The Uganda National Roads Authority has filed a  Suit in the Commercial Court, against the businessman  Apollo Ssenkeeto who is said to be behind the American Construction Company- Eutaw that defrauded Government of over 24billion shillings in the  Mukono – Katosi road saga.

The Authority through its Directorate of Legal Services, UNRA seeks orders compelling Ssenkeeto to refund 18.6billion shillings including the damages.

In its application, UNRA pointed out that it is entitled to recover the said money having paid 24billion shillings, and only received works for 6 billion shillings from a Chinese Company,  that  Eutaw  sub-contracted to do the work.

The dispute between Eutaw and UNRA began on 15th/November 2013 after the two signed a contract for the upgrade Mukono-Kyetume-Katosi road.

The Authority then paid 24Billion shillings in advance, on Apollo Senkeeto’s account at Housing Finance Bank which he managed with his co-defendants to this matter,  Micheal Olvey and Niu Hong.

After receiving the payment, EUTAW then sub-contracted a Chinese company CICO Construction Corporation on 14/July/2014 to tarmac the road.

On landing into this deal, UNRA discovered that it had been conned by signing a contract with a dubious road construction firm.

It was later revealed that sub contractor had done construction works worth 6. 1bn shillings

Senkeeto is jointly charged before the Anti-corruption court with the former Works Minister Abraham Byandala and UNRA Officials for causing government a loss of 24.7billion shillings, when they used their offices to influence the issuance of the contract to carry on civil works on the Katosi road to an incompetent company.

Commercial Court Registrar Thadeus Opesen has also issued summons giving Apollo Senkeeto, Timothy McCoy, Richard Pratt, Michael Olvey, Niu Hong and Eutaw Construction company only 15 days  to file their defense before Justice David Wangutusi can commence with the hearing of this case.

Until in the 20^th century, Poaching was not seriously regarded as a crime and in most African societies, it was a way of life.

Traditionalists used it as a way of worship and some of the animals killed would be offered as burnt offerings to gain favor and protection before the gods.

It was also performed by impoverished peasants for subsistence purposes, supplementing meager diets and some surplus left for sale to earn money.

Poaching has traditionally been defined as the illegal hunting, killing, or capturing of wild animals, usually associated with land use rights.

In 1998, environmentalists proposed the concept of poaching as an environmental crime, defining any activity as illegal that contravenes the laws and regulations established to protect renewable natural resources.

This however didn’t stop people from hunting and killing animals, despite the fact that many governments declared the act illegal and enacted strict laws against the same.

The Rwandan government, in a bid to further curb poaching, established a rehabilitation program through its revenue sharing scheme where poachers are taught about the importance of conservation and empowered to start other income generating projects that protect the environment.

ChimpReports caught up with Francais Ndungutse, a former poacher who through the tourism revenue sharing scheme has been helped to start up a craft making business and is actively involved in conservation activities through sensitizing poachers against the vice.

Ndungutse, 48, is married with four kids, all of which are currently in school. He resides at the foothills of Mt. Sabyinyo, Musanze District, in the Northern Province of Rwanda where Volcanoes National Park is found.

He says he started Poaching at the age of 12 where he would go with his father, to assist them in carrying the meat and equipment used in trapping animals.

“I killed my first animal (an antelope) when I was 16 years old. That day, we captured 4 antelopes, 2 buffaloes and one mountain gorilla,” Ndungutse said in Kinyarwanda.

He says he was a ‘hunter’ for 17 years and that in good days, they would capture atleast 5 animals per week.

“Animals would be many during the rainy season and we would kill atleast 5 in a week. That would be enough for our subsistence and we would even get surplus for sale.”

“We used to hunt for elephants and buffaloes but gorillas would fall in the trap by accident. We never wanted gorillas since they are like human beings and are not edible.”

“The problem is we couldn’t alert park officials after finding gorillas in the trap for fear of being arrested. We would run away and leave them there to bleed and die.”

Ndungutse says in the 17 years, he trapped about 10 – 15 gorillas which he left in the trap and they probably died.

Asked about whether he knew that poaching was illegal, Ndungutse said “yes, we knew. That’s why we used to hide away from anyone we would meet in the park in fear of being reported.”

“But as a kid, I would just go with my father and other men knowing that it was okay to hunt and at that time, I didn’t know that it was against the law,” he added.

Transformation

In 2005, Ndungutse was caught and arrested by game rangers in Volcanoes National Park, who during his jail time told him about the importance of conservation to the country and the communities surrounding the parks.

