SuperSport is quitting Kenya rendering over 100 employees jobless. All employees of the continental sports broadcaster who have been serving on a month’s notice were on Tuesday handed their termination letters.
Among those affected include presenters, producers, analysts, technicians, camera persons, office staff cleaners and dozens of other freelancers.
The development came a month after SuperSport terminated its deal with the Kenyan Premier League Limited, claiming the latter had violated their trade deal.
In a brief statement by the company, it states that formal notice of cancellation of the contract has been given and all the necessary procedures are being put in place to manage the exit from the league.
“The situation became untenable and it put SuperSport at risk therefore it has no option but to terminate the contract. SuperSport will continue in its commitment to providing the best sports content in Africa via platforms with cutting-edge technology and on multiple devices,” reads part of the statement.
The new development comes after a two-week push and shove between the broadcast partners and the league managers which led to cancellation of live matches over the last two weekends.
KPL chairman Ambrose Rachier, one of the individuals who were key in signing the first ever contract and also present in the signing of the new agreement set to run till 2019, has confirmed to media that indeed no more KPL matches will be live on TV.
“We have received the letter direct from the legal team in South Africa and the reason highlighted was the expansion of the league to 18 teams by the Sports Tribunal. They are also concerned with the Tribunal’s decision that we are just agents of running the league and have questioned why we have not appealed the decision,” Rachier said.
“When I found out that I had HIV/Aids, I told myself that this was not something I was going to hide. I came out on my HIV status. Many people abandoned me on coming out. Even the army left me. I was told that I was to die in 3 years but it’s now 31 years and I am still alive,” said Major Rubaramira Ruranga at the launch of aids awareness series, MTV Shuga Down South.
“I am now 69 years. If I was to die today, it would be old age but not Aids. When you realize that you have Aids, don’t fear to come out. Being happy to talk about HIV is a good thing. I’m happy that today HIV can be given nicknames like Shuga.”
MTV Shuga Season Five named MTV Shuga Down South premiered Thursday at Sky Lounge thanks to Reach A Hand, Uganda.
The premiere was graced by the lead actor, Emmanuel Ikubese and Nigerian songbird, Chidinma of the Kedike fame.
Speaking at the premiere, Ikubese noted that he was proud to have been part of the drama series as it is positively impacting lives of the youth across the continent.
“We shot the 5th season in South Africa that is why it’s called; MTV Shuga: Down South,” he said.
He added that he was proud to be part of the series because it gave him the platform to individually pass on a message to young people.
“The TV show has been touching lives and a lot of young people have actually gotten the guts to get tested and even talk about their sexual health with family by just watching the show,” he added.
The premiere was summed up with performances from musicians Geosteady and Ceaserous.
Katikiro Charles Peter Mayiga addressing online news editors at Mengo about his achievements in the last four years.
The Buganda Kingdom initiative to equip people living on Kabaka’s land with 49-year lease titles is facing criticism by emissaries of ‘detractors’, the Katikiro Charles Peter Mayiga has said.
Mr. Mayiga, who has now served as Katikiro for four years, made the disclosure at a press conference organized specifically for the Online Media Association (OMA) practitioners at Bulange, Mengo.
He outlined the five core principles of his tenure as: preservation of cultural heritage and identity; sharing of power; hard work; ensuring unity and the protection of kingdom land through initiatives like ‘Ekyapa Mu Ngalo’ under the clarion call of ‘Enkola ey’omulembe omupya’.
It should be recalled that since the announcement of the Ekyapa Mu Ngalo initiative, some people like Senior Presidential Advisor on Media Joseph Tamale Mirundi and senior Muslim cleric Sheikh Nuhu Muzaata, have come out openly to criticize the ‘Kyapa Mu Ngalo’ initiative, with claims that the kingdom was intent a ‘stealing’ land from the people living in Buganda.
However, the Katikiro allayed fears, saying that since 1994, after the restitution of the Kingdoms in 1993, over 20.000 people living on Kabaka’s land had received Certificates of Title. He also threw a jibe at both Mirundi and Muzaata, saying they had already formalized their titles with the Kingdom.
