Omugurusi Festo Karwemera, the fallen icon of the Runyankole-Rukiga local language; author and translator is set to be laid to rest tomorrow Tuesday.
Karwemera passed away yesterday morning aged 95.
Doctors said his organs failed partly because of old age.
His daughter Robina Tugume says Karwemera will be buried at his ancestral home in Bugarama, in Buhara sub county Kabale district.
In his will, Karwemera had asked not to be buried in a built grave.
He will be remembered for his passion to promote the Runyankore-Rukiga languages.
He appeared on numerous public functions and media programs teaching the language and authored 17 books in Runyankore-Rukiga language that include the popular Katodozi (Dictionary) which he co-authored with President Yoweri Museveni.
He was also involved in translating the Holy Bible and the constitution of Uganda in the local language.
Because of his works, Kabale University on June 24 2017 awarded him an honorary doctorate of literature.
He is survived by a wife Aidah Karwemera, 5 children, 25 grandchildren, 35 great grandchildren and 2 great-great grandchildren.
Eulogy
Prime Minister Dr Ruhakana Rugunda said Kigezi, Uganda and Africa had lost a legend “who lived an exemplary life as a teacher, public servant, researcher, author and custodian of our rich cultural heritage.”
“We celebrate his life and contribution and thank God for giving him a long and impactful life”. Dr Rugunda said.
Canon Eng. Ivan Mbabazi Batuma said Kigezi had lost an important part in Karwemera.
“Before starting voice of Kigezi FM radio in Kabale in January 2000, I approached the deceased and he accepted to volunteer in mentoring the radio presenters on effective communication in local language because the radio was designed to serve the Kigezi community in local language. We worked with him for 10 years and was very instrumental in radio programs and talk shows. We shall miss his guidance. May God rest his soul in peace” Canon Mbabazi Batuma said.
Grace Mutebile The chairperson of the International Community of Banyakigezi Uganda chapter described the deceased as an Encyclopaedia for Kigezi culture, values and norms.
The Archbishop of the Church of Uganda who doubles as Chancellor of Uganda Christian University (UCU), the Most Rev Dr Samuel Stephen Kazimba Mugalu on Sunday installed former Makerere University’s Prof Aaron Mushengyezi as new Vice Chancellor of Uganda Christian University, replacing Rev Canon Dr John Ssenyonyi.
Kazimba, while installing Prof Mushengyezi, expressed optimism that the university will not backslide as some wrongly predicted when the first Vice Chancellor Prof Stephen Noll left the institution 10 years ago.
“I remember this work was started long time ago by our first Vice Chancellor Prof Stephen Noll who did a great job, who worked together with the Chancellor then, Dr Livingston Mpalanyi Nkoyoyo. When he (Noll) left, some people thought that the university would go backwards but God is good,” said Kazimba.
He noted that the Almighty has used the outgoing Vice Chancellor Prof John Ssenyonyi together with the previous Chancellors and Archbishops Emeritus Henry Luke Orombi and Stanley Ntagali to ensure the university does not backslide.
Kazimba called on the university staff to support and work hand in hand with Prof Mushengyezi.
“Brethren, staff members, Deputy Vice Chancellors, Deans, Heads of faculties, university council, members of the synod, parents, Ugandans, support Prof Aaron. Support him, advise him, encourage him,” he implored.
The Archbishop said it is important for leaders to be encouraged adding that him as Chancellor, Prof Mushengyezi as Vice Chancellor and the entire institution need intercessors who will support their work unlike some people who destroy churches to build arcades.
Meanwhile, Kazimba alerted Prof Mushengyezi that his new job will not be as easy, now that institutions of learning are closed due to COVID-19 pandemic.
“When God calls you, Aaron, like He called you, He will be with you because He chose you for a difficult task. God never calls us for simple tasks but the good news is, when the task is tough, the miraculous intervention is being assured. The mission is tough, COVID-19, no students therefore no income, no resources for staff,” he noted.
Kazimba, however, strengthened the new Vice Chancellor that he will overcome everything despite the existing challenges and also called for government intervention.
“How are we going to run the university? We must have new tools. The old ones may not work. That is why we need the intervention of the government. We need government to come and step in so that we keep our land and develop it. So, this is a challenging time for all of us,” said Kazimba.
He added that the government should intervene and help in protection of church property such as land which is threatened by land grabbers.
