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Resign, DP tells IGP Kayihura

By
Geoffery Serugo
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DP Acting Secretary General Dr. Gerald Siranda

The Democratic Party (DP) has implored the Inspector General of Police Kale Kayihura to resign, saying he has failed to handle the disturbing issue of the women killed in recent months.

Addressing the media at party headquarters in Kampala, the DP acting Secretary General Dr. Gerald Siranda criticized the idea of the IGP enlisting the services of prostitutes to identify the killers who have gone on the rampage in Wakiso district, saying it is unprofessional and illegal.

“Sex working is illegal and he should opt for another mechanism. Kayihura has a well streamlined budget to run the institution; he should tell us where he has failed or resign for another person to take over,” Dr. Siranda said.

He also urged the Ethics and Integrity Minister Fr. Simon Lokodo to pick keen interest in Gen. Kayihura’s initiative, saying it will promote immorality and also put the lives of the prostitutes at risk.

“Kayihura must know who buys these women and where they parade themselves,” Dr. Siranda said, before chidingly ‘advising’ the IGP to join politics.

“He should resort to the step taken by the MP for Kassanda South Simeo Nsubuga other than wasting time in police,” Dr. Siranda said.

In about two months, 20 women have been raped and then killed by unknown assailants, a situation that prompted security chiefs IGP Kayihura and the Security Minister Lt. Gen. Henry Tumukunde to pitch camp in Entebbe.

In early August Gen Kayihura visited Katabi village where the killings are suspected to have taken place, and called upon residents to be more vigilant in order to put to a halt the killings that have sent panic waves in Entebbe and Nansana in Wakiso district.

A few days later Gen. Tumukunde also went to Entebbe and met with the local leaders over the killings.

Meanwhile, in a related development yesterday the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) also weighed in on the matter, and implored government to pronounce itself on the rampant killings.

The (FDC) also asked shadow minister for security to petition Parliament to intervene in the matter, or to ask the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) to join the manhunt for the killers.

 

 

 

 

 

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DRC rebels protest relocation of M23 fighters from Uganda, Rwanda

By
Francisco Adongo
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M23 Chairman Bertrand-Bisimwa

The M23 rebel group has protested against an initiative by the African Union’s Peace and Security Council (AUPSC), to relocate its combatants cantoned in Uganda and Rwanda, to a ‘third country’.

In a communique signed by the Chairman of the M23 Movement Bertrand Bisimwa, he says the AUPSC initiative compromises the DRC peace and electoral processes.

‘The M23 Movement’s Directorate is extremely concerned about the content of the official Communiqué of the African Union’s Peace and Security Council of August 23rd, 2017 in regards to our country (DRC) elections and the M23 Movement’s ex-combatants cantoned in Rwanda and Uganda,’ a September 4 communique by Bisimwa reads in part.

It adds: ‘The initiative of the Peace and Security Council to relocate ex-combatants of our Movement the M23 to a third country dangerously compromises the peace process derived from the Declarations signed in Nairobi on December 12th, 2013 by the Congolese Government and the M23 Movement’.

Further, the communiqué reads: ‘With regard to the position of the African Union’s Peace and Security Council on electoral issue in DRC, our Movement, the M23, expresses its disappointment and disagreement with the African Union …’

The Movement also says the AU has failed to guarantee the declarations derived from the Nairobi talks between the M23 and the DRC government.

‘It is an admission of failure by the African Union that it could no longer guarantee the implementation of the Nairobi declarations for which it committed itself on December 12th, 2013; it is in contradiction with all the provisions of the Nairobi declarations and more specifically to the points 2 and 6 of the Congolese Government’s declaration on transitional security arrangements and repatriation,’ the communique states, adding that the decision of the AUPSC would ‘intensify the frustrations of ex-combatants and refugees alike who are seeing the hopes of their repatriation gone with the wind’.

In conclusion, the M23 rebels called for meeting of all stakeholders and guarantors of the December 2013 peace talks, among them the AU, ICGRL, SADC,  European Union and the USA in a bid to resolve their outstanding concerns.

 

 

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BoU lawyers admit filing ‘error’ in Sudhir case

By
Francisco Adongo
-

Lawyers representing the Bank of Uganda have admitted that they delayed to file a response in a matter in which billionaire businessman Sudhir Ruparelia is demanding for US$8 million from the Central Bank, for failure to file defence in the stipulated time.

