As the Uganda Cranes start preparation for their 2017AFCON qualifiers, Head coach Milutin ‘Micho’Sredojevic is not fazed by a busy schedule.
Cranes entertain Gambia next Tuesday in an International Build Up, before kicking off the 2017AFCON qualifiers against Botswana four days later.
“Everybody knows from now until the beginning of January we will play a lot of games, a lot of difficult ones,” Micho told the press after a light training session in Luzira, Prisons stadium on Tuesday.
On June 20th, the locally based players play Tanzania in Zanzibar for the opening leg of the CHAN 2016 qualifier.
Micho is yet to release his final squad as he is monitoring the physical fitness of some foreign based players whose football seasons on recess. Some U-23 and CHAN squad players will feature in the training today.
South African based Geofrey Massa was one of the four forwards who trained with the team on Monday evening.
The others were Alex Bukenya Kitata (The Saints F.C) and the URA duo of Frank Kalanda and Robert Ssentongo.
Other foreign based players, Denis Iguma (Lebanon), midfielder, Boban Zirintusa (South Africa with Polokwane F.C) and Brian Majwega, who ply for Azam F.C in the Tanzanian league plus Alex Kakuba, from Portugal.
EAC Secretary General Amb. Dr. Richard Sezibera makes his remark
EAC Secretary General Amb. Dr. Richard Sezibera makes his remark
Travellers and people living near the border lines of the five East Africa Community and other regional states are set to benefit from a multi-million dollar intervention aimed at stemming the onslaught of HIV/Aids in the region.
Dubbed the Cross-Border Health Integrated Partnership, the five-year intervention is to be coordinated by the East African Community (EAC) Secretariat in collaboration with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), in sustained efforts ‘to achieve an Aids-free generation’.
Amb. Dr. Richard Sezibera addresses the participants during the launch
During the launch of the programme on May 27 at the EAC headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania, the Secretary General Dr. Richard Sezibera noted that the EAC and the United States enjoy cordial relations aimed at strengthening cooperation over shared priorities.
“Our partnership with the U.S. Government will continue to be expanded and strengthened through mutual development and U.S. donor funding for our programs,” Amb. Dr. Sezibera, was quoted as saying in a release issued May 28.
“CB-HIPP also provides an opportunity for the EAC to conduct strategic discussions on joint priorities, which will inform the upcoming 5th EAC Strategy (2017-2021) and the USAID Regional Strategy (2015-2020) under development,” he added.
USAID/Kenya and East Africa Mission Director Karen Freeman(in red)
At the same function the USAID/Kenya and East Africa Mission Director Karen Freeman noted that cross-border communities and travellers, if not given the necessary social attention, were vulnerable to Aids and other infectious diseases.
“As populations in cross-border towns increasingly move across the region, they become vulnerable to infectious diseases, which, without proper treatment, caneasily be spread along the transport corridors,” Ms Freeman was quoted as saying.
She added: “CB-HIPP will encourage civil society, governments and Regional Economic Communities to expand health services to restrict the spread of HIV and other infectious diseases, as well as bring together social structures and grass root organizations to implement HIV-prevention activities.”
According to the release, the CB-HIPP is supported by the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and Trade Africa, and will complement the more-than-$1 billion U.S Government investment in the region ‘and efforts led by the EAC to safeguard the health of people living, working and traveling along the transport corridors and cross-border sites.’
Among others the programme targets female sex workers, gays, drug users, truck drivers, migrant workers, people living with HIV and other vulnerable community members.
DP National Chairman Baswaari Kezaala addressing the media
DP National Chairman Baswaari Kezaala addressing the media
Following sporadic killings of Ugandans in various regions of the country, the opposition Democratic Party has called upon Ugandans to form security committees, saying the ruling National Resistance Movement government has failed to protect the citizens.
According to DP, the security situation of Uganda has been deteriorating for the past 15 years, with crimes committed including among others; child and adult sacrifice, killings including the recent murders of Muslim clerics and other high profile people and, the attacks on university students.
