News Headlines
Kampala registers another COVID-19 death
August 14, 2020 by URN
Uganda has today registered its 12th coronavirus death of a 65-year-old male, a resident of Kampala. The deceased was admitted in...
COVID-19: Police disperse mourners in Mitooma
August 14, 2020 by URN
Police dispersed mourners at the funeral of Geoffrey Ndyabandahi, a prominent businessman in Mitooma town council.Police moved in to disperse...
VP Ssekandi rival granted bail by Nakawa court
August 14, 2020 by URN
Nakawa Chief Magistrate's court has released on bail Eng Richard Sebamala who is facing charges of obtaining money by false...
Uganda suffers 5th nationwide power blackout in 5 months
August 14, 2020 by URN
Uganda on Thursday suffered a fifth nationwide electricty blackout in what could be seen now as a monthly norm.Uganda Electricity...
Mbale city mayor defeated in FDC primaries, rejects results
The incumbent mayor of Mbale city Mutwalibi Mafabi Zandya has been defeated in the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party primaries. The party’s Electoral Commission in Mbale declared Kassim Namugali winner. He garnered 66 votes against Zandya’s 15 votes while Mugoya Siraji got 11 votes. The election was held at Life…
Bobi Wine appoints 4 regional NUP deputy presidents
Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, the president of of the National Union Platform (NUP) party has today announced the appointment of four deputy presidents for the party. The four were appointed on a regional basis representing the central, northern, eastern and the western part of Uganda.They are Mathias Mpuuga, as deputy president…
Bobi Wine's National Unity Platform fishes 11 MPs from DP
Eleven MPs, who previously subscribed to the Democratic Party (DP) have today announced their departure to join the National Unity Platform, a new party headed by Kyadondo East MP Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu aka Bobi Wine.Those who have crossed today include Busiro East MP Medard Lubega Sseggona, Bukoto East MP Florence…
Ugandan youth poor because of sleeping - Museveni
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has urged Ugandan youths to stop sleeping and engage more actively in commercial production so as to get out of poverty. The president said that Uganda's youth are fond of sleeping and talking most of the time, with just a few partially awake and involved in subsistence…
Uganda registers 2 more coronavirus deaths, 21 new cases
Uganda registers a further two COVID-19 deaths, raising the total number of deaths in the country to 11. The two deaths are of a 60-year-old male of Indian origin, who died at International Hospital Kampala and a 55-year-old male who passed away at Mulago hospital. A further 21 new cases have been…
Nigeria: Singer sentenced to death for 'blasphemy'
An Islamic court in northern Nigeria on Monday sentenced a singer to death for blasphemy against the Prophet Mohammed, judicial officials said. An Upper Islamic Sharia court in the city of Kano ordered 22-year-old Yahaya Aminu Sharif to die by hanging for derogatory expressions against the Prophet in one of…
CEC: Museveni, the living god NRM candidates fell over to appease
Ever since the National Resistance Movement (NRM) was registered as a political party in 2004, the country has never been exposed to what takes place inside its central executive committee (CEC).In word, CEC is the second highest organ of the party after the national delegates conference, but in reality, it…
Winnie Kiiza severs ties with FDC, officially joins ANT
Former Leader of Opposition in Parliament (LoP) and outgoing Kasese Woman MP Winnie Kiiza, has officially crossed from opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party to the Alliance for National Transformation (ANT). ANT was founded by former FDC president Maj Gen Gregory Mugisha Muntu, who fell out with the current FDC…
19-year-old student picks presidential nomination papers
A 19-year-old boy has picked presidential nomination papers from the Electoral Commission. Hillary Humphrey Kaweesa, who is in his senior six vacation, and a former student of Mengo Senior secondary school is among the nine people who have so far picked presidential nomination papers ahead of next year's general elections. Kaweesa…
Kadaga asks NRM to 'reward' her for lifting presidential age limit
The speaker of parliament, Rebecca Kadaga has asked the National Resistance Movement members to recognize her efforts in amending the Constitution in 2017 that lifted the presidential age limit, and re-elect her as the NRM 2nd national vice chairperson.Speaking at State House Entebbe where members of the Central Executive Committee…
New Zealand back into lockdown after detection of new COVID-19 cases
New Zealand is again under lockdown restrictions Wednesday after four COVID-19 infections were detected in Auckland, the South Pacific’s country’s biggest city. They are the first confirmed cases of community transmission of coronavirus in more than 100 days. In June, New Zealand declared a victory in its fight against COVID-19.
