Police on Tuesday morning arrested two Forum for Democratic Change officials including the party Deputy Secretary General, Harold Kaija and Tororo FDC chairperson Moses Owori for storming the DRC embassy along Philip road in Kololo, Kampala.

The opposition party officials including Buhweju MP Francis Mwijukye, Moses Owori, Harold Kaija and Moses Byamugisha stormed the embassy seeking to meet the ambassador and present to him a petition in relation to FDC activist Sam Mugumya and four others who were arrested in 2014.

“We want to meet him over our won citizen of Uganda who has been in detention for the last three years. We want to present a petition over the same issue and get to know his fate,” Francis Mwijukye told journalists.

FDC activists arrive at the DRC Embassy

The group however was stopped by police from entering the embassy before being asked to explain their motive at the premises.

The FDC officials however sought to meet the ambassador himself and hand him the petition.

Argument Erupts

There was an argument between the opposition politicians and police led by a one Mwesigwa who asked them to vacate the premises because they had not been invited.

Kaija and Mwijukye told the policeman there was no need for an invitation at the embassy which they said was a public office and can be accessed by everyone.

Police officer urges the activists to leave the embassy’s premises

In response, the police officer told them that the attack on the embassy was a direct attack on the Democratic Republic of Congo before asking them to vacate the premises.

“Vacate now or you risk arrest,” the police officer warned the FDC party officials.

However, the group insisted prompting police to arrest Kaija and Owori before whisking them away to Jinja road police station.

According to the Kampala Metropolitan Area police commander Frank Mwesigwa, the two were arrested for illegal entry to the embassy.

“They tried to illegally enter embassy and we had to arrest them,” Mwesigwa confirmed.

The protesters assure Police the Embassy is a public facility

Mugumya was in October 2014 arrested by DRC officials on charges related to subversion.

The UPDF spokesperson Col Paddy Ankunda said then Mugumya had been found together with four other people in possession of big sums of dollars and documents linking them to a rebel group in eastern DRC with intentions of overthrowing the Ugandan government.

Mugumya was jailed at Ndolo Military Prison where living conditions are said to be horrible.

In a recent media interview, Mugumya dismissed the charge as false, saying he was fleeing to exile when he was intercepted by Congolese intelligence officials.

It later emerged that Mugumya was listed among 215 suspected members of ADF set for trial in North Kivu.

Kaija is arrested by anti-riot police personnel

Kaija and Owori on a police pick-up truck after their arrest

Finance Minister Matia Kasaija has issued a strong warning to civil servants and individual citizens who sabotage government projects through unnecessary delays and selfish interests.

With reference to road projects, the Minister said government will no longer tolerate delays in implementation, insignificant administrative reviews and slow or non-absorption of funds.

Kasaija who Tuesday signed an agreement between Uganda and Japan for a USD 20M grant for the improvement of roads in Gulu Municipality said; “We have had enough with project delays and slow absorption of funds. Whenever a road project is delayed, there are significant cost implications.”

“Some of the funds we use to finance these projects are borrowed which means that Uganda continues to lose billions with no value for money,” he went on to state.

The Minister further noted that frustrating infrastructure development will in turn slow down economic growth and deprive Ugandans employment opportunities.

To the ordinary citizens, Kasaija expressed disappointment in individuals who seek to satisfy their selfish interests at the cost of national development.

“The issue of land compensation has been the biggest hindrance to government projects especially roads and power distribution. Some people name abnormal prices for their land and government finds it difficult to compensate them.”

Pointing out the Ugx 1.19 trillion Kampala – Entebbe express way which is still undergoing construction, Kasaija castigated two project affected persons who derailed the land acquisition process due to their ridiculous demands.

He told journalists; “Two people refused a public road to pass through their land simply because one person’s land had a rock and the other had tombs. Ugandans should be grateful when the government brings a project into their area since it creates opportunities.”

During the recently concluded Cabinet retreat in Kigo, President Museveni warned government Ministries and Agencies that fail to fully utilize the funds allocated to them throughout the financial year.

Ibanda Municipality aspiring Member of Parliament, who is also the Civil Aviation Authority publicist Ignatius Igundura yesterday outshone his fellow contenders in the parliamentary race, displaying his financial advantage during the Eid Al Adha celebrations.

