Uganda Roundup: Salon in parliament, traders protest tax system, stadium renovation

Female MPs fight for in-house salon

Women legislators in Uganda are demanding that Parliament set up a salon for their beauty needs. State Minister Beatrice Anywar expressed the need for a salon to boost female participation in parliamentary activities. According to Nile Post, this demand follows previous requests for a gym and a flyover to Parliament. "Gyms are associated with vigorous exercise routines that disorganise the hair. One of them is myself; my hair and nails and whatever are part of the woman What I am saying is that we ladies can come early, spend more time in the salon and then the house," Anywar said. Over the past couple of years, the Ugandan Parliament has consistently grabbed attention with a series of peculiar requests such as a proposed flyover stemming from the need for safe passage into the Parliament Building.

Traders protest tax system

Traders in Masaka, Uganda are protesting the implementation of the Uganda Revenue Authority's (URA) Electronic Fiscal Receipting and Invoicing Solution (EFRIS), leading to shop closures in the city. They are opposed to EFRIS, which tracks payment of Value Added Tax and are demanding that the government address their concerns. URA officials maintain that EFRIS has brought transparency to the tax system and expanded the tax base, and have no plans to halt its implementation, Monitor reports. The traders have vowed to keep with protests until the government meets their demands. However, the Presidential Press Unit released a communique to debunk a purported scheduled meeting between President Yoweri Museveni and the traders on April 12.

Stadium renovation concerns

The Speaker of Uganda's Parliament, Anita Among, has directed the Minister of State for Education and Sports, Peter Ogwang to present a detailed status report on the renovation of the Namboole Stadium named after former South African President Nelson Mandela, located in Uganda's capital Kampala to the House. According to the Monitor, this directive from the speaker comes after an opposition MP expressed disappointment over the quality of the renovation and the failure of the minister in charge to meet deadlines. The opposing MP, John Baptiste's concerns about the stadium come on the back of a CAF report which declares the ongoing renovation of the Namboole Stadium subpar compared to a stadium that can host an African Cup of Nations. Uganda is gearing up to host AFCON 2027.

Employment surge in oil and gas sector

Uganda's oil and gas sector has seen a surge in job opportunities, with over 13,000 jobs created. The country's national content laws ensure a high level of Ugandan participation in the sector. Investments in training and infrastructure are also being made, with the sector expected to have a positive impact on the overall economy. A report by Pulse Uganda explains that for a company to thrive in Uganda, 70 per cent of the workforce must be citizens of the country. This is believed to have been the catalyst for the surge in Oil and Gas employment.

Call to protect kids online

The Church of Uganda has launched the "Safe Screens, Safe Kids" campaign to address concerns about children being exposed to inappropriate digital content. With children spending 6 to 7 hours a day on digital media, the campaign aims to balance learning and entertainment with potential risks. According to the Living Church, the campaign has received support from church leaders, social experts, and the Ugandan Communications Commission. Digital access has grown significantly in Uganda, with concerns about children accessing harmful content online. The campaign seeks to educate parents and protect children from digital violence.