Leader of Opposition (LoP), Mathias Mpuuga has asked opposition MPs to defy committee chairpersons who attempt to throw them out of committee meetings for boycotting plenary sittings.

Last month, the opposition legislators led by Nyendo-Mukungwe MP Mathias Mpuuga tasked the government to account for missing persons and the continuous detention of their supporters without trial. Following the government’s delay to address to account for the 18 missing opposition supporters, the MPs embarked on the campaign to boycott plenary sittings.

The alleged missing people include; Hassan Mubiru, Martin Lukwago, Peter Kirya, John Ddamulira, Dennis Zzimula, Michael Semuddu, Muhammada Kanatta, John Bosco Kibalama, Moses Mbabazi, Yuda Ssempijja, Musisi Mboowa, Mustafa Luwemba , Isma Ssesaazi, Godfrey Kisembo, Shafik Wangolo, Vincent Nalumoso, George Kasumba and Joseph Baguma.

Speaker Anita Among has since threatened to throw them out of the August house if they miss 15 parliament sessions. She instead, asked the chairpersons of the various committees to block them from attending sittings.

Yesterday, Bamunanika County MP Robert Ssekitoleko was forced to leave the meeting of the parliamentary committee on legal and parliamentary affairs for boycotting plenary sittings. However, Speaker herself chaired a vetting committee meeting where Mpuuga attended but was never chased like his lightweight colleagues.

Speaking at parliament earlier this morning, Mpuuga said Among’s order to stop opposition MPs from attending committee proceedings saying it is illegal and lacking in common sense.

“My members are very restrained, but they are very resilient, and I encourage them to defy any chairperson who attempts to raise this matter because this is a matter that has no space in law and in our rules. So, be ready to see defiance across,” he said.

He warned Committee chairpersons to stop acting as wiseacres because they have no powers to chase out any MPs because of boycotting plenary sittings. Such decisions aren’t provided for in both the law and Rules of Parliament.

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At least 2,250 sickle cell caregivers have benefited from seven-month financial literacy training. The training is in response to the high cost of treatment for sickle cell disease and the fact that households affected by the disease are unable to plan for their treatment expenses and rely on out-of-pocket expenditures, leading to poor household financial planning.

Initiated by Raising Hope International Friends (RHIF) and Absa bank, the initiative aims at training 3000 sickle cell caregivers with essential financial skills by the end of 2023.

Isaac Okello, the Executive Director of Raising Hope International Friends, said, “This initiative was intended to, among other objectives, improve the level of financial awareness among caregivers of SCD patients and youths in different parts of Uganda. The intention is to strengthen their ability to make sound financial decisions and achieve good household health outcomes and thus also increase awareness of Sickle Cell Disease. I appreciate Absa Bank Uganda for coming on board to support this cause and encourage more members of the public to come forward and lend a helping hand to those members of our community with SCD.”

Raising Hope International Friends (RHIF) is a locally registered indigenous non-profit organisation that was founded in 2016 to break the SCD cycle through advocacy and research, as well as encourage more testing and screening services, enhance care and support to affected individuals and families, create awareness on prevention and reduce the risk of infection, stigmatisation, and discrimination.

According to Dr Daniel Muyanja, the Director of Clinical Services at the Joint Clinical Research Centre (JCRC), sickle cell disease (SCD) is the most common genetic disorder in Africa, with Uganda having one of the highest prevalence rates and ranking fourth in sub-Saharan Africa after Nigeria, Democratic Republic of Congo and Tanzania.

Additionally, it is estimated that in resource-poor countries like Uganda, which are characterised by limited Access to treatment options like hydroxyurea, 80 per cent of children with SCD do not reach adulthood, and without treatment, many children do not live to see the age of five.

“We began this journey to address this challenge in March of this year, to help sickle cell caregivers to better manage household finances. Access to affordable quality healthcare remains a key challenge in Uganda, and this cost goes even higher when dealing with a child born with sickle cell disease. As a result, we saw it fit to collaborate with RHIF on this initiative,” said Peter Thaddeus Mboowa, Treasury Director for Absa Bank Uganda.

“I appreciate RHIF for the commendable work they are doing in the Sickle Cell Disease space and for allowing us an opportunity to live our purpose to empower Africa’s tomorrow together, one story at a time,” Absa’s Mboowa concluded.

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Bank of Uganda (BoU) has called upon all creditors of Greenland Bank Ltd to submit their documents for verification as the central bank winds up liquidation of the bank.

Greenland Bank was incorporated on August 3, 1990 and operated until April 1, 1999, when the central bank placed it under liquidation.

In a statement issued on Monday, 27 November 2023, BoU said, “Bank of Uganda is in the process of winding up the liquidation of Greenland Bank Ltd and hereby invite all previously verified creditors to submit details such as bank account numbers, copy of national ID and valid telephone numbers and copies of registration certificates of companies within 30 days.”

