Who will replace Otunnu in the UPC race?

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May 27, 2015

Kampla-As Uganda Peoples’ Congress prepares to elect its leaders, focus is put on individuals who have shown interests in the presidency, current party president Amb. Olara Otunnu will not be vying for a second term and as such new faces have sprung up for the office party presidency. Eagle Online brings you who is who in this race.

Joseph Bbosa- He is the current party Vice President to Olara Otunnu and hails from Buganda region. He has been active in the party affairs. As Otunnu hid himself from the limelight, it is always Bbosa who is seen at press conferences.

He is a lawyer by profession and he was Otunnu’s guild government as minister for justice and constitutional affairs. After university, Bbosa started his career as legal officer at Bank of Uganda until he rose to the position Director of legal affairs. He retired mid 2000s and ventured into business. He surfaced in UPC politics after the return of Otunnu and was named Vice President. He contested in the Makindye East constituency race in the last elections under UPC but lost.

Julius Ochen –The firebrand from Teso sub-region has held several positions in the party having started as a youth winger in the party’s national youth league. He holders a university degree in International Relations and Diplomacy and is currently undertaking a masters degree in the same field. He was formerly Amurai district chairman Local Council Five. He is a disciplinarian and with his radical views, he is seen a favorite for the radical UPC members.

Jimmy Akena-He is a son to the late Apollo Milton Obote, former President of Uganda. Akena is currently a Member of Parliament for Lira Municipality in Lango sub-region which he has represented since he returned to Uganda in 2006. Akena, among Obote’s sons was his favorite and by so he inherited him politically. He is taking a second shot at the party presidency having failed to defeat Otunnu in 2009.

Prof. Edward Kakonge- He is the current national chairman of the party and a Biochemist by training and a former bio-chemistry lecturer at Makerere University. ProfKakonge is also current chairman of the Uganda Debt. He is the young brother to the late John Kakonge, the founding Secretary General of UPC and hails from Hoima district in Bunyoro sub-region. He has served the UPC in many capacities; he was the first Minister of Local Government in President Yoweri Museveni’s first government in 1986.

David Pulkol-He is among the people who championed Otunnu’s return and at the start of Otunnu’s administration, Pulkol was the man behind scenes in most of the congress activities. However, he fail-out with Otunnu’s administration and became a ‘rebel’ of sorts within the party. Otunnu consequently fired him and others but Pulkol united with former national party chairman, Maj.Edward Rurangaranga and sued Otunnu. Before crossing over to UPC, Pulkol had been a member of Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) but also fail-out with the party’s establishment. He is also former junior minister in the Museveni regime as well as former Director General of Uganda’s External Security Organisation (ESO). He hails from Mororto district in Karamoja sub-region.

Benson Obua Ogwal- Is a Member of Parliament for Moroto County in Lango sub-region and was the chairman of the organizing committee that returned Olara Otunnu back into Uganda. He is a reserved born again politician who unlike colleagues mingles freely with anybody.

Sam Wandera

Little is known about this politician.

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FIFA presidential election to go ahead despite arrests

By

Samuel

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May 27, 2015

Sepp Blatter is standing for re-election as head of Fifa

The Fifa presidential election will take place on Friday as planned despite the arrest of seven Fifa officials on charges they received millions of US dollars in bribes.

Among those arrested is Fifa vice-president Jeffrey Webb.

A separate criminal investigation into how the 2018 and 2022 World Cups were allocated has also begun.

But Fifa has already ruled out a revote, insisting Russia and Qatar will remain the respective hosts.

Sepp Blatter faces Prince Ali bin al-Hussein in Friday’s election as he seeks a fifth term as Fifa president.

Prince Ali described Wednesday’s developments as “a sad day for football” but declined to comment further.

The seven Fifa officials were arrested after the US Department of Justice issued a 47-count indictment charging 14 defendants with racketeering, wire fraud and money laundering conspiracies in a 24-year scheme.

