Yes, we’re talking about Club Silk long-time Mc Percy. After over eight years of entertaining patrons at the dance spot, Percy has something to show. Sources close to the emcee told us that he recently completed construction of a residential house somewhere in Busega and also recently acquired a second hand Toyota Kibina. And after all that, Percy is taking another big step; the veteran emcee is making his love life official.

Percy is set to be introduced by long-time girlfriend identified as Jenny Kijjambu. Kijjambu is set to officially introduce Percy to her parents in Kampala on August 29. When contacted, Percy confirmed the allegations and further stressed that “all is set.” Percy, the 411 team is surely waiting for their invites!

Wyclef Jean’s presidential bid in Haiti is receiving criticism from his childhood friend and fellow Fugees bandmate, Pras. The Haitian-born musician says he will not back Jean because he lacks a definitive plan to bring the island nation into the 21st century. “You’ve got 1.2 million people living in tent city right now. What are the plans to get these people out,” Pras said of the survivors of the Jan. 12 earthquake. Pras plans to support Jean’s opponent, Michel “Sweet Micky” Martelly, who he said is better suited to run the country.

“He’s more popular in Haiti than Wyclef,” said Pras. Jean’s publicist, Leslie Chasky, didn’t immediately return a telephone call Friday night seeking a response to Pras’ comments. Jean is currently regarded as the front-runner in the country’s Nov. 28 election. But he has come under scrutiny since officially announcing his candidacy Thursday. Actor Sean Penn has accused Jean of not spending enough time in Haiti after the quake and misappropriating $400,000 of the $9 million his charity, Yele Haiti, raised after the disaster. Jean told The Associated Press on Thursday: “I just want Sean Penn to fully understand I am a Haitian, born in Haiti and I’ve been coming to my country ever since (I was) a child.” Pras said that Jean uses a private jet for his frequent trips to Haiti and that he wonders why Jean doesn’t take a commercial flight, since the money saved can help displaced families.

With tension rising and so much to do, doctors always instruct one to be as relaxed as possible. But that was not possible for singer Bebe Cool who had to run up and about to perform while he was in charge of organising some of his album shows in Mukono, Jinja and Luwero.

Shortly, before his Jinja show that was held the previous  weekend, Bebe had been hospitalised for over a week. When Bebe went back to Mayo Clinic for medication a few weeks to the Jinja concert, doctors ordered the singer to stop drinking lest he risked breaking down even before his long waited Agenze concerts.

You will not believe, but Bebe adhered to the doctor’s directive and he has not touched anything alcoholic for the past three weeks. In fact, we bumped into the singer at Steak Out last week and he gave us the sqoop that he will never drink again! But while we choose to follow the cliché that ‘only time will tell,’ for now we consider Bebe’s move a great one. 

Why did you decide to call it Kika?
Kika means a clan so I chose the name because I was going to deal with people from different tribes and speaking different languages, so we are a new big, clan.

So what exactly do you do as Kika Troupe?
We perform and entertain and ours is based on cultural music and dances of Uganda. But unlike other traditional and cultural groups, Kika has decided not to be arrested by the boundaries of tradition so we are taking on a contemporary approach.

So you’ve been selling Uganda using culture and dance, what are some of the countries you’ve been to?
The biggest event that sticks out is our tour in Japan when we played at a dome full of  about 3,000 people in a place called Fukuoka and we had to share the stage with some of the best drum groups in the whole world because we also do drums. That was in 2008. The others were in Thailand and England.  We were invited as curtain-raisers but ended up competing because we were a fresh offering to the world stage.

So when did your start Kika?
2004 after leaving Ndere Troupe.

Tell us about the birth of Kika; how were you able to start it in terms of financial s and human resources?
After playing with Ndere, I discovered much more I would do with the traditional instruments and music of Uganda. Ndere had its own way of work and limits and they were not about to move anywhere beyond what they did so I decided to quit. I began a small project as a solo drummer at university where I was pursuing my degree in dance and I was picked on by Norwegian students who loved my rhythms on an exchange programme. They were drummers in Norway so they advised me to form a company under which they would help me so they took me and I played at different clubs and got some little money.

How much money did you get?
I got about $500 (about Sh1m) and came back with about $400 (about Shs800,000); spent some and was left with Shs150,000. So I went back to Ndere and informed friends of my dreams and what I expected to achieve and some of them joined me and we began our struggle but within two weeks we had no money. I had Shs10,000 left and I used this to borrow drums and transport them for our first gig. Milton Wabyona, of Heritage Roots of Uganda gave us the drums and costumes for a month. Every show we got earned us not more than Shs200,000 and yet I needed more drummers and dancers and had to pay members.

So how much would you pay each of the members?
Well, I would pay each member Shs3,000 and they never wanted to come back but I told them that they had to believe in the dream so I also had to borrow money from my father. He was so cross with me; he told me that I had gone ahead to do a wrong course yet I had passed well but as a father, he rethought and supported me. When I performed for Shs200,000 he would add Shs300,000 for me to cater for my members in order for them not to leave.

Where were you playing at the time?
For the first year I played at Ridar hotel in Seeta where I used to be paid Shs100,000 every Sunday yet I had to hire machines which used to cost me Shs200,000. I used to get them from Wandegeya so I had to hire a pick-up for Shs50,000 and then  two taxis to transport troupe members which cost me Shs80,000, as they had to wait for us to perform and transport us back to town. This was killing me and at one point I thought it wouldn’t work.

So what kept you going?
Each single time I thought like throwing in the towel something encouraged me to hold onto the dream, at least for one day. I had to stay standing no matter what happened.

So when was the turning point?
For the first year I wanted to be  like Ndere, but I realised  we were not going to get anywhere by trying to be Ndere. So in the second year, I decided to become new, by trying to become more contemporary using the energy I had because I was younger than all the other directors of groups around. So if I managed not to look like Ndere, Samads and Tebifanana Abifuna then I would get better and fresher.

How much were you charging at that time your troupe got reloaded?
I was charging Shs500,000 for a gig. In 2007, we came up with a new style which we called rhythms of Uganda. In 2008 we staged a show at KCC Grounds called Rhythm Uganda, where we showcased all different drums of Uganda. Things have never been the same again.

So how much would it cost someone to hire Kika today?
For a wedding in Kampala it’s Shs1.5m, graduation Shs1.2m but for unique functions like Goat Races where we are set to perform it’s Shs2.8m.

So have you increased the members pay?
Yeah but they are classified differently.  I have students for whom I pay school fees, accommodation and feeding but after a show they get Shs5,000 and then a monthly salary.   

What’s your advice to fellow young people?
This is Africa and we still have a lot of space to chase dreams but many people are lazy and want free things which are very expensive. It’s important to stand up and discover the dream in them.

Still dreaming?
I am putting up Kika Performing Centre in Kitende with professional sounds, a theatre, and we are moving there in November.

Audi A1
If you asked me to sum up the Audi A1, I would simply say stylish, chic and sophisticated. It may be the smallest Audi in the range but this sporty three-door Audi’s answer to the likes of the Mini and March- is every bit as good as it looks. The A1 is a premium hatchback with a high class interior, superb build quality and impressive refinement. Like most and the biggest comparison being with the Mini, they are quite a number of similarities but the A1 walks a slightly different path with a more aggressive style and cutting edge interior. Plus, like most small cars of this ilk, there’s plenty of scope for personalisation with different contrasting roof line options and a wide range of accessories. The quality and style that Audi has able to bring to the small car market, along with great handling, means the Audi A1 is a cut above its competitors and makes this highly desirable yet cheap to run hatchback a great choice. Standard features include alloy wheels, air conditioning, single CD audio system and ESP with latest differential lock system. Features common to the SE, Sport and S line options available will include alloy wheels, remote central locking, air conditioning, electric front windows and mirrors and a six-speaker single CD audio system with auxiliary iPod connection linked to a 6.5-inch retractable display. Audi hasn’t skimped on standard kit either, making the A1 good value for money. A used audi A1 goes for about Shs13m.
winjim@ymail.com

When you hear the words to K’naan’s monster jam, Wavin Flag, you would wonder how in the world people come up with such meaningless lyrics.
But Akon’s Oh Africa is much worse. Sounds like nursery rhymes to me! However those two songs have come to represent the kivulu of bivulus Africa has even thrown…the World Cup! However K’naan’s Wavin Flag obliterates Akon’s Oh Africa which features Keri Hilson, to the extent that Wavin Flag has now many remixes…including a Lingala one!
How then are the videos? K’naan’s features great scenery and the aspect of people waving flags, giving it a festive-like look to it. The only problem is that there are too many remixes of the song each having their own video, making it hard for one to have just that one video to remember the song by!
Oh Africa has good paint work in the video creating a beautiful background and giving it an African feel. The inclusion of the Soweto choir in the video adds that African feel to it but not a football feel. I guess it’s because Oh Africa technically wasn’t a World Cup song, but for many the perception was that it was.
Good songs. Good videos but then again K’naan’s is simply for….“World Cup!”

When the Mazda Miata was introduced in 1990, it was nothing less than the rebirth of the affordable two-seat sports car. MX-5 Miata is a two-door, two-passenger convertible sports car, available in two trims, the Cloth and the LS. Over the years, the car maker has improved what now is a fun, supremely capable, well-engineered car that starts every time and runs forever. It’s been thoroughly updated twice, including a full remake in 2006.

Quality, solidity and safety gear were upgraded in the 2006 re-do, but its lighthearted spirit was kept intact. The attracting feature on the baby sporty car is what Mazda calls the Power Retractable Hard Top, or PRHT, which features a solid roof that lowers in seconds at the touch of a button, just like those found on pricey two-seaters from Mercedes and Cadillac.

It provides the advantages of a hardtop overhead, with reduced wind and road noise and a sense of increased security and solidity, yet folds down completely out of sight for stylish cruising. MX-5 Miata, soft top or hard top, still puts a big grin on your face whether you’re on a twisty road or just cruising down to the hardware store to pick up some molly bolts. Fun is what the Mazda MX-5 made its reputation on, and that’s exactly what it delivers. This is a car to love if you are about class and economy and might spend no more than Shs50m.

When R Kelly was told he was to perform in Uganda, he thought it was a big stadium somewhere in South Africa.

An insider in Zain told Sqoop that the legendary singer was excited on finding out he was wanted to perform in Africa for the third time in a short period, but he didn’t know that Uganda is a country.

“His last trip was to South Africa, and the country was on his mind. He asked if the stadium called Uganda was as big as those in Johannesburg,” said the source whom we met at the Zain-organised Pursuit of Journalistic Excellence workshop held at Kati Kati last Friday.

The source, however, says R Kelly was told Uganda was an independent country and he was happy to know he was to perform in yet another African country.

When former Celtel marketer Joseph Masembe, returned from a kyeyo stint in the UK, he surely didn’t expect a quick rise. But just a year into the experiential marketing business, Masembe has managed to scoop good deals under his Mase Consult.

Mase was the company behind the Guinness 250 years celebrations. The same company did the Senator beer country activations. As you read this, Mase recently took over Pilsner Lager activations. And this time round, Mase was not the same; Masembe took some time off and showed us some of his new acquisitions.

