AGP Executive Report

Parliament: A bill gazetted this week would let all opposition MPs elect the Leader of the Opposition, replacing the current system in which the largest opposition party chooses the postholder. Industry: Government is moving to secure 600 acres in Wakiso for Dei BioPharma’s expansion, which the company says would add production lines for medicines and vaccines, including cancer and sickle-cell treatments. Digital Economy: MTN Uganda has partnered with Starlink to bring satellite internet to businesses and institutions in remote areas with limited connectivity. Power: Consumers continue to face outages despite UEDCL having resources to run the network; the electricity regulator says implementation, not funding, is the main challenge. Public Health: Uganda says it has no active Ebola cases but has tightened airport screening as infections spread in the region and investigators probe possible links involving travellers from Uganda. Cost of Living: The shilling has touched Shs4,500 to the dollar, its weakest level in 33 years, adding pressure to import costs.

Ebola Watch: Uganda says it has no active cases, but investigators are tracing the movements of a Ugandan-born woman who tested positive in Nigeria after travelling to Uganda. Switzerland says she did not visit DR Congo, and officials are checking whether she crossed paths with Kenya’s Ebola patient at Entebbe airport. Currency Pressure: The shilling briefly hit Shs4,500 per US dollar, its weakest level in 33 years, as demand for dollars and investor exits intensify pressure. Digital Government: Uganda has launched a five-year data strategy, aiming to raise coverage of national development indicators from 36% to 80% and lay groundwork for an AI plan. Energy and Climate Finance: A €30 million Bank of Uganda–EIB partnership will support green investment, while a Shs1.6 trillion Karuma–Tororo power line is planned to improve electricity supply and support industry. Mining Oversight: The IGG has ordered the interdiction of two National Mining Company officials as it investigates alleged maladministration, financial mismanagement and abuse of office.

Migrant Workers: Uganda and Somalia signed a labour deal requiring written contracts, bank-paid wages and employer-funded insurance and travel for more than 20,000 Ugandans working in Somalia. Women’s Business: The government plans Shs80 billion in non-repayable GROW grants for women-owned businesses, with awards ranging from Shs3.5 million to Shs107 million. Public Oversight: Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa urged parliamentary committees to visit communities and check how government programmes are working on the ground. Ebola Preparedness: Uganda has stepped up screening at Entebbe after Ebola patients transited through the country; officials say there are no active cases in Uganda. Economy: The shilling weakened to Shs4,300 against the dollar, prompting Bank of Uganda to intervene, while government plans to cut spending by nearly Shs3 trillion amid rising inflation. Agricultural export earnings, meanwhile, reached $4.6 billion in 2025, but Uganda still imports much of its vegetable oil.

Ebola Alert: Uganda has stepped up screening at Entebbe after Nigeria confirmed its first Ebola case in more than a decade in a woman reported to have travelled through Uganda. Uganda says she travelled to eastern DR Congo and only transited through the country; investigators are still tracing her movements. The Health Ministry says Uganda has no active cases. Jobs: Uganda and Somalia have agreed on protections for Ugandan workers, including written contracts, wages paid into workers’ own bank accounts, employer-funded insurance and travel, and a round trip home every two years. Digital Economy: MTN Uganda has launched Starlink for Business to bring internet to remote firms, schools and institutions. Local Industry: A further 617 small businesses have graduated from an oil-sector programme designed to help Ugandan suppliers win work in the petroleum industry. Agriculture: Experts are urging farmers to adopt smart irrigation as unpredictable rainfall and dry spells threaten production.

Ebola Watch: Uganda says it has no active Ebola cases after a Nigerian patient travelled through the country following a business trip to eastern DR Congo. Health officials are seeking her travel and clinical records and tightening airport screening. Trade: Export earnings jumped 36% year-on-year in August to $1.5 billion, driven largely by gold receipts. Agriculture: More than half of approved extension-worker posts are vacant, leaving the ministry short of 5,357 staff as it seeks to improve farm productivity and tackle fake inputs. Cybercrime: A regional crackdown led to 365 arrests in Uganda, where authorities dismantled two fraud rings targeting victims in Asia. Mental Health: An estimated 14 million Ugandans live with mental health conditions, while budget constraints hamper efforts to fill about 100 psychiatrist posts.

Ebola Alert: Uganda says it has no active Ebola cases and that the Nigerian woman who tested positive travelled through Uganda without symptoms. Nigerian authorities are tracing 44 contacts after confirming the Bundibugyo case in Abuja; where she contracted the virus remains unclear. Agriculture: Government plans to make mechanised farming a five-year priority, including 10,000 tractors and 21 mechanisation centres, as it seeks to expand production and support irrigation. Green Finance: Bank of Uganda and the European Investment Bank have agreed to help lenders assess climate risks and finance sustainable projects. Markets: The shilling weakened to 4,205–4,215 per dollar amid strong importer demand, while Treasury bill yields rose across all maturities. Regional Business: Aliko Dangote bought a 25% stake in Kenya Pipeline Company and plans a major network expansion, with the pipeline serving Uganda and other neighbouring markets.

