President Yoweri Museveni has commended the people of Rushere in particular and of Kiruhura district at large for engaging in income generation projects.
The President was speaking yesterday at Emmanuel Cathedral in Rushere, seat of North Ankole Diocese in Kiruhura district during a thanksgiving service commemorating the first anniversary since the consecration of Rt. Rev. Stephen Namanya, as Bishop of North Ankole Diocese.
The event was also used to celebrate the victory of President Museveni and the National Resistance Movement (NRM) during the 2016 elections. President Museveni, who was the guest of honour, commissioned the Diocesan SACCO and milk plant and also laid the foundation stone of the girls’ school
North Ankole Diocese, created in 2003, has a variety of investments worth Shs. 800 million that, among others, include a dairy farm, milk plant, a bee farm, a girls’ school and health insurance.
“I am pleased to note that the people have stopped nomadism, embarked on work and are generating income. I thank God who has enabled them to educate their children,” he said.
He expressed happiness that the people had gathered to thank God for the NRM victory. He said that NRM has built the Lyantonde – Ibanda – Kamwenge – Fort Portal road adding that the facility would go a long way towards promoting development in the area. He further informed the gathering that the NRM Government will build the Kazo – Kyegegwa – Hapuyo road.
President Museveni commended the congregation for their commitment to educating their children in schools near their homes. He, however, cautioned the youth over the dangers of the HIV/AIDS scourge. He called on them to avoid the situation of what he called ‘winning a trophy in AIDS.’ He urged parents and religious leaders to sensitize the youths over the pandemic.
Regarding environment, the President called on the people of Kiruhuura district and the Ankole Sub-Region as a whole, to protect water sources. He made particular reference to River Rwizi which transverses the area but is threatened with drying up because of the harmful activities of the people along its course. He asked them to leave intact the swamps that are water catchment areas for the benefit of the community. He informed them that the Government has made plans to promote irrigation in order to ensure sustainable agricultural production adding that it would also promote work on valley dams to ensure that wananchi are served.
Mr. Museveni said plans are underway to enable wananchi cultivate perennial crops such as coffee, fruits, tea and cocoa. He gave assurances that this would be done through the provision of quality seedlings. He urged wananchi not to worry about incidents of East Coast fever that affects cows because veterinary officials are working to ensure that the threat is contained.
President Museveni thanked the people of the area for establishing a Diocesan SACCO to which he donated Shs.10 million to boost it. He pledged to donate a tractor to facilitate their agricultural venture and that he will assist them to search for an investor to help them tap into the resource of their 670-acre land.
During the thanksgiving service, Shs. 372 million was realized towards the girls’ school building project to which the President had auctioned a cow at Shs.10 million; donated Shs.10 million for the thanksgiving cerebrations and also pledged Shs.200 million for the girls’ school building, out of which he gave cash of Shs.20 million. The President further bought 21 cows at a total of Shs.42 million and donated the cows to Bishop Namanya.
North Ankole Bishop, Rt. Rev. Steven Namanya, saluted President Museveni for his wise leadership and thanked God for the gift of Mr. Museveni. He congratulated him for the general elections’ victory.
NEW ROLE: Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIGP) Andrew Felix Kaweesi
The Inspector General of Police Gen Kale Kayihura has shaken up the police media department, bringing in Andree Felix Kaweesi to ‘stand in’ for long-serving Fred Enanga.
According to available information, Commissioner of Police (CP) Enanga is away on assignment, while his deputy Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Polly Namaye and Kampala Metropolitan Police (KMP) spokesperson Superintendent Patrick Onyango have been sent to study.
AWAY ON ASSIGNMENT: Police Spokesperson Fred Enanga
By press time it was not possible to establish the replacements for ACP Namaye and Supt. Onyango.
SENT TO STUDY: ACP Polly Bagambaki Namaye
The changes come in the wake of a sustained negative publicity stunt that engulfed the police hierarchy following the beating of citizens by officers on duty to monitor the travels of opposition key figure Dr Kizza Besigye after his release from a two-month incarceration in Luzira prison on treason charges.
