Asianet Pakistan Private Limited

Dear Tingasiga:

On Saturday afternoon, I sat by my window on the northern shore of Lake Ontario and watched autumn perform its annual magic trick. In the foreground, a row of maples burned crimson and orange-gold. Across the water, islands and spits flickered with gold, rust and the last of the summer green. It was breathtakingly beautiful. It was also a public relations campaign for decay.

The trees are not celebrating, my friend. They are shutting down their own power grid, choking off nutrients to their leaves and letting the green chlorophyll drain away to expose hidden pigments. The brilliant reds and golds are the final gasps of structures about to be discarded, a gorgeous prelude to a brutal winter.

A Ugandan cannot watch this magnificent decay without a pang of recognition. We know what it looks like when a system puts on its most dazzling show just before the frost. Our summer was real. For four decades, President Yoweri Museveni has been the chief architect of Uganda’s landscape. In the late 1980s and 1990s, his National Resistance Movement (NRM) was a sun-drenched spring, despite some rainstorms and hailstones, that matured into a stable summer. After the dark winters of the Idi Amin and Milton Obote regimes, Museveni brought the sunshine back. He gave Uganda a growing economy, a new constitution, and enough security for ordinary citizens to sleep without the sound of gunfire. He earned his place as the towering mvule tree of our nation. But seasons change. Somewhere along the way, the green faded and a stubborn political autumn set in.

Political autumns love theatre, and nothing draws a bigger crowd than a loud war on corruption. When a leaf turns a violent red, it is often because sugars are trapped at its tip, unable to travel down to the roots. In Uganda, wealth is trapped at the top of the political canopy while public hospitals and schools starve below.

Consider what happened at home in Kigezi last Thursday, October 22. At an accountability meeting at the Rukiga District headquarters, Mr Balaam Barugahara, the Minister for Local Government, ordered the arrest of the district’s chief finance officer, education officer, engineer, water engineer, fisheries officer, a former principal human resource officer and a former sub-county chairman. Video clips show the officers, two of them in yellow shirts, climbing into the back of a police pickup under the gaze of a large crowd. In our political autumn, it seems, yellow offers little protection to the lower branches.

The minister’s allegations, from chairs bought at Shs950,000 each, to roads that were graded but never gravelled may well be true. If so, the officers should answer for them before a magistrate, with evidence tested and their defence heard. But a minister pronouncing guilt before a crowd is not justice. Nor is it justice when the same minister, with the CID in tow, turns two public meetings into family courts to settle private quarrels among two sets of siblings that include prominent politicians.

This is not new for Balaam. In July 2025, he declared on X that the late Tamale Mirundi’s son was safe from arrest in his quarrel with a socialite, and assured him that the Attorney General, the director of CID and the DPP would not allow it. When a minister speaks on behalf of prosecutors, Tingasiga, who will speak for the independence of prosecutors?

Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba and his team deserve credit for making the fight against corruption their central plan. But if this campaign is to be more than coloured leaves catching the sunlight, it must start at the top. True justice spares no one, regardless of military rank, political influence or family ties. Nor can anyone campaign for the presidency using government time, ministerial state resources and taxpayers’ money and still claim to champion anti-corruption.

Real anti-corruption work rests on evidence-based investigation, independent prosecutors and due process applied equally to all. Without these, scapegoats are shaken from the lower branches and humiliated in public, while grand corruption at the top of the canopy remains untouched.

Humour remains our warmest blanket in this chilly season. Our politicians switch parties as effortlessly as leaves drift on an October breeze. One day a politician is a fiery red or soft green or sky-blue Opposition activist. The next, after a closed-door meeting at the State lodge, he has turned an agreeable NRM yellow. They are simply adjusting their pigments to the shifting climate.

At dusk, a bright moon rose over Lake Ontario while the sun still lit the sky. For a while, the two shared the heavens. The moon glowed beautifully, but its light was borrowed.

Now the wind is blowing toward a new generation. As a citizen, Muhoozi has every right to seek the presidency after his father. Dynasties occur in nature, and they can occur in democracies too. He has a genuine opportunity to win a free election. I invite him, and all who seek to succeed Museveni, to shine with their own light, as modern leaders who welcome criticism and invite challenge. Let them seek power through free and fair competition, winning over sceptics and opponents with clear arguments and credible claims.

Above all, they must resist the ultimate temptation of long-enduring regimes: the urge to govern through fear. Fear is a temporary frost. It may freeze people into silence, but eventually it kills the very soil a leader stands on.

Autumn leaves can dance and flutter all they want, but winter does not negotiate. Every piece of artificial colour will be stripped away, leaving bare, honest branches against a grey sky. Power, like chlorophyll, eventually drains from every human hand.

Yet this is where our hope lies. Uganda’s future belongs to its youth, most of our population. They are new seeds, waiting to break through the frozen ground. But they must not discard the wisdom buried in older soil. They should sit by the fireplace and listen to elders who remember both the bright sunshine of the early independence years and the terrifying ice age of the 1970s and 1980s. The elders know how quickly a political climate can freeze over, and how costly it is to melt the ice of dictatorship. The youth bring heat and passion. The elders bring a reliable compass.

