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@sqoop Sun, 08 Sep 2024 17:48:24
Sammie and Shawa unapologetic over mimicry act on Bobi Wine
Comedians Sammie and Shawa have faced backlash on social media following their recent mimicry of popular musician-turned-politician Bobi Wine. The duo performed a skit at the weekly Comedy Store show, inspired by events in Bulindo, Wakiso District, earlier this week. During a scuffle between police and National Unity Platform leaders and supporters, Bobi Wine was […]
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@observer Fri, 06 Sep 2024 10:59:20
Jinja education officer Amina Mutesi remanded for abuse of office
The Anti-Corruption court has remanded Amina Mutesi, the Jinja principal education officer, to Luzira prison on charges of abuse of office. Mutesi, who was arrested by the State House Anti-Corruption Unit, joins two other government officials, Haruna Mulopa and Samuel Ngobi, who have been in custody since August 21, 2024, on similar charges. The three officials are accused of diverting Universal Primary Education (UPE) funds for unauthorized purposes, including a sports workshop and Jinja City Council events, actions that violate UPE guidelines on the management of public funds. According to the prosecution, on May 24, 2024, the officials allegedly instructed headteachers to use UPE capitation grants for unauthorized term two activities, in direct violation of UPE regulations. Grade One magistrate Christopher Opit granted bail of Shs 3 million each to Mulopa and Ngobi on Wednesday, with the case adjourned to December 6, 2024. However, Mutesi was remanded to Luzira prison until September 5, 2024, to allow the prosecution time to verify her bail documents. She denied the charges, and Senior State Attorney Raymond Mugisa informed the court that investigations are still ongoing. {loadposition inarticle}
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@observer Sat, 07 Sep 2024 08:59:53
Minister Sarah Mateke dies at Mengo hospital
The state minister for Defense and Veteran Affairs, Sarah Mateke, passed away at 50. According to her close friend, Hope Bizimana, Mateke, who also served as the Kisoro Woman MP, suffered a heart attack and was rushed to Mengo hospital, where she was pronounced dead upon arrival. She was appointed to the ministerial position in April of this year. Born on July 15, 1974, in Chahi sub-county, Kisoro district, in the Kigezi region, Mateke was the third of six children in the family of Philemon Mateke, a former state minister for Regional Affairs, and Joy Rwanfizi Mateka, a professional teacher. Sarah Mateke in parliament earlier Mateke attended Sesame Integrated School and completed her secondary education at Maryhill High School. She later graduated from Bugema University with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and went on to earn a Master’s degree in Public Health from the same institution. Additionally, she holds a postgraduate diploma in public administration and management from Uganda Christian University. {loadposition inarticle}
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@observer Sat, 07 Sep 2024 09:30:01
Ndere Troupe@40: How success turned into despair for Rwangyezi
STEPHEN RWANGYEZI is one of the most recognisable figures in the entertainment industry whose influence with his Ndere Troupe transcends Ugandan boundaries. Over the years, he has turned Ndere into one of the biggest brands; a paragon of performing arts, Ugandan cultural tourism and heritage. The ambitious Rwangyezi sought to expand Ndere’s realm by venturing into the hospitality industry and this year is supposed to be Ndere’s milestone celebration of 40 years. However, it is turning out to be a distressing issue for Rwangyezi, who is desperate to clear a Shs 10.5bn loan. On a wider scale, Ndere’s recent struggles have become a cause for concern for stakeholders in the cultural and performing arts industry. Rwangyezi took The Observer through the good, bad and ugly of the current situation as well as the possible remedies.THE CONCEPTRwangyezi says that back in 1984 when he founded Ndere Troupe, the main reason was that the African heritage was sinking.“I started Ndere to purposely bring pride and confidence in the African world by seeing that actually our music, our dance, our food, our everything is very good and very beautiful,” he recalls.And at that time, he was teaching at Lubiri SS and formed a club that would recapture Ugandan traditional music, dance and storytelling and develop them into modern performing arts.