MPs have called for the re-establishment of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), raising concerns over slow progress in extending electricity to rural areas. Legislators on the Budget Committee questioned officials from the ministry of Energy and Mineral Development over what they described as limited results despite significant funding allocated in recent years. The concerns were…
MPs have raised concerns over the circumstances surrounding the death of Kalangala Woman MP Hellen Nakimuli, who passed away on Sunday. Legislators from across the political divide told Bbeg Media that her death came as a shock, with some calling for a thorough investigation into the cause and the medical care she received. Paul Omara…
The Uganda Alcohol Policy Alliance (UAPA) has thrown its support behind the government’s proposed increase in excise duty on undenatured spirits below 80% alcoholic content, welcoming a move that would see the rate rise from Shs1,700 to Shs3,500 per litre. Juliet Namukasa, the chairperson of the alliance, said the measure was both timely and necessary….
The executive director of Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), Sharifah Buzeki, has pledged to collaborate with elected political leaders who prioritise service delivery to city residents, while cautioning them against mixing politics with public service. Buzeki made the remarks during the Weyonje clean-up exercise in Lugoba parish, Kawempe division, where she was accompanied by the…
Moses Aleper, the MP for Chekwii County in Karamoja, has raised fresh concerns about the slow pace of development in the sub-region, warning that long-standing infrastructure gaps continue to hold back progress. Speaking to Bbeg Media in an interview at his parliamentary office, Aleper said that despite government interventions, much more needs to be done…
A cross-section of business groups has opposed the proposed tax amendment bills 2026, arguing that the measures are unfair and could disrupt their operations. The entities included the Uganda Hotel Owners Association (UHOA), Uganda Bankers Association (UBA), Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Uganda (ICPAU), Kampala Casino, the Uganda Alcohol Policy Alliance (UAPA), the Uganda…
MPs on the Finance committee have asked the president of the Uganda National Traders Alliance, Godfrey Katongole, to withdraw remarks that they said misled the public by suggesting legislators do not pay taxes on fuel and other utilities. The committee, chaired by Amos Kankunda, confronted Katongole as he presented traders’ views on proposed tax policies…
Mityana South MP Richard Lumu has urged opposition parties in Uganda to prioritise a united push for political transition instead of engaging in internal conflicts that weaken their credibility. Speaking to Bbeg Media at Parliament, Lumu expressed concern over growing divisions among opposition groups that seek to challenge the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM). He…
Opposition legislators have said that achieving full integration of the East African Community (EAC) remains a distant goal, citing major implementation gaps within the ministry of East African Community Affairs. In their alternative budget report, presented by the leader of the opposition, Joel Ssenyonyi, the MPs argue that the region is yet to realise the…
Last week, the leader of the opposition, Joel Ssenyonyi, tabled the alternative budget outlining the key issues that the opposition thinks need prioritisation. Among other issues, Ssenyonyi proposed a significant increase in funding to Uganda’s agro-industrialisation programme in the 2026/27 financial year, arguing that current allocations fall short of national development targets. He said the…
MPs have questioned the government over the poor remuneration and welfare of medical interns, saying they are overworked and underpaid despite playing a critical role in healthcare delivery. The concerns were raised during a meeting of the parliamentary health committee, where the minister of Health, Dr Jane Ruth Aceng, presented the ministry’s policy statement for…
Mulago Hospital has asked Parliament for an additional Shs63 billion to address critical funding gaps, as legislators warned that staffing shortages are worsening service delivery. The MPs on the Health Committee blamed the gaps partly on underperformance in non-tax revenue collections in the financial year 2025/26. Dr Erisa Rutahigwa, the acting committee chairperson and MP…
State House has requested Shs 136 billion as a donations budget for President Museveni’s next financial year. This is contained in the ministerial policy statement for the Office of the Presidency. The figure translates into Shs 372 million every day or Shs 15.5 million every hour. However, the president’s donations budget for next year is…
Equity Bank Uganda has launched a new digital platform aimed at transforming how businesses manage their finances, with regulators praising the move as a step towards a more efficient and inclusive banking system. The platform, dubbed Equity Online for Business, was unveiled at Protea Hotel in Kampala, marking a major upgrade from the bank’s previous…
The Ministry of Water and Environment has requested Shs 4 billion next financial year to meet its printing and photocopying costs as well as to entertain staff. The request is contained in the ministry’s ministerial statement for 2026/27 that was tabled in Parliament last week. According to the statement, the ministry wants Shs 2.3 billion…
The Leader of the Opposition, Joel Ssenyonyi, has criticised the government for selectively bailing out private companies without clear benefits to Ugandans. Ssenyonyi made the remarks on Tuesday during the launch of the opposition’s Alternative Budget Priority Areas for the 2026/27 financial year at Parliament. “Our approach is guided by fiscal discipline, realism and prioritisation,”…
The ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed that eight individuals have been transferred to Uganda from the United States under a bilateral migration arrangement signed last year. In a statement, the ministry said the transfer follows an agreement concluded between Uganda and the US in July 2025. The arrangement allows Uganda to receive and process…