In a counterclaim by Mr. Ruparelia’s defence team, Ms Kampala Associated Advocates, they faulted the Bank of Uganda for failing to act in accordance with the ‘legal requirement’ of Order 5 Rule 10 of the Civil Procedure Rules, after they failed to enter defence in the stipulated time of 15 days, which, according to KAA, should have been before August 29.

Part of the letter admitting ‘error of counsel’.

‘It is not in dispute that Bank of Uganda, which is the second counter Defendant in the counterclaim and a separate party, was served on August 11 and receipt acknowledged by the Secretary to the Bank of Uganda who stamped on them and returned them to the process server. To date the Bank of Uganda has elected to ignore the legal requirement to put in a defence in answer to the claim against it,’ Mr. Ruparelia’s lawyers wrote.

‘In so far as the issue of receipt of service on Bank of Uganda remains uncontested, we reiterate our prayer that in accordance with the Civil Procedure Rules, judgment in default be entered against Bank of Uganda for USD8, 000, 000 (United States Dollars eight million only)’.

We therefore pray as per our latter dated 29 August 2017, that default judgment be entered against Bank of Uganda’, the KAA letter ends.

But in their letter, MMAKS, which admits to ‘counsel error’, says: ‘Whilst the ‘Defence to Counterclaim’ was filed in time in response to the 1st Applicant, on whom service had been effected through MMAKS Advocates on 14th August 2017, the ‘Defence to Counterclaim’ was filed 1 day late in relation to the 2nd Applicant on whom service had been effected directly on the 11th August 2017. This late filing was through inadvertent error of counsel which should not be visited on the applicant,’ the 2-page letter to the court by lawyers from MMAKS reads in part. According to MMAKS, their letter is supported by an affidavit sworn by Margaret Kasule, the BoU legal counsel.

Earlier the BoU Communications Director Christine Alupo had called the press and told the corps that the central bank had filed its defence, but, according to the letter by MMAKS, it seems that was not the case.

Meanwhile, court will pronounce itself on the matter on September 13.

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Government to revise dual citizenship fees

By
Geoffery Serugo
-
Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga

Government is considering revising fees charged on Ugandans in the Diaspora to make it easy for them to acquire dual citizenship.

The Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga, while addressing the political forum of the Ugandan North American Association (UNAA) on Sunday, September 3, 2017 in Miami, Florida, said that she is aware of the predicament Ugandans abroad face and has already initiated the process with the government.

“I am happy to note that our continuous interactions have brought this far; to see that we have national identity card and dual-citizenship registration going on at the convention now,” Kadaga said.

She however, noted that there is need for Ugandans to be more patriotic when incurring such fees. “You spend so much in taxes paying it to the United States but you cannot part with a mere US$ 400 for your country,” Kadaga said.

Kadaga was responding to concerns by some sections of Ugandans in the diaspora who argued that since they remit a lot of money to Uganda, they ought not to be charged US$400 to acquire dual citizenship. They also argued that the process of acquiring dual citizenship was tedious.

Albert Bakasabara, a Ugandan living in Washington DC said that it was unfair for him to lose his Ugandan citizenship because he did not denounce being a Ugandan. He further said that the fees for acquiring visas become astronomical for those intending to travel to Uganda.

According to the Uganda Constitution, “A citizen of Uganda shall cease forthwith to be a citizen of Uganda if, on attaining the age of eighteen years he or she, by voluntary act other than marriage, acquires or retains the citizenship of a country other than Uganda.”

However, with the enactment of Uganda Citizenship and Immigration Control (Amendment) Act, 2009, dual citizenship is now possible upon fulfilment of some requirements including payment of a fee.

“I came to the US as a student and eventually got my citizenship when I started working here; however, I am a Mutoro with property in Uganda and I go back every year, I have never stopped being Ugandan,” he said, adding that, “US$ 400 is money not everyone can afford, especially if you want to take your family home and these are the hindrances we face yet we want to be part of our country.”

He also added that he is worried about the legitimacy of his land title for the land he owns in Uganda because he is no longer a citizen.

The Government Chief Whip, Hon. Ruth Nankabirwa said that the government is working on revising the visa fees for those intending to travel to Uganda.

These are fees for a service for you to get citizenship when you acquired another citizenship.

She added that for the case of the land titles and property belonging to those who lost their Ugandan citizenship when they became American citizens, it is safe and no one is going to take it away.

