Veteran media personality Omulangira Ndausi has opened up about how he quit smoking, a habit he had made part of his life for many years.
Sharing his experience of overcoming the habit, Ndausi revealed that his turning point came unexpectedly after one of his boss’ children pulled him aside and questioned him about his heavy smoking.
According to Ndausi, while he struggled to figure out how to explain his smoking habit to the young child, the child hit him with a blunt remark that left a lasting impression.
Back then, when I was still puffing cigarettes a lot, one of my boss’ children called me aside. He said, ‘Excuse me, how are you?’ Then he asked me, ‘Now, what do you get from smoking?’ It was difficult for me to explain smoking to a young child. Then the child said, ‘Do you know you smell like a toilet?’
Ndausi said the comment hit him hard because it was something he had never been told by his friends or the people around him.
From that day, he made the difficult decision to quit smoking for good and says he has never held a cigarette since.
From that day, I quit smoking cigarettes, something that I had never been told by my friends.
Ndausi believes that if it had not been for the child’s harsh but honest criticism, his life could have taken a different path.
He admitted that he was once a heavy smoker and also consumed a lot of alcohol, habits he feared could eventually damage his organs and lead to serious health complications.
He further explained that the combination of heavy smoking and excessive alcohol consumption can leave a person with a strong and unpleasant smell.
Do you know that someone who puffs cigarettes and takes lots of alcohol can smell like a toilet when that mixture becomes strong in their body?
Ritah Dancehall has opened up about her decision to stop being Sheebah Karungi’s queen dancer, explaining that she is now focused on building her own career as a musician while still pursuing her passion for dance.
Speaking in a candid interview, Ritah revealed that Sheebah advised her to step away from dancing for her after she launched her singing career.
According to Ritah, Sheebah wanted audiences to recognize her as a serious musician rather than continue associating her primarily with dancing.
Ritah admitted that the decision was painful because she had always danced for Sheebah out of genuine passion and love.
I’m no longer Queen Sheebah’s dancer because she asked me to stop after I kicked off my singing career. She told me that people now have to see me as a serious musician. If I continued dancing for her, it would confuse fans about where I belong—whether I’m a dancer or a musician. She showed me that we had to stop that and chase the bigger goal. It hurt me and made me cry.
She revealed that at one point, she even considered abandoning her singing ambitions because she found it difficult to imagine performing without dancing alongside Sheebah.
However, Sheebah encouraged her to give her music career a chance.
I reached a moment and told her whether I should quit my singing plans because I found it hard not to dance by her side whenever she performed. But she insisted and asked me to give it a try. Painfully, I had to stop being her dancer, and at the moment, she has no dancer. She works alone.
Despite no longer being Sheebah’s dancer, Ritah said the two remain supportive of each other.
She revealed that although she has not yet secured many bookings of her own, Sheebah gives her opportunities to perform as an opening act whenever she has a show and also offers her some financial support.
“I don’t have many bookings yet, but every show she performs at, she gives me a chance to curtain-raise for her before she performs, and on top of that, she pays me some little money.”
Spice Diana has addressed the viral moment in which she was seen greeting fellow musician Sheebah Karungi at a Castle Lite event, despite the pair having kept their distance following a public fallout years ago.
Spice Diana and Sheebah have not been seen eye to eye for several years, with their strained relationship often attracting attention from fans and the entertainment industry.
However, the two appeared to put their differences aside at the event, where they were seen exchanging a handshake. The moment quickly sparked discussion among fans, with many wondering whether it signalled a reconciliation between the two musicians.
Addressing the interaction, Spice Diana questioned why she would refuse to greet Sheebah, arguing that their differences were not serious enough to warrant such behaviour.
“Why wouldn’t I greet her? Did she kill any of my relatives?” Spice Diana asked.
She explained that both musicians had attended the event in their capacity as brand ambassadors and were simply carrying out their professional responsibilities.
