ONE YEAR DOWN THE ROAD: BBS Telefayiina CEO Joseph Kigozi
Just a year after going on air, the Buganda Kingdom-owned television station, BBS Telefayina has made it to the five most viewed stations in Uganda.
The revelation was made by the Chief Executive Officer of BBS Telefayina, Joseph Kigozi, during a press conference conducted at Masengere Building (the home of BBS telefayina) to announce the launch of the BBS @1 celebrations. The station was launched by his Majesty the Kabaka of Buganda Ronald Muwenda Mutebi on April 12, 2016.
“We have the authority to broadcast everything about the Kingdom and our vision is to be the television that will be watched by this generation and the future generations,” he said.
Kigozi said the fete will begin with joint a meeting between Liquid Silk in Bugolobi and the Buganda Broadcasting Services (BBS) at Liquid Silk on April 12. Further, he disclosed that the Liquid Silk fete will be followed by a musical concert at Maria Flo in the Greater Masaka region “since we have most of our viewership based there.”
According to Kigozi, the Katikiro of Buganda Charles Peter Mayiga will grace the Masaka concert which will have music by CBS Talanta Band, The Golden Band, the Nu Eagles, and Kream Productions Band.
Other celebrations will take place on July 10 at Mukono and August 26 at Freedom City as well as football games and health camps that will be conducted between the said musical events.
On the downside however, Kigozi said that since inception the TV station had encountered some challenges, among them TV industry competition, decline in viewership and revenue.
WANTS 'SMART AGRICULTURE PRACTICES': Agriculture Minister Vincent Ssempijja.
The Minister of Agriculture Vincent Ssempijja has said that the government of Uganda has set 4.5 billion shillings to contain the Army Worm which has destroyed over 130,000 hectares of maize this year.
“The destructive stage of the pest is the caterpillar and it can be identified in its inverted Y mark and feeds aggressively on most parts of the plant leaves, stems, maize cobs and tassels. Symptoms of damage include leaf perforation, defoliation, perforated cobs and damaged grains,” the minister said.
He disclosed that the National Agricultural Organization (NARO) in conjunction with his ministry are monitoring any other possible outbreak with the aim of getting better details about the pest, and how to contain its advance.
The Minister also advised farmers to use a pesticide combination to fight army worm as the ministry explores more sustainable management measures.
According to the Minister, Lambda-cyhalothrin, Thiamethoxam and Rocket can temporarily contain the worm that has now hit 54 districts across the country.
The Fall of Army Worm was first the detected in the three districts of Kayunga, Kasese and Bukedea between May and July 2016, however, it has now been confirmed in the 54 districts and continues to spread at a very high rate.
Scientists indicate that as a result of climate change Uganda experiences outbreaks of pests and new crop diseases such as army worm, which normally occur during the transition from dry to rainy season.
Meanwhile, other countries that have also been hit by the Army Worm include Nigeria, Kenya and Zimbabwe.
Fighting the runaway corruption is the biggest task the National Resistance Movement (NRM) government has on its plate now, and it sounds good that President Yoweri Museveni has awoken to the reality albeit a bit late.
Indeed, as Ugandans, we are all responsible for this corruption mess that has entangled the country, gnawing at the nerve centre of service delivery, with billions being lost to unscrupulous officials in public service.
But that said, it is worth mention that there are people who must take the bulk of the blame for the runaway corruption and these include among others the President and his Cabinet; the Parliament; the Inspector General of Government (IGG); the Police and the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and, the Judiciary.
Over the years the above-mentioned institutions have paid lip-service to fighting corruption, and some like the Police and Judiciary have severally been cited in the IGG’s reports as being notoriously corrupt!
Interestingly, such reports by institutions like the IGG attracted lukewarm attention, and in most cases reported, the implicated officials walked away scot-free either due to officers intentionally botching investigations or carrying out none at all.
