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By Fahim Muyingo

Young leaders from across the East African Community (EAC) recently gathered at Makerere University for the 3rd Annual East African Guild Leaders’ Summit, where they called for deeper regional integration and a future in which opportunities are not limited by national borders.

Held under the theme: “Youth Leadership, Production, and Regional Integration: Building a Competitive East Africa in a Changing Global Order,” the summit brought together university guild presidents, scholars, policymakers and development partners to explore how young people can drive the region’s transformation.

A recurring message throughout the discussions was the need to move beyond artificial borders and build a truly integrated East Africa where students, professionals, businesses and ideas can move freely.

Speakers, including Professor Idris A. Rai and Damian Massa, argued that the region’s competitiveness will depend largely on how effectively East African countries remove barriers to mobility and collaboration. Drawing lessons from international models such as the European Union’s student exchange programmes, participants proposed harmonising university curricula, simplifying credit transfer systems and expanding opportunities for cross-border learning.

The summit also emphasised the need to position young people as active architects of development rather than passive beneficiaries of government programmes.

Annet Pangunji of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) led discussions on strengthening youth participation in decision-making, promoting local production and creating meaningful opportunities for young people to contribute to national and regional development.

Delivering the keynote address, Professor Peter Anyang’ Nyong’o, the Governor of Kisumu County, Kenya, reminded delegates that leadership is measured by service, innovation and a commitment to advancing the common good.

Representing the Afro-Arab Youth Council (AAYC), a delegation led by the Manager for Liaison and Partnerships, Ms. Halima Nansubuga, joined the discussions and reaffirmed the Council’s commitment to supporting student leadership and advancing regional integration across Africa and the Arab world.

As the summit concluded, student leaders issued a joint appeal to governments and regional institutions to formally recognise and institutionalise the East African Guild Leaders’ Summit as a permanent, rotating platform for youth engagement.

They argued that institutionalising the summit would ensure student leaders across the EAC Partner States have a continuous and recognised platform to contribute to regional integration, policy dialogue and youth empowerment.

“This step would ensure that student leaders across partner states have a continuous, recognised voice in driving regional integration and youth empowerment,” Ms. Nansubuga said.

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Speke Resort Munyonyo is hosting senior military leaders from across Africa for the second Extraordinary Meeting of Chiefs of Defence Forces (CDFs) of countries contributing troops to the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM).

The three-day summit, which began on 29 July, brings together defence chiefs from Uganda, Burundi, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Egypt and Kenya, alongside representatives from host nation Somalia, to discuss the future of peacekeeping operations as international support for the mission evolves.

Opening the meeting, Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, urged the military leaders to remain united and develop practical solutions to ensure the mission continues despite growing financial and logistical challenges.

He said troop-contributing countries must prepare for a new phase in which African nations take greater responsibility for sustaining peacekeeping operations in Somalia.

“These are difficult circumstances, but they also call for our unity, creativity and resolve,” Gen. Kainerugaba said. “The future of our mission, and the sacrifices and progress we have made together in Somalia, depend on the decisions we make now.”

His remarks come as the United Nations Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS) is expected to conclude its operations on 31 December 2026, requiring AUSSOM member states to strengthen their own logistical support systems.

Gen. Kainerugaba noted that reduced funding is already affecting operations on the ground, forcing commanders to reassess priorities while adapting to changing international support for the mission.

He also highlighted shifts in the global diplomatic landscape, including indications that the United States may not back the renewal of AUSSOM’s mandate under the current United Nations support arrangement.

Representing Somalia, Brigadier General Ibrahim Mohamed Mahmoud, Commander of the Somali National Armed Forces, thanked the troop-contributing countries for their continued commitment to restoring peace and stability in his country.

He praised African peacekeeping forces for the progress made in improving security and supporting Somalia’s long-term recovery.

The meeting concludes on 31 July and is expected to produce recommendations on the future structure, funding and sustainability of AUSSOM as the mission moves towards greater African-led responsibility.

Beyond hosting the summit, Speke Resort Munyonyo continues to strengthen its reputation as one of East and Central Africa’s leading venues for international conferences, offering world-class meeting facilities alongside luxury accommodation and leisure amenities.

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President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has called for the strengthening of the East African Common Market, warning that protectionist trade policies and high tariffs among regional partners undermine economic integration and deny citizens the benefits of a larger regional market.

The President made the remarks on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, at State House, Entebbe, while receiving Letters of Credence from four Heads of Mission-designate, officially accrediting them to represent their respective countries in Uganda.

