Speke Resort Munyonyo, UGANDA — August 18, 2026 — Dr Bernadette Nambi Karuhanga, Director of the National Curriculum Development Centre (NCDC), has called for a fundamental rethink of Uganda’s education curriculum, saying learners must be prepared for a world increasingly shaped by technology, artificial intelligence, changing labour markets and innovation.
Speaking to this writer on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, Karuhanga said education can no longer be measured simply by how much information a learner can remember, but by the ability to apply knowledge to real-life challenges.
“The answer increasingly requires us to rethink not only what learners know, but what they can do with what they know,” she said.
Her remarks come ahead of the 2nd International Conference on Curriculum Development, scheduled for August 20–21, 2026, at Speke Resort and Convention Centre, Kampala, under the theme “Innovative Curriculum Approaches for Sustainable Education in a Globalised World.”
Karuhanga said employers increasingly require adaptability, creativity, communication, collaboration and problem-solving alongside technical knowledge.
“Curriculum cannot remain static in such an environment,” she said.
She said Uganda’s competency-based approach should enable learners to apply knowledge, analyse situations, work with others, communicate ideas and solve problems in real-life circumstances.
Technology must serve learning
Karuhanga said technology and artificial intelligence are changing how people learn, communicate and work.
“The question for education will not be simply whether learners should use technology, but how we prepare them to use it intelligently, creatively, ethically and responsibly,” she said.
She cautioned that technology should complement teachers rather than replace them.
“Technology should strengthen learning rather than replace the essential human relationships at the heart of education,” she said.
Muyingo backs hands-on education
Meanwhile, Dr John Chrysestom Muyingo, Acting Minister of Education and Sports, has backed the push for practical skills, innovation and information technology.
Muyingo said Uganda’s changing education and labour landscape requires learners to acquire skills that can translate knowledge into innovation, production and economic opportunity.
“Hands-on education is the way to go,” Muyingo said, stressing the importance of information technology skills in the modern economy.
130 papers submitted
Dr Richard Irumba, Chairperson of the conference organising committee and Deputy Director at NCDC, said organisers received 130 papers, with 77 accepted following a rigorous double-blind peer-review process.
He said the submissions came from researchers, educators and practitioners from more than 11 countries, while more than 700 delegates had confirmed attendance physically and online.
The conference will examine artificial intelligence and ICT in education, competency-based learning, entrepreneurship, TVET, climate-change education, green jobs, inclusivity, early childhood education, teacher training and indigenous knowledge.
Karuhanga said education reform is a national responsibility involving Government, parents, teachers, universities, employers, researchers and communities.
“Uganda’s greatest resource is its people,” she said.
She added that the curriculum designed today will influence “the skills of tomorrow’s workforce, the creativity of tomorrow’s entrepreneurs, the judgement of tomorrow’s leaders and the resilience of tomorrow’s communities.”
The question facing Uganda, therefore, is no longer simply what learners should know, but what they should be able to create, solve and build with that knowledge.
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The MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) have dropped the Best Afrobeats category from this year’s ceremony, marking a major change just three years after the category made its debut.
MTV announced the nominees for the 2026 VMAs on Tuesday, but the Best Afrobeats category was missing from the list.
Why the Category Is Causing Debate
The Best Afrobeats category debuted in 2023, with Rema and Selena Gomez taking the first award for their global hit “Calm Down.”
Tyla then won the award in both 2024 and 2025 with “Water” and “Push 2 Start,” respectively.
Her back-to-back victories sparked criticism from music fans and industry observers, particularly in Nigeria.
Some questioned why a South African artist whose music draws heavily from Amapiano received an award specifically labelled Afrobeats.
The controversy became even louder after Tyla’s second win, with critics accusing the VMAs of misrepresenting the genre.
MTV Has Not Explained the Decision
The organisers have not publicly explained why they removed the Best Afrobeats category from the 2026 awards.
However, the timing has already led to speculation that the decision could be connected to the controversy surrounding the category and the wider debate over how African music gets classified on international award platforms.
The removal also means Tyla will not get another chance to defend the title this year, despite her hit “Chanel” being a potential contender.
