Shena Skies has compared herself to Lionel Messi, saying her creativity sometimes feels like a curse when she cannot fully use the talent she believes she possesses.
The versatile Ugandan singer-songwriter, born Sheena Namagembe, opened up about the highs and frustrations of being highly creative during an appearance on NRG.
Shena explained that creativity gives her the ability to take an idea from her mind and turn it into something that people around the world can enjoy, sometimes within just a few seconds.
It is both a blessing and a curse. It is a blessing to be able to create something from my mind, like just think about it, and people from all over the world enjoy the things that I have come up with in like 10, 20 seconds, whatever.
But for Shena, having the ability to create quickly also comes with its own frustration when she feels she does not get the chance to operate at the level she believes she can.
She compared that feeling to what it would be like for one of football’s greatest players to find himself on a pitch far removed from where he belongs.
It is also a curse because I feel like when you are this talented, it is like Messi not playing where he is supposed to be playing and instead playing on a pitch in Kawempe. It is how I feel. I feel like I am a Messi that is unused. That is where it becomes a curse.
The subject of recognition naturally followed, with Shena speaking about the spotlight she feels she receives from Ugandans.
She admitted that the lack of attention can get under her skin, especially when she believes her talent deserves greater recognition.
Still, she said she eventually lets the frustration go.
You get annoyed and eventually just get over it because there is nothing you are going to do for them.
Alicante, Spain — 30 August 2026: Ugandan entrepreneur, renewable energy advocate and development practitioner Samuel Nabeeta Mmulowooza has been honoured with a prestigious honorary award at the Clevenard Global Awards 2026 in Alicante, Spain.
The recognition was presented on Sunday, August 30, during the closing ceremony of the Clevenard Open Project 2026 – 5th Edition and Clevenard Global Awards – 3rd Edition, held at the Palacio de Congresos.
Nabeeta was recognised for his contribution to renewable energy development, entrepreneurship, financial inclusion, economic transformation, media innovation and youth empowerment in Uganda and across Africa.
The four-day international event, held from August 27–30, brought together entrepreneurs, innovators, policymakers, global leaders and cultural ambassadors from different parts of the world to celebrate outstanding contributions to society.
The award places Nabeeta among a growing network of African changemakers whose work is contributing to sustainable development, economic opportunity and youth advancement.
For Uganda, the recognition is a notable international spotlight on homegrown innovation and leadership in sectors critical to Africa’s future.
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The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) 3 Infantry Division witnessed a change of command following the handover of office from Major General Wilberforce Sserunkuma to Brigadier General Michael Walaka Hyeroba at the Division Headquarters in Moroto.
The ceremony was presided over by the Deputy Chief of Defence Forces and Inspector General of the UPDF, Lieutenant General Sam Okiding, who commended Maj Gen Sserunkuma for their contribution to maintaining peace and security in Karamoja, Teso and Elgon sub-regions.
“I am proud that you have left the Division clean with no scratch. Thank you for being professional while exercising your command duties during your tenure in office, and I wish you the best in your new assignment,” Lt Gen Okiding said.
He welcomed Brig Gen Hyeroba to 3 Infantry Division, congratulated him upon his promotion and wished him success in his new assignment.
Lt Gen Okiding urged commanders and heads of departments to accord Brig Gen Hyeroba the necessary support and cooperation to enable him to effectively execute his duties and build on the achievements registered by his predecessor.
In his remarks, Brig Gen Hyeroba pledged to build on the foundation laid by Maj Gen Sserunkuma and called for the support and cooperation of commanders, officers, soldiers, local leaders and the community during his tenure.
Lt Gen Okiding also thanked the people of Karamoja for their cooperation and support to the UPDF, stressing that security must be consolidated starting from the grassroots.
The LCV Chairperson of Napak District, Hon Kodet, commended Maj Gen Sserunkuma for his service to the people of Karamoja and described him as a team player who worked closely with the community and regional stakeholders despite the challenges faced during his tenure.
Speaking on behalf of the community, Hon John Baptist Lokii said the ceremony was more than a change of command, describing it as an opportunity to celebrate the peace and stability achieved in Karamoja.
