AGP Executive Report

Transport & Infrastructure: The Kampala–Entebbe Expressway has collected over Shs192b in toll revenue in four years, with traffic averaging about 27,000 vehicle passages a day, though officials say collections still sit below loan projections. Public Safety: Police impounded 178 commuter taxis and other PSVs on day one of a crackdown on dangerous mechanical conditions in Kampala, triggering short-term transport disruption in the CBD. Parliament & Accountability: COSASE has summoned Uganda Airlines’ top managers after they failed to appear over Auditor General queries, with summons to be served by police. Identity & Services: MPs raised alarms over QR code verification failures on Uganda’s new national IDs, saying citizens are being blocked from banking and SIM services. Housing & Tax: Lands, Housing and Urban Development Minister Judith Nabakooba linked affordable housing to higher tax compliance and pushed for mortgage refinancing to ease high mortgage rates. Extractives & Transparency: Uganda’s EITI report is set to highlight gaps in extractive sector revenue reporting ahead of the 23 September release. Business & Finance: MTN Group approved a $375m share buyback after profit growth, while MTN fintech continues expanding across Africa. Mining: A new gold processing unit in Yumbe targets 20kg of gold per week. Politics & Courts: In Besigye’s treason trial, state witness Andrew Wilson defended unclear video and audio evidence, promising better-quality clips.

Gaza Peacekeeping Talks: Uganda and Burundi officials met in Israel to discuss contributing troops to a U.S.-backed Gaza international security force; Uganda is finalising details after parliament approved about 1,200 personnel, while Burundi is still considering its role. Security & Diplomacy: Egypt’s foreign minister held talks with a U.S. advisor on de-escalation in Sudan, Libya and the Horn of Africa, stressing humanitarian access and respect for sovereignty. EAC Jobs & Payments: The EAC lifted its recruitment freeze and approved 69 priority posts, while also starting work on a masterplan to speed up cross-border payments. Oil & Regional Tensions: East Africa’s refinery plans remain a flashpoint, with Uganda and Tanzania pushing a regional energy hub in Tanga amid shifting refinery locations. Finance & Telecom: UBA inducted 374 young professionals across eight countries, and MTN reported strong H1 growth plus a cloud upgrade for MoMo in Uganda and other markets. Oil, Crime Risks: Uganda’s FIA warned Bunyoro’s oil-driven boom could fuel illicit finance through land deals, cross-border trade and local corruption. Health: DRC Ebola response is being hampered by attacks on healthcare workers and ambulances, as the outbreak continues to surge. Connectivity: Paratus Uganda became the first ISP to launch Starlink service, targeting enterprise connectivity in remote areas. Sports: CAF confirmed 48 nations for the U-23 qualifiers, with Uganda among the teams set for the draw.

Gaza Security Talks: Uganda and Burundi military officials met Israel to discuss contributing troops to a proposed international Gaza force tied to a fragile ceasefire. Transport Crackdown: Uganda Taxi Operators Federation warns commuter taxis in dangerous mechanical condition to park ahead of a police and Works ministry operation starting today in Greater Kampala. Education Reform: NCDC says the new Competency-Based Curriculum could limit lower primary children to a maximum of three hours of structured learning a day, with lighter schedules for younger kids. Energy Accountability: Parliament issued an ultimatum for investigators to wrap up a probe into three senior energy officials accused of fuel stock manipulation and inflated emergency procurement. Climate & Farming Push: Government finalises NDC 3.0 and targets 1.5 million hectares under irrigation by 2040 to protect farmers from worsening rainfall shocks. Health & Maternal Care: MTN Uganda ends its Y’ello Care campaign with support for maternal and newborn services in remote Amudat, including equipment, solar, and training for Village Health Teams. Business & Skills: UBA inducted 374 young professionals across Africa into its Graduate Management Accelerator Programme, highlighting service as its key differentiator. Opposition Court Concerns: A medical report says detained Besigye’s inability to speak or write may limit his ability to meaningfully participate in his defence.

