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M7 reassigns Somalia boss Brig. Ondoga

By
Stephen Muneza
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Capt Joy Atugonza (L) jubilates with Brig Ondoga after they were acquitted of their charges in May 2015

After less than a year on ‘katebe’, Brigadier Michael Ondoga, the former commander of the Ugandan peacekeeping contingent in Somalia has appointed a deputy director at the Nakasongola based arms factory, National Enterprise Corporations (NEC).

The battle-hardened commander will oversee the sensitive Kyoga Project, the pseudo-name for the military’s Nakasongola-based explosives’ programme.

Ondoga, 56, who spent two years on remand at Makindye Military Police Headquarters’ cell and had been charged with 13 counts of spreading false propaganda against his junior during military operations in Somalia. Some of the counts attract a death sentence on conviction. It was alleged that the President subsequently cancelled Brig Ondoga’s new appointment as military attaché to Nairobi and ordered that he and 23 others face court martial.

“He [Ondoga] is heading one of the subsidiaries,” Maj Gen James Mugira, appointed as the corporation’s director in April 2015, told etruth Uganda. The newly re-assigned brigadier began work on Monday, last week.

“It’s correct, I can confirm [the appointments],” Defence and militray spokesman Lt. Col. Paddy Ankunda said, adding:  “It’s a significant development because NEC is now robust [and] in the wider realm of defence industry and we are developing at the moment.”

President Museveni in his capacity as the Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces also named former General Court Martial chairman, Brig Moses Ddiba Ssentongo, as the corporation’s deputy director in-charge of general duties.

Ondoga timeline

  • Oct 2013: Ondoga arrested
  • Nov 2, 2013: Charged and remanded
  • Nov 5, 2014: Denied bail
  • Feb 6, 2015: State pleads for more time to present witnesses
  • Jan 21, 2014: Denied bail again
  • Early March: Denied bail again
  • Feb 13, 2014: Trial flops over lack of quorum in court martial
  • Feb 14, 2014: Trial starts behind closed doors
  • Early May: Undergoes “minor” operation at Bombo Military Hospital
  • May 14, 2014: Trial resumes three days after being discharged from hospital
  • Feb 20, 2015: His lawyer asks court to dismiss charges against Ondoga, saying the State “bungled up” its case with “fabricated” testimonies.
  • Feb 25, 2015: Ruling deferred for lack of quorum in the court
  • May 6, 2015: Ondoga acquitted of failing to execute his duties but kept in custody on other charges.
  • May 8, 2015: Final charges dismissed and Ondoga released.
  • March, 2016: Appointed as deputy director at NEC, the UPDF’s business portfolio
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South Sudan ‘denies’ Abyei people

By
Our Reporter and Agencies
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South Sudan foreign affairs minister Dr Barnaba Marial

Despite appointing some people from Abyei to senior positions, the South Sudan government has said people from that region who reside and work in the south are citizens of the neighbouring Sudan.

Indeed, it remains unclear why South Sudan appointed leaders such as recently relieved inspector general of police, Pieng Deng Kuol and Deng Alor Kuol, another citizen of Abyei, who is currently the foreign minister designate.

But what is clear is that the government denied the people from Abyei following report by the Office of the High Commission for Human Rights which touched on many violations committed by the government, mentioning among others the dismissal from teaching at the University of Juba, Luka Biong Deng, due to a forum he hosted in October last year at the campus premises to discuss the now contentious issue of the newly created 28 states.

However, in a statement of explanation to the world’s human rights body, South Sudan’s ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said Dr Luka Biong Deng is not a citizen of South Sudan, but one of the Sudan.

The March 9, official correspondence further denied that Deng was dismissed from the University on the directives of President Salva Kiir, saying the University terminated his contract.

According to independent analysts, the new revelation seems to suggest that the people of Abyei, although they hail from the Dinka ethnic group like the president, have been seen to be foreigners in South Sudan.

The 2005 peace agreement which ended 21 years of war between the Sudanese government and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) provided for a referendum to be conducted by the people of Abyei to choose between remaining in the Sudan and opting to join South Sudan.

However, the referendum did not take place while South Sudan got its independence in July 2011.

Also, a unilaterally conducted referendum by residents of Abyei in 2013 was not recognized by Sudan and others including the government of South Sudan, but Abyei is included in the South Sudan’s transitional constitution, 2011, as its territory.

 

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UWA Boss Seguya welcomes CNN ranking

By
Stephen Muneza
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Andrew Seguya, Uganda Wildlife Authority Executive Director

Uganda’s tourism sector grew by a stunning 47.6% in 2015, compared to 5.2% economic growth according to a CNN survey.

The country is once again becoming a popular safari destination and according to the Executive Director of the Uganda Tourism Board, Dr. Andrew Seguya, the country’s tourism industry got a massive boost last year as it improved its marketing campaign and it’s not a surprise because they worked so hard.

“My people at UTB have been working very hard after challenges of Ebola and the terrorist bombings in Kenya that made the numbers drop in 2014. The recognition by CNN the biggest media outlet in the world is confidence in us as a country and as the tourism sector,” Seguya told EagleOnline in a telephone interview.

