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Machar declares war against Salva Kiir

By
Agencies
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Riek Macha, SPLM-IO strongman who declared war against Salva Kiir and his regime in Juba.

South Sudan armed opposition faction led by ousted Vice President Riek Machar has resolved to reorganise its military wing to wage a popular armed resistance against Kiir’s government.

Macha says after the ouster, there will be peace, freedom, and democracy in South Sudan.

This comes in a resolution adopted by members of the SPLM-IO Political Bureau during their meetings chaired by Riek Machar in the Sudanese capital Khartoum from September 20-23. It is the first official position issued by the armed group’s top leadership since Machar left Juba in July.

Manawa Peter Gatkuoth, spokesman of the SPLM-IO faction, confirmed that the armed opposition leadership meeting in Khartoum resolved to fight against the current government in Juba.

“The important point in the meeting is that we should organize armed resistance against the regime so that the people of South Sudan can enjoy peace and stability, if Salva Kiir remains in power, there will not be peace and reconciliation,” said Manawa.

However, the armed opposition faction said in parts of its resolution that last August’s peace deal should be resuscitated to ensure its full implementation with the support of the international community.

The SPLM-IO leadership further said the peace agreement and the unity government have collapsed, while calling on the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC) and other peace monitoring bodies to suspend their activities until the peace agreement is resuscitated and the unity government is reinstituted and reconstituted.

The armed group called for deployment of regional forces in order to salvage the peace deal and thereafter the demilitarization of major towns and cantonment of forces in South Sudan.

The SPLM-IO top leadership condemned the appointment of Taban Deng Gai as the First Vice President replacing Machar, saying the opposition party resolved to dismiss Taban Deng and all its senior members who joined Kiir’s government in Juba.

The resolution also accused Kiir’s government of attempting to assassinate opposition leaders during fighting in Juba. Machar’s group called on the international community to declare the current regime in Juba a rogue government for lacking the political will to implement the peace agreement.

 

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Uganda thumps Namibia to win 2016 Africa Rugby Sevens Cup

By
Stephen Muneza
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Uganda Rugby Cranes has beaten Namibia 38-19 to clinch the he two-day 2016 Africa Sevens Cup at the Safaricom Stadium, Kasaraniin Nairobi today.

The Rugby Cranes on Friday started by stunning last year’s losing finalists Zimbabwe 19-14 and Mauritius on Friday before seeing off hosts Kenya 17-12 on Saturday at noon and eventually fought off favourites Namibia in the final of the 12-team tournament.

Tolbert Onyango’s team has as result earned a slot on the 2017 HSBC World Rugby 7s Series and will play at the Hong Kong 7s set for April 7-9.

RUGBY CRANES 7s TEAM

Adrian Kasito, Dennis Etwau, Pius Ogena, Solomon Okia, Al Hadji Manano, R. Govule, Robert Anzugu, Phillip Wokorach, Eric Kasita, (Captain), Kevin Keremundu, James Odong, Lawrence Sebuliba.

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UN body ‘will oppose’ elephant trade ban

By
Our Reporter
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The UN body that oversees trade in endangered species, says it will oppose efforts to increase global protection for elephants.

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species says that tougher rules could backfire and boost the trade in ivory.

At the moment there is a global ban in trade in elephant ivory.

The hunted elephants’ body parts, apart from their tusks, are allowed to be used as trophies.

But a coalition of 29 other African countries is pressing for a tightening of the regulations proposing that all elephants parts from all countries are banned.

The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), in conjunction with Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) in 2015 conducted an aerial survey of elephants in Uganda’s national parks. The result of the survey projected that elephant numbers are increasing, and stood at 5,000.

In 2012, Uganda was labelled by CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) as one of the eight countries of primary concern in the ivory trade because of the volume of illegal ivory that had passed through the country.

Law enforcers also need to do robust work. For example, the Uganda Wildlife Act Section 30, prohibits the utilisation of wildlife without a wildlife use right. It further states that “No person may engage in any of the activities under Section 29 or any other activities of the nature which involve the utilisation of wildlife and wildlife products without first obtaining a grant of a wildlife use right.”

