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MultiChoice Uganda, a CANAL+ Company, has reaffirmed its support for Uganda’s film and television industry by partnering with the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) for the 2026 Uganda Film Festival Awards.

The partnership brought MultiChoice Uganda together with filmmakers, actors, producers, directors, scriptwriters and other creatives to celebrate the talent and stories shaping Uganda’s growing creative industry.

The Uganda Film Festival has, since its launch in 2013, developed into a major platform for showcasing local films, recognising outstanding talent and providing opportunities for creatives to develop their skills and reach wider audiences.

At this year’s awards gala, filmmakers and other industry professionals were recognised in several categories for their contribution to Ugandan film and storytelling.

MultiChoice Uganda received the Festival Award, while actor Derrick Baka won Best Actor in a TV Drama/Series for his performance in Damalie, a production supported by MultiChoice Uganda.

Speaking at the awards, Colin Asiimwe, Head of Marketing at MultiChoice Uganda, said the company’s partnership with the festival reflects its commitment to promoting Ugandan stories and creating opportunities for local talent.

“As we celebrate tonight, we are reminded of the incredible talent and creativity within Uganda’s film industry and the strength of the stories our filmmakers are producing,” Asiimwe said.

He said film and storytelling play an important role in preserving culture, inspiring conversations and connecting audiences with authentic Ugandan experiences.

“Uganda’s film industry continues to demonstrate its ability to tell authentic stories that resonate deeply with audiences both locally and across the continent,” he added.

Through its platforms, including Pearl Magic and Pearl Magic Prime, MultiChoice Uganda continues to invest in local productions aimed at showcasing Ugandan culture, experiences and talent to audiences in Uganda and across Africa.

The company’s support comes as Uganda’s creative industry continues to expand, creating opportunities for employment, entrepreneurship and youth empowerment while promoting cultural preservation and tourism.

UNESCO estimates that Africa’s film and audiovisual industry has the potential to create more than 20 million jobs and contribute over USD 20 billion to the continent’s economy.

The 2026 Uganda Film Festival also featured film screenings, training sessions, workshops and mentorship programmes, with more than 50 Ugandan films showcased during the festival.

The activities brought together professionals from different areas of production, including actors, producers, directors, cinematographers, editors, makeup artists, costume designers, sound engineers and scriptwriters.

UCC Executive Director Nyombi Thembo said the commission remains committed to supporting the development of Uganda’s film industry.

He also commended the Ministry, the Uganda Film Festival jury, UCC team, nominees and winners for their contribution to the festival.

“The festival launched in 2013 and has grown significantly over the past 13 years, with increasing film submissions, improving production quality and growing international recognition of Ugandan films,” Nyombi said.

The Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to veteran actor and filmmaker Andrew Benon Kibuuka by Minister Justin Namere, who represented ICT Minister Justine Lumumba, the Guest of Honour.

LIST OF WINNERS

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD – ANDREW BENON KIBUUKA

FESTIVAL CHAMPION – MULTICHOICE UGANDA

BEST SCREENPLAY – AYENY T. STEVE & NATASHA GRACE GASHUMBA / ADUI

BEST ACTRESS IN A FEATURE FILM – FLORENCE MARISERENA / SMALL GODS

BEST ACTOR IN A FEATURE FILM – MICHAEL WAWUYO JR / THE UNFORGIVABLE

BEST SOUND DESIGNER – SIMON AGOLA / THE UNFORGIVABLE

BEST ACTRESS IN A TV DRAMA/ SERIES – DIANA KAHUNDE

BEST ACTOR IN A TV DRAMA/ SERIES – DERRICK BAKA

BEST REGIONAL FILM – NO/NEDDA (CENTRAL REGION)

BEST DOCUMENTARY FILM WINNER – EKITIIBWA KYO’BULOGO

BEST ANIMATION FILM WINNER – AMARA AND THE SPIRIT OF NYAMAGUNDA

BEST SHORT FILM – IFINITY

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN – ROKA STARS, MAGOOLA JOTHAM AND TUMUSIIME ROBERT UINTES FOR WAKA WAKA

BEST COSTUME DESIGN – ELTON GYAZA / YOU MAY KISS THE BRIDE GOODBYE

BEST POST PRODUCTION / EDITING – OKOTH PETER AND ALIBET JOSHUA / ADUI

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By Fab Mc

In partnership with Manifest TV, Zabuli Music Ministries presents season 2 of the “Can You Praise” talent search, which introduces participants to the core values of intentional Christian music ministry. Talented solo artists or music groups that can sing or rap are eligible to take part in the talent search competition.

As she addressed journalists today, Jalia Nasejje alias Zabuli, the brain behind the talent search, said, “Well, we did our first season in 2019, and we took a break from 2020 until almost the end of 2022. After season 1, we had to undergo so much learning on the job that we needed to reassess before we returned for another season. Even the person speaking had a lot of growing to do.

