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Keep off court precincts, CJ Katurebe warns ‘Kayihura supporters’

By
Peter Etiang
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INAUGURATED JTI GOVERNING COUNCIL: Chief Justice Bart Katurebe

Chief Justice Bart Magunda Katurebe has warned some people claiming to be supporters of Inspector General of Police General Kale Kayihura, who have threatened to demonstrate at the Makindye magistrate’s court in favour of ‘their man’.

It is not clear what action CJ Katurebe will take this time round given that police just looked on last Wednesday as the rowdy mobs sieged court, but his warning comes in the wake of ‘Kayihura’s supporters’ led by a one Abdallah Kitatta vowing to raid the court again should the IGP appear there on August 29, the scheduled day of hearing.

In a related development the Minister of Internal Affairs General Abubaker Jeje Odongo has condemned the siege on the Makindye court where the IGP was supposed to appear but didn’t turn up prompting raging criticism of ‘impunity’ against Kayihura.

But speaking at the Media Centre earlier today, Gen Odongo said those criticizing the IGP just want to humiliate him.

“People are not criticizing IGP Kale Kayihura because he failed to go to court but they want to just humiliate him,” he told journalists.

General Kayihura is being privately prosecuted alongside seven other senior police officers for police brutality against civilians perceived to be supporters of opposition icon Dr Warren Kizza Besigye on July 12 and 13, following his release on bail from a two-month incarceration in Luzira prison, where he was being held on treason charges.

The Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has since taken over the case that was initiated by a group of 20 lawyers led by Abdallah Kiwanuka, himself a victim of police brutality.

However, the lawyers have expressed discontent with the DPP handling the matter, citing ‘conflict of interest’ and saying the DPP depends on police investigations to pursue criminal matters.

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EA region hit by communicable diseases outbreak

By
Our Reporter and Agencies
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UNOCHA East and Southern Africa representative Pete Manfield. Photo credit/youtube.com

The Eastern and Southern Africa region has been impacted by simultaneous disease outbreaks, including yellow fever, cholera and Acute Watery Diarrhea (AWD), measles, and chikungunya. On top of this, spikes in malaria cases are reported in Burundi, South Sudan and eastern DRC.

Of all the outbreaks, AWD and cholera are of biggest concern, and there are over 60,000 suspected cases in the region to date, with active transmission ongoing in Kenya, Tanzania, DRC, Zambia, Ethiopia and Somalia. And Yellow Fever also continues to be a continental threat, with Angola facing the largest outbreak in recent history with 3,552 suspected cases by May 30. In DRC, the Government declared an epidemic in three provinces with 1,339 suspected cases.

To contain the Yellow Fever outbreak, over 18 million vaccines have been delivered to date in Angola and DRC. A follow-up vaccination campaign targeting 6-7 million people on the border of Angola and DRC with full doses and 10 million people in Kinshasa with 1/5 doses is planned.

‘Although significant gains were made, vaccination campaigns need to be accelerated in places with high density or movement of people. Lack of funding and delays in the deployment of Portuguese speaking staff are hindering the scaling-up of the response. WHO has also warned that the global stockpile of vaccines may not be sufficient if simultaneous outbreaks hit densely populated areas,’ an August 15 release by the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Assistance (OCHA), in East and Southern Africa signed off by Pete Manfield, states in part.

Meanwhile, the Somali cluster is facing concurrent Chikungunya, Dengue Cholera/AWD and Measles outbreaks. The impact of these diseases is compounded by high multi-dimensional poverty, food insecurity and high malnutrition levels, displacement, conflict, lack of clean drinking water and weak social services.

The governments, together with humanitarian partners, have been able to significantly reduce the number of cases of Chikungunya and Cholera in recent weeks, with cases in Mandera decreasing from 70 to two and 129 to zero Chikungunya cases.

 

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South Sudan Parliament to debate UN troop deployment resolution

By
Agencies
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SANCTIONED: South Sudan information minister Michael Makuei. Photo credit/youtube.com

South Sudan’s government has decided to refer the UN Security Council resolution for the deployment of a strong regional protection force in the country to the cabinet and parliament for deliberation, according to the government’s spokesman.