“We were in a very bad state, wearing torn clothes, and our children were not going to school. All we cared about was capturing an animal for food.”

“We were told about the revenue sharing scheme that was introduced by the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) which was helping people around the national parks to develop and were advised to join any of the cooperatives.”

“Currently, I am a member of the Amizer cooperative which is supported by RDB. I make crafts which I sell to people around and the visiting tourists to earn a living and take my children to school.”

Spreads Conservation Gospel

Having witnessed the fruits that conservation can bear, Ndungutse says it would be selfish of him to keep it to himself thus the decision to spread the news to his fellows.

“First of all, from a person who used to wear rugs to a person that you can see now (dressed in a black suit), that’s already a big change that other people can witness. No hunter (read poacher) can have such a life,” He said.

“I have therefore made it my task to go around telling other ‘hunters’ to stop, embrace conservation and join cooperatives because it’s the way RDB can help them develop.”

“Currently, my children are going to school and I can afford to raise money to support them. School fees is affordable because RDB has built schools around parks, which are a little cheaper.”

On whether he would allow any of his children to go hunting, Ndungutse swore to never do that saying that “My children can’t go through the hard life I went through.”

“It used to rain on us all day, we never had any developmental thoughts a part from hunting and alcohol. I can’t let my children go through that.” He swore.

Mulago Hospital has disputed earlier Police reports that Mustafa Kalule, the man who attempted suicide, jumping off Mabirizi complex on Saturday has died.

“The boy is alive, he is okay and is recovering,” Mulago Hospital publicist, Enock Kusasira, told ChimpReports on phone.

Paul Kangave, the deputy Kampala Metropolitan police spokesperson earlier today reported that Kalule passed on last night at Mulago National Referral Hospital where he was being treated.

“The man who police rushed to Mulago hospital last Saturday after jumping from the top of Mabirizi Complex, has succumbed to injuries,” he said.

“We haven’t looked at the postmortem report but we suspect he could have died due to multiple injuries sustained when he fell from Mabirizi,” Kangave added.

Kusasira however confirmed that Kalule had sustained an open head injury and an arm fracture but he is okay and recovering.

“The reports are not true. The boy is still in the neuro department and is recovering. He underwent a surgery and right now he is even able to stand.”

“I want to call upon the public to stay calm and disregard any such rumours,” he added.

Mustafa Kalule, a resident of Kawempe was Saturday seen standing on top of Mabirizi Complex before he jumped and landed on car that was parked by the roadside.

He sustained serious injuries and was rushed to Mulago Hospital.

Police have dismissed as outrageous, allegations by the former Commander of the rebel group Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) Jamilu Mukulu that he was being tortured in detention.

Mukulu who was arrested in Tanzania last year before being repatriated to Uganda, is facing among others terrorism charges.

Yesterday Tuesday, while appearing before the Chief Magistrates Court in Jinja, Mukulu, claimed he was being tortured.

He told court that he was forced to drink Waragi and fed on pork during his detention at Nalufenya Police Station.

Police spokesperson Andrew Felix Kawesi says these allegations are baseless and outrageous.

He said in a statement, “The Uganda Police Force would like to categorically clarify that none of these allegations are true.

“ For a start, Mukulu was legally detained at Nalufenya, a station with appropriate detention facilities that is supervised by professional senior police officers who have handled several suspects from different religious backgrounds, including Muslims, with ultimate respect.”

According to Kaweesi, It appears that Mukulu, a Muslim by faith, was using these baseless allegations to incite Muslims and to tarnish the image of the Uganda Police Force.

Barely a week after guiding Uganda to breaking the 39 year jinx of qualifying to the Afcon finals, Cranes tactician Micho Milutin Sredjovic says he is considering legal action against local football governing body FUFA for failure to pay his salary for over 5 months.

On Monday, only hours after Uganda’s qualification, the Serbian tactician took to social media complaining that despite making millions of Ugandans happy, he is on the other side sad over salary arrears.

“I know one country where you make millions happy and proud through football but you eat nothing,” he said on his official twitter handle.

“I am not a happy man in a country with proud and fair play feeling people where individuals have adopted a cheating culture with no sense of shame.”

Quoting the Economic Insider, Micho said since coming to Uganda, for each dollar spent on him by the country, he has returned up to 150 dollars.

He said that the federation has prioritized the Cranes team through organizing friendlies and players but he has not been catered for in terms of salary.

