The Minister of Agriculture Hon Vincent Ssempijja has described as “uncalled for” the closure of Kenyan and Rwandan markets on poultry products from Uganda over the reported outbreak of Bird Flu in the country.

The minister says there is no way the diseased birds in the country would have crossed the borders into the two countries.

“There was no call for panic,” said the minister, “the outbreak is completely under control; there is no chance that deceased birds could slip out.”

The minister went on to invite officials from Rwanda and Kenya to come and observe the situation in Uganda and the ongoing efforts to control the outbreak.

While addressing the media at the Uganda Media Center on Monday on the bird flu outbreak, the Minister urged Ugandans to remain calm and continue  consuming their poultry products.

A multi- sector national task force, he said, has been set up to handle the Avian Influenza outbreak since it was announced.

According to the minister, Uganda has so far lost about 2billion shillings in exports since the two neighboring markets were closed.

“It’s very bad this has happened because the disease is being monitored by the best experts and besides we are also mindful of our people’s lives.”

The disease has so far been confirmed in 7 wild migratory birds, 5 domestic ducks and one chicken. Several other samples from the suspect cases are being picked for testing.

This disease was reported in Lutembe village, Mazinga, Bubeke, Kyamuswa, Bukakata and Kyesiiga sub countries in Masaka which are all located on the shores of Lake Victoria”.

“To date there are no human suspect cases of Avian Influenza identified or isolated and there have been no massive killing of any domestic birds in any of the affected districts”.

United Nations Special Envoy for the Great Lakes region Said Djinnit is today Tuesday expected to meet with President Museveni for a high-level meeting in Uganda.

The agenda is yet to be officially unveiled to the media.

However, the meeting comes against the backdrop of reports that former DRC rebel movement M23 is regrouping.

Source told ChimpReports that U.N. officials would seek reassurance that M23 fighters would not return to DRC to wreak havoc.

Hundreds of M23 combatants cantoned at Bihanga barracks in western Uganda recently escaped from the defence facility.

Some of them were intercepted in Mbarara by security services while travelling to the south western part of the country.

They are detained at UPDF’s Makenke barracks, 2nd Division, Mbarara.

The DRC government has since taken strong exception with M23 activities and asked Uganda to reign in on them.

Kampala has since admitted the rebels’ uncoordinated movements which have since alarmed the international community.

“It’s true, the meeting will take place today afternoon,” a source told ChimpReports today.

It’s understood M23 intend to take advantage of the DRC political crisis triggered by President Joseph Kabila’s refusal to hand over power to demand space for political mobilisation.

The movement accuses DRC authorities of gross human rights abuses, corruption and failure to deliver decent public services to Kivu.

The possibility of a fresh war in DRC by battle-hardened M23 combatants poses an existential threat to Kabila’s government.

The youthful guerrillas had gone as far as Goma before being ordered by regional leaders Museveni and Paul Kagame to withdraw to their bases in Bunagana.

The United Nations has previously participated in efforts to bring peace and stability to Africa’s Great Lakes sub-region which has been plagued by decades of political instability and armed conflicts, porous borders and humanitarian crisis, along with tensions over natural resources and other potentially destabilizing factors.

The U.N. in February 2013 adopted an accord aimed at stabilizing the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the region.

The Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework – signed by Angola, Burundi, Central African Republic, Congo, the Republic of Congo, Rwanda, South Africa, South Sudan, Uganda and Tanzania – encompasses commitments at the national, regional and international levels to bring peace and stability to the eastern DRC and the region.

But President Museveni accuses U.N. of conserving rebel movements in the area.

When asked last year why it had taken long for the rebels to be sent back home as per the agreement, President Yoweri Museveni said the rebels refused to go home and that he didn’t know why.

“I have no idea why they are not going back; we discussed with (President) Kabila and he told me that they had done all the concessions that were needed, but that they were not going back,” Museveni said.

“I am going to ask them directly, why if all the guarantees have been put in place and then we shall inform the Congolese government.”

According to government spokesperson, Mr Ofwono Opondo, there are 270 former M23 combatants still cantoned at Bihanga.

“We would like to restate our commitment to live by the agreements and obligations that were entered into in 2014,” he said.

