Black Shuga has made two things clear: she believes she is the complete entertainer, and she is no longer on the singles market.
The media personality and singer shared both revelations during an appearance on Sanyuka TV, where she described herself as the true definition of music, dance, and drama.
I am the real meaning of Music, Dance and Drama because I do everything at the same time.
Black Shuga said her performances go beyond singing, arguing that her ability to dance and entertain audiences makes her stand out from many other artists.
The conversation eventually moved away from the stage and into her private life.
Without saying who had won her heart, the singer revealed that she is already in a relationship, ending speculation about whether she was still single.
For now, however, her mystery partner will remain just that, as Black Shuga chose not to reveal any further details.
KIGEZI: Fresh details have emerged over the controversial collapse of two multi-billion-shilling tourism road projects in the Kigezi sub-region, with Egyptian contractor Samcrete Engineers and Contractors facing scrutiny after abandoning works despite receiving a hefty advance payment, while questions are now being raised over how the company secured the contracts.
The Egyptian firm was awarded contracts worth Shs112 billion in June 2025 to upgrade the 8.4-kilometre Kabale–Lake Bunyonyi Tourism Road to bitumen standard and construct the 13.4-kilometre Nyarusiza–Mgahinga Tourism Road in Kisoro District, linking Kisoro Town to the famous Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
However, less than a year into the projects, Samcrete suspended construction works, withdrew workers and equipment from both sites and left residents stranded, triggering anger among leaders, businesses and tourism operators who had expected the roads to unlock economic opportunities in the region.
The contractor’s sudden exit has now sparked questions over the procurement process, contractor capacity and whether the African Development Bank (AfDB), which financed the projects, made adequate checks before approving the company.
Deputy Speaker of Parliament Thomas Tayebwa has revealed that Samcrete was not selected through Uganda Government procurement procedures but through the African Development Bank’s procurement framework because the projects were financed by the bank.
Speaking during the burial Mass of Mary Bazirake, wife of former Kabale Southern Division LCIII Chairperson Louis Bazirake, at Christ the King Catholic Parish in Kabale District, Tayebwa said Uganda’s priority was to secure financing for the roads, after which procurement was handled under AfDB rules.
According to Tayebwa, government did not directly select Samcrete under Uganda’s national procurement system.
“When the African Development Bank approved financing for these projects, procurement was done under the bank’s procedures,” Tayebwa said.
He added that government has already notified AfDB about Samcrete’s failure to execute the works and discussions are ongoing to replace the contractor with a company capable of completing the stalled roads.
The revelation has raised questions among stakeholders over whether AfDB procurement systems allowed a contractor whose capacity was allegedly questionable to win a major Ugandan infrastructure project.
The two tourism roads were designed to improve access to some of Uganda’s most attractive destinations, including Lake Bunyonyi and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, while boosting tourism, trade and connectivity in the mountainous Kigezi region.
But in late May 2026, Samcrete abruptly suspended works and removed its workers and equipment from the sites without publicly explaining the decision.
The stalled projects forced leaders in Kabale District, through the Office of the Resident District Commissioner, to petition the Office of the President seeking urgent intervention.
Earlier this month, State Minister for Works and Transport Fred Byamukama told Parliament that government was considering terminating Samcrete’s contracts after establishing that the company lacked the capacity to complete the works.
He said the Ministry of Works and Transport had already engaged both the African Development Bank and the Ministry of Finance over the proposed contract termination.
Ndorwa West MP Eliab Naturinda Mporeera also raised concerns, alleging through local media that Samcrete had already received 30 percent of the contract value before abandoning the projects.
The legislator claimed the company had hired equipment from local operators in Kabale instead of deploying its own machinery, questioning how it qualified for the contracts in the first place.
However, Tayebwa dismissed the claim that the contractor had received 30 percent of the contract amount.
He insisted that the reports were false and that Samcrete had not been paid by the Ugandan government.
The Deputy Speaker said AfDB’s top management has now launched investigations into how Samcrete was awarded the contracts despite concerns over its ability to deliver.
