Music stars Akon and Spice have ignited a lively conversation online after sharing sharply different views on what men and women should bring to a relationship.
The debate unfolded during a recent discussion, where Akon defended traditional relationship roles and argued that men naturally take on the role of providers.
Men are the givers, women are the receivers.
The Senegalese-American singer explained that men are expected to provide for their partners, while women receive love, protection and financial support.
Spice, however, rejected that perspective, saying she believes healthy relationships work best when both partners contribute equally.
I do not subscribe to that.
The Jamaican dancehall star said relationships should never rely on one-sided expectations.
Instead, she argued that both partners should give and receive, whether through emotional support, financial contributions or everyday acts of care.
Their contrasting opinions quickly spread across social media, where fans and relationship enthusiasts joined the conversation.
Many users debated whether modern relationships should preserve traditional gender roles or embrace a more balanced partnership built on shared responsibility.
The discussion produced divided opinions.
Some users sided with Akon, saying his views reflect values that have guided relationships for generations. Others praised Spice for advocating equality and encouraging couples to support each other without assigning responsibilities based solely on gender.
Although neither artist attempted to declare their perspective as the only correct approach, their exchange has continued to fuel conversations about how relationship expectations have evolved and whether traditional roles still have a place in today’s society.
The newly renovated Service Uganda Centre in Tororo is nearing completion as the Government moves to bring multiple public services under one roof and make it easier for citizens to access them.
Officials from the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance, the National Information Technology Authority-Uganda (NITA-U), Posta Uganda and the Ministry of Public Service recently inspected the facility to assess the progress of renovation works and determine its readiness to begin full operations.
The inspection team included Tororo Municipality Deputy Mayor Beatrice Achola, Deputy Resident District Commissioner Fahira Mpalanyi and Town Clerk Alikwan Ayub Kisubi, among other local leaders.
The Tororo facility is part of a planned network of 19 Service Uganda Centres being established across the country under the Ministry of Public Service’s One-Stop Centre model.
The centres are designed to allow citizens to access several government services from one location, including national ID verification, tax and Tax Identification Number (TIN) registration, business registration, passport applications and driving permits. The approach is intended to reduce the need for citizens to travel between different government offices and spend long hours seeking services.
The initiative is part of the Government’s wider public service reforms aimed at making government services more accessible, efficient and centred around the needs of citizens.
Through the Uganda Digital Acceleration Project-Government Network (UDAP-GovNet), NITA-U is supporting the renovation of three pilot centres in Tororo, Mbarara and Gulu. The work complements the nationwide rollout of Service Uganda Centres being led by the Ministry of Public Service.
Dr Aminah Zawedde, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance, said she was encouraged by the progress at the Tororo centre, particularly its focus on accessibility and convenience for users.
She said reliable internet connectivity, supported by NITA-U’s National Backbone Infrastructure Phase V project, would further improve the efficiency of the centres and enable them to deliver more digital services.
Zawedde added that the Government’s responsibility goes beyond providing physical infrastructure, stressing the need to expand digital services for citizens and businesses while also ensuring online safety.
NITA-U Executive Director Dr Hatwib Mugasa said the centre would become a modern and fully operational public service facility once the remaining works were completed.
He attributed the progress to collaboration between the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance, NITA-U, the Ministry of Public Service, Posta Uganda as the hosting partner, contractors and supervising consultants.
Mugasa said the centre would offer more than just access to government services. It would also provide opportunities for young people to access digital services and jobs, allow residents to submit complaints and grievances to government agencies without travelling to other cities, and serve as a training centre for local innovation and digital solutions.
Catherine Bitarakwate Musingwiire, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Public Service, said the Government was now focused on completing the remaining works and opening the centre to the public as soon as possible.
She said residents of Tororo had waited long enough for the facility and assured them that the ministry would continue working with its partners to ensure its timely operationalisation.
Posta Uganda Managing Director James Arinaitwe also reaffirmed the company’s commitment to the project, saying the centres would help reduce the burden on citizens who currently have to travel long distances to access government services.
The Tororo centre is part of a broader effort to change the way public services are delivered in Uganda by replacing fragmented government offices with modern, centralised service points.
