Entebbe International Airport received a total of 178,383 international passengers in March 2025, statistics by the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority indicate.

Entebbe recorded 83,661 arriving and 94,722 departing passengers, an average of 5,754 passengers per day.

This means the March 2025 international passenger traffic was slightly higher than the total of 171,990 passengers recorded in the same period of March 2024 by 6,393 passengers.

However, the previous month of February 2025 recorded a total of 161,095 international passengers, which was lower than the 175,630 recorded in the same month of February 2024.

Vianney Luggya, the UCCA spokesperson, said it has so far been a year of highs and lows, marked by varied passenger traffic patterns, with January 2025 recording 216,740 international passengers, the second highest traffic recorded in a single month in the history of the airport.

“The March 2025 growth is partly attributed to Uganda’s hosting of international conferences, tourism promotion, the coming on board of new air operators like Flynas, which commenced direct flights between Riyadh and Entebbe in January 2025 and Uganda Airlines’ sustained operations on new routes, among others,” he explained.

In relation to cargo, Entebbe International Airport recorded 1,965 metric tones of imports and 3,887 metric tones of exports, a total of 5,852 metric tones of cargo. Exports continue to record higher figures than imports, which increases foreign exchange earnings, among other economic benefits for the country.

Stories Continues after ad

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry, and Fisheries (MAAIF), on Monday handed over 55 walking tractors to farmers from the region.

The handover ceremony took place at the National Agricultural Mechanization Referral Centre in Namalere, Wakiso District. The event was part of the “Fostering Sustainability and Resilience for Food Security in the Karamoja Sub-region” (F-SURE) project, which aims to bolster the region’s capacity to open land and improve food production.

Dr. Antonio Querido, the outgoing FAO Country Representative in Uganda, emphasized the transformative power of mechanization.

“This equipment will revolutionize the lives of its recipients. We firmly believe mechanization is key to transforming Africa’s agri-food system. For too long, we’ve relied on manual tools like the hand hoe, resulting in inefficient production systems,” he said.

Jointly designed by FAO, MAAIF, and UNDP, the F-SURE project targets key challenges in Karamoja. Dr. Querido noted that the project has already reached over 12,000 farmers through various components, including technology adoption to increase productivity.

Eng. Waneloba Francis, representing the MAAIF Permanent Secretary, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to inclusive agricultural growth. He said the government is particularly focused on ensuring that the Karamoja sub-region is not left behind. To achieve this, they are promoting a shift from traditional pastoralism to agro-pastoralism, where both livestock and crop production can thrive. He stressed the importance of sustainable practices such as water provision and pasture development closer to homesteads, aiming to reduce conflicts and improve co-existence between crop farming and livestock.

Dr. Paul Ayella of MAAIF explained that the project is structured into two major components. The first component, implemented by UNDP, focuses on developing supportive policies and incentives at the district level to improve crop and livestock production, food value chains, and integrated natural resource management. The second component, led by FAO, is centered on increasing land under integrated and sustainable land management practices, boosting the productivity of the Karamoja landscape. It also introduced frameworks for resilience monitoring and integration into production systems.

Kotido LCV Chairperson, Mr. Lotee Paul Komol, expressed gratitude on behalf of the region.

“On behalf of the people of Karamoja, I extend my deepest gratitude for the strong support you’ve provided to Uganda, particularly our region. FAO has been a vital partner in Karamoja’s development,” he said.

He also lauded the Ministry of Agriculture for its central role in national development, urging the ministry to fast-track additional support for livestock and irrigation, including the construction of megadams in each of Karamoja’s nine districts.

The donation includes 55 walk-behind tractors equipped with attachments such as ploughs, seed planters, and trailers. In addition, over 40 water boilers and irrigation kits will support improved water management and boost resilience in the region.

The project will also provide training for farmer groups on how to operate the equipment and adopt sustainable agribusiness models. FAO technical advisors will continue to work with these groups to ensure proper operation, maintenance, and long-term impact of the machinery.

“We’ll continue working with these groups to guarantee the project’s long-term impact,” said Dr. Querido.

As the project moves forward, the tractors will be distributed among smallholder farmer groups through farmer field schools to promote mechanization at the grassroots level. The Ministry of Agriculture has pledged to establish strong support structures to ensure sustainability and efficiency in equipment use.

