The Prime Minister of the Tooro Kingdom, Calvin Amstrong Rwomiire Akiiki, has announced a mini Cabinet reshuffle, making changes to several ministerial positions in a move aimed at strengthening the kingdom’s administration.
The changes, announced under the authority delegated by King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV at the Kingdom’s Parliamentary Hall in Mucwa on Saturday, affect the information, education, youth, agriculture, culture and ICT portfolios.
Under the reshuffle, Joe Musinguzi has been appointed the new Minister for Information, replacing Sylas Ruhweza, who passed away last month.
Bridget Kabahenda has been named Deputy Minister for Information, replacing Ronald Mutegeki who has been appointed as the Deputy Education Minister.
Former Deputy Minister of Information Vincent Mugume has been appointed as the Kingdom’s spokesperson.
Other appointments include Ivan Ahurra as Deputy Minister for Youth, Patrick Muhenda as Deputy Minister for Agriculture, Winfred Mugabi as Deputy Minister for Culture, and Drake Mirembe as the new Minister for Information and Communication Technology (ICT).
The reshuffle comes as the kingdom continues implementing its programmes in youth empowerment, cultural preservation, education, agriculture and digital transformation.
The Prime Minister did not immediately provide reasons for the changes, but the appointments take immediate effect.
He appealed to the appointed ministers for hard work, to serve their kingdom with dignity, love for the king, and commitment so that they leave a legacy.
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The Mbarara district security committee has expressed worry over rising livestock theft, with at least 50 people arrested in the past month.
Mbarara District Resident Commissioner Nicholas Nuwagira says at least 50 people have been arrested in the past month in connection with animal theft.
Nuwagira says livestock theft has become a major concern in Mbarara District, with farmers suffering significant losses due to persistent theft.
He notes that at the recent security committee meeting, they agreed to deploy more security personnel from all security agencies and also intensify patrols and intelligence operations to curb crime.
Nuwagira says this follows the arrest of former Mitoozo Parish councillor Amos Mugumya in Kashare Sub-county over the alleged theft of 28 goats.
Mugumya was arrested on Saturday after a resident of Bisya Cell, Rubindi, reported that 28 goats had gone missing.
Police responded by deploying a police canine, which reportedly tracked the animals to the suspect’s home, where all the missing goats were recovered.
Nuwagiira says the suspect has been transferred to Bwizibwera Police Station for further investigations.
Samson Kasasira, the Rwizi Region Police spokesperson, says that intelligence reports show that stolen livestock is often transported to neighboring districts, while some animals are allegedly smuggled across the border into the Democratic Republic of Congo.
According to the Police 2025 annual crime report, a total of 7,208 cases of animal theft were reported countrywide in 2025, with a reduction of 0.2% compared to 7,222 cases reported in 2024.
Rwizi Region recorded the highest number of cases in 2025, with 857 cases, Mbarara with 175 cases, Isingiro with 165 cases, and Kazo with 148 cases, taking the lead.
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Two Ebola Suspects, who were being managed at the Isolation Unit at Oli Health Center Four have escaped, health officials in Arua City have revealed.
The two adult suspects who had presented with symptoms of Ebola were undergoing case management for the third day after they were picked up from their homes within Arua City by the City Surveillance and Rapid Response Team following a tip from locals.
Cumulatively, Arua City has recorded 43 Ebola suspect contacts, six of them under care while 33 have cumulatively been discharged and two facility deaths, since the outbreak of the disease
Currently, samples are being tested by Uganda Virus Research Institute-UVRI Laboratory in Arua City which makes it easier to test and get results for Ebola within three to four days.
Doctor Pontius Apangu the City Health Officer Arua City and Secretary to the Ebola Taskforce confirmed the escape of the suspects and appealed for more security and support for the isolation facility.
It’s not clear why and how the suspects escaped from the double wire fenced isolation facility but its highly anticipated that inadequate food, water scarcity at the facility and psychological fear could have triggered their escape.
