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Kassiano Wadri swears in as Arua Municipality MP

By
Geoffery Serugo
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Kassiano Wadri has been sworn in as Arua Municipality Member of Parliament days after he was freed by Gulu high Court judge Steven Mubiru.

Kassiano Wadri was arrested on Augusts 13 hours after holding their conclusive rallies head of the Arua by-election. He was nabbed along with Robert Kyagulanyi, Ntungamo Municipality MP Gerald Karuhanga, Jinja East MP Paul Mwiru, former MP Michael Mabikke, and 28 other, the group is battling with charges of treason and malicious damage of president’s car.

The ceremony took place in the Deputy Speaker’s boardroom, where Jacob Oulanyah welcomed him to the August house. “Today we receive our newest MP in Parliament, This gives us some confidence that things can still go well,”

Jacob Oulanyah who doubles as Omoro County Member of Parliament said MP Wadri’s election is a manifestation that Ugandan government systems still works that even with the charges that were levelled against him, he has been able to swear in to serve his people.

Despite swearing in to serve Arua electorates, according to stringent terms that were issued by Gulu High court judge as he was granted bail, Wadri will not allowed to step in Arua for a period of three months without authorization from court.

In his remarks, Wadri said wishes of the people of Arua to have a representative in Parliament have been achieved.

“Arua made history, they elected someone who was confined behind bars, I owe them a lot of gratitude, my colleagues who stood by my side amidst the hostile environment and the state machinery, it is only God that can reward you,” he said.

Despite standing on an independent ticket, Wadri is a member of forum for democratic change (FDC), the main opposition party in Uganda. He served in the 7th, 8th and 9th Parliaments of Uganda as the opposition chief whip.

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SFC soldiers are unprofessional and human rights abusers—Kassiano Wadri

By
Geoffery Serugo
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Kassiano Wadri

MP elect for Arua Municipality Kassiano Wadri says officers in presidential guard of Special Forces command (SFC) are the worst and unprofessional humans for torturing people including members to the sickbay.

The bailed out MP said they were picked by two groups of security officer’s after they were sprayed with teargas. The first operation was conducted by SFC where most of his colleagues was nabbed.

Appearing on NBS Tv Morning Breeze, Mr Wadri said, “We couldn’t believe Mityana municipality MP Francis Zaake was still alive, we had to plead with police to take him to Gulu hospital because he was in the worst state,”

He says MP Robert Kyagulanyi was arrested by SFC, tortured badly, “No one who was arrested by SFC came out the same way they went in. They all had bruises.”

The next operation was conducted by police officers who came with sticks. The only person who was so hurt in Wadri’s group was Jinja east MP Paul Mwiru who was brutally hit on his shoulder as they asked him for directions to where MP Kyagulanyi was hiding.

Wadri who was arrested on allegation of smashing president’s cars wind screens says he never saw President Museveni in Arua, neither did he come close to his motorcade. He said what caused them problems was the large crowds they had.

“NRM rally only had children and I think that’s what annoyed him, how on earth would anybody harm the president, he’s the fountain of honor,” he said.

He lauded Uganda prisons services saying it is the only institution in Uganda which practices fairness. “We had a sigh of relief because we had running water, toilet facilities and the prison authorities let us have visitors on Monday, Wednesday and Friday,” he said.

He said they let them prepare their meals. “I want to thank the prison authorities for treating us that way, that was heaven on earth for us,”

He said people of Arua municipality made history to vote for incarcerated candidate and stayed strong in all the chaos, “I want to thank them for the support they gave me even when I was in the cell,”

Kassiano Wadri was arrested along with Robert Kyagulanyi, Ntungamo Municipality MP Gerald Karuhanga, Jinja East MP Paul Mwiru, former MP Michael Mabikke, and 28 other, the group that was released on Monday by Gulu High court, is battling with charges of treason and malicious damage of president’s car.

