AGP Executive Report

EACOP Compensation Update: EACOP says it has paid compensation to 1,482 affected people in Geita (99.3% of those assessed), with only 10 remaining unpaid as of Aug 31 and operations expected to start Jan 15, 2027. Health Supply Chain: Ugandan biotech Dei BioPharma has been onboarded onto Africa CDC’s African Pooled Procurement Mechanism for five years, positioning the firm for future continental health product bids. Policy & Research: Uganda has launched two research task forces—Institutional Research Agenda (IRA) and Social Economic Research Agenda (SERA)—to turn research into better policymaking and budgeting. STEM Education Boost: EACOP awarded 16 scholarships (Telecommunications Engineering and Computer Science) to Kyambogo and Makerere students, including seven women. Agriculture Skills: Government is developing a practical curriculum with ILO support to train youth in agricultural mechanisation, irrigation, farm structures and soil testing. AI for Farming: Google launched an AI project using satellite imagery to map fields and detect farming events, aiming to raise productivity and climate resilience. Digital Safety: UNICEF reports high exposure to online sexual exploitation in Eastern and Southern Africa, with Uganda among the highest. Transport Tech Shock: Uber exited Uganda on Sept 2 after 12 years, citing a tough market review and transition support for drivers and riders.

Oil & Minerals: Uganda is courting global capital to unlock mineral potential, while also pushing its crude export brand “Pearl Sweet” as oil projects near first production. Health & Science: Malaria parasites with reduced sensitivity to artemether-lumefantrine are spreading rapidly in Uganda, raising alarms for first-line treatment effectiveness. Digital Safety: UNICEF reports about 27% of children in Eastern and Southern Africa face exposure to technology-facilitated child sexual exploitation and abuse, with Uganda among the highest. AI for Agriculture: Ugandan agritech startup SANDI AI Technologies won the 2026 GoGettaz Agripreneur Prize (US$50,000) to expand an AI platform linking smallholders to agricultural finance. Tourism Tech: Uganda is using AI and digital tools to boost tourism ahead of World Tourism Day, aiming to raise visibility and lengthen stays. Transport & Infrastructure: Jinja launched an Shs82.88b road upgrade for 13.82km, and Busoga awaits long-delayed tarmacking funding after Parliament approved Shs842.6b for a major road. Education Policy: Uganda’s education ministry told head teachers to stop sending learners home over unpaid fees, warning it harms learning and child welfare. Mobility Platforms: Little Uganda reaffirmed its commitment to expand digital transport services, even as Uber exited Uganda and Nigeria.

Judiciary & AI: Chief Justice of India Surya Kant urged BRICS to become a “living Nalanda University,” stressing healthy disagreement and predictable justice, while forum sessions also focused on mediation, cross-border arbitration, and AI’s role in improving judicial efficiency. Digital child safety: UNICEF reports about 1 in 5 children in Uganda are exposed to unwanted sexual content online, with technology-facilitated abuse linked to higher risks of suicidal thoughts. Agri-AI for finance: Ugandan startup SANDI AI Technologies won the 2026 GoGettaz Agripreneur Prize (about Shs190m) to expand an AI platform that helps smallholders access loans. Clean energy for SMEs: Sawa Energy and dfcu Bank launched a pay-for-consumption/lease model to finance solar PV and batteries for businesses without upfront capital. Tourism tech push: Uganda plans to use AI and digital tools to boost tourism earnings ahead of World Tourism Day, aiming for longer stays and better visitor experiences. Oil sector update: Uganda branded its export crude as “Pearl Sweet” as production and pipeline/refinery timelines near. Transport & informal economy: UNION Transport Alliance and UISF launched a partnership to make Uganda’s informal economy more visible, unlocking digital markets and financing. Local infrastructure: Jinja unveiled an Shs83b road rehabilitation push for 13.82km, starting with drainage-sensitive roads.