Six Service Uganda Centres are already operational in Entebbe, Kasese, Jinja, Arua, Hoima and at the Ministry of Public Service headquarters. Hoima is the first regional centre to become operational, while the other planned centres, including Tororo, are at different stages of preparation.
Lil Wayne has another reason to celebrate after securing a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, one of the entertainment industry’s highest honours.
The rap icon could not hide his excitement when he shared the news with fans on X, revealing that he initially struggled to believe it.
This man just told me that it’s been confirmed that I’m getting my own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame… Wtf boy!!… U serious boy??!?!?!?
The honour recognises Lil Wayne’s enormous contribution to hip-hop and popular culture.
Across more than two decades, he has produced hit records, influenced countless artists and helped shape the sound of modern rap.
Fans welcomed the announcement with excitement, filling social media with congratulatory messages
The news also revived the familiar debate about Lil Wayne’s place among hip-hop’s greatest artists, with many insisting his influence speaks for itself.
The upcoming ceremony will add another milestone to a career that continues to inspire artists across generations.
While many celebrities celebrate birthdays with lavish parties and glamorous getaways, reigning Miss Environment Uganda 2025, Ahwera Trisha, chose a different path, one of compassion, service and giving back.
The beauty queen and 1st Runner-Up Miss Environment International 2025 marked her special day by leading a blood donation drive before extending a helping hand to vulnerable children through her Green Crown Campaign.
Accompanied by friends and supporters, Trisha kicked off the day at the Nakasero Blood Bank Unit, where she personally donated blood and encouraged more Ugandans, especially young people, to embrace voluntary blood donation.
“One blood donation has the power to save several lives,” she noted, urging the public to make donating blood a regular habit.
The celebrations later shifted to the Mwanamugimu Nutrition Unit at Mulago National Referral Hospital, where Trisha and her team delivered food and essential supplies to children battling malnutrition and their caregivers. The donations included posho, rice, sugar, milk, soap, pampers, Vaseline and other basic necessities.
Beyond the gifts, the beauty queen spent quality time with the children and their families, sharing words of encouragement, hope and love.
Speaking about what inspired the initiative, Trisha revealed that her childhood experiences shaped her desire to give back.
“I grew up without receiving the love, care and support every child deserves from their parents and family. Along the way, kind people believed in me and helped me. Their generosity changed my life, and it taught me that even the smallest act of kindness can restore hope,” she said.
She added that wearing the crown comes with a responsibility beyond beauty and fashion.
“My crown is more than a title. Through my Green Crown Campaign, I want to use my platform to inspire kindness, compassion and service. My birthday was not just about celebrating another year of life—it was about giving thanks by giving back.”
The initiative reflects Trisha’s continued commitment to environmental and community service, proving that beauty, purpose and compassion can go hand in hand. Her birthday celebration served as a reminder that life’s biggest milestones can also become meaningful opportunities to make a lasting impact on the lives of others.
Enock Mugabi aka iWitness is a Journalist, Seasoned Writer and Music Analyst with a passion for sports. Connect with him on social media using the links below in bio.
Speaker of Parliament Jacob Oboth-Oboth faces major hurdles as he embarks on superintending over the 12th Parliament, the most populous in Uganda’s history, composed of 529 members.
Oboth has warmed the Speaker’s chair for just over a fortnight following the stormy exit of his predecessor, Anita Annet Among, from the contest, which he won easily after defeating NUP’s Paul Mwiru (MP Jinja South East) and DP’s Nobert Mao.
Winning is one thing, but staying in the seat is another.
Unknown to most, former Speaker Among, though out of sight, retains the loyalty of a section of Members of Parliament (MPs). Among these are colleagues from Teso, whose allegiance to her is rooted in tribal politics, which remains a sticking point in Ugandan affairs. Among was regarded as Teso’s shining star, complementing Vice President Jessica Alupo, who also hails from the sub-region in Katakwi District.
Although Alupo stands senior in the hierarchy as per the National Order of Precedence at number two. While a Speaker is number three, Among exuded more flamboyance and individual presence on the ground. Voices coming from Teso in the midst of her problems prove this.
