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Bitter Tata-government fights scuttle Sh3.6bn Magadi expansion

A bitter dispute between Tata Chemicals Magadi Ltd and the Kenyan government has put a Sh3.62 billion expansion of the soda ash plant in doubt, threatening an investment that aimed to more than triple annual production.

The project, announced in October 2024, was expected to raise soda ash output to one million tonnes from about 300,000 tonnes, while adding a 10-megawatt solar plant and upgrading processing, storage and railway infrastructure.

Construction was scheduled to start in the third quarter of 2025, with the expanded plant expected to be operational by mid-2027.

Instead, less than two years after the investment was announced, Tata is fighting a government shutdown of its mining operations, a Sh17.45 billion claim by Kajiado County and several regulatory and environmental disputes that now threaten its future in Kenya.

The confrontation has turned the planned expansion into a test of whether Kenya can demand greater local value from its mineral resources while retaining investors prepared to commit billions of shillings to long-term projects.

The Kenya Chamber of Mines said the dispute was being watched by investors and financiers in Kenya and abroad, making its resolution important for the country’s investment reputation.

‘The manner in which the Magadi matter is being handled and ultimately resolved is being closely watched by investors and financiers, both locally and globally,’ the chamber said.

The lobby said the case would become a reference point in assessing Kenya’s regulatory predictability and attractiveness as a destination for long-term investment.

Tata has maintained that it has complied with requirements raised by the Ministry of Mining and is awaiting the government’s response.

In a regulatory statement to investors on India’s National Stock Exchange and BSE Limited, Tata Chemicals said it submitted all required information, reports and documentation on August 11.

‘We wish to reiterate that on August 11, 2026, TCML submitted all the required information, reports and documentation, and TCML is fully compliant with the regulatory requirements,’ the company said.

Tata said it had provided a comprehensive response to the ministry’s concerns and was waiting for its review and further direction.

‘We respect the authority of the Government of Kenya and remain committed to constructive engagement through the appropriate legal and regulatory channels to resolve the outstanding matters,’ it said.

The statement came after President William Ruto publicly called for Tata to leave Kenya and said the government would bring in another company to develop the Magadi resource.

The President said the replacement investor would be required to establish glass and chemical manufacturing plants in Kajiado, raising the stakes beyond mining to industrialisation agenda.

Tata is fighting to protect its century-old operation, while the government wants Kenya to get more value from the resource.

Mining Cabinet Secretary Hassan Joho has argued that Kenya should no longer allow trona, the mineral from which soda ash is produced, to be extracted and exported without sufficient processing and local value addition.

The government has also raised concerns over local procurement, community integration and skills transfer, arguing that Tata should create stronger links with Kenyan businesses and transfer more high-level technical jobs to citizens.

Royalty reconciliations and alleged export underreporting have added to the dispute, while environmental concerns surrounding Lake Magadi have generated separate legal challenges.

On July 28, the Ministry of Mining suspended Tata’s extraction operations over compliance and licensing concerns, including what it considered an inadequate modern mineral beneficiation strategy.

Tata subsequently moved to the High Court seeking orders to halt the shutdown, arguing that the decision was causing massive financial losses.

The court declined to suspend the decision, noting that implementation had already begun and that the parties had agreed during a July 29 meeting that the suspension would remain in force.

The main compliance case is due for mention on October 6, leaving the company’s operating future uncertain as the government considers a replacement investor.

The regulatory fight is running alongside a separate land and royalty dispute with Kajiado County, which is demanding Sh17.45 billion from Tata for alleged arrears covering 2013 to 2018.

The claim relates to about 224,000 acres leased by Tata. The county argues that the company occupies extensive ancestral Maa land while using less than 15 percent of the area.

Tata has challenged the demands in courts.

An appellate court ruled in October 2025 that the county’s claims under its Finance Act were arbitrary and unconstitutional, but the dispute has since moved to the Supreme Court.

On June 19, 2026, the Supreme Court allowed the critical county motion, leaving Tata exposed to a potentially substantial liability.

The combination of the mining suspension, county claim and political pressure has now derailed Tata’s investment timetable which it made public late 2024.

The proposed project was designed not simply to increase soda ash output but to expand the infrastructure supporting the Magadi operation.

Tata planned a 10-megawatt solar plant to supply power to the expanded facility, alongside larger dredgers, new storage silos and additional grinding and screening equipment.

