The year 2015 has come and gone. With it, Ugandans have enjoyed, and prospered, while others have grieved and vacillated. However, it is through resilience that the country will be able to develop, with its citizens being able to enjoy the fruits of their sweat and in that respect the EagleOnline is pleased to be associated with the vision of a better Uganda.
Below Staff Writers  take our readers, both at home and elsewhere, through the year with notable events and incidents that made headlines in 2015.
Deaths/Politicians/Top Public Servants
On March 30 the Principal State Attorney Joan Namazzi Kagezi, the lead prosecutor in a case in which over 70 people were allegedly killed by the Al Shabaab, was shot dead by two men riding a motor cycle as she drove home.
Before the country could come to grips with Joan Kagezi’s death, death beckoned again, this time claiming the life of the affable former Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) 56-year old General Robert Aronda Nyakairima onSeptember 12.
Gen Aronda, who at the time of his death was the Minister of Internal Affairs, died of cardiac arrest while aboard a flight from South Korea, transiting through Dubai. The General was also a UPDF Representative in Parliament from 1996.
Barely a month after Gen Aronda’s shocking death, a giant figure from eastern Uganda, the State Minister for Industry James Shinyabulo Mutende also passed on. Reports indicate that Dr Mutende, aged 53, he died in his sleep at his home in Makindye.
Another public figure who failed to make it past 2015 was the Bukomansimbi Woman MP Susan Namaganda. Namaganda, a wife to Uganda’s East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) MP Fred Mukasa Mbidde, perished in a road accident along the Kampala-Masaka highway on December 11.
Celebrity Deaths
The year 2015 will be remembered by most readers as one that took the most celebrities. Between February and May, the media fraternity felt the first blow. In February, veteran Akaboozi radio news anchor Dan Kyazze succumbed to cancer aged 67. He was followed by another veteran radio news anchor Bbale Francis who had served at the Uganda Broadcasting Corporation (UBC) for over 25 years. Like his colleague Kyazze, the 61-year old Bbale died of cancer at Mulago Cancer Institute. As the world was still grieving the demise of Kyazze and Bbale, news came in that former NTV news anchor Rosemary Nankabirwa was undergoing cancer treatment at Nakasero Hospital. The media fraternity and well wishers joined efforts to contribute to Ms Nankabirwa’s treatment but unfortunately she passed on April 12 at the Aga Khan Hospital in Nairobi, aged 37.
The media industry also lost in photographer Papa Opae, who died in a road accident last week; NTV journalist Resty Namawejje, who died in an accident together with Miss Tourism (Northern Uganda) Norah Atim.
The country also lost prominent businessman Crescent Baguma Rusoke, proprietor of BCR Construction Company and the famous Win a Classic clothing boutique. Also dead this year is Elias Bugembe aka Kasiwukira, self-made billionaire who made most of his fortune selling music.
The Grim Reaper also claimed The She Cranes Harriet Apako, a Police Netball Club centre player who succumbed to typhoid on October 16. Apako was a member of the highly regarded She Cranes team that sent tongues wagging at the Netball World Cup in Sydney, Australia.
Death then made a sojourn to the entertainment industry, snatching Team No Sleep crew member Emmanuel Mayanja aka AK47, a young brother to celebrated music crooners Joseph Mayanja aka Dr Jose Chameleone; Weasel and Pallaso.
AK47 was found unconscious in the washrooms of Club Dejavu, a pub in Kansanga, on the outskirts of the city. He was rushed to Nsambya hospital but pronounced dead on arrival.
Other celebrity artistes who couldn’t make it through the last 365 days include 35-year old Harriet Kisakye and Cornelius Oloya aka ‘Master Blaster’ aka ‘Teacher’ of the Embooko fame, who died just two days shy of 2016.
But not all was gloom in the entertainment industry in 2015: Rising Ugandan musician Edirisa Musuuza aka Eddie Kenzo stormed the global stage in style when he won the BET Awards with his hit single ‘Sitya Loss’.
One of the first Ugandan musicians to win a big entertainment award like BET, Kenzo beat South Africa’s Casper Nyovest to the ‘New International Artiste’ accolade. However, it is not only Kenzo who held our flag high overseas. Moses Ssali aka Bebe Cool aka Big Size won the ‘International Reggae/Dancehall category at the African Entertainment Awards (AEA) that were held in Canada in September, after beating Burna Boy and Patoranking to the award.
