Mayinja yeeganye eby'okuwagira NRM ng'ayimbira e Nakulabye

Omuyimbi Ronald Mayinja akubye emiziki e Mukono ne Nakulabye ne yeewuunya engeri abaayo gye baamusanyukidde n'okumuwagira.     Mayinja nga azina n'omuddigize  Yabadde ku bbaala za Labamba...

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Africa 66% ready to tackle coronavirus - WHO

 

Only 66 per cent of countries in Africa have put in place preparedness mechanisms to handle a case of coronavirus (COVID -19) if it arises, the African Union (AU) says.

A statement released on Sunday shows that the emergency meeting of Health ministers convened by the African Union Commission in Addis Ababa on Saturday assessed individual countries' readiness to tackle the disease and found critical gaps in their capacity to investigate alerts or be able to follow up with people in isolation effectively. 

Dr Matshidiso Moeti, the World Health Organization's (WHO) regional director for Africa who attended the meeting said only 66 per cent of the countries have strengthened their capacity to investigate alerts and have improved infection prevention in health facilities and in the community.

"WHO finds that there are critical gaps in readiness for countries across the continent," he said noting that WHO has deployed 40 experts to ten countries in Africa to support coordination, surveillance and laboratory disease control. 

"The threat posed by COVID-19 has cast a spotlight on the shortcomings in health systems in the African Region. We need urgently to prioritize strengthening the capacities for countries to investigate alerts treat patients in isolation facilities and improve infection, prevention and control in health facilities and in communities", he said in a statement.

Coronavirus continues to ravage China where the disease started in late 2019 with infections currently standing at 76,392  and 2,595 deaths. Outside China, the disease has affected 2,195 people in 28 countries with some 25 deaths. On Saturday, two new countries (Lebanon and Israel) reported cases of COVID-19.

WHO says preparedness for infectious diseases such as COVID-19 is a worthwhile investment when one considers the cost of responding to outbreaks. It gives an example of the 2014 Ebola outbreak in West Africa that was estimated at close to $3 billion.

They say that preparedness efforts which countries had put in place for Ebola are paying off, helping even for coronavirus. For instance, in the nine countries neighbouring the Democratic Republic of the Congo, they are using structures for screening and isolations units that were already in place and have only had to do small upgrading to manage suspected cases.      

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Bobi Wine supporter knocked dead by police van

By Paul Waiswa A supporter of Bobi Wine's People Power movement been knocked dead by a Police van According to Ssasi Marvin, a coordinator for People Power youth wing, Ritah Priya real name Ritah Nabukenya was knocked off a boda boda on which she was riding to court Monday Morning. "Comrade Ritah Priya Owa Kyagulanyi […]
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Beefudde abasawo ne bamufera obukadde 15

POLIISI e Kyotera ekutte abeeyita abasawo b'ekinnnasi abafere ku bigambibwa nti balina omukyala Faridah Nansubuga 37, gwe baafeze ne bamunyaga obukadde 15. Abakwate kuliko Hakim Walukagga eyeeyita Jjajja...

Okutuuza Ssaabalabirizi kuli mu ggiya

ENTEEKATEEKA z'okutuuza Ssaabalabirizi omulonde, Dr. Stephen Kazimba Mugalu ziri mu ggiya ng'ono agenda kutuuzibwa nga March 1, 2020 mu Lutikko e Namirembe. Ssentebe w'akakiiko akategesi era nga ye...

Gold exporters decry extortion by Entebbe Aviation Police

A whistleblower has petitioned the police chief, Martins Okoth Ochola, to investigate officers attached to Entebbe airport over extortion and illegal detention of gold traders.

In the dossier dated February 20 seen by The Observer, the whistleblower, who says is a concerned police officer, claims top police officials have made it a habit to extort bribes from gold exporters under the guise that the gold lacks proper documentation.

"I would like to bring to your attention senior officers who are tainting the image of Uganda Police Force by forcing people exporting minerals, especially gold, to offer bribes or else they forge excuses to delay or confiscate it," reads part of the dossier.

"I cannot mention names right now for fear of reprisals from my seniors but I pray you institute a probe into how senior officers at the airport have amassed a lot of wealth from extortion. I would like to meet you in person to furnish you with the details," she said. 

In recent years, gold has eclipsed coffee as Uganda's biggest export with more than $834m (about Shs 3 trillion) earned in 2019 alone, making it the leading individual foreign exchange earner.

Conversely, the gold export boom has also attracted immense interest from the Entebbe Aviation Police and according to the whistleblower; "many senior police officers have either become brokers/agents of gold smugglers or frustrate genuine traders."

INCRIMINATING EVIDENCE

Baker Kawonawo, the Entebbe division police commander, could not be reached for a comment but his deputy referred us to Entebbe Airport Aviation Police. When The Observer visited the station, officers declined to comment on the issue.

