The Uganda Meteorological Authority has issued a stark warning to the public as all four zones of Lake Victoria have been deemed unsafe this morning due to strong winds and high waves. Despite the warnings, a fisherman was rescued by friends after venturing into the hazardous waters earlier this week. Authorities have expressed their gratitude for the successful rescue but reiterated the critical importance of heeding safety advisories.

Earlier this week, the government cautioned small aircraft and small boat operators to delay their activities in response to the intensifying winds over Lake Victoria. Lilian Nkwenge, spokesperson for the Uganda Meteorological Authority, highlighted that these perilous conditions have been persisting since Sunday.

“The winds are particularly dangerous for small aircraft flying over the lake and small boats navigating its waters,” Nkwenge stated during the weekly security briefing at the Uganda Police Headquarters in Naguru on Monday. She identified Sese, Koome, Entebbe, and Kyotera as the most dangerous areas affected by the unstable conditions of the lake.

Nkwenge emphasized, “The lake has been unstable since Sunday night, and unfortunately, strong waves have continued this morning. That is why we are urging people to wait.” She also noted that while Lake Victoria is typically unsafe during June and July, the turbulence has been unusually severe this year.

Fishermen, who typically embark on their activities early in the morning and evening, and tourists visiting the lake have been particularly urged to exercise caution. The authorities have convened meetings with residents to discuss the matter and are advocating for the consistent use of life jackets to enhance safety.

“I urge all travelers and people who use the lake to prioritize their lives,” Nkwenge said, adding that smaller boats, known locally as Pala, have been banned from the lake until conditions improve.

The history of fatalities on Lake Victoria underscores the gravity of the current warnings. In August of last year, at least 20 people perished after an overloaded boat capsized. In November 2018, a tragic incident saw at least 32 people lose their lives when a pleasure boat sank during bad weather, with over 90 revellers onboard. That same year in September, hundreds died when the MV Nyerere passenger ferry sank on the Tanzanian side of the lake.

As the strong winds and waves persist, the Uganda Meteorological Authority continues to monitor the situation closely and urges the public to remain vigilant and avoid unnecessary travel on Lake Victoria during these hazardous conditions.

The Nyendo Mukungwe Legislature, a previous Leader of the Opposition and the present deputy head of the National Unity Platform NUP, is facing difficulties after his party issued a clear directive insisting that he step down due to allegations of corruption and misappropriation of public funds.

In this ongoing online movement known as the #Uganda Parliament Exhibition, the focus is on exposing corrupt government officials and opposition partisans who mishandle public offices.

The excitement has intensified as not just NRM members, but also some opposition figures, have been implicated in mishandling public funds and participating in corrupt activities.

For the Masaka Mukungwe and former Democratic Party delegate who joined NUP in the coalition named the DP blog, prior this week the parliament had passed a total sum of 500M to the departed LoP Mathias Mpuuga Nsamba as a thanks giving.

This in the face of his masters was a sign and a form of corruption and they were displeased with it and thus they called him off from the duty of the parliament commissioner.

In a statement released by the NUP secretariat on Thursday evening, Party President Robert Kyagulanyi, commonly referred to as Bobi Wine, convened a gathering with top party officials. The objective of the assembly was to confront the corruption accusations that had emerged, implicating numerous NUP figures, including Mpuuga, who formerly served as the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, alongside other commissioners.

These allegations revolve around irregular distributions of substantial sums of money to themselves under the guise of service accolades. Mpuuga, specifically, is alleged to have received 500 million shillings through this procedure.

Mathias Mpuuga, known for his diplomatic prowess and oratory skills, has sparked speculation of an association with the ruling party NRM. This speculation stems from events dating back to when Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, the patron of NUP, replaced Mpuuga with Joel Ssenyonyi as the Leader of the Opposition.

It appeared as though Ssentamu was already aware that Mpuuga had distanced himself and begun associating and collaborating with the ruling party NRM!

