Blog

Rapper Fik Fameica has given his fans a disappointing update on his long-rumored collabo with Nigerian superstar Wizkid, suggesting that the much-hyped project will not be happen anytime soon.

The idea of the two stars working together first excited fans back in 2017, when Wizkid performed in Kampala and was reportedly impressed by Fik Fameica’s talent. At the time, the Nigerian hitmaker even floated the idea of doing a song together, sending social media into a frenzy.

But years later, there has been no sign of the collaboration materializing, and Fik Fameica has now admitted that the dream may have hit a dead end.

Speaking in an interview, the rapper urged fans to stop holding their breath for the track, saying they should instead focus on the music he is currently working on. While he did not completely shut the door on a future link-up with Wizkid, he made it clear that people should not keep waiting for it.

“Do not dwell on this collaboration and do not anticipate for it. Just look out for what me, as an artist, is cooking because I might even bring a bigger and better collaboration than that one,” he said.

During the interview, Fameica also revealed that Wizkid’s management reportedly demanded a budget of around $100,000 for the collaboration, a figure he said was beyond his reach.

For now, fans may have to settle for Fik Fameica’s upcoming projects as the Wizkid dream remains stuck in limbo.

Bebe Cool has broken his silence following the devastating Kapchorwa road crash that reportedly claimed about 20 lives, including pupils of King David Junior School in Ndejje, calling for urgent reforms to protect kids during school trips.

The tragedy, which has plunged the nation into grief, has sparked fresh debate over the safety standards surrounding educational excursions. Joining thousands of Ugandans in mourning, Bebe Cool expressed deep sorrow to the families who lost loved ones, as well as the school’s management, teachers, and the entire community affected by the heartbreaking incident.

But beyond offering condolences, the Gagamel boss wants action, not just sympathy.

In a strongly worded message, Bebe Cool challenged authorities to tighten regulations governing school travel, warning that preventable tragedies should never become a recurring national headline.

Among his proposals is making it mandatory for every school trip to receive clearance from the Ministry of Education and Sports before departure. He also wants all buses carrying learners to pass compulsory mechanical inspections to ensure they are roadworthy.

The celebrated musician further called for comprehensive vetting of drivers, including medical fitness assessments and background checks, arguing that children’s lives should never be placed in the hands of unqualified or reckless operators.

For long-distance educational trips, Bebe Cool suggested police escorts should be considered to enhance safety and improve emergency response in case of danger.

He emphasized that Uganda cannot afford to lose more young lives to avoidable accidents, insisting that stronger enforcement of transport safety measures would go a long way in safeguarding the country’s future generation.

I am deeply saddened by the tragic accident in Kapchorwa that claimed the lives of innocent pupils. 💔

To the parents, the school, the teachers, and the friends of the deceased: please accept my heartfelt condolences. My thoughts and prayers are with you during this unimaginable… pic.twitter.com/VGlaDCGH49

— Bebe Cool (@BebeCoolUG) July 16, 2026

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.

Ugandan singer Carol Nantongo has urged fellow artists and young people not to rush into parenthood, saying raising a child is far more demanding than many people expect.

Speaking on Sanyuka TV, Carol, who recently welcomed a baby girl with her husband, Dylan Semwogerere, admitted motherhood has completely changed her perspective.

Although becoming a mother has brought her great joy, she says it has also come with sleepless nights, constant care and responsibilities she never fully understood until she experienced them herself.

That experience has taught her that having children is not a decision anyone should make because of pressure from society, family, or social media.

Instead, people should wait until they are emotionally, financially and mentally ready for the responsibility.

Carol believes the message is especially important for fellow musicians, whose careers often involve travelling, performing and spending long hours away from home.

Omwana aluma banange… artists, take your time.

“I chose to have a child when I was ready, not because others were doing it. Motherhood has changed me,” Singer Carol Nantongo opens up on motherhood.#SanyukaUnCut #SanyukaUpdates #FfeBannoDdala pic.twitter.com/ZTzw6u2id2

— Sanyuka TV (@sanyukatv) July 17, 2026

Sony Music Entertainment has responded to Jermaine Dupri‘s $18 million lawsuit, expressing disappointment that the long-running royalty dispute has moved to court.

