AGP Executive Report

Wildlife Conservation: Uganda Wildlife Authority reports a newborn lion cub in the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park, spotted in good health feeding alongside its pride—an encouraging sign for big-cat protection and tourism in the tree-climbing lion area. Clean Energy & Education: In Mbale’s Kilulu B Village, a new solar system at Good Journey Nursery and Primary School is restoring reliable evening study time for Primary Seven candidates after frequent power cuts disrupted learning. Green Finance: Equity Bank Uganda is rolling out Equi-Green Loans and Green Enterprise Financing, plus results-based financing, to help households, schools, farms and SMEs afford solar and clean cooking—aiming to cut reliance on charcoal and firewood. Ebola Watch (Regional): WHO says Central Africa’s Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak is nearing 500 confirmed cases, with Uganda reporting 19 cases and two deaths, as health systems brace for wider spread amid conflict and displacement. Environment Governance: A study questions whether Uganda’s environmental impact assessment process is more than box-ticking, finding developers often don’t seriously consider alternatives. Climate Justice: A UN court decision on states’ climate duties is gaining traction, with activists pushing for stronger protection of people targeted for climate action.

Wildlife Crime Crackdown: Uganda Wildlife Authority has received 8.9 tonnes of seized wildlife contraband from Entebbe Airport for destruction, a major step to stop illegal trade from returning to circulation. Ebola Watch (Uganda & region): WHO reports nearly 500 confirmed Ebola cases in Central Africa, with spillover into Uganda (19 cases, 2 deaths) as the outbreak spreads amid conflict, displacement and weak health systems. Cross-border Health Measures: Uganda has closed the Congo border over Ebola outbreak fears, disrupting trade and raising pressure on border communities. Tourism & Conservation Access: Construction of Kidepo International Airport has kicked off in Karenga, expected to improve access to Kidepo Valley National Park and boost jobs and tourism in Karamoja. Environment Governance: A study questions whether Uganda’s environmental impact assessment process is more than box-ticking, finding developers often fail to consider alternatives properly. Clean Energy Finance: Equity Bank Uganda is pushing green financing to make solar and clean cooking more affordable, aiming to cut reliance on charcoal, kerosene and firewood. World Environment Day: A young advocate in Kampala donated 1,000 tree seedlings to local pupils and residents, urging community action on climate and conservation.

Ebola Watch (Central Africa): WHO says Central Africa’s Ebola outbreak is nearing 500 confirmed cases, with Uganda also reporting infections as health teams push harder to contain spread amid conflict, displacement, and weak systems. Uganda Border & Response: Uganda has closed the Congo border over Ebola fears, while aid groups and health partners scale up PPE, handwashing, and community surveillance to fight misinformation and reach frontline workers. Environmental Governance (Uganda): A new study questions whether Uganda’s environmental impact assessment process is more than box-ticking, finding developers often fail to seriously consider alternatives. Wildlife Under Pressure (DRC): Virunga National Park says Ebola and rebel violence are hitting conservation hard, even as rangers build screening posts to protect primates and communities. Tourism & Infrastructure (Uganda): Construction of Kidepo International Airport begins in Karenga, with promises of better access to Kidepo Valley National Park and jobs for youth. Clean Energy Finance (Uganda): Equity Bank Uganda rolls out green financing to make solar and clean cooking more affordable through longer, flexible repayment plans. World Environment Day (Kampala): A young advocate donates 1,000 tree seedlings to local pupils and residents, urging youth-led conservation action.

Ebola Response in Uganda and DRC: WHO reports nearly 500 confirmed Ebola cases in central Africa, with Uganda recording 19 confirmed cases (including two deaths), as health authorities push stronger interventions and preparedness. Cross-Border Health Measures: Uganda has closed the Congo border over Ebola fears, while enhanced airport screening and traveller monitoring continue across the region and beyond. Tourism and Conservation Infrastructure: President Museveni has kicked off construction of Kidepo International Airport in Karenga, aiming to boost access to Kidepo Valley National Park, create jobs, and support wildlife-based tourism. Green Finance for Clean Energy: Equity Bank Uganda is rolling out green financing to make solar and clean cooking more affordable, using longer repayment terms and supplier-linked installation models. World Environment Day Trees: A young Kampala environmental advocate donated 1,000 tree seedlings to pupils and nearby residents, urging youth-led conservation action. Health Systems Support: KOICA, WHO and Uganda’s Ministry of Health upgraded Wandago Health Centre II in Buyende with solar power, oxygen, improved facilities, and training—plus skills support for young mothers.

