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Mowzey suspected killer remanded to Kigo

Mowzey Radio suspected killer Godfrey Wamala aka Troy in the dock

Entebbe Magistrate’s Court has today remanded Godfrey Wamala aka Troy, the suspected killer of singer Moses Sekibogo aka Mowzey Radio, to Kigo Prison till February 26, 2018.

Troy, the prime suspect in the death of Mowzey Radio was on Sunday arrested at his friend’s home in Kyengera where he was hiding, and transferred to Entebbe Police Station.

Prosecution told Entebbe Chief Magistrate Mary Kaitesi that Troy, who was working as a bouncer at Da Bar in Entebbe hurled the deceased to the ground, leading to major injuries on his brain.

Resident State Attorney Julius Muhiirwe informed the court that police investigations are incomplete and asked for the adjournment of the matter.

Mowzey Radio died last week at Case Hospital and was laid to rest on Saturday in Nakawuka.

 

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Medical interns down tools

Medical interns announcing their strike

Medical interns under their umbrella body of Uganda Medical Interns Association have today gone on strike following government’s failure to pay their salaries.

In a media briefing at Mulago Guest House, association president Robert Lubega said some members have spent three months without getting their salaries yet there required to deliver excellent services.

‘’Interns are not slaves, enough is enough; fix health issues once and for all, interns in Soroti referral have not yet been paid, are they expected to deliver?” Dr. Lubega wondered.

He added: “We will be glad to continue engaging with various stakeholders for improved welfare.”

When this website contacted the Minister for Health Dr. Jane Ruth Acen, her known numbers were off.

Last year medical workers laid down their tools over government’s inability to raise their pay and to improve their working conditions, but the government agreed to address their concerns in the next financial year that begins in June.

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Changes at BoU as Justine Bagyenda set to retire

Emmanuel Tumusiime- Mutebile

In a major shake-up at Bank of Uganda (BoU), seven directors and over 30 mid-level officers have been shuffled, sources at the Central Bank have intimated to the EagleOnline.

According to a release signed by BOU Governor Prof. Emmanuel Tumusiime Mutebile, long-serving Director of Bank Supervision Justine Bagyenda, who was reportedly set to retire in June has been told to take ‘early retirement’, while another senior officer, Benedict Sekabira, has been named the Director Financial Markets Development Coordination.

Further, the source said Ms. Bagyenda, who is reportedly on leave, will be replaced by a one Dr. Tumubweine Twinemanzi as she heads for retirement.

Over the past two years the BoU has been embroiled in various sagas, the most prominent being the closure of the Crane Bank and the subsequent litigation that has cost the Central Bank over Shs6 billion, paid out to law firms MMAKS and AF Mpanga-Bowmans.

Efforts to contact the BoU Director of Communication Christine Alupo over the developments were futile by press time.

FULL LIST:

EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS

Dr Tumubweine Twinemanzi – Bank Supervision

Mrs. Mary Katarikawe – Operations

Mrs. Joyce Okello – Personal Assistant to the Governor

Richard Mayebo – Risk and Strategic Management

Elliot Mwebya – Information Technology

Philip Wabulya – Petroleum Investment Fund

David Kalyango – Chief Internal Auditor

Ms. Justine Bagyenda – Retirement

DIRECTORS/ DEPARTMENTS

Dr. Charles Abuka – Statistics 

Dr. Kenneth Egesa – Financial Stability 

Valentine Ojangole – Banking

Olive Kamuli – Medical Administrator

Ms. Christine Alupo – Board Affairs

Ms. Charity Mugumya – Communications

Hannington Wasswa – Commercial Banking

Ben Sekabira – Financial Markets Coordination

Edward Mugerwa – IT Operations

Ms. Lorna Nzaro – IT Business Automation

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Kenyatta deports opponent to Canada over Odinga’s swearing in

