Category: Daily Monitor

Parliament has received a citizenship verification report from the Ministry of Internal Affairs that has raised questions about the eligibility of some ministers and ministers of state under Uganda’s dual citizenship laws.

Documents dated May 29 show that the Directorate of Citizenship and Immigration Control conducted the verification following a request from Parliament’s Appointments Committee seeking confirmation of the citizenship status of ministerial nominees.

“Reference is made to your letter no. AP56/234/01 dated May 28, 2026, on verification of citizenship status of ministers and ministers of state,” the document states.

It adds that immigration officials conducted a search of their records and attached findings covering 32 Cabinet ministers and 51 ministers of state.

The report flagged four individuals over citizenship declarations and dual nationality issues.

Among them is Foreign Affairs Minister-designate Adonia Ayebare, who the report indicates holds Ugandan and United States citizenship, with the latter acquired on April 23, 2025.

State Minister for Finance (Microfinance) Shartsi Kutesa Musherure was also listed as holding Ugandan and American citizenship, acquired on March 14, 2025.

The report further noted that Calvin Echodu, nominated for State Minister for Foreign Affairs (International Affairs), had no formal record of dual citizenship on file, although immigration records indicated possession of both Ugandan and American travel documents.

State Minister for Internal Affairs-designate Lawrence Muganga was listed as holding Ugandan, Rwandan and Canadian citizenship, with Ugandan citizenship recorded as having been granted on November 12, 2024.

Uganda’s Constitution permits dual citizenship under Article 15. However, Article 15(7) empowers Parliament to restrict holders of dual nationality from occupying certain public offices.

The Uganda Citizenship and Immigration Control (Amendment) Act, 2009 lists several sensitive state positions that may not be held by dual citizens, including the offices of Prime Minister, Cabinet minister and minister of state.

Speaking to Daily Monitor, Clerk to Parliament Adolf Mwesige confirmed that Parliament received the immigration report and tabled it before the Appointments Committee.

“I received it from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and I presented it before the committee. The committee had directed us to write to the Ministry of Internal Affairs in order to verify the citizenship of the ministers,” Mwesige said.

He declined to comment on the committee’s deliberations or possible actions arising from the findings.

“I cannot disclose what the committee has done. I have no authority to do that. Though, the committee will look at the law and will follow it accordingly,” he said.

The report has renewed debate over whether citizenship verification procedures for senior government officials are sufficiently conducted before ministerial appointments are approved.

Efforts to obtain comment from the Ministry of Internal Affairs spokesperson, Simon Peter Mundeyi, were unsuccessful.

Under Section 19 of the Uganda Citizenship and Immigration Control (Amendment) Act, 2009, a Ugandan citizen seeking citizenship of another country while retaining Ugandan nationality must notify the Uganda Immigration Board in writing and provide details of the foreign citizenship application.

Failure to notify the board attracts a penalty of up to two years’ imprisonment, a fine of Shs3 million, or both upon conviction.

Verified citizenship status of ministers

Cabinet Ministers

NAME – NATIONALITY status / verification findings

Hon. Jessica Rose Epel Alupo (Maj. Rtd) – Ugandan

Hon. Robinah Nabbanja – Ugandan

Rt. Hon. Rebecca Kadaga – Ugandan

Hon. Dr. Crispus Walter Kiyonga – Ugandan

Hon. Lukia Nakadama – Ugandan

Hon. Janet Kataaha Museveni – Ugandan

Hon. Babirye Milly Babalanda – Ugandan

Hon. Jim Muhwezi – Ugandan

Eng. Asiimwe Jonard – Ugandan

Hon. Minsa Kabanda – Ugandan

Hon. Eng. Hillary Onek – Ugandan

Hon. Jane Ruth Aceng Ocero – Ugandan

Hon. Sam Engola – Ugandan

Hon. Lokii John Baptist – Ugandan

Hon. Frank Tumwebaze – Ugandan

Hon. Sam Mayanja – Ugandan

Hon. Kiryowa Kiwanuka – Ugandan

Hon. Dr. Musenero Monica Musanza – Ugandan

Hon. Henry Musasizi – Ugandan

Amb. Adonia Ayebare – Dual Citizen – Ugandan and American obtained on 23rd April, 2025