The country has improved its marketing strategy, touting its wildlife tourism — including popular gorilla treks and everybody who comes to Uganda gets infected with our facilities,” he added.

Barcelona Legend Rayco Garcia, takes a photo next to a mountain gorilla in Bwindi National Park during his and other team legends' visit to Uganda recently.
Barcelona Legend Rayco Garcia, takes a photo next to a mountain gorilla in Bwindi National Park during his and other team legends’ visit to Uganda recently.

With the Easter weekend upon us, Seguya advises Ugandans to embrace domestic tourism pointing at the places to take a holiday like – the beautiful Lake Mutanda in Kisoro, floating down the crocodile-flanked Nile, fishing on Lake Victoria, wandering among the elephant herds of Queen Elizabeth National Park or listening to the roar of mighty Murchison Falls.

Several outfitters offer whitewater rafting and kayaking trips down the Nile, past snoozing crocodiles and snorting hippos. Nile High Bungee in Jinja offers an adrenalin-packed plunge (44 meters) into the world’s longest river.

You can also board surf down rapids, whoosh down rivers on jetboats and organize sports fishing trips to catch the river monster of central Africa — Nile perch that can grow up to 200 kilograms.

The holy grail of Uganda wildlife watching is Bwindi Forest, where roughly half of the world’s mountain gorillas reside.

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Comedians confirm Mirinda Mass Market gigs

By
Our Reporter
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Amooti Omubalanguzi

More than 15 comedians have confirmed they will be part of the 3 Easter shows that Mirinda has organized in Kampala (Laftaz Lounge), Mukono (Satelite Beach) and Jinja (Dam Waters) on the 24th, 26th and 27th of March respectively.

The comedians include Kapale, Mariachi, Kere Kere, Snake and Zolo, Amooti and the New Amarula Production, Madrat and Chiko, Swengere Comedians.

Jonathan Kyeyo, the organiser of the shows and also proprietor of Laftaz Comedy lounges in Kampala and Jinja told our reporter that the comedians are set to perform in all the three places.

“The comedians are ready to give their funs the best skits ever in the three places they are going to perform. All I can assure the comedy fans is that their Easter holiday will be memorable.” He said.

Mr Timothy Luzinda, the Mirinda Brand Manager also gave a fun assurance to the comedy fans in the three places the stars will be performing this Easter weekend.

“Mirinda’s brand thematic is free your funside, and for the past four years, we have used comedy among other platforms to free the fun side of Ugandans.  There is no doubt that the team of comedians we have arranged for these shows is the best in the country. We are very confident that they will free the funsides of Ugandans in the areas where they are going to perform”.  Luzinda said.

On all the three shows, the fans have also been assured of performances from Ziza Bafana, King Saha, Sheebah and Winnie Nwagi.

The 'Comedy lineup'
The ‘Comedy lineup’

Entrance fee to the show in)  Mukono (Satellite beach) and Kampala (Laftaz Comedy Lounge) will go for shs10, 000 ordinary and shs20,000 VIP while in Jinja (Dam waters) entrance will be shs10,000 for adults and shs5,000 for children. All entry fees come with an ice cold Mirinda at the entrance.

 

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TOTAL Uganda launches free online Oil and Gas Course

By
Our Reporter
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Mr. Florentin de Loppinot, Managing Director of Total Uganda at a recent event

The IFP School, a renowned French Petroleum Institute, with the support of Total Uganda, has opened registration for a specialized free online course on oil and gas.

The course named “Oil & Gas from Exploration to Distribution” will be taught as Massive OpenOnline Course (MOOC) for four weeks in English with French subtitles.

To apply for this course, prospective students will have visit the IFP school website, mooc.oil-andgas.ifp-school.com/ and sign up for the course. According to the press release, the inaugural course received 21,800 students, 28% of whom received certificates in Oil and Gas.

This year’s MOOC has been upgraded to a certificate course. Those who will successfully complete the MOOC course will proceed to the advanced stage of the course termed as an “advanced game” to equip them with advanced knowledge on oil and gas industry.

Students will receive free course materials on the oil and gas value chain covering various themes in the oil and gas industry, including stakeholder issues, economic issues, strategic stakes and challenges, oil and gas exploration and production, refining and marketing.

In addition, the course is also very interactive including use of a number of entertaining innovations in education, including mini video games. The online platform will also allow students to exchange (under their name or a pseudonym) with the other participants, professionals or students from all over the world on issues of oil and gas.

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DP in unity drive, woos Independents

By
Jonathan Kamoga
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DP President Norbert Mao

The Democratic Party President Norbert Mao will reach out to all its members who contested as Independents, in a bid rejuvenate party unity.

‘The Office of the President of the Democratic Party is also finalising the appropriate process of reaching out to all those who contested as Independents in the recently concluded General Elections. This will be an exertion for the Party’s unity process which is a reality and a supreme move at the time,’ the party said in a statement.

According to the DP, the developments will be part of the National Executive Committee (NEC) and National Council (NC) meetings held after Easter to assess the state of the Party and the way forward.

