Alex Eala for Panasonic: Bringing excellence closer to home

At 21, Alex Eala is already making her mark on the global tennis stage. After reaching a career-high No.18 in the WTA rankings, the Filipino tennis star is now entering a new chapter as the newest ambassador for Panasonic Philippines.

Much of Eala’s growth as an athlete has come from the routines she keeps. Training, competing, recovering, and preparing for her next match have all become part of her daily habit, contributing to how she approaches her game.

This reflects Panasonic’s core belief: “Thoughtful Care, Mastered Through Time.” Built from over a century of Japanese craftsmanship, the brand continues to evolve alongside changing needs, finding better ways to support how people live.

Excellence is a shared pursuit for both Panasonic and Alex Eala. While Eala gains historic career momentum, she remains grounded in discipline, humility and commitment to growth. It aligns closely with Panasonic’s brand philosophy of translating its century-long legacy of true Japanese excellence into tangible experiences.

At its heart is the belief that excellence is never finished but always evolving. Reflecting on her recent Mubadala Citi DC Open victory, Eala shared, “I think each match I kept improving and kept learning things about myself.”

She also noted that, “It’s just really nice to see all the things that I have been working on off court or during training being implemented in matches.” A reminder that growth is an ongoing journey.

This growth is achieved with a community. Just as Eala is supported by her family, coaches and fans, Panasonic champions the power of a home designed around the needs of Filipino families. For nearly six decades in the Philippines, Panasonic has brought thoughtful care to generations of Filipino homes through authentic Japanese quality innovations designed to make everyday life easier, helping families spend less time on household tasks and more time enjoying meaningful moments together.

As Eala begins this new chapter with Panasonic, the two look forward to bringing this shared idea of excellence into more everyday stories and experiences, showing how the right support makes the biggest difference

SB19’s Justin recounts ‘disrespectful welcome’ by Filipino airport worker in LA

Singer Justin de Dios, better known as Justin of SB19, bared his recollection of the P-pop boy band encountering a “disrespectful” Filipino in Los Angeles.

The P-pop Kings recently uploaded on their YouTube channel a video documenting their experience flying to and performing at the 2026 Lollapalooza. They became the first homegrown Philippine act to do so.

Early in the nearly hour-long vlog, a disgruntled Justin began sharing an encounter the group with a Filipino worker had while waiting for their luggage at the Los Angeles International Airport.

The singer briefly talked about what had just occurred by gave a better explanation once SB19 had settled in its hotel, narrating the experience in his room.

While waiting for their luggage earlier, an older lady approached the members with her phone in hand. She had already taken a photo with Justin’s companion Stell and was hoping for more with her phone still out recording.

The group’s manager Leah Gonzales then asked the woman if photos can taken once everyone had settled their belongings, as Justin pointed out it was awkward being caught on video while just standing around.

The woman eventually took her photos with the other members, with Justin humorously sharing that she took a photo first of them on their own before a selfie with them.

After the lady left, an airport employee – whom Justin assumed worked in baggage – came up to them apparently overhearing what Gonzales had said.

The worker asked for Gonzales’ name before calling her “suplada,” which caught everyone by surprise.

“Maayos naman yung pagkakasabi ng manager namin, tapos hindi naman [si kuya] yung kausap, na-overheard lang,” Justin said, reiterating that the woman agreed to take more photos after Gonzales’ request to wait.

The singer said the employee was “super disrespectful” because he continued insinuating that Gonzales was snobby, then proceeded to show pictures he’d taken with other Filipino celebrities like Piolo Pascual and Gary Valenciano.

“Ang dami niya sinabi bigla like, ‘Di pa nga sikat, di pa nagpapa-picture. Pag nasa harap na ng kamera, kumakaway-kaway, pero mga suplado naman,’ ganun!'” Justin continued.

He also said the worker claimed it was “Filipino mentality” among other disrespectful comments with a raised voice, where even the initial woman was within earshot.

Justin was confused over why the individual was acting that way, sharing that he kept quiet and just listened for the employee’s point

The worker even said that there were “three chicks” waiting for SB19 to exit and proceeded to video call them, even facing the phone camera toward the members.

