The Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Rebecca Kadaga, has challenged regional speakers to use their positions to protect people from economic exploitation, vagaries of weather and bad governance.

Opening the 9^th Executive Council Meeting of the Inter-Parliamentary Union – (IPU-IGAD), Speaker Kadaga said that her colleagues also have to think about using their traditional tools of legislation, oversight and representation to champion the interests of the people.

“We are meeting at a time when South Sudan and Somalia still don’t have peace and security; when climate change is devastating our region; when many women and girls in our region are still subjected to cruel, inhuman, degrading treatment and torture under the name of cultural values,” she said.

Speaker Kadaga chats with Hon. Jessica Mbali MP Kenya and the Speaker South Sudan Hon. Anthony Lino Makana

The 9^th Executive Council Meeting is being held at Century Hotel in Kamuli, 18 – 19 September 2016. Delegations from South Sudan, Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya, Djibouti, Sudan and Uganda are attending the Meeting.

The objectives of IPU-IGAD include to promote unity and strengthen ties of cooperation among member states; promote peace, security and stability within the sub-region and promote good governance, transparency and rule of law within member states.

“IPU-IGAD possesses the potent, at least from its objectives, to address some of the challenges faced in our region. Let us make it work for the common person in the region, the voiceless, the marginalized, disadvantaged and oppressed,” said Kadaga.

The Meeting is being held in Kamuli to give chance to visitors to see and experience Uganda’s countryside and how local people live and cope with development challenges.

“We wanted you to see the roads, dwellings, gardens, markets, hospitals, our rural people and their hospitality,” said Kadaga.

The Secretary General of the IPU-IGAD Member States, Amb. Mohamed Adam said the Meeting was testimony of countries’ commitment to the grand goals and visions.

“These visions are embodied in economic development, political and social integration. The aspirations of the people of this region can be achieved since they have more in common than the Europeans who achieved the European Union,” said Amb. Mohamed Adam.

He said that there was need to work together to achieve peace in the region so as to combat poverty, environmental degradation, migrations, human trafficking and drugs.

The youth demonstrators who last week sought to depict members of the 10^th Parliament as pigs, are on the pay roll of the opposition figures.

This is according to Kampala Central Member of Parliament Hon. Muhammad Nsereko who has been at the center of the demonstration by members of the infamous Jobless Brotherhood.

The youth group whose two members are on remand for dumping piglets in party colors at the Parliament; has been involved in similar actions in the past, with the aim of showing that MPs are as greedy as swine.

The demonstration last Thursday was in response to reports that members of parliament were set receive up to Shs. 200million each for a car, on top of among other allowances for their own funerals.

Speaking this morning in a televised interview, the Kampala MP Muhammad Nsereko said he was not surprised by the youths’ actions.

He noted however that all this was part of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC)’s campaigns in its fight against the ruling government. He noted that the group was unhappy with him because he didn’t support the opposition in the past.

“This is defiance,” he said while appearing on NBS TV. “I don’t support defiance.”

The MP was concerned that while the demonstration was supposed to be about parliament, the protesters singled out only a few individuals, including himself.

Even the people that jumped on this pigs matter over social media, Nsereko noted are all “Besigye apologists.”

He noted however, “This is not new; in politics it is possible and I don’t blame them in any way because these are young men that are being given something.”

He added, “I studied in Europe and I have seen this. Even the US president was once drawn in an effigy of a pig.”

Opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) will hold parallel national Independence Day celebrations throughout the country to mark 54 years of Uganda’s liberation from colonialism.

The party spokesperson, Ibrahim Semuju Nganda told the media on Monday during the party’s weekly press briefing in Najjanankumbi that the party’s Working and Civic Committee will on Tuesday finalize preparations to mark Uganda’s independence, which celebrations will be held next month.

“The meeting will be discussing the details of the activities that we will have to mark Uganda’s independence this year; we intend to have activities in many parts of the country specifically in Kampala and Wakiso,” Nganda said.

“The meetings tomorrow will announce the venues where those activities will take place in the due course. As a party we think the NRM regime has monopolized and turned what ordinarily would have been public celebrations into NRM celebrations,” Nganda noted.

“We think as a country we deserve to have national events to remember the day we got independence as Africans; so we will be working towards holding national celebrations not for FDC alone.”