AI in health & farming: Uganda and Rwanda researchers showcased how African women are using AI and smart tools to speed disease diagnosis and boost potato production, including an AI “ocular” system that links microscopes, smartphones and 3D-printable adapters for faster detection of illnesses like malaria and TB. Tourism digitisation: Uganda is pushing AI and digital tech to grow tourism earnings ahead of World Tourism Day in Mbale, citing higher visitor numbers and receipts and aiming to improve marketing, customer engagement and data-driven decisions. Energy access via solar: Sawa Energy and dfcu Bank launched a clean-energy partnership offering financed on-site solar PV and battery systems for SMEs through long-term pay-for-consumption or lease deals. Oil regulator change: Petroleum Authority of Uganda’s founding ED Ernest Rubondo has exited after 10 years; Otonga Michael Ochan takes over as Acting ED while a substantive replacement is processed. Digital health for rural wards: Chil Group rolled out an E-Ward Round platform to connect rural facilities with urban specialists for virtual inpatient ward rounds across nearly 400 partner sites. Education policy: Uganda’s education ministry warned head teachers against sending learners home over unpaid fees, stressing it harms concentration and violates UPE/USE goals. Public health research: A Uganda-focused study highlights counselling effectiveness for adolescent girls and young women, while Tanzania trained 62 data collectors for an emergency care improvement study. Governance & tech: Uganda’s SHIPU reported recovering Shs557b from fraud cases, with land and financial fraud topping complaints. Cyber-safety warning: UNICEF estimates about 20 million children aged 12–17 faced technology-facilitated sexual exploitation and abuse in a year across 21 countries, including Uganda.

AI Biosecurity: A new Science study shows trained AI can design novel viruses, raising fresh alarm about how to keep legitimate research moving while reducing the risk of AI-enabled bioweapons. Ebola Response: WHO and Africa CDC updates keep pressure on the DRC’s Ebola fight, with officials warning it’s still too early to declare the outbreak fully under control as cases and deaths remain high. Uganda Health Tech: Chil Group launched a digital “E-Ward Round” platform to link rural inpatient facilities with urban specialists for real-time care, aiming to cut long-distance referrals. Digital Infrastructure: WIOCC secured $300m to expand Africa’s open-access fibre and data-centre backbone, targeting growing demand for cloud and AI services. Local Investment & Fraud: Uganda’s State House Investors’ Protection Unit reports recovering about Shs557b from fraudulent deals, with land and financial fraud still the biggest capital-freezing issues. Mining & Industry: Uganda pitched its critical-minerals push to investors abroad, while UMA says manufacturing contributes 16.5% to the economy and is key for jobs and value chains. E-hailing Shake-up: Uber’s exit from Uganda and Nigeria continues to ripple—competition, costs, and trust issues are blamed—while Uber simultaneously expands autonomous ride-hailing in London. Child Safety Online: UNICEF estimates about 20m children face technology-facilitated sexual exploitation and abuse yearly, highlighting underreporting and the need for stronger protections.

Digital Infrastructure Boost: WIOCC secured a combined $300m from Africa Finance Corporation and Vision International Investment to expand Africa’s open-access fibre, data centres, and subsea cable assets. E-hailing Shock in Uganda: Uber shut down ride-hailing in Uganda and Nigeria on Sept 2, citing a review of priorities; the move also comes as Uber cuts about 10% of its global workforce and pivots toward autonomous rides. AI Mobility Push: Just a day after the Africa exits, Uber launched autonomous ride-hailing in London with Wayve-powered electric vehicles and human monitors. Oil Market Update: Uganda named its export crude blend “Pearl Sweet” as Tilenga-Kingfisher-EACOP nears production, describing it as low-sulphur and medium-light. Connectivity for Businesses: Starlink entered Uganda’s enterprise market via a partnership between Roke Telkom and Paratus Uganda. Public Health Watch: Africa CDC says it’s still too early to declare the DRC Ebola outbreak under control, even as cases decline toward a plateau. Child Online Safety: UNICEF reports up to 20 million children face online sexual abuse or exploitation each year, with social media driving much of it. Youth & Skills: MTN Uganda committed UGX 500m for the MTN Changemakers initiative, backing community projects across health, education, water, environment, and economic empowerment.