A brutal political winter need not follow this autumn. We have the power and the wisdom to change course before the frost takes hold. And if we fail, it will not be the end of our story. The lesson of the northern forest is that life does not die when the leaves fall. It goes underground to rest, regroup and reinvent itself. The frost will pass, the ground will soften, and the trees will grow green again. This time, my friend, their shade must belong to everyone.

Government is tightening oversight of the biofuel industry, requiring businesses involved in producing, storing, transporting, and blending biofuels to meet licensing, technical and environmental standards as the country expands the use of ethanol in petrol.

The rules were among the issues discussed at the sixth Renewable Energy Conference (REC) and Expo 2026 in Kampala, where participants examined how regulation and enforcement can support Uganda’s transition to biofuels.

The industry is governed by the Biofuels Act, 2020, and the Biofuels (Licensing) Regulations, 2022, which set requirements for businesses operating along the biofuel supply chain.

Ministry of Energy licensing officer Hatim Muyanja said during the Expo that the licensing framework is intended to ensure that operators meet the required standards before conducting business.

He said the transition is also guided by the Renewable Energy Policy of 2007, the Energy Policy for Uganda of 2023 and National Development Plans III and IV, which support sustainable energy, local agro-industrial development and reduced reliance on imports.

The Energy Ministry’s Biofuels Licensing Authority oversees licensing and checks whether operators meet technical and environmental requirements, including the ability to trace the agricultural materials used to produce biofuels.

Uganda began blending petrol with ethanol at E1 in November 2025 and started moving towards E3 on September 21 this year. Nationwide E5 blending is expected by January 2027, while E20 remains a longer-term target.

The figures refer to the proportion of ethanol mixed with petrol. E5, for example, means a blend containing 5 percent ethanol.

Could benefit farmers

As government plans to increase ethanol blending, questions have emerged about whether Uganda can produce enough agricultural raw materials without affecting food supplies.

Bukona Agro-Processors managing director Pravin Kekal said the planned expansion could create a market for farmers rather than threaten food security.

He estimated that E20 blending would require between 240 million and 300 million litres of ethanol annually, supported by about 600,000 tonnes of maize.

At an average yield of two tonnes per acre, he said, producing that quantity would require approximately 300,000 acres.

‘I don’t think there is any challenge about food security; rather, we should take this as an opportunity,’ he said.

However, meeting the projected demand would depend on crop yields, land availability and reliable supply chains. These would need to be managed to ensure increased ethanol production does not undermine food production.

Reporting poor-quality fuel

Government is also emphasising fuel-quality checks as ethanol blending expands. Ministry of Energy principal petroleum officer Dean Tashobya said motorists must report suspected fuel adulteration and use mobile laboratories to check fuel quality.

Tashobya also asked the public to report suspected fake licences.

Uganda is expanding ethanol blending, with focus now put on enforcement of licensing requirements and regular fuel testing to ensure producers comply with the law, consumers receive good-quality fuel, and farmers can benefit from the growing demand for agricultural raw materials.

Across Africa, stadiums built or upgraded for major sporting tournaments have sometimes struggled to remain commercially viable afterwards.

While these facilities attract thousands of spectators during major competitions, sustaining activity and revenue beyond matchdays remains a challenge.

As Uganda prepares to co-host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon), attention has largely focused on upgrading sports infrastructure to meet continental standards.

However, Paulo J. Cruz, founding CEO of African Collaborations Group (ACG), warns that Uganda must also consider the long-term commercial sustainability of its investments.

Without a clear strategy, Cruz argues, the country risks developing expensive facilities that struggle to generate sufficient revenue after the tournament.

‘The question Uganda should be asking right now is not how to build facilities for AFCON 2027. It is how to build facilities that are still generating revenue in 2047,’ Cruz says.

Mandela National Stadium, Namboole, is undergoing a major transformation ahead of the tournament, with the second phase of remodelling budgeted at Shs248 billion.

The project includes expanding the stadium’s seating capacity from approximately 38,000 to 45,000, alongside improvements to hospitality, media and other facilities.

The first phase of renovations cost approximately Shs97 billion, bringing the combined investment in the stadium’s redevelopment to about Shs345 billion.

While Cruz acknowledges the importance of meeting Confederation of African Football (Caf) standards, he believes infrastructure planning must extend beyond the competition.

He argues that stadiums relying heavily on occasional sporting events face significant challenges in meeting maintenance and operational costs.

‘While the demand is available, a standalone stadium highlights a design failure,’ Cruz said before adding

‘That is because Ugandans want restaurants, retail and leisure, the infrastructure is missing.’

Life after matches

‘That calls for a transition from the stadium model to the sport and entertainment district model.’

Under this approach, stadium developments would integrate hotels, conference centres, restaurants, retail outlets, training academies and entertainment venues.

Such facilities could attract visitors throughout the year, creating additional revenue streams beyond football matches and other sporting competitions.

‘A stadium by itself attracts visitors on matchdays. A sport and entertainment district attracts visitors every day,’ he explains.

Cruz believes this model could strengthen Uganda’s sports tourism industry while encouraging visitors to spend more time in Kampala.

It could also create opportunities for businesses operating in hospitality, entertainment, retail and other services around major sporting venues.