He added, “We will invite when the program is finally out, all Ugandans who want to remember how we got the independence, the journey we’ve travelled thus far and what we need to do or continue doing to make our country better.”

Several people have been injured in different parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo as opposition started nationwide protests to compel President Joseph Kabila to step down from power, Chimp Corps report.

While Kabila’s term expires on December 19, 2016, DRC’s Electoral Commission this past weekend petitioned the Constitutional Court for a postponement of presidential elections.

The commission argues that it’s not ready to hold elections until July 2017 as new registers are being compiled.

But the opposition believes this is a ploy by Kabila, who came to power in 2001 following the assassination of his father Laurent Kabila, to buy time with the view of amending the Constitution to retain his hold on power.

The election season was scheduled to open on September 20 and the presidential polls on November 27.

Led by Etienne Tshisekedi of the Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS), the opposition today rallied crowds in Kinshasa to express their frustration with the way the electoral process was being managed.

Police were compelled to use teargas and bullets to disperse the crowds.

Crowds clashed with police in different parts of the country including Goma, according to eyewitness accounts.

Stability  

Observers have since warned that failure to manage the next presidential election could threaten the mineral-rich country’s stability and future.

The Human rights Watch (HRW) report released Sunday shows the DRC government over the past two years cracked down on activists and opposition party leaders and members who have opposed extending Kabila’s presidency beyond the constitutionally mandated two-term limit.

A government-led “national dialogue” is due to present its final agreement in the coming days.

Most of the main opposition parties have not participated in the process, viewing it as a ploy to delay elections and allow President Kabila to stay in power.

HRW said government repression has spiked in the days leading up to the planned protests.

“In the capital, Kinshasa, about a dozen pro-democracy youth activists were arrested following a meeting, on September 15, on non-violence, peace, and respect of the constitution. They are being held by the national intelligence agency, without charge and without access to their families or lawyers,” said HRW.

Last week, police in the southeastern city of Lubumbashi fired teargas and, later, live bullets to disperse opposition party members who were meeting to prepare the September 19 protests.

Some meeting participants responded by throwing rocks, burning tires, blocking the roads, and looting several shops and offices. Dozens were arrested early the next morning.

“The decisions President Kabila and his government will make in the coming weeks can make all the difference for Congo’s future,” said Daniel Bekele, Africa director at Human Rights Watch.

“This is a critical opportunity for the country to strengthen democracy, the rule of law and human rights for its own future and for the entire region

Troubled history

Congo has never experienced a peaceful handover of power since independence in 1960.

The first prime Minister of the Independent Congo, Patrice Lumumba was murdered in February 1961.

President Joseph Kasavubu and his Prime Minister Moise Tshombe were toppled by Joseph Mobutu in 1971.

In May 1997, rebels supported by Rwanda and Uganda captured Kinshasa before installing Laurent-Desire Kabila as president.

Four years later, President Laurent Kabila was shot dead by a bodyguard, leading to the rise of Joseph Kabila to the highest political seat in the land.

Oxfam Uganda has launched an innovative project that aims at strengthening the capacity of local and national humanitarian actors to take lead in Uganda’s humanitarian response.

Entitled Empowering Local and National Humanitarian Actors (ELNHA), the project is premised on a study titled Fresh analysis of the Uganda humanitarian capacity.

The study highlighted the fact that international actors dominate the humanitarian scene noting that there is need for all stakeholders, both local and international, to draw a plan that will actively involve more local and national actors in humanitarian planning, readiness and preparedness as well as to provide affordable and more sustainable humanitarian response.

The ELNHA project launch also comes at the back drop of an influx of South Sudan refugees to West Nile in the North western part of Uganda as fresh fighting broke out in July this year.

The project will run for three years and targets that by the end of 2018, local and national humanitarian actors will have the capacity to design, deliver and lead in humanitarian preparedness and response in Uganda.

Speaking during the launch, the Minister for Disaster Preparedness And Refugees, Hon Hillary Onek, who represented the Prime Minister highlighted Uganda’s progressive refugee policies to guide disaster preparedness and response such as the “national policy for Disaster Preparedness and Management -2010.

“As government, we appreciate effective humanitarian preparedness and response requires a multi stakeholder approach, which is why as government, we applaud this convening role that Oxfam has adopted,” he said.

