President Museveni Receives King Oyo’s Remains At Entebbe Airport Says Queen Mother Told Him About Monarch Treatment Abroad In February

By Moses Sserwanga

 President Yoweri Museveni has today mid-morning received the remains of King Oyo at Enetbbe International Airport and told the country that he was first infomred about the 34- year old mondarch’s illness in November 2025 and later in February during the presidential campaigns when he offered to have him flown to Germany for treatment .

Museveni laid a wreath while paying tribute to the fallen king and called on the people of Tooro to remain calm and allow a dignified- 9 day mourning period and burial on September 12th at Karambi Royal Tombs in Fort Portal , Kabarole district .

At Entebbe Airport , Museveni was joined by Tooro Kingdom officials who included the 59 year old Queen Mother, Best Kemigisa, the late King Oyo’s 90 year old paternal aunt Princess Elizabeth Bagaya , and 36 year old sister Princess Ruth Komuntale, other members of the Royal Family, cabinent ministers , religious leaders , relatives, friends and other dignitaries .

“He was a gentleman and did a lot of good work for his kingdom at a tender age . He also had a good relationship with the central government which is commendable . I commiserate with the family and the Batoro for the loss of their king,” Museveni stated .

The body was later flown by Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) helicopter flight AF-625 to Humura Primary School playground in Kyegegwa District, from where it be transported by road to Fort Portal in Tooro Kingdom.

King Oyo, died on August 27 at the age of 34, in Dallas Texas USA where he was being treated for advanced cancer . King Oyo assumed the throne at the age of three in 1995 – following the death of his father, King Patrick David Matthew Rwamuhokya Kaboyo Olimi III.

Oyo was the second-born child of the late Omukama Patrick David Matthew Kaboyo Olimi III and Queen Best Kemigisa Kaboyo, with two sisters. He was born on April 16, 1992. Oyo’s two sisters are Princess Ruth Nsemere Komuntale and the late Princess Cecilia Komukyeya.

Princess Komukyeya King Oyo’s younger sister passed away from leukemia in October 1997 at the age of four.

He attended Aga Khan Primary School in Kampala and later Kampala International School Uganda before pursuing a degree in Business Management at the University of Winchester in the United Kingdom.

King Oyo, who Guinness World Records listed as the world’s youngest reigning monarch, ruled over more than two million people. He was the 13th monarch of a kingdom that was founded in the early 19th Century.

The Tooro Kingdom follows a hereditary system in selecting its monarch.

Oyo was not officially married, but President Museveni said that he was told by the Queen Mother Kemigisa that he had left a son and therefore , “the continuity of the Crown is assured”.

When he became king in 1995 a regency, which included the queen mother, and Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveniwas established until Oyo turned 18 when there was an official coronation.

Oyo’s mother was among his key advisers in his younger years, as was President Museveni, who attended his coming-of-age 18th birthday party in 2010 in Fort Portal.

Oyo was known as a lover of sports, and a fan of London football club Arsenal.

He took interest in causes including HIV prevention, environmental conservation, tourism and climate change, for instance when he embarked on a hiking expedition in the Rwenzori Mountains in 2022 to try to showcase Uganda’s tourism potential and the risks of climate change.

President Museveni has since granted at official burial for the much loved departed King Oyo.

Editor:msserwanga@gmail.com

E-Bus Xpress Operations Launched In Kira Municipality With 21 Kayoola Electric Buses

 

Fares will start from as low as UGX 800 for adults and UGX 400 for students, depending on the distance travelled

 

By Moses Sserwanga

E-Bus Xpress operations have been launched in Kira Municipality, with pomp marking a significant milestone in the country’s journey towards a modern, efficient, safe, accessible and sustainable public transport system in the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area (GKMA) .

At a colourful event presided over by the Minister of Kampala Capital City and Metropolitan Affairs , Hajjat Minsa Kabanda , E- Bus Xpress- (EBX) a subsidiary of Uganda’s green mobility industry captains Kiira Motors Corporation , (KMC) has deployed an additional 21 new Kayoola electric buses which were flagged-off for the new- modern – green mobility service that  will connect growing residential communities to the  Ntinda hub and Kampala, with three dedicated feeder routes which will include ; Ntinda – Najjera – Kira – Kitukutwe – Kiwologoma – Nakwero; Ntinda – Naalya – Kyaliwajjala – Namugongo – Sonde and Ntinda – Kisasi – Kyanja – Kungu.

Each route will have 5 buses connecting passengers with scheduled services, air conditioned buses, onboard Wi-Fi, modern safety features and cashless payments.

