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The Minister of state for Environment, Hon. Beatrice Anywar has warned that Uganda is expected to experience predominantly dry and warmer-than-normal weather conditions throughout July 2026, with below-average rainfall forecast across most parts of the country.

She said this while presenting a statement on Thursday, 09 July 2026 during a plenary sitting chaired by the Deputy Speaker, Thomas Tayebwa.

According to Anywar, the country’s weather outlook indicates that Northern Uganda and parts of Eastern Uganda will receive only occasional light and isolated rainfall while Central Uganda, the Lake Victoria basin, Southwestern Uganda, and other parts of Eastern Uganda are expected to remain largely dry.

She explained that the forecast is consistent with the June–July–August seasonal outlook earlier issued which predicted suppressed rainfall across Uganda due to the developing El Niño phenomenon over the equatorial Central and Eastern Pacific Ocean.

Anywar also warned that the prolonged dry spell could significantly affect agriculture by reducing crop yields, stressing livestock, diminishing pasture, increasing pests and diseases and lowering overall food production.
She added that water resources are also likely to come under pressure through declining water levels, water shortages, an increased risk of wildfires and the degradation of ecosystems and biodiversity.
“Communities are encouraged to practice water conservation strategies, promote efficient use of water for domestic and production purposes”, she added.

Maruzi North Members of Parliament, Hon.    Benard Otim questioned why Uganda’s wetlands continue to suffer massive destruction. He called on the minister to implement stringent regulations to protect the wetlands.

Busiro South MP,  Hon. Kenan Opio  emphasised the need for the ministry to expand urban green spaces.
“Are you considering bio diverse parks? Are you considering green roofs?” Opio asked.

Katikamu South Representative, Hon. Kirumira Hassan implored the minister to bring on board all stake holders such as the Ministry of Agriculture, Health, Disaster and Local Government to mitigate the challenges arising from the climatic changes.
“We need to see an inter-ministerial approach to support interventions on changing climate, including our people too”, he said.
Anywar emphasised that the weather forecast should guide planning and decision-making across all climate-sensitive sectors, including agriculture, disaster preparedness, health, transport, and water resources management.

She added that the ministry will continue issuing regular weather updates, with the August 2026 monthly weather outlook expected at the end of July, followed by the September–December 2026 seasonal forecast at the end of August.

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, who is also the Commander-in-Chief of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), has renewed his call for the economic and political integration of Africa, describing it as essential for guaranteeing the continent’s long-term strategic security and defence capabilities.

The President made the remarks today while presiding over the graduation ceremony of 21 participants—20 senior military officers and one public servant from the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs—at the National Defence College-Uganda (NDC-U) in Njeru, Buikwe District.

Congratulating the graduates on successfully completing the prestigious strategic leadership course, President Museveni challenged them to champion policies that strengthen Uganda’s socio-economic transformation while advancing continental integration.
“I congratulate you for finishing this course,” the President said.

He outlined three key pillars necessary for securing Uganda and Africa against current and future threats, beginning with socio-economic transformation.

“In summary, if you want to defend Africa, I can think of three points. The economy of Uganda must undergo socio-economic transformation whereby all the peasants and the bayaaye must disappear and we have a new society. If not, we shall not be able to defend Africa,” he said.

President Museveni explained that socio-economic transformation can only be achieved by ensuring every citizen joins the money economy through four productive sectors: commercial agriculture, manufacturing and artisanship, services, and Information and Communication Technology (ICT).

“When we last checked, we had 67 percent in the money economy and 33 percent still working only for the stomach. The whole population must join the money economy in the four sectors,” he noted.

He added that universal education remains another critical driver of transformation.

“Everybody must get education in literacy, numeracy and skills. Once you have done that, the economy will grow and we shall be richer,” he said.

Despite stressing the importance of economic growth, President Museveni cautioned that prosperity alone cannot guarantee strategic security.

He therefore reiterated his long-standing advocacy for the East African Federation and broader African economic and political integration, arguing that fragmented states cannot adequately defend themselves in the modern security environment.