Addressing the weekly press conference Mr.Baswari Kezaala, the DP national chairman said that upon creation the village security committees would voluntarily guard their areas.
“We did it in the 80s during Obote II when security was lacking and it worked,” Mr Kezaala said today at City House, the party headquarters.
The localized security system known as nkuuma kange literally meaning, ‘I am keeping my own property’, involves drafting a timetable for different groups or individuals to carry out patrols during the night and ensuring security in their areas of residence.
“The committees have to contain able-bodied men from different homesteads of that particular society, and they are supposed to work in shifts,” Mr Kezaala said.
He added: “Government doesn’t have a clear stand on this issue, this is why they keep attributing the murders to ADF even when they say Jamilu Mukulu was arrested; therefore, it has failed to protect its people and now they should take the initiative themselves.”
The DP stalwart also condemned police brutality especially while arresting opposition leaders and asked members of the force to remain professional and not act as puppets for the NRM in a bid to promote the ruling party’s interests.
“This act of brutality is totally unacceptable especially towards elections,” Mr.Kezaala said, adding: “We call upon government and Kayihura (police boss) in particular to revisit his position and do his work of keeping law and order.”
It is now 130 years since the Uganda Martyrs were brutally murdered (by burning) on the orders of Kabaka Mwanga between 1885 and 1887 for the religious beliefs and inclinations.
Very few or none of us living today will live to be the age of 130, but the Martyrs still live in our minds because of the legacy they left. And that is why hundreds of thousands of people are converging on Namugongo Martyrs Shrines (both Catholic and Anglican) tomorrow to celebrate the lives of these gallant sons of Uganda who have made this country one of eternal pilgrimage since the Catholic Martyrs were Canonised in 1964.
Indeed, if all goes as reported, this year Pope Francis 1 is expected to visit Uganda. If this happens, he will be the third Pope to visit the country that produced some of the most celebrated people of the Catholic faith, the Uganda martyrs.
Several arguments have been raised by scholars, with some saying those killed were rebellious to Kabaka Mwanga and therefore had to face the consequences resulting from what they believed in. However, what remains outstanding is that these young men, most of them below 25 years were steadfast in the conviction that religion was an important aspect of society: it gives rise to morality.
Today, the Ugandan society is at crossroads; moral decadence has ensconced the minds of most of the public sector practitioners, with corruption taking the lead in most of their actions. Similarly, other areas of society have not been spared of the decadence, and we now have to brace ourselves everyday for news about social malaises like murders, rape, practice of Gayism and Lesbianism and pornography, among others.
So, this year as the country pays tribute to the Martyrs, it is important to emulate what they stood and died for, as that would help the country re-orient its moral bearing.
Former Uganda Peoples Congress (UPC) vice president has rejected the election of Jimmy Akena as the party’s new president.
Joseph Bossa, who contested for the UPC presidency in the just-concluded party elections says Akena compelled party’s Electoral Commission to declare him winner.
In an interview with EagleOnline today, the outgoing party vice president said Akena and his supporters hijacked the EC officials, after group of about 50 Akena loyalists led by Oyam South MP Betty Amongi and Kole MP Fred Ebil reportedly stormed the tallying room and held the officials hostage.
“As officials (EC) were still processing, they were hijacked, forced to sign and declare Akena the winner,” said Bossa.
The former UPC vice president named Edward Seganyi, a one Mr. Wako, and Canon Nyote as some of the commissioners that were held hostage. He further said they (other presidential aspirants) had petitioned the party’s EC about the irregularities in the electoral process, adding, that “the election process was so badly done, it could not reflect the party values.”
On Monday, amid heavy police deployment, the party’s EC led by Edward Sseganyi declared Jimmy Akena winner having won in 67 districts.
However, Mr. Bossa said he and some of the other presidential contenders would consider going to court, if their grievances were not considered. “One step at a time, for now we are planning to hold meetings with EC,” he said.
