The Federation of Uganda Basketball Associations (FUBA) has signed a three-year agreement with the basketball world governing body FIBA, to host The FIBA 3X3 Africa Cup from 2019 to 2021.
The tournament is expected to attract 12 teams of Open Category (Men & Women) and 12 teams of U18 (Men &Women) from all over Africa, making a total of 48 teams and 192 players.
The first edition will take place between 8 to 10 November 2019 at an outdoor venue that will be announced soon.
Uganda was selected to host the tournament because of its good ratings and commitment for the game, taking part in a lot of 3X3 events, and also been competing well on both the continent and internationally.
Uganda is ranked number three in the men’s category after Ivory Coast and Nigeria respectively, while in the ladies category, Uganda is 5th in Africa and 13th in the world.
In the 3×3 basketball, each team consists of three players and one substitute. Each team must have three players on the court when the game begins and it is played on half-court.
3×3 is an opportunity for new players, organisers and countries to go from the streets to the World Stage. The stars of the game play in a professional tour and some of the most prestigious multi-sports events. On June 9, 2017, 3×3 was added to the Olympic Program, starting from the Tokyo 2020 Games.
Juventus star Cristiano Ronaldo will not face any charges over an alleged rape in Las Vegas a decade ago after US prosecutors said Monday they did not have enough evidence to proceed.
A district attorney in the state of Nevada said it would not prosecute the Portuguese soccer player because it “cannot be proven beyond a reasonable doubt” that a sexual assault occurred.
Kathryn Mayorga, a former model, alleges that Ronaldo raped her in a Las Vegas hotel in 2009.
The former Manchester United and Real Madrid forward reached a financial settlement with her one year after the incident.
He has always denied allegations of sexual assault, insisting their encounter was consensual.
The Clark County District Attorney’s Office said it had received a report from Mayorga — who it identified only as “V” — on June 13, 2009, reporting that she had been the victim of a sexual assault.
Police could not conduct “any meaningful investigation” at the time because she declined to say who assaulted her or where it occurred, the office said in a statement.
As a result, detectives were “unable to search for and impound vital forensic evidence,” and video showing Ronaldo and Mayorga together was lost, it added.
Mayorga contacted police in August of last year to ask that the case be reopened, at which point she named Ronaldo as the alleged assailant.
The case was reopened “in spite of the passage of over nine year,” prosecutors said.
“Based upon a review of the information presented at this time, the allegations of sexual assault against Cristiano Ronaldo cannot be proven beyond a reasonable doubt,” prosecutors said. “Therefore, no charges will be forthcoming.”
Mayorga’s attorney has stated that she agreed to an out-of-court settlement to keep her name from going public, but was later inspired to speak out by the #MeToo movement against sexual harassment.
Mayorga has also said that her emotional trauma at the time did not allow her to participate in the mediation process for the financial settlement.
Neither Ronaldo’s nor Mayorga’s lawyers responded to AFP’s request for comment on the decision to end the investigation.
The player has yet to respond on social media.
In October last year, Ronaldo said he was “an exemplary person.”
“I know who I am and what I did. The truth will come out,” he told France Football magazine.
“And the people who criticize me and who expose my life today, who make a song and dance about it, these people will see.”
The allegations have taken a toll on his life, and in particular on his family, he said.
In January, a Spanish court handed Ronaldo a suspended two-year prison sentence for committing tax fraud while he was at Real Madrid.
This was immediately reduced to a fine of 365,000 euros ($410,000), on top of another penalty of 3.2 million euros ($3.6 million).
Ronaldo is widely considered one of the greatest footballers in the history of the game, having won the Champions League title five times — once with Manchester United and four times with Real Madrid.
He also led Portugal to the Euro 2016 title in France.
Ronaldo, who is based in Turin, is currently on Juventus’ pre-season tour of Asia. – AFP
The Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) has confirmed the dates and venues for the second edition of the Pilsner Super eight tournament.
According to FUFA competitions committee, the mini tournament comprises of 8 teams; the top 6 ranked teams from the previous season of the Uganda Premier League and the top 2 ranked teams from the previous season of the FUFA Big League with no registration fee required to participate.
Wakiso Giants and Proline are the two sides from the Fufa Big League while KCCA, Vipers, URA, Tooro United, Mbarara city and Onduparaka are the six teams from the Uganda Premier League.
Holders KCCA will travel to Wakiso Giants, Mbarara City host URA at Kakyeka Stadium, Onduparaka will be at home against Tooro United in Arua and Proline will take on Vipers at Lugogo.