EFFECTED CHANGES: IGP Gen Kale Kayihura
Since then, the IGP and seven other senior police officers have been dragged to court, though they have failed to turn up. Their failure to appear before court however, has not been without drama; first, goons who are reportedly supporters of the IGP raided and disrupted proceedings at the Makindye magistrate’s court, where Gen Kayihura had been scheduled to appear August 10.
‘NO SHOW’: Internal Affairs Minister Gen Abubaker Jeje Odongo addressing the press at the Media Centre. He said Gen Kayihura would not show up in court
Then his boss, minister of Internal Affairs Gen Abubaker Jeje Odong took to the microphone at the Media Centre last week, and suggested the IGP would not go to court when he is next required to, on August 29. “…What we are talking about is a gentleman performing his constitutional duties. Therefore, we would be talking about General Kale Kayihura, the institution, and not General Kale Kayihura, the individual… Therefore, when you are talking about going to court, it is the institution and not the individual,” Gen Odongo was quoted by local media as saying.
Former Olympic marathon champion Stephen Kiprotich and Uganda is confident he can use his Rio disappointment as a springboard to fresh World championship glory.
The marathoner posted 2:13:32 in the wet and lightly rainy conditions to finish a distant 8th on the final day of the Rio 2016 Olympics, a race won by Kenya’s Eliud Kipchoge who has done extremely well since switching from track to marathon.
Kiprotich and Kipchonge share a manager, Jurrie van der Velden.
Now that the four year honeymoon within which Kiprotich has inflicted so much pain on the East African neighbours, beating them to gold twice is over, the 27-year-old prisons officer has said his next focus once he relaxes in the hilly Bukwo district, is the IAAF World Championship in London next year.
“The marathon in Rio was difficult but now my focus turns to the World Championship in London,” Kiprotich said on Monday.
In the shadow of the iconic Christ the Redeemer statue, poking through the rain clouds from high above the city, Solomon Mutai was the best placed Ugandan in 8th while Jackson Kiprop finished 80th. The trio blamed their poor finish on weather as Uganda left Brazil empty handed.
Incidentally, Kiprop was selected to undergo a doping test.
ORDERED ILLEGAL BARUNDI IMMIGRANTS OUT OF TANZANIA: Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa
Thousands of Burundi refugees who fled conflict from their home country to Tanzania have been naturalized, and granted citizenship.
Official statistics indicate that over 160.000 Barundi had applied for citizenship, with many successful, the regional Defence and Security Committee chairman for Katavi region Major General (rtd) Raphael Muhuga, has said.
The Katavi region is host to Katumba and Mishamo in Mpanda district, home to refugee settlements occupied by Burundi nationals who fled their country following the violence that erupted last April after President Pierre Nkurunziza announced he was running for a third term.
Since then about 400.000 Barundi have left their country, majority moving to nearby Tanzania. However, there is a caveat for those with the recently-granted citizenship: they should not accommodate those who have not been naturalized, the Tanzania Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa, has warned.
According to reports, Mr. Majaliwa, while touring the region on Saturday, ordered all Burundians illegally staying in the camps to return to their country lest the face the wrath of the host country. He also ordered General Muhunga to ensure that his directive is adhered to, and also urged the refugees to desist from assisting in the proliferation of small arms into Tanzania.
MISSION SAVE SOUTH SUDAN FROM CRISIS: US Secretary of State John Kerry is meeting 8 African counterparts to deliberate on the South Sudan situation
Foreign affairs minister from eight African countries including Uganda are meeting the US Secretary of State John Kerry in Nairobi now to discuss ways to prevent South Sudan from sliding back into civil war and advance a political transition in Somalia.
Kerry arrived in the Kenyan capital late on Sunday for his second trip as secretary of state to Nairobi since May 2015, and met Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta before joining foreign ministers from Kenya, Uganda, South Sudan, Sudan, Djibouti, Tanzania, Somalia and Ethiopia to discuss South Sudan and Somalia, where there are concerns that delays in the approval of new election rules could dampen its recovery from conflict.
