A 27-year-old photographer has been remanded to Luzira Prison over allegations of obtaining 250,000 shillings from National Youth MP Mercy Kanyesigye by falsely promising to photograph her at a youth conference in Kamuli District. Perez Maduma, a resident of Kisasi Kanyanya Road in Nakawa Division, Kampala, appeared before City Hall Court Senior Principal Magistrate Nicholas Aisu on Friday. The prosecution alleges that in October 2026, at Parliament in Kampala, Maduma obtained the money from Kanyesigye by claiming that he would take her photograph during a youth conference in Kamuli District, but failed to fulfil the promise. He is charged with obtaining money by false pretence, contrary to Section 285 of the Penal Code Act. State Attorney Benjamin Amanya told the court that police investigations into the matter had been completed. Magistrate Aisu remanded Maduma until November 19, 2026, when he is expected to return to court. Under Section 285 of...

Only 25 per cent of building developments inspected across Uganda meet the required construction standards, raising concerns about public safety and the effectiveness of building regulation amid persistent cases of building collapses and fires. The National Building Review Board (NBRB) Executive Secretary, Eng. Flavia Gutto Bwire, disclosed this while appearing before Parliament’s Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE) to respond to queries arising from the Auditor General’s report for the financial year ended June 30, 2025. Bwire told the committee that the Board inspected 11,492 building developments across the country during the financial year, but only a quarter complied with the required standards, leaving 75 per cent non-compliant. She attributed the low compliance levels to weak enforcement by local governments, inadequate staffing and funding, fragmented building approval processes and the failure of local authorities to fully constitute building committees responsible for supervising construction activities. An assessment of...

The Judiciary has been urged to investigate Masaka High Court Deputy Registrar Loy Karungi over alleged irregularities in the handling of court documents, following discrepancies in affidavits filed in an election petition challenging the victory of Bukomansimbi Woman MP Ruth Katushabe. The recommendation was made by High Court Judge Justice Rosette Comfort Kania, who raised concerns about the existence of parallel certified court documents containing information different from that on the original court record. The dispute arose during the hearing of an election petition filed by former Bukomansimbi Woman MP Veronica Nannyondo, who unsuccessfully challenged Katushabe’s victory in the January 14 parliamentary elections. Nannyondo, through her lawyer Brian Sodo, accused officials in the Registrar’s office of colluding to alter affidavits accompanying her petition by removing pages bearing her signatures and certification marks of a Commissioner for Oaths. The alleged alterations, according to the petitioner, rendered some of the affidavits incomplete...

The Criminal Division of the High Court has upheld a five-year prison sentence imposed on two former officials of a cash savings group at Kalerwe Market for stealing money belonging to its members. Justice Gadenya Paul Wolimbwa confirmed the sentences against Joseph Balikuddembe, the group’s chairperson, and Ssentongo Juma, its deputy chairperson, following an appeal against their conviction and sentence by the Buganda Road Chief Magistrate’s Court. In dismissing the appeal, Justice Gadenya held that the prosecution had presented irrefutable evidence showing that the two men had stolen savings belonging to at least 11 members of the Naawe Osobola group, an informal savings scheme comprising more than 200 traders at Kalerwe Market. The judge relied on testimonies from the affected members, which he said detailed repeated personal transactions, distinguished previous repayments from the outstanding savings cycle, and identified relevant entries and signatures where records were available. Justice Gadenya noted that...

President Yoweri Museveni has wielded the axe on 13 top government accounting officers, dropping Clerk to Parliament Adolf Mwesige and 12 other senior officials in a major government reshuffle affecting key ministries and public institutions. Among the high-profile casualties are Ministry of ICT Permanent Secretary Dr Aminah Zawedde, Defence PS Rosette Byengoma, Public Service PS Catherine Bitarakwate Musingwiire, Foreign Affairs PS Vincent Bagiire and Water and Environment PS ailing Alfred Okot Okidi. Museveni announced the proposed appointments on Sunday, November 8, directing the Public Service Commission to vet the nominees and advise him on their suitability before the appointments are finalised. At Parliament, Museveni has nominated Edward Sengonzi Damulira to replace Mwesige, who was appointed Clerk to Parliament in 2021. At the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance, Dr Zawedde, who has occupied the PS position since July 2021, has been replaced by Professor Stephen Akandwanaho, a computer scientist and...