Burna Boy and Tems Still Make the List
While the Afrobeats category has disappeared, Nigerian stars Burna Boy and Tems have secured nominations in other categories.
Tems received a Best R&B nomination for her collaboration with British rapper Dave on “Raindance.”
Burna Boy earned two nominations for “Dai Dai,” his World Cup collaboration with Shakira. The song is competing for Best Collaboration and Best Latin.
The 2026 MTV VMAs will take place on September 27 at the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles.
Sometimes a bad day needs little more than an unexpected message from a friend. Mirinda Uganda is betting that a soft drink, a personal note and a surprise gift could provide exactly that.
The beverage brand has teamed up with delivery platform Glovo for a new experience dubbed “Mirinda Send a Smile”, through which it hopes to deliver 2,000 surprise packages across Kampala over the next four weeks.
The initiative is an extension of Mirinda’s “Sip a Mirinda, Spread the Smile” campaign, which was launched globally in November 2025, with Uganda among the first markets to activate the platform.
But rather than simply asking consumers to spread positivity, the new campaign puts the idea into practice by allowing people to send a surprise to someone they think could use a lift.
Whether it is a friend dealing with a stressful day at work, a student under pressure or simply someone who needs a reason to smile, the experience is designed to turn a simple thought into a doorstep surprise.
The sender can also add a personal message, which accompanies the package. Within about an hour, the recipient receives a Mirinda, the handwritten or personalised message and an additional gift, all at no extra cost.
Pearl Kitimbo, Brand Manager for Mirinda at Crown Beverages Limited says, the idea grew from the everyday pressures people face.
“Mirinda has always been about bringing colour, energy and fun into people’s lives. With Send a Smile, we wanted to take that a step further and give people a simple way to brighten someone else’s day,” she said.
Kitimbo said the campaign is intended to capture those small moments when an unexpected gesture can change someone’s mood.
The partnership also gives Glovo an opportunity to demonstrate that its delivery network can be used for more than meals and groceries.
Clifford Mugerwa, Senior Brand Ads Analyst at Glovo Uganda, described the initiative as the “World’s First Smile Delivery Service”, saying the platform could help deliver moments of connection and surprise alongside its usual orders.
While the campaign carries the familiar language of brands trying to create positive experiences, its appeal is relatively straightforward: someone thinks of you, writes you a message and sends something to your doorstep simply because they want to make your day better.
With 2,000 smiles to deliver over four weeks, the real test will be whether a small bottle and an unexpected message can make an ordinary Kampala day feel a little brighter.
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Businessman Patrick Bitature has been slapped with a hefty court bill after the High Court’s Commercial Division ordered him to pay architectural and engineering consultancy firm Finicon US$256,136.17 (about Shs954 million), exclusive of VAT, arising from two Kampala property projects that never took off.
Justice Stephen Mubiru has further ordered Bitature to pay 9% annual interest on the outstanding amount from May 20, 2014 until the debt is cleared, together with the costs of the suit.
The judgment, delivered electronically on August 18, 2026, brings to an end a dispute that has dragged on for more than a decade and centred on consultancy work carried out for two proposed developments in the upmarket Kololo suburb of Kampala.
The case dates back to agreements signed in 2012, when Bitature engaged Finicon to provide professional consultancy services for a planned high-end boutique hotel on Summit View Road, Kololo Hill, and the remodelling of his residential property on Malcolm-X Road, also in Kololo.
The proposed boutique hotel was estimated to cost between US$5 million (about Shs18.6 billion) and US$6 million (about Shs22.3 billion).
Under the July 6, 2012 hotel agreement, Finicon’s professional fee was pegged at 5% of the construction cost, based on a locked project budget of US$6 million.
A second agreement, signed on August 24, 2012, provided for a similar 5% professional fee for the residential remodelling project.
But the ambitious developments stalled before construction could begin, triggering a bitter disagreement over whether Finicon should be paid for work already completed.
Finicon maintained that it had done substantial work before the projects collapsed, including preparing concepts and architectural drawings, obtaining regulatory approvals, preparing bills of quantities and undertaking tendering processes.
The company initially claimed an outstanding US$267,598.20 (about Shs996.5 million), excluding VAT, arguing that approximately 76% of its contracted consultancy work had been completed.