Justin lamented the experience as it had never occurred in the group’s past tours and it had to come from a fellow Filipino.

“Parang it’s very normal sa kanila, tapos kami pa yung mali,” the singer ended. “Grabe it’s… wow, the ‘welcome committee’ sa pag-land ng Los Angeles is… shout out to you kuya.”

The video continued with SB19 rehearsing, performing, and enjoying Lollapalooza, hopefully with the encounter now behind them.

DILG chief proposes new way for PNP to check on gun owners

Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla on Thursday said the police should now be allowed to inspect the homes of persons who had been issued firearms by the government, to check how they are keeping their guns away from unauthorized users.

Remulla’s proposal was the latest offshoot of two recent deadly school shootings-in Tacloban City and Zamboanga City-where the attackers were both minors who managed to get hold of loaded firearms licensed to members of their family.

During the House committee hearing on the budget of the Department of the Interior and Local Government, Remulla said his agency would propose amendments to gun regulations to make it legal for the police to check on the safekeeping of firearms in private homes.

‘What we are proposing is that the IRR (implementing rules and regulations) have to be amended,’ the Cabinet official said in response to questions from Akbayan Rep. Dadah Ismula.

‘The PNP (Philippine National Police) will be granted access to all homes of lawfully issued firearms to inspect their procedures in safekeeping,’ Remulla said.

He was referring to the IRR of the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act, or Republic Act No. 10591.

Still a privilege

According to the secretary, around 800,000 personnel in the uniformed services alone have been issued firearms.

They are responsible for keeping the guns secure at all times, he said.

‘This (proposal) might upset a few people because… it might be interpreted as an infringement of rights. However, we must remember that the privilege to own a gun is not enshrined in our Constitution,’ he explained.

Earlier this month, Remulla also urged Congress to repeal a 1997 law and reclassify the offense of illegal possession of firearms from being bailable to nonbailable.

Monsoon, cyclones leave P2.3-B agri damage

Agricultural damage due to the combined effects of the enhanced southwest monsoon and tropical cyclones Luis, Maymay (international name: Kujira), and Neneng (international name: Gaenari) has climbed to P2.32 billion, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said on Thursday.

The latest tally represented a 21.5-percent increase from the P1.91 billion in losses the DA reported on Monday.

The weather disturbances affected 69,615 farmers and fishers in eight regions, namely Cordillera, Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol and Western Visayas. About 60,896 metric tons of farm produce were damaged, covering 62,732 hectares of agricultural areas.

‘Further damage and losses are expected in affected regions as assessment and validation are ongoing,’ the DA said in its advisory. Rice accounted for 59.74 percent or P1.39 billion of the overall damage, with the majority of damaged crops in vegetative and reproductive stages. Losses in high-value crops amounted to P692.21 million, equivalent to 29.83 percent of the total.

Beyond Kano mass wedding

CULTURE has a way of shaping how societies understand responsibility. I grew up in Lagos in a family whose roots are in southeastern Nigeria. One phrase I heard repeatedly in Igbo whenever an adult man displayed a pattern of irresponsibility was, ‘Let’s find him a wife.’ Let that sink. The inherent assumption was striking! Marriage was presented not as the union of two prepared adults, but as the solution to a man’s unfinished maturity. It was as though responsibility could be outsourced to an unsuspecting woman. I do not share that view today, but I have often reflected on what it reveals about the expectations we have placed on women for generations. Too often, we have expected wives to complete the work that families, communities, and society never did. Elsewhere in Nigeria, the conversation takes a different form but raises equally important questions. The recent mass wedding programme in Kano has once again placed marriage at the centre of public policy. This time, however, the question is not whether a wife can reform a man. It is a question of whether the government should be financing weddings. At the same time, millions of Nigerians continue to struggle with the far more fundamental challenges of poverty, education, healthcare, unemployment, and economic opportunity.

