Elections for new leaders of the Buganda Parliamentary Caucus have been further postponed to September 10, after the set interim committee failed to receive a satisfying report on the financial management of the biggest caucus in Parliament.

Last month, the caucus agreed to form an interim committee composed of three members Chaired by Masaka Municipality MP Mathias Mpuuga and to be helped by Bbale County’s George Kumaama Nsamba as well as Lwengo Woman MP Cissy Namujju.

The committee was given one month to come up with a new date for electing new leaders, organizing a retreat that will help the new members understand the relevancy, mission and operations of the caucus and presenting a financial report of the caucus.

On Tuesday, the committee Chairman told members that the committee was able through difficult times to come up a report but declined to present it noting that it was scruffy with a lot of missing information.

Mpuga noted that the committee tried to get relevant information from the caucus outgoing Chairman, Godfrey Kiwanda (Mityana North) but he failed to hand over relevant documents and the Caucus treasurer was out of the country.

At this time, the Mukono Municipality legislator Betty Nambooze who happens to be the outgoing Vice chairperson of the caucus requested that members to allow the old committee some more time to come up with a satisfying report given the fact that she was too out of the country due to ailments.

“We have not proceeded as set prior because of missing two reports which include; the investiture of the caucus and the key of the core objectives of the caucus and the guidelines that members must follow so as to be members of the caucus,” noted Mathias Mpuga while speaking to the media after the meeting dissolved.

Mpuga revealed that a draft Constitution has been drafted and presented to members and have agreed to conclusively debate it at their next meeting.

“We shall be meeting on 8th to 10th September at a place and a time that we shall agree on as members, we hope members will be able to attend despite their busy schedule so that we can start serving in the interest of the region,” Mpuga noted.

“We have had our term of office extended until September 10th when members shall formerly elect new office bearers to carry us through the next term of office.”

The Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and World Food Programme (WFP) have appealed to donors to urgently speed contributions to the humanitarian response to refugees in Uganda to end a funding shortage that has forced a revision of survival rations.

Around 200,000 refugees who arrived in Uganda prior to July 2015 will have their food rations or cash assistance reduced by 50 percent from this week. Low levels of funding, together with a large number of new arrivals fleeing to Uganda from South Sudan since 7 July, have left the refugee response with no choice but to re-prioritise their focus on those refugees in greatest need.

Refugees who arrived in Uganda after July 2015, as well as those who have been identified as particularly vulnerable, such as the elderly, orphans, the chronically ill, and those in need of treatment for malnutrition, will continue to receive a full ration.

According to the UNCHR, refugees receiving full rations are provided with 2,122 calories of food per person per day, in line with the minimum recommended daily allowance, during their first year, decreasing as they become increasingly self-reliant during their time in Uganda. Other refugees receive cash assistance in place of food rations, which also provides them with the opportunity to exercise greater personal choice.

“We are grateful to donors for their unwavering support so far but we appeal to the international community to do more,” said OPM Commissioner for Refugees David Apollo Kazungu. 

“People are fleeing because they are afraid for their lives. Our communities are welcoming them and giving them what we can: land and hope for a better future. But our message to the international community is this: we need your help to meet their basic needs until they are able to stand on their own two feet.”

WFP requires approximately US$7 million every month to provide life-saving food assistance to refugees in Uganda. Despite the generous support of donors, the humanitarian response requires an additional US$20million to restore full food rations to refugees for the rest of the year.

“We have done everything we can to avoid this, but we have been left with no option but to reduce food assistance for many of the refugees in Uganda, in order to stretch available resources and prioritize the most vulnerable new arrivals,” said Mike Sackett, WFP’s acting Country Director for Uganda.

“We hope that this is temporary, and we are working as hard as we can to raise the resources needed to restore the full level of food assistance for as many refugees as possible.”

The humanitarian response to South Sudanese refugees in Uganda was already severely underfunded before the outbreak of violence in Juba on 8 July, which has since prompted more than 70,000 people to cross the border in to Uganda.

New arrivals have spoken of armed groups operating across various parts of South Sudan, attacking villages, burning down houses, murdering civilians, sexually assaulting women and girls and forcibly recruiting young men and boys in to their ranks.