Uganda Tourism Board (UTB), the government body responsible for marketing Uganda, has asked for Shs 1.97 billion in the coming financial year to engage influencers, opinion leaders, and market the country on international TV stations like BBC and CNN. The request is contained in the ministerial policy statement for the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife, and…
The chairman of the Uganda Episcopal Conference, Bishop Anthony Zziwa, has urged Ugandans to use the way of the cross as a moment to confront rising levels of evil in society. Zziwa made the remarks during prayers at Old Kampala playground. He said the annual procession should not be treated as a mere ritual, but…
The State House has indicated that several slots for senior presidential advisors and presidential assistants remain unfilled. According to the ministerial policy statement for the presidency for the financial year 2026/2027, at least 27 slots are yet to be filled. For instance, 9 slots for senior presidential advisor (Investment) remain vacant. According to the report,…
The National Leadership Institute (NALI) in Kyankwanzi has missed out on additional funding in the proposed 2026/27 budget, despite strong recommendations from the Presidential Affairs committee of Parliament. The minister for the Presidency, Milly Babalanda, told journalists that several critical items under the Office of the President remain underfunded for the next financial year. Appearing…
Job Richard Matua, the assistant RCC for Arua City, is a vocal supporter of President Museveni and the NRM. For all his shouting, Matua earns Shs 817, 216 per month. This is according to the ministerial policy statement for the Office of the Presidency, which was debated this week in Parliament. At Shs 100 million…
Dr Ezra Suruma is the highest-paid senior presidential advisor in Uganda, records show. According to the ministerial policy statement for the Office of the President for 2026/27, Suruma, a senior presidential advisor on finance and economic planning, earns Shs 100 million every month. Suruma is on a full-time contract. At this rate, Suruma earns five…
Goretti Namugga, the chairperson of Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC), has called for the cancellation of a construction contract at the Uganda Cancer Institute, citing prolonged delays in delivering a planned 350-bed hospital. Namugga, who also represents Mawogola South, made the remarks while meeting officials from the institute at Parliament on Tuesday. She said the…
Uganda’s overall crime rate fell by 10% in 2025, according to the Inspector General of Police, Abas Byakagaba, who attributed the decline to the rollout of the sub-county policing model. Speaking at the release of the 2025 annual crime report at police headquarters in Naguru, Byakagaba said the force would continue implementing the model, which…
TwinBrook Schools has reaffirmed its commitment to nurture the talent of its students through sports. The remarks were made by the school’s administrative assistant and operations manager, Ismail Abusa, during the opening of a futsal football tournament at the school’s campus in Bamba, Wakiso. Abusa told Bbeg Media that the school has invested heavily in…
The Minister of State for Finance (General Duties), Henry Musasizi, has defended the proposed increase in the government’s total resource envelope, saying it is aimed at supporting key priorities for the 2026/27 financial year. Speaking to journalists at Parliament after a meeting of the NRM Caucus,Musasizi said he will present draft budget estimates next week….
The High Court has awarded the Hajj Kasule family of Wandegeya, Shs 30 million in costs in a land trespass case with businessman Haruna Sentongo. The dispute arises from alleged trespass on 0.12 hectares of land located on Block 12, Plot 101 in Mengo-Kisenyi, Kampala. The taxation application was filed by Isaac Kasule of Kasule,…
The Bbaale MP, Charles Tebandeke, has said he will prioritise improving service delivery in his constituency during his second term in parliament. Tebandeke, a member of the National Unity Platform (NUP) and shadow minister for Agriculture, told Bbeg Media at parliament that he will focus on ensuring effective use of public funds, particularly in the…
James Kakooza, one of Uganda’s representatives to the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA), has dismissed a letter by the speaker calling for a fresh election before the expiry of his term. Kakooza told journalists at Parliament that the letter was flawed and could not stand. “I call this letter erroneous because the legitimate processes for…
The Opposition Chief Whip, John Baptist Nambeshe, has called for the introduction of a two-chamber Parliament in Uganda, saying it would improve the handling of public issues and strengthen representation. Nambeshe, who represents Manjiya County in Bududa district, told Bbeg Media at Parliament that the current single-chamber system is overstretched and struggles to process the…
There was a light moment at Parliament when Kalungu West MP, Joseph Gonzaga Ssewungu, briefly took charge of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), drawing smiles and applause from fellow legislators. Ssewungu, who was recently re-elected, assumed the role of interim chairperson during a committee session after the substantive chairperson, Goretti Namugga, stepped out to attend…
Mityana North MP, Mohammed Nsegumire, has called for urgent negotiations between Iran, Israel, and the United States to end the week-long military escalation. Nsegumire made the remarks after Eid al-Fitr prayers at Wandegeya mosque in Kampala. “We call for restraint and urge the parties involved in this crisis to prioritise dialogue rather than continue with…
Speaker Anita Among has invited independent MPs who have expressed interest in working with the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) to attend a leadership retreat in Kyankwanzi. Among, who is also the NRM’s second national vice chairperson, made the announcement while addressing journalists during a meeting with some independent MPs at the party headquarters on…
