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Political temperatures flared in Rwampara District after Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU) Vice Chairman Michael Toyota Kaguta blasted endless wrangles among elected leaders, warning that selfish power games are suffocating service delivery and denying wananchi the development they deserve.

Toyota delivered the hard-hitting message during a thanksgiving ceremony for Rwampara County MP Amos Kankunda at Kakigani in Buteraniro-Nyeihanga Town Council. The function also doubled as a fundraising drive for Kakigani Primary School, where leaders dug deep into their pockets, collecting millions of shillings to support the school.

Toyota led from the front with a UGX 10 million donation, matching MP Amos Kankunda’s UGX 10 million contribution, while Rwampara East MP Charles Ngabirano pledged 1,000 timber poles and UGX 2 million, alongside contributions from other well-wishers.

But beyond the fundraising, Toyota used the platform to fire a warning shot at leaders across the country, saying many districts have stagnated because politicians and technocrats spend more time fighting each other than serving citizens.

He said in many districts Members of Parliament, Chief Administrative Officers and district leaders operate like rival camps, making it impossible to deliver government services effectively.

Toyota argued that corruption and poor service delivery thrive whenever leaders refuse to work together, accusing some politicians of chasing personal interests instead of putting wananchi first.

“We have seen districts fail because leaders cannot cooperate. MPs don’t work with district administrations, CAOs operate independently and local leaders pull in different directions. That is not leadership. Leaders must stop fighting and focus on solving the people’s problems,” Toyota said.

He also rallied residents to vote for NRM LC1 chairpersons in the upcoming Local Council elections, arguing that leaders from the same political direction would find it easier to coordinate development programmes.

MP Amos Kankunda echoed Toyota’s message, declaring that leaders in Rwampara have resolved to bury their differences and speak with one voice for the district’s progress.

He said unity would eliminate sectarianism, strengthen lobbying efforts for government projects and ensure services reach ordinary citizens more quickly.

Kankunda also challenged residents to work closely with their leaders instead of expecting politicians alone to transform their livelihoods.

“Unity must become our identity. We want leaders speaking one language and our people working together to eliminate poverty. As leaders we are committed to lobbying for more opportunities for Rwampara,” Kankunda said.

Rwampara East MP Charles Ngabirano said the fight against poverty requires commitment from both leaders and residents.

He warned that wananchi should not simply wait for politicians to improve their lives but should actively engage in income-generating activities, educate their children and ensure food security at household level.

“As leaders we shall continue lobbying for development, but accountability must be shared. Every family should ask itself what it has done to improve its own welfare. We want hardworking communities, not people waiting for handouts,” Ngabirano said.

Ngabirano also revealed that security agencies have already identified a handful of villages historically associated with election violence ahead of the forthcoming LC elections.

He assured residents that security personnel are on alert and vowed that troublemakers would not be allowed to disrupt the electoral process in Rwampara’s 126 villages, insisting that authorities are fully prepared to guarantee peaceful polls.

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Police have arrested 1,711 suspects in a two-week crackdown on criminals across Kampala Metropolitan Area.

Police spokesperson ACP Kituuma Rusoke revealed that the operation, conducted from July 13 to July 26, targeted areas under Kampala Metropolitan South, East and North.

Out of the suspects arrested, 954 have been sent to court, 120 released on police bond, while 503 were cautioned and freed after investigations.

Rusoke said some suspects are released because investigations do not find enough evidence to charge them.

“Not everybody who is arrested is guilty. Sometimes we have to first establish whether the suspicion against someone is true or not,” he said.

He explained that police bonds allow investigators to continue working on cases without keeping suspects in custody unnecessarily.

Meanwhile, 137 suspects remain pending court processing as investigations continue.

Police have promised to maintain operations against criminals while respecting legal procedures.

The crackdown comes as police intensify the hunt for phone thieves and dealers handling suspected stolen devices.

Recent operations have seen police recover 120 suspected stolen iPhones and arrest four suspects linked to an alleged stolen phone network. Officers also recovered phone resetting machines, spare parts and other exhibits during the operation.

In another operation at Cooper Complex in Kampala, police recovered hundreds of suspected stolen phones and arrested suspects accused of dealing in stolen devices.

Kalifah AgaNaga has urged fellow musicians to stop measuring success by the number of songs they release, saying quality will always outlive quantity.

Speaking during a recent interview on Sanyuka TV, the singer said too many artistes rush to flood the market with music instead of taking the time to create songs with lasting value.

When I am making my music, I give it time. I focus on quality over quantity. We see a lot of musicians with a lot of songs, but the quality of the songs and the music is lacking.

