News Articles | MINISTRY OF ICT AND NATIONAL GUIDANCE

27 August 2025

PRESIDENT MUSEVENI MEETS NIPPON FOUNDATION OFFICIALS

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni today welcomed a delegation from the Nippon Foundation at State House Entebbe. The Nippon Foundation is Asia’s leading grant-maker, based in Japan and cooperating with stakeholders of all levels around the world to confront social challenges. The team was led by Mr. Isao Iijima, Special Advisor to the Prime Minister of Japan, and Mr. Takeju Ogata, Chairman of the Nippon Foundation. They are in Uganda to commemorate the launch of the Rehabilitation Center for veterans in Mubende District. The Nippon Foundation contributed USD 500,000 towards the construction of the center and the provision of equipment to support soldiers who lost their limbs in combat. Mr. Ogata noted that the Foundation has worked in Uganda for over 40 years, particularly in agriculture and social development, and pledged continued cooperation to strengthen Uganda’s resilience in the face of climate change and other challenges. President Museveni commended the Government of Japan for its long-standing partnership with Uganda, citing its support in building the Nile Bridge and in the road sector. He also praised Mr. Iijima for mobilizing recent donations, which included 2,000 sewing machines from Japanese companies which were donated to veterans and women groups, as well as fire trucks, ambulances, physiotherapy equipment, and prosthetic materials to benefit veterans and women’s groups. The President further appealed to Japan to expand trade ties with Uganda. “What we need most is for Japan to buy our products. We would like to trade with you, and we also wish that Japan removes taxes from our exports,” he said. The Rehabilitation Center project is being implemented with support from the Government of Japan and the Nippon Foundation.

26 August 2025

COL. NAKALEMA URGES HEADS OF GOVERNMENT AGENCIES TO STRENGTHEN COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS TO PROMOTE SOCIO-ECONOMIC TRANSFORMATION

The Head of State House Investors Protection Unit (SHIPU), Col. Edith Nakalema has today met and held constructive discussions with the leaders of government agencies at SHIPU offices in Kampala. The follow up meeting that preceded the first one held last week, aimed at further laying out strategies on how to strengthen collaborative efforts between agencies to ensure effective service delivery to the people of Uganda. “The continuation of this conversation remains focused on how our collaborative efforts as public sector executives deliver value to all citizens that sustains transformation of households,” she stated. Col. Nakalema made a passionate appeal to them to effectively use their positions to bolster their collaboration that will lead to the transformation of societies in Uganda. “As SHIPU whose mandate rests on coordinating MDAs, my appeal to you is to exploit this exclusive platform to reinforce institutional collaboration that will breed transformational gains for the populace,” she stated. The leaders of government agencies who attended the meeting included Dr. Barirega Akankwasah the Executive Director of the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), Mr. Mugabe Robert of Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB), Dr. Patrick Birungi the Executive Director of Uganda Development Corporation(UDC), Eng. Dr. Silver Mugisha of National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC), Eng. Kaijuka Kenneth, the Chief Executive Officer of National Housing and Construction Company Ltd., Dr. Bruce Kirenga of Makerere University, Dr. Chris Mukiza of Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) and Mr. Osborn Turyasingura of the National Secretariat for Special Interest Groups. According to Col. Nakalema, the leaders of government agencies have to account to the citizens of Uganda what the government has done for the population as well as indicate what plans they have for the socio-economic development of the country. She blamed the unawareness of the government's achievements by the masses to poor communication. “A lot of achievements have been registered by the government for the people of Uganda, but communication has not been very effective to highlight these gains,” Col. Nakalema asserted. She encouraged them to utilize the maximum Radio Stations that she said remain one of the widest dispensation tools, social media, Televisions and various groups to declare their accountability to the masses and also to inform the people of the government's achievements. Participants, therefore, agreed to use every avenue in their disposal to state the accountability of their institutions, plans and also to change the mindset of the people of Uganda, especially the youth, to deeply get involved in activities tailored at accelerating the socio-economic development of the country that will eventually lead to the transformation of their lives.