For private investors, however, the attractiveness of such developments would depend on their ability to generate sustainable returns.

Cruz explains that institutional investors prioritise projects with diversified revenue streams, professional management structures and credible financial sustainability models.

Attracting such investment would also require regulatory clarity, reliable public-private partnership frameworks, predictable tax treatment and secure land tenure arrangements.

Independent feasibility assessments and credible institutional partnerships would further strengthen investor confidence and improve prospects for long-term financing.

‘ACG focuses on preparing integrated developments for investment by undertaking feasibility studies, project structuring and institutional groundwork before construction financing is secured,’ he says.

Beyond football, Cruz identifies opportunities in athletics, rugby, basketball, cricket and boxing, alongside concerts, festivals and conferences.

He points to Uganda’s athletics achievements, including those of Olympic champion Joshua Cheptegei, as evidence of the country’s sporting potential.

Cruz believes stronger infrastructure could support athlete development while creating opportunities to host more international sporting events.

A multipurpose indoor arena, for example, could accommodate basketball and boxing competitions alongside concerts, corporate conferences and cultural events.

For Namboole specifically, Cruz believes planning should begin immediately to identify commercial opportunities around the stadium and assess available land.

He also recommends engaging potential investors and professional operators before the tournament to develop a sustainable commercial strategy.

The ongoing renovation already includes plans for improved hospitality facilities, VIP lounges and 24 skyboxes, providing opportunities for commercial activity.

However, Cruz argues that Uganda should consider a broader development model capable of generating economic activity beyond the stadium itself.

Namboole’s proximity to Kampala, its established sporting history and the opportunities presented by Afcon 2027 could provide a foundation for such development.

Clock is ticking

The urgency is particularly significant as Uganda races to complete the stadium ahead of the continental tournament.

During an October 5 inspection, the UPDF Engineering Brigade reported 51 percent physical progress, while the Ministry of Works independently verified 45 percent.

The government has set December 31, 2026, as the target for practical completion of the stadium’s renovation.

‘The question is not whether the stadium will be ready for June 2027 but if it will still be relevant in June 2037,’ Cruz says.

Ultimately, Cruz maintains that Uganda’s success should not be measured solely by its ability to host the continental tournament.

Namboole Stadium hiccups

Instead, the lasting measure will be whether investments made for Afcon 2027 continue supporting sport, tourism, employment and economic activity long after the competition ends.

Namboole’s long-term commercial challenges

Cruz identifies four potential challenges that Uganda must address to secure the stadium’s commercial future.

Over-reliance on matchday revenue; depending primarily on football fixtures could limit revenue, particularly when domestic competitions attract crowds significantly below the stadium’s planned 45,000-seat capacity.

Limited commercial integration; without a broader network of restaurants, retail outlets, hotels and entertainment facilities, opportunities to attract visitors outside matchdays could remain limited.

Commercial management; the stadium requires professional operations, clear performance targets and a commercial strategy capable of attracting events, sponsors and private-sector partnerships.

Maintenance funding; without reliable revenue and dedicated maintenance budgets, the stadium could face increasing operational costs and gradual deterioration.

The big question

The Shs248b second-phase remodelling project represents a significant public investment in preparing Namboole for Afcon 2027.

However, the tournament will last approximately one month, while the stadium is expected to serve Uganda for decades.

Once the competition ends, the challenge will shift from meeting CAF requirements to attracting events, visitors and commercial investment.

For Cruz, the central question is whether Uganda can transform Namboole from a major sporting venue into a sustainable economic asset.

With the stadium’s planned capacity of 45,000 seats, maintaining commercial activity beyond major football matches will be essential.

That will require a deliberate strategy to attract sporting competitions, concerts, conferences, tourists and businesses throughout the year.

The real legacy of Afcon 2027 may ultimately depend less on the matches played at Namboole and more on what happens there after the final whistle.

THE UTILITY

THE LEGACY TEST.

After Afcon. Uganda is spending hundreds of billions of shillings to prepare Namboole for Afcon 2027, but the tournament will last only weeks while the stadium must serve the country for decades. Can the government turn this investment into a year-round sporting, entertainment and commercial destination before the final whistle sounds?

The Gulu City Marathon has revised its route to improve runners’ safety, hydration and race-day experience as organisers target 4,000 participants for the third edition on December 5.

The changes followed a weekend course-mapping exercise involving South African-based international course measurer Gavin Wright, who joined the organising team to review the route and address concerns raised by runners.

Wright is one of only two World Athletics Grade A road race course certifiers on the African continent. His involvement is intended to ensure accurate distance measurement and give athletes confidence in their recorded times.

Community feedback shapes route

Marathon General Manager Bonita Mulelengi said organisers had listened to participants’ concerns and adjusted the course accordingly.

‘We listened to the feedback and acted accordingly. The dusty section has been removed from the route, and water hydration points have been put into consideration to ensure proper hydration,’ Mulelengi said.

Most of the revised route will run through Gulu town, taking participants past landmarks including the cathedral and the palace. Organisers hope the changes will improve conditions for runners, particularly those tackling the 42km race, while giving them a chance to pursue personal bests.