The people of Karamoja are hopeful that this initiative will bring lasting transformation to their livelihoods and food systems.

Stories Continues after ad

Uganda has unveiled an ambitious plan to achieve universal electricity access by 2040, but bridging the gap will require a staggering UGX 23 trillion in new energy infrastructure investments.

This was revealed by State Minister for Energy, Sidronious Okasaai Opolot, during the 2025 Energy Access Investment Forum (EAIF) held at Speke Resort Munyonyo Kampala.

Speaking during the Energy Access Investment Forum (EAIF) 2025 in Kampala, Okasaai acknowledged that despite major investments totaling over USD 1.5 billion in the past decade, the funding gap remains wide.

“We’re investing across the generation, transmission, and distribution segments, but we need greater collaboration and financing—especially from the private sector—to deliver on our promise of universal energy access,” Okasaai said. He cited Uganda’s vast potential in hydro, solar, wind, and geothermal resources, noting that the government’s free electricity connection policy is a key tool to accelerate household access by 2030.

Held under the theme “Accelerating Sustainable Energy Investment in Africa,” the three-day EAIF 2025 convened hundreds of energy leaders, financiers, and policy makers. The event was co-hosted by the Alliance for Rural Electrification (ARE) and the European Union through its Global Gateway Initiative, with support from GET.invest.

The focus is not only on traditional grid expansion, but also on off-grid and clean energy solutions. Okasaai highlighted key initiatives like the Uganda Energy Access Scale-up Project (EASP), funded by the World Bank, which supports mini-grids, solar systems, and clean cooking technologies—particularly in refugee settlements and rural communities.

“This is about productive use of electricity, not just lighting homes,” he said. “We want to power businesses, schools, health centres, and boost economic activity.”

ARE CEO David Lecoque echoed this vision, stating, “We need to create an enabling environment for investment. The energy transition in Africa is not only possible—it’s already happening, and Uganda is a key part of that.”

Private sector voices at the forum stressed the need for credit access, risk guarantees, and technology transfer to make Uganda’s energy goals bankable. Carol Koech of Schneider Electric noted that empowering local entrepreneurs and ensuring affordable financing would unlock major gains in access and sustainability.

On the diplomatic front, EU Ambassador Jan Sadek reaffirmed the bloc’s commitment: “We’re supporting Uganda not just with grants, but also concessional loans to scale access, promote clean cooking, and protect the environment for future generations.”

Uganda’s plan is aligned with SDG 7 and the Paris Agreement, and comes as global leaders move to triple renewable energy capacity by 2030. The momentum from events like M300 in Tanzania, where over USD 50 billion was pledged for energy access globally, suggests that countries like Uganda could ride the wave of blended finance and green innovation to close the energy gap—if the right policies and partnerships are in place.

Stories Continues after ad

Kenya’s Deputy President, H.E. Rigathi Gachagua, has made serious allegations against top security officials, accusing them of orchestrating attempts on his life and unleashing violence against him, his family and supporters.

In the letter dated April 15, 2025, addressed to the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Douglas Kanja Kirocho and copied to President William Ruto, international human rights bodies and key diplomatic missions, Gachagua says the threats he faces are not only credible but well-coordinated and deliberately ignored by the very institutions mandated to protect him.

“You are clearly perpetuating crime and violence,” Gachagua wrote in reference to the IG, warning that continued silence and inaction could plunge Kenya into “political instability and breakdown of law and order.”

Gachagua lists a series of disturbing incidents allegedly aimed at ending his life. These include attacks at church services, prayer rallies, and public gatherings — many of which he claims were facilitated or executed by uniformed and non-uniformed police officers working with criminal gangs.

“On 28th December, 2024 in Shamata, Nyandarua County, an inspector of police flanked by organized criminal gangs threw teargas canister at me to scatter my supporters and create a fertile avenue to attack me with assassination intent,” he stated.

In another event on January 18, 2025, during a prayer rally in Nyeri Town, Gachagua says an attack gang hijacked the meeting while his spouse, Pastor Dorcas Rigathi, was preaching. He claims his motorcade was later trailed and his staff harassed in Naivasha in a separate incident on March 29, 2025.

“Not a single police officer responded despite the police station being a few meters from the church,” he wrote, describing an April 6, 2025 church service in Kasarani that was violently disrupted by machete-wielding gangs.

