News Headlines
Makerere University runs out of cash to feed gov’t students
July 17, 2019 by URN
Makerere University does not have money for food and accommodation allowances for the more than 10,000 government-sponsored students next academic year. The...
Weather update: UNMA maintains green flag on L.Victoria
July 17, 2019 by URN
Uganda’s Meteorological Authority (UNMA) has issued a 'Green Weather Alert' for Wednesday night for fishermen and marine transporters operating in...
Police confirm arrest of suspect in boda boda rider murder
July 17, 2019 by URN
Police have confirmed the arrest of one of the suspects who appeared in the CCTV footage strangling a boda boda...
What guard said before shooting
July 17, 2019 by DAVID MWANJE & NAKISANZE SEGAWA
Interviews with some witnesses of the Monday, July 8, fatal shooting at Quality Shopping Village, Naalya, add new layers of...
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…
AFCON: Museveni to reward Cranes with Shs 3bn
Uganda Cranes players will receive a sum of $1 million (about Shs 3.7 billion) from President Yoweri Museveni as a reward for their participation in the African Cup of Nations and reaching the Round of last 16. Museveni announced the cash reward at a dinner he held for the Uganda Cranes…
Kajjansi police boss arrested over attempted robbery
Police are holding one of their own for attempted robbery. The suspect is Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), Bright Amutuhire, the commandant of operations at Kajjansi police station. He was nabbed by 999 police Patrol on allegations of attempting to rob Tom Kisuku, a resident of Busega in Kampala. Deputy…
Man arrested for sodomising nine boys in Kamwokya
A 39-year old man has been arrested for allegedly sodomising nine minors. Simon Twesigye, 30, a resident of Church Zone, Kamwokya was arrested by residents last week after one of the victims, a 7-year old boy confessed to have been sodomised by Twesigye. One old woman whose grandson has been…
Bribes killing police command - Akullo
Several police commanders have failed in their supervisory roles because of accepting bribes from their juniors, the director Criminal Investigations (CID), Grace Akullo has revealed. Speaking at the closure of a five-day retreat for Criminal Investigations Commanders at the CID headquarters at Kibuli on Friday, Akullo said some police commanders accept…
Bemanya’s contract renewed 9 months ahead of schedule
The contract of the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) registrar general Bemanya Twebaze has been renewed, nine months to the expiry of the current contract. In a letter to Bemanya dated June 27, 2019, Justice and Constitutional Affairs minister Kahinda Otafiire said he was acting on the recommendation by the…
Gen Muntu's party "surprised" by Mbarara police blockade
The leadership of Alliance for National Transformation (ANT) is "surprised" that police on Friday foiled their party meeting in Mbarara. Although blocking of opposition political parties is a normal practice, the ANT leadership says they were "surprised" by the police's actions because they followed the law to the latter by informing…
Inside Stella Nyanzi’s list of 19 witnesses
Dr Stella Nyanzi returns before the Buganda Road court Grade One, magistrate Gladys Kamasanyu tomorrow Tuesday to defend herself on charges of offensive communication and cyber harassment.The defense team led by Isaac Semakadde has lined up 19 witnesses including doctors, professors and religious leaders. Kamasanyu has summoned the witnesses to…
Wakiso farmers find 'magic manure' in rabbit urine
Farmers in Wakiso district have found 'magic manure' in the excretions of rabbits. The farmers say they use rabbit excretion especially urine as 'magic manure' to rejuvenate failing soil fertility, treat cassava mosaic disease, banana wilt and tomato blight disease as well in coffee plantations. John Kyeyune, the chairperson…