Asianet Pakistan Private Limited

The banking sector is walking a tightrope. On one side lies the ambition to lend and grow in a recovering economy; on the other, an unsettling mix of political uncertainty, shrinking donor support, and the explosive rise of digital loans that has left the financial system exposed to new risks.

A Bank of Uganda (BoU) report paints a sobering picture of what lies ahead.

The Bank Lending Survey Report for quarter one of the 2025/26 financial year (July-September) suggests that the credit market could face a spike in loan defaults in the months leading up to December, as borrowers, both corporate and individual, struggle to meet repayment obligations amid tighter liquidity and heightened uncertainty.

Uptick in bad loans

Although most banks told the central bank they expect loan performance to remain largely stable, the data reveals a different story.

Beneath the surface, many are bracing for an uptick in bad loans, with the report showing that 61.6 percent of banks expect defaults on enterprise loans to remain steady, but a net increase of 10.1 percent is anticipated, which is a reversal from the 11.8 percent decline in just one quarter earlier.

The central bank attributes this shift primarily to the country’s political calendar, with the country inching closer to the 2026 general elections.

Banks, the report notes, are increasingly wary of potential disruptions in government spending, delays in project payments, and the economic anxiety that often grips markets during election cycles.

‘The uncertainty surrounding the political climate has increased the perceived risk of business disruptions,’ the BoU report notes.

According to the report, 63 percent of banks believe the current political environment is the single largest factor behind the expected rise in loan defaults.

Businesses dependent on government contracts or state spending are likely to feel the pinch first.

Adding to the problem is a steep decline in donor funding, particularly following the restructuring of Usaid support and reduced NGO inflows.

Nearly a quarter of banks, 22 percent, told the central bank that this reduction has already constrained liquidity in the market, making it harder for them to extend loans.

‘The tightening of liquidity due to reduced donor inflows is limiting financing for both banks and clients. This, combined with political uncertainty, has heightened the overall risk of loan non-performance,’ the report notes.

Another emerging concern is the rise of digital and mobile lending, where loans are approved within minutes, often with minimal verification.

At least 13 percent of banks cited the limited credit history of mobile borrowers as a growing source of default risk.

While such platforms have expanded access to credit, especially for small traders and individuals previously excluded from formal banking, they have also opened a Pandora’s box of repayment challenges.

Pressure on household loans

During the quarter ending September 2025, the default rate on household loans rose by 4.2 percent, continuing an upward trend even though it remained below the 20 percent spike anticipated earlier in the year.

Banks link the rise to multiple pressures, such as the rising cost of borrowing, the festive season, which is traditionally a time of heavy spending, and the boom in digital lending, which has blurred the line between convenience and caution.

‘Digital credit has boosted financial inclusion but created exposure to repayment risk,’ the report observes, calling on banks to tighten credit screening and monitoring in sectors that are politically and economically sensitive.

A sector on edge

In its report, BoU warns that the coming months could ‘test the resilience’ of the financial system as election-related tensions and liquidity constraints converge.

‘The default rate on loans is projected to increase for both enterprises and households during the quarter to December 2025,’ the report notes.

Thus, as the country enters a politically charged period, the central bank urges lenders to tread carefully by balancing lending growth with prudence.

Environmentalists, local leaders, and scholars have expressed concern over the continued mismanagement of waste and polythene bags, which they say are worsening environmental degradation in Kabale Municipality.

The matter came to the forefront on October 9 when teachers and students of St Theresa Girls’ Vocational Secondary School, Rushoroza, joined the Southern Division leadership in a town cleaning exercise held as part of Uganda’s Independence Day celebrations.

Ms Kamusiime Macklean Batwale, the Southern Division Chairperson, said the improper disposal of waste in markets, along roads, and in public spaces has become a major environmental and public health concern, particularly during the rainy season.

‘People often store polythene bags in their homes and later throw them outside or along the roads. This contributes to drainage blockages and flooding, especially during the rainy season,’ said Ms Kamusiime. ‘Although we have introduced ordinances and tried to raise awareness about the dangers of poor waste management, many people still ignore the guidelines.’

She added that the municipality has set up garbage collection centers across various locations to provide residents with proper dumping areas.

