A flopped Monday, 11th May, 2026 drone fireworks display meant to cover the seven hills of Kampala ahead of President Museveni’s swearing in ceremony the following day has again put to doubt the expertise of the Company (s) 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 8:00PM Monday night.
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, tax payers’ money.
Most intriguing is that the Ugandan Company involved Jwala Fireworks has no known record of competency to run such a display.
Notably, on 31st December 2024, the same company while contracted by 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 a wrong manner where instead of the usual sky high fires, these ones went 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 life threatening incidences adding that there was potential risk of lives and property being in danger.
His complaints to the owners of the Fireworks Company immediately after the incidents however, attracted fury instead of 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 to establish whether there was a VAT invoice raised 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.
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.
