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.
Another turning point came in 1986 when Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s National Resistance Army captured power. Ali negotiated a peace agreement that saw UNRF fighters integrated into the national army. Returning from exile as a Major General, he began a new political journey that lasted nearly four decades under the National Resistance Movement.
According to officials, the repatriation was facilitated through cooperation between the governments of Uganda and South Sudan. Maj Gen Otto worked alongside Uganda’s Ambassador to South Sudan, Brig Gen Ronnie Balya, to secure the return of the former abductees, while South Sudanese authorities provided support throughout the operation.
Under the new system, successfully registered foreign nationals will be issued Alien Identification Numbers (AINs) and Alien Identification Cards, which will serve as official identification documents for foreign residents in Uganda. The validity period of each card will correspond with the duration of the holder’s immigration permit or authorized stay.
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.