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Source: https://lifestyleuganda.com/feed/

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<title>Uganda turns to Turkish firm MS Summa for Mandela Stadium upgrade ahead of AFCON 2027</title>
<link>https://lifestyleuganda.com/uganda-ms-summa-mandela-stadium-upgrade-ahead-afcon-2027/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Ssendaza Ismail]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Sun, 14 Sep 2025 11:54:09 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://lifestyleuganda.com/?p=19985</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Mandela National Stadium, better known as Namboole, has closed its doors to begin a major redevelopment that will expand capacity to 60,000 and add new facilities ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations.
The post <a href="https://lifestyleuganda.com/uganda-ms-summa-mandela-stadium-upgrade-ahead-afcon-2027/">Uganda turns to Turkish firm MS Summa for Mandela Stadium upgrade ahead of AFCON 2027</a> appeared first on <a href="https://lifestyleuganda.com">Lifestyle Uganda</a>.
]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" width="960" height="540" src="https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/stadium.webp" class="attachment-full size-full wp-post-image" alt="Uganda shuts Namboole Stadium for AFCON 2027 upgrades." style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;" />
Mandela National Stadium, the country’s largest sporting arena and a landmark better known by its nickname Namboole, has been closed for a major overhaul that officials say will ready it for the <a href="https://lifestyleuganda.com/morocco-beats-madagascar-3-2-record-third-african-nations-championship-title/">Africa Cup of Nations</a> in 2027.
The venue, which sits just outside Kampala and currently holds a little over 40,000 fans, will be expanded to fit 60,000. Plans go beyond football seating: a new hotel, an Olympic-size swimming pool, a covered roof, and a larger VIP section designed to accommodate visiting heads of state are all part of the blueprint.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" width="1024" height="576" src="http://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/namboole-1024x576.webp" alt="Mandela National Stadium to begin expansion and modernization works, ensuring readiness to host the Africa Cup of Nations in 2027." class="wp-image-19982" srcset="https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/namboole-1024x576.webp 1024w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/namboole-300x169.webp 300w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/namboole-768x432.webp 768w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/namboole-860x484.webp 860w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/namboole.webp 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo/courtesy</figcaption></figure>
“This project is about more than just sports,” one stadium official said. “It’s about making sure Uganda is prepared to host Africa and the world.”
No matches will be played at Namboole while the work is underway.
The renovation marks the second phase of a long-running modernization effort. Uganda, together with Kenya and Tanzania, will host the 2027 tournament under the “Pamoja” — Swahili for “together” — arrangement.
Turkish construction company MS Summa has been awarded the contract. The firm is also building Hoima City Stadium in western Uganda, which the government says will be ready by December.
The first round of work at Namboole was carried out by Uganda’s army engineering brigade. That phase focused on refurbishing VIP lounges, shifting dressing rooms to the western end, creating new media and mixed zones, and enlarging the presidential section so it can host up to nine visiting leaders.
Phase two is far more ambitious. Summa will be responsible for expanding seating, installing the roof, and constructing a multi-purpose indoor arena. Officials describe the goal as creating a venue that matches international standards and delivers a world-class experience for both athletes and fans.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" width="800" height="500" src="http://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/new-Hoima.webp" alt="The Turkish firm MS Summa is already building Hoima City Stadium." class="wp-image-19983" srcset="https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/new-Hoima.webp 800w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/new-Hoima-300x188.webp 300w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/new-Hoima-768x480.webp 768w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The proposed new Hoima City Stadium. Photo/courtesy</figcaption></figure>
Summa has experience with high-profile projects in the region. In Rwanda, the company built the BK Arena, a 10,000-seat indoor facility that opened in 2019 and remains the largest of its kind in East Africa. It also delivered the Kigali Convention Center and Hotel in 2016, and a revamped Amahoro Stadium — now seating 45,000 — earlier this year.
The company has also proposed a financing model under which Uganda pays only half of the costs upfront, a move government officials say eases the pressure on public finances.
When the gates of Namboole finally reopen, officials hope the upgraded stadium will not only serve as a centerpiece for AFCON 2027 but also stand as a lasting symbol of Uganda’s push to join the ranks of global sporting destinations.
The post <a href="https://lifestyleuganda.com/uganda-ms-summa-mandela-stadium-upgrade-ahead-afcon-2027/">Uganda turns to Turkish firm MS Summa for Mandela Stadium upgrade ahead of AFCON 2027</a> appeared first on <a href="https://lifestyleuganda.com">Lifestyle Uganda</a>.
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<title>Entebbe Airport Posts Record Passengers in August 2025 as Cargo Traffic Holds Steady</title>
<link>https://lifestyleuganda.com/entebbe-airport-posts-record-passengers-august-2025-cargo-traffic/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Musasi Isaac Christopher]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Sat, 13 Sep 2025 22:22:50 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Travel/Culture]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://lifestyleuganda.com/?p=19976</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Passenger numbers at Entebbe International Airport reached 243,089 in August, surpassing July’s record and underlining the country’s growing role in regional travel and trade.
The post <a href="https://lifestyleuganda.com/entebbe-airport-posts-record-passengers-august-2025-cargo-traffic/">Entebbe Airport Posts Record Passengers in August 2025 as Cargo Traffic Holds Steady</a> appeared first on <a href="https://lifestyleuganda.com">Lifestyle Uganda</a>.
]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1080" height="573" src="https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Entebbe.webp" class="attachment-full size-full wp-post-image" alt="Record-breaking traffic at Entebbe International Airport." style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;" />
<a href="https://lifestyleuganda.com/entebbe-international-airport-karibuni-lounge-meet-growing-passenger-demand/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Entebbe International Airport</a> recorded its busiest month on record in August, with more than 243,000 international passengers passing through Uganda’s main gateway, according to data published by the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA).
The numbers — 116,507 arrivals and 126,582 departures — averaged nearly 7,841 travelers each day. That total beat the airport’s previous high in July, when 230,577 passengers were counted, itself a record at the time.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="http://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/International-1024x683.webp" alt="Entebbe breaks passenger record for second month in a row." class="wp-image-19975" srcset="https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/International-1024x683.webp 1024w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/International-300x200.webp 300w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/International-768x512.webp 768w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/International-1536x1024.webp 1536w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/International-scaled.webp 2048w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/International-330x220.webp 330w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/International-420x280.webp 420w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/International-615x410.webp 615w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/International-860x573.webp 860w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo/X/UgandaCAA</figcaption></figure>
The UCAA credited the growth to Uganda’s busy calendar of events. “<a href="https://lifestyleuganda.com/participation-rwenzori-marathon-grows-uganda-promotes-adventure-tourism/">Sports tourism</a> and conferences were among the key contributors to this notable increase,” said Vianney Luggya, the authority’s manager for public affairs.
Arrivals outpaced departures in August, a reversal from July’s tally of 119,127 arrivals and 111,450 departures. The last time the airport set a monthly record before this summer was December 2024, when 222,301 passengers moved through the facility.
Cargo traffic has also been steady. The airport processed 5,257 metric tonnes in August, including 2,010 tonnes of imports and 3,247 tonnes of exports. Fresh produce continues to dominate Uganda’s outbound shipments. “Fresh produce remains one of the leading export commodities, underscoring Uganda’s position as a significant supplier of agricultural products to international markets,” Luggya said.
For the first six months of 2025, Entebbe handled more than 1.1 million international passengers, a 6 percent rise from the same period last year. The growth reflects both a recovery in leisure and business travel and Uganda’s push to position Entebbe as a regional hub.
The post <a href="https://lifestyleuganda.com/entebbe-airport-posts-record-passengers-august-2025-cargo-traffic/">Entebbe Airport Posts Record Passengers in August 2025 as Cargo Traffic Holds Steady</a> appeared first on <a href="https://lifestyleuganda.com">Lifestyle Uganda</a>.
]]></content:encoded>
</item>
<item>
<title>Uganda: Blencowe raises capital, promises ‘strong period of newsflow’ at Orom-Cross</title>
<link>https://lifestyleuganda.com/uganda-blencowe-raises-capital-promises-strong-period-orom-cross-graphite/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Musasi Isaac Christopher]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Sat, 13 Sep 2025 21:45:52 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[International News & Politics]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://lifestyleuganda.com/?p=19968</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Executives at Blencowe Resources have underlined confidence in the Orom-Cross graphite project in Uganda by exercising options, as the company completed a £1.12 million fundraise to advance feasibility work.
The post <a href="https://lifestyleuganda.com/uganda-blencowe-raises-capital-promises-strong-period-orom-cross-graphite/">Uganda: Blencowe raises capital, promises ‘strong period of newsflow’ at Orom-Cross</a> appeared first on <a href="https://lifestyleuganda.com">Lifestyle Uganda</a>.
]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="940" height="788" src="https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/resources.webp" class="attachment-full size-full wp-post-image" alt="Blencowe secures funds as Orom-Cross graphite project nears key feasibility milestone." style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;" />
Blencowe Resources, the London-listed company developing a graphite project in northern Uganda, has raised £1.12 million (≈ UGX 5.33 billion) to push its Orom-Cross venture toward the finish line of a key study.
The money comes through two channels: a placing of £1.02 million (≈ UGX 4.85 billion) arranged by its broker, Tavira Financial, and an additional £100,000 (≈ UGX 475 million) from board members and senior executives who exercised options. In total, the transactions added more than 23 million new shares to the market.
Company officials say the proceeds will be used to complete a definitive feasibility study — or DFS — expected by the fourth quarter of 2025, as well as to support project financing efforts and working capital.
Executive Chairman Cameron Pearce said the cash injection gives Blencowe momentum at a crucial point.
“This fundraise provides Blencowe with a clear runway not only to complete the DFS, which is expected in Q4 2025, but also to move directly into our project financing work streams,” Pearce said. “We are now entering a critical phase of value creation, with a JORC Resource upgrade, DFS results, financing preparations, and subsequent development all aligned.”
He added that board members showed confidence in the project by exercising options “at a premium to market,” while thanking shareholders “for their continued support.”
Pearce said the company expects a steady flow of updates in the coming months. “We expect a strong period of newsflow ahead, including first drill results from our successful infill campaign, a material JORC resource upgrade, and the DFS itself,” he said. “Together these milestones will reaffirm Orom-Cross as a world-class graphite project, well positioned to secure the project finance required to build a mine.”
Blencowe also issued Tavira 1.26 million broker warrants as part of the deal.
The post <a href="https://lifestyleuganda.com/uganda-blencowe-raises-capital-promises-strong-period-orom-cross-graphite/">Uganda: Blencowe raises capital, promises ‘strong period of newsflow’ at Orom-Cross</a> appeared first on <a href="https://lifestyleuganda.com">Lifestyle Uganda</a>.
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<item>
<title>Centenary Bank moves to expand credit access for Ugandan SMEs</title>
<link>https://lifestyleuganda.com/centenary-bank-moves-expand-credit-access-ugandan-smes-summit/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Musasi Isaac Christopher]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Fri, 12 Sep 2025 10:10:47 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[International News & Politics]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://lifestyleuganda.com/?p=19959</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Centenary Bank and the African Guarantee Fund have launched the Enterprise Finance Summit in Kampala, bringing together entrepreneurs and policymakers to tackle the financing challenges facing small and medium-sized businesses.
