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Daughter of a Ugandan named minister in UK

New jobs minister Priti
New jobs minister Priti
New jobs minister Priti
    Priti Patel, 43, has been revealed as the new jobs minister in PM’s re-shuffle
    Married mother-of-one is daughter of Ugandan shopkeeper Sushil Patel, 64
    Mr Patel moved his family to Britain in the 1970s to flee dictator Idi Amin
    Stood for UKIP in 2013 but claimed to step down 90 minutes into candidacy

Britain’s new jobs minister is the daughter of a Ugandan shopkeeper who fled east Africa in the 1970s and joined UKIP after arriving into the UK.
Priti Patel, 43, was revealed as the new jobs minister in Prime Minister David Cameron’s latest re-shuffle which came as part of a bid to shed his image of being out of touch.
Ms Patel, a married mother-of-one, will be only the second Asian woman to sit in the Cabinet, after former Foreign Office minister Baroness Warsi.
She is the daughter of Sushil Patel, 64, who stood for UKIP two years ago and caused a furore after trying to withdraw his candidacy for the party just 90 minutes after it was announced.

Married Priti Patel, 43 (right), who has been revealed as the new jobs minister, is the daughter of Ugandan shopkeeper Sushil Patel, 64, (left) who fled east Africa for Britain in the 1970s and briefly stood for UKIP

As a Eurosceptic, she is a believer in low taxes and is outspoken about the need for welfare cuts. She has also hit the headlines for saying she supported the death penalty for the most serious crimes.
The mother of a six-year-old son fled to Britain with her parents when dictator Idi Amin persecuted the Indian community and ordered them out within 90 days.
‘My parents were kicked out of Uganda,’ she said in an interview. ‘They came to the UK with nothing, worked hard and set up a successful shop business.
‘There was a desire to work hard and to be successful so you didn’t have to rely on anybody else. Coming from a country where you’re persecuted means that you want to work hard and to contribute to the society where you end up.

Ms Patel (pictured outside Downing Street yesterday), who has been an MP for five years, was made Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury last year and has now been revealed as the new jobs minister by the PM

‘You become patriotic because you make your new country your home, and, as a result, you live and play by its values’.
Educated at a grammar school in Watford and Keele University, Ms Patel joined the party under John Major and her first job was at the Conservative Research Department.
The new Employment Minister is deputy to Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith, with responsibilities including jobseekers’ allowance and youth unemployment.
Although she is not a secretary of state, Mr Cameron confirmed she will attend Cabinet, as did her predecessor Esther McVey.
The role is likely to involve overseeing controversial cuts to welfare benefits, in efforts to slash £12billion in this area while protecting pensions.
Ms Patel wrote in a blog last year that under Labour the welfare system ‘bound people to dependency’. She expressed concern that ‘claimants who have never worked … enjoy a lifestyle that many other households could not afford.’
The Witham MP has been a leading critic of soft sentencing and votes for prisoners, and said in 2011 that the death penalty should be reintroduced for the most serious crimes.
She defected from the Tories in 1995 to James Goldsmith’s Referendum Party, but returned to the Conservatives two years later when William Hague became leader and promised not to join the Euro without a referendum.

Ms Patel pictured with Prime Minister David Cameron in front of the Shah Sayyid Tomb in the Lodi Gardens in Delhi, India in November 2013. Mr Cameron has re-shuffled his Cabinet in a bid to shed his out of touch image
Ms Patel pictured with Prime Minister David Cameron in front of the Shah Sayyid Tomb in the Lodi Gardens in Delhi, India in November 2013. Mr Cameron has re-shuffled his Cabinet in a bid to shed his out of touch image
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UN got wrong choice in Museveni-UPC

