The Dott Services Limited, a local construction firm has embarked on a massive project to upgrade and reconstruct 24 roads in Kampala City. This initiative is part of the government’s broader effort to modernize infrastructure within the Kampala Capital City metropolitan area.

The Minister for Kampala Capital City and Metropolitan Affairs, Hajjat Minsa Kabanda praised the government’s commitment to funding road construction in the city and recognized Dott Services as one of the key contractors selected to undertake the work.

“I thank the government of Uganda for the funding. I thank Dott Services, the construction company, for starting the work early. I have no doubt they will perform very well. I also urge them to kindly perform and deliver as per the contract,” said Hajjat Kabanda.

She made these remarks during the commissioning of the upgrading of Kabaka Lake Road to bitumen standards on Friday—one of the 24 roads set for reconstruction under the project.

The overall project will cover 14.65 kilometers and is expected to be completed within three years.

The roads to be upgraded include:

Kabaka’s Lake Road, Button Street Link, Bukoto Street, Wilson Road, Wilson Street, Market Street, Mengo–Kisenyi Link Road, Erisa–Nkoyoyo Road, Central Kisenyi Lane, Market Service Lane, Market Square, Dastur Street, Church Road, Naava Road, Church Lane II, Kyejwe Road, Lower Kololo Terrace, Golf Course Road, Nsamba Road, St. Stephen Hospital Ring Road, St. Barnabas Road, Kalinabiri Road, and Mapeera Road.

Most of these roads have long been in a poor state, negatively affecting trade, transport, and the overall quality of life in the city.

Hajjat Kabanda noted that this project differs from previous ones because the designs allow for flexibility and can be adjusted based on feedback from residents, ensuring that infrastructure better serves the needs of city dwellers.

Ms. Sharifah Buzeki, Executive Director of Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), also hailed the project and noted that the government has invested heavily in road infrastructure this year.

“We have the contractors, Dott Services, and MBW Consulting Limited is the supervisor of this project. We have urged them to work on the road in time. We have hope that in a few years, Kampala will be different,” Buzeki said.

Kampala Lord Mayor, Mr. Erias Lukwago, welcomed the development and emphasized the importance of local content in public infrastructure projects.

“In the previous projects, there was barely any local content. Most of the projects went to foreigners. We should have local content in these new projects,” Lukwago stated, adding that he appreciated the increased government funding for road construction in the city centre.

In this financial year alone, the government has raised the infrastructure budget to Shs550 billion—an increase Mr. Lukwago described as a significant milestone.

Dott Services is among the few local firms awarded contracts under the new city development push. The company has previously completed road projects in Ishaka–Kagamba, Ttinyi–Nakalama, Rwenkunye–Apach, and various regional areas across the country.

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Uganda is set to host the First Edition of the Africa Triple Elimination Conference 2025 at Speke Resort Munyonyo, under the theme “Unifying Action, Transforming Futures: Achieving Triple Elimination in Africa by 2030” from 21-23rd of July, 2025. 

This landmark event will bring together high-level stakeholders, health experts, policymakers, advocates and community leaders to forge a collective path towards the elimination of HIV, Hepatitis B and Syphilis across the continent.

The conference is jointly organized by the African Union Commission, Ministry of Health of Uganda, Africa CDC, WHO, UNAIDS, UNICEF, AUDA-NEPAD, PATH, Clinton Health Access Initiative, and the National Organisation for People Living with Hepatitis B, among others.

 Kenneth Kabagambe, Executive Director of the National Organisation for People Living with Hepatitis B who is spearheading the organization of the conference said that this groundbreaking event is dedicated to accelerating efforts to eliminate HIV, Hepatitis B, and Syphilis in Africa.  

He added, “It is a unique opportunity to catalyze solutions, share best practices, and build impactful collaborations that will shape the future of public health in Africa.”

The conference comes at a time when Africa continues to bear the heaviest burden of these diseases.

Dr. Robert Mutumba, a leading health expert from Uganda’s Ministry of Health, highlighted the scale of the challenge, “Globally, 41 million people live with HIV—over half of them in Africa. About 254 million people have Hepatitis B, and 65 million live with chronic infections, with Africa disproportionately affected. Eight million adults globally are infected with Syphilis, and the burden remains high in African nations.”

Dr. Ronny Bahatungire, Acting Commissioner of Clinical Services at the Ministry of Health, noted Uganda’s continued progress in the fight against these infections noting, Since 2002, Uganda has made remarkable strides through the introduction of the Hepatitis B vaccine and, more recently, the local production of first-line Hepatitis B medicines—a bold step toward self-reliance.”

