Registers destroyed, violence and voter disputes derail voting as Commission sets August 1 date for repeat elections
The village elections that were expected to usher in new LC1 leaders across Uganda suffered disruptions in hundreds of areas, forcing the Electoral Commission to announce fresh polling dates for more than 1,000 villages.
Electoral Commission Chairperson Justice Simon Byabakama Mugenyi has revealed that elections failed to take place or were interrupted in 1,135 villages after chaos, violence, destruction of voting materials and disputes over voter registers.
The affected villages represent 1.6 percent of the country’s 71,214 villages that were scheduled to hold elections for LC1 Council Chairpersons on Tuesday, July 28, 2026.
Despite the challenges, the Commission described the exercise as largely successful, saying voting was completed in 70,079 villages representing a 98.4 percent success rate.
Justice Byabakama said millions of registered village residents turned up to participate in the election of their local leaders in what he described as a generally peaceful and orderly process.
But behind the success story were pockets of trouble that disrupted voting in some communities.
According to the Commission, some villages witnessed violence and confusion, while others lost polling materials after registers were destroyed, vandalised or stolen.
Some areas were also affected by disagreements after individuals whose names were missing from the official Village Residents’ Register attempted to vote using National Identity Cards.
The Electoral Commission maintained that having a National Identity Card alone was not enough to qualify someone to vote in the LC1 elections.
Only residents whose names appeared on the Village Residents’ Register were eligible to participate.
The Commission said some of those turned away caused disruptions, forcing election officials to suspend polling in certain villages.
To resolve the crisis, the Electoral Commission has announced a fresh election timetable.
Villages where voters’ registers were destroyed will begin fresh registration today, Thursday, July 30, followed by display of registers on Friday, July 31.
Residents in those areas will return to the polls on Saturday, August 1, 2026.
Villages that experienced violence and disruptions but still have intact registers will also vote on August 1.
For areas where candidates died after being nominated, the Commission has ordered fresh nominations for the vacant positions today, campaigns tomorrow, and voting on Saturday.
However, candidates who were already nominated and are still alive will not repeat the nomination process.
Justice Byabakama warned individuals intending to disrupt the repeat elections, saying security agencies would deal firmly with anyone who attempts to create chaos.
The Commission also appealed to political actors, candidates and residents in affected villages to maintain peace and follow electoral guidelines.
The LC1 elections are a key stage in Uganda’s local government electoral roadmap, with the newly elected village committees expected to participate in the election of Parish/Ward (LCII) Council Chairpersons.
The Electoral Commission said it remains committed to completing all remaining elections and ensuring that every village forms its leadership structures in accordance with the law.
Bad Black, a Ugandan socialite and influencer who has proudly promoted skin bleaching for the last 13 years, says she will no longer be tampering with her skin complexion and would appreciate having her dark chocolate complexion back.
Via Snapchat, Bad Black reveals that it is now time for her children to embrace the real version of her, and she is “done hiding.”
Bad black before bleaching her skin
I have been bleaching my skin for the past 13 years, but it’s finally time for my children to embrace and see the real woman who gave them life-the woman who has sacrificed everything for them. I’m done hiding. Forget bleaching. I’m done. This is the real me, and I’m choosing to love every part of myself.
Bad Black is currently undergoing recovery after a successful BBL procedure, and she states that that will be enough enhancement to take her through the remaining part of her life.
She also considers deleting photos and videos that show her light-skinned self off her Instagram and TikTok pages to embrace a rebirth of the melanin version of her.
Good thing now am well shaped with my biina why I pressure myself with skin bleaching am sure i will look so beautiful carrying my bbl with respect and integrity.
Am also considering deleting all my instagram pictures because reborn Badblack’s melanin dark chocolate sexy mama. Also i will delete all my TikTok videos to rebrand new me this August.
If you meet Badblack few years try to meet Badblack after Dark ba dear you all will need to restudy what’s coming. The moment I walked out dat theater da masks are off am that what I always wanted to be.
