Governance, security remain development-promotion anchors as Uganda makes strides
“Indeed, the whole country is peaceful, including the Karamoja sub-region. I want to thank our armed forces for doing that for our people. When you are having sleepless nights, you make the rest of the citizens sleep,” Minister Huda said.
Huda Oleru the Minister of State for Defence with Dr Katja Kerschbaumer, the Head of Austrian Embassy Development Cooperation in Uganda at the 4th Annual Governance and Security Programme on October 30, 2025. (Credit: Nicholas Oneal)
(L-R) Lt. Gen Joseph Musanyufu, the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Internal Affairs with Yunus Kakande, the secretary Office of the President, Huda Oleru the Minister of State for Defence and Dr Katja Kerschbaumer, the Head of Austrian Embassy Development Cooperation in Uganda at the 4th Annual Governance and Security Programme on October 30, 2025.(Credit: Nicholas Oneal)
Uganda has made notable strides in governance, peace and justice delivery as it moves toward its Vision 2040 targets.
However, governance and security remain key in propelling the country further, according to defence and veteran affairs state minister Huda Abason Oleru.
Speaking at the 4th Annual Governance and Security Programme (GSP) review in Kampala, the minister praised the country’s growing stability and institutional progress, crediting peace and accountability as central to Uganda’s development journey.
“Indeed, the whole country is peaceful, including the Karamoja sub-region. I want to thank our armed forces for doing that for our people. When you are having sleepless nights, you make the rest of the citizens sleep,” she said.
Oleru highlighted a steady decline in crime and improved access to justice.
The national crime rate, she noted, has fallen from 667 crimes per 100,000 people in 2018 to 476 in 2024, while citizens now travel less than 15 kilometres to reach essential government services.
She noted that the construction of the Justice Law and Order Sector (JLOS) House is 97 per cent complete, alongside the Inspectorate of Government (IG) Towers, both expected to be finalised by the end of 2025/2026.
“This will save the government over shillings 35 billion per year that is currently being spent on rent,” she said.
Oleru also commended anti-corruption agencies for their progress. “The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) is registering a conviction rate of over 90% in corruption cases,” she said, adding that “the Anti-Corruption Division of the High Court posted a case clearance rate of 111% and recovered proceeds of corruption amounting to 65 billion.”
Despite these gains, the minister admitted that corruption and limited public awareness remain challenges.
“Now the challenge is our people still are not aware of where to get, where to reach the institution so that they can raise their complaints,” she said, calling on partners to support awareness campaigns.
She emphasised that governance and security remain “the anchor for promoting development, upholding the rule of law, ensuring security, maintaining order, promoting human rights, accountability and transparency.”
Oleru linked these priorities to Uganda’s Vision 2040 and the NRM’s “Protect the Gains” manifesto theme, saying the Government remains committed to reaching middle-income status.
“We already have the gains that we are protecting, but we are not satisfied,” she said. “We now want to jump to a middle-income, high middle-income.”
Public trust in the justice system
Public trust in Uganda’s justice system, she reported, has grown from 59% in 2017 to 69%, while satisfaction with justice services now stands at 72%, attributing this progress to “enhanced efficiency and more service delivery points.”
The minister also warned that instability in neighbouring countries poses ongoing threats, a reason why the country must continue investing in security to ensure high combat readiness at all times.
She also expressed optimism about Uganda’s democratic process, noting that “over 92.8% of eligible voters are registered and over 94% of citizens are engaged in the electoral process,” ahead of the 2026 general elections.
Oleru lauded Uganda’s role as a peaceful refuge for displaced persons.
“Uganda is now hosting all categories of refugees and they are peacefully staying in this country without thinking of when they will go back,” she said.
She thanked President Yoweri Museveni and Uganda’s development partners for their continued collaboration towards Uganda’s growth.
“Our bilateral and multilateral development partners continue to be a major pillar in deepening the rule of law and economic development,” she said.
Consolidating the gains
Haji Yunusu Kakande, Secretary to the Office of the President and Chairperson of the Programme Steering Committee, emphasised the programme’s role in consolidating gains in peace, security, and socio-economic transformation.
