vice president Jeffrey Webb to USA federal charges after raid on Switzerland hotel
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.
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.
Mr. Andrew Sorowen of Uganda Police
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 14th of 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.
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.
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
Mr Jawad Jaffer, the Superbrands East Africa Project Director.
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:
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.”
Islamist militants from Somalia attacked two police patrols in neighboring Kenya on Tuesday, triggering a gun battle in a rural area hit by a string of cross-border raids, both sides said.
Somalia’s al Shabaab fighters said they had killed 25 Kenyan officers, an account contradicted by the police force that said one of its men had died and four had been wounded.
The al Qaeda-linked militants said they ambushed the police about 70 km (40 miles) north of Garissa, a town where the Islamists raided a university and killed 148 people in April.
Al Shabaab militants, fighting to overthrow a Western-backed government in Somalia, have launched several attacks inside Kenya, trying to force it to pull troops from a African peacekeeping force in their homeland.
The assaults have piled political pressure on the Nairobi government, which has promised to carry on with its Somali mission, and devastated Kenya’s tourism industry, one of its main sources of foreign income.
Police said one officer had died from his wounds after the attacks in the Fafi and Yumbis areas, one was critically wounded and three others suffered minor injuries.
“A contingent of officers responded for reinforcement and on arrival at the scene, engaged the attackers in a heavy fire-fight,” Inspector General Joseph Boinnet said in a statement.
Kenyan media had earlier reported that as many as 20 officers could have been killed, and al Shabaab said 25 died.
“We took all their weapons. There were some Kenyan forces that escaped in the course of the ambush fighting,” al Shabaab’s military operations spokesman, Sheikh Abdiasis Abu Musab, said.
Somali and African troops have pushed al Shabaab out of Somalia’s main cities in recent years. But Tuesday’s attacks underlined militants’ continuing ability to strike Kenya’s frontier regions.
Last week, al Shabaab attacked Yumbis and hoisted its flag on a mosque where fighters held prayers before heading to another nearby village.
Al Shabaab has killed more then 400 people on Kenyan soil since Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta came to power in April 2013.
Kenyan anti-terrorism forces arrested a “wanted terror suspect” in possession of a Russian-made hand grenade, bomb detonator and plastic explosives in the port city of Mombasa on Tuesday, county police commander Robert Kitur said.
The NSSF Volleyball League 2015 season got served off over the weekend at the MTN Arena and MUBS Nakawa grounds with games played in all League divisions.
In the Men’s Serie A action, defending champions KAVC stepped out fresh in their new League kit courtesy of SN Brussels to take on 2011 champions Nkumba University in a thrilling match that saw all five sets being played.
Nkumba drew first blood as they won the first set but went ahead to lose the next two sets before winning the fourth to force a decisive.
It is at this point that youngster Okello Daudi stood tall driving his team to victory. Nkumba tried to relay on youngster Malinga Kathbart and Tanzanian Mari Jackson in the absence of high scoring centre player Sammy Kagai who was nursing an injury.
In the ladies category, Sport-S women defeated old timers KCCA 3-1 in match that could see the Sports Organizing Commission (SOC) overturn the result due to Sport-S fielding an ineligible player. Sport-S fielded Rwandan setter Yvette Igihozo despite cautions from the Head of SOC Mr. Juma Osunge.
“Sport-S manager told me she has no other setter to use for this match but she is aware of the penalties associated with fielding an ineligible player” Osunge said.
Yvette Igihozo requires to complete an International Transfer from her former Club APR to allow her take part in the NSSF Volleyball League.
Defending champions Vision Volleyball Camp were 3-1 victors over Ndejje University despite putting up an average performance.
VVC who struggled right from the first set lost it to Ndejje University and were lucky to win the second after Ndejje setter Winnie Nakabuubi faltered with a service at set point.
VVC managed to exploit the inexperience of some of the Ndejje players to pick up points although Ndejje responded with good solid blocks.
This was the first meeting this year for the two teams since last year’s play-offs.
Nine people suspected of cannibalism are to be arrested after they failed to appear in court.
The order to arrest Bosco Ssegirinya, Maria Nabukenya, Ramka Kaweesa, Aloysious Kasujja and Ronald Ssebuufu on sight was made on Monday, May 25 by Masaka Grade One magistrate Taddeo Muinda.Others who failed to turn up and are wanted include: Jozeveriti Nuwagaba, Peregrine Mpoza, Imelda Nalubega and Alex Ssebala, all residents of Kyakirugu, Kyarulangira sub country in Rakai district.
The suspects are part of a group of 13 people who were charged with the murder of Ms Peace Arinaitwe Kyamukama and her nine-month old baby. They are also charged with attempting to murder Deus Bandihihi, Ms Kyamukama’s husband.
Those who appeared in court include Michael Kabiito, Ismael Ssekyanzi, Asaf Tumuhimbise and Alex Ssemyalo.
Three sickly suspects were released on bail in 2014 by then Masaka Resident Judge, Justice Kibuuka Musoke, while the others were released in October last year by Lady Justice Margeret Oumo Oguli after spending six months without facing trial.
According to prosecution, the deceased and her husband were returning from burial and, as fate would have it, were caught up by time, prompting them to seek shelter at Mr Tumuhimbise’s home. It is here that the pair and their child, who were heading home in Kisekka Sub County, Lwengo district, allegedly met with the cannibalism suspects, who in turn descended on them for a meal.
Mr Bandihihi managed to escape from the suspects but his wife and child were not as lucky.
Now, the magistrate’s court has set May 27 as the date when the suspects will appear for committal to High Court, since the lower court has no jurisdiction to hear offences of capital nature.