“Never has the international community been more generous in its donations towards refugees,” said acting UNHCR Representative to Uganda Bornwell Kantande. “At the same time, never has the gap between what is being provided and what is needed been larger. We thank the donors for their continued generosity and support, while urging them to further fund humanitarian organizations in order that we may continue providing refugees in Uganda with the life-saving assistance they critically need.”

OPM and UNHCR lead and co-coordinate the response to the roughly 600,000 refugees and asylum seekers in Uganda, and collaborate together with the World Food Programme to provide new arrivals with life-saving food assistance. By the end of 2015, Uganda was the third-largest refugee hosting country in Africa and the eighth-largest refugee hosting country in the world.

The office of the Resident District Commissioner Kabarole is overwhelmed by the rampant land disputes that have resulted into conflicts and murders.

About 80% percent of the conflicts and murder cases in Kabarole district are caused by land wrangles, Mrs Rose Monday Byabasaija the deputy RDC has revealed.

“In the sensitization meetings we’ve held with the residents and the district chairman, land disputes came out as the major cause of conflicts in communities. At least every day our office records 2 to 5 cases related to land conflicts and he most affected sub counties are Buheesi, Kicwamba, Bukuuku, Kabende, Busoro, Hakibale,” She added.

The deputy RDC strongly condemned the acts of people taking laws in their hands and some inciting violence amongst the locals.

Mrs Byabasaija made the revelation during a security meeting with Kabarole district chairman, residents of Mubali Kijura town council and Management of TAMTECO tea estate at Kitumba district headquarters on Tuesday.

The meeting was aimed at ironing out the land conflicts between Mubali residents, one Felly Gunn a tea investor and TAMTECO Tea Company.

According to Abel Nsabimaana the Group Manager TAMTECO tea Estate, the disputed land belongs to their company but both the residents and Felly Gunn the investor were occupying it and using it illegally.

He said, “Our Company had asked the tenants not to plant permanent crops and construct permanent structures but they have continued to plant perennial crops like coffee and tea. This land was leased to us by Tooro kingdom”.

Squabbles erupted in 2009 when Felly Gunn evicted the residents claiming ownership of the disputed land and planted tea and eucalyptus trees in it.

Christopher Tindyeba the lead tenant on the land claims that Gunn destroyed his crops and coffee plantation when she evicted them from the land and wants compensation.

“The land was surveyed but a report indicated that the land in question did not belong to her nor to us the residents but to TAMTECO. I therefore demand that she compensates my for my plantations that were destroyed because I’ve failed to get tuition for my children,” Tindyeba said.

With the guidance of the district chairperson Mr. Richard Rwabuhinga, the conflicting parties agreed that the land be gazzatted and taken over by Kijura town council authorities till government decides.

It was also agreed that permanent boundaries in the surveyed land be formalized and the district chairman writes to president Museveni reminding him of his pledge to purchase the land from Tooro kingdom that leased it to TAMTECO for the people who have stayed there for over 60 years.

The chairman strongly warned the people against threatening violence and malicious damage that leads to destruction of property and death but respect laws and decisions taken.

Three notorious hooligans that include Musinguzi Donant,Sirasi Muhizi and Mutabazi Faostino were identified to be spearheading the incitement of people to commit crime.

President Yoweri Museveni is expected as chief guest at a memorial lecture being organized for the late former Internal Affairs Minister Gen Aronda Nyakairima.

The event is being organized to honor the works and life of the former UPDF Commander who died of a heart related ailment onboard a flight from Seoul in South Korea, in September last year.

The memorial lecture is slated for Monday September 12^th at Makerere University’s Main Hall according to one of the event planners Ian Oswald.

It is being organized by the National Association of Youth Entrepreneurs Uganda (NAYE).

The Chief of Defense Forces Gen Edward Katumba Wamala is expected to deliver the key note address on his predecessor, while the Commander in Chief Gen Yoweri Museveni will be the guest of honor.

Family members of the fallen general, friends, former workmates at the Internal Affairs Minister, bush war comrades and friends are all expected in attendance.

There will also be a panel of speakers who will deliver tributes to the late General, who besides his sacrifices in the armed liberation war of the 1980s, is remembered for delivering Uganda’s first national identity card project.

According to Mr Oswald, arrangements are being made through which members of the public will participate in the memorial lecture.

“Most likely we will ask those who are interested to log in to our website to get invitations by email; we will announce details of this later,” he told us.