The post <a href="https://lifestyleuganda.com/centenary-bank-moves-expand-credit-access-ugandan-smes-summit/">Centenary Bank moves to expand credit access for Ugandan SMEs</a> appeared first on <a href="https://lifestyleuganda.com">Lifestyle Uganda</a>.
]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2048" height="1366" src="https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Kasi-scaled.webp" class="attachment-full size-full wp-post-image" alt="Enterprise Finance summit tackles challenges facing Africa’s small businesses." style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;" />
Centenary Bank, Uganda’s largest commercial microfinance bank, convened more than 100 business leaders, policymakers and entrepreneurs this week for the first Enterprise Finance Summit, an event aimed at helping small and medium-sized businesses gain access to financing.
The summit, held Sept. 10 at <a href="https://lifestyleuganda.com/5-star-hotels-kampala-mestil-hotel/">Mestil Hotel in Kampala</a>, was organized with the African Guarantee Fund (AGF), a Pan-African institution that provides credit guarantees and financial products to banks in order to expand lending to small businesses. The event followed a December 2023 agreement between Centenary Bank and AGF to strengthen support for entrepreneurs across the country.
“Access to affordable financing remains a major challenge,” said Fabian Kasi, Centenary Bank’s managing director. “That is why our partnership with the African Guarantee Fund is essential, enabling us to extend greater support to SMEs and women-led enterprises.”
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="http://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Ochieng-1024x683.webp" alt="Call to close Africa’s $42bn gender financing gap at Kampala summit." class="wp-image-19961" srcset="https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Ochieng-1024x683.webp 1024w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Ochieng-300x200.webp 300w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Ochieng-768x512.webp 768w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Ochieng-1536x1024.webp 1536w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Ochieng-scaled.webp 2048w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Ochieng-330x220.webp 330w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Ochieng-420x280.webp 420w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Ochieng-615x410.webp 615w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Ochieng-860x573.webp 860w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Alvin Ochieng, AGF. Photo/X/CentenaryBank</figcaption></figure>
Kasi noted that small and medium-sized businesses form the backbone of Uganda’s economy, driving employment and poverty reduction, particularly among women and young people. He said the bank intends to use the summit to promote financial solutions, build networks and “strengthen the SME ecosystem for sustainable growth.”
Women-led enterprises were a recurring theme throughout the day. According to Uganda’s 2023–24 National Household Survey, 31 percent of households are headed by women. Yet female entrepreneurs often face higher barriers to credit, including limited collateral and systemic bias in the financial sector.
Alvin Ochieng of AGF pointed to the wider challenge across Africa. “While women drive 60 percent of entrepreneurship, they receive just 7 percent of start-up funding,” he said. Ochieng highlighted the AFAWA initiative — a joint program with the African Development Bank — which has so far delivered more than $200 million in loans to Ugandan businesses. The program also runs trade finance seminars and women’s business forums. “True success,” he added, “lies not only in financing but in businesses grown, jobs created and communities transformed.”
Other speakers, including World Bank consultant John Walugembe, urged entrepreneurs to adapt to new technologies such as artificial intelligence, seek visibility in markets and build stronger relationships with financial institutions.
Centenary Bank, founded in 1983 as a credit trust for rural communities, has a long record of working with small businesses. Its programs include Cente Supawoman, a product for women entrepreneurs, and GROW loans, which provide working capital. The bank also runs financial literacy training sessions across Uganda.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="http://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Walugembe-1024x683.webp" alt="Ugandan entrepreneurs urged to embrace AI at finance summit." class="wp-image-19962" srcset="https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Walugembe-1024x683.webp 1024w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Walugembe-300x200.webp 300w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Walugembe-768x512.webp 768w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Walugembe-1536x1024.webp 1536w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Walugembe-scaled.webp 2048w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Walugembe-330x220.webp 330w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Walugembe-420x280.webp 420w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Walugembe-615x410.webp 615w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Walugembe-860x573.webp 860w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Dr. John Walugembe, World Bank. Photo/X/CentenaryBank</figcaption></figure>
Panel discussions at the summit featured voices from Enterprise Uganda, Nshuti Financial Advisory Services and the Federation of Small & Medium Enterprises. Topics ranged from risk management to the role of “smart financing” in improving competitiveness.
For Centenary Bank and AGF, the meeting was the first in what they say will be a continuing series of efforts to bridge financing gaps and create new opportunities for Uganda’s growing base of entrepreneurs.
The post <a href="https://lifestyleuganda.com/centenary-bank-moves-expand-credit-access-ugandan-smes-summit/">Centenary Bank moves to expand credit access for Ugandan SMEs</a> appeared first on <a href="https://lifestyleuganda.com">Lifestyle Uganda</a>.
]]></content:encoded>
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<item>
<title>Museveni and Prince Rahim open new Aga Khan University campus in Kampala</title>
<link>https://lifestyleuganda.com/museveni-prince-rahim-open-new-aga-khan-university-campus-nakawa-kampala/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Ssendaza Ismail]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 11 Sep 2025 09:43:47 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://lifestyleuganda.com/?p=19938</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Uganda’s president and the Aga Khan University’s chancellor have inaugurated a major new campus in Kampala, alongside plans for a teaching hospital expected to transform healthcare access in East Africa.
The post <a href="https://lifestyleuganda.com/museveni-prince-rahim-open-new-aga-khan-university-campus-nakawa-kampala/">Museveni and Prince Rahim open new Aga Khan University campus in Kampala</a> appeared first on <a href="https://lifestyleuganda.com">Lifestyle Uganda</a>.
]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2048" height="1362" src="https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/AKU-1-scaled.jpeg" class="attachment-full size-full wp-post-image" alt="Aga Khan University marks ‘historic step’ with Kampala campus opening." style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;" />
Uganda’s capital is set to host a landmark event Thursday as President Yoweri Museveni and Prince Rahim Aga Khan officially open a new Aga Khan University campus in Nakawa, Kampala. The <a href="https://lifestyleuganda.com/museveni-welcomes-prince-rahim-aga-khan-v-visits-uganda/">three-day visit by Prince Rahim</a>, who serves as chancellor of the university, also includes the groundbreaking for a 101-bed teaching hospital that leaders say will transform healthcare access in the country.
The Aga Khan University, known as AKU, has been present in Uganda for decades, but the new campus — sitting on 60 acres at the intersection of Jinja Road and New Port Bell Road — represents its largest investment yet. At full capacity, it will host 700 students, 100 faculty members, and provide accommodation for 164 students.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="http://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/khan-1-1024x683.webp" alt="Prince Rahim Aga Khan joins Museveni to launch new university campus in Kampala." class="wp-image-19937" srcset="https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/khan-1-1024x683.webp 1024w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/khan-1-300x200.webp 300w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/khan-1-768x512.webp 768w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/khan-1-330x220.webp 330w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/khan-1-420x280.webp 420w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/khan-1-615x410.webp 615w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/khan-1-860x573.webp 860w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/khan-1.webp 1350w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">On a three-day official visit to Uganda, the Aga Khan University’s chancellor has joined the president to open a state-of-the-art campus and unveil plans for a regional teaching hospital. Photo/X/KagutaMuseveni</figcaption></figure>
Dr. Sulaiman Shahabuddin, the university’s president, called the day “a powerful and meaningful step forward in our shared mission.”
“This is not just another building or project,” he told reporters. “It’s the realisation of a vision shared by our Founding Chancellor, the late His Highness the Aga Khan IV, and President Museveni, that the university and its hospital would foster impactful public-private partnerships.”
He said the campus’s location in Nakawa was deliberate, allowing for collaboration with surrounding communities, joint research, and direct work with Ugandan institutions.
“The campus is remarkable,” Shahabuddin added, describing it as a seven-story university center, a nine-story student residence, and a four-story ambulatory care facility known as the Nakawa Specialty Medical Centre.
The new hospital, expected to open in 2027, will include specialist services that leaders say should reduce the need for Ugandans to travel abroad for advanced medical care. “This expansion will not only broaden our reach but also improve access to quality education and healthcare for Ugandans and East Africans,” Shahabuddin said.
Uganda already has a strong AKU alumni network. More than 7,000 educators have completed the university’s short courses and certificate programs, while graduates of its nursing and midwifery schools occupy leadership roles across the country’s health system.
The inauguration ceremony is expected to draw senior figures including First Lady Janet Museveni, Princess Zahra Aga Khan — the university’s pro-chancellor — and Prince Aly Muhammad. The event will be livestreamed globally on the university’s digital platforms and through Nation Media Group outlets.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="681" src="http://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/campus-1-1024x681.jpeg" alt="New Aga Khan University Hospital to reshape healthcare in Uganda by 2027." class="wp-image-19936" srcset="https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/campus-1-1024x681.jpeg 1024w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/campus-1-300x200.jpeg 300w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/campus-1-768x511.jpeg 768w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/campus-1-1536x1022.jpeg 1536w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/campus-1-scaled.jpeg 2048w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/campus-1-330x220.jpeg 330w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/campus-1-420x280.jpeg 420w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/campus-1-615x410.jpeg 615w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/campus-1-860x572.jpeg 860w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo/X/AKUGlobal</figcaption></figure>
The new campus replaces AKU’s former site on Gaddafi Road in Old Kampala. Dr. Joseph Mwizerwa, the associate vice provost for Uganda, said the university completed its relocation in July after receiving all necessary approvals.
“We initially planned to move in June,” Mwizerwa said, “but the transition occurred in July after securing all necessary clearances, including occupation permits and approval from the National Council for Higher Education.”
He noted that the old campus has since been handed over to the Aga Khan Foundation-Uganda, which plans to repurpose it in partnership with Aga Khan Education Services.
“… we are a family of institutions,” Mwizerwa explained. “That location was no longer economically viable for us, but another institution will make good use of it.”
At present, AKU Uganda offers four programs — a diploma in general nursing, bachelor’s degrees in nursing and midwifery, and a newly approved bachelor of nursing science that will admit students directly from high school. The first intake for the new program is expected this month.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="640" src="http://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/agakhan-1024x640.jpg" alt="Prince Rahim Aga Khan inaugurate AKU’s new campus in Nakawa." class="wp-image-19934" srcset="https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/agakhan-1024x640.jpg 1024w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/agakhan-300x188.jpg 300w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/agakhan-768x480.jpg 768w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/agakhan-860x538.jpg 860w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/agakhan.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo/courtesy</figcaption></figure>
Looking ahead, Dr. Nicholas Kitende, the academic registrar, said the Nakawa campus is preparing to introduce more degree programs once the university secures a charter from Uganda’s higher education council. Planned courses include education, advanced practice midwifery, and digital journalism.
Mwizerwa added that AKU’s Graduate School of Media and Communications in Nairobi is also working to launch programs in Uganda. “These programmes are undergoing accreditation,” he said. “Once approved, they will be offered here.”
The post <a href="https://lifestyleuganda.com/museveni-prince-rahim-open-new-aga-khan-university-campus-nakawa-kampala/">Museveni and Prince Rahim open new Aga Khan University campus in Kampala</a> appeared first on <a href="https://lifestyleuganda.com">Lifestyle Uganda</a>.
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<title>Common Causes of Anxiety in Older Adults Explained</title>
<link>https://lifestyleuganda.com/common-causes-anxiety-in-older-adults-explained/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Lifestyle Uganda]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 11 Sep 2025 09:32:31 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Health & Living]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Tips]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://lifestyleuganda.com/?p=19947</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Anxiety in older adults is often linked to health, loss, or lifestyle changes. Explore the most common causes and practical ways to address them.