The tournament is played on a knockout basis and it is scheduled to be played between July 30 and August 24, 2019.
KCCA FC emerged winners of the first ever inaugural Pilsner Super 8 Cup last year after defeating Onduparaka FC 2-0 in the final played at Muteesa II Stadium, Wankulukuku with goals from Saddam Ibrahim Juma and Allan Okello.
The Prize money for this year is sh68m, which will be shared by all the 8 clubs with the winner taking Sh20m.
The tournament acts as a curtain-raiser for the upcoming Uganda Premier League season.
2019 Pilsner Super 8 Tournament:
Fixtures:
Tuesday, 30th July: Proline Vs Vipers – Star Times Stadium, Lugogo
Thursday, 1st August: Wakiso Giants Vs KCCA – Wakisha Resource Center, Wakiso
Friday, 2nd August: Mbarara City Vs URA – Kakyeka Stadium, Mbarara
Sunday, 4th August: Onduparaka Vs Tooro United – Green Light Stadium, Arua
The Uganda police Force is set to recruit 5000 personnel in the force starting on July 29, 2019 to boost its operational capaicity.
According to Fred Enanga, the police spokesperson, 4500 probation police constables and 500 learner assistant inspectors of police will be drafted during the week long exercise.
The Inspector General of Police Martin Okoth Ochola will flag off 25 recruitment teams this week, on a seven – day country wide recruitment drive that ends the August 4, 2019 and will cover all districts.
According to Enanga, the recruitment is based on the needs of the institution, that were identified through a staffing analysis, in line with our vision to provide an enlightened, motivated, community oriented, accountable and modern police force, that is geared towards a crime free society.
“The public is reminded that the police is a service organisation and the quality of service delivery is directly linked to the quality of personnel who are recruited. Therefore, the process of attracting potential recruits and learner AIPs is more complex, than merely convincing a large number of candidates to submit their applications,” said Enanga.
He said the recruitment teams have been briefed on the recruitment process and further tasked to ensure, they recruit sufficient numbers of qualified persons, who are a “good fit” for the institution.
Among the conditions required of the candidates are: good communication skills, be calm, confident, problem solvers, team players who can easily build relationships, respect other people and appreciate views from the public.
All interested applicants are recommended to read and satisfy themselves, with the minimum eligibility criteria, before they apply. As a reminder they must:
Must be Ugandan citizens with a valid national ID (NIN)
Must have no criminal record
Should be ready to undertake the requisite twelve (12) months Police Basic Training
Must be physically fit
Should be ready to work in any part of the country
Possess good communication skills
On the recruitment day , the applicants should;
Register upon arrival
Hand in hand written applications accompanied by originals and photocopies of academic documents
Posses an ID of the previous institution /school attended
Possess three (3)recent passport size photographs
Hand in recommendation letters from LCI, LCII, LCIII and RDC from the respective districts of recruitment.
Whereas the entry level for the Learner AIPs still remains at Diploma Level, the entry level for Probation Police Constables was reverted to UCE, with 5 credits, (English and Maths inclusive).This followed a study, that established better retention levels and lower turnover rates, with UCE holders compared to UACE holders, he said.
“We would like to further reiterate that the police is an equal opportunities, employer and that the process of recruitment is by rule and merit. Therefore, all applicants are warned against giving bribes or make attempts to influence the recruitment process, through politicians, unscrupulous people, intermediary agents or policemen. There is no way of getting selected through fraudulent means,” Enanga said.
Any such persons found to be giving such false promises must be reported to the nearest police station the Professional Standards Unit (PSU), or other anti-corruption agency for investigation, he said.
Two members of Namisindwa District Commission have been arrested for allegedly soliciting bribes from applicants.
The suspects are Apollo Wopicho, the Vice Chairperson Namisindwa District Service Commission and Alex Wonekha, a member of the Commission.
Namisindwa Resident District Commissioner, Moses Kigai Wamoto confirmed the arrest of the duo but declined to divulge details.
The arrest of the duo follows unrest in Namisindwa following the recent recruitment by the District Service Commission. Tension has been building in Namisindwa following demands by residents for the dismissal of the District Service Commission members for alleged bribery.
Last week, some parents and applicants stormed Namisindwa District Service Commission accusing members of conning them of their money with promises of hiring them.
Some of the applicants reportedly paid up to Shs5 million to the District Commission Members to secure jobs in vain.
