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Besigye ‘hijacked’ from TDA meeting

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Our Reporter
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Dr Besigye trying to calm his supporters at Silver Springs hotel in Bugolobi this evening.

 

Dr Besigye trying to calm his supporters at Silver Springs hotel in Bugolobi this evening.
Dr Besigye trying to calm his supporters at Silver Springs hotel in Bugolobi this evening.

Opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) flag bearer for presidency Dr Warren Kizza Besigye has been forced to abandon a meeting he was engaged in with officials of The Democratic Alliance.

According to sources, Besigye was called out of the meeting by his staunch supporters including MPs Geoffrey Ekanya, Odonga Otto and Hassan Kaps Fungaroo among others, and whisked away to the FDC party headquarters in Najjanankumbi, where he was asked to brief them on the developments at the TDA headquarters in Naguru.

This follows fears that the TDA has bent backwards and made decisions that seem to favour another opposition challenger, Amama Mbabazi.

Indeed, party theorists have hinted at money changing hands, allegedly to Dr Besigye’s detriment.

FDC party faithfuls demanding Dr.Besigye to return the party and run as its flag bearer.
FDC party faithfuls  asking Dr.Besigye to return the party and run as its flag bearer.

Mbabazi (Independent), Dr Besigye (FDC), former Vice President Prof. Gilbert Balibaseeka Bukenya (Independent) and Norbert Mao (Democratic Party) have been cleared by the TDA to contest for presidency under its banner, but by press time today it had emerged that Mbabazi and Dr Besigye were the choice contestants of members attending a retreat at the Silver Springs hotel in Bugolobi, a Kampala plush suburb.

Prof. Bukenya, a former Vice President, Mbabazi, a former Prime Minister and Secretary General of the National Resistance Movement (NRM), and Dr Besigye have their political roots partially attached to the ruling party, but while Mbabazi joined the opposition TDA recently, after the summit members endorsed his candidature last week, while Dr Besigye has opposed the current government under President Yoweri Museveni since 1999.

TDA members thrown into disarray after the fracas.
TDA members thrown into disarray after the fracas.

Besigye has also run for presidency against Museveni three times, losing in the three elections, albeit with him claiming the elections were not free and fair or rigged for that matter. For Prof Bukenya, he fell out with the ruling NRM in 2011.

Meanwhile, the TDA is set to announce the joint opposition flag bearer tomorrow, amid speculation that Mbabazi has emerged the choice candidate of the loose alliance that seeks to end Museveni’s nearly 30-year presidency.

 

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Parliament gives resounding eulogy to late Gen. Aronda

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Our Reporter
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Gen. David Sejusa paying respect to his late comrade, Gen Aronda Nyakairima at Parliament.

 

Gen. David Sejusa paying respect to his late comrade, Gen Aronda Nyakairima at Parliament.
Gen. David Sejusa paying respect to his late comrade, Gen Aronda Nyakairima at Parliament.

 

Defence Minister announces more tests to ascertain cause of death

Although the ministry of health has announced heart attack as the cause of Gen Aronda Nyakairima’s death, more tests will be carried out  on some of his body parts

While eulogizing the 56-year-old former army Commander and Internal Affairs Ministers, Dr Crispus Kiyonga, the Minister of Defence said that although government is contented with the pathology report released by the Ministry of Health, some fluids and body party will
still be examined.

“We want to remove any possibility of suspicion and that is the reason we have decided to do more examination in case something was missed,”he said.

Kiyonga eulogized Aronda as a selfless and disciplined “son of Uganda” who should forever be remembered by Ugandans for the contribution he made to the country.

“Death makes a mistake when it picks the young ones when the old ones are there. I think this has been a mistake that death has made. We should struggle to continue with what Aronda fought for instead of inciting the public on social media,” he said.

The Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), who also worked with him while fighting rebels in West Nile, Katumba Wamala described him a workaholic and focused army officer whose death has left a big gap in the institution.

“We will miss you Gen. Aronda. To the family, although he has not left any material wealth, he has left a name. That name will open doors for you and you will never suffer,” he said.

