There is tension at Makerere University as students engage police in running battles around campus and its environs in Kikoni.

Yesterday the students began the strike after they complained that the lecturers had abdicated their responsibility of teaching. This came in the wake of the lecturers turning to industrial action, with claims that they had not been paid their allowances, collectively amounting to billions of shillings.

However, a section of students that was earlier camped at the Main Hall, believes the lecturers are well-paid and should be in the lecture rooms.

By press time it was not possible to get comment from the university authorities but a source close to the administration told EagleOnline that the Vice Chancellor Prof John Ddumba had convened a meeting to try and find a solution to the standoff.

Strikes at Makerere University are commonplace and early last month activities came to a standstill after students went on strike a day apiece, after the University Council rejected their plea to scrap the fees payment policy.

The policy had dictated that students pay 100% of the tuition fees by the sixth week.

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Coca-Cola Beverage Africa has finally fulfilled its pledge to the Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga.
Over the weekend, the soft drinks giants in partnership with Medshare International delivered vital medical supplies worth Sh1.4 billion ($ 417,093) to Kamuli Hospital, as earlier promised by Kadaga.

Kadaga, who was the guest of honour at the hand over of the equipment, made the request to Coca-Cola in 2014. The agreement to secure the equipment was between Medshare, Coca-Cola and the Ministry of Health together with the Office of the Speaker of Parliament. It was to deliver medical equipment to hospitals in Kamuli, Kakuuto and Kalangala.

“The private sector has a vital role to play in the development of our country. When we come together, we can develop our communities a sector at a time. Today, the health sector in Kamuli has received hi-tech medical equipment, thanks to Medshare who donated this equipment and CCBA who covered the costs and handled all the logistics,” she said.

“By harnessing the power of this coalition to get life-saving medicines to the people that need them most, we can help to bend the curve and accelerate reductions in child and maternal deaths,” she added.

With a focus on maternal health and infant care, CCBA delivered machines such as fetal scanners, infant warmers, delivery beds, an electrical surgery unit, an anesthetic unit, an oxygen concentrator, lab equipment, wheel chairs and many others. They also renovated the maternity and pediatric wards of the hospital.

Speaking at the handover ceremony in Kamuli, the CCBA Uganda Human Resource Director, Martha Munnu Omer said: “We know that our business can only be as strong as the communities we serve, and we’re honored that we could use our expertise to improve the distribution of medicine and medical supplies.  This project has been a great and growing success so far, and we look forward to working with our partners to improve lives across more communities in Uganda, and Africa at large.”

She added that CCBA is privileged to be able to help more people enjoy better access to life-sustaining and life-enhancing medical facilities.

Sarah Opendi, the State Minister for Health applauded CCBA for the initiative and called upon the district leaders to ensure that the equipment is put to good use.

“This donation of medical equipment is an excellent example of partners coming together to develop an innovative solution that provides access to critical medicines and medical supplies in remote Ugandan communities,” she said.

Commenting about this initiative, Nell Diallo, the Vice President – Corporate & International Relations at Medshare International said: “….as a global community, we have set ambitious goals of ending preventable child and maternal deaths and creating an AIDS-free generation.”

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Kato Lubwama has appeared in court today to answer to a case in which he is accused of not having the requisite academic qualifications to be a Member of Parliament.

But before he appeared in court, his close friend, Muhammad Nsereko, the Kampala Central MP had a few words for him, assuring him of his support.

“Dear comrade Kato Lubwama, just know you will never walk alone . Am with you all the way no matter what. I know all those that are trying to fight you know they can’t defeat you in the ballot. Just know brother that we shall always stand by you no matter the situation.

The youth and the elderly shall all stand with you. Solida NAMUTIMA,” he wrote today morning on Facebook.

However, the same words have landed him a public lashing.

Below are some of the reaction from the public:

Jjemba Abdul Nassibu It’s Kato fighting himself. The issue isn’t about popularity. It’s all about qualification. Nsereko you better help your kibi to verify his papers than saying that he is being fought. Is he the only MP being sued for papers? Over 70 MPs were sued. My comrade we should stop this stupid hooligan reasoning.

Badde GoForward Ignicious this isn’t about Muhammad Nsereko being with him all the way. It’s about presenting evidence that the guy saw enough blackboards required for him to be in Parliament. It’s a pity for Muhammad Nsereko to continuously insinuate that Dr. Besigye and FDC are fighting him. Surely, Nsereko you’re very small fish to compare yourself to Besigye who is a whale in the sea.

Isaac Businge It’s saddening that you have put yourself self on the frontline over this issue. Let your friend prove his critics wrong…..this is a moment of proving self worth. What if the outcome is otherwise from what think? You need to protect your credibility and integrity from such smoky environments…….Kato Lubwama is not an ambassador for the youth and elderly as you want us to believe, he is a self seeker (he put it in black n white a while back). Let him stand up to his feet m prove his worth.

