Latest News Updates

img
22 September 2025
PRESIDENT MUSEVENI GIVES BUSOGA GHETTOS, MUSLIM WOMEN SACCOS SHS 3.2 BILLION

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has fulfilled his Shs2 billion financial pledge to the Muslim Women SACCOs in the country. He also extended financial support of Shs 1.2 billion to the ghetto SACCOs in the 12 districts and city of Busoga Sub-region. On behalf of the President, the package was handed over to the beneficiaries by the State House Comptroller, Ms. Jane Barekye today at Okello House, Nakasero, Kampala. Ms. Barekye informed the beneficiaries that the funds should be utilized according to the Presidential directive whereby they can borrow, invest, then pay back after one year at an interest of 6 percent. For clarity, Ms. Barekye explained that the 6 percent interest applies on ghetto SACCO funds whereas for the Muslim Women SACCO funds, a service fee of 6 percent will be charged per annum. Furthermore, she said that the money is not a personal donation but support from the government to empower the groups economically. “Whoever misuses this money, will be arrested and jailed,” she warned. The event was also attended by the Special Presidential Assistant on Press and Mobilization, Haji Faruk Kirunda who also serves as the coordinator of the Busoga Ghetto SACCOs and Muslim Women SACCOs in the country. On the directive of the President, Haji Kirunda and Crime Intelligence Director, Maj. Gen. Christopher Ddamulira were tasked to coordinate the ghettos in Busoga. Haji Kirunda cautioned the beneficiaries against misusing the funds, explaining that this particular Presidential support is not meant for elections or politics but rather it's for empowering them to uplift their livelihoods. “The President gave out this support because you gave him a proposal way back and now the government is fulfilling what it promised you,” he said. “This money is not from President Museveni as a person but from the government so don't come in the name of politics to misuse it because if you do so, you will be arrested and dealt with according to the law.” Haji Kirunda further noted that his Office is going to put up a system to monitor how the SACCOs are using the money in order to ascertain its impact. “H.E the President said that by the end of each year, an audit will be conducted to know the status of the funds,” he said. “No one is supposed to increase or reduce the interest rate apart from H.E the President. It should be 6 percent as the President directed.” The National Chairperson of Uganda Muslim Women Council, Hajjat Sofia Kenyangi thanked President Museveni for fulfilling his pledge to the Muslim Women.

img
21 September 2025
PRESIDENT MUSEVENI LAUNCHES SECOND PHASE OF FOUR-ACRE MODEL CAMPAIGN IN BUNYORO

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni yesterday launched the second phase of the Four-Acre Model campaign in Bunyoro sub-region, with a renewed call to Ugandan households to embrace commercial farming as a sure path out of poverty. The launch took place at Nalweyo Playground in Kakumiro District. The campaign covers the districts of Masindi, Kiryadongo, Hoima and Buliisa. The first phase of the Four-Acre Model in Bunyoro, was launched in November 2024 covering districts of Kakumiro, Kagadi, Kibaale, and Kikuube. The campaign, led by President Museveni and Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja focuses on mobilizing farmers to diversify their land for various agricultural activities and promoting division of land into four main sections for coffee, fruits, food crops, and pasture for livestock. Earlier in the day, President Museveni met with the beneficiaries of the first phase of the Four-Acre Model at the home of Hon. Fred Byamukama, the State Minister for Transport. He later toured the farm of model farmers, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Balikagira, in Kihauguzi village, Kakumiro District, before proceeding to address the rally. Speaking at the event, the President reminded farmers that the Four-Acre Model is not a new idea, but a vision he first introduced in the 1996 NRM Manifesto. He said the model is designed to guide smallholder farmers on how to earn sustainably from limited land. “If you have only two acres and grow cotton or tobacco, you’ll remain poor. But if you plan well with ekibalo (calculation) you can generate serious income,” President Museveni explained. He outlined the ideal land use plan: one acre for coffee, one for fruits such as mangoes and pineapples, one for pasture to support dairy cows, and one for food crops to ensure food security. Backyard farming, he added, can supplement income through poultry, piggery (for non-Muslims), and fish farming. “Fish farming, for instance, can bring in up to Shs80 million a year from one acre of ponds,” the President revealed, urging farmers to adopt diversified, high-yield agriculture. President Museveni also highlighted success stories inspired by the Four-Acre Model. Among them was Mr. Joseph Ijala from Serere District, who turned two acres into a poultry farm with 1,000 chickens, earning Shs3 million monthly from eggs. Today, Ijala earns more than Shs1 billion a year from poultry and dairy. He also cited Hon. Byamukama, who makes over Shs55 million a month from poultry farming alone, and Mr. Richard Nyakana, a farmer in Kabarole who employs 15 people on a single acre of land. “These examples show you what is possible. Please listen carefully to the NRM message. Plan number one is commercial agriculture. From there, we go to manufacturing and then services, and others. These are the pillars that will transform Uganda,” the President emphasized. The President also reminded the people of Bunyoro of the wider benefits brought by the NRM government, including peace and improved infrastructure. “Today, we have tarmacked roads, and with peace restored, it is now possible for farmers to work and transport their produce profitably,” he said. Beneficiary Speaks out: In a press interview, Mr. Balikagira proudly shared how he transitioned from subsistence farming to commercial agriculture after embracing the model. “I started with just coffee seedlings from the government. In my first season, I earned Shs8 million, then Shs12 million, and last year a total of Shs18 million from coffee alone,” he said. With his earnings, Mr. Balikagira diversified into bananas, poultry, goats, pineapples, and dairy farming. “I now sell up to Shs800,000 worth of bananas every month, goats at Shs200,000 to Shs400,000 each, and milk at Shs1,400 per liter. From poultry, I sell both eggs and broilers,” he explained. The farmer, who once struggled to provide for his family, is now a proud homeowner and able to send his children to school. “I thank the government for this initiative. I started with nothing but today I am a model farmer,” he added. The event was also attended by the Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. Robinah Nabbanja, cabinet ministers, Members of Parliament, cultural and religious leaders, among others.