“How can one take a tablet to cure an ailment like malaria and then turn around and discourage other people from taking the same tablet to cure their ailment,” Katikiro Mayiga asked, adding that those opposed to the initiative were “either dishonest or hypocrites, or both.”
According to the Katikiro, the initiative will offer a level certainty for the title holder because “it has an automatic renewal clause” after the 49-year lease expires.
Revealing that over 1000 people had heeded to the ‘Ekyapa Mu Ngalo’ call the Katikiro added: “The detractors of Ekyapa mu Ngalo are the same people who were opposed Etofaali; because it is easy for one to destabilize those without Ekyapa,” he said, adding that the two initiatives had, among others, helped to ‘reawaken’ the industrious values of the Baganda.
However, the Katikiro who spoke on a number of issues, said that as Kabaka’s Mutebi‘s ‘eldest son’ he would dialogue with the two and other like-minded pessimists in a bid to resolve the issue amicably.
Turning to Etofaali, the katikiro said the initiative was a huge success, bringing in over Shs13 billion, of which about Shs11 billion was raised by ordinary Ugandans.
Further, he said, some of the money collected had helped in funding development projects in the kingdom like the construction of Masengere Building and the partial renovation of Kasubi tombs (Muzzibu Azalampanga’).
Briefly turning to national politics, the Katikiro criticized the recent torture of the Mayor of Kamwenge Town Council, saying the incident was ‘unfortunate’, depicting the lack of professionalism in the Uganda Police Force.
“Torture is not one of the modern methods investigation; this shows that the police lacks in professionalism and the police CID needs to do more; what about trying crime detection,” the Katikiro offered direction.
Later, asked in a tete-atete whether he held any presidential ambitions the Katikiro jokingly answered: “I hope not”, adding however, that he has never limited his scope in as far as his potential is concerned.
“I do not know what will happen tomorrow but I never say never,” the Katikiro said, adding however that for now he is only focusing on Buganda Kingdom affairs.
Police has acknowledged the torture of Godfrey Byamukama, the mayor for Kamwenge Town council saying he is one of the suspects in the murder of Assistants inspector of police Andrew Felix kaweesi his body guard Kenneth Erau and his driver Godfrey Mambewa.
Mr. Byamukama was arrested from the Ministry of Lands along Parliamentary Avenue on the April 5, 2017 however police Spokesperson Asan Kasingye described the situation where the suspect and the two police officers who arrested him went into a scuffle with the suspect when he realized that he was being driven to Nalufenya other than Naguru police headquarter as earlier informed at the time of arrest.
He added that he sustained injuries and the police has offered him the best medical care at Nakasero Hospital and has been discharged and will be getting a periodic review at the same hospital.
“Police officers who inflicted injuries on Mr. Byamukama have been arrested and have been subjected to professional police unit for the investigations and promised to prosecute them for acting outside the acceptable standards and the law of this country’’. Kasingye said
Further he emphasized that whoever tortures a suspect shall not hide behind various liabilities instead he will be charged individually under the Anti-Torture Act.
“’We reassured the country that the Uganda police force will ensure that its standards are followed and allow the rule of law to prevail’’. He stressed
President Yoweri Museveni has met and held a meeting with President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya who paid a courtesy call on him at his residency at the Taj 51 Hotel, St. James Court in the United Kingdom.
The two leaders discussed various bilateral issues affecting the region.
Museveni later held a meeting with Mohammed Abdullahi Farmaajo, the President of the Federal Republic of Somalia.
President Farmaajo thanked President Museveni for Uganda’s support to Somalia peace processed and urged him to support his countries need to build a strong army and security pillars in his country.
The leaders had been attending the just concluded International Conference on Somalia, at Lancaster House in London, United Kingdom.
The Chairman of the Peace and Security Council of the African Union, Amb. Mull Katende, has said heavy reliance on donor funding was affecting peace efforts on the continent.
