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South Sudan troubled by Japan’s planned withdrawal from UNMISS

By
Agencies
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Japanese peacekeepers arriving at the Juba International Airport early last month.

The South Sudanese government has criticized Japan for its decision to pull out its troops from the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).

A spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mawen Makol said that the South Sudanese government sees no threat against the Japanese troops in Juba as there is some relative peace in the country.

“The country is getting to normalcy now and this is the time where we are expecting the goodwill of the UN peacekeeping mission here in South Sudan to help until we finally achieve a peaceful settlement and peace in the country,” Makol said.

“People are seeing some relative peace in the country so I do not see any reason for Japan to say the situation in South Sudan is still volatile. So withdrawal is not helpful because this is a time that we need a helping hand from countries like Japan,” he added.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced last week that the country would withdraw the Self-Defense Force (SDF) from UNMISS by the end of May.

Tokyo started contributing a contingent of 350 Ground Self-Defense to the UN mission in 2012 to assist in building infrastructure.

The peacekeeping mission was extended last November for five months, but the Japanese government immediately came under pressure from opposition parties concerning the security situation in the conflict-hit country.

 

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Juba regime calls for isolation of Machar forces in region

By
Agencies
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Wanted Out: South Sudan President Salva Kiir Mayardit

The South Sudanese government has called on regional leaders to designate as a ‘negative force’, the armed opposition forces (SPLM-IO) operating in the war-ravaged nation.

“The president has declared a national dialogue which has been welcomed by all the countries and leaders in the region because the dialogue is the only way to resolve political issues,” said presidential advisor on security, Tut Kew Gatluak.

“Why continue to fight when the national dialogue has been declared? If there are issues, the national dialogue is the platform through which all these issues would be discussed,” he added.

The presidential advisor also said that those who support the war are a negative force and the government would need to take a firm stance for peace.

“But if there are people who refused this dialogue and continue to advocate for war, the region needs to come out clearly to affirm support to the peace agreement and work with the government to declare these people who are continuing to promote war as a negative force,” Gatluak said.

Tut Kew Gatuak claimed the armed opposition forces were ‘bandits’ who had no objectives. “These people who are still carrying arms and killing people are bandits. They have no clear political objectives. Their objectives are simply to kidnap, rape innocent women and loot,” he claimed.

The presidential advisor’s justification for calling the armed opposition bandits was due to the kidnapping of two Indian oil engineers who were taken in an oil field located in Gueluguk North.

The SPLA-IO spokesman Col. William Gatjiath Deng said in a statement last week that their forces captured two Indian nationals who were identified as Ambross Edward and Muggy Vijaya Boopathy.

“Despite repeated warnings from the SPLA-IO leadership, the two Indians engineers namely Mr Ambross Edward and Mr Muggy Vijaya Boopathy working for the Juba regime were captured yesterday Thursday, March 09, 2017 alive during the fighting between the gallant SPLA-IO forces, and the Juba regime soldiers and their Sudanese rebel allies in and around the new oil site at Guelguk north, Adar,” said Col. Deng said.

The armed opposition spokesperson explained in the statement that Edward and Boopathy were captured after rebel forces under the command of Major General Khor Chuol Giet and Brigadier General Gatbel Kuach “disintegrated, defeated, and killed” at least thirty-three government soldiers.

He also proclaimed the SPLA-IO defeated and inflicted heavy losses on government troops and its allies from the Sudanese rebel group.

The rebel spokesman further claimed that the armed opposition took control of the area and warned of unspecified consequences if Juba and its Sudanese allies continue attacking the SPLA-IO positions.

(ST)

 

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Jammeh wants to return home, as Gambians abandon migration to Europe

By
Agencies
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FINANCES TO BE PROBED: Former Gambian leader Yahya Jammeh

Ousted Gambian dictator Yahaya Jammeh has expressed hope to return home and take to a ‘simpler life’ – farming in his home village, Kanilai, 118 kilometres from the capital Bangui.