img
20 September 2025
PRESIDENT MUSEVENI'S ROADSIDE MARKET PROJECT REACHES GRASSROOTS VENDORS

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s initiative to uplift roadside market vendors on Friday, 19th September 2025 extended direct support to 957 traders along the Jinja road corridor, with each receiving UGX 100,000. The beneficiaries included Kitigoma, Lugalambo, Najjembe, Namawojjolo and Maroon Markets. The package was delivered on behalf of the President by Princess Pauline Nassolo, Senior Presidential Advisor-Elderly, and Ms. Flora Kabibi, Senior Presidential Assistant on Women Affairs. Princess Nassolo urged the vendors to channel the boost into expanding their businesses rather than diverting it to other uses, stressing that the package is meant to generate income. She reinforced the President’s wealth creation message, noting that while the government has invested heavily in infrastructure, education, and health, many Ugandans remain poor because they are outside the money economy. She said the President’s goal is to raise household incomes. Ms. Kabibi commended President Museveni for prioritizing the poor and called on vendors to support him and NRM flag bearers, saying they are the only leaders committed to advancing the needs of ordinary people. She reminded the traders that in addition to the roadside vendors’ project, other government programs such as the Parish Development Model (PDM) and Emyooga remain open to them if they engage their leaders to access the benefits. The vendors welcomed the President’s support with gratitude. Peter Bukenya, a trader at Najjembe, said the package would help them escape exploitative money lenders. Charles Mukuye, chairperson of Namawojjolo Supermarket, thanked the President for additional capital and a Fuso truck to ease transport, though he raised concerns over frequent road accidents that affect their businesses. James Wandera, chairperson of Maroon Market, hailed the government for extending safe water and additional capital to them. Launched in 2023, the Roadside Market Vendors Project was designed to uplift informal traders often left out of mainstream government initiatives such as PDM, Emyooga, and NAADS. The program has since enabled thousands of small-scale traders to strengthen their businesses while encouraging them to also tap into broader national development programs.

img
20 September 2025
PRESIDENT MUSEVENI INJECTS SHS 11.1 BILLION IN SACCOS OF MECHANICS, MCS AND SKILLING HUBS

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has today injected a total of Shs11.1 billion in SACCOs of mechanics in the five divisions of Kampala City, Masters of Ceremonies (MCs) in the 18 zonal regions of the country and Industrial Skilling Hub beneficiaries in 176 administrative units that include districts, cities and municipalities. The President handed over the funds today to the representatives of the respective SACCOs during a meeting at State Lodge, Nakasero. The Skilling Hubs received Shs8.8 billion with each SACCO entitled to Shs50 million, the Mechanics SACCOs received Shs500 million with each taking Shs100 million and the MCs SACCOs received Shs1.8 billion with each of the 18 groups getting Shs100 million. Handing over the funds, President Museveni explained that the money is meant to benefit ordinary Ugandans and it should be at a very affordable interest rate. “The loans the beneficiaries receive must be at 6 percent, not more than that per year and this should be put in a legal document. Anybody who doesn't do it goes to jail,” he warned. “The reason I say 6 percent is because the inflation is at around 3 percent. This will help us to keep our money in check. I give you Shs1 million, then after a whole year, you return Shs1.06 million. The ones for Parish Development Model (PDM), we give them two years so that they can first harvest.” President Museveni further assured beneficiaries that once they utilise the funds well, the government will inject more money into their SACCOs. “For the PDM, we have been insisting on Shs1 million, but with you, you must sit with Barekye and see how much you can borrow. For instance, we said for fishermen, the Shs1 million is not enough so we are going to give them a special budget because the equipment they use is expensive,” he said. “Write a special document on how you are going to use that money, then I sign.” The State House Comptroller, Ms. Jane Barekye revealed that such project is part of President Museveni’s broader initiative to economically empower ordinary citizens such as market vendors, ghetto youth, MCs, mechanics, among others. She also clarified that on the part of the Skilling Hubs, Kampala is not among the current beneficiaries because they are still registering their SACCOs. Ms. Barekye also explained that the Skilling Hub SACCOs’ funds will benefit only those who have finished training under the different hubs whereby they will be eligible to borrow start-up capital and pay back after one year. The meeting was also attended by the Special Presidential Assistant on Press and Mobilization Haji Faruk Kirunda, who is coordinating the MCs SACCOs; Director of Presidential Projects and Industrial Hubs, Eng. Raymond Kamugisha, handling the Skilling Hub Beneficiaries SACCOs; Special Presidential Assistant on Service delivery, Mr. Yiga Kisakyamukama, handling the Kampala Garage SACCOS; chairpersons of the Skilling hubs around the country and representatives of the MCs led by the Chairperson of Aboogezi Bokumikolo United Savings Cooperative, Mr. Ssegujja Fred.