25 August 2025

PRESIDENT MUSEVENI TO NRM DELEGATES: FIGHT POVERTY AND CORRUPTION, BUILD THE MONEY ECONOMY

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has today opened the 1st Meeting of the 4th National Conference of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds, rallying delegates to focus on discipline, fight poverty and corruption, and ensure every Ugandan household joins the money economy. Accompanied by the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Maama Janet Kataha Museveni, the President who is also the National Chairman of the NRM, addressed thousands of delegates from across the country gathered to elect special interest group representatives and chart the Movement’s future direction. The conference will see the election of leaders representing the youth, elderly, workers, and persons with disabilities, among others. In his address, President Museveni expressed delight at the youthful composition of many of the newly elected delegates, describing it as a healthy sign of generational renewal within the Movement. He urged them to uphold the NRM’s principles of patriotism, Pan-Africanism, democracy and socio-economic transformation, while taking the party’s vision deeper into households across Uganda. The President took delegates on a reflective journey of Uganda’s economic transformation under the NRM, tracing progress from the days of “minimum recovery” to what he now describes as the country’s “take-off stage.” He recalled the difficult years when Ugandans lacked basic commodities such as sugar, salt, and soap, noting that those days were about mere survival. He explained that Uganda later expanded its economy through cash crops like coffee and tea, diversified into other sectors, and is today producing higher-value products. President Museveni pointed to recent milestones such as the manufacture of vehicles through Kiira Motors, the establishment of vaccine production facilities, and the rise of ICT as evidence that Uganda has firmly entered its industrial age. “We are no longer in recovery; Uganda is in the take-off stage. We are now manufacturing our own cars, producing vaccines, and building an ICT-driven economy,” President Museveni said. Turning to household wealth creation, the President stressed that Uganda’s long-term stability rests on every family joining the money economy. He recalled that in 2013, about 68 percent of the population was still outside the money economy, but recent figures show that 67 percent are now participating. He said the government’s target is to ensure that no family is left behind. To illustrate his point, President Museveni cited the example of Joseph Ijaara, a farmer in Serere who uses a small piece of land to achieve high returns through commercial agriculture. He explained that Uganda’s money economy rests on four pillars — agriculture, industry, services, and ICT — and urged delegates to help their communities embrace at least one of these sectors. “In the past, towns were only filled with shops, but today we are building towns of factories where people work and earn. That is the NRM difference,” he said. The President challenged leaders to return to their communities with a clear mission of tackling the issues that directly affect ordinary Ugandans. “What I want you to take from here is simple: fight poverty in your families, fight corruption — don’t allow people to eat Parish Development Model (PDM) money. Insist that the police fight crime, and where they fail, report them,” he stressed. President Museveni also underlined the importance of social services as the foundation of transformation. On health, he noted progress in the fight against malaria and immunization campaigns but criticized the persistent theft of drugs, which undermines treatment. He reaffirmed the government's plan to expand safe water access to villages across the country. On infrastructure, President Museveni revealed that each district receives UGX 1.3 billion annually to maintain murram roads, stressing that the funds must be properly used. On education, President Museveni made one of his strongest commitments of the day: ensuring free education in government schools. He argued that since parents overwhelmingly prefer government schools, fees must be abolished to allow every child access to quality education. “Once the NRM is voted again, we shall insist on free education in all government schools. Support me so we can fully implement it,” he said. NRM Secretary General, Rt. Hon. Richard Todwong also addressed the gathering, reminding delegates that the NRM is a Movement bigger than any individual and that leadership must always be seen as service, not self-enrichment. He urged them to embody discipline, sacrifice, and responsibility in their work, stressing that elections may come and go, but the Movement and the people remain. Dr. Tanga Odoi, the Chairman of the NRM Electoral Commission, promised to deliver free and fair elections of leaders of special interest groups and the subsequent elections that will follow in the coming days.