The Archbishop advised Prof Mushengyezi to consult his predecessor Rev Canon Dr John Ssenyonyi “when things get tough.”
Media personality and political commentator Basajja Mivule has reportedly joined the ruling National Residence Movement (NRM) party.
By publication of this story, Mr Mivule was meeting with Mr Balaam Barugahare, an NRM mobilizer who has recently helped rake in several opposition activists to the ruling party.
The meeting was held at Eureka Hotel in Ntinda.
Basajja Mivule a known vocal critique of the current regime had lately appeared to change tone and become hostile to some of the opposition groups in the country.
Following his arrest and detention on July 27th for allegedly spreading tribal sentiments in the media, Basajja Mivule accused his Baganda tribesmen of abandoning him in this time of need.
He said while in detention, he was helped and fed by people from other tribes.
Shortly before the meeting in Ntinda today, Mivule said he would be launching a war on political contenders who want to turn Uganda immoral.
Ostensibly referring to Hon Robert Kyagulanyi, Mivule said Ugandans could not afford to elect leaders who will put the country on the wrong path.
“Today I will be telling you the youths that you cannot hand over country in the hands of immoral people; to the drug users and crazy people,” he said.
Paul Rusesabagina, a Rwandan opposition figure living in Europe, has been arrested and detained by Rwandan authorities.
“RIB informs the general public that, through international cooperation, Paul Rusesabagina was arrested and is in the custody of RIB,” said Rwanda Investigation Bureau on a Monday morning.
RIB said Rusesabagina is “suspected to be the founder, leader, sponsor and member of violent, armed, extremist terror outfits including MRCD and PDR-Ihumure, operating out of various places in the region and abroad.”
The arrest will shock Rwanda’s opposition in diaspora.
It appears Rwanda quietly worked with foreign intelligence agencies to arrest Rusesabagina.
Rusesabagina was a humanitarian who, while working as a manager at the Hôtel des Mille Collines in Kigali, hid and protected 1,268 Hutu and Tutsi refugees from the Interahamwe militia during the Rwandan genocide.
None of these refugees were hurt or killed during the attacks.
Rusesabagina was today paraded before the media in Kigali.
Rusesabagina arrives for RIB’s new conference (Photos: Twitter)
RIB said he has been subject of an International Arrest Warrant, “wanted to answer charges of serious crime including terrorism, arson, kidnap and murder, perpetrated against unarmed, innocent Rwandan civilians on Rwandan territory including in Nyabimata – Nyaruguru district in June 2018 and in Nyungwe – Nyamagabe district in December 2018.”
He is currently detained at Remera Police Station while his case file is being processed in accordance with Rwandan criminal procedure, according to RIB.
The rate at which East Africa Legislative Assembly (EALA) MPs are draining the East Africa Community (EAC) budget is alarming, with the lawmakers now demanding payment of a staggering $2m for meetings held via video-conference.
Due to the Coronavirus pandemic, EAC, in March 2020, called off all its meetings – statutory or not – until the pandemic was contained.
EAC Secretary General Ambassador Libérat Mfumukeko said given the nature of EAC work which involves travel, and the mode of delivery through meetings, conferences, “There is ample evidence that such gatherings can increase the risk of transmission of infectious diseases including Covid-19”.
The MPs returned to their respective countries where they held a few video conferences.
ChimpReports has now learned that between March and August 2020, EALA MPs have claimed over $2 million for meetings held virtually; either by video-conference from the EAC Ministries of their capitals or by Zoom from their living rooms.
For such meetings each claims $400 of Daily Subsistence Allowance (DSA) and $160 of sitting allowance, totaling to $560. This is the amount of money the MPs are entitled to while conducting business in Arusha, Tanzania.
Additionally, each MP is entitled to a monthly salary of over $6,000.
Officials told ChimpReports that MPs were already piling pressure on the secretariat to pay this money, a move that could sink EAC into a huge debt especially at a time partner states are struggling to meet their annual financial obligations to the community.
Yet, according to the EAC Financial Rules and Regulations, DSA is payable only when people travel outside their usual duty station.
“Now, imagine an MP living a neighborhood of Kampala, going to the Uganda Ministry of EAC Affairs for a Video Conference meeting or just staying at home for a Zoom meeting and claiming $560 per day. This is absolutely unfair and unacceptable to the EAC taxpayer,” said a source at EALA who preferred anonymity to speak freely.
