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  • CBS, ABC and NBC Turn Primetime Over to Dolly Parton

    CBS, ABC and NBC Turn Primetime Over to Dolly Parton

    Dolly Parton’s death is bringing her back to television screens across America.

    CBS, ABC, and NBC have all lined up special programming in honour of the country music icon, who died in Nashville on August 25, 2026, at the age of 80 following a brief battle with cancer.

    The three networks are taking different approaches, but each special returns to the life and career of a woman who spent more than six decades in the public eye.

    CBS looks back at an American icon

    CBS moved quickly with “Dolly Parton: An American Icon,” a one-hour primetime special examining her life, career and cultural impact.

    Archival interviews and new reporting will revisit the woman behind songs such as “Jolene,” “9 to 5” and “I Will Always Love You,” while tracing the journey that took her from rural Tennessee to worldwide fame.

    For viewers, it offers the first major network look back at the career that made Dolly one of America’s most recognisable entertainers.

    ABC revisits the woman behind the legend

    ABC is telling Dolly’s story through “Dolly Parton: An American Original,” a special edition of “20/20” led by “World News Tonight” anchor David Muir.

    The programme follows her rise from East Tennessee to global superstardom, while also exploring the different paths she took beyond music.

    Her work in film, television, business and philanthropy helped turn Dolly into far more than a country music star.

    After its ABC broadcast, the special will also stream on Disney+ and Hulu.

    NBC completes the network tribute

    NBC has joined in with “Dolly: An NBC News Special,” shifting attention to her life and the impact she leaves behind.

    The tribute follows an earlier moment of remembrance on “America’s Got Talent,” where the singer received an on-air tribute during a live episode on the night news of her death broke.

    With three major networks now devoting airtime to Dolly, the response reflects the unusual reach of her career.

    Few entertainers moved as easily between country music, Hollywood, television, business and philanthropy. Fewer still remained familiar to several generations at the same time.

    Now, as viewers tune in to remember her, the tributes are giving them another chance to revisit the woman behind the music, the laughter and the larger-than-life personality that made Dolly Parton impossible to mistake for anyone else.

  • Lil Durk Finds Motivation in Tems’ “Free Mind” Behind Bars

    Lil Durk Finds Motivation in Tems’ “Free Mind” Behind Bars

    Lil Durk has revealed the songs helping him stay motivated behind bars, and Tems’ “Free Mind” sits at the top of the list.

    The American rapper, whose real name is Durk Banks, shared the playlist on social media as he remains in custody over an alleged murder-for-hire case.

    Meek Mill’s “Nightmares to Dreams,” Jay-Z’s “Some How Some Way,” 2Pac’s “Changes,” 21 Savage’s “I Wish” and Lauryn Hill’s “Freedom Time” also made the cut.

    Other picks include Morgan Wallen’s “I’m The Problem,” Fridayy’s “Baddest In The Room,” Jadakiss’ “Still Feel Me,” Kanye West’s “Everything I Am” and Lil Baby’s “Dead Fresh.”

    The songs centre on themes of freedom, struggle and survival, giving the playlist extra meaning as Durk faces trial over allegations that he orchestrated a murder-for-hire revenge plot targeting rapper Quando Rondo.

    His trial began on August 20, 2026.

  • Zuena says meeting Museveni left her reflecting on Uganda’s future – Sqoop

    Zuena says meeting Museveni left her reflecting on Uganda’s future – Sqoop

    An afternoon at State House left Zuena Kirema reflecting on leadership, Uganda’s transformation and the kind of legacy leaders should leave behind.

    Zuena shared her thoughts after meeting President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni on Tuesday, describing the encounter as more than a formal engagement.

    In a social media post, she said her interactions with the President often leave her looking at Uganda’s development from a different perspective.

    “A moment of reflection after spending my afternoon with H.E @kagutamuseveni,” she wrote.

    She then turned her attention to what she believes makes leadership meaningful, arguing that positions and titles matter less than the ideas that remain long after a leader is gone.

    “Great leadership is not about titles, it is about ideas that outlive us,” Zuena said.

    She added that her meetings with Museveni challenge her to think more critically about the country’s progress and consider how she can contribute at a local level.