The company also planned bulk loading and bagging facilities and an upgrade of the railway linking Magadi with Mombasa to handle higher export volumes.

‘TCML will continue using rail for transport of their product to the Mombasa port. Due to the increased production, the rail system will be upgraded to accommodate the increased traffic flow,’ Tata said when announcing the project.

The expansion was also timed to take advantage of growing global demand for soda ash, which increased by 2.7 percent, equivalent to 1.8 million tonnes, in 2023.

China was the main driver of the growth, while demand from automotive, construction and solar glass industries was expected to support further consumption.

The planned larger Magadi operation targeted to increase export earnings, renewable energy investment and stronger industrial infrastructure around one of the country’s oldest mining operations.

That opportunity is now overshadowed by the fight over how the resource should be developed.

Kenya exported 254,779.6 tonnes of soda ash worth Sh7.36 billion in 2025, down from Sh11.88 billion in 2022, according to the latest Economic Survey.

The average value earned per tonne also fell to Sh28,908 last year from Sh47,550 in 2023, indicating lower prices and Kenya’s limited ability to capture more value from the mineral despite its long production history.

The government wants to reverse that trend by requiring an investor to move beyond mineral extraction into manufacturing.

Ruto’s proposed replacement operator would be expected to maintain soda ash production while establishing glass and chemical plants, potentially creating more jobs and retaining a larger share of the mineral’s value within Kenya.

But the government has yet to disclose the identity of a replacement investor or the value and timelines of the proposed manufacturing projects.

The Chamber of Mines supports the push for greater beneficiation, employment, skills development and stronger participation by Kenyan businesses.

It has, however, warned that these should be pursued within the Constitution, the law and predictable regulatory processes.

‘Greater beneficiation, regulatory compliance and the preservation of existing productive investment are not mutually exclusive objectives,’ the chamber said.

It said Kenya could secure greater value from its minerals while preserving and expanding productive investment, employment, industrial capacity and established markets.

The dispute raises a question beyond the future of Tata’s Magadi operation for potential investors, testing how established investments are treated when government priorities change and disputes over regulation, land and royalties remain unresolved.

The financial stakes are particularly significant in mining, where investors commit large amounts of capital upfront and depend on long operating periods to recover their investment.

Tata has also pointed to its contribution to surrounding communities, including a subsidised rail service between Magadi and Kajiado, student scholarships, healthcare services and water supplies to households in the arid area.

The Magadi operation dates back to 1911 and has passed through Brunner Mond and Imperial Chemical Industries of the UK before India’s chemical giant took over. Tata acquired the business in December 2005 and formally renamed it Tata Chemicals Magadi Limited the following year.

Lagos: Police arrest three suspected cultists, recover double-barrel gun

Operatives of the Zone 2 Police Command, Onikan, Lagos, have arrested three suspected cultists in the Ikorodu area of the state and recovered a locally fabricated, cut-to-size double-barrel pistol from them.

The command also said it had commenced efforts to apprehend other members of the alleged criminal network.

The Police Public Relations Officer of the command, DSP Afolayan Gbenga, confirmed the arrests in a statement issued over the weekend.

According to him, the operation was part of the command’s sustained efforts to curb cultism, violent crimes and other criminal activities across Lagos and Ogun.

He said the operation followed credible intelligence from a member of the public concerning the activities of suspected cultists allegedly terrorising residents of Ikorodu and its environs.

Afolayan said detectives attached to the Zonal Quick Intervention Squad commenced surveillance on the suspects before launching a coordinated operation on September 3, 2026.

He said the operation led to the arrest of one of the suspects, Michael Badejo, at Ifo, Ogun State, adding that his arrest subsequently facilitated the apprehension of two other suspects in Ikorodu, Lagos State.

The suspects were identified as Michael Badejo, aka Senior, 33; Fatai Oladipupo, aka Labalaba, 36; and Kamarudeen Salau, aka Otunba, 46.

One locally fabricated, double-barrel cut-to-size pistol was recovered during the operation.

According to the police spokesperson, preliminary investigations revealed that Badejo, who is based in Ogun State, allegedly served as a link between Oladipupo and Salau, who works as a security man in Ikorodu.

Investigators further established that Oladipupo, who was in possession of the firearm, contacted Badejo to arrange for its repair. Badejo subsequently introduced him to Salau for the purported repair.

Afolayan said Salau allegedly offered to buy the firearm from Oladipupo instead of repairing it.

