Five people have sustained injuries following protests that broke out in the notorious Kisekka market. The protests broke out today Tuesday following the arrest of Kyadondo East member of parliament, Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine yesterday.
Kyagulanyi is currently remanded at Luzira prison until May 2 when he is expected to reappear in court to answer charges of disobedience of statutory duty when he and others allegedly organised a protest against the social media tax in 2018.
The injured include; two pregnant women and three men who sustained multiple wounds. One of the victims is reported to have been hit by a tear gas canister. One of the pregnant women is also reported to be in critical condition.
Praise Turyebwa, the manager Red Cross Kampala West Branch says that the injured have been rushed to Mulago hospital for treatment. The injured were all picked up from the Kisekka market area.
NTV reported a one Beatrice Akol, a security guard working with Securex who was shot in the leg with a rubber bullet while on duty at Orient bank in Kisekka market. Currently, the army and police operatives are still heavily deployed in Kisekka and business remains standstill with most shops still closed.
Angry protestors in Nakulabye, Kisekka market, Kalerwe and Kamwokya who were demanding for Bobi Wine's release engaged in running battles with the police and army personnel.
For the several part of the day, police battled with protesters at the Nakulabye traffic lights, and near Chez Johnson and around Tuskys supermarket. The angry protestors also blocked roads with heavy stones in addition to lighting fires. An undisclosed number of the protesters have also been arrested.
"We are monitoring the strategic places using CCTV [Closed Circuit Television] cameras. Even commanders of platoons deployed at different strategic points have been given gadgets that enable them connect with control room at CPS [Kampala Central Police Station]," a senior security officer earlier told URN.
A woman who had locked herself inside her shop in Nakulabye fainted and was rushed to Mulago hospital. But in places like Nakawa and the surrounding areas, business was moving on normally like any other day. Between 9 am to midday, there was no heavy deployment of the police or the army in the area, unlike in other areas.
Some Nakawa market traders, say that it is unusual that there are no riots around the market. The traders are among those who sell charcoal, foodstuffs and kitchenware like saucepans. Even Boda Boda cyclists and taxi drivers say that Kyagulanyi's detention has hardly attracted any protests from traders in the market.
Some of the traders including 46-year-old Issa, a boda-boda cyclist and Juliet, a 37-year-old mother and charcoal seller strongly oppose Kyagulanyi's detention, while others say that they are not concerned by what is happening to Kyagulanyi.
By Website writer Kyadondo East legislator Hon Robert Kyagulanyi is being driven to Buganda Road Court to face charges related to inciting violence during OTT protests. The convoy transporting Kyagulanyi alias Bobi Wine left Naggalama Police Station on Monday afternoon where he had been detained after he was arrested on his way to CIID head […] Source
Ugandans have now fully grown into appreciating live music and have also spread out their appetite for music into different genres some unheard of in the recent past like house and electronic music. With the new budding talent, the future however looks bright. This change of taste or should I call it maturity, can be […]
By Our Reporter The year's first segment of the much-anticipated Blankets & Wine music festival got off to a rousing start on Sunday at the Lugogo Cricket Oval as main acts South African artiste Shekhinah and our own King Saha gave show-goers their money's worth with memorable performances. Party people had already begun strolling through […]
Another person who was attacked by elephants that strayed from Queen Elizabeth national park has also died.
Yofesi Baluku Kananga, 45, a resident of Kanyughunya village in Kisinga sub county was last week on Wednesday attacked by an elephant from Queen Elizabeth national park as he headed to his farm in Nyaruzigati village.
Four elephants had on that day spent an entire night roaming the villages of Lhuhwahwa, Kanyughunya, Rwenguhyo and Kirembo. Upon being attacked, Kananga was rushed to Kagando hospital in critical condition. According to investigations, at least four of his ribs were broken while the spleen was also been raptured.
He underwent a splenectomy operation on that day. In an interview with Rosemary Mulere, the in-charge of the surgical ward at the health facility, Kananga had started recuperating steadily. But Bwambale Kananga, his young brother says Kananga's condition deteriorated on Friday night and he passed on at around 10 am on Saturday.
Baluku becomes the second person to succumb to injuries sustained after an attack from the wild game in barely two days. On Friday, a 75-year-old woman, Caroline Nazziwa, a resident of Rwenguhyo village in Kisinga sub-county also died at Kagando hospital following injuries she sustained after a violent elephant attacked her from her farm in Kirembo.
However officials from Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) said they were not aware of these occurences. Hangi Bashir, the public relations officer UWA, and Edward Asalu the conservation area manager Queen Elizabeth both revealed that they were yet to establish that elephants had strayed into the community.
"I am not there so I am not informed about that report. If you have gotten information from the community, go back there and get all the details." said Asalu in a telephone interview.
Kasese Woman legislator Winnie Kiiza cautions UWA against igniting feelings that human beings are less important compared to that of a wild animals.
"Friends, this is just one of the very many manifestations in regards to wild animals' attack on the citizenry. It's rather ironical that wild animals have a remedy; in that one found poaching suffers a sentence but a human being attacked by wild animals, as per status quo, cannot be compensated." she said.
She appealed to the president to sign the Wildlife Amendment Bill into law so that victim of vermin animals can be compensated. Kasese district continues to grapple with wild animals straying from Queen Elizabeth and Mt Rwenzori national parks which destroy crops and sometimes life.
Early this month, a leopard also killed a one and half-year-old child at Kasenyi fishing community in Lake Katwe sub county.
By Website writer Fred Waninda, the acting Commercial court registrar in charge of planning, performance and development is in trouble for allegedly assaulting a journalist. The Uganda Journalist Association (UJA) through their lawyers of Kiiza and Mugisha Company Advocates are finalizing consultations to sue Waninda for allegedly slapping Hannington Kisakye, a journalist attached to Smart […] Source
Kino kiddiridde pulezidenti Museveni okulagira kkamera zissibwe ku nguudo oluvannyuma lw'okutemulwa kw'eyali omwogezi wa Poliisi Felix Kaweesa. Ezimu ku kamera zaagulwa kyokka minisita w'eggwanga ow'ebyensimbi...
By Staff Writer It is often said that no one is perfect and certainly not even a Pastor. Back at House of Prayer Ministries run by Pastor Aloysious Bugingo, the fire is on. During Sunday Service sermon, Bugingo made it clear that his wife was trying to claim the church land. “This land does not […]
ENGERI omuvubuka Ronald Ken Obangakene gy'akkiriza awatali kutya kwonna nga bwe yasse Dr. Catherine Agaba kikuleetera okulowooza nti waliwo abatakyalina mutima ng'obulamu bw'omuntu babusaagiramu ne batuuka...
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has joined the chorus of African leaders calling on the west to lift sanctions imposed on n some of Zimbabwe's government and political leaders as well as entities.
Speaking at the official opening of the 60th Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) in Bulawayo, where he was the guest of honour, Museveni applauded Zimbabwe for remaining, "steadfast in the face challenges."
Zimbabwe's opposition party, Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) was opposed to Museveni's invitation saying, "The choice of friends defines a man's character. President Mnangagwa's invitation of Yoweri Museveni is only but a confirmation of dictatorship."
