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Ugandan musician Irene Ntale has signed a recording contract with one of the world’s leading music groups, Universal Music Group (UMG) at their offices in Nigeria. Ntale has been a solo artist since 2016 when she resigned from Swangz Avenue Music Company. She joins a long list of international and African artists at Universal Music Group. From Rihanna, Taylor Swift, Mariah Carey to Mr. Eazi, Tiwa Savage among many others. UMG own and operate a broad array of businesses engaged in recorded music, music publishing, merchandising, and audiovisual content in more than 60 countries. They identify and develop recording artists and songwriters, and produce, distribute and promote the most critically acclaimed and commercially successful music to delight and entertain fans around the world. It is also believed that Universal Music Records is targeting several Ugandan musicians in bid to penetrate the African music market. Universal Music Group is considered one of the “Big Three” record labels, along with Sony Music and Warner Music Group.
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Irene Ntale signs recording contract with Universal Music Group
No further interference by DAPCB on allocated properties says AG as businessman dealt blow over prime property in Kampala
A Kampala businessman with interests in real estate development, Hajj Abdul Kasai is cursing his quest to pass through President Yoweri Museveni in order to take possession of an Asian owned property on plot No.98-104, Nakivubo Road in Kampala.
On June 28, 2019, the Principal Private Secretary to Mr. Museveni, Molly Naawe Kamukama wrote to the Finance Minister Matia Kasaija that Hajj Kasai, the proprietor of Kanaaba Agencies Limited, had identified the said plot and wanted it be allocated to him, following a meeting with Museveni.
To push Kasai’s request forward, Minister Kasaija would write to the Attorney General, William Byaruhanga seeking his legal opinion on the said property located on one of Kampala’s busiest streets. The property is owned by Parkview Limited and Bharat Properties Limited.
In his reply to Kasaija, Byaruhanga has advised that Kasai cannot be allocated the property that was in April 1992 returned to two companies whose shareholders were expelled by the late President Idi Amin.
“It is… my opinion that the property that has been repossessed under the Expropriated Properties Act by issuance of a repossession certificate by the minister is not subject to allocation or interference by DAPCB and the Minister of Finance,” Byaruhanga opined on August 15, 2019,” he opined.
Like many other properties that belonged Asians expelled by Amin, the property that Kasai wants to claim was under DAPCB (Departed Asians Properties Custodian Board) until when on March 31, 1992 a one N.K Radia, purporting to act on Parkview Limited and Bharat Properties Limited and in possession of supporting documents, applied to the then DAPCB Executive Secretary to repossess the property on behalf of the two companies.
Under the Expropriated Properties Act, the then Minister of Finance, Jehoash Mayanja Nkangi in a letter dated April 21, 1992 informed Parkview Hotel and Bharat Properties Limited that they were free to repossess the property effective from the date of the letter, having issued the two companies with a repossession certificate as required by law.
The minister’s issuance of the certificate was based on the communication from the DAPCB Executive Secretary on April 16, 1992, stating that the DAPCB Task Force had on April 11, 1992 cleared the repossession, having gone through the laid-down procedure on repossession of such properties.
According to the related law, DAPCB or the Ministry of Finance has no powers to withdraw the repossession certificate given to Parkview Limited and Bharat Properties Limited and that is how Hajj Kasai losses for now.