Okello Lucima
Okello Lucima
Okello Lucima

Kampala– Opposition Uganda Peoples’ Congress has lashed at the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon’s choice of picking President Museveni as peace broker in the ongoing Burundi political crisis.
UPC party Spokesperson, Okello Okello says it wouldn’t be Museveni as a perfect choice because he has maintained power through change of the Constitution to granting himself life presidency a project Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza is trying to implement.
″Mr.Museveni has no moral authority to intervene in the Burundi matters because he and Nkurunziza are not any different, ″ said Mr.Okello.″ Take Rwanda for example after the genocide, Museveni acted partisan and we all know who he supported, his army and the Rwandan army massacred Hutu refugees in Congo forests and we all know that.″ added Mr.Okello.
In the recently concluded United Nations High level Thematic Debate on strengthening co-operation between the UN and Regional Organizations in maintenance of peace, security, Human Rights and Development, the UN secretary General Ban Ki Moon, is reportedly having asked President Museveni to intervene in the ongoing political turmoil in Burundi.
However, Presidential Press Secretary, Tamale Mirundi dismissed UPC’s augment as narrow that can’t be compared to that of the UN. Mirundi further revealed that what many political players have forgotten is the role that was played by Museveni in pacifying Burundi in the accord that was signed in Arusha.
“Burundi was pacified by UN with the assistance of late President, Julius Nyerere first before late President Nelson Mandela came in. After Mandela, it is Museveni who came and with that he can’t be any wrong choice for another peace initiative.” Mirundi said.
He added “Museveni is best suited to handle Burundi because he was part of the medical team that prescribed the medicine for Burundi then and even now he will find solutions to the current crisis.”
Lucima said his party (UPC) disagreed with the UN Secretary General’s choice sighting events that brand Museveni as the ″wrong man″ for the job.
Addressing journalists at the party headquarters this afternoon May 13, 2015; Mr. Lucima expressed their disappointment with the UN. He went ahead to point out that from the East African Community, the potential candidate for this job should have been Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete.
″We as UPC support that the UN should choose a person with credibility and from a democratic country like Tanzania and Jakaya Kikwete would be the ideal person.″ Mr. Okello said.
At the UN general assembly, Museveni, in his keynote address said that African Problems require African interventions and not from the west.
But Lucime despised the above statement saying such words coming from a leaders whose citizens’ rights are abused is basically a shortcut for impunity.
“There are no rights categorical for Africans and Whites, they are all the same and universal.″ Mr.Okello said. He added, “This is a bid to find sanctuary to international standards against the brutality and promotion of impunity.”
President Museveni this morning joined other East African Community (EAC) leaders in Dar es Salaam for EAC extra ordinary summit on the crisis in Burundi.As the meeting was underway, an army was reported to have staged a coup against Nkurunziza

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Burundi general declares coup against President Nkurunziza

Maj Gen Godefroid Niyombareh
Maj Gen Godefroid Niyombareh
Maj Gen Godefroid Niyombareh

A Burundi army general says senior officers are “dismissing” President Pierre Nkurunziza, amid unrest over his bid to be re-elected to a third term.
Maj Gen Godefroid Niyombareh announced that a national salvation committee had been set up to run the country.
However, it is not clear how much support he and the other officers have.
President Nkurunziza is currently in Tanzania meeting other East African leaders to discuss the crisis. His aide dismissed the coup claims as “a joke”.
President Nkurunziza has rejected calls to postpone next month’s election.
Latest Burundi and Africa updates
Gen Niyombareh, in a statement read to reporters in a military base, said he did not recognise the leadership because the president’s bid for a third term violated the constitution.
Soldiers have surrounded the offices of the national broadcaster in the capital, Bujumbura.

Pierre Nkurunziza
Pierre Nkurunziza

Gen Niyombareh’s “national salvation committee” comprises at least five other army and police generals.
One eyewitness told Reuters that crowds who had earlier been out on the streets of the capital protesting against the president were now cheering and celebrating his apparent dismissal.
The unrest began on 26 April and has led to the deaths of more than 20 people.
Tens of thousands of Burundians have fled to neighbouring states in recent weeks.