A few days ago, Arua city Ebola taskforce was forced to fundraise for the feeding of the suspects in isolation unit since their relatives are not allowed to either take for them food or visit them at the facility.
Jane Drijaru, the Nurse in charge of the Ebola isolation unit at Oli Health Center Four said due to shortage of food and inadequate water supply at the facility, managing suspects becomes difficult.
According to reports from the Ebola Taskforce, many partners have held back financial support to the unit on grounds that they can only come in fully when there is a positive case of Ebola at the facility.
However, Betty Akello Otekat the Resident City Commissioner Arua and Chairperson Arua City Ebola Taskforce said as the Ministry of health prepares to send support for isolation cases, more effort should be put by all stakeholders to handle the Ebola response in the City. Since the start of the response towards the fight against the spread of Ebola, no funds have been remitted to Arua by the Ministry of health out of over 200 million budgeted to support its planned activities on Ebola.
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Residents of Kiwatule Central Zone in Kiwatule Parish, Nakawa Division, have called on the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) to pave access roads and install streetlights in the area.
The residents made the appeal during KCCA’s weekly Weyonje community clean-up exercise, which is held every Saturday. The Weyonje initiative aims to sensitize residents across Kampala about proper solid waste management, waste sorting at source, and proper disposal methods.
Joseph Kalute Musisi, the councillor, said Kiwatule Parish has several roads that are in a poor state compared to other parishes in Nakawa Division. He urged KCCA to prioritize road construction in the area so that residents can benefit from the taxes they pay.
Kalute also noted that many parts of Kiwatule become impassable and insecure at night due to the lack of street lighting. He explained that dark spots along the roads are often used by criminals, especially groups of young boys who attack people returning home from work at night.
LC1 Chairperson, Haruna Jooga, expressed gratitude to KCCA for organizing the Weyonje exercise in the area. He said the clean-up campaign should not end with the day’s activities and urged residents to continue maintaining proper hygiene around their homes.JJooga also reiterated the need for passable roads, especially those connecting the Central Zone to the main roads, as well as improved street lighting to help curb insecurity in the area.
During the clean-up exercise, KCCA Executive Director Hajat Sharifah Buzeki conducted a door-to-door inspection in homes where solid waste is generated. However, it was observed that many residents had heaps of uncollected garbage in their backyards, which had turned into illegal dumping sites.
Buzeki urged residents to take responsibility for cleaning their homes and the areas in front of their shops. She noted that city cleaners are mandated to clean only tarmac roads, while residents are responsible for cleaning access roads within their frontiers.
Buzeki also encouraged residents to embrace waste sorting for proper disposal, noting that some forms of waste can be recycled and turned into income. She further urged residents to seek free treatment from KCCA health centres and to report any health workers who extort money from patients.
Kampala Lord Mayor Ronald Balimwezo said a new phase aimed at ensuring that every Kampala resident participates in community clean-up exercises wil be launched.
Balimwezo noted that 70 percent of diseases affecting residents are linked to poor hygiene. He added that, in response, KCCA plans to construct more feeder roads in Kiwatule and install street lights on several roads in the area.
He further appealed to residents to work closely with the city authority in efforts to develop Kampala.
The Director of Public Health at KCCA, Dr. Sarah Zalwango, ordered the closure of University Medical Center in Kiwatule due to poor handling of medical waste and being surrounded by an illegal dump site.
She said the center did not possess any practicing license, and no evidence of medical waste collection.
She said that this puts the lives of the patients and the people in the community at stake. The Weyonje exercise was also attended by Division Mayor Hussein Bukeni, the deputy executive director Benon Kigenyi, and the Nakawa Division Town Clerk.
The government has issued the 2026/27 public service salary structure, maintaining its policy of prioritizing scientists, teachers and specialized technical professionals while leaving the salaries of political leaders and many other public servants largely unchanged.
The revised pay structure is contained in Circular Standing Instruction (CSI) No. 3 of 2026, issued by the Ministry of Public Service to guide salary implementation across ministries, departments, agencies, local governments and other public institutions with effect from July 1, 2026.
