Category: Daily Monitor

The Government of Uganda and the World Food Programme (WFP) have signed an agreement that establishes Kampala as the home of the WFP Global Fleet Hub, an initiative designed to strengthen humanitarian logistics and accelerate emergency response across Africa.

Under this arrangement, Uganda will host and manage the Logistics Bureau, including a regional fleet of more than 1,000 trucks dedicated to responding to crises in Eastern and Southern Africa.

As part of the agreement, the Ministry of Works and Transport has granted WFP distinctive UN/WFP-owned and managed license plates for the fleet. These plates are entirely neutral and are not linked to any country, a move intended to eliminate delays caused by border clearance procedures and to enable fast, unhindered cross-border humanitarian movement.

Speaking at the launch of the licence plates in Kampala on Wednesday, December 3, 2025, WFP Deputy Country Director Marcus Prior said the start of the Global Fleet Hub in Kampala, together with the introduction of the special UN/WFP license plates, was the result of close collaboration between WFP, the Government of Uganda, and the East African Community.

‘The hub itself will be a strategic centre for rapid humanitarian response across Africa. It will house WFP-owned emergency response vehicles, and they will bear these distinctive United Nations WFP license plates, designed, issued, and managed by WFP,’ he said.

Mr Prior emphasised that the neutrality of the plates is key to strengthening humanitarian access. ‘It’s important to underline that the plates themselves are not linked to any specific country. They symbolise humanitarian neutrality and will enable seamless cross-border operations. This innovation will transform how quickly we are able to respond to emergencies across the continent,’ he added.

Explaining why Uganda was chosen for this critical role, he pointed to the country’s proven logistical capacity. ‘Uganda’s selection reflects real, proven logistics excellence. In 2024, WFP here in Uganda delivered nearly 174,000 tons of food to 545 locations, reaching over 2 million people. We also transported another 10,000 tons of partner relief supplies and facilitated 33,000 metric tons of deliveries across five neighbouring countries,’ Mr Prior said.

He added that WFP’s strong regional operations rely heavily on Uganda’s infrastructure and efficiency. ‘We’ve also deployed 61 mobile storage units regionally and maintained authorized economic operator status for fast-tracked customs clearance. And with 90% of our food sourced locally here in Uganda, and USD 4.5 million injected into Uganda’s commercial logistics sector, WFP in Uganda operates as the region’s logistics backbone.’

Mr Prior said Uganda’s strategic location, progressive refugee policies, and robust transport systems make Kampala an ideal continental logistics hub.

He noted that the special plates will allow WFP vehicles to bypass the time-consuming deregistration and re-registration processes currently required at international borders. ‘This will cut deployment times from weeks to days, sometimes even just hours, ensuring unhindered movement across Uganda and throughout the countries of Africa,’ he said.

Gen Edward Katumba Wamala, Minister of Works and Transport, in his remarks delivered by Mr Apollo Kashanku, the assistant commissioner in the ministry, said WFP, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, approached the government toward the end of 2024 seeking special number plates for its regional logistics fleet.

‘The Ministry received a request from the United Nations World Food Programme and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to design special registration plates for the regional logistics vehicles that will deliver relief aid across the Regional Logistics Bureau for Eastern and Southern Africa. This was very much in line with Uganda’s objective of supporting humanitarian work,’ he said.

In response, the Ministry constituted a multisectoral team to design the plates and establish a framework for their production, regulation, and implementation. The team included representatives from the Ministry of Works and Transport, WFP, the Uganda National Bureau of Standards, Uganda Revenue Authority, Joint Stock Company, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Mr Kashanku said the plates were deliberately designed without affiliation to any nation, ensuring WFP vehicles can move seamlessly within the region. He expressed confidence that the initiative would meet the WFP goal of improving emergency logistics and said Uganda remains ready to support modifications if required.

Ambassador Charles Ssentongo, head of protocol services at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said Uganda immediately supported the proposal, recognizing its potential economic and humanitarian benefits.

He said the logistics hub would bring opportunities for Ugandans, including jobs for drivers, mechanics, fuel suppliers, market vendors, and others involved in the supply chain. ‘We saw an opportunity for the country and the region-not only in the facilitation of humanitarian assistance but also in the jobs and learning opportunities it would create,’ he said.

Amb Ssentongo noted that the necessary legal clearances were completed by the Office of the Solicitor General and the Ministry of Finance, paving the way for the official launch. ‘This morning we celebrate the launch of this number plate,’ he said.

President Museveni has commended the country’s progress in reducing the burden of HIV/Aids, and highlighted gaps that must be closed as the country races to end HIV/Aids as a public health threat by 2030.

Mr Museveni, who was represented by Vice President Jessica Alupo, as the chief guest at the World Aids Day commemoration in Bushenyi District, decried the large number of new infections registered annually.

‘HIV prevalence has markedly reduced to 4.9 percent from 18 percent in the 1990s. There has been a reduction of new HIV infections, but this still remains high at 37,000 as of December 2024,’ he said. Mr Museveni appealed to young people, who are contributing a significant burden of the new infections to avoid risky behaviours.

