Author: Aijuka Peter
In Uganda today, many people dream of building their own home, but for those earning below Shs1 million per month, the idea often feels far out of reach. Construction is widely believed to be a luxury reserved for high-income earners or large property developers. However, this perception does not reflect the full picture. The reality is that even individuals earning modest salaries can own a home—if they approach the process with patience, discipline, and a practical long-term plan. The journey to building a house on a low income is not about speed or extravagance. It is about starting small, making…
The Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) has unveiled its Strategic Plan for 2026 to 2030, alongside new Service Delivery Standards and a Client Charter, setting out a new vision to strengthen wildlife conservation, improve public services, embrace modern technology and expand Uganda’s tourism sector. The documents were launched during a ceremony held at Protea Hotel Kampala on Tuesday, attracting government officials, conservation partners, tourism stakeholders and development agencies. The new five-year strategy succeeds UWA’s previous strategic plan and introduces fresh priorities focused on technology-driven conservation, stronger community partnerships, institutional accountability and the development of new tourism products. Speaking at the launch,…
Uganda has allocated Shs8.8 trillion to road and railway development in the 2026/27 financial year, as the government intensifies infrastructure spending aimed at accelerating economic growth and strengthening regional connectivity. A major focus of the plan is the long-stalled Kira–Kasangati–Matugga Road, a Shs200 billion project that remains among priority road works under the Shs84 trillion national budget. The 23-kilometre route, constructed by Chongqing International Construction Corporation, stretches from Kyaliwajala Trading Centre through Kira and Kasangati to Matugga, with a branch extending to Buwate. President Yoweri Museveni commissioned the project in December 2020, with design features including dual carriageways, five major…
The Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) has renewed its call for Ugandans to actively engage in domestic tourism, saying the country’s tourism sector can only achieve long-term growth if citizens take a leading role in visiting and supporting protected areas. Dr. James Musinguzi, the Executive Director of UWA, said domestic tourism remains one of the most important drivers of conservation, job creation, and economic transformation in Uganda. He noted that many people still associate tourism mainly with international visitors, yet Ugandans themselves have a critical role to play in sustaining the industry. “Sometimes when we talk about tourism, we think about…
The Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) has moved the first group of zebras into Ajai Wildlife Reserve, marking another important milestone in the restoration of the protected area after years of wildlife decline. The animals were transported to the reserve on Friday night as part of an ongoing conservation programme aimed at rebuilding wildlife populations and reviving tourism in the West Nile region. Their arrival comes only months after UWA successfully introduced southern white rhinos to the same reserve. UWA announced the development through its official X account, saying the zebra translocation is part of a wider effort to restore the…
Director of Public Prosecutions of Uganda, Mr. Lino Anguzu, together with the top management team from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), is on a two-day retreat hosted by UWA at Queen Elizabeth Conservation Area (QECA), a visit aimed at strengthening institutional collaboration in the fight against wildlife crime and advancing conservation justice A key focus of the retreat is to deepen the ODPP’s understanding of the conservation work being undertaken by UWA, while also strengthening collaboration in wildlife crime prosecution and supervising ongoing prosecution work handled by UWA prosecutors. On behalf of the Executive…
Sudhir Ruparelia has opened up about the scale of his business empire, sharing details about its tax contributions, workforce, and role in Uganda’s broader economic story. Speaking during a wide-ranging conversation at Crane Chambers, the businessman reflected on decades of investment across multiple sectors and what he believes private enterprise means for national development. Ruparelia said his businesses collectively employ more than 10,000 people, pushing back against the notion that large investors crowd out employment opportunities. In his view, they do the opposite, creating jobs at scale across industries that require serious, long-term capital commitment. He also spoke about Uganda’s…
Sudhir Ruparelia has recounted his family’s deep historical ties to Uganda, his childhood in Kasese surrounded by wildlife, and the circumstances that led to his departure during the 1972 expulsion of Asians. Speaking during a conversation at Crane Chambers with Pan African Pyramid speaker Andrew Irumba Katusabe, Ruparelia said his family has lived in East Africa for more than a century, describing himself as a fourth-generation Ugandan. He said his great-grandfather first arrived in Mombasa in 1897 before the family later settled in Uganda. His father was born in Kampala in 1932, while he was born at Nakasero Hospital in…
A baby chimpanzee at Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary has been named “RR” in honor of the late Rajiv Ruparelia, recognizing his contributions to wildlife conservation, environmental protection, and community development. The naming ceremony, held on Saturday at the sanctuary on Lake Victoria, was attended by members of the Ruparelia family, conservationists, development partners, and officials from the Chimpanzee Sanctuary & Wildlife Conservation Trust, Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary, and the Jane Goodall Institute. During the event, businessman and philanthropist Dr. Sudhir Ruparelia announced a donation of Shs50 million to support the protection and welfare of chimpanzees at the sanctuary. The young…
Sudhir Ruparelia has recounted the remarkable journey that took him from a teenage refugee arriving in the United Kingdom to one of East Africa’s most influential entrepreneurs, detailing the hardship, discipline, and defining choices that shaped his path across decades. Speaking during an interview at Crane Chambers, the Ruparelia Group Chairman revisited his early life after the 1972 expulsion of Asians from Uganda, describing how he landed in the UK with little certainty about what lay ahead. He arrived in Britain in the early hours of November 6, 1972 and was first taken to a government-run refugee reception facility set…