img
20 September 2025
PRESIDENT MUSEVENI IMPRESSED BY BUSESA DEMONSTRATION FARM IN KIBAALE

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has hailed Busesa Demonstration Farm in Buyanja East Constituency, Kibaale District, as an inspiring model for wealth creation and agricultural transformation. The President, who was in Bunyoro sub-region—specifically Kagadi and Kibaale districts, on Saturday September 20, 2025, to inspect ongoing wealth creation initiatives, toured the 1.5-acre demonstration farm owned by Mr. Richard Lubega. During a guided tour, Mr. Lubega showcased a variety of integrated enterprises including cattle rearing, piggery, rabbit keeping, and poultry production. The farm currently produces an impressive 75 trays of eggs per day from its poultry section. Visibly impressed by the farm’s productivity, President Museveni pledged additional support to expand its livestock section. “I’m impressed by what this man is doing at this farm. I can see he has one cow, so I'm giving him Shs12 million shillings to buy two more cows,” the President said. The Busesa Demonstration Farm is part of the broader government effort to encourage Ugandans to adopt small-scale commercial farming models that can generate steady household income. While in Kibaale, the President also visited the 4-acre model farm of State Minister for Transport, Hon. Fred Byamukama, and other exemplary farmers who have embraced wealth creation programs. He later addressed a public rally at Nalweyiso in Hoima district. President Museveni was accompanied by Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. Robinah Nabbanja, Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Hon. Matia Kasaija, Minister of State for Transport, Hon. Fred Byamukama, and NRM Vice Chairman for Western Region, Hon. Asiimwe Jonard, among other leaders.

img
19 September 2025
PRESIDENT MUSEVENI EXTENDS SUPPORT TO KAMPALA EVENING MARKET VENDORS

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has today extended support to over 9,000 evening market vendors operating under the Toninyila Market initiative in Kampala. Each vendor, mainly dealing in cooked food sold on city streets, received UGX 100,000 to boost their businesses. The State House Comptroller, Ms. Jane Barekye, delivered the package on behalf of the President and commended the vendors for their resilience in working with limited capital to sustain their livelihoods. She urged them to use the funds strictly for business growth, emphasizing that the program is ongoing and will cover all divisions of Kampala. The rollout began in the Central Division and will later extend to other divisions. Ms. Barekye noted that the President’s directive is to reach “the last person” by directly supporting small-scale traders, particularly those often excluded from mainstream government initiatives. She praised President Museveni for prioritizing household income enhancement through support to small businesses. Senior Presidential Advisor on Political Mobilization, Mr. Moses Byaruhanga also addressed the vendors, highlighting that while the NRM government has established broad anti-poverty measures such as the Parish Development Model (PDM) and Emyooga, evening street vendors had not been adequately included. He said the President specifically tasked his team to organize and support the evening market, recognizing its role in Kampala’s economy. Mr. Byaruhanga further called on the vendors to rally behind President Museveni and the NRM flag bearers in the forthcoming elections, stressing that their continued support would ensure the sustainability of such people-centered programs.

Latest Press Releases

Opinion Posts

author's photo
20 September 2025
CHURCH, RELIGION AND THE WORSHIP OF FALSE TEACHINGS IN UGANDA

Last week, the Independent Electoral Commission, led by Justice Simon Mugyenyi Byabakama, announced a ban on fundraising in churches, mosques and other places of worship during these five months of the general election campaign season. It should be curious that religious institutions and priests have not made noise, but taken it lying low as if during the election God doesn’t need the money from politicians seeking office. However, I am not sure that Byabakama is in position to monitor or prevent politicians or their agents quietly passing financial donations to religious institutions and priests, in which case even a superficial accountability will be hard to obtain. During COVID-19 lockdown 2020-22, priests shifted prayers to people’s homes, where tithe and donations simply got tucked into their personal pockets. This should all be well, after all, over the years, experience has taught us that church, mosque, religion, and priests leading them, have not all been truthful or even correct in universal upliftment, emancipation and liberation of humanity. Religion, of every shade particularly as practiced in Uganda, is mostly superstition, invented to manipulate and control the mind, and keep us in failure. Poor people have donated the only pence they have to their church, mosque, and these days to predator ‘pastors’ who live large lifestyles, only for the givers to beg total strangers for money for food, health, or children’s school fees, while those priests give no damn. Religious faith has for centuries been a business model, often with no start-up capital, that no one has ever told you about or publicly admitted, and it is the reason religious institutions and leaders are rich, opulent yet most of their followers wallow in extreme poverty and want basic necessities of life. Yet it is in seasons like this that the religious, civil society and so-called democracy groups raise the tempo of their dubious activities, in such of money, usually under the dubious claims that Uganda is on the brink of election chaos, violence, and perhaps disintegration. Africans, especially Ugandans, should stop hiding behind prayers as a possible solution to many of the intractable problems we have historically gone through or are currently doing so. The God of Europe, Arab, or Asia, we have worshiped so much since the advent of colonial domination, subjugation and exploitation just like the gods of Africans who did not protect us from foreign predators, do not owe us a miracle just because we avoid our own responsibilities. Ugandans should stop honoring their priests than planning, hard creative work, and productivity. Religion and unquestioned faith are nothing more than mere imagination and manipulation that have built empires around obedience and loyalty. See, it is absurd that in Uganda today we can question the government, state institutions, and their leaders who hold instruments of coercion, yet we cannot vigorously question a man wearing a white collar passing for a religious priest. Churches, mosques and their leaders now raid our government coffers of the taxes you have paid in order for them to live in additional opulence including brand new SUVs, yet public schools and health facilities are not fully equipped, and you blame the government. Now don’t wonder anymore that schools under religious institutions, called “Church Founded” are declining in academic, management and discipline standards, while churches, cathedrals and bishops’ residential houses are expanding and looking really magnificent. And when church-run medical facilities confiscate dead bodies whose owners have not paid up the bills, it is a business model, not philanthropy as we had been made to unquestionably believe. Likewise, when priests refuse to preside over burial of the dead because they are not fully paid up, it amounts to retributive justice.