Gangster Sobi runs safe house
Paddy Sserunjonji aka Sobi, first seized the media spotlight in 2017 as a self-confessed leader of Kifeesi, a criminal gang, which terrorized Kampala then and now, three years later, he commands a safe house on Lwamayuba island in Kalangala, a former prisoner there has said. “We were all shocked when…
Besigye: It’s wrong to ask if I will stand in 2021
Answers, they say, can hide from anything but questions. But that assertion doesn’t seem to hold true after close scrutiny of a transcript of last week’s NTV interview with DR KIZZA BESIGYE. Asked several times by Patrick Kamara, host of NTV’s ON THE SPOT programme, whether he will be on the…
NRM campaign team splits over Tumukunde
Lt. Gen. Henry Tumukunde has for a while now been courting some opposition elements in an attempt to shore up support for his presidential bid. The general has been clandestinely engaging a section of key opposition players in the country, more so, the Democratic Party President Norbert Mao. According to sources…
HIV infections drop by 30%
Eastern and Southern Africa has recorded a huge fall in new HIV infection since 2010 compared to other regions, the latest UNAIDS 2020 global report has found. Statistics from the UNAIDS show that at least 72 per cent of people living with HIV in the region are on treatment, and 65…
Bobi Wine accused of forging signatures that changed NURP to NUP
Kyadondo East MP also presidential aspirant, Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine has been accused of forging signatures and documents to enable him to acquire the leadership of the defunct National Unity, Reconciliation and Development Party (NURP). NURP would later morph into the National Unity Platform (NUP) currently headed by Kyagulanyi as party…
40 year-old Ndeeba church razed, police officers arrested
The bishop of Namirembe diocese, The Rt Rev Wilberforce Kityo Luwalira has expressed dismay at the demolition of St Peter’s church, Ndeeba. The 40-year-old structure was razed under the cover of darkness, purportedly over a longstanding wrangle between the church leadership and a businessman only identified as Dodovico. For several months, the…
Controversy shrouds release of former MP Kipoi from jail
The release from prison of former Bubulo West MP, Tonny Nsubuga Kipoi who was facing treason charges more than a year, is shrouded in controversy after his lawyer and the attorney gave contradictory statements on how he was freed. The controversy came to the fore last week when a panel of…
Kasese police blocks opening of NUP offices, 5 arrested
Police have arrested Sam Baluku, the coordinator of the National Unity Platform (NUP) party in Kasese district. Baluku, who is also eyeing the Kasese Municipality parliamentary seat, was arrested together with Walid Mako as they were planning to launch the NUP offices in Nyakasanga Division in Kasese Municipality on Tuesday afternoon.
Russia formally approves COVID-19 vaccine
Russian President Vladimir Putin says his country has become the first in the world to formally approve a new COVID-19 vaccine, despite a lack of data to back up his claims that the drug is safe to administer to humans. President Putin announced the development during a meeting with his government…
80 killed in South Sudan inter-communal fighting
Witnesses say at least 80 people were killed and more than 90 others were injured in violent clashes involving soldiers and civilians in Warrap state’s Tonj East County over the weekend as South Sudan troops began disarming civilians. Executive director for Tonj East County Makuei Mabior told South Sudan in Focus an argument…
Lightning kills Amuru teenager
Lightning has struck dead a teenager in Amuru district. The deceased has been identified as 14-year-old Denis Rachkara, a resident of Bol Atero village, Okungedi parish in Amuru sub-county in Amuru district in northern Uganda.