Wright encouraged local and international athletes to participate, noting that performances on accurately measured courses can help runners pursue qualifying standards for international marathons.

Four races, one city

The December 5 event will feature four categories – 42km, 21km, 10km and 5km – catering for elite competitors, recreational runners and participants of different abilities.

Organising team member Newton Mbazira called on runners from Gulu, across Uganda and beyond to take part, adding that entertainment along the course would give spectators a reason to join the occasion.

The marathon will run under the theme Running for Culture and Heritage, with Kaunda Grounds serving as both the start and finish point.

Medical cover strengthened

Organisers are also working with Case Hospital, the Uganda Red Cross and Rotary clubs to strengthen medical and emergency response arrangements.

The partners will hold a medical camp on December 4 before coordinating emergency services during the marathon the following day.

During the route-mapping exercise, a medical team led by Dr Apiyo Marriam assessed emergency response arrangements and identified suitable locations for medical tents along the course.

The measures are intended to ensure runners can access medical assistance when needed as Gulu prepares to welcome thousands of participants for its city marathon.

Gulu City Marathon

Date: December 5, 2026

Venue: Gulu City

Edition: Third

A Makerere University law don has called on the government to strengthen laws protecting workers and communities from exploitation by businesses, citing gaps in regulation, weak enforcement and inadequate funding for responsible business practices.

Mr Christopher Mbazira said that although Uganda had laws governing employment and environmental protection, gaps in areas such as minimum wages, supply chains and social impact assessments continued to expose workers and communities to human rights abuses.

Speaking at a national forum on business and human rights on Tuesday, Mr Mbazira called for a stronger second National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights, with clear targets, dedicated funding, timelines and mechanisms to hold government institutions and businesses accountable.

‘We have a number of laws in place that regulate such sectors or such aspects of life as employment and environment, but we also have so many gaps. For instance, we have challenges as far as the minimum wage is concerned. We don’t have laws that govern supply chains,’ he said.

Mr Mbazira said the absence of a comprehensive legal framework for social impact assessments was another weakness, despite years of calls by the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development and other stakeholders for legislation on the matter.

He also cited workplace harassment against women as an area requiring stronger regulation and enforcement to protect workers.

The forum brought together government officials, businesses, development partners and civil society organisations to assess Uganda’s implementation of its first National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights and identify priorities for the next phase.

The discussions come as Uganda pursues investment, industrialisation and development of its oil and gas sector, raising questions about how economic growth can benefit communities while safeguarding workers’ rights.

Representing the Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development, Mr Bernard Mujuni, the commissioner for equity and rights, said the exploitation of natural resources should translate into tangible benefits for citizens.

He said anticipated oil and gas revenues and the development of other natural resources needed to be accompanied by effective accountability and responsible business practices.

‘As we move towards hydrocarbons, natural resources, oil and gas, the important question is how to make sure that the people benefit from the resources that God bestowed upon them,’ Mr Mujuni said.

He commended stakeholders for sustaining the business and human rights agenda but called for stronger collaboration to ensure existing laws and policies translated into practical protection for citizens.

Mr Mujuni said legislation governing employment, occupational safety and health, children, persons with disabilities and the environment should serve as practical tools through which citizens can demand accountability.

He also called for accessible reporting mechanisms through which workers and communities could raise concerns about corruption, sexual harassment and environmental pollution.

Such mechanisms, he said, would strengthen institutional accountability and give affected people avenues to report abuses.

However, Mr Mbazira cautioned that laws and policies alone would not deliver results without adequate resources and effective implementation.

He identified five major challenges affecting implementation of the national action plan: legal and regulatory gaps, weak enforcement and monitoring, limited financing, inadequate access to information and public participation, and poor coordination and accountability.

He said government agencies responsible for inspections and enforcement needed stronger technical capacity, reliable data systems and the ability to investigate complaints and ensure sanctions were implemented.

‘We cannot evaluate performance without data. We need to build data systems and the capacity of government actors to investigate and ensure that sanctions are implemented,’ he said.

Businesses urged to take responsibility

Mr Nicolas Oebel, Enabel’s country director, said the success of the national action plan should be measured by the changes it delivered in people’s lives rather than commitments made on paper.

‘The real measure of success is not what we have committed to on paper, but what has actually changed in people’s lives. Our workers are better protected, our communities more in control of decisions affecting them, our businesses taking greater responsibility for their impact,’ he said.

He said responsible business practices should not be driven by government and development partners alone, adding that companies needed to take ownership of the agenda.

‘Responsible business cannot be driven by government and development dollars alone. Businesses themselves must take ownership of this agenda,’ he said.

All was not at ease when Dr Gerald Banaga-Baingi, the chief executive officer of Uganda National Mining Company (UNMC), hastily stepped out of Victoria Hall at the International Conference Centre, Serena Hotel, last Thursday.

At the time, about 6:30pm, the Inspectorate of Government’s communications team had already distributed a statement of the ombudsman directing Ms Maria Kiwanuka, the UNMC acting board chairperson, to immediately interdict Dr Banaga-Baingi and the company’s Corporate and Legal Affairs Officer, Ms Lelia Bwambale, to ‘facilitate investigations into allegations of maladministration, financial mismanagement, and abuse of office’.

