Uganda continues to excel in the ongoing Inter-Parliamentary Games, having dominated the opening athletic games in Kigali, Rwanda.
The parliamentary athletics team that is coached by the former world champion, Dorcus Inzikuru on Monday December 11, 2023 took to the running tracks with the desire and attitude to defend the championship in Bugesera Stadium.
It did not take them long before Joan Alobo (FDC, Soroti City) and Helen Auma (NRM, Busia District) came first in separate 100m heats. Robert Ssekitoleeko (NUP, Bamunanika County) and Bernard Odoi (NRM, Youth Representative Eastern) also won in respective 400m heats, while Christine Akello (NRM, Erute County North) settled for a second position in the women’s 1500m race having suffered joint cramps in the final lap of the race she was leading.
In the men’s 1500m contest, the defending champion, Julius Acon (NRM, Otuke East County) took no chances against his East African opponents and cruised to victory. Uganda sealed the day with more victories in the 4x100m relays for both men and women.
Coach, Inzikuru lauded Parliament leadership for ably supporting the parliamentary sports team and pledged to win more medals in return.
“I want to congratulate the team for the good performance and also the Speaker of Parliament for supporting us to empower sports in the country. We shall have more games on December 16, and we are hoping to win more trophies,” Inzikuru said.
The final round of athletics games will resume on Saturday, December 16, 2023.
In soccer, the football team is captained by Moses Magogo (NRM, Budiope East County) heavily defeated the hosts, Rwanda 12-0 with Karim Masaba (Indep., Industrial Division) bagging a hat trick, while Muhammed Nsereko (Indep., Kampala Central Division) scored a brace.
Various games will continue on Tuesday, December 12, 2023 with Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa expected to lead the golfers in their first campaign of the tournament at Kigali Golf Club.
In a pre-match interview, Tayebwa said his team is aware about their rivals’ abilities but ready for the showdown.
“I expect a tough game especially from the Kenyans who have four members that have a single handicap, but with our team spirit, I am sure we shall win it because we have been training, working and supporting each other,” Tayebwa said.
In other games, Uganda will face Tanzania in both men and women’s basketball and the men’s volleyball team will play against Rwanda, while the women’s team will meet South Sudan.
East African Community regional force commander Major General Aphaxard Kiugu has commended the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces contingent in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo for the discipline, commitment, and resilience.
Gen. Kiugu said UPDF’s resilience in the mission was evidenced during their routine activities in the course of executing the EACRF mandate.
“The performance of the Uganda Contingent has given me satisfaction that UPDF is comprised of professional and deployable men who can deliver because it managed to restore normalcy in its area of responsibility by enabling free movement of the local populace, protecting their lives and property and aiding the functioning of the humanitarian aid workers,” Gen Kiugu said.
Gen Kiugu made the remarks during his last command visit to the UPDF at its tactical contingent headquarters in Niongera Kiwanja of Rutshuru territory to bid farewell to the contingent troops and to check on the progress of the withdrawal of UPDF out of DRC.
“I have therefore, come for my last visit to UGACON and to also see you before you exit out of the mission area,” said Gen Kiugu adding that he will be the last person to leave DRC after confirming the complete withdrawal of the Uganda Contingent.
The Force Commander said that the level of cooperation witnessed among the EACRF Forces was a clear exhibition that the forces could operate within East Africa.
Gen Kiugu lauded the Uganda Contingent Colonel Michael Walaka Hyeroba for exhibiting good leadership and management of his troops during the execution of the EACRF mandate.
Col Hyeroba thanked the Force Commander and the entire Force headquarters team for the guidance, timely support, and cooperation accorded to the UPDF Contingent during its routine military activities during the mission.
He applauded the people of Rutshuru territory for welcoming, supporting, and working very closely with the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces Contingent in trying to find lasting peace in their area.
Gen Kiugu later visited Uganda Contingent’s Amani (Peace) forest measuring four hectares in Niongera Kiwanja and planted a tree a remembrance before his departure to Goma.
