The saying that ‘When two elephants fight, the grass suffers’ will come to reality on Friday at Nakivubo when two giants of Ugandan football SC Villa and KCCA face off in a league tie.
With a combined 26 league title between them, no club has been as successful in the country as the two rivals.
KCCA assistant Manager Badru Kaddu described the game as a tough one but says his side is ready for nothing but maximum points.
“It’s a game against our nemesis but the preparations have been superb,” he told upl.co.ug after the team’s training session on Thursday. “The previous three games (2 losses and 1 draw) are now behind us,” he added.
SC Villa interim Coach Ibrahim Kirya saw his unbeaten record since taking over from Spanish Antonio Flores ended by The Saints but thinks the boys will be motivated to play against KCCA.
“The game and rivalry needs no introduction and they boys are motivated to play in such big games.”
Coming into the game, KCCA have a better head to head record in the previous nine meetings winning three, losing once and drawing the rest including the corresponding fixture last season.
Interestingly, SC Villa’s last victory over KCCA was masterminded by Mike Mutebi who is in the opposite dugout.
Then, Herman Wasswa, now at KCCA too and Moses Ndaula scored for the record league champions in the 2011-12 season at Nakivubo.
Wasswa, who boost of five goals in this tie including the winner the last time the two sides last met in the Star Times Cup last month is doubtful despite returning to training early this week after missing the games against Bright Stars (Uganda Cup), Simba and Vipers.
KCCA top the 16 team log with 52 points from 27 games while SC Villa are 10th with 16 points adrift although they have played five games less.
SC Villa Probable XI: Nicholas Ssebwato (GK), Misi Katende, Isaac Muleme, Henry Katongole (C), Jonathan Mugabi, Taddeo Lwanga, Godfrey Lwesibawa, Mike Sserumaga, Umar Kasumba, Ambrose Kirya and John Adriko.
KCCA Probable XI: Benjamin Ochan (GK), Denis Okot (C), Habib Kavuma, Martin Mpuuga, Sakka Mpiima, Ivan Ntege, Sulaimon Akinyemi, Jackson Nunda, Muzamiru Mutyaba, Ceaser Okhuti and Derrick Nsibambi.
The Ugandan Cabinet’s ban on “ALL live broadcast media coverage of the activities of the ‘Defiance Campaign’ organized by Dr. Kizza Besigye and his cohorts” is as absurd as the Constitutional Court’s interim order that halted the opposition’s election protests.
Gen. Jim Muhwezi, the Minister of Information and National Guidance, who on Tuesday joined journalists to celebrate World Press Freedom Day, has today warned that “Any media houses that continue offering live coverage of the so-called ‘Defiance Campaign’ risk having their broadcasting licenses revoked.”
I hope the media will defy this ridiculous and unconstitutional ban on free speech and expression.
As we celebrated World Press Freedom Day on 3 May in Kampala, Dr. Katebalirwe Amooti Wa Irumba, the Ag. Chairperson of the Uganda Human Rights Commission, urged thegovernmentto “keep all restrictions on freedom of expression and the media within the acceptable human rights standards”.
“In this respect,” he said, “they must be legal, necessary, proportional, acceptable and demonstrably justifiable in a free and democratic society; and those that enforce the restrictions must be accountable.”
The ban on live media coverage of Besigye’s defiance campaign is illegal, unnecessary, disproportional, unacceptable and unjustifiable even in a society like ours that is neither entirely free nor fully democratic.
The Uganda Law Society and others have already alluded to the absurdity of Deputy Chief Justice Steven Kavuma hearing the government’s application that he based on to issue the interim order against the ‘defiance campaign’ exparte (in the absence of Dr. Kizza Besigye and his party).
But even if one were to argue that Kavuma’s interim order went through due process, I don’t see how it can be used to justify a ban on live media coverage of the defiance campaign or other election-related protests.
The executive has used the courts to gag a legitimate political actor from expressing his dissatisfaction with the manner in which the man he was challenging, President Yoweri Museveni, was re-elected. Dr Besigye and others have challenged the court’s directive. The media have acted as a witness to this contestation and brought the fight to our living rooms. It is up to Ugandans to decide whether to embrace ‘defiance’ or accept ‘no change’.