We came to understand that during his recent trip to the UK, Masembe acquired a strong PA system and strong stage lights. Masembe put his new acquisitions to use during the Pilsner Fresher’s Ball held at Mak last weekend. During an exclusive chat with the Mase boss, we also learnt that he’s headed to China where he will shop for more sound and stage facilities. Way to go!  

What we have here folks is a beautiful photo of Bobi Wine’s wife Barbie and Bebe Cool’s wife Zuena together – so pay close attention because some of these stories can get a little interesting!

As you may all know, Bobi Wine and Bebe Cool are not friends and they have been trying to keep their wives far from each other. Um, in case you need to jog your memory, check the Sqoop of October 2.

Bebe Cool said Barbie was friends with his wife and he wanted her to help talk to Zuena return home but Bobi stopped him.
Bobi was also furious, in the interview, saying he didn’t want Bebe Cool to involve his wife into his family matters.

Since then, Bobi and Bebe have been at loggerheads insulting each other on different occasions.

But we don’t think the ladies feel the same about each other – rather, they got friendly again at the Beenie Man show at Kyadondo Rugby Club on Saturday.

As their husbands exchanged hot words on stage and avoided crossing each others paths, Barbie and Zuena were having a good time. Sharing jokes and laughing together. Someone could pick a leaf from them.

Well, we are aware of the fact that Taata Bebe Cool, Hon. Jaberi Bidandi Ssali quit the ruling NRM party, but we thought the emotions could have limits. 

Well, Hon. Bidandi, the Peoples Progressive Party leader is not one you will catch associating with anything close to the NRM party. Forget about being friends with a couple of the party members, Bidandi hates anything that bears the NRM features.

We were shocked when we received the Sqoop that Hon. Bidandi chose to stay hungry during a recent kwanjula ceremony of Farouk Kirunda, Minister Daudi Migereko’s secretary, held in Lugazi. Bidandi’s decision came after seeing the cake was designed in form of the NRM party symbol of a yellow bus popularly known as the Movement Bus.

On seeing the cake, Bidandi’s facial appearance switched from a smile to a frown and he swore not to taste even a crumb of the cake. However after prolonged pleas from the likes of Gen Kale Kayihura, Minister Daudi Migereko, Bidandi got a very small crumb of the inside brown part of the cake and ate.

Well, looks like the re-opening of CBS FM is taking a little too long. Being the hustlers they are, some of the employees of the radio station that was closed during the Kayunga riots about two months ago have started getting innovative by venturing into other businesses.

First was Abbey Mukiibi who took the popular Buganda quiz show Omumeganyi to NBS TV. The show where the winner takes a land title and a well furnished house by Jomayi Property consultants is currently running on NBS, though it’s not as famous as it was while on CBS FM. In the meantime, the latest scoop we received indicates that actor Kato Lubwama, who is also a former CBS presenter. is also not just sitting and waiting  for CBS radio to reopen. 

Kato Lubwama is set to take his stage work to another level by opening up a new theatre. According to a reliable source, Kato was recently sub-leased a huge hall on a building located along Martin road adjacent to Metro FM.

“He (Kato) recently kick started renovations and already has theatre equipment which are ready to be fitted in,” the source added.

Kato Lubwama needs no introduction in the theatre world. The Diamonds Production boss has owned two theatres before; Riverside theatre formerly behind the defunct Kyaggwe Road primary and Cooper Theatre, near the Old Taxi park. The stories of both theatres leave one wondering how long Kato’s new theatre will last.

Welcome, dear readers. In this news item, Nuliat Nambaziira is the proud mother of a bouncing baby boy. The WBS TV news anchor gave birth last week on  Wednesday night at Mulago Hospital and her husband Hajji Abbas Ssemujju was at hand to show her and the new baby some love.
Don’t we sound like Nambaziira during one to those news bulletins?

Anyway, Ssemujju married Nambaziira following his controversial break-up with another journalist Lamula Nandugga, who worked for Voice of Africa radio.

Nambaziira and Ssemujju tied the knot in December 2009 leaving Nandugga cold, disappointed and heartbroken. And you can understand – because it seems like the TV lady was already pregnant, eh?

We’ve always known that Sheila Kangwagye is more than just a publicist. And her versatility doesn’t end
on publicising airtime but food too. We also want to think she is a good manager too given the fact that her mother has trusted her with the family restaurant, Kasangati Resort. We want to reveal that Sheila, who quit MTN Uganda a few weeks ago, has taken the general manager post at her parents’ resort.

She is now works full time atthe place where two of her othersiblings are the junior bosses.You may think that running a family business is less demanding but Sheila is not one to rest on her laurels and she’s putting the name she made with MTN to good use; she contacts the people she conducted business with at MTN to come and support her at Kasangati. She has also made the place popular amongst her friends that almost all of them go there for lunch and dinner.

We’re struggling to hold back the tears… Uganda has missed out on hosting the MTV Africa Music Awards (MAMA) 2010 after the organisers decided to take the event back to Nigeria, according to a reliable source. Remember we were the first to tell you about the meeting between MTV base president Alex Okosi and the awards sponsors Zain, now under Bharti Air-tel on a possible Kampala event.

Well, the meeting which took place in Kampala a few weeks ago had the sponsors and organisers agreeing that the awards go to Lagos, Nigeria and they would come to Kampala in 2011. The reason for the move is, according to the source, majorly because Nigeria is a bigger market compared to Uganda and Bharti want to have a bigger impact as it launches in Africa. The awards ceremony will take place later this year at the Victoria Island in Lagos. Meanwhile, a selection of international stars will perform in different countries including Uganda as they promote the 2010 Mamas. We’ll keep you posted.

We’re not talking politics here because Kabaka is not political, so may all the politicians leave the room.
Alright, a source at Aristoc Bookshop informs us that Charles Peter Mayiga’s book King on the Throne is proving to be the bestseller in Uganda at the moment.

The book that reveals the inner details of what goes on inside Kabaka Ronald Mutebi’s life and empire is said to be on top followed by Barack Obama’s Audacity of Hope in terms of sales.

“We’ve not had a Ugandan book sell like this in a long while,” said the source at Aristoc adding that people have even nicknamed Kabaka as “the boss” as it’s written in the book.

We’re a bit confused here and we need either Bebe Cool or Zuena to clear the air for us. Firstly, we were eager to see Zuena come on stage at Kyadondo to declare that she is officially back with Big is Big, like the shows adverts promised, in vain.

But just before we concluded that it was another hoax for Bebe Cool to get in as many people as possible, the beautiful Zuena went and threw us a curveball which we’re still trying to figure out. She rushed backstage after the show and first had a sweet chat with Bebe Cool before driving off.

But guess who she left the venue with? Bebe Cool’s Kenyan companions Nazizi and Wyre!
We understand, Zuena drove the Kenyan singers to their residence on Bebe Cool’s request and to make matters more interesting Omunene followed them in his Baffudde Range Rover.

Now, we want to know, did Zuena come to help as just a friend; a wife who is back or a chauffeur of sorts? Over to you, Zuena! For the moment all we have for you is the pictorial evidence.

We told you the verbal exchange just started; following last week’s Sqoop where singer Bobi Wine attacked Bebe Cool for publicising the foundation of his apartment, Bebe promptly called us and fired back.

“I wanna give that bigmouthed boy a Christmas present. Let him just visit my site in Kiwatule. Work is moving at rocket speed and I’m yet to start on my first floor. I’m operating like a real big-sized company, so he should visit and know how heavy my pockets are,” Bebe said. Bebe further bragged that he’s building a real mansion and not something that looks like a mansion.

When contacted, Bobi welcomed the invite and said that he’s glad to be inspiring an artiste like Bebe; “No disrespect, but we were really facing some kind of unknown humiliation for Bebe not to own a house. His [Bebe’s] house construction is moving at rocket speed because it had to come before mine, but I built mine eight years ago,” Bobi added.

Whether Bobi is serious about honouring Bebe’s invitation is something we’re yet to witness.

We rarely do this, but for cases such as this particular one, we request that we reserve some details until further notice.

We recently received the Sqoop that a nightclub owner whose first name starts with P, is on the verge of losing his business over a huge loan.

According to a close friend to P, the club owner is said to have borrowed huge sums of money and made a try at organising concerts. “He paid all musicians before the show, but not even 100 people turned up for the show,” the source said.

The source further revealed that loan sharks have since taken over P’s business as he looks for money to clear the loan. As you read this P is allegedly left with just a few days to clear the loan or he loses his shares in the nightclub. In the meantime P’s business partners have turned a deaf ear.

We love seeing people fall in love, so our keyboard is wet with tears as we write this. Why? Desire Luzinda is so heartbroken after being chucked by her boyfriend Ken!

We discovered this as we drove home after watching Big is Big Vs Mazzi Mawanvu, where Luzinda herself was among the curtain-raisers on Friday. On our way home, as we approached Naalya, we spotted Desire standing by the road side.

As we prepared to walk up to her and ask what was wrong, there came a green car which parked and a sobbing Desire entered.

We couldn’t follow them because that would be stalking but we stayed behind and investigated the matter. A relia

ble source close to Desire told us that there had been a fight at Desire and Ken’s house.

The source doesn’t know what caused the fight but says the pair exchanged insults and blows before Ken told Desire to leave and never go back to him. “She was crying and said she had been beaten up,” said the source.

However, when we checked with Kiira Road police, Desire had not filed any case. Looks like we might not here Desire Luzinda sing her Nze Niina Omwami, her duet with Ngoni in the near future.

We don’t know who to believe and who to doubt! A few weeks ago, Bebe Cool told us that Zuena is set to return to their marital home today.

However, a few days back, Zuena assured us that she didn’t know of any such arrangements with Bebe. But during TV and radio interviews last week, Bebe emphasised that Zuena will be publicly accepting his apology during his album launch concert at Kyadondo Rugby Club later today.
 
“We’ve discussed all our differences and everything is okay now. It’s time for all critics to shut up because Zuena returns home at Kyadondo Rugby Club show,” Bebe said in an assuring tone. We are keeping our fingers crossed!

We could do a remix of Akon’s Mama Africa here; boys and girls sing with us… Nairobi can you feel it? Alright, a source at our sister paper in Kenya, Daily Nation, tells us Kenyans have “forgiven” Akon. Our neighbours had vowed to boycott any future Akon shows in Nairobi after he dodged performing in Nairobi on three different occasions last year.

Akon made the Kenyan promoters cancel his concert on three attempts before performing in Uganda, on a third attempt by Zain (then Celtel Uganda). However, Akon has been confirmed by MTV as the latest US superstar to sign up for the MTV Africa Music Awards (MAMA) with Zain and the Kenyans can’t wait to watch him perform in the country for the very first time.

The Senegalese-American multi-platinum artiste and producer is set to headline at the 2009 MAMA Awards in Nairobi, Kenya on 10, October, performing alongside Wyclef Jean and a host of Africa’s celebrated contemporary artistes like Wahu, Batman Samini and our own Blu3. Wyclef and Akon performed separately in Uganda last year, both courtesy of Zain, and they had fantastic concerts. DJ Benny D who came with each of them will also be in Nairobi. So much to see on stage at the Mama awards!