September arabica coffee (KCU26) on Monday closed up +10.75 (+3.43%), and September ICE robusta coffee (RMU26) closed up +42 (+1.12%).
Coffee prices settled sharply higher on Monday amid concern that heavy rain in Brazil will further disrupt the country’s coffee harvest and tighten global supplies. On Monday, Somar Meteorologia reported that 32.4 mm of rain, or 2700% of the historical average, fell in the week ended July 26 in Minas Gerais, Brazil’s biggest coffee-growing region.
The slow pace of Brazil’s coffee harvest is supportive of coffee prices. The harvest among members of Cooxupe co-op was 47.3% complete as of July 17, behind the year-earlier pace of 59%. On July 17, Safras & Mercado reported that Brazil’s 2026/27 coffee harvest was 64% complete as of July 15, behind last year’s comparable level of 77% and the five-year average of 70%.
Last Friday, coffee prices tumbled to 3-week lows due to the USDA’s forecast last Wednesday that global coffee output in the 2026-27 season will rise by +6.0% (10.8 million bags) to a record 189.7 million bags, mainly due to improved growing conditions in Brazil. The USDA expects global arabica production to rise +12% y/y, although robusta production is expected to fall by -0.7% y/y. World ending stocks are expected to rise +1.9 million bags to 26.3 million bags. On June 3, the USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) forecast a record 2026/27 Brazil coffee crop of 71.9 million bags, up +14% y/y.
Rising inventories are weighing on robusta coffee as ICE robusta inventories climbed to a 4.25-month high of 4,254 lots last Wednesday, although inventories were mildly below that level at 4,228 lots on Monday. By contrast, a bullish factor for arabica coffee prices was that ICE arabica coffee inventories fell to a 2.5-year low of 292,810 bags on Monday.
Concerns that an El Niño weather pattern could hurt Brazil’s coffee crop next year are bullish for prices. Coffee trader Commercial said the El Niño weather pattern may delay rains in Brazil this September and October, when tree flowering normally occurs, hurting Brazil’s 2026/27 coffee crop.
On July 8, the US Climate Prediction Center said the El Niño weather pattern that emerged across the equatorial Pacific last month will likely be one of the strongest in more than 75 years. This sets the stage for months of possible floods, droughts, and temperature fluctuations later this year that could hinder coffee production in Asia and South America.
Soaring coffee exports from Vietnam, the world’s largest robusta producer, are bearish for robusta prices. On July 3, Vietnam’s National Statistics Office reported that Vietnam’s 2026 coffee exports (Jan-Jun) rose by +7.3% y/y to 1.05 MMT. Vietnam’s 2025 coffee exports jumped by +17.5% y/y to 1.58 MMT. Also, Vietnam’s 2025/26 coffee production is projected to climb +6% y/y to a 4-year high of 1.76 MMT (29.4 million bags).
Kalifah AgaNaga has cleared the air after his visit to the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU) headquarters raised eyebrows on social media.
The dancehall singer, who contested the Kawempe North parliamentary seat on the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) ticket in 2025, drew attention after photos showed him at the PLU offices while promoting his upcoming Nassanga Festival Mukibira, scheduled for August 1.
Many questioned why an FDC affiliate had visited an organisation chaired by Chief of Defence Forces Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba.
AgaNaga, however, told Galaxy TV that he visited PLU because of his fans, not politics.
The song is liked by very many people, so I also have fans in PLU. When a song becomes a hit, it cuts across. It ceases to be about who is affiliated with which party. Personally, I see them all as fans.
That is why he welcomed PLU’s support for the Nassanga Festival Mukibira.
So when someone calls me to support me, I welcome it because I organised the concert to make money. I organised the concert for my fans to come and show me some love. I will not turn away support from someone who comes as a fan.