23 August 2025

PRESIDENT MUSEVENI ASSURES KENYA-BASED INVESTORS ON PARTNERSHIP IN KEY INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni yesterday assured investors from Rebel Group, an international consultancy and investment firm based in Nairobi, of Uganda’s readiness to partner with them in key infrastructure projects. Meeting the group led by the former US Ambassador to Kenya, Mr. Kyle McCarter, at State House, Entebbe, President Museveni welcomed the firm’s interest in Uganda and emphasized the country’s long-term economic opportunities. “We can start with infrastructure such as the Kampala–Bombo toll road and the Mpigi bridge. These projects are linked directly to the market and the consumers. As long as the consumers are there, the flow of money will not stop. That is why such investments are sustainable. They create jobs, put money in people’s pockets, and stimulate further spending,” he said. Reflecting on Uganda’s post-independence challenges, the President noted that past policy mistakes, including the expulsion of Asians under Idi Amin and the confiscation of private property, discouraged private investment. “We lost a lot of time after independence because of policies that were not private sector–friendly. Confiscating private property was a strategic mistake,” he said. “But when we came into leadership in the 1980s. We were clear, we had studied the mistakes of the past, and we had the credibility to say no, we are independent, and we are not agents of anyone. If you want true independence, you must create wealth so that you don’t depend on anybody,” he said. President Museveni explained that Uganda’s economic transformation agenda is anchored on four key pillars of wealth creation. “Our first pillar is commercial agriculture, where land must be used productively beyond subsistence farming. The second pillar is manufacturing, which focuses on adding value to our raw materials such as coffee, cotton, copper, and timber,” he said. “The third area is services, including tourism, hospitality, entertainment, and related sectors, the fourth pillar is ICT, where we must harness technology to drive growth. Everyone must be involved in producing either a good or a service, whether as an owner or as an employee. That is the foundation of wealth,” he added. The President also mentioned that infrastructure investment is central to unlocking regional trade, particularly within the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). “This is why I have been advising investors to look at Africa seriously. The Chinese have already seen the potential and are coming in big numbers. But there is even more space for others to participate. Infrastructure such as roads linking Uganda to Rwanda and Congo will not only serve Uganda but the entire region. That is where the real business is,” he said. Mr. Prashiv Shah, the financial consultant with Rebel Group, welcomed President Museveni’s guidance and declared the group’s interest in Uganda. “In Kenya, we are already combining infrastructure with real estate development, but we are willing to come to Uganda not just for infrastructure but for many other sectors as well. We totally agree with your vision, and we are ready to explore opportunities here. This is a new time for building investments, and we are glad to meet you,” he said.

21 August 2025

PRESIDENT MUSEVENI MEETS FORMER NIGERIAN PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has today met and held talks with the former President of Nigeria, H.E. Goodluck Jonathan, at State House, Entebbe. H.E Jonathan, who arrived in Kampala on Wednesday 20, August 2025, today officiated at the 14th Graduation Ceremony of Cavendish University Uganda (CUU), where he serves as Chancellor. During the meeting, the two leaders reflected on the long-standing bilateral ties between Uganda and Nigeria and explored opportunities to further strengthen economic cooperation between the two countries. H.E Jonathan commended President Museveni for the warm reception extended to him and praised Uganda’s conducive environment for institutions of higher learning. He also hailed the steady progress made by Cavendish University Uganda since its establishment. He also informed President Museveni that CUU, which was licensed to operate in Uganda by the National Council for Higher Education in June 2008, has already applied for a charter to enhance its competitiveness in the region. The meeting was also attended by government officials, representatives of the Nigerian High Commission, among other dignitaries.

