The government has assured Parliament that preparations to redevelop markets across Kampala and the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area have been completed and that construction works will begin soon. The State Minister for Kampala, Kabuye Kyofatogabye, told MPs on the Presidential Affairs committee that government had already identified a contractor and was awaiting final clearance from…
MPs on the committee of Physical Infrastructure have said the manner in which the Busega-Mpigi Expressway contract was awarded may have caused financial loss to the government. The legislators raised concerns during a meeting with Fred Byamukama, the minister for Works and Transport, and officials from the ministry, arguing that parts of the procurement process…
Chekwii County MP, Simon Peter Longoli, has called on the government to increase support for communities in Karamoja and northern Uganda that are struggling with the effects of a prolonged drought. Speaking to Bbeg Media, Longoli said the extended dry spell has had a devastating impact on food security and the livelihoods of thousands of…
The Minister of Lands, Judith Nabakooba, has defended the government’s decision to stop current Local Council chairpersons from participating in land transactions, warning that those involved in illegal land dealings will eventually be held accountable. Nabakooba made the remarks while opening an orientation programme for newly elected Members of Parliament on land governance at Parliament….
Speaker Jacob Oboth-Oboth has raised concern over the lack of quorum on several parliamentary committees, warning that the problem is undermining Parliament’s oversight role and delaying its work. Speaking to journalists before the start of a plenary sitting on Friday, Oboth-Oboth said his office had received numerous complaints about the uneven distribution of Members of…
Parliament has directed the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) to submit the academic credentials of its top management team to enable legislators verify whether senior officials were recruited in accordance with the law. The directive followed concerns raised by MPs on the committee on Physical Infrastructure after UCAA disclosed that dozens of employees had been dismissed…
The construction of Uganda’s new parliament chambers has entered its final phase after the completion of major steelworks, paving the way for roofing and finishing works on the landmark project. The new chambers, being constructed by Roko Construction, are expected to be completed by the end of next year. A key milestone has been reached…
Busiro East MP Emmanuel Magoola has pledged to lobby for improved health service delivery in his constituency during his five-year term in Parliament. Speaking to Bbeg Media outside his office at Kingdom Kampala, Magoola said residents of Busiro East continue to face challenges accessing quality healthcare because of congestion at health facilities and inadequate medical…
The outgoing German Ambassador to Uganda, Mathias Schauer, has urged legislators to focus their legislative work on improving service delivery for ordinary Ugandans. Schauer made the remarks while speaking to journalists after paying a farewell visit to Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa at Parliament. He said the lawmakers should prioritise sectors that directly affect people’s lives,…
Parliament has approved a loan of €168.9 million for the second phase of the Solar-Powered Irrigation Systems Project, paving the way for the implementation of several irrigation projects across the country. The loan will be obtained from the United Kingdom Export Finance and Citi Bank to support government efforts to improve agricultural production and reduce…
MPs have started receiving iPads to help them carry out their work more efficiently; however, they still face several challenges that affect their ability to serve the public effectively. Last week, new MPs began collecting the devices, which are expected to improve communication and access to parliamentary documents. While the iPads are a welcome addition,…
The newly appointed minister of state for Gender (Industrial Relations), Simon Mulongo, has called for a review of recruitment contracts held by labour export companies operating in Uganda. Mulongo made the remarks at Parliament shortly after appearing before the Appointments Committee for vetting. The former diplomat said his vetting process was brief and that his…
The opposition has unveiled a new leadership team that will oversee government accountability in the 12th Parliament. The event was presided over by Lewis Rubongoya, the secretary general of the National Unity Platform (NUP), at the party headquarters in Kampala. Rubongoya praised the outgoing shadow cabinet led by Joel Ssenyonyi and reappointed him to continue…
The two-day orientation meeting for newly sworn-in MPs of the 12th Parliament took a political turn as attention shifted to the cabinet ministers recently appointed by President Museveni. Throughout the gathering, many MPs were seen congratulating colleagues who had been appointed to cabinet and expressing support for them ahead of the new term. One of…
The newly sworn-in MPs have been cautioned against the careless use of language during plenary and committee sessions as they prepare to begin parliamentary business. The Clerk to Parliament, Adolf Mwesige Kasaija, issued the warning during a multi-day orientation programme for newly elected legislators at Parliament in Kampala. Mwesige said members needed to be mindful…
The minister of Internal Affairs, Gen Kahinda Otafiire, has distanced himself from the recently passed Protection of Sovereignty Bill, 2026, saying Attorney General Kiryowa Kiwanuka was the key government official behind the legislation. Speaking to journalists shortly after being sworn in as MP for Ruhinda in Mitooma, Otafiire dismissed claims that he personally pushed the…
The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives has asked for a budget of Shs 514.96 billion next financial year, with a large share earmarked for capitalising the Uganda Development Corporation (UDC). Presenting a report to parliament’s budget committee, the chairperson of the committee on trade, industry and cooperatives, Boniface Okot, said the proposed allocation reflects…