Digital Safety & Youth Wellbeing: UNICEF reports 1 in 5 youths aged 12–17 face online sexual abuse, with social media driving most incidents—raising urgent calls for safer platforms and stronger protections. Mobility Tech Shock: Uber has shut down ride-hailing in Uganda and Nigeria effective Sept 2, ending a decade in Uganda; the move also comes as Uber cuts about 10% of its global workforce to fund future autonomous mobility. Oil Branding for Exports: Uganda officially names its crude blend “Pearl Sweet,” tied to low sulphur quality, as Tilenga and Kingfisher ramp toward first production and export via EACOP. Startup-to-Market Support: MTN Uganda backs young innovators with a new UGX 500m Changemakers phase, while MTN’s Mobile Money Open API continues helping developers turn code into businesses. Blockchain & AI Funding Pathways: Africa Blockchain Festival launches its 2026 Fellowship to connect blockchain/AI founders with investors and mentorship in Nairobi. Investment Climate Push: Uganda’s State House Investors’ Protection Unit reports recovering UGX 557bn by tackling systemic bottlenecks, with land and financial fraud flagged as major issues. Finance for Growth: Uganda’s banking sector seeks patient capital to scale lending for the tenfold growth strategy, with science/tech and ICT highlighted as key enablers.

Oil & Energy: Uganda officially names its export crude blend “Pearl Sweet Petroleum,” a Tilenga–Kingfisher mix with low sulphur, as the country pushes toward first oil exports. Public Safety & Industry Tech: Engineers are using Japan’s Fukuoka Method to rehabilitate Kampala’s Kiteezi landfill after collapse, aiming to improve ventilation and control contaminated liquids. Digital Infrastructure: WIOCC Group secures a $300m investment to expand Africa’s open-access digital backbone. Health Security: The US donates Ebola antibody treatment vials (MBP134) to Uganda’s Ministry of Health as DRC’s Bundibugyo outbreak keeps regional risk high. HIV Prevention: Makerere-Johns Hopkins researchers warn men using Viagra to disclose sildenafil before Lenacapavir injections, due to potentially dangerous drug interactions. Water & Engineering: NWSC says Greater Kampala’s “Package 2B” works will expand distribution to end recurrent shortages. Mobility Tech: Uber shuts down in Uganda (and Nigeria) effective Sept 2, 2026, while also cutting about 10% of staff globally. Agriculture & AI: Nigeria explores AI-enabled digital extension to fix the shortage of agricultural advisors.

Humanitarian Leadership: Uganda Red Cross Society appoints Dr. Naphtal Baguma as new Secretary General and CEO, starting March 1, 2027, after 20+ years across humanitarian and institutional roles. Security Tech & Drones: Leaked files claim Israel helped Uganda build drone and surveillance capabilities, as Kampala prepares for a Gaza deployment under the “Board of Peace.” Accountability in Development Finance: Govt launches oversight to inspect PDM, Emyooga and cattle restocking in Teso and Lango, focusing on beneficiary selection, fund access, loan recovery and results. Digital Government Reform: Cabinet approves using the National Identification Number (NIN) as the tax identifier to connect people, business records and tax transactions across state systems. Public Health Urgency: WHO rejects broad rollout of Ervebo for the Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak in DR Congo, citing insufficient protection data, as cases top 6,000. Digital Infrastructure Investment: WIOCC secures $300m to expand Africa’s open-access fibre, data centres and subsea assets, aiming to close the continent’s internet and AI infrastructure gap. Transport Safety & Air Quality: Kampala’s crackdown on dangerous mechanical condition taxis is linked to improved air quality, with AirQo reporting lower PM2.5 levels. Energy & Resilience: Bangui’s solar leap adds 60% more power via a 50MW solar plant with battery storage, boosting electricity access for households. Oil Sector Branding: Museveni to unveil an official name for Uganda’s crude oil to help it stand out on global markets.

Digital Payments: Kenya’s Upesi crossed Sh20bn in cumulative cross-border transfers, showing surging demand for faster, safer digital money movement across Africa and beyond—an angle Uganda fintech players can learn from as cross-border remittances keep rising. AI in Health: Uganda’s Health Minister says government plans to integrate artificial intelligence into healthcare to improve diagnosis and disease management, alongside expanding digital services. Ebola Watch (DRC): Congo’s Ebola outbreak has passed 6,000 confirmed cases and 2,911 deaths, with conflict and insecurity slowing response access in eastern zones. Halal Economy: Uganda is pushing to expand in the global halal market by strengthening certification, skills, lab testing, and modern processing—linking agriculture, finance, tourism, and manufacturing. Mining Regulation: Uganda imposed a one-month moratorium on new mineral licences and exploration rights to reset oversight, curb speculative claims, and push responsible development. Mobile Connectivity Research: Uganda’s UCC launched a study on smartphone usage to support progress toward 100% network coverage by 2030. Green Finance: The EU backed Phase II of Uganda’s green enterprise funding push (UGEFA), aiming to scale loans for renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and waste management. EACOP Protest Case: 10 anti-EACOP activists were charged after Kampala protests, with court remand set for further hearing.