The death of Gen Aronda Nyakairima at the age of 56 came as a great shock to the nation as his sickness was unknown according to family members.

Following his death, President Yoweri Museveni directed medical checkups in the UPDF to be streamlined and for physical health of all soldiers to be emphasized by all commanders.

By Ofwono Opondo

With the surrender of Mugisha Muntu to the Kizza Besigye crusade, it is fair to wonder what the Forum for Democratic (FDC) still stands for especially against the backdrop of the “Policy Agenda for Uganda’s Leap Forward,” that Muntu launched in March, 2015. Since Besigye left his freewheeling days as NPC travelling on the public wagon, he has become a permanent fixture in Uganda’s opposition politics, and a committed rebel.

In that role, Besigye has unsuccessfully been trying to sow fear and despair rather than hard work and hope among the unsuspecting public in the futile hope he could get elected as president of Uganda.

Besigye continues to say that we should build institutions, political parties inclusive in which there is regular change of leadership. But, what does that say of a man who espouses the need to create change in leadership, then doesn’t want to leave the stage or perhaps bidding time for his wife to replace him! Besigye and the rise of anarchy could be the price we are paying for living in a democracy.

FDC has always claimed the moral high ground of Uganda’s recent politics although that should be laughable, now that it is a refuge for sowing hate. With Besigye, FDC is running towards a wall or indeed the wall is getting nearer to it now. If FDC refuses to update its democratic credentials it could reach its end sooner. Innovation, is a cliché across every trade, yet FDC seems to believe that Besigye can continue using his four failed attempts as if Uganda hasn’t changed.

Even after Museveni has rebuilt the state, and started getting positive returns, Besigye gets misty-eyed about achievements pretending to be the one deeply caring about the poor, the vulnerable and underdogs. He claims that NRM is rotten.

It is Besigye who has fretted about internal change, giving room and social justice, portraying Museveni as seeking life leadership with privileges, and heartless to the point of sadism. But, when a party’s presidential candidate clings to power than perhaps necessary, it’s more than a bad look, it’s a sign that something has gone fundamentally wrong.

If NRM looks like it’s having a tough time, FDC’s troubles is even more tectonic because, it is not one party, rather, it is at least two irreconcilable factions running confused.  The NRM is already burying its divisions over elections to ensure stable and effective government, with eyes firmly on the next general election. FDC is in a free fall with arguments over the legality of elections past while Muntu supposedly its real elected leader has been swatted away like a fly.

We now know that Besigye has clipped Muntu’s wings as he seeks to ensure there is no challenge in 2021, with prospects he will be returned to the leadership, with a free hand to de-select those ‘rebels’ who may want to cause him headache. All of this FDC infighting has to be seen against Uganda’s enormous progress, and certainly arguing among themselves and present no coherent alternative to NRM.

There is little prospect of FDC shaping the debate around Uganda’s economic and political future or impact in the region or continent, and in so doing, FDC is failing those who oppose NRM. For Besigye, the purity of opposition beats the necessary compromises and reality of government because after all, why stand for something when you can simply be against it. Besigye doesn’t present an alternative and if he continues in leadership, the opposition will lose its ideal brand name and many may conclude that the patient is ready for the mortuary.

For his inner-circle, the priority is not policies but spreading paranoia, not challenging the government but to frame whoever disagrees with their febrile line as conspiracy wreckers inside their party.

During footages of Besigye’s walkabouts, he wants to appear ‘a man of the people’, although he comes across more a schoolboy who suddenly discovers an interest in tidying his room rather than doing his homework. The trouble is, this teenager is supposed to be leading a responsible opposition.

He is probably supposed to be holding NRM government to account over the economy, education, health services, housing, tax avoidance, and possibly even electoral fraud. He is supposed to be making a convincing case to voters for a calm environment as tool to attract especially foreign investments in order to create jobs, but he has dismally failed.

Besigye might be belligerent, but since when has a role model for good leadership been so angry even for no apparent reason, which may as well be his next campaign slogan. One reason for Besigye to seek civility should be to protect the vulnerable against the volatility in investment climate. His anarchy is a scam and thuggish, and the victims will be the poor, who he claims to represent.  Most Ugandans support stability, unfortunately Besigye doesn’t see his line as futile.

I suggest to Besigye that what voters really want, more than anything is clear, coherent policies on issues that really matter and the veneer of competence and civility. That would be a new kind of politics, although the black shark is still out.

