Kampala, Uganda; Mbarara is becoming an increasingly important market for property and infrastructure investment in Western Uganda, driven by its role as a commercial center and its growing population and business activity. This growth is creating demand for housing, commercial developments and infrastructure, while opening new opportunities for investors across the region.
These opportunities will come under discussion at the Ankole Real Estate & Infrastructure Conference, part of Knight Frank Uganda’s Real Estate Development and Investment Summit (REDi) initiative, scheduled for 21 August 2026 at Igongo Country Hotel in Mbarara.
The conference follows the successful Acholi Real Estate and Infrastructure Conference held in Gulu, which brought together developers, financiers, urban planners, policymakers and other stakeholders to examine the investment potential of Northern Uganda and the financing needed to support its growth. The discussions highlighted opportunities in residential housing, logistics, warehousing, hospitality and student accommodation, while underscoring the importance of appropriate financing in converting investment potential into sustainable development.
For Housing Finance Bank, the Gulu engagement demonstrated the value of bringing financiers and other industry players into regional conversations on real estate development. The Bank will carry this conversation forward to Mbarara, where the focus will shift to the opportunities and financing needs emerging in Western Uganda.
Mbarara’s position as a major commercial centre serving the wider Ankole region makes it an important market in Uganda’s evolving real estate landscape. Increasing business activity and investment are driving demand for residential and commercial property, creating opportunities for developers while also raising questions around financing, infrastructure and planned growth.
Housing Finance Bank will participate in the conference, contributing to discussions on how financing can support this growth and make property investment more accessible. The Bank’s approach is centred on developing solutions that reflect how Ugandans build and invest rather than relying solely on traditional financing models.
“As regional towns such as Mbarara continue to grow, the demand for housing and property investment is growing alongside them. At Housing Finance Bank, our role is to ensure that individuals, families and investors have access to financing solutions that enable them to participate in this growth. Whether through mortgages, incremental housing finance or construction financing, we are committed to making homeownership and property development more accessible while supporting the sustainable growth of Uganda’s real estate sector,” said Dorothy Namutebi, Head Mortgages and Consumer Banking at Housing Finance Bank.
One example is Zimba Mpola Mpola, the Bank’s incremental housing loan, which enables customers to finance construction in phases rather than taking on a large mortgage upfront. This allows customers to build progressively in line with their income and financial capacity.
The Mbarara conference will build on the momentum generated in Gulu, providing a platform for stakeholders to examine the region’s investment potential and the practical measures required to support its next phase of development.
For Housing Finance Bank, the engagement is part of its broader commitment to supporting Uganda’s housing and real estate sector while deepening engagement with regional markets and the people, businesses and investors driving their growth.
As the conversation moves from Gulu to Mbarara, the focus remains on turning regional investment potential into tangible development through stronger collaboration, innovative financing and more responsive approaches to housing and infrastructure.
KAMPALA: President Yoweri Museveni has pardoned scores of former Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) employees who were dismissed following a corruption crackdown at Entebbe International Airport, with the affected workers now pushing for the Presidential decision to be formally implemented so they can access their terminal and retirement benefits.
According to a document seen by RedPepper, the former staff claim that President Museveni pardoned them following a meeting on March 5, 2026, after they petitioned Parliament over what they describe as unfair dismissals arising from a June 2025 directive on alleged corruption at Entebbe International Airport.
The workers say the President’s intervention offered them a lifeline after months of unemployment, financial distress and uncertainty over their benefits.
However, they claim that despite the Presidential pardon, no formal administrative instrument has been issued to operationalise the decision, leaving them stuck outside UCAA and unable to fully access the benefits arising from their years of service.
In a petition dated July 16, 2026, addressed to the Speaker of Parliament and seen by RedPepper, the former employees are now asking Parliament to intervene and ensure the Presidential decision is implemented.
M7’S PARDON
The former employees say their battle began after President Museveni issued a directive on June 25, 2025, concerning alleged corruption at Entebbe International Airport.
According to the petitioners, a list containing 152 officers was reportedly generated for action.
However, they claim only 80 employees (low level) were eventually issued with dismissal letters, while other officers, including senior officials, directors, managers and employees from certain departments, remained in employment.
The former workers want Parliament to establish why the final list was reduced from the reported 152 and whether the disciplinary process was applied equally across the Authority.
Their biggest breakthrough came after they took the matter to Parliament.
They first presented their grievances to Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa, after which the matter was referred to Transport Minister Fred Byamukama.
