Category: Daily Monitor

It is now a year since Dr Kizza Besigye and aide Obeid Lutale were abducted from Nairobi, Kenya, blindfolded, and driven overnight across the border to Kampala and charged before the military court. In an exclusive interview at his home in Mutundwe, on the outskirts of Kampala City, Lutale’s wife Halimah speaks about the struggles by the family to survive amid rising costs of living, with Lutale, the breadwinner, locked away.

How is the family coping with the absence of Obeid Lutale?

He was everything to us: a breadwinner, and many people are standing with us in this, and we thank them. I can’t mention everybody, friends, and families. Everybody is working hard to ensure we are okay, and that is because he is a good person.

Since he was the breadwinner, how do you survive now?

As a wife, I have to work hard, I’m a juicer. It has been my work even before he was arrested. But I don’t have that daily income now. But I thank Allah that I’m coping.

How has his absence impacted you over time?

As a family, we are hurt because every time there are challenges, we think of him. But now I’m the one taking care of him in Luzira prison, and that is hard for me and the children.

How often do you visit him in Luzira?

I go there every Wednesday. I couldn’t manage visiting every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. So, I decided to go there once every week to manage it.

So when you go, do you get the chance to talk to him?

Yes, I do. You know we use phones to talk through a glass partition, you can’t talk one-on-one, and that is hurting because for a person who was always there, daily, and you now visit him only once a week! You can’t even hug him, because he’s barricaded behind a glass.

Whenever you go to see them, what do you take to him?

I take fresh food and beverages because everything has to be from home since he can’t take the prison’s food. He turned 66 years old on November 2, so he is an old man who had never been arrested, not even by the local council authorities, or by the police. This is the first time for him to be in prison, so he needs provisions from home.

Weekly, I spend between Shs300,000 and Shs400,000 to buy his food and other needs in Luzira. We also spend on fuel to visit him in Luzira. The support comes from our family savings, our older children, relatives, and friends.

When you speak to him, how is he coping?

He was healthy, but he developed hypertension immediately after his arrest, and he has even become diabetic. But I can’t say he’s okay because he needs to be out. As an old man, to take a year, being in that situation is not easy. Nowadays, he can’t do any exercise and is developing a big body. I fear he’s going to get some complications because he’s not used to that kind of setting and life.

What does he say when you speak to him?

He tells me he knows nothing about the accusation against him and Dr Besigye. He knew nothing because he had just gone for [Kenyan lawyer and opposition leader] Martha Karua’s book launch and was to return that Monday. So, no one can say somebody was carrying a gun when he passed via Entebbe airport, and Nairobi International Airport, you can’t go through airports with a gun unless it is registered. But he has never even used a gun.

Who is Obeid as a politician?

First of all, they were friends with Dr Besigye since the days of the Reform Agenda [forerunner of the Forum for Democratic Change party]. He is a quiet man, and some people didn’t even know him and are wondering why he was arrested with Dr Besigye. But they are friends, and as friends, they travel, talk, and do many things together. He is only a politician who backs others and has not even tried to stand for any elective position, not even when he was prodded to go for a seat in Rubaga South to replace Ms Joyce Ssebugwawo, who was appointed minister, but he refused.

So, who is Obeid Lutale as a family person?

He is a good husband and a friend. He’s a good father, and he cares a lot about his children and the old people around him. Here, we have been with many people living together, including grandchildren. He’s so loving as a father and a grandparent now.

As he faces charges in the courts, who is footing his legal bills?

I think his legal bills are squared by the party, not us. It is the party, and we thank them a lot because they have stood with them for a year. We have never forgotten it.

What is your wish?

My wish is to see them released so that they come back home. If they have any charges, let the government be straight, not going here and there. Justice delayed is justice denied because, as you see, we reached a mandatory bail, but they refused to grant it, saying they had spent four months, when it was seven, because it is six months in the law. You can see all the bail applications are being dumped. My wish is for the government to release them because they know nothing, and they have nothing right now.

What is his mood and spirit when you speak to him in jail?

As of now, he has to accept it because it is the order of the day. Even if you say, I’m not happy, you remain there. He is not happy, but he’s still there. All the time, he tells you to pray so that they get out. And all the time they want to get out, come to court, and talk with us. They aim to come out because they know nothing; they did nothing.

What is that particular attribute you miss about Obeid Lutale?

