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At least 100 students at the Law Development Centre (LDC) who failed the recently released Bar Course examinations have petitioned the institution’s management, challenging what they describe as the unfair and punitive application of academic rules.

In a petition dated March 23 and addressed to the LDC Management Committee, the students are seeking urgent administrative intervention to review examination regulations governing supplementary examinations and course repetition.

“We, the undersigned students of the Bar Course, petition the management to exercise its powers under Rule 29 (as amended), together with Rule 34(3), to issue appropriate administrative orders in the interest of justice and relax the strict application of the Rules,” the petition states in part.

Dispute Over Supplementary Exams

At the heart of the dispute is the interpretation of LDC’s examination regulations.

The students argue that under Rule 17(2), a student who fails not more than two Category “A” subjects qualifies to sit supplementary examinations.

However, they say Rules 21(5) and 21(6) provide that a student who fails three Category “A” subjects is automatically deemed to have failed the entire Bar Course, becomes ineligible for supplementary examinations, and must repeat the whole programme.

“This creates a clear distinction between students eligible for remedial assessment and those excluded from it,” the petition notes.

According to the students, the framework effectively treats what they describe as marginal failure as total failure, forcing affected candidates to repeat the entire Bar Course even where they passed most of their papers.

Students Call Rules Unduly Harsh

The petitioners argue that the current framework is excessively harsh, especially for candidates who narrowly missed pass marks in only a few papers.

“Supplementary examinations and the repetition of specific subjects are remedial mechanisms intended to address marginal deficiencies. Denying access to these mechanisms in such cases defeats their purpose and renders the framework unduly punitive,” they argue.

They further say the strict enforcement of the rules creates injustice among students in the same cohort and unfairly disrupts academic progression.

According to the petition, the number of affected students is substantial, and denying them supplementary examinations places unnecessary strain on both learners and the institution.

Remedies Sought

Among the remedies proposed, the students want LDC to:

Waive or relax Rules 21(5) and 21(6)
Allow students who failed Category “A” subjects to sit supplementary examinations
Alternatively permit them to repeat only the failed subjects instead of the entire Bar Course

The students emphasized that their petition is not intended to lower the institution’s academic standards.

“Our petition does not seek to lower the academic standards of LDC but to ensure fair and proportionate application of the Rules,” they wrote.

“The present circumstances call for a purposive and humane application of the Rules. This is a proper case for the exercise of discretion in the interest of justice.”

Wider Appeal for Intervention

Beyond the LDC management, the students have also petitioned the Attorney General, the Uganda Law Society, and Parliament, seeking broader intervention in the matter.

Efforts to obtain a comment from LDC management were unsuccessful by press time.

The petition is likely to reignite debate on the rigidity of Bar Course regulations and the balance between maintaining professional standards and ensuring fairness in legal education.

The race for the 92nd Makerere University Guild Presidency has been building toward a flashpoint for weeks. Tomorrow, April 7, 2026, it may arrive — in Kikoni, at Nalika Lane, where two of the most prominent candidates in the field have each announced major campaign events at the same venue, on the same day, at the same time.

The two candidates at the centre of the standoff are Gracious Kadondi, affiliated with the opposition National Unity Platform (NUP), and Hannah Karema Tumukunde — former Miss Uganda and arguably the most recognisable face in the 92nd guild race.

Both camps say they booked Nalika Lane first. Neither has stood down. Police have not yet issued guidance. And the student community is watching with a mixture of anticipation and genuine anxiety about what Tuesday will bring.

Two Events. One Venue. Two Very Different Vibes.

The irony of the situation is not lost on anyone following the campaign closely. Both candidates have announced headline-grabbing entertainment lineups designed to pull massive crowds — which means that if both events proceed as planned at the same location, the result will not be a party. It will be a confrontation.

Kadondi has billed her event as a “Street Jam” featuring King Saha, Nubian Li, Dax Vibez, Kabako, and Nina Roz — a lineup that would draw significant numbers on its own terms, regardless of the political context.