He called upon humanitarian actors to emulate this example and dedicate more resources to local humanitarian actors such as NGOs, private sector, national and local government.

Hon Onek noted that while the government recognizes the financial and technical support that UN Agencies and International NGO’s have accorded Uganda during humanitarian crises, local and national humanitarian actors can greatly contribute to bridging the financial and technical humanitarian gap and challenges as it is more efficient, cost effective and sustainable.

“Local and national actors have a deep understanding of the context and the needs of the communities since they work closely with them and are able to link the short-term humanitarian assistance with long-term development towards building resilient communities.”

He however cautioned that transforming the potential of Local and National Actors into reality needs robust and overt steps aimed at building their capacity to include: Financial support, training on the technicalities of emergency interventions and institutionalized and systematic inclusion of local actors.

Peter Kamalingin, Country Director Oxfam in Uganda noted that ‘Over the last 3-4 years, Oxfam in Uganda invested in pilot humanitarian capacity building for 15 local and national organizations across different parts of Uganda.

He observed; “We all now realize that relying on international humanitarian actors alone is not sustainable, especially considering the shrinking basket of funds in the face of increasing frequency and complexity of natural and manmade disasters in different parts of the world. The world is fatigued and overstretched and it is time to invest in and hand the mantle of humanitarian planning, preparedness and response back to the local people,”

Kamalingin added that Oxfam aims to see a shift of power, resources and capabilities towards Local or National Humanitarian Actors such as national or local government and the civil society.

High Court in Kampala has scheduled 3rd October as the date for ruling in the election petition for Bunya East Constituency in Mayuge District.

The presiding Judge Lydia Mugambe told court filled on Monday morning that she has had a number of cases to handle but will be able to deliver verdict in two weeks time for people of Bunya east to know the next course of action.

The petition stems from the February parliamentary election where the NRM flag bearer James Kubeketerya challenged the election and declaration of his independent NRM inclined incumbent rival James Woira Kyewalabye alias Majegere.

Mr Kubeketerya who represented the same area in the 8th parliament, through his lawyer Samuel Muyiizi dragged Majegere to the high court accusing him of voter bribery, vote rigging and intimidation of voters.

He also sued the electoral commission for conspiring with the first respondent to cause the erroneous violence and faulting the electoral process. The case was allocated to Kampala high court and it has
been dragging since March.

Majegere who is represented by Musa Ssekaana, says their defense squashed every allegation and accusation laid against them and anytime the court rules, they await the second victory.

“Voters and the public should only remain calm as we wait for the verdict because our opponent was kicked out of the seat the way Uganda Cranes kicked out Comoros” he said.

Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) has advised government to revise its policy on benefits to Members of Parliament (MP) and other government officials.

The party Spokesperson, Ibrahim Semujju Nganda told the media on Monday that the recent incidences that have seen a lot of criticism to Parliament over extravagant spending can only be addressed by a change to policies that more friendly to the tax payer.

“There have been a lot of media reports about Parliament especially regarding the expenditure of the house from issues of vehicles, burials, travels. I think as a party, we have noted repeatedly that this country doesn’t deserve a bigger parliament of 427 MPs with the extravagancy of the MPs and people that are working in Government,” Nganda said.

“If you read reports of the auditor general, in the last two years, as a country we spend Sh200bn on fuel. If you look at the budget, we spend more Sh100bn on vehicle maintenance.

“As a country we need to revisit the policy on provision of vehicles of people working in government from Ministers to Members of Parliament,” Nganda said.

“For example, at Parliament we would give the Speaker, Deputy Speaker, Leader of Opposition and the Clerk. Even senior staff of Parliament would be helped to go and borrow vehicles including us the MPs and that should be extended to each and every government department.”

“The public debt as I speak now is more than Sh14tn nearer half of the country’s GDP and we are borrowing everyday; you can’t be a country that is borrowing and at the same time being extravagant.”

“We can stop MPs from getting vehicles and personally am preparing to move a motion in Parliament to deal with the issue of transporting people who are working in public offices.

Nganda revealed that the party will on Tuesday hold a high level meeting to discuss the party’s position on the exorbitant offers in the house.

Five Uganda Young Democratic (UYD) members accused of inciting violence and assaulting a police officer have been remanded back to Luzira prison until tomorrow when Buganda Road Grade one magistrate Joan Aciro is expected to deliver a ruling on their bail application.