Green Finance for Climate SMEs: The EU-backed Uganda Green Enterprises Financing Accelerator (UGEFA) Phase II has been launched with Shs29bn, building on Phase I where 102 enterprises accessed Shs31.8bn via partner banks. New partners include dfcu, Equity, Housing Finance, I&M, NCBA and PostBank, targeting renewable energy, sustainable agriculture and waste management. Digital Inclusion Study: Uganda’s UCC is running a study on smartphone use as the country targets 100% network coverage by 2030, citing 20.5m registered smartphones and 64.6m mobile subscriptions (end-June 2026). Health Tech & Cancer Care: Rotary’s Cancer Run has raised Shs5bn toward a cancer treatment centre at St Francis Hospital Nsambya, with work shifting from fundraising to radiotherapy infrastructure and staffing. Mining Regulation Reset: Uganda has imposed a one-month moratorium on new mineral licences and exploration rights to tighten oversight and curb speculative claims. Aviation Upgrade: Uganda’s UCAA upgraded Jinja Airfield with a paved runway, taxiway and apron to improve safety and connectivity. Portable MRI Breakthrough (Uganda-built): A low-field portable MRI system assembled in Uganda by an international team is helping expand brain imaging access in low-resource settings, with Nigerian expertise highlighted. Ebola Update (DRC): Congo’s Ebola outbreak has passed 6,000 cases and 2,911 deaths, with health agencies warning it remains out of control.

Agrifood Policy & Finance: AGRA says Africa’s food systems must be judged by what farmers earn, warning that output gains haven’t translated into prosperity and flagging a huge $180bn agrifood financing gap. Public Health & Research: Congo’s Ebola outbreak has topped 6,000 confirmed cases with nearly 3,000 deaths as insecurity and health shortages hamper containment. Medical Technology: Uganda-built low-field portable MRI work is advancing brain imaging access, with open-source engineering assembled on site at Mbarara University of Science and Technology. Digital Skills & Jobs: MTN Uganda graduates 503 youths from ACE digital-skilling, highlighting a widening gap between connectivity and practical internet use for work and business. AI in Community Health: An AI-assisted febrile illness surveillance pilot in four Ugandan districts shows high agreement with Village Health Teams and is moving to a harder phase testing whether AI improves decisions. Energy & Transport: MTN Uganda expands cashless payments and onboard Wi‑Fi on EBus Xpress electric bus routes in Kira. Climate Preparedness: IGAD’s October–December 2026 rainfall forecast urges early action across the Horn of Africa to protect agriculture, water and health. Protest & Oil Policy: Police arrest 10 anti-oil activists after Kampala marches demanding renewable energy and job-focused investment instead of oil dependence. TVET & STEM Coordination: YES-PACT highlights Uganda’s TVET Act and reforms that include AI, agriculture, and STEM coordination.

Biomedical Research: Ugandan-linked international teams are joining Johns Hopkins-led work to study hepatitis B and HIV co-infection in 600 patients across countries, aiming to understand why disease progresses differently and to support a cure-by-2030 goal. Digital Skills for Jobs: MTN Uganda graduated 503 youths from its ACE programme, bringing total completers to 1,190, with training spanning AI, cybersecurity, e-commerce and digital marketing—highlighting that Uganda’s internet use still lags behind connectivity. Mining Governance: Uganda has paused new mineral licences and exploration rights for 30 days to curb speculation and clean up the sector, as government tightens licensing to attract credible investors. Cancer Vaccine Innovation: Dei BioPharma filed seven US patents for modular mRNA cancer-vaccine technologies, building a library of pre-manufactured, HLA-matched candidates. Clean Energy Adoption Gap: Makerere University research finds low uptake of low-carbon farm technologies in Central Uganda, driven by information gaps, high costs and access barriers. Urban Transport Digitisation: MTN Uganda expanded cashless payments and onboard Wi‑Fi on EBus Xpress with three new Kira routes, using MTN MoMo for fares. Health Policy Continuity: Uganda is institutionalising adolescent healthcare by embedding DICAH into the Prime Minister’s performance assessments to protect services as donor funding declines. Public Health Access: Marie Stopes Uganda cut Lifeguard condom prices from Shs2,000 to Shs700 to boost protection amid rising HIV infections. Land Records & Fraud: Jinja’s digital land registration reduced fraud, but a staffing shortage and old records are creating a backlog and slowing full digitisation.