During interrogation, Oladipupo, aka Labalaba, reportedly claimed that the pistol had been given to him by a friend who is currently at large.

He also reportedly confessed to being a member of the Eiye confraternity, alongside the other two suspects.

The police spokesperson said efforts were ongoing to arrest other members of the alleged criminal network, adding that the suspects in custody would be prosecuted after the conclusion of investigations.

The Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 2 Headquarters, AIG Olohundare Moshood Jimoh, commended the operatives for their diligence and the successful recovery of the firearm.

Jimoh stressed that removing illegal firearms from the hands of criminal elements remained critical to maintaining public safety.

He charged the operatives to sustain the momentum and intensify efforts to track down other members of the criminal network.

The AIG also reaffirmed the command’s commitment to protecting lives and property and ensuring that criminal elements have no safe haven in Lagos and Ogun states.

He urged members of the public to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious persons or activities to the nearest police station or through official complaint channels.

Putin aide: Russia shared ‘specific proposals’ on Ukraine conflict

Russia presented specific proposals on possible ways to resolve the Ukraine conflict during a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin’s aide Yuri Ushakov, US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Ushakov said.

According to Ushakov, the discussions covered not only the conflict in Ukraine but also a broader range of issues.

“The American representatives prepared thoroughly for this trip. They not only expressed their traditional interest in a quick cessation of hostilities but also formulated several ideas on possible pathways to resolution,” Ushakov clarified to the journalists present, in statements reported by the Russian agency Interfax.

At the same time, the Kremlin advisor pointed out that, in the closed-door meeting held in Moscow, the Russian delegation laid out its latest advances on the front and “emphasized the need to address the root causes of the conflict.”

“The Russian side offered clear and comprehensive assessments of the situation unfolding during the special military operation. Specifically, they highlighted the tangible advances of the Russian army in the combat zone, expressed their confidence in achieving their objectives, and, of course, emphasized the need to address all the root causes of the conflict,” he stated.

Furthermore, Ushakov stressed that the meeting went beyond discussions about peace in Ukraine and extended to other economic matters.

“The discussions that took place were not limited to an exchange of opinions on resolving the Ukrainian crisis. Economic issues and possible large-scale bilateral projects of mutual benefit were addressed in considerable detail,” the presidential advisor explained.

Finally, the Kremlin indicated that contacts between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his American counterpart, Donald Trump, will continue in the coming weeks.

“It has been confirmed that the presidents of our two countries will continue to maintain personal contacts and that collaboration with Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner will continue,” Ushakov concluded.

IDF chief: We are in tense, volatile period in all arenas

Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Chief of the General Staff Eyal Zamir stated on Sunday that the Israeli military is in a “tense and volatile period” across all warring arenas at the moment.

Zamir made the comment at the General Staff Forum, which assessed the situation on the ground, particularly Lebanon, where tensions with Hezbollah are rising again. “We are preparing for the upcoming holiday period. We continue to draw lessons, and as I defined, the basic state in which the entire IDF is in is readiness for a surprise attack,” he said, assessing an earlier surprise exercise of the troops.

How Tinubu’s planned absence from 81st UNGA may hurt Nigeria’s push for global partnerships

For Nigeria, the annual United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) is more than another item on the presidential calendar. It is one of the few occasions each year when the country’s president has a direct platform before world leaders, investors, diplomats and international institutions to sell Nigeria’s story, defend its interests and seek partnerships.

That is why the prospect of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu missing the 81st UNGA in New York has raised questions about what message Nigeria would send at a time when it is seeking stronger international support for security, investment and economic reforms.

In July, Jimoh Ibrahim, Nigeria’s permanent representative to the United Nations, told State House correspondents that Tinubu had confirmed he would attend the September gathering and address the world on his administration’s reform programme.

‘The President has generously agreed to attend the UNGA meeting of the United Nations,’ Ibrahim said. He added that the president had ‘a speech to give to the whole world about the reform success in Nigeria.’

Two months later, the picture has changed. Reports emerging in early September indicate that Tinubu may have shelved the trip, with Vice-President Kashim Shettima expected to lead Nigeria’s delegation. A source said intelligence about a planned anti-Tinubu protest in New York influenced the reported decision. The presidency, however, had not formally confirmed the cancellation at the time of reporting.

The development is significant because Shettima has represented Tinubu at the previous two editions. A third consecutive absence would therefore, be more than a scheduling matter. It could become a diplomatic and political signal.