We were doing business and had come to work. We were invited as brand ambassadors for a big company, so what we did was exactly what we had to do.
Spice Diana added that she would not ignore someone who approached her with a greeting, noting that her response also depends on the nature of the disagreement involved.
If someone greets me, I cannot refuse to answer her because it’s not like she hurt that bad. There’s no way anyone can come out and greet me and I ignore him. It even depends on what the beef is.
Singer Grace Nakimera has revealed that her music is largely inspired by her personal experiences, saying every song she has written tells a true story from her life.
Speaking to Allan Cruz on Cruz Xclusive, Nakimera explained that her hit song “Kawonawo” was inspired by the life she experienced while growing up with her single mother.
That’s the life I grew up in. I grew up with a single mother and she’s still alive, living in Namugongo right now.
She also recalled how her music career enabled her to give back to her mother. According to the singer, the first money she earned came from an MTN university promotion tour across Uganda, and she used some of the proceeds to buy her mother a house.
My first money I got from a gig with MTN promotion for universities all over Uganda. The first house I bought was for her.
Nakimera also shared the personal experiences that inspired her song “Onyamba Nga Mukama,” saying it was influenced by incidents of suspected witchcraft that she encountered during her music career.
She recalled finding human waste dumped at her salon on several occasions, forcing her to rely on an askari to remove it.
She also described another disturbing incident at her home when an unexplained smell resembling a toilet filled her sitting room.
I found when they had dropped faeces at my salon many times and I had to use the askari to remove it. Also at one point in my house, there was a big smell that smelled like a toilet and it was in my sitting room.
King Saha’s highly anticipated ‘Tondeka Ekololo’ Festival has attracted a mammoth crowd, with revelers turning up as early as 5:00 PM and setting a remarkable new record in Uganda’s entertainment industry.
However, the excitement was briefly overshadowed by incidents involving some fans who reportedly fainted before 7:00 PM after struggling to breathe due to the overwhelming crowds and congestion at the venue.
Revelers were asked to push their seats slightly backward to create more space and allow those who had lost their breath to access fresh air.
Several fans complained that the venue was too small to accommodate the huge turnout, arguing that organizers had restricted some of the space that could have been utilized for the concert.
Some revelers were overheard urging King Saha to consider a much bigger venue for his next concert, with suggestions including Namboole Stadium.
The concert is still ongoing, with the main performances yet to officially begin. The crowd gathered so far is reportedly believed to have surpassed the turnout recorded at Ray G’s concert a week ago.
Early performances from Vian Music, Laty Wizy and other emerging artistes have already kept the fans entertained as they await King Saha’s headline performance.
Pastor Aloysius Bujjingo and his wife, Susan Makula Bujjingo, have welcomed their first child together, a daughter named Bujjingo Grace Beretta.
The news was announced by Hon. Fred Mukasa Mbidde, who congratulated the couple in a post shared on X.
Mbidde described the arrival of the baby as a joyful blessing to the family.
Heartfelt congratulations to my brother, Pastor and Mrs. Susan Bujjingo, on the safe arrival of the precious daughter, Bujjingo Grace Beretta. May this joyous blessing bring immeasurable happiness, enduring good health, and abundant grace to the entire family.
Bujjingo and Susan Makula held their customary marriage ceremony in December 2021. Their relationship attracted public attention and legal controversy, including summons related to allegations concerning marriage under customary law while Bujjingo was still legally married to his former wife, Teddy Naluswa Bujjingo.
Despite the challenges surrounding their relationship, Bujjingo and Susan stayed together and went on to build their family. The couple had previously spoken about their desire to have a child together.
Bujjingo already has four children with his former wife, Teddy Naluswa, making Bujjingo Grace Beretta his first child with Susan Makula.
Congratulations to Pastor Bujjingo and Susan Makula on the new addition to their family.