The five were charged with two counts by the court and they all pleaded not guilty.

They include Moses Bigirwa, Allan Kitonsa, Juma Kayondo, Haruna Nsibuka and Hakeem Kizza.

Through their counsel Richard Lumu, the accused asked court to be released on bail basing on the grounds that Bail is their constitutional right.

However, this application was opposed by the State Prosecutor Peter Mugisha who stressed that there was no proof that their continued detention would affect their welfare.

“Court is empowered while using its discretion that it must put into consideration before releasing somebody on bail pending his trial. Society must be protected from lawlessness,” Submitted Mugisha.

The state added that Peter Kitonsa’s sureties presented to court Letters from their places of work that didn’t prove that they are from those places.

Prosecution alleges that on 14th September 2016 at Parliament of Uganda,
without lawful excuse, the accused made statements that called for incitement of violence against the public.

These are also said to have assaulted a police officer ASP Ombworoh Benson at the time he was executing his duties.

Kenya Airways flight KQ 415 travelling from Entebbe International airport on Monday evening suffered a tyre burst as it landed at the Jomo Kenyatta International airport in Kenya.

According to a statement by Kenya Airways officials, the flight landed safely and there were no injuries to the passengers.

“The aircraft landed in Nairobi safely and is being inspected by Kenya Airways engineers. All guests have been disembarked from the plane which is currently on the runway. There were no injuries,” the statement read in part.

The cause of the incident has not been established yet.

Democratic Party (DP) has condemned the move by the 10th Parliament to censor the media on grounds of “bad reporting.”

The party Spokesperson, Kenneth Paul Kakande says Parliament is out of order and should not been seen to stifle media freedoms.

“We are convinced that this battle is uncalled for and not necessary at a time when there is already a public outcry about the conduct of the 10th Parliament,” Kakande said on Tuesday.

Kakande says the major concern is that the nationals now see Parliamentarians as an institution that has offered itself privileges both in life and death; but also refused to listen to the cry of the Ugandan citizens to moderate their appetite for privileges.

“The public expectation is that legislators could take on all forms of ruin of the rights of the journalists and we thought they would walk this moral high ground; but to our dismay parliament has not acted different from police.”

“The exertion of Parliament has nothing to hide, MPs represent the people and all they do must be transparent and they must be criticized where need be; there should be free flow of information and the media shouldn’t in anyway be impeded by the legislative arm of government.”

DP believes everything must be done for the public to gain trust in Parliament as an institution that passes laws for good governance, one that gives legislative sanctions, taxation and acquisition of loans and ensure means of carrying out the work of government.

“Parliament should be seen scrutinizing government policy and administration, debating matters of topical interest and vetting the appointment of persons nominated by the President under the Construction or any other enactment.”

Kampala Minister Beti Kamya has once again swiped at Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago , asking him to swallow his pride and start working with President Yoweri Museveni for Kampala’s development.

Speaking during a meeting of Kampala city holders at City Hall on Tuesday, Kamya said there is need for KCCA leaders to work with the central government to see that Uganda’s capital is developed and taken to greater heights.

“Even if you have differences with the president, put it aside and work for the people of Kampala who voted for you,” Kamya said.

“We were voted into office to work for the people of Kampala. We can only do this through lobbying government .Let us as Kampala leaders work with President Museveni to see we how we can develop the city.”

Kamya said it is high time the leadership at City Hall lobbied government to increase its funding to Kampala for better results and service delivery.

The Kampala Minister noted that the central business district contributes 70% of the country’s total revenue, stressing that there is need for government  to change the status of the city from regarding it on a regional basis to a sectoral basis so as to have more funding.

“Government should take Kampala as its business and invest more in the city so as to gain more from the business,” she stressed.

She highlighted that government gets over Shs11 trillion from Kampala yet little funding is got from the central government to the city which she noted needs to be addressed.

“We need to lobby as Kampala leaders but this can only happen if there is a harmonious relationship with the central government. We need to put aside our differences; we might have with the president or those in government to be able to develop the city.”

MP Ssewanyana Responds

However, Makindye West Member of Parliament, Allan Ssewanyana said it is the role of the Kampala Minister Beti Kamya to see government increases funding to the city.