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EC boss responds to Museveni’s criticisms

By
Our Reporter
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EC boss Justice Simon Byabakama Mugenyi

The chairperson for Uganda Electoral commission justice Simon Byabakama has responded to president Museveni’s criticism saying they are valuable feedback that informs the electoral body on the quality of services and areas which require s attention.

Speaking to women leaders at hotel African over the weekend, Museveni expressed displeasure with the Electoral Commission blaming it for grossly mismanaging recent elections. He blamed EC for importing ghost voters into the register, specifically in reference to Jinja East by-elections where FDC’s candidate Paul Mwiru defeated NRM flag bearer Nathan Igeme Nabeta.

“The Electoral Commission is full of rotten people, I am going to get rid of them, why should we suffer with corrupt electoral officials when NRM has got so much man power, they should get out,”
According to a statement released by EC and signed by Justice Byabakama, the Electoral Commission has noted with concerns raised by some stakeholders about the integrity of national voters register used in the recent parliamentary by-election.

“The commission appreciates stakeholder’s criticism because they are valuable feedback that informs the electoral body on the quality of services and areas which require s attention,” he said.
He said, the commission is reviewing reports on the concluded by-election and has appointed a technical committee to investigate any claims related to the integrity of the register with a view of establishing facts of allegations and be able to apply remedial measures where necessary for future elections.

Justice Simon Byabakama was on November 18, 2016 named as Chairman of the Electoral Commission of Uganda, replacing Engineer Badru Kiggundu, whose 14-year term reign had ended.

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NSSF declares 15% as interest to fund members

By
Isaiah Mwebaze
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NSSF MD, Richard Byarugaba, Minister Ajedra and NSSF board chairman Kaberenge after announcing the 15% to members during NSSF annual members meeting at Pearl of Africa Hotel.

The National Social Security Fund has declared 15 per cent as bonus to each of the active 900,000 savers for 2017/18 financial year.

Announcing the interest rates, State Minister for Finance in charge of General Duties, Gabriel Ajedra said he was pleased by the fund’s obligation to its policy of transparency and accountability.

“The fund will pay an annual interest rate of 15 per cent which will be Shs1.1 trillion in total.
I am impressed by the fund’s commitment to transparency which is something some of us, as government need to replicate across. I want to underscore the good performance of the board and management. Within, the last three years, the fund has registered about 500,000 savers”. Eng. Ajedra said.
He added “

Last year, the fund declared 11.23 per cent and the 15 per cent, the height interest rate so far to be paid by the fund with highest ever interest declared to members was in 2007/2008 when then Managing Director, David Chandi Jamwa declared a 14 per cent rate. This was the first time NSSF declared an interest rate to members that was above the inflation rate.

NSSF Managing Director, Richard Byarugaba attributed the good performance on teamwork and the willingness from the board to support investment initiatives.
Byarugaba also revealed that construction of the pension towers will start in three months. “Three years down the road, the NSSF Pension towers will be the tallest and biggest building in town; it will cost us 110m dollars of our money”

NSSF board chairman, Patrick Byabakama Kaberenge said the fund will remain focused developing the real estate sector to supplement on government efforts of solving the problem of shortage of houses.

We will focus on unlocking the value in the major real estate projects including Pension towers, Lubowa, Temangalo. The Fund also remains one of the top tax payers in Uganda. The Fund has paid UGX 102 billion, 136 billion and 145 billion in taxes in 2015, 2016 and 2017 respectively.
Kaberenge revealed that the fund the 56 Mbuya apartments are almost complete and by the time, they are ready, they would have spent $1 million.

Other ongoing projects include
$ 400 million in Lubowa project
Mbarara office block while similar office blocks are about to start in Gulu and Mbale.

How members profit
NSSF has various levels of how members can claim their money. The first is the age benefit, which allows people to claim money once they turn 55 years of age. If the members can prove that they are out of employment by the age 50, then they can claim for their savings.

The ultimate goal is to have some level of social protection for members. Survivors can also claim money belonging to a member. The amount including interest earned is paid to the immediate surviving family of the deceased member.