“Priorities have been there to bring players from outside, have friendlies and smooth preparation but not myself. I have stretched to all the limits and sacrificing but I strongly believe the time has come to get an answer,” the Serbian tactician says.

“Due to shameful lies about my duly earned and deserved unpaid salaries, I am forced to take swift legal action while continuing with my professional job.”

However, the FUFA spokesperson Hussein Ahmed says as employers there are things they need not to divulge especially in relation to salary payment.

“We are not going to be embroiled into that struggle. We have always paid his salary but if he has decided to take that route we can’t respond to that,” the FUFA mouthpiece said.

Chimpreports understands the Cranes head coach is supposed to get $11000 as his monthly salary.

Former Kawempe Muslim and Women’s league topscorer Sandra Nabweeteme looks to be perfecting her stricking exploits at her new home The Southwestern Oklohama state university.

The Crested Cranes striker was on form on Wednesday night sealing a hattrick as SWOSU smashed Randall university 11-0 in the third league game on Wednesday.

“I feel great as a player to get my first hat trick for the club within such a small time,” Sandra told ChimpSport immediately after the match. “I also made two assists to my team mates to score which shows how fast we are bonding as a team.”

Sandra was recently named the bulldog (soccer) player of the week after her fine performance capped with a brace against the southwest Baptist University (SBU).

She was later to receive “The Offensive Player of the Week Award” from Great American Conference.

“I really thank my coach sheila Persson for believing in me. And the teammates for the conducive environment all through that has helped me to settle in fast.”

SWOSU’s next game is on Friday against southwestern christian university.

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) on Wednesday hit back at Ugandan aviator Captain Mike Mukula, dismissing as unfounded his claims that the body had denied him license to operate a flying school in the country.

Mukula who retired from elective politics recently, recently called a press conference and angrily lambasted the authority for frustrating Uganda’s aviation industry.

He says his own Uganda Aviation School, which he registered in 2013 and was cleared by the National Council of Higher Education (NCHE) has been denied an Operating License by CAA, without clear reasons.

Read Also: Mukula Kicks Up Dust as CAA Denies Him Air Transport License

This Mukula says this is one among 14 other pilot schools that have been denied chance to start operations in Uganda.

Responding to these allegations yesterday at Imperial Royale Hotel in Kampala, the CAA officials stressed that an aviation being registered under NCHE is not sufficient to be granted license.

The Officials insist that Mukula’s school doesn’t meet the International aviation requirements.

According to Eng. John Kagoro Tusubira the Director Airport and Aviation Security at CAA, there are specific requirements both local and international that one needs to have in order to be given the green light in the industry.

“We have to be very careful while giving out licenses to any one because they will be handling people’s lives and property,” Tusubira told press.

“Civil Aviation is a heavily regulated industry; the safety record which the industry has compared to any other mode of transport originates from the fact that we follow regulations to the letter.

“It is our role to ensure that these guidelines are followed strictly. Africa has one of the highest rates of air accidents and that’s why we do all we can to protect our people,” he said.

No Witch-hunt

According to Mr Tusubira, Mukula has been granted Air Service Licences for his various other companies before, by CAA.

“Mike Mukula has made applications before and has continued to do so since 1992. From 1992 he has applied four times for his companies; Speed Bird, Sun Air, Air Uganda International and Uganda Aviation School.

“For Speed Bird he applied in 1992 and they were given a license and this was renewed three times up to 1995. They has two aircraft which were in the Cessna category, which were later sold.

“In July 1994, Speed Bird operated an aircraft which was registered in Kenya and it was involved in an accident in Kedepo. It was substantially damaged, although there were no fatalities.

“They replaced it with another Kenyan aircraft. This one had a fatal accident at Bayita Abababiri in August 1995 and all the six people on board died. We suspended the company, pending an investigation. The investigation found the the cause of the accident was human error and overloading.

“He then applied for Air Uganda International (2000) which was partnering with a Namibian Airline. This too was licensed. This partnership however didn’t work and the Licence was revoked.

“The 3rd company was Sun Air which he applied for in 2002 but he also failed to meet the conditions. He couldn’t prove that he had an aircraft, and that he had financial capacity. This company has reapplied three times in 2008, 2010 and 2015 but without these requirements.

“That’s when he apply for a licence this time to start an aviation school. The school did not have facilities. They claimed they were going to do the training in the East African Civil Aviation Academy in Soroti. We agreed and asked them to make an agreement with Soroti but failed to get the agreement,” he clarified.