Karema has branded hers “Retake yebinyanya nyanya” and promises DJ Suuna Ben, Sheebah Karungi, B2C, and others — a set of names that similarly guarantees a large turnout from Makerere’s student population.

Under different circumstances, either event would be one of the campaign season’s highlights. Together at the same venue, they represent a potential tinderbox.

Each Side Claims Priority Booking

The dispute over the venue booking has sharpened the tension considerably. Each camp insists it secured Nalika Lane first, and each has accused the other of deliberate provocation.

Karema’s team has been particularly pointed in its public communication. In a formal statement issued to her supporters, Karema said her team had written to the Inspector General of Police seeking permission to host a series of campaign events in Kikoni — including a porridge night at MISH Hostel and a street jam at Douglas Villa and Nalika Lane. She said all events had been cleared by the relevant authorities.

She flatly rejected accusations that her team deliberately chose the venue to engineer a confrontation. Instead, she accused unnamed rivals of exploiting delays in the release of her campaign flyers to announce their own event at the same venue on the same day — effectively jumping a booking that was already in place.

“Anyone claiming to have booked the venue earlier should present verifiable evidence to the public,” her statement said.

Kadondi’s camp has not publicly backed down from their event plans either. With two sets of supporters, two sets of booked artists, and two candidate teams converging on the same street, the conditions for disorder are undeniably present.

This Is Not The First Flashpoint This Season

The Nalika Lane standoff is the latest — and most serious — escalation in a campaign season that has already seen significant disorder.

On March 27, 2026, Makerere University authorities were forced to halt the 92nd Guild Presidential debate after clashes broke out between supporters of Kadondi and Karema shortly after Karema made her remarks at the debate. The Guild Electoral Commission Chairperson, Maureen Owomugisha, confirmed that the debate would be rescheduled once the situation had calmed — a rescheduling that itself signals how volatile the atmosphere around this particular contest has become.

The two candidates and their respective support bases have generated the kind of energy that makes for a compelling election — but also the kind that, without careful management, tips from excitement into violence.

Police Yet To Respond

As of Monday, the Uganda Police Force had not issued any public guidance on how the rival events at Nalika Lane would be managed on Tuesday. That silence is itself a source of concern for those monitoring the situation.

Without a clear police directive — on whether one event will be permitted to proceed, whether both will be allowed on condition of separation, or whether the venue will be declared off-limits to both camps — the risk of supporters arriving, finding a rival event in progress, and responding badly is real.

The Guild Electoral Commission, which has already had to intervene once this season to halt a debate that descended into chaos, will also be watching closely.

Beyond the immediate question of tomorrow’s events, the Nalika Lane standoff illustrates something larger about the 92nd Guild Presidential race: it has become, by some distance, the most intensely contested and politically charged Makerere guild election in recent memory.

The competition between Kadondi — whose NUP affiliation gives her campaign a distinctly national political dimension — and Karema — whose public profile and manifesto-driven campaign have attracted significant media attention — has energised a student body that is paying close attention to both candidates and what they represent.

That energy is a sign of a healthy democratic culture on campus. Whether it can be channelled constructively through the remainder of the campaign, or whether it will continue to spill over into disorder, may depend significantly on what happens at Nalika Lane tomorrow.

Fresh graduates in Uganda now have an exciting opportunity to kickstart their banking careers after UGAFODE Microfinance announced its Graduate Trainee Program 2026.

The programme is designed to equip recent graduates with hands-on experience, mentorship, and practical skills needed to build a successful long-term career in the banking and financial services sector.

This is an ideal opportunity for young professionals looking to gain real workplace exposure in one of Uganda’s leading microfinance institutions.

Programme Overview

UGAFODE says the graduate trainee programme is aimed at nurturing talent by providing:

Hands-on banking experience
Structured mentorship
Workplace exposure
Career development skills
Practical professional growth opportunities

The programme is open to fresh graduates from 2025 and 2026.