Some countries are rich because they use our raw materials and worse still, they have the money and with the biting poverty in Africa, we are pushed to trade in illegal wildlife, not knowing that we are depleting our natural resources.

In African forests, mostly in DR Congo, which has its forest belt extending to Uganda’s border in the west, elephants declined by 62 per cent in less than a decade. This drastic decline was due to a lethal cocktail of illegal hunting, habitat loss and civil strife that have impeded our region.

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How Uganda POLICE blocked gay pride parade

By
Francisco Adongo
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Ugandan police have blocked gay pride celebrations from happening in two resorts outside Kampala.

Gay rights activist Frank Mugisha said more than 100 LGBTI people tried to participate in the celebrations in Entebbe near Lake Victoria.

But many were escorted by police back to Kampala in minibuses.

The minister for ethics and integrity had threatened to mobilise mobs to attack participants. Homosexuality is illegal in Uganda.

After being blocked from entering the Entebbe resort, several dozen participants moved on to another resort but were kicked out by officers.

This is the second time the LGBTI [lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and/or intersex] community has tried to hold gay pride celebrations in Uganda this year. In August, the authorities broke up a beauty pageant and arrested activists.

The BBC’s Catherine Byaruhanga said that it is unclear why this event was targeted, as over the past four years celebrations have been held without much notice from the police.

 

In 2014 a bill to further criminalise homosexuality was overturned in court.

 

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Express’s Tekkwo stings Vipers

By
Our Reporter
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A lone first half goal from Derrick Tekkwo was enough for six-time champions Express to earn a deserved victory over Vipers at Nakivubo stadium.

The midfielder, on loan from URA was in the right place at a right time to slot home past Ismail Watenga after good work from Ibrahim Saddam Juma who was facing his former bosses.

There was no doubt about who the better side was right from the start as the Red Eagles should have won by a bigger margin.

Alex Gitta’s side who came into the game on the back of a frustrating 1-0 loss to Bul should have scored as early as 16 minutes but Herman Wasswa’s effort hit the woodwork.

They were also denied what appeared like a clear penalty when Saddam was brought down in the area before Mukasa Musa was also fouled in the area only for the referee to give a free kick outside the area.

But they kept on asking question and in the 37th minute, gotten a deserved match winner from Tekkwo who from close range, got at the end of a neat Saddam pass inside the 16 yard area.

Not even changes by Vipers’ Abdallah Mubiru who took off injured defender Halid Lwaliwa for midfielder Brian Nkuubi and striker Musa Esenu for midfielder Ibrahim Kayiwa could change the score line.

Maximum points lift the Red eagles to 3rd on the log with 11 points.

Two-time champions Vipers now drop to 5th with 9 points after five games.

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Gov’t to procure new cancer equipment from world best medical facility -Museveni

By
Isaiah Mwebaze
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President Museveni welcomes his visitor, Andrew Whitman, the Vice President of Virian Medical Systems in the United States during a meeting in New York yesterday September 22. PPU-photo

President Yoweri Museveni has said that Uganda will pay for new cancer radiotherapy equipment.

Museveni also revealed that government will also provide a grant to Varian Medical Systems global government to train young Ugandan professionals in cancer and oncology treatment.

Mr Museveni said this while meeting Mr. Andrew Whitman the Vice President of Varian Medical Systems Global Government, the leading company in cancer and oncology radiation and cancer treatment equipment worldwide.

The meeting was also attended by Dr. Diana Atwine, the director of the health monitoring unit of State House.

Varian Medical Systems are the world’s leading manufacturers of radiotherapy and radio surgical devices and software treating cancer and other medical conditions with radiotherapy, radiosurgery, proton therapy and brachytherapy

“Uganda will pay for the cancer machines and also provide a grant to Varian Medical Systems to train young Uganda professionals on their use. What is important is to recruit young people and send them on government sponsorship for bio-medical training,” he said.

The President was responding to a proposal by Mr. Whitman on how to finance and procure such equipment, which he said is very capital intensive.

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He congratulated President Museveni for rehabilitating and equipping the cancer institute at Mulago Hospital to deal with the increasing cases of cancer.