“We have not come here only to witness the handover of 3 Infantry Division, but to celebrate the dividends of peace that have been brought by Maj Gen Sserunkuma, among other Generals, Officers and Men in uniform in Karamoja,” Hon. Lokii said.
He noted that insecurity had previously caused significant suffering in Karamoja, but added that the prevailing peace was beginning to create opportunities for development and investment in the region.
Hon. Lokii commended the UPDF and other stakeholders for their sacrifice, dedication and resilience in restoring peace in the region.
“If it was not for peace, we would not be in Karamoja. It is courtesy of UPDF. Let us work together to guard this peace,” he added.
He urged Brig Gen Hyeroba to maintain close engagement with the community and pledged to work with him to sustain peace and security in the region. He also called upon regional leaders to work closely with the UPDF and other security agencies.
The ceremony was attended by Brigade and Battalion Commanders, Heads of Departments, Territorial Regional Police Commanders, the Commandant of the Anti-Stock Theft Unit, Regional Internal Security Officers (RISOs), Resident District Commissioners, District Internal Security Officers, LCV Chairpersons, district officials, local leaders, the Minister for Karamoja Affairs, Lt Gen (Rtd) Andrew Gutti and other stakeholders.
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The National Resistance Movement (NRM) Electoral Commission has warned aspirants in the Adjumani West by-election against violence and electoral misconduct ahead of this week’s primaries to produce the party flagbearer.
In a press conference held today, the NRM Electoral Commission Chairman, Dr. Tanga Odoi, said any attempt by the aspirants to rig or incite violence shall attract serious concequences including disqualification.
“The Commission will take firm action against any aspirant found engaging in misconduct, stressing that evidence of sectarianism, intimidation, bribery, or attempts to manipulate the electoral process would attract disciplinary measures, including possible disqualification,” Dr Tanga said.
The commission announced the update of the village party registers starting today Monday 31st upto tomorrow September 1st 2026.
The update will be followed by Village Barazas in all villages, where registered NRM members will scrutinize the updated register and verify the names of members eligible to participate in the party primaries.
The Village Barazas will begin at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday and run until 5:30 p.m., giving NRM members an opportunity to examine the new entries on the register.
Dr. Tanga Odoi emphasized that new members must provide proof of residence in the respective villages of Adjumani West Constituency. He also warned against attempts to infiltrate the register with people who are not residents of the constituency, particularly individuals from the neighbouring Adjumani East Constituency.
The NRM Electoral Commission has scheduled the party’s parliamentary primary elections for Thursday, September 3, 2026, across all 99 villages in Adjumani West Constituency.
Odoi called upon all candidates, party leaders, and the wider NRM fraternity to maintain peace, discipline, and unity throughout the electoral process. He commended the candidates and their supporters for conducting their campaigns with minimal violence so far, noting that the process had generally remained peaceful despite the competitive nature of the contest.
However, he reiterated that the Commission would take firm action against any candidate or supporter found engaging in sectarian politics, incitement, or attempts to interfere with the electoral process. “We shall crack the whip by disqualifying anybody accused, with evidence, of spreading sectarian tendencies or participating in attempts to infiltrate Adjumani West,” Dr. Tanga Odoi warned.
On the concluded women council elections at district level, Dr Tanga said he was satisfied with the results.
Accompanied by NRM Electoral Commission commissioners, Mr. James Tweheyo, Amb. James Williams Kinobe, Hon. Zaituni Dwaru, Hon. Alisemera Jane, and Hon. Juliana Auma, Dr. Tanga Odoi said the NRM had performed exceptionally well in the women’s council committee elections conducted by the National Electoral Commission on Friday, August 28, 2026.
The statistics presented by the National Electoral Commission indicate that NRM won with 98.5% having won 575 positions out of the 584 contested positions.
Odoi urged all aspirants seeking national-level positions to wait for the Commission’s official guidance before taking any actions that could undermine the electoral process as he cautioned them against making inflammatory or sectarian statements, engaging in intimidation, bribery, voter interference, or any other conduct that could disrupt the party’s democratic processes.
