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Uganda: Speaker Oboth Calls for Coordinated Planning of Parliament’s Work

Speaker Jacob Oboth has called for coordinated planning, budgeting and implementation of Parliament’s legislative, oversight and representation functions, urging programme partners to turn review recommendations into practical action.

Oboth made the remarks during the annual review workshop for the Legislation, Oversight and Representation (LOR) Programme for the 2025/2026 financial year held at Parliament on Thursday, 22 October 2026.

Oboth said the programme must be planned, funded and measured as one entity to ensure that Parliament’s work translates into tangible improvements in people’s lives.

“The LOR Programme exists to serve the people of Uganda. When we enact good laws, scrutinise how public resources are used, and speak for our constituents, we turn the promises of government into real change in people’s lives,” Oboth said.

He said the workshop, the first annual review during the 12th Parliament, provided an opportunity to assess the programme’s performance during the first year of implementing the Fourth National Development Plan (NDP IV) and the Government’s Tenfold Growth Strategy.

Oboth challenged participants to examine whether laws at national and local government levels were being enacted on time, parliamentary oversight was producing the expected changes and citizens’ concerns were being considered during appropriation.

He outlined three priorities: treating the programme as one entity under the Government’s Programme-Based Planning and Budgeting system, ensuring ownership by all partners and actors, and strengthening evidence-based implementation through reliable data, clear indicators and timely reporting.

“We must also strengthen coordination with the Office of the Prime Minister, the National Planning Authority and the other programme actors, so that the recommendations of the LOR Programme translate into better services for citizens,” he said.

Meanwhile Deputy Speaker Tayebwa said the review had examined the programme from different perspectives, including its alignment with NDP IV and the Tenfold Growth Strategy, its institutionalisation and implementation, and its performance in the 2025/2026 financial year.

He said contributions from participants, including the assessment by the Office of the Prime Minister, would help improve programme performance.

“Two messages stand out first. First, the programme should plan, budget, implement and report on expected results correctively. Secondly, the programme belongs to all its partners and programme actors; and each of us must play our part in delivering on this programme implementation action plan for financial year 2025/2026 to financial year 2030,” Tayebwa said.

He urged the programme secretariat to consolidate proposals from the workshop and ensure they inform implementation of the action plan and the next planning and budgeting cycle.

“The recommendations from this workshop must now be turned into action,” he said, adding that participants should take the commitments made back to their respective institutions and follow them through.

Tayebwa thanked the Clerk to Parliament, the Parliamentary Commission, presenters, facilitators, the National Planning Authority and the Office of the Prime Minister for their contributions to the review.

Both leaders urged participants to use the review to strengthen implementation of the programme and improve the delivery of Parliament’s legislative, oversight and representation mandates.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Parliament of the Republic of Uganda.

