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Kyambogo University is in mourning after Okia Aaron, a third year Bachelor of Business Administration student, Registration Number 24/U/BKE/10979/PE, was found dead days after he was reported missing, with his body reportedly bearing visible signs of assault.

Aaron had been reported missing earlier in the week, with a “Missing Person” appeal circulating widely among students and on social media from Monday, describing him as last seen that day and appealing to the public for any information that could help locate him. Family and friends behind the appeal had described themselves as “deeply concerned for his safety” and urged anyone with information to come forward.

Days into the search, his body was recovered lifeless, with clear signs that he had been beaten and assaulted before his death.
“It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of Okia Aaron… May his soul rest in eternal peace,” read a statement shared by those close to him.

The circumstances surrounding Aaron’s death have shocked the university community and beyond, with many now calling on the Uganda Police Force to open a full investigation into what happened to him in the days he was missing.

There is growing demand for police to work jointly with Kyambogo University to establish exactly how and why he died, and to hold whoever is responsible accountable.

The case has also reignited a wider public conversation about citizen safety, with many Ugandans on social media pointing to it as evidence that state security attention needs to be redirected toward protecting ordinary citizens from violent crime, rather than being seen to prioritise other concerns.

At the headquarters of the Union Transport Alliance, located at Luthien Towers in Kamwokya, colleagues describe Mr Fred Ssenoga, who is in his late 50s, as a down-to-earth leader who maintains a relatively low public profile despite his growing influence in discussions about Uganda’s transport sector.

According to Union Transport Alliance Ambassador Ms Alice Natukunda, Mr Ssenoga has earned respect within the organisation for his understanding of Uganda’s transport systems and the operational challenges facing drivers, transport operators, and commuters.

Inside the organisation’s offices, modern furnishings are complemented by displays showcasing products associated with the Union Transport Alliance’s economic initiatives. These include Union Oil, Union Water, and Union Sanitary Pads, which the organisation says are locally produced as part of its broader economic empowerment model.

Dressed in a white shirt, grey trousers, and a gold wristwatch during the interview, Mr Ssenoga is described by Ms Natukunda as a transport strategist committed to transforming Uganda’s mobility sector.

“Mr Fred Ssenoga is the epitome of knowledge and has a deep passion for expanding Uganda’s transport sector. His vision is to establish Union Village projects across all cities and districts of Uganda,” Ms Alice Natukunda said.

His engagement in transport sector discussions aligns with the broader policy framework overseen by the Ministry of Works and Transport, the government institution responsible for transport policy, regulation, and infrastructure development.

Growing Organisation

The Union Transport Alliance, formally established in March 2026, says it has expanded rapidly across Uganda. The organisation claims to have approximately 10 million members nationwide, 28 operational offices, and a portfolio of more than 60 products and services.

Among its products, Union Sanitary Pads have emerged as one of its most visible consumer brands, according to the organisation.

The Alliance says its mission is to bridge the gap between transport operators and public institutions by promoting dialogue on transport efficiency, road safety, and economic inclusion.

Road Safety Remains a National Priority

Road safety continues to be one of Uganda’s major transport challenges. Authorities and road safety advocates note that road crashes continue to result in significant loss of life, injuries, and economic costs.

The Socialites Association of Uganda has been implementing the 2024–2025 National Road Safety Campaign, focusing on public awareness, behavioural change, and stakeholder collaboration aimed at reducing road traffic accidents.

The organisation argues that road safety should be treated as a national development priority, noting that road crashes affect productivity, healthcare costs, and household incomes.

Mr Ssenoga’s Transport Vision

According to Mr Ssenoga, transport should extend beyond the movement of passengers and goods to become a platform for enterprise development, job creation, and economic empowerment.

Supporters describe him as both an entrepreneur and mentor seeking to integrate transport operators into broader economic opportunities.

Through initiatives such as integrated transport services, Union Village housing concepts, fuel support services, and supply chain solutions for drivers and vehicle owners, the organisation says it is building an ecosystem designed to improve livelihoods within the transport industry.

