Kampala-Budadiri West legislator Nathan Nandala Mafabi and former Ugandan Ambassador to Japan Wasswa Birigwa have been elected Forum for Democratic Change Secretary General and National Chairman, respectively.
Mafabi polled a distant 809 votes against his rival and fellow legislator Kassiano Wadri, who got 191 votes. The other contestant was Kampala Woman legislator Nabilah Naggayi Ssepala who got eight votes in absentia, while nine votes were declared invalid.
Amb. Birigwa, who many at the delegates’ conference viewed as a new comer to the party beat outgoing party Secretary for Legal Affairs, Dan Wandera Ogalo, in a tight race that also had former Katikamu North MP and Constituent Assembly Delegate, Bwanika Bbale.
Mafabi, who had earlier assured party supporters that he was ready to work with party President Maj. Gen. Mugisha Muntu, said he would operationalize all district party offices and also give the district party secretaries a phone to ease communication.
“Immediately after being elected, every district Secretary will be given a phone for easy communication but I also intend to make all district offices operational from the time I assume office,” Mafabi said.
Others that won include Ingrid Turinawe, who was elected Secretary for Mobilization after beating Ibrahim Kasozi and Obongi Member of Parliament Hassan Kaps Fungaroo, Ms Anita Among and Justine Juuko. The post of Secretary for Information and party publicist went to firebrand Kyandondo East legislator Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda who defeated the acting secretary for publicity, John Kikonyogo and party activist Sarah Epenu.
Rubaga division Mayor Joyce Ssebugwawo was elected to the post of Vice President for Buganda, while the post of western region vice president went to Patrick Baguma. Aswa County legislator Reagan Okumu took the slot of Vice President North unopposed while Leader of Opposition in Parliament (LoP) Philip Wafula Oguttu stood down for Alice Alaso, after she pleaded with him to save her remain relevant in the party.
“Mr Wafula I want to request you to step down for me like I did for you during the LoP elections. Please allow me serve in the Vice Presidency as you remain LoP” Alaso pleaded.
And, without hesitation, Mr Oguttu took to the podium and announced he had stepped aside for Alaso.
Regional vice chairpersons are Salaam Musumba for Eastern Uganda, John Baptist Okello-Okello for Northern Region, Roland Mugume for Western and Baganda Ssenfuka for Buganda.
Tororo County legislator Geoffrey Ekanya was unopposed for the post of party Treasurer after Soroti Woman legislator Angelina Osege pulled out. By press time, elections for other posts were still being conducted.
Pope Francis on Friday confirmed his visit to Uganda, the third such visit to the East African country. The visit also means that President Museveni is probably the only President in the world to host two reigning Popes, John Paul II in 1993 and Pope Francis I in November, 2015. Earlier, in 1969 Uganda under Obote became the first to host a Pope, Paul VI.
Pope Francis will also visit the Central African Republic and plans to include Kenya on his first trip to Africa since becoming Pope.
Speaking to a gathering of priests from around the world, the pontiff said he wanted to add Kenya to his African visit but “it is still uncertain because there are organizational problems”.
The pope did not elaborate on the difficulties of visiting Kenya, but it has been a target for attacks by Islamist militants, Somalia-based Al Shabaab.
Francis, who became Pope in 2013, has already announced trips to Ecuador, Bolivia and Paraguay from July 6-13 this year and to Cuba and the United States in September.
The Vice-President of the Republic of Uganda is Edward Ssekandi. We are sorry that you must actually be reminded of who the country’s Number Two is, but such is that state of affairs that we can’t help it. When we sought an interview, it did not take long to get an appointment. His aide said it was flexible. “No worries, he is always free and available for interviews,” the aide who preferred anonymity for fear of reprisal said.
We meet the VP in a hotel he frequents (we won’t name it because the man literally sleeps there).
“You are the one who I am told needed a few minutes with me?” Ssekandi asks amiably upon our arrival. He explains that he is a very busy man and that he would give, at most, half-an-hour for the interview. “Many people think I just sit around idle and scrubbing my face but that is a lie,” the VP says in self-deprecating deadpan.