Mr Tusubira added that when Mukula failed on this ground in October last year he shifted goals and said his school would not be training pilots by cabin crew (flight attendants) and that the requirements for this are still being pursued.

Local football body FUFA has released a statement regarding the current situation on the unpaid dues of the Uganda Cranes coach Milutin Micho Sredojevic.

The Serbian tactician came out on Wednesday to accuse the federation in the media for refusing to pay his owed debts which is reported to be over five months.

FUFA’s statement acknowledges the unpaid dues but say they have paid Micho in three installments over the last two months prior to the Comoros decider.

They also blanket with a reason that the national team preparations for the qualifiers cost a lot of Money therefore draining the federation’s accounts.

The statement further states that the federation has prioritized and committed to clearing the money with due time.

Fufa full statement;

FUFA greatly appreciates and recognises the immense contribution and extra efforts of our national team coach in helping Uganda qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time in 38 years.

FUFA indeed owes Milutin Sredojevic unpaid salaries and shares his frustrations over the delay.

During the costly AFCON 2017 qualification campaign, FUFA prioritised all the meagre resources at its disposal to facilitate requirements for the success of the team and campaign.

In preparation for the final group D but key match against Comoros, over the last 2 months alone, coach Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic has been paid three times and received all his bonus and allowances entitlements  for the AFCON 2017 campaign just like the rest of the team members.

FUFA is committed to ensuring all his salary arrears are cleared and we are confident this will be handled.
Coach Micho’s unpaid dues are currently FUFA’s number one priority and the federation is doing everything in its means to raise the funds needed to clear the outstanding amount.

FUFA and Micho have held meetings in regard to this matter.

Finally, details of the ongoing contract between FUFA and Cranes coach remain confidential.
It is our Game, It is Our Country.

Weather experts have predicted a long period of drought that the country is set to experience in the next 3 to 4 months starting September.

Addressing journalists in Kampala on Thursday, Festus Luboyera, the Executive Director Uganda National Meteorological Authority explained that the period between September and December La Nina conditions that lead to the dry period are likely to influence the evolution of weather conditions over the country.

“Over all there is an increased likelihood of little amounts of rainfall over several regions of the country. The western region which is currently experiencing dry conditions with light intermittent rains in some areas will have this situation continue up to late November or early December,” Luboyera said.

He said that that central Uganda is currently experiencing dry conditions adding there are high chances the region will continue experiencing such conditions of below normal rains.

According to the weather expert, L. Victoria basin which comprises areas likes Kampala, Buvuma, Kalangala and Wakiso among others is currently experiencing isolated intermittent rains and thunderstorms but peak rains are expected around late October and early November.

“Most regions of the country are expected to receive total rainfall below normal and the expected impacts include water shortage, shortage of pastures and food insecurity among others.”

Advice

The weather expert urged the public to engage in planting early maturing crops like beans, upland rice and drought resistant  crops that can withstand the little rainfall situations.

“Communities are advised to use available food and water sparingly to ensure water availability for small scale crop growing. Water harvesting practices are widely advised,”Luboyera said.

“Vaccination and immunization of animals should be carried out in the pastoral communities especially Karamoja region due to expected cross border movements.”

Mukono Municipality Member of Parliament, Betty Nambooze has finalized with the preparations of the Alcoholic Drinks Control Bill 2016 which is set to be tabled before the house in the near future.

While meeting the members of Uganda Alcohol Policy Alliance (UAPA) at Parliament on Thursday, the legislator revealed that the objective of the Bill is to regulate the manufacture, advertisement, sell, supply and consumption of alcoholic drinks, licensing of persons and premises on which alcoholic drinks are sold.

The bill is intended to replace the existing legislation on the manufacture, sell, supply, consumption and licensing of alcoholic drinks.

“Due to the passage of time, some aspects of the Enguli (manufacture and licensing) Act, Cap 86 and the Liquor Act, Cap 93 have become out-dated and obsolete and have never been fully enforced since they are usually looked as colonial era laws,” reads the bill in part.

The Alcoholic Drinks Control Bill, 2016 will put a restraint on selling of alcohol strictly from 5:00Pm to 12:00Am and whoever will be found contravening the law once passed will risk spending one year in the jail or pay a fine of Shs2M.

The bill seeks to restrict the trade of alcoholic drinks to only people licensed by Government. The license will be renewed periodically and one will pay a yet to be specified fee to be issued a license.

