Buhweju gifts 30% commission of embezzled funds to recovering entities

Buhweju district council has resolved to give 30 per cent of embezzled funds to the recovering entities.

According to the councillors, although the entities receive funding from the government, the 30 per cent commission is meant to motivate the teams to work hard and recover stolen public funds.

The entities mandated to investigate and recover public funds in local governments include the public accounts committee, internal auditor and district council among others. Deo Atuhaire, the Buhweju district LC V chairperson, says that the 30 per cent commission is to motivate the entities to step up their efforts.

He says that the recovering entities have small budgets, which affects their operations. According to Atuhaire, the recovered money is recorded as local revenue, which falls under their mandate.

However, Rodgers Bishanga Rwoozi, one of the councillors, says the proposed commission should have been allocated to service delivery. Francis Nuwajuna, the Buhweju social services secretary, says that most committees have been poorly performing despite having budget allocations.

Deusdedit Beinemugisha, the chairperson Buhweju public accounts committee has welcomed the district resolution, saying that the Shs 5.2 million they receive from the central government annually is not enough to conduct hearings.

He says that the seven-member committee that is supposed to sit three times each quarter is expected to receive allowances and lunch for each sitting, which makes the Shs 1.2 million they receive each quarter very little.

The chairperson pockets Shs 160,000 each sitting while members pocket Shs 120,000 that he says is small for someone fighting corruption. Damba Henry, the Buhweju chief administrative officer, says that money will supplement to the already provided funding stipulated under section 88 (10) of the Local Government Act CAP 243.

Local Government public accounts committees are established under Section 88 (7-9) of the Local Government Act, CAP 243. They are mandated to examine reports of the internal auditor or other inquiry reports about the local government.

The reports of the committee are required to be submitted to the district council for deliberation and recommendations. The Inter audit department is established under Section 90 of the Local Governments Act Cap 243 in every district whose duties and responsibilities are also well defined by regulations 2007.

The internal audit department receives Shs 18 million annually to conduct audits. Recently, Buhweju district public accounts committee directed five district officials to refund Shs 40 million that was misappropriated. The officers fraudulently withdrew the money that was meant to procure motorcycles.

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Election petition: NRM's Wanyoto seeks to file additional evidence

Lydia Wanyoto, the former National Resistance Movement (NRM) Mbale city Woman parliamentary candidate has filed an application for leave of court to amend her petition challenging the victory of her rival, Connie Galiwango and the Electoral Commission.

Appearing in closed chambers at the High court in Mbale before justice Andrew Byabashaija on Monday morning, Wanyoto's lawyers from N. Mugoda Company Advocates, Springs Advocates and Mugabi Ishaka Advocates asked the court to allow them to file additional evidence.

Wanyoto ran to the High court crying foul play after losing to Galiwango with a margin of over 15,000 votes in the January 14, 2021 polls. She claimed that the exercise was marred by gross malpractices including voter intimidation, violence and voter bribery among others.

Her lawyer, Edy Nangulo told journalists that their first task as hearing of their election petition begins was to seek leave of court to amend their petition to nullify the results for specific polling stations where electoral malpractice was prevalent.

Galiwango's lawyer, Medard Lubega Ssegona confirmed receiving Wanyoto's application, saying court has given them up Thursday to respond to the application. Court has scheduled Monday, August 23 to hear the application. Mbale High court, which was allocated six judges is scheduled to handle 31 election petitions over the next 30 days.

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Cindy receives sh60m for Uganda Musicians Association

By Ahmad Muto The Ugandan Musicians Association (UMA) president, singer Cindy Sanyu has on behalf of the association members received sh60m for the purpose of setting up the Association. She took to her Instagram on Monday, August 16, 2021, to…
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DR Congo president seeks US military help against ADF rebels

Democratic Republic of Congo President Felix Tshisekedi on Sunday authorized US special forces to help the Congolese army fight the Allied Democratic Forces, an armed group linked to the Islamic State.

The ADF, which the United States has deemed a terrorist group, is considered the deadliest of scores of armed militias that roam the mineral-rich eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The Catholic Church in the country says the ADF has killed about 6,000 civilians since 2013, while a respected US-based monitor, the Kivu Security Tracker (KST), blames it for more than 1,200 deaths in the Beni area alone since 2017.

"President Felix Tshisekedi authorized the deployment of American anti-terrorism experts in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo," said a statement from the presidency.

The US forces will boost the Congolese army's fight against ADF in the national parks of Virunga and Garamba, it added. The mission will last several weeks and is specifically directed against the ADF.

US ambassador Mike Hammer, who presented the team to Tshisekedi, said that their presence was part of a partnership agreed between the two countries in 2019, according to the presidency's statement.

In March, the US State Department said the ADF is notorious across the region for its "brutal violence against Congolese citizens and regional military forces." The U. has sanctioned alleged leader Seka Musa Baluku and said IS has acknowledged the ADF as an affiliate since 2019.

Congolese authorities' crackdown against ADF has included a "state of siege" in which members of the security forces have replaced top officials in North Kivu and neighbouring Ituri province.

 

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Ndeeba church: state fails to disclose evidence against Dodoviko

The Anti-corruption court in Kampala is set to dismiss all criminal charges filed against city businessman, Dodoviko Mwanje and 19 others for the demolition of St Peters Church of Uganda, Ndeeba for want of prosecution.

Mwanje and several others including five senior police officers, a Gombolola internal security officer (GISO), and bailiffs were arrested in August last year, following the demolition of the church at the height of a land wrangle involving the businessman, members of the Buganda kingdom royal family, and church leaders.

Mwanje is accused of the theft of assorted church properties valued at Shs 850 million. The bailiffs and people who were hired to demolish the church structure are accused of breaching COVID-19 guidelines by operating during curfew time, while the six police officers and the GISO are accused of abuse office, corruption, conspiracy to commit a misdemeanour, and disobeying lawful orders.

Also on the same charge sheet are employees of Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA); Ivan Katongole and Richard Naika, the KCCA physical planner and manager of physical planning and building respectively who are accused of abuse of office.    

But one year since the trial started, the matter is yet to be heard due to the prosecution's delay to disclose the evidence they have on file to the accused persons. Today, the prosecution sought another adjournment when the matter came up for mention before chief magistrate Joan Aciro.

However, the accused persons through their lawyers led by Max Mutabingwa told the court that the delay of the trial is not only an infringement on their fundamental right to a fair and speedy trial, but also causing more pain as many have been on interdiction and therefore not earning income to sustain their families.

"Our clients have been turned into tourists to this court. The case has dragged on for a year now... and we are still on the same footing; asking the state for disclosure. Every time we appear they tell the court that they are ready to disclose but nothing is done," Mutabingwa told the court. 

But state attorney Innocent Aleto noted that the prosecution had been incapacitated by the COVID-19 induced lockdown and restrictions making it impossible to deliver the available evidence to the accused.    

However, the statement was challenged by defense lawyers who argued that the last adjournment was made on May 5, 2021, a month before the president initiated a lockdown on June 18, adding that COVID-19 was now being used as an excuse to abuse court processes. Mutabingwa also asked the court to dismiss the matter.

The magistrate agreed with the defence lawyers and gave the prosecution a period of three weeks to make the disclosures so that the hearing can begin or else the charges be dismissed. The matter returns to court on October 5.

Besides these criminal charges, Mwanje is currently battling other civil matters over the ownership of the land that hosts the church. The government had put aside Shs 3.8 billion to acquire the piece of land in question from him but this arrangement was recently halted by the court.

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Zambia's opposition leader wins presidential elections

Veteran Zambian opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema has clinched the southern African country's presidency, with a commanding vote win.

The 59-year-old businessman, contesting the presidency for the sixth time, has more than 2.8 million votes to President Edgar Lungu's 1.8 million votes, according to results announced Sunday by the Electoral Commission of Zambia.

Hichilema narrowly lost two previous elections to Lungu in 2015 and 2016. Lungu won by a margin of 100,000 votes in 2016.

The winner of the election held Thursday must garner more than 50 per cent of the votes cast to avoid a second round of voting, and Hichilema appears close to the 2.5 million estimated to be more than half of those who voted. The Electoral Commission has announced results for more than 100 of the country's 156 constituencies.

"With victory in sight, I would like to ask for calm from our members and supporters. Let us be the change we voted for," tweeted Hichilema, whose United Party for National Development is in an alliance with more than 10 smaller parties.

Celebrations by his supporters spread across the capital, Lusaka, and other parts of Africa's second-largest producer of copper, ignoring calls by the Electoral Commission for people to wait peacefully for the final official results.

