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King Saha has taken a pointed swipe at veteran musician Bebe Cool, drawing a sharp distinction between their respective concerts while questioning whether every event should be judged by the same standards.

Speaking to Crysto Panda, King Saha argued that Bebe Cool’s event and his own concert were fundamentally different, particularly when it came to how audiences attended and paid.

“He organized a promotion and all his guests were invited. Mine was a show. Pay as you enter,” King Saha said.

The comment appeared to challenge comparisons between the two events, with King Saha suggesting that an event built around invited guests cannot easily be measured against a concert where fans are expected to buy tickets at the entrance.

“For someone who has never benefited from something, I can’t convince them that it’s benefiting,” he added, seemingly addressing critics who may not understand or appreciate what his generation of musicians is building.

This was after Crysto Panda’s earlier interview with Bebe Cool where the Kakebere artiste said events charged at Shs20,000 and Shs50,000 noloner make financial sense.

Saha went further, suggesting that some of the older generation should simply take a step back and observe rather than constantly question the direction of younger artistes.

“That person should sometimes just sit and watch without contributing,” he said.

In perhaps his most provocative remark, King Saha invoked the older generation’s own attitude towards change, recalling how “mzee Matovu” once watched the behaviour of younger people without necessarily interfering during the old days.

“We are in our time and we are going to do a lot that will scare them,” he declared.

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Fashion, African cuisine, arts, crafts and cultural performances will take centre stage as refugees and members of their host communities gather for the inaugural Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) Uganda Open Days in Kampala.

Scheduled for September 25 and 26, 2026, the two-day event will transform the JRS offices on St Augustine Road in Nsambya into a lively exhibition of creativity, culture and enterprise.

Visitors will experience fashion and design showcases, sample African food and enjoy music and cultural performances. Artisans and entrepreneurs will also exhibit handmade crafts and other products developed through their skills and businesses.

Behind the entertainment will be stories of people using creativity and vocational training to rebuild their lives and pursue economic independence.

Some exhibitors are former participants in JRS programmes who have gone on to establish businesses. They will return to display their products and share their journeys, while current trainees demonstrate the skills they are acquiring.

The event will also connect participating creatives and entrepreneurs with potential customers, companies, financial institutions, non-governmental organisations and development partners.

Ami-Adolphe Mudekereza, the JRS Communications Officer for Eastern and Southern Africa, said the Open Days would introduce the public to the organisation’s work while celebrating the abilities of refugees and host communities.

“We want the Open Day to help people better understand who we are, what we do and the difference our programmes make,” Mudekereza said.

“It will also showcase the skills, talents, resilience and initiatives of refugees and host communities, while strengthening partnerships and connections.”

JRS has invited entrepreneurs, businesses, community initiatives and organisations to register as exhibitors and showcase their products, services and innovations.

The organisation has operated in Uganda since 1993 and works with refugees and vulnerable members of host communities in Kampala and Adjumani. Its programmes cover education, livelihoods, socioeconomic integration, mental health and psychosocial support, basic-needs assistance, pastoral care, peacebuilding and reconciliation.

JRS Uganda is led by Fr Paul Kalenzi, SJ, who spent part of his childhood as a member of a refugee family in Nairobi after his parents fled Uganda during Idi Amin’s rule.

Founded in 1980 as a work of the Society of Jesus, JRS accompanies, serves and advocates for refugees and other forcibly displaced people.

The September 25 programme will run from 9am to 5pm, while the September 26 activities will take place from 11am to 5pm. Admission is free.

Tooro Kingdom has introduced a set of strict cultural directives that subjects are expected to observe during the nine-day mourning period following the death of Omukama Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV.

The directives took effect after the late King’s remains were returned to Karuziika Palace in Fort Portal, with burial scheduled for the 12th day after his death.

Moses Musinguzi, a member of the communication committee under the office of Omujwera Musuuga, the arm responsible for cultural matters surrounding the funeral and succession, explained the restrictions and rituals expected during the mourning period.

No Sex, No Weddings

Among the most notable directives is a ban on sexual relations between married couples throughout the nine-day mourning period.

Musinguzi said married men are expected to abstain and stay away from the marital bed until the King is buried.

The Kingdom has also suspended weddings and introduction ceremonies, locally known as Okuhingira, until the mourning period ends.

The restrictions extend to entertainment, with bars and other entertainment venues instructed to avoid loud music during the period of mourning.

No Digging, But Tree Planting Encouraged

Major agricultural activities have also been suspended.

Subjects are expected to refrain from digging and other major farm work, although they are permitted to check on their gardens.

Tree planting, however, remains permitted and is being encouraged, reflecting the late King’s interest in environmental conservation.

Under ordinary circumstances, Musinguzi explained, mourning customs provide for three days of rest for ordinary citizens and four days for members of the royal Babiito clan.

The death of a reigning monarch, however, extends the period to nine days.

Communal Fires Allowed

For Batooro who may not be able to travel to Karuziika Palace, the Kingdom has provided an alternative way of participating in the mourning rituals.

