Uganda has deepened its economic ties with the Export-Import Bank of China following high-level talks aimed at accelerating the country’s industrialisation and unlocking tenfold economic growth.

The meeting, held in Kampala, brought together Finance Minister Matia Kasaija and a delegation from the Chinese lender led by Vice President Yang Dongning, who are in the country to strengthen bilateral cooperation and support Uganda’s long-term economic transformation.

Kasaija said Uganda’s next phase of development will be anchored on the government’s ATMS strategy, with a strong focus on agro-industrialisation, export expansion and value addition across key sectors. These include traditional cash crops such as coffee, cotton and tea, as well as emerging industries in oil and gas, tourism, and science, technology and innovation.

He noted that Uganda is repositioning its economy to benefit from China’s zero-tariff policy by shifting away from the export of raw materials towards processing, manufacturing and higher-value exports targeting global markets.

Accompanied by Permanent Secretary and Secretary to the Treasury Ramathan Ggoobi, Kasaija expressed appreciation to the Government of China for its sustained technical and financial support across sectors such as transport, energy and health.

In a move expected to boost investment inflows, China EXIM Bank committed to supporting the organisation of a “Uganda Day” in China, a platform that will showcase Uganda’s investment opportunities, link local enterprises to Chinese manufacturers and financiers, and attract potential investors.

Officials said the initiative will form part of a broader strategy to strengthen commercial diplomacy, deepen private sector partnerships and position Uganda as a preferred investment destination on the continent.

Both parties also agreed to scale up support for the development of industrial parks, with emphasis on improving access to land, utilities and logistics infrastructure to enhance productivity and attract large-scale investments.

China EXIM Bank reaffirmed its commitment to Uganda’s growth agenda through a modern and diversified financing framework, including trade finance for exporters and importers, blended financing models, equity investments, and syndicated funding arrangements tailored to strategic projects.

Kasaija underscored the need for flexible financing structures to fast-track priority investments, while both sides highlighted the importance of strengthening technical and vocational education to equip the workforce with skills needed to sustain industrial expansion and meet investor demands.

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Speke Resort Munyonyo has hosted the official launch of the African Rangelands and Pastoralists Women Charter, an event aimed at advancing the role of women in pastoral communities across the continent.

Presiding over the event, the Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among emphasized the significance of the gathering, which also marked the closing of the African Pastoralists Women Gathering that attracted over 200 participants from across Africa, including grassroots pastoralist women, government officials, civil society actors and development partners.

“It is with great honour and gratitude that I preside over both the closing of this historic gathering and the official launch of the African Rangelands and Pastoralists Women Charter,” Among said.

She noted that discussions on pastoralism have often overlooked the critical contribution of women, despite their central role in sustaining livelihoods.

“Oftentimes, discussions of rangelands and pastoralism in Africa focus mainly on men, yet the story is incomplete without women. I commend the organisers for highlighting the central indivisible role of women in pastoralism,” she said.

Among stressed that any meaningful efforts to improve the condition of pastoralists must fully recognise women’s contributions in areas such as animal care, food production, household resilience, and peacebuilding.

“I want to inform you that I am a pastoralist woman myself. I have cattle, so the issues of pastoralist women are pertinent to me,” she added.

The Speaker conveyed greetings from President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, noting his support for the gathering and ongoing government efforts to strengthen pastoralism.

“I bring you fraternal greetings from His Excellency the President, who has blessed this gathering and expressed his full support,” she said.

Among highlighted government interventions aimed at improving pastoral livelihoods, including policy frameworks such as the National Land Policy and the National Climate Change Act 2021, as well as security measures like the disarmament process in the Karamoja sub-region.

“Today, unlike previous years, incidences of livestock theft have significantly reduced, while various government-led interventions are underway to diversify household livelihoods through irrigation and skilling,” she said.

She further underscored the importance of unity among African nations in addressing shared challenges affecting rangelands, invoking the spirit of Ubuntu.

“The future of Africa requires such unity in the spirit of ‘Ubuntu’. I therefore recognise the participation of representatives from Benin, Cameroon, Kenya, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda,” Among noted.