Key of the highlights in the proposed bill is the section that gives the wife/ husband powers to report drunkard partner and get a license barring any alcohol seller from ever selling to him/her alcohol.

“Whenever it appears to a spouse, parent, guardian, authorized person, employer or a police officer that a person is abusing alcoholic drinks and all attempts to have him or her voluntarily stop consuming alcoholic drinks have failed, the spouse, the concerned party may apply to sub county Alcohol Licensing and Control Committee for an order prohibiting the sale of alcohol to that person.”

In the new bill still, no alcohol seller will be granted a license to sell alcoholic drinks in universities tertiary institutions, hospital, clinic, rehabilitation centers, prison and remand home.

The consumption, manufacture, importation, and distribution of alcohol in the famous sachets is set to be ruled illegal and no one will be allowed to sell alcohol in bottles which is less than 250 milliliters.

In what looks at ping pong game, seasoned Ugandan pilot, Capt. Mike Mukula has hit back at the management of Civil Aviation Authority whom he said are incompetent and the body needs an  overhaul.

On Wednesday, in a response to claims of denying his pilot school an operating license, the CAA said the school doesn’t meet the International aviation requirements.

However, addressing journalists on Thursday at Sheraton Hotel, Mukula presented a number of documents he claims were issued by officials from CAA in regard to the requirements needed but noted that  management at the Ugandan aviation body  are not knowledgeable about what they are doing.

“The aviation industry all over the world is the most regulated but the whole of CAA is incompetent. They don’t have any qualified professional head of department,” Mukula noted.

Quoting the International Civil Aviation Organization report of 2013, the seasoned pilot said CAA was found to be inconsistent in implementation of international standards.

“CAA was found to have insufficient number of qualified personnel and needs assistance in the conduct of national aviation human resource. The audit by ICAO clearly shows that out of the 8 key performance indicators, CCA was below standards in many areas. They are the same people saying I don’t meet the required standards.”

Mukula noted that the CAA had themselves issued him with an air services license dated June,2015 and signed by both the Director of Safety, Security and Economic Regulations S. Muneeza  and Dr.Ram Kuuza, the Managing Director; certificate of registration and certificate of incorporation among other requirements, stressing he is surprised they are now claiming he lacks the requirements.

He says it is absurd that the process for licensing which takes 10 days in Kenya has taken over 3 years for Uganda’s aviation body to finalize adding that the dilly darling has cost many businessmen a lot of money.

According to Mukula, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda and South Sudan have Boeing aircrafts that carry luggage and passengers and in return boost the economy of the country but Uganda has only a 16 seater plane.

“Kenya has over 32 private flying schools but for Uganda, the only one we are supposed to have is not yet cleared by the aviation body. How come we have only one international airport that even doesn’t meet standards yet other countries have more than one? What is the CAA doing about this state of affairs?”

The furious Mukula said the country loses a lot of money through training of pilots at the Soroti flying school as most of the products end up working for foreign countries because of absence of national and locally owned private aircraft.

“I am among the few individuals in the country who own aircrafts but it is absurd that we are not looked at as a blessing by CAA. We shall not keep quiet not until we have seen a fundamental change in the aviation body.”

Mukula said he has compiled a file detailing the flaws by the Civil Aviation Authority that he is set to table before the speaker of parliament Hon. Rebecca Kadaga and later President Museveni.

The Forum for Democratic Change leadership has said they suspect the Ugandan government traded some of their activists including Sam Mugumya for M23 rebels with the DRC government.

Mugumya was arrested in the DRC in 2014 on charges related to subversive activities. The UPDF spokesperson Col Paddy Ankunda said then that Mugumya had been found together with 4 other people in possession of big sums of dollars and documents linking them to a rebel group in eastern DRC with intentions of overthrowing the Ugandan government.

The Opposition party believes Kampala agreed to repatriate the M23 Rebels who are still holed up in Uganda, in return for the Congolese government to slap more serious charges on the FDC activists.

Last month Mugumya and other Ugandans were among the group of over 200 people who were set for trial for being part of the ADF rebel group.

Addressing journalists on Friday at the party headquarters in Najjanankumbi, Harold Kaija, the FDC Deputy Secretary General said they suspect the recent meeting between President Museveni and his DRC counterpart was meant to orchestrate a deal on these grounds.