Some of the 16 candidates who ran for president have conceded and congratulated Hichilema. But President Edgar Lungu has signaled that he may not accept defeat. Lungu asserted that the elections had not been free and fair in three provinces seen as opposition strongholds, citing violence and the killings of a few of his supporters, allegedly by the opposition.

Lungu claimed that ruling party polling agents had been brutalized and chased away from voting stations, leaving his party's votes "unprotected."

Lungu said Saturday that although he notified the Electoral Commission of his concerns, "they have continued announcing the results." His Patriotic Front party is "consulting on the next decision we have to make," he said in a statement released by his office.

Lungu's statement indicates that he may challenge the validity of the election in order to stay in power, analysts said.

The overwhelming turnout of voters, particularly of youthful Zambians, was a strong indication that Hichilema was going to do well, according to analyst Nic Cheeseman, professor of politics at the University of Birmingham, who is in Zambia to watch the crucial election. Youthful voters make up a majority of registered voters. The electoral commission noted that the large turnout was unprecedented.

For some of Lungu's supporters, this is more than just a defeat at the ballot box. In a country where a large number of youths are unemployed, many of Lungu's supporters, from the wealthy to the poorest, have relied on patronage and fear losing access to jobs.

Hichilema's UPND officials say it is a practice they plan to eradicate, noting the money going into the pockets of the politically well-connected should instead be channeled to government institutions.

Hichilema's supporters seem to have other ideas though. As results came in thick and fast Sunday following the tense, hard and sometimes violently fought election, his backers say they are preparing to take over these small-scale operations.

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Geosteady angers fans by supporting Prima’s business rival

By Ahmad Muto Over the weekend, singer Geosteady took a jab at his baby mama, Prima Kardashi's boyfriend, Henry Arinaitwe also known as Mr. Henrie claiming he is dependent on Prima because as a poor guy, he has nothing else to give except love. Now he…
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Pia Pounds accused of changing ‘Tupaate’ lyrics

By Ahmad MutoSinger Pia Pounds has been accused by a section of local music consumers of changing her Tupaate song lyrics following its newly acquired hit status. This came after she posted the lyrics to the song on…
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One feared dead as R.Nyamwamba bursts banks again

One person is feared dead in Kasese, western Uganda after river Nyamwamba burst its banks again today morning.

According to residents, four porters who were working on a trekking community bridge in Bulyambuli were swept away by the flooding waters. While three of the workers were safely rescued, one person, Linus Masereka, 18, is still missing.

As a result of Uganda Redcross Society (URCS) issuing early warning messages for people to relocate to safer places following the river overflow, 41 households from around rivers Nyamwamba and Mubuku have safely relocated to safer areas.

By this evening, 22 households from R.Nyamwamba had moved to Basecamp primary school in Central Division. Another 19 households from river Mubuku have moved to Ibanda Kyanya primary school in Maliba sub-county.

 

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Haiti earthquake death toll rises to 700

The death toll in Haiti after a 7.2 magnitude earthquake has risen to more than 700, officials said Sunday.

At least 1,800 people were injured and more remain missing amid widespread damage, authorities said. There also have been several aftershocks.

The temblor struck Saturday near the town of Petit-Trou-de-Nippes, about 125 kilometers west of the capital, Port-au-Prince, at a depth of 10 kilometers, according to the US Geological Survey.

Prime Minister Ariel Henry, who took office just three weeks ago after the assassination of President Jovenel Moise, said the government was mobilizing aid to the affected areas.

"The most important thing is to recover as many survivors as possible under the rubble," Henry told The Associated Press. "We have learned that the local hospitals, in particular that of Les Cayes, are overwhelmed with wounded, fractured people."

Henry declared a monthlong state of emergency for the country.

"The needs are enormous. We must take care of the injured and fractured, but also provide food, aid, temporary shelter and psychological support," Henry said. He later boarded a flight to Les Cayes, in the island nation's southwest.

Les Cayes, which is the largest town near the epicenter, reported collapsed buildings and major damage, officials said. Rescue workers were searching for survivors.

In Les Cayes, the country's third-largest city, resident Jean Marie Simon, 38, told Reuters he was at the market when the quake struck. As he ran home, he said he could hear the cries of people in distress.

"I saw bodies being pulled out of the rubble, injured and perhaps dead people," Simon said. "I heard cries of pain everywhere I passed through."

People in Port-au-Prince felt the tremor, and many rushed into the streets in fear, although there did not appear to be damage there, AP reported. Naomi Verneus, a 34-year-old resident of Port-au-Prince, told AP she was jolted awake by the earthquake.

"I woke up and didn't have time to put my shoes on. We lived the 2010 earthquake and all I could do was run. I later remembered my two kids and my mother were still inside. My neighbor went in and told them to get out. We ran to the street," Verneus said.

The temblor was felt as far away as Cuba and Jamaica, although there were no reports of damage or injuries. At magnitude 7.2, the earthquake was bigger and shallower than the magnitude 7 quake that struck Haiti in 2010, killing up to 300,000 people. The country is also weathering a political crisis.

President Moise was assassinated in his home on July 7 and his wife, Martine Moise, was injured in the attack. Martine Moise, posted a message on Twitter on Saturday, calling for unity among Haitians: "Let's put our shoulders together to bring solidarity. It is this connection that makes us strong and resilient. Courage. I am always by your side."

To add to the country's difficulties, Tropical Storm Grace is forecast to hit Haiti late Monday or early Tuesday, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center. Humanitarian aid groups said the earthquake would only worsen the suffering in Haiti, the poorest nation in the Americas.

"We're concerned that this earthquake is just one more crisis on top of what the country is already facing, including the worsening political stalemate after the president's assassination, COVID and food insecurity," Jean-Wickens Merone, spokesman for World Vision Haiti, said, according to the AP.

Other countries were also offering help to Haiti, including Argentina and Chile.

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Take a good look in the mirror- Geo steady’s ex taunts him

By Alex Balimwikungu     If messy was a couple, then singer Geosteady and estranged baby mama, Prima Kardash Ndagire are one such couple. These two have displayed some of the most toxic aspects of their relationships online without…
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Medals can’t buy an athlete sugar – Muhangi

By Julius Senyimba Just like the complex question of which came first; the chicken or the egg, Uganda Boxing Federation boss Moses Muhangi has argued that developing sports infrastructure is more important than winning medals.  “The medals are…
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Bruno K did not understand his five year contract – Angela Katatumba defends BMR

By Ahmad Muto Singer and city socialite Angella Katatumba has defended the music label Black Market Records against singer Bruno K's allegations arguing that he did not understand his contract.Bruno K, who joined BMR in 2020, came out…
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Museveni increases medical interns allowance to Shs 2.5m from Shs 750,000

President Yoweri Museveni has directed that medical interns be paid a monthly allowance of Shs 2.5 million. 

In a letter addressed to the prime minister and the ministries of Health, Finance and Public service, Museveni says the medical interns should be paid the money because they work long hours.

In May, the medical interns went on strike accusing the government of not addressing their demands. The interns wanted the government to increase their monthly allowance from Shs 750,000 to Shs 5 million that junior medical officers get. The interns also wanted the government to provide housing for them.

Following several meetings held between representatives of the interns, members of the Uganda Medical Association, ministry of Health officials and the president, the strike was called off in June with the promise that the interns would get a salary increment.

"It was noted that medical interns earn a net pay of Shs 750,000 which is not enough to meet basic needs. It is against this background, that I direct that all medical interns be paid half of the recommended pay of the fully appointed officers in the respective professions starting July 2021. For intern doctors, this should be Shs 2,500,000 i.e. half of the Shs 5,000,000 a medical officer is to earn," the statement reads in part.

The pay increase will also affect graduate nurses, midwives and pharmacists that have all been learning Shs 750,000 monthly. Dr Lillian Mary Nabwire, the president of the Federation of Uganda Medical Interns says that the increment will go a long way in improving the lives of intern doctors.

"This was the amount that we agreed upon with the president. It is not the Shs 5 million that we wanted but it is better than what we were getting. Of course, there can never be enough money but from the Shs 750,000 that we have been getting, this money will enable people to at least buy meals and even afford to pay rent in decent places," Nabwire said.

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Injured Kyanja curfew violator seeks justice, money for medical bills

A man who was allegedly beaten by combined police and Local Defence Unit (LDU) personnel while returning home during curfew time is seeking justice after sustaining life-threatening injury on the head. 