“But it’s true, your Excellency. In fact, one needs to hit the Google search engine to know who the vice-president of Uganda is,” the Pun said.
“That is entirely the problem of perception,” Ssekandi said glumly. The Frying Pun waited for him to add but the man’s attention was not on it. He looked up as if expecting another question and it was only then that Frying Pun realised he had said the perception thing with some sort of finality.
The Pun decided to probe further on the issue. You hardly feature anywhere in national issues,” the Pun said. “Compared to your predecessors Samson Kisekka, Specioza Wandira Kazibwe and Gilbert Bukenya, you need a PR firm to keep you in the news.”
“Do you know the President of Ethiopia? I guess not. How about that of Germany? Italy? India? You don’t. You need Google to find out who the president of Israel is too. Now, all these countries are more developed than Uganda, right? Ask yourself then, what is the relevance on focusing on how much Ssekandi is featuring on the front pages of the newspapers. What Uganda needs is progress, young man,” he said.
“Yes, we need progress. We also need leaders who draw salary from taxpayers to earn it. You are not earning your paycheque like Kisekka, Spe and Bukenya before you,” the Pun said.
“So, should I start embracing skimpily dressed singers to appease the public desires of Ssekandi appearing on the front pages of the other thing in Namamve… what do they call them again…”
“Red Pepper.”
“Yes, that one. That newspaper…
“Red Pepper is a tabloid,” we corrected, but the VP ignored the correction and went on. “Do you want me in the shrines just because I should appear in the news? The best performers are the silent ones who do their duties from the shadows.”
“Duties like what? Carrying kaveera to the UK with Team Uganda for Olympic Games? Or posing in sandals for official photos with President Barack Obama?” we rubbed him harder.
A chortle left his throat at this. Then he smiled and said Obama was meeting Ssekandi, not Ssekandi’s suit or shoes. “As far as I know, Fr Lokodo has never complained that I dress indecently. Yet you hear Ugandans go bananas over how Ssekandi appears in public, over what Minister Mateke has chosen to walk out in.”
“You are public figures, Mr VP. You have to dress to public approval. Mark you, the public pays for what you wear, so at least make it good, no?” The Frying Pun probed.
“I am not aware of that. Shall I return the so-called bad clothes I have to the public then?” he asked jokingly.
“Yeah right. Possibly, return even the office because you are clearly drawing salary by idle pretences while doing nothing,” we said.
“You man, you went to school. In that school, you had brilliant students and average ones. There were also the kind you would call daft. Did the best performing students in your class make so much noise?” asked. “Wait, I am still talking… Otafiire used to make a lot of noise, but did it mean he was the best performing minister? As far as I am concerned, there were a lot of wetland encroachments during his tenure and later at local government, there were a lot of market and vendors issues… garbage too. Making noise and performing on the job are two different sciences.”
“So, what exactly do you do in the shadows? Spying?”
“You mean you don’t know the responsibilities of the Vice-President of the Republic of Uganda,” he asked sarcastically.
Kampala-Presidential Advisor on Resident District Commissioners, Muhammad Mbabaali Muyanja has said his diploma in Information Communications Technology from Mountains of the Moon University is genuine.
Mbabaali, who has been dragged to Court by a voter in his Bukoto South constituency, refutes claims that he did not acquire the said diploma because at the stated time he was a student at Makerere University.
“I know I have had issues in the past, but this time I will sue whoever is coming up with useless claims that the papers I have a not authentic” Mbabaali told Eagle Online, adding: “I am currently a student at Makerere University pursuing a Bachelors degree and this can be ascertained with records from Makerere.”
In 2011 Mr Mbabaali won the Bukoto South constituency elections and was later named State Minister for Investment. However, Mbabaali was thrown out of Parliament by Court after his challenger, Democratic Party (DP) Secretary General Matia Nsubuga, filed a case citing his lack of academic qualifications to become an MP.
Documents obtained by Eagle Online dated August 2014, indicate that Mr Mbabali is registered as a student at Makerere (university) and his registration number is 12/U/24261/EVE while his student number is 214023821 and he is attached to Livingstone Hall.
