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Kool & the Gang curtain raisers named: Myko Ouma and Isaiah Katumwa make it to the list

By
Badru Kasadah
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Top Ugandan artistes have been selected to curtain raise at the upcoming Kool & the Gang concert in Kampala on November 12.

Jazz sensation and saxophonist Isaiah Katumwa, guitar maestro Myko Ouma and Hip Hop and R&B group Swahili Nation, have been selected to perform at the Kool & The Gang concert.

Organised by Talent Africa and Silk Events, the concert will be a 70’s themed dress code event at the Kololo Ceremonial Grounds, in what has been tagged the biggest disco themed production in Uganda’s history.

Isaiah Katumwa, who is no stranger to performing alongside big name artistes, will be looking to lighten up the disco with his saxophone blares. Being one of the engines behind the continued establishment of Jazz music as one of the leading genres in Uganda, he will be playing to thousands of Jazz lovers at the concert.

JAZZ SENSATION: Myko Ouma
JAZZ SENSATION: Myko Ouma

Myko Ouma is the other big name artiste who will be bringing his Jazz skills coupled with a touch of contemporary world music to the concert. “It will be a great moment for me. I grew up listening to Kool & The Gang and curtain raising for them is something that was beyond my imagination,” he said.

Sweden-based R&B and Hip hop music group, Swahili Nation, are also set to perform at the concert. The group boasts of songs like ‘Malaika’, ‘Nyama’, and ‘Hakuna Matata’ which have earned the group a Channel O Music Awards nomination.

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Ban ki Moon weighs in on DRC election postponement

By
Agencies
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UN Secretary General Ban ki Moon

The UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday voiced hope that a political deal reached in the Democratic Republic of Congo to delay an election until 2018 will help improve human rights and lead to a credible vote.

The main opposition has rejected the deal signed on Tuesday that would keep President Joseph Kabila in power until the election in April 2018.

Kabila was due to step down at the end of 2016 to make way for the vote this year.

Ban ‘takes note’ of the accord and “hopes that the implementation of the agreement will contribute to a more conducive climate for the respect of fundamental rights and freedoms essential to political debate and credible elections,” the UN statement said.

The UN chief urged the government to continue confidence-building measures with the opposition, particularly the release of political prisoners and respect for the right to peaceful assembly.

Anti-Kabila demonstrations in Kinshasa last month turned violent, killing at least 49 people.

Ban called on “political groups who were not part of the national dialogue to seek to resolve their differences peacefully.”

He stressed the “crucial importance of peaceful and credible elections for the stabilisation and consolidation of constitutional democracy in the DRC.”

One of Africa’s biggest and most resource-rich countries, the DRC has been ruled by Kabila since 2001, when his father Laurent was assassinated.

He was elected in 2006 to his first five-year term under a constitution that sets a two-term limit for presidents.

An opposition call for a protest strike on Wednesday was heeded in Kinshasa, where most shops were closed, but the appeal was ignored in the second city of Lubumbashi and Bukavu.

The United Nations is moving hundreds of peacekeepers from the east of the country to Kinshasa to help deal with a possible outbreak of violence, the UN officials said.

 

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Nakawa MP Kabaziguruka granted bail

By
Francisco Adongo
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GRANTED BAIL: Nakawa MP Kabaziguruka

The Nakawa Member of Parliament Michael Kabaziguruka has been granted bail by the High Court presided over by Justice Yasin Nyanzi.

MP Kabaziguruka has been on remand, held at both Kigo and Luzira prisons, for about 6 months, charged with treason.

A Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) stalwart, Kabaziguruka defeated Fred Ruhindi of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) in the February 18 general elections, but only managed to make the maiden appearance and swore in before he was arrested.

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BoU takes over Crane Bank management

By
Francisco Adongo
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SOLD: The former Crane Bank headquarters on Kampala Road.

The Bank of Uganda has taken over the management of Crane Bank with immediate effect.

The development follows about a month of back and forth communications regarding its financial stability.

But the final verdict is contained in a communication signed by BOU Governor Prof Emmanuel Tumusiime Mutebile, suspending and instructing the Acting Managing Director to hand over office to the BOU Statutory Manager Edward Katimbo Mugwanya.

‘This is to inform you that the Bank of Uganda has, with effect from today, 20th October 2016, pursuant to Sections 87(3), 88(1a) and (b) of the Financial Institutions Act 2004, taken over management of Crane Bank Ltd,’ Prof Mutebile wrote.

BoU has also suspended the Board of Directors.