“It seems she (Kamya) has forgotten her job. Elected leaders like Lukwago are supposed to organize the city as the minister talks to the president to increase funding, ”  Ssewanyana said.

Kampala Capital City Authority is under scrutiny for being at the forefront of the crusade that has seen city dwellers pay exorbitant fees for garbage collection.

In a stakeholders meeting held at City Hall on Tuesday, KCCA was accused of double charging Kampala residents and businessmen in regard to property rates and the garbage collection fees.

“We have realized KCCA has abdicated its duties of seeing a better and clean city. If we pay license fees and other fees, how come KCCA goes ahead to make us pay separately for garbage in the city,” said Augustine Kyambadde a resident of Nakulabye.

The city residents are unhappy that they are charged Shs1000 per day for garbage collection which does not depend on the amount of garbage generated by people.

KCCA contracted 3 companies including Nabugabo Updeal Joint Venture, Kampala Solid Waste Management and Home Clean Companies to be in charge of garbage collection all over the city, yet there are over 20 other companies collecting and charging fees from the people for the garbage.

This, the businessmen and residents said was unfair to them because of the absence of a clear policy on fees to be collected for garbage.

In the heated meeting, the 3 contracted companies were accused of harassing people during collection of the fees.

“We are charged between Shs50,000 to Shs10,000 per month  depending on various companies which is unfair yet some of us have little garbage compared to others. What are the licenses we pay for? We thought the license fees were inclusive of garbage collection,” charged David Wangi.

Highlighting the Local Government Act 2005,KACITA spokesperson Issa Ssekitto said that article 37 of the Act mandates KCCA to  deduct a fee from property rates  to go for garbage collection, and that there is no need for double payment .

Authoritative

The city businessmen also blamed management of the garbage collection companies for what they termed as authoritative measures that include locking up defaulters.

“Nabugabo Joint Venture Company has enforcement officers who move with handcuffs arresting whoever defaults on paying the exorbitant fees,” said some of the businessmen in the Tuesday meeting.

However, the Makindye West MP Allan Ssewanyana said it is no compulsory for people of Kampala to pay garage collection fees, stressing parliament dedicates a certain portion of budget money to KCCA and part of this can be used to collect garbage other than terrorizing the city dwellers.

“Parliament gave money to KCCA and we saw some of it used to buy garbage trucks that were distributed to various divisions. How come KCCA has abdicated its role of collecting garbage and let it to be taken  over by private  companies that are charging people  highly ,”Wondered Ssewanyana.

“If we continue tendering everything in Kampala, what role will KCCA be left with.”

Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago however noted the need for a bigger budget to KCCA to enable them collect garbage in the city other than charging exorbitant fees  to the dwellers.

Kampala Minister Beti Kamya said there is a big problem in the city as concerns garbage collection stressing the need to highlight it.

“There is need to re-examine and review the contracts of these garbage collection companies to see if they are charging exorbitant fees to people. We can then go ahead and terminate their contracts but at a cost,”Kamya urged.

Police in Mbarara has impounded 41 cattle said to have been stolen in the night from Ntungamo district. The said cattle packed in 3 Fuso trucks were recovered on Mbarara-Ntungamo road heading to Rubaya.

According to the acting Rwizi region RPC Geoffrey Makyeme, the cattle were stolen from the family of Late. Semmu Bazirakakye of Kebisoni Rugoma in Rukungiri district.

One of his sons Abraham Mugarura says the family of 26 children has been fighting for the bequeathed property including 62 cattle and 60 hectares of land of their late grandfather Semba Bazirakakye.

Rwizi region RPC Geoffrey Makyeme

He told Chimpreports that the family squabbles had been in court since 1998 and when the judge in Mbarara decided to dismiss the case, the fighting intensified.

As such, he said one of the brothers Boaz Murindwa decided to load the cows on the trucks to go and sell them only to be intercepted by police.

The police boss said that one of the 3 loaded Fusos, Registration Number UAD 578U is still missing and suspected to be in Kaberebere in Isingiro district.

He says the drivers of the Fuso trucks are the immediate suspects and were arrested and held at Mbarara central police station.

The Woman Member of Parliament for Kitgum Beatrice Anywar has criticized the central government and donors for ‘imposing’ solutions to northern Uganda instead of involving the locals in decision making. This, she says is what has kept the region in chronic poverty for decades while other parts of Uganda develop.