Bahatungire said, “The conference will raise awareness on Hepatitis B, its transmission, prevention, and treatment while promoting testing, vaccination, outreach, and service integration.”

Jotham Mubangizi from UNAIDS emphasized the urgency of eliminating mother-to-child HIV transmission saying, “We’ve come a long way in reducing HIV transmission from mother to child, but we must do more. Every one of the 4,700 new child infections is preventable. With the science we have, these numbers are unacceptable.”

Uganda is close to reaching the global target of eliminating mother-to-child HIV transmission, currently performing at 6%, just slightly above the <5% benchmark.

The Triple Elimination strategy aims not just to address the individual diseases, but also to promote integrated approaches that tackle their root causes and intersecting risk factors.

“HIV, Hepatitis B, and Syphilis are among the leading causes of preventable infant illness and death, especially in low-income countries,” Dr. Mutumba noted.

He added, “The elimination of vertical transmission of these diseases aligns with global health goals and WHO’s vision of ending preventable disease as a public health threat.”

The conference also underscores the importance of regional collaboration. By bringing African nations together to share strategies and lessons, the event will ensure more effective use of resources and foster a united continental health response.

As the host nation, Uganda once again positions itself as a continental leader in public health, demonstrating commitment to tackling long-standing disease burdens and promoting equity in healthcare.

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Kampala – Reach A Hand Uganda (RAHU) has hosted the third Billi Now Now (BNN) Summit, an annual event under the Billi Now Now movement.

The summit was held at Reach A Head Headquarters in Lungujja for two days – 10th between July 10-July 11, 2025 under the theme: ‘’Our Voices. Our Power. Our Future’’. It was held in partnership with GN Trybe.

Billi Now Now (BNN) is a youth-led movement empowering over 1 billion BRAVE young people (B!LL!s) to take charge of their lives, health, and future. Working hand in hand with this mission is GN Trybe, a youth-centred behavioral change communication initiative designed to respond to the evolving challenges young people face today. Through bold and innovative strategies, it raises awareness and reduces Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) risks—barriers that often limit access to quality education, mental well-being, and the ability to lead healthy, empowered lives.

The 2025 BNN summit addressed topical youth issues, including economic empowerment, the role of media in promoting youth issues, healthy relationships, safeguarding, technology-facilitated gender-based violence, youth and civic space, among others.

It attracted more than 300 youth delegates from Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Senegal, Benin, Peru and Burkina Faso to have conversations about Africa reclaiming its identity, leveraging the power of youth voices to drive meaningful change.

Part of the activities that took place during the summit was the unveiling of the inaugural Impact Forge cohort. The programme is an aspect of RAHU’s youth empowerment efforts to provide support for youth-led and youth-founded organisations.

The initiative provides a year-long mentorship, capacity building, and access to resources to ensure that the participants succeed and thrive. The cohort comprises 15 participants across various industries such as agriculture, climate change, youth livelihood, education and social behavioural change.

Speaking at the BNN summit, Humphrey Nabimanya, Chief Executive Officer of Reach A Hand Uganda, remarked: “Billi Now Now has produced a generation of changemakers who are now advocating for the youth of today and tomorrow.”

Mariam Nalukuma, Head of Corporate Affairs at the Insurance Regulatory Authority, spoke about the importance of economic empowerment through financial literacy.

“One of the biggest challenges we face in Africa is unemployment,” she said. “Across the world, young people are carrying the burden of securing the future. In today’s world, financial literacy is critical for financial resilience. Insurance is one of the key tools for financial protection. Even those without formal employment can take advantage of affordable insurance packages to secure their future against unforeseen circumstances such as untimely death or accidents.”

Dr Ruth Grace Kakoba, a gynaecologist and content creator, highlighted how media can either be healing or harmful, depending on how it is used.

She pointed to emerging social media trends, such as the hashtag #TeenMom, where young girls who become pregnant at 18 portray teenage motherhood as trendy or glamorous.

“These trends can be misleading,” she said. “They often ignore the serious health risks and long-term effects of teenage pregnancy on a young girl’s body and future.”

She emphasised the importance of responsible media content that educates rather than glamorises, warning that unchecked trends can normalise harmful behaviour among youth.

Herbert Mugumya, Chief of Staff at the International Rescue Committee, challenged traditional notions of masculinity during his address. He explained that being a man is largely a social construct, shaped by upbringing, societal expectations, and reproductive roles.

