This is Eddy Kenzo’s best period in life! From receiving a nod at the prestigious MTV Africa Music Awards (MAMAs) to one of his songs almost topping the charts in the US, he is doing it all.
Kenzo’s song, ‘Disco Disco’, is currently doing big on Voice of America’s music chart.
According to the latest chart released at the weekend, the song ranks at number 4 out of 5 at VoA’s 30 minute program, 54.
Kenzo is the first Ugandan musician to make it to the chart.
One of the oldest and most successful acting groups in the country, The Ebonies, returned to the country last week, after a two week stint in the United States of America.
However, the number that returned was less than the number that had left the country for the Uganda North America Association (UNAA) convention in Boston, US; six members of the group fizzled from their camp and have never been seen since then.
We have learnt that city lawyer, John Katende, who is the boss of the group, is not ready to make any more ‘losses’ and, according to the reliable source, he has told all members of the group to deposit their passports with him.
Apparently, since they have valid visas, he is afraid that some of the actors and actresses are planning to fly back to the US, where they are believed to have made several connections during their short stay in the land of endless opportunities.
However, the source says most new members have yielded to the directive but that some of the top guns in the group have refused to comply with the directive.
The Ebonies have been having shows from Friday to Sunday at their home; Theater La Bonita.
The Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) and the police are engaged in a supremacy battle of words, as the two groups vow to outdo each other following the announcement of the return of the party flag bearer Dr Kizza Besigye from a ‘working visit’ to Europe and the United States.
According to FDC stalwart Wafula Oguttu, the party is to hold two functions this fortnight, beginning with the welcome of Dr Besigye on Thursday, September 29 and then the holding of ‘Independence Day’ celebrations, beginning Friday, October 7.
But reacting to the announcements, police spokesperson Andrew Felix Kaweesi said the force will not allow anyone to act contrary to the law.
“We can’t allow anybody assemble along Entebbe highway to disrupt peace. Whoever continues with the alleged procession will not be allowed to see the light of the day,” Kaweesi warned early Monday.
“They should have requested for permission from police. But even then, we will not allow them hold a procession along the way considering what transpired some time back. Anybody who organises it should follow the law or else it is illegal and we shall stop it before it matures and prosecute whoever is involved,” Mr Kaweesi added.
Dr Besigye, who the FDC says won the February 2016 presidential elections, has been on a month-long ‘working visit’ to Europe and the United States.
And, addressing the media today, Mr Oguttu, said on Thursday morning the party members will receive Dr Besigye at Entebbe International Airport, and then lead him in a procession to his home in Kasangati.
He said that the procession, which was meant to converge at the FDC headquarters in Najjanankumbi had been switched to Dr Besigye’s Kasangati home to pave the way for the party members to pay last respects to the father of MP Odonga Otto, whose burial will also take place on Thursday.
“It is not illegal to welcome back our president from the airport; this is a normal gesture different people conduct; the Muslim pilgrims are usually welcomed back by relatives and friends from the same venue so what we are intending to conduct is a common practice,” Wafula Oguttu said, emphasising that the FDC Deputy Secretary General Harold Kaija had already written to police about the impending party activities.
“As far as we are concerned our role is to inform the police so that they can assist in traffic control but we are not requesting for their permission,” he added.
Mr Oguttu also said the party would hold parallel Independence Day celebrations, beginning with Jumah prayers at Bweyogerere Mosque on Friday, followed by a public rally on the ‘state of Uganda’ today. Other scheduled activities include holding another public rally in Kawempe on Saturday, followed by the FDC Independence Day celebrations on Sunday, October 9 at Katwe grounds.
Meanwhile, the FDC leadership has scoffed at the move by the Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga to honour Dr Besigye and his wife Winnie Byanyima as heroes.
According to the party, the award of medals to the two is a diversionary stunt aimed at shrouding their party’s victory in the presidential elections.
“Instead of the NRM honouring the FDC presidential elections victory they want to hoodwink us with a heroic stunt which we cannot accept,” Mr Oguttu said.