Even so, AgaNaga says accepting that support does not mean he backs PLU or its ideologies.
However, that does not mean I agree with their ideologies or conduct. I am simply there to receive their support.
His clarification comes as he continues preparations for his much-anticipated Nassanga Festival Mukibira, inspired by the viral resurgence of his hit song, Nassanga.
Winnie Wa Mummy, real name Winnie Nakafeero, says having bouncers and professional management has saved her from sexual advances from bad elements within the music industry.
Several Ugandan artists, both male and female, have revealed being sexually harassed by revellers, often while appearing in public and while on stage performing.
Others claim that they often get sexual advances made to them by people in top positions of the industry in return for favours and services to boost their careers.
Winnie wa Mummy says she has not faced such sexual advances and has been protected from them by the professional manner in which she conducts business alongside her management.
She also credits the security detail she moves with for always standing in the gap to prevent sex predators from reaching her whenever she appears in public.
I’m very principled. I know what I want and what I do not want; I say no. You are not God and do not hold my future. I have not faced these because maybe men fear me. I don’t joke with them or give them room to start thinking otherwise of me.
I associate with people but do not give room to disrespect. If I’m at work and you find me dressed in a skimpy dress, you know I’m working.
I have bouncers and you cannot come at me just like that. You cannot find me dressed inappropriately where it is not needed. The reason as to why we are under management is because we are avoiding such. My manager will always find a way out without us getting into that position.
KAMPALA – Equity Bank Uganda has urged farmers across the country to stop treating farm income as household cash, warning that poor financial discipline—not poor harvests—is pushing many profitable agricultural enterprises into collapse.
The call was made during the Tulime, Tulunde, Tufune Agro Expo held at the UMA Showgrounds in Lugogo, where the bank took centre stage in equipping hundreds of farmers with practical financial management skills aimed at transforming agriculture into sustainable and bankable businesses.
Speaking during a financial literacy session, Philip Kiryowa, a Financial Literacy Trainer at Equity Bank Uganda, told farmers that mixing business money with personal expenses remains one of the biggest threats to commercial agriculture.
“You cannot run a sustainable enterprise if your pocket is both the farm’s cash register and your household bank account,” Kiryowa said.
He challenged farmers to separate business finances from family expenses by paying themselves a fixed salary instead of treating every shilling earned from the farm as personal income.
Kiryowa explained that many farmers find themselves trapped in debt despite recording good harvests because they lack proper financial planning, budgeting and record-keeping.
He encouraged participants to develop realistic budgets that cater for seasonal changes, fluctuating market prices, weather-related risks and production costs, saying these are critical for ensuring long-term business growth.
According to Equity Bank, maintaining proper financial records also increases farmers’ chances of accessing affordable credit from financial institutions since lenders require evidence of business performance before extending financing.
The bank noted that improving financial literacy among farmers is key to unlocking greater investment in Uganda’s agriculture sector, which remains the backbone of the country’s economy.
The financial literacy training formed part of the Tulime, Tulunde, Tufune Agro Expo, an agricultural exhibition organised by Sanyuka TV under its flagship economic empowerment initiative. The event attracted hundreds of smallholder farmers, agribusiness owners, innovators and exhibitors showcasing modern farming technologies and business solutions.
Equity Bank highlighted that it has deployed financial literacy trainers across the country to provide free training on budgeting, bookkeeping, business management and cooperative development, helping farmers build resilient and profitable enterprises.
The expo also featured a wide range of innovations from commercial crop aggregators, agritech companies and organic waste processors, offering farmers new opportunities to improve productivity and increase incomes.
With agriculture increasingly shifting from subsistence to commercial production, Equity Bank says empowering farmers with sound financial management skills is just as important as providing access to financing, as it enables them to grow stronger businesses capable of withstanding economic shocks and expanding sustainably.
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Kalifah AgaNaga says he would rather leave his children streaming platforms than land.
