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President Museveni is Wednesday expected to address the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) midterm review meeting that kicked off on Monday at Speke Resort Munyonyo under the theme ‘Deepening Cooperation for Shared Global Affluence.’

The appraisal summit started with the nineteenth meeting of senior officials on Monday and Tuesday to thrash out the finer details of the midterm report, the Kampala Declaration, which is set for adoption by the NAM countries’ Ministers of Foreign Affairs meeting starting Wednesday and closing Thursday.

NAM is an alliance of 121 developing countries. The alliance was established 69 years ago at the Bandung Conference as a foreign policy instrument to ally with neither superpower in global geopolitical rivalry during the Cold War. It has since become a collective voice for poor and developing countries.

Uganda’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Gen Jeje Odongo, opened the midterm review on Monday to assess the progress made in implementing the outcomes of the NAM Heads of State summit held in Kampala twenty-one months ago when Uganda assumed the NAM chairmanship.

‘Uganda remains fully committed to revitalizing NAM, reinforcing its unity and solidarity, and ensuring that our voice continues to influence international dialogue and decision-making,’ Gen Odongo said.

He added: ‘It is only through unity, solidarity, and a common purpose that we can project a clear, strong, and coordinated voice on the issues that affect our nations in today’s increasingly complex and volatile global environment.’

Delegates, Foreign Affairs ministers, deputy ministers, and ambassadors to the United Nations in New York where NAM activities are coordinated, and others in different capacities, from over eighty countries are attending the midterm review meeting in Kampala.

Uganda’s Ambassador to the UN, Adonia Ayebare, highlighted several ‘mutually reinforcing priorities, including defending multilateralism and the UN Charter, insisting on inclusive, intergovernmental decision-making, and resisting practices that would dilute participation or undermine established mandates since the country assumed chairmanship.

‘In this context, the Movement has consistently emphasized equity, transparency, and the sovereign equality of States across the General Assembly’s revitalization track and related working methods discussions. The Coordinating Bureau provided a platform to consolidate positions on resourcing the Office of the President of the General Assembly, parameters for the selection and appointment of the Secretary-General, and the preservation of in-person, inclusive modalities for intergovernmental negotiations,’ Ayebare said during plenary on Monday.

Echoes of wars

As during the Heads of State summit last year in January, the reverberations of the humanitarian catastrophe arising from the Israeli-Palestinian conflict loomed large over the midterm review meeting falling before US President Donald Trump’s Gaza ceasefire deal.

As part of the ceasefire deal, Hamas, which runs Gaza, agreed to release the remaining living Israeli captives held since the October 7, 2023 attack, which triggered Tel Aviv’s ruthless military response that killed more than 67,000 Palestinians, including more than 18,000 children. Israel, in return, agreed to release 2,000 Palestinian prisoners.

President Trump flew to Israel on Monday as part of enforcing the peace deal and later joined other world leaders in the Red Sea resort town of Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt to sign the peace deal, guaranteed by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, Recap Tayyip Erdogan, Trkiye’s Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and the Emir of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani.

But nearly 3,000 miles away in Kampala, the Palestinian question once again took center stage during the first two days of the NAM midterm review.

NAM recognises Palestine as an independent country and treats the Palestine question and quest for global recognition as a standing issue.

During negotiations of text for the midterm review report, some hardline NAM member states such as Iran, Cuba, and Venezuela vehemently opposed crediting Washington, alongside Egypt and Trkiye, for Monday’s peace deal that President Trump hailed as ‘historic.’

Representatives for Iran, Cuba, and Venezuela argued that Washington has supported and reinforced Tel Aviv’s blitzkrieg of Gaza for two years ‘to wipe out’ Hamas, a Palestinian liberation group, said to be a proxy of the Islamic Republic of Iran, which is opposed to Israel’s existence.

Iran and Israel went to war in June, which ended after Washington intervened by bombing three Iranian nuclear sites at Fordow, Natanz.

Meanwhile, delegates from Sudan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) also traded barbs over the latter’s alleged support of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which have been fighting the national army, plunging the country into civil war.

In the 434-page draft Kampala Declaration to be adopted, the NAM Foreign Affairs Ministers expressed concerns at the growing resort to unilateralism and unilaterally imposed measures, including their over-compliance and extraterritorial effects on the enjoyment of human rights.