Let me be clear. There is nothing wrong with marriage. Strong marriages build strong families, and strong families strengthen society. There is also nothing wrong with helping vulnerable citizens. The real question is whether a wedding ceremony is the most effective public investment the government can make in the lives of young couples. Public policy should be judged not by how memorable a ceremony is, but by whether it leaves citizens better off years after the applause has faded. Reports indicate that approximately ?1.5 billion was allocated to support 1,500 weddings. Broken down, that amounts to roughly ?1 million per couple. Every naira the government spends is also a decision not to spend it elsewhere. Economists call this opportunity cost. Public policy is therefore not only about what we choose to fund, but also about what we choose to leave unfunded. That number deserves reflection. Imagine placing ?1 million in front of a young couple and asking a simple question. Should it pay for one day? Or should it help build the next thirty years? The answer says everything about how we understand development. A wedding lasts a day. A marriage lasts a lifetime. Governments should certainly care about families. But governments strengthen families less by paying for ceremonies than by creating the conditions under which marriages can flourish. Decent jobs, affordable healthcare, quality education, safe communities, functional schools, access to credit, housing, reliable electricity, security, and opportunities for young couples to build stable lives together.

Weddings begin marriages. Institutions sustain them. The greatest investment the government could make is not in wedding ceremonies but in preparing young people for marriage itself. Financial literacy, conflict resolution, parenting education, reproductive health, vocational skills, and employment support are all investments that strengthen families long after the wedding celebration ends. A successful marriage depends on far more than a successful wedding. Nigeria remains home to one of the world’s largest populations of people living in multidimensional poverty. It also has one of the world’s largest populations of out-of-school children. Thousands of young people graduate each year into an economy unable to absorb their talents. Families struggle with inflation, rising food prices, inadequate healthcare, and uncertain livelihoods. Against that backdrop, governments must constantly ask themselves a difficult question. What public problem are we trying to solve? If the objective is poverty reduction, then the policy should reduce poverty. If the objective is youth empowerment, then policy should increase employability and entrepreneurship. If the objective is stronger families, then policy should strengthen the economic foundations upon which healthy families are built.

A government’s budget is more than a financial document. It is a moral document. It reveals what a government believes is urgent, what it values most, and what it is willing to postpone. Supporting marriage is a legitimate social goal. But supporting marriage is not the same as supporting married people. There is a difference. Helping a couple celebrate their wedding is one thing. Helping them survive their first five years of marriage is another. Which investment is more likely to reduce poverty? Which investment is more likely to improve child welfare? Which investment is more likely to create lasting economic stability? Those are the questions public policy should answer. There is another concern that deserves careful reflection. Images from the ceremony showed many of the groomsmen wearing clothing bearing a political party’s logo. Whatever the explanation, public welfare programmes should always avoid creating the perception that assistance is linked to partisan identity. Public resources belong to every citizen, irrespective of political affiliation.

Programmes funded with public money should strengthen confidence in government, not raise avoidable questions about political neutrality. This conversation is ultimately about something much bigger than a single programme in a single state. It is about the difference between relief and development. Relief responds to today’s problem. Development reduces tomorrow’s. Relief is important. Development is indispensable. No nation has ever escaped poverty by investing primarily in weddings/ceremonies. Countries transform themselves by organising themselves better and investing in people. By educating children. By creating jobs. By expanding opportunities. By supporting entrepreneurs. By strengthening healthcare. By building institutions. By preparing young people not merely for weddings, but for life. Imagine if every couple leaving that ceremony also received vocational training, business startup support, financial literacy education, health insurance, access to affordable housing, and ongoing mentorship for the first five years of marriage. Imagine if the celebration became the beginning of economic independence rather than a substitute for it. That would be a different conversation. That would be nation-building. The question, therefore, is not whether the government should support marriage. It should, the question is how. Because public policy should not simply produce beautiful wedding photographs. It should produce flourishing families.

One day, the decorations will come down. The music will stop. The guests will return home. The cameras will disappear. What will remain is the marriage itself. And that is where the real work begins. The government should be there too, not merely on the wedding day. But in the years that follow, we will create the conditions in which every family has the opportunity not merely to celebrate, but to thrive. Simply put, they should invest less in ceremonies and more in the conditions that make celebration sustainable. When history looks back on this moment, I hope it remembers not the number of government-funded weddings but the number of families it helped flourish. The true measure of public policy is not whether it creates memorable ceremonies, but whether it creates better lives.

