When Gen Kahinda Otafiire, the minister of Internal Affairs, ranted about the growing cases of injustice and the need to stop them at the inaugural Sam Kalega Njuba Memorial Lecture, many people read different things. Predictably, most people praised Otafiire on social media for his boldness and willingness to say things that many senior NRM…
My name is Simon Mwebesa, and at 26, I should be out there building bridges or drawing plans for the roads that wind through Kampala’s busy hills. Instead, I am staring at the same cracked wall in my small rented room in Kawempe, wondering if today I will finally eat something better than Kikomando. It…
If you came of age in the early 2000s in Uganda, one tabloid stood out like the fiery chilli it claimed to be: The Red Pepper. If you wanted the juiciest scoops on celebrities, politicians, and everyday personalities, Red Pepper was your go-to source. It had been christened Kamulali in the local dialect, a direct translation…
Prof Waswa Balunywa is a name synonymous with the transformation of business education in Uganda. Widely regarded as the “grandfather of the Bcom degree,” he led Makerere University Business School (MUBS) for over three decades, turning it from a small department at Makerere University into a leading institution with over 20,000 students and an expansive…
“We are THE KAMPALA JOURNAL. “The Truth Command Centre. It starts here.” That’s the tagline of The Kampala Journal’s official X account, which has 45,442 followers. It’s boisterous. It’s emphatic. But one problem with it, it is not accurate. In a country where many people eat and drink politics, few accounts on X stir as…
If you are a heavily indebted businessperson in Uganda, sinking under the weight of a bank loan with no hope of repaying it, what do you do? For many, they would let the bank foreclose their mortgaged properties and lick their wounds. But if you are of the stature of Hamis Kiggundu, Patrick Bitature, Amos…
If you take DFCU Bank to court armed with a street-side lawyer, you had better be ready to deal with a formidable and experienced army of lawyers that the bank has retained to fight its legal wars. It is very unusual for a company, let alone a wealthy individual in Uganda, to retain the services…
In a cozy café nestled in Nairobi’s Karen district, chestnut-colored AA-grade Kenyan coffee beans are carefully ground, extracted, and brewed under the focused gaze of a local barista. The bitterness transforms into something wondrous, a bright acidity blossoms, reminiscent of ripe, juicy tropical fruits. The aroma quickly fills the room, invigorating the senses. Eastern Africa,…
Over the weekend, Uganda’s military delivered a stunning rebuke to Germany, severing defence ties and accusing Ambassador Mathias Schauer of engaging in “subversive activities.” The announcement, amplified on X and other online news platforms, sent shockwaves through a relationship that has anchored Uganda’s economic and developmental aspirations for over six decades. This bold move, framed…
In a quiet town on the outskirts of Kampala, a group of young men and women are redefining professional wrestling and have become an unlikely global sensation. They do not perform in a grand arena or have flashing lights, a jumbo screen, or even canvas laid over wood in their ring. Instead, bamboo sticks and…
When 69-year-old Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost appeared on the main balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica for the first time as Pope Leo XIV on May 8, 2025, he was cheered loudly by the huge crowd of pilgrims, tourists, local Catholics and other onlookers who had waited hours for the first sign of white smoke and…
This week, we woke up to two news stories about two people named Sam who have served the government in power with distinction. One is Sam Kahamba Kutesa, a regime insider who successfully combined politics and personal business for decades until he retired from government in 2021. He held many ministerial positions over the past…
Six reasons why it will be difficult (not impossible) for an African to be elected Pope. The death of Pope Francis on Easter Monday left many Catholics in shock. It also left the Catholic Church with a major headache: Who will replace Pope Francis? Several cardinals have been mentioned as possible successors, including two from…
Some of Justice Lydia Mugambe’s friends thought her maid was her sister. “She [Mugambe] addressed her respectfully and the two would often share jokes,” said one of the people who spoke to Bbeg Media. “She trusted her with her life. With her maid, Mugambe was so comfortable and never worried about the safety of her…