I miss everything because he is my friend. He’s the person who comes back daily and tells you everything from the time you gave him breakfast to the time he returns. Every day, for 30 years now we have been married, everything about that man is that he is someone who wants to be there, talking with everyone. I miss his jokes, I miss his presence, and I miss everything.

You know Obeid is a farmer and has kalitunsi (eucalyptus trees), which he planted. By the time he was arrested, he had started growing these, and he also has avocados, the short ones. He left them when they had not even put out fruit, but now they have fruited twice. That is too much for him because he loves his farm work. He used to go to the gym every day, but he’s no longer doing that because he no longer works in the office. After the gym, he would go shopping, and he is never one who roams. He’s a family man who would spend most of the time with his family.

What would you say or do if the President wants to meet you over Lutale?

Should he say he wants to meet us, we can, because we don’t know him, and he doesn’t know me. But if he says ‘the people of this person come and talk to me,’ we can go. And we can tell him that we know nothing, and he knows nothing. We can beg for his release.

How big is this family?

He has one family, with me as the wife and these children. The other family members are his father, the sisters, aunties, and many more are outside. You see, for the man, you can’t say he has this number of children because every time you get people, you adopt, you do many things as a man, but their children are there. Some of them you may know.

How has Lutale’s arrest affected your business?

His arrest has affected me a lot because most of my clients are no longer interested in taking my calls. They don’t call me, and when you text them, they say, ‘I will get back to you’. Sometimes they say ‘your calls are being tapped’. So, they no longer interact with me for business, and that has caused me a lot of pain.

Bar unforeseen circumstances, it is likely Uganda will scoop more medals on Day Three of athletics at the Islamic Solidarity Games at the Prince Faisal bin Fahd Sports City Stadium in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday.

Up to eight Ugandans could line up on the light blue tartan for race finals on the penultimate day of athletics at the sixth Solidarity Games in Riyadh.

The medal expectations are high because these Games are relatively a lower standard, in comparison with the Olympics, World Athletics Championships and Commonwealth Games, for the crop of talent selected by Uganda Athletics (UAt) to compete in Riyadh.

Yet UAt and Uganda Olympic Committee (UOC) are using the Riyadh stage to prepare athletes for the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games in Scotland and the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games in the USA.

For a runner like Halimah Nakaayi, her reputation is even on the line when she lines up for the women’s 800 metres final.

Regardless of the opposition on other lanes, Nakaayi knows she must win the two-lap event owing to the weight of her profile.

Nakaayi won the 800 metres world title in Doha, Qatar in 2019, she took silver and bronze at the African Games in 2019 in Morocco and in 2024 in Ghana respectively.

At the Solidarity Games, Nakaayi even medalled with a silver at the 2017 Baku edition in Azerbaijan. A medal in the event tonight could also cushion her sequential shortcomings at the recent bigger championships.

‘I’ve got to close out my season strongly, at least with something,’ Nakaayi, 31, said after she missed the final of the two-lap race at the Tokyo World Championships in Japan two months ago.

Besides, Tom Dradriga too is keen on getting onto the podium in the men’s 1500 metres final. He comfortably won Heat 2 of the men’s 800 metres in 1:49.43 on a hot morning yesterday.

‘Despite the very hot weather, I have managed to deliver to my best,’ said Dradriga, who also competed at the Paris 2024 Olympics in France and the Tokyo Worlds in Japan.

‘I still have a final in 1500m tomorrow night (Wednesday) and I look forward to facing the lads,’ added the 800 metres bronze medallist from the 2024 Africa Senior Athletics Championships in Douala, Cameroon.

In the 800 metres Heat, the field went through the first lap in 54.75 but Dradriga in third, surged into second with 200 metres left before taking the lead in the final bend.

In the sprints, Shida Leni is looking to make it to the podium in the women’s 400 metres final after she won Heat 2 in 52.47 seconds via lane 5 yesterday.

‘Today, I just wanted to qualify for finals because I know it is not an easy race. So I am so grateful,’ said the 31-year-old whose personal best is 50.93 seconds, a national record.

‘We will see what comes out of the final tomorrow (today) and I am ready for it,’ she added.

Leni, who also competed in Tokyo, will face race favourite 2019 world champion Salwa Eid Naser of Bahrain who won Heat 1 in a time of 52.13. In Naser’s Heat was another Uganda Maureen Banura who finished fifth in 54.78.