The implementation follows Parliament’s approval of the 2026/27 national budget, in which 9.7 trillion shillings was allocated to the public sector wage bill, an increase of about 1.1 trillion shillings from the previous financial year.
During scrutiny of the budget, Parliament’s Budget Committee considered proposals for salary enhancements covering scientists, teachers, health workers, judicial officers, security personnel, Resident District Commissioners (RDCs) and other public servants.
However, the committee cautioned that the phased salary enhancement programme should eventually address disparities across the wider public service.
As in previous financial years, scientists and specialised technical professionals remain the biggest beneficiaries of the latest salary review.
Among the most significant adjustments are Chief State Attorneys, whose monthly salaries have increased from about 8.6 million shillings to about 12.8 million shillings.
Senior Commissioners in scientific cadres within the security services have also seen their salaries rise from about 8.6 million shillings to about 12.8 million shillings, while other specialized science officers in the Uganda Police Force and Uganda Prisons Service have moved to higher salary scales.
The latest adjustments are consistent with the government’s salary enhancement policy introduced in recent years, which prioritises scientists and other specialised professionals in sectors such as health, education, engineering and security.
The government says better pay is necessary to attract and retain skilled personnel in critical fields that are central to Uganda’s industrialization and socio-economic transformation agenda.
The policy has, however, attracted criticism from arts teachers, local government leaders and other public servants, who argue that it has widened salary disparities within the public service.
The education sector has also received further salary enhancements. Education Assistants (Grade III teachers) in primary schools will now earn about 700,000 shillings per month, up from about 500,000 shillings.
Salaries for head teachers have increased from about one million shillings to about 1.5 million shillings, while deputy head teachers will now earn about 1.4 million shillings, up from about 750,000 shillings.
Science teachers continue to earn substantially more than their counterparts teaching arts subjects under the government’s differentiated salary policy.
While arts education officers have received salary increments of about 500,000 shillings, many still earn less than two million shillings a month compared to science teachers, whose salaries exceed four million shillings.
In the mainstream public service, Deputy Commissioners and Assistant Commissioners have received significant salary increases, rising to about 6.5 million shillings per month from about 1.8 million shillings and about 1.6 million shillings, respectively.
Commissioners have also moved to about 12.5 million shillings, while Principal Officers will now earn about 4.5 million shillings a month.
However, many other graduate professionals on the U4 salary scale continue to earn less than one million shillings per month, highlighting the disparities that remain within the public service.
Although the government had proposed salary enhancements for Resident District Commissioners and other political leaders, the approved salary structure leaves their pay unchanged.
Resident District Commissioners will continue earning about 2.3 million shillings per month, while their deputies remain on about 1.3 million shillings and Assistant RDCs on about 820,000 shillings.
Similarly, Senior Presidential Advisors will continue earning about 2.4 million shillings per month, while Presidential Advisors remain on about 2.4 million shillings.
The decision comes days after MP Ojara Martin Mapenduzi called for improved remuneration for local government political leaders.
He argued that district chairpersons, councilors and other elected local leaders shoulder significant responsibilities but continue to earn modest salaries and allowances, a situation he said affects service delivery and morale.
The latest salary structure suggests those concerns will have to wait as government continues to prioritize salary enhancements for scientists and specialized professionals under its phased salary review programme.
The circular applies to employees across the traditional public service, local governments, education, health, police, prisons, the judiciary, legal services, aviation, intelligence agencies and constitutional institutions.
The Ministry of Public Service has directed all accounting officers to implement the approved salary scales within their respective wage budgets with effect from July 1, 2026.
At least 15 people have died from suspected hunger-related illnesses in Kotido District following a prolonged drought that devastated crops and left thousands of households facing acute food shortages.
District authorities say the deaths have been recorded since June in several sub-counties, including Napumpum, Longaroe, Maru and Rengen, as the food crisis worsens across the district.
Kotido District has a population of about 219,700 people, with officials estimating that more than 45,600 households have been severely affected by the prolonged dry spell.