Today the world must be wondering what is this that makes the British PM introduce a new law because of few Syrian & Afghanistan nationals who arrived via boats on the shores English Channel waters. The lives of the service men used as interpreters against ISS and TALBAN matter.
The truth is some of these guys were very instrumental in helping British forces secure success against the TALBAN or ISS in Afghanistan or Syria respectively. They must be protected and with high surveillance because they are not documented. They are War veterans of conflicts in the Arab world.
So why is Rwanda interested in bringing undocumented Refugees to its country? If it is not the money that comes from this deportation what else makes a country that has just come out genocide to invite undocumented combatants?
I am well vast and familiar with the sunk cost fallacy. Whether it be sticking with a job we hate, a partner we no longer love or an investment hemorrhaging cash, the Sunk theory is dangerous.
In the Sunk theory we keep going because we’ve already put in so much time, effort or money in the Rwanda project. Remember and any reader of my article in Africa must know £240 million have been Sunk into HOTAIR business that can be done by banana republics not Britain.
The amount of Money in the Sunk theory and costs have this terrible power to make proceeding in the divided Tory party feel like the most rational choice, even when the benefits no longer outweigh the costs.
I have read the proposed Bill that the PM Rish Sunak has introduced in Parliament. It destroys the Britishness of the Empire that stood for people’s liberties across the globe. The PM wants to tamper with international conventions to gain political expedience.
I pity PM Rishi Sunak as his particular open wound is the Rwanda scheme, in which asylum seekers would be sent to the East African nation rather than have their applications processed in the UK. Any Court in the world would first look at international obligations.
The Geneva Conventions of 1951 and 1954 were as result of the World War II where the Jews were scattered all over the whole place in Europe and America as far as Russia & China. So over 70 years the Tory party wants to abolish these Conventions for political expedience?
In the world of politics, one does not carry a cross of the other. Sunak is carrying the cross of Boris Johnson. It wasn’t his idea neither Suella Braverman’s idea. But the policy of the dreaded man called Boris Johnson whose Turkish roots of the Ottoman empire are clear. The policy stinks.
It is on record that as chancellor, Sunak raised concerns about the practicality and potential costs of the Rwanda scheme. And yet here he is today, virtually pinning his leadership on getting a version of the Bill through Parliament.
I want to tell the world that it’s been quite a journey. And it’s not over yet. We shall defend the rights of everybody including Rishi Sunak when his turn comes.
Several experts like me who have taken part in cases like this belief that the Brit minister’s new bill does not go “far enough to deliver the policy as intended” because it would still leave the government open to legal challenges.
The bold truth is that resolving these issues would, require very significant amendments, some of which would potentially be outside the current title’s scope”. Remember, the Prime minister has effectively said that the legislation set to come before the House is as tough as possible within the current confines.
I want to be on record by saying that I don’t think the bill as amendable in its current form, can bring the matter to rest. No. The bill raises the stakes that other colleagues in the Tory Party may vote against it today.
This is obviously a problem for the Prime Minister, who is constricted both by the law and potential rebels on his left flank. That is, the One Nation group that shares values of humanity and are not willing to scrap the international obligations of which Britain has expanded its influence world wide
I am telling you today’s events in British Parliament might signal the departure of RIshi Sunak. The Members of One nation group comprised of roughly 100 MPs, are more moderate Conservatives that are keen on ensuring the government complies with the European Convention on Human Rights, which upholds the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement amongst other things.
I tell as an expert who is engaged in this case I can frankly tell, the landing strip for this legislation is extremely narrow. Is RIshi Sunak going to battle it given the reasons I have explained above?
