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Equity Bank launches ethics drive in Uganda to strengthen accountability

By
Francisco Adongo
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Equity Bank Uganda top executives during the rebranding of new logo December, 2020.

Equity Bank Group has expanded its comprehensive ethics and accountability program to Uganda with an aim of redefining corporate governance in East Africa.

The initiative shows the bank’s regional strategy to embed transparency, integrity and responsible leadership across all its operations.

Initially launched in Kenya, the ethics initiative has now been rolled out in Uganda, with Managing Director Gift Shoko underscoring the bank’s renewed focus on building a fair and transparent workplace where ethical behavior is the standard, not the exception.

“We are creating a culture where integrity is embedded in everything we do. It’s about more than rules; it’s about mindset,” Shoko told employees.

The initiative, introduced by Equity Group CEO Dr. James Mwangi during a recent investor briefing, includes sweeping reforms such as enhanced internal audits, rigorous performance evaluations, robust conflict-of-interest screening, and mandatory ethics training programs.

Crucially, the bank is also deploying advanced reporting tools and strengthening its whistleblower protection mechanisms to ensure staff across all branches—including those in Uganda—can raise concerns securely and without fear of retaliation.

David, a compliance officer at Equity, noted that the policy applies to all levels of staff:

“The fact that even senior staff are subject to the same standards has sent a strong message. It means no one is above accountability now.”

This regional ethics drive extends to Equity’s operations in South Sudan, Tanzania, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, positioning the bank as a pioneer in redefining ethical leadership in the financial sector.

Ugandan employees have welcomed the move, viewing it as a sign of serious leadership intent. Sarah, a customer relationship professional in Kampala, shared her optimism:

“This new move is restoring our pride in the workplace. It’s reassuring to know that performance and integrity actually matter.”

Analysts say Equity’s transparency-first approach is breaking from traditional industry norms where internal issues are often dealt with quietly. By openly embracing ethics as a core business pillar, Equity Bank is setting a new benchmark for regional financial institutions.

The reform is not just compliance-focused; it reflects a shift toward proactive, values-based governance that aligns with the evolving expectations of modern stakeholders.

As part of this transformation, the bank has even opened public channels for reporting misconduct, a move that demonstrates confidence in its systems and a willingness to be held accountable.

With this expansion into Uganda, Equity Bank is not only strengthening its internal controls but also sending a powerful message about the kind of leadership it believes East Africa’s banking sector needs.

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Museveni: Digitized number plates are for national security, not EPS fines

By
Simon Kabayo
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President Museveni.

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has emphasized that the government’s push for digital number plates is a critical national security measure aimed at combating crime, not a revenue-generating initiative through fines.

Museveni made the clarification yesterday during the reading of the 2025/26 national budget at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds noting that the issue at hand goes far beyond financial penalties.

“The issue concerning number plates is not about fines; it is fundamentally about crime prevention,” he said.

His comments come in the wake of public uproar over the implementation of the Automated Express Penalty System (EPS Auto) which raised complaints from road users, including taxi operators and truck drivers.

The President expressed deep concern over the growing threats to public safety, stating that the lack of traceable vehicle identification has hindered law enforcement from responding effectively to criminal incidents.

“I will not accept Ugandans dying because of inadequate infrastructure,” Museveni said, adding that a system capable of real-time vehicle tracking is urgently needed.

He noted, “Every vehicle must have a digitized number plate that can be traced by a central authority, allowing for the monitoring of cars and boda bodas present in specific areas.”

The new digital number plate system is part of the government’s efforts to enhance surveillance and intelligence capabilities, particularly in urban areas where motorcycle and vehicle-assisted crimes have surged in recent years.

“This matter transcends financial considerations; it is primarily about security,” Museveni reiterated.

He added, “People are acting with impunity, and this concern extends beyond mere fines. It is about ensuring the safety and security of all Ugandans.”

The Ministry of Works and Transport responded by suspending the EPS Auto for one month from June 12 to July 12, 2025 to allow for more public engagement and correction of regulatory gaps.