Kapchorwa By-Election Calm Call: Sebei religious leaders and elders urged peace ahead of the Kapchorwa by-election, warning residents against partisan rhetoric that could fracture community unity across Kapchorwa, Kween and Bukwo. Climate & Farming Push: Government is finalising NDC 3.0 to cut emissions and strengthen farmer resilience, while also targeting 1.5 million hectares under irrigation by 2040 using more small irrigation systems. Women Lead Climate Scholarships: Africa Climate Collaborative cohort two saw 68% of selected Master’s and PhD scholars being female, with support spanning Makerere and other partner universities. Industrial Land Move: Energy minister directed UIA to secure land for Roofings to process iron ore into high-grade steel ahead of President Museveni’s visit. Education & Child Time: NCDC says lower primary learners may spend up to three hours a day in structured learning under the CBC rollout planned for 2028. Karamoja Girls Dropout Fix: Absa and World Vision backed WASH and changing facilities at Kanu Primary School after sanitation and menstrual hygiene gaps drove girls out of school. Ebola Research Boost: Glasgow scientists are set to study whether antibodies from existing Ebola vaccines can also protect against Bundibugyo virus as the DRC outbreak intensifies. Governance & Money Woes: Auditor General reports flagged huge unpaid obligations in Works and Transport, plus a deepening MSC/LEGS microfinance crisis marked by questionable loan disbursements and rising defaults. Uganda Airlines Ownership Row: URN revisits debate after Auditor General findings, saying Uganda Airlines is 100% government-owned with shares split between two ministries. Film Festival Returns: Uganda Film Festival screenings resume nationwide with public voting for the Viewers’ Choice award.

Parliament Accountability: MPs have raised alarm over Uganda’s new national IDs after QR-code verification failures blocked some citizens from banks and telecom services, with NIRA admitting the feature was not integrated as promised. Public Finance Discipline: Government has introduced a Budget Discipline and Accountability Charter with automatic administrative sanctions for accounting officers who breach rules on commitments, supplementary spending and arrears. Local Government Scrutiny: The LEGS rural growth programme faces fresh accountability questions, including contested land issues, unaccounted funds and loan irregularities under the Ministry of Local Government. Human Rights Oversight: COSASE ordered police protection for former UHRC accounting officer Margaret Lucy Ejang as she prepares to testify, citing safety fears and past “humiliation” while serving. Health & Services: Masaka Regional Referral Hospital says it records about 160 preterm births monthly, while Luuka’s Kiyunga Health Centre IV struggles with bed, power and diagnostic shortages. Economy & Business: Equity Group reports a 32% jump in half-year profit to KSh45.5bn, driven by stronger income and deposits. Regional & Trade: Uganda and Egypt explore joint tourism programmes to boost visitor flows. Sports: Makerere Business Institute urged graduates to focus on skills and enterprise as it marked its graduation ceremony.

Banking Results: Equity Group says Profit After Tax rose 32% to KSh45.5bn in H1 2026, with total income up 25% to KSh124.9bn as non-funded income climbed 36% and deposits and loans expanded. Local Government Accountability: The LEGS rural growth programme faces land disputes, unaccounted-for funds and alleged loan irregularities under the Ministry of Local Government, raising fresh accountability questions. Skills Body Audit Shock: UVTAB is under fire for liabilities and procurement/asset management problems, including undisclosed payables of about UGX19.49bn and domestic arrears of UGX2.13bn linked to the former DIT merger. Public Finance Discipline: Government has introduced a Budget Discipline and Accountability Charter, with automatic administrative sanctions for budget breaches, including “No Budget, No Commitment” rules. Health & Services: Masaka Regional Referral Hospital reports at least 160 preterm births monthly, while Luuka’s Kiyunga Health Centre IV is strained by bed, power and diagnostic shortages. Education & Jobs: Parliament Speaker Oboth-Oboth tells MBI graduands to create jobs using skills and integrity, not just certificates. Ebola Response: A regional intervention targets Ebola spread along DRC trade and migration corridors, while aid workers warn quarantines are hampering response efforts. Tourism & Trade: Uganda and Egypt explore joint tourism programmes to boost visitor flows, as Uganda pushes to grow IT/ITES exports and deepen regional integration.

