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

War reparation, truth telling & dialogue in Teso, Lango and Acholi Sub-regions
Ahead of the imminent launch of the repayment of war claimants in Acholi, Lango and Teso sub-regions by President Museveni on 26th March 2022 in Soroti, attention is being drawn towards conflict victims being at the centre of the nation building process in Uganda. Article 50(1) of the 1995 Constitution of Uganda as amended states that: any person who claims that a fundamental or other right or freedom guaranteed under this Constitution has been infringed or threatened, is entitled to …
Governance

Media practice and the urge to curb Uganda’s growing inflation
On Tuesday 22nd March 2022, Hon. Matia Kasaija, the Minister for finance, planning and economic development issued a media statement on Uganda’s rising inflation, explaining that the current hike in commodity prices are due to forces external to the country, temporary and that government on its own, can do little to deal with the problem. Shocks in prices for essential goods and services in Uganda are currently being experienced for cooking oil, laundry bar soap, fuel, education services and transport …
Governance

Parliament’s failure to censure Jim Muhwezi and the implications on MP independence
In the wake of multiple  accounts of torture, while in State custody, by survivors including the dissident author Kakwenza Rukirabashaija, Opposition Members of Parliament led by the Leader of the Opposition, Hon. Mathias Mpuuga saw it fit to censure the Security Minister, Hon. Jim Muhwezi. Specifically, Hon. Mpuuga cited the Minister’s inaction despite widespread reports of torture, some of which were tabled by Hon. Mpuuga in the Minister’s presence. Ultimately, the motion to censure the Minister failed as it lacked …
Education

Navigating fees dilemma in the wake of schools reopening
The COVID-19 pandemic has battered the Ugandan economy, with lockdown measures instituted by government to mitigate community spread of the virus affecting access to basic social services like health and education. Although government of Uganda moved to reopen all sectors in January 2022 to reverse the downturn caused by the pandemic, the effects of COVID-19 are coming back to affect people’s livelihoods. In the education sector, the National Planning Authority projected that 30% of 15 million leaners in Uganda were …
Governance

What the Public Records say about Capacity of Parliament to check illegal detention in Uganda
The recent account of Kakwenza Rukirabaishaija’s torture ordeal in State custody, has intensified public debate on whether illegal detention and torture in Uganda is institutionalized or rather isolated actions of some errant officers within the security forces. Kakwenza has written, tweeted and narrated his own experience with the security forces in Uganda. The author’s account is one of many testimonies by survivors of torture in Uganda, that casts doubt on the familiar claim that the government does not condone torture. …
Governance

Media Practice & Accountability for Torture in Parliament: Reflections on the 10th Parliament
On February 3 2022, a number of opposition legislators led by the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, Hon. Mathias Mpuuga, walked out of the House. This was in protest of government inaction in response to evidence of torture by State actors. The Leader of the Opposition requested the Deputy Speaker Rt. Hon. Anitah Among to suspend the House until the government presents a statement on the plight of citizens in State detention and have experienced torture. These demands, from …
Education

Inside Plan by Ministry of Energy to Transform the Cooking Sector in Uganda
The primary sources of energy for cooking in Uganda are wood and charcoal; whereas these seem a cheap and easily accessible form of energy to over 46 million population, experts have warned about looming health and environmental risks for the country relating to the use of these unclean and unsustainable forms of energy, especially in accelerating the current climate crisis in the region.  This is already seen with the resounding rate at which Uganda loses her forest cover, where for …
Enviroment

Tracking Uganda’s Commitment To Mitigate Climate Change: Locals In Katakwi Grapple With Illegal Logging of Wood
“My sub-county is at the border with Karamoja from the east of Katakwi district and we all know how hot that region is. Now the only trees that are guarding this area are being cut down, which means that we are prone to suffer,” said Amos Otim, LC III Chairperson – Guyaguya Sub County. Uganda is struggling to meet its national commitment towards climate change mitigation and adaptation, with efforts to decisively deal with the challenge being dented by unsustainable …
Governance

Integrity Crisis undermining efforts to curb corruption in Uganda
“There’s an integrity crisis in the country and we as the Inspectorate of Government are now more interested in how as a country, we can build trust and raise a generation of people who have integrity and are determined to do the right thing.” Mr. George Bamugemereire. Efforts to curb rampant corruption in Uganda, within both public and private sector, has often fallen short of meeting success; one of the recurrent reasons, being general public lack of integrity; a key …
News

Demystify Courts To Encourage The Public Testify Against Corruption – IG
“People are very fast to come and report. They report to us, even call the radio stations, they give scenarios and names. But then when you (ant-corruption agencies) call them in person and say we need you to come and give the same testimony, you will hear someone say; you know I have five children, the oldest is two and the youngest is one. So, I’m not coming anywhere near your courts,” Acio revealed. Statistics from government show an increase …
Opinion

ENGUZI BUNNYA BWA SITAANI
Listen to this article on audio: Enguzi kikolimo eri omuntu agiwa era bwetyo bweri nooyo agikwata. Enguzi nkola ya sitaani ekulakulanya obutali bwenkanya mu mbeera zaffe eza bulijjo ngate tekonzibiza nkulakulaana ya bitundu byaffe esulayo bbiri. Bwendaba ekizimbe ekigudde, ekisooka okunzijira mu bwongo kibuuzo ekigamba nti oba ani yalya enguzi ku kizimbe ekyo? Mukungu ki asasulwa ssente z`omuwi womusolo atakutta? Mazima ddala enguzi nemukirizisa ekizimbe eky`ekiboggwe okugenda maaso n`okuzimbibwa. Yinginiya ki eyakirizza okuzimba ekizimbe ngakozesa ebizimbisibwa ebyekibogwe omuli sseminti atamala, …