author's photo
13 September 2025
NRM MUST CLOSE RANKS; FIRMLY BLOWOUT SO-CALLED INDEPENDENTS

The just concluded NRM primaries to elect flag-bearers from village to parliamentary candidates who are not set to face opposition groups, and the so-called ‘independents’ should now be behind us, especially to the committed party loyalists, regardless of the fallouts. NRM leaders at various levels, must now invite winners and losers to work jointly for harmony, unity and a collective NRM election victory in 2026. Speaker of Parliament, and Second National Vice Chairperson (Female), Member, Central Executive Committee (CEC), Annet Anita Among, the new ‘girl’ on the NRM political bloc, has this week, created, a WhatsApp group, “NRM MP Flag bearers 202631,” pledging, joint and coordinated election campaign, to ensure a most effective outcome, which should be embraced. By Thursday, 318 flag-bearers had joined in. This could be replicated, down the ballot, with appropriate modifications. It is my submission, that in 2025, at the onset of the return to multiparty dispensation, NRM entrapped itself, and the country, by cozying-up to ‘independents’, many of whom, were simply disgruntled political indisciplinados, fair-weatherizes and opportunists. This phenomenon, has now become a thorny curse, in our collective walk, towards a functional multiparty democracy. While persuasion is still inevitable, it ought to be conducted on a case-by-case basis, as an exception to the rule, rather than the general principle, if NRM is to progress forward. The two decades, now, of NRM’s political stitch-ups with ‘independents’, has brought in so little dividends, except to entrench conveyor-belt self-serving convenience, and extremely inefficient patronage. People who are enjoying senior leadership position in NRM, and government like ministers ought to be made to retreat from running as ‘independents, or else be forced out of NRM so as to enforce internal party rules. And in fact, many of these touting being so-called ‘independents’ need the NRM political cover, than NRM needs them. Without President Yoweri Museveni’s personal political cuddling, they are destined to collapse like wet clay. In the more established electoral democracies like Britain, United States, India, Japan, Singapore and South Korea, we have recently witnessed the de-selection and dismissals of errant party leaders including from legislatures. Close-by Uganda, like Tanzania (CCM) and African National Congress (ANC), that the NRM calls ‘fraternal’ and travels regularly for ‘bench-marking’ with, even the slightest disagreement with the agreed party policy position, let alone constitution, attracts heavy sanctions that includes outright dismissal. In the dingy corner of Uganda, even the National Unity Platform (NUP), loosely cobbled has been able to show its former vice president in charge of Buganda, its only base, and Leader of Opposition in Parliament (LoP) Mathias Mpuuga, the exist without much political qualms. Yet in the NRM, many fear to call out these hangers-on, for what they really are, and instead are each, getting emboldened upon losing election, to run as an ‘independent’, and usually receiving covert financial support, from some top NRM leaders. The nomination returns for Isingiro district local government elections, released mid-week, by the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) chaired by Justice Simon Byakama Mugyenyi, where, the district chairperson and all thirty-two councilors were elected unopposed, is indicative of NRM’s support countrywide. If MPs Anthony Akol (Kilak county East) Amuru district and Dr Twaha Kagabo (Bukoto South) Lwengo district, formerly FDC and NUP respectively could boldly discard those tickets to join NRM, there is no reasonable excuse, for the NRM not to boot out its political renegades. Uganda’s multiparty democracy, on trial and tribulation, since 2005, cannot be refined, made more functional, responsive and consolidated, when the political front men and women, are allowed freewheel style each time they lose an election.

author's photo
01 September 2025
UGANDA IS NOT HOMOPHOBIC; WE ARE ONLY AGAINST THE DELIBERATE PROMOTION OF THIS DEVIANT BEHAVIOR