Police deploy at Crane Bank Head Office on Kampala Road.
Police deploy at Crane Bank Head Office on Kampala Road.

Last week reports on social media platforms urged depositors to withdraw their money from Crane Bank, with those posting the messages claiming they were tipped by an insider in Bank of Uganda.

DEPLOYED: Policemen stand guard outside Crane Bank.
DEPLOYED: Policemen stand guard outside Crane Bank.

However, the Central Bank distanced itself from the claim, saying the ‘harmful’ messages where not issued by the financial institutions’ regulator. At the time Crane Bank also dismissed the statements as harmful propaganda that was intended to misguide and cause panic among its customers.
“Our customer’s deposits are safe and there should be cause to worry. We are well capitalized and there is no reason why we should wait. We have served Uganda for 21 years why now,” the source said, customers to wait for an official communication.

Crane Bank boss Sudhir Ruparelia
Crane Bank boss Sudhir Ruparelia

One of the few indigenous banks, Crane Bank is majorly owned by Sudhir Ruparelia, Uganda’s richest man.

Founded in 1995, Crane Bank, now in its 21st year of operations, had grown to become one of Uganda’s largest locally-owned commercial banks; the 4th largest in terms of assets and 5th in terms of deposits.

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Winnie Byanyima most viable candidate for the presidency – Kyalya

By
Badru Kasadah
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Oxfam Executive Director Dr Winnie Byanyima

Maureen Kyalya, the only female candidate in the February 2016 presidential elections, has urged the Oxfam International Executive Director, Winnie Byanyima, to vie for the highest office in the country.

Kyalya, who was reacting to Byanyima’s honorary doctorate degree awarded by the University of Manchester, said that Byanyima, the wife of Uganda’s leading opposition figure Dr Warren Kizza Besigye, has all what it takes to be President of Uganda.

“The president we lost. Nothing she can ever do will make up for the void in Uganda leadership. Charity begins at home. On an FDC ticket, coupled with the mothers’ sympathy vote; Byanyima has 100% chances of becoming the first female president of Uganda in one single attempt,” Kyalya writes on social media.

“Any patriot would have worked this out. Ugandans Love Winnie Byanyima; Ugandans Pity Kizza Besigye; Ugandans Fear #YKMuseveni. Challenge me if I am wrong with valid reasons,” she adds.

However, she says that endorsing Dr Besigye’s wife, one of her opponents in the last elections, doesn’t mean that she has given up on her dream of becoming the first female president of Uganda.

“My dear I have not given up any dreams. I have only pointed out to FDC that they have gold at their disposal that they are not utilising. Of course according to me Byanyima is harder to win in an election than Besigye. If they bring her then I am doomed. But if they do not then one more defeat for Besigye and he will become too weak that even a fresher student at Makerere would beat him in the polls,” she brags.

Byanyima was yesterday awarded an honorary degree by University of Manchester as part of its Foundation Day celebrations.

A politician and global public servant, Byanyima was one time the Member of Parliament for Mbarara Municipality, and also worked at the Africa Union and United Nations before being appointed Executive Director of Oxfam.

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South Sudan peace agreement alive – Mogae

By
Agencies
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PEACE AGREEMENT AIVE: South Sudan JMEC Chairman Festus Mogae

The Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC), the body overseeing implementation of the shaky South Sudan’s peace agreement signed in August last year insisted that the peace deal is still ‘alive’ and warned against suggestion that it has collapsed, although it has been ‘compromised’ and ‘derailed’ by the July’s renewal of violence in the country.

JMEC chairman and former President of Botswana, Festus Mogae, told a meeting in Juba that an inclusive Transitional Government of National Unity (TGoNU) is needed and urged for accommodating of political rivals of Juba government.

“The [August] 2015 Peace Agreement, which I hold here in my hand, is still alive. No one Party can unilaterally dissolve or renegotiate this Agreement,” said Mogae, speaking to JMEC meeting attended by government officials, peace guarantors and the media.

Eruption of fighting in Juba in July that forced SPLM in Opposition (SPLM-IO) leader and then First Vice President, Riek Machar, to flee Juba threatened the implementation of the peace agreement.

The SPLM-IO faction in Juba selected Taban Deng Gai to replace Machar, a move Machar has denounced as “illegal.” The former first vice president, who is now in South Africa for medical check-ups declared the agreement “dead” and pledged to revive it through another political process or using all means – including armed resistance against what he calls “fascist” regime of President Salva Kiir.

