The commercial division of the high court has ordered Airtel Uganda, Onmobile Global Limited, Mtech limited to pay Shs29.1 million to Jamaican singer Garfield Spence aka Konhens for severely infringing his copyright.

In 2015, Konhens dragged Airtel to court for infringing his copyright and unlawfully accessed his songs and availed them as caller tunes to its subscribers at Shs600 every month.

Airtel and the co accused failed to account for the proceeds from the caller tunes or pay him any royalties and asked court to compel them to pay him Shs1.3 billion.

In her ruling, Justice Patricia Mutesi ordered the three companies to pay Shs667 million ($180000) and interest of 15 % per annum from the date of filing the suit until payment in full.

“Airtel shall pay Shs20 million while Mtech Limited is directed to pay Shs30 million as exemplary damages for copyright infringement,” she ruled.

She also awarded interest of 10 % on exemplary damages per annum from the time of judgment.

Stories Continues after ad

The police have urged president of National Unity Platform (NUP) Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu aka Bobi Wine and other leaders to coordinate with the District Regional police Officers for a smooth flow of events in the districts they are visiting.
The Bobi Wine is in Mbarara where he is expected to open their new office on Makhan Singh Street, and later address his supporters at Global High School Playground.
According to Police Spokesperson Fred Enanga, they have guided the territorial commanders to ensure that the activities are restricted to town halls and other appropriately enclosed places.
“There will be no open rallies, processions and assemblies that have potential of disrupting activities of the wider public and harmonise their security with the district security committees to ensure that there are no demonstrations or acts of incitement to violence,” he said.
Enanga said the only police can provide sufficient security to organisers is that the police are informed and asked the organizers to adhere to the procedures of holding public meetings   like having traffic assembly flow plan in place, and sufficient number of stewards.
He said if they fail to comply with certain orderly requirements, our joint security teams will respond appropriately in a lawful manner

Stories Continues after ad

Emmanuel Asiimwe, 49, a businessman with Taifa Partners Limited and several other companies was on Friday August 25, 2023 charged with eight counts of forgery and uttering false documents. This was after he had been arrested by police a day before amidst scuffle and detained at Central Police Station. Despite resistance due to what he termed as connections, police managed to apprehend and cage him at the CPS cells pending the investigations and sanctioning of his file to court.    

Asiimwe is in trouble since forging resolutions to give self, powers of attorney – once prosecuted well may attract a life sentence.

He forged a special resolution on July 15, 2022 in respect of Taifa Partners Ltd purporting the same had been signed by Charles Okello, the company secretary, whereas not.

The particulars of offence on charge sheet among others include forging powers of attorney in respect of Taifa Partners Ltd purporting that he had been appointed the Company’s contract representative replacing Assa Tumwesigye whereas not. He forged a special resolution in Taifa Partners Ltd on April 22, 2022 purporting that he had been appointed a sole signatory of the company’s accounts. “Asiimwe and others still on April 28, 2022 at URSB headquarters uttered a false document with forged special resolution of Taifa Partners Ltd appointing himself a sole signatory of company bank accounts signed by Charles Okello the then company secretary whereas not….” the charge sheet reads in part.

Asiimwe appeared before the Chief Magistrate Buganda Road, Ronald Kayizzi and his charges were read out. Although the State Attorney seemed to be ready to proceed with the trial, Asiimwe’s lawyer, John isabirye filed a bail application and presented three sureties; Asiimwe’s brother Amon Turyahirwa, 44 from Bombo Central, his friend Moses Musasizi, 38 also from Bombo Road LC1 and his wife Adrine Gakwase, 35, a resident of Mbalwa and a vaccine specialist at UIRI. The sureties were found substantial by court and he was released on cash bail of Shs1m. The matter will come up on September 26, 2023.