This comes after an expanded consultative meeting chaired by President Salva Kiir in the presence of his two deputies in reaction to the UN decision to send 4,000 regional troops to Juba despite the government’s rejection.

Michael Makuei Lueth, Information Minister, announced that the consultative meeting resolved to refer the UN document to the cabinet and then to the parliament for further discussions.

“After lengthy deliberation on the document, it is clear that this document has some pros and cons” said Makuei. “And as such, it is decided that this process should be taken to the executive and then to the parliament so that it becomes a public and a clear stand and position taken by the whole government, “he added.

Makuei pointed out that the expanded consultative meeting was attended by ministers, deputy ministers, presidential advisers, chairpersons of commissions, and speakers of the two houses, as well as heads of the parliamentary committees.

 

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Al Shabab planning attacks in EA region – IGAD

By
Agencies
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IGAD Heads of State pose for a group photo after a meeting in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa.eyeradio.org

The Inter-governmental Authority on Development, IGAD, says the Somalia-based militant group al-Shabab is actively plotting attacks in countries throughout the region including Uganda.

According to IGAD, the militant group has expanded and formed special military wings dedicated to carrying out attacks in Kenya and even in Ethiopia.

In a 53-page report, titled ‘Al-Shabab as a Transnational Security Threat’, IGAD says that although al-Shabab’s main bases remain in Somalia, its ‘identity and aspirations’ have shifted and transformed the group into a ‘transnational organization’ with membership from across East Africa.

IGAD says the death of the group’s leader had ‘little effect’ on the group’s operations and its capability to attack.

IGAD says it was the former leader, Ahmed Abdi Godane, who formed two military wings: Jaysh Ayman, which is tasked to carry out attacks in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania and Jaysh al-Usra, created to carry out attacks in Ethiopia.

The existence of a unit dedicated to planning attacks in Ethiopia is relatively new, but IGAD says it has so far had little success. It says the group planned to attack a football (soccer) stadium during a World Cup qualifying match in Addis Ababa in 2013, but the plotters accidentally blew themselves up. A second plot to attack Ethiopia was also foiled by that country’s security forces.

IGAD urges regional countries to take ‘specific’ measures to counter the threat from al-Shabab inside Somalia and regionally.

The steps include sharing information, forming joint analytical teams and the formation of joint units to investigate al-Shabab-related threats. IGAD says information among governments has been erratic and is generally perceived to be inadequate’.

 

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Uganda’s Araptany tipped for Rio 2016 podium finish

By
Stephen Muneza
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Despite Team Uganda having one of the most horrible quests at the Games of the XXXI Olympiad, Jacob Araptany finishing in the 2nd position (8:21.53) in the men’s 3,000m steeplechase Heat 1 has raised hope.

Defending Olympic champion and favourite Ezekiel Kemboi ran his steeplechase heat in 8:25.51.

Come Wednesday at 5.50pm during the final, Araptany will run shoulder by shoulder with the domineering Kenyans who he led today most of the way as he clocked the second fastest time of the heats and a season best for him.

The top three automatically qualified for the final but Araptany’s colleague and Uganda’s best at steeplechase 27-year-old Benjamin Kiplagat clocked 8:30.76 in Heat 1 but wasn’t good enough to secure a backdoor ticket to the final as one of the six places for the best losers.

On Sunday, Joshua Cheptegei ran the perfect race to finish a creditable sixth in a personal best time of 27:10.06 unfortunately an inadvertent collision with eventual race winner Mo Farah caused his hip to twinge, but there was no denying his maturity and poise at the biggest stage of all.

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Ndejje University on the spot over MP Kahonda’s academic papers

By
Shawn Davis Kawalya
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Ruhinda North County MP, Kahonda, photo credit, NTV

Ndejje University is on the spot over the contested academic papers Ruhinda South constituency legislator Donozio Kahonda is reported to have obtained from there.

Kahonda, a retired Captain with the Uganda Peoples Defence Forces (UPDF) has been dragged to Luwero Magistrate’s court by a ‘concerned citizen’ on claims that the respondent has never obtained a degree from the said university.