On 15th August 2025, four of their colleagues attacked them accusing them of promoting homosexuality tendencies amongst the student community. School administration was quick to react, and the four boys weren’t harmed in any way. Since then, some human rights defenders have castigated government making all manner of accusations. The saddest accusation was that Uganda is beginning to weaponize the Anti Homosexuality Act 2023. On May 2, 2023, the Parliament of Uganda passed the Anti-Homosexuality Act 2023, which had been returned to parliament for more improvement. President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni accented to the bill. Hell broke loose largely from the Global North, which was calling the leadership in Uganda all manner of names. World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) announced the withdrawal of their support, and more sanctions were being planned until President Donald Trump assumed office as President of the USA and things changed dramatically. To them, curtailing the promotion and funding of LGTBQ campaigns within our communities is to commit gross human rights abuses like committing genocide. For the record, Uganda and Ugandans are not homophobic. For clarity’s sake, Ugandans have never killed their few homosexuals that exist within their communities. In fact, they treat them as unfortunate people with deviant behavior and then manage them with care and sympathy. The Anti-Homosexuality Act 2023 is intended to manage homosexuals in a way that can lead to rehabilitation and restoration. The Act, more importantly, curtails the deliberate campaign of spreading homosexuality among our children. For some time now, some entities from the Western world were funding the promotion of this vice among our poor and vulnerable communities using many uncouth approaches. They take advantage of our poor and needy communities, where they will throw some money, but with clear conditions that the recipients must promote LGBTQ campaigns among our people especially children. Of course, this behavior is not in our norms, and those assigned to promote it on behalf of the global community tend to land into problems that are at times fatal. The values of a society are significant because they determine the contents of its norms, which help maintain social order. Each value has a corresponding norm, or put differently, all norms express social values. Every individual, every family, and indeed, every society has principles and standards that are appreciated and held in high regard, as well as those that are abhorred. In fact, the main social challenges Uganda is facing are drug abuse by the youth and not homosexuality, i.e., alcoholism and drug consumption. However, Uganda has put in place laws and regulations to handle such challenges. Our Penal Code offers effective punitive measures to curtail such challenges. Besides, there are institutions and organizations that are professionally and technically equipped to counsel and guide such victims. Rehabilitation centers have been put in place. There are some that are run by the government and others by private organizations. They tackle such victims of abuse. Butabika National Referral Hospital has been expanded and equipped to handle victims of drug abuse. Therefore, it is not right for human right defenders to keep throwing themselves around with condemnations every time we take decisions that are meant to protect our social values. As a country, we took firm resolutions to refuse the idea of promoting the Gay Agenda to be part of our human development. To those that thought that by freezing us out of their development loans, we would bend on our knees and repeal the Anti homosexuality Act, must have now realized that that was a wrong idea. It is years now down the road and we are going strong economically. Finally, it is a wrong belief among our Western friends to think that to be civilized and humane is to swallow the Western way of life; to be barbaric and cruel is to be non-western. There is a racist tinge in this cultural rhetoric that presents the particular as universal. It echoes the spread of Christianity during the colonial encounter: African religions were called satanic. To have faith was to be Christian. As Africans, we have no identity except as carbon copies of "Western men." The Western effort to shape African nations and societies in their own image is written all over the place for everybody to see. While many Western actors in these endeavors genuinely believe they have our best interests at heart, and while they have many local allies who share their vision, they are not any different from their colonial ancestors who came here claiming to spread the three Cs: Christianity, Commerce, and Civilization. These efforts to shape us according to their fancies show contempt for our uniqueness. Africa needs to be given space to shape its future. The writer is the Acting Executive Director Uganda Media Centre

author's photo
30 August 2025
CDF, TAME ERRANT OFFICERS MISUSING SOLDIERS AND FIRE ARMS IN ELECTIONS

As the next election campaign season approaches, the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba should reign in on UPDF Generals, and senior officers, serving and retired, who misuse personal guards to meddle in civil elections. Often, these officers who have connections with military installations around the country obtain unofficial soldiers who they deploy in support of their friends or relatives who are candidates. Without appearing to bad-mouth the UPDF, some are said to be on for hire by politicians in election campaigns. It is unclear how the UPDF reached this low point. In the just concluded NRM internal elections we witnessed such illegal deployments of UPDF soldiers in Busia, Gulu, Butaleja and Sembabule districts where they obstructed candidates, their supporters, and police officers on duty. There was a recently retired General from Karamoja who was so notorious in Busia where police officers were so hapless in the face of his bullying. Earlier, the country had watched in consternation and embarrassment when UPDF got overtly involved including the deployment of heavy military war hardware in the Kawempe North parliamentary bye-election, and act that dented NRM support and image too. Like the ongoing cracking of the whip on suspected corrupt officers including several Generals now in custody as investigations roll, errant behaviour by soldiers in civilian elections is bringing the UPDF into disrepute. For avoidance of any doubt, the official known role of the UPDF in securing stability including during elections is not contested. It is also imperative, that the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Abbas Byakagaba, provides strong and professional leadership and guidance to his officers and men so they can have confidence while in command to calmly withstand bullying and intimidation by these soldiers on illegal personal errands. A timid police officer in command, but unsure of his own orders, trembling and sweating in their uniform before an errant army officer, or irate politician, is a recipe for chaos during an election season, particularly bad on polling day. Similarly, over-board conduct by police officers, especially the District Police Commanders (DPCs) who sometimes take over the role of election officers upon being bribed by candidates, to announce the winners, must be checked. But as the old adage goes, “it takes two to tangle,” and so to have a clean election season, we the politicians, especially candidates and supporters must check ourselves as a collective. While election politics is emotive, in Uganda today, it seems that anything goes, violence, intimidation, blackmail, open bribery, and extortion are all wrapped-up in the name of freedom and democracy. Free speech is a cornerstone of democracy, but we have taken political rabble rousing down the line of slander and defamation against rivals in contests. Harmonization meetings often descend into shouting matches, or break-up even before they start, and so no mutual ground rules to govern the campaigns. Abrasive conduct by candidates and supporters even against the police, law enforcement officers and election officials has become normalized, and so few respect the rules, yet surely Uganda is not a jungle. And with opposition activists on a hostile confrontational path, emboldened by the open mischievous conducts of some elements within NRM, it is hard to see how a trajectory of respect for common rules will be engendered. The NRM is a huge party whose heart beats, but with a weak pulse because those at the centre probably do not feel or believe that they are powerful enough. To bring back discipline in the electoral process, my one pence proposal is that the NRM Secretary General, Richard Todwong, should hand every flagbearer a golden rule on election misconduct. In this era of capricious digital warriors playing by their own rules and constantly conveying mischief, the NRM must, as of necessity, be more alert and two steps ahead to deliver a cleaner election.

author's photo
23 August 2025
MUSEVENI, NRM CONFERENCES AND PROTECTING UGANDA’S GAINS OF FORTY YEARS

