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The Comesa Competition Commission has fined global beverages giant Diageo $750,000 (Shs2.5b) for engaging in anti-competitive business practices across Uganda, Eswatini, and Zambia.

Diageo, the majority shareholder in East African Breweries Limited, was found to have breached regional competition laws by restricting trade and distorting market dynamics within Comesa.

A 13-page ruling indicates that the Commission concluded that Diageo’s distribution and production agreements contained restrictive clauses that undermined fair competition and regional integration.

The case, filed in 2021, followed complaints from distributors about Diageo’s contractual terms.

The investigation identified clauses on minimum resale price, single-branding, and territorial restrictions, which the Commission said prevented fair competition.

The Commission found that Diageo’s contracts allowed it to influence retail prices, compel distributors to sell only its products, and prohibit them from selling outside designated territories.

In Uganda, these territorial restrictions were particularly strict, cutting off distributors from potential cross-border markets. The Commission ruled that the practices violated the Comesa Competition Regulations, which outlaw agreements that prevent or distort competition within Comesa.

‘These arrangements frustrated regional trade integration and ran counter to the objectives of the Comesa Treaty,’ the ruling reads in part.

After four years of correspondence, the Commission issued a Statement of Concern in September 2023, allowing Diageo to respond. Diageo initially denied wrongdoing but later opted for a negotiated settlement.

In May 2025, Diageo and the Commission reached a Commitment Agreement, a legal mechanism allowing companies to settle cases without admitting liability.

Under the deal, Diageo agreed to pay $750,000 (Shs2.5b), remove all restrictive clauses from its distribution contracts, and notify distributors within 30 days that such clauses were no longer enforceable.

It also committed to submit compliance reports for three years.

The agreement was signed in London, UK, on September 30, 2025, by James Edmunds, Diageo’s General Counsel, and Dr Willard Mwemba, the Commission’s Director and Chief Executive Officer.

The ruling was particularly critical of Diageo’s operations in Uganda, where its subsidiary Uganda Breweries Limited was found to have imposed severe territorial restrictions that barred distributors from selling outside their zones, even within neighbouring Comesa countries.

President Museveni has said all is on course to upgrade health centres and key roads in Arua, Maracha and Koboko districts. While acknowledging the outstanding road projects such as the Manibe-Terego-Yumbe and Panyimur-Pakwach-Wadelai-Rhino Camp routes, he assured residents that the ‘debts will be cleared’ once he is re-elected in the 2026 General Election.

He made the remarks while campaigning at Nyadri Urban Secondary School in Maracha District and Ombachi Primary School playground yesterday.

‘We still have plans to work on the road from Manibe-Terego-Yumbe, just like we are now working on the Koboko-Yumbe-Moyo Road. We will also work on the road from Panyimur-Pakwach-Wadelai-Rhino Camp,’ Mr Museveni told supporters.

The NRM leader also said the government had not worked on some of the roads earlier because priority had been given to other development sectors.

He further added that the most pressing issue is ensuring wealth creation in people’s homes, noting that ‘even with good roads, poverty will keep on knocking’ unless families improve their incomes.

The road construction has been delayed due to funding challenges. The initial project timeline was set for February 2020, with the disclosure of the resettlement action plan, followed by a World Bank Board meeting in June 2020.

Mr Adinan Dina, a driver from Yumbe who has operated on the Manibe-Terego road for the past five years, said he has spent more than Shs3 million on car repairs due to the poor road conditions. ‘I have persevered in the business because I have responsibilities of paying school fees for my children, rent and medication bills,’ he said.

‘Sometimes you regret driving on this road for business. You wonder whether our taxes are translated into services such as good roads, which we have cried for long,’ he added.

The road and bridges are mainly characterised by a bumpy surface, which becomes impassable whenever it rains. Some stretches are narrow, with large gullies in some sections.

In July 2020, the procurement of a contractor was initiated, and work was scheduled to start in July 2021. It was later earmarked to begin in August 2023, but construction has yet to commence.

Health sector

President Museveni said health centres such as Orivu Health Centre III will be upgraded to Health Centre IV, while Lazebu Health Centre II in Logiri Sub-county, Arua District, will be elevated to Health Centre III. He also pledged to upgrade health facilities in Ayivu East Division in Arua City and Maracha District.

In Koboko District, the President said the construction of the district hospital will soon be completed, and more health centres will be elevated.