Among also commands loyalty among members whom she personally supported to get elected. These are from all over the country, including the opposition. Some she gave money to, while for others she convinced rivals to pull out of the race in their favour. Others she reportedly quietly lobbied through the judiciary to have them carry the day.
Others are women’s movement fanatics who believed that the Speaker’s seat should have remained with a woman to cement their position in the echelons of power.
Oboth-Oboth has a big task of working his way into the hearts of Teso, the feminist league of the House, and MPs whose victory has his predecessor’s stamp all over it. Recall that the former Speaker, with deep vaults of cash, was generous, contributing amply during fundraisings in individual MPs’ constituencies. Many of them still owe her large sums of money.
While Oboth-Oboth so far enjoys the goodwill of members and won with 441 votes, the House is divided. Any decision he makes has to be carefully calibrated if he is to avoid falling into traps that are, no doubt, being set up by the ever-marauding schemers-at-large. Navigating this terrain while attempting to unite the 12th Parliament is a delicate test of his diplomacy and competence as the country’s number three.
Oboth takes over under the shadow of corruption and maladministration that badly damaged the 11th Parliament, contributing to the eventual dimming of his predecessor’s star.
The 11th Parliament suffered a lot of disrepute as a “temple of corruption” following widespread exposure of unclear expenditure and extravagance amidst public outcry over poor services. Parliament had become a clearing house where deals were the order of the day, not helped by the obscene display of opulence by some members led by Anita Among.
Oboth is tasked with restoring public trust following severe public outrage over Parliament’s bloated budget, nepotism and inefficiency, while proving to the public that his own appearance on the infamous “Karamoja iron sheets” list was a mistake that wasn’t of his doing.
Restoring parliamentary integrity is going to be a big test, and Ugandans are watching closely.
This goes hand in hand with the ability to wear a thick skin and allow both public and media scrutiny without resorting to extreme measures such as media blockades and adding security rings around the complex to keep citizens away from observing proceedings and approaching their MPs.
The new Speaker has a daunting task of reasserting the independence of Parliament and re-clarifying the bounds of separation of powers. The legislature has increasingly functioned as an instrument of executive pressure, making oversight little more than a word in the dictionary.
Oboth-Oboth has to find a way to project institutional independence while maintaining the confidence of President Museveni and the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM), which is the majority Caucus and to which he belongs.
Remember, he was also endorsed by CDF Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, who is the chairman of PLU, before the NRM CEC and Caucus stepped in to rubber-stamp the decision.
How will he balance allegiance and being a “Speaker for all” as he pledged at his swearing-in? Avowing is one thing, but acting accordingly is another.
Among prided herself on weakening the opposition during her tenure. Will Oboth play along? Will he bring back the days when the House had become a thorn in the foot of President Museveni? Can he be relied upon to superintend over the passing of major constitutional amendments in case they are tabled?
Like many lawmakers, Oboth-Oboth has historically supported bringing back the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) to help MPs manage the overwhelming financial demands from their districts. How will he manage these demands amid Uganda’s current public administration budget deficits?
Some Ugandans and legislators alike believe that Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa should have faced the same fate as his boss Anita Among. There is growing fear that Tayebwa may influence Oboth-Oboth in ways that may perpetuate some of the practices and controversies that defined the 11th Parliament and ultimately contributed to Among’s downfall.
Will history repeat itself, or will Oboth chart a different course? Ugandans are watching!
There is also the issue of the “skeleton” new parliamentary chambers building that has been an eyesore on Kampala’s skyline for close to a decade.
It started under Rebecca Kadaga but has been neglected for most of the previous term of Parliament.
Parliamentarians are packed like sardines in the old chambers bequeathed to Uganda by the colonialists. What will Oboth do to complete the new structure in good time? This will have a bearing on his legacy as a result-oriented leader.
Looking back, the untimely passing of former Speaker Jacob Oulanyah on Sunday, 20 March 2022 in Seattle, Washington, United States remains an unresolved mystery.
Family and friends have continued expressing suspicion as to what caused the formerly energetic son of Acholi to deteriorate so rapidly health-wise.
