News Headlines
12-year-old girl 'commits' suicide in Katabi
May 25, 2019 by VOA
Police is investigating the death of a primary four pupil of Nkumba junior primary school in Nkumba central, Katabi town council in...
Parliament approves Shs 40.5tn budget without debate
May 24, 2019 by URN
Parliament has today Friday in an unprecedented manner, passed the 2019/2020 budget totalling Shs 40.48 trillion without debate on the...
Seven climbers die in a week on Mount Everest
May 24, 2019 by VOA
Three more climbers have died on Mount Everest, expedition organizers and officials said Friday, taking the toll from a deadly...
Theresa May resigns, but Brexit puzzle remains
May 24, 2019 by VOA
Theresa May became the third Conservative leader to fall victim to party divisions over Britain's membership of the European Union...
Gov't loses Shs 600m appeal case against mayor Lukwago
The Court of Appeal has dismissed government’s application seeking to challenge the reinstatement in office of Kampala city Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago.A panel of three Justices Kenneth Kakuru, Stephen Musota and Christopher Madrama dismissed the application challenging Justice Lydia Mugambe’s orders to reinstate Lukwago on grounds that it had no…
Homosexuality remains illegal in Kenya, court rules
Kenya's High court has upheld the law that criminalises homosexuality. The much-anticipated ruling Friday was decided by a three-judge bench on Kenya’s High court in Nairobi. The laws, sections 162(a) and (c) and 165 of Kenya’s Penal Code, criminalize consensual sexual conduct between two adults of the same sex, an…
E.Africa closer to banning hydroquinone skin-lightening products
East African countries are set to ban skin-lightening products that contain hydroquinone, a medical agent linked to health problems when used in high concentrations. The East African Legislative Assembly last week passed a resolution calling for a region-wide ban on the manufacturing and importation of products containing hydroquinone. At a beauty parlor…
Parliament approves Shs 900bn for South Sudan compensation
Parliament has approved the payment of Shs 947 billion to 82 Ugandan companies that supplied goods and services in South Sudan. The traders supplied goods and services to the South Sudan government between 2008 and 2010 but were not paid due to the outbreak of a conflict in December 2013. In…
3 days of mourning in CAR for 50 massacre victims
Central Africa Republic (CAR) is observing three days of official mourning for the victims of Tuesday’s massacre, which left more than 50 people dead in a town near the border with Chad. President Faustin-Archange Touadera also called on the nation to mourn a 77-year-old nun whose decapitated body was found in…
British national arrested over bleach-based 'miracle cure'
Police in Fort Portal have arrested a British national, William Sam Little, who has been promoting the use of miracle mineral solution (MMS) as a cure for cancer, HIV/Aids, malaria and other illnesses.According to the Rwenzori West police spokesperson, Lydia Tumushabe, there are allegations that Little has been giving this…
Court halts UCC directive to suspend 39 journalists
The High court in Kampala has issued a temporary injunction restraining Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) and its agents from enforcing a directive issued on April 30 to 13 media organizations to suspend at least 39 journalists. UCC issued an order to six TV stations; NBS TV, BBS TV, NTV, Bukedde TV…
Observers note problems in Malawi elections
Foreign observers of Malawi's presidential, parliamentary and local elections issued a preliminary assessment Thursday, saying that although the process was peaceful, it lacked a level playing field. Incumbent leader Peter Mutharika held a small lead in the presidential election, partial results showed. About a quarter of the votes remained to be…
MPs question inconsistencies in budget figures
Parliament’s Budget Committee on Wednesday encountered difficulties in finalising the FY 2019/20 budget after discovering inconsistencies in figures presented by the ministry of Finance.Chaired by Ntenjeru North MP Amos Lugoloobi, the Budget Committee convened to scrutinize the additional Shs 929 billion in allocations presented by government on Tuesday to the…
Martyrs Day budget suffers Shs 414 million shortfall
The Catholic Church still needs Shs 414 million to organize this year’ Uganda Martyrs Day celebrations. The Archbishop of Gulu diocese Dr John Baptist Odama says many of the pledges towards preparations have not been fulfilled - creating a shortfall in the initial Shs 900 million budget. Addressing the press at the…
Court registrar starts defense in journalists assault case
The acting Commercial court registrar in charge of planning, performance and development, Fred Waninda accused of assaulting two journalists has started his defense in a case filed against him by Uganda Journalists Association (UJA). Waninda is accused of assaulting two journalists Hannington Kisakye attached to Smart 24 Television and Eric…
South Africa's Ramaphosa starts crackdown on corruption
South African President-elect Cyril Ramaphosa is showing signs of cracking down on corruption Wednesday as the country's new parliament voted him to lead the country for a five-year term. South Africa's lawmakers were sworn into the legislative body in Cape Town following elections earlier this month in which Ramaphosa's ruling African…
Islamic State claims killing, execution of 29 Nigerian soldiers
Islamic State's West Africa branch claimed responsibility on Wednesday for a raid in Nigeria two days earlier in which it said 20 soldiers had been killed, and released a video purporting to show the execution of nine other Nigerian soldiers. A security source and a humanitarian worker, both requesting anonymity because…
11 injured as residents attack UPDF soldiers in Luweero
