EC Warns Against Mobilizing Crowds in Youth Elections
The Electoral Commission (EC) has issued a strong warning to individuals planning to mobilize crowds during the upcoming youth elections scheduled for tomorrow, stating that legal action will be taken against violators in accordance with the law. Justice Simon Mugenyi Byabakama, the EC Chairperson, made the remarks while addressing the press on the electoral guidelines ahead of the general elections next year. Speaking from the Industrial Area in Kampala, Byabakama revealed that some aspirants are planning to bring in processions using vehicles during the youth elections. He cautioned them to refrain from such actions and urged all youth voters to maintain peace and order as they exercise their right to vote. Justice Byabakama further called upon public servants who wish to contest for various political positions to resign from their government posts before the nomination period starts, so as to avoid any conflicts of interest. He also advised aspirants who attained their academic qualifications from foreign institutions to have their credentials verified by the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) before the set deadline. Addressing concerns from Ugandans about the conduct of security personnel during elections, Byabakama said that while the use of security forces in elections is unavoidable, they must not get involved directly in the electoral process. He emphasized that such involvement would be unconstitutional. Additional guidelines presented include: Presidential aspirants must submit their nomination papers by August 1st. Parliamentary aspirants have until July 16th to submit theirs. Those aspiring for district chairperson positions must do so by July 3rd. The nomination fees also remain unchanged: Presidential aspirants are required to pay UGX 20 million. Parliamentary aspirants must pay UGX 3 million.
President Museveni Urges Army Officers to Reject Identity Politics , Promote Prosperity and Strategic Security
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has called on the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) officers and students undergoing various courses at the Armoured Warfare Training School – Karama, Mubende District to protect Uganda from the divisive politics of identity, which he believes undermines national unity, and urged them to engage in the country’s socio-economic transformation by promoting prosperity through the production of goods and services. Delivering a lecture of opportunity on Tuesday 10thJune 2025, at State House Entebbe, President Museveni who is also the Commander In Chief of the UPDF, cited the harmful impact of identity politics in most African Nations, notably citing the historical fall of Africa to Colonialists that resulted in a significant political and economic decline. “In the last 500 years, Africa has been through so many problems, slave trade, colonialism, and neo-colonialism. All this was happening because the governance of Africa was weak and lagged, consequently allowing Europeans to take control.” The President expressed satisfaction at the gathering, stating the importance of discussing the UPDF’s role as an instrument of revolution in Uganda and Africa, emphasizing the need for attendees to understand this mission. Taking them through the historic European colonization of Africa, the President hinted at its negative impact on African economic development, Uganda inclusive, and urged them to focus on national interests. Recalling how Africa had gone through neo-colonialism, causing economic collapse, President Museveni pointed out that upon coming to power, the NRM Government introduced three historic missions (prosperity, strategic security, and brotherhood) and four ideological principles (Patriotism, Pan-Africanism, Socio-Economic Transformation, and Democracy) resulting in the revival of the economy. The President also urged the army officers to rethink prosperity through self-sufficiency, saying that true economic growth does not depend on aid but on local production and entrepreneurship (producing a good or service and selling it with ekibaro), communities can generate income, improve living standards, and access essential resources like housing, transport, electricity and clean water. “You can’t get prosperous from aid, if we were to get prosperous, Africa would be rich, even other countries like Latin America have been getting aidbut they are very poor. The only way you can get prosperous is to produce a good or a service and you sell it with ekibaro and this will help you to get good money to live a better life.” President Museveni further warned the officers against tribalism and emphasized the need to expand markets beyond Uganda to ensure economic prosperity, advocating for a Pan-African and patriotic approach. He cautioned that producing similar products without sufficient market creation could lead to oversaturation and devalue those goods. “For instance, if you go to Orom, you’ll find that everyone is producing simsim. However, Opio cannot buy from Ochen, and Ochen cannot buy from Opio. So, who will rescue them? The people of Kampala, who do not produce simsim,” he said. “Currently, Uganda is producing 700,000 metric tons of sugar, yet the entire country consumes only about 300,000 metric tons, leaving a surplus of 400,000 metric tons. This means that the sugar market is more of a Ugandan market than solely a Busoga market, where sugarcanes are produced.” Similarly, the President said that dairy production is at 5.4 billion liters, with domestic consumption of only 800 million liters, resulting in a surplus of 4 billion liters. He encouraged the participants to work towards a deeper appreciation for Uganda, East Africa, and Africa in order to create a wider market and seize opportunities within the continent. “The milk we are producing within Uganda is 5.4 billion litres, consuming 800m litres, having a surplus of 4 billion litres” he said. However, he was happy to note that the country has exported 2,100 metric tons of high-quality powdered milk to Algeria, highlighting its growing market potential. He further clarified that It is important to avoid tribalism much as tribes are significant and focus on unity rather than identifying themselves as Ekyetu, Ebyaffe, Abanambi, or Mewa, etc, because the idea that prosperity for all comes from tribal affiliations is a misconception. “While tribal groups can collectively produce high-quality products, they may struggle to purchase large volumes.” On the issue of sustainable development, the President noted that as Uganda’s economy advances, the call for innovation and progress should become increasingly