His remarks followed a plea from the Koboko District NRM chairperson, Mr Samanya Draniga, who said: ‘We wish for the completion and functionality of Koboko Hospital because it has become expensive for people to be referred to Arua or Yumbe referral hospitals. We also need the upgrades of Ludara, Lobule and Ayipe health centres.’

Education sector

The President said: ‘In parishes where there are no government-aided primary schools, we shall construct one per parish in the next government. This is to create accessibility.’ Throughout his campaigns, he urged supporters to embrace Universal Primary Education (UPE) and Universal Secondary Education (USE), saying the government still faces resistance in the implementation of these programmes. The Minister for Education and Sports, Ms Janet Museveni, who also campaigned for her husband, said: ‘We need to build more schools and health centres because of the increasing population in Uganda. President Museveni wants to ensure that no child is left behind at home but gets educated.’

From the ghettos of Kampala to the high-altitude training camps of Iten, Kenya, Jordan Schleck Ssekanwagi’s cycling journey has been one defined by determination, focus, grit and a family legacy.

At 22, he is an off-road cyclist for Team Amani, balancing international ambitions with a commitment to giving back to his community.

Cycling runs in Ssekanwagi’s blood. He is the son of David Matovu, a former Ugandan national champion and an avid cyclist who still competes locally. Matovu’s career has taken him across East Africa, including a few Commonwealth Games appearances and today he coaches Tropical Heat Cycling Academy while nurturing the next generation of Ugandan cyclists-including his son, Ssekanwagi.

‘I was already watching my father race at a very young age,’ Ssekanwagi recalls. ‘On TV, I used to cheer for Andy and Frank Schleck. That’s why my family began to nickname me ‘Schleck,’ and by the time I was six, it was added to my name.’

Ssekanwagi began racing on a mountain bike and in 2014, upgraded to a custom bamboo-and-carbon road bike built by his father.

Racing alongside adults in Uganda due to the scarcity of junior competitions, Ssekanwagi quickly made his mark, also testing himself in Tanzania, Rwanda, and Kenya.

At 14, he was the youngest rider in Kenya’s biggest stage race, the Tour de Machakos. Between 2014 and 2017, he became a four-time Ugandan junior national champion, winning his first title at just 11.

The making of a pro

Ssekanwagi’s journey has been anything but straightforward. Initially splitting his time between cycling, football and dance, he eventually chose cycling, motivated by both passion and the opportunities football scholarships offered for survival.

At 15, he moved to Kenya not only to access higher-level competition but also to escape the politics within the Uganda Cycling Association. Limited opportunities, unclear selection criteria, and internal conflicts made it difficult for young talent like him to advance.

‘There were times when results and talent didn’t guarantee a chance to race. Decisions were influenced by favouritism and politics, and it became frustrating for anyone serious about developing as a cyclist. Moving to Kenya allowed me to focus purely on training and racing without those barriers,’ Ssekanwagi recalls.

‘I realised I needed to push myself and win anything I could,’ he adds. ‘I was obsessed-I used to train three times a day and even wake up at night to ride. My dad told me, ‘If you want something, you have to push yourself.”

At the Safari Simbaz camp in Kenya, Ssekanwagi honed his skills, balancing training with mechanical work while setting clear goals for a professional career. His breakthrough came in 2021 at the Migration Gravel, a four-day, 600km local race in Maasai Mara, where he competed against international cyclists and finished top 10. That exposure opened doors for international competitions, including races in the Netherlands and Italy, where he won a stage.

Life as a pro

Now a full-time athlete with Team Amani, Ssekanwagi’s life is highly structured, revolving around a balance of training, recovery, nutrition and personal development.

Based at the Iten High Altitude Centre in Kenya, a breeding ground for world-class athletes, he follows a rigorous daily schedule.

Long training days often involve six hours on the bike, covering distances up to 180km, while recovery days are shorter-two to three hours of light riding to loosen muscles and maintain fitness. Strength training is done once or twice a week after rides to build endurance, core stability and explosive power.

Nutrition plays a critical role. Breakfast typically includes bread, eggs, peanut butter and oatmeal, with adjustments depending on the day’s training intensity. Lunch and dinner are carefully balanced with carbohydrates, proteins and fats to optimise recovery.

Team Amani also emphasizes education and life skills, offering classes in English, mechanics and yoga as part of holistic athlete development.

‘It’s not just about riding. The team wants to develop both the athlete and the person-you can’t reach your full potential without that balance,’ Jordan explains.

Communication, discipline, and team dynamics are central to success. Each rider works closely with coaches, nutritionists and mentors, learning to pace themselves in races, manage mechanical challenges and strategise in group competitions.