In political science that I went University to study for many years, it is sometimes very dangerous to divide your party if the reason for doing so is not worth it policy gains. Rwanda does not CARE what happens to Rishi Sunak, they have pocketed a cool £240 million non-refundable cash of the British tax- payer
Whichever way the matter goes the SUNK POLICY will return to the courts Regardless of one’s views on Europe, nobody is willing to CAST the first stone because of the Rwanda scheme. Perhaps the only beneficiary of the scheme is Rwanda
I have told the world that Rwanda will not ‘fix’ the issue of small boats. That is because Rwanda has the capacity for hundreds, and there is no scant evidence that sending them to Rwanda will act as a deterrent. If were Rishi Sunak and the owner if this policy struggle, I would reasonably just ditch it?
I want to be candid that RIshi Sunak and Rwanda Government are in a FIX. To quote the French philosopher Émile-Auguste Chartier, “Nothing is more dangerous than an idea when it is the only one you have.” The money is SUNK in the SUNK POLICY and the political climate is rough.
In my final submission from this poisonous pen of mine, I can boldly say that the PM cannot turn back now from the Rwanda policy, despite the trail of destruction it is leaving in its wake and appears to be too painful for the Sunak SUNK POLICY.
Let us see what happens next but the trail has already left the station and Rwanda is smiling all the way to the bank.
The writer is a Pan Africanist based in London , Political scientist & International Relations expert , studied conflict Resolution, a member of Royal African Society (RAS) Founder /Chairman Pan African Forum (UK)Ltd @MatsangaDr
The Minister of State for Trade, Harriet Ntabaazi revealed that 30 Members of Parliament (MPs) are facing criminal investigation into their role in the embezzlement Shs164 billion meant for Cooperatives compensation.
She further said among the culprits include five ‘talkative’ and ‘noisy’ Opposition MPs.
“The Criminal Investigation Directorate (CID) is taking on files, around 5 files have been identified and the good thing with it, it wasn’t only the Ministry, there are MPs more than 30 MPs who are into this including Opposition MPs, five active opposition MPs very talkative and noise makers will also face it rough. We shall also face it as a Ministry, but they will also face it. So, we aren’t scared, we shall also face it wherever it will end, God knows, let it unfold that way,” said Minister Ntabaazi.
Minister Ntabaazi made the remarks while appearing before Parliament’s Trade Committee where she called for calm amongst MPs, saying the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives will continue executing its mandate amidst the embezzlement probe, reminding MPs that even when the Office of the Prime Minister was embroiled in the scandal for the theft of iron sheets, business continued as usual.
“We aren’t scared, we shall undertake it because it is now beyond us, we are before the security investigatory organs of Government, let us battle out there and the law will have it all. That shouldn’t worry the Committee and that won’t stop the Government from working, otherwise that would have stopped the Office of Prime Minister from working, where the iron sheets were. So, I beg you that you cool down, those organs of Government are doing their work,” said Ntabaazi.
About 1,000 Burundian soldiers have left the Democratic Republic of Congo as part of a phased withdrawal by a regional force after Kinshasa refused to extend its mandate, the Burundian military said on Monday.
The seven-nation East African Community (EAC) first deployed troops in the violence-plagued east of the DR Congo in November 2022, at the invitation of the country’s authorities, to free areas taken by the resurgent M23 rebel group.
But the future of the deployment was thrown into doubt after President Felix Tshisekedi and local residents accused the multinational force of cohabiting with the rebels rather than forcing them to lay down arms.
The Burundian battalion’s departure follows the withdrawal of nearly 250 South Sudanese soldiers and 300 Kenyan troops, after the force’s mandate expired on Friday.
“All the soldiers of this battalion arrived safely in Burundi”, Burundian army spokesman Colonel Floribert Biyereke.
In addition to Kenyan, South Sudanese and Burundian troops, the EAC force comprises Ugandan soldiers, who are expected to leave in the coming weeks.
The DRC government has also assented to the presence of Ugandan troops in the country to pursue militants from the Allied Democratic Forces.
The ADF is historically a Ugandan rebel coalition. It gained a foothold in eastern DR Congo in the 1990s and is linked to the Islamic State group.