2025 ISLAMIC SOLIDARITY GAMES

UGANDANS IN ACTION – WEDNESDAY (ATHLETICS)

8.30pm: Men’s 200 Metres Final

9pm: Halimah Nakaayi (Women’s 800 Metres Final)

9.15pm: Tom Dradriga (Men’s 1500 Metres Final)

9.30pm: Shida Leni (Women’s 400 Metres Final)

9.42pm: Men’s 400 Metres Final

9.55pm: Charity Cherop (Women’s 5000 Metres Final)

RESULTS

MEN’S 800 METRES HEAT 2

1 Tom Dradriga (UGA) 1:49.43

2 Faisal Maghrabi (KSA) 1:49.47

3 Ebrahim Alzofairi (KWT) 1:49.51

WOMEN’S 400 METRES HEAT 1

1 Salwa Naser (BHR) 52.13

2 Patience Okon George (NGR) 52.91

3 Salma Lehlali (MAR) 53.26

4 Samira Awali Boubacar (NIG) 53.34

5 Mauren Akiiki Banura (UGA) 54.78

WOMEN’S 400 METRES HEAT 2

1 Shida Leni (UGA) 52.47

2 Houda Nouiri (MAR) 52.72

3 Aliyah Abrams (GUY) 53.01

City socialite Bryan Kirumira commonly known as Bryan White has been taken to court for mention of his charges of alleged human sacrifice, manslaughter and several related offences in connection with the death of a 25-year old woman who allegedly sustained fatal burn injuries at his Kyamula residence in Makindye Division, Kampala.

Mr Kirumira who was on Wednesday wheeled from a police ambulance into the Chief Magistrate’s Court at Makindye surrounded by police officers and a medical personnel from the Ministry of Health was seen wincing in pain and occasionally wailing.

However the Chief magistrate, Ms Sarah Basemera, blocked journalists from accessing her chambers, letting only police officers and the deceased father inside.

Mr Kirumira’s wife, Daisy Nalunga and four others who are; Daphine Abaho, Naava Nakato, and Joyce Irene Nambalirwa appeared before Grade One Magistrate Teddy Nakawuki last week and charges were read to them in his absence. They were remanded to Luzira Prison until December 18, 2025 when the case will come up again before Chief Magistrate Basemera for formal reading.

According to the charge sheet, the accused face a total of seven counts, ranging from human sacrifice, manslaughter, rash and negligent acts, possession of narcotics, conspiracy to commit a felony, and giving false information to police officers.

Prosecution alleges that on October 22, 2025, at Kyamula Zone in Makindye Division, Bryan White killed Carol Nalubwama for the purpose of performing or furthering witchcraft, ritual, or other unlawful purposes, contrary to the Prevention and Prohibition of Human Sacrifice Act.

In a separate count, Kirumira is accused of manslaughter, with the state alleging that between October 22 and 27, 2025, he unlawfully caused the death of Nalubwama by burning her and later transferring her to Kiruddu Hospital, where she succumbed to the injuries.

He also faces one count of rash and negligent act after he allegedly failed to take precautions against probable danger from combustible materials in his possession. He is also accused of illegal possession of marijuana, after police reportedly recovered its leaves and seeds in bottles from his residence.

Nalunga, Abaho and Nakato were jointly charged with conspiracy to commit a felony. The state alleges that the trio conspired with Kirumira on October 22, 2025, to commit a ritual murder by setting fire to candle wax while massaging Nalubwama’s body with petrol and ghee as they took honey.

The three, together with Kirumira, also face a charge of giving false information to police officers at Mildmay Uganda Hospital, Katwe Police Station, and Kampala Metropolitan South Headquarters. They allegedly misled officers by claiming that Nalubwama was burnt on October 27, 2025, and admitted to Kiruddu Hospital, yet evidence indicates she was burnt on October 22 and first treated at M. Mabirizi Nursing Home.

Another suspect, Joyce Irene Nambalirwa, aged 41, who is an administrator at M. Mabirizi Nursing Home on Salama Road, was charged separately with manslaughter and causing death through a rash and negligent act.

Prosecution alleges that between October 22 and 27, 2025, Nambalirwa unlawfully caused the death of Nalubwama by failing to refer her to a main hospital for advanced treatment and by negligently handling her condition, which allegedly worsened and led to her death.

Police investigations indicate that Nalubwama died at Kiruddu Hospital after sustaining severe burn injuries at Kirumira’s home. Kirumira reportedly told detectives that the burns were caused by a gas cylinder explosion while she was cooking.