21 August 2025

PRESIDENT MUSEVENI AND FIRST LADY EXTEND SUPPORT TO TESO WIDOWS DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Maama Janet Museveni, yesterday hosted the Teso Widows Development Initiative at their country home in Irenga, Ntungamo District, and expressed their support for the initiative. The Teso Widows Development Initiative is an organisation dedicated to uplifting 36,000 widows from the Teso Region by helping them secure better livelihoods and access education and skills. President Museveni serves as the Patron of the initiative. The members expressed their gratitude to the President for his good governance and ongoing support. “You have changed our name from the mothers of problems to mothers of blessings,” they said. In a memorandum signed by the initiative's Director, Ms. Akurut Beatrice Omese, and presented by the secretary, Ms. Pauline Akello, the initiative requested support for establishing a technical institute that would transform and benefit their community. “Many of our children cannot afford education, and we believe the technical institute will equip all the disadvantaged with essential skills,” they stated. In response, President Museveni welcomed the proposal, saying, “This is a very good effort.” He subsequently committed Shs 600 million to establish a technical institute that would empower the community with the skills and knowledge needed to pursue careers. This funding would also cover books, laboratory instruments, salaries, and the general running of the school for the first two years. To foster the initiative's growth, the President advised members to develop a money-making policy, such as establishing a SACCO (Savings and Credit Cooperative) to provide soft loans. He pledged to contribute Shs 100 million to the SACCO. Additionally, President Museveni promised to provide a pickup truck for the initiative and a bus for the institute to facilitate transportation. The Teso Widows Development Initiative further expressed their appreciation to the First Lady for her contributions to improving the lives of marginalised groups within the initiative, as well as for her collaboration in providing entrepreneurship training. Maama Janet, for her part, stated that it is her desire to see women's organisations come together to save and establish a bank in the future that will ensure self-reliance rather than dependence. She mentioned this while giving testimony about a group of Bangladeshi women who were semi-literate with very limited resources but went on to establish one of the biggest banks in the world. She further urged the widows to develop a saving culture rather than relying on a habit of borrowing to spend. “The problem we have is that we don’t know how to save, and we often borrow to spend,” said the First Lady. To emphasise the discipline of saving, Maama Janet advised the widows to ensure that they save a portion of their earnings each week or month. As their savings grow over time, they can then invest the money into larger projects.

19 August 2025

PRESIDENT MUSEVENI DIRECTS AGRICULTURE MINISTRY TO DRAFT REGULATIONS TO STREAMLINE TEA SECTOR

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has directed the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries to draft regulations for tea growing and management in the country to safeguard the sector from the shock of low pricing on the international market attributed to improper tea management practices. “We need to regulate those who grow tea so that they grow it properly and the ones who buy tea, buy good tea. This will be done,” he said. President Museveni made the remarks today while meeting a group of tea growers, nursery bed operators and processors in Western Uganda. The meeting was held in Bushenyi district. President Museveni tasked the tea growers to write to the government on the tea sector’s viability and categorization of the crop as either a high or low value crop to inform government’s strategic interventions to the sector. “I want you to go back and write to me on the issue of whether tea is a high value crop under intensive agriculture or we should continue with extensive agriculture because some people say you can earn net Shs1. 4 million per month, if you can do that, that will be good. I want this one in writing,” he said. “Let me get some advice so that we can confidently transfer tea from an extensive type of crop to an intensive one. Prof. Kabwegyere is saying that if everything is done, you can get 8,000 kilograms from an acre. Prof. Ephraim Kamuntu will coordinate all that so that we can get a document to guide our people.” President Museveni had earlier disregarded tea as a high value crop due to the fact that it has low returns compared to other alternative high value crops like coffee. President Museveni also tasked the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries to set up desks for respective crops instead of setting up boards or authorities like the Tea Authority, as the stakeholders had suggested. “Regarding the issue of the Tea Authority, that's a colonial mentality and approach where they emphasized cotton, coffee and copper. But the NRM has been telling you that you can make money from cassava; it is a cash crop. In the colonial times, they were telling you cash crops are only coffee, cotton, tobacco and tea. Bananas and the like were food crops, but NRM is telling you that those are all cash crops. So, if we are to put up authorities for each cash crop, how many authorities shall we have?” he wondered. On the other hand, President Museveni pledged that he will look into the challenges they're facing, and the government will offer a helping hand. “We need to get you a fund for fertilizers, and we shall get it,” he said. The president also confirmed Shs 312 billion in support for tea growers and processors to clear their loans as well as improving the quality of Uganda’s tea production to attract a stable international market. On his part, the Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, Hon. Frank Tumwebaze appealed to farmers to push for self-regulatory mechanisms among themselves as the government expedites the regulatory process. The Chairperson of Uganda Tea Outgrowers Association, Mr. Onesimus Matsiko appealed to the President to expedite the process of setting up a zoning policy and regulations to streamline the industry. “Your Excellency, if the issue of costly fertilizers and green leaf quality regulation are dealt with, we would solve Uganda tea industry problems by more than 80 percent,” he said. The meeting was also attended by the Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Thomas Tayebwa, Ministers, Members of Parliament, among others.