Youthful Africans take on the perilous journey to Europe.

The development comes as other ordinary Gambians who had undertaken the perilous journey across the Mediterranean Sea seeking a ‘better life’ in Europe owing to challenges like political suppression and poverty, are returning now that the former president is out of power.

Last week, 141 young men returned home, abandoning the illegal, life-threatening ‘Back Way’ to Europe. It was the first time the International Organization for Migration (IOM) helped repatriate a group of Gambians willing to return home.

The returnees were part of a group of migrants stranded in Libya and had no money to continue their journey across the Mediterranean Sea. In Libya, a perilous pit stop to Europe, migrants face the threats of illegal detention, trafficking and the Islamic State.

It was a risk that many Gambians were willing to take, rather than deal with poverty and political suppression at home. Despite a small population of less than 2 million, Gambia is one of Africa’s largest per capita people exporters. Last year, 7% of the migrants who arrived in Libya were Gambian, according to the UN Refugee Agency.

“I would rather die than to return empty handed, but I will go home now and work in my country and die there,” said a 35-year-old electric engineer who used all his savings to get to Libya, leaving behind his pregnant wife and young daughter.

There are 460 more Gambians registered in Libya who want to go home, said interior minister Mai Fatty. Newly elected president Adama Barrow has promised that Gambians living abroad are also his priority, bolstered by aid from Europe.

But Jammeh’s departure after 22 years will not be enough to coax the many Gambians who disappeared via the Back Way. Most Gambian migrants fled for economic reasons—risking it all to reach Europe so they could wire money back home. Despite Barrow’s optimism, replenishing looted state coffers and creating opportunities will take time.

 

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Buhari to return to London for ‘checkup’

By
Agencies
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RETURN: Nigerian President Muhammad Buhari greets officials who received him on his return from London.

The Nigerian presidency has said the date when Muhammdu Buhari would return to London for further medical treatment remains uncertain for now.

The presidency, however, stated that though the actual date remained uncertain, the decision would solely be determined by President Buhari and his doctors.

The senior special assistant to the president on media, Garba Shehu, disclosed this in an interview on Sunday, March 12, in Abuja.

Garba noted that the president had given notice that he will need to go back, which he described as ‘normal’.

The presidential aide said since Buhari’s return, everyone at the said presidential villa felt a sense of relief.

“Our colleagues who were with him there – the pressure on them – everybody wanted to see the president, rulers, traditional rulers, chiefs, ministers, governors, everyone wanted to go to London and see the president and the denial of that access, which was on the advice of doctors, placed them under considerable pressure.”

Speaking on conflicting reports surrounding the president’s illness, Garba said: “You don’t say what you don’t know, that is one.

“Two, matters of medical disclosure are extremely private. In the course of the process, Femi Adesina got a long note from the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, describing what disclosure would mean in medical science.”

He added that it was up to the patient to disclose what his ailment is, as even the doctor cannot disclose it to anyone.

“Let me confirm to you that the president had no knowledge of the ailment even before he left. He just went for a medical check up,” Shehu stated.

The presidency also downplayed expectations from Nigerians that President Muhammadu Buhari will resume work in a ‘dramatic way’ after spending 50 days in London, treating an undisclosed ailment.

Garba said the president needs is a careful and slow resumption of duty following his return to the country.

 

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‘Besigye anthem’ composer to release album

By
Francisco Adongo
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TO RELEASE NEW ALBUM: Singer Adam Mulwana of Dr. Besigye's 'Toka Kwa Bara Bara' fame.

The composer of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) candidate Kizza Besigye’s hit song ‘Toka kwa Bara Bara’ is set to launch an album dubbed Ndi MunnaUganda at the Theatre La Bonita later this week.

Dr. Kizza Besigye wades the crowds as he campaigned in Kampala.