“This party is democratic and patriotic. It is committed to socio-economic development, and we don’t expect anybody who wants to stand on the ticket for the National Council for Women at the national level to act in a manner that disrupts the process,” Dr. Tanga Odoi said.
Condolences to the Tooro Kingdom
The National Resistance Movement (NRM) Electoral Commission at the press comference extended its heartfelt condolences to the people of Tooro Kingdom, the Royal Family, and all Ugandans following the passing of King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV and expressed solidarity with the people of Tooro, NRM supporters, and stakeholders across the Rwenzori region during the time of grief.
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Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei predicted that artificial intelligence could handle most, and possibly all, software engineering work within six to 12 months.
Amodei made the prediction in January 2026 during a discussion at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
He said some Anthropic engineers already rely on AI models to write their code, leaving them to edit the output and handle other parts of the work.
I have engineers within Anthropic who say I do not write any code anymore. I just let the model write the code, I edit it. I do the things around it.
Amodei then gave his timeline for how quickly the technology could advance.
We might be six to 12 months away from when the model is doing most, maybe all of what SWEs do end to end.
He also warned that the timeline remains uncertain because chip production and model training still limit how quickly AI can improve itself.
Anthropic’s own data shows how quickly its coding capabilities have advanced.
The company says Claude authored more than 80% of the code it merged into its codebase as of May 2026.
Meanwhile, the typical engineer merged eight times as much code per day in the second quarter of 2026 as engineers did in 2024.
However, Amodei’s prediction does not necessarily mean software engineers will disappear within months.
In a later discussion, he distinguished between AI performing most engineering tasks and companies needing far fewer engineers, saying those represent different stages of automation.
The prediction has therefore become less about whether AI can write code and more about how quickly it could take over the wider work currently performed by software engineers.
Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson Rachel Kawala has confirmed the arrest of 10 youths from Rooted in Resistance (RR) after they marched through Kampala carrying placards and demanding an end to oil drilling in Uganda.
Kawala said the youths were arrested around King George Street and Parliamentary Avenue while protesting and carrying placards.
She said they were arrested on allegations of being a public nuisance and will be processed before being presented to court.
The youths had marched on foot from the Railway Grounds, dressed in orange shirts and carrying large and small banners with messages opposing Uganda’s oil drilling activities.
They were heading to Parliament and the RR Pearl Tower One offices to deliver fresh petitions demanding reforms in Uganda’s petroleum policies and investment priorities.
But their march was cut short when police moved in to arrest them.
Officers spent several minutes struggling with the protesters, who resisted as police tried to pull them away and force them into waiting police vehicles.
The situation became tense, forcing police to bring in a second convoy with more officers to assist in making the arrests.
The latest arrests come after a similar attempt by Rooted in Resistance on August 10, when four members of the group were arrested after trying to deliver a petition.
The group is demanding what it describes as an oil-free economy, arguing that Uganda should reduce its dependence on petroleum and instead invest in productive sectors that can create jobs, grow incomes and generate wealth for ordinary Ugandans.
The youths are also calling on Parliament to review Uganda’s petroleum policies and investment priorities and redirect national resources towards sectors they believe can deliver sustainable and widely shared economic growth.
At the centre of their protest is the environmental impact of oil drilling in the Bunyoro sub-region.
The activists argue that oil activities could pollute the environment, with toxic substances potentially finding their way into Lake Albert and the Nile River.
They warn that pollution could contaminate water, kill fish and threaten communities that depend on the lakes and rivers for their livelihoods.
The protesters are also raising concerns about oil activities around Murchison Falls, saying drilling and related operations could disturb wildlife because of noise and increased human activity.
They argue that the activities could interfere with wildlife movements, including migratory animals, while also affecting crops and communities living around the oil-producing areas.
The group further warns that damage to Uganda’s wildlife and natural environment could hurt the country’s tourism industry, which relies heavily on national parks and other natural attractions.
Rooted in Resistance wants Parliament to reconsider the country’s oil policies and how public money is being invested.
