African culture

By PETER SSUUNA Mothers in Kasangati and surrounding areas who use Kasangati Health Centre IV now have reason to smile. Many will no longer face the risk of losing their newborns minutes or hours after birth. This follows the efforts of the Rotary Clubs of Kasangati and Bulindo, who mobilized partners to construct and equip a Neonatal Unit at the government facility. The unit is designed to care for newborns with health complications. The unit has been fitted with modern life-saving equipment, including ventilators to help babies breathe, infant warmers, oxygen monitors, phototherapy machines for jaundice, and other tools aimed at giving critically ill newborns a chance at survival. The Rotarians handed over the equipment to the hospital in-charge, Dr. Joseline Akugizibwe, who thanked them for responding to the hospital’s urgent appeal. Dr. Akugizibwe said the health centre delivers over 4,500 babies annually between 450 and 500 each month. “With those numbers, many babies are bor...

By Our Reporter Excitement is building in the Busiro county team camp ahead of Sunday’s Masaza Cup opener against Gomba at Trinity College Nabbingo. The squad received a major boost of food supplies this week, with players vowing to give everything on the pitch. The team was handed 200kg of rice, 50kg of maize flour, 50kg of sugar, 25kg of beans, and 20 mattresses for the players. The donation came from Godfrey Ssennoga, a Busiro native and proprietor of Kings Bar and Lounge in Busiro. “This gesture came from the heart,” Ssennoga said. “As a Munnabusiro, I want the best for our county.” He urged other well-wishers to support the team in its bid to overcome all challengers. Head coach Simon Ddungu, popularly known as ‘Ddunga’, thanked the county leadership for entrusting him with the role and hailed Ssennoga’s intervention as timely. “This came when we needed it most,” he said, appealing for continued support, especially with food. Ddunga promised fans a victory and called on them t...

The case of Sheikh Umar, widely known as “Omulombi w’edduwa”, has begun to be heard. His sister-in-law has testified about his sexual harassment of her daughter. Sheikh Kassim Umar Muwonge Kamoga, known as Seeka Umar of Nansana, has had testimony given against him in a case of attempting to defile a 13-year-old girl (name withheld). He allegedly took the child from her parents and sexually harassed her in an abusive manner. He is appearing before Judge Alice Komuhangi Khaukha of the High Court’s International Crimes Division. Led by State Prosecutor George Bigirwa, Cissy Naluwooza, 39, Seeka Umar’s sister-in-law and a resident of Kiboga, is the mother of the alleged victim. In a calm but visibly pained voice, she told the judge everything that happened. Naluwooza told the judge that all she narrated was told to her by her daughter, since she was not present at the time she had gone to Kalangala to work after separating from her husband. She has two children with him, including the ...

Bazzukulu ba Ipolito nga bajaguza Kkooti ya Kisekwa e Mengo esazizzaamu obwa “Kajubi” katikkiro w’ekika ky’Ensenene obubadde bumaze emyaka egisukka mu 120 mu bw’ensowole n’eragira balonde omuggya nga balambikibwa ennono ya Buganda era ayanjulwe obutasukka nnaku 30. Bino byasaliddwawo olukiiko lw’abalumuzi ku kkooti eno abaakulembeddwa kisekwa, Dr. Robert Ssonko Kanakuloopa, Lubega Ssebende n’abalala oluvunnyuma lw’omusango KD/01/2023 okutuuka ku nkomerero yaagwo. Bazzukulu ba Ipolito Lule Gyolyabalamu ab'e Nsenene abawangudde omusango, baawawaabira bazzukulu ba Marko Kironde okulya ensowole ku bwa Katikkiro bw'ekika era bazze bazuzumba okuva 1920. ku kkono ye Ian Kabali Katikkiro gwe baggyeko ne Dr. Frank Ssebbowa mu ntuula za kkooti eziyise Bano nga bakulembeddwamu Charles Sserebe ne Mulindwa Magatto beemulugunya nti Ian Kabali Katikkiro aliko kati si y’ateekeddwa kubanga tava mu lunyiriri lwa Ipolito oluvaamu Kajubi.   Bisoba bitya? Okusinziira ku Sserebe omuwaabi agamba nti...

