The Ruparelia Foundation has brought joy to vulnerable families in Kamwokya as part of its annual festive-season outreach, delivering food supplies, mattresses and other essentials to women and children living in the area.

This year’s charity drive also reached residents in Kisenyi II and Mulago Nsooba, where hundreds of families in informal settlements benefited from food relief, bedding and hygiene support. The initiative is part of the Ruparelia Group’s long-running corporate social responsibility programme, which targets Kampala’s most underserved neighbourhoods every Christmas.

While handing over the items, Sheena Ruparelia, a director at the Ruparelia Group, underscored the family’s enduring commitment to communities that struggle with daily hardships.

“As a family, we have always believed in reaching out to those who need help the most. This work honours the vision of the late Rajiv Ruparelia, who identified these communities and dedicated himself to supporting them,” Sheena noted.

She emphasised that the foundation’s interventions are not limited to food donations. 

“Every festive season, we strive to improve the lives of these families by offering relief items together with hygiene support that can uplift their living conditions,” she added.

As part of this year’s outreach, the foundation unveiled a new toilet facility in Mulago Nsooba. The structure will serve both the local residents and pupils of Good Samaritan Primary School, a community that has long lived with inadequate sanitation.

Noah Kisira, the school’s head teacher, welcomed the development and described it as a major solution to persistent hygiene challenges. 

“We have endured serious sanitation problems for years because of the lack of proper toilet facilities. This new structure will greatly support our learners and the neighbourhood. We are sincerely grateful,” he said.

Ghetto Research Lab founder Patrick Mujuzi also applauded the foundation’s continued presence in the slums. He explained that he first reached out to the group five years ago after witnessing the daily suffering of families in the ghetto.

“Life in the ghetto is extremely tough, with poverty, unemployment and a lack of basic needs affecting many people. We appreciate the Ruparelia Group for consistently standing with us,” Mujuzi remarked.

The Ruparelia Foundation said it will continue working closely with community leaders to identify needs in sanitation, food support, and general welfare across Kampala’s most vulnerable settlements.

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The Minister of Works and Transport, Gen Edward Katumba Wamala has unveiled a countrywide road safety campaign aimed at curbing the surge in road crashes typically recorded during the festive season.

Speaking during the launch on Thursday, Katumba warned that the end-of-year period remains the most dangerous time on Uganda’s roads due to increased travel and reckless behaviour by motorists.

Katumba Wamala cautioned that this time of the year is a period of high mobility and travel demand across all corners of the country. The downside during this period is that it is associated with increased levels of exposure to road crashes.

The Ministry is rolling out a national campaign focused on vehicle safety under the theme “Safe Vehicles for a Safer Uganda.” 

Katumba appealed to all players in the transport and motor industry to take an active role in the drive.

“As this campaign gets underway, I would like to call upon all stakeholders in the safe-vehicle space to join the Ministry. Especially vehicle dealers, suppliers of genuine spare parts, fuel companies, servicing providers, local manufacturers, UNBS, the Police, fleet managers, the media and all road users,” he said.

He revealed that the Ministry has intensified stakeholder engagements on the rollout of mandatory motor-vehicle inspections, which are expected to be implemented in phases to ensure Uganda’s vehicle fleet meets minimum safety standards.

While emphasising mechanical safety, the Minister also warned that reckless human behaviour remains a major contributor to fatalities.

“Let us not forget to address road indiscipline and the key risky factors that include speeding, drink-driving, inconsiderate manoeuvres, non-use of motorcycle helmets, non-use of seatbelts and child restraints, and distracted driving,” he said.

Katumba also urged Ugandans to be cautious during the ongoing political campaign season as the country moves towards the 2026 general elections. He appealed to supporters of all political candidates to avoid chaotic road behaviour and ensure their vehicles are in proper working condition.

He further advised public-transport users not to keep silent in the face of reckless driving, noting that many avoidable deaths occur due to drivers ignoring basic safety measures.

Uganda currently loses an average of 14 people every day to road crashes, a figure that spikes during the Christmas period. Katumba described this trend as unacceptable and reaffirmed government’s target to reduce road-crash deaths and serious injuries by half by 2030.

The Minister announced that government will soon unveil a range of new interventions for the next financial year and the medium term, including heightened public-awareness efforts, targeted Police enforcement, stakeholder engagements, media campaigns and the painting of pedestrian crossings.