The Leader of Opposition Wafula Oguttu, praised the late as a corruption and scandal free government official who dedicated his life to serving the country and bringing about development.

However, Mr Wafula used the eulogy platform to call for the withdrawal of government forces from South Sudan and Somalia.

“We have been fighting wars for the last thirty years. We have been involved in too many wars. Let us recall our army from Somalia and South Sudan”.

Gen. Aronda died last weekend aboard an emirates aircraft en route to Uganda as he was returning from official duties in South Korea.

Aronda, who is being given a state funeral, lay in state at Parliament foyer before being eulogized by the whole House. He will be laid to rest on Sunday at his ancestral home in Rukungiri after a national official ceremony at Kololo tomorrow.

 

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Gen Aronda post mortem results out

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Our Reporter
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 Deceased Minister of Internal of Internal Affairs General Robert Aronda Nyakairima died of acute heart failure due to blocked vessels.
Uganda Police Pathologist Dr Philip Byaruhanga and the Uganda Heart Institute Director Dr John Omagino made the revelation today, at the Media Centre in Kampala.
Gen Aronda, who also served as the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) of the Uganda Peoples Defence Forces (UPDF) died last Saturday as he returned from a working visit to South Korea, and his body was yesterday brought back from Dubai, where it had been preserved since his death.
Earlier, family members and a team of Ugandan medical personnel led by the Uganda Peoples Defence Forces Director of Medical of Services Dr James Makumbi, left for Dubai to make preparatory arrangements pending the return of the deceased General’s body.
Today the General’s body is lying in state in Parliament before being taken to Kololo Ceremonial Grounds for prayers after which the body will be taken to his ancestral home in Rukungiri for burial on Sunday.
Meanwhile, the EAC Secretary General Dr Richard Sezibera has sent a message of condolence to President Yoweri Museveni over Gen Aronda Nyakairima’s death,reports Jonathan Kamoga.
 
In the message sent early today Dr Sezibera mourned “the passing of a great son of Uganda and a towering figure of our time who has left an indelible imprint on the history of Uganda”.
Gen. Aronda111
 
Amb Sezibera noted that the late General Aronda played a big role in deepening the EAC integration process in regard to the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Cooperation in Defence in the Community, while serving as Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces.
 
“Together with his fellow Chiefs of Defence Forces from Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi, the late General Nyakairima worked so hard through the Sectoral Council on Cooperation in Defence to ensure that the MoU is implemented to the letter,” Dr Sezibera said.
 
Through the MoU, the SG said the EAC Partner States have continued to pursue an elaborate programme of activities of confidence building among the Defence Forces such as Joint Operations, Technical Assistance, Visits and Exchange of Information, Cultural Exchanges and Sports Competitions, to enhance a spirit of comradeship among the Armed Forces in the region.
 
The MoU, which has now been upgraded into a Protocol, lays emphasis on unity, peace, stability and strength to defend the region’s common interests.
 “The entire East African Community and I share with Your Excellency, the bereaved family and the government and people of Uganda, the feelings of great loss at this moment of deep sorrow,” concludes the message.
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EAC SG urges media in Tanzania on peace during elections

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Our Reporter
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L-R: Mr. Austin Makini, CEO Trinity Group, Mr. Fabio Di Stefano from the EU, Chair MOAT Dr. Mengi, Rev Canon Godda, Mr. Owora R. Othieno
The Secretary General of the East African Community Dr Richard Sezibera has urged the media fraternity in Tanzania to build peace and social consensus as the country prepares for the forthcoming general elections slated for October 2015.
The Secretary General, who was on Wednesday 16 September participating in a two-day Tanzania Media Peace Forum 2015 convened by the Media Owners Association of Tanzania (MOAT), Trinity Group East Africa, and the EAC Secretariat at the Julius Nyerere International Convention Centre in Dar es Salaam, said during the electioneering period, the media in Tanzania is expected to build peace, social consensus and cohesion, without which democracy is threatened.
Amb Sezibera, who was represented by his Head of Corporate Communication and Public Affairs Department, Mr Richard Owora Othieno, said: “it will be unfortunate if the media in Tanzania take the path of fanning flames of discord by taking sides, reinforcing prejudices, muddling the facts and peddling half-truths during the electioneering period”.
 
