News Headlines
Two charged over theft of fuel worth Shs 32bn from Total
October 29, 2020 by URN
Two businessmen have been charged for alleged theft of fuel worth more than Shs 32 billion from fuel giant, Total...
Covid-19: Col Bantariza laid to rest as Museveni warns Ugandans
October 29, 2020 by URN
Col. Shaban Bantariza, the former government deputy spokesperson has been laid to rest at his ancestral home in Kagorogoro cell...
Patients stranded as Mukono hospital medics strike over PPEs
October 29, 2020 by URN
Over 200 patients are stranded at Mukono general hospital following a strike by health workers over poor working conditions and...
Woman injured by teargas canister demands Shs 500m from police
October 29, 2020 by URN
A woman in Kampala has petitioned the inspector general of police, Martins Okoth Ochola demanding compensation of Shs 500 million...
COVID: S.Africa president self isolating, Algeria president flies to Germany
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa is self-quarantining at home after coming into contact with a dinner guest who tested positive for COVID-19.
Geopolitics: are women the best placed to reshape foreign policy?
The ongoing Kampala Geopolitics Conference 2020 is an eye-opener in many aspects of life and leadership. Under the theme ‘Geopolitics in the year of the pandemic and beyond,’ the conference has already addressed the issues of Covid-19 solidarity and the anticipated fourth industrial revolution.
Ugandans vote in Tanzanian elections
Some Ugandan nationals living along the Mutukula border in Kyoteta district participated in the general elections exercise in neighbouring Tanzania. Tanzanians on Wednesday took to the polls to elect the president, members of the national assembly and local council leaders. However, some of the Ugandans living along Mutukula crossed over to…
Seychelles gets first opposition president in 43 years
Seychelles' new president, Wavel Ramkalawan, is calling for national unity as he becomes the first opposition candidate in 43 years to lead the East African island nation.
Italians protest new COVID restrictions
Violent protests erupted in more than 15 cities across Italy after the government announced new measures to rein in a second wave of COVID-19 infections. Italian leaders are rushing to stave off criticism with a financial rescue package for struggling businesses. Angry protesters took to the streets of some of Italy’s…
COVID-19: 30,000 learners to miss final exams over inspections
At least 1,334 education institutions have failed to meet Covid-19 standard operating procedures (SOPs) set by the education ministry before they are allowed to reopen. This comes at a time when the Uganda National Examinations Board (Uneb) has allocated only five weeks, starting October 22 to register candidates at all levels…
NRM infiltrated by People Power
After bruising National Resistance Movement (NRM) party primaries in Sembabule district, efforts by the party’s central executive committee (CEC) to reconcile the candidates has fallen flat. Over the weekend, Maj Gen Jim Muhwezi, an NRM CEC member representing veterans, led a team to harmonize the situation in Sembabule but if the…
Drugs, poverty blamed for violence in refugee camps
Displaced communities and those that host large numbers of refugees face high risks of violence, including sexual exploitation and abuse, according to a new World Bank assessment. The recently-launched study, Gender-Based Violence and Violence Against Children: Prevention and Response Services in Uganda’s Refugee-Hosting Districts shows that identifying negative impacts that could…
Ntaganda, Kanaabi pinned in KCCA hospital grabbing deal
The auditor general John Muwanga has uncovered irregularities involved in the fraudulent sale of Kampala Capital City dispensary to three city businessmen.The property located on Plot 71, Nkrumah road, was leased in 2010 by then Kampala City Council to Securex Amenities (U) Limited whose directors were listed as businessman Ephraim…
Gov't seeks Shs 353bn supplementary to buy radios for all Ugandans
In a fresh supplementary budget request to parliament, government is seeking a total provision of Shs 353.8 billion to purchase radios for all homesteads in the country to support long distance learning and others.David Bahati, the minister of state for Planning presented the request to parliament's Budget committee on Tuesday…
Nigerian protestors justify massive looting of COVID-19 supplies
Amid tensions in Nigeria last week over police brutality, mobs of citizens are overrunning several government-owned facilities and ransacking palliatives meant for distribution earlier during the coronavirus lockdowns. So far, nine Nigerian states have been looted. On Saturday, security officials dispersed mobs at another storage facility under attack in Abuja. Some…
Mobile money hacking: Shs 10bn stolen using 1,500 sim cards
Hackers who recently broke into the mobile money systems of Uganda's top two telecoms and two banks transferred and withdrew over Shs 10 billion using 1,500 fraudulently registered in the names of a local company.