The post <a href="https://lifestyleuganda.com/common-causes-anxiety-in-older-adults-explained/">Common Causes of Anxiety in Older Adults Explained</a> appeared first on <a href="https://lifestyleuganda.com">Lifestyle Uganda</a>.
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<content:encoded><![CDATA[<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/older.webp" class="attachment-full size-full wp-post-image" alt="Learn the common causes of anxiety in seniors." style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;" />
Have you ever felt constant worry or unease even when there seems to be no reason for it?
For many older adults, anxiety is more than just occasional stress-it can quietly affect daily life, sleep, and overall health. Understanding what triggers these feelings can help regain a sense of calm and control.
From health concerns to life changes, anxiety has many sources that are often overlooked. This article will explore common causes of anxiety in older adults and offer insight to help manage these challenges effectively.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Health Challenges</h2>
Chronic illnesses can make older adults feel anxious about their future. Conditions like heart disease, <a href="https://lifestyleuganda.com/first-signs-diabetes-symptoms/">diabetes</a>, or arthritis may cause constant worry. Managing symptoms and daily routines can become overwhelming.
Physical limitations can reduce independence, which often increases stress. Pain and fatigue may make it hard to perform normal activities. These changes can lead to persistent feelings of anxiety.
For more insight, readers can explore more about the <a href="https://theremingtonsl.seniorlivingnearme.com/blog/5-common-causes-of-anxiety-in-older-adults-and-how-to-cope" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">common causes of anxiety for seniors</a> to better understand specific triggers and practical ways to cope with them.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Medication Effects</h2>
Some medications used by older adults may cause nervousness or restlessness. Side effects can interfere with sleep and daily functioning. This can worsen feelings of anxiety over time.
Taking multiple drugs increases the risk of interactions that affect mood. Even common medications can trigger unease in sensitive individuals. Monitoring medication closely can help identify these triggers.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Life Transitions of Older Adults</h2>
Retirement or moving to a new home can create uncertainty. These changes disrupt daily routines and comfort zones. Anxiety may rise as older adults adjust to new circumstances.
The loss of a spouse or close friends can be deeply stressful. Grief and loneliness can heighten anxious feelings. <a href="https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/emotional-support" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Emotional support</a> is critical during these transitions.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Cognitive Changes</h2>
Memory loss or early dementia can make daily tasks feel frightening. Confusion about familiar activities may trigger worry. Fear of forgetting important events or people can cause constant stress.
Cognitive decline can reduce confidence in decision-making. Anxiety may increase as older adults feel less in control. Simple routines and reminders can help reduce this worry.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Financial Concerns</h2>
Worries about income or paying for healthcare can create ongoing stress. Limited financial resources make planning for the future harder. Anxiety often grows when bills and medical costs pile up.
Budgeting and managing expenses can feel overwhelming. Even small financial uncertainties can trigger worry. Older adults may feel anxious about their ability to stay independent.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Social Isolation</h2>
Fewer social interactions can make older adults feel lonely. Isolation removes sources of emotional support and companionship. Anxiety often increases when people feel disconnected from others.
Staying socially active helps maintain emotional balance. Regular contact with friends and family reduces feelings of worry. Participation in group activities can improve mood and confidence.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Ease Your Mind Embrace Your Peace</h2>
Anxiety in older adults is a real and often hidden struggle. Recognizing its presence is the first step toward feeling more balanced and secure. Small steps like connecting with others, seeking support, and practicing relaxation can make a meaningful difference.
Everyone deserves to feel calm and confident in later life. By paying attention to emotional well-being, it is possible to live with more peace and clarity.
The post <a href="https://lifestyleuganda.com/common-causes-anxiety-in-older-adults-explained/">Common Causes of Anxiety in Older Adults Explained</a> appeared first on <a href="https://lifestyleuganda.com">Lifestyle Uganda</a>.
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<title>Museveni welcomes Prince Rahim Aga Khan V as new Imam visits Uganda</title>
<link>https://lifestyleuganda.com/museveni-welcomes-prince-rahim-aga-khan-v-visits-uganda/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Ssendaza Ismail]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 11 Sep 2025 07:45:41 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[International News & Politics]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://lifestyleuganda.com/?p=19927</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Prince Rahim Aga Khan V is in Uganda for his first state visit since becoming Imam, unveiling new investments in health care and higher education.
The post <a href="https://lifestyleuganda.com/museveni-welcomes-prince-rahim-aga-khan-v-visits-uganda/">Museveni welcomes Prince Rahim Aga Khan V as new Imam visits Uganda</a> appeared first on <a href="https://lifestyleuganda.com">Lifestyle Uganda</a>.
]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1800" height="1200" src="https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/visit.webp" class="attachment-full size-full wp-post-image" alt="Uganda welcomes Prince Rahim Aga Khan V on historic visit." style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;" />
Prince Rahim Aga Khan V, the new leader of the Shia Ismaili Muslim community, has begun a three-day official visit to Uganda at the invitation of President Yoweri Museveni.
The visit, which runs from Sept. 10 to 12, is Prince Rahim’s first to the country since he assumed the role of 50th hereditary Imam in February 2025. His program includes inaugurating a new Aga Khan University campus in Kampala and commissioning construction of the Aga Khan University Hospital.
Prince Rahim, accompanied by Princess Zahra Aga Khan and Prince Aly Muhammad Aga Khan, landed Wednesday at Entebbe International Airport. They were greeted by Uganda’s health minister, Dr. Jane Aceng; Arzina Kurji, head of the Ismaili Council for Uganda; and Amin Mawji, the Aga Khan Development Network’s representative for East Africa.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="http://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/official-1024x683.webp" alt="Aga Khan launches new university and hospital in Uganda." class="wp-image-19924" srcset="https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/official-1024x683.webp 1024w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/official-300x200.webp 300w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/official-768x512.webp 768w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/official-1536x1024.webp 1536w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/official-330x220.webp 330w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/official-420x280.webp 420w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/official-615x410.webp 615w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/official-860x573.webp 860w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/official.webp 1800w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo/X/KagutaMuseveni</figcaption></figure>
The delegation later traveled to State House Entebbe, where they met President Museveni and First Lady Janet Museveni. Talks focused on the long-standing relationship between the Ugandan government and the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), which operates across health, education, media and energy.
On social media, Museveni described the meeting as an important moment.
“I warmly welcome His Highness Prince Rahim Al-Hussaini Aga Khan V to Uganda and offer my condolences for his father’s death,” the president wrote on X, formerly <a href="https://lifestyleuganda.com/how-to-spot-a-fake-x-twitter-account/">Twitter</a>. “Tomorrow, we will commission the Aga Khan University and begin construction on the Aga Khan Hospital.”
In a separate post, he added: “We have many successful Ismailis in Uganda, and I am pleased with the significant investments they have made in the health, education, and tourism sectors. We discussed the critical need for an integrated East African Community market, which is essential for everyone.”
The Aga Khan network has operated in Uganda for nearly a century. Its schools date back to the 1930s, while the Aga Khan Foundation today reaches about half a million learners nationwide. In energy, the 250-megawatt Bujagali Hydropower Plant supplies roughly a third of Uganda’s electricity, easing chronic shortages. In media, AKDN owns Monitor Publications, the publisher of the Daily Monitor, and NTV Uganda. Its Serena hotels and resorts employ hundreds across the country.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="682" src="http://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/highness-1024x682.webp" alt="Prince Rahim Aga Khan V makes first overseas trip as new Imam." class="wp-image-19922" srcset="https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/highness-1024x682.webp 1024w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/highness-300x200.webp 300w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/highness-768x512.webp 768w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/highness-330x220.webp 330w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/highness-420x280.webp 420w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/highness-615x410.webp 615w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/highness-860x573.webp 860w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/highness.webp 1351w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo/X/KagutaMuseveni</figcaption></figure>
On Thursday, Prince Rahim is expected to preside over the opening of the university’s first academic buildings at its new Kampala campus, as well as the groundbreaking for the planned hospital. On Friday, he is scheduled to meet members of Uganda’s Ismaili community, acknowledging their contributions to the country while underlining the Imamat’s commitment to improving lives “regardless of faith or background.”
The post <a href="https://lifestyleuganda.com/museveni-welcomes-prince-rahim-aga-khan-v-visits-uganda/">Museveni welcomes Prince Rahim Aga Khan V as new Imam visits Uganda</a> appeared first on <a href="https://lifestyleuganda.com">Lifestyle Uganda</a>.
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<title>Congo reports new Ebola outbreak, Uganda on alert over cross-border spread</title>
<link>https://lifestyleuganda.com/congo-reports-new-ebola-outbreak-uganda-alert-cross-border-spread/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Musasi Isaac Christopher]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Sun, 07 Sep 2025 20:58:44 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Health & Living]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[International News & Politics]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://lifestyleuganda.com/?p=19917</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Congo’s Ministry of Health has confirmed a new outbreak of the Zaire strain in Kasai province. Ugandan officials say the risk of cross-border transmission is high given the free movement of people.
The post <a href="https://lifestyleuganda.com/congo-reports-new-ebola-outbreak-uganda-alert-cross-border-spread/">Congo reports new Ebola outbreak, Uganda on alert over cross-border spread</a> appeared first on <a href="https://lifestyleuganda.com">Lifestyle Uganda</a>.
]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/virus.jpg" class="attachment-full size-full wp-post-image" alt="Uganda on alert as Ebola spreads in neighboring Congo." style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;" />
Health officials in the Democratic Republic of Congo have confirmed a new outbreak of Ebola virus disease in Kasai Province, where suspected cases and deaths have been mounting over the past two weeks.
The <a href="https://lifestyleuganda.com/who-uganda-officials-declare-country-ebola-free-after-march-countdown/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">World Health Organization</a> said it received an alert from Congo’s Ministry of Health on Sept. 1 about suspected cases in the Bulape health zone. The first known patient, a 34-weeks pregnant woman, was admitted to Bulape General Reference Hospital on Aug. 20. She had fever, bloody diarrhea, vomiting, bleeding and fatigue that progressed to multiple organ failure. She died five days later, on Aug. 25.
Two health workers who treated her developed similar symptoms and also died, officials said.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="http://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/ebola.jpg" alt="Congo faces 16th Ebola outbreak since 1976, this time in Kasai province." class="wp-image-19915" srcset="https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/ebola.jpg 1024w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/ebola-300x200.jpg 300w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/ebola-768x512.jpg 768w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/ebola-330x220.jpg 330w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/ebola-420x280.jpg 420w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/ebola-615x410.jpg 615w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/ebola-860x574.jpg 860w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo/credit/AfricaCDC</figcaption></figure>
By Thursday, Sept. 4, health authorities in Kinshasa had declared an outbreak of the Zaire strain of the Ebola virus. They reported 28 suspected cases and 15 deaths in Bulape health zone, including four health-care workers. The case fatality rate is estimated at 54 percent.
Samples from several patients have been sent to Congo’s National Public Health Laboratory in Kinshasa for testing.
Uganda’s Ministry of Health said it is closely watching developments across the border. Henry Kyobe Bosa, the incident commander, said a formal risk assessment will guide decisions about how to prevent the virus from entering Uganda.
“The free movement between the two countries, back and forth, remains, which poses a challenge of importation,” he said. “As soon as the risk assessment is done, we shall put in place interventions.”
