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In 2025, Ham pitched to the President, who reportedly gave it a thumbs-up. Soon after, beautiful AI-generated renders began circulating online clean pathways, tidy structures, and a Kampala that looked suspiciously like it had borrowed inspiration from Amsterdam. But critics quickly raised eyebrows. Kampala’s outspoken Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago warned that altering the channel without proper approvals from KCCA and environmental regulators could make flooding worse, not better. Traders around Nabugabo and Channel Street agreed, arguing that water, like a stubborn boda rider, rarely follows instructions.

Then came the rains. September 2025 delivered Kampala’s usual downpour and surprise, surprise, arcades flooded again. Traders watched merchandise float like reluctant swimmers while petitions and lawsuits began flying faster than boda guys during rush hour. By November, the online mood shifted from skepticism to anger. Memes comparing Ham’s shiny AI visuals to the muddy reality spread across social media. Kampala’s digital jury had already started delivering its verdict.

But the plot twist came courtesy of comedian Salvado. On March 3, 2026, during a brief moment of calm when the rains had behaved themselves, Salvado tweeted that maybe Ugandans owed Ham an apology. After all, he argued, people had been too quick to criticise the project. The tweet gathered attention; likes, debates, and the usual Ugandan commentary section where everyone is suddenly an engineer, environmentalist, and drainage expert at the same time.

Unfortunately for Salvado, Kampala weather has a wicked sense of humour. Three days later, the skies opened like someone had forgotten to pay the rain subscription. The city flooded again. Streets turned into rivers, arcades filled with water, and timelines exploded with screenshots of Salvado’s tweet.

The roasting was immediate and merciless. One user simply replied, “No, you aplogise.” Another posted fresh flood photos with the caption: “In Uganda, just be patient. Reality will answer for you.” And just like that, the comedian who usually roasts others became the main dish on Kampala’s Internet buffet.

You see, water does not attend meetings. It simply finds its way. But at this rate, Salvado’s gig must have backfired but also I feel like he is working so hard to dethrone or be like Big Size. There are things Omunene says and we do not flitch because they are on brand.

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When we said New Year, New Me – the team at KCCA took it personal because unusual happenings began happening in Kampala. The city started… bathing. Not the usual rain-meets-potholes situation, but actual organised scrubbing. The KCCA rolled out an ambitious facelift campaign, for the girls you know the moment; you spot prey and gotta reapply that lip gloss. Pavements were cleared, roads were washed at night, grass was replanted, and faded taxi markings suddenly rediscovered colour. For a city long famous for dust, traffic, and the occasional sister boyfriend jeans in DT, this felt like Kampala had woken up one morning and decided to pursue a skincare routine.

But first came the difficult part; the eviction of street vendors after a two-week ultimatum issued by City minister Minsa Kabanda. The pavements that had slowly transformed into open-air supermarkets were cleared, with vendors redirected to more than 4,500 stalls in designated markets. The goal, according to KCCA, was simple; restore order, decongest the CBD, and give pedestrians back their long-lost right to actually walk. For the first time in years, you could see the full width of a sidewalk without navigating through phone covers, roasted maize, and three people selling the same charger cable. Then came the cleaning itself.

Teams armed with water jets, brushes, and determination descended on roads like Namirembe and the non-motorised transport corridors in what KCCA branded the Weyonje drive. Streets were scrubbed at night like Kampala was preparing for a royal visit.

Deputy executive director Benon Kigenyi framed it as part of a larger push for sanitation, urban dignity, and climate resilience. Business owners even joined in, sweeping storefronts like proud parents tidying the house before guests arrive.  By March, waste evacuation campaigns were reaching areas like Kasubi, and suddenly the city looked… dare we say, presentable. One viral clip showed KCCA enforcers punishing someone who stepped on newly planted grass by making them dig it up themselves, a kind of civic discipline Kampala had never seen before. While vendors were banned, street beggars and pastors seemed to retain diplomatic immunity. Still, beneath the jokes and sarcasm, something real is happening.

Kampala may not yet be Dubai or even Nairobi on its best day, but for once the city seems determined to try. The roads are cleaner, the pavements are visible, and the conversation has shifted from complaining about the mess to debating how to maintain the progress. And if Kampala truly is getting a glow-up, Ugandans will of course do their part; admire it, critique it, meme it, and then proudly say, Uganda esinga bulaaya. At this pace, the only thing Dubai has over us , is a functional government and more jobs!

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Ugandan singer Dax Vibez has expressed regret over some of the collaborations he has done in the music industry, saying certain artists make working together difficult.

