Private lawyers and the Director of Public Prosecutions have reached an agreement that will see the latter take over prosecution of the case in which the Inspector General of Police and 7 police commanders are charged with brutality.

A group of 5 people through their lawyers led by Abudalla Kiwanuka and Daniel Walyemera constituted a private criminal prosecution against the police boss and his senior commanders at the Makindye Chief Magistrates court but the office of the DPP sought to take over the matter.

According to the arguments by the DPP, he is the only person mandated to prosecute criminal matters. He thus sought a revision of the decision by the Makindye court to have him apply formally to take over prosecution of the case.

On Tuesday afternoon, the private lawyers told High Court Justice Joseph Mulangira that they had reached an agreement to leave the DPP take over the prosecution of the case adding that this is provided for in the Constitution.

“We have discussed with our colleagues from the DPP’s office and agreed that they take over prosecution of this case as enshrined in article 120 of the Constitution. We (private lawyers) will be monitoring closely the matter,” Kiwanuka told court on Tuesday.

Judge Clashes with Lawyers

Earlier, Justice Mulangira clashed with the private lawyers including Abdalla iwanuka, Daniel  Walyemera and Martin Muhumuza who said they were representing the complainants (those allegedly beaten by police).

The judge called out the complainants Andrew Ssebitosi, Joseph Kaddu plus Rogers Ddiba and when they rose, they informed him that they had no lawyer representing them.

The trio had last week told a news conference they had withdrawn from the case after being forced to make statements pinning police yet they had never been beaten.

This prompted the judge to demand that the lawyers explain whether or not they had instructions to represent the complainants in the case.

“I have documents signed by those 3 people giving us instructions to represent them in the matter before court,” Kiwanuka told the judge.

However the judge insisted that the clients had out of their will told court that no one should represent them adding that the 3 lawyers were in court illegally. This angered Kiwanuka who interjected.

“My Lord, this matter should be taken serious. I am an advocate who was given instructions to proceed and I did not see any document asking me to withdraw from the matter, ”the lawyer from Lukwago and Company Advocates stressed.

The matter was however resolved when the Judge later ruled that the 3 lawyers were free to be present because they had an interest in the matter.

The Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) former presidential candidate Col Kiiza Besigye has pledged to fund the construction of a Catholic Church Shrine in Siyon Village Rutete sub-county Kagadi District.

Besigye who accused the current government of neglecting such resourceful sectors told a congregation that he and his party FDC party will partner with various companies to construct a church at Siyon pilgrimage site.

Besigye who was in Kagadi District for two days campaigning for FDC flag bearers made the remarks while attending prayers on Monday.

He said was disappointed by government for disregarding productive sector like tourism.

Besigye said the NRM government is only wasting resources to non-priority fields like importing teargas, while neglecting key areas for development such as modernization of tourism, technical education, health, infrastructure, and commercialization of agriculture.

These he said are the areas should be focusing on if it committed to eliminating unemployment and transforming the national economy.

The former presidential candidate was campaigning for Magret Naziwa Rujunba for Woman Mp seat, Peter Byahangire for Kagadi District chairperson and Proscovia Kunihira for Kibaale District woman MP.

Stakeholders in the technology sector and government officials have pushed for the creation of a legal framework to curb cyber threats in the midst of increased internet usage in Uganda. They say that freedom of information can be hazardous for security especially if this information is accessed by wrong elements.

During the opening of the 5th Annual East Africa Information Security Conference, Justice James Ogoola the former Principal Judge of the High Court stressed the need for government to strike a balance between right to access information and national security risks. The two day conference is organized by Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA).

“Some sectors of government require secrecy and the same applies to corporate banking otherwise leaking such information causes disaster,” Justice Ogoola said at Hotel Africana on Tuesday.

He added that government must formulate a legal framework that restricts access to such sensitive information.

Making reference to Australian computer programmer Julian Assange and his controversial Wikileaks publications, Ogoola said; “Information is vital. Whoever has information against someone earns superiority. In modern times we have witnessed cyber breaches and leaking of sensitive state documents and conversations that led to diplomatic strife.”

Ogoola however noted that secrecy can also breed vices such as corruption citing African leaders who use Swiss Banks to launder money obtained illegally.

