Category: Daily Monitor

Police in Kamuli Municipality have launched an investigation into an incident of unlawful wounding after an accidental firearm discharge left two private security guards injured.

The incident occurred on Friday, June 19, 2026, at around 7:00 AM at the premises of Blue Light Guards (U) Limited, located in Bunangwe Zone, Northern Division.

According to Busoga North Police Spokesperson Samson Lubega, the shooting happened while a 23-year-old security guard, identified as Anthony Batanda, was reportedly conducting standard firearm safety checks. A bullet was accidentally discharged from the weapon, striking two of his colleagues.

The victims and current condition

Police identified the wounded guards as Dennis Kabiri, 20, who sustained an injury to his left toe, and Hussein Mugolo, 58, who was shot in the left leg. Both victims were rushed to Kamuli General Hospital, where they are currently undergoing treatment.

“You are required to strictly observe firearm handling and safety procedures at all times to prevent injuries and loss of life,” Lubega said, cautioning all licensed firearm holders and private security personnel. He further warned that police would hold private security company owners accountable for the shortcomings and operational challenges of their recruits.

Families demand employer accountability

Speaking from his hospital bed, Hussein Mugolo, alongside his wife, Nabirye Hussein, expressed deep concern over the financial fallout of the injury. Mugolo is the sole breadwinner for his family.

Ms. Nabirye called on Blue Light Guards (U) Limited for immediate financial and medical intervention, highlighting a systemic issue within the private security sector.

“On numerous occasions, security guard companies have left victims to bear full responsibility after sustaining injuries while on duty. This situation is truly appalling and shocking,” Ms. Nabirye said.

A history of abandonment

The incident mirrors a growing trend of private security guards being abandoned by their employers after on-the-job tragedies in the region.

On March 25, 2019, Jukira Mohammed Lubwama, now 68, was severely injured during a shooting incident at Pita Oil Petrol Station in Kamuli, which claimed two lives. Today, Lubwama relies on crutches for limited mobility and lives in economic hardship in Kyebajatobona Zone, Butansi Sub-county.

Lubwama revealed that his former employers cut off all financial support five years ago, leaving him to rely entirely on public goodwill.

“I am truly humbled that NMG, through Spark TV, acknowledged my situation and provided some financial assistance from viewers during their Kyanaku programme. However, since then, I have been in complete economic hardship,” Lubwama said.

Police investigations into the Bunangwe Zone shooting remain ongoing.

On June 13, Roland Aine took the stage at Central Perk Bukoto for Hear Me Out, a personal milestone for an artist who had spent six years navigating Uganda’s creative ecosystem as a radio host, television presenter, spoken word artist, MC and podcast curator. His journey raised deeper questions about what it means to build a sustainable creative career in a country where poetry still fights for recognition.

Sometimes he was behind one in a radio studio, carefully packaging conversations for listeners he could not see. Other times, he stood beneath stage lights, turning lived experiences into rhythm, pauses and performance. For years, these two worlds existed side by side, feeding each other in ways even he struggled to separate.

Then, for the first time, Roland Aine, better known to many as Roland95, stepped fully into the spotlight with Hear Me Out, his maiden spoken word recital. For a creative who had spent years performing on other people’s stages, the show felt less like a debut and more like an arrival.

‘I have performed on many different stages for years,’ he said. ‘Eventually, I realised maybe I also need a stage for myself, not just for me, but also to create a platform that appreciates art.’

A self-built creative ecosystem

The decision did not happen overnight. For close to six years, Aine has existed in Uganda’s creative ecosystem as a multi-hyphenate talent; radio host, television presenter, spoken word artist, voice-over professional, MC, tutor and podcast curator. His resume stretches across media spaces, from Magic 1 HD and UBC TV to TIDLE Radio and Home FM256, the music and spoken-word-curated online station he co-owns.

But while audiences may have known him for his smooth voice and on-air confidence, poetry came first.

‘Spoken words are what put me on the radio,’ he explained. ‘But these two things have gone hand in hand. Each one has helped the other grow.’

Radio, he says, changed how he performs. Working behind microphones forced him to understand audiences differently, to appreciate pacing, language and the importance of packaging messages so they connected. The result is a performer whose style sits somewhere between conventional poetry and performance art; intentional language, measured delivery, internal rhythms and carefully constructed narratives.

Poetry without borders

His poetry rarely stays in one lane. One moment, he is writing about upbringing and education. Another, politics and social expectations. Sometimes love. Often disappointment. Frequently all at once.

