The wealthy tycoon, known not only for his business acumen, but also for his philanthropic heart and cultural contributions, slipped into coma in February 2023, right inside his Kololo residence, at Plot 9, along Hill Drive Lane, in the leafy, posh Kampala surbub.

Once a host to His Majesty Kabaka Muwenda Mutebi before the King’s coronation and the restoration of his official palaces, Hajj Bagalaliwo now lies immobile, sustained by oxygen and round-the-clock care. Yet, while doctors fight a losing battle to revive him, an entirely different and equally tragic battle is unfolding around him… a vicious war over his multi-billion estate.

The Battle Over Billion

At the center of this bitter wrangle is Hajj Bagalaliwo’s wife, Hajjat Sarah Nanziri Bagalaliwo, a trained lawyer, former East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) Representative, and currently, the Chairperson Board Of Directors of the Exim Bank – Uganda. In April 2023, just two months after her husband collapsed into coma, Hajjat Nanziri reportedly, controversially registered a charitable entity named the Baagalaaliwo Foundation.

According to her, this foundation was formed under her comatose husband’s instructions! This is a claim many within the family members and close friends strongly contest, arguing that he was already unconscious and incapable of legal instruction at the time.

Among the properties involved in the fracas is Kibuli Estate, located in Makindye Division.  Comprising valuable rental properties, this estate belonged to Hajj Bagalaliwo’s late mother, Hajjat Mulasi Nakakawa. Despite being registered in Late Nakakawa` name, Hajjat Nanziri insists her husband actually purchased the estate comprised in Kyaddondo, Block 244, Plot 383 in 1974, but registered it in his mother’s name.

Another asset is Iganga Family Properties in Eastern Uganda. These include a commercial plaza and several land parcels donated by Hajj Bagalaliwo to his relatives in Busoga. Others are communityassets including a hospital, and a school built by Hajj Bagalaliwo, reportedly in memory of his mother. These are also among the disputed properties, which were specifically intended for the benefit of the local Muslim community.

Critics, including Bagalaliwo’s eldest son, Hajj Bashir Balozi Bagalaliwo, argue that the newly registered foundation is nothing more than a smokescreen to redirect these properties under Hajjat Nanziri’s control, against the known intentions of the ailing tycoon.

Family Fall Apart

The rift between Hajjat Nanziri and her stepson Hajj Balozi has deepened into a full-blown family feud. In a letter dated November 16th 2024, Hajj Balozi demanded the surrender of the Kibuli title deed, vowing to reclaim physical control over the property with or without his step mother`s cooperation.

Tensions escalated further when lawyers of Dhakaba, Nkuutu & Co. Advocates, representing the Baagalaaliwo Foundation, responded on November 11th 2024, claiming that the foundation, and not any individual, was now the legitimate owner of the estate. Ironically, the lawyers clarified that Hajjat Nanziri was merely a “member” of the foundation, not its sole controller.

Hajj Balozi, who heads the estate’s caretaker committee, counters that the registration of the foundation was done in bad faith. He insists that his father’s properties, especially those donated for charity, should remain with their intended beneficiaries.

Court Battles Begin

Attempts to resolve the conflict through a family crisis meeting held on November 18th 2024, at their Kololo family residence ended in deadlock. Despite efforts to negotiate a peaceful path forward, the meeting dissolved without consensus. It was then resolved that the courts of law would settle the matter.

In a dramatic legal twist, Hajjat Nanziri filed a lawsuit in the Family Division of the High Court, only to later instruct her lawyers to withdraw the same. The court, however, instead dismissed the suit outright, citing its lack of merit. Simultaneously, Hajj Balozi’s team had filed a counterclaim, which is now the primary avenue for determining the true ownership of the contested assets. Other lawsuits regarding the Iganga properties are also pending before the High Court in that jurisdiction.

The Implications

What began as a tragic health crisis has morphed into a power struggle that now threatens to tarnish the legacy of one of Uganda’s most respected entrepreneurs. Hajj Bagalaliwo, a man known for giving shelter to royalty, building hospitals, and pioneering business, is now at the center of a bitter feud, even as he`s laying down, voiceless and vulnerable.

The conflict also raises deeper questions about ethical stewardship, legal responsibility, and the safeguarding of charitable contributions. Should assets dedicated to family and community be easily rerouted in the absence of a unconscious donor? And who speaks for a man in a coma?