Museveni, who has been under international scrutiny for his longevity in power and the alleged suppression of political opponents, criticized the west, and said the idea of imposing sanctions as a form of punishment on individuals not abiding by their standards, was "cowardice."
"I want to condemn the sanctions which have been put on Zimbabwe for such a long time," Museveni said, referencing the close to two decades that Zimbabwe has been under sanctions from the United States, Britain and other countries in the European Union.
"The idea of sanctions is cowardice," continued Museveni. "If somebody is wrong, leave him. He will fail by his own mistakes. Why do you have to put sanctions," queried Museveni.
Echoing Museveni's call that sanctions are ineffective, longtime journalist Tapfuma Machakaire said sanctions seem to have failed to achieve their intended objective, be it changing governments or ways government run their countries.
Machakaire said it's time for western countries to seek alternative strategies to bring about the change they feel is needed.
"We've been under sanction many years, but the objectives of the sanctions don't appear to have been met. If they are intended to remove a government or change the way country is being government we are not seeing that working," said Machakaire.
He advised western countries to change tactics.
"If there's something specific that the superpowers want see African governments or other countries do, they should find other ways to address those with the countries whose governing practices they don't agree with," said Machakaire.
However, a Bulawayo resident who wanted to be identified only as John, dismissed the argument that sanctions were responsible for a country's economic backslide, blaming it instead on the governments themselves.
"I don't believe its sanctions that are keeping the country behind," said John. "We, on our own, our leaders are failing to what we should be doing. So as far as sanctions, the leaders unfortunately are the ones failing on their own," John concluded.
Despite call from various leaders and groups for the U.S., Britain and EU to lift the sanctions on Zimbabwe, all have recently extended the sanctions for an additional year, pending the implementation and adoption of certain reforms including respect for human rights, rule of law and freedom of the press. They also argue the sanctions are targeted and not intended to hurt ordinary citizens.
Zimbabwe has argued that the sanctions, imposed during the leadership of former President Robert Mugabe, should now be revisited and removed, given that Mugabe is now out of office, and the government of President Emmerson Mnangagwa has implemented some of the conditional reforms for lifting sanctions, such as respecting property rights and commitment to amending oppressive media laws such as the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, AIPPA.
Museveni encouraged Zimbabwe to continue tapping into its natural resources such as minerals and agriculture, to grow its economy.
The ZITF, which ran under the theme, Propagating Industrial Growth Through Trade and Investment, will wrap up on Saturday.
The government will start repaying the Kampala-Entebbe expressway loan next month. The loan worth $350 million (approximately Shs 1.2 trillion) was acquired from the Exim Bank of China.
In May 2011, government through ministry of Finance signed a loan agreement with the Exim Bank to finance the construction of the 51.4km Kampala-Entebbe expressway. The four-lane expressway comprises two road sections – a 36.94km-long section and a 12.68km-long link road.
But recently Finance minister Matia Kasaija told Daily Monitor that government at the moment has no money to start repaying the loan but has planned for it next financial year.
"We cannot afford to pay any money on May 22 because there is no money at the moment but we have budgeted for next financial year," Kasaija is quoted as saying.
Kasaija said there was an oversight on the part of ministry at the time of acquiring the loan. He said the loan was acquired with government not thinking about where the money will be got from to repay the loan. Exim Bank has been disbursing the money in installments over the last 7 years. The first disbursement was made on 29th June 2012 and the last one is expected on May 21 this year.
According to the loan agreement, the government is now obliged to commence repayment on July 21 this year. The loan repayment schedule will run from July 21, 2019 to January 21, 2032. In the 13-year repayment period, the government plans to pay $26.8 million (approximately Shs 101.8 billion) a year.
It will however pay it twice a year at $13.4 million (approximately Shs 51 billion) every six months. Initially, the government had planned to repay the loan through revenues from the road toll on the Entebbe expressway upon its completion.
However, the road toll system on the Entebbe expressway has not been implemented and the road was opened to traffic in June 2018. Therefore, ministry of Works and Transport launched the Road Tolling Policy last April. The policy provides a framework necessary for regulation, management and operation of toll roads in Uganda.
The ministry also tabled the Roads Amendment Bill, 2018 in parliament to among others, facilitate a legal regime for road tolls in Uganda. The Road Tolling Policy is expected to operationalize the Bill, once it is enacted into law.
The Bill was brought for first reading on 26th September 2018 and referred to the Physical Infrastructure Committee for scrutiny. The committee has not presented its report to the House. To date, parliament is yet to pass the Bill.
SSAABAWANDIISI w'akakiiko akafuga ebyemizannyo mu Busoga, Moses Waiswa, asabye amasomero agakiikiridde ekitundu kino mu mpaka za Copa Coca Cola, okukolera awamu bwe gaba gaakuwangula ekikopo kino. Bino...
It is now exactly a week when Christians marked Good Friday the day Jesus Christ died for their sins on the cross. Several churches organized Passover nights and Christians held prayers in different places across the country. There were music shows and drama plays organized too to pass the message about Jesus’ crucifixion. However, one […]
Ever since celebrated gossip TV queen Nambooze Annette alias Annatalia Oze launched her 365 Saving challenge campaign under 'Women for Her' on 15th March, the star is getting sleepless nights as schools and higher institutions of learning have been asking her to bring on the saving challenge to their hoods. 365 Saving Challenge which was […]
By Musa Ssemwanga Tanzanian model and singer, Hamisa Mobetto recently fell in love once again after moving on from the bitter split with her baby daddy Diamond Platinumz. Before this, the mother of two had managed to avoid any form of controversy until recently when she hired her ex- boyfriend's former body guard. However, questions […] Source
By Our Reporter Luga-flow rapper Feffe Bussi was the star attraction as the “Rave Night” returned for yet another edition at Wave Lounge last Saturday. Unlike previous editions, this was a special one as it marked the first anniversary of the popular theme night. Feffe who is famed for his adroitness in freestyle delivery was […]
By Ronnie Twine Douglas Lwanga's Purple Party in Luwero was a huge success on Sunday. Nimrod Beach, where the event took place swelled with revelers. Apart from that, there is one other thing that's worth noting, Tyler Himself's performance. Even though he is not a very popular artiste, his time on stage fired up the […] Source
By Bash Mutumba When he chose to focus on dance music, Eddy Kenzo wasn't given much encouragement by the Ugandan audience. His efforts were however undeterred, since he had noticed a trend of virality among his music that leaned towards that style. Even though his breakthrough was "Yannimba", a mainstream Afrobeat ballad, his first mega […]
Kyadondo East MP Robert Kyagulanyi has called for mass protests against the actions of police and other state injustices meted out on Ugandans.
Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine called on Ugandans to massively protest, peacefully against actions of the police leadership and their brutality. Bobi Wine made the announcement from him home in Magere where he was forcefully returned by police after being blocked from holding a press conference at his One Love Beach in Busabala.
Bobi Wine, on Monday morning defiantly drove to Busabala only to find heavy security deployment. He was forcefully dragged out after police smashed his vehicles window using gun butts and sprayed him with teargas and pepper spray.