‘I do not like limiting myself,’ he said. ‘Life does not happen in categories.’

That openness is perhaps what made Hear Me Out feel deeply personal. The recital’s title read almost like a request and a declaration simultaneously: Hear me. Listen. Understand. The stories audiences heard were largely his own.

‘There is a political story. There is a social story. There is a career story,’ he said. ‘But really, it’s all about life.’

Some of those stories remain difficult to perform. Aine points to one piece in particular; Matrix Déjà Vu, as among the most challenging. The poem tackles societal expectations, disappointment and uncomfortable truths. The difficulty, he says, is not simply performing the work. It is exposing parts of himself while accepting that not everyone would agree with what they heard.

‘Sometimes you wonder whether people will understand,’ he admitted.

The weight of uncertainty

That uncertainty has followed him throughout his career. Every day, he admits, he doubts whether audiences will connect. Every day, he writes anyway. The hesitation is understandable in an industry where spoken word artists still fight for recognition, funding and sustainable careers.

‘Poetry is challenging,’ he says. ‘You sometimes second-guess yourself because there is very little appreciation for the art.’

The sacrifices have been numerous. Unpaid performances. Financial strain. Family members struggling to understand creative ambitions. Being misunderstood. Yet despite this, Roland keeps showing up.

Perhaps that persistence explains why excitement outweighs fear on the night, although only slightly. Part of it, he says, comes from perfectionism. Another part comes from understanding what was at stake.

‘You do not want to serve people something that will not bring them back.’

The audience that mattered most

The relationship between ambition and family acceptance appears repeatedly throughout Aine’s story. Pursuing poetry was not always the obvious path, particularly when expectations leaned toward more traditional careers. This tension between creative ambition and familial expectation resonates across Uganda’s artistic landscape. Parents who sacrifice for their children’s education often struggle to understand why that education was being channelled into poetry, theatre or music rather than law, medicine or engineering. Aine’s journey mirrors that of countless Ugandan artists who have to justify their existence in spaces that rarely offer financial security. Yet there is also a generational shift underway. Increasingly, young Ugandans are redefining success on their own terms, building portfolios that combine multiple income streams and refusing to accept that creativity and sustainability must be mutually exclusive.

A changing landscape for spoken word

The recital also arrives during an interesting period for spoken word in Uganda. Poetry audiences are growing, albeit slowly. Performance styles continue evolving. Artists increasingly experiment with music, multimedia and theatrical influences in efforts to make the craft more accessible. Aine is part of that generation navigating this transition. He rejects the notion that poetry belongs only to elite audiences.

‘Most of the things we communicate are things ordinary people talk about every day,’ he said.

That accessibility appears central to Hear Me Out. The show promised not simply poetry performances but an invitation into Roland’s world: the radio host who discovered performance through language; the artist balancing confidence with self-doubt; the creative still figuring things out while standing on stage pretending he already had.

Future

I think the new chapter has already begun,” he says.

But the question of what comes after lingers. In Uganda’s arts ecosystem, debut performances often generate celebration, yet few artists manage to sustain momentum. The transition from emerging talent to established voice requires more than talent, it demands investment and audiences willing to pay for the work they consume.

Aine appears aware of this reality. His decision to curate his own platform is a lesson many Ugandan artists are learning that self-sufficiency is not a choice but a necessity.

The phrase Hear me Out carries weight beyond the stage. It is a call for patience, for presence, for the kind of listening that transforms words into meaning. It is also, perhaps, a plea, to parents who do not understand, to audiences who do not pay, to an industry that does not always value what it cannot immediately commodify. In a country where artists are often celebrated in death but starved in life, Aine’s journey is a reminder of what it takes to persist; not just talent, but resilience.

Gen Birungi was born in 1973 in Ngoma, Nakaseke District. He attended Ibanda Senior Secondary School for his O-Level and Nyakasura School for A-Level. Maj Gen James Birungi then joined Makerere University Business School, where he graduated with a degree in Business Administration. In 1998, he joined the army as a regular officer before being selected to attend the cadet officer’s course in India a year later. When he returned to Uganda in 2000, Gen Birungi undertook a platoon commander course where he emerged as the best. He was then appointed platoon commander of the Presidential Protection Unit.