An investigation by ChimpReports indicates that EALA MPs are very hungry for DSA and sitting allowances because all of them with a few exceptions committed 100 percent of their salaries in loans at KCB and CRDB Banks.
Many MPs have even committed their gratuity on top of their salaries gratuity, leaving them destitute. Their survival is hinged on siting allowances.
Bigger problem
The fight over $2m is said to be symptomatic of the growing financial indiscipline at EALA over the last three years.
For example, when there’s no liquidity, MPs still convene meetings and plenary sessions.
The current assembly extended their plenary sessions to 21 days every month against 14 days of the previous assembly. This was seen as a strategy by MPs to make more money from allowances.
As a consequence, auditors revealed, the 54 EALA MPs and the very small staff of EALA consume close to 40 percent of the EAC budget, leaving the other 2 organs (Secretariat and EACJ) and 9 institutions (who achieve development projects) with the remaining 60 percent.
Since last year EALA has borrowed over $2 million from the EAC General Reserve Fund and the Lake Victoria Basin Commission to pay their salaries, DSA and allowances.
Auditors say EALA has been the only EAC structure to regularly lack funds to pay salaries to their staff.
Evidence
In a letter dated August 20, 2020, EALA Speaker Martin Ngoga wrote to the Secretariat seeking authority to borrow $1,684, 370 “from the EAC General Reserve Account and funds received by the Inter-University Council for East Africa and Lake Victoria Basin Commission as arrears to settle the outstanding balance of arrears to members.”
Ngoga said the “borrowed funds will be settled when the Partner States disburse their outstanding contribution for FY 2019/2020 and not from Partner States’ contribution for FY 2020/2021.”
Ngoga’s letter
The EALA Commission had already directed the Office of the Clerk to partially settle to a tune of $590,780 out of $679,651 recently received from Burundi (as part of the outstanding contributions for FY 2019/20) to offset the MPs’ daily subsistence allowance arrears and the remaining $106,871 to partially settle other outstanding obligations.”
As of late August, the Office of the Clerk, according to Ngoga, had “partially settled $584,550 as part of MPs’ arrears arising from allowances as directed by the EALA Commission for meetings held from March –June, 2020.”
This development is expected to unsettle EAC leaders especially President John Pombe Magufuli who has since warned against extravagance.
The Audit Commission report signed in December 2019 pinned down EALA, over $6 million worth of expenditures are not accounted for.
The report indicated that MPs refused to provide evidence (original boarding passes, stamps in their passports, etc) which would help justify the money they have been receiving in DSA, road transport and other allowances.
The Opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) has come out to protest government decision to start charging money from individuals that seek testing for Covid19.
Hassan Kaps Fungaroo, the Party’s Deputy Secretary for Mobilization told press today that the decision showed lack of empathy on the government side.
Yesterday, the Ministry of Health announced that starting from September 1 2020, Ugandans who wish to test for the virus will be charged $65, which is about Shs 240,500.
The ministry said this charge was meant to take pressure of the dwindling resources for the ongoing testing.
However, according to Hon Fungaroo, the charge is exorbitant.
“People who test are not the beneficiaries of this testing, it is the public,” Fungaroo said.
“If Museveni can be able to find the money to buy NRM Chairperson bicycles, why can’t he use part of that money for public safety expenditures like this one of testing?”
“We have always told you the people of Uganda that the pursuit of power for the sake of it, in Museveni’s regime is number one; other things are secondary,” Fungaroo concluded.
The Health Ministry however, clarified yesterday that it will continue to provide free Covid19 testing to people with signs and symptoms, their contacts, front-line workers as well as those being tested under the ministry surveys
Meanwhile, at the same conference Fungaroo accused government of continuing to block opposition leaders from holding political rallies ahead of next year’s elections.
“Our colleague Hon Luttamaguzi the MP for Nakaseke South is in jail for allegedly violating Covid-19 measures. And yet we have ministers in the NRM Government involved in Public rallies, processions, meetings without any hindrances,” Fungaroo intimated.
President Yoweri Museveni last week said he had directed security forces to enforce the ban on such rallies.
Following his statement, Kisoro’s Hon Sam Bitangaro was arrested and detained for holding a mass rally in his constituency.
In an unprecedented move, Uganda’s Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) has disclosed plans to hold a live debate between its two leaders vying for the Presidential Flag Bearer position.
