The Defence Spokesperson, Brigadier Felix Kulayigye has commended the support and existing cordial relationship between the Somalis and the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces serving in Somalia under African Transition Mission in Somalia.

He said this while meeting Somali local authorities at Uganda Battle Group 37 Headquarters in Celjaale, Somalia where he reminded the authorities that the existence of UPDF in Somalia is dependent upon Somalis.

“Without you we cannot exist. We came to support you to solve your problems, you have the solution. Once the problem is done we shall go back to our country. I want to thank my commander for being a true ambassador of UPDF because it is our culture to cooperate with civilians, which is where we derive our strength,” said Brig Kulayigye.

The Chief of Celjaale, Yusuf Osman Ali thanked ATMIS forces for the sacrifice and perseverance they have endured in Somalia.

 He said it is from this sacrifice that Somalis can do their business freely without being disrupted by Al-Shabaab and expressed the objection towards the withdrawal of ATMIS Forces.

“Thank you for your sacrifice. We had run away from here but when AMISOM came, we came back. We are not happy with ATMIS withdrawal. This village we named it Kampala two while Kampala one is in Uganda. We still need you,” said Yusuf Osman.

Mr Bujeet Haji Isse tasked the Defence Spokesperson to inform President Yoweri Museveni not to allow UPDF to leave Somalia in the near future. “Tell him we don’t want ATMIS to withdraw. Ugandan soldiers have helped us to live peacefully and in harmony. My people have instructed me to tell President Yoweri Museveni to let ATMIS stay. Please continue with your work,” urged Haji Isse.

Meanwhile, Col Charles Asiimwe Kibaate, the Battle Group 37 Commander, informed the visiting team of journalists headed by Defence Spokesperson that whatever activity they do; be it militarily or civil cooperation, they do it with the blessing and participation of local authority and the Somali Security Forces.

“The wanainchi are appreciative. We involve them in every activity we do. They detached themselves from Al-Shabaab activities,” said Col Asiimwe.

Brig Felix Kulayigye is in Somalia with journalists from different media houses to take stock of the achievements and challenges ATMIS forces are facing.

So far, they have visited Barawe which is and Ceeljale all in Sector One under UPDF. The team has interacted with Somali local authorities and interviewed Brig Peter Gaetano Omola, the contingent commander and Ambassador Mohamed El-Amine Souef, the ATMIS Head and Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission.

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The Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) has launched the Africa Statistics Week at Statistics House in Kampala

The statistics week, which will be marked by a series of events that comes ahead of African Statistics Day, is an annual event that is celebrated on November 18, to raise public awareness of the importance of statistics in all aspects of social and economic life.

The executive director of UBOS, Dr Chris Mukiza highlighted that during the week, they will hold interactions with various stakeholders on disseminating statistics.

Dr Mukiza said the African Statistics Day 2023, is being held under the theme “Modernizing data ecosystems to accelerate the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA): the role of official statistics and Big Data in the economic transformation and sustainable development of Africa”.

He said the theme aligns with the African Union theme of the year 2023: “Acceleration of the AfCFTA Implementation” and encapsulates the call to modernize data systems on the continent to produce and use high-quality official statistics and seize the opportunities that big data presents.”

The theme for African Statistics Day in 2023 was chosen to raise awareness among decision makers, technical and financial partners, data producers and users, researchers and the public of the importance of official statistics and big data to accelerate the implementation of the Agreement Establishing the African Continental Free Trade Area and promote intercontinental trade.

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Speaker of Parliament Anita Among has decried the shortage of staff at Mulago Hospital, noting that although the hospital has 29 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) beds, only 14 are being utilized, leaving 15 beds idle, due to the lack of medical staff to manage patients in need of these services.

“What is disappointing is, we have a very functional ICU, but we don’t have human resources. We have an ICU of 29 beds, but only 14 are operational. I am going to urge my colleagues in this Financial Year we should be able to increase the money for health for all the ICUs to be operational. We will support you, this is our main referral hospital, Mulago must remain operational,”

The Speaker also expressed shock at the cleanliness she encountered at Mulago Hospital, noting that contrary to public sentiments about the hygiene & quality of services at Mulago, the premises are neat & the medical workers are looking after patients with courage & patience.

“We know how many patients you receive on a daily basis and we know the challenges you get, but as Parliament, we will try our best to see how we support you. We thank you for looking after our people & continue with that big heart, it takes courage for somebody to look after patients the way these people are looking after patients. I have seen some of them in bad condition, but they are so patient and doing their best to save these people,” Among said.

Among also updated the nation on the condition of Cosmos Elotu (Dakabale County) who was recently involved in a road crash and currently receiving medical attention from Mulago hospital ICU saying his condition is stable and is actually recovering.

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The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Jane Frances Abodo has sanctioned criminal charges against Kyoto Abdul Rashid alias Njovu alias Tembo, the prime suspect implicated in the killing of two tourists and their driver in Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Kyoto is facing two charges of Terrorism, three charges of Murder, three charges of Aggravated Robbery and one charge of belonging to a Terrorist Organisation will this afternoon appear before Nakawa Chief Magistrates Court.

