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Police have arrested a man who allegedly posed as a woman in order to secure employment as a domestic worker before stealing from the household that hired him. The suspect has been identified as Kayaga Rayan, who allegedly posed as Namirembe Rukia while seeking employment as a domestic worker.

According to Kampala Metropolitan Police, the suspect reportedly concealed his true identity during the recruitment process and successfully obtained a job as a maid at a residence in Mutundwe, Rubaga Division, Kampala District. Investigators say he later stole Shs1.7 million from his employers before his actions were discovered, leading to his arrest.

The incident has prompted police to warn members of the public to be more cautious when hiring domestic workers and to thoroughly verify the identities of prospective employees.

Kampala Metropolitan Police Deputy Spokesperson Luke Owoyesigyire urged employers to carry out proper background checks before offering jobs to domestic workers.

“As you hire domestic workers, verify their identity and ensure the person is who they claim to be,” Owoyesigyire said.

“If you’re hiring a woman, confirm they are a woman; if you’re hiring a man, confirm they are a man. Always verify identity and references before employment,” he added.

Police say verifying national identification documents, references and previous employment records can help protect households from fraud and theft. Investigations into the case are ongoing.

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Zuchu has officially confirmed the end of her relationship with Diamond Platnumz, bringing the curtain down on one of the region’s most high-profile celebrity romances.

The singer, born Zuhura Othman Soud, announced the heartbreaking news through a statement shared on social media, revealing that after six years together, she has chosen to walk away and focus on herself.

The pair’s love story had captivated fans across East Africa, especially after they reportedly sealed their relationship with a private marriage ceremony. But despite weathering public scrutiny and countless breakup rumours over the years, the romance has now come to an end.

In an emotional message, Zuchu said the decision was not an easy one but one she felt was necessary for her peace and well-being.

“After years together, I have decided to choose myself. I wish Naseeb Abdul (Diamond Platnumz) and his family nothing but the very best. This is my time to heal, focus on my health and my work. I have no choice but to accept Allah’s plans.”

The singer also disclosed that legal proceedings to dissolve their marriage are already underway and that the separation will soon be formalized.

Diamond Platnumz, whose real name is Naseeb Abdul, has long been one of East Africa’s most talked-about celebrities, with past relationships involving Zari Hassan, Tanasha Donna, Hamisa Mobetto, and Wema Sepetu regularly making headlines.

Many fans believed Zuchu had finally become the woman who would settle the Bongo Flava superstar after years of high-profile romances. Their relationship appeared to survive numerous public challenges, making news of the split all the more surprising.

As the divorce process unfolds, fans across the region are reacting with mixed emotions, with many wishing both artists healing and success as they embark on separate chapters in their personal and professional lives.

Jose Chameleone has broken his silence following Bebe Cool’s headline-grabbing gift of a lavish mansion to his wife, Zuena Kirema, saying he has nothing but admiration for his longtime friend.

The luxurious Bwebajja residence, estimated to be worth around $1 million (approximately Shs3.6 billion), has become one of the most talked-about celebrity homes in Uganda. Complete with a stunning architectural design, a swimming pool, and high-end finishes, the mansion has left fans praising Bebe Cool for his grand gesture of love and appreciation toward his wife.

Speaking about the property, Chameleone said Bebe Cool deserves every bit of his success because he has worked tirelessly throughout his music career.

“I’m genuinely happy for Bebe because he’s my friend, and I know how hard he has worked. Blessing your wife with such a home is a beautiful thing, and I believe even more blessings will follow,” Chameleone said.

The Leone Island boss also took the opportunity to address the long-running comparisons between himself, Bebe Cool, and Bobi Wine, insisting that the days of competing over wealth, achievements, or expensive possessions are long gone.

“People shouldn’t compare my life to anyone else’s. My pocket is different, and I’m content with what I have. I’m no longer in that competition zone.”

Chameleone further reflected on how Uganda’s music industry has evolved over the years, noting that musicians have shattered old stereotypes by proving that talent and hard work can build lasting wealth and respectable family lives.

According to the singer, artists were once dismissed as people with uncertain futures, but today’s success stories have changed that perception completely.

Meanwhile, Bebe Cool’s extravagant mansion gift continues to dominate entertainment conversations, with many fans describing it as a powerful symbol of love, family, and the remarkable financial growth of Uganda’s music industry.

 

In Luteebe Village, tucked deep inside the rolling plains of Kooki County, Rakai District, childhood is often defined by long walks for water, dust‑choked roads, and the quiet resilience of families who make do with little. It is here, in a home where scarcity was a daily companion, that Mulindwa Ryan Kibedi was born on 25 June 1995 — a boy who would grow up carrying the weight of his community’s struggles on his shoulders.

Kibedi remembers the mornings most vividly. The sun rising over the hills, the metallic clatter of jerrycans, and the familiar trek toward distant water sources. “You learn early that nothing comes easy,” he has said in past interviews. “You learn to work, to endure, and to hope.” For him, hardship was not an abstract idea; it was the rhythm of life.

