Angella Nabwowe Kasule

My brief take on the #SovereigntyBillUG on #SpectrumExtra last evening @RadioOneFM90 @ccgea1 #RejectSovereigntyBill

Public investment in early childhood/pre-primary education breaks poverty cycles, gets women into the labor market, boosts school readiness, and gives children the best start in life. However, too many children in low-income countries are shut out, especially children with disabilities and those in extreme poverty. At the @WorldBankGroup @IMFNews Spring Meetings, our ED @anabwowe was part of a round table with World Bank VP for Eastern & Southern Africa, Ndiame Diop, to push for universal, quality, inclusive pre-primary education. She urged caution on relying on Public Privatr Partnerships (PPPs) to expand access. The more effective solution lies in prioritizing public investment in early childhood/pre-primary education. #SpringMeetings2026 #SpringMeetings #IMFSpringMeeetings @KIOSFoundation

Debt sustainability assessments must align with human rights obligations to ensure that countries fund key social services like education, healthcare and social protection. The emphasis shouldn't be about getting creditors repaid. This was a very strong message coming from the discussion on debt sustainability; how much debt relief is enough?: reimagining low income countries debt sustainability framework for balancing fiscal space. At @ISERUganda, we are keen on the impact of debt considering how much Uganda's debt servicing now exceeds combined healthcare, social protection and education funding. #SpringMeetings2026 #SpringMeetings #IMFSpringMeetings @KIOSFoundation @anabwowe

@anabwowe 👏👏 thanks for this noble cause

It's been a week of engagements at the #IMFMeetings #WBGMeetings pushing for universal social protection as opposed to poverty targeting; impact of debt on education, health & social protection; and universal access to quality & inclusive pre primary education.

According to the @IMFNews Fiscal Monitor 2026 currently; ➡️Global public debt stands at 93.9% and increase to 100% by 2029% ➡️The Interest payments are up to 50% in 4 years and are eating 3% of global GDP. For Uganda, this means our old playbook of borrowing our way out of problems is no longer an option. @CSBAGUGANDA we call on Government of Uganda to: ➡️Collect revenue smarter ➡️Borrow better to ensure debt builds roads, factories and skills ➡️Ensure transparency is the cheapest and effective fiscal tool for development Please tap this link to learn more: csbag.org/download/globa… #SpringMeetings2026 @mofpedU @IMFNews @WorldBankGroup @SEATINIUGANDA @OxfaminUganda @ACODE_Uganda @JuliusMukunda

Perhaps it is going to take the Sovereignty Bill to make Ugandans hear what we have been telling them all along - that never support a bad law just because it does not directly affect you. This is because once the rule of law dies, no one is safe!

.@anabwowe notes that the @WorldBankGroup supports social protection as a tool for reducing vulnerability and promoting inclusive growth but their guidance consistently favors poverty targeting rather than universal coverage. In our contexts, determining who is eligible and who isn't is difficult. Together with RAISE Denmark, @ISERUganda published a review of pension reforms in selected East and Southern Africa countries that have managed to move from small scale charity based programs to rights based universal people's pension. This corroborates @DevPathways' analysis that universal pension is affordable. READ the joint review iser-uganda.org/wp-content/upl… #SpringMeetings2026 #SpringMeetings

Our countries have to step up, look inwards and fund social protection from progressive taxation, review tax exemptions, curb illicit financial flows, fight corruption, and manage public debt. Social Protection is a lifeline e.g older persons rely on cash transfers to meet their health care needs. Majority also pay school fees for their grand children thus improving access to education and reducing child labour - @anabwowe #SpringMeetings2026 #SpringMeetings @WorldBankGroup @IMFNews

The @_AfricanUnion Agenda 2063 aims to increase social protection spending to 5% of GDP, moving it from emergency relief to long-term investment. Though Uganda's investment is still low, the country has 100% tax financed universal pension (SAGE) having started from 100% donor funding. A number of reforms are envisaged including a) lowering the eligibility age from 80yrs to 65yrs, b) increasing monthly cash transfers from Ugx25,000 (approx. 7$) to Ugx35,000 (approx. 9), and c) reviewing the Social Protection Policy among others. However in neighbouring Kenya, proposed social protection reforms include reversal of the pension scheme (Inua Jamii) from a universal one to a targeted one as per the social protection regulations 2025. This has negative implications on the rights of older persons. As a region, targeting is very problematic because it is prone to high targeting errors. @anabwowe @WorldBankGroup @IMFNews #SpringMeetings2026 #SpringMeetings

Is Social Protection being redefined or just diluted? At #SpringMeetings2026, @ISERUganda ED Angella Nabwowe warns: Livelihood programs are NOT a substitute for true social safety nets. We must stop blurring lines before we lose the "protection" entirely. @CSBAGUGANDA

#SpringMeetings Nearly half of the world’s population now lives in countries where debt servicing exceeds spending on health and education, we need effective debt managnagement @OpenBudgets @CSBAGUGANDA

Despite economic recovery, global fiscal deficits remain high at 5% of GDP. Persistent borrowing without clear stabilization paths creates significant risk. Strengthening accountability in borrowing is now essential #IMFMeetings @mofpedU @CSBAGUGANDA

@ISERUganda ED, says Poverty targeting is a flawed metric for social protection. It’s time to move toward universal systems that provide security for everyone, rather than gatekeeping support based on shifting definitions of 'poor.' @CSBAGUGANDA

In a high-level sensitization dialogue held today in Namayingo district, organized by @ISERUganda, officials gathered to deliberate on the critical state of education in the district. The dialogue brought together key figures, including the District Education Officer (DEO) Mr. Mayende Erusaniya, the District Inspector of Schools, selected school managers, and the LCV representative, Hon. Bwire David, who also serves as the district councilor for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs). Stakeholders have issued a rallying cry to parents and school managers to prioritize Early Childhood Development (ECD), warning that skipping pre-primary education severely hampers a child’s long-term academic success and social integration. #RightToEducation

#IMFmeetings Fiscal pressures are real. High debt servicing is crowding out health, education & infrastructure. Countries must balance tough trade-offs — cut waste today to protect services tomorrow. Uganda cannot afford to ignore this reality. @mofpedU @CSBAGUGANDA

At the #IMFMeetings, experts stressed: with tight fiscal space & rising debt costs, governments must focus on “Spending Well” making every shilling efficient, adequate & sustainable. No more business as usual. Efficiency is now survival. @CSBAGUGANDA @mofpedU @IMFNews

Join us tomorrow (15th April) for a panel discussion on universal social protection at the ongoing IMF/World Bank Group Spring Meetings: 📅 April 15 | 11:00am–12:30pm (Washington, DC) 🔗 Online: imf.zoom.us/j/96523144709?… More details: lnkd.in/eWMgJHrE #SpringMeetings2026 #SpringMeetings

We are in Washington DC for the @WorldBankGroup 2026 Spring Meetings. We are engaging in discussions around fiscal choices and affordability for social protection, debt, aid cuts to subsaharan Africa and financing for foundational learning. Our ED @anabwowe will join a panel with @ArabReform_ARI, @hrw, World Bank and @DevPathways to discuss social protection reforms in Africa. #IMFMeetings @KIOSFoundation

Due to lack of public provision of pre-primary education, private provision is chaotic. Over 90% of the ECD centers in Buikwe are not registered meaning that they are operating without minimum standards. For example, in Buikwe main (excluding Lugazi & Njeru Municipalities), out of the 230 ECDs only 10 are registered. 80% of the teachers/caregivers are not trained and 98% of the Centre Management Committees are not functional. @Educ_SportsUg #EducationForAll