Abdullah Wakubona, a resident of Kyanja, in Nakawa Division says he was intercepted a few minutes to 7 pm about a week ago. Within a moment, he recalls that he was beaten up by combined security teams of field force and LDU personnel from Kyanja police station who were deployed to enforce nighttime curfew guidelines. 

The nighttime curfew was declared by President Yoweri Museveni as one of the measures to control movement at a time when the country is struggling to contain the COVID-19 pandemic. It runs from 7 pm to 5:30 am every day. 

Wakubona, who is currently admitted at Anna Medical clinic in Kyanja says that the security operation was led by Richard Osege, the officer-in-charge of Kyanja police station. He says one LDU personnel hit him with a baton on the head several times leading to bleeding before he blacked out. He alleges that during the scuffle, he also lost his earnings for the day amounting to Shs 200,000. 

Wakubona adds that medics at Anna Medical have advised him to seek proper medication and a brain scan to establish the intensity of the injury. However, he says he is helpless and has no money to seek advanced treatment. He now wants the officers to be pursued to clear his medical bill. 

Kampala Metropolitan deputy police spokesperson Luke Owoyesigyire declined to comment on the matter saying he is yet to be briefed about the incident but advised Wakubona to open a case file with Kira Road police division.          

Kyanja Parish councillor Julia Nalubwama, who is also the deputy speaker of Nakawa Division says that her office has registered six incidents of people being beaten by LDU's and police while enforcing curfew time in the last one month. 

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Memory Lane: Letter O by Ragga Dee

By Dennis Asiimwe Letter O is a representation of Ragga Dee's carefree approach to his music career. I first noticed his forays into the music industry when he started freestyling at Angenoir Discotheque, back when the world was…
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Attorney General files affidavit defending vehicle tracking system

The Attorney General Kiryowa Kiwanuka has defended the government's decision to introduce vehicle tracking devices.

Kiwanuka says that the GPS trackers will only be used to trail suspected criminals but will not in any way interfere with the right to privacy of ordinary law-abiding citizens. This is contained in an affidavit submitted to the court by the lawyers from the Attorney General's chambers which is contained in an affidavit by Hajji Yunus Kakande the secretary to President Yoweri Museveni. 

Last week, Legal Brains Trust filed an application challenging the decision by the government to have all vehicles and motorcycles fitted with security tracking devices.

Last month, the government signed an agreement with a Russian company, Joint Stock Company Global Security to provide digital trackers to all vehicles in the country. Museveni said that the tracking devices will help deal with criminals who he said use vehicles and motorcycles to kill people and then disappear without a trace.

But Legal Brains Trust which is headed by Isaac Ssemakadde was not happy with this decision hence challenging it before the High court.

The organization asked court to issue a temporary injunction restraining the government and all her agents from enforcing the presidential directives, cabinet resolutions, agreements, contracts, statutory instruments and other documents by whatever name called.

Court heard that unless restrained, the conduct of the Attorney General and other persons or authorities interested in the challenged surveillance program will create a chilling effect on freedom of expression, freedom of association, freedom of movement, and a bundle of other rights and freedoms, and is thus detrimental to the public good or welfare or good governance.

However, the Attorney General argues that the implementation of Intelligent Transport Monitoring System (ITMS) in Uganda is not a breach of the right to privacy because the system will not be used to trail ordinary law-abiding citizens, but will only serve as a backup to trace vehicles and motorcycles used in the commission of criminal offences.

The affidavit by Kakande indicates that the government signed a memorandum of understanding on July 23, 2021, with the Joint Company Global Security to carry out a feasibility study for ITMS and that way back in December 2018.

He adds that a technical committee comprising of officers from the National Enterprise Corporation, Uganda People's Defense Forces (UPDF), ministry of Security among others, conducted due diligence on the company and concluded that it could undertake the project.

According to the government, "the law permits for the collection of data for national security and prevention, detection, investigation of an offence or breach of the law".

The government also contends that the information collected shall be processed and stored through an ITMS which is subject to the data protection principles provided for in the law.

The affidavit adds that "as a standard practice, the ITMS system will have several approval hierarchies for a few selected officers justifying and giving reasons why a given vehicle should be tracked."

Kakande also states that the financial model which shall be the basis to determine the cost, financing and return on investment under the agreement has not yet been approved.  

On the issue of registration of the company, the government says that it's not mandatory for a foreign company intending to do business in Uganda to register with the Uganda Registration of Services Bureau and also the agreement between the two is not governed by procurement laws.

"I have been advised by Attorneys in the Attorney General's chambers that the applicant had not proved it will suffer any irreparable injury not atoneable by the award of damages in case this application is not granted," reads the affidavit in part.

The Attorney General now wants the application dismissed with costs saying that it has no merit, is an abuse of court process because the government has a constitutional duty to protect all its citizens and to prevent and detect crime. The matter will now return to court on August 27, 2021 before justice Boniface Wamala.

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I have been with my baby daddy for seven years – Juliana

By Ahmad Muto Singer Juliana Kanyomozi had a Q&A session on her YouTube account on Tuesday, August 10 responding to the frequently asked questions from her fans. It is important to note that she was silent for a…
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Why it might be hard to convict Lumbuye in Uganda

As the controversy surrounding the arrest and extradition of blogger, Fred Lumbuye to Uganda continues to play out, what is emerging is that it might even be harder to successfully try and convict him for his alleged cybercrimes.

Lumbuye's whereabouts remain unknown for now since his alleged arrest last week, with conflicting statements emerging from Turkey and Uganda. What is clear for now is that if the government finally takes him to the court, it might struggle to obtain a conviction for the crimes he is being accused of.

This week, police spokesperson Fred Enanga said they will prefer at least 15 charges against Lumbuye including crimes provided for under the Computer Misuse Act. Enanga also mentioned terrorism as another charge that awaits Lumbuye if he ever gets his day in court. 

But a look at the crimes that are provided for in the Computer Misuse Act and the court precedents reveal that Lumbuye might be out of the realm of people who can be tried under that Act. The Act provides for a number of offenses but the most outstanding that Lumbuye might be charged under sections; 24, 25 and 26, which talk about cyber harassment, offensive communication and cyberstalking.

Section 24 says that a person who commits cyber harassment is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding seventy-two currency points or imprisonment not exceeding three years or both. The section defines cyber harassment as the use of a computer for; making any request, suggestion or proposal, which is obscene, lewd, lascivious or indecent; threatening to inflict injury or physical harm to the person or property of any person, or knowingly permits any electronic communications device to be used for any of the purposes mentioned above.  

On the other hand, section 25 says that any person who willfully and repeatedly uses electronic communication to disturb or attempts to disturb the peace, quiet or right of privacy of any person with no purpose of legitimate communication whether or not a conversation ensues commits a misdemeanour and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding 24 currency points or imprisonment not exceeding one year or both.  

While section 26 says any person who willfully, maliciously, and repeatedly uses electronic communication to harass another person and makes a threat with the intent to place that person in reasonable fear for his or her safety or to a member of that person's immediate family commits the crime of cyberstalking and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding 120 currency points or imprisonment not exceeding five years or both.  

However, what makes it very hard to convict these people under the Act is section 30, which limits the jurisdiction of the law. Although the section says that the Act has powers over any person, whatever his or her nationality or citizenship and whether he or she is within or outside Uganda, it says it can only apply if the offense in question, the accused was in Uganda at the material time of committing it or the computer, program or data was in Uganda at the time of the crime.

In fact, that was the very reason why High court judge Dr Henry Peter Odonyo quashed the conviction and sentencing of Dr Stella Nyanzi by Buganda Road chief magistrate Gladys Kamasanyu. Nyanzi was arrested and charged in 2018 for cyber harassing President Yoweri Museveni.  

She was sentenced to two years in prison. Dissatisfied, Nyanzi appealed both her conviction and sentencing at the High court alleging among others that the magistrate court had no powers to try her because there was no evidence indicating that by the time she wrote on her Facebook timeline she or the devices she was using were in Uganda.  

In his judgment, Adonyo said that for as long as court lacks jurisdiction over a matter, its decisions are null and void.

"If the jurisdiction of an inferior court or tribunal (including an arbitrator) depends on the existence of a particular state of facts, the court must inquire into the existence of the facts in order to decide whether it had jurisdiction...Where the court takes it upon itself to exercise a jurisdiction which it does not possess, its decision amounts to anything. Jurisdiction must be acquired before judgment is given," Adonyo's judgment on February 20, 2020 reads in part. 