‘I am informed that Bushenyi district registered 250 new HIV infections last year alone, my message to all the bazukulu on HIV has not changed,’ he said. ‘Abstain from sex and concentrate on your studies until you are ready to deal with the consequences of sex to the adults, remain faithful to your partners and avoid multiple sexual partners.’

The President advised the youth to avoid alcohol and drug abuse, since this impair one’s judgment. ‘In this era of digitalization, young people spend most of their time on social media, and yet what you see on social media is misleading. A lot of information is inaccurate and some of it totally incorrect. Always verify with reliable sources.

Why are you spending all your time on social media? You should do sports and exercises in order to be fit and lead a disciplined life,’ he said. According to the Uganda Aids Commission (UAC), the country is closing in on the target that was set by United Nations to end HIV as a public heath threat by 2030. The 95-95-95 strategy means that 95 percent of the people who have HIV have tested and know their HIV status, and 95 percent of those who are HIV- positive enrol on treatment and 95 percent of those who enrol on treatment take their treatment correctly and consistently so that they achieve viral suppression.

‘The first message is that Uganda is winning the war in the fight against HIV/Aids and the evidence is the progress made on the UNAids 95-95-95 targets,’ said Dr Nelson Musoba, the director general , UAC during the commemoration of World Aids Day at Kizinda Playground in Bushenyi. Dr Musoba said according to the data collected in 2024, people with HIV enrolled on treatment and taking their treatment correctly have surpassed the 95 percent set target. ‘For the first 95 percent of the people who should know their status, we are at 94 percent, on the second 95 percent we are at 90 percent and that is where the problem is and for the third 95 percent where those who are on treatment should take it consistently and correctly, we are at 96 percent and that is why we are winning the war against HIV and Aids,’ he said.

Dr Musoba said the first target was 90-90-90, which was achieved before embarking on the 95-95-95 targets. He, however, highlighted some of the gaps that need to be addressed for the country to stay on track, especially regarding the prevention of new infections and treating those infected. The country recorded 37,000 new HIV infections last year and the total number of persons living with HIV is estimated to be 1.5 million, signifying a huge disease burden. ‘We have had a 61 percent reduction in new infections by December 2024, but also overall our coordination, both the national and local government, HIV response have been strengthened in pillar one of engaging men in HIV prevention to reduce infections amongst adolescent girls and young women,’ he said.

‘HIV prevalence, for instance, if we compare 2020, and 2024 among us, the age group 15 to 49 has reduced from 5.8 percent to 4.9 percent. This might look like a small number, but it’s quite significant when you look at it at the population level,’ he added. Dr Musoba said they are challenged by the new infections of children, which pose a serious concern.

‘However, despite these gains, there remains concern. In 2024 alone, we had 4,700 children who are infected through mother-to-child transmission that needs extra attention,’ he said. Ms Jacqueline Makokha, the country director for the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/Aids (UNAids), stated that Uganda can achieve greater success in lowering new HIV infections and deaths by adopting these five strategies, which primarily target young people, the main drivers of large number of new infections. ‘The first strategy is that we must scale up sexuality education and empower young people with accurate information,’ she recommended.

She added that in most countries, knowledge of comprehensive HIV information stands at only about 70 percent, a figure that needs improvement. ‘Secondly, we have to expand access to HIV prevention tools for young people, including Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), condoms and we must provide testing not just in health facilities, but also in communities and in places where young people are, such as schools, higher institutions of learning and others. We are also encouraging countries to give young girls choice,’ she said. ‘In the HIV sector, we have a lot of interventions that young people can use to prevent HIV infections. Let’s give them choice.

There is lenacapavir (injectable drug for HIV infection given twice a year). This is available,’ she added. Dr Musoba said the government plans to begin administering the approximately 36,000 doses of lenacapavir expected from donors via the Global Fund next year. However, he explained that the government would prioritise high-risk groups, including young women, those engaged in transactional sex, and individuals in discordant relationships. This leaves out many Ugandans who may be in need of the drug. He said they also anticipate the private sector will start purchasing the drug, whose cost per person per year has been lowered to $40 (Shs140,000), following approval by the National Drug Authority (NDA). Nevertheless, Ms Makokha emphasized that existing interventions must not be neglected.

‘We also have condoms. We have the oral PrEP, we have the vaginal ring. Let them get choice and choose what best suits them to prevent HIV infection,’ she said. She also urged the strengthening of community-led initiatives that tackle stigma and discrimination as well as gender-based violence, while ensuring that young people experiencing gender-based violence are referred for services, including HIV prevention. ‘Fourthly, we have to invest in economic empowerment programmes for young women and girls to reduce their vulnerability and ensure that they remain in school ,’ she said.

