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By Pauline Kansiime

As Uganda’s financial sector continues to evolve, driven by growing pension savings, collective investment schemes, and increased participation in capital markets, one critical yet often underappreciated service is playing a central role in safeguarding investor wealth. While the term custodial services may sound technical, these services are fundamental to protecting investments, enhancing transparency, and strengthening confidence in Uganda’s financial system.

Behind every pension contribution, unit trust investment, government bond purchase, or corporate security lies a custodian ensuring that investors’ assets are safe, properly accounted for, and managed in line with regulatory requirements.

Who Regulates Custodial Services in Uganda?

Custodial services operate within a tightly regulated framework designed to protect investors and maintain market integrity. In Uganda, custodians are licensed and supervised by key regulators, including the Capital Markets Authority (CMA), which oversees capital market activities, and the Uganda Retirement Benefits Regulatory Authority (URBRA), which regulates retirement benefits schemes. In addition, the custodians are domiciled within licensed banking institutions, and their activities are subject to oversight by the Bank of Uganda, which regulates and supervises banks. Custodians also comply with requirements issued by securities depositories and other market infrastructure institutions.

This robust regulatory oversight ensures that investor assets are held independently, transactions are properly recorded, and financial institutions adhere to the highest standards of governance, risk management and accountability.

What Is the Role of a Custodian?

A custodian is an independent financial institution trusted to safely hold and administer investors’ assets, such as government securities, shares, bonds, pension fund investments and unit trusts.

A custodian does more than keep assets safe, they help complete investment transactions, receive income such as dividends and interest, update ownership records, check investment balances and provide reports to investors and regulators. In simple terms, it is like a trusted record keeper who ensures every investment is received, recorded and accounted for.

This independence is important because it separates the people who manage investments from the institution that holds them. Like keeping house keys with a trusted caretaker rather than the tenant, this separation helps reduce fraud, errors and misuse of investor funds.

Why Custodial Services Matter

Uganda is at a pivotal stage of financial development. Pension funds, insurance companies, asset managers and collective investment schemes are managing increasingly larger pools of capital, creating a need for stronger financial infrastructure.

Custodial services safeguard investor assets by ensuring they are held securely and separately from the assets of service providers. This means that regardless of challenges faced by an institution, investor assets remain protected.

Custodians also provide independent oversight of investment transactions. Every trade is verified, reconciled and accurately recorded, reducing operational risks and enhancing transparency. This visibility enables regulators, trustees, fund managers and investors to make informed decisions while promoting confidence in Uganda’s capital markets.

In addition, custodians facilitate the efficient functioning of financial markets by supporting trade settlement, asset servicing and investment participation across local and international markets. Their presence is widely regarded as a hallmark of a mature and trustworthy financial system.

Who Are the Typical Clients of Custodial Services?

Custodial services usually work behind the scenes, but they serve clients whose investments affect many Ugandans.

Typical clients include pension and retirement benefits schemes, unit trusts, insurance companies, asset managers, corporate institutions, government entities, high-net-worth individuals and other institutional investors.

Through these clients, custodians help protect the retirement savings, insurance funds and investment portfolios of ordinary Ugandans.

How Do Custodial Services Benefit an Ordinary Ugandan?

Many Ugandans may never meet a custodian, but they benefit from the protection custodians provide.

For example, when a worker contributes to a pension scheme, a custodian helps ensure that the savings are safely held and independently monitored. When someone invests in a unit trust or government security, the custodian helps ensure the investment is properly recorded and reconciled.

At a national level, strong custody services attract more investment, support business growth, and strengthen confidence in Uganda’s financial markets. This can contribute to jobs, economic growth, and broader financial inclusion.

Simply put, custodial services help ensure that when Ugandans invest for the future, their money is protected, properly recorded and independently checked.

What New Innovation Is Centenary Bank Bringing to the Custody Market?

Centenary Bank is entering the custody market with solutions aimed at improving access, transparency, and confidence for investors.

