Category: News

Parliament has adopted a report on the Uganda Railways Corporation (URC) with cases of financial mismanagement, missing wagons, disputed procurement deals and the loss and encroachment of railway land.

Presenting the report on Thursday, 03 September 2026, the Chairperson of the Committee on Physical Infrastructure, Hon. Mwine Mpaka said public funds meant to revive the railway had instead been used to benefit consultants and foreign firms.
“We have established a systematic failure where public funds meant to build local railway capacity and rehabilitate critical transport infrastructure were instead deployed to enrich individual consultants and foreign firms under the guise of technical expertise,” Mpaka said.

The report, adopted during a sitting chaired by Speaker Jacob Marksons Oboth focused on a Shs125 billion Spanish-funded railway project with a Shs20.8 billion capacity-building component.

The committee found that almost 90 per cent of the capacity building funds worth Euros4.33 million went to five foreign experts with some earning up to Euros32,500 (Shs140 million) a month.
The committee report also revealed that some URC employees were allegedly listed as foreign experts to access the higher payments while continuing to receive their normal local salaries of about Shs6.5 million.

The committee also found that Spanish firm, Consultrans S.A.U which designed the project feasibility study and assessed URC’s capacity needs, subsequently awarded the works contract to its sister company, Imathia Construction, through direct procurement.

Other irregularities included multi-day workshops being reduced to one-day refresher courses, Euros79,500 claimed for overseas back-office travel, project-funded second-hand pickup trucks being sold to staff and Euro60,000 meant for office furniture being used to equip offices occupied by Spanish consultants.

Mpaka said the findings raised serious questions about the management of URC assets.
“URC cannot account for its own land, its land titles or its rolling stock,” he said warning that the disappearance and disposal of wagons raised issues of criminal liability.

According to Mpaka, the corporation also holds 20,848 acres of land, of which 1,983 acres remain untitled and are affected by more than 24,653 encroachment cases.
“A further 62 railway land titles misplaced by the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development during office relocations have never been returned despite reminders dating back to 2016,” Mpaka added.

The committee found that only 269Km of URC’s 1,266Km network is operational while fleet availability stands at 22 per cent for locomotives, 36 per cent for coaches and 30 per cent for operational wagons.

It also found that 112 wagons remain unaccounted for after being routed to a “virtual station” in Nyahururu, Kenya under the tracking system used by the former Rift Valley Railways.

“URC sold 152 wagons domestically as scrap and another 28 in Tanzania, but official records could not account for 82 of the scrap wagons resulting in a direct financial loss of Shs2.4 billion,” the report states in part.

The adopted report directs the Inspectorate of Government (IGG) to investigate and prosecute members of URC’s Adhoc Board of Survey, Contracts Committee and Procurement and Disposal Unit implicated in the irregular disposal of scrap wagons and the resulting financial losses.

The IGG was also directed to investigate former URC Managing Director, David Musoke Bulega, contract managers and members of management over payments for unexecuted services, questionable travel claims, unprocured software, vehicle misappropriation and contractual terms that resulted in URC losing ownership of the concrete sleeper plant.

In one of the recommendations, the Ministries of Lands and that of Works and Transport were ordered to submit a joint railway-land recovery strategy within 30 days, including action, with police and military support where necessary, to remove 1,698 identified encroachers.

The Minister of State for Transport, Hon. Julius Maganda acknowledged the extent of URC’s decline but said government is now working to revive the corporation.
“Completely everything went down… Government is beginning to uplift Uganda Railways. Look at the report but support the agency because we are now moving in the right direction,” he said.

Hon. Joseph Ssewungu (NUP, Kalungu West) called for openness and frankness in discussions on the rehabilitation of the railway.

Speaker Oboth urged the ministry to replace URC’s old coaches and increase the frequency of passenger services.
“Replace those old coaches. I want to use that train to come to Parliament. We need some coaches. I have a stage just by my house,” he said.

The Minister of State for Industry said the Executive will respond to the report through a Treasury Memorandum.

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Government is drafting parole rules that will see eligible prisoners serve part of their sentences outside prison as one of the measures to reduce overcrowding.