Others who joined Minister Kabanda to witness the historic moment were   her colleague, the Minister of Science Technology and Innovations (STI) Eng. Jonard Asiimwe Akiiki. the Kiira Municipality Mayor , Mr. Allan Bulamu , the Wakiso LCV Chairman Mr. Ian Kyeyune , the E-Bus Xpress Board of Governors Chairman ,Dr. Freddie Emmanuel Mugunga, the E-Bus  Xpress, Managing Director (MD) Eng. Ian Jon Kavuma , Mr. Ibrahim Senyonga ,the General Manager for  Enterprise Business United (EBU) at MTN –Uganda, Eng JacobEng. Jacob Byamukama ,the Deputy Director for Roads Management (and Deputy Director of Transport and Roads Management) at the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) and Mr. Isaac Musasizi the CEO Kiira Motors Corporation .

Minister Kabanda said the new green mobility services which started in Jinja City and are now being rolled out in the Capital City Kampala, demonstrates the confidence that the Uganda Government is placing in electric mobility as part of the future of urban transportation.

“For the people of Kira, today's launch means more than additional buses on the road. It means greater connectivity, more reliable mobility and a cleaner and more dignified public transport experience. What we are witnessing today has implications for Kampala, Kira and Uganda as a whole.

 Our cities are growing, our population is increasing, and the demand for mobility is expanding. We must therefore, build a transport system that is not only capable of moving people, but one that supports economic activity, protects the environment and improves the quality of life of our citizens,” Minister Kabanda told a big excited audience.

The minister noted that Kiira Motors Corporation represents Uganda's ambition to build a strong domestic automotive industry and demonstrates that we can manufacture modern, high-quality and environmentally responsible vehicles here at home.

E-Bus Xpress Kiira Ltd, on the other hand, Kabanda said, is taking that locally manufactured technology into our communities and putting it to work in addressing one of the country’s - most pressing urban challenges - public transportation.

“This is the connection between manufacturing and service delivery, between innovation and practical solutions, and between the vision of industrialisation and the everyday lives of Ugandans,” she stated.

The significance of the E-Bus Xpress initiative that will cover all the major cities in Uganda, goes beyond the buses themselves.

It is about creating employment and developing skills. It is about supporting local value chains. It is about embracing digital technology through cashless payments, connectivity and telematics. It is about improving safety and the passenger experience. Most importantly, it is about demonstrating that Uganda can develop solutions to its own challenges using its own people, institutions and industries.

Kabanda said the green mobility service is consistent with the national development priorities and the country’s commitment to sustainable and inclusive growth. It is also aligned with the vision for a modern, integrated and efficient transport system for the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area, as envisaged under the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area Multi-Modal Urban Transport Master Plan.

This particular vision seeks to improve public transport across Kampala and the surrounding municipalities, providing more efficient mobility, reducing congestion and supporting the transformation of Kampala into a modern and smart city.

The E-Bus Xpress ,MD, Eng. Kavuma ,said the expanded green mobility service will offer passengers in Kiira Municipality scheduled, professional operations; clean, air-conditioned buses fitted with modern comfort, connectivity and safety features; and a safer, more dignified and affordable travel experience.

Kavuma explained that because the E-bus Xpress fleet is fully electric, every journey is completed with zero tailpipe emissions, contributing directly to cleaner air and healthier communities across the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area.

He said that the service is also built around convenience and transparency in how passengers pay their fares.

“Our cashless payment ecosystem includes Mobile Money, through MTN MoMo and Airtel Money merchant and USSD codes, for the everyday mobile-money user; a reusable Transport Card for corporate clients and the general public, offering the shortest payment journey; a Smart Wristband designed specifically for primary and secondary school pupils, powered by an integrated multi- network platform on *272*80#; and the EBX Connect App, giving smartphone users on both Android and iOS convenient access to fare payment and related services,” Kavuma added .

The Mayor of Kira municipality , Allan Bulamu ,welcomed the E-mobility solutions being introduced by E-bus - noting that Uganda needs to continuously think about the future of public transport systems which should be clean , smart , timely and sustainable .

“Our country should not be left behind by the rest of the world in adopting clean mobility technologies . We need electric buses and trains for our cities to reduce pollution and the time people spend traveling which will ultimately improve the quality of life and increase  productivity of people in the cities and urban centers,” Bulamu argued.

The Mayor called for the integration of transport networks across the Kampala Metropolitan Area so that E-Bus Express services can connect with rail, road and other modes of transport to create a seamless passenger transport system.