In the statement that this publication has seen, the ombudsman further directed Ms Kiwanuka ‘to make interim arrangements to ensure the uninterrupted discharge of their functions during the period of interdiction’.

‘Public interest demands that while investigations against an officer are ongoing, he or she should be suspended from exercising the powers and functions of the office to avoid interference with the investigations,’ the IG statement read in part.

Despite the interdiction orders on Thursday, according to inside accounts, Dr Banaga-Baingi reported to work on Friday morning and carried on his work until around 4pm when he left the office at Crested Towers in Kampala City.

Ms Bwambale had stayed away.

Dr Banaga-Baingi, the top bureaucrat at the statutory company, co-supervised by the ministries of Energy and Finance, is charged with the commercial aspects of the country’s lucrative but largely neglected mining industry.

False calm

Earlier that Thursday, he had presented during a four-man panel discussion on the country’s minerals, mining and geological resources potential.

The panel was part of the Sustainable Extractives Industry Development Programme (SEIDP) review under the theme, ‘From Resource to Transformation: Aligning the Extractives Sector with Uganda’s Qualitative Leap under NDP IV’.

The discussion was part of this year’s Renewable Energy Conference and Expo that ran from Monday to Thursday last week.

During the discussion, Dr Banaga-Baingi left nothing to imagination about what the company is currently doing, and the medium and long-term plans. The kind of stuff any interested player would have expected to hear from a CEO.

UNMC, by way of the Mining and Minerals (Amendment) Act, 2022, is mandated to hold a 15 percent free-carried equity interest in all medium and large-scale mining licences. Dr Baingi, speaking on the panel discussion, said this equity stake could even ‘go up to 35 percent’.

Currently, he said, the company deals in about 58 minerals: from precious metals including copper, cobalt, gold, iron ore, lead, beryllium, tin, titanium, tungsten, manganese, and rare earth metals, to industrial minerals such as limestone, phosphates, kaolin, and vermiculite, among others.

Dr Banaga-Baingi further spelt out that UNMC is eyeing stakes in nine medium and large-scale licences, with three already in advanced stages, from which the country could earn $1.1b (Shs4.78 trillion).

He also detailed plans for downstream operations, including mineral commodity trading, and in midstream, a national gold refinery, which, when all harnessed, with the right strategic partnerships, could fetch the country upwards of $5.9b (Shs25.67 trillion).

When asked by the moderator, as a parting question, what he would specifically focus on within the next ninety days, Dr Banaga-Baingi responded: ‘We should have quantified our [gold] resources in Kassanda and actualised an investment plan.’

The audience gave an enthusiastic round of applause as the panelists smiled and nodded in acknowledgment and exited the stage.

Another panel was called to the stage to discuss another theme.

Dr Monica Musenero, the Energy and Mineral Development minister, showed up towards 5pm, and officially closed the discussion by 6:30pm.

Mood inside UNMC

The following day, the staff whispered about seeing Dr Banaga-Baingi, a CEO who was interdicted the previous evening but still seated at his desk.

But yesterday Dr Banaga-Baingi did not show up at the office amid conspicuous silence from the board and the Ministry of Energy about announcing an acting chief executive and company secretary.

Our attempts to speak to the board chairperson, Ms Kiwanuka, were futile as she did not pick up or return our repeated phone calls since last Friday.

Dr Musenero, who declined to be drawn into discussion on the matter, said she was yet to receive any communication from the Inspectorate of Government.

Similarly, Dr Banaga-Baingi did not respond to our phone calls for comment on the matter. We shared questions via his WhatsApp number on Friday, but were yet to receive any response by press time last evening.

He was, however, quoted on Friday night by the energy news site, Deep Earth International, as saying he was ‘surprised’ by the IG probe. ‘We await the Board and minister’s guidance,’ he was quoted to have said.

The government-leaning New Vision newspaper quoted him yesterday as attributing the ongoing fallout to ‘intrigue and in-fighting’ within the company.

The UNMC is established under the Mining and Minerals (Amendment) Act, 2022, to manage the government’s commercial stakes and participating interests in the mining sector, previously carried out by private companies following the obtaining of exploration and mining licences, in alignment with the policy blueprint-National Development Plan (NDP), now in the fourth edition-as a key sector for downstream linkages for value addition.

By 1965, mineral exports accounted for 14 percent of Uganda’s export earnings behind coffee and cotton. Today, formal mining accounts for a meagre 1.3 percent of total gross domestic product (GDP) and several mineral licences remain un[der]exploited, with several well-connected individuals in government running the mining ventures.

Out of the more than 1,000 mineral licences handed out, less than 400 are active. The 2025 Auditor General’s report details that the UNMC failed to secure the government’s mandatory 15 percent equity stake in seven large mining licences ‘potentially depriving the state of significant revenue from mineral extraction activities’.

During the process of amending the Mining and Minerals Act, the officials said the new legal regime would unlock the country’s mineral sub-sector’s potential to spur the much-sought-after economic development and transformation.

Consequently, UNMC was registered in April 2024, followed by the constitution of a nine-member board in November, led by lawyer James Mukasa Ssebugenyi and Mr James Byagaba as his vice.