Oulanyah is on record as being among the shortest-serving heads of Uganda’s legislature, something that disappointed people of Northern Uganda who looked at him as a powerful link to the centre and a man who had the ear of President Museveni, who personally recruited him from UPC in 2006.
In short, some people have never had closure on that matter.
Oboth has to work while looking over his shoulders. Who are his fake friends and who are the real ones? In the complex world of politics, you can never know which “best friend” wants you gone the fastest.
In short, will Oboth-Oboth survive and serve the full five-year term? Will he navigate the intricacies of shaping an independent legislature without overstepping real power bounds?
Will he finally get Ugandans to be proud of their Parliament and get everyone on his side?
Will he survive Among’s fate?
The jury is out!
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President Yoweri Museveni has appointed Juma Witonze Kisekka as the new Minister of State for Internal Affairs.
Witonze is the National Resistance Movement (NRM) vice-chairperson for Gomba District and also serves as the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU) coordinator for Greater Mpigi.
His appointment comes after Parliament’s Appointments Committee rejected the President’s earlier nomination of Victoria University Vice-Chancellor Lawrence Muganga for the same position.
Muganga’s nomination was reportedly rejected over concerns about his citizenship status, with reports linking him to Ugandan, Canadian and Rwandan citizenship.
Witonze is not new to elective politics. He previously sought to represent Uganda in the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA).
His appointment now awaits the completion of the required parliamentary approval process before he can formally take up the ministerial role.
D Star, Mudra D Viral, Cindy Sanyu, and Omega 256 have all made headlines over royalty disputes in recent months. Ray G says one decision has kept him away from the same drama.
According to the Western Uganda music star, every collaboration starts with a meeting, not a recording session.
Before anyone enters the studio, both management teams settle funding, distribution, and revenue sharing.
We handle the business before the music. Both teams first agree on funding, distribution, and revenue sharing, so by the time the song comes out, there is nothing left to argue about.
Ray G told Galaxy FM that the early conversation removes the misunderstandings that often surface after a song becomes successful.
He also insisted on respecting whatever agreement both sides make, regardless of who earns more or owns the final project.
If another artist invites me onto a song, I treat it as their project from the start. I am there to add value, and I am content with whatever we agree on before recording.
Ray G would rather preserve a working relationship than argue over royalties, even if another artist changes their mind after the song’s release.
He used “Forever” to illustrate that philosophy.
The collaboration became one of the biggest hits of his career, yet he still considers it Megatone Fieldmarshal‘s project because that is what they agreed on before recording.
“I had a dream in which you and Nurse Bianca were chewing yourselves,” Mature Joyce told me.
My heart skipped several beats, but I kept my composure as I wondered how she had found out.
“Really?” I giggled.
“Yes…” Mature Joyce replied before asking whether I was having an affair with Bianca.
I responded by asking what she thought.
“I think it’s possible,” she said.
And I was like, “Now, or when she was still living in Kampala?”
“People saw you entering a lodge together,” Joyce replied.
Since I had never entered any lodge with Bianca, nor even been near one with her, I protested and demanded that she produce those people.
“If they come and say they saw you, what will you do?” Joyce asked calmly.
“Cane me,” I replied confidently.
“How many kibokos?” she asked.
Since I never expected anyone to pin me, I boldly declared, “One hundred kibokos.”
The next thing I saw was Joyce scrolling through her phone and playing an audio recording.
It was a conversation between Bianca and Joyce.
After exchanging pleasantries, Joyce told Bianca how Tony the mobile money agent had allegedly raped Madam Damalee, shocking the entire community.
The discussion shifted to men’s uncontrollable appetite for the “bearded meat.”
“A man will behave like he’s your friend, but all along he’s after something…” Joyce concluded.
As I listened, my instincts immediately told me Bianca had sold me out.
“It’s true!” Nurse Bianca exclaimed.
Then she added the words that nearly stopped my heart.
“Even me, Mr. Hyena almost raped me.”
Hoooo!
I felt as if I had been hit by a speeding train. But I kwekazadi, twisted my face into disbelief and continued listening.