“As a people, we have our aspirations, practices and norms that have worked for us since time immemorial. For government to work well with a people, it must not impose public policy on the beneficiaries but rather it must originates from the locals. We don’t need donors to fly from wherever to come and offer us solutions made in boardrooms,” Anywar intimated on Tuesday at the launch of the World Bank report on Poverty in Uganda.

In regard to agriculture, she apportioned equal blame on government for not investing in value addition of traditional cash crops that have worked best for the region.

In an interview with ChimpReports, Anywar said; “Amuru district is known for growing first class rice and simsim but it is surprising why government would want to steal people’s land telling them to grow sugarcane instead. You can’t tell Banyankole or the Karimajong who are traditionally cattle herders to rear pigs.”

After the guns went silent after a two decade war waged by the Lords Resistance Army, government rolled out Northern Uganda Social Action Fund (NUSAF) and Peace Recovery and Development Plan (PRDP) programs to facilitate the peace recovery process. Anywar is however not confident that the programs achieved their intended objectives.

“They (programs) have become political and campaign tools. If PRDP was meant to assist internally displaced people to catch up with the rest of Uganda, how come they were implemented in 47 districts (including those that were never affected by the war) instead of the 28?”

“As the war was raging on in the north, other parts of Uganda were developing. There’s no political will to put the north on equal footing with other regions.”

Four time presidential candidate Col Dr Kizza Besigye took to social media with anger this morning, after president Museveni arrived in New York on Wednesday on his Gulf Stream jet.

Museveni who first stopped in France and met with his counterpart there, is attending the United Nations General Assembly and will be addressing fellow leaders on the refugee crisis.

Dr Besigye in a Facebook post hastened condemn the president’s bountiful lifestyle, likening him to his predecessors.

Quoting a Chimpreports’ published speech of President Museveni’s 1986 inaugural speech at Parliament, Besigye recalled how his former commander lashed out at the past Ugandan leaders who lived large while their citizens languished in abject poverty.

Museveni’s speech read in part, “”The Honouarable Excellency who is going to United Nations in executive gets, but has a population at home of 90% walking barefoot, is nothing but a pathetic spectacle.
Yet this Excellency may be trying to compete with Reagan and Golbachev to show that he, too, is an Excellency”

Museveni arriving in NewYork for UN General Assembly on Monday

Besigye was dismayed that the same Museveni just travelled to New York for this year’s UNGA meeting in the latest model of Gulf Stream 5 Executive Presidential Jet.

“Not only has he left home a barefoot population, but some are dying of hunger!,” Remarked besigye who is now being tried for Treason.

“84% youth are unemployed; 19 women are dying, needlessly, in childbirth daily; young doctors (interns) are on strike because they aren’t paid; an epidemic of jiggers looms in parts of the country; 75% children drop out of primary schools due to pathetic state of education standards etc, etc.”

He added, “In 1986, I, too, stood at the stairs of parliament as Mr M7 swore-in as president and made that speech. Back then, we were found of saying, rightly, that shame is a revolutionary sentiment.”

“I’ll not just be ashamed at having been a part of the “pathetic spectacle” that we continue to witness, I’ll not rest until it’s overcome. That’s the least that I can do.”

After 30 years in office Museveni boosts to have trimmed the number of Ugandans living in extreme poverty from 56% in the early 1990s to 25%, making Uganda the 9th most successful African country in fighting poverty.

This, the president emphasizes, has been possible in spite of the many years of armed conflicts that ravaged the northern and western parts of the country.

Currently he hopes to usher the county into the middle income status before the end of his fifth term in office.

The Finance Minister Hon. Matia Kasaija has strongly warned Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) against delaying the road projects as they affect the economic development of the country.

“Delay of works projects not only affects the development of the road transport but also markets because farmers need to have better roads to transport their produce to markets,” He said.

“When you hear of youth unemployment, it’s real and we can’t address it when we still have the habit of delaying projects. I also advise you to work day and night and aim at service provision instead of
satisfying your own interests”.

The minister was on Monday speaking to Kabarole district leaders and UNRA officials at Mountains of the Moon Hotel in Fort Portal shortly before going for the monitoring of the Fort Portal-Kamwenge road
works.