Ebola Preparedness: The US delivered an experimental Ebola antibody treatment (MBP134) to Uganda’s Ministry of Health as a safeguard against possible cross-border spread from DRC, even as Uganda remains Ebola-free. Digital Skills for Jobs: MTN Uganda graduated 503 youths from its ACE digital-skilling programme, training people including refugees and persons with disabilities in areas like cybersecurity and AI to support business growth. HIV Prevention Push: Marie Stopes Uganda cut Lifeguard condom prices from Shs2,000 to Shs700 to boost access amid rising HIV infection rates, rolling out the “Guard Your Game” campaign with mobile sales. Adolescent Health Continuity: Uganda institutionalised District Committees on Adolescent Health (DICAH) under the Office of the Prime Minister to protect services as donor funding declines. Urban Transport Electrification: E-Bus Express launched new electric bus routes in Kira with cashless MTN MoMo payments and plans to expand to Kampala Central. Crime Investigation Update: DCI arrested additional suspects in the cross-border murder case of Dr Victoria Mutiso, including a police constable, following forensic leads. Water Disaster: Rising lake levels have cut off thousands in Amolatar, prompting calls for urgent parliamentary intervention and relief.

Security & Forensics: Uganda’s DCI says it has arrested three more suspects in the murder of Dr Victoria Nthunya Mutiso, including a serving police constable, after coordinated raids in Nairobi and Kampala that followed forensic leads. Public Health & Preparedness: The US delivered an experimental Ebola antibody treatment to Uganda’s Ministry of Health as a precaution against possible cross-border spread from the DRC, where Ebola response hinges on community trust. Climate & Disaster Response: Flooding from Lake Kyoga and Lake Kwania has left thousands in Amolatar destitute for years, with local leaders urging urgent parliamentary action on relief, resettlement and compensation. Digital Skills & Jobs: MTN Uganda graduated 503 youths from its ACE programme, training people including refugees and persons with disabilities in AI, cybersecurity, e-commerce and digital marketing. Transport & Clean Energy: E-Bus Express launched new electric bus routes in Kira with cashless MTN MoMo payments, free rides for a week, and plans to expand the fleet to 50 buses. Energy Infrastructure: Reporting on Karuma Hydropower highlights ongoing struggles with full output and revenue targets, citing dispatch limits and delays in engineering and spare parts. Health Research: A study on adolescent reproductive health says policies are strong on paper but uneven in frontline implementation, especially in Uganda’s southwest. Education & Regional Integration: Uganda is part of the push at the EAC Regional Education Conference to harmonize education systems and boost investment in teachers.

Green Investment Push: Uganda invites Pakistani investors to tap agriculture, minerals, energy and tourism, offering tax incentives for greenfield projects and proposing an October business forum plus farm visits to build direct trade links. Clean Transport in Kampala: E-Bus Express launches new electric bus routes in Kira and plans to expand to Kampala Central, adding cashless MTN MoMo payments, Wi‑Fi and phone charging as the fleet targets 50 buses by year-end. Sand Mining Regulation: Uganda’s Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development drafts a Building Substances Bill to regulate sand mining, after a temporary pause on new mineral rights and licences. Health Systems & Care Integration: A new study highlights how Uganda’s HIV clinics could better deliver hypertension care, pointing to gaps between policy and frontline implementation. Malaria Alert: Health experts warn of rising malaria deaths among school children as parasites mutate and diagnosis becomes harder, urging faster testing and treatment. AI for Students: Google expands free Google AI Plus for university students across 27 African countries, including Uganda, with Gemini tools and cloud storage. Public Safety Tech Needs: CID says detective capacity is stretched (1:54 cases per detective) and calls for stronger digital investigation infrastructure as crime shifts online. EAC Education Reform: East African education leaders push for a measurable implementation compact and scorecard to track teacher and learning reforms across partner states. Ebola Border Measures: Canada extends Ebola-related entry restrictions affecting travellers from DRC, Uganda and South Sudan, with quarantine rules for arrivals.