Mr. Henry Tumwesigye, the District Natural Resources Officer, said the waste problem is compounded by inefficiencies in the municipality’s waste management system.

‘Dumping sites are poorly managed, and drainage channels are blocked. This leads to flooding in the town, which contributes to waterborne diseases and pollutes rivers downstream,’ he said.

He noted that the district has launched public sensitization campaigns, including radio talk shows, to educate residents on environmental conservation and the dangers of pollution.

Sr. Sophia Natuhwera, the Head Teacher of St. Theresa Girls’ Vocational Secondary School, who led students during the cleaning exercise, emphasized the role of education in fostering environmental responsibility.

‘We teach students to be responsible for their surroundings at school, and today we are extending that responsibility to the entire community. Keeping our environment clean helps prevent disease and promotes public health,’ she said.

Sr. Natuhwera added that the school has established environmental clubs to educate students about environmental protection through advocacy, tree planting, and recycling projects.

‘With the new curriculum, students are learning how to recycle waste and develop practical solutions. This way, all stakeholders, schools, communities, and leaders, can work together to protect the environment,’ she said.

As Uganda deepens its investments in oil and minerals, calls are growing for Africa to move beyond extraction-for-export toward harnessing its natural wealth for the benefit of its citizens.

At the just-concluded Citizens Convention on Extractives, Winfred Ngabiirwe, Executive Director of Global Rights Alert, urged for greater transparency, accountability, and citizen participation in the management of natural resources.

‘For a long time, discussions around oil, gas, and minerals have remained in boardrooms among ministries and investors,’ she said. ‘Yet it is communities that bear the impacts and deserve a voice. The Citizens Convention is an accountability platform by citizens and for citizens.’

Ngabiirwe noted that Uganda has made progress through initiatives such as the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) and beneficial ownership disclosures, but said ‘that information is not reaching the people who need it most.’

‘A village leader, a women’s group, or a local miner should understand what’s being extracted from their land and how they can benefit,’ she said. ‘Without that, the promise of shared prosperity will remain on paper.’

But it was Gen. Kahinda Otafiire, Minister of Internal Affairs, who delivered the day’s message arguing that Africa’s biggest weakness lies in its disunity and dependence on foreign markets.

‘I am pleased that African peoples, not governments, are beginning to discuss the continent’s resources,’ he said. ‘For centuries, others have defined our wealth and dictated our value. It is time Africa became its own market.’

Speaking passionately about African unity, Gen. Otafiire urged countries to think beyond colonial borders. ‘I am not just a citizen of Uganda; I am a citizen of Africa,’ he said. ‘If Africa pooled its resources, we would have a stronger bargaining position. But as long as we remain divided, others will keep profiting from our oil, gold, and coffee.’

He criticized what he called ‘the cycle of cheap extraction and expensive importation’ that continues to impoverish Africa despite its natural wealth.

‘We export our coffee at three dollars a kilo and buy it back at forty-eight. We dig oil to sell at one hundred dollars and buy fuel at one thousand,’ he said. ‘The question should not be whether to extract, but how to use what we extract for our people’s benefit.’

Drawing parallels with regions that have prospered through unity and industrialization, Otafiire said, ‘Those who united became strong. Those who did not, like much of Latin America and Africa, remain suppliers of raw materials. No one will save Africa, our development depends on our own effort.’

His remarks echoed Ngabiirwe’s call for citizen-led governance that empowers communities rather than sidelines them.

‘We can only achieve sustainable development if communities are treated as equal stakeholders,’ Ngabiirwe said. ‘Accountability begins with access to information and participation at every level.’

Ali Ssekatawa, Acting Executive Director of the Petroleum Authority of Uganda (PAU), welcomed the citizen engagement platform, calling it essential for feedback and trust-building.

‘It is good for us as regulators to feel the heartbeat of what citizens are thinking,’ he said. ‘We encourage this kind of engagement; countries that ignore it end up in chaos.’

On transparency, Ssekatawa said: ‘It is a relative word. We have tried to be as open as possible; our website updates daily on activities.’ He defended limited disclosure of oil contracts, arguing that ‘oil production is business, and commercial rights rest with leaders and representatives in Parliament.’