He cited the resurgence of his decade-old song “Nassanga” as proof that good music does not expire.

The track recently found a new audience after TikTok creator Geulton used it in a dance challenge that quickly spread across the platform and introduced the song to a younger generation.

For AgaNaga, the song’s revival affirmed what he believed from the beginning.

That is why I did a song 10 years back, knowing that I was making music that was going to stand the test of time. If I make a song, I am not after it becoming a hit immediately after I release it. When I released “Nassanga,” it was a process. I knew it would build slowly and become a hit after 10 years. That is the power of the people and God.

The philosophy, he said, came from a lesson he learnt from American music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs, who encouraged artists to treat every studio session as an opportunity to create the one song that could change their lives.

I want to advise my fellow musicians. I copied P Diddy. When he was signing other musicians like French Montana, he told them, “When you go to the studio, it only takes one song to change your life. You do not need a lot of songs. So if you get the chance to go to the studio, give it 100%.”

I did Nassanga over time; I was focused on achieving quality over quantity.- Khalifah Aganaga#VvaawompitewoKuSanyuka #SanyukaUpdates #FfeBannoDdala pic.twitter.com/sTxDPb9bu6

— Sanyuka TV (@sanyukatv) July 25, 2026

A Pass has once again reminded fellow artists that viral numbers do not build lasting music careers.

The singer believes too many artists measure success by views instead of focusing on the people who keep coming back long after the hype fades.

In a recent post on X, A Pass summed up his message in one short statement.

Artists, the goal should not be getting views, the goal should be getting fans.

The post echoes a message he shared in July last year, when he challenged artists to stop chasing hit songs and fleeting online trends.

At the time, A Pass argued that viral moments can create the illusion of success but rarely translate into a loyal fanbase.

Instead, he encouraged musicians to make music that resonates with a specific audience and grows into a lasting community of supporters.

Do not just focus on getting a hit song. Focus on creating music that is meaningful to a particular group of people that can become your family (fanbase). Some of you think you have a fanbase because you are trending on TikTok, but you are the flavor of the moment, you do not have a fanbase.

Although his latest post contains just one sentence, it reinforces the same philosophy he has championed for more than a year: views may grab attention, but loyal fans build careers.

I was prompted to write this article after observing that many Ugandans continue to face serious service delivery challenges, even though the central government releases billions of shillings to lower local governments every financial year. The question we pose as the Karamoja Anti-Corruption Coalition (Department for Critical Thinking and Alternative Analysis) is simple: with all the billions being released to local governments, are citizens actually feeling the impact of these resources?

Our concern is not based on speculation. It is supported by a 2025 study by Dr. Julius Arinaitwe and Dr. Ariyo Gracious Kaazara titled The Discipline Deficit: Why Uganda’s Pursuit of High-Integrity Citizenship Falters Amidst Endemic Corruption. The authors argue that Uganda suffers from a widespread discipline deficit, manifested through ghost workers in the public service, the misappropriation of public funds, nepotism in recruitment and promotion, and a general disregard for established procedures and protocols in government operations. Such practices undermine public confidence, weaken accountability, and ultimately diminish the quality of essential public services that citizens depend on every day.

This concern is reinforced by the fact that the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development releases billions of shillings every quarter to local governments across Uganda. Auditor General reports and other official sources consistently confirm that these funds are disbursed. Yet some districts fail to fully utilize their allocations and return unspent balances to the central treasury, while others struggle to account for the resources entrusted to them. The critical question, therefore, is not whether money is being released, but whether it is translating into better schools, health facilities, roads, water services, and other essential public services that directly improve citizens’ lives.

If accountability is the missing link between government funding and improved service delivery, then independent field verification becomes indispensable. It is in this context that the field operations being undertaken by Hon. Balaam Barugahara and Justine Nameere deserve attention. Their engagements with local leaders and communities provide an opportunity to assess whether public resources are producing measurable improvements in service delivery and whether local governments are fulfilling their responsibilities. When citizens consistently fail to experience the benefits of public spending, confidence in government institutions inevitably declines. Some people may disagree with this argument, but the fact remains that government expenditure must be felt by its citizens.

Ayub Mukisa, PhD
Executive Director, Karamoja Anti-Corruption Coalition (KACC)
Email: [email protected]

 

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Kyambogo University Vice Chancellor Prof. Eli Katunguka has raised concern over what he describes as a severe shortage of researchers and PhD holders across the East African region, particularly in science fields, questioning who will actually lead the region’s push toward industrialisation and a knowledge-based economy if the gap isn’t closed.

