President Yoweri Museveni has said that as the petroleum, gas and oil resources are finite and not renewable, the money that accrues from that energy sources should not be squandered but rather be invested in durable areas to build the country’s infrastructure needs and further develop capacity of the country.

Speaking at the ceremony of the inauguration of the Board of Directors of the new National Petroleum Authority and the National Oil Authority at State House, Entebbe yesterday, President Museveni cautioned members of the two bodies that it is now their responsibility to take on the wars of developing the country’s economy for the grand-children, the future generation of Uganda.

“In Uganda, we have discovered 40% of oil in the target areas and 6.5 billion barrels will be yielded from the target areas. This is enough to support commercial production. The remaining 60% is where oil is suspected but not confirmed,” he said.

The President said the petroleum industry is linked to by-products like gas, fertilizers and pharmaceuticals, among others and urged them to use the chance of the availability of the petroleum resource in the country to create a strong development capacity for Uganda. He also noted that this was the time to build the human resource that will also be used for many other projects for the benefit of Uganda.

The Minister of Energy and Mineral Development, Hon. Irene Muloni Nafuna thanked President Museveni for the continued guidance and support that he has always extended to the oil and gas sector in the country especially in the process of formulating the legislations and creation of the Petroleum Authority of Uganda and the Uganda National Oil Company.

She also commended the President for the continued wisdom that he has always given regarding the management of the oil and gas sector with a view of ensuring that the sector makes a significant impact in the transformation of Uganda by contributing to early achievements of poverty eradication.

The Minister reported that in order to ensure efficient management of the petroleum resources in the country, the government had enacted the Petroleum Exploration, Development and Production Act 2013 and also the Petroleum Refining, Development, Storage and Transportation Act 2013 that have led to the creation of the Petroleum Authority of Uganda and the Uganda National Oil Company respectively.

The Petroleum Authority of Uganda has seven members headed by Mrs. Jane N. Mulemwa. Other members include Mr. Reuben Kashambuzi, Dr. Immaculate Semanda Nakimera, Mr. Peter Lominit, Mrs. Doreen Kabasindi Wandera, Eng. Patrick Nakoko and Mr. Kiryowa Kiwanuka. The Uganda National Oil Company is headed by Mr. Emmanuel Katongole. Other members include Mr. Francis Nagimesi, Ms. Batebe Irene, Mr. Twinamatsiko Francis, Ms. Grace Tubwita, Mr. Godfery Andama amd Ms. Biwanga Stella Marie.

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Former National Resistance Movement Secretary General John Patrick Amama Mbabazi and his wife Jacqueline will not attend the party’s delegates conference slated for October 30.

According to NRM Deputy secretry General Richard Todwong, Mr Mbabazi and his wife had been invited to attend the conference in their respective capacities as Member of Parliament for Kinkiizi, elected on an NRM party ticket, and NRM Women’s League Chairperson.

“I will not be attending the NRM delegates conference slated for October 30th. Instead I will be focused on preparing for my nomination,” Mbabazi wrote on his wall amamambabazi.com, posted today.

Mr Mbabazi also said his wife is sick, trying to recuperate in the United Kingdom.

“My wife Jacqueline will also not be attending. She is presently unwell and undergoing treatment in the United Kingdom. When I married my wife I made a promise that from that day forth, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health while we both live, I would give her full support. I am her primary helper and so I have taken some time away from campaign activities in order to give her the support she needs. My family and I expect her to make a full recovery soon,” he added.

In June this year Mbabazi, also a former Prime Minister, announced he would contest for the leadership of the NRM and also the presidency of Uganda. However, he was later to abandon the idea of becoming chairman of the NRM, opting instead to join opposition pressure group, The Democratic Alliance (TDA).

While in TDA, Mbabazi also had to contend with contest by Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) flag bearer Dr Kizza Besigye and former Vice President Prof Gilbert Balibaseeka Bukenya.

Both Besigye and Bukenya have abandoned the TDA, while it is not clear whether Mbabazi will run for presidency under the opposition loose alliance.

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Former National Resistance Movement Secretary General John Patrick Amama Mbabazi and his wife Jacqueline, the NRM Women’s League chairperson have been invited to attend the party’s delegates conference slated for October 30 and November 2.

According to NRM Deputy Secretary General Richard Todwong, Mr Mbabazi has been invited in his capacity as the Member of Parliament for Kinkizi West constituency, elected on the NRM party ticket.

Mbabazi, also a former Prime Minister, is aspiring to become President after falling out with his party chairman and fellow presidential contender Yoweri Museveni.