While most of the DRC has returned to relative stability after two major regional wars in the 1990s and 2000s, militias and rebel groups roam much of the country’s east, which borders Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi.
The East African Community (EAC) has unveiled a new app dedicated to the elimination of non-tariff barriers (NTBs), the EAC said in a statement.
The statement noted the innovative app unveiled at the EAC headquarters in Tanzania’s northern city of Arusha is set to revolutionize the region’s trading landscape by streamlining the reporting, monitoring, and resolution of impediments traders face as they conduct business across borders.
According to the statement, the development of the app was funded by the government of the Netherlands through TradeMark Africa, a leading African Aid-for-Trade organization that aims to grow intra-African trade and increase Africa’s share in global trade.
The statement said the app, seamlessly blending SMS, email, and phone reporting methods, offers economic operators a one-stop solution for effectively reporting NTBs to trade.
“By streamlining the NTB reporting process, the app will aid traders and producers in tackling obstacles that impede their trade efficiency and competitiveness,” said the statement.
Combining SMS, email, and phone reporting features, the EAC NTBs App is a comprehensive solution for the effective reporting of trade-related Non-Tariff Barriers.
It aims to assist traders and producers in addressing issues that affect their trade efficiency and competitiveness. The app also promises transparency and swift resolution of problems by involving various technical and policy mechanisms, including National Focal Points, the National Monitoring Committees (NMCs), and the Regional Monitoring Committee (RMC).
At the launch event, Ms. Annette Ssemuwemba, EAC Deputy Secretary General in charge of Customs, Trade and Monetary Affairs, emphasized the significance of the app in creating a seamless trading environment across the EAC region.
She noted the app’s role in empowering traders and producers by providing a unified platform to address and resolve NTBs.
The Deputy Secretary General highlighted the crucial importance of removing NTBs in promoting a more efficient and equitable trade environment. She identified procedural complexities and administrative hurdles as typical barriers that hinder the smooth flow of goods and services across borders.
Benedict Musengele, Director of Trade Policy and Trade Facilitation at TradeMark Africa, also emphasized the organization’s commitment to developing a vibrant trade environment conducive to economic growth and regional integration. He described the app as a strategic solution in the realm of digital trade.
NTBs have long been a challenge for traders and producers, reducing profits and limiting market access. The EAC has made significant progress in this area, resolving 89.5% of reported NTBs since 2017, according to the EAC Time Bound Programme report of 2023.
The EAC NTBs App supports reporting in English, Swahili, and French and is available for download on the Apple Store, Google’s Play Store, and other Android platforms. This app is a major step towards enhancing the business environment in the region and effectively resolving NTBs.
Fire has gutted the City House building along William Street in Kampala. Located at the heart of Kampala, City house is one of the oldest buildings in the city center.
The building housed several rentals and Democratic Party (DP) Offices, Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) offices and sundry.
According to Kampala metropolitan deputy police spokesperson Luke Owoyesigyire, the fire broke out earlier at 9:00 am, tearing through the walls and roof of the building.
“The police responded to the scene but were still battling fire. The residents and members of the public evacuated the building as soon as possible. We cannot confirm now whether there are fatalities until we reconvene the scene,” he said.
He said the efforts are underway to have the fire extinguished. Seven firefighting trucks are on the ground. He said there is a problem of lack of fire hydrants around and whenever a truck empties, they look for a nearby place to fill them.
Ugandans over the weekend took to social media to vent anger and frustration following the sanctioning of Prisons boss Dr.Johnson Byabashaija.
The United States Department of the Treasury announced on Friday that Mr Byabashaija, who has been the Commissioner General of Prisons since 2005, would be sanctioned on grounds that prison authorities routinely torture prisoners and engage in other gross human rights violations.
However, the announcement triggered an avalanche of bipartisan criticism on social media with majority defending Byabashaija’s human rights record and arguing that the US is hitting the wrong target.