Other military courses he studied include: Basic Military Training in Kasenyi, Wakiso District; Anti-tank course in Masaka; Motorised Infantry Commanders’ course; Tank Crew course in Kalama; Company Commanders course in Kalama; Tank Battalion Commanders course in Kalama; Junior Commanders course in Jinja; Senior Command and Staff Course at Uganda Senior Command and Staff College in Kimaka.

Gen Birungi has also held several top positions in the army, including commander Special Force Command (SFC), Chief of Military Intelligence (CMI), since renamed Defense Intelligence and Security (DIS), Mountain Division Commander and Commander Operation Shuja, Company Intelligence Officer in the Armoured Brigade in Masaka, Commanding Officer of the Armoured Warfare Training School at Karama off the Mubende-Fort Portal Highway, Company Commander of Tanks in the Presidential Protection Unit, now Special Forces Command (SFC), Operation Training Officer in the Presidential Guard Brigade, Commanding Officer of Armoured Brigade, and Commanding Officer, Tank Battalion in disarmament in Karamoja.

Others are: Commanding Officer of the battalion to Somalia, Commander of two tank battle groups, Brigade Operations and Training Officer of the Presidential Guard Brigade, Chief of Staff of the Air Force, and head of the South Sudan Security Monitoring Mechanism. Gen Birungi is, however, clocking nearly nine months in detention without trial. He was arrested in mid-2025 on allegations of orchestrating fake terror bombings in Kampala, incidents in which two women were killed. The DIS conducts intelligence operations for the military and often collaborates with the Uganda Police Force (UPF) to combat violent crimes such as terrorism, armed robberies, abductions, kidnappings, and murders.

Maj Gen Richard Otto

Maj Gen Otto is a senior military Officer in the UPDF. Since April 16, 2025, he has served as the Chief of Defence Intelligence and Security. Previously, he served as Commander of the UPDF Mountain Division and also Commander of Operation Shujja, a joint undertaking by the UPDF and the armed forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) to neutralise the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF). Before his UPDF Mountain Division Assignment, Gen Otto was the chairman of the South Sudan Peace Mechanism, an IGAD-sponsored observer mechanism, to ensure adherence to the peace treaties by the protagonists. Previously, he was the commanding officer of the 3rd Division of the UPDF based in Moroto.

Maj Gen Abel Kandiho

He worked at the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI) for the bigger part of his military career. He started as an officer and later headed it. Gen Kandiho also worked at Uganda’s High Commission in Kigali, Rwanda, in the early 2000s. Previously, before 2014, he served as the Commander of Makindye Military Barracks, the headquarters of UPDF Military Police. On May 30, 2014, he was replaced in the position by Col Emmanuel Kanyesigye. Kandiho stayed as the deputy Commander.

In December 2021, the United States placed sanctions on Gen Kandiho over alleged involvement in the cases of human rights violations, which he denied. In 2022, he was appointed Chief of Joint Staff in the Uganda Police Force, replacing then Maj General Jack Bakasumba. From the police, Gen Kandiho was appointed Special Presidential Advisor on Classified Operations, a position he held until he was put on the list of generals who are set to retire in August 2026.

About besigye case

Dr Kizza Besigye, a former personal doctor to President Museveni and one of his longest-serving political challengers, has unsuccessfully contested the presidency four times. In 2024, Dr Besigye was abducted from Nairobi, Kenya alongside his aide Obeid Lutale. The duo is jointly charged with treason. Last year, the State added Capt Dennis Oola as one of the accused persons.

Prosecutors allege that the trio, together with others still at large, between 2023 and November 2024, in various countries, including Geneva, Athens, Nairobi, and Uganda, plotted to overthrow the government by force of arms. The charges stem from their arrest in November 2024 in Nairobi, where Dr Besigye and Mr Lutale had travelled to attend a book launch hosted by Kenya’s former Justice minister Martha Karua.

The accused have since denied the charges.

The treason case is currently at the trial stage. During the prelimary hearing, State prosecutors unsucessfully sought court permission to conceal the identities of six out of the 10 witnesses lined up to testify against the accused. Defence lawyers for Dr Besigye subjected Chief State Attorney Joseph Kyomuhendo to a rigorous cross-examination, exposing sharp disagreements over the legal basis for concealing prosecution witnesses in the ongoing treason trial.

Mr Kyomuhendo, the head of the Anti-Trafficking Department in the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), defended the State’s application to shield the identities of key witnesses. The matter is being heard in the Kampala High Court by Justice Emmanuel Baguma.