The media are messengers. They are not the authors of the defiance campaign, which, by the way, is also allowed by our Constitution. At least the court is yet to rule to the contrary.
As the chairperson of the Uganda Human Rights Commission reminded us, “We must also keep in mind that freedom of the press and other media is a corollary to the freedom of expression of the individual. This connotes the fact that the promotion and protection of media freedom necessarily promotes and protects freedom of speech and expression of individuals and the public. Unfortunately, the reverse is also true that when media freedom is attacked or illegitimately restricted, the general freedom of speech and expression of individuals is negatively impacted.”
It appears that the Cabinet wants the media to ignore the defiance campaign and focus on the “outpouring of love” as President Museveni is sworn in next week.
The good citizen should be urging the media to report the political events unfolding before us accurately, fairly, comprehensively and in a manner that helps all understand what’s at stake.
The media should subject claims by both Besigye, Museveni and other political actors to thorough scrutiny.
But they owe it to the public to cover the activities of all these actors.
Dr. Peter G. Mwesige is co-founder and executive director of African Centre for Media Excellence. He previously headed the department of journalism & communication at Makerere University and was executive editor of Monitor Publications Ltd.
Micho Sredjovic’s Uganda Cranes side has maintained its standing on the Coca Cola FIFA World rankings for the month of April.
The men’s national last month fell five places to 72nd in the world and 16th on the continent.
Uganda’s points have also remained 491 points thanks to having no action since the barren stalemate against Burkina Faso in the 2017 Africa Nations Cup qualifiers at Namboole.
There was also no change for the Cranes opponents in the ongoing qualifiers with Burkina Faso staying 75th after rising 12 places last month.
Botswana (91st) and Comoros (159th) also remain static in those spots in the world.
Dr Congo football tycoon Moise Katumbi says he is barricaded in his home – a day after he announced he will be running for the presidency, currently held by Joseph Kabila.
Today, was the first day of demonstrations in demand of an Independent Audit of the 2016 presidential elections? On this day, matches were planned from FDC offices to assembly areas.
As expected, heavy military and police deployments were made in all towns; several leaders’ homes were barricaded; and many roadblocks were erected. This is all anticipated and good for the defiance campaign! The dictator’s forces are worn out, even before citizens take any action!
What was rather surprising, but quite in keeping with the panic and desperation of the NRM Junta now, was the statement made by Gen. Jim Muhwezi, Minister of Information.
Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayihura, Attorney General Freddie Ruhindi and his deputy, Director of Uganda Communications Commission, and, ominously, the heads of major media houses, notably Nbs, NTV, and Vision group, accompanied Gen. Muhwezi.
In his statement, Gen Muhwezi said: “All live broadcast of defiance activities should stop. Any media house that continues to cover them risks having their license revoked”. He went on to intimidate the media generally about any coverage of what he termed “defiance activities”.
Deputy AG Mwesigwa Rukutana told the press that Uganda, as a sovereign nation, doesn’t have to abide by international covenants regarding press freedom and other Human Rights!
The disgraceful actions of the NRM Junta, to further curtail press freedom in Uganda, should be strongly resisted. The Uganda media practitioners shouldn’t take this lying down. International media freedom defenders should also take appropriate action.
Another action in keeping with the panic mode was the flying of fighter jets over the Kampala city and surrounding areas! Military spokesman says they were on “routine test flights”.
From Mukono and parts of Kampala and Wakiso, there are reports of a presence of soldiers that speak languages unknown in Uganda. This raises worry that foreigners may be involved in the massive deployments.
This would not be surprising considering that in the 2016 election, members of the armed forces are known to have voted overwhelmingly for change. That may have put the loyalty of most UPDF and UPF soldiers to the NRM regime is in question.
In spite of the heavy media and physical intimidation, Ugandans came defiantly came out and demonstrated in many parts of the country. Main action areas included Lira, in Northern Uganda; Mbale, Busia, and Kamuli in Eastern Uganda; Rukungiri, Bushenyi & Mbarara in Western Uganda; Wakiso and Kampala in Central Uganda.