In her remarks, the State Minister of ICT Hon. Aidah Nantaba said that information security is critical in optimizing performance and effectiveness. The Minister’s message was delivered by James Saaka, the Executive Director National Information Technology Association Uganda (NITA-U).

“The internet has increased connectivity but at the same time, hackers with malicious intentions are on the rise. Government has come up with a number of interventions including the National Information Security Strategy to ensure cyber security,” she remarked.

Minister Nantaba hinted on the need to increase human resource capacity and professionals in the area of cyber security.

Speaking to journalists in the sidelines of the conference, Saaka said that NITA-U is in talks with government to establish whether Uganda needs to come up with a cyber-security law.

Police have warned the public against civilians that are disguising as police officers and are busy tainting the good image of the Police Force.

The Deputy Police Spokesperson, Polly Namaye told Journalists at the Uganda Media Centre in Kampala that Police has recently trained and passed out a number of police officers who will be serving in their different capacities without uniforms.

“We have trained and passed out officers who will be serving in the Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department (CIID), Crime Intelligence and in other investigation bodies and these will not be putting on uniforms; we know that there might be some civilians who might take advantage and disguise as officers in plain clothes and may engage into illegal actions,” Said Namaye.

“We call on the public to understand that all our officers have been issued with warrant cards which we use to identify them as genuine police officers.

“The public is urged to report to us any errant individuals that do security work without warrant cards and we shall immediately commence investigations and take relevant action against them.

Namaye on the same note warned security informants that mishandle and mistreat civilians to stop it immediately since they are not above the law.

“We are aware of informants that work with us time and again, some of whom work as Traffic assistants but these also should not involve in any illegal acts; once they are caught on the wrong side of the law, they will be dealt with accordingly.”

Namaye added that the security informants have a right to do their work but they should not be seen as abusers of human rights.

The government has finalized plans to wire Shs64,050,000,000 to Parliament to buy new cars for both new and old members.

The development was revealed by the National Assembly Speaker, Rebecca Kabaga while chairing the plenary sitting on Tuesday.

According to the Speaker, the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development is going to avail the money in October and each MP will be in position jump to their respective banks to get the huge cash and buy cars of their choices.

“The issue of your mobility has been resolved. Everyone is going to get it in October,” Kadaga said attracting wild applause from the legislators who had waited for months.

Each Member of Parliament is going to receive Shs150m totaling to Shs64bn for the 427 legislators.

MPs are entitled to new cars whenever they are elected and also fuel provided by Parliament depending on the furthest distance from their constituencies to Kampala.

The Vice President, Speaker of Parliament and her Deputy, ministers and parliamentary commissioners who have already got and using government cars are also going to get the same amount for vehicles.

The civil society groups have always disagreed with the idea of giving MPs cars since the vehicles become personal properties of the legislators.

MPs who talked to ChimpReports on Tuesday however said they deserve the cars from government since Parliament work is not personal but national responsibility.

The Nakaseke County MP, Lutamaguzi Ssemakula stated that the provision of transport means to MPs is not extravagance but “strategic investment” to reap the best.

“When you give an MP a car his or her work is going to be eased and you can be rest assured of registering best results. It is a strategic investment,” He said.

Elections for new leaders of the Buganda Parliamentary Caucus have been further postponed to September 10, after the set interim committee failed to receive a satisfying report on the financial management of the biggest caucus in Parliament.

Last month, the caucus agreed to form an interim committee composed of three members Chaired by Masaka Municipality MP Mathias Mpuuga and to be helped by Bbale County’s George Kumaama Nsamba as well as Lwengo Woman MP Cissy Namujju.

The committee was given one month to come up with a new date for electing new leaders, organizing a retreat that will help the new members understand the relevancy, mission and operations of the caucus and presenting a financial report of the caucus.

On Tuesday, the committee Chairman told members that the committee was able through difficult times to come up a report but declined to present it noting that it was scruffy with a lot of missing information.

Mpuga noted that the committee tried to get relevant information from the caucus outgoing Chairman, Godfrey Kiwanda (Mityana North) but he failed to hand over relevant documents and the Caucus treasurer was out of the country.

At this time, the Mukono Municipality legislator Betty Nambooze who happens to be the outgoing Vice chairperson of the caucus requested that members to allow the old committee some more time to come up with a satisfying report given the fact that she was too out of the country due to ailments.