For 22 years, Arsenal fans in Uganda had only seen the Premier League trophy on TV. On Sunday night, they finally touched the dream. Supporters across Kampala spilled into the streets after Arsenal clinched the league title, their first since 2004. The celebrations peaked at Ce’lavile Bar in Kabuusu, where Arsenal Uganda chairman Patrick Mbaziira hosted a raucous victory party. Lubaga Mayor Zacky Mawula Mberaze, Samuel Muyizi, and hundreds of red-clad fans joined the feast. Cows, goats, and chickens were slaughtered. Grills smoked, drinks flowed, and speakers shook as fans danced until their legs gave out. Ululations pierced the night. Throats went hoarse. For once, the songs weren’t about “next season.” “We waited 22 years,” Mbaziira said, raising a toast. “We’ve buried goats for funerals. Tonight, we bury the drought.” From 2004’s “Invincibles” to 2026’s champions, a generation of Ugandan fans had grown up taunted by rivals. That ended this weekend.

Pr. Benson Matovu  BY PETER SSUUNA A pastor wept openly in court after being found guilty of defrauding a former congregant of UGX 10.7 million money she sent home from Saudi Arabia to buy land, only to return and find nothing. Benson Matovu, lead pastor of Ambassadors of Life Church International in Matugga, Mabanda, broke down at Nateete Lubaga Court in Mengo as Magistrate Adams Byarugaba convicted him of obtaining money by false pretenses. The complainant, 32-year-old Cossey Namutebi of Kanyanya, told court she entrusted the pastor with over UGX 40 million while working as a domestic worker in Saudi Arabia between 2021 and 2024. She said she trusted him because he was her spiritual leader. “I was sending him money to buy me land so I could build a small house when I returned,” Namutebi testified. “When I came back, he had no land to show me. When I asked for my money back, there was nothing.” Instead, court heard, Pastor Matovu used the funds to purchase land for his c...

By PETER SSUUNA Various people have come forward to praise the legacy of the father of Victory Church Ndeeba pastor Joseph Sserwadda, the late elder who passed away at age 99. During the memorial service held at Dr. Sserwadda’s Church in Ndeeba, former Kimaanya-Kabonera Member of Parliament Pr. Dr. Abed Bwanika, who represented the people of Masaka, said Pr. Sserwadda served them well and is one of the people who put Masaka on the map. A person who benefits society receives training from many places like school, religion, and family which he said is the most important. He urged the Government to reduce the time children spend at school so they can return home and be taught by their parents in order to have people of value. He praised the work that the late Ssaalongo Emmanuel Musigire did in Pastor Sserwadda’s life and called on parents to always give their children time and mentor them in life skills. He said a person doesn’t need school alone but also home training, adding t...

By PETER SSUUNA Some of the family members who claim they were given land in Banda by Ssekabaka Muteesa II have appealed to President Museveni to help them regain ownership of their land, which they say was taken from them by Kyambogo University. Led by Fahad Mugume, Keren Tusiima, and Boniface Kasolo, they allege that Kyambogo University grabbed part of their land using security agencies including the Police and the army. It is claimed that they acquired the land on August 20, 1954, when Prince George William Mawanda wrote on behalf of Muteesa II while he was in exile, giving it to them because they were his friends. He gave 100 acres to Prince Paulo Kisawuzi Wavamunno, his blood brother Joseph Kyegalika, and Mubiru Ezekiel, located in Kireka Kyaddondo on FC17747 block 137 Plot; 37 in Buganda. They were ordered to pay a tribute of Shs 650 to the Kabaka on receipt 037, page 1582. Mugume, a grandson of Joseph Nguliya Kyegalika, says his grandfather and those mentioned above obta...