Ebola Response at the Border: Uganda tightened cross-border movement over Ebola fears, with traders stuck at Mpondwe as authorities halted truck entry/exit, raising urgent concerns for food and livelihoods. Aid to Fight Ebola: Dubai Humanitarian airlifted 20 metric tonnes of WHO medical supplies via Uganda to support hundreds of patients and about 280 healthcare facilities in eastern DRC, while Cafod launched an emergency fundraising push to scale community surveillance, handwashing stations, and PPE in Ituri. Wildlife & Disease Risk: Virunga National Park leaders say Ebola plus rebel violence is stretching resources, as rangers build screening posts and protect gorillas from infection. Health & Nutrition: A new Uganda study links geriatric malnutrition with higher dementia risk, spotlighting nutrition as a public health lever for ageing populations. Karamoja Tourism Boost: President Museveni launched Kidepo International Airport works in Karenga, promising better access to Kidepo Valley National Park, jobs, and investment. Local Environment Action: NCBA Bank Uganda, Dentons and KCCA marked World Environment Day with tree planting at Nakasero Primary School. Education Access in Kampala: KCCA urged parents to use free government schools as enrolment rises but under-enrolment persists.

Ebola Response in Focus: Dubai Humanitarian airlifted 20 tonnes of WHO medical supplies to support the fast-spreading Ebola outbreak in eastern DRC via Uganda, including PPE, disinfectants, tents and thermometers for hundreds of patients and about 280 healthcare facilities. Local Health Preparedness: UKHSA warned NHS staff to brace for possible Ebola cases, while Milwaukee health officials said three low-risk travellers from central Africa are being monitored; Uganda is also named among affected areas. Environment & Conservation: Uganda marked World Environment Day with a push to restore forests, reporting forest cover rising from 9% (2015) to 13% today and targeting 5 million hectares by 2040; NCBA Bank Uganda also planted trees with KCCA and Dentons. Land, Water & Community Impacts: A Lubigi wetland demolition by NEMA left a woman homeless, with Prime Minister Nabanjja later delivering aid—highlighting how conservation enforcement can collide with livelihoods. Tourism Infrastructure: President Museveni launched construction works for Kidepo International Airport in Karamoja, promising boosts for tourism, trade and wildlife conservation.

Ebola Preparedness: UKHSA has urged NHS hospitals and clinics to brace for suspected Ebola cases, posting airport and station warnings and telling staff to check PPE and training as the DRC outbreak grows; WHO says the risk to the UK public is low, but Uganda has recorded confirmed cases. Ebola-DRC Link to Deforestation: A new analysis argues Ebola’s changing ecology—shaped by habitat disruption and demand for minerals—may be helping outbreaks expand, while another report highlights how deforestation and wildlife exposure can raise risk. Climate Justice in Refugee Districts: As Uganda marks World Environment Day, a commentary stresses climate action must start with women and refugees in host districts where drought, water stress, and forest loss are already reshaping daily life. Climate Finance for Farmers: Britam says it paid Sh97.3m in claims to over 400,000 farmers and livestock keepers across Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania after weather shocks, showing how extreme conditions are hitting livelihoods. Uganda EIA Scrutiny: A study questions whether Uganda’s environmental impact assessments are more than box-ticking, finding developers often fail to properly consider alternatives. Youth SRHR Alarm: A regional conference in Mombasa warns Africa’s institutions are failing adolescents, with Uganda listed among official partners.

Ebola Watch: WHO says the Congo outbreak is still outpacing response, with the Bundibugyo strain spreading across eastern DRC and into Uganda, as health leaders push for faster testing, contact tracing, and community trust. Public Health Preparedness: Uganda and partners are ramping up readiness, including on-the-ground disinfectant production hubs in affected areas and training rapid response teams to detect and manage alerts early. Environment & Accountability: A Ugandan court fined NYTIL UGX 180m for illegally discharging industrial effluent into land and the River Nile, ordering restoration within 30 days—another reminder that environmental impact rules must bite. Climate Risk Support: Britam reports payouts of Ksh97.3m to 402,681 farmers and pastoralists across East Africa after climate-related shocks, using parametric insurance triggered by weather thresholds. Water & Health Systems: WaterStep is expanding emergency bleach production in DRC, Uganda, and Kenya to reduce reliance on fragile supply chains during the Ebola surge. Biodiversity Monitoring: A Fulbright scholar plans a sensor network to continuously monitor the African Great Lakes, aiming to close long-standing gaps in environmental data.