Through its custodial services, the Bank will support different investment products and institutional investors while using technology to improve safekeeping, reporting, transparency, and efficiency.

This is an important step for Uganda’s financial market. By combining its national presence, governance standards and technology-led service model, Centenary Bank aims to provide investors with a trusted local partner for custody services.

A Catalyst for Uganda’s Financial Transformation

As Uganda continues to grow its savings and investment culture, custodial services will become even more important. They provide the trust and structure needed for long-term savings, institutional investment and capital market growth.

Think of custodial services as the quiet security system behind an investment. The investor may not see it every day, but it protects assets, supports accountability and helps the market operate with confidence.

In simple terms, custodial services are not just a back-office function. They are a key part of financial trust. They help ensure that every shilling entrusted for investment is protected, accounted for, and positioned to grow.

The writer is the Manager Custodial Services, Centenary Bank

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Police in Mbarara District have arrested two suspects in connection with the murder and alleged beheading of a 29-year-old man in Rwanyamahembe Town Council.

The suspects have been identified as Tukahirwa Rodgers and Nasasira Darius, both residents of Bwizibwera area, Mbarara District.

The deceased has been identified as Arinaitwe Richard, a resident of Bwizibwera Lower Cell.

According to police, Arinaitwe was allegedly murdered and beheaded on September 7, 2026, at an unknown time, with his head later dumped along Sibyangu Street in Bwizibwera Cell.

Police said the matter came to light at about 7:48am on September 7, when a severed human head was discovered at the doorway of the home of Gumisiriza Innocent along Sibyangu Street.

Gumisiriza reportedly informed the LC1 Chairperson, who subsequently notified officers at Bwizibwera Police Station.

At about 3:20pm, police visited the scene and recovered the remaining body parts from a home in Bwizibwera Lower Cell. The remains were later identified by the deceased’s biological mother as those of Arinaitwe.

As investigations intensified, police deployed a sniffer dog named Nana at the scene where the head had been dumped.

According to police, the dog picked up a human scent and began tracking, following blood stains that led investigators to a house occupied by Tukahirwa Rodgers, a resident of the same area.

Nana was later deployed at the location where the remaining body parts had been recovered. The dog again picked up a human scent and tracked towards the area where the head had been dumped.

The canine team subsequently continued tracking from the dumping site, following blood stains until it led investigators to a house occupied by Nasasira Darius, a resident of Bwizibwera Upper Cell.

Police searched Nasasira’s house and recovered a panga bearing suspected blood stains, which was taken as an exhibit to aid further investigations.

The two suspects remain in police custody as detectives work to establish the circumstances surrounding the murder and determine the suspects’ alleged involvement.

Police said inquiries into the matter are ongoing.

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Operation Wealth Creation (OWC) has restructured its directorates to align its operations with the institution’s new establishment and enhance the delivery of its mandate.

The changes were announced during a ceremony held at OWC headquarters in Kamwokya on Tuesday and presided over by the Deputy Chief Coordinator, Brig Gen Godfrey Muwanguzi, on behalf of the Chief Coordinator, Gen (Rtd) Caleb Akandwanaho.

Brig Gen Muwanguzi said the restructuring followed administrative procedures to realign OWC’s leadership, functions and operations with the new establishment.

Among the key changes is the reconstitution of the former Value Addition function into the Directorate of Value Addition and Manufacturing, as part of broader structural adjustments to align the institution’s functions and operations with its new establishment and strengthen the monitoring, evaluation, supervision and support of Government programmes..

