President Yoweri Museveni has today taken time off his busy campaign schedule and travelled to Rwanda for a meeting with Presidents Paul Kagame of Rwanda and Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya over the Northern Corridor Integration Project (NCIP).
The NCIP is a multi-faceted undertaking by among others Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan and consists of several integration and infrastructure components including the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR), land, the mutual defence cooperation pact, oil refinery development, financing, human resource capacity building and ICT development. Others are immigration; trade, tourism, labour and services; political federation fast tracking and power generation, transmission and interconnectivity.
At the preparatory meeting of the 11th Summit of the NCIP, the Minister of Energy Irene Muloni committed Uganda to export 15 megawatts of electricity after the completion of the Mbarara-Mirama Hills Transmission line, scheduled for April 2016.
By press time details of the 12th Summit of the NCIP were scanty but earlier in the day Mr Museveni opened the newly-constructed UgShs8bn Uganda High Commission Chancery in Kigali.
The Mauritius Commercial Bank (MCB) Group has, through the MCB Equity Fund, invested in Partnering Technologies, a French high-tech printing and robotics business run by Ramesh Caussy, the Mauritian inventor of Diya One, the air purifying robot that has made a big impression at the COP 21 in Paris.
According to a release by the Africa Press Organisation (APO), sales of Diya One are scheduled for the first quarter of 2016 and the French ministry of ecology, sustainable development and energy has already placed an order.
Diya One is the first neuro-inspired robot that can analyze and purify indoor air and can work in museums, public buildings, schools and offices.
It was a major attraction at the “Solutions COP 21” exhibition. Diya One was showcased at the booths of the Institut National de la Protection Industrielle and that of French multinational ENGIE. Ramesh Caussy also presented his project during the “Breakthrough Night” dedicated to innovation.
“I couldn’t imagine international development without involving Mauritius, and ensure it benefits from my humble contribution. We have now made the first step with the entry of the MCB Group, a key player in Mauritius, in the capital of Partnering Technologies,” said Mr Caussy, the Chief Executive of Partnering Technologies.
“We have taken the opportunity to invest in a young and innovative business working in a promising market and that has shown, through Diya One, its ability to improve our lives. It’s also an exciting opportunity for us to support a local talent who is showcasing the Mauritian knowhow on a global stage” Pierre Guy Noël, Chief Executive, MCB Group, added.
The Business Insider Report published in May 2015 indicates there will be a US $1.5 billion market for consumer and business robots by 2019.
The R2-D2 of climate change
Dubbed “the R2-D2 of climate change” by the international media due to its resemblance to the mythical Star Wars robot, Diya One is equipped with artificial intelligence. It moves around silently on its own, eliminating particulate and chemical pollution. After analysing the composition of indoor air using integrated sensors, Diya One robot then purifies it with extreme precision. The robot also delivers other functions, such as reducing energy consumption and managing maintenance requests from occupants.
The abilities of Diya One have been officially validated by the Centre Scientifique et Technique du Bâtiment in France and it is currently being supported by the European Union’s SPARC programme dedicated to research and innovation and whose aim is to make Europe the global leader in robotics by 2020.
Faith Maureen Kyalya Walube, the only woman in the 2016 presidential elections race has ‘temporarily’ withdrawn her candidature citing irregularities allegedly committed by the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC).
In a two-page letter posted on her Facebook page and addressed to the IEC Chairman Eng. Badru Kiggundu, Ms Walube Kyalya, says the electoral body has already rigged the presidential elections process.
‘As I informed you in the initial presidential candidates’ meeting with the Electoral Commission, the drastic and prohibitive sudden change of the Presidential Elections Act, automatically made the Presidential Elections of Uganda 2016 completely rigged out,’ wrote lawyer Walube Kyalya.
The fiery lawyer also accused the IEC of failing to ensure a level-playing ground for all the candidates, instead choosing to lean towards incumbent president Yoweri Museveni of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party.
‘Well as the election laws provide that all public servants should resign from office before taking part in the elections, this was not the case with the highest rank in the public service, president Yoweri Kaguta Museveni,’ she wrote in the letter dated December 9, 2015 and promised to follow up the matter with thee ‘relevant courts of law’.
The hitherto controversial Walube Kyalya, a former fiery Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) parliamentary contender in the 2011 elections and also a one time presidential advisor for poverty alleviation in Busoga, says president Museveni is using national resources to run his campaigns, while the IEC has denied the other aspirants transport and fuel to enable them carry out campaigns.
