News Headlines
High court calls for review Stella Nyanzi case
July 19, 2019 by URN
Dr Stella Nyanzi's trial at Buganda Road Chief Magistrate's court maybe halted for some time after the High court in...
3 dfcu bank officials grilled over theft of client deposits
July 19, 2019 by URN
Three dfcu bank officials have appeared at the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) in connection to the theft of unspecified among...
Uganda Airlines first commercial flight now pushed to August
July 19, 2019 by URN
Uganda Airlines will now commence its first commercial flight next month in August and not in July as earlier communicated. The...
Kaabong Woman MP seat falls vacant as Akello resigns
July 19, 2019 by URN
Rose Lilly Akello, the Kaabong Woman member of parliament has decided to vacate her seat and instead represent the newly...
Ex-president Zuma testimony at corruption probe raises more questions
JOHANNESBURG - Former South African President Jacob Zuma has spent three days testifying at a corruption inquiry that looks into numerous allegations of cronyism and undue influence on state organs during his time in office. But observers wonder whether Zuma is bringing answers to light, or just raising more questions. South…
Niger's farmers and cattle ranchers nurture the 'Giving Tree'
NIAMEY, Niger — While deforestation has devastated many African countries, in the west African nation of Niger more than 200 million new trees have sprung up in recent decades. The trees, mainly a variety known locally as Gao, weren't planted. Instead, they were protected by Nigerien farmers who realized the…
Uganda Law Society asks lawyer to 'pull down' Facebook post
A human rights lawyer and activist, Eron Kiiza has come under fire for allegedly writing offensive Facebook posts against the Mubende resident judge, Joseph Murangira. Uganda Law Society (ULS) a body charged with ensuring high levels of professionalism among lawyers, has asked him to ‘withdraw’ the posts. Simon Peter Kinobe, the…
Why Obote II feared his home and State House
In his 250-page new book Trapped in His Own Prison of Nile Mansions for 5 Years (Obote 2), Rutarindwa Mwene Barizeni helps paint a full portrait of former president Apollo Milton Obote’s deepest fears and lifestyle in his second presidency. In this three-part series reviewed by Joseph Bahingwire, we bring you…
EC registrar pleads guilty to embezzling Shs 32m, fined Shs 3m
The Anti-Corruption court in Kampala has convicted Dennis Budali the Electoral Commission registrar for Bukwo district for embezzlement Shs 31.5 million. He was on Wednesday convicted by the chief magistrate Pamela Lamunu after his own plea of guilty. State prosecutor Thomas Okoth from the Inspectorate of Government presented documents to court…
Cultures blowing up population numbers
Wednesday morning was a day of long queues for Margaret Bako (not real name) who walked into Mungula Health Centre III to find treatment for her two-year-old daughter. Bako got pregnant when she was a 14-year-old primary four pupil of Mungula primary school in Itirikwa sub county, Adjumani district. Speaking through…
Makerere University runs out of cash to feed gov’t students
Makerere University does not have money for food and accommodation allowances for the more than 10,000 government-sponsored students next academic year. The initial allocation of Shs 3.35 billion was reportedly diverted, on the advice of the government to cover other priority areas in the running of the university. A report by the…
Weather update: UNMA maintains green flag on L.Victoria
Uganda’s Meteorological Authority (UNMA) has issued a 'Green Weather Alert' for Wednesday night for fishermen and marine transporters operating in all the four marine zones on L.Victoria. UNMA's latest 24-hour weather update, running from 6pm on Wednesday to 6pm on Thursday indicates that isolated thunderstorms are expected before midnight and…
Police confirm arrest of suspect in boda boda rider murder
Police have confirmed the arrest of one of the suspects who appeared in the CCTV footage strangling a boda boda rider to death in Rubaga Division in Kampala, about two weeks ago. The Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson Patrick Onyango identifies the suspect as John Bosco Mugisha alias Mukiga. In a…
What guard said before shooting