Kotido Chief Administrative Officer Emmanuel Oyuku said reports from sub-county authorities indicate that at least 15 people have died from hunger-related causes.
“The figures are alarming, and this calls for urgent action to address and fight the hunger crisis,” Oyuku said. He urged local leaders, development partners and communities to promote better food storage practices, saying many households sell most of their harvest immediately after the growing season, leaving them vulnerable when crops fail.
According to Oyuku, the district has recorded relatively good harvests in recent years, but many farmers sold their produce with the expectation that government or humanitarian agencies would provide relief whenever food shortages occurred.
“The mindset must change. Communities should keep food reserves instead of selling everything and relying on well-wishers during periods of hunger,” he said.
District Chairperson Paul Lote Komol described the situation as a humanitarian emergency that has crippled livelihoods across all sub-counties. He appealed to the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) to urgently provide food assistance before more lives are lost.
“The communities can no longer fend for themselves and deaths linked to hunger have already started emerging. We appeal to the Office of the Prime Minister to intervene before the situation gets out of hand,” Lote said.
He said the drought had destroyed virtually all food crops, leaving little hope for a second planting season because many families had exhausted both their resources and physical strength.
Lote also urged communities to preserve part of their harvest instead of selling it immediately after harvesting. However, farmers defended the practice, saying crop sales are often their only source of income.
Robert Iriama, a farmer from Panyangara Sub-county, said families sell produce to pay school fees, meet medical expenses and purchase household necessities.
“You cannot stop someone from selling food after harvest because we also need money to fight poverty. The challenge is that we have very few alternative sources of income,” he said.
Another farmer, John Lokiru, said many households rely on selling sorghum to buy other essential food items and basic household needs. Local leaders attributed the crisis primarily to the prolonged drought rather than poor farming practices.
Elijah Lobur, the LCIII Chairperson of Rengen Sub-county, said the area is witnessing increasing deaths among elderly people and malnourished children as food supplies continue to dwindle.
“Everyone is vulnerable, but there are families that have nowhere to turn. Some remain in their homes until they die,” he said.
District Agricultural Officer Robert Kennedy Okuda said rainfall during both the March-May season and the current season was significantly below normal, resulting in widespread crop failure.
According to the district’s assessments, about 87 per cent of crops were lost, translating into an estimated economic loss of about Shs56 billion. Okuda said the crisis demonstrates the urgent need to invest in irrigation and water for production instead of relying almost entirely on increasingly unpredictable rainfall.
Resident District Commissioner Charles Ichogor said the hunger crisis has also affected implementation of government programmes, including the Parish Development Model (PDM).
“When we visit communities to monitor PDM, people tell us they are hungry. It becomes difficult to discuss anything else,” he said.
Ichogor said the district also needs sustained community sensitisation on climate change adaptation as extreme weather events become more frequent. The Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) said it has strengthened disaster preparedness in Karamoja by training district disaster management committees to conduct rapid assessments and improve emergency response.
Senior Disaster Management Officer Titas Muhofa said OPM is decentralising disaster response by establishing regional offices in Soroti, Gulu, Hoima and Mbarara to shorten response times during emergencies.
The crisis comes as the wider Karamoja sub-region continues to face severe food insecurity following prolonged drought.
According to the latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) analysis conducted between March and April 2026, about 32 per cent of Karamoja’s population was classified in IPC Phase 3 (Crisis) as of May 2026, while a further 41,000 people, about three per cent of the population, were in IPC Phase 4 (Emergency).
Officials say immediate food relief is needed to prevent further loss of life, but stress that long-term solutions will require greater investment in irrigation, climate-resilient agriculture and improved household food storage.
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A major shake-up has swept through the Uganda Police Exodus SACCO, leaving dozens of employees—including long-serving department heads and junior staff—without jobs after management carried out a sweeping restructuring aimed at streamlining operations and restoring confidence in the police-owned financial institution.