In a post shared on X, Prof. Katunguka noted that the region’s researcher density falls well below the average of around 200 researchers per one million inhabitants recorded across Sub-Saharan Africa.

Citing figures in his post, Prof. Katunguka put Uganda’s researcher density at just 44 PhD holders per one million inhabitants, translating to roughly 2,000 PhD holders nationwide. Kenya, he noted, fares considerably better, with a researcher density of between 180 and 200 PhD holders per one million inhabitants, giving the country just under 10,000 researchers overall, a figure close to the Sub-Saharan African average. Tanzania, he said, trails even further behind at only 18 PhD holders per one million people.

Prof. Katunguka’s point speaks to something bigger than a statistic. Researchers and PhD holders form the backbone of any country’s research and development capacity, the very engine needed to move economies beyond exporting raw materials toward adding value to them, building competitive industries, and generating home-grown innovation.

With Uganda and Tanzania sitting so far below the regional average, and even Kenya only just reaching it, Katunguka’s question of who will lead the region’s push toward a knowledge economy becomes urgent. His remarks add to a growing conversation among East African academics and policymakers about expanding postgraduate training pipelines, particularly in the sciences, if the region is to close this gap within a generation rather than widen it further.

Addressing this shortage will likely require sustained investment in postgraduate scholarships, stronger research funding structures, better retention incentives to keep PhD holders working within the region rather than seeking opportunities abroad, and closer collaboration between universities and industry to ensure research translates into real economic value.

As East African governments continue to push industrialisation and knowledge economy agendas, Prof. Katunguka’s remarks are a reminder that building the human capital to lead that transformation may prove just as important as the policy ambitions themselves.

Gloria Bugie has grown tired of answering questions about whether she still belongs to Hit Boss Management.

Instead of offering another denial, the singer says fans already know where to find the answer.

While appearing on NBS After 5, Gloria brushed aside fresh questions about her future with the management and pointed people to her music instead.

I am not clearing anything. Simply go to my YouTube channel and listen to the new songs I have there. If you hear the Hit Boss signature on them, then you will know I am still with him. If you do not hear it, then you will know I am no longer there.

Rumours about Gloria Bugie’s exit from Hit Boss Management have continued to circulate despite her addressing them months ago.

In May, she dismissed claims that Mimi Kampala‘s arrival at the label had created tension between them, insisting she welcomed the singer and considered her a younger sister in music.

I do not know Mimi Kampala’s age, but I consider her like a younger sister, musically. We welcomed her, I love her, and I have no issue with her. If I do not have any issue with those I found in the industry, how about someone who has just started? Please relax.

She also rejected claims that her relationship with Hit Boss had broken down, insisting the rumours had no truth behind them.

It is just that people love me so much, so they are always looking for something to say about me. And when they fail to get something, they just make it up. The claims are false. Hit Boss and I are tight for life.

This time, however, Gloria made it clear she has no interest in revisiting the speculation.

Instead, she wants fans to judge her relationship with Hit Boss by the music she continues to release.

Gloria Bugie breaks her silence on Hitboss Management.#NBSAfter5 pic.twitter.com/vNW0vVPvgc

— NBS After 5 (@NBSAfter5) July 27, 2026

ENTEBBE, Uganda — The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Local Government, Mr Ben Kumumanya, has challenged Ugandan leaders to move beyond discussing personalities and instead embrace ideas, accountability, professionalism and merit-based leadership as the country advances its socio-economic transformation agenda.

Kumumanya made the remarks during an engagement with Town Clerks and local government officials at Peniel Beach in Entebbe Municipality, where he urged leaders to prioritise practical solutions that improve service delivery, strengthen institutions and create opportunities for citizens.

The meeting was attended by the Mayor of Entebbe Municipality, His Worship Fabrice Brad Rulinda, Town Clerks, technical officers and other local government stakeholders.

Focus on Ideas, Not Personalities

Kumumanya said the success of Uganda’s transformation depends on leaders who generate innovative ideas, plan strategically and ensure public investments deliver tangible benefits to communities.

“Strong minds discuss ideas, average minds discuss events and weak minds discuss people,” he said.

He urged leaders to stop dwelling on personalities and instead prepare their communities to seize emerging development opportunities.

“We should focus on ideas that transform our communities and position places like Entebbe for bigger opportunities and sustainable development,” he said.

Local Governments Key to National Development

The Permanent Secretary described local governments as the engine of national development because they are closest to the people and best understand the challenges affecting communities.

He pledged continued support from the Ministry of Local Government, encouraging local leaders to seek guidance whenever necessary.

“Organise and call us whenever you need us. We shall come and support you,” Kumumanya said.

