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Uganda drop in latest Fifa rankings due to defeat in Tanzania

By
Our Reporter
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Cranes team

Uganda Cranes has dropped two places in the latest Fifa rankings released today by the World’s football governing body.

The drop comes after a 3-0 loss to the Taifa Stars of Tanzania in the last group game of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

Cranes now lie 79th in the world and 16th on the continent.

Neighbours Kenya also dropped two places to 108, while Tanzania improved by six slots to 131, Burundi came at 136, improving by 2 places after sealing Afcon qualification while Rwanda, the only East African nation to miss out on the 2019 Afcon, dropped by three slots to 138.

The top five countries in Africa are; Senegal (23), Tunisia (28), Nigeria (42), Morocco (45), and Congo DR (46).

While there were 150 games played across the globe during the international period, things remained tight at the top of the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking as the top three remained unchanged.

Belgium (1st, unchanged) maintain a slender lead – growing it marginally to three points – over (2nd, unchanged). Brazil (3rd, unchanged), however, are looking over their shoulders somewhat as England (4th, up 1) leapfrogged World Cup finalists Croatia (5th, down 1).

Uruguay (6th, up 1) are the only other movers within the top ten, whereas a dramatic win for Germany (13th, up 3) saw them overtake defeated opponents the Netherlands (16th, down 2), as well as Sweden (14th, unchanged) and Chile (15th, down 2).

Israel (84th, up 8) enjoyed the biggest jump of all, followed closely by Guatemala (143rd, up 6) and Tanzania.

Congo DR (46th, up 5) and Ghana (49th, up 3), were the only two sides to breach the top 50, while Kosovo (127th, plus 3) continued their steady climb up the World Ranking.

The next FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking will be published on 14th June 2

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NRM members welcome new voting mode of lining-up

By
Trevor S Baleke
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Members of the National Resistance Movement who attended burial of Aidah Ruth Nabirye, mother to former Namisindwa RDC, Robert Mutemo have welcomed the recent resolution by the ruling party Central Executive Committee in which internal elections will be by lining-up. The burial took place at Nawankompe village in Nawampiti sub county, Luuka District.

The mourners responded with cheers when Hon Milton Muwuma who represented the NRM Secretary General (SG), Rt Hon Justine Kasule Lumumba assured them that with the new system the elections will be free and fair and cost effective.

“You thank maama (Lumumba) and mzee (president Museveni) for seeing ahead and being visionary,” one elders female mourner shouted from the back of the crowd.

Muwuma had told them about the benefits of the new voting mode.

“Some people have in the past been supporting more than one candidate leaving all candidates suspecting that their victory has been stolen. We have also been having cases of ballot stuffing but with lining-up, one will not stuff the voters,” he assured the NRM members.

“Therefore, my boss – the SG has asked me to tell you that let us support and embrace the new voting mode in order to reduce on the amount of petitions and number of our members who contest as independents after suspecting that the voting by secret ballot was not free and fair,” he empharsised as mourners cheered on.

During their retreat at Chobe Safari Lodge in Nwoya district, CEC backed President Yoweri Museveni proposal to line behind candidates during party internal elections.

The strategy has since received criticism with some individuals labelling it traditional and analogue while others say its an attack on voters’ privacy among other things.

However, Muwuma, explains that the party top leadership endorsed the proposal following last year’s LCI and Women Council Elections where the mode of lining-up was applied and that it had very many positive aspects including cost reduction, less disputes, and transparency.

He says the mode not only minimises election petitions but also simplifies their management as voters posses vivid recollection of events.

Muwuma said that the Secretary General is very opportunistic that the mode will bring back sanity in the party elections which have for years been disputed by some party members.

“The mode is seen by NRM as a way of minimizing the number of independents due to its transparency, reduce bribery and commercialisation of elections,” he said.

Appearing NBS FM 89.4’s Sunday Panel last week Lumumba also cited minimizing infiltration by non-party members who she says carry sinister motives and that it will also encourage participation as other factors.

On economic implications, she says the mode reduces costs of election management as no ballot papers, ballot boxes, indelible ink among others are required.

Lumumba however, noted that the Party Secretariat will this April release a detailed program for the District Conferences to further consider the proposal.

