For many voters who will go to the polls Thursday in Uganda's presidential election, the economy remains the primary issue with rising living costs and limited job opportunities being the key test for whoever leads the Eastern African country next.
Thursday's presidential election is a rematch of the 2021 contest with 81-year-old Yoweri Museveni, in power for four decades, being challenged once again by 43-year-old opposition leader Bobi Wine.
In the landlocked country's capital of Kampala, the cost of everyday life is rising. Food, transportation and rent now account for a larger share of household income, especially for urban families.
As Ugandans prepare to vote, jobs and the cost of living are dominating conversations on the street. And these issues, they say, are causing people to get desperate.
"As young people, we struggle to find jobs. Many of us have no work, and that's why crime is rising," said Addu Mukasa, a Kampala resident.
Uganda's economy has largely recovered since the COVID-19 pandemic, with government figures pointing to steady growth and increased public investment.
Officials at the Ministry of Finance say inflation remains relatively stable and that government spending is focused on sustaining growth while creating employment. They say investments in roads, energy projects, and the nascent oil production sector are laying the foundation for future jobs.
"The GDP grew by 6.3 percent last financial year, which ended in June 2025, and it is now projected that it's going to grow between 6.5 and 7 percent this financial year 25/26," said said Ramathan Ggoobi, permanent secretary of Uganda's Ministry of Finance.
But economists say that growth has not been felt evenly, especially among young people, many of whom work in the informal sector. They also warn that rising public debt, along with global fuel and food prices, continues to weigh on household finances.
"I think government has to be deliberate and strategic mainly to see how we are going to grow the economy. We need to cut out certain expenditures, which are useless. Take an example of the parliament. That parliament is too huge," said Jane Nalunga, an economic analyst.
As the election day approaches, economic expectations are high. For many Ugandans, the priority is simple -- jobs that pay, and living costs they can manage. Whoever wins will face pressure to turn their proposals into everyday gains very quickly.
Economy remains primary issue as presidential election draws close in Uganda
Zhou Hongyi, founder of Chinese cybersecurity giant Qihoo 360 and a member of China’s top political advisory body, has stressed the need to harness artificial intelligence (AI) to confront mounting security threats in a recent interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN).
As a member to the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), Zhou placed "AI plus” security at the core of his proposals to this year's "two sessions," which convene this week, framing it as China's frontline strategy for strengthening cybersecurity.
The "two sessions" are the yearly meetings of the National People's Congress (NPC) and the National Committee of the CPPCC, which serve five-year terms and convene each March. The fourth session of the 14th NPC and the fourth session of the 14th National Committee of the CPPCC kicked off on Thursday and Wednesday, respectively.
Expanding on the "AI plus" security agenda, Zhou said it would enable China to simulate cyberattacks, uncover weaknesses, and deploy digital agents across industries, measures he sees as vital to safeguarding enterprises in the AI era.
"This year I would like to first focus on 'AI plus' security, which means we must use AI's abilities to solve traditional security issues. For example we can simulate an attack to an enterprise's network, identifying its vulnerabilities and then fix them. Secondly, I think AI agents would be a key factor for 'AI plus' to be truly implemented into various industries, because large models have their own limits. Only by transforming large models into AI agents, and into digital experts and digital interns, can it be integrated with the business of enterprises," Zhou said.
Turning to the humanoid robots showcased at this year's Spring Festival Gala, Zhou said their appearance highlighted China's rapid progress in robotics and signaled that the era of intelligent machines is approaching.
"I am not surprised. I feel quite lucky I didn't do boxing with those robots on the stage of the Spring Festival Gala, because I don't think I can hit them. I think China's robots manufacturing industry has seen huge progress over the past year. On the other hand, I think that show also reflects our country's industrial strategy, which is sending us a signal that an era of robots is coming. How shall we empower our enterprises through AI? That's a question our entrepreneurs and investors need to think about," he said.
As China embarks on its 15th Five-Year Plan in 2026, Zhou projects that the continued development of AI will drive substantial demand in key sectors, such as energy, raw materials, and chips.
"First I think energy, as well as some of the raw materials that can align with the development of computing power would see huge progress. The chips industry will also be developed. I think China needs more inference chips. And there would also be a huge demand for electricity," he said.
This year marks the start of China's 15th Five-Year Plan period, spanning from 2026 to 2030, a period widely seen as pivotal for the country's long-term development. The plan is expected to be formally endorsed by the NPC during the "two sessions" with more detailed targets released later.
CPPCC member calls for AI-driven defenses to safeguard enterprises amid rising cyber threats