While the temporary suspension of the EPS Auto module has made headlines, President Museveni was keen to separate the number plate digitization initiative from EPS, clarifying that the technology is not a revenue-generating scheme, but a national imperative for safety and crime deterrence.

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Why America’s spending priorities wipe out global health progress

By
Guest Writer
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Mr Bob Marley Achura

By Bob Marley Achura (PhD)

Global Health Policy Expert | June 2025

In 2024, Americans spent $17.13 billion on toilet paper. That’s not a typo.

It’s more than three times what the U.S. government spent on health aid to the entire African continent, home to over 1.4 billion people facing some of the world’s most devastating disease burdens.

Let me give that some context.

While U.S. grocery carts were filled with soft, two-ply comfort, Africa received just $5.82 billion in health support from the U.S., a figure that had to stretch across HIV treatment, malaria prevention, maternal health services, pandemic preparedness, and fragile public health systems in over 50 countries.

Zoom in on Uganda. This small East African country received $471 million in U.S. health aid in 2024.

It supported over 1.3 million people living with HIV/AIDS, kept thousands of health workers employed, and sustained national disease control programs. But in early 2025, aid cuts slashed over $160 million from that support. Clinics closed. Lives were put at risk. Frontline heroes lost their jobs.

Compare that to the $17 billion that went into American bathrooms.

What This Tells Us!

This isn’t an attack on personal hygiene. It’s a plea for global perspective.

Budgets are more than accounting tools—they’re moral documents. And the U.S. budget tells a story where domestic convenience outweighs international survival. It’s a sobering reality: the lives of millions in Africa depend on political winds in Washington, while comfort items enjoy consistent consumer loyalty.

But this isn’t just a moral failure—it’s a strategic one.

When the U.S. pulls back from global health investment, it creates power vacuums that authoritarian rivals are quick to fill. China is expanding its influence in Africa not just with infrastructure, but with medicine, research, and long-term health partnerships. Every dollar the U.S. divests from health diplomacy is a dollar it hands to its competitors, at the cost of human lives.

A Call to Recalibrate

Imagine redirecting just 10% of toilet paper spending, $1.7 billion, to global health programs. Uganda’s health budget could double. Regional laboratories could expand. Millions more could receive treatment, vaccinations, and basic care.

This is not about charity. It’s about shared survival.

Diseases don’t respect borders. Ebola, #COVID-19, and drug-resistant TB have shown us that. The next outbreak could emerge in a poorly funded clinic in Gulu, and land in Chicago days later. Strengthening Africa’s health systems is strengthening America’s biosecurity.

What Needs to Happen?

We need U.S. policymakers to stop treating global health aid as a luxury and start treating it as critical infrastructure. Health funding should be predictable, protected, and scaled, not cut with every political shift. Citizens must also demand that their tax dollars reflect a world they want to live in, interconnected, compassionate, and prepared.

The choice isn’t between toilet paper and treatment. The real choice is between short-term convenience and long-term consequences.

The U.S. has the resources to do both. The question is: Does it have the will? 

Bob Marley Achura is a global health and development policy expert with over two decades of experience in reproductive health, health systems strengthening, and donor coordination across sub-Saharan Africa.

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UMEME audited financials reveal Shs511b loss, seeks Shs1t buyout

By
Francisco Adongo
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UMEME employee operating a system in one of the previous incidents before company closed.

Umeme Limited has reported a net loss of sHS511 billion for the year ended December 31, 2024, marking it a challenging final year in its 20-year electricity distribution concession in Uganda.

The concession reached its natural end in March 2025, triggering a complex transition process that significantly impacted the company’s operations and financial performance.

“This is the 20th year of the Company’s Electricity Distribution concession in Uganda. The concession reached the end of its natural term in March 2025,” the Board of Directors stated in the company’s audited financial results.

Throughout 2024, Umeme focused on critical transition processes involving staff, ICT systems, distribution assets, and service continuity. These activities, coupled with the pending recovery of outstanding claims from the government, weighed heavily on the company’s bottom line.

“The effects of the concession end, transition processes and outcomes have had a significant adverse impact on the overall performance of the Company,” the Board said. “The effects were notably in the form of lower staff productivity levels, increased operating costs and significant provisions in relation to financial assets pending final determination.”

