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Most of Fuzuli has been cleared of landmines, Presidential Representative says

Most of Fuzuli district has been cleared of landmines, Emin Huseynov, the Azerbaijani president’s special representative for the Aghdam, Fuzuli and Khojavend districts, has said.

Huseynov made the remarks during a panel session titled ‘Culture at the Centre: Trusted Pathways to a Shared Future with SECURE’ held as part of the 7th World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue in Baku on Tuesday.

He described Fuzuli as the gateway to Karabakh and a key infrastructure and transportation hub for the entire region.

Huseynov also highlighted efforts to preserve historical heritage in Azerbaijan’s liberated territories while implementing new urban development principles.

‘Important steps are being taken to preserve historical heritage and pass it on to future generations, in line with the new urban development principles being implemented in the liberated territories.

‘Some ruins in the historic city centres will be preserved in their existing condition as part of open-air memorial complexes. This approach is being applied in Aghdam and Fuzuli, as well as in other major liberated cities,’ he said.

The 7th World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue is taking place in Baku from October 27 to 29 under the theme ‘Dialogue for a Shared Future: Building Bridges in a Divided World.’

The forum is a major international event within the Baku Process, launched in 2008 at the initiative of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. First held in 2011, it brings together countries, international organisations, experts and civil society representatives to promote intercultural dialogue and cooperation.

The programme features discussions on peace and security, intercultural and interfaith dialogue, the role of young people, artificial intelligence, the creative economy, media, cultural heritage and tourism.

DNA tests expose 24 more Chinese children with fake Thai fathers

DNA tests have identified 24 more Chinese-born children whose Thai birth certificates wrongfully list unrelated Thai men as their fathers.

They include infants, university students and working adults.

Police also announced they had obtained 46 more arrest warrants in connection with the scandal, and those named included government officials and hospital personnel.

The investigation identified the 24 children whose Thai birth registrations were being examined, Pol Lt Gen Noppasin Poolsawat, commissioner of the Immigration Bureau, said on Tuesday.

Eight hospitals were involved in those cases.

DNA samples from all 24 children were compared with those of the Thai men listed as their fathers on their birth certificates, their mothers and the men believed to actually be their biological fathers.

The results showed that none of the Thai men were biologically related to the children, Pol Lt Gen Noppasin said.

A total of 46 arrest warrants had been approved for government officials, hospital staff, foreign mothers, Thai men acting as nominee fathers, the children’s biological foreign fathers, and others allegedly involved in the improper use of civil registration procedures.

– Three cases highlighted –

Pol Lt Gen Noppasin detailed three cases uncovered by the crackdown, vowing to identify recruiters, brokers, certifiers, government officials and the ultimate beneficiaries of the scheme.

One case involved 27-year-old Thaweesak, whose birth certificate listed Wanchai as his Thai father and Wunlee, a Chinese national, as his mother.

DNA tests revealed that his biological father was Chen Tonggen.

Pol Lt Gen Noppasin said the fraudulent registration had enabled Thaweesak to obtain Thai citizenship and graduate with a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering from King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi. He worked for an electrical cable company in Samut Prakan, earning about 30,000 baht a month.

Thaweesak and his Chinese parents were arrested at their family residence in Bangkok’s Bang Khun Thian district.

Wanchai, the man listed as his Thai father, said he had been approached 27 years ago to register a marriage with Wunlee for business purposes and received 5,000 baht in return.

Another involved 23-year-old twins, Sutthipat and Sutthinai, whose birth certificates listed Komon as their Thai father and Hansamon as their Chinese mother.

DNA tests showed that Komon was not their biological father.

Investigators found that Sutthipat was a fifth-year medical student at a leading Thai university. He was arrested while undertaking clinical training at a hospital in Si Racha district in Chon Buri.

His brother, Sutthinai, graduated from Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and works as a programmer, earning 50,000 baht a month. He was arrested at a condominium in the Krung Thon Buri area.

Komon is serving a prison sentence for drug-related offences and is scheduled for release on Aug 27, 2037, Pol Lt Gen Noppasin said.

Their Chinese mother, Hansamon, formerly known as Su Jian, was arrested under the National Identity Card Act for certifying identity card applications for both sons.

Police were also investigating how Hansamon obtained Thai citizenship through marriage to a Thai national before divorcing him after receiving citizenship, Pol Lt Gen Noppasin said.

The third case involved two boys, aged three and seven, who share the same mother, Yanfang, but have different men listed as their fathers on their birth certificates.

