Category: Daily Monitor

In the face of a military crackdown targeting independent media, WAN-IFRA has called on the government of Ugandan President, Yoweri Museveni, to honour constitutional guarantees and international standards protecting media freedom and the safety of journalists.

In the early hours of Sunday, 28th June, Ugandan military personnel raided the premises of Nation Media Group-owned media houses in Kampala, forcing television and radio broadcasts off the air and shuttering print titles. Journalists and media leaders are being targeted online as the military increases its pressure on independent media across the country.

WAN-IFRA and the World Editors Forum has written to Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni to call for an immediate reopening of shuttered media, reminding the long-serving head of state of his government’s obligations under domestic and international law to protect the freedom of the press and ensure the safety of journalists and media workers.

The Head of the IGAD Mission to Uganda, Ms Joselyn Bigirwa, has called for greater efforts to promote women into leadership positions, warning that despite progress in gender equality, women remain underrepresented in diplomacy, peace negotiations and global decision-making.

Delivering the keynote address at the Women in Diplomacy and Multilateralism dialogue in Kampala, Bigirwa said women continue to face structural barriers that prevent many from advancing to senior leadership positions.

‘Women enter institutions in significant numbers, but many do not make it to the highest levels. The challenge before us is no longer only how we recruit women, but how we retain them and help them rise through leadership ranks,’ she said.

The event, organised by Inside Diplomacy in partnership with the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Mission in Uganda, brought together diplomats, government officials, representatives of international organisations and young professionals to discuss women’s leadership in diplomacy, peacebuilding and multilateral cooperation.

Bigirwa noted that while women have made significant gains across governance and public service, diplomacy remains largely dominated by men, particularly in senior leadership positions and peace negotiations.

Citing global figures, she said women account for only about 22 percent of ambassadors and permanent representatives worldwide, underscoring the slow pace of progress.

‘The institutions of governance, diplomacy and international cooperation remain largely male-dominated spaces. Every opportunity for women’s leadership is therefore not just a personal achievement but a collective advancement for gender equality,’ she said.

She urged governments, international organisations and development partners to move beyond symbolic commitments and create systems that support women throughout their professional journeys.

Bigirwa described mentorship as one of the most powerful but often overlooked tools for advancing women’s leadership.

Drawing from her own professional journey, she credited mentorship and exposure to leadership spaces for helping prepare her for regional diplomacy and encouraged experienced leaders to invest in the next generation.

She also challenged policymakers to recognise that women do not experience barriers in the same way. During a panel discussion, Ms Edith Namutebi Nsubuga, Uganda’s Head of Regional Peace and Security at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said women continue to face challenges accessing influential decision-making spaces despite their significant contributions to peacebuilding efforts.

Nsubuga pointed to the role women have historically played in advancing peace processes, citing Liberia’s women’s movement as a powerful example of grassroots leadership that helped bring an end to conflict.

‘Women are doing a lot of the work at the community level, but we still need greater representation in formal mediation and negotiation spaces,’ she added. Ambassador Fatima Fernandez, Venezuela’s envoy to Uganda, argued that women bring unique perspectives to diplomacy because of their lived experiences and close connection to communities.

“Women diplomats frequently stand at the intersection between institutions and communities, between national priorities and human needs. Their perspective is valuable because it reminds us that behind every negotiation and every agreement, there are people whose lives will be affected,” she explained.

Fernandez also called for stronger support systems for women professionals, saying success is often built on networks of solidarity and mentorship. ‘Too often societies encourage competition when what many women need are support networks, mentorship and opportunities to grow,’ she said.

Ms Bisharo Ali Hussein, a migration and gender expert, said meaningful participation goes beyond simply ensuring women are present in meetings. ‘It is about influence, accountability and power. Women must not only be in the room; they must be actively shaping decisions, policies and outcomes,’ she said.

Drawing from her experience working in Somalia, Kenya, Spain and the Netherlands, Hussein said the barriers facing women differ across societies, but unequal access to leadership opportunities remains a common challenge.

