, citing traumatic criminal trials as particularly demanding. Recalling his time as a trial judge in Mbarara, Justice Zeija narrated handling a murder case in which a son allegedly killed and dismembered his father into pieces.

‘Listening to witnesses describe such gruesome details can have a serious mental bearing on a judge,’ he said. Justice Zeija emphasised that justice is delivered by human beings, and the quality of judicial decisions is closely tied to the wellbeing of those who make them. ‘A healthy, supported Judiciary is less vulnerable to corruption and external influence. Conversely, a stressed or burned-out judge is more likely to face health challenges that can affect judgment and decision-making,’ he said. He encouraged judges to form peer-support groups to help identify early signs of mental distress among colleagues, noting that judges often lead isolated lives.

‘One might not know that a colleague is struggling until mistakes are made. Early support can prevent serious consequences like a judge handling a civil case ending up sentencing a litigant to death,’ he said. Vice President Alupo, speaking on the same theme, called for openness in addressing mental health challenges and decried the stigma surrounding mental health facilities. She shared a personal tale about being discouraged from living in Butabika due to perceptions associated with the area, home to Uganda’s national referral mental health hospital.

President Museveni also urged courts to embrace Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanism to reduce case backlog, saying justice should not be confined to courtrooms alone. ‘Our Constitution recognises reconciliation and traditional justice mechanisms. Promoting alternative justice is not a step backward but a step toward a more accessible and meaningful justice system,’ he said. ‘When people see themselves reflected in the justice system, they trust it more. And a trusted Judiciary is a strong Judiciary,’ the President added. The three-day conference continues with today’s main topic being how to effectively tackle election petitions.

Trend

According to the latest Judiciary case census, a total of 167,353 cases are pending across all levels of court, with 46,542 classified as backlog-defined as matters unresolved for more than two years. On average, each judicial officer is handling about 305 pending cases, including 85 backlog matters. In response, the Judiciary has increasingly prioritised out-of-court settlements and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) to ease congestion in courts. The Judiciary further notes that nearly 90 percent of disputes in Uganda are resolved outside the formal court system, largely at the community level.

Gulu University has been cited among ten public universities with recurring operational inefficiencies in a new audit report released by the Auditor General, Edward Akol, on December 31, 2025.

The report, covering the three-year period ending December 31, 2025, identifies Gulu and Busitema as public universities that consistently exhibited inefficiencies.

The Auditor General attributed the shortcomings not to institutional size, enrolment levels, or resource constraints, but to internal management weaknesses, poor supervision systems, and suboptimal utilisation of available resources.

According to the audit, delayed completion of graduate programmes remains one of the key factors undermining operational efficiency across public universities.

“The low participation in research activities across the universities was attributed to inadequate mentoring structures, limited training in proposal development, and weak incentives for junior researchers,” the AG stated in the report.

The audit found that 1,019 graduate students from Makerere University, Kyambogo University, Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST), and Gulu University exceeded the standard two-year postgraduate study duration.

Low academic staff participation in research activities was also flagged as a major concern. At Gulu University, only 11 out of 259 academic staff, representing just 4 percent, published research.

Other universities recorded similarly low publication rates: Kabale University had 28 out of 320 staff (9 percent), Kyambogo University 70 out of 418 staff (17 percent), and Lira University had 22 out of 116 staff (19 percent).

Akol has called for stronger internal management controls, improved supervision of graduate students, better coordination of research activities, and deliberate strategies to promote research dissemination and staff participation across public universities.

The audit further painted weak research management and poor completion of funded research projects, despite significant government investment through the Research and Innovation Fund (RIF).

The Auditor General noted that completion rates for funded projects remained “extremely low” across universities.

The government sunk a total of 2.65 trillion in the ten public universities, supplemented by a 32 percent increase in staffing and a 49 percent expansion in infrastructure and significant investments.

However, the report indicated that although universities are spending more money each year, the results they produce are not increasing at the same pace.

“Research outputs declined sharply from an average of 204.8 to 76.23 over the same period,” the report noted.

The audit cites cases at Makerere University, MUST, and Busitema University where some researchers were listed on more than four concurrent projects but delivered no completed outputs within the planned timeframes.

The audit report is part of the value for money assessment conducted by the Auditor General in ten Public Universities across the country in the period of over the three financial years of 2022/23 and 2024/25.

The report highlights the need for public universities to improve their research management, supervision, and dissemination strategies to achieve better outcomes and justify the significant investments made by the government.

The Buganda Kingdom is mourning the death of the head of the royal family (Olulyo Olulangira), Ssaabalangira of Buganda Godfrey Kikulwe Musanje, who passed away on Tuesday morning, according to Buganda officials.

Mr Frederick Kateregga, the deputy Ssabalangira of the Buganda Kingdom, confirmed the sad news and said the deceased had been battling a serious illness and passed on Tuesday morning in a medical facility in Kamwokya, where he was rushed to get medication.

“With great sorrow I announce the death of Ssabalangira Musanje, who passed away on Tuesday morning in the medical facility in Kamwokya. We are in the final plans to convene a meeting to do the final rituals and later avail the burial programme,” Kateregga said.

Kateregga added, “He has been battling with the sickness for a long time; we really regret his death. He has been instrumental in uniting the royal family and the entire Buganda Kingdom through his different interventions.”

The late Musanje has been a key pillar in the Buganda Kingdom and the royal family in advocating for unity, hard work, sports development, and the respect for Buganda Kingdom values among the subjects.

Prince Henry Kayondo, one of the youth leaders in the Buganda Kingdom, praised the late for his legacy in uplifting the youth’s socio-economic standards and better health.

“Through his leadership last year we visited Kisenyi Health Center IV and treated over 3,000 patients; he has promoted sports and talent development. We shall really miss this support,” Kayondo said.

Who is Ssabalangira?

Unlike other clan heads in Buganda who are appointed by the clan committees, Ssabaarangira is directly appointed by the King (Kabaka) to head the royal family (Olulyo Olulangira) in the Buganda Kingdom for the smooth running of the Kingdom.

Ssabarangira meets the royal family members regularly in a designated area termed as Ekigango also has the office of Ssabalangira at Bulange Mengo, and is directly answerable to the King (Kabaka) Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II.

His death leaves a significant vacuum in the kingdom and the subjects.