“The indictment alleges corruption that is rampant, systemic and deep-rooted,” said New York attorney general Loretta Lynch.

“It spans at least two generations of soccer officials who, as alleged, have abused their positions of trust to acquire millions of dollars in bribes and kickbacks.”

The charges allege:

Nine current or former Fifa officials, including Webb and former Fifa vice-president Jack Warner, charged with corruption

Four individual and two corporate defendants, including former Concacaf general secretary Chuck Blazer and Warner’s sons Daryan and Daryll, plead guilty

Alleged scheme “fostered a culture of corruption and greed that created uneven playing field”

“Undisclosed and illegal payments, kickbacks and bribes became a way of doing business at Fifa”

Majority of scheme involved corruption over media and marketing rights to matches and tournaments

Those arrested in a dawn raid at the prestigious Baur au Lac hotel in Zurich were Webb, Eduardo Li, Julio Rocha, Costas Takkas, Eugenio Figueredo, Rafael Esquivel and Jose Maria Marin.

Sad Day for Football

Jordan's Prince Ali bin Al Hussein standing against Blatter — Jordan’s Prince Ali bin Al Hussein standing against Blatter

Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein, the man challenging Sepp Blatter for the most powerful job in world soccer, said he was saddened by the latest corruption scandal involving FIFA.

“Today is a sad day for football,” Prince

Ali said.

“Clearly this is a developing story, the details of which are still emerging,” the Jordanian said.

“It would not be appropriate to comment further at this time.”

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Fifa corruption probe: Officials arrested in Zurich

By

Samuel

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May 27, 2015

New Picture — Live: Fifa news conference on arrest of football officials in Switzerland

Live: Fifa news conference on arrest of football officials in Switzerland

Six football officials have been arrested over corruption charges at governing body Fifa and face extradition to the US, officials say.

Separately, Swiss prosecutors have launched a criminal case into the 2018 and 2022 football World Cup bids.

The suspects, who include a Fifa vice-president, allegedly accepted bribes worth $100m (£65m; €92m) over 20 years.

Fifa members are due to vote Friday in a presidential election. Incumbent Sepp Blatter is seeking a fifth term.

However, Mr Blatter is not understood to be one of those arrested.

Prince Ali Bin al-Hussein of Jordan – Mr Blatter’s rival for the Fifa presidency – described the development as “a sad day for football”, but withheld from commenting further.

Fifa’s Zurich headquarters has also been raided, with documents seized, Swiss prosecutors say.

‘Seeking clarification’

Those arrested include:

Jeffrey Webb – head of the confederation for North and Central America and the Caribbean, Concacaf
Jack Warner, former Fifa vice-president
Costa Rica’s national football chief Eduardo Li, who was due to join Fifa’s executive committee on Friday
Uruguay’s Eugenio Figueredo, president of South American football governing body Conmebol
Brazil’s Jose Maria Marin, a member of Fifa’s club committee. Police were seen carrying his suitcase and some of his possessions in plastic bags

Several officials have already pleaded guilty, the US Department of Justice says. These include Charles Blazer, the former head of Concacaf, who was previously on the Fifa executive committee.

Fifa was seeking to clarify the situation, a spokesman said.

Four Fifa officials arrested at a Zurich hotel on 27 May 2015 — **Fifa officials from left: Jeffrey Webb, Eduardo Li, Eugenio Figueredo, Jose Maria Marin**

Football’s untouchable ‘dark prince’ – Imogen Foulkes, BBC News, Switzerland

Many have wondered how Sepp Blatter can have been in charge of Fifa for so long, amid so many reports of corruption, and yet remain, apparently, untouched.

One Swiss newspaper jokingly called him “the dark prince of football, the godfather, Don Blatterone’ – but no inquiry has ever revealed proof of his involvement in bribery.

“He’s a survivor,” says one member of parliament, Roland Buechel. “Nothing ever sticks to him; there is always someone between him and the bribes.”