Bitature disputed the claim.
His defence argued that the construction costs required to calculate the professional fees had never been properly ascertained, making the contracts vague and unenforceable.
He further maintained that money already paid to Finicon amounted to full and final settlement, particularly because neither project proceeded to actual development.
His lawyers also raised other challenges, including questions surrounding professional architectural registration, the identity of the contracting party and allegations of fraud.
But Justice Mubiru was not persuaded by key aspects of Bitature’s defence.
At the centre of the battle was the question of just how far Finicon had progressed with the two projects before they were abandoned.
Bitature told court that both projects had effectively remained at the inception stage.
He said the residential development stalled because the proposed design did not correspond with what he wanted, while the hotel project was terminated after concerns were raised by the Ministry of Defence regarding its location.
However, the judge found that Bitature’s account did not tally with the documentary evidence presented before court.
The evidence included architectural drawings, delivery acknowledgements, documentation relating to KCCA, NEMA approval for the hotel, bills of quantities and records of tendering activity.
Bitature also acknowledged receiving some of the project documents, while confirming that his assistants had received others.
According to Justice Mubiru, those acknowledgements undermined Bitature’s claim that he was unaware of work progressing beyond the inception stage.
The court ultimately found that Finicon had progressed the hotel assignment up to Stage G — Bills of Quantities — while the residential project had reached Stage H — Tender Action.
And there was another problem for Bitature.
Although he said the consultancy contracts had been terminated, the court found that no formal termination notice had been issued.
Instead, his conduct, including signing a KCCA application and accepting drawings without promptly rejecting them in writing, amounted to tacit approval of work performed at various stages.
Justice Mubiru held that the fact that the developments were eventually stopped because of third-party concerns or changes in the client’s plans did not wipe out Finicon’s right to payment for professional services already rendered.
LICENSING DEFENCE ALSO CRASHES
Bitature’s defence also attempted to attack Finicon’s professional standing, arguing that the company was not registered as an architectural firm and questioning the professional status of some of its directors at the time the work was done.
But court drew a distinction between the corporate entity entering into the consultancy agreement and the individuals actually carrying out regulated architectural work.
Justice Mubiru held that the Architects Registration Act does not prevent a corporation from entering into a contract to provide architectural services, provided the actual professional work is performed and supervised by a registered and licensed architect exercising independent professional judgment.
The court accepted evidence that registered architect Rogers Mukalazi was responsible for the architectural work undertaken on the two projects.
The judge therefore rejected the argument that the agreements were illegal because of lack of professional qualifications, finding that Finicon had carried out the work through lawful and licensed means.
SH85.7M PAYMENT FAILS TO SAVE BITATURE
Bitature also relied heavily on approximately US$23,000 (about Shs85.7 million) that he had already paid.
His position was that the money represented an agreed valuation of Finicon’s work after the projects were terminated and amounted to full and final settlement.
Again, court disagreed.
Justice Mubiru found no clear evidence that Finicon had agreed to accept the payment as a final settlement that would extinguish the entire outstanding debt.
The payment was therefore treated as a part-payment, leaving a substantial balance outstanding.
COURT CALCULATES THE BILL
For the hotel project, court calculated that Finicon had earned US$216,000 (about Shs804.4 million) based on the stages completed and the locked project cost of US$6 million.
For the residential project, court calculated Finicon’s earned professional fee at US$63,136.17 (about Shs235.1 million), based on an estimated construction cost of US$1.661 million, equivalent to approximately Shs6.19 billion.
Together, the two projects generated earned professional fees of US$279,136.17 (about Shs1.04 billion).
After deducting the payment proved to have been made by Bitature, the court arrived at an outstanding balance of US$256,136.17 (about Shs954 million), exclusive of VAT.
And because Finicon had been deprived of its money for years, Justice Mubiru imposed 9% annual interest from May 20, 2014 until full payment.
The interest order means the final financial burden will be considerably higher than the Shs954 million principal if the debt remains unpaid.
The judge reasoned that Finicon had effectively lost the use of its money and was therefore entitled to compensation for the period it had been kept out of its funds.
However, Finicon did not win everything it asked for.
Court rejected its claims for additional general and punitive damages, holding that the interest award adequately compensated the company for the delayed payment.