Adam Mulwana shot into national prominence when in December 2015 he composed Besigye’s ‘National Anthem’, a Swahili hit done with Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine, that literary urged Besigye’s opponents, mostly candidate Yoweri Museveni of the National Resistance Movement (NRM), to ‘give way’ to the FDC candidate to rule Uganda.

Sources said at the launch of Ndi MunnaUganda, to be presided over by Dr. Besigye, Mulwana will be accompanied by Daks Kartel, his ‘closest friend’ in the music industry, together with Kadongo Kamu singers Mathias Walukaga and Ronald Mayinja.

Early this year Mulwana’s studio in Makindye was set ablaze by unknown people as he prepared to release the new album.

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Stanbic National School Championships: Teso College announced Eastern Regional Winner

By
Badru Kasadah
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WINNERS' SMILE: The winning team from Teso College Aloet poses for a photo with Cathy Adengo, the Stanbic Head of CSI and Communications.

Teso College Aloet in Soroti District has been crowned Eastern regional winner of the ‘Stanbic National Schools Championship’ for 2017, after beating off stiff competition from four other schools and will now represent the region at the Grand finale in Kampala on April 29, 2017.

Speaking at the prize giving ceremony held at Mbale Secondary School, Samuel Okanya, Stanbic Bank Regional Manager – Eastern praised the winning team, noting that the competition was stiff.

“This is a fantastic achievement for Teso College Aloet and I am certain they are truly proud that they are reached this stage of the competition. It has not been easy given the level of preparation required and quality of the schools,” Mr Okanya said.

The regional quiz competitions are the third stage in National Schools’ Championship which started with classroom competitions and an essay challenge in February. The competitions are held in each of Uganda’s four regions and the students are tested in a team quiz format on financial literacy, life skills, logical thinking and general knowledge.

Giving an update on the progress of the competition so far Cathy Adengo, the Stanbic Head of CSI and Communications, said that the bank was very happy with progress of the programme given the amazing talent from across the country.

“The level of enthusiasm and support from the students has been incredible and we are pleased that this competition moving on to the next level that will show us the greatest minds in the country,” Ms Adengo said.

Speaking about the next stage of the competition Martin Muhwezi, the Programme Director of the implementing partner, the Ministry of Education and Sports, said the teams that make it to the grand finale are expected to develop and run a bank simulation project over a one month period.

“At the end of the month they each make presentations before a panel of judges on their project. The team deemed by the Judges to have conducted the best project wins the grand prize which is a fully paid trip to South Africa for the two teammates and their patron teacher plus lunch with the Chief Executive of Stanbic Bank,” Mr. Muhwezi revealed.

Forty schools and 4,000 students have taken part in this year’s competition and these include both  Government and Private Schools chosen with due consideration by Stanbic Bank’s partners.

 

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Chameleone’s dad wants Jeff Kiwa rearrested over AK47’s death

By
Badru Kasadah
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FATHER WANTS NEW INVESTIGATION INTO DEATH: Emmanuel Mayanja (RIP).

As the family of the late musician Emmanuel Mayanja aka AK47 prepares to mark two years since his death, his father Gerald Mayanja has implored the police to open fresh investigations into the death of his son, who died under mysterious circumstances.

Gerald mayanja, the father of fallen artiste Emmanuel Mayanja aka AK47 addresses the media at his home in Seguku along Entebbe Road.

The elder Mayanja, father of singing brothers Joseph Mayanja (Jose Chameleone), Douglas Mayanja (Weasel) and Pius Mayanja (Pallaso), says he has been moving from one police station to the other seeking justice for AK47 to no avail.

Initially the case was at Kabalagala police station but after failing to get help, it was taken to Katwe police station but he has still not been helped. Apparently everything stalled when the main witness-turned-prime suspect, Milton Mumbere, then a toilet cleaner at De Ja Vu bar where the deceased met his death, went into hiding.