Supporters also argue that this vision aligns with Uganda’s Vision 2040 development framework, which promotes industrialisation, economic transformation, and inclusive growth.

The Union Transport Alliance estimates that its wider network reaches nearly one million people, including taxi operators, truck drivers, boda boda riders, and affiliated groups such as Riders Jambo boda boda associations.

Expansion into Products and Services

Beyond transport operations, the organisation has diversified into several products and services aimed at supporting transport workers while reducing operational costs.

Its portfolio includes:

• Union Oil, a fuel support initiative
• Union Water, a bottled drinking water product
• Union Jerry, a logistics and transport support service
• Union Sanitary Pads, a locally manufactured hygiene product
• Union Spare Parts
• Union Boda Boda motorcycles offered through a flexible payment plan of Shs120,000 per day
• Union M10 smartphones available through daily instalment payments

According to the organisation, these initiatives are intended to create internal value chains, support local manufacturing, and generate employment opportunities within the transport sector.

Policy observers note that such diversification reflects a broader trend in which transport-based organisations increasingly combine mobility services with enterprise development.

Product Pricing

The Union Transport Alliance says it has structured its products to remain affordable for transport workers and ordinary households.

According to the organisation, Union Sanitary Pads retail between Shs1,600 and Shs2,000 depending on distribution location and prevailing market conditions.

The organisation also says Union Oil products are offered at competitive prices aimed at reducing fuel costs for transport operators. However, pricing may vary depending on supply conditions and market fluctuations.

Independent verification of the organisation’s complete pricing structure was not immediately available at the time of publication.

Transport Policy and Economic Development

Economists and transport analysts say Uganda’s transport policy debate is increasingly shifting beyond infrastructure development toward broader questions of economic impact.

Among the key questions being discussed are:

• Who benefits from transport investments?
• Do transport projects create sustainable employment?
• Do they support local enterprise development?
• Can they contribute to poverty reduction?
• Do they improve national productivity?

These questions continue to shape discussions about the future direction of Uganda’s transport sector.

Government and Institutional Framework

The Ministry of Works and Transport remains the lead government institution responsible for transport regulation, infrastructure planning, and sector oversight.

Ms Alice Natukunda argues that stronger collaboration between government institutions and private-sector actors will be essential if transport is to generate wider economic benefits.

Meanwhile, stakeholder Edison Kirabira, Civil Coordinator for Operation Wealth Creation and the Federation of Uganda Social Media Influencers, says emerging transport-led business models such as those promoted by the Union Transport Alliance present new policy questions regarding regulation, integration, and long-term sustainability.

Investor Interest

Uganda’s transport sector supports a wide range of industries, including logistics, freight, manufacturing, tourism, insurance, warehousing, and digital payment services.

For investors, the sector represents a significant and expanding economic opportunity. For businesses, transport efficiency directly affects operational costs and competitiveness.

For citizens, improved transport systems can enhance access to employment, education, healthcare, and other essential services.

The Road Ahead

Uganda has invested substantially in transport infrastructure over recent years. Analysts say the next stage of development will depend on how effectively that infrastructure is translated into broader economic value.

This includes strengthening transport systems, improving institutional coordination, supporting local enterprise development, and maintaining road safety as a central component of transport planning.

Whether the Union Transport Alliance will play a lasting role in shaping Uganda’s transport policy remains to be seen.

What is clear, however, is that Uganda’s transport conversation is evolving—from viewing roads solely as physical infrastructure to recognising transport as a broader driver of economic development.

Ultimately, analysts argue that the long-term success of Uganda’s transport sector will be measured not only by the kilometres of roads constructed, but also by its contribution to livelihoods, productivity, employment, and national development.

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In his 26th June letter, President Museveni directed the IGG Aisha Naluzze Batala to commence investigations into the conduct of three Works Ministry engineers namely Edwin Raymond Kiyaga, Patrick Muleme and Dickens Ahimbisibwe. He says the three are responsible for the criminal design and route alterations which resulted into the total cost for the 23.6kms Busega-Mpigi road project changing from Shs600bn to Shs1.3trn.