Through Serwadda and Company Advocates, Mr. Godfrey Kiweewa dragged Kahonda to court saying that the retired army officer has never attained a degree in counselling as he stated.

It is alleged that Kahonda used the said degree to obtain a ‘professional allowance’ in the army where he worked in the counselling department. The plaintiff further alleges that Kahonda hasn’t referred or used the contested degree anywhere as part of his academic qualifications. Ndejje University will also have to give testimony as to whether indeed Kahonda attained the said degree.

On his part, Kahonda objected to the allegations and asked court to dismiss the case. However, court granted him a cash bond of Shs500, 000 and asked him to return next week for hearing of the case.

Contacted, Kahonda told EagleOnline that it was a witch hunt ‘like another ongoing case’ brought against him by his former employer, the army.

“You cannot try a case which is ongoing in another court (Jinja); it is unfair and it is all intended to curtail me from performing my duties,” Kahonda told this news Website on phone.

Meanwhile, the embattled MP has been slapped with additional charges of forgery and impersonation. This followed the prosecution adducing new evidence, which was presented in a Jinja court today.

And, appearing before court, the new charges were read to Mr. Kahonda, after which court set the date for the hearing.

TUSSLED IT OUT WITH KAHONDA: Former Ruhinda MP Kahinda Otafiire.
TUSSLED IT OUT WITH KAHONDA:
Former Ruhinda MP Kahinda Otafiire.

Kahonda first came to the limelight after defeating long-serving Ruhinda MP Maj. Gen. Kahinda Otafiire in the National Resistance Movement (NRM) primaries last year.

At the time Capt.(rtd) Kahonda was in jail on the first forgery and impersonation charges, but still managed a win against Maj. Gen. Otafiire, who is also the Justice and Constitutional Affairs minister.

 

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ADF accused of massacring 30 people in DRC

By
Agencies
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ADF leader Sheikh Jamil Mukulu. He is currently facing several charges including murder and terrorism.

More than thirty people have been killed in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in a massacre blamed by the government on Ugandan Islamist rebels attempting to provoke an insurrection.

Rebels from the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a rebel outfit formerly led by now-incarcerated Jamil Mukulu, killed 22 men and 14 women late Saturday on the outskirts of Beni, the governor of DRC’s restive North Kivu province Julien Paluku said in a statement.

The final death toll is yet to be established, however, with Beni mayor Edmond Masumbuko later saying that 42 people died in the attack.

The Congolese government regularly blames the ADF for attacks in and around Beni, where more than 600 people have died since 2014. The group was founded in Uganda but is now based in the Rwenzori mountains in the border region between North Kivu and its home country.

The ADF is thought to number just a few hundred fighters and had the original intention of overthrowing Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni and installing Sharia law in Uganda, although it has now become highly localized in its interests in DRC’s conflict-torn eastern region.

Local army spokesman Mak Hazukay said that the ADF had carried out Saturday’s attack in an attempt to turn civilians against the government. “The goal of the attack is to incite the population to rise up against us,” said Hazukay. Analysts from the Congo Research Group in New York have suggested that government soldiers have participated in attacks around Beni in recent years, a claim denied by the government.

DRC President Joseph Kabila had visited the region just days before the attack, pledging to improve peace and security in a region awash with rebel groups, mostly armed with machetes and hatchets. Government spokesman Lambert Mende said that three days of national mourning would begin Monday, with flags flying at half-mast, and that international assistance was required to deal with the “jihadist threat” in DRC.

The country, rich in minerals and natural resources, is due to hold national elections in November, after which Kabila is constitutionally mandated to step down.

 

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FDC vows to resist Museveni ‘partisan’ nominees to the IEC

By
Emmanuel Okello
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FDC TO RESIST MUSEVENI NOMINEES TO IEC: FDC spokesperson Semujju Nganda at the party headquarters in Najjanankumbi.

With just a few months to the expiry of tenure of the commissioners of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) has warned President Yoweri Museveni against appointing his cronies, hell bent at ensuring his consolidation in power.

According FDC spokesperson Ibrahim Semujju Nganda, the new there was need for an independent and impartial EC that is not answerable to the President “but is in place for the good of the country and its people.”