Some old friends describe Mr Blatter as down to earth and open. Others who have worked with him say he is a man who resents opposition, pointing to the swift departure of Fifa colleagues who dared to question him.

What emerges, finally, is a man who both critics and supporters say cannot imagine his life without Fifa, a man whose tenure as president has outlasted three marriages.

But as scandal follows scandal, Mr Blatter’s determination not to leave his post willingly could see him bundled unceremoniously out the back door.

Members of the media stand outside the Baur au Lac hotel in Zurich, Switzerland, on 27 May 2015. — The raid took place at a five star hotel in Zurich early on Wednesday

The Swiss Federal Office of Justice (FOJ) said in a statement on Wednesday that US authorities suspected the officials of receiving $100m (£65m) worth of bribes since the early 1990s for football tournaments in Latin America.

The crimes were agreed to and prepared in the US via US bank accounts, it adds.

Swiss authorities can immediately approve the extradition, the statement continues.

In a separate move, prosecutors opened criminal proceedings “against persons unknown on suspicion of criminal mismanagement and of money laundering in connection with the allocation of the 2018 and 2022 football World Cups,” said a statement from the Swiss attorney-general.

Earlier this month, Mr Blatter said he was aware some of his former colleagues were under investigation but denied that it involved him.

He was responding to an ESPN documentary that claimed the Fifa president had been avoiding travel to the US for almost four years due to the investigation by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation

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Madagascar MPs vote to impeach President Rajaonarimampianina

By

Samuel

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May 27, 2015

Madagascar1 — To impeach a president, there needs to be a two-thirds majority

To impeach a president, there needs to be a two-thirds majority

Parliamentarians in Madagascar have voted to impeach President Hery Rajaonarimampianina.

The constitutional court will now decide whether he has violated the constitution and can be dismissed.

The BBC’s Martin Vogl in the capital, Antananarivo, says the late night vote came as a surprise to many.

Mr Rajaonarimampianina has been in office for 16 months and it was hoped his election would end years of political unrest on the island nation.

Hery Rajaonarimampianina won a presidential run-off in December 2013

Madagascar suffered five years of political turmoil beginning in 2009 when Andry Rajoelina ousted Marc Ravalomanana from power.

The coup left the country isolated in the international community and deprived of foreign aid.

Ahead of the parliamentary vote, the US embassy in Antananarivo urged the MPs to put the stability of the country first.

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Six FIFA senior executives arrested

By

Samuel

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May 27, 2015

FIFA VICE — vice president Jeffrey Webb to USA federal charges after raid on Switzerland hotel

Six Fifa officials, including Vice-president Jeffrey Webb, have been arrested on suspicion of corruption in dawn raids at a Zurich hotel ahead of Friday’s presidential election.

The members of the world governing body were held by Swiss police at the US Department of Justice’s request.

They are suspected of having received bribes totaling millions of US dollars, the Swiss authorities said.

The FBI and US Department of Justice will hold a news conference later.

Fifa president Sepp Blatter, who is seeking a fifth term in charge of the organisation when he stands for re-election on Friday, is not one of those arrested.

But Vice-president Webb, who is also head of the North America, Central America and Caribbean football federation, is among those held, according to BBC Radio 5 live’s sports news correspondent Richard Conway, who is in Zurich.

Eduardo Li of Costa Rica, Eugenio Figueredo of Uruguay and the Brazilian deputy FA chief Jose Maria Marin were also taken away.

Members of Swiss law enforcement were still present in the hotel at 0800 BST but the main activity and arrests seemed to be over.

Li was due to join Fifa’s executive committee on Friday, while Marin, who was led out of a side exit, is a member of Fifa’s club committee.

The officers were carrying his black suitcase and some of his possessions in plastic bags.

A high-level meeting of Fifa officials is now under way at their headquarters and a news conference is expected at 1000 BST.

Swiss authorities began their operation to arrest the Fifa officials at the five-star Baur au Lac hotel, pending extradition to the US, early on Wednesday.