The Prime Minister, Rt Hon. Robinah Nabbanja told Parliament that the proposed parole rules are being considered by the First Parliamentary Counsel, the office responsible for drafting and reviewing legislations.
“The Uganda Prisons Service is finalising the Parole Rules and Regulations, currently before the First Parliamentary Counsel to govern the safe release of eligible inmates,” said Nabbanja during the weekly Prime Minister’s time on Thursday, 03 September 2026.

Under the parole arrangement, the beneficiaries remain under supervision and may be required to report to a parole officer, maintain good conduct and participate in rehabilitation programmes. A prisoner who breaches the conditions may be returned to custody.

The Prime Minister was responding to Kampala District Woman MP, Hon. Shamim Malende who raised concern over extreme overcrowding and prolonged detention of suspects on remand.

Malende said delays in the judicial system are causing suspects to remain in prison longer than the sentences they would ordinarily receive if convicted.
“We have people who should serve six months but end up spending three years on remand because their cases are not heard in time,” Malende said.

Nabbanja added that the Prisons Service is working with Justice, Law and Order stakeholders to expand non-custodial sentences where punishments are served outside prison including community service. These are applied to offenders whose detention may not be necessary.

She stated that video conferencing systems have been installed in 21 prisons across the country.
Nabbanja named Luzira Upper Prison, Arua, Mbarara, Lira, Soroti, Fort Portal and Kabale Districts as some of the detention areas that allow prisoners to appear before judicial officers through video links without being transported to court.

“There is also a programme to expand prisons infrastructure with construction ongoing at several prisons including Sembabule, Lwengo, Kabula, Buwama, Paidha, Nakasongola, Ndorwa, Murchison Bay, Arua, Kitgum, Rakai and Mutukula, she said adding that, ’in the 2026/2027 financial year, government plans to construct 37 prison wards in Mityana, Mbarara and Kibaale Districts’.

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KAMPALA, Uganda – The declaration by General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces and head of the Patriotic League of Uganda to contest the presidency in 2031 has firmly anchored a new chapter in the nation’s political trajectory. Coming after years of calculated positioning, grassroots mobilization, and intense domestic debate, the announcement brings the question of long-term succession into sharp focus.

Beyond Kampala’s domestic political arena, the prospective leadership transition carries profound implications for Uganda’s foreign policy, regional diplomacy, and international economic standing.

For years, Gen Kainerugaba’s diplomatic footprint has been unique. Rather than operating strictly through traditional diplomatic channels, his approach has frequently blended military diplomacy with direct, high-level personal networking across the African continent and beyond.

Having interacted extensively with an array of African heads of state, regional powerbrokers, corporate executives, managing directors, and international military commanders, his diplomatic style is distinctively personal and pragmatic. In regions marked by complex security dynamics from the Great Lakes to the Horn of Africa, these direct relationships have often served as backchannels to ease regional tensions, mend fractured interstate borders, and align strategic defense cooperation.

Continuity Meets Pragmatic Realpolitik

For international partners, foreign investors, and multinational corporations, a prospective transition anchored by a seasoned military chief signals a deep commitment to state security and regional stability. Projections suggest that Uganda’s core foreign policy pillars such as active participation in regional peace missions, counter-terrorism frameworks, and open-door trade policies will remain steady.

Economic Diplomacy and Investment Confidence
The extensive network Kainerugaba has built with corporate CEOs and managing directors provides an intriguing lens for future economic projections.

Business communities look for predictability and security. A leadership focused on solidifying commercial ties, infrastructure development, and cross-border trade through personal rapport with Africa’s economic leaders could translate into more aggressive public-private partnerships and foreign direct investment.

Strategic Autonomy and Regional Influence
With strong ties to diverse military and political heads across the continent, a future administration under Kainerugaba would likely maintain Uganda’s role as a formidable anchor of regional security. Kampala’s strategic weight in multilateral blocs like the East African Community (EAC) and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) would continue to prioritize assertive, defense-backed diplomacy.

As the road to 2031 unfolds, the intersection of domestic political mobilization and an established network of continental alliances will heavily define how Uganda projects its influence outward balancing traditional statecraft with a modern, networked approach to leadership.