The macro-operating environment added further pressure, with inflation, regulatory constraints, and rising financing costs taking a toll. Safety remained a top priority, though the company registered 18 fatal accidents linked to unauthorized power usage, poor domestic wiring, and vandalism.

Despite the headwinds, electricity demand grew by 10.8% to 4,674 GWh, driven by increased grid connections and economic activity. A total of 219,656 new customers were connected in 2024, pushing the total to 2.2 million. Energy losses dropped to a historic low of 16%, a marked improvement from 38% at the start of the concession in 2005.

Operating costs per kilowatt-hour sold rose by 18.2%, reflecting expanded operations and end-of-concession activities. The company also completed critical infrastructure projects, including upgrades to substations in Hoima and Jinja, and installation of dedicated lines to regional referral hospitals.

On the digital front, Umeme rolled out a new Yaka Management System in December 2024, integrating various billing and customer service platforms.

“The system further enhances the customer experience, revenue protection and staff productivity,” the company noted.

Revenues grew by 5.4% to Shs2.3 trillion, bolstered by a 10.8% rise in electricity sales volume. However, the company made provisions amounting to Shs329 billion for disputed financial assets related to the Buyout Amount claim under its concession agreement with the Government of Uganda.

“In accordance with IFRS Accounting Standards, we provided for the unadmitted and disputed component of the Buyout Amount,” the Board stated. “The Company resolved to recover this amount through the arbitration process to be conducted in London, United Kingdom.”

With increased amortization costs of Shs699 billion and expected credit losses soaring from Shs1.6 billion to Shs361 billion, Umeme’s total assets dropped from Shs2.35 trillion in 2023 to Shs1.39 trillion in 2024. Finance costs declined by 35% to Shs29 billion following the full repayment of term loans in 2023.

“The income tax charge for the period was a credit of Shs92 billion compared to a charge of Shs3.9 billion in 2023,” the report noted.

The report added, “The credit in 2024 was due to the loss incurred by the Company due to the provisions noted above.”

No dividend has been declared for 2024, a reversal from the previous year’s payout of Shs54.2 per share.

Following the formal handover of the distribution network to the Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL) on March 31, 2025, Umeme is now pursuing recovery of the remaining Buyout Amount.

“As communicated in the public notice of 2nd June 2025, the Company is seeking to recover the balance of the outstanding Buyout Amount payable to it in the sum of $292 million (Shs1,051 billion) plus contractual interest, through the international arbitration route,” the Board affirmed.

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Ugandan-owned startup businesses offered 3-year tax holiday

By
Simon Kabayo
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Finance Minister, Matia Kasaija.

The Ugandan government will offer a three-year income tax holiday for new, Ugandan-owned startup businesses as part of its 2025-26 national budget.

The revelation was made by Finance Minister Matia Kasaija on Thursday, 12 with an aim to stimulate entrepreneurship and formal business growth. The policy applies to startups established after July 1, 2025.

Kasaija presented the Shs72.4 trillion ($19.4 billion) budget to Parliament, noting that the new tax measures are expected to generate an additional 538.6 billion shillings ($144 million) in domestic revenue.

“Additional revenue of Shs538.6 billion will be raised from new tax policy measures that were approved by Parliament,” Kasaija said. “In addition to raising revenue, the measures will support the growth of businesses and the economy.”

The income tax holiday is designed to reduce initial barriers for early-stage businesses, encouraging innovation, job creation and the formalization of enterprises in a sector often dominated by informal operations. The incentive specifically targets companies entirely owned by Ugandan citizens.

Beyond the tax holiday, the government also eliminated capital gains tax for individuals transferring assets to companies they own and control. This move is intended to encourage the transition to more structured corporate entities, Kasaija said.

Additionally, stamp duty on mortgages and agreements has been scrapped, which is expected to lower the cost of accessing credit for both individuals and businesses. Taxpayers with outstanding liabilities can also benefit from an extended waiver on penalties and interest if they clear their principal tax by June 30, 2026.

“This waiver is intended to provide relief to businesses and individuals to enable them to settle outstanding tax liabilities and resume normal operations,” Kasaija said.

