May 2022

Challenges Faced by Adolescent Girls in Urban Areas of Uganda and the Case for Targeted Social Protection Programs

This policy brief provides a snapshot of the unique challenges faced by adolescent girls in urban areas. It also makes the case for transformative social protection programs that address structural barriers to the economic and social inclusion of adolescent girls. In light of the findings, the brief recommends the need for community sensitization against sexual and physical abuse, and enforcement of laws to protect adolescent girls in urban settings.

EXIT STRATEGY TO EASE OR ELIMINATE TAX RESPONSES TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

This brief does demonstrates how pacific Countries tend to address the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and provides guidance on how these can be appropriately exited. To achieve the afore mentioned goals, this brief examines the type and design of tax stimulus introduced and estimates overall tax losses and losses attributable to tax measures, and the risks associated with such measure. Additionally, tax policy measures were expected to play an important role in providing relief to businesses when economic activities were disrupted because of the lockdowns imposed by governments.

IS UGANDA’S MIDDLE CLASS STRONG ENOUGH TO DELIVER NATIONAL ASPIRATIONS?

Government of Uganda set a target of achieving a lower middle income status by 2020 as a bedrock for achieving the country’s Vision 2040. Key policy frameworks such the National Development Plan (NDPs) were drafted to spearhead the aspiration. Notably the above set target was not achieved during the NDP II period (2014/15-2020/21). Observably, the size, strength or of the ability of the middle class is envisaged as a vehicle for the middle-income agenda and prerequisites for building or driving transition into a strong and stable lower middle-income status country.

DPP Signs MOU with URSB for Joint Prosecutions

The office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) signed a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen prosecution of cases arising from laws administered by URSB. URSB has mandate to enforce laws related to interfering with Intellectual Property Rights, patent right registration, trademarks as well as those related to registration of companies.

SEATINI and FSME Partner to Enhance Growth and Competitiveness of MSMEs

On 30^th March, 2022, Southern and Eastern Africa Trade Information and Negotiations Institute (SEATINI) Uganda signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Federation of Small and Medium-sizes Enterprises (FSME) to enhance growth and competitiveness of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).

New E-Passport Launched at Uganda Mission, London

The High Commission of the Republic of Uganda in London was the first among Uganda’s Missions Abroad to officially launch operationalisation of the new e-passport system at the Mission Premises on 2^nd March, 2022. This follows a two-year transitional period to allow phasing out of the East African and international machine-readable passports.

Uganda Withdraws from International Coffee Organisation and International Coffee Agreement

The ICO is the main intergovernmental organisation for coffee. It brings together exporting and importing countries to tackle the challenges facing the world coffee sector through international cooperation. Uganda signed an agreement with the International Coffee Organisation (ICO) in 2007. The 2007 agreement was the seventh agreement since 1962. However, this agreement expired in 2017 hence the need for a new agreement.

Parish Development Model (PDM) Launched

Government launched the implementation of the Parish Development Model (PDM) using a whole-of-Government approach in February, 2022. The overarching goal of the PDM is to attain socioeconomic transformation based on improved productivity on households and enterprises at parish level.

Government steps up to improve infrastructure in the country to stimulate growth

Government continues to prioritize infrastructure development as an enabler of Uganda’s industrialization agenda through the provision of productive infrastructure for job and wealth creation. This is also important in the realization of the Parish Development Model which was launched in February 2022.

Ministry of Education adopts an Abridged Curriculum

In an effort to recover the lost learning time, coupled with the number of concepts and competencies to be learnt in the available limited time, the Ministry of Education and Sports (MoES) through the National Curriculum Development Centre (NCDC) resolved to abridge the existing curriculum for P2 to P7 and S2,3,4 and 6. This was aimed at ensuring effective implementation of the curriculum in a limited time without compromising its quality. Orientation of teachers on the curriculum is on-going and MoES will ensure that all teachers are supported to impelement the Curriculum.

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