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Newly commissioned Source of the Nile Bridge to be closed for three months over glaring surface

By
Geoffery Serugo
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Source of the Nile Bridge

Uganda National Roads Authority has confirmed that part of the newly commissioned Source of the Nile Bridge will be closed for three months to pave way for replacing of the glaring and defective pavements and asphalt layer.

The over US $160 million project was commissioned in October 2018, located at Njeru, a suburb of Jinja across the Victoria Nile, between the source of the Nile to the south and Nalubaale Power Station (old bridge) to the north.

According to UNRA, the joint venture Zenitaka Corporation and Hyundai Engineering and Construction Company Limited under supervision of the consultant the joint venture of oriental consultation company, eight japan engineering and consultants’ incorporation and pyuhunghwa engineering Consultant Company limited will undertake restoration works to replace the defective pavements and asphalt layer on the bridge.

“The contractor of the source of the Nile Bridge project will undertake restoration works to replace the defective pavement layer on the bridge from 15th to July April 2019,” reads in part of the statement.

Kampala-bound traffic (Jinja to Kampala) shall continue to use the Source of the Nile Bridge. Jinja-bound traffic (Kampala to Jinja) shall be diverted to the Nalubaale Bridge.

Local Traffic (to and from) Nile Breweries Ltd, Southern Range Nyanza Ltd (Nytil), East African Packaging Solutions Ltd shall continue to use their normal routes.

Cyclists and motor cyclists (‘Boda Boda’) traffic to and from Jinja shall continue to use the Nalubaale Bridge and Faraday Road.

This is adjacent and immediately north of where the Uganda Railways line crosses the Victoria Nile. It is located on the proposed Kampala–Jinja Expressway, approximately 82 kilometers (51 mi), by road, east of Kampala.

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UPDF, US embassy launch joint operation as kidnappers demand Shs1.8 billion

By
Geoffery Serugo
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Government and American embassy have launched joint operation of Uganda peoples Defence forces (UPDF) and Uganda Wildlife Authority game wardens to establish the where about of American tourist and a senior game guide who were kidnapped last evening.

According to a statement released by police Spokesperson, Fred Enanga, four unknown gunmen staged an ambush and kidnapped the tourist, Ms Kimbley Sue Endecoff and his drive, a senior game guide identified as Jean Paul Milenge Romezo at Katoke gate in Queen Elizabeth national park.

The gunmen used the victim’s cellphone to demand a ransom of US $500,000, equivalent to Shs 1.85 billion police said, adding that they “strongly believe this ransom is the reason behind the kidnap.”

At least two other people were traveling with them in a vehicle near the border with Democratic Republic of Congo. They were apprehended by four men who held them at gunpoint, police said.

The kidnappers abducted the American and the driver, taking their keys but leaving the vehicle behind, according to police. The others in the vehicle escaped unharmed and later contacted authorities.

Ugandan police said they had blocked the nearby border to the Democratic Republic of Congo in an attempt to corner the suspects.

“We strongly believe the perpetrators and victims could still be trapped within our search area,” police said. “We are hopeful that our efforts will lead to their successful recovery.”

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Cabinet forms sub-committee to investigate Nantaba over gruesome murder of Ssebulime

By
Geoffery Serugo
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AT WAR: ICT State Minister Aida Nantaba Erios

Cabinet has formed a sub-committee to investigate the extra judicial killing of Ronald Ssebulime and the assassination attempts of State Minister of Information and Communication Technology Aida Nantaba.

Ssebulime was killed on his way to visit his children at school in Kabimbiri, Mukono district. It is averred that Nantaba suspected him to be an assassin after he made a sudden u turn at Ssinda village, where he stopped to ask the women who always sell food to Nantaba for direction before turning back on Kampala road.

According to State Minister for Internal Affairs, Obiga Kania he has been tasked to head the investigations and the findings will later be presented before cabinet.

“I want on behalf of government and on my own behalf, to express my deepest condolences to the family and relatives of the late Ronald Ssebulime. The death of the late Ronald Ssebulime is extremely sad,” he said during the plenary.

Presenting an interim statement, Mr Kania said they will establish if indeed there was an attempt to assassinate Nantaba and if so, the motive and who was or were the perpetrators.

“A team of detectives from CID headquarters and Kampala Metropolitan Police has been constituted to carry out the investigation,” He said adding that some police officers including Cpl David Ssali, the police officer who ended Ssebulime’s life have been arrested.