The shadow of Chicago

Behind the reported protest is another, older story that has refused to disappear.

Tinubu’s opponents have revived the US legal case involving him from the early 1990s, with a lobbying firm working for Atiku Abubakar submitting historical Department of Justice records to members of the Trump administration and Congress.

The case involved the forfeiture of about $460,000 in assets connected to accounts linked to Tinubu. It was a civil asset-forfeiture matter, not a criminal prosecution, and Tinubu was not convicted of a crime in the United States.

But politically, the issue has acquired a new life. For opponents, the records provide material for challenging Tinubu’s credibility in Washington. For the Presidency, the matter is a settled, decades-old civil case being recycled for political purposes.

That battle is now spilling into the president’s international engagements.

If reports that the threat of protest contributed to Tinubu’s decision to stay away from New York are correct, it would mean a domestic political dispute has acquired an international dimension.

Nigeria needs the world

The timing could hardly be more delicate. Nigeria needs stronger international cooperation against terrorism and violent extremism. It needs foreign capital to support growth. It needs diplomatic backing for its economic reforms and greater confidence among international investors.

Washington is particularly important. Relations between Nigeria and the United States have warmed considerably after a difficult period last year.

In October 2025, US President Donald Trump redesignated Nigeria as a ‘Country of Particular Concern’ over alleged persecution of Christians and warned that Washington could take action. Nigeria rejected the characterisation, maintaining that insecurity affects Nigerians across religious lines.

Since then, both countries have moved towards greater security cooperation. A joint working group has been established, while intelligence sharing, military training and counterterrorism cooperation have expanded.

The United States has also conducted joint operations with Nigerian forces against terrorist targets in the Lake Chad region.

In July, Trump described Tinubu’s leadership as ‘decisive’ and said he was proud to have deployed US Special Operations Forces to equip Nigerian troops with skills, tools and intelligence.

That represented a striking shift from the rhetoric of the previous year. It is precisely why Nigeria’s physical presence in Washington and New York matters.

A president’s presence sends a message

UNGA is not simply about delivering a speech. For presidents, the week provides an opportunity for dozens of bilateral meetings with heads of government, development institutions, investors and international organisations.

For Nigeria, those meetings can translate into security partnerships, investment commitments, diplomatic support and opportunities to influence international policy.

An absent president can still achieve many of these objectives through a delegation led by the vice-president.

But there is a difference between representation and presidential presence.

At a time when Nigeria is trying to rebuild confidence in its economy and improve its global image, the absence of the country’s president from the world’s biggest annual diplomatic gathering could invite questions about priorities.

It could also hand opponents an easy narrative: that the president is avoiding an uncomfortable environment rather than confronting it. That perception may matter almost as much as the protest itself.

Soft power and the Trump factor

The administration has invested heavily in cultivating its relationship with the United States.

First Lady Remi Tinubu’s appearance at the 74th National Prayer Breakfast in Washington in February was one visible example.

Trump publicly recognised her during the event, while the Nigerian government used the broader engagement to reinforce its message about religious freedom, Nigeria’s Christian population and the country’s fight against terrorism.

The government’s reported $9 million engagement with Washington-based DCI Group has similarly been aimed at communicating Nigeria’s position to American policymakers and countering narratives about religious persecution.

The strategy appears to have produced some diplomatic dividends.

Trump’s July letter to Tinubu praised the president’s handling of security challenges and reaffirmed US support for Nigeria’s counterterrorism efforts.

Yet, the fact that evangelical leaders and some US lawmakers continue to pressure the Trump administration over Nigeria suggests that the battle for perception is far from over.

That makes UNGA potentially important. It would give Tinubu an opportunity to speak directly to the international community about Nigeria’s security challenges, economic reforms and the government’s position on religious violence.

Instead, if he stays away, the Nigerian delegation will have to carry that message without him.

The cost of absence

There is no evidence that missing UNGA would automatically damage Nigeria’s diplomatic standing.

Vice-presidents have represented presidents at international gatherings before, and Shettima is capable of leading a high-level delegation.

Nor should a president be expected to attend every international event regardless of security considerations.

But the circumstances make this particular absence different.

Nigeria is seeking foreign investment while trying to convince investors that its reforms are producing stability.

It is seeking international assistance against terrorism while its security challenges remain severe. It is fighting to improve its image after years of negative international coverage.

The danger, therefore, is not simply that Tinubu would miss a speech. It is that Nigeria could surrender a valuable platform at the precise moment when it needs to tell its own story.