Interviews with some witnesses of the Monday, July 8, fatal shooting at Quality Shopping Village, Naalya, add new layers of detail and drama that stand in sharp contrast to the official police and family version of the unfortunate killing of Arnold Ainebyona Mugisha. Some witnesses suggested the security guard Emmanuel Moses…
Chameleone battles to shake off mole moniker
A marked survival characteristic of a chameleon is changing its milliard of colors depending on the environment and emerging potential dangers. In politics, changing colors is a typical survival instinct and Joseph Mayanja is learning the hard way that his bestselling alias Chameleone has become his biggest liability. Big political players…
People demand more powers for Bamugemereire
KWEEN: As land grabbers continue to prowl the whole country snatching huge chunks of land with impunity, enraged dispossessed people have urged President Museveni to give the Land Commission of Inquiry powers to prosecute and cancel fraudulently titles. They also want a complete revalidation of all certificates of title fraudulently issued…
Wavamunno outs new book, dispels reports of fallout with M7
Sir Gordon Wavamunno, the business mogul behind Spear Motors, has authored his latest memoir: Independent Uganda: Reflections and Recollections. In the 140-page book, Wavamunno mainly offers his views on Uganda’s economy right from the colonial days. He also delves into the influence of politics in business, plus how Uganda can build…
Joseph Kabuleta released on police bond
Joseph Kabuleta is out on police bond. The former New Vision sports journalist and pastor of Watchman Ministries regained his freedom from the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) in Kireka on Tuesday evening. Police spokesperson Fred Enanga confirmed Kabuleta’s release from custody following his arrest on Friday last week for offensive communication. “That’s…
Police fails to explain 'missing' Shs 17bn
Parliament's Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has unearthed inconsistencies in the financial statements of Uganda Police Force - with undeclared funds totaling up to Shs 17.1 billion. Police officials led by assistant inspector general of police (AIGP) Asan Kasingye and under secretary Rogers Muhirwa on Tuesday appeared before the committee to answer…
3 Mak lecturers suspended for sexually harassing students
Makerere University has suspended three members of its academic staff for alleged sexual harassment against female students. Vincent Ssajjabi, an assistant lecturer in the School of Economics, Medard Twinobuhungiro, an assistant lecturer in the School of Business and Jackson Sekiryango from School of Languages, Literature and Communication have been suspended by…
Court quashes Shs 50m reward to national anthem composer
The Court of Appeal has quashed a decision to award Shs 50 million to the late Prof George Wilberforce Kakoma as loyalties for composing the Uganda national anthem. The award had been given to Kakoma in 2010 by High court judge Yorokamu Bamwiine, as his final settlement for the anthem; Oh…
After 124 years, Mbogo’s legacy still stands out
It has become an annual event on the Ugandan Muslim calendar to commemorate the return of Prince Nuhu Mbogo Kyabasinga from exile. Mbogo, a brother to the great Buganda king, Walugembe Muteesa I, was in 1893 exiled to Zanzibar by British imperialists as they sought to stump out Islam in Buganda. Being…
Only 17% paid OTT as URA registers Shs 284bn shortfall
Ugandans have continued to avoid paying the over the top services (OTT) daily taxes, with Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) collecting a mere Shs 49.5bn out of the projected Shs 284bn in the last financial year. Last in July, government introduced the Shs 200 daily tax for use of social media…
Farmers who lost cattle to S.Sudan raid demand for M7 meeting
Residents of Metu sub-county, Moyo district whose livestock was raided by armed men from South Sudan in 2018, have stormed the office of Moyo RDC demanding audience with President Museveni. On 11 March 2018, armed men raided 1,295 herds of cattle from Padiga North village of Metu sub-county. Last August, Museveni promised…
Ministries fail to spend Shs 350bn, return it to Treasury
Ministries, departments, agencies and local governments failed to spend Shs 349.7 billion out of the Shs 33.3 trillion in the 2018/19 financial year. The Public Finance Management Act, 2015 provides that all unspent balances be sent back to the Consolidated Fund as at 30 June. The ministries, departments, and agencies failed to…