On the compliance front, penalties under the Electronic Fiscal Receipting and Invoicing System (EFRIS) have been revised. Previously, non-compliance incurred a fixed fine of Shs6 million per invoice. This has been replaced with a penalty equal to twice the tax owed.

“The system promotes transparency and creates an even-playing field,” Kasaija urged, encouraging digital invoicing.

Other tax adjustments include an increase in excise duty on cigarettes from Shs55,000 to Shs65,000 per 1,000 sticks for soft cap brands, with higher rates for products from outside the East African Community. Excise duty on beer made with locally malted barley has been removed, while tax on beer brewed with 75% local raw materials has been increased to ensure tax parity.

Trade-related taxes have also been modified. A 1% import declaration fee will now apply to taxable goods under the East African Community Common External Tariff. A new export levy of $10 per metric ton has been imposed on wheat bran, cotton cake, and maize bran to promote domestic value addition.

In the textile sector, import duties on fabrics will decrease from $3 to $2 per kilogram, and on garments from $3.5 to $2.5 per kilogram or 35%, whichever is higher.

“These changes reflect our continued commitment to building a fairer and more predictable tax system that supports enterprise, encourages compliance, and funds national priorities,” Kasaija said.

To finance the 2025-26 budget, the government plans to raise Shs33.94 trillion from tax revenue, Shs3.28 trillion from non-tax revenue, Shs11.38 trillion from domestic borrowing, and Shs13.41 trillion from external sources.

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X suspends fake account impersonating businessman Sudhir

By
Our Reporter
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Tycoon Sudhir Ruparelia.

Social media platform X (formerly Twitter) has suspended a fake account that had been impersonating Ugandan billionaire Sudhir Ruparelia, following weeks of public outcry, digital investigations and calls from legal and cyber security experts.

The fraudulent handle, @RupareliaSudhi, had amassed over 48,000 followers and was actively publishing fabricated political, economic and personal statements falsely attributed to the prominent businessman.

The posts misled followers and stirred confusion particularly in the aftermath of the death of Sudhir’s son, Rajiv Ruparelia.

In an earlier public statement, Sudhir had disassociated himself from the account, warning, “I do not own or operate any account on X. Any communications or posts from that account should be disregarded as fraudulent and misleading.”

The account used Sudhir’s photos and business branding to mimic authenticity, making it difficult for unsuspecting users to distinguish it from a legitimate source. Several posts went viral, including fake business endorsements and emotional tributes prompting alarm from the public and business community.

X has not officially commented on the takedown, but attempts to access the account now return a suspension notice citing violation of platform rules. Screenshots circulated online show the message: “This account doesn’t exist.”

The suspension follows concerns about the rise in impersonation and digital misinformation targeting high-profile Ugandans. Legal and digital rights advocates have pointed to Uganda’s Computer Misuse Act, 2011, which criminalizes online identity fraud and reputational harm.

This is not the first time Sudhir has been a target. In April 2025, a deep fake video circulated on WhatsApp and TikTok falsely depicting him endorsing a get-rich-quick cryptocurrency scam. The video, later debunked, claimed that users could earn millions by investing as little as Shs915,000.

Digital security experts warn that such impersonations are becoming more sophisticated, often aided by AI-generated content and lax verification systems. The Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) has urged public figures to seek verification on digital platforms and to educate their audiences about identifying fake accounts.

Sudhir’s associates confirmed that he relies solely on official statements and regulated PR channels for communication, and has never had a personal presence on X. The businessman has called for strengthened cyber regulations and quicker response mechanisms from tech platforms to address impersonation threats.

While the removal of the fake account marks a win for digital integrity, experts say it underscores a deeper challenge. As one cybersecurity advocate noted, “We are entering an era where trust online must be earned, not assumed.”

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National Budget: PDM drives wealth creation as Uganda’s economic transformation gains pace

By
Isaiah Mwebaze
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President Museveni inspecting one of the beneficiaries of Parish Development Model funds.