crucial to foster economic transformation. In addition, President Museveni said families must transition from relying on manual labour and embrace skilled work and machinery, emphasizing sustainable development likening it to a pregnancy that involves change and growth. “All families in Uganda must undergo an economic transformation, from using human manual muscle to do work, which is the problem in Africa. We need to shift from muscle power to mental labour of skilled and machine work.” “Here in Africa, you hear people saying sustainable development, without transformation? Can you have a sustainable pregnancy? Life goes through change; pregnancy must transform, you cannot stay the same all the time.” President Museveni used this analogy to emphasize that just as a pregnancy involves change and growth, so too must the approaches to economic and social development evolve. During the discussion advocating for strategic security through regional integration, President Museveni emphasized the need for Africa to draw upon its historical resilience against slave trade, colonialism, and neo-colonialism and secure itself from contemporary threats. Reflecting on the failed attempts in 1963 to create an East African Federation, he noted that despite the hesitance of leaders like Obote and Kenyatta, who were influenced by European powers, figures like Mwalimu Nyerere and Karume of Zanzibar successfully moved forward to establish Tanzania, which has succeeded for over 60 years. President Museveni pointed out that had the federation been realized, many subsequent issues, such as the rise of Idi Amin, might have been avoided. He stressed that the existence of national borders has created limitations on regional cooperation, often leaving neighboring nations like South Sudan and Congo vulnerable to crises that require collective action. “It is unfortunate that these leaders preferred to remain as big fish in a small pond,” President Museveni remarked. “We are committed to engaging with our neighbours to ensure our strategic security and shared prosperity through political integration.” He further articulated
Leader Of Opposition Petitions Gov’t Over Traffic Penalty System as Works Ministry Signals Possible Reforms
The Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, Joel B. Ssenyonyi, has written to the Minister of Works and Transport demanding an urgent review of Uganda’s Electronic Penalty System (EPS), describing the current enforcement as “punitive and exploitative.” In a strongly worded letter dated June 10, Ssenyonyi said the automated system — introduced to enforce traffic regulations and improve road safety — is instead triggering widespread confusion, financial hardship, and fear among motorists. He cited a surge in complaints about excessive fines, inconsistent speed limits, lack of public sensitization, and a lack of transparency in how the system operates. Drivers have described the EPS as punitive and exploitative, rather than corrective or educational,” Ssenyonyi wrote, urging the Ministry to recalibrate the system and engage stakeholders in order to restore public confidence. Schedule 2 of Uganda’s Traffic Regulations caps the maximum speed for most vehicles, including passenger cars, motorcycles, and goods vehicles, at 30 km/h in urban areas, and 50 km/h on highways traversing urban zones. For certain categories like tractors and engineering plants, the speed limit remains 30 km/h regardless of road type. Ugandans took to social media where they expressed frustration over the abrupt enforcement and high fines, especially given the lack of visible road signage. They also called for better public sensitization, a review of the penalty rates to match economic realities, an extension of the payment window to 28 days, and clearer road markings to help motorists comply with the law. Poor communication The opposition leader today warned that poor communication about the system has left many road users unaware of how to verify or contest penalties. He also raised concerns about enforced low-speed zones exposing motorists to security threats such as ambushes, conflicting directives between traffic lights and officers during rush hours, and the risk of travel restrictions or license renewal blocks due to pending or disputed fines. While Parliament is currently in recess, Ssenyonyi said he found it necessary to raise these matters formally, emphasizing the need for a just and transparent enforcement framework that respects the rights and safety of Ugandans. Ministry Responds, But EPS Remains in Force Responding to the mounting public uproar, the Ministry of Works and Transport on Tuesday issued a brief statement acknowledging the concerns raised by stakeholders, including those related to speed enforcement and red-light violations under the EPS. “In light of feedback received from various stakeholders regarding the implementation of the Automated Express Penalty System, particularly on speed enforcement and red-light violations, government is reviewing these views and will provide guidance on the next steps in due course,” the ministry said via its official X account. However, the ministry clarified that the implementation of the EPS remains in effect, and urged all motorists to continue observing traffic regulations as efforts to improve road safety continue. The statement signals that while government is open to reviewing aspects of the system, there will be no immediate suspension — a position likely to keep the pressure on officials as complaints continue to surface.
Museveni, First Lady Renew their National Identity Cards
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and the First Lady also Minister of Education and Sports, Maama Janet Museveni have this afternoon participated in the ongoing mass registration and renewal exercise of the National Identity cards at State Lodge, Nakasero. The project is being implemented by the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) and the renewal exercise was efficiently conducted by a team from the authority, led by the Executive Director, Ms. Rosemary Kisembo. The registration of citizens is regarded as a crucial component of national security, ensuring that every individual is accounted for within the nation’s identity framework. Enhanced biometric technology associated with these ID cards provides a reliable and unalterable means of establishing identity. This initiative underscores the government’s commitment to strengthening national identity systems and fostering socio-economic transformation. NIRA Executive Director, Rosemary Kisembo recently said only 27.4 million Ugandans are currently registered, of the 45.9 million according to last year’s census.