Other board members are Ms Kiwanuka, Ms Kevin Aanyu, Ms Agnes Alaba, Mr Alex Kwatampora, Mr Francis Twinamatsiko, Mr Wilfred Aupal, and Mr John Fisher Kanyemibwa.

How things fell apart

Dr Banaga-Baingi, who had hitherto worked as Assistant Commissioner-Technical Planning in the Ministry of Energy, where he joined from National Water and Sewerage Corporation, first took the helm of the company in an interim capacity in January 2025 amid a chaotic search process for a CEO.

He was subsequently confirmed in the position effective May 1, 2025, followed by the recruitment of other executive committee (EXCO) members, including Sameul Acidiri as operations and quality assurance manager, Ms Lorna Nkunda as the exploration and extractions manager, Ms Sandra Kaitare as the chief commercial officer, Ms Brenda Jabel as the head of human resources, and Ms Bwambale as the company secretary.

The board and the new management then commenced putting in place systems, procedures, processes, and policies for the new company in the ensuing months.

According to insiders, they even engaged extensively with the top management of the Uganda National Oil Company (Unoc), the parastatal charged with managing the state interests in the nascent oil industry.

Unoc holds a 15 percent equity stake in the upstream licences and in the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (Eacop).

Increasingly, the company is widening its footprint in the downstream side of the chain-importation and supply of petroleum products. Unoc, too, had its fair share of power struggles and bickering among its managers, but overcame the challenges.

By the beginning of 2026, the new company, UNMC, was coming apart at the seams, occasioned by a myriad of factors, ranging from disharmony between some the board and the EXCO, triggered by different working methods.

Also, the policies and processes were sketchy, with some top officials accused of influencing recruitment, tender processes, and harassment in the company, among other issues.

Conflicting visions

Other accusations included recruitment of staff without following the approved process, mismanagement of funds, micromanagement, conflict of interest, and influencing the award of mining licences.

By mid-2026, insiders were variously speaking of a ‘toxic working environment’ in the new company as conflicting visions collided in the boardroom.

But Dr Musenero said she could not comment on the matters until appraised of the preliminary findings by the IG.

In one internal memo dated July 1, 2026, one EXCO member criticised the board committee on Finance, Investment and Administration (FIA) led by the deputy board chairperson, Mr Byagaba, over questioning management about financial work plans of the company.

‘The Board of Directors is politely reminded to constantly recap the importance of complying with the Corporate Governance Water Fall that was well articulated during the recent Board Management Development session in April 2026 and ensure that the Board Committee execute duties that are under their Terms of References (ToRs) and uphold the independence and distinct roles thereof. Failure to comply with the Corporate Governance Waterfall is a very serious corporate risk that results in Corporate Governance breaches and liability,’ the official wrote.

On the FIA constantly probing the company’s employment practices, the EXCO member shot back that: ‘We wish to draw your attention to clause 11.24 of the FIA ToRs, which succinctly provides that the FIA ‘shall review and approve the company recruitment plans.’

However, on record are numerous emails in which information requested for is not related to the company’s recruitment plans. The information requested includes specific staff online application forms, categories of recruited staff, board minutes authorising staff recruitment, etc…’

The UNMC board charter stipulates that the three-member FIA is charged with reviewing the company’s annual budgets before approval by the board, and monitors budget performance through the financial year, among other roles.

The same EXCO member, separately, rebuked the board Audit and Risk Committee over incessant prying into the financial affairs of the company.

‘With regard to the company’s financial matters, the Audit and Risk Committee is responsible for monitoring budget compliance, which focuses on rules and legality, ensuring all expenditures adhere to established financial laws, organisational policies, and legal constraints. The primary goal of monitoring budget compliance involves accountability, risk mitigation and adherence to authority. Some of the key questions we are asked: Did we get the required approvals for this purchase? Is the money being spent on the exact line items the board approved?’

By the end of June, the EXCO was attempting to block the board committees altogether from convening, which aggravated the disharmony, prompting the Ministry of Finance Permanent Secretary Ramathan Ggoobi, as a shareholder ministry in the company, to institute a governance forensic audit in July.

Relationship beyond repair

As the EXCO and the board wrangled, on July 26, the board chairperson, Mr Ssebugenyi, attempted to cause a Special Board meeting to discuss the matter of the governance forensic audit, arguing that it ‘has so many effects on the company’.

The company management blocked the board meeting, according to documents seen by this newspaper, by invoking a July 1 directive by Dr Musenero ‘instructing all Boards to stay all matters with regard to strategic decisions’ pending an upcoming orientation retreat with all chief executive officers and board chairpersons of agencies in the energy sector.

Dr Musenero, who assumed office on June 10, was appointed Energy minister during the May 26 Cabinet reshuffle, succeeding Ms Ruth Nankabirwa, who was dropped and retained as senior presidential advisor.

Between July 13-17, Dr Musenero convened a five-day retreat at Munyonyo Commonwealth Resort, in Kampala, where she unveiled the ‘One MEMD’ doctrine, meant to break down the wall of institutional silos within the sector.