In a related development the April 28, 2022 action attracted a petition from Assa Tumwesigye against Asiimwe and Taifa Partners Ltd and on August 11, 2023, the matter came up before Solomon Mulisa of Companies at the Uganda Registration Services Bureau and upon reading the petition, the declarations in support, reply and rejoinder and perusing the written arguments the petitioner’s lawyer, the petitioner (Tumwesigye) succeeded on merit. It was ordered that “…the special resolution dated July 15, 2022 appointing Emmanuel Asiimwe as authorized representative for the contract awarded by Uganda Prisons Services for the construction and commissioning of a grain processing and storage plant facility at Ibuga Prisons Farm and registered on July 20, 2022 together with Powers of Attorney registered on July 20, 2022 under instrument no. G22070-6077 be expunged from the register and rendered to be of no legal effect. The powers of Attorney registered on August 31, under instrument no. G210831-4681 in favor of Assa Tumwesigye be reinstated for having been unlawfully revoked.

Previous controversies

Little is known about Asiimwe’s earlier background in this country since he spent most of his time in exile but what is clear is that this is not the first time he is entangled in forgery cases of this nature.

He is a director at Integrated Agritech Uganda Ltd, a registered company incorporated and registered in Uganda. It specializes in addressing challenges in post-harvest management through the construction and installation of bulk grain storage facilities, seed processing plants, grain milling plants, tea processing facilities in addition to services in Geotechnical and Environment Impact Assessment surveys.

The company under the leadership of Asiimwe secured a contract with NAGRC to construct a feed mill, silo storage warehouse, power house in Kasolwe but the end result was not the best since he failed to complete most of the activities and his company was blacklisted.

He supplied some equipment to Rwenzori Agro in Kasese but the things failed to work despite being paid fully. The Management of Rwenzori agro went ahead and purchased equipment from the Chinese and tasked Asiimwe to pick his replica equipment and refund the money.

His contract in Mbarara with Birya Agencies ended badly and he was chased with disgrace.

In Soroti, he developed bad blood with Col. William Omaria after he gave him money to supply materials to which Asiimwe declined.

Asiimwe’s company is premised to offer services across the entire agribusiness value chain in post-harvest management and to this effect he patterned with Alvan Blanch a UK company that manufactures agriculture related machinery and technologies from farm tool, value addition and post-harvest management. However, his working with the UK company was not very cordial since his contract was affected by his dubious ways and later terminated. Despite threatening the members of Alvan Blanch, they blacklisted him badly.

Asiimwe’s fact file

Asiimwe is a married man and God has so far blessed him with children. He has so far married three wives including the last one he snatched from a man with two children. His first wife Shantal Makulaza lives in the UK and they separated badly. His second wife Maureen Twikirize lives in Kiwatule and they have one child. She lives with Asiimwe’s children in the first marriage. The third one, Adrine Gakwase, who stays in Mbalwa with whom they have two children lives with her two other kids she produced in her previous marriage.   

He hails from Mbaba, Kazo District and he is pondering to enter elective politics come 2026. He is already laying grounds to contest against Dan Kimosho, the current Member of Parliament representing Kazo County.

Besides, he is a board member of the East African Grain Council (EAGC). He is also a country representative of NMS Infrastructure, a UK based infrastructural company which at one time partnered with Integrated Agritec Uganda Limited into the construction, installation and maintenance of post-harvest facilities in Uganda to manufacture affordable but small sized dryers and cleaners that can be easily accessed by farmers. Although NMS Infrastructure partnership with Integrated Agritec Uganda Limited is still on, insiders say it is limping due to the setbacks from the management of the latter company.

Stories Continues after ad

The Uganda Police Force in partnership with the Ministry of Works and Transport, Ministry of Health, Uganda National Roads Authority launched Operation Fika Salama Extra campaign as special intervention to reduce road crashes in Uganda.

According to the global status report on Road Safety 2018, 1.35 million people died and 50 million sustained injuries globally. Developing economies record higher rates of traffic injuries with 93% of all fatalities coming from Low- and Middle-Income Countries.

In Uganda we lose 12 people daily on average in traffic road crashes. It is against this background that the Directorate of Traffic and Road safety in partnership with other stakeholders have launched operation Fika Salama Extra. Fika Salama Extra is emphasizing and putting more effort on what has been ongoing such as enforcement, Road Safety education & engagement with other stakeholders.

Fika Salama Extra checkpoints along all major highways will be re- activated from August 2023 to January 2024. Speaking at the launch today, SP Kananura Michael PRO Directorate of Traffic and Road Safety said that speed is a major risk factor and is among the leading causes of road crashes. “An increase in speeds reduces your reaction time, braking distance and stopping distance.