Justice Mubiru also noted that punitive damages are generally not available in an ordinary breach-of-contract dispute.
BITATURE NOW FACES SH954M PLUS VAT, INTEREST & LEGAL COSTS
The final orders are clear.
Bitature must pay Finicon:
US$256,136.17, exclusive of VAT, as the outstanding contractual sum;
9% annual interest from May 20, 2014 until payment in full; and
the costs of the suit.
The judgment was delivered electronically on August 18, 2026, by Justice Stephen Mubiru.
Finicon was represented by M/s Blair & Co. Advocates, while Bitature was represented by M/s ENSafrica Advocates.
The ruling effectively turns two property developments that never reached the construction stage into a major commercial liability for Bitature more than a decade after the consultancy agreements were signed.
What began in 2012 as plans for a luxury hotel and a high-end residential remodelling project has now ended with a court order requiring Bitature to dig deep — US$256,136.17 in principal, VAT where applicable, 9% interest running all the way from May 2014, plus legal costs.
And with the interest clock having been running for more than 12 years, the final bill is far from the original Shs954 million headline figure.
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KAMPALA UGANDA, Globally, education systems are confronting a fundamental question: Are we preparing learners for the world they will actually live and work in? The answer increasingly requires us to rethink not only what learners know, but what they can do with what they know.
Employers increasingly require adaptability, creativity, collaboration, communication and problem-solving alongside technical knowledge. Curriculum cannot remain static in such an environment.
It is against this background that the Ministry of Education and Sports, through the National Curriculum Development Centre (NCDC), is convening the 2nd International Conference on Curriculum Development on 20th and 21st August 2026 at Speke Resort Munyonyo, under the theme, “Innovative Curriculum Approaches for Sustainable Education in a Globalized World.”
The conference creates space for teachers, curriculum specialists, researchers, policymakers, assessment bodies, universities, development partners and other stakeholders to examine what is working, identify implementation challenges and determine what needs strengthening.
Uganda, like many countries across the world, has adopted competency-based approaches to teaching and learning, with focus on empowering learners to apply knowledge, analyse situations, communicate ideas, work with others, solve problems and adapt what they have learnt to real-life circumstances. This transition has generated considerable public discussion – and rightly so. Major curriculum reviews should be continuously examined, evaluated and improved through evidence and experience.
Our learners are growing up in a world where digital tools will increasingly influence how they learn, communicate and work. The question for education will not be simply whether learners should use technology, but how we prepare them to use it intelligently, creatively, ethically and responsibly. Technology should strengthen learning rather than replace the essential human relationships at the heart of education. Teachers remain critical in guiding learners to question information, exercise judgement, collaborate, create and develop values.
Curriculum must also speak to the realities learners encounter outside the classroom. Climate change, environmental degradation, unemployment, inequality and changing labour markets are not distant issues. They affect communities across Uganda and will increasingly shape the opportunities available to young people. Education should therefore help learners understand these challenges while developing the capacity to respond to them. Entrepreneurship and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), for example, can help young people connect learning to production, innovation and employment. Environmental education can prepare learners to participate in emerging green economies and contribute to sustainable communities.
At the same time, innovation must n ot mean abandoning who we are. Uganda possesses rich indigenous knowledge, languages, cultural practices and community-based approaches to learning. A forward-looking curriculum should find meaningful ways of connecting this heritage with science, technology and global knowledge.
Curriculum reviews must also confront the question of inclusion. A curriculum can only fulfil its national purpose when every learner has a meaningful opportunity to participate and succeed, including learners with special education needs and those facing social, economic, geographical or other barriers. Inclusivity must, therefore, be considered from the point of curriculum design through instructional materials, teacher preparation, classroom practice and assessment. Similarly, the foundations of learning begin long before secondary school. Quality Early Childhood Care and Education is critical in building language, cognitive, social, emotional and physical capabilities upon which later learning depends.
Parents, teachers, learners, universities, employers, researchers, government institutions, civil society and development partners all have a stake in the kind of education Uganda provides. Universities need to appreciate the competencies learners bring from school and consider how admissions and higher education programmes respond. Employers can provide insights into changing workplace requirements. Teachers bring indispensable classroom experience. Researchers provide evidence about what works, while communities help ensure that education remains connected to Uganda’s social and cultural realities.
