Police fire brigade early today came in handy to extinguish a fire at the Shauriyako (Gagawala) market in downtown Kampala, putting out a raging fire that was reportedly started after an electric short circuit.
Sources said the fire started in shops number 75L and 76L, and was put out before spreading to other shops in the crowded market.
By press time it was nossible to establish how much merchandise had been destroyed, but no one was hurt.
Singer Onoyom Mbuk aka Iyanya, popularly known in Uganda for his hits like; Kukere, Gift and Nakupenda has explained why he dropped a music label, Made Men Records to join Don Jazzy.
“I left Made Men Music and I joined Temple Management. I needed to work with someone who understands the music industry and can help me fulfill the dream of getting my music right. And that’s why I went with Don Jazzy,” he says.
“I chose him because I realized the need to work with someone to bring out the real Iyanya, which is the singing Iyanya, and at the same time, commercialize the music,” Iyanya says, adding the he made the decision when he visited the studio for an interview.
However, he is not at ease revealing the amount of money he earned from the deal let alone how long it will last.
“I can’t disclose all that. The only thing I owe the public is to churn out good music,” Iyanya, who rose to fame after winning the first season of Project Fame West Africa in 2008, said.
Since his exit from Made Men, Tekno has been on the rise. And to him, Tekno is a blessing to Made Men Music.
Don Jazzy has been behind the success of very many talents in Nigeria, and he introduced singer Dbanj to the world.
He also brought musicians, Tiwa Savage, Kolede Bello, Dijja, Reakado Banks among other to the limelight.
They are also signed to Mavin Records.
Public officials must declare their wealth by mid next month, the Inspector General of Government Justice Irene Mulyagonja has directed.
According to Justice Mulyagonja, the officials must declare their income, assets and liabilities by April 21, before she strikes.
Addressing journalists at the Uganda Media Centre, the IGG said that so far 81 per cent of Parliamentary staff including MPs have declared their wealth, followed by the Judiciary with 67.7%; the Police with 44.8% and the local governments with 56%.
She observed that some public officials fail to declare their wealth, fearing that it could be confiscated.
“The system will help in curbing cases of corruption in the country,” Justice Mulyagonja said, adding that those intending to declare their wealth can send the information by mail before Tuesday.
“Thereafter analysis and verification will be conducted on the ground and banks to ensure correct information given in by that specific official,” Justice Mulyagonja said, adding: “Some leaders have been slow in adapting the system, however, this is a security measure that I will ensure is followed and implemented among all government officials.”
She, however, thanked leaders who have already declared their assets and encouraged others to follow suit.
By press time it was not possible to establish whether members of the executive, among them President Yoweri Museveni, Vice President Edward Kiwanuka Sekandi, Prime Minister Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda and the cabinet ministers had declared their assets in accordance with the law.
Students of Mengo High School who have been representing Uganda in the three-day World Schools Debate Championship at Harvard University, USA, have made history, becoming the first African team to win an American team in debate.
Reports indicate that the team comprising Enock Rukundo, Julia Muhumuza and Ruth Kitamirike, accompanied by a chaperone, participated in several debates and won.
‘Team Uganda won two teams; one from New York yesterday. We made news here. An African team winning an American Team!!!! It had never been heard of. Thanks for your prayers,’ they posted on Facebook.
Mortar shells wounded at least seven people in and around the presidential compound in Mogadishu, Somalia, while the Cabinet was meeting inside.
At least three mortars struck a residential neighborhood near the palace.
“A mortar shell hit near a house in Wardhigley district close to the presidential compound. We transported four injured civilians to the hospital,” Mohamed Aden, an ambulance driver said.
No Cabinet members were wounded as Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire was holding the new government’s first meeting with ministers to talk about security and the drought.
No one has claimed the responsibility for the shelling, but Somali militant group al-Shabab often attacks government targets.
In Washington, the Pentagon announced that President Donald Trump has given it more authority to launch airstrikes against al-Shabab without having to justify its actions.