Hon. Lt. Gen. Tumukunde Henry Kakurugu – Ugandan

Hon. Dr. Chris Baryomunsi – Ugandan

Hon. Justine Kasule Lumumba – Ugandan

Hon. Prof. Kamuntu Ephraim – Ugandan

Hon. Nobert Mao – Ugandan

Hon. Judith Nabakooba – Ugandan

Hon. Balaam Barugahara – Ugandan

Gen. Katumba Wamala – Ugandan

Hon. Tom Butime – Ugandan

Hon. Sanjay Tanna – Ugandan

Maj. Gen. Kahinda Otafiire – Ugandan

Hon. Byamukama Fred – Ugandan

Ministers of State

NAME – NATIONALITY status / verification findings

Hon. Alum Sandra Santa – Ugandan

Hon. Akello Rose – Ugandan

Hon. Mutasingwa Diana Nankunda – Ugandan

Hon. Lillian Aber – Ugandan

Hon. Beatrice Akello – Ugandan

Hon. Anyakun Esther Davinia – Ugandan

Hon. Alice Kaboyo – Ugandan

Hon. Grace Mary Mugasa – Ugandan

Hon. Dr. Ongalo-Obote – Ugandan

Hon. Desire Muhooza – Ugandan

Hon. Rwamirama Bright – Ugandan

Hon. Migadde Robert Ndugwa – Ugandan

Hon. Kafuuzi Jackson – Ugandan

Hon. Akifeza Grace Ngabirano – Ugandan

Hon. Oleru Huda – Ugandan

Hon. Magode Ikuya – Ugandan

Hon. Dr. Muyingo John Chrysostom – Ugandan

Hon. Phyllis Chemutai – Ugandan

Hon. Peter Ogwang – Ugandan

Hon. Okasai Sidronius Opolot – Ugandan

Hon. Phiona Nyamutooro – Ugandan

Hon. Cissy Mulondo – Ugandan

Hon. Amos Lugoloobi – Ugandan

Ms. Amina Mukalazi – Ugandan

Hon. Shartsi Kutesa Musherure – Dual Citizen – Ugandan and American obtained on 14th March, 2025

Hon. Calvin Echodu – No official record of dual citizenship found but holds a American passport number 55498889 and Ugandan Passport.

Hon. Kyeyune Haruna Kasolo – Ugandan

Hon. Kuteesa Mary Kamuli – Ugandan

Hon. Lakisa Mercy Faith – Ugandan

Hon. Simon Mulongo – Ugandan

Hon. Acan Joyce Okeny – Ugandan

Hon. Jacqueline Mbabazi – Ugandan

Hon. Anifa Bangirana Kawooya – Ugandan

Hon. Dr. Ayume Charles – Ugandan

Hon. Joyce Ssebugwawo – Ugandan

Hon. Alioni Yorke Odria – Ugandan

Dr. Lawrence Muganga – Holds citizenship of Rwanda, Canada and Uganda. Uganda Citizenship granted 12th November 2024

Hon. Kabuye Kyofatogabye – Ugandan

Hon. Persis Namuganza – Ugandan

Hon. Margaret Muhanga Mugisa – Ugandan

Hon. Harriet Ntabazi – Ugandan

Hon. Justine Nameere – Ugandan

Hon. Wanyoto Lydia Mutende – Ugandan

Hon. Nakawuki Susan Nsambu – Ugandan

Hon. Tom Aza – Ugandan

Hon. Bahati David – Ugandan

Gen. Wilson Mbadi – Ugandan

Hon. Beatrice Anywar – Ugandan

Hon. Aisha Sekkindi – Ugandan

Mr. Siraji Musa Ali – Ugandan

Hon. Julius Maganda Wandera – Ugandan

A section of women in the districts of Kabale, Kisoro and Rubanda have embarked on the establishment of Kitchen garden technologies as a way of cutting expenses on vegetables, which they have been buying from markets daily.

Kitchen gardens are small-scale gardens designed for growing vegetables, herbs, and fruits close to the home.

They provide fresh produce for daily cooking and enhance culinary experiences.

About 100 members from the Nyamiyaga-Kaforero community have ventured into the practice, their leader, Ms Innocent Kyarisiima, said on Friday.

This is an initiative of Common Ground Project, which helped to skill them with the technology.

Ms Kyarisiima said they have been supported in producing vegetables for home use and income generation since the surplus vegetables are sold in the nearby markets.

‘I used to spend about Shs50,000 monthly to buy vegetables such as onions, tomatoes, ggg plants, green pepper, spinach, odo and cabbages for home use.”

However, after establishing the kitchen garden where all these items are produced, she now saves the money for buying other manufactured household items such as salt, sugar, replacing broken plates and cups without bothering her husband as it was before.

She adds: ”I am very sure that if all the women in this country embrace Kitchen garden technology, cases of domestic violence and malnutrition would reduce.”

Another community woman leader, Ms Loyda Tushabe, who is a resident of Kiruruma village in Ikamiro Parish, Muko Sub-County in Rubanda District, re-echoed the beauty of kitchen garden technologies but mentioned the scarcity of water for irrigating the vegetable gardens during the dry season as a major challenge they face in sustaining crop production.

‘During the rainy seasons, we get a lot from Kitchen gardens, unlike in the dry season where we struggle to maintain them because of the scarcity of water for irrigation.”

She believes that if the government and its development partners can give mini-irrigation schemes or water harvesting tanks, they can produce vegetables throughout the year regardless of the season,’ Ms Tushabe said.

Mr Gilvazio Byaruhanga said the initiative has reduced friction within households as the pressure of providing for food was imminent.

‘After my wife established a kitchen garden at our home one year ago, I immediately started saving the money I used to spend on buying vegetables from markets.”

He now intends to use money he is saving to buy an extra piece of land to boost vegetable growing and also get a loan from their village savings and credit organisation to buy trees and also venture into goat farming as an alternative source of income.

Mr Rogers Mfitumukiza, an agricultural expert at Common Ground Project in Kigezi Region, said that the Kitchen Garden concept was rolled out after a baseline survey conducted in 2023 showed that several households were affected by poor nutrition and limited incomes because of poor farming practices.

‘A total of 40,000 households in the Kigezi Region have been trained on the establishment of the Kitchen garden concept, and these households have been clustered in 36 communities for easy mobilisation and training.”

Noting that: ”We have identified role model farmers that we further trained as Integrated Farm Trainers (IFTs) to assist in training other local farmers to take up the modern farming technologies that boost food security and income generation at the household level.”

For the sustainability of the Kitchen garden concept, Mr Mfitumukiza said that while the organisation provided some water harvesting tanks and constructed protected water springs to address the challenge of water scarcity among the people in the project area.