“We will … talk about how we move forward in trying to implement peace in this country,” a senior State Department official said of South Sudan. “The people of South Sudan have suffered for far too long, and the continued instability there has led almost a million refugees and a humanitarian crisis that is far beyond the abilities of even the international community to respond to,” the official told a conference call.
The international community has poured billions of aid into supporting the world’s youngest nation, which gained independence in 2011. Oil production, by far the biggest source of government revenue, has plummeted. But worsening violence has raised fears of a return to civil war that erupted in late 2013, which broadly ran along ethnic lines, pitting President Salva Kiir, an ethnic Dinka, against his rival and vice president Riek Machar, a Nuer.
Violence flared when Machar withdrew his forces from the capital Juba in July and was sacked by Kiir as vice president. Machar was picked up by UN peacekeepers in the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo a week ago with a leg injury and was handed over to authorities in Congo. Machar led a two-year rebellion against forces loyal to rival Kiir before the two sides reached a peace deal in August 2015. Under the deal, Machar returned to Juba in April to resume his role as vice president.
World powers and regional states have struggled to find leverage over the warring factions in South Sudan, despite US and European sanctions on some military leaders and African threats of punitive actions. Especially of concern to Washington was an attack on a Juba hotel in July by uniformed men who killed a US-funded journalist and raped civilians, including aid workers.
The UN has launched an investigation into accusations UN peacekeepers in Juba failed to respond properly to the attack. In Kerry’s talks with Kenyatta, he will also discuss Kenya’s presidential election set for August 2017, the senior State Department official said.
Opposition protests in Nairobi since April have stoked fears among church leaders and Western diplomats of a repeat of the violence following the 2007 election in which 1,200 people were killed. In a letter to Kerry before his visit, the Human Rights Watch group urged him to discuss rights concerns with Kenyatta. The group said it had documented 34 cases of extrajudicial killings and another 11 deaths of people last seen in state custody over alleged links with al-Shabaab militants in Nairobi and in the northeast.
Meanwhile, tomorrow Secretary Kerry travels to Sokoto, Nigeria, the historic Muslim city in the remote northwest, followed by talks with Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja.
The Uganda Communication Commission has refuted allegations that its boss Eng. Godfrey Mutabazi blew over Shs10 on travelling to different destinations alone.
Instead the communication regulator says the said money was spent by Mutabazi alone as Members of Parliament on ICT committee, sector line Ministers and Uganda’s diplomats in the respective countries are used the money for the air tickets, accommodation among other things.
“UCC staff, ministers responsible for communications, Members of Parliament on the Sessional Committee on ICT – just to mention a few – travelled on the UCC ticket to participate at events abroad during 2011-15. This was in line with UCC’s mandate of representing Uganda at and/or coordinating the country’s participation in regional and international fora and organisations as spelt out under Section 5 (1) (q) of the Act” wrote, Mr Fred Otunnu, UCC Director for Corporate Affairs
Adding “The delegation to such meetings is usually led by the Minister responsible for ICT. The delegation often includes officials from UCC, Uganda’s diplomatic missions, Ministry of ICT, and MPs on the Sessional Committee on ICT where applicable.
Below is the full statement
UCC a Global ICT Player
Introduction
The Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) is a statutory body mandated to regulate Uganda’s communications sector as established by the Uganda Communications Act 2013. The sector comprises telecommunications; electronic media (broadcasting), social media; postal and courier services; radio communications; and data communication and infrastructure.
UCC would like to draw the attention of Ugandans to the article entitled “UCC bosses blow over UGX10b on foreign trips and legal fees” that appeared Sunday Vision of August 14, 2016 (p.5) – an article that depicts UCC as a corrupt and spendthrift organisation. I wish to provide the facts as follows;
UCC staff, ministers responsible for communications, Members of Parliament on the Sessional Committee on ICT – just to mention a few – travelled on the UCC ticket to participate at events abroad during 2011-15. This was in line with UCC’s mandate of representing Uganda at and/or coordinating the country’s participation in regional and international fora and organisations as spelt out under Section 5 (1) (q) of the Act.