The petitioners say the Minister intervened and helped facilitate their meeting with President Museveni on March 5, 2026.
It was after that meeting, they claim, that the President pardoned the affected employees.
But according to the former workers, the Presidential pardon has not translated into an actual administrative remedy.
They say there is no formal instrument directing UCAA on how to implement the decision.
CONTROVERSY OVER THE MEETING AND FOLLOW-UP CLAIMS
However, conflicting accounts have emerged regarding the alleged State House meeting.
RedPepper reached out to Deputy Press Secretary and Senior Presidential Advisor on Press and Mobilisation, Hajji Farouk Kirunda, who denied that the meeting ever took place.
However, one of the affected staff members who spoke to RedPepper insisted that the meeting did take place in the morning hours of March 5, 2026.
According to the same sources, before proceeding to State House, the delegation reportedly first met former Works and Transport Minister Gen. Katumba Wamala, who is said to have bade them farewell and encouraged them to plead their case before the President.
Those who attended the meeting say it lasted about 20 minutes, and that Minister Byamukama allegedly instructed them not to say anything during the meeting hence acting as their spokesperson since they were in a vulnerable position.
There are also allegations that the President may have followed up the pardon directive with a written communication, but that the document is allegedly being held within Ministry of Works corridors and has not been publicly acted upon.
Further allegations have emerged that some affected staff are being approached and asked to accept a 12% deduction from their retirement benefits as a condition for being fully pardoned and processed.
The workers want Parliament to investigate these claims, which they say amount to coercion and unfair treatment.
RedPepper reached out to Ministry of Works spokesperson Allan Kyobe, but he did not respond to inquiries.
Minister Fred Byamukama was also contacted but had not responded by press time.
The Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) was similarly contacted for comment, but had not issued a response by publication time.
With many of the affected workers having served UCAA and the aviation sector for periods ranging from six to 34 years, the former employees say the prolonged uncertainty has left them facing severe financial hardship.
Some have outstanding bank loans, while others have struggled to pay school fees and meet basic household expenses.
Those who occupied UCAA houses were also ordered to vacate, according to the petition.
The workers argue that their age, specialised aviation skills and limited employment opportunities in the sector have made it extremely difficult for them to secure alternative jobs.
They are therefore asking for appropriate remedies, including reinstatement or any other relief Parliament considers just.
They also want the authorities to ensure that the Presidential pardon is implemented and that those entitled to their terminal and retirement benefits are allowed to access them without further delays.
‘WE SERVED UGANDA FOR DECADES’
The former employees insist that they were not simply casual workers who could be discarded after years of service.
They say many had served the country for decades and received specialised training locally and internationally in aviation security, firefighting, airport operations and other areas.
Their petition cites their participation in major national and international events, including Papal visits, Presidential visits, Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) preparations, the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Summit and international aviation audits.
They also argue that many affected employees had strong performance records.
Among those cited is Richard Odwong, whom the petition says was voted the Authority’s best-performing employee for three consecutive years, yet was eventually dismissed for alleged incompetence.
Another employee (names withheld), is described as having rejected and reported an alleged bribery attempt involving members of the Al-Shabaab terrorist group and subsequently receiving a certificate of recognition from UCAA.
The petitioners argue that such examples contradict the suggestion that all affected workers were incompetent.
FIRED OVER LIFT, FIRE AND OTHER INCIDENTS
The former employees also challenge the circumstances under which some of them were accused of incompetence.
They particularly question allegations linked to the incident in which Mama Maria Nyerere was trapped in a lift at Entebbe International Airport for about four minutes.
The petitioners argue that operational staff who were dismissed were not responsible for procurement, installation, maintenance or technical management of the lifts.
They want Parliament to establish who was responsible for maintenance and whether previous lift failures had been reported and acted upon.
They similarly challenge accountability arising from a cargo fire incident, arguing that firefighters responded to the emergency under difficult conditions and that the availability of equipment, management decisions and response coordination should have been considered before individual workers were blamed.
‘WE WERE NOT GIVEN A FAIR SHOT’
The petitioners further accuse UCAA of failing to provide some affected workers with the UNEB verification report that allegedly formed the basis of the disciplinary action.
They say employees were instead served with letters demanding explanations, followed by disciplinary hearings and dismissal letters.
The former workers also question the composition of the disciplinary committee, claiming that some members themselves were under investigation at the time.
They further say a minority report containing alternative recommendations was submitted by a committee member representing the workers, but was not considered.
