President Uhuru Kenyatta has appealed to Kenyans to keep united in order to develop their country, urging citizens to view diversity as strength to gain progress instead of misusing it for selfish purposes.

Uhuru made the remarks while speaking at the 39th Anniversary Memorial Service for Kenya’s first President, Mzee Jomo Kenyatta at St. Stephen’s Cathedral, Jogoo Road.

“Today we are celebrating years of Kenyans being able to govern themselves. Not that we have not made mistakes, we have, but I believe that as a country we have learnt from our mistakes,” said the President.

“Over the years we have entrenched our democracy. As we respect our cultural diversity let us also be able to respect our ability to hold different opinions. Different opinions do not mean enmity. We are still one people.”

Commenting on the recent election, President Kenyatta said Kenyans voted for the leaders they wanted and it was now time to unite for development.

“There is no single Kenyan who went to the ballot and made a mistake. Every Kenyan voted where he or she desired and that was their right. But their comes a time when a decision is made and we then move forward together as one people focused on one common vision, one common dream for our nation Kenya and future generations,” said the President.

The remarks come against the back drop of Raila Amolo Odinga, and his running mate, Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka moving to Supreme Court of Kenya on the basis of specific irregularities that they have identified in the recently concluded Kenyan presidential elections.

Uhuru said all leaders have an obligation to leave a positive impact on Kenya and its citizens just like the founding fathers of the country who always united for the sake of the nation.

President Kenyatta said Kenyans should view their diversity as a strength to gain progress and it should not be misused for selfish purposes.

Deputy President William Ruto, who also spoke at the memorial service, said Kenya’s politics has changed after the 2017 election where development and unity were the reasons that informed the choices Kenyans made.

He said many critics of the Jubilee Party, who had prophesied that campaigning on the platform of development will not make the party win over voters were proved wrong.

“The two most important issues that informed voters were development and unity. The election was contested on a development record,” said the President who was joined by family members at the service.

The President had earlier led a ceremony to lay a wreath at the Jomo Kenyatta Mausoleum within precincts of Parliament.

Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko also spoke at the memorial service.

High Court Judge Yasin Nyanzi is expected today afternoon to rule on whether to or not to grant bail to jailed businessman Mathew Kanyamunyu who is accused of murdering Kenneth Akena.

The other two suspects in the case, Cythia Munwangara and Mathew Kanyamunyu were released on bail in March.

Last week through his lawyer, Evans Ochieng, Knayamunyu made a third attempt at bail.

In the second failed attempt before Justice Yasin Nyanzi, was when his co-accused were freed.

Kanyamunyu however was denied bail on among other grounds, the possibility that he would interfere with investigations.

Last week he presented to court four sureties and expressed willingness to surrender in court his land title as well as his passport.

He also argued that although he was committed to High court for trial, there is no sign  that his case is about to be fixed for hearing having spent 195 days on remand after committal yet the law states that any person who spends 180 days before commencement of his trial court will release him on conditions it considers reasonable.

Former Presidential Candidate Col Dr Kizza Besigye this week joined his wife Winnie Byanyima in the United States to see off their only son Anselm Besigye to Harvard University.

The 18 year old was in December last year accepted at the prestigious Ivy League university in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Yesterday Monday, Byanyima and Besigye escorted the self-styled youngster to the campus.

On the same day, former US President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle took their eldest daughter Malia to her University dormitory at the campus.

Malia Obama and friends outside her Harvard Dormitory

The Obamas were pictured together with members of the Secret Service as they pulled up to Malia’s new residence in a two-SUV envoy, managing to avoid detection despite the thousands of people around the campus and in Cambridge.

Majority of the new students are expected to start arriving today.

Mrs Byanyima tweeted this morning that she had just moved her son “and his boxes into Harvard to start his journey to adulthood.”

She expressed worry however, about the safety of Anselm, owing to the “hate and bigotry being spewed out by leaders here.”

She was supposedly referring to the recent racial storm in the US that saw the country’s president Donald Trump widely condemned for seeming to support White Supremacists, Neo-Nazis and KKK groups.

At Harvard University, racial challenges are never in short supply, and there have been numerous accounts of more struggles for black and minority students.