L-R: Mr. Austin Makini, CEO Trinity Group, Mr. Fabio Di Stefano from the EU, Chair MOAT Dr. Mengi, Rev Canon Godda, Mr. Owora R. Othieno
L-R: Mr. Austin Makini, CEO Trinity Group, Mr. Fabio Di Stefano from the EU, Chair MOAT Dr. Mengi, Rev Canon Godda, Mr. Owora R. Othieno
He urged the media to shape public opinion responsibly and not to be influenced and manipulated by different interest groups in the society. “You are expected to promote democracy by among other things, educating voters, protecting human rights, promoting tolerance among various social groups, and ensuring that the government is transparent and accountable. Please don’t sow fear, division and violence which will lead to democratic decay”, asserted the EAC official.
 
In his keynote address, Dr. Reginald A. Mengi, the Executive Chairman of IPP Limited and Chair of Media Owners Association of Tanzania (MOAT), commended the EAC Secretariat and the Trinity Group East Africa for bringing together the representatives of various stakeholders to appreciate their different critical roles in deepening democracy in Tanzania.
 
Dr. Mengi reiterated that for a long time Tanzania had been a haven of peace, a situation, which has given the country international applause and that, the peace is a huge national asset and guarantees the country’s unity and national security.
 
“If we create and breed social instability, our existing peaceful co-existence will vanish at a great loss to all Tanzanians and the nation, and it will be very hard to re-organize and restore it,” he noted.
 
 Dr Mengi also cautioned the media on reporting what candidates and their campaigners say while looking for votes. “Newsrooms, online portals, radio and television producers, should report stories and developments that aim to promote peace and national unity,” he advised.
 
A representative of the Head of the European Union Delegation in Tanzania, Mr. Fabio Di Stefano said the role of the media during elections cannot be underestimated and that development partners were ready to support the Tanzanian people during the general elections.
 
 Rev. Canon Thomas Godda, the Executive Director of the Inter-Religious Council for Peace Tanzania and Mr. Tom Ndahiro, former Head of Department of Civil and Political Rights in the Rwanda National Human Rights Commission shared their views on the role of the media in democracy and peace building.

 

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Basic communication is important for the populace

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Our Reporter
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Information is power, or so the adage goes. One of the cardinal benefits of democracy and good governance is the ability for any citizen to freely participate in the affairs and activities of his/her country and this should obtain in a situation where there is freedom of speech, association and the freedom to think or imagine, otherwise called creativity. These are all tools of human endeavor and that is why they should be respected by all and sundry because they lead to an ‘informed society’.

Indeed, in a situation where you have an informed society, the people make tangible and sustained decisions regarding their political, social and economic lives, in essence reflecting on their destiny and that of generations to come.
This is the very reason why countries like the USA boast of being Independent for over 200 years; the citizens there share the verve of dignified continuity of their country. However, in most third World countries, much as we have the verve, we seem to lack sound thoughtfulness on how to achieve that desired goal. Normally, there should be consistent platforms for explaining the methods that can lead to the realization of national objectives and individual aspirations. This inevitably raises the critical issue of the citizens’ need to know and official communication.
It should be noted that in the wake of the death of General Aronda Nyakairima, the state officials charged with making communication to the satisfaction of the populace seeming displayed lack of coordination. This is not good as all sorts of speculation are flying around.
Indeed, Government hires communications experts for all its ministries, statutory bodies and agencies and these should endeavor to ensure that they plug any information vacuums with true, accurate and timely information, and in the process help the citizens to make informed decisions and utterances.
However, if the task becomes onerous, at times it is imperative for the experts from the different line institutions to meet first and only talk after harmonizing a position.
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EAC SG receives Swiss, Turkish envoys