As courts begin hearing the cases, Uganda, and particularly the Muslim community in Iganga, awaits justice. The hope is that the legal process will offer clarity, protect legacy, and uphold the values Hajj Bagalaliwo lived by. Until then, this story remains one of tragedy, greed, and unresolved questions, the final chapter of which is still being written. Stay tuned for further developments.

Dear Hon. Mathias Mpuuga

I write to you with both concern and bemusement. News has reached us that you intend to drag the invincible political gladiator H.E. Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu into the same courtroom corridors where logic, law, and reality often part ways, over claims he made implicating you in the arrest of political activists.

Your courage is noted. Your trust in the justice system is admirable. But before you proceed to compile affidavits, procure witnesses, or dust off your black suit for court theatrics, allow me, as a humble spectator of Uganda’s political circus, to offer a word of unsolicited but necessary caution: I say this with all due respect: Are you really ready to sue Uganda’s most courtroom-immune politician?

You see, the man you seek to sue is not a common theatre actor. He is Bobi Wine, Uganda’s courtroom Houdini, a master of legal disappearance whose record is dotted with unfinished files, whispered adjournments, and ghosted magistrates. A man by all judicial standards known in Uganda, is untouchable even before he became a law graduate (Is it Cavendish University, I hope you know?)

You may file, serve, and shout, but when it comes to Bobi Wine, court files either vanish, stall eternally after mention, or close without ceremony. You’re not suing a man. You’re suing a myth, a well-polished illusion, a state-managed character who has built an entire political brand without a single concluded court case.

Allow me to refresh your memory: 1. The OTT Protest Arrest: (2018) He was arrested demonstrating in Kampala over the social media tax. Taken to court amid chants of “People Power!” The charge? Public nuisance. The outcome? Unknown. It was mentioned and abandoned like a script from a poorly edited movie.

2. Luuka District Arrest: (2020) Another dramatic moment during the 2020 campaign. Bobi was violently arrested for allegedly violating COVID-19 regulations. A case was filed, mentioned, and again disappeared into thin air.

3. The Arua Treason Case: (2019), his driver was killed, the country went up in flames, and Bobi, battered and bruised, was dramatically presented before a Gulu magistrate. It felt like the start of a landmark trial. But what followed? Nothing. No hearing. No ruling. No official closure. The state, which once screamed treason, simply went quiet. The case dissolved, not by acquittal, but by silence. We thereafter saw him under the guard of SFCS, later a party with deployed service men in position, foot soldiers relieved of duty to guard him henceforth.

4. The 2021 Presidential Petition: In a historic moment, Bobi Wine filed a petition challenging the presidential election, backed by video evidence, affidavits, and public outrage. But when Ugandans looked to the courts for justice, Bobi withdrew the petition, declaring instead that he would take the matter to “the people’s court”—a structureless, location-less body whose sittings are neither recorded nor reported. In essence, he gifted Museveni a five-year term without judicial scrutiny!.

5. The Kibalama/NUP Ownership Case: (2023) Founders of the very party he leads accused him of fraud and breach of agreement. They dragged him to court. What became of that case? Silence. The kind that erases history even Kibalama was totally silenced beyond a mention.

In contrast, consider Dr. Kizza Besigye, the man who pioneered active opposition. Since 2001, Besigye has never known peace in the legal system. From treason to terrorism to inciting violence, he is never more than a few weeks away from a court summons as if its part of his retirement plan. Some of his cases date as far back as 2006. He is often paraded through courts, not for justice, but for punishment.

The state seems more determined to break Besigye through perpetual court appearances than to ever conclude a single case against Bobi Wine! Maybe Bobi’s unblemished judicial record is not due to his invincibility, but to the invisible protection, Besigye lacks.

So, dear Hon. Mpuuga, do you really intend to sue this man? The man whose cases vanish faster than UPDF accountability? The man who can shift a national petition into a virtual Court with a single Facebook post? Note before you file the case that: You are filing against a man immune to court significance, else you are offering yourself for ridicule in a stage-managed game between the state and its favourite actor.

Instead, I advise you to consider filing your case directly in the Court of Public Confusion, where most of Bobi cases seem to end up anyway. Better still, take it direct to the ‘People’s Court’. Their Judgement delays, but it’s delivered over time…  baawula ekituufu ku kikyaamu… (They can tell a right from the wrong). Therefore, proceed with wisdom. And if you must sue, PREPARE FOR A PERFORMANCE NOT JUSTICE.

