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Troops of the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) serving under the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), alongside the Somali National Army (SNA), have conducted a joint security patrol in the Barawe Sub-Sector as part of efforts to enhance peace and stability in the coastal town and surrounding areas.

The joint operation, conducted on Saturday, was commanded by the Battle Group 45 Commander, Colonel Justus Musenene, together with his SNA counterpart, the 66 Brigade Commander, Colonel Abdurahman Elmi.

Col Musenene said the patrol was aimed at strengthening security, reassuring local communities, and denying space to Al-Shabaab militants operating in the area.

“Today’s patrol shows teamwork, comradeship, and what we can achieve when we work together,” Col Musenene said.

He noted that, as part of AUSSOM’s mandate, the forces are committed to mentoring their SNA counterparts, strengthening local security structures, and building trust with the civilian population.

The Battle Group Commander also warned Al-Shabaab fighters to abandon violence and surrender to government forces and AUSSOM troops.

“We know where you are and we’re coming for you. The better option is to surrender yourselves if you want to be safe,” Col Musenene said.

Col Abdurahman Elmi echoed the message, calling on residents of Barawe to continue supporting security efforts by sharing information with the authorities.

“This joint patrol with our UPDF comrades proves that together we are stronger. To the people of Barawe, your safety comes first. To the enemy, know that SNA and AUSSOM are united and we will not allow the enemy to disturb the prevailing peace in the region,” he said.

Residents who interacted with the patrol team welcomed the joint security presence and pledged to continue working with security forces by providing relevant information to support peace and security.

The commanders from both forces said similar joint operations will continue to be conducted in the Barawe Sub-Sector to maintain pressure on security threats and create a conducive environment for peace and development.

The operation was attended by the Commanding Officer of the 145 Infantry Battalion, Lieutenant Colonel Geoffrey Ochan; Embresko Forward Operating Base Commander, Major Francis Odede; Battle Group 45 Military Information Officer, Major David Akandwanaho; alongside other UPDF and SNA officers and troops.

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BUGWERI —H.E. President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni paid tribute to the late Mr. Perezi Tenywa Bukhumune, former Deputy Governor of the Bank of Uganda, describing him as a patriot who played a key role in stabilizing Uganda’s economy after 1986.

In a condolence message that was delivered yesterday by the Minister for the Presidency and Member of Parliament for Budiope West Constituency, Hon. Babirye Milly Babalanda at the funeral of the late in Ibulanku Sub-County, Bugweri District.

“H.E. the President was saddened to learn of the death of the former Deputy Governor of the Bank of Uganda, Mr. Perezi Tenywa Bukhumune. On behalf of the government and himself, the President conveyed his heartfelt sympathies to the bereaved family of the late, friends, and all Ugandans,” Minister Babalanda said.

The President noted that the late was part of the team of patriots at the Central Bank who supported the NRM government’s economic reforms following the 1986 victory.

“These reforms led to the stabilization of Uganda’s economy by ensuring price stability, restoration of the production capacity of the economy, and rehabilitation of the economic and social infrastructure as well as maintaining fiscal discipline,” the message read.

His Excellency paid tribute to the late for his patriotic contributions to Uganda’s socio-economic transformation while serving as Deputy Governor and in other capacities.

“The President commiserated with the bereaved family and prayed for the deceased’s soul to rest in eternal peace,” Minister Babalanda added.

Using the same platform, Minister Babalanda urged residents of Busoga and Ugandans at large to embrace government wealth creation programs to increase household incomes and fight poverty.

“Poverty remains the most challenging concern in our region, Busoga. I urge the public to take advantage of government programs to improve their livelihoods,” she said.

The Minister also paid tribute to the late for his lifetime contributions toward national economic transformation.

“May his soul rest in eternal peace,” she concluded.

The funeral was also attended by government officials, and mourners from across the country.

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The Busoga Sub-region Ghetto Structure Leaders’ Retreat officially commenced yesterday, July 11, 2026, at Bishop Willis Center in Iganga Municipality, bringing together ghetto leaders from across the region for a three-day capacity-building programme.

The retreat organised by the Special Presidential Assistant-Press and Mobilization also Deputy Press Secretary to H.E the President, Alhaji Faruk Kirunda, in conjunction with Uganda Police’s Crime Intelligence, has attracted leaders from 131 ghetto depots across Busoga and forms part of a broader government rehabilitation and empowerment initiative aimed at transforming ghetto communities, promoting responsible leadership, reducing crime, and integrating youth into national development programmes.

The programme is running under the theme: “Empowering the ghettos for a crime-free society”.

Addressing the participants, the Deputy Regional Police Commander (RPC) for Busoga East, Mr. Asumira Ahamed, cautioned the ghetto youth against being manipulated by self-serving politicians whom he described as “misleaders.”