He added: “We would therefore appreciate it if they honoured people like Namaganda, the pupil who passed on while saving her fellow pupils when a fire gutted their dormitory.”
Uganda Police has been applauded by the public for successfully foiling the gay pride matches on Saturday.
Following the news that the festivities had been blocked, Ugandans took to social media to applaud the law enforcing body in the country.
Ssempanyi Dominic: You can’t advocate for that in this century may be four centuries from now. Otherwise sober up Ugandans can’t support the cause. SOBER UP DR.
Okello Ojok: We all know the Ugandan Law on this issue for those who are defiant please travel around the world and find a suitable country and settle.
Josh Trevor Mendre: I appreciate the work done by Uganda police. To hell with Gays and lesbians.
Juma Faaza Setenda: Taking them to police is wrong, the brothers and sisters should be headed to Butabiika. That is where pastors will begin from.
Nakimera Berna Makuza: It is by law for a police officer to arrest anyone if he/she suspects that person is about to commit an offence!
The law in Uganda forbids homosexuality and the State Minister of Ethics and Integrity, Fr. Simon Lokodo had come out early this week and warned whoever was planning to hold such festivities in Uganda.
“The promotion of these festivities, which would purportedly culminate in a “Gay Pride match” on Saturday September 24, 2016, is criminal and illegal as they have not been cleared by the Uganda Police Force, and are against the laws of the Republic of Uganda; specifically the Penal Code, which is built on precedents, set in many other countries,” Lokodo warned.
However, the organisers refused to heed to the warnings and went ahead with the festivities, attracting police to swing into action to enforce the law.
Officials stopped organisers from staging the parade at two locations; Entebbe Resort and in Wakiso.
The Penal Code Act of 1950 (Chapter 120) (as amended). Section 145. Unnatural offences. States that; “Any person who” – (a) has carnal knowledge of any person against the order of nature; (b) has carnal knowledge of an animal; or (c) permits a male person to have carnal knowledge of him or her against the order of nature, commits an offence and is liable to imprisonment for life.”
VIMN Africa and MTV Base (DStv channel 322) have revealed that Diamond, Emtee, Kwesta and Patoranking are to join the glittering ranks of performers at the MTV Africa Music Awards Johannesburg 2016.
Diamond, Emtee, Kwesta and Patoranking join previously announced performers Alikiba, Babes Wodumo, Cassper Nyovest, Nasty C, Ycee and Yemi Alade on the giant purpose-built MAMA stage at the Ticketpro Dome, 22 October 2016.
Last year’s Best New Act winner, Patoranking, is again in contention for the 2016 awards – nominated this year for Best Male, where he goes head-to-head against last year’s winner, Tanzanian Bongo Flava star, Diamond. Patoranking also scored a second nomination in the 2016 awards for Best Collaboration for ‘No Kissing’ feat. Sarkodie. After a standout year, Emtee received his first MAMA nod this year in the hotly contested Best Hip Hop category, while ‘Ngud’ star Kwesta still has to learn if he’s scored a nod in MAMA 2016.
Highlighting the ‘gold standard’ in contemporary music, creativity and achievement, The MTV Africa Music Awards Johannesburg 2016 promises to be the biggest and best ever, with more than 15,000 music lovers expected to party up a storm at the Ticketpro Dome for this spectacular showcase.
The definitive annual celebration of African and international talent and achievement, MAMA 2016 recognises and rewards musicians and achievers who have made the most impact on African music and youth culture over the previous year.
The ceremony will feature stunning performances from African and international artistes along with the show’s signature cross-genre and cross-border collaborations.
MAMA 2016 will celebrate African talent across 18 award categories, including Best Male, Best Female, Listener’s Choice and Best Group. The contribution of artistes from Portuguese and French-speaking Africa is recognised in the Best Lusophone and Best Francophone categories. Additional categories include the Africa Re-Imagined Award and Personality of the Year.