Just this year, black students for the first time at the university held their own graduation ceremony, separate from the official graduation event.

One of the participants at the unprecedented event  said, “The current political climate definitely pushed this initiative to come to fruition.”

Two members of the Tabiq Muslim sect who were this week acquitted of charges relating to murder of fellow Muslim leaders are set to battle fresh treason charges.

The International Crimes Division of the High Court in Kampala on Monday acquitted 8 people including Amir Kinene and his brother Hakim Kinene of terrorism and murder charges.

However, the duo together with 18 others including Murta Mudde Bukenya who was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment are set to battle with treason and concealment of treason, a case before High Court Justice Wilson Musene Masalu .

On Wednesday, they were brought to court for mention of the case but it was adjourned after the defence lawyers asked for more time to be availed with pieces of evidence against their clients.

Some of the suspects arrive at court on Wednesday.

According to one of their lawyers Friday Robert Kagoro, the state has been asked to avail the evidence to the defence lawyers before 6th September and hearing of the case kicks off on 18th of the same month.

Others to appear for treason charges in relation to the murder of Muslim clerics include Aisha Nakasibante (Dr.Aggrey Kiyingi’s sister-in law), Badru Bukenya, Muzamiru Kasawuli, Arafat Sserunjogi, Alex Okot, Joseph Oulanya and Charles Okidi.

The group also include Pte. Arajab Mubaje, Issa Matanda,Hajii Abdul Byamukama,Solomon Kibirige,Safiyi Wadwali, Yunus Ssentamu, Muhamad Kalodo, Ismail Ssentongo and Nicholas Abong.

On Wednesday, the leader of Tabliq Sect in Uganda Sheikh Mohammad Yunus Kamoga and 4 others including Sheikh Siraje Kawooya, Sheikh Murta Mudde Bukenya, and Sheikh Fahad Kalungi were sentenced to life imprisonment after being convicted of terrorism related charges.

Court said the group printed fliers with the names of those targeted to be killed inscribed on them, held meetings and sent messages which tantamount to terrorism.

President Yoweri Museveni is expected in Kabong district today (Wednesday) to drum up support for Roselilly Akello Nakwakile the official National Resistance Movement (NRM) party flag bearer in the district woman MP by-election race.

Museveni who is also the NRM National Chairperson will address two rallies at Kabong S.S playground at 2:00pm before connecting to Karenga sub-county Headquarters for the second rally at 4:00pm.

The two venues are 82kms apart.

The Deputy Secretary General, Richard Todwong is already in Kabong to officially receive Museveni.

ChimpReorts understands Todwong is holding a series of reconciliatory meetings involving several party officials who have reportedly turned their weapons against Nakwakile.

Kabong goes to polls on Monday August 28.

The Inspector General of Police, Gen.Kale Kayihura has launched a program to fight crime around the country.

A total of   17 women have been killed since May in both Entebbe and Nansana areas of Wakiso district.

Speaking to locals at New Royal hotel in Nansana on Wednesday Kayihura said it is high time people are empowered as a way of fighting crime.

“Many youths involve in criminality because of temptations associated with lack of jobs,” Gen. Kayihura said.

“Those who drop out of school and others who finish school without jobs resort to criminality. “

The IGP said he has contacted Operation Wealth Creation officials to see how they help people acquire wealth as a way of fighting crime.

“We used to call the bush war as the people’s war; it is the same line we are using to fight crime in the country,” he said.

The police boss said the program will start with bodaboda riders, prostitutes and criminals whom he asked to use this a grace period to denounce criminality.

Recently, Gen. Kayihura said many youths are paid to orchestrate crime in many parts of the country.

“Many have been arrested and confessed to have been contracted to take part in crime,” Kayihura said.

“Crime has become a source of likelihood for many youths which is bad.”

According to Kayihura, the new program will help empower youths so as to denounce crime.

“We shall have an arrangement and give out motorcycles on soft loan scheme so that jobless youths can start riding boda bodas and pay later.”

The number of girls raped before being killed have been on the rise in the last few months in the areas of Nansana and Entebbe.

Twenty five year old Aisha Nakasinde a resident of Kivundira village in Katabi town council in Wakiso district became the 7th person to be killed in a similar manner after being raped by unknown assailants.

