The Ministry of Works and Transport has advised motorists using the Kampala–Masaka Highway to prepare for temporary traffic delays following the commencement of asphalt laying works on the new bridge approaches at the Katonga crossing.

According to a traffic advisory issued on May 22, the works are expected to continue for three days and will be undertaken under a half width carriageway arrangement to allow construction activities to proceed while maintaining movement along the corridor.

The ministry said the temporary traffic management plan will reduce available road space at the works section and may lead to slower movement of vehicles, particularly during peak travel hours.

In the advisory, Permanent Secretary Bageya Waiswa urged road users to remain patient and cooperate with authorities managing traffic at the site.

“Motorists are advised to plan their journeys accordingly, approach the work zone with caution and follow guidance from Traffic Police and site marshals,” the ministry stated.

The ministry also warned against dangerous overtaking, abrupt lane changes and indiscipline within the construction zone, noting that such behaviour could worsen congestion and increase safety risks.

As a mitigation measure, motorists travelling during the construction period have been encouraged to use the Mpigi–Kanoni–Gomba–Sembabule route as an alternative corridor to reduce pressure on the affected section.

The ongoing asphalt works mark another key milestone in the reconstruction and permanent restoration of the Katonga crossing, one of Uganda’s most strategic transport links connecting Kampala to Masaka and the wider southwestern region.

The reconstruction project was launched after severe flooding damaged the old Katonga crossing, disrupting movement of people and goods and forcing the government to redesign the infrastructure into a stronger and more resilient bridge system capable of withstanding future weather extremes and changing river conditions.

Government earlier indicated that intervention at Katonga would go beyond emergency restoration and transition into full reconstruction, implemented in phases including traffic recovery measures, temporary diversions and development of a permanent bridge facility.

Recent progress updates from the site have shown advancement from excavation and rockfill embankment works to bridge construction and development of approach roads, with officials indicating that the project has entered critical completion stages despite challenges associated with heavy traffic volumes and difficult ground conditions around the river section.

The reconstruction works are being undertaken by China Communications Construction Company, whose engineers previously cited continuous movement of heavy trucks and trailers along the corridor as one of the factors affecting the pace of implementation.

The Ministry of Works and Transport said traffic control measures have been strengthened throughout the work zone and appealed for public cooperation as the government works to restore smoother traffic flow and deliver a long-term solution at Katonga.

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A vocal member of the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU), Frank Mwesigye, has called for investigations into spending linked to Uganda’s coffee promotion activities, questioning reports that approximately $1 million (about Shs3.7 billion) will be spent to bring American singer and actor Tyrese Gibson to Uganda as part of efforts to market Ugandan coffee.

Mwesigye via his X (formerly Twitter) handle argued that while national debate has in recent months focused heavily on controversies surrounding former Speaker Anita Among, other areas involving public resources should attract similar public scrutiny.

His remarks targeted businessman Nelson Tugume and activities associated with promoting Ugandan coffee through international campaigns and events.

According to Mwesigye, spending such sums on celebrity driven promotion raises broader questions about value for money and whether public investments are generating direct benefits for ordinary Ugandans and coffee farmers.

“It seems our attention has been heavily focused on Anita Among while ignoring other serious cases of mismanagement of public funds,” Mwesigye said.

He questioned the reported decision to allocate $1 million toward hosting Tyrese Gibson.

“How exactly does this faded singer and actor promote our coffee? How many Ugandans even know his songs or movies?” Mwesigye asked.

He added,“Why can’t we empower our own local artists to become ambassadors of Ugandan coffee instead of spending huge sums on foreign celebrities?”

Mwesigye further called for an urgent review of coffee promotional activities, arguing that every investment linked to value addition should be subjected to measurable outcomes.

“These coffee marathon activities should be urgently investigated because we are losing a lot of money on things that add little or no value to ordinary Ugandans,” he said.

He also questioned whether Uganda’s coffee value addition ambitions were being implemented in line with the original objectives presented to the government and taxpayers.

Mwesigye argued that Uganda already has hundreds of coffee brands producing ground coffee and claimed the public investment case had largely been built around establishing large scale instant coffee processing and export capacity.

His comments come against the backdrop of government backed investment into the Inspire Africa Coffee project in Rwashamaire, Ntungamo District, which has been presented as one of Uganda’s flagship industrialisation and value addition projects.

Government previously disclosed support amounting to approximately Shs179 billion toward the development of the coffee processing facility through financing arrangements and related interventions intended to accelerate industrial growth and export earnings.

Officials have repeatedly defended the investment, saying the project was designed to transform Uganda from a major exporter of raw coffee into a producer of finished coffee products with higher returns. The factory was projected to produce instant coffee, roasted coffee, drip coffee, energy drinks and other coffee based products for regional and international markets.

President Museveni has in previous engagements described coffee value addition as central to Uganda’s long term strategy of increasing export income and reducing dependence on raw commodity exports.