The youths say Uganda should instead put more resources into sectors capable of creating sustainable and widely shared wealth while protecting the environment.
The government has continued to defend the development of Uganda’s petroleum industry, saying oil will contribute to economic growth, create employment and generate revenue for national development.
Authorities have also maintained that petroleum activities are governed by environmental laws and regulations intended to minimise damage to communities and ecosystems.
For the 10 arrested protesters, police say they will face the legal process, with Kawala confirming that they will be presented before courts of law.
In April 2026, police arrested six activists from Rooted in Resistance, formerly known as Students Against EACOP, after they marched towards TotalEnergies’ Kampala offices to deliver a petition demanding that EACOP be stopped and investment shifted towards renewable energy.
The same month, eight anti-EACOP activists were convicted of common nuisance by Buganda Road Court over an earlier protest. They had been on remand since August 2025.
One of the most visible waves of opposition emerged around 2021–2022, when activists and civil-society organisations stepped up campaigns against EACOP and other petroleum developments. Demonstrations, petitions and public campaigns were organised in Uganda and internationally.
In 2022, the European Parliament adopted a resolution expressing serious concerns about human-rights violations and environmental risks associated with the EACOP project. The resolution called for a temporary suspension of the project, although Uganda and Tanzania rejected the criticism and continued with development.
Uganda is now at the final stages of a long-awaited journey to becoming an oil-producing country, with government maintaining that the country is on course for first oil in 2026.
The country’s two main oil developments, Tilenga in the Buliisa area and Kingfisher in Kikuube, are being developed alongside the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP), which will transport crude from the Lake Albert region through Uganda and Tanzania to the port of Tanga for export.
As of June 2026, Tilenga was about 74% complete, Kingfisher about 79% complete, while EACOP had reached about 90% completion, according to the Uganda Investment Authority.
The head of the Babiito Royal Clan says he is not aware of any son left behind by the late Omukama Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV.
According to him, neither is the kingdom aware of such a child. Charles Keith Kamurasi, the Musuuga of Tooro and head of the Babiito clan, says he was surprised when he heard that the late King had a son.
Kamurasi, who says he knew Oyo from childhood and remained close to him throughout his life, insists that, to the best of his knowledge, the 34-year-old King did not have children.
He described the claim that Oyo left behind a son as a hearsay, saying the revelation caught members of the royal family and the wider kingdom off guard.
“I am very unfortunate that the late King Oyo has no children,we were taken by surprise when we had the prime minister announcing there an heir , which is not known to not only the members , but to the entire kingdom” he said
The mystery follows the official announcement of Oyo’s death on Thursday, which stated that the late King had a son whose identity would be revealed at an appropriate time.
The Kingdom’s Prime Minister Calvin Rwomire said in a tweet then : “The continuity of the Crown is assured. His Majesty leaves behind a Prince as his heir, whose identity will be formally revealed at the appropriate time, in accordance with the traditions and customs of Tooro Kingdom”
The revelation was also echoed by President Yoweri Museveni in his condolence message. Museveni said the Queen Mother, Best Kemigisa, had informed him that the late Omukama had a son.
He wrote: “Fortunately, in a telephone call, Her Royal Highness Kemigisa, told me that H.H. Oyo left a young boy heir that will be introduced to the public at the right time.”
For many mourners, the announcement appeared to settle one of the biggest questions surrounding the future of the kingdom succession.
But the comments from the head of the Babiito clan have now reopened the question.
Throughout his reign, there were occasional questions and speculation about whether the young King had a partner or plans to marry soonest.At the time of his death, Oyo was not publicly known to have a wife or child.
The question now is simple but potentially explosive: if the late Omukama did not leave a recognised son, who takes the throne?
Kamurasi says Tooro follows its traditional system of succession through the Babiito, the royal clan whose lineage traces its roots to the founding kings of Tooro.
He explained that the Babiito royal lineage remains intact, with several branches and descendants who could potentially provide a successor.
In the absence of a son to directly succeed Oyo, He suggested that attention could turn back to the descendants associated with Omukama Rukidi III, although he stressed that the eventual successor is not yet known.