The workers want Parliament to investigate how the final list of dismissed employees was generated and why some officers were excluded from the disciplinary action.
APPEALS DELAYED
The former employees say they exercised their right to appeal under the UCAA Collective Bargaining Agreement, which provides for appeals within specified timelines.
However, they claim their appeals were only heard approximately seven months later.
They further complain that many appellants have not received formal feedback or final decisions.
According to the petition, the workers exhausted internal administrative channels and also engaged Government officials, but say they were repeatedly assured that their grievances would be addressed.
They claim those assurances did not produce a resolution.
M7’S PARDON NOW THE BIG TEST
The former employees say the President’s intervention should now be translated into action.
They are asking Parliament to examine why the Presidential pardon has allegedly remained unimplemented and to recommend appropriate remedies.
They also want Parliament to investigate whether the dismissal process complied with the UCAA collective bargaining agreement, whether all implicated officers were treated equally and whether responsibility for the disputed incidents was fairly assigned.
For the workers, the issue is now bigger than the original dismissal.
It is about whether a Presidential intervention made after they personally met the President will finally unlock the door to their livelihoods and benefits.
The petitioners say they remain ready to serve Uganda if given the opportunity, but if reinstatement is not possible, they want their legitimate entitlements processed without further obstruction.
“We are not seeking special treatment. We are seeking fairness, justice and an opportunity to have our matter determined objectively,” the former employees state in their petition.
They conclude with an appeal to Parliament: the accusers have been heard, and now the accused want their day before the relevant committee.
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Parliament has approved a motion calling for improved geriatric healthcare and stronger social protection for older persons with legislators pressing government to honour its commitment to increase the Senior Citizens Grant for the Elderly(SAGE) from Shs25,000 to Shs35,000 a month.
Sironko District Woman Representative, Hon. Asha Mafabi moved the motion on Tuesday, 18 August 2026 amid concerns that Uganda’s growing population of older persons is struggling to access specialised healthcare, social protection and money meant to support them.
The debate also exposed the gap between government’s announcement of a higher SAGE and its implementation with the Minister of State for Elderly Affairs, Hon. Jacqueline Mbabazi admitting that the Shs35,000 payments was not provided for in the 2026/27 national budget.
She said government nevertheless needed to find the money because older persons were supporting millions of dependants. “The people above 60 are looking after families with a population of 7.2 million people and they are the only ones looking after these people. And therefore, it is important to get that Shs35,000,” she said. The motion noted that Uganda has more than 1.4 million people aged 60 and above many of whom face age related and non-communicable diseases, including hypertension, diabetes, arthritis, cancer and dementia.
Mafabi called for dedicated geriatric units, trained health workers, age friendly facilities, regular health check-ups and expanded community and home based healthcare, particularly in rural and hard-to-reach areas.
MPs also raised concerns about the accessibility of SAGE payments.
Kole South MP, Hon. Boniface Okot said older persons often travel long distances to receive the grant and urged government to explore alternative payment platforms. “Government should consider accessible platforms like mobile money so that the older people do not travel these long distances,” Okot said.
He also questioned the cost of administering the programme saying about Shs30 billion of the approximately Shs120 billion allocated to SAGE goes towards administration.
Okot called for investment in specialist training noting that Uganda currently lacks institutions offering geriatric medicine at master’s level.
The shortage of specialists was echoed by Hon. Mbabazi who said Uganda has only three geriatric nurses and no formal training programme for geriatric healthcare personnel.
“As a ministry, we are engaging the Ministry of Health so that we discuss this area of geriatric care,” she said adding that government is also engaging Makerere University to introduce geriatric doctors and nursing training.
The Chief Government Whip, Hon. Jane Ruth Aceng however, said geriatric care had already been incorporated into the National Development Plan IV, including provisions for training doctors and nurses.
Aceng also cautioned against creating a health insurance scheme exclusively for older persons arguing that a national scheme based on solidarity will provide better protection.
“If we are to have an insurance targeted only to the elderly, as a country we are likely to fail. We need an insurance scheme that covers all of us, including the children because the principle is solidarity,” she added.
Rukiga County MP, Hon. Patrick Kiconco said reducing the eligibility age to 65, as previously announced by government will increase beneficiaries to about one million and require substantially more funding. He proposed a phased expansion beginning with older age groups before eventually covering everyone aged 65 and above.