Protesters opposed to the president were out on the streets again on Wednesday
Protesters opposed to the president were out on the streets again on Wednesday
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Shs7.5bn needed for qualifiers

FUFA President Moses Magogo right, FUFA CEO Edgar Waston middle & FUFA Finance Director Decolas Kizza
FUFA President Moses Magogo right, FUFA CEO Edgar Waston middle & FUFA Finance Director Decolas Kizza
FUFA President Moses Magogo right, FUFA CEO Edgar Waston middle & FUFA Finance Director Decolas Kizza

LOCAL soccer governing body, FUFA, needs sh7.5bn ahead of a busy international football schedule.

With the Under-23 side hosting Rwanda on Saturday May 23, 2015 for the first leg and the reverse fixture a fortnight later in Kigali.

The home based players’ visit Tanzania in the first round and, first leg of the 2016 CHAN qualifiers in Dar es Salaam on June 20, and the return leg is on July 4, at Mandela National stadium, Namboole.

While the senior side, Uganda Cranes play their first group game of the 2017 AFCON qualifiers on June 13, 2015 against Botswana at Namboole.

“From the Finance department, Shs7.5billion is needed for the three qualifying campaigns” said Decolas Kizza, the FUFA Finance Director.

Before adding, “The budget proposal to government was done and sent; now we call upon all leading corporates and individual fans to come on board”.

Uganda Cranes Team
Uganda Cranes Team

Gambia Test

Meanwhile FUFA have also secured a friendly match against West Africa side Gambia on 9th June before the Cranes’ first 2017 AFCON qualifier game on 13th June against Botswana at Namboole stadium.

Uganda Cranes were drawn in Group D against 2013 finalists Burkina Faso, Botswana and the Comoros for the continent’s football ultimate showpiece that will take place in Gabon.

The group winners and two best second placed teams join hosts, Gabon for the final tournament.

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Villa appeal, want Vipers game called-off

FC Villa Players
FC Villa Players
FC Villa Players
    Tuesday Results
    Entebbe 0-0 URA
    Kira Young 0-1 SC Villa
    Lweza 2-0 Sadolin Paints
    Rwenshama FC 2-3 Soana FC
    Friday Fixture
    SC Villa v Vipers FC
    Bul FC v Express FC
    Soana FC v KCC FC

SPORTS CLUB VILLA is set to appeal against a FUFA disciplinary committee decision that nullified a ruling by the UPL Board secretariat that awarded the club three points and three goals.

A press statement released by Ivan Kakembo, the Villa Chief Executive Officer, reads in part.

“This statement is to express our displeasure and dissatisfaction with the verdict because there was conflict interest”.

“One member of the committee was supposed to withdraw himself from the committee as stipulated by FUFA disciplinary code, that official never did.

“It’s on that background that we appeal this verdict”.

The committee, comprising of Godfrey Odur (Chairman), Jacob Lubega (secretary) and Edirisa Kasalira (member) nullified a ruling by the UPL Board that awarded Villa three points.

URA FC’s strength of the appeal was the video evidence presented before the FUFA disciplinary committee.

This follows URA appeal that had lodged, protesting the UPL board’s ruling after Villa had filed that URA used Saidi Kyeyune for the game.

“We presented evidence to the committee with the video evidence.

“The report talks of booking a player (Kyeyune) yet he had been substituted. Good enough, we record all our games” Henry Mayeku, secretary of URA noted.

After the verdict, that followed a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Kira Young on Tuesday at Namboole stadium, Villa lies second with two games to play in Uganda Premier League season.

Friday should give us green light on whom between log leaders Vipers and SC Villa wins the Uganda Premier League (UPL) title.

“Our plea to the FUFA appeals’ committee through the FUFA Competitions Committee is to have the game against Vipers (on Friday) postponed until our appeal is disposed off”.

Vipers currently top on 63 points, one ahead of Villa. The two face off at Nakivubo on Friday in the penultimate game of the season.

Vipers in Red
Vipers in Red
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Massa joins Bloem Celtic from Tuks

Geoffrey Massa
Geoffrey Massa
Geoffrey Massa celebrate a goal 

UGANDA Cranes striker Geoffrey Massa has penned a three-year contract with South Africa’s Bloemfontein Celtic, the club has confirmed.

Massa, who scored eight goals this season for University of Pretoria, will be introduced to the Siwelele fans ahead of the start of the 2015/16 Premier League Season.