He added that he had briefed President Yoweri Museveni about growing frustration among residents of Kigezi over the stalled projects.
Tayebwa appealed for calm, assuring residents that government was working with AfDB to resolve the crisis and ensure the roads are completed.
AUDITOR GENERAL RAISES RED FLAGS BEFORE PROJECT COLLAPSE
The controversy comes amid troubling findings in the Auditor General’s report for 2025 on the Kabale–Lake Bunyonyi and Kisoro–Mgahinga National Park Integrated Transport Infrastructure and Services Project.
The audit revealed slow implementation, low absorption of funds, delayed compensation and failure by the contractor to fully mobilise despite receiving billions.
According to the Auditor General, the project had total financing of UA50 million, but by June 30, 2025, cumulative disbursements stood at only UA9.8 million (US$13.178 million).
This represented a disbursement rate of only 19.6 percent, leaving an undisbursed balance of UA40.2 million (US$54.052 million).
The slow implementation forced government to incur commitment charges amounting to US$1.252 million as of June 30, 2025.
The Auditor General warned that the charges were likely to increase because the project had been extended to August 2029.
The audit also revealed poor utilisation of government funds.
Out of the total available government funds of Shs83.167 billion for the financial year 2024/2025, only Shs34.503 billion had been spent.
This left Shs48.663 billion unused, resulting in a low overall absorption rate of only 41 percent.
The report further revealed that the civil works contractor received an advance payment of Shs16.804 billion on March 24, 2025, but by August 2025 had still not fully mobilised to commence capital works.
The findings raised fresh questions over whether the contractor had the financial and technical capacity to execute the projects.
WHO IS SAMCRETE?
Samcrete Engineers and Contractors is part of Samcrete Holding, an Egyptian engineering, contracting, development, manufacturing and investment group established in 1963.
The company says it operates in Egypt, the Middle East and Africa through construction projects, real estate development, building materials production, public-private partnership infrastructure projects and industrial park development.
According to its corporate profile, Samcrete has more than 5,000 employees, operates through 13 subsidiaries and has been involved in more than 100 projects.
The company is led by Eng. Sami Saad, founder and CEO of Sami Saad Holding.
Its chairman is Eng. Karim Sami Saad, while Eng. Sobhi Abdel Malak serves as deputy chairman.
Other board members include Eng. Bassel Sami Saad, Eng. Reem Sami Saad and independent board member Dr. Ziad Bahaa El Din.
Samcrete describes itself as an international-standard engineering company with operations across five countries and more than six decades of experience.
The company lists several major projects, including:
Ismailia Freeway Urban Ring Road
Cairo-Suez Service Road
Greater Cairo Ring Road expansion projects
Middle Ring Road in Greater Cairo
Upper Railway Rehabilitation Project between Beni Suef, Asyut and Nagaa Hammadi
The company says these projects involved road construction, railway rehabilitation, bridge works, pavement works and infrastructure upgrades.
However, questions remain over whether all the listed projects were successfully completed or whether some faced similar challenges.
Outside Egypt, Samcrete’s publicly available project portfolio provides limited evidence of major completed road projects.
The company previously participated in Uganda’s procurement process under the Markets and Agricultural Trade Improvement Programme Project 2 (MATIP-2) for construction of Tororo Central Market, but its bid was rejected.
SAMCRETE’S UGANDA ANNOUNCEMENT
Before the controversy erupted, Samcrete had celebrated its entry into Uganda’s infrastructure sector.
The company announced the commencement of the Kabale–Lake Bunyonyi and Kisoro–Mgahinga Roads Project, describing it as a major milestone.
Samcrete stated that the 33.2-kilometre project, undertaken in partnership with Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) and funded by the African Development Bank, would improve connectivity, expand access to tourism destinations and contribute to socio-economic growth.
The company said the project included major roadworks and supporting infrastructure to be executed to international quality standards.
However, the sudden suspension of works has now turned the project into a major infrastructure controversy, leaving government, residents and tourism stakeholders demanding answers over how a contractor entrusted with a Shs112 billion assignment walked away from the job.
