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KAMPALA — The Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) has summoned Salt Television (Salt TV) to respond to complaints over alleged violations of minimum broadcasting standards and content regulations arising from an episode of its programme Omusunsuzi.

In a letter dated August 12, 2026, UCC Executive Director Hon. Nyombi Thembo directed Salt TV to provide written representations over the programme, which was aired on June 17, 2026.

The programme, hosted by Mr Charles Ssenkubuge and Ms Jennifer Nakangubi, reportedly discussed “Operation Fika Salama”, a subject that prompted a complaint from Miyingo Benson and Single Mothers Alliance Ltd through Kasiko Advocates.

According to the UCC letter, the complainants allege that the broadcast contained content that was “malicious, defamatory and fraught with unconfirmed reporting”, contrary to the Minimum Broadcasting Standards and the Uganda Communications (Content) Regulations, 2019.

The Commission said it had conducted preliminary investigations into the complaint but required further information from Salt TV before making a decision.

“In accordance with sections 5(1)(j) and 45 of the Uganda Communications Act Cap 103, the Commission hereby directs Salt TV to provide written representations on the aforesaid programme aired on the date specified above and explain whether the Minimum Broadcasting Standards were complied with,” the letter states.

Salt TV has been given until Thursday, August 20, 2026, to submit its written response together with recordings of the programme in question.

The broadcaster and the complainants have also been summoned to appear before the Commission for a meeting on Friday, August 21, 2026, at 11:00am at UCC House, Bugolobi.

UCC said the complainants are required to attend the meeting to substantiate the allegations made against the broadcaster.

The Commission warned that if Salt TV fails to submit its written response or does not attend the scheduled meeting, it will proceed with its investigations and may take appropriate regulatory measures in accordance with the Uganda Communications Act and regulations made under it.

The case comes amid the regulator’s mandate to ensure that broadcasters comply with minimum standards governing television and other electronic media content in Uganda.

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KUMI — A shortage of road construction equipment is threatening the implementation of road projects in Kumi Municipality, with local authorities warning that inadequate machinery, rising fuel prices and taxes are eroding the value of the Shs1 billion allocated for road maintenance.

The municipality lacks essential equipment, including graders, excavators, dump trucks, rollers and water bowsers, forcing it to rely on machinery from Kumi District or hire equipment from private operators at high costs.

Eng. Henry Mateega, the Principal Executive Engineer for Kumi Municipality, said the municipality had gravelled 15km of the 21km planned for the 2025/2026 financial year.

“The biggest challenge that we have is the lack of equipment. We are sharing equipment with other districts. Specifically, we do not have an excavator and our grader was down. We don’t have dump trucks,” Mateega said.

He said the shortage had slowed road works and increased expenditure on hired machinery, leaving fewer resources for actual construction.

Mateega appealed to the Government to equip local governments in the region with road construction machinery to enable them to complete projects within approved timelines.

“If Government can help us to get at least one excavator and a few dump trucks within the region, we shall be in position to complete these road works within the stipulated time without delays,” he said.

Mateega also raised concern over rising fuel prices and taxation, saying the increases had significantly reduced the municipality’s road maintenance budget.

He said fuel was estimated at Shs4,500 per litre during the planning stage but had risen to about Shs6,650 per litre in Kumi.

According to Mateega, taxes and supplier-related costs consume nearly half of the Shs1 billion allocated for road maintenance, leaving the municipality with about Shs500 million for actual road works.

“What we call Shs1 billion is actually like working with Shs500 million. Policy amendment should be looked at to make it favourable for this kind of environment,” he said.

He urged the Government to review the funding and taxation framework for road maintenance to ensure local governments have adequate resources to implement projects effectively.

Kumi Municipality Mayor John Bosco Emenyat described the equipment shortage as one of the biggest impediments to service delivery.

He said the municipality lacks adequate graders, rollers, dump trucks and a water bowser, leaving it dependent on Kumi District for machinery.

“We rely on Kumi District. When both of us receive funds at the same time, we have to wait. This affects our performance,” Emenyat said.

Despite the challenges, Emenyat said the municipality had achieved about 75% of its 2025/2026 work plan.

He appealed to residents to stop using ox-ploughs along newly gravelled roads and allow drainage channels to pass through their gardens, warning that interference with road drainage contributes to the rapid deterioration of roads.

Kumi Town Clerk Okaja Emmanuel said the equipment shortage remained a major obstacle to road development in the municipality.

“As an urban council, our greatest challenge is lack of equipment. We have worked on 14 kilometres and we are finishing the other seven kilometres,” Okaja said.

He appealed to the Government to equip urban councils with graders, wheel loaders, excavators and dump trucks.

“Even one of each would be enough for us to go,” he said.

Okaja also called for the removal of withholding tax on road funds, arguing that local governments should be allowed to maximise the resources allocated for road maintenance.