‘Finally, we have to ensure youth participation in policy making and programme design because young people are not just beneficiaries of services, they are leaders, they have knowledge, they know what works, and we have to give them the space to do what best suits them,’ she added. On the other hand, Dr Senyonyi said they are stepping up interventions to combat stigma and the barriers responsible for the 4,700 new infections in babies through mother-to-child transmission of HIV. She also mentioned that they are involving men, who are the primary negotiators in sexual activity, so that they can take the lead in the HIV prevention efforts.

As Uganda strives for a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable future, the country is harnessing its natural resources, including gold, while prioritising the welfare of its people and the integrity of the environment.

With about 42.6 million people engaged in artisanal and small-scale mining globally, Uganda recognises the importance of managing these resources responsibly.

Uganda’s commitment to transitioning to a mercury-free artisanal and small-scale gold mining sector is commendable, says Dr Akankwasah Barirega, the executive director of National Environment Management Authority (NEMA).

He notes that artisanal miners have long relied on mercury as a seemingly cheap way to extract gold, but warns that the true cost is far higher.

‘This heavy metal is a potent neurotoxin that endangers human health, contaminates soil and waterways, and silently accumulates in the food chain,’ Dr Barirega says, adding that global tragedies such as Minamata show the devastating consequences of unchecked mercury pollution and underline the urgency of change.

These concerns were central at the third PlanetGold Uganda annual stakeholders’ meeting, where artisanal and small-scale miners gathered to reflect on progress made over the past year and map out a safer, more sustainable future for the sector.

Ministry of Energy permanent secretary Irene Bateebe said Uganda has made significant gains through its partnership with PlanetGold, a Global Environment Facility and United Nations Environment Programme initiative.

She highlighted advances in formalising and regulating artisanal miners, including licensing cooperatives across different regions.

‘This formalisation is pivotal for the estimated 70,000 artisanal gold miners, as it unlocks greater access to financing,’ Bateebe said, noting that banks had previously been reluctant to lend to informal groups, but new government arrangements allow miners to access funding through cooperatives and associations.

Bateebe reiterated the urgency of eliminating mercury from mining practices, reaffirming its commitment by aligning with the Minamata Convention on Mercury in 2013.

The Ministry of Energy is promoting safer alternatives and innovative technologies, including the use of borax and gravity-based processing methods, to help miners shift away from mercury.

Bateebe added that government targets include removing an additional eight tonnes (about 8,000 kilogrammes) of mercury from the sector by 2026.

This effort, she said, is part of Uganda’s wider development strategy to equip artisanal miners with modern tools and methods.

Government is also continuing registration and formalisation, with around 6,000 miners already registered to ‘improve market access, so miners can benefit from fair pricing through designated mineral trading areas’.

Former Post Bank Uganda managing director Stephen Mukweli has been acquitted of all charges related to the controversial payment of Shs292 million to a commission agent hired during the bank’s bid for the Social Assistance Grants for Empowerment (SAGE) project.

The High Court’s Anti-Corruption Division cleared Mukweli and five other senior bank officials, arguing that the state prosecutor failed to prove any wrongdoing.

Justice Jane Okuo Kajuga, in a detailed judgment found that the prosecution had not demonstrated that the accused acted arbitrarily, caused financial loss to the bank, or conspired to defraud the government.

‘Having considered the evidence and the law, I agree with the assessors. The accused are acquitted on all counts,’ the judge stated.

Mukweli, together with co-accused Alex Kayaayo, Fred Wasike, Gilbert Nuwamanya, Mwesigwa Jackson, and businessman Muhereza Kachoboye, had been on trial for abuse of office, causing financial loss, and conspiracy to defraud.

The prosecution had claimed that the officers irregularly processed and approved the commission payment to Kachoboye for helping Post Bank prepare and win the bid to serve as the SAGE payment service provider.

But the court found that Kachoboye had contributed to the bank’s preparation to winning bid, contrary to claims that he was paid for no work done.

Testimony from several witnesses, including senior bank officials, supported the defence argument that he helped compile the bid and provided market intelligence that informed the bank’s proposal.

Justice Kajuga cited evidence that on October 5, 2015, a day before the submission deadline, ‘the agent arrived with copies of the bid and soft copies on a flash drive,’ which were subsequently sealed by the Company Secretary and submitted to the Ministry.

The judge also dismissed the allegation that the bank suffered any loss, noting that the SAGE contract turned out to be highly profitable, generating over Shs8.2 billion for the bank by July 2019.

‘The payment could not be regarded as a loss, thus unfairly prejudicing the employer,’ the court noted after reviewing the Auditor General’s report and witness testimonies confirming the value derived from the project.

Justice Kajuga emphasized that the prosecution failed to prove that any of the accused had criminal intent to commit the offenses charged. The court held that while procedural lapses may have occurred in the hiring of the commission agent, these did not amount to criminal conduct.

‘There was no evidence of intent to defraud. The offence is not proved,’ the judge ruled in relation to the conspiracy charge.

The defence had argued that the payment to Kachoboye followed established bank practices of rewarding individuals who brought business and that all actions taken by the accused fell within their official mandates.

