Akena referred to historical statements by President Museveni acknowledging the destruction of food supplies and the destitution of about 2.7 million people during that period. He argued that the loss of cattle deprived communities of daily nutrition, household income, school fees, draft power, and soil fertility, leaving effects that continue to be felt today.
Kampala’s waste management system has come under increasing strain in recent years, including during Uganda’s first National Cleaning Day, when the volume of collected waste overwhelmed collection teams and temporarily clogged the Buyala disposal facility.
Regional health experts say East African governments are increasingly treating epidemic preparedness as both a public health and economic security priority.
As of 2026, Uganda is home to nearly two million refugees and asylum seekers, most of whom have fled conflict in neighboring countries like South Sudan, Somalia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. This is not to say that other countries in the region do not offer refuge to those fleeing war as Kenya and Tanzania do so too.
“The transformation of Africa requires moving priority infrastructure projects from conception to implementation through coordinated planning and regional cooperation,” President Museveni noted.