It has been three months of non-stop political activities in Uganda as the National Resistance Movement (NRM) undertook internal electoral renewal of leaders from the villages to national level that is concluding this coming week with the holding of its National delegates Conference. Hopefully, the vetting will weed out the chaff from the wheat so that NRM restores clean leadership that serves the country purposefully and diligently. NRM last held internal elections in 2015, and skipped 2020 due to the COVID19 global pandemic. The meetings, and conferences began on Wednesday this week with the Central Executive Committee (CEC), its apex organ vetting candidates for national offices including President Yoweri Museveni as presidential flagbearer for the 2026 elections. In open-dirty war, is Speaker Emeritus Rebecca Kadaga, on CEC for two decades seeking to maintain her seat, while the current, Annet Anita Among seem determine to inherit the throne. CEC was followed by the meeting of the National Executive Council (NEC) of eight hundred delegates among them all NRM MPs, NRM and local government Chairpersons and the top leadership at the party Secretariat. Tomorrow 24,845 delegates will swamp Kampala to participate in series of elections to choose national leaders of the eight different leagues comprising Elders, Women, Youths, Persons With Disabilities (PWDs), Workers, Veterans, Entrepreneurs, and Historicals which takes place on Monday. At the conclusion of these elections, the delegates will then participate in the two-day National Conference that will end on 28 August 2025 at Kololo Independence Grounds. These events should provide many opportunities, if not windfall, especially for the middle and lower business communities in Kampala, Mukono and Wakiso as NRM delegates whose pockets will be healthy, courtesy of the party, seek accommodation, food, entertainment, transport, and local tourism. Mid-week, NRM unveiled a new portrait of a younger-looking Yoweri Museveni, that will be used for the forthcoming presidential campaigns. Some critics were quick to jeer and sneer, although in the NRM we shall brush it off as being driven mainly by jealousy of potential political bad-losers. Alongside the presidential candidate’s portrait, NRM also launched its forthcoming election campaign theme “Protecting the Gains,” of the last four decades under President Museveni. Over this period, NRM political activities have dominated the ground, media landscape and opinion narratives, which in public relations practice is good. NRM also now seems to have put aspects of election fiasco neatly behind, especially with non-dramatic ways in which its election tribunal handled and disposed off the hundreds of petitions. And maybe, NRM leaders at the top could start considering overall evaluation of its internal elections, including the possibility of amend its constitution to down size its structure, revert to electoral college, and revert to secret ballot elections. With these elections NRM now has close to three million six hundred leaders countrywide, which, if put to effective use should deliver a credible and convincing electoral victory come 12 January 2026. These numbers could also keep in touch with population, mobilize for better uptake of government programs for socio-economic transformation, supervise and monitor effective implementation, and as well detect and curtail corruption incidences early enough, but alas. NRM, could thus, leave its many opponents and detractors including the opposition parties as mere sulking spectators with no credible direction or agenda of their own, although some of them may soon begin to menacingly swing their hockey butts aimlessly. And of course we look forward in disdain to their self-false pompousness as they seek political validation. Nevertheless, as we look towards the nominations for president and parliament by the Justice Simon Byabakama Mugyenyi Electoral Commission, slated in early October for next year’s general elections, NRM as a vanguard party, holding a revolutionary, liberation, emancipation and transformative agenda, must keep to the high expectations it gave Ugandans when it assumed leadership four decades ago.

National News

article img

PRESIDENT MUSEVENI GIVES BUSOGA GHETTOS, MUSLIM WOMEN SACCOS SHS 3.2 BILLION

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has fulfilled his Shs2 billion financial pledge to the Muslim Women SACCOs in the country. He also extended financial support of Shs 1.2 billion to the ghetto SACCOs in the 12 districts and city of Busoga Sub-region. On behalf of the President, the package was handed over to the beneficiaries by the State House Comptroller, Ms. Jane Barekye today at Okello House, Nakasero, Kampala. Ms. Barekye informed the beneficiaries that the funds should be utilized according to the Presidential directive whereby they can borrow, invest, then pay back after one year at an interest of 6 percent. For clarity, Ms. Barekye explained that the 6 percent interest applies on ghetto SACCO funds whereas for the Muslim Women SACCO funds, a service fee of 6 percent will be charged per annum. Furthermore, she said that the money is not a personal donation but support from the government to empower the groups economically. “Whoever misuses this money, will be arrested and jailed,” she warned. The event was also attended by the Special Presidential Assistant on Press and Mobilization, Haji Faruk Kirunda who also serves as the coordinator of the Busoga Ghetto SACCOs and Muslim Women SACCOs in the country. On the directive of the President, Haji Kirunda and Crime Intelligence Director, Maj. Gen. Christopher Ddamulira were tasked to coordinate the ghettos in Busoga. Haji Kirunda cautioned the beneficiaries against misusing the funds, explaining that this particular Presidential support is not meant for elections or politics but rather it's for empowering them to uplift their livelihoods. “The President gave out this support because you gave him a proposal way back and now the government is fulfilling what it promised you,” he said. “This money is not from President Museveni as a person but from the government so don't come in the name of politics to misuse it because if you do so, you will be arrested and dealt with according to the law.” Haji Kirunda further noted that his Office is going to put up a system to monitor how the SACCOs are using the money in order to ascertain its impact. “H.E the President said that by the end of each year, an audit will be conducted to know the status of the funds,” he said. “No one is supposed to increase or reduce the interest rate apart from H.E the President. It should be 6 percent as the President directed.” The National Chairperson of Uganda Muslim Women Council, Hajjat Sofia Kenyangi thanked President Museveni for fulfilling his pledge to the Muslim Women.

