Category: Daily Monitor

November 7 was a momentous day in Bukuya Town Council, Kassanda District as the local mining community celebrated the official commencement of legal gold mining operations under the Mubende United Miners’ Assembly’s (MUMA) Small-Scale Mining License (SML 00575). The five-year license authorises MUMA to carry out small-scale gold mining operations over 100.8 hectares of land in Bukuya. The license itself was originally issued on June 25, the fourth of eight small-scale mining licenses issued so far.

The government had for a long time placed a huge question mark over our operations as artisanal and small scale miners (ASMs). Its concerns: that we were mining illegally and not paying taxes, employing child labour, hiring foreign nationals in a trade ring-fenced for locals and using dangerous chemicals and mercury which was destroying the environment, among many other issues.

This was what had culminated in our abrupt eviction from the Greater Mubende gold mining areas on August 4, 2017 by security forces as the government sought to formalise our operations. While that experience had left many of us in a state of despair, we refused to give up. With the help of civil society organisations (CSOs), we remobilised, organised and put our house in order. It’s from these efforts that not only MUMA but also the Uganda Association of Artisanal and Small Scale Miners Limited (UGAASM) emerged. I chair both entities.

Fast forward, our negotiations with the State initially saw ASMs granted location licenses – which were the only available legal document under the Mining Act, 2003, to enable us mine formally. Later this law was repealed and replaced by the Mining and Minerals Act, 2022 that officially recognised ASMs – introducing the artisanal and small-scale mining licenses. In June this year, MUMA was granted the fourth small-scale mining license by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development after fulfilling all the legal, financial and technical requirements before being licensed – and then the real work officially commenced on November 7.

What a turn-around!

So why is this good news for Uganda? The Mining and Minerals Act, 2022, officially ring-fences ASM activities for Ugandan citizens to ensure that local communities and the country benefit directly from their natural resources – through jobs and revenues. Studies have noted that ASM employs 20 times more people than large-scale mining and keeps over 80 percent of its earnings circulating locally.

In their remarks at the recent event, many local leaders noted the rapid growth of Bukuya – which is said to be the fastest developing town council in Uganda. This was exactly what the government envisioned when it sought to formalise the ASM sub-sector, Alaba said. Adding that over 60 percent of Uganda’s mining workforce was employed in ASM and that with the right support, ASMs can be a major driver of economic transformation – supporting Uganda’s ambitions to grow the economy from $50b to $500b by 2040.

This license now allows MUMA to take part in Bank of Uganda’s Domestic Gold Purchase Programme, where the Central Bank will be buying only locally mined gold from licensed miners to supplement the country’s foreign currency reserves and strengthen the shilling. Which brings me to this related concern. I have seen some media reports link the MUMA license to Euro Gold Refinery. This is totally false. The MUMA membership is 100 percent Ugandan – and that is why we were granted the small-scale mining license, anyway. At the moment, no transaction has been done between MUMA and Euro Gold Refinery.

MUMA continues to have discussions with potential strategic partners, not only with refiners, but also with expert trainers and international agencies so as to implement best practices in technical mining processes plus health and safety amongst others – as we seek to transform not only the community within which we operate, but the nation at large.

Opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party presidential flag bearer Nathan Mafabi Nandala has criticised President Museveni for prioritising development projects in neighbouring countries over domestic infrastructure, saying Ugandans are being neglected.

Speaking on Monday during a campaign rally in Kaliro District, Mafabi highlighted road construction in the Democratic Republic of Congo and electricity expansion in South Sudan as examples of misplaced priorities.

‘You have heard the NRM government constructing roads in Congo and South Sudan. This shows that President Museveni does not care about you. He is building roads in Congo and extending electricity to South Sudan,’ Mafabi told residents.

‘How can you feed your neighbour’s child when your own child has nothing to eat? Is it because you love the neighbour’s child more?’ Mafabi asked.

President Museveni has previously backed the foreign projects as vital for Africa’s integration and market expansion.

On Monday, Mafabi also criticised domestic road projects, claiming significant taxpayers’ money is wasted due to inefficiency.

‘Even those few roads the government works on, a lot of taxpayers’ money is wasted since money meant to construct one kilometre of roads can be used to construct twenty kilometres if there was will to protect wastage of resources in the country,’ Mafabi said.

