Category: News

By Denis Jjuuko

There is a series of videos that has been trending on TikTok and other social media platforms where a son is accusing his biological mother of killing his biological father by denying him treatment abroad and/or sanctioning an operation she knew he wouldn’t survive. The videos have been circulating because the deceased was a prominent businessman and one of the wealthiest people in Uganda. And the son claims wealth was the reason his father “was murdered”.

The accusations have caused discussions on social media. Lawyers have recorded podcasts on writing wills and what the law says. Upon listening to these stories, some people said they had started the process of writing wills.

Anyway, fights over property aren’t new and they will never end. Not long ago, somebody else took his father to court accusing him of being too sick to run his business empire and therefore should be appointed his successor. The father who was taken to court is also one of the wealthiest people in the country. It is perhaps the first case in Uganda where one demands for their inheritance when the parent is still alive since the famous prodigal son Bible story.

Many families face this problem including those without wealth to write home about. First born sons are known to throw tantrums when not named heirs of their fathers. Some go at length of forging wills so that they are named heirs or disputing wills of their fathers. Others where they are not elected heirs in case a will didn’t exist cause unbelievable chaos once they lose the election.

Others forcibly occupy the properties while many sell off to unsuspecting buyers and refuse to share with their siblings or even surviving parents. If you watch some of the local news on TV, you will see children evicting their mothers or relatives dislodging widows.

Given the stories that are today going around, wealthy people must be having sleepless nights thinking about what will happen to their estates once gone. More money more problems, Notorious BIG told us decades ago.

In one of those podcasts and X Spaces that have been organised to discuss wills and inheritance, a lawyer from a prominent Kampala law firm urged people to will themselves something. He said when you are writing your will, give yourself 30%. People gasped for breath on hearing that. What would a dead person do with 30%? It didn’t take too long for him to argue that the 30% is what you should be enjoying before you die.

He was perhaps aware that there are many people who live miserable lives while preserving everything for the children. The children, if one is lucky, will wait for the parents to die before going for each other’s throats over the property or even sell it off before the deceased is even buried. The unlucky ones are taken to court or accused of killing their spouses.

Somebody told me that to forestall these fights, he regularly goes on dates with his children reminding them at every given opportunity that his wealth is his and his wife’s only. That he has taken them to the best schools and therefore they have received already their inheritance. He tells them that his wealth wasn’t bequeathed to him by his parents.

He claims they have listened and understood. Maybe they have. But when he isn’t around anymore or in a position where he can’t make decisions, things may turn out different. You see, most people think they have done a great job of raising their children. The children are good at disguising themselves as well. Once the parent is gone or severely incapacitated, the true colors are revealed. This isn’t just in Uganda. The Rupert Murdoch children have been fighting over News Corp (Fox, Sky etc.) for years though they recently agreed to a trust agreement. Their father is still alive but at 95 years old unable to reign them in.

What should parents especially the wealthy ones do? Create a trust that manages the properties and distribute the proceeds as instructed but that idea is still new in Uganda. The easiest way could be for wealthy parents to distribute the assets when still alive, transfer full ownership to those being bequeathed. Many people have done that and limited the flow of bad blood once dead or severely incapacitated.

The writer is a communication and visibility consultant. [email protected]

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KAMPALA — In a sharp exchange of words on X that has drawn wide attention within Ugandan political circles, Kazo District Woman MP Molly Kamukama has traded barbs with Eastern Region Older Persons MP Ofwono Opondo, turning a casual online dig into a pointed challenge over age eligibility and political priorities.

The exchange began on September 2, 2026, when Opondo quoted an National Resistance Movement (NRM) announcement congratulating newly elected National Women Council flagbearers. Tagging Kamukama, Opondo wrote: “I think that my other young sister @mollykamukama may start to tremble,” suggesting the council results or related political developments might unsettle her political standing.

Kamukama hit back swiftly, shifting focus away from her constituency while casting doubt on Opondo’s mandate: “There’s too much work to do with older people than loading violence in Kazo. Pray I stay in Kazo or we meet in older peoples race. I still believe you were not yet of that age.”

The response combined deflection with a subtle dig at historical electoral friction in Kazo, alongside a direct challenge to Opondo’s eligibility for the Older Persons parliamentary seat. Under Ugandan law, representation for older persons requires candidates to be at least 60 years of age. By questioning whether Opondo meets the constitutional threshold, Kamukama implicitly threatened to challenge the statutory basis on which he holds the Eastern Region seat.

Attempting to de-escalate, Opondo posted that he came “in peace” because the two “go back a generation.”

Kamukama remained firm, replying: “I know; I am also loading violence on you,” accompanied by a laughing emoji—using the popular phrase “loading violence” to frame her retorts as political counter-fire rather than physical intimidation.

Opondo subsequently addressed the age question directly. Quoting her post, he wrote: “Please spare me, an elderly man, although to say you doubt the years I have spent on mother world. My mother knows the truth, but for now I go by the papers the @GovUganda gave me more than four score years ago.”

His reference to “four score years” (80 years) was intended to assert that official state documents place him well above the statutory 60-year requirement.