“We have journeyed far, and I am pleased to report that we are consolidating our gains as the NRM theme is now protecting our gains,” he said.
The GSP encompasses 32 institutions across seven sub-programmes, from security and law enforcement to refugees, democratic processes, and foreign relations.
He said it has strengthened co-ordination among government ministries, departments, and agencies, thus leading to improved service delivery in various sectors.
“Notwithstanding the diversity of governance issues handled, the sub-programmes have created synergies to galvanise opportunities and strengthen socio-economic transformation in the lives of Ugandans,” Kakande noted.
He commended technical officers and staff for their dedication, saying, “Every individual’s commitment has incrementally enabled us to achieve great heights, which culminates in today’s annual review.” He called for continued focus on sustainable industrialisation, inclusive growth, employment and wealth creation.
Highlighting the peaceful conduct of the upcoming elections, Kakande said, “Unlike previous elections since 1996, so far this one seems calm. There is no violence anywhere, and we hope Uganda will set a strong example in Africa of a peaceful electoral process.”
He also showcased the economic impact of targeted interventions, citing Uganda’s coffee sector as a success story.
“Operation Rescue Asia began distributing coffee seedlings when Uganda was only exporting 2.2 million bags. Today, Uganda exports nearly 8.9 million bags, with inflows reaching $2 billion,” Kakande said.
He underscored the importance of co-operation, using a proverb: “In my language, the teeth which are together are the ones which can make you eat meat very easily. Working together, we can achieve great outcomes for this programme and the country at large.”
Kakande concluded by stressing the need to protect Uganda’s long-standing peace, which he described as “number one for any country to prosper,” citing global conflicts in Ukraine, Sudan, and Palestine as warning examples.
He also called on influential leaders to support President Museveni’s ongoing campaign, emphasising that sustained leadership and unity would safeguard the nation’s gains.
Austrian Embassy Development Co-operation head, also chairperson of the Justice Sector Development Partners’ Group, Dr Katja Kerschbaumer, said a successful state is one where every person, regardless of their background, income, or status, can live with dignity, security and hope.
“A state that invests in injustice and legal support does more than solve disputes. It strengthens economic opportunity, reduces inequality, and reinforces the belief that society is fair and that progress is shared,” she noted.
She added: “So, if we want our nations to thrive, if we want stability, prosperity, and peace, then we must ensure that justice is not a privilege. It must be a right. A right that everyone, everywhere, can access.”
She cited the Supreme Court ruling that civilians should not be tried before the military courts, saying it is a milestone in Uganda's pursuit for justice.
GSP highlights
According to the GSP Annual Report 2024/25, Police presence has expanded significantly, now covering 1,231 sub-counties, representing 56% of the country’s 2,190 sub-counties, which expansion has strengthened the Uganda Police Force’s (UPF) ability to respond quickly to emergencies and manage crime at the community level.
The report notes that this increased presence, alongside deliberate anti-crime initiatives in collaboration with other GSP agencies, contributed to a reduction in reported crime cases from 228,074 in 2023 to 218,715 in 2024, and a corresponding decline in the national crime rate from 516 to 476 per 100,000 persons.
Over the Third National Development Plan (NDP III) period, the report highlights several key achievements in public service infrastructure, noting that a total of 4,341 housing units were constructed for security agencies, while districts with fully operational one-stop frontline JLOS service points rose from 84 in 2018/19 to 94 last year, out of a target of 117.
The justice ministry reportedly handled 17,917 cases during the NDP III period, achieving a cumulative government saving of shillings 4.6 trillion, compared with 745.9 billion in cases lost in the same period.
It also indicates that the Office of the Auditor General (OAG) completed 6,350 audits, including special audits of government gratuity and pension payrolls valued at shillings 3.77 trillion, and the management of the Parish Development Model, with no adverse findings recorded.
A review of previous audit recommendations led to the recovery of assets worth sh27.9 billion, averted financial losses of shillings 13.4 billion, correction of errors in MDALGs financial statements totalling shillings 14.7 trillion, and 249 documented improvements in internal controls.