The Swiss Federal Office of Justice (FOJ) said those held were being investigated “on suspicion of the acceptance of bribes and kick-backs between the early 1990s and the present day”, totalling “more than $100m”.

Fifa general secretary Jerome Valcke briefly visited the hotel on Wednesday morning but declined to comment

A Fifa spokesperson said: “We have seen the media reports and are seeking clarity in this matter. We will make no further comment at this stage.”

Blatter is to go head-to-head against Prince Ali bin al-Hussein of Jordan in Friday’s presidential election.

Prince Ali and his advisors will meet on Wednesday morning to discuss the impact of the arrests on the upcoming vote.

The New York Times reports plain-clothed police officers took the room keys from the reception of the Baur au Lac hotel and headed upstairs to the guest rooms.

It said the operation was carried out peacefully.

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Gov’t to promote physical fitness

By

Samuel

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May 26, 2015

Fitness1 — Professional Health Instructors Association of Uganda

Professional Health Instructors Association of Uganda

Kampala-Government through ministries of Health, Education, Defense, Gender, labor and social development, together with the Uganda police has supported a local fitness association, Professional Health Instructors Association of Uganda, PHIAU, in a campaign to ensure Ugandans stay fit and eat healthy.

This was announced at a press conference held at Media Centre and attended by government officials from the above ministries. The campaign calls on Ugandans to adopt a healthy lifestyle that includes regular activity and good nutrition.

According to the Ministry of Health, those who work in offices are the most affected. ”their lifestyle of driving to work, sitting the whole day and ordering fast foods that are known to be fatty exposes them to dangers such as heart diseases, diabetes among others .” says Dr.Gerald Birunji.

According to Mr. Andrew Sorowen of Uganda Police, the police already have an ongoing program to check on the physical fitness of all police officers. “We are going beyond police and are already working with schools to ensure young children have basics of fitness and also self-defense. We want to reduce cases of rape among the females by arming them with self-defense tactics,” Mr.Sorowen added.

According to PHIAU president Mr.Sulaiman Fit, the team is here to ensure that Ugandans knowthe very basics of fitness routines from an early age. “Thecampaign we have is beginning right from the lower level of schools to corporate bodies and to government institutions.” He said. “The idea to have a fitness gala is to ensure that everyone is involved right from the beginning and no one feels left out. We urge Ugandans to turn up in large numbers on the 14^thof June and learn more from our experts.”

The national Physical Fitness Gala will be held on June 14 at Namboole, the activity will have both the kids and adults section with both sections having fitness experts. Nutrition experts will also be available to take the people through what to eat ant what not to eat.

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Kadaga launches Busoga lighting project

By

Samuel

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May 26, 2015

Kadaga addressing Twegaite International Convention in Minneapolis, Minnesota

Kadaga addressing Twegaite International Convention in Minneapolis, Minnesota

Minnesota-The unemployment rate in Busoga sub region is projected to reduce with the launch of the Busoga Kingdom lighting project called Taala Project.

The project launched by the Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Rebecca Kadaga at the Twegaite International Convention in Minneapolis, Minnesota on Saturday, May 23 2015, will involve the use of low cost solar powered lanterns to provide affordable lighting in each homestead in the Kingdom.

“We finally have a Kyabazinga. He is focused on improving the livelihood of the people of the Kingdom. This is one of the flagship projects that will ensure each household has a solar lamp,” she said.

Kadaga in her address to the Twegaite International Convention said the lighting project will deliver hundreds of jobs to the youth of Busoga Kingdom, as the lamp comes along with phone charging facilities. A factory to assemble the lights will also be established to create more jobs for the youth.

“I implore you Ugandans in the diaspora to be more focused and ensure you remain relevant to the people back at home. You must ensure the transfer of knowledge acquired towards improving the lives of our people,” Speaker Kadaga added.