Presenting the 2025/26 national budget to Parliament, Finance Minister Matia Kasaiaja has lauded the country’s economic performance, describing it as “among the fastest-growing in the world,” and projected Uganda to become the fastest-growing economy by 2031, according to recent research by the Harvard Growth Lab.

Kasaija said Uganda’s economy is on a strong upward trajectory with the Parish Development Model (PDM) emerging as a key pillar in the country’s wealth creation and poverty alleviation strategy.

“This remarkable growth,” said Kasaija, “has been achieved despite numerous domestic, regional and global shocks. It is a testament to the unique economic ideology championed by His Excellency the President — grounded in patriotism, Pan-Africanism, democracy, and socio-economic transformation.”

Central to this transformation, the minister emphasized, is the Parish Development Model. “By 30th June this year, a total of Shs3.3 trillion will have been transferred to the 10,589 parishes across the country,” Kasaija noted.

He added, “Each parish gets Shs100 million annually. So far, the PDM funds have reached 2.63 million beneficiaries across all districts and parishes.”

He said beneficiaries have invested 45% of the funds in crops like maize, cassava, onions, bananas, and Irish potatoes, 36% in livestock, 12% in poultry, and the rest in other enterprises. “These investments are changing the lives of Ugandans by boosting household incomes, enhancing food security, and creating employment opportunities at the grassroots,” Kasaija declared.

The PDM, he said, has now been fully digitized, ensuring transparency, efficiency, and direct transfers to intended recipients through the National Identification Number (NIN) and the PDM Information System (PDMIS).

Minister Kasaija reported that over the past decade, the government has committed Shs9 trillion towards wealth creation, channelled through various initiatives such as Uganda Development Bank, Emyooga, Youth Livelihood Programme, the Agricultural Credit Facility, and the INVITE and GROW projects. These interventions, he said, are aimed at integrating all Ugandans into the money economy.

“Our budget for the next financial year, and over the medium term, is focused on people and wealth creation,” he said. “The theme remains: Full Monetisation of Uganda’s Economy through Commercial Agriculture, Industrialisation, Expanding and Broadening Services, Digital Transformation and Market Access.”

Uganda’s economy is estimated to grow by 6.3% in 2024/25, with projections to accelerate to 7.0% in 2025/26 — and even hit double-digit growth once oil and gas production begins. Nominal GDP is projected to hit Shs254.2 trillion (USD 66.1 billion) in the next fiscal year, up from Shs226.3 trillion this year.

“Uganda has achieved these milestones because of a deliberate and consistent strategy. Peace, political stability, and investment in infrastructure have laid a firm foundation for sustainable development,” Kasaija said.

He outlined key improvements: life expectancy has risen from 63.3 years in 2010/11 to 68.2 years in 2023/24; access to electricity jumped from 11% to 57%; and poverty fell to 16.1%, down from 24.5% in 2010/11. Income inequality, measured by the Gini coefficient, declined from 41% in 2020 to 38% in 2024.

“Uganda’s economy has moved from one reliant on the traditional 3Cs (coffee, cotton, copper) and 3Ts (tea, tobacco, tourism) to one that exports 31 new products, including pharmaceuticals, processed food, ceramics, and electronics,” said the minister. “The number of factories has grown from 31,757 to 50,000 since 2010/11.”

Kasaija credited the President’s “deliberate strategy to expand the share of manufactured exports” for increasing Uganda’s economic complexity. “Uganda has become more sophisticated in its exports than its income level suggests. This is proof that our industrialisation agenda is working.”

On the external front, Uganda’s exports of goods and services reached $11.8 billion in the 12 months to March 2025, up from $9.56 billion the previous year. Coffee exports, in particular, soared past the $1 billion mark and are expected to double to $2 billion annually.

“It took us more than a century to reach a billion dollars in coffee exports,” Kasaija noted. 

He noted, “But now, in just one year, we are doubling that. I therefore implore Ugandans to grow more coffee and, most importantly, to add value before we export.”

Tourism and foreign direct investment also recorded robust performance. Tourism earnings rose to $1.52 billion, and FDI inflows surged to $3.48 billion. “Uganda remains one of Africa’s top investment destinations,” Kasaija said. “Our shilling was ranked the most stable currency in Africa by the IMF.”