They have also linked the farmers to agro-input dealers and seed-selling companies to help them with skills on disease control, quality seed selection and general crop management practices.

On Monday, Tenge Tenge was proof nobody needed law school. By Friday, he needed somebody from law school. 2026 has honestly been a confusing year for career guidance in Uganda. One minute we are telling children to become doctors, lawyers, engineers, and serious people.

The next minute someone on the internet is confidently declaring that the new blueprint for success is none other than Tenge Tenge. It all started when Ben Mwine looked at Uganda’s education system, corporate ladder, and general life structure and decided we had all been thinking too small.

According to him, ‘Tenge Tenge is now earning CEO money and you are still insisting on LDC?’ He added a reminder that ‘the cheese has been moving for a while,’ which is the kind of statement that sounds wise until you sit down and try to explain it to your landlord.

To be fair, the point about the digital economy stood.

Today, a teenager with a smartphone, WiFi, and charisma can build an audience bigger than some traditional media empires. For a moment, Ugandans reconsidered everything, with some even jokingly debating whether to replace school fees with ring lights. But just as quickly, reality fact-checked the excitement.

The Tenge Tenge narrative flipped: from being held up as the future CEO of the internet age to suddenly needing legal help over management disputes. In true Ugandan fashion, the same voice that once questioned law school was now calling for lawyers. Within days, the country had done a full emotional U-turn completing a complete career guidance loop without ever leaving the couch.

For those just joining the story, Tenge Tenge is one of Uganda’s most recognizable young content creators. Barely a teenager, he built a massive online audience through skits, challenges, and pure internet charm. His content travelled far beyond Uganda, earning him brand deals, collaborations, international trips, and millions of views.

Soon, things exploded publicly between his father, his manager, and surrounding stakeholders. At the center of all this chaos was one uncomfortable question: if this boy was ‘earning CEO money,’ why did the story still feel like a family trying to figure out school fees? Bruno K stepped in like Uganda’s unofficial crisis manager, me as me I think Bruno K should get a new name because this particular name was his music stage name, and like we all know, lately mans does more yapping than music.

Blending the roles of lawyer, therapist, journalist, and concerned uncle who refuses to let drama end without resolution. Using highly emotional TikTok Lives, he brought together Tenge Tenge, his father, and the manager in front of thousands of viewers who treated the situation like live entertainment and national therapy at once.

The sessions quickly turned chaotic arguments, tears, and real-time donations flowed as viewers contributed for school fees and even gifted a phone to keep content creation going. In true Ugandan fashion, a mediation meeting became part fundraiser, part reality show, and part public courtroom.

For a brief moment, it felt like everything might collapse completely into internet chaos. But then, just as quickly, reconciliation happened. Agreements were made as apologies were exchanged. The family and management team agreed to work together again while seeking proper legal clarity around earnings, ownership, and structure. Thank you Bruno K , you should have been the man behind the Kony talks!

The government has unveiled an ambitious legislative agenda for the 2026/27 financial year, proposing 38 Bills, policy frameworks, reports and statutory instruments for consideration by Parliament, six more than were presented during the previous financial year.

President Museveni announced the legislative programme while delivering the State of the Nation Address at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds yesterday, saying the proposed measures are intended to strengthen governance, improve service delivery and provide the legal framework necessary for the country’s continued development.

‘I now present to Parliament the legislative agenda for the next financial year. There are many, and the ministers responsible will table these Bills to Parliament,’ Mr Museveni said. The legislative package combines new Bills and measures carried forward from the outgoing financial year, covering sectors ranging from education and agriculture to health, transport, finance and internal security.

Among the key Bills expected to come before Parliament are the Building Substances Bill, 2025, the Small Arms and Light Weapons Control Bill, 2023, amendments to the Universities and Other Tertiary Institutions Act, and the Education (Pre-Primary, Primary and Post-Primary) Act, 2008. The government also plans to table the Curriculum, Assessment and Admissions Bill as part of broader reforms in the education sector.

In agriculture, ministers will present the Food and Agriculture Regulatory Authority Bill, 2026, and the Animal Diseases (Amendment) Bill, 2026, aimed at strengthening regulation and disease control within the sector. The legislative programme further includes amendments to the Local Government Act and the Uganda Tourism Act as government seeks to improve service delivery and support economic growth. The health sector is expected to undergo significant legal reforms through proposed amendments to the Pharmacy and Drugs Act, the Nurses and Midwives Act, and the Allied Health Professionals Act. Other notable proposals include the National Legal Examinations Centre Bill, 2026, the Information and Communication Bill, 2023, the Workers’ Compensation (Amendment) Bill, 2024, and the Uganda Railways Bill, 2026.

Government also intends to table the Real Estate Bill, 2025, which seeks to regulate the fast-growing property sector. A substantial portion of the legislative agenda is dedicated to public finance management and accountability. Among the documents and bills to be presented are the Annual Macroeconomic and Fiscal Performance Report for the 2025/26 financial year, the Annual Budget Performance Report, the Annual Report on the Petroleum Fund, and the National Budget Framework Paper covering the period 2027/28 to 2031/32.

Other key documents include the Semi-Annual Budget Performance Report for FY2026/27, the Half-Year Macroeconomic and Fiscal Performance Report, ministerial policy statements for the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development and related statutory votes, as well as the Draft Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure for FY2027/28. Government will also table a report on multi-year commitments, a Treasury Memorandum detailing implementation of parliamentary recommendations arising from the Auditor General’s report, a statement on tax expenditures, a government asset divestment plan, and a report on public debt, loans, grants and guarantees.

