FREEMAN NEWS-UG

Kampala — The usually formal chambers of Uganda’s Parliament erupted in laughter on Tuesday afternoon when newly elected Budadiri East MP Hon. Julius Nakiyi extended a bold, culturally rooted invitation to His Excellency Tomio Okamura (@tomio_cz), the visiting Deputy Speaker (and Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies) of the Parliament of the Czech Republic. Video:-  https://youtu.be/o6M4caIhglU?si=gOFdemkodRQaXPj0 Nakiyi, representing the Bugisu sub-region constituency in Sironko District, rose during plenary proceedings and invited the Czech parliamentary leader to travel to Bugisu that very afternoon to witness the ongoing Imbalu festival — the Bamasaaba people’s traditional public circumcision ceremony that marks the transition of adolescent boys into manhood. The invitation, captured and shared by the official Parliament of Uganda account, quickly became one of the lighter moments of the sitting. Lawmakers broke into laughter at the directness of the offer, which blended parliame...

Fresh details have emerged in the ongoing criminal case involving Pastor Robert Kayanja, with one of the nine accused boys Reagan Ssentongo telling court that the Rubaga Miracle Centre preacher allegedly connected him to powerful Masindi pastor Robert Rwomushana Kibuuka after assigning him duties he described as part of a wider operation in the Bunyoro concerning homosexuality. Ssentongo made the revelation on Monday while continuing his defence during re-examination by his lawyers from Ojambo & Ojambo Advocates before Mwanga II Chief Magistrate Adams Byarugaba at Mengo. According to the young man, his journey to Kiryandongo began after Pastor Kayanja initially promised to make him the overall person in charge of security at the farm, having gone through police training at the Police training school in Kabarye. He, however, told court that upon reaching the farm, Kayanja changed the arrangement and informed him that he would instead undergo training by a “Muzungu” before being made...

  Kampala / Western Uganda — Local Government Minister Balaam Barugahara Ateenyi has launched a hard-hitting nationwide campaign targeting early-morning betting houses, unlicensed malwa points and illegal bars that operate before dawn, accusing them of fueling crime, youth idleness, domestic violence and the erosion of community values. In a strongly worded directive issued this week and reinforced during recent oversight visits, the minister ordered district local governments, resident district commissioners, police and local council leaders to intensify surveillance and enforcement against these establishments. Barugahara described the early-morning operations as “a growing social cancer” that preys on young people and working families before the official day even begins. “These places open as early as 5 a.m. or even earlier. Young men and women are already sitting there placing bets, drinking malwa or cheap spirits instead of going to work or school,” Barugahara said. “We cannot...

KAMPALA — In a decisive push to strengthen Uganda’s frontline defence against rising cyber threats, the National Information Technology Authority – Uganda (NITA-U), under the Uganda Digital Acceleration Project (UDAP-GovNet), has launched a three-day intensive capacity-building programme for more than 100 officers from the Uganda Police Force. The officers, drawn from the Criminal Investigations Directorate as well as the Cybercrime and Forensic Investigation Units, come from Kampala, Wakiso, Mukono and Mpigi districts. The training is designed to equip them with both the legal knowledge and practical investigative tools needed to confront the rapidly evolving landscape of digital crime. Participants are receiving hands-on instruction in six critical areas: Uganda’s ICT legal and regulatory framework Cybercrime investigation and digital evidence management Data protection and privacy compliance Electronic transactions and electronic evidence Emerging cyber threats and investigative bes...

Bungokho North Member of Parliament Hon. Shafiga Wanyenya has reportedly purchased a well-equipped, modern ambulance for her constituents in Mbale District, marking what supporters are hailing as a major early achievement in her first 100 days in Parliament. The reported procurement forms part of the “massive” deliverables the legislator promised voters during her hard-fought campaign. Wanyenya, who defeated four male contenders—including the incumbent—to clinch the seat in the January 2026 general elections, had repeatedly pledged to prioritise emergency health services in the mountainous constituency. Sources close to the MP indicate the ambulance is fully equipped and ready for deployment to ease emergency referrals, particularly for expectant mothers, accident victims, and critically ill patients who previously faced long and difficult journeys to higher-level facilities such as Mbale Regional Referral Hospital. Residents contacted for this story expressed cautious optimism. “If co...

Local Government Minister Balaam Barugahara Ateenyi has pushed back firmly against criticism over his use of a public address system owned by his private company during monitoring visits and anti-corruption rallies across the country. Speaking to journalists at the end of a six-day “Expose the Corrupt” tour in the Ankole sub-region, the minister confirmed that the PA system belongs to his company but insisted it has been provided entirely free of charge to the government. He described the arrangement as an act of patriotism rather than a conflict of interest. “I want to put this clear to all of you and I want you to quote it. The public address system that we use indeed belongs to my company, but I’ve offered free service because the crowds I’m getting cannot hear my voice without a public address system,” Barugahara said. He explained that when he assumed office in late May 2026, the ministry had no budget line for the accountability rallies and field monitoring exercises he has since...