“But then even if you are richer, how ready are you to defend Uganda in the four dimensions of warfare? Because of the political fragmentation of Africa, Uganda doesn’t have an ocean. It is Kenya and Tanzania that have access to the sea, so Uganda does not have a navy or the resources to go to space and develop a capable air force. That’s how the third point of economic and political integration of Africa comes in. If you really want to defend Africa, you must work for economic and political integration of Africa,” he said.

According to the President, achieving the East African Federation would significantly strengthen regional defence capabilities.

“If we achieve the East African Federation, no one can defeat us because we shall have access to the sea, develop a navy, strengthen our air force and build a bigger economy. We shall develop the capacity to defend ourselves on land, in the air, at sea and in space,” he said.

He cited countries such as the United States, China, Russia and India as examples of nations that have invested heavily in advanced strategic capabilities, including space technology.

Shs50 Billion Pledged for NDC-U:

To further strengthen strategic military education, President Museveni pledged Shs50 billion towards the expansion and modernisation of the National Defence College-Uganda.

The Minister of State for Defence and Veteran Affairs (Defence), Hon. Grace Akifeza Ngabirano, described the graduation as a reflection of President Museveni’s unwavering commitment to strategic leadership development, professional military education and national security excellence.

She praised the President’s visionary leadership and continued investment in the welfare of UPDF personnel.

“I also wish to express my special appreciation to Your Excellency and to the Chief of Defence Forces for the significant steps taken to improve the welfare of UPDF personnel through salary enhancements, improved accommodation and continued infrastructure development across barracks and training institutions. These are clear demonstrations of your commitment to building a motivated, professional and capable force,” she said.

Representing the Chief of Defence Forces, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the Deputy Chief of Defence Forces, Lt. Gen. Sam Okiding, commended President Museveni for providing the leadership that has transformed the UPDF into a modern, professional, capable and ideologically grounded force.

“I congratulate all the graduates of Cohort Four, their families and their respective institutions for this remarkable achievement,” Lt. Gen. Okiding said.

The Commandant of the National Defence College-Uganda, Brig. Gen. Alex Olupot, thanked President Museveni for officiating at the ceremony, saying his presence reflected the government’s commitment to developing strategic leaders capable of addressing increasingly complex national, regional and global security challenges.

“The presence of His Excellency underscores the strategic importance that the Government of Uganda attaches to professional military education, national security and the development of strategic leaders capable of navigating the increasingly complex security environment of the 21st century,” Brig. Gen. Olupot said.

He noted that the ceremony represented much more than the award of academic qualifications.

“It is a celebration of intellectual growth, national service and leadership transformation,” he said.

Brig. Gen. Olupot explained that NDC-U was established four years ago to prepare senior military officers, public servants and selected foreign participants for leadership at the highest strategic levels.

He revealed that Cohort Four initially admitted 22 participants—comprising three Brigadier Generals, 18 Colonels and one civilian officer from the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs. However, one participant withdrew midway due to strategic considerations, leaving 21 graduates.

Throughout the programme, participants undertook advanced studies in strategic studies, research and policy analysis, participated in national study programmes and completed international study tours in Nigeria and Algeria.

Brig. Gen. Olupot also expressed gratitude to President Museveni and Chief of Defence Forces Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba for their continued support towards strengthening professional military education.

The ceremony also recognised outstanding academic performance, with Brig. Gen. Joseph Freddy Onnata and Col. David Okumu emerging as the best overall students.

 

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The freshly bailed former Butambala County Member of Parliament Muhammad Muwanga Kivumbi has been picked up in Mpigi District while heading to Kampala.

Details surrounding the re-arrest remain unclear and authorities are yet to issue an official statement. However, National Unity Platform lawyer Samuel Muyizzi, who is part of Kivumbi’s defence team, confirmed that the former MP was arrested in Mpigi  town while returning to Kampala on Friday afternoon.

“It is true he was returning to Kampala from Butambala where he spent the night,” Muyizzi said. “As we were driving through Mpigi, a drone was driven into the middle of the road, and they picked him up and drove him away at high speed. We have not known his whereabouts since.”

Kivumbi was granted court bail on Thursday after spending nearly seven months in prison. He was first arrested on 22 January 2026 over incidents that occurred following the 15 January general elections.