He warned that mistakes of human rights violations against the girl child that happened on Fort Portal-Kamwenge road should not happen again because they led to the suspension of funding by the World Bank.

Minister Kasaija disclosed that the world bank has also cancelled the funding for Tororo-Soroti-Lira Kamuini road and Kabwoya-Kagadi Kyenjojo road because of the delays in implementation and human rights violations which should not repeated in future.

“All road projects that will not have clear road designs as well as finalized accepted community plans shall not be financed. This will help guard against protests by the community and delays in implementation,” He added.

Hon Janet Mukwaya, the Minister for Gender advised that before embarking on any project, UNRA should come out and explain to the members of the public and the affected communities the designs of the roads clearly to avoid protests.

She encouraged parents to guide and counsel the girl child to avoid male contractors who go on rampage to lure them into sexual acts.

UNRA Executive director Allen Kagina said that the Authority had embarked on sensitizing community leaders, students and pupils along the projects that are being implemented.

Kabarole District chairperson Mr.Rwabuhinga Richard was happy to note that the tarmacking of Fort Portal Kamwenge has reached Rwaitera in Ruteete and encouraged people to work hard, increase their production so as to utilize this road for economic purposes.

The world bank suspended funding for the Kamwenge Fort Portal road following reports that the Chinese contractors were abusing the rights of children and women, raping and defiling them.

East African leaders have protested travel advisories issued by the United States against Africa saying these discourage Americans from coming to Africa and affect negatively on trade and investment on the continent.

The leaders said epidemics and terrorism are global threats that affect nations worldwide but when Africa is affected, countries such as the United States are quick to issue negative travel advisories.

“East Africa is the place to invest. It is the place to be… security is good. But you should stop this travel advisory issues,” President Museveni is quoted as urging the meeting that was organized by CEO Roundtable and moderated by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker.

The U.S. regularly issues travel ban advisories to its citizens in foreign countries despite facing its own brunt of global terrorism, violence in its communities and health epidemics.

The advisories, the leaders argued, accelerate fear and panic and lead to cancellation of businesses, negatively affecting investments and the growth of tourism in the region and in Africa.

President Yoweri Museveni on Tuesday joined other heads of State from the East African region and CEOs of major corporations to discuss, travel and tourism, agribusiness technology and infrastructure proposals with the US Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker in a move aimed at strengthening trade ties between the US and the East African Community block.

Team work

East Africa recently introduced a single tourist visa for visitors touring the region.

The region is endowed with a lion’s share of the new 7 Wonders of Africa which include Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa with 5895 metres above sea level and the largest free standing mountain in the world; the Serengeti Migration, the longest and largest overland migration in the world.

Nile River which is the longest river in the world stretching 4,132 miles (6,650 km) which traverses across a number of countries has its source in the Region. East Africa further boasts the largest unbroken caldera in the world, the Ngorongoro Crater.

Measuring 12 miles across, this “Garden of Eden” is home to over 30,000 animals including the rare black rhino.

EAC region is home to rare and endemic species of primates, climbing lions in addition o Mt. Kenya, Mt Ruwenzori with snow on their peaks and beautiful ranges, crater lakes and natural hot springs.

The leaders called on the US to introduce direct flights from the USA to EAC to fast-track trade and promote tourism.

The breakfast meeting held at the Westin Hotel in New York, was organized by the CEO Roundtable and attended by President Museveni, Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn, President Paul Kagame of Rwanda and Kenya’s Deputy President William Ruto.

The leaders and CEOs from the United States and the EAC agreed to hold an annual conference during which they could exchange ideas and opportunities and to fast-track the establishment of agricultural cold chains robust system and bankable feasible infrastructure projects that they could partner for development.

South Sudan Vice President Gen Taban Deng Gai will Friday address the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in what appears a big strategy to elevate his international image.

Considered a moderate and peacemaker, Gen Taban took over from the controversial rebel leader Dr Riek Machar following a bloody conflict in Juba in July.

At least 300 soldiers were killed in the clashes at the presidential palace commonly known as JI before Machar fled to Equatoria forests and eventually Khartoum, Sudan.

ChimpReports understands Gen Taban has led a delegation comprising several high level ministers to New York.

The team comprises Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Deng Alor, Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Stephen Dhieu Dau, Minister of Petroleum, Ezekiel Lol Gatkuoth, Minister in the office of the President Mayiik Ayii Deng, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs Hussien, Mar Nyuot and others.

