The Observer

Makerere University introduces e-certificates, expands digital learning Academic registrar Prof Mukadasi Buyinza said the e-transcripts and e-certificates will spare graduates the inconvenience of repeatedly returning to the university to obtain certified academic documents. “The new e-transcripts and certificates will enable graduates to access their academic documents electronically while allowing employers and other third parties to verify their authenticity online with the graduate’s permission,” Buyinza said. observer.ug/education/make…

Students ‘mocked’ driver before Nalango school bus crash One of the injured students, Jalia Babirye, said the bus driver had earlier been stopped by traffic police allegedly over speeding and instructed to park for an hour before continuing with the journey. According to Babirye, the driver resumed travelling at high speed after the stop, prompting some students to taunt him by singing teasing songs. “We were being driven at a very high speed. The students kept mocking the driver with songs, and I remember he exchanged bitter words with some of them about five minutes before the accident. I think that may have distracted him before the vehicle rammed into a stationary truck,” she said. observer.ug/news/students-…

Kakumiro man fakes child’s death to defraud family of Shs 350,000 The suspect, Nicholas Mutegeki, placed a banana sucker in a coffin in an attempt to defraud his family of Shs 350,000. The deception was uncovered when mourners insisted on viewing the body before burial. Mutegeki reportedly resisted repeated requests to open the coffin, prompting suspicion among those gathered. Mourners eventually forced the coffin open and found no body inside, only a banana sucker wrapped in cloth. Mutegeki fled the scene and was found hiding in a nearby bush observer.ug/news/kakumiro-…

LC elections: protest as 12 villages in Pader are omitted from voters’ register Ugandans are scheduled to elect LC I leaders on July 28, 2026, followed by LC II elections on August 10. However, residents of Acholibur sub-county say they were shocked to learn that their villages, despite being recognised government administrative units for several years, do not appear on the Electoral Commission’s register. observer.ug/news/lc-electi…

Three killed after abandoned gold mine collapses in Namayingo The incident occurred in Mabuka village, Bukana sub-county, where an unknown number of miners are said to have been extracting unprocessed gold despite the mine having been officially closed over safety concerns. According to residents, the pit caved in while the miners were underground, burying several of them. observer.ug/news/three-kil…

Museveni to join parliament in paying tribute to Gen Moses Ali In a communication to MPs, Government Chief Whip Dr Jane Ruth Aceng said the President would join legislators during the special parliamentary session scheduled to begin at 9:00 a.m. “I have received information that H.E. the President will join us to pay tribute to Hon. Gen. Moses Ali in Parliament on Tuesday, 21st July 2026, at 9.00 am,” Aceng said. She urged legislators to arrive by 8:00 a.m. to allow sufficient time for security screening ahead of the President’s arrival. observer.ug/news/museveni-…

Full video: Rwabwogo speaks on NTV closure, 'sick' NRM and intolerant commanders President Museveni's son-in-law, Odrek Rwabwogo, has said criticism and negative media coverage are inevitable in any society and can only be effectively addressed through good governance rather than suppressing dissent. Those with power, he says, must set the tone for others via effective leadership and restraint, saying a good commander acts decisively but exercises patience and self-control. He said it is neither practical nor sustainable for leaders to attempt to silence every dissenting voice, adding that those who are uncomfortable with criticism have three dignified options: ignore it, address the concerns raised, or seek legal redress through the courts. Rwabwogo also said the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) has reached a point where it must undertake deep introspection over what he described as growing impunity and abuse of power within its ranks and among its associates. According to him, the party may have moved beyond merely preventing abuse of power and now requires what he likened to treatment. He said that if the NRM is to remain viable in the future, it may have to "amputate" members and associates who persist in abusing power.

Minister Nameere defends public confrontation of corruption suspects According to Nameere, the exposures rely on information provided by whistleblowers and verified by engineers, officers from the State House Anti-Corruption Unit, the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI) and other security agencies. She said the arrests made during the inspections are supported by complete case files ready for prosecution. “All the files are ready. Some suspects have already appeared in court, others are being arraigned. A state attorney cannot sanction a file without sufficient evidence because they know they will have to defend it in court,” she said. observer.ug/news/minister-…

Gen Moses Ali dies at 87 Ali leaves behind one of the most remarkable and complex legacies in Uganda’s political and military history. Over a career spanning more than five decades, he served under successive governments, led a rebel movement, negotiated peace and later returned to become one of Uganda’s longest-serving Cabinet ministers. Born on April 5, 1939, in Meliaderi village in present-day Adjumani district, Ali joined the Uganda Army in the 1960s and steadily rose through the ranks. observer.ug/news/gen-moses…