We are not paying Gulu boys for sex – female bankers say
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Female workers in various commercial banks in Gulu have come up to refute recent media reports that they are among several other working women in Gulu Municipality paying local boys there to have sex with them. “It is true that during our free time, some of us spend time with male friends in bars and other entertainment spots in Gulu town but that does not mean we pay those guys to have sex with us,” said a lady working with a prominent bank that this website cannot mention due to the sensitivity of the matter. Another lady when asked about the sex allegations said: “It is true that I work in the bank in Gulu here and I have a boyfriend living in Gulu as well. He is the one I always go out with and enjoy some happy moments with. I don’t think I am paying him for sex. Our intimate relationship is out of the love we have for each other. She however said there is a group of ladies in Gulu who masquerade as bankers and yet they are not and that this group targets male visitors who frequent bars. “They want to raise their status so as to be taken serious by the male visitors,” she said, adding that some of the ladies in this group come from other districts. Another female banker told this website that she has a boyfriend who is unemployed that she has been supporting him in some ways including taking him out. When asked whether she was not doing that because of the sex she receives from him, she said she didn’t think so. “I don’t think I am doing that because I want sex from him. I love him, I care about him. I know when he gets a job he will support me as well. Besides, I want to get married to him,” she said. However, further inquiry by this website revealed that indeed there are women paying young boys in Gulu town to have sex with them. “I know of a friend who has specialized in this business. Recently two working women wanted to fight over him. I had to force him out of the bar,” a resident of that town told this website. Alex Okoya, the Labour Line Parish LC II chairperson days ago said that commercial male sex workers exist in Gulu town due high demand by working-class women like bankers and high profile widows. He said the women book rooms outside of the town and it is where the boys meet them to have sex. Okoya said the boys are into the sex business as the previous jobs gave them little income. The mayor of Gulu of the town, George Labeja recently said there was a rise of commercial male sex workers in Gulu town, organised in groups and that they normally spend time in hot spot along Cemetery Road. He said the commercial male sex workers target rich working-class women who have burning sexual desires but are normally feared by responsible men who could have married them off. “These youths who are male sex workers they are going for rich women…These women are maybe rich but she lacks one ‘thing’ and that ‘thing’ she needs to buy it from these poor boys.” Labeja is quoted as saying. He is quoted saying that the increase in the number of commercial male sex workers in Gulu town is pushing back their efforts to fight HIV/AIDS in the area. He is quoted saying that the commercial male sex workers are headed by a former UN driver. That aside, this website has established that due to unemployment among the youth, some young men across major towns in Uganda are involved in commercial sex, where female clients pay them.
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Church of Uganda to elect new Archbishop as Ntagali retires
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The Church of Uganda has confirmed its bishops will next electthe new Archbishop to succeed the Most Rt. Rev. Stanley Ntagali who retires in March 2020. The new Archbishop will be announced on Friday August 28, at the Provincial Office of the Church of Uganda, Namirembe, according to the institution’s communications department. Archbishop Ntagali was elected and enthroned as Archbishop on December 16, 2012 aged 57. He turns 65 years old on March 1, 2020. 65 years is the mandatory age of retirement for the leader of the Anglican Church in Uganda. According to the institution’s leadership manual, the Archbishop serves for 10 years only and can only serve until their 65th birthday. At the age of 65 an Archbishop must retire, even if he has served less than his ten-year term. For one to qualify for the position, he must be a Bishop in the Church of Uganda and at least 50 years old. The new arch bishop will be elected by the House of Bishops comprised of all active Diocesan and Assistant Bishops under the supervision of the Provincial Chancellor. Currently, there are 38 Bishops in the House of Bishops however only 33 qualify to succeed Ntagali if elected. Currently Archbishop Ntagali is engaged in a farewell tour, visiting all 37 dioceses in the Church of Uganda to say good-bye. The Archbishop-elect will say farewell to his current diocese of Kampala as it prepares prepare to elect a new Bishop. An Archbishop automatically serves as the Diocesan Bishop of Kampala Diocese as well as Archbishop of the entire Church of Uganda. Kampala Diocese will say farewell to their Bishop and prepare to receive a new Bishop, who is also the Archbishop. The new archbishop will be installed on Sunday, 1st March 2020 at St. Paul’s Cathedral, Namirembe. Past Archbishops 1st Archbishop Leslie Brown, a British missionary and was the first Archbishop of Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, and Boga-Zaire (1961-1966) 2nd Archbishop Erica Sabiti (1966 – 1974) 3rd Archbishop Janani Luwum (1974 – 1977). Martyred in 1977. 4th Archbishop Silvanus Wani (1977 – 1983). In 1980, Rwanda, Burundi, and Boga-Zaire became a separate, Francophone Province, and Uganda became its own Province. 5th Archbishop Yona Okoth (1983 – 1995) 6th Archbishop Livingstone Mpalanyi-Nkoyoyo (1995 – 2004) 7th Archbishop Henry Luke Orombi (2004 – 2012) 8th Archbishop Stanley Ntagali (2012-2020)