Lawyer denied access to Kabuleta
Daniel Walyemera, a lawyer representing Pastor Joseph Kabuleta has been denied access to his client.Kabuleta, a renowned government and President Museveni critic is currently being held at the Special Investigations Division (SID) in Kireka. He was arrested by plain clothed police detectives at Drew and Jacs Restaurant in Lugogo ahead…
Uganda defeats Scotland in tight contest at Netball World Cup
The Uganda national netball team, She Cranes today defeated Scotland and proceeded to the next stage of the best 12 teams at the ongoing Netball World Cup in Liverpool, United Kingdom. The She Cranes scored 52 goals against Scotland's 43. This was Uganda's last game in Group D. The She Cranes…
Quiet life of 'Mukwano' that inspired a multi billion empire
It was a somber mood at the head offices of Rwenzori Commodities Limited on plot 11 Old PortBell Road in Kampala on Thursday afternoon. Top government officials and business community were quietly ushered into the upper floor of the building to pay their last respect to the late Amirali Karmali, the…
Desh Kananura "ready to die" defending his land
Andrew Kananura Kagonyera aka Desh, the proprietor of Panamera bar has vowed to die while fighting to protect his land from three Indian land grabbers. Speaking to the media from his Panamera bar in Bukoto, Kananura said he will protect his 3.6 acres land that he claims he bought in bits from 18…
Kabuleta kidnapped for 'calling Museveni a thief, liar'
Joseph Kabuleta, a journalist-turned preacher who of late has authored several stinging criticisms against the government and the first family, has been arrested mafia-style from Lugogo as he prepared for his weekly Watchman Fellowship held at UMA Upper Gardens.
Middle income status failing due to poor implementation - experts
Experts have warned that Uganda may not achieve the much desired middle income status with the continued poor implementation of development programs.Addressing journalists ahead of this year's World Population Day on July 11, the chairperson of the National Population Council (NPC) Prof Fred Wabwire-Mangen said, while government has good program…
Police clears UNRA night repairs on Jinja highway
Traffic police has cleared the Uganda National Roads Authority (Unra) to proceed with road repairs on the Jinja highway. Unra spokesperson, Mark Ssali, said the road repairs will start from Spears Motors junction in Nakawa Division in Kampala to Mukono municipality. Ssali said the 3.5km stretch will cost Shs 13.5 billion and the…
Nyanzi requests to advertise slots for 'willing' witnesses
Incarcerated Makerere University researcher Dr Stella Nyanzi has asked court to adjourn her case for a month to allow her find witnesses willing to testify on her behalf. Except for one, all the 19 witnesses that the defense had lined up failed to turn up in court on Tuesday and Wednesday. Nyanzi…
Court issues criminal summons against Bobi Wine
Buganda Magistrate's Road court has issued criminal summons to Kyadondo East MP Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine.Presiding magistrate Stella Kamasanyu also issued criminal summons to David Lule after the two failed to turn up in court on Wednesday for the second time. Kyagulanyi and four others; Julius Katongole, Nyanzi Fred…
Music promoter Bajjo granted bail
Events and music promoter Andrew Mukasa also commonly known as Bajjo has been granted bail by Buganda Road Magistrate's court. Magistrate Stella Maris Amabilis today Thursday granted a cash bail of Shs 4 million to Bajjo, and his three sureties have been bonded at Shs 20 million non-cash.The sureties are Abbey Musinguzi…
Stella Nyanzi's 19 witnesses fail to appear in court
The 19 witnesses summoned to defend Makerere University researcher Dr Stella Nyanzi have failed to appear in court. The witnesses were supposed to appear on Wednesday to give their expert opinion in the case in which Nyanzi is charged for offensive communication and cyber harassment when she allegedly published a poem…
Mukwano Industries empire founder Amirali Karmali dead
Amirali Karmali, the proprietor of Mukwano Industries Uganda Limited is dead.The entrepreneur died quietly on Wednesday evening in Fort portal, according to reports. Karmali, born in the 1930s is the father to Alykhan Karmali, who is currently running the family business empire that spans into real estate, banking, transport, and manufacturing. The…