“We don’t know who it is going to be. During these days we shall be discussing all these issues,” he said.
Meanwhile, the committee overseeing arrangements for the late Omukama’s burial has indicated that the next King will be determined through an already appointed council of 21elders from the Babiito royal clan.
For now, however, the biggest mystery remains unanswered.
Does King Oyo have a son, and if he does, who is he?
As Tooro mourns the death of its young King, the identity and whereabouts of the reported heir could become one of the most closely watched questions in the kingdom. Until the royal family or the relevant traditional authorities provide clarity, the succession of the Tooro throne remains shrouded in uncertainty.
A gold deal gone bad has turned into a cross-border hunt for justice after an alleged member of the Jordan royal family was allegedly conned out of about US$160,000 (approximately Sh600 million) by Ugandans in a precious stones business deal based in Kenya.
The saga dates back several years when a section of members of the Jordan royal family decided to venture into the lucrative precious stones trade, particularly gold, and identified East Africa, including Uganda and Kenya, as potential markets.
As part of the venture, they reportedly sent one of their own, Mohammad Mozyed Hassan, to explore gold trading opportunities in the region.
Hassan first came to Uganda before extending his search for gold business opportunities to neighbouring Kenya, where he allegedly crossed paths with Ugandan nationals who would later become the subject of a criminal investigation.
According to information seen by Red Pepper, the gold business engagement eventually turned sour, with Hassan allegedly losing over US$160,000, equivalent to about Sh600 million to Ugandan scammers whose network is wide including those using Facebook to lure unsuspecting gold traders as we shall reveal subsequently.
Determined to recover his money and see those responsible brought to justice, Hassan embarked on a pursuit that took him across the Uganda-Kenya border.
One of the suspects, a Ugandan national whose identity is being withheld at this stage, was arrested in Kenya and subsequently arraigned before the Milimani Law Courts in Upper Hill, Nairobi, where he faced a charge of forgery contrary to Section 345 of the Penal Code Act.
The suspect was later granted bail but allegedly fled Kenya and returned to Uganda, complicating efforts to have him answer to the allegations.
Hassan is now seeking the intervention of Ugandan authorities to help apprehend the suspect and facilitate the pursuit of justice.
RedPepper understands the matter has now taken a cross-border dimension, with Kenya Police through Interpol reportedly writing to the Directorate of Interpol and International Relations of the Uganda Police Force, seeking assistance in having the suspect located and arrested.
But this is a story for another day.
Mohammad Mozyed Hassan (in a suit and yellow shirt ) who was scammed. He claims connections to Jordan Royal family
Red Pepper has been told that the key suspect has allegedly claimed links to Kenyan President William Ruto and State House Uganda, claims that have yet to be independently established.
Red Pepper will continue following the Kenya-based cross-border gold fraud saga and report on any developments, including the identities of the suspects and the response from Ugandan and Kenyan authorities.
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A 17-year-old mother is in police custody in Nansana after her two-week-old baby was allegedly thrown into a pit latrine.
Police spokesperson Kituuma Rusoke said the teenager is accused of dumping the newborn into a pit latrine belonging to her landlady in Kato’okepi, Nansana Municipality, on August 27.
The teenager had reportedly been staying in a friend’s room when the shocking incident happened.
The matter only came to light two days later after concerned community members started asking about the baby.
They had heard that the teenager had recently given birth and became suspicious when they could not see the newborn.
Police were called in, and the teenager was questioned about the baby’s whereabouts. According to Police, she reportedly told investigators that she had become overwhelmed by the baby’s health condition.
Police have since taken up the case as investigations continue into what happened to the newborn. Rusoke said the teenager had previously been working in a bar in Nansana.
Police have not yet released further details about the baby’s condition or the circumstances surrounding the alleged death as investigations continue.
Rusoke used the incident to send a wider message to people struggling with emotional distress, urging them not to keep their problems to themselves.
He encouraged anyone feeling overwhelmed to talk to a trusted relative, friend, religious leader, counsellor or health professional.
“Please don’t suffer in silence,” Rusoke said.
Police say more details will be released as investigations progress.
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