“Uganda will not and does not support any armed activities to distabilise the Democratic Republic of Congo.”

Envoy Said’s key tasks include undertaking good offices to strengthen the relations between the signatories of the framework, revitalizing existing accords and coordinating the international engagement.

Barely 3 weeks since his re-arrest by police after being released by Jinja High Court, Omusinga Charles Wesley Mumbere has applied afresh for bail.

Through his team of lawyers led by Caleb Alaka, the jailed Rwenzururu King filed a fresh application before the same court that previously released him temporarily.

In the latest bail application, Mumbere says bail is his Constitutional right that should not denied to him.

“I am of advanced age of 64 years and ill-health which are exceptional circumstances upon which court should be lenient to release me temporarily, “says Omusinga in his application.

Mumbere was on January 13 granted bail by Jinja High Court Judge Eva Luswata before he was re-arrested by police led by Kiira regional Deputy RPC Onesmus Mwessigwa a few hours as he left court.

He would later be charged with fresh counts including Terrorism, Murder and attempted murder before the Jinja Chief Magistrate’s Court.

Mumbere’s lawyers however maintain that his first bail still stands despite the re-arrest.

The lawyers say that fixing of this bail application has been delayed due to some administrative issues that are yet to be ironed out.

According to the new charge sheet the state presented before Chief Magistrate Francis Kaggwa, Mumbere is charged jointly with 20 others for the offenses that they are said to have committed between the July and Novermber 2016 at Bukara and Nyabuswa villages in Kabalore district.

The state also alleges that the crimes committed indiscriminately by the Omusinga led to death of UPDF soldiers, policemen and civilians.

Following concerns about the insignificant payment made to prisoners who offer labour to private work, the Prisons Commissioner General, Johnson Byabashaija has issued a new payment scheme yet to be approved by Parliament.

Presenting the Budget Framework Paper FY 2017/18 before the Parliamentary Defense Committee on Tuesday, Byabashaija told members that the commission had considered concerns by members and opted to raise the payment.

“I have already got the equivalent rates from the Bureau of Statistics when you grilled me here last time which we have given to the first Parliamentary Council to put it in the legislative language for the Minister to sign when they are ready,” Byabashaija told the Committee chaired by Mityana Woman legislator, Judith Nabakooba.

Prisons Boss Byabashaija before Defence Committee on Monday

According to the laws of the land, prisoners are entitled to a payment of Sh500 for any skilled labour offered, Sh250 for semi-skilled labour and Sh100 for unskilled labour each day they are hired to work.

“Prisoners who are skilled have been earning Sh500 per day, as of December 2015 it should be Sh1, 398, for the semi-skilled from Sh250 to Sh699, the unskilled, those ones who dig, they have been earning Sh100 per day this is going to be Sh280,” Byabashaija said.

Byabashaija added, “This is what I have recommended to the first Parliamentary Council; probably they will also have their considerations and make their recommendations for the Minister to sign a statutory instrument that will change and revise the current article.”

The prisons boss observed that prisoners have been working for a pay of Sh3000 per prisoner which should be divided between the prisoner, the staff and the prison.

The Secretary General of the East African Community, Amb. Liberat Mfumukeko, over the weekend presided over the Ministerial Session of the 12th Council of Ministers Meeting of the Eastern Africa Power Pool (EAPP).

The Ministerial Session was attended by five Ministers: Dr. Eng. Seleshi Bekele (Minister of Water Irrigation and Electricity, Ethiopia); Eng. Tarek El Molla (Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Egypt); Hon. Dr. Tabitha Boutros (Minister of State for Electricity and Dams, Sudan), Eng. Irene Muloni (Minister of Energy and Mineral Development, Uganda), and; Prof. Sospeter Muhongo (Minister for Energy and Minerals, Tanzania), who also chaired the Ministerial Session.

Prof. Sospeter Muhongo, Minister for Energy and Minerals, Tanzania, who also chaired the Ministerial Session while officially opening the Ministerial Session thanked the Ministers for their continued support and commitment to the EAPP project.

