Author: Lucas Musisi

KAMPALA—In the financial year ending June 30, Rotarians in Uganda raised nearly Shs2.5 billion (USD 645,000) to support Rotary’s global community initiatives. This substantial contribution places Uganda as the highest-giving country in the region, second only to Nigeria in Africa, and among the top 30 contributors worldwide to The Rotary Foundation (TRF), according to a statement from Rotary District 9213. The Rotary Foundation allocates these funds to various causes, including providing clean water and sanitation, supporting education, preventing and treating diseases, saving mothers and children, fostering local economies, promoting peace, and protecting the environment. Rotary International has set an ambitious…

Kampala: Recent data from the 23rd edition of the Uganda Economic Update, published by the World Bank, highlights significant shifts in employment rates and access to essential commodities while providing a detailed analysis of the nation’s trade and external financing landscape. A phone survey conducted by the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) indicates that employment rates fell from 82 percent in October/November 2023 to 75 percent in January/February 2024. This decline is primarily attributed to seasonal changes and illnesses, with nonseasonal factors such as business closures, layoffs, and the inability to purchase inputs accounting for only 9 percent of the…

Kampala: Uganda’s persistent underspending on education, health, and social protection is set to severely impact the productivity of its next generation of workers, according to the 23rd edition of the Uganda Economic Update released by the World Bank. The report highlights significant concerns over the country’s future human capital, projecting that a Ugandan child born in 2020 will reach only 38 percent of her potential lifetime productivity due to inadequate health and education. The 2020 Human Capital Index (HCI) reveals troubling statistics, including Uganda’s highest stunting rate among children under age five and one of the lowest adult survival rates…

In the latest semi-annual Budget Monitoring Report released by the Ministry of Finance for the fiscal year 2023/24, significant payroll irregularities continue to challenge local governments (LGs) across Uganda, particularly in the health and education sectors. These issues are not new but are indicative of systemic weaknesses within decentralized payroll management. The decentralization of the payroll system was primarily aimed at ensuring timely payments of salaries and pensions, eliminating ghost employees, and fostering transparency. “The reforms were generally well-received, with most LGs managing to disburse salaries promptly by the 28th day of each month,” the report noted. However, numerous problems…

Kampala, Uganda: Uganda’s formal employment sector experienced a notable increase in April 2024, as captured under the PAYE (Pay As You Earn) register. According to the April 2024 Microeconomic Indicators and Developments (MIND) report, published on the Ministry of Finance portal, formal employment rose by 9.3%, from 460,407 employees in March 2024 to 503,129 in April 2024. This increase marks a significant improvement in the country’s employment landscape, reflecting positive economic developments and a growing workforce. “The MIND report, a monthly publication, provides a comprehensive analysis of key economic indicators updated on monthly, quarterly, and yearly frequencies.” The preparation of…

Kampala: Uganda’s economy heavily relies on micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), which constitute 90 percent of private-sector production and employ over 2.5 million people. These enterprises play a vital role in knowledge transfer, industrialization, export promotion, and domestic resource mobilization. Despite their significance, a vast majority of these enterprises operate in the informal sector, a fact highlighted by a 2021 study conducted by the Economic Policy Research Centre (EPRC) titled “Assessment of Informal Businesses in Uganda.” The EPRC study reveals that Uganda’s informal sector is characterized by two main types of informality: legal and fiscal. Legal informality is defined…

KAMPALA: Uganda’s failure to provide government-funded pre-primary education has far-reaching negative consequences, according to a report released by Human Rights Watch and the Initiative for Social and Economic Rights (ISER). The report, titled “Lay a Strong Foundation for All Children: Fees as a Discriminatory Barrier to Pre-Primary Education in Uganda,” reveals that the high fees for private preschools for children aged 3 to 5 create an insurmountable barrier for most families, particularly those in rural areas and with limited income. The 68-page report documents how the lack of access to free pre-primary education leads to poorer performance in primary school,…

Kampala: Uganda’s elderly population continues to face significant challenges, with many enduring various forms of abuse, neglect, and isolation due to negative cultural and societal attitudes, according to Dominic Mafwabi Gidudu, the Minister of State for Elderly Affairs. In a statement released on June 12 to commemorate World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, Gidudu highlighted the persistent and alarming trend of elder abuse. Speaking at the Uganda Media Centre, the minister referred to the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) 2021 report on gender-based violence, abuse, and neglect against older women. The report underscores the severity of the issue, documenting the widespread…

The Uganda Cranes are set to host Botswana on Friday, June 7 at Namboole, in a crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier. The home team enters this fixture with a perfect 3-0 head-to-head record against the Botswana Zebras, having triumphed in all their previous encounters. The Cranes kicked off their dominance on August 30, 2013, with a 3-1 victory in an international friendly in Gaborone, thanks to a brace from former skipper Emma Okwi and a goal from Frank Kalanda. On June 13, 2015, in the 2017 AFCON qualifiers, the Cranes secured a 2-0 win at Namboole, with goals from…

KAMPALA – The Uganda National Examination Board (UNEB) has announced that May 31, marks the final day for the normal registration period for the 2024 Primary Leaving Examination (PLE), Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) based on both the New and Old Curricula, and the Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE) exams. UNEB Executive Director Dan Odongo highlighted the importance of timely registration and urged all Heads of Centres to ensure their candidates are registered by midnight tonight. As of Friday morning, a total of 1,172,114 candidates had registered for the PLE, UCE (New Curriculum), and UACE exams. This figure includes…