A Sh41 billion government investment meant to turn Uganda into a silk-producing powerhouse has been plunged into fresh controversy, with Parliament probing stalled projects amid questions over the motive and timing of its Sheema visit, who knew the MPs were coming and who actually organised the controversial Sunday inspection. Members of the Parliamentary Committee on Science, Technology and Innovation visited government-funded sericulture projects in Sheema and Kiruhura over the weekend as part of their oversight duties. But in Sheema, the inspection quickly turned into a confrontation of accounts, with the legislators failing to access the factory and district officials subsequently challenging the manner in which the visit was organised. WHO ACTUALLY INVITED WHOM? Sheema District officials maintain that they were never properly informed about the parliamentary inspection and, more importantly, question why TRIDI, an entity at the centre of the project’s accountability questions, was the one communicating the planned visit...

Access to climate adaptation finance remains a significant challenge for smallholder farmers and rural businesses across Africa, with available capital often failing to reach those who need it most. To help bridge this financing and delivery gap, the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and Equity Group on Friday, kicked off the Africa Rural Climate Adaptation Finance Mechanism (ARCAFIM) – a US$200 million, private sector-led mechanism built to close that gap for smallholder farmers and rural businesses across East Africa – at the Africa Food Systems Forum 2026 in Kigali, Rwanda. ARCAFIM is convened with the co-financiers of the Green Climate Fund, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland and the Nordic Development Fund and also co-financed by the Government of Denmark and the European Union. The mechanism runs for twelve years and is structured in two parts: US$180 million of lending capital and approximately US$20 million of technical assistance....

United Bank for Africa (UBA) has been ordered to pay more than Sh128 million after the High Court in Mbale found the bank liable for allowing a fraudster to open an account in another man’s name, receive his compensation and withdraw Sh108.23 million despite glaring red flags. The explosive judgment has raised fresh questions about possible internal failures and the role of bank staff who processed the account, particularly after court heard that employees involved in opening the suspicious account were subjected to disciplinary action. Justice Farouq Lubega ordered UBA to refund Sh108.23 million to Michael Wilson Mazuno, the money that was fraudulently withdrawn from an account opened in his name, and awarded him another Sh20 million in general damages. The bank was also ordered to pay the costs of the suit, with the total award attracting eight percent annual interest from September 7, 2026 until payment is made in...

Relatives of Hussein Tenywa have asked police to expedite investigations into the circumstances surrounding his shooting at Muzuri Guest House in Kamuli Municipality. Tenywa was shot dead at about 12:30 am on Sunday by plain-clothed bodyguards attached to Erick Mugabi, the National Resistance Movement (NRM) chairperson for Kamuli Municipality. According to eyewitnesses, the incident followed a disagreement after Mugabi’s bodyguards reportedly asked Tenywa to surrender his seat to their boss. Tenywa allegedly refused, leading to a scuffle between him and the armed guards, during which he was shot. Tenywa’s relatives say his death has left the family devastated, describing him as the sole breadwinner who supported his younger siblings through income from his furniture business. Siraje Isabirye, Tenywa’s brother, described him as a committed businessman whose earnings from his furniture shop helped pay for the education and welfare of the family’s younger members. Isabirye said Tenywa’s death had dealt a...

Finance Trust Bank (FTB) is facing a fresh leadership storm after the institution announced the departure of its long-serving Managing Director, Annet Nakawunde Mulindwa, with insiders insisting that the official explanation does not tell the full story. The bank announced on September 1 that Mulindwa will leave her position in November 2026. The official line is that she is leaving to take up a new international leadership opportunity. But behind the carefully worded announcement, sources familiar with developments at the bank told RedPepper that Mulindwa was fired (effectively pushed out). The sources claim the board and shareholders had become increasingly frustrated with her performance. They say targets were set—but repeatedly missed or only partially achieved. And they say the final breaking point was the bank’s downgrade from a commercial bank to a Tier II credit institution. “The bosses grew impatient. They set targets for her and she never met them...

The Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development Lt. Gen. Henry Tumukunde, has assured the people of Tooro Kingdom that all administrative matters following the death of King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Rukiidi IV will be resolved by Saturday. He did not provide specific details about the process. Since the king’s passing, there has been public speculation among kingdom officials and the local community regarding the succession to the throne. President Museveni, citing the Queen mother, Best Kemigisa and Prime Minister Calvin Armstrong, stated that King Oyo left behind a son. However, the Babiito Clan leader, Charles Kamurasi, dismissed these claims, leading to division among the public. During a speech to mourners at the Karuzika royal palace on Monday, Tumukunde urged the Tooro community and all citizens to exercise restraint and avoid unnecessary discussions about the succession in the wake of the king’s death. The minister announced that meetings would be...

Obusinga Bwa Rwenzururu has moved to kill fresh social media reports claiming that Omusinga Charles Wesley Mumbere Irema-Ngoma is critically ill, insisting the monarch is stable and only in Turkey for a routine medical review. The kingdom said Mumbere travelled to Turkey on the advice of his medical team for a follow-up related to treatment he previously received at the same facility. In a statement, kingdom officials urged his subjects and the public not to panic over the reports, stressing that there is “no cause for alarm.” “We wish to clarify that HM Omusinga Charles Wesley Mumbere Irema-Ngoma is not critically ill, contrary to reports circulating on social media,” the kingdom said. According to kingdom spokesperson Geoffrey Kanyonyi, Mumbere left Uganda on August 27 and arrived in Turkey the following morning. The latest trip comes barely six months after the Rwenzururu monarch returned to Uganda following a lengthy stay abroad...

Princess Elizabeth Bagaya has described the death of Omukama Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV as a painful loss to a kingdom that was beginning to see the late king emerge as a pillar of development. Bagaya who is currently 90 years is a paternal aunt to Omukama Oyo and was the Batebe (Chief Princess) during the reign of her brother Omukama Patrick Mathew David Olimi III. While speaking to Journalists at Karuzika Palace on Saturday, Bagaya said Oyo had many plans for Tooro and died at a time when he was still optimistic about what he could achieve for his people. Bagaya said she would have preferred that God took the older members instead of the young king. “Oyo died when he had just started,” she said. “He loved his people so much and had high hopes of the things he was going to do for his people, but...

PDM thieves have been put on notice! The long arm of the law is coming for anyone who dipped their hands into money meant to lift poor Ugandans out of poverty, with the Director of Crime Intelligence, AIGP Major General Christopher Damulira, telling suspects to surrender to Police before detectives catch up with them. Damulira issued the chilling warning during a week-long review of the Police-led Operation Rejesha Tumaini, the crackdown targeting individuals accused of stealing or mismanaging Parish Development Model (PDM) funds. His message was blunt: if you touched PDM money illegally, your days are numbered. “Report yourselves to Police before we come for you,” Damulira warned those involved in the alleged theft and abuse of the programme. The General was speaking during PDM operation review meetings in Eastern Uganda attended by Resident City and District Commissioners, Internal Security Officers, Regional Police Commanders, prosecutors from the Directorate of Public...

KAMPALA — The leadership drama at the Petroleum Authority of Uganda (PAU) has taken another twist after Energy Minister Dr Monica Musenero said a substantive successor to outgoing Executive Director Ernest Rubondo has already been selected — but stopped short of revealing the name. Instead, Musenero has appointed Otonga Michael Ochan, the Authority’s Director of Finance and Corporate Services, as Acting Executive Director, leaving the oil regulator in the unusual position of having an allegedly identified successor whose identity remains under wraps. The big question now doing the rounds in petroleum and energy circles is simple: If the new boss has already been picked, why can’t Government name him or her? The silence has fuelled fresh speculation that the battle over who should take over from Rubondo may not yet be completely over. PAU Board Chairperson Lynda Biribonwa confirmed that the transition to a new Executive Director is underway but...