President Kiir, on the other hand, has warned Machar against returning to South Sudan’s politics, claiming that his working relationship with the new first vice president, Gai, will restore peace.

JMEC chairman said “we do not make peace with our friends; we reconcile with those with whom we disagree” without referring to President Kiir.

“For the Peace Agreement to have legitimacy, it must be inclusive and representative and I am concerned that, whereas we welcome the commitment demonstrated by the TGoNU, regional guarantors and the international community to the continued implementation of the ARCSS, it is clear that not all Parties are currently included or fully represented,” he noted.

He acknowledged that the implementation of the peace agreement is “undoubtedly compromised and partially derailed” but remain optimistic for the future.

Mogae demanded end to violations of the permanent ceasefire and condemned both the government and the SPLM-IO forces for ‘hostility’.

“We are reporting an increase in offensive operations by both Government Forces and Opposition Forces, specifically in and around Yei, Leer, Jezeera and Nassir. The situation in Equatoria states is of particular concern, where we are deeply concerned about the unacceptable targeting of civilians,” he added.

He also encouraged the government to expedite the deployment of Regional Protection Force to Juba as authorized by the UN Security Council in August this year. He said the force “remains a prerequisite for a secure, peaceful and stable environment within which political inclusion can be pursued.”

 

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ICC perturbed by Burundi withdrawal

By
Agencies
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JUSTICE: ICC President Sidiki Kaba

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has expressed concerns over the decision by Burundi to withdraw from the court.

In a terse statement ICC president Sidiki Kaba said the withdrawal is representative of impunity.

‘The withdrawal from the Statute by a State Party would represent a setback in the fight against impunity and the efforts towards the objective of universality of the Statute’, Mr Kaba said.

He implored the Burundian authorities to engage in dialogue with the ICC over any concerns they had with the court’s operation.

“I remind that all States Parties have the opportunity to share their concerns before the Assembly of States Parties in accordance with the Statute and invite the Burundian authorities to engage in a dialogue.”

The Burundian parliament last week through a landslide vote accented to the decision by the government to leave the ICC. The government presented a draft law asking to withdraw from the ICC because “We found that it was necessary to withdraw from that organization so we can really be free,” First Vice President Gaston Sindimwo said.

The ICC had announced that it will investigate the April 2015 violence that resulted in the death of at least 450 people with thousands fleeing the country.

The United Nations (UN) also released a report in September accusing the Burundian government of carrying out human rights abuses. Consequently, the government threw out three UN rights investigators and severed cooperation with the UN rights body.

The government also accused the UN of bias and called the investigators politically motivated. Hundreds of protesters later marched along the streets of Burundi’s capital Bujumbura denouncing the UN report.

European nations and the United States have led efforts to put pressure on the country with aid cuts. The EU advised that it will resume funding if the government frees up the media, deals with rights abuses and launches genuine peace talks.

Violence in the country erupted after President Pierre Nkurunziza announced a third term bid, he eventually won in elections that were criticised by the opposition, they described it as unconstitutional.

 

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Bemba convicted for witness bribery by ICC

By
Agencies
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CONVICTED FOR BRIBERY: Former DRC Vice President Jean Pierre Bemba.

Former Congolese Vice President Jean-Pierre Bemba has been found guilty by the International Criminal Court (ICC) of bribing witnesses.

Bemba was found guilty earlier this year of war crimes and crimes against humanity, and jailed for 18 years.

Today, he was convicted of corruptly influencing witnesses and falsifying evidence in that trial. Four close aides were also found guilty.

It is the first such corruption trial in the history of the ICC in The Hague.

The court heard that Bemba and his co-defendants had tried to corrupt 14 key witnesses in the original trial by bribing them with money and laptops.

Delivering the verdict, Judge Bertram Schmitt said the case was ‘about clear, and downright criminal behaviour of the five accused… that resulted in serious offences against the administration of justice’.

“No legal system in the world can accept the bribing of witnesses, the inducement of witnesses to lie or the coaching of witnesses. Today’s judgement sends a clear message that the court is not willing to allow its proceedings to be hampered or destroyed,” he said.

Also found guilty were Bemba’s lawyer Aime Kilolo; his legal case manager Jean-Jacques Mangenda; Congolese politician Fidele Babala; and Narcisse Arido, who had been a witness for the defence.

Bemba was convicted in March of crimes committed in the neighbouring Central African Republic (CAR) in 2002-2003. He was accused of failing to stop his rebel forces from killing and raping people.

Bemba was jailed in June and is appealing against his conviction.

