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.
The Prime Minister Dr Ruhakana Rugunda has lauded Madhvani group for their enormous contribution to the fulfilment of government policy of job creation, industrialization and export promotion.
Rugunda also saluted the founders of Kakira Sugar Ltd for the foresight and vision they had 90 years ago.
The Premier made the remarks while visiting Kakira Sugar works, the flagship of the Madhvani group in Kakira, Jinja District on Friday.
Rugunda assured the management of the factory that the NRM Government was committed to promoting industrialization in the country.
The Premier, was taken on a guided tour of the factory by the Group Managing Director, Mayur Madhvani.
PM Rugunda(4th R) shares a moment with Mayur Madhvani at Kakira Sugar works on Friday ( Photo by PMPU)
Kakira Sugar works, the largest producer of sugar in the region also generates 52 megawatts of electricity.
18 Megawatts are used to run the mills and other factory infrastructure, while 34 megawatts are sold to the national grid.
The Madhvani group is also completing the construction of US Dollars 35 million ethanol distillery in Kakira.
The Ethanol plant is expected to produce 20 million litres annually. Globally ethanol is used as a fuel additive to petrol.
Mayur Madhvani asked Government to urgently address the threats facing the sugar industry by enacting an effective law on sugar to regulate the sugar industry. He also called for the enactment of a law on bio-fuels.
Madhvani emphasized the need to locate new sugar factories in their own zones to allow the expansion of the old factories, adding that congestion of sugar factories has led to sugar production losses, loss of revenue and increased food insecurity in the region.
Dr Rugunda assured Madhvani that government will address the challenges affecting the sugar industry in the country.
Kampala residents Thursday afternoon looked on in awe as a single Uganda Airforce Sukhoi Su-30MK2 fighter aircraft appeared drifting in the misty sky.
“It did a couple spins after it passed us. I think it was about 50 meters high, maybe lower,” John Twinamatsiko who was at Acacia Mall in Kamwokya during the testing.
After former FDC presidential candidate Dr Kizza Besigye’s calls to opposition to stage an election protest continue to pose a significant threat to Uganda’s national security. That coupled with the fact Police chief Gen Kayihura saying there were terror threats ahead of President Yoweri Museveni swearing-in slated for May 12, 2016, UPDF has held numerous large-scale military drills checking air force readiness.
Training on the jets is highly expensive because of fuel considering one Sukhoi jet can consume about Shs225 million fuel cost per training day according to an air force source.
During the manoeuvres though, social media went buzz with assertions that the IGP and Army were trying to scare off intended protestors as the timing of the fighter jet conceded with the arrest of eight demonstrators in the city center.
There are also reported military patrols on Entebbe road that leads to State House Entebbe and Uganda’s only international airport. They are guarding places like Petrol Stations which are easy targets for protestors and terrorists.
Uganda has six Su-30s Russian made aircraft, based at Entebbe, can carry air-to-air missiles as well as various general purpose bombs for air-to-surface missions. They are believed to have conducted missions against Al Qaeda targets in Somalia, to provide support for UPDF acting under the Africa Union/UN mission (AMISOM), and have reportedly launched airstrikes against opposition forces in South Sudan in the past.
EagleOnline’s efforts to reach the army spokesperson Lt Col Paddy Ankunda for a comment were futile.
Asked about Uganda’s aircraft assertiveness during back in 2014, President Museveni said having a strong infantry without a strong air force is like having food without sauce.
See some of the SU-30’s “super maneuverability” in the video below:
Forum for Democratic Change strongman, Dr.Kizza Besigye has laughed off the proposed media blackout on the activities of defiance.
Dr.Besigye told EagleOnline that Information and National Guidance Minister, Maj. Gen. Jim 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’.
“It is just expected moves of a dying junta and there is no way, you can stop (me) and people from talking to the media.” Dr. Besigye said.
He added “To Muhwezi and the rest, it has absolutely no basis either in law or in practice and it is a waste of time”.
Gen. Muhwezi while addressing press on ‘defiance campaign’ this afternoon at the government Media Centre, said the continued coverage of Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party activities by the media, It’s clear breach of interim court order issued last week.
“Besigye has asserted that his defiance is intended to fail the swearing in of Uganda’s president-elect, H.E Museveni. Police should ensure that the court order issued (against defiance campaign) is strictly adhered to and live broadcast of defiance campaign must stop. Any media house that continues to broadcast risks having license revoked.” Gen. Muhwezi said.
Muhwezi added “With this press conference, all media houses have been made aware, so none should say they were never warned. We had an election, those who were not satisfied went to court – and it pronounced itself and we have a duty to keep this country peaceful. It is a responsibility of every Ugandans to ensure that Uganda is peaceful.”
Gen. Muhwezi said that by Court issuing the interim order, it had said no one should continue with this defiance campaign and therefore, people must all oblige. “According to this court order, even talk shows” in line with the defiance campaign have been barred and live proceedings.
He however, clarified that reporting what is news isn’t banned – “Do not cover live, full stop!”
City tycoon Hamis Kiggundu has rubbished media rumors that he was selling his house as banks attach his property over debts.
It had been reported that one of the properties on sale is his flashy palatial residence. The house- located on the shores of Lake Victoria- is on sale for $5 million dollars but he has only received a maximum of $1.5 million offer.
Kiggundu on Thursday fired back at the tabloids using his Facebook account and said: “It’s real heart breaking how Ugandans real luv to see others go down please am not selling my house and financially am very very ok .lets clear our hearts and just invest our time in hard work to change our lives and build our nation .insha Allah Uganda will develop may not be the most hardworking Ugandan but with Allah’s blessings anything is possible for I am really blessed thank u God’.”
