Immigration officers in Mbarara have launched an operation to arrest and force illegal entries from Rwanda out of Uganda.

The operation involved police and military officials from Makenke Barracks.

The arrested were 95 Rwandans (women, men and their children) who were taken to Mbarara Police Station and later transported in two buses to Kagitumba border.

The operation started on Tuesday morning and by evening the Rwandans were already sent packing.

The 2^nd Division Makenke Barracks Intelligence Officer, Fred Mushambo said many Rwandans are living illegally in Uganda and that if they are to conduct a national operation thousands would be deported.

Mushambo said Uganda is not a “dumping place for any person from any country” and that as security operatives they will not allow more illegal immigrants.

He said a number of them lacked identification particulars while others were involved in criminal activities.

They also, according to the intelligence officer, gave flimsy reasons for traveling to Uganda.

“We offloaded a Jaguar bus but it had 29 Rwandese and all of them were claiming to be paying a visit to Kampala as if all have no any other place to visit,” he said.

Some of the buses packed at Mbarara CPS on Tuesday evening ready to take Rwandese back to their country

He added that most of them sneak into Uganda from gazzeted points without any identification.

However, journalists were blocked from covering the operation especially when it came to transporting the illegal entries back home late in the evening.

Rwandan officials told ChimpReports on condition of anonymity that “some people in the bus however reported that all the people had travel documents and valid coupons.”

Reputable investigative journalist, Andrew Mwenda has lashed at Bank of Uganda for claiming Crane Bank was insolvent yet Dfcu Bank which took over Sudhir Ruparelia’s financial institution made a staggering Shs 60bn profit in just six months.

Mwenda has since described the takeover as a “rape of Crane Bank.”

The central bank has previously defended its decision to take over Crane Bank, saying it posed systemic risks to the banking industry.

BoU has further dragged Sudhir to court on charges of fraud which the businessman vehemently denies.

Below is Mwenda’s statement shared widely on many forums  

Yesterday two things happened. First it was revealed that Bank of Uganda (BOU) bought 350 pens at the cost of Shs 125m.

I don’t know what type of pens they are and their special purpose. But Ugandans must ask why our central bank buys pens that cost Shs 357,000 each.

Then DFCU bank announced that in the first six months of this year they have made a profit of Shs 115 billion compared to Shs 22 billion over the same period last year (an increase of 400%), and Shs 46 billion over the whole of 2016.

In six months of taking over Crane Bank they have made almost three times the profit they made for the whole of last year. They also revealed that of this profit, Shs 60 billion came from their take over Crane Bank.

Let us remember that BOU claimed that Crane Bank was insolvent, riddled with many bad loans and over statement of its actual financial position.

So they sold it for Shs 175 billion only. What the news of DFCU profits for the first six months of taking over Crane Bank reveals is that BOU was either extremely incompetent and/or grossly misunderstood Crane Bank’s actual financial position.

Or may be there was fraud. What we now know is that BOU sold a very good asset at basement bargain prices. Why?

Let us also remember that all the money DFCU “brought” Crane Bank did not even go to BOU. Rather it was put into DFCU allegedly to recapitalize the bank and improve its liquidity position.

So we have a bank that had Shs 1.8 trillion in assets sold for Shs 175 billion. DFCU “borrowed” the entire Shs 175 billion to pay for Crane Bank assets from its parent company in London.

This means that within the first one and a half years, profits from Crane Bank assets will pay the entire loan. Unbelievable!!

BOU and DFCU also claimed that a lot of the assets of Crane Bank were bad loans, worth Shs 550 billion.

They claimed that DFCU inherited Shs 800 billion worth of good loans from Crane Bank. Even a child of six years would see the stupidity of such a position – or the fraud involved in such a deal.

DFCU had invested nothing to get these loans worth 800 billion. Given the average interest rate in Crane Bank of 25%, DFCU was inheriting an asset with income of Shs 200 billion (in form of interest per year).

Yet it would have invested very little to earn this interest. It was obvious this was a deal made in heaven for DFCU.

Meanwhile, the central bank claims that Crane Bank had non performing loans (bad loans) worth Shs 550 billion.

These were written off to zero and Sudhir has been asked to pay for all of them.

So they took Shs 290 billion worth of his shareholder capital in the bank and have asked him to pay another Shs 260 billion to top up the loss.

Now MOST of all these so called “bad loans” had collateral to back them up, in most cases the best pieces of real estate in Uganda.

Right now DFCU is collecting money on these bad loans. Where is this money going since Sudhir has paid and is being asked to pay for the total value of all the bad loans?

This deal stinks. It smirks of fraudulent collusion between BOU, its lawyers and DFCU. Many companies lined up to buy crane bank as a going concern but BOU refused.