They underlined that globalization continues to present opportunities, challenges, and risks to the future and viability of developing countries, and trade liberalization has produced uneven benefits among and within States while the global economy has been characterized by slow and lopsided growth and instability.

The ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) has launched a leader’s handbook for village-based mobilisation ahead of the 2026 general elections.

The guide outlines the sequences and highlights of village-based mobilisation efforts to secure a bigger victory than that of 2021.

The launch took place at the party offices in Kampala on October 13, 2025, with party mobilisers from different parts of the country undergoing induction on the implementation of the model.

Speaking at the launch, the party director for mobilisation, Rosemary Ssenninde, said the unprecedented village-based mobilisation model speaks to the centrality of branch leadership in party affairs.

“It underscores the NRM national leader’s desire to empower grass-roots structures to take the lead in canvassing for votes during this election,” Ssenninde said. “Under this arrangement, village leaders will be tasked to ensure they get the vote out and take full responsibility for its protection.”

The party deputy secretary general, Rose Namayanja, said the strategy is guided by the party’s mass and grassroots nature.

“Why we choose this strategy is that the NRM is a mass party, it’s a grassroots party, and the votes are not in Kampala, the votes are not at the district, the votes are at the sub-county and village level,” she said.

The party’s national treasurer, Nekesa Oundo, implored foot soldiers to prepare citizens during these elections by telling them what’s contained within the manifesto.

“We are going to continue with the 100 million shillings per parish, but there is an extra 15 million shillings for the leaders, that’s the preparation,” she said. “We need to remind them about Emyooga and the procedures to benefit from them.”

The model also seeks to enhance leadership at the branch by formulating and building capacity of a 63-member village task force at each of the 72,000 villages/branches in Uganda.

Alliance for National Transformation (ANT) presidential candidate Gen. Mugisha Muntu has pledged to prioritise road, water, and health infrastructure development in Kalangala District to unlock its economic potential. Muntu made the pledge while addressing supporters in Kalangala Town Council on Monday as part of his 2026 campaign trail.

“If we reach 100 million people in Uganda, Kampala alone will have about 15 million. The same will happen with these islands. If we don’t start planning for better road and water infrastructure, people will spend almost three hours in jam – the same time they would have used productively,” Muntu said.

Muntu faulted the government for restricting ferry operations between Bukakata and Bugoma to only daytime, saying the decision cripples Kalangala’s economy.

“If you can drive from Bukakata to Masaka or from Bugoma to Lutoboka at night, why can’t ferries operate 24 hours?” he wondered.

Muntu also emphasised the need to strengthen Kalangala’s health services to match its tourism potential. “There should be air evacuation systems or air ambulances to transfer patients to hospitals in Entebbe or Kampala. Tourists will have more confidence visiting a place where they know their lives can be saved in case of emergencies,” he said.

On tourism, Muntu proposed creating a tourism fund to support local investors. “Government should create a tourism fund from which people who want to invest in accommodation and tourism sites can borrow at low interest and repay over a long period, even up to 30 years,” he said.

Muntu also pledged to restore Beach Management Units and strengthen local enforcement mechanisms to fight illegal fishing. “Fishermen who depend on the lake wouldn’t destroy it-they just need someone who listens to them and works with them to return it to its former glory,” he said.

The ANT presidential candidate also vowed to dismantle corruption in district service commissions across the country, describing them as “gardens of officials who extort money” from job seekers.

Local leaders and residents expressed frustration over high taxes, low returns from fishing, and poor road infrastructure.

Mr Magandaazi Semilimu, a fisherman, said, “We sell it for Shs10,000, yet we spend about Shs110,000 on 20 litres of fuel to catch only 20 kilograms of fish.”

Ms Brenda Nagaba, a resident of Bugala Village, called for larger and full-time ferries on the Bukakata-Bugoma route to improve access to the mainland.

Ugandans risk limiting the impact of research if findings remain confined to academic circles, the Minister for Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, Frank Tumwebaze, warned Tuesday.

Speaking at the opening of the National Dairy Centre of Excellence (NDCoE) at Mbarara Zonal Agricultural Research and Development Institute, Tumwebaze urged researchers to ensure their work addresses community challenges.

‘Do not shelve your research from the public. When you do research and it is not taken up by the community or cannot address their challenges, then it becomes only academic and that is not very helpful in the socio-economic transformation of the country,’ Tumwebaze said.