Yours in Political Amusement,
Kaweesa – Kaweesa

(Phd. Ugandan Political Theatricals)

This decision comes in the wake of an intense feud initiated by the Federation of Uganda Event Organizers and Promoters Association (FUEOPA), spearheaded by Abbey Musinguzi, also known as Abitex. The dispute between Alien Skin and Abitex ignited following a disagreement over the artist’s compensation for the now-postponed ‘Nkwakyo’ festival.

The festival, which had promised to be a remarkable event, took a sour turn as negotiations over the artist’s fee unraveled. Once amicable associates, Alien Skin and Abitex’s relationship soured after the singer uncovered the potentially lucrative nature of his performances.

Sources close to the matter reveal that Alien Skin came to realize that he had been significantly undervalued in past dealings with Abitex. The singer, who initially accepted a modest UGX15 million for his services, discovered that his market worth was far greater. This realization prompted Alien Skin to renegotiate the terms of his appearance at the ‘Nkwakyo’ festival, a move that clashed with Abitex’s stance.

Refusing to back down, Alien Skin made a bold demand of UGX100 million for his performance, adamant that he would not budge from this figure. A leaked phone call audio, now widely known as ‘Twagala Sente’ (we want money), captured the escalating tension between the two parties. The dispute prompted Alien Skin to cancel his involvement with the festival and cut ties with Abitex.

In response, Abitex and his associates within FUEOPA launched a smear campaign aimed at tarnishing Alien Skin’s reputation and brand. Veteran promoter Balaam Barugahara, however, has taken a different approach. Balaam and his team have opted to educate Alien Skin on the intricacies of the show business world, acknowledging the singer’s newfound understanding of his value.

This decision by NAFEP to stand by Alien Skin has opened a new chapter in the ongoing controversy. While FUEOPA’s campaign continues to wage on, the backing of a significant player like NAFEP speak volumes about the complex dynamics within Uganda’s entertainment industry.

Alien Skin, who has become known for his self-made success, has faced controversies in the past, including a fallout with a South African-based promoter over payment issues. This incident led to the singer’s decision to decline an opportunity in South Africa. As the situation unfolds, the entertainment industry watches with bated breath to see how the clash between NAFEP and FUEOPA will impact the trajectory of both Alien Skin’s career and the wider Ugandan entertainment scene.

The football fraternity now stands united in mourning the passing of this hero who, though never capped, left an indelible mark on the beautiful game. Sam Timbe, who breathed his last on August 19^th 2023, has been laid to rest at his rural home in Namayumba Kaloke, Nakaseke District, Uganda. As the world says its final farewell, Timbe’s legacy stands firm, a beacon for generations to come.

Timbe The Man

 Timbe’s journey through the football space was one of unwavering dedication and remarkable achievement. His status as a champion, both on the field during his playing days and as a coach, has elevated him to legendary heights. From local clubs to the grand stage of national football, Timbe’s coaching prowess groomed stars and instilled a passion for the game that transcended borders.

A name synonymous with success, Timbe’s tenure as the head coach of the StarTimes Uganda Premier League side, Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) FC, exemplified his ability to inspire and lead. The news of his passing, shared on URA FC’s social media handles, cast a shadow over the scheduled Super 8 semifinal match between URA FC and KCCA FC.

The football community, in a testament to his impact, came together to honor his memory. The Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) postponed the Super 8 semifinal match as a gesture of respect, allowing URA FC and the entire fraternity to pay their final respects to the departed coach. Messages of grief and tributes poured in from officials, clubs, and fans across the region.

Timbe’s influence on Ugandan and East African football was unparalleled, as his coaching acumen brought forth victories and showcased the spirit of the game. SC Villa remembered him as a “mastermind of the Game,” while KCCA FC extended their condolences to URA FC and the entire Ugandan football community. His legacy was condensed by Mbarara City Football Club, which stated; “You’re going to leave your mark on the hearts of those who knew you before you exited this world.”

His Early Days

Sam Timbe’s journey from an aspiring footballer to a celebrated coach is a narrative of dedication, passion, and perseverance. Born on January 1^st 1954, his journey through Bupoto Primary School, Nabumali High School, and Tororo College laid the foundation for his football odyssey. A one-club player, he showcased his skills as a goalkeeper for Coffee FC and even represented the national team, although he was never capped.

Timbe’s coaching achievements stand as a testament to his tactical brilliance. The only coach to secure four CECAFA Cup titles with four different sides, his influence resonated across the region. His coaching journey, adorned with successes, included SC Villa, Atraco FC, Young Africans, Police FC, Coffee FC, and more. He also took the helm as the assistant manager of the Uganda Cranes, adding his touch to the national team’s journey.