“We think the transfer of our activists including Mugumya from Ndolo Military Prison to Beni was after the meeting between President Museveni and Kabila in Kasese in which the former agreed to give in the M23 rebels,” Kaija told a news conference.

“Sources tell us that the DRC government felt they were not going to get serious cases against Mugumya and colleagues and decided to put them on the same charge sheet with ADF rebels.”

Kaija said that no official communication had been made to the FDC activists’ relatives back home neither to the party in regards to the transfer from Ndolo to Beni yet they are entitled to legal representation.

“We know it is intended to have them blackmailed and tried under the court martial in DRC before being convicted of offences they don’t know of,” he said.

FDC officials said the party cannot send lawyers to represent the group because of the difference in the legal system but noted they had hired services of Congolese lawyers to help represent them in the Beni court.

“We have been reliably told that its Ugandan soldiers who interrogate them while in DRC  but we ask the Congolese government to have them brought back here so they can answer the charges from the Ugandan courts,” said FDC’s Moses Byamugisha.

The FDC officials said they are to deliver a petition to the Congolese embassy early next week in which they will seek to express their concern over the matter.

Sam Mugumya and 4 other FDC activists Aggrey Kamukama, Steven Mugisha, Nathan Bright and Joseph Kamugisha were arrested in DRC in 2014 before being detained but according to the party officials, they were apprehended at the border running away from political persecution.

The main suspect in the murder of businesswoman Donah Katushabe, Muhammad Sebuffu has also been granted bail by the High Court.

Sebuufu was released on his second attempt by the High Court Judge Justice Musalu Musene, his first bail application having been denied by the same judge earlier.

Sebuufu, the owner of Pine Car Bond is said to have beaten Katushabe to death, following her failure to clear a Shs 9million debt for a car she had purchased from the bond.

Relatives of the late Katushabe in grief after the suspect was let loose

He was today released on a Shs 10million cash bail while his sureties Shs 100 non-cash each.

Subuufu was ordered to deposit his passport with the court and must report regularly to the court starting October 7th.

Earlier in the morning, his lawyers had tasked the court to release their client on grounds that his co-accused and former Kampala DPC Aaron Baguma had been granted bail the previous day.

Sebuufu’s sureties

Sebuufu’s sureties included his friend Joseph Tamale Mirundi, his uncle Nuhu Muzaata and another relative Abdu Karim .

The former State Minister for Ethics and Integrity and Bufumbira East Member of Parliament, James Nsaba Buturo has on Friday launched a campaign against “a hatched move by some officials in the Ministry of Health to legalize abortion.”

Buturo , flanked by other legislators, Robert Ntende of Bunya South, Betty Aol, the Gulu Women MP and Gordon Bafaki of Kazo County today told the media at Parliament they will fight to their last breath to ensure that abortion is not legalized in the country.

Buturo says they have learnt that the Ministry of Health has come up with a document titled; Reducing Maternal morbidity and mortality from unsafe abortion in Uganda; Standards and Guidelines which is facilitated and framed by abortion lobbyists and promoters.

“In their haste to prevent withdrawal of the funds, local officials as well as civil society organizations are working flat-out to call for legalization of abortion, homosexuality, Genetically Modified Organisms and sex education in schools,” Buturo observed.

“Under our law, both abortion and homosexuality are expressly prohibited yet under pressure from Western governments and organizations, our officials and civil society organizations such as the so-called Centre for Human Rights and Development are seeking to confuse Ugandans into accepting crime in the name of defending what they are term as ‘peoples’ rights.”

Buturo remarked that the framers of the draft ‘Abortion Bill’ which is yet to find its way to Parliament argue that the purpose of the Bill will be to set standards and guidelines on abortion insisting that abortion a la carte is a way of life that Ugandans must embrace.

“To accept abortion is to say that it is alright for Ugandans to become morally wanting and unrestrained in their quest to kill helpless unborn children.”

Renowned lawyer, activist and Makerere University don Godiva Akullo has asked women in Uganda to hold onto their vows until the Marriage and Divorce Bill is passed.

The activist warned on Saturday that if women rush into marriage now before the bill is signed into law, they will not be protected by it.

This she says, implies that they could miss out on the numerous freedoms and adjustments provided for under the bill.

The marriage and divorce bill which first appeared in parliament in 2013 kicked up a wild debate until it was shelved pending further consultations with the people.

During earlier consultations, it emerged that most of the constituents had rejected the Bill over some of its provisions such as what it termed as “Marital Rape,” (forced sex) for which culprits could face up to 5 years in jail.