Training is intense and consistent, but athletes are taught to listen to their bodies, recover properly, and maintain mental focus.

Ssekanwagi reflects on the contrast with his early years: ‘Back in Uganda, you trained depending on what you had in your pocket. You had to balance work and cycling, and you didn’t have proper guidance on nutrition or recovery. Joining Team Amani changed everything-training, lifestyle, communication, and even how we think about races. Now, it’s a full-time profession with structure and support.’

Being part of an international team also exposes him to European racing culture, strategies, and standards. This experience has taught him the importance of attention to detail-from bike maintenance to nutrition and recovery-that can make the difference between winning and finishing mid-pack.

Riding for a cause

Ssekanwagi and Paris 2024 Olympian Charles Kagimu are spearheading Cycle for Hope, a charity initiative to support refugee children in Arua. The expedition, scheduled from December 7-15, will cover 800km from Kampala to Rhino Camp, delivering 60 bicycles to secondary school students and raising awareness about the barriers refugees face to education.

The ride will pass through nine stages, starting with the Nile Stage from Kampala to Jinja, followed by the Elgon Stage to Mbale, the Awoja Stage to Soroti, the Ngetta Stage to Lira, the Murchison Stage to Pakwach, the Albert Nile Stage to Arua and concluding with the Rhino Stage from Arua to Rhino Camp.

Other cyclists joining the cause include Brenda Sikoya, Mary Aleper, Lukman Magoba, Musilimu Kiwanuka and Willy Kato.

‘I’m very happy this came to be true. We have been on it with Kagimu for a long time and it’s good we’re finally going to ride for hope,’ he shared.

The event is organized by Crisis Response Network in partnership with Minet, AGL, Buffalo Bikes, World Bicycle Relief, the Rotary Club of Konge-Lukuli, Uganda Police and Rotary Uganda.

Ssekanwagi is calling on sponsors to support a stage for as little as Shs20,000.

‘I hope this effort inspires children,’ Jordan says. ‘No matter what challenges they face, they can achieve greatness.’

Jordan Schleck Ssekanwagi

Date of Birth: 20 September 2002

Nationality: Ugandan

Team: Team Amani

Weight: 48kg

Height: 1.60m

UCI ranking: 1387

Top result

2nd National Championships Uganda ME – Road Race (2025)

4th National Championships Uganda ME – ITT (2025)

13th African Continental Championships ME – ITT (2021)

23rd African Continental Championships ME – Road Race (2021)

33rd African Games ME – Road Race (2024)

As Uganda aims for a 24.7 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, some stakeholders are concerned about the low adoption of mitigation measures in the country’s cattle corridor areas, where methane emissions are concentrated.

Nakasongola District is one of the areas with high concentration of greenhouse emissions. The livestock farmers are reportedly questioning some of the mitigation measures, such as reduction in numbers of animals kept, cultivation of improved pastures, and planting of trees in areas where vegetation clearing is rampant.

Under the Support to Rural Sustainable Transformation project, a programme funded by the European Union between 2021 and 2024, targeting the cattle farming population in Nakasongola District, a study revealed excess methane gases (greenhouse gases) emitted into the atmosphere from domestic animals, including cattle, and the rampant bush clearing by the farmers.

The findings from the research, according to Nakasongola District Production Officer, Ms Sarah Nakatte, revealed excess methane gas release into the atmosphere in areas where the livestock farmers are concentrated.

‘The methane released into the atmosphere is from the cow dung, animal belching, with a suggestion that farmers adhere to modern farming practices like improved farm forages, and plant trees near their farms,’ she says.

Ms Nakatte advises farmers to start converting the excess cow dung into biogas since the dung left at the farm contributes to excess greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere. Environmentalists say the amount of methane produced by the animals is related to the quality of feeds that the animals consume.

In Nakasongola District, like many other cattle corridor districts, the animals feed on natural tropical pastures which are low in crude protein content.

Dr Alfred Baker Namika, a veterinary practitioner in private practice and a farmer, says the low adaptation to modern farm animal feeds largely contributes to the high methane gas release into the atmosphere.

‘Our farmers in areas of Nakasongola still believe that the modern pastures grown on the farm are expensive and not very nutritious for the cattle. The farmers are still stuck on the communal grazing methods, where the animals feed on local grasses on free range. The poor feeding mechanism contributes to the high methane gas released by the animals,’ he says.

Dr Namika suggests that the possibility of convincing farmers to buy into the idea of reducing the number of animals kept at their respective farms to mitigate methane gas release may not be the viable option for farmers in the cattle corridor areas.

