News Headlines
Mulago women’s hospital opens to public
September 21, 2018 by John Musinguzi
Mulago Specialised Maternal and Neonatal Healthcare hospital opened its doors to the public on Monday. This followed a cabinet tour of...
Youth group welcomes AG report on Crane Bank sale
September 21, 2018 by BAKER BATTE
A group of youths have praised the Auditor General’s report for implicating Bank of Uganda in the fraudulent sell of...
Families of detained Rwandans call for a speedy trial
September 21, 2018 by BAKER BATTE LULE & IBRAHIM SEBUNNYA
The families of detained Rwandan nationals are calling on the government of Uganda to expedite a speedy trial of their...
Kiyingi off Mukulu trial
September 21, 2018 by Siraje Lubwama
The state has dropped Aggrey Kiyingi, a Ugandan-Australian based doctor, from the terrorism trial of former rebel leader Jamil Mukulu...
Bobi Wine vows to continue fighting for freedom
Kyadondo East MP Robert Kyagulanyi has said that he will not relent on his quest for freedom and justice for all in Uganda. Kyagulanyi was speaking from his home in Magere, three hours after his arrival from the United States of America where he's been seeking further treatment. On arrival at Entebbe…
Bobi Wine returns, arrested
Kyadondo East MP Robert Kyagulanyi has been arrested just moments after he landed at Entebbe International Airport. He was forced into a waiting police vehicle, registration number, UP 7500 and driven straight to Kasangati police station near his home in Magere.
Bobi Wine, police ready for showdown
Police has warned Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine's supporters not to waste their time thronging Entebbe International Airport or lining the streets to welcome back the legislator. Ahead of Bobi Wine's expected return to Uganda tomorrow, police says it has received intelligence that youths across the country are being mobilised to…
Muntu: Bobi’s People Power will swallow FDC
At the close of nationwide consultations on the future of their party, former president of the opposition Forum for Democratic Change, Gregory Mugisha Muntu has said that FDC could find itself being replaced by the ‘People Power Movement’. “Nature does not allow a vacuum,” he said, referring to the movement…
With or without me, change is coming to Uganda – Bobi Wine
Kyadondo East MP Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu has told a US audience that peaceful change of power with or without him is inevitable in Uganda. Kyagulanyi alias Bobi Wine has for the last two weeks been in the USA undergoing specialised medical care following his arrest and beating by soldiers ahead of…
19 assassinations: Gen Kayihura pins 10 on ADF
“Until June 2018, when Museveni mentioned that ADF was responsible for Felix Kaweesi’s and the sheikhs’ death, the rebel group had been mentioned 10 times, especially by the former inspector general of police, Gen Kale Kayihura. At a time when Uganda has seen the longest streak of assassinations of prominent individuals…
Neglected 13-year-old boy demands to know his father
One of the most stressful things for a mother is giving birth and the father denies or abandons her child. Sophia Nampiima is one of many women in the country having sleepless nights because her child demands to know his biological father who denied and neglected him. Nampiima, 29, a businesswoman…
Society needs effective reporting, tracking, referral, prompt response
Everyone has the responsibility to report violence against children. In Uganda however, few cases are reported because of skepticism and or earlier frustration. So, more efforts are needed to raise the number. The existing mechanisms need strengthening to ensure that reported cases are appropriately tracked and referred to effective service/support providers…
Districts fear Kampala is killing them
Local government officials have expressed concerns that the central government is taking over their roles in the districts. Recent public sector management reforms, they say, have limited the space for local governments -- in effect undermining the decentralisation system that was introduced more than 10 years ago. “Local governments have…
Are Africa’s social policies serving her children?