Speaking during a recent interview, the singer suggested that some musicians treat collaborations as if they are doing others a favour, even when the partnership benefits both sides.

According to Dax Vibez, such attitudes often become evident when artists refuse to promote a joint project after its release because they feel the collaboration may benefit the other person more.

He said this behaviour sometimes exposes what he described as greed and poor work ethics within the industry.

Despite those frustrations, Dax Vibez acknowledged that not all collaborations have been negative. He specifically praised fellow artists Jowy Landa, Vinka, and Ava Peace for going above and beyond to promote the songs they worked on together.

The singer said the support he received from the trio exceeded his expectations and helped the projects reach a wider audience. However, he revealed that a previous experience with another female artist left him disappointed after she allegedly failed to promote their collaboration.

Dax Vibez said the incident drained him and influenced his decision to be more selective about the artists he chooses to work with in the future. He added that although he remains open to collaborations, he now prefers working with musicians with whom he shares a good personal relationship.

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Social media personality and businesswoman Mami Deb has revealed that she personally cooks and serves her husband despite having several workers at home.

Speaking during a discussion on a local television station, Mami Deb explained that although she employs maids, a chef, and house managers, she still chooses to take personal responsibility for caring for her husband.

According to her, cooking and serving him food is something she does intentionally out of respect and in line with African cultural values.

“I take full responsibility of my home. I hired maids, a chef and house managers but I still engage in cooking and serving him food,” she said.

Mami Deb added that she believes honoring her husband is an important part of her role as a wife and she chooses to handle it personally.

“I made a decision to look after him as a man and I honour him in high regard. I also handle him in our African culture, not like Kampala women.”

The businesswoman is married to Michael, who reportedly has strong roots in the United Kingdom.

ASHBURG KATO’S LEGACY MOMENT: Embracing the Ghetto Initiative as a Proud National Project – Time to Connect with Implementors Like Brig. Gen. Ddamulira and Maj. Emma Kuteesa

Kampala – The tears have dried, the regrets aired – now comes the pivot to legacy. Former NUP digital firebrand Ashburg Kato, who once wept over his Ghetto Initiative being run without him, has a golden opportunity to reframe the narrative. Instead of clinging to personal ownership or bitterness, he can step forward as the visionary whose idea sparked one of President Museveni’s most visible poverty alleviation successes in greater Kampala’s informal settlements.

The Ghetto Structures Initiative – born from Kato’s 2020 proposal to revive and empower Kampala’s urban slums – is no longer a sidelined concept. It has evolved into a State House-coordinated programme delivering billions in SACCO funding, skilling hubs, motorcycles, and direct wealth creation support. Recent pledges include UGX 1 billion per ghetto structure annually in Kampala divisions, Shs 1.2 billion disbursed to SACCOs, and ongoing injections to steer youth toward entrepreneurship, reduce crime, and build household incomes. This marks the scaling of an idea into wider national impact under presidential guidance, with visible progress in areas such as Nakulabye, Katanga, Bwaise and other urban communities.

Kato’s smartest move would be to frame the initiative as a legacy rather than a possession. By publicly celebrating the progress, he could reposition himself as a contributor to a programme that is now transforming lives. Such a stance would shift the narrative from grievance to recognition as one of the voices that helped spark the initiative in its early days.

A key step toward rebuilding relevance would be engaging the implementors currently overseeing the work on the ground.

Brig. Gen. Christopher Ddamulira has been among the frontline coordinators linked to mobilisation of ghetto youth structures. Since the initiative’s rollout, efforts have focused on organising youth groups into SACCOs, connecting communities to government programmes, and encouraging participation in income-generating activities. These interventions aim to reduce crime, strengthen savings culture, and provide structured economic opportunities for young people in urban informal settlements.

Another key figure associated with mobilisation efforts is Maj. Emma Kuteesa, a UPDF officer who has been involved in outreach activities targeting youth groups in ghettos. His engagements have emphasised mindset change, skills development, and entrepreneurship as practical routes out of poverty. In several urban centres, mobilisation campaigns have focused on encouraging organisation, discipline, and participation in programmes designed to improve livelihoods.

For Kato, reconnecting with such implementors could open avenues for constructive engagement. He could share insights from the early conceptual discussions around the initiative, support community mobilisation, or contribute ideas that complement existing programmes such as digital skills training or youth enterprise mentorship.

A constructive approach would also allow him to rebuild his public narrative. By documenting community engagements, highlighting beneficiaries, and amplifying positive outcomes, he could reposition himself as someone contributing ideas and visibility to a programme already underway.

