During the holiday season, I realized that giving is far better than receiving. Even though I have lived in Uganda for almost three years now, this holiday season was different because I actually saw the need all around me and the benefits of sacrificing my needs and wants for a change to give to others like never before.

Contrary to the enormous focus on gift buying and giving in America, it seems to me that most Ugandans focus and care more on family during the holidays—which I believe that is what the holiday season is all about. Or maybe it is because of the various socio-economical issues that many Ugandans cant afford to adapt this expensive option. Whatever is the case, my friends seemed glad and well content after visiting relatives in town and in the villages, despite their lack of receiving presents and looking at Christmas trees.

I spent the Christmas holiday with friends who recently shared with me that they were thrilled to open their home to me, and was pleased that I gave them in exchange only my appreciation and company.

In addition, these and other friends I spent New Years Eve with, also focused on this virtue of giving and sharing, which made me desire to continue giving to others in need in 2006.

Now, I am really not into New Years resolutions, but I have a heavy burden in my heart to give for the sake of giving, whether it is love, a hug, my time, my advice, my company, my money, and sometimes gifts to uplift a boggled-down spirit or to put a big grin on a childs face.

Recently, I attended a mission trip to Kigali, Rwanda to minister to the children at Gospel Christ Fellowship Church and to attend their Christian Leadership Conference. In Rwanda, I experienced love and the result of giving in a way that is only imaginable.

Honestly, when I left Kampala I was so spiritually pumped to give my expertise to their childrens ministry that I couldnt wait to see what I could do to put smiles on the childrens faces.

But boy, was I in for a surprise because when I saw those children, underprivileged and poor but with joy shining on their faces, they radiated more bliss and love to me than I think I could ever give to them. This made me feel extremely blessed to the point that I felt they were giving more to me than I was giving to them.

The children are part of a ministry at the church called the Abana Bumwami Children Foundation (Abana Bumwami means the Kings children) that was established two years ago at the church through Pastor Francis Mutabazi. The foundations mission is to provide the children in the surrounding community with spiritual and physical growth, and a chance to receive a proper education. Mutabazis vision is based on the command of Jesus for believers to teach the children about Him and the bible. In addition, the foundation exists to provide holistic support to the orphaned, abandoned and marginalized children of Rwanda, and to provide them with spiritual, social, mental, emotional, and material support, so they can experience a loving relationship with God. As a result, these children will grow to be positive individuals in society, responsible adults and servant leaders for today and the future.

Because of these childrens extreme poverty condition, many people would think that these children dont have much to smile about. Yet, these young children have such a passion for God and a desire to live their lives to the fullest, they cant help but to smile and laugh.

Even my host family, the family I stayed with while I was in Kigali, was a blessing to me. Not only did they feed me until I couldnt eat anymore, but the Ndayambaje family, Johnson, Mary, Richard, Benjamin, Fortunate, Ritah, Sharon and Isaac made sure they gave me their attention, love, support, and company during my entire visit to make me feel welcomed and appreciated.

I attended this trip with a few pastors, bible students and bible teachers from my church Calvary Chapel Kampala, to assist Limitless Boundaries in providing support to Gospel Christ Fellowship.

Limitless Boundaries, a mission-based organization which is affiliated with Calvary Chapel La Habra church in California, is busy cultivating and planting other churches in other parts of the world, too, in places like Europe and Asia. In addition, they have begun a missions training program where men and women are given the opportunity to learn and serve in an environment where they can experience the changing work of the word of God together. Practical ministry is also taught in order to prepare individuals for ministry service.

While visiting with these children, I could see the need. Along with the word of God, they also needed clothes and food. Fortunately, I was able to witness more than 50 children receive letters from their sponsors through Limitless Boundaries to let them know that they were continuing their commitment to financially support the childrens needs in the future.

These sponsors, who are just ordinary church folks in La Habra, are aware that some of these children were orphaned by the Rwanda genocide and some of their parents died from AIDS or were affected with the HIV virus. And, these churches and believers are trying to do all they can to keep the children’s spirits alive.

Nevertheless, when I was around the children, I felt they didnt need much from me—just my smile, hugs, a few pieces of candy, and for me to lead them in songs, bible lessons and games to keep them happy.

Many of us think that children need toys, fancy gadgets and other material things to make them happy. But after this holiday season, I hope many have realized that our loved ones, especially children, just need people to give them love and care.

Let us focus this year on achieving an attitude of simply giving out of love, without stressing ourselves about how much we need to buy so that we can give it to make a big impression. But, for our spirits to be moved to just simply give what we can afford –like our time and devotion to visit a loved one, to play with a child, and maybe get involved with a church, a faith-based organization or mission that serves our neighborhoods or our global community.