Mafabi also pledged to ease access to motorcycles for Boda boda operators, pointing out that high loan costs restrict many from joining the business. He said a change in government would create opportunities for wealth generation and development across Uganda.

Former FDC president Patrick Oboi Amuriat, who accompanied Mafabi on the campaign trail, urged Kaliro residents to support the party’s presidential candidate.

‘Mafabi is the only candidate who has taken time to reach communities at the grassroots and understand their day-to-day challenges,’ Amuriat said, criticising both Museveni of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) and opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu of the National Unity Platform (NUP).

He accused the two of ‘stage-managing crowds’ during ongoing presidential campaigns, suggesting that their outreach does not reflect genuine engagement with voters.

The rally was part of Mafabi’s ongoing campaign across eastern Uganda, where the FDC seeks to build momentum ahead of the January 15, 2026 General Election by emphasising domestic development and addressing grassroots economic concerns.

The Nyendo-Mukungwe Division parliamentary seat in Masaka City is expected to be one of the hotly contested constituencies in the country.

The incumbent, Mr Mathias Mpuuga, is seeking a fourth term amid strong challenges from Mr Gyaviira Lubowa Ssebina of the National Unity Platform (NUP) and Ms Racheal Nakitende of the National Resistance Movement (NRM).

Two other people, Kampala City-based lawyer Sam Muyizzi, and Ms Alice Nannungi, the incumbent Woman Councillor representing Nyendo-Mukungwe Division, who were eyeing the same seat, pulled out in favour of Mr Ssebina. Mr Mpuuga, began this term on a high note following his appointment as a Leader of Opposition in Parliament (LoP) by NUP, a mandate he executed with commitment and earned himself praise for his leadership.

His relationship with the party soured over the controversial Shs500 million ‘service award’ he received as a parliamentary commissioner.

While NUP labelled the payout as an abuse of office and demanded his resignation, Mr Mpuuga stood his ground, insisting he had done nothing wrong. The misunderstanding led to Mr Mpuuga leaving NUP.

In July, Mr Mpuuga and his allies, including Dr Abed Bwanika, a legislator for Kimaanya-Kabonera Municipality, and Ms Juliet Kakande, the Masaka City Woman MP, among others, unveiled a new political party, the Democratic Front (DF), whose ticket the three politicians are carrying in pursuit of retaining their seats.

In September, DF, where Mr Mpuuga currently serves as president, announced that it would not field a presidential candidate in the January elections, arguing that since 1996 such elections have been organised in ways that ‘favour Mr Museveni, and participating without meaningful electoral reforms would only legitimise a sham process.’

During a recent interview, when asked why DF chose to field candidates for other positions despite claiming that elections are skewed, Mr Mpuuga said the challenges mostly affect the presidency, making it strategic to contest other leadership roles.

‘The political arguments for the presidency and the decision to contest in others are in sync with three of our agenda points: reform, transition, and reconciliation,’ he explained.

Now, one of Mpuuga’s hurdles is to lead the newly formed DF to dismantle NUP, which considers Masaka as its stronghold.

During the launch of his campaigns in Nyendo on November 14, Mr Ssebina said, it is time for the people of Nyendo-Mukungwe to elect an MP who is reliable and ready to initiate projects that will improve the living standards of constituents.

‘We have a lot of issues we need to work on to develop our city that require lobbying by the MPs, and that’s the work I’m going to focus on because speaking on the floor of Parliament alone cannot solve issues affecting our people,’ he said.

He added that, being a professional accountant, he will ensure that he thoroughly scrutinises the budget to ensure that Masaka City gets projects in various sectors that will enhance its growth.

He expressed confident that he will defeat his two challengers to extend his tenure to 20 years.

In the past five years, the parliamentary commissioner said, together with Dr Bwanika and Mr Kakande, they have lobbied the government to inject over Shs2b in improving infrastructure at three public schools in Masaka City, supported youth and women groups as well as distributed coffee seedlings and hand hoes to farmers. The trio has also procured an ambulance through DF.

The Bobi Wine factor

However, during a rally in Kikuubo Lane, Masaka’s busiest business hub on Friday last week, Mr Mpuuga found it hard to answer questions from a section of voters after one asked him why DF is not backing any presidential candidate, yet it has no candidate in the race.

‘In the lead-up to the 2021 general election, it was your group that was pressuring Dr Kizza Besigye to ally with Robert Kyagulanyi since he was not participating as a candidate. Now that DF doesn’t have a presidential candidate, why are you not backing Kyagulanyi, who is evidently the frontrunner in this race?’ An unidentified male voter asked.