“I can assure you that your property will not be confiscated by the government or anyone else. However, to be on the safe side, you need to regain full custody so that you freely administer it by acquiring dual-citizenship,” Nankabirwa said.

Nankabirwa also promised the Ugandans in the diaspora that the government will come up with a friendlier package of visa fees for those intending to travel back to Uganda with their families.

The Speaker also encouraged Ugandans in the diaspora to work together to create an investment vehicle back home in Uganda as a way of them playing a role in the development of the country.

The Speaker later officiated at the closing dinner of the Convention at a dinner and she asked that whenever a new convention commences, it reviews issues discussed in the previous one.

 

 

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FDC urges government to explain women killings

By
Geoffery Serugo
-
MP Paul Mwiru

Following the gruesome murders of over 20 women in Entebbe and Nansana in Wakiso district, the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) has urged government to pronounce itself on the matter.

Speaking at party headquarters in Najjanankumbi, the FDC Deputy Spokesperson Paul Mwiru said Ugandans, mostly the women, are now living in fear.

He said the security apparatus lined up for the task including police under IGP Kale Kayihura and intelligence agencies under security minister Henry Tumukunde, had so far failed to nip the criminals in the bud.

“Citizens are in great fear for their dear lives following public contradictions of Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kale Kayihura and Security Minister Tumukunde,” Mwiru, a former FDC MP for Jinja Municipality, said.

Early in August the IGP Gen Kale Kayihura camped in Katabi village where the massive killings are suspected to have taken place, and police has since made some arrests.

“Victims disappear first but Ugandans should know that we are working diligently to handle this matter,” Gen Tumukunde was quoted as saying during a meeting with the Entebbe municipality mayor.

Over the past few months at least 20 women have been killed by unknown assailants after reportedly raping them, with the latest victim’s body having been found on yesterday morning.

Meanwhile, in a related development, last Thursday 10 people suspected of killing women in Nansana were arraigned before the Nabweru chief magistrate’s court, and charged with terrorism.

 

 

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Museveni South Sudan peace initiative in jeopardy

By
Agencies
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REVEALED: Acting Secretary General of the SPLM faction loyal to President Salva Kiir, Jemma Nunu Kumba

The working group comprising members of the three factions of South Sudan’s ruling party (SPLM) has been unable to come together and work from one location since the committee was formed, grounding the efforts of the reunification initiative being sponsored by the Ugandan leader, Yoweri Museveni.

The acting Secretary General of the SPLM faction loyal to President Salva Kiir, Jemma Nunu Kumba said the group had not made any progress because of the differences within its members over the venue for their work.

“You know the parties nominated three members each to the working group. From our part we nominated three comrades. The other comrades also nominated three members each. The SPLM-IO [the armed opposition faction] nominated three and the former detainees also nominated three members, but two of the former detainees who are part of the working group did not come to Juba where the committee was to start its work,” Nunu said.

She added: “So the team in Juba worked on the draft and sent for their contribution. But they did not do it. Instead they wanted the team in Juba to go to Entebbe and work from there”.

The senior party official, however, stated that the leadership was consulting about whether to allow the team work from Entebbe in Uganda or persuade the two members of the former political detainees to come Juba where they will be working together with other members from other factions involved in reunification.

A senior member of the SPLM-IO faction under the faction of the first vice president Taban Deng Gai also confirmed separately, saying two members of the former detainees refused to come to Juba.

“You know well that Majak D’ Agoot, Kosti Manibe and John Luk Jok were nominated by the former detainees to the committee. John Luk is in Juba and he has already started working with the team in Juba, but the two colleagues did not come. They insisted that the committee must work from Entebbe,” further explained the official.

He added: “I don’t why they do not want to come and the work place of the committee is in Juba”.

The SPLM-IO member also said there were discussions ongoing between the parties to either permit the working group to develop the concept and implementation matrix outside South Sudan or allow three members of the former detainees who are already in Juba to represent their group in consultations and working in Juba.

In July, the various factions of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) signed the Entebbe Declaration to operationalize the Arusha Agreement on the reunification of the ruling party.

The declaration was signed under the auspices of President Museveni.

However, in furtherance of the objectives of the SPLM reconciliation and unity, the faction groups reportedly resolved to establish a working group to revitalize and operationalize the implementation of the Arusha SPLM Reunification Agreement. The working group was also tasked to develop a matrix for the implementation of the Arusha Agreement with specific timelines and report to President Museveni.