Under the new structure, the following appointments and redeployments were made:

1. Maj Gen (Rtd) John Mateeka, Director of Agriculture
2. Maj Gen (Rtd) David Wakalo, Director of Inspectorate, Research and Analysis
3. Hon. Kabakumba Masiko, Director Wealth Creation and Social Action Funds
4. Brig Gen (Rtd) JB Mulindwa, Director of Value Addition and Manufacturing
5. Brig Gen (Rtd) Jacob Asimwe, Director of Political Affairs
6. Brig Gen (Rtd) JC Anywar, Director of Infrastructure
7. Col Victor Opera, Director of Operations
8. Maj (Rtd) Rubaramira Ruranga, Director Social Services and Outreach Campaigns
9. Dr Arigye A. Eugene, Director of Policy, Planning and Development
10. Eng. John Wambogo, Director of Science, Technology, Innovation and ICT
11. Mr Allio Emmanuel Ewaku, Director of Investment and Private Sector Development
12. Ms Sylvia Damalie Owori, Director of Creatives and Member-Based Organisations. While others remained unchanged.

The restructuring also consolidated previously separate agricultural functions under the Directorate of Agriculture, bringing together the Inputs, Coffee, Cocoa and Tea, Fruits and Horticulture, and Sugarcane Value Chains functions under a unified directorate.

Brig Gen Muwanguzi urged the newly appointed directors to execute OWC’s mandate in line with the guidance of President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and to position the institution as a model of effective service delivery and socio-economic transformation at community level.

He emphasised the importance of teamwork, accountability and effective coordination in ensuring that Government programmes achieve their intended impact.

During the ceremony, the outgoing Director of Inputs, Maj Gen (Rtd) Elly Kayanjja, stressed the need to ensure that agricultural inputs supplied to farmers are appropriate to their needs and local conditions, noting that effective input distribution is critical to improving agricultural productivity.

The incoming Director of Value Addition and Manufacturing, Brig Gen (Rtd) JB Mulindwa, said his directorate would prioritise teamwork, continuity and efforts to address existing institutional gaps while strengthening value addition and manufacturing initiatives.

Hon. Kabakumba Masiko, who moves from the Sugarcane Value Chains function to head Social Action Funds, called for continued investment in critical infrastructure, including roads, markets and agricultural machinery, to improve farmers’ productivity and access to processing facilities.

The Directors underscored the importance of evidence-based monitoring and evaluation, accurate reporting and physical verification of Government-supported projects.

They cautioned against relying solely on favourable reports, stressing that OWC assessments should be based on verifiable evidence and the actual experiences of beneficiaries.

The ceremony was attended by the Chief Staff Officer, Brig Gen James Kaija; directors, departmental heads, specialists, staff officers and other OWC officials.

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The Secretary, Office of the President, Hajji Yunus Kakande, has urged Administrative Officers to embrace ongoing transfers across government institutions, saying the changes were directed by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and should be implemented in the interest of effective public service delivery.

Hajji Kakande said officers should not resist transfers or question why some colleagues are retained in their current positions, explaining that the government may retain particular officers for strategic reasons based on their experience, competence and unique capabilities.

He made the remarks today while officiating at the opening of the four-day 6th Administrative Officers’ Forum 2026 at Bomah Hotel Limited in Gulu City.

The forum, held under the theme “Awake for Service: Professional Public Administration for Integrity, Accountability and National Transformation,” brought together Undersecretaries, Principal Assistant Secretaries, Senior Assistant Secretaries, Assistant Secretaries and hospital administrators from central government institutions.

Presidential directive on transfers:

Hajji Kakande described transfers as a normal part of public administration and urged officers to remain flexible and professional whenever they are assigned new responsibilities or posted to different parts of the country.

“I wonder why some of you don’t want to be transferred. How could you ask why you are transferring me and leaving the other one around? Actually, it was the President’s directive, which shouldn’t be turned down,” he said.

He reminded the officers that public servants are required by law to serve wherever they are deployed.

“In accordance with the law, you are required to serve in any part of the country. Now why are you refusing? Try to be flexible and professional,” he said.

Hajji Kakande, who said he has served in the Office of the President for about 40 years, explained that his long tenure was not a result of personal preference but decisions by his superiors, who considered his continued service necessary.

“I have been in the Office of the President for 40 years. It has not been my own making; it is because someone found it prudent that I stay,” he said.

He cautioned officers against writing anonymous complaints against colleagues in an attempt to have them transferred, urging public servants to focus on their own responsibilities rather than being preoccupied with positions occupied by others.