In his remarks, EAC Secretary General Amb. Mfumukeko emphasized the importance of the EAPP in contributing to socio-economic growth in East Africa.

“The provision of adequate, reliable, affordable and sustainable energy services is a key priority area in our energy sector for realizing the vision we have for East Africa as well as electricity interconnectivity across borders to promote the broader EAC objective of attracting investment and promoting competitiveness and trade,” he said.

Amb. Liberat urged EAPP to engage with the EAC Secretariat and its Partner States in the formulation of the 10-year Strategic Action Plan which will address the underlying challenges within the energy sector across the region.

Amb Mfumukeko with EAPP Steering Committe and other stakeholders present at the meeting

EAPP’s main objective is to optimize development of energy resources in the region and to ease the access to electricity power supply to all citizens of the countries in the Eastern Africa Region through the regional power interconnections.

Member countries of the region have actively been implementing power generation and transmission projects. Most of the interconnection projects are now progressing so fast that before 2020 all of EAPP’s members, except Libya and Egypt, will be interconnected by power exchange (trade). Libya and Egypt are already connected but the proposed link between Egypt and Sudan is now at feasibility study stage.

Present at the meeting were senior officers from the member countries’ energy sectors, Independent Regulatory Board members and Development Partners including the World Bank, Power Africa, Sweden, African Development Bank, Norway and China.

The participants engaged in discussions around Bilateral Trading Platforms which is part of EAPP’s future prospects. This will make it easier to enter into short term bi-lateral trades between EAPP members and EAPP members and non-EAPP members that they are interconnected with. It also aspires to facilitate the trading of electrical products (energy, capacity, reserves) and transportation (transmission).

Members of the Steering Committee, energy stakeholders and partners present at the meeting also discussed the status of the EAPP Interconnection Code Compliance Program, considered priority areas for mobilization of funds and explored renewable energy resources development and alternative transmission financing modalities.

As part of the milestones EAPP has so far achieved is development of a detailed Process and Principles documents that provides a step by step stakeholder process (simulates regulatory process) and technical guidance. This is to support transmission of firm power sale from Ethiopia to Tanzania (200 MWs) for 20 years.

At the closing session, Prof. Muhongo cited that EAPP was also looking to standardize willing charges among its member states in order to facilitate smooth exchange of power within the region. He also handed the over Chairmanship to Eng. Irene Muloni, Uganda’s Minister of Energy and Mineral Development who will chair the Council of Ministers for the next year.

Recent findings by the Government Citizen Interaction Centre (GCIC) have revealed that only 49% of Ugandans feel safe while alone at night.

The figure was arrived at after a social media poll run by the GCIC on twitter. The same question was posted on the Centre’s facebook to generate feedback from the citizens online.

The Morrison Rwakakmba headed GCIC serves as the primary contact point for government and its citizens and primary channel for government to get feedback and suggestions from citizens.

According to Rwakakamba, the online convenient poll will enable the responsible government agencies to know which points need improvement to better deliver services to the public.

“Our role as the GCIC is to bring out stories from the public and share them with the responsible agencies to inform further action,” said Rwakakamba.

“Previously, we have conducted polls about the services of KCCA, National Water and responses from the public have guided the agencies to improve their services according to public need. This particular one is meant to inform the security agencies, particularly Uganda Police on the areas where there is need for improvement.”

Asked to comment about the sample space used during the poll, Rwakakamba said; “the online poll is random because people on social media are from different walks of life.”

“Since we have triggered the topic, other people can actually call our toll free line (900) and let us know about the security situation around their homes.”

In the findings, 27% of Ugandans feel a little safe while 25% don’t feel safe at all.

One of the respondents, Marvin Ssenyonga from Kiwatule in Kampala District says the place is very safe due to the regular police patrols.

“Kiwatule is significantly safe after recent police establishment of micro police posts and mobile patrols,” said Ssenyonga in a tweet.

Another respondent, Moses Kato however disagrees saying he doesn’t feel safe at all due to the different ‘Kifeesi’ gangs who he says rape people’s wives and rob property.

Irene Kajungu from Muyenga and Bashir Amagu in their responses lauded the Uganda Police force for the job well done in keeping them safe and said they feel very secure when alone in the night.