His father, Kasiita Deo Kibedi, a peasant farmer, taught him the quiet dignity of persistence. Their home was modest, but it was rich in lessons — lessons about responsibility, about community, and about the invisible threads that bind people together in rural Uganda. These early experiences would become the foundation of Kibedi’s worldview: that development is not a slogan, but a lived reality built through service.

As he grew older, Kibedi began to see the gaps around him more clearly. Children missing school because they lacked books. Mothers walking miles for medical care. Families locked in land disputes that tore communities apart. These were not isolated problems; they were systemic challenges that shaped the destiny of an entire region.

It was this awareness — sharpened by lived experience — that pushed him into community work.

Through the Ample Heart Foundation, where he serves as CEO, Kibedi helped organize medical camps that brought free healthcare to villages where clinics were distant or unaffordable. Residents recall the first outreach events with a kind of astonished gratitude: nurses setting up makeshift tents, lines of patients stretching across fields, and the relief of receiving treatment without cost. For many, it was the first time they had seen organized medical care arrive at their doorstep.

Education became another pillar of his work. Kibedi lobbied for scholarships, delivered scholastic materials to

rural schools, and spent time speaking with students who reminded him of his younger self — eager, hopeful, but constrained by circumstance. He often says that “a child’s future should not depend on the size of their parents’ income,” a belief rooted in his own upbringing.

His work extended beyond Kooki. As Chief Investigations Officer for Overseas Workers Voice Uganda, Kibedi confronted the darker side of labor migration. He investigated cases of human trafficking, exploitation, and abuse involving Ugandan workers seeking employment in the Middle East. Families of victims describe him as a persistent advocate — someone who made phone calls late into the night, followed leads across borders, and refused to let cases go cold.

Back home, his involvement in mediating land disputes earned him a reputation as a bridge‑builder. In Mweruka Town Council and Lwanda Sub‑County, he helped reconcile landlords and bibanja holders, easing tensions that had simmered for years. Residents say he listened more than he spoke, and that his calm presence often diffused situations that could have escalated.

In 2026, Kibedi stepped into the political arena, contesting for Member of Parliament for Kooki County under the NRM party. He lost in the primaries, but the campaign introduced him to a wider audience — not as a politician, but as a community worker whose credibility came from action rather than rhetoric. Many supporters still describe him as “the young man who never forgot where he came from.”

Today, Kibedi continues to walk the same roads he walked as a child, but with a different purpose. He visits schools, checks on road rehabilitation projects, attends community meetings, and remains deeply involved in grassroots mobilization. His leadership style is grounded in proximity — being present, being reachable, being part of the community’s daily life.

In Kooki, where development often feels slow and uneven, Kibedi represents a new kind of local leadership: one shaped not by political ambition, but by personal history. His story is not one of dramatic transformation or overnight success. It is the story of a boy from Luteebe who grew up watching his community struggle — and decided to spend his life trying to change that.

Whether his future leads him back into politics or keeps him rooted in civil society, one thing is clear: Kibedi’s work is inseparable from the place that raised him. His journey is a reminder that sometimes, the most powerful leaders are not those who rise from privilege, but those who rise from the very soil they seek to transform.

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At least a total of 1,030 Ugandans repatriated from South Africa following recent xenophobic attacks are undergoing a remarkable transformation at the National Leadership Institute (NALI), Kyankwanzi, where government officials say the returnees are rediscovering hope, patriotism, and confidence in rebuilding their lives back home.

The Commissioner for the National Secretariat for Patriotism Corps (NSPC) at State House, Ms. Hellen Seku, says the rehabilitation and ideological orientation program has exceeded expectations, with many participants now viewing Uganda as the best place to invest their skills and secure their future.

According to Ms. Seku, out of the 1,030 Ugandans currently enrolled in the program, 438 are men, 261-women, and 331 children aged between zero and 16 years. The group was repatriated after abandoning businesses, jobs, and homes following a wave of xenophobic violence in South Africa.

Speaking during one of the training sessions at Kyankwanzi, Ms. Seku revealed that the program has attracted attention from hundreds of other Ugandans who returned independently from South Africa and now wish to benefit from the same ideological training.

“I have received countless calls from Ugandans who returned on their own and now want to join this program because they are seeing the positive transformation of their colleagues on social media,” Ms. Seku said.

She noted that many callers have been requesting to be included in future training cohorts after witnessing videos and testimonies shared by participants currently at Kyankwanzi.

Now in its second week, the program focuses on patriotism, national identity, economic empowerment, and leadership.

Ms. Seku said many participants arrived feeling hopeless, traumatized, and uncertain about their future after losing livelihoods built over several years in South Africa. However, she said the intensive orientation has significantly changed their outlook.

