The petition was filed by FDC’s Isaiah Sasaga, who lost in the February 18 election
Budadiri East MP Vincent Woboya of the ruling National Resistence Movement (NRM) has been ejected from Parliament.
He becomes the third newly elected NRM legislator to be kicked out of the August House in less than a fortnight after Busiro South MP Peter Ssematimba and Isaac Mulindwa Ssozi of Lugazi Municipality.
The High Court in Mbale found out that Hon. Woboya had failed to prove to court that he retired legally from Office of the Prime Minister to be nominated.
The petitioner, FDC’s Isaiah Sasaga, who lost in the February 18 election, ran to court arguing that Woboya’s failure to retire in accordance with the law.
While delivering the judgment, Justice Bashaija said although documents tendered in court indicate that Woboya retired on 10 May 2015, he continued receiving a salary up to December.
He also received over Sh50m million in June from OPM for dissemination of disaster management information in Kween, Sironko and Bulambuli districts.
Oscar Pistorius walked in court without his prosthetics today to demonstrate his ‘vulnerability’ in a final plea for leniency.
The disgraced athlete crossed the courtroom on his stumps in a bid to show the judge he was too vulnerable to have killed his girlfriend intentionally.
Oscar Pistorius’s defence attorney, Barry Roux SC, had his client take his prosthetics off and walk for the court.
‘He is still portrayed as this person winning gold medals – a strong ambitious person,’ he said.
‘It was not a man who won gold medals that should be judged‚ but a man on stumps. A different picture would unfold.’
On the third day of Pistorius’s sentencing hearing, the court also heard the cousin of Reeva Steenkamp, who was murdered by Pistorius, say she does not believe the model ever loved the athlete.
Kim Martin told the High Court in Pretoria that she and her family have been struggling to cope since the death of Reeva, who was shot and killed by Oscar Pistorius on Valentine’s Day in 2013.
All we ever wanted is the truth,’ she said.
‘I know people said you got the truth, but we didn’t. Oscar’s version changed so many times.
She added: ‘I was very close to Reeva… I asked her: “Are you happy?” And she said to me, after shrugging her shoulders: “We’ll speak later”.
Court in Kampala ruled that Uganda’s main opposition leader Kizza Besigye’s treason case be heard in Nakawa, not Luzira Prison as State had requested.
Nakawa Court Chief Magistrate Ereemye overruled state’s request to have Besigye’s case heard from Luzira prison days after they failed to produce Dr Besigye in Nakawa Chief Magistrate’s Court claiming that his appearance posed a security threat.
The Magistrate ruled that Dr Besigye must always appear in the Nakawa court where he was arraigned adjourned the case to today (June 15) when he would pronounce himself on prosecution’s application.
Dr Besigye had arrived at Nakawa Court on Wednesday at 8:30 am amid tight security. All roads leading to Nakawa Court were sealed off and there was also heavy traffic jam along Old Port Bell Road which leads to Luzira Prisons.
Besigye fears for his life
There was silence in the court room as Besigye made an emotional submission before the magistrate.
He gave a narrative of how when he was held in Moroto Prison, Dr Besigye feared for his life there because the doors to his prison cell were not locked even as he realised suspicious movements around the cell under the cover of darkness.
He also expressed fear about security of his life in Luzira, citing many prisoners who have mysteriously died of poisoning in the prison.
Besigye then condemned the State for turning his cell in ‘Luzira a prison inside prison’ which is ever guarded day and night and that police’s failure to produce him in court.
“Why does state not first carry out investigation before arrest?” Besigye asked.
Besigye further raised a concern of barring his relatives and colleagues from accessing court to listen to the case which he said was wrong and against his constitutional rights.
“It is my prayer that you request police to make this court accessible so that people can come and leave in harmony.”
State asked for two weeks to conclude investigations before Mr Besigye was quickly whisked back to Luzira.
Mr Besigye was the main challenger to President Yoweri Museveni in the recent general election, which Mr Museveni won by a landslide.
Dr Besigye’s party, the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) insists he won the polls with 52 per cent of the valid votes cast but Uganda’s top court upheld the official result.
Dr Besigye was charged with treason and remanded after a video clip in which he (Dr Besigye) sworn in as president circulated online.
Ms Winnie Byanyima, wife to former Forum for Democratic Change party presidential candidate Dr Kizza Besigye has called for his release or she will resort to mobilizing against President Yoweri Museveni globally.
Dr. Besigye, who is accused of treason has been held in Luzira prison since May, and in a series of tweets, Ms. Byanyima said she had failed in her attempts to beseech Luzira Prison authorities for a chance to communicate with President Museveni’s leading opposition challenger.