The exercise has seen nearly 30 employees dropped after failing to secure fresh contracts under a competitive recruitment process, ending the careers of some officers who had served the SACCO for between 15 and 19 years since its establishment in 2007.
The restructuring was approved last month by the Exodus SACCO Management Board, chaired by Senior Commissioner of Police (SCP) Wilson Omoding, following prolonged operational and management challenges that had increasingly frustrated members.
Among the issues cited were complaints over restricted access to members’ savings, delays in processing withdrawals and the need to improve efficiency across the institution.
EVERYONE WAS TOLD TO REAPPLY
In one of the boldest reforms ever undertaken at the SACCO, the Board declared all staff positions vacant, effectively terminating existing contracts and requiring every employee to compete afresh for their own jobs.
An independent Human Resource firm was competitively procured to handle the recruitment exercise.
Applications were invited from both existing employees and other qualified candidates before interviews were conducted.
According to sources at the SACCO headquarters in Naguru, the shortlist of successful applicants was pinned on the noticeboard on Thursday.
Most of those selected were reportedly new recruits, leaving many familiar faces out in the cold.
Among those who failed to make the cut were several Heads of Department, records officers, cleaners, drivers and other junior staff.
Exodus SACCO employs more than 100 workers spread across 12 departments.
While many employees are serving police officers seconded to the SACCO, technical and support staff—including cleaners, cooks, attendants and drivers—are recruited from outside the Uganda Police Force.
Most employees serve on renewable two-year contracts.
Unlike previous years, when contracts were routinely renewed, management this time opted for a fully competitive recruitment process.
WHY THEY WERE DROPPED
Sources familiar with the exercise say management wanted to inject fresh energy into the institution after years of operational challenges.
A senior police officer told Red Pepper that several factors informed the Board’s decision.
“A lot of things led to people being dropped. Some had poor disciplinary records, while others could not adapt to new technology and existing policies. That is why management took such a firm approach,” the officer said.
According to the source, concerns over indiscipline, poor customer service, resistance to technological change and inability to embrace new operational systems weighed heavily during the recruitment exercise.
The reforms are also intended to position the SACCO for increased digitisation and improved service delivery.
CHAOS AFTER SHORTLIST
The release of the shortlist triggered emotional scenes at the SACCO headquarters.
Another officer said staff had spent days working under uncertainty because nobody knew whether they would survive the restructuring.
When the results were finally pinned on the noticeboard, emotions boiled over.
According to the source, some unsuccessful applicants reportedly tore down the shortlist, others openly shouted in frustration, while some quietly collected their belongings and walked away.
“Before the shortlist was released, work had virtually stagnated because no one knew whether they would keep their jobs.
“Since Thursday, most offices, including procurement, finance, accounts, logistics, risk, ICT, fleet and records, have been affected because many staff were not retained.
“For police officers, it means returning to normal deployment and lower earnings. Here they earned better and accessed affordable loans.
“Those who are not police officers will have to look for other jobs,” the officer said.
BRIBERY CLAIMS DENIED
As the restructuring unfolded, allegations circulated on social media claiming some Exodus SACCO staff had demanded hefty bribes from members seeking loans and that the accusations had triggered the mass dismissals.
However, the Uganda Police Force has strongly dismissed those claims.
In a statement issued through the Police Office of Public Relations, management described the allegations as false and malicious.
According to the statement, obtaining a loan from Exodus SACCO follows a well-established and transparent process governed by the institution’s policies and procedures.
“At no stage is bribery required or tolerated,” the statement said.
Management further clarified that the staffing changes had nothing to do with disciplinary investigations, corruption allegations or directives from the Inspector General of Police.
Instead, Management said the changes resulted entirely from the expiry of staff contracts and the Board’s decision to subject all positions to open competition as part of wider institutional reforms.
The statement stressed that the recruitment exercise was professionally conducted by an independent Human Resource firm and that only applicants who met the required qualifications and standards were retained.
Those who failed to meet the criteria were simply not re-engaged.