Communities can light communal fires and gather around them as they observe the mourning period.

The gatherings also provide an opportunity for elders to share Tooro customs and traditions with younger generations.

Royal Drums Silenced

The mourning period has also altered several aspects of royal protocol.

The Tooro Kingdom anthem will not be played at public functions until a new King has been enthroned.

The royal drums have also been silenced following the death of King Oyo.

Households possessing royal drums or spears have been instructed to turn them upside down, symbolising that the throne is currently vacant.

Meanwhile, lion statues around Fort Portal have been draped and covered, and will remain so until the succession process is completed.

The restrictions form part of the Kingdom’s traditional mourning practices as Tooro prepares to lay King Oyo to rest and eventually transition to a new reign.

The late King died on August 27, 2026, aged 34, after receiving medical treatment abroad. His death brought to an end a reign that began when he was only three years old.

As Tooro mourns, Kingdom officials have repeatedly called on Batooro to maintain dignity, unity and respect during the funeral period.

As Tooro Kingdom Prime Minister Calvin Armstrong Rwomiire Akiiki previously put it: “Let them remember a people who chose unity over division, service over posturing, and leadership over controversy.”

What if you could go back to your school days, put on the outfit you always wished you had worn to prom, reunite with your generation and dance the night away without actually being a student?

That is the nostalgia behind the Golden Era Prom 2026, a new adult-themed celebration designed to bring together three generations under one roof for a night of old-school music, fashion, memories and new-school energy.

Promising to take revelers through the music of the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s, the first edition happening on the 12th of this Month at Kampala Rugby Club former Legends rugby grounds is built around a simple idea: celebrate where we came from while creating new memories.

“You will come here when you are old but leave when you are young,” DJ Ice said, capturing the spirit of an event that is deliberately aimed at adults who may never have experienced a traditional prom.

The dress code will be one of the night’s biggest attractions, with guests encouraged to dress according to their generation. The result is expected to be a colourful collision of styles, from classic old-school looks to the fashion that defined the 1990s and early 2000s.

But Golden Era Prom is not being positioned as just another music event.

Organisers envision it as an annual adult prom, complete with red-carpet moments, surprise performances, live-band experiences, DJs, generation-versus-generation DJ battles and interactive activities that allow guests to celebrate the era they grew up in.

There will also be voting for the kings and queens of different generations, before one ultimate king and queen are crowned for the 2026 edition.

Director Jojo Kaggwa said the idea was born from recognising that many adults never got the opportunity to experience a prom.

“We realized many people didn’t have a chance to enjoy prom. We want people to enjoy the experience. It’s going to be an annual event,” Kaggwa said.

The entertainment lineup is expected to feature personalities including DJ Mary Jo, Lone Walker, Gonel and Brandon, alongside DJs representing different generations, setting the stage for battles that could turn the dance floor into a friendly musical tug-of-war between eras.

The event will take place at Kampala Rugby Club, with organisers promising entertainment stretching from morning into the next day, alongside food and drinks.

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Ugandan entertainers Ssuna Ben, Spice Diana, Fik Fameica and Ykee Benda are set to headline the national celebrations for World Tourism Day 2026, which will be held in Mbale City on September 27.

The Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities announced the entertainment line-up as preparations gather pace for the celebrations, which will combine tourism, music, culture and heritage. The celebrations will be preceded by a tour of the Mount Elgon region, giving visitors an opportunity to explore the area’s natural attractions, cultural heritage and tourism products before the festivities culminate in a mega concert in Mbale.

For Spice Diana, the event offers artistes an opportunity to contribute to the promotion of Uganda beyond music by using their platforms to showcase the country’s tourism potential.

“It is upon us as artistes to sell and package the country, and this will be an interesting activity for me to take on,” Spice Diana said.

The singer is expected to join other performers in using the celebrations to connect entertainment with Uganda’s tourism story, particularly the attractions and cultural experiences found in the eastern region.

Ssuna Ben, who is also lined up for the celebrations, promised an energetic performance, drawing from his previous appearance at the 2025 Pearl of Africa Tourism Expo (POATE) at Speke Resort Munyonyo.

“I promise a repeat of the 2025 POATE showing,” Ssuna Ben said, referring to his performance that electrified audiences at the tourism expo.

The inclusion of some of Uganda’s popular entertainers is expected to add a youthful and festive dimension to the celebrations while drawing attention to Mbale and the wider Mount Elgon tourism circuit.

The Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, Doreen Katusiime, said the celebrations are intended to go beyond showcasing destinations.

“The objective is not simply to showcase beautiful places. We want to stimulate visitation, create business opportunities and connect local communities to the tourism value chain,” she said.

The 2026 World Tourism Day celebrations will be held under the theme “Digital Agenda and Artificial Intelligence to Redesign Tourism,” highlighting the growing role of technology and artificial intelligence in transforming the tourism industry.

With Mbale serving as the host city, the celebrations are also expected to shine a spotlight on the eastern region’s waterfalls, landscapes, culture and other attractions around Mount Elgon.

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