News Headlines
Uganda exported gold worth Shs 1.3 trillion in March
May 19, 2019 by URN
Uganda exported gold worth $363 million (about Shs 1.3 trillion) in March alone, according to Bank of Uganda.This is the...
Scores feared dead on Lake Albert
May 19, 2019 by URN
Thirty people are feared dead after a boat carrying football players and fans capsized in L.Albert on Sunday afternoon. Some of...
Church quietly lifts veil on family planning contraceptives
May 19, 2019 by URN
The Church of Uganda has tremendously evolved from some of its core principals to finally accommodate Christian faithfuls using modern...
Uganda remembers the 2 million AIDS victims
May 18, 2019 by VOA
Uganda is marking International AIDS Candlelight Memorial Day with activities to remember the estimated 2 million Ugandans who have died...
Rwandan security entering Uganda illegally - Kutesa
Uganda Foreign Affairs minister Sam Kutesa has today told heads of missions accredited to Uganda that Rwandan security operatives have been entering the country without permission, a move that could have put the security of citizens at risk. “A number of Rwandan security operatives have been entering Uganda…
Yumbe NRM leaders 'to snub' Museveni meeting
National Resistance Movement party leaders in Yumbe district have refused to meet President Museveni in Nebbi district.President Museveni, who is on a tour of the country, will meet NRM and district leaders from Yumbe and Koboko on Saturday in Nebbi district before moving to Arua and later Adjumani on Monday.However…
Museveni to IGP Ochola: Clean up your police
President Yoweri Museveni has tasked the police management to improve the public image of the force by fighting the high crime levels and corruption, which have created bad a perception about their services. In a message delivered by the Internal Affairs minister, Gen Jeje Odongo during the opening of…
Woman admits to falsely accusing artist Geosteady of child neglect
A woman is in trouble for falsely accusing local singer, Geoffrey William Kigozi aka Geosteady of child neglect. Noreen Nalubega was arrested and detained at Katwe police station on charges of giving police false information. The suspect is a resident of Masajja zone, Makindye Sabagabo Municipality in Wakiso district. Trouble for Nalubega…
Kadaga 'opposed' to parliament paying OTT for MPs
The speaker of parliament Rebecca Kadaga is against a move by the parliamentary commission to pay Shs 200/daily social media tax for each of the 458 members of parliament. According to available bid documents, parliament will pay the monthly Shs 6,000 over the top tax (OTT) and also 5GB data…
Pastor arrested for conning woman out of Shs 27m
The police have arrested Pastor Josephat Murungi of Rivers of Life Church in Kitumba, Fort Portal for allegedly conning Penninah Karungi out of Shs 27 million.
Mob raids church belonging to Alice Lakwena's father
Residents of Acut Omer village in Gulu district have a set ablaze worship materials of the New Jerusalem Tabernacle Church.The church belongs to Severino Lukoya Kiberu, the father to the late Alice Lakwena, the former rebel leader and founder of the Holy Spirit Movement that battled President Museveni's government in…
Sudan’s Bashir charged over killings of protesters
Prosecutors in Sudan have charged former president Omar al-Bashir with involvement in the killing of anti-government protesters. In a statement Monday, the office of Sudan’s prosecutor-general said Bashir and others “have been charged for inciting and participating in the killing of demonstrators.”
US authorities arrest 50 in alleged marriage fraud scheme
U.S. authorities say they have arrested 50 people in connection with what prosecutors are calling a "large-scale marriage fraud scheme" aimed at circumventing immigration laws. According to a grand jury indictment filed last week, the scheme operated out of the southern state of Texas and includes people located both there and…
Ministers involved in human trafficking - Kadaga
Ministers own companies that are involved in the exportation of domestic workers abroad, the speaker of parliament Rebecca Kadaga has said.The speaker was on Wednesday officiating at an anti-slavery workshop at Golden Tulip hotel in Kampala. The workshop was an engagement of different stakeholders about the proposed Anti-Slavery Bill 2018…
Key suspect in Susan Magara murder case extradited from S.Africa
Patrick Kasaija aka Patrick Agaba (Pato) the prime suspect in the kidnap and eventual murder of cashier Susan Magara has been extradited. Police spokesperson Fred Enanga confirmed that Agaba was extradited to Uganda yesterday and is currently detained at Police Special Investigations Division (SID) in Kireka.