However, family members of the deceased disputed this narrative, accusing Kirumira of foul play and alleging that Nalubwama’s death was ritual-related.

Her father, Ssalongo Tom Mutyaba, reportedly told police that Kirumira personally called to inform him of his daughter’s death, claiming she had died while being treated at a shrine.

Detectives who later visited Kirumira’s residence allegedly found grass-thatched structures suspected to be shrines within the compound.

The courtroom remained tense as the graphical details of the alleged ritual killing were read out.

Ex-Uganda Cranes midfielder Yasser Mugerwa believes that the welfare of professional football players in Uganda could be destined to a better path following Fifa’s recent proposals.

Representing the Uganda Football Players’ Association (UFPA) together with Mubarak Tenywa, Mugerwa was part of the meeting on issues of players in Rabat, Morocco which had deliberations from Fifa president Gianni Infantino, Fifa Secretary General Mattias Grafström and other officials.

Fifa met with 30 players’ unions and agreed to the formalisation of the creation of the Fifa Professional Players Consultation Forum, which will centralize and push for interests of players across the world.

‘At Fifa, we remain committed to further enhancing player welfare and working conditions across the world by implementing concrete and meaningful measures with a view to improving football for the future,’ remarked Infantino.

‘This is evident through the substantial investment that Fifa will be making through the Fifa Fund for professional players, and through other opportunities to engage via the various Fifa bodies, as well as other important initiatives agreed at this initial Fifa Professional Players Consultation Forum gathering.’

As such, UFPA is projected to be a beneficiary of an investment of $20 million for the 2026-2029 period in the aforementioned Fifa Fund.

‘The meeting was important to me as its value was tied to facilitate communication, provide a platform for diverse perspectives, and lead to clear next steps and actions which I guess will help me as I try to help our players’ association,’ said Mugerwa who is currently unattached.

Currently, players in the top-tier leagues and some specific leagues and parts of the world are faced with tight schedules of matches, with some worried about their health, something clearly voiced by Manchester City midfielder Rodri last year.

Fifa, at the meeting in Rabat, was following up from the constructive exchanges in July in New York, USA at the closure of the Fifa Club World Cup.

Particular proposals were made in Rabat such as at least 72 hours of rest between matches and a rest period of at least 21 days between season ends.

The initiative further seeks to push for one rest day per week, and measures to consider long-haul intercontinental trips and climatic conditions.

At the meeting, some unions like the Players’ Voice Panel (PVP) set up with help of Fifa had former Liberia international and President George Weah amplify the fight against racism towards players in the game.

‘What I came here to do is for the world to know that there is no need for racism. We must enjoy the beautiful game, walk together in the stadium, sing together and when we are defeated, we try again. This is what the game is about – enjoy it,’ said the former striker Weah, who led Liberia between 2018 and 2024.

‘Racism is a disease. We cannot continue to condone racism in public spaces, most especially on the field where everybody is supposed to be working together, enjoying together, [so] have fun, enjoy the good of the game,’ added the former player of AS Monaco, Paris Saint-Germain and AC Milan.

Fifa and the players’ unions like PVP and UFPA are set to continue in the next months.

FIFA and OVER 30 PLAYERS’ UNIONS INITIATIVES

Player rest and recovery: At least 72 hours of rest between matches, holiday of at least 21 days between seasons, one rest day per week, measures to consider long-haul intercontinental trips and climatic conditions

Fifa Fund for Professional Players: $20 million for the 2026-2029 period for professional players who are unable to recover outstanding salaries due to financial difficulties faced by their clubs.

Representation of players’ unions in Fifa bodies: Players’ unions representatives will be included in a number of Fifa Committees to ensure the players’ voice is heard at the highest level.

Development support for players’ unions: Fifa to establish dedicated support mechanisms for players’ unions subject to strict good governance criteria with special focus on training and educating youth and professional players and developing women’s football.

Legal matters: A working group involving Fifa and the players’ unions will be established to advance legal matters through regular meetings and continuous dialogue issues like the Fifa Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players, national dispute resolution chambers and minimum standards for player contracts.

Traders have declared their intention to actively support politicians who align with their business interests as the 2026 general elections approach.

Speaking to journalists on Wednesday in Kampala, former Kampala City Traders Association (KACITA) official, Mr Thaddeus Musoke Nagenda, who recently formed a new traders association, said the decision is in response to what traders perceive as a lack of support from current government policies.