Hon Godfrey Ssuubi Kiwanda, the state minister for tourism on Wednesday launched the Rolex festival that is due on the 21st August at the Uganda Museum.

Rolex, apparently derived from “rolled eggs” is a top traditional delicacy of Ugandan origin. It all started as a road side snack comprising of eggs and  chapatti and it later evolved into a mix of vegetables, chapatti and eggs later on more additions into rolex are only limited by the customer and chiefs imagination.

Rolex has been described as truly a humble Ugandan success story from deep down Kampala ghettos, to road sides of town centers, onto menus of top hotels and restaurants around the country.

And now it is set to represent the country at international level. According to the minister, Rolex will be served at the oncoming Miss Tourism pageant in Malaysia in December 2016.

Presently rolex recently made news as the fastest growing new African fast food on CNN.

For years, the delicacy has created numerous income generation opportunities for the households in Kampala and across the country.

“During my campaign I ate rolex because it was prepared very fast since we had many places to go to. Besides, it’s a very tasty meal and I urge everyone to try it out,” Hon Kiwanda said.

The Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities is endorsing the rolex as a proudly Ugandan product that is also enjoyed by many tourists who visit Uganda.

On Thursday 18th August they are going to challenge the Parliament of Uganda by serving them with Rolex at a cocktail, at the parliamentary gardens in a bid to celebrate the Rolex empowerment to Ugandan communities.

“As minister of tourism, I am hereby calling upon Ugandan youth to take on the commercial opportunities the rolex presents to them and also to use their creative minds to develop the rolex business to high levels and standards internationally acceptable in the food business”  Hon Kiwanda said.

The High Court in Kampala has ruled that it’s automatic for the Directorate of Public Prosecution to take over any criminal matter from private prosecutors as he/she is the only one constitutionally mandated to carry out such prosecutions in the country.

This precedent ruling means that the DPP now no longer has to apply to court to take over criminal proceedings for as long as he has notified the trial magistrate.

The clarification was made by Justice Joseph Murangira while ruling on the procedure supposed to be  followed  by DPP when taking over cases instituted privately.

In his ruling the Judge faulted the Makindye Court Chief Magistrate Richard Mafabi’s decision to reject DPP’s plea to automatically take over IGP Kale Kayihura’s prosecution and instead ordered him to file a formal application in court.

In the past DPP before taking over any prosecution in a case started by a private prosecutor;  had to first file a formal application in court about the matter but with this judgment he will only need to inform the trial magistrate verbally.

Kayihura and 7 other officers were dragged to Makindye magistrate court by a group of private prosecutors over torture charges of Ugandans.

The Judge noted that the Magistrate was wrong to divert the State from its intention to take over this matter, yet the DPP has a right to appear in court and orally inform the presiding magistrate of his interest in that case.

Justice Murangira stressed that the DPP is not subject to any control or direction of anybody in exercise of his constitutional function and therefore he is not obliged to file a formal application in taking over a case, as Magistrate Mafabi had directed.
But Justice Murangira stressed that the DPP must take on the cases and prosecute them to finality and satisfactorily.

The Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) Executive Director, Jennifer Ssemakula Musisi has promised more funding towards KCCA football club.

Musisi who had a tour around the new facility (stadium) at Lugogo on Wednesday evening vowed that KCCA as an institution will increase  both financial moral support to the team.

“We appreciate the team for the tremendous work done, we are proud of the work done so far therefore we promise more support for bigger things,” said the Executive director.

Musisi also appreciated the new developments at the Phillip Omondi stadium that includes the artificial turf, the parking area and the sitting arrangement.

“The new developments at the stadium are impressive, they depict the true image of KCCA and I believe there are more to come,” she added.

The city executive director also had a moment with the players inside the dressing rooms where club captain, Dennis Okot presented to her the Azam Uganda premier league title and the Fufa super cup.

The reigning league champions will start their title defence this Friday (19th August) at home against Jinja Municipal Council Hippos

Parliament has on Wednesday passed a resolution to ban comprehensive sexuality education in Ugandan schools calling for the Head of State to publicly set alight school materials in this discipline.

This followed Parliament’s earlier decision to confiscate highly sexualized content found in the library of the prestigious Green Hill Academy in Buwaate, Wakiso District authored by a “rogue” author known as Jacqueline Wilson.