Prof. Edward James Kakonge , another presidential contender said the party’s electoral body had not declared the winner and that he was waiting for the final word from the EC commissioners. “I have not seen any document declaring him (Akena) winner, I am waiting for the official results,” he said on phone.
Efforts to reach UPC ‘president-elect’ Akena, who is also the Lira Municipality MP for comment were futile, as when called on his personal number; he picked but switched off after introduction.
Jimmy Akena joined the UPC presidential race last week after consenting with UPC party officials but earlier his supporters led by wife Betty Amongi had ran to court seeking an injunction on the elections.
If confirmed UPC President, Akena will become the third member of founding party president Dr Apollo Milton Obote’s family to head the ‘Independence party’.
His father led the party in the 60s and 80s, while the mother became party leader in 2005 after the demise of her husband. Now, if Akena gets to steer the party, the UPC will follow closely what happened in India’s ‘Independence Party’, where the Gandhis have held sway over the Indian National Congress for close to a century.
Other candidates results; David Pulkol-12 districts, Joseph Bossa-11, David Nyote-4, Julius Ochen-9, Edward Kakonge-2, Benson Obua-1, Dan Okello-0, Sam Musamali Wandeka-0.
Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta with his Tanzanian counterpart Jakaya Kikwete during the Burundi summit
Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta with his Tanzanian counterpart Jakaya Kikwete during the Burundi summit
The Government of Burundi has remained evasive over a demand by the East African Community (EAC) Heads of State Summit that called for the postponement of presidential elections in the troubled country.
The tiny central African country was scheduled to hold presidential elections on June 26, but political twists there including President Pierre Nkurunziza’s attempts at securing a ‘third term’ led to sporadic violence and a temporary coup was staged on May 13 by disgruntled military and police officers led by a former intelligence chief, Maj Gen Godefroid Niyombare. The coup was staged while President Nkurunziza in Dar es Salaam was attending the first EAC meeting on Burundi, but could only hold for a day, as a ‘triumphant’ Nkurunziza returned home from Tanzania on May 14.
This time the President didn’t make the trip to Dar es Salaam for the second meeting two days ago, but the EAC leaders present implored the Burundi government to postpone the elections by at least ‘one and a half months’ to allow for calm to return to the country of 10.1 million people.
Now, media reports have indicated that Deputy Presidential Spokesman Gervais Abayeho as saying the proposal by the Heads of State would be considered alongside the Constitution, which demands that an elected president must be sworn in by August 26, and the different opinions given by other stakeholders including the Burundi Electoral Commission and political parties in the country.
It is this non-committal position that is puzzling many, with the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Assistance in East Africa (UNOCHA-EA) saying in a Flash Update that “The Government of Burundi has indicated it is favourable to this request.”
Burundi erupted into violence during the past three months after President Nkurunziza indicated he would participate as a presidential candidate for the ruling CNDD-FDD party, a position that was contested by the country’s opposition and political activists as contravening the Constitution, which sets term limits for president at two, five year terms.
Kampala-Jimmy Akena son to former President late Apolo Milton Obote has won the Uganda Peoples’ Congress party presidency.
Akena won five other contenders to replace outgoing party president Olara Otunna who declined to contest for the second term. “Yes I won and the elections were peaceful” Akena said when Eagle Online contacted him.
Elections were held on Saturday May 30 in 64 districts which consists UPC countrywide.
Others in the race included Prof Edward Kakonge, David Pulkol, Julius Onen and Benson Obua Ogwal and Sam Wandera.
Akena winning completes the family cycle of the Obotes ruling the party. His father ruled the party from 1960 until he died in 2005 and thereafter, Akena’s mother Miria Obote took over until Otunnu came.
Local sports journalists under their umbrella, Uganda Sports Press Association (USPA) on Monday voted the Farouk Miya as the Nile Special Sport Personality for the month of May.
Miya, the U23 national team skipper and Vipers forward earned the honours at a monthly scribes meeting held at Imperial Royale Hotel ahead of Athlete Ronald Musagala and Rally ace Arthur Blick.
The forward Miya returned 540 points to beat athlete Musagala by just 5 points and Blick 500 points.