In response, Mpuuga said voters in his constituency are free to vote for any presidential candidate on the Opposition side.

To offer more clarity on the matter, Dr Bwanika told the gathering that DF will pronounce itself on who they are backing in the presidential race after Mr Kyagulanyi holds his rally in Masaka City on November 29.

‘You ask us who we are supporting [in the presidential race] after Kyagulanyi has held his rally, we will tell you, but it is we who showed you Kyagulanyi, why are you putting us under pressure?’ he asked.

Divided Opposition

Masaka City was historically a Democratic Party stronghold, not until 2021 when several DP stalwarts, including Mr Mpuuga, shifted their allegiance to NUP and won most of the seats at the parliamentary and local government levels.

Unfortunately, the Opposition camp that was once united is currently divided, which could aid NRM in its bid to make inroads in the city, as was the case with special interest groups’ elections early this year.

Masaka-based political analyst Muhammad Kigongo said the real contest in Nyendo-Mukungwe is between Mr Ssebina and Mr Mpuuga.

While Masaka faces issues including youth unemployment, poor health service delivery, among others, Mr Kigongo expressed believe that integrity and commitment to the Opposition struggle is going to be a key determinant of the next MP in this constituency.

‘The NUP candidate stands a high chance of winning that race. He has a clean track record, well entrenched in the Catholic Church, which is a dominant religion and influencer in area’s politics. So, those qualities are key for people who have been representing that area,’ Mr Kigongo said.

Mr Muhammad Yiga, the Masaka City NRM spokesperson, said: ‘People of Masaka have had enough of Opposition infighting and back biting. In 2021, they were voted as one NUP team. Regrettably, after one year, they were fighting each other, which has affected service delivery, the little you see has been done by the government.’

He said NRM candidate Rachael Nakitende, being a woman, is empathetic to the struggling mothers and youth, and her focus will be on lobbying for opportunities to empower them and building on government programmes like the Parish Development Model.

Mr Dan Mugema, the NRM councillor for Bulayi Ward at Nyendo-Mukungwe Division, said people are ready to vote for an MP who will lobby for critical social amenities like electricity, water, and good roads because some areas that were annexed to the divison when Masaka became a city in 2020 are still lacking such services.

‘People are no longer voting party colours, they are looking for capable leaders, and I believe this race will be shocking because it has several factors to determine its outcome,’ he said.

Ms Rehema Kaboggoza, a resident of Nyendo, said she is confident that the constituency will remain under the control of the Opposition.

‘Despite the bickering within the Opposition, this is a constituency the NRM cannot win, they have made several attempts in the past but failed,’ she said.

Mr Michael Nakumusana, the DF flagbearer in the Masaka mayoral race and also one of Mr Mpuuga’s aides, said his boss is one of the finest legislators voters in Nyendo-Mukungwe cannot afford to lose.

‘On the floor of Parliament, Mpuuga has remained vocal, various mega projects in the form of school infrastructure, refurbishment of Masaka Recreation Grounds have come as a result of his efforts,’ he said.

However, Mr Shafik Mukasa, a NUP supporter in the constituency, accused Mpuuga of hobnobbing with big shots in government, particularly the Speaker of Parliament Anita Among, which he said makes him unfaithful to the struggle to bring change of government.

‘When he was still Leader of Opposition, the Speaker used to send him to represent her at some functions, how can we trust such a person?’ he stated.

But during a rally at Matanga Trading Centre on Saturday last week, Mr Mpuuga said lobbying for his constituents and the entire Masaka City doesn’t make him a State agent.

‘Being in Opposition doesn’t mean we shouldn’t demand our share of the national cake, I am guilty if lobbying for better roads and good infrastructure at public schools in Masaka City is a crime,’ he said.

Mpuuga’s political background

Mr Mpuuga began his leadership journey under Buganda Kingdom where he served as a state minister for Youth Affairs.

In 2011, he contested for the parliamentary seat to represent Masaka Municipality as an Independent candidate and ousted Democratic Party stalwart and veteran politician John Kawanga.

For the last 15 years, Mr Mpuuga has been contesting on different tickets. During the 2016 general election he carried the DP flag which he abandoned for NUP in 2021.