Ebola Response in Focus: WHO says the DRC outbreak is still outpacing containment, with suspected cases falling but contact tracing lagging, while rebel attacks in eastern Congo are killing civilians and disrupting health work. Uganda Health Monitoring: Uganda’s Ministry of Health says it has concluded surveillance of BA253 passengers after Ebola tests came back negative, and continues monitoring at the border. Preparedness Training: Kenya’s KNPHI is running Integrated Rapid Response Team training in high-risk counties to strengthen detection, reporting, and safe case management. Wildlife & Disease Risk: In DRC’s Lwiro Primates Rehabilitation Center, Ebola fears have triggered lockdown and confinement of hundreds of primates to protect both animals and surrounding communities. Environment & Accountability: Uganda’s court fined NYTIL UGX 180m for illegal industrial effluent discharge into the River Nile and ordered restoration of polluted land. Clean Energy Transport: Spiro secured $215m equity to expand battery-swapping EV infrastructure across Africa, including plans for DRC and Ethiopia. Climate/Health Link: Uganda’s malaria vaccine rollout is showing strong progress after one year, with next steps focused on sustained supply and wider access.

Ebola in focus (DRC–Uganda): The Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak is still spreading in eastern DRC, with confirmed figures rising to 363 cases and 62 deaths, while Uganda reports 15 cases and one death; WHO says the world is “still behind,” citing weak contact tracing and incomplete data as the virus reaches new areas like Mambasa. Health system strain: Doctors in DRC warn that fear, distrust, and misinformation are slowing care-seeking and making contact tracing harder, even as response efforts ramp up. Preparedness and travel alerts: Uganda’s situation is being closely monitored under the WHO’s public health emergency framework, with officials stressing heightened vigilance and coordination across the region. Clean cooking push: Vivo Energy Uganda showcased Shell Gas clean cooking solutions for schools at the ASSHU headteachers’ conference, pitching LPG as safer and more reliable than charcoal and firewood. EV infrastructure investment: Spiro secured $215m equity to expand battery-swapping and EV rollout across Uganda and other African markets, aiming to cut fuel dependence and modernize urban transport. Conservation & education via art: Uganda Baati launched the 2026 Safal Eye in the Wild photography competition, linking wildlife storytelling with conservation funding and education across East Africa.

Ebola Response in Focus: WHO has cut the number of suspected Ebola cases in Congo to 116, while confirmed cases stand at 321 and deaths at 48; Uganda has confirmed nine cases and one death, as health teams warn that fear and misinformation can slow care and contact tracing. Border Vigilance: Police and health authorities are urging tighter border monitoring and cooperation with prevention measures as the Bundibugyo strain spreads across eastern DRC and Uganda, with no licensed vaccine available. Conservation & Wildlife Memory: Peter Beard’s “The End of the Game” gets an expanded Taschen edition, revisiting how past wildlife loss reshaped Uganda and Kenya’s ecosystems. Climate-Linked Risk: A CDC-led Q&A highlights how deforestation and forest fragmentation can help predict where Ebola outbreaks may emerge, pointing to stronger land-use protection as part of preparedness. Sustainable Agriculture Push: Uganda’s Seeds of Gold Farm Clinic was launched at Namulonge to equip farmers with modern solutions amid climate pressures and post-harvest losses. Clean Transport Investment: Spiro secured $215m to expand electric mobility and battery-swapping infrastructure across Africa, aiming to cut emissions and fuel dependence.

Ebola Watch: Doctors in DRC say the outbreak is spreading faster than response efforts, with fear, misinformation, and insecurity making surveillance and contact tracing harder; Uganda has reported confirmed cases and deaths as WHO flags the situation as a public health emergency. Border & Church Measures: Uganda’s churches have tightened Ebola prevention ahead of Martyrs Day, while police and health authorities push for stricter border vigilance and quarantine rules to slow cross-border spread. Uganda Misinformation Crackdown: The Education Ministry dismissed viral claims that schools were closed over Ebola, warning parents and learners against recycled footage and false alerts. Smart Agriculture Push: Seeds of Gold Farm Clinic was launched at Namulonge to help farmers adopt modern practices amid climate and post-harvest challenges. Coffee Sustainability: Major coffee firms launched the Coffee Canopy Partnership to map coffee farms using satellite data and AI, aiming to meet EU deforestation rules and protect farmers. Water & Climate Stress: NWSC says climate shocks, urban growth, and ageing systems are forcing expansion and reform to secure reliable water and sewerage services.