UCC represents Uganda at such international fora as the Africa Telecommunications Union (an inter-governmental organisation dedicated to fostering ICT infrastructure development in Africa), Commonwealth Telecommunications Union (a Commonwealth membership organisation in the field of information and communication technology), and East Africa Communications Organisation (an East African regional organisation that brings together national ICT regulators, operators, services providers in the telecommunication, broadcasting and postal sub-sectors).
Others include the GSM Association (an association that represents the interests of mobile operators worldwide), International Telecommunications Service Organisation (an intergovernmental organisation aimed to provide public telecommunications services, including voice, data and video, on a global and non-discriminatory basis), International Telecommunications Union (the United Nations specialised agency for ICT), Pan Africa Postal Union (a specialised agency of the African Union aimed to improve co-operation on postal matters in Africa) and Universal Postal Union (the primary global forum for cooperation between postal sector players).
Type of meetings
Eng. John Nasasira, Former Minister of Information & Communications Technology.
In these bodies, UCC participates in three categories/types of meetings:
Plenipotentiary Conferences. This is the top policy making organ of the international organizations. The delegation to such meetings is usually led by the Minister responsible for ICT. The delegation often includes officials from UCC, Uganda’s diplomatic missions, Ministry of ICT, and MPs on the Sessional Committee on ICT where applicable.
The Commission participates in Study or Working Group meetings. These are highly specialised meetings tackling technological issues. These are attended by technocrats from UCC. Worth mentioning are Study Group 11 and Study Group 13 of which UCC has been Vice Chair persons.
Study Group 11 is responsible for producing international standards (ITU-T Recommendations) that define how telephone calls and other calls (such as data calls) are handled in the network; and developing signalling requirements and protocols for Software-defined Networking (SDN). This Group leads ITU’s work on conformance and interoperability (C&I) testing, as well as developing test specifications focusing on global interoperability testing parameters, services, and quality of service (QoS) and testing parameters.
On the other hand, Study Group 13 is responsible for Future Networks (FNs) – networks of the future beyond NGN (2020). It is also concerned with the evolution of NGNs, while focusing on future networks and network aspects of mobile telecommunications. These include cloud computing, mobile and next-generation networks, future networks studies, network aspects of the Internet of Things (IoT), IMT-2000 and IMT-Advanced (ITU-R standards commonly referred to as 3G and 4G, respectively.
The third group of international engagements that UCC attends is Conventions, and exhibitions. These are usually headed by a government official at ministerial level participating on High level panel sessions on topical issues. For exhibitions, UCC has taken winners of innovation awards to showcase Ugandan technology, innovations and service provision up to the grassroots.
Therefore, UCC and/or Ugandan participants are required to attend these meetings which consider issues pertinent to the communications and technological industry. Therefore, many of the travels queried in the Sunday Vision article and/or their sources were related to these meetings and events.
Examples of meetings attended
Benefited from the UCC travel allowances, Nyombi Thembo, the former State Minister of ICT.
Between 2011-2015, UCC (or a Ugandan delegation coordinated by UCC) has attended a number of meetings and events such as the CTO Council in London (2011), which UCC had chaired for two years (2009-2010); the 31st PAPU Administration Council held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, at which Uganda was elected to the PAPU Council of Administration; 19th ITU Plenipotentiary Conference held in Busan, South Korea, at which Uganda was elected to the ITU Council for Africa (Region D) for the period 2014-18; 4th ATU Plenipotentiary Conference held in Harare, Zimbabwe from July 3-11, 2014, where Uganda was re-elected to ATU Administration Council (2014-18); and the World Radiocommunication Conference 2015 (Geneva, Switzerland).
It should be noted that UCC votes and is voted for various posts. Since this is at regional, continental and global levels, the Government is heavily involved including but not limited for soliciting and lobbying member states at diplomatic lobby. Accordingly, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Uganda’s diplomatic missions abroad are usually involved.
