AUSTRALIAN TOURISTS AWESTRUCK BY UGANDA'S GORILLA TOURISM MODEL

A delegation of Australian tourism professionals, currently undertaking a 10-day familiarisation tour across Uganda, has described the country’s gorilla tourism model as one of the most emotionally compelling examples of conservation-linked community development they have encountered globally. The team, comprising travel experts, tourism marketers, media representatives and destination advocates from Australia, is touring Uganda under a strategic initiative organised by the Uganda High Commission in Canberra in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, the Uganda Tourism Board (UTB), the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) and private sector tourism stakeholders. The familiarisation trip is part of Uganda’s broader effort to strengthen its positioning within the Australian travel market by showcasing the country not only as a wildlife destination, but also as a global leader in ethical, conservation-driven tourism. After travelling through Kisoro and engaging with community-led tourism initiatives surrounding Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, members of the delegation said one of the most powerful discoveries of the journey was understanding how gorilla tourism directly supports surrounding communities and conservation ecosystems. Beyond the mountain gorilla encounter itself, the delegation interacted with local guides, women-led enterprises, conservation workers, youth groups, community tourism operators and residents whose livelihoods are connected to Uganda’s tourism economy. For many of the visitors, the experience shifted their understanding of what tourism can achieve beyond recreation. Fiona Harper from Mitribe Media said Uganda’s tourism model stands out because travellers are able to witness firsthand the relationship between conservation and community survival. “In many parts of the world, tourism and local communities feel disconnected. But in Uganda, you can clearly see that protecting wildlife is also protecting livelihoods. The communities are not separated from conservation. They are part of it,” Fiona said. She added that this creates a far more meaningful experience for modern travellers seeking ethical and purposeful tourism. “When travellers realise that their tourism dollars are helping conserve forests, support families, create jobs and empower local communities, the emotional connection becomes much deeper. You leave Uganda understanding that tourism here is not just about seeing something extraordinary. It is about contributing to something important,” Fiona clarified. According to tourism officials, this growing global demand for ethical and regenerative tourism presents a major opportunity for Uganda within the Australian outbound travel market. Tiisa Susan Mugwanya, Head of Tourism at the Uganda High Commission in Canberra, said Australian travellers increasingly seek destinations aligned with sustainability, community inclusion, conservation and responsible travel values. “The Australian market is highly conscious about the impact of travel. Travellers want to know that their experiences contribute positively to conservation and local communities. Uganda’s tourism model naturally aligns with those expectations, because conservation here is deeply connected to people’s livelihoods,” Mugwanya explained. Mugwanya noted that Uganda’s gorilla tourism economy supports: community employment, women-led enterprises, youth opportunities, conservation initiatives and rural economic development. She added that tourism has increasingly become an important form of economic diplomacy, capable of strengthening both environmental protection and community resilience. “In Uganda, tourism is not isolated from society. It directly contributes to conservation, employment, community wellbeing and long-term sustainability,” Mugwanya said. Tourism strategists believe this ethical dimension of Uganda’s tourism creates stronger referral behaviour among international travellers, particularly within environmentally conscious markets such as Australia. Experiences rooted in visible conservation impact and authentic community engagement tend to generate: stronger advocacy, repeat storytelling, social sharing, destination loyalty and emotionally driven travel recommendations. Officials at the Uganda High Commission in Canberra believe familiarisation trips, such as this, will help position Uganda as one of Africa’s leading responsible tourism destinations within the premium eco-tourism and transformational travel sectors. For many within the Australian delegation, the defining moment came not only during the gorilla encounter itself, but when they understood the wider impact surrounding it. Forests were being protected. Communities were earning livelihoods. Young people were finding opportunities. Women-led enterprises were growing. Conservation was sustaining entire ecosystems. And suddenly, gorilla tourism no longer felt like a wildlife activity alone. It felt like a shared investment in people, nature and the future.