The football fraternity mourns the loss of a man who brought passion, honor, and victory to the sport. Sam Timbe’s legacy will forever grace the pages of football history, reminding us all that the impact of a true champion extends beyond victories, medals, and trophies—it lives in the hearts of those who had the privilege to witness his journey.

As the world lays Sam Timbe to rest, his legacy will continue to inspire generations of footballers, coaches, and enthusiasts. The tower of football excellence that he built will stand tall, a beacon of light guiding the path of future champions. Rest in eternal peace, Sam Timbe. Your spirit lives on.

Before the dust could settle, tens of people came up with different stories, lamenting how they lost their hard-earned bucks at the hands of this very bank. One of such victims is Maxwell Lawrence Muyonjo, our ardent reader. He sent us a DM last night, offering his story for publication, who knows, it could help an unsuspecting client or two! Below is his slightly edited story…

Open Quotes: Hello The Investigator, good morning, I saw your publication on your platform about Equity Bank robbery. I have also been a victim of their internal fraud. I was robbed of Shs30.6 million through Mobile banking and here is my Story, I request u to publish.

On Friday 16^th December 2022, I lost my mobile phone in the night and the next day on Saturday 17^thDecember, someone accessed my mobile banking by managing to reset my mobile banking PIN and withdrawing or transferring up to UGX30.6M out of the account and to top it off, applying for a 500K instant loan. I reported the issue to Equity bank and also logged a case with CPS [Central Police Station].

On 19^th January 2023, (over a month of waiting) Equity Bank called me to pick up a letter with their feedback regarding this theft. The feedback shared states that the thieves reset my mobile banking PIN and received OTP since they had my simcard. However, they completed the second level of authentication using my VISA Card. But the VISA Card was in my possession and still is till to date.

They cannot explain how they obtained my card details. Also, before they reset PIN, they logged into USSD and conducted two balance enquiries. I, in turn, have carried out my own investigation and their response raises the following questions and subsequent findings. Firstly, Equity has two mobile banking Apps running. These are Eazzy App and Equity Mobile, and the USSD *247#.

The Eazzy App is the old App which takes 4-digit PIN whereas the Equity Mobile is new and takes 5-digit PIN. The USSD takes the 4-digit PIN used on the original Eazzy App. In August, while at one of their branches, I was advised by a bank staff to upgrade to the new App as it was more secure. This, I did and un-installed the old App from my phone. However, it turns out that both these Apps are running and the thieves managed to take out the 500K loan from the old App that I thought I had got rid of by registering onto the new App.

Equity says as a customer, its upon me to tell them to discontinue or delete my profile from the old App but they insist on running both Apps because they have not completed migration and upgrading all services onto the new App! How is this the customer`s problem? They are surely not protecting us. My old profile is available, yet I think, like I was told, that it was de-registered since I upgraded to a new and better App!

Secondly, their daily transaction limit for mobile banking is UGX50M! This is not restricted to the usual lower limits of UGX800k to UGX2M that most banks have in place except if a customer takes it upon themselves to request for a limit increase. They therefore aided in the UGX30.6M loss that took place in a single day. This is truly unacceptable as customers are exposed.

Thirdly, the receiving equity bank account withdrew the funds on that same day of transfer and routed to other mobile numbers. On investigations by police upon issuance of a court order to Equity directing them to provide the account opening documents, they seem to have disappeared or never been in existence. They could only share a photo of the account holder and their national ID. Question here is how was an account opened without KYC or account opening documentation? Is this a well-planned crime syndicate operating within Equity?

Fourth, successful PIN reset using my VISA Card that I had in my possession on the day PIN was reset – currently on the new equity App, in order to reset PIN, you receive an OTP and then complete the transaction by either answering some of the security questions you set at registration, contacting the call center or physically visiting Equity. The option for inputting card details is not available.

Fifth, upon complaining to CPS, they were not surprised it was Equity Bank! Apparently, there are numerous complaints and cases logged by customers to Police regarding theft on their mobile and internet banking, out of 10 cases, 9 are from Equity. One policeman even commented thus; “Equity will never allow to pay you that money, and if you are wise, you will close your account and RUN.

Regards

Maxwell Lawrence Muyonjo; Close Quotes.   

The two and their soldiers are vowing to do everything in their power to bring the mismanagement at the prized National theatre to the attention of each and every office of authority in Uganda. “We are not going to rest until the ‘mis-managers’ masquerading as leaders are uprooted at the National Theatre. We can’t simply stomach what is going on at Dewinton Road currently. What shall we tell our children? That we slumbered on as National Theatre was decaying? We say no”, funnyman Luswata vowed without necessarily acting this time round.