The Speaker expressed her support to a call by Ugandans in the diaspora to join a new campaign to stop the spread of trachoma in the districts of Busoga Kingdom.

“I have just heard reports from medical experts that trachoma is affecting many of the districts of Busoga. This is one of the neglected diseases to which no one had paid attention. We need to wake up the structures of the Kyabazinga and revisit the clan system to save our people,” she noted.

Kamuli district Chairperson Salaamu Musumba said there was need for the people from Busoga region to cope with the speed of change and development in the world. She re-echoed the need to help transform the lives of communities in Busoga.

Musumba emphasized the need to have education at the forefront alongside other basic amenities.

Busoga International Convention brings together Basoga in the disapora. It seeks a collaborative effort for Busoga regional Development.

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Teachers call off strike

By

Samuel

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May 26, 2015

Jim Muhwez, David Bhati in the meeting with teachers

Kampala- After several engagements with the government over an increment on their salaries, the teachers under their umbrella organization Uganda National Teachers Association have finally agreed to call off their ongoing industrial action.

In a meeting held at the UNATU offices at Wandegeya, on May 26, the teachers announced their stand.

“We have agreed to the terms government has given us and we are going to announce tomorrow that we resume work,’’ said James Tweheyo the General Secretary UNATU.

In a statement issued by the government to the teachers, a 15 percent increment will be given to the teachers in the 2016/2017 financial year as read by Jim Muhwezi, the Minister of Information and National guidance on behalf of the government.

In the same statement, the government agreed on releasing funds to teachers SACCOs which are to be managed by the union of teachers SACCOs, APEX. Also in addition, the teachers arrested during the industrial action are to be released and not intimidated or harassed.

A joint committee comprising, Ministry of Education, Science Technology and Sports, Ministry of Public Service, Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development and UNATU be constituted to identify and advise government on measures to improve the quality of education.

“We are committed to the welfare of teachers and other civil servants as government,” said Mr. Jim Muhwezi adding, ” your welfare is definitely our priority, therefore we had to take this difficult decision and this doesn’t mean we don’t appreciate the teachers work.”

However, teachers said they are calling off the strike because the government said there is no money the next financial year (2015-2016), they will start the strike again as soon as they get news that MPs have got an increment.

“We are waiting to see whether the MPs get a salary increase this year, if they do, we will immediately go back to strike,” said Mr.Tweheyo

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Super-brands East Africa Releases Top 20 Quality Brands

By

Samuel

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May 26, 2015

Mr Jawad Jaffer, the Superbrands East Africa Project Director.

KAMPALA,-Super-brands East Africa, an affiliate of London-based Super-brands UK, has today May 26, announced Uganda’s top 20 brands that have joined the league of super brands for 2015/16. Super-brands is the world’s largest independent arbiter of branding and it identifies and pays tribute to exceptional brands by recognizing, rewarding and reinforcing leading brands from all over the world.

The research incorporated the views of both an expert council and over 1000 consumers; the latter surveyed in Uganda by TNS RMS, and sought to identify the nation’s strongest brands.
Rwenzori, Sadolin Paints, and MTN Uganda took the first, second and third place respectively, according to the consumer vote results. Ten brands retained their top 20 positions from the last survey, showing the enduring strength of leading brands and the difficulties faced by rivals in trying to overcome the incumbent’s reputational strength. Some of the new entrants are Sadolin Paints (2nd), Fresh Dairy (5th), Mountain Dew (14th), Serena Hotels and Resort (8th), Uganda Waragi (13th), among others.