For Tinubu, the decision is personal. For Nigeria, the consequences are diplomatic.

And as the country prepares for another fiercely contested election, the world will be watching not only what Nigeria says at the UN, but whether its president is there to say it.

2027: ‘Danladi Rekindles Kwara North, Youth Hopes In Kwara’

The emergence of 41-year-old Yakubu Salihu Danladi as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the 2027 Kwara State governorship election has rekindled the long standing aspiration of Kwara North to produce the state’s next governor, youth groups across the three senatorial districts have said.

They said Danladi’s candidacy also represented a significant step in the growing transition of younger politicians from mobilisation and legislative roles into executive leadership.

The position was contained in a joint statement by the Kwara North Integrity Youth Forum (KNIYF), Ilorin Emirate Dynamic Youths (IEDY) and Kwara South Young Professionals in Politics (KSYPIP), signed by their respective coordinators, Aliyu Likofu, Abdulwaheed Olamilekan and Owoduni Rasheed Adekunle.

The statement followed the publication of the particulars of governorship candidates by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), formally placing Danladi among the candidates for the February 6, 2027 election.

Speaking on the development, Likofu said Danladi’s candidacy had created an opportunity to advance Kwara North’s longstanding aspiration for the governorship.

‘Danladi’s candidacy has created an opportunity to change political history in the state, particularly with regard to Kwara North’s longstanding aspiration for the governorship,’ he said.

Likofu said Danladi, who was born in Gwanara, Baruten Local Government Area, had built a political career through student activism, youth mobilisation and legislative leadership before emerging as the APC standard bearer.

He said the Speaker’s political journey included student union leadership at Kaduna Polytechnic, followed by campaign coordination roles in 2011 and 2015 before his entry into elective politics.

‘His breakthrough came in 2019 when he won the Ilesha/Gwanara constituency seat and was elected Speaker at 34. He returned to the Assembly in 2023 and was again elected Speaker,’ Likofu said.

He said the progression was significant because Kwara North, comprising Baruten, Edu, Kaiama, Moro and Patigi local government areas, had not produced an elected governor since the return to democratic rule in 1999.

Olamilekan, for his part, said Danladi’s political trajectory was important to understanding the generational dimension of the 2027 contest, noting that his experience predated his emergence in the Assembly.

‘Danladi’s political journey predates his entry into the State House of Assembly,’ he said, citing his involvement in student leadership and subsequent participation in political mobilisation.

Olamilekan said the development also reflected the increasing movement of younger people from political participation into positions of responsibility.

‘The development also reflects how far youth participation in Kwara politics has progressed, with a new generation increasingly moving beyond political mobilisation into positions of responsibility and leadership,’ he said.

He said Danladi’s emergence on the APC ticket was a clear expression of that progression, adding that the 2027 governorship contest would provide a wider platform for the experience and energy of the younger generation to be brought to bear on the future of the state.

Olamilekan also linked the development to the youth inclusion policy of the AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq administration, which has seen younger people appointed into cabinet and other government positions.

He said Danladi’s candidacy was therefore coming against a broader political environment in which youth participation had become more visible in the state’s governance structure.

Adekunle said Danladi’s professional and legislative background had further strengthened his credentials, describing his progression from an engineer and political organiser to Speaker of the State House of Assembly as significant.

He said Danladi’s years in the legislature had given him experience in legislation, oversight and managing the relationship between the legislative and executive arms of government.

‘His emergence represents both continuity and change: continuity with the political order established in 2019 and change through the elevation of a younger generation into the race for executive power,’ Adekunle said.

He said the 2027 contest would also bring Danladi into competition with Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate Sulaiman Bolakole Kawu from Kwara Central and African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate Zakari Mohammed, who also hails from Kwara North.

Adekunle, however, said the presence of another candidate from Kwara North did not diminish the significance of Danladi’s candidacy, given his years of political mobilisation, constituency representation and legislative leadership.

He said the development meant that Kwara North’s longstanding aspiration for the governorship would feature prominently in the 2027 contest, with Danladi bringing substantial political and legislative experience into the race.

The groups said campaigns for the election would formally begin on September 9, providing the candidates with the opportunity to present their records, programmes and vision to voters.

They said the February 6, 2027 election would consequently be significant not only for the contest for the Government House but also for the continuing evolution of political leadership and youth participation in Kwara State.