The books impounded last week by Ethics and Integrity Minister, Fr Simon Lokodo shocked the nation as they contained sex material for adults.

Some of the books included Kiss, Girls in Love, Love Lessons and many more.

The resolution was passed following a motion tabled by Amur Woman law maker, Lucy Akello explaining why the ban should be effected as soon as possible since it undermines the country’s cultural norms.

“We have agreed that the motion be amended to read, ‘a motion for a resolution of Parliament to urge government to ban comprehensive sexuality education in Uganda and all unwanted school material,” noted Butambala Member of Parliament, Muwanga Kivumbi yesterday.

Secondly, the Ministry of Education is to ban the teaching, training and conduct of comprehensive sexuality Education in Uganda and dissemination of Comprehensive sexuality education materials to all schools.

“The Ministry should develop a policy to protect children from exposure to all materials and knowledge that can be used to unwanted practices in our society,” he said.

The motion also called for a burning ceremony to be organized and conducted by the President to destroy all the collected unwanted material and data.

The MPs also wasn’t the Uganda Communications Commission and the Ministry of ICT come out and enforce the law on Interception of Communication Act which has clear modalities on protecting the exposure of children to unwanted TV channels.

The Speaker, Rebecca Kadaga emphasized the need for the President to do the burning of all books as the Head of State to pass a clear message to whoever is behind the move to tarnish the future generation.

“About three months ago, the presidents of Kenya, Uganda and Botswana went to Nairobi to burn tons of ivory; we want to see all the books set on fire by the Head of State.”

Members of Parliament on Wednesday asked government to construct a flyover connecting its Eastern Entrance to the National Theatre.

Hon. Hilary Lokwanga from Ik County in Kabong district, Karamoja region raised on the floor of Parliament that it is very difficult to cross from National Theatre to Parliament due to numerous vehicles and motorcycles on the road.

According to the legislator who is also from the Ik community — the African tribe said to be facing extinction — the motorists on Parliamentary Avenue do not care about anyone crossing the road on foot including the MPs and therefore a solution should be immediately found.

Mr. Lokwanga put the Prime Minister, Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda to task to explain why government has not taken the matter as a priority.

He believes that a flyover across the busy road to the National Theater, which most MPs use for parking space, would help matters.

“We need a flyover to avoid the inconsiderate drivers and bodabodas,” he stressed attracting a big applause from MPs.

Dr. Rugunda referred the “emergency” matter to the Speaker Rebecca Kadaga who was chairing the house.

The Speaker revealed to MPs that arrangements are ongoing with the Kampala Capital City Authority to make sure all the entries and exits from Parliament are secured.

“All the roads around Parliament are under the KCCA. We have already been in talks with them to make sure the roads surrounding us are safe,” Kadaga said.

Our efforts to hear from the KCCA was futile since our several phone calls to the authority’s Public Relations Officer, Mr. Peter Kawujju were not picked.

President Yoweri Museveni has said he cannot forget Katwe town, which was handy in the process of kick-starting the 5 year war that brought in his government in the 1980s.

Speaking to locals on Wednesday afternoon, Museveni said that he hid his first gun at one residence in the township that he would later use to start the war.

“Zubair Bakary and Haruna Kibuye hid my gun here. The people here were supportive as I fought Obote,” Museveni said on Wednesday.

President Museveni told Katwe traders that political organizations like Kabaka Yekka and Democratic Party had divided people along tribal and religious lines which he said was wrong.

“When we came in the 1960s, we agreed this couldn’t continue. People had to be brought together as Ugandans and Africans. I found people in Katwe like Abassi Kibazo were abawejjere (common men) and this was what we believed in since the days of student movements.”

Museveni said even though some of the people in Katwe feared to join the liberation struggle; a few of them were brave enough and participated in fighting dictatorship.

“In 1972 we tried our first attack which was not successful but in 1979, we succeeded. I then handled the abawejjere group to Mbabazi who was by then a lawyer and we continued with the war in the bush.”

Museveni recalled that people like Ahmed Sseguya (his first driver during the bush war) and Muhamed Mayanja (first bush war commander) were from Katwe and were alongside him in FRONASA.

“He (Sseguya) was among the 14 children I took to Mozambique for training in 1971 and when he returned, I took him to Munduli,” he narrated.

Museveni said he felt happy seeing the children of those ‘great fighters’ living and able to serve the country diligently.