19 August 2025

COL. NAKALEMA ENGAGES HEADS OF GOVERNMENT AGENCIES ON UGANDA’S DEVELOPMENT AGENDA

The Head of the State House Investors Protection Unit (SHIPU), Col. Edith Nakalema has today met and held fruitful discussions with the leaders of government agencies. The meeting held at SHIPU offices in Kampala mainly focused on goals and strategies for promoting Uganda’s national development. Col. Nakalema revealed that Uganda’s growth aspirations encapsulated in the National Development Plan IV (NDPIV) aim to accelerate the socio-economic transformation of the country. “The goal of the plan is to achieve higher household incomes, full monetization of the economy, and employment for sustainable socio-economic transformation,” she said. Col. Nakalema also noted that as heads of government agencies, they hold the positions that they occupy because they have been deemed competent to take up public responsibility. “Even more important beyond technical capability, we are public servants because we care about the future of this country. Therefore, we cannot afford to miss the opportunity to make a contribution towards securing the future which our NDPIV has charted out,” she urged. She said what binds the heads of government agencies is not only synergies of working jointly but also to exploit the goodwill amongst themselves to take Uganda forward. “The clarion call to advance socio-economic transformation therefore enjoins us to simultaneously deliver tangible results on every front of national service.” Col. Nakalema further noted that as stewards of the public good, it is incumbent upon the heads of government agencies to strategically engage on the development constraints that undermine the quality of life. “The season is now for us to move beyond being the “conveyor belt of service delivery” and put up a united front as a joined-up government not to meet our performance targets but to drive national transformation,” she said. “As holders of public office, the onus to ponder on the dividends we can generate for citizens is impelling. What will count most upon our retirement from public service is the difference we will have made to the progress of natives.” On the other hand, Col. Nakalema urged her fellow leaders to engage through the media to show the citizenry what they have achieved so far and where they’re heading. Dr. Barirega Akankwasah, the Executive Director, National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) said the idea to come together as heads of government agencies, was meant to share ideas on how they can stabilize and promote the work of government to ensure development. “We should share views and ideas on how we can be relevant in supporting continued sustainability of peace and development of our country especially during a period of transition from one government to another,” said Dr. Barirega, who also serves as the chairperson of the heads of government agencies. “We are CEOs for national stability. How can we support the continued stability of our nation? Uganda has been stable and peaceful, and we should be appreciative by contributing to its continuity.” The Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) Registrar General, Ms. Mercy Kainobwisho called for accountability to the citizens by showcasing the positives and ensuring effective service delivery. “We should showcase what we have done in the last five years since we have been implementing through the Manifesto. We have done a lot which needs to be showcased,” she said. “We need to come up with a clear strategy by providing accountability. We must come up with one voice since we are here to support and showcase what we have done in the different sectors of our country. Let’s not take our country for granted, let's promote it by showing accountability without involving politics in it.” The Uganda Tourism Board (UTB) Chief Executive Officer, Ms. Juliana Kagwa explained that siloed work in agencies is due to several challenges such as ineffective communication. “People believe in what we do. We need a platform for inter-agency collaboration so that we are not operating in a parallel universe. We should be speaking the same language,” Ms. Kagwa noted. Additionally, she advised that agencies need to bring the youth on board and embrace their innovations which they could use to publicize their campaigns. “We need those people to come and create the content about our campaigns while we give accountability.” Dr. James Musinguzi, Executive Director of the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) confirmed the assertion that a lot has been done by government agencies but due to lack of publicity, less is known by the public. “A lot is being done but not publicized. For example, UWA shares revenue with communities neighboring protected areas and do compensations, but this is not known by many,” he said. “We must have a strategy to engage these young people so that they can promote our campaigns.” Vision Group Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Don Wanyama said as leaders of government agencies they should consolidate on the achievements of the NRM government and popularise its vision for the next five years. This, he said, would help President Museveni to be re-elected into office in the next general elections. “Let's create a task force where we can have a team to do research regarding what Uganda through the NRM has achieved in the last 40 years.” On his part, Dr. Ezra Muhumuza, Executive Director of the Uganda Manufacturers Association (UMA) urged that the political regime is supposed to present the Manifesto to the public, which becomes a social contract between the people and the government, then government through the several agencies, must be the implementor of the Manifesto. He also called for a strengthened working relationship among agencies to achieve their common goal. Eng. Ziria Tibalwa Waako, Chief Executive Officer of the Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERA) also called upon fellow leaders to engage the young people so that they can join them in their development campaigns. “We possibly need age groups between 15 to 40 to support us. They are the majority and easy to convert. If you use the right language they understand, they are easy to move. This cluster that we are targeting should become our ally,” she said.