Forest Restoration: Uganda Breweries (UBL) is investing Shs372m to revive the Namananga central forest reserve in Kayunga, planting 80,000 indigenous seedlings with NFA and Rotary to restore a 459-hectare degraded corridor linking Mabira and Musamya swamp. Wetlands Enforcement: NEMA, with security agencies and local authorities, moved against encroachment at Kajjansi wetland, arresting offenders and opening a criminal case file while warning more Environment Restoration Orders will follow. Ebola & Public Health Trust: Uganda’s Ministry of Education has dismissed viral claims of school closures over Ebola, pointing to recycled clips and edited misinformation; meanwhile NCDC has launched intensified Ebola watch for exposed travellers. Food Prices & Climate Stress: Matooke prices have surged across Tooro, Ankole and Kigezi as drought cuts banana supply, with bunch prices jumping from about Shs5,000–7,000 to Shs30,000–35,000 in many areas. Wildlife & Health Link: Experts highlight how Central Africa’s wild meat reliance can raise disease risk during outbreaks, adding pressure on conservation and public health systems. Ebola Vaccine Push: Moderna is advancing a potential Bundibugyo ebolavirus vaccine with CEPI funding as the outbreak spreads in the region.

Wildlife & Wetlands Protection: Uganda’s NEMA moved fast to stop encroachment at Kajjansi wetland, arresting offenders and opening a criminal case, with Environment Restoration Orders planned. Conservation & Forest Governance: A feature revisits Bugoma forest’s long fight, as management is set to shift toward national park protection under UWA—highlighting how persistent reporting helped push policy. Ebola Preparedness & Health Risk: Ebola remains a regional alarm as DRC cases surge and Uganda reports confirmed infections; CEPI says it will urgently accelerate three Bundibugyo vaccine candidates. Public Health Response in the Region: Brazil is monitoring suspected Ebola cases linked to travel from Uganda and the DRC, underscoring how quickly outbreaks can raise global concern. Clean Transport Investment: Spiro secured a $215m equity round to expand battery-swapping and EV infrastructure across seven African markets, including Uganda. Weather Communication: Uganda’s Ministry of Water and Environment warned against misleading viral claims, reiterating a warmer and drier June–August outlook. Ecosystem & Climate Resilience: Uganda’s push to protect wetlands and forests comes as climate-sensitive planning faces misinformation and rising health threats.

Ebola Watch: Uganda is facing renewed pressure as the DRC’s Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak keeps spilling across borders, with WHO and Africa CDC reporting 43 deaths and 263 confirmed infections so far, plus more than 1,100 suspected cases under review—while health systems struggle amid conflict, displacement, and mistrust. Public Health & Travel: As summer travel ramps up, countries are tightening screening and passenger rules to slow spread, including calls for reduced passenger interaction and stronger airport safeguards. Climate Communication: Uganda’s Ministry of Water and Environment pushed back on viral TikTok claims of heavy rains, saying the official June–August outlook is warmer and drier, warning that misleading forecasts can disrupt agriculture, health, water planning, and disaster risk work. Wildlife & Forest Governance: A long-running push to protect Bugoma Central Forest Reserve is moving forward as government plans to transfer management toward national park status under UWA—highlighting how journalism and conservation policy can finally align. Energy Costs: Uganda’s business climate is under strain from Middle East-linked fuel price spikes, raising transport and production costs for traders and investors.

Ebola Cross-Border Alarm: Uganda and DR Congo are facing a fast-moving Ebola emergency, with WHO and Africa CDC reporting 43 deaths and 263 confirmed infections across both countries, while more than 1,100 suspected cases are under review; officials warn conflict, displacement, and strained health systems are making containment harder. Wildlife & One Health Link: Experts are pointing to the risk of Ebola spillover tied to hunting, butchering, and handling wild animals, stressing that protecting people also means managing human–animal–environment contact. Health Response in Focus: WHO says five patients have recovered and is opening/expanding treatment capacity in eastern Congo, as governments and partners push surveillance, border screening, and safer care practices. World Environment Day Message: A World Environment Day reflection urges nature-based solutions—forests, wetlands, mangroves—as practical climate and resilience tools, framing the crisis as partly about human behavior. Uganda Tourism Spotlight: Uganda showcased gorillas and local nature products in London during Africa Day events, highlighting conservation-linked tourism and trade. Business Pressure from Fuel Prices: Uganda’s business climate is being squeezed by Middle East conflict-driven fuel hikes, raising transport and input costs for traders.