Now, the task ahead for him is to emerge victorious with DF which he personally formed in December last year.

Nyendo-Mukungwe Constituency is one of the most closely watched parliamentary races in Greater Masaka and Uganda as a whole,with shifting alliances and national party strategies expected to shape the outcome of the January 15 polls.

The constituency has a total population of 181,869 people and more than 70,000 registered voters.

During the 2021 general election, Mr Mpuuga defeated other six contenders after garnering 26,810 votes.

When one goes through the gate of St Kizito Primary School, Kiteredde in Kyotera, after a winding road to the compound, what greets one is a fenced plot of what looks like a mini garden. With sacks that seemingly hold soil one cannot miss the sight of healthy cabbages growing on top of the sacks.

According to Rev Bro Patrick Mukhwana, the head teacher of the school, this urban farming was led by a one Rev Bro Opio, a teacher at the school, in a mission to green the area.

‘I appreciate Brother Opio, who had already introduced urban farming, starting with simple vegetables such as cabbage and sukuma wiki,’ he says.

Greening does not deal with plastics, so getting it out of the way is crucial. The children use dustbins (though most of them are now old) as effort to manage waste in the environment.

‘The restoration involved covering the bins properly so they could be used effectively and safely. After training these practices to the students, they are urged to take them back home so they can green both the school and community.

Pioneer beneficiary

St. Kizito is now among the first beneficiaries of the Green Schools Initiative, launched last week by the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) in partnership with Rotary International.

The programme targets schools and communities along the crude-oil pipeline route, aiming to promote environmental protection, sustainable energy, and healthy living. John Bosco Habumugisha, managing director at EACOP, says

‘We are doing a green schooling initiative to schools along the crude oil pipeline so that they understand the importance of greening. This includes building solar power, planting trees and work with the community.’

‘Our minimum target is to have at least one Green School in every district where EACOP passes. A model school where we can demonstrate these practices, train teachers, and allow other schools to come and learn,’ says.

This , represents commitment to protect Uganda and to build environmental responsibility into the petroleum infrastructure.

‘We are working with communities and future generations to preserve the environment. Our work is guided by the understanding that true sustainability goes beyond buildings and pipelines. It is about people, especially young children, who will inherit and shape the future of the country and the planet,’ he says.

Apollo Mugume, the Kyotera Resident District Commissioner, adds that instilling values in children is a great start because they are the custodians of the planet in future.

The trees they plant, the gardens they care for, the lessons they learn about conservation, these small acts will one day shape a greener, better, and healthier Uganda.

‘When you finish drinking a soda, do not throw the bottle anywhere. If you see your parents doing something harmful to the environment, remind them. Environment is life. Each one of you is an ambassador,’ he told the school children.

Resilient citizens

Agnes Gyaviira, LC5 chairperson of Kyotera District, says they are aiming at building climate-resilient citizens.

‘We want to raise young people who have a strong sense of responsibility for their country. It is worrying that, as Africans, we have abundant water resources, rainwater, running water, and underground water, yet we make the least use of it. Africa is rich. Uganda, especially, is called the Pearl of Africa because of its natural resources,’ she says.

While many homes still struggle to access and store clean water, she believes that when children are taught what to do, they can go back home and teach their families how to collect rainwater and make use of simple, available resources.

It starts, she says, with small practices like using basins, jerrycans, and other basic tools to harvest and store water. While talking about resources, Gyaviira quickly deviates to health, talking about cancer, something that is on the rise and affecting many families.

Prevention, she says, begins with lifestyle and environmental choices. Sometimes, it only takes a five-minute walk, choosing natural foods, or stepping away from harmful habits to make a real difference.

‘Unfortunately, the current generation is drifting away from natural and organic living. Many young people prefer junk food over traditional, healthy foods such as nakati(Solanum Aethiopicum), ensuga(African nightshade), bbugga(red amaranth), ejjobyo(spider plant), and other vegetables. These foods made our grandparents stronger and healthier. We need to revive that culture of valuing what is organic and natural because it directly affects our health, our environment, and our resilience,’ Gyaviira says.

A police officer, Emma Bagenda, attached to Ntawo Police Post, was on Sunday night killed by unknown assailants in Ntawo, Mukono District.

According to the area councilor, John Ssebuya, the OC was called by unknown people informing him to get rid of the robbers who were in the area that night.

The two unknown assailants raided the area at 11:00pm and found the OC and his colleague at the police post.