She tweeted: “Prison commissioner Johnson Byabashaija won’t answer or return my calls and texts. I’m stepping up demand that Dr. Kizza Besigye has access to family.
“I’m demanding access by Kizza Besigye to his family, up to highest authority and will go to court and mobilise globally. No surrender!” the Oxfam International Executive Director vowed.
“Am tired of begging for our rights and standing up for Kizza Besigye and other prisoners whose rights are trampled upon,” Ms. Byanyima went on.
“I claim my rights and pushing government institutions to deliver on rights will help other citizens. I’m not asking for favours.”
Prosecution alleges that Dr Besigye and others at large between February 20 and May 11 in diverse places of Uganda attempted to over throw the government of Uganda, contrary to the law.
In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Ms Byanyima and President Museveni were so close before Dr Besigye married her in 1998.
Talented MC and TV presenter Talha has been signed by Mirinda as the official MC for the Mirinda Miss Teen activities this year. Talha has been emceeing at a number of Miss Teen activities including the recently concluded Mirinda Miss Teen launch.
“I am overwhelmed, this is a dream come true, am so happy this has come my way. I have given Mirinda Miss Teen my all in the past, I am even going to do better. I thank Mirinda for this opportunity.” Talha said.
According to Mr Timothy Luzinda, the Mirinda brand manager, Talha was signed because he had proven himself a good MC amongst teens.
“He has garnered a lot of experience over time and we believe he can now ably handle the task. Talha is also respected and liked by the teens, this can be proven to how they rhyme with him on events. He is fit,” Luzinda said
The search for Mirinda Miss teen kicked off in May 21 with Selfie as the theme at the Garden City Rooftop. The event which was attended by a couple of former Mirinda Miss Teens had the reigning Mirinda Miss Teen Vanessa Nansoove talk about her reign and thanking Mirinda for the opportunity.
“It has been good for me, I have had a lot of exposure, I have made many more friends and indeed I have been shaped for the feature. I thank Mirinda for the opportunity it gave me to be Mirinda Miss Teen. I encourage all the girls out there to engage in this competition, you can never know when you win,” Vanessa said.
According to Luzinda, the schedule for the school visits will soon be released and immediately, the search for the next Mirinda Miss Teen will start.
Opposition Members of Parliament have asked the Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga to explain the circumstances surrounding the arrest of their colleague Michael Kabaziguruka.
The MPs also demanded that government releases opposition icon Dr Warren Kiiza Besigye, who is currently remanded in Luzira prison on charges of treason.
Contributing to debate during the vetting of Ministers earlier today, the Leader of Opposition (LoP) in Parliament Winnie Kiiza said there was growing concern over the indiscriminate arrests by security personnel taking place in the country, including the arrest of Dr Besigye and Mr Kabaziguruka, the MP for Nakawa.
According to the LOP, Mr Kabaziguruka was arrested without serving the Speaker with the summons, which flouts the law.
Elijah Okupa, the Kasilo MP also weighed in and demanded that Mr Kabaziguruka be produced before court, if he has any charges to answer to.
“We demand that if there is a case, let the Hon. Kabaziguruka be produced in court,” Mr Okupa charged.
Mr Kabaziguruka was arrested two days ago and taken to the Special Investigation Unit (SIU) at Kireka for interrogation and, while addressing the media yesterday, police Chief General Kale Kayihura said they had gotten intelligence information linking the MP to some people involved in subversive activities.
In response Speaker Kadaga promised to follow up the matter, saying: “I will handle this with the Vice President and ensure that our colleague is handled appropriately.”
Meanwhile, the expanded Parliament has left MPs without seats, prompting Ms Kadaga to ask them to be innovative and kwesikamu like in ‘matatus so those standing can find sitting space’.
As a result of increasing constituencies the 10th Parliament has 458 MPs, up from 375 that graced the 9th Parliament, leaving the backbenchers scrambling for seats.
Passengers board a Kenya Airways (KQ) plane at Entebbe International Airport
An outspoken Ugandan legislator has urged the Ugandan Parliament to consider boycotting Kenya Airways, because of the ‘exorbitant’ fares it charges in the region.
WANTS KQ BOYCOTT: Jinja West MP Moses Grace Balyeku
Jinja West MP Moses Grace Balyeku made the remarks earlier today, while contributing to debate in parliament during the vetting of ministers.
Aviation sources indicate that the KQ fare charged between and Entebbe and Nairobi, an hour’s flight that costs about US US$225 (about UGX793.000), is one of the most expensive in the world.
By press time it was not possible to establish why Balyeku raised the matter in Parliament but sources say Kenya Airways, which operates 8 flights between Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi and Entebbe Airport everyday, is the major carrier of Ugandan legislators flying from Entebbe and connecting to various destinations across the globe.