The journey to freedom: 

The artistes have kicked off the struggle by petitioning the Parliamentary Committee on Gender, Labor and Social development. The artistes have great faith in parliament to do good. This, after the chairperson of Parliamentary Committee on Gender, Labor and Social Development, Hon. Flavia Kabahenda blocked the suspected looting of a whopping UGX30Bn, which the Uganda National Cultural Center had disguised as funds to establish regional studios for artists! 

The team argue that the theatre arts sector in Uganda has a potential to employ over one hundred thousand people, but the same remains the least exploited. They strongly claim that Uganda National Cultural Centre abandoned its cardinal role of Providing and establishing Theatres and Cultural Centers in the country, encouraging and developing cultural and artistic activities, providing a home to societies groups and, organizations in art, culture and entertainment.

And instead, they have maintained grabbing and grumbling to assume roles of Uganda National Theatre and film Network. It is evident that the current management’s interest and expertise only lies in `managing` the National Theater building, i.e., collecting rent and parking fees, but NOT to promote the arts and This has led into failure to mold into a productive industry, the Arts in Uganda. 

The Petition in full:

Theatre Practitioners` Petition and Workplan for the year 2021- 2025

Artists today are joining other Groups in Uganda who have come out to demand for “independence and self-governance” from other government departments and individuals. The Arts have been employed as a tool, to help the young people understand what they are, in relation to the communities where they stay, the responsibilities they carry still within and out of their community settings and the respect to humanity.

Through different forms of Arts, young people have been educated and as such start looking at life consciously and to appreciate what life has made of them. They are prepared to take over as responsible leaders of tomorrow. Top most though, Arts have been used to ease tension and to bring smiles to people in communities.

Performing Arts here in Africa for example, are just a part of a person. They take a sizable percentage of our lives as we employ them to achieve various life objectives. In traditional Africa, we have used arts in bringing up our young, guiding the grownups and putting the elderly in their rightful positions. We have mainly employed performing arts as we execute our traditional ceremonial events, which events are responsible in marking our identities and membership of communities in larger Africa.

Even in modern Africa, we have employed the same performing arts in religious praises, in education, in informing, in sensitization, mobilization and entertainment. The Arts in general, are a powerful tool for effective communication, education, mobilization, sensitization and behavior change on top of creating employment.

Young people must be helped to understand and embrace The Arts as one of the viable employment sources in Uganda. It should all start with the government making priority and provisions for investment in the Arts sector as it has done with other sectors, such as industrial development, agriculture, health etc. In the sixties, the colonial administration left in place an infrastructure for the development of the Arts in Uganda. There were recreational community centers in almost all townships throughout the country. 

These provided venues for Arts` skill development and exhibition. But the successive governments have played a blind eye and reduced the Arts to nothing despite constant reminders from stakeholders. After the expulsion of the Europeans and Asians by Idi Amin in 1970s, [the development] saw a decade of rapid decline in the cinema industry. The other arts like drama staggered but survived simply because there were community recreational centers where drama shows could be staged. 

Drama enjoyed monopoly and relatively grew, since there was no competition from cinema industry. In the 1980s, the Performing Arts industry boomed with drama reaching its peak as many groups and clubs had shot up. In Kampala alone, there were about 300 registered groups. This created a big demand for performance venues. Privately owned theatres sprung up as a backup to The National Theatre and to accommodate this rising demand. 

Regretfully however, the return of the Asians after 1986 saw many of these performance venues in form of theatres, where the dramatists used to stage their plays, closed! To mention but a few; Biwologoma on Ben Kiwanuka Street was repossessed by the Indian community back into a temple. Bahomex Theatreon William Street was demolished to give way for a car parking yard. Pride Theatre on Namirembe road was sold off and turned into a Pentecostal church.

Nile Theatre at Nakivubo was turned into a school for adult education

Farmers’ Hall at Kalerwe was demolished. Riverside Theatre behind Kisekka Market was also sold off and turned into a nursery school. Hollywood Theatre at Katwe is no longer functional. Bristol hall at Nateete is now a discotheque. Happyland Theatre at Kibuye is now Imbecap discotheque/club. Awuleria Hall at Namasuba is now a kindergarten and, Namulondo Theatre in Bweyogerere, was turned into residential apartments.