Mumbere was the first person to enter the restrooms where the deceased’s body lay, and speaking to the media shortly after the body was rushed to hospital; he said that while cleaning he heard a loud bang of ‘something falling’ and when he went to the restrooms to see what had fallen, he met the bouncer rushing out of the restrooms, who told him the singer had collapsed.

However, in the ensuing confusion Mumbere failed to show up and record a statement with police as he had been asked, and when asked, his employer Jeff Kiwa, who was also AK47’s manager, said he didn’t know Mumbere’s residence or phone number. Jeff was briefly detained over the death but was later released.

But despite all the hullaballoo, the elder Mayanja maintains Jeff Kiwa knows how his son died and wants him reinvestigated, saying he deliberately destroyed all the evidence at hand.

He rubbishes the narration that his son fell down to his death, saying it can’t be possible when the initial report indicated blood had been found on both the wall and floor in the restrooms. He says all evidence suggested that AK47 had been hit on the wall before he was thrown to the ground.

AK47 died March 16, 2015, and a postmortem report revealed that the deceased suffered a blunt head trauma. The report dated March 17 showed that AK47’s skull got fractured and blood entered his brain, which led to his death.

LOST KID BROTHER: Singer Jose Chameleone

Emmanuel Mayanja aka AK47 was the youngest brother to Chameleone, Pallaso and Weasel.

 

 

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NSSF Kampala Hash Run raises Shs131m for schools

By
Isaiah Mwebaze
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NSSF staff pose for a group photo with KCCA Executive Director Jeniffer Musisi
  • Inzikuru, Emong win respective categories

More than 1,000 people graced the second edition of the NSSF Kampala Hash Seven Hills Run on Sunday, helping raise shs131 million that will go towards improving learning conditions of children in KCCA-managed schools.

The runners, including 2005 Women’s World 3, 000 metres Steeplechase champion Dorcus Inzikuru, were drawn from more than 35 corporate companies and organisations.

Speaking at the event, Geraldine Busuulwa, the NSSF Deputy Managing Director, said: “Last year, we committed that over a period of 3 years, we will raise over UGX 300 million to aid public schools under the management of KCCA to improve the learning conditions. I am glad to inform you that within two years we have raised a total of UGX 196M in cash of which UGX 65 million was raised last year.”

Ms Busulwa added: “With the proceeds from this run, we will be able to provide a suitable learning environment for the underprivileged children in Kampala.”

 

The run started and finished at Pearl Africa Primary School, Nsambya and saw participants covering 21km, traversing the historical seven hills of Kampala – Nakasero, Kibuli, Old Kampala, Namirembe, Rubaga, Lubiri and Nsambya.

Inzikuru (second left) with other winners

Former 3000m steeple-chase champion Inzikuru turned back the clock to easily win the women’s 21km category, followed by Phyllis Tsang and Charlotte Mudoola, respectively. In the men’s category, Oscar Niyonzima won Gold while Martin Ssenabulya won silver.

The silver medalist at the 2016 Rio Summer Paralympic Games David Emong won the physical disability category, followed by Daniel Opio (Visual Impairment) and Joseph Tebandeke (Wheelchair).  Team Mukwano Industries won the corporate category and Salim Matenga the kids’ category.

The companies that sponsored the run included; Uganda Revenue Authority, Uganda Registration Services Bureau, Bank of Uganda, Capital Markets Authority, Housing Finance Bank, Monitor Publications Limited, Galaxy FM, Umeme Limited, Stanbic bank, Vision Group, Selas Events Ltd, Fireworks Advertising Uganda Limited and Centenary Bank.

Others are: Computer Point, Total Uganda, Vodafone Uganda, Toyota Uganda, ICPAU, Kampala Water, Interswitch Uganda, Cementers, Blu Flamingo, Ipsos, MultiChoice Uganda, Hashers, USPA, Pinnacle Security, KCCA, Mukwano, Footsteps Furniture, Phoenix Assurance, Red Pepper, Senta Enterprises, Equity Bank and 3D Services, among others.