Most of the suspected cases are adults — about 80 percent are 15 years or older, according to WHO. Cases have been reported in three areas of Bulape health zone — Bulape, Bulape Com and Dikolo — as well as in neighboring Mweka health zone.
Ebola is among the world’s most severe viral diseases, spread through contact with blood, secretions or other bodily fluids from an infected person, or with contaminated surfaces. The incubation period ranges from two to 21 days, though symptoms usually appear within a week to 11 days. People are not contagious until symptoms begin, but the risk of transmission increases as the illness worsens.
This is Congo’s 16th Ebola outbreak since the virus was first identified in the country in 1976. WHO has warned that cases could climb further as health workers trace contacts and expand surveillance in Kasai.
The post <a href="https://lifestyleuganda.com/congo-reports-new-ebola-outbreak-uganda-alert-cross-border-spread/">Congo reports new Ebola outbreak, Uganda on alert over cross-border spread</a> appeared first on <a href="https://lifestyleuganda.com">Lifestyle Uganda</a>.
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<title>Shaka iLembe to end with season three, telling the final chapter of Zulu king’s reign</title>
<link>https://lifestyleuganda.com/shaka-ilembe-season-three-telling-the-final-chapter-zulu-king-reign/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jacob Mugwana]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Fri, 05 Sep 2025 12:58:03 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Entertainment]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://lifestyleuganda.com/?p=19901</guid>
<description><![CDATA[MultiChoice Africa says the third and concluding season of the award-winning drama will premiere on Pearl Magic Prime, with Nomzamo Mbatha returning as Queen Nandi.
The post <a href="https://lifestyleuganda.com/shaka-ilembe-season-three-telling-the-final-chapter-zulu-king-reign/">Shaka iLembe to end with season three, telling the final chapter of Zulu king’s reign</a> appeared first on <a href="https://lifestyleuganda.com">Lifestyle Uganda</a>.
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<content:encoded><![CDATA[<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1280" height="720" src="https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Nandi.webp" class="attachment-full size-full wp-post-image" alt="Nomzamo Mbatha returns to lead Shaka iLembe’s final season." style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;" />
After a dramatic season two finale last weekend, <a href="https://lifestyleuganda.com/canal-seals-deal-takeover-full-control-multichoice-africa/">MultiChoice Africa</a> has confirmed that Shaka iLembe will return for a third and final season in 2026. The historical drama, centered on the rise and reign of the Zulu king Shaka, will premiere on Pearl Magic Prime.
Nomzamo Mbatha, who has anchored the series both on-screen and behind the camera, will continue in her dual role as executive producer and as Queen Nandi, the mother who shaped Shaka’s destiny.
The scale of Shaka iLembe has made it unlike anything else in African television. The show is MultiChoice’s most ambitious production to date, employing more than 8,000 people on its first season and over 16,000 in its second. It has also picked up a record number of awards at South Africa’s Film & Television Awards and won recognition abroad, including in the Netherlands.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="576" src="http://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Lemogang-1024x576.webp" alt="Africa’s biggest drama Shaka iLembe heads into its final chapter." class="wp-image-19899" srcset="https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Lemogang-1024x576.webp 1024w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Lemogang-300x169.webp 300w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Lemogang-768x432.webp 768w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Lemogang-860x484.webp 860w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Lemogang.webp 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo/courtesy</figcaption></figure>
Produced by Johannesburg-based BOMB! Productions — the company behind Isibaya and Yizo Yizo — the drama has been praised not just for its spectacle, but for sparking broader cultural conversations.
The first season followed Shaka (played by Lemogang Tsipa) as he came of age, with Queen Nandi (Mbatha) refusing to be silenced in her defense of her son. Season two carried the story into his reign as king, exploring his vision as a leader while weaving in neighboring histories, including Swati storylines.
The final season, MultiChoice says, will bring Shaka’s reign to a thunderous conclusion. According to the production, the season opens with the grandest Ijadu in Zulu history, where rival kings gather for song, dance and power. But when an assassin’s spear draws royal blood, suspicion and betrayal begin to unravel his court. A campaign against the Mpondo intensifies, Queen Nandi guards a devastating secret, and the arrival of British forces at Port Natal signals the reach of colonial expansion.
“When we announced the first season, we were confident that Shaka iLembe would set a new standard for African storytelling and travel well into international territories,” said Nomsa Philiso, CEO of MultiChoice General Entertainment.
She added: “More than speaking to the heritage of the Zulu Nation, it took the story of a dynasty created from scratch by one man to the world, endorsed by the King’s descendants and told from an African perspective.”
Executive producer Desiree Markgraaff of BOMB! Productions said season three would expand “the universe of kings and queens, warriors, healers and leaders.” She called it “a legacy for all Africans to honour and celebrate.”
For Mbatha, the show is both professional and personal.
“The pressure is high,” she said. “Shaka iLembe has been a beloved show for the past two seasons and the project of my career. This third season is the culmination of a world that African viewers have found deep love and admiration for.”
She described it as “a triumphant telling of Nguni history on an epic scale” — one that blends an all-conquering reign, sweeping love stories, the founding of a new nation, and the arrival of colonists.
The ensemble cast includes Wiseman Mncube, Dawn Thandeka King, Sthandiwe Kgoroge, Mondli Makhoba, Mpilo Mbatha, Anele Nene and Vuyo Biyela. The show also introduced audiences to Ntando Zondi, who played young Shaka. New cast members for season three are expected to be announced later.
For now, viewers can revisit <a href="https://lifestyleuganda.com/multichoice-uganda-launches-season-two-shaka-ilembe-premieres/">season two</a> — episodes one through twelve are available on MultiChoice’s Catch Up service until Sept. 28.
The post <a href="https://lifestyleuganda.com/shaka-ilembe-season-three-telling-the-final-chapter-zulu-king-reign/">Shaka iLembe to end with season three, telling the final chapter of Zulu king’s reign</a> appeared first on <a href="https://lifestyleuganda.com">Lifestyle Uganda</a>.
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<title>Giorgio Armani, designer behind a $10bn empire, dies aged 91</title>
<link>https://lifestyleuganda.com/giorgio-armani-designer-dies-aged-91/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jacob Mugwana]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 04 Sep 2025 23:44:56 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Entertainment]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Fashion]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://lifestyleuganda.com/?p=19893</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Giorgio Armani, the Italian fashion designer who also owned basketball club Olimpia Milano, has died aged 91. His influence stretched from luxury tailoring to sport and lifestyle ventures around the world.
The post <a href="https://lifestyleuganda.com/giorgio-armani-designer-dies-aged-91/">Giorgio Armani, designer behind a $10bn empire, dies aged 91</a> appeared first on <a href="https://lifestyleuganda.com">Lifestyle Uganda</a>.
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<content:encoded><![CDATA[<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/giorgio.webp" class="attachment-full size-full wp-post-image" alt="Hollywood favourite Giorgio Armani dies at 91." style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;" />
The fashion world is grieving the death of Giorgio Armani, the Italian designer whose sleek tailoring reshaped how people dressed for half a century. He was 91.
His company, the Armani Group, confirmed his passing Thursday, Sept. 4, in a statement posted on Instagram.
“With infinite sorrow, the Armani Group announces the passing of its creator, founder, and tireless driving force: Giorgio Armani,” the statement read. “Il Signor Armani, as he was always respectfully and admiringly called by employees and collaborators, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loved ones. Indefatigable to the end, he worked until his final days, dedicating himself to the company, the collections, and the many ongoing and future projects.”
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="768" height="1024" src="http://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/armani-768x1024.jpg" alt="Armani dressed film stars, athletes and musicians alike, leaving an imprint on fashion, music and sport." class="wp-image-19891" srcset="https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/armani-768x1024.jpg 768w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/armani-225x300.jpg 225w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/armani-860x1147.jpg 860w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/armani.jpg 1080w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo/instagram/giorgioarmani</figcaption></figure>
The tribute continued: “For decades, Giorgio Armani shaped a vision that reached far beyond fashion, touching nearly every aspect of modern life. With extraordinary clarity and pragmatism, he anticipated cultural shifts, guided by relentless curiosity and a profound attentiveness to people and the present moment. Along the way, he built an open dialogue with the public, earning admiration and respect for his rare ability to connect universally. Deeply committed to community, he was especially devoted to supporting his beloved Milan.”
Armani’s influence was everywhere. He dressed Hollywood stars in black-tie ensembles and gowns that dominated red carpets. His minimalist suits became a symbol of understated power in boardrooms. At his peak, and at the time of his death, his business was valued at more than $10 billion.
The empire stretched far beyond clothing. Armani’s name appeared on accessories, furniture, fragrances, cosmetics, books, flowers, and even chocolates. He built more than 20 restaurants across cities from Milan to Tokyo, opened luxury hotels in Dubai and Milan, and owned Italy’s professional basketball team, Olympia Milano.
His work reached the world of music, too. Hip-Hop artists — including <a href="https://lifestyleuganda.com/jack-dorsey-majority-stake-tidal-jay-z-streaming-service/">Jay-Z</a>, T.I. and Nas — name-checked him in lyrics that praised his tailored looks and luxury brand.
Tributes poured in after the news broke. Actress Julia Roberts, who wore an Armani men’s suit to the 1990 <a href="https://lifestyleuganda.com/2022-golden-globes-nominees/">Golden Globes</a>, called him “a true friend” and “a legend.”
The Armani Group reflected on its founder’s legacy in a separate statement: “Giorgio Armani is a company with fifty years of history, built with emotion and patience. Giorgio Armani always made independence – of thought and action – his hallmark. The company is, now and always, a reflection of this spirit. His family and employees will carry the Group forward in respect and continuity of these values.”
A funeral chamber will be open in Milan from Saturday, Sept. 6, through Sunday, Sept. 7, at the Armani/Teatro on Via Bergognone 59. Visiting hours will run from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. In line with Mr. Armani’s wishes, the funeral itself will be private.
The post <a href="https://lifestyleuganda.com/giorgio-armani-designer-dies-aged-91/">Giorgio Armani, designer behind a $10bn empire, dies aged 91</a> appeared first on <a href="https://lifestyleuganda.com">Lifestyle Uganda</a>.
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<title>Museveni opens Uganda’s first fish feed factory with Dutch investment</title>
<link>https://lifestyleuganda.com/uganda-first-fish-feed-factory-partnership-dutch-firm/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Ssendaza Ismail]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Wed, 03 Sep 2025 22:37:05 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://lifestyleuganda.com/?p=19884</guid>
<description><![CDATA[President Yoweri Museveni has commissioned Uganda’s first fish feed plant, built by Dutch firm De Heus, in a move aimed at boosting aquaculture and strengthening trade ties with the Netherlands.
The post <a href="https://lifestyleuganda.com/uganda-first-fish-feed-factory-partnership-dutch-firm/">Museveni opens Uganda’s first fish feed factory with Dutch investment</a> appeared first on <a href="https://lifestyleuganda.com">Lifestyle Uganda</a>.
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<content:encoded><![CDATA[<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1000" height="600" src="https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/De-Heus.webp" class="attachment-full size-full wp-post-image" alt="Museveni hails fish feed plant as key to Parish Development Model." style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;" />
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has inaugurated the De Heus Fish Feed Factory in Njeru, Buikwe District — the country’s first locally based facility dedicated to fish feed.