Despite the expansive legislative programme, questions remain about Parliament’s ability to process such a large volume of business within a single financial year. The concern stems from the performance of the outgoing legislative calendar, in which government tabled 32 bills, reports and policy proposals, but fewer than half of the proposed laws were ultimately enacted.

The new legislative programme comes at a time when Parliament faces growing demands to balance scrutiny of major policy reforms with routine budget approvals and oversight responsibilities.

The economy is projected to grow by 6.4 percent in the 2025/26 financial year, up slightly from 6.3 percent in the 2024/25 financial year, according to preliminary estimates from Uganda Bureau of Statistics (Ubos). While this growth remains below government’s target of between 6.5 percent and 7 percent, it reflects the economy’s resilience amid global economic uncertainty, geopolitical tensions, and disruptions in international trade. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is expected to rise from Shs227.9 trillion to Shs250.4 trillion, highlighting continued expansion across key sectors.

Backbone of the economy

The services sector remains Uganda’s largest economic pillar, contributing 42.1 percent of GDP in the 2025/26 financial year. The sector also recorded growth of 5.5 percent, slightly higher than the 5.4 percent registered the previous year, supported by trade and repair services, which grew by 6.9 percent. Financial and insurance activities expanded by 8.3 percent, while accommodation and food services increased by 7.7 percent. Information and communication services grew by 6.6 percent, while transport and storage activities expanded by 5.0 percent. The strong performance of financial services, tourism-related activities, and digital communications demonstrates the increasing importance of modern service industries in Uganda’s economy.

Agriculture

The agriculture, forestry, and fishing sector contributed 26.2 percent of GDP, up slightly from 26.1 percent in the previous financial year. The sector grew by 6.5 percent, making it one of the strongest performers. Growth was driven mainly by food crop production, which expanded by 4.9 percent, and cash crops, which registered a robust growth rate of 12.1 percent. Agriculture continues to play a critical role in supporting rural livelihoods, food security, exports, and household incomes. The strong growth in cash crops reflects improving performance in export-oriented agriculture.

Industry

The industry sector accounted for 24.1 percent of GDP, slightly down from 24.3 percent the previous year. However, the sector still achieved a solid 6.4 percent growth rate. The sector’s performance was driven by construction, which grew by 8.2 percent, manufacturing, which expanded by 5.5 percent, and electricity generation and supply, which recorded an impressive 14.4 percent growth. The strong performance in construction reflects continued investment in infrastructure, while growth in electricity supply signals increasing industrial capacity and economic modernization.

Government expects growth to accelerate towards 8 percent and beyond in the medium term, supported by oil and gas investments, increased exports, foreign direct investment (FDI), higher remittances, the Parish Development Model (PDM), and Emyooga. The long-term ambition is to achieve double-digit growth, reduce poverty, create nearly 885,000 jobs annually, and double the size of the economy by the 2029/30 financial year.

The latest figures show that while services remain the dominant contributor to gross domestic product, Uganda’s growth is becoming increasingly broad-based, with agriculture and industry also posting strong gains and providing a foundation for sustained economic transformation.

The pitch at Makerere University is called the Graveyard. It is an apt name for a club that spent the better part of two years flirting with extinction and then refusing to stay dead.

Makerere Impis were relegated from the Uganda Rugby Premiership in 2024, dropping to the Central Regional Championship and facing what looked like a long road back.

They had tumbled out alongside Lifeguard Rams, a fellow Makerere-based club, which created a punishing problem. Because both relegated teams came from the same Central Rugby Championship, only one could return immediately. To get back, Impis would first have to beat their neighbours.

The story of how they did it, and what has followed since is for another day.

Building from the schools

The seeds of the crisis were visible before the axe fell. Impis were caught mid-cycle, shifting from one generation of experienced players to another of rookies who were mostly playing their first senior rugby. And within two years from 2022, they had been relegated from the Premiership and lost core status in the National Sevens Series.

Then came Alvin Nkamba, a coach leading a Premiership side for the very first time. He arrived after a decorated run at St Mary’s College Kisubi where he had won an East Africa Games gold medal, two consecutive Central Schools finals and the 2025 Central Schools Sevens title.

He brought with him Syrus Sebuliba as a deputy. Sebuliba had coached Impis himself in 2023, and joined a part of a backroom staff that included strength and conditioning coach Brian Wambedde and reserves coach Emmanuel Sama, a former referee and Victoria Sharks technical team alumnus.

Nkamba’s approach was structural.

“One of the things we looked at has been extending our culture into the age-grade community most especially the rugby-playing schools,” he explained.

“Having that message go out to these young boys has enabled us to get a very strong base from which we pick the best of the best.”

The players he recruited already knew each other, bonded across six years of schools rugby. “Trying to get them together wasn’t actually hard,” he adds, “These are friends and brothers. Our job was to get them within the Impis system and get the best out of them.”

Impis went through the Central Championship unbeaten, edging Rams 14-13 at the Graveyard. Then they won all three Promotional Playoff games, including a 24-13 defeat of Gulu City Falcons that ultimately bounced the back into the topflight division and confirmed that the Graveyard would host top-flight rugby once more.

Season two

Before the 2026 campaign began, Nkamba sat with players and staff to evaluated the fixture list and set their targets and assigned roles.

The executive committee led by chairman Sylvester Egumire Nnyombi built a gym, approximately 60 percent complete, at the Graveyard. An attack coach was added to the staff.