It is against such a background that the corrupt public officials like Geoffrey Kazinda and the Ministry of Public Service incarcerated trio hijacked the established anti-corruption processes, and wracked havoc on the country’s coffers, almost bringing the country to its knees! And it is this cumulative effect of corruption that has now drawn in the President to try and stoke the burning embers of corruption that have engulfed all public offices and officials, including the reported solicitation of a bribe by labour minister Herbert Kabafunzaki, and the two Ministry of Finance officials who were arrested last week for allegedly soliciting bribes from investors.
But these arrests, much as they are good, beg the question: is using a ‘firefighting’ approach like the one used in Minister Kabafunzaki’s arrest effective in curbing corruption? The answer is a big NO!
So, in order to avoid the obvious glitches that come with the ‘firefighting approach’ the government should re-vitalise all the anti-corruption institutions, and arm them with the appropriate tools and personnel to execute the set tasks.
And by the way, what has happened to the case brought by the woman who was reportedly sexually harassed by the AYA Group Chairman Mohammad Aya? There is need for answers!
DESTROYED: Bobi Wine at his destroyed One Love beach
Preparations for Kabaka’s 62 Birthday celebrations kicked off yesterday with the Kabaka Birthday run.
But whereas birthday bashes are known as times for celebrations and merry making, this year’s celebrations have found one of the Kabaka’s subjects a disappointed man.
Bobi Wine real names Robert Ssentamu aka Omubanda W’aKabaka, got a big blow last week when Buganda Land Board, the Kingdom’s institution in charge of land, destroyed the parking lot of his One Love Beach, Busabala – Kampala.
But a seemingly crestfallen Bobi Wine couldn’t stand it anymore; he took to social media to pour out all that was troubling his heart, attracting thousands of comments from fans sympathizing with him.
MATOOKE REPUBLIC? Comical Kawempe councillor Muhammad Ssegirinya with the bunch of matooke he delivered at Bobi Wine’s home
Also, comical Kawempe councillor Muhammad Ssegirinya joined the distressed fans, taking a bunch of matooke to Bobi Wine’s Magere home as consolation.
Sunain Pretty Bambi Bobi your such a sweet soul never and never look at something that is running you down. We have followed this story. You are too right to cry. You are one person who works hard for the happiness of everyone not only your family.. This was too touching the way you talked made some of us drop tears..hummmmm Those people are so disappointing one problem with Buganda it has a fake carbonate most people are hypocrites am a Muganda yes but this made me feel so bad…so sorry to you Bobi wine clan-mate..
Rashida Tyaba Bobi you inspire me. I like the fact that the picture you portray is of a high calibre. Many people think that by uttering much you gain but I know that you have seen many people in Uganda losing their sweat in a minute. You have struggled as a young man and loved your kingdom to the most however you have reaped nothing. Well many think you gonna become broke but that’s not the case. I know that with this set back you will earn more. My heart is weeping when I see people trying to develop the kingdom being sabotaged.
Debbie NamatovuShame on you Buganda….Thought you were happy about progress but just looks like you just envy the developments of your own blood. How can you betray your own son, next your gonna sell the same land to a westerner, isn’t this the true definition of treason? You are traitors. Why would you even wait 10 years after our president has developed our beach for you to bring your noses? Greed is starting to eat up the kingdom. And if You ain’t careful, you will betray your own Kabaka and swing him off power. We are disappointed.
According to Bobi Wine, part of his One Love Beach was destroyed by officials from the Mengo Royal Treasury (Nkuluze).
“I had decided to keep quiet about this. However, I saw an official from the same office on TV completely disregarding my legality of being there. Apart from the main venue of One Love beach by the lakeside that we had acquired and developed into a beach for more than a decade now; in 2010, I bought another piece of land from the same office which I paid for FULLY and developed into a modern parking lot that we have been using since then. It should be noted that at the time of its purchase, that land was heavily occupied by Bibanja owners who I also paid/compensated FULLY and they vacated happily.