“The OC who was with another police officer was targeted and killed, and colleague was shot and left in critical condition,” Mr Ssebuya said.

According to Annet Mutesi, an eyewitness, “the OC was shot four times. He tried to take off after being shot once and they ran after him and shot again just like 150 metres from the police post.”

The motive behind the attack is not yet clear, and investigations are ongoing.

The State Minister for Privatization and Investment, Evelyn Anite, has called on Australian investors to tap into Uganda’s fast-growing economy, describing the country as the best investment destination in Africa.

Speaking during the celebration to mark 60 years of Australia-Uganda diplomatic relationship in Kampala on Sunday, Ms Anite said that Uganda is ready to welcome more Australian investors, noting that 60 years of friendship rooted in a solid foundation had now matured into a platform for commercial engagement.

“You can’t celebrate 60 years if the foundation is weak. Uganda and Australia built a very strong foundation and that is why we are still and will continue beyond 60 years,” Ms Anite said.

The celebrations, marked by reflection on historical ties, development cooperation, and a renewed focus on investment-led partnership, attracted government officials, diplomats, entrepreneurs, civil society organizations, and others.

Ms Anite praised the consistency of the partnership, stressing that Uganda is transitioning from traditional diplomacy to a more practical approach focused on business, trade, and investment.

“We have moved away from diplomacy of drinking champagne and dancing. It is now about commercial diplomacy,” she said.

Ms Anite highlighted Uganda’s economic growth rate of 7 percent, political stability, and young skilled workforce as factors positioning Uganda as Africa’s best investment destination.

“Our economy is growing at a rate of 7 percent. There is no economy in the whole of East Africa that is growing at this rate, and we are the most peaceful in the whole region,” Ms Anite said.

She pledged Uganda’s hospitality and government support to investors to ensure Australian companies thrive.

“We will support your businesses, buy your products, and provide peace and security for investment. Export your rich people here, we want them to come and join us in building our economy,” she said.

The Australia High Commissioner to Uganda, Ms Jenny Da Rin, described the Australia-Uganda relationship as one sustained by shared values, historical ties, and mutual aspirations for peace and prosperity.

Ms Jenny highlighted the milestones since Australia established diplomatic relations with Uganda in 1965.

“Although separated by the vast Ocean, the bonds were nonetheless strong-grounded in the relationship built between our people. Bonds forged through service to our countries,” Ms Jenny said.

She commended Uganda for strengthening development and trade cooperation, noting that Australian companies are increasingly investing in mining, tourism, agriculture, and engineering services.

The newly appointed Honorary Consul in Uganda, Mr David Mpanga, pledged to strengthen economic, cultural, and political cooperation between the two countries and build the legacy of the outgoing consul, Patrick Bitature.

“I take up this role at a time when bilateral relations have matured. My commitment is to deepen it further for the mutual benefit of our people,” Mr Mpanga said.

The acute demand for steel within the East African region and Africa at large is fast driving the necessity for set up and production of the product within the region.

Coupled with high duty charges and tariffs from other global source markets and occasional unpredictable supply shocks, the setting up of yet another Devki Mega Steel Manufacturing plant in Tororo, Uganda might just be the cure for high import bills of the crucial commodity.

According to World Steel Association analysis via Worldsteel Short Range Outlook, Africa’s steel demand has been growing with the report suggesting that Africa’s raw steel/semi-finished products market will grow at 2.2 per cent Compound Annual Growth Rate in volume until 2035. ‘Africa’s steel market reached 39 million tonnes in 2024 and is projected to reach a demand of 52 million tonnes by 2034 driven by bolstering infrastructure and advancing industrialization. Our countries are well positioned to play in the regional and global steel market,’ President William Ruto, who was present at the Sunday launch, explained.

Driving the market demand

Interestingly, East Africa is at the fore front of driving the demand in the market. For instance, Kenya’s drive for the construction of the affordable housing units has sharply driven demand for steel. Likewise, with the joint Pamoja bid for co-hosting the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) by Kenya Uganda and Tanzania, renovation of stadia and other key sporting facilities have equally contributed to the demand.

With an investment of two trillion Uganda Shillings an equivalent of about 550 million US dollars, Devki hopes its 20th industrial investment in East Africa will tap into Uganda’s 500 million iron ore deposits to bolster East Africa’s production of steel.