On the sidelines of the General Assembly, state officials told this website on Wednesday, the First Vice President is expected to hold series of talks with world leaders including President of U.S. Barack Obama.

Members of the delegation will also hold bilateral talks with their counterparts as part of the multilateral diplomacy.

Officials said Gen Taban will brief leaders of the world on the political and security situation in South Sudan following the recent fighting in the Capital Juba.

“Gen Taban will assure leaders of his government’s commitment and readiness to preserve its territorial integrity,” an official in the president’s office revealed.

Gen Taban also will reiterate government’s assurances that the country’s leaders are now committed and united in facilitating the implementation of the peace agreement.

He will further reveal steps taken towards realising peace and stability in the war-torn country.

The Ministry of Presidency has started preparations for the celebrations of the country’s 54^th Independence Day celebrations.

ChimpReports has learned that a foundation meeting for the event sat on Thursday last week at the Luuka district headquarters where the 2016 commemoration is expected to take place.

The meeting in Luuka was chaired by the minister of Presidency, Esher Mbayo who is also the district woman Member of Parliament. Others who attended the meeting were the Permanent Secretary ministry of Presidency, Deborah Katuramu, Resident District Commissioner, Stephen Nsubuga, Chairperson Local Council Five and the entire protocol chiefs in Busoga sub region.

The meeting dwelled more on organizing the ground, identifying local spearheads and support groups and mobilizing the population mainly from the ruling National Resistance Movement party to attend the event.

When contacted on phone, minister Mbayo confirmed the development and said this year’s Independence Day event is going to be the “unforgettable” one.

“It is true we had our first ground meeting on Thursday at the district headquarters where the event is also scheduled to take place,” Ms. Mbayo said.

“Let me also assure all Ugandans that this year’s celebration in Luuka is going to be the most special and memorable event ever.”

The event will be running under the theme: “Protection of our Independence through Promotion of Patriotism, Unity and Hard Work” and will be the first since President Yoweri Museveni and his NRM party was given the mandate by the electorate to lead the country for five more years

As part of activities to commemorate their 25 years, Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) on Tuesday engaged in corporate social responsibility activities across Uganda as a way of giving back to community.

Activities ranging from cleaning towns, school donations, visiting health facilities, prisons and orphanages were held in 76 districts where the tax body has its offices.

In Kampala, the URA Commissioner General Doris Akol together with a team of other staff donated household items to traffic police officers at Jinja Road Police station. Items included groceries such as soda, baking flour, bread, soap, sugar, basins and detergents among others.

“While commemorating our silver jubilee anniversary, we are celebrating the partnership with the people in communities in which URA operates across Uganda as a way of appreciation for hosting us. That includes police officers because we wouldn’t manage without your cooperation,” Akol said.

URA staff in Malaba participate in burning of gabbage after a cleaning exercise.

Elsewhere in Kampala, URA employees made charity visits to Rahab resettlement home for former sex workers, Naguru reception center and Jajja Florence orphanage and Bless a Child Foundation. At Dwelling Places in Mutundwe and St. Lillian orphanage center in Gayaza, URA donated metallic beds and mattresses.

Several roads were also cleaned in the districts of Malaba, Iganga, Kisoro, Masindi and Mbarara while in Kasese and Lugogo by pass URA staff participated in painting road speed bumps and zebra crossing respectively.

Items donated to traffic police officers at Jinja Road Police Station

The acts of kindness spread even to bed ridden patients in numerous hospitals including Entebbe Grade B hospital children’s wing, Ruth Gaylord hospital in Maganjo, Budduda hospital, Arua regional referral hospital, Kihihi health center in Kanungu and Nyakibale hospital in Rukungiri district.

Here, they have out basic requirements to patients and also cleaned the interior and compounds of the health facilities.

URA staff deliver metallic beds and mattresses to St. Lillian orphanage center in Gayaza

In Gulu, URA visited Bonnah prisons and donated soap and other basic items to the inmates.

Similar outreaches were made to schools in Busia Primary School, Moyo Primary School and East Kololo Primary School in Kampala where at least 200 textbooks and other scholastic materials were given out.

At the URA Crested Towers station, staff undertook a blood donation campaign.

Officials of Butabika hospital receive donations from URA staff.