Uganda’s rangelands, which cover about 44 percent of the country’s total land area and support more than 6.6 million people, were highlighted as critical to the nation’s economy and food systems, stretching across the cattle corridor from the north-east to the south-west.

Despite their importance, Among acknowledged persistent challenges affecting pastoral communities, including land fragmentation, climate change, limited veterinary services, and weak institutional support systems.

“Women and children disproportionately bear the brunt of these challenges, facing increased workloads and reduced educational opportunities. Urgent, inclusive, and sustainable interventions are essential,” she said.

She called for concrete outcomes from the gathering, particularly in strengthening women’s leadership, securing land rights, enhancing climate resilience, and recognising pastoral mobility as a fundamental right.

“As the Government of Uganda, we pledge to continue creating an enabling environment for pastoralism and rangelands to flourish, strengthen the rights of pastoral communities especially women, and mitigate the effects of climate change,” Among affirmed.

The newly launched charter will amplify the voices of pastoralist women and ensure their inclusion in decision-making processes that shape policies and interventions affecting rangelands across Africa.

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By Musigwa Alex
March 18, 2026

A Ugandan opposition activist has been declared wanted by police after a warrant of arrest was issued on March 14, 2026 intensifying efforts to locate her months after she disappeared following release on police bond. Esther Makumbi a community leader affiliated with the National Unity Platform (NUP) is now at the center of an escalating case that is drawing renewed scrutiny over the treatment of political dissent in Uganda.

Makumbi widely known in her community as “Mama Clove” had established herself as a grassroots mobiliser working with vulnerable families while actively supporting opposition activities linked to Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu. Her visibility in both community leadership and political mobilisation is believed to have placed her under the attention of security operatives during the country’s tense pre-election period.

She was arrested on November 24, 2025 shortly after attending a political rally in Kampala’s Kawempe North constituency an area known for strong opposition support. Witness accounts indicate that multiple supporters were rounded up in what appeared to be a coordinated security operation immediately following the event. Makumbi was later transferred to Kawempe Police Station where she was detained before being released on police bond on November 26, 2025 with instructions to report back on December 9. She never returned.

Her failure to comply with bond conditions has now formally escalated into a legal pursuit with the March 14, 2026 arrest warrant marking a turning point in the case. Authorities consider her a fugitive and efforts to trace her whereabouts are believed to be ongoing, although no official statement has clarified the extent of the operation or whether the case has been formally presented before court.

Accounts linked to Makumbi allege that her detention was preceded by a period of unofficial custody in an undisclosed location where she was reportedly subjected to physical abuse and intense pressure to renounce her political allegiance and align with the ruling establishment. These claims which remain unaddressed publicly by authorities mirror broader allegations frequently raised by rights observers regarding the handling of opposition figures in Uganda.

Sources familiar with the situation have also pointed to emerging concerns among security circles about possible links between Makumbi’s case and networks previously associated with Waiswa Mufumbiro. While no formal charges or official statements have established such a connection individuals close to the investigation suggest that her name surfaced in discussions tied to that case raising further interest from authorities. Analysts caution however that these claims remain unverified and could reflect broader patterns of suspicion often surrounding opposition figures rather than confirmed involvement.

Following her release Makumbi is believed to have gone into hiding amid fears of re arrest and continued intimidation. Sources close to her suggest that threats persisted even after her release creating an environment in which returning to police was seen as a serious personal risk. By early 2026 several individuals involved in opposition mobilisation had reportedly withdrawn from public visibility citing similar concerns.

Her case now highlights the increasingly narrow space in which opposition activism operates in Uganda, where arrests, short-term detention and legal uncertainty often intersect. Analysts note that many such cases never proceed through formal prosecution instead unfolding through a pattern of pressure, surveillance and repeated targeting.

As of the time of publication Makumbi’s whereabouts remain unknown. Police continue to seek her under the active warrant while her supporters maintain that she is in hiding out of fear for her safety. Members of the public have been urged to report any information regarding her whereabouts to the nearest police station.

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