“We also wanted to bring the whole country in one space, through diversity. We deliberately vowed our performances would be a repertoire that has all Ugandan cultures represented,” he says.BREAKTHROUGHThe pioneer members of Ndere Troupe that Rwangyezi recruited were his students at Lubiri SS and those at Buganda Road primary school. Their big breakthrough was the 1987 performance at National theatre, an event that was graced by then prime minister Dr Samson Kisekka. Another performance at State House during Christmas carols endeared them to the president and it is from here that they started to perform at several state events. However, Rwangyezi recalls they burnt their fingers weeks later when they performed at empty seats because at the time, the performing arts industry had not yet warmed up to their style.“On several occasions we performed for free in schools, and theatres didn’t want to book us because our style was different,” he says.TURNING POINTNdere’s turning point was in December, 1988 Christmas when Nile hotel booked them to perform for free every Sunday afternoon. “That move opened the door for us because tourists at the hotel got to feel the Ugandan cultural performances. I started to look at the troupe as a business, and my conclusion was that the creative arts sector needed trained managers that would understand the cost-benefit analysis,” he says.Over the years, Rwangyezi says, Ndere Troupe has educated and nurtured hundreds of members through their adulthood.“I want to give you one example of a lady, Mary Kamuli Kutesa, who is now the director of Legal Affairs at Uganda National Roads Authority (Unra),” he says.Rwangyezi would later lead the founding of the Uganda Development Theatre Association (UDTA) with a view of bringing together different cultural performing groups. However, they lacked a home or meeting place to share ideas on development of the art.Rwangyezi says he lobbied several government institutions and NGOs with no success but when he pitched the idea of a cultural centre to the Austrian government, it was immediately approved. In fact, the initial funds that helped start the building of the centre were a grant from Austria.“We wanted this to be a place where we could not only develop and display Ugandan culture, but could also coordinate as the headquarters for the other groups that are in the UDTA. So, in 1999, we bought the Ndere cultural centre land and 2001, we started the construction.”By 2003, the centre was up and running with free shows. “We built this auditorium. We created some accommodation. We built the second amphitheatre and the rest is history,” he says.EXPANSION DRIVEIt was in 2019 that Rwangyezi explored to expand Ndere’s influence in cultural tourism.“We decided that we should expand in the tourism industry, but specifically on the modern cultural tours. So, we went to Uganda Development Bank (UDB) and borrowed to build a very beautiful large resort on the northern shores of Lake Mutanda in Kisoro,” he says.“Secondly, we wanted to build a hotel in Bbira, Wakiso district. And the business model was that people would come, sleep in our hotel, then travel, for example, if going to Kisoro and sleep in our resort. We had worked out an itinerary where people who come to Uganda interested in the developments of Uganda from prehistoric times to today, would be able to stay in very comfortable, beautiful spaces, enjoy in nature, but access indigenous knowledge. The second thing we wanted to do was turn this cultural center into a university, or an institute, so that we can formally research and document our indigenous knowledge.”To achieve the goals, Rwangyezi did not have the money. So, he borrowed Shs 6.8 billion and the first tranche came in December, 2019. A typical Ndere troupe performance at Ndere Cultural Centre COVID-19 MENACEThen Covid-19 hit! He says they faced difficulty in coordinating the construction works at the two sites.“The material costs shot through the roof. The consultant fees for architects and civil engineers went beyond imagination. So, as a result, we could not finish the construction in time. The money got finished before we could finish the construction in Kisoro and in Bbira,” he says.Matters were not helped when the centre closed for almost three years. On the other hand, only a handful of the then 81-member troupe remained.“Many of them dropped out of school. Others left and many got married. By the time we resumed in 2023, they were not even able to dance. We also had to look for money to rehabilitate the centre, to buy new equipment, new furniture, new everything, and to start training and resume performances.”THE GOODFrom then on, Rwangyezi says, he embarked on training new recruits to meet Ndere’s high standards and at the moment, the troupe has gone back to their three performances a week. Meanwhile, the Kisoro resort got completed earlier in the year and it is fully operational.