  1. SaaSLibya’s Investment Revival Takes Center Stage as Finance, Intelligence Leaders Join Libya Energy & Economic Summit (LEES)A strong slate of senior figures from Libya’s financial sector, global energy intelligence and development finance will participate as speakers at the Libya Energy & Economic Summit (LEES) 2027 in Tripoli from January 23–25. Their participation will bring investors and policymakers closer to the institutions shaping how Libya finances, evaluates and delivers its next phase of economic and energy development. The speakers arrive at a pivotal moment for Libya. The country is seeking to convert renewed international interest in its hydrocarbons into sustained investment, while addressing the infrastructure, institutional and financing constraints that have historically limited development. Mohammed Ali Addarrat, Chairman of the Management Committee of the Libyan Foreign Bank (LFB), will bring the perspective of an institution at the center of Libya’s international financial architecture. Under his leadership, LFB has placed greater emphasis on transparency, governance and digital transformation while expanding its role in supporting economic activity. The bank has also approved a $1 billion financing facility for National Oil Corporation projects aimed at increasing the country’s oil production above 1.5 million barrels per day. Malinne Blomberg, Deputy Director General for North Africa at the African Development Bank (AfDB), will bring a broader development-finance perspective to LEES 2027. The AfDB’s 2025–2028 Country Brief for Libya prioritizes stronger institutions, improved access to basic infrastructure and economic diversification, with interventions spanning transport, renewable energy, agriculture, water security and non-oil value chains. The bank is also working to expand private sector participation and investment in the country. Jennifer Jumbe, Director of Energy & Natural Resources at S&P Global Energy, will bring an international market perspective to Libya’s investment drive. With more than 14 years of energy-market experience, Jumbe advises government, financial institutions and energy companies on the economic underpinning major energy projects. Her participation comes as Libya seeks to attract international capital following its latest licensing activity and as investors assess the commercial potential of new exploration opportunities across the country. Meanwhile, Cristina Tomé Martinez, Technical Research Associate Director for Upstream Energy at S&P Global Energy, will add specialist expertise to discussions around Libya’s upstream and Mediterranean energy outlook. Her work spans technical research and asset evaluation, making her participation particularly timely as Libya advances exploration and considers how new resources can be connected to export markets. The participation of these speakers gives LEES 2027 a stronger connection between financial decisions surrounding Libya’s recovery and the energy projects driving it. Their combined perspectives will be valuable as Libya moves from attracting interest to demonstrating that capital can be deployed effectively, projects can be executed and energy revenues can support a broader economic transformation. LEES 2027 will bring together government officials, national oil companies, international operators, investors, financial institutions and service providers in Tripoli for three days of discussions focused on Libya’s investment agenda. With the country pursuing higher production, new exploration and major infrastructure development, the summit will provide a platform for investors to engage directly with the institutions and leaders shaping Libya’s next economic chapter. For more information about LEES 2027, visit www.LibyaSummit.com. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital & Power.
  2. IndustrialGoverno quer Medir Sucesso dos Corredores Logísticos Pelo Crescimento das Empresas NacionaisO Governo moçambicano considera que o desempenho dos corredores logísticos deve ser avaliado não apenas pelo volume de mercadorias movimentadas, mas também pelo crescimento das empresas nacionais, pela criação de empregos e pelo valor acrescentado. A convicção foi expressa, na cidade portuária de Nacala, na província de Nampula, pelo Secretário de Estado dos Transportes e Logística, Chinguane Mabote, na abertura de um workshop sobre o papel da logística, das infra-estruturas e da aviação no desenvolvimento da indústria extractiva, realizado no âmbito da Conferência e Exposição Mineira sobre Adição de Valor com Base em Minerais Disponíveis (CAVAME-d). “O sucesso dos nossos corredores não pode ser avaliado apenas pelas toneladas exportadas. Deve também ser medido pelo valor acrescentado que permanece no País, pelas empresas nacionais que crescem, pelos empregos criados e pelas regiões que passam a dispor de melhores ligações aos mercados”, vincou. Mabote defendeu que Moçambique deve aproveitar a sua posição geográfica, os portos e as ligações rodoviárias e ferroviárias para desenvolver uma economia mais industrializada, capaz de transformar internamente os recursos minerais e energéticos. “Não queremos apenas