AGP Executive Report

AFCON: CAF has restored the tournament’s two-year cycle, reversing its four-year plan. Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania will co-host in 2027, with another edition due in 2028. Financial Integrity: Finance Minister Henry Musasizi says the FIA’s new ISO cybersecurity certification will help protect financial intelligence and bolster Uganda’s standing ahead of a 2028 international review. Ugandans in Russia: Vice-President Jessica Alupo is expected to raise the fate of Ugandans recruited into the Russian army; Parliament says 14 are confirmed dead and 16 missing and presumed dead. Economy: Uganda’s EAC trade deficit widened to $809 million in August as imports surged, adding pressure on the shilling. Trade and Tourism: Uganda Airlines has begun flights to Accra via Lagos, opening a new link between East and West African markets. Ebola: The outbreak in Congo has passed 10,000 confirmed cases. Uganda has ordered a 21-day quarantine for citizens returning from the DRC.

Cost of Living: Bread makers will raise wholesale prices from November 2, pushing a 1kg loaf from Shs5,000 to Shs5,500 as wheat and fuel costs climb. Succession Politics: Museveni reportedly proposed his son, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, as successor at an NRM meeting, intensifying debate over the country’s political future. Public Accountability: MPs are investigating how five firms with Shs8 billion in unpaid registration fees had transactions processed by URSB; the committee has summoned some companies and sought answers from the Finance Minister. Learner Safety: The Education Ministry says boarding schools operating without authorisation or failing safety standards face sanctions. Recruitment Abroad: A new investigation identifies 108 Ugandans recruited into Russia’s armed forces, amid reports that 27 Ugandans are presumed dead. Ebola Response: Uganda is stepping up preparedness as the outbreak spreads across the region and health officials warn of wider transmission. Trade and Tourism: Uganda Airlines has launched direct Entebbe–Accra flights, aiming to strengthen business and visitor links with Ghana.

Power Dispute: The Court of Appeal ordered Umeme to pay plastics maker Edroch Shs100 million after finding it unlawfully cut power and failed to restore the factory’s three-phase supply for about 13 months. Judicial Independence: The Uganda Law Society wants Judicial Service Commission chair Douglas Singiza to resign over an alleged endorsement of Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba’s political ambitions; Singiza has not publicly confirmed or denied the claim. Energy Investment: Uganda and the African Development Bank have launched a plan to mobilise $17.7 billion, targeting 85% electricity access and 50% clean-cooking access by 2030. Cost of Living: DStv is cutting its top Uganda package price by 42%, from Shs320,000 to Shs185,000, from November 5. Innovation: MTN Uganda and WWF named three winners of their youth innovation challenge, rewarding ventures developing business solutions to environmental problems. Ebola Preparedness: The regional outbreak has passed 10,000 cases, with Uganda among the affected countries; health officials are urging stronger preparedness as the virus spreads across borders.

Tea Sector: Parliament has cleared the way for a bill requiring value addition to tea exports and creating a domestic auction system, aimed at protecting farmers and reducing reliance on Mombasa. Coffee Trade: Uganda’s embassy in Addis Ababa is backing a new African Union coffee office and a continental strategy to capture more value from the crop. Ebola Controls: Uganda is imposing 21-day quarantine on people arriving from the DRC as the regional outbreak spreads; the country had previously declared itself Ebola-free after 42 days without a case. Digital Finance: Centenary Bank, Airtel Money and gnuGrid have launched phone-based loans of up to Sh500,000, available without a bank account or internet access. Youth Innovation: MTN Uganda named 15 finalists for its PachiPanda challenge, with the top three set to represent the country at the African finals. Business and Travel: Uganda Airlines has begun direct Entebbe–Accra flights, while the shilling’s depreciation is adding pressure to household budgets through higher import and fuel costs.

Ebola Preparedness: Uganda is imposing 21-day quarantine on people arriving from the DRC as the regional outbreak surpasses 10,000 confirmed cases; the country has no active cases. Aviation and Trade: Uganda Airlines has launched four weekly Entebbe–Accra flights, opening a new link for business and tourism between East and West Africa. Mining Policy: Government extended its suspension of new mineral licences by three months as it prepares rules tying permits to local processing, industrialisation and transparency. Public Accountability: Parliament’s COSASE committee will question Finance Minister Henry Musasizi over Shs8 billion in unpaid company-registration fees, while a Kampala court ordered Bishop Hamlet Kabushenga to refund Shs405 million in donor funds. Local Government: Forty-two Kanungu district officials have been interdicted over alleged corruption and abuse of office.