We clearly know that The Friday Nyte out with Sqoop is no longer news! But the event organisers, UG Records and Daily Monitor have some sqoop for you. You can get into Kampala’s flyest party free of charge.

The first 150 guests will access the party at Blu Haze Bar next to Steak Out Bar this evening free of charge by just flashing a copy of today’s Sqoop magazine at the entrance. 200 regular contributors to Sqoop through email and texts, have also won themselves free tickets to tonight’s event – it surely pays to be part of the Sqoop family. In addition, party goers will have a chance to get sqoop from the night’s star performers that include GNL, Bobi Wine, Grace, Estar, the Nu Lyfe Dancers as well as the hosts Zuena and Richard of Theatre Factory.

Meanwhile the Sqoop team is also looking forward to getting Sqoop live from all of you. There will also be photo opportunities for you to become a celeb for a day on top of taking pics with other celebs. In case you’re late, 5k is still not a lot of money to be part of Kampala’s flyest night ever! See you there!

We are a Gospel group of five young men: Lincoln, Gilbert, Dannie, Steven and Ssendy. We all started out in the same high school (St. Lawrence Creamland campus) in 2003 miming and dancing to the then contemporary R n’ B dancehall music till when we all left high school at the same time and looking at the competitive music industry we decided to take our ministry to another level by recording two videos and our very first album at Goodenuff studios with a hit single Byonna “Biblical.”

This got us to big stages, performing with stars like Kirk Franklin, Papa San among others in Nairobi and Dar es alaam, also getting us to the two time best gospel group Buzz Awards 2007/2008. We appreciate the great works of our good Lord who does great and mighty things. Stay blessed. We are all currently employed and we like reading, music and swimming among other thing.
One luv.
soul5ive@yahoo.com

We always find it quite hard when we have to write about the royals, especially in the Kabaka’s lineage.

This time round we bring you sqoop about Kabaka Ronald Mutebi’s younger brother, Prince David Wasajja. We received sqoop that the gregarious Buganda prince has been a regular at Makerere University in the recent past.

In fact during a visit at the campus sometime last week, we happened to bump into Prince Wasajja moving from the main building to the main library with a black bag that seemed like a laptop bag.

We are yet to establish whether the social prince is pursuing further studies at MAK or if he is simply carrying out some research. However, for now, in case you bump into the prince with campusers, don’t get shocked!

We all agree, Kampala may very soon become popular for its monster potholes but there is an interesting twist to this theory – actually there are areas outside Kampala with worse potholes than the ones in the city.
For instance, there are huge potholes in a town called Kyengeza in Mpigi district – if you’re arguing please ask the police spokesperson Ms Judith Nabakooba.
Why her?
Because she tasted the mercilessness of one of these potholes just a few days ago and she has been telling a few friends about it.
The famous policewoman had gone for duty in the area when her car got stuck in the water-filled pothole, which could pass for a little lake.
The pothole is in the middle of the road and cars usually struggle to pass, according to witnesses/residents.
Her escorts and other good samaritans came to her rescue by pushing the police car (registration number UP 1342) out of danger.
After about 25 minutes, the car was out and everybody was sweating including Nabakooba, who – mind you – never got to push the car

Violence and a war of words is what comes to one’s mind when artistes Jose Chameleone or Bebe Cool come face to face with the Good Lyfe duo of Mowzey and Weasel. At least that’s what crossed our minds when we learnt that Good Lyfe kicked off a tour in USA last week, and Bebe and Chameleone are also on their way to the US.
In fact Bebe, who will also undergo further treatment in Boston, left the country earlier this week. According to reliable sources, Bebe will first hold a couple of shows before he goes for treatment. Meanwhile Chameleone will also be leaving next week to kick off a tour that will last him a couple of weeks. 
All the above artistes are expected to attend the UNAA Convention that is due next weekend. While, the organisers of the annual event are excited, they are also aware of the possible brawl that might come out of the Chameleone, Bebe and Good Lyfe rendezvous! Our sources are on ground and will surely feel us in!

VENUE: Blu Haze
EVENT: Friday Nyte Out with Sqoop

THE DEAL: Celebs entertaining and partying with Sqoop readers.

The Nu Lyfe dancers entertain the audience. 

Until 2007, we knew him as Pius Lizard, a younger crooning brother to singers Jose Chameleone as well as Weasel. However, Lizard changed his name to Pallaso after he had settled in the US. Well, things have not been all smooth for Pallaso, who was recently released from prison after serving a two-year jail tenure. Pallaso is back on his feet and is still doing music. In fact Pallaso is an in-house name in Maine, a state in US. However, during an exclusive conversation this week, Pallaso told us that he was not happy with his brother Weasel. “During my prison term, my entire family was there for me. They called to know how I was doing and almost all of them contributed to my bail fee, apart from Weasel! Even my younger brother, AK47 went out of his way and sent me Shs2m!” Pallaso said. The younger Mayanja told us that the only time Weasel called him, “He was bragging about his fame and money. He told me he was so big back in Uganda and was making a lot of money. But that’s as far as he (Weasel) could help me, even when he knew I needed money for my bail. Him and I went through a lot me because we are close in age,” Pallaso said.
Pallaso said that he was very hurt by his brother’s braggart behaviour, but insisted he still loves him! “I’m happy he recently sent me $200 (Shs440,000). I love him and all my family and I wish them the best.” 

Ugandans in London missing Ugandan TV will soon be a fairytale because a Ugandan television station is set to open in London. The station called UGTV goes on air at the end of this month, according to reliable sources in the Queen’s land.

The station will run local Ugandan programmes with footage recorded in Uganda and transported there for airing. The city of London has been buzzing with excited Ugandans given that the station owners have promised to air entertainment and other social activities like sports as they happen here at home.

The station will also have local news aired in Luganda and Swahili as well as English among other languages. We have heard that will also promote tourism and encourage those who have not been back home in so many years to return and invest.

The other good news is that the station is also looking for employees and they should apply online at www.ugtvlondon.com. How about that!

Top Ugandan reggae musician Bebe Cool a.k.a Moses Sali who was shot at a city hangout on Saturday night is still at Nsambya Hospital.

Bebe Cool underwent surgery on sunday night on both of his legs which were shattered both his legs.
The accounts of the shooting at Effendys, a popular city hangout in Centenary Park, are still contradicting.

Title: Back Up Plan
Starring: Jennifer Lopez, Alex O’Loughlin, Eric Christian Olsen, Michaela Watkins, Anthony Anderson
Directed by: Alan Poul
Running time: 98 minutes
Genre: comedy, romance
Starts showing at Cineplex Cinema tonight

Multi-talented singer, fashion designer, dancer, record producer and actress J.Lo this time teams up with Alex O’Loughlin whom she falls in love with. It has been a long time coming till she meets the man of her dreams. Even then, caution has to be taken and after escapades of wild sex, it so happens that J.Lo who acts as Zoe gets pregnant but chooses to keep it her secret though not for long. And this becomes the comedy of errors as she tries hard to hide it from Stan. Little does she know that this is the piece of news that could lead Stan to fully commit to the relationship. And when they get into it, it is a test for them as there is much to discover about each beyond the birth preparation drama.
But do they have to follow the traditional sequence- fall in love, get married and have a baby? It will be fun for any young couple watching this movie that tries to add humour to the tale as Zoe and Stan explore dating, love, marriage and family in another order.

This year has been for Bobi Wine and one of my favourite songs is Obululu. It’s a good song which encourages us to have peaceful elections come 2011. No musician has done it yet but it’s only him so he needs an applause from the public to go in big numbers today at Hotel Africana. The E.C boss Dr. Badru Kiggundu should be the first person to arrive at the show because Bobi is doing his work in the song. Afande Kayihura tell all your departments to be there. The people of Owino Market should remember when Bobi gave them a whooping Shs10m when they lost property. All streets like Ben Kiwanuka, Burton, should lead to Africana today when Bobi is lauching Mr Money. All people in Workers House, Uganda House, Crested Towers, all arcades like Mutaasa Kafeero should have people in Africana. All Makerere Alumni should be represented. Bobi has sung about politics, health, education and so many things and so he needs our support for his good art. see there.

Ben Ssebuguzi, Ntinda
benssebuguzi@yahoo.com

This might not be good news for all Bobi Wine fans, especially after his successful album launch, but we have to let you know. As he still plans to reinstate the vandalised sections of his One Love Beach, Bobi Wine just got another hurdle to jump at his most recent recreation venture.

The hurdle comes in form of a court case where the Ghetto President will have to answer to allegations of trespass on a one Christopher Mukasa Kisitu’s land.

The sqoop is that Mr Mukasa who is represented by his daughter Lydia Kisitu, recently dragged Bobi to court over allegations that the singer is illegally trespassing on their land situated on Block 273, plot number 2585, Kyadondo along Busabala-Kazi.

The said land is part of Bobi’s One Love Beach. Bobi who was busy with his album launch concerts rubbished the claims referring to them as “absolute lies.”

Think of all the nightmare scenarios that went through Buchaman’s head as an armed man fired in the air and threatened to shoot him while Bobi Wine was on the run. Let’s bring you up to speed now: Bobi Wine was involved in a brawl with a soldier only identified as Corporal Wasswa at Chogm Pub in Namuwongo last weekend.

Wasswa is a bodyguard to Makindye Division deputy RDC Mulowooza Kayondo and he had gone to Chogm Bar for Bobi Wine’s mini concert. However, the army man confronted Bobi Wine for smoking at the pool table, according to a source at the scene.

The source says that Wasswa “ordered” Bobi Wine to drop the stick because the RDC was in the vicinity and deserved some respect but Bobi Wine told Wasswa to leave him alone because even the RDC had come to see him (Bobi).

A scuffle ensued and the singer who is also a part-time boxer did what you think he did sending the officer flying from around 20-ft to the ground.

As Wasswa was rushed to the hospital, one of his colleagues came with a cocked gun and started firing in the air and Bobi took off through the fire exit at the bar, which is located 100 metres away from our offices.

The Mazzi Mawanvu singer even abandoned his Toyota Surf at the scene, leaving a hapless Buchaman behind but revellers rallied behind Buchaman who was later helped away from the scene. Bobi Wine’s car was taken to Kabalagala but we’re yet to hear of anything like lawsuit.

Meanwhile, the story from Bobi’s camp is that soldiers shot at Bobi Wine simply because he had refused to greet their boss, the Deputy RDC of Makindye. Bobi Wine’s Manager, Lawrence Labeja,says that the soldiers were drinking and looked drunk. “At first, they were friendly, but when Bobi refused to go and greet the RDC, the soldiers became very angry and stormed out of the pub. When they returned, they had guns and started shooting at Bobi,” Labeja says.

Bobi and other Fire Base crew members scampered for dear life, Labeja narrated. According to Labeja, Bobi Wine didn’t abandon his car but the soldiers took charge of it and it is said to have been driven and parked at Kabalagala police station.