transportar a riqueza que extraímos. Queremos criar condições para produzir e transformar mais riqueza dentro de Moçambique”, declarou. Para alcançar este objectivo, considerou necessária a modernização integrada dos corredores de Maputo (sul do país), Beira (centro) e Nacala (norte), observando que o aumento da capacidade portuária, por si só, não resolve os constrangimentos do sistema logístico quando persistem limitações nos acessos rodoviários e ferroviários ou atrasos nos procedimentos administrativos. “A competitividade da indústria extractiva começa muito antes de uma carga chegar ao porto. Depende do estado das estradas, da capacidade ferroviária, da disponibilidade de equipamentos, da eficiência dos terminais, dos tempos de passagem nas fronteiras e da previsibilidade dos serviços”, afirmou. O responsável destacou que uma interrupção num dos componentes da cadeia logística pode comprometer o funcionamento de todo o sistema, defendendo, por isso, que os investimentos sejam programados em função das necessidades dos operadores e das empresas que utilizam estas infra-estruturas. Entre os projectos mencionados figuram a expansão do Porto de Maputo, com investimentos anunciados de cerca de 500 milhões de dólares até 2028, e o Terminal Logístico de Dondo, provincial central de Sofala, cujo investimento está estimado em 117 milhões de dólares. No domínio ferroviário, apontou a ligação entre Moatize e Nacala-à-Velha, com capacidade anunciada para transportar 18 milhões de toneladas de carvão por ano, como exemplo da articulação entre a exploração mineira, o transporte ferroviário e as infra-estruturas portuárias. O governante defendeu igualmente que os corredores devem beneficiar outros sectores da economia, nomeadamente a agricultura e a indústria, facilitando o escoamento da produção, o acesso aos mercados e a redução dos custos de transporte. A indústria extractiva, acrescentou, pode criar oportunidades para empresas moçambicanas nas áreas da construção, manutenção industrial, armazenagem e prestação de serviços técnicos. “Queremos que as empresas moçambicanas participem cada vez mais nestas actividades, com capacidade para prestar serviços competitivos e cumprir padrões exigentes de qualidade e segurança”, sublinhou. O Secretário de Estado defendeu ainda uma maior coordenação entre os sectores dos transportes, mineração e energia, bem como a preparação das infra-estruturas para enfrentar os riscos climáticos, que podem interromper ligações estratégicas e encarecer a circulação de mercadorias. O workshop integra a CAVAME-d, que decorre em Nacala-Porto, província de Nampula, e reúne representantes do Governo, empresas e outros intervenientes ligados à exploração, transformação e comercialização dos recursos minerais e energéticos. (AIM) Distribuído pelo Grupo APO para Portal do Governo de Moçambique.
  3. SaaSAfrican Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretary General Joins South Sudan Oil & Power (SSOP) 2026 as South Sudan Eyes Greater Regional TiesWamkele Mene, Secretary General of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat, has been confirmed as a keynote speaker at South Sudan Oil & Power (SSOP) 2026, taking place November 24–25 in Juba. His participation comes as South Sudan deepens petroleum and infrastructure ties with regional neighbors, bringing the country’s energy investment agenda into a broader discussion around regional trade, market access and economic integration. Mene’s participation follows his July 2026 visit to Juba, during which he engaged with government and private-sector stakeholders on South Sudan’s pathway toward AfCFTA ratification and the opportunities presented by the continental market. The country signed the AfCFTA agreement in 2018. During the visit, South Sudanese authorities highlighted the role of the platform in strengthening private-sector participation, supporting SME growth and advancing broader trade and regional ties. For South Sudan, AfCFTA membership stands to advance regional integration across an energy sector that is inherently dependent on cross-border trade and infrastructure. As a landlocked oil producer, the country relies on pipelines through Sudan to move crude to international markets, while neighboring countries provide important routes for petroleum imports, equipment, services and logistics. Recent disruptions have highlighted the commercial risks associated with this dependence. Damage to export infrastructure in Sudan disrupted South Sudanese crude flows in 2024, while the government has sought to strengthen complementary regional supply routes. In 2025, South Sudan and Kenya established a framework for petroleum-product imports through the Port of Mombasa and Northern Corridor, including access to pipeline and storage infrastructure. AfCFTA membership would add a trade and investment dimension to these physical regional connections. Ratification would enable qualifying South Sudanese businesses to trade under the Agreement’s preferential framework, potentially reducing barriers to the movement of goods and services required by the energy industry while improving access to markets across the continent. This regional