In the latest case, prosecutors had said evidence including telephone recordings, records of money transfers, emails and texts showed Bemba and his aides had tried to pervert the course of justice.

The defence, however, argued that the telephone recordings had been misinterpreted.

 

 

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Faridah Nakazibwe: Kigongo was just using me to get back at his wife

By
Badru Kasadah
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SAFE? Mr and Mrs Omar Ssali pose for a photo in Dubai after their wedding. Mrs Ssali is the NTV Mwasuze Mutya programme host, formerly called Faridah Nakazibwe, who now claims she is being taunted by her ex lover Hajji Moses Kigongo.

NTV news anchor and presenter, Faridah Nakazibwe last week got married to Dr Omar Ssali in a wedding ceremony that took place in Dubai.

This could have been the best day of her life but it could as well have marked the beginning of her husband’s suffering.

ACCUSED: Hajji Moses Kigongo has been accused by ex lover Faridah Nakazibwe for 'messing' up her newfound life with Dr Omar Ssali.
ACCUSED: Hajji Moses Kigongo has been accused by ex lover Faridah Nakazibwe for ‘messing’ up her newfound life with Dr Omar Ssali.

According to Nakazibwe, her ex lover Hajji Moses Kigongo, the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) chairman, has been calling and threatening Ssali.

“The tension and threats intensified as we drew closer to our kwanjula. We were being trailed daily and on two occasions, Omar was attacked and beaten up by goons. We have three files at police for harassment and we are yet to get help. Elders tried to intervene but the big Hajji only said I belong to him. To avoid eventualities, both our families agreed to halt the traditional wedding,” she says in a statement.

“That is how we opted for a Nikah out of town, to cut the attention and tension. The Nikah [in Dubai] was conducted by Sheikh Muhammad Luggya, the Imam of Hamad bin Sultan masjid in Al Hamriyah. I was shocked to learn three days later from the presiding Sheikh that someone from Uganda called, blaming him for wedding a married woman.”

She challenges Hajji Kigongo, through pictorial evidence or any document, to prove that she is married to him.

“It has been a long fight we have kept under wraps, hoping that Hajji will move on since he is married, like it is alleged. I do not regret involving myself with such a person; I choose to treat it as a mistake from which I have picked a lesson or two. [Hajji Kigongo], please leave me alone. I do not owe you anything; even the back of your head knows it.”

Nakazibwe further says that when the two met, she listened to him because he sounded mature.

“I gave him the benefit of doubt, hoping that it would work out. Eventually, I realised that he wanted a wife but was reluctant to marry [one]. I also realised he wanted to use me to get back at his estranged wife [Uganda National Chamber of Commerce boss, Olive Kigongo] and my leaving him meant embarrassment on his part,” she writes.

Apparently, that is why she walked out of the relationship in which she had been for six months. Consequently, she hooked Omar around the same time.

“I did not want to push on because I realised it was a big shoe I innocently tried to fit in. I gladly handed over his only property I had – a Land Cruiser Prado UAV 305K. I dare Hajji Kigongo to sincerely come out and prove to the world that he gave me anything else like a house or huge sums of money like it is alleged. I dare him. For, a man who chases the mother of his kids out of a house to bring in another; a man who asks back a gift surely cannot give out much generously. That I can say again,” Nakazibwe laments.

By press time it was not possible to get comment from Hajji Kigongo.

 

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NTV to air scrapped shows

By
Agencies
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IN PANIC MODE? NTV MD Aggie Konde

With the increasing number of local TV stations, NTV, though still at the top, it has lost a reasonable share of its audience to some of its rivals.
Its Ugandan managers have now started feeling the pressure from the station’s head offices in Nairobi and plan to reinvigorate some of the old shows that were popular with the Ugandan audience.
A reliable source told EagleOnline that NTV Uganda management is to revive most of their former catchy programmes including Men, Theatre Plays (Barbed Wire), Life Stories and Kitchen Delight that had been scrapped during current Managing Director Aggie Konde’s tenure.

Efforts to contact management were futile by press time.
According to a recent GeoPoll report, NTV is the top TV station in Uganda in Q1 2016, with an average rating of 5.6. This is slightly lower than their average rating of 6.0 in Q4 2015.
Bukedde remained the number 2 station, and improved upon their rating from Q4 2015 by 0.1. NBS stayed in the top 3 but also went down in ratings, from 2.3 in Q4 2015 to 1.9 in Q1 2016. UBC, Urban, Bukkede1, and WBS are the other top-rated stations nationally.

 

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