“Everyone being able to comfortably sit into their shoes and do their part has enabled us to achieve most of our goals,” Nkamba said.

They opened with a 44-16 demolition of Warriors, the biggest win of their season. In week two, they edged former champions Heathens 16-10, with Darren Aine slotting two penalties and racing clear from his own half to seal the result. After two rounds, the promoted side sat top of the Premiership.

Over thirteen games, they have won seven, scoring 26 tries and conceding 31, recording the seventh-best attacking and sixth-best defensive numbers in the league.

Daring Aine

Their skipper Darren Aine has been the season’s defining individual. According to data shared by Isa Metrics, the fullback and backline captain has amassed 131 points, the most ever recorded by a player in their debut Premiership campaign, surpassing Malcolm Okello’s 130 for Heathens in 2024.

He is Impis’ second-top try scorer with four, has converted 42 of 65 attempts at goal, and has been named Man of the Match in wins over both Heathens and Rhinos.

“He is literally at the beginning of a very impressive career,” Nkamba said of his point man.

“Not only because of his talent and athleticism but because he is a very good leader. He knows how to get those around him comfortable and playing even when things are not happening.”

Leading the try count with five is captain Clarence Muhumuza, a hooker and one of the youngest skippers in the competition. Veteran Pius Mpoza provides the experience and loose forward guidance the younger crop needs. And flyhalf Edgar Akimanzi delivered arguably the knockout’s most dramatic moment, a 40-metre drop goal that closed the aggregate gap on Kobs to a single point before Impis swept away to win the game by 20.

Comeback kings

Defeats to Plascon Mongers and then a 31-9 hammering by Black Pirates mid-season checked their ambitions but they qualified for the knockouts and drew Kobs in the quarterfinals.

The first leg ended 23-12 to Kobs, and most felt their season had been buried at their graveyard but what followed has already entered Ugandan rugby folklore. Mpoza marked his 100th appearance for the club with two tries and a man-of-the-match show as Impis overturned the deficit to stun Kobs 30-10 at Kampala Rugby Club to advance 35-33 on aggregate.

Now they face Toyota Buffaloes in the semifinal. Two teams nobody anticipated would still be standing at this stage.

Nkamba is measured when asked what comes next. “We are only getting started,” Nkamba said.

The Graveyard, as it turns out, is where Impis’ resurrections happen.

In the other semifinal, Pirates will cross to Kyadondo to face Heathens in another classic. The Graveyard, it turns out, is where resurrections happen.

Some residents in Masaka District are of the view that the absence of academic requirements presents challenges, especially when councillors are expected to debate complex issues, interpret council procedures and scrutinise government programmes.

After a spat online following the failure by many councillors to take oath in English, there has been a call and a series of social media trolls by sections of the public to have qualifications attached to all lower elective positions. In Lale Sub-county, Soroti District, some elected councillors, who could not take oath in English, excused themselves and took the oath, in the local Kumam language. The same was seen in Arapai Sub-county, where a section of the parish councillors turned to Ateso to take their oath.

Mr Samson Okwerede, a teacher in Kidongole Sub-county, Bukedea District, said as much as the elites are making jokes of the calibre of the councillors taking elective positions as representatives at parish and sub-county level, the elites themselves are part of the problem. ‘When the Electoral Commission makes calls for the people to express interest in lower elective positions, even at the MP level, the elites who assume to be educated don’t show up. Rather, it is the uneducated who express confidence,’ he explained.

Mr Okwerede said every parish has over 100 graduates who are unemployed, adding that if such people take interest into elective positions at the lower level, there would be vibrant lower council debates, and checks and balances would be top notch. ‘It costs nothing for a graduate in either education or social work to compete as a parish council as they hunt for a job. If a job comes your way, you resign. Why should you continue having people elected as councillors but can’t scrutinise government documents?’ he wondered.

In the central region, some residents in Masaka District are of the view that the absence of academic requirements presents challenges, especially when councillors are expected to debate complex issues, interpret council procedures and scrutinise government programmes. Mr Francis Ssendyowa, a resident of Mpigi District and former councillor who represented Muduuma Sub-county, said there is a need to review the existing laws and introduce minimum academic standards for councillors.

“I think councillors should possess at least a Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE). Council sessions are conducted in English, and councillors are expected to understand documents, budgets and rules of procedure. A minimum qualification would help them discharge their duties more effectively,” Mr Ssendyowa said.

His remarks come amid discussions in some local government circles about whether councillors should be allowed to debate in local languages to accommodate members who are not proficient in English. Mr Ssendyowa however questions the practicability of local languages in council operations. “If debates are conducted in local languages, do councils have the capacity to interpret proceedings accurately for all members? The focus should not be on mocking councillors with limited education but on ensuring they can effectively represent the people and understand the matters before them,” he said.

Mr Richard Kiberu, a resident of Maggya Cell, Bongole Ward in Buwama Town Council, said educational qualifications can improve the quality of deliberations but should not ‘automatically disqualify leaders who enjoy public confidence,’ “Leadership is not determined by certificates alone. Some councillors may have limited formal education but understand the challenges affecting their communities and represent residents well,” he said. Ms Sarah Naava, a resident of Mpigi Town Council, said the issue should be approached carefully to avoid excluding capable leaders from rural areas.