    “Every time I meet him, I leave inspired to think more critically and act more locally about Uganda’s transformation,” she wrote.

    The meeting took place at State House, where President Museveni hosted a group of Ugandan creatives and business figures alongside American singer and actor Tyrese Gibson.

    Among those present were Zuena and her husband, singer Bebe Cool, and Talent Africa Group chief executive officer Aly Alibhai.

    The discussions focused on Uganda’s creative arts and tourism sectors, bringing together local industry players and an international entertainment figure.

    For Zuena, however, the encounter appears to have extended beyond the discussions at State House, prompting her to reflect publicly on leadership, legacy and Uganda’s future.

    Don’t want to miss out on any story? For updates on all Sqoop stories, follow this link on Telegram: https://t.me/Sqoop

  • Bold Fashion week puts the business of African fashion in focus – Sqoop

    Bold Fashion week puts the business of African fashion in focus – Sqoop

    For two nights, Motiv Kampala became more than a runway. It was a meeting point for fashion, culture, commerce and the growing ambition of African designers determined to turn creativity into sustainable businesses.

    The inaugural Bold Fashion Week, held on Friday and Saturday, brought together some of Uganda and Africa’s exciting fashion talent in a showcase held in partnership with I&M Bank and Johnnie Walker.

    Long before the first model stepped onto the catwalk, the mood had already been set.

    Guests arrived dressed for the occasion, turning the venue into a fashion show of its own. Vibrant African prints, flowing silhouettes and carefully constructed statement pieces filled the space as fashion enthusiasts, socialites and creatives posed for photographs, admired each other’s looks and exchanged pleasantries.

    African-inspired music kept the atmosphere lively as the audience settled in for the main event.

    The runway featured a diverse line-up of designers, including Uganda’s Axarya, Discreet Street x Local, Good Fibre, Joan Jade, Kifahari, Kwesh, Lamara, Ofumbi and Shurea Yasmin. Nigeria’s Yemi Shoyemi added a continental flavour to the showcase, reinforcing the event’s ambition of positioning Kampala as a meeting point for African fashion and creativity.

    When the catwalk opened, some of the continent’s leading models took over, presenting the different collections to an attentive audience. Each designer was given a chance to make a statement, with the runway becoming a canvas for different interpretations of African identity, contemporary style and craftsmanship.

    But beneath the glamour, Bold Fashion Week was also making a bigger point: fashion is increasingly becoming serious business.

    For designer Lincoln Axarya, the emergence of platforms that bring designers, investors, customers and creatives together reflects an industry that is slowly moving beyond survival and towards sustainability.

    “The fashion scene across Africa is improving and becoming more profitable,” Axarya said. “We are seeing more designers build proper brands and treat fashion as a serious business.

    “There is still a lot of room to grow, but the industry is moving in the right direction. The talent is there, and with the right investment and support, fashion can create jobs, grow businesses and open up new markets.”

    On Saturday, August 22, Bold Fashion Week partnered with Kampala Artisan Market for a retail marketplace, allowing the designers to take their work directly to potential customers.

    It was an important extension of the fashion week experience. The lights, music and applause of the runway may create attention, but sales are what help designers keep their businesses alive.

    The marketplace gave guests an opportunity to buy pieces from their favourite brands and gave designers a direct connection with the people wearing and paying for their creations.

    That transition from the catwalk to the marketplace may have been the most important statement of the weekend.

    Across Africa, fashion is increasingly being viewed not only as an expression of culture and identity, but also as an economic opportunity. A young population, growing cities, social media and digital marketplaces are giving designers new ways to build audiences and sell beyond their immediate communities.

    For Bold Fashion Week, the debut edition was therefore about more than putting beautiful clothes on a runway.

    It was a reminder that behind every collection is a designer trying to build a brand, create employment, find customers and compete in an increasingly global marketplace.

    Don’t want to miss out on any story? For updates on all Sqoop stories, follow this link on Telegram: https://t.me/Sqoop

  • Tim Curry, the Man Behind Frank-N-Furter and Pennywise, Dies at 80

    Tim Curry, the Man Behind Frank-N-Furter and Pennywise, Dies at 80

    For generations of film and television fans, Tim Curry was impossible to pin down.