FCCPC and the suspected cement price manipulators

WHY should a country endowed with abundant limestone, producing substantially more cement than it consumes and exporting some of that cement to other countries, have its citizens paying considerably more for the product than consumers elsewhere in Africa? That is the question the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has finally begun asking. It is a question Nigerians have asked for years.

Following a three-month cross-border investigation, the FCCPC says its preliminary findings suggest possible manipulation of cement prices in Nigeria. The commission compared Nigeria with Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, Egypt, Morocco, Algeria and Togo, examining limestone availability, population, production capacity, consumption and retail prices. The numbers are troubling. According to the FCCPC, Nigeria possesses installed cement production capacity of more than 60-65 million metric tonnes annually, against domestic consumption of approximately 25-30 million tonnes. In other words, installed capacity is more than twice the estimated domestic demand. Nigeria is also a net exporter of cement. Ordinarily, substantial excess capacity and competition among producers should exert downward pressure on prices. Instead, the opposite has been happening. The FCCPC says a 50kg bag selling for between ?9,300 and ?9,700 in January 2026 had risen to ?10,500-?13,000 by mid-year and ?13,000-?15,000 in some locations by July. Meanwhile, the commission found the equivalent price to be about ?7,344 in Kenya, ?6,528 in Tanzania and ?9,180 in Togo. Remarkably, Togo does not even have limestone deposits.

Something requires explanation. The FCCPC is therefore right to investigate whether these prices result entirely from legitimate production costs or whether coordinated behaviour, abuse of market power, restriction of domestic supply or anti-competitive distribution practices are involved. Three major producers reportedly control more than 90 percent of Nigeria’s installed cement production capacity. Such concentration makes vigorous regulation indispensable. Alhaji Aliko Dangote offered an explanation. In December 2025, he argued that cement exported from Nigeria could be sold more cheaply because exports escaped taxes and levies borne by domestic business. He listed company income tax, education and health levies, VAT and withholding tax, arguing that removing these burdens enables Nigerian cement to compete with producers from Turkey, Russia and China. His argument should not be dismissed. Nigeria unquestionably imposes substantial fiscal, energy, infrastructure and regulatory costs on manufacturers. Producers have also identified expensive energy, naira depreciation, imported machinery and spare parts, transportation and logistics as important contributors to cement prices.

But Dangote’s explanation also raises further questions. Company income tax is imposed on profits, rather than being a 30 percent tax added directly to the retail price of every bag. Withholding tax is principally a mechanism for collecting tax rather than necessarily an additional 10 percent production cost. More importantly, Nigeria’s tax regime changed from January 2026 under the Nigeria Tax Act 2025, including consolidation of several previous levies into a Development Levy. The FCCPC should therefore establish precisely how much taxation currently contributes to the factory-gate cost of one 50kg bag. Let the figures speak.

There is another figure the commission should examine. Dangote Cement reported that its Nigerian operations achieved an EBITDA margin of approximately 61 percent in the first quarter of 2026, compared with 56.7 percent a year earlier. Nigerian cement and clinker exports simultaneously increased substantially. High profitability is not illegal. Businesses exist to make profits. But when consumers are told that extraordinary prices principally reflect extraordinary costs, strong margins make examination of the relationship between costs, prices and profits legitimate. The FCCPC must go beyond announcing suspicions. It should determine the ex-factory price of cement, manufacturers’ production costs and margins, distributor and retailer margins, capacity utilisation, domestic dispatch volumes, export volumes, transportation costs and the actual tax burden embedded in domestic cement prices. One producer reportedly declined to make its records available during the preliminary exercise. The commission should tell Nigerians who it was and use its lawful powers to obtain the information required.

The government itself cannot escape scrutiny. If Dangote and other manufacturers can demonstrate that Nigeria’s tax structure, energy costs, import duties, roads and regulatory charges make cement unnecessarily expensive domestically, the government must remove those distortions. It makes little sense to promote local manufacturing only to construct a fiscal and infrastructural system that makes locally manufactured goods cheaper for foreigners than for Nigerians. But manufacturers cannot have it both ways either. Government policy has protected and nurtured domestic cement production for years. Nigeria pursued backward integration and restricted imports partly to build domestic manufacturing capacity. Having achieved self-sufficiency and become an exporter, Nigerians are entitled to expect some consumer dividend from that industrial policy.