Providing an update on Uganda’s oil projects, he said, ‘Tilenga is 57 percent complete, Kingfisher 72 percent, and EACOP around 60 percent. We expect commissioning by June or July next year.’

Ssekatawa also announced a proposed National Content Fund to support local firms struggling with financing gaps. ‘The fund will help Ugandan players participate meaningfully in the sector,’ he said.

As Uganda moves closer to producing its first oil, both civil society and government voices seemed to agree on one key point: Africa’s wealth must serve its people-not just its investors.

Maj Gen (Rtd) Gregory Mugisha Muntu, the Alliance for National Transformation (ANT) party presidential flag bearer, has outlined a bold vision for Uganda’s future.

Speaking at the launch of the party’s manifesto in Kampala on Friday, Muntu emphasised that the document serves as a binding covenant with Ugandans.

“This homestead-based manifesto is our binding covenant with you, it addresses the urgent needs of our time; agricultural revitalisation, equitable resource distribution, issues of the marginalised-the youth, women, persons with disabilities. Victims of past injustices, and displaced communities- affirming our commitment to justice, inclusion, and people centered development,” Muntu said.

Muntu’s manifesto focuses on several key areas, including reviving the rule of law, investing in human capital, and ensuring equitable resource distribution. He pledged to lead a peaceful, inclusive political transition rooted in constitutionalism, rule of law, and institutional revival.

“We will lead a peaceful, inclusive political transition rooted in constitutionalism, rule of law, and institutional revival. We will superintend democracy that is not just about elections but about empowering citizens to shape their future and hold leaders accountable,” Muntu said.

On transportation, Muntu highlighted the need for an integrated transport system, citing the country’s failing transport network as a major obstacle to economic growth. “95 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,” he said.

To address this challenge, Muntu pledged to introduce an integrated road, rail, and water network, as well as light rail and buses in greater Kampala. “We shall use concessional financing, not gimmicks, and enforce road safety through smart design and education,” he said.

ANT’s National Coordinator, Alice Alaso, also spoke at the launch, highlighting the party’s commitment to people-first reform.

“ANT will deliver people-first reform; specialised regional kidney and cancer treatment centers, strengthen VHTs for preventive care and workforce reform to ensure Health Center III has a doctor, every medical intern is supported, and more medical doctors and nurses are trained and well paid,” she said.

Alaso also emphasised the need for mineral-rich regions to benefit directly from their resources.

“We signed out marginalised areas like Karamoja, how can a region be that rich in minerals and remains the poorest area in country, and the current government is very happy to launch a UBOS report that says so, the ANT government will empower not only Karamoja, but any place that has got minerals to benefit directly from those minerals,” she said.

In Uganda, civil servants shoulder the daily frustrations of citizens while trying to deliver essential services. A teacher facing 70 pupils in a classroom without enough textbooks, or a mother waiting hours at a clinic only to be told the medicine has run out, are not unusual stories.

They are the everyday realities that reveal the true weight carried by those responsible for turning government policy into action. Behind them are principal economists and human resource officers quietly shaping how services reach citizens.

Behind these frontline workers are policy officers in ministries and agencies whose decisions shape how schools are staffed, how medicines are procured, and how services reach citizens.

Together, they form the backbone of Uganda’s public service, a system that connects national aspirations to everyday life. This burden comes at a time when governments everywhere face unprecedented pressure.

Aid flows are shrinking, the private sector grapples with rising costs, and climate change disrupts harvests and infrastructure. The question is not whether governments matter, but whether they can adapt quickly enough to meet these challenges.

Uganda has pursued reform for decades, from fiscal restructuring to institutional modernisation. These efforts have underpinned growth and improved coordination, yet reforms on paper do not always translate into results on the ground.

The missing link often lies in the human element, the people responsible for translating plans into performance. Across the government, a new generation of officers is taking on this challenge.

Rather than relying on traditional training, they are beginning to identify and fix specific service delivery problems within their institutions.

For example, one group is improving coordination across ministries, while another is tackling data gaps in refugee management. Each effort begins with a practical challenge, not a policy slogan, and builds ownership among those closest to the work.

This shift speaks to a wider truth: reforms succeed only when civil servants are empowered to deliver. Global evidence shows that merit-based recruitment, credible performance systems, and fair pay structures are the foundation of effective governance.