Bianca went on to tell Joyce how I had spent months communicating with her in a flirtatious manner, visiting her place in Gulu several times, carrying gifts and always promising that one day I would spend the night.
She narrated:
“One afternoon, he called and said he was coming to spend the night at my place. Thinking he was joking, I welcomed him and continued with my day.
“At around 8pm, he called again.
“I asked whether the bus had broken down, only for him to tell me he had already arrived in Gulu and was heading over. He then asked if I needed anything.
“I hadn’t cooked and wasn’t in the mood to cook, so I asked him to bring fast food.
“At that point, I thought he was only stopping by to greet me, as usual, before heading wherever he normally spends the night when he comes to Gulu.
“Less than thirty minutes later, a boda boda dropped him at my drug shop.
“I welcomed him wholeheartedly, thinking I was receiving a human being. Kumbe I was welcoming a beast.”
“He brought gifts, including bread, sugar and fast food for two people. I boiled milk and we had supper. I expected him to leave shortly after eating, but that didn’t happen.
“We talked until half past ten. At that point, my instincts told me he had come to spend the night. I thought of the repercussions of spending the night in a single room with a man who isn’t my relative.
“I pondered what my children or church members would think if they dropped by unannounced. I prayed to Jesus, asking Him for help, to take away this guy. But Jesus didn’t answer.
“As punishment, I gave him cold water to bathe. While he was in the bathroom, I spread a mattress for him on the floor and quickly put on bedsheets and a blanket. As I did all that, I was silently praying for protection.
“When he came out, he was like, ‘Eeeh, I thought we were going to share the same bed.’ Madam Joyce, I almost ran out of the house, but I composed myself and said that would be next time. Before going to bed, I put on two knickers as a precaution. I said goodnight and pretended to sleep, but I didn’t because he was still on his phone, browsing.
“You must have wanted to give him. Why didn’t you wear shorts?” Joyce scoffed, to which Bianca said she didn’t have shorts.
That prompted a question about carrying huge sums of money.
“I put it in a bag,” Bianca answered naively, and Joyce was like, “Era mwe bakyabba nnyo!” To which Bianca said, “I will buy some.” Bianca continued narrating to Joyce:
“Anyway, several minutes on, he seemed to sleep, and for a while things seemed fine. But I wasn’t taking any risks, so my guard was up.
“I don’t know how sleep overpowered me, but when I snapped out of it, I was shocked to find him lying next to me. I freaked and almost screamed. When I asked what he was doing in my bed, he said he was feeling cold and had come to share my warmth.
“I begged him to leave my bed, but he asked why I was behaving like a young girl. He said he had been preparing for that moment ever since he laid his eyes on me.
“Not fully understanding, I asked what he meant. He said he loved me and that tonight was his lucky night. I asked if he was okay in the head, whether the milk had drugs. I asked if he wasn’t ashamed to talk like that to a woman old enough to be his mother.
Do you know what that boy replied?
Bianca asked. “How can I when I wasn’t there?” Joyce replied.
“He said I wasn’t his mother, that age is just a number, and he was old enough to make me sing Alleluia in Chinese and nearby languages. Can you imagine!
“This Hyena of ours? I can’t believe it!” Joyce reacted.
“I asked him to leave or I would get up. Instead, he begged me, said he had so much love for me and wanted just one round. He grabbed my arm and made me feel his hard animal. ‘See how hard it is, if you don’t help me, it’s going to explode. Or do you want me to go out and rape goats or kids?
“And what did you do?” Joyce asked.
“My fellow woman, I knew I was finished. He was very strong, I feared he might kill me. I told him I was under Eva’s curse hoping he’d cool down. But he said I should let him test with a finger to confirm blood.
“On whose animal was he giving those orders?” Joyce fumed. “Mine… who else’s!” Bianca replied.
“Bianca, you’re very soft… Anyway what happened next?
“I told him, I wasn’t under Eva’s curse, but I had retired and handed in my guns. He didn’t believe me. He begged again, said just this one time. I refused everything. Then he tried to force himself.
“Nurse, you must have been interested. Why didn’t you scream?” Joyce asked.