He stressed that meaningful transformation can only be achieved through collaboration between central government, local authorities and citizens.

“I am confident that if we work together with a shared vision, we shall achieve social transformation,” he added.

Accountability Must Drive Development

Kumumanya emphasised that accountability should form the foundation of effective leadership and service delivery.

He encouraged local governments to work closely with oversight institutions such as the Office of the Auditor General, the Inspectorate of Government (IGG), the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Works and Transport to evaluate performance, identify gaps and improve public services.

He said these institutions should be viewed not as fault-finders but as partners in strengthening governance and ensuring value for public resources.

“Leaders must be willing to assess their performance, correct mistakes and continuously improve planning and implementation,” he said.

Strengthening Collaboration with Technical Ministries

Kumumanya also advised local governments to utilise the expertise available within central government ministries whenever specialised technical support is required.

He urged Resident District Commissioners (RDCs), Mayors, Town Clerks and other leaders to consult relevant ministries when dealing with complex issues, particularly in infrastructure development.

Using road construction as an example, he said technical matters such as engineering designs, bridge construction and road alignment should always be handled with guidance from qualified experts.

He noted that stronger collaboration between local governments and technical ministries would safeguard public investments and improve the quality of service delivery.

Merit-Based Recruitment Essential

The Permanent Secretary further cautioned local governments against irregular recruitment practices, stressing that appointments should be based solely on competence, professionalism and merit.

“Local government recruitment should be based on merit and without mistakes,” he said.

According to Kumumanya, placing qualified people in the right positions is essential for building strong institutions capable of delivering quality services to citizens.

Progress in Uganda’s Socio-Economic Transformation

Kumumanya said Uganda has made significant progress in reducing poverty and increasing participation in the money economy.

He noted that national poverty levels have declined substantially over the past two decades, while more Ugandans are now earning incomes and participating in economic activities.

He attributed the progress to government interventions aimed at improving livelihoods and expanding economic opportunities across the country.

Call for Reform in Entebbe

Entebbe Municipality Mayor Fabrice Brad Rulinda called on the municipality’s leaders to embrace reforms that address residents’ concerns and improve public service delivery.

“As Entebbe, I am reminding the new leaders that the last people who left have never spoken, but today we hope for reforms,” Rulinda said.

He urged leaders to remain responsive to citizens’ needs and use their mandate to drive meaningful change in the municipality.

A Vision for Transformation

In his closing remarks, Kumumanya said Entebbe, Uganda’s former administrative capital, should continue to serve as a model of good governance and development.

“Entebbe must shine. It was Uganda’s first headquarters and remains a place of great historical importance,” he said.

He added that visionary leadership, accountability and sound planning would enable both Entebbe and the rest of Uganda to realise lasting socio-economic transformation.

The engagement concluded with a shared call for leaders at all levels to champion innovation, strengthen accountability, uphold merit in public service and ensure that government investments translate into tangible improvements in the lives of citizens.

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KAMPALA, Uganda — The Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC) has flagged off eight students who are among the 23 Ugandan learners selected to benefit from scholarships offered by the prestigious Al-Azhar Al-Sharif University in Cairo, Egypt.

The students were officially flagged off by the UMSC Education Secretary, Sheikh Juma Bakhit Cucu, who represented the Mufti of Uganda, His Eminence Dr Sheikh Shaban Ramadhan Mubaje, during a ceremony held at the Main Library of the Islamic Call University College (ICUC) at the UMSC headquarters in Old Kampala on Saturday, 25 July 2026.

The beneficiaries include seven male students and one female student: Kakungulu Abdu-Rashid, Mayanja Shurahu Dauda, Bukenya Uthuman, Kamoga Ukasha, Kavuma Ubaiba, Seruwu Ashiraf, Mbaziira Mubaraka, and Nagujja Zahara. All are former students of Namasenene Islamic Centre in Masaka Muslim District under the West Buganda Muslim Region.

Speaking at the event, Sheikh Cucu congratulated the students and urged them to remain disciplined, focused and committed to their studies so that they can acquire knowledge and skills that will benefit their communities and the nation upon their return.

He also announced that the Al-Azhar scholarship programme has resumed after several years of suspension, describing it as a significant milestone for Muslim education in Uganda.

“UMSC, as the mother body coordinating Muslim education in Uganda, continues to lobby for such opportunities. Whenever scholarship opportunities arise, we mobilise eligible students to apply. Selection is based purely on merit by the respective institutions offering the scholarships and not on favouritism,” Sheikh Cucu said.