The National Resistance Movement (NRM) has intensified its grassroots campaign to reclaim the Kalangala District Woman Parliamentary seat, with senior party officials pitching camp in the island district ahead of a planned visit by President Yoweri Museveni.

On Friday, NRM Deputy Secretary General, Rose Namayanja Nsereko, traversed Mugoye Sub-county, holding village-to-village mobilisation meetings in Bumangi and Bugoma. She was accompanied by Bujumba County MP William Lugoloobi and several local party leaders.

The by-election follows the untimely death Hellen Nakimuli who had retained her seat for the second term in the January 2026 by-election. In the 2021 General Election, the National Unity Platform (NUP) made significant inroads in the Buganda region, including parts of the Kalangala islands. The ruling party is now using this by-election to claw back its historical support in the district.

Addressing residents in Bumangi, Namayanja thanked the islanders for their historical support of President Museveni but acknowledged the growing political competition within the Buganda region. She cautioned voters against electing opposition candidates, arguing that doing so inadvertently isolates communities from central government budgeting processes.

“When people vote against leaders who can directly engage with government structures, it is not the President who loses,” Namayanja said. “The biggest loss is felt by the communities themselves because development programmes and services are delivered through government systems.”

Namayanja pointed out that several development projects initiated during Idah Nabayiga’s previous tenure as Woman MP stalled after she left Parliament in 2021. She argued that the district would have achieved greater progress had Nabayiga remained in office to lobby the state.

The NRM deputy secretary general explained that national resource allocation heavily relies on the ruling party’s internal structures. She noted that community priorities are first vetted within the NRM Parliamentary Caucus before moving to Cabinet and the floor of Parliament.

“Our regions benefit from the national cake through the budget. Leaders who understand government systems and work closely with the ruling party are better positioned to capture and address the concerns of their people,” she added, describing Nabayiga as an experienced legislator who understands Kalangala’s unique challenges.

Bujumba County MP William Lugoloobi echoed Namayanja’s sentiments, describing Nabayiga as the “missing link” for Kalangala’s leadership. Lugoloobi stressed that having an all-NRM parliamentary team from the islands would allow leaders to lobby the central government as a unified bloc, making it easier to secure funding for infrastructure and the local fishing economy.

Namayanja urged NRM supporters to remain united and aggressively recruit from the opposition. “Many who are now serving in the NRM once belonged to other political parties. We do not want any part of Kalangala to lag behind in development,” she urged.

The village-to-village mobilization serves as a precursor to a major ruling party rally scheduled for Monday. President Museveni, who is also the NRM National Chairman, is expected in Kalangala to officially hand over the party flag to Nabayiga and boost the final leg of the campaign.

The Electoral Commission has slated the polling date for June 24, 2026, in a race that is widely seen as a litmus test for the NRM’s strength against opposition forces in the island district.

Landlords in the city where I currently live are an interesting lot. You would think that having enough money to pay your first month’s rent and one month’s deposit would be enough to rent a house but it is not. What they want is to know you, inside and out. The minute you indicate interest in a property the questions come at you like bullets at a protest march in our ‘democratic’ cow-ntries. How many people will be living in the house? Where do you work? How much do you earn? What is your credit history? Do you have pets? If you do, what breed of dog/cat/iguana is it? How many times a day do you have a bowel movement? What is your cholesterol level? On average, how many visitors do you receive a month?

Okay, the last three questions are not usually asked by landlords, I am just showing you how invasive they are. But this is only Part One of the examination.

Part Two is determining whether you are able to pay this rent forever more, and this is where you are most likely to fail. Normally, landlords do not care if you are doing business or digging graves, as long as they get their money every month. However, landlords here do not have the energy to play cat-and-mouse games at the end of the month. As a tenant, you have to prove that you are earning three times your rent.

If Income ÷Rent is not = 3 then the answer = X, that is, no house for you. You see, they cannot fathom the idea of you eating Indomie noodles for a whole month or walking to work because you have spent all your money on rent.

You and your money will be turned away, because they care. Brethren, this is how you can easily find yourself homeless. That is, unless you are willing to share a house with strangers of unknown mental health or live in a basement like a mole, coming up a few times a day to experience sunlight and fresh air.

God punish poverty.

For millions of Ugandans, the Fifa World Cup is more than a football tournament. It is a month-long celebration of passion, debate, dreams and heartbreak.

But with the 2026 Fifa World Cup being hosted across the United States, Canada and Mexico, fans in Uganda have once again found themselves embracing a familiar World Cup tradition – sacrificing sleep for the love of the game.