Bobi's call for protests is a sudden change in strategy after he and other opposition leaders castigated former Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) president Kizza Besigye who has always maintained that only civil disobedience can wrestle power from the firm grip of President Yoweri Museveni.
Bobi Wine has for long been calling on citizens to get national IDs so they can vote Museveni out of power in 2021. Recently, Bobi Wine said it was wrong for Besigye to claim democracy doesn't work in Uganda yet he has stood and lost four times and that anybody who says that elections can't remove Museveni from power is an enemy of the people of Uganda.
But now Bobi Wine says, after trying out all other lawful avenues to seek justice including petitioning parliament, Uganda Human Rights Network, they have now resolved to go for the last lawful avenue of protests since police has continued infringing on the rights of Ugandans.
He says today, Tuesday he will walk to the police headquarters in Naguru since the police has in possession two of his cars. He also said in total, 124 of his music concerts have been blocked by police.
"We are encouraged by the people of Algeria who in the past weeks forced a dictator to resign; and the people of Sudan who through peaceful protests forced a powerful despot to give way. While we are aware that our brothers and sisters in those countries are yet to achieve full freedom after their efforts are being hijacked by those who wield guns, we celebrate with them the victory of removing the biggest stumbling blocks in their path to freedom." Bobi Wine recently wrote on his Facebook page.
He said his calls for people to get national IDs has been misunderstood, saying he is not naive and that they are aware that President Museveni and his machinery have rigged elections before and will definitely attempt to do it again even in 2021. He 'clarified' that the reason they want people to get national IDs is because elections should be organised within 6 months in case Museveni were to be forced out of power by protests.
He also said the next leader of Uganda after must be got through the electoral process hence the call for national IDs.
ABAKUNGUBAZI abeetabye mu kuziika Hajji Yunus Kiriggwajjo abatemu beebijambiya gwe baalumbye mu maka ge e Najjanankumbi beegasse ku famire okulaga obutali bumativu ku ngeri gye yattiddwaamu. Balumiriza...
In the deadliest violence in Sri Lanka in a decade, multiple explosions ripped through churches and luxury hotels on Easter Sunday, leaving 290 dead. Five hundred people were wounded in the blasts.
The first six blasts, which began around 8:45 a.m. local time, were coordinated and claimed most of the fatalities, while two smaller blasts took place several hours later. The targets of the bombings were tourists and Catholic worshippers attending Easter prayers at churches in three cities.
Later officials said an improvised explosive device was defused near Colombo's main airport. The blasts shocked the island nation, which has been relatively peaceful since a bloody civil war ended 10 years ago.
Thirteen people have been arrested in connection with the attacks, for which no one has claimed responsibility. Sri Lanka Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe admitted to reporters Sunday that the government had known about the possibility of the attacks.
"The information was there," he said, but he could not say "why adequate precautions were not taken."
Colombo hardest hit
The capital Colombo, where three major hotels and one church were targeted, bore the brunt of the mayhem. Ambulances wailed through its streets and hundreds of people turned out to donate blood as the injured were rushed to hospital. Thousands of police were posted in the streets while the army stood guard outside state buildings.
Sri Lankan Army soldiers secure the area around St. Anthony's Shrine after a blast in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Sunday
The two other churches to suffer the attacks were in Negombo, a Catholic-majority town just north of Colombo, and in the eastern district of Batticaloa.
The Gothic-style St. Sebastian's church in Negombo appeared to have taken the worst hit. Photos posted on Facebook by church authorities, who issued appeals for help in the aftermath of the bombing, showed a shattered roof, blood-stained pews and bodies on the floor. Witnesses said they saw smoke billowing out of the targeted churches.
The blasts in the afternoon took place at a small hotel close to the national zoo near Colombo and another at a house in the capital city.
About 30 foreigners, including Americans, British, Indian, Turkish, Japanese, Chinese and Portuguese nationals, were among those dead and injured in the attacks. Located in the Indian Ocean on India's southern tip, Sri Lanka's sandy, tropical beaches are a popular tourist destination in South Asia. The hotels hit were the Shangri La, Cinnamon Grand and Kingsbury hotel.
"Horrible scenes, I saw many body parts strewn all over," Sri Lanka Minister of Economic Reforms Harsha de Silva said after visiting a church and a hotel in Colombo.
Police say they are investigating whether suicide bombers were involved in the attacks.
'Misinformation and rumors'
Authorities ordered a nighttime curfew Sunday, but lifted it Monday. Sri Lanka also blocked access to major social media and messaging sites, including Facebook and WhatsApp, in a bid to stem the flow of "misinformation and rumors."
Schools have been closed until Tuesday and police were advising people to stay indoors. As rumors about the possibility of more attacks spread rapidly, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe appealed to people to stay "united and strong."
Condemning the "cowardly" attacks, he said in a Twitter post, "Please avoid propagating unverified reports and speculation. The government is taking immediate steps to contain this situation."
Defense Minister Ruwan Wijewardene blamed extremists for what he called the "unfortunate terrorist incident."
Statements of condemnation came in from top officials. Minister of Finance Mangala Samaraweera said the blasts appeared to be a "well-coordinated attempt to create murder, mayhem and anarchy."
President Maithripala Sirisena said he has ordered a special police task force and the military to investigate who was behind the attacks and their agenda. Christians make up about 7.5% of the mostly Buddhist nation of 21 million.
Past history
Sri Lanka witnessed nearly a quarter-century of violence, bombings and terror attacks that often hit high-profile targets during a bloody civil war led by Tamil guerrillas for an independent homeland for the ethnic community, but the insurgency was crushed in 2009.
Since then, the tiny country has witnessed some political instability and sporadic incidents of religious and ethnic violence, but no violence of the kind that shattered its calm on Sunday.
Christian groups have said they face increasing intimidation from hard-line Buddhist monks in recent years. Such harassment, however, is on a relatively minor level, says Jehan Perera, who heads the National Peace Council of Sri Lanka, in Colombo.
Pointing out that churches were hit, he asked, "Who would target Catholics? There has been anti-Christian sentiment, but on a very small scale with regard to conversions that are happening in different localities but not to the extent that people would be killed. Sometimes there were stones thrown, sometimes a pastor were chased away, but not massive bloodletting."
Condemnation of the deadly bombings poured in from leaders across the world. The head of Sri Lanka's largest neighbor, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, said, "There is no place for such barbarism in our region."
A spokesman for U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the U.N. leader is "outraged by the terrorist attacks" on "a sacred day for Christians around the world."
Pope Francis condemned the attacks during his Easter Sunday address in Rome and offered condolences to "the victims of such cruel violence."
In an interview to a local television network, Colombo's Archbishop, Malcolm Ranjith, called on people to remain calm. He has also asked authorities to conduct an impartial inquiry and to punish those responsible "mercilessly" because "only animals can behave like that.''
Fifteen years ago, Selector Jay began his Deejaying career as a mobile Dj whose inspiration came from some of the veteran Djs like Alex Ndawula and Peter. He has through the years been making partiers dance which has earned him a slot among the best Djs in the land Last Thursday the 18th of April, […]
Dr Catherine Agaba's body has been found dumped in a septic tank in Muyenga. The International Hospital Kampala (IHK) doctor went missing on April 13, 2019, a few days after applying for annual leave on April 9.