Exempted employment benefit is paid to members who join excepted employment categories that have their own social protection schemes such as public service, Army, and Police.
Emigration grant is paid to foreigners or Ugandan members who are leaving the country permanently. Invalidity benefit is paid to members who can no longer be gainfully employed because of physical or mental incapacitation.

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Police holds Makerere University student over self-kidnap

By
Geoffery Serugo
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Fraudster: Nampijja

Police is holding a 23 year old Makerere University student over allegations of faking her own kidnap and demanding Shs5million ransom from her friends.

Early this year, the country witnessed various cases of Kidnappings grounded on getting money from victims’ families as other others were crippled to deaths revenging relative’s failures to rise the said ransom.

The student identified as Jane Francis Nampijja, is a resident of Nsumbi, Kyebando Nansana Municipality, Wakiso District.

According to Kampala metropolitan police spokesperson Luke Owesigire, Nampijja allegedly disappeared from home on Saturday morning and she promptly started sending messages to all friends claiming that she was kidnapped.

“Using her phone, Nampijja said she is in the hands of kidnappers who were demanding a ransom of Shs five million,”

He said her relatives reported the matter at Nansana Police Station vide SD REF: 73/25/08/2018. Police in Nansana followed the intelligence leads and managed to locate and found her at Mark Cottages where she had rented a room.

The suspect said ransom money was intended to facilitate her planned outings with friends. She was however apprehended detained at Nansana Police station.

According to Inspector General of Police (IGP) Martin Okoth Ochola in the first four months of 2018, only 42 cases were reported and investigated. With 42 cases reported but 15 were involved in murder while 10 cases were of self-kidnap. Ochola revealed that eight victims were rescued alive as seven victims went missing.

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We need to invest in infrastructure to support PwDs—Speaker Oulanyah

By
Geoffery Serugo
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Jacob Oulanyah

Deputy speaker of parliament has called on government to invest in infrastructure to support persons with disabilities (PWD) noting that PWDs lags behind in every activity.

The speaker remarked after receiving a petition filed by Non-government organisations (NGO), Uganda National Association of the Deaf (UNAD) and Initiative for Social and Economic Rights (ISER) seeking parliament’s intervention for deaf Children to access better and quality Education.

“Issues of disability have been talked about widely, it has not been focused on. We have resources in this country that can be directed to people who need them. We need a shift, for this to succeed,” he said at Parliament.

He said structures such as ramps in schools and health centre and building that can be accessed by PDWs without using elevators, “once it is identified that a person has a disability, it should be worked on expeditiously, to help them enjoy their constitutional rights,” he said.

“The Parliamentary Committee on Human Rights Affairs needs to into such issues and come up with a comprehensive solution to the challenges they face, you need a Member of Parliament to present it and thus it can follow all the necessary steps to have its prayers see light,” he said.

Oulanya who cautioned People in good health and condition to take interest in learning how to cater for and train persons with disabilities in schools, vowed to follow up and track fruitful outcomes of a petition.

Being the core role of advocating for deaf children’s rights, UNAD contends that children with disabilities are segregated on top of not receiving equitable services as it is for the case of other societal members.

In line with their advocacy agenda ‘Sectoring our rights, the Deaf advocacy agenda’, Salima Namusobya Said they want government to consider increased budgeting allocation for Deaf Education, access to Sign Language interpreters among others services.

Initiative for Social and Economic Rights (ISER ) was formed to ensure full recognition, accountability and full realization of social and Economic Rights. They recently launched a report on healthcare in Amudat entitled ‘For Us We Are like Forgotten People’.

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Kenyatta assures US business executives on hurdles that could hinder operations

By
Our Reporter
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President Trump welcoming his Kenyan counterpart, Uhuru Kenyatta and First Lady in Washington.

President of Kenya Uhuru Kenyatta has assured US business executives of his administration’s commitment to removing any hurdle that could impede their operations in Kenya.