Hajji Kakande explained that some officers are retained in particular positions because of qualities and institutional knowledge that may be difficult to replace.

“There are some officers I have myself and I may defend them. I did not transfer them because I know that if I transferred them, it may not work,” he said.

Hajji Kakande challenged Administrative Officers to develop a broad understanding of government operations instead of limiting themselves to their immediate assignments.

“The effective Administrative Officer must understand how the Government works as a system. An Administrative Officer should therefore not be knowledgeable only about his or her immediate desk or assignment. You must understand Government business beyond your immediate responsibilities,” he said.

He urged officers to embrace continuous professional development through reading, consultation, professional discussions and learning from experienced colleagues.

“Read widely, consult, ask questions, participate in professional discussions and learn from experienced colleagues,” he said.

Hajji Kakande also tasked administrators with keeping abreast of laws, policies, regulations, procedures, government programmes and reforms affecting their work.

“The Public Service is changing, and the administrator who does not continue learning will inevitably find it increasingly difficult to remain effective,” he warned.

Career progression must be earned through merit:

Hajji Kakande said the opening of the Undersecretary position to officers from other cadres represents a significant shift that requires members of the Administrative Cadre to demonstrate their value through competence and measurable results.

“Business can no longer continue as usual; you must actively prove your value through exceptional competence, quick responsiveness and measurable results,” he said.

He challenged officers to continuously assess the value they add to their institutions, the skills they are acquiring and their preparedness for greater responsibilities.

“Career progression is no longer guaranteed by tenure, but earned through merit,” Hajji Kakande said.

He urged senior administrators to mentor and prepare junior officers for leadership, saying the strength of the cadre depends on how effectively senior officers transfer knowledge and develop their successors.

“Occupying a senior position is not the final goal. True leadership is measured by the capable successors you build,” he said.

He called on Undersecretaries to mentor, coach and delegate responsibilities to junior administrators while exposing them to different areas of government operations.

Integrity, discipline and accountability:

Hajji Kakande emphasised the need for high standards of integrity and accountability among public administrators, noting that they handle public resources, official information, procurement processes, human resource responsibilities and government records.

He urged officers to maintain impartiality, confidentiality, fairness and accountability while following established procedures.

“Your conduct must demonstrate that public service is a trust and not a personal entitlement,” he said.

Hajji Kakande further warned that indiscipline would not be tolerated in the Public Service.

He urged officers to observe working hours, avoid absenteeism without permission, follow lawful instructions, protect government property and maintain professional relationships with colleagues.

He also cautioned administrators against corruption and encouraged them to manage their personal finances responsibly.

“Public service is not a path to sudden wealth. Live within your legitimate means,” he said.

He added that officers could invest in lawful businesses to supplement their salaries, provided such activities comply with the law and do not conflict with their official duties.

Hospital administrators part of wider public administration:

Hajji Kakande reaffirmed that hospital administrators are part of the wider public administration system and perform responsibilities similar to those of other government administrators.

He called for greater organisation among members of the cadre and stakeholders to develop a clearly articulated scheme of service to guide career development and professionalisation.

On remuneration, Hajji Kakande said the Office of the President was continuing to engage relevant authorities on improving salaries and conditions of service for administrators.

“We recently met the President. Now the salaries were increased and the retiring Permanent Secretary also got a fair deal of Shs10 million per month. The Principals’ salary was also increased and the Senior Assistant, you are also coming in,” he said.

He encouraged administrators to take advantage of Uganda’s expanding access to education by pursuing master’s degrees, postgraduate diplomas and other relevant qualifications to enhance their competitiveness for senior positions.

PAAU commends Hajji Kakande:

The outgoing Chairperson of the Public Administrators Association of Uganda (PAAU), Dr. Freddie Mugunga, said the forum’s theme was timely and aligned with President Museveni’s message of “Kisanja No More Sleep, Kisanja No Corruption.”