2026-05-17

IGG SAYS PUBLIC OFFICERS DECLARATION COMPLIANCE ROSE TO 80%

By Glen Jonah Muwayira The Inspectorate of Government (IG) has reported improved compliance in the 2026 declaration of income, assets and liabilities by public officers, with the compliance rate rising from 75 percent in 2021 to 80 percent this year. Addressing journalists during a press briefing held at the Uganda Media Centre on Friday, May 15, 2026 the Inspector General of Government (IGG), Lady Justice Aisha Naluzze Batala, said the just concluded declaration exercise was conducted in the month of April under Article 234 of the 1995 Constitution and the Leadership Code Act, which mandate the Inspectorate to enforce accountability and integrity among leaders and public officers. The IGG explained that leaders are required by law to declare their income, assets and liabilities within three months of assuming office and thereafter every two years in March, while public officers are required to declare within three months of appointment and subsequently every five years. According to the Inspectorate, 302,800 public officers were registered on the Inspectorate of Government-Online Declaration System (IG-ODS) during the 2026 declaration exercise. Out of these, 241,230 officers successfully submitted their declarations while 61,570 failed to comply, resulting in an overall compliance rate of 80 percent. Batala noted that this reflected an improvement from the initial declaration exercise conducted in April 2021 during the COVID-19 lockdown period. “In 2021, there were 240,00 public servants who were registered in the system to declare.18,500 declared; 57,920 public servants did not declare their assets, which created a rate of 75 percent,” she said. She attributed the improved performance to a number of interventions undertaken ahead of the declaration period. These included harmonisation of public officers’ data with the Ministry of Public Service, designation of focal persons and IT support officers across Ministries, Departments, Agencies (MDAs) and Local Governments, deployment of interns to regional offices and nationwide sensitisation campaigns. Despite the improvement, the IGG acknowledged several challenges encountered during the declaration period, including late submissions that caused system congestion, technical and network interruptions, resistance and negative attitudes from some officers, poor Internet connectivity in rural areas (villages) and limited digital literacy among some public servants. Batala warned that public officers who failed to comply with declaration requirements would face action under the Leadership Code Act adjudicated by the Leadership Code Tribunal. “A number of sanctions are spelt out in the Leadership Code Act where fines, demotion, dismissal from office, vacation from office, confiscation and forfeiture of illicitly acquired assets, gifts or benefits of government officers are enforceable,” she said. Going forward, the IGG said the Inspectorate plans to use electronic verification systems to identify high-risk public officers and improve enforcement of compliance. The IGG also revealed that discussions are ongoing with the Head of Public Service, to amend standing orders and make declaration of income, assets and liabilities compulsory for anyone seeking entry into public service. She further appealed to the media and the public to support enforcement by reporting (whistleblowing) suspected undeclared assets, incomes and lifestyles inconsistent with known sources of income. During the question-and-answer session, some journalists asked the IGG about the status of a lawyers’ petition, requesting a full investigation regarding the assets of the Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among, especially since her acquisition of a UGX 2.2 billion Rolls-Royce Cullinan 2025 model that caused public uproar over the weekend. In her response, Batala said the petition was processed and was now on her desk pending procedural action. “What I can tell you is we received the complaint and we are processing it; we are going to work on it,” she promised. On whether the Inspectorate intended to revive lifestyle audit, the IGG clarified that lifestyle audits are already catered for as a criminal offense under illicit enrichment in the Anti-Corruption Act, 2009, noting that there was no need to revive a mechanism that already exists. Batala was also asked whether the Inspectorate could publish assets of politicians and other leaders to the public. She explained that the institution had previously encountered legal challenges relating to privacy concerns, which limited its ability to publicly disclose individual declarations. On the publication of performance rankings for MDAs in the declaration, Hajjat Munira Ali, the Manager Strategic Partnerships and Public Relations at the Inspectorate said, “We haven’t analyzed yet to see which agencies are affected, but we are going to work on it and in about a week or two, we shall be able to have that analysis ready.” Batala concluded by appreciating accounting officers, declaration focal persons, IG staff, government stakeholders and the media for supporting what she described as a successful April 2026 declaration exercise.