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Former Uganda Cranes captain Emmanuel Arnold Okwi has announced his retirement from professional football, bringing an end to a career that spanned more than 16 years and established him as one of Uganda’s greatest footballers.
The 33-year-old confirmed his decision through a statement shared on his social media platforms, describing it as one of the most difficult choices he has ever had to make.
“After many unforgettable years on the pitch, the time has come for me to say goodbye to professional football. This has been one of the hardest decisions of my life because football has been more than just a career—it has been my passion, my purpose and a dream I have been blessed to live every single day,” Okwi wrote.
Reflecting on his international career, the striker said representing Uganda was the greatest honour of his life and that captaining the Uganda Cranes was a privilege he would always treasure.
“Wearing the Uganda Cranes jersey will forever hold a special place in my heart. Being entrusted with the captain’s armband is a privilege I will always cherish, and I will remain forever grateful for the opportunity to lead my country,” he added.
Although he has stepped away from playing, Okwi said he intends to remain involved in football by supporting the growth of the game and helping nurture the next generation of players.
Okwi made his Uganda Cranes debut in 2009 under former head coach Bobby Williamson and went on to earn 95 international caps, scoring 28 goals. Of those, 22 came in competitive matches, making him Uganda’s all-time leading scorer in competitive international football.
He also played a key role in Uganda’s return to the Africa Cup of Nations after a 39-year absence, featuring at the 2017 tournament in Gabon and the 2019 edition in Egypt. At AFCON 2019, he scored twice, finding the net against DR Congo and Zimbabwe.
Following the retirement of long-serving goalkeeper Denis Onyango in 2021, Okwi was appointed captain of the Uganda Cranes. His final appearance for the national team came in 2023 during the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
His achievements also include finishing as the second-highest scorer at the 2010 CECAFA Cup with four goals in five matches before emerging as the joint top scorer at the 2011 edition after scoring five goals.
At club level, Okwi enjoyed a career that took him across Africa, the Middle East and Europe. He featured for SC Villa in Uganda, Simba SC and Young Africans in Tanzania, Étoile du Sahel in Tunisia, SønderjyskE in Denmark, Al-Ittihad in Libya, Al-Zawra’a and Erbil SC in Iraq, as well as Kiyovu SC in Rwanda.
With his retirement, Okwi leaves behind a legacy as one of Uganda’s most accomplished forwards, remembered for his goals, leadership and immense contribution to the success of the Uganda Cranes.
KAMPALA – A bitter battle over the future of the disputed Njeru Stock Farm has exploded into the open, with Internal Affairs Minister Maj. Gen. (Rtd) Kahinda Otafiire accusing State Minister for Animal Industry Bright Rwamirama of sabotaging a promising gold exploration venture and playing into the hands of powerful gold cartels. In a detailed dossier, Otafiire insists the wrangles at the controversial government ranch have little to do with livestock and everything to do with the lucrative mineral wealth believed to lie beneath the land.
Read on VERBATIM:
IS THE GREED ABOUT GOLD?: Otafiire, Sam K. Njuba Jnr clear Claims Over the Njeru Gold Project
By Kahinda Otafiire
On 15 July 2026 the New Vision as part of its recent poorly researched and unverified attacks against me, ran a story that the army had evicted gold miners from Njeru stock farm and went ahead to further state that the said miners were under my employ and that I owned the gold mining project.
Any diligent and experienced journalist would offhand know that under Article 244 of the Ugandan Constitution, it states that all minerals belong to the people of Uganda and the government holds the same in trust for the people. Hence the government is mandated by the constitution and recently passed Mining Act to regulate, control and license any mining activities in the country.
One may have or own the land where the mineral deposit is found (land rights) but the ownership of the subsurface minerals (mineral rights) belong to the government of Uganda in trust for the people of Uganda.
The law allows for any citizen or investor with interest in engaging in the mining sector would first be required to apply for and be granted a prospecting license and exploration license from the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development. The Commissioner Geology and Mines grants the same after payment of the prescribed fees over a defined area allocated to the applicant (company or individual).
