Blog

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has reaffirmed Uganda’s unwavering commitment to supporting Somalia’s pursuit of lasting peace, stability and sustainable development, as the two countries pledged to deepen cooperation on regional security and governance.

The President made the remarks today during high-level bilateral talks with the President of the Federal Republic of Somalia, H.E. Dr. Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, at State House, Entebbe.

The meeting focused on regional security, state-building, governance reforms and strengthening the longstanding partnership between Uganda and Somalia.

President Mohamud expressed profound appreciation for Uganda’s continued contribution to Somalia’s peace and stability, particularly through the deployment of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) under regional peace support efforts, as well as broader bilateral cooperation.

“We are grateful for the security support that Uganda has continued to extend to Somalia. We are in a much better position today than we were before, although challenges remain,” President Mohamud said.

He also briefed President Museveni on Somalia’s ongoing political reforms, highlighting efforts to restore universal suffrage after decades without direct elections.

According to President Mohamud, the reforms are aimed at strengthening democratic governance and ensuring that Somalia’s future is determined by its own citizens.

President Museveni welcomed the progress and reaffirmed Uganda’s steadfast support for a peaceful, united and prosperous Somalia.

“For the last 19 years, we have stood with Somalia because we believe in supporting just causes and protecting innocent people. Our interest has always been to see Somalia become peaceful, stable and prosperous,” President Museveni said.

He stressed that lasting peace can only be achieved through strong national institutions, national unity and inclusive governance, adding that Somalia has the potential to overcome its challenges through dialogue and cohesion.

Drawing on Uganda’s own history, President Museveni noted that the country’s stability and development had been built on strengthening national institutions and promoting unity above sectarian interests.

He reiterated Uganda’s readiness to continue working closely with Somalia in advancing peace, security and regional integration.

President Mohamud praised the enduring friendship between the two nations and reaffirmed Somalia’s commitment to expanding cooperation with Uganda in pursuit of shared peace, security and prosperity.

The two Heads of State also underscored the importance of sustained collaboration among African countries in addressing regional security threats and advancing sustainable development across the Horn of Africa.

 

Do you have a story in your community or an opinion to share with us: Email us at Submit an Article

BUWENGE, Jinja District — The Minister for the Presidency and Woman Member of Parliament for Budiope West, Hon. Babirye Milly Babalanda, on Wednesday and Thursday represented President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni at the burial ceremonies of two residents who were killed during violence that erupted in the Local Council I (LC1) elections in Buwenge Town Council, Jinja District.

The victims lost their lives on Tuesday, July 28, after clashes broke out at Buwenge Progressive Academy Polling Station in Kabi Zone, prompting security personnel to open fire.

The deceased were identified as Fred Kalulu, 19, a resident of Market Zone in Buwenge Town Council, who died at the scene, and Latibu Ikaali, 23, who later succumbed to gunshot wounds at Jinja Regional Referral Hospital.

Addressing mourners, Minister Babalanda conveyed President Museveni’s heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and the people of Buwenge.

“The President is saddened by this loss of life. Government will ensure that investigations are conducted and that those responsible are held accountable according to the law,” she said.

The Minister condemned election-related violence, stressing that democratic processes should never result in the loss of lives. She urged residents to resolve electoral disputes peacefully through established legal mechanisms rather than resorting to violence.

She also faulted local security leadership for failing to prevent the incident, saying disciplinary action would be taken against Resident District Commissioners (RDCs) found to have neglected their responsibilities.

“RDCs are the heads of security in the districts. How can you look at such a situation and fail to handle it? This term, we shall not tolerate officers who are sleeping on the job, and immediate action will be taken,” she said.

Babalanda reminded RDCs and security agencies that their primary responsibility during elections is to safeguard lives and maintain law and order.

“Elections are about choosing leaders, not about shedding blood. As RDCs and security agencies, they must ensure that such incidents do not happen again,” she added.

She further directed Resident District Commissioners, the Uganda Police Force and other security agencies in Jinja District and across the country to strengthen security coordination and supervision during electoral processes to guarantee the safety of voters, candidates and election officials.