As we publish the sixth of our eight-piece series on violence against children, we wish to give our readers a bonus. The series rotate around a survey report on violence against children in Uganda, released in August by the ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, in partnership with AfriChild…
Security sweats over Bobi Wine's return
Police officers at all units in Kampala Metropolitan are on high alert ahead of the return of the Kyadondo East member of parliament, Robert Kyagulanyi alias Bobi Wine. Bobi Wine is expected to return to the country this Thursday afternoon from the United States of America (USA) where he had gone…
Impounded export-bound gold containers 'go missing'
There is a mystery surrounding the whereabouts of two containers recently impounded by the Minerals Protection Police Unit (MPPU) almost two months ago. The two containers were impounded near Katuna border along the Rwandan border on August 5, 2018 on suspicion that they being used to transport gold and iron ore…
BOU didn't blow Shs 478bn in Crane Bank takeover - Mutebile
Bank of Uganda has responded to the Daily Monitor story headlined "How BOU blew Shs 478 billion in the Crane Bank takeover". Bank of Uganda took over the management of Crane Bank in October 2016 before the bank was sold to a rival bank, DFCU in January 2017. Governor, Emmanuel Tumusiime Mutebile in…
Former Argentina president indicted on corruption charges
Argentina's former president Cristina Fernandez was indicted on Monday on charges that her administration accepted bribes from construction companies in exchange for public works contracts, according to an indictment released by a federal judge. Argentina's Justice Department is seeking to determine whether Fernandez headed a broad corruption network that involved politicians…
Uganda on high alert as Ebola devastates DRC border areas
Uganda is on high alert following reports that Ebola has claimed three lives in Butembo in the Democratic Republic of the Congo - just 51 kilometres from the Ugandan border in Mpondwe. Lying west of the Virunga national park, Butembo is a busy trading centre with a population of around…
R.Nile accident death toll rises to 7
The death toll for Sunday's River Nile accident in Pakwach has now risen to seven after more bodies were retrieved today, Monday. At around 5am on Sunday, a truck registration number, UBA 904Z carrying over 20 people from Pabbo county, Amuru district to Panyimur market plunged into the river at Lubiri…
Makerere student found dead in suspected suicide
Police at Makerere University is investigating an alleged suicide by a second-year student identified as Joshua Ajuna, a resident of Nsibirwa Hall.Ajuna was found lying on his bed in Nsibirwa Hall lifeless on Sunday night at around 2000hrs with foam coming out of his mouth by his roommates who immediately…
EU parliament Bobi Wine discussion based on gossip - Opondo
The European parliamentary debate on the chaos that ensued in Arua and the subsequent arrest and alleged torture of suspects, was based on rumors picked from social media, Uganda government spokesperson, Ofwono Opondo has said. The European Union parliament on Friday last week challenged President Yoweri Museveni and his government to…
Museveni unveils smart, safe city solution for Kampala
In nine months time, Kampala will be a different city - smarter, cleaner and safer, President Yoweri Museveni has assured the nation. Museveni said as government moves to implement the elements of a smart and safe city solution, Kampala will be transformed into a modern city; where there's more reliance on technology…
'Rwandan farmers stealing Uganda's fertile soil'
Rwandan farmers are stealing Uganda's fertile soils to use as manure in their gardens, Rubanda district chairperson Kenneth Jogo Biryabarema has said. Biryabarema said the Rwandans are stealing fertile soils from Echuya forest reserve, in southwestern Uganda. The reserve, ranked Uganda's most important forest habitat due to the rarity of its flora and…
Govt reviewing Nyege Nyege festival - Lokodo
State minister for Ethics and Integrity, Rev Fr. Simon Lokodo, says a technical team from his office is compiling a report detailing what transpired at the just concluded Nyege Nyege festival. The highly publicised festival took place at the Nile Discovery Resort beach in Njeru municipality in Buikwe district between Friday…
Museveni turns 74 today
President Yoweri Museveni who settled for September 15 as his probable date of birth turns 74 today. But there is no birthday celebration on Museveni's official schedule, according to the senior presidential press secretary Don Wanyama. "The official programme is a couple of meetings and a press conference in the…
European parliament puts pressure on govt over Bobi Wine
The European parliament has today issued a 14-point resolution in relation to the recent events of Arua in which at least four people lost their lives and several got arrested. Kyadondo East MP Robert Kyagulanyi's driver Yasin Kawuma was shot dead on August 13 and about 35 others arrested and charged…
Contractor hands over Mulago Maternal and Neonatal hospital
After more than 3 years of construction, the modern Mulago Specialised Women and Neonatal hospital has officially been handed over to government by Arab contractors Osman Ahmed Osman. Prime Minister Dr Ruhakana Rugunda received the keys to the 450-bed capacity hospital on behalf of government. The hospital will start receiving patients next…
