AGP Executive Report

Regional Health Watch: Kenya confirmed a second Bundibugyo Ebola case. The first patient travelled through Uganda before reaching Nairobi, underscoring the importance of contact tracing and vigilance. Child Online Safety: Uganda has launched a campaign to protect children from cyberbullying, harmful content and addiction as digital tools become part of daily life. Ugandan Stories on Screen: The Silicon Valley African Film Festival showcased 76 films from 33 countries, including Ugandan film Queen Kitami. Seven-year-old Ugandan actress Nakaayi Dorcus is also set to star in Maama Muto, due in cinemas in 2027. Everyday Health: A new government report says only one in ten Ugandans washes hands properly, while diarrhoeal disease claims 33 children under five each day. Food Culture: A World Food Day manifesto urges Africa to rely more on local food systems, highlighting the continent’s heavy food imports despite its farming potential. Mental Health: Health Minister Chris Baryomonsi condemned stigma against people with mental illness and urged families to seek care rather than treat them as criminals.

Public Health: A new report says poor water, sanitation and hygiene contribute to 33 child deaths daily and cost Uganda about Shs5.9 trillion a year. Women’s Rights: Activists vowed to push for women’s land ownership and inheritance, saying weak enforcement and cultural practices still deny many women control of property. Tooro Kingdom: The new king has reshaped the cabinet, adding portfolios for youth, gender and ICT and replacing several officials. Culture & Arts: Muwonge Kyazze’s Kampala exhibition, Hearts of the Yields, explores Buganda heritage, women’s lives and the relationship between people and nature. Girls’ Education: Michelle Obama’s Girls Opportunity Alliance pledged more than $1 million to grassroots groups, including Uganda’s Girl Power Foundation. Learning & Mobility: A study in refugee and host communities found bicycle access improved school attendance, with recipients missing 43% fewer school days.

Household Energy: Parliament Speaker Jacob Oulanyah has suspended enforcement of the northern charcoal ban pending a review of affordable cooking alternatives, as households and traders face rising costs. Education: A packing error left some UCE centres short of exam papers, while a new study found bicycle access cut school absences by 43% and made journeys feel safer for students. Health: A survey in rural Kigezi found high rates of hypertension, diabetes and obesity among civil servants, underlining the growing burden of chronic illness beyond cities. Inclusive Learning: Stigma and limited support continue to keep autistic children out of school, educators say. Culture & Style: A Kampala-made jacket pairs Korean hanbok shapes with East African kitenge, while a feature on Tooro’s orubugo barkcloth explores the heritage woven into the traditional material.

Fashion & Craft: A new MOYO shirt jacket pairs the Korean hanbok silhouette with East African kitenge, with production in Kampala supporting a local women’s cooperative. Education: Forty-eight schools failed to register candidates for this year’s UCE exams; 503,214 students registered nationally, but at least 13 learners at one Kampala school missed the exams. Health & Wellbeing: A WaterAid report highlights unequal access to safe water and sanitation: the poorest households are 6.4 times less likely to treat drinking water, while women collect water in 71% of households. Ministry figures link poor water and hygiene to 33 diarrhoeal deaths among under-fives each day. Watoto Church has also donated a $45,000 wellness centre to Butabika Hospital to support recovery through sports therapy. Community Giving: Heart & Soul Rendezvous returns to Kigo on November 14, raising support for Mengo Hospital’s Rotary Blood Bank amid a national shortfall of about 150,000 units a year.

Food and Livelihoods: Busoga’s sugarcane fields have tripled since 2000, yet about a third of households reported going a day without food in the 2024 census. Researchers are examining how land use, contracts and earnings affect families’ ability to eat. Refugee Enterprise: In Kyaka II, refugees are raising black soldier fly larvae for chicken and fish feed, and using the waste as fertiliser—helping cut costs and provide food and income. Education: UNEB says registered candidates must be allowed to sit UCE exams regardless of unpaid fees, and has urged schools to support expectant students. One candidate gave birth during an exam and returned to finish her paper. Mental Health: Butabika Hospital has opened a football pitch and basketball court to support patients’ rehabilitation and recovery. AFCON Travel: Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania are working on a proposed joint visa to ease fans’ travel between host countries during the 2027 tournament and encourage tourism.

