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Court grants Gen. Henry Tumukunde bail

By
Our Reporter
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Gen. Tumukude at City Hall Court this afternoon

High Court has granted former Security Minister Henry Tumukunde bailed.

Gen. Tumukunde presented earlier sureties that included former Minister Mathew Rukikaire, his wife, Stella Tumukunde, brother in-law Hannington Karuhanga and retired army Commander Maj. Gen. Mugisha Muntu.
Justice
Wilson Kwesiga had rejected same sureties stating that Gen. Tumukunde presents army generals at his rank and above with clearance from Chief of Defence Forces.

Kwesiga’s conditions were met with resistance from legal brains that argued it was wrong for stating that only serving generals well knowing Gen. Tumukunde had retired from the army into civilian life and that was the reason he was being tried in a civilian court.

Through his lawyers, Gen. Tumukunde filed an application asking High Court to soften the conditions set by Kwesiga in the bail application.

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Uhuru and Gideon Moi sign coalition deal ahead of 2022 election

By
Agencies
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President Uhuru receives a cap from KANU party national chairman, Gideon Moi.

Independence party Kanu has been operating without a formal pre-election agreement with President Uhuru Kenyatta’s Jubilee Party as required by law since 2017.

This pushed the two to sign a post-poll deal last week, the Nation has learnt.

PRE-ELECTION AGREEMENT

Although the party led by Baringo Senator Gideon Moi has been voting with Jubilee as a bloc and has its members seconded to House committees by virtue of Jubilee Party strength, Jubilee Secretary-General Raphael Tuju said that the pre-election agreement had not been deposited with the Registrar of Political Parties.

“It was supposed to be deposited as soon as the pre-election deal was done, but some people just did not do their jobs,” Mr Tuju said.

“So to avoid any challenge and any ambiguity, the two parties have chosen the path of a post-election agreement to formalise the relationship they already have,” he added.

Kanu has 10 MPs in the National Assembly as Mr Moi, West Pokot Senator Samuel Poghisio and nominated Senator Abshiro Soka Halake fly the Kanu flag in the Senate.

Based on the non-formalised deal, Mr Moi now chairs the Information, Communication and Technology Committee while Mr Poghisio is the head of Committee on Delegated Legislation.

DEFEND PARTY

The agreement might not do any magic politically, as the two parties have been working together, anyway, but the inclusion of Kanu could work to the disadvantage of Dr Ruto’s side, which has been on a warpath to defend the Jubilee Party which was recently in the DPs’ firm grip.

The agreement between the two parties was received by the Registrar of Political Parties Anne Nderitu on May 8.

“This is to certify that Jubilee Party and Kanu, fully registered political parties under the Political Parties Act, 2011, deposited a coalition agreement. Form PP 19 was filed on May 4, 2020 by the chairmen and secretary generals of the two parties,” said Ms Nderitu.

The deal was signed by Mr Tuju, Jubilee Chairman Nelson Dzuya, Mr Moi, Kanu’s SG Nick Salat.

And while the sealing of the deal might create challenges on implementation of the pre-election agreement before it was formalised, Jubilee might have questions on its own processes.

Dr Ruto’s side insists that the national executive committee (NEC) has not met since the 2017 General Election.

CLOSER TO LEADERSHIP

This is important because the party Constitution indicates that a post-election agreement “shall originate from a Post-Election Coalition Negotiation Panel consisting of the national chairperson, the secretary-general and two other persons nominated by the National Executive Committee.”

Mr Salat did not pick calls and texts by the Nation on Sunday, but in a previous interview, the Kanu official was full of praise for the deal.

“As a party, we do not want to stagnate, and growing for us means getting closer to the leadership of this country. And so the question remains: if it is in our party’s best interest, why not?” Mr Salat said.

While he insisted that Kanu was not reinventing the wheel, Mr Salat said the party was ready “to go the extra mile to be even more in”.

“If and when our support is needed, we are ready. If we are needed to serve in any position, we are ready. Our top decision-making organ endorsed this kind of arrangement,” Mr Salat explained.

The agreement, the two parties said, will be guided by patriotism, national unity, sustainable economic growth, devolution, integrity, public participation in decision-making, and promotion of interests of vulnerable groups such as women, youth, and persons with disabilities.

Disputes about the agreement, they said, should only be subjected to the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal “only after serving the party over whose action, omission, declaration, candidature or nomination the person seeking dispute resolution is aggrieved over with a notice of not less than seven days”.