Kiconco said the current programme supports about 316,000 older persons and warned that the 65-year threshold requires an additional Shs252 billion bringing the total annual requirement to Shs373 billion if the grant is set at Shs35,000.
Older Persons Representative, Hon. Catherine Mavenjina Akumu urged government to introduce health insurance for older persons as they await the promised increase in SAGE.
Ntenjeru County South MP, Hon. Fred Baseke described support for older persons as a national obligation saying many remained in poverty while dealing with chronic illnesses and limited access to healthcare.
“Investing in older persons is not a burden on government. It is an investment in dignity, welfare and social stability,” Baseke said.
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State House Comptroller, Ms. Jane Barekye has cautioned beneficiaries of the Presidential Industrial Skilling Hubs against misusing government start-up loans, warning that President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni will increase funding to graduates’ SACCOs only if the existing revolving funds are properly managed.
Ms. Barekye specifically warned beneficiaries against spending the loans on non-productive activities, including alcohol consumption and bride price payments.
“The President is going to add more money to these SACCOs. What we need from you is financial discipline. First invest the money in the rightful projects. After your businesses grow and start making profits, you can then use the proceeds for things like bride price, but not these loans. Please don’t play with the President’s money,” she said.
She made the remarks on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, during a stakeholders’ engagement at the Tooro Zonal Presidential Industrial Skilling Hub in Kyenjojo District.
The engagement brought together State House officials, political and technical leaders, SACCO executives and beneficiaries to review the performance of the skilling programme and its revolving fund.
The Tooro Zonal Hub serves beneficiaries from Kyenjojo, Kyegegwa, Kamwenge, Fort Portal City, Bunyangabu and Kabarole.
Ms. Barekye said the Shs50 million provided to each district SACCO was a pilot intervention intended to help graduates translate skills acquired at the Presidential Industrial Skilling Hubs into sustainable income-generating enterprises.
She said the State House was jointly reviewing the programme with local leaders to assess whether the funds were achieving their intended purpose and identify challenges affecting beneficiaries.
“This is a project we lead together with you. We want to hear from you about what we are doing and how we are performing. We are here to review all that with you,” she said.
Ms. Barekye urged leaders to closely monitor district SACCOs to ensure funds released by the President reach the intended beneficiaries and are invested in the enterprises for which they were borrowed.
She also disclosed that a finance manager had been deployed to strengthen supervision of SACCO operations and track how beneficiaries utilise the revolving funds.
Mr. Ronald Aroho, the newly deployed finance manager, pledged to work closely with SACCO leaders, district commercial officers and other stakeholders to improve accountability and ensure the funds deliver tangible results.
Ms. Barekye commended district commercial officers for their role in guiding and monitoring SACCOs and directed Mr. Aroho to work with them rather than create a parallel system.
She further encouraged district leaders to conduct unannounced visits to the hub to assess training, management and overall implementation.
“This is your project; don’t let it die. The President has invested a lot in it,” she said.
Ms. Barekye challenged local governments to deliberately support graduates by awarding them contracts and tenders, including opportunities to supply school desks, beds and other products they are trained to produce.
She said where contracts are too large for individual graduates, contractors should be encouraged to employ youth trained at the Presidential Industrial Skilling Hubs during implementation.
The Comptroller also encouraged communities to utilise the hub’s four-acre model farm to acquire practical knowledge in commercial agriculture, including fish farming and other enterprises.
The meeting also reviewed the performance of graduates’ SACCOs.
Mr. Mulungi Kenneth, chairperson of the Kabarole District Hub SACCO, said 36 graduates had so far accessed the revolving fund but noted that lack of National Identification Cards among some beneficiaries was limiting access to the funds.
Kamwenge District Hub SACCO chairperson, Mr. Akampulira Everest said 13 beneficiaries had received loans and invested them in their intended projects.
He commended President Museveni for providing the start-up capital but said registration requirements, including access to Wendi services, remained challenging for some youth without National IDs.
SACCO leaders appealed to the State House to review some of the loan access requirements, arguing that graduates without National IDs should not be entirely excluded if their identities and graduation status can be verified.
They said easing the bottlenecks would prevent funds from remaining idle in SACCO accounts while trained youth struggle to access capital.
Graduates testify to impact:
Several beneficiaries told the meeting that the combination of vocational training and start-up capital had transformed their lives.
Ms. Kabasiita Janet, a tailoring graduate from Kitagwenda, said she previously had little hope of finding employment because she lacked formal academic qualifications.