The significant time difference between East Africa and North America means many matches kick off long after midnight in Kampala, with some stretching deep into the early hours of the morning.

Several of the tournament’s marquee fixtures are being played at a time when most Ugandans would ordinarily be asleep, leaving supporters with a difficult choice between rest and football.

As expected, football is winning.

Across Kampala and other towns, sports bars, restaurants and video halls have adjusted their operating hours to meet growing demand. Giant screens remain illuminated deep into the night as supporters gather to watch the world’s biggest stars battle for football’s ultimate prize.

Business

For business owners, the unusual kick-off times have created an unexpected opportunity and everyone is looking to tap into the tournament by increasing sales of food, drinks and coffee to the football enthusiasts staying awake through the night.

For working Ugandans, however, coping strategies have become an essential part of the World Cup experience.

Many are carefully selecting which matches to watch live, prioritising games involving African nations or traditional football powerhouses.

Among them is Kampala-based lawyer Joel Otim, who stayed awake until the early hours to watch Brazil’s entertaining 1-1 draw with Morocco despite the match kicking off at 1am local time.

‘The matches are tough to keep up with because of the time differences. The water breaks also make each half longer, but I have to watch regardless,’ Otim told the Weekend Monitor.

Like many football enthusiasts, Otim has embraced daytime naps and shorter sleeping hours during the tournament.

Others have simply accepted that fatigue will be part of daily life until the World Cup comes to an end.

Not everyone, however, has found the late kick-off times disruptive.

Merchandise

Racheal Mbabazi, a sales agent and route merchandiser in Kampala, says her regular sleeping pattern has made it easier to keep up with the action.

A Manchester United supporter backing Portugal at the World Cup, Mbabazi says she is already accustomed to sleeping late and waking up early.

‘I am not a heavy sleeper. On any other day, I sleep around midnight and by 5am I am awake,’ Mbabazi said.

‘So, watching the World Cup hasn’t affected my sleep or work in any way.’

While supporters like Mbabazi have adapted comfortably to the unusual schedule, many others have found it difficult to stay awake for entire matches.

For Busia-based enforcement officer Elly Abaho, balancing work responsibilities with late-night football has proved challenging.

A passionate Arsenal supporter backing France at the World Cup, Abaho admits that staying awake for entire matches has become increasingly difficult.

‘Staying up waiting for games has been a big ask for me. Sometimes I sleep off, wake up in the middle of the night to catch the games and by the time they are done, it is already time to go to work,’ Abaho said.

Holiday time

Jemimah Nakiyimba, a student at Makerere University, who is currently on holiday, counts herself among the fortunate ones.

With no academic commitments demanding her immediate attention, she has been able to follow the tournament without worrying about early mornings.

‘Sleep can wait. The World Cup is on and every match writes a new chapter in football history. It’s an opportunity to witness the world’s stars and that does not come around every day,’ Nakiyimba, a staunch Chelsea and Brazil fan, said.

‘It helps that we are on holiday now, so it is a bit easier for me.’

Catching up instead

Not every supporter is willing – or able – to stay awake until dawn.

Fortunately, advances in technology have made it easier than ever to remain connected through highlights, match replays and condensed game packages.

For supporters unable to watch matches live, catching up on highlights has become part of the morning routine, ensuring they remain part of the conversations that dominate workplaces and social gatherings throughout the tournament.

Yet despite the inconvenience, enthusiasm for the World Cup remains as strong as ever.

Discussions in offices, bars, boda boda stages and markets continue to revolve around title favourites, surprise packages and controversial refereeing decisions.

National team jerseys are everywhere, with supporters proudly wearing the colours of Brazil, the Netherlands, France, Portugal and Spain as the tournament gathers momentum.

Used to the Night Shift

Among those taking the sleepless nights in stride are Uganda’s dedicated NBA followers, who are already accustomed to waking up in the wee hours to watch basketball from North America.

For some sports enthusiasts, the challenge of balancing football and basketball has become even more demanding.

The final whistle of Brazil’s clash with Morocco came only minutes before Game Five of the NBA Finals between the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs tipped off.

With the game beginning at 3:30am, those hoping to witness the Knicks capture a first NBA championship in more than five decades had little opportunity for rest.

Ironically, the battle against sleep has become part of this World Cup’s identity.