The singer made the revelation while weighing in on the debate over whether digital streaming pays enough to sustain Ugandan musicians, a conversation that has gained traction after artists such as Lil Pazo questioned the value of streaming revenue.
Speaking on Galaxy TV, AgaNaga admitted that monthly payouts from platforms like YouTube are not huge, but insisted that patience can turn those earnings into a fortune.
It depends on how you set up your page. It does not pay a lot of money, but over time it accumulates and becomes a significant amount. YouTube can pay you Shs1 million, Shs2 million or even Shs3 million a month, but imagine if you do not withdraw it immediately and instead let it accumulate for five years.
He says that is why he has never withdrawn a single shilling from his streaming earnings.
Personally, I do not withdraw the money I make from digital platforms. That money is the gift I want to leave to my children. Instead of them quarrelling over land, I want them to quarrel over my digital platforms.
AgaNaga believes his decision could leave his children with billions of shillings in streaming revenue by the time he retires.
By the time I retire, say at 80, there could be about Shs15 billion because I do not withdraw that money. For me, it is like saving, and when that time comes, I will distribute the platforms among my children.
The vibrant sounds of cultural music, the aroma of traditional Kigezi cuisine, and the unmistakable warmth of community filled Millennium Grounds, Lugogo, on Sunday as thousands gathered for the 10th anniversary edition of Bakiga Nation – Rukundo Egumeho, one of Uganda’s festivals, strengthening its commitment to connecting Ugandans through technology and the cultures and traditions that unite them.
As one of the festival’s key partners, Roke Telkom joined revelers from across Uganda and the diaspora in celebrating the rich heritage of the Bakiga people through music, dance, storytelling, food and shared experiences. The event transformed Lugogo into a colourful cultural village, bringing generations together in a celebration of identity, belonging and pride.
From captivating performances by renowned artistes and the energetic Bakiga Nation Cultural Troupe to authentic cultural exhibitions and networking spaces, the festival offered a unique blend of tradition and modern entertainment. Families, young professionals, and cultural enthusiasts immersed themselves in a day celebrating Uganda’s diversity while creating new memories rooted in heritage. The 2026 edition also marked a decade of the Rukundo Egumeho movement, showcasing the growing importance of cultural festivals in strengthening community bonds.
Bakiga Nation revellers
Roke Telkom created an interactive experience for attendees by showcasing two of its flagship connectivity solutions. Revelers enjoyed seamless internet access through RokeSpot, the company’s portable Wi-Fi device designed to keep users connected on the go, while travelers and digital enthusiasts had the opportunity to explore the Roke Travel eSIM, an innovative solution that enables customers to stay connected in multiple destinations without the hassle of swapping physical SIM cards. The showcase gave attendees a firsthand experience of how Roke Telkom is making reliable, flexible, and convenient connectivity accessible, whether at cultural festivals, while travelling, or in everyday life.
The partnership reflects a broader purpose of enabling meaningful connections beyond internet services.
“At Roke Telkom, we believe that true connectivity goes beyond broadband. It is about bringing people together, preserving the stories that define us and creating experiences that enrich people’s lives. Through innovations like RokeSpot and the Roke Travel eSIM, we are making it easier for Ugandans to stay connected wherever life takes them, while partnerships such as Bakiga Nation allow us to connect with communities in meaningful ways and celebrate the cultures that make our country unique,” said David Kashumbusha, RokeSpot Manager at Roke Telkom.
Some of Roke Telkom staff at the Bakiga Nation
The partnership also highlighted the growing role technology companies play in supporting Uganda’s creative and cultural economy. As digital platforms increasingly become spaces where traditions are documented, shared and celebrated, investments in cultural festivals continue to create opportunities for tourism, local businesses, creatives and community development.
Over the years, Bakiga Nation has evolved from a community gathering into one of Uganda’s most anticipated cultural lifestyle experiences, attracting thousands of attendees while showcasing the richness of Kigezi’s traditions through fashion, cuisine, music and storytelling. This year’s milestone celebration reinforced the power of culture to unite people across generations and backgrounds.