“I write to offer you a place at Makerere University for the academic year 2014/2015 for a programme of study leading to the following: Bachelor of Arts (Social Sciences) subjects: POS, SWA, and SOC as a privately sponsored student” reads part of the admission letter written by Mr Alfred Masikye Namoah, the Academic Registrar at Makerere University.
According to documents, Mbabaali was admitted to Makerere after he sat and passed the mature entry exams held on December 2013.
“This is to certify that Muyanja Mbabali sat and successfully passed the university mature age entry scheme examination held on Dec 14, 2013 for entry into the following programme (Bachelor of Arts (Social Sciences),” the document adds.
Plans are underway for government to build an airport in Hoima at Kabale, to ease transport operations in the nascent oil sector, including the construction of a refinery.
The announcement was made by the Minister of Finance Matia Kasaija, while delivering his inaugural budget speech.
He also announced the upgrade of Entebbe International Airport at a cost of US$325 million, which money has already been secured.
“Over the next five year period, Entebbe International Airport as Uganda’s principal international gateway will be upgraded to improve the quality of operation and maintenance,” Mr Kasaija said.
Mr Kasaija, who was named finance minister in March this year, also indicated that several aerodromes around the country will get a makeover.
Currently Uganda has one major airport at Entebbe and 30 airstrips and aerodromes spread across the country, all supervised by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and the Ministry of Works and Transport.
Meanwhile, the minister has expressed optimism that developments in the oil industry were on course, saying three multi-national companies had already acquired exploration licenses and one production license.
“In February this year, Government announced the first bidding licensing round for six blocks in an effort to attract new companies in the exploration phase. The bidding process is ongoing and it is expected to be concluded by December 2015,” he said.
Irresponsible People Spreading Falsehoods Using WhatsApp
12th June, 2015 – Entebbe
My dear country men and country women,
About two or so weeks ago, I made a voice recorded message that I caused to be transmitted to the listeners over the social media network known as WhatsApp that some irresponsible people have, apparently, been using to spread falsehoods. That time, the message was in Runyankore-Rukiga (part of the Runyakitara or what I proposed to call Kinyanja ─ North, as opposed to the Kinyanja of Malawi, Zambia and Mozambique), because the irresponsible people had used that dialect to propagate their falsehoods. I call these dialects Kinyaja ─ North because they are mutually intelligible dialects in the Great Lakes area. Those that are mutually intelligible are used by a population I estimate to be about 60 million people if not more. On that occasion, I used the words: Abasiru,
Abashema and Abazigu (stupid, uninformed and enemies) to describe the authors of that sectarian and criminal altercation. Although I had strong suspicion that the authors, were criminal opportunitists who were using sectarianism to try and profit politically, I reacted as if the actors were uninformed villagers that needed education about the powerful, ancient interlacustrine (the people of the Lakes ─ Amayaanja:─ Nalubaale, Mwitanzigye, Masyooro, Kioga, Rutshuru-Butuumbi) peoples who had advanced agriculture (crops and livestock), fishing, industry (metal work, ceramics, leather-working, wood-work, textiles, etc), had symbiotic societies but were badly governed by the, sometimes, parasitic and tyrannical chiefs who were responsible for our colonization by failing to unite us so as to face the colonial forces.
About a week ago, the intelligence service brought me a forged letter that I was supposed to have written to the late Gaddaffi on the 25th of January, 2010. In that forged letter, I was supposed to be informing Gaddaffi about my political intentions and plans in Uganda, denigrating some of my comrades in the struggle and showing a sectarian attitude towards one of our Ugandan communities, the Bakiga ─ i.e. the same Bakiga of the other sectarian recording. Fortunately, this time, the intelligence services and the vigilant NRM people were able to discover who the authors might be and who the propagators were. Indeed, the Police already have some suspects. I would like to inform the listeners and those who follow the goings on, on the social media that that letter is a forgery.