“It is therefore completely false… that the Inspector General of Police dismissed employees of Exodus SACCO. The staffing changes resulted solely from the SACCO’s internal human resource processes and had nothing to do with disciplinary action, corruption investigations or directives from the Inspector General of Police,” management stated.
‘MEMBERS’ MONEY IS SAFE’
Management also sought to calm fears among members following widespread speculation on social media.
“We wish to reassure all Exodus SACCO members that their savings remain safe and secure.
“The SACCO continues to operate normally, and all services remain available.
“There is no corruption, embezzlement or financial crisis within the institution.
OCHAYA CALLS FOR PEACE
The restructuring comes only weeks after Deputy Inspector General of Police AIGP James Ochaya urged Exodus SACCO leaders and staff to resolve internal disagreements through dialogue instead of rushing to court.
Ochaya warned that public disputes damage both the image of the Uganda Police Force and Exodus SACCO while undermining confidence among members.
He also challenged the SACCO leadership to accelerate digital transformation by embracing artificial intelligence, mobile money and other digital innovations so that police officers deployed in remote parts of the country can conveniently access their savings and financial services without travelling to Kampala.
ABOUT EXODUS SACCO
Established on September 19, 2007, Uganda Police Exodus SACCO was created to mobilise savings from police officers and provide affordable credit to officers and their families.
Headquartered in Naguru, the institution has grown into one of Uganda’s largest security sector savings cooperatives, boasting more than 43,000 members and assets valued at over Shs96 billion.
The latest restructuring now marks one of the most significant management overhauls in the SACCO’s nearly two-decade history as leaders seek to rebuild efficiency, improve service delivery and restore confidence among tens of thousands of serving and retired police officers.
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Government vehicles, porous borders and limited public awareness continue to fuel smuggling in Uganda, making it one of the country’s biggest sources of revenue loss, according to the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA).
The tax body estimates that Uganda loses more than $700 million (about Shs2.5 Trillion) annually through smuggling and other illegal cross-border activities. Most illicit imports enter the country through lakes using fishing boats.
The most commonly smuggled goods include cigarettes, tobacco, rice, wheat and second-hand clothes. URA says high taxes on some of these products, particularly tobacco, make smuggling highly profitable.
Richard Obedi, Executive Director of Populace Foundation International, says Uganda is suffering from weak regional enforcement, with smugglers exploiting protocols under the East African Community (EAC).
According to Obedi, cigarettes are imported from as far as the Middle East before entering neighbouring countries.
They are then transported through Uganda to another neighbouring state, from where they are smuggled back into Uganda more easily.
Uganda has relied on high tobacco taxes to discourage cigarette consumption. However, Obedi says the policy has also made the illegal trade more lucrative.
He adds that petitions submitted to the ministries of Health, Trade and East African Community Affairs seeking stronger action against cigarette smuggling have yet to yield results.
Justine Namusabi, a Customs and Trade expert at URA, says enforcement is hampered by weak anti-smuggling laws in some neighbouring countries, making it easier for smugglers to operate.
She also cites the misuse of government vehicles, armed smugglers and Uganda’s extensive water bodies as major enforcement challenges.
Speaking during a post-EAC budget dialogue in Kampala, Luuka County North MP John Bagoole Ngoobi questioned the effectiveness of the Electronic Cargo Tracking System (ECTS), which URA introduced to monitor cargo in transit and combat smuggling.
The GPS-based system tracks goods moving from ports such as Mombasa and Dar es Salaam to destinations including Uganda, Rwanda, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Ngoobi also questioned why URA’s enforcement department had failed to curb smuggling.
In response, Namusabi said some trucks legally transit Uganda en route to countries such as South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo. However, the electronic seals are sometimes broken before reaching their declared destinations, allowing the goods to be smuggled back into Uganda.
She says smugglers also exploit Uganda’s lakes and rivers by transporting illicit goods in fishing boats and disguising them as fish. Others unknowingly smuggle tax-free goods due to a lack of information.URA is banking on increased surveillance, stronger enforcement and public sensitisation to improve revenue collection after repeatedly falling short of its tax targets over the past four years.