Whereas the prospecting license is granted for one year and covers prospective search over the country, it is non-exclusive and non-renewable, an exploration license is granted for 4 years over an area of 250 km² and renewable once for 3 years and subject to relinquishment upon renewal.
The holder of an exploration permit is expected to carry out secondary survey, exploration, soil and rock testing, and drill a specified number of “holes” to verify and confirm the mineralisation of the rock to confirm presence of the mineral ore. This is followed by extensive testing to confirm the source rock or gold vein, size, depth, purity as well as any other minerals within the exploration area.
It is only upon confirmation of occurrence of mineralisation and or commercial reserves that the exploration licence holder can apply for either a small scale, medium or large scale mining licence and these have different benefits and protections under the law. The mining permit would then be granted after proving to the commissioner geology and mines that the applicant has/had acquired the land rights or access.
Not all exploration and or permit holders have the right to enter and operate on private land in Uganda. The applicant must demonstrate that they have equally obtained rights to the land where the mining activity is expected to be carried out.The land rights or access may be acquired in various ways being outright purchase of the land rights from the land owner, lease, joint venture or partnership that may take different forms depending on the structure of the entity and financing, it is upon satisfying the commissioner lands or the obtainment of the above that one can claim to hold a valid mining rights/permit.
Under the New Mining Act the confirmation of presence and commercial deposit of any mineral and upon the grant of a large scale or medium scale mining permit would automatically trigger Section 179 of the Mining Act that would cause for the Uganda National Mining Company to acquire a free carried interest 15% and an option to purchase at an agreed commercial consideration another 15% stake in the company venture.
Any decent investor knows that a gold mine venture is the only mining venture that can be project financed as a greenfield project after the commercial reserves have been ascertained and proven, the rationale is gold in money whether dust, nuggets or pebbles and at the global rate of 140,000 US per kilo the presence of gold potential in Njeru should be good news to the country and not used to misled and misinform the public.
I was approached by a company called TAAYASA Minerals limited, owned by a Ugandan renowned mining engineer/entrepreneur Mr. Sam K. Njuba, who has made a name and reputation in the Mubende, Karamoja, Buhweju areas for his vast knowledge of Ugandas known hot spots on gold artisanal mining. Mr. Sam Njuba jnr. is the son of my fellow bush war fighter Major (Rtd) Gertrude Njuba a senior presidential advisor and head of the State house land protection unit. He is also the grand son of the famous Bishop of the West Buganda Diocese His Eminence Bishop Mukasa.
His proposal was for me to grant him access and permission to carry out prospective investigation into the likelihood and occurrence of gold and or other mineralisation on the rocks on the Njeru outcrop.
I must honestly admit I laughed at his request, but having known the hard-working person that Sam Njuba Jr is and his unique skill set as an entrepreneur and mining engineer, who was ready and willing at his cost to carry out the exploration, survey, tests and analyses. Very few Ugandans are honest and intentional with such vision and drive to undertake such ventures.
The mining exploration activities that were carried out were very promising until the greed, ignorance, and lack of savoir-faire exhibited by Hon. Bright Rwamwirama and Co. that led to the storming and demolition of his investment which he single-handedly funded out of pocket while looking after and attending to his sick son who unfortunately recently passed having put up a spirited fight with cancer.
Hon. Bright Rwamwirama and Co. have not only put poor Sam Njuba under a difficult financial position having destroyed the infrastructure that he had set up bu also made it hard to continue while all thinking that Kahinda Otafiire owned the activity. I can only sympathise on the loss and financial challenges Njuba is facing with the several partners he had engaged and brought on board his project and the vast opportunities that such a venture would open to the Basoga in Jinja and the Ugandan economy.
Very little is written or commented about the gold cartels in Mubende, Buhweju, and Karamoja exploiting the artisanal small-scale miners in those areas, to refining and processing gold. This cartel holds a monopoly and feels any innovating entrepreneur should not progress in the mining sector.