“What defines a man is not wealth or dominance, but responsibility and emotional maturity,” Mugumya said.

He further critiqued outdated beliefs that discourage men from expressing vulnerability, such as the idea that a man should not cry, not even at a burial.

“Traditional masculinity, which associates manhood with stoicism and power, can be harmful. Real strength lies in emotional openness, care for family, and responsible living,” he added.

About Reach A Hand Uganda

Reach A Hand Uganda is a youth-led non-profit organisation dedicated to empowering young people in Uganda through advocacy, awareness campaigns, and community engagement, focusing on key issues affecting youth, including sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), education, mental health, gender equality, and economic empowerment.

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The Uganda Police have arrested the driver of a passenger taxi featured in a widely circulated TikTok video that showed a man seated dangerously on a wooden chair atop a moving taxi drinking beer in Nsambya, Kampala.

The vehicle bearing registration number UAZ 910B was impounded after being tracked using CCTV footage. The reckless stunt captured and shared online has drawn widespread condemnation from both the public and authorities.

The Superintendent of Police Michael Kananura confirmed the arrest of the suspect and the charges he now faces.

“We confirm the arrest of the driver of a taxi registration number UAZ 910B, following the circulation of a trending TikTok video showing a man dangerously seated on a wooden chair placed atop the said vehicle,” SP Kananura stated.

He revealed, “The incident occurred in Nsambya, in an area where there was no active traffic deployment at the time. Upon discovering the video, police utilized CCTV footage to trace the vehicle, which was subsequently impounded.”

He added that the driver and conductor are now in custody and have been charged with carrying a person in a dangerous manner, in violation of Section 117 (1) and (3) of the Traffic and Road Safety Act (CAP. 347).

Preliminary investigations revealed that the individual seen on top of the vehicle is a TikTok content creator who allegedly paid UGX 20,000 to the driver and conductor to facilitate the stunt.

“Efforts are ongoing to locate and apprehend the TikTok content creator, who will also be charged under the same section of the law for consenting to be carried in a dangerous manner,” Kananura said.

Speaking on the same incident, Kampala Metropolitan Deputy Police Spokesperson Luke Owoyesigyire emphasized the severity of the offense.

“We managed to trace the vehicle carrying someone on top of its bed. It was impounded, and the driver was charged with carrying a passenger in a dangerous position,” Owoyesigyire confirmed.

Owoyesigyire added, “However, the passenger has not yet been traced, but efforts to locate him are ongoing.”

He cautioned the public against engaging in life-threatening behavior under the pretense of content creation.

He noted, “This is very dangerous, lads. We understand that the TikToker paid the driver 20,000 shillings for that stunt.”

Authorities have reiterated that all suspects will be arraigned in court at an appropriate time to answer to the charges.

Kananura further warned, “We strongly condemn such reckless behavior, which endangers road safety under the guise of comedy or content creation. We urge members of the public to exercise responsibility and caution at all times, no life should be put at risk for the sake of entertainment.”

He added, “Let us all work together to prioritize safety on our roads.”

The Uganda Police continue to monitor social media platforms and use surveillance tools to curb unlawful and dangerous conduct, especially stunts that pose risks to public safety.

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The National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) has confirmed that the first batch of upgraded national identity cards is now ready for collection by Ugandans who applied for renewals. This announcement comes as the nationwide mass enrolment and renewal exercise, which began on May 27, 2025, continues across the country.

Speaking on Monday, NIRA Registrar Claire Ollama stated that roughly 100,000 new national ID cards have been printed and dispatched to various district offices.

“We, however, ask Ugandans to be patient as more people will receive notifications on where to pick their national ID cards,” Ollama said.

She clarified that individuals should pick up their new IDs from the same stations where their biometric data was originally captured.

The new national IDs boast several advanced security features to combat counterfeiting. These include Multiple Laser Images (MLI), which embed various images visible at different angles, and a Machine-Readable Zone (MRZ) for quick, machine-based data verification, similar to passports. The cards also incorporate a two-dimensional barcode for quick data retrieval via smartphones or specialized scanners, and will soon integrate iris biometrics as an additional identification layer. Made from durable polycarbonate material, these IDs are designed for a 10-year validity period.

This release is a key part of NIRA’s broader effort to modernize Uganda’s national identity system. The ongoing enrolment campaign aims to renew some 15.8 million expiring ID cards and register 17.2 million new applicants, including those turning 16 or previously unregistered. While initial registration and renewals remain free, fees apply for changing particulars or replacing lost IDs.

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