Why? Many companies wanted to buy Crane Bank’s bad loans. Again BOU refused. The silence ends here and now. Tomorrow I am going to reveal what actually happened.

The Democratic Party on Tuesday supported Brig Kasirye Ggwanga’s approach on land grabbers.

It was reported last Saturday that Brig. Ggwanga set ablaze a tractor that was being used to grade a piece of land which Ggwanga says belongs to his daughter.

The land is in Lubowa, Wakiso District.

The DP Press Secretary, Fred Mwesiga, told journalists in Kampala that there were worse scenarios to come since the government has failed to resolve the land issues.

“People have resolved to find all possible ways of protecting their land. Some are stripping naked like we are seeing in the north, others like Brig Kasirye have chosen to burn the tractor as a means of protection since they are victims,” he said.

Mwesiga asserted that by the time a senior military man resorts to taking the law into his hands, it simply means he had run out of all possible options.

“Contactors should be extra careful not to be caught up in the middle when it comes to land issues, because Ugandans are irritated and they may resort to acting violent towards them,” Mwesiga said.

“Let Brig Kasirye’s action be a lesson to the land grabbers in the whole country and a wake-up call to the government to find the quickest and best solutions to stop land grabbing”.

The secretary also revealed that acts of land grabbing are usually done by powerful army men, government officials, people who claim to be investors and real estate business people since they have the capacity to fight back.

President Kagame and his Egyptian counterpart, Abd- al -Fattah al-Sisi, who is on a two- day state visit in Rwanda as part of his four-nation African tour, have agreed to deepen bilateral ties for mutual benefit.

Rwanda earns about $30million (Frw 22 billion) in exports to Egypt annually while Egypt earns a staggering $64millon (Frw 46 billion) from exports to Rwanda.

However, the tide is expected to change after a pledge by Egypt to open up more markets for made in Rwanda products.

President Kagame on Tuesday received his counterpart upon arrival at the Kigali International Airport, Kanombe, before the two held bilateral talks at Urugwiro Village.

President Kagame later hosted the Egyptian President to a State Dinner at the Kigali Convention Centre.

Speaking after holding bilateral talks, the two heads of state committed to bolster economic ties between their two countries for the mutual benefit of their respective citizens.

President Kagame said that Egypt has a lot to offer as a business partner.

“Egypt has a lot to offer as an investor and business partner for Rwanda and the East African region, we are eager to deepen commercial ties,” said Kagame.

“Egyptians do not need to apply for a visa to visit Rwanda and we hope to welcome tourists and business people from Egypt to our country in greater numbers going forward.”

President Kagame said the friendship between Rwanda and Egypt has been productive and Rwandans look forward to doing even more in the future.

On his part, President Sisi said that during the bilateral meeting, the two heads of state resolved to take all measures possible to facilitate and encourage the exchange of trade between the two countries and establish joint projects in the various economic sectors that would enable both nations to achieve their goals.

“We discussed ways to promote trade exchange, increase joint investments, and foster growing cooperation between the private sectors of the two countries especially in the areas of communication, tourism, agriculture and energy,” said Sisi.

“I want to highlight the agreement between the Egyptian and Rwandan government to take all necessary measures to facilitate and encourage the exchange of trade between the two countries and establish joint projects in the various economic sectors that will realize the interests of the brotherly nations.”

As a member of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), Egypt exports enter the Rwandan Market freely and vice-versa.

The two heads of states also discussed the ongoing African Union reforms process where president Kagame pointed out that the North African nation was an important player in making the organization more effective and sustainable.

Earlier on, President Kagame received a delegation of top African executives currently undergoing a special programme offered by Harvard Business School in collaboration with the University of Pretoria (South Africa) and University of Lagos Business School in Nigeria under the Senior Executives Program-Africa (SEPA).

Participants sought to meet with President Kagame who gave them personal insights on Rwanda’s development path, leadership strategy among other things.

Students of the University of Ljubljana in Slovenia this week unveiled a Shs. 150 million rehabilitation centre for street children in Kabale.

The structure was constructed in Kahama village in Kitumba Sub County, for Alongside Africa; a nongovernmental organization that rehabilitates children on streets.

George Kwarigaba, the director Alongside Africa says that under his project they are helping 60 former street kids, all of who have been taken back to school.

He said that the new centre is hoped to provide professional rehabilitation services to the increasing number of youngsters gotten off streets, and provide them with vocational skills.

At the handover of the rehabilitation centre by the Slovenia students to Alongside Africa on Monday, Patrick Besigye Keihwa observed that the growing crime rate in Kabale is mostly because of the homeless young people on the streets.

Keihwa said that since the year begun, 14 Juveniles are facing different serious criminal cases ranging from defilement, rape and murder in courts of law.