Prosecution avers that on October 17, 2023, Njovu and others at large attacked and killed Alyai Eric and two British tourists; Barlow David James and Geyer Emmarentia Cecilia.

During the attack, two motor vehicles; a Mercedes Benz Cargo Truck and a Toyota Land Cruiser were burnt and the passports, money and visa cards of the tourists and the identity card, employment card, and driving permit of the Ugandan were taken by the suspect and his associates.

Prosecution-guided investigations were commenced by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) and Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI).

Consequently, Kyoto Abdul Rashid was arrested in an operation by the Uganda Peoples Defence Forces (UPDF) Marine Forces on Lake Edward. Two of his associates were shot dead and others managed to escape in a boat with their weapons.

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The general court martial sitting at basecamp – Uganda Peoples Defence Forces (UPDF) sector one contingent headquarters in Mogadishu, capital of Somalia, has sentenced two UPDF majors due to cowardice in action.

RO/10855 Maj John Steven Oluka 58 years and RO/09572 Maj Zadock Abor 49 years, were both found guilty on count one; Cowardice in Action contrary to section 120 (1) (2) (a) of the UPDF Act of 2005. Whereas Maj John Steven Oluka on top of count one was also sentenced with count two; Offences by a person in command when in action contrary to section 128 (1) (b) of the UPDF Act of 2005.

On cowardice in action, the prosecution stated that the two majors on May 25, 2023 while in Bulomarer Forward Operating Base (FOB) as officers commanding infantry companies received an intelligence briefing from the Intelligence Officer and the Battalion commander over an impending attack from Al – Shabaab but failed to plan and deter the attack.

It’s said that on May 26, 2023 when Al-Shabaab attacked the base, the two Majors could not encourage officers and men under their command to fight courageously. They instead abandoned their troops and runway to Golweyn FOB.

“Convicts’ act of running away from Al-Shabaab greatly impacted on the name of UPDF and gave Al-Shabaab the opportunity to easily raid our forces. As a result of cowardice in action, a number of our soldiers and equipment were lost,” said the chairman of the GCM Brig Gen Freeman Mugabe.

On the second count; offences of persons in command when in action, the prosecution stated that Maj John Steven Oluka, on the May 27, 2023 while at Golweyn FOB commanding the rear protection force during the search, rescue and recapture Bulomarer FOB the operation was aborted due to the convict’s actions.

“This court, after listening to both defence and state councils respectively, sentences you as follows; you RO/10855 Maj John Steven Oluka you are sentenced to dismissal from the defence forces. You RO/ 09572 Maj Zadock Abor you are sentenced to dismissal from the defence forces. You have a right of appeal within 14 days if you are not satisfied with the decision of this court; may so rule be done at basecamp Somalia on this day under my hand and seal of this court,” Chairman GCM ruled.

Punishment for cowardice in action section 120 (1) (2) (a) of the UPDF Act of 2005 and offences of persons in command when in action section 128 (1) (b), where it results in failure of operation or loss of life state that on conviction, the punishment is by death or in other circumstances, life imprisonment.

Other Non-Commissioned Officers sentenced over failure to protect war materials contrary to section 122 (1) (2) (g) of the UPDF Act 2005 included; RA/207973 L/Cpl Okot Alex Anyatta sentenced to 16 years, 7 months and 20 days. RA/228600 Cpl Twinemanzi Hagai was sentenced to 22 years, 9 months and 24 days imprisonment. RA/199300 Sgt Obeyo Ronald was sentenced to 17 years, 6 months and 19 days imprisonment and RA/146246 Sgt Kakooza William 55 years sentenced to ten months and 18 days detention.

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Uganda Civil Aviation Authority’s Director General Fred K. Bamwesigye has been elected Chairman of the Regional Aviation Safety Group – African and Indian Ocean (RASG-AFI) for a two-year term effective November 9, 2023.

Bamwesigye was elected at the ongoing International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) AFI Planning and Implementation Regional Group (APIRG/26 and RASG/9) meetings, taking place in Cotonou, Benin.

The APIRG meeting was held from November 5-8, 2023 and RASG-AFI/9 from November 9-10, 2023.

The 1^st

 Vice is the Gueye Sidy – Director General – Senegal Civil Aviation Authority -, and 2^nd Vice is the D Karl Legba, Director General of Benin CAA.

Uganda was proposed by Ghana and seconded by Burundi, Comoros and Nigeria in recognition of a good performance in the Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme – Continuous Monitoring Approach (USOAP-CMA).

Bamwesigye welcomed the appointment and said, “I look forward to an impactful term of service together with the 1st Vice-Chair who is the DG of Senegal CAA and the 2nd Vice-Chair, the DG of Benin CAA. Uganda was proposed by Ghana and seconded by Burundi, Comoros and Nigeria. I thank them for their indelible support.”

RASG-AFI is composed of States, regional entities and the aviation industry, among others. The RASG-AFI structure consists of a chairperson, two vice-chairpersons from states and one vice-chairperson from the aviation industry, a steering committee, a secretariat, the annual safety report team and four (4) safety support teams.

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