Education: UCE exams have begun amid tough conditions: candidates in Buvuma faced hunger, heavy rain and rough lake crossings, while a Patongo student died after an ambulance crash on the way to hospital. Teenagers: Kabale recorded 2,787 teenage pregnancies in 2025 and the first nine months of 2026, with officials linking the trend to school dropouts and child abandonment. In Koboko, pregnancy and early marriage kept some candidates from exams. Child Safety: Uganda has launched a national online-protection campaign after a survey found 88.5% of more than 5,700 pupils had encountered digital harm. Arts & Culture: Watoto Children’s Choir has released its new album, “Love Never Fails,” and begun a six-month tour to support vulnerable children. Gulu’s Bell ObaFest activations brought music, dance and live art to the city. Youth Sport: Table tennis player Joseph Sebatindira is in Sheffield for ITTF World Hopes Week as he prepares for the Dakar Youth Olympics. Community Health: A measles vaccination campaign in Nakivale reached children through visits to homes, schools and health facilities.

Child Safety: Uganda has launched a nationwide campaign to help children recognise online risks, protect personal information and report abuse. A survey of more than 5,700 pupils found 88.5% had encountered digital harm. Campus Safety: The killing of Gulu University student John Bosco Ngire has shaken students and prompted a crisis meeting with university and security officials. Girls’ Education: Kabale recorded 2,787 teenage pregnancies in 2025 and the first nine months of 2026, with officials warning of school dropouts and child abandonment. In Koboko, pregnancy and early marriage were among the reasons girls missed UCE exams. Cultural Heritage: Veteran composer Arthur Musulube recalls creating Busoga’s anthem to give the kingdom a musical identity of its own after its restoration. African Fashion: Designers are being urged to build sustainable businesses around local craft and materials, preserving cultural histories rather than copying fast-fashion models.

Health & Stigma: A student living with HIV says bullying forced him to change schools. Experts say long-acting injectable ARVs could ease the burden of daily pills and help young people stay on treatment. Education: More than 500,000 candidates have started UCE exams, with rain delaying papers in some areas and some students absent. Educationists are also urging the government to let all accredited institutions train teachers, rather than reserving the role for one institute. Women’s Leadership: Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa says women hold 35% of parliamentary seats and 49% of Cabinet posts, but representation must translate into influence over policy and budgets. Culture & Heritage: A Hindu temple has reopened in Gulu, restoring a place of worship established in 1965 and reconnecting the city’s Asian community with its history. Film & Sport: REFFA has announced nominees from 314 entries across 36 countries, while Tooro Kingdom’s Amasaza football and netball tournament is set to resume after its suspension following the king’s death.

African Film: REFFA 2026 attracted 314 submissions from 36 countries, as the festival aims to bring African stories to wider audiences ahead of its December awards. Education: UNEB moved 15 Nekemeya Memorial candidates to a nearby exam centre after fuel shortages threatened their UCE papers. Ugandan Heritage: A rebuilt Hindu temple in Gulu has brought former residents back to a childhood landmark, 50 years after many Asians were expelled from Uganda. Community & Climate: In Kasese, carbon payments are helping smallholder farmers buy livestock and pay school fees while restoring the Rwenzori landscape. Faith & Nightlife: Swangz Avenue boss Julius Kyazze says Phaneroo congregants also enjoy concerts and bars, sparking fresh debate about church culture and entertainment. Tourism: Uganda and Kenya are pursuing joint holiday packages and easier travel to grow cross-border visits.

Student Safety: Gulu University has blamed city security agencies after education student John Bosco Ngire was killed in a pre-dawn attack near campus, renewing concern over repeated assaults on students. Schools & Wellbeing: More than 503,000 candidates begin UCE exams, as educators in West Nile warn that academic pressure, financial stress and substance abuse are worsening students’ mental health. Tourism: Uganda and Kenya plan joint holiday packages and easier cross-border travel, aiming to grow tourism ahead of a regional summit in Mombasa later this month. Culture & Sport: Tooro’s Masaza Cup resumes on October 18 after a pause following the death of King Oyo, with the final set for October 24. Ugandan Pride: Martin Musau won the Lisbon Marathon in a personal-best 2:08:07, while Ugandans in Waltham, Massachusetts, marked Uganda’s independence and the restoration of Buganda’s kingdom with traditional dress, food and music.

Rallying: Uganda’s Oscar Ntambi capped a breakthrough season by winning the Africa Rally Championship’s ARC2 title, after making an impressive debut at Kenya’s gruelling Safari Rally. Culture: Ugandan representatives at a global mayors’ dialogue in China called for stronger cultural exchange and heritage preservation. At home, Tooro prince Charles Kayondo Kamurasi will serve under his third king, a rare link across generations of the kingdom’s monarchy. Education: Ugandan teachers continue to face low pay, heavy workloads and poor conditions, despite reforms and public praise for their role. Independence Style: Model Kimberly Jael celebrated Uganda’s 64th Independence Day in a gown inspired by the national flag, with colours and accessories reflecting the country’s history. Regional Travel: Advocates are urging the AU and CAF to make a shared visa for Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania a priority ahead of Afcon 2027, and a first step towards easier travel across Africa. Community Safety: Three people were killed and five critically injured in attacks on homes in Mubende, prompting fear among residents and a police investigation.