Based on new evidence assessing benefits and risks, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has recommended the use of the HIV drug dolutegravir (DTG) as the preferred first-line and second-line treatment for all populations, including pregnant women and those of childbearing potential.
Initial studies had highlighted a possible link between DTG and neural tube defects (birth defects of the brain and spinal cord that cause conditions such as spina bifida) in infants born to women using the drug at the time of conception. This potential safety concern was reported in May 2018 from a study in Botswana that found four cases of neural tube defects out of 426 women who became pregnant while taking DTG. Based on these preliminary findings, many countries advised pregnant women and women of childbearing potential to take efavirenz (EFV) instead.
New data from two large clinical trials comparing the efficacy and safety of DTG and EFV in Africa have now expanded the evidence base. The risks of neural tube defects are significantly lower than what the initial studies may have suggested.
The guidelines group also considered mathematical models of the benefits and harms associated with the two drugs; the values and preferences of people living with HIV, as well as factors related to implementation of HIV programmes in different countries, and cost.
DTG is a drug that is more effective, easier to take and has fewer side effects than alternative drugs that are currently used. DTG also has a high genetic barrier to developing drug resistance, which is important given the rising trend of resistance to EFV and nevirapine-based regimens. In 2019, 12 out of 18 countries surveyed by WHO reported pre-treatment drug resistance levels exceeding the recommended threshold of 10%.
All of above findings informed the decision to update the 2019 guidelines.
In 2019, 82 low- and middle-income countries reported to be transitioning to DTG-based HIV treatment regimens. The new updated recommendations aim to help more countries improve their HIV policies.
As for any medications, informed choice is important. Every treatment decision needs to be based on an informed discussion with the health provider weighing the benefits and potential risks.
WHO also stresses the importance of providing information and options to help women make an informed choice. To this end WHO has convened an advisory group of women living with HIV from diverse backgrounds to advise on policy issues related to their health, including sexual and reproductive health. WHO highlights the need to continually monitor the risk of neural tube defects associated with DTG.
Local music artiste Winnie Nakanwagi alias Winnie Nwagi has pledged to refrain from any pornographic shows after being quizzed by the Pornography Control Committee (PCC).
She made the pledge in a meeting with members of the Committee, that had summoned her over her indecent and erotic dancing during a music show held on July 13, 2019 at St. Mary’s Kisubi (SMACK) which the musician admitted was pornographic and contravened the provisions of the Anti-Pornography Act, 2014.
Pornography in the Act is defined to mean “any representation through publication, exhibition, cinematography, indecent show, information technology or by whatever means, of a person engaged in real or stimulated explicit sexual activities or any representation of the sexual parts of a person for primarily sexual excitement.”
PCC accuses Nwagi of exhibiting her erotic dance moves to students of SMACK and according to the Act, they are regarded as children, which also, it is claimed breached the cultural and religious norms of the Ugandan society.
The Anti-Pornography Act defines a child as a person under 18 years of age.
Manzi Tumubweine, the long serving National Gaming Board chairperson has been kicked out for unknown reasons.
According to sources at Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development refused to renew his contract for among others overstaying and allegedly causing intrigue at the board.
Tumubweine has been replaced by Alosyous Mugasa – Managing Director Kolping society Uganda.
Tumubweine, a former State Minister, is remembered for having fought Edgar Agaba, the Executive Director for implementing structures as the NGB had gained ground.
Mr Agaba who joined NGB in 2017 registered revenue collection from Shs1.5 billion two years ago to the current Shs50 billion.
Tumubweine, according to a whistleblower, had forgotten his role of being NGB Chairman and instead wanted to play the role of the executive director, to the extent that he falsely accused Agaba of corruption
Gen. Tumukunde addressing one of the youth groups in Kampala. He is a dedicated mobilizers.
Former Security Minister, Lt. Gen. Henry Tumukunde has said that he is not shaken by other aspirants eyeing Kampala Lord Mayor seat saying he isn’t shaken by other aspirants as he is a proven competitor whose track records speaks for itself.
Musician Jose Chameleon real name Joseph Mayanja, Kawempe North MP Latiff Ssebaggala, Godfrey Nyakana of ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party have all expressed interest in running for the seat while incumbent Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago remains silent on. However, sources close to Lukwago say he is eyeing the Democratic Party president general slot.