2025-09-22

article img

PRESIDENT MUSEVENI LAUNCHES SECOND PHASE OF FOUR-ACRE MODEL CAMPAIGN IN BUNYORO

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni yesterday launched the second phase of the Four-Acre Model campaign in Bunyoro sub-region, with a renewed call to Ugandan households to embrace commercial farming as a sure path out of poverty. The launch took place at Nalweyo Playground in Kakumiro District. The campaign covers the districts of Masindi, Kiryadongo, Hoima and Buliisa. The first phase of the Four-Acre Model in Bunyoro, was launched in November 2024 covering districts of Kakumiro, Kagadi, Kibaale, and Kikuube. The campaign, led by President Museveni and Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja focuses on mobilizing farmers to diversify their land for various agricultural activities and promoting division of land into four main sections for coffee, fruits, food crops, and pasture for livestock. Earlier in the day, President Museveni met with the beneficiaries of the first phase of the Four-Acre Model at the home of Hon. Fred Byamukama, the State Minister for Transport. He later toured the farm of model farmers, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Balikagira, in Kihauguzi village, Kakumiro District, before proceeding to address the rally. Speaking at the event, the President reminded farmers that the Four-Acre Model is not a new idea, but a vision he first introduced in the 1996 NRM Manifesto. He said the model is designed to guide smallholder farmers on how to earn sustainably from limited land. “If you have only two acres and grow cotton or tobacco, you’ll remain poor. But if you plan well with ekibalo (calculation) you can generate serious income,” President Museveni explained. He outlined the ideal land use plan: one acre for coffee, one for fruits such as mangoes and pineapples, one for pasture to support dairy cows, and one for food crops to ensure food security. Backyard farming, he added, can supplement income through poultry, piggery (for non-Muslims), and fish farming. “Fish farming, for instance, can bring in up to Shs80 million a year from one acre of ponds,” the President revealed, urging farmers to adopt diversified, high-yield agriculture. President Museveni also highlighted success stories inspired by the Four-Acre Model. Among them was Mr. Joseph Ijala from Serere District, who turned two acres into a poultry farm with 1,000 chickens, earning Shs3 million monthly from eggs. Today, Ijala earns more than Shs1 billion a year from poultry and dairy. He also cited Hon. Byamukama, who makes over Shs55 million a month from poultry farming alone, and Mr. Richard Nyakana, a farmer in Kabarole who employs 15 people on a single acre of land. “These examples show you what is possible. Please listen carefully to the NRM message. Plan number one is commercial agriculture. From there, we go to manufacturing and then services, and others. These are the pillars that will transform Uganda,” the President emphasized. The President also reminded the people of Bunyoro of the wider benefits brought by the NRM government, including peace and improved infrastructure. “Today, we have tarmacked roads, and with peace restored, it is now possible for farmers to work and transport their produce profitably,” he said. Beneficiary Speaks out: In a press interview, Mr. Balikagira proudly shared how he transitioned from subsistence farming to commercial agriculture after embracing the model. “I started with just coffee seedlings from the government. In my first season, I earned Shs8 million, then Shs12 million, and last year a total of Shs18 million from coffee alone,” he said. With his earnings, Mr. Balikagira diversified into bananas, poultry, goats, pineapples, and dairy farming. “I now sell up to Shs800,000 worth of bananas every month, goats at Shs200,000 to Shs400,000 each, and milk at Shs1,400 per liter. From poultry, I sell both eggs and broilers,” he explained. The farmer, who once struggled to provide for his family, is now a proud homeowner and able to send his children to school. “I thank the government for this initiative. I started with nothing but today I am a model farmer,” he added. The event was also attended by the Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. Robinah Nabbanja, cabinet ministers, Members of Parliament, cultural and religious leaders, among others.

2025-09-21

article img

PRESIDENT MUSEVENI'S ROADSIDE MARKET PROJECT REACHES GRASSROOTS VENDORS

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s initiative to uplift roadside market vendors on Friday, 19th September 2025 extended direct support to 957 traders along the Jinja road corridor, with each receiving UGX 100,000. The beneficiaries included Kitigoma, Lugalambo, Najjembe, Namawojjolo and Maroon Markets. The package was delivered on behalf of the President by Princess Pauline Nassolo, Senior Presidential Advisor-Elderly, and Ms. Flora Kabibi, Senior Presidential Assistant on Women Affairs. Princess Nassolo urged the vendors to channel the boost into expanding their businesses rather than diverting it to other uses, stressing that the package is meant to generate income. She reinforced the President’s wealth creation message, noting that while the government has invested heavily in infrastructure, education, and health, many Ugandans remain poor because they are outside the money economy. She said the President’s goal is to raise household incomes. Ms. Kabibi commended President Museveni for prioritizing the poor and called on vendors to support him and NRM flag bearers, saying they are the only leaders committed to advancing the needs of ordinary people. She reminded the traders that in addition to the roadside vendors’ project, other government programs such as the Parish Development Model (PDM) and Emyooga remain open to them if they engage their leaders to access the benefits. The vendors welcomed the President’s support with gratitude. Peter Bukenya, a trader at Najjembe, said the package would help them escape exploitative money lenders. Charles Mukuye, chairperson of Namawojjolo Supermarket, thanked the President for additional capital and a Fuso truck to ease transport, though he raised concerns over frequent road accidents that affect their businesses. James Wandera, chairperson of Maroon Market, hailed the government for extending safe water and additional capital to them. Launched in 2023, the Roadside Market Vendors Project was designed to uplift informal traders often left out of mainstream government initiatives such as PDM, Emyooga, and NAADS. The program has since enabled thousands of small-scale traders to strengthen their businesses while encouraging them to also tap into broader national development programs.

