On The LINE24

US pop icon Madonna has called on Pope Leo XIV to make a personal visit to Gaza, describing him as “the only one of us who cannot be denied entry.” The plea comes as international alarm grows over an escalating humanitarian crisis in the war-torn enclave. In a joint statement issued Tuesday, the United Kingdom, European Union, Australia, Canada, and Japan warned that famine is already unfolding in Gaza, with children facing severe malnutrition and starvation. The coalition urged urgent international action to halt the crisis, citing a rapidly deteriorating situation and limited access for humanitarian aid. Madonna, long known for her outspoken humanitarian advocacy, used her social media platforms to amplify calls for unrestricted aid delivery. Her message to the pontiff underscored the symbolic and moral weight his presence could carry in highlighting the suffering of Gaza’s civilians. “Pope Leo XIV is a man of peace,” she wrote. “If anyone can walk into Gaza without obstruction, i...

Pastor Aloysius Bugingo… On Sunday, he came out and revealed — and also asked Pastor Wilson Bugembe — a tough question: "You have attended their gatherings many times, but have you ever seen them at your 20-year celebration?" — Pastor Bugingo. He added that on 31st December, Pastor Bugembe first sings at their fields, and only later goes to his own place in Nansana. He said none of them came to support Wilson at his concert. I want to remind the children of God that no stage or ground where Pastor Bugembe sings is free. On 31st December, most singers are working for money; no one sings for free unless they are famous. For Pastor Bugembe, even for crusades where he sings, they first pay him to the last coin. So, when he performs in Nansana on December 31st, he is still doing business, not ministry. Let’s separate these things. The “20 years of Pastor Wilson Bugembe” at Serena Hotel was mostly, to me, just a performance — not ministry. I want us to agree or disagree tha...

                                                              Media and Public Relations Manager · EC   Over 100 Presidential Hopefuls Pick Nomination Forms Kampala – The race for the presidency is heating up as the number of aspirants continues to surge. By 3 p.m. on Wednesday, a total of 114 presidential hopefuls had picked up nomination forms from the Electoral Commission, up from 88 recorded on Tuesday. The momentum showed no signs of slowing today, with at least 20 more aspirants visiting the commission’s offices by mid-morning. Electoral Commission officials say the high turnout reflects growing political interest ahead of the nomination deadline. However, only those who meet the legal and procedural requirements will appear on the final ballot. Observers note that the swelling numbers co...

  After spending 34 years behind bars for a crime he did not commit, 62-year-old Ronald Jenkins is finally set to receive $1.7 million in compensation from the state of Florida. Jenkins was wrongfully convicted in 1991 for the armed robbery and assault of a convenience store clerk in Tampa, based largely on mistaken eyewitness testimony and what his legal team later revealed to be flawed forensic evidence. He was just 28 years old when he was sentenced to life in prison. His case was re-examined in 2023 after new DNA testing—prompted by the efforts of the Innocence Project and a pro bono legal team—linked the crime to another suspect who is now deceased. In 2024, a Florida appeals court officially overturned his conviction, and Jenkins was released. On Wednesday, the Florida State Legislature approved a $1.7 million compensation package, the maximum allowable under state law for wrongful convictions. “No amount of money can return the years I lost, but this is a step toward he...

  Security forces in Pakwach District have launched a major operation to evict members of the Balaalo community from disputed lands in the area, citing illegal settlement and failure to comply with previous government directives. The operation, which began early Thursday morning, involved joint efforts by the Uganda Police Force, the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), and local leaders. Armed officers moved into areas including Panyimur and Wadelai sub-counties, where the Balaalo—pastoralists primarily from western Uganda—have reportedly been grazing their cattle on community and private land without formal authorization. According to Pakwach Resident District Commissioner (RDC) Justine Mucunguzi, the eviction follows months of warnings and failed attempts to have the community voluntarily vacate the land. “We have given them enough time to leave. This land was not lawfully acquired, and their presence has led to serious land conflicts with local communities,” the RDC said ...

  Limpopo, South Africa — Emotions ran high outside the Limpopo High Court on Thursday as friends and family of the late Sipho Mokoena broke down in tears after the court acquitted the man accused of his brutal murder at a local pig farm. Mokoena, a 36-year-old farmworker, was found dead last year in what many described as a racially charged and gruesome incident. His battered body was discovered near pig pens on the outskirts of Polokwane, sparking national outrage and calls for justice. Activists and family members claimed he was tortured before being killed. The accused, Johan du Toit, a 48-year-old farm owner, was arrested shortly after the incident and charged with murder. But in a shocking turn of events, the judge ruled on Thursday that there was insufficient evidence to convict him, citing inconsistencies in witness testimonies and a lack of forensic clarity. The verdict triggered widespread outrage both inside and outside the courtroom. Protesters who had gathered out...