The Parliament tasked Prime Minister, Robinah Nabbanja to follow up on the case in which the Minister of Internal Affairs, Maj. Gen. (Rtd) Kahinda Otafiire, is accused of grabbing a government stock farm in Njeru Municipality, Buikwe District.

This followed a matter of national importance raised by Kira Municipality MP, Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda, complaining about the conduct of a minister who he said is dutifully expected to guard the farm.

“Can government tell us whether the level of degeneration has reached this far, that a minister can go and take over a government farm and arrest a farm manager and say this one I have bought,” Ssemujju asked.

Ssemujju raised the matter during the plenary sitting chaired by Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa, on Thursday, 25 January 2024

The Leader of the Opposition, Joel Ssenyonyi, re-echoed Ssemujju’s avowals saying the minister conducted himself dishonourably and denied citizens critical services offered by the farm.

“There are positions that require a certain level of dignity with discipline. This is unacceptable for the minister; to grab this farm is to deprive ordinary folks service delivery,” said Ssenyonyi.

He stated that Njeru farm houses the only livestock breeding plant for the entire eastern region and the only liquid nitrogen plant that serves all hospitals in the eastern region.

Tororo District Woman MP, Sarah Opendi, recalled that the 10th Parliament extensively investigated the case and made recommendations that Parliament could consider.

“The Committee on Agriculture investigated this matter, and a report was presented with recommendations. Maybe we need to pick the recommendations and the discussion on what the House finally passed and start from there,” she advised.

Opendi added: “In the recommendations, the government was told to get its farm, and if Gen. Otafiire had any legal claims then he could be compensated”.

The Minister for Public Service, Wilson Muruli Mukasa, advised that Parliament accords Otafiire an opportunity to make a statement of personal explanation.

“This matter is not a new one as some legal steps have been taken. I think the best thing would be for us to request Kahinda Otafiire to come up and say something, he is an actor in this matter, and it will be opportune for him to come here and make a statement and clear the air,” Muruli Mukasa said.

However, the advisory was overtaken by a ruling by the Deputy to let the premier take charge and report back to Parliament in two weeks.

The Deputy Speaker also instructed that Dr Carol Wabule, the Njeru Stock Farm Manager, who had been arrested on charges of criminal trespass last week purportedly on the orders of Otafiire, be released.

The Third Deputy Prime Minister and Minister without Portfolio, Rukia Nakadama, informed Parliament that the farm manager had already been released on Police bond and restored to her position.

Otafiire in 2019 presented documents to Parliament in which he said the land in question did not belong to the government but was a private mailo he obtained under a willing buyer-willing seller mode of payment. He said that the government was wrongly superimposed on his land.

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Justice Frederick Martin Stephen Egonda-Ntende and Betty Oyella Bigombe have been conferred with honorary Doctor of Laws degrees from Makerere University.

The two and Prof. Leif Abrahamsson, who received an honorary Doctor of Science, were awarded during the first day of the 74th Graduation Ceremony of Makerere University.

The graduation ceremony kicked off earlier today at Freedom Square, conferring 1,400 degrees to various graduates from the Colleges of Natural Sciences, Health Sciences, and the School of Law.

A total of 132 PhDs (46 female, 86 male), 1,585 Masters (699 female, 886 male), 156 Postgraduate Diplomas (67 female, 89 male), 11,016 Undergraduate Degrees (5,990 female, 5,026 male), and 24 Undergraduate Diplomas (15 female, nine male) will be graduating from all the colleges.

According to Prof. Buyinza Mukadasi, the academic registrar of Makerere University, Bigombe, and Justice Egonda-Ntende were approved by the university council for the award of the honorary doctor of laws, honoris causa, and degree.

The honorary degree is the highest award granted by the university and constitutes recognition of distinctive achievement that has contributed materially to knowledge and to the betterment of society. Makerere University honors individuals of the upstanding character whose contributions are extraordinary and inspirational.