The envoys who presented their credentials were Kenya’s High Commissioner-designate, Amb. Ababu Namwamba; the Republic of Korea’s Ambassador-designate, Sangho Lee; Tanzania’s High Commissioner-designate, Maj. Gen. Marco Elisha Gaguti; and Namibia’s High Commissioner-designate, Gabriel Pandureni Sinimbo.

During his meeting with Kenya’s High Commissioner-designate, Amb. Namwamba, President Museveni emphasized the need for East African countries to deepen economic integration by removing barriers to trade.

President Museveni observed that imposing high taxes and restrictions on goods moving between Uganda and Kenya weakens the East African Common Market and ultimately hurts ordinary citizens and businesses.

He argued that East Africa’s prosperity depends on creating a larger integrated market, drawing lessons from the evolution of the United States.

“The United States started with only 13 states but eventually expanded to 50. That large market has made it one of the strongest economies in the world. East Africa should learn from such examples and continue building a strong common market,” President Museveni said.

The President cited Uganda’s decision to continue allowing Tanzanian rice into the Ugandan market despite repeated appeals from local rice farmers to ban the imports because of their lower prices.

President Museveni explained that his government deliberately rejected protectionist measures for four strategic reasons.

First, he said banning Tanzanian rice would have crippled Tanzania’s economy by denying its producers access to the Ugandan market.

Secondly, such a ban would have been unfair to Ugandan consumers, who would have been forced to buy more expensive locally produced rice despite the availability of cheaper alternatives.

Thirdly, he argued that shielding Ugandan producers from competition would discourage them from improving productivity, quality and efficiency, thereby weakening their competitiveness.

Most importantly, he said, restricting regional trade would undermine the East African Common Market, whose success depends on the free movement of goods and services across member states.

President Museveni reiterated that genuine regional integration requires member countries to prioritize long-term economic transformation over short-term protectionist interests.

On his part, Amb. Namwamba conveyed warm greetings from President William Ruto and reaffirmed Kenya’s commitment to strengthening ties with Uganda. He welcomed President Museveni’s vision for regional integration, describing the East African Community as the most viable path towards sustainable economic growth and prosperity.

He pledged to make commercial diplomacy the cornerstone of his tenure in Uganda by promoting increased trade between the two neighbouring countries.

“Commercial diplomacy is going to be at the top of my priorities during my tenure of duty to promote and increase the volume of trade between the two countries,” Amb. Namwamba said.

He further pledged to advocate for the free movement of goods between Uganda and Kenya, saying eliminating unnecessary trade barriers would benefit businesses and citizens on both sides of the border.

The Kenyan diplomat also shared his deep personal connection with Uganda.

Hailing from Busia County on the Kenyan side of the border, Amb. Namwamba described himself as “a Musoga by association.”

He recalled that his father worked in Jinja while his mother operated a restaurant in Mengo, Kampala, until 1979 when the family relocated to Kenya.

Before his appointment as Kenya’s High Commissioner to Uganda by President Ruto, Amb. Namwamba served as Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Youth Affairs, Sports and the Arts.

South Korea pledges stronger partnership:

President Museveni later received South Korea’s Ambassador-designate, Sangho Lee, who conveyed greetings from President Lee Jae Myung and reaffirmed Seoul’s commitment to strengthening bilateral relations with Uganda.

Ambassador Lee pledged to deepen cooperation between the two countries in areas of mutual interest, building on decades of friendly relations.

President Museveni reflected on Uganda’s longstanding relationship with both South Korea and North Korea, noting that Korean professionals have contributed to Uganda’s development for many decades.

“Koreans have been here since 1966. I remember when I was in secondary school, many Korean doctors came to Uganda. We are very happy with South Korea, and we have good relations with North Korea as well,” President Museveni said.

With a smile, the President wondered why the two Korean states had not reunited into one country despite sharing a common history and culture.

Tanzania and Namibia reaffirm ties:

The President also received Tanzania’s High Commissioner-designate, Maj. Gen. Marco Elisha Gaguti, and Namibia’s High Commissioner-designate, Gabriel Pandureni Sinimbo.

The two diplomats pledged to further strengthen the longstanding friendship and cooperation between their respective countries and Uganda.

President Museveni welcomed the envoys and assured them of Uganda’s support throughout their diplomatic assignments.

He reaffirmed Uganda’s commitment to international cooperation, peaceful diplomacy and expanding bilateral partnerships in trade.

The President noted that Uganda remains committed to working closely with friendly nations in advancing shared development goals and promoting regional stability.

The presentation of letters of credence is an important diplomatic tradition through which Ambassadors and High Commissioners formally present official documents from their respective Heads of State authorizing them to represent their countries in another sovereign state. The ceremony formally marks the beginning of their official assignments in the receiving country.