Govt awards 2,950 needy students study loans
The Higher Education Students’ Financing Board (HESFB) has today awarded loans to at least 2,950 needy but brilliant students to pursue diploma and undergraduate courses this academic year 2018/19. This is the fifth cohort of beneficiaries since inception of the student loan scheme in 2014. Speaking at the Uganda Media Centre…
American tourist commits suicide at Entebbe zoo
An American tourist has committed suicide at the Uganda Wildlife Conservation Education Center (UWEC) in Entebbe. The body of Larkin Crow, 21, a resident of Texas was found hanging from belt around his neck on Thursday morning outside the dormitories near the restrooms. Isaac Mujaasi, the marketing and…
Foreign journalists cry foul over govt accreditation
Foreign journalists are crying foul over what what they perceive as Uganda government's targeted refusal to accredit them to cover events in the country. Section 29(1) of the Press and Journalists Act requires all foreign journalists who wish to report from Uganda to get accreditation from the Media Council of Uganda through…
Two Israeli tourists injured in Mabira taxi robbery
Two tourists are nursing injuries after they were attacked by robbers in Mabira forest along the Kampala-Jinja highway. The two Israeli nationals, Itai Barsinai, 32, and his girlfriend Shakid Jil, 30, were traveling from Bujagali Falls in Jinja district on Monday evening. They reportedly boarded a taxi from Amber Court…
KCCA calls off Kampala City Festival
Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) has called off the annual Kampala City Festival. The cancellation was announced by KCCA executive director Jennifer Musisi Semakula at a press conference held in Kampala this morning.The event which has often drawn multitudes to the city centre over the last seven years was reportedly…
Freed Kenyan national Omar re-arrested over terrorism
Police have re-arrested Omar Awadh Omar, a Kenyan national who was recently freed by the International War Crime Division of the High court.Omar was first arrested in 2010 during a swoop of persons suspected for masterminding the attack on Kyadondo Rugby Grounds in Lugogo and Ethiopian Village restaurant in Kabalagala. The…
I'm next after Kirumira - Bakaleke
Ninety-six hours after ASP Muhammad Kirumira was shot dead in Kampala, a senior colleague yesterday expressed a deep sense of fear that he could be next to fall to an assassin’s bullet. Assistant Commissioner of Police Siraje Bakaleke told The Observer that he could turn up as the next victim off…
Kirumira’s last moments
The murder last weekend of Muhammad Kirumira, 35, shocked his legions of admirers. Not only did the former Buyende district police commander die at his prime –his violent death by shooting has become too commonplace and too frightening for Ugandans. The Observer retraces his last day and moments. Saturday, September 8, 2018…
Accused Bakaleke demands fresh probe
Suspended Assistant Commissioner of Police Siraje Bakaleke, who is implicated with others in an alleged multibillion extortion case, has petitioned the High Court to have the matter investigated afresh. Bakaleke, formerly a high-flying officer operating within Kampala city centre, faces charges of illegally appropriating Shs 1.4 billion from two South Korean…
Fear as govt scraps ‘fat-cat’ agencies
A cabinet decision on Monday to disband 71 government agencies has set off panic amongst employees. The decision follows a report compiled last year by a team headed by President Museveni’s younger brother, Gen Caleb Akandwanaho (Salim Saleh) on wasteful government expenditure. The Saleh team recommended that certain government agencies be either…
Strategy against VACiS: A case of government intervention
Violence against children in schools (VACiS) is a serious component of the violence against children in the whole country. Consequently, the government saw it wise to prepare a five-year National Strategic Plan on Violence Against Children in Schools (2015-2020). The strategy goes with theme: ‘All forms of violence against children in…
Hits and misses of Museveni address
President Museveni’s address to the nation on Sunday evening could not have come at a more opportune moment: violent crime is unrelenting; Uganda’s image is in tatters in international media over the army and police’s brutalisation of opposition politicians. The continued assassination of prominent figures, attacks on journalists by security…
Frustrations of seeking assistance after violence
Quite often, children are abused and violated in various forms. However, many don’t know where to find remedies; even those that do, they fail to utilize the help. In our series focusing on violence against children (VAC), JUSTUS LYATUU explores how children get frustrated in the process of looking for…
Bobi Wine bodyguard charged with treason in Gulu
Edward Ssebuufu, the personal bodyguard of Kyadondo East MP Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu has been charged with treason. Ssebuufu also known as Eddie Mutwe was charged before Gulu Grade One magistrate Yunus Ndiwalana. He was charged together with Musa Ssenyange alias Rabadaba Musisi, a 31-year-old driver a resident in Njeru…