Speaking to CBS Radio morning programmes this morning, Gen. Tumukunde, also the former head of Internal Security Organisation (ISO), who is quietly on door to door consultations, said he is not worried about who is joining the race but is carrying out research to establish what Kampala voters want and the real problems affecting the city.
“I am not worried and under pressure as they allege, I am not going to tell lies and propaganda but let me tell you the assurance that whoever is contesting with me, will find me not an easy competitor because I am not a lightweight competitor, it will be real hard work to counter me.”
Asked why he had started on early mobilization of voters, Tumukunde said he wasn’t campaigning but consulting voters to establish the truth from the real voters.
“The reason why some of these leaders reach offices and find it hard is because they don’t do research, you can’t get medicine before you establish the sickness and that is exactly what I am doing. I want to know whether I will be capable of the task ahead or not and secondly, I see if have medicine for the disease”
Will you manage the other competitors like those listed above? And will pull off?
“Ask them if they will manage me”, Moderator but they are many? Actually those many are the best to compete with, please allow them to come and we meet in the field. Please ask them if I am that light to challenge? I can’t enter anything assignment or challenge without being prepared for it and I am actually not the usual Tumukunde. Have you ever heard that Tumukunde has ever failed or assigned any task and failed to deliver?
So is that the Gen. Tumukunde coming for Lord Mayor?
I am a very calculated man and remember your days back then when bombs have become rampant? I decided to undertake that task and the rest is history and that is why I am a Ugandan who isn’t the usual one and a tasted and trusted one and you mine is based on evidence.
But as you plan to contest, crime is spilling over as people are being killed like there isn’t public order?
So beats at that among those you have mentioned as contesting and who has medicine than me and i have the medicine in plenty, just imagine the little time I spent as Security Minister not even operative before Museveni dropped me, you remember what I told promised, I deliver
Click to listen to Audio
Joining The NRA guerillas
During his time at Makerere, Tumukunde was involved in anti-government politics, which subsequently led to his joining of then rebels, the National Resistance Army, led by President Yoweri Museveni. Tumukunde was hounded by the government security services during his last year at the university and on completion, decided to join the struggle, along with two of his friends at the time, Major General Mugisha Muntu and Colonel Jet Mwebaze.
Obote’s security services at the time caught wind of their impending departure for the bush and mounted an attack on the NRA’s transit house (shop) in Kampala. It is said that Tumukunde alongside Muntu posed as shopkeepers, surviving what would have been sure torture and death. In the early stages of the war, Tumukunde was a machine gunner and eventually went on to become one of the senior officers in NRA, indicated by his senior number RA 0111.
Getting shot
In 1985, during one of the bigger battles with the Uganda National Liberation Front in Luweero District, Tumukunde was shot multiple times in his legs. The wounds were so major that it was thought he would not survive. He was, however, smuggled out of the country to Nairobi and eventually to London where he was operated on.
Post-Bush
On capturing power, Tumukunde was promoted to the rank of major and appointed first secretary and military attache at the Ugandan High Commission in the United Kingdom. Subsequently, Tumukunde was sent on a Command and Staff Course at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, in Kaduna, Nigeria from where he emerged as one of the best students. He later on returned to Uganda where he became the Army’s director of planning. Tumukunde served in this role for many years and was very instrumental in the setup of formal military structures in the UPDF, which had until then been a rebel army.
In 1994, Uganda held elections for the Constituent Assembly and Tumukunde sought to represent his home county Rubaabo. His main competitor was Prof. Mondo Kagonyera. Tumukunde, who was in early thirties at the time, was thought to be the underdog in the race; however, Tumukunde was a very good mobiliser and won by a landslide margin. Tumukunde then joined the CA, which formulated the current 1995 Ugandan Constitution. Tumukunde was known to be a regular and astute contributor to the sessions and debates that preceded the formation of the Constitution.
Following the set-up of the constitution, Uganda held elections and Tumukunde subsequently became a Member of Parliament representing the Army as a special interest group. He went on to serve as an MP until 2005. In addition to this, Tumukunde was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel and appointed chief of personnel and administration. In 1998, Tumukunde was again promoted to the rank of colonel and appointed chief of military intelligence and security. His tenure was arguably the most successful by any officer as it is during this time that Al-Qaeda’s plan to bomb the American Embassy was thwarted. There was also a time where bombings were rampant within the capital Kampala, and once again Tumukunde formed several intelligence committees within the city and the problem was managed. Tumukunde also built an amicable rapport with the Muslim community, which many had accused of spearheading the attacks, so much so that key intelligence information was forwarded to him with ease. Arguably, it was during his reign that the Ugandan intelligence apparatus was at its most efficient.