Such lack of vision and myopic thinking is what the original Fronasa fought against and it is very sad and sickening to see a son of the FRONASA, NRA historical and bush war hero comrade Major (Rtd) Gertrude Njuba is forced to bear due to the greed of a few.
If the exploration and investment materialised as was expected any decent investor knows that a gold mine venture is the only mining venture that can be project financed as a greenfield project after the commercial reserves have been ascertained and proven. The rationale is simple, gold is money whether dust, nuggets or pebbles and at the global rate of USD $140,000 per kilo the presence of gold potential in Njeru should be good news to the country and not used to misled and misinform the public.
My honest bargain with Mr. Sam K Njuba Jnr was upon his confirmation of commercial quantities of mineral deposit either gold or any other, in exchange for a share in the venture or royalty payments. I would cede the land rights to the venture so that their application and grant of the permit as a condition precedent for the issuance of a mining licence were favourable.
Unfortunately, the said dream may have to wait a bit longer as the greed and ignorance of a few who do not understand and see the big picture of forward and backward linkages such a venture would create for the Njeru, Buikwe and Greater Busoga Area with the intended Jinja-Kampala highway in the offing would open the region to investment.
It is not surprising that the President of Uganda on the letter dated 17th February 2023 directed Minister of Agriculture, Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development and Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs to explore the possibility of giving/allocating that 450 acres of the stock farm to Modern Ventures Limited, well aware that the stock farm had nothing and no claim over land in Njeru after the Re-entry by court.
One can only have to think why?! Is the presence and existence of the stock farm amidst the growing industries in the area still a strategic investment or a Trojan horse to compulsory acquire land in Njeru and the hidden treasures buried under for some selfish interest.
Thanks for reading through this dossier.
Signed :
Kahinda Otafiire MAJ. GENERAL (Rtd.)
RO 00014.
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A Pass says marriage does not come with a timetable, and that includes planning a honeymoon.
During a TikTok Live session, the singer, born Alexander Bagonza, revealed that he and his wife, Alicia, have no immediate plans to travel following their traditional introduction ceremony on August 1.
Instead, the couple is focusing on other priorities and plans to take their honeymoon when the time feels right.
I do not go into things of honeymoon. There are a lot of things to do. We have a lot that we are doing at the moment. We can do that any time. We can choose any time and go.
A Pass said couples should create their own journey instead of feeling pressured to follow traditions or timelines associated with marriage.
You have to choose a path and plan your things and do things differently. There is no reason not to do them how you like instead of following a time that has been accustomed when you cannot manage it.
Uganda has been selected to host the headquarters of the African Union Humanitarian Agency, a move the government says will strengthen the country’s position as a regional hub for diplomacy and humanitarian affairs.
Speaking at the Uganda Media Centre in Kampala, ICT and National Guidance Minister Justine Kasule Lumumba announced that the agency’s permanent headquarters will be built in Lubowa at an estimated cost of US$86 million.
She said Cabinet approved a phased implementation plan for the project. Under the arrangement, the government will first rent office space in Rubaga to accommodate the agency’s technical teams while construction of the permanent headquarters gets underway.
Lumumba said hosting the African Union Humanitarian Agency is expected to bring significant economic and diplomatic benefits to Uganda.
She noted that the country will attract diplomats, humanitarian professionals, researchers and government officials from across Africa and other parts of the world, boosting investment, creating jobs and raising Uganda’s international profile.
District leaders from across the Lango sub-region have expressed support for President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s 4-Acre Model after touring a demonstration farm established at the Lango Zonal Presidential Industrial Skilling Hub in Lira.
The visit, organised by State House, aimed to equip local leaders with practical knowledge on modern farming methods and encourage them to mobilise communities to adopt commercial agriculture as a pathway to increased household incomes and improved livelihoods.
The leaders toured the President’s 4-Acre Model demonstration farm, an integrated agricultural project established alongside the Presidential Industrial Skilling Hub to showcase profitable enterprises that can be replicated by smallholder farmers.