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We are still mourning late Abiriga, now mafias want to kill another of our own -West Nile MPs cry to security agencies
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A section of MPs from the West Nile region have backed State Minister for Investment and Privatisation, Evelyn Anite’s stance on Uganda Telecom Limited (UTL) saga, stating that they will resign their positions in the 10th Parliament and agitate for a breakaway from the rest of Uganda if the ‘mafias’ don’t stop threatening her life as she alleged on Monday morning during a press conference. The MPs from the same region as Anite said they and their voters were still mourning the murder of former Arua Minicipality MP Ibrahim Abiriga who was gunned down by assailants last year in Matuga, Wakiso district on his way home. Like the late Abiriga, Anite belongs to the NRM party. “As MPs for West Nile region, we demand an explanation from government on the threats on Anite’s life. Government pronounces itself on Anite’s security and the anxious people of West Nile of her safety. Government formally communicates to the country on the state of affairs at UTL and status of UTL assets,” Songa said on Tuesday while addressing the media at parliament on behalf of the MPs from the same region. The MPs from the 11 districts that make up the West Nile region were led by Lawrence Songa (Ora County). Others were Rose Ayaka (Maracha Woman MP), Denis Lee Oguzu (Maracha East), Alioni Yorke Odria (Aringa South) and Jane Avur Pacuto (Pakwach Woman) among others. They tabled a number of demands they want government to address, saying the region is still haunted by the death of former Arua Municipality MP Abiriga. The lawmakers also tasked government to guarantee that no Ugandan irrespective of their tribe and affiliation should be vindicated while performing their duties including demanding accountability. They also called on the Ministry of ICT, Uganda Communications Commission and Police to investigate and come with a report on allegations of Anite’s phone tapping, poisoning threats and trailing. The lawmakers said that they are eagerly waiting for government’s lasting solution to the UTL saga, with calls to have the matter settled to ensure all Ugandans live in harmony. Alioni said that they are in possession of information and data which proves that there is corruption taking place at UTL and called on Ugandans to applaud Anite instead of mocking her efforts to fight corruption. “Anite deserves credit however much she is in the system, she always stands out what is right. She doesn’t protect the wrong things. So her coming out to pronounce herself on issues going wrong at UTL doesn’t call for threats to her life. This time anything to happen to Anite, we shall all resign from this Parliament go back to West Nile, pick our people, leave this country and see how we shall live in this country,” he said. Other MPs described Anite who is also Koboko Municipality MP, as a mother to many people in West Nile and that she has been key for West Nile’s development. On Monday Minister Anite alleged that there was a clique of mafias in the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) government that wants to finish her off for her stance on having the financially crippled UTL audited so as to establish its current status. “They have held meetings in various places in Kampala. They have recruited people to trail me. They have got printouts of my telephone conversations. When I die, there should be no postmortem,” she told astonished journalists at the Ministry of Finance headquarters. |
Reuters journalist Akena sues gov’t for Shs400m
By Our Reporter
A Ugandan journalist working with Reuters, an international media agency, has dragged government to court seeking over Shs400 million as compensation for assault inflicted on him by soldiers of the Uganda Defence Forces (UPDF) last year.
James Akena was beaten on one of Kampala streets by a group of soldiers during a protest against the arrest and detention of Kyadondo East Member of parliament Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine on the 20th of August last year.
Akena has asked court to compel government to refund him Shs390 million that he allegedly lost during the said assault, compensate his damaged camera worth Shs29 million, a phone and watch.
He also wants the court to order the government to pay all the medical expenses he incurred while nursing himself at Kampala Independent hospital amounting to about seven million shillings as a result of his injured back and. He also wants to recover Shs600,000 in transport costs to and from the hospital.