Indeed, in February 2024, after another extraordinary price increase, the Federal Government and the three major manufacturers-Dangote Cement, BUA Cement and Lafarge Africa-agreed that cement should sell for roughly ?7,000-?8,000 per 50kg bag depending on location. Two years later, Nigerians are seeing prices approaching twice the lower end of that range in some places. Cement is not a luxury product. It sits at the foundation of housing, roads, schools, hospitals, factories and virtually every major construction project. Every unjustified increase eventually appears in rents, house prices, infrastructure costs and government contracts. In a country struggling with an enormous housing deficit, unaffordable cement becomes an economic and social problem.

We commend the FCCPC for conducting a comparative African study rather than accepting explanations from manufacturers at face value. This is what an economic regulator should do. But Nigerians have seen regulatory investigations announced with fanfare before disappearing quietly. The forces and interests involved in the cement industry are formidable. That is precisely why the FCCPC must demonstrate that the Nigerian state is more formidable. Let it establish the facts, publish its findings, identify wrongdoing where the evidence establishes it, punish anti-competitive conduct where proven, and recommend government reforms where government itself is responsible.

Nigeria has the limestone, the factories and surplus capacity. Why should Nigerians pay more for Nigerian cement than the countries it exports it to?

Police to NURTW, RTEAN: end thuggery ahead of elections

The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, Fatai Tijani, has charged leaders of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) to rid their ranks of thugs ahead of the next general election.

Tijani gave the charge yesterday at the Police-Youth Dialogue held to commemorate International Youth Day, at POWA Hall, Ikeja.

The Command also launched its branch of the National Campaign Against Political and Digital Thuggery, themed ‘Different Contexts, Same Aspirations.’

He said the transport unions must not allow their motor parks to be used as recruitment centres for political thugs, warning that the conduct of a few members had continued to taint the image of the larger union.

‘There is a perception in some quarters that transport unions are synonymous with violence, intimidation and thuggery,’ he said, urging union leadership to ‘police your own space’ and partner with the police to change the narrative.

The commissioner said the campaign, championed nationally by the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Olatunji Disu, was designed to engage young Nigerians directly as the country approaches another election cycle. He warned against ballot snatching, voter intimidation and disruption of electoral processes.

He cautioned youths against being recruited as online attackers, saying persons who induced them to spread falsehood or attack political opponents often abandoned them once consequences followed.

‘Please, do not allow anyone to use your future to settle their present disagreement,’ he said, adding that political participation must not degenerate into violence.

Tijani further appealed to the media to verify information before publication and avoid sensational headlines capable of inflaming tension, saying journalism must inform ‘without inciting.’

He assured that the Lagos Police Command would provide a safe environment for lawful political activities but would act decisively against anyone who resorted to violence or intimidation, including digital thuggery.

The event, according to the Commissioner, was part of efforts to build trust between the police and youths.

In their goodwill messages, representatives of the Nigerian Army, Navy and Air Force, urged young people to be active players in the protection of national security, noting that any act of criminality they engage in, enable or cover jeopardised overall national security.

They urged the youths to get involved in positive activities that contribute to nation building, reminding them of the dangers of having a criminal record.

Group advises politicians to embrace peace, others

A Group, the Initiative for Peace, Forgiveness and Love for One Another (IPFLOA), has called on politicians, political parties and their supporters to embrace peace, forgiveness and mutual respect in their activities.

Co-founder of the organisation, Bright Atoe, gave the advice while reflecting on the just-concluded Osun State governorship election, saying the outcome provides Nigeria with an opportunity to rethink the nature of political competition and legacy being created for future generations.

Atoe said elections are contests that would produce winners and losers, stressing that political differences should never lead to hatred, violence or the destruction of relationships.

According to him, the Osun election should mark the beginning of reconciliation and renewed efforts to build the state, rather than a continuation of political animosity.