Museveni also demanded that the Works Ministry PS Mzee Waiswa Bageya steps aside as Under Secretary Barbara Namugambe takes charge in acting capacity until the IGG investigations are completed. Museveni was angry that only 40% of the road works had been delivered yet the entire Shs600bn, which had been budgeted to be the total project original cost, had been spent.

The President accused the three engineers of conniving to alter the routes the road project was to pass, diverting the road into the direction where they had personal land so that they could become Project Affected Persons (PAPs) and become entitled to being compensated for lost land.

Ironically, all the PAPs-related compensation had been made, under the old arrangement, prior to the trio’s criminal alteration of the route. Their criminality partly explains how the project’s overall cost grew from Shs600bn to Shs1.3trn. In his letter, Museveni declares the trio to be ‘thieves’ who must be ‘destroyed’ by the IGG using her prosecution powers.

The Busega-Mpigi Expressway project comprises of the 23.6kms which is to be four lanes; the 20kms of access roads, four interchanges and the tolling infrastructure.

One of the more than 15 public infrastructure projects which the African Development Bank (AfDB) is currently funding/supporting in Uganda, the Busega-Mpigi road is part of the Northern Corridor Infrastructure projects as it connects Kampala to Western Uganda and eventually facilitate trade with Rwanda and DR Congo. This explains why the President is very angry with PS Bageya’s failure to do effective supervision, which created room for the three engineers to act fraudulently.

Convinced there was need to find additional money to cater for the shift from Shs600bn to Shs1.3trn, the Cabinet had last August approved the proposal to return to the AfDB for more loans (equaling 188.8m Euros), something Parliament also approved on 29th October the same year.

The Bank’s Governing Board formally granted the request last November on 19th to be exact. This was the only way the contractor (China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation in JV with China Railway 19th Bureau Group Uganda Ltd) would be convinced to resume the civil works.

THE AG’S FINDINGS:

The contractor had stopped and abandoned the project protesting the GoU’s failure/refusal to pay them for the previously certified/issued Interim Payment Certificates (IPCs) which becomes the basis for the delivered works to be remunerated.

According to Auditor General’s findings, as of the time of abandoning the civil works site (12th August 2025), the Works Ministry, which is the project implementing agency, having taken over from UNRA, had accumulated unpaid arrears amounting to Shs98,736,335,067. This was the position as at 30th June 2025. This unpaid money related to IPCs 31-37.

The AG’s report shows that on 9th July 2025, the contractor wrote to the Works Ministry (Ref: CCECC&CR19/UBM/2025/296) and reminded the Ministry officials that the GoU’s failure/refusal to pay up the owed billions had accumulated unpaid interest of Shs7,284,663,105.

The contract that the Chinese contractor signed with UNRA in 2019 indicated that every IPC claim had to be settled or paid within 42 days after its issuance or else it would attract interest. The AG’s report indicated that such suspension of civil works by the contractor, as a result of the implementing agency’s failure to make prompt payments, hurt the credibility of the GoU besides escalating the project costs and depriving the intended beneficiary communities of the chance to enjoy service delivery and other economic benefits.

The AG findings, contained in Edward Akol’s report to Parliament dated December 2025, showed that as early as June 2024, the money (the Shs600bn) had been exhausted, leaving the contractor with no option but to begin threatening suspension of civil works after the executing agency didn’t demonstrate any readiness to keep making prompt payments.

The AG advised the accounting officer to do all he can to ensure that the contractor gets paid to avoid further delays of the project which originally was supposed to be completed at the beginning of 2024. The Works Ministry at some point blamed the AfDB for suspending disbursements of money for the project following the shutting down of UNRA, the original executing agency, whose mandate and all pending projects was passed on to the Works Ministry. Apparently, AfDB had been used to comfortably dealing with UNRA, which was considered to be more efficient.

The AG report further shows that under the FY2024/2025, Shs59,509,301,247 had been budgeted and approved for Busega-Mpigi road project yet only Shs34,897,732,538 was actually availed; creating a shortfall of Shs24,611,568,709 (58.64%)!

