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Makerere University has kicked off the 16 Days of Activism with one of its biggest mobilisations yet—a campus-wide walk against the rising wave of digital violence targeting women and girls. Students, diplomats, and UN officials joined forces under the theme “Stride for Change,” calling on young men to become allies in the fight against cyber harassment, online threats, and non-consensual image sharing.

As Uganda edges toward the 2026 general elections, authorities are racing to strengthen the country’s digital defenses—starting with the journalists who shape national conversation. At a packed training session in Nakawa, experts from NITA-U and the Personal Data Protection Office warned that cyberattacks, misinformation, and data breaches pose real threats to electoral integrity. Armed with practical skills and a new sense of urgency, reporters are now being positioned as frontline defenders in a rapidly shifting digital landscape.

Uganda has launched its largest civil service recruitment in years, opening nearly 7,000 new jobs across ministries, agencies, and local governments in a bid to revive struggling public institutions. The UGX 125 billion drive prioritizes teachers, health workers, and local administrators, aiming to rebuild trust in government and strengthen frontline services. But as optimism grows, so do the questions: can merit-based hiring and new training reforms repair a system long weakened by corruption, inefficiency, and neglect?

With more than 83,000 candidates vying for 45,500 seats, Uganda’s 2026 elections will be its most crowded ever. The surge signals an increasingly competitive democracy—but also exposes how politics has become both a lifeline and a livelihood in a nation where youth unemployment and disillusionment run deep.

After years of walking miles for a few litres of water, refugees in Uganda’s Kiryandongo settlement are finally getting relief. Two new solar-powered hybrid systems—built by UNICEF and funded by the EU—are pumping fresh water straight to local taps, transforming lives and ending long, exhausting treks for women and children.

A new national opinion poll reveals a familiar picture ahead of Uganda’s 2026 general elections: President Yoweri Museveni remains firmly in control, with 70% of the projected vote, while opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi—Bobi Wine—trails at 20%. The data underscores a growing divide between Uganda’s rural voters, who credit Museveni with stability and development, and its urban youth, who crave change but remain fragmented in their push for it

Uganda’s government is urging its local communication officers to take their message online, as millions of citizens—mostly young and tech-savvy—turn to social media for news and information. ICT Permanent Secretary Dr. Aminah Zawedde says it’s time for public servants to “speak to citizens where they are,” using platforms like TikTok, WhatsApp, and YouTube to tell real stories of government progress and counter misinformation.

At Makerere University’s 25th Media Convention, BBC’s Racheal Akidi delivered a stark warning: Uganda’s next election won’t just test democracy—it will test truth itself. As artificial intelligence blurs the line between fact and fabrication, Akidi urged journalists to act fast, build AI literacy, and restore public trust before deepfakes and disinformation shape the national narrative. “The challenge today,” she said, “is not access—it’s trust.”

Uganda’s first-ever WASH Impact and Influence Awards lit up Kampala on Friday night, honoring changemakers who have turned the struggle for clean water, sanitation, and hygiene into a story of innovation and hope. From Amref Health Africa and Rotary Uganda to Makerere University’s Antimicrobial Resistance Club, the winners embodied a quiet revolution—one where engineers, students, and community leaders are rewriting what progress looks like, one drop at a time.

The countdown is nearly over. Tomorrow night, Uganda’s first #WASHAwards roll out the red carpet for nominees from Viva con Agua, Rotary, Makerere’s AMR Club & more. Hours to go before WASH champions take center stag