Nagenda, now chairman of the National Entrepreneurs and Traders Association (NETA), said traders under the new association will also openly reveal the politicians they support at various political positions across the country.

“We’re going to openly reveal and campaign for politicians who back our interests. It’s time we take a more proactive approach to ensuring our voices are heard in government. We’ll be supporting those who understand the challenges we face and are willing to work with us to create a more conducive business environment,” he said.

He added, “As traders, we contribute significantly to the economy, but often our concerns fall on deaf ears. It’s time we use our collective power to influence policy decisions that affect us directly.”

The traders’ association plans to identify and support politicians who demonstrate a commitment to addressing issues such as taxation, market infrastructure, and regulatory frameworks. Nagenda emphasized that their support would not be limited to financial contributions but would also include mobilizing the trading community to campaign for these politicians.

“We expect our supported politicians to be advocates for traders’ rights and interests. This is a new chapter in Uganda’s political landscape, where the business community is taking a more assertive role in shaping and having their own voices amplified,” Nagenda said.

NETA Secretary General, Mr Samuel Kyambadde, said their decision stems from the fact that traders’ policies and regulatory frameworks are made by politicians.

“We shall differ from other associations, who argue that traders should not practically support politicians or engage in politics. Our basis is that decisions and policies are made by politicians, why can’t we support serious politicians with the backing of the business community?” he said.

Mr. Kyambadde said their offices are open to all politicians, noting that they will soon announce politicians they are going to fund and support.

The business community has long protested what they call unfair tax policies, unfair trade policies, and other grievances. Key issues include taxes on kilograms on garments and textiles, the electronic fiscal receipt and invoicing systems (EFRIS), high rent, and foreign competition in the retail sector.

In October, traders also suffered destructive floods after a heavy downpour that destroyed commodities downtown, which many claimed the situation was worsened by the ongoing construction works along the Nakivubo channel.

The first four months of the 2025/26 financial year tell a clear and compelling story about the economic position, one marked by tightening revenue flows, rising expenditure commitments, and a growing deficit that has steadily widened with each passing month.

Ministry of Finance Performance of Economy Reports tell the story of a government struggling to spend within its means, but has failed in the period between July and October due to rising funding pressures.

The financial year began in July with a sense of cautious optimism. Revenue performance, at 99.3 percent of target, suggested that collections were broadly on course.

Government mobilised Shs2.53 trillion, driven mainly by strong direct domestic taxes.

Yet even at this early stage, cracks had begun to appear. Weaknesses in indirect taxes and international trade taxes signaled that consumption and import activity were softer than anticipated.

Meanwhile, government spending surged to Shs3.61 trillion, driven by early-year commitments, including public sector wages, transfers to agencies, and operational costs.

July closed with a significant deficit, but hopes remained that performance would improve as the year progressed.

August, however, brought a much sharper revenue setback. Collections fell to Shs2.59 trillion, far below the month’s target.

Government did not just miss projections; it underperformed across nearly every revenue category.

At the same time, expenditure remained high at Shs3.14 trillion, reflecting ongoing obligations that could not be paused simply because revenues faltered.

The deficit widened further, signalling that the fiscal strain was deepening rather than easing.

September reinforced this trend. Revenues ticked up slightly to Shs2.61 trillion, but still failed to match the pace of spending, which stood at Shs3.12 trillion.

Administrative fees and licenses, a crucial component of non-tax revenue, posted especially weak results as collections from immigration, transport, and court-related activities lagged.

Once again, expenditure outpaced income, and the cumulative deficit crept higher. By October, the pattern had hardened into a structural challenge rather than a temporary blip.

Revenue collections dropped slightly to Shs2.57 trillion, with shortfalls arising from payroll transition obstacles, lower interest rates affecting treasury bill earnings, and subdued excise receipts from beer, soft drinks, and telecom services.

Meanwhile, government spending rose to Shs3.27 trillion, partly due to higher-than-planned grants and increased procurement of goods and services.

The result was yet another month where the gap between what government earned and what it spent grew wider.

Taken together, the cumulative picture from July to October tells a story of mounting fiscal pressure. Across the four months, total revenues amounted to Shs10.32 trillion, while total expenditures reached Shs13.16 trillion.