19 August 2025

PRESIDENT MUSEVENI MEETS WHO DIRECTOR-GENERAL

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has this morning held talks with Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) at State Lodge, Nakasero. The discussions focused on strengthening Uganda’s health sector through sustainable financing, local pharmaceutical manufacturing and public health insurance to ensure long-term resilience.

16 August 2025

PRESIDENT MUSEVENI COMMISSIONS WAGAGAI GOLD MINING PROJECT

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has today commissioned the Wagagai Gold Mining Project in Busia District, describing it as a transformative milestone that will end the wasteful export of raw minerals and usher Uganda into a new era of value addition. During the commissioning, the President congratulated Wagagai Mining (U) Co., Ltd. for establishing a state-of-the-art refinery capable of producing 99.99% pure gold, noting that for decades Uganda only exported blister copper which was not pure enough for direct use and had to be refined abroad before being re-imported. He said this cycle was a loss to the country and praised Wagagai for being able to purify gold to 99.99% purity. “I want to thank Wagagai for listening to my message from the beginning and fully processing the gold. Uganda will get more money,” he noted. He cautioned that exporting raw materials amounts to cheating Uganda and urged artisanal miners to work with Wagagai so that their gold can be refined locally instead of being sold unprocessed. He added that refined gold can now be used in jewellery, electronics, and other industries and thanked Wagagai for being a “residential teacher” by helping others learn from its example. “When you export unprocessed minerals, you are cheating Uganda,” he said. President Museveni also thanked the Government of China for its continued support to Uganda, citing not only investors like Wagagai but also infrastructure projects financed through soft loans. He called on Ugandans to recognize that there is a time for everything and now it is time to utilize natural resources responsibly, stressing that money from non-renewable minerals and oil should be invested in permanent assets such as durable power stations and the railway. “This mineral money must give us permanent and most durable assets,” he urged. “In order to wake up in the minerals sector, we must have full value addition for all minerals like gold, lithium, tin among others. Why? Because we get more money, it creates more jobs, and it consumes more electricity.” The Ambassador of China to Uganda, H.E Zhang Lizhong, thanked the President for officiating at the launch and commended Uganda for fostering a conducive investment environment that has allowed Chinese companies to thrive. He said the project is not only a symbol of China–Uganda friendship but also a driver of industrial progress. Hon. Ruth Nankabirwa, the Minister of Energy and Mineral Development, said the Wagagai Gold Mining project reflects the government’s objective of promoting local value addition and job creation. She confirmed the plant’s capacity to refine gold to 99.99% purity and thanked Parliament for passing the regulatory framework that has made it possible. The Wagagai Gold Mining company General Manager, Tan Jiuchang, said the USD 150 million investment in Phase I of the project represents the beginning of a larger USD 250 million plan to build Uganda’s largest and most technologically advanced gold mine. The General Manager expressed gratitude to government entities and the Chinese Embassy for their support, noting that Wagagai’s progress in licensing and refining has set a benchmark for Uganda’s development. He said the completion of this phase has created over 2,000 jobs and aligns with the President’s vision of transforming Uganda’s economy. The General Manager also added that Busia, long known as the cradle of artisanal miners, now has a refinery that will help small-scale miners improve their livelihoods. Juichang urged artisanal miners to embrace registration and collaboration with the refinery, explaining that the project will open opportunities for income and training for hundreds of Ugandans. The Wagagai Gold Mine, located in Alupe, Busia District, covers 9.224 square kilometers with proven reserves of 30 million tons of gold ore at an average grade of 0.8–1 gram per ton, supporting 20 years of continuous production. Once at full capacity, the mine will process 5,000 tons of ore per day, or 1.5 million tons annually, to produce about 1.2 tons of refined gold each year at 99.99% purity. The project is expected to contribute approximately USD 10 million annually in tax revenue, create more than 5,000 jobs, and train over 500 skilled Ugandan workers.