Things seem to be moving so well for sms firm Blue Cube director Dr Innocent Nahabwe. Although Dr Innocent Nahabwe recently resigned from Red Pepper where he was sales manager, he seems to have little regrets about his move. Since the start of the year, Blue Cube has bought several musicians’ songs to use as Caller Ring Back Tones (CRBTs). In the past two months, Blue Cube has acquired quite a number of additions ranging from cars to hi-tech equipment. And the boss didn’t go empty handed; Dr Nahabwe recently shocked several of his friends on Facebook when he posted a picture of three nice looking houses.

The pictures were followed with a call for potential tenants! Several questions were raised and although Dr Nahabwe refused to agree to ownership of the houses on Facebook, we caught up with him and he gave us some details. Dr Nahabwe told us that the houses that are situated along Entebbe Road, belong to him. In fact he told us that all of them were recently rented out! Way to go Dr Nahabwe!

Things recently turned bad for talent manager Emma Mulondo, when yet another set of his Wafagio group girls quit. Before they quit, sources within the group had told us that the split was due to poor pay and “sexual harassment by the bosses”.

The sources further told us that Emma had threatened to release nude pictures of the girls if they went ahead and quit! And a couple of weeks after the group split, semi nude pictures of Sheila, one of the former Wafagio members, ran last week in one of the tabloids. At the end of the pictorial, there was a note promising readers more nude photos!

The pictures sent Sheila and all her former group mates into a panic. One of the girls called us and told us that the nude pictures were all Emma’s sabotaging tactics!  “That’s Emma; he’s trying to tarnish our images like he promised. He cheated us and we moved on but why does he do such a ruthless act? We’re all scared and we don’t know who will be next,” the girl who begged for anonymity told us!

Things are running smoothly for GNL Zamba and girlfriend Ruth, according to the rapper. The Kikankane singer made it a point, during his Club Beer-sponsored Unplugged show at Club Silk on Thursday, to tell the public that “rumours in press that I batter my girlfriend are not true.”

Actually, he did what Chameleone, Bobi Wine and Bebe Cool have previously done at the Unplugged show – dedicating it to his “loving” girlfriend and his loyal fans; only that Zamba didn’t bring her on stage to say a thing.

The show started at 8 p.m. with GNL showing up 30 minutes later, launching his act with an acapella before getting down to serious business for over an hour.

As the show went on, GNL became cheeky and he, at one point, employed a gangster attitude, dwelling next to the likes of Snoop Dogg, to deliver a few lines.
“Abandaba bagamba nti ndi wannyo…gwe atayagala GNL sinikira muli ebinnyo…” he ranted, basically meaning, “Those who see me respect me, so haters shut up!”
He made sure he put all his tales in form of a song (acapella style) and the full-house crowd seemed to love his swag and bragging as they greeted his words with loud cheers.

He also sang a few songs off his upcoming album.
There was that Message song which had almost everybody nodding.

He also did a number of his old songs but it was Kikankane which brought the best of drama on stage as it featured a girl who shook her booty aggressively, like she had soldier ants in the skirt. And it was not surprising that it was at this time that everybody had their eyes either on stage or on the screens.

But yet another spanner was thrown into the works, and it was none other than Rabadaba who teamed up with GNL, Nick Nola and McKenzie on their collabo Sembera. Aziz Azion and Diamond Oscar also had a share of the limelight as they came to do their respective duets with GNL. Good Lyfe was missing as they were in Zambia at the time of the show but nobody missed them, anyway, as GNL’s backup singers perfectly filled in on their collabo Mr Right.

The show ended at around 11.30 p.m. and most people left sweaty and satisfied.

They might have split and don’t even speak, but singer Henry Tigan and promoter Suudi Lukwago still have a pending case to answer. 
News coming in from Jinja Road police indicates that both Tigan and Suudi are wanted over a case of car theft.
The case was opened by Club Silk disc spinner DJ Kaspat who claims to have paid Shs4m to promoter Suudi Lukwago as payment for Tigan’s car a Toyota Caldina.
However, on contacting Tigan, the singer told DJ Kaspat that he is the owner of the car and had no knowledge about his dealings with Suudi. Besides, Tigan had sold the car to Bobi Wine a couple of weeks before.
In our Sqoop last week, Suudi said he had fired Tigan from Suudi Entertainment for selling the car in question to Bobi Wine, but Tigan called us and contested the story. “I bought the car using my money, I bought it at Shs9m and not Shs12m as Suudi is claiming. As my manager at the time, he only topped up with Shs4m, but he paid himself off the money he got from selling my song to Sony,” Tigan said.

They are the seemingly nice people that welcome us and ensure that all our needs are catered for each time we visit the bar. Sometimes they smile if it is a good day and if they have not had such a great day, they may make you wish you had never visited the bar. Call them the waiters and waitresses.

But in the line of their duty as they smile and ensure that their customers are satisfied with the quality of their service, is it in order for them to consume alcohol while at work?

 Just the other day while at the counter of some popular hangout joint in the heart of Kampala, I was startled to see the waitress mixing a cocktail and while she poured it out in another glass for the customer, she left some and later filled up her glass too from which she kept sipping  while serving other customers.

As the night went on, this waitress kept up with the habit. For which ever cocktail that she mixed, she left some for herself in the glass. Now just imagine the mixture of cocktails in her stomach? Before she could realise it, she was dancing to every beat, smiling endlessly and it looked like she was so in love with her job until she started messing up the orders.

Now I wonder why someone would consume that much liquor while on duty. And that is not all. Some of these guys think that by working at the bar, it gives them the opportunity to cheat their clients when they presume that the liquor has got to their brains.

They may wait, and choose the perfect moment to throw in the bill and keep their fingers crossed for the supposed drunkard to pay without giving much attention to what’s on the bill. Whatever happened to transparency? I mean if every employee seized opportunities to abuse their customers in such annoying ways, then this world would be such a miserable place to live in.

Paying for a drink that one has not consumed is like a punishment for keeping at the bar until the wee hours of the morning. But should it be that way really? For starters, none of the clients drew up the whole working schedule with the managers so if one is expected to stay at work until 7a.m. then they should do so with a cheerful look, in a very sober state so that both the drunk and sober individuals  leave in a good mood and satisfied with one another.

CONNIE NANKYA

There’s been a load of closure rumours surrounding Club Rouge recently. The media types have been studying the nightclub’s situation for signs of closure in vain as its owners insisted the club is here to stay.

And now we have landed on some important information showing that in fact the club will be closed to the public starting November 1. In a statement posted on Facebook, it is stated that Rouge will officially become a private members club starting next month.

When contacted, one of the club’s owners Ali Alybhai confirmed that it will be open to members three days a week and to the rest of the public three days a week. He was too busy to give us details as he was organising the Blu3 concert but we got to the club’s manager Alice Namatovu who gave us more info. 

She said the club will be opened to the public on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays while it will be opened to members on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturday. She couldn’t give us the details of what it takes to get a membership card. We shall keep you posted.

There’s a rumour sweeping through Kampala – that Weasel and Mowzey Radio have separated but you should hear what the pair says about each other.

“Someone somewhere, whether in Ntinda or Sseguku must be dreaming,” said Weasel when Sqoop asked him about the stories that the duo parted ways after a fight in Juba two weeks ago.
He said that him and Mowzey have never had any disagreements and he doesn’t even think they can ever fight. “Haters have failed to find any dent on our music yet they need something bad to talk and write about,” said Weasel. “Why are they not talking about the reality that we’ve won awards outside Uganda instead of creating stories of us fighting?”

“We’re here preparing the next hit and somebody starts talking nonsense,” raged Mowzey, “I’m fine health-wise but I read ‘Mowzey has diarrhaea’ that is rubbish.”

There was also a rumour that Weasel was planning to return to Chameleone’s Leone Island but the Bayuda singer said he wasn’t aware of that.

“I don’t think that’s true (that Mowzey and Weasel fought). I have not heard anything like that, and it’s really of less concern to me,” said Chameleone.

There was gloom amongst Universal Entertainment personnel when Simba Casino cancelled The Chilli Galz/Leila Kayondo contract following the arrival of a Russian dance group at the casino about five months ago. But now the Chilli Galz and co. can afford to smile again after they managed to reacquire the contract with the Garden City-situated casino following the departure of the Russians.

A source tells us that Chilli Galz and Leila, plus new girl group Cyclone will resume their weekly act at Simba starting next month. The shows will be taking place every Wednesday of the week. And with the scarcity of concerts following the twin bomb blasts, this should come as a relief to Universal Entertainment.

There has always been a rumoured affair between singer Peter Miles and African Woman’s Cleopatra Koheirwe.

The two have always insisted that they are just good friends and had never been seen together in public until last weekend.

The pair were spotted together at Beenie Man’s concert at Lugogo on Friday and they were together again at Sylvia Owori’s 10th year anniversary show at Serena.

Our sources also reveal that Peter Miles spends a lot of time at Cleo’s pad in Ntinda and he has almost abandoned his Entebbe base. These are very good friends indeed.

There are many easy methods to repair your credit. Everybody has had at least a couple of damaging accounts within their credit score reports. It’s difficult to not have ever experienced a blemish. Life occurs and we must react accordingly. A temporary rating setback is common for nearly everyone. The key is to not stress too a lot about it. Just as your credit score scores could be damaged effortlessly, they may also be repaired. Following are five suggestions that you can implement today that will reflect positively in your scores.

•    Tip Quantity 1:Know what you are dealing with. You’ve a right to request an annual report free of charge, from every of the three major reporting agencies (also recognized as a tri-merge). Equifax, Experian and TransUnion are the 3 big players. Requesting a revised report each and every four months will empower you to catch errors early on, thereby allowing you to investigate and request erroneous information be eliminated. In the event you are not aware of these damaging objects, you are able to do little to repair them.

•    Tip Number 2:Dispute credit score report items. Federal laws dictate any damaging objects on your credit reports that can’t be substantiated or verified within a 30 to 45 day window of becoming disputed, the item should be eliminated. If for any reason within the chain of verification the process fails to complete, you may then insist its immediate removal. Roughly 40% of all disputes aren’t verified!

•    Tip Number 3:If you’ve active bank cards, a few sacrifices may be required to spend the balances down to either a zero balance or perhaps a lower stability. The second most important variable for computing your credit score score is how much of one’s obtainable credit score is being used. If your credit cards are maxed out and you make only the interest funds – even if these payments are made on time – it can still reflect negatively in your credit score report. Keep your credit score card balances at around 30% of your available limits and pay the balances in full each month. This really is a fantastic method to repair bad credit score scores.

•    Tip Number 4:Guarantee your monthly funds for credit cards, bank loans, mortgages, utilities and others are made on time every month. This is by far probably the most important variable in the algorithm that calculates your scores. The best way to ensure you are able to do this is to not extend your self into situations which will stop on time payments. 1 single late payment can drop your credit report score by 100 points or more! It appears incredible, but it is true. The reality that a negative mark is so easy to acquire should tell you how essential this really is. Guarantee timely payments are created as component of your efforts to repair and then maintain your credit score scores.

•    Tip Quantity five:Reside below your means! In the event you cannot afford it, do not buy it. It’s unwise to go into debt for unnecessary extravagances for example large screen televisions. Save your money after which pay money.