Niger loses 17 soldiers in ambush near Mali border
A government spokesman in Niger says at least 17 Nigerien soldiers were killed and another 11 are missing after an ambush by unknown attackers Tuesday. The attack took place near the village of Tongo Tongo in western Niger. It is in the Tillaberi region where attackers killed four U.S. special forces…
Ugandans to spend Shs 197m annually on OTT, data for MPs
Ugandan taxpayers will yet again dig deep into their pockets to facilitate their MPs to carry out work by paying for their social media taxes as well as data bundles. A document seen by our reporter shows that parliament will provide at least 5GB monthly data bundles at Shs 30,000 for of…
Police blocks FDC meeting in Kalangala
Police has blocked a meeting organised by the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party leaders in Kalangala district.The FDC party leaders were scheduled to meet at Philo Leisure Gardens in Kalangala town council this morning to discuss internal party matters. However, police blocked the meeting pending clearance from the top…
Why Col Besigye, Bobi joined forces
For days last week, a select group of loyalists of Col Kizza Besigye and Kyaddondo East Member of Parliament Robert Kyabulanyi aka Bobi Wine huddled inside a meeting room and worked to repair the damaged relationship of the two principals. In the end, a peace deal was announced last week drawing…
Kitatta gets 8 years, 8 months, 6 days
After one hour and 57 minutes of closed-door deliberations yesterday, the Lt Gen Andrew Gutti-led seven-member General Court Martial returned with a sentence; eight years, eight months and six days for Abdullah Kitatta. On Monday, the same court had found Kitatta guilty of illegal possession of rearms and ammunition. Kitatta, the…
People Power: We want a weak Museveni in 2021
Over the course of a 13-year journalism career, Joel Ssenyonyi, has anchored news on television and hosted several talk shows but last week he made a surprise career switch to politics. He is only days in his new job as spokesperson of the Kyadondo East MP Robert Kyagulanyi-led People Power Movement…
Nakalema: Why I go for small fish
Five months after stepping into the role of head of the rashly formed State House Anti-corruption unit, ACU, Lt Col Edith Nakalema is already feeling the heat of the job, which has put her on a collision path with other graft busting agencies like the inspectorate of government. Appointed in December…
Kiira cars to cut govt spending – minister
A huge chunk of government money is spent on dollar importation of fuel and vehicles but that spending will be pared back by local car manufacturing and new found oil, Dr Elioda Tumwesigye, minister for Science, Technology and Innovation has said. Speaking during the on-the-ground tour of the Kiira Vehicle Plant…
Four workers arrested over death of minister Kibuule's twins
Four domestic workers, suspects in the Monday evening drowning of state minister for Water Ronald Kibuule’s twins were arrested yesterday to help the police investigation. In a May 14, 2019 police statement, the two-year-old and five months old boys; Raiding Wasswa and Roman Kato drowned in the family swimming pool located…
Museveni commissions 10 new roads in Hoima
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has warned local governments benefiting from the World Bank funded Support to Municipal Infrastructural Development (USMID) project against misappropriation of funds allocated to them. He issued the warning while commissioning 10 roads constructed under USMID in Kahoora division, Hoima municipality on Tuesday. Museveni noted…
Gov't tables Shs 217bn supplementary budget request
Government has tabled a supplementary budget request of Shs 217.2 billion for FY 2018/2019 before parliamentary for approval. The request, tabled by minister of State for Disaster Preparedness, Musa Ecweru is from State House, Local Government ministry and Muni University. Shs 33.2 billion of the Shs 217 billion is a…
Solicitor General breaks silence on sexual harassment allegations
The Office of the Solicitor General has responded to allegations of sexual harassment raised by Samantha Mwesigye, a senior state attorney. Last week, Mwesigye while on NBS TV, accused Christopher Gashirabake, the director of legal affairs in the ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs of subjecting her to sexual harassment for over…