According to police, the security guard Richard Ogenga at her apartment and an alleged accomplice in the murder, today led security to where her body was dumped in a compound of the apartments. Ogenga was arrested from Apac and he reportedly told police that he killed Agaba because she kept reporting him to his boss for missing work.
When police in Katwe recovered a headless body of an unidentified woman along the Kampala-Entebbe highway in the wee hours of Sunday morning, there was suspicion that the body could be that of Agaba. However as it turned moments later, her body was dumped several miles away in a septic tank.
Meanwhile, Kabalagala police is holding a US based Ugandan doctor identified as Andrew Ntambi in connection with Dr Agaba's disappearance and eventual murder.
"We have one person being interrogated over Dr Agaba's disappearance and he's a US doctor. We ask the family to remain calm," Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesman Patrick Onyango said on Friday.
Dr Ntambi was arrested after a a medical student in Kabalagala alerted police that he had last seen the duo moving together on the day that Agaba disappeared. Agaba was reportedly seen with a suitcase appearing as though she was heading for a trip.
Born on August 29, 1991 Agaba first practiced at Nsambya hospital from October 2016 to October 2017 after graduating from Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST), before moving to IHK.
Kyadondo East MP Robert Kyagulanya alias Bobi Wine has today been arrested from his One Love Beach in Busabala. Kyagulanyi, who, in defiance drove from his home in Magere to Busabala to hold a press conference, found heavy police and army deployment who blocked his procession to the beach.
After locking himself inside his vehicle, police broke the windows using pistol butts and a hammer and sprayed him with teargas to drag him out - akin to how Kizza Besigye got arrested in 2011 from Mulago roundabout.
After being dragged out the vehicle, Bobi Wine was then whisked away to a waiting black mobile police cell (vehicle) and driven away to an unknown destination.
Bobi Wine's car with shattered windows
Also, earlier arrested were events promoters and proprietor of Abitex Promotions, Abbey Musinguzi alias Abitex and Andrew Mukasa of Bajjo Events. The duo was arrested at around 9:30am from Busabala.
Security fired teargas and bullets to disperse the stone-throwing Bobi Wine's supporters who had started to gather despite the several road blocks mounted on all routes leading to the beach.
Yesterday, police issued a directive to police commanders to block the music concert, saying they couldn't guarantee security for the many revelers who were expected at the concert. Bobi Wine accused police of playing ping-pong for more than a month ever since he wrote informing the institution about his intended concerts.
"Three days ago, they wrote back to us giving us a litany of requirements. We invested huge sums of money to meet their demands, some of which were unreasonable. This was in addition to what we have invested in advertising and preparing the show," Kyagulanyi said.
The self-proclaimed ghetto president said police intercepted trucks carrying machines and stage materials to his beach on Saturday night. He says police has so far blocked 124 music concerts organised by his team or where he has been announced as a performer.
Last year, police blocked the musician's Kyarenga album launch at Namboole stadium. Attempts to stage the show at his One Love Beach in Busabala, Wakiso district were also blocked but later allowed under strict instructions.
It looks like socialite Zari Hassan has finally gotten over Tanzanian singer Diamond Platnumz after the post she made on her official Instagram account. The socialite and business woman is deeply in love with a yet-to-be identified man whom she prefers to call Mr M going by to what she posted yesterday. "I've been there […]
The inspector general of police, Martin Okoth Ochola has cancelled the much anticipated Easter Monday music concert of Kyadondo East MP, Robert Ssentamu Kyagulanyi alias Bobi Wine.
A letter signed by assistant inspector general of police, Asuman Mugenyi the director of operation police on behalf of the IGP notes that Kyagulanyi's previous music concerts held at his One Love beach in Busabala have fallen short of security guidelines.
Ochola claims that Kyagulanyi shows have severally turned into a public nuisance, violated traffic rules and regulations and caused other misconducts, which don't only bleach law but endanger the lives of other people who are not even part of his music events.
"On that background, therefore Uganda Police will not be able to secure your planned concerts and will not risk them to be carried out in any insecure environment," reads the letter in part.
The singer has since posted the police letter cancelling his concerts on his Facebook page, saying he will not sit back and watch his rights being violated. He accuses police of playing ping-pong for more than a month ever since he wrote informing the institution about his intended concerts.
"Three days ago, they wrote back to us giving us a litany of requirements. We invested huge sums of money to meet their demands, some of which were unreasonable. This was in addition to what we have invested in advertising and preparing the show," Kyagulanyi said.
The self-proclaimed ghetto president said police intercepted trucks carrying machines and stage materials to his beach on Saturday night. He says police have so far blocked 124 music concerts organised by his team or where he has been announced as a performer.
"Today, this is the letter they gave to us no show. Please remember, all other artistes are not required to fulfill any of these requirements and their shows have not been stopped. This brings the total number of our blocked concerts across the country to 124 since October, 2017. We shall not sit and watch as our rights continue to be violated. We shall fight impunity," Kyagulanyi said.
He however, didn't disclose what intends to do. Bobi Wine is currently battling police in courts of law for blocking the launch of his Kyarenga song.
Many Ugandans would be dieing to witness the forthcoming Africa Nations cup in Egypt yet they do not know how to go and with whom. Be worried not, Breeze Travel and Safaris Limited is dedicated to make the experience easier for you. Like the company did in the 2017 African Cup of nations qualifying rounds […]
Government has resorted to seeking for financial assistance from China for the construction of Akii Bua olympic stadium.
This was revealed on Thursday as officials from the ministry of Education and Sports led by the minister Janet Museveni appeared before parliament's Education Committee to present their policy statement for the coming financial year 2019/2020.
Despite an increase in the Education budget from the current financial year 2018/19 sector budget of Shs 2.78 trillion to Shs 3.28 trillion in FY 2019/2020, Ms Museveni told the committee that there are critical activities that have not been funded.
Alex Kakooza, the ministry of Education permanent secretary, said that despite the construction of the stadium at 4 per cent, no funds have been allocated for the stadium project in FY 2019/20. The ministry has so far received Shs 665 million for the construction of the stadium which was channeled to Lira district local government.
The money was used for opening the boundaries of the land, clearing and levelling the field of 18.6 acres, construction of access roads and drainage channels. Kakooza told MPs that due to under-funding, further activities on the stadium have been put on halt.
He said that the ministry of Education has made a formal proposal and application through ministry of Finance for financing construction of the stadium from the Chinese government under a grant and interest-free loan.
"The underperforming go Akii Bua stadium and no allocation towards this construction in FY 2019/20. Mr chairman due to underfunding, further activities beyond preliminary works - designs, civil works and supply of stadium equipment cannot take place. Ministry of Finance is consequently exiting the project for the public investment plan for FY 2019/20 because the low funding levels cannot deliver a stadium." he said.
"Mr Chairman, we want to say the money which had been allocated was not for construction of the stadium. The money was for preliminary works including designing of the stadium. So we're trying to look for funding and HE the president requested that we make a formal proposal and application through ministry of Finance for the construction of the Akii Bua stadium to the People's Republic of China." Kakooza added.