The good, the bad and the ugly of pastor Augustine Yiga
Pastor Augustine Yiga alias Abizaayo, the founder of Christian Revival Church Kawaala, willed to be mourned for five days and then be buried at his church according to his family. Yiga passed away on Monday night at Nsambya hospital where he had been admitted with liver complications. Farouk Ssemaganda, the head…
2021: Muntu, Amuriat signatures verified as Bobi Wine waits
The Electoral Commission has finalized the verification of signatures of supporters for four more presidential aspirants bringing to eight the number of aspirants who have so far been cleared for nomination next week. According to the Electoral Commission acting spokesperson Paul Bukenya, President Yoweri Museveni of the National Resistance Movement (NRM)…
Police struggles to contain mourners at Yiga's church
Police and Local Defense Units (LDUs) are finding a hard time controlling hundreds of people streaming to gain access into Revival Church in Kawaala to mourn the death of local pastor Augustine Yiga.
Col Shaban Bantariza is dead
The deputy director of Uganda Media Centre, Col. Shaban Bantariza, 57, is dead.Bantariza who has been battling illness passed on at Mulago hospital last night according to family members. According to a family source, the actual cause of death has not yet been established but he said Bantariza has been…
World record breaker Cheptegei promoted to ASP by police boss
The inspector general of police, Martins Okoth Ochola, has promoted policeman and record breaker athlete Joshua Cheptegei to the rank of assistant superintendent of police (ASP).
Tanzania gov't blocks SMS, calls ahead of presidential polls
The Tanzanian government has ordered telecommunication companies in the country to suspend bulk short messaging services (SMS) and voice calling services ahead of the October 28 general elections.
Former Bubulo West MP Kipoi rearrested again in Botswana
Former Bubulo West member of parliament, Tonny Nsubuga Kipoi has been rearrested in Botswana, a month after being acquitted of treason charges in Uganda. A story in The Monitor newspaper of Botswana indicates that Kipoi is locked up at Urban police station in Gaborone following his arrest from Tlokweng village, near…
Kilembe mineral samples go missing, minister calls for investigation
Mineral samples extracted during exploration from Kilembe mines in Kasese district, western Uganda have gone missing. During a field visit on Saturday, the minister of state for Energy and Minerals Sarah Opendi discovered that stores supposed to keep the samples are curiously empty. Opendi has now halted any sample scrapping in…
Uganda Muslim Supreme Council buys own TV channel
The Uganda Muslim Supreme Council has acquired a television channel dedicated to Islamic teachings and activities. The channel, Global Television was acquired from a company that was already operating the frequency but will be changed to Bilal TV in a few weeks from now. Haj Ramadhan Mugalu the UMSC secretary general and…
Nigeria anti-police protests claim 69 lives, police warns 'enough is enough'
Nigeria's top police official on Saturday ordered the immediate mobilization of all officers to "reclaim the public space from criminal elements masquerading as protesters" after days of peaceful demonstrations over police abuses followed by violent unrest that left at least 69 people dead. The police order could further heighten tensions in…
Misspelt word on billboard sparks outrage in Fort Portal
A misspelt word on a billboard erected in Fort Portal Tourism city has sparked controversy amongst the locals in the area. The billboard, which has been erected along Lugard road was erected by Hariss International Ltd, the manufacturers of Riham beverages and foods in Uganda. It was aimed at welcoming visitors to…
Govt cuts cost of COVID test from Shs 240,500 to Shs 185,000
Government has reduced the cost of a COVID-19 PCR test in government laboratories from Shs 240,500 ($65) to Shs 185,000 ($50).In a letter to hospitals and district authorities, Dr Diana Atwine, the permanent secretary of ministry of Health noted that the reduction in the price was as a result of…
Katumwa charged with abduction of 16-year-old girl, granted bail
City businessman David Katumwa has been arraigned before Makindye Magistrate's court and charged with abduction of a 16-year-old girl. The charge attracts a jail sentence of seven years. Katumwa, 46, denied the charge and applied for bail. Court heard that on September 24, 2020, at Luwafu zone, Makindye Division, Katumwa, a…