He directed all research stations under his ministry to organize farmer field days to showcase innovations and new technologies.

‘Not all people know what you are doing. These technologies and innovations need to be accessed in the most convenient way, do not just sit, and that is why you must have farmer field days,’ Tumwebaze added.

The minister also highlighted the need for better animal and crop breeds to sustain food systems, calling for a national breeding policy to curb fake breeds. ‘It is high time the country came up with a breeding policy if we are to improve production and productivity. There are some people who sell fake breeds and in this policy such people would be criminalized,’ he said.

NDCoE, Tumwebaze said, was partly established to ensure the dairy sector has superior breeds.

Dr Yona Baguma, Director General of the National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO), described the center as a potential game-changer.

‘This center will boost dairy productivity, improve feeding, breeding and management practices. It will develop superior and resilient dairy breeds and equip farmers with practical skills,’ Baguma said, noting that climate change and population growth require high-yield breeds that can be maintained on a small scale.

Baguma said the ministry intends to invest Shs 50 billion over the next five years to achieve NDCoE’s strategic goals.

Mbarara Resident City Commissioner, Catherine Kamwine, emphasized the need for improved farmer access to technologies.

‘It is good you have brought this center of excellence. Farmers still face challenges like production and storage of pasture, which is now key because of climatic change effects,’ Kamwine noted.

Dairy farming remains a significant economic activity in Uganda. The 2021 National Livestock Census by Uganda Bureau of Statistics estimated weekly milk production at 71.7 million liters, up from 12.9 million liters in 2008, translating to 3.72 billion liters annually.

The Western region contributed 40 percent of production, Central 34.3 percent, and the Northern region the least at 3.7 percent.

The Chairperson of the Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC), Ms Mariam Wangadya, has said the Commission is unable to investigate the disappearance of two Kenyan activists who were reportedly abducted last week in the country by suspected plain-clothed security operatives.

Ms Wangadya told this publication that she had received a petition from the families of Nicholas Oyoo and Bob Njagi, who were allegedly kidnapped after attending a campaign rally for Opposition presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, aka Bobi Wine, of the National Unity Platform (NUP).

However, she explained that the Commission cannot take action because the matter is already before the courts.

‘They 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,’ she said.

Article 53 clause 4 (a) of the Constitution states: ‘The [Uganda Human Rights] Commission shall not investigate any matter which is pending before a court or judicial tribunal.’

Ms Wangadya added: ‘Before I even look at their petition, since they filed a court case, we cannot intervene…whatever order I may give or investigation I may take, it will be of no legal consequences by virtual of these provisions…’

Her remarks came shortly after a group of activists, led by Nobert Ochieng Opeto and Tony Njagi, brothers of the detained men, alongside colleagues James Ssuuna and John Owor Masanja, submitted a petition to her office last Friday.

They urged the Commission to act swiftly and compel Ugandan security agencies to disclose the whereabouts of the missing Kenyan nationals. The activists delivered their petition while carrying Ugandan and Kenyan flags.

‘We are calling upon the Human Rights Commission to investigate the circumstances surrounding the arrest and continued incommunicado detention of the two men who had come to attend a campaign rally,’ Opeto said.

He continued: ‘On behalf of the family, we are also demanding the immediate and unconditional release of Oyoo and Njagi from unlawful custody at a military facility.’ They also asked the Commission to issue protective measures to prevent further harassment of the duo.

Background

Oyoo and Njagi were allegedly abducted on October 1 near a fuel filling station in Busoga Sub-region by plain-clothed gunmen, including military operatives and unidentified individuals.

They were reportedly bundled into a Toyota Hiace van, commonly referred to as a ‘drone’, and driven to an unknown location. On October 6, their legal team, led by Eron Kiiza, filed a habeas corpus petition demanding that the two be produced, dead or alive.

As of last evening, the respondents, led by the Attorney General, had not filed a response, despite the matter being scheduled for hearing today.Both the Uganda Police Force and the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) have denied knowledge of the activists’ whereabouts.

Uganda will receive over $5.1 million (Shs17.5 billion) to support a new health initiative that seeks to transform adolescent HIV care and mental health services.

The US National Institutes of Health (NIH) has awarded the CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy (CUNY SPH) a $5,115,391 (Shs17,503,868,100) grant to fund the Streams project (Streamlined Treatment and Evidence-based Adolescent counseling and Medication Support), in Uganda that will be led by Philip Kreniske, an assistant professor at CUNY SPH.