According to the Fred Hutchinson cancer research center at Mulago Hospital, Uganda with a population of over 37 million people has one of the highest rates of cancer in the world. The two hardest hit groups are children under the age of 12 and middle-aged adults.

Museveni revelation come at time when the country’s only machine at Cancer Institute isn’t operating and thus, cancer patients are left no option but left to die.

More than 60 per cent of cancer deaths occur in developing countries.

According to the National Cervical Cancer Coalition, exact figures for cervical cancer rates are unclear, but an WHO/ICO report published last year estimated that 1,932 women in Ugandan die of cervical cancer each year, and more than 2,400 are diagnosed with the disease. Cervical cancer is the biggest cancer killer among women in the country. And with 40 cases per 100,000 women, Uganda has one of the highest burdens of cervical cancer cases worldwide.

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Uganda urgently needs renewable energy – Museveni

By
Shawn Davis Kawalya
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President Museveni shares a light moment with Steve Gilchrist (L) president of Polaris Capital power company in Canada. Looking on is Amb. Kananathan and Feizhen Lu, director of Capital Powers during a meeting in New York yesterday. PPU-photo.

Uganda urgently needs affordable renewable energy to ensure access to all, especially for rural communities, President Museveni has said.

“Uganda urgently needs renewable energy. We have been talking about having a plant operational in all the major towns. We shall look at all options including direct investments and through bidding for this to happen,” he said.

The president was meeting a team from Polaris Capital Power led by its President Steve Gilchrist and a Director Feizhen Lu. Polaris Infrastructure is a Toronto-based company engaged in the operation, acquisition and development of renewable energy projects in 180 countries around the world.

The company is interested in investing in waste management for energy production at landfills in the main cities especially, Kampala.

Gilchrist, a former Member of Parliament in Canada said his company is willing to invest over US$ 70million in renewable energy projects that will create over 45,000 jobs. He said their aim is that after 20 years of well-grounded production, government takes over the projects.

Gilchrist developed a company which has worked with governments in Africa, the Caribbean, South America and Asia to raise awareness of biomass-to-energy power generation opportunities, including a proposed waste-to-energy facility in Ghana and an advanced recycling technology for municipalities in Canada.

 

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Ganda Boys: Musicians fighting poverty, poor health & unemployment in Uganda

By
Badru Kasadah
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NO MORE SINGING ABOUT LADIES: The Ganda Boys pause for a photo with one of their development partners.Photo/worldpeaceone.com

Ugandan singing duo, Da Twinz, comprising of singers Denis Mugagga and Dan Sewagudde were once the biggest group from Uganda with songs like Ndeku, Midomo, Nafunye among others. Though, ask for some of their latest songs and you will hardly get any answer!

Majority of Ugandans think the group stopped recording songs but they are wrong. The duo re-branded to Ganda Boys in 2008 and even changed the direction of their music.

The group is no longer into singing about ladies, money and booze but it has rather switched to music dedicated towards making a difference in the lives of the people of Uganda and other disenfranchised populations around the world.

In fact, their song ‘Forgotten People’ has been nominated in the Independent Music Awards.
Through a mail interview with Eagle Online, the duo opened up on their new musical direction and their foundation, on which more focus has been dedicated to.

What are you doing currently?

“The first step is empowering people through education. United Earth Education and Communities connect the infrastructure, buildings, and environment in our communities with education through community-based projects. Ugandans who want to create projects in their villages are supported through education, mentoring and resources.”

Secondly, by creating and building projects in villages and communities is part of each core course, and students get credit both when they are in the field or in the classroom.

What kind of projects do you undertake?

“The projects will come from the minds of students and the residents of Uganda cities and villages. However, to get started and to focus some students, the following projects are proposed for initial implementation. After identifying villages and schools that have students with basic literacy skills and access to online information, students will be recruited to create a Ugandan Youth News Service. Students will be trained in finding information, Communicating clearly, and creating print and graphic materials. Students could also be mentored by local teachers and journalists.

They also aim at ensuring girls stay in school. In Uganda, because of lack of access to hygiene materials for menstruation, 40 per cent of schoolgirls miss up to 5 schooldays a month or 30 per cent of the school year leading to lower performance and a high dropout rate. Girls who drop out are more likely to get pregnant, die in childbirth, and be unable to provide basic needs for their children. 