The stadium was a pledge by President Yoweri Museveni in 2016 in memory of Uganda's first Olympic gold medallist, John Akii-Bua.
BY Paul Mayambala Tropical Bank Uganda Limited has bankrolled the 2019 UMEA Muslim Solidarity Games with a financial support UGX 6.8 M (Six Million Eight Hundred and forty Thousand shillings) only. The cheque was officially handed over to the UMEA Sports organising committee chairman Hajji Twahil Kiteezaala. Dr. Sulaiman Lujja, the Manager Islamic banking at […] Source
By Musa Ssemwanga It looks like we're in the season of Emcees holding their own concerts where they are the headline acts. It is not long since veteran Emcee KATs organized a concert dubbed 'King of the Mic,' which sold out and got Wave Lounge wishing for more space. On Thursday (April 18), another popular […] Source
Mali's prime minister and his whole government resigned Thursday, four weeks after a massacre of some 160 Fulani herders by an ethnic vigilante group shocked the nation.
"The president accepts the resignation of the prime minister and that of the members of government," a statement from President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita's office said.
It gave no reason for the departure of Prime Minister Soumeylou Boubeye Maiga, but legislators had discussed Wednesday a possible motion of no confidence in the government because of the massacre and failure to disarm militias or beat back Islamist militants.
The March 23 killings by suspected hunters from the Dogon community on Ogossagou, a village in central Mali populated by rival Fulani herders, were bloody even by the recent standards of Mali's ever-worsening violence.
They followed a deadly assault by jihadists on an army post that killed at least 23 soldiers, also in Mali's central region, which was claimed by an al-Qaida affiliate that counts many Fulani herders in its ranks.
Malian authorities have detained five people suspected of taking part in the massacre. But they have not yet succeeded in disarming the militia that many believe organized it, despite pledges by Maiga and Keita to do so.
The largely Saharan nation has been in turmoil since a rebellion by Tuaregs and allied jihadists took over half the country in 2012, prompting the French to intervene to push them back the following year.
Bya Paul Kakande Abaana ku kkanisa ya World Answer Church ekulemberwa Nabbi Jeremiah Sebakijje e Masajja - Kibira mu munisipaali y'e Makindye booleseza ebitone eri abalokole abasabira mu kkanisa eno...
By Julius Senyimba Club Pilsener Evoke nights are back in Kampala with the third edition premier on next Friday. The all-round expressive stage that features raw-unedited talent from the best of the Arts will be hosted by Lugogo Forest Mall parking lot. Revelers will have a cocktail from poets to fashion, film, Live band, spoken […] Source
Kiboga Young FC eya Big League, yeekwasizza ddifiri Daniel Otim okuva e Soroti gw'erumiriza okubalyamu olukwe n'abaggya mu kibalo ky'okwesogga 'Super' obutereevu sizoni ejja. Ku Lwokuna, Kiboga yakubiddwa...
Poliisi ekutte omusawo ku bya Dokita omukazi eyabuziddwaawo. Mulimu ebyabaddewo mu kutambuza ekkubo ly'omusaalaba ne bannaddiini bye baayogedde nga bata akaka. Mu Akeezimbira: Tosubwa engeri gy'osobola...
When Andrew Mugerwa commonly known as Andy Music separated with B2C, critics said that it was the end for the trio and that their downfall was just a few weeks away. To some extent, this might have come to pass because B2C haven't lately been up to their expectation lately and neither has Andy. Andy […]
By Staff Writer One of the longest serving team members on singer Bebe Cool’s team, Richard Kleberson has landed a new ride thanks to his boss. Kleberson revealed to us that thanks to Bebe Cool’s idea of telling him to print the silent majority T-shirts and Caps, he has managed to get a brand new […]
The seven member panel of Supreme court judges has quashed the consolidated presidential age limit appeal in a 4-3 verdict.
Four judges including the chief justice, Bart Katureebe, Jotham Tumwesigye, Rubby Opio Aweri and Stella Arach Amoko quashed the appeal in their judgments delivered separately.
Those who allowed the appeal are justices Paul Mugamba, Eldad Mwangusya and Lillian Tibatemwa-Ekirikubinza.
The consolidated appeal stemmed from applications by city lawyer, Male Mabirizi, six opposition members of parliament and Uganda Law Society challenging the decision of the Constitutional court to uphold the approval of the Constitution (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill, 2017, which paved way for scrapping of the presidential age limit.
The petitioners ran to the Constitutional court citing various flaws in the approval of the bill that scrapped the presidential age limit to allow President Yoweri Museveni who will have clocked 75-years of age to seek re-election in the 2021 polls. The Constitutional court upheld the amendment, forcing the the petitioners to seek redress in the Supreme court.
The four judges who upheld the amendment maintained that the lower court didn't err in law and facts when it upheld that the removal of presidential age limits was done in conformity with the law. Justice Tumwesigye noted that the certificate of compliance which was attached to Bill had format but lacked content and this could not mean that the entire Bill was enacted unlawfully.
He explained that the laws that had earlier been passed illegally including the extension of the MPs term of office to seven years was scrapped off by the lower court and this couldn't render the whole process unlawful.
He argued that he had looked at the evidence from the parliament hansard showing that the MPs were given Shs 29 million for consultation and the feedback on the floor of parliament was that they indeed did the consultations.
Quoting the Lira district Woman MP, justice Tumwesigye said that the evidence showed that she was given money to do consultations in her district and about 6,000 voters turned up. However, police reportedly disrupted them with teargas. In his view; Tumwesigye stated that consultations were done.
Unanimously, the four justices said that the Shs 29 million was not withdrawn from the consolidated fund as raised by the petitioners. They state that the money was reportedly got from the Parliamentary budget.
The justices also found out that although the raid by the army and assault on the legislators was uncalled for, the legislators who had been allegedly assaulted were supported to seek compensation and file complaints against their attackers in the courts of law.
The justices thus dismissed the application with orders that each party bears its own costs in since this was a public interest issue. Justice Katureebe who led the justices also dismissed the application without giving reasons since he was reportedly unwell to read the entire judgment.
Justice Katureebe delegated justice Mwangusya to read the summary on his behalf.
DISSENTING JUDGES
Three justices; Mugamba, Mwangusya and Tibatemwa differed from their colleagues. They argued that the citizens were never consulted adding that the evidence from parliament indicated that most of the MPs were never given ample time to debate the matter.
They explained that out of the 462 MPs, less than 200 consulted their electorate, which implies that the entire process was rushed by parliament.
The Justices also noted that it was illegal for the speaker of parliament to include the Bill on the order paper yet the day it was tabled, it was not part of what was earlier been for discussion by parliament.
The three justices also unanimously ruled that they could not maintain an illegality since they understand clearly that the decision taken by parliament was taking them back to the sad history of Uganda.
Bya Prossy Nababinge Tekikwewuunyisa ng'ebyokulya bye wasuubira okulwawo okwonooneka mu fiirigi yo ate byonoonese mu nnaku entono ddala. Okwewala okufiirizibwa n'endwadde eziva ku byokulya bino okuzaala...
