Museveni signs eight new laws, more coming
KAMPALA – President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has signed into law eight new pieces of legislation, with wide-ranging implications for healthcare, energy use, workers’ rights, and the justice system.
At the center of the reforms is the National Drug and Health Products Authority Act, 2026, which broadens government oversight to cover not just medicines but also vaccines, medical devices, diagnostics, and cosmetics. This is expected to improve the safety of products on the Ugandan market and crack down on substandard or counterfeit goods.
The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act, 2026 introduces mandatory standards and audits, meaning businesses and institutions will be required to adopt more energy-efficient technologies. Experts say this could lower electricity costs over time while supporting environmental protection.
Workers—especially those in informal or vulnerable employment—stand to benefit from the Employment (Amendment) Act, 2025, which strengthens legal protections for domestic workers, casual labourers, and migrant employees.
In the justice sector, the Forensic and Scientific Analytical Services Act, 2026 is expected to boost the credibility of criminal investigations by improving how forensic evidence is collected, analyzed, and presented in court.
The President also signed the Non-Performing Assets Recovery Trust (Repeal) Act, 2024, shifting responsibilities to the Ministry of Finance in a move aimed at improving efficiency in handling bad loans and financial recoveries.
Other amendments—including those to copyright law, public enterprise reform, and magistrates courts—are intended to update Uganda’s legal framework to match current economic and institutional needs.
Taken together, the new laws signal a push by government to tighten regulation, improve accountability, and modernize key sectors of the economy.