ATHLETICS-DIAMOND LEAGUE-Clayton slams field to claim maiden 100m title

Tina Clayton captured the women’s 100m title at the Wanda Diamond League Final here on Saturday’s final day, storming to victory in 10.93 seconds at the King Baudouin Stadium.

The 22-year-old Jamaican got off to a great start and maintained her momentum to cruise to victory, stunning Great Britain’s European champion Amy Hunt (11.06) and Sha’Carri Richardson of the USA, who was third in 11.07 seconds, to claim her first Diamond League title.

After the race, an elated Clayton said she was satisfied with her performance.

‘I guess it´s kind of a perfect night, because winning the Diamond League Final is something special. ‘We all want to go home with the trophy and to be honest there were a lot of candidates for the title. Tonight I was the most determined athlete and that made the difference,’ Clayton said.

She became the fifth Jamaican woman to take the trophy, joining four-time champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, three-time champion Elaine Thompson-Herah, Shericka Jackson and Veronica Campbell-Brown.

Clayton was also the fourth Jamaican to win Diamond trophies at this year’s final after Rajindra Campbell threw a national record 23.08m to win the men’s shot put, Oblique Seville won the men’s 100m and Tajay Gayle the men’s long jump on Friday’s opening day.

Three other Jamaicans placed third in their respective events: Nickisha Pryce in the women’s 400m, Megan Simmonds in the women’s 100m hurdles and Jordan Scott in the men’s triple jump.

Pryce ran 49.36 seconds as Marileidy Paulino of the Dominican Republic set a meet record of 48.64 seconds to win her fourth Diamond trophy in five years and complete an unblemished Diamond League season. Henriette Jaeger of Norway was second with 49.20 seconds.

Simmonds ran a season’s best 12.43 seconds to finish behind world record holder Masai Russell in a meet record 12.20 seconds, with Devynne Charlton breaking her own Bahamian national record with 12.33 seconds to take second place.

Meanwhile, Scott jumped 17.18 metres to finish behind Italy’s Andy Diaz Hernandez, who had a meet record of 17.74m, with Pedro Pichardo of Portugal second with a leap of 17.51m.

16-year-old girl found dead days after returning home in Kiboga

Police in Kiboga District have opened investigations into the death of a 16-year-old girl whose body was found in a coffee plantation days after she returned home and told her mother that she had found a man and started living with him.

Phionah Namukisa, a resident of Wabitosi-Ndeeba LC1, Degeya Parish, Nkandwa Sub-county, was found dead on Friday in Kitete Village, Kajjere Parish, Kibiga Sub-county.

Police said the circumstances surrounding her death remain unclear and that investigators are examining events in the days preceding her death.

Namukisa had reportedly disappeared from her relatives’ home on August 28. Her mother, Jane Namaganda, reported the disappearance to the village chairperson and continued searching for her.

On September 2, Namukisa returned home and told her mother that she had found a man identified as Joram Sserugo and had started living with him in Kajjere.

According to police, the news angered some of her uncles, who insisted that she return home. Her mother sided with them and asked a 13-year-old girl to accompany Namukisa back to Sserugo’s home.

However, police said the teenager found another woman, identified as Resty Nantale, at the house.

When Namukisa asked about the woman, Sserugo reportedly told her that Nantale was his wife and had returned after learning that he had started living with another woman.

Police said Sserugo then left to look for alternative accommodation for Namukisa at a neighbour’s home as he attempted to resolve the dispute the following morning.

A confrontation reportedly followed between Namukisa and Nantale. Police allege that Nantale assaulted the teenager before Sserugo returned and separated the two.

Sserugo then reportedly arranged for Namukisa to spend the night at a neighbour’s home.

The following morning, September 3, Namukisa reportedly left the home of the neighbour, identified as Master Ibra.

Her body was discovered the following day in a coffee plantation belonging to Noah Lwanga.

Police said they found injuries on the body and are investigating whether they were connected to the circumstances of her death.

The body was first discovered by Jackson Kizito, who had gone to the plantation to collect herbs. He reportedly informed his mother, who then alerted the village chairperson.

The matter was subsequently reported to Kibiga Sub-county Police Station.

Police officers from Kibiga were reinforced by a team from Kiboga Central Police Station led by the District Police Commander, SP Julius Jingo, together with homicide investigators.

The scene was examined and documented before the body was taken to Kiboga Hospital for a postmortem examination.

Sserugo has since been arrested and is being held by police as investigations continue.

