Governance

Assessing Government’s Response to Seasonal Flooding in Uganda.
On the Morning of Sunday, July 31 2022, Uganda woke to the news of floods and landslides in parts of Eastern Uganda, specifically the districts around Mt. Elgon region including Mbale, Kapchorwa, Bulambuli, Namisindwa, Sironko, Manafwa and the surrounding areas. According to Independent Magazine of 3rd August 2022, the death toll resulting from flooding in the Elgon sub-region had risen to 29.  The disaster followed heavy rains that pounded the Bugisu and Sebei regions on July 30, 2022, forcing several …
Governance

IS ELECTRICITY POWERED TRANSPORT VIABLE IN UGANDA?
Amidst the galloping fuel prices, His Excellency President Museveni took to national TV on Wednesday, 27th 2022  to push for electric cars and railways as a long term solution to crude oil supply shocks. “This is the answer. The correct way is to start moving away from petrol to electric cars and we have already started,”  President Museveni said, rejecting fuel subsidies that are suggested in some quarters to lower costs. Currently Diesel in Kampala is going for over Ush6,500 …
Governance

ASSESSING THE GOVERNMENT RESPONSE TO FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE OUTBREAK.
pin up Over the January 2020 to August 2021 period, 100 districts reported at least one case of foot and mouth disease,according to a September, 14, 2021 statement to Parliament by Hon. Bright Rwamirama, the Agriculture State Minister. In areas where people graze communally, it is a challenge to control Foot and Mouth Disease. In response the government has undertaken a vaccination intervention as well as enforcing quarantines in affected districts. The vaccine drive has been hampered by inadequate funding …
Enviroment

The Impact of Climate Change on Food Security.
Since 1980 temperatures have increased by up to 1.5°C across much of Uganda and over the next 50 years average temperatures are expected to rise by a further 2°C. Changes in rainfall patterns and amounts are also expected but these are less certain than changes in temperature. Generally, rainfall is expected to become more unpredictable, unreliable and intense. Climate change will also cause an increase in the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events in Uganda, such as droughts and …
Governance

ENFORCED DISAPPEARANCES IN PRESENT TIMES: Uganda human rights commission report 2021.
In accordance with Article 52 (2) of the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda, the Uganda Human Rights Commission is mandated to publish periodic reports on its findings and submit annual reports to Parliament on the state of human rights and freedoms in the country. Therefore, in fulfilment of this mandate, the Uganda Human Rights Commission presented its 24th Annual Report to Parliament. This report comprises 12 chapters dedicated to the general thematic issues and areas that the Uganda Human …
Governance

LANDLORD AND TENANT ACT 2O22: Is It A Lasting Solution.
The Landlord and Tenant Bill 2021 was read for the first time on Wednesday 29th September 2O21 and referred to the Parliamentary Committee on Physical Infrastructure for consideration. It is against this background that the government introduced the Landlord Tenant Bill, 2O21 with the following objectives: a)  to regulate the relationship between the landlord and tenant; b)  to reform and consolidate the law relating to the letting of premises; c)  to provide for the responsibilities of landlords and tenants in …
Governance

High Unemployment rates among youth graduates in Uganda: What needs to be done?
Youth unemployment remains a serious policy challenge in many sub-Saharan African countries, including Uganda. The third National Development Plan estimates that the  unemployment rate is 13.3% as insufficient creation of quality and gainful jobs remains a significant development challenge.   Given the rapid growth of the Ugandan population—three-quarters of the population are below the age of 30 years which represents at least 31 million people, the government recognises this as a development resource of cheap labour.Yet the youth bulge presents …
Governance

14 MILLION UGANDANS HAVE MENTAL DISORDERS? What needs to be done?
The New Vision on 13th May 2022 carried a cover story that 14 million Ugandans had mental disorders. This revelation took the nation by surprise, with questions around how the figure was arrived at, even when there is evidence to suggest a looming mental health crisis in Uganda, if the country does not provide an appropriate early response. Cecilia Okoth who wrote story, said the 14 million figure came about after converting 35 percent against Uganda’s total 42 million people; …
Governance

500k for a National ID: Implications on an ordinary Ugandan
On April 14th 2022, the National Registration and Identification Authority (NIRA) made a proposal before Parliament to increase fees for correction of errors on the National Identification cards from 50,000 to half a million shillings. In a media statement by NIRA, this proposal should tighten controls and deter requests from the public for correction of errors, given the high turnout of people seeking correction to their National IDs. The applicants are estimated by NIRA to be over 200 people per …
Governance

Road carnage; what needs to be done to save lives on Ugandan roads?
Road carnage again recently grabbed media attention in Uganda, after separate crashes in Fort Portal and on Mbale-Tirinyi road left 28 people dead on the same day, on Wednesday 4th May 2022. Wizarts Foundation on Thursday 12th May 2022, assembled a panel that brought together government, bus drivers, civil society, media and the public to discuss steps being that should be taken to reduce accidents and improve first response to casualties of road accidents in Uganda. Reports in the media …
Governance

Does Uganda need a minimum wage to cope with rising cost of living today?
There is a steady but consistent rise in the cost of living in Uganda, fueled by the recent rise in prices that is making it unbearable for majority workers to have decent lives. On Thursday 19th May 2022, Wizarts Foundation hosted a Twitter space to discuss the strategic direction of the Government of Uganda, in protecting and promoting the rights and welfare of vulnerable workers. This discussion was intended to bring together government duty bearers, academic and former finance Minister …
Governance

Journalism Practice & Declining Media Freedoms in Uganda
Media freedom in Uganda continues to decline, in comparison to the neighboring countries within the East African region and its previous rankings. Uganda is now ranked 132 out of 180 countries globally according the 2022 Global Press Index by Journalism watchdog – Reporters Without Borders. Uganda’s current position represents a drastic decline from 125 in 180 countries in 2019, with concerns for the right to freedom of expression in the country. Within the region, only Rwanda is ranked lower than …