It adds that the non-presentation in the magistrate's court of a forensic report pointing to the location of both the device and the offender disadvantaged it to ascertain whether it was seized from within Uganda.

"Since the issue of jurisdiction go to the root of the case with the consequences that any lack of it would render the decisions of the court, however, technically correct or precise to be of no legal consequence and therefore void…From the above, my conclusion is that the proof of the identity and the residency of the offending computer, program or data and the offender in relation to the committal of an offense as brought under the Computer Misuse Act is crucial before a court can purport to try a case brought under the said Act for section 30 of the Act clearly directs in very clear provisions as to how a court seizes jurisdiction with any failure to determine the same from the onset rendering any trial conducted as a result of non-appreciation of this jurisdictional remit having serious consequences…My finding is that the learned trial magistrate in the lower trial court did err in law and fact when she entertained the case against the appellant yet her the court had no jurisdiction with the illegal assumption of jurisdiction renders the trial in the lower court a nullity," the judgment adds.     

Male Mabirizi, who has litigated so many cases against the state said going by Nyanzi's judgment, Lumbuye cannot be tried in Uganda for the crimes he allegedly committed in Turkey.

"As per the decision of Nyanzi, there is no way a person can be charged or convicted of an offense in relation to Computer Misuse Act without establishing the computer footprint which locates the computer location showing that it was in Uganda, in absence of which, the court has no jurisdiction. CID confessed before court in Nyanzi's case that Facebook has never responded to any of their footprint requests hence they can't get the evidence," Nyanzi said.      

On the terrorism or treason charges, which are the other charges that the government is considering, Mabirizi said, those will be charges in futility because Uganda has no powers to charge offenses committed in Turkey with Facebook not willing to share any information with them.

"They can't locate where he was and can't exhibit his videos," Mabirizi said. Like Mabirizi, Isaac Ssemakadde, who was the lead lawyer in the Nyanzi case, said unless the government can prove that it has an extraterritorial jurisdiction interest in having Lumbuye, it's fighting a dead end.   

"Government must look for an offense in its Acts which have extraterritorial jurisdiction but it must be consistent with international law otherwise, it's going to be very hard for them to charge Lumbuye because clearly, they don't have jurisdiction," Ssemakadde said.  

He however said he wasn't optimistic that government will not try to abuse the law with the help of lawyers and charge Lumbuye.

"The culture of lawyering in Uganda is to enable governmental abuse the law. The lawyers will take a plea; they will ask for bail in essence they will play a conventional game instead of asking the government to justify a charge before taking plea. The truth of the matter is that the government must have a forensic report, which it must show the court at the beginning that they have jurisdiction because it's a foundational issue," Ssemakadde said.

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Nigeria Twitter ban to end soon - Information minister

Nigeria plans to soon lift its ban on Twitter, the country's Information minister said Wednesday, two months after authorities blocked the social network when a tweet by the president was deleted.

Information minister Lai Mohammed told journalists that an "amicable resolution is very much in sight," but did not specify how soon the ban could be lifted in Africa's most populous nation.

Sarah Hart, a Twitter spokesperson, said the company had recently met with the Nigerian government to discuss the ban.

"Our aim is to chart a path forward to the restoration of Twitter for everyone in Nigeria," Hart said in an emailed statement. "We look forward to ongoing discussions with the Nigerian government and seeing the service restored very soon."

Nigeria suspended Twitter's operation on June 4 after the social media network deleted a post by President Muhammadu Buhari in which he threatened to treat separatists "in the language they will understand."

Nigerian officials, though, have denied that the ban was in retaliation for deleting the president's tweet. The decision drew widespread criticism from Nigerians, many of whom pointed out how the government announced the ban on its Twitter page.

The U.S. said the ban "has no place in a democracy" while Amnesty International said it is "inconsistent and incompatible with Nigeria's international obligations."

Many Nigerians defied the ban and continued to access the social network with the aid of virtual private networks (VPN). A West African court in June restrained the federal government from prosecuting those still using Twitter.

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Taxes leave Nince Henry with sh6m out of sh108m from caller back tunes

By Ahmad Muto Singer and songwriter Nince Henry has expressed frustration with the what has become popular opinion that caller tunes and online music sales should become the new cash cow for local artistes.He rubbished the idea illustrating…
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TV star Chosen Pamela outs new gospel song

By Paul Waiswa TV personality and female gospel musician Pamela Ssenyonga, a.k.a Chosen Pamela, has released a new song titled, "Nesize omusaayi gwa Yesu', The song produced by Kiwa of 3 in 1 studios,  comes hot on the…
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Evelyn Lagu back from Turkey

By Paul WaiswaAiling singer turned actress Evelyn Lagu Nakabira also known as Evelyn love is finally back home. Lagu was late last month reported to be stuck in hospital in Turkey chocking on a $30,000 hospital bill. According to…
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S.Sudan court fines woman $87,000 for defaming minister on Facebook

South Sudan's High court has sentenced social media influencer and self-proclaimed activist Amira Ali Thomas to six months in prison for defaming former Warrap state Information minister Nyanagwek Kuol through videos she posted online. 

The Juba court on Monday also ordered Ali Thomas, known as Mama Amira Ali to pay 35 million South Sudanese pounds (about $87,000) to Kuol in compensation. 

Ali is known for posting searing commentary about South Sudanese personalities and government officials and often uses vulgar language in live videos on her Facebook page. In April, Ali posted two videos insulting Kuol's family in her native Dinka language. Kuol later sued Ali for defamation.  

Prosecutors in the Munuki West district opened a criminal case against Ali in June after Kuol filed a formal complaint with police about the videos Ali posted on her Facebook account. 

"These videos offended the reputation of the complainant and her family, then the police started the investigations," said judge Angolie Okumu, who presided over the court case. 

After reviewing the videos and presiding over several hearings, Okumu found Ali guilty of insulting and disparaging Kuol's family. The ruling used a law that prohibits the harming of someone's reputation. Ali Thomas is "forbidden from uttering a word or committing a crime within the six-month period" or until she is sent to prison, according to court documents. 

But Okumu suspended the jail time due to Ali Thomas' health issues, which include a heart condition, high blood pressure and diabetes, the court said. 

Prosecuting lawyer Achuil Kuol, not related to the former Information minister, told VOA's South Sudan in Focus that although the ruling seemed fair, his client is not happy that Ali was given a suspended prison sentence. Kuol said the medical documents presented in court did not come from an official medical institution. 

"We said the court [should have] ruled and dismissed the documents because they are irrelevant," Kuol said. 

Ali, who appeared relaxed during the sentencing, said she appreciated the court's ruling and said it sends a message to South Sudanese citizens that a judicial system is in place and no one is above the law. 

"I am not annoyed," she said, adding that the videos centered on a family dispute and were not aimed at the former information minister. 

"I have no problem with Nyanagwek," she told reporters.

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Museveni gifts new vehicles to Uganda's Olympic medalists

President Yoweri Museveni has donated three brand new Pajero vehicles to Ugandan athletes who won medals at the just-concluded Tokyo Olympic Games.

The athletes rewarded include Joshua Cheptegei who won a 5,000m gold medal and a 10,000m, silver medal, Peruth Chemutai who won a 10,000m women's gold medal and Jacob Kiplimo who won a bronze in the 10,000m final.

Museveni rewarded the athletes during the official welcome reception held at the Kololo Ceremonial Grounds on Wednesday. The president congratulated the medalists, saying that they have represented the country well, and promised to build houses for the parents of the three medalists. 

"Now, these ones who have won Olympic medals, in my happiness because am a happy man now; you know happy men can be generous, I will give each of them a vehicle. They [vehicles] are here already, then finally...I will build houses for the parents of these gold medal people," said a joyous Museveni. 

Museveni also re-affirmed that all Ugandan medalists will receive their arrears for the monthly stipends, a pledge he made since 2013. He said only three categories of medalists in the African Continental Championships, Commonwealth Games and Olympic Games will receive Shs 5 million (gold), Shs 3 million (silver) and Shs 1m (bronze) as monthly stipends. 

"In my low-cost approach, some time ago, I gave an order but apparently it was not fully implemented that anybody who wins a gold at a continental level, Commonwealth or marathon - these things of Berlin what, I don't know. I just want 3 things, continental, African, Commonwealth or Olympics. I said, once you get a gold medal, you should be paid She 5m per month all the time. But now I was told they were being paid quarterly. I didn't say quarterly, I speak English very well, I said monthly. Maybe I didn't put it in the local language - buli mwezi and now I can see some of the people here are rich people because they will have to be paid their back pay which should have been paid. This is my small way of contributing without the billions of Kenya. So She 5m for gold, Shs 3m for silver and Shs 1m for bronze," Museveni said. 