“The demolitions and evictions that have been going on in Busabala were all tagged on my name yet they were being carried out by Mengo itself but they never came out to tell the public the truth, thereby leaving me to face the hate of the people. I said nothing about the issue but I guess people should now know the truth. The injustice that has been done to me is the least that I would expect from the kingdom that I LOVE SO MUCH. I have invested all my youthful energy, earnings and time in this place that I had become so attached to. It is such a tough time for me and my family but like it has been said; “What doesn’t kill you, only makes you stronger”.
Meanwhile, Ugandan musicians based in the diaspora have spoken out of the destruction of Bobi Wine’s beach.
One such musician is Australia based artist SK Simeon real names Sam Kawuma who is popularly known for his hits ‘Doper than Dope’ and ‘Round of Applause’.
“I personally congratulated Bobi Wine when we met at his One Love beach for the success of this business knowing that he has worked hard to get it where it is and now I hear its being destroyed, that leaves young entrepreneurs who wants to run business of their own no hope at all. Matter of fact, I have a lot of business ideas for Uganda but when I see this kinda nonsense phew unbelievable,” he said.
WINNER'S SMILE: Efe celebrates after winning Big Brother Naija
After 11 weeks of intrigue, tension, suspense and a fiercely contested competition, Efe has emerged winner of the Big Brother Naija reality TV show, beating 11 other contenders.
Having surmounted all the hurdles and polled a whopping 57.61% of the overall votes, Efe is now the proud winner of N25m (about US81, 600) and an SUV courtesy MultiChoice Nigeria.
The show, which lasted 11 weeks, was aimed at identifying, nurturing, and promoting young talent to a wide range of viewers which cut across the African continent. After a 10-year hiatus, the show was repackaged to give more Nigerian youth the opportunity to showcase their talent to the world. The year’s edition was hosted by former Big Brother Nigeria housemate, Ebuka Obi-Uchendu.
Speaking at the show’s finale John Ugbe, the Managing Director of MultiChoice Nigeria, said: “We are particularly excited about the fresh talent the Big Brother Naija platform has birthed. The buzz generated by the show has demonstrated its success as a platform that seeks to create stars and promote the spirit of entrepreneurship of the Nigerian youth.”
He added: “We commend all the housemates for their excellent showing, endurance and determination.”
Citing the fame and fortune that the BBNaija platform provides, Ugbe further urged all the housemates to take a cue from the positive examples of past housemates such as Ebuka Obi-Uchendu, Gideon Okeke, Katung Aduwak among others, in carving a niche for themselves in Nigeria’s evolving entertainment industry.
Debie-Rise emerged the third runner up, TBoss the second runner up and Bisola the first runner up.
There were other wins for the night. TBoss won the least time in all Payporte games, while Bisola carted away the prize for having the best ONE campaign presentation for the education of the girl-child. TBoss was presented with a N500, 000 cheque and Bisola will join the ONE Campaign team in New York City for the girl-child education at the United Nations.
The grand finale was quite exciting as the live audience and viewers were treated to music from two of Nigeria’s biggest music stars: 2Baba and Tiwa Savage, who performed her latest single ‘All Over’.
Calls for President Jacob Zuma to step down continue, with opposition parties now looking towards what they call a national day of action.
This gathering will be held on the day that Zuma celebrates his 75th birthday, on Wednesday, April 12.
Political parties, including the African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP), African People’s Convention (APC), Congress of the People (COPE), Democratic Alliance (DA), Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) and the United Democratic Movement (UDM), have joined forces in the calls for Zuma to stop down.
The parties will march to the Union Buildings, just days after thousands of South Africans took to the streets in protests held across the country, demanding that the president step down.
The parties say they believe the president should step down because:
– Zuma’s Cabinet reshuffle of four finance ministers in three years has plunged the country into ‘junk status’. International ratings agencies have downgraded South Africa and this will lead to high interest rates levied on home, car and student loans, to high food prices and to a bigger fiscal debt.
– Zuma used an unsubstantiated and bogus intelligence report to remove a competent minister and deputy minister of finance, and replaced them with under-experienced yes-men. This means he uses state security agencies to fight political battles.