She urged young women to pursue leadership opportunities with confidence. ‘You do not need permission to sit at the table. You have the qualifications, the experience and the intellect. Own your power,’ she said.

According to Patience Naamanya, founder of Inside Diplomacy, the forum was organised to celebrate the achievements of women in diplomacy while inspiring young people to pursue careers in international affairs.

Naamanya said the youth-led organisation works with students and young professionals, connecting them with diplomats, foreign missions and international organisations through practical engagement programmes.

She explained, ‘Their stories are often under-documented and under-celebrated, yet they continue to shape regional and global diplomacy. We hope today’s dialogue inspires more young women to take their place at decision-making tables.’

She added that the organisation hopes the forum will become an annual platform for recognising women leaders and expanding opportunities for young women interested in diplomacy, international relations and global governance.

The High Court has ordered MTN Uganda to pay more than Shs2.3 billion in damages to former senior manager Richard Mwami after finding that the telecom company maliciously instigated criminal proceedings against him, despite evidence clearing him in a multi-billion-shilling mobile money fraud case.

In his judgment, Justice Isaac Bonny Teko held that MTN was the ‘moving force’ behind Mwami’s prosecution and relied on an illegally obtained confession to implicate him, even though its own forensic investigations had exonerated him.

The court awarded Mwami Shs1.81 billion in special damages, Shs400 million in general damages and Shs100 million in exemplary damages, bringing the total to about Shs2.31 billion, excluding interest and legal costs.

Mwami, who worked as MTN’s Senior Manager for MTN Village Phone before becoming Senior Manager Public Access, was among the first officials to detect suspicious transactions on the company’s mobile money platform in December 2011. He reported the anomalies to senior management, triggering investigations into an alleged Shs16 billion fraud.

According to the judgment, MTN commissioned a forensic audit by Grant Thornton. The report, dated January 12, 2012, identified individuals linked to the fraud but did not implicate Mwami.

Despite this, Mwami was later arrested and charged after a statement was obtained from suspect Patrick Ssentongo. That statement was later ruled inadmissible by then Anti-Corruption Court judge Lawrence Gidudu, who found it had been obtained involuntarily and illegally.

Justice Teko found that MTN employees played a direct role in obtaining the statement and failed to rebut evidence linking them to the process.

‘The evidence considered as a whole satisfies the Court on the balance of probabilities that the 2nd Defendant was actuated by an improper motive in instigating the criminal proceedings against the Plaintiff and was not acting in good faith in the interests of justice,’ the judge held.

The court further found that MTN acted without reasonable and probable cause because its own investigations had cleared Mwami, who was in fact the whistleblower who uncovered the fraud.

‘No ordinary prudent and cautious person, armed with an exculpatory forensic audit that named the actual perpetrators without mentioning the Plaintiff, could have honestly believed on an objective basis that the Plaintiff was probably guilty,’ Justice Teko said.

The court also referenced Justice Gidudu’s earlier observations that Mwami had effectively been made a ‘sacrificial lamb’ despite being a potential prosecution witness.

The judge noted that criminal proceedings against Mwami began more than a year after investigations had concluded and after charges had already been brought against six other suspects.

‘The Plaintiff was not implicated in the original investigations that he himself initiated,’ the court observed.

The court linked the prosecution to severe personal and professional consequences suffered by Mwami. Evidence showed that following his arrest, the Bank of Uganda classified him as a reputational risk, leading to the termination of his employment with Mobile Money Africa Limited.

Justice Teko said Mwami endured public humiliation, loss of liberty, restrictions on travel and lasting damage to his career.

‘His career was destroyed when the Bank of Uganda classified him as a reputational risk and his employer terminated his employment as a consequence,’ the judge stated.

‘He carried for over two years the stigma of a serious criminal charge brought and maintained in bad faith against him by a former employer. His only transgression was to discover and report the very fraud that the employer later used as a pretext to destroy him.’

The Attorney General had also been sued in the matter, but the court struck out the claim against government after finding it had been filed outside the statutory limitation period.

In its final orders, the court directed MTN Uganda to pay the damages together with interest at 10 percent per annum from the date of judgment until payment in full, as well as the costs of the suit.

The Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) has issued a final, urgent call to schools, parents, and guardians to ensure all eligible candidates are registered for the 2026 national examinations before the normal registration window slams shut at midnight tonight, June 30, 2026.

The deadline affects all three tiers of Uganda’s national education assessment: the Primary Leaving Examination (PLE), the Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE), and the Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE).

According to a statement released on Monday by UNEB’s Principal Public Relations Officer, Ms. Jennifer Kalule Musamba, registration is only considered complete once the required invoice has been fully cleared by the school.

“This is therefore to remind all concerned parties to ensure that the learners in candidate classes are all duly registered, so that no learner is left out,” Ms Kalule urged.

Failing to meet tonight’s deadline will prove costly for parents and schools. A month-long late registration window will open on July 1 and run until July 31, but it carries heavy financial penalties. Late registration attracts a 100% surcharge for PLE candidates and a 50% surcharge for UCE and UACE candidates.

Exam Level

Normal Fee (UGX)

Late Fee + Surcharge (UGX)

Surcharge Rate

PLE

Shs 34,000

Shs 68,000

100%

UCE

Shs 164,000

Shs 246,000

50%

UACE

Shs 186,000

Shs 279,000

50%

UNEB has firmly stated that no further registration will be validated at any level after July 31.

This year’s registration figures show a significant surge in student enrollment. So far, a total of 1,584,519 candidates have been registered across all three levels. This represents a substantial increase from 2025, which saw 1,372,015 candidates register.

A breakdown of the 2026 data shows that primary school candidates dominate the numbers, with 910,774 (57.4%) registered for PLE. Meanwhile, UCE candidates stand at 479,681 (30.2%), and UACE has recorded 194,064 candidates (12.2%).

Ms. Kalule also provided critical guidance for candidates needing to transfer between examination centers due to valid circumstances. She emphasized that such transfers can only be processed directly by the UNEB registration office. To do so, official written permission must be secured from the UNEB Executive Director, alongside explanatory letters from the releasing school and acceptance letters from the hosting center.

Stakeholders seeking further clarification or assistance are advised to contact the UNEB registration office directly through their official line at 041-777-3100, or via their toll-free customer helplines at 0800-211-077 and 0800-111-427.

Uganda’s annual headline inflation rose to 3.7 per cent in the 12 months to June 2026, up from 3.2 per cent recorded in May, driven by higher costs for some food items and services, particularly transport.

The Uganda Bureau of Statistics [UBOS] said annual core inflation, which excludes volatile items like energy, fuel and metered water, also increased from 3.0 per cent in May to 3.4 per cent in the year ending June 2026.

The development is expected to weaken the purchasing power of households, forcing them to spend more on essentials like food, rent and transport, which erodes disposable incomes.

Speaking during the release of the Consumer Price Index for the year ending June 2026 at Statistics House on June 30, Principal Statistician for Price Statistics at UBOS, Ms Juliet Nkayenga, said transport and education led the increase.

‘Over the last twelve months, passenger transport services charges increased to 11.9 percent in June compared to 9.9 percent. Education services increased by 5.7 percent compared to 4.1 in May,’ Ms Nkayenga said.

She said food prices also picked up. ‘Rice prices increased by 3.1 percent in June compared to 2.2 percent in May 2026. Beef increased by 6.7 percent in the year ended June compared to 6.1 percent in May. Fish and other seafood prices increased by 16.3 percent in June from 9.3 percent in May 2026,’ she said.

Ms Nkayenga added that annual Energy, Fuel and Utilities [EFU] inflation was another major driver, rising to 11.9 percent in the year to June from 9.1 percent in May.

In particular, annual Liquid Energy Fuels inflation increased to 26.2 percent in the year ended June, compared to 16.6 percent in the year ended May 2026.

‘For instance, the price of petrol increased by 26.3 percent compared to 16.6 percent recorded in the year ended May 2026. The price of diesel increased by 37.3 percent compared to 21.5 percent. The price of kerosene increased by 31.7 percent compared to 25.4 percent, and the price of cooking gas increased 5.4 percent compared to 1.1 percent recorded in the year ended May 2026,’ she said.