Police said investigators are working to establish what happened after Namukisa left the neighbour’s home and whether anyone else was involved in her death.

Police urge parents to guide children

Lameck Kigozi, the Wamala Regional Police spokesperson, urged parents to provide guidance to children even when they disagree with their decisions.

‘We appeal to parents to always guide their children rightly, even if the child has angered you or done something against the family values and norms. Emotionally induced decisions involving children usually result in horrible consequences,’ Kigozi said.

He also cautioned men against misleading young girls, saying relationships involving minors can expose them to dangerous situations.

‘Men should also desist from the habit of lying to young girls, to avoid the situation Sserugo has found himself in,’ he said.

Police have urged the public to allow investigators to establish the circumstances surrounding Namukisa’s death rather than relying on speculation.

The living care for ancestors, wandering spirits at Malaysia’s Hungry Ghost Festival

BUKIT MERTAJAM, Malaysia-It’s that time of year when the living make room for the dead. Malaysia’s Hungry Ghost Festival is held during the seventh month of the Chinese lunar calendar, which this year began in mid-August.

‘It is centered around the worship of Da Shi Ye, also known as the Guardian God of Ghosts, and has become one of the major traditional Chinese religious celebrations in Bukit Mertajam,’ said Lee Kim Fong, general affairs coordinator for the event.

The city is in Malaysia’s northern state of Penang, about 320 kilometers (200 miles) north of Kuala Lumpur.

‘It dates back to 1888, when there was a serious plague in Bukit Mertajam,’ Lee said. ‘After that, our ancestors began worshipping Da Shi Ye.’

For 15 days, devotees pray and make offerings before a towering paper-and-bamboo effigy of Da Shi Ye. The celebration culminates in the ceremonial burning of the effigy, symbolically sending the deity back to the spirit world.

Lee estimated that more than 10,000 people attended the burning ceremony this year, with crowds sometimes reaching 20,000.

‘The main purpose is to look after wandering spirits, especially spirits who have no one to worship or make offerings to them,’ Lee said. ‘Some may have died in accidents or may have no family members to pray for them.’

Similar celebrations are held in Hong Kong, Singapore and Taiwan. Devotees travel to Bukit Mertajam from across Malaysia as well as Singapore, Indonesia and Thailand.

A towering effigy stands at the center of the celebration

The Da Shi Ye effigy in Bukit Mertajam is traditionally made about five centimeters (two inches) taller each year. In 2026, it reached 8.9 meters (about 29 feet).

Ng Chi Wong, 69, has spent more than four decades crafting the figures. He said completing the towering effigy takes about a month and a half, with a team of seven or eight people working on it.

‘We have the measurements and a general idea of the structure, but there are no formal drawings,’ Ng said. ‘Most of the design and construction details are already in our minds.’

The artisans begin with the head, the part that requires the most work, before building the main frame and shaping the body. The outer layers are then added and painted.

Ng said that the process has undergone some small improvements over time. Yet the craft requires more than technical skill.

‘You also need to understand the tradition and the beliefs behind it,’ he said.

Lim Han Cong, a University of Malaya master’s graduate in Chinese studies, described the Hungry Ghost Festival as a counterpart to another traditional Chinese observance: Qingming, or Tomb-Sweeping Day, when families honor their ancestors at their graves.

While Qingming focuses primarily on one’s own ancestors, the Hungry Ghost Festival extends offerings to wandering spirits and the unclaimed dead.

‘This tradition reflects a synthesis of Buddhist, Taoist and Chinese folk religious beliefs,’ Lim said.

In Taoist ceremonies during the festival, priests recite sacred scriptures and perform rites to help the deceased find peace and salvation. Such practices are intended to provide comfort, nourishment and liberation to those who have no descendants to care for them.

‘At its core, the Ghost Festival expresses the belief that the living and the dead remain connected through enduring moral and emotional bonds,’ Lim said. ‘The living, therefore, have a responsibility to honor, support and help the deceased attain peace.’

An old tradition finds new roles in Malaysia

Offerings and rituals like those held in Bukit Mertajam eventually took on a broader community role. Starting in the 1970s, Malaysian Chinese celebrations incorporated charitable activities, such as auctions of blessed offerings and fundraising campaigns for schools.

‘As a result, the Ghost Festival in Malaysia has evolved beyond a festival devoted solely to honoring the dead,’ Lim said. ‘It has also become an important platform for strengthening community solidarity.’