We needed time to grow, regroup, and then come back to do better. That’s why it’s going to be one of the greatest things that people get to be a part of because we planned and took the time to develop it; we are doing a talent search. Now because we are ready for the next challenge in growth and service as long as it prepares another artist to provide better service with their talents.”

In addition, Zabuli said that registration will start from 2nd January to 3rd February 2023 at Praise Cathedral Church, Ntinda opposite Hotel Eliana. She urged interested parties to register in time to be part of the competition.

During the session, I got to ask her a few questions that came to mind

Fab Mc: What is this talent thing all about?

Zabuli: I want to help every musically talented artist and minister in the Christian fraternity be mentored so that they can be able to serve better with their music. This is through being equipped with proper preparations, so they can deliver for God because they walk with purpose in all that they do.

Fab Mc: What are you looking for in this talent search? Who is eligible?

Zarbuli: Well, firstly, we’re looking for a Christian, secondly, someone who can sing or rap, either as a solo artist, a group, or a choir. For artists of any genre, you must be above the age of 18, but if you are younger than 18, you need the support of a guardian who will not only be responsible for you but will also nurture and maintain your growth beyond music.

Fab Mc: When is the grand finale?

Zabuli: It will happen in April 2023, on the 30th at Vive Church at The Oasis

Fab Mc: What is in store for the winner?

Zabuli: At least 10 million Ugandan shillings worth of cash prize money. Through mentorship classes like the ones ‘Can You Praise’ talent search offers young artists, there is a window for artists to be equipped with knowledge for international ministry and artistry in the music industry.

Click the link to register: Can You Praise Registration 2023

About Post Author

Many people want to invest in real estate, but the amount of money required to invest in the sector scares many. More so, how to manage the business is another challenge all together. However, there is one man who never stops to invest in real estate. Every year, Sudhir Ruparelia, oversees a new project on his table, and there, he has a secret many dreamers don’t know.

Ruparelia Group founder is the king of real estate in Uganda. No Ugandan alive has built so much commercial properties like him. When Sudhir Ruparelia talks business or real estate, everyone listens. His investments are mainly in the areas of banking, insurance, education, broadcasting, real estate, floriculture, hotels, and resorts.

That is why when talks at Uganda Revenue Authority tax events where a number of prominent guests discuss matters of national tax policies everyone listens.

Dr. Sudhir Ruparelia, recognized by Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) as Uganda’s top Tax Payer has shared his hindsight on why he believes Real Estate is the real deal which has perseverance through all seasons.

He cautions investors against borrowing to start the real estate business, instead to grow organically.

“Allow some form of organic growth. So long as you have a good amount of cash flow coming in, you mainly need to focus on the right location and the right plan, that’s all,” Sudhir says adding, ”just invest and plan right.”

The point is, Sudhir says start from where you are and grow upwards.

“First, try and grow according to the cash flow you have and are creating. It is probably the best option. Because the truth is said, opportunities come all the time, especially when you have good cash flow. Take those opportunities.”

URA awarded dozens of companies, individuals and government agencies in different categories and the billionaire was a highlight speaker.

Sudhir remains the highest property tax payer in the country and URA has year after year recognized his efforts to create a robust real estate empire. The billionaire’s property companies own more than 300 commercial buildings and continues to be a developer adding to Kampala’s growing skyline each passing year.

 

 

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Former MP John Ssimbwa: Rwabwogo Must Answer Gen Muhoozi’s Questions, Not Hide Behind Religion or Poor Parentage

Former Makindye East MP John Ssimbwa has called on Odrek Rwabwogo to directly address the serious questions raised by Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, rather than deflecting into emotional arguments about religion or his humble upbringing.

Speaking on BBS Terefayina’s popular talk show Zimba Ensi Yo, Ssimbwa argued that the allegations against Rwabwogo—who chairs the Presidential Advisory Committee on Exports and Industrial Development (PACEID)—require substantive answers, not appeals to faith or background.

“Rwabwogo should answer the questions raised by Gen Muhoozi,” Ssimbwa demanded, criticizing attempts to “hide behind emotional issues like religion and poor parentage.” The former legislator stressed that public accountability cannot be sidestepped using personal narratives.

Ssimbwa highlighted key issues involving State House operations, parliamentary inquiries, business dealings linked to South Sudan, and the necessity of respecting court processes. He urged that allegations surrounding PACEID’s legal standing, alleged corruption, and disputed financial claims be met head-on.

His remarks follow a sharp escalation in the public feud between Gen Muhoozi and his brother-in-law. Gen Muhoozi recently declared PACEID an illegal entity, threatened to arrest its officials, confirmed the detention of Rwabwogo’s aide Matthew Bagonza, and moved to block related government payments.

