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First came the breakup announcement.

Then came Shakib’s corporate boxing victory against Kenyan singer Arrow Bwoy in Nairobi.

Now comes a surprise reunion in Jinja.

The sequence of events has left fans trying to piece together what is really happening between Shakib Cham Lutaaya and Zari Hassan.

The South African-based Ugandan businesswoman recently announced on Snapchat that the relationship had come to an end, a post that quickly generated headlines across social media.

Shakib never publicly confirmed the breakup.

Instead, he focused on his boxing match in Kenya, where he secured a knockout victory. Shortly afterwards, Zari congratulated him, a gesture that many found surprising given her earlier announcement.

When reporters later asked about their relationship, Shakib kept his response brief.

Those are my private matters, but we are okay.

This weekend, the story took another unexpected turn.

While in Jinja, Zari first told followers she was alone before later sharing videos that showed Shakib accompanying her around the city.

The pair appeared affectionate throughout the outing, with Zari introducing him to places connected to her childhood and the two enjoying the visit together.

Their latest appearance has reignited questions about the status of their relationship.

Whether they reconciled privately or never fully separated remains known only to them, but their reunion has certainly given fans plenty to talk about.

Fans waiting for Spice Diana‘s international collaborations may finally have an answer.

The singer has revealed that the songs are already complete, but finding time to coordinate with artists from different countries has delayed their release.

Speaking during an interview on Sanyuka TV, Spice Diana said the biggest challenge has not been recording the music.

Instead, organising travel and shooting music videos across different countries has slowed the projects.

There are other factors, like the other artist having their own plans and also having to travel to other countries to shoot the videos.

Spice Diana disclosed that she has recorded collaborations with musicians from Nigeria, Zimbabwe, and several other countries as she continues expanding her reach beyond Uganda.

Although the projects remain under wraps, she says fans will not have to wait forever.

Before this year ends, I hope to drop a very nice collaboration. I have recorded projects already, but time is the problem. I have lots of them with Nigerians, Zimbabweans, and others.

For now, the music is finished. All that is left is finding the right moment to share it with the world.

Forget dating apps or social media. Tekno thinks the real turning point for love was the COVID-19 lockdown.

Looking back at 2020, the Nigerian singer says spending months under one roof forced couples to confront feelings they had been avoiding.

Some, he believes, realized the relationship was not built on love after all.

I think since after 2020, love is not the same. I think during the lockdown people got to spend time with their lovers and realised, ‘maybe I did not love this person as much as I think.’

The experience, according to Tekno, left many people emotionally drained.

I think we just grew fatigued of the ones we thought we loved the most.

That change, he argues, is still playing out today.

If you cannot appreciate the absence then the presence does not really matter. So, I feel like since 2020, people have leaned into not wanting to love as much.

Tekno said the impact stretches from homes to Hollywood.

He claimed marriages are struggling, infidelity is becoming more common, and romance is no longer at the heart of the stories people watch.

Marriages do not work. You have some of our legends’ wives being chopped by young boys. There was a time when love was a thing, even our movies revolve around love. But now movies are just clout. It does not feel organic.

Ugandan hip-hop has never lacked talent. What it has often lacked is a generation bold enough to declare that a changing of the guard is underway. Troy Mc is making exactly that statement with his debut EP, Cenozoic.

Born in Rubaga as Bukenya Ben Rodgers and raised in Ndejje, Troy Mc has steadily built a reputation through storytelling, poetry and technically gifted lyricism delivered in Luganda. Now signed to Pyong Recordz, he arrives with a six-track debut that feels less like an introduction and more like a declaration of intent.

The title Cenozoic is no accident. Borrowed from the current geological era, the word literally means “recent life.” For Troy, it symbolizes what he believes is happening within Ugandan hip-hop.

He sees the genre entering a new chapter. The pioneers laid the foundation, but a new generation of lyricists is emerging to shape what comes next.

Rather than distancing himself from those who came before him, Troy presents himself as one of the artists ready to carry Ugandan hip-hop into its next era.

Across six songs and just 21 minutes, Cenozoic celebrates lyricism, collaboration and Ugandan identity. The project brings together some of the country’s finest MCs, creating a body of work that feels more like a statement of intent than a simple debut.