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Our Reporter
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The Swiss Ambassador to the EAC Arthur Mattli (left) confers with the EAC Secretary General, Dr Richard Sezibera, after the envoy presented his credentials to the Secretary General.
The East African Community Secretary General Dr Richard Sezibera, received credentials from the Ambassador and Representative of Switzerland to the EAC, Mr. Arthur Mattli.
Speaking at the function, Amb Mattli said his government is committed to deepening its cooperation with the EAC and urged the regional body collaborate with Switzerland in the area of vocational training which he noted has been his country’s key to economic growth.
“Switzerland’s secret to economic growth is vocational training. We have the smallest country in Europe which is also the least populated and the lowest education per capita in terms of university graduates in Europe. However, we have the highest level of patents and innovations.
The Swiss Ambassador to the EAC Arthur Mattli (left) confers with the EAC Secretary General, Dr Richard Sezibera, after the envoy presented his credentials to the Secretary General.
The Swiss Ambassador to the EAC Arthur Mattli (left) confers with the EAC Secretary General, Dr Richard Sezibera, after the envoy presented his credentials to the Secretary General.

This shows that you need not have the highest number of university graduates in order to innovate,” Amb Mattli said.
Amb. Mattli said that vocational training in Switzerland is through public-private partnerships, adding that education must be meaningful to any economy.
 “Lessons must be practical so innovations start very early. Investors want skilled people, not just people entering the job market,” he said, adding that for vocation training to be taken seriously, artisans must be given as much respect as highly educated people.
He also noted that the EAC had made significant achievements including promoting regional trade and infrastructure development, adding that Switzerland was keen on providing support to drive the integration process forward. The Swiss envoy said his country was following the integration process closely and urged the EAC to engage the youth in their projects so that they can embrace the idea of regional integration.
 
 
 In his remarks, Amb. Dr. Sezibera said the youth were a critical target for the EAC and disclosed that the Community had appointed youth ambassadors who were doing an excellent job promoting the integration process.
 
The SG said the Community’s Education Department was currently working on framework for vocational training in the region which would address issues of training, qualifications and certification.
 
He, however, expressed concern that most Partner States had moved away from vocational training towards university education which is more academic rather than being practical.
 
Dr Sezibera urged Switzerland to consider supporting the EAC through the Partnership Fund, a basket fund which he said had enabled the Community to make significant achievements in various sectors.
 
The Secretary General also called for Swiss support in upcoming negotiations between the EAC and the European Free Trade Area.
 
Meanwhile, the EAC Secretary General also received credentials from the Turkish Ambassador, Ms Yasemin Eralp, at the EAC Headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.
 
Present at the function were EAC Deputy Secretaries General, Dr Enos Bukuku (Planning and Infrastructure) and Mr Liberat Mfumukeko ( Finance and Administration), and Mr Peter Kiguta, Director-General (Customs and Trade).
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SMEs in US$5000 competition