As the head of Uganda’s correctional facility, Byabashaija is only at the tail end trial process-with accusations of suspects torture rife at the point of arrest by Police and investigations by other security agencies.
Security agencies like the Police, Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI) and Internal Security Organisation (ISO) have been variously accused by human rights group of engaging in torture of suspects.
These accusations of torture, often made by suspects in court, always lay the blame at the feet of sister security agencies, but not Prisons authorities.
Such suspects are sometimes arraigned in court, with visible torture signs, before being remanded to Prison.
Suspects in the kidnap and murder of AIGP Andrew Felix Kaweesi told court that they were tortured by security operatives, not Prisons personnel.
Suspects in the trial of the kidnap and murder of Susan Magara and her driver also complained to court that they had been subjected to torture by security operatives during evidence gathering.
It should be noted that no suspects have been on court record accusing Prisons personnel of torture, thus making the US indictment of Byabashaija more baffling.
In the wake of the sanctions announcement, Ugandans kept to the defence of Byabashaija.
“I would be shocked if indeed torture happened (or was tolerated) in Prisons under Byabashaija. Sometime in 2016 at an embassy reception, I was talking to Byabashaija when he was confronted by Maria Burnett-then of Human Rights Watch asking to see some political prisoner who had allegedly been tortured. Turns out the suspects had been tortured by another agency….”tweeted journalist Kwezi Tabaro.
Seasoned crime and security journalist Andrew Bagala of the Daily Monitor also weighed in, tweeting that: “Everyone who has been in Uganda for some time would disagree with the State Department’s decision to sanction Byabashaija. He is a reasonable and an innocent person in this government. Accusing him of violating human rights is false. Rights abusers are known”
Seasoned law scholar and city advocate Edgar Tabaro revealed that he was in total shock over the allegations labeled towards the prison boss.
“Byabashaija is the least qualified for human rights violations in the Republic of Uganda. Independent human rights activists can testify.” Tabaro wrote on his X handle.
Lawyers subscribing to the Uganda Law Society (UCL) have urged the Principal Judge Justice Dr Flavian Zeija not to torture Justice Mubiru over a backlog of 170 pending decisions. ULS President Bernard Oundo in an open letter to the Principal Judge are perturbed that he has stopped Justice Mubiru not to hear any other court case until a satisfactory report has been made on the delivery of all the pending cases. Oundo in a letter dated December 9, 2023, says: While your concerns on the case backlog are generally appreciated and shared by the Bar and the public, your direction is illegal and has grave implications on the fundamental tenets of the administration of justice starting with the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary.” Oundo in the letter further reminds the Principal Judge that each Judge in Uganda takes a solemn oath to administer justice independently without fear or favour, and once assigned a matter, a judge is duty-bound to hear it and render a decision. The Judicature Act (Cap.13), does not in any way empower your office to constrain any judge from hearing cases. Section 20 you have cited, only empowers your office on the distribution of business in the High Court. It does not empower your office to direct how a judge handles his docket, and in particular to refrain from handling cases already assigned to the judge. Oundo in a letter questions the impartiality of Justice Zeija given that his directive to Justice Mubiru comes in the wake of a landmark ruling by Justice Mubiru on the independence of the judiciary in which he criticized the Principal Judge’s interference with a decision of a Deputy Registrar. “The timing of your directive makes it appear retaliatory and an attack on Hon. Justice Mubiru for his judicial decision. This does not bode well for public confidence and trust in the judiciary and can only have a dampening effect on the confidence of the members of the judiciary,” Oundo says. On 27th October 2023, the Learned Deputy Registrar issued a Garnishee Order Nisi in favour of the applicant John Imaniraguha for the recovery of a sum of Shs 26,261,323,709/= in Execution Misc. Application No. 641 of 2023 in respect of the respondent’s (Uganda Revenue Authority) Bank Accounts held by the Garnishee, Stanbic Bank Limited. The Garnishee Order Nisi was returnable on 3rd November, 