Army court jails Kitatta for 8 years over illegal guns
Abdallah Kitatta, the Boda Boda 2010 Association patron and his bodyguard Sowali Ngobi have been sentenced to 8 years, 8 months and six days in prison for illegal possession of firearms by the Army court. General Court Martial chairperson, Lt. Gen Andrew Gutti delivered the sentence today morning at the Makindye…
Ugandan netizens ’celebrate’ death of minister Kibuule’s twins
A section of Ugandans has bizarrely taken to social media to bemock grieving state minister for Water and Environment, also Mukono North MP, Ronald Kibuule. The two-year-olds, Roman Kato and Rayden Wasswa drowned in a family swimming pool in Mbalala, Mukono yesterday evening. While many have empathized with the minister and…
Promise Hub takes Internet to Nakivale
To extend Internet penetration into more disadvantaged communities around the country, “Promise Hub”, a Non-Governmental Organization, has opened an Internet facility at the Nakivale Refugee Settlement in Western Uganda. With the facility expected to serve about 100,000 people, Promise Hub will have boosted the National Information Technology survey of 2017/2018, which…
Police probe death of Indian national at Speke hotel
Police in Kampala is investigating the death of an Indian national at Speke hotel in Kampala. Deputy Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson Luke Owoyesigyire says Naland Natsha, 53, was found dead in his hotel room 101 on Saturday under unclear circumstances. Owoyesigyire says Naland’s lifelessly body was discovered by hotel staff when…
Minister Kibuule's twins drown in family swimming pool
The state minister for Water and Environment, also Mukono North MP, Ronald Kibuule has lost his twin boys after they drowned in a family swimming pool in Mbalala, Mukono.
Pilot safely lands plane on its nose after landing gear failed
A Myanmar National Airlines plane made an emergency landing at Mandalay international airport on Sunday, using only its rear wheels after the front landing gear failed to deploy. All 82 passengers and seven crew members aboard Flight UB103 from Yangon were declared safe after the Brazilian-made Embraer 190-LR touched down on…
Illegal guns: Kitatta, bodyguard found guilty by Army court
The General Court Martial has convicted the once powerful and feared Abdallah Kitatta, the Boda Boda 2010 Association patron and his bodyguard Sowali Ngobi for illegal possession of firearms. Kitatta, who once reportedly told one of his land grabbing victims that “power is more important than the law” was pronounced guilty…
Museveni fired me for opposing sale of UCB - Prof Suruma
Former deputy governor Bank of Uganda Prof Ezra Suruma says he feels vindicated now that cabinet is considering the revival of Uganda Commercial Bank (UCB). Suruma, the current Makerere University chancellor was one of the few government officials that had tried to resist the World Bank/International Monetary Fund (IMF) call for…
Burkina Faso: 6 killed in Catholic church attack
Gunmen killed six people attending mass at the Catholic church of Dablo in northern Burkina Faso Sunday morning, officials and witnesses said. The priest and five churchgoers were among the victims, a witness told VOA Africa. "They were about forty on motorcycles," the witness said of the attackers. "They made everyone lie…
Kenyan forex trader 'disappears' with Shs 2bn client money
Police have launched a manhunt for David Kimani, the proprietor of Arua forex bureau on suspicion of defrauding his customers more than Shs 2 billion. Arua forex bureau is found at the centre of Arua town on Adumi-Rhino Camp road junction. Kimani reportedly fled back to Kenya after collecting more than Shs…
Museveni promises to increase lunch allowances for nurses
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has promised to increase lunch allowances for health workers in the country. The president was speaking at the national celebrations for the International Day for Nurses and Midwives held at Kyamate secondary school playground in Ntungamo municipality on Sunday.