The president urged the security forces to recruit all young people who have talent so that they can have a permanent salary to help them in their training.

Janet Kataha Museveni, minister for Education and sports thanked her husband Museveni for facilitating the team in the summer games, she also thanked Japan's government for hosting Uganda's contingent throughout the Olympic Games. Mrs Museveni said it was through security brought about by Museveni that Uganda was able to win 4 medals at the Olympics.  

Hamson Obua, the state minister for Sports also thanked the president and first lady for facilitating the team and guiding the team in the fight against COVID-19. Uganda sent a contingent of 25 athletes to the Tokyo Olympic Games.  Uganda finished 36th out of the 205 nations and 2nd in Africa.

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I have not sold my music catalogue to anybody – Chameleone

By Ahmad MutoSinger Jose Chameleone has finally opened up on the rumours that he sold his entire music catalogue for sh3.5b to local music streaming platform, Ugatunes. He has with a lot of fury asked those spreading the…
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Olympics medalists receive cars, to be paid monthly

By Ahmad Muto Uganda's Olympics medalists, Joshua Cheptegei, Peruth Chemutai and Jacob Kiplimo where on Wednesday, August 11, 2021 hosted at the Kololo Independence Grounds where President Yoweri Museveni handed them three Mitsubishi Pajero Sport cars for their exceptional…
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Bobi Wine’s daughter in Princess Moana themed birthday party

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Covid-19 spikes diabetes cases

For some people, Covid-19 can trigger symptoms that last weeks or months after recovery from infection. This is sometimes called post-Covid-19 syndrome or "long Covid."

Although most people with Covid-19 get better within weeks of illness, some people experience post-Covid conditions – a wide range of new, returning, or ongoing health problems that last four or more weeks after first being infected with the virus. And now some Covid-19 survivors are reporting a severe spike in their sugar levels and an onset of diabetes.

Local medical experts are working to learn more about short- and long-term health effects associated with Covid-19, who gets them, and why.

On June 15, Eunice Nakintu walked into a medical clinic and received a positive Covid-19 diagnosis days after enduring constant mild headaches, colds, and fever. She gobbled up gallons of concoctions to ease the symptoms. On June 18, she developed severe illness, which required hospitalization.

On top of a severe headache and fever, she was unable to speak properly. She also developed breathing complications. She spent another two weeks on and off oxygen.

Luckily for her, the symptoms wore off and by the third week she was able to breathe on her own. But something new came up. Throughout her three weeks' stay in hospital, her toilet visits shot up from one to an average of four times. She was always thirsty and hungry. Her doctor was puzzled. He ordered a random blood test [RBS]. The results showed a spike in sugar levels; 19.7mmol/L [millimole per liter of blood] way above 7mmmol/L considered the upper limit of normal levels.

The spike was dangerously high for the 67-year-old Nakintu. Before she was discharged, the doctor urged her to monitor her sugar levels daily. His prediction was that after full recovery, the sugar levels will drop and normalise. It's now over a month since she left hospital but her sugar levels haven't dropped to the normal 7mmol/L. In the meantime, she is enrolled on anti-diabetic drugs to manage her condition.

Nakintu's story is a not an isolated one. Rogers Katumba, another Covid-19 survivor, has a similar tale to tell. Dr Monica Musenero, the minister of Science, Technology and Innovation and head of the Presidential Scientific Initiative on Epidemics [PRESIDE], said they have received a number of new diabetes cases brought on by Covid-19.

"It's a known phenomenon but what we are yet to find out is what exactly causes it. Sometimes, the treatment given to arrest inflammation caused by Covid causes diabetes. But we are still carrying out research to know exactly what causes it," Musenero said.

Interviewed for this story, Dr Emmanuel Onyait, who works at Kibuli hospital and treats diabetes patients, said steroid tablets given to deal with severe illness have aftershocks.

"Dexamethasone that is used in Covid-19 management causes intolerance and very high blood sugar levels. But its benefits in severe management of Covid-19 outweigh the risks," Onyait said.

Dr Xavier Kasujja, a researcher at Makerere University School of Public Health, who has written extensively about diabetes, said the drugs used to manage Covid-19 could be a trigger to the development of diabetes.

"Like most things about Covid-19, we really don't know why that is the case but it's an association we have noticed and people are trying to study it to get a clear understanding of it," Kasujja said.

He added, however, that some people's sugar levels normalize after a few months but for others their sugar levels stay high and must be handled just like any other diabetic case.

"People who have developed diabetes after Covid should see a physician because management is the same irrespective of how it came. If they don't do that, they risk damaging the blood vessels to all the vital organs of the body. So, irrespective of the cause, we really need to take control of that sugar," Kasujja said.

Asked whether the body doesn't get hooked to the anti-diabetic drugs if a person starts using them, Kasujja said there is no evidence to suggest that.

"The reason we know this is that in some people, diabetes goes away and they need less and less of the drugs. For the lucky ones, they eventually don't need any drugs at all. If they highly manage their diet and also do physical exercises, it will take the pressure off the pancreas, meaning it's able to regain control of the blood sugar," Kasujja said.

Dr Musenero said those who have the condition need to first visit Mulago hospital's Post-Covid facility and consult specialists before they start on anti-diabetic drugs.

"I know there are some doctors who are working to reverse this… For us in the management of Covid-19, such conditions have informed us about the changes in the treatment regimen. Therefore, people who develop such conditions before they enroll on diabetes treatment drugs, they should first seek advice," Musenero said.

According to an analysis published by the journal, Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism, at least 14.4 percent of people hospitalized with severe Covid-19 developed diabetes. However, researchers are yet to find the connection between Covid-19 and diabetes.

"While newly diagnosed diabetes in Covid-19 patients could be attributed to the stress response associated with severe illness or treatment with glucocorticoids, the diabetogenic effect of Covid-19 should also be considered. This is supported by reports showing exceptionally high insulin requirements in severely or critically ill Covid-19 patients with diabetes. These appear disproportionate when compared with critical illness caused by other conditions," the analysis reads in part. It adds that in addition to defective insulin secretion, Covid-19 patients also present with a high degree of insulin resistance, particularly those with severe illness.

"It is not known whether this is because of the insulin receptor defects in the key metabolic organs associated with glucose metabolism or interference with the insulin receptor signaling by the virus," the report adds.

Like in Uganda, doctors elsewhere are still scrambling to find a definite answer to what is the relationship between Covid-19 and diabetes. However, what is no longer in disrepute is the fact that people with diabetes have more chances of developing severe illness after contracting Covid-19 and actually there is also a higher chance that they die from the disease.

mmkakembo@gmail.com

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UPDF soldiers on edge of revolt in Equatorial Guinea

A slow-simmering grudge between the contingent commander and his legion of Ugandan troops deployed in the West African country of Equatorial Guinea to keep peace threatens to boil over into a full-blown public crisis.

The troops under the Ugandan Military and Mentoring Team (UMTMT) V have threatened to turn their backs on the top contingent commander, Col. James Kato Kalyebara, who they accuse of continued mistreatment, discrimination, and being short-tempered – and transferring, expelling, and suspending whoever disagrees with him.

Currently, the soldiers want to revolt against the commander because their repeated pleas for help to bosses back in Uganda have fallen on deaf ears. The Observer has also learnt that officials in the oil-rich country tried to talk about the Ugandan commander's actions in vain.

The most recent meeting aimed at discussing Kalyebara's conduct was held in the Malabo palace at the office of the minister for National Security, Manuel Nguema Mba but bore no tangible result. The troops, therefore, want the army leadership in Uganda to rein-in the "insensitive commander."

"The situation has not been conducive since our deployment. We have been asking ourselves why of all sober UPDF commanders, they chose to punish us with this one. You can't be at loggerheads with literally everyone on the mission including officers of the host nation," our source said.

The source added that the current situation, if not expeditiously handled, is likely to cause a diplomatic standoff as well as threaten the continuity of the deployment of Ugandan troops in Equatorial Guinea.

Uganda is mandated to deploy 250 soldiers in batches to secure the President of Equatorial Guinea, the first family, and other key principal installations and mentor Guinean military forces. This current fifth batch is supposed to rotate out in January 2022.

THREE SECTORS

The UMTMT V troops are deployed in the country's three sectors of Bata [taskforce headquarters], Malabo, and Mongomo. The first batch of soldiers arrived on February 9, 2021. Five days later, the second batch also set foot in the mission area.