Do you have partners for these projects?

We are partnering with organizations already working in Uganda, United Earth will increase access to information, simple and sustainable materials, and help to decrease and reverse the shame and ridicule that often comes from menstruation.”

Their foundation further aims at fighting poverty among Ugandans, especially those living in villages.

Poverty robs Uganda of its vast human potential. As people struggle to survive, they are unable to have the time and resources to get educated, build robust cultural arts programs, or create innovative solutions to help their community. Using micro-financing, United Earth could target women who have a business idea but lack either the skills and/or the equipment to implement it. Courses can be made available in one of the other programs, and capital can be provided by micro-financing.

How are you handling the health aspect?

On health, we intend to provide better access to water for hospitals. Lack of access to clean and close water costs Uganda in productivity and leads to disease, lack of education, hunger, poverty, and death. United Earth uses technologies as varied as bikes that help to transport and filtrate water to water baskets that gather condensation to satellite images that show subterranean near-surface water for drilling wells. Kawolo hospital is an early candidate, but further work with the Ugandan government and hospitals will help to identify the best candidates who can utilize the UE technical insights based on population, infrastructure, and geo-location.

Meanwhile, on their music, the Ganda Boys have been nominated in the Independent Music Awards and can be voted for through this link http://fans.independentmusicawards.com/artists/ganda-boys/)

 

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Zari to Ivan Semwanga: I am sorry

By
Badru Kasadah
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SORRY: Socialite Zari Hussein apologised to ex boyfriend Ivan Semwanga

Zari’s husband, Tanzanian musician Diamond Platnumz came out yesterday and attacked the former’s ex, Ivan Semwanga.

He scoffed at the South Africa-based Ugandan socialite of bragging about what he can’t afford. One of his allegations was, Semwanga was stil renting and treating his kids to a bad life.

However, this had come to an end after he (Platnumz) bought a house in South Africa.

“They are busy bragging themselves that they are Rich while their kids (are) staying the in the Renting (rented) House… and now a person which they are daily abusing and saying that he’s broke & Poor Bought a House, so that their Kids can have a better life, as they always wish on Social Media….. ” he writes on social media.

But hours after the post, Zari was quick to apologise to her ex. This is after her efforts to make Diamond delete the post failed.

“I don’t think you believe I could tell him to post such nonsense knowing the kids will see it. When they called me this morning, I knew in fact I even thought they will call last night. The post wasn’t necessary and I told him to delete but he kept saying you (Semwanga) and King abused him etc. I said those things are old everyone has move on,” Zari pleads with Semwanga in one of the screenshots that the latter has shared with media.

“He even asks me why I am telling him to delete when I didn’t tell you guys to delete. I said that’s not the issue now. That’s in the past and the kids will hate you for the rest of their life…..What am trying to say am so sorry to you, to the boys and everyone I had nothing to do with this post. I would never allow such no sense knowing it’s going to affect my kids. NEVER. Am very sorry..deep you know me. I can’t side with this at all. Am so Sorry Ivan.”

 

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I will not pick medal – Matembe

By
Peter Etiang
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NO MEDAL: Political activist Miria Matembe says she will not pick her medal.

Outspoken political activist Miria Matembe has vowed not to pick her medal, one of those to be awarded to all Uganda’s MPs since Independence in 1962.

Dr Matembe, who was appearing on the NBS TV show the ‘Frontline’, said the awards are diversionary, and not going to be given in good faith.

‘I cannot be badly robbed and then easily appeased by a copper medal. I will not pick it,’ Matembe, who served for two terms as Woman MP for Mbarara, said.

Dr Matembe also served as Minister of Ethics between 1998 and 2003, but fell out with the National Resistance Movement (NRM) after the party’s MPs sought the removal of term limits to allow President Yoweri Museveni contest for the presidency.

Since then Dr Matembe has been a strong critic of the NRM, denouncing most of its policies at any opportune moment.

Others who fell out with Dr Matembe included among others former First Deputy Prime Minister Eriya Kategaya (RIP) and former Army Commander and current opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) President Major General John Gregory Mugisha Muntu.

 

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