Celtic boss Max Tshabalala tells the club’s website that Massa is a great addition to the squad.

“We are happy that we managed to sign a top player (striker) like Massa. This goes to show that we are serious about our mission to reinforce the squad and challenge for a respectable position on the log.

“His experience and prowess will assist us in achieving our goal, which should top-8 finish” he says.

Career History

Massa began his career in 2004 with Police FC in the Ugandan Premier League before moving to Egypt side Al-Masry Club in 2005.

He played three years in Egypt before moving in 2008 to South African club Jomo Cosmos and for the team he played 14 games and scored one goal.

In 2008 he left the team to return to Egypt and sign a contract with Itesalat. The forward joined on 14 September 2011 to Telsim Super League club Yenicami Ağdelen SK.

In 21 August 2013, he signed a deal with the South African side University of Pretoria and has now left to Bloemfontein Celtic ahead of the 2015/16 PSL season.

Massa has been a target for several clubs including Maritzburg United and AmaZulu despite reports a fortnight ago that indicated the player’s willingness to stay at University of Pretoria.

Geofrey Massa of University of Pretoria Mzivukile Tom of Golden Arrows during the Absa Premiership
Geofrey Massa of University of Pretoria  challenged by Mzivukile Tom of Golden Arrows during the Absa Premiership
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Senior Six leavers off to Kabalye

The police is to conduct a one-month course for 110 Senior Six leavers, as part of its community policing programme.
Dubbed the Patriotic Development Course, the course to be conducted at Kabalye Police Training School is to help the students engender the concept of both personal and neighbourhood security.
‘In the course of their stay at the police training school, the students are expected to also benefit from legal and patriotic discussions that will aim at turning themn into security cautious and development-minded young people,’ an official said.
By the time of post it was said that the Inspector General of Police Gen Kale Kayihura would preside over the function.

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MP Kawooya in trouble again over academic papers

Hanifer kawooya
Hanifa kawooya
Hanifa kawooya
Sembabule Woman Member of Parliament Hanifa Kawooya has found herself in trouble again after the Supreme Court ruled that the National Council of Higher Education has the powers to verify her academic documents.
The six Supreme Court judges including the Chief Justice Bart Katureebe, overruled an earlier ruling by the Constitutional Court that had cleared Ms Kawooya of any academic malpractices, after she presented documents issued to her in 2001, which documents were challenged by the NCHE.
But in the ruling, the coram noted that the NCHE is mandated by law to verify all higher education academic documents and that to block the body would deprive it of the oversight mandate.
Others judges on the panel included former Chief Justice Benjamin Odoki and Justices John Wilson Tsekoko, Esther Mayambala and Galdino Okello and Christine Kitumba, who delivered the lead judgment.
MP Kawooya sued the NCHE and the Attorney General in 2010, arguing that the oversight body had not given her a hearing, thereby violating the principles of natural justice and in the process, contravening the Constitution. Court agreed with her on this argument.
Ms Kawooya went to court following a directive from Senior Presidential Advisor Maj Roland Kakooza Mutale to NCHE indicating he had new evidence that the MP’s academic papers were suspect and that they be subject to further scrutiny.
But while reading the ruling, Ms Kawooya was also advised by the judges to appear before the NCHE to clear any queries and also to seek judicial review in the High Court if she felt dissatisfied.
Costs of the suit are to be borne by each party, the judges ruled.
Meanwhile, it emerged during the hearing that Knight Bridge University does not exist in the UK, yet the embattled MP used documents allegedly issued by the said university to later pursue Bachelors and Masters degrees.
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Judiciary dismisses delayed promotions’ claims