The elder boy’s certificate named Somkiat as his Thai father, but DNA tests identified Zhang Renqi as his biological father.

Somkiat, a motorcycle taxi driver, admitted receiving 5,000 baht to register as the boy’s father, Pol Lt Gen Noppasin said.

The younger boy’s birth certificate listed Yingbao, who owns a machine manufacturing business and nine other companies, as his father, police said.

Zhang Renqi was arrested while staying with the two children at a residence in Samut Prakan registered as the address of Mingyang International Co Ltd.

The Chinese mother was listed as a shareholder in the company, and authorities were investigating its suspected nominee structure, Pol Lt Gen Noppasin said.

He said all 24 children would undergo legal reviews to verify and correct their civil registration records. If authorities determine that Thai citizenship was obtained unlawfully, the relevant documents and legal status could be revoked in accordance with the law.

Authorities said any action would take the children’s rights and best interests into account.

The crackdown has entered its third phase. The first phase involved three children and six people accused of helping Chinese families obtain Thai citizenship. The second uncovered 22 more children and led to the arrest of 36 suspects.

New FG programme targets dangerous gas cylinders in Nigerian homes

Nigeria has launched a new programme aimed at improving the safety of cooking gas cylinders and making it easier for consumers to access properly maintained cylinders.

The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), in partnership with government agencies and industry stakeholders, launched the National Cylinder Recirculation Programme (NCRP) to strengthen safety standards in the liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) sector.

The programme, which involves the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), the National Council on Climate Change (NCCC) and other industry groups, is designed to improve cylinder safety, digital tracking and access to cleaner cooking energy.

It will introduce a system for registering, inspecting, testing and tracking gas cylinders throughout their lifespan. The initiative is expected to address safety risks caused by expired, damaged, uncertified and poorly maintained cylinders.

Beyond improving public safety, the programme is expected to support the Federal Government’s Decade of Gas initiative, encourage local manufacturing, attract private investment and create jobs across the gas industry.

Speaking on the initiative, SON Director-General and Chief Executive Officer, Dr Ifeanyi Chukwunonso Okeke, said safe cooking gas use required more than access to gas.

He stressed the importance of quality standards, proper handling and effective tracking of cylinders.

Okeke said the NCRP would bring quality control and digital tracking together to protect lives and property while building public confidence in cooking gas as a cleaner energy source.

A major part of the programme is the National Cylinder Registry, which will give each cylinder a unique digital identity.

The system will allow authorities and industry operators to track registration, inspection, requalification, filling, distribution and exchange.

Under the programme, existing cylinders will be taken to authorised requalification facilities for safety checks. Cylinders that meet the required standards will be approved for continued use, while those that fail the checks will be withheld for repairs or proper disposal.

Consumers will also be able to exchange their existing cylinders through approved retailers. The collected cylinders will then be inspected and requalified where possible. The process is expected to gradually remove unsafe cylinders from circulation and make access to compliant cylinders easier.

Dr Bekeme Olowola, Lead Programme Director of the NCRP Secretariat and Managing Director of FuelTree, said the initiative went beyond placing digital codes on gas cylinders.

She explained that the programme would connect regulators, manufacturers, marketers, retailers and requalification facilities through a common digital system.

According to her, this would improve safety, encourage investment, create jobs and help Nigeria attract international climate funding.

Olowola added that the programme could support the expansion of domestic cooking gas use while making it easier to measure and verify its environmental benefits.

The NCRP is also expected to support Nigeria’s climate commitments by encouraging households to move away from traditional cooking fuels such as firewood, charcoal and kerosene.

Greater use of LPG could reduce exposure to harmful smoke in homes, ease pressure on forest resources and reduce some emissions associated with traditional cooking methods.

The programme’s digital system could also help Nigeria generate carbon credits, subject to approved methodologies, independent verification and regulatory approval. Revenue from such credits could help make gas cylinders more affordable, particularly for low-income households, and encourage wider adoption of cleaner cooking options.

The initiative is engaging gas marketers, cylinder manufacturers, retailers, filling plants, requalification facilities, technology providers and distribution companies to establish a nationwide cylinder exchange system.

Better Gas is among the companies participating in the programme. The company operates a cylinder exchange model and micro-distribution network designed to improve access to cooking gas.

Bolaji Orofinlu, General Manager of Better Gas, said reliable supply systems and strong retail partnerships were essential to reaching consumers. He added that the programme could support cylinder requalification and increase the availability of safe cylinders in the market.