He introduced Faridah Mayanja (works with State House) and Mariam Sseguya (Lwengo Deputy RDC) as children of his first bush commander and driver respectively who are now serving the country.

Museveni said he would always remember the people of Katwe as those who helped him a lot during the liberation struggle.

The South Sudan embattled First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar has survived an assassination attempt and managed to sneak out of the country.

The new striking development was revealed by Machar’s closed confidant, Mabior Garang de Mabior in a statement released on Wednesday night.

“The leadership of SPLM/A In Opposition would like to announce the successful evacuation of the legitimate FVP Dr. Riek Machar Teny-dhuorgon after the botched attempt to assassinate him,” part of the statement reads.

Mabior stated that the assassination plot was orchestrated by military generals from the government that he fell short of naming.

“He (Machar) has been with the SPLM/A IO forces being hunted by the dark forces loyal to the individual generals in the SPLA In Government.”

The armed opposition leadership has not blamed President Salva Kiir but the powerful SPLA Chief of Staff Gen. Mawan Malong.

Mabior who is also the son of SPLA founding father, Dr. John Garang stressed that the alleged failed assassination attempt was meant to squander the implementation of South Sudan peace agreement.

The government of President Kiir and Machar’s group signed a peace accord in August last year that brought in place the Transitional Government of National Unity expected to last for three years.

The ToGNU was charged with the responsibility of organizing a general election before its expiry.

However, just two months after its inception war resumed between the two forces again and the future of ToGNU and its aspirations are currently in balance.

Dr. Machar fled the capital Juba early last month and has cut communication with everyone including the regional body IGAD that mediated the peace agreement.

Fighting is continuing between the two forces and closed to 100,000 people have fled to neighboring countries since July.

Machar’s camp also suffered internal disagreement and Gen. Taban Deng bGai has controversially been put in his position as the First Vice President.

Machar is expected to address a press briefing today from the unnamed foreign country he has fled to.
We highly suspect he is either in Uganda, Kenya or Ethiopia.

Heavy gunfire rocked the leafy Kigali suburb of Nyarutarama as elite Rwanda Police forces exchanged fire with a suspected terrorist, Chimp Corps report.

“Rwanda National Police pursued and shot dead an armed terror suspect who had barricaded himself in a house in the Nyarutarama area,” the law enforcement body announced Thursday morning.

“The suspect has been identified as Channy Mbonigaba, originating from Rubavu District,” police added.

“In the incident which lasted about three hours on Wednesday night, the suspect exchanged fire with the police, injuring one officer.”

Since last year, RNP has been investigating individuals suspected of being radicalized and linked to foreign terrorist organisations.

Several suspected have appeared in court.

Rwanda Police this January shot a one Muhammad Mugemangango who had been in detention at Kanombe Police Station on suspicion of involvement in terrorist activities.

Mugemangango had led Police officers to his Kimironko residence for a search operation but on return, he jumped off the vehicle before being shot dead.

The incident took place at around 9:13 pm at Kimironko-Mushumbamwiza road.

Muhammad Mugemangango, who was Deputy Imam Kimironko Mosque, was under investigations for mentoring Rwandan youths into Jihad and recruiting them to join Islamic State (ISIS) in Syria.

Rwanda National Police said then that acting on info provided by the public, has detected formation of terror networks and “we will do our best to unmask the network and deal with them in accordance with the law.”

Following last night’s shootout, police reassured the general public, particularly residents of Nyarutarama that “operations are complete and situation is back to normal.”

The Makindye General Court Martial has charged fourteen people accused of attacking Gulu Central Police station with ten counts which include Treachery, offences relating to security, murder and doing grievous harm.

The accused include L/Cpl Mugisa Simon a UPDF officer attached to Makindye Military Barracks, Kina Ophine a resident of Kawuku in Entebbe district, Agenurwoth Collins a resident of Bukoto Nakawa Divison Kampala district, Maditworth Vicent a private guard resident of Kisalosalo, Kyebando Kampala District, Lukwiya Makonick, resident of Pawat Nwoya district, Okech Richard and Odongpiny Alex a bodaboda rider in Nwoya district.

The others are Komakech Geoffrey, Onen Charles, Onen Richard, Opilo Thomas Opiyo, Ochola Vicent Ochen, Openjuru Howard Jamax and Okidi Fred OpiyoLayika.