Nakasinde who had been missing was discovered killed and body dumped dumped in a bush, a few metres from Kasenyi barracks .

NRM National Party Chairman, President Museveni, has urged members to avoid scrambling for positions but instead borrow a leaf from football where a team fields the first eleven players on the pitch and keeps the reserves on the bench.

Museveni was this Wednesday afternoon addressing the party supporters at Kabong S.S playground in Karamoja region.

Speaking before he officially introduced Hon. Roselilly Akello as the party flag bearer for the district woman MP seat, the National Chairman cautioned  members against creating unnecessary divisions over leadership positions.

The race has three candidates with Christine Nakwang (independent) as the likely threat to Akello. The third candidate is affiliated to FDC.

“In football you can have many players but with only 11 starting and the rest on reserve….your problem here is that some of you want the reserves on the field of play as well…”, he wondered.

He offered to accommodate Nakwang elsewhere if she wished so.

MORE PROJECTS FOR KARAMOJA

The President said Karamoja got their first tarmac road (Moroto-Nakapiripit) during the NRM regime.

He further revealed that plans were underway to tarmac Nakapiripit-Muyembe-Mbale, Moroto-Kotido-Kabong and Kalenga to South Sudan boarder roads.

On electricity, Museveni revealed that the NRM government had already secured funds from the Islamic Development Bank to connect power to different areas of Kabong and Abim districts.

The contract for the commencement of work is soon to be signed.

The region will also be further considered for more valley tanks mainly for livestock farmers.

Under the education sector, Kabong has 32 government primary schools but the President pledged 52 more to ensure that every parish has one.

The district has 84 parishes.

The President was happy to note that the spread of HIV/AIDS in Kabong was very low at only 3 percent. He reminded the youth to maintain good health.

The NRM Secretariat was ably represented by the Deputy SG, Hon Richard Todwong who commended the chairman for his continued guidance on party matters.

Kabong goes to polls on Monday to elect their district woman MP following the nullification of the 2016 results by court.

Deputy SG and the Senior Administrator Lawrence Mayambala remain in Kabong until elections are concluded.

President Yoweri Museveni has appointed Justice Alphonse Owiny-Dollo as Deputy Chief Justice.

The move effectively marks the end of Justice Steven Kavuma’s reign as the second most powerful man in the judiciary.

The president’s decision comes against the backdrop of growing public unease over Kavuma’s conduct.

Many saw Kavuma’s rulings as biased and consistently in favour of the ruling government.

In the judiciary, high ranking officials quietly expressed their disgust at the manner in which Kavuma was running his office.

“In the exercise of powers vested in the president by Article 142 (I) of the 1995 Constitution, I have acting on the advice of the Judicial Service Commission, appointed persons listed below as Deputy Chief Justice and Justices of the Supreme Court,” Museveni said in his letter to the Speaker of Parliament, dated August 18.

The President also appointed Justices Richard Butera and Paul Mugamba to the Supreme Court.

The appointees need Parliamentary approval to assume the new positions.

Kavuma had sought to extend his contract by editing his age, a move that was firmly rejected.

The Electoral Commission has issued a road map to the Local Council and Women council elections set for later this year.

Addressing journalists in Kampala on Thursday, Electoral Commission chairperson Justice Simon Byabakama said the election program  will kick off in October and polling set for November.

“Elections for the Local Council One will be held on November 21, 2017,” Justice Byabakama revealed.

He said the polling will follow registration of residents into a voters’ register scheduled for November 26 and 30; followed by a display of voter’s register, nomination and campaigning.

Queueing

The LC1 elections will not be by a secret ballot as it is at other levels of elections.

“The election shall be by voters lining behind the nominated candidates or their representatives, “Justice Byabakama said quoting section 111 (2) of the Local Government Act.

The Electoral Commission estimates that the lining, voting and actual vote counting will only take 30 minutes.

Justice Byabakama said that from 7am to 11 am, there will be assembly and verification of the voters by the village presiding officer followed by voter education, before the actual polling and counting of votes kicks off at 11am to 11:30am.