integration agenda provides a strong backdrop to SSOP 2026. South Sudan is targeting an increase in oil production from approximately 170,000 barrels per day (bpd) to 230,000 bpd in the short term and 450,000 bpd over the longer term. Reaching these targets will require investment not only in exploration and mature-field redevelopment, but also in the infrastructure, services and regional commercial relationships needed to support higher production and connect projects with markets. Mene’s participation will bring this continental trade and investment perspective to SSOP 2026. Held under the theme Resource Renaissance – Energy-Fueled Growth for a New Generation, the conference will connect government, operators, investors, financiers and service companies as South Sudan seeks to translate energy investment into wider industrial and economic growth. Now in its seventh edition, SSOP has a proven track record of converting high-level engagement into actionable commercial and cross-border partnerships. The event has facilitated landmark agreements spanning exploration, production and infrastructure cooperation with regional partners such as Djibouti and South Africa. To register for South Sudan Oil & Power 2026 in Juba on November 24–25, visit: https://apo-opa.co/4i84D8d Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital & Power.
  4. SaaSUganda: Justice Ministry and Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) on spot over diversion of Shs41 billionThe Public Accounts Committee (Central Government) has criticised the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) for diverting Shs41.6 billion to activities outside their approved work plans. This, according to the Committee, was done without authorisation by the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Hon. Henry Musasizi. The committee, chaired by Kassanda North MP, Hon. Patrick Nsamba, said the expenditure contravened provisions of the Public Finance Management Act. The findings are contained in the committee’s report on the Auditor General’s audit for the year ended December 2025, presented during plenary sitting chaired by Deputy Speaker, Thomas Tayebwa on Wednesday, 21 October 2026. “The two entities applied a combined Shs41.6 billion to items that Parliament had not appropriated, without evidence of the Minister’s authorisation,” Nsamba said. The ODPP spent Shs900 million on constructing Resident State Attorney offices in Katakwi and Yumbe outside its approved work plan, while the ministry of Justice diverted Shs40.7 billion. “Savings on a budget line do not confer authority to spend on activities outside the approved work plan,” Nsamba said. According to the committee, a big amount of the money was spent on court awards and compensation. The report noted that the ODPP had filled only 600 of its 1,704 approved positions, leaving 399 prosecutors serving 149 field stations to handle heavy workloads, adding that out of 40,501 new cases received, only 23,184 were committed for High Court trial. The committee also questioned the procurement of works worth Shs457.68 million for the Yumbe office outside the electronic government procurement system. The committee report further raised concern over the malfunctioned Prosecution Case Management Information System (PROCAMIS), despite a Shs42 billion expenditure, since 2017. Nsamba added that the ODPP paid Shs2.95 billion to M/s Graphics Systems for maintenance and support in 2024/2025, but key deliverables, including integration with other criminal justice institutions and an off-site disaster recovery facility, were not provided. “Shillings 2.95 billion was paid under a contract whose two principal deliverables were not provided and the liability clause was not invoked against the provider,” he said. The committee recommended enforcing the contract’s liability provisions, recovering warranted funds, establishing disaster recovery arrangements and auditing the system. The Committee’s findings also revealed that infrastructure in Arua and Lira had remained idle since November 2022. Nsamba said that the ministry of Justice reported contingent liabilities of Shs3.492 trillion, largely arising from lawsuits against government entities. The committee recommended a litigation management strategy to improve tracking and management of claims. The Committee also called for stronger financial accountability, improved staffing, functional digital systems and tighter oversight of public expenditure. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Parliament of the Republic of Uganda.