Heartfelt congratulations to my brother, Pastor and Mrs. Susan Bujingo, on the safe arrival of the precious daughter, Bujingo Grace Beretta. May this joyous blessing bring immeasurable happiness, enduring good health, and abundant grace to the entire family.
King Saha has given his fans another reason to call him one of Uganda’s biggest live performers.
The singer took over Kololo Independence Grounds on Friday night, August 14, for the Tondeka E Kololo Festival, drawing a huge crowd for the biggest concert of his career so far.
After filling Lugogo Cricket Oval twice, Saha moved to the much bigger Kololo venue with something to prove.
By the time he stepped onto the stage, thousands of fans had already turned up to see what the King had in store.
King Saha Brings Out the Hit
Once Saha hit the stage, the crowd quickly turned the concert into a sing-along.
Fans joined him on songs including “Signal,” “Gundeeze,” “Mpa Love,” “Biri Biri,” “Mulirwana,” “Pretty Pretty,” “Best Friend,” “Zakayo” and “Ebiseera.”
The reaction showed just how deeply Saha’s music has connected with his audience. His soulful vocals and love songs have helped him build a catalogue that fans can sing back to him word for word.
However, the night was bigger than the headline act.
Kololo also brought together different corners of Uganda’s entertainment industry. Fellow artists, celebrities, DJs, presenters and other industry figures turned up to support Saha and enjoy the celebration.
Sheebah was among the familiar faces associated with the event, adding even more star power to an already busy night.
The King Gets His Kololo Moment
The concert also showed how much a major Ugandan music event has evolved. Performances were only part of the experience, with the DJs, presenters, supporting acts and crowd all helping to create the atmosphere around Saha’s headline performance.
Meanwhile, MTN TV by AfroMobile extended the experience beyond Kololo, giving audiences who could not make it to the grounds another way to follow the concert.
For Saha, though, the crowd remained the biggest story.
He had already proved that he could fill Lugogo Cricket Oval. This time, he took the challenge to Kololo and found thousands of fans waiting for him.
That matters because Kololo was never just another concert venue for Saha. It was a chance to show how far his music has travelled and how much his audience has grown.
And judging by the crowd that turned up, the answer was loud enough.
King Saha came to Kololo looking to make a statement. By the end of the night, he had another milestone to add to his career.
The King did not just take over Kololo. He showed why his crown still fits.
KAMPALA — Nineteen long-serving General Officers of the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) are set to retire next week in a ceremony at State House Entebbe.
The retirement ceremony will take place on Thursday, August 20, 2026, and will be presided over by President and Commander-in-Chief of the UPDF, Gen. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.
The General Officers due for retirement include Gen. Edward Katumba Wamala, Lt. Gen. Charles Otema Awany, Lt. Gen. Charles Angina, Maj. Gen. Abel Kandiho, Maj. Gen. Geofrey Katsigazi Tumusiime, Maj. Gen. Apollo Kasiita-Gowa and Maj. Gen. Leopold Eric Kyanda.
Others are Brig. Gen. Edson Muhanguzi, Brig. Gen. Sam Omara, Brig. Gen. Fred Zakye, Brig. Gen. Fred Rugadya Akiiki, Brig. Gen. Mike Samuel Kisame, Brig. Gen. Patrick Mwesigye and Brig. Gen. Stephen Tumwesigye Kashure.
Brig. Gen. Simon Nicholas Ocan, Brig. Gen. Metland K. Bitumbika, Brig. Gen. Charles Bakahumura, Brig. Gen. Charles Asiimwe Kahangire and Brig. Gen. Cyril Mawa Muhindo complete the list of General Officers scheduled to retire in the financial year 2026/27.
Col. Chris Magezi, the Acting Director of Defence Public Information, said the retirement ceremony will formally conclude the UPDF’s August 2026 retirement exercise.
“The retirement of the General Officers will formally close the noble send-off exercise, with a total of 1,817 officers and militants retired in August 2026,” Col. Magezi said.
