The Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) Battlegroup 39 (BG XXXIX), deployed under the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), has been recognized for its dedicated service through medals and certificates presented during a ceremony in Mogadishu.

 ATMIS Force Commander Lt Gen Sam Kavuma, who presided over the event, commended the battlegroup for its tireless efforts in the mission, including weakening Al-Shabaab, protecting local communities, and assisting Somali Security Forces (SSF) in assuming greater responsibility for security. 

“We thank God as we celebrate and recognise the soldiers by awarding them medals. The biggest payment in a medal is the recognition of one’s work, and I am happy to be here at this wonderful function,” Lt Gen Kavuma said.

He praised the troops for their commitment to both ATMIS and Uganda, while honouring those who lost their lives or were injured in the line of duty, acknowledging their sacrifices in the spirit of Pan-Africanism.

Brig Gen Anthony Lukwago Mbuusi, Uganda’s Contingent Commander, expressed his pride in BG XXXIX’s achievements. 

“The Battlegroup commenced its mission operations in November and was deployed to various ATMIS locations within the hostile Banadir and Lower Shabelle regions of Somalia,” he said.

Despite repeated Al-Shabaab attempts to attack Forward Operating Bases (FOBs), Brig Gen Mbuusi highlighted how the battlegroup successfully defended its positions, protected local communities, and ensured the safety of vital supply routes. He lauded the troops for their bravery, professionalism, and courage in denying Al-Shabaab freedom of action.

BG XXXIX’s outstanding service was recognised with the presentation of medals and certificates, in line with ATMIS Standard Operating Procedures under Article 4, Clause 17, which outlines awards and ceremonies.

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The Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) Battlegroup 39 (BG XXXIX), deployed under the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), has been recognized for its dedicated service through medals and certificates presented during a ceremony in Mogadishu.

 ATMIS Force Commander Lt Gen Sam Kavuma, who presided over the event, commended the battlegroup for its tireless efforts in the mission, including weakening Al-Shabaab, protecting local communities, and assisting Somali Security Forces (SSF) in assuming greater responsibility for security.

“We thank God as we celebrate and recognise the soldiers by awarding them medals. The biggest payment in a medal is the recognition of one’s work, and I am happy to be here at this wonderful function,” Lt Gen Kavuma said.

He praised the troops for their commitment to both ATMIS and Uganda, while honouring those who lost their lives or were injured in the line of duty, acknowledging their sacrifices in the spirit of Pan-Africanism.

Brig Gen Anthony Lukwago Mbuusi, Uganda’s Contingent Commander, expressed his pride in BG XXXIX’s achievements.

“The Battlegroup commenced its mission operations in November and was deployed to various ATMIS locations within the hostile Banadir and Lower Shabelle regions of Somalia,” he said.

Despite repeated Al-Shabaab attempts to attack Forward Operating Bases (FOBs), Brig Gen Mbuusi highlighted how the battlegroup successfully defended its positions, protected local communities, and ensured the safety of vital supply routes. He lauded the troops for their bravery, professionalism, and courage in denying Al-Shabaab freedom of action.

BG XXXIX’s outstanding service was recognised with the presentation of medals and certificates, in line with ATMIS Standard Operating Procedures under Article 4, Clause 17, which outlines awards and ceremonies.

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The Permanent Secretary and Secretary to the Treasury (PSST) in the Ministry of Finance, Ramathan Ggoobi, has accused some accounting officers in Ministries, Departments, and Government Agencies (MDAs) of deliberately excluding critical service delivery items from their primary budget schedules. These omissions are later used to justify supplementary budget requests that raise suspicions of corruption.

Addressing journalists on the government’s vision to grow Uganda’s economy from USD 50 billion to USD 500 billion by 2040, Ggoobi emphasized the ministry’s commitment to eradicating wasteful and unnecessary expenditures. He noted that available resources must be directed towards productive sectors to achieve this ambitious economic transformation.

Ggoobi revealed that intelligence reports have uncovered a pattern where some accounting officers prioritize less significant items, such as travel, entertainment, and repairs, in their primary budgets. This approach allows them to manipulate the system for personal gain, pushing essential service delivery priorities to supplementary requests.

“This manipulation defers key priority aspects to the tail end, forcing them to rely on supplementary budgets,” Ggoobi explained. “We are not only rejecting such suspicious requests but also holding culpable officers accountable for these irregularities that waste public funds.”

In the last financial year alone, the Ministry of Finance rejected suspicious supplementary budget requests amounting to UGX 1.7 trillion from various MDAs. Moving forward, Ggoobi announced that the ministry is implementing strategic interventions, including the complete digitization of government systems and public procurement processes, to curb corruption.

These measures come as MDAs initiate preparations for their budget framework papers for the upcoming financial year. Ggoobi’s warning underscores the ministry’s resolve to tighten oversight and ensure public funds are spent on genuine and productive initiatives.

Corruption in Uganda remains a significant challenge. The 2021 Cost of Corruption Report by the Inspectorate of Government estimates that the country loses up to UGX 9.14 trillion annually to corruption. In 2019 alone, UGX 614 billion was lost to corruption in procurement and budgeting processes.

In a related development, the Directorate of Ethics and Integrity in the Office of the President recently dispatched a delegation to Singapore to study best practices in combating corruption. The lessons from this benchmarking tour are expected to enhance Uganda’s anti-corruption strategies.

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Police have identified three additional suspects implicated in the murder of Tugume Albert, a mobile money attendant and brother to Deputy Mayor Doreen Nyanjura. Tugume was shot dead on November 21, 2024, at around 7:00 PM in Kiwatule Central Zone, Nakawa Division, Kampala City.