Without these basics, even the best-designed reforms struggle to take hold. Yet technical systems alone are not enough.

Many civil servants point to integrity, empathy, and duty as what sustains them when resources fall short.

Reform, therefore, must nurture both competence and character. As the government embraces digitalisation and artificial intelligence to improve access and efficiency, values will remain the compass that keeps reform grounded in public service.

Across ministries, quiet innovation is already taking shape. Officers are finding ways to use data for better decision-making, testing small changes that make big differences, and building coalitions within and beyond government.

Government platforms that connect ministries and build officers’ skills are key to scaling this innovation and accountability. For Uganda’s senior leaders, this should be both a reassurance and a call to action.

The reassurance is that the civil service already has committed reformers ready to lead. The call is to equip them with the trust, tools, and recognition they need to succeed.

That means strengthening systems that reward results rather than connections, promoting fairness in recruitment and promotion, and creating environments where ideas from below are valued as much as directives from above.

If Uganda’s civil service is to meet the demands of a changing world, it must be enabled to adapt, not through new layers of bureaucracy but through renewed confidence in the people who make the system work.

The strength of the public service lies not in policies alone, but in the men and women who give those policies life.

Uganda is not short of talent or commitment. The question is whether the system will give its civil servants the freedom and support to deliver. In their persistence lies Uganda’s best chance at resilience.

The question is whether the system will give its civil servants the freedom and support to deliver.

Importers and distributors of drugs, under their umbrella body, the Uganda Pharmacy Promoters Association (UPPA) have threatened to close their businesses next week over a sudden 5 per cent tax hike on imported pharmaceutical products.

They claim that the tax hike, from 12 per cent to 17 per cent, was introduced by the National Drug Authority (NDA) without consulting stakeholders.

Speaking to the press on Friday, Kirti Shah, the UPPA chairman, expressed frustration over the sudden increase, saying, “In 2022, NDA increased the fees to 12 per cent, and this year, another fare of 17 per cent has been placed without our knowledge. When we met with them, we were not given a clear structure of fees placed, which was without our knowledge.”

Mr Hussein Oria, UPPA’s Secretary General, emphasised that the tax hike will have far-reaching consequences, particularly for ordinary citizens who rely on medicines for their livelihood.

“The increase of the fares will affect our operations, but they affect the citizen more in the long run. People don’t have resources; the community is already burdened because they won’t have resources to buy the medicines. If the costs are so high, then investors will have no business,” he said.

The association has already written to Health Minister Jane Ruth Aceng, informing her of the situation and requesting her intervention. In the letter, UPPA warned that failure to respond to their plea will leave them no option but to close their businesses in Uganda.

“It doesn’t make sense to continue working yet the final consumer of our product is burdened. There will be no business to continue to serve the community; there will be no sense to supply to retail and wholesale pharmacies in the country. We will stop importation of medicines too,” Mr Oria said.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), exempting essential medicines and active pharmaceutical ingredients from taxation can improve affordability and access. The WHO recommendation highlights the need for governments to consider the impact of taxation on healthcare delivery and access to medicines.

NDA speaks

Mr Abiaz Rwamwiri, the spokesperson of NDA, said he had not received the document but that the changes made on the fares for imported drugs is meant to encourage productivity of drugs at home through Buy Uganda Build Uganda (BUBU).

”I have not seen their complaint but the NDA made changes on drug importation to ease access to medicine made at home,” Mr Rwamwiri said.

UPPA Concerns

a) Increased verification fees from 2% to 3% for non-BUBU products:

It is proposed by UPPA that NDA maintains the 2% since Uganda Revenue Authority also charges 2.5%.

b) Increased verification fees for non-BUBU products from 12% to 17%. UPPA recommends that NDA maintains 12% or else NDA bans importation of the same.

c) Reinstating products on the register:

The Regulations impose new fees charges of $500 per year of suspension. UPPA recommends that an annual retention fee of $500 is payable for so long as product is available in the market since NDA needs to continue undertaking quality monitoring through its PMS (Post Market Surveillance) systems.

d) Amendment of application for registration:

It is recommended that there is no need to pay these fees, since it’s part of the $2000 paid for dossier assessment/product registration fees.

e) That the Application fees for premise approval of Ugx. 1,000,000/= is unnecessary and exorbitant, there is a need to waive it, since it is nonrefundable.

f) On syringes, Under the new regulations, they impose NDA verification fees of 20% which is too high, yet Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) also charges 25%. NDA and URA need to lower charges but also recommend that one body be mandated to charge these taxes. NDA could reduce to 2% as previously done.

g) Laboratory analysis fees:

These fees are exorbitant, and as such, they recommend that there is need to consult with other regulatory agencies within the region. The costs are overly segregated hence the need to consolidate them to affordable limits.