Maureen Kyalya
Until recently when she penned the missive dubbed, ‘Forced break from the Presidential campaign trail’ written from an undisclosed location in the United Kingdom, Walube Kyalya has been campaigning alongside Joseph Mabirizi, under the banner of the Independent Candidates Coalition.
In the missive she also indicates that she failed to finance her campaign activities partly due to the fact that the IEC hiked the election fees to Shs20 million. She however adds that she will resume her campaign trail on December 27.
Contacted on phone earlier today to clarify on the allegations, the IEC Spokesperson Jotham Taremwa said he was in a meeting.
Meanwhile, in an effort to rub it in that the three frontrunners in the 2016 presidential contest are beneficiaries of state resources at different times during the NRM government, Walube Kyalya wrote: ‘That said, I and all other ordinary presidential candidates have been technically eliminated from the race by your unlawful execution of the prohibitive, suppressive and oppressive unlawful and retrospectively executed presidential laws. There are only three exceptions to that deliberate elimination of fair competition; the incumbent president YK Museveni who is using public funds and resources; Hon Amama Mbabazi who has had access to the same public funds for 30 years and; Col Besigye who has had the same access in the past and has built a foundation of community support over the 15 years of his brutal persecution by the Uganda Government’.
A senior medical officer at Abim Hospital is under intense pressure from her bosses at the district headquarters, to explain why disciplinary action should not be taken against her for revealing ‘unauthorised information’ to the Forum for Democratic Change presidential flagbearer Col Dr Warren Kizza Besigye.
On December 7, the Abim Chief Administrative Officer Moses Kaziba Nandhala wrote to Senior Nursing Officer Santino Adong, telling her that she breached the Oath of Secrecy and the Oath of Allegiance when she told a visiting team of Dr Besigye and other FDC stalwarts about the present condition of the hospital.
PHOTO CREDIT: NTV Uganda
‘Unfortunately, on Saturday 5th December 2015 on NTV, you were seen on the screen leading political leaders throughout the hospital and showing them working status and general condition of the hospital. You went further and revealed unauthorised information,’ the CAO’s letter that is copied to the Abim District Chairman and Resident District Commissioner, among others, states in part.
You should remember that you signed the Oath of Secrecy and the Oath of Allegiance and in particular you vowed not to reveal any unauthorized information. The standing orders also emphasise a number of issues such as communication, bearing (sic) civil servants from political activities, etc,’ the letter, that threatens disciplinary action against Sister Adong, adds.
Netball seems to flow effectively in the veins of Uganda women and this was evident at the just-conclude East Africa Legislative Assembly games where the Parliament of Uganda emerged champs of the 2015 netball tournament.
The 45-9 triumph registered by the Parliament of Uganda against the Parliament of Kenya in a one sided final played at the Amahoro Stadium yesterday, comes just few months after Uganda’s national netball team, The She Cranes, shocked the world in a spectacular performance at the Netball World Cup in Sydney, Australia.
Uganda’s leading goal shooter Hon Susan Netasiire scored 33 points while Hon Susan Amero scored 12 points for the victors, while the Parliament of Kenya replied through Hon Dorcas Kedogo.
EALA finished third after dispatching Parliament of Rwanda 28-13.
Hon Judith Pareno and Idah Nakabugo scored the points for the winners respectively. In men’s volleyball final, the Parliament of Kenya beat the Parliament of Rwanda 2 sets to 0 in a hotly contested match. The Kenyans won (25-20) and (25 – 20) respectively.
Today’s volleyball (women) finals will pit Parliament of Rwanda and Parliament of Kenya. The match shall be preceded by a third and fourth place finals featuring EALA and Parliament of Kenya.
In soccer, EALA will play Parliament of Uganda in the finals at the Kigali Memorial Stadium in Nyamirambo.
EALA beat Parliament of Rwanda 1-0 on Tuesday while Parliament of Uganda sailed through after beating Parliament of Kenya 4-2 in penalties.
In Golf, Parliament of Kenya’s Hon Kariuki won the tournament after garnering 36 pointers. Hon Kariuki who is a handicap 12 beat closest challenger, Hon Peter Mathuki of EALA, handicap 28 who got 25 points. Rwanda’s Hon Theo Mporanyi scooped 22 points.