Ebola Response: Uganda has imposed a 21-day quarantine on people returning from the Democratic Republic of Congo as its outbreak passes 10,000 cases. Authorities are stepping up screening and say Uganda has no active cases. Shilling Pressure: Finance Minister Henry Musasizi says the government is monitoring the shilling’s slide to around Shs4,500 per dollar. Measures include spending controls and using gold to support reserves; he urged the public not to panic-buy dollars. Regional Links: Uganda Airlines has begun four-times-weekly services linking Entebbe, Lagos and Accra, aiming to strengthen trade and travel between East and West Africa. A separate $267 million Uganda–South Sudan power link is expected to extend electricity supplies to Juba and other towns. Human Rights: Cabinet has approved Uganda’s report to the UN Human Rights Council, covering progress and challenges in areas including justice, health, education and women’s and children’s rights.

Ebola Controls: Uganda has tightened its response to the regional outbreak, restricting non-essential travel to DR Congo and requiring returning citizens to quarantine for 21 days as cases emerge beyond Congo. Currency Pressure: The shilling has weakened to around Shs4,440 per dollar, prompting the Bank of Uganda to raise its key rate to 12% as import costs and inflation risks mount. Food Security: Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja and the UN launched a $61 million appeal, urging wider support for climate-hit areas beyond Karamoja, including Mount Elgon and the Rwenzori region. Trade and Investment: Ugandan and Kenyan business groups signed three agreements covering tourism, trade and investment; President Museveni also urged Iranian investors to build agro-processing factories in Uganda rather than acquire farmland. Parliamentary Diplomacy: MP Joel Ssenyonyi told the BRICS Parliamentary Forum that laws, budgets and policies should put people’s interests first.

Ebola Watch: Uganda has imposed a 21-day quarantine on people returning from the DRC and tightened transit controls as cases spread regionally. A Ugandan-born woman treated for Ebola in Nigeria has been evacuated to Switzerland; how she contracted the virus remains unclear, and Uganda has reported no cases since August. Public Accountability: The Inspectorate of Government is probing FUFA’s use of public funds and broadcasting rights, including its StarTimes arrangements. Separately, Makerere has been ordered to pay Shs1.7 billion in application fees owed to other public universities. Economic Pressure: The shilling has weakened to about Shs4,440 per dollar, prompting concern over reserves and a planned Shs1.4 trillion government bond auction. Landslide Relief: Government says Shs43 billion is available to relocate households at risk in Mount Elgon, with eligible families set to receive Shs18 million each as officials verify beneficiaries. Export Drive: Ugandan processor Ranchers Finest has sent its first processed beef shipment to Ethiopia, while tourism officials have pitched the country to Australian travel businesses.

Ebola Measures: Uganda has ordered citizens returning from DR Congo to quarantine for 21 days at their own expense and tightened screening at Entebbe and land borders. Nigeria’s confirmed case involves a woman who travelled from Uganda, but Kampala says the source of infection remains uncertain; Uganda reports no active cases. Food Security: A new government analysis warns that 3.6 million Ugandans face crisis-level food insecurity, potentially rising to 4.4 million by June 2027. Karamoja is among the worst affected, with 42% of its population in crisis or worse. Economic Pressure: The shilling has fallen to its weakest level in 33 years, prompting the government to halve non-essential spending across ministries and agencies. Infrastructure: Uganda is seeking financing for its €2.7 billion Kampala–Malaba railway, with financial close pushed towards next year despite preparatory work underway. Accountability: The Inspectorate of Government has renewed orders to interdict four URSB officials over alleged corruption; the allegations remain unproven. Diplomacy: Vice-President Jessica Alupo has arrived in Moscow to represent Uganda at the Russia–Africa summit.

Ebola Controls: Uganda is requiring citizens returning from the DRC to quarantine for 21 days at their own expense, while tightening airport and land-border screening. The country says it has no active cases, but is investigating the infection of a woman who travelled through Uganda to Nigeria; Health Minister Chris Baryomunsi disputed claims she caught the virus in Uganda. Economic Pressure: The shilling has weakened to about Shs4,500 per US dollar, its lowest level in 33 years, as inflation risks mount. Education: Construction of Bunyoro’s first public university is set to begin, with Shs10 billion allocated for the initial phase. A new assessment also flags overcrowded classrooms, staff shortages and poor teacher support in West Nile and Karamoja.

Power Supply: Uganda’s electricity regulator says UEDCL has the resources it needs but is failing on execution, as consumers continue to face blackouts, slow repairs and poor service. Ebola Watch: Switzerland confirmed that Nigeria’s Ebola patient is the Ugandan-born wife of a Swiss diplomat. The couple travelled to Uganda, but the source of infection is unknown; Uganda says it has had no active cases since August. Cost of Living: Annual inflation rose to 4.6% in September from 4.1% in August, as food, transport and energy costs climbed. The Bank of Uganda raised its key rate to 12% to curb inflationary pressure. Business and Courts: The Court of Appeal ordered Mukesh Shukla and Shumuk Aluminium to deposit Sh4.8 billion and US$36,870 as security in their debt dispute with Bank of Baroda, while temporarily blocking the sale of two Kampala properties. Agriculture: President Museveni urged Sheema farmers to adopt irrigation, improved pasture and commercial farming to raise productivity and withstand drought. Roads Probe: The IGG cleared Works Ministry permanent secretary Waiswa Bageya over the Busega–Mpigi Expressway cost escalation and ordered the interdiction of engineer Isaac Wani pending further investigation.