However, UBOS figures indicate that annual food crops and related items inflation was stable at 0.0 percent in the year to June 2026, down from 0.2 percent in May.

‘This was driven by prices of matooke, whose price change was minus 6.6 per cent compared to minus 3.4 per cent recorded in the year ended May 2026. Dry beans recorded minus 7.2 per cent compared to minus 2.6 percent. Onions recorded minus 4.7 per cent compared to 14.3 per cent. Carrots recorded minus 7.6 per cent compared to 0.9 per cent recorded in the year ended May 2026,’ Ms Nkayenga said.

It’s a new dawn; hope is being restored as an impressive sanitation revolution is taking shape in rural parts of Karenga District as locals steadily embrace the use of pit latrines where they had never existed before.

The nomadic community, which constitutes part of Karamoja sub-region’s nine districts, had been relying on open defecation with little regard for basic household sanitation.

Ms Beatrice Nakwang, a student at Kyambogo University, Soroti campus, who is a resident of Karenga District, explained that: ‘Even when we started having permanent settlements in urban places or even in the rural areas, pit latrines were a last thought; people viewed it as a waste of time and energy to sink one; people prefer to visit bushes,’ she said.

But she explained that with civilisation taking root and exposure, sanitation is now being prioritised.

Ms Nakwang notes that it is common for one to walk and step on human waste along the village path, adding that though most families may not be able to afford modern pit latrines that need cement, simple ones using locally available materials are affordable.

‘After security, sanitation remains one of the areas that need to be addressed in Karamoja,’ the undergraduate said.

However, a sanitation drive that is being implemented by the Karenga District Local Government together with other development partners like World Vision has seen over 600 wattle pit latrines put up in Lobalangit and Karenga Sub-counties where they had never existed before since the evolution of mankind.

Mr Angel Morish Lokolong, a Parish Chief in Lobalangit who is supervising the implementation of the sanitation campaign, reports commendable progress.

‘We are grateful that they are embracing the campaign, including having wash racks and bathing shelters made from local straw grass and, in some areas, leaves,’ he added.

Mr Lokolong said that this will now end the spillage of human waste into water sources during the rainy season.

He explained that even after these facilities are put up, they have gone a mile to ensure that they are used.

Ms Sarah Nakwang, a PTA teacher at Jubilee 2000 Secondary School in Karenga District, described the initiative with a sigh of relief and joy.

‘I am happy that there is some ray of hope that these interventions and campaigns are being taken to the Manyattas,’ Ms Nakwang said.

In Karamoja, the WASH, sanitation and hygiene programmes basically target acute water scarcity and poor sanitation, and these initiatives are being led by UNICEF, KOICA and local organisations like Caritas Moroto Diocese.

A land dispute involving encroachers on part of Katonga Technical Institute’s land in Mpigi District is threatening learning and the institution’s planned expansion, the principal has said.

Mr Fred Mpagi, the principal of the government-owned vocational institution, said unidentified people have encroached on about 10 acres of the institute’s land, creating uncertainty over future infrastructure development.

He made the remarks during an oversight visit by Mpigi District leaders and technical staff on Monday.

‘The land issue remains one of our biggest challenges. Encroachers have occupied part of the institute’s land, and this is threatening learning and our expansion plans,’ Mr. Mpagi said.

He revealed that the government injects about Shs600 million into the institute annually to facilitate training and operations.

Katonga Technical Institute currently offers five programmes leading to National Certificates in building construction, electrical installation, water and plumbing, mechanical engineering, and fashion and design.

According to Mr Mpagi, student enrolment has increased from 170 last year to 202 this year, reflecting growing demand for technical and vocational education. However, only 35 of the enrolled students are natives of Mpigi District.

The institute has 21 government-employed teaching staff, 13 privately employed instructors, and four non-teaching staff.

Besides the land dispute, Mr. Mpagi said the institution faces inadequate accommodation for students and staff as well as limited access to clean piped water.