He encouraged Muslim students, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, to work hard academically in order to qualify for such opportunities, noting that the scholarship programme serves as an affirmative action initiative aimed at supporting deserving learners.

Addressing parents and guardians, Sheikh Cucu advised them to remain actively involved in the welfare of their children while abroad, emphasising that universities may not cater for all students’ personal needs.

He urged parents to maintain regular communication with their children and continue offering parental guidance and support throughout their studies in Cairo.

Earlier, Sheikh Fahad Lubowa, Director of Studies for Islamic Theology at Namasenene Islamic Centre, spoke on behalf of parents and teachers, commending UMSC for its continued efforts to secure educational opportunities for Muslim learners.

He expressed gratitude to the Council and all stakeholders whose support enabled the students to earn scholarships to study at one of the world’s most respected institutions of higher learning.

The scholarship programme is expected to strengthen Uganda’s pool of scholars and professionals, while enhancing educational ties between Uganda and Egypt through Al-Azhar’s long-standing tradition of academic excellence.

 

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Gulu, Uganda: Stanbic Uganda Holdings Limited’s (SUHL) banking subsidiary and non-profit unit the Incubator, have launched a landmark twin programme set to empower more than 10,000 low-income women entrepreneurs and 100 horticulture farmers across Northern region with access to affordable financing, business development support, and digital financial services.

The Women Economic Empowerment (WEE) programme, supported by the Gates Foundation, and the Albertine Agribusiness Development Programme (ADP), funded by the Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC), are part of Stanbic’s Positive Impact Agenda for Women, Youth and Farmers (WYF Agenda).

Under this agenda, Stanbic Bank has pledged to mobilise—through strategic partnerships, up to UGX 1 trillion by 2028 to expand livelihoods and accelerate Uganda’s transition into a productive, inclusive, and competitive economy. 

The WYF agenda is deliberately aligned with the government’s ATMS strategy, which seeks to grow Uganda’s economy tenfold—from USD 50 billion to USD 500 billion by 2040—by scaling enterprise productivity, strengthening agro-industrial value chains, and expanding participation in the money economy.

Speaking at the launch, Catherine Poran, Chief Executive of the Stanbic Business Incubator Limited (SBIL), said the programmes reflect Stanbic’s purpose in action. “This is what we mean when we say our purpose is to drive Uganda’s growth,” she said.

She noted that the WEE programme provides entrepreneurship training, financial literacy, digital skills, mentorship, insurance, savings solutions, and market linkages—critical enablers for women to build sustainable enterprises and improve household incomes. The ADP complements this by equipping farmers with modern agronomic skills and linking them to structured markets.

Poran emphasised that many women struggle to access credit due to lack of collateral, urging them to begin building credit histories through WEE’s technical and financial platforms.

“When farmers are linked to markets, they secure better prices for their produce. Many farmers grow products, but the challenge is accessing markets. Through this programme, we are working with off-takers ready to buy these products,” she said.

She added that the programme aims to ensure that each supported farmer can help at least 15 others adopt good agricultural practices—creating a multiplier effect essential for expanding production and strengthening value chains.

“Alongside capacity building, this programme will enable farmers to access formal financial services, which many smallholder farmers currently struggle with. We are optimistic that this initiative will significantly improve their situation.”

Poran reaffirmed Stanbic’s commitment to integrating smallholder farmers and women entrepreneurs into the money economy while enhancing Government programmes such as the Parish Development Model (PDM) and complementing ATMS priorities of productivity, market access, and enterprise formalisation.

Launching the programme at the Mayor’s Gardens in Gulu, Ambrose Onoria, Resident City Commissioner, urged beneficiaries to take the opportunity seriously. “With this programme offering a 10% interest rate, no one should accept being poor or left behind,” he said.

Jessica Kyeyune, National Content Specialist at UNOC, highlighted the importance of business management skills for women entrepreneurs. “Sometimes people spend all they earn without distinguishing between profit and cash flow. Learning these skills helps them understand whether their business is growing or simply consuming resources.”

She added that ADP will train farmers to manage post-harvest losses and link them to export markets, noting that farmers trained in Hoima have already secured buyers.

Labeja Julius Acire, Mayor of Gulu City, cautioned against predatory lenders who exploit vulnerable women. “This programme provides structured financing and helps combat unscrupulous loan sharks who have been giving our women a tough time. It is not only about finance; it includes training, which is essential.”

He said the City Council is decentralising support structures to ensure women’s groups receive training, collaborate effectively, and identify viable enterprises. “We are committed to partnering with Stanbic Bank, the Gates Foundation, and UNOC to ensure clarity of responsibilities. When organised effectively, the margin for error is minimal.”

 

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