The Minister of Lands and Housing in Mengo, David FK Mpanga, has applauded the Buganda Land Board (BLB) for its active participation and support towards the upcoming Kabaka Birthday Run scheduled for Sunday, April 6, 2025.

The 2025 run will mark the Kabaka’s 70th birthday celebration under the theme, “Men for Good Health to Save the Girl Child.”

While handing over the Kabaka Birthday Run kits to BLB Chief Executive Officer  Simon Kaboggoza at Bulange on Thursday,  Mpanga expressed his joy over the board’s continued commitment to supporting the annual event.

“I am so much overjoyed to hand these kits to the Buganda Land Board who have confirmed participating in the Kabaka Birthday Run as the Kabaka celebrates 70 years of age,” Mpanga said.

Mpanga further encouraged the public to purchase the run kits, which are available at Bulange, Airtel shops, and various outlets.

He noted that the Kabaka himself will officially flag off the run at Lubiri, Mengo on Sunday.

“Let’s buy the kits, available here at Bulange, Airtel shops, and various outlets. Ssaabasajja Kabaka will flag off the run at Lubiri Mengo on Sunday, April 6,” he urged.

Speaking to the media after the kits purchase, Kabogoza emphasized that it is BLB’s responsibility to actively participate in the Kabaka’s Birthday Run every year as a way of celebrating the Kabaka’s birthday.

“It is our mandate as Kabaka’s servants under the Buganda Land Board to participate in this run. All our staff have received the kits, and we are ready to be there at Lubiri to join the Kabaka in the fight against the HIV/AIDS pandemic,” he said.

Mr Kabogoza further called upon all BLB employees and all tenants on Kabaka’s land to take part in the run on Sunday to fulfill the day’s theme. “I urge all occupants of Kabaka’s land also to use this opportunity to support the Kingdom by getting kits for the run,” he said.

The 2025 Kabaka Birthday Run is being held under the theme “Men for Good Health to Save the Girl Child.”

The initiative aims to mobilize men in the fight against HIV/AIDS, with proceeds from the kits contributing towards health initiatives targeting the protection and well-being of the girl child.

President Museveni is expected to travel to South Sudan tomorrow for a crucial meeting with President Salva Kiir, amid escalating political and security tensions in the country.

While the State House remains tight-lipped about the details of the visit, reliable sources confirm that the Ugandan leader will be in Juba on Friday.

Separately, the presidential press secretary Sandor Walusimbi confirmed to the Nile Post that the head of state had left for the restive youngest nation in the world.

Museveni’s visit comes at a time when South Sudan is facing severe turmoil due to internal conflicts within Kiir’s government.

President Kiir has recently fallen out with his First Vice President Riek Machar, leading to the latter and his wife Angelina Teny being placed under house arrest.

The deepening crisis threatens to unravel the fragile peace agreement that ended the country’s bloody civil war (2013-2018), during which Kiir’s forces, predominantly ethnic Dinka, clashed with Machar’s largely Nuer forces.

President Museveni’s visit is expected to focus on de-escalating tensions and seeking a resolution to the current political impasse.

Our sources revealed that Museveni will push for a renewed dialogue between Kiir and Machar, as well as address concerns over Uganda’s military presence in South Sudan.

However, given the deep-seated animosity between the two leaders, it remains uncertain whether Museveni’s intervention will yield any meaningful progress

Last week, Raila Odinga, the African Union’s High Representative for Infrastructure Development who doubles as Kenyan President William Ruto’s Special Envoy for South Sudan, visited Juba in an attempt to mediate between Kiir and Machar.

However, his efforts failed after he was denied a meeting with Machar. Odinga would travel back home via Entebbe for a meeting with Museveni.

He claimed that he had been asked by the Kiir government to seek permission from Museveni if he was to meet Machar, an allegation the South Sudan presidency has since strongly disputed.

The fallout between Kiir and Machar has been exacerbated by disputes over the peace implementation process, security force control, and the allocation of government positions.

Tensions escalated further last month when Uganda deployed its elite forces into South Sudan, a move that sparked criticism from Machar and his allies.

Machar has accused Uganda of violating international agreements by deploying troops and launching airstrikes against civilian targets in Upper Nile and Jonglei states.

In a letter to UN Secretary-General António Guterres, Machar called for the immediate withdrawal of Ugandan forces, arguing that their presence undermines South Sudan’s transition to democracy and threatens to reignite conflict.

In early March, Kiir ordered the arrest of several senior officials linked to Machar, including Petroleum Minister Puot Kang Chol and Deputy Army Chief Gabriel Doup Lam. Other military officials allied with Machar have been placed under house arrest.

The crackdown followed violent clashes in Nasir, a strategic northern town, where government forces battled the White Army militia—an armed Nuer group that fought alongside Machar’s forces during the civil war.

Tensions further escalated on March 7, when an attack on a military base in Nasir County resulted in the death of General Majur Dak Thel and several officers. President Kiir blamed Machar’s forces for the attack, further deepening the rift.

The situation worsened when Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, confirmed the deployment of Ugandan commandos into South Sudan under the operation code-named ‘Mlinzi wa Kimya.’

In a social media post, Gen. Muhoozi praised the Ugandan Air Force for striking enemy positions, confirming Uganda’s active military engagement in South Sudan.

Machar has urged the African Union, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), and the United Nations Security Council to intervene and pressure Uganda to withdraw its troops.

He argues that Uganda’s military presence violates UN Security Council Resolution 2428 (2018), which imposed an arms embargo on South Sudan and was recently extended by Resolution 2731 (2024).

The government, however, has historically defended its military interventions in South Sudan as necessary to maintain regional stability.

Uganda played a key role in supporting Kiir’s government during the 2013-2018 civil war, deploying troops to prevent the capital, Juba, from falling to Machar’s forces.

As the situation in South Sudan continues to deteriorate, the outcome of Museveni’s visit could have significant implications for the region’s stability.

The international community will be closely watching the developments in Juba, hoping for a peaceful resolution to prevent another outbreak of violence in Africa’s youngest nation.