‘We need to preach the improved farming practices that encourage growth of modern grasses for animal forage including conserved feeds such as silage and hay. These grasses can be grown at the farmer’s respective farms,’ he advises.

Through the promotion of climate-smart agriculture practices, farmers in Nakasongola are being sensitised and encouraged to graze animals in controlled areas where forage grasses will be cultivated for animal feeding.

Many farmers in Nakasongola believe in having large herds while still stuck on the indigenous and rudimentary farm practices. Mr Sam Kigula, the Nakasongola District LC5 chairperson, says the farmers need more sensitisation.

Farmers not aware

While the government, in partnership with the European Union, commissioned a project between 2021 and 2024 to provide accurate data on carbon emissions from the cattle industry, including climate-smart agriculture practices as a mitigation campaign, a section of farmers has significantly stuck to unsafe farming practices.

Mr Abel Ssemudu, a livestock farmer who owns 76 cows in Nabiswera Subcounty, Nakasongola District, says the modern farming practices demand that animals remain in paddocks and graze on improved grasses that are not easily available to the local farmers.

‘We have limited land and lack the highly needed technology to produce processed foods for animals at the paddocks. The type of grasses recommended, including the Napier, Rhodes, and Guinea grasses, demand bigger land and enough water for cultivation,’ he says.

Mr Wilson Wasswa, another farmer at Kimage Village in Nabiswera Sub-county, Nakasongola District, says the land in Nakasongola has become bare because of bush clearing and tree felling targeting charcoal burning.

‘The campaign to mitigate climate change should target tree planting that partly contributes to the mitigation measures in a healthy environment. The farmers are struggling with extra high temperatures and a lack of water sources for the survival of animals at the respective farms,’ he says.

But State Minister for Animal Industry Bright Rwamirama says the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries has been sensitising farmers about the need to shift to improved farm practices that target improved production through growth of forage grasses.

‘It is not true that the forage grasses, such as the Napier, grow on special soils. The farmers who are growing the forage have already started testing the fruits of the good farming practices. Nomadic farming has no place in modern farming. The pasture grasses are available. We also have trained extension workers to advise farmers,’ he says.

Deforestation in Nakasongola

Conservationists say Nakasongola is among the areas that have suffered forest depletion as a result of human activities linked to high greenhouse emissions.

The forest cover is a mitigation measure for greenhouse emissions. Global Forest Watch report indicates that Nakasongola lost 44.9Kha of forest cover, an equivalent of 2,000 hectares of tree cover between 2002 and 2024. This translates to 18.4 metric tonnes of methane emissions (greenhouse gas) released into the atmosphere.

The forests act as carbon sinks, absorbing the methane from the atmosphere. Experts say deforestation, a characteristic in many livestock farming areas, exacerbates the greenhouse effect and contributes to climate change. It is estimated that about 97 percent of Uganda’s land area is suffering from some form of human-induced degradation.

The uncontrolled tree felling, poor livestock farm practices are contributory factors to the higher amounts of methane released into the atmosphere in Nakasongola District.

Soil erosion, extreme heat and reduced water, and long dry spells experienced in parts of Nakasongola have been linked to the poor land use activity by the mainly pastoral community in the area.

Projections indicate a significant increase to 148.8 million tonnes of methane (greenhouse gas emissions) by the year 2030 and 235.7 million tonnes by 2050 if the country fails to adapt to the set mitigation measures. Under the new climate change plan, Uganda’s target is a 24.7 percent greenhouse gas emissions reduction by the year 2030.

The previous update was 22 percent. This will be built through adaptation

plans and resilience in sectors such as agriculture, health infrastructure, and ecosystems.

A section of climate change activists and conservationists say key players, including the Local Governments, are yet to prioritise intervention plans that should be part of their respective budget processes.

Mr John Mary Kabyanga, a conservationist attached to Awake Nature Concern Disciples Uganda (ANCODU), urges both government and district leaders to actualise their intervention plans and mitigation measures through budget allocations targeting climate change mitigation measures.

‘Many of the local governments lack special budgets for climate change mitigation intervention plans. It is not a priority. Even in the most affected regions that include the cattle corridor areas, the respective district budgets have no special budget allocations for climate change activities,’ he says.

Adaptation to modern feeds.

Our farmers in areas of Nakasongola still believe that the modern pastures grown on the farm are expensive and not very nutritious for the cattle.

The farmers are still stuck on the communal grazing methods, where the animals feed on local grasses on free range.