Miguna-Miguna

Self-proclaimed National Resistance Movement (NRM) “general” Miguna Miguna was on Tuesday night ‘deported’ from Kenya to Canada.
Mr Miguna was put into a KLM flight departing Nairobi for Amsterdam minutes to 10 pm, his lawyer John Khaminwa said.
“We are reliably informed that Miguna Miguna has been forced into a KLM flight for “deportation” to Canada. Now, how do you deport a Kenyan? This Country has been overrun by criminals,” another lawyer Nelson Havi wrote on Twitter.
The official government newsroom said on Twitter, ‘‘Miguna is headed home. The court ordered he gets released and the interior ministry obeyed the orders and even assisted him with a flight ticket home’‘.
Interior ministry claims Mr Miguna denounced his Kenyan citizenship years back. Spokesman Mwenda Njoka said the lawyer never bothered to reclaim it.
“Mr Miguna denounced his Kenyan citizenship years back, acquired Canadian citizenship and never bothered to reclaim Kenyan citizenship in the legally prescribed manner neither did he disclose that he had another country’s citizenship despite being a lawyer who should have known better,” Mr Mwenda said on Twitter.
The account added that Mr Miguna ‘‘renewed his Canadian passport on 16th June 2017’‘.
It is not clear what law the government used to eject him from Kenya as the Constitution guarantees him citizenship since he is Kenyan by birth.
A senior govt official said that the Interior Ministry will give a detailed statement in the morning.
He said when Mr Miguna was arrested, the Canadian government had written to Kenya expressing concerns that their citizen was being harassed and they wanted him back.
Mr Miguna Tuesday narrated how he was held incommunicado for five days without access to his family or a lawyer following his arrest last Friday.
He said police officers humiliated him by locking him up in conditions “unfit for human existence.”
Mr Miguna was speaking at the Kajiado Law Courts where he was taken after his arrest last Friday on suspicion of taking part in a ceremony in which opposition Chief Raila Odinga was sworn in as the people’s president on January 30.


Reports of his deportation come hours after High Court Judge Luka Kimaru barred the Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and the Inspector General (IG) of the police from preferring any criminal charges against him.
The judge had earlier ruled that the Police IG and the DCI were guilty of disobeying court orders regarding his release.
While the court in Kajiado ordered that he be presented before Justice Kimaru’s court at Milimani, Mr Miguna was not produced in the court and his lawyers stayed late within the court’s premises waiting for his release.
He was arraigned in a court in Kajiado on Tuesday but did not plead to charges preferred against him.
Justice Kimaru had directed that police present him before court Wednesday at 11am.
KAJIADO COURT
The Kajiado magistrate had ruled that Mr Miguna be taken before Judge Kimaru in the High Court in Nairobi before 3pm Tuesday for orders on his bail terms.
He further directed that Mr Miguna appears before him on February 14 to take a plea.
This not likely to happen as the Nasa activist has now been ejected out of Kenya.
NASA SUPPORTERS RESTLESS
On Tuesday evening, Nasa supporters who had filled the Milimani courtroom were restless on whether he had been freed after Judge Kimaru ordered for his release.
The judge said he would not leave the premises until Mr Miguna was brought before him.
“I have been informed that he is in the building, so it remains that he is free,” the judge said before he walked out of the courtroom, leaving Nasa supporters shouting and demanding to see him.
CHARGE SHEET
The charge sheet against Mr Miguna alleged that he “was present and consented to the administering of an oath to Raila Amollo Odinga purporting to bind him to commit a capital offence of treason,” leading to fears among opposition supporters that the Nasa leader could also be arrested and charged with committing treason.
Following Mr Miguna’s arrest and failure to charge him in court, the Inspector-General of Police Joseph Boinnet and the Director of Criminal Investigations George Kinoti had been ordered to appear in court to explain circumstances surrounding their failure to release the Nasa activist.
Mr Miguna was arrested last Friday and on the same day High Court Judge James Wakiaga granted him a Sh50,000 bond but he was not released.
NASA ‘OATH’
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations then said Mr Miguna was arrested after he confessed to administering Nasa leader Raila Odinga’s ‘oath’ and for being a member of an illegal organisation – the National Resistance Movement (NRM).

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Education ministry, Bridge schools in a fight over re-opening

Bridge School country Director, Morrison Rwakakamba.