Asked whether the 30 minutes will be enough for the entire process, the Electoral Commission boss said the process cannot take the entire day but a limited period of time.

“We thought 30 minutes will be enough to avoid people keeping in the line for long.”

He added,” Thirty minutes is reasonable time.”

On a scenario when the entire village council committee comprises of illiterates, Justice Byabakama said that at least one of the members should know how to read and write.

“The committee is comprised of 11 members and among them is secretary and my understanding is that villagers know themselves well and will choose one who is literate, “Byabakama said.

On whether the day will be declared a public holiday, Justice Byabakama said the EC will work it out with government so as not to disenfranchise those who might be working.

Uganda has 59315 villages and last had Local Council one election 15 years ago.

EC estimates to spend Shs 12.17bn on both LC one and LC2 polls.

Maj Ronald Iduuli, a former defence counsel at the Makindye General Court Martial who dragged the UPDF to court for unlawful dismissal and forceful eviction, has petitioned court seeking the army to present to court restricted messages which were used in the alleged unlawful acts.

Iduuli says that once these documents are produced in court, they will help in determination of disputes contained in the main case.

The documents include among others, the Restricted message reference number DTG 251013C of July 2016, from the UPDF’s Chief of Legal Services, which ordered the chairman of the General Court Martial to have Iduuli  hand over the office of the Defence counsel.

Others are Restricted message Ref. No. DTG 251181 July 2016 from the Judge Advocate to the Chief of Legal Services, informing him that the hand over for the office of Defence counsel was effected successfully; and Message ref DTG 221930C Nov 2016 from the Chief of Personnel and Administration to all units, informing them about Iduuli’s retirement.

The applicant says this id in the interest of protecting his Constitutional Right to a fair hearing.

He also points out that the Army — which is represented by the Attorney General in this case – does not deny possession of the said documents.

Hearing of this application has been fixed for 5th October 2017 before High Court judge Margaret Oumo Oguli.

In his main application before High Court, Iduuli challenges the unlawful dismissal from the position of Defence counsel at Makindye General Court Martial and his forceful retirement from the army without following the required Procedures.

Government announced today that it is maintaining the set deadline for SIM card registration which is August 30.

The government position was communicated by the Minister of Security, Gen. Henry Tumukunde who was leading an inter-ministerial and agencies delegation to the parliamentary committee on ICT.

Tumukunde told MPs that the decision was reached after consultations headed by the Prime Minister, Dr Ruhakana Rugunda with other government Ministries and agencies, as well as industry players.

“In accordance with the Law, the Presidential Directive on the matter and with consultation with the Telecom sector regulator and the National Identity Regulator, with guidance from the Prime Minister in consultation with the Minister for Internal Affairs and the Minister for ICT and National Guidance it is our position that the 30th August 2017 deadline holds and won’t be postponed,” said Gen. Henry Tumukunde.

Tumukunde said government put into consideration the advancement in technology which has brought with it new challenges especially crime (both organized and petty) and easier facilitation for terrorist activities.

With the high penetration of telecommunication services in Uganda, the minister said, Security of Citizens and property must be guaranteed.

“Registration of SIM cards is one step in bringing security to a fast-growing sector of our economy to give our security organs the ability to pin point criminals that use these for malicious gain and to track down agents that want to cause us harm. This is a key measure that’s being implemented worldwide.”

“We are happy to report that we are over 98% complete with the exercise and I encourage those that have not verified their SIM Cards to do so before the deadline of 30^th August 2017.”

The Minister however, clarified that the Prime Minister will have the final say on shutting down the sim cards.

“At my level that’s how the rule stands but if the Prime Minister pronounces otherwise, I hope It will be understood.”

He also revealed that mechanisms have been put in place to ensure that any airtime and data bundle on a deactivated SIM card will be noted and returned to the SIM upon reactivation.

Subscribers with deactivated SIM cards will be allowed to withdraw or send mobile money but not to deposit; in a grace period that will be communicated.

Registration will continue while foreigners will continue to register their SIM cards using Passports or Alien Cards while refugees are able to register their SIMs using their valid refugee cards issued by the Office of the Prime Minister.