After completing her training, she received a Shs560,000 SACCO loan, which enabled her to start earning from her skills.
However, she appealed for an increase in the loan amount, saying Shs560,000 was insufficient to buy a sewing machine, pay rent and purchase enough materials to establish a fully equipped tailoring business.
Despite the challenges, Ms. Kabasiita said the programme had restored her confidence and improved her standing in the community.
She added that her nationally recognised certificate had opened new opportunities, including leadership roles in her church.
Mr. Abenitwe Jordan, a carpentry graduate from Kitagwenda, said he received Shs1.35 million and used it to establish his own workshop.
He said he produces beds at a cost of about Shs180,000 and sells them between Shs250,000 and Shs350,000, depending on the design. He has also diversified into poultry and piggery.
“Since my childhood, I had never put on a coat and tie, but because of this programme, I can now wear this attire,” he said, noting that the initiative had given him both skills and capital to improve his life.
For Ms. Atuyambe Hannah of Katunguru in Kyenjojo, the programme provided an alternative to seeking work abroad.
After completing Senior Four, she said her father had encouraged her to travel abroad for domestic work, a proposal she was uncomfortable with.
She later heard about the Tooro Zonal Presidential Industrial Skilling Hub on radio, enrolled in 2023 and completed her tailoring course in July 2024.
Ms. Atuyambe said the hub’s mindset-change training complemented her vocational skills and shaped her entrepreneurial outlook.
After graduation, she received a Shs560,000 SACCO loan and started a tailoring business before expanding into selling household items.
She now earns between Shs250,000 and Shs300,000 per month, supports her family and saves part of her income.
Leaders commend programme:
Bunyangabu Resident District Commissioner, Mr. Nicholas Kamukama commended the mindset-change component of the programme, saying it had produced disciplined and responsible graduates.
He suggested that similar engagements be extended to leaders, noting that some government programmes are undermined when leaders politicise them instead of mobilising communities to benefit.
Kyenjojo Resident District Commissioner, Ms. Ayesiga Julian Sarah welcomed the establishment of the four-acre model farm at the hub but urged State House to consider introducing irrigation to maintain productivity during dry seasons.
Kabarole Deputy RDC, Ms. Benuza Jane Atenyi said the hub was strengthening household incomes by equipping both women and men with employable skills.
The stakeholders’ meeting formed part of State House’s ongoing assessment of the Presidential Industrial Skilling Hubs, graduate SACCOs and model farms, while gathering feedback from beneficiaries and local leaders.
President Museveni introduced the revolving fund after graduates raised concerns that, despite acquiring vocational skills, many lacked capital to start businesses.
The government subsequently injected Shs50 million into each district graduates’ SACCO, from which beneficiaries access loans to establish income-generating enterprises.
The fund operates on a revolving basis, with beneficiaries expected to repay their loans so that other graduates can also benefit.
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The State House Education Desk has warned school administrators against imposing illegal charges on learners enrolled under the Government’s Universal Primary Education (UPE) and Universal Secondary Education (USE) programmes, saying such practices undermine President Yoweri Museveni’s education legacy and deny vulnerable children access to schooling.
Mr. Jimmy Nambiro, Head of the Education Desk and Private Secretary to President Museveni on Education and Skilling, said the Government introduced UPE in 1997 and later expanded the free education programme through USE in 2007 to increase access to education for children from poor and vulnerable households.
Nambiro made the remarks on Wednesday 19th August, 2026 at his office on Lumumba Avenue in Kampala.
He described universal free education as one of the flagship programmes of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) Government and a key intervention aimed at ensuring that children from both rural and urban communities can access education.
“The Universal Free Education is a flagship programme for the NRM Government that directly addresses the needs of education for the vulnerable poor Ugandans in both rural and urban areas,” Nambiro said.
He said the government has continued to allocate resources to the education sector through the Ministry of Education and Sports to meet the infrastructure, human resource, teaching materials, facilitation, training and capacity-building needs of UPE and USE schools.
Mr. Nambiro noted that Uganda’s education system is supported by legal frameworks, including the Government White Paper and the Education Act, 2008, which provide the basis for education as a fundamental right.
Millions have benefited:
According to Mr. Nambiro, the introduction of universal free education has significantly expanded access to schooling across the country.
He said the number of school-going children has increased from about 2.5 million before the introduction of universal free education to approximately 10 million currently accessing education.
He added that the programmes have contributed to improvements in literacy levels, which he put at approximately 85 percent.