“We should ensure that we overcome the challenges facing our region. We must not allow misleaders to misguide our youth into engaging in wrongdoing,” Mr. Asumira said.

He urged the youth to embrace government wealth creation initiatives such as the Parish Development Model (PDM) and Emyooga, saying these programmes provide opportunities for economic empowerment and poverty reduction.

“We should fully participate in income-generating activities that will help us fight poverty in Busoga and improve our livelihoods,” he added.

Mr. Asumira further encouraged ghetto leaders to build strong working relationships with security agencies, particularly the Uganda Police Force, to promote peace and security within their communities.

“As ghetto leaders, you should work closely with police leadership in your respective areas. You should also coordinate with key stakeholders, including the District Security Committees led by the Resident District Commissioners (RDCs), to strengthen crime prevention efforts,” he said.

Speaking at the same retreat, the Patriotism Coordinator for Namutumba District, Mr. Godfrey Mukisa, commended President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni for championing initiatives aimed at transforming ghetto communities by reducing crime and integrating young people into national wealth creation programmes.

“We should use this opportunity provided by the government to transform our lives. The government is playing its part, and we must also play our part by taking advantage of these programmes,” Mr. Mukisa said.

“We should demonstrate our appreciation by doing what is right and making productive use of the opportunities available to us.”

Mr. Mukisa also urged the youth to embrace patriotism by contributing positively to Uganda’s development, stability, and prosperity.

“Genuine patriotism is about loving one’s country while actively working to improve it,” he noted.

He further encouraged participants to acquire practical and technical skills that would enable them to become self-reliant through employment and entrepreneurship.

The retreat follows the recent election of ghetto structure leaders across the Busoga Sub-region and is expected to strengthen their leadership capacity while promoting community development, security, and socio-economic transformation.

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By Denis Jjuuko

Just like that, we are already in the second half of 2026. Six months to the end of the year. Time really flies fast even when you may not be having a great time. The year kicked off with presidential and parliamentary elections in Uganda and a war in Iran that disrupted global economies. Skyrocketing fuel prices mean a tough economy for ordinary people.

As if that wasn’t enough, an Ebola outbreak was declared in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and a few cases in Uganda. Some countries reacted by banning Ugandans from entering their countries. Businesses and opportunities were lost. Covid-19 taught people that travels can easily be disrupted. Yet if you live in Kampala, you won’t tell there is any Ebola outbreak. Life as far as Ebola is concerned is normal.

Anyway, a new government is now in place. More ministers than Uganda has ever had and a few acting ones, holding more than one docket. They have promised an economy that jumps from USD50-60 billion to a USD500 billion one annually. Government says it will do a lot of stuff to achieve this. Sometimes though, government is government. We pray to be alive to enjoy this.

The end of the first half of the year in Uganda means the start of a new financial year. As you may notice, your fuel pump prices are going up as the government has increased the tax it charges on each litre of fuel. The fuel prices have been high already due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz due to the war in Iran, now they will even be higher. Time to implement some austerity measures at home. Life is for the brave, not so?

You probably made some resolutions at the beginning of 2026. Hope you have already achieved them or you are half way there. If you haven’t started on them, you can still adjust a few things. A clip on social media shows somebody whose goal this year was to buy a car but has easily added the letters p.e.t at the end of car to mean carpet. That is what he will buy. The car is out of reach now but the carpet shouldn’t be. Creative way of achieving some resolutions.

Whatever resolutions you may have made, starting a new life in South Africa may have to be reconsidered. Ordinary black South Africans unable to find jobs have turned to other Africans who migrated there accusing them of depriving them of their apartheid inheritance. Some people have already lost their lives and/or properties.

The government of Uganda is evacuating Ugandans facing xenophobic attacks in South Africa. Hundreds have been flown home already. They have had enough of it. I hope the government of Uganda has a plan for them upon arrival from the country that once had leaders like Nelson Mandela. Have the impending returnees gained any skills that can help Uganda drive the economy to the promised land of USD500 billion a year? Do they have some capital they would like to deploy?

Those who have some needed skills could be linked to those who need them. A digital portal could be designed where they register indicating the skills and expertise they possess so those who need them could easily find them. Those looking for businesses to invest in could also do the same. Matching businesses with the skills and even capital is a necessity to grow the economy.

The portal would of course not be for only those returning from South Africa but for all people to ensure inclusivity. I think some recently returned from Iran and there are always many returning from other countries as well. Millions of others are here in Uganda. They have some skills, but they don’t know how to reach those who need them.

Many others have the required capital businesses need to scale but don’t know how to invest. That is how they fall to charlatans promising abnormal returns on investment. Of course, investing in other people’s business would require some sort of public oversight so that people don’t lose their money easily after investing but it shouldn’t be as difficult as going to heaven or listing on the stock exchange. A standard legal agreement or registration of this investment with a public entity like the Capital Markets Authority or Uganda Registration Services Bureau could help.

