BACKTRACKING ON ELECTIONS? DRC President Joseph Kabila
Civil society activists in the Democratic Republic of Congo have launched the ‘Bye Bye Kabila’ campaign aimed at forcing President Joseph Kabange Kabila to step down.
President Kabila is serving the last of his two constitutionally-allowed terms and the DRC was set to hold elections in December this year.
However, just like most of his African counterparts, in 2015 Kabila tried to alter the Constitution to allow himself stay in power perpetually, sparking off protests that rocked the entire country.
He then changed tack, and in October signed a frivolous deal with fringe opposition parties under the ‘national dialogue’ that will see him stay in power until April next year.
It is this development that is now the precursor to the current demos in the DRC. And recently, while addressing Parliament, Kabila vowed to crash any form of resistance against the deal.
“The deal currently represents the only roadmap put in place by the Congolese themselves,” Kabila told the legislators last week.
He added that he was ready to defend against any attempt to take over the country by force, pledging that elections would be organised ‘in the ‘coming months.
'NO FREE BOOZE": Socialite Sulamain Kabangala Mbuga did not buy 'free drinks' during his Kasiki as most revellers at Guvnor had been made to believe
“Indeed this is a century wedding…..get ready for SK Mbuga’s kasiki tonight at Club Guvnor again. All are welcome. You don’t need any invitation card. Just dress smartly and boom, you are in. There is gonna open bar tonight. I repeat, entrance is just by dress code. Bring friends of your friends,” Henry Ndugwa popularly known Kakensa wrote on social media on Tuesday.
Ndugwa aka Kakensa has been behind the publicity for the much hyped wedding of city socialite SK Mbuga and a one Vivian.
And who would look back after hearing entrance to one of the city’s premium club is free in addition to free drinks of your choice? Our guess is as good as yours; people thronged the venue as early as 7pm and by 10pm, the number of people in the club had swollen.
However, things didn’t work in favour of the revellers; getting a drink in the club was in direct contrast to what they had been told. There was no open bar as earlier communicated as each individual had to pay for one’s drink.
If you are not a foreigner, you obviously know how the economy is fairing at the moment. Majority of the people are broke and so were majority of those who had turned up for free drinks.
Majority turned to their phones, literally ‘drinking’ mbs (internet bundles) with hope an ‘open bar’ was to open as soon as the ‘big’ man arrived.
Some took to social media to air out their plight.
Kaj Stella: Oba I’m at a wrong Guvnor. There is no open bar here…
Their wish, though, didn’t materialise and one by one, they started vacating the spot in disappointment and while cursing the socialite.
Mbuga’s wedding alleged to cost over Shs3 billion is scheduled for this Saturday.
EAC ON CLIMATE CHANGE: Hon. Jesca Eriyo highlighting the region's Disaster Risk Reduction Initiatives
The EAC Climate Change Adaptation Specialist, Mr. Dismas Mwikila has said that all the EAC Partner States have signed the Paris Agreement and that they were at different stages in the ratification processes. He said what was needed now was to review climate change policy documents to accommodate the outcomes of the 22nd Session of the Conference of Parties (COP22) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) held in Bab Ighli in Marrakech, Morocco.
The Climate Change Adaptation Specialist, who was making a presentation on EAC Road Map for Implementation of the key Resolution of the Paris Agreement (PA) at a side event organized by the EAC and Partners at the Climate Change Conference, said there was need to make adequate preparations for effective implementation of the Paris Agreement.
Panelists at the EAC side event: Ali Raza Rizvi of IUCN, Dismas Mwikila the EAC Climate Change Adaptation Specialist, and Fredrick Mngube the Environment and Natural Resources Officer at the Lake Victoria Basin Commission, ready to take questions from the audience after the presentations
Mr. Mwikila disclosed that the EAC Secretariat had developed a road map to implement key resolution of the Paris Agreement and that the road map had several elements that include; showing how to approach the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) implementation; and translation of the Paris Agreement into concrete steps for the Partner States; and how to take the work forward.
He said the implementation of the road map would involve several interventions, including, among others, identification of the resolutions of the Paris Agreement which are more relevant to the EAC Partner States; assisting policy makers in Partner States dealing with climate change in internalizing the Paris Agreement to come up with country specific implementation framework; identification of common actions across NDCs and develop NDCs Implementation Plans; review of the EAC’s existing Regional Climate Change Policy (2011), Climate Change Strategy (2011/12-2015/16) and Climate Change Master Plan (2013-2033) to mainstream the Paris Agreement.