‘This will allow the leadership to reassess and develop a broader perspective of the party by laying grounds for thorough critical analysis. The party shall emerge with an action plan for addressing the key challenges internally and confronting the current political situation in the country. The country will be updated about the developments as they unfold. But to a greater extent, it will also be a strategy to agree on policy positions especially at Party level and in Parliament at large’, the release adds.

 

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Former Uganda Cranes coach Csaba favourite for English job

By
Stephen Muneza
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LEAD Technologies Inc. V1.01

For a man who helped make Uganda’s most flamboyant professional in David Obua, Csaba Laszlo needs all our prayers as he awaits appointment for the manager’s job at Nottingham Forest in England.

The 52-year-old is best known in the Uganda for his time spent as national team head coach of the Uganda Cranes replacing Egyptian Mohammad Abbas in 2006 before moving on to become manager of Hearts in the Scottish Premier League from 2008 until 2010 where Obua flourished under his tutorage.

Coached by the Hungarian, Uganda Cranes had a chance of breaking a 30-year wait for the chance to participate in a continental tournament.

Forest owner Fawaz Al Hasawi last week told the Nottingham Post he had received interest from abroad and said: “I have been offered three managers in England already and seven from across Europe. My friend Laszlo is also interested.

Laszlo, who was born in Romanian but is a Hungarian national, is still based in Scotland and is keen to take a role in the English game.

Before this he had success in Hungary with Ferencváros in the Uefa Cup.

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DP condemns Besigye house arrest

By
Jonathan Kamoga
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BRILLIANT? DP Vice President Fred Mukasa Mbidde

Opposition Democratic Party has condemned the continued incarceration of Dr.Kizza Besigye at his home in Kasangati for over a month now.

Addressing journalists at the party headquarters in Kampala this morning, DP Vice president Fred Mukasa Mbidde said the party stands in solidarity with the former Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) presidential candidate.

“This is nolonger about him as an individual but it is about every Ugandan,” Mr Mbidde said adding: “The Uganda police has represented the potential of turning anyone’s home into prison.”

Dr Besigye was put under house arrest a month ago by police that claims he poses a threat to public security. He has since then moved out to attend prayers, while on other several occasions he has been subjected to detentions at Nagalama and Kasangati police stations.

Yesterday, Besigye, through his lawyer David Mpanga, filed an application in the Kasangati Magistrates court challenging Dr Besigye’s detention at home.

However, with a ruling set for today, Besigye’s legal team was this morning informed that they will have to wait since the case file had been handed to the High Court for revisiting yesterday evening.

 

 

 

 

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Eastern youth MP vote set

By
Jonathan Kamoga
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Electoral commission (EC) Chairperson , Badru Kiggundu
Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) Chairperson , Badru Kiggundu

The Independent Electoral Commission has appointed March 23 and 24 as the days for convening the regional meeting to elect the youth parliamentary representative for the eastern region.

According to a release by the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) today, the delegates will convene at the YMCA Conference and Training Centre in Jinja, and those involved include members of the District Youth Councils within the Eastern Region, specifically consisting of the: District Youth Committees (9 members per district) within the region; ,  Chairperson of each Sub county/Division/Municipality/Town Youth Council within the region;  Secretary for Finance at the Sub county/Division/Municipality/Town Youth Council.

Others are the Secretary for Women Affairs of every Sub County/Division/Municipality/Town Youth Council;  One Youth with Disability (PWD) at District level; and  two (2) student representatives from each district within the region, one of whom shall be female nominated by the Uganda National Students’ Association (UNSA).

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Muwema to sue Facebook

By
Our Reporter
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BILLIONAIRE? City lawyer Fred Muwema will reportedly become a billionaire after Facebook cashes him for a case he lodged against Facebook seeking to be told the identity of'TVO'

Prominent city lawyer Fred Muwema is to sue Facebook, if the giant new media company does not provide him with the details of a one TVO, someone behind defamatory FB posts against Muwema, titled ‘Betrayal in the city’.

According to Muwema, TVO has posted damaging and life-threatening posts on his page to the effect that the lawyer stage-managed a break in his office in the leafy suburb of Kololo and that he also received a bribe of Shs900 million to abandon representing presidential elections petitioner John Patrick Amama Mbabazi, in the ongoing petition in the Supreme Court. Muwema also says that TVO has made wild allegations that the lawyer is being guarded by the Special Forces Command (SFC), an elite force that also guards the President and other dignitaries in Uganda.

And now in the letter to Facebook Inc Chairman Mark Zuckerberg, Muwema wants the giant new media company to furnish him with all the details of TVO including the Internet Protocol Address, to pave the way for legal action against the Facebook subject user.

According to Muwema, this information should be provided by March 29, failure of which will attract legal action against Facebook, Muwema says.

To this end, I request for the Internet Protocol address of the subject user by the 29th of March, 2016 to be able to determine the user’s physical location, email, telephone address and other useful user information.

In the letter Muwema demands that Facebook removes the defamatory content and that it stops hosting TVO on its social media platform.

Muwema1

Muwema2

Muwema3

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