– Zuma’s Cabinet reshuffle was not in the best interests of the country in that it protected and rewarded incompetent ministers who have thrown state institutions into disarray like Faith Muthambi (SABC) and Bathabile Dlamini (social grants).
ZUMAVILLE: An aerial view of President Jacob Zuma’s Nkandla home
– The Constitutional Court found that Jacob Zuma acted illegally, unlawfully and failed to uphold, defend and respect the Constitution in that he disregarded the public protector’s remedial action on the Nkandla corruption.
– Because this is a violation of the Constitution and his oath of office, Jacob Zuma is not eligible to be president of South Africa under a constitutional democracy and constitutional supremacy.
The EFF’s Mbuyiseni Ndlozi said the marches sent a message and were a vote of no confidence in Zuma, before calling on the country to join in the protest on Wednesday.
“We call on all South Africans to come out in even more numbers on 12 of April, 2017 on the National Day of Action to continue our rolling mass action against the Zuma regime. We must all not retreat until Zuma steps down and a new president is inaugurated in South Africa,” Ndlozi said.
A government minister has been arrested allegedly after taking a bribe at Kampala Serena Hotel.
Detectives counting the money.
State Minister for Labour and Industrial Relations, Herbert Kabafunzaki is seen in a footage while seated as an arresting officer wearing gloves counts the money.
According to police Spokesperson for Kampala Metropolitan, Emilian Kayima, Kabafunaki who is also the Member of Parliament for Rubanda County in Kabale district was arrested together with a one Brian Mugabo, a clearing agent. According to Kayima,Kabafunaki was soliciting for a bribe from the owner of Aya Hotel
The minister as last week he was involved in a spot on check to Aya Hotel where an employee accused her boss of sexually harassing her.
yesterday two officials from Ministry of Finance appeared in court over bribe when they were arrested in their officers after they asked an investor for a bribe before they could handle his documents.
President Yoweri Museveni showing his visitor around State House.
The Kababa of Buganda His Royal Highness Ronald Muwenda Mutebi and President Yoweri Museveni have held a closed door meeting at State House N Entebbe.
According Mr. Don Wanyama, Senior Presidential Press Secretary, the meeting the president and his visitors was limited to the two. The Kakaba was accompanied by his young brother, Prince David Wasajja and the Katikiro of Buganda, Charles Peter Mayiga.
“I have no much details about that meeting because it was restricted to only the president and the Kabaka” Mr Wanyama told EagleOnline.
However, the meeting comes at the time when there are issues of land concerning Buganda kingdom and its subjects as far the collection of land dues are concerned.
Mr Male Mabirizi Kiwanuka contends that the Kabaka’s land where subjects are living was returned to the king by the central government and is public land collectively owned by the people of Buganda. Mr Kiwanuka says the Kabaka is only holding the land in trust for his subjects but is not their landlord or master.
In the petition filed before the High Court in Kampala, Mr Kiwanuka is challenging the Kabaka’s action, requiring all his subjects living on the kingdom land to register their plots at a fee ranging between Shs100,000 and Shs600,000 depending on the location. Registration of land in Kampala, Wakiso or the surrounding areas is Shs600,000 while in the rural areas, the owners pay Shs100,000.
The petitioner is seeking court declarations that Kabaka Mutebi’s actions through the Buganda Land Board to impose compulsory registration fees and threats to evict people who will not register their land in the king’s name are illegal.
Mr Kiwanuka is also seeking a declaration that the collection of a 10 per cent charge on the sale of land registered in the Kabaka’s names as per the Restitution of Assets and Properties Act is unconstitutional.
However, the meeting could also be focused on the issue of the relationship between Buganda and other traditional leaders/ institutions in Buganda. Recently Security Minister, Lt. Gen. Henry Tumukunde blocked the construction of Kabaka’s palace in Nakasongola amidst protests from the Baruuli who insisted that the land on which the palace was being constructed belong to them and therefore, the Kabaka/ Mengo ought to have sought for permission in order to construct the palace.