The Minister also instructed local leaders and security agencies to intensify community sensitisation on peaceful participation in elections as a way of preventing future violence.

As part of the government’s support, each bereaved family received Shs10 million from President Museveni and an additional Shs5 million from the Inspector General of Police.

Minister Babalanda expressed sympathy to the grieving families and apologised on behalf of the government for the tragic loss of their loved ones.

Religious leaders and local officials who attended the burials appealed for calm and urged young people not to allow themselves to be manipulated into engaging in election-related violence.

The LC1 elections are part of Uganda’s decentralisation framework aimed at strengthening grassroots governance and improving service delivery at the village level. Leaders at the burial emphasised that the democratic exercise should unite communities and provide an opportunity for citizens to choose their leaders peacefully, rather than becoming a source of violence and loss of life.

 

Do you have a story in your community or an opinion to share with us: Email us at Submit an Article

STATE HOUSE, ENTEBBE — The Young Leader Carrying A Legacy Into A New Development Conversation

Dressed in a white shirt and grey trousers, Oscar Mutebi stood beside President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni at State House in a moment that carried a deeper meaning than a simple photograph.

The resemblance in dressing was striking.

But beyond appearance was a bigger story — the story of a young leader standing at the intersection of national influence, inherited legacy and grassroots expectations.

At State House, where national policies are discussed and government priorities are shaped, Mutebi serves as a Private Secretary and Personal Assistant to the Office of Presidential Envoy on Political Affairs, former Vice President Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi.

The position has placed him close to President Museveni, First Lady Janet Kataaha Museveni and senior government leaders.

But the real measure of leadership is rarely found inside powerful offices.

It is found in communities.

It is found among young people searching for opportunities.

It is found in classrooms where learners dream about their future.

This is where the story of Oscar Mutebi moves from State House corridors to rural Masaka.

A question emerges:

Can national exposure be transformed into grassroots development?

 

Oscar Mutebi’s journey begins in Kyanamukaka Village, Greater Masaka, a place associated with the family of former Vice President Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi.

By nature, Mutebi is a Catholic and grew up admiring leadership and public service, according to people who interacted with him during his early years.

Florence Nabalema, an old student of St. Mary’s College Kisubi, says Mutebi showed interest in leadership while still young.

Those close to him describe his journey as shaped by mentorship from President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, First Lady Janet Kataaha Museveni, Gen. Salim Saleh and his grandfather Ssekandi.

However, legacy creates both opportunity and expectation.

A respected family name may introduce someone to leadership spaces.

But communities ultimately judge leaders by what changes because of their presence.

 

Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi’s public service record remains significant in Greater Masaka.

From his legal career and teaching at Makerere University, to serving as Member of Parliament for Bukoto Central for 26 years, Speaker of Parliament and later Vice President of Uganda, Ssekandi became a symbol of public service.

One of the major development issues associated with rural Masaka has been the support towards securing land through district authorities at Kyambazi Village for the construction of a permanent Masaka District headquarters.

The investment represents the importance of strong institutions.

But for a new generation of leaders, the challenge has shifted:

How can institutions translate into improved livelihoods?

How can political influence become measurable community transformation?

 

At St. Mugaga Secondary School in Masaka, a large television screen became a symbol of a much bigger idea.

When students gathered to watch the World Cup through a screen donated by Oscar Mutebi, the excitement went beyond football.

For learners who previously followed international events through small phone screens, the experience created a new connection with the outside world.

The screen became a learning tool.

Students could follow news, understand current affairs and appreciate global conversations beyond classroom textbooks.

According to former Head Teacher Ms. Peace Magoba Bukenya, government remains the biggest stakeholder in supporting student welfare at the school, which had 1,034 learners by press time.

Girls make up approximately 60 percent of the learners, while boys account for 40 percent.

The majority of students are aged between 17 and 19 years, a stage where education and skills development influence future choices.

The boarding section accommodates 420 students, comprising 273 girls and 137 boys.

