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With just four days until the 91st Makerere Guild Elections, candidates took the stage in a high-stakes presidential debate filled with bold manifestos, passionate speeches, and shocking endorsements. The event saw NRM’s Mpamize Rwamigamba withdraw and back John Baptist Rukundo, sparking heated reactions from students. Meanwhile, candidates like Basalirwa Ismail, Job Mugabe, and Churchill Ssentamu made strong cases for leadership, addressing key issues like student welfare, tuition policies, and campus facilities. As tensions rise, students now face a crucial decision—who will lead Makerere’s next Guild?

A new report by the Economic Policy Research Centre (EPRC) reveals troubling conditions in Uganda’s hospitality sector. Workers earn just 31% of a living wage, with women making even less at 27%. Many endure 12-14 hour shifts with no overtime pay, lack employment contracts, and have no health insurance or pension. Despite the booming tourism industry, hospitality employees remain trapped in financial insecurity. Can policy reforms fix this broken system?

Uganda is facing a disturbing rise in student suicides, with recent reports revealing that 20% of teenagers in some schools have contemplated taking their own lives. Mental Health Uganda recorded 1,023 cases of suicidal ideation in 2024 alone, with academic pressure, bullying, and family instability among the leading causes. Experts are calling for urgent reforms, including decriminalizing suicide and integrating mental health support into schools.

Uganda Police has issued a public warning about a growing WhatsApp hijacking scam targeting mobile users. Fraudsters, using Kenyan phone numbers, are tricking victims into giving up verification codes, locking them out of their accounts, and sending fake money requests to their contacts. The suspects—identified as Dr. Howell Kirui, Dominic Kosek, Ezra, and Kibet Kinandet—persuade victims to send money, promising large payouts via MTN and Safaricom. Law enforcement urges users to enable two-step verification, ignore suspicious messages, and report fraud cases immediately.

Kampala’s Northern Bypass has become a hotspot for organized phone snatchers, preying on motorists stuck in traffic, particularly near the Busega Y Junction and Entebbe Highway exits. According to former Assistant Inspector General of Police Asan Kasingye, these criminal syndicates collaborate with street vendors, who scan vehicles for valuables and alert thieves. Operating with military-like precision, the thieves snatch phones and quickly escape using tunnels beneath the bypass, making it difficult for victims to pursue them. The lack of visible police patrols and traffic congestion further emboldens these criminals. As theft tactics become more sophisticated and organized, can law enforcement keep up?

Uganda has introduced the Traffic and Road Safety (Prescription of Speed Limits) Regulations, 2024, a new framework aimed at reducing road accidents and improving traffic management. The regulations set strict speed limits based on road type, with urban areas capped at 30 km/h, expressways at 100 km/h, and rural roads varying between 60-90 km/h depending on vehicle type. Violators face fines of up to UGX 600,000, with strict enforcement expected through the Express Penalty Scheme. While these regulations align Uganda with global road safety standards, enforcement challenges, infrastructure gaps, and public awareness remain key concerns. Will these new measures create safer roads, or will implementation hurdles limit their impact?

Basalirwa Ismael, a 3rd year law student, has been declared the People Power Makerere Chapter candidate for the 91st Guild Presidential Elections after winning the primary.

The Uganda Police Force Annual Crime Report 2024, released on February 19, 2025, reveals a 4.1% decline in overall crime, with reported cases dropping from 228,074 in 2023 to 218,715 in 2024. However, serious crimes like homicides, robbery, corruption, and terrorism increased, signaling ongoing security concerns. Land-related crimes surged by 46.5%, and economic and corruption cases rose by 1.6%, while theft and assault declined. Road crashes increased by 6.4%, with 5,144 fatalities recorded—a 7% rise from the previous year. Despite improvements in some areas, the report highlights the need for stronger enforcement, crime prevention strategies, and public awareness efforts to address emerging threats.

The Makerere University Guild elections have taken an unexpected turn with the entry of Moses Mufakinanye, an Assistant Resident District Commissioner (RDC) of Mbarara District and law student. Running under the slogan “The Tsunami: A Solution-Based Government,” he promises to restore the Guild’s integrity, challenge tuition policies, advocate for higher living-out allowances, and push for political inclusivity. His candidacy has sparked debate over his government ties, but he remains confident in his leadership credentials. “My appointment as RDC was a vote of confidence in my abilities. Makerereans should embrace me,” he asserts.

A new study by the Economic Policy Research Centre (EPRC) exposes major gaps in Uganda’s government-supported care services. Despite significant infrastructure investments, access to childcare, healthcare, and disability support remains limited due to long distances, high costs, and entrenched social norms discouraging their use. The report highlights the underutilization of government childcare facilities, with less than 7% of households accessing them, while gender norms continue to place the burden of care work on women. Although the P.O.W.E.R. intervention model helped shift public attitudes toward government-supported care, actual service uptake remains low. Experts stress that policy reform, behavioral change campaigns, and increased affordability are essential for progress.