Badde GoForward Ignicious in relation to a human body, Muhammad Nsereko is a fingernail and Besigye is the whole human body. Ths nonsense of Nsereko running on tv n radio station insinuating dat Besigye and his FDC is fighting hm shd stop. You are MP material of just Kampala but Besigye is a president material of d whole Uganda.

Nassozi Lilian Ntambi Kato was voted on compromise Hajji because we knew he could do a lot of nothing while in parliament but him going on tv and start dissing pipo because we voted him was the least expected…stop thinking that FDC is in this or whatever just know pipo in Rubaga aren’t happy wt him.

Robert Riyales I can’t imagine nsereko defending this hooligan in the name of#Kato_Lubwama

Have always held alot of respect for this fella nsereko. First of all lubwama yayagalwa nyo abalonzi naye bwe yatuuka mu palyamenti neyeyononera erinya hardly a month or two. Kati the likes of Nsereko to come up n defend such a person defeats my undstandg.

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Online media publishers in Uganda have come together and elected their executive.

Operating under their umbrella organization, the Online Media Publishers Association-Uganda (OMPA), elected Chimpreports Managing Editor Giles Muhame deputized by EagleOnline’s Richard Wanambwa.

Other executive members include Campus Bee’s Emma Omongin, who was elected Secretary; Denise Nankunda and Dixon Ampumuza Kagurusi, the Treasurer. Other members are Joseph Owino and Muhereza Kyamuterera, the ‘Chief Whip’, deputized by Stanley Ndawula and Steven Douglas Baryevuga, who is the chief mobiliser.

‘OMPA is a nonprofit membership organization for digital journalists and publishers— connecting cutting-edge journalism, latest technology tools and innovation,’ a release by the organization, states.

OMPA membership is open to journalists, technologists, executives and publishers in Uganda who produce news for and support digital delivery systems.

According to OMPA, it will host an annual Online News Association conference and administer Online Journalism Awards.

“I believe an association like this that brings industry players together for a common goal is a game changer,” Mr Muhame said at the launch of OMPA last Friday.

Combined, OMPA’s websites attract over 5 million visitors a month, the biggest media communication mode in Uganda. As a result OMPA also implored government to consider online channels for advertising.

Online media publishers’ association members

Matooke Republic

Eagle Online

Watchdog Uganda

ChimpReports

Investigator

Campus Bee

She Spell

CEO Magazine

Big Eye

Galaxy FM Site

HowweBiz

Trumpet News

The Insider

Xclusive Uganda

Muwado

The Ugandan

Kawowo Sport

Showbiz Uganda

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Resident District Commissioners (RDCs) have been told to ensure prudent management of government stores and logistics including cars.

In a communication, the Director of RDCs in the Office of the President Muhammad Mayanja, said all the president’s representatives in the districts should not expect new replacements for vehicles, should the ones they currently have, break down.

Over the years the RDCs have taken a bashing in respect to their roles, with sections of the public saying the post should be scrapped because it impacts on the administrative costs of government. Currently, there are over 128 RDCs, all of who have Deputy and Assistant RDCS.

Meanwhile, Mr Mayanja’s communication to the RDCs comes in the wake of financial constraints facing both private and public sectors in the country.

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Embattled Lubaga South MP, Kato Lubwama says that he is wrongly in court; he argues that it is instead Makerere University that should have been sued.

“As far as I know, I graduated with my diploma from Makerere (university). How I got there is none of my concern. That question shouldn’t be directed to me. It should be directed to Makerere which admitted me. But I went to Makerere University. Even Kiyimba Freeman was among the people that used to see me drumming at Makerere,” he said Sunday while appearing on Bukedde TV.

On failing his Senior Four, the legislator who is more known for acts of comedy said: “Is it a crime for one to fail exams? Did I die when I failed my Senior Four? If not, why is it a big deal? I failed senior four and so did majority of the people in my constituency. Majority ended in Senior Two and they are comfortable with me representing them. Have you heard of any complaining?”

Meanwhile, Lubwama’s utterances against the ‘Ivory Tower’ come at a time the hearing of the case filed by an activist, Habib Buwembo, challenging his academic qualification kicked off this morning at the High Court.

By press time it was not possible to get a comment from the university, but in his suit Buwembo contends that Kato Lubwama lacks the minimum academic qualifications to be a member of parliament and that he failed his Uganda Certificate of Education examinations.

Buwembo’s case is supported by the Uganda National Examination Board (UNEB) then Executive Secretary Peter H Anywar, who clarifies that having obtained Result 7, Kato Lubwama did not qualify for the award of a certificate.

Buwembo adds that there is no evidence that Lubwama proceeded to A-level or undertook any course that is equivalent to it.

He further says that whereas Kato Lubwama obtained a diploma in MDD from Makerere University at that time, for one to qualify and to be accepted for the course, he or she had to present an original UCE or UACE (or equivalent) certificate.

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