15 August 2025

PRESIDENT MUSEVENI PROPOSES FAIR DISTRIBUTION OF TESO CATTLE COMPENSATION FUND TO BENEFIT ALL HOUSEHOLDS

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has today urged that the ongoing cattle compensation exercise in Teso sub-region should benefit all households, rather than concentrating the funds on a few claimants. Speaking at Soroti University during a meeting with some of the cattle compensation claimants, local leaders and stakeholders, the President said that the loss of cattle in Teso was caused by past wars, and what is often referred to as “compensation” should be regarded as rehabilitation. He noted that in previous exercises, lawyers received a large portion of the funds, reducing the amount that reached beneficiaries. To prevent this, the government now ensures that payments are directly delivered to households. President Museveni proposed that the outstanding UGX 169 billion should be shared equitably among all homesteads in Teso, rather than giving large sums to a few claimants. He illustrated his idea: that if each cow is valued at UGX 1 million, the fund could cover 169,000 cows. With roughly 69,000 households, each could receive about 2–3 cows, while the 28,000 households who have already benefited would be excluded from this allocation. To ensure fairness, the President suggested forming a committee of elders, youth, and women leaders to harmonize distribution and budget allocation. He added that, depending on calculations and phased disbursement, households could potentially receive up to five cows each. The Vice President, Hon. Jessica Alupo thanked President Museveni for visiting Teso Subregion to address the longstanding cattle issue. She praised him for maintaining peace in the region, attributing stability to his visionary leadership in guiding the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF). The Deputy Attorney General, Hon. Jackson Kafuuzi reported that the compensation process has been overhauled to ensure direct payments to verified claimants, moving away from court-mediated settlements. The verification now takes place at subregional and district levels, involving Local Council Committees (LC1, LC2), Chief Administrative Officers, District Government Officers, and local depots, deliberately avoiding centralized verification in Kampala. The Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs issues data cards for claimants to fill in their bio-data, which is verified from the village level to the district registrar. The system started in 2016/17 when the United States Committee verified thousands of claimants, including 16,946 in various subregions. President Museveni launched the Cattle Compensation Initiative Series in March 2022 with a planned budget of UGX 200 billion. Since then, total payments have reached UGX 506.7 billion. Recent disbursements in the Lango Subregion alone included 12,389 payments worth UGX 48.7 billion, with additional allocations across other subregions bringing the total for this round to UGX 128.3 billion through 28,281 payments. However, 24,509 verified claimants remain unpaid, with outstanding claims totaling UGX 506.69 billion. These include 5,570 claimants in the Northern Subregion with claims worth UGX 191.5 billion, 8,284 claimants in the Eastern Subregion with claims amounting to UGX 119.26 billion, and 10,708 claimants in the Central Subregion with claims totaling UGX 165.9 billion. Delays are largely due to incorrect or duplicate account details, closed or blocked bank accounts, and mismatched claimant identification. Hon. Bosco Okiror, MP for Usuk Constituency, urged the government to enhance transparency in payments and resolve pending legal disputes. He cited three court cases involving claimant Elijah Okupa and others, with claims totaling about USD 207,000 annually, mostly from Teso. Hon. Okiror suggested that while some matters remain in court, negotiation could resolve issues faster. He proposed that large claims be settled through phased and sequential payments and emphasized that compensation extends beyond cattle losses to include loss of life and destruction of property, requiring a holistic settlement.

14 August 2025

SENIOR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS MEET TO CURB GOLD FRAUD IN UGANDA