The US is supporting Somali and African Union forces in their fight against the Islamic terrorists.
“The additional support provided by this authority will help deny al-Shabab safe havens from which it could attack US citizens or US interests in the region,” Pentagon spokesman Jeff Davis said.
The new Somali government is struggling to assert its authority as it deals with a devastating drought and terror from the militants.
Ousted South Korean President Park Geun-hye has been arrested and taken into custody over a corruption scandal that led to her dismissal.
The 65-year-old was driven to a detention centre south of Seoul after a court approved her arrest.
She is accused of allowing her close friend Choi Soon-sil to extort money from companies, including Samsung, in return for political favours.
Ms Park, who was removed from office earlier this month, denies the claims.
She is the third former president of South Korea to be arrested over criminal allegations.
The Seoul Central District Court earlier issued a warrant to detain Ms Park while she is investigated on charges of bribery, abuse of authority, coercion and leaking government secrets.
It followed a nearly nine-hour court hearing that Ms Park attended.
“It is justifiable and necessary to arrest [Ms Park] as key charges were justified and there is risk of evidence being destroyed,” the court said in a statement.
Live television footage showed a black sedan carrying her to the detention facility from the prosecutor’s office where she had been waiting.
Ms Park can be held for up to 20 days before being formally charged, anf if convicted she could face more than 10 years in prison.
Ms Park lost her presidential immunity and was dismissed from her post when the constitutional court upheld a decision by Parliament in December to impeach her.
Ms Choi is accused of using her presidential connections to pressure companies to give millions of dollars in donations to non-profit foundations she controlled.
Ms Park is alleged to have been personally involved in this, and to have given Ms Choi unacceptable levels of access to official documents.
Judges had said the former president had broken the law by allowing Ms Choi to meddle in state affairs, and had breached guidelines on official secrets by leaking numerous documents.
Ms Choi and Samsung’s acting head Lee Jae-yong, also involved in the scandal, are being held in the same detention centre where Ms Park has been sent. They are also being tried separately.
Hwang Kyo-ahn, who is loyal to Ms Park, is now the acting president and an election is to be held by May 9.
South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma has sacked Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan after days of speculation that rocked the country’s markets and currency.
Mr Gordhan will be replaced by Malusi Gigaba, said a statement issued by the President’s Office.
Earlier this week, President Zuma recalled Mr Gordhan from planned events in the UK.
Sfiso Buthelezi will become Deputy Finance Minister, replacing Mcebisi Jonas.
President Zuma also made a number of other changes in the cabinet.
“I have directed the new ministers and deputy ministers to work tirelessly with their colleagues to bring about radical socioeconomic transformation and to ensure that the promise of a better life for the poor and the working class becomes a reality,” President Zuma’s statement said.
Last October, Mr Gordhan was charged with fraud – but the charges were later dropped.
He has described the allegations as politically motivated.
Mr Gordhan has been seen as standing up to President Zuma in cabinet and has warned against corruption becoming rampant.
The South African Communist Party, an ally of the governing African National Congress, had earlier lodged a formal objection to plans to dismiss Mr Gordhan, who is widely respected internationally.
Many senior ANC figures also opposed the finance minister’s removal.
Meanwhile, the Democratic Alliance, South Africa’s main opposition party said it would call a vote of no-confidence in President Zuma in parliament.
Mr Gordhan’s recall from the UK caused South Africa’s rand to lose nearly 5% of its value against major currencies earlier this week.
Pressure has been growing on Mr Zuma to step down amid numerous allegations of corruption.
He denies the claims.
The Court of Appeal has given a former lecturer at Makerere University who resigned in 1987 a lifeline, after ordering the High Court to hear his case again.
Pensioner William Semwatika Kibirango, who worked for Makerere University for 32 years from April 1955 to May 1987, went to court challenging the University for failing to pay his benefits in accordance with the Staff Benefits Scheme introduced in 1968.
The High Court ruled in favour of Makerere University, forcing Semwatika, a recipient of an Interim Award and a Meritorious Certificate in recognition to his service to the University, to successfully appeal the ruling in the appellate court.