A total of 25 police officers are being investigated over their involvement in grabbing land in Luweero.

Professional Standards Unit spokesperson Vincent Ssekate said their team together with the Police Land Protection Unit that visited Kapeeka especially Balatira sub -county unearthed dealings by their own officers.

“We registered complaints from locals ranging from mismanagement of land cases, involvement in land grabbing and corruption among other allegations, “Ssekate told a news conference on Thursday.

“Investigations will be done and recommendations made to the Directorate of Human Resource Management.”

He added that over 30 old files had been taken over by their team for review and investigation gaps to be filed.

The Professional Standards Unit, he said are working with all stakeholders to help improve service in the police force.

“We urge whoever has a complaint to report immediately to PSU and we shall act on them so as to help clean up the force,” Ssekate noted.

Luweero registered over 500 complaints of land grabbing when the Commission of Inquiry into land matters lead by Lady Justice Catherine Bamugemereire visited the area recently.

The commission also ordered for the areas of Ambrose Murunga, a former consultant with police  over his involvement in land grabbing and eviction of locals in Luweero .

Uganda’s long distance runner Joshua Cheptegei who won a silver medal in the 10000 meter race in London recently, was received enthusiastically yesterday at Entebbe International Airport.

The 21 year old came behind Britain’s Mo Farah, on the opening day of the IAAF World Champions at Olympic stadium in Stratford, London on August 4^th.

He was welcomed at Entebbe Airport by Civil Aviation Authority’s Director Airports and Aviation Security, Eng. John T. Kagoro.

Cheptegei’s silver medal is Uganda’s first medal on the track after almost a decade.

The last man to attain the feat was Moses Kipsiro in 2007.

Speaking to press upon return, the athlete said he was thrilled for the victory, but promised to perform much better in future competitions.

Preliminary results of the 2016 Uganda Population HIV Impact Assessment (UPHI) have indicated significant progress in the fight against HIV in Uganda.

The results unveiled in Kampala today showed among others that the HIV prevalence among children has declined and the number of people living with HIV is stable.

57.4 percent of the people living with HIV, the report says, are on antiretroviral treatment and virally suppressed.

Minister of Health Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng flanked by the US Ambassador to Uganda Deborah Malac presented the report to reporters at Uganda Media Center.

According to the findings, the current prevalence of HIV among adults aged 15-49 years is 6 percent. Among children under age 5 the prevalence is 0.5 percent while among those aged 5-14 years it is at 0.5 percent. The total number of people living with HIV is 1.3 million.

“These results also show that almost 60 percent of Ugandan adults with HIV have a minimal level of the virus in their blood which is a marker of treatment success. This 60 percent will live longer, healthier lives and they are less likely to infect others,” said the minister.

Dr Aceng said however, that a lot still needs to be done, noting that the HIV prevalence is still unacceptably high.

“Women still remain majorly affected with the prevalence rates at 7.5 percent compared to that of men at 4.3 percent,” she said.

The report shows that the magnitude of HIV varied considerable among the ten geographic regions in the survey from a low of 2.8 percent in West-Nile, 3.4 percent in North East region, 4.4 percent in East Central, 4.8% in Mid-East region, 5.5 percent in Mid-West region, 6.6 percent in Kampala, 7.4 in Central II, 7.6 in Central I  and 7.7 in South Western region.

The survey was conducted in all parts of the country from August 2016 to March 2017 from 12,483 households and achieved very high participation rates of over 95 percent from both interviews and blood draws.

A total of 16,670 women and 12,354 men aged 15-64 years were interviewed and tested for HIV. In addition 10,345 children aged 0-14 years were tested including 6,527 aged 0-4 years and 3,818 aged 5-14 years.

“The  2011 Uganda AIDS Indicator Survey estimated national HIV prevalence among adults at 7.3 percent compared to 6.0percent in 2016/2017 UPHIA”.

The government of Japan, through its food assistance program, has donated $3.2 million worth of rice to refugees in Uganda to help with the food shortage that has affected them this year.

The rice equaling to 5,340 tones will be distributed to over 1.3 million refugees who are currently in over 22 refugee settlements in different parts of Uganda, with the priority given to women and children who are the biggest percentage of this vulnerable population.

At a ceremony held Thursday at the Ministry of Finance Offices to exchange notes between the two countries about the food assistance program, the Ambassador of Japan to Uganda, Kazuaki Kameda, noted that the initiative was in response to a noted influx of refugees from south Sudan and other neighboring countries.

“The World Food Program has announced that the shortfall for food assistance in Uganda by the end of this year will be an estimated $63 million. We therefore found it right to donate rice to assistant in this anonymous need,” Kazuaki said.