Other halls in Kireka, Luzira, Kawempe and all other places were affected by the rush to selling of property on prime lands. The only theatres in Kampala now are Bat Valley on Bombo Road, Theatre Labonita on Clive Road near Christ the King Church and The National Theatre. Even those in other towns in Uganda have followed suit and have been turned into places of worship, particularly the Christian born-again faiths. The lack of performance venues has seen a sharp decline in the Performing Arts from the early 1990s to date.

The Background:

In the year 2008, Ugandan artists through Link Afrika Cultural Exchange Programme, a not-for profit advocacy for promotion of Arts Agency, spearheaded the revitalizing of arts at the Uganda National Theatre. This came up at the helm of sharp decline in the promotion of arts on part of the Uganda National Cultural Centre – UNCC, which has continuously played a killing role and takeover of The Uganda National Theatre. Different avenues have been used to remind the Board of Trustees and Management of the roles of UNCC and those of Uganda National Theatre, in vain.

Whereas Uganda National Cultural Centre is mandated to oversee all cultural institutions in Uganda, including the Uganda National Theatre; [The latter] is mandated with promoting the Arts in Uganda. The Board of Trustees and Management of UNCC on the other hand have for a long period of time, concentrated on what looks like a deliberate move to derail the Uganda National Theatre from the path of developing the Arts in Uganda to comfortably turning the premises into a wedding meetings’ centre, land brokers and property letting agency.

As you may be aware, the artistes petitioned the relevant authorities including the President of Uganda, The Hon. Prime Minister, The Speaker of Parliament and The Inspector General of Government to intervene. Following the petition, the office of the IGG unearthed a lot of decay in the management of the UNCC and corruption related charges were preferred against the Director Mr. Joseph Walugembe in the anti-corruption court and he was interdicted.

We requested the Board of Trustees to bring in new management team and indeed, various positions were advertised. After the interdiction of Joseph Walugembe and his team, we celebrated receiving a new management team led by Mr. Francis Peter Ojede. Artists, well-wishers and other stake holders offered their time, skill and expertise under the new management to embark on a road map to revitalizing and restoring the lost glory of the Uganda National Theatre.

We held different meetings with the outgoing Board of Trustees and the current management but we have come to a point where we think and conclude that enough is enough. The National Theatre has to be reclaimed and managed by artists themselves. Close interactions with the current Management of UNCC has proved that the people in these positions are not only incompetent but also very ignorant of the roles and duties of the UNCC and those of the Uganda National Theatre.

The management of UNCC has ignored what they are mandated to do and resorted to managing the National Theatre, NOT as an institution but as a building structure, and particularly concentrating on collecting parking fees and letting out space to tenants. As artists, we have been patient enough to give the Board of Trustees and management of UNCC an opportunity to put right all that they messed up and put the Uganda National Theatre back on track.

The Artists` Commitment:

Today, we highlight on the need to create new initiatives to showcase Uganda’s artistic and technical talent in the field of performing Arts (Theatre) and film in advancement of Ugandan culture and as a tool for mobilization, sensitization and education for sustainable community-based development initiatives. We are creating an opportunity for the varied skills and talents among the performing artists to be brought together in such a way as to offer them development and infrastructural upgrade of benefit to the industry as a whole.

It is our individual and collective commitment today, to devise and concretize initiatives towards an immediate reclaim, takeover, promotion and popularize the Uganda National Theatre as an institution for artistic development of The Performing Arts and film in Uganda.

The Demand:

We therefore demand for revitalization of the Arts and consideration of the immediate efforts that have been made priority for the Performing Arts and Film in Uganda, be remolded to becoming one of the main sources of employment for young people in Uganda.

The roadmap:

1: RECREATING THE NATIONAL THEATRE AS AN INSTITUTION:

The National Theatre has always been mistaken to be only the building at Plot 2,4,6 along Dewinton road in Kampala, yet the building is supposed to be the headquarters of the Theatre and Film Network in Uganda. As we build the work plan for 2021-25, we are committed to recreating the National Theatre as an institution for performing arts and Film in Uganda.

The institution shall be an operational Performing Arts structure that runs from National level and through Regional, District to Sub-County levels. The Performing Arts and Film Regions shall be drawn based on language i.e, Buganda, Busoga, Samia/Bugwe, Japadhola, Bugisu, Sebei, Ateso, Karimojong, Lango, Acholi, Alur, Madi, Lugbara, Kakwa, Bunyoro, Ankole, Toro, Bakonjo/Bamba, Bakiga and Bafumbira. 

The meeting was convened by concerned family members, including a prominent business woman (name Withheld), after it had emerged that their father had resolved to take matters into his own hands to sort out issues bent on shredding his family apart.