    One audience knew him as the wild, seductive Dr. Frank-N-Furter in “The Rocky Horror Picture Show.”

    Another knew him as Pennywise, the terrifying clown who haunted Stephen King’s “It.”

    Somewhere in between, he played villains, butlers, pirates, comedy characters and countless other roles that showed just how far he could stretch.

    Now, the British actor and singer has died at the age of 80. An official specific cause of death has not been announced.

    The actor you could never pin down

    Tim Curry never built his career around playing the conventional leading man.

    He found his strength in unpredictability instead. He could be charming, ridiculous, sinister or frightening, sometimes switching between those qualities within the same performance.

    That range came into full view with one of the most unusual cult films ever made.

    Then came Dr. Frank-N-Furter

    “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” gave Curry the role that would turn him into a cult icon. As Dr. Frank-N-Furter, he created a character that audiences never forgot.

    The film grew into a cult phenomenon, with fans turning screenings into full-scale events, dressing up, singing along and shouting back at the screen. At the centre of all that madness stood Curry.

    Soon, Dr. Frank-N-Furter had become bigger than the film itself.

    But Curry refused to spend the rest of his career trying to repeat it.

    A clown took him in the opposite direction

    His next defining character could not have been more different. Years later, Curry showed audiences another side of his talent when he played Pennywise in the 1990 adaptation of Stephen King’s “It.”

    Gone was the flamboyant rock-and-roll energy of Frank-N-Furter.

    Curry replaced it with a smiling clown who could turn from playful to terrifying in seconds.

    Once again, he had created a character that would outlive the production itself.

    His Pennywise became another pop culture landmark and introduced a generation of viewers to a character they would not forget in a hurry.

    But Tim Curry was more than two iconic roles

    Those two characters may dominate conversations about Curry, but they tell only part of the story.

    Frank-N-Furter and Pennywise may have defined his public image, but Curry’s career reached much further.

    Elsewhere, he brought sharp wit to “Clue,” appeared in “Annie” and “Home Alone 2: Lost in New York,” and moved freely between film, television, theatre and voice acting.

    Whatever the role, Curry brought a distinct presence that made even supporting characters difficult to ignore.

    A stroke changed everything

    Then, in 2012, his life took a dramatic turn. Curry suffered a major stroke that changed his life and affected his ability to perform.

    The stroke slowed his screen career, but it did not end his connection with audiences. He continued to work in voice acting and remained connected to fans, while making occasional public appearances.

    The health setback slowed him down, but it could not erase the characters and performances he had already given the world.

    The characters stay with us

    That is why Curry’s death feels bigger than the loss of one actor. His characters never disappeared when the credits rolled.

    Dr. Frank-N-Furter still fills midnight screenings decades after “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” first hit cinemas.

    Pennywise still frightens audiences who remember Curry’s chilling smile.

    Tim Curry died on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, at the age of 80, and he leaves behind a career that spanned more than five decades and produced characters that outlived the films and television shows that introduced them.

  • Uganda International Fashion Week returns after six years – Sqoop

    Uganda International Fashion Week returns after six years – Sqoop

    After a six-year break, Uganda International Fashion Week (UIFW) is making a comeback, bringing designers, models, creatives and fashion businesses together for a week-long celebration of style, culture and commerce.

    The 2026 edition opens on Sunday, August 30, at the Uganda Manufacturers Association (UMA) Multipurpose Hall in Lugogo and will run through September 5 under the theme “Fashion for Impact.”

    But this year’s UIFW is looking beyond the catwalk.

    The organisers want fashion to serve as a pathway to employment, entrepreneurship and skills development, particularly for young people trying to build careers in Uganda’s growing creative economy.

    The first major activity will be the Fashion and Business Expo, which runs from August 30 to September 1 with free entry.

    The three-day marketplace is expected to bring together more than 10,000 young creatives, giving them an opportunity to display and sell products ranging from clothes and footwear to jewellery, art, crafts and other creative work.

    The UMA hall will effectively become a meeting point between creativity and business, with exhibitions, mentorship sessions, networking and business-to-business connections forming part of the programme.

    Beyond the commercial aspect, the expo will also showcase Uganda’s cultural identity through local fabrics, food, crafts, art and fashion.