The poor feeding mechanism contributes to the high methane gas released by the animals- Dr Alfred Baker Namika, a veterinary practitioner in private practice and farmer.

There comes a time when people must choose between what is easy and what is right. For us, that moment stands at the edge of Kitubulu Forest-a serene, green heartbeat that has protected Entebbe for generations. To me, Kitubulu has never just been a forest. It embodies the scent of clean air after rain, the gentle rustle of leaves that heralds the arrival of the lake breeze, and the shade under which our town seems to breathe.

It provides Entebbe not only with scenic beauty but also with a natural rhythm that has balanced our growth with tranquility. Even as a child, I didn’t know the term ‘ecosystem,’ but I understood that when Kitubulu whispered, the entire town listened. Today, that same forest stands but faces threats. This issue transcends politics and personal ambition; it is about truth, reason, and love for one’s country. Kitubulu is not merely soil and trees; it is a living barrier that protects Lake Victoria and the lives of thousands of Ugandans who live, work, and raise their children along its shores.

Every time the rains come and the waters rise, it is Kitubulu that quietly absorbs the impact. The forest takes the brunt of the force so that our homes, roads, hospitals, and schools are not overwhelmed by flooding. No wall of concrete or imported design could perform this task as faithfully as this forest does-naturally, freely, and selflessly. Yet today, this sacred space is being considered for destruction in the name of ‘investment.’

Let me be clear: I am not against investors. Uganda welcomes them, and Entebbe thrives because of their contributions. However, investment must never come at the expense of the environment. True progress is not measured by the number of buildings we erect but by how wisely we balance development with preservation.

What is being proposed for Kitubulu-a hotel project by the Tian Tiang Group-is neither urgent nor necessary. Entebbe does not lack hotels; we have the capacity for them. What we truly lack is balance and respect for the natural systems that protect us.

As mayor of Entebbe, I see daily how this forest quietly safeguards our community. It ensures that children in Katabi and Nakiwogo can sleep safely when the lake swells, and it is why our roads hold up, our gardens thrive, and our lake remains vibrant. To destroy Kitubulu would be akin to signing a death warrant for Entebbe’s ecological balance.

We are not opposing development; we are resisting distortion.

We are not fighting against progress; we are pushing back against the arrogance that equates destruction with modernity. Uganda’s development narrative must not involve trading nature for concrete or peace for profit. The rest of the world is planting trees, restoring wetlands, and combating climate change. Why should we, blessed with one of Africa’s greatest lakes, be the ones cutting down the very lungs that sustain us? Kitubulu is not an obstacle to progress; it is its guardian.

When floods come- and they will, as climate change continues to escalate- it will not be investors or machines that stand between us and the rising waters. It will be Kitubulu. When history recounts this chapter, may it never forget that the people of Entebbe stood for their forest, listening when it spoke.

As the Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) examinations commenced on Monday, there were isolated incidents of candidates missing the examination for not being registered. In Ntungamo District, one Precious Kembabazi, 21, said she only learnt last Friday that she would not sit for her final examinations because she was not registered by Ruhanga SDA Secondary School in Itojo Sub-county, Ntungamo District, where she has been studying.

‘I showed up for the briefing, and this is when I knew that I was not registered with the Uganda National Examinations Board (Uneb) after the deputy head teacher made the revelation,’ Kembabazi said.

She said prior to the briefing of candidates last Friday, the school administration had suspended her from school after leaving the premises without permission and asked her to come back on the briefing day.

Kembabazi, who completed her Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE) from Kagongi Preparatory Primary School and joined Mama Janet girls’ Secondary School, Nyakyera, later joined Ruhanga SDA Secondary School in Senior Three.

She says she had lost her Primary Seven result slip, which was a prerequisite for registration, and the deputy head teacher advised her parents to go to Uneb headquarters in Kampala to sort out her registration.

‘Having been allowed to do mock exams and continue to stay in school like other students, I thought the issue had been resolved. I was surprised to be told that my aunt brought the result slip to school late, and thus, I could not be registered. No one informed me about it,’ she said.

The sixth child of Mr Herbert Ruhinda of Kayenje in Rweikiniro Sub-county is seeking justice because she does not want to lose her time.

‘My parents may wish to give up, but I will not. I want justice, but I also need to complete this level. We are told that in this system [new O-Level curriculum], if you do not do the exams, you go back to Senior One. I do not want this to happen to me. I have been in class for four years, did everything, I need to sit my papers and complete the level,’ she said.