The writer is a communication and visibility consultant. [email protected]

Continues next week…..

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Two royalty payments from the Uganda Performing Rights Society (UPRS). Two very different reactions.

When UPRS first sent Spice Diana Shs20,000, she returned it, saying the amount was too little to take seriously.

Years later, the singer accepted Shs1.4 million from the same body. The figure was bigger, but her opinion hardly changed.

Speaking during an interview on Sanyuka TV, Spice Diana explained that she only kept the money because she needed it at the time.

I did not return this one because for the first one, which was Shs20,000, I felt disrespected. But with the Shs1.4 million, that day I needed money and I said I will not get petty and I took it. But I was not satisfied because I do not feel like that is what I have made for the last two years.

The singer believes the payment falls well below the value of the music she has released and the audience she has built over the years.

Her comments arrive as dissatisfaction with UPRS continues to grow within the music industry.

Weasel Manizo recently walked away from the royalties collection body after revealing he had reportedly received Shs250,000 for the Goodlyfe catalogue covering the past 18 months.

As more artists question the system, Spice Diana’s experience adds another voice to the debate over whether Ugandan musicians receive the royalties they deserve.

There is always a temptation to judge a music video by how beautiful it looks. The best ones, however, leave you asking questions. They invite you to look beyond the performances and into the meaning behind every location, costume and frame. That is exactly what Akeine and producer Artin achieve with the official video for “Mukene.”

Built around the metaphor of mukene (silverfish), the video transforms what could have been a straightforward love story into a visual journey through displacement, hope, disappointment and, ultimately, belonging. Every location, costume and character feels deliberately chosen, allowing the story to unfold through symbolism as much as performance.

The song itself is a mid-tempo Ugandan dancehall groove driven by Artin’s signature production. Its steady bounce provides the backdrop for Akeine’s witty storytelling as he compares the pain of being forgotten by a lover to mukene left under the scorching sun to dry, removed from the very place where it belongs.

Rather than simply illustrating those lyrics, the video expands them.

The opening scenes by the water immediately establish the emotional foundation of the story. Water, the natural home of mukene, becomes a symbol of comfort, identity and belonging. The fishing boat represents the moment of separation, carrying both the woman and the audience into an unfamiliar world built on hope and promises.

One of the video’s most striking images shows the woman standing beside the water with a veil flowing behind her. She remains close enough to return home, yet chooses to wait. It perfectly captures the emotional conflict of trusting a promise while knowing safety is still within reach.

As the narrative unfolds, the symbolism becomes even richer. The transition into the forest suggests becoming lost in those promises. Forests often represent abundance, possibility and life. Here, they gradually transform into places of uncertainty before giving way to the vast sandy landscapes.

Those sand scenes form the emotional centre of the video.

If the water represents home, the sand represents everything outside it: discomfort, exposure and survival. The men surrounding the woman do not simply communicate frustration. They reveal resilience. She has remained outside her comfort zone for so long that hardship has reshaped her. She is no longer the same person who first stepped away from the water.

The ferry sequence marks a turning point. Rather than returning to where she started, she discovers a new sense of belonging. Surrounded by women dressed in white, she finds a community that understands her experience. They become more than companions. They become sisters, almost angelic figures who help restore the confidence and dignity that disappointment slowly stripped away.

By the time the story reaches the night scenes at Samaki, sadness has given way to acceptance. Darkness no longer represents loneliness. Instead, it becomes celebration. The pain has been endured, the journey has run its course, and life moves forward.

The visual craftsmanship deserves equal recognition.

Malien Gallery’s cinematography makes outstanding use of natural light, open landscapes and movement across water. The locations, from Port Bell Landing Site to the nearby island and finally Samaki, never function as mere backdrops. They become characters in their own right, each representing a different emotional chapter.

The styling is equally thoughtful. Pambo by Toni, Akram of AfroKnot and Rachel of Her Box Jewellery contribute pieces that do far more than dress the cast. Their work reinforces the video’s earthy, cultural identity while subtly complementing the mood of every scene.

What impresses me most about “Mukene” is its confidence.

It refuses to explain every symbol. Instead, it trusts viewers to observe, question and arrive at their own interpretations. That confidence is becoming increasingly rare at a time when many music videos prioritise instant entertainment over visual storytelling.

The collaboration between Akeine and Artin demonstrates that Ugandan music videos can communicate through metaphor just as effectively as they do through performance. “Mukene” succeeds not only because of its music, but because every visual choice serves the story.

When the final frame fades, it becomes clear that you have watched far more than a music video.

You have watched a story about leaving home, believing in promises, surviving disappointment and discovering that healing does not always come from returning. Sometimes it comes from finding a new place where you belong.