2026-05-15

PRESIDENT MUSEVENI LAUDS CHINA’S STRONG PARTNERSHIP WITH UGANDA DURING MEETING WITH H.E XI JINPING’S SPECIAL ENVOY

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has praised the strong and historic relations between Uganda and China, describing China as a reliable partner that has consistently supported Uganda’s development and economic transformation. The President made the remarks today at State House, Entebbe while meeting Mr. Losang Jamcan, the Special Envoy of Chinese President Xi Jinping, who represented the Chinese leader at President Museveni’s recent inauguration ceremony. Mr. Losang conveyed President Xi Jinping’s congratulatory message to President Museveni upon his re-election and reaffirmed China’s commitment to strengthening bilateral ties with Uganda. “His Excellency Xi Jinping asked me to represent him at your inauguration ceremony and convey his warm congratulations,” Mr. Losang said. He commended President Museveni for his leadership, saying Uganda had made significant progress in peace, stability and development under his stewardship. “We listened to your remarks and found them very impressive. Under your leadership, Uganda has followed a path of independence and achieved tremendous progress in peace and development,” he said. The Chinese envoy also noted that President Museveni continued to enjoy widespread support from Ugandans, attributing it to his leadership and contribution to the country’s stability. “You won by a large margin and this shows the respect and love the people of Uganda have for you,” he added. Mr. Losang described President Museveni as “an old and good friend of the Chinese people”, noting that the Ugandan leader had consistently demonstrated a deep understanding of China’s development path and international outlook. He said relations between Uganda and China had continued to grow stronger in recent years under the guidance of Presidents Museveni and Xi Jinping. “China is ready to continue working with Uganda to implement the outcomes of our cooperation and further strengthen our partnership,” he said. On regional and international affairs, the Chinese envoy said China appreciated President Museveni’s position on global peace efforts, particularly his advocacy for dialogue in resolving conflicts in the Middle East. He noted that China remained committed to working with Uganda in promoting peace, development and cooperation across Africa. In his remarks, President Museveni thanked President Xi Jinping for sending a special envoy to attend the ceremony and applauded China for deepening economic cooperation with Uganda. “I want to thank His Excellency Xi Jinping for sending you here. We are very happy with China, especially after opening your market to zero-tax access. Many Chinese companies are now investing in Uganda,” President Museveni said. The President said Uganda’s relationship with China dates back several decades and has remained strong throughout the years. “We have been working with China for a very long time. Our leaders interacted with China even during the struggle for freedom. For more than 70 years, we have been together with the new China,” he said. President Museveni also reiterated Uganda’s position on global conflicts, emphasizing dialogue over confrontation. He revealed that during Uganda’s current tenure as Chair of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), different global powers have been pressuring Uganda to take sides on the Iran issue, but the country instead advocated for peaceful engagement.

2026-05-14

THE PROGRESS OF UGANDA SINCE THE PROMISED FUNDAMENTAL CHANGE

By Carolyne Muyama Forty years ago, Kampala was a very different place, quieter and more fearful than lively, shaped more by fear than by business. Walking the streets in 1985 was dangerous, with the risk of being shot or kidnapped. The black market, known as "Magendo," was essential for survival amid an economic collapse and widespread violence. On January 29, 1986, a young Yoweri Museveni spoke from the steps of Parliament, promising that this was not merely a "change of guard" but a "fundamental change," a message that still resonates today. Although many were skeptical because of past experience, this time was different because the Museveni government began with the discipline of the gun. The National Resistance Army, now the UPDF, instilled a code in which soldiers were taught to be the people’s servants, not their masters. This security laid the groundwork for other sectors to gradually revive, moving the nation from a state of "survival" to "planning." By the late 1980s, the focus shifted from the bush to the financial sector as the NRM government rebuilt a "suitcase economy" from scratch. To stabilize the shilling and pull the country back from the brink of bankruptcy, the government chose the difficult path of liberalization. By opening the market to private players and selling off non-performing entities, the government invited competition and fresh investment. The private sector became the engine of growth, fueling vibrant telecommunications, banking, and manufacturing sectors. This economic foresight helped turn Uganda into one of Africa's fastest-growing economies, with GDP expanding significantly since the early stages of recovery. Beyond growth, the government prioritized human capital, launching Universal Primary Education (UPE) in 1997 and later Universal Secondary Education (USE), ensuring that the children of the poor were no longer spectators in the classroom of progress. This has increased primary school enrollment in Uganda, which rose to over 8.8 million pupils as of 2018. President Museveni’s leadership has also made Uganda a beacon of stability in a volatile region. His sustained push for women’s empowerment and affirmative action has brought more women into Parliament and the workforce than ever before. In health, his early and bold leadership in the fight against HIV/AIDS saved millions of lives and became a global case study in public health success. More recently, the focus on infrastructure has led to the completion of massive projects such as the Isimba and Karuma power dams, and to an expansive network of paved roads that now connect the corners of the country, from Kisoro to Kotido. These aren't just roads; they are the lifeline of trade, enabling farmers to reach the market and entrepreneurs to reach the city. By 2026, President Yoweri Museveni continues to be an influential long-term African leader, acting as a regional mediator, ensuring security, and strongly backing Pan-Africanism and economic integration. Museveni has been a champion of the East African Community (EAC), emphasizing industrialization, infrastructure development, and reduced dependence on foreign aid, all aimed at creating a unified African market. The decisive victory of President Museveni in the 2026 general election reflects the people's desire for "Securing Your Future," a mandate grounded in the visible results of his tenure. Voters chose to consolidate gains in peace, the developing oil sector, and the expansion of the East African Community (EAC), where he now serves as Chair. This victory is a vote for steady hands as we enter the era of the National Development Plan IV, a strategy to grow the economy to $500 billion by 2040. For the ordinary Ugandan, this means shifting from "working for the stomach" to "working for the pocket" through agro-industrialization, tourism, and mineral development. The NPDIV focuses on four pillars: shifting from exporting raw materials to building local factories; investing in people's skills and health; developing engines of growth such as the Standard Gauge Railway and affordable internet; and ensuring good governance to fight corruption. This transformation will not occur in boardrooms but in the gardens and workshops of ordinary citizens who use the Parish Development Model to expand their enterprises. The past 40 years have been about recovery and laying foundations; the next five years under this new mandate are about speed and prosperity, using the roads and power dams already built to grow household wealth for all. As President Museveni takes office for his new term, the consensus is clear: the foundation is solid, the vision is set, and the journey toward a first-world Uganda is well underway. The writer works with Uganda Media Centre