Police refutes claim of spying on opposition, wants WSJ and Daily Monitor to provide evidence
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The Uganda Police Force (UPF) has denied allegations by the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) that it used Huawei technology to spy on Kyadondo East MP Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine of the People Power pressure group, arguing that WSJ and Daily Monitor should adduce evidence to confirm allegations. “We strongly reject a malicious story that was published by the Wall Street Journal (WSJ), claiming the Uganda Police Force used its technology for spying and surveilling opposition figures…,” the Force’s spokesperson, CP Fred Enanga, said in a statement released on Tuesday. Enanga said UPF has an existing contract with Huawei to install CCTV cameras country wide as a measure to strengthen law and order. “Their contract including both the hardware and software were thoroughly evaluated, and there were no short comings in the engineering and policing processes. The first phase of the installation of CCTV cameras within the KMP areas is in advanced stages with 85% completion,” he said. He said the Force’s relationship with Huawei is purely business and does not prohibit the Force from purchasing or using their telecommunications and surveillance products in addressing crime and safety in our country. He said the cameras are already transforming modern day policing in Uganda, with facial recognition and artificial intelligence as part of policing and security. “They are also helping us to be more accountable through increased visibility and better response mechanisms,” he said. We continue to take our policing responsibilities very seriously and do utilise a range of operational, investigative and intelligence tools in our everyday activities, but not for spying purposes as alleged, Enanga said. “Take note also that where it requires information about users, we use existing laws and procedure to seek such information from service providers,” he said. He said the CCTVS are becoming a wide spread feature in Ugandan life, where citizens are more secure and conscious in public spaces with CCTVs. It’s therefore, protecting the public from criminals, he said. “The other innovations include; DNA, Fingerprinting of guns, digitalising of Registration number plates…” he said. He said the Article by the WSJ that was intended to sabotage and smear the UPF, and give political mileage to ‘a particular member of the opposition’ and other interests. “We wonder why they would single out one leader, yet there are many other players in the political arena of Uganda including other politicians, activists, Members of Parliament, Journalists, to mention a few,” Enanga said. “We do petition both the WSJ and Daily Monitor to release information that the anti-crime infrastructure we are installing has been secretly used to extract personal information from private cell phones. We have seen the same accusations fronted against many other countries and institutions, using the Huawei intelligent monitoring systems. We believe its pure sabotage and a trade war strategy against Huawei and its clients.” The Article will not put any pressure on the UPF, and we will continue to observe our Memorandum of Understanding with Huawei, and not help promote propaganda wars in the fight for the export of automated technology for policing, he said. Huawei executives and Chinese Embassy in Uganda have refuted the claims by WSJ.
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2019/20 UPL season: Five fixtures to look out for in the first round
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The 2019-2020 StarTimes Uganda Premier League season gets under way on Thursday, 29 August 2019 and here are five of the first round fixtures to look out for. The games include the title challengers, traditional giants and those which will play an important role in deciding who will be at the top by the end of the first round. Express vs SC Villa Jogoo – September 13, Muteesa II stadium, Wankulukuku This is commonly known as the Kampala Derby. Every time these two lock horns, it is always more than just a mere match. Two traditional giants who have got huge fan bases in the country will be looking to rejuvenate this season with new players, coaches and ambitions. KCCA FC vs URA FC – September 18, StarTimes Stadium, Lugogo KCCA lost two league games last season and one of them was a 2-1 loss at their backyard against Sam Ssimbwa’s Tax collectors who totally dominated in all aspects. URA is the nearest team to KCCA and Vipers to challenge for the title and didn’t lose a single away game last season. SC Villa vs Vipers SC, October 2, Namboole stadium Vipers will be looking for revenge after falling 3-1 to Villa Jogoo last season at St. Mary’s stadium. The fixture is mainly dominated by rowdy fans and vandalizing of stadiums and it will be a night game at Namboole. Vipers SC vs URA FC, November 12, St. Mary’s stadium, Kitende After talks of Sam Ssimbwa reportedly joining Vipers after Nam Ouma was sacked, The Venoms reappointed Edward Golola. He will have to prove a point to his boss in his reappointment. Last season, URA inflicted a painful 2-1 loss to Vipers in Kitende to halt their title chase and now they will be looking for revenge. KCCA FC vs Vipers SC – November 16, StarTimes stadium, Lugogo The fixture is turning to be Uganda’s El Clasico. Over the past years, both teams have shared the league triumph and it is expected not to change this season. The two teams drew 1-1 in both legs last season and whenever they play, it’s the most hotly contested league match.
