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…
The Financial Intelligence Authority (FIA) acted “illegally, irrationally and with procedural impropriety” when it froze a company’s bank account without promptly seeking court approval, the High Court has ruled. The dispute started on January 4, 2026, when BMS General Trading Limited discovered that it could no longer access its money in Stanbic Bank. At that…
By Magelah Peter Gwayaka In 2021, Absa Uganda froze both my personal and organizational accounts without any prior communication. No one reached out to explain what was happening. It felt like arrogance, like we didn’t matter enough to deserve even a basic explanation. Their compliance officer showed no interest in resolving the issue and kept…
The long-running dispute between MTN and former Deputy Inspector General of Police Julius Odwe has taken another turn, after the court declined Odwe’s request to throw out an appeal lodged by the telecom company. The case dates back to 2012, when MTN rolled out a project to extend network connectivity to Dokolo. During that exercise,…
KCCA councillor, Yasini Omari, has questioned the mandate of the authority’s disciplinary committee, arguing that it lacks the powers to hear his petition on committee appointments and alleged conflicts of interest. Omari, the lord councillor representing Makindye East II, appeared before the committee on rules, procedures and discipline following a referral by the KCCA Speaker…
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…
A dispute over a multi-billion shilling electricity metre tender has collapsed after the PPDA Appeals Tribunal dismissed a case filed by Uzuzi Meter Technologies Limited against Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL). In a ruling delivered on April 2, 2026, the Tribunal did not even go into the merits of the dispute. Instead, it found…
President Museveni has praised Gen. Salim Saleh, for what he described as his sacrifice and patriotism during Uganda’s liberation struggle, urging young people to emulate his example. Museveni made the remarks at the National Leadership Institute Kyankwanzi during the seventh day of a retreat for newly elected NRM MPs. He presided over the laying of…
Stanbic Black Pirates Rugby Club secured a historic place in the Enterprise Cup final after a hard-fought 20-17 victory over Kenya’s Nondescripts RFC at Kings Park Arena on Saturday. The semi-final attracted a large home crowd, with the Pirates carrying Uganda’s hopes in the competition following the earlier elimination of Heathens and Kobs. Nondescripts made…
In December 2012, businessman Arvind Patel sued Zzimwe Enterprises and its directors, Paul Kasagga and Josephine Kasagga, demanding Shs 612 million. Paul and Josephine are the children of prominent businessman Andrew Kasagga, the founder of Zzimwe Enterprises, who died in 2010. Patel told the court the money was a friendly loan that had not been…
By Dr Patrick Wakida Uganda has set out an ambitious economic transformation plan aimed at expanding its economy tenfold, from $50bn in the 2023/24 financial year to $500bn by 2040, under what is known as the Tenfold Growth Strategy. The strategy, launched in 2023, is designed to position the country as a competitive player in…
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…
Diamond Trust Bank has opened a new branch in Tororo, in a move aimed at expanding access to banking services in eastern Uganda and supporting local businesses. The Tororo branch, launched on April 10, is part of the bank’s wider strategy to strengthen its presence across the country and improve service delivery. Speaking at 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…
Equity Bank Uganda has reaffirmed its commitment to the fight against HIV/AIDS by supporting the 2026 Kabaka Birthday Run held in honour of Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II’s 71st birthday. Speaking ahead of the run, the bank’s executive director, Claver Sserumaga, said the institution was honoured to take part in the 13th edition of the…
The Commercial Court has overturned an earlier decision ordering the National Insurance Corporation (NIC) to compensate Rock Global Oils (U) for more than Shs 45.8 million after it lost fuel in a road accident. It all started in 2014 when Rock Global Oils, a company involved in transporting fuel from Kenya to Uganda, took out…
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…
Agnes Nandutu, the former State Minister for Karamoja, has been sentenced to four years in prison after being convicted of diverting iron sheets meant for vulnerable communities in Karamoja. The Anti-Corruption Court found that Nandutu unlawfully took 2,000 iron sheets that had been procured by the government to support disadvantaged households in the drought-prone sub-region….