Implemented in 24 rural clinics, Streams will integrate HIV treatment support with mental health care and economic empowerment for adolescents living with HIV in Uganda.

It aims to close persistent mental health gaps among young people, boost adherence to antiretroviral therapy, and develop scalable models for adolescent HIV care in sub-Saharan Africa.

‘Adolescents living with HIV face unique and intersecting challenges that go beyond clinical care,’ said Proscovia Nabunya from Washington University, who is collaborating on the project.

Despite major gains in HIV testing and treatment, adolescents remain one of Uganda’s most vulnerable groups, lagging behind adults and children in achieving viral suppression.

Data from the Ministry of Health shows that stigma, depression, economic hardship and a lack of youth-friendly services contribute to treatment drop-offs.

Rural facilities often lack integrated mental health care, leaving depression and anxiety, key drivers of poor adherence, largely undetected and untreated.

For adolescents living in poverty, mental health struggles are compounded by economic stressors such as school dropout, unemployment and food insecurity, all of which increase the risk of treatment interruption.

‘The programme will prioritise early detection and management of depression and anxiety, ensuring that young people receive the mental health support they need to remain in care,’ said a press release from CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy.

‘It will also integrate economic empowerment initiatives designed to ease financial stress, build resilience, and promote self-reliance among adolescents. In addition, the programme will provide HIV treatment support tailored to adolescents’ developmental needs, with a strong focus on adherence, peer networks, and youth-friendly services.’

‘Streams stands on the shoulders of giants,’ said Dr Kreniske. ‘From the biomedical breakthroughs in HIV treatment and Pepfar’s historic distribution, to Uganda’s adaptation of mental health programmes, our aim is to combine these proven tools. By leveraging simple mobile technology, we can integrate mental health, economic empowerment and medication support into a single, powerful system for youth.’

The findings are expected to directly inform Uganda’s adolescent health and HIV strategies, offering evidence for integrated care in resource-limited settings.

If successful, the model could guide national guidelines and be replicated in other African countries facing similar challenges.

The investment comes as donors and governments increasingly recognise the need for integrated approaches to adolescent health.

Traditional vertical programming, where mental health, economic support and HIV care operate in silos, has struggled to deliver lasting improvements.

Globally, mental health is now seen as a key determinant of HIV outcomes, with depression linked to lower adherence rates and higher viral loads, and economic stress exacerbating these risks.

Streams aims to break this cycle through coordinated interventions at the primary health care level, demonstrating that integrated models can be both effective and feasible in low-resource settings.

The initiative also comes at a critical moment when the future of the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (Pepfar), a cornerstone of HIV funding in Africa for more than two decades, faces uncertainty as Washington debates its reauthorization.

For countries like Uganda, which have relied heavily on Pepfar support, there is growing pressure to adopt sustainable, locally anchored solutions. It is believed Streams could offer a blueprint for such transitions, contributing to the global goal of ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.

The chief executive officer of the National Union of Disabled Persons of Uganda (NUDIPU), Ms Esther Kyozira, has implored the government to walk the talk and ensure that the challenges faced by Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) while accessing health care are eliminated once and for all.

Ms Kyozira made this call while addressing journalists in Kampala on Monday. She noted that despite Uganda’s progressive legal and policy frameworks, many PWDs still face significant barriers when seeking healthcare.

“These barriers include inaccessible facilities, limited assistive equipment, communication challenges, and, at times, negative attitudes from health workers,” she said. “These challenges are not just statistics; they are living experiences of our brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers, children and youth who deserve better.”

Ms Kyozira emphasised that inclusive healthcare is a human right, not a privilege.

“We need to remind ourselves that inclusive healthcare is a human right, not a privilege,” she said. “It’s essential that we work together to ensure that all PWDs have access to quality healthcare services that meet their needs.”

She also highlighted the importance of disability-inclusive healthcare, noting that it’s crucial for promoting the dignity and well-being of PWDs.

“As NUDIPU, we reaffirm our commitment to work hand in hand with the government of Uganda, the Ministry of Health, and all stakeholders to ensure that disability-inclusive healthcare becomes a lived reality, not just an aspiration,” she said.

Ms Charlotte Kangume, an amputee, shared her experience, highlighting the importance of accessible healthcare services for PWDs.