Those who dropped out of the top 20 are National Insurance Corporation, Bell Lager, Dettol, Bata, Daily Monitor, Shoprite, Warid Telecom, Radio One, Vaseline, and Bidco Uganda.
Mr Jawad Jaffer, Super-brands East Africa Project Director, noted that more than 400 brands from more than 28 different sectors were considered and as always the East African public had the final say.
“The results provide a detailed and robust barometer of brand success and performance with the overall and category winners justifiably proud of their performance in this competitive process. It is good to see that at least half of the brands that were among the top 20 remained competitive to again feature in the recent results,” he added at the unveiling event at the Serena Kampala Hotel.
According to Christine Mueni of TNS RMS, a Super-brand is a brand that represents high quality, reliability and distinction. In addition Super-brands are deemed to have established the finest reputation in their field, they offer customers significant emotional and/or tangible advantages over other brands, which (consciously or sub-consciously) customers want and recognize.

The official top 20 Ugandan Consumer Super-brands:

1. Rwenzori (drinks –non-alcoholic) – 100.00
2. Sadolin paints (household-general and adolin paints – 88.02

3. MTN (TELECOMMUNICATIONS, INTERNET & BROADBAND) – 86.98
4. NAKUMATT (RETAIL – SUPERMARKETS, GROCERS) – 84.87
5. FRESH DAIRY (DAIRY DRINKS, MILK & CREAM) – 84.52
6. MTN MOBILE MONEY (FINANCIAL – GENERAL) – 84.21
7. NTV (MEDIA – TV STATIONS) – 84.21
8. SERENA HOTELS AND RESORTS (HOTELS & RESORTS) – 83.70
9. PANADOL (PHARMACEUTICAL) -82.46
10. COCA-COLA (CARBONATED SOFT DRINKS) – 80.51
11. MAKERERE UNIVERSITY (EDUCATION PROVIDERS) – 77.21
12. OMO (HOUSEHOLD – CLEANING PRODUCTS) – 75.86
13. UGANDA WARAGI (DRINKS – ALCOHOLIC – SPIRITS) – 75.50
14. MOUNTAIN DEW (CARBONATED SOFT DRINKS) – 74.37
15. NOKIA (HOUSEHOLD – APPLIANCES & ELECTRONICS) – 73.10
16. BUKEDDE (MEDIA – NEWSPAPERS & MAGAZINES) – 72.18
17. TOTAL (OIL & GAS) – 71.96
18. NEW VISION (MEDIA – NEWSPAPERS & MAGAZINES) – 71.20
19. MUKWANO COOKING OIL (FOOD – COOKING FATS) – 70.76
20. BLUEBAND (FOOD – GENERAL) – 70.40

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Fabiola resigns from NTV

By

Samuel

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May 26, 2015

Kampala-NTV presenter Anita Fabiola has resigned from the Serena Based station.

Fabiola who has been on the receiving side since a local tabloid published her nude photos, posted on her facebook page saying it was time to relinquish her role as the presenter of the ‘Be My Date’.

Sources close to her and the station say she has been under pressure from her bosses and family after the leak of her photos.

Below is her facebook post

“Dear Fans, I wanna thank you for the support you gave me from day one. I have learnt a lot and enjoyed our journey together. The last week hasn’t been easy; no woman would like to show their body to complete strangers. Much as I am a victim, I feel like I let you all down as I result I have decided to take a media break as I deal with the humiliation.

I am resigning from my job, I have so much respect for NTV and I can never thank them enough for the opportunity. Please keep, watching and supporting the show. Again am sorry, this was never intended for the public. You might see me in Studio 256 but those episodes were already recorded.

I am strong but am also human. It doesn’t matter how many times you fall, its how you get up. I hope to get up stronger. Remain Blessed, Anita Fabiola.”

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Who will replace Otunnu in the UPC race?

FIFA presidential election to go ahead despite arrests

Fifa corruption probe: Officials arrested in Zurich

‘Seeking clarification’

Football’s untouchable ‘dark prince’ – Imogen Foulkes, BBC News, Switzerland

Madagascar MPs vote to impeach President Rajaonarimampianina

Six FIFA senior executives arrested

Gov’t to promote physical fitness

Kadaga launches Busoga lighting project

Teachers call off strike

Super-brands East Africa Releases Top 20 Quality Brands

Fabiola resigns from NTV

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