Minister of Information and ICT Frank Tumwebaze has called upon Ugandan journalists to always consider gender balance in their reporting as one of the ways of closing the gap of gender inequality.

“Journalists at least should ensure that whenever they are reporting about a prominent male individual, they show that he is a husband to so-and-so,” tipped the minister.

Tumwebaze made the call while representing the Speaker of Parliament Rt. Hon Rebecca Kadaga at the first Gender Media Awards organized by Uganda Media Women’s Association (UMWA) at Hotel Africana, Kampala.

In her message delivered by the minister, Kadaga pledged continued support to all activities aimed at uplifting Women’s standards.

She revealed that parliament has set up a policy whereby all ministries must present a gender certificate before their budget is passed.

At this ceremony, various media practitioners where awarded for promotion of Gender sensitive reporting.

Among those recognized was Chimpreports, Newvision, The Daily monitor, Red pepper and the Observer.

Suzan Nawonga from Uganda Broad casting cooperation (UBC) Television won the best Television Documentary, Diana Kibuuka from CBS FM won the best Radio Documentary Award, and Benjamin Jumbe from KFM won the best Radio feature story.

NBS Television, NTV and Bukedde Television were also awarded for their distinguished services.

The Executive Director for UMWA Margaret Masagazi at the event revealed that these awards are part of the Association’s efforts to appreciate people who have participated in promotion of gender equality reporting by giving both and women equal coverage opportunities .

“Gender sensitive reporting is mistaken for merely writing stories about women,” she clarified.

Masagazi also revealed plans for more of such awards once the funds become available

Government of Japan has contributed US$10 million (approximately 35.9 billion Uganda shillings) to the UN refugee agency — UNHCR (US$4 million), UNICEF (US$3 million), and the UN World Food Programme (WFP) (US$3 million) to support the emergency response to South Sudanese refugees and host communities in Northern Uganda.

Since violence broke out in South Sudan in December 2013, there has been widespread displacement of the South Sudanese population resulting in a mass influx into Uganda and other neighbouring countries. To date, Uganda is hosting over one million refugees from South Sudan, with eighty two per cent (82%) being women and children.

The funding to UNHCR is expected to help strengthen the bonds between refugees and Ugandans, who live together side-by-side on land provided by local host communities.

The contribution will also help to provide newly arrived refugees with core relief items including blankets, mattresses, kitchen sets and other key items.

A sports stadium and market place in the districts of Adjumani and Moyo respectively, will be upgraded to benefit around 580,000 refugees and people in host communities, allowing them greater economic opportunities and improving shared community infrastructure.

“We are tremendously grateful to the people of Japan for their ongoing support to UNHCR and the refugee response,” said UNHCR Representative to Uganda, Bornwell Kantande.

“This contribution will go a long way towards assisting some of the most vulnerable people in society with a life of dignity, while providing richly-deserved support to hostcommunities in northern Uganda, who continue to generously welcome refugees with open arms.”

The funding channelled through UNICEF will provide access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene and immunization services reaching 160,000 people in the districts of Yumbe, Arua and Moyo.

Ms. Aida Girma, UNICEF Representative in Uganda, thanked the Government of Japan for the timely support.

With this contribution, which is the second received from the Government of Japan this year, WFP has purchased nearly 4,600 metric tons of food to reach one million refugees.

“WFP relies entirely on the voluntary support of governments and other donors to provide basic food assistance for refugees in Uganda every day,” said WFP Country Director El Khidir Daloum. “Every dollar we receive from donors contributes to saving the lives of refugees, the large majority of whom are women and children. We thank Japan for its commitment to addressing hunger.”

The police Professional Standards Unit have in detention one of their own officers, who is accused of stealing gold valued at Shs 230 million.

According to PSU spokesperson Vincent Ssekate, Stephen Toko, attached to Namanve Police Station was arrested on August 16 together with a bodaboda rider identified only as Igime, for theft of 2.5 kilograms of gold.

“On August 4th, one Robert Etarda of Kibwe Uganda Limited entrusted his worker Lazarus Maneno to take the gold to their main branch at Ntinda,” narrated Sekate.

“He boarded a bus and on arriving in Kampala, he hopped on a motorcycle with the gold in a black bag,”Ssekate said.

