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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TotalEnergies EP Uganda (TEPU) has signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Water and Environment (MWE) to conserve and restore wetlands and riparian vegetation within the Tilenga Project area.

The five-year agreement marks the beginning of a partnership to develop and implement various activities in collaboration with different partners all designed to help conserve and restore wetlands in the Albertine Rift Region.

These wetland ecosystems represent important habitat for both flora and fauna species, and they play an important role in moderating local and regional climate, purifying water and maintaining water tables.

Speaking at the signing of the MoU, Mrs. Mariam Nampeera Mbowa, Deputy General Manager, TotalEnergies EP Uganda said “Conserving the rich biodiversity of the Albertine Region is an integral part of the Tilenga Project and we are committed to the achieving positive outcomes for biodiversity and host communities. The wetlands of the River Nile and Lake Albert are of great ecological importance for fish, birds and other wildlife and are as well essential for maintaining water balance and quality.

This initiative will therefore focus on working in partnership with the Ministry of Water and Environment and host communities to help restore degraded wetland areas, improve freshwater quality, and promote the principles of wise use.”

The MoU will guide the collaboration and joint initiatives between TEPU and MWE which include development of wetland management plans; engaging with host communities, wetland user education and awareness; demarcation and restoration; and water quality monitoring.

The Tilenga Biodiversity program targets securing important remaining wetland areas and through restoration of 500 hectares of degraded wetlands along Lake Albert, on the north-western side of the escarpment. in addition to improving freshwater quality. Mr. Alfred Okot Okidi, Permanent Secretary, MWE noted, “Wetlands are the most vulnerable ecosystems and also the quickest in recovery when restoration is undertaken well.

Wetland restoration results can be achieved in under 12 months compared to forest restoration. Communities are part of the solution primarily to solve the problem and also in ensuring restoration efforts are sustained.” He added, “Development must occur but in a sustainable manner and at some point, we may need to undertake a tradeoff which will be a delicate balance to achieve.

This is primarily to ensure that the interests of policy makers, communities and developers are aligned and also achieved.” TotalEnergies EP Uganda is implementing the Tilenga project in the Albertine Rift Valley, one of Africa’s most significant areas for biodiversity. To this end, the company is collaborating with various state and non-state mandated institutions, conservation organisations, and communities in the Tilenga project area to implement the Tilenga Biodiversity Program.

Through this program, the company aims to conserve forests, rangelands, and wetlands in Uganda, restore the Bugoma-Budongo forest corridor, reduce human pressures on the Murchison Falls and Bugungu protected areas, restore wetlands on the shores of Lake Albert and the Albert Delta Ramsar site, and provide environment sensitization to communities in these areas. These strategies are part of a global plan which consists of reducing human pressure, protecting the integrity and the connectivity of savanna habitats.

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The Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among has revealed that the ailing Kawempe North legislator Ssegirinya Mohammad has made a remarkable recovery.
Speaker Among this afternoon paid a courtesy visit to the colleague and conveyed heartfelt wishes for his speedy recovery at Nsambya Hospital.
“I am delighted to announce that Ssegirinya has made a remarkable recovery. His strength and determination throughout this challenging period has been truly commendable,” Speaker Among said.
Ssegirinya’s health deteriorated markedly following a two-year political prison sojourn at Kitalya Prison where he faced charges of alleged murder, attempted murder, and terrorism-related offenses.
Among added, “I extend my sincere gratitude to the medical team and to everyone who has supported Ssegirinya during this time. We look forward to receiving him back to serve his community with renewed energy.”
Ssegirinya recently underwent specialist treatment at the UMC Medical Facility in Amsterdam in the Netherlands.

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President Yoweri Museveni has revealed that the hunt to wipe out the ADF is being intensified and applauded the Congo Government for allowing UPDF to help them eliminate these criminals from Eastern Congo.

“The hunt to wipe out the ADF is being intensified. In their ignorance, the ADF terrorists, thought the Congo forests, were heaven where the Security Forces could not reach.  Following the devastating attacks by the UPDF ever since November, 2021, they have now discovered that actually the forests are death traps,” Museveni said.

He added, “Small groups are trying to re-enter Uganda and commit acts of terror in the vain hope that we shall withdraw from Congo.  We will not.  Instead, we are re-enforcing our strength there and also guarding the rear.”

He also congratulated the security forces for the recent capture of Njovu, the suspected leader of the ADF group of 10 that killed the two tourists and their Ugandan driver, killed the children of Lhubiriha School, burnt the onions truck and tried, unsuccessfully, to attack the parked trucks in Kasiindi, on the Congo side of the Border.

“Njovu was injured and captured and three of his group were killed – one at Kasiindi and two in the water, aboard a boat in Lake Edward,” Museveni confirmed.