Many people were arrested and are being held in various police stations. Some of the people arrested were actually not involved in the demo. Our leaders are trying to gain access to all those arrested.
I congratulate the courageous citizens that have defiantly demonstrated today. Many people were waiting for me to get arrested! As I’ve pointed out before, this is not about FDC or me.
This demonstration is about citizens having their votes count; regaining control over their country; regaining control over state institutions; and regaining control over national resources.
Citizens want a country that works for them: ensures their dignity by having decent jobs; ensures good health care, quality education, modern infrastructure; a corruption-free environment etc.
That’s why the demonstration, including the prayers, will continue until the people’s will is respected. We shall overcome!
Information coming to our desk is that former rebel NRM legislator Theodore Ssekikubo for Lwemiyaga has lost his seat in the 10th parliament after a Magistrates Court in Masaka over turned his win and ordered that he be degazzetted.
Last week, the Electoral Commission okayed Mr Ssekikubo’s election after the Constitutional Court dismissed a request by a lower court to interpret his ruling in a petition challenging his February 18 election challenged by Patrick Nkalubo.
This means that Mr Theodore Ssekikubo cannot be sworn in together with his colleagues later this month.
However, Mr Jotham Taremwa, the EC spokesperson, insisted that whatever the commission did was in compliance with the law.
The United States Embassy in Uganda has criticized move to ban the live broadcast of opposition activities under the defiance campaign by all media.
Information minister Gen Jim Muhwezi announced the immediate ban on Thursday afternoon alongside Inspector General of Police (IGP) Gen Kale Kayuhura, Attorney General Mr Freddie Ruhindi, his deputy Mwesigwa Rukutana, Executive Director for the Uganda Media Centre Mr Ofwono Opondo, Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) Executive Director Mr Godfrey Mutabazi.
US embassy moments later via their official titter handle said government decision to ban live coverage of FDC activities is “truly disappointing”
They tweeted: “The government of Uganda’s decision to ban media coverage of FDC activities is truly disappointing just days after World Press Freedom Day.”
“Such restrictions violate not just the rights of journalists, but the rights of citizens to information.”
“Citizens of Uganda should be able to decide for themselves what information to use to make informed choices about their country.”
“As we have said before, all parties should refrain from violence and intimidation.”
Uganda’s government argues that there is an injunction regarding the broadcast of defiance activities by the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party and that the activities spear headed by former presidential candidate Dr Kizza Besigye are only bent at stopping the swearing in ceremony of president Museveni scheduled for May 12.
Mr Museveni’s victory was upheld by the Supreme Court in March.
Media organisations have been told not to carry out live interviews with opposition members or show their activities in real time during their protests.
According to minister Muhwezi, continuation of this so-called “defiance campaign” is illegal because it is in clear breach of the Interim Court Order issued last week.
Dr. Besigye himself has asserted that his defiance is intended to fail the swearing-in of Uganda’s President.
The opposition kingpin on Thursday told EagleOnline that Muhwezi was wasting time on defiance campaign ban as the issue at hand is about capturing power back to him as ‘the elected leader of Uganda’.
This was at in the aftermath of police and military thwarting planned demonstrations in Kampala by Besigye’s opposition party FDC.
Uganda’s armed forces have now taken over security of the city, conducting joint patrols visible all over the capital, Kampala.
Early in the morning, police surrounded the homes of top opposition politicians Besigye (Kasangati), Erias Lukwago (Wakaliga) and Moses Kasibante (Rubaga) in a bid to prevent them from joining the planned demonstrations.
'Rebel MPs' Theodore Ssekikubo and Muhammad Nsereko
President Yoweri Museveni has asked Kampala Central MP-elect Muhammad Nsereko to step down and not contest for the post of Deputy Speaker, in favour of Jacob Oulanyah.
In February, Nsereko run for parliament as an Independent and won the Kampala Central constituency, after which he raised the bar and sought to contest for the deputy speakership.
But a source that attended today’s National Resistance Movement Caucus meeting to determine the next pair to lead Parliament quoted Mr Museveni as saying that Nsereko ‘is a good cadre’ and that he (the President) would ‘talk’ to him to drop his bid for the second-most coveted office in the legislature.
“Nsereko is a good cadre and I will talk to him,” Mr Museveni reportedly said.
A free-spirited and outspoken member of the National Resistance Movement (NRM), Nsereko has had intermittent run-ins with his party that at one time led to him being lined up for disciplinary action alongside other controversial NRM MPs including Theodore Sekikubo, Barnabas Tinkasimiire and Wilfred Niwagaba, who were dubbed ‘rebel MPs’.
Six MPs-elect had shown interest in the post of Deputy Speaker and these include Sekikubo, Hamson Obua, Jovah Kamateeka, Monica Amoding and Finance State Minister for Planning David Bahati.
By press time they had all reportedly stepped down in favour of Oulanyah.
The politician most sure of his job in Uganda today is President Yoweri Museveni, who was announced winner of the presidential elections of February 18, 2016.
For the others elected during the elections, it is ‘not yet Uhuru’ as some battle court cases, while others like the Speaker Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga and her Deputy Jacob L’Okori Oulanyah are jostling for the prestigious office at Parliament. And in between Mr Oulanyah has a date with court, to determine whether he won the Omoro County elections against Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) candidate Simon Toolit Akecha.
But coming down the political rung a little bit, after yesterday’s cabinet meeting all Ministers have become jobless, at least for a few days (for the lucky ones) while for those who may not bounce back to their prestigious jobs, there is still a future to live and, God willing, a possibility to return to Cabinet. It has happened before as the Third Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for East African Affairs Al Hajji Kirunda Kivejinja, Information Minister Maj. Gen Jim Muhwezi and State Minister for Trade Michael Werikhe can attest.
That said however, in the last Cabinet you have been about 70 men and women providing services for about 35 million people at the President Yoweri Museveni’s pleasure and naturally some of you have done reasonably well and performed to his and the citizens’ expectations, while others have floundered and in the process negatively impacted service delivery and consequently the citizens’ aspirations.
Likely to bounce back due to historical ties.
Needless to mention, there are several positives that have been achieved by the Ministers who have served in government since 2011 and for that they deserve applause for a job well done.
Indeed, the job of Minister of the Republic of Uganda carries with it a lot responsibility but it is also one of the most rewarding; a free chauffeur-driven car, house/allowance, fully-paid-for foreign travel and medical treatment for self and immediate family (both local and foreign), free airtime… the list is long. Unfortunately, even given the huge perks some Ministers still found that political oversight role challenging and failed to leave an impressive audit trail, in the process damaging the image of government in the eyes of the tax payer, who laps after the last drop of sweat to make sure they live in comfort in order to perform better!
THE BIG MINISTRY GOOFS
The biggest goof in the last cabinet was in the Prime Minister’s Office then under John Patrick Amama Mbabazi and in the Ministry of Public Service under Henry Muganwa Kajura, where hundreds of billions of shillings were swindled and to date there is little to show that punitive action is being taken against the political heads in those ministries. Similarly, the Ministry of Works and Transport under Eng James Abraham Byandala came under the spotlight after Shs24 billion was paid out to some dubious company ostensibly for the construction of the Mukono-Katosi Road.
Then recently came the news that the chemotherapy machine for cancer treatment at the Mulago National Referral Hospital had broken down, putting the line Minister Dr. Elioda Tumwesigye in an uncomfortable spot of bother. This was to be followed by the breakdown of another machine, that for radiotherapy. As if that wasn’t enough from the health docket, State Minister for general duties in the Ministry of Health Chris Baryomunsi threw when he said that with or without the cancer machine breaking down, cancer patients would die.
Not to be outdone, the Ministry for Kampala under Frank Kajiji Tumwebaze weighed in on the political issues at City Hall and had Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago ‘impeached’ following recommendations from a Commission chaired by Justice Catherine Bamugemereire. The ‘impeachment’ of Lukwago tested the dictates of law, with justices Yasin Nyanzi and Justice Lydia Mugambe pronouncing themselves on the matter in favour of Lukwago, not until Deputy Chief Justice Steven Kavuma, sitting as a ‘single judge’ ‘offered direction’ by ordering Lukwago out of office. Up to today, the issue of the Lord Mayor is as contentious as it was three years ago.
NAMES UGANDANS ARE LIKELY TO HEAR LESS ABOUT
Of course we are sure First Lady and Minister for Karamoja Affairs Mrs Janet Kataha Museveni dropped in the proverbial ‘political towel’ last year and might not bounce back to Cabinet, unless the appointing authority, who also happens to be her husband, thinks otherwise.
Others who are likely not to bounce back include those who did not contest for Parliamentary seats and those who lost in the National Resistance Movement (NRM) primaries.
In the first group above, save for Prime Minister Dr Ruhakana Rugunda, nine Ministers: Tress Bucyanayandi, John Nasasira, Philemon Mateke, Al Hajji Ali Kirunda Kivejinja, Shem Bageine, Maria Mutagamba, Tarsis Kabwegyere, Rose Najjemba and Prof Sunday Stevens Tickodri Togboa are not likely to come back in the next cabinet. And the reason for not coming back is that they didn’t contest.
In the second group are those who lost in the NRM primaries and these include Jim Henry Muganwa Kajura, Muhwezi, Irene Muloni, Kahinda Otafiire, Crispus Kiyonga, Daudi Migereko, Kamanda Bataringaya, Jessica Alupo, Fred Janchan, Omach, Vincent Nyanzi and Nyombi Tembo. Others are Lukia Nakadama, David Wakikona, Rose Akol, Christine Aporu, Rebecca Atengo, Sam Engola, Henry Banyezaki, Fred Ruhindi, Sulaiman Kyebakoze Madada, Sezi Mbaguta, Flavia Munaaba, Stephen Chebrot and Alex Onzima.
Poor performing ministers who dockets remained wanting.
However, for some of those on the second list who lost in the primaries and sought judicial intervention, there is still a reprieve from the judiciary, which is deploying 26 judges of the High Court to hear petitions between May and June.
On the positive side those that entered government on technical grounds like Fred Jachan Omach, Irene Muloni, Prof. Sunday Stevens Tickodri Togboa and Mr Ruhindi are likely to retain their seat.
Nevertheless, it isn’t all lost for those that won’t make it but certainly for some like Generals Otafiire, Muhwezi, Dr. Kiyonga are likely to be brought back on historical ties while for people like Daudi Migereko, information gathered so far indicate that the man from Bugembe is bound to bounce back in cabinet to check the influence of Mama Kamuli.
At what point is a drill more than just a drill? Maybe when it is not carried out above the capital city that is routinely troubled by opposition riots.
However, Thursday’s drills involving Uganda Airforce’s Sukhoi Su-30MK2 fighter aircraft was normal Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF) routine, according to army spokesperson Paddy Ankunda.
A similar display of the jet fighter plane was on show five years ago during president Museveni’s swearing in ceremony at Kololo airstrip.
And today, there was talk that the drills were meant to intimidate opposition demonstrators who have vowed to block President Museveni’s swearing-in ceremony that is scheduled for May 12th.
Ankunda said that although “people were worried,” the jet fighter involved was “routine flights.”
“I hear people are worried about the aircrafts that over flew Kampala this morning. Calm down, these were routine test flights,” he tweeted, adding: “The purpose was not to intimidate anyone as some people are alleging.”
“ The aircrafts that flew over Kampala this morning were on a routine testing exercise. Our students are soon passing out.
I would like to inform our fans who in boxed this page today never to lose sleep over such routine exercises. There is no need to notify the public each time before we carry out our exercises”.
The Russian made jet fighter hovered over the skies for about 15 minutes, with the pilots displaying precise and impressive maneuvers.
Asked about Uganda’s aircraft assertiveness back in 2014, President Museveni said having a strong infantry without a strong air force is like having food without sauce.
