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UPDF holds a scientific graduation, roots for research on operations other than war

By
Geoffery Serugo
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Over 40 senior military officers have graduated from Uganda’s Senior Command and Staff College in Jinja having completed a yearlong Grade II course. Only 32 of the graduates are Ugandans, two each from every EAC partner state and one from the Republic South Africa.

The function was presided over by the Minister of State for Defence in-charge of Veteran Affairs, Christopher Kibanzanga.

Kibanzanga noted that Uganda has attained peace and stability, thanks to the tireless efforts of the UPDF supported by other security agencies and the peace-loving Ugandans.

However, the country and Africa at large continue to face new challenges in the ever changing current operational environment.

He, therefore, urged the graduates to venture in research, continuous reading and further training so as to develop individual and collective diverse competences to handle unique encounters.

“We must continue training to build our capacity to enable ourselves to handle new challenges such as those that require skills other than war, like locusts and COVID-19,” said Hon Kibanzanga.

The Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), Gen David Muhoozi appreciated the fact that graduation was happening under peculiar circumstances of COVID-19 which has given the country a test to display its military capabilities. He said the attainment of Grade II qualification is a milestone in the Officers’ military career and their individual output should reflect the training attained. “I congratulate you upon the successful completion of your Grade II course. You have been trained, be prepared for the tasks ahead to utilize the skills you have acquired,” he added.

The Commandant SCSC Kimaka Lt Gen Andrew Gutti said that the college has successfully conducted 14 courses since its inception in 2004 and that this was the 15th course. He added that, alongside the Grade II military course, the college also offers Masters in Defence and Security Studies (MDSS) and a Diploma in Strategy and Warfare (DISW), both affiliated to Makerere University and approved by the National Council of Higher Education.

Maj Adnan Kaale from Uganda emerged as the best overall student, Lt Col SM Kitoni from Kenya was the best international student, Lt Col CT Wobugabe from Uganda was best in Commandant’s research paper and Maj Rogers Kabungo from Rwanda was best in central lecture hall discussion while Maj Olive Komutegeki from Uganda emerged best in joint warfare award.

Due to COVID-19 threat, this year’s function was characterised by all attendants wearing face masks and very few General Officers, Defence Attachés from the East African Community Partner States and members of academia being invited. No families or members of the public were this time round invited in order to have room for social distance.

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Burundi’s Evariste Ndayishimiye is sworn in as president

By
Agencies
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Burundi President, Gen. Ndayishimiye taking oath.

Burundi’s newly elected president, Evariste Ndayishimiye, has been sworn in two months earlier than planned.

No foreign heads of state were present when he took the oath of office in the administrative capital, Gitega, where he pledged to defend the nation’s interests and unify its citizens.

The fast-tracked ceremony comes after his predecessor Pierre Nkurunziza died suddenly last week.

Mr Ndayishimiye is a former rebel leader, like Mr Nkurunziza.

He was backed by his predecessor and was declared the winner of May’s presidential election, which the opposition said was rigged.Mr Nkurunziza died aged 55 on 8 June after suffering a cardiac arrest, the government said. There are unconfirmed reports that he was suffering from Covid-19.

After 15 years in power, Mr Nkurunziza was due to step down in August.
According to Burundi’s constitution, if the head of state dies in office then the president of the national assembly, currently Pascal Nyabenda, should succeed him.

But after a ruling by Burundi’s Constitutional Court, Mr Ndayishimiye’s inauguration in Gitega was brought forward.

Who is Evariste Ndayishimiye?
By Cyuzuzo Samba, BBC Great Lakes

The 52-year-old army general is regarded as a “humble” and “religious” man.

He has been among the most influential generals since 2005, when his close friend and colleague in rebellion, Pierre Nkurunziza took power.

Gen Ndayishimiye, commonly known as “Neva”, was a law student in the University of Burundi when the civil war erupted in 1993 following the assassination of President Melchior Ndadaye.

Like his predecessor Mr Nkurunziza, in 1995, Gen Ndayishimiye survived an attack on ethnic Hutu students at his campus in the then-capital Bujumbura.

He then fled the country and joined the rebel force that was formed to fight the then Tutsi-led government.

Gen Ndayishimiye worked closely with Mr Nkurunziza during the Arusha peace talks between the government and the FDD rebels.

Following the 2003 peace accord that saw FDD rebels share the power with the government, Gen Ndayishimiye deputised for the then army chief of Burundi.

In 2006 he was named minister of the interior, before becoming the president’s military adviser and then secretary-general of the ruling CNDD-FDD party.

Gen Ndayishimiye, a father of six, is known as a practising Roman Catholic, and like his predecessor emphasises the role of God in politics.