Kenyatta said this after the signing of Investment Deals Worth $238 Million in Washington DC, Kenyatta urged US government to facilitate the operations of US businesses Africa saying his is open for business and all we want to do is package our partnership in a way that it is mutually beneficial to you as a private sector and the people of Kenya.

The agreements were signed between US Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) and Kipeto Wind Energy Company at a close of $232 million deal in financing for the construction and operation of a 100-megawatt grid-connected wind power plant south of Nairobi.

The plant will provide a more reliable source of energy to the national grid and support the US Power Africa Initiative to double the number of people in Sub-Saharan Africa with access to electric power.
Another $ 5 million agreement was signed Twiga Foods and OPIC, a US government agency improve food security and agricultural wages in Kenya.

He wooed more US investors to set shop in Kenya to benefit from the opportunities created by the Big Four development blueprint projects. The Big Four agenda projects pegged on boosting manufacturing to create jobs, food security, provision of affordable housing and universal healthcare coverage.

“Given our long and well-established relationship, we can do more together and I invite the US companies to walk with us on the ‘Big Four’ journey,” he said.
He said his administration has continued to improve the business environment with a view of providing a facilitative environment for private sector growth.

Between 2014 and 2018, Kenya improved its ranking on World Bank Ease of Doing Business Index (DBI) by 56 positions from 136 to 80 and remains on target to get to the top 50 by 2020.
US Commerce Secretary Ross and BCIU CEO Peter Tichansky, commended President Kenyatta for creating a conducive environment for the private sector to thrive in Kenya.
“The US business executives expressed their appetite to increase investments in Kenya following the assurances by President Kenyatta,” he said.

Meanwhile, during the meeting, President Trump expressed concern about the political crisis and religious persecution in Rwanda. The US President observed that President Paul Kagame could avert the looming outright civil war in Rwanda.

President Donald Trump asked President Uhuru Kenyata to work with regional leaders for a peaceful solution to the political impulse in Rwanda.

President Donald Trump suspended Rwanda from AGOA. Trump Administration dropped Rwanda from the 10 African countries to benefit the most from US Military cooperation.

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General Court Martial frees Kayihura

By
Geoffery Serugo
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Former IGP, Gen Kale Kayihura, in picture with black beret, arriving at Court Martial

The former Inspector General of police Gen.Kale Kayihura has been granted Shs10 million cash bail after being incarcerated at Makindye Military detention facility for 76 days.

Gen Kayihura was arrested in June over failure to protect war materials by allowing the issue of arms to unauthorized persons- Boda Boda2010 considered, aiding and abetting kidnapping of Rwandan refugees from Uganda to Rwanda between 2012 and 2016.

Appearing before General Court Martial chaired by Lt. Gen. Andrew Guti and through his lawyers of Kampala Associates Advocates led by Peter Kabatsi, Gen. Kayihura applied for his release from Military detention.

The applicant contended that he is Serving full general of UPDF in advanced age 62 years and he has never appeared before any Court in Uganda and the world, implying that the applicant I a law abiding citizen.

In the affidavit presented before court Kayihura contended that he needs specialized medical treatment abroad and has substantial sureties, he also vowed to abide with the stringent conditions of court martial in case he is released on bail.

Presenting Maj. Gen. Samuel Kavuma, deputy commander land forces, Maj. Gen. James Mugira national, MP Rosary Tumisiime his sureties, Gen Kayihura was granted Shs10 million cash bail as sureties were ordered to pay Shs5 million non cash.

In his ruling Gen. Guti restricted him from going outside Kampala and Wakiso district unless when is authorized by Court and ordered to report to Court once every Monday of the month.

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Dont abandon Museveni to defend self

By
Guest Writer
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HULLO: President Yoweri Museveni greets the author Mr Nabende Wamoto.

Guest writer/letters’ editor
For purposes of this article/letter I will quote Ms. Caroline Cummings “the comfort zone is a very nice place but nothing grows there. Take the leap today and start your business”. Another quote by Winston Churchill goes “a pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty”. And George Bernal Shaw says “the life spent making mistakes is not only honorable but useful than a life spent doing nothing”.