The Nigerian Association of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Marketers (NALPGAM) has also stressed the need to remove old and unsafe cylinders from circulation.

Its Executive Secretary, Bassey Essien, said some cylinders in use had exceeded their expected lifespan. He cited a 60-year-old cylinder kept at the association’s secretariat as an example of the need to withdraw obsolete cylinders from the market.

The programme is based on the SON Act No. 14 of 2015 and relevant government directives on cylinder safety, quality control and tracking. It also supports policies of the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources, the Federal Ministry of Environment, NMDPRA, NCCC and the Decade of Gas Secretariat.

Following a press conference in Lagos, the programme will begin onboarding stakeholders, integrating its digital registry and introducing the system in phases across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.

The national unveiling is scheduled for October 28 and 29, 2026, in Abuja, alongside the Nigeria Clean Cooking Forum 2026. The event is expected to bring together policymakers, industry operators and potential implementation partners.

The programme will also be presented at the 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31) in Antalya, Trkiye, at the Nigerian Pavilion of the National Council on Climate Change.

The presentation is expected to showcase Nigeria’s approach to improving cylinder safety through digital technology, expanding access to clean cooking and attracting international climate finance.

Through the NCRP, the government hopes to strengthen gas safety, encourage private-sector investment, support local businesses and make cleaner cooking energy more accessible to Nigerians.

Goodbye Plastics and welcome Garbage management

AFTER the flooding problems everywhere, I could just encourage affected people with this: Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass; it’s about learning to dance in the rain. I am aware that those affected cannot laugh about this recommendation.

While it is good to see that quite a number of companies have responded to the call for sustainability in terms of changing their business model to address natural resource consumption, raw material selection, product packaging design, we certainly want more companies and organization to join the sustainability movement and help the country win the war against plastics.

Today I would like to highlight companies and organizations that have recently taken the plastic issue seriously, and site recommendations to address the garbage issue:

The BSP takes out the trash the green way. The BSP is promoting proper waste segregation and educating employees on recycling practices.

The DOST called for prioritizing national efforts and initiatives on research and development of seaweed-derived bioplastics, that can be broken down into harmless materials through natural processes. Seaweed farming needs to be extended to sustain seaweed supplies.

The DepEd will teach solid waste management in schools.

Environmental groups have called on government to focus on waste-to-energy and avoid the unchecked flood of single-used plastics-sachets, Styrofoam and plastic bags. The government must also fully implement the country’s solid waste management laws.

The National Police (PNP) offered its assistance (after the garbage flooding in Paranaque) to local governments (LGU) enforcing their respective ordinances on waste disposal, including the provision of trash bins for biodegradable and non-biodegradable garbage.

The DENR has ordered 155 companies to explain the failure to recover and recycle plastics.

Without action from the LGUs, this waste disposal problem will become even more unmanageable. Per the DENR, at least 48 percent of the 65,000 tons of waste generated daily nationwide ends up in waterways, bodies of water, and streets.

The future of sustainability-as can be seen by the above examples-is not driven by regulation alone. It may not be driven by activism, investor pressure, or corporate commitments alone. The real catalyst may be something much simpler. Sustainability gains momentum when companies discover that doing the right thing also happens to be good for business. In contrast, if companies do not focus on sustainability, they will fall behind! I look forward to seeing more organizations following those as listed above.

In conclusion, here are some prohibited acts to address the garbage issues:

Littering, throwing waste matters in public places such as roads, sidewalks, canals, esteros or parks.

Unsanitary collecting and trucking, open burning of solid waste, causing or permitting the collection of non-segregated or unsorted wastes.

Squatting in open dumps and land-fills. Open dumping, burying of biodegradable or nonbiodegradable materials in flood-prone areas.

Importing toxic wastes misrepresented as ‘recyclable’.

As I said in a previous column: make sustainability a purpose of business and society. And politics, please create and implement attractive policies that will strengthen these initiatives.

And let’s learn how to dance in the rain.

Let me have your reactions; contact me at hjschumacher59@gmail.com

Peso sinks past 64-level vs dollar, hits fresh low

The Philippine peso on Tuesday, October 27, breached a fresh trading low of P64 against the dollar, the lowest peso value in history thus far.

According to data from the Bankers Association of the Philippines, the peso opened today at P63.93, just two centavos below Monday, October 26’s, closing rate of P63.95.

Monday is the fifth consecutive trading day that the peso has collapsed, and the 32nd time this year that the peso closed at a record low.

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, however, does not currently see a need to defend the peso.