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Our Reporter
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AFIF 2014 Project Incubator Award winner: Magloire N’Dakon awarded the prize for his innovative project, Extended Finance (Ivory Coast)
One existing small or medium size enterprise in Africa will receive a US$5.000 cash prize in a bid to encourage innovation and entrepreneurship on the continent.
Under the Africa Finance and Investment Forum (AFIF) Entrepreneurship Award 2015, the award package will also include yearlong media promotion support in and out of Africa, free AFIF 2015 participation, including the Training Workshop and travel expenses to the AFIF 2015 covered by EMRC.
AFIF 2014 Project Incubator Award winner: Magloire N’Dakon awarded the prize for his innovative project, Extended Finance (Ivory Coast)
AFIF 2014 Project Incubator Award winner: Magloire N’Dakon awarded the prize for his innovative project, Extended Finance (Ivory Coast)
AFIF 2015, entitled ‘Access to Finance & Entrepreneurship’ is organized in collaboration with the European Investment Bank (EIB); the German Development Finance Institution (DEG) in partnership with Agri Academy; ECOWAS-TEN, Pfizer, Rabobank, BlueCloud, Islamic Corporation for the Development (ICD) of the Private Sector; IFC World Bank (IFC) among others.  
The forum will be held in Cape Town, South Africa, from November 24 to 26, 2015and ‘brings to the table financiers who are looking to find real projects, investment opportunities and long-term partnerships. There is a spirit to get things done which is demonstrated through the B2B sessions, tailor-made one-on-one sessions, which are organized throughout the forum. A pre-forum training workshop, will also offer participants professional coaching on how to set up a business plan and target the appropriate funding,’ a release states.
“This year we are boosting the Award, by offering the chance to all those remarkable entrepreneurs based in Africa to submit their business project. We are facilitating their presence which in turn will ensure that SMEs are strongly represented at the event,” Inês Bastos, EMRC Senior Project Manager, said.
“Nothing beats sharing your achievements and your vision to like-minded people who could become eventual partners or investors,” Bastos adds.
The award has previously been won by a unique group of African entrepreneurs which include Magloire N’Dakon (2014) awarded the prize for his innovative project, Extended Finance in Ivory Coast; Marie-Claire Matamba (2013) head of Agrimat Gabon; Anastácio Roque representing CESACOPA (2012) from Angola; Suzanne Belemtougri (2011) head of Sophavet and hailing from Burkina Faso as well as Derek Kwesiga (2009) head of Derekorp from Uganda.
“Participating in the Award brought me visibility. A visibility which is rather exceptional because I presented the project to an assembly full of investors and business people who work with and in Africa. I told myself I had to jump on this occasion in particular because I really believe in my project and I worked hard to make it what is today”, 2014 winner Magloire N’Dakon says.
With an expected 300 people from all over the world, the three-day event will see North & South policymakers, investors and private sector entrepreneurs discuss and find practical business solutions.
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Four months for review of Rwanda Constitution

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Our Reporter
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The recently-sworn in members of Rwanda’s Constitution Review Commission have four months to accomplish their tasks, including among others, deliberating on Article 101 of the Constitution, which obliges the President of Rwanda to serve a maximum of two seven-year terms.
According to their terms, the seven Commissioners are supposed to guide the Rwanda Parliament on the legalities involved in amending the Constitution that was promulgated in 2003, with a view of making amendments of some laws which may since then have become outdated.
The Rwanda CRC is headed by Dr Augustine Iyamulemye, a former Minister, assisted by Commissioners Dr Usta Kayitesi (vice chairperson), John Milenge, Aimable Havugiyaremye, Evode Uwizeyimana, Loice Bawmine and Beata Mukeshimana.
Early this year, several Rwandans petitioned Parliament to amend the Constitution to allow for the removal of term limits, something observers say is aimed at paving the way for incumbent President Paul Kagame to serve another possible seven-year term after his two terms end in 2017.
Consequently, members of both the lower and upper chambers of Parliament went on a nation-wide consultation campaign, and all returned with almost a similar verdict: the Constitution must be amended to remove term limits and allow Kagame to continue as President.
However, the move has been castigated by some members of the international community led by the US, which has openly spoken out against particularly changing Article 101 of the Rwanda Constitution.
Locally, the proposal to amend the Constitution has been contested by a few people and political organisations among them an opposition outfit, the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda, which has challenged the legality of the amendment of Article 101 in the Supreme Court.  
Kagame became President of Rwanda in 2000, through a process initiated by Parliament which had impeached then President Pasteur Bizimungu. In 2003 Kagame was elected President by adult suffrage to serve his first seven-year term, and was again re-elected in 2010 to serve a second seven-year term, one that comes to an end in August 2017.
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Wenger likely to use ‘second-string players’ against Dynamo Zagreb

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Our Reporter
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HEADED FOR REAL MADRID? Arsenal Manager Arsene Wenger.

 

Hard times for Arsene Wenger.
Hard times for Arsene Wenger.

Wednesday
Dynamo Zagreb Vs Arsenal Stadion Maksimir at 9:45pm. 