Events hosted events
In return, either as chairperson or out of goodwill, Uganda occasionally hosts international events. In June 2015, UCC hosted the 21st EACO Congress and Exhibition at the Sheraton Hotel from June 22-26, 2016. UCC was elected EACO chairperson; in 2013, UCC hosted a five-day regional digital migration workshop at Munyonyo under the theme: “Strategy for Broadband Access for All in East Africa.”
Other important events hosted include the 7th Annual eGov Africa 2013 under the theme: “eGovernment Policies, Practices and Innovation: The Road Ahead” (March 25-27, 2016); ITU Standardisation Meetings (Study Group 11 and 13) -November 4-15, 2013; and the 9th eLearning Africa Conference 2014 under the theme: “Opening Frontiers to the Future” (Munyonyo from May 28-30, 2014.
Conclusion
While time and space do not allow us to exhaust all the issues raised in the above article, it is evident the article contained a number of inaccuracies and distortions that inadvertently depicted UCC in an unfavourable image. Therefore, through this article UCC has put the issues raised into clear perspective.
UCC advocates open dialogue and is open to constructive criticism, but such communication ought to be from an informed point of view, fair and balanced. We would like to assure our communications sector is healthy, vibrant and on the right course to prosperity.
A video of an unidentified city girl dancing to Navio’s hit, Njogereza has gone viral with the chic whining her waist whilst doing the backsimba. Njogereza, a fusion of backsimba percussion and urban beats is currently dominating the airwaves.
The Hip-Hop singer is set to launch his album on September 9 at Gard city rooftop .
Navio who is currently billed the best hip-hop singer in the country has proven that an urban rapper can move away from the English and do even better in the Luganda.
TO SUE KENYA: SPLM -IO chief Riek Machar. His group says it wil sue the Kenya government.Photo Credit/Reuters
The United Nations facilitated the fleeing of embattled former South Sudan First Vice President Riek Machar to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
According to Machar’s spokesperson James Gatdet Dak, his boss was airlifted from South Sudan by the UN mission in the DRC, MONUSCO, which had liaised with DRC President Joseph Kabila.
‘The First Vice President of the Republic of South Sudan, H.E. Dr. Riek Machar Teny-Dhurgon, Chairman and Commander-in-Chief of the SPLM/SPLA (IO), thanked the United Nations mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo, or MONUSCO, the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), under the leadership of His Excellency President Joseph Kabila, for their hospitality by airlifting him and his officials from the South Sudan-DRC border and for taking good care of him and his officials in the DRC,’ Gatdet Dak wrote in a statement issued earlier today.
Gatdet Dak said Dr. Machar and his troops had braved the jungles for 40 days before the assistance rendered to him came forth, adding that the former FVP would ‘soon’ contact parties that were instrumental in signing of the peace deal in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia last August.
‘Despite being “exhausted” after staying in the bushes and walking on foot for 40 days, he is very fine and he has assured that he will soon speak to the media in the next few days, and particularly as he is establishing contacts with the leaderships of IGAD, AU and the UN to communicate his views on the current situation in the peace process. He will soon be on visit to IGAD member countries in the region,’ Gatdet Dak added.
According to the statement, Dr. Machar also issued a ‘congratulatory message to the gallant forces of the SPLA-IO who have fought successfully in self-defence since July 8, 2016, attack by President Salva Kiir’s forces in the attempt to murder him at the Presidential Palace in Juba’.
GAVEL AND RINGS: Signs that things are not all that cool as rings are tossed off the fingers.Photo credit/nigeriatoday.ng.
Social media has changed the world view of societal communications engagements, and soon we might find ourselves knowing all that happens in the sacrosanct precincts of the high and mighty.
Over the past few days the internet has been awash with very discomforting stories emanating from one of the prominent bedrooms in the East African region.
The story concerns one of the First Families, whose structure has reportedly broken down because of infidelity, which allegedly resulted in the birth of a boy child born out of wedlock, who is now at the centre of controversy.
It is said that the boy’s ‘real’ father is a diplomat formerly serving at the United Nations in New York, who has reportedly sought ‘asylum’ for fear that he might land in real trouble should he set his foot home, following his recall from the tour-of-duty.