LDUs complete refresher training, restricted to night operations
Freshly retrained Local Defense Unit (LDUs) personnel have been barred from any daytime security operations by the Uganda People’s Defense Forces. A statement by the newly appointed Defense ministry spokesperson, Brig Flavia Byekwaso, says although LDUs who have completed a refresher training are going to be redeployed, their role is restricted to…
Uganda Airlines flies in 75 Ugandans from S.Africa, Zambia
The second group of 75 Ugandans who have been stuck in South Africa and Zambia since March have flown into the country. The first group of 71 Ugandans and legal residents returned from the same region on July 2. Aboard Uganda Airlines, the group arrived at Entebbe international airport at 8:10…
Minister Anite summoned for flouting COVID-19 guidelines
The state minister for Investment Evelyne Anite has been summoned by police for flouting COVID-19 health safety guidelines when she held a campaign procession in her home area, Koboko. Last Saturday, Anite organised a procession where multitudes of her supporters marched through the streets in Koboko town in northern Uganda to…
Lira's vulnerable receive Shs 100,000 each COVID funds
A total of 120,000 families in Uganda whose livelihoods have been negatively affected by coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic will benefit from $10 million (about Shs 36 billion) direct cash transfers.The programme, implemented by GiveDirectly, a nonprofit organization that lets donors send money to the world’s poorest backed by the ministry…
7 Ugandan security officers remanded for sharing intel with Rwanda
The General Court Martial has remanded seven Ugandan security officers accused of sharing sensitive information with Rwandan government agents.The suspects include second lieutenants Alex Kasamula attached to Military Police, Phillip Neville Ankunda, attached to Special Forces headquarters as a pilot, privates Nathan Ndwaine, Moses Asiimwe and Godfrey Mugabi, all engineering and aircrafts…
Toyota closes Kampala branch after 3 staff test positive for COVID-19
Toyota Uganda has temporarily closed its Kampala branch at First Street, Industrial Area after three of their staff tested positive for the coronavirus (COVID-19).In a statement issued today by Mahmood Omar, the managing director said the branch will be temporarily closed effective today as additional steps as guided by the authorities…
Lumumba denies Museveni asked CEC to allow Kigongo run unopposed
The National Resistance Movement (NRM) chairman Yoweri Museveni has not asked the party contestants to step aside for his long time serving vice chairperson Haj Moses Kigongo, Justine Kasule Lumumba has said. Lumumba, the NRM secretary general denied media reports that Museveni wants Kigongo to contest for the seat unopposed as has always…
Congolese refugee succumbs to COVID-19 in Kyangwali
A Congolese refugee has succumbed to Covid-19 in Kyangwali refugee settlement in Kikuube district triggering tension among the settlers. Dr Nicholas Kwikiriza, the Kikuube district health officer, says the victim is a 27-year-old male Congolese refugee and resident of Maratatu village in Kyangwali refugee settlement area. He says the deceased presented with…
Ayivu MP Atiku joins NRM 'to bring the struggle from within'
Ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party supporters in Ayivu County have expressed excitement after their MP Bernard Atiku officially joined the ruling party ahead of the 2021 general elections.Atiku who is serving his second term, joined parliament on the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) ticket in 2011. However, he fell…
Malawi president working to trim presidential powers
Malawi's new President Lazarus Chakwera says he is working on proposing legislation aimed at trimming his presidential powers in an effort to empower the citizens. In his national address Saturday, Chakwera said having a president who makes too many decisions has created problems in Malawi and this has led to…
Police blocks opening of People Power office in Kitgum
Police has blocked the establishment of the National Unity Platform (NUP) party offices in Kitgum Municipality, northern Uganda. This comes just a few days after the party acquired office space in Pandwong Division to help coordinate its political activities in East-Acholi ahead of the 2021 general polls. NUP is headed by…
Wakiso woman dies of coronavirus as 16 more test positive
Uganda has registered its 7th coronavirus death of a 49-year-old woman from Wakiso. She was HIV positive and on treatment, and also had a history of asthma and TB according to the ministry of Health. She was admitted in an unnamed private facility on August 6 after presenting with signs consistent…
Congolese kidnappers demand Shs 4m to free 10 Ugandan fishermen
Congolese militias holding ten Ugandan fishermen they kidnapped from Lake Edward in Rukungiri district are demanding for a ransom of Shs 4 million to release them. The fishermen were kidnapped on Monday evening by Congolese militiamen when they ventured into the lake to check on their fish catch. Some of the victims…
Guinea-Bissau radios go silent in protest against police raid on Capital FM