Meanwhile, other airlines that have tried to ply the Nairobi-Entebbe route like Air Uganda, Fly540 and Fastjet have failed to sustain the consistency or pulled out altogether.
Tamale Mirundi addresses journalists at a recent function
Controversial Senior Presidential Advisor on Media Tamale Mirundi has said ejected Busiro South constituency MP-elect Peter Sematimba is innocent.
Mr. Ssematimba who on Tuesday took part in the August House proceedings lost his seat after the High Court on Friday declared it vacant over inadequate academic papers.
And Tamale Mirundi articulated that it was not Peter Sematimba’s role to verify his own academic papers but that of the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE).
This followed a petition filed by Democratic Party’s Stephen Ssekigozi, who contested against Mr Sematimba of the ruling National Resistance Movement and lost.
Hon. Sematimba listens to debate in the House.
However, Mr Sematimba had told court that his academic papers have security features to prove that they are authentic.
Today, Hon. Sematimba was pictured listening to debate in the House as Appointments Committee started vetting the 81 newly-appointed ministers.
During closed door session, MPs while seeking to establish whether the ministerial appointees have the requisite academic papers and integrity, Makindye West legislator Allan Ssewanyana queried whether Sematimba’s presence in the 10th Parliament was in order.
Speaker Rebecca Kadaga replied that there is no court order yet on his disqualification.
Jack Ma speaks during the 2016 Global Smart Logistics Summit in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China, June 13, 2016
The world’s largest e-commerce platform, China’s Alibaba, is aiming for a record 6 trillion yuan ($912 billion) in gross merchandise volume (GMV) in 2020 from 3.09 trillion this year, Reuters reports, quoting the company.
According to Alibaba founder Jack Ma, the company also wants to quadruple the number of customers to 2 billion by 2036, up from 423 million buyers in 2016.
Ma has pledged to intensify the fight against counterfeit products and intellectual property rights violation.
“I promise you guys that counterfeits, fake products, and intellectual property theft – we are more and more confident than ever that we can solve the problem,” he said.
In April, Alibaba became the world’s largest retailer, surpassing Walmart. The company says its online trading accounts for 10 percent of all retailing in China and has generated 15 million jobs.
Last November, Alibaba hit a record $14.3 billion in sales on Singles’ Day, a Chinese holiday intended to celebrate single life. This is more than double the e-commerce sales in the US from Thanksgiving, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday combined. Alibaba has been holding these sales since 2009. November’s $14.3 billion smashed 2014’s total of $9.3 billion in gross sales.
The company also holds the title of the biggest IPO in history, raising $25 billion in four days in September 2014, $7 billion more than Visa and $9 billion more than Facebook and General Motors.
A man throws chair as minor skirmishes continue between soccer fans, in the streets of Marseille, France, ahead of the England vs Russia France Euro 2016. Photo/sltrib.com
English and Russian teams at the ongoing Euro 2016 have been warned they risk discontinuation from the tournament in France, if their respective fans don’t tone down on violence.
VIOLENCE: scene of violence between the English and Russian fans
The warning by Europe’s soccer governing body UEFA follows violence that erupted after the Saturday game between the two teams in Marseille.
Meanwhile, the head of the Russian supporters group Alexander Shprygin has said that France wants top deport about 50 Russian fans.
Shprygin made the remarks today after French police intercepted a bus carrying Russian fans from Cannes to Lille.
“They want to deport almost 50 people including women who did not take part in anything,” Shprygin, president of the Russian Supporters Union, said.
“The police are making up for their mistakes three days ago. We are in a bus in Cannes and we have been blocked in by riot police. We are not going anywhere for the time being.”
He later said the Russian consul had arrived on the scene, preventing what he said was a planned storming of the bus by the police.
There was no immediate comment from French authorities, who have said about 150 hard-core Russian fans took part in serious violence after Saturday’s match, which ended in a 1-1 draw.
In a related development the Russian national football team has been handed a suspended disqualification from Euro 2016 and a 150,000 euro (118,828.56 pounds)fine after their fans were involved in violent clashes in Marseille, the governing body UEFA has said.
“Charges relating to crowd disturbances, use of fireworks and racist behaviour had been brought against the RFU (Russian Football Union),” UEFA said in a statement.
It said the ethics committee had decided to impose a fine of 150,000 euros and a suspended disqualification of the Russian national team until the end of the tournament.
“Such suspension will be lifted if incidents of a similar nature (crowd disturbances) happen inside the stadium at any of the remaining matches of the Russian team during the tournament.”