Rwakakamba has encouraged the public to engage in the polls and continue calling the centre to let the government know what needs to be done to ensure swift service delivery.

“It’s every Ugandan’s civil duty to assist government do its work. When you call the centre and give us feedback, we shall relay it to the responsible government agency and service delivery will be improved,” he said.

It was a combination of  sad and joyous moments on Tuesday evening as Lt. Col. Paddy Ankunda handed over office as the spokesperson of the UPDF and Ministry of Defense to Brig. Richard Karemire.

The function was held at the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs headquarters in Mbuya.

In what he described as his last address to the media, Lt.Col. Ankunda said he was grateful to the Commander in Chief of the armed forces, President Yoweri Museveni for entrusting him with the responsibility of speaking for the army.

“I want to thank you for the support rendered to me as the spokesperson of the most versatile force on the continent. I am hopeful I will serve the country in other capacities,” he said .

Ankunda , who had served as the mouthpiece for  the AMISOM Forces and later  appointed  to speak for the UPDF for the   last 3 years after taking over the mantle from  then Col. Felix Kulayigye, said  since  no one has a title for  any office in the army, it was his time to leave after serving diligently .

Ankunda receives gifts from Ministry of defense staff.

He said he was sure he had put a big block on the development of the army and the country at large expressing happiness for a great job he has accomplished.

The new UPDF Spokesperson Brig. Richard Karemire.

“We come, serve and go. My time to go is now. I have done pretty everything but obviously there might be those beyond my control that I didn’t do well,” Ankunda said as he spoke in a low but apologetic tone.

Speaking about him, a representative of the other staff in the directorate of information praised Ankunda as a team player who  supported everyone.

“We would like to thank you for the constant encouragement and leadership skills you have accorded to us through the years. As human beings, we might have stepped onto your toes but we ask for forgiveness,” said Privah Atuhaire, who represented  other staff before handing him a gift as a token of appreciation.

Speaking of his new role ,the new spokesperson ,Brig.Karemire said he expected support from everyone  as he goes about his new job as army mouthpiece.

“There will be no shift in policy because we have a standard procedure. We should work together to ensure development of the army and the country at large,” Brig.Karemire said.

The Commissioner General of Prisons Service, Johnson Byabashaija has banned the transportation of prisoners for labor by use of private vehicles.

This follows a fatal accident that happened last week which left four prisoners and a prison officer dead in Fort portal.

Byabashaija said while appearing before the defense committee of Parliament on Tuesday that he regretted the loss of lives, which he said was a result of the violation of guidelines of transporting prisoners for Labor.

“The transportation of Prisoners, we have really done it wrongly and I must apologize; prisoners for labour must be transported in vehicles which are licensed to do that,” Byabashaija said.

“These include; OTV, Private motor-omni bus, PSV; those are vehicles licensed to transport workers and human beings apart from our own vehicles,” Byabashaija emphasized.

“I have now banned anybody transporting prisoners in a private vehicle that is not licensed and I will take appropriate action against any person who violates this including my officers.”

“You cannot avoid accidents but safety first, our mission is safety, security and humane first of all; safety was compromised and I apologize for that but I will not allow it to happen again.”

The perception of corruption in Uganda’s public sector increased much more in 2016 compared to the previous year according to a new index by Transparency International.

Uganda’s global ranking has gone down 12 places on the list of the least corrupt countries from 139th in 2015 to 151 in 2016.

Transparency International did the survey in 176 countries world over. The index indicates that corruption will continue to surge unless countries address inequalities in income and distribution of power.

In the 2016 rankings, Uganda is the most corrupt in the East African region, only after South Sudan and Burundi. Rwanda is the least corrupt, in 50th position followed by Tanzania (116) and Kenya in 145th place.

While officially releasing the findings at a news conference in Kampala on Wednesday, Peter Wandera the Executive Director Transparency International Uganda largely attributed Uganda’s poor performance to the shortcomings of the 2016 general elections as well as the major corruption scandals that occurred in the recent past.

“A lot of anomalies like voter bribery during the elections. But also, cases like the UNRA corruption probe and then pension scam led to the decline in Uganda’s ranking,” Wandera said.