He further  called for the implementation of plans to provide dedicated bus lanes, designated stages, passenger shelters and other facilities, while ensuring that the infrastructure is safe and accessible to the public.

Bulamu cautioned against excluding existing taxi operators from the new transport developments, urging authorities to ensure that they are incorporated into the evolving public transport system.

Eng. Jacob Byamukama, the Deputy Director of Transport and Roads Management at  KCCA, said the electric buses would improve the passenger travel experience while contributing to the reduction of traffic congestion in the city. 

However, he acknowledged that operating a bus system in the centre of Kampala would be challenging because the city currently has no dedicated bus lanes, forcing buses to compete for road space with other forms of traffic.

E-Bus Express Board Chairman, Dr. Emmanuel Freddie Mugunga urged the Minister for Kampala and other authorities to allocate additional routes to the company, saying it is ready to deploy 100 buses across the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area before the end of the year. 

He said the company ultimately plans to deploy up to 1,000 electric buses across major cities in Uganda by 2030.

Speaking at the launch of the Kira Municipality routes, Ibrahim Senyonga, General Manager of the Enterprise Business Unit (EBU) at MTN Uganda, said MTN would provide the cashless payment system, allowing passengers to pay their fares without carrying physical cash.

He added that MTN had also deployed internet services on the buses and would work to ensure uninterrupted connectivity as much as possible.

The launch of the new routes follows what the company describes as a successful pilot and rollout project in the Jinja area, which began in November 2024.

The service introduced daily electric bus transport along the Jinja–Iganga and Jinja–Nakibizi corridors using a fully cashless payment system.

According to the company, the service initially transported about 300,000 passengers during the early stages of the rollout and has since carried about 3.5 million passengers, demonstrating strong commuter demand despite operating a fleet of only seven buses.

The event was also attended by two other E-Bus Xpress board members, Thatcher Nakimuli Mpanga and Moses Witta Mbubi.

Editor:msserwanga@gmail.com

 

Unlocking potential: refugees and host communities complete cash plus skilling six-month programme

 Personal growth, community resilience and sustainable livelihoods for adolescents and young people on the move

It was a moment of excitement and personal renewal when 383 adolescents and young people, drawn largely from the Imvepi Refugee Settlement in Terego District, graduated after a six-month training on mentorship and life skilling under the Kingdom of Netherlands funded PROSPECTS programme.

The mentorship and life skilling training programme, implemented by UNICEF-Uganda is a multi-year strategic initiative aimed at empowering young refugees and host community members in countries like Uganda, Egypt and Ethiopia.

The programme focuses on skills development, including foundational learning and digital training, to help youth transition from education to employment. It provides access to life skills, cash mentorship and pathways to education and livelihoods that enhance resilience and self-reliance.

Elizabeth Ropani an 18-year -old mother and refugee from South Sudan with a hearing impairment, together with her cohort, successfully completed the mentorship programme under the Cash Plus Initiative (CPI) implemented within the PROSPECTS framework, aimed at supporting adolescents and young people on the move to build resilience, life skills and self-reliance. The programme was conducted over six months and recognized the participants’ dedication, learning, and commitment to personal and community development.

The beneficiaries received certificates at the Imvepi Tank 65 Multi-Purpose Community Centre (also known as Hope Foundation Community Centre).

The UNICEF Country Representative, Dr Robin Nandy, who was visiting Imvepi Refugee Settlement to assess how the PROSPECTS programme was imparting skills to young people, handed over certificates to a selected group of beneficiaries.

“I’m excited that, with God’s blessings, I was given a rare opportunity to participate in this very important mentorship and skilling programme for my personal growth. I have acquired life skills and I’m now in a better position to support my mother and young family. I also leave with a certificate handed to me by the UNICEF Country Representative, Dr Nandy. It is a big day for me and my family,” Ropani, a young mother of two, said with a smile as she waved her certificate.

Her success story goes beyond merely attending the daily cash plus skilling and mentorship sessions. It is about long-term family survival and sustainable development.

Ropani said that before she joined the programme, she had nothing and faced many challenges including fleeing armed conflict in her country of origin, dealing with child abuse and working under difficult conditions to meet her family’s essential needs such as food and clothing.

“In these six months, I have acquired digital and photography skills. I have been introduced to basic digital and computer skills that have helped me transition to photography and videography while using programmes such as Illustrator and Photoshop. Most importantly, I have learned weaving and sewing. I now own a small tailoring business with a sewing machine which was given to me under the Welthilfe (WHH) project,” she explained.