Once completed, the project will bring Devki Group’s total East African investment to 1.1 billion dollars. Once completed, the steel plant will join the company’s cement subsidiary Simba Cement also in Tororo.

‘This project will reduce the trade deficit of Uganda, by over a billion dollar by not importing the steel that is currently imported and also the exportation of over $4 billion per annum of unprocessed steel from Uganda to the neighbouring countries,’ Narendra Raval, the chairman of Devki Group of Companies, said at the ground breaking ceremony in Tororo on Sunday.

Largest steel producer

‘The steel which will be produced here will be done under blast furnace technology, the highest quality globally. There’s no other better technology to produce better steel in the world,’ he added.

The investment hopes to reverse Uganda’s Ush 2 trillion or $840 million annual steel import budget. The plant is set to be the largest in Africa after the South African steel manufacturer ArcelorMittal announced winding down its long steel operations in Newcastle and the Vaal Triangle due to economic factors, increased imports, and high costs. It was previously the largest steel producer in sub-Saharan Africa and produced 2.8 million tonnes of liquid steel in 2023.

When operations begin, the facility will employ 15000 locals in steel mining, transportation and manufacturing.

‘The United States, is a quarter of the land area Africa and their population is a fifth of what we have in Africa. Our wealth is $2.8 trillion, America’s wealth, is $30 trillion. That’s more than ten times bigger that Africa,’ host President Yoweri Museveni told the audience.

A consequential email has begun landing in the inboxes of Ugandan tax residents with money or assets abroad.

It is short, direct, and time-bound: Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) says it has picked up foreign income or assets linked to a taxpayer’s name and TIN, and the recipient must regularise their records within seven days, or face a formal investigation.

The notices open a new chapter in Uganda’s enforcement of the ‘worldwide income’ rule.

A Tax Alert on Global Income Declaration developed by Bruno Kalibbala, Bruno Amanya, Jasmine Shah, and Ankit Jangla from GrantThornton tax department, notes that the new direction is backed by the Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters Implementation Act, 2023, which allows URA to receive financial information on Ugandan tax residents who hold accounts or assets in more than 125 partner jurisdictions.

In practice, the alert notes, URA no longer depends on voluntary disclosures, whistleblowers, or chance discoveries. It is working from verified cross-border data shared through international exchange systems.

Weak enforcement

For years, the law has required residents to declare foreign-sourced income. But enforcement was uneven, and many taxpayers treated offshore assets as distant, private, or simply outside URA’s reach.

That assumption is now collapsing. URA, it is understood, has started sending official notifications to individuals and companies, making it clear that their overseas wealth is now known and that their local tax declarations must be corrected.

At the centre of the push is a formal Foreign Assets Declaration process, for which anyone notified is expected to compile a full picture of offshore holdings: bank accounts, property, business interests, securities, pensions, and even cryptocurrencies, along with documents proving ownership, value, and income earned.

Declarations are filed through a URA portal under ‘Foreign Asset Disclosure’ and ‘Tax Investigations’, with provisions for individuals and companies, trusts, and partnerships.

URA acting commissioner for Tax Investigations Agnes Nabwire confirmed that they had already received many responses, including from resident taxpayers who have chosen to volunteer their global asset data.

She said once a taxpayer is notified, they have seven days from the day they receive the notice to rectify their tax records.

If they fail to respond within that window, they lose the waiver on interest and penalties. Such taxpayers, she added, ‘will undergo investigations.’

Nabwire declined to give more details, referring this reporter to assistant commissioner for Public and Corporate Affairs Robert Kalumba, who appeared unaware of the ongoing process.

The gap in emailing, however, suggests how quietly and quickly the operation is unfolding.

It also raises the risk for taxpayers who might ignore or miss a notice because it doesn’t come with a public warning.

However, Nabwire indicated that URA was working on a public notice that would come out soon.

Not a new tax

What URA is demanding is not a new law but new enforcement. The Income Tax Act defines resident gross income as income from all geographical sources and sets out who qualifies as a resident taxpayer.

The difference now is capability: URA is acting with foreign-supplied evidence and a tailored disclosure tool built specifically for global assets.

For the people receiving emails, the choice is immediate and personal.

Seven days is barely enough time to pull statements from foreign banks, trace ownership of property, or confirm the value of business shares abroad, especially when assets are spread across borders or held through intermediaries.