At least nine residents and two Uganda People’s Defense Forces (UPDF) soldiers have been injured in clashes at Mabuye village in Luweero district.It is alleged that the clashes started after the residents mistook the UPDF soldiers for cattle thieves and attacked the soldiers with machetes. The soldiers attached to Nakasongola…
Uganda airlines, climate change affected teacher salaries - gov't
Three days into the nationwide teacher’s strike, government has asked teachers to return to classes, saying there is no money. Today, Wednesday, the state minister for Public Service, David Karubanga, told a news conference at the Uganda Media Centre that although government acknowledges teacher’s demands for salary enhancement but its…
Muntu unveils his new ANT party leadership
Former Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) president Gen Gregory Mugisha Muntu has today officially unveiled his newly formed political party, Alliance for National Transformation (ANT) leadership at Serena hotel in Kampala. Muntu who lost the FDC presidency to Patrick Oboi Amuriat, quit the party last year after failing to agree with…
Kenya's High court to rule Friday on homosexuality
This Friday, Kenya's High court is set to rule on a case challenging colonial-era laws that criminalize homosexuality. The petitioners want the court to declare those laws unconstitutional in hopes that will make life easier for the country's gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community. Stanely Muasa, a gay man living in…
Man jailed 18-months for insulting his wife
A 46-year-old man has been jailed for 18 months in Nebbi district for insulting the modesty of women. Mike Komakech, a resident of Got Moyo village was convicted by the Grade Two magistrate Mike Okonye on the basis that he used obscenities to insult his wife contrary to Section 128(3)…
Kitatta betrayed by NRM – Father
The moment the May 14th, eight-year sentence was handed down to Abdallah Kitatta by the Lt Gen Andrew Gutti-led General Court Martial, his rural ancestral villages of Bamutakudde, Kisanjufu, Kasenene and Nakkumbo in Mukono district echoed with screams of anguish. These villages lying almost 25 kilometres from Kampala bred Kitatta, a…
Namboole pitch will be grabbed – manager
In a setback for the country and sports, plans to set up an Olympic-size swimming pool, gymnasium, basketball and tennis courts fit for international sporting events at Mandela National Stadium Ltd, have diminished after half of the stadium’s land was grabbed. Out of the 120 acres of the stadium, a government…
Poverty, hunger drive up prostitution rates
Many African women who live at or below the poverty line are forced to sell their bodies in order to make ends meet. The women do not notice anything of the many poverty relief programs that exist on paper in their countries. This is the conclusion of a study by the…
Air pollution killing as many Ugandans as Aids
Air pollution-related deaths are far too common a way to die for the young and elderly in Uganda. About 31,600 people die in Uganda from air pollution-related diseases annually like heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and lung cancer, and most fatalities are in dusty communities, industrial and commercial areas, which…
In ruin, 14 municipalities get facelift
In a dramatic climb from ruin, some once rotting roads and buildings in rural municipalities are under careful reconstruction with support from the World Bank-funded Uganda Support to Municipal Infrastructure Development (USMID) project. An independent on-the-ground mini survey found increased economic activity in Fort Portal town spurred by the installation of…
US pastor gives Ugandans bleach-based ‘miracle cure’
An American pastor from New Jersey backed by a British former clairvoyant is running a network that gives up to 50,000 Ugandans a “miracle cure” made from industrial bleach, claiming drinking the toxic fluid eradicates cancer, HIV/Aids, malaria and most other diseases. The network, led by Pastor Robert Baldwin and part-funded…
Democratic Party buys land to build new headquarters
Sixty-five years after it was founded, the Democratic Party (DP) has finally raised funds to build its own headquarters. Sources said last week that they have purchased a plot of land in Lubaga division of Kampala.
Parliament approves Shs 1.6 trillion supplementary budget
Parliament has approved the Shs 1.6 trillion supplementary budget request by government for the current financial year 2018/2019. Part of the money will cater for the on-going President Yoweri Museveni’s countrywide tours on wealth creation.The approved supplementary is in addition to the current 2018/2019 budget of Shs 32.7 trillion that…
You can’t just come from the ghetto to be president - Kivejinja
The minister for East African Affairs and First Deputy Prime Minister Kirunda Kivejinja has, in a veiled statement, told Kyadondo East member of parliament Robert Kyagulanyi to stop imagining that becoming Uganda's next will just be a smooth ascendency. Although he did not mention Kyagulanyi by name, the 83-year-old Kivejinja told…
Unidentified girl found dead in Naalya
Kira Division police is investigating circumstances under which a 12-year-old girl was killed and her body dumped in Naalya.Deputy Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesman, Luke Owoyesigyire, said the body of the girl suspected to be aged between 10 and 12 was found dumped at the Northern Bypass near Bethany high school…
Church seeks out NWSC to test Namugongo ‘holy water’
Ahead of this year's Martyr’s Day celebrations on June 3, the Uganda Martyrs Catholic Secretariat at Namugongo has sought the technical expertise of National Water and Sewerage Cooperation (NWSC) to carry out tests on the quality of the 'holy water' from the Martyrs lake. The pilgrims and faithfuls have often given testimonies…
Minister Kibuule’s domestic workers released on police bond
Police has released the four suspects arrested following the death of minister Ronald Kibuule’s twin boys, who drowned in a swimming pool at his home in Mbalala, Mukono district.