“Our major challenge is donor dependence, and this defeats the whole idea of African solutions to African problems,” Katende said adding that “the decision by the EU to reduce funding for AMISOM troops’ allowances by 20 percent, was having a negative impact on troop morale and instead boosting the resolve of Al Shabaab to continue undermining the AMISOM gains.”
Presenting a paper on the status of peace and security in Africa to Pan African Parliament MPs on Thursday, Amb. Katende urged parliamentarians to make use of the available tools for structural conflict prevention by ensuring that African governments are more transparent, accountable and responsive to the legitimate demands of the people.
The African legislators who are meeting in Midrand, South Africa were told that African people yearn for peace, security and prosperity.
Presently, there is conflict and instability in South Sudan, Somalia, Mali and the Sahel, Libya, Burundi, Sudan, Djibouti, the Gulf of Guinea, Gambia and Western Sahara among others.
Katende hopes that the implementation of the funding formula adopted by the AU in the July 2016 Summit held in Kigali, Rwanda, would improve the funding challenges.
Reacting to the report, legislators urged the Peace and Security Council of the AU to address the root causes of conflict in Africa and the supply of arms. They said economic, social and political inclusiveness was key to peace.
Prof. Morris Ogenga Latigo noted that the challenge that Africa faces is providing leadership for posterity rather than for self, corruption and self-interest.
“We should invest more in ensuring that elections are free; not repetitive but free of mischief and when you are in governance, you govern for all the country and the continent,” he said.
Mbaydoum Simeon of the Central African Republic said African states are victims of raw materials that they possess. He noted that despite more than 12,000 Blue Helmets in CAR, the security situation had not been resolved.
Honourable Okot Ogong (Uganda) was dismayed to note that PAP was talking about security and peace and yet the continent had no stand-by force to manage its own security challenges.
“In the DRC, Darfur and other conflict areas, it is the UN keeping the peace. The AU is acting on behalf of UN Security Council. We have therefore left the agenda of Africa in the hands of other people,” he said.
Other legislators opined that Africa’s target of silencing the guns by 2020 cannot be guaranteed in an atmosphere of intolerance and oppression of the minority.
“African politics has now become a business of patronage and cronyism. We have become more tribalistic and intolerant of each other’s religion,” said Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka from Ghana.
PAP President, Roger Nkodo, said the solutions to the problems bedeviling Africa lay in the Malabo Protocol and that without full powers of legislation, African voices cannot be heard.
With the myriad of challenges facing the continent in securing peace, the Peace and Security Council of the AU has now focused its energies to fight hate crimes and the ideology of genocide in Africa and strengthening the AU’s early warning systems before states slide into anarchy.
The fourth ordinary session of the Pan African Parliament is meeting in its headquarters in Midrand, South Africa, from 8th – 19th May 2017.
Hon. Jacqueline Amongin addressing the PAP
Uganda’s delegation to the PAP includes Hon. Jacqueline Amongin (NRM, Ngora), also leader of the delegation; Prof. Morris Ogenga-Latigo (FDC, Agago North); Hon. Anifa Bangirana Kawooya (NRM, Sembabule); Hon. Felix Okot Ogong (NRM, Dokolo South) and Hon. Babirye Kadogo (Ind. Buyende).
DURING HAPPIER TIMES: President Salva Kiir with former SPLA commander Gen. Paul Malong Awan
South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir said he was tired of the numerous and never-ending reports about Paul Malong, pointing out that his decision to have him removed was to avoid ‘scapegoat for inefficiencies’.
“I was tired of receiving reports about Malong almost every hour of people telling me things I knew he was not doing. This was becoming a routine talk and it was like I was not listening to them, so I decided to make changes which I informed Malong about, so he should not be surprised when the time comes,” President Kiir told members of the Dinka council of elders who paid him a courtesy call.
The President went on to tell the elders that his reasons for the change were to see what those who had been making the reports and claims would do next.
“I made the changes because I wanted to see what the people coming with reports about him will have to say again. I did this because I don’t want him to be a scapegoat for the inefficiencies of those who used to come to me,” added the President.
According to a prominent figure who attended the meeting, President Kiir called Malong to assure him of safety, protection and to contribute to playing a positive role in finding a lasting solution towards the realisation of peace and stability in the country.