“Upon reaching Kira road traffic lights, a vehicle intercepted the motorcycle and its four occupants arrested the duo and threw them in the vehicle.”

Ssekate says Maneno was handcuffed, ordered to lie face down and tortured.

“They grabbed his black bag and removed the gold.”

Maneno was later dropped at Namanve police station and officers were ordered to search him, recovering marijuana in the bag that is suspected to have been planted by Toko.

Ssekate said the victim tried to lodge a complaint to the police officers but his pleas fell on deaf ears prompting him to proceed to Professional Standards Unit for redress.

When our officers searched Toko, they found him with Shs. 20 million in cash,” the PSU publicist said.

Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development are yet to receive an official directive relieving its Permanent Secretary Stephen Isabalija of his duties.

Media reports came out yesterday that the PS has been fired by President Yoweri Museveni after 9 months of service.

The Minister of State for Energy Simon D’Ujanga when reached for a comment said the ministry was yet to receive a letter firing Mr Isabalija.

“I am hearing it from you people; It is all over the place, but we have not received official communication,” the minister said.

Mr Isabalija himself told us that he was not aware of the development.

He said, “I don’t know!” in a text when asked whether or not he had been asked to leave; adding that he had not received the letter terminating him.

The Minister of Energy Hon Iren Muloni reportedly declined to confirm the development too.

Mr Isabalija was appointed the Energy Ministry’s PS in November last year, replacing Mr Kabagambe Kariisa.

He was then working as the Vice Chancellor Victoria University.

The Senior Men’s National Basketball team to represent the Country in the upcoming FIBA Afrobasket games in Tunisia/Senegal has been flagged off.

In a press briefing held today evening at Lugogo, John Chrysestom Muyingo, the State Minister for higher Education handed over the flag to team captain Stephen Omony.

The team is set to first camp in Alexadria, Egypt for adequate 2 weeks training before leaving for Senegal.

This year’s tournament sees the country make their secound appearance following their debut in 2015.

AfroBasket 2017 will be the 29th edition of the AfroBasket , a men’s basketball continental championship of Africa .

The tournament taking place from September 8th to September 16th has Uganda in group B with Angola, Central Africa Republic and Morocco.

The Chief Registrar of the Judiciary Paul Gadenya has called upon judicial officers under their umbrella association, the Uganda Judiciary Officers Association UJOA not to proceed with their planned industrial action aimed at influencing the government to improve their working conditions

These, in their General Assembly meeting held recently had given the government an ultimatum of 30 days which ends tomorrow Friday.

If by close of business nothing among their set conditions is fulfilled, the judges determined to lay down their tools.

In the letter dated 24th August 2017 addressed to all Supreme Court judges, Court of Appeal judges, High court judges, Registrars, Deputy Registrars, Chief Magistrates, grade one magistrates and Grade two magistrates, Gadenya said their requests are currently before the Judicial Service Commission, and urged them to stay at work.

“It’s the judicial service commission which is mandated to advise government on terms of service for judicial officers, and it is already working on the revised submission of matter with UJOA input,” he wrote.

Gadenya added that it could be better if they first exhaust the means of negotiations and the petition filed in constitutional court on the same matter before resorting to industrial action which should be the last resort

“The chief justice who is the patron for UJOA has also advised that since the courses of industrial action have not been exhausted it would be premature to go for a strike”

The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development Permanent Secretary, Dr. Stephen Ishabalija has been suspended and removed from President Museveni’s delegation to Equatorial Guinea.

State House officials on Museveni’s advance team to Equatorial Guinea for a crucial oil related trip were startled on Wednesday by the news that Dr. Isabalija, who had been on the list, had been relieved of his duties.

“He was stopped from joining the rest to Malabo (Equatorial Guinea capital),” a source at State House said.

In the evening, the source told us, the President ordered for the letter firing Mr Isabalija to be printed.

The 41 year old was appointed the technical head of the energy ministry in November last year and had been on the job for 9 months.

Museveni is traveling to Equatorial Guinea, the third largest oil producing country in Africa and a member of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), for 4 days official visit. Museveni is a longtime friend of President Teodoro Obiang Nguema.