He added: “Also reports show that there is food insecurity in Uganda due to drought, irregular precipitation patterns and diseases that have lowed food production and resulted into food shortage and famine. This kind of situation must be even worse for refugees who do not cultivate their own foods and only depend on donations.”

On his part, the Minister of Finance, Matia kasaija thanked the Japanese government for the continuous support to refugees in areas of health, agriculture, education and energy.

He, however, noted that the contribution made today is a drop in the ocean considering the big amount of money that the government of Uganda needs to look after the welfare of the refugees.

“The government of Uganda is contributing over $323 million annually purposely for refugee welfare. However, the estimated budget is close to $2 biilon dollars. We call upon all well-wishers to bring more assistance in so that our brothers and sisters can live a dignified life as we work towards stabilizing the political wars in their areas of origin,” Kasaija said.

High Court Judge Yasin Nyanzi will on August 23, deliver the ruling on whether or not to release on bail Mathew Kanyamunyu, who is currently on remand in Luzira Prison for the murder of social worker Kenneth Akena last year.

On his third attempt to apply for bail, Kanyamunyu through his counsel Evans Ochieng told court that Luzira Prison is over congested, and that he has been there on remand for a long time despite the fact that he was committed to High court for trial.

In his affidavit sworn on 12th July 2017, Kanyamunyu informed court that his incarceration has greatly affected the
operations of his logistics company whose collapse may affect several other people.

Kanyamunyu says he decided to make another attempt at bail because it is his right and that he has a fixed place of abode in Butabika, Royal Palms House Number 120 in Kampala district, which is within the jurisdiction of the court.

He also presented a recommendation letter from the Estate’s Manager.

His lawyer Evans Ochieng requested the judge to release his client, saying that he is a responsible citizen who has no other criminal charges against him.

Ochieng also dismissed the claim by Prosecution that this is a matter of public interest; noting that that alone can’t be used to suppress applicant’s right to bail.

Kanyamunyu presented in court four sureties, namely; Moses Karuhanga, the head of head of Procurement at NIRA, Julius Kanyamunyu his uncle, Timothy Tumusiime, the Finance Manager of Mantrack Uganda Limited, and Stella Birungi his maternal Aunt.

State prosecutor Immaculate Agutoke opposed the bail request on grounds that the applicant did not produce any new information other than that which was rejected by court in his previous bail applications.

The state also stressed that the suspect is likely to interfere with the investigations since he was served with the summary of evidence that is going to be used against him.

The defense however, pointed out that SSP Olal Johnson; who was the investigating officer in the case never expressed any worry on interference from Kanyamunyu.

Justice Yasin Nyanzi on hearing the two sides, remanded Kanyamunyu back to Luzira until March 23^rd, when he will make a decision.

President Yoweri Museveni has Thursday promised to meet artisan groups that are involved in such activities as furniture making along the Kampala-Entebbe highway in order to have their activities supported and boosted.

Museveni made the promise while at Najjanankumbi and Namasuba suburbs of Kampala City where he stopped and talked to the artisans on his way to State House, Entebbe.

The President advised the artisans and businessmen who are mainly involved in furniture making to form a common Savings and Cooperative Credit Organization (SACCO) in order to be easily assisted financially.

At Abayita Ababiri town in Wakiso district, Museveni also asked the group to institute a focused leadership that will enhance their businesses objectives.

“It is easy to assist a group not individuals,” he said.

Government Chief Whip, Ruth Nankabirwa has said Government has no intentions of withdrawing the Constitution Amendment Bill (2017), which seeks to amend Article 26, to provide for compulsory government acquisition of private land.

Nankabirwa communicated the government position while addressing press at the Office of the President on the resolutions that the NRM caucus took while meeting President Yoweri Museveni on Wednesday.

The Chief Whip conceded that the bill has faced a lot of resistance from both government and opposition side, which she however, attributed to deliberate efforts by some people to misinform the public on the bill.

“The bill is brought with a good intention to save government time and money; our role is to correct the lies by those who are deliberately misinforming Ugandans; who are quicker, louder, don’t care and have no shame,” Nankabirwa said.

Telling government to simply cower and drop the bill, she said, was like telling them to wind up and give up on governance.

Nankabirwa noted that government is aware that almost all the bills that touch the social establishment meet resistance.

She gave an example of the Traditional Leaders’ Bill (2010) which was very controversial especially in Buganda yet still government stood its ground.

 “We can’t just withdraw because of a shadow, because the negativity is due to some people that have done it deliberately and it is our role to tell the truth.”

Nankabirwa revealed that the NRM Caucus resolved to uphold three major issues that should be maintained in the bill if it is to be successfully passed into law.