The new president is taking over a country that is diplomatically isolated and on bad terms with donors.

In 2015, the constitution was changed, allowing Mr Nkurunziza to seek a third term, triggering huge protests, an attempted coup and a widespread crackdown.

Thousands of Burundians have fled the country and into refugee camps in neighbouring countries.

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In allowing debate on President and Deputy Speaker, Kadaga abused Parliament Rules

By
Guest Writer
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Speaker Rebecca Kadaga

By Batanudde Kiwanuka

Speaker Rebecca Kadaga has been in the eye of the storm since she dubiously presided over Parliament as MPs smuggled Shs 10b into a government supplementary request for funds to help in fighting the #Covid-19 pandemic.
Government had tabled a supplementary request to bolster the fight against #Covid-19, but the Speaker chaired a Parliament Commission meeting that devised strategies of smuggling Shs10b in the supplementary request.

Kadaga’s unsavoury ways were openly opposed by some MPs, like Hon. Cecilia Ogwal, Hon Karuhanga, Hon Nathan Mafabi and others MPs. Hon Ogwal actually called it a mafia way of handling the supplementary.

Speaker Kadaga had literally ran away with their loot but were stopped in her tracks by a court ruling that ordered the return of the money to the government, rightly ruling that the money had been irregularly allocated.That triggered the Speaker’s ire.

Since that time, Speaker Kadaga has been acting like a bull in a China shop; attacking all and sundry-the Executive, Judiciary and the Deputy Speaker.
But Kadaga’s short-temperedness and deficiency in parliamentary jurisprudence hit a nadir when she allowed a motion to be tabled to discuss the President, in blatant violation of the Rules of Procedure.
In tabling a motion condemning President Museveni, Parliament was basically proceeding under Rule 106 which stipulates the process of removing the President from office under the constitution.
The motion in question did not meet any grounds stipulated under Rule 106.
Most importantly, that motion should have been initiated by a notice in writing to the Speaker, signed by not less than one third of all the MPs, indicating their intention of moving a motion for a resolution for the removal of the President, as spelt out under Rule 106(2).

But the Speaker Kadaga, in her typical self, chose to ignore the rules and turned the August House into a village kangaroo court.
To make matters worse, Speaker Kadaga further allowed an MP to smuggle in a motion debating the Deputy Speaker.
For an experienced legislator like her, Speaker Kadaga ought to know the process of debating the Speaker and Deputy Speaker.
Rule 107(1)a says a resolution[or debate for this matter] for the removal of the Speaker or the Deputy Speaker from office shall be triggered by a seven days’ notice, signed by not less than one third of all MPs and given to the Clerk.

And Kadaga has a chequered past of abusing the rules she is meant to be a custodian of the rules.
In an unanimous ruling, the panel of five justices blamed the Speaker of Parliament for acting illegally by abdicating her constitutional responsibility of ascertaining whether there was quorum in the House before the Bill was passed.
In fact, the Constitutional Court in that ruling, wondered how a qualified Speaker would wantonly preside over an illegality, even as three MPs had brought the matter of lack of quorum to her attention.
Suffice to mention that Speaker Rebecca Kadaga was at the centre of the disputed passing of the Constitution Amendment Bill that led to the removal of age-limits. A final case is pending determination in the East African Court of Justice.

It was therefore, rather ironical that Helen Kawesa, Parliament’s Assistant Director of Communication and Public Affairs (CPA), claimed that Kadaga’s actions on the President and the Deputy Speaker were meant to save the office’s integrity. Helen Kawesa should therefore, desist from being dragged into battles that aren’t meant for her.

The writer is a senior Muganda living in Mukono

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Anyone interested in the presidency ought to keep an eye on the incumbent’s use of propaganda

By
Guest Writer
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Mr. Kingdom

By Joshua Kingdom

We can by now count on our finger tips the months left before we go for national polls_ at least that is what the constitution says. And while there is a considerable calm for an otherwise chaotic season, recent developments show that we will likely hold elections come January. These include the pronouncement by the Electoral Commission on the new mode of campaigns early in the week as well as the joint press conference held between Bobi Wine’s People Power together with Dr. Besigye’s FDC.

For over four times now, there have been legally acceptable attempts at changing the possessor of the mantle of presidential power with very little success. Panelists have rightly said that this has a bearing on the weight of incumbency. While it is not known how the next race will play out chances are high this factor will still come in.