This is also the second time Kabaka Mutebi is meeting President Museveni after the bloody Kayunga riots.
HERE WE COME: Victoria University students at their graduation today.
Victoria University has on Friday morning held its second graduation ceremony with twenty three graduands awared degrees and diplomas.
Hosted at Kabira Country Club, the event was presided over by the university chancellor Dr Martin Aliker, who urged the graduands to strive towards achieving success as well as using the knowledge imparted to them to add value to society.
“As you go out into the society, be a good role model to others. Our country is experiencing an unprecedented decline in moral behavior,” Dr. Aliker told the anxious graduands, adding: “Add value to society by showing compassion to the vulnerable and less privileged and use your knowledge to connect as human beings.”
This year, 21 degrees were awarded in the disciplines of nursing science, midwifery, public health, information systems, computer science, I.T, business administration as well as banking and finance. In addition, two graduands got Diplomas in social work and business information systems. Fifteen of this year’s graduands are female while eight (8) are male.
In his address the Acting Vice Chancellor of Victoria University, Joseph Nyakaana highlighted the strides made by the institution in the last four years including the multiple number of programmes that have been introduced.
“When new management took over in 2013, it had four faculties and less than five programmes with only 27 students. But we believed in providing high standards despite the rather prohibitive demands for running a private university in Uganda,” Dr. Nyakaana said.
Currently, Victoria University runs over 30 programs, with 199 students 97 of which are foreign nationals.
In addition to the 23 who received Degrees and Diplomas on Friday, the Vice Chancellor said the university has churned out about 150 more students on short certificate courses mainly in Oil and Gas.
Rajiv Ruparelia, the Director Ruparelia Group of Companies and one of the promoters of the university, said graduate students are a key result area to any institution of learning.
“More important, however, is the value addition and productivity that these graduates will carry along with them into the job market,” Rajiv noted.
“We have invested heavily in the best facilities and believe that we have made our students different and competitive in the world of work. Through partnerships with companies like Google, Vodafone and Kabero Foundation, students have been equipped with a range of skills,” he added.
Joram Kiarie, the Managing Director KCB Bank Uganda, hands over a dummy check of Shs3 million to members of the Rotary Club Muyenga Breeze.
Over thirty patients were screened and treated during a Neurosurgical Camp that took place at CORSU Rehabilitation Hospital and Missionaries of the Poor home.
The annual camp organized by the Rotary Club of Kampala Muyenga Breeze gives Ugandans in need of neurosurgical treatment an opportunity to receive treatment and undergo surgeries at a minimal cost.
Speaking during the camp, Patrobas Wafula Sirabo, the Club President said that the camp was aimed at giving vulnerable Ugandans in need of neurosurgical treatment and operations an opportunity to receive these at an extremely subsidized cost.
The camp also offers a platform for skills and training for Ugandan specialist doctors, intern doctors and medical students that are interested in Neurosurgery.
“The surgeries are mainly to correct conditions of Hydrocephalus and Spina bifida in children, and tumours in adults. The Camp is open to all Ugandans in the Country who need these services and are needy, disadvantaged or vulnerable,” said Wafula Sirabo.
While handing over a Shs3 million donation towards the camp, Joram Kiarie, the Managing Director KCB Bank Uganda, said that the bank is at the forefront of supporting the communities where it works.
“Statistics indicate that East Africa has only one neurosurgeon per 9 million people, this means that patients with injuries like spine and brain injuries, nervous system infections do not have access to adequate care,” Said Kiarie.
He added:“The neurosurgical camp goes a long way in ensuring that patients with surgical conditions will be diagnosed and treated in a cost-effective way in this area.”
Dr John Chrisite, a Neurosurgeon at the John Hunter Hospital in Australia, flew into the country to perform the surgeries alongside Ugandan Neurosurgeons Dr Joel Kiryabwire and Dr Oscar Obiga.