2023 and was duly served upon the bank on 27th October 2023 and later, upon the respondent on 30th October 2023. On the same day, the Learned Deputy Registrar issued another order recalling the Garnishee Order Nisi, in the following terms; “This is to immediately recall the garnishee order NlSl issued in this Execution miscellaneous application No 641 of 2023 as directed by the Hon. Principal Judge in a letter dated 27th October 2023.” However, in a court ruling, Justice Mubiru dismissed the court order for the recall of the garnishee order on December 4, 2023. “The Order recalling the garnishee order is accordingly set aside. Consequently the learned Deputy Registrar should forthwith re-issue the Garnishee Order Nisi.” Oundo continues: “As an individual, the performance of Hon. Justice Mubiru has been exemplary for the number of decisions he has delivered and also the quality, depth, and reasoning displayed in the decisions.” In the letter Oundo urges Justice Zeija to provide all the backlog of cases in the High Court and disclosure of the caseload handled by each Justice of the High Court, noting that ULS remains committed to upholding the principles of justice, and the rule of law, and safeguarding the independence of the judiciary in Uganda. The latest development in the judiciary comes at the time when Chief Justice Alfonse Owiny Dollo has been accused in the legal circles of abusing the rights of Justice Esther Kisaakye, after denying her to read her descending ruling on the 2021 presidential election petition.
Dr. Okia Henry Stanley who graduated with a Doctor of Philosophy in Education.Title "Support Supervision and Teacher Performance in Government-aided Primary Schools in Teso sub-region, Uganda."
At least eight students have graduated with PhDs at the just concluded 19tth graduation ceremony of Kyambogo University.
Six students are from the school of Education and the rest two are from the Faculty of Science.
“Among today’s graduands, we are honoured to have eight PhD students. Six from the School of Education and two from the Faculty of Science” the University Public Relations Officer posted on the university X handle.
According to the University Vice Chancellor, Professor Eli Katunguka Rwakishaya, this is the highest number of PhD students graduating at Kyambogo university.
Among the students, there is Dr. Mary Anyango who has graduated with a Doctor of Philosophy in Education, with her publication titled “Performance Management and Job Performance of Academic Staff at Makerere University, Uganda”.
The study was supervised by Dr. Regis Zombeire Kamaduuka and Rev. Sr. Dr. Maria Gorreti Kaahwa.
Another student is Dr. Okia Henry Stanley who has graduated with a Doctor of Philosophy in Education at Kyambogo university, with his publication titled “Support Supervision and Teacher Performance in government-aided Primary Schools in Teso sub-region, Uganda.” He investigated the relationship between support supervision and teacher performance in government aided primary schools.
The results revealed that support supervision was perceived as monitoring and standards enforcement activity rather than a professional development and performance improvement practice. Among others.
The study recommended that support supervision should aim at mentoring competence and professional development of teachers rather than using it as a tool for monitoring and ensuring adherence to set standards.
The study was supervised by Dr. Esther Frances Naluwemba and Asst. Prof. George Wilson Kasule.
On 6th, the first day of graduation, HE Vice president Jessica Alupo, while representing President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni applauded the university for its increasing capacity by growing in PhD students graduating every year.
“With 9 new doctoral programs and a variety of other academic offerings, your commitment to Uganda’s transformation is laudable” she applauds.
Dr Joyce Moriku Kaducu, the State Minister for Primary Education, who represented the First Lady and Minister for Education, Janet Museveni called on Kyambogo University’s management to continue increasing the number of PhDs in science, technology, and innovation to enhance the research agenda in the country.
Since the establishment of Kyambogo University in the early 2000’s, the university had never produced PhD graduates, until 2019 during the 16th graduation.
In this year, the first ever PhD students were crowned. These were Michael Bamuwamye and Samuel Gafuma who became the first people in the records of the university to graduate with PhD degrees from the Department of Food Technology today at the graduation ceremony which will take place at the university.