He also wished all Ugandans a safe and happy Christmas and New Year.

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Uganda Electricity Generation Company Limited (UEGCL) has recorded one of its strongest financial performances to date, posting a 40% revenue increase for the Financial Year 2024/25 driven largely by the first full year of commercial generation from the 600 MW Karuma Hydropower Plant.

The state-owned power generator disclosed the results during its 15th Annual General Meeting (AGM) held at the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development headquarters in Kampala.

The meeting brought together key stakeholders, including the Minister of Energy and Mineral Development, Ruth Nankabirwa, and the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Hon. Matia Kasaija. The session was chaired by Eng. Proscovia Margaret Njuki, who presented a comprehensive review of UEGCL’s financial performance, operational progress, and strategic direction for the year ending June 30, 2025.

Eng. Njuki revealed that the company’s revenue rose to UGX 492.345 billion up from UGX 350 billion the previous year, mainly due to improved dispatch from hydropower facilities and the strong contribution of Karuma’s first commercial year.

“UEGCL reported revenue of Shs492.345 billion for FY2024/25, primarily driven by improved dispatch across our hydropower plants and a successful first year of commercial operations at the 600 MW Karuma Hydropower Plant,” said Eng. Njuki.

Despite the revenue jump, profit after tax declined to Shs25.02 billion, attributed to increased depreciation, higher operating expenses, and interest obligations related to the Karuma on-lent loan.

However, UEGCL’s balance sheet strengthened significantly following the Government of Uganda’s conversion of Shs566 billion in accrued interest on Karuma into equity, boosting the company’s solvency and long-term financial sustainability.

Eng. Njuki noted that the year marked an important turning point for the utility.

“This financial year was a defining year for UEGCL. We strengthened our operational performance, consolidated the full commercial operation of the 600 MW Karuma HPP, and advanced key hydropower projects,” she said.

She added that despite liquidity constraints and sector-wide challenges, the company remains focused on disciplined operations, safeguarding assets, and supporting Uganda’s socio-economic transformation through reliable electricity generation.

“The Company remained resilient with growing revenue, reinforcing our commitment to transformation and dependable power supply for Uganda,” Eng. Njuki emphasized.

With Karuma now fully online and contributing well to national generation capacity, UEGCL projects continued revenue growth and improved efficiency in the years ahead as it aligns its strategy with the National Development Plan IV.

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President Yoweri Museveni has appointed Brig Gen Richard Tukachungurwa as the new head of the General Court Martial.

In a letter seen by Eagle Online dated November 25, and addressed to Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the Chief of Defence Forces, the President confirmed the new leadership following the advice of the Judicial Service Commission. 

The appointment also reconstituted the members of the General Court Martial together with chairpersons of division and unit court martials across the country.

Part of the statement reads, “In accordance with Section 192, 193 and 195 of the UPDF Act as amended and acting on the advice of the Judicial Service Commission, I have appointed persons below as Head and members of the General Court Martial and Chairperson of Division and Unit Court Martials respectively.”

Tukachungurwa, who previously served as the Judge Advocate of the Court Martial, brings extensive experience from years of engagement within the UPDF’s legal and disciplinary structures. He was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General during the 2024 promotions announced at the Ministry of Defence headquarters in Mbuya, where he was recognised for his role in guiding military court proceedings. His legal career has also been demonstrated in several high-profile military trials, including earlier cases where he defended the mandate of military courts to handle firearm-related offences.

The General Court Martial, which handles disciplinary and criminal matters involving UPDF personnel has been under increased scrutiny following court decisions that questioned its jurisdiction over civilians. Tukachungurwa’s appointment is therefore seen as an effort to stabilise the court’s operations and reinforce adherence to the revised legal framework governing military trials.

Members appointed to serve under the new leadership include senior officers such as Col Wankandya Simon Tusah, Col Asha Patra, Col Kangwamu Fredrick, Col Mugisha Raphael and Lt Col Igambi Mohammedie Nasser. Others are Maj Amodoi Samuel Moses, Maj Ariahahi Emmanuel, Maj Nyombi Abubaker and Maj Chemtai Denis.

The new division court martial chairpersons include Lt Col Drani Epalu David for the Forth Division and Lt Col Mulyanti Yaqoub Hassan for the One Special Forces Group.

The appointments take immediate effect and the officers are expected to assume their roles once the Judicial Service Commission finalises its administrative clearance.

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