And, because nobility knows no bounds, it is said that a sage, a former Ambassador who represented his country in various foreign missions abroad, has been recalled from ‘retirement’ to come and stoke the burning embers. That the sage chosen for the task is a former diplomat is probably emblematic of the immensity of conflict-resolution techniques required to solve the jinx that has the capacity to temporarily ‘affect the functioning of State’!
Billionaire's son: Rajiv Ruparelia, son of tycoon Sudhir Ruparelia. Photo credit/rosandpost.com
Yes, we have been here and this topic seems to be getting rather old but might also become interesting as we feed you with the names of Kampala’s rich and famous and their latest antics or purchases that will not only leave you in admiration but might also leave you frustrated because their names do not help anyone when it comes to the end of month bills and debts.
Kampala is a funny place; a place of several million people with very few of them rich and living a life akin to that of the mega stars of Beverley Hill in Hollywood!
Of course most of us less scumbags already know these public figures, the amount of monies they claim to possess and what level of status and fame their riches have earned them. But what we tend to ignore is that these wealthy moguls and celebrities aren’t just out to only top the list of Uganda’s richest; behind closed doors they are surely and steadily trying so hard to shape the country’s next elitist society.
Make no mistake, when we talk of Uganda’s next batch of elites we don’t mean trivial personas such as Sheila Gashumba or Zari’s beautiful brood(give them time) not even the Sudanese spawn that seems to have an endless supply of dollars. We mean the type who can hold at least a five minute conversation with the Queen of England without a typical ‘come again’ or those few who know how to pronounce exotic names like ‘Calais’ and ‘Cannes’ correctly and have actually been to Coachella, where they partied with their friends as Beyonce stood in formation with her eight bodyguards just a stone’s throw away. The girls have attended the annual fashion weeks in Milan, Paris, London and New York without the need of a ‘blesser’ while the boys have booked flights to Rio de Janeiro Brazil to watch the Olympics. With their tales of underwater hotel rooms, private jet trips to remote islands in the Caribbean to shopping sprees in Monte Carlo with their father’s black card not to mention the German car ‘Uncle Bob’ got them for their eighteenth. These kids were born with the real silver ‘mulaho’ in their mouths that even some white folks (bazungu) who meet them on their own turf make way for them kids! Welcome to some of Kampala’s Crème de la Crème de kids:
RAJIV RUPARELIA
FATHER AND SON: Tycoon Sudhir Ruparelia with his son Rajiv.
It goes without saying that Rajiv, son of billionaire Sudhir Ruparelia tops the list. Ugandans got acquainted with the heir to the family business when he became of age, and took up managerial roles in the family empire. Indeed, his father Sudhir never held back when it came to his one and only son; from black cards with a 30,000 pound limit to exotic cars driven on different soils around the world, there is nothing Rajiv can dream up that his father is not able to provide. He has been to prestigious schools in the UK and is currently managing family businesses that among others invest in the hospitality, real estate and education sectors. Like his father Sudhir, Rajiv is also a philanthropist, contributing to several charities.
ALEXANDER MUKONZI SALEH
Just like his father General Caleb Akandwanaho ‘Rufu’ aka Salim Saleh, Alexander Mukonzi Saleh highly values his privacy so much so that no one in Uganda knew of his existence till recent, reminding us journalists of his father’s ever infamous ‘disappearing acts’.
Despite being President Yoweri Museveni’s nephew Alexander and his cousins Major General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, Natasha Karugire, Patience Rwabwogo and Diana Kamuntu are constantly reminded of their parent’s humble beginnings and true to their preaching this man, from a very tender age, learnt the basics needed for one to make it in life. Alexander’s humility has caught on and he is steadfastly moving up the ranks and making a name for himself. Of course he is helped by the connections that come with being a close member of the first family. But don’t let Alexander’s modesty fool you; his expenditure in a single expedition about town is enough to cater for two people for month or two, with enough left to invest in a poultry business of no less than 5000 birds!