GMP fees: The new Regulations separate Non beta lactam (general products), penicillins and cephalosporins, each category charged $8000 yet previously this would cover 5 lines and then $2000 per additional production line. UPPA recommended that NDA reverts to the previous portfolio. Also consider penicillin and cephalosporins as beta lactam units, not as separate ones.

The Nile Special National Sevens has always carried drama but the 2025 edition turned into something else entirely. It was worth a season that served both rebellion and royalty.

While Jinja Hippos attempted a coup in the fifteens code, this was the year when the game’s power map shifted eastwards again as Walukuba Barbarians stormed into history with their first-ever national title.

Chaos, sparks

The season began in confusion at Kyadondo. Makerere Impis and Warriors withdrew due to financial constraints while Hippos bizarrely entered two rival squads due to internal wrangles that eventually forced their sister outfit Nile Rapids to sit out.

The Sevens organizing committee, against its own rules, chose not to expel Rapids, branding them ‘players of national interest.’ In Gulu, girls from Kitgum were even allowed to step in barefooted into the Rapids big shoes to keep the show going.

Hippos too were spared, borrowing players from Rwanda before resolving, or rather shelving their dispute for a proper time, by the third circuit at Kings Park.

Despite the turbulence, Hippos’ original side sparked, claiming bronze at Rujumba and Buffaloes Sevens. Rapids reunited and stormed back to win in Entebbe and Bugembe to prove a point.

But it was Walukuba Barbarians, focused and underestimated amid the chaos, who truly lit up the stage. They stunned Heathens 26-14 at the final of the Coronation Sevens to signal a potential balance of power tilting away from Kampala once more. Hippos had broken the ice in 2022 when they became the first team outside the central region to lift the crown.

Old giants, new challengers

The eastern uprising, however, did not go uncontested. Buffaloes, long hidden under Heathens’ shadow, clawed their way into contention with a gritty 5-0 win over Walukuba to take the Gulu circuit.

Heathens themselves returned to form in Entebbe and marched to the title almost effortlessly.

Pirates, back home at Kings Park, rediscovered their flair in their new colours to edge Walukuba 12-10 in the final and briefly threatened to disrupt the standings.

Every circuit shifted momentum with four different winners in all but Walukuba’s consistency kept them on top despite some hiccups.

Royalty

By the time the caravan rolled into Jinja, fate had intervened. Busoga Kingdom announced the birth of royal twins to Kyabazinga William Gabula and suddenly Walukuba’s surge carried Busoga’s weight. This week the team presented their trophies to the King at the palace at Igenge.

The Kyabazinga Sevens felt preordained. Walukuba arrived with the series lead and the huge roar of the home fans.

They ground out a bruising derby win against Hippos, strangled Kobs 7-5 in the semis and faced Heathens in a final that had a bit of revenge against the Kyadondo side that had beaten them in the same fixture last year.

The match see-sawed until Walukuba held firm to edge it 12-10. When the final whistle blew, Jinja erupted. In the four-year history of the Kyabazinga Sevens, no team had lifted the trophy and failed to win the overall crown, at least the superstitious lot understand this.

Buffaloes still harboured mathematical hope going into the final leg at Kyadondo but their collapse on day one handed the title.

Walukuba were crowned after finishing with 129 points, nine clear of Buffaloes who eventually lost the overall silver medal to Heathens after the latter won the Buffaloes stop.

Half-glass for ladies

While the men’s competition veered between chaos and rebellion, the women’s series revealed both dynasties and disruptors.

Thunderbirds reclaimed their crown after tallying 135 points to stay ahead of Avengers. Yet cracks appeared.