This development was announced by the Party’s Spokesperson Ibrahim Semujju Nganda at a media briefing on Monday August 30, 2020.
“We intend to hold a presidential debate next month when the campaigns are concluded. We will inform you of the date in due course. That debate will take place here at the FDC headquarters,” Semujju intimated.
If this comes to pass, it will be the second time FDC’s presidential flag bearer candidates are publicly competing to hold the party flag in general elections.
The first engagement of this kind occurred on November 19, 2017 between four contestants who included the incumbent Patrick Amuriat Oboi and the then FDC President Gen. Mugisha Muntu.
The hot headed discourse that was held at Sharing Hall in Nsambya also attracted the likes of Dan Matsiko and Moses Byamugisha, who is now planning to vie for the Country’s top position on an independent ticket.
Contrary to the past, this time round, the duel has attracted two candidates; Party Leader Patrick Oboi Amuriat and Amb. Wasswa Birigwa, the National Chairman.
Apparently, Semujju says that as a Party, they are yet to agree on a campaign format the two candidates shall use.
“The leadership will convene on Wednesday this week to among others things agree on the format that the campaigns will take. The decision to be taken is whether candidates should jointly address these meetings or one should address one session and leave,” he intimated.
Once that is sorted, the two leaders are expected to sell their candidature at a series of sub regional meetings scheduled to commence on Monday September 7, 2020.
“We will start with East Buganda and here we are talking about districts of Mukono, Buikwe, Buvuma and Kayunga. The two candidates; Hon. Patrick Oboi Amuriat and Amb. Wasswa Birigwa will each be given an opportunity to address these meetings,” a communiqué states.
Thereafter, they will proceed to other districts that make up West, South and Central Buganda before exiting to Eastern Uganda.
All said and done, candidates have been advised to stick to their manifestoes and avoid black mailing each other.
However, given the Covid-19 pandemic situation, Semujju says FDC is deliberating on the best way it can hold its National Delegates Conference.
“Modalities are still being worked out as to which format the delegate’s conference will take,” he disclosed.
“The secretariat has proposed that we can convene these delegates at sub regional level from where they will be taking votes. This proposal will be discussed by management on Wednesday (September 2),” he concluded.
The Embassy of the Republic of Uganda in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in collaboration with the Association of the Ugandan Community in Oman successfully repatriated a total of 357 Ugandan Nationals and legal residents who have been stranded in the Sultanate of Oman due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
This is the fourth repatriation exercise the Embassy has undertaken with the first three having taken place on July 22, 2020, July 28, 2020, and August 12, 2020, respectively which ensured that 739 Ugandans and legal residents in Saudi Arabia and Oman returned home safely.
The Embassy undertook the registration process of Ugandan Nationals who were stranded in the Sultanate of Oman and coordinated their return aboard Salaam Air.
“The two (2) Salaam Air flights OV 1024 and OV 1026 departed from Muscat International Airport in Oman this morning and arrived at Entebbe International Airport this evening,” reads the issued statement in part.
After fulfilling the standard procedures issued by the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Health of Uganda, guidelines by the Oman Government, the Ugandans were seen off at the Muscat International Airport in Oman by the Executives of the Association of the Ugandan Community in Oman
“The Charge D’Affaires A.I of the Embassy thanked the Ugandans for their patience they exhibited during the difficult times they have endured as a result of the pandemic and wished them a safe journey back home to Uganda,” the statement further reads.
All returnees, as per the set Standard Operating Procedures, must undergo a two weeks quarantine as soon as they touch down at Entebbe International Airport.
The new Force Commander of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) officially assumed office on Monday at a formal ceremony, held at the Force Headquarters in Mogadishu, Somalia.
The ceremony was presided over by Ambassador Francisco Caetano Madeira, the Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (SRCC) for Somalia.
Lt. Gen. Diomede Ndegeya from Burundi, took over the reign as AMISOM Force Commander (FC), from Lt. Gen. Tigabu Yilma of Ethiopia, who served in that capacity since January, 2019.
The ceremony included a colourful military parade mounted by AMISOM sector 1 forces from Uganda and witnessed by senior AMISOM commanders.
In his remarks during the handover of instruments of power between the outgoing and incoming Force Commanders, SRCC Madeira welcomed Gen. Ndegeya and urged him to build on the rich tradition of his predecessors to enable the mission achieve its mandate.