Businessman Dr Mathias Magoola’s vast property empire has come under fresh pressure after a debt collection and auctioneering firm advertised a string of properties linked to his business interests for sale over outstanding bank loans. The properties, ranging from a sprawling industrial establishment in Matugga, a hospital in Kitende, a wheat milling plant in Luzira, commercial buildings and residential establishments, have been listed for public auction or private treaty in a notice published in Thursday’s New Vision newspaper. The notice, issued by Jald Uganda, a debt collection, collateral management and auctioneering firm, is titled Notice of Intended Sale by Public Auction/Private Treaty. It warns Dei Industries International Limited, Dei Natural Products International Limited and their guarantors that the properties will be sold unless they settle outstanding loan balances, interest, fees and other disbursements. The advertisement states that the sale is being undertaken on the instructions of a financial institution, although...

By Amos Tayebwa KAMPALA – A bitter tender dispute has erupted in Mbarara City North Division after a group of butchers rejected the award of a lucrative slaughter procurement contract to a new individual, threatening to block her from collecting a single coin from the city’s abattoirs. The angry butchers, operating under Kenkombe Ababagi Kweterana Association, have accused Mbarara City Council procurement officials of sidelining their association in favour of an individual they claim is barely known in the division. They have vowed not to recognise the new tenderer, identified as Suzan Ainomugisha, warning that they could abandon the affected slaughter facilities and move their businesses to Ruti Slaughter Centre in Mbarara City South Division if the council does not reverse the decision. The dispute centres on a slaughter tender covering Kenkombe, Biharwe and Rwebishuri-Kakika abattoirs, all located in Mbarara City North. For years, the butchers, through their association, have...

By Evans Najuna KAMPALA — The National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) has launched a six-month accelerated water supply programme aimed at ending intermittent water supply and improving access to reliable water for thousands of households across Greater Kampala. Dubbed the Kampala Water Forward-Looking and Optimisation of Water Supply (K-Flows), the programme is designed to address persistent water shortages affecting customers who receive water for only a few hours a day, despite the city’s treatment plants having sufficient production capacity. Launched on Thursday evening, at the International Resource Centre in Bugolobi, the initiative will run from November 2026 to April 2027, covering Kampala City and the serviced areas of Wakiso and Mukono districts. The programme follows strategic guidance issued by the Minister of Water and Environment in October, directing NWSC to prioritise water supply reliability, customer satisfaction and operational efficiency. Speaking at the launch, NWSC Managing Director Dr. Eng. Silver Mugisha...

KAMPALA, UGANDA: The Speaker of Parliament Rt. Hon. Jacob Marksons Oboth, has promised to fast-track all World Bank – funded stalled by lengthy government approval and procurement processes. Oboth who hosted the World Bank Country Manager for Uganda, Dr. Francisca Ayodeji Akala and her team at his Chambers this morning, said stalled projects were affecting the country’s development agenda. “As Parliament, we reaffirm our commitment to strengthening engagement with development partners, including the World Bank, in advancing Uganda’s development priorities,” Oboth said. Speaker Oboth commended the World Bank Group for its long-standing partnership with Parliament, which he said has broadened Members’ understanding of global financing and monetary policy. He urged the Bank to remain accessible and flexible and to continue offering affordable financing, recalling that since his school days he has nicknamed his two most generous friends “World Bank.” “That is our expectation: that the most accessible and generous financing...

Deputy Speaker of Parliament Thomas Tayebwa has briefed parliamentarians from the Pacific region on proposed reforms to strengthen the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) Parliamentary Assembly, improve its effectiveness and give the three regional groups a stronger voice in its work. Tayebwa, who also serves as President of the OACPS and Co-President of the OACPS-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly, met the Pacific Parliamentary Group in Brussels on Thursday. Key among the proposals is the need for the Assembly to achieve greater financial independence by establishing a common fund supported by contributions from its three regions. Tayebwa said that during earlier discussions with African parliamentarians and the Caribbean group, members had raised concerns about the Assembly’s reliance on external financing. “Our reliance on external financing has made planning difficult and limited our ability to act on our priorities,” Tayebwa said. The proposed arrangement would establish a common fund to...