The meetings were attended by the Acting Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hajji Haruna Kasolo, senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and other government officials.

 

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Ugandan DJ Selecta Jeff has weighed in on the growing debate sparked by Bien‘s comments about Ugandan music, saying he agrees with part of the Kenyan singer’s assessment.

In a post on X, Jeff argued that Uganda has no shortage of talented musicians capable of appealing to a global audience.

However, he believes Bien was referring to the country’s established stars rather than the entire industry.

We have a lot of talented musicians that make amazing music that can appeal to the global audience/market.. we know them, we always try to support them all the time. I think Bien’s point was more about the ‘Big Guns’, and when it comes to that, I completely agree with him.

Jeff said many of Uganda’s biggest musicians have become comfortable using the same formula to make and promote their music, adding that the industry has changed.

Most musicians are stuck in the past, using the same Formular to make and push music.. some things nolonger work in this gate-keeping free generation.

Rather than dwell on the criticism, Jeff urged fans to throw their support behind artists who are embracing fresh ideas and pushing the sound forward.

Let’s keep supporting serious, open minded creatives who are not exited of Bukoma nsimbi noise (with all dues respect to Bukoma nsimbi & residents.. I just used the area as an example.

He went on to highlight a number of artists he believes deserve more attention, including Ayma, Lamu, Walter YT, Rulz, Likkle Bangi, Jenesis Kimera, Jirani Seyn, Tarley, Expect Xavi, Sean, and Alak SG.

Bien sparked debate across Uganda’s entertainment industry after claiming that Ugandan music “does not evolve much,” prompting reactions from several industry players, including dancehall artist Mark Da Urban, who defended the country’s music scene.

We have a lot of talented musicians that make amazing music that can appeal to the global audience/market.. we know them, we always try to support them all the time.
I think Bien’s point was more about the “Big Guns”, and when it comes to that, I completely agree with him.. most…

— SELECTA JEFF (@selectajeff) July 29, 2026

By Denis Jjuuko

The biggest football (or is it soccer?) extravaganza came to the end recently after a month of drama, relentlessness, pure ecstasy and even premium tears in host countries Mexico, Canada and USA.

By the end of the tournament, Spain had triumphed over Lionel Messi’s Argentina who were the defending champions. Messi, one of the greatest players of all time and considered in the same brackets by many as Brazilian legend Pele and Argentinian god Diego Maradona (both deceased) was participating in his third final following those in 2014 and 2022. Unlike in 2022, he left empty handed after Spain exhibited their famous tik taka football once again for 120 minutes that ended with their 1-0 triumph.

Messi left the pitch in tears. At 39, it is most likely the last time he will ever participate in the World Cup. By the time the next tournament takes place in 2030, he will be 43 years old and really old to compete. Even in this tournament, he was defying odds. Very few outfield players get to play in their 40s. Christian Ronaldo of Portugal did in this World Cup at 41 years old but the results were disappointing. Many pundits and fans blamed him for his country’s lack of bite.

The majority of footballers have relatively short careers spanning about 10 years of playing at the highest levels. By the time they are 30 years old, their legs are gone. Many top clubs start only giving players aged 30 and above short contracts of about a year. At 35 years old, they barely play for top clubs and top leagues. They have to migrate from Europe to leagues that aren’t so competitive like the Major League Soccer (MLS) in USA or the Saudi Pro League in Saudi Arabia. Some return to their small boyhood clubs that play in lower divisions.

Messi himself left Europe long ago to settle at Inter Miami in the USA where the competition is not steep and older players start their retirement programs. However, it is remarkable that Messi has been able to take Argentina to the final of the World Cup almost single handedly, largely participating as a playmaker and on field advisor to his young compatriots who still have legs to run. He ended up scoring eight goals and assisting four times. Only French hotshot Kylian Mbappe, at 27 years old, scored more (10).

There is a lot to learn from Messi. How has he managed to keep himself competitive and playing top football at the age when his contemporaries are long retired and only participating in the game in other roles as coaches, managers, pundits and club owners? If you have watched Messi over the last 20 years, you have realized that he adjusted his game. During this World Cup, he rarely tracked back or run at full strength at defenders like he used to do. He knew he wouldn’t be able to do that. He scanned the pitch constantly searching for spaces and whenever he got the ball, he knew where to position himself or place a defense splitting pass. He became more involved in dead ball situations. That way he would be able to dictate play.

Because of his ability to conserve energy and occupy pockets of space, Messi was able to play in all the eight games Argentina participated in with three of those lasting 120 minutes. Argentina was an ordinary team this World Cup that relied heavily on the genius of their charismatic talisman to reach the final and come within even a few minutes of taking Spain to penalties where anyone could have won.