Dupri, through his So So Def Recordings and So So Def Productions companies, filed the lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.

He claims Sony underpaid royalties and failed to provide accurate accounting for revenue generated under their decades-long business relationship.

The lawsuit covers recordings from So So Def’s catalog and names artists including Kris Kross, Xscape, Da Brat, Jagged Edge, Bow Wow, and several other acts that helped define the label.

Sony, however, insists the disagreement centers on royalty accounting rather than deliberate misconduct.

This matter concerns a royalty accounting dispute the parties were actively engaged in attempting to resolve. We are disappointed that So So Def elected to pursue litigation rather than continue that dialogue.

The company did not address the lawsuit’s specific allegations. Instead, Sony said both sides had spent months trying to resolve the dispute before Dupri filed the case.

Dupri has not responded publicly to Sony’s statement, and his legal team has not released any additional comments beyond the allegations outlined in the complaint.

The federal court has not yet held a hearing or issued any rulings.

Dupri is seeking at least $18 million in damages, arguing that Sony failed to pay royalties and properly account for revenue under agreements dating back to the early 1990s.

The case now moves into the next phase as both sides prepare to argue their positions in court.

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni yesterday held talks with H.E. Pekka Haavisto, the United Nations Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy for Sudan, at State House Entebbe, where they discussed the ongoing conflict in Sudan, the humanitarian situation and the broader peace and security landscape in the region.

The meeting focused on strengthening dialogue among the parties to the conflict, enhancing regional cooperation and supporting initiatives aimed at securing a sustainable and inclusive peace in Sudan.

President Museveni emphasised that achieving lasting peace in Sudan requires addressing the ideological and political issues that have continued to fuel instability. He stressed that dialogue, democratic processes and inclusive governance remain the most effective means of resolving conflicts.

The President cautioned against what he described as “sovereignism” in multinational states, arguing that attempts to impose a single identity on diverse societies have often led to recurring political crises.

“There is an ideological crisis. We have been telling them for years that they should respect the identities of their people. If people do not agree, why don’t they go for elections? Using force to settle political differences is a wrong idea,” President Museveni said.

He further reaffirmed Uganda’s longstanding commitment to protecting people fleeing conflict, noting that the country’s refugee policy is anchored in humanitarian values as well as the historical and cultural ties shared by communities across the region.

“These refugees are our people. They are contributing and building Uganda. They come with knowledge, so we don’t mind. They can come because this is their country. We have slightly more than two million refugees, including Congolese and South Sudanese, and many of our cultural groups are connected,” he said.

President Museveni urged all parties to remain committed to dialogue and called upon regional and international partners supporting the peace process to prioritise negotiation and engagement over confrontation in pursuit of a lasting political settlement.

H.E. Haavisto commended Uganda for its continued generosity in hosting refugees, describing the country’s open-door refugee policy as an example that is widely recognised and appreciated by the international community.

“I want to thank Your Excellency for hosting so many Sudanese refugees. Everyone recognises that effort and the United Nations is very grateful that Uganda has kept its doors open to refugees,” H.E. Haavisto said.

He noted that the United Nations continues to engage the parties to the conflict through dialogue, with discussions covering humanitarian access, the release of detainees and support for young people whose lives have been disrupted by the war.

H.E. Haavisto also observed that President Museveni’s engagement with both sides of the Sudan conflict places him in a unique position to contribute to ongoing peace efforts.

He expressed optimism that sustained dialogue, backed by regional and international support, could help improve the situation and pave the way for lasting peace and stability in Sudan.

 

Do you have a story in your community or an opinion to share with us: Email us at Submit an Article

Working for Lil Wayne was anything but ordinary, according to new court documents filed by his former personal assistant.

The filings, submitted as part of Andrew Williams’ ongoing lawsuit against the American rapper, reveal a long list of duties that went far beyond running errands.

Williams claims the job required him to stay on call 24 hours a day, travel wherever Lil Wayne went, and be ready for last-minute requests at any time.

