Uganda Airlines faced widespread flight cancellations and delays due to technical faults, a limited long-haul fleet, and crew shortages. The disruptions affected regional and international routes, including Dubai, Zanzibar, Lagos, and London, leaving passengers stranded and incurring additional costs. The operational crisis is compounded by financial mismanagement, including alleged ticket fraud, net losses exceeding Shs1 trillion, and contingent liabilities. Lawmakers and aviation observers have called for greater transparency and improved fleet management.

Absa Bank Uganda provided a five-year, $50 million financing facility to the Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL) to expand national power distribution. The funding will extend the network to over 200,000 new customers by 2026, support grid upgrades, deploy digital meters, and integrate renewable energy. UEDCL and Absa officials said the initiative will improve electricity reliability, efficiency, and access, supporting Uganda’s industrialization and aligning with Vision 2040 and the National Development Plan IV.

President Yoweri Museveni highlighted Uganda’s private sector role in driving stability, economic growth, and regional market access at the Kampala Business Forum 2025. He pledged to invest oil and gas revenues in infrastructure to reduce business costs. Business leaders praised improvements in agribusiness, manufacturing, and services, and the forum emphasized public-private collaboration to boost productivity, expand markets, and sustain long-term development across Uganda.

Uganda’s agricultural sector faces mounting challenges as EU deforestation regulations threaten €2.75 billion in export markets, with coffee particularly at risk. Only 15% of East African producers fully understand the new traceability requirements, while smallholder farmers struggle with digital tools and land documentation. Business confidence in agriculture also fell to 105.5 points in Q3 2025 due to a prolonged dry spell and high borrowing costs, affecting crop yields, incomes, and value chain activities.

Investors from the UAE’s Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Gulftainer Co. Ltd. proposed building an inland port at Bukasa, Uganda, to improve cargo handling and lower regional trade costs. The port will provide storage, customs clearance, and consolidation services, easing congestion along the Northern Corridor and facilitating trade with Kenya, Sudan, and other markets. President Yoweri Museveni welcomed the initiative, pledged government support, and urged investors to finalize the first phase within six months.

DFCU Bank reaffirmed its 11-year partnership with the Best Farmers initiative to strengthen Uganda’s agriculture through finance, training, and strategic collaborations. Speaking in Kampala, Chief Retail Banking Officer Annette Kiconco highlighted programs that build farmer capacity, promote modern practices, and expand rural financial access. The 2025 Best Farmers Awards recognized innovative farmers, including overall winner Hood Kiwana Kasirye, who received UGX 50 million for his integrated 25-acre farm. Partners emphasized value addition and community transformation.