The concerns were raised during a joint monitoring exercise led by Dr Sister Mary Grace Akiror, Deputy Head of the RDC Secretariat in the Office of the President and Anti-Corruption Unit, together with other officials.

The team assessed several government projects in Kumi, including road works, health infrastructure and projects under government development programmes.

Among the projects inspected was the Skills Development Centre-Kabata road, covering a 700-metre stretch constructed at a cost of Shs23 million during the 2025/2026 financial year.

The team also inspected the Ogooma Health Centre II upgrading project, which is being elevated to a Health Centre III.

A total of Shs380 million has been spent on the first phase of construction, while Shs190 million has been secured for the second phase, covering roofing, shuttering and plastering. A subsequent phase will involve finishing works and equipping the facility.

The monitoring team further assessed the Kalapata-Kamenya road, where 5.4km are being gravelled at a cost of Shs186 million.

Another project inspected was the Kajamaka Valley Dam, valued at Shs3.68 billion and being implemented under the Local Economic Growth and Development Strategy (LLEGS) programme of the Ministry of Local Government.

Kumi Resident District Commissioner Hamwada Pinto commended the district and municipality for the progress registered despite the challenges.

He said defects identified during the monitoring exercise would be addressed and a report submitted to the Office of the President for further action.

Dr Akiror applauded the cooperation between political leaders and technical teams in implementing government programmes.

She said the challenges identified during the monitoring exercise would be presented to the relevant line ministries for intervention.

Dr Akiror also urged local leaders and technical officers to act on the identified gaps, strengthen accountability and improve implementation of government programmes.

She emphasised that effective monitoring should translate into tangible improvements in service delivery and better value for public resources.

The monitoring team said timely provision of road construction equipment, coupled with adequate financing and proper project supervision, would be critical to enabling Kumi Municipality and other local governments to complete infrastructure projects within approved timelines.

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Her Excellency the Vice President, Major (Rtd) Jessica Alupo has rallied religious leaders to ensure safety in their places of worship.

In a message delivered by the Minister for the Presidency and MP for Budiope West, Hon. Babirye Milly Babalanda, yesterday while representing H.E. Vice President Maj. (Rtd.) Jessica Alupo at the launch of
“The Church Security Manual” authored by Maj. Joakim Bukenya, an event held at Makerere University Business School (MUBS), Nakawa.

She noted that while Government has the primary responsibility of protecting citizens, every institution and citizen has a role to play in preventing threats and protecting lives and property. Citing the large gatherings every Sunday in churches, mosques and other places of worship, the Minister said ensuring safety in these spaces “is not merely a security matter, it is a responsibility towards human life and the protection of our communities.”

“We should not wait for a security incident to happen before we begin asking questions about preparedness. The principle should be: ‘Prevention is better than reaction,’” she emphasized.

“As Christians, we believe that God is our ultimate protector. However, God also expects us to use the knowledge, wisdom and capabilities that He has given us to protect one another,” she added.

Her Excellency, Jessica Alupo, congratulated Maj. Bukenya for the publication, describing it as an important contribution to the national discourse on security. “It is a great honor to join you on this important occasion to witness the launch of the Church Security Manual. This book comes at an important time when we must recognize that security is a shared responsibility,” she said.

Manual Offers Comprehensive Approach From the summary presented, she said the manual goes beyond terrorism and crime to address the wider security and safety needs of churches. It highlights risk assessment, security planning, emergency preparedness, and intelligence gathering.

She urged churches to strengthen cooperation with security agencies, stressing that security institutions “should not be viewed only as institutions to be called after an incident has occurred.”

“I call upon religious leaders and church administrators across Uganda to take the issue of security seriously. Every church, whether large or small, urban or rural, should undertake a basic assessment of the risks facing its congregation and develop practical measures to address those risks,” she said.

Her Excellency, Jessica Alupo, also noted the author’s proposal to establish a Ministry of Church Security Awareness to sensitize and train churches countrywide. She commended the initiative and encouraged it to be pursued in close cooperation with religious leaders and relevant Government institutions.

She reaffirmed Government’s commitment to ensuring a peaceful Uganda and promoting Pan-Africanism. “Therefore, the security of places of worship is part of the broader effort to maintain peace, stability and social harmony in Uganda,” she said.Hon. Babalanda appreciated the UPDF and Uganda Police Force for their continued efforts to protect Ugandans, and religious leaders for promoting peace, unity, and moral values.
She then officially launched The Church Security Manual on behalf of Government.

Minister Babalanda rallied religious leaders to honour H.E President Yoweri Kaguta’s call on the fight against corruption and embrace government wealth-creation programmes to promote the generation of household incomes and combat poverty.

Speaking at the function, Maj. Joakim Bukenya said the manual provides practical guidance on establishing church security committees, training ushers and volunteers, protecting children through Sunday school policies, securing church premises and parking areas, and integrating appropriate technologies.