That is the principle of prompt compensation prior to compulsory takeover of land, delaying of government projects during the process of acquiring land and depositing the money after being established by the government valuer to the affected person and not court as earlier suggested.

The Minister of Finance, Matia kasaija has urged farmers in areas where refugees are settling to take advantage of the big market that they provide by planting more food crops.

The minister noted that as much as Uganda would not wish the refugees to be in their current situation, Ugandans must consider positively benefiting from it so we can live harmoniously with them.

“There is a big need for food stuffs to the big number of refugees in Uganda. It is, however, unfortunate that most times, organizations like World Food Program and other donors have to buy food from foreign countries to come and feed these refugees and yet Uganda has the potential to produce enough food for ourselves as well and even spare more for sell,” said Kasaija.

He was speaking at event of signing and exchanging notes between the governments of Uganda and Japan where the latter donated over 5,340 tons of rice worth $3.2 million to the refugees in Uganda.

Kasaija revealed: “If we were able to produce this much rice, then the government of Japan would have bought rice from our Ugandan farmers and the $3.2 billion would be invested directly in the Ugandan economy to boost it. There have been a lot of opportunities, especially when it comes to the welfare of refugees and in most cases; Uganda has been left behind because we lack capacity to supply the big tones of foods necessary.”

He continued: “We are surely not exhausting our potentials as far as agriculture is concerned. I therefore call upon farmers especially those in areas where there are refugee settlement camps to increase production by using modern means so that they will have enough to eat and sell in case of such opportunities so that Uganda can grow as well as take care of the refugees.’’

The Minister Of Disaster, Preparedness and Refuges, Hillary Onek said that the ministry is working with the refugees on how they can make this big number of refugees productive so that they do not become a liability to Uganda.

“We do not look to only feed these refugees. We want to empower them economically; give them education where possible as well as health services. Instead of always receiving donations, we want to apportion land to them so that they can cultivate and produce food to eat and sell.”

The Japans Ambassador to Uganda, Kazuaki Kameda, said they donated rice because of the current food insecurity problem in Uganda caused by long drought and low production levels.

He asked the government of Uganda to continue empowering these refuges through education and economic assistance, but also to work towards achieving peace in conflict areas of south Sudan, Burundi and the others.

Currently, Uganda is a host to over 1.3 million refugees and their number is expected to increase if the conflicts in South Sudan and Burundi continue.

The government requires $2 billion to cater for these refugees annually, of that Uganda is contributing $323 million annually with other assistance coming from world organizations and other well-wishers.

Discontent is mounting in Uganda’s diplomatic ranks after President Museveni ordered that ministers who were recently appointed ambassadors should be paid a staggering Shs 15m yet long-term serving diplomats continue to take home a paltry Shs 1.5m.

The situation is so serious that some diplomats have quietly expressed their “deep frustration with how our government is managing our affairs.”

President Museveni made his decision in a confidential letter dated August 1, 2017 addressed to Public Service Minister Muruli Mukasa.

According to the restricted correspondence which ChimpReports has seen, Museveni further directed that the ministers retain their previous entitlements even while serving in new diplomatic positions.

“As you are aware, I have appointed some former ministers as Ambassadors,” wrote Museveni in his letter titled, ‘Emoluments on Personal to Holder Basis.’

“I, therefore, direct, if it is not against any law, that they maintain their remuneration, personal to holder, like when they were ministers, minus of course elements like the constituency allowance because they no longer have constituencies,” Museveni instructed the Public Service Minister.

Ministers are entitled to chauffeur-driven cars, health insurance policies, and security guard among other entitlements.

In his letter, Museveni told Muruli that, “Alternatively, they (ex ministers appointed Ambassadors) could do with a salary equivalent to Shs 15m per month which is what Permanent Secretaries are getting now.”

The development is said to have been received with “anger” and “disappointment” in the diplomatic community.

“We’ve served with honour and under very difficult circumstances,” said a female diplomat deployed in Europe.

“For anyone to imagine that we don’t deserve the same amount like the former ministers is demoralizing and discriminatory,” she added, preferring anonymity so as to speak freely.

Observers say the recent development could ignite restlessness among diplomats who are tasked to promote Uganda’s image abroad and encourage investors to visit the East African country.

Museveni has consistently urged Ambassadors to use their offices to attract Foreign Direct Investment and tourists to grow Uganda’s economy.

A crestfallen diplomat said “our Minister Sam Kutesa has been lobbying for better salaries for diplomats but his pleas fell on deaf ears. What’s happening now is a rude awakening that perhaps we are not equal.”

Museveni’s letter to Muruli directing on new salaries for former ministers

It remains unclear how Museveni reached his decision but inside sources suspect the new ministers lobbied for the favour.