He noted that there will be need to support the capitalization of the EAC Climate Change Funds through pioneering the accreditation as Regional Implementing Entity (RIE) under the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and Adaptation Fund (AF); and support Partner States to develop capacities for accreditation of their NIE; as well as support Partner States to develop credible projects that may attract funds from AF and GCF.
Other interventions include; promoting the continental climate resilient and low carbon development initiatives such as the Climate Smart Agriculture; promoting the African Adaptation and Loss and Damage Initiative; and lastly; promoting renewable energy and other sustainable development initiatives in a bid to attain global goal of reducing Green House Gas Emissions (GHGEs).
The EAC Climate Change Adaptation Specialist affirmed that implementation of the Paris Agreement must be guided by the principles and objectives of the Convention and that Developed countries should provide adequate, direct and predictable funding to enable Least Developed and Developing Countries to implement their NDCs. There is also the need for Partner States to ensure adequate stakeholders involvement in the implementation of Paris Agreement.
Mr. Ali Raza Rizvi, Programme Manager of Ecosystem Based Adaptation at IUCN (left) chats with Gideon Sanago (right) of Pingos Forum Tanzania at the end of the the EAC side-event at COP in Marrakech.
At the same side-event, the Programme Manager, Ecosystem based Adaptation (EbA) of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Mr. Ali Raza Rizvi highlighted key issues on Ecosystem management and affirmed that IUCN promotes the use of diversity and ecosystem services as part of an overall climate adaptation strategy both at the policy and practice level. He said ecosystem-based adaptation involves a wide range of ecosystem management activities to increase resilience and reduce the vulnerability of people and the environment to climate change.
Addressing climate change impact on water in the EAC region, the Environment and Natural Resources Officer at the Lake Victoria Basin Commission, Mr. Fredrick Mngube outlined some of the water climate change adaptation initiatives that have been put in place in the region. They include water catchments management, water allocation plans, wastewater management, sanitation and hygiene management.
Mr. Mngube reiterated that limited resources and technical support; and population increase by human, wildlife, and livestock were the key challenges the region was facing in addressing adaptation to climate change.
In another side-event organized by the EAC and Partners on Tuesday, 15 November 2016, themed: ‘Climate Smart Agriculture, Disaster Risk Management and Mitigation Actions in the EAC Region’,the East African Community showcased Climate Change Initiatives sharing with participants, achievements and lessons learnt from Climate Smart Agriculture, Disaster Risk Reduction and Management, and Climate Change Mitigation Initiatives.
Ms. Ritah Rukundo from GiZ, UFCCC and EADB Coordination Office in Kampala and David Wafula respond to questions after their preentation at the EAC side-event
At the side-event, the EAC Deputy Secretary General in charge of Finance and Administration, Hon. Jesca Eriyo highlighted the region’s Disaster Risk Reduction Management, while the EAC Agricultural Specialist, Mr. David Wafula, discussed the Climate Smart Agriculture in the context of Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Progranmme (CAADP) Agenda. Ms Ritah Rukundo, the Technical Officer at the Regional Collaboration Centre of the GiZ, UNFCCC and EADB based in Kampala, Uganda, addressed the Green House Gas Emissions and the EAC.
Signed in December 2015 and entered into force on November 4, 2016, the Paris Agreement brings all nations into a common cause to undertake take ambitious efforts to combat climate change and adapt to its effects, with enhanced support to assist developing countries to do so.
Its central aim is to strengthen the global response to the threat of climate change by keeping a global temperature rise this century well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase even further to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
PARTNERSHIP SEALED: MultiChoice Uganda General Manager Charles Hamya (R) with the CEO Stanbic Uganda Mr Patrick Mweheire (L) after inking the partnership.
MultiChoice Uganda and Stanbic Bank Uganda have endorsed a partnership that will enable their subscribers to pay subscription.
Through Stanbic’s uniquely tailored Mobile and Online banking solutions, the bank believes its new system will make it easier and more convenient for DStv & GOtv customers to pay their subscriptions.
This new partnership will enable Stanbic clients to continue enjoying their DStv and GOtv experience by making instant, easy payments through the bank’s digital solutions like the Stanbic App, Online Banking and Stanbic Mobile Banking *290#.
Addressing the media at a joint press conference held at the MultiChoice Head Office, Charles Hamya, the General Manager of MultiChoice Uganda, said: “As a technology-driven company, MultiChoice is continuously looking at utilising the latest digital platforms for the benefit of our clients and the partnership with Stanbic allows us to achieve this objective.