“Getting my artificial limb was a lifesaver and helped me regain my life,” she said. “I urge the government to prioritise accessible healthcare services for PWDs, including providing affordable and accessible assistive devices.”

The government, through the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry, and Fisheries (Maaif) and the National Plant Protection Organisation (NPPO), has launched a digital pest surveillance system in Kalangala District to prevent future pest outbreaks that threaten oil palm production.

The initiative follows devastating pest attacks in recent months that left hundreds of farmers on Bunyama Island counting losses after swarms of nettle caterpillars invaded oil palm plantations. The caterpillars strip leaves from trees, weaken stems, and drastically reduce yields.

Mr David Balironda, the general manager of the Ssese Oil Palm Growers Savings and Credit Cooperative Society (SOPAG Sacco) , said harvests of oil palm fresh fruit bunches had dropped from thousands of tonnes to just a few dozen, while daily costs for pest control and labour had surged into millions of shillings.

For example, Mr Abdul Mutazindwa, one of the oil palm farmers, saw his harvest reduced from 1,000 tonnes to just 40 to 50 tonnes a month after caterpillars destroyed more than 19 of his 150 acres.

He previously spent about Shs1.5 million on pest control and labour. Mr Balironda said farmers were rescued after receiving support from the Ministry of Agriculture and the National Agricultural Research Organisation (Naro). However, he revealed that although the caterpillars have since been controlled, other pests continue to pose a serious threat to farmers.

‘A pest commonly known as Masiinya is prevalent in Kalangala, as well as other similar pests like the Red African Oil Palm Weevil, which pose serious threats to oil palm production. If these pests are not dealt with early, they can become highly destructive and may wipe out our oil palm crops.

In the end, the entire economic activity would be affected,’ he said during an interview with this newspaper on October 12. Mr Balironda added that preventing pest outbreaks is not only a farming concern but also a matter of national economic stability.

‘Because this is an open-water region, we lack historical data on pest behaviour here. Since there is no crop inspection on what enters through the water borders, careful surveillance and regulation are essential,’ he said.

To prevent further losses and enable faster detection and monitoring, Uganda has joined the African Phytosanitary Programme (APP), an initiative designed to digitise pest surveillance and reporting systems.

Dr Joab Tugume, a senior agricultural inspector in charge of quarantine and import regulation at Maaif, said the country is now well equipped to detect any pest invasion in time and make quick decisions.

‘When we go to the field, we can now collect and review data in real time, which improves decision-making,’ he said.

‘The data gathered can also be shared with relevant stakeholders and trading partners to support market access and compliance with international plant health standards,’ he added.

During a recent training session in Kalangala, trained inspectors and researchers formed teams that will conduct annual surveillance for prioritised pests, including the Red Palm Weevil, Banana Bunchy Top disease, and Xylella fastidiosa, a bacterial pathogen that threatens Uganda’s flower industry.

‘After this exercise, we are heading to a flower farm to carry out digital surveillance using the same tools provided under the African Phytosanitary Programme,’ Dr Tugume said.

Under the APP, each participating country operates through a mandated institution responsible for pest and disease control – the National Plant Protection Organisation (NPPO).

In Uganda, this mandate falls under the Department of Crop Inspection and Certification at Maaif, which collaborates closely with private sector partners, research institutions, and farmer cooperatives like SOPGCO.

Dr Tugume clarified that while the digital tools can be accessed by various stakeholders, data control and official reporting remain centralised under Maaif for better real-time decision-making.

The APP was designed to equip national plant health offices across Africa with scientific knowledge and digital tools to enhance pest surveillance and reporting. The goal is to enable all 54 African countries to strengthen their capacity to detect, monitor, and respond to plant pests of economic and environmental importance.

A consultant from the programme’s secretariat, Prof Arop Deng, said between September and November, the International Plant Protection Secretariat is supporting training activities in about eight countries and providing digital equipment to enable real-time monitoring of infestations.

‘We are providing digital tablets equipped with specialised software that enables inspectors and researchers to monitor pest infestations in real time. Field supplies, including pheromones and lures, are also being distributed to help officers identify, track, and manage pests effectively,’ Prof Deng said.

He added that the digital approach represents a new era in agricultural pest management.