At the prayers held Rugarama Mosque in Bisheshe Division in Ibanda Municipality, Mr Igundura was the biggest contributor to the construction project of the new District Kadhi building.

 The construction of the house was kick-started by President Yoweri Museveni back in 2014.

 When called to the floor, the CAA boss who has made known his intentions to run for the Parliamentary seat contributed Shs 5million to the project.

 This left most of his known contenders who were present at the prayers in an awkward position

 At the end, one of them Tarsus Rwaburindore sought for redemption, telling the congregation that they should not consider the wealthiest while casting the ballot, but one who has the ability to sort out the new municipality’s needs.

 Another contestant in the race Deus Murinde was even angrier at the CAA boss, comparing him to a hyena.

 Murinde was incensed that Igundura, who has spend nearly his lifetime in Kampala, is now returning home pretending to provide solutions.

“These are like hyenas which only wait until the lion makes a kill; we have fought tooth and nail for this Municipality and now that we have it they are coming back to provide us solutions,” ranted Murinde.

The Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga is set to chair the house on Wednesday, when the controversial age limit bill is expected to be formally presented.

ChimpReports has learned that the Deputy Speaker who proceeded from the United States to the United Kingdom is going to return to the country on Thursday night and Kadaga is the one to handle business this week.

The two flew out of the country to the U.S late last month when the debate on the Bill that seeks to increase the retirement age of judges and also remove the restricted two terms of the Electoral Commission, was supposed to kickoff.

The Bill has however been put last in the order of business tomorrow, and Parliament rarely exhausts all the matters on table.

It was also last on the 25th August when the motion was moved but Oulanyah who steered the sitting had to jump two other items on the order paper to give it the opportunity.

The Rules of Procedures of Parliament dictate that the Speaker is in charge of deciding the order of business in the house.

The Nakifuma County Member of Parliament, Ssekitoleko Kafeero who is the mover of the Bill said it will definitely be debated in Parliament however much it is delayed.

“I don’t determine business in Parliament but I am quite sure that my Bill will be discussed and passed no matter the time,” Ssekitoleko said.

When contacted, the Public Relations Manager of Parliament, Hellen Kawesa said all items on order paper are to be debated.

The bill is being deemed by opponents as geared toward providing a presidential for the removal of presidential term limits, to  benefit President Yoweri Museveni

Parliamentary Local Government Public Accounts Committee Chaired by Aswa County legislator, Regan Okumu on Tuesday probed officials from Mpigi District for failure to account for over Sh900m Road Fund.

The officials led by the Chief Administrative Officers (CAO) who also doubles as the District Accounting Officer, Willy Bataringaya were unable to account for the money as reflected in the 2015 Auditor General’s report.

Okumu noted that, “Although the Auditor General (AG) sampled only one quarter, they were only able to account for Sh107 million out of the Sh1billion that was given to the district for road construction.”

Okumu said that worse still, the accounted for funds were still queried by the AG for poor and shoddy work. An audit inspection carried out in September 2015 revealed that there was inadequate maintenance evidenced by clogged drainage.

“The accounting officer stands questionable for having failed to supervise and monitor the work that was poorly done. The AG gave us pictures of the roads that were poorly done and within a space of only three months; the said roads were already dilapidated.”

“We have demanded for accountability of the Sh900m of the road fund to be produced within two weeks; we’ve also noted that the road fund has been abused, the Engineers all over are not adequate not knowing what maintenance work is all about.”

The roads under question include; Kikunyu- Kibanga road (12.9KM), Mbizinya- Kumbya- Jjalamba road (7.03KM) and Nabyewanga- Jjiri road (8.95).

I response, CAO Bataringaya and his team requested for time to avail all the necessary documents accounting for the money and apologized to the committee members.

Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta has urged IGAD member states to continue engaging Somalia proactively in order to sustain the stabilization efforts.

The President commended the leadership and people of Somalia for their determination to address the challenges confronting them, particularly incidences of violent extremism and terrorism.

President Kenyatta spoke Tuesday at the 28th IGAD Extra-Ordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government held in Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu.

The special IGAD Summit, that was attended by President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda and Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn, discussed the progress Somalia has made towards security and stability.

Officials told ChimpReports that leaders discussed ways of strengthening the country’s armed forces to fully take charge of national security.