Mayuge quack American doctor case pushed to 2020
The case in which an American national, Renee Bach is accused of ill-treating malnourished children in eastern Uganda is to be heard again on January 21, 2020, at the High court in Jinja. Bach, who was accused of operating a medical facility without a license was dragged to court early this…
Cranes strike: The inside story
When the country was gripped last week with the unthinkable oddity of a national football players strike in the middle of Afcon, a continental football showpiece in Egypt, President Museveni, sources said, sent emissaries with a persuasive message. To end the impasse that threatened our second round tie with Senegal, the…
Bobi Wine: I will quit politics after 2021
Across the country, political players are jostling for new alliances, mending broken old ones and breaking up fragile ones with just about a year and a half to the much-anticipated 2021 general elections. For Robert Kyagulanyi’s People Power and Dr Kizza Besigye’s People’s Government, the road to forming a united front…
Can Chameleone bring magical charm to DP?
Before an ecstatic crowd on July 3, singer Joseph Mayanja better known as Jose Chameleone was formally inducted into the Democratic Party (DP) at the Youth Sharing Hall Nsambya in the capital Kampala. Chameleone joined Uganda’s oldest political party with his brothers; Pius Mayanja aka Pallaso and Douglas Mayanja (Weasel). Mayanja…
10,000 fight over land in Kween and Bukwo
KWEEN: When they fled their homeland 13 years ago at the height of the Karimojong and Pokot cattle rustler insurgency in 2007, they left their communal land intact. But when they returned after peace was restored by the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) government, all was not well. They were shocked…
Govt names team to write first automotive industry policy
A draft of the country’s first Automotive Industry Development Policy will be complete in three months, written by a taskforce of eight members inaugurated recently by Dr Elioda Tumwesigye, the minister of Science, Technology and Innovation. The minister used the inauguration ceremony at the ministry’s head office at Rumee Towers in…
Museveni, ministers to walk 10 kilometres
To shine a bright light on the dangers of physical inactivity and the need for exercise, President Museveni and his entire cabinet will demonstrably walk 10 kilometres from Kololo Ceremonial Grounds via Lugogo and back on July 14. On the same day, several sports; volleyball, football, netball and basketball will be…
IGP to cops: You will pay for errant actions
“Be informed that a new law, The Human Rights (Enforcement Act 2019) is now in place. Going forward, the entrenchment of human rights in police work will never be an option...” said the inspector general of police Martins Okoth Ochola in a Tuesday circular addressed to all police units. “The common…
Congolese say Ebola is invented poison
There can be few greater challenges than tackling a lethal epidemic. But imagine trying to do so in a conflict zone ravaged by extreme poverty, insecurity and poor communications amid a population where health workers are feared and distrusted.
Would-be first black African in space dies
A South African man who won the chance to become the first black African in space has been killed in a motorcycle crash. Mandla Maseko was 30. Maseko was killed in Pretoria over the weekend, according to a family statement released to the local media Monday.
Defence witness refuses to testify in Stella Nyanzi case
Barnabas Mustapha Mugisha, one of the witnesses summoned to testify in the cyber harassment case against Dr Stella Nyanzi on Tuesday refused to testify saying he did not know why he was summoned in court.Mugisha is one of the 10 defence witnesses that were expected to testify today before the…
Quality Supermarket guard shoots dead businessman
Police have arrested Moses Angoria a security guard attached to Quality Supermarket in Naalya on allegations of shooting dead a businessman, Arnold Ainebyona Mugisha. Deputy Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson Luke Owoyesigyire said Angoria shot Ainebyona in the mouth today Tuesday at 10:30am. Attached to Saracen Security Company, Angoria reportedly discharged the…