Similarly, Uganda’s most decorated artiste, Dr Jose Chameleone won the ‘Writer of the Year’ award at All Africa Musica Awards (AFRIM) and as Ugandans we look forward to having a ‘riddim’ packed 2016. Also, Comedienne Anne Kansiime, one of the few Ugandans to meet Queen Elizabeth II, became the first Ugandan to make one million likes on Facebook.
OTHER NOTABLE EVENTS
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1.
The former Uganda Revenue Authority (URA), Allen Kagina is appointed as the new Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) boss by President Yoweri Museveni on April 27. Famed for turning around URA into a professional body, on September Kagina, on advice of the Board fired the entire 900 UNRA employees and called for new applications.
2.
On April 29 Uganda’s most wanted man Jamil Mukulu, the leader of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), is arrested in Tanzania. International Police (InterPol) had placed him on its most wanted list for murder, terrorism, and treason, among other crimes. The Uganda Police was hunting for Mukulu for crimes linked to the mysterious death of Muslim clerics in Eastern Uganda. Jinja Grade One Magistrate Isaac Kintu issued arrest warrants against Mukulu and Australian based doctor Aggrey Kiyingi. After losing the extradition battle, Mukulu, referred to as Uganda’s Osama Bin Laden by the Inspector General of police General Edward Kale Kayihura, was finally extradited to Uganda, where he is in detention, after appearing in court on July 22.
3.
On 2 June, a Judicial Commission set up by President Museveni to inquire into abuse of office and corruption within the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) starts inquiries. Chaired by Justice Bamugemereire, the Commission has to date seen some jaw-dropping revelations. It has also grilled the former Minister of Works Abraham James Byandala for his involvement in the Katosi road scandal and also queried the overpayment of contractors like Dott Services among others. The Commission finally handed their findings to the President on October 9.
4.
On 15 June, former Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi declared he was standing for presidency, introducing ‘Go Forward’ to the political dictionary in Uganda.
At the time Mbabazi said that he wanted a fresh Uganda; he wanted to see end to all the corruption. But save for his words, his actions dubbed ‘consultations’ but termed ‘early campaigning’ by the electoral authorities seemed not to resonate well with the police, which arrested him on July 9as he headed to the eastern town of Mbale, as he tried to canvass for support. On the same day, the Forum for Democratic former leader and party flag bearer for the 2016 elections Colonel (rtd) Dr Warren Kizza Besigye was arrested for holding a rally without police authorisation.
But while Mbabazi’s arrest was peaceful and calm, Besigye’s wasn’t as police fired teargas and arrested some FDC supporters including Members of Parliament.
Besigye was declared the FDC flag bearer for 2016 presidential race onSeptember 3, after winning party leader Maj Gen (rtd) Mugisha Muntu by over 400 votes. Muntu conceded defeat.
Other parties also chose their leaders; the NRM chose party Chairman Yoweri Kaguta Museveni as it’s presidential flag bearer for the elections in 2016. The Democratic Party (DP) elected Norbert Mao in a vote disputed by embattled Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago, who went on to form Platform for Truth and Justice, while a section of the Uganda Peoples Congress (UPC) declared Hon Jimmy Akena party president but Olara Otunnu ran to court, challenging the party founding president’s son.
Shortly after, several opposition members allied under the umbrella of The Democratic Alliance (TDA), in a joint effort to dislodge Museveni and his NRM party from power, come 2016.
In pursuit of that objective, on October 3, Amama Mbabazi, Dr Kizza Besigye and Olara Otunnu among others flew to Kenya to meet the country’s opposition icon Raila Odinga.
This was just before cracks started emerging, pitting Mbabazi against Besigye, in the quest to stand against Museveni. The two top contenders alongside other oppositionists later met in United Kingdom but still failed to agree. Consequently, Dr Besigye declared that he was out of TDA and that he would seek election under the banner of the FDC.
5.
On October 12, Fatuma Naigaga, one of the leaders in the FDC hierarchy hit the headlines after images of her allegedly being undressed by police surfaced.
At the time Naigaga was part of the entourage that had escorted Dr Besigye to a rally in Rukungiri, but Police rebutted the ‘undressing’ claims, instead saying she tried to block them from doing their work and that she undressed herself. Nonetheless, the Police was faulted by many women rights activists, who condemned the way in which Ms Naigaga was handled by police.
