Former presidential candidate Maj. Gen. Benin Biraro is dead.
He is reported to have died of cancer which he has been undergoing treatment for a long time.
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Sex scandal hits Airtel as female employee implicates top boss
A top Airtel boss whom we shall not reveal now has been accused of using his position to lure young female employees into and thereafter influences their sacking.
The young lady who was among the 30 staff that were laid off recently says the guy who is among the top three gurus at the giant telecommunication company has made it a habit but she decide to expose him.
This is not the first time a top manager at Airtel is being accused of using young employees. About seven years ago, a top guru was implicated in same scandal when photos of him and one young lady leaked.
This website has obtained exclusive photos of the two while in romance. Wait for details.
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Police officer kills 3 colleagues before committing suicide
A police constable attached to Banamwaya community police station has opened gunfire on two of his colleagues killing them instantly.
Its alleged that Police Constable No 53443 Ojilong Ben had a heated argument with his colleague No. 30007 CPL Opito Alex on how to proceed with a case, Police Constable Ojilong reportedly picked his gun and shot Opito several times killing him instantly.
One Local Defence Unit personnel that was passing by was seriously wounded in the process, Ojilong later committed suicide by shooting.
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SK Mbuga opens TV, snatches NBS’s Uncut and after 5 presenters
Kampala socialite and business man Sulaiman Kabangala Mbuga has finally set the tone for this year by venturing into the entertainment industry with the opening of the a state of the art production house that will house his new Television network named Select four. The station that will be co-owned by the socialite and his wife Vivienne is set to be up and running by the end of this month.
The couple who were only recently jailed for swindling huge sums of money from a Swedish national seems to have put that all behind them as he sets to make the record straight and what better way to do so than with your very own broadcasting network.
SK Mbuga was spotted at Serena Hotel earlier this week with a number of individuals clad in black T.Shirts with ‘Select four’ written across them in attempt to bring awareness to this new venture, he assured journalists that the T.V station would be both educational and entertainment based in order to help the youth acquire skills to make it in life.
Although details are not clear about the unveiling and launch of the T.V station, word reaching our desks is that project is in full gear with various artists and T.V personalities such as M.C Kats and Zahara Toto already enlisted to take up office in the soon to be launched T.V station. Further fueling these stories is Miles Rwamiti’s new role as the director of Select 4 as he plans to depart form his former position at the Luganda based local network known as Spark T.V.
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Sudan agrees to handover Omar al-Bashir to ICC
Sudan’s rulers have agreed that those wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) will appear there.
The commitment came at peace talks between Sudan’s government and rebel groups from the Darfur region.
The decision paves the way for ex-President Omar al-Bashir to be sent to The Hague to face charges there.
He is accused of genocide and war crimes in the conflict that broke out in Darfur in 2003, which killed around 300,000 people.
“Justice cannot be achieved if we don’t heal the wounds,” said government spokesman Mohammed Hassan Eltaish.
“We agreed that everyone who had arrest warrants issued against them will appear before the ICC. I’m saying it very clearly,” he added.
Bashir was ousted as president in April last year.
He came to power in a military coup in 1989 and ruled Sudan with an iron fist.
ICC prosecutors in The Hague have requested he stand trial over the Darfur killings.
The UN says that around 2.5 million people were displaced in the war.
In December, Bashir was sentenced to two years in a social reform facility for corruption.
Under Sudanese law, people over the age of 70 cannot serve jail terms. Bashir is now 76.
Prosecutors in Sudan have also charged him with the killing of protesters during the demonstrations that led to him being ousted.
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BoU in the spotlight for paying Shs6b to city lawyers in a bid to falsify accountability
Two directors at Bank of Uganda are under investigations by State House Anti-Corruption Unit for allegedly paying Shs6 billion to two city lawyers.
The two directors are Benedict Ssekabira, of Financial Markets Development Coordination (FMDC) and Margaret Kasule, director legal services.
According to sources, the two directors are alleged to have sanctioned the payment of Shs6 billion to Timothy Masembe Kanyerezi and David Mpanga. Sources further allege that although this money was released as legal fees, however, its intended purposes is to cover all the legal loopholes in the case of Crane Bank Limited takeover and subsequent during receivership.