“When one door closes another opens,” Scottish-born American inventor, Alexander Graham Bell said.
So when the door was closed to former NTV ‘Be My Date’ presenter Anita Fabiola, another door opened. It actually turns out that the one which opened is even wider.
We have established that Fabiola and Africa’s ‘Best Selling African Artist’ D’Banj are on course to formalise their relationship; the couple which has been dating for close to two years is finally engaged.
Though details of their engagement are not yet out, Fabiola took to Snap chat to show off her sparkling diamond ring which was dressed to her finger by the Nigerian entertainer.
“My D….. he put a ring on it,” she captioned one of the photos.
“I said yes,” she captioned another.
D’banj and Fabiola have been secretly dating and its is said the ‘Oliver Twist’ hitmaker is the person who has sponsored her trips to red carpet parties around the world including this year’s BET party.
D’banj also threw a lavish birthday party for Fabiola this year.
China has donated US$200,000 to the East African Community Secretariat as part of support to the ongoing Inter-Burundi Dialogue, whose mediator is Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni.
Making the announcement at the EAC Headquarters in Arusha, Mr. Gou Haodong, the Minister-Counsellor at the Chinese Embassy in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania reaffirmed China’s commitment to the success of the Burundi peace process.
Mr. Haodong hailed the EAC for playing a leading role in facilitating the talks, adding that China would continue to support the talks until Burundi realized a genuine and lasting peace.
Mr. Philip Wambugu, the Director of Infrastructure at the Secretariat, who received the donation on behalf of the EAC Secretary General, thanked China for its generous contributions which he said have kept the talks going.
Mr. Wambugu said the Summit had at its 17th Extra-Ordinary Meeting held in State House Dar es Salaam on 8th September, 2016 directed the EAC Secretariat to continue mobilizing resources for the purpose of supporting the peace talks.
Also present at the talks were First Secretary at the Chinese Embassy, Mr. Xia Riu Jiu, and Dr. James Njagu, the Chef de Cabinet to the Secretary General.
The Inter-Burundi Dialogue is being facilitated by retired Tanzanian President Benjamin William Mkapa who was appointed by the EAC Heads of State Summit at their 17th Ordinary Meeting held at the Ngurdoto Mountain Lodge, Arusha, Tanzania.
South Sudan’s former minister of agriculture minister, Lam Akol, has formed a new rebel faction that he said, will work closely with the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM-IO) under the leadership of the former First Vice President, Riek Machar.
Akol, according to a statement issued over the weekend, has named the new rebel group as National Democratic Movement (NDM) and said that his aim is to overthrow by all means the government of South Sudan under the leadership of President Salva Kiir.
“The National Democratic Movement was born to wage the struggle, together with others in the field, against the totalitarian, corrupt and ethnocentric regime in Juba that is bent on dragging our country into the abyss,” the statement reads in part.
Akol, who previously chaired the Democratic Change Party (DCP) said he resigned and left the party last month because the members and the other leaders of the DCP believed in peaceful dialogue and non-violence as the only means to bring about change in South Sudan.
He described his new rebel faction as a front bringing together the social and democratic political forces as well as civil society activists, who want the political discourse in the country to be centred on the ‘transformation of the centuries-old conditions of extreme poverty, ignorance, illiteracy and cultural backwardness of the masses of our people’.
The movement, it explained, is founded on the principles and concept of national democratic revolution based on the core values of freedom, equality, justice and fraternity, and solidarity anchored in historical and philosophical perspectives. These values, it stressed, translate into fundamental rights and freedoms as provided for in the UN Conventions of civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights.
The political statement of the NDM set out in details what the NDM stands for and how to rid the people of the totalitarian ethnocentric regime in Juba and replace it with a pro-people inclusive government.
“It must be clear from the outset, the NDM is not just for change of personalities in Juba to replace them with others of the same feathers; it is out for a radical change in the country that will bring about genuine state-building and nation-building,” it emphasized.
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.
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.