ChimpReports understands that a number of accusations have been made against the Permanent Secretary in the line of his duty. The major trouble according to sources stemmed from the Shs 2.5tn Kiba dam project situated in Nwoya district along the River Nile.

Dr. Ishabalija in July terminated the contract of China Africa Investment and Development Company (CAID) for delay in the project that contravenes the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the firm and the government of Uganda.

The departing PS also had challenges in Karuma dam project and his move to suspend officials from Rural Electrification Authority similarly backfired.

Government will switch off all unregistered and unverified SIM Cards by August 30.

This is government’s final position after several consultations with the relevant stakeholders including the Telecom operators, Ministries and government agencies.

Yesterday the Minister of Security, Gen. Henry Tumukunde told Members of Parliament sitting on the ICT committee that they were to hold an inter-ministerial and inter-agencies meeting with telecom operators chaired by the Prime Minister to come up with a final position.

The meeting was attended by senior officials from National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA), Uganda Communication Commission (UCC) and the National Information Technology Authority (NITA), each of the seven mobile network operators in Uganda, and Members of Parliament representing different but relevant Committees.

The Prime Minister, Ruhakana Rugunda told journalists at his office that approximately 98 percent of active SIM cards in Uganda are compliant to the requirements of the current SIM validation and verification exercise.

“The deadline for deactivating all unregistered, unverified and unvalidated SIM cards as directed by H.E. President Yoweri Museveni, and in accordance with the law, will be enforced come midnight 30^th August 2017,” Rugunda said.

The process of SIM card registration and verification is to implement provisions of the law as contained in the Regulation of Interception of Communications Act 2010 and the Registration of Persons Act 2015 which makes it mandatory for everyone in Uganda to register their SIM card using National Identity Numbers (NIN) if Ugandan, Passport if foreigner, alien IDs if visiting for more than 90 days and valid identification documents for refugees issued by the Prime Minister’s office.

Rugunda said that government will establish a high level technical committee with representatives from Mobile Network Operators, NIRA, NITA, UCC and Ministry of Security with the full and unequivocal backing of the political leadership to ensure the seamless implementation and enforcement of the 30th August 2017 deadline.

“Persons, who at the coming into effect of this deadline, will not have complied, but still have positive balances on their Mobile Money accounts, will have a limited window to ONLY withdraw their money,” Rugunda said.

He said however, that NIRA will, after the deadline continue to register and issue National IDs and verify the NINs of those who apply to have their SIM cards registered and verified.

Police have dismissed as false and misleading, media claims today that the IGP Gen Kale Kaihura has paid prostitutes and some bodaboda workers to spy on criminals in the areas of Nansana in Wakiso district.

The area has in the past weeks been hit by a wave of murders of especially women which police says are orchestrated by a syndicate.

The media reports claimed the IGP paid Shs. 200000 to each prostitute and bodaboda rider after meeting with them last Saturday.

The story also claimed Kayihura ordered bar owners to provide transportation to sex workers after work to ensure their safety.

Police spokesperson Asan Kasingye says the claims were distorted and that the IGP never uttered these words.

While the meetings took place in Nansana and Kitabi Town Council, Kasingye says the IGP only advised groups of youths, women and children to be more proactive in preventing these murders.

“The purpose of the meetings is to mitigate the risks especially sex workers and also businesswomen and girls who leave early in the morning and come back late from work or study, are likely to face,” Kasingye said.

In a press statement, the police mouthpiece said Kayihura in the meetings only emphasized enhancement of popular vigilance as well as increasing police visibility; suggesting such measures as rebuilding physical security under Mayumba Kumi with lookout teams especially at night, linking them with police motorcycle patrol squads and supported by mort vehicle patrol squads.

Kasigye says the IGP talked of dealing with the environment that grooms criminality, by for instance initiating empowerment programs.

“For example he has linked those in risky businesses such as sex workers, with the Operation Wealth Creation government program.”

“The IGP also never stated that bar owners should provide transport to sex workers but advised that bar and other business owners such as supermarkets can afford to provide transport their workers …later in the night and in the wee hours of the morning.”

Kasigye adds that the meetings were “cordial, harmonious and welcomed by local leaders and participants and at no time was the IGP heckled.”