According to the prosecution, between 11th and 17th January 2026 in Kibibi and Gombe Town Councils, Kivumbi and others allegedly carried out acts aimed at intimidating the government for political purposes.  The charges include alleged attacks on Kibibi Police Station and the Butambala Electoral Commission tally centre, damage to the Butambala–Gomba Road, and destruction of vehicles.

Prosecutors also allege that seven people were killed during the incidents. Kivumbi was arraigned before the Butambala Chief Magistrate’s Court and charged under the Anti-Terrorism Act. The case file was later expanded to include 24 other suspects.

Kivumbi’s lawyers, Erias Lukwago, Samuel Muyizzi, and Kenneth Paul Kakande, also filed a bail application before the International Crimes Division of the High Court seeking his temporary release pending trial.

On Thursday, the International Crimes Division of the High Court granted Kivumbi cash bail of 10 million shillings. Justice Susan Okalany ruled in his favor, citing that he has a fixed place of residence where the state can trace him, presented sound sureties, and that the prosecution had not presented evidence to show he would interfere with ongoing police investigations.

Although authorities are yet to disclose the reason for his arrest, close associates suspect the re-arrest may be linked to sharp statements he made upon arriving in Butambala, in which he criticized the First Family and former Speaker Anita Among for being a hindrance to Ugandans.

Kivumbi, who also serves as the National Unity Platform Vice President for Buganda, lost the Butambala parliamentary seat in the January elections. His reported pick-up in Mpigi comes amid ongoing court case.

Police and other security agencies have not yet commented on the reason for the latest arrest. By press time, Katonga Region Police Spokesperson Lydia Tumushabe was not responding to calls on her known phone number.

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Police in Bweyogerere are investigating the suspected suicide of an 18-year-old student at Naalya S.S. Bweyogerere Campus in Kira Municipality, Wakiso District.

The student was found hanging inside a toilet block in the boys’ section of the school on the evening of July 8, 2026. School authorities alerted police, who responded immediately.

Detectives and Scene of Crime officers examined the scene, recorded statements from witnesses and took the body to Mulago City Mortuary for a postmortem examination.

Police say preliminary investigations indicate the student was seen entering the toilet block shortly before he was discovered. A handwritten note believed to have been written by the deceased was recovered and has been secured as part of the investigations.

The contents of the note are being examined to help establish what may have happened.

Police have conveyed their condolences to the student’s family, friends and the school community as investigations continue.

However, Dr. John Boosa , the school’s spkesperson says they were not aware that the deceased was facing family issues, given the nature of the note that he left behind. The deceased reportedly indicated that his parents had failed and frustrated him and that he had nowhere to go for assistance.

The school also alleges that the deceased was a new comer in the school, having been admitted only three months ago in April of 2026. He also reportedly went back home upon the school’s permission on June 24 and only returned on 30th of the same month.

One person has been confirmed dead and several others injured following a road traffic accident involving a school bus and a Uganda Railways train at Namumira Village in Mukono District.

The accident occurred at approximately 6:46 a.m. on Friday, July 10, 2026, and involved a Friendship Coaches bus, registration number UAU 123Q, and a Uganda Railways train.

According to Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson SP Rachel Kawala, the bus had been hired by Mwebaze High School, located in Bakka, Kakiri, Wakiso District, to transport students and teachers to Jinja District for a study tour. Preliminary reports indicate that the bus was carrying approximately 100 passengers at the time of the crash.

Preliminary police findings indicate that the bus was travelling at a high speed and allegedly failed to stop at the designated railway crossing as required under traffic regulations before attempting to cross the railway line.

Police say the bus entered the railway crossing, collided with the oncoming train and subsequently veered off the road.

A female adult, identified as the wife of the school’s head teacher, died at the scene. Several other occupants sustained injuries and were rushed to Mukono General Referral Hospital and other nearby health facilities for treatment.

The bus driver reportedly fled the scene immediately after the accident and remains at large. Police have launched a manhunt to identify and apprehend him.

Authorities are also working to establish the identities of all the victims and determine the full circumstances surrounding the accident.

Investigations into the crash are ongoing.