The plant is run by De Heus Uganda, part of Royal De Heus, a Dutch family-owned company with more than three centuries of milling experience. Globally, the firm is among the top ten animal nutrition companies and is already well known in Uganda through its Koudijs brand, which has dominated livestock feed categories since 2018.
Museveni said the new factory addresses a “critical gap” in the country’s aquaculture sector. He also revealed that land has been allocated to the company in Bukalasa for future poultry feed production.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="http://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Fish-Feed.webp" alt="East Africa’s largest fish feed factory opens in Uganda." class="wp-image-19883" srcset="https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Fish-Feed.webp 1024w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Fish-Feed-300x200.webp 300w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Fish-Feed-768x512.webp 768w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Fish-Feed-330x220.webp 330w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Fish-Feed-420x280.webp 420w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Fish-Feed-615x410.webp 615w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Fish-Feed-860x574.webp 860w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo/X/KagutaMuseveni</figcaption></figure>
“Today, I officially commissioned the De Heus Fish Feed Factory in Njeru, Buikwe District,” Museveni wrote on X, formerly Twitter. “This development follows my recent PDM tour which included fish farming. I addressed the challenge of fish feed availability with the National Enterprise Corporation, and I am happy to see this solution through private sector investment from the Netherlands.”
He added: “This factory fills a vital gap. Now, we need to produce quality raw materials like maize and sunflower and evaluate soybean profitability with farmers, possibly forming an association for soybean growers.”
The President said his tours under the Parish Development Model (PDM) revealed a shortage of fish feed as a major bottleneck for farmers. Initially, he had tasked the army-run National Enterprise Corporation to explore production. But De Heus’ entry, he argued, is a better solution.
“When I was touring, I was told the problem is fish feed. I didn’t know this was a problem because I thought we had planners in the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development,” he said.
He went on: “But now this is a better solution than the one I was trying through the army company because, first of all, these people are bringing in new capital from outside… Secondly, these are the people with long experience in how to do it well.”
Museveni pledged to ensure access to affordable raw materials for feed production and said rice farmers in wetlands should shift to fish farming at the edges of swamps. “Rice growing in the swamps was a big mistake because it affects the rain system of Uganda. It is very dangerous,” he said.
The president also pointed to new investment opportunities, citing a pledge of $80 million announced by the Dutch ambassador.
The Minister of State for Fisheries, Hellen Adoa, called the factory a breakthrough. “The biggest challenge we have been having in the Agriculture Ministry is the issue of fish feed. The fish in Uganda has not been having any feed except that we had to import it, but now we manufacture it here,” she said.
Dutch Ambassador Frederieke Quispel praised the partnership: “The collaboration between Uganda and the Netherlands is at its best. Your Excellency, what makes both countries good partners in business, I think, is that we are both historical agricultural nations; our economies are built on agriculture. The Netherlands are the largest Foreign Direct Investor in Uganda.”
She credited Uganda’s ambassador to the Netherlands, Mirjam Blaak Sow, for championing the project. Sow, in turn, praised the Dutch envoy’s “energetic and youthful way of handling matters.”
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="http://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Factory.webp" alt="Dutch firm launches fish feed plant in Uganda amid growing ties." class="wp-image-19882" srcset="https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Factory.webp 1024w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Factory-300x200.webp 300w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Factory-768x512.webp 768w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Factory-330x220.webp 330w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Factory-420x280.webp 420w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Factory-615x410.webp 615w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Factory-860x574.webp 860w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo/X/KagutaMuseveni</figcaption></figure>
From the company side, Co de Heus, CEO of De Heus Animal Nutrition, said the firm’s model rests on combining investment with expertise. “Our investments have always focused on growing demand and the need for capital and know-how,” he said. “Providing farmers with quality feeds and the right services has been central to our global success.”
Bon Tjeenk Willink, managing director of De Heus Uganda, said the new facility represents years of work. “For the last two years, we have invested nearly USD 25 million and today, before you stands the largest fish feed factory in East Africa. At full capacity, this facility can produce up to 100,000 tonnes of fish feed each year, supporting 7,000–10,000 jobs,” he said.
The event drew several government officials, including State Minister Diana Mutasingwa, the Buikwe District Woman MP.
The post <a href="https://lifestyleuganda.com/uganda-first-fish-feed-factory-partnership-dutch-firm/">Museveni opens Uganda’s first fish feed factory with Dutch investment</a> appeared first on <a href="https://lifestyleuganda.com">Lifestyle Uganda</a>.
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<title>Kenya and Uganda agree to scrap trade barriers at key border posts</title>
<link>https://lifestyleuganda.com/kenya-uganda-agree-scrap-trade-barriers-key-border-posts/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Musasi Isaac Christopher]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Tue, 02 Sep 2025 01:18:39 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://lifestyleuganda.com/?p=19874</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The two neighbours have pledged to remove tariffs and ease congestion at crossings including Malaba and Busia, following a directive from their presidents.
The post <a href="https://lifestyleuganda.com/kenya-uganda-agree-scrap-trade-barriers-key-border-posts/">Kenya and Uganda agree to scrap trade barriers at key border posts</a> appeared first on <a href="https://lifestyleuganda.com">Lifestyle Uganda</a>.
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<content:encoded><![CDATA[<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1188" height="794" src="https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/trade.webp" class="attachment-full size-full wp-post-image" alt="Kenya and Uganda move to end truck queues at major border crossings." style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;" />
Kenya and Uganda have agreed to tear down the trade barriers that have strained commerce between them — from tariffs and excise duties to long lines of trucks choking the main border crossings.
The move follows a directive issued in July by Presidents <a href="https://lifestyleuganda.com/uganda-egypt-trade-too-small-president-museveni-business-cairo-forum/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Yoweri Museveni</a> and William Ruto, who met in Nairobi and pressed their trade ministers to “urgently” resolve the bottlenecks.
Uganda’s Trade Minister Wilson Mbadi and Kenya’s Trade CS Lee Kinyanjui met on July 31 in Nairobi. They agreed to swap lists of goods affected by non-tariff barriers. Weeks later, between August 18 and 22, technical teams gathered in Mbale, Uganda, to review the lists and draft proposals.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="678" src="http://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/barriers-1024x678.webp" alt="Museveni and Ruto push ministers to clear trade hurdles." class="wp-image-19871" srcset="https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/barriers-1024x678.webp 1024w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/barriers-300x199.webp 300w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/barriers-768x508.webp 768w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/barriers-860x569.webp 860w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/barriers.webp 1080w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo/X/UgandaMediaCent</figcaption></figure>
The problems they set out to solve were familiar ones: congestion at Malaba and Busia, delays caused by weighbridge procedures, and what traders describe as “discriminatory” taxes on goods moving across the borders.
In a joint statement released Saturday, the ministers said border agencies must move fast.
“Ministers directed border agencies to immediately address delays relating to multiple check points,” the statement read. It added that border officials must run 24/7 operations to keep traffic moving.
At Malaba, Uganda committed to fixing problems tied to the weighbridge. Kenya, on its part, pledged to finish the Suam One Stop Border Post and install a scanner at Lwakhakha.
The ministers also ordered congestion at Malaba to be cleared within 24 hours and capped at four kilometers. At Busia, truck queues should not stretch beyond 500 meters, they said.
“Both ministers committed to prioritise and mobilise resources for critical border infrastructure, including road upgrades and bridge construction,” their communiqué added.
Uganda is Kenya’s largest trading partner. In 2024, goods moving to and from Uganda accounted for 65.6 percent of all transit traffic through Mombasa port — up from 62.3 percent in 2023.
Still, Kenya’s exports to Uganda slipped slightly last year, falling to 125.9 billion shillings from 126.3 billion. Imports also dropped, to 37.7 billion shillings from 41.2 billion.
The government survey blamed the decline on reduced sales of cement clinkers and palm oil.
The stakes are high. Mombasa is the main trade lifeline for Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. The Northern Corridor, stretching 1,700 kilometers from the port to Kampala and beyond, is the region’s busiest trade route.
The post <a href="https://lifestyleuganda.com/kenya-uganda-agree-scrap-trade-barriers-key-border-posts/">Kenya and Uganda agree to scrap trade barriers at key border posts</a> appeared first on <a href="https://lifestyleuganda.com">Lifestyle Uganda</a>.
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<title>Kyabazinga and Queen Jovia Mutesi welcome twin princes</title>
<link>https://lifestyleuganda.com/kyabazinga-queen-jovia-mutesi-welcome-twin-princes/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jacob Mugwana]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Mon, 01 Sep 2025 23:17:29 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[International News & Politics]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://lifestyleuganda.com/?p=19867</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Kyabazinga William Gabula Nadiope IV shared news of the birth of his sons, Prince William Ethan and Prince Arnold Eli, calling it a “deeply cherished milestone” for the royal family.
The post <a href="https://lifestyleuganda.com/kyabazinga-queen-jovia-mutesi-welcome-twin-princes/">Kyabazinga and Queen Jovia Mutesi welcome twin princes</a> appeared first on <a href="https://lifestyleuganda.com">Lifestyle Uganda</a>.
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<content:encoded><![CDATA[<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1080" height="720" src="https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/twins.jpeg" class="attachment-full size-full wp-post-image" alt="The royal family of Busoga has welcomed a double blessing." style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;" />
The royal family of Busoga, in eastern Uganda, is celebrating the arrival of twin boys.
Kyabazinga William Wilberforce Kadhumbula Gabula Nadiope IV and Queen Jovia Mutesi announced on Aug. 27 that they had welcomed their first children together — Prince William Ethan Nadiope and Prince Arnold Eli Nadiope.
“With profound joy and heartfelt gratitude, I am delighted to formally announce the birth of our twin sons: Prince William Ethan Nadiope and Prince Arnold Eli Nadiope,” the 36-year-old king wrote on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="http://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/birth-1024x683.jpeg" alt="Birth of twin princes strengthens Busoga royal lineage." class="wp-image-19864" srcset="https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/birth-1024x683.jpeg 1024w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/birth-300x200.jpeg 300w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/birth-768x512.jpeg 768w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/birth-330x220.jpeg 330w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/birth-420x280.jpeg 420w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/birth-615x410.jpeg 615w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/birth-860x573.jpeg 860w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/birth.jpeg 1080w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo/X/KingNadiopeIV</figcaption></figure>
He added: “The arrival of the newborns marks a deeply cherished milestone in our family’s journey, and we are overwhelmed and humbled by the magnitude of this double blessing. Both newborns, along with their remarkable mother, are in high spirits and excellent health.”
The post included photos of the boys with their mother, who, the king said, is doing well.
The news quickly spread across Busoga, a kingdom in eastern Uganda with millions of Basoga people. In local culture, the birth of twins carries special meaning — seen as a sign of abundance, favor and continuity.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="http://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/kyabazinga-1024x683.jpeg" alt="Joy as Ugandan royal couple welcome first children." class="wp-image-19865" srcset="https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/kyabazinga-1024x683.jpeg 1024w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/kyabazinga-300x200.jpeg 300w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/kyabazinga-768x512.jpeg 768w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/kyabazinga-330x220.jpeg 330w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/kyabazinga-420x280.jpeg 420w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/kyabazinga-615x410.jpeg 615w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/kyabazinga-860x573.jpeg 860w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/kyabazinga.jpeg 1080w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo/X/KingNadiopeIV</figcaption></figure>
Gabula became Kyabazinga in 2014 and has often been described as a unifying figure. His <a href="https://lifestyleuganda.com/gabula-nadiope-iv-ties-the-knot-in-first-ever-busoga-diocesan-church-wedding/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">marriage to Mutesi</a> in November 2023, in a ceremony held at Christ’s Cathedral Bugembe, drew nationwide attention.