“We have not proceeded as set prior because of missing two reports which include; the investiture of the caucus and the key of the core objectives of the caucus and the guidelines that members must follow so as to be members of the caucus,” noted Mathias Mpuga while speaking to the media after the meeting dissolved.

Mpuga revealed that a draft Constitution has been drafted and presented to members and have agreed to conclusively debate it at their next meeting.

“We shall be meeting on 8th to 10th September at a place and a time that we shall agree on as members, we hope members will be able to attend despite their busy schedule so that we can start serving in the interest of the region,” Mpuga noted.

“We have had our term of office extended until September 10th when members shall formerly elect new office bearers to carry us through the next term of office.”

The Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and World Food Programme (WFP) have appealed to donors to urgently speed contributions to the humanitarian response to refugees in Uganda to end a funding shortage that has forced a revision of survival rations.

Around 200,000 refugees who arrived in Uganda prior to July 2015 will have their food rations or cash assistance reduced by 50 percent from this week. Low levels of funding, together with a large number of new arrivals fleeing to Uganda from South Sudan since 7 July, have left the refugee response with no choice but to re-prioritise their focus on those refugees in greatest need.

Refugees who arrived in Uganda after July 2015, as well as those who have been identified as particularly vulnerable, such as the elderly, orphans, the chronically ill, and those in need of treatment for malnutrition, will continue to receive a full ration.

According to the UNCHR, refugees receiving full rations are provided with 2,122 calories of food per person per day, in line with the minimum recommended daily allowance, during their first year, decreasing as they become increasingly self-reliant during their time in Uganda. Other refugees receive cash assistance in place of food rations, which also provides them with the opportunity to exercise greater personal choice.

“We are grateful to donors for their unwavering support so far but we appeal to the international community to do more,” said OPM Commissioner for Refugees David Apollo Kazungu. 

“People are fleeing because they are afraid for their lives. Our communities are welcoming them and giving them what we can: land and hope for a better future. But our message to the international community is this: we need your help to meet their basic needs until they are able to stand on their own two feet.”

WFP requires approximately US$7 million every month to provide life-saving food assistance to refugees in Uganda. Despite the generous support of donors, the humanitarian response requires an additional US$20million to restore full food rations to refugees for the rest of the year.

“We have done everything we can to avoid this, but we have been left with no option but to reduce food assistance for many of the refugees in Uganda, in order to stretch available resources and prioritize the most vulnerable new arrivals,” said Mike Sackett, WFP’s acting Country Director for Uganda.

“We hope that this is temporary, and we are working as hard as we can to raise the resources needed to restore the full level of food assistance for as many refugees as possible.”

The humanitarian response to South Sudanese refugees in Uganda was already severely underfunded before the outbreak of violence in Juba on 8 July, which has since prompted more than 70,000 people to cross the border in to Uganda.

New arrivals have spoken of armed groups operating across various parts of South Sudan, attacking villages, burning down houses, murdering civilians, sexually assaulting women and girls and forcibly recruiting young men and boys in to their ranks.

“Never has the international community been more generous in its donations towards refugees,” said acting UNHCR Representative to Uganda Bornwell Kantande. “At the same time, never has the gap between what is being provided and what is needed been larger. We thank the donors for their continued generosity and support, while urging them to further fund humanitarian organizations in order that we may continue providing refugees in Uganda with the life-saving assistance they critically need.”

OPM and UNHCR lead and co-coordinate the response to the roughly 600,000 refugees and asylum seekers in Uganda, and collaborate together with the World Food Programme to provide new arrivals with life-saving food assistance. By the end of 2015, Uganda was the third-largest refugee hosting country in Africa and the eighth-largest refugee hosting country in the world.

The office of the Resident District Commissioner Kabarole is overwhelmed by the rampant land disputes that have resulted into conflicts and murders.

About 80% percent of the conflicts and murder cases in Kabarole district are caused by land wrangles, Mrs Rose Monday Byabasaija the deputy RDC has revealed.

“In the sensitization meetings we’ve held with the residents and the district chairman, land disputes came out as the major cause of conflicts in communities. At least every day our office records 2 to 5 cases related to land conflicts and he most affected sub counties are Buheesi, Kicwamba, Bukuuku, Kabende, Busoro, Hakibale,” She added.