President Kenyatta observed that holding the IGAD Summit in Mogadishu is an attestation of the confidence the region has on the Federal Government of Somalia and its progress towards the restoration of peace and stability.

He encouraged the Somali authorities to ensure the implementation of governance and state formation as envisioned in Somalia Vision 2016 as they head to elections next month.

President Kenyatta assured that the international community and partners are ready to support Somalia to ensure that the elections are held in a timely manner and in accordance to the will and wishes of the Somali people.

Ethiopian Prime Minister Desalegn, who is also the IGAD Chairman, said Somalia had made progress on the path of peace and stability but much more needed to be done.

“We are not there yet but IGAD is confident that its efforts will succeed in the complete restoration of peace and stability in Somalia,” the Ethiopian Prime Minister said.

The leaders were also briefed on the South Sudan peace process and the progress made so far by the IGAD Executive Secretary Mahboub Maalim.

Kenya and Uganda have been at the forefront in efforts geared towards sustainable peace in South Sudan.

These efforts are driven by the fact that insecurity in South Sudan poses a serious threat to regional peace, security and stability.

Polls

Neighboring countries including Kenya and Uganda have borne the heavy burden of the conflict including intensive flow of refugees, loss of investments and business as well as proliferation of illegal small arms and light weapons.

The meeting comes at a time when Somalis are preparing for the 2016 elections.

IGAD leaders expressed hope that the polls would be free and fair and conducted within the timelines.

IGAD further requested the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) to provide all necessary security to the electoral process; and called upon AMISOM troops and the Somalia Security Forces to expand their operations, deal with evolving terror threats and immediately recover the remaining areas controlled by Al Shabaab.

Leaders further proposed the establishment of an economic recovery fund with support from the region and the international community; and urged the international community to support the development plans and programs, especially infrastructure connectivity and social services through the IGAD Third-Party Financing Mechanism and any other bilateral arrangements.

Police on Wednesday morning arrested 7 activists led by Moses Bigirwa, an aide to former coordinator of intelligence organs Gen. David Sejusa. The group was apparently demonstrating against the Age Limit Bill.

The youths who identified themselves as  Democratic Party youth leaders stormed parliament with placards and demanded to see theNakifuma Member of Parliament  Eng. Robert Kafeero Ssekitoleeko whom they blamed for orchestrating the ‘useless’ Bill.

The group led by Bigirwa(2ndL) matches to parliament.

The bill is seeking among others to extend the age limit of judicial officers and scrapping the term limits for the Independent Electoral Commissioners.

“Youths all over the country have no jobs but he is bringing such a bill which is useless to the people. We can’t allow such a bill be passed by parliament,” the group said.

The youths tried in vain to resist arrest

There was a scuffle as the group battled with police while they resisted arrest.

However, police led by CPS DPC Joseph Bakaleke swung into action arresting all members and detaining them at the Kampala Central Police Station.

The private member’s constitutional amendment bill has raised dust in parliament and has on 2 attempts failed to be tabled on the floor of the August house following concerns from legislators.

Most critics belive that the bill is meant to provide ground for amending the presidential age limit in the constitution.

Other members confessed to have been bribed with as little as Shs1 million to support the controversial bill.

HelpAge International on Tuesday September 13^th signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the African Union Commission (AUC) with the aim of advancing the rights and wellbeing of older people and the ageing agenda in Africa.

The MoU highlights key areas of partnership where the two parties agree to work together to raise awareness and support members states and other institutions in the continent to develop evidence to inform policies that will effectively address the issues affecting older men and women.

The MoU comes soon after the adoption of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Older Persons in Africa, adopted in January 2016 during the 26^th AU Summit of the Heads of States and Governments. The AU Protocol covers a range of fundamental rights for older persons and urges member states to work with key stakeholders and develop policies and programmes to address the key challenges facing older people in Africa.

“The MoU is as an important milestone in our work with the African Union and will pave the way for the HelpAge Network to engage the African Union and member states to promote the rights of older persons in Africa,” said Dr Prafulla Mishra, Regional Director, HelpAge International at the signing of the MoU.

