Author: Kaelen Veyar
KAMPALA, UGANDA — The National Identification Registration Authority (NIRA) in Uganda has registered approximately 3,623 marriages in the six months since taking over the function of marriage registration. NIRA Executive Director Rosemary Kisembo revealed this information at an event in Kampala, where NIRA officially assumed the role from the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB). Of the marriages registered by NIRA, 2,460 are Christian, 820 are Muslim, 256 are customary, and 5 are Hindu marriages. Additionally, NIRA has licensed 64 churches to conduct marriages and has carried out 662 marriage searches. “NIRA is an organization that’s growing and transcends all barriers…
KAMPALA, UGANDA — The Mwanga II Magistrates Court has issued an arrest warrant for Moses Tumwine, one of nine individuals accused of providing false information to the police, alleging that Pastor Robert Kayanja of Rubaga Miracle Centre Church committed sodomy. The other defendants in the case are; Peter Serugo, Reagan Ssentongo, Khalifa Labeeb, Alex Wakamala, Martins Kagolo, Israel Wasswa, Jamil Mwanda, and Aggrey Kinene. Senior Principal Magistrate Grade One Adams Byarugaba issued the warrant for Tumwine’s arrest on Friday, directing any law enforcement officer to apprehend him immediately and present him in court at the next hearing scheduled for May 5th,…
Antonio Rudiger was ejected from the Copa del Rey final after reportedly throwing an object in the direction of the referee during Real Madrid’s dramatic defeat to Barcelona. The ill-tempered scenes unfolded as Barcelona secured the trophy in extra time on Saturday. The incident involving Rudiger occurred in the dying moments of the match, following a controversial foul awarded against Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe. Both Rudiger and his Real Madrid teammate Lucas Vazquez, who had already been substituted, were immediately shown straight red cards for their furious reactions to the referee’s decision. Adding to Real Madrid’s disciplinary woes, their English…
NAIVASHA, KENYA — A significant breakthrough in the fight against mobile phone theft has been achieved in Naivasha, as detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) have successfully apprehended a key suspect believed to be the mastermind behind a well-organized phone theft syndicate. The operation, executed based on credible intelligence, led to the arrest of 33-year-old Peter Mburu at his shop located within the Sera Center Building in Naivasha town. The DCI action saw a team of dedicated detectives raid Mburu’s premises, where they reportedly found him in possession of a collection of mobile phones believed to have been…
ROME, ITALY — Pope Francis has been laid to rest in Rome following a solemn, hours-long funeral service at St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican, marking the conclusion of his 12-year papacy, a period marked by both significant influence and challenges, over the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics. The Argentinian pontiff, who passed away earlier this week at the age of 88 due to a stroke and subsequent cardiac arrest, was interred on Saturday at the Basilica of St. Mary Major in the Italian capital. Under clear skies, tens of thousands of mourners filled St. Peter’s Square to attend the…
MOGADISHU, SOMALIA — Al-Shabaab militants have successfully reclaimed several territories previously secured by the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) and other international forces operating in Somalia’s Middle and Lower Shabelle regions. This resurgence follows a series of aggressive operations by Al-Shabaab, particularly in areas vacated by forces under the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISSOM), which later transitioned to the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) and is now known as AUSSOM. These withdrawals are part of an ongoing drawdown process. Jacob Marksons Oboth, Uganda’s Minister of Defence and Veteran Affairs, has confirmed the Al-Shabaab territorial gains. Oboth has…
ACCRA, GHANA — Opposition Members of Parliament (MPs) in Ghana have strongly condemned the suspension of Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, accusing President John Mahama of attempting to “pack the courts” with justices aligned with the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC). Ms. Torkornoo was removed from her position on Wednesday, marking the first instance in the nation’s history that a Chief Justice has been suspended. The unprecedented action followed the filing of three petitions containing allegations against her. While the specific content of these petitions remains undisclosed, and Ms. Torkornoo has yet to publicly address the matter, supporters of President Mahama have lauded…
OUAGADOUGOU, BURKINA FASO — The military government of Burkina Faso has announced the disruption of a “major plot” aimed at overthrowing junta leader Captain Ibrahim Traoré, with the nation’s army alleging that the conspirators were based in neighboring Ivory Coast. Security Minister Mahamadou Sana stated that the attempted coup was orchestrated by a combination of active and former military personnel collaborating with “terrorist leaders.” He further disclosed on state television on Monday that the plan involved an attack on the presidential palace last week. Sana asserted that the objective of the plot was to “sow total chaos, and place the country…
VATICAN CITY, VATICAN — African leaders have joined the global community in mourning the passing of Pope Francis, praising his “legacy of compassion” and “commitment to inclusivity.” Pope Francis, a dynamic reformer who inspired deep devotion among Catholics while challenging traditionalists, died at the age of 88. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, chairman of the African Union Commission, commended “the Pope’s courageous engagement with the African continent, amplifying the voices of the voiceless, championing peace and reconciliation, and standing in solidarity with those affected by conflict and poverty.” Pope Francis, whose birth name was Jorge Bergoglio, had led the Catholic Church since…
ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA — Despite ongoing armed conflict and other significant challenges facing the nation, Ethiopians observed Easter festivities with renewed calls for sacrifice, love, and peace. During Fasika, the Amharic term for Easter, Christians from various denominations, including the predominantly Orthodox community, united to commemorate the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. For many Ethiopians, recent religious festivals have taken on deeper significance against the backdrop of conflict in the Amhara region and lingering instability in neighboring Tigray, where a devastating war concluded with a peace agreement in 2022. At Bole Medhanialem Church in Addis Ababa, large congregations of worshippers…