“Things are looking up and we have even resumed our international performances. We have been to Dubai and the United States over the past one year,” he says. THE BADUnfortunately, they defaulted on the debt from UDB during the Covid-19 lockdown and it continued to accrue, with penalties. At the moment, it stands at Shs 10.5bn. Rwangyezi says they requested the bank to do three things. “Firstly, not put penalties. We also requested them to freeze interest, and lastly, we requested them to give us a bit of time. We asked them to give us a bit more money so we could complete the structures, because at the moment we have money stuck in concrete at Bbira, which is not bringing income, and the buildings are getting spoiled,” he says.THE UGLYUnfortunately, UDB did not accept. Rwangyezi says they have written several letters and had many meetings on the matter with little breakthrough. To regularize the loan, the bank demands them to pay at least 30 per cent of the total sum, which is about Shs 3.5bn. In some of the discussions, UDB offered to write off the loan if Ndere pays a lumpsum of Shs 8bn.On August 30, the issue took an ugly turn when Ndere’s three structures were advertised in the media for auction within 30 days if they fail to pay.THE REMEDIESAccording to Rwangyezi, a valuation report by UDB officials put the 8.7-acre cultural centre at Shs 33bn but Rwangyenzi believes it is in the region of Shs 50bn. He says if the bank allows them to pay at least Shs 40m monthly, they would be able to operate without killing the activity. “But they are not listening to that. And this is so problematic. I’ve had previously some people wondering why we are keeping such prime space [centre] empty. Also, there are some people who have come here, asking me; we understand so and so has just bought this place. Some advise us to get money from moneylenders and clear the loan but we are acting cautiously,”“The reason I went to UDB was that I thought they would not only be interested in the business investment, but the situation seems otherwise.”APPEAL TO PRESIDENT MUSEVENIHe also appeals for President Museveni’s help.“We obtained this loan from UDB. We did not squander the money, but the Covid-19 pandemic struck. Covid-19 killed the troupe, killed the centre’s operations and killed the construction works,” he says.“However, we have rejuvenated the centre, revitalized the troupe, and successfully completed the construction of the Kisoro resort. Please, Your Excellency, take away this rock around our neck. Please take the loan away. If it is not possible, give us time to reorganize ourselves at the bank. We shall surely fundraise through equity selling, through business operations, through public fundraising, and we shall pay this loan.”It remains unclear whether Museveni will bail out Rwangyezi as he has done with other businessmen before, but there is a looming fear that if the cultural centre goes, it will rob Ugandans of the grand tourist attraction and heritage centre in Kampala, which serves about 600 to 1,000 tourists on any given weekend. {loadposition inarticle}
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@matookerepublic Sun, 08 Sep 2024 05:00:00
Bell Lager announces the return of Bell Obafest to celebrate East African cuisine, music, and culture
Bell Lager has announced the return of Bell Obafest, following a successful first edition held last year. This year, the festival will expand to three days, scheduled for October 18th to 20th at Jahazi Pier, Munyonyo. Additionally, the festival will span across the East African countries of Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, and South Sudan, promising an […] The post Bell Lager announces the return of Bell Obafest to celebrate East African cuisine, music, and culture first appeared on Matooke Republic.
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@matookerepublic Sun, 08 Sep 2024 09:38:35
A masked climax at the 2024 Johnnie Walker Uganda Open as Zambia’s Moore secures wire to wire victory
From the moment Dayne Jr. Moore unleashed a dazzling seven-under 64, on day one of the Proffesionals’ Open, it was clear he was the man to beat. Fast forward to Saturday, and the South Africa-based Zambian coolly carefully navigated the course to claim the 2024 Johnnie Walker Uganda Professional Open title, securing a two-stroke win […] The post A masked climax at the 2024 Johnnie Walker Uganda Open as Zambia’s Moore secures wire to wire victory first appeared on Matooke Republic.
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@matookerepublic Sun, 08 Sep 2024 08:02:46
JKL Lady Dolphins eye back-to-back championships in pivotal Game 6 against UCU Lady Canons at Lugogo today
The JKL Lady Dolphins will face the UCU Lady Canons today at the Lugogo Indoor Arena in Game 6 of the Women’s National Basketball League finals. A victory for JKL will crown them champions for the second consecutive time. The Dolphins have taken control of the series, winning three consecutive games after losing the first […] The post JKL Lady Dolphins eye back-to-back championships in pivotal Game 6 against UCU Lady Canons at Lugogo today first appeared on Matooke Republic.