Mr Magufuli picked up rubbish from the street outside State House as part of the scheme, which he had ordered to replace Independence Day celebrations.
Tanzania’s new President John Magufuli has joined hundreds of residents in the main city Dar es Salaam to take part in a public clean-up operation.
Mr Magufuli picked up rubbish from the street outside State House as part of the scheme, which he had ordered to replace Independence Day celebrations.
Mr Magufuli picked up rubbish from the street outside State House as part of the scheme, which he had ordered to replace Independence Day celebrations.
The move is being seen as symbolic of the president’s promise to tackle corruption, our correspondent says.
Thousands of people across Tanzania are reported to have joined the clean-up.
Last month, Mr Magufuli cancelled traditional Independence Day celebrations, which usually include a military parade and concert, saying it would be “shameful” to spend huge sums of money while the country was facing a serious cholera outbreak.
“Let us work together to keep our country, cities, homes and workplaces clean, safe and healthy,” Mr Magufuli told a crowd of surprised onlookers as he picked up rubbish off the street, AFP news agency reports.
“Tanzania has changed – this is a new Tanzania,” one resident told AFP, on a break from cleaning up the city’s public beach.
Since coming to power in October, Mr Magufuli, nicknamed “The Bulldozer” for his no-nonsense approach, has announced a range of cost-cutting measures, including a ban on unnecessary foreign travel by government officials.
The hashtag #WhatWouldMagufuliDo, coined after the initial cancellation of festivities last month, has been trending on social media in Tanzania and across East Africa, as people come up with their own money-saving initiatives:
Paddy Ankunda dismissed claims by Simon Nangiro that he had received complaints from soldiers that they were not voting freely inside the barracks because they closely monitored by the bosses.
KAMPALA: Uganda’s army has denied it has polling stations inside the barracks that soldiers were not voting freely.
The army spokesperson, Lt Col Paddy Ankunda dismissed claims by Simon Nangiro that he had received complaints from soldiers that they were not voting freely inside the barracks because they closely monitored by the bosses.
It’s illegal to have polling stations in barracks. They are supposed to be outside the barracks. “We would like to clarify that there are no and there shall never be any polling stations in any barracks” he said.
Paddy Ankunda dismissed claims by Simon Nangiro that he had received complaints from soldiers that they were not voting freely inside the barracks because they closely monitored by the bosses.
Lt Col Ankunda also dismissed comments attributed to the Army’s fourth infantry division commander, Lt Ronald Ovon that soldiers who recently returned from South Sudan were being registered yet the registration exercise ended in May this year.
Lt Ovon was quoted in the media on Wednesday that the soldiers were being registered on a special arrangement because they were outside Uganda.
But Lt Col Ankunda said:”The UPDF would also wish to affirm that no UPDF Soldiers are being registered for National IDs as claimed. The Force followed the National program on registration where the troops registered for the National Identity Cards ONLY UNTIL May 11, 2015 when the exercise was closed to all citizens. Those who might have missed out shall do so when the registration exercise reopens after the general elections”.
Five-time winners of the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) football competitions, the Parliament of Uganda is to face the EALA team in the finals slated for tomorrow, December 10.
Defending champions, the Parliament of Uganda will be playing against the EALA for the second time in the tournament, having met in the group stages played during the week, where EALA beat the Parliament of Uganda 2-1.
Earlier today, EALA beat Parliament of Rwanda by a solitary goal notched in by Ibrahim Jamal after a one-two combination with Wyclif Ketto at the Kigali Regional Stadium in Nyamirambo to book a place in the finals.
In another game, Parliament of Uganda beat a strong Parliament of Kenya 4-2 in post-match penalties following a goalless match in an entertaining match.
EALA started the game purposely with Wycliff Ketto missing to tap in the ball in the 5th minute with the keeper Emile Bosabose beaten. Ernestte Nshyimiyana replied with a counter-attack after dispossessing Straton Ndikuryayo but he failed to beat the advancing EALA Goalkeeper.
Parliament of Rwanda thereafter plied pressure with creative striker, Bernard Makuza leading the attack but the defence line marshalled by Peter Asiimwe and Straton Ndikuryayo held on.
Parliament of Kenya on their part will however rue over the missed chance. Right winger, David Ochieng had a field day, constantly running over the Parliament of Uganda left full-back, but the striking pair of Victor Munyaka and Augustin Netto failed to convert the passes. The MP Shiniali came in and made marauding runs on the left flank.