Fabiola, her hubby Mark Ronald Mubiru and mother who are alleged to be the root cause of the family wrangles, did not show up at the meeting.

One of Country Uganda`s renowned veteran Photo Journalists and tour guru, Mathias Mugisha confirmed that during the meeting, Ronald, Grace and himself apologized for any wrong doing that might have occurred between them and agreed to move forward as a family.

However, we are informed that the meeting was clouded with phone calls from the Anita team that did not show up, warning Grace and Ronald of severe repercussions that they will face, for back stabbing` them.

Seeing her siblings had jumped out of `the struggle`, including Ronald on whose `ICU Plight` she was driving to justify her abusive stand against her father, now leaving only her, mother and hubby in the middle of nowhere, Fabiola pulled another string. 

She doctored a statement and put her father at a `finger point, ` telling him to either post the missive on his social media pages and correct her morally dented persona, or risk being alienated by all other family members.  

In an exclusive interview with this reporter, a distressed Mugisha, who seems to be physiologically taunted, revealed that Anita, the now chief financier of her mother and siblings and in whom their livelihood thrives, demanded that he either honors her demands and accept her fiancé Mark Ronald Mubiru, or risk being permanently erased from their lives. 

“My daughter is trying to compromise me for a man I do not know or what his real objection is, they want me to leave my house for their mother to take over, this is too much. Please take me seriously. Come ask the neighbors, please.” We understand that had Mugisha embraced Fabiola`s hubby in the first place, what we see wouldn`t have been. Mugisha shared the missive his daughter demands he MUST post or face the worst. 

Fabiola’s PR Statement.

“Message from Mathias Mugisha and family 

Matthias Mugisha and family over the last few days have been faced with a situation of deep emotional challenges. However, as a family we thank all our friends and relatives who came to our support in various forms and ways. We are currently being attended to by requisite spiritual and emotional professionals and seeking more professional assistance in various ways to resolve our family issues.

As the head of the family, I wish to thank everyone who has reached out to us as well as held us in your prayers. Your enormous support and love is even bigger testimony that we should do everything to resolve our current situation.

Personally, am committed to creating a harmonious environment with my immediate family as well as the not so immediate family such as my in-laws who I recognize as stakeholders in my family now.

Let us all desist from the falsehoods being peddled on social media. Best wishes for the season and happy 2022.

Mathias Mugisha

Anita Fabiola” 

Reading in-between the missive lines, Fabiola seeks her father to forcefully accept her hubby as his own family: “…with my immediate family as well as the not so immediate family such as my in-laws who I recognize as stakeholders in my family now.” The draft also reveals that her business contracts might be at cross-roads.   

The Chronology of family feud

For the past decade there has been a storm brewing in a tea cup at the Mugisha residence in Kasangati off Gayaza road, with a sustained silent but deep-seated war going on between the father and mother as they both tried to take control of the children’s mentoring.

With Mugisha assuming his role of providing for the family’s daily welfare and educational overheads, the mother assumed the role of giving them career guidance and has always been the steward of almost 80{0945c2a372ac1e8bbfe7cc3e10f9b82eb0b8ae872b07368d754f0396b6ef2afe} of their decisions.

A story is told of how Mugisha, who despite being in the photography business, was shocked to the marrow on discovering that the girl on the catwalk vying for the Miss Uganda accolade under the name Anita Fabiola, was actually his daughter Anita Kyalimpa.

When he confronted the mother over this development, he unknowingly opened up a whirl of resistance from his wife, who accused him of trying to frustrate the promising future of their daughter as a beauty queen. Since then, theirs has been an animosity kind of relationship that later culminated into the bad blood that the world is witnessing now. 

Mugisha, was in for a rude awakening when his daughter’s TV career and event hosting took off. With some steady cash flowing in, she found freedom from her father and has since been putting up appearances to avoid the media prying into the ugly family issues that her family is facing. 

Hell Breaks Loose 

At about this time with the drunkenness of her daughter’s success and financial independence, the mother was cheered on by a group of women who included a one Carol and Mama Isa, who made it a ritual to storm her house while the husband was around and throw tantrums at the hapless fellow.

The same group of women with the assistance of Anita and a Muscled Mark Mubiru, once in June 2021, raided the Mugisha residence and ‘rescued’ their mother whom they have since relocated to her brother Justus’ home in Manyangwa off Gayaza road, though she is also known to take sojourns at Anita’s Buziga home.

This development has since enraged Mugisha, who still insists that Mark Mubiru is a stranger who has never been introduced to him by any of his daughters though his estranged wife thinks otherwise.