The 250 personnel, picked from various units of the UPDF with the Special Forces Command taking a lion's share, were flagged off from the Peacekeeping Support Operations - Training Center (PSO-TC) in Singo by the former Commander Land Forces, Lt. Gen Peter Elwelu.

Equatorial Guinea committed to pay a monthly wage of $450 (about Shs 1.6m) to each soldier. At least $100 (about Shs 350,000) is given to soldiers as an out-of-pocket allowance in the mission area while the balance $350 (about Shs 1.2m) is deposited on their bank accounts in Uganda.

According to our sources, several reports about the commander have been sent to top security organs in Uganda urging an investigation but no action has been taken. Since the troops reported early this year, they have received only two investigators from Uganda.

On April 14, 2021, Col. Deus Ndyabagye and Maj Dickens Kanyore, all staff of the Land forces in Bombo, went to Equatorial Guinea but sources in the camp claim no thorough investigations were made during their one-week stay.

"When they reached the mission area, the commander compromised them. It was just merrymaking and drinking alcohol instead of spending more time with the troops to ascertain the truth in our complaints," the sources said.

"Our bosses in Uganda seem to be adamant about our situation because we expected many changes in the mission but the situation just worsened since they reported back to Uganda."

The troops now want another independent investigative team. The UMTMT V is mandated to operate with 250 personnel but currently it's less by two soldiers who were repatriated back to Uganda on May 22, 2021. These include; L/Cpl Jubille Amanya and Pte Geoffrey Liaka.

It's alleged that on May 5, 2021, five soldiers in Malabo sector escaped and went out drinking alcohol at night. They were attacked by unknown people. Although Amanya and Liaka were singled out as ringleaders and repatriated, their monthly out-of-pocket allowance is still being paid.

The other three errant officers; Cpl Majiu Aoki, Cpl Opio, and Pte Enock Arinaitwe got a pardon; they simply wrote statements and signed warning forms. Soldiers are still dissatisfied with the repatriation of their colleagues. They noted that most decisions made by the commander are based on rumors.

The troops also accuse the commander of creating parallel reporting structures with no adequate information, which explains his drastic decisions. 

The latest victim of rush decision-making is the commander of Malabo sector, Maj Geoffrey Mulongo, who was suspended, pending his repatriation – just five months into the mission area. Sources said Mulongo has never received any verbal warnings from the commander or written a statement in relation to his suspension.

On July 9, 2021, Col. Kalyebara sent a message to his superiors in Uganda notifying them about his decision. On August 3, Uganda sent a flight to replenish the team in Equatorial Guinea. On the plane's return journey, Maj Geoffrey Mulongo was finally repatriated on orders of the commander.

However, upon arrival at the airport, sources told The Observer that Mulongo was arrested and is currently detained in Bombo. Maj Johnson Tumwesigye also returned on the same flight. Tumwesigye was the commander of the Mongomo sector before he was abruptly returned to the Bata sector as the Tank Component commander.

Tumwesigye was only restricted to overseeing the tanks, and not any other roles in the mission. In Equatorial Guinea, the troops operate with six fighting tanks in Bata and Mongomo sectors. Sources said Tumwesigye was okay with the single duty but repatriation was "surely unfair" to him.

The soldiers are also grumpy about Col. Kalyebara's divisive politics. Whoever does not heed his radical commands is labeled a member of the Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu aka Bobi Wine-led opposition National Unity Platform (NUP).

To resolve the ever-growing concerns, soldiers in the three sectors hoped their commander would hold civil discussions with them but he rarely visits the various sectors to address their plight.

It is about 240 kilometers from Bata headquarters to Mongomo sector by road and 45 minutes by air to Malabo sector, a hard-to-reach island where the main State House and administrative offices of Equatorial Guinea are located.

"The only times he [Kalyebara] has gone to these other sectors is when he is causing confusion of transferring sector commanders, officers and soldiers. Generally, he has never been a peaceful visitor in those sectors," the sources said, adding, "In Mongomo sector, soldiers ran away from him. In Malabo, he met soldiers and asked questions but all kept quiet – that bothered him so much and he blamed the sector commander for not being aware of their plans."

During one visit, the sources cited an incident when the commander was handed a report accusing him of transferring officers based on personal interests. He tore the report and almost roughed up one junior officer.

To date, the troop's taskforce headquarters in the Bata sector where Kalyebara is based has no investigating, logistics officers, and political commissar, who are key principal staff of the 'Orders Group' that is responsible for planning all operations of the taskforce.

All the three officers were transferred after endless complaints about the commander's conduct. The 'Orders Group' now operates with the commander, administration officer, and Regimental Sergeant Major – contrary to rules of the mission. Also, the substantive administration officer was left in Uganda after the commander rejected him under unclear circumstances.

"So far, the commander has appointed four officers in that position [administration officer] but failed to work with them. The fifth appointment was made in May but has never explained why the person meant for that position is still in Uganda," the source said.

Meanwhile, the accommodation of armored and artillery soldiers is also wanting in the mission area. Sources noted that soldiers are accommodated in worn-out tents used by troops in the previous batches.

UNRESOLVED PISTOL SCANDAL

Additionally, the troops are calling for an investigation into an unresolved scandal of a missing pistol N0. CP 15589 and how it mysteriously found its way back to the armory at Bata headquarters.

The key suspects in this matter are Sgt. Edson Monday, the arms officer, Cpl Robert Tusiime also an ADC to the taskforce commander, and Sgt Richard Obwoki, the armory caretaker.

It's alleged that on June 5, 2021, Sgt. Edson Monday, the taskforce arms officer, slept outside the camp with the armory keys – leaving soldiers at the armory entry without guns the whole night.

Based on this report, the commander ordered for Monday's suspension from the armory and set up an audit team to carry out a physical inventory of the armory before handing over the keys to a caretaker officer. It's during this audit that the pistol was found missing, which prompted an investigation.

Seven days later, the missing pistol was found in the armory wrapped in a piece of cloth. The finger of suspicion pointed at Sgt Obwoki.

The commander later exonerated Obwoki after an apology and his ADC Tusiime "since he only held the armory keys" to the dissatisfaction of other soldiers. Monday was also summoned for counseling and set free.

Commenting on these events, our sources said: "The prime suspect is Cpl Robert Tusiime who held the keys when the officer in charge of arms had gone out. When investigations commenced, the commander became so protective of his ADC to the extent that he took him to his place to start staying there while openly saying that the soldier is stressed and needs comforting."

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Weasel wanted by Police for breaking helper’s leg

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Landlords should stop following tenants on social media – Bad Black

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Kiira Motors gets 10 local bus orders in 2021

Kiira Motors Corporation (KMC) says it will deliver 10 buses by end of this year, a paltry one per cent of the more than 1000 buses the state-owned corporation had promised.

The 10 buses, Allan Muhumuza, the director of marketing and sales at Kiira Motors, says will be delivered to Tondeka Metro and RentCo Africa who made the orders.

"The 10 buses will be delivered this year towards modernization of public transport in our city," Muhumuza said. "This order is purely private sector-led through partnership with Tondeka Metro and RentCo Africa."

The state enterprise had hoped to supply 1,050 for public transport in Kampala after President Yoweri Museveni banned the importation of buses last year - with hopes that Kiira Motors would take over the market.

But Museveni last month, offered the deal of assembling buses for public transport to Metu Bus Africa, another indigenous company that has also ventured into the business of assembling buses and coaches. Metu buses will be deployed in greater Kampala Metropolitan Area. Metu officials were unavailable to discuss when buses will be delivered. 

Metu and Kiira Motors will not be working together, Muhumuza affirmed to URN.

"Kiira Motors Corporation and Metu are two completely different entities with different product offerings," he said.

Muhumuza also dismissed questions that the state enterprise won't have a big market with Metu taking a deal to supply buses for Kampala.

"There is enough room for all of us to thrive together and build a better Uganda through automotive technology," he added.

Muhumuza said with a market within the East Africa Community of over 600,000 vehicles by 2030, there is enough room for even more players to come on board.

"We welcome them because that's how we shall build the indigenous motor vehicle industry through supply chain localization," added Muhumuza.

One of Tondeka buses being assembled

Kiira Motors plan had been that its Kiira Vehicle Plant in Jinja would be completed by the end of this July (last month) with the assembly of buses starting immediately after. The plant construction completion has been rescheduled to the end of this year. 

