President Yoweri Museveni has called on the leaders of the Rwenzururu Kingdom in Kasese and Obundhingiya in Bundibugyo to stop dragging the NRM government into kingdom matters.

Mr Museveni also asked the leaders to separate Obusinga issues from administrative units and told them to give time to the government to internalize the matters surrounding requests for Bugendera to be given a district status.

The President was meeting delegations from the two cultural institutions at State House Entebbe, led by Wilson Mutabazi Mukirane and Fulgensio Bamwitirebye of Kasese and Bundibugyo, respectively.

“Rwenzori sub-region is an area whose people actively participated in the protracted people’s struggle. There are three kings who are officially known. The fourth one is not yet recognized. Observe the national Constitution,” he said.

On the issue of land, the President warned that they cannot stop any Ugandan from owning property in any part of the country, and said that Omukama Oyo Kabamba Iguru of Tooro has got the right to visit and access his personal property in Kasese district.

He further warned them against involving Kings in matters of other people’s pieces of land

President Museveni was unhappy to note that many youth in that sub-region who attacked the army were killed. He revealed that the Government granted amnesty to those that survived that conflict but added that the people who killed the Basongora civilian families, would not be forgiven. He stressed that the law would take its course against those who killed civilians.

He said that the NRM Government’s role is to develop infrastructure such as roads and maintain peace and security.

The leader of the Bundibugyo delegation, Mr Bamwitirebye, assured the President that Bamba and Bakonzo communities were currently living in harmony. He thanked the President for government’s support of Shs 200million towards the construction of their palace and for the continued peace and security in the Rwenzori region and the entire country.

During the meeting, the President also took the opportunity to welcome Mr Taban Christopher Kibanzanga and Mr Gideon Mugisa to the National Resistance Movement (NRM).

The two leaders took an oath of allegiance to the NRM before the President and the leaders of Bukonzo and Bwamba.

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Brig Henry Tumukunde has been promoted to the rank of Lt Gen and retired from the army.

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The Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) has ‘advised’ the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) to learn from it on how to carry out free and fair elections.

Addressing the press at the party head offices in Kampala today, DRC spokesman Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda noted that the party flag bearer campaigns are moving on well and so will the elections.

He disclosed that his party asked the NRM and other political parties to attend the flag bearer elections exercise so that they can ‘learn’ from the FDC.

“We invited the NRM so that they learn that people within the same party can compete and shake hands; we invited political parties so that they can emulate us,” Nganda, who is also the Kyadondo East MP, said.

It was not possible to reach NRM spokesperson Mary Karooro Okurut for comment, but the FDC spokesperson said that the ‘successful national campaigns’ by Col Dr Kizza Besigye and Maj Gen Mugisha Muntu, the party flag bearer candidates show that the party is strong and united.

“Apart from persuading delegates to elect them, they have also marketed the party and engaged supporters,” Ssemujju Nganda said, adding: ‘the intention is not to only build FDC but offer lessons. We congratulate ourselves on the achievement.”

He stressed that the party faces challenges but that they will overcome them and have better elections. “We will capitalize on our weaknesses to make this exercise better; we will deal with them.”

In other developments, the FDC has released a register of 1043 delegates who will vote at the delegates’ conference to be held on September 3. On the same day the delegates will also elect the 17 members of the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC).

Meanwhile, the FDC Electoral Commissioner has said the flag bearer elections process is progressing well.

Handing the election registers to Wilberforce Kyambadde, the team leader of ‘Besigye camp’ and James Kalija, the ‘Team Muntu’ leader, Mr Dan Mugarura said the exercise shows that the party is transparent.

“The registers approved by party Electoral Commission were handed to both teams; both teams agreed so that we share responsibility and these are the authentic documents we will use for the election,” said Mr Mugarura.

The Forum for Democratic Change is set to hold elections on September 3 to choose who will contest for presidency in 2016 against several contestants including incumbent President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.

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The East African Legislative Assembly has praised the Uganda government for introducing the ‘third generation’ national identity cards.

Through a resolution moved by Ugandan legislator Susan Nakawuki on August 27, the EALA members noted the Uganda had complied with Article 8 of the Common Market Protocol and they urged other partner states to expedite their card issuing finalisation processes.

In the resolution the Republic of Rwanda, which had introduced machine readable ID cards way before the entry of the Common Market Protocol and the United Republic of Tanzania which had also commenced on the exercise of issuing the cards, were also lauded.

“The ID card is to facilitate delivery of national development based on reliable and verifiable data, enable Governments plan properly and provide easy access to social facilities and services like the Health systems. 

It also facilitates school capitation grants based on verifiable identities and data at local level, facilitates transparent and trustworthy business transactions, reduces level of crime in Community and improves security”, part of the Resolution reads.

 All EAC Partner States have embarked on the process of issuing 3^rd Generation identity cards including the Republic of Kenya which pioneered national ID systems and is now embarking on the upgrade from 2^nd Generation to 3^rd Generation IDs.

 During debate, Ms Hasa Mossi called for accuracy in data management. 

“We can achieve this aim when coming up with the third generation cards”, she said.

Abdullah Mwinyi (Tanzania) said getting right data was fundamental in improving the livelihoods of East Africans.  

“It is not just simply measuring, but reliable data can catalyse change”, Hon Mwinyi said.

Ms Valerie Nyirahabineza (Rwanda) said while commenting on the Common Market Protocol, observed the slow pace of implementation. 

“This Resolution is important as it calls on all Partner States to move with the Protocol.  We urge the Council of Ministers to urge Partner States to fervently implement the provisions of the Protocol,” Hon Nyirahabineza said.

Dora Byamukama (Uganda) lauded the Partner States that have Identity cards and said a time should come when there is total free movement of persons.

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Police is set to summon Senior Presidential Advisor on Political Affairs Major Roland Kakooza Mutale and Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago over the militia groups they formed.

Addressing journalists at the police headquarters this morning, police spokesperson Fred Enanga said that what the two were doing is in breach of the Uganda Constitution and the cop insisted that the mandate to recruit and train such groups is the preserve of certain government departments.

“The Constitution doesn’t allow this; we are monitoring them and who ever associates with them. Constitutionally, the mandate to form such a group or train it is given to an arms government organization,” Mr Enanga said adding: “The police have made arrangements to summon the two and any other person who associates with them.”

According to the promoters, the self styled civilian guards are being trained to monitor the 2016 elections, with both Maj Mutale and Lukwago claiming this will deter the rigging of votes accruing to their respective candidates.

Mutale is currently training militias whose mission, he says, is to ‘eliminate’ anyone who stands in Museveni’s way ahead of the 2016 general elections.

Similarly, Lukwago under his pressure group called Truth and Justice formed the TJ Solida Crew, which he says, is ‘to act as a shield but not the sword to protect the interests of the public’.

Previously, Maj Mutale was infamously linked to the Kalangala Action Plan (KAP), a paramilitary outfit formed in 2001. In 2007, he was also associated with the ‘Kiboko Squad, a ‘vigilante’ group which tried to suppress the riots against the sale of Mabira Forest.

The issue of Maj Mutale’s training of a ‘vigilante’ group has caused a stir in some official circles, with his colleague, one-star General Brigadier Kasirye Ggwanga, threatening to take on the elderly Maj Mutale in the jungles of Luwero. Other personalities who have spoken against Maj Mutale’s trainees include information minister Maj Gen Jim Muhwezi, a two-star General and veteran of the Bush War, and Colonel Shaban Bantariza, another Bush War veteran and current Deputy Director of the Media Centre.

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