Eligibility Requirements

To qualify, applicants must meet the following criteria:

Must be a graduate of 2025 or 2026
At least a credit in Mathematics and English at O-Level
At least 2 principal passes at A-Level
Minimum of a Diploma or Bachelor’s Degree in any field
Qualification must be from a recognized university
Must be 25 years old or below
Proficiency in MS Office Applications
Strong integrity and good attitude
Experience
No prior work experience is required
Internship experience will be an added advantage

This makes it one of the best fresher job opportunities in Uganda for young graduates seeking entry into banking.

How to Apply

Interested candidates should submit:

An application letter
An updated CV

Send to: recruitment@ugafode.co.ug

Important Instructions
Save the documents using your full name
Indicate “Graduate Trainee Program 2026” in the email subject line
Address your application to the Head of Human Resources

Deadline: 30th April 2026

Equal Opportunity

UGAFODE is an equal opportunity employer, and women are strongly encouraged to apply.

Beenie Gunter is kicking off 2026 with fire in his veins and a statement on his lips. His latest single, “Dreams Can’t Die,” featuring Jamaican hitmaker Dexta Daps, isn’t just a song. It’s a declaration.

Released on February 20, just days before his long-awaited album “New School Tape Vol. 1” dropped on February 23, the track arrives with purpose and pulse.

From the first beat, it feels bigger than a typical collaboration, it’s Africa and Jamaica locking into one rhythm, one message, one unstoppable wave.

Behind the scenes, the vision was clear from the start. According to Terror Family Productions’ Mark Lawrence, this was about more than music, it was about movement. Dancehall, once rooted in Kingston’s streets, is now a global language, and “Dreams Can’t Die” speaks it fluently, bridging continents while staying true to its roots.

Talent Africa Group’s Executive Producer Aly Allibhai recalls the moment the track clicked: the riddim carried an uplifting energy, yet still hit with a militant edge, a perfect balance of hope and hustle.

Executive produced by Tag Studios alongside Terror Family Productions, the song stands as Beenie Gunter’s first major Jamaica-based collaboration of the year. And it lands with impact. His sharp, commanding delivery cuts through the beat, while Dexta Daps glides over it with his signature emotional, melodic touch. The chemistry is effortless, the message undeniable: resilience, ambition, and belief in purpose.

Terror Family Productions, known for shaping dancehall’s soundscape including work with Popcaan on tracks like “Feeling Alive (Up Yuhself)” and the widely loved “Survivor” brings that same pedigree to this release, adding weight to an already powerful record.

But “Dreams Can’t Die” is the heartbeat of “New School Tape Vol. 1.” The album dives deep into Beenie Gunter’s journey: the highs, the setbacks, the 2024 management shifts, and the personal evolution that has shaped him into one of Uganda’s leading dancehall voices.

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If December owns nostalgia, then Easter has quietly claimed its place as Uganda’s most indulgent social holiday, a long weekend that invites Kampala’s revelers to fully surrender to music, nightlife and the simple joy of gathering.

This year was no exception.

On Good Friday, The Villa filled steadily as patrons streamed in for its now customary live band night, a growing staple within the city’s nightlife ecosystem. Across Kampala, live music has evolved from a niche offering into a defining feature of urban leisure, with bands like Abeeka Band, Janzi Band, and Vanessa and the Band building loyal audiences through tightly curated performances that blur the lines between nostalgia and contemporary sound.

At The Villa, The Maestro’s Band has been steadily contributing to this movement, crafting a reputation for dynamic sets and strategic collaborations. In recent weeks alone, they have shared the stage with artists like Lilian Mbabazi, whose vocal range and storytelling added depth to their repertoire.

Good Friday’s edition, part of the broader Tusker Malt and The Singleton Band Nights platform, leaned into this collaborative spirit. The night’s guest was Mbarara-based singer T-Paul, whose arrival signaled a shift from a routine performance into something more electric.

Tusker Malt and The Singleton Band Nights feed into Kampala’s live band phenomenon, curating memorable nights but at the same time give people a chance to express while experiencing the two brands.