For many in the region, the birth of the princes is more than a family announcement. It’s a historic moment for the monarchy and a source of pride. Thanksgiving prayers and community celebrations are expected in the days ahead.
The post <a href="https://lifestyleuganda.com/kyabazinga-queen-jovia-mutesi-welcome-twin-princes/">Kyabazinga and Queen Jovia Mutesi welcome twin princes</a> appeared first on <a href="https://lifestyleuganda.com">Lifestyle Uganda</a>.
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<title>Uganda set to break ground on long-delayed standard gauge railway in 2026</title>
<link>https://lifestyleuganda.com/uganda-break-ground-long-delayed-standard-gauge-railway-2026/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Lifestyle Uganda]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Sun, 31 Aug 2025 12:13:12 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[International News & Politics]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://lifestyleuganda.com/?p=19860</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Officials say the long-awaited Standard Gauge Railway, due to begin in 2026, will slash the cost of moving goods from Kenya’s port of Mombasa to Kampala, easing one of East Africa’s most expensive trade routes.
The post <a href="https://lifestyleuganda.com/uganda-break-ground-long-delayed-standard-gauge-railway-2026/">Uganda set to break ground on long-delayed standard gauge railway in 2026</a> appeared first on <a href="https://lifestyleuganda.com">Lifestyle Uganda</a>.
]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1000" height="666" src="https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/gauge.webp" class="attachment-full size-full wp-post-image" alt="Uganda to begin long-delayed Standard Gauge Railway in 2026." style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;" />
After years of delay and shifting deadlines, Uganda says it will finally begin building its Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) in April 2026, starting with the 272-kilometer (169-mile) line from the eastern border town of Malaba to the capital, Kampala.
The $2.9 billion project — about 11.18 trillion Ugandan shillings — will be carried out by Turkish construction firm Yapi Merkezi. Officials say the work is expected to take four years.
“After over a decade of anticipation, the Standard Gauge Railway Project is finally taking shape,” said Canon Eng. Perez Wamburu, the government’s project coordinator. “Over the past year, we have shifted decisively from planning to execution.”
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="680" height="453" src="http://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Wamburu.jpg" alt="Uganda unveils plan for 1,700km Standard Gauge Railway network." class="wp-image-19859" srcset="https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Wamburu.jpg 680w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Wamburu-300x200.jpg 300w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Wamburu-330x220.jpg 330w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Wamburu-420x280.jpg 420w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Wamburu-615x410.jpg 615w" sizes="(max-width: 680px) 100vw, 680px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Eng. Perez Wamburu. Photo/courtesy</figcaption></figure>
The government signed a turnkey contract with Yapi Merkezi in October 2024. Wamburu said the company is already on site, handling preliminary tasks such as surveys, design, and setting up logistics camps.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">A long-term vision</h3>
Uganda’s railway blueprint spans more than 1,700 kilometers (1,056 miles), designed to connect the country to neighbors and ports. The four planned corridors include Malaba–Kampala, Tororo–Gulu–South Sudan, Kampala–Kasese–Mpondwe, and a spur to Rwanda through Kabale.
Officials argue the project could transform trade and industry in a country that has long struggled with some of the region’s highest transport costs.
“It costs up to $3,500 to move a container by road from Mombasa, Kenya, to Kampala,” said Gen. Katumba Wamala, Uganda’s minister of works and transport. “Using the SGR, the same journey will cost about $2,000.”
Beyond cheaper freight, Katumba listed other expected benefits: reduced road accidents, lower spending on road repairs, and a boost to sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing, and tourism.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Building skills at home</h3>
Wamburu said the government is also creating a Railway Training Institute to develop local expertise. Uganda has fewer than 100 railway engineers, but the project will eventually need thousands.
“In this project, local content is not a slogan; it is a work program with clauses, milestones, and measurements,” he said. The contract, he added, requires that up to 40 percent of the project value go to Ugandan suppliers and workers.
Katumba emphasized that materials like cement, steel, and aggregates would be sourced locally whenever they meet international standards.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="680" height="453" src="http://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/katumba.jpg" alt="Museveni-backed railway project to break ground in 2026." class="wp-image-19858" srcset="https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/katumba.jpg 680w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/katumba-300x200.jpg 300w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/katumba-330x220.jpg 330w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/katumba-420x280.jpg 420w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/katumba-615x410.jpg 615w" sizes="(max-width: 680px) 100vw, 680px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Gen. Katumba Wamala. Photo/courtesy</figcaption></figure>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">A push from the presidency</h3>
Permanent Secretary Bageya Waiswa, who spoke on behalf of Uganda’s chief engineer, called the SGR “a strategic backbone for Uganda’s economic transformation.”
Katumba credited President Yoweri Museveni for breaking a long deadlock over financing. “This momentum reflects the decisive leadership of H.E. the President, who resolved the financing pathway and directed that we advance implementation without further hesitation,” he said.
But he also issued a warning. “Let me be clear; transparency and integrity are non-negotiable,” Katumba told reporters. “Corruption, rent-seeking, and favoritism have no place in this project.”
When complete, the SGR is expected to move 30 million tonnes of cargo annually and position Uganda as a trade hub for East and Central Africa.
“This is not just about steel, sleepers, and locomotives,” Katumba said. “It is about people. It is about jobs for our youth, opportunities for our businesses, skills for our engineers, and a stronger future for our nation.”
The post <a href="https://lifestyleuganda.com/uganda-break-ground-long-delayed-standard-gauge-railway-2026/">Uganda set to break ground on long-delayed standard gauge railway in 2026</a> appeared first on <a href="https://lifestyleuganda.com">Lifestyle Uganda</a>.
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<title>Morocco beats Madagascar 3-2 to claim record third African Nations Championship title</title>
<link>https://lifestyleuganda.com/morocco-beats-madagascar-3-2-record-third-african-nations-championship-title/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Ssendaza Ismail]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Sat, 30 Aug 2025 20:16:28 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://lifestyleuganda.com/?p=19847</guid>
<description><![CDATA[RS Berkane forward Oussama Lamlioui scored twice — including a spectacular 40-yard strike — to inspire Morocco’s 3-2 win over Madagascar in Nairobi and hand the Atlas Lions their third CHAN triumph.
The post <a href="https://lifestyleuganda.com/morocco-beats-madagascar-3-2-record-third-african-nations-championship-title/">Morocco beats Madagascar 3-2 to claim record third African Nations Championship title</a> appeared first on <a href="https://lifestyleuganda.com">Lifestyle Uganda</a>.
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<content:encoded><![CDATA[<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1000" height="667" src="https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/final.webp" class="attachment-full size-full wp-post-image" alt="Morocco crowned CHAN champions as Africa turns to AFCON." style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;" />
Morocco secured its third African Nations Championship (CHAN) crown in six years on Saturday, edging Madagascar 3-2 in a gripping final played in Nairobi, Kenya.
The Atlas Lions, as Morocco’s national team is known, added the 2024 trophy to their earlier triumphs in 2018 and 2020, becoming the most decorated nation in the tournament’s history. The CHAN is distinct from the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in that it features only players competing in their domestic leagues.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="957" height="1000" src="http://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/morocco.webp" alt="Morocco secure historic CHAN hat-trick after thriller in Nairobi." class="wp-image-19846" srcset="https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/morocco.webp 957w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/morocco-287x300.webp 287w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/morocco-768x803.webp 768w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/morocco-860x899.webp 860w" sizes="(max-width: 957px) 100vw, 957px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo/credit/cafonline</figcaption></figure>
Forward Oussama Lamlioui was again the difference-maker. The RS Berkane striker scored twice, including a remarkable strike from nearly 40 yards that sealed the win late in the second half.
“I thank the Moroccan supporters immensely,” Lamlioui said afterward. “We told them to trust us, and we’ve proved now that we were worthy of that trust.”
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Underdogs rise, but fall just short</h3>
<a href="https://lifestyleuganda.com/chan-2024-morocco-madagascar-book-semifinal-spots-uganda-senegal/">Madagascar</a>, appearing in the final of a major continental football competition for the first time, made a dream start. Calvin Felicite Manohantsoa converted a pass from Mika Razafimahatana in the ninth minute to put the island nation ahead.
Morocco equalized through Youssef Mehri in the 27th minute, and Lamlioui’s first goal soon after gave the North Africans a 2-1 advantage heading into halftime.
Madagascar refused to fade. Substitute Toky Rakotondraibe — who had scored the semifinal winner against Sudan — struck again midway through the second half to level the match at 2-2.
But Lamlioui’s audacious long-range effort restored Morocco’s lead, and despite late pressure from Madagascar, the Atlas Lions held on.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Awards and legacy</h3>
The win cements Morocco’s dominance in the <a href="https://lifestyleuganda.com/uganda-cranes-reach-chan-quarter-finals-after-dramatic-draw/">CHAN</a>, a competition they have never lost when reaching the final. Midfielder Mohammed Hrimat was named Player of the Tournament, while Lamlioui claimed the Golden Boot with six goals. Senegal’s Marc Diouf received the Golden Glove award, and his team earned the Fair Play Award after finishing third by beating Sudan on penalties.
For Madagascar, the silver medal still represents a milestone in the country’s football history.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1000" height="729" src="http://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/chan.webp" alt="Lamlioui double fires Morocco past Madagascar in CHAN final." class="wp-image-19844" srcset="https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/chan.webp 1000w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/chan-300x219.webp 300w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/chan-768x560.webp 768w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/chan-860x627.webp 860w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo/credit/cafonline</figcaption></figure>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Looking ahead</h3>
The tournament doubled as a preview of Morocco’s growing stature in African football. The country is preparing to host the Africa Cup of Nations later this year — its first time since 1988 — with the competition scheduled to begin on December 21.
The post <a href="https://lifestyleuganda.com/morocco-beats-madagascar-3-2-record-third-african-nations-championship-title/">Morocco beats Madagascar 3-2 to claim record third African Nations Championship title</a> appeared first on <a href="https://lifestyleuganda.com">Lifestyle Uganda</a>.
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<title>‘Power to Win’: MTN MoMo unveils new promotion under ‘Power to Be More’ initiative</title>
<link>https://lifestyleuganda.com/power-to-win-mtn-momo-unveils-new-promotion-weekly/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Musasi Isaac Christopher]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Sat, 30 Aug 2025 08:36:16 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://lifestyleuganda.com/?p=19834</guid>
<description><![CDATA[MTN MoMo Uganda has launched a nationwide promotion with weekly payouts of 10 million shillings to customers who use its mobile money services for payments, borrowing and investment.
The post <a href="https://lifestyleuganda.com/power-to-win-mtn-momo-unveils-new-promotion-weekly/">‘Power to Win’: MTN MoMo unveils new promotion under ‘Power to Be More’ initiative</a> appeared first on <a href="https://lifestyleuganda.com">Lifestyle Uganda</a>.
]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2048" height="1362" src="https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/win.webp" class="attachment-full size-full wp-post-image" alt="MTN MoMo Uganda launches nationwide reward campaign with 10 million weekly cash prize." style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;" />
MTN MoMo Uganda has rolled out a new customer promotion that will see Ugandans win the equivalent of about $2,800 (10 million Ugandan shillings) every week by using the company’s <a href="https://lifestyleuganda.com/mtn-uganda-gets-shareholder-approval-split-off-mobile-money-business/">mobile money platform</a>.