The learners are supported through the school feeding programme, including locally prepared meals such as rice and eggs to support concentration and welfare.

Head Prefect Deo Ssembatya says the intervention changed how students viewed learning.

“I had watched World Cup games on small phones before, but seeing the players on a big screen at school made me feel part of the global tournament,” he says.

He adds:

“Mr. Mutebi taught us that education is not only about books. We must know what is happening in the world.”

For St. Mugaga students, the intervention represented exposure.

It represented confidence.

It represented the idea that rural learners also deserve access to global opportunities.

 

The story of leadership in Masaka exists within a wider economic reality.

According to the Uganda Population and Housing Census 2014, Masaka District had a population of 297,004 people.

The population included:

1. 145,552 males (49 percent);
2. 151,452 females (51 percent).

The district has approximately 75,494 households.

About 65 percent of households depend on subsistence farming, making agriculture the backbone of many families.

The district covers approximately 1,603.3 square kilometres, with about 801.5 square kilometres consisting of open water, wetlands and marshlands.

The statistics reveal both opportunity and challenge.

Masaka has land.

It has people.

It has agricultural potential.

But the question remains:

How can potential become prosperity?

 

Youth Employment: Turning A Generation Into An Economic Force

Young people aged between 18 and 30 years represent approximately 23 percent of Masaka’s population.

This youthful population can become a powerful economic force if equipped with skills, financing and opportunities.

However, many young people continue facing barriers including limited access to jobs, inadequate practical skills and insufficient opportunities for entrepreneurship.

The solution requires moving beyond preparing young people to search for employment.

It requires preparing them to create businesses, innovate and participate in productive sectors.

 

Vocational Training: Bridging The Skills Gap

Vocational education has emerged as one possible response to youth unemployment.

A strong vocational system could equip young people with practical skills in:

1. mechanics;
2. welding;
3. electrical installation;
4. construction;
5. ICT;
6. agro-processing;
7. entrepreneurship.

Vocational training cannot solve unemployment alone.

But when combined with access to finance, markets and mentorship, it can transform young people from job seekers into producers.

This explains calls from community leaders for increased investment in technical skills development.

 

Value Addition: The Missing Link In Agriculture

Agriculture remains central to Masaka’s economy.

However, many households earn limited income because they mainly sell raw products.

The future lies in value addition.

For coffee farmers, this means moving beyond raw coffee production into processing, packaging and stronger market participation.

For farmers generally, it means improved technology, storage, quality standards and links to buyers.

Government’s focus on agro-industrialisation reflects this need.

 

Market Access And Household Transformation

Production alone does not guarantee prosperity.

Farmers require markets.

Entrepreneurs require customers.

Businesses require financial support.

Masaka has community economic structures including:

1. 53 registered cooperative organisations;
2. 51 financial SACCOs;
3. 38 Emyooga SACCOs.

Strengthening these institutions can help families move from survival activities into sustainable enterprises.

Ultimately, development is measured at household level.

It is measured when:

A farmer earns more.

A young person starts a business.

A student gains confidence.

A family escapes poverty.

 

Uganda’s FY2025/26 National Budget reinforced priorities around:

1. commercial agriculture;
2. industrialization;
3. digital transformation;
4. market access.

The budget of approximately Shs72.4 trillion allocated 26.1 percent to Human Capital Development, the largest sector allocation.

Agriculture contributes approximately 26.2 percent of Uganda’s GDP, making it central to household income growth.

Government programmes including the Parish Development Model, Emyooga and Operation Wealth Creation continue targeting wealth creation.

Mutebi’s grassroots message aligns with this national agenda — that transformation requires production, skills, innovation and responsibility.

 

During an interview with this writer, Oscar Mutebi emphasised the importance of empowering young people through education, skills development, agriculture and entrepreneurship.

He argues that sustainable transformation requires communities to participate actively in their own development.

For him, leadership is not simply occupying a position.

It is creating opportunities.

 

The greatest challenge for anyone born into a respected legacy is creating an identity beyond the name.