Faith and Community: Fr Sebastian Luistro, who served as a missionary and formator in Uganda, has been mourned by parishioners in Australia after his unexpected death. Ugandan Sport: Martin Naibei Musau won the Lisbon Marathon in a personal-best 2:08:07, extending a strong year for Ugandan distance runners. Style and Identity: Miss Universe Uganda 2026 first runner-up Kimberly Jael marked Independence Day in a gown inspired by Uganda’s black, yellow and red flag. Language and Religion: A new project will translate Quranic meanings into Lango, bringing religious texts closer to local-language readers. Music Legacy: A tribute to Afrigo Band founder Moses Matovu raises the question of whether the group can thrive beyond its longtime leader. Northern Uganda: US sanctions on the International Criminal Court risk disrupting a £52.4 million reparations programme for survivors of LRA atrocities. Jinja Lifestyle: Shell Amber Court has reopened with expanded fuelling, dining and retail services, including family play areas and a dedicated boda boda service bay.

Fashion & Identity: Miss Universe Uganda 2026 first runner-up Kimberly Jael celebrated Independence Day in a black, yellow and red gown inspired by the national flag, paired with cowrie-shell earrings and matching face art. Creative Enterprise: Law graduate Zedd Mukoya has turned his interest in events and creativity into Wave 360 Africa, a marketing agency operating in Uganda and Kenya. Language & Faith: Uganda’s Grand Mufti has launched a project to translate Quranic meanings into Lango, making the text more accessible to Muslims in northern Uganda. Culture & Family: Singer Yaled’s Kukyala ceremony was disrupted when a woman claimed he had promised to marry her, unsettling the traditional family introduction. Education: Experts say Uganda’s exam-focused system gives too little attention to practical skills and learners’ talents, and are calling for more investment and reform. Women’s Lives: Research involving women in Mukono highlights the toll of unpaid care, with participants describing long days of household duties alongside paid work.

Language & Faith: Uganda’s Grand Mufti has launched a project to translate Quranic meanings into Lango, making the teachings more accessible to Muslim communities in northern Uganda. Education: Experts say Uganda’s school system remains too focused on exams and theory, while officials are urging closer ties between education and industry to build practical skills. Women’s Lives: A study involving women in Mukono and Kenya’s Kisumu County highlights the toll of unpaid care work, with one woman describing days that begin at 4am and end after 10pm. Wildlife & Research: A study at Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary found chimps were less likely to steal food from close companions, suggesting social bonds shape how they treat one another. Kingdom Affairs: Tooro Muslim leaders have asked the Omukama to give Muslims greater representation in his cabinet, citing the community’s contribution to the kingdom. Tourism: Mirima Kibale Lodge has opened near Kibale National Park, offering visitors cultural walks and local music alongside chimp tracking and nature activities.

Culture & Travel: Mirima Kibale Lodge has opened near Kibale National Park, offering more than chimpanzee tracking: visitors can explore crater lakes, meet local communities and experience Batooro music, dance and storytelling. Uganda at 64: Independence reflections weigh the country’s growth against persistent challenges and the deep imprint of British rule on its language, education, religion and institutions. Education: More than 500,000 Senior Four candidates are preparing for UCE exams, with officials and clergy warning schools and learners against cheating. Girls’ Wellbeing: Leaders in Terego are calling for stronger action to curb teenage pregnancy and child marriage, while schools in the Rwenzori region are being urged to plan for girls’ menstrual hygiene needs. Safer Digital Lives: Uganda has unveiled a campaign to promote children’s online safety; separately, MTN Uganda trained 407 learners in Pader and Lamwo in digital and financial literacy.

Child Safety: Uganda has launched a campaign to help children use the internet safely, calling on parents, schools and technology companies to protect young users online. Independence: The country marked 64 years of independence with a largely virtual ceremony at State House, where 20 Ugandans were due to receive national honours. Community: Two three-month-old girls died when fire swept through a wooden settlement in Mukono; police urged families to keep children safe and ensure homes have emergency exits. Education and Faith: As national exams begin, a Tororo priest reminded candidates that prayer must go hand in hand with study. Women in Business: Government is urging women entrepreneurs to formalise their businesses, adopt technology and build networks to reach wider markets. Culture: Ugandans in Los Angeles gathered to celebrate the 33rd coronation anniversary of Buganda’s King, Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II, strengthening cultural ties with the diaspora.