Bridge Schools remain unlicensed and like all the others in this category, will not be permitted to operate this school year (2018), the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education and Sports (MoES) Alex Kakooza says in the latest media statement.

Mr. Kakooza accuses management of Bridge Schools (formerly Bridge International Academies) of embarking on what he says an aggressive public and social media campaign aimed at “hoodwinking unsuspecting parents about the status of the 63 Bridge Schools in Uganda.”

“Please note that the Ministry has not yet licensed the Bridge Schools because they have not yet met the requirements to merit being licensed to operate in Uganda,” he says, putting parents with children in these schools in a dilemma.

The country Director Morrison Rwakakamba said Monday that management had opened all the 63 schools with a 14000 pupils as they wait for licenses from the ministry. Rwakakamba said the schools have fulfilled all the requirements needed for registration.

On the other hand, PS Kakooza says there has been public outcry on the state of Bridge Schools in Uganda. According to Kakooza, some of the concerns to activities of Bridge Schools included: Safety and security of pupils, Failure to meet the requirements for Bridge Schools to be licensed as International Schools.

Kakooza says the ministry requires management to present a letter of accreditation from an international examining body confirming the curriculum to be offered, inspection reports from the international body/Local Government where the schools are located and from the Directorate of Education Standards (DES), the letter of protocol from the relevant Embassy; and a list of qualified teachers and the fact that normal/ordinary schools cannot be licensed as academies.

Rwakakamba said management at the schools have addressed all the above concerns whereby among others, they have provided security at running water at their campuses. He said with such measures the safety and health of the children are guaranteed by the schools.

But in the statement, the PS cites an earlier letter he authored advising management to follow up the registration process, something Rwakakamba said management did. “This letter, therefore, serves to eliminate any doubt and accordingly advise that you follow up your application(s) for licensing with the relevant Ministry authorities.” Kakooza says the schools have to meet the Basic Minimum Requirements and Standards to be allowed to operate.

“My letter was reinforced by Dr. Daniel Nkaada, Commissioner Basic Education, on January 29 2018 in response to letters by Rwakakamba dated January 22 and January 24 2018. Dr. Nkaada in the letter cautioned BIA not to feed its clients with “false hope”, because the numerous discussions with the Ministry remained inconclusive to the extent the minimum licensing requirements had not yet been met by the 63 Bridge Schools. Besides, incomplete files had been received for only 48 Schools,” he says.

The PS says that in April 2017 the Committee on Education and Sports presented findings of its independent investigation of schools that the Ministry earmarked for closure for contravention of the law, including the Bridge Schools. “The Education and Sports Committee of Parliament concurred with the Ministry’s decision to close the affected schools,” he says.

He says the same position was re-confirmed last week in a Ruling by the Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga on February 1, 2018 when attempts were made to block the closure of the targeted 1,300 schools that do not meet the minimum operating standards by the Ministry. “This attempt was made notwithstanding the fact that the proprietors of these kind of schools have now had over a year to address the identified gaps,” he says

“In view of the above, and specifically of the engagement between the Ministry of Education and Sports and Management of Bridge Schools, parents and indeed all concerned authorities are accordingly notified that Bridge Schools remain unlicensed and like all the others in this category, will not be permitted to open/operate this school year (2018),” PS Kakooza says.

Kakooza has warned that failure to comply with the requirements of the law “implies that parents and Management of the Bridge Schools take full responsibility for the consequences of non-compliance.”

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Senior cabinet minister in trouble over parliament scam