He also claims that officers from the National Intelligence Service have been trailing him and his family in unmarked vehicles across counties, including a specific case on December 19, 2024, when an NIS agent allegedly followed him for over 150 kilometers.

“This is an affront to the right to privacy,” he charged, linking the surveillance to wider plans coordinated with criminal networks.

Gachagua warns that if the threats against him are not addressed, Kenya risks a repeat of the post-election violence seen in 2007, and he places the responsibility squarely on the Inspector General and security agencies.

“Be reminded that in the run-up to the 2007 General Elections in Kenya, similar patterns of incidents… exposed Kenya into international shame,” he wrote. “Your one-time holder of the office you do, found his way to the International Criminal Court – ICC for crimes against humanity.”

He demands the immediate arrest and prosecution of all those involved in the attacks, provision of personal security and protection at public events, an end to the trailing of his family, and security for his properties. Gachagua also urges the police to desist from interfering in peaceful gatherings organized by citizens.

“Take firm notice that further violence and assassination attempts be meted on me whatsoever; you will be personally responsible to the people of the Republic of Kenya and to the entire world,” he warned.

Stories Continues after ad

The Eastern Africa Grain Council (EAGC) has launched farmer-owned and operated “Grain Trade Business Hubs,” aimed at addressing the challenges faced by smallholder farmers.

Speaking at an agribusiness exhibition, Gerald Makau Masila, the EAGC’s CEO, said that the G-Hubs’ core mission is to empower farmers through collective action. He explained the hubs will provide essential resources, including streamlined access to markets via the Gsoko platform.

The announcement occurred at an annual agribusiness expo hosted by the National Crops Resources Research Institute (NaCRRI). The event, a partnership between the National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO), the EAGC, and DANIDA Green Business Partnerships (DGBP), focused on sustainable food systems, climate-smart agriculture trade, and economic development in Uganda.

Masila emphasized that a key function of the G-Hubs is to facilitate collective action. By uniting farmer cooperatives, the hubs will enable resource pooling, significantly increasing farmers’ bargaining power and operational efficiency.

Improved access to essential inputs is another crucial benefit, Masila noted. Through the hubs’ consolidated purchasing power, farmers can access higher-quality inputs at lower costs.

The CEO also highlighted the vital role of G-Hubs in post-harvest management, providing access to proper storage and quality control measures to minimize losses and preserve grain quality.

A central function is enhancing market access, significantly through the EAGC’s Gsoko platform. Masila said that the EAGC will actively work to connect farmers with premium markets regionally and internationally via these hubs and the Gsoko platform. By aggregating produce, G-Hubs can offer larger, consistent volumes attractive to buyers. The Gsoko platform will further streamline this process, providing a direct link between farmers and buyers. Grain stored in the G-Hubs will be listed on this platform, a weekly trade catalog for EAGC members. Potential buyers can view commodities and submit inquiries, with the EAGC trade desk connecting farmer-producers (via G-Hubs) with buyers.

To support sustainable practices, G-Hubs will offer technical support, providing advisory services on improved farming techniques. Masila stressed that this knowledge transfer is essential for long-term agricultural development.

In addition to these services, the G-Hubs will work to improve farmers’ access to financial services, including connections with credit institutions and output markets.

Masila underscored the EAGC’s pivotal role in supporting the G-Hubs’ development and operation, including capacity building and providing market intelligence via its Regional Agricultural Trade Intelligence Network (RATIN).

The EAGC will also engage in policy advocacy and foster strategic partnerships to further strengthen the hubs and enhance the grain value chain’s efficiency.

The G-Hub concept addresses challenges like high input costs and limited market access. By organizing farmers and leveraging the Gsoko platform, the EAGC aims to facilitate collective action and improve market linkages.

Regarding post-harvest handling, G-Hubs will provide central aggregation and storage facilities. Trained experts will ensure quality and food safety.

The Gsoko platform will be the crucial link to the market, facilitating contract negotiation and secure transactions, often managed through an EAGC settlement account. Masila noted this system has already facilitated significant regional grain trade.

Minister for Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries Frank Tumwebaze emphasized the government’s commitment to supporting agricultural research institutions.

Dr. Sadik Kassim, deputy director of NARO, highlighted the organization’s mission to build resilience in the agricultural sector.

Stories Continues after ad