Ultimately, the bigger picture lies in the broader goal of empowering youth in urban informal settlements. Programmes aimed at improving livelihoods, strengthening savings groups, and expanding entrepreneurship opportunities remain central to reducing poverty and crime in these communities.

If approached from a collaborative perspective, the initiative could become a shared national effort rather than a contested personal project. The true measure of legacy lies in how ideas evolve and continue benefiting communities long after they are first proposed.

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A bitter land dispute has erupted in the heart of Kampala after city businessman Moses Namatiti dragged Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa and tycoon Hamis Kiggundu to court over alleged land grabbing and the controversial demolition of property near St. Balikuddembe Market, commonly known as Owino Market.

Through his company Namex Ministries Limited, Namatiti has filed Civil Suit No. 0049 of 2026 in the High Court, accusing the two businessmen of plotting an illegal demolition and attempting to take over land his company has occupied for nearly two decades.

The suit also lists Kampala District Land Board, Kampala Capital City Authority, and Kiham Enterprises Uganda Limited as co-defendants.

How the dispute started

According to court documents filed by Kintu Nteza & Co. Advocates, the conflict traces back to 2007 when Namex Ministries says it partnered with Nakivubo Settlement Primary School to construct sanitation facilities for the school community.

The school’s management committee reportedly approached the company seeking assistance to build a modern convenience facility for students, teachers and their families.

Namex says it agreed to finance the project on the understanding that it would be allowed to develop commercial stalls, offices, stores and public sanitation facilities on the western edge of the school land adjacent to Owino Market.

The proposal was later presented to the then Kampala City Council for approval.

Court records indicate that the council, through the Senior Principal Town Clerk, approved the project and provided architectural drawings, a bill of quantities and a letter authorizing commencement of construction.

Namex says it went ahead and constructed a four-storey commercial structure according to the approved specifications, benefiting both the school and the surrounding community.

The company maintains that it has occupied and operated on the land continuously since 2007.

Night demolition sparks legal battle

The dispute escalated dramatically on the night of March 7, 2026.

Namex Ministries claims that businessman Hamis Kiggundu, commonly known as Ham, deployed security operatives, hired goons and heavy machinery to demolish the buildings.

The company alleges the demolition was carried out without due process and that merchandise inside the premises was looted during the operation.

Lawyers for Namex accuse Kiggundu of acting with “impunity, greed and land grabbing” when the demolition was executed in the early hours of the morning.

Fraud allegations over Tayebwa’s land title

In the same suit, Namex accuses the Kampala District Land Board of fraudulently issuing a land title to Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa for the contested land.

The company argues that the land was already occupied and developed by Namex for nearly two decades, making it unavailable for leasing.

According to the suit, the title issued to Tayebwa is therefore illegal and void.

Namex is asking the court to:

Declare it the lawful owner of Plot 22A Nakivubo Road

Cancel Tayebwa’s certificate of title on grounds of fraud and illegality

Order Hamis Kiggundu to pay Shs5 billion in compensation for damages resulting from the demolition.

The case has been assigned to Justice Damalie Lwanga, the Head of the Land Division of the High Court, for management and hearing.

Court documents show the defendants have 15 days to file their defence.

“Should you fail to file a defence on or before the date mentioned, the plaintiff may proceed with the suit and judgment may be given in your absence,” the court summons warns.

Tayebwa distances himself from the demolition

Meanwhile, Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa has publicly distanced himself from the demolition, saying he no longer owns the disputed land.

In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), Tayebwa confirmed that he acquired a lease for land in the Nakivubo area in 2018, but insisted the process was fully lawful.

“This was done through the formal and legal processes available to any citizen, I applied, followed the stipulated procedures, and paid all requisite fees like anyone else,” Tayebwa wrote.

He explained that when he later submitted building plans, KCCA informed him the land was needed for strategic public purposes.

According to Tayebwa, the authority offered compensation which he accepted.

“KCCA went ahead and took possession of the land approximately three years ago. As a result, I no longer own the said land and hold no interest whatsoever in it.”

He emphasized that he has no legal claim or involvement in the property today and therefore could not have ordered any eviction or demolition.

Tayebwa also rejected claims that he acquired the land because of his current office, noting that the lease was obtained years before he became Deputy Speaker.

Arrests already made over demolition

The controversy comes as authorities have already charged and remanded four individuals to Luzira Prison over the same demolition.

The suspects are accused of carrying out the demolition without authorization from city authorities, adding another layer of complexity to the high-profile land dispute now before court.