Former IGP Kayihura behind Joan Kagezi murder, suspect tells High court During his testimony, Nasur Abdallah Mugonole told the court that he was aware of the plot to kill Kagezi because he was recruited to gather intelligence on individuals involved in planning the assassination and reporting to a person he identified only as “Green. Mugonole alleged that Kayihura had offered Kagezi Shs 1 billion in exchange for the documents implicating him in violent activities and illegal firearms dealings, but she declined the offer, saying she intended to hand them over to President Yoweri Museveni. Mugonole further alleged that Kagezi’s mobile phone was stolen before her murder by a man he identified as Calvin Jordan, who allegedly gained the family’s trust by pretending to be interested in dating Kagezi’s daughter. The phone was allegedly returned 3 days later after a tracking device was installed to monitor Kagezi’s movements. observer.ug/news/former-ig…

Inside the Palace: President Museveni's son-in-law, Odrek Rwabwogo, has again weighed in on governance issues, urging Ugandans to speak out without fear against impunity and violations of the rule of law. Rwabwogo argued that suppressing civic dissent is counterproductive to national development, saying citizens should be free to express their views on matters affecting the country's governance. His latest remarks come after an earlier video in which he warned that abuse of power through torture, killings, electoral malpractice, and the militarisation of politics posed a greater threat to Uganda's stability than external enemies or natural disasters.

NMG shutdown: employees grapple with uncertain future “Do you remember COVID-19, when people woke up every morning with nowhere to go? That is exactly what this feels like,” an NTV journalist said. “You wake up, but you don’t know what comes next. Your routine is gone.” The journalist said the uncertainty had become more difficult with each passing day. “We all hope the company reopens, but nobody knows when that will happen. There is always a chance things could take longer or change completely. That uncertainty is frightening.” observer.ug/news/nmg-shutd…

Govt suspends school trips nationwide after fatal Kapchorwa bus crash Acting Education minister JC Muyingo said educational trips remain an important part of learning but stressed that they should never compromise the safety of children. “As an immediate precautionary measure, all school trips and educational excursions are hereby suspended with immediate effect until further notice,” he announced. observer.ug/education/govt…

Two female Luwero Hospital medics arrested over Shs 700,000 extortion Rebecca Nakiwala, an orthopaedic, and Margaret Nabikolo were arrested by police following an incident involving a wounded woman whom they allegedly denied treatment because she could not afford to pay Shs 700,000 bribe. observer.ug/news/two-femal…

Fate: From baby photo with Messi to FIFA World Cup final showdown UNICEF has confirmed that a widely circulated photograph showing then-infant Lamine Yamal with his mother, Sheila Ebana, alongside Lionel Messi is authentic. The picture was taken during a UNICEF fundraising photoshoot about 18 years ago. Now, in a remarkable twist, Yamal's Spain and Messi's Argentina are set to meet on July 19, with the two players as the stars and poster boys of their respective countries.

Kapchorwa school bus crash death toll rises to 21 Kapchorwa district health officer Dr Siraji Masai said two more victims of the crash died at around 4:30 a.m. while receiving treatment, bringing the confirmed death toll to 21. According to Masai, 19 critically injured victims have since been referred to Mbale Regional Referral Hospital for specialised treatment, while dozens of others remain admitted at Kapchorwa General Hospital and nearby health facilities. Those whose identities have so far been confirmed include the school’s director, Tadeo Ssekade, as well as Amal Draxler G., Kiyimba M., Mustwala Eyem, Nyang Sunday, Ihanga, Ocholu and Joshua G. Police said 11 other bodies had not yet been formally identified by Friday morning. observer.ug/news/kapchorwa…

New telecom taxes renew debate on financial inclusion The debate follows recent amendments to the Income Tax Act introducing a 10% final withholding tax on commissions earned by telecom agents. The new measure adds to several existing taxes imposed on Uganda’s telecommunications sector. Consumers already pay a 0.5% levy on mobile money withdrawals, transaction charges imposed by telecom operators, a 15% tax on those operator fees, a 12% excise duty on airtime and internet data, and an 18% Value Added Tax (VAT) on telecommunications services. Civil society organisations argue that the cumulative effect of these taxes has made mobile money among the most expensive financial services in the region, discouraging low-income households from using formal digital payment systems. observer.ug/business/new-t…

Grace Gidudu named parliament’s acting director of communication The veteran journalist was appointed following the arrest of the substantive director, Chris Obore. In the same changes, Benson Masereka Oniz was appointed acting director of human resource management following the arrest of the substantive director of human resource management, Daniel Adilo. Gidudu brings years of experience in institutional communication, having served as assistant director for media relations, where she coordinated parliamentary media coverage, public information campaigns and engagement between parliament and the media. observer.ug/news/gidudu-na…

19 King David Junior School pupils feared dead, 60 injured in Kapchorwa bus crash The pupils of King David Junior School, Ndejje were returning from a study tour on Thursday when their bus, registration number UA 108BQ, reportedly developed a mechanical fault at around 2000hrs. The driver is said to have lost control before the vehicle crashed. "Preliminary investigations suggest that the bus lost control due to a mechanical fault. We have also established from eyewitness accounts that the vehicle made several stopovers before the accident..." observer.ug/news/over-19-p…

Ok. 65m? Phew!