The group also reiterated calls for the armed opposition leader, Riek Machar to join the process of reconciliation and unity of the SPLM. They also resolved that groups and cadres, who are not part of the Arusha Agreement, should join the reconciliation and reunification process and the SPLM cadres and the grassroots countrywide and in the diaspora to embrace the new spirit of reconciliation and unity for the interest of the South Sudanese and their country.

In June, South Sudan rebel leader Riek Machar declined an invitation for the SPLM reunification meeting brokered by the Ugandan president, arguing that his forced confinement in South Africa made it difficult for him to participate in this gathering.

Machar, in a letter addressed to Uganda’s technical adviser facilitating the talks for three factions of South Sudan’s ruling party, said his faction received the letter at short notice, resulting in failure to make necessary preparations to attend the talks.

The ruling party split leading to an outbreak of a civil war in mid-December 2013.

 

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Comeback to work-Otafiire implores Judicial officers

By
Geoffery Serugo
-
Gen. Otafiire

Justice and Constitution Affairs Minister,  Maj. Gen. Kahinda Otafiire has implored all judicial officers to end industrial strike as government harmonizes all workers’ salaries.

‘’There will be no salary increment before the salary harmonisation exercise, we therefore ask them to return to work, immediately’’. The minister implored.

He further noted that the government has agreed to offer judicial officers security, transport and office equipment in an effort to end strike.

Addressing the press at Uganda Media Centre today, Gen. Otafiire revealed that a comprehensive pay across government departments will be concluded in October basing on equity, sustainability and affordability of the government.

According to Gen. Otafiire the Bill is before cabinet and almost complete, “there are few things that were to be finished and by next week they might be done”.

On August 25, judicial officials under their umbrella organisation, the Uganda Judicial Officials Association (UJOA) went on strike demanding for a better pay.

This year several public departments have gone down to strike all demanding ‘better pays’ however the government has in similar cases responded to their claims by increasing their salary scales.

Officials from the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) also laid down their tools, demanding for salary increment and immediately government heeded to their cries and their pay was increased with the biggest beneficiary being the Director of Public Prosecution who was upgraded from Shs10 million to Shs30 million.

On Tuesday last week, Uganda Local Council Workers Union threatened to lay down their tool in case the government fails to raise their salary from Shs187, 660 to Shs1, 760,000 within a period of 90 days.

 

 

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Nyege Nyege Festival: An experience worth the billing

By
Badru Kasadah
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Performances at the Nyege Nyege Festival

In vernacular Nyege Nyege translates into ‘the feeling of a sudden uncontrollable urge to move, shake or dance’.

Announcing Nyege Nyege

 

Indeed, the Nyege Nyege Festival has always lived to this meaning. Converging on Nile Discovery Beach which is surrounded by over four acres of lush, green tropical forest, with its own private beach on the Nile River and sculptures decorating the landscape, festival goers from all over the world spend three days shaking and dancing to music by different performers.

And the organisers seem to have offered even more than that this year and, kicking off on Friday, the Nyege Nyege festival attracted an estimated 5000 adventurers from all over the globe.

The heavy downpour and subsequent cold weather didn’t dampen the mood at the venue nor did it even stop people from travelling to the venue. By 5pm, over 2000 people had arrived, including four buses full of attendees from Kenya. This was a rise from the two buses that came from Kenya last year.

Putting special emphasis on the rich diversity of Ugandan traditional music, the edition kicked off as early as 1pm with performances from over 300 performers.

Among these were 13 different troupes from all corners of the country including the legendary musician from Busoga – Mata & group; Domadana Kadodi Performers and Ennanga Vision, which is the collaboration with Owiny Sigoma’s Jesse Hackett and Buganda Cultural Ensemble’s Albert Ssempeke.

The party has always been ongoing on four stages; the main stage, where performances have been happening, the Umoja Arena – predominantly a stage for reggae lovers, the Chill, and the Eternal stage – stages predominantly for the lovers of House music.

Parties never stopped, going on throughout all nights and days with only those tired leaving for a rest thanks to the thousands of camping tents that were on the four acre hosting venue.

Others booked hotels for their accommodation. Meals and drinks could also be accessed at the venue at a relatively fair price. The most enjoying meal appeared to have been the ‘rolex’ as attendees in all corners could be seen enjoying the snack.