Common cold could protect against COVID-19, research shows
Having a cold might protect sufferers from a severe case of COVID-19, new research shows. COVID-19 patients who had recently been infected with a common cold virus were less likely to die or require intensive care compared with those who did not have a recent cold, according to the study published…
Uganda Catholic Church 'confused' by Pope Francis' gay marriage support
The Catholic Church in Uganda is seeking clarification on the reported support of civil unions for same-sex couples by the head of the Catholic Church in the world, Pope Francis. The clarification from Rome, Italy will help the Church guide the congregation in Uganda, Rev. Fr. Philip Odii, the Episcopal Conference…
Stray dog sneaks into Gulu hospital, flees with amputated human limb
A stray dog on Wednesday sneaked into Gulu regional referral hospital and took off with an amputated limb of a patient from the precincts of the operation theatre.The limb was supposed to be sent to the biohazard crematorium for incineration. The limb was later found abandoned in the middle of…
Reinstated: Court admits error in dismissing Besigye’s preventive arrest case
The Constitutional court has admitted it errored and reinstated a petition filed by former presidential candidate Dr Kizza Besigye in which he's seeking to have preventive arrest repealed from the Police Act. The five-member panel of justices led by Fredrick Egonda-Ntende, Elizabeth Musoke, Cheborion Barishaki, Muzamiru Kibeedi and Irene Mulyagonja today Thursday…
Nigerian youths launch reprisal attacks against gov't installations
On Wednesday, hours after the shooting where several protestors were allegedly gunned down, angry youths in Nigeria launched reprisal attacks, burning and damaging many state-owned establishments, including media houses believed to be influenced by the government. The home of Lagos state governor Babajide Sanwo-olu's mother was also targeted and razed to…
Dismissed: Bobi Wine lauds justice Ssekaana for standing out in rotten system
Aspiring presidential candidate, also president of the National Unity Platform (NUP) Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, has applauded the 'independence' of justice Musa Ssekaana amidst what he called a system of rotten institutions after he dismissed with costs, a case filed against him. On Wednesday, Ssekaana dismissed a case that was filed against…
One dead, 30 injured after Nigerian soldiers open fire on anti-police protesters
The governor of Nigeria’s Lagos state says one person has died after an incident Tuesday night in which soldiers have been accused of shooting a group of anti-police brutality protesters. Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu tweeted Wednesday that the person died at the city’s Reddington Hospital “due to blunt force trauma to the…
Teargas, bullets rock Wandegeya as police disperse Bobi Wine supporters
Police in Wandegeya fired teargas and live bullets this afternoon as police tried to block the National Unity Platform (NUP) party president and presidential candidate, Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu aka Bobi Wine and his supporters from driving to Bulange in Mengo.Shortly after the High court dismissed with costs a petition challenging…
MPs approve Shs 200bn for DRC roads
Parliament has approved Shs 200 billion to support Uganda's quest to jointly construct a 223-kilometre road with the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).Uganda and DRC entered a bilateral agreement to implement strategic infrastructure projects which includes constructing the road from Kasindi to Beni measuring about 80 kilometres…
Govt to switch off fake phones
The Uganda Communications Commission, UCC, has signalled to millions of phone users and laptop owners – many of whom are unknowingly using fake devices – that they will be switched off soon. UCC head of Corporate Affairs, Ibrahim Bbosa Bbosa said the commission is still consulting on when and how to…
Opposition to EC: We will sue over election cash
Asuman Basalirwa, president of the opposition Justice Forum Party [Jeema] and chairman of the Inter-Party Organisation for Dialogue (IPOD), has faulted the Electoral Commission for doling out Shs 12bn to the ruling NRM, the lion’s share of Shs 15bn given to all political parties with representation in parliament. Speaking to The…
Businessman Katumwa arrested over runaway 16-year-old girl