Learning from Messi means conditioning ourselves to perform better in our professions depending on the demands of our work taking the necessary adjustments. We can learn to manage pain. We can wake up and be hopeful and we can overcome adversity and be able to achieve great things. When Argentina lost the 2014 World Cup final to Germany and the 2016 Copa America to Chile, Messi quit the national team. But was convinced to return and lead Argentina to victory in Copa America in 2021 and ultimately the World Cup in 2022 before another Copa America in 2024. He is human, so he doubted himself at one stage but was able to return and cement his status among the greatest of all time. We learn from him that we can fall but as long as we can start again, good things can still happen.

Messi may not have won the 2026 World Cup but his long career offers lessons in resilience, hard work and vigilance.

The writer is a communication and visibility consultant. [email protected]

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Ugandan music has found commercial success, but Bien believes its sound has not kept pace.

The Kenyan singer and Sauti Sol member made the observation during an appearance on the Let the Cake Podcast, where he reflected on Uganda’s music industry and how it differs from others in the region.

Rather than question the industry’s ability to produce successful artists, Bien pointed to what he described as a business model that allows musicians to keep riding the momentum of a hit song.

Uganda has a very unique business model that works for Ugandans. When you land a big song, like I have with ‘Finale,’ you do a Finale Tour. You go to Kisumu for the Finale Tour, Eldoret for the Finale Tour, Mombasa for the Finale Tour, and then you drop another hit and do a tour for that as well. That is their business model, and it works for them.

He later turned to Uganda’s music itself, saying local audiences continue to embrace it while insisting the sound has seen little change.

Ugandan music is big to Ugandans, and you have to be in Uganda to realize it. They live in that bubble, and they love it. The sound does not evolve much, but they love it there.

Bien ended by saying anyone hoping to become part of Uganda’s music industry must embrace the country’s way of doing things.

If you want to be part of it, if you want to f**k with them, you have to go and be in their system.

Mark Da Urban has hit back at Kenyan music star Bien after the Sauti Sol member claimed that Ugandan music “does not evolve much.”

In an interview with Galaxy TV, the dancehall artist rejected Bien’s assessment, arguing that Uganda’s music industry is more active than Kenya’s and moves at a much faster pace.

According to him, Kenya has talented musicians, but its music scene lacks the energy found in Uganda.

We are better musicians than Kenyans. Uganda’s music industry is far more active than Kenya’s. I have been to Kenya before, and their system is lacking. The musicians are good, but there is no vibe.

Mark said the speed at which Uganda’s music industry operates sets it apart, adding that artists have little time to slow down because competition is constant.

That is why they may not understand the way we do things because we operate at a much faster pace. They take a long time to organise themselves, but here there is no time. While you are preparing yourself, someone else has already released a big hit. Things move very fast here.

He also dismissed suggestions that Ugandan artists lag behind their Kenyan counterparts, insisting the industry rewards hard work despite having fewer opportunities.

Compared to us in Uganda, Kenyans lag behind when it comes to pace, even though they have access to better opportunities.

Mark concluded by contrasting how success comes in the two countries, saying Ugandan artists can transform their careers with a single hit song, which he believes is not the case in Kenya.

Here, one song can propel you and completely change your life. In Kenya, however, musicians need several hit songs because they really have to prove themselves.

Singer Irene Ntale has revealed that she recently underwent surgery to remove 30 fibroids, opening up for the first time about a health battle she has been quietly fighting.

The songstress shared the update on social media while responding to an influencer who had spoken about living with fibroids, using the opportunity to encourage other women facing similar challenges.

“4 weeks 4 days post-op! 30 removed! Vertical incision! Healing very well. The first week was hell! The gas pains after surgery! But after that everything starts to slowly feel normal again. Did my surgery in Uganda,” she wrote.

Ntale disclosed that she underwent an open abdominal myomectomy, a surgical procedure used to remove fibroids while preserving the uterus. She said the operation was carried out in Uganda in June and that her recovery has been progressing well.

Although she described the first week after surgery as the most difficult due to severe post-operative pain, she noted that her condition has steadily improved and she has gradually resumed her normal routine.

Fibroids are non-cancerous growths that develop in or around the uterus. They can cause symptoms such as heavy menstrual bleeding, pelvic pain, frequent urination and, in some cases, fertility complications, although many women experience no symptoms at all.

Ntale’s revelation sparked widespread discussion on social media, with fans and fellow entertainers sending messages of encouragement and wishing her a full recovery.

Her disclosure also reignited conversations around women’s reproductive health, with many applauding the singer for speaking openly about a condition that often goes undiscussed despite affecting many women.