He added that the MoU is another indication that the African Union Commission and its member states care for older persons in the continent. He further said the adoption of the AU Protocol gives an opportunity for member states to galvanise action that will support older persons in the continent to live a dignified life, enabling them continue to support families and communities and yet feel they are recognised, respected and still counted.

Speaking at the signing of the MoU, the Director of Social Affairs Department of the African Union Commission, Ambassador Olawale Maiyegun said addressing issues of older persons in Africa require concerted efforts and the MoU provides the basis for stronger partnership between the AU and key partners such as HelpAge.

“We must work together to ensure that the issues of older persons are highlighted and more importantly the Protocol on the rights of older persons is ratified and comes to force as soon as possible so that member states can be held accountable” Said Ambassador Maiyegun.

Signing the MoU, the Commissioner of Social Affairs of the African Union Commission, Dr. Mustapha Kaloko said that issues of older persons and people with disabilities are usually forgotten in a lot of discussions. He said there is a need for the African Union to ensure that these issues continue to be highlighted and ensuring that older people continue to be made relevant.

With the MoU, the African Union Commission and HelpAge International have agreed to continue close collaboration on a range of regional and global issues pertaining to protection and promotion of rights of older persons, such as furthering the AU Agenda 2063 and global Sustainable Development Goals.  

The two parties will continue to work together under the framework of the MoU to lobby African parliaments and governments to ratify this Protocol that could offer respite to Africa’s estimated 66.5 million people aged 60. This number is predicted to reach 105 million by 2030.

Saudi Arabia has been ranked top in mistreatment of Ugandan job seekers, followed by Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates according to a research report by Platform for Labor Action.

According to the June 2016 report handed over to Parliamentary Committee on Gender on Tuesday, majority of Ugandans in the Middle East are Victims of International Trafficking (VIT).

The report indicates that 37.2 percent were trafficked to Saudi Arabia, 18.6 percent to Kuwait, 9.3 percent to United Arab Emirate (UAE), 7percent to Oman, 7 percent to Kenya, 4.7 percent to Qatar, 2.3 percent to China while 14 percent were trafficked to other countries.

Platform for Labour Action, Executive Director, Grace Mukwaya noted that most of the victims are enticed with prospective job offers which at the end turns out not to be true.

According to reports, most of the victims are those that go through unrecognized consultancy and recruitment firms that not registered.

“73 per cent of the victims are employed as domestic workers and 16 per cent commercial sex workers while a section others are employed as casual laborers on farms,” Mukwaya said.

Mukwaya observed that most victims are falling prey due to high unemployment levels back home, poverty, peer pressure, little pay, better employment terms offered, free visas and tickets.

“Most of the VIT respondents (78%) reported that the jobs offered in the country of destination were different from those promised in the country of origin during negotiation; 81% reported variations in salary and working conditions and some described the conditions as ‘terrible’.”

The report has recommended for a proactive mass sensitization about what constitutes trafficking in persons, the problems and dangers of human trafficking, identification and reporting of human trafficking.

Mukwaya has called upon government together with other stakeholders to develop a package of strategic information that translates into travel safeguards for the externalization of labor.

Margaret Komuhangi, the Chairperson of Parliament’s Committee on Gender said that the report will provide insightful considerations for legislation on externalization of labour.

Teachers under Uganda National Teachers’ Union (UNATU) have threatened not to report to work for the third term in case government fails to clear their salary arrears within two weeks.

UNATU Executive Director, James Tweheyo told the media on Wednesday that the union is concerned with the nonpayment of salaries for most of the teachers without any official explanation for close to three months.

Tweheyo said in some districts and municipalities some teachers have not been paid since May.

Tweheyo noted that in July this year, through comprehensive and continued engagement with the relevant line Ministries, the union established that the non-payment of salaries is attributed to a number of factors including; delayed submissions to the Ministry of Finance by the accounting officers.

“Other reasons included salary payroll changes resulting from the 15 percent increment to the lowest pay categories, delayed activation of new payrolls especially in newly created Administrative Units and non-validation of teachers’ details,” Tweheyo remarked.

The Ministry of Finance he said, committed that the affected teachers would be paid in August 2016 but this was not done up to date.

“Our teachers continue to hang in balance, the issue was also raised on the floor of Parliament by our own Workers’ MP Margaret Rwabushaija but still no action was taken by the Ministry of Finance.”