They further warned that failure to honour the contract could have exposed the bank to legal claims for breach. Evidence from the accused and documents presented in court showed that Kachoboye’s role was primarily to support the preparation of the bid not to interface directly with Ministry officials, a distinction the judge agreed had been overlooked by the prosecution.

The court also faulted investigative gaps, including failure to properly examine bid preparation documents or call key witnesses such as the Company Secretary. These omissions weakened the prosecution’s case, leading the court to conclude that the payment had been justified under the terms of the commission agreement.

Following the acquittal, Justice Kajuga ordered that all bail money and securities deposited by the accused be refunded and that all sureties be discharged.

‘The right of appeal within 14 days from today has been explained,’ she said.

Mukweli’s acquittal brings to an end a high-profile trial that has spanned several years, scrutinising internal processes at Post Bank and the broader handling of the multimillion-shilling SAGE project.

The Judiciary has revealed that up to 90 percent of disputes in Uganda are resolved outside the formal court system, with most conflicts settled at community level rather than in courtrooms.

According to the Judiciary, studies show that many citizens prefer resolving their issues within their communities to avoid the long and often costly court processes caused by limited manpower and a growing case backlog.

Speaking during the training of court mediators ahead of 2026, Justice Andrew Khuaka, the Executive Director of the Judicial Training Institute, clarified that this does not indicate a loss of confidence in the courts, but rather the public’s desire for faster, less burdensome dispute-resolution methods.

‘It is not true that people are running to the courts instead of using ADR (Alternative Dispute Resolution). Studies show that 90 percent of disputes in this country are resolved in the communities,’ Justice Khuaka said.

‘When we talk about communities, we mean our villages-under the mango tree one afternoon, and the mulberry tree another-where community members gather to resolve disputes,’ he added.

He added that only 10 percent of disputes end up in the formal courts, often taking between five and seven years to conclude due to resource constraints.

Informal structures such as village meetings, clan gatherings, and community mediators, he said, remain central to conflict resolution nationwide. Judiciary statistics show that 19,211 small claims were concluded in the last financial year, enabling litigants to recover Shs4.63 billion without a single full hearing.

Last month, the Chief Justice directed all courts to conduct a nationwide ‘settlement fortnight’ in November, encouraging parties to pursue out-of-court settlements. Justice Khuaka said the initiative delivered remarkable results.

‘One of the cases concluded during the settlement fortnight was 50 years old. This was in Alebtong, and it was resolved through mediation,’ he noted.

The Judiciary estimates that if newly trained mediators each handle at least two cases per month, Uganda could record up to 48,000 mediations annually, greatly easing pressure on the courts.

Under the revised system, accredited mediators will serve for one year, required to handle a prescribed number of cases, file reports with ADR focal judges, and uphold strict impartiality and confidentiality before renewal of accreditation.

The renewed push for ADR comes as the Judiciary grapples with a heavy backlog of 190,793 pending cases as of the end of the last financial year.

Chief Justice Owiny-Dollo said timely and affordable justice requires stronger collaboration with cultural, traditional, and faith-based leaders, who have long played a role in resolving community conflicts.

President Museveni has appointed Brig Gen Richard Tukachungurwa to head the General Court Martial after it was controversially reconstituted following the Supreme Court landmark ruling, which said military courts lacked judicial competence to hear cases against civilians.

‘In accordance with Section 192, 193 and 195 of the UPDF Act as amended and acting on the advice of the Judicial Service Commission, I have appointed persons below as Head and members of the General Court Martial and Chairperson of Division and Unit Court Martials respectively,’ reads part of President Museveni’s letter addressed to his son, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, who serves as the Chief of Defence Forces.

In the letter dated November 25, 2025, a copy of which was seen by this publication, Brig Gen Tukachungurwa will lead a 10-member panel and two more chairpersons of the Division Court Martial.

Other members of the General Court Martial include; Col. Wankandya Simon Tusah, Col. Asha Patra, Col. Kangwamu Fredrick, Col. Mugisha Raphael, Lt. Col. Igambi Mohammedie Nasser and Maj. Amodoi Samuel Moses.

Others are Maj Emmanuel Arihaihi, Maj Abubaker Nyombi and Maj Denis Chemtai.

The two chairpersons of Division Court Martials are Lt. Col David Drani Epalu – Forth Division and Lt. Col Hassan Mulyanti Yaqoub- One Special Forces Group.

Brig Gen Tukachungurwa replaces Brig Gen Robert Freeman Mugabe, who was appointed in May 2024 and served for one term.

The previous team had 11 lawyers of the 23-member team. Under Sections 197, 198, and 202 of the UPDF Act No. 7 of 2005, the High Command holds the authority to appoint members, reserve members, and staff officers to the General Court Martial (GCM).

The High Command is chaired by Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces, President Museveni.

In January, Uganda’s Supreme Court ruled that the prosecution of civilians in military courts, including the General Court Martial, is unconstitutional.