“Our focus with Tusker Malt Band Nights is to celebrate the richness of Uganda’s live music culture by creating platforms where artists and bands can truly connect with their audiences. Nights like these show that live performance is not just entertainment, it’s an experience that brings people together, and we are proud to be part of that story,” said Sandra Againe, the brand manager, Tusker Malt.

The band eased into the night just before 10pm, working through a fluid setlist that oscillated between contemporary hits and old-school classics. The audience, buoyed by the elasticity of a long weekend, responded with equal enthusiasm, indulging in sing-alongs, call-and-response moments, and the occasional comic relief from media personality Isaac Katende.

There was an ease to the night: cocktails circulated, beer buckets made their rounds, and the crowd settled into a rhythm that felt both familiar and anticipatory. Then T-Paul stepped on stage.

Fresh off a high-energy showing at the Tusker Lite Neon Rave in Mbarara, he carried that same momentum into Bukoto. His set was equal parts performance and communion, running through crowd favorites like Nyamunyonyi, Ekirabo, and Sawa Sawa (his collaboration with Lydia Jazmine), each delivered with a confidence that kept the audience firmly in his grasp.

But it was his awareness of the moment that stood out. Acknowledging the Easter weekend, T-Paul pivoted into gospel, briefly transforming the venue into something akin to a late-night fellowship. Joined by two vocalists, he steered the crowd through a soulful interlude that blurred the boundaries between performance and  worship, before seamlessly returning to the high-energy set that had defined the evening.

Moments like these underscore why live band nights continue to resonate. Beyond the music, they offer unpredictability, spaces where genres collide, artists experiment, and audiences become active participants rather than passive listeners.

In Kampala today, that experience is increasingly being shaped by platforms that understand the cultural currency of live performance. Without overwhelming the stage, brands like The Singleton and Tusker Malt have positioned themselves within these spaces, less as sponsors and more as enablers of a nightlife culture that values authenticity, collaboration, and musicality.

As the night at The Villa stretched into the early hours, one thing was clear: live band culture is no longer just an alternative, it is the main event.

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If landing an internship at the Bank of Uganda has been on your radar, mark your calendar for Monday, April 27, 2026 — that is the date applications officially open for one of the most competitive and prestigious student internship programmes in the country.

The Bank of Uganda announced on April 2, 2026 that its 2026 Internship Program will comprise three separate one-month intakes running in June, July, and August 2026. Applications close at close of business on Friday, May 8, 2026 — giving interested students a narrow but workable window of less than two weeks from the opening date to get their applications in order.

The Bank of Uganda is Uganda’s central bank — the institution responsible for formulating and implementing monetary policy, regulating and supervising financial institutions, managing the country’s foreign exchange reserves, and issuing currency. An internship at the Bank of Uganda is not a typical placement. It is a front-row seat to the mechanics of Uganda’s financial system, and a credential that carries significant weight on any CV in the banking, finance, economics, or public policy space.

For students in relevant disciplines, this is among the most valuable professional development opportunities available in Uganda at the undergraduate level.

Selection for the programme is based on a combination of criteria that applicants must meet. The Bank requires a minimum Cumulative Grade Point Average of 3.6 — meaning this programme is targeted at academically strong students who are performing consistently well in their studies. Applicants must also be continuing students — meaning you must currently be enrolled at your institution, not a recent graduate.

Critically, the relevance of your course of study to Bank of Uganda operations will be a significant factor in the selection process. Students in Economics, Finance, Accounting, Statistics, Computer Science, Law, Business Administration, Engineering, and related disciplines are most likely to be considered, though the Bank has not published an exclusive list of eligible courses.

Selection will also operate on a first-come, first-serve basis among qualifying applicants — meaning that once you are ready, you should not wait.

Your application must include three documents submitted together as a complete package. A cover letter addressed to the Bank of Uganda. A recent certified academic transcript or testimonial showing your full results for your first and second year of study — provisional results will not suffice, and the transcript must be certified. An introductory letter from your institution of study confirming your current enrolment status.