The retirement cohort comprises 19 General Officers, 229 senior officers, 205 junior officers and 1,364 militants.
The senior officers, junior officers and militants were retired this week at the Joint Services Headquarters in Mbuya and respective service and division headquarters across the country.
Col. Magezi said the UPDF appreciates the retirees for their distinguished and dedicated service to the country.
“The UPDF acknowledges and appreciates the distinguished and dedicated service of the officers and militants, who have dedicated their careers to safeguarding Uganda’s sovereignty, contributing to regional peace, and upholding the values of discipline, patriotism and Pan-Africanism,” he said.
He added that the retirement marks the conclusion of the retirees’ military careers while opening a new chapter in their lives.
“Their retirement marks an honourable conclusion to years of service and the beginning of new and productive chapters in their lives,” Col. Magezi said.
He said the UPDF remains committed to ensuring a dignified and transparent retirement process that reflects the institution’s respect and appreciation for personnel who have served the country.
“The institution remains committed to a dignified and transparent retirement process, reflecting respect and admiration for the men and women who have served the nation with loyalty and courage,” Col. Magezi said.
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A simple handshake between Spice Diana and Sheebah Karungi has sent fans into a frenzy, but according to Spice, people may have read far too much into the moment.
The two were recently spotted exchanging a handshake at some event, an interaction that quickly became a talking point online. Given the long-standing perception that the pair have kept their distance from each other, fans were quick to dissect the moment, with some treating it as a possible sign of thawing relations between two of Uganda’s biggest female artists.
But Spice Diana has now poured cold water on the speculation, insisting there was nothing extraordinary about greeting Sheebah.
“Why wouldn’t I greet her? Did she kill any of my relatives?” Spice Diana asked, making it clear that, from her perspective, there was simply no reason to turn a normal greeting into an awkward encounter.
For Spice, the handshake was not a peace treaty, a dramatic reunion or a carefully choreographed public relations moment. It was simply two people meeting and greeting each other.
She further explained that the occasion itself mattered. Both she and Sheebah had been invited to the event as Castle Lite brand ambassadors, meaning they were there in a professional capacity.
“We were doing business and had come to work. We were invited as brand ambassadors for a big company, so what we did was exactly what we had to do,” she explained.
The clarification offers a different perspective on the viral moment. While fans may be used to watching celebrity interactions for hidden messages, Spice Diana appears to be saying there was no deeper drama to decode.
For years, Spice Diana and Sheebah have been perceived as artists who largely operate in separate lanes. Their interactions or lack thereof have often fuelled speculation about tension, rivalry and a possible cold relationship between them. That history is precisely why one handshake was enough to get social media talking.
But Spice Diana’s response suggests that professionalism does not require friendship, just as distance does not necessarily mean hostility.
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Senior Presidential Advisor in charge of Political Mobilisation, Mr. Moses Byaruhanga, has reiterated President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s plan to inject Shs200 million into each youth SACCO in the five divisions of Kampala city as part of efforts to expand economic opportunities for young people.
“We are going to give you that money. We were supposed to do it last year, but the elections came in,” he assured the youth.
Mr. Byaruhanga made the remarks on Friday 14th August, 2026 while officiating as chief guest at the belated Youth Day celebrations held in Kawempe Division, organised by the Kawempe Youth Council under the leadership of its chairperson, Isaac Sebuufu.
He urged young people to embrace entrepreneurship and create employment rather than relying solely on formal jobs.
“We have various initiatives such as the Parish Development Model (PDM) and Emyooga. I urge you as youth leaders to make sure that the 30 percent PDM share meant for the youth fully benefits them,” Mr. Byaruhanga said.
Some of the youth leaders headed by their chairman Isaac Sebuufu next to the guest of honer Moses Byaruhanga on his right hand introducing their leaders Kawempe on Friday
Mr. Byaruhanga also reiterated the government’s plan to increase the PDM funding allocation from Shs100 million to Shs300 million per parish, saying the move is intended to enable more people to benefit from the programme.