“We have estimates of how much the peso has to move before it becomes inflationary, and that’s when we tend to intervene,” BSP Governor Benjamin Remolona Jr. said last week.

A weaker peso adds to pressures that affect the general cost of goods, influence inflation, and may increase the peso cost of servicing foreign-currency obligations, including debt to external creditors.

President Ilham Aliyev: World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue has contributed to the development of intercultural relations

‘The World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue has really transformed over the years into one of the most efficient and inclusive platforms for addressing issues of intercultural relations, and not only,’ President Ilham Aliyev said in his speech at the 7th World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue.

The head of state noted that discussions at the forums traditionally focus on pressing issues on the global agenda.

President Ilham Aliyev, First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva, and family members viewed retrospective exhibition ‘My Absheron: Plus’ [PHOTOS/VIDEO]

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva, and their daughters Leyla Aliyeva and Arzu Aliyeva visited the retrospective exhibition ‘My Absheron: Plus,’ dedicated to the 80th anniversary of Farhad Khalilov, a prominent artist, Chairman of the Union of Artists of Azerbaijan, and People’s Artist, at the Azerbaijan National Museum of Art on October 27.

The exhibition was jointly organized by the Ministry of Culture, the Azerbaijan National Museum of Art, and the Union of Artists of Azerbaijan. It features more than 90 works from the People’s Artist’s personal collection, created between the 1960s and the present day and ranging from monumental paintings to small-format graphic works.

One of the prominent figures in Azerbaijani fine arts, Farhad Khalilov is known for his rich body of work, distinctive artistic style, and individual artistic vision. Working in various genres of easel painting, he combines different approaches, from realism to avant-garde and abstract art. His works stand out for their diverse forms of artistic expression, distinctive color schemes, and the emotional impact of the spaces depicted.

Landscape painting, particularly the Absheron theme, occupies an important place in Khalilov’s work. Drawing on personal observations and impressions, he depicts Absheron’s natural environment, coastal landscapes, villages, changing weather conditions, and distinctive atmosphere through his individual use of color and light.

For Khalilov, Absheron is not merely a subject to depict but a central theme through which he expresses his feelings, thoughts, and worldview. Beyond their visual representation of place, his works also convey emotional depth.

Graphics also occupy a significant place in the People’s Artist’s work. His graphic pieces, created in various formats and using different artistic approaches, demonstrate the breadth of his creative range and his exploration of form and composition. The exhibition traces the evolution of the Absheron theme in his work and the role it has come to play in his distinctive artistic language.

Uganda’s Youth Olympics stance grow five-fold

It is true the pinnacle of world sport is at the Summer Olympic Games which come every four years.

For countries which have mastered the art of medaling at the Olympics, they build talent from the greatest of youth and junior levels.

And that’s what makes the Summer Youth Olympics very relevant. On Saturday, Africa will stage the first-ever Youth Olympics in Dakar, Senegal.

The two-week multi-sport stage for the teenagers has 25 entries from Uganda, a team which was flagged-off at Lugogo by National Council of Sports (NCS) general secretary Patrick Ogwel.

This is the fourth edition of the Youth Olympics and Uganda has appeared in all but Dakar is special. ‘We are going five-fold, more than the previous editions,’ remarked Uganda Olympic Committee (UOC) general secretary Beatrice Ayikoru.

In Dakar, Uganda will compete in seven disciplines; rugby, athletics, cycling, rowing, swimming, badminton and table tennis.

The contingent led by chef de mission Lydia Dhamuzungu comprises a total 47 athletes and officials, who are travelling in different clusters depending on events’ schedule.

‘You guys are part of history. It’s the first time the Youth Olympics are being held in Africa. We thank the government of Uganda for the support, we thank the IOC (International Olympic Committee) for the support,’ said UOC president Donald Rukare.

For Dakar, Uganda’s team has 17 male athletes and eight female competitors. That is sizably bigger than the six competitors who featured across four disciplines at the inaugural edition in Singapore in 2010.

At the Nanjing 2014 edition in China, six more athletes competed in athletics, badminton rowing and table tennis. For the Bueno Aires 2018 edition in Argentina, five athletes featured in athletics, rowing and weightlifting.

As a motivation, Ogwel announced that each athlete will receive an out-of-pocket allowance of $160 (Shs790,000) per day in Dakar, through their parents.

‘Uganda is potentially a nation of talents and we are very happy to have 25 distinguished athletes who are ready to represent us,’ stated Ogwel.

‘Some of the athletes who have featured before (at Youth Olympics), later became world champions,’ he added.