“The electorate should continue to have the final say. However, councillors should be provided with regular training on council procedures, budgeting and legislation so they perform their responsibilities effectively,” she said. Mr Hamid Nawandagala, a resident of Nabyewanga Village in Nkozi Sub-county, added that council business has become increasingly technical and requires leaders who can understand official documents and government policies. “Councillors are expected to debate budgets, development plans and accountability reports. While academic qualifications may help, continuous capacity-building is equally important,” he said.

Get educated leaders

Mr Ramathan Ssegawa, a councillor for Namulanda Upper, in Kajjansi Town Council, Wakiso District said there should be a minimum qualification in place for people contesting for the councillor positions, to ensure that they can interpret rules of procedures. ‘I don’t support having illiterate leaders in council. This is a modern era where the people we are representing are learned. A person who can’t even read their swearing-in oath, doesn’t deserve to sit in council’ he said. He added, ‘Even in council, all the documents and debates are in English, we don’t have interpreters in council. How will they contribute to a discussion they haven’t understood?’

Mr Ssegawa argued that having councillors with minimal education standards makes their oversight role difficult on people in higher public offices like town clerks, who he said are at times master’s degree holders. Mr John Mugabi, the director of Action for Liberty and Economic Development (ALED) and political analyst in Entebbe Municipality, called for a change in policy shift, to allow councillors use a language they prefer and is easily understood by them. ‘If I was to propose, the first council would start with voting the preferred language to be used by the councillors. Countries such as Morocco use their local language which is Arabic, but put translators so that people are not only easily understood, but also serve diligently without losing their self-esteem’ he said.

Mr Mugabi said this would enable the councillors to put other public servants to accountability in the local government. ‘Campaigns are done in the local language, but then comes an unfortunate scenario when after winning using the local dialect, they go to council where everything is being done in the official language’ he said. He added, ‘If they [government] say it’s going to be English, let them set a standard, where one must have a certain qualification. It’s a disservice to the councillors who interact with people and understand their needs to be challenged by a language which inconveniences their deliberations on behalf of their constituents’.

However, Mr Benson Ekwee, the executive director of Public Affairs Centre Uganda (PAC) is of a different view, adding that the measure of leadership isn’t an equation that should be tied on qualifications. ‘We previously had a councillor from Asuret Sub-county, Soroti District who was not much learnt, but was a step ahead in articulating matters than the educated,’ he said. Mr Ekwee said the problem at hand is not having the less educated in the councils but the corrupt and deceptive system we are operating in. ‘For instance, we have a parliament with professors but what is happening there is disheartening,’

Vouching for local languages

In Arua District, Mr Bosco Odama, former Logiri Sub-county councillor and former LC3 chairman said most of the council sessions were conducted in Lugbara because not all the councillors understand English. “The technical officers have to break down complicated terms in the simplest language for them to understand,’ he said. Mr Odama added that even in council sessions where debates are conducted in Lugbarati, the secretary takes minutes in English. But Ms Loyce Bileru, a resident of Arua City, said: ‘There was a need for the level of academic qualifications needed for the councillors because they are the ones who implement most government programmes. So, it would be good if one can understand what is in the documents.’

She however added that deliberating in local language would not be a problem because some are more eloquent and articulate with confidence in local language. According to the Local Council Act, there are no formal academic qualifications required for division and district councillors. The only requirement is that one must be a citizen of Uganda with a valid National ID. Mr Eugene Mwale, councillor representing the people of Nkonko Ward in Wakisi Division, Njeru Municipality, Buikwe District, explained that swearing-in ceremonies are conducted in English before a magistrate, as guided by the clerk to the council. However, during council sessions, proceedings are often conducted in local languages.

Mwale emphasised that councillors are the ‘eyes of the local people’ in villages, many of whom did not attend school, and the law allows them to express their views in their native language. ‘It is the responsibility of the clerk to the council to interpret and record the proceedings into official working documents. It is not mandatory for us to present our views in English as local councils,’ Mwale said. Mr Michael Mbulalina, councillor representing Malindi Ward in Wakisi Division, echoed this view. He noted that the law permits the use of local languages, especially since many councillors struggle to express themselves in English.

In most cases, clerks interpret the constitution and rules of procedure into the local language during sessions, ensuring inclusivity and understanding prevails.

Retired Supreme Court Judge Eldad Mwangusya has publicly criticized the Masaka Chief Magistrate who presided over the controversial vote recount that overturned the election of Masaka City Woman MP and declared Junior Local Government Minister-designate Justine Nameere the winner.

Justice Mwangusya faulted Chief Magistrate Abert Asiimwe for authorising a vote recount in Nameere’s application despite having previously declined to order recounts in other election disputes that were based on similar grounds.

‘In the other Masaka case, the magistrate said no, no, no…the jurisprudence has to change, and we should recount,’ Justice Mwangusya said.

‘But why do you refuse to recount in one and you recount in another? That is where the problem was,’ he added.

The retired judge made the remarks on Friday during the closing session of a two-day training for justices of the Court of Appeal organised by the Judicial Training Institute (JTI) in Kampala.

The training focused on the effective handling of election appeals expected to arise from petitions currently before the High Court.

During a plenary discussion, Justice Christopher Gashirabake, who moderated the session, sought Justice Mwangusya’s guidance on how judicial officers should handle situations where ballot box seals are found broken.

‘My lord, shouldn’t it be useful for us to know when to conduct a recount and when not to?’ Justice Gashirabake asked.

In response, Justice Mwangusya said judicial officers should proceed to inspect the contents of ballot boxes regardless of whether the seals are intact.