This left Uganda with a cumulative fiscal deficit of Shs2.84 trillion, a gap that reflects not only revenue weaknesses but also the rigidity of government spending.

The underlying message is unmistakable: the government’s obligations have continued to grow even as revenue performance has softened.

Weak consumption patterns, administrative challenges, and lower receipts from key tax handles have constrained collections.

At the same time, essential government expenditures, salaries, service delivery, debt refinancing, and transfers to local governments, have pressed forward unabated.

By the end of October, the country found itself at a crossroads. The widening deficit underscored the urgent need to strengthen revenue mobilization efforts, tighten expenditure controls, and ensure that fiscal policy remains on a sustainable trajectory.

The story of July to October is not just about shortfalls; it is about the broader pressures weighing on the treasury and the choices that lie ahead for policymakers seeking to restore balance in the months to come.

Imagine a young mother, clutching her feverish child, handing over her last shillings to a smiling ‘doctor’ in a makeshift clinic. Hours later, the counterfeit drugs fail, and hope turns to heartbreak. This is not a rare tragedy; it is fraud’s cruel face in Uganda’s health sector, stealing lives and trust.

Fraud hides everywhere: fake medicines that look real but kill, inflated bills that bankrupt families, quacks posing as experts in rural corners where desperation runs high. It preys on the vulnerable, the teenager in Kampala seeking confidential care, the farmer in Moroto scraping together fees for a ‘specialist.’

These aren’t just statistics; they are our neighbours’, our sisters, our future.

As someone who has seen clinics overwhelmed by distrust, I believe awareness is our sharpest weapon. The statement ‘Fraud has many faces, but awareness has one, yours’ rings true. Your vigilance can stop it cold.

Counterfeit drugs flood markets, often slipping through weak supply chains. Unqualified practitioners set up shop in backstreets, armed with forged certificates and false promises. Resources meant for free maternal care vanish into corrupt pockets, leaving rural health centres empty.

These acts don’t just drain money; they erode faith in a system meant to heal.

I’ve spoken to mothers who now hesitate to seek help, fearing another scam. This must change.

“Fraud has many faces, but awareness has one, yours” is not a slogan, it is a summon. Your awareness. Mine. Ours. It begins with simple acts: asking for receipts, checking expiry dates, questioning why a simple consultation suddenly needs “special tests.”

It grows when we refuse to patronise that roadside clinic with no signboard, when we report the pharmacist selling drugs under the counter, and when we demand to see qualifications before trusting someone with our bodies.

I have been to community meetings where a community health worker taught women to spot fake contraceptives by checking the packaging seal. One mother recognised the trick that had cheated her before. She went and told 10 others. That is awareness in action: one informed person becoming a ripple of protection.

We cannot leave this fight for the government alone. The Ministry of Health needs our eyes on the ground. Regulatory bodies need our complaints to act. Journalists need our tips to investigate. When we stay silent, fraud wins. When we speak, we become the mirror that exposes its ugliest face.

This Anti-Fraud Week, let us make a pact. Check before you pay. Ask before you swallow. Report before you regret it. Share what you know with your neighbour, your WhatsApp group, and your village meeting.

Because every shilling stolen from health is a child’s life postponed, a mother’s dream deferred.

Fraud hides in plain sight, wearing a white coat of trust. But it cowers before informed citizens.

In Uganda, we have survived worse than thieves in scrubs. We know how to protect ourselves. All it takes is to decide that today, awareness wears your face. And tomorrow, because of you, fraud will have nowhere to hide.

In a global financial climate increasingly shaped by the Artificial Intelligence (AI) euphoria, volatile stock markets, and shifting monetary policies, Bank of Uganda (BoU) has chosen a remarkably calm path.

The Central Bank Rate (CBR) remains at 9.75 percent, a level now maintained for five consecutive meetings.

While major economies debate and often panic over inflation spikes and AI-fuelled asset bubbles, BoU is betting on steadiness, drawing confidence from low inflation, strong economic growth, and persistent external risks that require measured responses.

In its November briefing, BoU said holding the CBR ‘shows confidence in the improving economic outlook,’ calling attention to an economic environment that, despite global shocks, continues to show resilience.

Its focus remains on keeping inflation below 5 percent, supporting long-term growth, and avoiding policy decisions that could unsettle an already delicate environment.

Inflation has been a cooperative partner over the past year; headline inflation averaged 3.6 percent, while core inflation stood at 3.9 percent, both well within target.