Prof Tandon to Museveni: hand over power to younger generation
President Yoweri Museveni should behave like a “Mwalimu” (teacher) by nurturing and handing over power to the younger generation within the next two years, Prof Yash Tandon has advised. Tandon is a member of famous and historical gang of four made up of influential academics including; Prof Edward Rugumayo, late Prof…
Stolen Katosi road money transferred to USA - IGG
Part of the stolen Shs 25bn from the 2014 Katosi road scam has left the country and been transferred to the USA, the inspector general of government (IGG) Justice Irene Mulyagonja has revealed. Mulyagonja told reporters at the closure of the five-day Commonwealth anti-corruption heads of agencies in Africa meeting at…
Inside Mbarara University strike: Why staff want VC sacked?
About 540 teaching and non-teaching staff of Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST) unanimously resolved in their joint general assembly to lay down their tools on May 2 citing maladministration. They agreed to maintain emergency services in the Faculty of Medicine and Security department. They wrote a petition to…
Gov't orders Apaa residents to vacate disputed land
Government has asked all households in the East Madi game reserve in Apaa to vacate the land for wildlife conservation. Prime Minister Dr Ruhakana Rugunda announced the decision during a meeting with the Apaa presidential mediation committee held at his office in Kampala on Thursday. The meeting was…
Catholic Church bans kaveera from Namugongo
The Roman Catholic Episcopal Conference in Uganda has abolished the use of plastic polythene bags at Uganda Martyrs Shrine in Namugongo. The move comes less than a month to the annual Uganda Martyrs Day celebrations on June 3. Bishop Joseph Anthony Zziwa, the Bishop of Kiyinda – Mityana Diocese who…
Uganda monthly earnings from Rwanda drop by 81%
Uganda’s monthly export earnings to Rwanda dropped by a whopping 81% in March as the impact of border closure becomes clear.According to figures compiled by the Bank of Uganda (BOU), Uganda earned $2.64m (Shs 9.8bn) in March 2019, down from $14.51m (Shs 55bn) in February – a drop of $11.8m…
Oxygen crisis hits Mbarara hospital
Five people have reportedly lost their lives at Mbarara regional referral hospital due to lack of oxygen. Information obtained by our reporter shows that the hospital hasn’t had oxygen for the last two weeks. Apparently, patients in need of oxygen therapy are advised to try private facilities.
Gen Kasirye Gwanga's sister killed, body dumped in latrine
Police in Kasanda district has recovered the body of a 60-year-old woman dumped in a pit latrine. Irene Naggita, a resident of Kitalegelwa village in Nalutuntu sub-county, who is also a sister to retired Maj Gen Kasirye Gwanga went missing from her home several weeks ago.
Over 50,000 girls defiled in four years - police
At least 51,168 girls were defiled between 2014 and 2017 according to statistics from police's child and family protection unit (CFPU). The breakdown shows that 6,960 cases were recorded in 2014, 5581 in 2015 and 5,707 in 2016. The statistics also show that the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) registered 14,985 and 17,935…
MPs decline to allocate Shs 59bn to Uganda Airlines
Parliament's Budget committee will not allocate operational funds to Uganda National Airlines Company Limited until a substantive board is put in place. Government is seeking Shs 59.2 billion for the operations of the national carrier for the 2019/2020 financial year. The money is required for among other things; salaries of the…
New POMA regulations: spontaneous meetings to be dispersed in 20 mins
Under the new Public Order Management Act (POMA) 2013 regulations, unplanned public meeting of political parties will be allowed to last for only 20 minutes. The new regulations have been drafted through the Inter-Party Organisation for Dialogue (IPOD) initiative. IPOD brings together political parties represented in parliament. They are meant to…
Protests over plans to cut Bugoma Forest
Private sector players in tourism as well as conservationists have launched a protest against plans by a sugar company to cut down part of the 411 square kilometre Bugoma forest. This follows a recent court ruling which gave Hoima Sugar Limited green light to use 22 square miles of Bugoma Central…
Miss Culture Karamoja sentenced over phone theft
Miss Culture Karamoja has been sentenced to community service for stealing a mobile phone.Gloria Napeyok who is also a gospel singer was convicted by Grade II magistrate, Paul Abunyala on Tuesday after she pleaded guilty to theft. She was jointly convicted with her boyfriend Hamis Lopeyok over the same offense.The two…