“I feared he might strangle me. And what would I tell rescuers? That I allowed a man I’ve been flirting with to sleep over?
“You’re right,” Joyce said.
“Then Mr. Hyena got busy,” Bianca continued. “Did you enjoy?” Joyce pressed.
“Joyce, you are very crazy!” Bianca laughed.
“There is nothing as stupid as a vuvuzela… I tried not to enjoy, but feelings came. It had been a long time.
I couldn’t believe the lugambo. She was pouring out secrets like a teenager.
“Is he good?” Joyce asked.
“If he is good, I may seek his services,” Joyce joked.
“Well, the guy is a gynaecologist, I highly recommend him!” Bianca said. “Wanji maama! It’s like he studied everything. It was out of this world.” “Did you finish?” Joyce asked. “I didn’t… neighbours interrupted. A client had gone into labour, so I rushed her to the hospital and spent the night there. I survived by whiskers.”
Bianca left out parts of the story.
I was now in trouble.
“Now, Mr. Hyena, was she lying?” Joyce suddenly asked me.
At that point, there was no point denying anything.
“But I’m sorry. It will never happen again,” I pleaded.
“What exactly are you looking for in women?” Joyce demanded.
“You have wives and side dishes, yet you still chase my friends. Do you want to chew the whole world?”
“I’m sorry,” I repeated softly.
“No, you’re not,” she snapped.
“When I caught you with that fat dairy Hima, you were sorry.
“When I caught you with the mobile money prostitute, you were sorry.
“Now you’re here again saying you’re sorry.
“What exactly are you searching for in all these women? What are you looking for that neither I nor your wives have?
“Do you expect to find a woman with a vertical one?
“Or are you simply looking for AIDS?”
After a lengthy lecture, she delivered her verdict.
“Lay down and receive your punishment. One hundred canes!”
I had no choice.
Joyce helps me financially, and I couldn’t risk losing her support.
You see, she runs a huge hardware shop. Whenever I need emergency loans to grab cheap property deals or building materials on credit, she comes to my rescue.
So I lay down and accepted my fate.
Thirty kibokos later, she paused.
“Why am I punishing you?” she asked as she continued disciplining me.
But later that night, I found my own way of recovering from the punishment by chewing her niece—who is named after Joyce and works in the same hardware shop.
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A sensational sex-for-survival workplace saga has exploded into a major legal battle after a former accountant at the Nile Basin Initiative (NBI) accused a female colleague of turning his life into a living hell when he allegedly refused her romantic and sexual advances.
Now, the drama is headed to the Court of Appeal after the Industrial Court threw out his case, ruling that the regional organization enjoys diplomatic immunity and cannot be sued in Ugandan courts.
Mathew Rumanyika, a former accountant at the Entebbe-based Nile Basin Initiative, is fighting to overturn an April 7, 2026 decision by the Industrial Court, which declined to hear his explosive claims of sexual harassment, workplace victimization and constructive dismissal.
The case has sparked fierce debate over whether international organizations can use diplomatic immunity as a shield against allegations of workplace abuse and human rights violations.
In a notice of appeal filed before the Court of Appeal, Rumanyika declared he was dissatisfied with the entire ruling delivered by Justice Anthony Wabwire Musana and the panelists.
“Take notice that the appellant, herein being dissatisfied with the decision of the Honourable Justice Anthony Wabwire Musana and the panelists delivered at the Industrial Court of Uganda at Kampala on the 7th of April, 2026, intends to appeal to the Court of Appeal of Uganda against the whole ruling,” the notice states.
His lawyers now want Uganda’s second-highest court to determine whether regional and international organizations can hide behind diplomatic immunity to avoid accountability for employment disputes and alleged rights violations committed within Uganda.
Court documents paint a picture of a deeply toxic workplace at the Nile Basin Initiative secretariat in Entebbe.
Rumanyika joined the organization on September 15, 2020 as an accountant under a renewable one-year contract. The NBI is an intergovernmental partnership that brings together 10 R. Nile Basin countries to manage the river’s resources.
According to his claim, trouble started shortly after he arrived.