The proceeds from the run will go towards renovating Busega Primary School, Summit View Army Primary School and Makerere University Primary School.

 

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‘Wait for November elections’, Muntu tells ‘FDC rebels’

By
Hussein Musisi
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SUSPENDED CAMPAIGNS: FDC presidential aspirant Maj Gen (rtd) Mugisha Muntu

The President of the Forum for Democratic Change Major General (rtd) John Gregory Mugisha Muntu, has told those who want him out of party leadership to wait for internal elections in November.

“As a party we welcome all peoples opinions because we believe in cohesion and unity; however, whoever is unsatisfied with my leadership should wait for November then front of his preferred candidate or feel free to contest and become the new FDC president,” Maj Gen Muntu said while addressing the media today at the party Najjanankumbi headquarters.

Gen. Muntu was responding to reports that a group of FDC youths led by chairperson youth West Budama North Bernard Osinde Mupende, wanted him impeached for reportedly usurping the duties of the Secretary General, when he wrote a letter blocking the candidature of the FDC National Mobiliser Ingrid Turinawe Kamateneti, from contesting for the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA).

And, commenting on the ensuing standoff, Gen Muntu said he was ready to face any repercussions if he acted in breach of the party resolutions.

“My calmness has been misinterpreted and that is why I have received a lot of insults; I have no impeachment pressure and neither have I received a letter of that kind,” Gen. Muntu said ahead of a three-day meeting convened by the party youths and members of the women’s league to review their strategic plans.

The youths and women are led by the FDC National Youth chairperson Idi Ouma and Secretary for Women in Buganda region Hamida Nnalongo Nasiimbwa, respectively who promised to mobilize fellow women in both leadership and economic growth aspects.

 

 

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Katikiro, Airtel unveil 2017 Kabaka Run kit

By
Badru Kasadah
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Katikiro-of-Buganda-Owek.-Charles-Peter-Mayiga-centre-and other officials displaying-the-Kabaka-Birthday-Run-2017-kit-as-Airtel-Uganda-officials-look-on-at-Bulange-Mengo

Airtel Uganda Managing Director Anwar Soussa, flanked by his top officials, has today handed over kit for the Kabaka Run marathon to the Buganda Kingdom.

The 2017 Kabaka run will be held on April 9, 2017, flagged off in Lubiri Mengo by His Majesty Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II and will cover 5km, 10kms and 21km routes.

Airtel Uganda, Managing Director, Anwar Soussa, Katikiro of Buganda, Owek. Charles Peter Mayiga, display the dummy ticket for the Kabaka Birthday Run 2017.

Today’s handover at the kingdom headquarters in Mengo was graced by Buganda Kingdom officials led by the Katikiro Charles Peter Mayiga and the Buganda Kingdom Minister of Sports, Henry Sekabembe.

During the handover of the kit, Airtel boss Mr. Soussa urged all its Uganda customers and the general public to show support to those suffering from sickle cells by coming and registering for the Kabaka Run.

For the past four years, Airtel Uganda has been the main sponsor of the Kabaka Run, one of the four major Buganda Kingdom activities that is part of the commemoration of the Kabaka’s birthday.

“I would like to pledge our future commitment and support to the Buganda Kingdom, its people and its activities, as we unite to maintain the good glory of this Kingdom,” he added.

In his speech the Katikiro Mayiga thanked Airtel Uganda for honoring their commitment to support the Buganda Kingdom activities for the past couple of years. He also thanked the telecommunications company for always coming out strongly to show support to Ugandans regardless of whether or not they use their services.

“Last year, Fistula in Uganda was our cause and you supported it. This year it is sickle cells and you are still here with us. On behalf of the kingdom and its people, allow me to say thank you,” he concluded.

Guests were entertained by pupils from Our Lady’s Parents Primary School, Luwero, a school for children with Sickle Cell. In addition to their performance, they thanked the Kabaka Foundation and sponsors for their efforts to bring a better life to children born with Sickle Cell.

 

 

 

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