After finishing third last season in the English premier league and avoiding Champions League play offs, Arsenal are in Group F alongside Dynamo Zagreb, Olympiakos and former champions Bayern Munich.

In today’s match against Zagreb, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is likely to feature a ‘weak’ side in Croatia, considering he faces a
strong opponent at the weekend in names of Chelsea.
The North London team is still riding high following a 2-0 win over Stoke City last Saturday, and will be keen to maintain a clean sheet
against Zagreb at home in Croatia.
In the last three matches played in all competitions, Dynamo Zagreb has scored 11 goals and conceded only one goal, while Arsenal sits
fourth with 10 points from five games in the English Premier League. Likely starters likely to be rested include Hector Bellerin, Nacho
Monreal, Santi Carzola, Mesut Ozil and Coquelin. But Per Mertesacker,who has been out with a virus is expected on the pitch alongside Skipper Mikel Arteta, goalkeeper Peter Cech, Gabriel Paulista, Laurent Koscielny, Theo James Walcott, Alex Oxlade Chamberlain, Mathieu Debuchy, Olivier Giroud, Kieran Gibbs, and Alexis Sanchez.Danny Wellbeck, Thomas Rosicky and Jack Welshere still out injured.
Arsenal last met dynamo in 2006 and the gunners won in Croatia. Meanwhile, in the other games tonight, Porto goal keeper Iker Casillas is set to make a record equaling 151st Champions League appearance when his team faces Dynamo Kiev in a Group G opener in Ukraine.

The 34-year old Spanish who left Real Madrid in the summer will match the record number set by former Barcelona captain hernandez Xavi Creus at Olimpiyskiy Stadium in Ukraine.

CL fixtures at 9:45pm tonight.
Bayern Leverkusen Vs Bate Borisov
Roma Vs Barcelona
Chelsea Vs Maccabi Tel Aviv
Valencia Vs Zenit St Petersburg
Gent Vs Lyon

 

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Luke Shaw out, ManU suffer defeat

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Our Reporter
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Luke Shaw’s injury is a big set back to England Coach Roy Hogson’s preparations for 2016 Euro finals in France.
Luke Shaw’s injury is a big set back to England Coach Roy Hogson’s preparations for 2016 Euro finals in France.
Luke Shaw’s injury is a big set back to England Coach Roy Hogson’s preparations for 2016 Euro finals in France.

PSV 2-1 Manchester United
After a season long absence from the Champions League, Manchester United suffered their first defeat at the hands of PSV Eindhoven, a 2-0 loss with a goal that cancelled Memphis Depay’s lead strike in the 41st  minute coming from Hector Moreno in the 46th minute goal.
Then in the 56th minute Luciano Narsingh latched onto a Maxima Lesteinne cross for a second goal, earning PSV all three points.
In the game ManU left back and England international Luke Shaw suffered a broken right foot after colliding with Moreno in the 26th
minute in a match played at Phillips Stadion.

The defeat left Louis van Gaal’s Red Devils in third place of Group A, just behind PSV Eindhoven and Wolfsburg, who earlier in the opening game won against CSKA Moscow.

Meanwhile, Luke Shaw’s injury is a big set back to England Coach Roy Hogson’s preparations for 2016 Euro finals in France.

 In other games played:
Manchester City were beaten 2-1 by Italian and ‘vice champions’
Juventus at Eithad Stadium, with Giorgio Chielline scoring an own goal against Juve in the 57th minute. But the joy was short-lived as newly acquired Mario Mandzukic and brilliant Alvaro Morata scored for Juve.
Real Madrid walloped Shakhtar Donesky by 4-0 at Santiago Bernabeu in Spain with Ronaldo getting a hat trick in the second half after Karim
Benzema’s first half strike. The Ronaldo hat trick has now made him
the highest Champion’s League scorer with 80 goals against Messi’s 77.

Benfica 2-0 Estana
Garatasaray 0-2 Atletico Madrid
PSG 2-0 Malmo
Sevilla 3-0 M’ngladbach
Wolfsburg 1-0 CSKA Moscow

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