While he admits that there are good existing laws to counter the vice of corruption, Wandera like many other activists faulted the implementation process of these laws.

“We have very good laws. An integrity survey that was made a few years back rated Uganda’s laws at 98% but implementation was ranked at 54% so there’s a gap. Government must ensure that accountability institutions are well resourced,” he said.

Cissy Kagaba who is the Executive Director, Anti-Corruption Coalition Uganda in her reaction to the rankings, partly blamed dysfunctional systems in Uganda and poor prioritization within the leadership.

“Sometimes, our political leaders get a lot of pressure from the locals to offer them services since most of the systems have failed to deliver,” Kagaba told ChimpReports.

“But the bigger problem is that government has wrong priorities. They keep saying there’s no money to deliver quality health services but when politicians make noise and demand for expensive cars, government avails them cars.”

Kagaba however observed that it is difficult to address corruption tendencies like bribery and extortion without dealing with the drivers like underfunding. She says the human resource in institutions like Police and the judiciary is underpaid which makes them vulnerable.

Kamwenge District LCV Chairperson, Aggrey Natuhamya has halted the directive by Town Clerk, Mattew Tumushabe to close off Kamwenge central market over lack of a functional toilet facility.

In a January 23^rd letter, Tumushabe had directed vendors in the central market to vacate the premises by Tuesday January 24^th citing that the toilet at the facility was full to capacity and human wastes were leaking outside.

Upon receipt of the letter, Chairman Natuhamya rushed at the scene to ascertain the situation, condemning the action as improper since the vendors weren’t warned in time and ‘they sell perishable products.’

Upon learning that Natuhamya was inspecting the market, the town clerk rushed there to defend his position saying he closed the market basing Health Inspector’s report filed on October 19^th, 2016.

The report, according to Tumushabe recommended that the market be closed to contain the threat posed by toilet.

Meanwhile, to provide a temporary solution Tumushabe said plans were underway to relocate the vendors to another area behind Kamwenge Taxi Park in Kamwenge town.

After hearing from the Town Clerk, Natuhamya concurred with the relocation plan saying it’s the only temporary measure the leaders can apply to save the situation although no consultations had been made with Town council leaders.

When asked whether the political leadership was aware of the relocation plan, Mwesigye Francis Apuli the Vice Chairperson LC3 Kamwenge town council said they were not involved at all.

Mwesigye’s response prompted Natuhamya to direct the Town Clerk to avoid implementing his personal resolutions but to engage the political leadership to and empty the toilet as soon as possible.

The relocation plan was also opposed by vendors saying the taxi park is not suitable for their business and asked the authorities to empty the toilet as they plan to construct another one.

Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) National Mobilizer, Ingrid Turinawe has Wednesday vowed to further the defiance campaign to the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) after being nominated to run for the party primaries.

Ingrid has been the 8th candidate to be nominated by the party and will run her campaigns under the slogan “Broadening the struggle for a one Uganda One People”.

“I have been nominated and am now in the race for defiance; my election will be a gift to defiance because it’s what I stand for and I will further it because I know  what it means,” Ingrid told the media at Najjanankumbi after party nomination.

Ingrid said that the people of East Africa must borrow a leaf from how ECOWAS was united against the former President of Gambia who they pushed out of power as a united force.

“We need to widen the struggle, we will no longer be fighting in Kampala but we are taking the struggle across borders,” Ingrid said.

“We have to educate the East African Community (EAC) telling every member country that we have a problem in Uganda which they must associate themselves with.”

She added that it is time East Africans to understand that there is no struggle that can be won single handedly and should therefore come together as East African countries to push for change in the region.

“My representation, struggle, debates, interactions, lobbying and advocacy within the East African Assembly will be a gift to Ugandans and to the defiance campaign.”

The Kisoro Grade Two Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday ordered the deportation of 15 Rwandan and Congolese illegal entrants into the country.

Court presided over by Magistrate  Charles Waako heard that the 15 (10 Congolese and 5 Rwandans) were on the 18^th January 2017 arrested by the joint security at Nyakabande traveling in buses and taxis, headed for Bundibujyo, where they said they were going to work as casual laborers.