Inflation, the minister assured, remains under control at 3.4% as of May 2025, well below the policy ceiling of 5%. The stability is due to increased food production under PDM, prudent fiscal and monetary coordination, and Uganda’s direct petroleum importation through UNOC.

“Contrary to conventional economics, our borrowing has not crowded out private credit,” Kasaija explained. “Instead, it has enabled the government to inject affordable financing into strategic sectors.”

As Uganda enters a new planning phase under the Fourth National Development Plan (NDP IV), the minister expressed confidence that the Tenfold Growth Strategy aimed at expanding Uganda’s economy to $500 billion by 2040 is now firmly underway.

“We have built a resilient, inclusive, and increasingly sophisticated economy,” Kasaija concluded. “Let us all support these wealth creation efforts so that no Ugandan is left behind.

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Public debt repayments take lion’s share of FY2025/26 Budget

By
Simon Kabayo
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Finance Minister, Matia Kasaija reading the 2025/6 national budget.

Uganda has unveiled a Shs72.4 trillion national budget for the Financial Year 2025/26, with a critical revelation standing out: statutory interest payments on public debt will consume the largest single portion of the budget surpassing allocations to any individual social or productive sector.

Kasaija said interest payments for the upcoming financial year are projected at Shs11.33 trillion, representing 20.6% of total government spending. This figure exceeds the allocations to education (Shs5.04 trillion), health (Shs5.87 trillion), and even development expenditure (Shs6.91 trillion from domestic sources).

The ballooning cost of debt servicing underscores growing fiscal pressure, driven largely by increased domestic borrowing. Of the Shs11.33 trillion allocated to interest payments, over Shs9.47 trillion will go toward domestic debt, while Shs1.85 trillion is earmarked for servicing external debt.

The high cost of debt servicing is crowding out critical public investments. Despite widespread calls to improve healthcare and education infrastructure, these sectors continue to receive significantly less funding than what is being allocated to debt repayments.

Additionally, the government will spend another Shs10.03 trillion on domestic debt refinancing and Shs4.98 trillion on debt amortisation. Altogether, debt-related allocations will exceed Shs26 trillion, approximately 36% of the entire national budget.

Uganda’s growing reliance on domestic borrowing—typically more expensive than concessional external loans—has escalated the cost of maintaining public debt. 

Kasaija acknowledged this concern and noted that going forward, the government intends to prioritise concessional financing and strengthen domestic revenue mobilisation to enhance debt sustainability.

While the government maintains that borrowing is supporting growth-enhancing investments, the burden of servicing this debt is becoming increasingly unsustainable. Public debt as a percentage of GDP is expected to remain high, with the fiscal deficit for FY2025/26 estimated at 7.6% of GDP.

Despite efforts to increase tax collection—such as digital enforcement through EFRIS and enhanced rental income tracking—the significant allocation toward interest payments could undermine service delivery, reduce social protection coverage, and hinder progress toward national development goals.

Uganda’s FY2025/26 budget presents a sobering picture: the country’s largest fiscal commitment is managing debt rather than expanding essential public services. While investment in education, health, and infrastructure remains a declared government priority, the budget arithmetic paints a picture of a country increasingly constrained by its borrowing obligations.

Sector Highlights

Health Sector: Shs5.87 trillion: The health sector has been allocated Shs5.87 trillion, reflecting an increase from previous years. The funds will support the operationalisation of Health Centre IVs, expansion of primary healthcare, scaling up of e-health systems, and strengthening of nutrition and reproductive health programs.

The government will also continue deploying Community Health Extension Workers and constructing specialised centres for cancer and cardiovascular disease treatment. Enhancements to the national ambulance and emergency referral system are also planned.