Ebola Alert: Uganda says it has no active Ebola cases and denies that a Nigerian patient contracted the virus here. The woman transited Uganda without symptoms; Kampala is seeking her travel and medical records as Nigeria tracks 44 contacts. Data Dispute: UBOS has called the ICT Ministry’s new five-year National Data Strategy illegal and redundant, arguing it encroaches on the statistics bureau’s mandate. Karamoja Crisis: Drought has destroyed crops worth Shs56 billion in Kotido, where 19 people have reportedly starved to death after two failed planting seasons. Landslide Resettlement: The government is beginning to relocate households from landslide-prone areas of Bugisu, offering Shs18 million per household to buy land in safer locations. Economic Pressure: A weaker shilling is adding to fuel costs, with petrol and diesel prices rising sharply since June and raising expenses for transport, farming and businesses. Political Tensions: The High Court has dismissed Male Mabirizi’s appeal challenging the rejection of his complaint against Muhoozi Kainerugaba and 17 others over the Patriotic League of Uganda.

Digital Economy: Uganda launched a five-year National Data Strategy requiring an estimated Sh1.66 trillion to improve data systems and support public planning and services. Currency Pressure: The shilling weakened to Sh4,174–4,184 per dollar on Tuesday as corporate demand outpaced limited inflows. Security: Police are investigating the beheading of Rwandan dissident Robert Kabera, whose body was found in Mpigi. Public Spending: The High Court ordered Roko Construction to pay Assa Abloy about Sh5.7 billion for doors and fittings supplied to Mulago Hospital. Regional Health: Nigeria confirmed Ebola in a woman who had travelled from Uganda; Ugandan officials said the country has no current cases. Defence: President Museveni commissioned 280 UPDF officer cadets, saying a strong economy is essential to national defence.

Security: Police are investigating the beheading of Robert Kabera, a former Rwandan soldier and Kagame critic found dead in Mpigi. His head is missing, and his widow says she fears for her family’s safety. Rural Exports: A cooperative in Otuke has shipped 23 tonnes of shea butter to the United States, up 156% from its previous consignment. The business involves about 1,000 women from Otuke and Agago. Public Health: Ebola has spread across eight provinces in the DRC and into Uganda and Kenya, as Africa’s disease-control agency seeks answers over more than $700 million in response funds. Banking: Bank of Uganda reported a Shs1.32 trillion surplus for 2025/26, double the previous year, citing spending discipline. Consumer Protection: The National Drug Authority has launched a nationwide crackdown on unregistered herbal medicines and illegal advertising, with one suspect arrested in Rubanda. Courts: Roko Construction must pay Assa Abloy $1.39 million (about Shs5.7 billion) for doors and fittings supplied to Mulago Hospital. Agriculture: Coffee farmers are urged to consider insurance and irrigation as they recover from months of drought.

Political Detention: Former Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago has been transferred to Mulago Hospital as his lawyers seek an urgent hearing on his bail application, saying his health has deteriorated in detention. Cross-Border Security: Police are investigating the beheading of Robert Kabera, a former Rwandan soldier and government critic found dead in Mpigi. His head is still missing, and police say the motive is unknown. Railway Development: Uganda Railways Corporation began demolishing structures on the Kampala–Kasese railway reserve in Kyengera, clearing land for railway rehabilitation and the planned western SGR route. Business & Finance: A tax consultant says more than 90% of Ugandan businesses fail to meet tax obligations, as URA targets Sh40.16 trillion in revenue for 2026/27. Bank of India Uganda has also introduced its first debit cards, giving customers access to Interswitch ATMs and merchant payments. Charcoal Policy: After Parliament suspended enforcement of the commercial charcoal ban, FDC called for talks with traders and a phased transition, warning against militarised enforcement. Infrastructure Finance: The OPEC Fund is appraising a €150 million loan for Uganda’s SGR project.

Regional Ebola Alert: Kenya’s Bundibugyo Ebola infections have risen to eight, including three health workers; all were identified in quarantine, with no community transmission reported. Uganda has also begun a first-stage trial of an Ebola vaccine in Masaka. Security: A former Rwandan soldier and government critic was found beheaded in Mpigi, prompting a police investigation. Trade and Industry: Uganda and South Sudan signed a deal to tackle border delays and inspections, while South Sudanese traders seek direct access to Ugandan manufacturers. Local producers are also calling for lower taxes and affordable loans to curb rising costs. Economy: The Bank of Uganda has tightened policy amid pressure on the shilling and reported capital outflows. President Museveni urged Ugandans abroad to invest in manufacturing, agriculture, tourism and technology, rather than relying on remittances alone.