He alleges that a married female colleague, Samantha Mawemuko, who worked as Finance and Administration Assistant and shared an office with him, began making inappropriate and unsolicited personal advances.
Court documents state that she allegedly asked him whether he had a girlfriend, how often he shaved his private parts and even told him she was using an IUD birth-control device.
The former accountant further claims that weeks later, Mawemuko directly proposed a romantic relationship, but he flatly rejected her.
That rejection, he says, marked the beginning of a nightmare.
Rumanyika alleges that after turning down the advances, the relationship between them quickly deteriorated and the female colleague switched from romance to workplace warfare.
To support his claims, he reportedly handed management WhatsApp chats, photographs of gifts, text messages and other communications discussing marriage and sexual intimacy.
The gifts allegedly included an expensive wristwatch and a shirt given to him as birthday presents.
But according to Rumanyika, the gifts came with what he described as “heavy conditions.”
Court records state that Mawemuko repeatedly requested to spend nights at his home, but he refused.
The rejection allegedly enraged her.
He claims she responded by refusing to speak to him for days, stealing official documents from his desk and even taking away his work diary.
For an accountant responsible for sensitive financial records, cash dockets, cheque books and corporate prepaid cards, such actions allegedly posed a serious threat to his career and reputation.
Rumanyika further alleges that the colleague told him the harassment and sabotage would only stop if he surrendered to her sexual demands.
When he reportedly urged her to respect her marriage, she allegedly brushed him off, saying he would simply act as a “sponsor” financing her expensive lifestyle while her husband remained unaware.
The former accountant says he still refused.
Court records indicate that she allegedly retaliated by insulting him and branding him impotent and homosexual.
Then came an even more dramatic twist.
Rumanyika alleges that after a heated disagreement, the colleague turned the tables and accused him of sexually harassing her.
He strongly denies the allegations and insists that electronic evidence and timelines prove he was the actual victim.
According to court filings, he repeatedly reported the alleged harassment, bullying and threats to management.
However, he claims no meaningful action was taken.
Instead, he says management targeted him.
Rumanyika alleges that he was suddenly placed on a strict Performance Improvement Plan (PIP), removed from the payroll and accused of insubordination.
Believing management was more interested in pushing him out than addressing his complaints, he resigned on August 30, 2024.
He then dragged the Nile Basin Initiative to the Industrial Court, seeking declarations that the organization had breached his employment contract.
He also sought reinstatement and substantial compensation for the losses he claims to have suffered.
But the bombshell allegations were never tested in court.
Before the matter could proceed to a full hearing, the Nile Basin Initiative raised a preliminary objection, arguing that as an international organization established by treaty and recognized by Uganda, it enjoys complete immunity from civil proceedings.
The Industrial Court agreed.
In its April 7 ruling, the court upheld the immunity argument and dismissed the entire case without examining the evidence.
“On the strength of various authorities, including Duli, Nabulere, and Katungulu, we are not persuaded that we have jurisdiction to hear and determine this employment dispute because the respondent enjoys diplomatic immunity,” Justice Wabwire Musana ruled.
Now all eyes are on the Court of Appeal.
The upcoming legal showdown is expected to attract intense attention from lawyers, human rights activists and civil society organizations.
At the heart of the case lies one explosive question:
Can international organizations use diplomatic immunity as a blanket shield against allegations of workplace abuse and human rights violations?
While diplomatic immunity exists to protect international organizations, UN agencies and foreign missions from political interference, critics argue that such protection can leave local employees trapped without justice when internal complaint systems fail.
The Court of Appeal has not yet fixed a hearing date.
But whatever the outcome, the ruling is expected to send shockwaves through Uganda’s labour market and the diplomatic community alike.
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Kampala, Uganda — July 26, 2026: The Network for Education and Multidisciplinary Research Africa (NEMRA) has unveiled its new Board of Directors for the 2026–2029 term.
This is ushers in a fresh team researchers, academics, and institutional representatives to steer the network’s mission of strengthening research capacity across Africa.
Founded in September 2018 in Kampala, NEMRA has lasted eight years championing and building inter-institutional research capacity, growing a continental network of researchers, and pushing academic engagement beyond university walls.