Tracklist

1. Let Him Rise
2. Cenozoic (featuring John Papa Smyl)
3. Uganda Empya (featuring Tushi Nabakyala)
4. Zibuze (featuring Leghacity)
5. Couple Bae (featuring Joyie 7 Star)
6. Route 66 (featuring Pryce Teeba)

The collaborators are carefully chosen. John Papa Smyl delivers his trademark lyrical sharpness. Tushi Nabakyala reinforces her standing as one of Uganda’s most respected MCs. Leghacity brings his thoughtful penmanship, Joyie 7 Star adds a refreshing dynamic, while Pryce Teeba closes the project with the confidence and authority that have made him one of Uganda’s most seasoned rappers.

Having watched Troy Mc perform on several occasions, I genuinely believe he is one of the purest rap talents in Uganda today. He occupies a rare space where conscious lyricism never comes at the expense of entertainment. His music makes you think, yet it can just as easily make you nod your head or get up and dance.

As an artist myself, he consistently sparks my curiosity because he always seems to have something worth saying. Every verse feels intentional. Every performance feels purposeful.

One of Troy’s greatest strengths is collaboration. Rather than treating features as contests, he understands how to complement another artist’s strengths while still leaving his own mark. That quality is perhaps best demonstrated on “Zibuze” alongside Leghacity, which happens to be my favourite song on the EP. The chemistry is effortless, the writing is sharp, and both artists elevate each other instead of competing for attention.

Cenozoic is released under Pyong Recordz, with distribution by Soaw Media and Ria Entertainment.

Whether Troy Mc ultimately becomes the face of Ugandan hip-hop’s next generation remains to be seen. What cannot be denied is that Cenozoic arrives with ambition, confidence and substance.

If this project is any indication, Troy Mc is not simply asking to be part of the conversation about Uganda’s future in rap. He intends to help define it.

Maurice Mugisha does not believe the hardest part of marriage comes years later.

For the veteran journalist, the real test arrives much earlier.

Speaking on the Mind Your Head UG podcast, Mugisha reflected on his marriage to Irene Birungi, describing the first five years as the most demanding chapter of their journey together.

The first five years are the most difficult years in marriage.

He explained that those early years brought major life changes all at once.

The couple welcomed children within the first three years of marriage while also trying to build their careers, forcing them to balance family responsibilities with financial pressures.

In our case, the children came very quickly, and it was the beginning of our careers.

Looking back, Mugisha remembers questioning whether they had taken on more than they could handle.

At some point, I said, “My God, I think we have taken on too much,” but we were very lucky.

Even so, he believes one decision made everything else possible.

He urged people to marry someone they genuinely enjoy spending time with, saying friendship creates a stronger foundation than anything else.

For starters, marry your friend and someone you can hold a conversation with because you are going to go back home to this person every single day of your life.

Mugisha also reminded couples that no marriage follows the same path.

There is no script to marriage.

If someone handed me a record label today and told me to sign one young Ugandan artist, I would choose Mellan Kunta without hesitation.

That is a bold statement. Perhaps even a reckless one, considering the number of talented young artists emerging across Uganda. But every so often, an artist comes along who offers more than good music. They demonstrate vision. They understand their identity. They make you believe they are building something bigger than their next release.

Mellan Kunta is one of those artists.

At 24, the Kampala-born rapper, songwriter and producer already carries himself like someone planning for a career rather than chasing a viral moment.

He belongs to a generation of Ugandan hip-hop artists that is no longer waiting for validation. They are building their own sound, growing their own audiences and creating their own movement.

That mindset is reflected in his music. He blends hip-hop, trap, drill and UK-inspired influences with Luganda storytelling and authentic Ugandan street experiences. The result is a sound that feels modern enough for international playlists while remaining unmistakably Ugandan.

Long before wider audiences began paying attention, Mellan Kunta had already built the habits that separate promising artists from sustainable ones. Projects like 4 Minutes to Fame (Vol. 1) and Street Talk laid the foundation for an artist who continues to refine his craft rather than rush his growth. Collaborations with Spanish artist No1ah Papi, frequent creative partner Krazylee, and production work alongside Axon and Trapex Boomin have steadily expanded both his sound and his creative range.