NADIA KABAHITA MBIIRE
KAMPALA HERE WE COME! Nadia Mbire, tycoon Charles Mbire’s daughter at her wedding to Yasser Matovu. Photo credit/galaxyfm.com
Nadia Kabahita Mbire is one of only two daughters born to tycoon Charles Mbiire, Uganda’s richest indigenous man whose worth is estimated at US$200 million. Nadia’s little sister Thandiwe Mbiire is a laid back gal but still finds time to enjoy the fruits of their father’s labour. At one time their father paid the singing duo of Brick and Lace hundreds of thousands of dollars for them to sing for the two girls who are Uganda’s version of the Hilton heiresses Paris and Nicky.
But most Ugandans had never heard of Nadia in serious form because she was probably in one of the best private schools money can take one to, and having holiday trips to various five star destinations like Dubai, Monaco, Hollywood and Disneyland! While enjoying a jet set life full of adventure, Nadia fraternized with rich and famous celebrities such as Chris Brown, Tyga and Lil Brown and if in doubt, her Instagram account is testimony enough for the beautiful heiress of the Mbiire Empire. Then all of a sudden the ‘east-or-west-home-is-best’ bug hit Nadia hard; she discovered a new fondness for all that is good at home, even getting a lifetime partner in the process.
Indeed, Nadia brought the heat to Kampala every holiday displacing so many wannabes in her wake. Strictly socializing with those of the same class and stature, she has been known to make her rounds in Uganda, occasionally in the company of her peers like Lucy Bunyenyezi, daughter to tycoon Ezra Bunyenyezi of Security 2000 and the former Uganda Travel Bureau, a flourishing Tour and Travel Company of the 1970s and 80s. It is during such fraternizing times with her peers that Nadia would, at her best, host state-of-the-art parties as she made herself at home. But now happily married to Yassah Matovu, son to ceramic tiles mogul Yusuf Matovu of Youma Builders, Nadia’s father Charles Mbiire can now properly turn his full attention on raising Nadia’s younger sibling.
THE KIGONGO GIRLS
Their father needs no introduction; he has been the National Resistance Movement Vice Chairman for the last 30 or so years. Al Hajji Moses Saku Kigongo, known for his knack for expensive rides like the Merc, BMW and Maybach, is formerly of remarkable wealth derived from family businesses that dealt in transportation and the fuel industry. But the proprietor of Mosa Group has also made substantial wealth during the NRM regime, making him one of the richest Ugandans. And for this, he will stop at nothing to share his riches with his girls Siki and Anisha, born to Uganda National Chamber of Commerce boss Olive Zaitun Kigongo. From day one on earth Siki and Anisha have been spoilt by both their parents. The recent split between Al Hajji Kigongo and Olive Kigongo might cause a dent in the family’s income but not the girls’ spending sprees since both parents are still magnanimously wealthy.
Interestingly, it isn’t the money that gives these girls status in this small circle of Hollywood look-alikes but rather the fact that they are pioneers in the world of sophistication.
Whilst we attended the signature schools of our time such as Kampala Parents, Kings College Buddo and Lohana Academy the Kigongo sisters were flying to schools with standards like the famed St. Andrews Turi in Kenya and various other schools across the globe every semester, with a guaranteed first class ticket back home for the holidays.
The distinction for them was made and other kids of lesser mortals were left ‘starving’ most times even resorting to doing menial jobs (kyeyo) during holidays to make ends meet. Mmmmh!
But that is not all; Ugandans must fully understand that just as there is chain of hierarchy amongst the big guns, the same can be said for their spawn and the Kigongo sisters are royalty when it comes to the elite of Ugandan society and no ‘rich kid’ can make it in the big league without their approval. And if you rub them the wrong way, your chances of getting ousted from the ‘rich kids country club’ is a done deal.
LUCY BUNYENYEZI
Beautiful, charismatic and fun, this Ugandan with Rwandan heritage is a beauty to behold and boys going gaga every time she is on Uganda’s social scene, regardless of the occasion.