“Gen. Ndegeya you are inheriting a tradition of heroism, a tradition of dedication and self-giving. We want this tradition to continue and to be strengthened,” the SRCC told Gen. Ndegeya, noting that Burundi has been a major pillar of AMISOM, right from its inception in 2007, adding that Burundi alongside Uganda, played a pivotal role in the capture of Mogadishu in 2011 from Al-Shabaab terrorists.
“Now you are in the lead, you have to lead us to achieve our mandate in the military component,” Ambassador Madeira told Gen. Ndegeya.
“I have great expectations in you, so you are welcome,” he added and commended Gen. Tigabu whom he described as “a great son of Africa” for his stewardship of the military component, culminating in a string of achievements during his tour of duty.
Gen. Ndegeya, has 38-years’ experience in the military, and prior to being deployed on the AU mission as Force Commander had served in the Burundi National Defence Forces (BNDF) in various capacities, including as a member of the BDNF AMISOM’s pre-deployment team in-charge of supervising and training, and was part of a reconnaissance mission in 2012, to the Bay and Bakool regions of Somalia ahead of AMISOM troop deployment there.
On his part Gen. Ndegeya assured the SRCC of his commitment and desire to help the mission build on its achievements.
“I wish to assure you of my utmost dedication to serve this mission and maintain the excellent work and the progress made so far,” said Gen. Ndegeya, adding that he is aware of the task ahead and appealed for the support of the mission leadership and other partners.
“The task ahead of me is not easy, but with your support and wise leadership and support from the civilian, military and police components of AMISOM, as well as our international partners, we will jointly take the mission forward and achieve our mandate,” the incoming Force Commander Gen. Ndegeya said and pledged to “serve diligently and work closely with all the sector commanders and other components of the mission.”
The outgoing FC Gen. Tigabu, hailed the mission leadership and the military component for the support rendered to him, noting that the successes achieved during his tour of duty, were due to the tremendous team spirit. He urged AMISOM military officers and forces to accord the new Force Commander their unreserved support.
“As I take this opportunity to welcome and hand over command of the military component to Lt. Gen. Diomede Ndegeya, I humbly request all of you to give your unreserved support to the incoming Force Commander to ensure he brings even further achievements,” the outgoing Force Commander Gen. Tigabu said.
Prior to his appointment, Gen. Ndegeya served as a Senior Advisor to the Minister of Defence in Burundi, charged with political and diplomatic affairs, a role he took on after serving four years as a Defence Attaché at the Burundian Embassy in Cairo, Egypt.
He holds a Master’s degree in Technical Sciences, and has vast knowledge in military command and defence strategy obtained from military institutions in Russia, China and France.
The court battle between Hamis Kiggundu, the proprietor of Ham Enterprises and Diamond Trust Bank is raging with the financial institution’s lawyer Kiryowa Kiwanuka saying the process or lending billions of money to the businessman was legitimate.
Through his lawyers of Muwema and Company Advocates, Hamis today Monday asked High Court Commercial Division Judge Henry Peter Adonyo to strike out Diamond Trust Bank’s (DTB) defense in a case which he accuses the bank of deducting money from his account without his consent.
Muwema argued that the defense filed in court by DTB Bank Lawyers led by Kiryowa Kiwanuka, contains a number of illegalities.
“The loan is based on an illegal transaction, the loan agreements are illegal because they were made from Kenya lending money here. It involves a local bank which facilitated a foreign bank to break the law,” Muwema stated.
At first, Muwemahad raised a contention that DTB Kenya has no license allowing it to operate in Uganda but this was solved by the defendant lawyer who accepted that its true.
They further faulted DTB of having lent their client money while in Uganda and instead decided to use DTB Uganda as their agent to demand for collection of the said loan.
Counsel Kiryowa, in his submissions, insisted that all loan transactions were done in Kenya but it was only the property which was provided as security that is found in Uganda.
Due to the importance of this application, the judge has decided to conclude it in time before resuming with the main case.
He has ordered both parties to file their written submissions and promised to deliver his ruling on October 5, 2020..
In today’s session, the two parties have agreed on a number of key issues which must be focused on during the hearing of the matter.
Ham dragged DTB -Uganda, and DTB-Kenya to Commercial Court for reportedly taking over shs 120b from his accounts without his knowledge and consent.