When the charges of illegal entry into the country were read for them they all pleaded guilty and asked court to be forgiven.

As in a related development, the five formers of M23 ex- combatants that were last week arrested in Kisoro have been taken back to Bihanga army barracks in Ibanda district.

This was revealed by the Kisoro RDC hajji Shafiq Sekandi in an interview with our reporter.

President Yoweri Museveni on afternoon Tuesday received and held a meeting with Mr. Said Djinit, who is the United Nations Secretary General’s Special Envoy to the Great Lakes Region.

During the meeting that took place at State House, Entebbe, Museveni and his guest discussed matters of mutual interest between Uganda and the United Nations.

The meeting also came at the backdrop of news that former M23 rebel militants are regrouping.

Government recently confirmed that hundreds of M23 combatants cantoned at Bihanga barracks in South Western Uganda recently escaped from the defence facility.

Some of them were intercepted in Mbarara by security operatives while travelling to the south western part of the country and are currently detained at UPDF’s Makenke barracks, 2nd Division, Mbarara.

Museveni meeting Mr. Said Djinit with his delegation

Its weighed that M23 intend to take advantage of the DRC political crisis triggered by President Joseph Kabila’s refusal to hand over power.

The movement accuses DRC authorities of among others, gross human rights abuses, corruption and failure to deliver decent public services to Kivu.

A Source earlier on Tuesday told ChimpReports that U.N. officials would seek reassurance that M23 fighters would not return to DRC to wreak havoc.

Tuesday’s meeting was attended, among others, by Mr. Maman Sambo Sdikou, who is the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General for the Peace Keeping Mission in Congo (MONUSCO) in Congo.

The Jobless Brotherhood National Mobilizer and member of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), Augustine Ojobile has Wednesday been nominated by the party to run for the party ticket for the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA).

In company of the jobless brotherhood, Ojobile returned nomination forms vowing to base his campaigns on democratizing the East African Community through his representation at the assembly.

The jobless brotherhood commonly known as the ‘Yellow Pigs youth’ have earned their name in the country through regularly dumping piglets at Ugandan Parliament in opposition of the conduct of some of the members and the institution at large.

“Today it is of great pleasure that Uganda has got one of their own, one of the people who has been at the fore front of seeking justice and democracy in this country,” Ojobile told the media after being nominated at Najjanankumbi.

Ojobile believes that if any substantive development, better education system, better agriculture and employment are to be achieved in the region, there must be seen democracy in practice.

“My candidature is basically going to look at democracy in our region; the East Africa we are seeing today isn’t the East Africa which was there in the 1970. We are asking ourselves a question what is it that Uganda is taking to East African Community and what is there in East Africa that Uganda is achieving,” Ojobile wondered.

“Formerly we had the East African countries uniting against a dictator like Gen. Idi Amin and they ousted him from power in 1978. What is the problem today that Uganda after going through a lot of disputed elections, today we can still have Museveni as a leader when the rest of East Africa is looking on.”

Former Forum for Democratic Change presidential candidate Dr. Kizza Besigye has downplayed the significance of celebrating the January 26.

Tomorrow, Thursday, the country will celebrate the day that the current regime seized power in 1986, with the main celebrations to be held in Masindi district.

However, former NRA bush fighter, Dr. Besigye says the values they fought for have been watered down by President Museveni’s government.

“The half a million people who died during the war in Luweero seem to have died for nothing, “Besigye told journalists on Wednesday.

“There is really nothing to celebrate home about.”

The opposition strongman said the bush war was triggered by the rigging of votes; which rigging has continued to this date.

“Thirty one years now and people are continuing to wallow in poverty. Others die of hunger whereas access to medical care is still a problem.”

He retorted, “When a simple project is put up, they jubilate and clap terming it as steady progress. There is nothing to talk home about.”

Besigye said that it beats his understanding when the country after over 50 years of independence is still grappling with a poor education system and infrastructure.

According to the four time presidential candidate, the people whose blood was shed to liberate the country have not achieved their goal.

“I was arrested , tortured and nearly killed but 31 years since that time, nothing much has changed,” Besigye.