“Your contribution to peace has helped reduce state fragility, political violence, and socioeconomic growth and development; you have had a long-standing and exemplary public service that has had a transformative impact on society,” Mukadasi said.

He said Bigombe exhibited outstanding leadership, professional, and human qualities and demonstrated exceptional accomplishments, and your excellence reflects positively upon the Makerere University vision.

The university said Justice Egonda-Ntende carried out his task as a judge with humility, utmost incorruptibility, and unwavering fealty to the cause of justice and equality embedded in the judicial oath.

“You have demonstrated exceptional accomplishments in upholding ethical principles and the development of the judicial system in Uganda and globally,” Prof. Mukadasi said.

Before joining the Court of Appeal, Justice Egonda-Ntende served as the Chief Justice of the Seychelles in 2009, a position he held until 2014. He served as an acting justice of the Supreme Court of Uganda. He also took part in the setting up of an independent judiciary in East Timor, where he served as a judge of the Court of Appeal.

Egonda-Ntende lectured law at Makerere University in Uganda and was the chairperson of the Law Reporting Committee of the judiciary in Uganda. He also served as a judge for the United Nations Mission in Kosovo.

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Youth with disabilities are set to win Shs20 million and free music records at the well-established record labels under this year’s Sauti Caravan campaign.

The campaign aims to promote inclusiveness, talent, and advocacy for youth-friendly services. The differently abled people will be awarded a grand finale, which will be held in May 2023.

Under the theme ‘we are able’, the interested youth will submit recorded videos of what they do in the music industry between January and March. The submissions can be made at Sauti Plus offices and NRG radio social media channels. Between March and April, there will be both virtual and physical auditions. In May, there will be a boot camp for all the selected participants.

According to Humphrey Nabimamya, the CEO of Reach a Hand Uganda, in the boot camp there will be a vitality of established musicians, comedians, dramatists, poets, music managers, and lead managers and promoters. We shall be taking them through all these master classes and lectures on talent, and the winners will be determined at a grand finale that will take place in May.

Following the grand finale, record labels and companies will offer some of the participants a chance to record their songs at zero cost and Shs20 million to the winner and finalists, among other goodies.

Silvester Kasozi, the Country Director of Light for the World, said,” We want to see that everyone differently abled youth showcase their talent. We want to tap into the art performance space because it is one of the most profitable. It is a good employer, which leads to economic empowerment.”

He said it is one of the big spaces where people with disabilities can reap a lot of money. We are also creating awareness and giving a platform to people with disabilities to gain self-esteem and opportunities to find a way of life. If it’s music, playing an instrument, or dancing, they should showcase their talents.

After nearly two decades without representation, Miss Uganda broke barriers by crowning a contestant with a disability as Miss Personality, marking a significant milestone in inclusivity and redefining beauty standards.

“We want to shatter barriers surrounding individuals with disabilities by providing a platform to showcase their talents in diverse and empowering ways. We need to uplift people with disabilities because their lives will be challenging, and if their lives are challenging, they will also be challenging to us by extension.” he said

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The Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany and the Embassy of France to Uganda have celebrated the Franco-German Friendship Treaty in a pompous Peace and Reconciliation award ceremony.

The event took place on Thursday January 25, 2024, at the German Residence, located at Hill Lane 6, Kololo.

The 61^st anniversary of this historic event and the fifth anniversary of the renewed partnership between France and Germany were commemorated by their Excellencies Mr. Matthias Schauer, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Uganda and Mr. Xavier Sticker, Ambassador of France to Uganda.

On January 22, 1963, the signing of the Élysée Treaty by President Charles de Gaulle and Chancellor Konrad Adenauer sealed the reconciliation between France and Germany for the benefit of a long and lasting era of peace and friendship between the two countries. On January 22, 2019, President Emmanuel Macron and Chancellor Angela Merkel, signed in Aachen, a new Franco-German treaty on cooperation and integration.