‘We need more accommodation facilities and a reliable supply of clean water if we are to provide a conducive learning environment,’ he said.

The Chairperson of Mpigi District, Mr. Peter Kawuki, acknowledged the land dispute and said the district leadership would prioritise resolving it through dialogue.

‘We shall reopen the boundaries and negotiate with the encroachers because we do not want to use force to evict them. Our goal is to peacefully restore the institute’s land,’ Mr. Kawuki said.

Meanwhile, the Mpigi District Commercial Officer, Mr. Ronald Kazibwe, said the institute is expected to benefit from major infrastructure investments under the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area [GKMA] Urban Development Programme. He said the government has earmarked Shs9 billion for the institution in the 2026/27 financial year.

‘The funds will support the preparation of a new infrastructure master plan, construction of a modern laboratory, accommodation for students and staff, and technical workshops equipped with modern machinery to enhance practical skills training,’ Mr. Kazibwe said.

Katonga Technical Institute is one of the government technical and vocational institutions established to equip young people with practical skills for employment and self-reliance.

The planned investment under the GKMA Urban Development Programme is expected to strengthen technical education in Mpigi District and support the government’s industrialisation agenda. However, local leaders say resolving the land dispute will be critical to ensuring the planned infrastructure projects are implemented without interruption.

President Museveni yesterday officially deployed his new Cabinet to work after chairing its first meeting, which marked the official start of his seventh term as President. State House in a June 29 press statement said Mr Museveni met his 78-member Cabinet that was led by the Vice President Rtd Jessica Alupo and Prime Minister Robinah Nabanja. ‘President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni today, Monday, June 29, 2026, chaired the first Cabinet meeting of his newly constituted government for the 2026- 2031 term, marking the official start of implementing the National Resistance Movement (NRM) administration’s agenda for the next five years,’ the statement read in part. This meeting followed the Cabinet’s completion of a 10-day Cabinet Induction Retreat held at the National Leadership Institute (NALI), Kyankwanzi after the ministers took oath on June 8.

‘The retreat, officially opened by President Museveni on June 15, 2026, was designed to orient both newly appointed and returning ministers on government priorities, leadership principles, public service ethics, and the strategic direction of the new administration,’ the statement added. It further stated: ‘It also provided an opportunity for Cabinet members to align themselves with the National Resistance Movement’s development agenda and the government’s strategic priorities for the 2026-2031 term.’ In this term, the ruling NRM party is set to implement a new manifesto under the theme: ‘Protecting the gains as we makea qualitative leap into a high middle-income status”.

The manifesto focuses on seven key pillars including infrastructure development (expansion of roads, electricity, railways, air transport, schools, and ation through initiatives such as the parish development model, Operation Wealth Creation, Emyooga, among others), creation of jobs (factories, commercial agriculture, service sector), Others are: creation of markets (internal, regional, continental, and international), service delivery (provision of health, education, and security services), and unity and political stability (fighting against internal conflicts, divisive politics, among others). This manifesto is in line with the ambitious tenfold growth strategy, which the government launched in 2023, as a transformative economic plan to expand the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) from then roughly $50 billion (Shs182.58 trillion) to $500 billion (Shs1.82 quadrillion) by 2040.

To realise this development, the government zeroed its focus on four key sectors code-named ATMS, including Agro-industrialisation, Tourism, Mineral development, and Science/ Technology innovation. In order to achieve the Tenfold Growth Strategy, the government has been developing its budgets and other development plans in line with these key priority areas. For instance, the fourth National Development Plan (NDPIV) launched last year and running between Financial Year (FY) 2025/2026 and FY2029/2030 aims at accelerating the socio-economic transformation of the country. The Shs84.3 trillion budget that was read by Finance minister Henry Musasizi last month and is being implemented by these ministers, is also aimed at adding a brick on this particular growth agenda.