Rwabwogo has consistently denied the corruption allegations, dismissing them as malicious distractions. He maintains that PACEID was legally established by President Yoweri Museveni—the only authority empowered to disband it—while frequently citing his Christian faith and modest upbringing as a peasant’s son to defend his integrity.

Ssimbwa’s intervention on the Buganda Kingdom-owned television station shifts the focus back to factual accountability amid the escalating high-profile standoff.

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For the 2.3 million people of the Tooro region, the tragic loss of Rukirabasaija Omukama Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV has left a profound vacuum filled with deep grief and pressing questions.

While international headlines focus on the death of the man who was once the “world’s youngest reigning king,” those of us who actually walked the dusty roads with him are mourning a deeply human leader. For the Batooro, swallowing this bitter pill raises critical dilemmas that this devout nation must urgently address.

In 2014, alongside other youthful batungwa (noble youth) and cultural leaders in the kingdom, I had the distinct honor of serving within the ebitara bya Rukirabasaija (the King’s royal entourage), escorting the King as he toured his masaza (counties) of Bunyangabu, Burahya, Mwenge, Kyaka, and Kitagwenda.

It was during these tours that the true character of the monarch was revealed. Unlike remote rulers who hide behind heavily tinted windows, King Oyo was a true man of the people. He consistently preached a gospel of hard work, humility, respect, and love. He would walk long distances on foot, ignoring the physical exhaustion that would stop ordinary men.

Notably, the Omukama walked through every single street, greeting his subjects without a shred of royal arrogance. He waved, shook hands, and smiled ceremoniously, breaking the invisible barriers between the palace and the common man. To see that vibrant, energetic leader cut down in the prime of his youthful power at just 34 years old—just as he was launching brilliant initiatives for his people—is a tragedy of epic proportions.

The King’s passing from aggressive cancer while receiving treatment in the United States highlights a deeply worrying trend among our modern elite: the growing chasm between the ruling class and “we, the people.”

In the old days, Tooro was a nation built on communal empathy. If a leader fell sick, the palace would inform the public. The people would gather, pray, and offer collective intercession to the Almighty for grace and mercy.

Instead, we are now subjected to a modern practice of stone silence. For weeks or months, a leader’s health declines in secret, completely cutting them off from the prayers of the subjects who love them.

This secrecy prevents shared empathy and collective strength. 

By the time the public is brought into the loop, the fight is already lost, and the grief comes too late. This isolationist approach does not bode well for regional unity and cohesion.

Now that the great tree has fallen, the urgent question of succession looms over the kingdom. Under Article 246 of Chapter 17 of the 1995 Constitution of the Republic of Uganda, traditional rulers hold no formal political power, yet their cultural capital is immense. This implies that, when political systems divide us, the people look to the palace for identity, comfort, and moral guidance. 

Although President Museveni and Tooro Kingdom Prime Minister Calvin Armstrong Rwomiire have confirmed that King Oyo left behind a prince as his heir, the identity of this young child remains wrapped in traditional secrecy. 

This leaves Tooro in an incredibly fragile position. Moreover, Tooro is a multi-clan, multi-lingual polity that desperately needs a leader with King Oyo’s Gen-Z instincts—someone who can actively unite all 2.3 million people across the region.

King Oyo successfully managed the paradox of the modern African monarchy, serving as the custodian of the history, rituals, and soul of the Batooro. Now, that stabilizing presence is gone.

As the kingdom moves into a period of deep mourning, we must confront the reality of our fragile unity. 

The throne remains secure by tradition, but the task of replacing a king who ruled with such physical humility, stamina, and genuine love will require nothing short of divine intervention.

Omukama atulize. Enkuba etutire.
May his soul rest in eternal peace.

[email protected]

 

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By Brian Mugenyi

KAMPALA. On the face of it, Dr Ruth Biyinzika Kasolo is living a dream that many African women would love to celebrate.

See her at work and it is difficult to miss the intensity with which she approaches women’s economic empowerment. She appears to enjoy every note, chord and nuance of a development agenda that seeks to move women from economic vulnerability to enterprise, productivity and independence.

For Dr Biyinzika, however, the work is not about celebrating women merely because they have entered business. It is about asking a harder question: what happens when a woman who has been running a survival enterprise is finally given the tools to grow?

That question sits at the heart of Uganda’s Generating Growth Opportunities and Productivity for Women Enterprises (GROW) Project, where Dr Biyinzika serves as project coordinator.

“We want women to think beyond survival businesses and identify enterprises that can grow into sustainable sources of income,” she says.

It is a statement that captures the difference between economic activity and economic transformation. A woman selling tomatoes by the roadside is economically active. A woman who can expand that business, keep proper records, access suitable finance, employ another person, reach bigger markets and generate sustained income is building an enterprise.