It is a forgery because I never wrote such a letter. In fact, the whole context could not have existed. At that time, my relationship with the late Gaddaffi was very sour because I had opposed his plans of an All-Africa Government, preferring to work for the East African Federation as far as political integration was concerned and only for economic integration as far as the whole of Africa is concerned. Besides, the whole talk of German doctors and my health is a fiction. Fortunately, in the whole 70 years of my life, God has given me excellent health save for occasional malaria attacks, coughs or mild allergic reactions in the nose. Even today, there are hardly any physical exertions that I cannot undertake except squatting which I find abit uncomfortable these days.
We, the freedom fighters, who mobilized all the Ugandan communities that we came across, to create the powerful NRA and, later NRM, cannot, even in the state of somnambulism, disapprove of any of our communities because they all helped us to build that strength and we also helped them to get out of the bad times of effuga bi (bad governance). In December 1978/January 1979, I recruited 200, mainly Bakiga boys, while based at Nyamiyaga Primary School in Tanzania for the anti-Amin struggle. When we crossed into Uganda, on the 11th of February 1979, I recruited alot of Banyankore boys and girls until the fall of Amin on the 11th of April, 1979. In order to train the 200 at Nyamiyaga, I utilized the skills of the boys from Kaberamaido whom we had trained in Mozambique.
Some of those Banyankore and Bakiga boys of 1978/79, who qualified, went for leadership training at Jinja and Monduli in Tanzania. Many of them are the ones that helped me to start and prosecute the resistance in the Luwero Triangle, starting on the 6th of February, 1981 (Tarehe Sita). They are the ones that helped me to train a large number of Baganda boys and girls in the Luwero Triangle (i.e. to prosecute the war). Later on, when we had the opportunity, we recruited fighters from the whole country on the quota-basis. That is how we built the powerful UPDF. We do not look at people’s tribes, religion or sex when we are determining whether they are good or bad. We look at their capabilities. We look at their ideology. We look at their loyalty.
Sometimes, we look at their discipline – but the other three take The three, to repeat, are: capability, ideology and loyalty. Tribe, religion or sex do not feature in our Minzani (yard- stick, evaluation) of determining who is useful and who is not.
When you hear somebody, claiming to be a leader, talking about tribes, religion, sex (Gender) as yardsticks of determining people’s usefulness, you should know that he/she is a failure and a danger to Africa. He/she is a parasite. He/she is an opportunist.
I described the first group as “Abasiru”, “Abashema” and “Abazigu” (stupid, uninformed and enemies). I now describe this group as Abatemu, Abanyaanda and Abazigu (criminals, opportunitists and enemies). Although, I will not have time to answer much of the nonsense on the social media, when it comes to trying to divide the Ugandans and the Africans in general, I will confront those enemies both verbally and, if necessary, physically. It says, in the Book of Matthew 7:16 that “You will know them by their fruits”. You will know the orientation of all those actors by what they say and do.
Besides, it is only people who have never been involved in armed combat that have the luxury of talking about tribes, religions and sex of people in a derogatory way. In combat, your own very life depends on the actions of your neighbour regardless of his tribe or religion or sex. How can you afford to be sectarian? In Mbale, on the 22nd of January, 1973, I was saved by a Mugisu boy who gave me information that enabled me to take another route. Treat with contempt those who talk about tribes, religion and gender as a way of judging who is good and who is bad.
If the letter is forgery, how did what appears to be my signature get to the document? Certainly, not through me. I have been told by Police that there are techniques of forging signatures or transferring signatures from one document to another one. The Police will get to the bottom of it.
Cranes gather in prayer after Thursday's training session
Cranes gather in prayer after Thursday’s training session (courtesy photo)
AFCON 2017 QUALIFIER:
Uganda v Botswana
Saturday: 4pm
Venue: Namboole Stadium
Charges: 20,000/- (Ordinary), 50,000/-(VIP) and 120,000/- (VVIP)
Uganda Cranes embark on another Africa Nations Cup qualification campaign with optimism seeking to break a 38-year jinx at the continental showpiece.
Coach Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic believes his charges have learnt from the past failed and hopes for strong statement as Cranes face Botswana in the 2017AFCON qualifier at Namboole stadium tomorrow, Saturday.