Hafsa Seguya, a URA Tax Education expert, attributes part of the problem to differences in tax policies among EAC member states.
She says the lack of harmonised tariffs encourages smuggling, with some countries importing goods at lower duty rates under regional exemptions before the products are illegally moved into neighbouring states.
Seguya also points to bilateral trade arrangements between individual EAC member states and countries outside the bloc.
For example, while Uganda and Tanzania impose a 75 percent import duty on rice from Pakistan, Kenya was allowed to import the commodity at a lower rate to address a domestic food shortage.
Some of that rice is later smuggled into Uganda and other neighbouring countries.
She called for reforms to harmonise tariff regimes across the EAC.
Meanwhile, Finance Minister Henry Musasizi has urged URA to strengthen revenue mobilisation as the government seeks to raise the country’s tax-to-GDP ratio from the current 14.2 percent to 20 percent by 2030.
Speaking to the URA Board on Thursday, Musasizi said the authority’s strategic direction aligns with the government’s revenue ambitions and pledged continued support to help achieve the target.
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The decades-long cola war has taken another dramatic turn after Marriott International, the world’s largest hotel company, dumped PepsiCo after 34 years and signed a massive new global beverage agreement with Coca-Cola in one of the biggest hospitality deals in recent years.
The agreement, announced on July 1, gives Coca-Cola exclusive rights to supply beverages across Marriott’s global network of about 10,000 hotels in 146 countries and territories, stretching from the United States and China to France, South Africa, Nigeria and the rest of Africa.
For Uganda, the development is significant because Marriott is establishing a presence in Kampala, with its flagship hotel currently under construction in Nsambya. Once operational, guests staying at the luxury property are expected to be served Coca-Cola beverages under the new worldwide agreement instead of Pepsi products.
The deal means Coca-Cola will become Marriott’s global beverage partner across several categories, including carbonated soft drinks, bottled water, hydration drinks, juices, dairy products and functional beverages. The company said the transition has already begun and will be rolled out in phases across Marriott’s worldwide portfolio over the coming months.
Guests will gradually start seeing Coca-Cola products in hotel guestrooms, restaurants, bars, lounges, meeting facilities, conference centres and event venues throughout Marriott’s network.
The agreement covers virtually every Marriott brand operating around the world and gives Coca-Cola access to one of the largest hospitality networks on the planet.
END OF A 34-YEAR RELATIONSHIP
The decision officially ends one of the hospitality industry’s longest-running beverage partnerships.
Marriott first partnered with PepsiCo in 1992 after dramatically switching away from Coca-Cola.
According to industry reports, the switch happened after Coca-Cola reportedly declined Marriott’s request for a loan worth between US$50 million and US$100 million, prompting the hotel giant to sign with Pepsi instead.
Since then, Pepsi products have been served across Marriott hotels worldwide for more than three decades.
In 2018, Pepsi renewed its agreement with Marriott, extending what had become a familiar relationship for millions of travellers checking into Marriott hotels across different brands.
However, that partnership has now come to an end, with Marriott deciding that Coca-Cola will better serve its future business strategy and customer expectations.
WHY MARRIOTT CHOSE COKE
Marriott says the decision is based on customer demand.
According to travel publication View From The Wing, Marriott informed hotel owners that more than 70 percent of Marriott guests prefer Coca-Cola products, making the switch commercially attractive.
Anthony Capuano, Marriott International’s President and Chief Executive Officer, described the agreement as a partnership between two iconic global brands.
He said the company is focused on giving guests and Marriott Bonvoy loyalty members the products they know and love while creating better value for hotel owners and franchise operators across the Marriott system.
Capuano added that the partnership would improve guest experiences while generating stronger economic benefits throughout Marriott’s worldwide operations.
COKE CELEBRATES MAJOR VICTORY
For Coca-Cola, the agreement represents one of its biggest hospitality wins in years.