Flamboyant Jinja mayor, Majid Batambuze is in trouble as his own councilors including the ones he personally financed to assume leadership positions have placed an axe on his head, demanding that he quits office due to incompetence.

At least 17 councilors have been holding secret meetings since this year began and unanimously agreed to boycott council meetings as they also work on a plot to throw the ‘failing’ mayor out of office.

The defiant councilors are led by former Deputy Mayor in the Kezaala regime George Izaale representing Mpumudde Parish, Faruwa Kitakule Magwa Parish, Julius Kadooko Zakayo Kimaka Parish, Joel Onen Masese II and III Parish and Joweria Birungi Mpumudde parish.

Others include Mariam Nalumansi Magwa west Parish, Florence Ssewanyana Masese Parish, Kenneth Bakilye for youths, Lillian Babirye youths, swalleh Mulondo PWDs, Rachael Kalulu Jinja central East Parish, Hellen Chandiru Walukuba west, Moshen Fatuma Old Boma Parish, Xavier Kasagira from Walukuba east and Bernard Otuchu from Walukuba west.

This leaves out only ten councils still loyal to Batambuze who also chairs the association of all mayors in Uganda. Jinja Municipal Council has 27 councilors altogether.

The defiant team started effecting its mission on Wednesday when a council meeting failed after these councilors declined to turn up.

Two other meetings allegedly called by Batambuze in his own office also failed when the officials he invited to help him find a solution to the crisis turned down the call.

The troubled councilors have seven reasons upon which Batambuze should quite Jinja town Hall.

Batambuze is accused among others of failure to implement council resolutions, failure to ‘light up’ Jinja town, corruption and conspiring with other individuals to misuse council property.

Councilors say they will never attend any of those councils until the mayor proves to the electorate that he has time to supervise the works going in town.

“People want to see him in this town doing the work of supervision. He wasn’t voted to go and sit in Kampala but at town hall,” councilor Joel Onen representing Masese 11 parish said.

He added that, “should he not do what he is expected of, then give us just months to see him
out of that office before Jinja town dies out.”

Worse still, impeccable sources indicate that some councilors are plotting to pass a motion of no confidence against the deputy mayor Medius Asimwe whom they accuse of incompetence and being naïve about leadership.

However, Asimwe says councilors are being influenced by some politicians in Jinja for personal interests to interfere with their administration.

“My boss and some of us who were voted into power to serve public interests are ready to engage all the our colleagues who feel nothing is being done to come to around table to amicably forge a way-forward”

Mr Bizitu, the council speaker said that, “I am considering another council next week on Tuesday such that our colleagues come and we agree on what should be done for our community together other than playing a blame game”

An EAC Protection of people with albinism Bill, 2016 is in the offing with the House granting its mover, Hon Shyrose Bhanji leave to introduce the Bill.

The object of the Bill is to prohibit the discrimination against people suffering with albinism and to ensure affirmative action in their favour.

It also stipulates the sanctions against those who indulge in suffocating the rights of persons with Albinism.  The Bill hopes to put in place sanctions including conviction of those who discriminate against albinos.

The object of the Act is to promote dignity and equal opportunities for persons with albinism.   The Bill seeks to eliminate all forms of discrimination of persons with albinism on grounds of their disability.

“There are people with albinism who are killed in face of negative beliefs and witchcraft.  We live in a modern society and such beliefs have no place in the world today. Such killings should be stopped and are criminal,” Hon Bhanji said.

“We must also put in place/propagate for affirmative action for those with albinism”, she added.

Rising in support of the Motion were Hon Mike Sebalu, Hon Maryam Ussi Yahya, Hon Dr James Ndahiro, Hon Patricia Hajabakiga and Hon AbuBakr Ogle. Other Members were Hon Abubakar Zein, Hon Valerie Nyirahabineza and Hon Taslima Twaha.

Kashari South Member of Parliament Hon. Nathan Twesigye Itungo has highlighted what he termed as ‘hiccups’ that littered the 31 year reign of the National Resistance Movement.

The MP said yesterday that besides the numerous achievements registered by the regime under President Museveni especially in pacifying all parts of the country; there still existed a lot of apparent hiccups that ought to be addressed with urgency.