Lil Wayne has denied the lawsuit’s allegations.

Among the more unusual responsibilities, Williams said he had to keep pre-rolled blunts ready whenever the rapper wanted one and make sure his preferred rolling papers never ran out.

The documents also state that assistants had to wake Lil Wayne on schedule, pack his luggage, handle purchases, keep him updated on expenses, and help his daily routine run smoothly.

The role came with several personal requirements as well.

According to the filing, assistants needed to enjoy being around children and dogs, maintain pleasant personal hygiene, stay positive under pressure, and keep their phones charged and within reach at all times.

They also had to sign a non-disclosure agreement and keep the rapper’s personal life private.

The job description surfaced as evidence in Williams’ lawsuit, which accuses Lil Wayne of assaulting him during an argument aboard a private jet in 2022.

The rapper has denied the allegations and maintains that he acted in self-defense.

The case remains before the courts.

Brussels, Belgium – The Deputy Speaker of Parliament and President of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) Parliamentary Assembly, Thomas Tayebwa, has urged OACPS member states to make trade, industrialisation and value addition central to their development agenda.

Tayebwa made the remarks while addressing the 121st OACPS Council of Ministers at the Egmont Palace in Brussels, Belgium.

He challenged the 79-member bloc to focus on practical economic issues that directly improve the livelihoods of citizens, saying the organisation’s relevance would increasingly be judged by its ability to champion policies that create jobs, strengthen regional industries and enable member states to derive greater value from their natural resources.

The Deputy Speaker said one of the most pressing challenges confronting Africa and other developing regions is the continued export of unprocessed minerals.

He noted that the matter has long been championed by Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni, who has consistently argued that Africa cannot achieve meaningful prosperity while exporting raw materials and importing finished products.

“I think at the level of the Council of Ministers, we need to start tackling the hard questions relevant to our people. One of them is… the issue of Africa and the developing world exporting unprocessed minerals as raw materials,” Tayebwa said.

He backed his argument with figures showing that Africa holds an estimated US$29.5 trillion in mineral wealth, about 20 percent of the global total, but continues to lose substantial economic value because most of its minerals leave the continent in raw or minimally processed form. Instead of refining or manufacturing higher-value products locally, African countries export ores and concentrates, allowing other economies to capture the largest share of the value chain.

According to Tayebwa, this model has left Africa exporting employment opportunities and industrial growth alongside its natural resources. He observed that the continent processes only a small proportion of the minerals it produces, while countries that import those minerals generate far greater wealth through manufacturing.

He cited the Democratic Republic of Congo as an example of how value addition can transform economies, noting that increased domestic processing of cobalt significantly boosted the country’s revenues.

“I remember my President gave us some feedback… the coffee market was worth around US$465 billion and out of that only US$25 billion was going to the coffee-producing countries, with Africa taking only 3%. Now, you producers, you produce US$465 billion worth of value and get only US$25 billion,” Tayebwa said.

He further cautioned the OACPS Council of Ministers that unless the bloc redefines its priorities by focusing on issues that matter most to ordinary citizens, it risks losing its relevance.

The OACPS brings together countries from Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific to promote cooperation on trade, sustainable development and political dialogue.

Do you have a story in your community or an opinion to share with us: Email us at Submit an Article

Jennifer Garner has shared rare praise for ex-husband Ben Affleck, describing the Oscar-winning actor as an “incredible” co-parent who has helped her balance motherhood with her acting career.

The American actress made the comments while promoting her new Peacock drama, The Five-Star Weekend.

Garner revealed that she almost turned down the role because filming would have kept her away from her three children for several months. Fortunately, production moved most of the shoot to Los Angeles, with only one month in Nantucket, making the project possible.

Garner said Affleck’s commitment to their children gave her the confidence to accept the role.

My kids are a little bigger now. Their dad, my ex-husband, has become this incredible co-parent. He is wonderful. He takes care of them. He is a great partner in that way. And that is very freeing.

Garner and Affleck married in 2005 before separating in 2015.