 

The festival climaxed on Saturday with an increased number of arrivals. Actually, it’s the same night on which the main performer at this year’s edition, Cameroonian superstar Reniss performed.

By Sunday morning, some of the attendee, mostly had started leaving, though, majority stayed behind for the final day of Nyege Nyege festival.

Other performers at the event included; rapper Jovi, Ghanaian DJ/producer Gafacci, Jowaa, Cruel Boyz, Gqom pioneers from Durban, South Africa. Lisbon’s Batida king Dj NK, Italian percussive performance artists Ninos Du Brasil, Germany’s

Harmonious Thelonious, Ireland’s outer-nationalist Peter Power and dance floor legend DJ Marcelle from the Netherlands will all made their first appearances in Africa. The experience from the Nyege Nyege festival is indescribable!

No wonder it was early this year named among the top 30 new festivals in the world for 2017 by Fest300, a San Francisco-based company that publishes an annual list of the 300 top festivals.

Only two festivals from Africa made it to the list that was compiled from votes cast by an international community of festival goers.

Nyege Nyege Chief organiser Derek Debru

According to the organisers, Talent Africa and Derek Debru, the number of attendees shot up from 3000 to over 5000 attendees, with about 80% being from European and Asian countries. Entrance to the venue was between Shs130, 000 for the early bird tickets while tickets sold at the venue went for Shs150, 000.

 

 

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Three arrested over murder of Chinese businesswoman

By
Geoffery Serugo
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NO SUMMONS FOR ANITE: Police Spokesperson AIGP Asan Kasingye.

Three suspects implicated in the murder of the Chinese female national Yang Yei Su have been arrested by police.

Addressing the press at police headquarters in Naguru, police spokesperson Asan Kasingye said Ms Yang Yei Su was shot in the chest and died on the way to Namirembe Hospital.

It is alleged that on Friday last week, two men accessed the factory as customers but later demanded for money from the deceased, who refused to budge leading to a scuffle that resulted in her death.

Kasingye named the suspects as Joseph Naluda, Julius Katongole and Francis Ogwal, a security guard, who he said, were arrested basing on CCTV footage obtained from Nile Steel and Plastic factory situated in Mukono, where the incident occurred.

“CCTV footage indicated that the security guard did not take time to check murders suspects before getting access to the factory, that is why he was arrested,” Kasingye said.

He revealed that police has released the CCTV footage to the general public and called upon the public to share it and inform the police in case they identify a person featuring in the CCTV footage.

Mr. Kasingye also said that the police will check the traits of DNA found on the jacket that plucked off one of the assailants the deceased, and trace the owner to face prosecution.

 

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URSB to deregister over 700 expired trademarks

By
George Mangula
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Sheraton Kampala Hotel trademark is one of those that have expired

The Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) has said it will strike off the list 702 expired trademarks owned by various companies if they are not renewed within one month.

Bemanya Twebaze, the URSB Registrar General, who has had the list of expired trademarks published, said that the owners of the trademarks stand to lose if they are removed from the register since they can be availed to other entities for use in business.

According to Twebaze, the owners of the trademarks which have expired can renew their registration within a month, and only have to pay the renewal fee and ‘any additional fee as may be applicable’.

He said a registered trademark has duration of 7 years, renewable for every ten years after the first registration. He adds that URSB derives its powers from Trademarks Act 2010, to register trademarks.

“Trademarks struck off the register become available for any other members of the public to use,” Twebaze warned, and listed the expired trademarks prominent among them Airtel’s ‘Pakalast’, ‘Sheraton’- owned by Sheraton International, ‘NTV’- owned by Kenya’s Nation Media Group and ‘M-Sente’, owned by Uganda Telecom now under receivership.

Other familiar trademarks that face delisting from the URSB list are ‘Nile Lager’- owned by Nile Breweries and ‘Bell’ -owned by the East African Breweries. The other is ‘Movit’-owned by beauty products maker-Movit Products. ‘Imperial Bank Ltd’- owned by Imperial Bank Uganda is another trademark under threat.

According to the list of defaulting companies, some last renewed their trademarks in 2008 while others first registered in 2010.

Sources at URSB say very few companies and other entities in Uganda have their trademarks renewed, though they add they have received inquiries about the availability of some of the affected trademarks.

 

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