GROW was conceived as a national response to the barriers preventing Ugandan women-owned businesses from moving beyond micro-enterprises. The World Bank approved the $217 million project in 2022, and project implementation officially commenced on January 20, 2023. Implemented by the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development alongside the Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU), the initiative is designed to tackle multiple constraints simultaneously—combining credit with enterprise development services, technical skills, market linkages and productive infrastructure.

Parliament reported in March 2025 that six participating commercial banks had been allocated Shs50.1 billion for the project’s first year. Yet, Dr Biyinzika has consistently cautioned against treating money as the ultimate solution. Capital without capability, she emphasizes, rarely yields sustainable growth.

Her strategy demands that financial institutions view women as a diverse market rather than applying a one-size-fits-all model. Speaking at the close of the Women’s Market event in Kampala on August 29, 2026, Dr Biyinzika challenged banks to use data to design financial products tailored to the distinct stages of women’s businesses.

“Bank of Uganda is telling a data-centric journey, and by March next year we shall be registered in many of these processes—we want to talk in figures,” she noted.

At the Kampala event, Dr Biyinzika recognized 55 key stakeholders across financial institutions, government ministries, and international partners. She particularly commended Serena Cavicchi, the World Bank’s Senior Social Development Specialist and Task Team Lead for GROW, for providing steadfast support.

Ministry statistics indicate that by 2024, over 24,753 women entrepreneurs had been reached through community mobilization, mindset training, and financial services. However, the ultimate test remains whether this package reaches rural entrepreneurs operating far from commercial hubs, providing them with the tools needed to scale.

Dr Biyinzika’s vision extends beyond business management to national development. At the National Curriculum Development Forum, she urged educators to train citizens capable of creating employment rather than waiting for it, linking skills and patriotism directly to national productivity.

Ultimately, GROW’s success will not be measured by disbursed loans, but by transformed enterprises. When a woman transitions from a roadside stall to a structured company that employs others, empowerment ceases to be just a project—it becomes a lasting economic story.

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After spending 16 years away from Uganda, veteran musician Kid Fox is back home, hoping to reopen a chapter of his musical journey.

The singer, who left Uganda for Japan at a time when his career was facing challenges, says his return has been driven largely by a renewed love for music.

“I missed music. I feel I had a debt to repay my fans and I am back to deliver my bit,” Kid Fox said during an interview on KFM’s K-Drive.

His long absence has been a subject of curiosity among fans, with claims that stress and feeling unappreciated by the Ugandan music industry contributed to his decision to leave.

But according to Kid Fox, his return was not as simple as deciding to come home.

Japan offered him an unexpected opportunity to build a new life.

“I got a soft landing in Japan. I had someone who advised me not to come back and was willing to help me,” he explained.

For 16 years, the music industry he once knew continued to transform.

New artists emerged, sounds changed and technology reshaped how musicians create and promote their work.

Yet, despite being thousands of miles away, Kid Fox says his connection to music never disappeared.

“I missed music,” he said.

Now back, the veteran is not simply looking to relive his past.

He wants to contribute to the present music scene and reconnect with his audience.

He is already working on new material.

“I am compiling some new music,” he said.

After 16 years away, he believes he owes his fans one more musical offering, and he has finally come home to deliver it.

Okuyo Prynce Joel Atiku has publicly celebrated his wife, singer and actress Cindy Sanyu, with a glowing birthday message, praising her as a woman of purpose, strength and remarkable grace.

In a post shared on Facebook, Prynce described Cindy as an “extraordinary wife” and his “love,” reflecting on the many roles she has taken on.

“For all these years, I have watched you carry so many roles with extraordinary grace and poise,” Prynce wrote.

He celebrated her not only as an accomplished entertainer, but also as a mother, wife, musician, actress, public speaker and president of the Uganda Musicians Association (UMA).

He went on to praise Cindy for continuing to “rise, create, lead and give so much of yourself to others,” saying he was proud of the journey she has taken.

“Today, I celebrate not only the incredible artist and leader the world knows, but the remarkable woman I am blessed to call my wife,” he added.

The message comes against the backdrop of reports that have previously placed the couple’s marriage under public scrutiny.

Earlier, claims circulated that Prynce was responsible for an incident in which Cindy allegedly suffered an injury to her arm, with reports suggesting the incident contributed to tensions in their relationship.

The circumstances surrounding the reported incident have been the subject of competing accounts.

Against that backdrop, Prynce’s decision to publicly shower Cindy with praise has attracted attention.He referred to her affectionately as “Mrs. OKUYO Cindy Sanyu SWEETNESS,” before extending his birthday wishes on behalf of himself and their children.

“In the next chapter may your light shine even brighter, your voice reach even further, and your heart always know how deeply you are loved,” he wrote.

He ended the message: “From me and the children. We love you.”