‘An election lasts a day. A society must live with itself for generations,’ he said.

He urged Nigerians to see politics as a contest of ideas, leadership visions and programmes rather than a battle between enemies.

Atoe noted that Nigerians belonged to families, communities, professional associations and social networks that often transcended political affiliations, stressing that political differences should not destroy such relationships.

‘We can disagree passionately and still respect one another. We can compete fiercely and still shake hands afterwards. We can support different candidates and still remain neighbours,’ he said.

He explained that the philosophy behind IPFLOA’s campaign, ‘Let Peace and Love Guide the Ballot,’ was not aimed at weakening political competition but at encouraging Nigerians to combine vibrant democratic engagement with respect for human dignity.

According to him, Nigeria needs strong political opposition, accountability and citizens who are willing to ask difficult questions, but must also recognise that political opponents remain fellow Nigerians.

Atoe urged electoral winners to see victory as a responsibility to serve citizens, including those who did not vote for them.

He said political victories should provide opportunities for reconciliation and bridge-building across political, ethnic, religious and social divides, rather than become instruments of retaliation.

Acknowledging that losing an election could be painful for candidates who had invested resources, time and relationships in the contest, he urged defeated candidates to pursue legitimate grievances through democratic and legal channels.

He called on politicians to ‘win with humility and lose with dignity,’ describing such conduct as a demonstration of strength and democratic maturity.

Atoe expressed particular concern about the impact of political behaviour on young Nigerians, warning that youths were watching and learning from the conduct of political leaders and their supporters.

‘If they see politicians disagreeing respectfully, resolving differences peacefully and putting the interests of their communities above personal animosity, they learn that politics can be a noble calling,’ he said.

He warned that violence, intimidation, hatred and destruction of relationships could create a dangerous impression among young people that such behaviour was an inevitable part of politics.

‘Our young people should be participants in democracy, not casualties of it,’ he said.

Atoe maintained that Nigeria did not need less politics but ‘better politics’ where political ambition was matched by responsibility, competition by respect, victory by humility and disagreement by tolerance.

He said the responsibility for creating such a political culture rested not only with politicians but also with voters, party supporters, traditional rulers, religious leaders, the media and civil society organisations.

‘Every one of us contributes to the political culture we eventually inherit,’ he said.

Atoe urged Nigerians to allow the peace that should follow the Osun election to outlive the political contest, stressing that political offices were temporary while the relationships that bind communities and the nation together should endure.

He therefore called on Nigerians to ‘compete without hatred, disagree without division, win without arrogance, lose without bitterness and forgive where necessary.’

‘Let peace and love guide the ballot in Nigerian politics,’ he added.

NCC to bridge digital gap for PWDs

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has called on young innovators to develop homegrown technology targeted at bridging digital gap for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) from accessing digital services.

The Commission made the call at the fourth edition of the NCC Hackathon Live Show 2026, held in Abuja on Wednesday, which had the theme, ‘Technology Without Barriers: Innovative Solutions for Persons with Disabilities.’

The two-day event brought together 20 contestants to develop practical and scalable digital solutions aimed at improving accessibility for PWDs and other underserved groups.

The Executive Commissioner, Stakeholder Management, Rimini Makama, said the hackathon was more than a technology competition, describing it as part of the Commission’s effort to build a digital society in which technology serves everyone.

Represented at the event by the Director, Zonal Operations, Usman Malah, Makama said the initiative was designed to promote indigenous technological development while ensuring that digital transformation remained inclusive and accessible.

According to her, the true measure of technological advancement should not be limited to sophistication but also to its ability to improve lives, create opportunities and enable all Nigerians to participate meaningfully in the digital economy.

The Commission identified access to communication services, education, healthcare, financial services, employment and government platforms among the areas where PWDs and underserved communities continue to face barriers.

Makama urged participants to focus on solutions that are affordable, easy to use and scalable, rather than simply developing sophisticated products.

‘Do not simply focus on developing impressive technologies. Focus on creating solutions that are simple to use, affordable to deploy, scalable across communities, and capable of improving the quality of life of millions of Nigerians,’ she said.