The speed at which a vehicle travels directly influences the risk of a crash as well as the severity of injuries and likelihood of death. Therefore, enforcement is critical for achieving safe use of roads and compliance to speed limits,” SP Kananura said. He added, “Every person who drives a motor vehicle of any class or description on the road at speed greater than the prescribed maximum speed limit in respect of that road commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding 2million shillings or imprisonment not exceeding 3 years or both. 

At the discretion of the overall commander, the offender can be issued with an express penalty of Shs200,000/-” He further revealed that Traffic Police will conduct snap checks along dark spots on major highways depending on intelligence. “We shall also use CCTV cameras to monitor & capture offenders. This information will be passed on to the officers at the Fika Salama Extra Check Points,” he noted. Police emphasized that habitual offenders will be taken to court for prosecution and drivers of PSV Motor Vehicles who violate this law will also be taken to court. Drivers that will fail to comply at the checkpoints will be blacklisted, tracked and motor vehicles will be impounded.

281 Drivers were captured by CCTV Cameras for violating speed limit along Kampala- Entebbe Express in an operation conducted for 13 hours. Traffic Police also revealed that according to (C/S 111 T&RS Amendment Act 2020) driving with blood alcohol concentration above the prescribed limit is prohibited. “Drink driving is a risk factor and it has been identified as a major cause of death not only in Uganda but worldwide, alcohol impairs both the driver’s vision and decision making and this puts all road users at high risk of injury or death,” SP Kananura noted.

The Traffic Directorate has identified high risk roads where most accidents caused by driving under the influence of alcohol occur especially along Ggaba Road, Jinja Road, Kira Rd, Entebbe Road, Kampala -Entebbe Express-Way, Northern by pass and some streets in Central Business District (CBD). “We have therefore decided to intensify operations targeting drivers who drive under the influence of alcohol,” he asserted. Section 111 of T & RS Amendment Act 2020 provides for the offence of driving with blood alcohol concentration above the prescribed limit. The Traffic and Road Safety (Prohibited Drugs and Alcohol Limit) Regulations 2023 provides for both prescribed blood alcohol levels and prescribed breath alcohol levels; Regulation 3 provides that the prescribed blood alcohol level of a driver of a vehicle other than a public service vehicle or ambulance is 50 milligrams of alcohol in 100 milliliters of blood while that of a driver of a public service vehicle or ambulance is 20 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millitres of blood.  Regulation 4 provides that the prescribed breath alcohol level for a driver of a vehicle other than a PSV or ambulance is 25 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millitres of blood while that of a driver of a PSV or ambulance is 10 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millitres of breath.

Section 111 (1) of the Traffic and Road Safety Amendment Act 2020 provides that a person who contravenes this law is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding 6,000,000 Ugx or Imprisonment not exceeding three years or Both. At the discretion of the overall commander, the offender can be issued with an express penalty scheme of 200,000/= Ugx

Last Friday, Traffic Police arrested 38 drivers who were found to be driving under the influence of alcohol from the operations carried out along Ggaba & Jinja Road. “We are therefore extending these operations to cover the entire Kampala Metropolitan Area, other cities and some highways that have been identified,” Kanaura emphasized. In these operations Police have added a component of taking biometrics (Finger prints) so as to have a profile (Database) of drivers who will have been found to be driving motor vehicles under the influence of alcohol. This database will subsequently be integrated with that of INTERPOL. Police have also pledged to use their committed teams to do these operations with enough equipment which are well calibrated.

Fika Salama Extra Operations will also look at other offences which include careless overtaking, driving without valid driver’s license, driving out of class, carrying excess passengers, dangerous loading, driving a motor vehicle in a dangerous mechanical condition.

The Fika Salama Extra shall also focus on Joint Sensation on road safety to improve and promote road user behaviors or discipline through the following means; We shall continue to use media such as Television stations, Radio stations and newspapers to reach out to road users.Conduct physical engagements from Bus terminals, taxi parks, markets, schools, churches, mosques, boda boda stages. Social media platforms e.g Twitter, whatsapp, tiktok and police websites to circulate road safety messages,” Kananura said. Road safety brochures, stickers, flyers and banners with road safety messages in different languages will be distributed at Fika Salama Extra check points. In the month of August, Police have so far covered a total number 20 TV Shows, 89 Radio Shows and 247 Physical Engagements on Road safety sensitizations across the country targeting all road users with emphasis on primary school going children aimed at creating road safety awareness.    