Security: Gunmen shot dead Kisoro businessman Africano Nteziyaremye and his wife, Peace Kyompeire, at their home gate late Saturday. Police are investigating; no arrests have been reported. Regional Health: Congo’s worst-ever Ebola outbreak has spread to an eighth province, with more than 9,400 cases and 4,500 deaths. Kenya has confirmed seven cases, including three health workers. Uganda says it is free of the disease, but the regional spread keeps vigilance critical. Land: Recent evictions and title cancellations highlight a gap between Uganda’s extensive land laws and the protection occupants experience in practice. Infrastructure: Unrepaired erosion and defects at Isimba Dam’s spillway have renewed flood concerns ahead of forecast heavy rains; officials revisited the site, but disclosed no repair timetable. Business: Rising rent, taxes, transport and electricity costs are pushing traders from major cities to cheaper rural centres. Investment: At independence celebrations in Beijing and Melbourne, officials urged Ugandans at home and abroad to invest in manufacturing, agriculture, tourism and value addition.

Farm Business: A Lira farmer is turning coffee into a growing enterprise through seedlings, value addition and cooperative marketing, as the crop gains ground in Northern Uganda. Cost of Living: Traders are urging the Bank of Uganda to discuss alternatives to higher interest rates, warning that borrowing costs, fuel prices and the weak shilling are squeezing businesses. Banks are waiving some digital transaction fees to ease costs for customers. Infrastructure: Fresh concern surrounds defects at Isimba Dam, where erosion at the spillway raises flood risks as the rainy season approaches. Regional Trade: Uganda and Kenya have agreed to remove barriers affecting agricultural exports, while traders say border delays continue to hamper sales to South Sudan. Food Security: Ugandan scientists have introduced purple-fleshed sweet potato varieties rich in vitamins, aiming to improve nutrition.

Ebola Watch: Kenya confirmed four new Bundibugyo Ebola cases, taking its total to seven, including three health workers. All were already quarantined; Uganda has also begun a first-phase trial of an Ebola vaccine. Trade: Uganda and Kenya agreed to tackle barriers holding up agricultural exports, including discriminatory levies and delays at border posts. Infrastructure: Concerns are mounting over erosion at Isimba dam’s spillway as the rainy season approaches; officials inspected the site, but no repair timetable was announced. Economy: The Bank of Uganda raised its benchmark rate to 12% amid pressure on the shilling and inflation, while the government is seeking a new IMF programme to access cheaper financing. Food Security: Uganda unveiled three purple-fleshed sweet potato varieties, with stakeholders urging that research innovations reach farmers’ fields.

Currency and Financing: The Bank of Uganda says the shilling’s fall reflects a widening current-account deficit and weaker portfolio investment, not the Sovereignty Act. It has raised its policy rate to 12% to curb inflation and support the currency, while the government is seeking a new IMF programme for cheaper financing. Public Spending: Uganda released Shs21.82 trillion for the second quarter, including Shs10.75 trillion for debt repayments and refinancing. Oil and Trade: The $4 billion Hoima refinery is targeting a February 2027 investment decision, but key agreements and engineering work remain outstanding. President Museveni urged the EU to support local processing of African raw materials to create jobs and retain more value at home. Ebola Response: Uganda has begun a first-phase trial of an Oxford-developed vaccine against the Bundibugyo strain. The DRC outbreak has claimed more than 4,400 lives, while Kenya has confirmed a third case. Food Security: New purple-fleshed sweet potato varieties aim to boost nutrition and farmer incomes; officials are also promoting science-led farming and aquaculture as wild fish stocks decline.

Currency and Borrowing: The shilling remains under pressure, prompting emergency Bank of Uganda action amid reported capital flight. Uganda is also seeking more concessional IMF financing to improve its credit rating, while releasing Shs21.82 trillion for the second quarter. Farm Innovation: NARO has launched three purple-fleshed sweet potato varieties, with potential uses ranging from food security to flour and other products. Women farmers, meanwhile, need better access to finance and digital tools to benefit from AI and other technologies. Projects and Preparedness: The World Bank says bureaucracy is delaying Ugandan projects in health, education, water, energy and digital services. New weather stations and upgraded equipment are planned across eastern Uganda to improve flood warnings. Regional Health: Kenya has confirmed a third Bundibugyo Ebola case linked to the first patients. The initial case travelled through Uganda from the DRC, underscoring the importance of cross-border surveillance. Public Service: The Health Ministry says Arua doctor Robert Candia was not suspended after a minister’s on-camera announcement, stressing that disciplinary action must follow official procedures.