‘The programme is expected to improve agricultural output by ensuring timely detection and control of pests. Through its digital monitoring system, officials in the Ministry of Agriculture can access and analyse real-time data, enabling them to make quick and evidence-based decisions,’ he said.

‘When a pest invasion or intrusion occurs, the system provides early warnings, allowing the country to prepare, confine, and contain the threat before it spreads and causes crop losses,’ he added.

Experts say the digital transition will have a direct impact on farmers such as those in Kalangala, who have suffered significant losses due to pest invasions. By integrating modern technology with traditional pest surveillance methods, the programme aims to strengthen Uganda’s food security and protect farmers’ livelihoods.

Mr Balironda welcomed the government’s intervention, saying the new surveillance system will restore hope to farmers struggling with the outbreak of pests.

‘With digital reporting and faster response, we believe the days of waiting for months before action is taken will be gone,’ he said, adding: ‘Farmers will be better prepared, our trees will recover, and Kalangala’s oil palm industry can thrive again.’

A section of educationists have expressed sympathy with Senior Four candidates whose third-term lessons were disrupted by the ongoing arts teachers strike, warning that the situation could get out of hand, if government fails to adhere to the principle of equity.

Dr. David Kabugo, the Acting Director of the Center for Teaching and Learning Support (CTLS) at Makerere University, acknowledged that the strike, which commenced on October 15, has had a grave impact on candidates, teachers, parents, and the entire education sector.

“Some people could argue that by the time the teachers went on strike, schools had covered the syllabus, but learning is beyond content coverage,” Dr. Kabugo said. “Learning is a whole social environment of the school. The absence of teachers has affected them psychologically, which is likely to affect their performance.”

Dr Kabugo added that teachers are also affected, as they are not at ease while on strike.

“Professionally, they are attached to the students, and failure to support them during this critical moment is causing anxiety. Tension is also mounting among parents who have struggled to pay school fees yet children have not been able to cover the syllabus.”

The strike has also taken a big toll on the supervision of the ongoing Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) Examinations. Dr. Kabugo disclosed that he saw headteachers lining up for exams at police stations, highlighting the uncertainty in the education system.

“I made a very significant observation this morning (Monday). By 9:00am, I saw some headteachers around some police stations lining up for exams. This kind of uncertainty has a huge bent on our education system. Something urgently needs to be done,” he said.

Mr Fagil Mandy, a renowned educationist, urged the government to address the question of salary disparities to ensure equity.

“Government should consider addressing the question of salary disabilities to ensure equity,” he said, encouraging teachers to negotiate with the government and call off the strike.

Mr Aron Mugaiga, the General Secretary of Uganda Professional Science Teachers’ Union (UPSTU), emphasised the importance of teachers’ welfare.

“My call to government will be to negotiate with the teachers and resolve the issues they are raising so that teaching can resume,” he said. “I understand recently, government had a discussion with the teachers of humanities and there was an agreement that was reached.”

The government recently announced a 25 percent salary increment for arts teachers, effective from the next financial year. However, the leadership of the Uganda National Teachers’ Union (UNATU) insists that they will call off the strike only if the government commits to increasing pay by 300 percent, similar to their science counterparts.

Currently, an arts teacher with a degree qualification earns a gross pay of Shs1,078,162 monthly and takes home a net pay of Shs841,931, while their science counterpart gets Shs4 million and takes home a net pay of Shs2,858,000.

Similarly, an arts teacher with a diploma qualification gets a gross pay of Shs784,214 and takes home a net pay of Shs639,108, while their science counterpart earns Shs2.2 million and takes home a net pay of Shs1,616,000. Primary school teachers earn between Shs450,000 and Shs600,000.

The presidential candidate for Alliance for National Transformation (ANT) party in the January 2026 polls has trained his eyes on radical transformational leadership.

Maj Gen (rtd) Gregory Mugisha Muntu, who launched his homestead-based manifesto in Kampala, on Friday said: ‘Our vision is not merely to govern, but to serve; not merely to occupy positions, but to spearhead real transformation of our country, not merely to promise but to deliver on our promises.’

Gen Muntu also promised, once elected to occupy Uganda’s highest office in January next year, to prioritise the rule of law through a robust and responsive justice system, massive investment in human capital development, and equitable distribution of national resources.

He said his homestead-based manifesto will also focus on strengthening land rights and stop illegal evictions, invest in reliable energy, reform the public sector and push for zero tolerance for corruption.