Lt. Gen. James Mugira, the managing director of National Enterprise Corporation (NEC) which is undertaking the construction of the plant, last week, said work has slowed down because of delayed government funding. Government has only released Shs 80 billion out of the Shs 143 billion approved by the cabinet in 2018.

Kiira Motors already has three functional buses (one electric and two diesel) which were developed through technology transfer with CHTC China High Tech Corporation. According to Kiira Motors, the buses were built with support from NEC through its subsidiary, Luweero Industries Limited. It is where more buses to be supplied to Tondeka by end of this year are currently being assembled. 

The state enterprise's long plan is to produce 30,000 buses for the regional market with 65 per cent of parts and components localized by 2030. These buses will be supplied to Tondeke Metro, RentCo and Golden Dragon, the company says.

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Court halts Shs 4bn compensation to Dodoviko for Ndeeba church land

The High court has halted the planned compensation of Shs 3.8 billion to city businessman Dodovodiko Mwanje, on whose orders, the structures of St Peters Church of Uganda in Ndeeba, were demolished.  

Principal judge Flavian Zeija made the ruling on Monday noting that the said compensation be stayed until the main suit in which Mwanje claimed ownership of the land is determined.  

In February 2021, the government presented to parliament a supplementary budget to among other things, to aid the compulsory acquisition of land of the Ndeeba Church of Uganda which was razed down in 2020. Although parliament had queried the move, an ad hoc committee on land compensation led by Veronica Eragu Bichetero later sanctioned the payment of Shs 3.8 billion to Dodoviko. 

However, Lucy Nsubuga, the widow of late Bishop Dunstan Nsubuga, ran to court seeking orders to halt the payment pending the hearing and final disposal of the suit in which she is challenging the ownership of the land.  In an application through her lawyer Jamir Mpiima, Nsubuga said that parliament decided the payment in total disregard of her grievances regarding the judgment of the High court which resulted in the transfer of ownership of land comprising Kibuga block 7 plot 39 land at Mengo to Mwanje.  

Nsubuga noted that the court decision by the land division judge John Eudes Keitirima was based on false information fabricated by a city lawyer Ambrose Tebyasa who claimed to have received instruction from her. The said court decision gave the ownership of the land that had housed St Peter's Ndeeba Church of Uganda for 50 years to the joint administrator of the estate of the late Evelyn Nacwa, a Buganda kingdom princess, who later sold it to Dodoviko's Ephraim enterprises. 

Mpiima also adds that if Dodoviko is awarded the compensation money, the development might affect the matters in the main suit thus affecting the interests of his client.  

Meanwhile, Dodoviko welcomes the court decision which has stayed the compensation. He notes that the ongoing process was oppressing him as the government was forcefully acquiring his lawful property at a lower value in face of all the losses he has incurred.  

Besides this particular matter at hand, Dodoviko together with 18 others is still facing criminal charges related to the theft of church property valued at more than Shs 850 million and conspiracy to demolish it. This particular case is still pending before the Anti-Corruption court.

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Buchaman regrets not getting his shares in Fire Base

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Rachael Magoola to form artistes’ caucus in Parliament

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Sandra crowned first POA Star search winner

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Shs 70bn lunch allowance: 1,039 ghost workers unearthed on nurses' payroll

At least 1,039 ghost names have been discovered on the nurses' payroll. The names were unearthed during last week's payment of lunch allowances for nurses. 

Some 147 ghost health workers received the money under the docket of nurses working under Uganda Police, 40 from Jinja district, 40 from Ntungamo district, and other districts including Kanungu, Kamwenge, Adjumani, Bunyangabu and Kasese.

With the revised allowances, qualified nurses who had been getting Shs 3,000 per day for lunch are now be receiving Shs 15,000 whereas nursing assistants who were being paid Shs 2,000 per day have been upgraded to Shs 10,000. At least Shs 70 billion has been budgeted for the allowances annually.

Owing to these irregularities, Catherine Bitarakwate Musingwire, the permanent secretary in the ministry of Public Service has given the accounting officers of the affected districts to tender in an explanation not later than August 15.

"You are requested to explain in writing by 15th of August, 2021 the circumstances under which the attached employees were enrolled onto the lunch allowance. The total amount of the lunch allowance earned over the years should also be attached," Bitarakwate said.

Bitarakwate also notes that more than 1,000 ghost nurses had been receiving the money yet they are not health workers and don't work in health facilities.

But Jinja district chief administrative officer (CAO) William Kanyesigye said while Jinja has been marked as one of the districts with high ghost beneficiaries, it was done in error and that they have scheduled a meeting for today Monday to have this corrected.

Kanyesigye said there are not 40 ghost health workers as alleged, but only one irregular recipient who has since been discovered to be a teacher in the district.

In Ntungamo district, the CAO Nasser Mukiibi says the 20 identified ghosts are not health workers but are support staff in the health department who work as typists and cleaners. Uganda has a total of 70,167 nurses and midwives registered by the government's Nurses and Midwifery Council.

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Riders accuse police of working with boda boda criminals

Boda boda riders in Kampala city have accused police of working with motorcycle-riding gangs who have intensified attacks against city dwellers. 

Over recent weeks, different gangs have been captured on security cameras intercepting their victims and robbing them of money and property. Gang robbery incidents have been recorded by CCTVs at Jinja road traffic lights, Mawanda road, Old Kampala and Nateete. So far, 18 suspects have been charged and remanded over the criminal activities.

The most recent recorded incident happened around Corner House along Mawanda road where a gang of about 12 men riding on motorcycles intercepted Jiwan Lal, an Indian national, and robbed him of Shs 5 million. Police, together with sister security agencies have already arrested some of the suspects who were involved in the attack on Jiwan, an accountant with Rigil Agro Peck Limited in Kololo.

Kevin Ssendegeya, the chairman Security Boda-Boda stage at Total Corner, says that there is a group known as 'Nato', which they reported to the police but nothing was done. Ssendegeya alleges that policemen instead revealed the names of whistleblowers to the criminals, who have since carried out revenge attacks against them. 

Yasin Mubangizi, the chairman Boda-Boda stage at Shoprite near Clock Tower, says that whenever they report the suspected criminals masquerading as boda boda riders to police, the officers simply say that they don't have control over them.     

Police also arrested members of another gang that used motorcycles to stage a robbery in Mityana district. Police said some of the criminals came from a boda boda stage at Cooper Complex and connived with Dennis Kyeptoyek, the commander of Nyanzi police station who was also apprehended.   

The gangsters were identified as boda boda riders from Cooper Complex in Kampala who were recruited into robbery activities by Moses Serunkuma, a truck driver. They were identified as Raphael Semaganda, Peter Mukalazi, Yoweri Kironde, Ibra Kyoita, Topher, and a one Andrew.

Richard Sonko, the defense secretary at Care Corner boda boda stage, says that they know the robbers masquerading as boda boda riders, but whenever they report them, police instead release them immediately.  

Those arrested and charged in connection to the Mawanda road robbery include; Asibu Takuba alias Stephen, Jimmy Sserwada, Gadafi Kasibante, Jonah Ssemanda, Richard Mulema, Sharif Akidi, Aloysius Ssewakilyanga, Latif Mawejje, Salim Babu, Farouk Ssekaganda alias Sharif, and one Swaibu. 

Faroq Mwiru, the defense secretary at Ben-Kiwanuka boda boda stage, said there is a need to provide reflector jackets with the names of every rider and the stage he is attached to. 

Luke Owoyesigyire, the deputy Kampala police spokesperson, said the problem with boda boda whistleblowers is they don't name the particular police officers who allegedly work with criminals. 

"We held a good meeting with the boda boda leaders early this week. None of the leaders came up with such allegations during our meeting. However, if there is anyone with such information they should bring them forward at KMP," Owoyesigyire said.

Mudasiru Irumba, the chairman of Mega Standard boda boda stage where the 'Nato' gang often operates, said these are remnants of the infamous Boda-Boda 2010 militia that was terrorizing them during the reign of Inspector General of Police Gen Kale Kayihura. 

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Foot and mouth disease outbreak confirmed in Jinja

Authorities in Jinja city, eastern Uganda have confirmed the outbreak of foot and mouth disease (FMD). The disease is prevalent in Masese, Jinja central business area and Budondo regions. 

Speaking to URN on Saturday, Rajab Kiito, the public relations officer Jinja city, said FMD is mainly affecting pastoralists who graze their cattle along different streets within the city. He says the veterinary department has organized meetings with relevant stakeholders to ensure that all animals are sprayed with approved herbicides to contain further spread of FMD.  