A number of legislators have expressed mixed reactions to a government proposal to phase out old taxis from Kampala and other urban roads, as authorities push to improve road safety and modernise public transport. The proposal, which is under discussion by the parliamentary committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE), seeks to enforce…
Parliament has questioned the management of Mulago Specialised Women and Neonatal Hospital over payments of domestic arrears that exceeded the approved budget for the financial year ending June 30, 2025. The query stems from the Auditor General’s 2025 report, which was discussed during a committee sitting at Parliament on Wednesday. Silas Aogon, from Kumi Municipality,…
Parliamentr yesterday passed the Copyright and Neighbouring Rights (Amendment) Bill, 2025, in a move aimed at strengthening protection for musicians, artists and other creatives. Attorney General Kiryowa Kiwanuka told the House that the law responds to emerging challenges, including the growing use of artificial intelligence to generate content based on creators’ work. MP Racheal Magoola…
The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has raised concern over the state of medical services at China-Uganda Friendship Hospital in Naguru, warning that the facility is operating below the standards of a regional referral hospital. Committee chairperson Goretti Namugga told Parliament that the hospital appears to function like a district facility despite its higher status. She…
MPs have raised concern over the high cost of dialysis treatment at Kiruddu Hospital, warning that it is placing a heavy financial burden on patients, the hospital, and the government. The concerns were raised by the Public Accounts Committee while reviewing the Auditor General’s report for the financial year ending 2025. According to the report,…
MPs have called for urgent government intervention to address staffing gaps and chronic underfunding at Butabika Hospital, warning that the situation is worsening the country’s growing mental health crisis. The call was made by Goretti Namugga, the chairperson of Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee, during a meeting where legislators reviewed audit queries raised by the Office…
Minsa Kabanda, the minister for Kampala, has called for unity among residents of Kampala Central, saying cooperation will help government deliver services more effectively. Kabanda made the remarks during an Iftar dinner hosted by Salim Uhuru at the Kampala Central Division headquarters in Kampala. She praised Uhuru for organising the event, saying it had brought…
The Bank of Uganda has handed over 17 patient monitors to the Ministry of Health as part of efforts to promote safe motherhood and reduce maternal and newborn deaths in hard-to-reach health facilities across the country. Speaking during the handover at the ministry headquarters in Kampala, Bank of Uganda secretary Susan Kanyemibwa said the donation…
MPs on the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) clashed with officials from the Uganda Police Force over the ownership of a disputed piece of land in Kabalagala, Makindye Division, during a heated session at Parliament. The disagreement involved Kasanda North MP Patrick Nsamba Oshabe and Kalungu West MP Gonzaga Ssewungu, who accused police officials of failing…
MPs have criticised the Auditor General, Edward Akol, accusing his office of issuing weak recommendations that fail to hold public officials accountable for misuse of public funds. The criticism was raised during a joint engagement between officials from the Office of the Auditor General and members of the Public Accounts Committee (Central Government), Public Accounts…
Government has pledged to support businesses investing in high-risk sectors by enabling them to access affordable loans through commercial banks. Dr Ramathan Ggoobi, the Permanent Secretary in thhe Ministry of Finance, made the assurance while appearing before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC). The committee, chaired by Mawogola South MP Goretti Namugga, was scrutinising issues raised…
The Ministry of Information, Communication Technology (ICT) has developed a government digital registry aimed at coordinating ICT initiatives and projects across all government ministries, departments, and agencies. Sophie Nantongo, the undersecretary at the ministry, said the registry will help improve e-government operations and accelerate Uganda’s digital transformation strategy. Nantongo made the remarks while representing the…
Boda boda cyclists operating in Kampala have been warned to comply with traffic laws or face a looming crackdown aimed at restoring order on the city’s roads. The Assistant Resident City Commissioner for Kampala, Geoffrey Sserwadda, said the operation will target riders who ignore basic safety and licensing requirements. Speaking to Bbeg Media during…
Leaders of the East African Community (EAC) are set to meet today in Arusha, Tanzania, for the 25th Ordinary Summit of EAC Heads of State where they will appoint new leadership to steer the regional bloc and advance cooperation among partner states. The summit will bring together leaders including Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, William Samoei…
Senior presidential envoy Zephania Kizza Sseninde has called for collective responsibility in improving management and service delivery in government-aided schools, saying the time for shifting blame has ended. Sseninde, a senior educationist and director at Kide Day and Boarding Primary School, made the remarks in an interview with Bbeg Media at Wandegeya in Kampala while…
Dr. Victoria Ssekitoleko, the former minister of Agriculture, has urged women entrepreneurs to build strong networks and sisterhood with female leaders in order to grow their businesses and influence policy reforms. Ssekitoleko, a renowned leadership mentor, made the call during a women in business symposium held at Gudiee Leisure Farm. The symposium, organised with support…