The two lawyers represented BoU and the payment for their services has been ongoing until parliament probing committee, Committee on Commissions, State Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE) that investigated BoU over the controversial sale of seven commercial banks between 1993 and October 20, 2016.
In December 2017, the Commercial Court disqualified city lawyers Mr Kanyererezi Masembe and Mr. David Mpanga from the Sh397 billion Sudhir Ruparelia’s case against Bank of Uganda (BoU), also citing conflict of interest.
In his ruling delivered on December 21, 2017, the head of the commercial court division, Justice Wangutusi stated that Mr. David Mpanga of A.F. Mpanga Advocates and Timothy Masembe of MMAKS Advocates acted in violation of the Advocates (Professional Conduct) regulations.
Last month, it was alleged that BoU released Shs4 billion as part of the balance on Shs20 billion to the same lawyers. However, what is intriguing investigators is why paying that entire amount to the lawyers and yet some of the cases are jointly handled by BoU own lawyers.
Sources say that the payment could be part of the ploy to falsify accountability in the case of Shs478 billion.
Auditor General John Muwanga carried out a special Audit on the Shs478 billion Injected into Crane Bank Limited by Bank of Uganda. The report it pinned the central bank officials for failure to account for Shs478 billion it injected in Crane Bank Limited (CBL).The audit was carried out as ordered by COSASE on December 20, 2018.
The BoU officials during their exit meeting with COSASE failed to account for Shs478 billion they say they spent as liquidity support and other intervention costs on CBL receivership between October 20, 2016 and January 25, 2017.
Muwanga in the report says out of Shs478 billion injected into CBL, a sum of Shs157.9 billion had been recovered from Dfcu bank and CBL Non-Performing assets leaving an outstanding balance of Shs320.8 billion at the time of writing the report. CBL at the time it was sold to Dfcu bank at Shs200 billion only needed about Shs157 billion to remain afloat.
Sources further say that because of the above inquiry State House Anti-Corruption Unit, several meetings have been ongoing between several people pinned in the AG report. It is alleged that former executive director in charge of supervision Justine Bagyenda and former deputy governor, Louis Kasekende ordered the two directors to release money to the two lawyers.
Dr. Kasekende told COSASE that the money was spent as; telegraphic transfers (TTs) and LC payments, Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS), clearing and cash requirement requests.
An extra Shs12.2 billion was also spent on service providers including MMAKS Advocates who pocketed about Shs4.2 billion. The latest report on Shs478 billion spent on CBL did not however audit the Shs12 billion paid by BoU to service providers, reasoning that it was extensively dealt with by the MPs.
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Stop probing Court rulings-Judiciary tells MPs
The Judiciary has come out to state that the legislators of Uganda have no power whatsoever to probe or demand for the review of previous court orders or rulings concerning parliament.
This came after the Parliamentary Accounts Committee demanded a probe into earlier court rulings and decisions in which the government lost to complainants and was requested to compensate them.
“No constitutional power resides in Parliament or committees to call for review or scrutiny of the decisions of courts of law. To do so would be for Parliament to constitute itself into an appellate body over decisions of courts and usurp such powers not vested in the legislature,” High Court judge Andrew Bashaija ruled in a judgment on Friday.
The PAC went ahead to request for documents, dates of trial as well as names of Judges and lawyers involved in the proceedings and rulings of this case. The committee has also gone ahead to sue the Attorney General together with the Solicitor General and Secretary of Treasury despite the Judiciary maintaining that such a move is illegal and seeks to compromise the powers of the Judiciary.
“This is not enough to satisfy some legislators who still believe that it is within the parliament’s mandate to review such rulings and procedures since it is indeed financed by the legislative branch. “I have not read the judgement but the only matters which Parliament cannot discuss are those where the contention is subjudice. Where the matter relates to accountability, Parliament has the powers to seek documents because it appropriates funds.” Said Mathias Mpuuga Masaka Municipality.
Justice Bashaija ruled the deliberations, discussions, and requisitions for scrutiny by PAC in the proceedings of August 22, 2019, in regard to payment of court awards and mandamus orders amounts to interference with the execution of court orders and are illegal and affront of the independence of the judiciary.