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@sqoop Sat, 07 Sep 2024 05:02:22
Andre’s triumphant debut comedy show
They say in life, two things that are promised are bills and death. For an ordinary Ugandan, a youth, the job search is definitely one of the few things promised. Andrew Odong, alias Don Andre, has in the past created a moniker as the Unemployed but Funny; in fact, it was the banner of his […]
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@sqoop Sat, 07 Sep 2024 13:54:25
That making of the musical, She Loves Me
On Sunday, Yenze Theatre Conservatoire premiered its debut documentary on YouTube. It is not every day that we are excited about content on YouTube, especially as theatre enthusiasts. Well, what was dropped on the Yenze YouTube account was not just a video but a documentary, which gives us a behind-the-scenes pass to what went on […]
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@sqoop Sat, 07 Sep 2024 12:38:57
‘Impilo’ tells a story of resilience and progress enjoying life’s major and tiny moments
Multiaward-winning South African Amapiano singer-songwriter Amos Babili Shili aka singer Aymos has released his highly awaited album, “Impilo.” Impilo’s release in Johannesburg on August 30 was preceded by an event held on August 28, where Aymos explained the personal journey that inspired this work that took him two years to craft. “It feels like yesterday […]
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@sqoop Sat, 07 Sep 2024 09:14:49
Teacher Mpamire advises comedians to draw a line in comedy
Popular comedian Herbert Ssegujja, commonly known as Teacher Mpamire, has expressed his disappointment with fellow comedians who fail to set boundaries in their work. A heated debate continues about whether comedians should limit the words they use and the skits they create while performing. Some comedians have faced public criticism for going vulgar in their […]
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@sqoop Sat, 07 Sep 2024 09:02:01
Sheebah to take break after her concert
By now you probably know that Sheebah Karungi is gearing up for a concert at Cricket Oval next month and during a press conference this week ahead of her show, she revealed that she will be taking a short performance break. “After the concert, I will take a break from performances but the music will […]
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@sqoop Sat, 07 Sep 2024 08:13:21
Chameleone first secures bag before going for concert
If an artiste has a concert in Uganda, they will halt performances for more than a month to create demand for the concert. But not Chameleone. The Basiima Ogenze artiste has been performing everywhere just days to his Legend In Gold Concert but what blew us away is that Chameleone was booked for a performance […]
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@kfm Sat, 07 Sep 2024 07:58:59
Minister Sarah Mateke is dead
Kisoro Woman Member of Parliament and Minister of State for Defence, Sarah Mateke, has passed away. Her father, Philemon Mateke, a former Minister of State for Regional Affairs, confirmed that she died from a heart attack. He stated that she passed away while being transported to Mulago National Referral Hospital. In a message posted on X on September 7, 2024, the Minister of Information and National Guidance, Dr. Chris Baryomunsi, said that funeral arrangements will be announced in due course. “Am sad to announce the death of Hon Sarah Mateke, Woman MP, Kisoro District and Minister of state for Defence, Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs. May the good Lord comfort the family and rest her soul in eternal peace. […]
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@sqoop Sat, 07 Sep 2024 07:22:38
Dawa – Elijah Kitaka
This video commits one and only one crime, the man himself, the inventor of the Kitaka shorts chooses to abandon his one product, his one reverie. But that’s life, that’s people, that’s Kitaka. If you close your eyes to this one crime, what remains is aura. That kind of aura that imposes through the walls, […]
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@theguardian Fri, 06 Sep 2024 18:18:29
Paris will name sport venue in honour of Rebecca Cheptegei, mayor announces
Olympic athlete died this week after being set on fireAnne Hidalgo: ‘We saw her beauty, strength and freedom’The French capital will pay tribute to the late Olympian Rebecca Cheptegei by naming a sports facility in her honour, the Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo announced on Friday.The Ugandan marathon runner died on Thursday, four days after she was doused in petrol and set on fire by her former boyfriend in Kenya. Cheptegei competed in the Paris Games last month, making her Olympic debut and finishing in 44th place. Continue reading...
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@matookerepublic Fri, 06 Sep 2024 18:29:16
Late equaliser denies Uganda Cranes victory in thrilling 2-2 AFCON qualifier opener against South Africa
The Uganda Cranes kicked off their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) campaign with a solid start, securing a hard-fought point in a 2-2 draw against South Africa at Orlando Stadium, Johannesburg. The match, which began at 7:00 pm EAT, saw South Africa take the lead early in the 14th minute, courtesy of a strike […] The post Late equaliser denies Uganda Cranes victory in thrilling 2-2 AFCON qualifier opener against South Africa first appeared on Matooke Republic.
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@sqoop Fri, 06 Sep 2024 16:28:20
The denim skirt: A timeless trend
Today’s fashion recommendation has always held a special place in my heart. It was during my boarding school days that I first fell in love with fashion, and weekends were a highlight because we could ditch the uniforms for casual wear. The denim skirt was a prized possession, and pairing it with a simple tee […]
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@sqoop Fri, 06 Sep 2024 15:37:44
Nutty Neithan bounced at Acidic Vokoz concert
Nutty Neithan rarely performs at events but last Friday evening, he turned up for Acidic Vokoz’s ‘Ndi Musoga’ concert at Cricket Oval. Unfortunately, he was first bounced. The bouncers at the venue did not want to know as they first turned him away along with his aide. The team had to explain themselves and were […]
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@sqoop Fri, 06 Sep 2024 14:15:53
K Pulse: Weaving together retro and modern music
The formation of the band was an idea conceived from their friendship with people they went to church with. Together they were able to identify the need to put together a band that can cut across audiences, playing music that travels time. Kampala’s vibrant nightlife offers a rich variety of entertainment options. One highlight that […]
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