Uganda’s greatest resource is its people. Preparing our children and young people for a rapidly changing world is therefore not merely an education-sector responsibility; it is a national development imperative. The curriculum we design today will influence the skills of tomorrow’s workforce, the creativity of tomorrow’s entrepreneurs, the judgement of tomorrow’s leaders and the resilience of tomorrow’s communities.
Dr Bernadette Nambi Karuhanga is the Director of the National Curriculum Development Centre (NCDC).
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The Premier League returns this weekend, and Ugandan football fans are preparing for another season of passion, rivalry, banter and unforgettable matchday moments.
The 2026/27 campaign kicks off on Friday, August 21, with defending champions Arsenal hosting newly promoted Coventry City at the Emirates Stadium. Arsenal already have an early boost after beating rivals Manchester City 3-0 in the Community Shield on Sunday. The champions will now look to carry that momentum into the new season as they begin their title defence.
In Uganda, Guinness Matchday will kick off the new season with Premier League viewing and entertainment at Millennium Grounds in Lugogo, Kampala, on Friday, August 21 and Saturday, August 22, and at Rwenzori Square in Kasese on Friday, August 21.
Millennium Grounds, which hosted the closing celebrations of last season, will once again bring Kampala fans together for the opening weekend, while the Kasese activation will give fans in the western region a chance to enjoy the season opener closer to home. Both venues will feature live football, entertainment and fan activities.
The experiences are being delivered by Guinness, the Official Beer of the Premier League, in partnership with Coca Cola, the Official Soft Drink of the Premier League.
While the action takes place in England, the Premier League has become an important part of football culture in Uganda. For many fans, matchday goes beyond the 90 minutes. It is about gathering with friends, wearing club colours, debating team selections, exchanging banter and celebrating every goal together.
For Guinness, that passion is at the heart of its “Lovely Day for a Guinness” platform, which brings together good company, great football and an EXTRA cold Guinness to make matchday even more enjoyable.
“Across Uganda, we want fans to enjoy the beautiful game wherever they are, and with a Guinness in hand. Through our Matchday experiences, we are creating more opportunities for fans to come together, share the passion and make every matchday a Lovely Day for a Guinness.
“We invite fans in Kampala to join us at Millennium Grounds in Lugogo this Friday and Saturday, while those in Kasese can catch the season opener with us at Rwenzori Square this Friday,” Denise Nazzinda, Guinness Brand Manager at Uganda Breweries, said.
The Matchday experience will continue throughout the season, with activations planned at different outlets across the country.
“Last season was a great success and showed us just how passionate Ugandan fans are about the Premier League. This season, we are going EXTRA. We want to build on what we delivered last season and give fans even bigger and more memorable experiences throughout the campaign,” Nazzinda added.
Meanwhile, Saturday’s fixtures will keep the opening weekend rolling, with Liverpool travelling to Newcastle United, Manchester United hosting Hull City, Tottenham Hotspur taking on Brentford, while Manchester City begin their campaign at home to Bournemouth.
For Ugandan fans, another season of football, rivalry and banter is about to begin, with Guinness Matchday promising to bring the EXTRA to the experience this season.
Veteran Ugandan singer Ragga Dee has already made his wishes clear about how he wants to be remembered when his time comes, and they include keeping politicians and political speeches away from his funeral.
Ragga Dee made the remarks while reflecting on the recent funeral of veteran playwright, actor, instrumentalist and author Alex Mukulu, whose life was celebrated at the National Theatre.
The singer said he was disappointed by what he described as political statements made during Mukulu’s send-off, particularly claims that the government would not support or celebrate the late creative despite his contribution to Uganda’s arts industry.
He said the experience prompted him to make his own wishes known early, including where he would like his funeral arrangements to take place.
“When I die, I do not want politicians to speak at my burial. I saw politicians on Alex’s death saying that the government wouldn’t help him and many other things,” he said.
Ragga Dee said he had already booked the venue he wants to use for his funeral on the same day the first meeting for Mukulu’s burial arrangements was held.