That steady growth is perhaps best captured by one record, “Pepeta Cheppe (I’m Going Krazy).”

Although recorded in 2024, the song officially arrived on January 1, 2026, and immediately established itself as one of the year’s strongest Ugandan trap records. Alongside Krazylee and Vudu Child, Mellan Kunta delivers a performance filled with confidence, charisma and chemistry.

The collaboration succeeds because every artist understands their role. No one fights for the spotlight. Each verse builds naturally into the next, creating a record that feels cohesive rather than competitive.

Just as impressive is the production. Krazylee builds the instrumental around an infectious trap foundation before steering it into drill during the closing moments. The transition never feels forced. It feels earned, giving the record a second wind just when listeners think they know where it is heading.

“Pepeta Cheppe (I’m Going Krazy)” is more than an excellent collaboration. It reflects a new generation of Ugandan rap artists that is becoming increasingly confident in experimenting with globally relevant sounds without abandoning its local identity. The record feels international in execution while remaining deeply rooted in home.

That is precisely why I believe Mellan Kunta is one of the most exciting young artists working in Uganda today.

He is the kind of artist the mainstream should already be preparing for because he has the potential to help redefine Ugandan hip-hop over the coming years. More importantly, he possesses the qualities needed to carry that sound beyond Uganda and onto the international stage.

His music is only part of the reason. What impresses me even more is his organisation, discipline, intelligence, willingness to learn and, above all, his long-term vision.

For someone who is only 24 years old, his maturity is remarkable. His ambition is obvious, but so is his patience. He understands that building a lasting career requires far more than making good songs. It requires consistency, planning and a willingness to evolve.

I also appreciate how intentionally he works with people. He trusts his team, empowers his collaborators and creates an environment where everyone is encouraged to contribute. That speaks to an artist who understands leadership as much as creativity. He comes across as someone firmly in control of his vision while remaining open to ideas that strengthen it.

Those qualities matter because talent alone has never guaranteed longevity. Ugandan hip-hop has never lacked exceptional lyricists. It has produced stars, cult heroes and underground legends. What it continues to search for are artists capable of bridging the gap between authentic Ugandan storytelling and the demands of today’s global music industry.

Mellan Kunta looks increasingly capable of becoming one of those artists.

Whether that breakthrough comes next year or five years from now is impossible to predict. But if “Pepeta Cheppe (I’m Going Krazy)” is any indication, Mellan Kunta is not simply waiting for opportunity to find him.

He is preparing to kick the door open.

BUSIA, Uganda — More than 19,000 people in Busia District have benefited from the government’s Parish Development Model (PDM), with local officials crediting the programme for expanding household incomes, strengthening cooperative enterprises and accelerating the district’s transition from subsistence farming to commercial production.

The Parish Development Model, one of the Government of Uganda’s flagship poverty eradication initiatives, seeks to move households into the money economy by placing the parish at the centre of planning, financial inclusion and wealth creation.

According to Mr David Maloba John, Busia District’s Assistant Fisheries Officer and the official overseeing PDM implementation, the programme has so far reached more than 19,000 beneficiaries organised into over 800 cooperative groups.

He said the cooperative model has enabled communities to pool resources, share knowledge and invest in viable income-generating enterprises.

“Through the Parish Development Model, we have reached over 19,000 beneficiaries who are organised in more than 800 cooperative groups. These groups have helped communities work together, access support and invest in income-generating activities,” Maloba said.

Under technical guidance from the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, beneficiaries were encouraged to invest in enterprises with strong commercial potential, including piggery, coffee production and poultry farming.

Maloba said the selected enterprises were chosen because they offer reliable market opportunities, create employment and improve household livelihoods.

“Piggery has particularly transformed many households in Busia. The number of pig farmers has increased significantly, and the enterprise has positively changed the lives of many families,” he said.

He added that the programme’s objective is to ensure beneficiaries invest in sustainable businesses capable of generating consistent incomes.

Beyond financial support, local leaders say improved infrastructure has been instrumental in the programme’s success.

Busia Municipality Town Clerk Mr Katunda Mukulu said newly upgraded roads have eased transportation challenges, enabling farmers and traders to move produce more efficiently to markets and business centres.