Tweheyo emphasized that they are giving government only two weeks which are left to the commencement of third term to effect their payment or else teachers won’t turn up to teach.

UNATU is also unhappy with government’s failure in some parts to effect the 15 percent pay rise of primary teachers which was awarded by government.

“A case in point is Kamuli district and Kamuli Municipality where personnel officers have not yet effected the pay rise on teachers’ salaries despite government including funds for the 15 percent salary increment for Primary School Teachers.”

The Nakifuma County Member of Parliament, Robert Ssekitoleko Kafeero who is the mover of age limit bill has served fellow colleague from Kilak north, Anthony Akol with the intention to sue papers.

Ssekitoleko through his lawyer, Ambrose Tayebwa & Co. Advocates served Akol with the notice on Wednesday, the very day a parliamentary debate was expected to allow the Nakifuma legislator to table the Bill.

Akol claimed early this month to have received Shs1million and a bag of sugar as bribe to support Sekitoleko Bill.

Kilak North, Anthony Akol

The said bribe according to Akol was also received 26 other MPs to back the private member’s bill which seeks to increase the retirement age of judges by 5 years and also scrap the currently restricted two terms for the Electoral Commission.

Ssekitoleko reacted by giving Akol up to two days to apologize to him or wait for legal actions. Akol didn’t comply with the demands and is the likely reasons he got served today.

In the copy of the intention to sue papers, Ssekitoleko claims his reputation has been damaged, subjected to public ridicule and mental torture and therefore Akol should retract all his statements which he made on television shows and other avenues.

“Should you fail, neglect or refuse to adhere to the demands hereof, our strict instructions are to commence civil proceedings against you for defamation, holding you liable in damages at your peril, cost
embarrassment and detriment,” part of intention to sue letter reads.

An unconfirmed number of people including two officers have been killed in a clash that erupted yesterday between the two tribes of Bakonjo and Batooro in Kabarole district.

Local authorities in the western district also confirm that more than five people were critically injured in the bloodbath that erupted in Kabonero Sub County, in the western district.

The fighting reportedly erupted following a rape case. A Mutooro man still unidentified by publication time is said to have raped a Mukonjo woman in the area a few days ago.

A squabble however came up when a local court advised for the matter to be decided out of court.

The family of the woman was unhappy with this decision, and when the accused arrived yesterday to make the settlement agreed upon, they pounced on him and started beating him.

Police was called in to bring down the situation but the fighting continued to escalate. According to the sub county Chairman John Kyaligonza who spoke to Chimpreports on Wednesday, two police officers were speared to death together with an unspecified number of civilians.

Five others sustained serous injuries and were rushed to Yerya Hospital in Kibiito where they are being treated.

The killed police officers by publication time had only been identified as Odema and a one Simon.

More on this development follow as they emerge.

Oromo marathon runner Feyisa Lilesa does not expect a hero’s welcome in Ethiopia, despite winning Silver at the Rio Olympics last month. Instead he’s claimed that the Ethiopian government will have him killed for crossing his wrists in a ‘X’ above his head as he neared the finish line, in a show of solidarity with the Oromo, Ethiopia’s largest ethnic group, who have been protesting for nearly a year about being treated like second-class citizens in their own country.

In an Interview with Al Jazeera on Monday, Lilesa told The Stream’s Kate Woodsome that his wife’s brother went missing in one of the Oromo’s protests, while his friend died in a suspicious fire at a prison where opposition figures were held.

“Even when I practised, personally my legs were running but my mind was also racing, preoccupied by the suffering all around me. All this has been on my mind for a very, very long time.”

“I knew this was being live broadcast around the world, and I wanted to show that the protests in Ethiopia were peaceful, just like my sign was,” he says. “As soon as I was selected for the Rio Olympic team, I decided if I won and got a good result, I wanted to use that opportunity to raise awareness and the voice of my people.”

Lilesa crosses his hands during his interview with Al Jazeera

Lilesa stayed in Brazil two-and-a-half weeks after the Olympics ended, waiting for a US visa for people with extraordinary skills or abilities, and is now in Washington. He says he is not seeking asylum and will spend the next few months training out west where the altitude is higher, while he figures out what his best for him and his family.