That broader role is also evident in Bukit Mertajam. Money raised through fundraising efforts helps the organizing committee provide assistance to people with medical needs and support Chinese-language education.

Alongside that community work, organizers are looking for new ways to broaden access to the tradition. Participation is no longer limited to those who can make it to Bukit Mertajam.

‘We introduced online worship for devotees who are overseas or unable to return,’ Lee said. ‘So they can still take part in the prayers and make offerings.’

A professional team documented the celebration from August 14 through August 29. Organizers plan to upload the footage to Facebook so people around the world can see the Da Shi Ye festival in Penang.

‘This is a Chinese tradition that has been passed down for more than a hundred years,’ Lee said. ‘As descendants of the Chinese community, we have a responsibility to preserve it.’

Uber exit opens new chapter as Little joins Uganda’s crowded ride-hailing market

Uber on September 2 drew the curtains on its operations in Uganda and Nigeria, exiting the East African country after 12 years.

Lorraine Onduru, the company’s Head of Communications for East and West Africa, however, said the decision is limited to Uganda and Nigeria and will not affect its operations elsewhere on the continent, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa, ‘where it continues to see growth and long-term opportunities’.

Uber said it had taken the ‘difficult decision’ after ‘a thorough review’ and that its immediate priority was to support drivers, riders and local team members through the transition, with support services continuing for 21 days. Throughout the evening of September 2, its drivers and riders received notifications to that effect.

While Uber did not give specific reasons for leaving Uganda, a combination of factors, including an increasingly challenging market, a mass exit of drivers, operating costs and other pressures, allegedly made its operations untenable in Uganda, where it launched the country’s first major app-based ride-hailing service 12 years ago.

One of the former employees, who worked for Uber when it had just entered Uganda but declined to be named because he is now working for a competitor, said some of his colleagues took on the job as a part-time occupation while maintaining established employment elsewhere, to which they gave their unfettered loyalty.

‘I worked with Uber for the first two years and later retained it as a part-time until I eventually left,’ he said, warning that the transport business, including special hires, had become ‘erratic’ and faced an uncertain future.

Another former worker, who asked to be identified only as Peter, attributed Uber’s exit to the earlier closure of its physical offices.

‘They have spent three years without physical offices in Uganda; they first closed their office in Lugogo and we started doing everything virtually, and that applied to all clients and drivers,’ he said, fuelling speculation that the company could have meticulously planned its exit earlier.

He added that before announcing its closure, the company introduced ‘agent offices’ to facilitate physical interactions, although the effort was considered too little, too late, as most clients and drivers had already fully embraced virtual operations.

The conflict in the Middle East between Israel and Palestine pushed petrol prices past the Shs6,500 mark per litre, leaving many drivers unable to operate, while others uninstalled the app, which often charged less than what other drivers or riders charged for similar trips.

‘The only solution left was to uninstall the App; it wasn’t a must that one must drive Uber. Uninstalling the App would make clients shift allegiance to non-registered motorcycles,’ Peter said.

‘Drivers resorted to downloading the client App and sending out requests to whichever client was online before driving them to their desired destination using the unconventional way (without the App),’ he added.

Uber’s exit leaves SafeBoda, which had already established itself as a major player in Kampala’s motorcycle transport market but later joined the car-hailing market with SafeCar in 2022; and Taxify, which rebranded as Bolt in 2018 and expanded beyond car-hailing into boda boda and delivery services.

Other players include Faras, Yango and Tinka, among others.

Little joins market

Little, a technology-driven mobility and digital services platform, has joined the market with an aim to connect customers to services that make movement and everyday life simpler, while creating opportunities for driver-partners, businesses and service providers.

Casper Njoga, Country Manager, Little Uganda, said mobility was not simply about getting from one point to another, but about giving people the confidence to plan their day knowing they have access to transport they can depend on.

‘That is what we are building with Little, and are here to serve the market, understand what our customers need, and keep improving the experience,’ he said, adding that they believe when driver-partners have a positive experience, customers benefit too.

According to him, Little’s commitment extends beyond riders to its driver-partners, with the lowest commission rates in the market and instant access to earnings, creating a stronger ecosystem that supports the people behind every journey.

‘Ugandans deserve a mobility service they can count on every day,’ Mr Njoga said, adding: ‘That is the commitment we are making. Little is here, we are listening to our customers and driver-partners, and we are continuing to invest in making mobility better for Uganda.’