However, the project has also attracted criticism and public debate.

Opponents and some oversight voices previously questioned the scale of public support extended to a privately associated project and sought greater clarity on governance arrangements, expected returns and timelines for achieving production targets.

Questions were also raised in public discourse over whether the investment model offered sufficient guarantees that taxpayers would realise long term benefits through exports, employment creation and industrial expansion.

Government and project promoters have maintained that the investment should be assessed over the long term, arguing that industrial projects of such scale require time before full production and export targets are realised.

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Official parliamentary vehicles that were recovered by security officers from the residences of Speaker Anita Annet Among have now been returned to Parliament, in a development that separates state property from assets that remain under investigation.

The move comes days after a series of high profile security operations at residences associated with the former Speaker and later at Parliament itself, where investigators widened their inquiry from private holdings to records, vehicles and official facilities believed to be relevant to ongoing corruption related investigations.

The return of the vehicles does not signal the closure of the inquiry. Instead, investigators are understood to be distinguishing between assets belonging to Parliament and property whose ownership, source of funding and use remain under scrutiny. 

The vehicles returned to Parliament are expected to remain available for institutional operations while investigations continue on other recovered items.

Security teams earlier carried out coordinated searches at residences in Nakasero and Kigo before extending operations to offices within Parliament. 

Investigators accessed the Speaker’s office and other administrative offices to collect documents and electronic records considered relevant to the inquiry. The operations marked one of the rare occasions in recent years where security agencies openly conducted investigative activity inside the parliamentary precinct.

According to information emerging from the investigations, officers recovered documents relating to financial transactions, company ownership records, electronic devices, land files and a fleet of motor vehicles for verification. 

Investigators are said to be examining whether some assets correspond with declared income, official records and lawful acquisition procedures.

Public attention has particularly focused on luxury vehicles recovered during the operation, including a 2025 Rolls Royce Cullinan, estimated in local reports to be worth between Shs3.4 billion and Shs3.6 billion. The vehicle was reportedly removed from one of the properties and taken into custody as investigators seek to establish purchase details, registration records and ownership history.

Investigators are also understood to have examined other premium vehicles, among them a high end Mercedes Benz whose estimated market value has been reported in hundreds of millions of shillings depending on specification and import valuation. Officials have not publicly released a complete inventory or official valuation of all vehicles recovered during the operation.

The inquiry traces back to formal complaints submitted to oversight authorities seeking examination of wealth declarations and asset accumulation connected to the former Speaker. 

The Inspectorate of Government later confirmed that the matter had progressed into active investigations under existing legal procedures.

No criminal charges have been announced and no court determination has been made regarding ownership or liability over any of the assets recovered. Authorities maintain that investigations are continuing and findings will determine the next course of action.

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The Government of Uganda has launched a simplified electronic accounting platform aimed at helping small informal businesses transition into compliant, growth-oriented enterprises with an aim to strengthen domestic revenue mobilisation and accelerate economic transformation.

The new E-Accounting Tool was launched on Thursday by Ramathan Ggoobi, who was acting as Minister of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development at the event.

Developed by United Nations Conference on Trade and Development under its technical support to the Informality Management for Compliance and Revenue Mobilisation (IMCORE) Programme, the digital platform is designed to simplify bookkeeping, improve business records and support enterprises seeking legal and tax formalisation.

Speaking during the launch, Ggoobi described small and medium enterprises as the backbone of Uganda’s economy, noting that they continue to play a critical role in employment creation and income generation.

According to figures shared at the event, Uganda’s informal sector comprises more than 1.8 million micro, small and medium enterprises, largely operated by women, youth and refugees. Collectively, the sector contributes 54.5 per cent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product and accounts for about 92 per cent of employment.

However, Ggoobi observed that poor financial record keeping remains one of the biggest barriers preventing many businesses from growing and entering the formal economy.

“Without proper records, businesses cannot assess performance, financial institutions cannot trust them and tax compliance remains inconsistent,” he said.

He added that improving financial management practices among small enterprises will be critical in delivering Uganda’s Ten-Fold Growth Strategy and expanding the country’s productive capacity.

The newly introduced platform provides a single digital window through which businesses can manage accounting records while also supporting legal and fiscal formalisation processes.

During the official handover of the system to the Ministry of Finance following the completion of the pilot phase, Elena Botvina said the tool was intentionally designed to be accessible, convenient and affordable for small businesses.

She explained that the platform enables entrepreneurs to improve cash management, track expenditures more efficiently and strengthen revenue growth through organised financial reporting.

Results from the pilot phase indicate strong early adoption. Thirty informal enterprises in Kampala participated in initial testing, while more than 490 small businesses have since experimented with the platform. Of those, 241 enterprises have already registered and opened accounts.

The adoption of the system will deepen financial inclusion, strengthen compliance and create a pathway for thousands of informal businesses to evolve into sustainable medium-sized enterprises.

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