Education Sector: Shs5.04 trillion

The education sector will receive Shs5.04 trillion to support Universal Primary and Secondary Education, teacher recruitment, and infrastructure development. Key initiatives include:

Construction of 116 new seed secondary schools and expansion of 61 existing ones

Rehabilitation of 120 traditional secondary schools and 31 institutions for learners with special needs

Operationalisation of Bunyoro and Busoga universities

Procurement of instructional materials to improve the textbook-to-student ratio from 1:15 to 1:3

Implementation of digital school inspections to ensure quality standards

Transport and Infrastructure: Shs6.92 trillion

A total of Shs6.92 trillion has been allocated for integrated transport infrastructure, including roads, bridges, air, water, and rail systems. Key priorities include operationalising Kabalega International Airport, further capitalising Uganda Airlines, and rehabilitating aerodromes.

Investments will also improve connectivity to key growth centres, such as the Dei BioPharma facility in Matugga, the coffee processing plant in Ntungamo, and a fertiliser factory in Mpigi.

Agro-Industrialisation and Wealth Creation: Shs2.43 trillion

To accelerate economic transformation, Shs2.43 trillion has been set aside for wealth creation initiatives, including:

Shs1.059 trillion for the Parish Development Model (PDM)

Shs1 trillion for recapitalising the Uganda Development Bank (UDB)

Funding for Emyooga, INVITE, GROW, and skilling hubs targeting youth and women entrepreneurs Social Protection:  Shs811 billion

Under the Social Assistance Grants for the Elderly (SAGE), Shs811 billion has been allocated to support nearly half a million senior citizens. Additional funding will benefit youth and women through enterprise grants and group-based empowerment initiatives.

The FY2025/26 budget signals the government’s commitment to consolidating service delivery gains and accelerating economic transformation through strategic investments in people-centric sectors. However, the overwhelming share of resources committed to debt servicing reveals a difficult truth: Uganda’s fiscal future may be increasingly shaped not just by what it aims to achieve, but by what it owes.

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Judicial appointments and promotions: A game of thrones

By
Guest Writer
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Chairperson Judicial Service Commission, Justice Douglas Singiza.

The Parliament watch website of April 2025, published a concern by law makers about what they described as discriminatory promotion practices within Uganda’s judiciary where they claimed that competent and long – serving judges are being overlooked in favour of newer, politically connected appointees. I hazard to say that this concern is not uncommon in many countries, though it may vary in degree. Even in the United States, the federal judiciary has been reshaped by President Trump’s appointment of a majority republican appointees who are expected to moot for his party’s agenda.

Judicial appointments and promotions have always had some political colour to them. They are a caricature of the popular Netflix series – “the game of thrones” – a metaphor now used more broadly to refer to any kind of political maneuvering or scheming needed to gain power or influence – often wielded from the shadows. The appointing authority of judges in Uganda is the President who happens to be the grundnorm of politics itself. Another assembly of politicians, the Parliament, approves their appointment. So, Judges are by default, political appointees even if their recruitment by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) is steeped in technical finesse.

Despite the apparent political bondage, most democracies routinely subject exercise of judicial power to the constitution and in the case of Uganda, to the additional values, norms and aspirations of the people. (See Article 126 of the Constitution). So, if there are judges who exercise judicial power in the interest of the appointing authority, rather than the people, then we should ultimately blame this on weak enforcement of the law. To that extent Parliament should take some stick for any discriminatory appointments and promotions in the judiciary because it has the opportunity to stop the appointments in the first place. The distinguished legislator, Hon. Abdu Katuntu, Bugweri County MP is reported to have questioned the accelerated appointment of Hon. Justice Douglas Singiza, the newly appointed chairman of the JSC against the back drop of more senior Judges who were not considered for the position. We know that the said questioning did not stop the wheels of the political discourse from turning.

The problem with fronting political considerations in judicial appointments and promotions is that it erodes public trust and confidence in the legal system faster than it builds it. With a population smitten by the information age, this jaundiced perception about judicial promotions is now readily disseminated and is easily believed by many. We must therefore be intentional as a country, in ensuring that justice in the eyes of right-thinking members of the public, is not only done but is also seen to be done in all judicial appointments and promotions.