“It was a fine preparation. Gambia was a good test but we missed several chances to score in the first half. We will have to adjust in order to fulfill our target.” Micho noted.
The mood in camp is one of buoyancy while local fans expect nothing short of three precious points to act as a springboard for qualification before The Cranes travel to minnows Comoros in September.
Of the 13 qualification groups, The Cranes wouldn’t have asked for a better draw having avoided the continent’s big boys from West Africa as well as our serial tormentors from North Africa.
The task at hand is also quite simple unlike the previous complex campaigns; Uganda only needs to top the four-team group that also includes Burkina Faso and be assured of a berth to Gabon.
Even in the worst-case scenario, there is a slim chance of scooping one of the two extra slots for the best second-placed teams.
In all respects, this seems to be the best chance in years. Yet we have been in such a position before.
So, as his charges prepare for the Botswana Zebras, the task is to ensure future assessments of this campaign do not conclude with an autopsy.
The Cranes have often won at Namboole but lacked the required consistency and have always been a point or a goal short qualification.
Botswana players go through drills at Lugogo on Thursday (courtesy photo)
Botswana Zebras’ national team head coach, Peter Butler is worried of the Uganda Cranes physicality.
“Uganda is a great team which plays a very physical and high tempo game”Butler told the media on Thursday after the team’s training session at the Phillip Omondi Stadium, Lugogo.
“We (Botswana) have new players on board and we are on a developmental trend,” he added.
Homia –Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom yesterday is celebrating the 21st coronation anniversary of Rukirabasaija Omukama Solomon Iguru, commonly known as empango yesterday.
Empango is a celebration to mark the day the reigning king ascended the throne, an important function in Bunyoro and Tooro kingdoms. It’s during the ceremony that the king gives the state of the kingdom address and performs a series of cultural rituals.
Tooro King, Oyo Nyimba being escorted
This year’s celebrations have been graced by Tooro King, Oyo Nyimba and Buganda Premier, Charles Peter Mayiga. Ernest Kiiza, the Minister In charge of Bunyoro Affairs delivered the speech on behalf of the guest of honor, meant to be the President Yoweri Museveni, who did not attend the function due to other engagements.
A vigorous campaign dubbed ‘Omuganda’ had been launched by the Kingdom to raise money to facelift the kingdom. ‘Omuganda’ is equivalent to Buganda’s ‘Etoffali’ project.
Mayiga handed over Buganda’s contribution to the initiative with Shs10 million cash.
Responding to Buganda’s donation, Jonathan Akweteirehoa resident of Masindi district said this was a sign of unity and a challenge to the Banyoro to work hard.
‘‘The shs10million Buganda cash donation to Bunyoro Kingdom is a huge task to us, a challenge indeed, given the history, the current efforts to rebuild the two cultural institutions. It also carries a message that kingdoms can transform their people, through collective effort, positive jealous and using our political differences as a region for a common strength anchoring,’’ wrote Akweteireho in a message on MANET (a Facebook group for Bunyoro residents).
In 2013 President Museveni donated Shs200million to the kingdom to support renovation of the Hoima palace. However, only a foundation for the perimeter wall was dug and a gate partially built.
It’s during the ceremony that the king gives the state of the kingdom address and performs a series of cultural rituals.
The rituals peak with a traditional dance known as Amakondere. In this dance, drums and animal horns are played as specially trained youth (abakondere) and elders dance in an eye-catching and rhythmic celebration.
king Omukama Solomon Gafabusa Iguru
Bunyoro’s reigning king Omukama Solomon Gafabusa Iguru ascended the throne on June 11, 1994, following the restoration of cultural institutions by the National Resistance Movement government. Monarchies had had been abolished by the Obote I government in 1967.
Dr Solomon Gafabusa Iguru is a son to Omukama Sir Tito Winyi, a fallen King of Bunyoro who ruled Bunyoro from 1924 to 1967.Iguru who is also a grandson of Omukama, and is the 27th King in the ruling Ababiito dynasty and is the chairperson of the Uganda Cultural Leaders Forum.