The biggest advantage now is the versatility of the Stanbic digital banking platforms that interface directly with our billing system which customers can access at no extra cost,” Mr Hamya said.
“This means our clients get instantly reconnected once they have made the mobile or online payment without the need to queue up at our offices or line up at a banking hall,” Mr Hamya said and added: “These are the easiest and most affordable ways to pay for all your favourite entertainment, sports channels and documentaries.”
Speaking at the same event, Patrick Mweheire, the Chief Executive – Stanbic Bank Uganda said the bank will create more innovative banking solutions that provide customers with greater convenience and flexibility.
“By using the Stanbic digital solutions, customers will enjoy the ability to instantly renew their subscriptions and will not incur any extra charges for this service,” Mr Mweheire said.
Demonstrating how payments on Stanbic’s mobile banking platform are done, Veronica Sentongo – Stanbic’s Head, Digital Banking explained, “To enjoy this opportunity, the Customer will need to be registered for either our Mobile or Online banking platforms.
She added: “Once you confirm that the transaction has been successfully completed, you will receive a notification alert from the bank to inform you that a deduction has been made from your account.”
I AM STILL AROUND! Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe
Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, who has ruled the country for 36 years, has hinted at his possible retirement, but said he would leave office on his own terms.
The 92-year-old, who took charge of Zimbabwe following its independence from colonial rule in 1980, has faced widespread protests in 2016 as the country continues to suffer from high unemployment and economic woes.
At a meeting with a group of independence war veterans in the capital Harare on Sunday, Mugabe said that he was aware of factions within his Zanu-PF party aimed at succeeding him.
“If I have to retire, let me retire properly,” said Mugabe at the meeting, according to Zimbabwean newspaper. The Zimbabwean president put no timeframe on any proposed retirement.
Mugabe’s comments were significant since he has consistently indicated that he wants to stay in office. The veteran leader said in March that he planned to live to be 100 years old and that he had no intention of retiring. Zanu-PF has nominated Mugabe as its candidate for the 2018 presidential election.
Zanu-PF is reportedly split between backers of the president’s wife, Grace Mugabe—known as the G40 faction—and those supporting Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who are collectively termed the Lacoste faction.
Zimbabwe’s war veterans, who hold considerable influence in society, have traditionally been among Mugabe’s core support. But that support was thrown into doubt in July when the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association issued a statement accusing Mugabe of adopting ‘dictatorial tendencies’. Zimbabwean security forces arrested several prominent war veterans in the wake of the statement.
Mugabe also acknowledged that Zimbabwe was in the midst of a financial crisis and said the country was in a ‘critical time… for regime change’, according to the African News Agency.
Zimbabwe, which had at least nine currencies in circulation as of February, is experiencing a massive shortage of US dollars that has seen people queuing for hours to withdraw money from banks. The Zimbabwean central bank is planning to introduce a new pseudo-currency, known as bond notes, which it says will serve as an equivalent to the US dollar.
But some fear that bringing bond notes into circulation could herald the return of the Zimbabwean dollar, which was dispensed with after undergoing massive hyperinflation in 2007-08. A group of Zimbabwean lawyers has made a High Court application to have the presidential order authorizing the move to bring in bond notes repealed.
REJECTED BY BURUNDI: UN Commission of Inquiry into rights violations in Burundi Chairman Fatsah Ougergouz
Following a decision of the United Nations Human Rights Council, in which it setup a commission of inquiry to investigate human rights violations and abuses in Burundi, including whether they may constitute international crimes, the President of the body has appointed the Commission’s Chair and members.
The Commissioners appointed include Fatsah Ouguergouz (Algeria), Reina Alapini Gansu (Benin) and Francoise Hampson (United Kingdom). Mr. Ouguergouz will serve as the Chair of the three-member Commission.
According to a news release, the Commissioners will ‘provide the support and expertise for the immediate improvement of the situation of human rights and the fight against in impunity’.
Established for a period of a year at the Human Rights Council’s 33rd session (September 2016), the Commission has also been mandated to identify the alleged perpetrators of violations and abuses, since April 2015, with a view to ensuring full accountability.
In discharging its duties, the Commission has been authorized by the Human Rights Council to engage with national authorities, UN agencies, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) field presence in the country, as well as other stakeholders, including the civil society, refugees, authorities of the African Union (AU) and the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
The Commission will be present an oral briefing to the Human Rights Council at its 34th and 35th sessions, in March and June 2017, respectively, and a final report at an interactive dialogue at the Council’s 36th session in September 2017.
