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A couple was killed in a road crash on Thursday evening along the Kisoro-Kabale Highway in Kisoro District, police confirmed.

The fatal crash occurred around 6:20 PM opposite Airland Hotel Nyakabande, involving a Mercedes Benz semi-trailer and a blue Bajaj Boxer motorcycle.

Police said the semi-trailer was traveling from Kyanika border toward Kabale when it collided head-on with the motorcycle.

The rider, Sebahinzi Kenneth, 40, and his wife, Sylvia Ntiringanya, 38, who was a passenger, both from Mubuga Village, Gitendere Parish, Nyarusiza Sub-county, died on the spot.

Kisoro District Traffic Officer ASP Ainomugisha Musa said his team visited the scene, recorded eyewitness statements, and documented the incident.

The bodies were taken to Kisoro Hospital mortuary for postmortem examination.

The driver of the semi-trailer fled the scene and remains at large. Both vehicles were impounded at Kisoro Central Police Station for inspection by the Inspector of Vehicles.

Kigezi Police spokesperson ASP Elly Maate described the crash as ‘unfortunate’ and urged motorists to exercise caution.

‘We urge road users to always be careful and take safety precautionary measures while on the road,’ he said, adding that investigations are ongoing.

The crash has heightened concerns over road safety along the busy Kisoro-Kabale Highway, with authorities calling on drivers to remain vigilant.

Uganda’s forest cover has declined drastically over the past three decades, shrinking from 24 percent (approximately 4,898,335 hectares) in 1990 to the current 12.7 per cent, according to a report by the National Forestry Authority (NFA).

In response to this alarming trend, the NFA has partnered with ATC-Uganda to launch restoration activities in selected forest reserves, starting with Oruha Forest Reserve in Kyenjojo District.

The Oruha initiative aims to restore 30 hectares of bare land by planting 33,330 trees.

NFA Acting Executive Director, Mr Stuart Maniraguha, emphasised that while Uganda is blessed with numerous forest reserves, many continue to face destruction from encroachment and unsustainable human activity.

“Since 2004, ATC-Uganda has established 50 towers covering 25,000 square meters of land and contributes Shs 2.6 billion in annual revenue. In 2021, we agreed to extend this partnership toward restoration of degraded forest reserves,” Mr. Maniraguha said.

He noted that restoration efforts are crucial for both conservation and national development, adding that Uganda’s 10-fold revenue strategy cannot be achieved without forests. “These ecosystems are critical enablers of sustainable growth and resilience,” he emphasized.

The restoration program supports NFA’s 2020-2025 strategic plan, which aims to raise forest cover in Central Forest Reserves from 43 percent in 2021 to 59 percent by 2025. Mr. Maniraguha warned local communities against encroaching on forest reserves, noting that NFA has marked all reserve boundaries in Kyenjojo District with stone markers.

“Protecting existing forests is just as important as restoring degraded ones. Communities must play their role in safeguarding these vital resources,” he said.

ATC Uganda CEO, Ms. Dorothy Ssemanda, emphasized that the partnership with NFA will expand forest cover across the country to enhance climate resilience and contribute to sustainable development.

“For us, tree planting goes beyond carbon offsetting – it’s about restoring balance to nature, protecting biodiversity, safeguarding water catchments, and building community resilience,” she said.

Presidential candidate Mubarak Munyagwa of the Common Man’s Party has called on the youth in Busoga sub-region to embrace politics as a tool to end poverty and push for development.

Speaking at a campaign rally in Iganga District on Thursday, Munyagwa said the region’s stagnation was rooted in poor representation at the national level.

‘Busoga has been left behind in serious politics, and its youth are not actively involved in shaping the region’s future,’ he told the crowd.

‘When young people join politics, they gain the power and energy to bring real change to their communities. This will be possible once you elect me as your president,’ he added.

Busoga, with a population of 4.37 million people according to the May 2024 census, accounts for 9.5 percent of Uganda’s total population.

Iganga alone hosts over 426,000 residents, of whom more than 230,000 are women. Munyagwa argued that the region’s demographic weight could be turned into political leverage if the youth mobilised and organised.

He turned his criticism to the state of healthcare, highlighting overstretched and under-equipped hospitals.

‘If elected, my government will ensure that hospitals are fully equipped and accessible, unlike what is happening now,’ he said, pledging round-the-clock medical services, better funding, and improved working conditions for health workers.