“The book provides practical guidance on establishing church security committees and organising and training security committees, enhancing the role of ushers and volunteers, protecting children through effective Sunday school policies, securing church premises and parking areas, developing security integration systems and integrating appropriate technologies,” he said.

He noted the manual promotes a balanced approach that combines “faith, leadership, planning, technology and professional security management.”Maj. Bukenya commended H.E. President Yoweri Museveni for good leadership, and CDF Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba and the UPDF leadership for the knowledge and skills that enabled him to produce the book.

He thanked Minister Babalanda for honoring his invitation while representing the Vice President.

The launch was attended by religious leaders, members of academia, security officials, and other stakeholders.

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Some breakups hurt more than others.

You are not just missing a person. You are grieving the future you thought you would have with them.

Maybe you had talked about marriage. Maybe you had imagined children, a home, family holidays and all the ordinary moments that come with building a life together.

Then the relationship ends, and suddenly, the future you had pictured disappears too.

That is what makes losing “the one” so painful.

You are not only asking, “How do I get over this person?”

You are also asking, “What if I never find this kind of love again?”

I have learned that heartbreak can make us believe things that are not necessarily true. One of the biggest is that there is only one person out there who could ever make us happy.

Maybe There Was Never Just One “The One”

I used to believe in the idea of having one person who was meant for me.

The idea sounded romantic. Somewhere out there was one person I would eventually meet, fall in love with and spend the rest of my life beside.

Movies made it look even better. So did all those stories about soulmates who somehow find each other at exactly the right time.

But real relationships are more complicated.

As I have grown older, I have started to believe that we can love more than one person deeply throughout our lives. We can build meaningful relationships with different people and experience different kinds of love.

One person may make you feel safe. Another may challenge you to grow. Someone else might bring out a side of you that you never knew existed.

That does not make the love you shared with your ex any less real.

It simply means that one relationship does not have to be the only great love you will ever experience.

And once you understand that, losing someone becomes a little less frightening.

A Good Relationship Can Still Come to an End

The next thing I had to accept was even harder.

Sometimes, a relationship ends without either person being a villain.

There does not always have to be cheating, betrayal or some huge argument. Two people can care about each other and still discover that they are no longer heading in the same direction.

People change. Priorities change. Life changes.

Perhaps the person you were five years ago wanted something completely different from what you want today. The same can happen to your partner.

That does not erase the years you spent together.

The memories still matter. The laughter still happened. The love was still real.

It simply means the relationship could not continue in the same way.

For me, understanding this made it easier to stop asking who was to blame.

Instead, I could start accepting that some relationships are valuable without being permanent.

But You Cannot Make Someone Stay

Once you accept that a relationship can end even when there was genuine love, another painful truth becomes easier to face.

You cannot make somebody stay.

After a breakup, it is tempting to look for the thing you could have done differently.

Maybe you should have called more. Perhaps you should have been more patient. You might even convince yourself that changing one thing would have saved everything.

There is always room to learn from our mistakes. However, a relationship cannot survive on one person’s effort.

Love has to be chosen by both people.

When someone decides they no longer want the relationship, you can fight for it, but you cannot force them to stay.

And eventually, choosing to let go becomes an act of choosing yourself.

That does not mean you stop caring.

It means you stop trying to control an outcome that is no longer yours to control.

Moving On Does Not Mean Finding Someone Like Your Ex

This is where many people get stuck.

After losing someone important, the idea of meeting somebody new can feel almost impossible.

People tell you, “You will find someone else,” but you do not want someone else.

You want the person you lost.

I remember thinking that I would never meet someone like my ex again.

Eventually, I realized that I was right.

I was never going to meet someone exactly like her.

Nobody is a replacement for another person. The next relationship is not supposed to copy the one you lost.

It will have its own personality, its own challenges and its own kind of happiness.

Maybe you will communicate differently. Perhaps you will discover a calmer kind of love. You may even become a better version of yourself because of what the previous relationship taught you.

That is not forgetting your ex.

It is growing beyond the relationship.

Your Future Is Still Waiting for You

And that brings me back to the fear that usually sits underneath heartbreak: “What if that was my only chance?”

It was not.

The future you imagined with your ex may not happen, but that does not mean you have lost the possibility of having a happy future.

Marriage can still happen.

A family can still happen.

Love can still happen.

Your life simply may not look the way you once imagined.

That can be frightening at first. Eventually, though, a different future can become exciting too.

So give yourself time to grieve what you lost. Remember the good parts without pretending the relationship was perfect. Be grateful for what it taught you.

Most importantly, do not turn one ending into a prediction about the rest of your life.

You did not lose your only chance at love.

You lost a relationship.

There is a difference.

And one day, when the heartbreak is no longer so loud, you may realize that the person you thought was the end of your story was simply one chapter in it.