In its Defense, DTB says that Ham Enterprise Limited is indebted to a tune of USD 6,298,380 on term loan facility of USD 6,663,453, Shs 2.8 billion on the demand overdraft facility of Shs 1.5 billion, temporary demand overdraft facility of Shs1b, 3,662,241 on the term loan facility of USD 4,000,000 and 4458,604 on the term loan facility of USD 500,000.
According to court documents, Hamis provided security/mortgage comprised in Plot no.923, Block 9 located at Makerere Hill Road to support the credit facilities he had got from DTB but the businessman says when he carried out an audit and reconciliation of the loan accounts, he found out that the DTB had taken Shs 34 billion and $23 million from his account.
Gad Semajeri has come out as the first person from the Batwa community to contest for political office.
Semajeri says he will be contesting in the forthcoming general elections for the seat of LCIII chairperson in the newly created Kashasha town council in Rubanda district.
Semajeri is from the Batwa community, one of the endangered indigenous groups in Uganda mostly found in the district of Kabale, Kisoro, Rubanda and Kanungu districts.
He will be the first ever Mutwa to run for office in the Kigezi region.
Semajeri, an advocate for the rights of the Batwa, is currently the chairman of the Batwa Development Organization.
He says one the reasons he is running for office is to amplify the voice of his fellow Batwa who have been marginalized for decades.
“I have a vision that if the people of Kashasha; I want to develop our town council and fight not just for the rights of the Batwa but everyone else because it is not just Batwa who are suffering,” he said.
Col Dr Kizza Besigye has appealed to Ugandans to stop demonizing former fighters in the National Resistance Army (NRA) who have come out to contest for the Presidency.
Besigye said Tuesday that accusations of greed and power monopoly aimed against these people are misguided.
Besigye was speaking in light of the accusations that have been brought against follow fighters in the NRM bush war; Gen Gregory Mugisha Muntu and Gen Henry Tumukunde who are both expected to contest in next year’s elections against President Yoweri Museveni.
Speaking in an interview with Delta TV this morning, Besigye stressed that people like him, Gen Tumukunde and Muntu should be supported in their efforts to right the wrongs of the current NRM government which they helped bring to power.
“I don’t agree with the campaign that paints us as enemies of the country,” he said.
“People shouldn’t forget that the war we fought in Luwero was a war of truth and it was justified. People painting the Luwerro fighters as murderers with no good intentions, I don’t agree with them.”
According to Besigye, the current regime has long strayed from the values for which he and his colleague fought and gave their lives.
As such, he says it is the responsibility of the surviving “bushmen” to correct the mistakes made by the current government.
“This is the reason I am still fighting; because I don’t want those who died in Luwero, for what they fought and died for to be abandoned. They fought for justice.”
“Those who survived and took power, and betrayed those principles; it is now our responsibly especially we who saw what happened in the bush, to fight for what our fallen colleague believed in. That is why even the bushman who enter an election to struggle I will support them if what they want is to ensure the freedom that we fought for.”
Anti-riot police on Tuesday morning deployed heavily in Mengo to prevent a planned launch of the campaign offices of Joseph Mayanja alias Jose Chameleone
The offices are meant to be Chamelone’s Campaign base
Chameleone is running for the Kampala Load Mayor seat under the National Unity Platform (NUP).
He had planned to officially unveil his campaign base in Mengo in Lubaga Division.
Police says they were not informed about the launch
The offices located on Balintuma Road had been decorated with campaign materials and tents erected in preparation for the event.
Police however swung into action and fired teargas at scores of supporters who had gathered for the event.
The anti riot police fired teargas directly inside the new offices sending Chameleone’s team as well as news reporters scampering.
The officers were also accused of firing teargas inside the Kampala School of the Physically Handicapped, which is just opposite the offices.
“How can you do this to innocent children who are disabled? Why do you behave so heartlessly,” one of the people was heard shouting at the police officers.
Police said they had not been told about the event and that the offices had not been inspected and cleared.
The event was reportedly meant to be attended by a total of 135 people even though the compound is large enough to accommodate hundreds more.
An empty coffin was reportedly dumped at the house of one of the contestants for the Ruhinda South parliamentary seat.
The aspirant, Mr Arthur Kazoora Atwebembeire says he found the coffin with several Shs 2000 notes surrounding it.