In Gulu, Avengers stunned the eventual champions 14-10, exposing flaws in a side long seen as untouchable. Their coach blaming the ‘self-destruction’ on his stars abandoning structure for individual flair but they quickly got over that.

The most emotional moment, however, belonged to Nile Rapids. Scarred from their Kyadondo boycott, they arrived in Entebbe as outsiders. Mediation at parent club Jinja Hippos forced bitter rivals into temporary unity and out of that truce came magic.

In the final against Avengers, with scores tied 5-5 in sudden death, Shaine Babirye sliced through for the winning try.

Elsewhere, Walukuba Titans hinted at a bright future, while Black Pearls drifted without star Emilly Lekuru, whose absence robbed them of their cutting edge.

There is consensus that the women’s game is growing but centrally and a slower rate. Opinion leaders advise the Union not to relegate teams but instead increase the numbers.

A lack of playing time for the regional invitation sides was exposed pointing at the struggling second tiers across the nation.

Changing of guard

As the dust settled on a dramatic season, attention quickly turned to those fighting for a place in next year’s top flight.

Elgon Wolves and Gulu City Falcons were relegated from the Uganda Sevens Series after finishing at the bottom of the 2025 standings.

The Wolves ended the campaign in 11th place with 43 points, while the Falcons finished last on 27, both losing their core status as the series wrapped up at Kyadondo.

Elgon Wolves suffered a painful end to what had once been a fairytale journey. The Mbale-based side had enjoyed two seasons in the Sevens and one stint in the fifteens championship but their downfall was sealed in dramatic fashion.

Their relegation was compounded by off-field turmoil after the team was docked points for fielding an ineligible player, Michael Ochieng, who had previously featured for Kenya Harlequins in the Kenya Sevens circuit. The sanction erased their slim survival hopes and turned a promising campaign into a painful collapse.

But as two names dropped off, new ones rose to take their place. The 2026 Core Status Qualifiers, held last weekend at the Ruga Ruga Sports Complex in Busukuma brought together eight men’s teams (two per region) and four women’s sides (one per region).

In the women’s round-robin competition, Ewes emerged top after beating Mbale Eagles, Kitgum Queens and Kigezi Queens to secure the only available slot for next season’s series.

In the men’s category, Victoria Sharks edged Mbale Elephants 12-7 in the final, though both finalists earned automatic promotion to next year’s core group.

Ewes, Sharks and Mbale Elephants will now mark their debut season as full-time members of the top-tier national Sevens circuit next season.

But as the new teams prepared to rise, individual stars were auditioning for higher honours on the national stage.

Perfect Audition

Numbers told part of this tale. Heathens’ Julius Oyuk and Thunderbirds’ Comfort Angayika finished as top try scorers, their consistency shining through the chaos.

Both did not go unnoticed as they earned places in the respective national teams for 27th edition of the Safari Sevens in Nairobi this weekend.

Uganda Rugby Cranes Sevens also oversaw a transition from the golden coach Tolbert Onyango to Allan Otim. The new sheriff has started to lay his marker by giving debut calls to Oyuk alongside Fat Moses Watmon (Buffaloes), Jeremiah Ojambo (Pirates) and Walukuba duo Shakim Ssembusi and Ivan Bulima. Others on the team include Allan Olango, Roy Kizito, Patrick Okello, Gift Wokorach, Jones Kamiza, and Daniel Otim.

With this group, Otim who is succeeding the golden era of Onyango, begins his tenure on a clean slate, chasing a trophy that long eluded his predecessor in Nairobi.

Nile Special 7s

Final Standings

1. Walukuba Barbarians – 129 pts

2. Heathens – 117

3. Buffaloes – 114

4. Pirates – 109

5. Rhinos – 94

6. KCB Kobs – 86

7. Hippos – 77

8. Eagles – 60

9. Mongers – 60

10. Rams – 58

List of Uganda 7s series champions since 2001

Men

2001 – Heathens

2002 – Heathens

2003 – Heathens

2004 – Heathens

2005 – Heathens

2006 – KOBs

2007 – Heathens

2008 – Heathens

2009 – Heathens

2010 – Impis

2011 – Heathens

2012 – Heathens

2013 – Heathens

2014 – Buffaloes

2015 – KOBs

2016 – KOBs

2017 – KOBs

2018 – Pirates

2019 – KOBs

2020 – Not held

2021 – KOBs

2022 – Hippos

2023 – Piratesde

2024 – Heathens

2025 – Walukuba Barbarians

Women’s 7s Series (since 2021)

2021 – Black Pearls

2022 – Black Pearls

2023 – Black Pearls

2024 – Avengers

2025 – Thunderbirds

The Commercial Division of the High Court has finally resolved an 18-year legal dispute between Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) and Twed Property Development.