Accordingly, one EXCO member told off the board regarding the special sitting, saying: ‘On July 19th at the end of the retreat, the minister, in the presence of the ministers of State for Minerals and Energy, held a private meeting with the Board chairperson, CEO, and company secretary and further clearly instructed that the board should stay all matters with regard to strategic decisions, including human resource management matters,’ and further warned that any attempt to cause the special sitting would be tantamount to contempt of the minister.

Genesis of trouble

Trouble reportedly started when some EXCO members acquiesced and appeared before the internal auditors dispatched by the Treasury, while others reportedly dodged or asked subordinates not to appear before the panel.

On the morning of September 25, Dr Musenero announced the ‘resignation’ of Mr Ssebugenyi, as board chairperson, and ‘termination’ of his vice, Mr Byagaba, as part of ‘measures to address governance and management challenges affecting the company’.

Ms Kiwanuka was named acting board chairperson. ‘In her capacity as acting chairperson, Hon Kiwanuka has been tasked with providing effective leadership to the Board, strengthening corporate governance and restoring institutional stability,’ the ministry said.

Sources said the preliminary findings of the Internal Auditor General were handed over to the Inspectorate of Government for further inquiry, setting in motion last Thursday’s communication.

What law says on interdiction

Interdiction, according to the Public Service Standing Orders, 2021, refers to the temporary removal of a public officer from exercising the duties of his or her office while investigations over a particular misconduct are being conducted.

An officer who has been interdicted is prohibited from coming to work and is supposed to receive no less than one-half of salary with effect from the date of interdiction until the matter is finalised.

Following interdiction, as per the Public Service guidelines, investigations into the matter that led to interdiction should be concluded within three months for investigations that do not involve the police and court and six months for investigations that involve the police and court.

In this regard, the investigation into a matter should be done expeditiously. The principle of the presumption of innocence applies to any public official interdicted and undergoing an administrative investigation.

The promise of digital education in Uganda faces a sobering reality check as officials and industry leaders warn that rushing technology into classrooms without fixing underlying infrastructural divides could severely widen the gap between wealthy and marginalized learners.

Speaking at the EdTech Baraza in Kampala, Dennis Mujimba, spokesperson for the Ministry of Education and Sports, cautioned against adopting tech-driven mandates without clear pathways for equitable access. With basic necessities like stable electricity, internet connectivity, and hardware remaining out of reach for millions, the digital shift risks creating a multi-tiered education system.

‘If you mandate ICTs and say a topic must be delivered through technology, who is going to provide that gadget?’ Mujimba challenged the audience, pointing out that government-supported institutions represent only a fraction of the nation’s educational landscape. ‘Out of approximately 5,000 secondary schools nationwide, the government only oversees about 1,600. How will learners in the remaining schools access these digital learning facilities?’

To mitigate the cost burden on low-income families, Mujimba suggested exploring shared digital infrastructure models, similar to systems used in higher education abroad where common devices are provided within lecture rooms rather than requiring individual ownership.

The stark reality of Uganda’s digital readiness was underscored by data presented at the forum. Findings from a comprehensive digital readiness assessment of over 3,200 secondary schools-supported by the Mastercard Foundation’s Leaders in Teaching program-revealed that only one in five schools possesses the reliable electricity, devices, and connectivity required to sustain digital learning. More than a third of the surveyed schools operate with zero internet access.

Wariko Waita, Director of the Mastercard Foundation Centre for Innovative Teaching and Learning, emphasized that technology is not a magic wand for systemic structural flaws.

‘The real opportunity lies in using technology to respond directly to learners’ and educators’ needs, strengthen teaching, and build more inclusive, resilient education systems,’ Waita noted. She called for targeted investments in rural infrastructure and teacher training, stressing that vulnerable groups-including young women, learners with disabilities, and remote communities-are most at risk of being left behind. Through its EdTech Fellowship in partnership with Hive Colab, the foundation is currently working to scale 36 local education technology ventures over the next five years to build contextualized, inclusive learning tools.

Beyond infrastructure, media and academic experts at the Baraza highlighted the urgent need to realign digital learning with real-world skills and market demands. Flavia Tumusiime, Head of Broadcast at Nation Media Group Uganda, stressed that digital tools should foster critical thinking rather than simple rote learning.

‘Uganda’s vibrant, young population is our greatest opportunity, but that potential will be squandered if our youth are not equipped with practical, future-ready skills,’ Tumusiime said, reaffirming NMG’s commitment to supporting initiatives that improve tangible learning outcomes across the country.

Echoing these concerns, Prof. Mouhammad Mpezamihigo, Vice Chancellor of Equator University of Science and Technology, urged institutions to abandon rigid traditional frameworks in favor of rapid adaptability.

‘The take-home message is that we must be remarkably agile,’ Prof. Mpezamihigo stated. ‘Things are shifting rapidly around us, whether we run an educational institution or a business. Universities carry the fundamental responsibility of ensuring graduates can compete dynamically on the global job market.’

As the Ministry of Education prepares a comprehensive ICT in Education Policy alongside updated curriculum guidelines, Mujimba urged policymakers to cut through bureaucratic delays and focus on practical impact over procedural compliance.

‘We must move to a level where we assess our progress on actual delivery, not mere compliance with procedure,’ Mujimba concluded, highlighting that digital tools must ultimately teach students how to adapt to an evolving world. ‘At its core, we need to teach our learners how to learn.’