The landmark decision followed a 2021 Constitutional Court ruling that similarly found the provisions allowing military trials for civilians to be unlawful.

The Attorney General confirmed the government’s commitment to implementing the ruling by halting pending civilian trials and determining which civilian courts should take over these cases.

Following the Supreme Court’s 2025 decision, military trials for civilians were effectively banned, prompting the reconstitution of the General Court Martial and other related courts.

The Supreme Court further directed that the General Court Martial be administratively established as a division of the High Court. This division would have jurisdiction over capital criminal cases involving military personnel and, in exceptional circumstances, civilians.

Magistrates within the division would handle offences falling under their respective jurisdictions. However, on May 20, Parliament passed the UPDF (Amendment) Bill, 2025, granting military courts sweeping powers to try civilians under ‘exceptional circumstances’ like possession of military weapons or aiding soldiers in serious crimes.

President Museveni on June 16 signed into law the controversial Act, to resume charging civilians in military courts.

The law introduces a structured military court system Unit, Division, and General Court Martial with legally qualified chairs and provides appeal routes up to the civilian Court of Appeal. It also defines ‘exceptional circumstances’ to include illegal possession of military equipment, uniforms, ammunition, or accompanying troops on missions.

Despite criticism from the public and Opposition leaders who argued that the law targets specific individuals and was not brought in good faith, President Museveni waved off the pleas and signed it, making it a law.

Whereas some Bills passed by Parliament spend months and years before the President signs them, this particular one spent about 26 days, with Opposition leaders saying its processing was hurried, but was expected.

Controversial law

The UPDF (Amendment) Bill, 2025, came into force with an unknown number of civilians stuck in the army court, with their fate uncertain.

The National Unity Platform (NUP) party and other citizens have since petitioned the Constitutional Court challenging Act, which they say flagrantly defies the Supreme Court judgment and entrenches the trial of civilians in military courts.

They accuse Parliament of rushing the legislation and reintroducing provisions the Supreme Court had already declared unconstitutional in Attorney General vs Hon. Michael Kabaziguruka (2025).

For thousands of women across the Elgon and Bukedi sub-regions, getting onto family planning is still a long, painful journey. Some walk for hours to the nearest health facility only to find the contraceptives are out of stock. Others face stigma from the community and family, resistance from husbands, or health workers who insist they return with their partners. Poverty is another hurdle many mothers face to access family planning. The result is predictable but devastating: unplanned pregnancies, overwhelmed mothers, interrupted schooling for teenage girls, and families trapped in cycles of poverty. Yet, even in the middle of these challenges, Village Health Teams (VHTs) are quietly bridging the gap.

For many women, these community health workers are the only reason they can access family planning at all. In Bududa District, the struggle is familiar to 32-year-old Sarah Wamono. She says: ‘I walk two hours to the health centre, and sometimes they tell me there are no injections in stock. Then I’m told to come back next month. By that time, I’m already worried I might be pregnant again.’ Her experience mirrors those of countless women in the hills and valleys of Bugisu, where stock-outs of Depo-Provera, Sayana Press, pills, and implants can last months. Twenty-eight-year-old Nabirye from Manafwa District, says her husband does not want her to enrol on family planning.

‘He told me family planning is for prostitutes. When I insisted, he threatened to leave me. I still want to use it secretly, because I don’t want to give birth every year,’ she says. In nearby Sironko District, mother of four Mary Nakiso says she has endured insults from neighbours for using contraceptives. ‘They have called me a bad woman for using birth control, but I can’t afford to have more children when I am struggling to feed the ones I have,’ she says. These voices capture the pressure many rural women face. Large families remain a sign of pride, wealth, and fertility in many communities. Misconceptions like the belief that contraceptives cause infertility, promote promiscuity, or damage women’s bodies persist widely. Experts say that such attitudes, combined with a lack of accurate information and male-dominated decision-making continue to hinder family planning uptake.

Dr Aron Wokuri, a reproductive health expert in Mbale, says: ‘Some husbands forbid their wives from using family planning, and community leaders reinforce these fears. These attitudes keep uptake very low, even where services exist.’ Fertility remains high at 5.2 children per woman, and in Bukedi, the rate rises to 6.5. Teenage pregnancy also remains a problem, with 24 percent of girls aged 15 to 19 already mothers or expecting. Yet the facilities meant to offer family planning are struggling. In some areas, nurses report months-long shortages of contraceptives. ‘Most of the women who come here ask for short-term methods like the injectable, the daily pill, or even condoms,’ Ms Slyvia Namono, a nursing officer at Bududa Hospital, says.

She adds: ‘For example, many mothers prefer the injectable since it only requires one visit every three months, while some younger women like the pill because it is easy to start and stop but the problem comes when these methods are out of stock.’ ‘Others simply walk away without taking anything, saying they would rather wait until the methods they trust are available. It leaves many women feeling like their choice has been taken from them,’ Ms Namono said. In Mbale District, Ms Josephine Wesaka says she has failed to get her preferred contraceptive on five occasions despite walking two hours to get to the clinic.