“It is high time Ugandans are given chance to participate in every electoral reform that is to take place in their country,” Semujju Nganda said while addressing a press conference at the FDC party headquarters in Najjanankumbi.

He emphasised that the public should be involved in the nomination of candidates and even the voting, giving an example of Kenya.

“This country is not Museveni’s that he can decide who is to lead the Electoral Commission,” said the FDC spokesperson, adding that Museveni has managed to manipulate all the electoral commissions that have existed from the time he assumed office in 1986.

“All these commissions have been able to let Museveni stay in power even after losing the elections,” Semujju Nganda said, before lashing out at the EC chairman Eng. Badru Kiggundu who, he said, was complicit in ensuring that Mr Museveni won the 2016 elections.

Electoral commission (EC) Chairperson , Badru Kiggundu
ACCUSED OF COMPLICITY IN ELECTION MALPRACTICES: Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) Chairperson , Badru Kiggundu.

“All that Badru Kiggundu has done is to let Museveni win the past elections, an act that infringes on the rights of the Ugandan people,” he said.

The FDC spokesperson also said there was urgent need for the amendment of a law to create an independent electoral commission. “The current EC is not independent at all and all Museveni did was he just brought an amendment to change the name of the electoral body to the ‘Independent Electoral Commission, which to him, was a change of the commission into an independent one,” he said.

He also attacked the EC, saying it had failed to comply with the electoral laws, resulting in the high number of MPs being thrown out of parliament.

“Non-compliance of the Electoral Commission towards the Constitution makes it not credible; it (EC) even verifies members with no qualifications and announces losers as winners,” Semujju said, adding that the FDC was holding a series of meetings to forge a way of countering Mr Museveni’s nomination process, ahead of the EC expiry of the commissioners’ mandate in November this year.

“There is an urgent need for the formation of an independent body to manage the electoral process of this country and with all these shortcomings, the FDC is warning the president against naming a commission that satisfies his needs,” Semujju Nganda said.

 

 

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War against cancer: New medical scheme to train 600 regional specialists

By
Our Reporter
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Nurses attending to a cancer patient at Mulago

Cancer has lately been claiming many of our people but this is set to change after a Medical Training and Fellowships Programme to train 600 cancer specialists in the next four years was unveiled recently.

Supported by the East African Development Bank (EADB) and the British Council in partnership with the Royal College of Physician of London, the training will boost the medical fraternity capacity in fighting non-communicable diseases in particular, cancer and neurological disorders in East Africa.

“The East African Development Bank (EADB) Medical Training and Fellowships Programme, managed by the British Council in partnership with the Royal College of Physicians (London), intends to train 600 East African physicians over a period of four years,” says Ms Vivienne Yeda, the Director General of the EADB.

The training comes at a time when the number of cancer cases worldwide is expected to surge by 75% during the next two decades according to WHO Cancer Research. Deaths from cancers have been on the increase in the East African region, with 50 Kenyans dying daily from various forms of cancer. The trend is the same across East Africa, with the main cause being associated with lack of treatment facilities and expertise for treatment, prevention and early detection.

Ms.Yeda added that the East Africa Community has for a long time failed to prevent and treat the cancer scourge because of lack of trained and skilled doctors. The ratio of doctor to population in the region is far below the UN standards. Through the East Africa Development Bank Medical Training and Fellowship Programme, we hope over the long term to equip doctors in district hospitals across East Africa with the skills to effectively and promptly diagnose cancer and neurological disorders and facilitate early interventions either at the point of contact or by referral for advanced medical care.”

She further said that the programme was an additional investment in the growing list of interventions by the bank to boost skill and capacity to key sectors of the East African economy. The Bank currently supports a scholarship programme for teachers in the US as well as capacity building programme for East African public sector lawyers in the extractive industries.

“The East African Community with a population of more than 135 million has great economic potential, but non-communicable diseases are a major threat to this regions quest to achieve socio-economic development,” said Ms. Yeda.

In the first 3 years of the project, the programme will conduct a series of East-Africa based residential 5-day training courses in neurology and oncology. These will be delivered by a mixed faculty from the UK and East Africa. They will be complemented by a two-year specialist academic and clinical training in the UK for a select number of high cadre doctors in these two disciplines.