Because thats what life is all about, right? People, and not things.

The city law firm of Kibazo Associated Advocates on behalf of their client Silver Kagwa Sekitoleko has threatened to take both criminal and civil legal actions against officials in the Ministry of Lands Housing and Urban Development for the contempt of lawful Court Orders allegations.

In their intention to sue letter, dated, 17th of January 2025 received by the Office of the Commissioner Land Registration, lawyers advise the officials especially Aisha Kabira the Principal Registrar of Titles and Elton Byamukama to desist from further violation of the court order issued by the Land Division of the High Court Kampala.

According to documents, the Administrative Interim Order was issued by the Registrar Land Division restraining the interfering with the land before Court comprised in Kyadondo Block 229 Plots 2634, 2673, 2674, 2674, 2675, 2676 and 2677 situated at Kireka Kamuli in Kira Municipality.

The land is part of the large estate of the late Paul Mukasa Kiggundu where the Administrators Kagwa and Rose Nakigudde developed a misunderstanding on how to manage their father’s estate hence resulted in legal battles both at Land and family Divisions of the High Court.

“The purpose of writing this letter is therefore to bring to your attention that there’s an interim order issued restraining the Respondent(Nakigudde), their servants, employees, agents, and or successors in the title from selling, transferring, alienating, mortgaging, subdividing, amalgamating, and or in any way dealing with or interfering with the land comprised in Kyadondo Block 229 Plot 2634, 2635, 2636, 26377 formerly plot 1082 and or any land that forms part of the estate of the late Paul Mukasa Kiggundu” lawyers letter dated 27th November 2024 reads in part.

Even though lawyers write to the Commissioner Land Registration and their letter received over the matter, Kabira proceeded on 28th of November 2024 with the scheduled hearing of the complaint filed by Nakigudde seeking the Commissioner Land Registration orders the cancellation of all the said land titles registered on the contested land claiming that they were issued illegally.

According to documents, on 19th of December 2024, Kabira issued a report resulting from the hearing which lawyers claim was done illegally and contempt the Court Order which was in place over the matter and she orders for cancellation of all the said land titles insisting that are illegally issued.

“ Our instructions are to demand as we hereby do, that you immediately cease and desist from further contemptuous acts since the decision delivered on the 19th day of December 2024 was a direct violation and disregard of the court order.

Should you fail to halt all the activities intended to effect changes on the land register by 22rd of January 2025 days after receipt hereof, we have further instructions to file contempt of court proceedings to your detriment, embarrassment and colossal loss” lawyers warned.

However, when contacted, Byabakama admitted to having received the court order, explaining that content on it was not affecting their planned actions against the land.

The East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) Ltd has facilitated the skilling of youth from project-affected households as part of the Resettlement Action Plan (RAP).

These vocational skills are intended to boost members of these affected households’ capacity to earn an income and improve their resilience that may arise after displacement through self-employment or getting paid employment.
Courtesy Photo

Of the 754 students graduating from affected households in Hoima, Kakumiro, Kikuube, Kyankwanzi, and Mubende districts 249 are female students. They were enrolled at St. Simon Peter’s Vocational Institute in Hoima, St Peters Vocational Training Institute in Mubende, Buhimba Technical Institute in Kikuube and Millenium Business School in Hoima district.

The students have completed 3 months of Vocational training and 1 month of internship.

A total of 1,020 youth have been trained from project-affected households along the entire Pipeline route.

Youth have received skills in the disciplines of Tailoring & Garment Design, Welding, Building and construction, Carpentry and Joinery, Motor Vehicle and Motorcycle Mechanics, Hairdressing, Catering, and Electrical Installations.

The youth will receive starter kits that suit their specific vocational programs to start their journey to employment.
Courtesy Photo

This initiative is part of the company’s commitment to empower affected households through a livelihood restoration program, aiming to restore, transition, and improve their livelihoods by utilizing available household resources post-resettlement

About the Livelihood Restoration program.

The objective of the Livelihood Restoration Program is to provide project-affected persons whose livelihoods or income levels are adversely affected an opportunity to improve, or at least restore, their means of income-earning capacity, production levels, and standards of living

Livelihood restoration is being implemented in two phases.

PPhase one

Provision of transitional support to households as a short-term measure to support their food security in terms of dry rations/ food baskets within the first 6-12 months as soon as the affected Households vacate land.