On Wednesday last week, Police Spokesman Fred Enanga confirmed that Ssebulime was illegally killed after days of denying that the accusations. Enanga said police patrol in the area told lies.
Also read: https://eagle.co.ug/2019/03/30/find-me-home-if-you-want-nantaba-to-police-cid.html

Since the murder of Ssebulime, the Nantaba has however, declined to go down to her knees and apologies nor condole his family. Nantaba has since then not recorded a statement surrounding the death of an innocent man.

In a letter addressed to the Director Criminal Investigation at police CID, replying police summons, Nantaba said she was unable to report in person having been directed by the president to confine within her premises until himself instructs otherwise.

“In such circumstances, am constrained to travel to Kibuli CID headquarters as you requested. But you may in the meantime consider visiting my premises to record the require statement,” Nantaba’s letter reads in part.

However, her cabinet colleague, Obiga yesterday told NTV in an interview that President Museveni never stopped Nantaba from recording a statement as she alleged but the president only questioned her about her movement if it was true that her life was in danger.

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Boeing software engaged repeatedly before crash

By
Agencies
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Ethiopian-plane

Boeing anti-stall software on a doomed Ethiopian Airlines jet re-engaged as many as four times after the crew initially turned it off due to suspect data from an airflow sensor, two people familiar with the matter said.

It was not immediately clear whether the crew had chosen to re-deploy the system, which pushes the nose of the Boeing 737 MAX downwards, but one person with knowledge of the matter said investigators were studying the possibility that the software had kicked in again without human intervention.

A Boeing spokeswoman declined to comment. Ethiopian investigators were not immediately available for comment.
Boeing’s anti-stall software known as MCAS is at the center of investigations into both the Ethiopian Airlines crash last month and a Lion Air accident in Indonesia in October that together killed nearly 350 people.

People familiar with the investigation have said the anti-stall software – which automatically pushes the aircraft’s nose down to guard against a loss of lift – was activated by erroneous ‘angle of attack’ data from a single sensor.

The investigation has now turned toward how MCAS was initially disabled by pilots following an emergency checklist procedure but then appeared to repeatedly start working again before the jet plunged to the ground, the people said.

A directive issued after the Indonesian crash instructed pilots to use cut-out switches to disengage the system in the event of problems and leave it switched off.
Doing so does not shut down the MCAS system completely but severs an electrical link between the software and aircraft systems, a person familiar with the technology said.

Investigators are studying whether there are any conditions under which MCAS could re-activate itself automatically, without the pilots reversing the cut-out maneuver. Boeing is in the midst of upgrading the software while adding extra training.

A preliminary report is expected within days.

The pilots maneuvered the plane back upwards at least two times before hitting the stabilizer cut-out switches to disable the system, the other person familiar with the matter said.
However, initial flight data indicates the aircraft was not in a “neutral” attitude when pilots hit the stabilizer cutout switches to disable the MCAS system, the person added, making the situation harder to manage.

After the pilots turned off MCAS, the airplane over the next few minutes gained roughly 2,000 feet, but dived into the ground after the renewed succession of nose-down inputs from MCAS.
None of the parties involved in the investigation was available for comment.

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Sudhir vs Lule & Sebalu conflict of interest, ruling fixed for April 24

By
Isaiah Mwebaze
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Mr Rajiv Ruparelia, the Managing Director of Crane Management Services and his attorneys at Commercial Court.

Commercial Court has fixed April 24, 2019 as the day court will give its ruling on the case involving city tycoon Sudhir Ruparelia and attorneys from Lule and Sebalu advocates.

Sudhir in a suit filed December 2017 argues that Sebalu and Lule Advocates should not be representing BoU and Dfcu bank as this amount to conflict of interest as the law firm already represented Crane Management Services which is part of the Ruparelia Group the holding company of former Crane Bank Limited.

Crane Management Services sued Dfcu bank demanding rental arrears amounting to Shs2.9 billion and US $385,728.54 in respect of tenancies of suit properties that were formally owned by Crane Bank Limited (CBL).

Ruparelia also wants the court to issue a permanent injunction, restraining Sebalu & Lule Advocates from appearing as defence counsel for dfcu bank in the other court case that the two principals are battling out.

