A flopped Monday, May 11, 2026, aerial drone fireworks display meant to cover the seven hills of Kampala ahead of President Museveni’s swearing-in ceremony the following day has again raised doubts about the expertise of the Company or two behind the much-advertised display.
The so-called ‘Spectacular Show’ was procured by the NRM Secretariat and implemented by a Ugandan Fireworks Company called Jwala in conjunction with a Kenyan firm, Jays Pyrotechnics.
The drone display was intended to light the skies of Namirembe, Kisaasi, Kibuli, Makerere, Lubiri, Old Kampala and Kireka hills in Kampala City and residents were called upon to witness the spectacular display at 8:00 pm on Monday.
However, what had been heavily marketed as a historic and breathtaking aerial spectacle has instead sparked public criticism over alleged wasteful expenditure after a short-lived drone show lasting barely 10 to 14 minutes reportedly consumed nearly shs2 billion.
Despite the scheduled 8:00 pm launch, thousands of residents across Kampala Metropolitan areas reportedly waited for over 30 minutes while staring into dark skies before the drones finally appeared at around 8:30 pm over Ntinda hills, only for a few minutes and the shs2b budget was depleted, taxpayers’ money.
Most intriguing is that the Ugandan Company involved in Jwala Fireworks has no known record of competency to run such a display, sources say.
Notably, on December 31, 2024, the same company contracted the Namaste Restaurant located behind City Oil Kamokya next to Acacia Mall to manage New Year fireworks.
The fireworks however, backfired after the blaster who arranged the fireworks in athewrong manner where instead of the usual ssky-highfires, these oent sideways towards the excited crowd and walls.
According to the manager of Namaste Restaurant, Kaiwan Banji, there were three Fireworks set up in a wrong manner posing llife-threateningincidents adding that there was pa otential risk otolives and property being in danger.
His complaints to the owners of the Fireworks Company immediately after the incidents however, attracted fury instead of an apology from Jwala Fireworks management.
This is the same company contracted for this massive display eliciting questions as to whether there was a procurement process followed in picking Jwala as the best provider.
Citizens would also want to interest URA tin establishingwhether ta VAT invoice wasraised on this shs2b contract.
Sources close to the Industry intimated to this publication that there were other Ugandan companies with the ability to provide a better service using Pyrol Drones with the capacity of covering the Kampala City 7 Hills and at least selected ten (10) Cities across the country at a lower cost than shs2B.
The question is why was Jwala Fireworks Company picked, was bidding done according to procurement procedures? Who exactly benefited from this contract?
Meanwhile, former Capital Radio Love Doctor, Irish Daniel Kanyerezi claims the NRM Secretariat stole his idea on paperwork and execution and got in touch with the drone supplier from Kenya and ran to President Museveni selling the idea as theirs.
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