Kazoora is one of the contestants in the upcoming NRM primaries for the parliamentary race.
Ada Nasiima, the Mitooma Resident District Commissioner confirmed this development.
The RDC says police and her office were alerted by the residents of Rwakikambuzi cell, in Mutara Sub County Mitooma district about the incident.
Nasiima condemned the act as “satanic” adding that it might be aimed at threatening the candidate.
“This is just an intimidation trick, but be sure that we shall vote on Friday and out of the contestants, one person must win,” the RDC says.
“This shouldn’t be the way of soliciting for support from the public”
On his part, Kazoora says he first learnt of the coffin and money in his compound from neighbors.
He added that the notes totaled Shs Ugx 74,000.
Kazoora says nonetheless that he is not scared of the development because he’s a true Christian.
“Am not worried because I got saved and the head of laity of my church and the Archdeaconry. Am sure I will win this election. It is good that police has come and started investigations to find who is behind this” he said.
Athur Kazoora, Ambrosio Byamugisha Muhoozi and several others are contesting against the incumbent Ruhinda South legislator Hon Captain Dononzio Kahonda.
The NRM Parliamentary flag bearer Elections are slated for September 4th 2020.
Singer turned politician, real name Joseph Mayanja alias Dr Jose Chameleone, has spoken out on the Tuesday morning incident where Police interrupted his office launch ceremony.
Mayanja was set to launch his office and unveil a task force expected to work hand in hand with him when the office starts operation.
Just before the event kicked off, however, Police arrived at the venue located in Mengo Kayiwa along Balintuma road and fired live bullets and tear gas to disperse crowds that had gathered for the ceremony.
Sights from the event venue after police raided the area with teargas and bullets.
Addressing journalists, later, Mayanja blamed the Police brutality on the NRM government that “doesn’t wish to see change in the Country” and that all they do is torture the innocent citizens.
He also attributed the incident to the unprofessionalism in the Forces, “that is why they ignorantly torture, brutalize and oppress other political parties.”
Chameleone (Second left) and other attendees at the teargas laden event.
“I can’t believe that up to now we still have unprofessional personnel purporting to be law and order keepers. Where did I go wrong in unveiling my office? We have seen this happen in NRM all those years and such events are not interfered with,” Chameleone lamented.
The reportedly injured Chameleone being escorted off the venue.
Mayanja reportedly got one of his legs Injured as a tear gas canister hit him and several others.
The NRM national Vice Chairperson, Hajj Moses Kigongo, on Monday visited Sembabule district in a bid to mediate among different party members vying for various seats ahead of party primaries.
The point of contention is the legitimacy of the NRM party register, with each camp accusing the other of trying to fix new names into the yellow book ahead of elections.
In Mawogola North, the two candidates; Ms Sharts Musherure, the daughter to the Foreign Affairs Minister Sam Kutesa and Mr Godfrey Aine Kaguta accuse each other of hijacking the NRM party registers for selfish gains.
At the weekend, the two NRM candidates who had converged at Lusugulu Sub county hall for a meeting organized by the Sembabule district NRM party registrar Mr Godfrey Katokozi accused one another of rigging.
Ms Musherule said Mr Aine and his supporters are trying to find ways of rigging the NRM primary election using the registers. The situation worsened when Mr Aine accused the registrar of failing to officially invite him at the meeting.
The clash left several supporters injured as police was rendered powerless in a meeting that had Special Forces soldiers guarding the candidates.
During the harmonization meeting on Monday, Hajj Kigongo noted that the party leadership is going to take a keen interest in the elections of Sembabule to avert eventualities that may mess up the process. He added that the district is going to be considered for a special security deployment on the polling day to ensure that the situation remains favourable to all categories of people.
Sembabule district has a history of violence in the NRM primaries and worst-case scenarios led to the loss of lives.
Police and the army are investigating circumstances under a UPDF soldier was on Saturday morning stabbed to death in Lebngec upper village, Lungulu Sub County in Nwoya district.
Lance corporal John Aniko was reportedly found dead by the roadside by local leaders with a spear in his abdomen, according to Denis Atube, the Lungulu Sub County chairperson.
Mr Atube noted that the deceased was only found with a piece of Kitenge cloth which he tried tying with his stomach in a struggle to save his life adding that no one has yet been arrested in connection to the incident as residents in the nearby area have all fled.
