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The Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) has launched another major wildlife conservation exercise with the translocation of four Nubian giraffes from the Murchison Falls Conservation Area to Ajai Wildlife Reserve, a move aimed at expanding the species’ range, enhancing biodiversity and strengthening tourism in northwestern Uganda.

The exercise forms part of UWA’s long-term conservation strategy to secure the future of the endangered Nubian giraffe, a species for which the authority manages the world’s largest remaining wild population.

According to UWA Assistant Commissioner for Veterinary Services, Dr. Patrick Atimnedi, who is leading the translocation team, the exercise is being undertaken in line with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Guidelines for Conservation Translocations, which require scientific evidence, habitat suitability assessments, disease risk analysis, stakeholder engagement and long-term post-release monitoring before wildlife can be relocated.

“The translocation follows internationally accepted conservation guidelines that ensure the animals are moved into a habitat capable of sustaining a healthy population over the long term,” Dr. Atimnedi said.

The decision to restore giraffes to Ajai Wildlife Reserve is backed by ecological research conducted in the early 1900s, which confirmed that the reserve contains extensive acacia woodlands capable of supporting healthy giraffe populations. Conservationists also expect the animals to play a vital ecological role by naturally managing vegetation while restoring the reserve’s historical wildlife composition.

The latest exercise builds on more than a decade of successful giraffe conservation initiatives by UWA. In 2015, the authority conducted its first-ever giraffe translocation, moving 15 Nubian giraffes—four males and eleven females—from Murchison Falls Conservation Area to Lake Mburo National Park. Since then, additional translocations have been successfully carried out to Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve on two occasions, Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, the Uganda Wildlife Conservation Education Centre (UWEC), and now Ajai Wildlife Reserve.

The translocation is being implemented under UWA’s Giraffe Conservation Strategy, with technical support from the Giraffe Conservation Foundation, which has strengthened the authority’s conservation capacity through specialist training, including advanced wildlife translocation training for UWA staff in Namibia.

Beyond species conservation, UWA says the reintroduction of giraffes to Ajai Wildlife Reserve is expected to diversify tourism products, increase visitor numbers and position the reserve as an attractive wildlife destination in the West Nile tourism circuit. The initiative is also expected to contribute to local livelihoods through increased tourism-related economic opportunities.

The authority further notes that establishing viable giraffe populations across multiple protected areas reduces the risks associated with concentrating wildlife in a single ecosystem, improving the long-term resilience of the species against disease outbreaks, habitat degradation and other environmental threats.

The latest translocation underscores UWA’s commitment to science-based conservation, ecosystem restoration and sustainable tourism development, reinforcing its efforts to secure the future of one of Africa’s most iconic species while enhancing the country’s protected area network.

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Kalifah AgaNaga believes jealousy, not poor music, is behind the criticism of the “Nassanga” remix.

The collaboration featuring Winnie Nwagi, Weasel Manizo, Eddy Kenzo, and Lil Pazo has dominated conversations on social media, with fans passionately arguing over who delivered the best verse and who should have done better.

AgaNaga, however, believes many of the critics had already made up their minds because of the artists they support.

People are just jealous because most of those criticizing the song already have their favorite musicians they support. If you check their pages, you will see they have always supported those artists. That is why they cannot appreciate what we have done. They just have to accept that God has blessed us.

His comments come as preparations continue for the Nassanga Mukibira Festival on August 1.

The festival was born after “Nassanga,” originally released more than a decade ago, made an unexpected comeback on TikTok.

The viral trend inspired AgaNaga to revive the hit with a remix featuring some of Uganda’s biggest stars.

While the remix has boosted the song’s popularity even further, it has also become one of the country’s most talked-about collaborations, attracting both praise and criticism.

Nassanga Remix is currently the number one trending song. It has elevated my career, and because of its success, I’m now organizing a concert. – Khalifah Aganaga #SanyukaUnCut #SanyukaUpdates #FfeBannoDdala pic.twitter.com/M2D1JYay7s

— Sanyuka TV (@sanyukatv) July 20, 2026

Disability inclusion advocate Lydia Etii Ajwang has shared a deeply personal account of growing up without her father and navigating progressive hearing loss, revealing how the two experiences have shaped her life and career.

In an emotional social media post, Lydia reflected on losing her father at a young age, saying she only truly understood the weight of his absence as she grew older.

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“My father passed away when I was still a little girl, but I felt his absence most as an adult,“ she wrote.

Lydia explained that her father’s absence became even more profound when she began experiencing progressive hearing loss.

“When I began experiencing progressive hearing loss, I missed him more than ever. His absence was too loud. His silence was too loud,“ she said.

She described the diagnosis as the beginning of a difficult journey marked by confusion, stigma, discrimination, self-doubt and fear.

According to Lydia, she often wished her father were still alive to reassure her that her disability did not define her and that she could still pursue her dreams.

“I wished he were there to tell me that I was still enough, that I would survive this, and that my dreams were still within reach,” she shared.

Lydia said losing a parent in childhood is a lifelong experience that resurfaces at every major stage of life.

“Losing a parent as a child is painful, but growing up without them means grieving them over and over again at every stage of life,” she wrote.

She also revealed that hearing loss changed many of her personal relationships, saying some people drifted away because they did not understand what she was going through.

“Hearing loss also took away many of the people who were once close to me. Most of them did not understand what I was going through, and that loneliness became part of my journey,” she said.

Despite the challenges, Lydia credited the Mastercard Foundation for helping her rebuild her confidence and career through its Young Africa Works programme.

She said the programme provided opportunities that recognised both her abilities and her disability, allowing her to feel included and valued.

“They helped me build my career when I was struggling to find my footing. They also understood the disability side of me, not as a limitation, but as part of who I am. They created opportunities where I felt seen, included, and valued, and for that I will always be grateful,” she wrote.

Her story has resonated with many social media users, who praised her courage in speaking openly about grief, disability and resilience, while encouraging greater awareness and inclusion for people living with hearing impairments.

Mugina T. Karugire, the first grandson of President Yoweri Museveni, has graduated with a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree from the University of Exeter in the United Kingdom.

Mugina is the son of President Museveni’s daughter, Natasha Museveni Karugire, and her husband, Edwin Karugire.

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His graduation was celebrated by his mother, who shared photos from the ceremony on social media and congratulated him on completing the milestone.

In her message, Natasha expressed pride in her son’s achievement and encouraged him to remain steadfast in his faith as he embarks on the next chapter of his journey.

She prayed for God’s continued guidance, wisdom and protection over his life and future career.

The achievement has drawn congratulatory messages from family friends, supporters and members of the public, many wishing Mugina success as he prepares to pursue a career in the legal profession.

The University of Exeter, located in southwest England, is among the United Kingdom’s respected higher education institutions. It is recognised internationally for excellence in teaching and research across disciplines including law, climate science, engineering, business and medicine.

Mugina’s graduation marks another academic milestone for the First Family, as members continue to pursue higher education both in Uganda and abroad.

Mugina T. Karugire, the first grandson of President Yoweri Museveni, has graduated from the University of Exeter in the United Kingdom.

Karugire is the son of President Museveni’s daughter, Natasha Museveni Karugire, and her husband, Edwin Karugire.

Natasha celebrated her son’s achievement in a social media post, sharing photos from the graduation ceremony and congratulating him on completing his law degree.

She expressed pride in her son and encouraged him to remain close to God, asking for God’s guidance and protection throughout his life.

The University of Exeter is a leading UK institution known for its academic and research strengths in areas including sports science, mining engineering and climate change.

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