The Ministers who were recently appointed Ambassadors include Crispus Kiyonga, Alintuma Nsambu and Barbara Nekesa Oundo.

Once the president’s directive is implemented, a long serving ambassador will need to work for ten months to earn what each of the former ministers will be taking home after just 30 days.

ChimpReports was unable to speak to Foreign Affairs Minister Sam Kutesa when we posted this story on Thursday evening.

The Head of Public Diplomacy at the Ministry, Margaret Kafeero said she couldn’t comment on the matter as she was yet to read the president’s letter.

Museveni directed Muruli to “sort it in a rational manner on the basis of maintaining some of the benefits the individuals were getting previously minus the elements that are no longer applicable.”

Emoluments

Meanwhile, an insider said the president should have turned down requests from the new ministers.

“What the issue has been is that the first time a Cabinet Minister was appointed to an Ambassadorial rank; it was Hon Rugunda. But his appointment clearly indicated that he remained a full Cabinet Minister hence retaining his emoluments,” said a diplomat who sought anonymity as he is not authorised to speak to the media.

“All the others haven’t had such a written proviso on appointment but one or two have somehow managed to use Rugunda as a precedent.”

The source indicated that Museveni “feels a need to streamline that issue,” adding, “What I don’t understand is why he would pinpoint Permanent Secretaries’ salaries rather than compare with Ministers who are not MPs.”

“The best thing to do is end this discrimination and give all envoys equal pay,” he said.

Over 13.5 percent of works on the on-going expansion of the passenger terminal building at Entebbe International Airport has so far been accomplished.

The landside expansion contracted to Seyani Brothers (U) Ltd seeks to provide more room and comfort for service users, especially passengers.

Construction on this part is underway, of a new Departures and Arrivals concession block.

This particular project is funded entirely by Civil Aviation Authority’s (CAA) internally generated revenue. According to CAA’s public affairs manager Vianney Luggya, this project is projected to be completed by the end of 2018.

The last time the media was taken on a tour of works at the Airport in July 2017, works on this project were at 10%.

Artistic impression of expanded Passenger Terminal at Entebbe International Airport

The existing Passenger Terminal building was opened in 1974 for peak hour traffic of 250 arriving and 250 departing passengers.

The Terminal got some limited improvements as the country prepared for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in 2007, elevating it to the current capacity of 410 arriving and 360 departing passengers.

However, the National Aviation Master Plan projects 930 arriving passengers and 820 departing passengers during peak hours, by 2033.

Mr Luggya says the expansion is critical in providing for the growth and ensuring a good customer experience.

In 2016, the Airport handled a total of 1.5 million incoming and outgoing passengers.

On the other hand, other major works are ongoing on construction of a new Cargo Centre on the south end of the airport and is so far at 24%.

This project, which is largely loan funded, is contracted to the China Communications Construction Company (CCCC).

Mr Luggya says the earthworks are so far complete and that the contractor is now working on the Cargo Centre’s airside and landside access roads before embarking on the building blocks in September, 2017.

“They are also working on the drainage channel at the airside in preparation for expansion of the Aircraft Parking Apron to add six more Aircraft Parking bays,” Lyggya said.

 The proposed new 100,000 tones capacity Cargo Centre will be a self-contained facility with a Parking Apron, landslide and airside access roads, cooling facilities, a Freight Forwarders Parlor and ancillary business outlets.

Cargo volumes have grown from 6,600 metric tons recorded in 1991 to 59,000 tons at the turn of 2016.

Other works to be undertaken by CCCC in the first phase (of five years) include re-surfacing of the Runways, Taxiways and strengthening and expansion of the Aprons.

The supervising Consultant for the projects is Dar Al – Handasah Shair & Partners.

State Minister of Finance for Planning, David Bahati has lashed out at controversial Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance, Keith Muhakanizi for his persistent public criticism of government’s decision to create new districts in Uganda.

Muhakanizi who is known to be a campaigner for efficiency in public expenditure recently advised the political leadership against partitioning further administrative units, saying it was not sustainable.

In 2015, parliament approved 23 new districts to become operational in a phase until the year 2020.

Four of these were operationalized in 2016 while 6 others including Namisindwa, Pakwach, Butebo, Rukiga, Kyotera, and Bunyangabo became operational in July this year.

By 2020, Uganda will have 135 districts all of which require new budgets to finance administration and the staffing composition.

For a long time, campaigners for new districts have argued that creation of these districts improves service delivery through further decentralization but economists like Muhakanizi say it only strains the already meagre resources.

During a forum organized by Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) on Thursday to engage stakeholders in the financial sector on avenues to grow domestic revenue, Muhakanizi reiterated his position saying, “It is important that we move very fast with the efficiency with which resources are used on expenditure, if people are going to comply in payment of taxes.”

