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

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

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 …
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

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 …