A pioneer in her own right, Lucy, the daughter of tycoon Ezra Bunyenyezi stands out amongst her peers and family because unlike the typical rich kid snob, she engages her peers regardless of status, social ranking and background.
Indeed, her down-to-earth attitude has even grabbed the attentive fillers a one Henry Mulira of the prominent and Buganda aristocratic Mulira family. And overtime, tales of her beauty have travelled far and wide even landing her an appearance on the latest hit series on television “Beneath the lies’ where she worked with fellow rich kid Cedric Babu, son to Zaitun Kigongo and politician Edward Francis Babu, a former Kampala Central Member of Parliament.
Anyhow, Ugandans can only stand afar and admire this godly work of art and only cheer Lucy B along as we witness her rise to fame and stardom, since she has everything else. For the uninitiated, you can also join us as we stalk her via her various media accounts but most especially on Instagram @LucyBsmize
SAM MUHWEZI
THE RICH AND GLAMOUROUS: Sam Muhwezi, a son to flamboyant jim Muhwezi, while the former worked at the Uganda High Commission in the UK. Photo credit/archnect.com
This eligible bachelor is constantly dodging his parents’ attempts to get him hitched and instead opts to party with his friends. Word has it that Sam had become such a party animal, painting the city of Kampala red on a daily and at times going over board, something that reportedly forced his parents Major General (rtd) Jim Katugugu Muhwezi and Susan Kabonero Muhwezi to get him a job at the Ugandan High Commission in the United Kingdom, in an attempt to get him away from Kampala and the lesser mortals he had picked along the way.
One thing Ugandans may not know is that Sam and his siblings are not only children to public figures Jim and Suzan Muhwezi but also nieces and nephews to Ambassador Richard Kabonero, Uganda’s High Commissioner to Rwanda, and city tycoon Bob Kabonero, the proprietor of Kampala Casino and several other investments.
Further to that, name any country or place in this world and we can guarantee that Sam and his sisters have been to them on their bucket lists.
Indeed, they were bred in such a way that they are a class apart. And if attending Eton, one of the best schools in the world, a centuries-old preserve of English aristocracy that has alumni like Prince William and Prince Harry, is not enough, then what else can we ask of the Muhwezis.
GLORIA WAVAMUNNO
RICH FASHIONISTA: Gloria Wavamunno, daughter to tycoon Gordon Wavamunno. Photo credit/monitor.co.ug.
Not much is really known about Gloria Wavamunno’s private life, but this is expected because rarely will you find her in on the social scene if it has nothing to do with fashion.
A philanthropist like her father tycoon Gordon Wavamunno of the Wavah Holdings empire including Spear Motors, Wavah Water, Wavah Broadcasting Serrvices; generally everything that brings money in one’s pockets!
But the heiress to the ‘Wavah Empire’ has put all her acquired skills, lessons the best education can get you and the money and provided a platform for many artistes, especially fashion designers, to showcase their works.
PRINCE KIWEWA JJUNJU
ROYALTY! Prince Crispin Jjunju Kiwewa with Ambassador Emmanuel Sendawula. Photo/credit/owensseremba
Prince Kiwewa Jjunju is the first born son, born to the Kabaka of Buganda Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II and Lady Venetia Sebudandi, Rwanda’s former High Commissioner to India. A career diplomat, Lady Venetia also worked as her country’s Ambassador to Sweden.
But diplomacy may not be a thing for their royal offspring Prince Jjunju who, like many royals, espouses etiquette at the expense of other social norms.
Indeed, being sure that he cannot succeed his father, Prince Jjunju, like his grandfather Kabaka Edward Fredrick Luwangula Mutesa II, has taken the social scene, living his life once at a time.
His birthday parties every year are a must attend affair for the glitterati, as they not only offer exquisite food and drinks to the guests but also allow many well wishers and socialites to visit the home of the Kabaka.
After the regal expedition at Twekobe, the ordinary attendees return only to brag to other peers that they’d been to the palace and hobnobbed with royalty.
However, of recent the party animal in Prince Jjunju calmed down and has now showed an interest in enterprise.
