Uganda Roundup: Tackling corruption, M23 rebels, uranium production

Uganda denies involvement in Kenyan protests

The Ugandan government has officially refuted claims of its involvement in the recent demonstrations in Kenya, sparked by a contentious finance bill that has now been retracted. Amidst the unrest, the Uganda House in Kenya suffered damage. Allegations suggest that Uganda backed President William Ruto, an assertion the Ugandan officials have strongly rejected. The Ugandan Minister of State for International Relations, Henry Okello Oryem, has urged the Kenyan government to detain the individuals behind the vandalism of Uganda House. In a discussion with NTV, Oryem expressed his disapproval of Western nations for overlooking Uganda's ascent in democracy rankings. The latest Afrobarometer study places Uganda at the second rank continent-wide in terms of democratic governance.

CSOs target corruption

At the NGO forum's dialogue on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) held with the Office of the Prime Minister in Kampala, Benson Ekwe Ocen, the Director of the Public Affairs Center of Uganda, raised concerns on June 4. He pointed out that, although there have been advancements, the shadow of corruption looms over pivotal institutions, including the parliament—a vital entity for the realisation of SDGs. The Civil Society Organisations (CSO), part of the Uganda National Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) Forum, echoed this sentiment. They warned that the pervasive corruption could derail Uganda's efforts to meet the Sustainable Development Goals. Ocen's remarks underscore the urgent need to address the corruption that threatens to undermine these critical objectives, the Monitor reports.

M23 confirms presence of its commanders in Uganda

The March 23 Movement (M23), a Congolese rebel faction, has acknowledged that a significant number of its leaders and envoys are present in Uganda. Nevertheless, the group has refuted allegations that these visits serve as a prelude to conflict in the Congo. Contradicting claims made by the United Nations Group of Experts regarding sanctioned M23 insurgents residing and conducting activities in Uganda, the group asserts that their personnel stationed beyond their designated operational areas in the DRC are on missions of peace. “Regarding the matter, we would like to remind the United Nations Group of Experts that our teams (either delegation or representation) have always been deployed outside the area under our control for reasons of peace and not war,” a statement issued by Lawrence Kanyuka, the spokesperson of the M23 rebel commander, on Friday, July 5, reads in part according to the Monitor.

New State House unit to supervise URA

The Presidential Press Unit announced on July 5 that the State House Revenue Intelligence and Strategic Operations Unit is set to bolster the government's efforts in curtailing revenue losses and enhancing tax revenue. This initiative is part of a strategic move to optimize fiscal management and ensure economic stability, reports Pulse Uganda. In part, the statement said, "The Presidential Press Unit (PPU) wishes to inform the general public that His Excellency Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, president of the Republic of Uganda, has created the State House Revenue Intelligence and Strategic Operations Unit to do an oversight on Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) operations and fight corruption within the tax administration system."

First uranium production cycle review in Uganda

A team from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has successfully conducted the first-ever Integrated Uranium Production Cycle Review (IUPCR) at the behest of the Ugandan government. This review evaluated Uganda's potential to advance its uranium exploration initiatives and eventually harness this resource for a national nuclear energy programme. With an eye on achieving clean energy objectives and expanding electricity access to its nearly 50 million citizens, Uganda is charting a course towards nuclear power. NEI highlights that presently, only about 50% of the population has electricity access; however, the government's ambitious plan aims to elevate this figure to over 99% by the year 2030. By 2031, Uganda aspires to generate nuclear power using uranium mined within its borders.