As the country today marks 31 years of the NRM reign, Hon Itungo said he was dismayed by the growing levels of poverty especially in rural areas.

“It is undeniable, the government has done a lot but we still have these hiccups. The people are very poor, the service delivery in nearly all sectors is below the desirable standards; there is a long way to go,” said the MP while speaking to Chimpreports in Mbarara.

Amidst all these challenges however, and while government endeavors to address them, the MP urged Ugandans not to forget where the country has come from, lest they drive it back there.

He thus called upon his constituents and all Ugandans to join in celebrating the today’s Liberation Day, noting that the NRM government is still focused on creating change.

Amidst all these hiccups, I think we still need to celebrate what we have attained,” he said.

“At least we have infrastructure in place and among others there is paramount peace in Uganda, especially looking at what is happening in the region”

This year’s Liberation Day celebrations will be held in Masindi Town at the Golf and Sports Club grounds under the theme, Uganda’s Success Story Under NRA/NRM Leadership is A Shared Victory.”

President Yoweri Museveni Museveni is expected as chief guest and a number of regional and overseas dignitaries.

A few weeks after Ponsiano Lwakataka was acquitted by Masaka High Court Judge Eudes Katirima of murder charges, fresh ones have been opened up against the prominent rally driver and businessman.

Lwakataka was last week netted by police and Uganda Revenue Authority offices while smuggling premature fish to the DRC.

He was arrested in Sheema district for allegedly engaging himself in the smuggling of immature fish but was later released by Sheema  DPC Innocent Mubangizi which led to the intervention of the Inspector General of Police General Kale Kayihura.

Before his apprehension, the rally driver is said to have resisted arrest and used his driving skills to try to escape. He also is being accused of threatening violence on URA enforcement staff, on top of illegal smuggling of goods.

Kayihura ordered for investigations and the arrest of Mubangizi as well as Lwakataka which was done.

Police spokesperson Andrew Kaweesi has confirmed that arrest of both the DPC and Lwakataka and revealed that both are in detention.

“Lwakataka is in our custody and faces two charges of threatening violence and dealing in smuggled goods,” said the police mouthpiece.

Kaweesi added that since the charges against Lwakataka are clear, he is expected to be produced in court by tomorrow Friday.

Lwakataka’s problems started in the early 2014 when he was arrested in relation to the same matter of possession of immature fish which he was taking to Congo. During his arrest at that time he is said to have shot at Police officers.

On August 1 2014 Lwakataka was granted bail by Kalisizo grade one magistrate Suzan Awidi on charges of threatening violence, obstructing police officers and assault.

Later on in September 2015, Lwakataka was rearrested and remanded to Masaka central prison over new charges on murder.

On 23^rd December 2016 Masaka High court acquitted him after the prosecution
failed to produce enough evidence pinning him.

Police in Nebbi have arrested two suspected ivory traffickers over illegal possession of protected wild life species.

The duo Draku Adnan, 36 a property master from Arua and Bakole Bruhan, 42 a carpenter from Yumbe were found with 21 kilograms of chopped ivory for which they were looking market.

The illegal activity was unearthed by intelligence through Natural Resource Conservation Network (NRCN) undercover agents, jointly with police resulting into the arrests.

Draku, one of the suspects admitted to having obtained the pieces of ivory from a Congolese man a year ago to find market in Uganda.

The two are being held at Nebbi central police station and will be produced in court on February 3 before they are charged with illegal possession of wild life species contrary to the Uganda Wildlife Act 2000 section 75 (b).

Elephants are the most threatened species in the wildlife for their ivory that is used in making expensive jewelry, ivory figurines, ivory chopsticks, and hair ornaments all of which are highly prized luxuries.

Trade in ivory and other elephant products were earlier banned following the massive killing of elephants in Africa to supply the demand for ivory in Asian markets especially in China which greatly affected the number of animals in Uganda which has led to reduction in the safaris to Uganda.

Two tusks from a single male elephant can weigh more than 250 pounds, with a pound of ivory fetching as much as USD 1,500 on the black market. Uganda has not more than 5000 elephants in the national parks thus poaching threatens our income.