A team of senior government officials have come together to pave ways of stemming fraud in the minerals sector. During a follow up meeting on gold trade fraud in Uganda held on Wednesday 13th August 2025 at the State House Investors Protection Unit (SHIPU) offices in Kampala, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development, Eng. Irene Batebe said fraudsters mainly deal in gold and a number of investors have fallen victim to fake gold deals. The first meeting was held in January 2025 and here the heads of government agencies agreed on the need to step up action to prevent fraud in order to redeem the image of the economy. Eng. Batebe called for more concerted efforts with various government entities such as Uganda Police to deal with the challenge. “We must really work together if we are to tackle this challenge. Efforts must be coordinated in an ecosystem arrangement so that in the future we can as well consolidate on them,” she urged. Eng. Batebe also highlighted some steps being taken by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development and stakeholders to streamline gold trade. She said so far, they have conducted a case study on Tanzania regarding regulation of business and were looking forward to benchmark in the near future. “Unlike Tanzania, Uganda lacks designated points of sale and purchase of gold. We are working with the Attorney General to come up with a law to enable us to set up designated places for mineral markets and buying centres to overcome black markets and fraud,” she said. “Like in Tanzania, you don't just sell to anyone, gold is recorded and tracked, even if they are exiting the country.” Eng. Batebe further revealed that they have already proposed designated centres for selling and buying of gold around the country. “We are proposing Entebbe and Busia as selling centres while Kassanda, Moroto or Kotido as buying centres. Whoever will be caught trading outside these places, will be marked as a criminal,” she said. “The Bank of Uganda gold purchase program will also bring in some good competition in gold trading by creating competitive prices. Black market dealers will join in, once the prices are competitive.” Eng. Batebe further expressed the need for close collaboration with security agencies to effectively execute the regulations that will be put in place to streamline gold trade. “We are also coming up with a digital platform which is supposed to support tracking and revenue management. Here revenue collection will be automatic.” On the issue of smuggling of gold, Eng. Batebe urged that border patrol should be strengthened. “For digital scams we must work together to deal with the issue,” she advised, as officials agreed to set up a cyber desk at the Uganda Police Force responsible for monitoring online mineral fraud. The officials also agreed to set up a search registry for mineral dealers and also constitute a technical committee whereby members will be meeting on a monthly basis to discuss key issues. The Head of the State House Anti-Corruption Unit, Brig. Gen. Henry Isoke advised that the government should come up with game changing regulations in order to fix the overwhelming issue, causing a disservice to Uganda as a country. “We should strengthen strategic collaboration among government agencies if we are to achieve our goal,” Brig. Gen. Isoke noted. “We need to move faster, timeline is key, engage the Attorney General, Cabinet and have a law in place to regulate the sector.” The Head of SHIPU, Col. Edith Nakalema urged that agencies need to be dedicated towards plugging the loopholes in the entire eco-system. “This calls for heightened vigilance along the gold fraud journey in each of our roles,” she said, further reminding the attendees that the role of SHIPU is to protect investors not only from unnecessary delays in the eco-system but also from fraudulent actors within the system. “To inform our collaborative endeavor, it is necessary for all of us to appreciate the urgency of curbing this vice as a national imperative. This will inspire proactive collaboration from which firm action is triggered.” Col. Nakalema also pointed out that as they move to deal with the scam, they should mainly focus on the origin of the fraud, managing risks along the payment processing value chain, empowering investors and decisive law enforcement. “In our first meeting in January, we spoke with one voice. What brings us here today again joined by other stakeholders is because we still have a common enemy. Therefore, we are all in agreement that we have a role to play in preventing and thwarting fraud,” she said. “However, to triumph over our adversary, we have to ensure that our strategic cooperation does not fizzle out into unconstructive combined effort. Such a lapse would only risk making our united front predictable to scammers.” On the other hand, Col. Nakalema commended Brig. Gen. Isoke and his unit for the recent operation where they arrested seven suspects accused of swindling a Nigerian businessman out of USD 70,000 in a sophisticated fake gold deal. Representing the Inspector General of Police, AIGP Frank Mwesigwa, Uganda Police Director of Operations described the gold scam as a big elephant in the house that must be dealt with as soon as possible. “In 4 months, 48 cases have been reported. We can only fight this scam when we are working together. With policy interventions in place, we will be able to overcome the issue.” Brig. Gen. Mike Kisame, the Head of Aviation Security at Entebbe International Airport said that most times fraud is committed through a chain of individuals who are well connected financially and politically. He therefore called for collaborative efforts among stakeholders if they are to win over the criminal act. Brig. Gen. Kisame however decried the bureaucracy in decision-making when it comes to taking action against the fraudsters. “If you don't act fast things may take a different twist,” he cautioned. The Police Minerals Protection Unit Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Julius Caesar Tusingwire said that since January 2025, they have closed 15 illegal gold refineries in Muyenga, Buziga and neighboring areas. “We recovered a number of exhibits like fake gold, gas cylinders, money, genuine gold, among others. That operation was successful, and we agreed that every quarter we should conduct such an operation,” he said.

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