‘Most times I am told to return next month,’ she says, adding, ‘I’m already worried about getting pregnant again.’ VHTs have become the vital connection between women and the services they need. They move from home to home, teaching, counselling, and giving short-term methods to women who would otherwise have none. They speak the local language, understand village politics, and know how to navigate the fears women carry.

‘With the help of Village Health Teams (VHTs), I am able to get family planning without going to the health facility,’ Ms Nabirye says Many VHTs in Bugisu and Bukedi were trained by Reproductive Health Uganda (RHU) and partners under the Shs3b Bergstrom project, which ran for three years. They are equipped to provide condoms and oral pills directly at home, and refer women for long-term and permanent methods. Ms Betty Isiko, the senior project manager at RHU, says the numbers show how important the intervention has become. ‘We have managed to reach young women and men with a total of 7,590 short methods and 23,163 long-acting reversible contraceptive methods for family planning.

Another 426 are on permanent methods,’ she says. Ms Scovia Atim, a VHT attached to Kwapa Health Centre III, says her role is not to choose for women, but to guide them. ‘We give an opportunity for a person to choose what they want. We only come in to advise, not to decide for them,’ she says. Ms Atim says she has introduced about 500 people in her community to family planning. ‘I always move door to door, at funerals, at ceremonies, even in churches, sensitising and enrolling women,’ she says. Mr John Odeke, a VHT at Apete Health Centre II, says the impact is already visible. ‘We have many children in schools compared to before, when parents couldn’t pay fees, children could not be in schools,’ he said.

Although VHTs are recognised by the Ministry of Health and given training, most rely on non-governmental organisations for funding, allowances, and supplies. Stockouts also affect them, leaving them unable to support women fully. Ideally, contraceptives should be free at public health facilities. But shortages force many women to buy from private clinics, paying between Shs500 and Shs20,000 for methods supposed to be free. Pill prices in private facilities can go up to Shs10,000. Organisations like Women with a Mission have tried to close this gap.

‘Many rural women could not also afford even basic short-term methods. By bringing these services closer and making them free, we are not only giving women a choice but also restoring their dignity,’ Ms Betty Byanyima, the group’s executive director, says. Bududa District Chairperson Milton Kamoti believes government must do more. ‘Access to family planning is not just a health service, it is a right,’ he says. Tororo District Assistant Health Officer Connie Bwire says more effort is needed to strengthen community-level services.

The ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party presidential candidate, Mr Museveni, has pledged that his government will embark on implementing development projects in phases.

He argued that steady and planned investment delivers lasting results, unlike his opponents’ promises of quick fixes.

Campaigning in Bushenyi District, Ankole Sub-region, yesterday, the incumbent said his 2026 agenda focuses on completing economic infrastructure, strengthening unity and addressing corruption in government programmes.

He also cautioned voters to be wary of candidates with unrealistic commitments.

‘We are going to handle all issues bit by bit and by that, the progress can be steady. Leave alone these presidential candidates sweet talking you and promising to handle salary increments, innovation and all pressing issues all at once when they become the ruling government,’ Mr Museveni said.

He added: ‘As NRM, we won’t promise that. Those are just persuasive talks and acts of rebels who are not honest with service delivery.’

Local leaders had earlier presented a memorandum highlighting priority needs, including funding for youth savings and credit co-operatives societies (Saccos), the establishment of industrial parks, and improving electricity distribution, which currently stands at about 29 percent in Ankole Sub-region.

The memorandum also requested road upgrades to ease mobility.

Mr Museveni said his 2026 agenda for the sub-region focuses on completing economic and social infrastructure, tackling corruption infested in Parish Development Model (PDM) funds, unity among all and investment opportunities.

‘We have done most of the things for you so far, and I urge you to avoid identity politics, which is discriminatory. Economic infrastructure like roads, electricity, water and Internet will be prioritised, with some projects already underway like the construction company already there to start soon for the Bwizibwera-Nyakambu-Nsika-Nyakashaka-Nyakabirizi Road,’ he said.

Mr Museveni cited the district’s social infrastructure as evidence of progress, noting that Bushenyi now has 151 government primary schools and 16 secondary schools, compared to just three junior secondary schools in the 1950s.

The rise of private and missionary schools, he said, reflected higher household incomes and growing investment, which are fuelling the increasing population. The NRM flagbearer also raised concerns over corruption in the Parish Development Model (PDM), a poverty alleviation programme. He urged citizens to submit evidence of misallocated funds.

‘The PDM money is still infested with corruption. Anyone with evidence for these people should give it to me and I will look for them,’ Mr Museveni said.

While in Rwampara District on Monday, still in the Ankole Sub-region, he directed PDM officials to stop denying youth access to funds over claims they lack land, saying project viability, not land ownership, should determine approval as a design for all Ugandans, especially in the subsistence economy.