Announcing the new leadership, NEMRA Secretary to the Board, Mr. Patrick Mutabwire, said the composition of the new Board reflects the network’s commitment to bringing diverse expertise to bear on its work.
Dr. Mutabwire
“This Board brings together seasoned academics, policy practitioners, and representatives from government, higher education, civil society, and our postgraduate research community,” Mr. Mutabwire said.
In a press statement sent to RedPepper, Mr. Mutabwire added that the team was assembled deliberately to widen NEMRA’s reach and deepen its impact on the research landscape in Uganda and across the continent.
“On behalf of the Secretariat, I congratulate each member and look forward to working with them over the next three years,” he said.
The 2026–2029 Board of Directors
The incoming Board takes office at a pivotal moment for the organization, days before it convenes the 3rd NEMRA All-Africa Multidisciplinary Research Conference, scheduled for July 28–29, 2026 at the College of Health Sciences, Makerere University Kampala.
Below are the member profiles:
Chairperson — Dr. Martin Ongol: Dr. Ongol holds a PhD in Applied Microbiology, an MSc in Applied Bio Sciences, and a BSc in Food Science and Technology. He currently serves as Deputy Executive Secretary of the Uganda National Council for Science and Technology (UNCST).
Dr. Martin Ongol
Vice Chairperson — Dr. Dennis Aguma: Dr. Aguma holds a PhD in Entrepreneurship, an MBA, and a BSc in Business Management. He is a Senior Lecturer in Entrepreneurship and Innovation, an ecosystems consultant, founder of NASE Africa, and Research Grants Lead at the Uganda Management Institute (UMI).
Dr. Dennis Aguma
Finance Director — Dr. Barbara N. Kayondo: Dr. Kayondo holds a PhD in Information Systems, an MSc in Monitoring and Evaluation, an MSc in ICT Management, Policy and Architectural Design, and a BSc in IT. She lectures in the Department of Information Systems at Makerere University Business School (MUBS).
Dr. Barbara N. Kayondo
Post-Graduate Research Students’ Representative — Mr. Arthur M. Makara: Mr. Makara holds a Master of Agriculture (Crop Science), an MSc in Business Administration, a Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration, a BSc, and a Diploma in Education. He is currently pursuing a PhD in Public Administration, works under the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF), and serves as Acting Deputy Principal at Bukalasa Agricultural College.
Arthur M. Makara
Government Institutions Representative — Dr. Franklin Higenyi: Dr. Higenyi holds a PhD in Gender Studies, a Master’s degree in Gender Studies, and is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Laws. She is a lecturer and consultant at the Uganda Management Institute (UMI).
Dr. Franklin Higenyi
Civil Society Organisations and Business Representative — Dr. Arinaitwe D. Rugyendo Dr. Rugyendo holds a PhD in Journalism and Communication and an MSc in Marketing. He is a media entrepreneur, researcher, and STEM education practitioner, and founding Managing Director of Research Finds News.
Dr. Arinaitwe Rugyendo
Higher Education Institutions Representative — Dr. Asiimwe Joy Turyamwijuka: Dr. Turyamwijuka holds a PhD in Management and Administration, a Master’s in Local and Regional Development, and a BSc in Social Sciences. She lectures in Social Sciences and serves as Academic Registrar at Bishop Barham University College, a constituent college of Uganda Christian University (UCU).
Dr. Asiimwe Joy Turyamwijuka
Chairperson Dr. Martin Ongol said his focus would be on consolidating NEMRA’s institutional partnerships.
“My task is to ensure the Board provides clear strategic direction while strengthening our links with government science and research bodies, so that the network’s work translates into real policy impact,” he said.
About NEMRA
The Network for Education and Multidisciplinary Research Africa (NEMRA) was established on 22 September 2018 in Kampala, Uganda. It brings together researchers, postgraduate students, and practitioners from institutions across Uganda and beyond, working to demystify academic research, build cross-disciplinary networks, and advance evidence-based policy and practice in Africa. NEMRA’s core departments cover Training & Development, Research Projects & Publications, and Mobilization & Advocacy.