As Uganda continues to embrace cultural tourism and home-grown experiences, Roke Telkom says it will continue investing in platforms that celebrate communities, strengthen social connections and create lasting impact across the country.
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NCBA Bank today unveiled NCBA NOW, its next-generation retail banking platform, and NCBA ConnectPlus, its new corporate internet banking platform, marking a significant milestone in reinforcing the group’s continental market leadership in digital banking.
The launch which took place simultaneously in Uganda, Rwanda and Tanzania reflects NCBA’s continued investment in technology that knows no borders and enables customers to bank wherever they are, whenever they choose, while equipping businesses with the tools they need to manage increasingly complex financial operations with greater efficiency, visibility and control.
Speaking at the launch held at Four Points by Sheraton Kampala, NCBA Bank Uganda Chief Executive Officer, Mark Muyobo, said the new platforms are a direct response to evolving customer needs and reflect the Bank’s ambition to make banking simpler, smarter and more accessible.
“At NCBA, we believe banking should never be a barrier to ambition it should enable it. NCBA Now and NCBA Connect Plus were developed by listening to our customers and reimagining the digital banking experience around how they live, work and do business. This is another important milestone in our journey to becoming Uganda’s leading digital-first bank,” Muyobo said.
The Chairperson of the Board, Grace Jethro Kavuma, said the launch demonstrates NCBA’s long-term commitment to responsible innovation and creating lasting value for customers and the wider economy.
“The launch of NCBA Now and NCBA Connect Plus reflects our commitment to investing in technology that strengthens customer experience while maintaining the highest standards of governance, security and trust. We believe digital banking should expand access to financial services, empower businesses and individuals, and contribute meaningfully to Uganda’s economic growth,” Kavuma said.
Designed for individuals, NCBA NOW delivers a modern mobile banking experience that enables customers to manage accounts, transfer funds, make payments, purchase airtime, monitor transactions, manage payment cards and access an expanding range of digital financial services through a secure and intuitive platform.
For businesses, NCBA ConnectPlus introduces a comprehensive digital banking solution tailored for corporates, SMEs and institutions. The platform enables organisations to manage multiple accounts, initiate domestic and international payments, process payroll and supplier payments, monitor liquidity in real time, access financial reporting and strengthen governance through configurable approval workflows, role-based access and enhanced security controls.
Officiating at the launch, Dr. Tumubweine Twinemanzi, Executive Director – National Payment Systems at the Bank of Uganda, commended NCBA Bank for its continued investment in digital innovation, noting that secure and efficient digital financial services are critical to advancing Uganda’s digital economy.
“Platforms such as NCBA Now and NCBA Connect Plus enhance financial inclusion, improve payment efficiency and contribute to a more resilient and competitive financial sector. Innovation and regulation must continue to work together to build trust and expand access to digital financial services,” Dr. Twinemanzi noted.
The launch underscores NCBA Bank Uganda’s continued investment in digital innovation, reinforcing its commitment to empowering individuals and businesses with secure, convenient and future-ready banking solutions that support Uganda’s economic transformation. It builds on NCBA Group’s leadership in digital financial services and financial inclusion across Africa.
Today, NCBA Group serves more than 70 million customers through its banking subsidiaries and fintech ecosystem, which includes LOOP, MoKash, M-Shwari, Fuliza and other market-leading digital financial solutions created with partner mobile network operators like Safaricom, Vodacom and MTN.
Across Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania and Côte d’Ivoire, MoKash, MoMoKash and M-PAWA have reached a combined 35 million customers, disbursing more than USD 2 billion in loans since inception. In Kenya, M-Shwari has served over 30 million customers, disbursing more than USD 6 billion while helping millions develop a culture of saving. Fuliza, NCBA’s innovative overdraft solution, processes more than 4 million transactions every day and has disbursed over USD 25 billion, providing customers with immediate access to short-term liquidity whenever they need it.