‘Let’s look into the ballot boxes, with or without broken seals. If there are broken seals, I will go inside and find out why they were broken. As I had earlier explained, there was a scenario where we found tampered contents in a sealed ballot box,’ he said.

The Masaka City Woman MP vote recount remains one of the most disputed electoral exercises arising from the January 2026 General Election.

Following a tense three-day recount exercise, Chief Magistrate Asiimwe declared National Resistance Movement (NRM) candidate Justine Nameere the winner of the parliamentary seat, overturning the Electoral Commission’s earlier declaration of National Unity Platform (NUP) candidate Rose Nalubowa as the duly elected representative.

The recount attracted criticism from legal observers and election stakeholders who argued that it appeared to disregard statutory provisions and judicial precedents established by the High Court more than two decades ago.

The guidance has generally been interpreted to mean that ballot boxes with broken seals should not be subjected to recounts because the integrity of their contents may have been compromised.

Critics also pointed to the fact that the same magistrate had, in at least two earlier applications involving similar circumstances, declined to conduct recounts after finding that ballot box seals had been broken.

Nalubowa has since petitioned the High Court challenging the outcome of the recount. The matter is yet to be heard and determined.

Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Justice-designate Moses Kawumi Kazibwe underscored the importance of timely and credible adjudication of election disputes, describing elections as central to democratic governance and public trust in institutions.

‘Over the past two days, we have reflected on one of the Judiciary’s most important constitutional responsibilities: the adjudication of electoral disputes. Elections lie at the heart of democratic governance, and election petitions directly affect public confidence in democratic institutions and the rule of law,’ Justice Kawumi said.

Judiciary records indicate that 118 election petitions arising from the January 2026 General Election have so far been filed before the High Court.

According to Justice Prof. Andrew Khaukha, the Executive Director of the Judicial Training Institute, 107 of the petitions challenge parliamentary election results, while 11 relate to local government elections.

The Judiciary is yet to assign judges to hear the petitions, setting the stage for what is expected to be an intensive period of election-related litigation across the country.

Businesses in the hospitality industry, and tour operators in particular, have taken serious issue with the communication related to Ebola put out by Uganda’s Ministry of Health (MoH).

Some have complained that the communications are sensationalist, others that they are inaccurate or simply exaggerated. Still others have suggested that the MoH should simply remain silent on the matter.

The messages coming out of the MoH, they have stated, are simply destroying the tourism industry and have adverse effects on their tour or hotel businesses. In response the MoH, has stated that they are duty-bound to be transparent, and that silence will have even more detrimental effects.

That they must not jeopardise the trust that international actors have in MoH. MoH officials have also stated that it is their primary mandate to save lives over and above anything else.

Our argument is that the issue here is less about sensationalism or exaggerated communication or silence, and more about accurate and appropriately contextualised messaging, and it is to the President Museveni’s messaging regarding Ebola to which we turn for some guidance. The President has argued that relative to Covid or other airborne epidemics, Ebola is easier to control.

Let us expand on the President’s position in order to create some convergence between the positions of the actors in the hospitality industry and the position of the Ministry of Health Ebola is transmitted only when the fluids of an infected person gain access into the body of a health person. The key phrases here are ‘infected person’ and ‘gains entry’. Let’s reflect on these two phrases more carefully.

An infected person will only transmit Ebola if they are symptomatic. What does this mean? Not all persons infected with Ebola are contagious—only those that are have symptoms will transmit the Ebola virus. One of the first symptoms of Ebola is elevated temperature, and this is why temperature screening at places such as airports, is the first line of defence. This is why efforts must be made to detect Ebola symptoms as early as possible.

Second, what does ‘gain entry’ mean? The President has explained that Ebola can gain entry into the body of an infected person through very limited channels: the eyes, mouth, broken skin membrane, sexual intercourse.

Transmission via these channels is extremely easy to prevent through proper handwashing, use of sanitiser solutions, avoiding touching eyes and mouth, and sexual intercourse. All these are relatively easy behaviour modification strategies, and relatively easily SOPs to implement in hotels, restaurants, vehicles etc. The President has aptly pointed this out.

The third issue is related to Ebola’s transmission hotspots. By far the majority of transmission cases have occurred in medical facilities. Why? When a person begins to feel sick with symptoms-temperature, vomiting, diarrhoea, their first destination is the medical facility. However, medical workers often lack the essential personal protective equipment (PPEs), and will typically touch patients without wearing gloves, etc. This is why medical facilities are major transmission hotspots. In addition to early detection, the MoH should ensure that PPEs are available in sufficient supply in medical facilities and that all medical workers use them all the time, including when there is no Ebola outbreak.

The first, second and third issues outlined above suggest that the probability of being infected with Ebola by persons, including tourists, who practice the SOPs, and whose hosts in turn adhere to SOPs is close to zero.

This must be part of the core messaging related to Ebola. This is why, unlike Covid, Ebola is not widespread and the rest of us, including tourists that are here are going about our business relatively normally.

Finally, we need a strategic and regional, rather than a reactionary approach, to managing Ebola outbreaks, of which we have had since 1975. What would a regional Ebola prevention strategy look like?

First, communities in the DRC and Uganda should be sensitised about Ebola, how it spreads, and prevention measures. Second, our governments should adopt a proactive, as opposed to a reactive approach to Ebola.

The border regions of Uganda, DRC, South Sudan, Rwanda should be equipped with more health facilities generally, and a robust system of early detection of all major tropical disease outbreaks (Marburg, Mpox, Ebola, etc.) through prompt testing of all persons having symptoms, and strict isolation and quarantine of all persons who test positive.