The respondent (Makerere University) had defended the suit and at the commencement of the hearing raised a preliminary objection to the effect that the Appellant’s suit is time barred by law of limitation because the scheme is based on a scheme under which the appellant alleges that he was entitle to earn pension way back in 1996 when the University set up DAP.
A ruling delivered in 2014 was in favour of the University with Justice Stephen Musota saying that the scheme upon which Semwatika based to make his claim was an In-House Scheme put in place by the University independent of the scheme which affects public service employees that is provided for under the Pensions Act.
Justice Musota consequently found that Semwatika’s suit was time barred and dismissed it accordingly. Semwatika being dissatisfied with the said decision filed an appeal in the Court of Appeal arguing that Justice Musota erred in law and fact when he held that the In-House Scheme was not subject to the Pensions Act.
However, the Court of Appeal judges rejected Justice Musota’s assertions, and ordered the High Court to revisit the case.
Highlights of the Court of Appeal ruling
*“We have carefully read the plaint and the annextures thereto. We have also read the written statement of defence. It is not at all apparent from the plaint and annextures that the suit is time barred. The cause of action could certainly not have arisen in 1996, because at the time negotiations between the parties were on going. In fact, the negotiations culminated in the appellant being paid Shs8, 889,600 sometime in May 2002, as an interim award.
*“An interim award, in our view by its very nature could not have been a final award, but was an acknowledgement by the respondents that they still owed the respondent money to be paid to him as a final award or settlement at a future date. The final payment had not been made when in 2009 Semwatika filed a suit from which the appeal arose. With all due respect to the learned trial Judge, we found no basis in the above holding. We find so because a letter to the appellant from the respondent dated 26 September, 1995.”
*“This money was finally paid on 27th May 2002. The cause of action for the remaining payment could therefore not have arisen in 1996. The cause of action arose in 2009 when the High Court pronounced itself on this matter in the Sentongo case (Supra). We find merit in this appeal and we hereby allow it. We set aside the decision of the High Court, and we substitute it with this decision. We direct the High Court to proceed and hear the suit on its merits without any further delay.
*“But at the time of his retirement, the respondent (Makerere University) acknowledged that the then existing Retirement Benefits Scheme for staff introduced in 1968 had become worthless over time and they were in the process of introducing a new and more meaningful scheme that would cover the Appellant and the other members of staff.”
*Hence on retirement, the Appellant did not receive his full retirement benefits. He had to wait till October 1995 when he received Shs871,128, being a one year’s payment in recognition of the Appellant’s long term service to Makerere.
*The University introduced the Deposit Administration Plan (DAP) to supplement it’s employees improved salaries. However, the only people who were eligible to benefit under DAP were those employees who were still in service of the University and had not yet approached 60 years.
*Therefore, Semwatika’s claim for pension was still under consideration by June 1996. Consequently, the DAP was abandoned in favour of a new contributory in House Retirement Benefits Scheme.
*But its only beneficiaries were employees who had retired between 1996 and 1998. In 2002, after numerous visits to the University in demand for his retirement benefits, Semwatika was paid Shs8,889,600 as interim award which he had been promised earlier on in 1987 when he retired, pending a new meaningful scheme which was being put in place.
*In 2009 he went to the High Court seeking Declaration that the he is entitled to pension calculated with the new pension scheme. He also requested for general damages for the “distress and inconvenience suffered”.
*That the judge erred in law and fact when he held that the law of limitation applies to the In-House Scheme and that the Appellant’s action was therefore time barred.
*“The learned trial Judge erred in law and fact when he held that the action arose in 1996 instead of the year 2009 when Court pronounced itself on the appellant’s eligibility under the In-House Scheme.”
*“The High Court should take into account the fact that this is a long outstanding matter, which has delayed in our court system for no good reason. The appellant is of very advanced age and has been pursuing his claim for over 20 years.”