Whereas the GoU was supposed to avail counterpart funding of Shs2,471,081,247; as much as Shs2,753,981,879 (104.16%) ended up being received or availed. Yet for the AfDB/donor, the approved budget was Shs57,038,220,000 and only Shs32,323,750,659 (56.67%) was availed. This was so because the AfDB slowed down disbursement over concerns relating to the controversial transitioning of the executing agency status from UNRA to the Works Ministry. This under-disbursement by AfDB had the effect of slowing down overall project implementation.

The Auditor General’s report also at length elaborates on the huge PAPs compensation, which the President now says caused the entire problem, something for which he wants the three ill-fated engineers to be hanged. The AG report illuminates the fact that the project had a total of 4,223 PAPs approved with a total of Shs167,782,482,641 being designated for their compensation.

The AG finds that as of 30th June 2025, a total of 2,585 PAPs had been compensated with the GoU parting with Shs111,747,205,864 to settle their claims so that the right of way for the road project would be secured. The AG confirms that as of 30th June 2025, a total of 1,638 PAPs remained unpaid and their total claim stood at Shs56,035,276,777.

The officials at Works as of that time were counting on supplementary funding that was being expected to come through Cabinet and Parliament to avoid further delays in project implementation. The AG notes that as of that time, it was very clear that project overruns were going to make the Busega-Mpigi project more expensive and thereby delaying its completion.

As early as that time, the AG urged the leadership at the executing agency (namely the Works Ministry) to liaise with the Finance Ministry to ensure that money was quickly found for the right of way to be secured and to also engage the Ministry of Justice to find a way of expediting the resolution of Court disputes, in relation to which some of the PAPs were refusing compensation.

Some of the compensation was delaying, and thereby impacting the right of way, because of the wrangling among family members and also between landlords/registered land owners and bibanja people. The AG report also makes reference to the Shs3.1bn and $3.4m for design review/supervision and another $137,000 plus Shs247,940,000 for the technical audit as some of the monies whose absence was complicating the project as at 30th June 2025.

The report also talks about the pipeline project study and the signalization of the Namungoona-Nansana-Wakiso-Kakiri part and the relevant works which hadn’t been undertaken as 30th June 2025.

Not even the relevant procurement activities had been undertaken, which shows ineptness on the part of the authorities at the Works Ministry. As a result of everything not being done on time, the GoU had incurred commitment charges deriving from undisbursed balances totaling to $1,676,296 as at 30th June 2025.

Ironically, the Busega-Mpigi project had been on since the 2019 and every passing year has seen the GoU, the principal borrower of the AfDB funds, incur growing sums in commitment charges. And gratefully, the AG has over the years been flagging these concerns in audit reports, only for his concerns not to be given adequate attention by the concerned authorities.

PROJECT BACKGROUND:

As a way of the background to the project, the AG report shows that this whole project loan from AfDB technically began or became effective on 6th March 2017. The civil works originally started on 22nd November 2019 and the project was expected to be completed on 31st December 2025, latest.

The original cost of the project was $192,238,206; with $41.2m from GoU as counterpart funding, $91m from AfDB and another $60m from AfDB also. The overall objective was to reduce traffic costs and travel times for passengers and goods between Kampala & Mpigi; create reliable movement link between Kampala & Mpigi to serve the immediate needs of travelers in that rapidly-growing part of Uganda.

Under procurement reference No. UNRA/WORKS/16-17/00070, the original contract UNRA signed with the two Chinese JV partners was to cost Shs548bn and this was signed on 22nd November 2019.

In November 2021, new designs for the same project emerged and the cost was escalated to much higher before finally being settled at Shs1.3trn in March 2023.

Yet as at May 2024, the Auditor General established that up to Shs600bn had been expended with only 40.86% of the project work being completed. And late last year, Cabinet and Parliament cleared the borrowing of an additional Euros188.18m for the same project, a request the AfDB Governing Board approved last November.

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Uganda Performing Rights Society (UPRS) Chairman Martin ‘Yoyo’ Nkoyoyo has responded to Weasel Manizo’s criticism of Uganda’s music royalty system, insisting that artists earn different amounts based on how often audiences consume their music.