“I know Malong and he knows me and this was why I was hesitant after receiving numerous reports about him, so I let him return. He will come and stay in his house under the protection of his own guards, people he wants to provide him protection. If that will not be sufficient, I will personally ensure his safety, even if it means him staying with me. So I have spoken to him and he has agreed to come,” said the President.
Earlier, speaking from Yirol town, Eastern Lakes State, Malong said he had no intention to foment a rebellion against President Kiir.
He further said he wanted to rest in his home region, Bahr El Ghazal.
“If I want to have a problem, that problem should be in Juba. I cannot leave Juba and go and do it somewhere because Juba is where I was working,” said Malong in an interview with Radio Miraya in Rumbek.
The health of Geoffrey Byamukama, the Kamwenge Town Council Mayor is deteriorating after he was allegedly tortured at the now-dreaded police Special Operations Unit at Nalufenya, Jinja.
Byamukama, who is currently hospitalized at Nakasero Hospital room 312, was allegedly tortured to near-death by police on claims that he was part of the group that murdered police spokesperson Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIGP) Andrew Felix Kaweesi together with his driver Geoffrey Mambewa and bodyguard Kenneth Erau on March 17th 2017 near his home of Kulambiro, a Kampala City suburb.
Sources say that due to his sorry state of health, Byamukama has not been produced in court.
According to Byamukama, he was picked by two men, Fred Tumuhiirwe and a one Ronnie Byenkya, from the Commissioner of Lands’ office where he had gone to meet a friend.
Tumuhiirwe is reportedly a police officer at the rank of Assistant Inspector of Police (AIP) while Byenkya is said to be a Special Police Constable, both attached to police’s most feared Special Operations Unit headed by SSP Nixon Karuhanga Agasirwe.
By press time it was not possible to get comment from the police.
Photo Credit: The Investigator.
It should be recalled that recently some of the 13 suspects linked to the killing of Muslim clerics in country complained to court that they had been tortured while in detention at the Nalufenya detention facility.
However, police spokesperson AIGP Asan Kasingye came out and denied the accusations.
PUT NBS IN TROUBLE: Senior Presidential Advisor on Media and Communication Tamale Mirundi
The Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) has warned the Nile Broadcasting Services television (NBS TV) of closure within 60 days, over guest Tamale Mirundi’s appearance on the station.
According to the UCC, guest Tamale Mirundi exhibited unbecoming behavior while appearing on a programme ‘NBS Extra: One on One with Tamale Mirundi’ of May 9, 2017.
In a statement issued late today by the UCC Executive Director Godfrey Mutabzi, the regulatory body indicated that during the programme Tamale Mirundi behaved in a manner that is in breach of the Communications Act.
‘The Uganda Communications Commission, is appalled, concerned and takes strong exception to the conduct and language used by guest hosted Mr. Tamale Mirundi during the said NBS Extra programme of May 9, 2017,’ the statement reads in part.
Bad Black’s former boyfriend, David Greenhalgh with his baby mama Parks Dee Laker and their new-born daughter
Bad Black’s former boyfriend, David Greenhalgh, a 60 year-old British businessman finally has something positive to remember about Uganda.
This is after he welcomed his bundle of joy with his Ugandan girlfriend, Parks Dee Laker. The couple welcomed their first child, a baby girl last week. And unlike Greenhalgh’s daughter with Bad Black who was ‘black’, Laker’s baby is as white as its father. Both the mother and baby are in good health.
For a while Greenhalgh has been cursing the day he set foot in Uganda, after he was defrauded of over Shs11billion by his first Ugandan girlfriend, city socialite, Bad Black real names Shanitah Namuyimbwa.
In addition to defrauding him of all that money, it turned out that even Bad Black’s kid didn’t belong to him yet the city socialite had claimed he was responsible for her pregnancy. But on giving birth, the kid was completely dark skinned, compelling Black to come out and confess Greenhalgh wasn’t the father of the kid.
She recently went open, announcing city fashionista, Kim Swagga as the true father of the child.