He further applauded the security forces for the arrest of the four suspects in the killing of Joan Kagezi, the Prosecutor.

Museveni cautioned the citizens to be vigilant since within Uganda, the security forces are guarding the pre-prepared public functions like the controversial Nyege Nyege and the Kyabazinga wedding.

“I advise the Ugandans to be vigilant in the villages, the churches, the markets, public transport, etc.  The infiltrators are few and with vigilance, they will be captured.  Meanwhile, we are intensifying the hunt for the real authors of the terrorism schemes in Congo.  They will be wiped out if they do not surrender,” he guided.

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President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has warned public officials against taxing innovations, saying that culprits will be dealt with according to the law.

According to the President, there’s no logic in taxing innovations when Uganda even gives tax holidays to products which are not a result of new ideas.

“Taxing innovations? Whoever taxes them, should go to Luzira. Who is he? Why tax innovations? There’s no logic because even when a product is not a result of innovation, we give tax a holiday of 10 years.

Something already well known but you are putting it here in Uganda for the first time, we give you a tax holiday. Then how can someone tax a baby, when he has not been taxing adults? It is because you have not highlighted it. You bring it up, it will stop, that is why we created a Ministry of Science to specifically bring out these issues,” he said.

The President made the remarks on Thursday while officiating at the National Science Week at Kololo Independence Grounds. President Museveni was accompanied by the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Maama Janet Museveni.

The National Science Week 2023 serves as a pivotal platform, strategically designed to showcase the milestones Uganda has achieved in the domains of science, technology, and innovation, not only on a national scale but also on the global stage.

President Museveni also reassured scientists of the government’s support that is aimed at promoting innovations which in turn will help in transforming the country socially and economically.

“You know how we work, if we want to do something, we emphasise it ahead of all other things. Recently, we were able to put more than Shs1 Trillion into the Parish Development Model (PDM) program. Some years ago, when we were struggling with the road infrastructure, we were able to inject almost Shs5 Trillion year by year,” he said.

“So even here, this Shs500 billion you are talking about is not a lot of money, we can put it. Instead of mourning and crying, bring the proposal, we shall put the money. We don’t have a problem with this minimum funding you are talking about. The Government seed capital which was our recommendation can be provided through this annual allocation of this money,” he added.

The President further tasked the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovations to bring on board the private sector so that they can contribute an additional venture capital to the science sector.

On the other hand, President Museveni commended the religious people for linking God’s work with science and emphasising science, because everything is about this branch of knowledge.

“Who created the wind? Is it the scientists? It is nature, and nature is God. If you believe in God, you must believe in science,” he said.

“I thank the religious people like Bishop Joshua Lwere, for aligning religion with science because this is quite destruction by those who believe in miracles instead of using what is known. Miracles happen, even me I have seen some miracles, I don’t know where they come from, but I don’t concentrate on them, I concentrate on what I can do. If they happen, then that’s good, that is like a bonus added to whatever I’m struggling with.”

The President also pledged to offer scholarships to scientists, informing them that they should highlight the most crucial areas of study which the country needs, and then the government will be able to support them.

He also welcomed new investors to Uganda, assuring them of a conducive working environment and ready market for their products.

“In Africa we have moved a bit, we have the internal market of a country like Uganda- 46 million people, then you have the market of East Africa of 300 million people, and we have the market of the whole of Africa- I.5 billion people now. Therefore, the atmosphere is good.”

The Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Hon. Matia Kasaijja noted that the science and technology sector need a special budget that will help to spur Uganda’s science-led socio- economic transformation.

“The way I have seen things here and the way they have been moving in, we need to have a special vote for science and technology where we will deposit money and nobody can cut it down or put in more without your consultation and even the Ministry of Finance,” the Minister requested of the President.

The Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr. Monica Musenero informed the President that the science, technology and innovation sector is a key driver of economic development.

She said it accounts for 50 percent of the national economic development and that any nation that does not figure out how to make science work for their economy, struggles to sustainably grow.

“Since 2021, when you directed the creation of the secretariat of Science, Technology and Innovation at the Office of the President and you gave us your vision of championing science led socio-economic transformation, we took this to heart, we took it with both hands and we have been focused so strongly and over the past 18 months, we have focused on interpreting that vision and understanding how science can link to the economy,” Dr. Musenero said.

“Specifically, you said we are working to attain a transformed society from a peasant to a modern and prosperous country by 2040 if not earlier.”

She also reported to the President that as the ministry, they have developed strategies, put in place structures and mechanisms to develop human capital which has an aligned culture that will deliver Uganda to science-led socio-economic transformation within the shortest time possible.

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