2026-05-13

PRESIDENT MUSEVENI, EGYPT’S EL-SISI AGREE ON STRONGER TIES IN TRADE, INDUSTRIALISATION AND NILE COOPERATION

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni today held bilateral talks with the President of Egypt, H.E Abdel Fattah El-Sisi at State House, Entebbe. The two leaders agreed to deepen cooperation in trade, industrialisation, renewable energy, fish farming and sustainable management of the River Nile. President El-Sisi, on an official visit, was accompanied by Egypt’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates, Dr. Badr Abdelatty, and the Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, Prof. Hani Sewilam. The discussions also focused on strengthening the longstanding relations between Uganda and Egypt, regional peace and security, economic transformation and water resource management. President Museveni welcomed President El-Sisi to Uganda and called for practical cooperation aimed at addressing poverty and accelerating socio-economic transformation. The President highlighted environmental degradation, particularly the encroachment on wetlands, as one of the challenges affecting the Nile Basin, saying many people invade wetlands in search of land for agriculture due to population pressure and limited economic opportunities. He proposed large-scale fish farming projects as part of the solution, saying aquaculture would create jobs, protect wetlands and increase export earnings. “The biggest help I want from you is fish farming. Fish is in high demand globally and this project can help our people move out of subsistence agriculture while also protecting the wetlands,” President Museveni said. The President further noted that one of the major characteristics of underdevelopment in Africa is the overdependence on agriculture, with a large percentage of the population engaged in low-productivity farming. He said Uganda’s strategy is to transition more people into manufacturing and services to reduce pressure on land and increase household incomes. President Museveni also emphasised the importance of electricity and renewable energy in driving industrialisation and economic growth. On regional and international affairs, President Museveni expressed concern over the prolonged instability in Libya, the conflict in Palestine and tensions involving Iran, saying Africa should continue advocating for dialogue and peaceful solutions to conflicts. The President reflected on the role played by African liberation movements under leaders such as Gamal Abdel Nasser, Kwame Nkrumah and Julius Nyerere in supporting independence struggles across the continent through the Organisation of African Unity Liberation Committee. “We cannot remain silent when people continue to suffer through endless wars and instability,” President Museveni said. President El-Sisi congratulated President Museveni upon his recent election victory and commended him for what he described as balanced and visionary leadership. “The world today is often driven by interests rather than justice and values, but Your Excellency continues to demonstrate wisdom and balance in leadership,” President El-Sisi said. The Egyptian leader reaffirmed Egypt’s commitment to supporting Uganda’s development agenda, particularly in fish farming, renewable energy, industrialisation and value addition. He said Egypt would work with Uganda to establish modern fish farming projects and mobilise Egyptian investors to invest in Uganda’s aquaculture sector. President El-Sisi also pledged support in renewable energy development, saying Egyptian expertise and private investors would be encouraged to invest in Uganda’s energy sector. On industrialisation, the Egyptian President urged African countries to focus on value addition instead of exporting raw materials. He cited sectors such as iron ore, copper, leather, meat processing and fruit processing as areas with enormous potential for industrial growth and export earnings. “The global market is thirsty for these products. Africa must process its raw materials and agricultural products to create jobs and generate more income,” President El-Sisi said. He further called for stronger private sector partnerships between Uganda and Egypt and announced plans to establish a Joint Business Council to facilitate trade and investment between the two countries. President El-Sisi also invited President Museveni to attend the African Business Forum scheduled to take place in Egypt in June 2026. Additionally, the two leaders discussed peace and security in Sudan, South Sudan, Somalia, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and the Horn of Africa, reaffirming support for dialogue, African-led peace processes and respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity. On the Nile Basin, President El-Sisi noted that Egypt faces severe water scarcity, with per capita water availability having dropped below 500 cubic metres annually. He said Egypt remains committed to dialogue and cooperation with Nile Basin countries and stressed the need for sustainable and equitable utilisation of shared water resources. In a joint communiqué issued after the meeting, the two leaders directed their respective institutions to operationalise the outcomes of President Museveni’s August 2025 visit to Egypt and strengthen cooperation in agro-processing, pharmaceuticals, renewable energy, water management and infrastructure development. The communiqué further stated that Egypt reaffirmed readiness to finance and mobilise funding for water-related infrastructure projects in Uganda through the Nile Development Fund. The two leaders also agreed to strengthen cooperation under regional and continental frameworks including the African Union, the African Continental Free Trade Area and COMESA, in line with Agenda 2063 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. In attendance were also the delegation of the cabinet ministers from both countries.