Courts of Judicature
Courts of Judicature
Courts of Judicature

All promotions of judicial officers in Uganda are based on merit and competence, the Judiciary has said.
Reacting to a group of about 60 anonymous magistrates who operate under a shadowy umbrella dubbed the Marginalised Magistrates Advocacy Plan (MMAP), the judiciary released a statement dismissing claims that the organisation’s members, who are operating clandestinely, had been side-lined in promotions.
According to the statement dated May 12 and issued by the Chief Registrar of Courts of Judicature, Paul Gadenya, members of MMAP have been sending anonymous and threatening e-mails to different Judicial Service Commission (JSC) officials, with a poignant one being sent to the Secretary of the Kagole Kivumbi on May 6, warning him of severe consequences if he failed to ensure their promotion.
In the communication to Kagole Kivumbi, the MMAP members issued a two week ultimatum to him to act on their ‘delayed’ promotions lest he face their wrath.
Some time back over sixty magistrates wrote to the JSC, the body that vets all judicial officers, claiming they had worked for the last ten years without promotion, and that their junior colleagues had surpassed them.
But Chief Registrar Gadenya thinks otherwise: judicial officers should not violate the Penal Code; they should use the established channels that include writing to the JSC through his office.

He then chided the grumbling magistrates: “The occupation of judicial officers is based on competence. You enter on merit and will be promoted on merit. Anonymous messages cannot get anybody promoted.”
However, in the same statement Gadenya says the judiciary is equally concerned about the issue of delayed promotions of judicial officers.
And, according to the Chief Registrar, on February 10 2015 he forwarded to the JSC 30 names of magistrates who had not been promoted in a long time, some for as long as 16 years, explaining their plight and how it had affected their work.

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Baryamureeba steps down as UTAMU Vice Chancellor

Prof. Venansius Baryamureeba
Prof. Venansius Baryamureeba
Prof. Venansius Baryamureeba

Below is the statement from Prof. Baryamureeba

Prof. Venansius Baryamureeba of Uganda Technology And Management University (UTAMU) will in March 2016, step down as Vice Chancellor (VC) of the university paving way for a new Vice Chancellor at the fast growing institution. This announcement was made by Ass. Prof. Joseph Kasumba Ssewanyana, the Chairperson of the University Council at UTAMU during a press briefing at the university campus in Bugolobi Kampala.

According to Ssewanyana, the search of the new Vice Chancellor is already ongoing and the university organs are determined to recruit a highly qualified experienced and internationally recognized scholar to head UTAMU.

“UTAMU has come of age and the peaceful transition at the top is a sign of a university destined for greatness as it aspires to become the MIT (Massachussets Institute of Technology) of Africa,” Ssewanyana said.

He further confirmed that the new Vice Chancellor would be installed on 26th September 2015 during the maiden graduation ceremony of the university. The UTAMU council chairperson confirmed that UTAMU’s maiden graduation will be presided over by the University Chancellor His. Excellency Dr. Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka.

Prof. Baryamureeba, who was at the press conference, confirmed this and clarified that he, would still serve UTAMU in a different capacity as faculty but not as Vice Chancellor. “I have already been teaching in different courses and supervising students; Education is my passion and I don’t have to only enjoy it as Vice Chancellor. I am only stepping down as Vice Chancellor but proudly taking on roles as faculty at UTAMU,” Baryamureeba clarified.

He further stressed that he would ensure smooth transition and will stay in UTAMU to serve as a wing for the new Vice Chancellor as he/she leads UTAMU to the promised land.

Prof. Baryamureeba has been the founding Vice Chancellor for UTAMU since September 2012. He previously served at Makerere University as Vice Chancellor. He joined Makerere as a teaching assistant after his bachelor’s degree and grew through the ranks of lecturer, director, professor, dean before finally being appointed Vice Chancellor. During his tenure Barya as he is fondly remembered for transforming Makerere into a first world university.

Prof. Baryamureeba left Makerere University in September 2012 to start Uganda Technology and Management University. In less than three years of operation, he is credited for pushing UTAMU to levels of competing favorably with older universities. With unique and innovative teaching and learning models, highly qualified faculty and strategic partnerships with key institutions at national and international levels, UTAMU is undoubtedly growing to be one of the best universities in the region.

“I have not achieved this alone. I have a great team comprised of highly qualified and experienced faculty. I am proud to have groomed many of them. I have no doubt UTAMU will still be the best with or without me at the top,” Baryamureeba said with his signature smile.

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