Yet that is the grace period before URA shifts from invitation to investigation, with the possibility of interest charges, administrative penalties, and legal action.

Tax residents with offshore income have entered a different era. Compliance is no longer optional, and invisibility is no longer guaranteed.

The email is the warning bell; the seven days are the last soft landing. After that, URA says, the hard questions begin.

The Anti-Corruption Court has issued criminal summons for former Trade Ministry Permanent Secretary Geraldine Ssali, after she failed to appear for the mention of a Shs3.8 billion fraud case in which she is jointly charged with three Members of Parliament (MPs) and other officials.

During Monday’s session, acting Assistant Registrar Patrick Talisuna issued the summons after prosecution informed court that Ms Ssali was absent without any communication.

Senior State Attorney Raymond Mugisa told court that ‘the accused are present except for ‘accused six (A6)’. We seek criminal summons for A6, and we await communication from the Constitutional Court regarding the human rights application filed, which has an impact on this case.’

The case was scheduled for mention as the parties await a ruling from the Constitutional Court on an application filed by Busiki County MP Paul Akamba, who seeks dismissal of the charges, claiming his human rights were violated during arrest and prosecution.

Counsel holding brief for Ms Ssali’s lawyer told court that her surety, Kiwanuka, was present but offered no explanation for her absence.

Meanwhile, lawyer Sydney Odong, representing MP Akamba, asked court to set a new mention date after the general elections, ‘owing to what is going on.’

Registrar Talisuna adjourned the matter to February 5, 2026, extending bail for all accused persons except Ms Ssali.

‘Bail for the accused persons is extended. Criminal summons are issued for A6,’ he ruled.

Ms Ssali is jointly charged with MPs Michael Mawanda, Ignatius Mudimi Wamakuyu, and Paul Akamba, alongside lawyer Julius Taitankoko Kirya and principal cooperative officer Leonard Kavundira.

The group faces charges of abuse of office, conspiracy to defraud, money laundering, and causing financial loss in relation to compensation funds meant for Buyaka Growers Co-operative Society.

Prosecution alleges that during the 2021/2022 and 2022/2023 financial years, Ms Ssali irregularly added Buyaka Growers Co-operative Society to the list of groups eligible for war-loss compensation, despite the group not appearing in the approved supplementary budget.

It is further alleged that she authorized irregular payments totaling Shs3.8 billion to Kirya and Company Advocates, a law firm owned by co-accused lawyer Taitankoko, purportedly to compensate war-loss claimants.

The state contends the payments violated the 2017 Treasury Instructions and caused financial loss to government. The accused MPs are alleged to have conspired with Ms Ssali and other officials to divert the funds.

In October, trial judge Justice Jane Kajuga Akuo halted proceedings after ruling that the court must first determine MP Akamba’s human rights application against the Attorney General.

‘The law is clear. The trial judge is required to determine the application before proceeding,’ Justice Kajuga stated.

With the latest adjournment, the case returns to court on February 5, 2026, pending guidance from the Constitutional Court.

Persons with disabilities (PWDs) have appealed to the government to ensure that health facilities are easily accessible and their amenities are user-friendly to PWDs.

Speaking at the 38th advocacy commemoration in Hoima City on Friday last week, Ms Esther Kyozira, the chief executive officer of the National Union of Disabled Persons of Uganda (NUDIPU), said: ‘Access to health is a human right, and when we talk about equality and equity, we emphasise equal access to quality health services for everyone. The communication gap between health workers and patients with disabilities remains one of the most serious challenges in the healthcare system.’

She added: ‘We still struggle with the attitudes of some health workers who think persons with disabilities do not have equal rights when it comes to accessing health services…Some refuse to communicate with us simply because we do not speak. Others fail to get information from us because they assume we cannot hear or understand.’

Ms Kyozira further pointed to the growing number of PWDs in the country. ‘According to the most recent national census, 13.2 percent of Uganda’s population are persons with disabilities. This is a significant proportion that cannot be ignored,’ she noted.

Ms Hashimu Mukama, the chairperson of Bunyoro People Living with Disabilities, said there is a need to protect patient privacy, particularly for individuals who have a hearing impairment and require sign language interpreters.

‘Health workers should at least possess basic sign language skills as part of their training,’ she said.

The Hoima Resident City Commissioner, Mr Badru Mugabi, said the government and other stakeholders should ensure that an inclusive health system that leaves no person with disability behind.