Tumukunde was then promoted to brigadier general and transferred to command the UPDF Fourth Division based in Gulu. At the time, the war with the LRA was ongoing and Tumukunde made significant headway during his time as division commanding officer in diminishing the threat of the LRA. It is also at the time when Ebola outbreak was first reported in Northern Uganda and Dr. Mathew Lukwiya and Gen. Tumukunde swung into action but bad enough Dr. Lukwiya lost to the Ebola battle.
Tumukunde was then appointed Director General of the Internal Security Organisation, Uganda’s civil intelligence body. During his time at ISO, Tumukunde set up structures that returned ISO to being the country’s foremost Intelligence gathering body, just as he had done with CMI. The Internal Security Organisation became renowned for its efficient and effective approach towards intelligence and counter-terrorism.
The fall out
Tumukunde’s fast rise to the upper echelons of both the political and military scene in Uganda marked him out as one of Uganda’s most popular and well known figures and ultimately, this, alongside his very strong minded and unrelenting dedication to his country, brought him into the sights of the very institutions he helped to consolidate.
At a political retreat in 2003, Tumukunde, in the presence of the president and his cabinet, argued against the impending removal of term limits that would give President Museveni the right to stand for re-election on an infinite basis. Tumukunde stated that this would be in direct contravention of the rights that they fought to establish and that he was not willing to take part in what he considered to be grossly unconstitutional behaviour. Predictably, this put him at loggerheads with the establishment and more so the president.
Arrest and detention
Tumukunde was charged with the offences of abuse of office and spreading harmful propaganda. The abuse of office charges were eventually dropped in a manner suggesting that they had been politically motivated in the first instance. What followed was, however, a surprise to many. Tumukunde was on May 28, 2005, forced to resign from Parliament and subsequently arrested on the orders of the President Museveni
His home was surrounded by at least 50 soldiers commanded by then Brig. Kale Kayihura and Brig. Joshua Masaba who proceeded to arrest him. Gen. Tumukunde was then driven in a tightly guarded convoy to an officers mess turned detention center, where he was incarcerated for nearly two years, during which he had limited and tightly controlled contact with the outside world. His extrajudicial detention coupled with a series of controversial and uncertain court martial hearings seemed to backfire leading to irreversible pressure culminating in his release in 2007.
His arrest followed his opposing views to the proposed “third term” project that suggested a revision to the Ugandan constitution enabling one to serve more than two terms as president as was the case at the time.
On April 18, 2013, the UPDF General Court Martial sat to bring an end to the process that had lasted eight years and summed up its deliberations. The charge of spreading harmful propaganda was dropped while the joint charge of military misconduct was upheld and Tumukunde was subsequently sentenced to a severe reprimand.
Promotion and retirement
In September 2015, Tumukunde was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General and then retired from the Army.
Appointment to cabinet
On June 6, 2016, he was appointed to the Cabinet as the Minister of National Security. He was relieved of his cabinet responsibilities on the evening of Sunday, 4 March 2018, in a presidential tweet, in which his nemesis, General Kale Kayihura, the former Inspector General of Police was also fired.
Three time Uganda Premier League champions Vipers Sports Club have today parted ways with Kenyan coach Micheal Nam Ouma.
“Vipers SC would like to announce that coach Michael Nam Ouma has left the club,” reads part of the statement on the club’s official website.
Ouma who holds a CAF A coaching license, replaced Mexican Javier Martinez Espinoza in December 2018 and guided the team to a second place finish last season.
He has been in charge of only 24 games. In the league, he won 9 games, drawing 7 and losing three and was knocked out by Proline in the quarter-finals of the Uganda Cup.
The technical staff of assistant manager Edward Golola, goalkeeping coach Moses Oloya, team trainer Edward Ssali, strength and endurance coach Ram Nyakana have also been shown the exit.
“The Club has also dissolved the technical department with immediate effect.” The statement further reads.
“Vipers Sports Club would like to thank Ouma and the technical team for the services rendered to the club and we wish them the best going forward.”
The Kitende-based club has already embarked on the process of recruiting a new coach and technical staff ahead of the new season that kicks off in September.
“The club has started a process for the recruitment of a new coach and technical staff.” The statement concludes.
Nam Ouma has previously worked with Posta Rangers, Talanta FC and Agro Chemicals and Karuturi Sports Club in Kenya.