On education, Munyagwa said rural schools were neglected compared to urban ones, creating structural inequality.

‘All schools under my leadership will follow equal policies and meet the same standards,’ he promised, adding that: ‘A village school in Iganga will be just as good as a school in Kampala. We will use taxpayers’ money to make this vision a reality.’

He pledged to upgrade school infrastructure, ensure fair teacher deployment, and provide adequate teaching materials nationwide.

Munyagwa framed his campaign as one aimed at fairness and inclusion, declaring: ‘This is a people’s campaign. Together, we will build a nation where no region, no community, and no citizen is left behind.’

Busoga’s challenges remain formidable. As of the 2021 elections, Iganga’s four constituencies recorded 186,519 votes, with opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi taking 58 percent against President Museveni’s 38 percent.

Residents continue to cite poor road infrastructure, unemployment, weak health and education services, corruption, land disputes, gender-based violence and low agricultural productivity as key concerns.

Iganga voting pattern -2021

Total votes- 186,519

Museveni- 35.660-37.96%

Bobi Wine -54,712-58.23%

Munyagwa- not in race

Rebeccah Gumobare is an events planner and decorator. After obtaining a bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences from Makerere University, she got a job at Crane Bank. She worked diligently for two years, but the administration decided to post her to a remote branch in Kabale. ‘I did not want to be far away from Kampala. This was a challenge for me, and I had to make a decision to leave formal employment, which can be very demanding, unlike self-employment,’ Gumobare recalls.

She then decided to venture into business and opened a boutique named, Fashion Forward in Ntinda, importing and selling clothing from China and Dubai.

In 2016, while pursuing a Master’s degree in Business Administration at the Eastern and South African Management Institute in Arusha, she encountered challenges balancing her studies with the boutique. Consequently, she closed the business in 2017 to focus on completing her degree, but after school, she was left unemployed. In 2020, during the Coronavirus pandemic, she found herself at home with time on her hands. To occupy herself, she began organising small picnics and decorating her compound.

Her first project was Sharon Karogora, her sister in-law’s baby shower, a wife to her brother. Impressed by her creativity during the event, her sister in-law and other guests encouraged her to continue, suggesting she could turn her talent into a source of income. Thus, Zuri Lifestyle Events was born, a name meaning ‘beautiful’ or ‘lovely’ in Swahili. ‘I wanted to create beautiful moments for people,’ Gumobare explains. She began by organising small events for family and friends, such as birthdays, gradually building her experience and reputation.

Zuri Lifestyle Events

Zuri Lifestyle Events offers a range of services, including event planning and décor for weddings, bridal and birthday showers, corporate events, and destination parties. In response to client requests, Gumobare has even travelled to countries such as Zanzibar and Zambia to execute events. She takes pride in the company’s growth, from its humble beginnings to a thriving business that now employs five permanent staff members, while sourcing additional casual laborers as needed for event operations.

The business has also expanded her social network, allowing her to meet a wide array of people, including key figures who have become part of her professional and personal life. To meet specific client needs, she often collaborates with other decorators for items or specialized equipment, such as lighting, that may not be part of her inventory.

Gumobare observes that many decorators in Kampala tend to follow modern trends, often replicating concepts they find online, which can make their work appear monotonous and predictable. In contrast, she prides herself on creating unique designs, through building concepts from scratch to set her apart in the industry.

‘I focus on timeless designs that will not go out of fashion tomorrow,’ she explains. ‘I prefer neutral tones and classic colors like white and black, which remain elegant and enduring.’ Gumobora adds.

Marketing the business

Although Gumobare has not heavily invested in social media marketing, she promotes Zuri Lifestyle Events through platforms such as Instagram, Twitter, and Snapchat. However, most of her clients come through referrals, as she rarely acquires them directly from social media. ‘When I do my work, I make sure it is executed perfectly so that it is appreciated and leads to the next client,’ she explains. When a client contacts her, she arranges a meeting to understand their vision and the specifics of the event. From there, she designs a concept from scratch and presents it to the client. Once approved, Gumobare provides a quotation tailored to the event, taking into account factors such as theme, color scheme, location, venue, and guest numbers.