So far, 1949/2257 eligible households that were heavily impacted are receiving food baskets

Singer and politician Robert Kyagulanyi Sentamu, widely known as Bobi Wine, delivered a powerful message to Ugandan artists during his 2024 End-of-Year Speech. In his address, Bobi Wine urged artists to prioritize their long-term welfare and cautioned against exploitation in the music industry.

“You are going to be used and discarded like others before you. It’s up to you to realize this or not. I am not attacking you,” he stated.

The former presidential candidate encouraged artists to critically examine their careers and the systemic challenges within the industry.

“May God guide you in the coming year to think more deeply about the industry. You are neither the first nor the last artists. If [they] have turned you into beggars while you are still young and at the height of your fame, imagine what will happen when you are no longer superstars,” he warned.

Bobi Wine’s speech follows recent remarks by Gen. Salim Saleh, the Chief Coordinator of the Operation Wealth Creation (OWC) program. Saleh criticized musicians for allegedly disrupting his work in Gulu district by seeking financial aid.

This exchange underscores the ongoing tensions between artists and policymakers regarding resource management and opportunities in Uganda’s creative sector. Bobi Wine’s message has ignited conversations about the need for structural reforms to safeguard artists’ futures and foster sustainable growth in the industry.

Singer and politician Robert Kyagulanyi Sentamu, widely known as Bobi Wine, delivered a powerful message to Ugandan artists during his 2024 End-of-Year Speech. In his address, Bobi Wine urged artists to prioritize their long-term welfare and cautioned against exploitation in the music industry.

“You are going to be used and discarded like others before you. It’s up to you to realize this or not. I am not attacking you,” he stated.

The former presidential candidate encouraged artists to critically examine their careers and the systemic challenges within the industry.

“May God guide you in the coming year to think more deeply about the industry. You are neither the first nor the last artists. If [they] have turned you into beggars while you are still young and at the height of your fame, imagine what will happen when you are no longer superstars,” he warned.

Bobi Wine’s speech follows recent remarks by Gen. Salim Saleh, the Chief Coordinator of the Operation Wealth Creation (OWC) program. Saleh criticized musicians for allegedly disrupting his work in Gulu district by seeking financial aid.

This exchange underscores the ongoing tensions between artists and policymakers regarding resource management and opportunities in Uganda’s creative sector. Bobi Wine’s message has ignited conversations about the need for structural reforms to safeguard artists’ futures and foster sustainable growth in the industry.

The High court in Kampala has ordered, Yalelo Uganda Limited, an aquaculture company to pay its former commercial director, Martin Kasasira over Shs 176 million for unlawful and unfair dismissal.

A four-judge panel of the Industrial Division led by justice Anthony Wabwire Musana, Jimmy Musimbi, Emmanuel Bigirmana, and Can Amos Lapenga, held that Kasasira was dismissed from his job without a fair hearing.

Kasasira got the Yalelo job in June 2020 and was dismissed in May 2022 on the grounds of underperformance and gross misconduct among others. However, he alleges that before his dismissal, Yalelo chief executive officer (CEO) Piers Mudd, wrote to him an email complaining about his performance. Mudd asked for a meeting with Kasasira to talk about the matter.

However, before even the scheduled meeting could take place, he received a letter dismissing him from his job. Dissatisfied with the decision, Kasasira lodged a petition in the Kampala Labour Office and subsequently, to the High court. In its decision, court indeed found that Kasasira had been unfairly dismissed.

“The email cannot, by any stretch of legal ingenuity and juristic interpretation, be a notification of a disciplinary hearing…There was no indication in this email that the respondent was considering dismissal on any grounds, including the grave allegations of sexual harassment …Therefore, we must conclude that no hearing was held…It is our finding that the email correspondence did not amount to a fair hearing…The respondent was statutorily required to subject the claimant to a hearing, and despite the respondent’s strenuous arguments, the email did not suffice as a fair hearing, in our view,” the court ruled.

Court added that in the case of allegations against Kasasira, the company had to lodge a formal investigation and share a copy of its findings with him.

“It has been held that an employer failing to follow its internal procedure is an unfair labour practice. After an objective evaluation of the evidence before us and having considered the parties’ respective submissions and the law, we must conclude that the claimant’s dismissal from employment by the respondent was procedurally and substantively unfair. It would, therefore, be unlawful,” the court held.

It, therefore, ordered that Yalelo issue Kasasira a certificate of service within 15 days and also compensate him Shillings 12,096,774 for his outstanding leave payment, Shillings 37,545,000 for one month of pay, Shillings 70,084,300 as severance pay and Shillings 56,317,500 for in general damages. All these moneys attract a 14% interest from the time the order was made until full payment.