They finalized their divorce in 2018 and share three children: Violet, 20, Seraphina, 17, and Samuel, 13.

Despite ending their marriage, they have maintained a close co-parenting relationship centered on their children’s well-being.

The actress explained that she intentionally slowed her career while raising her children and has no regrets about putting family first.

There is a time in your life where you do get caught in all of that. And that is okay. That is a season. It is a beautiful thing. I would not trade a minute of it.

Now that her children are older, Garner says she has more freedom to pursue projects without spending long periods away from home. She credited Affleck’s involvement as a father for making that transition much easier.

The interview comes months after Affleck’s high-profile split from Jennifer Lopez and amid continued public interest in his relationship with Garner.

Despite the speculation, both stars have consistently focused on raising their children together and supporting each other as co-parents.

Parliament has unanimously backed a motion calling for urgent government intervention to address the worsening drought and hunger crisis affecting Northern Uganda.

The motion, moved on Thursday, 16 July 2026 by Kilak North County MP, Hon. Anthony Akol, seeks a resolution directing the Government to immediately scale up humanitarian assistance while investing in long-term climate resilience measures.

Akol called on government to urgently deliver relief food and agricultural inputs to households whose crops have failed due to the prolonged drought.

“Government should expedite the delivery of food items to support drought-affected households, as well as seedlings and planting materials for the affected people to plant immediately in the forthcoming planting season,” he said.

He further called on the Government to strengthen climate resilience by investing in early warning systems capable of providing timely weather information to farmers and local governments.

The motion also urges the Executive to fast-track the utilisation of US$38 million earmarked under the Northern Uganda Social Action Fund IV (NUSAF IV) Disaster Risk Financing Facility to respond to severe drought affecting West Nile, Acholi, Lango, Karamoja, Teso, Bukedi, Bunyoro and the Elgon sub-region.

Akol warned that the drought has evolved beyond an agricultural challenge into a humanitarian emergency.

“People have started dying of acute hunger, including children, the elderly, and pregnant mothers. It is important that the country takes action now to avert a crisis,” he said.

Legislators rallied behind the motion, agreeing that the prolonged dry spell has exposed Uganda’s vulnerability to climate change.

Tochi County MP, Hon. Peter Okot (DP), said many farmers had invested heavily in planting before the unexpected dry spell destroyed crops.

“Unless the people of Greater Northern Uganda are urgently supported, many lives will be lost,” Okot warned.

Meanwhile, Omoro County MP Andrew Ojok (NRM) proposed amending the motion to include crop insurance, arguing that Parliament repeatedly debates similar relief measures every year without addressing farmers’ vulnerability.

“If we help farmers insure their crops, we shall go a long way in protecting livelihoods,” Ojok said.

Simon Peter Longoli (NRM, Chekwii County MP) said Karamoja region has received virtually no meaningful rainfall since April.

Longoli observed that more than 1.15 million acres of crops have been destroyed, while at least 20 people have reportedly died from hunger-related causes, although government has officially confirmed 16 deaths.

He acknowledged government’s recent allocation of Shs4 billion for emergency relief and rehabilitation of water facilities but argued that the response remains inadequate compared to the scale of need.

Longoli proposed three additional interventions sustained food relief covering the six-month period before the next harvest; distribution of drought-tolerant seeds by the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries; and targeted nutritional support for an estimated 120,000 malnourished children in Karamoja.

Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja, assured legislators that government had already activated emergency interventions.

She disclosed that Cabinet had earlier considered a paper on the hunger crisis and that President Yoweri Museveni had directed the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) to coordinate emergency food distribution with the army.

Food stocks, the premier added, have already been positioned in Kigumba, Kiryandongo District, while the National Enterprise Corporation has been contracted to transport relief supplies to the worst-affected districts in Karamoja.

“The President has instructed OPM to use the army to supply food relief to the most affected areas. Distribution is expected to commence on Friday and MPs from affected districts should mobilise communities to receive the assistance,” Nabbanja told Parliament.

Do you have a story in your community or an opinion to share with us: Email us at Submit an Article