6.
Then, on November 4 and 5 all roads led to the Mandela National Stadium, Namboole for the nomination of eight presidential candidates by the Electoral Commission. The road from Spear Motors junction to Namboole was blocked, causing massive traffic snarls. All candidates received huge numbers of supporters, paving the way for campaigns to start.
7.
The biggest event in Uganda in 2015 is the three-day visit of His Holiness Pope Francis, who was in the country from November 27-29.
The Catholic prelate, who was welcomed at Entebbe International Airport by several dignitaries led by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, received a humbling reception from Ugandans.
On November 28 Pope Francis said Mass at the Namugongo Matyrs Shrine, held in commemoration of 50th anniversary of the Uganda Martyrs canonization. At the same ceremony, president Yoweri shook hands with Dr Kizza Besigye and former Prime Minister and now presidential rival Amama Mbabazi. The Holy Father later addressed youth at Kololo Airstrip where he advised them on various issues.
During this year’s pastoral visit the Pope also visited neighbouring Kenya and the Central African Republic (CAR).
A GREAT SPORTING YEAR
Football/Soccer
The Uganda Cranes won their 14th CECAFA title in late November in Ethiopia after beating Kenya 1-0. The Cranes will also represent Uganda in the CHAN tournament next year in Rwanda.
* Farouk Miya ends the year on spectacular form after scoring crucial goals for the Cranes.
* Former Uganda Cranes first choice goal keeper Dennis Onyango will end the year smiling after South Africa club Mamelodi Sundowns made him first goalkeeper dropping Zambian star Kennedy Mwene.
* The Azam Uganda Premier league ended successfully with Vipers Football Club lifting the trophy. Sports Club Villa lifted the Uganda Cup.
* Uganda ends 2015 atop the AFCON 2017 qualifiers table ahead of Burkina Faso, Comoros and Botswana.
Other Sports
* City Oilers carried home their third consecutive national basketball title.
* Hima Heathens lifted the rugby league and Uganda Cup.
*Uganda National Pool team bagged Silver in Lesotho, while locally Amos Ndyagumanawe and Angella Busingye emerged winners in their respective categories.
*Golfer Ronald Otile was crowned Uganda Open Champion, while soldiering Sergeant Flavia Namakula won the Women’s category.
* The performance of the She Cranes at the Netball World Cup in Sydney, Australia, where the team surprised many by emerging 8th out of 16 countries.
*World Body Building champion Ivan Byekwaso made Uganda proud by winning big.
* Arthur Segwanyi was spectacular on the chess board.
Social Media/Media
The year 2015 has seen a growth in the usage of social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and Instragram, with the entertainment industry adopting a method through which fans would vote for their best actors and musicians through social media with a specific hash tag.
Politicians led by John Patrick Amama Mbabazi of ‘Go Forward’ also took social media by storm, using it as a strong tool to announce their arrival in the political arena. All others have since stepped up their ante, and Social Media use in politics is now at its peak, with the only female candidate Faith Maureen Kyalya Walube the most ardent user of them all.
On the downside, many Ugandans have used social media to unfairly attack their opponents.
Variuos trends have also taken Twitter and Facebook by storm, with  the hilarious ‘Twitter fight’ between Ugandan and Kenyans under the hashtag #UOTvsKOT;  the outcry of Ugandans calling for an end in police brutality #StopPoliceBrutality; the fuzzy #IfAfricaWasABar and the recent whirlwind #WhatwouldMagufuliDo, which surfaced after the new Tanzanian President John Joseph Pombe Magufuli started making headlines for his candid governance approach.
MEDIA/NEWS INDUSTRY
In the media industry NTV launched Spark, its Luganda version targeting female viewers, while NBS TV launched its Luganda station programming ‘Extra’. Others stations that have launched this year are: Face TV, ABS TV, Delta TV and the Buganda Kingdom-owned BBS TV. On continental scene, the Independent Media launched the African Independent, a weekly magazine ‘the leading provider of news and in-depth analysis in print and digital platforms across the African continent’.
Last but not least, 2015 is the year EagleOnline made it debut on the social media/news stage, providing readers with reliable and timely news posts.