Expansion of the chambers

A senior Member of President Yoweri Museveni’s cabinet is under fire on allegations related to bribery, fraud, abuse of office and conflict of interest.
The Minister who was once a blue eyed boy is alleged to have altered the awarding of the tender construction of the new Parliamentary building.
According to sources close to this newspaper, the Minister used his influence to award a tender that had been won by Roko Construction Company Limited to Seyani Brothers and Company Limited.
Five firms bid for the project: China Civil Engineering Construction Company, China Complete Plant Import and Export, Seyani Brothers and Company Limited and China National Aero-Technology International.
The Shs270 billion deal was given to Roko construction Ltd, was to start construction process which was expected to be completed in two years.
However, our sources reveal the Minister connived with a certain senior staff at Parliament to alter the tender which had been passed by parliament and Okayed by the Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga.
They are reported to have received a bribe from Seyani, Brothers and Company Limited to have the contract given to them at the expense of Roko Construction Limited.
This prompted the Management of Roko Construction to seek intervation of the President who directed that the contract be given back to Rock, the rightful bidder.
Following the President’s intervention, Roko was given back the contract and works are on – going.
Meanwhile the President has ordered the said Minister to refund the money that they allegedly received from Seyani Brothers and Company Limited.
The said staff at Parliament who is said to have connived with the Minister was an administrator at Mbarara University of Science and Technology at the time, the Minister was a top leader at the University.
This perhaps explains the way the woman got the job at Parliament using the influence of the Minister.
The embattled Cabinet Minister is alleged to have fraudulently involved himself in the Standard Railway Gauge deal
The Minister together with another government official are said to have bought big chunks of land in Tororo where the railway is set to pass.
They are reported to have bought the land at an estimated amount of Shs400 million and sold it at an exaggerated amount of Shs18 billion.
As things are now the Minister is in great trouble and plans are underway to have him sacked from cabinet.
It is not surprising why the Minister in question is in the country, not sick and not on leave and yet there is another Minister moreover junior to him that is serving in his docket in acting capacity.
In case of any reshuffle by the President, the Minister is not likely to survive the axe as a result of his recent actions.

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Land Matters: Justice Bamugereire is firm but…

Justice Bamugemereire

Since its establishment in 2017 the Commission of Inquiry into Land Matters in Uganda chaired by Lady Justice Catherine Bamugemereire has definitely done a good job, exposing a lot of rot in the land acquisition, use and management systems in the country.

It is worth noting that this is the second time Justice Bamugemereire is heading such a knotty commission, the first having been the Commission of Inquiry into the operations of the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA), where she also did a commendable job, exposing profiteering rackets that had stolen trillions of taxpayers money!

In fact, Justice Bamugemereire stands out there as a purveyor of impartiality and an arbiter and judge of good discretion who has up to until recently, lifted high a seemingly-waning flag of the judiciary in the face of the citizens’ pessimism.

But just as she went about her work professionally, something snaky snaked its way up to her desk; a huge chunk of land (1.5 square miles) in Nakaseke part of which is officially and legally occupied by the army and other part that is reportedly occupied by illicit beneficiaries, who displaced the then sitting tenants.

With all due respect to the law, in matters of land adjudication, unless proven otherwise, the official (though not legal) government position is that ‘sitting tenants’ enjoy the privilege of being considered first in any event of transaction in respect to the land they occupy.

Indeed, when she was in the district, the Judge observed as much while she handed over the Nakaseke Senior Land Management Officer Geoffrey Tumusiime, to the police to assist with investigations.

“There were some applicants … and other 20 families that were sitting on the land meaning they were already occupying the land,” Justice Bamugemereire was quoted as saying.

She reportedly added: “Are all persons equal before the law? Were these people too insignificant to be considered or given audience by the Land Board?”

In all this the Judge has proven her resolve to stand firm in the face of land grabbers.

But that said, the Judge should also endeavor to take into consideration certain emotive issues of those appearing before her Commission.

The sight of the old Asian man in Mbale being harangued is sore and can blemish an otherwise impeccable work in progress by the Commission.

 

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Sure Deal closed over ‘harmful’ beauty products

UNBS Market Surveillance Inspector

Sure Deal beauty center closed over alleged fake beauty products
According to the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS), officials of Sure Deal have been fraudulently using their Quality Mark.

A policeman stands guard during the raid on Sure Deal offices

‘The products are dangerous and can cause serious effects to one’s health including cancer amongst other diseases’, a UNBS release states in part.

Earlier, UNBS Market Surveillance Inspectors raided offices of Sure Deal Beauty Center at Senana Building on Buganda Road and confiscated tonnes of cosmetics, which allegedly contained mercury and hydroquinone.