2025-09-20

article img

PRESIDENT MUSEVENI INJECTS SHS 11.1 BILLION IN SACCOS OF MECHANICS, MCS AND SKILLING HUBS

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has today injected a total of Shs11.1 billion in SACCOs of mechanics in the five divisions of Kampala City, Masters of Ceremonies (MCs) in the 18 zonal regions of the country and Industrial Skilling Hub beneficiaries in 176 administrative units that include districts, cities and municipalities. The President handed over the funds today to the representatives of the respective SACCOs during a meeting at State Lodge, Nakasero. The Skilling Hubs received Shs8.8 billion with each SACCO entitled to Shs50 million, the Mechanics SACCOs received Shs500 million with each taking Shs100 million and the MCs SACCOs received Shs1.8 billion with each of the 18 groups getting Shs100 million. Handing over the funds, President Museveni explained that the money is meant to benefit ordinary Ugandans and it should be at a very affordable interest rate. “The loans the beneficiaries receive must be at 6 percent, not more than that per year and this should be put in a legal document. Anybody who doesn't do it goes to jail,” he warned. “The reason I say 6 percent is because the inflation is at around 3 percent. This will help us to keep our money in check. I give you Shs1 million, then after a whole year, you return Shs1.06 million. The ones for Parish Development Model (PDM), we give them two years so that they can first harvest.” President Museveni further assured beneficiaries that once they utilise the funds well, the government will inject more money into their SACCOs. “For the PDM, we have been insisting on Shs1 million, but with you, you must sit with Barekye and see how much you can borrow. For instance, we said for fishermen, the Shs1 million is not enough so we are going to give them a special budget because the equipment they use is expensive,” he said. “Write a special document on how you are going to use that money, then I sign.” The State House Comptroller, Ms. Jane Barekye revealed that such project is part of President Museveni’s broader initiative to economically empower ordinary citizens such as market vendors, ghetto youth, MCs, mechanics, among others. She also clarified that on the part of the Skilling Hubs, Kampala is not among the current beneficiaries because they are still registering their SACCOs. Ms. Barekye also explained that the Skilling Hub SACCOs’ funds will benefit only those who have finished training under the different hubs whereby they will be eligible to borrow start-up capital and pay back after one year. The meeting was also attended by the Special Presidential Assistant on Press and Mobilization Haji Faruk Kirunda, who is coordinating the MCs SACCOs; Director of Presidential Projects and Industrial Hubs, Eng. Raymond Kamugisha, handling the Skilling Hub Beneficiaries SACCOs; Special Presidential Assistant on Service delivery, Mr. Yiga Kisakyamukama, handling the Kampala Garage SACCOS; chairpersons of the Skilling hubs around the country and representatives of the MCs led by the Chairperson of Aboogezi Bokumikolo United Savings Cooperative, Mr. Ssegujja Fred.

2025-09-20

article img

PRESIDENT MUSEVENI IMPRESSED BY BUSESA DEMONSTRATION FARM IN KIBAALE

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has hailed Busesa Demonstration Farm in Buyanja East Constituency, Kibaale District, as an inspiring model for wealth creation and agricultural transformation. The President, who was in Bunyoro sub-region—specifically Kagadi and Kibaale districts, on Saturday September 20, 2025, to inspect ongoing wealth creation initiatives, toured the 1.5-acre demonstration farm owned by Mr. Richard Lubega. During a guided tour, Mr. Lubega showcased a variety of integrated enterprises including cattle rearing, piggery, rabbit keeping, and poultry production. The farm currently produces an impressive 75 trays of eggs per day from its poultry section. Visibly impressed by the farm’s productivity, President Museveni pledged additional support to expand its livestock section. “I’m impressed by what this man is doing at this farm. I can see he has one cow, so I'm giving him Shs12 million shillings to buy two more cows,” the President said. The Busesa Demonstration Farm is part of the broader government effort to encourage Ugandans to adopt small-scale commercial farming models that can generate steady household income. While in Kibaale, the President also visited the 4-acre model farm of State Minister for Transport, Hon. Fred Byamukama, and other exemplary farmers who have embraced wealth creation programs. He later addressed a public rally at Nalweyiso in Hoima district. President Museveni was accompanied by Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. Robinah Nabbanja, Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Hon. Matia Kasaija, Minister of State for Transport, Hon. Fred Byamukama, and NRM Vice Chairman for Western Region, Hon. Asiimwe Jonard, among other leaders.

2025-09-20

article img

PRESIDENT MUSEVENI EXTENDS SUPPORT TO KAMPALA EVENING MARKET VENDORS

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has today extended support to over 9,000 evening market vendors operating under the Toninyila Market initiative in Kampala. Each vendor, mainly dealing in cooked food sold on city streets, received UGX 100,000 to boost their businesses. The State House Comptroller, Ms. Jane Barekye, delivered the package on behalf of the President and commended the vendors for their resilience in working with limited capital to sustain their livelihoods. She urged them to use the funds strictly for business growth, emphasizing that the program is ongoing and will cover all divisions of Kampala. The rollout began in the Central Division and will later extend to other divisions. Ms. Barekye noted that the President’s directive is to reach “the last person” by directly supporting small-scale traders, particularly those often excluded from mainstream government initiatives. She praised President Museveni for prioritizing household income enhancement through support to small businesses. Senior Presidential Advisor on Political Mobilization, Mr. Moses Byaruhanga also addressed the vendors, highlighting that while the NRM government has established broad anti-poverty measures such as the Parish Development Model (PDM) and Emyooga, evening street vendors had not been adequately included. He said the President specifically tasked his team to organize and support the evening market, recognizing its role in Kampala’s economy. Mr. Byaruhanga further called on the vendors to rally behind President Museveni and the NRM flag bearers in the forthcoming elections, stressing that their continued support would ensure the sustainability of such people-centered programs.

2025-09-19