ID Cards & Services: MPs say the new national IDs’ QR codes are failing verification, blocking access to banking, SIM registration and other e-services, with NIRA urged to explain the glitch. Ebola in DRC: The outbreak in eastern Congo has surged past 2,500 deaths and 5,290 cases, with WHO warning it’s far from under control as cross-border risks grow. Regional Health Security: ECSA-HC has launched a six-month Ebola preparedness push at 33 DRC border entry points, including Uganda, using digital surveillance and faster lab transport. Maternal Health Funding: Stanbic commits Shs200m annually for 10 years to maternal and child health, linking survival to Uganda’s future workforce. Finance Performance: Equity Group reports a 32% jump in Profit After Tax to KSh45.5b for H1 2026, driven by stronger income and lending growth. Energy & Industry: MMP Industrial Park expansion in Buikwe is slowed by unreliable power, delays in tax exemptions and poor access roads. Transport & Safety: Govt makes life jackets mandatory on water and warns of prosecution for non-compliance during the monsoon season. Aviation: Jambojet will resume daily Nairobi–Entebbe flights from October 1, adding competition on the corridor. Business/Trade: Dangote offers East African countries a combined 30% stake in a planned Kenya refinery, with Kenya eyeing 10%.

MoMo Upgrade: Ericsson and MTN Group Fintech complete Mobile Money Evolved Migration across key markets including Uganda, aiming for faster service and a stronger base for wider digital finance. UN Leadership Race: The UN Security Council holds another straw poll for secretary-general contenders, with Uganda’s Olara Otunnu among the names. Education Accountability: An Anglican priest in Wakiso/Nansana condemns the arrest and public humiliation of head teachers over school lunch fee disputes, warning it could erode respect for education leadership. Disability Support: UNAB appeals for help for over 90% of visually impaired Ugandans who cannot afford white canes. Industrial Park Bottlenecks: MMP Industrial Park expansion in Buikwe is slowed by unreliable electricity, delays in tax exemptions, and poor access roads. Cross-Border Tension: South Sudan releases Ugandan drivers and trucks seized in Bor, after diplomatic pressure, while SSPDF denies soldiers were behind the seizure. Public Services Glitch: MPs raise alarm over new national ID cards failing QR verification, blocking access to banking and SIM registration. Health Crisis: UN warns DR Congo Ebola is spreading “exponentially,” with 2,500 deaths and a liquidity crisis hampering response. Business & Jobs: NCBA flags off a year-long SME enterprise development programme to boost business skills and growth.

Aviation & Trade: Jambojet will resume daily Nairobi–Entebbe flights from October 1, ending a six-year absence and boosting travel, tourism and cargo links between Uganda and Kenya. Public Finance Discipline: Finance Minister Henry Musasizi urged planners, accountants and procurement officers to shift from spending-focused budgeting to results that Ugandans can feel. Anti-Corruption Crackdown: Uganda’s Auditor General says an ongoing purge has already sent four auditors home and is investigating at least 23 more over alleged corruption deals. Transport Digital Push: Union Transport Alliance launched Union Online Duuka, a Rukapay-powered marketplace offering shopping and flexible financing for Uganda’s transport ecosystem. Health & Research: A study reports daily zinc supplements cut infections by nearly 40% in Ugandan children under five with sickle cell anemia. Ebola Watch (Regional): Gavi pledged $13m more to support DRC’s Bundibugyo Ebola response, including shipment of 70,000 Ervebo doses. UN Leadership Race: Ugandan diplomat Olara Otunnu and Ecuador’s Ivonne A-Baki presented their visions as the UN secretary-general selection process moves forward.