Most people opposed the law as alien to African Culture.

Speaking at a symposium at the Uganda Museum on Saturday under the theme [Re] thinking feminism and black womanhood, Akullo said that women, more so in Uganda still don’t understand their rights like right to self-determination, right to property, right to life.

She called upon them to put their trust in the oncoming law, for their protection against abusive marriages and domestic violence.

At the conference, stakeholders discussed at length the subject of feminism, its applications and challenges especially in the Ugandan setting.

‘’l call upon everyone out there to be a feminist for its not for only women but men too; together we can make a change and a great impact to the lives of women not only in Uganda but the world over’’ appealed Akullo.

Gender rights activist and former legislator Miria Matembe has commented that ignorance among women is the biggest limitation to the struggle against women oppression and gender inequality in Uganda. Matembe said women must liberate themselves from illiteracy and also reflect on God’s purpose of creating them after every other creation.

“God made a woman from a man’s rib which was harder compared to the soft clay from which a man was molded. This implies that even after creating man, the world was still missing something – a woman,” she told participants in a symposium on gender and feminism held at the Uganda Museum on Saturday.

The one day dialogue was organized by Friedrich Eshbert Stiftung Uganda and attracted women activists, lawyers, artists, media personalities and professionals.

Matembe shared her personal experience growing up as a girl child who had been discriminated against by her father over her brothers. The father gave priority to educating Matembe’s brothers while she spent weeks seated home due to lack of school fees.

“Each time we were chased from school, my father did whatever was in his power to get school fees for my brothers but I had to sit and wait because I was a girl. But surprisingly I was cleverer in class than my brothers.”

“When I was 14, in my Senior Two, my father withdrew me from school so my brother would join Secondary school.”

This forced a disgruntled Matembe to seek a bursary to be able to proceed with her studies. She told her mother about it and together they visited Bweranyangyi S.S in Bushenyi where she was offered a bursary up to A’Level.

“Growing up, I was very disturbed by the way women were being treated in my society. Many of them were subjected to domestic violence. Then I often heard people encouraging them to find lawyers who could help them.”

Such are the injustices that inspired Matembe to study law and be able to help defend women against all sorts of mistreatment. However, her choice of career didn’t go down well with his father who insisted Matembe wouldn’t study law because she was a female. This was the common perception in Uganda at the time.

“You can imagine, my father who didn’t contribute to my education was still dictating terms on what I should and shouldn’t study. He told me to study to be a teacher,” she said.

The strong worded and often candid activist intimated that the huddles she encountered but nevertheless achieved indicates that hers was a purpose driven life.

“This injustice and unfairness is the reason we must keep pushing the struggle,” Matembe noted.

The self-proclaimed ‘radical conservative’ however lashed out at feminists who encourage women to shun marriage. She said marriage is every woman’s aspiration and nothing else supposes the joy that the union brings to women.

Three suspected terrorists were on Sunday midmorning gunned down by the Kenyan police in the port city of Mombasa during an attack on the Central Police Station that was swiftly contained.

The Kenyan Police said there was no civilian casualty registered and only 2 officers suffered bullet injuries.

The two officers whose identity or the degree of injuries were not explained, were rushed to a hospital in the coastal town.

Mombasa that hosts the biggest number of tourists in the whole region, has been a major target for the Somali based Alqaeda linked terrorist group Alshabaab for the past two years.

In June 2014, the United Kingdom closed its Honorary Consulate in the port city and all consular services were shifted to the High Commission in capital Nairobi.

Today’s attempted attack happened when the world is remembering the deadliest terror attack that claimed 3000 lives in the United States.

Security has reportedly been heightened in Kenya mainly at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and other sensitive spots in Nairobi.

President  Yoweri Museveni on Saturday afternoon presided over a pass out  ceremony of over 3000 police officers who have completed an 18 months training at the Police Training School in Kabalye,Masindi district.

Among dignitaries present at the function included the Somalia and South Sudan police chiefs, ministers, MPs and other government officials.

Museveni and Gen. Kayihura pip one of the police officers

Speaking during the function, Museveni applauded the police leadership for building the force from a mere 18000 men to now 44000 which he said is a big achievement to the country and has helped champion peace in Uganda.

“We have been able to build a force based on quality and that is why  you can only enter police after attaining S.6 .This is basic because in some cases police officers act alone unlike in the army where you work as a group,”Museveni said.