The deputy head teacher, Mr Jonathan Kamugisha, said at registration, Kembabazi had a photocopy of the PLE pass slip, yet Uneb required the original copy.

‘Her family said it could have been confiscated by her aunt, with whom she lived. A case was reported to the police, and the aunt was arrested, but could not produce the pass slip in time. She only brought it in August, when even late registration was done,’ he explained.

Ntungamo Resident District commissioner, Ms Mariam Kagaiga, however, said the matter must be fully investigated and anyone responsible for failing the candidate to sit her final exams must be arrested.

‘If there is anyone to be arrested, we have to arrest them. This girl comes from an area where finishing Senior Four is a miracle; many drop out before Primary Seven and get married. If the parents are involved or the school or relatives, we must know and they will be held accountable,’ she said.

Rweikiniro Sub-county has the highest percentage of school drop-outs in Ntungamo District, with at least 75 percent of the girls who enrol for Primary One not completing Primary Seven.

The Finance Ministry has been conducting Local Government Budget Consultations for the Financial Year 2026/2027 since September 15, in 24 regional centres across the country. These budget consultative workshops bring together government technical and political staff at various levels to consult and communicate the government’s budget strategy for the upcoming financial year.

I have been following the discussion, but some of the most recurring issues at local governments include inadequate infrastructure, inadequate staffing in schools and health facilities, underfunded agricultural extension services, weak disaster preparedness and response mechanisms, among others. The persistent challenges have resulted in a substantial gap between the services needed by the people and those provided in service delivery, which have far-reaching implications for Uganda’s development trajectory. Particularly, this gap is widely pronounced in rural areas where access to basic services such as clean water, sanitation, and quality health care is limited.

For instance, communities in Kabarole District in areas such as Karagura, Hakibale, Kibatsi, Kabende, and Kasenda lack access to safe drinking water. According to the March 2025 district survey report, access to drinking water had reduced to 43.6 percent from 48.3 percent. The report also indicates that residents rely on unprotected sources. In Kabale, according to data from the Civil Society Budget Advocacy Group (CSBAG), there are infrastructure safety concerns. In addition, poor road drainage systems have led to blockages caused by debris such as pebbles, mud, and plastic waste.

In Kyotera District, information from Transparency International Uganda indicates delayed completion of Nabigasa Health Centre III maternity Ward- Nabigasa Health Centre III. Since the commencement of works in 2020, the facility remains non-functional due to delays in project completion and handover. This has affected access to maternal health services. In Nebbi District, a devastating hailstorm hit Abongo Primary School in March, damaging classrooms and injuring students.

Since the government’s response couldn’t come in time, parents had to foot the bill for the repairs. Many schools face similar challenges that affect vulnerable children’s access to education, hence undermining Uganda’s Universal Primary Education (UPE) programme. To mitigate this, the government should consider establishing an emergency education fund, enforcing climate-resilient building standards, and prioritising inclusive recovery efforts to ensure safe learning environments for all.

Government, in the Financial Year 2026/2027 Budget, should prioritise funding critical infrastructure, staffing, improving disaster risk financing, and climate-resilient infrastructure. In addition, there is a need to strengthen local revenue mobilisation and fund absorption, enhance transparency and accountability in public service delivery. In conclusion, by addressing several service delivery constraints through targeted solutions in local governments, the lives of citizens will be improved. And as we look forward to the Financial Year 2026/2027 National Budget, these priorities will be essential for achieving national development goals.

The National Unity Platform (NUP) presidential candidate, Mr Robert Kyagulanyi, alias Bobi Wine, has pledged to provide free porridge and eggs in primary schools across the country as a way of curbing school dropout rates in rural areas.

Speaking at various campaign rallies in Kibuku District, Mr Kyagulanyi said if Ugandans entrust him with the presidency, he will address the deteriorating education sector by ensuring each pupil receives a cup of porridge and an egg daily to boost both academic performance and nutrition.

‘Children will have to take a cup of porridge and an egg as part of improving performance in schools,’ he said, adding that teachers would also receive salary increments.

Various studies suggest that the lack of a clear school feeding programme and absenteeism among teachers in government-aided schools have contributed significantly to high school dropout rates. Teachers under the Uganda National Teachers’ Union (Unatu) have been on strike since September 15, protesting against an unequal pay structure that favours science teachers over their arts counterparts.

Mr Kyagulanyi also pledged to rehabilitate dilapidated school infrastructure and equip health facilities with adequate medicine if elected into power.

