Author: Robert Atuhairwe

A new organisation in Bunyoro is ramping up the push for compensation from the British government for atrocities committed during the colonial era against Bunyoro-Kitara Kingdom. Under the umbrella organisation known as the Mubende Banyoro United Association (MBA), the activists are demanding up to USD$10 trillion in war claims. They say that they are working with Bunyoro-Kitara Kingdom and the government of Uganda to push for justice and apology for the cruel treatment that was meted to their ancestors by the colonial administration. An MBA official disclosed that they have already gathered evidence from across the world where the tormentors…

Kibati trading centre in the East Division is about a 20-minute drive from Hoima City Central Business District (CBD). On the left, one is welcomed by waste littered allover the road leading to a multi-billion waste treatment plant, which has dominated the media for lying idle almost 10 years after it was commissioned. The sh2.5b compost plant, which was handed over to the city authorities in November 2012 by the National Management Authority (NEMA), with funding from the World Bank, was established to ensure effective management of garbage in the city. It has since not performed its intended purpose of…

UMEME Ltd has invested sh9b in the revamping of the Hoima substation – which is located in Kinubi Cell on the outskirts of the city – from six megawatts to 20 megawatts. The substation, which is part of UMEME’s asset replacement project, aims to improve capacity and supply more customers reliably. The works, which commenced on October 15 and will be commissioned late December this year, include installation of two new high-capacity power transformers, a power house, switch gears, transformers and integration of power lines from Masindi’s Kinyara Sugar Works generation line. During a recent media briefing at the aforesaid…

TotalEnergies EP Uganda (TEPU) has formalised a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Water and Environment (MWE) to spearhead wetland and riparian vegetation conservation efforts within the Tilenga Project area. In a press release dated November 7, the multi-year collaboration signals the commencement of a partnership focused on executing diverse activities in conjunction with various stakeholders. “These initiatives aim to safeguard and rejuvenate wetlands in the ecologically vital Albertine Rift Region,” the French firm said. “The wetland ecosystems in this area are crucial habitats for diverse flora and fauna, playing a pivotal role in local and regional…

In a strategic move to seize the forthcoming prospects in the burgeoning oil and gas sector within the Albertine Graben, Bunyoro-Kitara Kingdom has so far channeled an impressive sh5b into a range of business ventures. These investments encompass real estate, treasury bills, fixed deposits, and the Unity Trust Fund, a unique insurance vehicle designed to nurture wealth through capital gains, contingent upon the fund’s performance. Robert Owagonza, the Kingdom’s Minister of Finance and Planning, told The Albertine Journal on Monday that this commitment aligns with their endeavour to make the kingdom self-sustaining. The Kingdom started on this path with the…

President Yoweri Museveni recently announced that Uganda has achieved notable progress in its efforts against the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a group he often refers to as terrorists. This development follows a series of airstrikes conducted in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) on Friday. Taking to his official social media platform X, formerly Twitter, on Sunday, October 15, Museveni reported that the Uganda People Defence Forces (UPDF) deployed fighter-bombers to strike four ADF locations at varying distances from the Uganda-DR Congo border. “These points were at: 72 kilometres, 120 kilometres, 69 kilometres and 130 kilometres from the border…

The Petroleum Authority of Uganda (PAU) has officially lifted the suspension on works at the Kingfisher Development Area (KFDA) in Kikuube district. Ernest Rubondo, the Executive Director of PAU, made the announcement on October 13 and highlighted the extensive safety measures and reviews that led to this decision. He stated, “This step has been taken after rigorous examination of all standard procedures to ensure that the health and safety requirements are being robustly implemented by all contractors and sub-contractors.” The Authority has reviewed and realigned the safety protocols with the operator for overall improvement in the HSE culture and practices…

A project aimed at enhancing digital literacy by improving access to infrastructure such as computers and the internet in underserved communities is making significant progress. Launched in 2017 with a focus on empowering young people and women to facilitate learning, research, and business promotion, the initiative, a collaboration between Airtel Uganda and Telecom Tower Company (ATC), aims to benefit 40,000 individuals in Uganda. The programme features the provision of computers connected to a 5G network, facilitating access to education through digital community centres in Uganda. The latest addition to this network is the Hoima Public Library, bringing the total number…

The CNOOC Uganda Limited sponsored scholarship beneficiaries leaving for China to pursue a Bachelor of Petroleum Engineering at the China University of Petroleum-East China is a significant development in Uganda’s oil and gas sector. CNOOC Uganda Limited has established an International Scholarship Programme with the aim of enhancing capacity building and skills development in the oil and gas industry. The programme also seeks to promote National Content participation in the industry, emphasising the company’s commitment to its area of operation and local communities, a September 26 statement said. Since 2014, CNOOC Uganda Limited has sponsored a total of eight Ugandan…

The pursuit and preservation of power have never been the primary objectives of a political party or a national government. Democracy is a fragile concept, nurtured and sustained by enlightened purpose, self-sacrifice, and even negotiations. However, the so-called political science experts overseeing Uganda’s current political landscape should be cautious not to succumb to the allure of power hegemony and political uniformity. This path carries indescribable dangers and a perilous price that could shatter Uganda’s political foundations for centuries to come. The “do-it-yourself” approach promoted by second or third-generation “freedom fighters” and rebranded African-style warlords will not lead Africa to glory.…