Health & Vaccines: Gavi has approved extra funding for the Bundibugyo virus (BVD) outbreak, including US$7m for 70,000 Ervebo vaccine doses via the global stockpile and US$6m to protect routine immunisation in high-risk areas. Public Safety: Uganda launched a 100-day crackdown on unroadworthy taxis in Greater Kampala, with authorities warning that dangerous vehicles will be impounded. Crime & Families: In Kalungu Bunga, Ggaba, police are investigating the stabbing of five children—two dead and three critically injured—after a housemaid and neighbours say a bitter marital dispute may have been triggered by the husband’s alleged second marriage. Environment & Water: Mbarara’s River Rwizi restoration push is turning to a marathon-style campaign as authorities say over 60% of the catchment is degraded. HIV Prevention: New study findings presented in Rio report zero HIV infections over a year among female adolescents and women using long-acting lenacapavir PrEP. Politics & UN Bid: Ugandan UN Secretary-General candidate Olara Otunnu renewed calls for UN reform and prioritising conflicts including Ukraine, Gaza, Sudan, the Horn and the Sahel. Economy & Debt: Uganda is seeking up to €207.7m from Citibank to upgrade the Jinja–Mbulamuti–Kamuli–Bukungu road, as debt concerns grow. Innovation & Jobs: Standard Chartered unveiled 20 women-led, tech-enabled startups for the Women in Tech Uganda Accelerator Programme.

Ebola Watch: WHO says DR Congo’s Ebola outbreak is still “far from under control,” citing insecurity, displacement and hidden transmission chains, while Uganda is praised for stopping spillover transmission after an earlier case. Land & Property: Uganda’s Lands Ministry orders people with freehold titles on forest reserves to vacate and directs district land boards to cancel them as government moves to compile and title public land to curb fraud and planning failures. Aviation Corruption Probe: COSASE stalls after UCAA’s Director General fails to attend a corruption hearing, triggering debate over acting appointments and accounting officer responsibility. Business & Jobs: Nytil’s Shs144b Jinja spinning plant is delayed by a land dispute over an access road built on reserved land, threatening jobs and cotton value addition. Health & Policy: A Uganda trial finds daily zinc cuts infections in young children with sickle cell anemia by 38%, with severe bacterial infections reduced by two-thirds. Human Rights: A disability activist condemns Uganda Airlines after passengers with disabilities were forced off a flight despite check-in, raising concerns over accessibility rules. Sports & Youth: ANOCA Zone V Youth Games in Nairobi will host 300+ athletes from 11 countries across multiple disciplines. Global Diplomacy: Ugandan UN candidate Olara Otunnu urges UN reform and moral renewal, invoking St. Francis.

Agribusiness & Jobs: SokoFresh’s CEO Dennis Karema says scaling a cold-chain model to serve 100 million farmers is finally gaining traction after years of slow growth, with expansion into Uganda and Ethiopia and interest from partners across West Africa. Banking & Finance: Equity Group posted Sh43.7bn profit in the half-year to June 2026 but skipped an interim dividend to build capital for acquisitions across new markets. Property & Housing Finance: Housing Finance Bank will take its Real Estate Summit to Mbarara, spotlighting Western Uganda’s growing demand for housing and infrastructure. Corruption & Accountability: Museveni pardoned 152 former CAA staff fired over alleged Entebbe airport corruption, but workers say the pardon hasn’t been formally implemented, blocking access to benefits. Health: WHO warns Ebola in DR Congo is “far from under control” as cases pass 5,000, driven by insecurity and displacement. Digital Economy: UnionPay and Standard Bank expanded e-commerce payments across nine African markets, including Uganda. Sports: Bugweri beat Busiki 1-0 in the MTN Busoga Masaza Cup opener. Regional Politics: Global lawmakers condemned Uganda over reported demands for Chinese passports from Taiwanese travellers, calling it coerced discrimination.

DR Congo Ebola Crisis: WHO says the Bundibugyo outbreak is “far from being under control,” moving at unprecedented speed with deaths now above 2,300 and cases nearing 5,000, driven by insecurity, displacement and heavy movement along roads and mining routes. Uganda Courts & Politics: The High Court began hearing Kizza Besigye’s treason case in his absence, with prison officials citing hospitalisation and the defence disputing details. Taxpayer Money Watch: MPs question a proposed Shs30.4bn tax and arrears relief for Fresh Cuts, New Plan and Kilembe Mines, amid concerns over past accountability and revenue leakages. Business & Jobs: Equity Bank and Tian Tang team up to finance manufacturers in Mbale’s industrial park, while Kabale council approves peat extraction to create jobs. Hospitality Leadership: Aleph Hospitality appoints Rob Kucera as Regional VP for East and Southern Africa. International Pressure: US sanctions hit ICC president Tomoko Akane and senior lawyer Abdoulaye Seye, escalating the court’s power struggle. Culture & Society: Uganda’s first Miss Universe queen, Mitchelle Daka, is hosted by V&A Sherry as she heads to the global stage.