In its ruling, court directed KCCA to offset more than Shs108m spent by Twed Property on the construction of a public road in Nakasero.

In an electronically delivered September 23 judgment, Justice Patience T. E. Rubagumya directed KCCA to deduct the amount from Twed’s property rate obligations, effectively reducing the city authority’s original claim from Shs151m to Shs43m. ‘The applicant (KCCA) is hereby directed to offset against the liability of the respondent (Twed Property) the sum of over Shs108m,’ the ruling reads in part.

However, court granted KCCA the right to recover Shs43m in property rates due from Twed for its commercial property located on Lumumba Avenue, Nakasero, Kampala Central.

Background

The case stems from road construction works carried out by Twed Property in 2007 along Nakasero Lane, adjacent to Twed Plaza, at more than Shs108m.

The project, approved by the then Kampala City Council, was completed under the supervision of the City Engineering Department, which issued a Certificate of Completion verifying its quality and scope.

Under the Local Governments (Rating) Act, developers who legally undertake approved public infrastructure works are entitled to offset the costs against their property rate liabilities, provided the works are certified.

Twed argued that it was entitled to deduct the cost of the road works from its property rates. But for nearly two decades, KCCA resisted recognizing the offset.

Court findings

In February 2024, KCCA acknowledged Twed’s claim but attempted to apply the offset only to arrears listed in a 2009 supplementary valuation list.

Twed challenged this, arguing that the list had expired and was never gazetted, making the arrears legally unenforceable.

Twed, represented by Mr David Kato of Kato and Co. Advocates, maintained that the company had complied with all legal requirements, and KCCA’s attempt to limit the offset was contrary to the law.

‘The company acted in full compliance with statutory requirements. KCCA’s insistence on applying the offset to expired arrears is inconsistent with the law.’ Mr Kato argued in documents filed before court.

Justice Rubagumya agreed, ruling that the 2009 valuation list had no legal effect because it was not gazetted as required under the Local Governments (Rating) Act.

‘Property rate arrears must be recovered within six years of becoming due. Claims beyond this period are barred by law and cannot be enforced,’ she held.

‘Local authorities cannot ignore statutory provisions, and any attempt to bypass lawful offsets undermines fairness and legal compliance.’

KCCA, represented by Ms Florence Nakabugo and Mr Joseph Lumu of K and K Advocates, had maintained that the waiver for public works applied only to the 2009 list.

‘KCCA’s position is that the waiver for public works applied only to rates arising from the 2009 supplementary valuation,’ said Mr Lumu.

‘We do not dispute that the works were carried out, but the offset cannot extend to current rate obligations without a proper statutory basis.’

Thus, the ruling reduces KCCA’s recoverable claim to Shs43m, which KCCA may now collect through a summary warrant.

Ms Nakabugo noted that the ruling underscores the need for the timely gazettal of valuation lists to ensure transparency and protect city revenues.

Meanwhile, Mr Dan Twebaze, Twed Property managing director, said the ruling confirms that once public works are undertaken legally to improve public infrastructure, their cost must be offset against property rates in accordance with the law.’

He noted that the decision also reaffirms the six-year limitation period for recovering rates, ‘protecting property owners from being pursued for expired liabilities.’

On costs, Justice Rubagumya invoked the Civil Procedure Act, observing that since both parties had partially succeeded, each would bear its own legal costs.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Gen Jeje Odongo, has expressed confidence that the Third Session of the Uganda-Russia Intergovernmental Commission on Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation will serve as a springboard for an invigorated partnership between both countries.

Gen Odongo said Uganda has been looking forward to this moment, where both countries are bound by a history of loyal friendship and mutual respect built on the strong foundation of shared interests and values spanning over several decades.