The deputy RDC strongly condemned the acts of people taking laws in their hands and some inciting violence amongst the locals.

Mrs Byabasaija made the revelation during a security meeting with Kabarole district chairman, residents of Mubali Kijura town council and Management of TAMTECO tea estate at Kitumba district headquarters on Tuesday.

The meeting was aimed at ironing out the land conflicts between Mubali residents, one Felly Gunn a tea investor and TAMTECO Tea Company.

According to Abel Nsabimaana the Group Manager TAMTECO tea Estate, the disputed land belongs to their company but both the residents and Felly Gunn the investor were occupying it and using it illegally.

He said, “Our Company had asked the tenants not to plant permanent crops and construct permanent structures but they have continued to plant perennial crops like coffee and tea. This land was leased to us by Tooro kingdom”.

Squabbles erupted in 2009 when Felly Gunn evicted the residents claiming ownership of the disputed land and planted tea and eucalyptus trees in it.

Christopher Tindyeba the lead tenant on the land claims that Gunn destroyed his crops and coffee plantation when she evicted them from the land and wants compensation.

“The land was surveyed but a report indicated that the land in question did not belong to her nor to us the residents but to TAMTECO. I therefore demand that she compensates my for my plantations that were destroyed because I’ve failed to get tuition for my children,” Tindyeba said.

With the guidance of the district chairperson Mr. Richard Rwabuhinga, the conflicting parties agreed that the land be gazzatted and taken over by Kijura town council authorities till government decides.

It was also agreed that permanent boundaries in the surveyed land be formalized and the district chairman writes to president Museveni reminding him of his pledge to purchase the land from Tooro kingdom that leased it to TAMTECO for the people who have stayed there for over 60 years.

The chairman strongly warned the people against threatening violence and malicious damage that leads to destruction of property and death but respect laws and decisions taken.

Three notorious hooligans that include Musinguzi Donant,Sirasi Muhizi and Mutabazi Faostino were identified to be spearheading the incitement of people to commit crime.

President Yoweri Museveni is expected as chief guest at a memorial lecture being organized for the late former Internal Affairs Minister Gen Aronda Nyakairima.

The event is being organized to honor the works and life of the former UPDF Commander who died of a heart related ailment onboard a flight from Seoul in South Korea, in September last year.

The memorial lecture is slated for Monday September 12^th at Makerere University’s Main Hall according to one of the event planners Ian Oswald.

It is being organized by the National Association of Youth Entrepreneurs Uganda (NAYE).

The Chief of Defense Forces Gen Edward Katumba Wamala is expected to deliver the key note address on his predecessor, while the Commander in Chief Gen Yoweri Museveni will be the guest of honor.

Family members of the fallen general, friends, former workmates at the Internal Affairs Minister, bush war comrades and friends are all expected in attendance.

There will also be a panel of speakers who will deliver tributes to the late General, who besides his sacrifices in the armed liberation war of the 1980s, is remembered for delivering Uganda’s first national identity card project.

According to Mr Oswald, arrangements are being made through which members of the public will participate in the memorial lecture.

“Most likely we will ask those who are interested to log in to our website to get invitations by email; we will announce details of this later,” he told us.

The death of Gen Aronda Nyakairima at the age of 56 came as a great shock to the nation as his sickness was unknown according to family members.

Following his death, President Yoweri Museveni directed medical checkups in the UPDF to be streamlined and for physical health of all soldiers to be emphasized by all commanders.

Nkozi hospital has started fundraising for money to build an accident and emergency ward.

The Hospital situated in Nkozi, Mpigi District is a catholic based private community hospital, serving the town of Nkozi and surrounding areas of southern Mawokota County.

The hospital also serves as the nearest and hospital of first choice for the staff and students of Uganda Martyrs University, located in the same town and is one of the topmost references for accident victims along the Kampala Masaka road.

It is one of the Hospitals severely damaged by the post independence wars but over the past few years has been on course revive its good quality services.

As one of the ways to raise the money needed for the new project, the Hospital is arranging a charity car wash.

The event is slated for August 20th at Pope Paul Memorial Hotel and will be presided over by Kampala Archbishop Cyprian Kizito Lwanga.