Both men have been cleared by the Electoral Commission to contest for the presidency in the 2016 elections alongside Dr Warren Kizza Besigye Kifefe of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party.

It is not clear whether Mbabazi will attend the said conference that will also see members endorse Museveni as NRM flag bearer, but sources intimated to the Eagleonline that the former NRM SG might not honour the invitation.

According to the source, Mbabazi is already deeply entrenched in his new alliance, gained when he joined opposition pressure group The Democratic Alliance (TDA), where he contested for flag bearer with Dr Besigye and former Vice President Professor Gilbert Balibaseeka Bukenya.

Prof Bukenya has since decamped to support Museveni, while Mr Mbabazi is enjoying the TDA support, orchestrated most by the Democratic Party (DP) and its President General Norbert Mao.

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Kampala-Makerere University Council has recommended former Finance Minister and Economic Planning Dr Ezra Suruma and Former Chief Justice Benjamin Odoki to president Museveni for appointment of Makerere University Chancellor.

President Yoweri Museveni who doubles as the Visitor of public universities, Makerere inclusive will have to choose between the two fine gentlemen.

The search team led by Chairman of the Makerere University appointments committee Bruce Balaba received four nominees and these were Dr. Suruma, Prof Charles Olweny, formerly Vice Chancellor Uganda Martyrs’ University Nkozi, Justice Odoki and former National Council for Higher Education Executive Director, Prof A.B Kasozi

The search team is guided by the Universities and Other Tertiary Institutions Act of 2001. A chancellor is a none executive director of the university with no veto powers as he only presides over graduation ceremonies. If any of the two is picked, he will replace Prof. Mondo Kagonyera who has served his two none renewable terms.

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The NRM National Treasurer Rose Namayanja Nsereko has been involved in an accident and fractured but her life is out of danger.

A team of medical doctors led by Dr Ben Mbonye, have confirmed that her life is out of danger despite the fracture on her upper thigh.

Dr Mbonye said Namayanja’s mother, the bodyguard and driver are also safe although they sustained several injuries.

The Prime Minister Dr Ruhakana Rugunda, NRM National Vice Chairman Moses Kigongo and NRM Deputy Treasurer  Kenneth Omona are among the many dignitaries that paid her a visit at Nakasero Hospital.

The Party Communications Officer, Rogers Mulindwa, has however requested the public not to visit her until tomorrow as the medical team continues to asses her condition.

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A journalist who fled Burundi after the attempted coup against President Pierre Nkurunziza on May 13 is being held by authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo, without charges.

According to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) Egide Mwemero, who works for Radio Publique Africaine, was arrested in Uvira in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo on October 13 after fleeing from Burundi following violence that erupted when President Nkuruunziza announced he would run for a third ‘unconstitutional’ term.

In a release earlier today the CPJ says Mwemero was arrested together with two Congolese reporters, Manzambi Mupenge and Lucien Kanana, who work with local community station Radio le Messager du Peuple, which had partnered with Mwemero’s station to broadcast the latter’s show, ‘Humura Burundi’ on its airwaves. Mupenge and Kanana were released two days later, but the Congolese station that was airing the show was ordered by the authorities to stop broadcasting it on October 9.
‘Unrest in Burundi earlier this year, in which several radio station were forced off air and had equipment damaged, forced Radio Publique Africaine to stop broadcasting from Burundi,’ the CPJ says in the release, and adds that Bob Rugurika, the managing director of Radio Publique Africaine had confirmed that Mwemero was still in custody.

“Radio is a vital information source for people in this region and journalists should be allowed to do their jobs,” said CPJ Africa Program Coordinator Sue Valentine. She added: “We are extremely concerned that Egide Mwemero is being held without any public disclosure of charges against him and we urge Democratic Republic of Congo authorities to release him immediately.”

According to reports DRC President Joseph Kabila, who is himself trying to vouch for a third unconstitutional term and participate in the elections in November 2016, has maintained good relations with Burundi.

‘Journalists in the Democratic Republic of Congo are often faced with a hostile environment, and the government has attacked press freedom in an effort to silence critics or dissenting opinions, the CPJ says. In January, authorities briefly blocked Internet and cellphone service throughout the country; in March during a pro-democracy rally, government forces arrested about 30 individuals, several of whom were journalists covering the protest and some of whom reported being assaulted’ the CPJ release adds.

The journalists’’ rights lobby group says efforts to get comments about the arrest of Mwemero from the DRC ministers for communications, human rights, and justice were futile.

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