    The week will culminate in the runway shows and Grand Finale Gala on September 5, where 100 models selected for the main showcase will take to the runway.

    The models were unveiled by Arapapa in May after undergoing weeks of training and mentorship under designer Lincoln Axarya.

    For UIFW organisers, inclusion is an important part of the comeback. The initiative is designed to create opportunities for young people from different backgrounds, including refugees and persons with disabilities.

    Arapapa founder Santa Anzo said the ambition is to use fashion as a practical tool for improving livelihoods rather than treating it purely as entertainment.

    “UIFW aims to improve livelihoods, turn talents into skills to create employment opportunities and empower young people, especially women and girls, socially, economically and mentally,” she said.

    “We want every fabric showcased on September 5 to contribute to dignified employment and sustainable income. We hope to transform the lives of 10,000 young people over the next three years through this initiative.”

    The return of UIFW is also expected to give Ugandan creatives access to a wider international network.

    Fashion professionals and established brands from Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, Kenya, Zimbabwe and India are expected to participate in activities throughout the week, creating opportunities for mentorship, knowledge sharing and potential business partnerships.

    For emerging designers, the international presence could offer a rare chance to engage directly with professionals who have experience navigating fashion markets beyond Uganda.

    Meanwhile, several Ugandan designers are preparing their collections for the showcase, with names such as Lincoln Axarya, Anita Beryl and Natasha Rubadiri among those putting the finishing touches to their work.

    After six years away, UIFW’s return is therefore being positioned as more than a fashion comeback. Its organisers are betting on the industry as a vehicle for jobs, business, cultural exchange and new opportunities for Uganda’s young creatives.

    Don’t want to miss out on any story? For updates on all Sqoop stories, follow this link on Telegram: https://t.me/Sqoop

  • TikToker ‘Pressure 24/7’ granted mandatory bail after five months on remand – Sqoop

    TikToker ‘Pressure 24/7’ granted mandatory bail after five months on remand – Sqoop

    TikToker Ibrahim Musana, popularly known as Pressure 247, has been granted mandatory bail after spending about five months on remand over alleged offensive content concerning Chief of Defence Forces Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba.

    READ: TikToker Pressure 24/7 charged with hate speech against Muhoozi

    The Buganda Road Chief Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday ruled that Musana had stayed on remand well beyond the 60-day constitutional threshold without his trial commencing.

    Grade One Magistrate Rophine Achayo, delivering the ruling on behalf of Chief Magistrate Ritah Neumbe Kidasa, said the court was satisfied that the delay in bringing the case to trial was not caused by Musana.

    Under Article 23(6)(b) of the Constitution, an accused person who has spent 60 days on remand without trial is entitled to apply for mandatory bail.

    “The applicant is entitled to be released on bail, and the only matter falling for the court’s determination is the terms on which that release should be granted,” Magistrate Achayo said.

    The court set Musana’s cash bail at Shs1 million and ordered him to provide two substantial sureties. Each surety will be required to sign a non-cash bond of Shs5 million.

    The sureties must also provide proof of a fixed and verifiable place of residence or employment within the court’s jurisdiction.

    As part of the conditions, Musana will surrender his National Identity Card and present an introductory letter from his LC1 chairperson.

    He has also been warned against contacting or interfering with Gen Muhoozi, witnesses or investigations related to the case, either directly or through other people.

    The bail ruling does not, however, mean Musana is walking out of Luzira immediately.

    He will remain in custody until his sureties have been vetted and approved and all the required documentation and payments have been completed.

    Musana’s troubles began after he was accused of publishing content on his TikTok account, @pressure247, concerning Gen Muhoozi.

    Prosecution alleges that on March 5, 2026, at Asante Apartments in Kyanja, Nakawa Division, Musana obtained and processed a photograph and the name of Gen Muhoozi without his consent.

    He is also accused of publishing content claiming that Muhoozi was unfit to serve as Chief of Defence Forces, which the prosecution says was intended to ridicule, degrade or demean the army chief.

    He faces charges of unlawfully obtaining or processing personal data under Section 35 of the Data Protection and Privacy Act and hate speech under Section 26 of the Computer Misuse Act.