Muhakanizi further said: “We need to balance capital and recurrent expenditure because people need these services rather than creating districts and creating all these administrative things. What will happen to the services on the other side? Time has come to debate these issues seriously.”

But it seems the remarks made by the Secretary to the Treasury didn’t sit well with Minister David Bahati who was chief guest at the forum.

Later, he would criticize Muhakanizi whom he accused of defying advice to cease his controversial statements regarding the issue.

“We opened up universities so that people can assess higher education. But now, over 10,000 graduates are produced every year which has created a problem of unemployment,” Bahati said.

“So, as you solve a problem, another problem comes in. But we have to contend with this. We cannot fear to implement some things because they will create another problem.”

He added: “The issue of districts which the Permanent Secretary has insisted and we keep telling him in our boardrooms that – ‘that problem is above you’ but when he comes to the public, he repeats it. Stop it!”

The Minister argued that the creation of districts is driven by the need to ensure peaceful coexistence which is more crucil than any other negative eventualities.

“Think about what is happening in Somalia. If giving a district creates peace and stability and accomodates some people in our society and you are peaceful, that’s a contradiction we have to contend with,” Bahati said.

“We know this is a problem and that’s the reason why when we passed the districts last term in the Parliament, we said let’s pass them at ago. Last year we did 4, this year we are doing 6 and next year 7. We have a plan up to 2020 and we hope that will be the last creation of new districts.”

Bahati disagreed with the notion that the new districts have a cost bearing on public expenditure saying: “We are not creating districts that are not in Uganda. They are all in Uganda. You have Rukiga district being created from Kabale district and therefore the budget for Kabale is shared. You only require additional resources for the new staff but you have the peace that people need.”

Augustus Caesar Mulenga, a self-anointed King of the so-called Mulenga Development Kingdom on Wednesday presented his credentials as the Honorary Consular General of Vietnam to Uganda, to the Minister of foreign affairs Sam Kahamba Kutesa.

The function was held at the Ministry of Foreign affairs in Kampala on Wednesday where Mulenga, accompanied by his family and friends presented the credentials.

Minister Kutesa receives Mulenga’s wife Dr Mulenga

The Kisoro born business tycoon was appointed in December as the Vietnam consular in Uganda after the country opened its Consul in Uganda.

Caesar Mulenga with his wife and son after presenting his credentials to Minister Kutesa

King Mulenga appreciated the people of  Vietnam for putting much trust in him and promised to boost  the relationship between the two countries as well as business and tourism.

King Mulenga with wife , MP Tayebwa and Minister Prof Kamuntu

Some of the people that witnessed the event included minister of General Duties Mary Karoro Okurut, the minister of tourism wildlife and antiquities Prof. Ephraim Kamuntu, Ntungamo Municipality MP Gerald Karuhanga and Ruhinda North MP Thomas Tayebwa.

Police are hunting down 2 UPDF soldiers who are suspected to have beaten to death a civilian in Mutungo, a suburb of Kampala.

According to Kampala Metropolitan Police Spokesperson, Emilian Kayima; Pte. Rogers Kasigazi and Pte. Shaban Musinguzi fled after beating a one Rogers Waisa to death early this week.

“The 2 soldiers beat Waisa after accusing him of theft of a bag of cement from a construction site they were guarding,” Kayima said.

“They then brought him to Mutungo Police Post, but were advised to first take him to hospital because he was in bad condition.”

The police mouthpiece said the suspects, however, abandoned Waiswa before reaching the hospital, and he was recovered dead.

The body was, after recovery, taken to Mulago for a postmortem report.

“The sticks used to beat him have been recovered at the construction site as the hunt for the 2 soldiers has started,” said Kayima.

Kayima also revealed that one Joel Akonyero who had escorted the 2 soldiers has been arrested to assist in investigations.

Chimpreports has learnt of a syndicate that saw a number of Ugandans heading to Turkey, intercepted at Entebbe International Airport in possession of fake visas to the Eastern European nation.

After being intercepted by the authorities late last month, the victims, among them two young women Shamim Nakanjako and Brenda Nakidde, were handed over to  police.

The women who were in company of a one identified as Brian Magala, later sought help from Interpol, complaining that they had received the visas from a person named Moses Kawooya, the director of KAPSSA, a company that deals in externalization of labor.

Kawooya was arrested and taken to Interpol offices in Kololo but was later released after explaining that he had no hand in the issuance of that fake visas but his office was just used to fill the forms.

Kawooya told this website when reached, that he didn’t partake in the visa scam, but admitted that he was summoned by Interpol over related issues.