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Man Utd ‘disgusted’ by online racist abuse towards Pogba after penalty miss
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Manchester United say they are “working to identify” those responsible for the racist abuse directed at midfielder Paul Pogba on social media. Pogba, 26, had a penalty saved during the 1-1 draw with Wolves on Monday. He is the third player in a week – after Yakou Meite of Reading and Chelsea’s Tammy Abraham – to have racist abuse directed at him on social media following a penalty miss. United said they are “disgusted” by the abuse and “utterly condemn” it. “The individuals who expressed these views do not represent the values of our great club and it is encouraging to see the vast majority of our fans condemn this on social media also,” read a United statement. “Manchester United has zero tolerance of any form of racism or discrimination and a long-standing commitment to campaigning against it through our #AllRedAllEqual initiative. “We will work to identify the few involved in these incidents and take the strongest course of action available to us. We also encourage social media companies to take action in these cases.” On Sunday, Reading striker Yakou Meite called out racist abuse sent via social media after his spot-kick was saved. Ivory Coast forward Meite, 23, came on as a substitute against Cardiff and missed a 91st-minute penalty. Last week, Chelsea condemned “abhorrent posts” aimed at Tammy Abraham after his Super Cup final miss against Liverpool. Blues boss Frank Lampard said he was “disgusted” by the abuse aimed at the 21-year-old England forward and suggested social media companies must do more to stop players being targeted. Others fans quickly condemned the tweets containing racist abuse that were sent to Pogba – who won the penalty he then missed – shortly after full-time at Molineux on Monday. Some tweets were later deleted while several accounts appeared to have been taken down. Twitter’s terms and conditions say it “takes action against behaviour that targets individuals with hateful conduct”. In July, anti-racism charity Kick It Out produced a report that showed reports of racist abuse increased by 43 per cent last season, with 274 cases compared with 192 the previous season.
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UTL WAR: I can’t reply a ‘mad’ person-Rukutana to Anite

Deputy Attorney General Mwesigwa Rukutana has said he won’t reply a ‘mad’ person or else he will be considered mad as well.
Mr Rukutana made the remarks in reference to his junior colleague, State Minister for Finance in charge of Investment and Privatisation, Evlyen Anite
When contacted for a comment over a petition to Inspectorate of Government to have him and others investigated over their wealth and involvement in Uganda Telecom Limited, Rukutana said he would not reply Anite who seem to be mad. “I can’t reply a mad person otherwise I will be considered mad as well” Mr. Rukutana told Eagle Online
A Ugandan citizen Davidson Ssemwanga has petitioned the Inspector General of Government (IGG), urging her to launch an investigation into the alleged illicit wealth of the three government officials as well as their vested interests in the liquidation of Uganda Telecom Limited (UTL).
Mr. Ssemwanga in his petition to the IGG, dated August 19, 2019, alleges that the Auditor General William Byaruhanga, his Deputy Mwesigwa Rukutana and the Finance Ministry Permanent Secretary Keith Muhakanizi own various properties both in Kampala and upcountry
He says Rukutana owns five arcades, six storied apartments in Zana and two houses in Kololo. On the other hand, he says Muhakanizi owns five storied apartments in Bukoto, four in Naguru and three houses in Germany as well as two houses in Mbarara. He alleges that Muhakanizi owns 50 square miles of land, though he did not mention the location of the said land.Further he says:
While “William Byaruhanga has bought land in front of his Rwenzori courts building. He wants his law firm to manage UTL affairs.”
The petitioner further alleges that Rukutana owns companies that export labour out of Uganda to the Middle East and Asia. He says that many girls exported by the companies allegedly owned by Rukutana have been exploited and that their rights have been abused.
On UTL audit, the petitioner must have read the recent disagreements between Byaruhanga, Muhakanizi and Rukutana on one side and Evelyne Anite, State Minister for Investment and Privatisation, who wanted UTL audited and the processing is ongoing following a directive from President Museveni .
On the audit of UTL, Ssemwanga says: “IGG, what has been bothering me and other citizens of Uganda is why public officials would be disagreeing to an audit. The only logic is that they are hiding something. These people have been at the centre of most liquidated public assets in their lifetime of public service.”
Mr Muhakanizi told Eagle Online that the call for investigation into his wealth wasn’t new because every year he declares his wealth to the Inspectorate of Government.
“I won the war on the audit because I insisted that we must follow the law and I insisted on the involvement of the Attorney General Chambers and the court ruling was precisely what we wanted. I am happy that they have petitioned IGG to investigate my wealth because I declare my wealth to the IGG and so there is no fear whatsoever”