Recently, Mpuuga, situated in Masaka City, halted the “Kunga” movement in Masaka, sparking conflicts with the party and their ongoing projects. When confronted by the press to comment on the unfolding scandals, Mpuuga explicitly stated his unwillingness to provide any remarks at this time.

“I will respond when I am ready; just be calm because there is nothing to hurry about,” Nyendo-Mukungwe MP Mathias Mpuuga told New Vision Online via phone on Friday, March 1, 2024.

The National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) has unveiled a plan for efficient and effective service for the Kampala Metropolitan, areas of Kampala, Wakiso and Mukono.

According to Mahmood Lutaaya, the General Manager of Kampala Water at the NWSC, plans are underway to install over 2600 water ATMs in the Kampala Metropolitan informal settlements.

Lutaya unveiled the plans while appearing on UBC TV on Thursday morning to discuss service delivery plans for the people of Kampala.

He said that ATMs shall use smart tokens, selling a jerrycan at Shs 25.

According to Lutaaya, the initiative is in a bid to increase access to safe and clean water in the informal settlements.

Lutaaya added that the Government of Uganda through NWSC is installing community prepaid meters for the informal communities in Kampala.

In 2021, NWSC revealed that the Corporation, with help of French Development Agency and other partners, were racing to meet and exceed the Kampala metropolitan maximum water demand of 300 million liters per day.

In a resolute stance, Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among, has directed the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) to promptly address the issue of unpaid arrears owed to its casual workers. The directive follows a dramatic protest on Monday, as a faction of the city’s sanitation workers marched to Parliament, airing their grievances over prolonged non-payment by the authority.

Expressing concern during Wednesday’s plenary session, Speaker Among emphasized the imperative of honoring the laborers’ entitlements, citing Article 40(1) of the Constitution, which mandates equitable remuneration for equal work without prejudice. She underscored the plight of these workers, highlighting the financial strain they endure due to the protracted delay in compensation.

“We cannot overlook the fundamental principle of fair compensation for labor. It is unjustifiable for these workers to go unpaid for extended periods. Their livelihoods and the well-being of their families are at stake,” Speaker Among iterated, calling upon KCCA leadership to expedite the payment process.

The agitation stemmed from claims by some workers that they have been pursuing payment for the past 45 months without success, exacerbating their financial hardships. The situation prompted a demonstration at Parliament, drawing attention to the pressing issue.

In response to concerns raised by MPs, particularly the Presidential Affairs Committee chaired by Richard Sebamala, regarding the deteriorating cleanliness standards in the city, KCCA Executive Director, Dorothy Kisaka, attributed the predicament partly to budgetary constraints. Kisaka elucidated that the meager daily wage of Shs6000 allocated to street cleaners reflects the limited financial resources available to the Authority.

Acknowledging the gravity of the situation, Kisaka revealed that efforts are underway to streamline the payment process by channeling funds through the workers’ respective Savings and Credit Cooperative Organizations (SACCOs). This approach aims to empower the workers to manage their finances collectively within their divisions, thereby fostering autonomy and financial stability.

As the debate ensues within parliamentary chambers, the plight of Kampala’s casual workers underscores broader issues of labor rights and economic justice, demanding urgent action to rectify the prevailing injustices and uphold the dignity of all workers.

In the quiet town of Lugazi Municipality, nestled within the Buikwe District, a tale of passion and unexpected entanglement unfolded one fateful evening. It was a rendezvous between two lovers, drawn together by the irresistible pull of desire and affection.

The protagonists of our story were an unlikely pair – a 38-year-old driver hailing from Kawolo and his paramour from the bustling Buwenge Town Council. Their courtship had blossomed over time, culminating in a decision to steal away for a night of intimate connection and shared ecstasy.

With hearts racing and anticipation mounting, the driver reached out to his beloved, arranging a clandestine meeting at a discreet lodge where they could indulge in the pleasures of each other’s company. Little did they know that their passionate liaison would take an unexpected turn, leading them down a path fraught with embarrassment and bewilderment!