In June this year, a marathon was organized for the same cause and Shs. 55million out of the required 665million was collected.

Besides the car wash according to organizers, there will also be a dinner on October 21^st at Hotel Africana, though which well wishers can make contributions.

Speaking at a press conference in Munyonyo on Tuesday, Prince David Kintu Wasajja who is among those spearheading the fundraiser, urged everyone to take part in the charity car wash, stressing the importance of the ward.

Nkozi Hospital currently receives an average of 20 accident victims a week, which according to the recently expanded staff, is big number for the facility.

“The hospital receives many victims from Masaka road yet, and our facility is currently over stretched,” said “Sister Maria Teddy Nakyanzi.

Authorities and inmates at the Rukungiri Central Prison were startled on Tuesday morning when they found a female prisoner hanging in one of the prison toilets.

Shallon Tugumisirize was found in one of the Ladies toilets hanging on her piece of cloth.

Tugumisirize has been on remand over alleged murder of her co-wife. She is accused together with two men Duncan Nyesigire and  Ben Bandonda alias Kabeni for the murder of Apophia Kobusingye and her  child  Mark Akampurira  from   Rwenshekye cell, Nyarushanje sub county Rukungiri

The bodies of the two were according to prosecution found dumped in a stream on August 5 2016.

The three suspects were remanded to Rukungiri central prison by the Rukungiri Grade one magistrate Josephine Nakaato.

Frank Baine the Uganda prisons public relations officer confirmed the incident, saying that on the Tuesday morning as prisoners were taken out to go and do laundry, they realized tha Tugumisirize was missing.

On making searches, her body was found in the toilet hanging on her kitengi.

Hon Godfrey Ssuubi Kiwanda, the state minister for tourism on Wednesday launched the Rolex festival that is due on the 21st August at the Uganda Museum.

Rolex, apparently derived from “rolled eggs” is a top traditional delicacy of Ugandan origin. It all started as a road side snack comprising of eggs and  chapatti and it later evolved into a mix of vegetables, chapatti and eggs later on more additions into rolex are only limited by the customer and chiefs imagination.

Rolex has been described as truly a humble Ugandan success story from deep down Kampala ghettos, to road sides of town centers, onto menus of top hotels and restaurants around the country.

And now it is set to represent the country at international level. According to the minister, Rolex will be served at the oncoming Miss Tourism pageant in Malaysia in December 2016.

Presently rolex recently made news as the fastest growing new African fast food on CNN.

For years, the delicacy has created numerous income generation opportunities for the households in Kampala and across the country.

“During my campaign I ate rolex because it was prepared very fast since we had many places to go to. Besides, it’s a very tasty meal and I urge everyone to try it out,” Hon Kiwanda said.

The Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities is endorsing the rolex as a proudly Ugandan product that is also enjoyed by many tourists who visit Uganda.

On Thursday 18th August they are going to challenge the Parliament of Uganda by serving them with Rolex at a cocktail, at the parliamentary gardens in a bid to celebrate the Rolex empowerment to Ugandan communities.

“As minister of tourism, I am hereby calling upon Ugandan youth to take on the commercial opportunities the rolex presents to them and also to use their creative minds to develop the rolex business to high levels and standards internationally acceptable in the food business”  Hon Kiwanda said.

Lutheran World Relief (LWR) has Wednesday handed over items worth over Shs 800M to Uganda Red Cross Society as a donation towards the humanitarian interventions amid the growing influx of South Sudanese refugees in Uganda. Items which include 160 bales of blankets and 220 cartons of school kits among others seek to offer relief to the displaced people.

An estimated 70,000 South Sudanese have fled conflict in their home country since July and are currently resettled in Adjumani and Yumbe camps. Red Cross reports a total of 1,000 refugees pouring into Uganda on a daily basis.

Kenneth Barigye the Country Director Lutheran World Relief told journalists that the donations were made by Lutherans living in USA in order to make refugees’ lives a bit bearable.

“We believe that this donation is timely given the influx of refugees in Northern Uganda since July. These donations come from people with big hearts who believe in sharing the little they have with those in need,” Barigye said.

Majority of these refugees are said to be women and children. Amid this influx, Red Cross says that the numbers don’t match the facilities available and calls for more humanitarian aid.