Henrique Braun, Executive Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer of The Coca-Cola Company, welcomed the partnership, saying the company was excited to work with Marriott and provide travellers with beverages they already enjoy.
He said Coca-Cola’s broad portfolio—from sparkling soft drinks to juices, hydration beverages and dairy products—would now be available to guests throughout their hotel stay.
Although both companies confirmed the partnership, neither Marriott nor Coca-Cola disclosed how much the agreement is worth or how long it will last.
WHAT IT MEANS FOR AFRICA
The deal is expected to have major implications across Africa, where Marriott continues expanding rapidly as tourism, international conferences and business travel rebound.
The hotel group currently operates nearly 150 properties with more than 26,000 rooms across 20 African countries, covering 22 hotel brands.
Marriott has also unveiled ambitious expansion plans, announcing that it intends to add more than 50 new hotels and about 9,000 additional rooms by 2027.
The expansion will include entry into several new African markets, including Cape Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Madagascar and Mauritania, while strengthening operations in existing destinations such as South Africa, Nigeria and other key business hubs.
As Coca-Cola replaces Pepsi across Marriott’s African hotels, travellers staying at these properties—including the upcoming Kampala Marriott in Nsambya—will increasingly encounter Coca-Cola products throughout restaurants, bars, guest rooms, conference facilities and hospitality events.
For Uganda, the timing is particularly noteworthy. As Kampala prepares to welcome its first flagship Marriott hotel, the property will open under a new global beverage partnership that aligns it with one of the world’s most recognised consumer brands.
The agreement also highlights Coca-Cola’s growing influence in Africa’s hospitality sector, giving the beverage giant access to millions of international and domestic travellers passing through Marriott hotels each year.
With Marriott’s expansion accelerating across the continent and Uganda joining its growing network, the cola war has officially entered a new chapter—and this time, Coca-Cola has emerged with one of the hospitality industry’s biggest prizes.
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There is a fine line between making music that entertains and music that teaches. On Kakebere, Bebe Cool proves he can do both without sacrificing either.
Produced by Ronnie Pro and Herbert Skillz, the dancehall record arrives with infectious energy, but beneath its vibrant production lies a message that feels remarkably timely.
Rather than chasing trends, Bebe Cool turns his attention to a subject that touches nearly every Ugandan: the consequences of accepting things at face value.
Kakebere revolves around one simple idea: verify before you believe.
Through a series of relatable scenarios, Bebe Cool paints a picture of a society where assumptions often come at a cost.
Families are shaken after DNA tests expose uncomfortable truths. Landowners lose property because they never confirmed ownership documents. Communities regret political choices made without proper scrutiny.
Even a successful musician pays the price for failing to question what he consumes.
Each story strengthens the song’s central message without ever making it feel repetitive.
What makes Kakebere particularly effective is that the lesson never overshadows the music.
Instead, Bebe Cool wraps his message inside a chorus that sticks instantly and production that demands movement.
Listeners can dance first and reflect later, a balance many socially conscious songs struggle to achieve.
The performance itself is another reminder of why Bebe Cool became one of Uganda’s defining dancehall voices.
His delivery carries the confidence and authority that longtime fans will instantly recognise, while the intricate rhyme patterns, especially in the second verse, echo the creativity that defined the Bashment Crew era.
Yet the song never feels trapped in nostalgia. It sounds contemporary while remaining unmistakably Bebe Cool.
Perhaps that is Kakebere‘s greatest strength.
It feels like a record born from experience rather than reinvention.
Instead of borrowing youthful trends, Bebe Cool leans into the perspective that comes with longevity.
As a father, entertainer and one of Uganda’s most enduring artists, he transforms everyday observations into a record that feels personal, relevant and believable.
For listeners who found some of his recent releases less convincing, Kakebere offers something more grounded.
It reconnects Bebe Cool with the commanding dancehall presence that built his legacy while embracing the maturity that only years can bring.
The result is one of his most complete records in recent memory, proving that experience remains one of the most valuable instruments an artist can possess.
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