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Fixtures for UPL second round released

The second round of the 2017/18 Azam Premier League season will kick-off on 10 February, 2018 with seven matches to be played at the different play grounds.

Sixteen time record champions SC Villa Jogoo will host Maroons at Masaka Recreation Ground.

The Jogoos are still top the table with 32 points, 5 points ahead of the defending champions KCCA from the first fifteen matches played.

Coach Wasswa Bbosa’s Blues are looking for the club’s first league title since 2004 which was won by former Cranes coach, now the Orlando Pirates boss, Micho Sredojevic.

Vipers travel away to Soana at Kavumba Recreation Ground while both Masavu and UPDF, who are in a relegation zone, face off at the Fisheries Training Institute in Entebbe.

URA face BUL at Kakindu stadium in Jinja, Police will be at home to Mbarara City while Kirinya Jinja SS hosts Proline at Lugogo.

Meanwhile, KCCA will be away on continental duty in Madagascar on the same weekend where they begin their CAF Champions League journey against CNasports. Their matchday opponents Bright Stars won’t be in action.

The league is expected to end on May 19, 2018.

 

Match Day 16 Fixtures:

Saturday, 10th February 2018:

 

BUL Vs URA – Kakindu Stadium, Jinja

Masavu Vs UPDF – Fisheries Training Institute, Entebbe

Onduparaka Vs Express – Green Light Stadium, Arua

Police Vs Mbarara City – Mandela National Stadium, Namboole

Proline Vs Kirinya-Jinja S.S – Star Times Stadium, Lugogo

Sports Club Villa Jogoo Vs Maroons – Masaka Recreational Stadium, Masaka

 

Soana Vs Vipers – Kavumba Recreational Stadium

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Pearl of Africa Tourism Expo for February 23

POATE hosted buyers in Kibale Forest National Park last year

The Pearl of Africa Tourism Expo (POATE) is set for February 23-25,  Uganda Tourism Board (UTB), the agency mandated to promote tourism activities in Uganda, says.

POATE is an annual event organized by UTB to bring together all tourism stakeholders and other service providers along the tourism value chain from both the East African region and the international community.

Under the theme ‘Rediscovering the Pearl’, POATE, now in its fourth edition, is aimed at raising the profile of Uganda as a preferred destination for domestic, regional and international tourists.

POATE brings together different travel agents, tour operators, hoteliers, destination managers and other service providers along the tourism value chain, presenting a unique opportunity for the tourism business operators across Africa to meet new clients, network, and market and discuss business.

UTB officials say POATE is a good opportunity for those interested in leisure, business or educational travel, sports, adventure and entertainment.

“This will be a good opportunity to link up with the best operates in the different areas that appeal to; adults, youths and children,” reads a brief on the about the event.

“The Pearl of Africa Tourism Expo (POATE) will attract international hosted buyers from Europe, the Americas (North & South America), Africa, Australia and Asia,” it adds.

The event, according to organizers will also provide a platform of Business to Business engagements for tourism travel trade regionally, locally and internationally. Among others, it will also showcase, with special focus, the Ugandan product offering from the diverse bird life to the Big 7, adventure tourism, primates, culture tourism and much more.

Last year exhibitors representing airlines, hotel chains, safari lodges, tour operators, travel agencies, restaurants and regional tourism clusters attended.

Over 100 buyers and media from the USA, Canada, the United Kingdom, Brazil, Saudi Arabia, New Zealand and Russia, among others were invited to attend and participate at the Expo. Also invited were participants from Zimbabwe, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Ghana and Nigeria among others.

Safie Ali, UTB’s Senior Marketing officer and coordinator said some time back  that, “POATE is a must attend for the professional who wants to better understand tourism and key industry issues that can fundamentally impact their business – and that can help position them more competitively in their own market. We look forward to meeting with some of the hosted buyers next week.”

Visitor exports are a key component of the direct contribution of Travel and Tourism in Uganda and in 2016, Uganda generated Shs2, 592.9bn in visitor exports, an amount was expected to grow by 23.0% in 2017.The country expected to attract 1,459,000 international tourist arrivals in the same year.

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