The government, he said, currently supports more than 12,551 primary schools and 1,615 secondary schools across the country.
Mr. Nambiro said the figures demonstrate the government’s commitment to expanding access to education and ensuring that children from disadvantaged communities are not excluded because of poverty.
Illegal charges undermine free education:
However, Mr. Nambiro expressed concern over what he described as illegal charges imposed by some school administrators, Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs) and school boards.
He said such practices have gradually undermined the concept of universal free education, forcing poor parents to meet costs that are supposed to be covered by the government.
Among the alleged irregularities, he cited illegal school fees and development charges, demands for examination registration fees, ghost learners on school enrolment lists, ghost teachers and the alleged misuse or lack of accountability for capitation grants provided to schools.
Mr. Nambiro particularly criticised schools that charge parents for Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) registration, saying the government pays examination registration fees for candidates at Primary Seven, O-Level and A-Level.
“These are serious barriers to the access of free Universal Education meant to benefit the poor communities and they are against the law of Education Act of 2008 and the Presidential directives issued from time to time not to send any child under Universal Programme out of school,” he said.
He warned that the illegal practices of a few individuals risk damaging public confidence in the government and creating the impression that presidential commitments on free education are not being honoured.
State House intensifies monitoring:
Mr. Nambiro said the State House Education Desk has stepped up efforts to monitor implementation of UPE and USE and ensure that children are not pushed out of school because of illegal charges.
He called on District Education Officers, school inspectors, Resident District Commissioners (RDCs), District Internal Security Officers (DISOs), Gombolola Internal Security Officers (GISOs), religious and cultural leaders, as well as political leaders from Local Council I level to Parliament, to help protect the programme.
He said the various stakeholders have a responsibility to identify and report school administrators who violate government directives and education laws.
Mr. Nambiro warned that school dropouts resulting from illegal charges and other barriers to education could contribute to wider social problems, including teenage pregnancies and drug abuse among young people.
He said preventing children from accessing education should therefore be treated as a serious societal concern requiring collective action.
Mr. Nambiro revealed that the State House Education Desk is working with different Government ministries and agencies, including the Anti-Corruption Unit under the Office of the President, to investigate reported irregularities in schools.
He said communities are also increasingly reporting cases directly through the State House Education telephone line, 071 6095366, which he said enables the desk to respond to complaints and initiate follow-up action.
According to Mr. Nambiro, several head teachers, school inspectors and District Education Officers are currently facing investigations over alleged violations, with those found culpable expected to face disciplinary or legal action.
“The State House Education Desk is to continue vigorously with field monitoring exercises in all schools across the whole country to ensure compliance,” he said.
Mr. Nambiro further emphasised that the universal free education programme was introduced primarily to support children from poor and vulnerable families.
He warned that anyone found charging learners under the government’s free education programmes would face the law.
“His Excellency the President of the Republic of Uganda did not introduce Universal Free Education for the rich. Therefore, anyone found charging for free Universal Education at all levels will face the law,” he said.
Mr. Nambiro urged Ugandans to work with the State House Education Desk by reporting cases of illegal charges and other practices that prevent children from benefiting fully from UPE and USE.
He said continued cooperation between communities, education officials, security agencies and political and cultural leaders would be critical in protecting access to education and preserving the objectives of the government’s universal education programme.
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President Yoweri Museveni’s enduring spirit of humanity, foresight and concern for Uganda’s future have given birth to one of the most empowering and lifesaving initiatives in Uganda’s history that I know. That is the Presidential Initiative on Skilling the Girl/Boy Child (PISGBC), an initiative launched in 2017 to provide vulnerable young people in Kampala with practical skills for life and prosperity.
The programme targets young people who have been excluded from conventional education because of poverty, school dropout, lack of qualifications or difficult circumstances.
I can only compare PISGBC to Universal Primary Education (UPE) and Universal Secondary Education (USE), programmes introduced to make accessible free primary and secondary education to the population of school- going age Ugandans that would otherwise be locked out of the opportunity, left to the vagaries of life in a harshly competitive world.
Without UPE and USE, I can’t accurately draw a model of the likely situation that Uganda would be in. Probably, a broken country of wanton delinquency and despair!
UPE and USE have processed millions of young Ugandans through the formal education system, from where they have gone on to serve society alongside those from well-to-do backgrounds. Nevertheless, despite the existence of the two affirmative programmes, alongside the expansion of educational opportunities at all levels including technical, vocational and university, there was a residual category of vulnerable young Ugandans that couldn’t benefit from all those and were headed for a life of total destitution at the hands of an unforgiving society.