“The improved roads have enabled our people to transport agricultural produce more easily. Parish Development Model beneficiaries are using this infrastructure to access markets and expand their businesses,” Mukulu said.

He noted that road investments across North A, North B, Central and other parts of the municipality have reduced travel time, lowered transport costs and boosted trade in the border district.

“I commend the Government of Uganda for constructing these roads. As a border municipality, this investment is creating real economic opportunities by improving trade and the movement of goods,” he added.

Mukulu stressed that while access to PDM financing is important, sustainable economic transformation also depends on quality infrastructure, market access and continuous technical support.

“Development is not simply about providing funds. People also need reliable roads, access to markets and extension services that help them grow their enterprises,” he said.

Busia District Communications Officer Mr Moses Mangeni also praised the Parish Development Model for creating new wealth-creation opportunities across the district.

However, he revealed that Busia did not receive a fresh allocation of PDM funds during the 2025/2026 financial year, preventing the district from enrolling new beneficiaries.

“Government has done a commendable job through the Parish Development Model by supporting people to engage in productive enterprises. However, Busia did not receive PDM funds during the 2025/2026 financial year, meaning no additional beneficiaries were brought on board,” Mangeni said.

Despite the funding setback, district leaders remain optimistic that continued investment in agriculture, cooperative development, infrastructure and technical support will sustain the programme’s impact.

With more than 19,000 beneficiaries already participating, Busia’s experience is increasingly being cited as an example of how coordinated government investment, community organisation and market access can drive rural economic transformation.

AIRCRAFT ALONE DO NOT BUILD A GREAT AIRLINE. GREAT AIRLINES ARE BUILT BY PEOPLE

By Ato Girma Wake, Acting Chief Executive Officer, Uganda Airlines

It is a great honour to write this foreword at a defining moment in the journey of Uganda Airlines. Since my appointment as Acting Chief Executive Officer, I have approached this responsibility with deep humility, a clear sense of urgency, and an unshakable belief in the potential of this national carrier. What I have found is an airline with strong foundations, a proud national identity, and a dedicated team determined to build something lasting for Uganda and for Africa.

My journey so far has been one of listening, learning, and acting. In every engagement across the airline, one message has come through clearly: Uganda Airlines has enormous promise, but promise must now be matched with discipline, consistency, and strategic execution. That is why my immediate focus has been on stabilising operations, restoring confidence and building a culture where reliability, safety, efficiency and service excellence guide every decision we make.

Stabilisation is the first requirement for sustainable growth. In the short-to-medium term, our priority is to strengthen schedule integrity, improve aircraft availability, sharpen cost control, and ensure that every route we operate contributes meaningfully to our long-term vision. We are working to create a more resilient operating model, one that can withstand disruption, respond quickly to market realities, and serve our passengers with greater consistency.

At the same time, our ambition goes beyond day-to-day recovery. We are shaping the mid-term and long-term future of Uganda Airlines around a broader aviation ecosystem. This includes investment in the capabilities that make an airline truly self-sustaining: stronger cargo operations, improved passenger facilities, and the development of our new home through upgraded headquarters and support infrastructure, enabling our people to work, plan and execute at a higher level.

We are also pursuing in-house maintenance capability through a dedicated hangar strategy, because the ability to reduce dependence on external providers is central to reliability, turnaround time and cost efficiency.

This vision is especially important in a world where aviation is increasingly affected by forces beyond any airline’s control. Recent airspace closures and instability in the Middle East, coupled with events such as the Ebola outbreak, have reminded the industry how vulnerable global operations can be to geopolitical events and health crises. Such disruptions bring longer flight times, higher fuel burn, tighter capacity and rising operating costs. Fuel price volatility, in particular, has become one of the clearest reminders that airlines must build strong internal systems and make bold but prudent long-range choices.

Fleet Expansion and Strategic Vision

One of the most significant expressions of that long-term confidence is our fleet expansion. The airline plans to expand its fleet to 10 new aircraft, covering both passenger and cargo capacity. This move signals our intention to support trade, tourism, investment and connectivity while positioning Uganda more firmly as a regional aviation hub.

However, aircraft alone do not build a great airline. Great airlines are built by people — by the professionalism of the crew, the precision of engineers, the commitment of commercial teams, the discipline of operations, and the trust of passengers.

