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Africans Shine Proud at London Pride

BY JAMES KABENGWA LONDON. Amid a sea of rainbow flags and roaring chants, East African voices rose today at London Pride—not just in celebration, but in defiance. For many, this was more than a march; it was a reclaiming of identity, a powerful statement against the silence and persecution faced back home. In a world where queerness is criminalized across much of East Africa, London became a sanctuary—a place where love was not just seen, but loudly affirmed. Today, East African LGBTQ+ individuals didn’t just attend Pride; they owned it, transforming the streets into a battleground for visibility, freedom, and unapologetic existence. London Pride, one of the world’s most prominent LGBTQ+ celebrations, is more than a colorful parade—it’s a symbol of resistance, inclusion, and visibility. For East African communities like my own Uganda, particularly those from countries where LGBTQ+ identities […]

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SH-ACU: Businessman Charged with Gomba Land Fraud

GOMBA. A businessman, Fred Kirenga, has been charged with fraudulently procuring a Certificate of Title for land in Gomba District. He allegedly obtained a freehold title for Block 311, Plots 36 and 37, despite knowing that another title for the same land already existed. The land in question belongs to Madhvani Group Ltd, and Kirenga has been remanded until July 8, 2025. This case is part of a larger land fraud scandal involving several officials. The accused allegedly engaged in forgery, fraudulent procurement of certificates of title, and conspiracy to commit misdemeanors and felonies. The State House Anti-Corruption Unit, working with the Criminal Investigations Directorate and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, is handling the case. The scandal involves multiple individuals, including Acting Commissioner of Surveys and Mapping Kakooza Jasper and Gomba District Deputy Resident District Commissioner Mugenyi […]

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SHACU targets corruption in greater Mpigi

MPIGI. The Deputy Head of the State House Anti-Corruption Unit, Mr. Israel Ochwo, has announced that the Unit has launched investigations into corruption allegations in Greater Mpigi, covering Mpigi, Butambala, and Gomba districts. Speaking live on Buwama FM, Mr. Ochwo on Wednesday morning, highlighted the Unit's past successes in tackling corruption, which he attributed to collaboration with other anti-corruption agencies. He emphasized that corruption should be shunned by all and that citizens have a crucial role to play in reporting corrupt activities. "We've launched investigations in Greater Mpigi—targeting the sale of govt jobs, misuse of the UGX 1B Road Fund, payroll fraud and financial mismanagement," Mr. Ochwo stated. He also noted that further gains could be made if all citizens partnered with anti-corruption agencies to report the corrupt and demand that action is taken against those who engage in it. […]

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Mpigi District Officials Charged and Remanded Over Job Bribery Scandal

KAMPALA. The Mpigi Chief Magistrates Court has charged and remanded three top district officials, including the LCV Chairperson, Martin Ssejjemba, and two District Service Commission members, Fredrick Kirumira and Sarah Nakamoga, over allegations of soliciting bribes in exchange for government jobs. According to the charges, the officials demanded bribes ranging from UGX 50,000 to UGX 15 million from job applicants. The alleged corruption was uncovered during President Museveni's Parish Development Model monitoring tour in the Greater Mpigi area, prompting him to direct the State House Anti-Corruption Unit on June 27, to arrest the officials involved. The trio was remanded until July 8, 2025, pending further investigations.

Richard Kizza Lugobwa
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How Politics Has Undermined Mainstream Media in Uganda

By RICHARD KIZZA LUGOBWA In Uganda, once regarded as a beacon of media freedom in East Africa, mainstream media now stands on increasingly fragile ground. What was once a vibrant press landscape, known for bold journalism and public engagement, has in recent years been marred by political interference, intimidation, clobbering and battering journalists and arrests which has constrained media operations. The very harsh and unbearable working environment for journalists has created a climate of fear and extreme self-censorship leading to a drastic fall in the quality of information, and journalism in general as a profession. As the 2026 general elections draw nigh, questions grow louder about the role of Uganda’s press and whether it can still fulfill its democratic mandate. The recent years have seen a dramatic change in radio and television programming with a great increase and focus on […]

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SH-ACU arrests Mpigi Officials Over alleged Bribery

MPIGI. The State House Anti-Corruption Unit, in collaboration with the Criminal Investigations Directorate, has arrested the Mpigi District LCV Chairperson, Martin Ssejjemba, and two District Service Commission officials, Frederick Kirumira and Sarah Nakamoga, for allegedly soliciting bribes in exchange for jobs. The SH-ACU is headed by Brg Henry Isolde, whose tenure has seen a tremendous fight against corruption. The arrests were made on June 27, 2025, following a directive from President Yoweri Museveni, who received complaints about widespread corruption in the district's recruitment process during his Parish Development Model monitoring tour on June 17, 2025. Applicants were allegedly required to pay bribes ranging from 50,000 to 15 million Ugandan shillings to be considered for employment. The suspects will be charged in court once investigations are complete. The people of Mpigi await justice, hoping this marks the beginning of a cleaner […]

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Alleged gold scammer remanded

KAMPALA. A Ugandan businessman, Kizito Dalton Lawrence, has been arraigned before the KCCA Grade 1 Magistrates' Court for allegedly swindling an American investor out of $105,000. Lawrence, who was charged with obtaining money by false pretense and conspiracy to defraud, claimed to supply 20 kilograms of pure gold, which turned out to be a scam.  The alleged crime took place between February and June 2024, with Lawrence working with others still at large. The State House Anti-Graft Squad headed by Brig Henry Isoke in collaboration with the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), brought Lawrence to justice. He has been remanded until July 9, 2025. This case highlights the ongoing efforts of by the SH-ACU to crack down on corruption and financial crimes. With Lawrence's accomplices still on the loose, the investigation […]

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List: Uganda, 35 countries Face US Travel ban

WASHINGTON. The US government is considering imposing travel restrictions on Uganda, along with 35 other countries, according to a State Department memo. The countries have 60 days to meet new requirements, including providing reliable identity documents and reducing visa term violations. If the countries fail to comply, they may face visa restrictions, travel bans, or other limitations. The memo suggests that countries willing to accept third-country nationals being removed from the US may face fewer restrictions. The potential travel restrictions are part of the Trump administration's efforts to strengthen border security and ensure American safety. The list of affected countries includes 25 African nations, with Uganda being one of them. Others include Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Egypt, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Liberia, Malawi, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Sao Tome and […]

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District Officials Jailed for Corruption

IBANDA. Two former Ibanda District officials have been sentenced to 18 months in prison for selling government land. Matsiko Mutwingire Abert, former Chief Administrative Officer, and Nuwagira Tom, former District Natural Resources Officer, were convicted of abuse of office. They granted 13 hectares of Ibanda Forest Reserve to a cooperative society without authorization. The Anti-Corruption Division of the High Court ordered them to pay UGX 10,470,000 each in compensation to Ibanda District for the financial loss incurred in recovering the land.