Miya was instrumental in Vipers’ run enroute winning the 2014/15 Uganda Premier league and the club’s’ second league title and named League’s’ Most Valuable Player (MVP).
He also played an integral part for the Uganda Kobs team that eliminated Rwanda in the CAF U-23 championship qualifier.
Uganda will now face Egypt at the next stage where the winner on aggregate will qualify for the December 2015 Africa U-23 championship finals in Dakar, Senegal.
Ronald Musagala, right
Athlete Musagala clocked 3:35:02 at the Hengelo, Shanghai event thus setting a national 1500m record, breaking record set by Julius Acon in 1997.
The rally Crew of Blick and Unisan Bakunda won the CMC Challenge rally to extend their lead to 85 points in the National Rally Championship.
Uganda Swimming team, kick boxer, Golola Moses and Vipers sports club were commended by the assembly for excelling in the month of May.
A leading global logistics firm is organizing a photo competition, where four winning photographers, both amateur and professional, will walk away with thousands of dollars in cash prizes.
According to a release by the African Press Organisation, APO, Agility Africa, the organisers of the competition, are intent on showcasing the lighter and progressive side of the African continent, something they say, is often ignored by those who tell the African story.
According to Agility Africa Chief Executive Officer Geoffrey White, seven out of 10 of the fastest growing economies are in Africa, something worth writing home about.
“We hope this photo competition will demonstrate some of the positives revealing the real progress and development that Africa is making,” Mr White is quoted as saying, adding: “We want to capture images reflecting the robust modernization happening every day, from sustainable farming to manufacturing to oil and gas production. We hope, as a result, perceptions of Africa will become more balanced, and they will come to see Africa as a significant contributor to the world economy.”
The winning photographers in the competition slated for between June 1 and September 1, are to be drawn from three categories: Cities, Industry and Technology and, according to the release, the overall winning photographer will get a US$4000 grand prize, while those in the three categories will walk away with US$2,000 each.
“It calls for photographers to capture an Africa booming with tech savvy, youthful consumers, fast-paced urbanization and long-term economic prospects,” the release issued in Cape Town, South Africa on June 1, states in part.
Agility Africa is a US$5 billion annual revenue earner with more than 20,000 employees across 100 countries, with interests in oil and gas, warehousing, airport services and ground handling, among other services.
Yesterday, regional Heads of State and several dignitaries called on the Burundi government to postpone elections in the civil-strife stricken country.
The proposal by the East African Community (EAC) comes in the wake of Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza almost insisting that presidential elections in his country must be held on June 26.
The EAC is not the first regional body, organization or country to call for the postponement of these elections; the United States, the European Union, theInternational Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) and the Catholic Church are some of the other parties that want the elections put off, for fear of persistent violence.
Most observers of the situation in Burundi have argued that it is very volatile, something that can lead to further bloodshed in the tiny central African country that has had a good share of turmoil since Independence.
In fact during the previous round of conflict that lasted about 10 years, it was the intervention of countries in the region that saved Burundi from plummeting into an orgy of bloodshed. They have again come in to salvage Burundi.
Already a lot of blood has been shed and that is why it is important for President Nkurunziza to heed the call by his EAC colleagues and other well-wishers.
Indeed, already the international Community seems worried of a possible eruption of Genocide, and has dispatched the UN Special Advisor/Envoy on the Prevention of Genocide Adama Dieng to engage with the authorities on the itchy matter of violence.
In that regard, first, before holding elections there must be a peaceful and conducive environment, which enables all people of voting age in Burundi to participate in the elections, and to choose a leader of their choice.
Second, government should try and reach out to the opposition to see how best to conduct a free and fair election, one that will not be contested, in a bid to avoid post-election violence.
Third, the government of Burundi should ensure that it repatriates all refugees, victims of the current violence that are strewn across the region, and also provide the necessary humanitarian needs of those vulnerable people like the elderly, children and women who stayed on in the country.
It is after such measures have been operationalized that the country can go to the polls.