Every tournament leaves behind its own unique memories. In Qatar, fans enjoyed convenient viewing hours and packed schedules that suited East African audiences.

In North America, Ugandans are navigating sleepless nights, endless cups of coffee and groggy mornings.

Yet for many supporters, it remains a sacrifice worth making.

After all, the Fifa World Cup comes around only once every four years.

Sleep can wait. Football cannot.

For years, Uganda has been trying to solve a national contradiction. We are one of the world’s greatest coffee-producing countries. Our hills grow it. Our economy depends on it. Entire districts wake up thinking about it. Yet when it comes to actually drinking the stuff, Ugandans have traditionally looked at coffee the way children look at vegetables. We understand its importance. We simply do not see why we should be consuming it. This has frustrated coffee evangelists for decades. Every few months, somebody stands at a conference podium and announces that Ugandans need to drink more coffee. Charts are displayed. Statistics are quoted. Domestic consumption targets are set. Serious people in suits nod thoughtfully. Then everyone breaks for tea. No coffee machine or kettle anywhere in sight, except maybe one miserable tin of instant coffee.

Which is why I suspect the people behind the new Baileys and Java House partnership deserve some sort of national innovation award. They seem to have finally identified the flaw in the strategy. Others had been marketing coffee to Ugandans. What they should have been doing was marketing alcohol with the coffee. Genius.

The Coffee and Baileys menu is exactly what it sounds like: Java House’s premium coffee culture meeting Baileys Irish Cream’s smooth, indulgent personality. It is less a partnership and more an arranged marriage. And somehow it works.

The launch of this partnership is slated for June 20, at Java House Naguru. Guests will sample the menu and participate in a hands-on treat-making experience.

The menu itself is surprisingly impressive. The Baileys Espresso Shot is coffee that arrives dressed for a Friday night and winks at you as soon as you enter the pub. It is like Kungfu. The Espresso gives you the kick while the Baileys cream massages you to pleasure in one fell swoop. Then there is the Irish Mocha, a luxurious combination of espresso, chocolate and Baileys finished with steamed milk. This drink is akin to a cup of flavourful, spiced tea that delivers an alcohol buzz. It has one mission; happiness. The Classic Baileys Hot Chocolate is equally unapologetic. Rich, silky, creamy. The kind of beverage that makes you thankful for finally making it to adulthood. It is essentially a warm hug that has gone to international school.

Yet the real brilliance of the partnership lies elsewhere. It understands modern Kampala where coffee shops are no longer places where people simply go to drink coffee. Cafes are now de facto offices where people sit with their laptops and work all day. They are dating venues, meeting spots and networking hubs. Cafes these days are essentially less chaotic pubs.

They are places where people order one cappuccino or iced coffee and remain seated long enough to witness three shift changes. The partnership understands that with this many people spending so much time in coffee shops, a section of the patrons will want something more than coffee. Like that nervous young man on the first coffee date with the most beautiful girl he has ever met. A Dutch courage comes in handy.

The partnership plugs into Uganda’s culture of Friday night drinking with a Friday Happy Hour between 6pm and 7pm, offering a buy-one-get-one-free deal. Ugandans have never needed encouragement when it comes to Baileys or any other form of alcohol for that matter. And yet, even the few Ugandans who drink coffee prefer to keep it safe with instant coffee. So, somebody looked at the problem, looked at the solution, and connected the dots. This partnership will likely make a few people sip an espresso they would otherwise never have ordered. And if that is even a possibility, which it is, then perhaps history will remember this moment kindly. After all, Uganda has spent decades trying to get more people to drink coffee. Maybe all coffee needed was a drinking buddy.

Jacob Marksons Oboth (Oboth-Oboth), the Speaker of the 12th Parliament of Uganda, is widely known for his cool, collected and highly disciplined demeanour. It is now barely a month since he became Speaker, and his positive impact is already being felt across the country, but more importantly, in the August House itself. This giant and smart former village herdsboy from Muwafu Village, West Budama Central Constituency, Tororo District, and who owes his education to the community, has become the Speaker at the right time.

When his name was finally proposed by the Chief of Defence Forces, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, following the former Speaker’s corruption-related investigations, every Ugandan was in total agreement and approval. Oboth-Oboth has hit the ground running, guiding Parliament without any glitch. This is largely because, despite being a smart lawyer, he is a seasoned legislator who previously headed the Committee on Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, among others. The coming of Oboth-Oboth as Speaker of Parliament was a very timely moment.