By Staff Writer Finally, Uganda Police has cleared Bobi Wine’s concert. However the Police also gave Bobi Wine tight conditions such as avoiding any songs that incite violence. Police also says Bobi Wine is banned from uttering out abusive words while on the stage.
The seven member panel of Supreme court judges has quashed the consolidated presidential age limit appeal in a 4-3 verdict.
Four judges including the chief justice, Bart Katureebe, Jotham Tumwesigye, Rubby Opio Aweri and Stella Arach Amoko quashed the appeal in their judgments delivered separately.
Those who allowed the appeal are justices Paul Mugamba, Eldad Mwangusya and Lillian Tibatemwa-Ekirikubinza.
The consolidated appeal stemmed from applications by city lawyer, Male Mabirizi, six opposition members of parliament and Uganda Law Society challenging the decision of the Constitutional court to uphold the approval of the Constitution (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill, 2017, which paved way for scrapping of the presidential age limit.
The petitioners ran to the Constitutional court citing various flaws in the approval of the bill that scrapped the presidential age limit to allow President Yoweri Museveni who will have clocked 75-years of age to seek re-election in the 2021 polls. The Constitutional court upheld the amendment, forcing the the petitioners to seek redress in the Supreme court.
Bya Stella Naigino Buli mwaka Amazuukira gabeerawo era abantu abamu batambula ne famire zaabwe ne bakyalako era ng'ebiseera ebisinga abakyaza tebamanya kiki kye bayinza kwetaaga oba obuteetaaga. ...
By Our Reporter The much awaited Easter holiday is here, and for many the celebration means spending time with family. If you are travelling during the Easter season, Vivo Energy wants you to go well. In a true spirit of Easter celebration, the fuel company has announced a new promotion in which all their customers […]
BAKITUNZI ba Marcus Rashford, bamutaddeko obukwakkulzo, bw'aba waakusigala mu ManU. Endagaano y'omuteebi ono eggwaako mu 2020 kyokka ManU teyinza kukkirizza kumweggyako era etandise enteeseganya ezimwongera...
It is always not an easy road in Uganda's music business. It is better to enter it with an open mind. We have seen musicians getting frustrated and fed up in just their first week of singing. This almost happened to Fille Mutoni who almost gave up on her career. "I used to Wonder! Will […]
By Paul Waiswa The local entertainment industry is current caught up by fire without smoke but soon smoke is most likely to manifest itself. Different words are on musician's mouth some talking bad about Band Singer and NU Eagle's boss Geoffrey Lutaaya saying he might have embezzled the funds drew from state house. The current […] Source
The clerk to parliament Jane Kibirige has opposed an application by Chris Ariko Obore, the director of communication and public affairs of parliament seeking a judicial review on the decision to terminate his services.
In her response to the application, Kibirige notes that she didn't terminate Obore's services but only brought to his attention, findings of the systematic investigations by the Inspectorate of Government concerning his recruitment.
In her March 5, 2019 letter to Obore, Kibirige noted that investigations by the Inspector General of Government established that his recruitment was founded on an illegality.
"The report concludes among others that the recruitment of the director, communication and public affairs was founded on an illegality as it was in contravention of the Parliamentary Service (Staff) Regulations, 2001," the letter reads in part.
Adding that; "In view of that finding by the IGG and the same having been brought to our attention, it follows that your employment as Director CPA in the Parliamentary Commission is based on an illegality and out to be reviewed. In the circumstances, it is apparent that your services will have to be terminated accordingly on terms to be agreed upon."
As a result, Obore ran to court seeking an interim injunction to block the Parliamentary Commission from terminating his services, which was granted. On Tuesday, the lawyer for the Parliamentary Commission, Sitina Cherotich asked the High court Civil Division presided over by Justice Henrietta Wolayo to dismiss Obore's application, saying it was baseless.
She based her argument in a sworn affidavit by the clerk to parliament, Jane Kibirige dated April 16, 2019, saying her letter to Obore was very clear.
"The clerk to parliament cannot be faulted for communicating the likely consequences of the report by IGG," said Cherotich.
She said Obore has never even made a formal response to the letter save for petitioning court. Cherotich argued that Obore can't seek a judicial review in the matter where no decision has been made.
Cherotich also noted that Obore didn't present to court any evidence showing that there is a minute of the Parliamentary Commission where a decision was reached to terminate his services.
"My Lord the applicant says that he is still even working moreover after failing to reply to the letter. This application is premature and should be dismissed with costs," Cherotich told court.
However, Obore's lawyer, Augustine Idoot, said according to their interpretation, Kibirige indeed terminated Obore's services. He said that only thing that was left according to letter, is to discuss some issues like how his client would be paid gratuity.
Justice Wolayo adjourned the matter to June 19 when the main suit will be heard.
Background
The Inspectorate of Government started investigating Obore's recruitment after receiving information from a whistleblower that he didn't meet the requirements for the job as advertised by parliament.
According to the 2015 advert by the Parliamentary Commission, the applicants for the job of director of CPA were expected to have a minimum of ten years' experience in Public Service, degree in mass communication, communication studies, journalism or arts with communication and public relations and a master's degree.
By the time Obore got the job in question, he had a bachelor's degree of mass communication from Islamic University in Uganda and lacked the prerequisite experience since he had never worked in public service.
Abadde minisita wa Bashir avunaanyizibwa ku nsonga z'omunda mu ggwanga, Abdelrahim Mohamed Hussein ne Ahmed Haroun eyakulemberako ekibiina kya 'National Congress Party' baggaliddwa. Amawulire ga CNN...
Golden Band singer Mesach Semakula is now a full 'Sir' after the Kabaka of Buganda Ronald Muwenda Mutebi the second gave him this title a few days ago during his 64th birthday celebrations. The Kabaka honored Mesach with a certificate for his outstanding work he has done for the kingdom of Buganda. "You have been […]
Well, lets talk about a Ugandan comedian, sound engineer who worked with Fenon for more than 5 years before moving on as, director and host Comedy Store Uganda. As one of the pioneers of standup comedy in the English language in Uganda with Crackers, Muhangi always dreamed big even when others opted to quit being […]
By Our Reporter It is here! The world’s biggest talent show, Got Talent is now in Uganda. The international franchise which is present in more than 58 countries across the globe has been launched in Uganda as “East Africa's Got Talent”. This was during a ceremony held at the Kampala Serena Hotel on Wednesday. Organised […]
Kireka police station commander, Nicholas Muyonjo, has reportedly agreed to refund the stolen cash exhibit worth Shs 17 million belonging to a businessman, Michael Dean Omoit.
Muyonjo was arrested alongside his junior officer detective, Sgt William Kawooya, while another accused police officer, Sgt Joshua Jagule escaped arrest. The trio allegedly stole the $4,700 cash belonging to Omoit who had moved out to meet his friend. The police's Professional Standards Unit (PSU) ordered for the trio's arrest last week.
Omoit told URN that Muyonjo and Kawooya have been released on police bond after they pleaded with him through his lawyer to let them free so that they can refund the money.