The 26-year-old says he did not share his plans with his family because he did not want to worry them. He expressed his grief at being separated from his wife, five-year-old daughter and three-year-old son.

“Every time I call my wife, they want to know when I’m coming. They ask me, ‘What are you up to? When are you coming home?’ This makes me emotional inside, so even when I call on Skype, I have to fight back tears.”

What will bring him home, he says, is real change. “I want the superiority of one ethnic group to end. If everyone does not have equal power, their different political, religious views respected, in the future, there will not be sustainable peace in the country.”

He looks to the US, an ally of Ethiopia, as a better example of what his country could be. “I heard Obama making a statement when there were children being killed in America by gun violence and he cried on the national TV. That’s the kind of government you have. But on the other side in Ethiopia, we have a government that is killing its own people, children as young as nine years old. The freedoms Americans enjoy here, and the kind of government they have, that’s what the American government should be pushing Ethiopia to do.”

Getachew Reda, Ethiopia’s communications minister, laughed off the threat to Lilesa’s life. “He’s making a big fuss out of nothing,” Reda told Al Jazeera

“I think that wasn’t good thinking, but he’s entitled to do whatever he wants to do.”

President Yoweri Museveni has hailed the Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF) soldiers on African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) for the good work done in keeping the country’s stability.

“I want to thank our troops for the good work they are doing in Somalia. They have helped Somalia by fighting the enemy and setting a good example to Somalis,” said Museveni.

The President who was in Somalia for the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) summit, was visiting Ugandan troops serving under AMISOM at the Halane Base Camp headquarters near Mogadishu International Airport.

Museveni noted that it was the second time he was visiting UPDF troops in Somalia, the first time having been in 2010.

“It is the second time I am visiting our troops in Somalia. The first time was in November 2010 when our troops were involved in a fierce battle for the liberation of Mogadishu from Al-Shabaab bandits,” he said adding that “by July 2011, we had driven them (Al-Shabaab) out of Mogadishu.”

Uganda which was the first country to deploy troops under AMISOM into Somalia in March 2007, currently has over 6,000 soldiers and officers from UPDF serving with 10,000-strong AMISOM mission, along with troops from Burundi and Djibouti.

The Speaker of Parliament Rt. Hon Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga has rejected the proposed constitutional amendment that sought to extend retirement age of Judicial Officers and strike off the term limits of the Independent Electoral Commissioners.

Kadaga in a heated Wednesday evening plenary session deduced that the private members’ Bill was not urgent and likely to cause a constitutional crisis.

The Bill, crafted by Nakifuma MP, Robert Ssekitoleko was already causing tension amongst politicians including those from the ruling party and members of the public.

It was seen by many as a precursor to amend article 102 of the Constitution to remove the Presidential Age limit.

“There is no urgency in the Age Limit Bill. If I allow it now it will open opportunity to any member to bring any constitutional amendment,” Kadaga said while presiding over the discussion to allow Ssekitoleko officially table the bill on the floor of parliament.

Earlier during the session, the speaker had denied knowledge of the bill revealing that her deputy Jacob Oulanya who presided over the first debate hadn’t properly briefed her.

She noted that Oulanya had not briefed her on what happened to guide the next course of action.

In the course of today’s plenary, the government chief, Ruth Nankabirwa attempted without success, to convince the speaker that Ssekitoleko’s Bill was properly introduced on the floor on August 25^th and allowed by the deputy speaker.

She added that the only remaining thing was the debate to give Ssekitoleko a chance to defend his Bill and the plenary debate.

However, drama unfolded as it emerged that the supposed seconder of the Bill, Dokolo North MP, Paul Amoru was out of the country in Malawi.

The Tororo County MP, Annet Nyakecho Okwenye was subsequently appointed by Ssekitoleko to replace Amoru but members dramatically rejected her as she is battling a case in court and can’t be allowed to talk on a matter involving Judiciary.

Hon. Peter Ogwang of Osuk County finally seconded the Bill quoting the official record of 9th Parliament where the opposition proposed the increasing of age limit of Supreme Court Judges to 75 but all this fell to the deaf ears of the speaker.

After the Bill wsa thrown put, Mps, mostly from the opposition and some from the ruling NRM broke into celebrations on the floor of parliament praising the speaker’s courage.

Some of the were heard chanting ” No Change, Kadaga, No Change.”