True, Uganda won 2000 metres steeplechase bronze through Zakaria Kiprotich in Singapore while Geofrey Balimumiti won 800 metres silver in Nanjing.

In Buenos Aires, Sarah Chelangat won 3000 metres gold while Oscar Chelimo collected a bronze medal over the same distance.

Some former competitors such as Halimah Nakaayi from Singapore, went on to win the 800 metres gold medal at the 2019 World Athletics Championships in Doha, Qatar.

Nakaayi, Chelangat and Chelimo were all part of Team Uganda at the Paris Olympics. And the belief is there that Dakar-bound unit can rise through the ranks too.

‘It’s going to be hot. When you go there, don’t undermine yourselves. You’re the best we have,’ added Ayikoru.

Meanwhile, Nakaayi and former national team swimmer Jamillah Lunkuse, who featured in the London 2012 Olympics, are part of Dakar 2026 as the Games’ role models.

TEAM UGANDA TO DAKAR YOUTH OLYMPICS

Athletes: Michael Kibet, Timothy Cheptoyek, Baskaline Cherotwo, Rachael Chelimo, Keren Chelimo (all Athletics), Ramiah Bukenya (Badminton), Ali Ssali (Cycling), Marcel Andrew Otim (Rowing), Mark Arthur Mwase, Peter Inhensiko, Zara Marie Mbanga, Mary Peyton Suubi (Swimming), Joseph Sebatindira, Jemimah Nakawala (Table Tennis), Victor Ampiire, Bonamy Asiimwe Bwambale, Trey Gateja Rugumba, Jeremy Iragaba, Sanyu Junior Katushabe, Moses Kibet, Deogracious Muliira, Shafik Okole, Abdulrahman Ongima, Almadi Otema, James Tyron Ssebuufu (all Rugby)

Officials: Ziana Cheptoyek, William Kabindi, Isaka Bukenya, Batenga Nakisozi, Elijah Namunyu, Ezekeri Kalali, Alvin Katumba, Dorothy Nekesa, Solomon Aryampa, Peter Ochol, Jude Rwakayanga (all coaches), Miriam Nalubega (Physio), Patricia Ayebare (Safeguarding Officer), Shadir Musa Bwogi (Athlete Representative), Elijah Njawuzi and Annie Nankya (Team Administrators), Lydia Dhamuzungu (Chef de Mission)

Tech cities can unlock growth in counties

In March this year, a young man in Siaya County joined 20 youths trained in business process outsourcing when an AI-powered service centre opened in the county in partnership with Huawei. He was learning to serve customers for businesses whose clients could be thousands of kilometres away.

His story illustrates a powerful possibility: young Kenyans should not have to leave their counties to participate in the global digital economy. With the right infrastructure, skills, investment and connectivity, every county can become a gateway to new economic opportunities.

Following the enactment of the Technopolis Act, 2026, the former Konza Technopolis Development Authority became the Technopolis Development Authority (TDA), with a national mandate. This opens a new chapter in Kenya’s economic development, enabling counties to explore technology-driven economic centres built around their competitive advantages.

Around the world, technopolises have helped transform research, technology and entrepreneurship into engines of economic growth. South Korea’s Daejeon Daedeok Innopolis connects scientific research with commercial innovation. China’s Shenzhen has become a global technology and advanced manufacturing hub, while France’s Sophia Antipolis brings international companies, research institutions and skilled professionals together.

Their experiences demonstrate that when talent, research, infrastructure and investment converge, economic benefits can extend far beyond a development site. Kenya can adapt these lessons to local realities rather than replicate foreign models. Konza Technopolis, Africa’s Silicon Savannah, provides the foundation for this national ambition.

Phase one has created more than 3,500 direct jobs, with approximately 30 companies operating on site. Investors have committed to about 80 percent of this site signalling confidence in its long-term potential.

Through the Jitume Digital Enablement Programme, more than 350 digital hubs have been established across Kenya. Nearly 30,000 devices have been deployed, over 190,000 young people trained, and 91,428 have accessed digital work, according to TDA figures.

Kenya’s counties have different economic strengths, resources, institutions and infrastructure. Their technopolis opportunities should reflect these differences.

Agricultural counties could explore agricultural technology, precision farming, food processing and export-oriented value addition. Those with universities and research institutions could focus on scientific research, technology transfer and startup incubation. Regions with strategic transport links could develop logistics technology and advanced manufacturing, while others could specialise in tourism technology, healthcare innovation, renewable energy or the creative economy.