Accurately and well contextualised messaging around Ebola, and other disease outbreaks, prompt testing and disease management of cases, should mitigate against the stigma associated with Ebola, prevent the panic such as we have seen with Ebola 2026, and alleviate the detrimental impact of incomplete or inaccurate messaging.

One person has been killed and four others injured in Omoro District following four separate armed robbery incidents over the past month, in a wave of violence that has left security agencies struggling to make arrests or recover firearms.

Police say no suspect has been arrested and none of the weapons used in the attacks, including a police rifle stolen from an officer, has been recovered.

On May 11, unknown assailants took advantage of a heavy downpour and raided Lalogi Police Station at about 8:30 pm, attacking a 50-year-old officer, Beatrice Awor, attached to Lalogi Sub-county Police Station.

The attackers reportedly stormed her house, strangled and assaulted her before fleeing with her rifle.

According to police, Awor was seated inside her unit on a mat when the assailants entered and overpowered her.

‘The assailants managed to escape with gun No. UG POL 48014235-15938 containing 30 rounds of ammunition. A case of aggravated robbery was registered at Lalogi Police Station vide SD Ref: 14/11/05/2026 and now Omoro CRB 320/2026. Suspects remain unknown and our hunt is on to recover the gun,’ a police statement said.

Security sources say that on May 27, a businessman was robbed at gunpoint in Lalogi Town Council, less than 200 metres from the police station, and more than Shs 10 million was stolen.

Four days later, a food vendor survived a separate attack when armed men, reportedly three in number, sprayed bullets at her and a boda boda rider who had carried her from Rom Cell, Abuga Parish, Abuga Sub-county.

The vendor, identified as Gloria Ajok, who operates at Lacor Centre in For-God Parish, Gulu City, was robbed of her handbag. The boda boda rider survived with serious injuries after a bullet pierced through his stomach at about 10:00 pm, according to sources.

Before investigations into the June 1 shooting could conclude, residents of Koch-Ongako Trading Centre in Koch-Ongako Sub-county, Omoro District, were again shocked on June 3 when three armed men raided a mobile money shop and killed an agent before fleeing with an unspecified amount of cash.

The incident occurred a few minutes after 8:00 pm. Eyewitnesses said the attackers arrived on a motorcycle, parked in front of the shop, and pretended to be customers making a deposit before opening fire.

‘One of them remained on the motorcycle and two entered the shop, inside which two other clients were transacting,’ said Alfred Ojok, a boda boda rider at Koch-Ongako Trading Centre.

Ojok said the attackers shot the agent five times in the chest after he refused to hand over money.

‘The robber with the gun stood by the door and shot the agent multiple times. His accomplice went behind the counter and grabbed the money. The shots also injured the two other clients,’ he added.

The mobile money shop is located about 400 metres from Koch-Ongako Police Station.

Omoro District Police Commander Amiir Magulu declined to comment on the incident, citing ongoing investigations.

Another eyewitness, Christopher Okello, said the attackers were dressed in black jackets and caps and fled towards Koch Goma in Nwoya District.

He said the victim, Raymond Onen, was rushed to St Mary’s Hospital Lacor on a boda boda but was pronounced dead on arrival.

Police spokesperson for Aswa West, David Ongom Mudong, said the attackers used a Hero Hunter motorcycle and were armed with an AK-47 rifle.

‘The assailants were dressed in black jackets with caps. They used a motorcycle and an SMG AK-47 rifle and exited the scene unidentified through the back,’ he said.

Omoro Resident District Commissioner Emmanuel Okot said no suspect has been arrested and neither the stolen police gun nor the weapons used in the attacks have been recovered.

‘This is not the first time. Remember the May 11 incident when they grabbed a gun from Lalogi Police Station, and on the night of Eid, a businessman was robbed in Lalogi, and then the woman shot at in Abuga,’ Okot said.

Security agencies say joint operations by police and the UPDF are ongoing.

UPDF 4th Division commander Maj. Gen. Felix Busizoori earlier said the army was working with other security agencies to contain rising gun violence in the region, which has been linked to armed cartels operating across Lango, West Nile and Acholi sub-regions.

However, despite the operations, none of the guns used in several robberies in Gulu City and Gulu District have been recovered.

Police say a joint counterforce has been deployed to track the attackers, though details remain limited for operational reasons.

In Gulu City, a separate gun attack at LT Energy Petrol Station in Laliya Trading Centre left a security guard dead after three masked men stormed the station on May 5 and stole a firearm.

Ten days later, businessman Wilfred Ojok was shot dead in a separate attack at Paromo Cell, Awach Town Council, after armed men attempted to break into his shop.

Police say investigations into all incidents are ongoing as armed violence continues to spread fear among residents and the business community.

Past incidents

1.April 30. Michael Komakech, a mason in Gulu City robbed of Shs3 million by an armed boda-boda rider at Wii Layibi, a Gulu City suburb.

2. May 2: Armed robbers waylaid Morris Onen Onna and robbed him of his motorcycle, UG Boss registration number UFM 917 C, at For God, located about 500 meters from the St Joseph’s Cathedral in Gulu City.

3. May 4. Denis Kilama, a security guard attached to Corporate Security Ltd, is held for robbing Sh5 million from a businessman in Gulu City.

4. May 5. Fedenaldo Ocora, a boda boda rider, is robbed of his motorcycle registration UGD 940F by unknown gunmen Keyi ‘B’ Cell via Kabedopong trading centre.