The campaign, called “Power to Win,” is part of the company’s larger “Power to Be More” initiative, which promotes mobile money as a tool for payments, borrowing and investment. MTN MoMo executives say the effort is designed to encourage Ugandans to use the service more frequently — and reward them in the process.
The launch took place Aug. 28 at Akamwesi Mall, a <a href="https://lifestyleuganda.com/yasser-k-ahmed-riham-furniture-tycoon-buys-lugogo-mall/">shopping center</a> a few miles outside downtown Kampala. There, the first prize — 10 million Ugandan shillings — was handed over to a customer who asked to remain anonymous.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="681" src="http://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/power-1024x681.webp" alt="How Ugandans can win big with mobile money." class="wp-image-19836" srcset="https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/power-1024x681.webp 1024w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/power-300x200.webp 300w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/power-768x511.webp 768w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/power-1536x1022.webp 1536w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/power-330x220.webp 330w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/power-420x280.webp 420w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/power-615x410.webp 615w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/power-860x572.webp 860w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/power.webp 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo/X/mtnmomoug</figcaption></figure>
Richard Yego, chief executive of MTN MoMo Uganda, said the program reflects the company’s broader vision of financial empowerment.
<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
“The Power to Be More campaign is about giving every Ugandan access to the tools that help them do more, achieve more, and become more,” he told reporters. “With Power to Win, we are extending that promise by rewarding our customers in a life-changing way.”
</blockquote>
Each week through the end of the year, one customer will be awarded 10 million shillings. The chances of winning increase with every transaction made on MoMo — whether that’s paying a bill, borrowing money or investing through the platform. Winners will be recognized at regional ceremonies across the country.
Jemima Kariuki, the company’s chief products officer, said the promotion is meant to push customers to explore the platform’s full range of services.
<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
“Whether you are paying bills, borrowing to seize an opportunity, or investing for the future, every transaction gives you more chances to win,” Kariuki said. “This campaign is about putting the power directly in the hands of our customers and celebrating their everyday use of MoMo.”
</blockquote>
MTN MoMo, a subsidiary of the South African telecom giant MTN Group, has become a dominant player in Uganda’s financial services sector, where mobile money often substitutes for traditional banking. The company says the campaign is one more step in its bid to deepen digital and financial inclusion in a country where access to conventional banks remains limited.
The post <a href="https://lifestyleuganda.com/power-to-win-mtn-momo-unveils-new-promotion-weekly/">‘Power to Win’: MTN MoMo unveils new promotion under ‘Power to Be More’ initiative</a> appeared first on <a href="https://lifestyleuganda.com">Lifestyle Uganda</a>.
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<title>Inspire Africa joins Santa Anzo in coffee-meets-fashion showcase at the UNAA Convention in New Orleans</title>
<link>https://lifestyleuganda.com/inspire-africa-joins-santa-anzo-coffee-meets-fashion-unaa-convention/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jacob Mugwana]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Sat, 30 Aug 2025 07:29:40 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Fashion]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://lifestyleuganda.com/?p=19827</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Santa Anzo’s ARAPAPA fashion brand partners with Inspire Africa Group to present Uganda’s identity to thousands in the diaspora at the 2025 UNAA Convention & Trade Expo.
The post <a href="https://lifestyleuganda.com/inspire-africa-joins-santa-anzo-coffee-meets-fashion-unaa-convention/">Inspire Africa joins Santa Anzo in coffee-meets-fashion showcase at the UNAA Convention in New Orleans</a> appeared first on <a href="https://lifestyleuganda.com">Lifestyle Uganda</a>.
]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1080" height="720" src="https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/anzo-1.jpg" class="attachment-full size-full wp-post-image" alt="Santa Anzo and Inspire Africa at UNAA 2025." style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;" />
Inspire Africa Group, one of Uganda’s fastest-rising coffee enterprises, is joining forces with ARAPAPA by Santa Anzo, the country’s leading fashion house, for a cultural showcase at this year’s Ugandan North American Association (UNAA) Convention in New Orleans.
The partnership — announced Aug. 28 — will headline the 37th annual convention under the theme “Brewed in Uganda, Styled for the World.” It pairs two of Uganda’s most recognizable exports: coffee and fashion.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="683" height="1024" src="http://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/inspire-1-683x1024.jpeg" alt="Santa Anzo and Inspire Africa spotlight Uganda at diaspora convention." class="wp-image-19825" srcset="https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/inspire-1-683x1024.jpeg 683w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/inspire-1-200x300.jpeg 200w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/inspire-1-768x1151.jpeg 768w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/inspire-1.jpeg 854w" sizes="(max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo/courtesy</figcaption></figure>
For Inspire Africa, the collaboration is part of a broader strategy to grow Uganda’s coffee revenues from roughly $2 billion to $5 billion over the next five years. The company says it is betting on culture, celebrity influence and tourism to market Ugandan coffee as more than just a commodity.
“Just as Gulf countries have successfully used sports diplomacy to rebrand themselves as global destinations, Inspire Africa believes fashion diplomacy can be the new tool for Uganda,” the group said in a statement. “Using coffee and couture, we can market the country as a hub for both coffee excellence and creativity.”
Globally, the coffee industry is valued at about $460 billion. Africa, however, earns just $2.5 billion — mostly from unprocessed beans. A kilogram of raw green coffee sells for about $2.50, while processed, branded coffee can retail for up to $40. Inspire Africa argues that shifting toward value-added exports and weaving them into tourism could dramatically boost Uganda’s earnings and draw more visitors. The company has set its sights on raising annual arrivals from about 700,000 today to 6 million.
The deal, formalized in a memorandum of understanding, will see Inspire Africa back the ARAPAPA Fashion Showcase at the convention. Ugandan <a href="https://lifestyleuganda.com/female-designers-in-uganda/#arapapa-by-santa-anzo">designer Santa Anzo</a>, who has been a force in African fashion for over two decades, will curate a limited-edition collection inspired by coffee — from earthy tones to textured fabrics.
“This collaboration is about identity, heritage, and global pride,” Anzo said. Her ARAPAPA label has previously been featured on international runways and has long positioned Ugandan fashion as both creative and globally relevant.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="643" height="806" src="http://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/santa-1.jpg" alt="Ugandan diaspora gathers as coffee and fashion share stage at UNAA 2025." class="wp-image-19826" srcset="https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/santa-1.jpg 643w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/santa-1-239x300.jpg 239w" sizes="(max-width: 643px) 100vw, 643px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo/courtesy</figcaption></figure>
The coffee-fashion partnership extends beyond the New Orleans event. Inspire Africa is also developing the <a href="https://lifestyleuganda.com/ntungamo-prepares-coffee-marathon-concert-headlined-by-diamond-platnumz/">Africa Coffee Park in Ntungamo District</a>, southwestern Uganda — a 150-acre complex that will house the country’s largest coffee processing facility, a convention center, sports arena and a coffee academy.
Organizers of the UNAA convention, which runs Aug. 29 through Sept. 1, expect thousands of Ugandans in the diaspora and international guests. For Inspire Africa and ARAPAPA, the showcase is meant to be the start of a longer campaign that links coffee, couture and tourism as a unified story of Uganda’s global identity.
The post <a href="https://lifestyleuganda.com/inspire-africa-joins-santa-anzo-coffee-meets-fashion-unaa-convention/">Inspire Africa joins Santa Anzo in coffee-meets-fashion showcase at the UNAA Convention in New Orleans</a> appeared first on <a href="https://lifestyleuganda.com">Lifestyle Uganda</a>.
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<title>Baby Gloria marries Mbaleka Jonas, the fellow singer she met through gospel music</title>
<link>https://lifestyleuganda.com/baby-gloria-marries-mbaleka-jonas/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jacob Mugwana]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Fri, 29 Aug 2025 15:10:18 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Entertainment]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://lifestyleuganda.com/?p=19813</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Singer Baby Gloria has tied the knot with fellow gospel artist Mbaleka Jonas at Redeemed Church in Makerere, Kampala, capping months of traditional marriage celebrations.
The post <a href="https://lifestyleuganda.com/baby-gloria-marries-mbaleka-jonas/">Baby Gloria marries Mbaleka Jonas, the fellow singer she met through gospel music</a> appeared first on <a href="https://lifestyleuganda.com">Lifestyle Uganda</a>.
]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="869" src="https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/gloria.webp" class="attachment-full size-full wp-post-image" alt="Baby Gloria completes marriage journey with Kampala church wedding." style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;" />
Ugandan gospel artist Baby Gloria and fellow singer Mbaleka Jonas were married Friday in a church ceremony that drew friends, family and colleagues to Redeemed Church in Makerere, a neighborhood near the capital’s main university.
The wedding capped months of traditional ceremonies, including an <a href="https://lifestyleuganda.com/baby-gloria-announces-engagement-to-jonas-rayme-mbaleka-on-instagram/">engagement</a>, <a href="https://lifestyleuganda.com/baby-gloria-joy-she-shares-first-photos-from-her-kukyala-ceremony/">Kukyala</a> (a customary visit to the bride’s family) and an introduction, which is a cultural rite of passage in many Ugandan communities.
The event was marked by a number of personal moments, among them Baby Gloria walking down the aisle with her father before exchanging vows with Jonas. The singer wore a gown designed by Ugandan couturier Dyna Vence Ruvuza, known for his custom bridal work. 
Photographer Samie Luswata, <a href="https://lifestyleuganda.com/best-makeup-artists-in-uganda-for-2020/">makeup artist</a> Glam by Keith and stylists from Phery Hairs were among the creative team behind the wedding, while JK Gift Hampers Uganda provided floral arrangements and Oree Bridal Car Decoration handled wedding car styling.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="819" height="1024" src="http://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/wedding.webp" alt="Baby Gloria ties the knot in Kampala after traditional rites." class="wp-image-19812" srcset="https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/wedding.webp 819w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/wedding-240x300.webp 240w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/wedding-768x960.webp 768w" sizes="(max-width: 819px) 100vw, 819px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo/instagram/babygloriamusic</figcaption></figure>
On Instagram, Gloria posted an album of photos with the caption: “FINALLY MRS. MBALEKA. I do… thank you Jesus.”
Her announcement quickly gained traction online. Congratulatory messages poured in on X, formerly Twitter, with fans celebrating the couple and sharing images from the ceremony. Within hours, photos of the newlyweds were trending across Ugandan social media.
Jonas, who focuses his singing on ministry work, first began performing in 2006 during a church production called Celebrate Emmanuel. He and Gloria met years later at an event organized by Power 104.1 FM, a Ugandan Christian radio station.
“I was friends with one of the presenters who later gave me Gloria’s number,” Jonas said, remembering an early introduction through Kampala’s Power 104.1 FM radio. “He told me she had good music and encouraged me to reach out for a collaboration.”
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="654" src="http://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/baby-1024x654.webp" alt="Fans celebrate as Baby Gloria weds in Kampala ceremony." class="wp-image-19810" srcset="https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/baby-1024x654.webp 1024w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/baby-300x192.webp 300w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/baby-768x491.webp 768w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/baby-860x549.webp 860w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/baby.webp 1080w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo/instagram/babygloriamusic</figcaption></figure>
At first, Gloria ignored his message, Jonas admitted. “With time, the friend who connected us reached out to Gloria again and told her about me. That’s when she reached out and everything began from there,” he said.