The exchange underscores subtle rivalries within the ruling party as legislators quietly position themselves ahead of future political cycles. Opondo serves as MP for Older Persons (Eastern Region) in the 12th Parliament, where he has previously advocated for elder-welfare reforms, including adjustments to the Social Assistance Grants for Empowerment (SAGE) scheme. Kamukama, as Kazo Woman MP, has primarily focused on constituency development and youth empowerment. Her reference to “loading violence in Kazo” serves as an allusion to past tense party primaries in the district, re-framing her political posture as combat-ready through rhetoric.

Political observers view the exchange as classic Ugandan political theatre—public, personal, and laced with irony, yet probing actual constitutional requirements surrounding special-interest parliamentary representation. By refusing to be portrayed as “trembling,” Kamukama effectively flipped the narrative, signaling a willingness to challenge established party figures even outside her traditional constituency domain.

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The recovery of funds disbursed under the Parish Development Model (PDM) programme in Nakaseke District has come under scrutiny after legislators on the Public Accounts Committee (Local Government) learned that only shs28.2 million has been recovered over the past year.

The committee Hon. Betty Nambooze, heard that of the shs25 billion that was disbursed to SACCOs in the district, a total of shs6.46 billion was to be paid back in financial year 2025/2026, under the Parish Revolving Fund (PRF) arrangement.

The district focal person for the PDM programme, Robert Kaggwa said that 2,500 families benefitted from the funding but that the shs28 million was recovered on a voluntary basis.

Nambooze observed that the recovery rate of the district was wanting.
“Government is investing a lot of money; if Nakaseke alone has been given shs25 billion and they have failed to recover even shs100 million in the first phase of recovery, how are other districts performing on the parish revolving fund?” Nambooze asked.

She also tasked Kaggwa to explain how the shs6.46 billion shall be recovered by government.
“Tell us how we can get this money back, and show us that you have done your part, and that it is the beneficiaries refusing to pay,” Nambooze added.

Kaggwa attributed the poor recovery rate to absence of modalities to guide PDM beneficiaries on how to pay back the funds following the two-year grace period.
“The recovery is now via the Wendi app where the money paid back goes to the SACCO account. The beneficiary and SACCO chairperson receive a message, and it also received by the Ministry of Finance,” Kaggwa said.

He added that communication has been made to lower local government accounting officers to monitor and enforce recovery of PDM money.
“We are also sensitising the public through radio talk shows and community meetings. We take them through the guidelines for recovery of these funds,” Kaggwa said.

The committee also learned that funds disbursed under the Youth Livelihood Programme (YLP) were not received by the listed groups presented by Denis Batalingaya, the District Community Development Officer (DCDO) for Nakaseke.

According to the Auditor General’s report on Nakaseke District Local Government for the audit year ended December 2025, only shs3 million was recovered from beneficiary groups out of the outstanding balance of shs923 million.
“Failure to repay in a timely manner implies that other eligible groups were unable to access the funds. The accounting officer explained that most of the groups had disintegrated and therefore, it was practically unfeasible to enforce recovery,” reads the report in part.

Batalingaya added that invitations for interactions with groups under YLP were sent out, however, respective team leaders did not honour the invitations. He added that quarterly field reports on the matter were submitted to the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO).

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President Yoweri Museveni has visited the Kingfisher Development Area in Kikuube District as Uganda’s oil project reaches another major milestone, bringing the country closer to commercial oil production.

The visit came as the Kingfisher Central Processing Facility (CPF), one of the key installations needed to process Uganda’s crude oil, reached mechanical completion.

Mechanical completion means that the main construction and installation work on the facility has been completed, paving the way for the next stages of testing, commissioning and preparation for production.

The Kingfisher project, operated by CNOOC Uganda Limited, is expected to produce about 40,000 barrels of oil per day at peak production.

Welcoming President Museveni to the project, CNOOC Uganda President Liu Xiangdong said the progress at Kingfisher was the result of years of investment, construction and cooperation between the government, the company, its partners, contractors and communities surrounding the oil project.

“When we look around Kingfisher today, we can see how far this project has come,” Liu said, adding that the development reflected years of hard work and support from the Ugandan government.

22 Wells Ready as Production Preparations Continue

The Kingfisher Development Area includes the Central Processing Facility, four well pads, workers’ camps, a supply base and a feeder pipeline connecting the project to Uganda’s wider crude oil export infrastructure.

CNOOC said 22 of the 31 planned wells are now ready, with some of the wells extending more than seven kilometres underground.

Work is continuing on the remaining wells, while pumping, flowback and other activities are also underway as the project prepares for production.

Once oil starts flowing from the wells, it will be transported to the Central Processing Facility, where the crude will be separated from water, gas and other materials.

The water will be reinjected into the reservoir, while waste will be sent for treatment. Associated gas will also be utilised for power generation and the production of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).

The processed crude oil will then be transported through a 47-kilometre feeder pipeline to Pump Station 1, where it will join the East African Crude Oil Pipeline for transportation to Tanga Port in Tanzania.

With the Central Processing Facility now mechanically complete, the Kingfisher project is moving from the construction phase towards final preparations for production.