The items donated include blankets and scholastic materials like books and pens

Robert Kwesiga the Secretary General Uganda Red Cross welcomed the donation and said the items will be availed to the refugees as soon as possible. He noted that scholastic materials will support children as they enroll in schools next term while other items will help health centers.

“Many refugees who recently moved from South Sudan are camping in different settlements and they need our support. These donations will especially benefit those who recently shifted since they are in a more hard to reach area.”

Recently, some of the refugees were shifted to Bidibidi resettlement camp in Yumbe in a bid to decongest the camps in Adjumani.

Lutheran World Relief is an international NGO that focuses on sustainable development projects, disaster relief and recovery. It has worked in Uganda for over 25 years to address the root causes of poverty and increase food security.

Opposition Uganda Peoples’ Congress (UPC) under the leadership of Lira Municipality legislator, Jimmy Michael Akena yesterday issued a public notice to the Milton Obote Foundation (MOF) — a body that manages and holds in trustee all the party property — to vacate the Uganda House building with immediate effect over breach of their signed contract.

The party Spokesperson, Michael Osinde told Chimp Reports that the ouster follows MOF’s filing of a case before the Civil Division of the High Court on Monday that sought to bar the party from running its activities.

The case lodged by MOF headed by the Chairman Board of Trustees, Peter Walubiri, sought orders to stop party members from accessing Uganda House and to remove the foundation stone which was recently planted at the building as well as the party flag.

“Those were the prayers that MOF sought to be granted on Monday but Court agreed with our lawyer that there was no basis for such prayers and thus disregarded MOF wishes,” Osinde noted.

He described as unfortunate the fact that after Peter Walubiri was recalled as a chairman board of trustee by party members during the National Council in 2015, he went ahead to sue the party over baseless issues.

“After failing to succeed in a case filed last year in Buganda road court calling us trespassers, Walubiri got guts of filing another case; fortunately in court on Monday the registrar tasked MOF to specify the charge against our administration but they failed,” Osinde revealed.

“Due to the said case, members of the UPC approached the party president demanding for the immediate vacation of MOF from Uganda House.”

“We have therefore asked them to vacate, these are just tenants of UPC, their headquarters are on 5^th street industrial area; they breeched the agreement that was signed in 2009 specifying that the two organizations have a symbiotic relations which they must all respect and protect.”

However, Walubiri told Chimpreports that they cannot at any time vacate the premises that belongs to them.

“There is no way the owner of the building can be forced to vacate his property, these people just want to grab the Uganda House and hand it over to president Museveni,” Walubiri told Chimpreports in a phone interview.

By David Oduut

Local leaders in Eastern Uganda have demanded government to speed up the process of holding the lower local council elections so as to ease service delivery at grassroots level.

The electoral commission had early this year set the LC1 and LC2 elections to be held by the end of June but later complained of lack of funds to facilitate the process.

However, parliament subsequently okayed a less costly open voting method (lining up behind candidates) to help reduce costs.

The leaders speaking under their umbrella Uganda Local Governments Association ULGA are disappointed that the electoral commission has since not lived its word.

While speaking to ChimpReports, some LC3, LC5 chairpersons of Eastern Uganda Districts say it is long overdue for government to look into bridging the gap created by lack of functioning yet recognized  LC1 systems in villages.

Also expressing concern are district speakers and Chief Administrative officers within the region.

James Ebiau the LC3 chairperson Atiira Sub County in Serere district laments that the discrepancies in service delivery at community level is as a result of an inefficient systems at the lower local councils.

“LC1 and LC2s are a major link in the chain of development, taking 15 years without a proper lower local council system is also a strong barrier to service deliver in Uganda, so I suggest government should consider holding their elections as soon as possible,” Ebiau said with emotion.

Ebiau reveals that most committees at lower local councils doted in only a few villages in the country are “old and scattered” and cannot efficiently deliver hence an urgent need for overhaul.

Getrude Rose Gamwera the ULGA secretary general says the association through the ministry of local government has for long also pushed for the lower local council elections but is yet to receive confirmation from the Electoral Commission.

“The ministry of local government was pushed to make amendments and now everything is ironed out except that electoral commission says they will give us a date to hold elections.” Gertrude said.

Meanwhile the locals have also urged government to refocus attention onto local council leaders other than relying much on legislators for decisions of development.

