The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is training officers for the upcoming G77 and Non-Aligned Movement summits in Uganda. Uganda will host the 19th NAM Summit and G77 Summit in 2024. The training ensures officers are well-prepared for these events.
The African Development Bank has granted a $1.4 million (sh5.2b)grant to the East African Community for a feasibility study on the Kisumu-Kisian-Busitema-Busia Expressway. This project is part of the Northern Corridor, which plays a vital role in transporting cargo to landlocked EAC Partner States.
The African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) has resumed joint military operations with Somali security forces after a three-month technical pause in its troop drawdown. They are intensifying efforts to combat al-Shabab and ensure stability, despite weather-related challenges. ATMIS is on track to gradually withdraw its forces over the next 14 months, with full withdrawal by the end of 2024.
Proposed bill in Parliament titled “The Petroleum Supply (Amendment) Bill 2023” that aims to grant the Uganda National Oil Company Ltd (UNOC) exclusive authority to supply petroleum products to licensed oil marketing companies in Uganda. The new policy is aligned with a Cabinet resolution to ensure stable oil supply and prices, with UNOC set to become the exclusive fuel supplier starting in January 2024.
Agriculture Minister Frank Tumwebaze’s call to customize agricultural technologies for different value chain stages, discussed at an African conference in Nairobi. He emphasizes the need for technology tailored to farmers’ needs, especially in rural areas, along with addressing issues like internet connectivity and climate-resilient farming.
Two foreign tourists and a Ugandan guide were killed by suspected terrorists near Queen Elizabeth National Park about two weeks ago. The UPDF, under the direction of intelligence, conducted a successful operation to eliminate these terrorists near Lake Edward. The operation targeted members of the group responsible for the tourist murders, and efforts are ongoing to eliminate ADF splinter groups.
With the festive season approaching, advocates in Uganda emphasize the importance of road safety for boda boda (motorcycle taxi) riders and urge them to adhere to traffic rules. The Safe Steps campaign, launched by Prudential Uganda and the Uganda Red Cross Society, focuses on providing training to 8,000 boda boda riders in various districts.
The Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC) and the Church of Uganda have signed a memorandum of understanding as part of the UNOC-led Alliance for Climate Resilience. This partnership aims to plant 40 million trees across 40,000 to 100,000 hectares to address tree cover loss and combat climate change in Uganda.
The territorial police of Rwenzori West and Kitagwenda arrested one Matsiko Farouk, a 27-year-old suspected ADF member, in Rwenzori West and Kitagwenda. He claimed to have been abducted and trained by the ADF before escaping. Another ADF remnant, Komaketch Ransur, was found with live ammunition in Kampala, also claiming to have escaped ADF. Security agencies are actively monitoring ADF elements to protect Ugandans and visitors.
Dr. Susan Kiguli, a senior lecturer in literature at Makerere University, became the first African to receive a Lifetime Award in Poetry at the 2023 International Civil Poetry Festival in Venice, Italy. She received praise from peers and officials, including Makerere University’s vice-chancellor. Kiguli is known for her significant contributions to poetry and literature, having received previous awards and recognition. She holds a PhD in English, with research interests in performance theory, popular song, and oral poetry.