  5. FinanceGhana to end raw mineral exports by 2030 as President Mahama unveils comprehensive value-addition strategyPresident John Dramani Mahama has announced that Ghana will formally halt the export of unprocessed mineral resources by 2030, marking a decisive shift towards resource-driven industrialisation, local value addition, and national economic sovereignty. Delivering the keynote address at the opening of the 2nd Edition of the Mining in Motion Summit in Accra, President Mahama outlined a phased implementation roadmap to ensure the nation’s mineral wealth directly catalyses domestic manufacturing, infrastructure expansion, and job creation. “We have already imposed a ban on the export of iron scrap and non-ferrous metals. I have set a clear goal that by 2030 raw minerals must no longer leave our shores,” President Mahama declared. “Our bauxites, manganese, iron, lithium, and other minerals must support processes and industrial development here at home.” President Mahama said the transition is anchored by transparent regulatory timetables, targeted legislation, and clear commodity-specific benchmarks. He reaffirmed that government policy will pivot from merely extracting raw materials to building complete industrial value chains. Highlighting the integrated aluminium industry as a flagship priority, he stated: “Every major initiative must have clear responsibilities, measurable milestones, and transparent reporting. In Ghana’s aluminium industry, our objective is to modernise VALCO and develop domestic aluminium refining, directly linking Ghanaian bauxite to smelting and downstream manufactured products.” Reassuring the international and domestic investor community, President Mahama said local processing obligations will be matched by state commitments to provide competitive operating conditions. The Government is committed to deploying critical infrastructure, fostering technical skill acquisition, and establishing viable financing frameworks. He observed that legislative action alone cannot build a sustainable sector without a predictable, transparent, and supportive operating environment. “We must translate these frameworks into coordinated investments, regional infrastructure, and larger markets for African producers. Investors need predictable rules, clear institutional responsibilities, and prompt approvals. Communities need confidence that licence conditions and environmental obligations will be rigorously enforced,” he noted. On the continental front, President Mahama rallied African leaders to operationalise the African Mining Vision (AMV) by aligning domestic laws and ratifying instruments establishing the African Minerals Development Centre (AMDC) to harmonise mineral governance across borders. Domestically, the President noted that the industrialisation drive must advance broad-based Ghanaian participation. He urged that local enterprises must be empowered beyond auxiliary services to hold substantial equity, managerial control, and technological capabilities across the value chain—including fabrication, laboratory analytics, software engineering, and equipment maintenance. The Summit, themed “One Continent. One Voice on Minerals. Aligning Africa’s Mineral Future,” convened policymakers, industry executives, and continental leaders to deliberate on the sustainable governance of Africa’s critical mineral endowments. It brought together several regional dignitaries and traditional leaders, including the Vice President of the Republic of Liberia, H.E. Jeremiah Kpan Koung, Sr. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The Presidency, Republic of Ghana.
  6. Real estateDevant le Conseil de sécurité, Valentine Rugwabiza fait le point des progrès et défis relatifs à la mise en œuvre du mandat de la Mission multidimensionnelle intégrée des Nations Unies pour la stabilisation en République centrafricaine (MINUSCA)La République centrafricaine a été, ce 20 octobre, à l’agenda des discussions du Conseil de sécurité des Nations Unies à l’occasion de la présentation, par la Cheffe de la MINUSCA, Valentine Rugwabiza, du dernier rapport du Secrétaire général sur la situation en RCA. Au nombre des points abordés figurent les avancées dans la mise en œuvre de l’accord de paix, la restructuration de la Mission, les élections, les droits de l’homme, les nouveaux défis sécuritaires transfrontaliers et les défis humanitaires. Occasion pour la Représentante spéciale de réitérer l’impérieuse nécessité de préserver les progrès et de continuer à privilégier la paix et la stabilité à long terme. Dès l’entame de son exposé, la Cheffe de la MINUSCA a salué la libération, le 19 octobre, des trois dernières personnes, dont le sous-préfet, enlevées à Bambouti (Haut-Mbomou, au sud-est de la Centrafrique), lors de l’attaque du 28 décembre 2025. Une libération qui résulte d’une opération dirigée et sécurisée par la MINUSCA, à l’issue de plusieurs mois d’intenses efforts de médiation menés par les autorités locales et la Mission. Des progrès concrets, mais aussi des défis A l’intention des membres du Conseil de sécurité, Valentine Rugwabiza souligne que des résultats tangibles sont enregistrés, notamment « dans la mise en œuvre des processus politiques et de paix, l’extension effective de l’autorité et de la présence de l’État sur l’ensemble du territoire de la RCA, la protection des civils ainsi que la tenue des élections historiques de 2025 « et sont « le fruit des efforts soutenus des autorités et du peuple centrafricains, avec l’appui de la MINUSCA. Ces acquis doivent désormais être préservés et consolidés ». Les avancées enregistrées en matière de désarmement ne sont pas des moindres.