    Musana was remanded in March after the charges were sanctioned. His case was subsequently mentioned several times without the trial starting, with prosecution attributing the delays to administrative issues surrounding the movement of the case file between Police Headquarters and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

    READ: State not ready to prosecute Pressure 24/7 over insulting Museveni

    ALSO READ: State given three weeks to conclude probe against Pressure 24/7

    ALSO READ: Pressure’s woes deepen as court rejects his bail

    ALSO  READ: TikToker remanded to Luzira over abusing Kabaka, Museveni

    His lawyer, Yasin Ssentumbwe Munagomba, formally raised the mandatory bail application on July 22 and argued it before court on August 5.

    State Attorney Grace Amy did not oppose his release but asked the court to impose conditions that would ensure Musana returns for subsequent proceedings.

    Musana is expected back in court on September 9, when the case will come up for further proceedings.

    Don’t want to miss out on any story? For updates on all Sqoop stories, follow this link on Telegram: https://t.me/Sqoop

  • Guvnor slashes Serendipity ticket prices ahead of Kevin Lyttle Show – Sqoop

    Guvnor slashes Serendipity ticket prices ahead of Kevin Lyttle Show – Sqoop

    Club Guvnor is giving Kampala partygoers another reason to make plans for September, with a one week flash sale now offering discounted tickets to the much anticipated Serendipity Summer Splash Street Party.

    From today until August 31, revelers can purchase tickets for Shs50,000, saving Shs20,000 off the regular online early bird price of Shs70,000.

    The street party is scheduled for Sunday, September 13, outside Club Guvnor Streetside, where the surrounding industrial area will be transformed into an outdoor entertainment zone running from daytime into the early hours of the following morning.

    The biggest draw on the lineup will be international dancehall and soca star Kevin Lyttle, the voice behind the global hit Turn Me On. His appearance is expected to give the Kampala party a distinctly Caribbean flavour as he brings his energetic live show to the event.

    For those who miss the flash sale, online tickets will return to Shs70,000 after August 31, while tickets at the gate will cost Shs150,000. Tables are going for Shs2m.

    Tickets are being sold through Quicket Uganda.

    With the discounted offer available for only one week, organisers are encouraging partygoers to secure their spots early before prices return to normal.

    Don’t want to miss out on any story? For updates on all Sqoop stories, follow this link on Telegram: https://t.me/Sqoop

  • Before You Clap Back, DJ Roja Has Some Advice

    Before You Clap Back, DJ Roja Has Some Advice

    Before rushing to fire back at that comment, Roja has a little something for you.

    The celebrated Ugandan DJ, born Rogers Kitaka, has shared a Bible-inspired take on arguments, saying people do not have to react to everything that comes their way.

    Referencing the verse in which Jesus says that if someone slaps you on one cheek, turn the other cheek too, Roja wrote:

    That Bible verse where Jesus said, ‘If they slap you on the left cheek, turn the other one too,’ simply teaches us that you do not have to react to everything.

    And before that quick reply turns into a full-blown back-and-forth, he has a reason to think twice about hitting send.

    Sometimes, replying only makes things worse and keeps the argument going.

    Roja’s advice for anyone preparing that clap back is to leave some things alone.

    Not everything needs a response. Sometimes, just let it go.

  • Chosen Becky: They lied to us that marriage is difficult

    Chosen Becky: They lied to us that marriage is difficult

    Chosen Becky has dismissed the idea that marriage is always difficult, saying her experience with her husband, Abdul Ssekajja, has shown her that marriage can be enjoyable when two people are right for each other.

    Becky said she believes having the right partner, together with prayer, can make a big difference in a marriage. She also playfully pointed to her own happiness and physical appearance as evidence of how well she is enjoying married life.

    It is really fun. They lied to us that marriage is hard. You just have to pray that God gives you the right partner. When God gives you the right person, you love them and they love you. Things are fun. Look at me, the weight and the nyash.

    Abdul Ssekajja slams men who abandon women after getting them pregnant

    Chosen Becky and Ssekajja held a civil wedding ceremony in December last year, formalising their relationship after years of being together.

    The couple have since welcomed a baby girl, bringing Becky’s total number of children to five, with four of them from her previous relationships.

    The post Chosen Becky: They lied to us that marriage is difficult appeared first on MBU.

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