Renowned city businessman and Nansana Municipality parliamentary candidate, David Katumwa is under custody at Katwe police station for allegedly orchestrating the disappearance of a teenager. The 16-old girl reportedly disappeared from her mother’s home in Zzana about a month ago after being questioned about the source of the money she'd used…
Stop testing truck drivers for Covid – EA Business Council
The East African Business Council (EABC) has called for an end to mandatory testing of truck drivers for Covid-19 at border points, saying the resulting congestion is stifling trade among the partner states. The EABC also wants all control systems at the various crossing points harmonized, citing Uganda-Tanzania and the Rwanda-Tanzania…
‘Upgrade Kasangati Health Center IV to better serve the community’
Since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, Kasangati Health Center IV has only received Shs 2.5m to alert the public about and manage the Covid-19 pandemic during the lockdown, the hospital in charge, Dr Paul Kabazzi, told The Observer. “In regard to Covid-19 funds, only five people here received Shs 500,000…
Church joins campaign against polythene bags
The Church of Uganda (COU) and international NGO, World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) have partnered to promote the Green and Plastic-Free Environment campaign. The official launch happened on October 6 at the residence gardens of Archbishop Stephen Kaziimba. Archbishop Kaziimba planted a tree to shine a bright light on the…
Nigeria: Lagos imposes 24-hour curfew as anti-police protests continue
The governor of Nigeria’s largest city and financial hub has declared a full-day curfew amid continuing protests against police violence.
3 Makerere University staff remanded over forged COVID-19 results
Four people including three Makerere University employees have been remanded to Kitalya and Kigo prisons in Wakiso district for forging COVID-19 test result certificates.Emmanuel Kawalya, a samples collector at Makerere University hospital, Gideon Nsubuga, a laboratory technologist/molecular biologist at Makerere University college of health sciences, Dafala Kezimbira, an information technologist…
L.Albert floods displace Tonya primary school students
Pupils of Tonya primary school in Buseruka sub-county, Hoima district have relocated to the nearby Tonya Church of God as a result of flooding that has submerged their school premises. The floods were triggered by the rising water levels in Lake Albert. Apparently, one has to part with Shs 3,000 to…
IGAD meeting to discuss regional risks
As countries continue to battle the effects of coronavirus, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, the permanent interstate Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel (CILSS) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) have organized a week forum for the people to share experiences and solutions on…
Defilement: Court rejects Rev. Kalule 'negative' DNA report
Luwero High court has rejected a DNA report presented by Reverend Canon Kezekiah Kalule which shows that there is a 0.00% probability that he fathered the child with an underage girl. Rev. Kalule, formerly attached to Luteete archdeaconry in Luwero diocese, appeared before court yesterday to defend himself against allegations of defiling and…
Kenya sees new surge of coronavirus after easing restrictions
Kenya is facing a second wave of coronavirus infections, just weeks after lifting tough restrictions meant to limit its spread. Kenya's Health minister on Sunday warned the country was headed for tough times after reporting more than 600 new cases and several deaths. Some experts say it might be challenging…
NARO launches portable micro garden for urban dwellers
Researchers at the National Forestry Resources Research Institute (NaFRRI) have launched an improved portable micro garden to support farming in urban areas. NaFRRI is under the National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO).
Museveni donates Shs 250m, truck in Ankole
As schools financially struggle to reopen after a seven-month lockdown, President Yoweri Museveni has donated Shs 100 million to a primary school in his village of Rushere in Rwakirura district.In a press statement issued by the presidential press unit, Museveni on top of giving the money to Rushere primary school…
Police apologize to Buganda, Catholic Church over Mbogo clan fracas
Police have in a rare outact come out to apologize to Buganda kingdom and the Catholic Church after firing tear gas at its officials during mass in Mityana.On Saturday, police in Mityana district fired tear gas to disperse members of the Mbogo clan who had convened at their ancestral site at…