The August House had been debased to incredible levels. Going by what is coming out through the mass media and the investigative organs of government, the honourable House had been reduced to a deals house. Days after Oboth-Oboth became Speaker, an air of political and financial serenity began to be felt. As is the norm, he must be studying the systems before he makes a complete cleanup that Ugandans are eagerly waiting to see. Before the dust even settles, he reallocated nearly Shs24b from the Office of the Speaker, directly to parliamentary committees.

This move aims to ensure parliamentary committees are fully funded to execute their oversight mandates, without relying on centralised or discretionary travel funds controlled by the Speaker. Parliament has faced persistent corruption allegations, with reports of questionable spending, cash handouts and abuse of office fuelling public scrutiny and demands for accountability. Matters were not helped by the various exposés of various media houses, which dug out the dirt that involved most legislators. This was so terrible that it generated outrage. Some serious MDAs, mandated to deliver serious services to Ugandans, do not get such funds for a whole financial year.

Against that backdrop, primitive or ostentatious display of wealth by public officials only deepened public frustration, reinforcing perceptions of inequality, breeds resentment and diverts capital from productive investments. It also triggers costly, competitive ‘status games’ among Ugandans. No wonder becoming a Member of Parliament (MP) has become a matter of life and death! Showing off wealth increases the risk of theft and scams and fosters a toxic culture of materialism, where self-worth is solely tied to possessions. In brief, Oboth-Oboth has his plate full. He will have to reset the ethos in the 12th Parliament, but the good thing is, he has the goodwill of all Ugandans. We wish you all the best, ladit OO.

The Muslim community in Kampala and surrounding districts has successfully secured over 63 acres of land for new burial grounds. This major milestone aims to avert a growing crisis following the exhaustion of existing burial sites, most notably the prominent Nkoowe Cemetery.

The breakthrough was announced during a press briefing by the Salaam Muslim Cemetery Committee, led by prominent cleric Imam Iddi Kasozi. The initiative, dubbed the Salaam Muslim Cemetery Project, was launched in response to an urgent need for a dignified, accessible, and sustainable resting place for the community’s deceased.

Over the past 17 years, the Muslim community heavily relied on the eight-acre Nkoowe Cemetery, which hosted approximately 22,000 graves for both adults and children. Having now reached full capacity, the search for alternative land became critical.

According to Imam Kasozi, the committee has acquired two distinct parcels of land totalling 63.7 acres:

Wobulenzi: 20 acres, purchased at Shs460 million.

Sanga-Matugga: 43.7 acres, acquired at a cost of Shs2.324 billion.

To date, Shs2 billion has already been paid for the Sanga-Matugga property, leaving an outstanding balance of Shs324 million.

‘This project was started out of an urgent and genuine community need,’ Imam Kasozi stated. ‘The existing Muslim burial grounds, particularly Nkoowe I, had reached capacity, leaving the community with an immediate responsibility to secure a sustainable burial ground.’

Addressing questions regarding the time taken to finalize the purchases, Imam Kasozi explained that the committee had to reject several potential sites due to issues like swampy terrain, land disputes, poor road access, inadequate acreage, and unclear ownership documents.

‘Since this project is funded by public contributions, we had a duty to proceed carefully and responsibly,’ Kasozi defended. ‘It would not have been proper to rush into acquiring land that could later expose the Muslim community to legal, environmental, or operational challenges.’

Between 2023 and the present, the committee mobilized approximately Shs2.44 billion through generous contributions from individual Muslims, institutions, businesses, mosques, and well-wishers. Of this, Shs2.42 billion has already been spent on land acquisition and administrative logistics, leaving a balance of roughly Shs20 million pending final reconciliation.

The Chairperson of the Committee, Hajji Harunah Kibirige, outlined the next steps, which include clearing the remaining Shs324 million balance, securing formal land titles, and preparing the sites for operations.

Planned infrastructural developments at the new sites include:

Opening and marking clear boundaries.

Constructing access roads and dedicated parking areas.

Fencing the properties for security.

Developing a comprehensive land-use plan to ensure orderly burials.

To streamline the remaining fundraising goals, Hajji Kibirige announced that the committee is expanding its collection methods to digital platforms. Well-wishers will soon be able to contribute via mobile money, bank transfers, QR-code payment systems, and online pledge registration platforms to boost convenience and financial transparency.

While burial plots at the new cemeteries will be provided entirely free of charge, families will be required to pay nominal fees for the operational services provided at the site.