Dr. Mugunga commended Hajji Kakande for consistently supporting professional development and creating opportunities for administrators to meet, share experiences and address challenges affecting the cadre.

“On behalf of the association, we thank you Hajji for always supporting us. We really needed to be gathering as members of the forum and you supported it wholeheartedly,” Dr. Mugunga said.

He also thanked Hajji Kakande for mentoring administrators and supporting them during difficult periods.

Dr. Mugunga acknowledged that the ongoing transfers had generated anxiety among some administrators but urged them to remain united and focused on public service.

“Ever since the issue of transfers came into place, there’s been a frenzy and anxiety among the administrators. We shouldn’t be enemies of ourselves. Not every person will be promoted,” he said.

He stressed that officers may be required to serve in different ministries or parts of the country in the interest of government business.

“Some protest, but we remain steadfast,” he said.

Dr. Mugunga also raised concerns about reports of some Ministers declining to work with Personal Assistants deployed from the Public Service, urging senior officials to support and guide the officers so they can effectively perform their roles.

The four-day forum is expected to provide a platform for Administrative Officers to share experiences, strengthen professional standards and reflect on the role of public administration in promoting integrity, accountability and national transformation.

 

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The Inspector General of Government (IGG), Lady Justice Naluzze Aisha Batala, has reaffirmed the Inspectorate of Government’s commitment to strengthening Integrity Ambassadors Clubs in universities and other institutions of higher learning across Uganda.

Lady Justice Naluzze made the commitment when representatives of the Bishop Stuart University Integrity Ambassadors Club paid a courtesy call on her and presented a report on the Club’s activities, while seeking continued support for their anti-corruption initiatives.

The delegation was led by the outgoing University Club Vice President, Mr. Alison Twine, and the incoming Club President, Mr. Mackson Nagaba. They were accompanied by committee members Mr. Trust Owomani and Ms. Cecilia Mwesigye.

Lady Justice Naluzze emphasised the importance of nurturing integrity among young people, noting that equipping the youth with strong ethical values is critical to developing a future generation committed to accountable, responsible and ethical leadership.

She pledged the Inspectorate’s continued support to Integrity Ambassadors Clubs as they promote integrity within their institutions and communities and contribute to the broader fight against corruption.

The Director of Research, Education and Advocacy, Mr. Gwaira Gerald, commended the Bishop Stuart University Integrity Ambassadors Club for its active engagement and commitment to promoting integrity.

The Assistant Director, Ms. Christine Lamwaka, also briefed the IGG on the status of the 51 Integrity Ambassadors Clubs established in institutions of higher learning across the country.

The engagement reaffirmed the Inspectorate of Government’s commitment to empowering young people as champions of integrity and active partners in promoting ethical leadership, accountability and the fight against corruption.

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Thousands of eligible prisoners could soon leave the crowded prison cells and serve part of their sentences under supervision if new parole rules being drafted by government are approved.

Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja told Parliament on Thursday last week that the Uganda Prisons Service is finalising the new Parole Rules and Regulations, which are currently before the First Parliamentary Counsel.

“The Uganda Prisons Service is finalising the Parole Rules and Regulations, currently before the First Parliamentary Counsel to govern the safe release of eligible inmates,” Nabbanja said.

The proposed arrangement would allow qualifying prisoners to serve part of their sentences outside prison while being closely monitored.

They could be required to report regularly to parole officers, maintain good behaviour and take part in rehabilitation programmes. But parole would not mean complete freedom. A prisoner who violates the conditions could be sent straight back to prison.

The parole plan comes as Parliament raises alarm over overcrowding in Uganda’s prisons. Kampala District Woman MP Shamim Malende told the House that some suspects are spending years on remand because their cases are taking too long to be heard.

According to Malende, some suspects spend more time behind bars waiting for trial than they would have served if they had been convicted and sentenced promptly.

“We have people who should serve six months but end up spending three years on remand because their cases are not heard in time,” she said.

The concern puts the spotlight not only on the number of prisoners but also on the problem of delayed trials.