First as a principle, we support all forces opposed to Museveni coming together even if not to fight him but to have a united stand including those in NRM to condemn his excesses.
Secondly, PRU/FU believes in the essence that Museveni should leave power before 2016.
Thirdly, PRU/FU believes that any alliance must be for
a) Forcing the regime to bring reforms
b) Or if there are no reforms, then organising the population to stop any sham election
Those are general principles.
On specifics, PRU/FU will not go into any alliance whose objectives are not clear. We stand for resolutely resisting Museveni until he is defeated.
PRU/FU will not participate in an election organised by Museveni
PRU/FU shall not boycott the election but shall not allow it to take place if the process contravenes the provisions of our constitution.
Therefore, any alliance will have to fulfil the above for us to be party.
We call upon all the people of Uganda to go on building the resistance infrastructure to defeat the dictatorship.
The people are with us who want to force the dictatorship out not to massage it.
It’s not that the opposition can’t win. They can win but they can’t get power from Museveni. After all, Dr Besigye won in 2006 but never took power.
So the question is, what does the new alliance have which is different from past alliances.
So we shall not attack it but we shall explain to our people the reality on the ground. We imagine they are reasoning this way;
1- We have no capacity to disrupt the election so we go in even when we know we shall loose and hopefully use the anger of the people to confront the dictatorship after the rigging.
2- That the anger of the population will be easier to tap in at this time.
In other words, they want to resist after the rigging.
This approach is wrong for three main reasons
a) It is dishonest
b) It confuses the population
c) It removes the emphasis from building capacity to resist the dictatorship to electioneering
d) It divides the opposition forces because the dictator shall allow some to win and rig at the very top and enough NRM seats to ensure his dominance. The rest he shall allow opposition to take.
This has a big danger of dividing us so that those who have “won” defend their turf.
As we go on we shall assess other serious implications.
Justin Kimono (in Red) battles Kenyans last year (courtesy photo)
Elgon Cup
Saturday, 3pm
Kenya v Rugby Cranes
Robert Seguya will take over as Rugby Cranes battle Kenya-A in the first leg of the annual regional showpiece, the Elgon, at RFUEA grounds in Nairobi on Saturday.
The former Rugby Cranes captain replaces Johannes Beukes (South African) who was appointed in January, opted out due to business commitments back home according to the Uganda Rugby Union.
“The Uganda Rugby Union (URU) has received information that Mr. Joe Beukes will not be able to carry on his duties as Uganda Rugby Cranes head coach due to personal commitments due to his new business ventures,” read a statement from URU.
The statement was later confirmed by “Johan has too much going on back home in his business projects and he cannot keep travelling to meet his duties as national team coach,” URU president Andrew Owor explained.
“At the moment, Seguya is in charge until Free State gets us another coach because the agreement was between us and them, not Beukes as a person.” He added.
Seguya’s first real test will be this Saturday when his charges take on Kenya A in the first leg of the annual Elgon Cup at the RFUEA grounds in Nairobi.
The interim coach is optimistic the Rugby Cranes will give a good account of themselves.
Uganda Rugby Cranes face Kenya as a side to retain the Elgon Cup
The Kenyans humiliated the Cranes last year with a 34 – 0 thrashing after the Ugandans threw away a first leg 21-14 home advantage.
Kenya A is a breeding ground for the national team which now plays among the elite ranks of South African teams, the cradle of African rugby.
The return leg will be played next Saturday, June 20 at Legends sports ground.
Zimbabwean Referee Tinashe Kamwenje officiate the tie.
Meanwhile, a 23-man squad has been named with some new faces in the national team ranks. Collins Kimbowa, Arthur Mpande, Ramathan Govule, Gerald Sewankambo and Pius Ogena are the debutants.
Travelling team: Forwards: 1.Brian Odongo 2. Asuman Mugerwa 3.Dennis Mullo 4. Alex Mubiru 5.Cyrus Watum 6.Ronald Musajja, 7.Scott Oluoch 8. Dennis Mugambe 9. Charles Uhuru 10. Kimbowa 11. Ogena 12. Mathias Ochwo 13. Mpande