MPs celebrating on the floor (Photo by: Nixon Segawa/ChimpReports)

Multi national corporations operating in Uganda are said to be violating human rights under government’s watch, a new report has revealed.

In a recent study conducted on the workings of corporations in the extractive sector indicates that communities are concerned about exploitation, occupational safety, land rights and environmental pollution among others.

The study was conducted by the Uganda Consortium on Corporate Accountability in three major mining centers in Moroto, Mukono and Lake Albertine region. Some of the companies cited in the study are Tullow Oil, China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC).

“Corporations play both a positive and negative role in the communities within which they operate. However communities highlighted concerns such as exploitation of local miners, failure to provide protective gear and medical care, causing social discord and being sidelined in decision making relating to land acquisition,” states the ‘State of Corporate Accountability in Uganda’ report that was launched Wednesday at Makerere University.

In some cases, the report states, these socio-economic and cultural rights have been violated with the knowledge of the government.

“The exploitation of local miners disregard of the environment, disruption of community life, land grabbing and evictions can be seen as a means by which corporations meet the high costs of doing business in poorer communities,” the report indicates.

It adds; “The government sent soldiers to protect Jan Mangal, Tororo Cement and Dao Africa when communities demonstrated against these corporations protect.”

Government is faulted for lacking political will, tolerating continued violations of human rights and its failure to implement the available laws.

During the third conference on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights held at Makerere University law don Prof. Jean John Barya criticized government’s decision to over liberalization of the economy which consequently saw too many foreign businesses flood the market.

“We opened up so much to the extent that businesses that would be easily done by Ugandans were taken over by Kenya and South Africa. Surprisingly, big multi nationals are able to flout existing laws and get away with it.”

He noted that government has prioritized attracting foreign investment over protection of its citizens.

Kabarole Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Dunstan Balaba has threatened to take serious action on the non performing civil servants during the implementation of the goals of Pressident Yoweri Museveni’s Kisanja Hakuna Mchezo.

He said, “Very serious action will be taken on absenteeism and late reporting for duty following a recent cabinet resolution to deal head on with absenteeism of staff in health facilities, schools and sub counties. We can’t work with lazy servants and the president is very serious with us”.

While meeting all the district staff on Wednesday at district headquarters Kitumba, Mr.Balaba directed all the supervisors and heads of departments to embark on monthly analysis of attendance to duty and at the end of the year the best performers will be rewarded while the worst performers shall be disciplined and their salaries paid according to days worked.

The CAO however commended the staff for the good performance that has put the district on the map.

He disclosed that Kabarole district performed well and ranked the 8^th overall in the Local government performance report, attaining 80% percent in performance. Mukono district got the 1^st position with 96%.

Balaba says that according to the assessment carried out by the office of the Prime Minister ,Kabarole’s works and engineering sector excelled with 100%, Education 91%,Natural Resources 80%,Production and Marketing 88%,Water 72,Community Based Services 71% and Health sector obtained 63 percent.

The district chairperson Richard Rwabuhinga commended the staff for the good performance but called for improved coordination and consistence if they are to scoop the first position in the coming assessment.

The chairman asked the implementers of community projects to local council leaders to avoid resistance, doubt and to ensure follow up and value for money.

Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) has Thursday marked twenty five years since the entity was established with a mandate to enforce tax collection.

In a thanksgiving ceremony held at URA headquarters in Nakawa, the Authority’s Commissioner General Doris Akol said; “Over the years, URA has registered several achievements. We have moved from a manual way of doing our transactions to electronic platforms through which our clients can pay taxes.”

In 1992 when URA was formed, the tax revenue stood at Ugshs 180 billion which has since shot up to Ugshs 11,230.8 billion in the 2015/16 financial year.

Similarly, the Authority’s current transactions amount to Ugshs 1.5 million on a daily basis compared to a similar figure that was realized in a whole year back in 1992.

“At the start, majority of the leadership at URA were expatriates but we have since made a transition to a home grown human resource.”

Akol lauded government for the continued increase in financial allocations to the tax body.

The Assistant Bishop of Kampala, Hannington Mutebi who delivered the sermon during Thursday’s thanksgiving spoke against the rampant corruption which has deprived Ugandans of services.