The young businessman owns several businesses which include Ham Shopping Grounds, a state of the art building. He also owns Ham Towers in Makerere. Ham is so much involved in real estate and a string of auxiliary businesses.
Outgoing Archbishop Church of the Province of Uganda, Most Rev. Stanley Ntagali.
The Inter-Religious Council of Uganda has condemned the act of evading tax by Members of Parliament.
The Mps decided to exempt themselves from paying tax on their allowances and emoluments when they passed the Income Tax (Amendment Bill, 2016).
However, the Inter-Religious Council of Uganda has petitioned President Yoweri Museveni and is urging him not to sign the bill into an act as it contravenes the spirit and principles of equality and social justice when a section of Ugandans decide to legislate laws that favour them at the expense of the rest of the public.
“Your Excellency, what is good for the goose is good for gander. Hence, our august House that is a cradle of national laws should not be used to undermine the cherished values of ‘equality’ and ‘social justice’ by crafting discriminatory legislations. These values are embodied in our Constitution and Holy Books”. His Grace, The Right Rev. Stanley Ntagali, Archbishop Church of the Province of Uganda wrote.
Rev. Ntagali says the Shs40 billion tax exemption from MPs can be used to build a banker for installation of a cancer machine and save the country from more expenses on treating the disease.
“There is no doubt that with the taxation of the MPs allowances, the country shall be in a position to install a new cancer machine at Mulago Hospital. Subsequent tax savings in successive years can buy more machines so that the treatment of cancer is decentralized to other regional referral hospitals”.
Below is a full statement from IRCU
Tuesday, May 3, 2016
His Excellency Yoweri Kaguta Museveni
President of the Republic of Uganda
Office of the President
KAMPALA
Your Excellency,
RE: RELIGIOUS LEADERS VIEWS ON MPs’ TAX EXEMPTION (TAX AMENDMENT BILL, 2016)
“Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.” (Mark 12:17).
“All people are equal like the teeth of comb” (Hadith: Subul Salam p. 129)
Your Excellency, on behalf of the Inter-Religious Council of Uganda Council of Presidents, and the entire faith fraternity in the country, we wish to express our dissatisfaction with the conduct of our Members of Parliament who recently decided by themselves to pass the Income Tax (Amendment Bill, 2016) that exempts them from paying taxes on their allowances and emoluments.
We entreat you not to sign this Bill into law. First, it contravenes the spirit and principles of equality and social justice when a section of Ugandans decide to legislate laws that favour them at the expense of the rest of the public. Article 21(1) of the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda (As amended 2006) states that, “All persons are equal before and under the law in all spheres of political, economic, social and cultural life and in every other respect and shall enjoy equal protection of the law”.
Your Excellency, what is good for the goose is good for gander. Hence, our august House that is a cradle of national laws should not be used to undermine the cherished values of ‘equality’ and ‘social justice’ by crafting discriminatory legislations. These values are embodied in our Constitution and Holy Books.
The practice of paying taxes and the accruing social and economic benefits and merits predate the modern system of governance: “Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.” (Mark 12:17). By comparison with other segments of the public, a Ugandan Member of Parliament is handsomely remunerated. This is vindicated by your wise counsel to the newly elected NRM MPs and their NRM-leaning Independent counterparts at Kyankwanzi in March 2016. During your interaction with them, you categorically stated that you do not intend to support a pay rise for the incoming Members of the 10th Parliament. Your position must have been informed by the stark economic realities of the country. Further, on a number of occasions, you and Parliament have resisted calls for salary increment from other sectors of the public namely; teachers/lecturers and health workers.
Your Excellency, judging from the recent 2014 National Census, the majority of the Ugandan populace are youths between the age of 18 and 35 years. About 80% of these youths are unemployed and they are a looming danger to the country’s security. We acknowledge that Government is investing a sizeable portion of the national budget to alleviate youth unemployment and poverty. In this context, it would be plausible and pertinent to sink the 40-odd billion shillings tax arrears from MP’s allowances into the Youth Livelihood Programme and Skilling Uganda. Empirical evidence demonstrates that about 400,000 youths graduate from universities, tertiary institutions and colleges of which only 8,000 are lucky to find formal employment. There is urgent need, therefore, to defuse this time-bomb by injecting more funds into youth programmes.
Your Excellency, recently Uganda lost the only radiotherapy machine at the Cancer Institute. We are delighted to note that government bought a replacement a few years ago, although it has not been delivered thanks to a missing bunker that will cost the nation 30 billion shillings to prepare. There is no doubt that with the taxation of the MPs allowances, the country shall be in a position to install a new cancer machine at Mulago Hospital. Subsequent tax savings in successive years can buy more machines so that the treatment of cancer is decentralized to other regional referral hospitals.
Mr. President, the cancer patients at Mulago Hospital and in other parts of the country are our brothers and sisters. Therefore, there is no better way MPs can express their patriotism than by contributing their tax deductions to the purchase and/or installment of the new cancer machine(s).
We, therefore, pray you, Your Excellency, to take action cognizant of the common good which is the bedrock of patriotism.
Yours respectfully,
His Grace, the Right Rev. Stanely Ntagali,
Archbishop Church of the Province of Uganda
Co-CHAIRPERSON, COUNCIL OF PRESIDENTS
INTER-RELIGIOUS COUNCIL OF UGANDA
Cc: Hon. Minister for the Presidency
Cc: The Principal Private Secretary to His Excellency the President
Cc: The Council of Presidents, Inter-Religious Council of Uganda
Cc: Msgr. Charles Kasibante, Vicar General Kampala Archdiocese and Chairperson, Inter-Religious Council of Uganda Board