The incumbent has been big on tools such as police brutality, dishing money and to many of these the opposition has had responses here and there, an example is setting up demonstrations. In that regard however, less attention has been given to probably the most ruthless tool which for me is propaganda. Understandably, this feature is one whose impact comes indirectly thus hard to notice yet at the same time has far reaching consequences. Its fangs are manipulative and have the rare capability of infiltrating the receivers’ minds right to the bottom line. The result is blindfolding them from the reality.

The president has mastered this and as such he has employed all sorts of propagandists; from motherly and fatherly figures, to masters of blasphemy and blackmail, from fine intellectuals armed with selective statistics, sarcasm, and humor to ghetto fellows and religious preachers. Sometimes it is as small as a remark at the end of an RDC speech which explains how a given project is inseparable from the NRM government. Each of these is uniquely structured to target a different audience. They will use every opportunity, and they will do it swiftly and smartly.

As the claims come in little but consistent packages, the overarching effect is an entrenched portrayal of a life president. Many if not majority of Ugandans as a result can’t imagine a Uganda without the incumbent. It is a sad but important admission for those eyeing state house if they are to start off in the right direction. Consider the following arguments, I suggest that 70 per cent of Ugandans have come across at least two of them; one is that the president is a ‘god’ of sorts; two is that Uganda is a nation that can only be led by a military man. Others include the fact that no one in the opposition is as wise as the NRM chairperson as well as the notion that if there was to be a relinquishment of power as it stands, we would degenerate into a war zone.

I talked of people interacting with these ideals but for a country where only few individuals attain higher education later on quality higher education, coming across the same is as good as subscription to them. In addition, few people have time to decipher the propaganda talked of as they are busy struggling to find ways of surviving the following day.

The opposition on the other hand either because of excitement for first time runners, or ignorance driven egos tends to concentrate on one aspect i.e that the president is evil. While this is appealing to some people, it is certainly not for majority of the populace. You still have people for instance who think that a call for accountability is but disrespect for the elders. As an interested party, whomever it concerns ought to reason with everyone at their level of understanding.

The Writer is a student of Law at Makerere University

tcitizen24@gmail.com

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Parliament asks Gov’t to waive water, power bills

By
Geoffery Serugo
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Mathias Mpuuga

Parliament has passed a motion urging the government to waive the payment of water and electricity bills, as one way of assisting persons affected by the Coronavirus pandemic.

Masaka Municipality MP, Mathias Mpuuga, who moved the motion, said that the #Covid-19 pandemic has had devastating effects on the Ugandan economy, which would be mitigated by government paying for the utilities to the service providers, National Water and Sewerage Corporation and UMEME.

“I urge the government to consider a waiver of the payment of water and electricity due to the fact that many citizens have lost jobs due to closure of companies, workers being laid off, loss of earnings because some couldn’t reach their work places, rendering them unable to pay for essential services,” he said.

Mpuuga said that the measure, which would be in place for six months, would boost the campaign to wash hands with soap and water, which is a critical defence against the spread of #Covid -19.

He cited countries that have put in place measures intended to mitigate the negative impact of the pandemic.

“The Indonesian government provided extra funding for affordable food programme to help its low income households; Ghana announced free water for three months and three months tax holiday for its health workers,” he said adding that “I believe that the Government can provide a waiver for utilities by making some payment for the utilities to the company.”

Manjiya county MP John Nambeshe, said that the pandemic has had great negative effects on the population but that the heavy rains have helped with the water levels.

“Lake Victoria has experienced an increase of the water levels and there is no excuse from the service providers because the water is enough. This could be an incentive to waive some of these bills, by giving back to the population,” he said.

MP Rosemary Nauwat said that waiving the payments would help with the government messages reminding the citizens to frequently wash their hands.

“We have been passing on this information to the population deep in the villages to wash their hands more frequently and they were requesting to be provided with free water and also repair broken water sources,” she said.

Kawempe North MP Latif Sebaggala said that it was advisable for the government to devise other ways on how the population would be assisted.

“We had food relief but many people were not catered for. The waiver for utilities is the right step in the right direction which will help all people because most of them are still financially constrained. Our neighbouring countries have come up with various ways to handle this and Uganda can do this as well,” he said.

Parliament Speaker, Rebecca Kadaga, said, “We set up a select committee looking at the effect of Covid-19 on the population and part of the conclusion included waiver of utilities. As a government we have an obligation to ensure the supply of clean water to the citizens.”

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Doreen Nyanjura appointed Deputy Lord Mayor as Sarah Kanyike resigns

By
Geoffery Serugo
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Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago has appointed Doreen Nyajura as the Deputy Lord Mayor after the resignation of Sarah Kanyike.

Last week, President Kaguta Museveni proposed Sarah Kanyike Ssebagala’s name for a role of Director Gender and Community Service in Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA).

