President Museveni’s four-time challenger Kizza Besigye has Friday told an influential London think tank at Chatham House that his rival has been very reckless because he thought Uganda’s oil was about to flow.
Besigye is currently on bail on treason charges.
Returning to the United Kingdom for the second time in two weeks, Dr Besigye was impressive in his session chaired by Ben Shepherd, a Consulting Fellow, Africa Programme.
The opposition leader was making a case for a “better post-Museveni Uganda” and in his speech disclosed that that the exit strategy of Mr Museveni is not up to him but up to the people of Uganda.
“The exit strategy of Mr Museveni is not up to Mr Museveni. It’s up to the people of Uganda ,” Dr Besigye spent a better part of last week in the United States said adding, “Mr Museveni has been very reckless because he thought Uganda’s oil was about to flow, For us as the Forum for Democratic Change, the 2016 election is not yet over. We want an independent audit.”
“In Uganda, we participate in elections not because they are fair, but to empower our people but as the FDC party, our focus is to empower our youth to take back their power themselves,” Besigye told the group of about 120 that included policy makers, business representatives, diplomats, civil society representatives, media and other experts.
“If what I promise does not materialise, the people must have the right to say and get out working towards post-Museveni Uganda guaranteed with stability, inclusive and sustainable growth in the country,” he said.
“What we are doing in Uganda will serve as a template for others to regain their citizenship.
“No one can openly write a cheque to support our party, it’s very risky.
Basing on the argument that murder suspect Muhammad Ssebuwufu has a constitutional right to apply for bail since he is presumed innocent until proven otherwise and had no intention of absconding, High Court Judge Wilson Masalu Musene has this afternoon okayed his application.
Businessman Sebuwufu, the owner of Pine Car Bond on Lumumba Avenue in the leafy Nakasero outskirts of Kampala, is currently on remand at Luzira prisons, on charges of murdering businesswoman Betty Ronah Katushabe, after the deceased allegedly failed to pay him Shs9 million, the balance accrued from a car sale of Shs17 million.
His lawyer lead lawyer Peter Nsibambi asked court to use its discretion to grant him bail like it did for ASP Aaron Baguma, his co-accused and former Kampala Central Police Station commander who was released on bail by the same judge yesterday
He listed his sureties as Sheikh Nuhu Muzaata, a controversial Muslim cleric; Joseph Tamale Mirundi, the fiery former presidential secretary, and one Abdul Karim Kironde.
The state prosecutor Ms Jacqueline Okui had objected to the bail application, saying the accused did not present any exceptional circumstances to justify bail. She said the claimed ground of illness should be rejected because the medical forms from Luzira Prison, where Ssebuwufu is remanded, showed that his sickness can be managed by the prison.
An earlier attempt by Sebuwufu to get bail failed after his sureties were rejected by court.
However yesterday, High Court also granted bail to Superintendent of Police (SP) Baguma. The police officer recently turned himself in after court issued a warrant of arrest against him for ignoring summonses.
Judge Musene said Ssebuwufu had fulfilled all the conditions for bail application.
Baguma and Sebuwufu are being charged alongside six other suspects for the cold-blooded torture and murder of Ms Katushabe in October last year.
Dr Hilderman aka Henry Kiyagga of the Mazongoto fame.
“Am out of Golden today the 1/9/2016. I thank Golden Team for giving me the chance to work with u for this period of 2yrs and four months. It’s been a good learning experience working with you but I need to work towards my career development which I can’t execute perfectly with the group. I will always be loyal to you as I carry on my new transition,” singer Dr Hilderman wrote last week as he terminated his contract with Mesach Ssemakula’s band, Golden Band.
But upon getting the letter, KT Promotions, the managers of Golden Band, say it is ‘good riddance’ for they were not going to renew Dr Hilderman’s contract on expiry.
While speaking to Beat FM’s Omukunja, KT Promotions bosses said that they had signed a three year contract with the ‘Mazongoto’ hit maker and that the contract was etching, with just a year to end.
But Dr Hilderman, real names Henry Kiyagga, couldn’t wait for the remaining year, after he even claimed he made ‘a wrong decision’ to join the Golden Band because his brand had begun declining.
“Finally back to thinking and creating with an independent mind. Its been a busy week but thanx for yo support and encouragement and trust me am not gonna disappoint you,” he thanked his fans Friday.
PHILANTHROPHY: Bobi Wine is contributing towards the Uganda Cranes AFCON campaign in Gabon next year.
With just a few days left to the premiere of ‘Queen of Katwe’, a Disney drama film acted in Uganda and South Africa, billboards advertising the film are already standing tall in Hollywood, the home of theatre script acting.
But apart from being acted in Uganda and featuring some Ugandan actors, the movie also features Ugandan songs as soundtracks, and it turns out that all songs featured in the Queen of Katwe are the works of ‘Ghetto President’ Bobi Wine.
And on realising his songs are featured on the movie which will be distributed worldwide, Bobi Wine has taken to social media to chide his rivals.