Most radio stations in Guinea-Bissau fell silent for 24 hours on Thursday to show solidarity after a crippling attack on Radio Capital FM. At dawn on July 26, a group of men wearing police uniforms and carrying automatic weapons entered Capital FM’s offices in the capital, Bissau, deputy director Sabino Santos…
9 arrested as police blocks Bobi Wine from BCU FM
At least nine people have been arrested as police fired teargas and bullets to disperse supporters of Kyadondo East MP Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine in Mbale today. Those arrested include Abbas Wetaaka, the Mbale district People Power coordinator, Yusuf Kadama, the Nakaloke town council youth councillor and youth coordinator for…
Kampala has a lot more COVID-19 cases than reported - US Embassy
The US Embassy in Uganda has warned Americans living and working in Uganda to take extra precaution because according to them, despite its early success, Uganda is now into a critical phase of the coronavirus pandemic. Until three weeks ago, Uganda had not registered any coronavirus deaths but as of…
Boda Boda 2010's Kitatta, bodyguard released from prison
Former Boda Boda 2010 Association patron Abdallah Kitatta has been released from jail, the Uganda Prisons Services has confirmed.Frank Baine, the spokesperson of Uganda Prisons said that Kitatta and his bodyguard, Ngobi Sowali should have left prison on July 7, 2020, in line with a punishment reduction given to them…
EC 'studying' petition challenging Bobi Wine as NUP president
The Electoral Commission (EC) has said it is reviewing a petition challenging how Kyadondo East MP Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine became president and presidential flagbearer of National Unity Platform (NUP). According to Electoral Commission chairman justice Simon Byabakama, the commission did not know that the people who applied to change…
78-year-old man rescued from committing suicide at new Jinja bridge
A 78-year-old man has been rescued by security from commit suicide at the Jinja Nile bridge on River Nile. Charles Kakiriho, a resident of Njerika cell in Isingiro district clad in a brown striped shirt and a black trouser, stood at the pedestrian walkway of the bridge for close to 30…
Constitutional court stays corruption proceedings against Kazinda
The Constitutional court has permanently stayed all corruption proceedings against Geoffrey Kazinda, the former principal accountant in the Office of the Prime Minister.Kazinda has faced trial for constructive possession of financial instruments, forging receipts and invoices, false accounting, making fraudulent payments, conspiracy to secure money outside authorized disbursement procedures, and…
70-year-old Ugandan male succumbs to COVID-19
Another Ugandan has succumbed to the coronavirus disease (Covid-19), bringing the total number of deaths to six. The deceased is a male Ugandan aged 70 and resident of Nateete in Kampala, according to the Health ministry. He becomes the fifth person and second male to die of coronavirus in Kampala…
Court reduces Kitatta's jail sentence from 10 to 3 years
The Appellant Court Martial has reduced the ten-year jail term handed to Abdallah Kitatta, the patron of militia outfit, Boda Boda 2010 and his bodyguard, Sowali Ngobi for illegal possession of firearms to just three years. The six-member court chaired by a civilian advocate, Elly Turyamubona sitting in Makindye, delivered its…
Army to grant former police boss Kayihura permission to bury mother
The army will grant permission to former police boss Gen Kale Kayihura, who is currently restricted from moving outside Kampala and Wakiso district, to attend his mother's burial. Catherine Tibemanya Mukarwamo, 92, died in the wee hours of Thursday morning in Mukuubo parish, Fort Portal city. General Court Martial registrar, Maj…
Museveni summons NRM CEC members
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has called a meeting of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) central executive committee (CEC) tomorrow.The meeting will discuss the upcoming extraordinary meeting of the national conference which will be held on August 18. Both CEC and the national conference were supposed to meet between August 6-8…
Mak registrar solicited money from parents at 2017 graduation - witness
The former Makerere University deputy academic registrar in charge of certificates, ceremonies, and publications, Margret Etuusa was involved in soliciting money from parents, students and guests during the 2017 graduation, the Anti-Corruption court heard on Thursday. The former Makerere University chief security officer, Jackson Mucunguzi said this while testifying in the…
Africa approaches one million coronavirus cases
The African continent is fast approaching 1 million confirmed cases of coronavirus, with South Africa alone accounting for more than half-a-million cases. World Health Organization officials say they’re sending a team of experts to South Africa in coming weeks, as the Health minister warns the nation could see a “second wave.”…
Soroti MP Ariko quits FDC over 'irreconcilable differences'
Soroti Municipality MP, Herbert Edmund Ariko has officially quit the opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party. In his press statement issued on Wednesday, Ariko indicates that he is going to contest as an independent candidate for Soroti City East Division parliamentary seat in the forthcoming elections.