“You should pray for the tax payers’ money so that it ends in the right hands. Often times we have seen the people you give this money misuse it through corruption leaving Ugandans to suffer,” the cleric said to the gathering.

He remarked; “The President assured us that this 5 year term will be about serious business and we shall hold him to his word. We hope to see hospitals, schools and roads built from the taxes the government collects.”

In the 2014/15 financial year, Uganda’s tax payer register stood at 745,000 people.

Within the next few years, Akol said URA looks to driving the transformation of Uganda into middle income status. It targets to collect Ugshs 23 trillion by 2020.

Uganda has Thursday launched the first ever national policy and action plan on Early Childhood Development (ECD), at a function held at Imperial Royale Hotel in Kampala.

The Policy and Action Plan seeks to ensure integrated services for children from conception to 8 years of age in the form of health, nutrition, education, protection, and parenting support services; representing one of Uganda’s most cost-effective ways to achieve more sustainable socio-economic growth in the future.

“The launch of the integrated Early Childhood Development (iECD) Policy and Action Plan is a landmark occasion for all children in Uganda,” said Hon. Janat Mukwaya, Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development.

“It is also a pivotal milestone for Uganda’s overall socio-economic development, especially as we intensify our pursuit of sustainable wealth creation and inclusive growth in order to achieve Middle Income Country status by 2020 and become an upper Middle Income Country by 2040.”

Patrick Bitature, the chairman of the Private Sector Foundation Uganda noted that there is need to seriously invest in the capacities and potential of today’s children right from the start so they can be the drivers of the economy by 2040.

“When considering that our current average income per individual is $780 and our Vision 2040 goal is to have a $9,500 income per individual in 2040 – a twelve fold increase over the next 25 years – we have a long ways to go in a relatively short period of time,” he said.

“The Private Sector is thus fully committed to robustly implement this Early Childhood Development
policy and action plan with Government and all other stakeholders,” Bitature added.

“The development of children’s brains and skills from conception to 8 years of age has a lasting effect on their intellectual capacity, personality and social behaviour for the rest of their lives,” said Ms. Aida Girma, UNICEF’s Representative in Uganda.

“When well nurtured and cared for in their earliest years, children are: healthier and better able to fully develop their thinking, language, emotional and social skills; perform better in school; and have a greater chance of becoming creative and productive members of society.”

The Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development will hold the Secretariat for implementing the National Integrated Early Childhood Development Policy and Action Plan and will be convening all
stakeholders to implement the policy

A few hours after the police chief Gen. Kale Kayihura reshuffled Kampala Metropolitan Area District Police Commanders that saw Old Kampala’s Muhammad Kirumira taken to Buyende, another wave of change has seen Kampala CID bosses also reshuffled.

In a new message dated September 15, signed by the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Okoth Ochola and copied to various police directors and commanders, a number of CID officers have been transferred to various stations.

In the new reshuffle, Johnson Olaa Dale has been transferred from Rwenzori   to Kampala Metropolitan Area as the CID commander, whereas Bitali Ssentamu who was the CID boss for Kigezi region has been posted to Kampala Metropolitan South as the regional CID officer.

The new transfers have also seen Deogratious Ebong from Kawempe assume the office Kampala Metropolitan East Regional CID officer whereas Benon Ayebare(KMP South) has been sent to Rwenzori  as the Regional CID chief.

Alex Wanzala from Kampala Metropolitan East has been shortly posted to the Human Resource Department from where he would be sent to Kabalye police training school in Masindi district for a refresher course.

Bruno Tumwesigye has been transferred from the Directorate of Interpol and Public Relations to the Directorate of Crime Intelligence.

The fresh transfers have seen Wilber Wanyama, the CID chief for KMP suspended pending investigations by the Professional Standards Unit in Bukoto.

The police spokesperson Andrew Felix Kaweesi recently said Wanyama had been arrested and detained at SIU in Kireka for allegedly being involved in theft of gold worth US11,000 dollars.

Kaweesi told a news conference that gold was stolen from a dealer by a boda boda rider who was later arrested but had already sold the precious metal to some Pakistanis.

“It is believed the Pakistanis later returned the money and on the other side the boda boda rider returned the money  but police played with it. Wanyama and  the investigating  got involved and exhibited fake money,”Kaweesi told journalists.