The response follows singer Weasel Manizo‘s recent frustration over the payout he received from UPRS, comments that reignited debate over whether Uganda’s copyright system fairly rewards creators.

During an exclusive interview with Sanyuka Uncut, Yoyo dismissed suggestions that the society shares money equally among members, saying each payment reflects an artist’s level of music consumption in the market.

We distribute money depending on how it is consumed in the market.

He explained that the society tracks how often licensed users play or use an artist’s music before calculating individual payouts, rather than giving every member the same amount.

Yoyo also urged Weasel and other artists to understand how the distribution process works instead of judging the system solely by the figures they receive.

His remarks come as more musicians continue to question whether Uganda’s current copyright system delivers meaningful financial returns despite the widespread popularity of local music across radio, television, entertainment venues and digital platforms.

Yoyo’s response has added another chapter to the growing debate over how Uganda collects, manages and pays music royalties.

Whether his explanation convinces Weasel and other artists will likely depend on one thing: bigger royalty payouts.

For years, it was a silent phantom that trailed Ivan Okuda. Today, it is a public testament to the harrowing cost of truth-telling in Uganda.

In a chilling personal disclosure that has sent shockwaves through the country’s media and political establishments, prominent energy and construction lawyer Ivan Okuda has opened up about how he narrowly survived alleged assassination plots ordered by the former Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among.

The threats, Okuda reveals, were the direct fallout of a high-profile investigative exposé he authored nearly a decade ago, which tied Anita Among to a gruesome 2016 murder and torture ring.

Taking to X on Monday, Okuda painted a terrifying picture of life in the crosshairs of an untouchable political elite.

“Anita Among was actually vicious at the height of her ‘power’. Personally, for writing a story implicating her in a murder, I narrowly survived her killer hand,” Okuda wrote, breaking years of silence.

A terrifying debt of gratitude

The revelation has unmasked a surprising savior in Okuda’s story: State Minister for Education and Sports, Hon. Peter Ogwang.

According to Okuda, who was an investigative journalist with the *Daily Monitor* at the time of the reporting, Ogwang stepped in behind the scenes to shield him from a grim fate, prevailing upon Anita Among to back down.

“I’m eternally grateful to my brother Hon. Peter Ogwang who, without me asking, prevailed over her,” Okuda stated. “Maybe I’d be dead.”

> “Anita Among was actually vicious at the height of her ‘power’… I narrowly survived her killer hand.” — Ivan Okuda

While Okuda—now a distinguished Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (FCIArb) and a regional representative for Africa with the London Court of International Arbitration—did not detail the exact mechanics of the threats, the historical backdrop of his confession speaks volumes.

The Teso horror story

The roots of this deadly friction trace back to 2016, inside a dark and forgotten chapter of violence in the Teso region.

Four men were intercepted and arrested by security forces following a barbaric assault on a 74-year-old woman. During interrogation, the suspects dropped a bombshell confession: they claimed they were hitmen, hired directly by Anita Among, then a rising Member of Parliament.

The details of the assault were stomach-churning. Investigators revealed that one of the attackers had forced a wooden pestle into the elderly victim’s private parts.

Okuda’s subsequent front-page exposé in the Daily Monitor in 2017, headlined “Hitmen invade Teso, kill and torture with impunity,” shattered the political landscape. Anita Among fiercely denied the allegations and slapped the newspaper with a high-profile defamation lawsuit, though the legal battle was quietly withdrawn years later.

A fallen titan

Okuda’s dramatic confession coincides with a spectacular fall from grace for Anita Among.

Once considered one of the most formidable and feared power brokers in Kampala, Anita Among’s empire began to publicly unravel in May 2026. Under the weight of mounting corruption allegations, a high-profile raid on her Kampala residence, and intense pressure from State House, she was forced to step down from the Speaker’s chair ahead of the new parliamentary term.

Today, the woman who once held sway over the legislature is heavily entangled in ongoing anti-corruption court proceedings.