The ANT party leader, who is running for the second time, also pledged improved access to healthcare and education, promoting gender equality and inclusion for youth, women, and persons with disabilities.

Gen Muntu also promised to address the plight of migrant workers and ensure accountability for the deaths of Ugandans abroad.

Ms Alice Alaso, the ANT national coordinator, who also spoke at the launch, said they are not just about politics but rather determined to reclaim the country’s lost assets, protect families, and empower communities through healing the past injustices.

Shs25,200,000

The ANT’s lower-end basic target for every homestead’s annual income shall be a minimum of Shs25,200,000 for the lowest income earners.

Gen Muntu said this would be made possible through strong and effective structures and systems that support processes for raising household income.

‘This includes promotion of producer cooperatives, finance institutions such as banks and Saccos, aggregators for bulking and primary processing, processors and traders, and the enforcement agencies. We shall give keen attention to this in the first two to three years,’ he pledged.

Agriculture Muntu’s manifesto will invest across the entire value chain, from the farm to the market and turn agriculture into a powerful engine of national growth.

The ANT government also plans to build the capacity of local communities, enhance partnerships with the private sector to increase the supply of locally-manufactured inputs.

‘This initiative will reduce the import bill and create jobs in both industry and agriculture while changing the situation of the current fish factories that are mostly engaged in low-level primary processing for preservation,’ he said.

He pledges to focus on deliberate public initiatives at the community, institutional and household levels and to ensure planting of millions of trees yearly to make Uganda green.

Gen Muntu also pledged to increase water for production, insurance against shocks in production and income fluctuations, price stabilisation, diversification and farmer organisation and marketing, trends.

Industry and mining

Gen Muntu said Uganda’s mineral wealth has long been mismanaged under poor leadership.

‘We are aware that it is not just about minerals and industries, but also that the governance and management of the revenues matter most. Countries with mineral resources have failed to turn the resources into growth and prosperity for their citizens due to having the wrong people in leadership,’ he said.

The former army commander said his government would ensure sustainable exploitation, build professional infrastructure, promote local value chains to create jobs and empower women in artisanal mining.

Land rights

Gen Muntu said Ugandans have cried enough over stolen land, broken trust, and injustice pledging that ANT will protect land rights, stop illegal evictions, and restore dignity to every farmer.

‘Land is life, and under ANT, it will no longer be a source of conflict but of prosperity and peace. We will enforce transparent land governance, support community land registration, and priorities justice for vulnerable groups, especially women and the poor, whose rights are often ignored,’ he said.

Transport infrastructure

Gen Muntu described the country’s transport system as failing and yet it’s the lead driver of economic growth.

He pledged an integrated road, rail and water network as well as introducing light rail and buses in Greater Kampala with joint ownership for taxi and boda boda operators.

He said: ‘Ninety-five percent of freight and passengers depend on roads and many are crumbling. Bridges like Karuma and Katonga are deteriorating while urban congestion and accidents worsen. We shall use concessional financing, not gimmicks, and enforce road safety through smart design and education.’

Trade

Gen Muntu said trade is stifled by poor infrastructure, unfair taxation, weak enforcement, and low-quality imports despite it being the lifeblood of Uganda’s economy.

He said ANT will treat trade as a crosscutting priority; integrate it with transport, energy, banking, and urban planning; strengthen UNBS to stop the dumping of substandard goods and guarantee import safety and tackle oppressive taxes.

Human capital

The ANT party manifesto placed significant importance on human capital development through better quality education, improved access to better health, and better social services.

Gen Muntu said they will deliver people-first reform: specialised regional kidney and cancer treatment centres; strengthen VHTs for preventive care; and offer affordable health insurance.

ANT also seeks to introduce a workforce reform to ensure every health centre III has a doctor, every medical intern is supported, and more medical doctors and nurses are trained and well paid.

ANT also promises to strengthen education infrastructure with effective deployment to hard-to-reach areas; equalise pay for arts and science teachers; support income diversification; reform government support schemes and increase university scholarships to 10,000.

The manifesto also seeks to support families with people living with disabilities through skills training, improved workplaces for PWDs, give free braille and assistive devices to special needs learners and scale up investment in education.

Gen Muntu further revealed that he will give children scholarships based on need as opposed to academic performance, offer apprenticeships and tax incentives to all youth start-ups.