The kidnappers held her captive for nearly three weeks, demanding up to $1 million before accepting about $200,000 (approximately UGX 700 million). During her captivity, they cut off two of her fingers and sent them alongside a video of her pleading for help to pressure her family into paying the ransom.
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.
A total of 79 ministers took the oath of office before President Museveni at State House Entebbe as Uganda’s new Cabinet officially assumed office. Four appointees missed the ceremony due to citizenship concerns, while Janet Museveni was absent.
This comes after several complaints of lagging government projects around the country and the continued loss of lives and property to natural disasters in the same areas.
The seven key growth areas that the government will work on include, but are not limited to, peace and security for the people and their property, transport infrastructure rehabilitation, increasing and following up on wealth creation initiatives such as PDM and Emyooga, improvement on science, technology, and innovation, human capital development through health, education, clean water supply, management of natural disasters, and regional and international commitments.
The Ministry of Finance and Economic Development has promised to increase the tax incentives and improve the tax policies that affect the investors in the country.