As the indefinite suspension of leaders of Makerere University Academic Staff Association (MUASA) and Makerere Administrative Staff Association (MASA), continues, over 20 lecturers from the Department of Public and Comparative Law have asked the Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Barnabas Nawangwe, to lift the suspension arguing that the move infringes on the freedom of association and academic freedom which are provided for in the Constitution of Uganda.

On December 21, 2018, Nawangwe suspended MASA Chairperson Bennet Magara and the association’s Secretary Joseph Kalema after the two individuals wrote to the University Secretary asking that the university’s management should not meddle in the affairs of the associations there. These were also suspended on alleged incitement of staff against Nawangwe and his allies. The two are employees in the Directorate of Internal Audit and Directorate of Human Resources respectively.

Nawangwe would further also suspend Dr. Deus M. Kamunyu, the MUASA Chairperson who is a lecturer in the Department of Forestry, Biodiversity and Tourism.

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“We wish to state that every Ugandan has a constitutional right of freedom of speech, and expression and freedom of association,” they argue in the letter dated January 25, 2019. The freedoms, the lecturers say include freedom to form and join associations, or unions, such as trade unions, political parties and other civic organisations as expressed in the constitution.

They also refer to sections 68 and 93 of the University and Other Tertiary Institutions Act, 2001 which recognises the right of staff to form associations. They say Section 93 states that: “There shall be an academic staff association whose aims shall be to promote the academic and welfare interests of the academic staff.”

The group says the university managers have no basis to challenge the legality of MUASA and MASA since their existence is recognised by both the Constitution of Uganda and University and Other Tertiary Institutions Act, 2001.

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State House Comptroller Lucy Nakyobe Mbonye urged State House employees to be in responsible family relationships saying society expects them to be of high moral standing and responsible individuals as people serving the presidency

She said that State House staff need understanding spouses because serving the presidency involves a lot of time leaving much of family affairs to their spouses adding that staff at State House have no holidays, no weekends and no christmas as they work all time round.

She was speaking during the wedding reception of one of State House staff Nathan Ouma who married Milly Nalwanga at Uganda Catholics Management and Training Institute in Rubaga over the weekend. The couple had earlier exchanged their vows at Namirembe Cathedral at ceremony presided over by Bishop of West Buganda Rit. Rev. Katumba Tamale.

Nakyobe, however, cautioned State House staff against using the official assignments as excuse to evade family responsibilities saying amidst their heavy schedules, they should have time for their families to be able to raise responsible families the country will be proud of.

She also urged especially female members to always value their marriage and respect their husbands regardless of their social status saying roles of husbands and wives will never be substituted adding that those calling for gender equality should not confuse the competition for social space with the sacred institution of marriage which she said is constructed on legal instruments and as sanctified by God.

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Invisible spot on blogger Titus Seruga has released a payment voucher allegedly from Af Mpanga/ Bowmans to Dfcu bank asking for release of money to fund what they termed ‘fake media campaign.
Bowmans is managed by AF Mpanga as a country Managing Partner in charge of Uganda.

The invoice raises more questions and credibility issues as far as Mpanga is concerned because in In December 2017, the Commercial Court disqualified Mr Mpanga, together with another city advocate Mr. Kanyererezi Masemmbe of MMAKS Advocates from Sh397b Crane Bank Limited and Sudhir Ruparelia’s case against Bank of Uganda (BoU), citing conflict of interest.

In his ruling delivered on December 21, 2017, the head of the commercial court division, Justice David Kutosi Wangutusi stated that David Mpanga of A.F. Mpanga Advocates and Timothy Masembe of MMAKS Advocates acted in violation of the Advocates (Professional Conduct) regulations.

Section 4 of the regulation provides 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.

Sources have revealed that Mpanga and two journalists plus a host of operatives are supposed to propel fake news campaign for the Dfcu bank especially as they plan to get meet with parliamentary Committee on Commissions, State Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE).

Last Friday Eagle Online revealed that Dfcu Bank and a lawyer from prominent city law firm are said to be planning to set up Sudhir Ruparelia’s son Rajiv Ruparelia for purposes aimed at gathering information that the can use against the Ruparelia Group which is a holding company for various companies such as Meera Investments, Crane Services Management (CSM) and former Crane Bank Limited (CBL) among others.

In one of the leaked discussions between David Mpanga of AF Mpanga advocates, and other two people, the discussion is centred around a yet disclosed amount of money from Mpanga to allegedly fight bad/fake news campaign and also reportedly access Mr. Rajiv for a set up recordings that could be used against him.

The bank and the said law firm have lined up some news operatives to trick Rajiv into interviews so as to extract information that could be useful to Dfcu bank in case of pending court cases involving the two sides. According to the leaked discussion, the plan also involves recording Members of Parliament especially those on COSASE. Dfcu is the financier of the campaign while Mpanga is supposed to dig up old files and write articles involving the transaction he had with Sudhir while he still represented him.

In February 2018, CSML dragged Dfcu bank to the Commercial Court demanding that the bank pays it rent worth Shs5 billion.
The bill accumulated after Dfcu Bank occupied 13 properties around the country but later vacated some without paying a single penny in terms of rent one year down to the road.
On some properties where rent was prepaid, Dfcu did not bother to meet any of its obligations and continued occupying the premises till they elected to vacate the premises at the end of April 2017.