When a pilot of corporate jet in America greeted his co-pilot for an upcoming flight, he simply said, “Hi, Jack”. What was picked up on a microphone and subsequently in the control tower, however was “hijack”. What had been a friendly greeting to a colleague become hot news because it was not long before local USA enforcement and the FBI were on the scene.

This was a simple comment that had consequences far beyond what the two pilots could even imagine. The honorable Robert Kyagulanyi Sentamu (Bobi Wine) and his people power movement is sweeping through like the American tornados because of us in government abandoning H.E the President to solitarily defend himself and sometimes his lieutenants just talking but not communicating. As the clock ticks towards 2021, our politicians are on their marks…getting set……and roaring to go but using wrong means including but not limited to their attempt to illegally extend their term by 2 years up to 2023. The question is how many times they are going to say things that have consequences far beyond what they could imagine.

The people power movement message by youthful legislator Bobi Wine is based on factors among them Buganda/Kabaka factor, youth factor, celebrity factor, media monopoly by the opposition disparaging, belittling or demeaning the person of the President (as government officials sleep on the job), negative foreign forces factor. Honorable Kyagulanyi’s message is and I quote “when leaders become misleaders; when mentors become tormentors; when freedom fighters become oppressors; opposition becomes our position” is gaining a lot of ground very fast and it could be unstoppable if government does not endeavor to sort out peoples’ problems in the areas Bobi Wine is taking advantage of and haste to add that when one refuses to reason even solutions become a problem.

To me the people now perceive people power as a 3rd force that can accelerate change a factor that currently ignore which candidate is suitable whether Muganda, Northerner, Southerner, Westerner, Easterner will present the best strategy. People power seems to show that the ideal presidential candidate this time must not only be Mr. Clean but must be Mr. Tough on Graft (corruption) also.
A candidate who must commit himself/herself to stand together with the people, (victims of corruption).

Nabendeh Wamoto S.P (0776-658433)

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Apprehend security officers who tortured MPs in Arua- Kadaga tells Museveni.

By
Geoffery Serugo
-
Speaker Rebecca Kadaga

Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga has threatened to block government business in parliament until the and of security officers who were involved in assaulting and torturing of legislators and civilians in Arua are arrested and prosecuted.

In a letter addressed to President Museveni, Kadaga expressed her sadness saying it is a great concern that no efforts have been made to arrest security officers from special Forces command (SFC) , Military police and Uganda police forces who were involved in actions against that witnesses torture of civilians.

On August 13, security forces brutally nabbed and tortured Kyadondo East MP Robert Kyagulanyi along, MP elect for Arua Municipality Kassiano Wadri, Mityana Municipality MP Francis Zaake, Ntungamo Municipality MP Gerald Karuhanga, Jinja East MP Paul Mwiru, former MP Michael Mabikke, Fred Nyanzi, Candidate Kassiano Wadri, journalists and other.

The fracas led to gundown of Kyagulanyi’s driver Yisin Kawuma as security officers smoked his boss out of the ceiling in his hotel room in Arua.

The group was later charged with of treason and malicious damage of president’s vehicle that was in procession after holding their conclusive rallies ahead of the concluded Arua municipality by-election that tha saw Wadri winning the seat.

Kadaga said the conduct breaches provision and prohibition of torture act of 2012 in force in uganda especially section 2 1(a) and (b, “ this is therefore to demand that officers concerned be apprehended at the easiest opportunity and presented before courts of law,”she added.

She said unless this is done, it will be difficult to conduct government business in parliament adding that the house will not condone or acquiesce in acts of torture.

“I however, hasten to add that parliement equally does not condone acts of lawlessness by any leader or members of the public,” she said.

In a fully packed Court, Politicians have however, been released by Gulu High Court Magistrate Steven Mubiru on Shs5 million cash bail.

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