Repairing bad credit can definitely improve your abilities to live the lifestyle you desire. You must be proactive, patient and possess a solid plan. Protect your credit score rating! This really is one of the most significant aspects of survival in a capitalist society for example the U.S. Begin your efforts to repair your credit score scores today.

The Uganda Police has asked artistes and show organisers to start winding up concerts by midnight, we understand. There have been several occasions where police has been forced to use force and stop concerts in town; Chameleone’s concert at Kati Kati last year and last week’s Spin Master are examples.
Accordingly, police and the show organisers have been in some kind of misunderstanding but there was a meeting on Friday to make things clear once and for all.
The meeting was mobilised by the IGP Maj. Gen. Kale Kayihura himself and attended by a number of top policemen and several artistes. We had not gotten all the other details from the meeting by press time but the main issue of show timing was resolved and it was agreed that all shows be ended by midnight.
Actually, it was then that it was also revealed that the R. Kelly show had been scheduled to end at the time it was ended as per police directives.
Over to you fans who go late for shows.

The traffic jam is very tight. I cannot wait to cross over and kick-start my day. Yes, the cars are hooting as the impatient drivers cruise past paying no attention to the pedestrians. I look over desperately at the traffic officer, just to make sure he has some of us in mind, well, I mean those who are not cruising but just need to cross the road!
He does not seem to care. Instead he is busy disorganising the traffic light’s orders. Where it flashes the green light to say Go, he raises the red cards to stop the cars, and vice versa. Why the heck do they do that?
Suddenly as I look, left, right, left again to cross, a truck passes by and the driver yells out loud in Luganda, “You always show off while wearing shades, now let the scorching sun teach you a lesson!”  Not only was that comment irrelevant to my situation at the time but it was totally uncalled for.
I start to grumble and while at it, one of the cars starts to slow down while flashing the lights to the car on the opposite side. Suddenly they both stop. It does not matter that the traffic officer is blowing his whistle impatiently for the cars to move, the gentleman in the first car waves at me, beckoning me to cross. Oh! I pull the people next to me and we walk over and no sooner do we do so, than the two cars drive off after  the drivers’ hooting at each other as if to pat their backs for a job well done!
As I walk to my destination, another guy steps on me real hard and before my face can cringe to create a wrinkle in my forehead, he apologises, and immediately I forget all about my hurting toe.  I forgive him and walk to the car to carry on with my day.
Wow! And who knew that in a period of 20 minutes, I could learn a thing or two about human beings? I mean that they can be humble, disorganised and rude at the same time?
First, look at the traffic officer who created more disorder and wasted time by rendering the traffic lights useless. I mean, I thought the initial purpose of those lights was to guide both the drivers and the pedestrians, and unless they are not working, I see no reason as to why the officer should distort the whole system. The funny, yet annoying bit of it is when the officers arrest a few drivers for doing what is right according to the traffic lights. On top of that the officers waste a lot of the road users time as they may forget one lane and concentrate on two other lanes. Now somebody tell me, what is the reason for all this? If the traffic lights are meant to serve as decorations, and not their supposed purpose then I suggest they clarify it to us or better still, take them away.
Then there is the rude fellow that yelled at me as if it I had committed a crime to wear a pair of shades under the scorching sun and that standing by the roadside was my fault, eeh! I wonder what his problem was. And together with him came the impolite drivers who kept accelerating with their noses in the air as if leaving some space for their fellow human beings to cross would scratch their car bumpers beyond repair.
Jeez, it surely takes all sorts to make the world!
Anyhow, I will sum it up with the groomed, humble and sweet people who have feelings, are sensitive and considerate like the two gentlemen, who allowed us to cross over, chap, chap after the long moments of wiping sweat, hurting our neck muscles as we looked left, right and centre in search of space and a chance to cross the road.
These guys proved that even in a society where we can have, disorganised, rude, inconsiderate beings, there is still a lot of room for order and humility. And I mean, one does not have to act selfish simply because others are doing so. 
Letting that desperate woman, man, child cross the road, will not take anything away but instead might get one a lot of blessings and also for the pedestrians despite the hurry to get to your destinations, keep those manners in mind and say sorry when it is necessary (just like the dude who noticed that he had hurt my toes) or hold the someone’s hand especially if it is a child and help them cross over. Right?

CONNIE NANKYA

The Sqoop Sherlocks are aware of Straka’s struggle to make her wedding take place after publicly announcing that she would get married to Caeserman before the end of this year.

Now, we’re told she has moved the wedding to early next year but the couple is not in (a financial) position to fund the type of wedding they wish to have.

So, Straka has been moving around looking for big companies or any rich individuals who can help put money into her wedding plans. The most interesting thing, though, is the fact that the WBS TV presenter has been giving companies and businessmen written proposals seeking sponsorship just like how it is done for concerts.

She indicates the benefits of the company at the wedding and after the wedding – talk of mentions and so forth.  Pass us a hankie…

The Spin Master II grand finale at Kyadondo Rugby Club had lots of issues but what amused us most was the showdown between a tabloid photographer and Kenyan songbird, Amani. Of course, we’re not for fighting as a solution but who doesn’t want to see a celebrity react to anger?
Back to the fight: the snappa and the singer went for each other’s throats after the snappa started taking pictures of Amani. She first took the snappa for just another photojournalist until one of the girls in her company told her that the photographer was from the same media house that put her (Amani) in the papers half naked (remember those Amani Unplugged controversial pics).
Well, upon hearing this, the Kenyan singer got off her seat and attacked the chap on the camera and it took a few onlookers to separate the fighting pair.
She then called him some Swahili words like mujinga – there are no prizes for translation.

The Spin Master II grand finale at Kyadondo Rugby Club had lots of issues but what amused us most was the showdown between a tabloid photographer and Kenyan songbird, Amani. Of course, we’re not for fighting as a solution but who doesn’t want to see a celebrity react to anger?
Back to the fight: the snappa and the singer went for each other’s throats after the snappa started taking pictures of Amani. She first took the snappa for just another photojournalist until one of the girls in her company told her that the photographer was from the same media house that put her (Amani) in the papers half naked (remember those Amani Unplugged controversial pics).
Well, upon hearing this, the Kenyan singer got off her seat and attacked the chap on the camera and it took a few onlookers to separate the fighting pair.
She then called him some Swahili words like mujinga – there are no prizes for translation.

The Spin Master II grand finale at Kyadondo Rugby Club had lots of issues but what amused us most was the showdown between a tabloid photographer and Kenyan songbird, Amani. Of course, we’re not for fighting as a solution but who doesn’t want to see a celebrity react to anger?
Back to the fight: the snappa and the singer went for each other’s throats after the snappa started taking pictures of Amani. She first took the snappa for just another photojournalist until one of the girls in her company told her that the photographer was from the same media house that put her (Amani) in the papers half naked (remember those Amani Unplugged controversial pics).
Well, upon hearing this, the Kenyan singer got off her seat and attacked the chap on the camera and it took a few onlookers to separate the fighting pair.
She then called him some Swahili words like mujinga – there are no prizes for translation.

The rate at which some men are behaving like women is simply devastating, if you asked me! They have taken over the ladies’ most irritating habit of gossiping and even their ways of life in some cases.

At their places of work, some keep busy by talking about who is envious of the positions that they hold, making judgements as to who deserved the promotion they got and who did not, who is trying to hitch who…the crap goes on!

Others rush off to congest bars hoping to add bulk to that incomplete story from work and also irritate the first lady that walks past them as they compare notes about her shoes, hairstyle and outfit!

Seriously, the last time I checked, all the above characters were typical of some women in society!
The most shameful habit that is eating up this male specie is the way that some of them choose their girlfriends and later marriage partners! They endeavour to see that all their relationships are characterised by ‘powerful’ names. Okay I understand this existed in the traditional days where one had to get married into a good family; one where the parents were either known for their good hunting skills or positions in society, like, attachments to the royal families. But even then, it was upon the girl’s family and not the other way round, banange!

Today before some men attempt to date a babe they take time off to do research as far as her family is concerned. They pry and hide behind curtains of dropping her home, or by cunningly asking endless questions about her parents.
If the girl’s parents are deceased, then the questions are tilted to who they were in society before they passed away. And to that effect, they hope to get answers like he was a former MP or a wealthy somebody! To the few lucky ones, the homes will speak for themselves nanti unlike the many double storied houses today on average plots of land, a typical wealthy home from dem days is large with rich iron sheets so this alone can reveal that the parents were loaded!

Should the answers come out as expected, these men will establish a point of no retreat no surrender and rush off to announce the news before their friends that they are dating so and so’s daughter and with pride, the friends will serve their loyal purpose of spreading the news to no end!

 So is it so hard to work and make a name instead of spending endless evenings gossiping and searching for the next wealthy lady from a rich family to marry with or without the involvement of love?
 Truth be told, a name is just made! This business of thinking that if one got married to a daughter from a wealthy family they will automatically become rich is ridiculous. Maybe you could have a fairer life but what is better than working hard and making a name of your own? I mean when people like Gordon Wavamunno, Katumwa or Sudhir Ruparelia, embraced small beginnings to reap big and who thought they would ever become household names?

Remember a name can also be made through fishy means. It is pretty clear that through scandals, permanent failure to speak English correctly and endless physical fights with colleagues, some people whom I presume we all know have made their names too. Either way, a name made through one’s own sweat creates more confidence, pride and esteem rather than one that is lazily made by riding on the success of your spouse’s parent’s hard work (I almost run out of air saying that) as if you were born disabled.
What a disgrace to manhood!