Uganda Airlines must stand for more than transportation. It must stand for national confidence, African connectivity, and the hospitality for which Uganda is known. As we move forward, we do so with realism about the challenges ahead, but also with optimism rooted in action. We are stabilising the present, investing in the future, and building an airline designed not only to fly farther, but to endure.

I thank our passengers, partners, employees and all stakeholders for their continued confidence. The journey ahead is demanding, but it is full of possibilities. Together, we are writing the next chapter of Uganda Airlines with steadiness in the near term, strength in the medium term, and a bold horizon in the long term.

…………..

Thia Article by Ato Girma Wake, Acting Chief Executive Officer, Uganda Airlines first appeared in the airline’s inflight publication.

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KAMPALA – The Minister of State for Local Government, Hon. Justine Nameere, has vowed to relentlessly pursue individuals accused of stealing public funds, warning that corruption suspects should not expect to shield themselves behind legal technicalities.

Speaking in remarks shared by the Uganda Broadcasting Corporation (UBC), Nameere said those accused of embezzling public resources often attempt to use the law as a defence against accountability.

“We are aware of how thieves always hide behind the law. Before they accuse us of not following the law, let them first understand that the law does not permit the theft of public funds. Otherwise, we shall pursue them,” she said.

Her comments underscore the government’s renewed emphasis on combating corruption, particularly within local government institutions, where concerns over the misuse of public resources have persisted.

Appointed Minister of State for Local Government in May 2026, Nameere, who also serves as the National Resistance Movement (NRM) Woman Member of Parliament for Masaka City, has made accountability and prudent management of public resources central to her message since assuming office.

The Minister’s remarks have drawn mixed reactions. Supporters have praised her tough stance, arguing that stronger enforcement is needed to deter corruption and improve service delivery. Critics, however, have called for concrete action, including independent investigations and prosecutions, rather than strong rhetoric alone.

Nameere’s statement echoes the broader anti-corruption campaign championed by President Yoweri Museveni’s administration, which has repeatedly pledged to crack down on the theft of public funds and strengthen accountability across government institutions.

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There is something powerful about saying your dreams out loud, even when they sound impossible, far away, or downright foolish.

Sometimes the things we are meant to become do not make sense when we first speak them into existence. They sound too big for our age, too expensive for our pockets, or too unrealistic for our current reality. To everyone else, they may seem naïve or detached from reality. But there is a strange strength in naming them anyway.

Because where do those dreams come from in the first place?

Perhaps they are born from ambition. Perhaps they are simply the quiet voice of our deepest desires. Or, for those who believe, perhaps they are gentle nudges from the Holy Spirit, whispering a purpose long before we are equipped to understand it. Whatever their source, those dreams deserve to be heard before they are judged.

I have always carried a dream of being in a position to support my peers in the music industry, to create a space where young creatives do not have to suffer the uncertainty that comes with starting out. At first, I thought that would only happen if I became wealthy or if I became a major artist myself.

And honestly, how could I have believed that while pursuing a law degree?

But maybe that is the point.

Maybe destiny does not always require perfect logic before it begins to unfold. Maybe it is a mixture of having a worthy purpose and a little bit of delusion. Maybe you need just enough belief to keep speaking the dream until the stars somehow begin to align.

Because look at this now.

Here I am at Next Media, standing within one of the biggest platform opportunities any Ugandan artist could ask for, becoming one of the bridges between that platform and the brilliant musicians I have encountered along the way.

That is not exactly how I imagined the journey. But it is close enough to prove that dreams do not always arrive in the shape you expect. Sometimes they come disguised as experience. Sometimes they come through service. Sometimes they come through being positioned in the right room at the right time, after years of saying the dream out loud before you could fully explain it.

That is why people should never be ashamed to say what they want, even if they cannot yet explain how they will get there.

The dream may not come in the form you predicted. The route may not match your original map. But there is power in declaration. There is power in speaking life over your future. There is power in telling the world, and reminding yourself, that you are available for something greater.

So maybe the dream was never just about money or fame.

Maybe it was always about impact.

Maybe it was always about building a door for others while walking through one yourself.

And maybe that is how the impossible becomes possible, one spoken dream at a time.