Nabbanja said government is also working with Justice, Law and Order Sector institutions to increase the use of non-custodial punishments.

These include community service and other sentences that allow offenders to serve their punishment outside prison where incarceration is not considered necessary.

The idea is to keep less serious offenders out of already congested prisons while allowing them to continue with rehabilitation and community-based punishment.

Government is also turning to technology to tackle delays. Nabbanja revealed that video conferencing systems have already been installed in 21 prisons.

The technology allows inmates to appear before judicial officers without having to be physically transported from prison to court.

Luzira Upper Prison, Arua, Mbarara, Lira, Soroti, Fort Portal and Kabale are among the facilities using the video-link system.

This could save time and resources while reducing the logistical challenges involved in moving large numbers of prisoners to court.

Even as government looks for ways to keep some offenders out of prison, it is also building more space for those who must remain behind bars.

Construction is ongoing at several facilities, including Sembabule, Lwengo, Kabula, Buwama, Paidha, Nakasongola, Ndorwa, Murchison Bay, Arua, Kitgum, Rakai and Mutukula.

Nabbanja further said government plans to construct 37 prison wards in Mityana, Mbarara and Kibaale districts in the 2026/2027 financial year.

Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) officials have struggled to convince COSASE MPs that a specialised fire-fighting vehicle at Entebbe International Airport was genuinely worth the Shs5.3 billion paid for it.

The controversy came to light when officials appeared before the Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE) to explain the procurement of the vehicle.

COSASE Chairman Muwada Nkunyingi questioned why the vehicle cost the taxpayer more than Shs5 billion and whether its special features justified the price.

The MPs also questioned whether government could have obtained a similar fire-fighting vehicle at a much lower price from another supplier or manufacturer.

Their concerns were heightened by findings contained in the Auditor General’s report for the 2014/15 financial year, which raised questions about the procurement of the vehicle and suggested possible irregularities in the process.

Nkunyingi reportedly went as far as checking prices of similar airport fire-fighting vehicles on the online market to establish whether the Shs5.3 billion price tag reflected the actual market value.

Nkunyingi said the committee had previously ordered the officials to return with the vehicle’s logbook showing ownership. But when they appeared before the committee, they did not have the required paperwork.

Nkunyingi said MPs became so dissatisfied that they halted the session and demanded the vehicle’s details. After being pushed for answers, the officials reportedly produced a document purporting to be a card showing that the vehicle had been bought in Turkey.

But instead of accepting the document at face value, the committee handed it over to the Parliamentary Police for verification.

The chairman challenged CAA officials to explain the difference between the Entebbe vehicle and other airport fire-fighting vehicles on the market.

The officials, however, maintained that the vehicle is highly specialised and its capabilities justify the cost.

CAA Director General Fred Bamwesigye told the committee that the vehicle is unusual and is capable of performing advanced fire-fighting operations in the event of an airport emergency.

He defended the purchase, saying its specialised capabilities make it different from ordinary fire-fighting vehicles.

Acting Deputy Director of Airports Samuel Wonekha went further, telling the MPs that the Shs5.3 billion price was actually low compared to what neighbouring countries paid for similar vehicles. He said the car was acquired through a legit bidding process.

He argued that comparable airport fire-fighting vehicles in the region had been purchased at significantly higher prices. He further noted that the components in the ride can forcefully open an aircraft in time of a fire incident , foam and water to put out the fire. He clarified that its not your daily, ordinary truck that puts out ordinary fires and that its driver is not a regular fire truck driver.

However, the explanation did little to settle the MPs’ concerns, with the committee continuing to question the actual market value of the vehicle.

COSASE has now ordered the Parliamentary Police to investigate the matter. According to Nkunyingi , the police investigation will examine the market price of the fire-fighting vehicle and establish details surrounding its ownership.

The committee wants to establish whether the Shs5.3 billion paid for the vehicle represented its genuine market value and whether there were any irregularities in its procurement.