He says that they have since notified the ministry of Agriculture on the need to vaccinate all the cattle within Jinja city and the surrounding areas. Kiito further says that the city's veterinary department has set up different checkpoints to ensure that all animals are screened before being cleared to enter Jinja city abattoirs.   

Isaac Mudumba owns 15 head of cattle, which are infected with FMD. He says that he is currently relying on private veterinary officers to contain the disease.     

"Two of my cows showed signs of FMD in mid-July and I hired a private veterinary officer to spray them. However, the disease continued to spread to the rest of the animals in the kraal," he said.      

Another herdsman who spoke on condition of anonymity says that he has registered 32 cases of FMD in the past three weeks.

"My herd has been badly hit by FMD, the animals are weakening every day but, I am positive that we shall have a sigh of relief after vaccination," he said.    

Musa Ssozi, the vice-chairperson of the cattle dealers and traders association, says that prior to last month's Eid Adhuha celebrations, about 1500 head of cattle ferried from the different parts of the country were left to freely share grazing grounds with local animals within Jinja city.  

FMD is a viral disease of cloven-hoofed livestock and wildlife, including cattle, goats, swine, sheep and buffalos. It has occurred several times in Uganda since 1953 when it was first confirmed. 

It is characterized by fever and blister-like sores on the tongue and lips, in the mouth, on the teats, and between the hooves. The disease causes severe production losses, and while the majority of affected animals recover, the disease often leaves them weakened and highly unproductive.

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Court reduces jail sentence of convicted murderer from 61 to 21 years

The Court of Appeal has reduced the jail term of convicted murderer Peter Bagatenda from 61 to 21 years. The decision stems from an appeal filed by Bagatenda challenging his conviction for 61-years for the murder of 15-year-old Pauline Nassiwa in 2000.  

Trouble for Bagatenda started when he beheaded Nassiwa on July 19, 2000. It is alleged that Nassiwa was walking home in Nakawuka trading centre in Entebbe with her 10-year old-nephew Moses Byabasajja around 10 pm when Bagatenda emerged from the bush with a machete, beheaded Nassiwa, and ran away with the head. He is believed to have killed the deceased in ritual to boost his business. 

In 2003, the High court in Entebbe found him guilty of murder and sentenced him to death. However, following the 2006 Susan Kigula case that saw the death penalty revised, lady justice Elizabeth Alividza conducted afresh Bagatenda's case for resentencing. She handed the accused a 61-year-jail term.  

In 2014, Bagatenda through Douglas Magulu Sembuya Advocates appealed the ruling on grounds that the learned justice had erred in law and fact to impose such "an excessive jail term of 61 years." 

The lawyers argued that besides suffering the death row syndrome, their client "had demonstrated a high level of reform, remorse and was a first-time offender aged 22 at the time of the offense in 2000."    

The lawyer also argued that the judge didn't follow the correct sentencing principles, when she ordered the sentence to be reckoned from resentencing date and improperly considered the appellant remand period and post-conviction period jointly.

Magulu also told the appellant court that his client had reformed and enrolled in primary school, adding that keeping him in prison for 61 years would mean that he regains his freedom at 97 years, an age at which he wouldn't be productive anymore to society.  

Now, a three-member of the appellant court comprising justices Catherine Bamugemereire, Remmy Kasule and Geoffrey Kiryabwire has unanimously agreed to reduce Bagatenda's sentence from 61 to 21 years, saying that the earlier sentence was harsh and excessive. 

The justices noted that they would have sentenced the applicant to 35 years in prison but instead handed him 21 years being in mind that he has spent 14 years in jail. 

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Ykee Benda responds to his Tekno collabo critics

By Ahmad Muto Singer Ykee Benda who has just released his 18-track Kirabo album has started receiving criticisms and they are coming in all forms. They have particularly accused him of being a sellout. A day after unveiling the album on Friday,…
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Lumbuye deported back to Uganda from Turkey

Fred Lumbuye, a renowned Ugandan blogger has been deported from Turkey and is being held at an unknown location in Uganda, URN has learnt. According to security sources, Lumbuye arrived in the country aboard Turkish Airlines, which touched down at Entebbe International Airport on Saturday at around 3 am.  

He was held at the police station in the passenger terminal for two hours where he was interrogated and whisked off to Kampala. Multiple security sources say that Lumbuye was escorted by Turkish security operatives who took him through immigration and the police station for clearance. 

"He was taken to the Turkish Embassy for further management and has now been handed over officially to the government," one of the sources says.

Okello Oryem, the Foreign Affairs State minister confirmed Lumbuye's deportation. He, however, denied claims that he was taken to the Turkish Embassy, saying that it wasn't necessary since he was formally handed over to the government before deportation. 

"Lumbuye is in the safe hands of the government," he said. He, however, declined to reveal where he is being held for security purposes and not to attract crowds. Oryem also castigated journalists who were to the airport to witness Lumbuye's arrival.   

"I warned you all not to go to the airport. I told you that you won't get access to the airside. So why did you go to the airport?" he asked. 

He was responding to claims that officers from the elite Special Forces Command (SFC) had chased journalists from the entrance of the airport on Saturday morning.   

Some airport workers that there was heavy deployment between 12 am to 9 am with strict access requirements at the main entrance of the airport. Oryem says that after interrogations, Lumbuye will be produced in the courts of law to answer charges.

Lumbuye, who has been living in Turkey, is in trouble for among others being the source of a rumour that dominated social media in July indicating that President Museveni was very ill and was admitted to a hospital in Germany. The following days he took his allegations to even another level when he announced that Museveni had actually died from the hospital where he had been taken.

Speaking a few days later, Museveni, said the country has got another challenge of social media, which needs to be dealt with urgently. He ordered security agencies to hunt down anybody who is trading rumours that he was dead and for those outside the country, their citizenship should be revoked.

Lumbuye's associates say that he was arrested at the Ugandan Embassy in Istanbul where he had gone to renew his passport. On Friday, Charles Twine, the spokesperson of the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID), said that the government had plans of going through known protocols to arrest all Ugandans using social media to tarnish the country's image.

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Olympics ‘Nile’ commentator stunned by messages from Uganda

By Ahmad MutoBritish broadcaster Rob Walker who suddenly became a darling of Uganda last week after his commentary at the Olympics in Tokyo has not stopped showing his admiration for the Pearl of Africa. Following athlete Peruth Chemutai's stunning victory in the women's…
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MPs reject proposal to contribute Shs 2m towards Covid-19 vaccine purchase

MPs have rejected a proposal to deduct Shs 2 million from their salaries to support the procurement of COVID-19 vaccines.

On Tuesday, Esther Afoyo-chan, a member of the parliamentary commission proposed during plenary that each legislator contributes Shs 2 million to help the government procure vaccines for learners between 2 and 18 years of age.

There are 529 MPs in the 11th parliament. At least Shs 1 billion would be raised with each legislator contributing the proposed Shs 2 billion. During his latest televised address on COVID-19, President, Yoweri Museveni revealed that the government is considering vaccinating all learners as one of the measures to ensure safety and re-opening of schools.

In line with the government's proposal, Afoyo-chan, the Zombo Woman MP proposed that each legislator contributes Shs 2 million from their salary towards the procurement of Pfizer vaccine that is recommended for vaccinating children.

Citing the Bible, she said that even God demands a 10 percent tithe and urged other MPs to part with Shs 2million each from their salaries. However, several legislators could not have any of this. They took to the floor of parliament and opposed the proposal. Jane Pacuto, the Pakwach Woman MP, said that such a matter should not even come on the floor of parliament.

Jonathan Odur, the Erute South MP said the proposal contravenes the employment Act of Uganda, adding that the Parliamentary Commission should ensure that MPs are protected.

"What she is rising, is actually unlawful, that MPs emoluments cannot be deducted contrary to the Employment Act," he said.

Ibrahim Ssemuju Nganda, the Kira Municipality MP, said that the proposal was not before parliament as required by the rules of procedure. The rules required a motion to be tabled for such a proposal.

He recounted that during the 10th parliament, the former speaker Rebecca Kadaga asked MPs to contribute towards the Nsambya hospital cancer facility, something that some legislators did not take in good faith.

Ssemujju said that parliament then resolved to avail consent forms for individual MPs to sign allowing the deduction of their salaries for the cause. He said that the same procedure can apply to the COVID-19 vaccines.

In her ruling, deputy speaker Anita Among said that all MPs interested in contributing the Shs 2 million should approach the COVID-19 National Task Force.

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