“I booked this place the day we held the first meeting for the burial arrangements. This is a government premise. You do not have to be a government person to be brought here but a Ugandan. Politicians should not try this on my burial,” he said.
For the veteran singer, a funeral should primarily be a moment for people to remember the deceased rather than an opportunity to push political agendas.
Asked how he would like to be celebrated, Ragga Dee said he would prefer mourners to share genuine memories of his life and speak about the impact they personally witnessed.
“I would like a good send-off with people not just praising me but they speak about the good things I have done because they see it. Politicians should just come and speak about things relating to my death but not politics,” he said.
His comments reflect a broader concern about the way public figures are sometimes remembered, particularly when political leaders use high-profile funerals as platforms to address wider political issues.
Ragga Dee, who was among the artists who gathered at the National Theatre to honour Mukulu, said he wants his own send-off to remain focused on his life, work and relationships with the people he touched.
Rather than grand political speeches, he wants those attending to tell stories about the good they saw in him and the contribution he made while alive.
For Ragga Dee, that would be the most meaningful way to celebrate a life: not through political promises, but through the memories and impact left behind.
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BUSIA — The National Resistance Movement (NRM) National Treasurer, Ambassador Barbara Nekesa Oundo, has issued a strong challenge to Busia’s newly elected grassroots leaders and local residents, demanding that they aggressively protect Parish Development Model (PDM) cash from corruption and ensure government interventions directly boost household incomes.
Speaking to local leaders during a grassroots engagement in Busia District on Saturday, Ambassador Nekesa warned that citizens must actively take advantage of government opportunities initiated by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni. She emphasized that grassroots leaders have an inescapable duty to expose any individuals attempting to misuse or divert public resources meant for the community.
Nekesa highlighted that PDM beneficiaries across the district are already deploying funds into coffee farming, livestock rearing, and other income-generating ventures, driving local production and lifting family livelihoods.
“Our responsibility as leaders is to mobilize our people to embrace these opportunities and use them to improve their livelihoods,” Nekesa declared after inspecting local coffee farms in the region.
She stressed that the mandate of grassroots leaders must extend beyond political mobilization to active monitoring of government programs to guarantee public funds hit their intended targets.
‘DEVELOP UNDER GOVERNMENT PROGRAMMES’
Ambassador Nekesa reaffirmed that national development programs are specifically structured to empower ordinary Ugandans to build sustainable household wealth. She called on local leaders to continually rally communities behind the PDM and related wealth-creation initiatives.
“President Museveni has always emphasized that development must reach the people. The village is where people live, where they work, and where they need services. That is why grassroots mobilization remains very important,” she stated.
According to Nekesa, the true test of the PDM must be visible at the household level—whether in expanded coffee plantations, livestock and poultry projects, or small businesses generating consistent income.
Warning that graft threatens to destroy these economic gains, she urged leaders not to tolerate thieves who steal or divert PDM allocations.
CULTURAL LEADERS JOIN THE FIGHT
During her outreach in Busia, Ambassador Nekesa also engaged cultural leaders, including prominent women serving within cultural governance structures.
This meeting introduced a vital layer to her campaign, bridging local community leadership, cultural institutions, and national development agendas. Nekesa urged cultural figures to leverage their social authority to encourage local participation, protect public funds, and foster household economic transformation.
The involvement of female cultural figures is particularly significant in Busia, where women carry a heavy share of agricultural production, livestock management, and micro-business operations.
BUSIA BENEFICIARIES INVESTING BIG
Mr. David Maloba John, the Busia District PDM Coordinator, confirmed that the initiative has effectively organized local communities into high-yield commercial groups.
“Through the Parish Development Model, we have reached over 19,000 beneficiaries who are organized in more than 800 cooperative groups. These groups have helped communities work together, access government support, and invest in productive enterprises,” Maloba noted.
He disclosed that beneficiaries are actively investing in coffee farming, poultry, piggery, and livestock. To maximize long-term income, Busia District has prioritized high-value enterprises including coffee, dairy, beef, bananas, beans, and fish farming.
THE ACCOUNTABILITY CHALLENGE
Nekesa’s clarion call comes as the central government continues injecting billions into the PDM—a strategy designed to transition subsistence households into the commercial money economy through parish-level funding, financial inclusion, and enterprise building.