Parliament of Uganda also raided the Kenya backline looking for an early goal. Hon Peter Ogwang fired a volley into the net past Kenya’s keeper, Hon Kanini Kega but was adjudged to be offside.
The extra-time of ten minutes each was a balanced affair with each Parliament attacking and counter-attacking.
Parliament of Uganda scored four spot-kicks through Hassan Tindyebwa, Hon Odonga Otto, Daniel Ssekide and Hon Patrick Nsanja. Parliament of Kenya scored through Joram Baraza and Hon Karanja while Stephen Njatta and Hon Shinali penalties hit the woodwork.
“We failed to convert our chances, we could have wrapped it in the first half but it was not our day,”Kenya’s Head coach, Sylvester Ocholla was quoted as saying.
In women’s volleyball played at the Petite Stade, Parliament of Kenya beat Parliament of Uganda by 2 sets to 0 to book a final slot with Parliament of Rwanda. The Kenyans won both sets (25-13) and (25-15) respectively.
In the second match of the day (women), Parliament of Rwanda dismissed EALA 2 sets to 0. Parliament of Rwanda was too strong for the EALA side whitewashing them (25-5) and (25-10) in both sets.
The netball finals are expected to be held at the Amahoro Stadium tomorrow. Parliament of Rwanda will meet EALA in the 3rd and 4th place match before Uganda and Kenya face off to determine the winner. Also taking place at the Kigali Golf Club, Nyarutarama is golf.
Ryan Andrew Gustafson, 28, was deported to the US last week after court charged him with counterfeit of more than Ugshs 540million
An American deported from Uganda and charged in a multimillion dollar counterfeiting scheme appeared before a federal judge in Pittsburgh.
Ryan Andrew Gustafson, 28, was deported to the US last week after court charged him with counterfeit of more than Ugshs 540million, with allegations that on arrest he was found in possession of US$10,000 (about sh27m then) counterfeit currency. He also reportedly connived with a one Christopher Kato to sell US$ 10,000 counterfeit money to Cedric Namakoola.
And, while in after deportation, the US the Western Pennsylvania court indicted Gustafson on charges that he had printed about US$1.4 million in fake US currency, about US$400,000 of which was sold online and shipped to the United States, federal authorities said.
Ryan Andrew Gustafson, 28, was deported to the US last week after court charged him with counterfeit of more than Ugshs 540million
Gustafson was denied bail after Assistant US Attorney Shardul Desai asked Magistrate Maureen Kelly to keep him in jail until his trial, saying that the suspect might flee back to Uganda where he has a wife. Gustafson was arrested last year and charged with unlawful possession of counterfeit currency notes and last week Buganda Road Chief Magistrate Flavia Nabakooza ordered that he be deported. But Gustafson told the magistrate he preferred to remain in a Ugandan prison and that he’d be killed if he were returned to the United States. Uganda agencies lauded
Meanwhile, Uganda security agencies have been commended by the United States for their efforts in making sure that Gustafson is deported to face charges.
In a press release by the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), the US Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania, David Hickton and Special Agent in charge of the US Secret Service – Pittsuburg Field Office, Eric Zahren commended the Ugandan agencies for ‘their tireless efforts’.
According to Attorney Hickton, several agencies in Uganda and the US including the Directorate of Public Prosecution, the Criminal Investigations and Intelligence Department, the Special Investigations and Intelligence Unit, and Stanbic Bank in Uganda and, the US Secret Service; the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the US Postal Inspection Service; Homeland Security Investigations; US Customs and Border Protection; and the National Cyber-Forensics & Training Alliance played a big role in bringing Gustafson to face justice.
“Identifying, charging and returning Ryan Gustafson to the United States from Uganda required extensive cooperation among diverse international law enforcement partners,” stated U.S. Attorney Hickton. Adding, “as a result, a multimillion dollar international cyber counterfeiting scheme has been disrupted and its principal will face justice on American soil.”
Special Agent Zahren promised that U.S. security agencies will continue to work closely with enforcement partners to dismantle criminal enterprises seeking to victimize innocent victims, regardless of geographic distance or borders. “Special thanks to Ugandan law enforcement officials and the United States Embassy Uganda for their assistance,” he said.
