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.
Police have announced that they have arrested a teacher at Springfield International School and charged him with aggravated defilement of an eight year old pupil.
“This is to inform the public that a specialist team of detectives from the Sexual and Gender Based Violence Unit, at CID Headquarters arrested Walugembe Jimmy, a 29 year old teacher at Springfield International School and charged him with Aggravated Defilement, of an 8 year school girl. The suspect it is alleged lured the victim into a toilet and acted inappropriately by sexually abusing her. The victim was subjected to medical examination and established to have a ruptured hymen.” read the police statement.
it further continues “We want to thank all stakeholders who took interest in this matter and brought it to the attention of the police, after several attempts to compromise the incident, with a written agreement between the three parties of parents, the school and the teacher.”
Police says the headteacher of the school, identified as Mutebi Moses, whom it is alleged turned a blind eye and allowed the teacher to remain in the school and continue teaching was also arrested and a statement obtained from him, being an accessory after the fact of defilement. The file is still with the DPP.
police further warned all school administrators to know that parents send their children to school, relying on school employees for their safety and well-beings. “They are therefore, encouraged to review their school policies and procedures, on sexual abuse and harassment, and further develop collaborative relationships with criminal justice and child welfare agencies, to guard against acts of sexual misconduct in schools.”
Meanwhile, police team of specialists are counselling the victim in a holistic manner, to help address the emotional and physical injury the victim could have suffered, due to the sexual abuse.
Fresh Kid whose real name is Patrick Ssenyonjo, has won his first international music award, seven months after bursting on the entertainment scene.
The seven year-old rapper won the best international music video award of his song ‘Bambi’ at the fourth Carolina Music Video Awards.
He defeated fellow Ugandan nominees; Feffe Bussi, Lydia Jazmine and Ykee Benda at the ceremony held at the NASCAR Hall of Fame High Octane Theater in the US city of Charlotte in North Carolina.
He defeated Feffe Bussi’s song ‘Yes, No’, Lydia Jazmine ‘You & Me’ Ykee Benda’s ‘Singa’.
Fresh Kid will be accorded a fully paid trip to Hollywood to perform at the Pre-Awards show party at the Hollywood Music in Media Awards (HMMA) on 20th November
The “Carolina Music Video Awards” is aimed at offering worldwide recognition to artists who deserve to be honored for not only their creative works but also as hardworking individuals who excel in debuting their talents through visual performance and media.
CM Awards received over 300 music artists who have received over 400K votes from fans and were selected from over 3000 nominees.
Uganda Premier League champions KCCA FC are to play Namibian side African Stars FC in the Preliminary first round match of the 2019/20 Total CAF Champions League.
The 2019 CECAFA Kagame Club Cup champions will visit Windhoek to play the first leg between August 9-11, 2019 in Kampala at Star Times Stadium Lugogo Kampala while the return leg is set for August 23-25, in Blantyre.
The winner will face the successful club between Matlama from Lesotho and Angola’s Atletico Petroleos De Luanda to qualify for the group stages. .
Meanwhile, Uganda’s representatives in the CAF Confederation Cup competition, Proline FC will face Malawi’s Masters Security Services FC in the preliminary round.
The successful winner on aggregate over the two legs shall take on either Rwanda’s AS Kigali or Tanzania’s KMC.
The draw was conducted during the meeting of the CAF Interclubs Committee on Sunday, 21 July 2019 at the CAF Headquarters in Cairo.
The Caf Champions League and Confederations cup tournament uses two rounds of qualifying matches to determine the 16 clubs that will compete in the group stage. The top two clubs from each group progress to quarter-finals. The quarter-finals and semi-finals are played over two legs and make use of the away goals rule.
Two Ugandan men are to serve 60 years imprisonment for aggravated robbery and murder of a Columbia University student who was on holiday in Kampala.
It is said on December 31, 2015 at around midnight, Andrew Gatare, 19, a student of electrical engineering left home in Kololo to watch fireworks at Kampala Serena Hotel but was strangled by Ronald Mutebi and Geoffrey Lubwama before robbing his blackberry phone.
The duo was arrested after selling the phone at shs80, 000.
High Court judge, Flavia Anglin Ssenoga on Monday said the two offences are so grave and attract a maximum sentence of death but noted she had been lenient to sentence them to 60 years for both offences.
“Each of the two convicts is sentenced to 30-year imprisonment on each of the two counts of murder and aggravated robbery,” Ssenoga said.
The sentences are to run concurrently she said.
The judge argued that because the convicts are first offenders, she didn’t go for the maximum death sentence but rather 35 years for each of the offences and that she had subtracted the five years they have spent on remand in Luzira.
According to justice Ssenoga, the convicts set out to go and carry out the offence by targeting revelers who were enjoying New Year’s Day celebrations, and Gatare fell prey to their actions.
“The victim of the offence was deliberately targeted because of his money and phone. The offences were committed as part of a premeditated plan because the convicts left their area of residence deliberately targeting revelers who were enjoying the New Year’s Day in order to enrich themselves.”
Justice Ssenoga said in the process, the life of a young person was abruptly ended and that it can never be returned.
The judge said that such offences of aggravated robbery and murder are widely condemned by the public, adding that anyone who participates in such should be kept away from society.
“The offences cause a lot of fear among the public and the family of the deceased and society has been deprived of a very young person. The pain caused to the family can never go away despite the condolences passed onto them,” Ssenoga said in her sentence.
She said she had handed such a punishment to the convicts to send out a message that crime does not pay and that for anyone to earn a living, they have to work hard for it.
“If they are not punished for such behavior, it becomes a licence for other people to commit crimes as they believe they can get away with it. That kind of behavior has to be greatly condemned and cannot be tolerated.”
“They should be able to learn that wealth is obtained through hard work and not through crime and violence.”
The judge said that by such a sentence, she is sending out a strong message to the public that crime does not pay and whoever participates in it will have to pay for it.
Akello Florence, the state prosecutor saidthe offences of murder and aggravated robbery are so grave that the convicts deserve 40 years imprisonment for taking away a life of only 19 years old. The victim (Gatare) was still young and had a bright future ahead of him but he never lived to enjoy it.
Fredrick Mbaziira( defence lawyer) said that the convicts were first offenders and are sole breadwinners for their families. The court should hand lenient sentences to them so they can be able to reform and also return to fend for their families.
“To error is human but repeating a mistake should attract severe sentence. They should be given a chance to return to society as reformed people and preach the gospel of being good citizens in their communities,” he said.