Oscar Mutebi’s journey represents that challenge.

From State House engagements to rural classrooms.

From national leadership spaces to community conversations.

From political influence to development expectations.

The final judgement will not come from titles.

It will come from impact.

Because leadership is not measured by the rooms one enters.

It is measured by the lives changed after leaving those rooms.

Beyond the family name, Oscar Mutebi’s story represents Uganda’s wider search for leaders who can connect national vision with the hopes and realities of ordinary citizens.

Do you have a story in your community or an opinion to share with us: Email us at Submit an Article

By Brian Mugenyi

[email protected]

MASAKA, Uganda — Dressed in a crisp white shirt and black trousers, Rogers Bulegeya stood beside Ms. Cissy, smiles replacing months of anxiety as they received millions of shillings disbursed by State House through Minister Balaam Barugahara. For Bulegeya and his fellow suppliers, the payout brought an end to a protracted financial ordeal.

For six months, a high-stakes controversy involving coffee seedlings, unpaid supplier claims, and grassroots mobilization had remained trapped in a maze of unmet expectations, lingering questions, and administrative delays.

Behind the political gatherings and community mobilization drives was a group of suppliers who had committed significant personal financial resources to support a massive coffee seedling distribution campaign during the 2026 mobilization period — only to spend half a year fighting to get paid.

Now, the saga involving Bulegeya, the National Resistance Movement (NRM) Chairperson for Masaka City, and his fellow suppliers has taken a positive turn. Bulegeya has lauded President Yoweri Museveni’s leadership and the NRM government for demonstrating a genuine commitment to listening to grassroots actors and resolving local grievances.

The Shs600 Million Dispute

At the heart of the dispute were coffee supplies delivered through R and R Coffee Suppliers, a company associated with Bulegeya, along with claims from other local suppliers, including Ms. Cissy.

According to figures provided by the affected parties, the outstanding claims totaled Shs600 million — with approximately Shs450 million tied to R and R Coffee Suppliers and Shs150 million linked to Ms. Cissy’s supply.

The suppliers maintained that the coffee seedlings were distributed directly to community members as part of a broader government effort to encourage coffee farming, deepen grassroots political engagement, and promote household economic empowerment.

Six Months of Waiting and Bureaucratic Deadlocks

The path to settlement was fraught with administrative hurdles.

Suppliers reported that after fulfilling their deliveries, they were left in limbo for nearly six months as officials debated documentation, institutional responsibility, and verification procedures. The prolonged delay generated severe financial strain and frustration among suppliers who had leveraged their own capital to ensure the distribution reached the intended beneficiaries.

The standoff also ignited internal friction regarding institutional accountability. One notable flashpoint involved Ms. Cissy’s claim, which Hon. Justine Nameere publicly distanced herself from, denying any responsibility or requirement to settle the supplier’s balance.

The conflicting narratives underscored the critical need for clear contractual agreements, formal documentation, and robust accountability mechanisms when private suppliers engage in public mobilization initiatives.

The Turning Point

The breakthrough came after the suppliers systematically escalated their claims through formal government channels.

The matter eventually reached State House, where the Office of the State House Comptroller, headed by Jane Barekye, initiated a comprehensive verification process to validate the claims and establish a path forward.

The climax of the resolution unfolded during high-level engagements in Sembabule, where Minister Balaam Barugahara directly interacted with the aggrieved suppliers — an encounter captured on video. For the suppliers, who had endured months of uncertainty, the interaction marked the official recognition and validation of their efforts.

Rogers Bulegeya’s Message

Reflecting on the resolution, Bulegeya commended President Museveni and the NRM leadership, stating that the outcome proved the importance of maintaining an active, responsive connection with grassroots cadres and local business owners.

He emphasized that initiatives linking agriculture with political mobilization yield lasting benefits when communities are empowered economically.

For Bulegeya, the coffee program was far more than a short-term campaign strategy; it was a long-term development vehicle. “A coffee seedling planted today represents guaranteed household income for tomorrow,” he noted.