It is generally accepted that career stagnation in any place of work can be fatalist. It does not only reduce job satisfaction and motivation, increase stress and burn out but it also removes hope – the only fire of all human endeavor. That’s why I believe that job stagnation in the judiciary is more dangerous than it is in other places because it negatively impacts the delivery of justice, whose failure can cause anarchy. A just and favourable condition of work must ensure equal opportunity for everyone to be promoted in his or her employment to an appropriate higher level subject to no considerations, other than those of seniority and competence. This legal requirement is enunciated in Article 7 International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural rights which Uganda ratified on the 21st January, 1987. I would go further to argue that the right to career growth for any judicial officer, is embedded in the constitutional right to practice their profession under satisfactory, safe and healthy conditions provided under Article 40 of the Constitution. This right should therefore be given or denied on the basis of the core technical skills involved in dispensing justice under the principles of independence, propriety, integrity, impartiality, equality, competence and diligence, as codified in the Judicial Service Commission Regulations 2025.

It is sometimes tempting to dismiss seniority as overrated in this dot.com era. That we should instead focus more on a competency – based staffing model for the judiciary is common speak. I hold no grudge against newer, politically connected appointees if they are competent and can dispense justice which can be seen. My point however is that the legal profession is anchored on knowledge of the law, not politics. Moreover, legal knowledge is not an App which you can just download and then gain instant mastery. It is acquired through patient and dedicated study and practice. But even then, the law keeps on evolving, so it must reside in a mental faculty which is learnt, but keeps learning and unlearning. To those who subscribe to the practice of sidelining competent, long-serving judicial officers in judicial promotions, I say to them that experience is still the greatest teacher!

Fred Muwema

Managing Partner

Muwema & Co. Advocates

12th June 2025

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Sudan launches mass oral Cholera vaccination drive amidst war

By
Our Reporter
-

A 10-day reactive oral cholera vaccination campaign, launched on 10 June in 5 localities in Sudan’s Khartoum State, aims to protect more than 2.6 million people aged 1 year and above from cholera infection, interrupt transmission and help contain the cholera outbreak.

Since May 2025 there has been a rapid increase in cholera cases in Khartoum State, with over 16 000 cumulative cases and 239 deaths reported across the State’s 7 localities.

A conflict hotspot since April 2023, Khartoum State is facing an infrastructure breakdown and severe access constraints. The cholera outbreak has been fueled by poor water, sanitation and hygiene, caused by a shortage of safe water following attacks on major power plants and water sources, and compounded by displacement and the breakdown of the health system.

“I have seen first-hand the devastation caused by the cholera outbreak in Khartoum, where the health system has been devastated by conflict and is struggling to cope with the tremendous demand on health facilities,” said World Health Organization (WHO) Representative in Sudan Dr Shible Sahbani. “The vaccines will help stop cholera in its tracks as we strengthen other response interventions.”

The vaccination campaign will be conducted in 5 of Khartoum’s worst affected localities, Jebel Awalia, Sharg Elneel, Omdurman, Karrari and Umbada, via mobile and fixed vaccination sites. WHO supported the Federal and State Ministries of Health in microplanning the campaign, and together with other partners will continue to provide technical advice, oversight and logistical support throughout the campaign.

“We thank WHO and UNICEF for their strong support for the launch of the cholera vaccination campaign in Khartoum which will help tip the balance in our fight against this scourge which is affecting the most vulnerable among our population,” said Sudan’s Federal Minister of Health H.E. Dr Heitham Awadalla.

The current cholera outbreak started in July 2024 and has spread to 92 localities across 13 of Sudan’s 18 states, infecting 74 000 people and leading to 1826 deaths. The 2-year war, which has led to a breakdown in the health system, including surveillance, mass displacement and lack of access to water, sanitation and hygiene, has contributed to the spread of the outbreak.

Cross-border population movements heighten the risk of cholera spreading to neighbouring countries, making cross-border collaboration in response efforts essential.

Cholera, an acute diarrhoeal infection caused by eating or drinking food or water contaminated with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae, is a global threat to public health and a major indicator of inequity and lack of social development.

Together with other response measures, including case management, water, sanitation and hygiene, surveillance and risk communication and community engagement, the administration of oral cholera vaccines has been proven to interrupt transmission and contain outbreaks.

Despite access and security challenges posed by the war in Sudan, WHO is committed to staying and delivering to protect Sudan’s most vulnerable people.

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