Burundi was thrown into fresh crisis more than a year ago when President Pierre Nkurunziza decided to run for a controversial third term that he went on to win. To date, it has been reported that hundreds of people have been killed, more than 250,000 have fled the nation, and thousands more have been arrested and possibly subjected to human rights violations.
Last year, Malawi banned child marriage, raising the legal age of marriage from 15 to 18 – something activists hoped would put an end to early sexual initiations.
Suspected murderer Mathew Kanyamunyu, his brother Joseph and lady friend Cynthia Munangwari, have been remanded to Luzira Prison.
The four are charged with the murder of social worker Kenneth Akena Watmon and appeared today in the Nakawa magistrate’s court before magistrate Noah Ssajjabi, who remanded them till December 6 when they return for probable committal to the High Court that has the powers to try murder cases.
It is said that last Saturday evening Kanyamunyu shot Akena, after the latter reportedly glitched his car.
DEFIANT? Dr Kizza Besigye addresses a press conference at an earlier function at his home in Kasangati. Photo credit/nbstv.
Opposition figure Warren Smith Kizza Besigye has given the government ten days effective today, to reopen Makerere University.
Addressing a press conference at his home in Kasangati early today, Dr. Besigye said his party, the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) would call for a ‘national protest’ if the campus is not reopened.
“As FDC we shall keep on reminding the government the remaining days and when they are all done without reopening of the university then we shall call for a nationwide protest,” Dr Besigye, who was flanked by Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago and several other senior opposition figures, said.
Other notable opposition figures that attended the press conference included the FDC Minister for Presidency Wafula Oguttu, Minister for Gender Kevina Taka, MP Mubarak Munyagwa and councilors Doreen Nyanjura, Mohammed Ssegirinya and Michael Akampurira.
However, his threats come hardly two days when the Visitation committee put up by President Museveni briefed the media yesterday and revealed that they had appealed to Mr. Museveni to open the university as investigation continue.
Dr Besigye’s remarks follow the closure of Makerere University, ordered by President Yoweri Museveni two weeks ago. The three-month closure set to end in February has caused anxiety with several public officials including the Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga, education minister Janet Kataha Museveni and the State Minister for Higher Education Chrysostom Muyingo all weighing in on the hitherto contentious matter.
“Uganda is mainly populated by youth and children who constitute more than half of the population therefore education assumes a much greater importance,” Mr Besigye said, adding: “education, which is the foundation of development due to the skills and innovation that come along with it, is facing crisis.”
According to Dr. Besigye, Uganda has been bedeviled by persistent educational crises in all public universities over the past 30 years.
Taking a swipe at the education minister, Dr Besigye said the country was at crossroads to find a lasting problem to the education dilemma in the country.
“Perhaps the Minister of Education who is also the First Lady has an issue of concern since she is the wife of the President and one wonders who advises the other in case of need,” Dr Besigye said.
According to Dr Besigye, 15 children die every day at Kawempe Hospital due to the absence of intern doctors of Makerere University, who were also affected by the closure.
And, weighing in on the recently-composed Visitation Committee led by Dr Abel Rwendeire, Dr Besigye said it was inconsequential as all the issues afflicting the operations Makerere University had been detailed in a 224-page report compiled by a team led by Prof Francis Omaswa in February 2014.
Dr. Besigye, also said Uganda been bedeviled by corruption under the National Resistance Movement (NRM) regime and its leader President Museveni.
“The country is being subjected to unnecessary suffering as a result of a corrupt regime led by President Museveni,” Dr Besigye said.
Kenyan socialite Hudah Monroe lives a life that many only dream of, and many Ugandan wannabes spend most of their lives trying to live like her.
The downside to Monroe’s fame however, is the majority of the Kenyans who use social media attribute her success to ‘vending’ her body.
Well, if she is not vending her body as claimed or doing charity work, the other thing she is known for then she is making money.
Now the mistress of all trades has landed a deal as the brand ambassador for Slim Tea; the 28-day detox tea allegedly burns fat amongst other benefits and has been on high demand after the socialite swore by it.
‘’If you know me personally, you know that my biggest fear in this life is GAINING WEIGHT! I take Slim Tea to maintain my body and stay detoxed. I am so honored to have finally signed my contract as one of the Brand Ambassadors of SLIM TEA GLOBAL. Slim Tea is an all-natural ingredients product helping to keep trim and fit. Helps speed up your metabolism and Detox,’’ Ms Monroe posted