The previous week was a mixture of sad and happy
moments. The soccer fans were excited and eagerly
waiting for the official opening of the Fifa World
Cup, yet on sad note we also lost Marvin Isley from
the Isley brothers group and oh! this brings tears
to my eyes … Oliver Ngoma! It was a shock to me
because I was eagerly waiting for him to visit East
Africa at least one more time so that I could get a
chance to watch him live. May their souls, together
with all those that passed away last week, including
Mandela’s great grandchild rest in eternal
peace.
And since only a few people noticed these sad
incidents, I guess because of the World Cup hysteria,
my friends and I sat down at some interesting
joint to grieve pakalast. No sooner had we sat
down than a group of about six girls, dressed to
kill, walked in and stood in conspicuous
positions. After standing for about an
hour, drinking nothing and feasting
on mere kaboozi, they ordered
for sodas. Then a guy walked
passed them, said hi with all
his teeth in the air only to be
snobbed by the babes.
He did not give up and went
ahead to ask what each one of
them would like to drink. It was like
the sun had risen up in the dark. The girls
then softened, smiled and went on to unleash
tough names from the world of liquor after which
one of them invited the new saviour to join the
group.
Okay, I will spare you further details but just know
that as my friends and I drove out, we came across
this very group, stranded by the roadside and evidently
confused probably about how they were going
to get home. In fact, one of them even dared to
wave her arm as if to beg us to stop, which was so
not gonna happen. Obviously words like do not talk
to strangers have never existed in their vocabulary.
Just the next day, while stuck in traffic, some guy
pulled up next to me, hooted and I turned impulsively,
thinking that he wanted some space. Then
he winked and using sign language requested that
I give him my number. I was disgusted and without
saying a word, pulled up my window. Fortunately
for him there was a girl waiting for a taxi.
So he drove up, in his sleek BMW and made the
same move, hooted, gestured
that she waits up and hops in,
which she did with a smile … jeez!
As I tried to digest these two incidents, it hit me,
slowly that all that rubbish that I read about girls
being so cheap lately could have some truth to it.
I mean the sort that says, have a nice expensive
ride, reputable job, flash some money around and
girls will come running to your feet although the
stranded lot looked like (the ones I talked about in
the beginning), they did not require an expensive
car because they seemed so desperate. Sorry if I
sound rude but I don’t understand, how a generation
like this one that has been blessed with so
many beautiful girls (who are gifted with brains
too) have a number of them lacking in character.
I would expect the female specie to be proud of
what they hold, value it and not waste it to such
trivial extremes in the name of cheap drinks,
lifts and dating loaded lads.
For starters, I do not click how a normal
human being with brains would get
ready for a night out, dress up very
smartly, dare to even hold a clutch or
purse, without establishing how they
are going to get through the night!
I think this totally reduces the position of
the lady in today’s society because I doubt
any man could have respect for a girl of such
repute. And what is so cool about hitching a ride
in guy’s posh car? Duh! It ain’t yours, chances are
there is little you know about him hence are risking
that precious life, so is it worth it anyway?
Painfully, the men are using this sick mentality to
their advantage. To some, it is even an incentive to
work harder and swallow up the enormous masses
of cheap girls out there. And who could blame
them? If having a car and little dime to spend on
drinks can get you the girl of your dreams then
what’s there to hold back? I wish these girls would
wake up and realise that those beautiful faces
(which are so many today), backed by intelligent
brains, focus, hard work and the love of God, could
get one anything that they want in life. However
a pretty face, with brains and no character at all
might get one little or nothing at all except nicknames
like a total waste, air head and the like.
CONNIE NANKYA

The Pearl of Africa Music (Pam) Awards Burundi edition could be the launch pad of the event on this year’s calendar. In its second year running, the gala night was held in Bujumbura last Thursday, at the city Centre Culturel François (CCF) where Pam awards franchise holder, Isaac Mulindwa was special guest. In a special interview with this reporter, Mulindwa revealed that Uganda will not have to wait a lot longer.

“We are in the final stages of the 2010 Pam Awards. We only have a few details to sort out with one of our sponsors; the other is already on board. So we are ready to go. By the end of next week (this week), we’ll be making an announcement,” Mulindwa disclosed. The awards were not held last year due to legal battles with one of the shareholders Gordon Wavamunno but Mulindwa says all that is in the past.

The event was privately sponsored and made possible by Menya Media which is run by Jean-Luc Kesch, one of the local French investors. And for an inaugural event, there were loose ends that needed to have been tied up, but overall it was fair enough.

“We are happy Burundi did their 2009 events. We delayed them and they kept on waiting for us until we let them do their things. We gave them autonomy to host their country awards as we await the regional awards,” Mulindwa further highlighted.

The gala night was a good highlight for the rather withdrawn Bujumbura where the main three awards went to crowd favourites Steven Irambona alias Sogo who took the Male Artiste award, Riziki Uwinyota who took the Female Artiste of the year award and the all-reggae Lionstory who scooped the Best Group Award.

While handing out the awards, the Minister of Sports and culture Jacque Nyenimigabo promised government support with considerable financial and moral support, as a way of building the budding music industry with issues of production and grooming still a wanting area as evidenced by the quality of music that the land’s best performed.

Black Snakes, Abagumyabanga, Shazzy Cool, Salsa Groupe, Chouchou, Kendo Groupe and Lionstory entertained guests at the three award event that ended in a cocktail at the CCF quadrangle.

The other day we were at
Bethany High School in Naalya
during their World Cup kick-off
party and Barbie was among the
invited guests.
While other guests handed out
stationary material and food
stuff to the students, the First
Lady of the Ghetto Republic gave
out hard cash. She came with 10
envelopes each with Shs20,000
for every student who got a
World Cup-related question
right. You can do the little mathematics
and get the total but she
promised to return to the school
and give more.
Meanwhile, her stay was cut
short after her maid called saying
that the baby was crying.
“I have to drive back fast because
my baby is missing me,”
said the new mum as she cruised
away in her Range Rover.

The MTV Africa Music Awards (Mamas)are on in Nairobi next weekend. But we are sure this year’s Mamas are indeed promising to be even more exciting considering that we hope to see our very own Blu3 trio do what they do best on stage.

The girls, Jackie, Lilian and Mya join names like Akon, Wyclef Jean, Wahu, Lira, M.I., Samini, Lizha James, Da L.E.S, A.Y, and Congolese star Fally Ipupa on one stage. And besides performing, Blu3 boast of two nominations in the awards that are considered to be the annual celebration of African contemporary music slated for October 10, 2009 at the Indoor Arena, Moi International Sports Centre in Nairobi. So to every patriotic Ugandan, this is our chance to try and boost Blu3’s chances to earn more than a performance.

In case they win an MTV award, they will make history as the first Ugandan act to bring home the coveted award. To help them do this, go to www.mama.mtvbase.com or sms BP blu3 to 7070 for the best performer category and BG Blu3 still to 7070 for the best group category.

The girls are up against continental heavy weights like Nameless, P Square, D Banj and Samini in the best performer category and P Square, Gal Level, Mo Hits All Stars and Gang of Intrumentals for best group. Our fingers are crossed.

The monthly WAPI event that attracts young people to their own spheres of creative interest through words and pictures, is taking place tomorrow at the People’s Space at Hotel Africana in Kampala.

The event will feature writers, poets, rappers, film makers and graffiti artistes who will showcase their artistic talent under the theme; Integrity. Normally, different themes are used ranging from human rights, justice to lighter themes like traffic jams depending on the artist.

WAPI, which is an acronym for “words and pictures” is designed to develop a relationship with young audiences and performers in both visual and verbal styles. The participants are normally the kind that who by design or exclusion are not part of the mainstream. WAPI is their forum to exhibit their Art. 
The event, which is piloted in Nairobi and recently extended to Daresalam, Ghana, Nigeria and Uganda, will take place from midday till 8.30 pm. For artistes who would want to participate and show off their various styles of art, they should pick up registration forms from the British Council offices at the Rwenzori Courts. 

The late Paul Kafeero sang about closing de beer dipos but he did not quit de system. It’s good that he passed on de message and many abandoned dipos. Now Bobi Wine has announced that he has closed Uganja.

That’s good and a good message to the public especially the youth coz many have already quit weed. But de question is, do u think Bobi really stopped smoking sada? What about Bucha? Did he advise him also? I heard that he has an agriculture minister in charge of growing the sada. Now what is his new cabinet post? Ebibuzo bingi naye answer ntono. Let’s just watch these guys. If it’s true, then God is coming back soon, people should go and confess. Ggrtgs 2 Ronah (J. modern), and BLC studos.

The internet has certainly changed the way we do things. It has completely revolutionized our way of living. It has changed the way we shop, the way we converse, and even the way we earn degrees. What was that again? Ye, the internet today is used to earn various types of degrees. One of the more popular degrees you can earn online is a degree in fashion design. Because of this, more and more online fashion schools keep emerging and keep trying to attract students.

How exactly do online fashion schools work?

Getting your degree without actually attending school is not really a new thing. In the past, this type of learning was called correspondence studies. A person would earn his degree through the mail. Basically, this is how online fashion schools work. People who want to earn their degrees do so by communicating with the instructor through the internet.

First of all, a person registers via e-mail or through a website. Students pay through credit card or by electronic transfer. Once registered, a student will be sent a manual/ workbook. He or she studies the subject through the use of this book and through other media sent by the school. The pace of learning is dictated by the student and he or she can stick to a personal schedule. This is quite convenient since most people today cannot get enough time to study. Most people who enroll in online fashion schools have jobs that they are trying to hold. Because of this, they try to take all the time that they can in order to study.

How are tests taken? Well, tests are often included in the manual and answers can be sent to the school for checking through email. Some people may question the validity of such tests as students are given ample opportunity to cheat. Because of this, online fashion schools employ another system. Some online fashion schools schedule tests to be taken by students. The test is often under time pressure and scheduled so that a student will not be able to cheat. Sometimes, an administrator may watch the student through a webcam.

It is often the case that an online fashion school will design its tests to be simple practical examinations which a student cannot cheat in. Some online fashion schools may create tests that have no standard answers. Thus, the answers to the test can be as diverse as the personalities of the students.

When you think about it, an online fashion school can create this type of test easily. This is because fashion involves the creativity of the student. If an online fashion school asks a student to submit a design of a certain article of clothing, the design that the student sends will certainly be unique. A student cannot really cheat since cheating can be easily detected.

Once you have completed all the necessary activities and once you have overcome nameless burdens, you will receive a certification from the online fashion school saying that you accomplished this or that task and now have the degree of this or that.

As you can see, online fashion schools aren’t really complicated. In fact, these schools make all our lives a little bit easier. Online fashion schools often understand the plight of the student and will help you reach the top of your ladder.

The Independence weekend in Arua was a good mixture of music, booze and fun thanks a bevy of female artistes from Kampala and the region.

Perhaps a good timing, the Northern launch of the Afrika Divas Awards (ADA) got good receptive qualified by a good crowd that turned up at the Hill View Gardens in Arua town.

From the first performer, the call for Cindy kept ringing in the crowd whose Ayokyayokya hit is all the rage not just in Kampala but almost in every corner of the country.

But the best was kept for the hour of climax; minutes to three o’clock when the free-spirited and talented star came on stage, doing her Mbikooye and then her new dancehall tune One and Only before she finally engaged fans in a cappella chorus, line for line, of Ayokyayokya, which the full house seemed not to get enough of.

Cindy’s performance was preceded by the Chilli Gals, who also put a wonderful show. Then on came Crystal Babes, the defectors from Wafagio, Leila formerly of Dream Gals, Ruth Kurt, Miss Confident – all being a line up of luminaries who shared their love with fans through their fair stage presence and skimpy outfits. Some of the fans got a photo opportunity having notified their local cameramen, just in time to snap shots when they got on stage.

But the night’s other stage acts came from supporting male performers, Ngoni and Maurice Hasa who were crowd darlings and fans could sing their songs quite impressively.

The Divas Awards, which celebrates female talent, now heads to Lira on Sunday in what promises to be yet another great musical show.

The Good Lyfe crew surely know how to keep beef burning! Just weeks after Bebe Cool released a song titled Boom Bark, in which he barked back at his critics, the Good Lyfe boys have also answered back in a new song titled Ability. In the song which also features upcoming singer Rabadaba, the Good Lyfe hit back at Bebe by saying that their music career is by ability not opportunity. They go ahead and say that Bebe goes around posing that he is a minister’s son yet he is broke.