“I have never been arrested; I was called to Interpol, because of Brian. I do genuine business and those people that I take abroad pass through rightful procedures,” Kawoya said.

The Interpol Spokesperson, Vincent Ssekate though, seemed unaware of the case and promised to get back to us, but had since not returned our calls.

We also attempted to reach out to Brian Magala to clarify on his arrest but he didn’t pick the calls.

Bulhan Kamul

However, one of the victims who requested anonymity narrated that she was duped by a one Bulhan Kamul, who told her that he is the Chairperson of the Turkish NRM Chapter and working with the Splinter NRM Diaspora League Secretary General, Godius Yesigye.

“(Kamul) promised to find us jobs in Turkey and we had to give him some money to process our documents. But we were shocked on arrival at (Entebbe) airport to be told that we had fake visas,” said the victim.

“Kamul assured us that is was a good deal for us to travel to Turkey. We also had conversations with some Ugandans in Turkey who were waiting for us; we tried to call Kamul but failed to reach him,” she added.

This website separately learnt that Kamul had collected up to $10, 000 from some Ugandans in Turkey who had ordered for the girls. We couldn’t however, establish what kinds of jobs the young women were being taken to do.

“Kamul assured me that he would help get someone from Uganda and that since he is connected to NRM’s Godius Yesigye it would be very easy; I gave him $1300 including the air ticket but to date I haven’t heard from him,” claimed one of the affected Ugandans in Turkey.

Another person claimed that he was conned over $6000 by Kamul, and this one vowed to pursue him until he is brought to justice.

Chimpreports made several attempts to reach out to Kamul but couldn’t connect to him through his known contacts.

We however came across an audio that has been spreading on the different Whatsapp groups of Ugandans in Turkey.

In the audio recorded by Kamul and addressed to a one Seleb, he admits involvement in the syndicate, but urges those aggrieved to understand that he is not alone but there are other members who have also stolen money from Ugandans living in Turkey and those traveling there.

Godius Yesigye, the Secretary General of the Splinter NRM Diaspora League

“I have head of a person called Sadat, who promised to pull out my finger nails. But before he thinks of that, he should add on the list of those to lose their nails, another person called Kalule Lule Sirajje; because he has contributed 50 percent to this business. Sirajje witnessed the girls that we were supposed to bring in, and half the money is in his pocket,” said Kamul in the audio.

Some of the accused are said to be members of a splinter group from the NRM Diaspora league who have since formed an interim committee that is headed by Patrick Asiimwe and the Secretary General Godius Yesigye.

Kamul was recently seen with Mr Yesigye while the latter addressed press on the controversial issuance of NRM party cards for members in the diaspora.

But when contacted, Mr Yesigye denied knowledge of the scam and said he wasn’t that close to Kamul.

“I don’t even have his number he is not a person that we have been talking so much, he is not close to me at all, he is the coordinator of Turkey chapter,” he said.

“I have never got even a call from Mr. Kamul seeking for any assistance of the sort, and as a lawyer, I weigh what assistance I can offer to somebody. Besides, we are not the kind of people that just recommend people to go to Turkey or elsewhere unless someone is going for medical issues.”

On using his name to con people, Yesigye said, “You can see a character and tell what he is capable of doing. The way I see this young Muslim man, he looks honest but for survival you never know what he could be doing.”

The Committee on Legal and Parliamentary Affairs has expressed disappointment with government over its failure to report back to the committee regarding the Constitution Amendment Bill 2017 within the stipulated time.

After the Minister of Lands Betty Amongi and that of Constitutional Affairs, Gen. Kahinda Otaffire failed to convince the committee on the need for the amendment, the members resolved to allow them time to make consultations and report back to the committee after two weeks.

The decision was taken on August 1 by the Committee Chairperson and Budama West legislator, Jacob Oboth Oboth — despite the committee’s limited time of 45 to report back to the house floor.

Oboth said that the delay has stalled committee work despite having given the matter top priority.

Oboth says the committee has received a lot of requests from members of the public who want to present views before the committee on the bill which they can’t before the official position from government.

“When we last met with the Ministers on August 1, they requested for adjournment for two weeks seeking to consult and then report back. The two weeks have gone and by yesterday, we wrote a letter to the Minister of Justice reminding him that we have run out of time and needed an update from them,” Oboth said.

 “The committee is experiencing a stalemate because we can’t move on without having the government position and the 45 days are still standing.”

He observed however that Parliament can’t be in hurry to process a bill that has come from government.

“We can’t say we are grieving more than the aggrieved; what we are going to do is to wait until they are ready and they get back to us.”

Oboth said that if after two weeks it finds that the 45 days have clocked, the committee will report to Parliament about the status and Parliament during plenary will decide on either allowing them more time or otherwise.