This year’s award was presented to Mr. Faruku Kibaba, Founder and Executive Director of Great Lakes Peace Center (GLPC), a non-governmental organization based in Kasese that works tirelessly towards building peace in the region. The organization assesses and acknowledges the underlying causes of the conflicts and tries to prevent similar reoccurrences in the future in collaboration with regional local governments as well as with people trapped in conflicts.

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In preparation for a menstrual hygiene intervention to reduce school absenteeism, Safepad has unveiled an anti-microbial-treated and reusable sanitary pad in Uganda.

School absenteeism is attributed to menstrual pain, a lack of effective materials for menstrual hygiene management, embarrassment, and fear of teasing.

According to Trine Angeline Sig, the CEO of Safepad Uganda, the pads are not only an antimicrobial treatment; they are also a long-lasting, durable material that will make the product last for three to four years. It’s a thin pad with a very good absorbency capacity, but the thinness makes it dry fast after washing.

“My dedication is reshaping the narrative, ensuring menstrual health empowerment for every girl and woman in Uganda. I am delighted that we are not only bringing a new solution to the country but also trying to start a movement. The movement is aimed at eliminating menstrual period poverty because it shouldn’t be in 2024 that a period can stop a girl’s education,” she said.

She said the antimicrobial treatment ensures that the pad is safe and hygienic to use, meaning it is bacteria-free. It also means that the users don’t have to dry the pads in the sun. That technology will take care of the killing of the bacteria.

Ladhi Stokes, the spokesperson of the International University of East Africa (IUCEA) said reusable sanitary pads are, compared to disposable products, a very good investment because they last longer. The durability of a safe path, if you treat it well, lasts for three to four years.

“Limited access to safe and consistent menstrual hygiene products in Uganda has had adverse effects on the quality of life of young girls but with Safepad, we are looking forward to increasing access to quality, safe, and sustainable pads at an affordable cost,” she said.

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The late Kyabazinga of Busoga, Henry Wako Muloki, has been awarded the distinguished order of the Nile Medal for his contribution to the growth and development of the country.

The late Kyabazinga and 51 others were awarded during the 38th National Resistance Movement (NRM) anniversary celebrations in Jinja.

The distinguished order of the Nile is awarded to a person who excels in production, research, economic development, social or cultural enterprises for promoting Uganda abroad through artistic, scientific, or cultural work by working in the public service, being a member of a cultural, religious, academic, or scientific institution, being a member of the public or private sector, being a traditional leader or community leader, or being a distinguished member of a distinct culture dedication.

“The only awardee who has been duly approved is none other than His Royal Highness Henry Wako Muloki. May his soul rest in peace,” Maj. Gen. George Nkumba, the master of ceremony, announced.

Muloki first became Kyabazinga of Busoga in 1955, a position he held until then, when Ugandan Prime Minister Milton Obote abolished all traditional institutions and kingdoms within the country in 1966. Muloki regained the title of Kyabazinga on February 11, 1995, after the Ugandan government restored the traditional kingdoms.

At that time, Busoga was under the leadership of highly educated persons who engineered numerous socioeconomic development programmes for Busoga, including but not limited to promoting coffee and cotton production with increased family incomes and helping the Busoga Growers’ Cooperative Union grow as a formidable and well-managed economic organisation.

During the celebrations, Major General Sabiti Muzej, the former deputy Inspector General of Police, was awarded an exemplary service order second-class police medal.

“The medal is awarded to the Deputy Inspector General of Police, a former Deputy Inspector General of Police and Assistant Inspector General of Police, and other police officers of similar rank”.

He was enlisted in the National Resistance Army in 1998. Since then, he has undergone several military training courses that include, but are not limited to, the senior command and staff course at the Defence Services Staff College in Wellington, India; the missile commanders course; and basic military training in Kabamba.

During the celebrations, President Yoweri Museveni pledged to crack a whip against the continuous stealing of government drugs in hospitals.

“People decry the lack of medicines in hospitals. At Nyanga Hospital, they told me about the same challenge. It is easy, and I will find out who does what from the villages and the ministry of health,” he said.

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