Lower energy prices, a stronger shilling, and disciplined monetary policy have kept price pressures in check.

BoU expects inflation to remain between 4 and 4.5 percent.

The growth story has also played in BoU’s favour, with the economy growing by 6.7 percent in the first quarter of 2024/25, driven by a rebound in industry and sustained momentum in agriculture and services.

Full-year growth has reached 6.3 percent, supported by stronger household spending and robust private investment.

BoU projects growth of 6.5 to 7 percent in 2025/26, rising to around 8 percent over the medium term.

This momentum has seen S and P revise Uganda’s outlook from ‘stable’ to ‘positive,’ citing strengthening fundamentals and improved prospects.

Still, BoU is not blind to the turbulence beyond Uganda. The world’s financial system remains on the edge, and Uganda, like other emerging markets, must navigate the spillovers.

Earlier in the year, BoU governor Michael Atingi-Ego warned that rising global trade tensions could feed into domestic inflation if major economies imposed new tariffs.

‘We will end up importing some of that inflation,’ he said, noting that Uganda would then face the difficult choice of tightening monetary policy.

US continues to cast a long shadow over global markets. By May, the policy conversation had shifted to a temporary tariff truce between US and China, leaving central bankers unsure whether global conditions were stabilising or merely pausing before another round of volatility.

By August, new fears emerged over US’ ballooning fiscal deficit, with bond yields, which often draw capital away from emerging markets, moving northwards.

The global environment grew even more complex when a 43-day US government shutdown delayed critical economic data.

Analysts called it a ‘data vacuum,’ forcing the Federal Reserve to act more cautiously. In such uncertain conditions, the dollar tends to strengthen, tightening financial conditions for countries like Uganda.

Then came the AI mania. The ‘Magnificent Seven’ tech giants soared to valuations reminiscent of the dot-com bubble, prompting warnings from banks such as JP Morgan.

To justify their aggressive AI investments through 2030, analysts argue, these firms would need unusually high revenue streams.

Given that US equities now represent 20 percent of household wealth, any sharp correction could ripple through global markets, dampening growth in Europe, China, and across emerging economies.

Closer to home, experts are divided on how an AI-driven correction would affect Uganda. Denis Kizito of the Capital Markets Authority believes a sell-off in US could steer investors toward undervalued African equities.

But equities consultant Gitta Expeditto argues that Uganda’s markets, dominated by institutional investors, are insulated from global swings and respond more to earnings and dividends than speculative trends.

With this uncertainty swirling, BoU’s decision to stay steady looks increasingly rational.

Its strategy reflects a delicate balancing act; keeping rates high enough to cushion the economy should global growth falter, but not so high to suffocate domestic activity.

Uganda’s rising foreign-exchange reserves offer additional reassurance, standing at $5.4b, close to four months of import cover.

Yet BoU cautions that purchasing dollars injects shillings into the economy, potentially stoking inflation, calling for a balance between building external buffers and maintaining price stability.

The gold-purchase programme remains in its preparatory stage, with systems still being set up, but it signals a long-term ambition to diversify reserve assets.

As AI transforms global markets and geopolitical tensions intensify, Uganda is choosing consistency over excitement.

BoU’s quiet confidence, rooted in low inflation, strong growth, and disciplined policy, offers a rare steady note in an increasingly unpredictable world.

The Ministry of Water and Environment has raised alarm over the destruction of Kifu Central Forest Reserve in Mukono District, accusing a private investor of illegally clearing sections of the protected woodland.

In a letter to the Inspector General of Police (IGP), the ministry requested urgent redeployment of officers to halt what it calls ‘ongoing illegal encroachment’ by Victorious Car Bond, a vehicle dealership that claims ownership of 114 hectares of the reserve. The letter, dated November 18, and written by the ministry’s acting permanent secretary, Mr John Twinomujuni, warns that the investor has begun erasing the forest.

‘The purpose of this letter, therefore, is to request you to urgently redeploy the police personnel to the site to halt, evict, and secure the forest. and prevent any further damage to this important national resource as we also appropriately engage the Minister of Internal Affairs and other concerned stakeholders,’ Mr Twinomujuni wrote.

Victorious Car Bond claims ownership of 114.9 acres of the 1,419-hectare Kifu Central Forest Reserve, which spans Nama and Mpoma sub-counties. But the ministry insists that no individual or company can legally own part of a central forest reserve unless it has been formally degazetted, a process that has never been completed.