He dismissed claims that the Shs1 million PDM allocation per beneficiary has had little impact in Kampala, urging critics to visit beneficiaries and assess the impact of the programme.
“I don’t agree with someone saying that the Shs1 million PDM money has not been impactful in Kampala. Take time to visit several beneficiaries in the city; they will prove you otherwise. Many people have been able to utilise the funds and their lives have improved,” he said.
However, Mr. Byaruhanga expressed concern over the performance of the Emyooga programme in Kampala, revealing that only 303 of the 566 SACCOs were functional, while 263 were no longer functioning.
He said the government would assess the existing Emyooga SACCOs, reorganise them and inject additional funding into those that demonstrate potential.
“For the Emyooga SACCOs which perform well, we always do top-ups of Shs20 million. If properly utilised, the SACCOs can grow their savings and capital to hundreds of millions of shillings over time.We are going to do an assessment on the existing Emyooga SACCOs, reorganise them and inject more money,” he said.
According to Mr. Byaruhanga, the government injects about Shs100 billion annually in Emyooga top-up funding.
Youth Leaders headed by yheir chairman Isaac Sebuufu apreciating the work and good leadership of prezident Museveni with a certificate of apreciation they gave to the guest of honer Moses Byaruhanga on Friday at Bugema University branch in Makerere- Kawempe Division .Photos by Hannington Nkalubo
He added that, as with PDM, the government intends to ensure greater transparency by sending funds directly to Emyooga beneficiaries’ accounts.
He also addressed concerns surrounding Katale and boda boda loans, saying the programmes are already in place and the government is working out mechanisms to ensure eligible beneficiaries can access them more easily.
He revealed that President Museveni last year injected Shs12 billion into boda boda SACCOs in Kampala, in addition to Shs100 million for each ghetto SACCO.
“However, we should ask ourselves how these SACCOs are utilising these funds,” he said.
Common-user facility to support skilled youth:
Mr. Byaruhanga also announced that the government has already established a common-user facility at Mulago II Parish, which will provide skilled youth with access to machinery and equipment to manufacture products such as shoes, bags, belts, sweaters, books and sanitary pads.
He said youth would initially be allowed to use the machines without paying a fee, with modest charges for utilities such as electricity and water expected to be introduced later.
“In the first year, you are not required to pay anything to use these machines. However, in the following years, we shall require you to pay a little fee for electricity and water. All this is done for you, the youth, to make money and fight poverty,” he said.
The Deputy Resident City Commissioner (DRCC) of Kawempe Division, Mr. Kagenyi Lukka, told the youth that the government considers them central to the country’s development, citing programmes such as the Youth Livelihood Programme, Emyooga, PDM and skilling hubs meant to empower them.
He urged young people to understand that empowerment goes beyond financial support and requires a change in mindset.
“But empowerment is not just money. It is a mindset. It is believing that a boda rider can become a fleet owner. That a salonist can become a brand. That a coder in Bwaise can export services to the world,” Mr. Lukka said.
“Don’t wait to be employed. Create employment.”
He further challenged the youth to use their skills and talents to serve their communities, protect the environment and contribute to the development of Kawempe.
The Kawempe Youth Council chairperson, Mr. Isaac Sebuufu, said the Youth Day celebrations were intended to go beyond a one-day event and create a lasting impact among young people in the division.
“We have youth here who are going to showcase their different skills to inspire others,” Mr. Sebuufu said.
He said the celebrations also brought essential services closer to residents, including a medical camp and National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) services.
Mr. Sebuufu, who also leads the Mzeei Nju-Ku-nju Movement, thanked President Museveni and Byaruhanga for supporting the initiative and said the support had contributed to the group’s mobilisation activities during the recent general elections.
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