Nkunyingi said the police will now have to establish whether the vehicle actually belongs to the Civil Aviation Authority and whether it is properly registered in the authority’s name. They will also establish what exactly the vehicle does, its specifications and other details surrounding its acquisition.

The ownership question is only one of the issues troubling the MPs. The committee also wanted to know exactly how much was paid for the vehicle.

Nkunyingi said officials initially failed to give a clear answer on the price. It was only after deep and sustained questioning that the committee established that the vehicle cost more than Shs5 billion.

That answer immediately raised another question: Why would government approve a vehicle worth more than Shs5 billion?

Nkunyingi said the committee wants to establish whether the vehicle genuinely cost that much and whether its special features justified the massive expenditure. He also questioned whether similar vehicles could have been obtained at a cheaper price.

Ugandan musician and opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, popularly known as Bobi Wine, has celebrated his wife Barbie Itungo Kyagulanyi’s birthday with a heartfelt tribute reflecting on the highs and lows of their 25-year relationship.

In a personal message, Bobi Wine looked beyond the public image that often surrounds their lives, recalling the difficult moments, laughter, tears and experiences that have shaped their relationship over the years.

“We’ve walked through rose gardens and through hellfire, laughed until our stomachs hurt and cried until our eyes were red,” he wrote, describing a relationship that has endured both joy and hardship.

The message comes shortly after the couple marked another significant milestone, with Bobi revealing that they have been together for 25 years, including 15 years of marriage.

Their relationship began years before their wedding and has since grown into a marriage and family life shared in the public eye. Over that period, they have experienced career milestones, personal challenges and the demands that come with their highly visible lives.

In his birthday message, however, Bobi focused less on those public chapters and more on his appreciation for Barbie.

He admitted that he sometimes wonders what he did to deserve her, describing his wife as a blessing whose value he could never fully repay.

“Sometimes I wonder what I ever did to deserve a blessing like you,” he wrote.

The sentiment echoed the message he shared during their recent anniversary celebrations, when he described their 25 years together as a journey filled with “countless memories, smiles, tears, ups and downs.”

For the couple, their story has also extended beyond their relationship to parenthood. They are parents to four children, and Bobi’s birthday message looked beyond their own generation.

He prayed that God’s blessings would continue to follow Barbie, their children and their grandchildren “through every generation.”

The tribute offered another glimpse into a relationship that has grown from young love into marriage, parenthood and a partnership lived largely in the public eye.

For Bobi, Barbie’s birthday was therefore more than an occasion to celebrate another year of her life. It was an opportunity to acknowledge the woman who has remained beside him through the many chapters of their shared journey.

Bobi Wine celebrates his wife Barbie Kyagulanyi on her birthday with a heartfelt message, calling her a blessing and expressing gratitude for their journey together. Happy birthday, Barbie! ???”#SqoopUpdates pic.twitter.com/ejrjTy87xS

— sQoop (@sQoopUG) September 7, 2026

Imagine putting in hours at the studio, giving your vocals everything you have, only to wake up and discover an AI version of your song has pulled more views.

That is exactly the kind of situation Tracy Melon does not want musicians dealing with.

The Ugandan songbird has called for an end to AI versions of musicians’ songs, arguing that artists work too hard on their original music to have artificial intelligence recreate it.

Speaking on Galaxy FM, Tracy questioned why musicians should spend hours in the studio perfecting their vocals when AI can simply turn their lyrics into a song.

Remove our music from AI. We put in a lot of effort to make music, and then they make AI versions. We have a reason why we go to the studio. Otherwise, if I did not want to, I would have just put the lyrics into AI and let it sing for me.

Then came the part that really got under her skin.

Tracy brought one of her songs, “Kanana,” into the argument, pointing out what happens when an AI version starts attracting more attention than the original.

We go and use our vocals to the max, only to wake up the next day and find that the AI version of “Kanana” has more views than the original. Be serious.

Her comments come as artificial intelligence continues to shake up the global music industry, with artists raising concerns about copyright, consent, compensation, and the use of their voices and creative work.