From that early introduction, their partnership grew into a relationship grounded in faith and music. On Friday, they formalized it before family, friends and church members, marking the start of a new chapter as husband and wife.
The post <a href="https://lifestyleuganda.com/baby-gloria-marries-mbaleka-jonas/">Baby Gloria marries Mbaleka Jonas, the fellow singer she met through gospel music</a> appeared first on <a href="https://lifestyleuganda.com">Lifestyle Uganda</a>.
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<title>Uganda and Kenya Set to Host 4th Coast Tourism Conference</title>
<link>https://lifestyleuganda.com/uganda-kenya-set-host-4th-coast-tourism-conference/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Lifestyle Uganda]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Fri, 29 Aug 2025 11:08:56 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Lifestyle]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Travel/Culture]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://lifestyleuganda.com/?p=19803</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The two East African nations will gather in Malindi in October to strengthen cross-border tourism, showcasing how joint initiatives can boost economic growth and cultural exchange.
The post <a href="https://lifestyleuganda.com/uganda-kenya-set-host-4th-coast-tourism-conference/">Uganda and Kenya Set to Host 4th Coast Tourism Conference</a> appeared first on <a href="https://lifestyleuganda.com">Lifestyle Uganda</a>.
]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="682" src="https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/stakeholder.webp" class="attachment-full size-full wp-post-image" alt="Uganda-Kenya Tourism Partnership Strengthens Regional Travel Links." style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;" />
East Africa’s tourism sector is preparing for a major spotlight this fall, as Uganda and Kenya gear up to co-host the 4th Uganda-Kenya Coast Tourism Conference and Exhibition. The event will take place October 27–28, 2025, at Ocean Beach Resort and Spa in Malindi, on Kenya’s Indian Ocean coast.
This year’s theme — “Leveraging Youth Innovation and Technology for Responsive and Inclusive Tourism” — underscores how digital tools and young entrepreneurs are reshaping the industry across the region. The gathering builds on a tourism cooperation agreement signed in July between the two governments, which committed both countries to closer collaboration on marketing, training, and joint promotion abroad.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="682" src="http://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/kaggwa.webp" alt="Uganda Aims for $50 Billion Tourism Revenue by 2040 with Kenya Collaboration." class="wp-image-19800" srcset="https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/kaggwa.webp 1024w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/kaggwa-300x200.webp 300w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/kaggwa-768x512.webp 768w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/kaggwa-330x220.webp 330w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/kaggwa-420x280.webp 420w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/kaggwa-615x410.webp 615w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/kaggwa-860x573.webp 860w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">UTB CEO, Juliana Kagwa. Photo/X/UgandaMFA</figcaption></figure>
At a launch event in Kampala, Uganda’s Consul-General in Mombasa, Ambassador Paul Mukumbya, described tourism as a strategic bridge between the two neighbors.
“Tourism is one of the strongest bridges connecting Uganda and Kenya,” he said. “By collaborating on promotion and marketing, we enhance global visibility while reinforcing the social and economic ties of our region.”
Uganda has set ambitious growth targets for the sector. Ambassador Charles Ssentongo, speaking on behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the government aims to raise annual tourism revenue from $2 billion in 2022–23 to $50 billion by 2039–40. “Tourism is central to our economic diplomacy, youth empowerment, job creation, and sustainable development,” he noted.
Tourism flows between the two countries remain strong. In 2024, roughly 466,000 Kenyans visited Uganda, while 225,559 Ugandans traveled to Kenya, according to official figures. Expanded air routes — including more Kenya Airways flights — have helped strengthen those links, while also supporting trade and cultural exchange.
The partnership is not new. Since 2022, Uganda’s consulate in Mombasa has promoted joint events to market both countries, with past conferences held in Mombasa, Diani, and Kampala. These gatherings have brought together government officials, private investors, and tour operators to promote everything from Uganda’s mountain gorillas and cultural sites to Kenya’s beaches and marine tourism.
Speakers at this year’s launch praised the emphasis on youth and technology. “The youth in tourism are not just beneficiaries; they are innovators, entrepreneurs, and storytellers,” said Stephen Asiimwe, chief executive of the Private Sector Foundation Uganda. “Empowering them to reimagine tourism is an investment in sustainability.”
<a href="https://lifestyleuganda.com/uganda-airlines-to-launch-domestic-flights-2026/">Uganda Airlines</a>’ head of public relations, Shakira Rahim Lamar, added that innovation and collaboration remain central to the visitor experience. “Service, humanity, and the joy we bring to travelers define tourism,” she said.
Regional officials also highlighted the importance of sustainable practices. Herbert Mwachiro, representing Kenya’s Kilifi County, said the coastal region and Uganda offer complementary attractions — from beaches and marine ecosystems to wildlife and cultural heritage.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2048" height="1366" src="http://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/paul-scaled.webp" alt="Uganda and Kenya Showcase Sustainable Tourism at Coast Conference." class="wp-image-19801" srcset="https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/paul-scaled.webp 2048w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/paul-300x200.webp 300w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/paul-1024x683.webp 1024w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/paul-768x512.webp 768w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/paul-1536x1024.webp 1536w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/paul-330x220.webp 330w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/paul-420x280.webp 420w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/paul-615x410.webp 615w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/paul-860x573.webp 860w" sizes="(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo/X/PSF_Uganda</figcaption></figure>
For both governments, the event doubles as economic and diplomatic outreach. “This is more than a conference; it is a mission to position Uganda and Kenya as partners in global tourism,” Amb. Mukumbya said. “By harnessing youth energy, technology, and regional unity, we can transform tourism into a shared engine of growth and understanding.”
Organizers said youth innovators will feature prominently at the October event, showcasing platforms designed to make East Africa’s tourism experience more accessible — from budget options to high-end packages.
Registration is now open through the official conference portal: <a href="https://www.thetourismconference.org/?utm_source=chatgpt.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">www.thetourismconference.org</a>.
The post <a href="https://lifestyleuganda.com/uganda-kenya-set-host-4th-coast-tourism-conference/">Uganda and Kenya Set to Host 4th Coast Tourism Conference</a> appeared first on <a href="https://lifestyleuganda.com">Lifestyle Uganda</a>.
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<title>Uganda turns to electronic signatures to fight fraud and restore trust in government documents</title>
<link>https://lifestyleuganda.com/uganda-electronic-signatures-to-fight-fraud-restore-trust-government-documents/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Ssendaza Ismail]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Fri, 29 Aug 2025 10:38:34 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Technology & Science]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://lifestyleuganda.com/?p=19792</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The state-backed UGPass platform will let citizens and businesses sign and verify documents online, with each signature linked to national identity records.
The post <a href="https://lifestyleuganda.com/uganda-electronic-signatures-to-fight-fraud-restore-trust-government-documents/">Uganda turns to electronic signatures to fight fraud and restore trust in government documents</a> appeared first on <a href="https://lifestyleuganda.com">Lifestyle Uganda</a>.
]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1600" height="1068" src="https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/UGPass.webp" class="attachment-full size-full wp-post-image" alt="Uganda pushes for paperless government with e-signatures." style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;" />
Uganda is rolling out electronic signatures across all government ministries, departments and agencies in a bid to clamp down on forged documents and fraudulent transactions that have long plagued public institutions.
The initiative, led by the National Information Technology Authority Uganda (NITA-U), is meant to boost digital security, ensure authenticity and rebuild public confidence in official communications.
“Unlike other e-signature platforms where anyone can log on and claim to be you and sign on your behalf, here, for you to log on, you have to be verified by a document issuer who is an authenticated verifier of the government,” said Hatwib Mugasa, executive director of NITA-U.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="684" src="http://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Mugasa-1024x684.webp" alt="Ugandans to get digital IDs for signing official documents." class="wp-image-19789" srcset="https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Mugasa-1024x684.webp 1024w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Mugasa-300x200.webp 300w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Mugasa-768x513.webp 768w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Mugasa-1536x1025.webp 1536w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Mugasa-scaled.webp 2048w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Mugasa-330x220.webp 330w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Mugasa-420x280.webp 420w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Mugasa-615x410.webp 615w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Mugasa-860x574.webp 860w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Dr. Hatwib Mugasa. Photo/X/GCIC_Tech</figcaption></figure>
The system, branded UGPass, requires every user to be authenticated against existing government databases — such as national identity cards and passports — before they can sign or seal a document. Each verified user is issued a digital certificate, allowing every signature to be traced back to its origin.
<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
NITA-U officials describe UGPass as a cornerstone of Uganda’s digital transformation strategy. By reducing reliance on physical paperwork and making document authentication faster and more secure, they say the system will help build a foundation of digital trust across both government and business sectors.
</blockquote>
Brenda Maniraguha, the project manager, said the approach is designed to establish digital trust. “UGPass creates a digital profile for each user by drawing on existing government identity databases. These include NIRA and DCIC … ensuring that the person signing is verifiably the same person in government records,” she said.
Officials argue the technology will block the loopholes that for years have allowed fraudsters to circulate fake contracts, approvals and procurement documents. Any sealed or signed document will now be verifiable, authorities say, reducing the risk of counterfeit circulars and inflated payments.
The move comes after a recent case in which suspected fraudsters were arrested for creating a fake government website, forging signatures of senior officials and duping foreign investors.
Uganda’s Auditor General reported in 2023 that the country had lost more than 3 trillion shillings (about $840 million) to procurement-related irregularities across ministries, local governments and state enterprises — much of it linked to forged contracts and approvals.
Officials hope UGPass can help reverse that trend. By replacing slow, paper-based processes with real-time digital signatures, they say, the system could also speed up service delivery.
“It cuts down the time spent on physical paperwork, approvals and manual processes,” said Julian Rweju, the acting director of government services. “It enables real-time signing, reducing bottlenecks in service delivery.”
Rweju added that the new platform is designed not just for government but also for citizens and <a href="https://lifestyleuganda.com/category/business/">businesses</a>. “It empowers individuals, businesses and government entities to seamlessly sign and authenticate documents online … eliminating the need for physical presence.”
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="http://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Rweju-1024x683.webp" alt="Electronic signatures to lock out fraudsters, Uganda says." class="wp-image-19790" srcset="https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Rweju-1024x683.webp 1024w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Rweju-300x200.webp 300w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Rweju-768x512.webp 768w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Rweju-330x220.webp 330w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Rweju-420x280.webp 420w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Rweju-615x410.webp 615w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Rweju-860x574.webp 860w, https://lifestyleuganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Rweju.webp 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Julian Rweju. Photo/X/NITAUganda1</figcaption></figure>
Mugasa said the government views UGPass as part of a broader digital transformation agenda. “This rigorous verification process enhances trust and security, making UGPass a fast, safe and convenient way for individuals and organizations to sign and seal documents online,” he said.
Authorities acknowledge the rollout will not end fraud overnight. But they believe it is an important step toward a system where digital transactions are secure and citizens have greater control over their data.
The post <a href="https://lifestyleuganda.com/uganda-electronic-signatures-to-fight-fraud-restore-trust-government-documents/">Uganda turns to electronic signatures to fight fraud and restore trust in government documents</a> appeared first on <a href="https://lifestyleuganda.com">Lifestyle Uganda</a>.
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