  AB’EKIKA ky’Envubu batuuzizza ow’Omutuba gwa Muwaali okuva mu Ssiga lya Kavubu ogubadde gumaze emyaka 50 nga tewali aguddukanya mu butongole. Baabadde Bugolo mu Disitulikiti y’e Buikwe, Mubazi Buuzaabalyawo 76, bwe yasumikiddwa okutwala obuvunaanyizibwa bw’Omutuba guno okusikira kitaawe Zaakaliya Musoke eyafa mu 1975 n’alekawo omuwaatwa. Okuva omwaka ogwo lwe yafa, wabaddewo okusika omugwa mu b’oluganda okulondako ani anaamuddira mu bigere okutuusa Omutaka Kayita omukulu w’ekika ky’Envubu Yunus Kasimaggwa bwe yabatuuzizza era omusika n’assibwako. Omukolo ogwabadde mu luggya lw’omugenzi, Buuzabalyawo n’asumikibwa ow’Essiga lya Bukuku, Moses Kimera Kasimaggwa eyamukuutidde okukumaakuma n’okulamula banne awatali kubaawulayawula. Yamusabye eby’enfuna bireme okubaawula ng’akikwataganya n’ebibadde biremesezza olumbe luno okwabizibwa nga ab’oluganda bakaayanira ettaka ly’omugenzi. Katikkiro w’ekika Godfrey Luyombya Nswasazluguudo, yasabye ow’Omutuba omuggya okutwala eby’obuwanga ng’enta...

Arsenal fans holding their flag By Samson Ssemakadde There is boiling excitement among the Arsenal football club ahead of the long awaited visit for the Arsenal TV crew visit to Uganda. The crew is led by celebrated Robbie Lyle, the founder of GFN and Arsenal Fans Television (AFTV). They are expected to arrive in the country on Friday evening prior to Saturday’s long program that starts with a workshop on social media monetization in the morning at Kati Kati Restaurant. There will be a watch party later in the evening as Arsenal plays New Castle United. Addressing the media at Kati-Kati Restaurant on Friday morning, special presidential assistant Babirye Nana Nabirye rallied the Arsenal fans to welcome the crew. Flanked by the senior presidential advisor in charge of special duties David Mafabi, Nabirye assured the fans of a smooth program that will span over to next week’s CAF Champions League’s duel against Athletic Madrid. “The preparations to accord the AFTV crew tour a decent arri...

By Peter Ssuuna President Museveni has received a commendation for his proactive role in boosting vocational education nationwide. His recent donation of 20 million shillings to finalize a vocational school, operating under the Assey Youth Initiative, underscores a significant commitment to empowering young people with the skills they need to break free from poverty. The driving force behind this initiative is Ibrahim Musoga Nakabona, the NRM chairman for Masuliita who expressed a profound gratitude to the President for his crucial support, particularly highlighting how it benefits children without guardians. At the inaugural graduation ceremony held in Masuliita Wakiso District for students supported by this initiative who have been studying at the YMCA institute, an inspiring call to action was made. The Assistant Resident District Commissioner for Makindye Ssabagabo Division, Simon Peter Mawerere, challenged graduating students to actively engage in government development pr...

By Peter Ssuuna AB’ENVUBU be bakwasa Kasujju Lubinga empiima eyitibwa Naluwangala Ssekiboobo Mutalagga omuweesa omukulu mu kika gy’aweesa mu kutikkira Ssaabasajja ng’alya Namulondo era be baweesi b’ebikomo ebyambalwa Abalangira n’abambejja mu Lubiri. Obadde okimanyi nti olunaku lw’okulamaga e Namugongo olusomboola abantu kumpi kuva buziizi, lulina ebyafaayo ebikusike by’obadde tomanyi kyokka nga biviira ddala ku kika ky’Envubu ne Jjaja bwe Kayita Nsaabwa Kawala owa 43 eyali ow’ebyewuunyo agalamidde ku butaka ku lusozi Mbazi mu Kyaggwe. Olwali olwo ng’abazungu beesolossa Uganda n’eddiini yaabwe gye baasanga Kabaka Mwanga ng’alamula. Ekiseera ekyo Kayita Nsabwa ye yali omukongozzi w’emmandwa Kiwanuka (Omusamize) omukulu olw’okuba ab’Envubu be bakola guno. Nsaabwa yagamba kabaka nti, ‘ffe tulina Katonda waffe gwe tusaba wabula nabo we baba balina owaabwe, Oweekitiibwa tuggalire mu nsiisira emu otukumeko omuliro anaaguvaamu nga mulamu Kabaka yeeyo enzikiriza gy’onaasoma’ kyaleetera...