In December 2017, the Commercial disqualified Masembe and Mpanga from the Sh397 billion Sudhir Ruparelia’s case against Bank of Uganda (BoU), citing conflict of interest.

In his ruling delivered on December 21, 2017, Wangutusi stated that David Mpanga of A.F. Mpanga Advocates and Timothy Masembe of MMAKS Advocates acted in violation of the Advocates regulations.

Section 4 of the regulation says that an advocate shall not accept instructions from any person in respect of a contentious or non-contentious matter if the matter involves a former client and the advocate as a result of acting for the former client is aware of any facts which may be prejudicial to the client in that matter.

Court documents indicate that when Dfcu Bank took over the assets and liabilities of Crane Bank, it also took over occupation and use of the said rented properties from which the real estate company wants to recover accumulated rent arrears from Dfcu bank.

Some of the properties cited include; Crane Bank branches at plot 9 on Market Street, plot 1-13, Jinja Road, plot 47, Republic Road-Mbale, Speke Hotel (1996), Pot 19 Cooper Road (Crane Plaza), plot 20, Kampala Road –Crane Bank ATM.

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Uganda Premier League: KCCA host Vipers in a title decider

By
Our Reporter
-
KCCA vs Vipper

All eyes will be in StarTime stadium, Lugogo on Thursday afternoon when KCCA FC host defending champions Vipers SC in a highly-billed Uganda Premier League encounter.

Currently, KCCA lead the table with 52 points, four ahead of The Venoms. A win for the Kasasiro boys will stretch the gap to 7 points while a win for Vipers will put them one point behind the table leaders.

This happens to be the only chance for a silverware for both clubs this season following their exit from the 2019 Stanbic Uganda cup.

The Key stats; Vipers and KCCA will be meeting for the 28th time in the league with the Venoms slightly superior with a victory more than their opponents having 11 wins, 6 draws and 10 losses out of the previous 27 encounters, a total of 34 goals against 37 have been registered in the process making it a -3 goal difference.

The first round encounter at St Marys stadium ended in a 1-1 draw with Vipers scoring through Dan Mzee Serunkuuma before Filbert Obenchan equalised for KCCA and they could have clinched all the three points had Saddam Juma not missed a second half penalty.

KCCA shifted to the Startimes Stadium at Lugogo during the 2012/2013 football season and out of the 6 league fixtures hosted at the venue since then, Vipers counts 2 wins, 1 draw and 3 losses with a total of 6 goals against 7.

Vipers sports club boosts two KCCA old boys in its ranks namely Tom Masiko together with Tito Okello while the garbage collectors have four former Venoms within their squad in Saddam Juma, Allan Kyambadde, Sulaiman Mutyaba and Musa Esenu.

The corresponding fixture last season at Lugogo ended 3-1 in KCCA’s favour when Shaban Muhammed netted a double on his debut in between Yayo Lutimba’s thunderous penalty before a late howler from James Alitho allowed Derrick Nsibambi to score a third as Vipers desperately searched for the equaliser.

Previous 5 league matches at Lugogo:

2013/14: KCCA 2-1 Vipers

2014/15: KCCA 0-2 Vipers

2015/16: KCCA 0-0 Vipers

2016/17: KCCA 1-2 Vipers

2017/18: KCCA 3-1 Vipers

Uganda Premier League

Thursday, April 4th 2019

KCCA FC vs Vipers SC – StarTimes stadium, Lugogo (4pm)

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Why change at the top might not be enough in Algeria

By
Agencies
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Abdelaziz Bouteflika

Bowing to almost two months of mass protests, Algeria’s ailing, octogenarian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika resigned. The announcement may not be enough to quell the unrest that’s being watched closely in Europe and elsewhere and that’s invoked comparisons to the Arab Spring of 2011. Algeria is not only one of Africa’s largest energy producers but has been a bulwark against Islamist militancy and undocumented migration from other parts of the continent.

1. What else do the protesters want?
They’ve called for the departure of not just the president but also of possible successors who have helped prop up his 20-year rule. Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia resigned on March 12, for instance, but was replaced by another member of the old guard, Interior Minister Noureddine Bedoui (who is leading a transitional government). Oil and finance ministers were then replaced in a cabinet reshuffle that kept the powerful army chief of staff, Ahmed Gaid Salah, as deputy defense minister. “The regime is attempting to placate protesters,” says Riccardo Fabiani, an analyst with research consultants Energy Aspects Ltd. “They will need to see concrete reforms.”