Coffee, Politics, and Masaka’s Shifting Dynamics

Beyond the financial dispute, the coffee initiative has reshaped the local political narrative in Masaka City.

Organizers emphasize that distributing seedlings through structures tied to President Museveni’s campaign created a direct, tangible bridge between political rhetoric and community livelihood. They attribute this strategy to a visible shift in local political support, pointing to an increase in President Museveni’s vote share in Masaka City from 21 percent in previous cycles to approximately 33 percent.

While political analysts note that election outcomes are influenced by a combination of factors — including candidate performance, organizational logistics, and local dynamics — the integration of economic empowerment into campaign strategy clearly left a mark on the region.

Beyond the Shillings

The Masaka coffee saga highlights a broader narrative about the quiet operators behind major national mobilization programs. Suppliers, organizers, and grassroots actors frequently absorb significant financial risks to make public initiatives succeed, yet their sacrifices often remain unacknowledged until public disputes erupt.

As Uganda’s primary export and economic backbone, coffee supports millions of households across the nation. For the residents of Masaka who received the seedlings, the true measure of success will be whether those plants mature into thriving, income-generating gardens.

For Rogers Bulegeya and his fellow suppliers, the six-month journey stands as a testament to persistence, accountability, and the power of grassroot advocacy. Ultimately, the Masaka coffee saga serves as a reminder that the credibility of any political promise relies on honoring the commitments made to the people who build it from the ground up.

Do you have a story in your community or an opinion to share with us: Email us at Submit an Article

By Mike Ssegawa | Watchdog Uganda

KAMPALA — When Dr. Lawrence Muganga speaks about the future of education and Artificial Intelligence, people pay attention. Now, the outspoken Vice Chancellor of Victoria University has taken his crusade straight to one of global academia’s most prestigious institutions: the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE).

In a development turning heads across Kampala’s education and policy corridors, Dr. Muganga’s latest book, Wake Up or Be Left Behind, has officially landed at LSE’s Firoz Lalji Institute for Africa (FLIA).

Taking to social media, the fiery educationist expressed deep gratitude to the institute for ensuring African perspectives remain at the core of global scholarship.

“Few institutions do more to keep Africa at the centre of global scholarship than @AfricaAtLSE,” Dr. Muganga noted, emphasizing that such intellectual partnerships carry weight far beyond London.

Beyond Ceremony: A Global Call to Action

For those who have followed Dr. Muganga’s trajectory, this moment is far more than a routine academic stopover. This is the reformer who spearheaded the transformation of Victoria University from a modest outfit of under 200 students into a thriving higher-education powerhouse.

His new book serves as an uncompromising, urgent manifesto on Artificial Intelligence—warning that those who master AI will ride the defining wave of this century, while those who hesitate risk being swept away entirely.  The moment signals growing global recognition for African voices championing bold, tech-driven educational reform.

Shaking the Status Quo

Dr. Muganga—who brings a rich blend of international exposure and deep Ugandan roots—has never shied away from provoking uncomfortable debates. From writing open letters to President Yoweri Museveni calling for the comprehensive digitization of Ugandan classrooms, to authoring landmark works like From Chalk to Chatbots, his thesis has remained resolute: Uganda cannot afford to sleepwalk through the AI revolution.

Sources close to the engagement reveal that the book was presented to the institute through Dr. Shamim Matovu, highlighting a shared commitment to ensuring Africa shapes its own AI narrative rather than having its future dictated from elsewhere.

An Uncomfortable Imperative

For a nation still grappling with foundational education challenges, Dr. Muganga’s proposition is both ambitious and deliberately disruptive: invest in authentic, practical, technology-infused learning today, or watch the next generation get left behind in the global economy.

As Uganda weighs its strategy in the digital age, one thing is abundantly clear—this scholar is not waiting for permission to disrupt the norm. Whether in Kampala or in the historic halls of London, Dr. Lawrence Muganga is forcing a high-stakes conversation that policymakers can no longer afford to delay.