Uganda Roundup: Airline launch, visa-free travels, accidents
Uganda stabilises debt
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has declared Uganda's debt to be sustainable, highlighting a stable political and economic context, The Monitor reports. Despite challenges like high public debt interest rates and low private credit, ongoing fiscal consolidation positions Uganda favourably for development. Inflation, which peaked in 2022/2023, has been effectively brought down, supported by the Bank of Uganda's tight monetary policy. The financial sector remains stable but has concerns regarding the sovereign-bank relationship. The IMF's Article Four consultation noted that Uganda's public debt ratio is just above 50% of GDP, and it emphasized the need for sound macroeconomic management and improved tax administration. Uganda is under the leadership of President Museveni, who has held power since 1986, with elections scheduled for January 2026.
Visa-free travel
Uganda and Mozambique are in negotiations to establish visa-free travel for their citizens as part of efforts to enhance regional integration under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Mozambique has proposed allowing Ugandans to enter without a visa, especially for holders of diplomatic, official, and honorary passports. If approved, this would eliminate the current visa fee of $50 for Mozambicans traveling to Uganda. According to News Central, the agreement aims to strengthen bilateral relations and boost trade, and discussions also involve political, security, and economic collaborations.
Deaths from road accidents
In Uganda, 239 schoolchildren aged 5 to 18 have been killed in road accidents within the past nine months, according to police. The fatalities occurred primarily during school drop-offs and pickups as the new school term began. Authorities emphasised the shared responsibility of parents, teachers, and motorists for ensuring children's safety on the roads, Pune reports. With around 20,000 annual road accidents resulting in over 2,000 deaths nationwide, officials urge increased vigilance, especially when transporting young children on motorcycles.
Citizens urged to participate in budget processes
Uganda's Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among has emphasised the importance of increased citizen participation in budget processes during the 7th Annual African Network of Parliamentary Budget Offices (An-PBO) Conference. She highlighted that citizen involvement enhances transparency and accountability in governance and budgeting, citing Zimbabwe's pre-budget conferences as a model. According to Zaywa, Among called for better financial and technical support for parliamentary budget offices to improve their effectiveness. The conference is a platform for knowledge sharing and collaboration among African parliamentary budget offices, focusing on enhancing fiscal oversight and public finance management. Among was also named patron of the An-PBO.
Uganda launches airline
Uganda Airlines has launched direct flights between Entebbe International Airport and Abuja's Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, with the inaugural flight landing on September 12, 2024. African Tourism and Travel Association reports that the new route, operating twice weekly on Thursdays and Sundays, is aimed at enhancing economic and social ties between Uganda and Nigeria, becoming Uganda Airlines' 14th destination. The launch coincided with the 4th Nigeria-Uganda Trade and Business Forum, where stakeholders explored trade opportunities. Ugandan officials emphasized the route's potential to boost trade, tourism, and investment while reducing travel time and costs for business travellers, aligning with Uganda's goal of improving intra-African trade.