Ebola Alert: WHO boss Tedros says DR Congo’s Ebola outbreak is “far from being under control,” warning it’s spreading faster than ever and could cross more borders as deaths pass 2,300. Anti-Graft Push: IGG orders the interdiction of URSB Registrar General Mercy Kainobwisho and three senior officials over alleged corruption, including embezzlement and money laundering. Power & Jobs: Uganda’s push for electricity access moves ahead as over 270,000 prepaid meters undergo quality testing before deployment under the World Bank-backed plan targeting one million new connections. Water Security: A Shs10bn solar-powered facility in Sembabule aims to ease water-stressed households by improving access to safer water. Health & Food Safety: UKHSA reports a salmonella outbreak linked to imported eggs, with one death and hundreds affected—raising fresh food safety concerns. Local Governance & Services: Parliament’s Finance Committee reviews about Shs30.4bn in tax and arrears relief requests, while government also moves to pay medical interns Shs1m each after court action. Politics & Peace: ODM condemns violence that disrupted Linda Mwananchi’s rally in Homa Bay, as the death toll rises to four. Culture & Poverty: In Ankole, residents blame costly traditional practices like bride price and lavish weddings for keeping families trapped in long-term poverty.

Ebola Alert in DRC: The UN says the DRC outbreak is killing about one person every 30 minutes, with deaths now at 2,325 and cases at 4,945 as the virus spreads faster than response systems. Kiteezi Landfill Rehab: KCCA has received nearly half of the rehabilitated Kiteezi dumpsite after a 2024 collapse that killed 46 people, with Japan funding the first phase. Parliament Integrity Push: Archbishop Stephen Kaziimba Mugalu urged MPs to serve with integrity, accountability and unity as they settle into Parliament. Health Tech for Mothers in Luuka: MTN’s Y’ello Care support is upgrading Kiyunga Health Centre IV with equipment, solar and digital records training, plus community health outreach. TB Prevention for People with HIV: A new real-world study across six countries, including Uganda, finds TB preventive treatment lowers TB disease and deaths, especially when started early in HIV care. Uganda Power Worries: MPs questioned UEDCL’s readiness to run distribution after Umeme, citing low investment and rising losses. Business & Trade: Customs clearing agents want protection from foreign firms and a minimum fee as competition squeezes local earnings. Innovation: Propsy is pushing property search through WhatsApp to cut middlemen and improve trust.

Housing & Costing: Kyambogo University students say decent, sustainable housing can be designed for about Shs13.2m, humiliating the “Shs100m affordable” narrative after State Minister Persis Namuganza challenged sector figures. Power Sector: Parliament’s Natural Resources Committee questions UEDCL’s readiness to take over distribution from Umeme, citing low investment and rising losses. Health: Uganda-linked research finds new genetic mutations in malaria parasites tied to faster drug resistance spread, raising alarm for treatment effectiveness. Regional Diplomacy: A South Sudan analyst says the Nairobi embassy remains locked while Kampala operations continue, urging clarity from foreign affairs. Land & Justice: NSSF moves to court to evict a businessman from Temangalo land it bought in 2008, reopening a long-running dispute. Anti-Corruption: URA arrests a senior manager in a $60,000 (Shs220m) bribe sting tied to suppressing a tax audit. Ebola Watch: DR Congo’s Ebola outbreak is now the deadliest in history, with deaths surpassing 2,300 and Uganda reporting confirmed cases. Economy & Investment: Economists point to Uganda’s stable inflation, reserves and oil prospects as investors look ahead to a September trade mission. Sports & Tourism: Uganda’s Pearl of Africa Golf Series gains Official World Golf Ranking status, expected to boost tourism and business.