Thousands of Ugandans Gain Jobs and Skills

Beyond oil production, CNOOC says the project has created employment and training opportunities for thousands of Ugandans.

The company has partnered with the Uganda Petroleum Institute Kigumba to support the training of workers needed in the oil and gas industry.

The partnership has included support for a Centre of Excellence, an information technology centre and a life-size drilling rig for training purposes.

CNOOC has also supported vocational training in areas such as welding and heavy equipment operation, with more than 1,000 Ugandans benefiting from the programmes.

According to the company, thousands more Ugandans have worked on the Kingfisher project, gaining experience in different parts of the oil and gas industry, with some progressing into senior and departmental leadership positions.

“This is one of the things we consider a success story for Kingfisher,” Liu said.

“We are not only bringing technology into Uganda; we want the knowledge, skills and experience gained here to remain in Uganda and be passed on to the next generation.”

Local Businesses and Communities Also Benefit

CNOOC says the Kingfisher project has also created business opportunities for Ugandan companies in sectors including construction, transport, logistics and hospitality.

The company has additionally invested in projects in communities surrounding the development area.

Among them is the approximately seven-kilometre Kingfisher Escarpment Road, which serves five villages and has improved the movement of people, goods and services.

In agriculture, about 750 farmers have benefited from programmes involving rice and millet growing, piggery and tree planting.

Two demonstration gardens have also been established to help farmers learn improved farming practices.

The company has also supported health facilities and organised annual medical camps for communities around the project.

Focus Turns to Production

Environmental management and the use of cleaner energy sources remain part of the Kingfisher development, according to CNOOC.

The company is developing a facility that will produce LPG from associated gas once oil production begins. CNOOC says the initiative could provide households with an alternative to firewood and help reduce pressure on forests.

President Museveni has previously maintained that Uganda’s petroleum resources must be developed in a way that benefits citizens while protecting the environment.

His latest visit to Kingfisher comes as the project moves closer to production after years of drilling, construction and infrastructure development.

For Uganda, the mechanical completion of the Central Processing Facility represents more than just the completion of another structure.

It means one of the country’s most important oil projects is now moving into the final stages of preparation before crude begins flowing.

Related

As Uganda gives its crude oil a global identity, President Museveni warns: Invest petroleum revenues in productive assets, not luxury consumption

By Brian Mugenyi

KIKUUBE. Uganda’s long-awaited petroleum journey has entered a decisive new chapter, marked by both a global milestone and a stark presidential warning.

Speaking on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, at the Kingfisher Development Area in Kikuube District, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni cautioned that the nation’s ultimate success will not be measured by extraction or sales, but by how prudently it manages its newfound wealth.

The event marked the official branding of Uganda’s crude as “Pearl Sweet Petroleum”—a title highlighting both the country’s identity as the “Pearl of Africa” and the resource’s low sulphur content. However, President Museveni used the launch to look past the celebrations, urging the nation to prepare for an economy that outlasts finite oil reserves.

Warning against the “resource curse” that has plagued several African oil-producing nations, the President emphasized that oil revenues must be directed into enduring, productive assets rather than imported luxury goods and short-lived consumption.

Building What Oil Cannot

With estimated recoverable petroleum resources standing at 1.65 billion barrels—and peak production projected at roughly 230,000 barrels per day—Uganda is preparing to export via the 1,443-kilometre East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) to Tanzania’s port of Tanga.

Yet, President Museveni argued that raw reserves do not automatically guarantee national prosperity.

“Oil reserves beneath the Albertine Graben will eventually decline,” Museveni observed, stressing that revenues must build permanent structures: transport networks, electricity generation, railways, universities, and industrial capacity. “Petroleum wealth can disappear, but the productive assets created from that wealth must outlive the resource itself.”

The Refinery and Gas Strategy

A central pillar of the government’s economic strategy remains the establishment of a domestic oil refinery. Local refining, Museveni noted, will curb the heavy costs of exporting crude only to re-import refined products, directly tackling Uganda’s estimated $2 billion annual petroleum import bill.

Furthermore, the President underscored a zero-waste policy regarding associated gas. Rather than flaring, gas from the Kingfisher field will be harnessed to generate approximately 80 megawatts of electricity and supply domestic energy needs, including cooking gas.

Human Capital and Continued Exploration

Reflecting on the early stages of discovery, Museveni highlighted the early decision to send Ugandans abroad for specialized training in petroleum disciplines. That strategic investment ensured local professionals would lead and manage the sector rather than remain passive bystanders.

He also urged continued exploration in prospective regions, insisting that the first commercial barrel should mark the beginning, not the peak, of Uganda’s energy development.

The Real Test Ahead

As Pearl Sweet Petroleum prepares to enter the global market, Uganda stands at an economic crossroads. The true measure of the nation’s oil venture will not lie at the wellheads in Kikuube, but in the structural strength of the broader economy—in power reliability, manufacturing independence, skilled manpower, and resilient infrastructure.

Pearl Sweet may introduce Ugandan crude to the world, but as President Museveni made clear, only disciplined, long-term national investment will ensure that oil wealth builds a future that lasts long after the wells run dry.

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