Commenting on road infrastructure, he said many roads across the country have become impassable and pledged that his government would rehabilitate them and tackle the rampant theft of government funds. ‘Shs10 trillion is siphoned through corruption.

It’s possible to work on the roads and improve accessibility, especially in rural areas,’ he said. Mr Kyagulanyi also urged police officers to vote for a new government that would prioritise their welfare. He expressed concern over the high unemployment rates among the youth and promised that his government would create jobs to combat poverty.

POVERTY RATE

The Bukedi Sub-region’s poverty rate stands at 37 percent, compared to the national average of 35 percent. It is the second poorest sub-region in the country after Karamoja, with about 88.3 percent of households still relying on subsistence farming despite government interventions. Government statistics show that Bukedi’s per capita income stands at 43.7 percent, with a GDP per capita of $135 (Shs488,866).

After decades of being classified as a Least Developed Country (LDC), Uganda has now been given a green light by the United Nations (UN) to begin preparing for graduation into the developing country category, the Monitor has established.

Uganda has been part of the LDC group since 1971 after being classified as such by the UN until recently when the same body, whose work includes protecting human rights, delivering humanitarian aid, supporting sustainable development, and upholding international law, sanctioned the transition expected to be completed within the next three years.

According to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, this transition is a result of meeting specific economic and development criteria and is already underway. Part of the perks that Uganda would benefit from as a result of being a developing country includes cashing in on preferential treatment, mainly through duty-free market access for goods, preferential access for services, and what the Ministry of Trade describes as “tailored technical assistance and capacity building” from developed and developing countries.

This publication has established that these international support measures are rooted in the World Trade Organization agreements, designed to help vulnerable economies integrate into the global trading system with a view to increase their participation in world trade.

The government is convinced that by graduating from the LDC category, the benefits will include economic progress, improved living standards, and increased investor confidence. Analysts, however, note the downside, including losing access to specific LDC support measures like preferential trade access and development aid, something technocrats at the Ministry of Trade and Ministry of Finance are aware of.

With the graduation from LDC to developing country category, Trade Minister Francis Mwebesa noted in a statement shared by the Ministry’s senior communications officer, Ms. Khadija Blessing Nakakande, that it translates to an improved national image of stability and development, leading to higher foreign investment and credit ratings. The focus now is towards managing the phased withdrawal of specialized support during the transition to becoming a fully developed economy, Mr. Mwebesa is quoted to have said in the statement.

Notification for graduation came in March 2024, when Uganda received a notification from the UN Committee for Development Policy that the country had fulfilled the criteria for graduation from the LDC category for the first time. Uganda, together with Rwanda and Tanzania, met the minimum two criteria for graduation, which include the human assets and the economic and environmental vulnerability indices.

Following the notification for graduation, the Monitor can reveal that Uganda is currently undergoing two assessments by the United Nations. One is expected to cover the impact of graduation on trade preferences and resilience amidst global trade dynamics, and the second assessment analyzes Uganda’s vulnerability on economic, social, and environmental aspects. This was corroborated by the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Cooperatives, Ms Lynette Bagonza.

She said in a statement: “During the three years of assessment, Uganda has to keep its development trajectory without backtracking on the required parameters for graduation. As part of Uganda’s preparation for the transition and ultimate graduation, a National Workshop on Enhancing Trade Resilience in Preparation for Uganda’s Graduation from the LDC category was organized by the Ministry of Trade in partnership with the UN this month.”

The workshop brought together UN dignitaries, senior government officials, private sector leaders, development partners, research and civil society actors who discussed practical strategies for strengthening Uganda’s trade competitiveness and economic resilience. “Government has taken steps in enhancing the private sector competitiveness through the tenfold growth strategy, prioritizing value addition to agro-produce and manufactured products. In addition, resources are being allocated to the development of trade infrastructure among other interventions,” Ms. Bagonza said.

“We have a responsibility to prepare the private sector for this transition. Trade resilience is key to ensuring that Uganda not only meets the graduation criteria but thrives in the post-graduation environment,” she emphasized.

As an LDC, Uganda enjoys benefits from preferential trade arrangements with major developed economies like the European Union, who offer duty-free quota-free market access for all products from LDCs, except arms and ammunition. In the first half of Vision 2040, Uganda’s merchandise exports increased by nearly fivefold – 463 percent – with a 36 percent increase in FY 2024/25. Currently, Uganda’s total exports are valued at $10.6 billion or Shs 37.1 trillion.