As the night unfolded and their ardor reached its peak, and unforeseen twist of fate befell the lovers – they found themselves inexplicably stuck together, their bodies entwined in a manner that defied explanation. Despite their frantic efforts to disentangle themselves, they remained firmly bound, their cries of distress echoing through the walls of the lodge.

Outside, oblivious to the unfolding drama, the sounds of their struggle went unnoticed by the casual passersby, who dismissed them as nothing more than the usual noises of amorous encounters. However, as the commotion grew louder and more desperate, a curious crowd began to gather, drawn by the spectacle unfolding before them.

Word spread like wildfire, and soon, the authorities were alerted to the bizarre predicament of the star-crossed lovers. Responding swiftly, officers from the Kiira Region Police arrived on the scene, their arrival heralding a new chapter in the saga of the entwined couple.

With the assistance of concerned onlookers, the trapped lovers were carefully extricated from their predicament and rushed to the Buwenge Health Centre IV for urgent medical attention. Yet, even as they grappled with the physical ramifications of their ordeal, the questions surrounding their inexplicable entanglement remained unanswered.

As investigations got underway at the Buwenge Central Police Station, whispers began to circulate among the townsfolk, invoking tales of ancient myths and dark magic. For in this quiet corner of the world, where tradition and superstition held sway, the phenomenon of “penis captivus” was more than just a medical curiosity – it was a chilling reminder of the unseen forces that lurked in the shadows.

And so, the tale of the lovers stuck in the bedroom game would be etched into the annals of local lore, a cautionary reminder of the unpredictable nature of passion and the strange, inexplicable twists of fate that can befall even the most ardent of souls.

Were this commuter minibus a tenement in Kamwokya in Kampala or Dandora in Nairobi, burglars would be swooning over it.

The burglars would be thinking of when to strip it of some of its electronic parts.

Probably the first they would think of grabbing the 32-inch flat television set hoisted on the board between the driver’s cabin and the passenger section.

A TV set of the brand in the minibus could fetch Shs1 million. Shs1 million could pay a lower ranking policeman salary for four months. The second to go would be the 1, 000-watt speakers.

Since many thugs are young men, with an ear for bass, the burglars would probably not sell the speakers.

They would keep them for their home entertainment.

To conclude the burglary, if the miscreants are cheeky, and have Smartphones, they would take pictures of themselves ensconced in the seats and then use the WiFi in the minibus to update their status on their social networking sites like Facebook.

And, to provoke art critics, they could take selfies, ensuring the Christiano Ronaldo, Barack Obama or Lil Wayne graffiti or the abstract scribbling on the sides of the minibuses are in the frame, and post these.

In Summary

Some matatu owners spend up to Shs10 million on paint work alone

WiFi, flat screens, CCTV are for customers entertainment and security. But the cost of these could buy a used sedan

The bad news for the burglars is that this commuter minibus, also known as a matatu, is not a tenement.

It is one of the many fabrications on Kenya’s capital, Nairobi, streets.

To attract travellers, the savings and credit cooperatives (Saccos) and the individuals who own them spend a lot of money to ‘soup’ or ‘pimp’ them up.

They do this to attract the young commuters who would not mind a discotheque-like surround sound.

During the traffic snarl-ups, the music oozing through the speakers serve the same purpose the sports channels in commercial banks lobbies serve – take the customers minds off the long wait.For security reasons, some of the owners install closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras in the minibuses.

The presumption is that the thugs who would board the minibuses – as law-abiding citizens only to draw revolvers from their trench coats and rob the genuine passengers at gunpoint – would be deterred by the CCTV. Of course, CCTV has never stopped criminals from wearing balaclavas just before ‘missions’.

If the ‘pimping’ that goes into a matatu serves none of the above purposes, at least it helps to take one’s mind off the fact that the matatus front reminds some of a bulldog’s face