OkwiTitus Ebukalin, the speaker Bukedea district says 75% of Ugandan population stays in rural communities where they are best understood by local leaders.

He says it would then be prudent for government to dwell much on lower local governments to directly channel service delivery to the people other than using a centralized system that relies on reports they (sometimes) may not sure about.

“Central government should work with those who represent, work and deal with the local population on the daily basis so that we can easily deliver, monitor and understand their wishes,” Ebukalin said.

George Mutabaazi the Lwengo LC5 chairperson whom ChimpReports caught up with during his courtesy visit to Mbale district (as he is vying for ULGA president), said sub county chiefs, LC3s, LC5 and other local leaders need direct audience and interaction with the central government as they are ones directly bogged by issues affecting local people.

He said there is need for ULGA to create platforms where the central government directly interacts with locals other than government relying on bureaucratic reports to run the country.

Uganda currently has over 60,000 nun functioning lower local councils (village administrative units) with which Mutabaazi believes if well utilized by government would greatly improve service delivery hence easing Uganda to a middle income country by the stipulated 2030

It wasn’t business as usual on Wednesday on the floor of Parliament as the Speaker Hon Kadaga grilled the parliamentary Leader of Opposition in Parliament (LOP) Winnie Kiiza for alleging that the 9th Parliament conspired with government to block the proposed political and electoral reforms.

The Speaker Rebecca Kadaga was furious and demanded that Kiiza substantiates her statement made in her response to President Museveni’s State of the Nation Address. Kadaga said Kiiza statement was defaming to the institution of Parliament.

In the response which was read in her absence last week by the opposition chief whip, Ibrahim Semujju Nganda the LOP noted that the opposition did its best to present electoral reforms on time but they were never given space on the floor.

This incensed Kadaga who noted that it was unfair for the opposition to blame Parliament yet she (Kadaga) was on record urging government to present reforms early enough.

After members debated the motion, the Speaker tasked Kiiza to explain her statements which she failed to substantiate.

“I have all the relevant evidence and documentation that we tried to bring early reforms and they were blocked; however, I request to be given time so as to prepare all the documentation and present before the house tomorrow,” Kiiza requested.

The request was not granted by the Speaker demanding that by the time such statements were written she must have prepared all the facts. Kadaga demanded that she either substantiates or withdraws the statement.

Kiiza explained that the reforms were earlier brought to Parliament, given to the relevant committee but didn’t find their way to the floor of the house.

The Speaker interjected demanding that the LOP explains whether the opposition presented any bill to the house and she didn’t allow it on the order paper.

At that time, Kiiza was left speechless, conceding that she erred but declined to withdraw the statement with prayers that she would be allowed time to present said documents that stopped at committee level.

The debate on the State of the Nation Address is continuing today were the government chief whip will be presenting her response to the statement made by the opposition.

Kampala High Court has Thursday granted permission to former FDC president and opposition strongman Dr Kizza Besigye to travel outside Uganda.

Besigye had through his lawyers led by Ernest Kalibbala asked  court to skip reporting for a month because he intended to travel to foreign countries for a private visit.

Chimpreports understands Besigye was supposed to report on August 22 and September 15 as per the bail conditions set by High court Justice Musene Musalu last month in which the opposition strongman.

Besigye reports to court after every two weeks.

However on Thursday morning, Justice Yasin Nyanzi, allowed   him spend a month without reporting at court.

“I will allow this simple request because the sureties have sworn affidavits in support of the application,” Justice Nyanzi noted.

He however warned that other bail conditions like maintaining peace will remain standing during the grace period.

Besigye will now report to the Kampala High Court on September 20, 2016.

It is understood Besigye will give key addresses in western capitals including London.

Wastage

Speaking to journalists shortly, Besigye blasted what he termed as wastage of the taxpayer’s money in court sessions which are not necessary.

He said there was no need to summon the state attorney and the judge  for a special session in a bid to hear  his application which he said could be decided by the judge and make decision in his chambers.

“There are many big cases which have not been heard and require courts to sit other than this simple matter. It is absurd that State Attorneys can leave their jobs to come to court over this small thing,” charged Besigye.

The opposition big shot was released on bail early last month after spending over two months at Luzira prison on charges of treason.