“The way they came is not the way they are today. They now appreciate their country. Many have realised they were ignorant about Uganda’s opportunities, wealth, and economic potential. They now believe Uganda is the best country to live in.”

She described President Yoweri Museveni’s decision to facilitate the repatriation as an expression of compassion and national responsibility.

“We thank His Excellency for his fatherly heart and for giving these Ugandans another opportunity to rebuild their lives.”

Ms. Seku also praised Mulago National Referral Hospital and other government health facilities for supporting returnees requiring specialised medical attention. She disclosed that some returnees arrived in poor health, while others suffered severe psychological distress and were unable to remember even their home districts.

“We have had several medical cases. We thank Dr. Rose Byanyima and the entire Mulago team for providing exceptional care. We also appreciate Kiboga Hospital and other facilities that have attended to our people,” Ms. Seku said.

One unique challenge facing organisers has been caring for hundreds of children who accompanied their parents. Commissioner Seku said they have established a temporary nursery at Kyankwanzi to ensure parents participate fully in classroom sessions.

“We created a temporary nursery where the children are looked after while their parents attend classes. It has enabled mothers and fathers to concentrate on the training.”

Expanding Africa’s Market:

Senior Presidential Advisor on Political Mobilisation,Mr. Moses Byaruhanga, one of the guest lecturers at the program, condemned xenophobic violence, warning that such actions undermine Africa’s collective economic progress.

Mr. Byaruhanga stressed that the South African government should continue discouraging xenophobia while African countries deepen regional trade and economic integration.

He observed that unemployment remains one of the major drivers of hostility toward foreign nationals.

“We need to expand markets across Africa so that industries create more jobs. If Africa becomes one common market, everyone stands to benefit.”

Drawing comparisons with China, Mr. Byaruhanga said Africa’s population of more than 1.4 billion people presents enormous economic opportunities if countries embrace free movement of goods, services, and people.

“China has a population similar to Africa’s, yet it functions as one market. Why can’t Africa do the same? A united African market would create jobs for South Africans, Ugandans, Nigerians, and everyone else.”

Mr. Byaruhanga assured the returnees that the government has already begun designing economic interventions to help them restart their lives.

He explained that although many may not qualify for the Parish Development Model because of program requirements, alternative financing mechanisms already exist.

The government plans to organise the returnees into enterprise groups according to their skills before extending seed capital through existing government financing schemes.

“The government has money. Our biggest challenge has never been a lack of funds but poor organisation. Once these returnees organise themselves into productive groups, we shall support them,” Byaruhanga said.

He said Commissioner Seku will coordinate the formation of groups based on viable economic activities before funding is released.

The initiative, he added, is expected to encourage more Ugandans abroad to return home and invest locally.

The Senior Presidential Advisor on Special Duties and Chairperson of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Exports and Industrial Development (PACEID), Mr. Odrek Rwabwogo, also addressed the returnees, highlighting Uganda’s long-term economic strategy.

Mr. Rwabwogo explained that Uganda intends to significantly increase exports by promoting value addition, industrialization, and affordable energy.

He said the government aims to strengthen manufacturing by providing cheaper electricity and expanding agro-processing industries.

“We want farmers to earn more by processing and packaging agricultural products before exporting them to international markets,” he said.

Using fish farming as an example, Mr. Rwabwogo said Uganda possesses enormous untapped potential capable of generating hundreds of thousands of jobs.

He noted that despite having over 42,000 square kilometers of fresh water, Uganda currently produces only about 130,000 metric tons of fish annually, far below its capacity.

By comparison, he said Egypt, with far fewer freshwater resources, produces nearly one million metric tonnes of fish every year and earns billions of dollars.

“We can create over 200,000 jobs very quickly through fish farming, feed production, maize growing, soybean cultivation, and processing industries.”

Mr. Rwabwogo emphasised that sustainable economic transformation requires both knowledge and political stability. He urged the returnees to understand how societies develop from subsistence economies to industrialised nations through innovation, discipline, and education.

“Countries develop because people understand how economies grow. Knowledge changes societies.”

He further appealed to Ugandans to respect the rule of law and avoid divisive politics.

“The country must remain peaceful and stable. Investors come where there is stability, and stability creates opportunities for everyone.”

Addressing the emotional trauma experienced by many returnees, Mr. Rwabwogo encouraged them not to allow the painful experiences in South Africa to define their future. Instead, he urged them to view the setback as an opportunity to rebuild stronger lives in Uganda.

“What does not kill you makes you stronger. They have gone through a painful experience, but Uganda offers them another chance.”

He argued that lasting national unity is achieved when citizens share economic prosperity.

“The strongest unity is built around shared prosperity. When people benefit economically, they protect what they have built together.”

As the training nears completion, come Friday, July 17th, 2026, Commissioner Seku says the success of the initiative has inspired many other Ugandans still stranded abroad to seek voluntary return.

 

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