In the last verse, Weasel in a mixture of patois and English says that the Good Lyfe might be “Cartoon and Baboon but they will not drown.” Cartoon and Baboon is another Bebe Cool song hitting at Mowzey and Weasel. Bebe Cool told us that he expected the Good Lyfe boys to answer back because they ride on him, “This was like a golden chance for them, but I don’t have time for that now. I’m concentrating on my first album launch concert in Mukono today and will be busy for the next two weeks,” Bebe added.

However Mowzey and Weasel gave us sqoop that they are on a revolution to ensure that they pass a message to “Old Skool” artistes to understand that there are lots of talented “New Skool” artistes and they have to pave way for them to shine.

The fire was surely getting too much for singer Bobi Wine, so he decided to seek help from some friends. The first person Bobi approached was IGP Kale Kayihura. And after narrating his woes, Kayihura stepped in and said he was responsible for Bobi’s message in the now-controversial Ghetto Nazigala hit. “It’s me that told him to sing a song that highlights the bad things associated with using drugs.

The people in the slums love him and I told him to sing about the topic knowing they would listen to him,” Kayihura said.

The song, a remix of late Kandongo kamu ace Paul Kafeero’s Dipo Nazigala hit, has bred Bobi a lot of trouble. However while Afande Kayihura took responsibility for the message, he denied having any knowledge about Bobi re-doing another person’s song! Nevertheless, Kayihura said he is willing to mediate a meeting between Bobi and the complainants! “We were supposed to have started doing shows in areas where drug abuse is high. But we were interrupted by the bomb blasts. So if he (Bobi) has a problem with someone, I’m willing to help,” Kayihura added.

The IGP however called upon the complainants not to front money because when he told Bobi to compose the song, he “didn’t pay him”. Meanwhile, CDs with the song Ghetto Nazigala are already on sale. We are yet to establish if the sale was authorised by Bobi or Edward Mutyaba who claims to own rights to Dipo Nazigala!

The emcees have dubbed Raba Daba Uganda’s version of Lil Wayne but Uganda’s new dancehall sensation describes himself as the king of Uga Ragga – the name he has coined for his style of music. He has featured on the Swangz Avenue all stars chartbuster Mr DJ, he features on Good Lyfe’s monster hit Ability and has a yet to be released duet with Cindy.

Just like Lil Wayne, who needs no introduction when it comes to collabos, Raba Daba just did a collabo that we anticipate will be quite hot. In  last week’s interview with Sqoop, Raba Daba revealed that he would want to record a duet with reigning Artiste of the year Juliana Kanyomozi. And because Sqoop is widely read, Juliana heard Raba Daba’s wish and granted it.

The two artistes hooked up and recorded a duet at Silver Kyagulanyi’s studios in Ntinda.

And going by the success of her past duets like Maama Mbiire and Taata Wa Baana with Bobi Wine, Usiende with Bushoke and current Haturudi Nyuma with Burundi’s Kidum Juliana’s duet with Raba Daba is indeed something to look forward to. We’re yet to establish the title of the song, but we received the Sqoop that the two are singing about love and family troubles and how to mend them.

The Blu3 girls were the only Ugandan performers at the MTVBase Africa Music Awards (Mamas).

The Big Brother Revolution show is on but our spotlight is on last year’s contestants South African Thami Prusent and Malawian Hazel Warren.

Thami, who was nicknamed Hyena for his trademark laughter fell for Hazel in the house but it wasn’t until his last week in the house that their affair blossomed. Hazel who came second to eventual winner Ricco linked up with Thami and the affair between the two has been growing stronger by the day.

The two are now in a stable relationship. Though they are not talking wedding bells yet at least business is keeping them together. The Sqoop is that Hazel who was known for her cooking in the house is writing a cooking recipe book and it is going to be published by Thami’s company Capital Blaqk Ink. Hazel is also contemplating a cooking TV show. Meanwhile the leaked results of last year’s show indicate that it was a close call between winner Angola’s Ricco who got 38.8 per cent of the vote compared to Hazel’s 38.6 percent. Damn!

Tanzanian singer Ray C has joined the list of celebrities who are ex-convicts. The singer was arrested in her home country Tanzania recently.

The trouble began when Ray C who was due to perform at Rock City in Mwanza and had been paid about Shs600,000 (UG money) didn’t turn up for the gig.

The aggrieved promoter David Masatu went to police and Ray C was detained at Oyster Bay Police station in Dar es Salaam, before she begged for mercy.

She returned half the advance payment and promised to pay the rest within 14 days before she was released. Poor thing.

Talk of one man who can’t be pigeonholed into a singular artistic expression and in Uganda you’ll get Xenson.

Real name Samson Ssenkaaba, Xenson has just finished releasing his maiden music album and now he’s back to what made him the name he has – fashion designing.

The homeboy is one of the 10 selected designers who will present their work during a fashion show dubbed Africa in Fashion. The event starts on Sunday and it will run until November 1 in Niamey, Niger. Over 60 candidates coming from 25 different African countries vied for slots at the event but only Xenson and nine others from Tunisia, Cameroun, Namibia, Senegal, Niger, Mozambique, South Africa, Cameroun and Kenya qualified.

Selections took place in Paris, France by a committee composed of six stylists from different parts of the world.

The organisers of the Fashion Show aim at promoting young creative fashion designers between the ages of 18 and 35 to gain access to the international fashion market. This year, the winners will have an opportunity to showcase at the major fashion weeks in Paris, Milan, New York and London.
Good luck, Xenson.

Sumayah Nakato and Sharifah Babirye are second year university students. They like making friends, singing, dancing and travelling. They also have special interest in fashion, art and design.

Wanna be a celeb? For a day? Just e-mail yo snazzy photo to sqoop@monitor.co.ug. Don’t forget to briefly tell us about yourself  – your hobbies and what you do.

Songstress Grace Nakimera’s latest hit Kawonawo is really rocking. However, the singer is not so happy with few fellow musicians whom she accuses of being copycats.

During a conversation with Sqoop, Grace expressed her dissatisfaction about how Chameleone copied her style in her Kawonawo hit to come up with his club banger Vumilia.

According to Grace, besides just the style, Vumilia is the Swahili/ English version of Kawonawo. From her tone, Grace was not so happy by Chameleone’s move. However, trust women, Grace just got a perfect way to console herself; she says she doesn’t have to beef with Chameleone because he just made her a trendsetter on Uganda’s music scene!

Some people just enjoy working in their comfort zones – and Mega Dee is one of them. He brought Jamaican singer Mr Vegas for a show in Kampala two years ago and they became friends. They even did a collabo, a remix to his song Pasola.
And now, Mega Dee says he is brining Vegas yet again for another album launch in two months’ time.
Mega Dee will be launching his album Ina De Dance and he wants Vegas to headline the concert.
The last time Mega Dee launched, it was a flop with just a handful of revellers in attendance.
Questions is…er, nothing!

Social networking site Facebook is one of the most popular websites and  Ugandan Facebookers have a platform to vent their frustrations and what they dislike on a page called Twakowa, writes  Raymond Mpumbani
Julius Gamisha’s Twakowa is probably one of the most popular Facebook pages started by a Ugandan. It describes itself, not too grammatically, as a page where we can “Expose those things that IRRITATE us and that we ARE FED UP of in this beloved country of ours called Uganda.” Twakowa is a Luganda word that loosely translates to “we are fed up,” and on Facebook it’s a prompt for users who subscribe to the page to have their say about what irks them. Most posts are in unbridled Luganda in keeping with the pages’ name, and anyone who dares to protest is quickly told off. I visited the page recently and came away with what I thought were its greatest hits.
1. Nkoye abantu abelaba mu mirror ya Cairo Bank. That’s not a dressing mirror (I’m fed up of people who check themselves out using the Cairo Bank wall pane. It’s not a dressing mirror).

2. Nakowa peeps that come to Facebook with studio pics in that ka Kampala village pose of crossing the legs and the arms on the laps with those bu Chinese river/stream backgrounds. Ain’t U photogenic enough? Why do U have to prepare for a photograph … we want to see you in your natural self.

3. Twakowa all those that romance in taxis.

4. The way Sylvia Owori puts bu models in her glossy magazine and then adds “Top:85,000Ushs” when the top is 6k in the basement of Mutaasa Kafeero. Twakowa ababbi.

5. Twakowa NRM, MTN, NSSF, KIGGUNDU, MBABAZI, SEKIKUBO, KUTEESA, BODA BODA MU KAMPALA ne SEBAGGALA.

6. Sikaakyi naye enyimba ze ki protestant zikoya…..oba ku nyimbe oba mbaga oba Christmas….the same songs…..nebikusobela! (Why are Protestant hymns so boring and unvarying; the same songs are sung at funerals, weddings and in Christmas services. I’m fed up.)

7. Twakowa ebinigeria esp the scenes nga they are opening the gate for the car to come in. Ako ka part bwebakasalako movie tebelawo? (We are tired of Nigerian movies, especially the scene where the guards are opening the gate for cars to enter. Can’t the movie proceed if that part is cut out?)

8. Chicks with big feet. We even fail to buy you fitting shoes because we know females have small feet.

9. Old NRM politicians who have no retirement in their vocabulary! Maria Mutagamba,Sam Kutesa, Namirembe Bitamazire, Amama Mbabazi, Sevo etc. I’m so tired!

10. Radio presenters who pretend they can’t speak Luganda!!!  Someone calls speaking Luganda and the fool answers in English….. Touch FM presenters style up. You should know better what the white man thinks of us.

11. Muslim names like Maimuna, Asirafu and Afuwa etc.

12. Twakowa the new 1k notes which get old quickly!!!

13. The word “Wolokoso” nakyo nkikoye. (I’m fed up of the word wolokoso.)

14. Nakowa people who are always telling me that I’m small. Munveko, (leave me alone) you think I want to have city tyres, drooling bums, legs like pestles, fresh diary and no neck. No thanks so keep the crap to yourself. Nakowa…

15. Twakowa all that stuff I hear mbu Hidden Passion, La Tormenta…. What the hell?

16. The guy seated behind me on a taxi is koyaring me with Ronald Mayinja’s ziki…kale ankoyeza nyo nyo (The guy behind me is tiring me with Ronald Mayinja’s music). A follow-up comment told her to buy her own car.

17. Twakowa writing nonsense. Can’t you guys write sense like twakowa bad roads instead of twakowa neighbours having sex in the morning, chicks who are ugly! If you are tired of ugly chicks on earth go to a planet of only beautiful gals…

18. Nkoye those bu girls who carry big handbags yet there is only a hankie n’ Shs700. Even abayaye (thieves) no longer snatch your  ga-bags because they know.

19. Some dudes and babes be having like 1000+ buddies on Facebook, you might even think they are celebs and stuff but how come I don’t know them. I suppose they be sending friend requests to everyone and accepting each all day.

20. Twakowa Kahinda Otafiire. Mbu I have the capacity to start a war and stop it! Silly.

21. Nakowa bu emails mbu “if you do not send to nine people something bad will happen to simanyi “if you are not ashamed of Jesus send to 20 people.” Ebintu sibya kukaka (Don’t force people).