“The legal representatives of any deceased creditors should submit documents,” BoU added.

The Information should be submitted to the headquarters in Kampala or its branches in Mbarara, Gulu, Lira, Mbale, Kabale, Arua, Fort Portal and Jinja.

BoU closed Greenland Bank in 1999 and put it under liquidation, accusing its proprietor, the late Sulaiman Kiggundu, of violating banking regulations.

But according to the 2019 report by Parliament’s committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE), BoU did not follow the right procedures in closure of the bank and six others, which are; Cooperative Bank, Global Trust Bank (GTB), International Credit Bank Ltd (closed September 1998), and Cooperative Bank, closed in May 1999.

The Auditor General found out some of the closed banks had assets worth Shs117b in cash, loans, property, equity investment, amounts due from related parties and balances from other banks at the time of closure but that these were not accounted for by the central bank.

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The 3^rd Infantry Division Court Martial (DCM) sitting at Longaroe and Nakapelimoru Sub-counties, Kotido District has sentenced four civilians for the murder of Local Council Three Chairperson of Longaroe Sub-county, Moses Lomuria, Lt. Issa Mayende, Prt. Mwanika David and Lokol Peter.

 The Division Court Martial chaired by Colonel Francis Kateraho heard that on July 2, 2023 while at Narubela village in Longaroe Sub-county, Modo John Apakoru, Lomuramoe Paul, Lomoru Lopukan and Koryang Timothy shot and killed the Local Council 3 Chairperson of Longaroe Sub-county, Hon. Lomuria Moses, Lt Issa Mayende, Prt. Mwanika David and Peter Lokol.

 The accused were each charged with four counts of Murder, contrary to Section 188 and 189 Art 22 (1) and Section 191 of the Penal Code Act and after evaluating all the evidence provided by the prosecution, the court found the accused persons guilty of the offence of murder and attempted murder.

The court convicted John Modo Apakori, Lomuriamoe Paul and Lomoru Lopukan each to 60 years imprisonment for all three counts and are to be served concurrently.

Relatedly, the court sentenced Koryang Timothy to 20 years imprisonment for unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition. Court heard that Koryang was a kingpin and leader of the gang that on several occasions terrorized communities in Agago and headed raids in the Region.

Following his arrest, his gang carried out a retaliatory attack that led to the murder of four people including Lt. Issa Mayende, Prt. Mwanika David, Lopol Peter and Lomoria Moses in Nabela village.

 Meanwhile, the Division Court Martial sentenced Prt. Peter Lokidi to 65 years imprisonment on three counts of murder and five years for each of the two counts of attempted murder which are to be served concurrently.

Prt. Peter Lokidi attached to the 23 Infantry Battalion in 2 Division, while on leave shot dead the Watakao LC1 Chairperson Peter Lojale, Locheng Lopiringole, Angol Lochoriathe and injured Apakuruk Longole and Akure Daniel.

The court found actions of Prt. Lokidi contravened the laws of Uganda and the UPDF Code of Conduct.

The court noted that Prt. Lokidi’s actions did not only tarnish the image of UPDF but were regrettable as he killed and injured the people he was supposed to protect.

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The East African Court of Justice has thrown out a petition in which lawyer Male Mabirizi was challenging a ban by the Kenyan government on Uganda’s maize and poultry products. 

In a ruling delivered on Friday, the court presided over by Principal Judge Yohane Masara approved the defence filed by the Kenyan government over the matter.

Mabirizi had in his March 11, 2021, suit challenged directives by the Agriculture and Food Authority of Kenya banning the importation of maize and chicken products from Uganda over mycotoxins and aflatoxins.

He had the court to quash the directives and issue a permanent order restraining Kenya from implementing its directives on grounds of being illegal. He also claimed the Kenyan government submitted a response to the petition late. He argued that he was served on May 3, 2021, after the expiry of the 45-day timeline required by law. The court heard that the said days started to run on March 12, 2021 and expired on April 25, 2021.

But on Friday, the court ruled otherwise.

“In addition, we do not see how the applicant will be prejudiced if the respondent’s late response was to be validated in the best interest of justice. Considering the issues arising from the statement of reference, it is only fair and just that this court hears the respondent on the same before making a determination thereof,” the justices ruled.

Mabirizi had told the court that the ban on the importation of goods from EAC partner states is unlawful and infringes the operational principles of the community, which among others, encourage free movement of goods, transparency, democracy and rule of law, account and equitable distribution of benefits.

In its defence, the Kenyan government said it banned the said commodities to protect their farmers who were recovering from the effects of the #Covid-19 pandemic from competition as well as to prevent the dumping of toxic chemicals, substances and hazardous wastes within the community.

According to Kenya, Uganda also put in place tariff measures that make their poultry products uncompetitive while it enjoys unhindered access to the Kenyan market.

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