‘For the youth, I have heard reports that elders are not allowing them to access PDM at the parish because they don’t have land. Stop that. Get their projects and review them and leave them to invest in whatever they want. They can rent land to invest in anything they wish,’ Mr Museveni said.

He also showcased the district’s infrastructure and investment potential, promising upgrades for key roads, including Buteraniro-Bugamba-Rwoho-Bukoni-Kitwe and Ruti-Mwizi-Kikagate.

Mr Museveni said improved transport would boost trade and reduce costs. He also committed to delivering a district hospital in the next term to serve hard-to-reach areas.

He applauded improvements in health services, noting that all eight sub-counties now host at least one health facility.

Marriot Bonvoy and Hilton International hotels will soon open in Kampala and that is a big deal. When you google ‘top ten hotel brands in the world’ Marriot comes first and Hilton second on the list. Both hotels are in the final stages of construction in Kampala. Publicly available information shows that Marriott Kampala is set to open this month. It features two towers, 181 hotel rooms, 96 executive apartments, eight outlets, expansive meeting spaces, and the largest casino in Africa. This behemoth of a brand is located in Nsambya, and has the best vantage views of downtown Kampala.

Hilton Kampala, on the other hand, is located in the leafiest and most exclusive part of Nakasero and enjoys panoramic views of all the best parts of Kampala City, that is, the Golf Course, Kololo, Naguru and Bugolobi. Its construction too, is nearing completion. The two iconic brands are reshaping not just Kampala’s skyline and hospitality but the real estate industry too. The fact that two top hotel brands will soon open in this country is a sign that the big dogs think the future looks bright in Uganda. They see what you are likely missing or else they wouldn’t be investing millions of dollars in our real estate industry. And maybe you should be hopeful too.

Tourism and MICE

According to a 2025 study carried out by Broll Uganda, a continental property management company, the top two demand factors for hotel accommodations in Uganda are tourism and MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions). International and local tourists, business travellers, and foreign visitors who come into the country for meetings and conferences seem to be anticipated to increase, going by the huge investments in the hospitality industry, of which the two hotels are a part. Over the years, significant steps have been taken to improve the country’s prominence in hosting MICE in the region. For instance, in 2024, the Uganda Tourism Board (UTB) graduated 45 professional conference organisers who underwent a 12 week training in preparing MICE in accordance with international standards. This has seen Uganda climb to 6th and Kampala climb to 4th in Africa in the 2024 International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) rankings.

Convention centre

The new convention centre at Munyonyo with a seating capacity of more than 5,000 has elevated Uganda as a big MICE destination, Boniface Byamukama, the vice chairman of Uganda Hotel Owners Association and chairman Exclusive Sustainable Tour Operators Association, says. He adds that it has become much easier to sell Uganda to MICE clients as a result. ‘Speke Resort Munyonyo cannot absorb all the 5,000 guests that it hosts at the convention centre. So, brands like Marriott or Hilton are likely just positioning themselves to tap into the MICE market that the convention centre will keep bringing,’ he says. The second fact, Byamukama says, is Uganda’s virginity in the MICE market.

A lot of MICE clients have already visited the surrounding countries so many times and they yearn for something new and fresh, something deeper into the continent. And Uganda has positioned itself to be the best choice after the coastal countries. ‘I’ve just come back from a marketing trip in Barcelona, Spain, specifically for the MICE market. And the inquiries are saying, ‘my people have been in Kenya, they have been in Tanzania, we are now looking for newer areas in the region’. ‘And when you give a presentation about Uganda, about the convention centre and our tourism offerings, people say, we didn’t know all this stuff. So they are very much interested in coming to Uganda for conferences,’ he says.

Expressway

The third big factor in Uganda’s high MICE positioning is the Kampala-Entebbe Expressway. The fact that you can connect from the airport to the convention centre in Munyonyo in 20 minutes is attractive to clients. Many of these chief executive officers (CEOs) coming for these meetings are happy to know that it will take them 30 minutes to leave their private jet and be at their hotel. This, Byamukama says, is a big sale that is positioning Uganda as a big MICE host.

New selling point

While Marriot and Hilton are positioning themselves to tap into the big MICE market, interestingly, their addition to the industry will definitely be another factor to bring in more such meetings. Those marketing Uganda for MICE will most likely start mentioning the two brands. The two hotels will have a big bearing on the growth of the MICE segment. ‘Because there are clients who would never go to a country that doesn’t have a Marriot or a Hilton. If you don’t have a product like Hilton or Marriott, they will never book with you to a destination like Uganda. Their presence will start a new day Uganda’s tourism sector,’ he says.

Africa Cup of Nations

With the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) football tournament to be jointly hosted by Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania in 2027, the need for more world-class hotel rooms is evident to comfortably accommodate the tens of thousands of officials, fans, and players who will descend on the country. Marriot and Hilton will definitely host the five-star clients as both are expected to be operational by then. The three cities of Kampala, Lira, and Hoima will play host with games in the newly renovated Mandela National Stadium, Hoima City Stadium whose construction is nearing completion, and Akii Bua Olympic Stadium respectively.