“A declaration doth issue that the directions, requisitions, orders and or decision by the chairperson of PAC in the proceedings to be availed details of mandamus payments for scrutiny and reviewing including case determination dates, lawyers involved, presiding judges of court awards amounts to interference with execution orders, is contemptuous, illegal, ultra vires, unconstitutional and a direct affront of the doctrine of separation of powers,” the court held.
The AG’s Opinion:
In his legal opinion to Finance PS Keith Muhakanizi on August 15, 2019, the Attorney General Mr. William Byaruhanga said properties, whose status has been pronounced by the court cannot be subjected to a further Parliament inquiry.
The Attorney General was responding to a letter by the Departed Asians Properties Custodian Board that is laying claim to Plot 98-104 Nakivubo Road, which belongs to Hajji Abdu Kasai, a businessman. He explained that the powers of the Departed Asians’ Property Custodian Board are governed by Section 4 of the Assets of Departed Asians Act Cap 83, which stipulates that the Board shall take over and manage all assets transferred to it by virtue of Section 13 of the Assets of Departed Asians Decree, 1973. He adds that the same Section 13 mandates the Board to discharge all the liabilities to it by this Act, collect all debts or other monies due to the departed Asian; and may sell or otherwise deal with such assets in the same way as the departed Asian may do.
However, he explains that the Expropriated Properties Act Cap 87 and the Expropriated Properties (Repossession and Disposal)(No.1) Regulations S.I 87-8 limit the involvement of DAPCB and the Minister of Finance to transfer property already allocated to a person and take it back to the former owner.
“Section 3 of the Expropriated Property Act Cap 87 provides; (J) Subject to this Act; the Minister shall have the power to transfer to the firmer owner of any property or business vested in the Government under this Act that property or business,” the Attorney General’s letter reads in part.
He adds: “Nothing in this Act shall be construed as empowering the Minister to Transfer property or business to a former owner unless the Minister is satisfied that the former owner shall physically return to Uganda, repossess and actively manage the property or business. Subsection (2) shall not apply to a former owner who jointly participates with the Government in the ownership and management of any property or business pursuant to section 5.”
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East Africa pays last respect to Moi
The memorial service of Kenya’s second and longest-serving president, Daniel arap Moi, is underway at Nyayo Stadium in Nairobi. It will be an inter-denominational service led by the Africa Inland Church (AIC).
President Uhuru Kenyatta who took charge of the funeral arrangements made an impromptu inspection of the Nyayo National Stadium on Sunday ahead of the service. He drove himself in a G Wagon Mercedes Benz and was accompanied by a lean security team.
Moi’s body lay-in-state at Parliament for three days from Saturday to allow for public viewing.Government officials said about 24,683 people viewed the body on Saturday and another 100,000 on Sunday. Monday was the final day for public viewing.
There was a heavy police presence outside the Lee Funeral Home and along the three-kilometre route from the Lee Funeral home, Valley Road, Kenyatta Avenue, Uhuru Highway and at Nyayo Stadium.At least 10 Heads of State will be in attendance at the memorial service. Dignitaries started arriving yesterday at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) ahead of the state funeral service of Kenya’s second president.
The former president will be accorded full military ceremonial honours, which include conveyance of the body under escort in a gun carriage, accompanied by military musical honours and a 19 gun-salute. 5:00am: Kenyans start streaming into Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi for the memorial service of the former president Daniel arap Moi.
7:45am: Family of the late president Moi and some VIP guests make way to the venue of the memorial service.8:30am: Former president Daniel Moi’s body leaves Lee Funeral home for State House in Nairobi under heavy military security. President Uhuru to receive the body at State House.
9.15: Procession making way to Nyayo Stadium. President Uhuru Kenyatta to lead the nation in the memorial service.9:50am: The procession is on Uhuru Highway making its way to Nyayo Stadium. Kenyans seated at the Nyayo Stadium waiting for the body to arrive.
10:00am: Deputy President William Ruto receives Rwandan President Paul Kagame at Nyayo Stadium.10:04am: President Uhuru Kenyatta and First Lady Margaret Kenyatta arrive at Nyayo Stadium. The National Anthem is sung.