 

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#COVID-19: Famous pork joints operate behind closed doors

By
Ronard Shabomwe
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A couple being served by a waitress at Nicodemus pork butchery.

 

As a part of the #Covid-19 preventive measures, President, Yoweri Museveni banned social gatherings. The ban affected places like bars, night clubs and music concerts among others, which would gather many people and there increase the risk of Coronavirus infection.

Although the ban is still on, some popular pork joints in Kampala are operating secretly. Our reporter visited Nicodemus Pork joint in Nankulabye and found its operating normally. One of the waiters informed the reporter, they could offer him pork on top of his  favorite drinks and beckoned him to enter quickly before they could be spotted by security.

The waiter offered the reporter pork and beer at Shs5000 and Shs3500 respectively. On entering the pork joint, it was business as usual with a fully operational bar and several clients eating pork and drinking beer. Our reporter spent about an hour at Nicodemus Pork joint and left without any problem.

The situation wasn’t any different in Wandegeya, which has various pork joints. The operators employ different tactics to avoid being nabbed by law enforcement. At one of the pork joint, the waitress approached our reporter and invited him to their joint.

The waitress said they could also offer the reporter, saying their bar was operating at the back of the pork butchery. She said they would serve him any drink of his choice including soda or beer.

At Generous pork joint in Bukoto the bar section was closed by the time our reporter visited it last week. “Dear our esteemed customers, in line with the directive issued by the Government of Uganda towards fighting #Covid-19. Our bar section remains closed with immediate effect,” read a notice at the entrance. Adding that “However, our restaurant remains open and fully adhering to the standards and procedures set by Ministry of Health.”

However, our reporter later learnt that the bar was sealed off by Kampala City Council Authority-KCCA for failure to refrain from selling alcohol and maintain the recommending physical distancing. An employee told Eagle online that KCCA closed the bar when they found a huge number of people on tables drinking beers in disregard of the physical distancing guidelines.

 

 

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#COVID-19: Uganda cases hit 121 as tests confirm five more

By
Ronard Shabomwe
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Health officials at Elegu border.

Uganda has registered new five new cases of #COVID-19 as five test positive today.

The five cases bring the total cases to 121. However Uganda has discharged over 55 #COVID-19 patients after undergoing successful treatment. The country is faced with a big turn up of truck drivers who are registering a big numbers of positive patients from the neighbouring countries.

“Today, May 10, 2020, five  new #COVID-19 cases confirmed from 1,498 samples of truck drivers. This brings the total number of #COVID-19 cases to 121 in Uganda.The new cases are, two Ugandan and three Kenyan truck drivers who arrived via Elegu and Malaba Points of Entry”

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#COVID-19: Milk prices drop by half in Kampala

By
Ronard Shabomwe
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Milk

There is a drastic decline in milk prices across Kampala, with a litre now going for as low as 1,000 Shillings down from Shs2000 before the lockdown.

 Sharon Murekatete, the proprietor of New Diary in Bwaise buys milk from Mbarara, Nakasongola, Goma and Bulemeezi. Murekatete says that she used to buy a litre of milk at Shs1600  and would sell it at Shs2000 . She, however, says she is currently buying a litre of milk at Shs800.

Murekatete explains that she now operates to keep the business open but not for profits.

Gordon Kaliisa, a milk supplier told our reporter that besides the lockdown, there is increased competition from big suppliers like Pure Milk and Sibyangu Diary companies. He says these purchase milk from remote areas at the low prices and sells it half price compared to diaries in Kampala.

Nathan Sabiiti, a wholesaler milk vendor in Bukoto noted that he cannot sell milk at Shillings 500 because he knows its value. He says he used to sell over 40 litres of milk a day before the lockdown but only sells 20 litres currently, which he blames on the curfew that was introduced during the lockdown.

Aida Nakanwagi, a regular customer appreciates the drop in the milk prices, saying she can now afford to buy milk every day for iftar.

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#COVID-19: 13 new cases test positive among truck drivers

By
Geoffery Serugo
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Uganda's Health Minister, Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng.

 

Uganda has registered 13 #COVID-19 cases after 13 truck drivers tested positive.

The results of samples tested on 8 May, 2020 confirmed 13 new #COVID-19 cases from 2,421 samples of truck drivers.