All applications must be submitted online through the Bank of Uganda’s official website. The specific application link will go live on April 27, 2026.

If you submitted an application to the Bank of Uganda’s internship programme before this announcement was made, your earlier submission will not be considered. The Bank has explicitly requested that all previous applicants reapply using the new official online application link that will be available from April 27. Do not assume your old application is still active — reapply through the official channel.

Applications open: Monday, April 27, 2026. Application deadline: Close of business, Friday, May 8, 2026. Internship intakes: June, July, and August 2026 — one month each.

How To Prepare Before April 27

Since applications open in less than a month, now is the time to get your documents ready so you can apply immediately when the portal goes live. Begin by obtaining a certified copy of your academic transcript from your institution’s registrar — this process can take several days at most universities, so do not leave it until the last minute. Draft your cover letter now, tailoring it to the Bank of Uganda’s mandate and clearly articulating how your course of study is relevant to central banking operations. Request your introductory letter from your institution’s Dean of Students or Academic Registrar as soon as possible. And visit the Bank of Uganda website regularly from April 27 to locate the application link the moment it appears.

Given the first-come, first-serve element of the selection process, being ready to apply on opening day could make a meaningful difference to your chances.

Application portal goes live: www.bou.or.ug from April 27, 2026

Deadline: Close of business, Friday, May 8, 2026

On Friday night, at Nomad Bar & Lounge, the moment an 1942 bottle was ordered, the room shifted. The music dipped just enough to make space for the ritual, then the now iconic ‘rip’ soundtrack buzzed out of the speakers,  in theatrical rhythm, bringing about a break in conversation.

And then the procession began; a 1942 bottle lifted above shoulders, carried through the crowd like a small, glowing trophy. Heads turned, phones rose, and for a few seconds, everyone belonged to someone else’s celebration. Then, just as quickly, the music reclaimed the room.

But if the bottle was the spark, the night itself was built elsewhere, on the dancefloor, in the DJ booth, and in the easy, unforced rhythm of a space settling into its identity.

The occasion doubled as the unveiling of a new partnership, dressed up as A Night in Mexico. It was less about literal translation and more about suggestion.

Musically, the night understood its assignment.

Danny Deep, leading the lineup, resisted the temptation to chase instant highs. His set moved with patience, deep house at its core, layered with percussive textures that allowed the room to build rather than spike. It was the kind of set that trusts the crowd to arrive, not be dragged. Around him, the resident DJs kept the energy elastic, stretching between familiar rhythms and more exploratory turns without losing the floor.

And that is where the night found its balance.

Because while the spectacle of the bottle repeated itself, again and again, each time greeted with the same brief rupture of attention, it never quite overtook the music. If anything, it became part of the choreography of the room: a recurring interruption that people acknowledged, then moved past, returning to their own pockets of rhythm.

Around this, Don Julio’s presence was deliberate, but measured. The bar carried the full range, with cocktails and bottle service folding naturally into the night’s rhythm rather than competing with it. The focus, particularly on the 1942 expression, leaned into ritual, presentation, anticipation, and that now-familiar procession through the crowd, less as intrusion and more as theatre that the room had come to expect.

“As a luxury tequila, we are always looking for ways to elevate how our consumers experience celebration,” said Judie Nandekya, Senior Brand Manager for Tequila and Rum East Africa. “The 1942 serves a very particular kind of moment, and partnerships like this allow us to bring that to life in spaces where our audience already feels at home.

There were other details that hinted at a venue thinking carefully about itself. The pacing behind the bar, the spacing on the floor, the way the crowd moved without friction, small things, but they accumulate. Nomad Bar & Lounge, still in its reimagined phase, is beginning to look less like a reopening and more like a place with intent.

What A Night in Mexico ultimately revealed, was not how far a theme could travel, but how easily Kampala absorbs and reshapes these imported ideas. The city does not imitate for long; it edits. By midnight, whatever traces of Cancun had been suggested were gone, replaced by something more familiar, looser, warmer, local.

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