NatureUganda and partners convened a public dialogue on 29 January 2026 to mark World Wetlands Day, focusing on the theme “Wetlands and Traditional Knowledge: Celebrating Cultural Heritage.” Policymakers, cultural leaders, conservationists, and researchers explored how customs, taboos, and spiritual beliefs have historically guided sustainable wetland use. Speakers emphasized integrating traditional knowledge with science, policy, and community action to strengthen stewardship, empower youth and women, and preserve both ecological and cultural values in Uganda’s wetlands.

Uganda is promoting its creative industry, including music, film, fashion, and digital arts, as key drivers of cultural expression and national identity. The government launched a Shs 28 billion Creative Uganda Revolving Fund to support artists, protect intellectual property, and develop local talent. Young Ugandans are using digital platforms to showcase culture, create jobs, and promote Ugandan arts globally, while initiatives like UGHub aim to strengthen the creative ecosystem.

President Museveni appointed Henry Lutwama as Special Presidential Assistant and Coordinator of the Bataka in Buganda, effective immediately. Lutwama will work with Bataka leaders, the traditional clan heads, to preserve and promote Buganda’s cultural heritage and customs. Drawing on his experience in community mobilization, he will support projects that strengthen cultural identity, engage communities in heritage initiatives, and ensure Buganda’s traditions contribute to arts, social cohesion, and local development.

St. Kizito High School in Namugongo, Uganda, integrated solar-powered hydroponics with food preservation and processing in its Green Innovations Park curriculum. Students grew leafy greens in soil-free, nutrient-rich systems powered by solar energy. They learned to reduce waste, preserve produce, and add value. The program combined practical sustainability skills, renewable energy use, and basic agribusiness training to prepare students for climate-resilient food production, entrepreneurship, and careers in Uganda’s agricultural sector.

The Uganda Ministry of Works and Transport is reintroducing the Electronic Penalty System (EPS) to reduce high road fatalities. The system, previously suspended over fines and public concerns, will start in pilot zones on high-risk highways, monitoring speed, traffic-light compliance, and lane discipline. Officials will review penalties, conduct nationwide sensitization, and combine digital enforcement with road safety upgrades. The phased rollout aims to improve compliance, deter dangerous driving, and enhance public safety.

The Uganda Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife, and Antiquities is purchasing a Shs10 billion helicopter to enhance wildlife protection across national parks, including Murchison Falls and Queen Elizabeth. The aircraft will allow rapid ranger deployment, support search-and-rescue operations for injured animals, and enable ecological monitoring, including wildlife censuses. The investment aims to reduce poaching, improve operational efficiency, and safeguard tourism, which contributed Shs12.2 trillion in 2025 and supports over 200,000 jobs nationwide.

The government committed to further capitalizing the Uganda Development Bank (UDG) by allocating an additional Shs1 trillion in the current financial year to expand lending to priority sectors. Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja said stronger capitalization will support Uganda’s Ten-Fold Growth Strategy, NDP IV, and Vision 2040. She spoke after leadership training for UDB staff, citing the bank’s growing impact on jobs, tax revenue, and enterprise productivity.

Finance Trust Bank will move from a Tier One commercial bank to a Tier Two credit institution on April 1, 2026, after the Bank of Uganda approved the change. The downgrade follows the central bank’s increase of minimum capital requirements for commercial banks from Shs 25 billion to Shs 150 billion. The bank said the shift will not affect 95% of its customers and will let it focus on microfinance and SME services.

Uganda moved up to third place on the 2025 Absa Africa Financial Markets Index, rising from fourth in 2024. Permanent Secretary Dr. Ramathan Ggoobi said strong macroeconomic management, structural reforms, and expanding market depth drove the improvement. Uganda leads East Africa and is projected to grow 6.5–7% in 2026, with a nominal GDP of USD 68.4 billion. Authorities plan to attract venture capital and deepen financial inclusion.