"They requested me to allow them get out so that they can raise my money. But also it was their right because they had been in cells for more than 48 hours. They said they would give me back my money today but I haven't heard from them," Omoit said.
Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson Patrick Onyango, confirmed that Muyonjo and Jagule had been released on bond. A police source said Muyonjo, Jagule and Kawooya will face the police disciplinary Court if they refund the money. The source also says that they risk being dragged to court if they do not raise Omoit's money soon enough.
"They were given police bond. They are likely to appear in our disciplinary court next week," Onyango said.
In his April 10 petition to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) commander, copied to minister of Internal Affairs, inspector general of police, deputy IGP, inspector general of government (IGG), Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), and KMP commander, Omoit says the implicated officers had denied knowledge of the money.
However, Omoit says the three agreed to refund his money after he tabled evidence that incriminates them. The evidence was from witnesses and the Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) footage from Palz Food Court in Kireka from where they allegedly shared the money.
"There are two possibilities. One is that they comply and bring back my money or I proceed with the court process. We have all the evidence that incriminates the suspects that including eyewitnesses and CCTV footage," Omoit said.
He said the DPP had returned the file to Kira CID commander to fix some few gaps and it will be taken back if the suspects delay to raise his money.
Last week, police was again in the spotlight over allegations of theft by its officers during the arrest of FDC activists and leaders in Jinja. Footage shows a police officer stealthily pocketing away journalist and activist, Ronald Muyinda's phone as he got bundled unto a police truck.
See @PoliceUg officer on left with a bulletproof grabbing and pocketing Journalist @RonaldMuhinda's phone.
Back in 2016, Kawempe Criminal Investigations commander Wilberforce Wamanya and the disbanded Flying Squad operative Ivan Musiimenta, were arrested on allegations of exchanging genuine $12,000 notes exhibits with fake ones.
A few days after landing a mega deal with the upcoming East Africa’s Got Talent show, comedian Anne Kansiime is head over heels again over her highly rated boyfriend Tukahirwa alias Sky Da Ugandan who is celebrating his birthday today. Without mentioning his real age, the comedian took to social media and praised the upcoming […]
By Staff Writer James Ssewakiryanga aka Ssewa Ssewa finally unveiled his musical invention to the world at Serena Hotel Kampala. Ssewa Ssewa unveiled the “Janzi” instrument, a music invention that is purely Ugandan. Performing at the event were icons such as Kenneth Mugabi and Michael Ouma. Mugabi put up an amazing performance as he did […]
Friday was an emotional day for Malaika Nnyanzi as she signed out of KFM after two years. She has been the co-host of D'mighty Breakfast alongside Brian Mulondo and the duo really worked their way to expectation. The decision to leave KFM was made a couple of days back but since it was the last […]
Celebrated singer Jose Chameleone aka Joseph Mayanja today started his journey to his political career. On 8th April the singer in a press conference announced he had intentions to run for Mayor ce 2021. This morning Joseph Mayanja started his journey with a visit to his birthplace in Kawempe where he did general cleaning in […]
By Staff Writer. Sudhir Ruparelia’s son and heir to the throne, Rajiv Ruparelia just made a big announcement to Fresh Kid. He has given him an open cheque to study all he wants for life. Rajiv says Fresh Kid is an extremely intelligent kid that should be given all the attention. That means from primary […]
The High court has ordered police to produce a Rwandan couple that has been in detention without trial since January this year.
Justice Lydia Mugambe of Civil Division, ordered the director of Criminal Investigations Department (CID) that Claudine Uwineza and her husband Darius Kayobera be produced before court on April 24 with reasons as to why they have not yet been charged.
"A writ of habeas corpus is issued to the director CID Uganda Police to produce the applicants before Lady Justice Lydia Mugambe on 24th April 2019 at 11 am and show cause why they should not be released," Mugambe's order reads in part.
A writ of habeas corpus is a document requiring a person under arrest to be brought in court to secure his or her release unless lawful reasons are indicated for their detention. Uwineza and Kayobera were arrested on January 29, 2019 from Rubaga–Bakuli reportedly by the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence operatives as they returned to their home.
Their lawyer Eron Kiiza who filed an application against security forces, says that ever since the couple was arrested, they have never been charged or produced in any court to show why they are being detained.
Kiiza said that their children and relatives have since failed to talk to them and notes that there is urgent need to release them because they are diabetic. Kiiza on April 3 also wrote to the inspector general of police, Martins Okoth Ochola seeking to know the whereabouts of the couple but in vain.
According to the court documents presented by Brian Musota a representative of the solicitor general, the couple was arrested by the army for spying but was later handed over to police. In one of the documents signed by the joint chief of staff for the Defense Forces, Lt Gen Joseph Musanyufu says that they were arrested by Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence on allegations of espionage.
"It was discovered that he [Kayobera] possessed both Rwandan and Ugandan national identification cards with different names and also his other status in Uganda was documented as a Congolese refugee," Lt Gen Musanyufu writes in respect to both matters.
Musanyufu states that due to the complexity of the matter, the UPDF decided to send their file to police. The spokesperson of the CID Vincent Ssekatte said that he didn't have any idea about the matter.
By Julius Senyimba For the first time, Jinja derby produced a winner on Wednesday in a StarTimes Uganda Premier League encounter played at a fully packed FUFA Technical Center, Njeru. Bul FC's Richard Wandyaka header was the difference following five consecutive draws as Kirinya JSS fans and players left the venue with a number of […] Source
By Our Reporter Times are changing, and we are fasting moving away from the days when only musicians could become show headliners. Different actors in the entertainment industry from deejays to dancers to emcees, are now all hosting their own shows. The latest on the list of entertainers hosting their own show is MC Esco. […]
Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir did little to hide his contempt for the young men and women protesting to demand an end to his three-decade rule.
Addressing soldiers in January, Bashir, a 75-year-old former paratrooper who seized power in a bloodless coup in 1989, warned the "rats to go back to their holes" and said he would only move aside for another army officer, or at the ballot box.
"They said they want the army to take power. That's no problem. If someone comes in wearing khaki, we have no objection," Bashir, wearing his military uniform, told soldiers at a base in Atbara, the northern Sudanese city where the protests started.
"When the army moves, it doesn't move in a vacuum. It doesn't move in support of traitors. It moves in support of the homeland," he added in colloquial Arabic.
Long a divisive figure
Since taking office in what was then Africa's largest country, he fought a protracted civil war with southern rebels, which ultimately ended with the secession of South Sudan in 2011, and the loss of more than 70 percent of Sudan's oil.
Sudan has suffered prolonged periods of isolation since 1993, when the United States added Bashir's government to its list of terrorism sponsors for harboring Islamist militants. Washington followed up with sanctions four years later.
Bashir has also been indicted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague over allegations of genocide in Sudan's Darfur region during an insurgency that began in 2003.
He has been facing almost daily defiance at home in towns and cities across the country, protests that are still spreading despite mass arrests and a harsh crackdown by security forces using tear gas and live ammunition.
Authorities say at least 31 people have died in the unrest, which started December 19 after the government tried to raise bread prices, while rights groups and local opposition figures say at least 60 have been killed. Hundreds have been injured and hundreds more detained.