The British Council Regional Director for Sub Saharan Africa, Mandy Johnson said the programme will create opportunities for doctors within the East African region who aspire to specialise in the medical disciplines of oncology and neurology. Their training will bring much needed skills to the communities they serve.

“We are pleased that the partnership with EADB and the Royal College of Physicians brings global expertise into the East African Region and will lead to a rich exchange of skills, expertise and experience. We hope that the programme will lead to better health for the people of East Africa,” Said Mandy Johnson, the British Council Regional Director for Sub Saharan Africa.

At the same time the CEO of the Royal College of Physicians Ian Bullock, added that the programme will aid in improving not only the skills of the doctors but also help in saving lives;

“I am extremely proud that we have this opportunity to use our expertise to support our colleagues in the East African region. This programme is an excellent example of the Royal College of Physician’s aim to improve care for patients and to develop physicians throughout their career by increasing access to high quality postgraduate training.”

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Breast Cancer Care initiative launched in Kenya

By
Agencies
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(L-R) Kenya First Lady Margaret Kenyatta, Markus Gemuen of Roche and Andre Mendoza
Kenya First Lady Margaret Kenyatta, the Kenya Ministry of Health and Roche Pharmaceuticals Limited have launched key activities that will facilitate access to improved care for patients with breast cancer in Kenya. The launch builds on the country’s 2015-2020 National Strategy for the Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases and represents a comprehensive approach to battling the disease.

The program also complements the campaign from the African First Ladies who are committed to expanding access to prevention and treatment services for women with breast cancer.

The public-private partnership’s planned activities include breast cancer awareness programs, improvements in screening and diagnostics, including the placement of a diagnostic instrument capable of advanced testing for seven types of cancer. Additionally, the collaboration will train five new oncologists and six oncology nurses, provide surgical oncology training, support the development of best practice national treatment guidelines and an increase the number of cancer treatment centers in Kenya.  Access to medicine will be made available to patients seeking treatment at public institutions with the government of Kenya and Roche jointly covering the costs. The aim of these measures is to improve access to timely and precise diagnostic services and tailored cancer treatment to make cancer therapy much more effective.

“Strong, healthy women are the foundation of families, of our country, and today in Kenya their health is threatened by a disease that we must catch early. Many women are being diagnosed with breast cancer too late and are dying needlessly when there are treatments available that give them a chance to fight this disease,” said First Lady Margaret Kenyatta. “This partnership between the Government of Kenya and Roche demonstrates that we all must play our part to ensure that our mothers, sisters and daughters have the opportunity to fight and win the war against breast cancer.”

Breast cancer remains the leading cause of cancer in women in Kenya with more 50 percent of the cases presenting in women below the age of 50. This places their families and the economy at a great disadvantage. Every year approximately 4,500 patients are diagnosed with the disease and 2,000 patients lose their lives to this disease.  This burden reflects an increasing trend in the number of women being diagnosed with the disease. Early diagnosis and treatment could greatly reduce the burden of breast cancer and improve treatment outcomes.

The Kenya agreement is part of Roche’s Africa Strategy which began in 2015 in seven countries: Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Côte d’Ivoire, Angola, Ethiopia and Gabon. Based on country needs and capabilities, Roche is implementing a wide selection of activities in collaboration with local partners, including healthcare system strengthening, such as local data generation and advocacy for healthcare prioritization; disease management support, such as awareness, advocacy campaigns and treatment guidelines; and education and market access solutions, including healthcare professional training, private health insurance with local companies and price-volume agreements with governments.

“We are honored to have First Lady Margaret Kenyatta here today to launch this important initiative for breast cancer patients and to demonstrate Kenya’s commitment to improving cancer care,” said Markus Gemuend, Head of Roche Sub-Saharan Africa Region. “With access to healthcare, women are empowered to build the futures they want for themselves and their families. This comprehensive agreement ensures that breast cancer patients in Kenya will have not only improved access to care and life-changing medicines, but also that the overall healthcare system is stronger to support all Kenyans battling cancer.”

 

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