“My song with Nubian Li called ‘Ndi munaUganda’ is the first song you will hear when the movie starts. It plays over the Disney logo (one of the few times that has ever happened). Am the only artiste to have a song featured on the Soundtrack that wasn’t in the film. (all songs on the sound track were in the film),” he writes on Facebook.
“Kwegamba my song ‘Kiwani’ was so good that it had to be included. Kale nno ba ‘International’ artistes bakuno, mbatumideko nti mujebale jemutuusako emimilo! Nsigade ndi ‘local artiste’ wabwe, Kyagulanyi. (Greetings to Uganda’s ‘international’ artistes. I remain your local artiste, Kyagulanyi.” He writes in what seemingly appears mockery of his rivals, Bebe Cool and Jose Chameleone.
CHIDED? Musician Bebe Cool
For a very long time Bebe Cool and Chameleone have referred to Bobi Wine as a ‘local artiste’ because his songs hardly get airplay on MTV Base.
CHESS PRODIGY: Phiona Mutesi
Queen of Katwe is an upcoming biographical sports drama film directed by Mira Nair from a screenplay by William Wheeler. Starring David Oyelowo, Lupita Nyong’o, and Madina Nalwanga; the film depicts the life of Phiona Mutesi, a Ugandan chess prodigy from katwe who becomes a Woman Candidate Master after her performances at World Chess Olympiads.
The film is set to premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 23. The European premiere is scheduled for October 9, (Uganda’s Independence Day) at the London Film Festival.
The African Premiere of the Queen of Katwe is set for October 1 in Uganda at Century Cinemax in Kampala. The whole of the cast will attend the premiere.
The High Court will this afternoon at 2pm rule on murder suspect Muhammad Sebuwufu’s bail application.
Businessman Sebuwufu, the owner of Pine Car Bond on Lumumba Avenue in the leafy Nakasero outskirts of Kampala, is currently on remand at Luzira prisons, on charges of murdering businesswoman Betty Ronah Katushabe, after the deceased allegedly failed to pay him Shs9 million, the balance accrued from a car sale of Shs17 million.
SURETY: Fiery former presidential spokesperson Tamale Mirundi
According to sources, Sebuwufu, who is charged alongside former Central Police Station (CPS) Commander Aaron Baguma, has listed his sureties as Sheikh Nuhu Muzaata, a controversial Muslim cleric; Joseph Tamale Mirundi, the fiery former presidential secretary, and one Abdul Karim Kironde.
An earlier attempt by Sebuwufu to get bail failed after his sureties were rejected by court.
However yesterday, High Court Judge Wilson Masalu Musene granted bail to Superintendent of Police (SP) Baguma. The police officer recently turned himself in after court issued a warrant of arrest against him for ignoring summonses.
Baguma and Sebuwufu are being charged alongside six other suspects for the cold-blooded torture and murder of Ms Katushabe in October last year.
APPOINTED: The new EAC Deputy secretary General Christophe Bazivamo of Rwanda..
Rwandan politician Christophe Bazivamo has been appointed the Deputy Secretary General of the East African Community, following recommendations of the 33rd EAC extra-ordinary Council of Ministers meeting.
The appointment of Bazivamo, a former minister in Rwanda, was made at 17 extra-ordinary meeting of the EAC Heads of State Summit held on September 8 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
( R-L) H.E Ali Mohamed Shein, President of Zanzibar; H. E. Hon. Aggrey Tisa Sabuni, Presidential Envoy of the Republic of South Sudan; H.E Paul Kagame of the Republic of Rwanda; Dr Antony Kafumbe, Counsel to the Community(EAC) and H.E Dr John Pombe Magufuli, President of the United Republic of Tanzania and Chair of the EAC Summit during the closed session.
The meeting was attended by among others Presidents Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, John Joseph Pombe Magufuli of Tanzania (host) and Paul Kagame of Rwanda. Others were Kenya’s Deputy President William Samoei Ruto; Ambassador Alain Nyamitwe, Burundi’s foreign minister, who represented President Pierre Nkurunziza, South Sudan Special Envoy Aggrey Tisa Sabuni, who represented President Salva Kiir Mayardit and, the President of Zanzibar Ali Mohamed Shein.
H.E Paul Kagame of the Republic of Rwanda, H. E. Hon. Aggrey Tisa Sabuni, Presidential Envoy of the Republic of South Sudan and H.E William Ruto, Deputy President The Republic of Kenya.
During the meeting the heads of state considered a report of the Council of ministers on the EAC Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), requesting that partner states be given three months to finalise clarifications of the EPA details. The Summit also urged Europe not to penalize Kenya, the only EAC partner state that had sanctioned the EPAs.
H.E Dr John Pombe Magufuli, President of the United Republic of Tanzania and Chair of the EAC Summit alongside the EAC Secretary General Amb Liberat Mfumukeko
The Summit also received a report form former Tanzania president Benjamin William Mkapa, who is also the facilitator of the inter-Burundi dialogue, and asked the Council of Ministers to avail funds for the dialogue.