22. AAAAAAAAAGGNES NAAANDUTU NNNtv news, Tukoye.

23. The word is Love! What the hell is lv, luv, lov? Well, maybe better, I dunno! I feel like it is bicupuli (fake) love when it is misspelt! I Love English!!

24. Banange nkoye Ugandan wanabbe Rastafarians and artistes who speak silly Jamaican patois; it sucks….Kati Butchaman biki byeyayimba mu Inna De Dance? (What’s that Butchaman was singing ‘Inna De Dance’?) Silly nbakoye.

25. Twakowa abantu abalina ssente ezigula omwenge ogwa mitwalo kumi naye nga tebasobola kugula deodorant ya kanana! (I’m tired of men who spend over Shs100,000 in bars, but can’t sacrifice Shs8,000 to buy a deodorant.)

26. Nze nakowa bu fake chaps/chicks who go “outside countries” for two weeks & come back with heavier accents than the bazungus. Grow up u show offs!!!!

27. I’ve kukowad this chick who is ever borrowing my cousin’s charger. Since last semester, borrowing, borrowing, borrowing…. Even during the long holiday, she did not buy one but still keraz (comes early) at our door to borrow a charger. Ye oba yabaki (What’s wrong with her)?

28. Nakowa men with small, feminine voices… Bambi, it’s not your fault but still nakowa.

29. Someone please help me with some maths; QN: A school has stocked enough food to feed 1,500 pupils for 45 days. If after 15 days 500 pupils drop out, for how many more days will the food last? You can generously send me the solution on sekpatt@yahoo.com. Thanks.

30. I’m tired of the twakowa page. It’s now for every Tom, Dick and Tumbavu.
Gamisha, in a profile done about him on September 5 in Sunday Life promised to throw a party for his fans in case the page accumulated 10,000 followers. They are well over that, but not all believe him like the one who said; “Nkoye Twakowa promising us hot air. Mbu when we reach 10k we shall have a do, now we are 11k what’s keeping us from happening? Kale nkoye okulinda ka party….”

About the twakowa creator
When I called Julius Caeser Gamisha to set up an interview he was obliging. However, he gave me only one condition; we were not to meet physically. He said I could only interview him on phone or online. I tried my best to pitch for a face-to-face meeting, telling him he could pick any place he felt was safest, assuring him that I would bring no cameras, but he stuck to his guns. “Pass it by your editor and see what she says,” he said. She was disappointed we wouldn’t have his picture, but agreed anyway.
“I don’t want my face getting out to anyone. You know I diss alot of famous and powerful people on the page. I have received a number of threats from various directions,” he rationalised. The page he means is Twakowa, on Facebook, a page he started and moderates. It’s popular among Ugandan Facebookers, more specifically a certain demographic of Ugandan Facebookers, not least because of its humour and predominant Luganda posts.
Scrolling down Twakowa, especially the comments following the posts, is a great way to unwind that’s if you understand Luganda. One disturbing thing stands out however; most posts on the page are bawdy and foul-mouthed.  I asked Gamisha what he had to say about that, or if he considered it freedom of speech. He said he doesn’t like obscenity, and that “some fans of the page mistake obscenity to be freedom of speech. And that’s why when they get banned, they complain saying their freedom of speech is being suppressed. But that’s where they get it wrong. I am a believer in the notion that absolute freedom is always dangerous. Absolute freedom always leads to anarchy. And anarchy always leads to the breakdown of civility and order. So when this happens, especially on the Internet, you end up having vulgar scuffles and online skirmishes between various individuals throwing all sorts of obscene remarks. So I try as much as possible to eliminate the obscene and vulgar individuals from the page so the rest can enjoy it in peace. The majority are decent folks.”
The majority are decent folks. Probably right; I can vouch for the decency of my Facebook friends who are fans of the page. Yet, I read a post where one fan said that “rudeness is one of the qualities of a good Twakowa member.” Gamisha however disagrees with this. “As a smart administrator you should know you can’t allow tribalism and vulgarity on the page because it takes away its relevancy and usefulness. I started the page to give people an avenue to rant about stuff that irritates them in their daily lives in Uganda, but sometimes it can get out of hand and then abuse, vulgarity sets in. Sometimes I have to ban people from the page.”
He declined emphatically, in uppercase and bold type, to tell me which ‘famous and powerful’ people he’s dissed before on Twakowa or the type of threats he’d received. He’s wildly popular on the page, or his posts are; they are the most commented upon, and the most recent one I saw had over 120 responses.
Gamisha joined Facebook from MySpace in mid-2006, part of the exodus that saw MySpace cede social networking supremacy to Facebook. He has a degree in Information Technology from Makerere University, and has always been well-informed about Internet trends. “I knew about Facebook almost as soon as it was launched in 2004. At that time I had just joined Makerere University where the IT faculty ensured that we were always aware of new developments on the tech scene,” he says. He told me he develops web applications and works freelance, but declined to reveal any application he has helped develop.
Twakowa now has over 13,000 fans. Three weeks ago they were just over 8700 members, and I asked him how he manages to moderate such a heavily-visited page: “I check on it every two hours to see if everything is okay, and maybe throw a few comments, and then get back to my work. Juggling between maintaining a day job and administering a popular Facebook page is not simple.” Yes, it isn’t and it shows on the page; colourfully named users, language that would make fans of twin-hatching ceremonies cringe in shame. It defeats his best efforts to maintain decency, his self-exulting post on the 18th of this month I came across on the page.
Julius Caeser Gamisha: “Where have all the vulgar chaps gone?”
Twakowa (Gamisha as the administrator): “Banned.”
Julius Caeser Gamisha: “Yo Twax, what about the irrelevant ones?”
Twakowa: “Banned.”
“Twax we need those guys back coz they make da page more fun…hehehe. Unblock them,” a user who commented after him said. Whether he has unblocked them or not, it remains an intriguing and humorous page. And imitated too. There are a number of copy-cat pages on Facebook, names beginning with the word Twakowa, but they have failed to garner the following Gamisha’s has. He says some of the founders were banned from his page, and felt that by imitating it, they could cripple his. They have failed, and Twakowa, remains the top page Ugandan politicians and service providers should visit regularly. But please keep the threats to yourselves.

So we have real, genuine beggars (who beg because they do not have and out of sympathy we share what we have with them, poor people). Then we have another sect that is cropping up at a fast rate and I am not sure I have the perfect name for them. I do not know if they are conmen or just a bunch of job creators living in a world where anything can happen. I guess I will call them the professional beggars. Yes, the category that brings drama from the theatre to the streets of Kampala. The people, who wake up in the morning, dress up and leave their homes to come and act mini skits for their prey just to get money out of them.
I do not know if you have come across people of this sort but I have and frankly I have had it!
The other day, as I dashed out of Dominos with my mouth watering and eagerly waiting for the first bite into the yummy burger in my hands, I was brought to a standstill by this strong pat on my back by a man, probably in his late 40s. Believe me when someone gets me unawares in such a manner, anyone around can get to witness the Heart Attack chorus by Weasel and Radio live in action. Just know that I took off and entered the car of course checking to ensure that I had my burger and handbag. The man followed me and started to knock at my window, while calling out, “My daughter, my daughter….”
Okay, those lines grabbed my attention and I quickly put the windows down a little to listen. In a humble way, he requested that I help him with transport back to Soroti. I hear he had come to town (Kampala) expecting to see someone but he had been stood up so he was just bumping into anyone for some little money to head back. Out of concern, I asked him where he was going to spend the night and he quickly confirmed that he did not care as long as he had transport back.
Obviously I could not carry him home with me but I imagined somebody else could have because he seemed decent and desperate. Anyhow, I gave the mzee some little money and wished him well.  However that was not all. In another situation a younger man played the same trick, still along Jinja Road and amidst confusion I gave him some money but after I did, while I was reversing, I realised that he was jumping up and down as he yapped and gestured at the askari, “ I am off for today!”  and believe me, it did not seem like “I am relieved that I am heading back home”, no it was more of, a sarcastic kind of expression. I got so pissed off in that when another young lady confronted me while at a supermarket in Kireka with the similar lies that her boyfriend had stood her up and she needed transport to head back to her home in Banda, I so paid a deaf ear.
Not even that common line of, “oli mukazi munange kisobola okutukako” meaning “You are a woman like me, this can happen to you too,” as if cursing, could make me pay attention.
Now, I do not know what to make of this because for each passing day, one is bound to come face to face with such situations. And if, it is true that all these people probably got stood up, isn’t it ridiculous that we still have such naïve human beings that move with money to their destination alone without being certain of how they are going to head back? I think I was just lenient with all these fellows and thank heavens I learnt my lesson because from now on, a deaf ear it shall be! Otherwise one cannot be expected to wake up in the morning and as they plan for their day, have to include a one careless or tactful somebody who is ready to play mind games and earn a living by being a parasite to people who are not even their family!

CONNIE NANKYA

She’s a renowned fashion designer and the proprietor of African Woman magazine. Sylvia Owori’s business empire has been on the rise in the recent past but as we came to know, her love life hasn’t been a very lively one. Early this week, we received information from a reliable source that Owori had decided to end her 14 year relationship with fiancé Per Munk-Nielsen. According to the source close to the former model, Owori packed her belongings and left her marital home in Luzira. Nielsen has a children with Sylvia and is also a shareholder in African Woman.

“Nielsen is the CEO of African Woman. Sylvia insisted that they will maintain the work relationship to ensure African Woman remains at its level of success,” the source added. “She left along with her two children. I don’t really know why she left but I think she was getting too busy for the relationship,” the source said. We learnt that Sylvia who frequently flies in and out the country to oversee her business in Nairobi, is quite busy with a few other projects. We’ve been told that Owori is renting a house in the posh residential Kololo  area. Efforts to get a comment from Owori were fruitless as she couldn’t pick up her phone. Meanwhile, we also learnt that Owori is working day and night to make sure her new club Black Pearl located at the Golf Course hotel basement opens up. “She also has a new project with Alicia Keys’ Keep a Child Alive foundation.” The source revealed.

Several local artistes all over the region would love to cruise a serious machine like a Hummer. In fact it took our very own ‘Big size’ Bebe Cool years to acquire one, which to date hasn’t been fully cleared. Well you can call it pride, bragging and all you like, but Kenyan dancehall “pioneer” Redsan, is tired of his Hummer!
“It’s too big! It’s too high!” Redsan said during a phone conversation last week. The singer said that he now wants to come back to his smaller but sleek Mercedes Benz. Redsan received the Hummer as a present from his longtime girlfriend Delilah. The singer who was driving a Mercedes Benz by the time, has since cruised in a Hummer on the streets of Nairobi.
“I’m thinking of driving a Mercedes Benz E220. I think I’ll have it very soon,” Redsan said

Seanice Kacungira is back at Sanyu FM as a presenter and Programmes Director, sources tell us.

She left Capital FM Nairobi where she was Programmes Controller to settle with her Uganda-based beau, Christian Gronlund and some of us started thinking it was the end of her radio career.
But the smooth-voiced lady is back.

With Angela Kalule on a three-year study leave and most definitely planning to do something different, Seanice’s return is timely.

We’re not sure of what show she will be doing but we’re sure she goes on air this week or early next week.