Author: felix@elixnews.co.ug

Fred Kabanda a seasoned petroleum sector professional with more than thirty (30) years of experience in petroleum regulation, policy development, institutional leadership, and extractives governance at national, regional, and continental levels takers over Petroleum Authority of Uganda supervision in December. The Board of Directors of the Petroleum Authority of Uganda (PAU) has announced the appointment of Fred Kabanda as the Executive Director of the Petroleum Authority of Uganda. He will assume office on 1st December 2026 following the successful conclusion of the recruitment and onboarding process. He substantively replaces Ernest Rubondo, who exited the Petroleum Authority of Uganda after completing…

Uganda has opened a trade and investment meeting in Seoul with a pitch to Korean capital and technology, presenting itself as a low-cost manufacturing base for the wider African market and as part of a plan to grow its economy to $500bn by 2040. The Uganda–South Korea Trade and Investment Meeting, held at The Westin Seoul Parnas under the theme “Boosting Trade and Investment Between Uganda and South Korea”, is co-hosted with the South Korea International Trade Association (KITA). Tuesday’s opening session brought together Ugandan ministry officials, the Uganda Investment Authority (UIA) and Korean government and business representatives. Delivering the…

Deputy Speaker of Parliament Thomas Tayebwa has announced that President Yoweri Museveni has allocated land for the establishment of two industrial parks in the Ankole sub-region, saying the projects could create thousands of jobs and spur economic development. Tayebwa made the announcement on Tuesday while representing President Yoweri Museveni at the burial of the late Mrs Edna Kentaro Baryaruha in Bushenyi District. In addition, he revealed that an industrial hub will also be established in Bushenyi District. He said Bushenyi District had provided 70 acres of land for an industrial hub to be established in Kyeizoba. “As people of Ankole,…

Government is set to write off more than Shs35 billion in tax arrears owed by tea factories as part of a wider intervention aimed at reviving Uganda’s struggling tea industry, Deputy Speaker of Parliament Thomas Tayebwa has said. Tayebwa announced the development on Tuesday while representing President Yoweri Museveni at the burial of the late Mrs Edna Kentaro Baryaruha in Bushenyi District. He said the arrears will be waived as soon as Parliament resumes from recess. The decision follows sustained efforts by Members of Parliament from Greater Bushenyi and other tea-growing areas to address challenges facing the sector. “The minister…

The Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) is championing the development of a globally recognized national Halal certification ecosystem to position Uganda as a Halal hub for East Africa and Africa, while opening new markets for Ugandan enterprises and supporting the country’s ambition to grow its economy tenfold to US$500 billion. The initiative, spearheaded by UNBS Executive Director, Eng. James N. Kasigwa, seeks to transform Halal certification from a compliance requirement into an instrument for trade, industrialization, investment and enterprise growth. With support from the Ambassador of the Republic of Uganda to Malaysia, H.E. Dr. Betty Oyella Bigombe, and the…

Over 5.4 million National Identity Cards are yet to be collected following a major service-delivery bottleneck faced by the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA), Parliament has learnt. Rosemary Kisembo, the NIRA Executive Director, attributed the backlog largely to inadequate staffing following the expiry of a temporary mass-enrolment and renewal programme. NIRA is now asking Government to increase its approved establishment from 571 to 998 positions, while providing at least 2,700 temporary workers for 18 months. “The authority’s existing workforce is insufficient for the scale of its statutory responsibilities,” she stated while appearing before Parliament’s Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities…

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has issued a message of condolence to the President of the United Republic of Tanzania, Her Excellency Samia Suluhu Hassan, following the death of her husband, Mr. Hafidh Ameir Hassan. Mr. Hafidh Ameir Hassan passed away on Monday, September 7, 2026, at the Emilio Mzena Memorial Hospital in Zanzibar while undergoing medical treatment. He served as Tanzania’s first First Gentleman following President Samia’s assumption of office in March 2021. In a public message delivered on Tuesday, President Museveni expressed solidarity on behalf of the Ugandan people, his family, and himself. “It was with a lot of…

For nearly a decade, Siddy Latabu ran a fish trading business in Kitgum, supplying silver fish, popularly known as “mukene” and smoked fish to customers across northern Uganda. Like many small business owners, she had built a loyal customer base but struggled with a familiar challenge: limited capital constrained her ability to meet demand and grow. Then, through the GROW Project, she accessed financing that enabled her to increase her stock from seven bags of fish to 25, significantly expanding her business and improving her revenue. Siddy’s story is not unique. Across Uganda, thousands of women entrepreneurs are running businesses…

Minister of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives Hon. Sanjay Tanna, led a high-level delegation to Nairobi, Kenya, where he represented H.E. President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni in a series of engagements aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation and harmonising trade and industrial policies between the two neighbouring countries. The discussions brought together Ugandan and Kenyan government officials, including Kenya’s counterparts responsible for trade and industry, and culminated in high-level engagements involving *H.E. President William Ruto. The meetings focused on addressing trade and industry matters affecting the movement, production and marketing of several products between Uganda and Kenya. The two countries explored ways of…

Senior Presidential Advisor on Political Affairs Hajjat Hadijah Namyalo has called for a nationwide period of prayer and reflection ahead of President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s birthday on September 15, urging Ugandans to seek spiritual guidance while confronting persistent challenges affecting the country. She also called on Ugandans across religious denominations to join a spiritual revival and prayer campaign ahead of President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s birthday on September 15. The September 15 commemoration is expected to bring together religious leaders, veterans, families of fallen fighters and members of the public at the ONC offices in Kyambogo. The organisers say the event…