The initiative follows President Museveni’s directive that every Presidential Industrial Skilling Hub should establish a demonstration farm to complement vocational skills training and promote modern agriculture on small pieces of land.
The Presidential Industrial Skilling Hubs were established to provide vocational training to vulnerable and unemployed youth who missed out on formal education, enabling them to acquire practical skills, create jobs, and improve their livelihoods. The accompanying model farms are designed to demonstrate how families can generate wealth through organised agricultural enterprises.
At the Lango Zonal Presidential Industrial Skilling Hub, the demonstration farm features a range of enterprises, including coffee, bananas, fish farming, dairy cattle, and other income-generating activities based on the principles of the 4-Acre Model.
State House invited district chairpersons, Resident District Commissioners (RDCs), District Internal Security Officers (DISOs), commercial officers, youth leaders, women leaders, and other local government officials from across Lango to learn from the farm and promote the adoption of modern agricultural practices in their respective areas.
The delegation was guided through the various enterprises by Dr. Morris Ochen, Head of the President’s Farms, who explained the vision behind establishing the demonstration farms across the country.
Dr. Ochen said the President intentionally established the Lango demonstration farm to challenge misconceptions that certain high-value crops, particularly coffee and bananas, cannot thrive in the region.
He said the knowledge and practices demonstrated at the farm are freely available for communities to adopt.
“The President wanted the people of Lango to see for themselves that coffee and bananas can grow and perform well here when modern farming methods are applied,” Dr. Ochen said.
The visit changed the perceptions of several leaders, including Oyam District LC V Chairperson, Mr. Nelson Adea Akar, who admitted that he previously believed coffee and bananas could not succeed in Lango.
“I have always believed that coffee and bananas could not grow in Lango, but after seeing this farm, I have changed my mind. I have seen today that, given land and time, the President’s 4-Acre Model can make us rich. I will now go back and teach our people that these enterprises are possible and profitable,” Mr. Akar said.
Kwania District Commercial Officer, Ms. Catherine Akello commended the initiative, saying the demonstration farm had transformed leaders’ understanding of modern agriculture.
She noted that the district has previously brought farmers to the farm for learning visits, with many returning after being impressed by the possibilities of adopting similar enterprises.
Ms. Akello added that the experience inspired her to implement the same practices at her own home, where she has since become a model for other community members.
“This model farm has transformed the way we think about farming in Lango. It proves that with the right knowledge and management practices, farmers can diversify into enterprises that many believed were impossible in this region,” she said.
Meanwhile, Amolatar District LC V Chairperson, Mr. Morris Ogwal Omara praised President Museveni for establishing the demonstration farms but called for additional government support, particularly in irrigation infrastructure.
“We appreciate the President for this initiative, but farmers also need support with irrigation technologies because that is key to sustaining modern agriculture, especially during prolonged dry spells. Amolatar District is surrounded by water, but its potential has not been fully utilised for production due to limited irrigation schemes,” Mr. Ogwal said.
After touring the demonstration farm, the leaders visited the Lango Zonal Presidential Industrial Skilling Hub, where they inspected vocational training facilities and interacted with trainees.
Speaking after the tour, Eng. Raymond Kamugisha, Director of Presidential Projects and Industrial Hubs at State House, urged leaders to actively support the programme, describing it as a key intervention in addressing unemployment and poverty.
“I urge all leaders to support this programme because it is one of the most effective interventions for improving the livelihoods of vulnerable youth and transforming household incomes through skills development and modern agriculture,” Eng. Kamugisha said.
He added that combining vocational training with demonstration farming is intended to ensure communities acquire practical skills while embracing commercial agriculture as a means of wealth creation and socio-economic transformation.
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It is with profound grief and a heavy heart that I join the Office of the President, the RCC/RDC fraternity, Government, and the people of Kampala to mourn the passing of our brother, friend, and colleague, Mark Baingana, Deputy RCC Kampala – Makindye Division.
Mark Baingana was a patriot in word and in deed.