“Out of the 13 new cases,seven are Kenyans, four are Ugandans while two are Tanzanians. Tracking them has commenced and the public will be informed accordingly”. All 740 community samples tested negative for #COVID-19 as total #COVID-19 confirmed cases in Uganda stands at 114″

The Ministry of Health also announced that total samples tested on May 8, 2020 are  3,161 while discharges are 55.

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Jinja RDC, Sakwa interdicted

By
Trevor S Baleke
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RDC Eric Sakwa holding a diary being escorted to police.

The Jinja District Resident District Commissioner (RDC) Eric Sakwa, has been interdicted.

In the May 4, interdiction letter written by the secretary in the office of the president, Haji Yunus Kakande, Sakwa’s interdiction is as a result of the criminal charges he is facing in court.

Sakwa was on Friday April 24 arrested and charged in courts of law and remanded to Kirinya for alleged manslaughter of the late Charles Isanga of Lwanda in Mafubira sub county Jinja district.

Prosecution alleges that between March 17 and March 22, Sakwa and others still at large caused the death of Isanga.

Relatives of Charles Isanga who is said to have died two weeks after he was allegedly tortured by Mr. Sakwa had refused to bury the body until the government intervenes.

The postmortem report indicated that the deceased died of hemorrhage in the vessels.

Further, the prosecution claims that Mr. Sakwa and others still at large on March 22 at Lwanda village stole cash amounting to shs 80000, three crates of beer, eight trays of eggs, soda, water and sachets of waragi all valued at 429000 UGX

Sakwa was on Wednesday last week released on bail by the Chief Magistrate of Jinja Court, Jessica Chemeri.

His bail conditiona included banning him from speaking to the media about the matter.

However, a source that has preferred anonymity has told The Eagle Online that the super RDC angered his bosses and worsened the matter when his went on a radio in Jinja two days after his release and among the issues he discussed was his arrest and and the subsequent events.

According to media reports, Sakwa also had a presser at the weekend at which he alleged that it was Jinja West MP, Moses Grace Balyeku who engineered his arrest. Balyeku rubbished the allegations.

“He does not listen. We told him yo adhere to the conditions of his bail but the bad thing he surrender himself with thugs,” one prominent person said to this writer.

According to the interdiction letter, Sakwa is ordered to handover office to the District Internal Security Officer of Jinja who shall perform all the duties of RDC until another communication comes from the appointing office.

He is also barred from leaving the country and shall be receiving half of his monthly pay.

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ISO top boss arrested by SFC soldiers over fake ‘technical intelligence’ reports

By
Our Reporter
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Arrested Simon Peter Odong

 

Special Forces Command soldiers have arrested the Director of Cyber Crime at Internal Security Organisation Simon Peter Odong over what they described as fake technical intelligence reports.

Mr. Odong was arrested on Tuesday morning at his Kirinnya home by SFC commandos that were dispatched to pick him. However, before he was picked, there was an exchange of fire between three of his ISO guards and the SFC soldiers and in the process he was injured.

After arresting Odong who is a civilian, he was taken to Special Investigations Unit (SIU) but upon reaching the Kireka based facility; Odong was rushed to Naguru hospital for further treatment before he was on Tuesday evening taken to Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI) for further interrogation.

Eagle Online has learnt that upon being arrested, a search was mounted in his house were ‘war materials’ were found and these include, three sub machine guns, one pistol, uniforms and communication gadgets.

“There was a growing concern from the consumer of intelligence that there was inaccuracy in some of the reports he receives because most of what was in those reports would at times turn out to be untrue and therefore, Odong as a senior technical analyst was aware that what he was doing was treason” a source told Eagle Online.   

Sources within intelligence circles say of late there has been a lot of negative propaganda hitting at ISO on how it handles its issues.

Sources further say the arrest of Odong who is considered a blue eyed boy of ISO-Director General Col. Kaka Bagyenda has been treated with mixed reaction especially the manner in which Odong was picked. In one of the meetings, it is reported Col. Kaka warned his staff against intrigue and in-fighting. Odong was heavily involved in the investigations that pinned former Inspector General of Police (IGP), Gen. Kale Kayihura and ACP Herbert Muhangi the former Flying Squad Unit (FSU) commandant to the killing of former Assistant Inspector of Police (AIGP) Andrew Felix Kaweesi when he presented an audio implicated the two.

Meanwhile reports recently revealed that ISO staff had undergone over five months without allowances.