10:15am: Cortege arrives at Nyayo Stadium for the memorial service. Pallbearers remove the casket from the gun carrier and match slowly in front of the guard of honor.10:30am: The service starts.11:00am: The deputy presiding Bishop of AIC- Kenya, Reverend Paul Kirui leads thousands of mourners in a word of prayer.11:20am: Moi’s son, Raymond Moi reads his father’s eulogy.12:15pm: Gideon Moi addresses Kenyans and dignitaries, says his father loved Kenyans and thanks mourners for supporting the family. “Throughout his service, he taught us to have tough feet but keep a soft heart, our father was a forgiving man.”
The former president Daniel Moi who died on Tuesday while receiving treatment at Nairobi Hospital will be interred at his Kabarak home on Wednesday.Interior Principal Secretary Karanja who is part of a steering committee created by President Uhuru to work on the burial plans said yesterday that the preparations at Kabarak were going on smoothly.He asked those attending the funeral to adhere to instructions from the security team.“We are prepared to host over 30,000 people. We can assure the country that the plans are going on smoothly,” said Kibicho.
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FDC lawyers cited at ICC headquarters, ready to file case againstMuseveni
Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) lawyers led by Fred Eddie Mukasa Lugalambi are currently in Hague coordinating with international lawyers in working out preliminary procedures a head of the final event of filing a petition against President Yoweri Museveni.
Last year, FDC launched signature collection campaign aimed at dragging president Museveni and his accomplices to the international criminal court (ICC) over gross violation of human rights.
According to former president of FDC, Dr. Col. Kizza Besigye, they aimed at collecting two million signatures from 128 districts that makeup the country. He also warned all security officers who take part in violation of human rights.
Alluding to the statement released by FDC, lawyers have met with legal officers working with the office of ICC prosecutor in order to establish the modalities of presenting evidences and the list of petitioners.
“In our petition which is ready for filing, we are petitioning ICC prosecutor to undertake the process of ICC Act leading to the indictment of President Museveni and his accomplishes,” reads in part of the statement. The party however claimed that the process of collecting signatures will take due course to give chance to other victims and witnesses to participate.
The party applauded all who have appended their signatures both online and ICC form despite all intimidations. “Whoever appended his signature is a hero of struggle and we congratulate them,” they added.
Last year, Kasese leaders, including the former leader of opposition (LOP) in parliament who doubles as the Kasese woman MP, Winnie Kiiza, threatened to reconsider the dragging of president Museveni, Maj. Gen peter Elwelu and Assistant Inspector General of Police Asuman Mugenyi to International criminal Court (ICC) over the attack of Rwenzururu kingdom in 2016 and blocking of king Charles Wesley Mumbere from attending the burial ceremony of his mother.
In December 2016, a group of Members of Parliament from the Rwenzori sub-region, petitioned ICC, requesting for investigations into the infamous Kasese killings. Over 100 civilians were killed during the assault and scores left injured, with the king currently facing terrorism prosecution.
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Solomon Serwanja quits NBS
Although the year 2020 has kicked off on a bad note, with the invasion of locusts and the break out of the deadly coronavirus causing panic and fear, The NBS television network also seems to be facing a rather challenging month of its own as journalists continue to leave for greener pastures elsewhere, the latest being none other than Solomon Serwanja.
The Komla Dumor award winner is said to have been the latest journalist to quit NBS as he joins a number of journalists like Raymond Mujuni, Joseph Sabiiti and Sheila Tusiime Mugisha who have also walked out the door in a space of less than a month. Although it is not clear whether the journalists have a misunderstanding with Kin Kalissa and his team, what is clear is that they are destined for other employment opportunities elsewhere such as Kenya and Total Ugandan among other organizations. Eagle Online has learnt that Serwanja has already served the station with a resignation letter.
Word on the streets is Mr. Sserwanja did not hesitate to leave the popular TV station after he received an offer from a major broadcasting network in Nairobi. The karma like departure of these big names is reminiscent of earlier times at NBS and the manner in which it poached a number of good journalists form its rival company, NTV only to later lose them in the same style to better offers.
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