He was a man who wore his service as a badge of honor. In his time as Deputy RCC, Mark embodied the very values we swore to uphold: integrity, discipline, humility, and selfless service.
He was persistent, consistent, and present. When the people of Makindye needed government, Mark was there. In security matters, in community barazas, in resolving land conflicts, in mobilizing for government programs – he was always on the frontline. He believed that leadership is not about titles, but about touching lives.
Mark was a bridge builder. He worked seamlessly with LC leaders, religious institutions, security organs, and civil society. He was firm on principle, but gentle in approach. He commanded respect not by force, but by character.
To many of us in the fraternity, Mark was a brother and a mentor. He carried wisdom beyond his years. He reminded us daily that the Office of the President exists to serve the last person. Behind the uniform, he was a devoted family man, a man of faith, and a friend to all.
His sudden departure has created a void that will be hard to fill*l. Makindye has lost a diligent servant. Kampala has lost a committed public officer. Uganda has lost a patriot whose flame burned brightly for his country.
To his beloved family, we say: _Tugume_. We share in your sorrow. May the Almighty God comfort you and grant you strength. To the people of Makindye Division: thank you for the love and support you gave Mark. He loved serving you.
Mark, you ran your race well. You fought the good fight. You served your country with honor. Your legacy of service, patriotism, and humility will forever inspire us.
Go well, brother. Until we meet again. May your soul rest in eternal peace.
For God and My Country.
KAGENYI LUKKA DEPUTY RCC KAMPALA CITY – KAWEMPE DIVISION
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A recent letter authored by the Speaker of Nakisunga Subcounty Council—purportedly suspending Namuyenje Parish Councillor Nampijja Leah for five sittings—raises serious procedural and legal questions that warrant scrutiny under the Local Government Standard Rules of Procedure and the laws of Uganda.
Procedural Irregularities and Overreach
* Chamber Jurisdiction: Under Rule 1 of the Standard Rules of Procedure, a “ruling” is strictly defined as a decision made by the Speaker on procedural matters in Council. Section 11(9) of the Local Government Act and Rule 8(3) limit the Speaker’s authority to official council proceedings within council precincts.
* Ultra Vires Communication: Rule 53(7) explicitly mandates that the Clerk to Council shall communicate a suspension in writing. A letter issued directly under the Speaker’s stamp and signature falls outside the scope of the law.
* Excessive Sanction: Rule 53(1) caps a member’s suspension at a maximum of two consecutive Council sittings and two consecutive Committee sittings. Imposing a five-sitting suspension lacks any legal basis.
* Announcement Requirement: Rule 53(2) dictates that disciplinary action taken against a member shall be formally announced within Council, a condition that must be met before enforcement.
The Administrative Trap for the Subcounty Chief
Section 69(3)(c) of the Local Government Act requires the Subcounty Chief to implement only lawful Council decisions. This creates an immediate administrative conflict under Rule 53(6), which dictates that a suspended member forfeits allowances.
Withholding a councillor’s allowances based on an illegal suspension exposes the Subcounty Chief and the local government to future legal liability and litigation.
Rule 3 mandates strict compliance with the Standard Rules of Procedure, while Rule 101(3) requires local councils to ensure all customized rules align with the Constitution and national laws.
Furthermore, Rule 6(3) requires that the Speaker be furnished with the Constitution upon taking office to prevent such missteps.
Coming Up in Part Two If the leadership fails to correct course, expect a rigorous legal breakdown addressing key constitutional and evidentiary issues: * Article 28(3)(a) of the Constitution (Presumption of Innocence) * Trial on Indictments Act (Cap. 23), Section 101 * The Evidence Act (Cap. 6): Circumstantial Evidence, Hearsay Rule (Section 60), and Burden of Proof (Sections 101 & 102) Unless pride is set aside in favor of the rule of law, legal gymnastics await the Nakisunga Subcounty Headquarters.
ALLAN MAWANDA Former Speaker, Mukono Central Division Spokesperson, Central Region Speakers’ Association ✍️
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