Upon her appointment, the lord mayor offered a three-day ultimatum for her to remain in office or consider a proposal by president Museveni.

Yesterday, Sarah Kanyike confirmed that she is still the deputy lord mayor and a Councillor for Makindye East. She revealed that she has not received a communication as far as the appointment is concerned.

In a press briefing held earlier today, Lukwago confirmed that Kanyike resigned from her position. He appointed Doreen Nyanjura, the LC 5 Woman Councillor, representing Makerere University and Minister for Finance and Administration at KCCA as the deputy lord mayor.

KCCA Executive Director and Deputy Director are appointed by the president on the recommendations of the public service commission.

The president further appointed engineer David Luyimbazi as Deputy Director. Eng. Luyimbazi is credited with the designing and construction of Entebbe Express Highway and Jinja new bridge, Dr. Daniel Okello Ayen as Director Health and Environment and Dorothy Kisaka as the new Executive Director for Kampala City Authority replacing Eng. Andrew Kitaka who has been in acting capacity ever since Jennifer Musis left.

 

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Two Arrested for impersonating new URA boss on Facebook

By
Ronard Shabomwe
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Two men have been arrested for impersonating the newly appointed Uganda Revenue Authority Commissioner General John Musinguzi Rujoki on Facebook.

The arrested are; Ronald Muhumuza, 26, and Francis Mutambuzi,38. According to a statement released by the tax body, the duo was running a fake account in an attempt to defraud the public through false promises of jobs and business opportunities with URA.

It is said that a complaint who commenced interactions on April 17 with a fake Facebook account in an attempt to reach out to the commissioner General was instead alarmed when the fraudsters promised him a contract with URA for a kick-back of shillings 10 million.

“The complaint contacted URA about the scheme and investigations duly ensued culminating into the duos arrest,” the statement reads in part adding “…one of the suspects operates a sim card registration business and he takes advantage of clients’ national identification cards forgotten at his shop to fraudulently register sim cards which sim cards he then utilizes to contact and defraud unsuspecting members of the public.”

The suspects are facing criminal charges under the computer misuse Act. Police have over time warned about the increasing cases of fraud, arising out of identity thefts. For instance, the cases increased from 158 reported in 2017 to 198 reported in 2018, resulting in a loss of UGX 610M.

A 2018 study published in International Journal of Computer Science and Network Security, indicates that identity spoofing occurs, when criminals create fake accounts of musicians, politicians, actors and people of influence to gather sensitive data from other people or in hopes of tarnishing their image.

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Great Lakes Energy Company hands over five brand new cars to covid-19 Taskforce

By
Our Reporter
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Great Lakes Energy Company has handed over five brand new cars to the Covid-19 taskforce.

Great Lakes Energy Company (GLE), the investors of Kabulasoke Solar Power Plant, in Kabulasoke has handed over five brand new Nissan Double Cabin Pick-ups worth 134,300 US Dollars (Shs 507m).

The items were handed over to Mrs Mary Okurut, the Minister in Charge of General Duties who heads the Government Covid-19 taskforce.

The five cars will help transport medical workers and distribute food across Uganda as the country continues to curb the COVID-19 pandemic.

GLE has always contributed to the communities where they operate in across Africa by supporting sustainable development projects, mainly in Health, Education and Conservation.

Commenting on the donation, GLE Director Michael Kearns said: “Given the gravity of the ongoing pandemic, we felt it prudent to respond to the President of Uganda’s appeal for additional logistical support to boost the Ministry of Health’s fleet. We are honored to contribute to the alleviation of the COVID-19 pandemic in Uganda by donating these 5-brand new pick-up trucks that will be used to transport food and medical workers to the areas they are needed the most”, he noted.

Speaking on behalf of the COVID-19 taskforce, Mrs Okurut thanked GLE for the donation that will go a long way in providing additional support to the taskforce as it implements the different interventions to curb the spread of the virus.

Guided by two main pillars of strengthening healthcare infrastructure and providing assistance to the most vulnerable communities, GLE allocates funds, separate to the operational business expenditure, to support chosen philanthropic and Corporate Social investment endeavors. Last year, the company worked with local partners to fund a health outreach activity in Rushere district as well as a youth sports tournament to teach Uganda youth about teamwork and leadership.

This donation is part of Janus Continental Group’s Africa-wide COVID-19 response and shows the huge potential of public and private sector partnership, bolstering the efforts of civil society and healthcare institutions. Standing together with governments and societies, JCG is guided by the WHO call for a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In January 2019, GLE completed the $25 million Uganda-based Kabulasoke solar power plant developed in conjunction with the Uganda Electricity Transmission Company Ltd. The 24MW solar power plant, which is already connected to the national grid, serves over five million people in rural Uganda.