Beyond the EU, Ugandans enjoy benefits from countries such as China and India. These schemes allow preferential access to a variety of goods from developing countries, typically without quantitative restrictions. “As an LDC, we have attracted trade financing under the Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF) of the World Trade Organization (WTO), we receive funding to improve our productive capacities, trade infrastructures, and institutional support. We also enjoy preferential rates for our subscription fees to international organizations and logistical support to travel and attend technical meetings,” Ms. Bagonza said.

Trade and treaty negotiation specialists interviewed for this article revealed that Uganda’s graduation from LDC to a developing country means the country will forgo all the aforementioned benefits. Uganda will also lose out on access to certain concessional financing and travel assistance, lower contributions to UN budgets, WTO flexibilities for LDCs, among other benefits.

However, according to Trade Minister Francis Mwebesa, the focus should be on the bigger picture, saying that graduation offers unique prestige. “For a country to graduate from LDC is a symbol of progress, national pride, and international recognition. Graduation can change our investment climate and potential as a country and increase foreign direct investment as a result of improved perception,” Mr. Mwebesa said.

He continued: “The graduation comes with a momentum for policy reforms and stronger development planning to build the country’s resilience. Also, with Uganda becoming a developing country, the private sector will be able to attract partnerships with investors, access technology transfer, and improve their competitiveness in the global economy.”

When contacted, the Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU) Coordinator for Trade, Transport, and Logistics, Mr. Collins Agaba, said they are excited about this development but worried about the preparedness of the private sector to absorb the shocks that will result from graduation. “The graduation is a good sign of growth. However, as a private sector, we are going to lose out on the benefits we have been enjoying while exporting to developed countries. Focus should now be turned on supporting Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises through trade financing to cushion themselves from the shocks that will come with the changes,” he said.

If Uganda meets the criteria during the second UN assessment in 2027, it will be granted a transitional period of five years before the actual graduation is confirmed.

The High Court in Kampala ordered government on October 14 to produce two Kenyan political activists who went missing about a fortnight ago, moments after they attended a campaign rally of the Opposition National Unity Platform (NUP) in the eastern district of Kaliro, ‘dead’ or ‘alive’.

According to the orders issued by the presiding judge, Mr Simon Peter Kinobe, the government has been given an ultimatum to produce the two activists by October 21.

The activists are Mr Nicholas Oyoo and Mr Bob Njagi.

On October 6, the duo, through their lawyers of Kiiza and Mugisha, sued the Chief of Defence Forces, the Chief of Defence Intelligence and Security, the Inspector General of Police, and the Attorney General, seeking the court’s intervention for release from what they called incommunicado detention.

Mr Koffi Atinda, a colleague of Mr Njagi, who reportedly witnessed the alleged abduction, in his affidavit to support the court action against the State security agencies listed above, avers that the security agents abducted his colleagues after NUP presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi, aka Bobi Wine’s rally and that they are currently being held in Mbuya, Kampala.

‘The respondent’s military arrest and detention of the applicants at the second respondent’s detention facility since Wednesday, October 1, in Mbuya is incommunicado detention, illegal and unlawful,’ Mr Koffi asserts in his affidavit.

He adds: ‘The applicants have since been in an illegal and incommunicado detention for more than 48 hours, and they in incommunicado without trial or any charges preferred against them.’

Mr Koffi explains that his colleagues, who are Kenyan nationals and belong to the African Movement, had come to Uganda to show their support for presidential candidate Kyagulanyi, who is also their personal friend, when they were abducted.

‘It’s during their stay and visit in Uganda that they were brutally arrested by men wielding guns in both military and civilian clothes around Kaliro District at Stabex Petrol Station in eastern Uganda, where they had parked their vehicle,’ Mr Koffi avers.

He adds: ‘I witnessed the arrest and survived the arrest by a whisker. They were taken in a Toyota Hiace Van commonly known as drone and whisked away at a terrible speed to a place one of them told me was Mbuya.’

Mr Koffi says the friends and family of the duo are worried that they could be subjected to torture at the hands of the military, which he accused of having a record to harassing, and persecuting critics of President Museveni and his inner circle.

The issuance of the court directive comes barely a day after the chairperson of the Uganda Human Rights Commission, Ms Mariam Wangadya, said that despite receiving a petition from the family of the missing activists, the Commission was unable to commence carrying out investigations into their whereabouts since there was already a pending court case about the same.

‘They (family of the missing duo) applied for habeas corpus in the High Court. Article 53 of the Constitution bars us from intervening in any matter that is in court, and the moment you file a court action about any matter, then you have taken us out of the jurisdiction,’ Ms Wangadya said.