State House said the inaugural Cabinet session brought together the country’s top political leadership, including Vice President Jessica Alupo; Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja; the deputy prime ministers; Government Chief Whip Dr Jane Ruth Aceng; Cabinet ministers; State ministers, and other senior government officials. Also, in attendance were the NRM Secretary General, Mr Richard Todwong; permanent secretaries from various government ministries and the Executive Director of the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), Ms Sharifah Buzeki.

‘The first Cabinet meeting marks the official commencement of collective government business under President Museveni’s new administration following his swearing-in for another constitutional term on May 12, 2026,’ the June 29 statement read in part. The Cabinet derives its mandate from Article 111 of the 1995 Constitution (as amended), which provides: ‘There shall be a Cabinet, which shall consist of the President, the Vice President, the Prime Minister, and such number of ministers as may appear to the President to be reasonably necessary for the efficient running of the State.’

The eighth circuit of the Pursuit Swim League concludes this week at British School of Kampala (BSK) Muyenga with Astros and Flames, who are a point apart, as favourites for the top slot.

Flames topped the first leg of this circuit on June 12 but Astros dethroned them last Friday to top the day and jump to nine points on the table.

This circuit is strictly for relays. Astros, who led the table on June 12, did not win any relay last Friday but finished second in the 5x25m butterfly and medley relays.

They also finished third in the 5x25m backstroke and freestyle relays but were disqualified in the breaststroke one.

Fortunately for them, four of the five teams got at least one disqualification so the standings were barely affected as they finished second on the night and kept top of standings with nine points.

Colts and Talons were disqualified in the same breaststroke relay while Jets and Talons were disqualified in the 5x25m fly relay.

Flames, which topped the night to move to eight overall points and second in the standings, had no disqualification and won the 5x25m fly, breaststroke, freestyle, and medley relays. They finished last in the 5x25m back relay.

Colts were second in the 5x25m back and third in the 5x25m fly relays. They also finished 4th in the medley relay and last in the freestyle one to finish third on the night and overall with six points.

Colts have a chance of topping the circuit but they need Flames and Astros to finish lower than third on the last day.

Jets are fourth now in standings after finishing second in the 5x25m breaststroke relay and fourth in the backstroke and freestyle ones. Jets finished last in the medley relay.

Talons, who are fifth on the table with four points were killed by the disqualifications but actually topped the backstroke relay, finished second in the freestyle one, and third in the medley relay. They are out of the race for top place as they cannot finish higher than Astros and Flames unless the two teams fail to turn up this Friday.

Armed, masked military personnel have maintained a strict physical blockade on Nation Media Group Uganda (NMGU) premises for a third consecutive day, crippling the country’s largest independent media house.

The siege began at 1:00 AM on Sunday, June 28, when security forces raided and barricaded NMGU’s main headquarters in Namuwongo, alongside its broadcasting centers located at the Kampala Serena Hotel. The ongoing operation has forced major national outlets-including the Daily Monitor newspaper, NTV Uganda, Spark TV, KFM, and Dembe FM-completely out of print circulation and off the airwaves.

Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba has since confirmed that the shutdown of the media conglomerate was executed with the direct approval of his father, President Yoweri Museveni. Gen. Muhoozi noted that he is currently locked in talks with veteran journalist Andrew Mwenda, leader of the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU)-a pro-government political movement aligned with the CDF-to negotiate a potential reopening of the media house.

“The shutdown marks a significant escalation in tensions between the Ugandan government and the independent press, drawing widespread local and international concern over deteriorating media freedoms in the country.”

As of Tuesday morning, a heavy military presence remains deployed at both Kampala locations. Armed soldiers are actively enforcing a strict perimeter, waving off pedestrians, and denying all staff access to the buildings.

Despite its physical infrastructure being under military occupation, NMGU management stated that the company is adapting to the aggressive state restrictions. To circumvent the broadcast and print blackout, the media house is actively distributing breaking news, updates, and digital broadcasts through its various online channels.

Uganda has a documented history of state-led crackdowns on independent journalism, particularly targeting outlets like the Daily Monitor during politically sensitive periods. This latest escalation underscores the precarious environment for press freedom under President Museveni’s long-standing administration, as the military continues to control the premises of the nation’s leading independent voice.