"The current protests represent the biggest and deepest challenge to Bashir's rule because they indicate that the crisis has reached a new level," analyst Khalid al-Tijani said.
Economic meltdown
Bashir's critics blame him for Sudan's marginalization and an economic meltdown that saw inflation soar to 72 per cent by the end of 2018 and left the country unable to pay for food imports.
Supporters blame a Western conspiracy designed to undermine Islamist rule in Sudan, just as Bashir rejected the ICC charges over Darfur as part of a neo-colonialist plot. In the months before the protests began, Sudanese had been struggling to makes ends meet. The government tried to introduce reforms, devaluing the Sudanese pound and relaxing import restrictions, all to little effect.
The government had hoped for quick financial support from wealthy Gulf Arab allies after Bashir sent troops to Yemen as part of a Saudi-led alliance fighting rebels aligned with Iran, but help was slow to arrive.
The trigger for the wave of protests was a government attempt to introduce unsubsidized bread, allowing bakeries to sell at a higher price. That came on top of the crippling, drawn-out crisis that had led to fuel and banknote shortages.
The demonstrations quickly turned political, targeting ruling party offices and demanding Bashir step down. Unlike previous bouts of unrest, the protests have spread to parts of the country normally loyal to Bashir, and the heavy-handed response failed to stem the spread. Security forces mostly used tear gas and stun grenades to try to quash the protests, but demonstrators and local rights groups also documented the use of live ammunition.
Protesters often repeat one chant: "Down, that's it." Others shout, "Down, down with Keezan," a derogatory name used to describe Islamists.
Humble beginnings
Bashir was born January 1, 1944, to a poor farming family in Hosh Bannaga, a small village consisting mainly of mud houses and dusty streets on the eastern bank of the Nile River, about 150 km (93 miles) north of the capital Khartoum.
He has often played up his humble beginnings. He recently repeated a story he told in 2013 of how he broke a tooth while carrying concrete at a construction site where he worked as a student to pay for his education.
Bashir said he refused a silver tooth implant when he joined the military because he wanted to remember that incident whenever he looked in the mirror. After graduating from Sudan's military academy in 1967, Bashir served in the Sudanese contingent dispatched to Egypt to help in the war of attrition against Israel that began following the Six Day War in 1967.
As a young officer in the parachute regiment, he joined the armed wing of the Islamist Movement, which broke away from the Muslim Brotherhood and has ruled Sudan since Bashir took office.
The head of the junta that seized power in 1989, Bashir dissolved the military council in 1993 and has since ruled with an iron fist, accused by rights groups of violence and torture to get rid of his political opponents.
Darfur legacy
But it was Bashir's response to the insurgency in the western Darfur region that has come to define his legacy. Facing an ICC arrest warrant over the death of an estimated 300,000 people in Darfur, Bashir has focused on his survival, holding on to power as a shield against a trial similar to that of former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic.
Defying the ICC, Bashir continued to visit friendly foreign states as he tried to demonstrate he had not been cowed by the international arrest warrant issued by the court. Bashir has sought to play on regional and international differences to improve Sudan's standing. In 2013, he hosted then Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad in Khartoum.
Two years later, Bashir joined a Saudi-led alliance that had intervened in Yemen's civil war as part of a strategy to contain Iran's expanding influence.
Bashir has also courted Turkey and Russia, at the same time as Khartoum stepped up security cooperation with Washington, hoping to speed up the country's emergence from decades of U.S. sanctions that were lifted in 2017.
Now, facing the most sustained challenge to his rule yet, Bashir will be counting on steadfast support from the security establishment he has nurtured for 30 years to see him through.
"We say to the youth, this country is yours, protect it, and if it goes up in smoke we won't be refugees, we will die here," he said this month, dressed in white robes and waving his trademark cane.
By Stella Naigino After Minister Florence Nakiwala getting a boarding school for fresh kid to study and pay maximum attention to his studies, Fresh kids mother seems not to be happy. To her she feels that by taking the child to a boarding school, he will not have enough time to develop his singing career. […] Source
songwriter Black Skin determined to make a mark on singing just the way he did with song writing Mention the top songwriters in Uganda and the name Black Skin will appear at the top. He has managed to pen down songs for artistes such as Bebe Cool, Sheebah, Jose Chameleone, Pallaso and Fik Fameica among others […]
This year's International World Jazz Day will be something worth remembering at Isaiah Katumwa will mark the day as usual with his annual concert. Last he left a lasting impression as Katumwa hosted Legendary Cameroonian Afro-Jazz artiste Manu Dibango. This year's edition is promising to be everything Ugandan music lovers ever wished for, with one […]
Bya Paul Kakande Mu kaweefube w'okumalawo ebbula ly'emirimu mu ggwanga, omukulembeze w'eggwanga yasalawo okuteeka amaanyi mu kusikiriza bayinvesita ba wano n'abagwiira okutandikawo amakolero mu ggwanga...
Last week, the Minister of State for Youth and Child Affairs Florence Nakiwala Kiyingi okayed fast-rising 7-year-old rapper Fresh Kid (Patrick Ssenyonjo) to keep on doing music after she had earlier issued to a statement asking the rapper to hung up his microphone and concentrate on school The meeting between the minister and Fresh Kid […]
The newly installed traffic lights in Hoima municipality have excited residents. The traffic lights were installed as part of the Shs 30.1 billion road works under the Uganda Support to Municipal Infrastructure Development (USMID) project.
The traffic lights are found between Hoima Central Police station and Hoima regional referral hospital along the Government road in Kahoora Division Hoima Municipality. Dozens of people have been flocking the road to see the traffic lights, the first of their kind in Hoima municipality.
Godfrey Kukundakwe, a resident of Kiswaza in Kikuube district, says he was forced to ride his motorcycle to see the traffic lights. He says the installation of the traffic lights will help reduce on road accidents more especially near Hoima hospital, where most people tend to drive recklessly.
Robert Kabaseke, a resident of Kirisa cell in Kiduuma ward in Busiisi Division in Hoima municipality, says the installation of the traffic lights is an indication that the municipality is migrating to a city status, arguing that such lights are only found in cities. He calls on the traffic police and municipal authorities to try the public on what the different colours of the lights mean.
Willard Kyomuhendo, a resident of Bucunga in Mparo Division also calls upon the municipality to sensitize them on how to utilize the lights. Grace Mary Mugasa, the mayor Hoima municipality, says the traffic light will control traffic especially near the gate of Hoima hospital.
"You know that light was given as a social corporate responsibility by our contractor, Abubakar Technical services but we agreed that it should be put first at the hospital gate because the motorists were misusing the zebra crossing. They would hoot at people using the zebra crossing, and you know people who are using that part are weak, are sick but some of them were even being knocked. So we have put that as a regulatory measure…and were going to sensitize the people of this area. They have never seen it at least most of them who have never been to Kampala have never seen them." said Mugasa.
Each day that comes we evidence a new fashion style in the trending society that appears differently. In most cases, ladies are looked at as human beings that follow up with fashion since being trendy and classy are some of their own wearing uniform characters. But for today, we decided to also try following up […]