These were young people that had totally missed out on enrollment in those programmes or failed to complete them (for various reasons) and who had given up on life. Some were into all sorts of risky engagements including crime while others were being forced into early marriages and at the mercy of human trafficking gangs. The most wretched of the bazzukulu (grandchildren)!!
So, in 2017, thirty years after the rollout of UPE, PISGBC was introduced to give those a second, or perhaps, a third chance in life, as a direct intervention by the President for Uganda’s young people to be equipped with practical skills to empower them to participate meaningfully in the economy, as part of the broader mission of government to lift people out of poverty.
Led by Dr. Faith Katana, PISGBC has seen 10,000s finish their training and go on to establish their own successful income-generating ventures. Youths that would be a nuisance to society, putting pressure on parents and government for jobs are able to start their own business and create jobs for others like them. Ugandans cottage industry is already reaping big.
Last week, PISGBC registered a fresh batch of students, where more than 4,500 young people currently registered across six Kampala skilling centres of Mulago, Subway, Kikoni, Namuwongo, Mutundwe, Nakulabye, Luzira, Wabigalo, Kigowa and Wandegeya. There is a strong demand for the programme, which provides vulnerable young people with free practical vocational training. The skills on offer being tailoring, bakery, carpentry, construction, electrical installation, shoemaking, plumbing, welding and fabrication, mechanics and electronics, knitting, leather design, embroidery, hairdressing and weaving.
The training is absolutely free of charge (including registration), and successful trainees undertake assessment by the Directorate of Industrial Training before receiving certification, after which they equipped with relevant tools like sewing machines, welding torches, salon chairs or bakery ovens. These items are not just a tool, but a pathway back to dignity for thousands of young Ugandans who once faced a future defined by unemployment, school dropout, poverty and uncertainty.
What began as an intervention for young people who had been pushed to the margins of society has increasingly become a platform through which young Ugandans are acquiring skills, creating products, starting businesses and finding renewed purpose.
Dr. Katana testifies that the initiative has transformed young people from informal settlements who had previously been involved in substance abuse and crime. The programme combines vocational training with mindset change and rehabilitation.
That is where the deeper meaning of the programme becomes visible.
For some young people, the problem was never simply that they lacked a job. They had lost direction. Some had dropped out of school. Others had grown up in difficult environments where crime, drugs and hopelessness could easily become a way of life. They were available for “hire” into bad groups with intent to use them to destroy themselves and the country. The skilling centres have given such young people livelihoods and purpose. They walk in carrying the weight of their circumstances and walk out with a skill in their hands, a certificate, confidence and, importantly, the possibility of earning an honest living.
The initiative has helped restore what poverty and exclusion had taken away: hope, dignity and self-belief. The beneficiaries have testimonies; their families, too, as well anyone who knew them in their previous circumstances.
The PISGBC ideal, which is for Kampala, is being replicated countrywide through the Presidential Industrial Skilling Hubs located in the different zones where beneficiaries who had previously lost hope and dropped out of school were described as having become completely different people after receiving training. Many who were job seekers (without skills) are now job creators. The philosophy behind the programme is increasingly becoming clear and being embraced massively: education should not only be about academic certificates. It must equip people with the ability to produce, earn and solve practical problems using the gifts that God gave them, including hands and the brain, and adding value to natural things around them like wood, hides and skins and ordinary metal.
I conclude with an affirmative quote of the President:
“I shall not be deterred by people who don’t see where the future of Africa lies. It is the short-sighted people who put their opinions in writing. They don’t understand that the future of all countries lies in processing”.
The author is Special Presidential Assistant-Media and Mobilisation/Deputy Press Secretary-State House
The five-time Grammy winner became the first African musician and first Black African artist to receive the prestigious honour during a ceremony in Los Angeles on Tuesday, August 18.
Kidjo received the 2,854th star in the Recording category, adding one of Hollywood’s most recognisable honours to a career that has spanned more than four decades.
The 66-year-old singer, who was born in Benin, has built a global career by bringing African sounds to international audiences.
At the ceremony, actor Willem Dafoe and Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. joined other guests in celebrating Kidjo’s achievement.
Kidjo also used the moment to reflect on Africa’s contribution to global music.
We Africans do not know what we have given to the world. Without us, there is no music possible on this planet.
The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce also declared August 18 “Angélique Kidjo Day” in Hollywood.