2026-05-13

PRESIDENT MUSEVENI, GABON’S NGUEMA HOLD TALKS ON ECONOMIC TRANSFORMATION AND REGIONAL COOPERATION

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has today hosted the President of Gabon, H.E. Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema at State House, Entebbe. The high-level meeting focused on economic transformation, industrialisation, agriculture and regional cooperation. During the meeting, President Nguema congratulated President Museveni upon his inauguration, describing the occasion as historic. “I could not see anyone else winning other than you because you are a freedom fighter and a father for Africa,” President Nguema said. He added that although African summits are common, witnessing President Museveni’s swearing-in ceremony was “a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.” President Nguema commended Uganda for supporting the training of Gabonese officer cadets. “You trained some of my officer cadets here and I am willing to send more to be trained in Uganda,” he said. The two leaders also discussed oil refinery development and value addition on the African continent. President Museveni said Africa must stop exporting raw materials and instead focus on processing them locally to create jobs and wealth. “The amount of oil is bigger than what the refinery can currently process, and we are now working with investors to build a bigger refinery,” President Museveni said. “We want to process our raw materials ourselves, and this message is now spreading all over Africa,” he added. On agriculture, President Nguema disclosed that Gabon had taken deliberate steps to boost local production and reduce imports. “We have decided to ban the importation of chicken and are now giving incentives so that we can start producing chicken ourselves. If you have farmers who can come to Gabon and help us in this business, we are ready to welcome them,” President Nguema said. In response, President Museveni assured his counterpart that Uganda was ready to cooperate with Gabon in agricultural development and value addition. He noted that Uganda had made progress in promoting processed agricultural products such as coffee, tea, honey, milk and yoghurt. President Museveni also shared Uganda’s economic transformation strategy, which he said is anchored on four key sectors including commercial agriculture, ICT, manufacturing/ artisanship and services. He further emphasised the importance of supporting the private sector, citing Uganda’s decision to welcome back Asian business communities that had been expelled during Idi Amin’s regime. “When Idi Amin expelled the Indians, there were about 4,000 small shops and factories in the whole of Uganda. I said, why chase them away? Let them come back because Uganda must respect the private sector,” President Museveni said. President Museveni also encouraged President Nguema to remain steadfast in his reforms and economic programmes. “What you are doing, don’t worry. We started this struggle in the 1960s. There were only a few of us who were firm against colonial domination, but persistence is important,” President Museveni said. He further commended the Gabonese leader for championing economic transformation in his country. “I am glad for what you are doing in Gabon because African leaders made a lot of mistakes in the past, but I am happy that we are now able to correct some of them,” President Museveni said. On his part, President Nguema pledged to continue following President Museveni’s ideas on African self-reliance and economic empowerment. “We are not afraid. We follow your ideas and we shall be strong,” President Nguema said.

2026-05-13