Speaker Anita Among has urged MPs to seek treatment in government health facilities to build public trust in the country’s healthcare system. Among made the remarks during a special sitting held to pay tribute to the late Kalangala district woman MP, Hellen Nakimuli, who recently died. She said legislators should lead by example by using…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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,…
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 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…
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…
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…
The 2025 annual report of the Office of the Auditor General has revealed that many Parish Development Model (PDM) priorities are not aligned with local government work plans, leading to funding gaps, budget deficits and stalled implementation. Handing over the report to Speaker Anita Among, the Auditor General Edward Akol said the mismatch between national…
Parliament yesterday approved a new loan worth $121 million (Shs 420 billion) from the African Development Fund to finance Uganda’s electricity export project to South Sudan, despite sharp divisions among MPs While some legislators welcomed the project as a strategic regional investment that could generate foreign income, others warned that it would worsen Uganda’s debt…
Parliament has directed that a family in Kagadi district whose four-month-old child was snatched by baboons and later found dead in a forest be compensated. Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa gave the directive to the Minister of Tourism, Wildlife, and Antiquities, Tom Butiime. He observed that children in Kagadi district no longer go to school, and…
The High Court has dismissed an application by the National Unity Platform (NUP) seeking to stop the government from withholding its share of the Inter-Party Organisation for Dialogue (IPOD) cash. Justice Collins Acellam ruled that the request for an interim order came too late, as the money had already been paid out to other parties,…
To restore professionalism and discipline in managing Uganda’s workforce, MPs have endorsed tough penalties against unqualified and unlicensed human resource (HR) practitioners. The proposals are among many others contained in the Human Resource Management Professionals Bill, 2025, introduced by Workers’ MP Margaret Rwabushaija. The private member’s bill seeks to regulate the HR profession through strict…
Members of Parliament have urged the government to negotiate stronger bilateral agreements on labour externalisation following a recent BBC documentary highlighting the plight of Ugandan girls subjected to sex slavery in the United Arab Emirates UAE). The documentary, titled Death in Dubai, revealed the tragic deaths of two Ugandan girls who suffered perverse sexual assaults…
Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) has fired or transferred 82 employees with questionable educational qualifications, following a presidential directive, the authority Director General Fred Bamwesigye has told MPs. Bamwesigye, who led UCAA officials to the House Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE) to answer queries in the Auditor General’s Report for the…
The Deputy Speaker, Thomas Tayebwa, has praised China’s growing partnership with Uganda, hailing it as historic and transformative. Tayebwa welcomed the high-level Chinese delegation led by Jiang Zuojun, the Vice-Chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and Chairman of the Central Committee of the China Zhi Gong Party, in a move expected to bolster…
As Africa contends with escalating insecurity, unconstitutional transitions, and protracted conflicts, parliamentary leaders are increasingly stepping into central roles in peace building and conflict resolution across the continent. The upcoming Extraordinary General Assembly of the Conference of Speakers and Presidents of African Legislatures (CoSPAL), scheduled for 19 to 20 July in Kampala, is expected to…
Members of Parliament on the Agriculture committee have urged the government to develop new policies to address land challenges, particularly for rural populations without land titles. Committee chairperson, Linda Auma, speaking at a joint forum of the Eastern and Southern Africa Small-Scale Farmers’ Forum in Parliament, said many people lose their land to grabbers due…
Parliament has approved a government proposal to borrow up to €270 million (Shs 1.1 trillion) from the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) and €230 million (Shs 940 billion) from Ecobank Uganda and the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) to finance the 2024/2025 national budget. This amounts to €500 million (Shs 2 trillion). The debate on…
Speaker Anita Among officially closed the fourth session of the 11th Parliament, praising MPs for their dedication and legislative achievements despite a year marked by loss and challenges. A session is a period beginning with the date when Parliament commences to sit upon being summoned by the president or speaker by proclamation under clauses (1)…
Uganda will spend an additional Shs4.5 billion to renovate Uganda House, a government-owned commercial building in Nairobi that was torched during anti-tax protests in June 2024. This comes despite a Shs24.8 billion investment in earlier renovations and failed efforts to secure compensation through insurance or diplomatic channels. Appearing before the Public Accounts Committee – Central…
As the National Resistance Movement (NRM) renews its leadership at the grassroots, senior party members are positioning themselves to play an influential role within the party. The biggest battle for local supremacy within the NRM is taking shape in Rukungiri district, where Lt Gen Henry Tumukunde and Maj Gen Jim Muhwezi will face off for…
Parliament will today afternoon consider amendments to the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) Act through the UPDF (Amendment) Bill, 2025, to permit military courts to try civilians under specific circumstances, despite a Supreme Court ruling declaring such trials unconstitutional. A key provision is the insertion of Clause 117A, which subjects civilians to military law in…