Given this setup, local accountability is paramount. Newly elected LC I and LC II chairpersons sit closest to the beneficiaries, making them best positioned to identify bottlenecks, monitor projects, and report irregularities to higher district authorities.
Nekesa’s message to them was direct: citizens must grab government opportunities, leaders must enforce strict supervision, and anyone attempting to loot PDM money must be exposed without hesitation.
A DEEP-ROOTED CONNECTION WITH BUSIA
Ambassador Nekesa’s latest grassroots drive builds on a strong history of engagement in Busia.
In September 2025, she headed a major NRM mobilization drive at Budecho Primary School in Dabani Sub-county, gathering over 4,000 local leaders, village chairpersons, flag bearers, and mobilizers spanning Busia’s 568 villages. Earlier in March 2024, she presided over Busia District’s International Women’s Day celebrations as Chief Guest at Masafu Town Council Grounds.
While her previous meetings focused heavily on party organization, her latest visit centered on a core operational message: ensuring government money delivered to the village delivers visible wealth.
For Nekesa, success under President Museveni’s government must be measured by what citizens actually achieve on the ground—a farmer expanding coffee output, a family expanding a livestock herd, or a local vendor growing a enterprise. Where corruption threatens to wreck those prospects, she expects local leaders and the community to fight back and expose the culprits.
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Kampala – : The Ruparelia Group’s ambitious expansion of Kabira Country Club in Bukoto is entering its final stretch, with interior finishing and landscaping works now underway ahead of an official unveiling.The multi-level redevelopment is transforming the long-established leisure venue into a contemporary luxury lifestyle and business destination, signaling continued private-sector confidence in Kampala’s high-end real estate and tourism markets.
Located in the upscale Bukoto suburb, the upgraded complex features bold geometric lines, expansive glass façades, and terraced balconies designed to maximize natural light and deliver panoramic views of the city’s greenery.The architecture deliberately blends modern urban aesthetics with a resort-style ambience, reinforcing Kabira’s identity as an accessible urban retreat while elevating it toward five-star standards.
Key Project Highlights
Scale & Facilities:The development incorporates 350 to 360 premium serviced apartments and executive suites, a high-rise hotel tower component, an integrated shopping mall element, additional restaurants, and expanded conference infrastructure tailored for corporate clients, expatriates, and long-stay business travelers.
Upgraded Amenities:The club is retaining and enhancing its core offerings, including a half Olympic-sized pool, a heated kids’ pool, a gym equipped with modern TechnoGym systems, and tennis and squash courts.New additions feature expanded sports facilities and a bowling alley.
Development Team:Construction is being executed by Vcon Construction Uganda Limited, with Meera Investments—the real estate arm of the Ruparelia Group—driving the project.
Strategic Impact & Challenges
Industry observers note that the project addresses growing demand for quality serviced accommodation and mixed-use facilities in Kampala. By combining residential comfort with hotel-grade services, the expanded Kabira is expected to strengthen the capital’s appeal as a regional hub for business tourism, investment meetings, and long-stay visitors while generating local employment in Bukoto.
The expansion has navigated past notable hurdles to reach this stage. Earlier delays linked to a contractual dispute with architectural firm FBW were resolved by the High Court Commercial Division, clearing the path for accelerated construction. Works have advanced rapidly since, placing the project firmly in its finishing phase as of mid-August 2026.
For Kampala’s development sector, the Kabira upgrade represents another high-profile project reshaping suburban skylines. Stakeholders await the official launch details, which will confirm final unit configurations, operational timelines, and pricing for the serviced apartments and commercial spaces. As final touches continue, the expanded Kabira Country Club underscores a clear market trend: Kampala’s luxury hospitality sector is growing upward and outward.
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In their new song titled ‘Siwabula’, talented duo Kataleya and Kandle continue to showcase their versatility as they tap into a different style of music.
3 months ago, Kataleya and Kandle showcased resilience and trust in their craft when they dropped their Amateur music project after finding new management.
They now continue to feed their fans with new stuff, with a new song, ‘Siwabula’. The new song, which was produced by Brian Beats/Ope, suits the local music market perfectly.