EAC Heads of State and Ministers in charge of Foreign Affairs and EAC matters during the closed session. All photos courtesy of EAC.
The delegates also congratulated South Sudan on its admission to the EAC bloc.
Meanwhile, the East African Community trade bloc will delay signing a trade agreement with the European Union, originally set for Oct.1, Tanzanian President John Magufuli said on Thursday.
“We have given ourselves three months to discuss further the signing of the EPA agreement and we will meet in January 2017 over this issue,” Magufuli, who is also the East African Community chairman, said at a meeting of fellow heads of state in Dar es Salaam
“We appeal to the EU not to punish Kenya by denying it access to the European market,” he added.
Kenya stands to lose the most without the agreement. Other member states – including Tanzania, Burundi, Uganda – would continue getting duty- and quota-free access under EU’s Everything But Arms initiative, since they are classified as least developed countries.
Ugandan folk singer, songwriter and Afro-fusion multi-instrumentalist Giovanni Kremer Kiyingi, will be one of the acts to look out for during the hugely anticipated 14th Edition of Blankets and Wine at the Lugogo Cricket Oval on September 25.
Popular for his multi-instrumentalist skills, Kiyingi plays drums, guitar, harmonica, flute, local Ugandan fiddle (endigidi), conga, adungu, akogo (finger piano), djembe, maracas (rumba music shakers and the calabash.
Kiyingi has performed at major music festivals like the Bayimba International Festival, Pearl Rhythm Festival in Uganda; Santuri Safari Projects Kenyatta University Cultural Exchange, DOADOA, Utam Festival, Sondeka Festival in Kenya and at the Irimba Cultural Festival in Arusha, Tanzania.
Kiyingi has also performed alongside veteran artist Harry Lwanga, Kora Award winner Suzan Kerunen, folk artiste Joel Sebunjo, and also with bands like Ssarabi and Afrigo.
With two albums under his belt namely Essanyu Ly’omufilika (Joy of an African) and his latest Akondeere (Trumpets and Hones), Kiyingi is destined for fame.
“Performing on a platform like the 14th Edition of Blankets and Wine is an entirely different audience. So, I am putting in more studio time to perform my voice, and polishing up with my instrument selection so that my set can be as invigorating as it will be entertaining. Since I only recently dropped a new album (Akondeere) I will be able to maximize the huge numbers here to raise my flag even higher and gain more recognition,” Kiyingi remarked.
Mafikizolo, the multiple award-winning ensemble of South African singing duo Theo Kgosinkwe and Nhlanhla Nciza will be the lead act at this month’s edition.
Entrance fee is Ugshs100, 000 at the Lugogo Cricket Oval and gates open at12pm on Sunday, 25 September, 2016.
Belgium has rejected an appeal from the Burundian government to resume its aid to the country, which it suspended last October because of the political crisis.
Early this week Burundi Foreign Affairs Minister Alain Aimé Nyamitwe had urged Brussels to lift all sanctions against it, but in response on Wednesday Belgian Minister of Development Cooperation Alexander De Croo said that his government saw no reason to resume aid.
NO DIRECT BUDGET SUPPORT TO BURUNDI: Belgian foreign minister Dr Alexander De Croo
“The situation in Burundi has not yet positively progressed. Moreover, the Bujumbura regime rejected the United Nations Security Council appeal to deploy 250 police officers in the country and no true political dialogue has been launched yet,” De Croo said.
He also expressed concern about a continuing deterioration in Burundi’s security since April last year, when the crisis erupted after President Pierre Nkurunziza announced he was running for a third term, despite the two-term limit in the constitution.
De Croo said “there was neither free speech nor the right of meeting and association” in Burundi.
He added that the economic situation had also kept deteriorating and that the victims were the population, for which he blamed Nkurunziza and his regime.
“The president and his close authorities are greatly responsible for these events which cost hundreds of lives and forced others to flee the country,” he said.
“In such circumstances, we don’t see any reason to rescind our decision,” he concluded.
In October last year Belgium suspended its direct budget support to Burundi to pressure Nkurunziza’s government to negotiate with the opposition.
More than 500 hundred people are reported to have been killed and almost 300.000 to have fled to neighbouring countries since the crisis began.
Dancehall singer Richard Kasendwa aka Ziza Bafana has fired his manager, a one Rogers, accusing him of mismanaging funds.
According to Bafana, Roger books shows without his client’s consent. “He would pocket the without informing him and he hasn’t been turning up for most of the shows, only to be confronted by the other party when he fails to show up,” a source close to the two said.
The latest incident is said to have happened three weeks ago when
people who had paid Roger to book the singer threatened to sue.
The source said Roger calmed them down promising to refund their monies, though this cost his job.
Apparently, Ziza Bafana he has also fired the largest part of his crew.