There are also reports that former ISO-DG; Ronnie Balya had been recalled from his diplomacy station in South Sudan for possible redeployment at the spying agency as DG for the second time. However, it has been established that his name was rejected by Senior Presidential Advisor on Defence and Security matters Gen. Salim Saleh in a meeting by some lobbyist from Tooro. It is said that the Tooro lobbyist after failing to market Brig. Balya instead fronted the name of Lt. Rtd Dr. Kaijamuru Kaijamurubi Kagoro aka Alaari as their choice for DG to replace Col. Kaka. Lt. Kagoro is the director Logistic and Technology at ISO.

 

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#COVID-19: Tenants don’t misunderstand president’s message on rent

By
Our Reporter
-
President Museveni

 

 

The lockdown measures enforced by governments globally to curb the spread of the Covid-19 virus has once again cast the spotlight on the often complicated relationship between tenants and landlords.

When President Museveni announced a 21-day lockdown last month, he urged landlords to be patient with their tenants and allow them a grace-period since business is now on a total standstill and no money is being made.

Last evening, while announcing a controversial 14-days extension, President Museveni urged banks and landlords to stop acting like Shylock in the book “Merchant of Venice”, by demanding payments from tenants and clients well-knowing that the economy has been on Ground Zero for the two months.

President Museveni’s proclamations on the critical issue of rent payments has,inevitably,opened a Pandora’s Box as opportunistic, albeit desperate tenants, see a window of exploiting it to dodge payments of arrears.

It is a public secret that several landlords in Kampala have obligations with banks and other creditors to clear and are therefore pushed against the wall, effectively not allowing them the latitude to offer rent waivers to their tenants.

A top landlord interviewed for this article advised that with the economy in tailspin due to the lockdown measures, landlords and tenants need to sit on a roundtable and agree on a win-win solution.

“Landlords and tenants enjoy a symbiotic relationship. Landlords cannot survive without tenants and tenants also can’t survive without landlords. I think the President’s guidelines were misinterepreted. He did not guide that tenants should not pay rent,” said the Landlord, who declined to be named.

The confusion over the President’s guidelines regarding rent payment mean that it is necessary for the government to clear the air over the matter to avoid pitting landlords against tenants over rental arrears.

Landlords are also worried that if rent arrears are accumulated by tenants, payment may be more problematic as the economy will take long to recover from the post-Covid downturn, further complicating an already volatile situation.

As a more definitive solution, economic experts have opined that the government can devise a stimulus package to allow landlords offset their credit obligations with banks and other utility providers, a measure that would allow them the luxury to offer rent waivers to tenants.

Government can also issue tax waivers on essential utilities like water and electricity, further giving landlords more room to relax rent demands on tenants.

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Ntoroko RDC arrested over #COVID-19 money

By
Trevor S Baleke
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Mr. Elijah Biryabarema, the embattled Ntoroko RDC
The Ntoroko RDC has today been arrested by the Rwenzori West Regional CIID for failure to perform his mandated duties and suspected involvement in misappropriation of funds meant for the district fight against Ebola and COVID-19.
Mr. Elijah Biryabarema is also accused of non performance in the district as well as and abscondment from duty.
It is alleged that he has been always absent from his duty station since he lives in Kamwenge district where he hails from. He has since left the burden of his office in the hands of the DISO Ntoroko.
 Cases cited against him include, but not limited to:
Failure to reign over the district health department which has since been very ineffective in the district. It is because of this that Shs412 million meant for Ebola prevention activities has been misappropriated.

There is also Shs16 million meant for #COVID-19 that has also not been utilized with the DHO claiming that the money has not yet reached the district account  two weeks after MoH released the funds.

Biryabarema has failed to address critical issues in the district since he is never in office. One such major issue is the land dispute in Kibuku town council which he has deliberately avoided to address.
They also accused him of not giving out food relief from well wishers which is rotting away in a store without being distributed since he has not been able to make a planned schedule on when and how to distribute it.
 Authorities further accuse him of diverting district vehicles that were directed by the President to be used by the district task force are non existent since he has failed to see that they are available to the community when they are needed
 There are allegations that funds for border volunteers who have been screening entrants into the country during the Ebola pandemic have not been accounted for despite the MoH sending the funds over a month ago.  The volunteers are demanding over a year’s pay. They were supposed to receive Shs3 million each but there’s no accountability to this effect. There are 74 volunteers along the Ntoroko border with the DRC
The RDC is currently at the regional Police headquarters awaiting to have his statement taken and further steps will be announced later.
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