DFCU Bank also vacated the properties without serving the three months’ notice as stipulated in the contract was tantamount to breach. In so doing, Dfcu Bank was walking out of long term fixed rental contracts without renegotiating them.
In another rental agreement Crane Bank rented 38 apartments for staff on Plots 22, 24, 26 Kampala Road at a monthly Shs53, 928,000. The contract was fixed for five years with a 7 per cent interest. By the time Dfcu vacated the premises in April 2017 without renegotiating the contract, the unexpired period on the contract made them liable for Shs2, 873,246,953.

In the case of Mbale Branch, which Crane Bank was renting for US$8,361.77 per month, Dfcu left two months rental arrears and an unpaid three months’ notice period, altogether being liable for US $27,678.01?
“The defendants said nonpayment of rental arrears has not only caused the Plaintiff losses, deprived it of use of its money and interest, caused it more suffering and grave inconvenience, but it has also adversely affected the Plaintiffs’ businesses for which the Plaintiff claims general damages,” CMS’s suit reads in part.

CMS says that Dfcu has been notified of their grievances and demand notices sent to them but they have blatantly refused to pay up.
On top of $385,728.54 and Shs2, 998, 558,624, CMS has prayed to court to also grant it interest on the aforementioned sum at prevailing commercial rate until the arrears are cleared.
On the other Eagle Online understands DFCU Bank and the said law firm have tried to bribe the Parliamentary Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE) after it emerged that Dfcu bank bought CBL without following the proper due process. This was during the probe of the Bank of Uganda (BoU) senior staff.

Dfcu bank bought off CBL at Shs200 billion paid in installments even as BoU claimed to have sunk Shs478 billion in CBL during the takeover period that happened between October 20, 2016 and January 25, 2017. Unfortunately BoU has failed to account for this money.
It emerged also emerged that BoU sold CBL to Dfcu bank well knowing that Bank of Uganda Staff Retirement Benefits Scheme owns has 0.59 per cent shares in the bank which is a conflict of interest. Some of the documents relating to the sale of CBL are nowhere to be seen as MPs on COSASE found out.

That aside Rajiv in October 2018, threatened to sue Dfcu bank for publishing his mobile number in the press without his consent, adding that it caused enormous inconvenience to him. Rajiv wanted an apology from the bbank took it over.
Earlier Dfcu bank had threatened to sue Rajiv for allegedly spreading malicious propaganda against it using some media houses. Dfcu claimed that the propaganda aimed at collapsing it. But Rajiv has rubbished the accusation since no evidence is available to pin him.

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Police is set to file an appeal against the acquittal of Ivan Katongole, a businessman dealing in fish maws at Kasenyi landing site in Katabi town council in Wakiso District, Andrew Kizito and Hellen Nabaggala.

The trio were Last week acquitted of all murder charges when they appeared before Kampala High Court Judge, Wilson Kwesiga.

The three were arrested early in 2017 and tried before Entebbe Magistrates Court before being committed to High Court in May that same year over the death of one Rose Nakimuli, a hairdresser in Entebbe, Wakiso District.

In his ruling, Justice Kwesiga said police failed in its investigative role and blamed Directorate of Public Prosecution’s offices for proceeding to charge suspects with the cases yet they knew that they have no evidences.

“Prosecution acted in bad faith because they knew they had no evidence to pin suspects but went ahead and charged them with the offences which was a wastage of time and resources,”

Speaking at Naguru police headquarters, Fred Enanga said, they are going to review all grounds under which the acquittal was made and subsequently file an appeal against court’s decision.

“We have experience for example under Kato Kajubi case where the sitting judge blasted police for inadequate investigations but at the end of day we filed an appeal the led to his conviction and sentencing,” he said.

Enanga said the incident should not discourage family members saying they have two weeks to file an appeal and police will do everything possible for conviction and sentencing of both suspects.

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The police in Sipi region, has intensified its operations in Kween district after charges 18 for aiding and abetting female genital mutilation (FGM) in the area.

According to police spokesperson Fred Enanga, the charged persons include a 50 year old ring leader Irene Cherop a resident of Kongilel village, Kaptum sub county in Kween district. The group was arrested, after police foiled their plans to conduct FGM activities in the village.

“We have noted that the recent cases of FGM stem from a concept of family honor, where only mothers who had undergone FGM, were deemed suitable to grace the male circumcision ceremony of their son’s in 2018. As a result mothers started allowing their daughters to undergo FGM as a way of protecting their future,” Police Spokesperson Fred Enanga said at police Naguru police headquarters.

He said there is further efforts to trace for victims in three various villages of Kwoser, where seven girls where allegedly circumcise and Binyiny where more seven girls are averred to have been gone through the illegal cultural practice.

“The police is committed to fighting FGM, and the successful prosecution of the perpetrators including parents, husbands and victims who mutate themselves, will act as deterrents,” he said.

Mr. Enanga said they have established contacts with influential community members and other stakeholders to challenge the practice, tasked teachers, health and social care professionals to report cases of FGM once established in the course of their duties in schools and hospitals.

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