However, we found a complainant, Derrick Lukanda Kibirango, who was protesting that the aviation police confiscated his 10kg of gold destined for Germany on grounds that it lacked proper verification documents.

He added that the police went ahead to detain his three workers involved in the consignment. Meanwhile, the gold is being kept at the airport's customs custody.

According to the records, aviation police intercepted the gold, worth about Shs 400m, on February 17. The consignee is registered as Apollonia Schonberger.

"They demanded a certificate of verification of the gold origin but when I presented it, they refused to accept it until I give them a share but I will not budge because everything is clean," he said.

Lukanda showed The Observer original copies of Shs 77 million tax clearance certificates from Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) dated January 27, 2020, the air waybill, verification of origin by the Uganda National Chamber of Commerce and Industry as well as a certificate from the Department of Geological Survey and Mines.

"I know they are delaying me so that I pay them a bribe but I will not…but this delay is hurting my business because the recipient is going to charge me extra money."

Meanwhile, Tom Lugambi, the lawyer for the detained gold dealers, has vowed to bring concerned officers to book.

"We will not bow to pressure and give anyone a bribe because the gold possesses all the required paperwork," he said. "The continued holding of my clients after the expiry of 48 hours also violates their rights."

Reached out for a comment, Patrick Onyango, the Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson, said he is not yet aware of the dossier but said police will investigate the matter when the file reaches the appropriate authorities.

"If the owner presented all the documents as required, there is no reason to continue holding the gold. All officers found to be colluding to hold the gold will be held accountable," he said.

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Kanyamunyu trial adjourned indefinitely

The trial of murder key suspect Mathew Kanyamunyu and his girlfriend Cynthia Munwangari has been adjourned indefinitely after presiding judge Stephen Mubiru returned back to his duty station as Gulu resident judge.

Kanyamunyu and Munwangari are accused of shooting dead child rights activist, Kenneth Akena in 2016 after he reportedly scratched Kanyamunyu's vehicle around Lugogo in Nakawa Division. 

After hearing of the 13th prosecution witness, the trial of the suspects which was part of a special criminal court session presided over by justice Mubiru was this afternoon adjourned indefinitely after the session came to an end. Mubiru, now returns to Gulu to handle cases within his jurisdiction. 

As a result, the trial will now be pushed to another convenient session whose dates are not yet fixed, a development which might require that the trial starts afresh. John Paul Akena, one of the brothers to the deceased said that the adjournment spells doom because to them, it tantamount to the denial of justice. He, however, hastens to add that the family will continue waiting with hope for justice.   

Before the adjournment, the state prosecutors led by Jonathan Muwaganya presented their 13th witness; detective assistant inspector of police Steven Walimbwa who was the investigating officer in the alleged murder. 

He said that on November 12, 2016, he got instructions from his boss, detective assistant superintendent of police Godwin Agaba, the head of the Criminal Investigations Department at Jinja Road police station requiring him to go to Norvik hospital and take Akena's body to the City Mortuary for postmortem. 

Walimbwa said the examination was done by two doctors and he witnessed a projectile being removed from Akena's rectum and seven mops. He told the court that while there, detective Seargent Haruna Mugisha took pictures of the events in the presence of the deceased's brother. 

He added that later, he went to Wandegeya police station where fellow detectives handed to him some exhibits including Kanyamunyu and Akena's cars, two mobile phones, a bunch of keys, a knife, a right-handed shoe, black dress and navy blue trouser with its coat.

The court further heard that Walimbwa got an order from the directorate of public prosecution to release the car to Kanyamunyu which was done in May 2018.  Walimbwa narrated that he wrote to the commissioner in charge of private firearms in the ministry of Internal Affairs seeking to find out whether Kanyamunyu could have ever acquired a license to possess a firearm.  

But the commissioner in charge of firearms reportedly wrote back saying that they didn't have any record indicating that Kanyamunyu has ever applied for a gun or been licensed to have one.

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Chameleone Thankful His Brother Pallaso Is Still Alive, Rubbishes Those Calling It A Stunt

What started as fun filled video shoot later turned into a nightmare for Team Good Music boss Pallaso who after the shoot was mobbed by a group of xenophobic South Africans who beat him up using sticks and stones plus chasing him around the streets. As he nurses the wounds on his arms, back and […]

The post Chameleone Thankful His Brother Pallaso Is Still Alive, Rubbishes Those Calling It A Stunt appeared first on Chano8.

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Sam Mukasa ayingidde goloofa ye n’asoomooza banne!

Bw'oyogera ku bamaneja b'abayimbi mu Uganda abalina ke bekoledde, Sam Mukasa owa King Saha y'omu ku bbo. Mukasa asabukulidde goloofa gy'azimbye e Kawuku ku Ntebe Road eccamudde emikwano n'abawagizi...