The ruling was delivered on Wednesday by Justice Richard Buteera, and other judges on the panel were Kenneth Kakuru and Cheborion Barishaki.
Pensioner Semwatika was represented by counsel Francis Buwule and Benon Makumbi while Makerere University was represented by Andrew Kabombo.
The South Sudanese government said it was ready to accept a joint investigation to establish which group was behind the murder of six aid workers.
The aid workers were from the national organisations identified as Grassroots Empowerment and Development Organisation (GREDO), which works to support children released from armed groups.
Unknown gunmen attacked the six workers last week Saturday. No group has claimed any responsibility for the horrendous act. There have been no reports of any clashes between the armed forces in the area prior to the incident. The area is widely believed to be under a full control of the government and allied armed youth from Jonglei state. The armed youth recently carried out an invading attack in Boma state.
Tut Kew Gatluak, the Presidential Advisor on Security Affairs said that the government was ready to accept any group interested in participating in the investigation process. Gatluak said the government had already been to the scene of the incident with members of the monitoring body, representatives from the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) and ceasefire monitoring body.
“What happened last week was an act of terrorism, which we condemned as the government. We call on our civil population to assist the government to get the perpetrators. We want to get to the bottom the incident and because of this interest, the government has now visited the scene of the incident with the groups and stakeholders interested in establishing the facts,” explained Tut Kew Gatluak.
The presidential aide declared that the Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangement Monitoring Mechanism (CTSAMM), a ceasefire monitoring and verification body chaired by Major General Molla Haile Mariam, was free to conduct an independent investigation to establish the identity of the group and the motives for killing aid workers along Juba-Pibor road.
According to the 2015 agreement, CTSAMM is comprised of representatives from the two main warring parties, the Former Detainees (FDs), other Political Parties, the Women’s Bloc, Civil Society Organizations, the Youth, Eminent Personalities, IGAD, the African Union (AU), China, the Troika member countries comprising United States United Kingdom and Norway, the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), the European Union (EU) and the IGAD Partners Forum.
Festus Gontebanye Mogae, head of the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC) said in a report, the JMEC is responsible for overseeing the implementation of the peace agreement as a whole and is the parent body for other institutions.
These institutions include the National Constitution Amendment Committee (NCAC), the Joint Military Ceasefire Commission (JMCC), the Economic and Financial Management Authority (EFMA), the Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR) and the Board of Special Reconstruction Fund (BSRF). JMEC in return reports to the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), the African Union and the UN Security Council amongst others.
The European Union Delegation, the Heads of Mission of Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, Sweden, The United Kingdom, and the Heads of Mission of Canada, China, Japan, Norway, Switzerland and the United States have issued a joint statement on Thursday. This was their reaction to the killing of the six aid workers, where they condemned the act and called on the government to probe the incident.
The Heads of foreign missions in the country called upon the government to thoroughly investigate the attack and to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice.
“The Heads of Mission strongly condemn and deplore the reprehensible killing of six aid workers along the Juba to Pibor road on Saturday, March 25, 2017. Our deepest condolences go out to the families, friends, and colleagues of the deceased,” reads the statement released to the public on Thursday.
The foreign diplomats stressed and reminded the government of its main constitutional responsibility to ensure security and safety of the citizens and residents of the country. They also called on all parties to ensure safe, secure, and unhindered access of aid workers to people in need in the country.
“To prevent future such incidents, the Heads of Mission call upon all armed actors to undertake a ceasefire in line with the Agreement on Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan, and to make genuine efforts to bring about peace, stability, and improved humanitarian access,” it adds.
Since the eruption of the conflict in 2013, at least 79 aid workers have lost their lives in the line of duty while delivering assistance to areas that need it most in the country.
President Muhammadu Buhari’s planned medical trip to London has been cancelled with reports indicating doctors will instead fly in from UK for further medical examination.
The president had gone to the UK on an extended medical vacation before returning 51 days later.
On his return, the president had hinted that he would soon be returning to the UK for further medical examination but according to media reports, the medical trip has been cancelled.