Man who contracted HIV after using Life Guard condoms sues gov't
A man who allegedly contracted HIV/Aids and gonorrhoea after using defective Life Guard condoms has sued Maristopes Uganda, National Drug Authority (NDA) and the government for negligently supplying products that adversely affected public health.In his application filed before the High court, Joseph Kintu demands that in addition to ordering the…
Cameroon closes church that claims COVID-19 is a hoax
This music is played on loudspeakers by a group of seven members of the Tabernacles of Freedoms Ministries in Cameroon’s capital Yaounde. The four women and three men move from house to house and street to street calling themselves end time evangelists. Thirty-two-year-old Prudence Mayah, the group leader is referred to…
NRM Women League chairperson arrested in fake money printing scam
Police in Kwania district, northern Uganda have arrested two women on allegations of defrauding people claiming to have the capacity to print currency notes. The suspects are Semmy Ejang aka Semmy Opio Modek, the NRM Women League chairperson for Kwania district and one Gloria Kali Akello, all residents of Aduku…
Food distribution: DPP drops charges against MP Zaake
The director of public prosecutions (DPP), Jane Frances Abodo has dropped charges against Mityana Municipality MP, Francis Zaake. The legislator was picked up from his residency in Buswabulongo in Mityana municipality on April 19, 2020, on accusations of distributing food to his constituents contrary to the Covid-19 prevention guidelines. He was…
Lebanon declares 2-week state of emergency after deadly explosion
Lebanon’s cabinet declared a two-week state of emergency Wednesday in Beirut and ordered the military to place anyone under house arrest who was involved in warehousing explosive material that detonated at the city’s port, devastating entire neighbourhoods and killing scores of people. The declaration effectively gives the military full powers after…
Former MP Mabike sues LDC over cancelling his legal practice diploma
Former Makindye East MP Michael Mabike has sued the Law Development Center (LDC) for cancelling his post-graduate diploma in legal practice. Through his lawyers of Semuyaba, Iga and Company Advocates, Mabike contends that after successfully completing his four-year bachelors of law degree at Makerere University School of Law in 2007, he…
Jeema, Bobi Wine in war over NUP
The surprise launch of People Power’s election vehicle, The National Unity Platform, last week drew all-round praise from the inside. But the rule book on recruitment, laid bare, with great specificity by the People Power Election Management Committee, has drawn deep unease and grumbles from some opposition supporters. People interviewed for this…
Police silent as pastor beats people, grabs land
Beaten, intimidated and outraged by the wanton land grabbing excesses of Michael Mukhono aka Musayi, a powerful pastor in the eastern Elgon area, residents have taken to public denunciations of police and military officials. The unrelenting public bribe-taking accusations have cast a harsh spotlight on several top police officials in the…
Orphaned at birth, Diane Kwesiga lifts hearts of the vulnerable
She is dubbed ‘Princes Diana,’ by close associates due to her generous heart and charitable work. On the face of it, it may seem an exaggeration to compare someone with the famous British royal, yet the youthful Diane Myers Kwesiga is using her unprivileged upbringing to give back to the underprivileged…
Kabaka marks 27 years on throne with emphasis on healthcare
On July 31, Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II, the Kabaka of Buganda, marked 27 years on the throne with a colourful ceremony at Lubiri, Mengo. In his speech, Kabaka urged the public to adhere to the strict standard operating procedures on Covid-19. He also reiterated Buganda’s drive to combat HIV/Aids and reignited…
Uganda launches action plan on people trafficking
Government has launched the second Uganda National Action Plan (NAP) for Prevention of Trafficking in Persons, and the National Referral Guidelines for Management of Victims of Trafficking. The launch of the two instruments in Kampala last Thursday was part of activities commemorating the 7th World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, observed…
Security busts conmen
Two brothers; Joseph Jjuuko and Richard Kayima are in Kitalya prison accused of persistently attacking top officials of Buganda Kingdom and members of the royal family. They routinely used social media platforms to abuse and threaten top Buganda kingdom officials as well as members of the royal family. These threats would…