Ebola Response & Cross-Border Trade: Uganda is tightening the health conversation as Ebola in eastern DR Congo deepens, with Uganda reporting cases and neighbours weighing border moves; the EAC is set for an emergency virtual health meeting to align surveillance, rapid response and regional protocols. Industrial Energy & Jobs: EACOP construction has passed 81% and is expected to finish next year, with officials pointing to thousands of jobs and skills across the oil and gas value chain. Rail & Infrastructure Finance: The AfDB reaffirmed funding commitment for Uganda’s Malaba–Kampala Standard Gauge Railway, with tentative allocations already made and final arrangements due after a June appraisal mission. Budget Oversight: Uganda’s Finance Ministry launched “National Budget Month” for FY 2026/27, pushing citizens and oversight into how public money is monitored and accounted for. Business Costs: Uganda’s business climate is under pressure from Middle East-linked fuel price spikes, raising transport and freight costs and squeezing access to imported inputs. Corporate Expansion: The Initiates Plc increased its stake in The Initiates Uganda to 55%, turning it into a full subsidiary as it targets East Africa’s oil and gas services market. Public Spending Shift: Government says it will stop funding national holiday celebrations from 2026/27, expecting more private sponsorships.