In her remarks, the Director, Digital Economy Department, NCC, Helen Obi, said the Commission was particularly interested in solutions that could function in low-bandwidth and offline environments.

Obi explained that the objective was to ensure that access to digital services would not depend entirely on the availability of strong internet connectivity or the possession of sophisticated devices.

She said the innovations being developed by the contestants included artificial intelligence-powered speech-to-text tools, real-time sign language translation, voice-based complaint systems, accessible customer-care platforms and USSD services designed to work on basic mobile phones.

Other areas of focus, she said, included image-to-voice navigation, environmental description tools and inclusive employment platforms designed to connect PWDs with job opportunities and targeted hiring programmes.

The fourth edition of the hackathon was restricted to innovators resident in the Federal Capital Territory, with participants drawn from software development, design, research, academia and entrepreneurship.

Obi said the eligible participants were young innovators between 18 and 35 years, including software developers, designers, researchers, students, entrepreneurs and PWDs.

High Court judge sued over alleged irregular estate administration

A High Court judge has been sued before the High Court Family Division in Kampala over alleged irregularities in the processing and administration of the estates of two deceased family members.

The suit has been filed by Bunny Wallia and Ahluwalia Jaspal against the Administrator General of Uganda, High Court Judge Deepa Verma and Jassa Wallia.

According to the plaint filed in the High Court, the plaintiffs claim to have a legitimate interest in the estates of the late Zura Mama Kasuku and the late Ahluwalia Gudo and are challenging the circumstances under which Certificates of No Objection were issued to Verma and Jassa Wallia.

The plaintiffs allege that on June 12, 2026, the two defendants participated in the opening and processing of files relating to the two estates at the Office of the Administrator General.

They claim that on the same day, a purported family meeting was conducted concerning the estates but was attended by only four people.

The plaintiffs contend that they were neither invited to nor notified about the meeting, alongside other family members and people they say have legitimate interests in the estates.

According to the plaint, the purported family meeting was not representative of the wider family and beneficiaries and therefore could not fairly determine who was entitled to administer the estates without considering the interests of other beneficiaries.

Three days later, on June 15, 2026, the Administrator General allegedly issued Certificates of No Objection in favour of Verma and Jassa Wallia for the two estates.

The plaintiffs argue that the speed with which the certificates were issued raises questions about whether all relevant information and interests were properly considered.

They want the court to scrutinise, among other things, whether all known family members and beneficiaries were identified, whether the plaintiffs were notified of the family meeting, whether the meeting was properly convened and whether all relevant information concerning the beneficiaries and estate property was disclosed.

The plaintiffs have also raised concerns over Justice Verma’s status as a serving judicial officer, saying her involvement in seeking administration of the family estates raises questions about transparency, propriety, disclosure and the appearance of a conflict of interest.

They, however, state that the suit is not intended to interfere with judicial independence or prejudge any matter pending before another judicial officer.

The plaintiffs want the court to establish whether Verma’s judicial status was disclosed during the processing of the estates and whether any official position, influence or prestige was used, directly or indirectly, to obtain the Certificates of No Objection.

They also allege that they only became aware of subsequent administration proceedings after notices concerning the estates were published in the New Vision newspaper on July 10, 2026.

The two defendants subsequently commenced Administration Causes 599 and 600 of 2026 concerning the estates of Gudo and Kasuku respectively.

The plaintiffs fear that the estates could be administered without the participation of lawful beneficiaries and that property not belonging to the deceased persons could be treated as estate property.

They are asking the court to set aside or quash the Certificates of No Objection, preserve the estates and order a fresh process for identifying beneficiaries and persons entitled to administer them.

They also seek an injunction restraining the defendants from selling, transferring, charging, disposing of or otherwise dealing with property forming part of the estates pending lawful administration.

The plaintiffs are further seeking general, aggravated and exemplary damages, interest and costs of the suit.

The value of the subject matter has been stated in the plaint as exceeding Shs210 million.

The summons, issued on August 21, 2026, requires the defendants to file their defence within 15 days of being served.

The summons warns that failure to file a defence may result in the plaintiffs proceeding with the suit and judgment being entered in their absence.