According to the Uganda Hotel Guide 2023/24, Lira City currently has only 145 hotel rooms while Hoima City fairs better with 507 hotel rooms. However, both require much more investment in world-class accommodation facilities to satisfy the growing demand.

Game changer

According to the UTB, the number of hotel rooms in Kampala currently stands at about 3,000, with approximately 650 of these in 5-Star hotels. However, with the planned addition of over 400 rooms under Hilton and Marriott Bonvoy within the next few months, and the ongoing expansion of the Kabira Country Club, all in Kampala, the number of five-star rooms will hit well over 1000. And that is bound to have positive reverberations in several sectors, Amos Wekesa, a tourism aficionado, says. ‘Marriot and Hilton are some of the top hotel brands in the world. Big brands. So, in terms of employment and value to the city, it’s massive. You can imagine how many tomato growers are going to be supplying that hotel.

You know, just agriculture alone. ‘Number two, Marriot is one of the top two brands in the world. They have millions of permanent residents worldwide [in their executive apartments]. So, what that simply means is that Uganda is going to plug into that market, which is a very good thing. ‘Then there are also people who can’t travel to destinations that don’t have those brands. That means a door has opened for those people to come to Uganda. That means a door has opened for other big brands to come to Uganda. That means the stakeholders behind these brands will pressure the Uganda government to market the country better so that more visitors come,’Wekesa says.

But Wekesa is quick to add that the country needs to wake up and do better because as a country, we have much fewer hotel room on the market compared to Kenya and Tanzania, for instance. ‘Uganda has like five international hotel brands. And Nairobi (Kenya) alone has over 88. Do you think Kampala has got 10 percent of Nairobi’s accommodation? The entire Uganda cannot compete with the amount of rooms in Mombasa alone. ‘If you look at national parks, Masai Mara alone has like 5,000 rooms. That is more than three times the amount of rooms in all our 22 national parks and game reserves combined. So we need more,’ Wekesa says.

Competition?

While some experts say the two hotels pause a serious threat to smaller currently existing brands, Byamukama says smaller brands should not worry about competition at all. ‘The market share of those brands is far different from the local market that our people have. There is no competition at all. The arrival of these brands is value added for everyone. If a guest books with Marriott or Hilton, and he has interest in going to Bwindi, tour companies will definitely benefit. If they are fully booked, some of those high value clients will look for space in the lower grade hotel. So, there is no loss to anybody at all,’Byamukama says.

Effect on property industry

Asked whether the addition of two top hotel brands will affect the real estate industry itself, Michael Mwizerwa, the study’s lead researcher says while they will improve the country’s profile as a destination for business and conferences, there won’t be any direct impact on the property industry. “The residential and commercial sectors are unlikely to benefit in the short to medium term. However, the strong performance of these brands could spark a domino effect that then impacts the wider real estate industry in the city,” Mwizerwa says.

An official investigation is under way in Masaka after a vehicle belonging to a local ruling-party mobilizer was set ablaze in the early hours of Tuesday, deepening political tensions within the National Resistance Movement (NRM) in central Uganda.

Khamadi Matovu , a bodaboda rider and aspiring councillor in Butego Ward, said he was ‘shocked’ to find his Toyota Carina, registration number UAD 438F, reduced to ashes by the roadside.

He told journalists the car had been crucial in his efforts to rally support for party leader and incumbent President Museveni in the area.

Matovu said the vehicle had broken down during a mobilization activity and he left it parked, planning for a mechanic to collect it the following morning.

He was alerted in the night by a resident who knocked on his door to report the blaze.

‘By the time I reached the scene, it was gone,’ he said, adding that the car had long been covered with campaign posters of several NRM candidates.

He appealed to senior NRM officials to intervene, saying the incident had ‘crippled’ his activities and that he needed justice – and possibly replacement of the vehicle – to continue his work.

NRM youth chairperson in Kijjabwemi, Muswangali Shakib, condemned the incident and urged security agencies to ‘urgently investigate the perpetrators,’ calling the arson a direct attack on the ruling party in Masaka.

But the incident has also exposed sharp internal disagreements within the local NRM structures. A separate group of party members, led by Abdallah Ssenabulya, the bodaboda chairman for Greater Masaka, dismissed Matovu’s account.

They alleged he had been planning to burn the car himself in hopes of receiving a replacement from senior party officials.

Ssenabulya claimed Matovu previously attempted to set the vehicle alight near Shell Buddu, where he often parked it, but was stopped by colleagues who warned that a fire outbreak at a fuel station could cause an explosion. They now believe he may have shifted the act elsewhere.

Masaka Regional Police spokesperson Twaha Kasirye confirmed that an investigation had begun but did not comment on the competing narratives within the NRM. Police have not announced any arrests or leads.

The incident comes as political organising intensifies across Uganda ahead of the January 15, 2026 General Election, with ruling-party mobilisers and opposition activists reporting rising pressure, scrutiny and internal disputes.