At Point J Market in Imvepi Refugee Settlement, Ropani’s tailoring business is blossoming. “I used part of the UGX 202,500 (US$56) I received from the PROSPECTS project, with support from UNICEF Uganda, to buy 10 rolls of Batik fabric that I use for dressmaking. I sell the dresses I make and earn a profit to sustain my family. I’m grateful to UNICEF for this support, which has helped me offset some of my family’s immediate needs while also boosting my financial growth,” she added.

The young mother has also joined the Goodwill Village Saving Group (VSG) where she saves UGX 5,000 (about US$1.2) weekly and has bought two chickens to start a poultry project. There are many other adolescents and young people in Ropani’s cohort with similar testimonies of growth and personal empowerment.

Why PROSPECTS?

As part of the broader PROSPECTS initiative, UNICEF Uganda is implementing an unconditional cash transfer programme to support out-of-school adolescents and young people, with a specific focus on forcibly displaced persons and host communities in four refugee-hosting districts. The districts include Terego, Madi-Okollo, Isingiro, and Kampala for urban refugees.

This is because many forcibly displaced adolescents and young people like Ropani face heightened vulnerability due to displacement including disruption of education, family separation, exposure to violence and limited access to services. These challenges are further compounded by those with disabilities or from extremely poor households.

As a result, many forcibly displaced adolescents and young people are deprived of opportunities for education, skills development, mentorship, and protection. Participation in such programmes often carries a high opportunity cost, as adolescents and young people are expected to engage in income-generating activities or domestic responsibilities to support their households.

To address these barriers, Stella Ogalo, a Social Policy Specialist at UNICEF Uganda, explained that the social protection component of the PROSPECT programme provides direct financial support to adolescents and young people including Ropani to offset the opportunity costs foregone, thereby enabling them to participate in life-skills training, mentorship and digital skilling offered, without sacrificing their immediate livelihoods.

The project focuses on providing cash support to out-of-school adolescents and young people for six months. Each member of the cohort receives UGX 45,000 per month, but the money is paid in a lump sum of UGX 135,000 (US$37) for three months, with the disabled beneficiaries receiving an additional 50 per cent top-up of UGX 22,500 (US$6) per month. The top-up is also paid in a lump sum of UGX 67,500 (US$19) for three months.

The cash assistance is intended to bridge the burden of accessing skilling programmes provided by UNICEF and partners within the PROSPECTS framework funded by the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Other skilling programs include digital skilling and vocation skilling. i-UPSHIFT and entrepreneurship skilling.

“These adolescents have faced challenges such as transport, childcare (for those with children) and other household demands that affect their ability to participate in the skilling programme. Therefore, the cash provided is not meant to cover skilling costs but to enable these adolescents and young people to access mentorship and other related opportunities,” Ogalo emphasized.

Ogalo further stated that the programme also strengthens linkages to other essential services such as child protection, education, psychosocial support and healthcare provided by the Ugandan Government through established local structures. Beneficiaries are also provided with information on social protection systems in countries of return, helping to prepare adolescents and young people who may eventually choose to repatriate.

“By promoting financial inclusion, enhancing self-reliance and preventing harmful coping mechanisms such as child labour and early marriages, the programme aims to improve the well-being of displaced and host communities and lay the groundwork for long-term resilience and sustainable livelihoods,” she added.

In line with the Refugee and Host Population Empowerment (ReHoPE) strategic framework (2017), Ogalo said the programme endeavours to support both the refugee and host community.

Samuel Rombe, a peer mentor at Uganda Youth Development Link (UYDEL) and ICT trainer at Hope Foundation, was confident that the mentorship sessions that the beneficiaries have attended will go a long way in reducing negative behaviours such as drug use, child abuse and gender-based violence, while fostering peaceful coexistence and economic development through hard work.

Sustainability and scaling up

Ogalo said the programme prioritizes government leadership and ownership by working closely with national and local authorities to advocate for inclusive financing and the integration of adolescent-focused social protection into national planning and budgeting processes. It will also strengthen community engagement and enhance capacity-building of local leaders, service providers and community structures to ensure long-term continuity of services.

The UNICEF Uganda Country Representative, Dr Nandy, hailed the collaboration among diverse international funding partners including the Netherlands Government and the Government of Uganda. He noted that funding for the PROSPECTS programme had transformed the lives of many vulnerable communities. He also urged PROSPECTS beneficiaries to be positive change agents in their communities and to pass on the skills they had acquired to others that are less fortunate.

Writer is a media and communications consultant And Advocate of the High Court of Uganda