Hajji Kibirige appealed to the public for continued financial and moral backing, describing the project as a form of Sadaqah Jariyah (continuous charity).

‘A great milestone has been achieved, but the project still requires additional support to clear the remaining balance and prepare the land for proper use,’ Kibirige said. ‘This is a lasting investment for the Muslim community that will provide a dignified resting place for generations to come.’

Kenyan bars and restaurants in Kampala are renowned for their goat meat, ugali (posho) and sukuma wiki (collard greens), which is what my friend and I ordered for over the weekend, at Makutano Bar and Grill, a Kenyan restaurant in Kansanga, Kampala. The word ‘makutano’ is derived from the Swahili verb ‘kutana’, which means ‘to meet’ or ‘to gather together.’ Loosely translated, ‘mukutano’ means ‘a place where people meet or gather,’ and judging from the crowd of urban youth and middle-aged patrons at the restaurant, some of whom were Congolese, Rwandan, Ugandan and of course Kenyan nationals, whoever gave the eatery its name achieved their mission.

Location and facilities

Located in Kansanga on Ggaba Road and opposite Absa Bank, Makutano Bar and Grill is a fairly large establishment that comprises a lounge, a terrace restaurant, an alfresco sports bar whose counter is built around the trunk of a huge tree, and a car wash that can cater for at least eight cars at a go. The lounge downstairs is spacious with huge rectangular, concrete openings that serve as windows, which are partially covered with blinds. It is clean but basic with a well-stocked bar as its main focal point and could do with new upholstery and a furniture update. A wide staircase carpeted with artificial grass leads to a terrace restaurant upstairs, where most customers prefer to eat. Here, the floor is carpeted wall to wall with artificial grass and furnished with brown plastic wicker chairs and tables that are neatly arranged with a small sink at one corner of the restaurant.

Ambiance

The décor in the terrace restaurant in keeping with the rest of the establishment, is rustic with a mixture of potted and artificial hanging plants. The light bulbs on the ceiling are set in elongated semi-circular, carved wooden lampshades, while others have been placed in quaint hurricane lamps along the walls and create a cozy atmosphere when lit in the evenings. Two large speakers blare out contemporary music which though fairly loud does not drown out conversation. Patrons enjoy lively theme nights on various days that include live band music, quiz and Karaoke nights, music played by popular DJs and the screening of the current World Cup football tournaments, on two large television screens mounted on the walls of both ends of the restaurant.

The menu

Apart from the usual Kenyan fare of ugali, meat/offal, sukuma wiki and kachumbali (a tomato, onion and green pepper salad), the menu is wide and includes chicken, liver and fish. Matooke, Kalo, fast food, soups, pasta, burgers, salads and pizzas are also on the menu, as well as a wide variety of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.

The service

Our fruit juice arrived after 25 minutes and our food exactly an hour after the order had been taken. Meanwhile, a group of five who came in after us, were promptly served. The aroma of their roasted leg of goat filled the air, increasing our hunger pangs and making us wish we had ordered the same. By the time our food arrived, we were famished! The only consolation being that it was delicious and piping hot. The meat portions here are served in kilos and half a kilo of boneless meat, which goes for Shs36,000 and adequate for two, so too are the individual portions of posho and Sukuma wiki, which cost Shs3,000 and Shs2,000 respectively. I later realised that one way of being assured of prompt service, was to order in advance, which is such a shame for walk-in customers, especially since the chefs who cook the food know how to prepare delicious meals.

The bathroom

I was pleasantly surprised to find the bathroom clean and well supplied with toilet paper and liquid soap, considering the fairly large number of customers. An electric hand-drier would have been an added bonus.

Overall impression

We enjoyed our meal at Makutano, the snail-paced service not withstanding and will definitely pay another visit, to try the roasted leg of goat, only that this time I will call and make my order well in advance.

AT A GLANCE

Name: Makutano Bar and Grill.

Location: Ggaba Road, Kansanga, opposite ABSA Bank.

Food: Good.

Specialty: Kenyan fare.

Drinks: There’s a well-stocked bar and a wide variety of non-alcoholic drinks.

Service: Very slow, consider ordering in advance.

Ambiance: Rustic, some places need updating.

Budget: Shs52,000 for two and to up to Shs205,000 for a platter for five, sodas/water inclusive.

Rating: Certainly, worth a visit.

Entertainment: Contemporary music, various theme nights and the World Cup football tournaments.