These suspects, most of who are Luo speakers today pleaded not guilty of these charges.

Lt Gen Andrew Gutti the court chairman has adjourned this case to 5th September for mention.

Prosecution alleges that these fourteen with others at large on 27th May 2016, with intent to prejudice security of the Republic of Uganda infiltrated the Defense Forces at Opit Army detach in Gulu district and later Gulu Central Police station.

In the attacks, the accused are said to have caused the death of Private Odong Alphonse Ojara, and Okullo Haggai at Opit Barracks Gulu district and ASP Masaba simon at the Gulu police station.

Another Private Obong Dickens was gravely injured together with five other policemen.

A number of Bills to scrap the age limit of various government officials are set to be tabled on the floor of Parliament on Thursday afternoon.

ChimpReports has seen details of the amendment bills that are being kept secret perhaps for the country to only hear about when the mover (still unknown) presents them to the national assembly today.

Among the proposed changes in the Constitution are pushing the age limit of Supreme Judges from 70 to 75 years, altering the appointment of Attorney General and to also serve for 7 years but not the current 5 years.

The appointment of Attorney General is going to be different from that of other cabinet ministers that their term last for 5 years.

Meanwhile the current two terms restriction the Electoral Commission Chairperson is also going to be removed and left open so long as the holder is still capable.

We’ll soon public the full document to be given to Members of Parliament this afternoon.

High Court Judge Justice Rugadya Atwooki has held that Democratic Party’s Charles Musoke Serunjogi is a validly elected Kampala Central Division Mayor after dismissing with costs a petition by his NRM rival Nsegumire Kibidde challenging the Election.

Nsengumire refused to consent to Serunjoji’s victory in the past Local Government elections and rushed to the High Court to challenge it with requests to declare him winner having allegedly polled 16,292 as against the Serunjoji’s 13,219 votes.

He asserted that the results from 11 polling stations including Namalwa, People’s plaza lane, Kibwa church and St. Balikudembe among others were inflated by the Kampala district returning officer Charles Ntege after  chasing  him together with  his agents from the tally center at UMA grounds during the night in which Serunjogi was declared winner.

Serujogi being carried by some of his supporters at court today

Unlike in other election petitions where judges have been only ordering costs and fresh elections Justice Rugadya despite upholding the final election results, ordered police to investigate further the alleged forgeries of tally sheets to reveal who was behind them.

Immediately after the Judgment, Nsegumiire’s lawyer Hassan Kamba informed court that they were not satisfied and would appeal in the court of appeal as soon they receive a copy of the judgment with proceedings.

Nsegumire accused the judge of bringing forward his personal grudges into matters of justice. He noted that Serunjoji’s lawyers did not prove to court that he was the winner since they couldn’t bring Declaration Forms to court as proof.

Defeated Kibeddi Nsegumiiresays he is set to appeal

“How can you claim to be pregnant when you have not engaged in sexual intercourse?” wondered Kibeddi

However the Victor Serunjogi Musoke who was being cheered by a group of his supporters welcomed the ruling and promised to put all political differences he holds with some people to emphasize on service delivery.

Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago who is a great friend of Serunjogi promised to work together to transform Kampala into a modernized city.

Women’s and rights activist Miria Matembe has added a voice to President Museveni’s position in defense of the controversial death penalty in Uganda. The vocal ex-politician said that she supports the capital punishment saying there are certain people whose acts deserve no other penalty but death sentence.

“We should maintain the death penalty because people like those who kill others ruthlessly and cut off their genitals and take them to witch doctors deserve death. You can’t just acquit such a person,” Matembe told Chimpreports in an interview on Thursday on the sidelines of a dialogue on gender based violence.

She went on to say that while she would advocate for life imprisonment, some murderers are often convicted and sentenced only to be released back to society and they unleash more terror. This, according to Matembe is not just.

“I would rather such people stay in prison. Prisons are supposed to reform people but our justice system is abusing this. The significance of the death penalty is to rid society of such inhumane people,” Matembe added.

On Tuesday, while speaking at the pass out of prison officers, President Museveni came out boldly to defend the death penalty which has for long been among the most contentious issues in Uganda.

“We need the death sentence. I know some people have been against it but I am not part of them,” President Museveni said.