Malawians vote for president, parliament
Malawian President Peter Mutharika is seeking a second term as voters in the southern African nation cast ballots in Tuesday’s general election. About 6.8 million voters are choosing whether to allow the 78-year-old Mutharika to stay in office, or turn to either Deputy President Saulos Chilima or former preacher-turned-politician Lazarus Chakwera…
Police block demo against Museveni sole candidature
Police in Fort Portal blocked a demonstration by a group of Tooro youth against a resolution backing President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni as NRM’s sole presidential candidate in forth coming elections. On May 9, leaders in the Tooro sub-region met Museveni at Kalya courts in Fort Portal and they unanimously backed…
Nine more bodies retrieved from Lake Albert
The number of retrieved bodies from Lake Albert following Sunday’s boat accident in Hoima district has risen to fifteen. On Monday a total of nine bodies were retrieved by a team of police marine operatives and local fishermen. Two bodies were immediately retrieved on Sunday just minutes after the accident. Deo…
Cabinet approves creation of 9 cities, 27 more MP slots
Cabinet has approved the creation of nine cities, five of which will become operational effective July 1, 2020. These cities include Arua, Gulu, Jinja, Fort Portal, and Mbarara which will be elevated from municipal status. The others are Hoima and Mbale which will become operational in 2021.
Gulu district fetches Shs 600m from illegal charcoal trade
Gulu district has realized over Shs 600 million in fines and penalties levied against illegal charcoal and logging business.The district forest officer, James Ocaka says that the money was raised in the first quarter of the financial year 2018/2019.The district has been charging between Shs 10,000 and Shs 20,000 on…
Corruption: Nabweru court prosecutor granted bail
The Anti-corruption court in Kampala has granted bail to state prosecutor Simon Kigwana who is charged with two counts of corruption. Kigwana, 48, is a state attorney from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution attached to the Nabweru Chief Magistrate's court. He was granted cash bail of Shs…
Java House, Planet Yoghurt close Bugolobi outlets
Coffee chain outlet, Java House and yoghurt maker, Planet Yoghurt Uganda have closed shop at Bugolobi Village Mall in what the area manager said is “part of the initiative to redevelop the mall”. The two companies permanently closed outlets on May 19. The property manager, Knight Frank Uganda said in…
Ssebulime murder: police says Nantaba statement is lousy
The statement recorded by minister Idah Nantaba in regard to the killing of her wrongly suspected assassin, Ronald Ssebulime, was very lousy and unreliable, police has stated. Ssebulime was arrested, handcuffed and shot dead on March 24, by officers on a police patrol vehicle that responded to an alarm by…
Journalists ask parliament for monthly allowances
Journalists working at parliament have requested the speaker of parliament to consider paying them a monthly allowance like it's done in other countries. At least 265 journalists from various media houses across the country are accredited to cover the tenth parliament. The journalists made the request through the Uganda Parliamentary Press Association…
Sudan military, opposition resume talks after street violence
Sudan's ruling military council said it had restarted talks late on Sunday with an alliance of protest and opposition groups that is pushing for a civilian-led transition to democracy. The Transitional Military Council (TMC) had suspended the talks late on Wednesday after two outbreaks of violence around protest sites in the…
Uganda exported gold worth Shs 1.3 trillion in March
Uganda exported gold worth $363 million (about Shs 1.3 trillion) in March alone, according to Bank of Uganda.This is the first time the country has exported gold worth that much in a single month. This brings the total export for the three months to March 2019 or the first quarter of…
Scores feared dead on Lake Albert
Thirty people are feared dead after a boat carrying football players and fans capsized in L.Albert on Sunday afternoon. Some of the deceased have been identified as only Bob, Fisto, Jango, Ayera, Majid Mayaya, Omirambe, Bondhe and Opakrwoth. Others are Dhebaba, Nyayenga,Winnie, Kothu and Anifa. Some of the survivors are Emmanuel Ageno…
Church quietly lifts veil on family planning contraceptives
The Church of Uganda has tremendously evolved from some of its core principals to finally accommodate Christian faithfuls using modern family planning methods. Previously, the Church stamped a zero tolerance tag on the use of modern contraceptives in favour of the view that the practice is a sacrilegious sin against…
Uganda remembers the 2 million AIDS victims
Uganda is marking International AIDS Candlelight Memorial Day with activities to remember the estimated 2 million Ugandans who have died of the disease. While the government and development partners have increased campaigns for HIV awareness, however, the stigma and discrimination attached to the disease keep many Ugandans fearful from learning of…
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…