2. Why did Bouteflika fall from favor?
He’s the only ruler a significant portion of the country’s young population has ever known. But for many Algerians, the 82-year-old president — addled by a stroke in 2013 and rarely seen in public — is a front for shadowy coalition of military, intelligence and business leaders who effectively run the country. The group dominates the National Liberation Front, known by its French acronym FLN, which has ruled Algeria since the country won independence from France in 1962.

3. Who can replace Bouteflika?
It’s not yet clear who might emerge to lead Algeria until an election is scheduled. With Bouteflika’s resignation, the military, political and business leaders running the country need to agree on a consensus candidate soon, even though they haven’t managed to do so during recent relative peaceful years. Algerians who remember the decade-long civil war that ravaged their country after the military overrode an Islamist electoral victory in 1991 respect Bouteflika’s role in ending the conflict and credit him with restoring calm. But the younger generation is rejecting another Bouteflika-like figure as their next president.

4. Has an opposition candidate emerged?
The opposition is weak and fragmented and hasn’t yet been able to unify around a presidential candidate.

5. What prompted the protests?
They erupted in the capital Algiers after Bouteflika announced he would runfor a fifth term. Demonstrators say they are fed up with corruption and high unemployment. The protests have grown to include strikes by workers, teachers and students, as well as the closure of some shops and suspension of train services. (So far, demonstrators and the police have gone to great lengths to keep the gatherings peaceful.) In 2014, Bouteflika used a mix of water cannons, food subsidies and wage increases to contain smaller protests against his re-election. That increased state spending by 16 percent, which was a manageable challenge when oil traded over $100 a barrel.

6. Can’t the government do that again?
Handouts would be more difficult this time around because Algeria’s economy is still struggling to cope after four years of lower crude prices. Inflation is rising, and the country’s foreign reserves are projected to plummet to $67 billion this year from $177 billion in 2014, according to the International Monetary Fund. Algeria’s budget deficit peaked at 16 percent of GDP in 2015 but has since narrowed.

7. What does unrest mean for oil and gas?
Except for a few protests at energy facilities, demonstrations have largely been held far from oil and gas facilities, which are located in remote areas. The state-owned oil company Sonatrach said production hasn’t been affected. Investors are still concerned that strikes may spread to Algeria’s energy industry. There’s also the risk that changes to oil and gas officials could affect deals with international companies. Sonatrach has been at the heart of multiple corruption probes and has had six chief executives since 2010. Algeria just named its sixth energy minister over the same period, replacing Mustapha Guitouni with Mohamed Arkab, the former chief executive of the state power and gas utility Sonelgaz.

8. How important is Algeria to world energy supply?
Algeria is a member of OPEC but one of its smaller producers, pumping about a million barrels of crude a day. Still, it supplies more than 10 percent of Europe’s natural gas (making it the third-largest supplier after Russia and Norway), which it exports by ship and pipelines under the Mediterranean to Italy and Spain. The country has ambitious plans to develop its onshore and offshore gas fields, start a trading business, revamp and build refineries and boost output of petrochemicals. The expansion hinges on stable political leadership and new laws that would attract foreign investors.

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Edgar Watson, Ali Mwebe assigned duties at U-17 Afcon

By
Our Reporter
-
Edgar Watson and Ali Mwebe

African football governing body, CAF has appointed two Ugandan officials in different roles for the upcoming U-17 Africa Cup of Nations.

FUFA CEO Edgar Watson and Football Development Director Ali Mwebe have been as officials for the Total AFCON U17 Finals in Tanzania to be played from 14th to 28th April.

Edgar Watson has been appointed on the Technical study group for the 2-week tournament while Mwebe will be a General Coordinator during the tournament.

Meanwhile, Uganda are in group A with the hosts Tanzania, Nigeria and Angola.

The Cubs will open its campaign against Angola on 14th April, then Tanzania on 17th and end with Nigeria on the 20th April in the group stages.

Group B has Guinea, Cameroon, Senegal and Morocco.

The top two teams in each of the two groups in the tournament will qualify automatically for the 2019 U-17 FIFA World Cup that will be held in Brazil.

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