Uganda hasn’t made any executions for convicts sentenced to death for the last 10 years. A total of 213 convicts await their fate to be determined by the President who has the discretionary powers to do sign off their execution.

During President Museveni’s 30 year tenure, he has only signed off 2 executions.

Human rights activists who oppose the death penalty propose that the punishment be converted into life imprisonment instead. They say capital punishment infringes on individual rights.

Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) and Azam Uganda Premier League side Vipers SC have agreed to have Nakivubo stadium re-opened ahead of the 2016/17 season that kicks off on Friday.

According to Viper’s media officer, Kenneth Muwanga, the club has on Thursday reached an agreement with the tax collectors to have the stadium re-open for Friday’s game.

“Vipers have agreed with URA to give us the stadium for tomorrow’s match against Bright stars. We have had negotiations with them and they allowed us,” said Muwanga.

“We therefore call upon all our fans to come in big numbers as we kick start our campaign this season,” he added.

Nakivubo stadium was closed in July this year after failure to clear tax arrears of 484 million shillings since 2013.

Vipers chanced their home ground ahead of this season shifting from Buikwe to Nakivubo stadium.

National Council of Higher Education (NCHE) officials were Thursday tasked by members of the 10^th Parliament sitting on the Committee of Education and Sports, to explain how they cleared some legislators without genuine academic documents for the last elections.

The council which interfaced with the committee chaired by Mbale Women MP, Connie Nakayenzi was accused of conniving with politicians to issue fake academic papers.

The meeting follows the ongoing ongoing court petitions where over 20 MPs have been pushed out of Parliament over suspicious academic papers.

NCHE and other officials from education institutions were led to the committee by state minister of Primary Education, Rosemary Sseninde.

“It is a shame that several MPs have been disqualified by courts of law because of the very academic papers that you verified and certified,” noted Koboko District Women MP, Margaret Babadiri.

Joseph Ssewungu, the Kalungu West MP kept NCHE executive director Prof. Opuda Asibo unsettled all afternoon, stressing that the institute is usurping powers of verifying academic papers, an exercise that should be carried out by Uganda National Examination Board (UNEB).

According to the Universities and Other Tertiary Institutions Act 2001 (UOTIA), NCHE is mandated to monitor and evaluate High Education Institutions.

“The way NCHE operates is really incongruous. Do you know that someone can go there to verify their papers in the morning and by afternoon their documents have been certified? I think NCHE is bypassing some institutions that are supposed to do this work and are now doing it themselves,” Ssewungu said.

In their defense, NHCE officials led by Prof. Opuda noted, “It’s not true that all MPs who have been kicked out of Parliament on academic grounds all passed through NCHE for verification, because through the law, these members claim having A level certificate and therefore don’t have to come to NCHE for any verification.”

“To put the record right, last year, NCHE had about 42 applicants for both parliamentary and local council positions and out of that less than 10 qualified to come to Parliament among 420; it’s not right that all candidates passed through NCHE, it’s only less than 5 percent.”

Government through the Ministry of Finance Planning and Economic Development has committed to develop infrastructure, more so roads drainage channels and buildings in and around Kampala Industrial Area (Nakawa) and the Business Park in Namanve.
This follows reports of appalling conditions of the infrastructure around these areas, which tends to slow down business therein.

Yesterday the minister of State for Privatization and Investment Hon Evelyn Anite made known the government commitment while on a guided tour of the two parks.

Anite said after the tour that she had indeed noticed the infrastructural challenges around the areas.

She said plans are underway by government to construct better tarmac roads, sewerage plants and more power lines around these areas.

This project according to the minister is estimated to consume up to UGX50billion shillings.
The Infrastructure development around the park, she said was recently directed by President Yoweri Museveni.

Because of resource limitations however, Anite said the ministry has decided to source services of the Uganda People’s Defense Forces (UPDF) and the Uganda Prisons.

The national army’s construction and engineering unit is known for a number of projects including renovation of the Kololo Independence Stadium.

Government a few years ago commission construction of 22 industrial parks in different parts of the country, hoped to employ over 100,000

Currently 11,000 Ugandans are employed in the Kampala industrial and business park.

The park was developed by the Uganda investment Authority as a central place where investors can locate factories, warehouses, distribution centers and other business offices.

Hon Evelyn passed a warning to all investors who delay to develop the land given to them in the industrial parks that government will not hesitate to terminate their contracts.