« Depuis juillet 2025, plus de 1 900 combattants ont été désarmés et démobilisés grâce au soutien logistique, sécuritaire et technique de la MINUSCA ». Pour consolider ces acquis, la cheffe de la MINUSCA invite le Gouvernement à « accélérer, avec l'appui de la MINUSCA, l’achèvement du processus de désarmement et de démobilisation ainsi que l'auto-dissolution des groupes armés, tant il est vrai que « la pérennité de ces efforts passera par l'accélération du processus de réintégration socio-économique avec l'appui coordonné des partenaires de la République centrafricaine ». La situation sécuritaire au cours des derniers mois a aussi connu des évolutions positives, grâce aux efforts conjugués de la MINUSCA et du Gouvernement. Des difficultés subsistent cependant dans la zone de la triple frontière entre la République centrafricaine, le Tchad et le Soudan. Le 30 juin, des groupes armés ont notamment attaqué Am-Dafock, dans la Vakaga. L’attaque a provoqué le déplacement de plus de 17 000 civils et blessé six Casques bleus de la MINUSCA. Face à cette situation, la Mission a renforcé sa présence dans la zone et adopté des mesures robustes pour protéger les civils, appuyer les forces nationales et rétablir l’autorité de l’État. La Cheffe de la MINUSCA a toutefois précisé que « les acquis en matière de paix et de sécurité n'ont pas été remis en cause et qu'aucune détérioration sécuritaire significative n'a été observée dans les localités où les bases de la MINUSCA ont été fermées », confirmant ainsi « l'efficacité de nos mesures d'atténuation, lesquelles comprennent notamment « des patrouilles de longue portée plus fréquentes en soutien aux forces armées et de sécurité nationales dans les zones où les responsabilités relatives à la protection des civils et aux tâches de sécurité ont été transférées à nos homologues nationaux ». Quid de la restructuration de la MINUSCA ? La mise en œuvre de la reconfiguration de la Mission a été l’un des points de l’intervention de la Représentante spéciale devant le Conseil de sécurité. Cette mesure doit permettre à la MINUSCA d'adopter une posture plus robuste et plus agile, concentrant ses ressources dans les zones à plus haut risque tout en favorisant une plus grande appropriation nationale dans les zones plus stables. Pour la Représentante spéciale, les premiers résultats sont positifs puisque la sécurisation dans certaines localités n’a pas été mis en cause grâce aux mesures mises en place par la MINUSCA. La planification de la transition de la MINUSCA fait l’objet d’une concertation étroite entre la Mission et le Gouvernement centrafricain. Aussi, la Représentante spéciale a-t-elle rappelé la tenue, en août dernier, d’une réunion de haut niveau consacrée à la planification conjointe de la transition, qu’elle avait co-présidée avec le Premier ministre et Chef du Gouvernement. « Cette réunion, dit la Cheffe de la MINUSCA, a mis en lumière les progrès déjà accomplis par la MINUSCA dans le transfert de certaines tâches aux autorités nationales ainsi que les capacités nécessaires au transfert de tâches supplémentaires. Notre approche commune est claire : la transition doit être conduite sous l'appropriation nationale, de manière responsable et en tenant compte des réalités du terrain afin de préserver les acquis, encore fragiles, en matière de paix, de sécurité et de stabilité ». Alors que le Conseil poursuit les discussions en vue du renouvellement du mandat de la MINUSCA, la Représentante spéciale exhorte ses membres à maintenir celle-ci avec des effectifs et des capacités adéquats durant cette phase critique de consolidation. Le prochain mandat, fait-elle valoir, devrait être consacrée à la consolidation des progrès réalisés en matière de sécurité et de stabilisation afin de créer les conditions nécessaires à une transition progressive et responsable. Le maintien des acquis au cœur des préoccupations du Conseil de sécurité A tour de rôle, les 15 membres du Conseil ont salué des progrès constants réalisés par la République centrafricaine, avec le soutien de la MINUSCA, notamment dans le processus de paix, de désarmement, démobilisation et réinsertion, de protection des civils, ainsi qu’en matière de restauration et d’extension de l’autorité. Ces avancées n’occultent en rien les défis sécuritaires encore notables sur le terrain. Aussi, le Conseil a-t-il souligné la nécessité de poursuivre du désarmement, la dissolution effective des groupes armés encore actifs et la réintégration durable des anciens combattants restent des conditions essentielles pour renforcer la stabilité et la sécurité sur le terrain. Et préserver les acquis suppose le maintien des capacités de protection de la MINUSCA face à des menaces sécuritaires encore persistantes et de conduire toute évolution du dispositif de la MINUSCA en fonction des réalités du terrain. Les États membres du Conseil ainsi que le représentant permanent de la RCA à l’ONU ont tous rendu hommage à la Représentante spéciale pour le travail accompli à la tête de la MINUSCA depuis quatre ans et demi. Des témoignages qui ont mis en exergue son engagement en faveur de la stabilisation du pays, du dialogue politique et de la mise en œuvre des priorités du mandat de la Mission. Distribué par APO Group pour United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA).