Two UPDF soldiers and three civilians have been charged with illegal possession of 12 pieces of ivory at Buganda Road magistrate’s court.

Major Allen Rutagira and Corporal Collins and the three co-accused were charged with unlawful possession of protected species and, accepting and conspiracy to commit a felony.

Prosecution led by the Resident State Attorney Jonathan Muwaganya, avers that the accused conspired to commit the crimes and were arrested on March 24 at Hotel Africana while in possession of the ivory pieces weighing 19 kilogrames, valued at Shs 129 million.

Buganda road court Chief Magistrate James Ereemye granted Corporal Kamugisha Collin cash bail of Shs2 million but remanded Maj Rutagira after finding inconsistencies with his sureties’ introduction letters and national identity cards.

The three civilians, Simon Mbonye, Alex Sande, and Silva Kiiza were also denied bail since they had no lawyers and their sureties lacked documentation.

Hunting and trading in wildlife and wildlife products without authorisation is prohibited by law.

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State House has refuted ongoing reports that it is in the process of procuring a new jet for President Museveni.

Speaking on to the EagleOnline this morning, State House comptroller Ms Lucy Nakyobe said there is no way they can buy a jet for the President without Parliament’s approval.

She also noted that the current jet is still in good shape and can fly to any far destinations. “We are not  planning to buy any jet, it can fly to far places like Japan and Australia without making any stopover, we are not going to buy a new jet for the president,” Ms Nakyobe said on phone.

Earlier reports had indicated that the government intends to sell the current presidential jet, a Gulf stream 5, and top up the proceeds and acquire a new Gulf stream 6.

In 2009 government acquired the Gulf-stream 5 at a cost of Shs88 billion, sparking off harsh reactions from the opposition legislators.

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KAMPALA: Officials in the ministry of defence are in trouble over inflating the cost of the planned construction of the army National Referral Hospital in Mbuya.

The earlier evaluation cost done by the Ministry was $35m [shs113bn] but the procurement officials in the Ministry allegedly connived with the constructor M/S Seyani and Brothers Ltd.

Military sources say President Museveni has instituted a probe team composed of military intelligence and police detectives to find out how the costs increased by shs17bn.

Ministry of Defence saved the money through United Nations reimbursements for the wear and tear of the Ugandan military equipment used by UPDF peacekeepers in Somalia.

“Some officials might be arrested because the President is annoyed. Even the Inspector General of Government is also investigating,” the military source said.

The 250-bed hospital will be used to treat both civilians and soldiers especially those who are injured in the battle field.

According to the petition filed by the whistleblower to the Inspector General of Government in January, “some members of the evaluation committee smuggled into the bid four pages from the bidder”

This action alone raised the price by Shs800m”. The petitioners allege backhand dealings between the evaluation team and the winning contractor.

Unlike UPDF, Kenyan Defence Forces treats its injured soldiers in Somalia but Ugandans are flown to Agha Khan Hospital.

The plan to construct the UPDF National Referral Hospital was mooted by the late Gen Aronda Nyakairima.

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Famous Buganda lawmaker Busweri Mulondo has died aged 91.

Mr Mulondo in 1994 during the Constituent Assembly, Mulondo shot down a motion that had been talked by the rest of CA delegates to grant Buganda a federal status.

Mulondo joined the civil service in 1947 as an assistant regular registrar of titles in the ministry of land. He quit civil service in 1974 when Idi Amin ordered all civil servants who had worked for more than 20 years to retire. He fled to Kenya that very year only to be returned by President Godfrey Binaisa from retirement to head Uganda Land Board until Obote was elected President. He also chaired the Lint Marketing Board after the NRA took over power. Mr Mulondo then joined joined the constitution commission of Benjamin Odoki as a member in 1994 before being named a sabalangira of Buganda by the Kabaka when he was still a Sabataka. Museveni later appointed him a presidential advisor on Buganda until his death.

Buganda called him a traitor in when he blocked their federo dream.

May his soul rest in peace.

Binaisa

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A flamboyant city preacher Pastor Happy Daniel Ngabo has Tuesday afternoon prayed for detained Kizza Besigye, former Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) presidential candidate.

Pastor Ngabo who leads the opposition party’s routine party prayers at Najjanankumbi, Kampala stormed Nagalama police station in Mukono outside the city armed with bibles which sent cops in frenzy.

The youthful preacher likened himself to Nelson Mandela and Martin Luther King Jr. He was in the company of FDC party president Maj Gen Mugisha Muntu, SG Hon. Nathan Nandala-Mafabi, Leader of the Opposition Wafula Oguttu, Ingrid Turinawe, Doreen Nyanjura, Mwijukye Francis, Susan Norma, and many other Activists calling themselves the rescue squad.

Uganda police have charged Dr. Besigye with conducting an illegal procession.

The spokesperson for the police, says Mr Besigye had disobeyed orders not to drive through the centre of the city after thousands mobbed his car.

Mr Besigye had been given permission to go to a prayer meeting at his party’s headquarters as long as he did not disrupt business in Kampala.

He has only just been released from house arrest, and this was to be his first trip into the city.

As he was travelling to the party HQ, supporters surrounded his car and tried to follow him to the city centre.

The police then blocked his vehicle, towed it away and first detained him at Kiira Road police station before taking him to Mukono.

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