The threatened section of the forest is currently used by the National Forestry Resources Research Institute (NaFORRI), a research arm of the National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO). This is not the first time the forest has come under pressure.

In 2017, investors argued that the reserve had been degazetted because of urban expansion. Government rejected the proposal, and the National Forestry Authority (NFA) and NARO asked security agencies to guard against encroachment. But the dispute escalated last month when the minister of Internal Affairs wrote to police, directing them not to interfere with the investor’s activities.

According to Mr Twinomujuni, as many as 15 acres of forest are now being cut down each day. ‘The Uganda Police Force has since been withdrawn from the area, resulting into immense damage. ,’ he wrote. Attempts to obtain comment from police were unsuccessful. Police spokesperson Kituuma Rusoke said he would consult and respond, but by press time, he had not.

A woman who answered this publication’s call to Victorious Car Bond said the company would return the call, but it did not. Kifu Central Forest Reserve was first gazetted in 1932 and measured 1,419 hectares by 1998. Despite its protected status, a land title measuring 114 hectares was later issued to Victorious Car Bond.

The Ministry of Water and Environment maintains that this title is invalid. ‘The title. was issued in error, because for that to happen, a central forest reserve must first be degazetted in accordance with Section 8 of the National Forestry and Tree Planting Act, 2003,’ Mr Twinomujuni said. The ministry is challenging the title in court.

The Mukono District spokesperson, Mr Derrick Kaddu, also rejected claims that the district approved or issued the title. ‘The district doesn’t have any mandate to own or manage forests,’ he said. ‘If anyone says the district council did that, let them tell you the council meeting that approved it,’ he added. NFA spokesperson Aldo Walukamba declined to comment, saying the matter is being handled directly by the Ministry of Water and Environment.

The Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development has reassured Ugandans that the newly inaugurated Physical Planners Board will not take over private land but will instead guide and regulate how land is planned, used, and developed across the country.

Amid public concerns that the board could interfere with private ownership, the ministry emphasised that its mandate is limited to enforcing planning standards and ensuring that land development is orderly, lawful, and sustainable.

‘Physical planning is not only about buildings, architects, and surveyors; it also involves allocating land for food production and other national needs. Ugandans should uplift the work of physical planners to improve planning at both national and local levels. Physical planning is fundamental to sustainable land use, tenure security, and national development,’ said Ms Dorcas Okalany, the Permanent Secretary, during the swearing-in of the new board members yesterday.

Ms Okalany added: ‘The board is not going to take over people’s land. No. Our role is to plan how land should be used, which is why public awareness and sensitisation are important.’ She noted that while many Ugandans still rely on traditional knowledge of housing and land organisation, modern development requires professional planning to ensure sustainable land use, orderly growth, and improved livelihoods.

The ministry said this is the first board established under the Physical Planners Act, passed in 2023, and it is tasked with regulating physical planning professionals and promoting organised development nationwide.

The permanent secretary explained that although the Act was enacted in 2023, constituting the board took longer than anticipated because members had to undergo a rigorous vetting process to assess their expertise, integrity, and compliance with professional standards. In many fast-growing towns, land has been subdivided into tiny, irregular plots without consideration for future roads, drainage, electricity lines, or public facilities.

Real-estate dealers, often lacking proper planning backgrounds, have sliced up land purely for profit, creating congested settlements with minimal amenities. In municipalities and town councils, roads are often too narrow for emergency vehicles, abruptly end in dead-ends, or flood during rains due to poor drainage. Essential spaces for schools, health centres, markets, green areas, and recreational grounds are frequently omitted.

The new Physical Planners Board said one of its first tasks is to crack down on ‘quack planners’ – unqualified individuals preparing subdivision plans for unsuspecting landowners. ‘There have been many quack planners, people doing the work without any qualifications.

A physical planner should hold at least a diploma or degree in physical planning. Previously, anyone could wake up and start designing land subdivisions,’ said Mr Derek Alfred Muhwezi, the new board chairperson.

He explained that architects and surveyors have stamps, and going forward, town councils, municipalities, and city councils will require a stamp from a registered physical planner to approve subdivisions. Only planners registered with the board will be authorised to issue these stamps, which act as proof of professionalism and accountability.

‘This board is not here to grab people’s land. We are here to ensure it is used wisely, safely, and sustainably,’ Mr Muhwezi said.