Tugume, 34, was preparing to close his mobile money shop when he was attacked by an assailant who attempted to rob him. During the scuffle, a boda boda rider, 30-year-old Sabiti Banabas, tried to intervene but was shot dead by another armed assailant who had been waiting nearby.

Tugume attempted to flee but was pursued and fatally shot by the suspects, who made off with a bag believed to contain an unspecified amount of cash.

Luke Owoyesigyire, the Kampala Metropolitan Deputy Spokesperson, confirmed that police investigators are making significant progress in the ongoing investigation into the murder and aggravated robbery case. He stated that a joint task force had been established to investigate the crime, resulting in the arrest of four suspects.

The suspects in custody are: Mutagubya Jimmy, a boda boda rider, and resident of Sempagala Zone, Nakawa Division, Wakiso District; Kayemba Bosco Ssalongo, a builder, and resident of Kawanda, Nakyesanje Zone, Nabweru Subcounty, Wakiso District; Makanga Marvin, unemployed, and resident of Kagoma, Maganjo, Wakiso District and Suuna Hamza Mutebi, a businessman and resident of Mpererwe, Wakiso District.

“The four have been charged with Murder, Aggravated Robbery, and Conspiracy to Commit a Felony,” he said.
Other suspects still at large include; Kabuye Hussei, Bambaiha Joseph alias Fire and Lukenge Martin.

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The outbreak of Marburg Virus Disease was declared over today by the Government of Rwanda with no new cases reported over the last 42 days after the last patient tested negative for the virus twice, as per the usual protocol for ending these types of outbreaks.
The outbreak, confirmed on 27 September 2024, was the first Marburg Virus Disease outbreak Rwanda has experienced. A total of 66 confirmed cases and 15 deaths were recorded. Almost 80% of the cases were among health workers who were infected while providing clinical care to their colleagues and other patients.

To halt the spread of the virus and save lives, Rwandan health authorities, with support from World Health Organization (WHO) and partners, mounted a comprehensive response, with a large range of measures from disease surveillance, testing, infection prevention and control, contact tracing, to clinical care and public awareness. These actions helped to curb the spread of the outbreak, with cases halved between weeks two and three after detection and declining by around 90% thereafter.

“The robust response by Rwanda shows how committed leadership, concerted efforts by partners and a strong health system are crucial in addressing public health emergencies, saving and protecting lives as well as safeguarding the health of individuals and communities,” said Dr Brian Chirombo, WHO Representative in Rwanda.

The deployment of WHO experts, a team of national first responders from other countries in the region and the strong mobilization of national efforts were instrumental in enhancing the outbreak response. The last confirmed case received their second negative PCR result on 7 November, kicking off the 42-day countdown to declaring the end of the outbreak, as per WHO recommendation.

WHO continues to work closely with the national authorities to maintain critical measures to ensure swift detection and response in case of any flare-up or new spillover of the virus. WHO will continue to support the Ministry of Health to implement and sustain a holistic care programme for people who recovered from Marburg Virus Disease to help them overcome any after-effects they may experience.

The virus which causes Marburg, is in the same family as the virus that causes Ebola Virus Disease. It is highly virulent with a fatality rate ranging from 24% to 88%. In this outbreak, the fatality rate was on the lower end, at around 23%. Marburg virus is transmitted to people from fruit bats and spreads among humans through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected people, surfaces and materials.

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The government has reopened Karuma Bridge to motorists following its closure in September for renovations. The bridge was officially reopened by Musa Ecweru, the State Minister for Works.

In April 2024, the government temporarily closed Karuma Bridge to heavy vehicles after an assessment revealed significant structural defects. According to the Ministry of Works and Transport, the bridge was at risk of collapsing under active traffic.

To address the issue, the government contracted the National Enterprise Corporation (NEC) and the China Seventh Railway Group to carry out repairs. The work, which was scheduled to be completed within three months, has now concluded.

The bridge’s closure caused significant disruption for travelers to northern Uganda and West Nile, who had to use longer detours through Masindi Port and Murchison Falls National Park. The renovations were carried out at an estimated cost of Shs 7.9 billion.

In a statement earlier today, Minister Ecweru announced that plans are underway to construct a suspended bridge at Karuma Falls. He revealed that the government is collaborating with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to build a new bridge over the River Nile at Karuma Falls. The new bridge, to be located immediately west and downstream of the old Karuma Bridge, is expected to cost $100 million.

The original Karuma Bridge, built in 1963, was completed one year after Uganda gained independence from Britain. The old bridge is narrow, with a single carriageway, no pedestrian or bicycle lanes, and no monitoring equipment. It has been the site of several major accidents over the years.

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City Tycoon Sudhir Ruperlia’s Munyonyo Commonwealth Resort has been awarded a coveted five-star rating by the Uganda Tourism Board (UTB).

This is the highest honour bestowed upon a hospitality establishment in Uganda. It has been announced following a rigorous nationwide grading and classification exercise of accommodation facilities conducted by the UTB.

According to Lilly Ajarova, Chief Executive Officer of the UTB, the five-star rating is a testament to the resort’s commitment to maintaining exceptional hospitality standards.

“The Munyonyo Commonwealth Resort has consistently demonstrated its commitment to providing world-class amenities and services to its guests,” Ajarova said.

“This five-star rating is a well-deserved recognition of the resort’s hard work and dedication to excellence.”

The five-star rating is expected to further boost Uganda’s tourism industry, which has been growing steadily in recent years.

According to the UTB, the rating is a significant achievement for the resort and a testament to Uganda’s growing reputation as a premier tourist destination in East Africa.

The Munyonyo Commonwealth Resort is one of the leading hospitality establishments in Uganda, offering world-class amenities and services to its guests.

The resort’s five-star rating is a significant boost to Uganda’s tourism industry, which is expected to continue growing in the coming years.

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