Ebola Response: Uganda has restricted transit for travellers with a history of travel to DR Congo and reinstated locator forms as it investigates the Nigerian patient who recently travelled from Uganda. Health officials say she showed no symptoms when she left and insist Uganda has no active cases. Economy: The Bank of Uganda raised its key interest rate amid inflation concerns, as the shilling hit Shs4,500 to the dollar, its weakest level in 33 years. Exporters also warn that high borrowing costs and fragmented supply chains are holding back Uganda’s shea butter trade. Regional Trade: Somalia’s president pledged support for Ugandan businesses as the two countries seek closer trade and investment ties. Accountability: The IGG cleared Works Ministry permanent secretary Waiswa Bageya over the Busega–Mpigi Expressway cost escalation and ordered engineer Isaac Wani interdicted pending investigation. Human Rights: Human Rights Watch urged Uganda to investigate the killing of Rwandan dissident Robert Kabera and examine possible political motives.

Parliament: A bill gazetted this week would let all opposition MPs elect the Leader of the Opposition, replacing the current system in which the largest opposition party chooses the postholder. Industry: Government is moving to secure 600 acres in Wakiso for Dei BioPharma’s expansion, which the company says would add production lines for medicines and vaccines, including cancer and sickle-cell treatments. Digital Economy: MTN Uganda has partnered with Starlink to bring satellite internet to businesses and institutions in remote areas with limited connectivity. Power: Consumers continue to face outages despite UEDCL having resources to run the network; the electricity regulator says implementation, not funding, is the main challenge. Public Health: Uganda says it has no active Ebola cases but has tightened airport screening as infections spread in the region and investigators probe possible links involving travellers from Uganda. Cost of Living: The shilling has touched Shs4,500 to the dollar, its weakest level in 33 years, adding pressure to import costs.

Ebola Watch: Uganda says it has no active cases, but investigators are tracing the movements of a Ugandan-born woman who tested positive in Nigeria after travelling to Uganda. Switzerland says she did not visit DR Congo, and officials are checking whether she crossed paths with Kenya’s Ebola patient at Entebbe airport. Currency Pressure: The shilling briefly hit Shs4,500 per US dollar, its weakest level in 33 years, as demand for dollars and investor exits intensify pressure. Digital Government: Uganda has launched a five-year data strategy, aiming to raise coverage of national development indicators from 36% to 80% and lay groundwork for an AI plan. Energy and Climate Finance: A €30 million Bank of Uganda–EIB partnership will support green investment, while a Shs1.6 trillion Karuma–Tororo power line is planned to improve electricity supply and support industry. Mining Oversight: The IGG has ordered the interdiction of two National Mining Company officials as it investigates alleged maladministration, financial mismanagement and abuse of office.

Migrant Workers: Uganda and Somalia signed a labour deal requiring written contracts, bank-paid wages and employer-funded insurance and travel for more than 20,000 Ugandans working in Somalia. Women’s Business: The government plans Shs80 billion in non-repayable GROW grants for women-owned businesses, with awards ranging from Shs3.5 million to Shs107 million. Public Oversight: Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa urged parliamentary committees to visit communities and check how government programmes are working on the ground. Ebola Preparedness: Uganda has stepped up screening at Entebbe after Ebola patients transited through the country; officials say there are no active cases in Uganda. Economy: The shilling weakened to Shs4,300 against the dollar, prompting Bank of Uganda to intervene, while government plans to cut spending by nearly Shs3 trillion amid rising inflation. Agricultural export earnings, meanwhile, reached $4.6 billion in 2025, but Uganda still imports much of its vegetable oil.

Ebola Alert: Uganda has stepped up screening at Entebbe after Nigeria confirmed its first Ebola case in more than a decade in a woman reported to have travelled through Uganda. Uganda says she travelled to eastern DR Congo and only transited through the country; investigators are still tracing her movements. The Health Ministry says Uganda has no active cases. Jobs: Uganda and Somalia have agreed on protections for Ugandan workers, including written contracts, wages paid into workers’ own bank accounts, employer-funded insurance and travel, and a round trip home every two years. Digital Economy: MTN Uganda has launched Starlink for Business to bring internet to remote firms, schools and institutions. Local Industry: A further 617 small businesses have graduated from an oil-sector programme designed to help Ugandan suppliers win work in the petroleum industry. Agriculture: Experts are urging farmers to adopt smart irrigation as unpredictable rainfall and dry spells threaten production.