‘As Uganda pursues its quest for higher middle-income status, it seeks Russian investment and expertise in key sectors to enable the East African country to grow and transform its economy,’ Gen Odongo said while officially opening the session in Kampala on Wednesday.

He added: ‘We seek Russian experience in advanced scientific research, digital innovation, and even space science, to help us leapfrog basic stages of development. Above all, we recognise that education and human capital remain our greatest assets, and we aspire to obtain more training opportunities and student exchanges for our youth.

‘To the Russian business community, Uganda offers immense opportunities for trade and investment in all sectors. The East African Community (EAC), of which Uganda is a member, has a market of over 330 million people for which your investments can supply. The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) offers you a market of 1.4 billion people and a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) exceeding $3 trillion. Please come and take advantage of the opportunities that these big markets offer,’ he said.

Gen Odongo further pledged Uganda’s full commitment to implementing the different memoranda of understanding (MOUs) that were signed at this session, and support for their full operationalisation.

The Russian side of the Commission was headed by Ms Bella Cherkesova, the deputy minister of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media, who said to regularly ‘check the clock’, a new format of dialogue was created last year. This is a conference with the participation of the foreign ministers of African states and Russia.

‘We are now preparing for the second meeting, which will take place in Cairo in November,’ Ms Cherkesova said.

Speaking at the media launch for this session at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs headquarters in Kampala last week, Uganda’s ambassador to Russia, Mr Moses Kizige, said at least 25 MoUs were lined up for review and signing, while his Russian counterpart, Vladlen Semivolos, said they anticipate discussions on practical issues of the cooperation.

Background

This week’s session follows a similar agreement signed between both countries on May 19, in Kampala, and the second commission held in Moscow, Russia, on May 23, 2018.

Since then, there has been an urgent call for a third session by Uganda, which was brought to the attention of President Museveni during a meeting held with the Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Sergey Lavrov, at State House, Entebbe, on July 26, 2022.

At this meeting, President Museveni directed that the third session of the Commission be convened by Uganda in the intervening periods, especially the last quarter of 2024. However, due to financial constraints, that could not be achieved.

The National Curriculum Development Centre (NCDC) has urged schools across the country to fully embrace the new competence-based curriculum as part of a broader effort to address the growing cases of mental health challenges, anxiety, and suicide among students and teachers.

Speaking ahead of the World Mental Health Day Conference, which happened yesterday at Makerere University, Mr David Dan Mayanja, the chief executive officer of Business Friends Africa, said integrating mental wellness into the education system is key to building a healthier and more productive learning environment.

‘We are focusing on how the new curriculum can help reduce anxiety and stress among students,’ Mr Mayanja said.

‘Without going into statistics, we have witnessed both students and teachers taking their own lives. This has deeply affected the education environment.’

Mr Mayanja revealed that since 2013, Business Friends Africa has been working closely with NCDC to promote quality and holistic education. He added that this year’s conference will explore practical ways of addressing mental health risks within schools.

‘We urge schools to introduce activities that allow learners to relax and rest their minds. Many mental health cases stem from continuous academic pressure without emotional support,’ he said. The conference, themed ‘Addressing Anxiety and Stress to Manage Suicide Risks in Schools,’ will bring together educators, policymakers, and health experts to develop sustainable strategies for improving mental wellness in learning institutions.

Emotional intelligence

Mr Doe Taddeo Bwambale, the NCDC spokesperson, emphasised that the competence-based curriculum was designed to move education beyond memorisation, towards nurturing emotional and social intelligence among learners.

‘We want learners to not only acquire knowledge but also develop life skills that enable them to live holistically,’ Mr Bwambale said. ‘This new approach encourages self-discovery and helps learners find solutions to their problems within their communities.’

He explained that under the new arrangement, learners attend structured lessons from 8am to 2pm, followed by activity sessions from 2:55pm to 4:30pm.

These sessions encourage participation in creative, physical, or community-based exercises that support both personal growth and emotional stability.

‘We always advise schools to include integration activities that connect what learners study in class to real-life experiences. Such activities are vital in reducing stress and promoting emotional balance,’ he added. Mr Bwambale said the renewed focus on mental health through curriculum reform comes at a time when schools are grappling with rising cases of depression, burnout, and suicide.