These are potential opportunities, not predetermined or approved projects. Each proposal must demonstrate commercial viability, infrastructure readiness, market demand, environmental sustainability and tangible community benefits.

The ambition is not to build 47 identical smart cities, but to develop connected economic centres that strengthen each county’s competitiveness and create jobs.

The TDA can support planning, technical expertise, ecosystem development and investor engagement, while county governments contribute local knowledge and development priorities. The Act’s provisions for county representation and engagement with affected communities provide a foundation for collaboration.

Governors and county economic planning teams can begin by identifying priority sectors, mapping infrastructure and institutions, assessing investor interest and determining whether a technology district, research park, digital industry cluster or full technopolis best suits their county.

Successful technopolises require more than buildings and roads. They depend on reliable infrastructure, skilled workers, supportive regulation, market access, research partnerships and sustained investment. Their success must be measured through jobs, investment mobilised, businesses established, research commercialised, exports generated and incomes improved.

Konza’s next phase must continue attracting investors and translating infrastructure into commercial activity and employment. The national mandate offers an opportunity to extend relevant lessons to other locations where the economic case is compelling.

Imagine a young person in Siaya providing digital services to an international company, a county researcher commercialising an agricultural innovation, or a local enterprise joining a technology-enabled manufacturing supply chain. Such opportunities become more attainable when national ambition meets local planning, private investment and collaboration.

We invite governors, county governments, investors, universities, research institutions and the private sector to engage the Technopolis Development Authority on technology-driven economic opportunities in their counties.

Kenya does not need 47 identical smart cities. It needs a network of economic centres, each built around its strengths and connected to global markets.

The experience in Siaya offers a glimpse of what is possible. The next opportunity could emerge from a university, an agricultural research centre, an industrial cluster or a group of entrepreneurs anywhere in Kenya.

The question is no longer simply how quickly we can build a technopolis, but how many Kenyans, businesses and counties can participate in the economic opportunities it creates.

The future of Kenya’s technopolis ambition is national. The opportunity is local. And the time to explore it is now.

Tooro King gives Prime Minister Rwomiire deadline to submit report

Tooro King (Omukama) Edward Rukidi Nyabongo I has given the kingdom’s interim Prime Minister, Calvin Armstrong Rwomiire Akiiki, until November 12, 2026, to submit a report on his work to the Kingdom Supreme Council.

In his first address at the opening of the Tooro Kingdom Supreme Council on Tuesday at the Mucwa Kingdom headquarters in Fort Portal City, the king said the council would first review the report and then submit its findings to the monarch within seven days.

‘That is why I appointed Calvin Armstrong as acting Prime Minister, to help manage the transition period. His appointment was not meant to start a new administration during this period. Now, I want a report from the acting Prime Minister detailing what has been done and what has not been done,’ he added.

Nyabongo I said the report would promote accountability within the kingdom and help establish where to begin, adding that under his reign, the kingdom would be accountable to the people it serves, including the government and its partners.

‘This council will take seven days to analyse the report and submit its findings to my office. My office will then take seven days to review the council’s report before I return here to the council on November 27, when the Omukama will give the way forward,’ he said.

Shortly after his address, the Supreme Council, chaired by Engineer Julius Mwirumubi, selected a seven-member committee to receive and review the acting Prime Minister’s report and submit its findings to the king.

The committee comprises Asuman Kisembo, Sam Mugisa, Kamara Adolf, Amos Monday, Olivia Mutamba, Florence and Mugisa Murambara.

Nyabongo I added that those whose appointments to positions in the interim administration under the acting Prime Minister had been made in error should remain calm and patient until the Supreme Council had examined the reports and reached a decision.

The king’s pronouncement that some ministers had been appointed in error was met with applause from council members.

Shortly after his appointment as acting Prime Minister to oversee the transition, Mr Armstrong also reshuffled the cabinet, dropping some ministers who had served during the reign of the late Omukama Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV and replacing them with new ministers.

‘Let us reduce the things that divide us and direct our energies towards building our Kingdom and strengthening our unity,’ the king said.

He added: ‘Within our cultural institution of Tooro, I am your Omukama; but before God, we are all equal. Therefore, in all our work, let us act together with integrity and humility, without intimidating others or allowing ourselves to be intimidated.’

The Omukama pledged to work closely with the Supreme Council, thanking its members for welcoming him and assuring them of his commitment to serving the people.

The Omukama concluded by calling on kingdom leaders and other stakeholders to promote unity and mutual respect, warning against divisions that could undermine working relationships within the cultural institution.