Together, these innovations have established NCBA as one of Africa’s leading digital financial services providers, expanding access to formal financial services while supporting entrepreneurship, commerce and inclusive economic growth across the continent.
The rollout of NCBA NOW and NCBA ConnectPlus marks the next chapter in that journey, creating a unified digital banking experience that combines the strength of NCBA’s regional banking network with the innovation of its fintech ecosystem.
As Africa’s economies continue to digitize, NCBA Group remains committed to investing in technology that empowers individuals, strengthens businesses and accelerates financial inclusion across the markets it serves.
NCBA Group is one of Africa’s leading financial services groups, operating 115 branches across Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Côte d’Ivoire. Through its banking subsidiaries and fintech businesses, including LOOP DFS, the Group serves more than 68 million customers, making it one of the continent’s largest banking groups by customer reach.
The Group’s digital ecosystem includes NCBA NOW, NCBA ConnectPlus, LOOP, MoKash, MoMoKash, M-PAWA, M-Shwari and Fuliza, delivering seamless banking, payments, savings and credit solutions to individuals, SMEs and corporates across Africa.
Across its Mobile Savings and Loans platforms in Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania and Côte d’Ivoire, NCBA has reached 29.8 million customers and facilitated more than USD 1.19 billion in loans since inception. In Kenya, M-Shwari has served 32 million customers, while Fuliza has processed over 3.5 million transactions daily, collectively transforming access to affordable digital financial services for millions of Africans.
Driven by innovation, strategic partnerships and a commitment to financial inclusion, NCBA Group continues to build the future of banking by making financial services simpler, smarter and more accessible across the continent.
NCBA Bank Uganda Limited is a subsidiary of NCBA Group PLC, East Africa’s largest bank by digital customer numbers. With an asset base UGX 1.2T and a strong liquidity profile, NCBA bank combines extensive corporate and retail banking experience with leading innovations, offering products from mobile banking, asset finance to tailored investment solutions. Focused on relationship management and customer success, NCBA empowers clients to achieve financial goals while supporting regional economic growth.
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Multitalented and unique with his music style, Dokta Brain, real name Geoffrey Nkwanga, says songwriting is his “extra power,” but he sings to challenge himself as a man with vast talents.
In an interview with Mbu, Dokta Brain a.k.a DoorKey reveals that he emulates global music stars like Avicii who can do their own music and also help other creators create global bangers concurrently.
I don’t do production, actually. I can direct my producer on what to do. With songwriting, even if I don’t want to, I will write. Singing is something I personally like as a man and the main challenge I take on.
I see the music industry as a broader market, and when you look at people like Avicii, he could sing if he wanted, and he could give out a song if he wanted, but retain his ownership of that project.
He says that he realised it early enough in his career that he had too much music in him and he would never be able to poerform all of it hence why he often gives it to other singers to perform it, something he doesn’t regret because he feels some artists are more suited for particular projecst that himself.
I didn’t want my extra power of being a songwriter to become a burden. It’s an extra power I like, and I don’t even know how I would be perceived by most artists if I wasn’t able to write because I love to be extra humble, and some would have stepped on me, but they salute me because of what I do for others.
I realised early that I couldn’t perform all the music I have, and that’s why I feel okay giving it out. Sometimes you will feel like you are straining too much in the song you have done, and yet another artist could do it with ease. That’;s how I found out I’m a real songwriter.
Dokta Brain will hold a series of concerts in different regions of Uganda starting 8th August 2026. He aims to establish himself in a better perspective with these concerts to his fans across the country.
I am planning a series of concerts starting on 8th August. It will be held in Kampala, in Jinja, in Mbarara, and all the other regions where we feel we have a good fanbase. The proceeds from these concerts will help us define the typical type of artist I would want to be.
