Members of Parliament begin official consultations for the age removal tomorrow, the Director of Communications and Public Affairs at the Ugandan Parliament, Chris Obore, has said.

According to Mr. Obore, the Ministry of Finance released Shs13 billion and each of the MPs will get Shs29 million for the two-week exercise, the result of a private members bill peddled by Igara West Raphael Magyezi that is aimed at lifting presidential age limit, capped at 75 years as per the 1995 Constitution of Uganda.

“Each MP will receive Shs.29m and consultations will take place from October 25 to November 8, 2017, Obore was quoted as saying.

The ‘Magyezi Bill’ which is currently under the legal and parliamentary affairs committee has elicited mixed feelings within the general public, with arguments that Article 102 (b) of the Constitution should be maintained to ensure the peaceful transition of power.

And, two weeks ago opposition MPs, without facilitation, commenced joint consultative meetings after a green light from Speaker Rebecca Kadaga, but most of the meetings have since been disrupted by police.

Indeed, MPs like Kato Lubwama and the Leader of Opposition Winnie Kiiza, were among others arrested last week for the ‘Kogikwatako campaign’ that is aimed at maintaining Article 102(b) of the Constitution.

However, due to public outcry involving accusations of partisan practice leveled against the police, the latter has since ‘lifted the ban’ and now says MPs will be allowed to campaign jointly in other constituencies upon notifying police for clearance.

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The Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (URNJ-Uganda) has condemned the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) for shutting down media houses on grounds of hosting Ugandans opposed to the removal of the 75-year age limit cap from the Constitution.

“The UCC’s actions of shutting down media houses without due process is oppressive and uncalled for. They should carry out thorough investigations before taking any punitive action. Ordering a media house to suspend its staff is going over board, and is not part of UCC’s mandate. Such actions are intended to curtail freedom of expression and media freedom,” HRNJ-Uganda National Coordinator, Robert Ssempala said in Tuesday press release.

On October 21, 2017, UCC shut down a private radio station, Kanungu Broadcasting Services Ltd. (KBS) on allegations of breaching the ‘minimum broadcasting standards’.

The KBS Radio Director, Mr. Charles Byaruhanga at the time said UCC did not tell them the exact reason for the closure.

“They were alleging that we breached broadcasting standards, but when we asked them the exact problem, they did not tell us.” Byaruhanga said.

But UCC accused KBS of alleged breach of the minimum broadcasting standards as set forth in section 31 and schedule 4 of the Uganda Communications Commission Act 2013, which calls for a broadcaster to ensure any program it broadcasts is not likely to create public insecurity or violence.

The closure of the radio station came days after it hosted the four time presidential candidate and former president of the opposition Forum for Democratic Change party, retired Col. Dr. Kizza Besigye, who is currently detained by the police at Naggalama on claims of holding an illegal assembly in Rukungiri, Western Uganda.

On October 17, 2017, UCC also instructed KBS management to suspend two of its staff including the Station manager Ronald Agaba aka Mwene Ngaro and Desmond Kyokwijuka Misairi, the host of the Global Focus program and anchor of the Rukiga news, on allegations of fueling public insecurity and violence –a claim which is denied by the victims and their employers at KBS radio.

The station was re-opened after a closed meeting between the radio management, the Kinkizi West Member of Parliament James Kaberuka and some district officials including the District Chairman and District Councilors at the UCC offices at Bugolobi in Kampala.

KBS Manager Agaba confirmed he was suspended by his bosses following a directive from UCC. “I was suspended from the radio and as I speak, I am at home, though I don’t know my crime,” he said.

Efforts to get a comment from the Executive Director of UCC Eng. Godfrey Mutabazi were futile as he was reportedly engaged in a meeting.

KBS Radio is the second station shut down this year after Radio Hoima in May this year. Radio Hoima was shut down on grounds of violating the ‘minimum broadcasting standards’, though it was later cleared of any wrong doing and re-opened.

In the same vein, on September 26, 2017, UCC banned all live broadcasts of parliamentary debate on age limit removal citing discrimination, inciting violence, stirring up hatred, promoting a culture of violence amongst the viewers, threatening to revoke operating licenses for non-complying media houses.

Over the years UCC has been accused for shutting down radio stations that host politicians opposed to the policies and programmes of the ruling party-the National Resistance Movement, an act which many see as infringing on the rights and freedoms of speech.

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This weekend, residents of Masindi and surrounding areas were treated to a free Airtel Uganda regional health camp, part of the telcom company’s efforts to give back to the community.

The camp that was held at Bwijanga Health Center IV located on Masindi – Hoima road, was the third this year and saw many locals including prisoners from Uganda Prison Farm Isimba, get a chance to receive free treatment.

Speaking during the Masindi Health Camp, Airtel Uganda Corporate Social Responsibility Manager, Mrs. Charity Bukenya said the company will continue reaching out to communities in Uganda.

“Our effort is a drop in the ocean that supports what several other generous organizations are doing to make conscious and deliberate steps towards fulfilling the sustainable development goal #3 which is about ensuring good health and wellbeing and we at Airtel know that together we can make an impact in the lives of Ugandan’s through such camps,” Ms. Bukenya said.

“This gesture is so much appreciated as it gives our people a chance to get free medical education and treatment,” she added.

Every year, Airtel Uganda offers free medical services to hundreds of community members in an effort to improve their wellbeing and empower them with the basic health information and services they need to make appropriate health decisions.

These health camps are done in partnership with Hinds Feet Project Uganda along with various medical practitioners and health institutions such as Uganda Red Cross Society, Cancer Institute, Doctor Agrawal, Re-pad, Marie Stopes, Unilever and District health centers who volunteer their services and medical personnel to participate and engage with thousands of Ugandans across the country to offer free diagnosis, treatment and referrals to major hospitals.

The health camps have also dedicated time to educating Ugandans on different topics such as HIV prevention, sexual and reproductive health, maternal and child health, nutrition, hepatitis B, prevention of infectious diseases among others.

According to the Masindi District Health Office, there have been some efforts to improve the health situations; however, the health status of the population in the area is still poor with a high prevalence of infectious and communicable diseases, malaria, skin diseases and malnutrition among the general population especially in children under five.

Masindi district is also affected by other environmental health issues including acute diarrhea affecting 2.6% of the population, pneumonia, eye infections and genital infections.

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The Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) has suspended a prominent programme of Pearl FM, citing a ‘breach of minimum broadcasting standards likely to cause insecurity and violence’.

The letter dated October 17, 2017 indicated that Pearl FM’s show dubbed the ‘Inside Story’ that is hosted by Suliman Kalule, unprofessionally deliberated on the Kasese saga of November last year, in which about 100 people were killed following a standoff that involved Rwenzururu King Charles Wesley Mumbere’s guards and government security agents.

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