Mugisha Finally Fights Back 

In or about June 2021, Mugisha, as a true African father, physically disciplined  his disrrespective son Ronald, who would later with the coercion from the mother and Anita, allege ‘aggravated battery` though no proof of a police reference or hospital admission history confirms the same.

When asked on Wednesday whether he really beat his son to pulp, Mugisha laughed off the accusation saying thus; “how can my son who is in coma be at our home in a meeting with me! Please let’s be realistic, this is not an ICU Unit.” 

Mugisha, has now resolved to give the other two parties time as he hopes that they will also come to the table and close this sad chapter. But he insists that Mark Mubiru is a stranger with whom he will not be dealing in the near future whatsoever. We pray for the best. 

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Lindah, dealt a double livelihood blow after the government restricted the entertainment industry, thus closure of Club Guvnor, where she is the marketing and innovations manager. Her partnership with hubby Douglas Lwanga’s themed ‘Purple Party’ events was also left in abyss.

The enterprising marketer in her then branched into ‘Mama DLs Chilly,’ a home chilly making project that must have tickled the foodie in her and eventually gave birth to her new business. 

Lindah, is among the first three female Club and events PR in Uganda, whose branching into the then male dominated field has opened doors for hundreds of other ladies today. 

Whether she will return to her job after the lifting of the COVID-19 Standard Operating Procedures restrictions by government that rendered her temporarily jobless, is a story for another day.

While the Bank is perhaps known for its mandate of maintaining stable prices and supervising financial institutions, it also recognizes that they operate within communities. 

As such, they cannot achieve their complete mandate if the community they serve is not healthy. That’s why it is important for them to as well focus on the wellbeing of mothers due to their undisputed contribution to society. 

Today, the regulator of commercial banking institutions in Uganda has officially handed over Hamurwa Health Centre IV in Rubanda District focusing on the wellbeing of mothers due to their noble contribution. 

Theatre transfers have been a big challenge at Hamuwra Health Centre IV due to the hilly nature of the area. The ramp and walk way constructed will ease movement of patients from the theatre to the recovery ward. Approximately 100 mothers deliver every month at Hamurwa Health Centre IV, out of which 30 deliver by caesarean section.

Hamurwa Health Centre IV is meant to serve a catchment area of 8,000 people; however, the Health Center also receives people from the districts of Kanungu, Kisoro, Rukiga and Rukungiri.

Gaining on the momentum of the success of the first initiatives under BoU@50, the Bank has now committed funds to revamp Health Centers nationwide. The Bank also continues to revamp health centers in Jinja, Masaka and Fort Portal with work scheduled to be accomplished soon. 

Nakaloke Health Centre III in Mbale and Omel Health Centre II in Gulu District are the other Health facilities that have already been renovated and handed over to the respective district leaders. 

Revamping and renovating of Health Centres was one of the ‘Give back to communities’ resolutions as the financial regulator was marking 50 years in 2016. They (BoU) decided to commemorate that anniversary through CSR initiatives, including a Charity Walk to that helped to raise funds for purchasing of medical equipment and renovating health centres in some of the districts across the country.

This follows a meeting that the Events Association of Uganda under the stewardship of Daniel Kazibwe, requested Parliament through the Parliamentary budget committee under the auspices of the Gender ministry to avail them over 7.7bn shillings for their ‘Festive Season’ virtual shows which the ministry’s technocrats have since found wanting.

Ragga Dee’s meeting with parliament is said to have been a breach of procedure and blunder, since they did not consult the same ministry that at the moment is in tandem with the Office of the Prime Minster handling issues relating or pertaining the local arts and entertainment industry as regards the Covid 19, lockdown restrictions that have affected it.  

Though the technocrats at the ministry find the request for funding of the virtual shows, as a waste of tax payers’ money, having previously been engaged in a similar project under the Operation Wealth Creation (OWC) that was stayed citing mismanagement of the budget overhead.   

The same technocrats fear that with the leverage and support that the entertainment sector has in parliament, the same might be used as advantage for them to access money through them after its approval.

It should be noted that sections of personalities and groups in the entertainment industry were until recently a common sight and occurrence at the OWC offices in Gulu. There, the overseer of the outfit dished out billions of shillings in a bid to better the lives of those affected by the ban on the sector.

Later it was discovered that the money was greedily squandered by the ones who managed to get appointments and get hold of the loot. This development forced Gen. Caleb Akandwanaho aka Salim Saleh, to excuse his person and office all matters regarding the sector.