With her star now permanently placed on Hollywood Boulevard, Kidjo has secured a historic place on one of the world’s most famous entertainment landmarks.
Meta is fighting one of its biggest legal battles yet as 29 US states accuse the company of designing Facebook and Instagram to keep children and teenagers hooked.
The case began this week in a federal court in Oakland, California, with California, Colorado, Kentucky and New Jersey leading the states’ case.
The states say Meta deliberately built features such as endless scrolling, recommendations and notifications to keep young users spending more time on its platforms. They also accuse the company of misleading the public about safety and improperly collecting personal information from children under 13.
Meta strongly denies the allegations. Its lawyers argue that the company has spent years improving safety for young users and that the states have not proved that Facebook and Instagram cause the harm they describe.
A Former Meta Engineer Takes the Stand
The case took a more personal turn when former Meta engineer Arturo Béjar returned to the witness stand on Wednesday.
Béjar worked at Meta for years and later returned as a consultant focused on young people’s experiences on Instagram. He told the court that he raised concerns with senior executives about harm affecting young users, including anxiety, depression and suicidal thoughts.
He also argued that Meta’s internal systems focused too much on whether users encountered content that broke company rules and not enough on the actual harm those users experienced.
Béjar has become a key witness for the states, but Meta disputes his account and previously tried to block his testimony. Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers rejected that effort.
Meta Could Face Huge Consequences
The states want more than financial penalties. They are also seeking major changes to Facebook and Instagram, including stronger protections for children and restrictions on features they say encourage excessive use.
The potential financial consequences are enormous. Meta has said the states’ calculations could expose it to penalties of up to $1.4 trillion, although attorneys general have indicated that the figure could be closer to $200 billion.
The trial is expected to last about six weeks, and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Instagram chief Adam Mosseri are expected to testify.
For Meta, the stakes go far beyond the money. A ruling against the company could force major changes to the way Facebook and Instagram operate, especially when it comes to young users.
Davido does not believe marriage should mean giving up control of your personal finances.
The Nigerian singer says both men and women should have their own bank accounts, even when they are in committed relationships.
He made the comment during an appearance on The Uncut Podcast after the hosts asked him about women keeping secret accounts away from their partners.
Davido said he would not take offence if his wife had one.
Yeah, I think it is good. I actually think they should; you never know. If I ever found out that my wife had a secret bank account, I would not be angry; I think everybody should have their own.
His reasoning comes down to preparing for whatever life may bring.
According to Davido, nobody knows what could happen in the future, so having money of your own can provide a level of financial security.
He also rejected the idea that personal accounts should be something only women maintain.
I think everybody should have their own.
The comments have put the spotlight on an issue that often causes disagreements between couples: Should marriage mean sharing every financial detail, or is it healthy for partners to keep some money of their own?
Davido appears to favour a balance, where couples can share a life while still maintaining individual financial independence.
Singer Lubega Kassim, popularly known as Yung Mulo, has expressed frustration with media outlets that published reports linking him to a criminal who was sentenced to 130 years in prison.
The confusion arose after a convicted criminal who identified himself as “Young Mulo” was sentenced to 130 years, with some media reports failing to reveal his actual name.
This led members of the public to believe that the musician had been arrested, convicted and sentenced.
Addressing the matter through his social media platforms, Yung Mulo clarified that he is not the person who was sentenced and has never been involved in the criminal case.
The musician accused some media outlets of damaging his reputation by publishing reports that associated his name with the convicted criminal.
He said the reports have caused confusion among his fans, peers and the wider public at a time when he is focused on promoting his upcoming show scheduled for October 9 in Munyonyo.
“You have created your own ‘Young Mulos’ to soil and tarnish my name and image. I’m busy promoting my show that is slated to happen October 9 in Munyonyo, but some have written in the papers claiming I was arrested and jailed for 130 years.”
He questioned why some reports did not identify the convicted person by his real names, arguing that the failure to do so created unnecessary confusion.
“I claimed the name ‘Yung Mulo’ in courts of law. I’m going to gather evidence and everything that was published by any media platform and head to courts of law so that you explain and produce evidence of the other guy, where he got or claimed the ‘Yung Mulo’ name from that you’re all promoting.”
Yung Mulo maintained that the reports have tarnished his image and created a false impression that he is serving a lengthy prison sentence.
He has since vowed to compile the reports and other evidence as he considers legal action against the media platforms that he believes misrepresented his identity.