A nation demands answers

Public reaction to Okuda’s revelation has been swift and volatile. Across social media, citizens and human rights defenders are demanding accountability, with many calling for a formal commission of inquiry into the historic extra-judicial violence and political thuggery linked to Anita Among’s network in the Teso region.

The story remains a developing storm. Hon. Peter Ogwang has yet to publicly comment on his alleged intervention, and efforts by Watchdog Uganda to reach Anita Among’s legal and public relations representatives for a response have so far gone unanswered.

For many in Uganda’s media fraternity, Okuda’s survival story is a sobering reminder of an uncomfortable reality: in the pursuit of truth, crossing paths with giants like Anita Among means the line between a front-page scoop and a premature grave is often razor-thin.

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Wizkid has reignited comparisons with fellow Afrobeats star Burna Boy after a comment he made while closing Afro Nation Portugal quickly caught fans’ attention.

Burna Boy headlined the festival’s opening night, while Wizkid closed the three-day event with the final headline performance.

Midway through his set, the Starboy boss celebrated his position on the lineup.

Big Wiz is here. This is why you save the best for the last, baby.

Fans quickly shared the remark across social media, with many interpreting it as a subtle response to the ongoing debate over the festival’s performance order and comparisons between the two Afrobeats giants.

In recent days, Burna Boy’s supporters argued that the organisers gave him the opening-night headline slot because of his star power, while others countered that the festival reserves the closing performance for one of its biggest attractions.

Although Wizkid did not mention Burna Boy by name, his statement fueled fresh arguments across social media, with fans once again debating which of the two global stars currently sits at the top of Afrobeats.

The latest exchange comes months after tensions between the two camps resurfaced following an incident involving Burna Boy and Wizkid’s official DJ, DJ Tunez, at a Lagos nightclub.

South African music star Tyla has added another milestone to her fast-growing career after becoming the first artist in history to spend a cumulative 100 weeks at No. 1 on Billboard’s U.S. Afrobeats Songs chart.

Music analytics platform Chart Data announced the achievement on X after the latest chart update.

The milestone follows “Is It Love” climbing to No. 1 on the Billboard U.S. Afrobeats Songs chart, extending Tyla’s remarkable run at the summit.

The historic total combines the chart success of several of her biggest hits, including “Water,” “Push 2 Start,” “Chanel” and “Is It Love.”

Her breakout smash “Water” alone dominated the chart for 55 weeks, the longest reign by a solo artist.

The achievement further cements Tyla’s status as one of Africa’s biggest global music stars and highlights the consistency she has maintained since breaking onto the international scene.

The record also arrives just weeks before Tyla releases her highly anticipated second studio album, “A*Pop,” later this month. The project includes both “Chanel” and “Is It Love,” two singles that have already enjoyed major commercial success.

Since her breakthrough, Tyla has continued to collect major milestones, including becoming the youngest African artist to win a Grammy Award.

With 100 cumulative weeks at the top of Billboard’s U.S. Afrobeats Songs chart, Tyla has once again underlined her staying power and reinforced her place among the leading voices shaping African music on the global stage.

Spyro has revealed that one of the most important relationships in his life began in a nightclub, though not for the reason many people might expect.

The Nigerian singer explained that his fiancée was working at the venue when he first met her.

Intrigued by her presence, he decided to start a conversation, never imagining it would eventually lead to marriage.

I met my partner working in the club, not partying in the club, but that is not to say that partying is wrong. But she was working there and that is how I got to notice her. I was curious to know why she was working at the club, and that was what made me have my first conversation with her.

What followed was not an instant romance but a friendship that grew steadily over time.

Spyro admitted that marriage was not on his mind when they first met, but getting to know her gradually changed his perspective.

> We got talking and we became friends. Then one day my eyes popped up and I was like, ‘Oh, what I have been looking for was right in front of me,’ because I wasn’t really thinking of making it a lifetime thing. So I said, before I quickly miss it, let me swing into action.

For him, the experience proved that lasting relationships often begin in the most ordinary moments, long before either person realises where the journey will lead.