“When you are alone, things are difficult for you. It is the reason both numbers and quality matter a lot in the police force. It is because of this quality that the police moves very fast.”

President Museveni speaking at the event

The head of state said that the police is one the most important organs that help differentiate a state from a country.

Museveni explained a state as an  organized authority over a country  adding that  one can have a country without  a state stressing that the police is one of the instruments of coercion that make up a state.

He noted that at all times  government  would be willing to assist the police force to help move bigger strides adding that  it is high time they thought of better housing facilities and schools for the officers’ children.

“I want teachers, health workers, soldiers and policemen to have decent homes but everything will be handled in stages,”Museveni noted.

“I also want to see government schools in all barracks so that police and soldiers’ children study free of charge from primary up to S.6.”

Police officers marching

In his remarks, the Inspector General of Police, Gen .Kale Kayihura applauded president Museveni for standing with the force at all times especially in critical moments.

“I thank you for standing with us when we were under attack. Building an institution is painstaking but we are human beings liable to mistakes. We appreciate your efforts in building capacity of the police,” Gen. Kayihura said.

Gen. Kayihura delivering his speech at the function

Of the officers passed out on Saturday, 1256 were cadets including pilots, doctors, engineers and accountants whereas 2685 were police constables.

The police spokesperson and Director in charge of Human Resource Development Andrew Felix Kaweesi, these officers will be deployed in the Kampala Metropolitan Police Area  that covers Kampala , Wakiso, Entebbe and Mukono districts.

Museveni inspecting a guard of honour mounted by police officers

Onduparaka captain Muhammad Shabaan managed to hit 20 goals last season both in the big league (13) and a further seven in the Uganda Cup competitions respectively. He featured in 23 games all together.

He has also scored a goal in each of the last three 45 minutes played in the national team regional tours.

The youngster failed to get in the score sheet in caterpillars league debut against Soana, the first away games at Bright stars which they lost 2-0 and a draw at Wankulukuku.

“Not winning and failing to score in the first two games brought a lot of pressure in the team especially from the outside but remained focussed because we believe in ourselves,” Shaban told ChimpSport.

He adds that, “Getting a draw at Wankulukuku against a big club like Express improved our moral as a team. It was tough and away from our fortress.”

Shaban scored both goals that captured all the three points from Kcca FC. The only other time he met the champions was recently in a friendly match while he was with Cranes and scores the lone goal.

“I am very happy to finally score and get a win for the club. It has pushed us on the standings and improved our confidence generally, ” he said while revealing that, “when we played in a closed friendly with KCCA FC I scored a goal and realized their weakness in defense. So I came and analyzed how they play and knew when to strike at them.”

The teenager acknowledges the league’s competitive nature and hardships for strikers but has set himself a 20- goal target, two higher than last year’s top striker Robert Ssentongo who finished with 18.

Uganda has been granted the opportunity to host the 10th Global Peace and Leadership Conference in 2018.

The development was confirmed on Sunday in Belfast, Northern Ireland’s capital, where the 2016 conference kicked off on Saturday running up to Tuesday next week.

The Global Peace Leadership Conference is an initiative of the Global Peace Foundation (GPF), an international nonprofit organization aimed at promoting an innovative, values-based approach to peace building, guided by the vision of One Family under God.

GPF partners with government ministries, community and faith-based organizations, and United Nations agencies convene to majorly emphasize values and ideals grounded in the world’s faith and ethical traditions, and works to bridge religious, cultural and ethnic divisions, strengthen families, and support youth through values education and entrepreneurial training.

The Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Jacob Oulanyah made a request to the GPF organizers on 16th August 2016 in New York for Uganda to host the 2018 Global Peace Leadership Conference.

On Sunday morning Oulanyah who is attending the Conference in Belfast met with the International President of the Global Peace Foundation, Mr. James Flynn and other organization’s officials including H.E. Dr. Amamani Abeid Karume (former President of Zanzibar), Regional Representative Africa, Mr. Insu Choi among others.

The meeting was meant to discuss Uganda’s request placed by the Deputy Speaker and it was indeed granted.

ChimpReports talked to Oulanyah on phone and he said the development was not a surprise to him since Uganda has the “potential to host any event on earth.”

“I expected a green light before entering into the discussion with the most prominent team of the Global Peace Foundation. We have the ability to host any event on this planet,” Oulanyah said.

Uganda successfully hosted the Common Wealth Heads of Government meeting in 2007.