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Parliament summons Finance Minister over budget errors

By
Geoffery Serugo
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Finance Minister, Matia Kasaija.

Parliament has summoned Finance Minister Matia Kasaija over discrepancies in the Budget.

The Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga, directed the Mr Kasaija to explain discrepancies contained in his Budget speech presented last week and the National Budget for 2020/2021 as approved by the House.

“The Minister is required to come here tomorrow to explain the variances between the Appropriation Bill we passed here and the speech he made on the budget day,” Ms Kadaga said.

She added: “We also want to know if the President assented to this Appropriation Bill, where did these figures come from?”

The directive followed a complaint raised by the Chairperson of Parliament’s Budget Committee, Amos Lugoolobi, who cited figures mentioned by Kasaija on Thursday 11 June 2020 that differ yfrom those within the approved budget.

Lugoloobi said that whereas Parliament appropriated Shs400 billion for payment of arrears owed by government to private sector firms, the minister mentioned Shs673 billion in his address.

He added that although Parliament approved Shs38.5 billion towards the export promotion strategy, the minister mentioned Shs138 billion for the activity.

On the roll out of the Social Assistance Grant for the Elderly (SAGE), Parliament approved Shs66 billion but Minister Kasaija put it at Shs107 billion.

Lugoloobi said that the Minister made an error when he mentioned Shs94 billion as credit allocated to small and medium scale enterprises through Saccos, because Parliament appropriated Shs40 billion towards the same intervention.

Lugoolobi highlighted several other discrepancies in the budget speech including Shs225 billion for talent support yet the approved budget had Shs100 billion.

He said it was dangerous to have such a budget speech as there are legal implications regarding the budget process.

“We have a law governing the budget process, if there are changes by government they must be communicated for approval to Parliament before they are pronounced to the public,” Mr Lugoloobi said.

Legislators said it was insufficient for the minister to simply explain the inconsistences to Parliament, proposing that he appears before and offers an explanation to the Committee on Rules, Discipline and Privileges of Parliament.

“I do not think it is sufficient for him to just come here and explain, let him face the Rules Committee, because this is a constitutional matter; it is a serious matter of national importance,” Mr Patrick Oshabe said.

Bugabula South County MP, Maurice Kibalya, remarked “there are things we can allow to be taken for granted but not manipulating the budget, we can’t have the budget that we debated and approved only for the minister to come on the last day to fool us.”

Kadaga noted that this was a unique case saying that for long time, the Minister’s speech delivered on the budget day has been in agreement with Parliament’s approved budget.

She advised that Parliament will base on the minister’s statement to decide if he should appear before the Committee on Rules.

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Gayaza residents petition NEMA over stone crushing facility

By
Our Reporter
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The Noisy stone crushing facility

B

The residents of Gayaza’s Nabutaka and Makenke neighborhoods have called on National environment Management Authority (NEMA) to regulate a stone-crashing facility located in their residential area.

The noisy facility according to residents was set up at the start of this year and works 24/hours a day, every day leaving them agitated, sleepless and is interfering with their children’s hearing mechanism.

The inconsiderate facility is crushing stone into concrete for road and construction works. Efforts to reach out to the owners of the facility have been futile since security has repeatedly denied access to the quarrying area.

“We ask NEMA and Kasangati Town Council to look into our plight. We barely sleep because of the day and night long noise, but also the dust and heavy crushing is affecting our houses. We cannot just look on as our lives are destroyed” said Steven Rwamatsyoro, one of the residents

The Nabutaka residential area has in the recent years been a favorite of settling occupants who have populated it with houses owing to its serene setting surrounded by virgin forests, rivers, undulated hills and the quiet setting outside the busy Gayaza town. Some of the prominent residents include deputy Chief of Defence Forces, General Wilson Mbadi who has quietly but happily settled in with other residents including civil servants, bankers, lawyers, doctors, professors and businessmen.

Grace Margaret, a resident said the facility worries her and places her children in harm’s way. “I am worried for my children. This facility could induce a disability called Noise Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL). The noise once constantly on will affect our children’s hearing health” she said. “Already, we are getting headaches, disturbed sleep and restlessness from the noise” Grace added.

Grace suggests that the facility needs to get a sound tracker since the area in which it operates is curved out for residential use. Sound absorbers once installed will help minimize noise levels.

Area residents affected by the factory’s operations are appealing to the national environment body (NEMA) and other relevant authorities like Kasangati Town Council to come to their rescue since the local area council teams have been unhelpful.

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