Shotlist Kampala, Uganda - Recent (CGTN - No access Chinese mainland) 1. Various of streets with stalls, pedestrians 2. SOUNDBITE (Luganda, dubbed in English) Addu Mukasa, Kampala resident: "As young people, we struggle to find jobs. Many of us have no work, and that's why crime is rising." 3. Various of workers working at textile factory 4. SOUNDBITE (English) Ramathan Ggoobi, permanent secretary, Uganda's Ministry of Finance: "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." 5. Various of farm market 6. Street with vehicles, pedestrians 7. SOUNDBITE (English) Jane Nalunga, an economic analyst: "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." 8. Various of workers transferring bags of materials 9. Workers building road Storyline 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.