“I got a call on the matter at around 4:00, am and when I rushed to the scene all the neighbours had fled,” he said
According to Atube, the deceased has been in the area guarding a farm belonging to Ms Rose Nyeko the chairperson for Nwoya district National Resistance Movement (NRM) party.
Ms Nyeko described the deceased as a very quiet person who had never registered any case of causing chaos for the period he served in her farm.
“The only thing I knew about him is that he drinks alcohol and loves moving late in the night but he is a very quiet person” Mrs. Nyeko explained
She added that there was one gun that was reported missing from the house following the incident and she suspects that it could have been grabbed by the attacker.
“His gun was left in the house but the gun for his colleague is the one missing and we suspect the attacker could be in the know”, according to Ms Nyeko.
Meanwhile Maj Telesphor Turyamumanya the UPDF fourth division army spokesperson confirmed the report adding that investigation into the matter is already ongoing.
“We are investigating how he was stabbed and the circumstance under which the gun went missing” Maj Turyamumanya.
In April this year, a UPDF Soldier Alex Niwanyine , lost an eye during an attack by a civilian in Bibia Amuru district as he was enforcing social distancing.
The Madhvani Group of Companies management has closed Lancet Laboratories at one of its buildings for fear of spreading COVID-19.
The Lancet Laboratory proprietor, Dr. Robert Lukande is quoted saying the management of the building at Buganda Road, where the laboratory is situated, accused him of risking the whole building with COVID-19 infections due to the tests being carried out at his laboratory.
The laboratory is expected to release 150 COVID-19 test results carried out few days ago and others. All test results, including cancer, have reportedly been locked in the building.
When contacted on phone the Ministry of Health Spokesperson, Emma Ainebyoona described the development as “unfortunate” saying Lancet Laboratory was cleared to carry out COVID-19 tests.
He added that the laboratory passed the Ministry of Health’s precautionary guidelines centered on the safety of any infections, prevention and control.
“The laboratory premises located at Buganda Road passed the IPC (Infections, Prevention and Control) measures hence safe for COVID-19 tests,” he added.
Ministry of Health in its sensitization messages has consistently appealed to the public to avoid stigmatizing COVID-19 recovered patients or professionals handling the pandemic cases. People are encouraged to keep distance but not stigmatize.
Efforts to get a comment from the Madhvani group were futile.
Nabweru Chief Magistrate Patricia Amoko has sentenced Simon Shimanya, a teacher who murdered Violet Kakai a Nurse at International Hospital Kampala(IHK) to 17 years in jail.
The sentence followed Shimanya’s guilty plea when he appeared last week in court and asked for a lenient sentence.
In her judgement, the Magistrate said she did not hand out the maximum sentence provided for in the law after considering the all the mitigating factors.
The magistrate noted that the suspect did not waste court’s and that he appeared remorseful.
“He is a middle aged man with children to take care of; therefore, it cannot be taken that he is not capable of reforming.”
“Taking in consideration of the one werek period he has spent on remand; I therefore sentence him to 17 years in jail starting today.”
Shimanya is said to have hit his wife Kakayi on the head with an axe in front of their children in an apparent domestic fight.
The incident happened on August 1st at their home in Bbumbu, Kiteezi in Wakiso district.
He was arrested from Isingiro district on 12th August and later on paraded before Nabweru court where he pleaded guilty of Manslaughter.
The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) has condemned Members of Parliament across the political divide who were given military escorts for their personal security in the wake of armed criminality last year; that have started misusing them.
According to the statement issued by UPDF spokesperson Brig Flavia Byekwaso, the act by MPs to misuse soldiers is contrary to the reason they were assigned and is likely to involve them in compromising yet unnecessary and avoidable violence between the contending political groups.
The army therefore directed its soldiers not to be misused and where it is found to happen, they will be withdrawn.
“The UPDF leadership directs that it’s soldiers should not be misused and where this is found to happen, they will be promptly withdrawn,” said Brig Byekwaso.
She added, “the contenders for political office should not involve and/or misuse these soldiers and policemen who were assigned purely for a different and clear purpose of ensuring personal security of the Members of Parliament.”
Byekwaso also said that this does not only apply to MPs but all others contending for political office and are armed or have armed escorts.
As 2021 general elections draw closer, violence is already witnessed in primaries for example in Sembabule district as ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party gets ready to elect flag bearers on Friday.