As the court convenes today to sentence Agnes Nandutu, the former State Minister for Karamoja Affairs, following her conviction in the Karamoja iron sheets scandal, there is one person she regrets meeting: her own political assistant, Evelyn Hilda Bazibu. Details of the court proceedings show that Bazibu, who testified as Prosecution Witness 1 (PW1), helped…
The Bank of Uganda, in partnership with Kampala Club, has launched the third edition of the Emmanuel Tumusiime-Mutebile Memorial Squash Tournament, scheduled to run from April 13 to April 18. The annual tournament honours Mutebile, the former governor of the central bank, for his contribution to Uganda’s economic development and his long-standing relationship with Kampala…
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…
During the NRM Kyakwanzi retreat of February 2014, Evelyn Anite tabled the motion to have President Museveni as the sole party candidate in 2016. The move was meant to weaken Amama Mbabazi’s bid for the presidency, which it did. Yet as Anite started garnering signatures from MPs for her motion, two ministers said to be…
The government has introduced the Building Control Amendment Act, 2026, in a move aimed at strengthening the regulation, supervision, and enforcement of building standards across the country. The new law replaces the Building Control Act of 2018 and gives the National Building Review Board (NBRB) expanded powers to regulate the construction sector and ensure compliance…
A dispute that began nearly two decades ago over the construction of Course View Towers in Kampala has finally been settled, with Kampala Associated Advocates (KAA) emerging victorious for Seyani Brothers against Nangwala, Rezida & Co. Advocates, which represented Course View Limited. Justice Stephen Mubiru ruled that the court ruled that Course View Limited must…
By Mathias Jumba For years, Ntinda was largely seen as a residential suburb where people returned at the end of the workday. That description is now outdated. The area is evolving into a self-sustaining commercial hub within Kampala, with growing implications for how financial institutions position themselves to serve customers. At dfcu Bank, the purpose…
Agnes Nandutu, the Bududa Woman MP, has been found guilty of unlawful possession of government iron sheets meant for Karamoja. Justice Jane Okuo of the Anti-Corruption Court ruled today that Nandutu knowingly dealt with government property that had been unlawfully diverted from a public programme intended for vulnerable beneficiaries, contrary to section 21A(1) of the Anti-Corruption…
The livestock subsector has been identified as a major contributor to agricultural greenhouse gas emissions, particularly methane from enteric fermentation and nitrous oxide from manure management and deposition on pasture. Experts say these emissions are a growing concern as the country grapples with the effects of climate change on its agriculture-dependent economy. In response, the…
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,”…
Paul Maziike Ssemwogerere, a welder, who accused Tembo Steels Uganda of unfairly dismissing him has lost his case after the court ruled that he did not qualify for labour protection. Ssemwogerere was hired as a welder by Tembo Steels on September 12, 2023. He was paid Shs 75,000 per day. Ssemwogerere told the court that…
The World Bank has approved an $80m (about Shs2.1 trillion) grant to support the second phase of the Uganda Cities and Municipalities Infrastructure Development (UCMID) programme. The programme will focus on improving urban infrastructure and strengthening institutional capacity in selected local governments. The minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Judith Nabakooba, said the funding…
The Uganda Parliamentary Forum on Climate Change (UPFCC) has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU) and Climate Change Hub International aimed at strengthening climate governance, legislative capacity and stakeholder coordination. The partnership, witnessed by key stakeholders including the Civil Society Budget Advocacy Group (CSBAG) and the Women in Extractives…
On August 17, 2015, Jane Nyamagambo appeared to be in a good mood as she spent the evening drinking at a popular bar in Fort Portal with Augustine Byaruhanga, Alex Magezi, and others. However, later in the night, she disappeared. Her body was discovered the following morning, floating in Lake Edward. Medical evidence showed that…
By John B. Habumugisha Uganda’s ambition to connect with the global economy dates back to the 1850s, during the era of early explorers. The railways and ports built then laid the foundation for regional trade and integration, many of which still support African economies today. More than a century later, East Africa is undergoing another…
Fredrick Mubiru, a veteran civil engineer, has won a legal battle against the Engineers Registration Board after the High Court ruled that his suspension from practice was unfair and unlawful. In early 2024, several complaints were made against Mubiru by the National Building Review Board (NBRB). Mubiru, who runs Macro Technics Limited, was accused of…
Loice Natukunda Otafiire is young, stylish, beautiful, and ambitious. She is also the wife of Gen Kahinda Otafiire, the minister of Internal Affairs and a revered NRA bush war figure. From her posts on social media, there is no doubt that Loice is deeply religious. Otafiire, by contrast, has on several occasions publicly questioned the…
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…
Gabriel Achuk, a South Sudanese businessman who claimed he was locked inside the toilet of Ecobank at the Oasis Mall branch, where he had gone to withdraw money, has lost the case against the bank because his affidavit was “defective and incompetent”. Achuk had gone to court accusing the bank and police of violating his…
Justice Joyce Kavuma has allowed a request by a couple suing a fertility hospital in Bugolobi to keep their identities secret once court proceedings begin. The ruling followed an application filed by their lawyer, Fahim Matovu of Katende, Ssempebwa and Company Advocates, in a planned civil suit against Healingway Hospital and Healingway Fertility Centre, both…
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…
Negash Tenaye Anteneh and Haile Banteyehun got married in Ethiopia, 50 years ago (October 1976). In the 1980s, the couple moved to Uganda to do business. Life seemed good, and Banteyehun set up Vambeco Enterprises in 1999. The company specializes in water supply, sanitation, and civil engineering works. In 2004, after they had made some…
ASUMAN KIYINGI Gawaya Tegulle’s recent warning about judicial appointments should dispel any lingering belief that Uganda’s governance crisis is accidental. He argues that tampering with the bench is equivalent to snapping the spinal cord of a republic. The question is no longer whether the republic is in danger, but whether it still meaningfully exists. Earlier…
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 Bishop of Namirembe Diocese, Moses Banja, has urged newly elected leaders across the country to support one another for the development of Uganda. Banja made the remarks at his residence in Namirembe on Friday, shortly before joining Christians for the Way of the Cross. “I understand that in the recently concluded elections there were…
Dr Cedric Akwesigye, the managing director of Microhaem Scientific, has called on African countries to invest in local manufacturing of health products to meet rising demand and reduce dependence on imports. Akwesigye, who founded the Uganda-based manufacturing firm, said the continent stands to gain significant economic value by investing in the health sector. “There is…
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 court has overturned an earlier decision that had ordered Barclays Bank of Uganda (now Absa Bank) to refund more than Shs 8.5 million to its customer, Eron Kabachwamba, after she discovered that she had failed to properly safeguard her debit card and PIN. On January 18, 2013, Shs 8.5 million was withdrawn from Kabachwamba’s…