He is still battling the charges at the Nakawa Chief Magistrate’s court.

The National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC), Africa’s top water Utility has been recognized and awarded as the best Digital Customer Service Provider in the Digital Impact Awards Africa (DIAA) 2016.

NWSC won the award after flooring four other companies and agencies that were nominated in the same category, including MTN Uganda, Airtel, Centenary Bank and Umeme.

The award was presented to NWSC officials on Wednesday night at an awards gala held at the Kampala Serena Hotel.

Digital Impact Africa Awards are aimed at recognising exemplary companies and organizations in provision and use of digital infrastructure; web, mobile, social media and digital financial services in transforming lives, furthering digital inclusion and cyber security in Africa.

The winners were decided by a jury and research plus contribution by public vote.  The Jury contributed 30 percent, Research, 50 percent and 20 percent was decided by a Public Vote.

NWSC’s exceptional service delivery has seen it get praises by their clients

NWSC currently offers digital services ranging from e-payment, customer care and direct customer engagement through the various social media platforms including facebook and twitter.

The real time updates and response towards customers’ concerns have seen them gain recognition from Ugandans who are the majority of their clients.

The Dr. Silver Mugisha headed corporation continues to shine both locally and internationally, having been named Africa’s top water utility earlier in May.

Internationally, NWSC has sealed two very important projects, one with Dhaka Water and Sewerage Authority, the biggest water utility in Bangladesh and the second with Chittagong Water and Sewerage Authority the second biggest city of Bangladesh.

The Corporation’s External Services division is also providing technical assistance to water utilities of Ekiti and Adamawa states in Nigeria, Kisumu water company, Dar es Salaam Water and Sewerage Company and the Sierra Leone Water and Sewerage Company among others.

A number of Bills to scrap the age limit of various government officials are set to be tabled on the floor of Parliament on Thursday afternoon.

ChimpReports has seen details of the amendment bills that are being kept secret perhaps for the country to only hear about when the mover (still unknown) presents them to the national assembly today.

Among the proposed changes in the Constitution are pushing the age limit of Supreme Judges from 70 to 75 years, altering the appointment of Attorney General and to also serve for 7 years but not the current 5 years.

The appointment of Attorney General is going to be different from that of other cabinet ministers that their term last for 5 years.

Meanwhile the current two terms restriction the Electoral Commission Chairperson is also going to be removed and left open so long as the holder is still capable.

We’ll soon public the full document to be given to Members of Parliament this afternoon.

The East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) is set to resume its Sessions in Arusha, Tanzania, next week. The First Meeting of the Fifth Session of the Third Assembly takes place from Monday, August 22^nd 2016 to Friday, September 2^nd 2016.

The Assembly which is to be presided over by the Speaker, Rt. Hon Daniel F. Kidega will debate on the Report of the Committee on Accounts on the EAC Audited Accounts for the Financial Year ended 30^th June 2015.

The report which examines and considers the EAC Audited accounts for the year ended 30^th June 2015, arises from the audit of the EAC Organs and Institutions including 20 projects and Programmes and this in accordance with Article 134 of the Treaty for the Establishment of East African Community.

Upon completion of the audit, the EAC Council of Ministers tabled the Report of the Audit Commission to the House on 24^th May 2016. The Audit Commission’s report which indicates that the overall budget performance stood at 65% is set for debate at a time when the Community is facing a precarious funding situation.

The House is further expected to consider a Report of the Committee on Agriculture, Tourism and Natural Resources on the oversight activity on the Tourism in the EAC Region.  Also coming up for debate during the two-week period is yet another report of the Committee on Agriculture, Tourism and Trade, this time on the oversight activities on poaching in the EAC Region.

As part of its engagements with the other stakeholders in the region, EALA will similarly receive a key report on youth matters at the EAC, a culmination of research undertaken by the East African Institute (EAI), a think-tank under the aegis of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN).

Also on the cards is yet another presentation by the Organisation for Social Science Research in Eastern and Southern Africa (OSSREA) on Horizontal Accountability of the Executive to the Legislature in African perspective.

EALA Sittings are held under the principle of rotation in line with Article 55 of the EAC Treaty. At the same time, the Assembly works closely with various stakeholders and receives petitions on matters of relevance to the Assembly.