Conservative Party president John Ken Lukyamuzi has criticised President Museveni’s proposal to rely on exports to stabilise the depreciating Ugandan shilling, urging the government to consider using part of the country’s foreign exchange reserves to support the local currency.

Mr Lukyamuzi argued that Uganda’s export earnings were too small to effectively strengthen the shilling, proposing that at least $2.5 billion be drawn from the country’s foreign exchange reserves to ease pressure on the currency.

‘I would not buy the proposal of President Museveni that we should depend on exporters. The exports are very negligible, immeasurably negligible,’ Mr Lukyamuzi said on Tuesday in Kampala.

His remarks follow a debate over how best to respond to the shilling’s depreciation, with the Bank of Uganda proposing the use of part of the country’s foreign exchange reserves to support the local currency, while Museveni has favoured boosting exports as a more sustainable solution.

Uganda’s foreign exchange reserves were estimated at between $6 billion and $6.7 billion in the figures cited in the debate.

Mr Lukyamuzi made the remarks during a Tuesday press briefing Kampala, where he was accompanied by the party’s Secretary General, Mr Kasozi Bukenya, and founding member Grace Ssebina.

He called on the government to consider direct intervention in the foreign exchange market through the Bank of Uganda, arguing that relying on export earnings alone would not adequately address the pressure on the shilling as it touched over Shs4,500 per US dollar this week, its weakest level in 33 years.

Meanwhile, Mr Bukenya urged the government to tackle corruption and reduce public expenditure, saying these measures could help ease economic pressures.

He called for cuts in unnecessary government spending and a reduction in the recruitment of public servants and creation of new positions.

‘The government should cut on its expenditure, reduce on recruitment and creating new posts, among others,’ Mr Bukenya said.

The shilling’s depreciation and rising fuel prices have raised concerns about the cost of doing business and the impact on households, particularly as businesses face higher costs for imported goods and other inputs.

The government has partly attributed pressure on the currency and rising fuel costs to geopolitical conflicts and changes in global capital flows.

Beyond the economic debate, Mr Lukyamuzi called for inclusive dialogue between the government and opposition political parties, saying meaningful engagement was necessary to promote peace and democracy.

He said the Conservative Party supported national dialogue but insisted that the process should deliver tangible outcomes rather than remain a political formality.

‘We embrace the national dialogue, but it must have purpose and intent to reach us somewhere,’ Mr Lukyamuzi said.

He added that the government should take the lead in promoting dialogue, arguing that Parliament had not adequately addressed the matter.

A Senior Four student of Kilembe Secondary School in Kasese drowned in River Nyamwamba on Sunday night, days to his final UCE paper.

Innocent Ashraf Nowomugisha, 17, was swept away at about 8pm on October 25 while returning to school from Kasese town where he had gone to play football with fellow student Davis Musanganya, a Senior Six student.

The two were crossing the flooded river after heavy rain when they were swept away. Musanganya survived after being carried downstream near the former Kilembe Bridge.

Rwenzori East Police spokesperson ASP Elly Maate said Musanganya reported to head teacher Christopher Ndyanabo, who alerted police.

Residents and police recovered Nowomugisha’s body at about 11:45am Monday, October 26. It was taken to Kasese Municipal Health Centre III for postmortem before handover to family.

Father Abel Rwibande, resident of Saluti B Cell, Kanyangeya Ward, Nyamwamba Division, said his son had hoped to study Medicine and Surgery.

“I feel heartbroken; my son has been my last hope! This couldn’t be now. My son loved football. His dream was to study Medicine and Surgery. My heart is now scattered,” Rwibande said.

Kasese District councillor for Bulembia, Deusi Baluku, asked government to build footbridges.

“If there was an alternative bridge, this wouldn’t have happened. The boys would have used the bridge,” Baluku said.

River Nyamwamba has a history of deadly floods. In February 2021, Biira Karamahyi, 24, drowned crossing from Kihara to Habitant Cell. In August 2021, S1 student Linas Masereka, 17, of same school went missing in floods. In September 2024, nurse Masika Teopista, 40, and Bright Mumbere, 28, died in separate flood incidents. In May 2026, Christine Chachimwa, 16, drowned returning from confirmation ceremony.

ASP Maate cautioned against crossing flooded rivers at night.

“Please let us avoid crossing rivers whenever it rains or during night hours when it is dark, since you cannot determine the water levels. Stay where you are and wait for the river to settle,” Maate said.

Chief of Defence Forces Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba has promoted Brig Oscar Munanura to the rank of acting Major General and appointed him the new Chief of Defence Intelligence and Security (CDIS) of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF).

The appointment was announced on Tuesday by Col Chris Magezi, the Acting Director of Defence Public Information at the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs/UPDF.

Munanura, who was serving as Deputy CDIS, replaces Maj Gen Richard Otto, who has been ‘seconded to the Joint Staff Human Resource Management for redeployment’, according to the statement.

The appointment and promotion are subject to approval by President Museveni, the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces.

The UPDF congratulated Munanura on his promotion and appointment, while commending Maj Gen Otto for his service.

‘We wish the General Officers good luck in their new duties,’ Col Magezi said.