Gumobare also recalls one of her favourite experiences at Sandra Kekirunga Muhwezi’s event. The client, a party planner herself, had her own clear ideas and vision for the celebration.

For Gumobare, she executed the work meticulously, and the client was extremely pleased with the results. She notes that this event marked a turning point, as it led to numerous subsequent opportunities and referrals in her career.

Challenges

Like many saturated industries, Gumobare notes that the events and décor sector in Uganda includes a number of unprofessional operators. She explains that, in the absence of an association to protect business owners, suppliers often create challenges, sometimes taking payment without delivering, failing to show up, or providing substandard or incorrect goods. In such cases, there is little recourse, and money can be lost in the process.

‘People can be self-centered. During negotiations, everyone may seem aligned, but once payment is made, their approach changes.’ She notes. Gumobare also faces challenges with clients who delay payments and casual laborers who require close supervision, often completing tasks perfunctorily before leaving. Nevertheless, she has learned to be more patient, recognizing that people come from diverse backgrounds and work at different paces.

Similalrly, managing large events is particularly demanding, as Gumobare often takes a hands-on approach and rarely delegates. Combined with setbacks from inconsistent suppliers, this can be exhausting and at times discouraging. However, the appreciation she receives for her work, along with referrals and the income generated, provides motivation to persevere and continue growing her business.

In Uganda, flowers available to decorators are often limited, and Gumobare resorts to sourcing unique and high-quality blooms from Naivasha and Nairobi in Kenya. These suppliers typically require full payment upfront, and on two occasions, she was scammed, having paid for flowers that were never delivered.

Advice

Gumobare advises aspiring entrepreneurs that the hustle never stops. She emphasizes patience, noting that financial rewards do not come immediately, and while success may take years, consistency and dedication will eventually pay off. For clients planning events, she stresses the importance of knowing exactly what they want. If they are uncertain, engaging an events planner early is crucial.

‘Some clients book services just two weeks before their special day,’ she explains. ‘At that point, the items and décor they desire may no longer be available, resulting in compromises. Booking three months in advance allows proper planning and ensures a unique, well-executed event rather than relying on copied concepts.’

Future plans

Gumobare envisions growing Zuri Lifestyle Events into a prominent brand with a presence in the international market, recognising that the Ugandan events industry is highly crowded. As someone who enjoys traveling, she is particularly interested in organising destination weddings, such as beach ceremonies, which she finds less physically demanding.

Although she has not yet received formal training in event planning, she looks forward to attending a short course at the South African School of Weddings and Events to further enhance her skills and expertise.

The First National Vice Chairman of the National Resistance Movement (NRM), Al-Hajji Moses Kigongo, has commended ghetto youth in the Busoga sub-region for shunning opposition politicians with selfish interests.

Speaking at a meeting with ghetto youth leaders in Mafubira, Jinja City North Division on Friday, Kigongo praised the youth for rejecting politicians who seek to use them for criminal activities, especially during the election period.

Kigongo noted that some selfish opposition politicians wanted to use the youth to commit crimes, but the youth had seen through their intentions and shunned them. He thanked the ghetto youth for supporting the NRM government and urged them to vote for President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and other party candidates in the forthcoming elections for continued development.

During the meeting, Kigongo flagged off ghetto SACCOs to dispatch funds to eligible beneficiaries. He requested the ghetto youth who benefited from the Shs100 million empowerment fund given to the 12-ghetto youth SACCOs in Busoga to use the funds well, in order to uplift their livelihoods.

“If you use the funds well, the government will give you more financial support,” he assured.

The Director of Crime Intelligence, Maj. Gen. Christopher Ddamulira, coordinator of the ghetto structures project, thanked President Museveni for extending financial support to the ghetto SACCOs in Busoga. He warned that those who persist in crime will be arrested, while praising law-abiding citizens.

“For those who are persistent to change and still getting involved in crime, we shall arrest you,” he assured.

Special Presidential Assistant on Press and Mobilization, Haji Faruk Kirunda, assured Kigongo of peace and security in the sub-region during the electoral process period. He appealed for more funds for Jinja City’s ghetto youth, citing the city’s densely populated ghettos. He also urged the ghetto youth to vote for President Museveni to consolidate NRM’s achievements.

The Deputy Resident District Commissioner of Jinja City North Division, Hamis Kiganira, requested a government ambulance and police patrol for easy response to citizen calls.