During a recent NatureUganda research trip to the Karamoja region of eastern Uganda on 4th September 2011, we were very pleased to record a pair of Blue-capped Cordon-bleu. We had been conducting Timed Species Counts (TSCs) in an area of thick Acacia scrub at Kobere Buffer Zone, some 60k north-west of Moroto Town in Karamoja region, in eastern Uganda, GPS reading 0678178-0290678, alt 1270 ASL.
These buffer zones are large tracts of Acacia savanna and thornbush which have been created between tribal areas due to persistent conflicts and animal raids. The final count was along the track at the periphery of the buffer zone and into an area of more degraded habitat. This was extremely fortuitous as at a roadside puddle I noticed a Cordon-blue waxbill and instantly knew it was very interesting and had to be new for Uganda. This small powder blue waxbill had the whole of its head blue and no red spot!
I had not seen this species before but knew as its distribution seemed to converge on the Uganda border that it was a likely target and that it was on my radar.
We had about two minutes of viewing before the bird flew to some close bushes. Shortly after we saw it again, this time in flight when it was accompanied by a female, they both flew back into the bush and sure of our identification we continued with the count. 
Male
Head, nape, most of underparts, tail and rump powder blue, paler than Red-cheeked Cordon-bleu. Wings and mantle warm earth brown. Belly to vent, pale grey. Bill pink, eye dark, very prominent in pale blue face, legs pinkish/flesh. No red cheek patch.
Female
Similar to female Red-cheeked Cordon-bleu but belly and vent paler than that species and bill pinker.
We are 100% certain of this identification and presume that the species has been present in Uganda for some period of time but due to the lack of birders in the area, this being an area of conflict, that it has been overlooked. The habitat where it is found in Kenya is very similar to the Karamoja region with Acacia savanna with thickets of thornbush interspersed with grass. The species prefers semi-arid habitats and prior to some recent rains the Karamoja region was just that.

Roger Q Skeen & Michael Opige
NatureUganda, Kampala, Uganda