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The writer is a Public Relations Manager at Victoria University, a foreign affairs analyst, senior journalist and career diplomat.

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Muslims across Uganda on Friday conducted special prayers for rain, beseeching Almighty Allah to forgive their sins and bless the country with beneficial rains to revive crops, vegetation and water sources for people and livestock.
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The prayers, held in different parts of the country, came amid prolonged hot and dry weather that has affected communities and raised concerns over water availability and agricultural production.
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‎At Gaddafi National Mosque in Old Kampala, the main prayers were led by Sheikh Imran Abdnoor Ssali, the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC) Secretary for Religious Affairs, shortly after the Friday congregational prayers.

‎‎The prayers were preceded by a sermon delivered by Sheikh Hussein Juma Bulafu, who urged Muslims to strengthen unity and brotherhood among believers. Sheikh Bulafu cited verses from the Holy Quran and sayings of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), emphasising the importance of faith, repentance and solidarity among Muslims.
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‎The supplications were followed by reports of light rainfall in several parts of the country, including Kampala, Wakiso, Jinja and Mbale, offering relief from the hot and dry conditions.
‎‎The prayers brought together senior Muslim leaders from various UMSC structures, government officials and other faithful.
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‎The UMSC Mufti of Uganda, His Eminence Dr Sheikh Shaban Ramadhan Mubaje, was unable to attend the prayers as he travelled to Cairo, Egypt, where he is attending an international conference.
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The Deputy Mufti, Sheikh Muhammad Ali Waiswa, and the Second Deputy Mufti, Dr Sheikh Hafiz Muhammad Haruna Bukenya, were also absent due to urgent official engagements.
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By Brian Mugenyi

KAMPALA — While the 2031 general elections may seem distant, Oscar Francisco Mutebi is already laying the groundwork for a different kind of leadership in Masaka district. The Private Secretary to Vice President Emeritus Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi believes that driving grassroots economic development—and placing humanity at the core of governance—cannot wait for an election year.

Mutebi’s political philosophy centers on continuous community engagement rather than seasonal campaign promises. Through targeted interventions spanning local commerce, youth sports, educational technology, and agriculture, his strategy prioritizes immediate service delivery over partisan rhetoric.

“It is better to deliver services to people than to walk the grapevine of politics,” Mutebi says. “Politics comes and goes, but service remains. The most important thing is whether people’s lives are improving.”

At the Diimo Landing Site, a vital economic hub on the shores of Lake Victoria, Mutebi’s approach translates into direct engagement with traders, fishermen, and small-business owners. Rather than treating the landing site as a mere political venue, he views it as a micro-economy requiring practical support for household income generation, youth opportunity creation, and enhanced service access.

His youth empowerment strategy expands to the sports arena and local schools. Through the Buddu County football team structure under Jude Muleke, Mutebi provided essential sports equipment to aspiring athletes at the Buddu County Arena. He framing youth talent not as a charity case, but as a critical socio-economic investment.

“Young people have talent, but talent needs support. When you give young people opportunities, you give society a better future,” Mutebi explains.

This philosophy extends directly into the classroom. At St. Mugaga Secondary School, Mutebi donated a flat-screen television, allowing students from St. Mugaga and nearby Molly and Paul Schools to watch major international events together. Beyond providing recreation, the initiative serves as a tool for digital exposure and global awareness. Deo Ssembatya, Head Prefect at St. Mugaga, noted that the gesture broadened the students’ horizons beyond traditional textbooks, helping them feel connected to global affairs.

In the broader Greater Masaka region, Mutebi’s economic blueprint focuses heavily on commercial agriculture, specifically encouraging communities to scale up coffee farming to achieve sustainable household wealth. Coffee production, he emphasizes, remains the primary engine for funding health care, education, and long-term security across local homesteads.

While Mutebi continues to participate in National Resistance Movement (NRM) mobilization and grassroots political structures, his overall campaign strategy redefines how political success should be evaluated ahead of 2031. For Mutebi, effective representation is measured by tangible improvements in local livelihoods, expanded youth opportunities, and sustained community presence long before voters return to the ballot box.

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