Stories Continues after ad

Minister for Gender, Labour, and Social Development, Betty Amongi sets tough conditions before the resumption of labour externalisation to Jordan.
In 2019, Uganda suspended the deployment of Ugandans to Jordan due to refusal and failure to pay salary on time, denial of adequate and appropriate food, sleeping facilities and absence of shelters for domestic workers.
Others included; time off, appropriate care during extreme weather, allegations of verbal, physical and sexual abuse, confiscation of travel documents, working in multiple houses, confinement in houses, forceful renewal of contracts which leads to overstays and others.
On her mission here is a follow up to the implementation of the Bilateral Labour Agreement signed between the two friendly countries on 8th November 2016, and automatically renewed, Amongi since the signing of the labour agreements the Joint Technical Committee was never constituted, and therefore there was never any sitting to review how the implementation is progressing, much as was stipulated in the memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
She said this limited the continuous monitoring and evaluation of the MoU, to ensure that the agreements so signed are on track, or the necessary corrective measures are taken in time.
“When we met the Secretary General at the Ministry of Labour, we agreed to immediately constitute the Joint Technical Committee (JTC) as provided by the Bilateral Labour Agreement signed in 2016. This is the best mechanism to address the above issues before deployment of Ugandans to Jordan can resume. We call on the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan to name its side of the JTC,” she said
The renewed relationship between the Ugandan and Jordanian recruitment agencies must clearly spell out such terms and conditions for their relationship, including fees payable to Ugandan companies, terms of contracts for migrant workers, salaries and wages, among others.
She said some Jordanian recruitment companies are dealing with unlicensed Ugandan companies yet we regularly supplied updated lists of Ugandan licensed companies. The workers who are recruited by illegal agencies are never trained and therefore fail to adjust to the work requirements.
A number of complaints continued to level about the breaches of contracts between RAA and UAERA members. That’s you owe Ugandan companies lots of money in unpaid fees. All unpaid wages should be settled;
She said the recruitment company should follow up to ensure that migrant workers should be provided with proper accommodation, especially the cold winter or hot summer, like clothing air conditioning or heating;
Amongi said the Ugandan migrant worker should receive post-arrival training, especially on occupational safety and health to avoid incidences of injury through exposure to corrosive substances, especially detergents.
Recruitment companies and employers should provide adequate health insurance to all migrant workers in the event of sickness, injury or death.

Stories Continues after ad

While commissioning 16 factories and groundbreaking for the construction of 9 new ones at Sino Uganda- Mbale Industrial Park in Mbale City, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni discouraged Ugandans from buying second-hand clothes which he described as for the dead people.

“They are for dead people. When a white person dies, they gather their clothes and send them to Africa. We should stop wearing them. We have people here who produce new clothes but they cannot infiltrate the market because the second-hand clothes are already all-over,” Museveni.

“I have been silent about this matter, but where we are now, I ask that you support me in stopping the importation of second-hand clothes,” he added.

However,  Museveni attributed Uganda’s flourishing Industrial sector to the good policy decisions made by the National Resistance Movement (NRM) government.

“In many of our tribes, we say wisdom is stronger than strength. When we look at these Industrial Parks, we can see the importance of a correct policy. Today we commissioned 16 factories and then we made a groundbreaking for another 9, so that is 25 and you remember this site here was a bush some years ago but now we have a labour force of 2,000 with 36 factories here. All this is because of policy decisions but policy decisions using our resources because the stimulus which brings investors here is the market,” President Museveni expounded.

Currently, the Sino Uganda-Mbale Industrial Park has 36 factories composed of; 20 factories in operation, one factory destroyed by fire, 5 factories under construction and 12 at a stage of assembling plant and machinery.

He also explained that the government of Uganda created a conducive environment that has enabled investors to come and invest in the country. The President also reassured investors of a ready market for their products.

“These investors have spectacles that enable them to detect where there’s money. It’s upon us to provide the conducive environment that enables whoever wants to invest to come. That is our role. With a proper policy, everything does itself, that is why a person you least know about approaches you if they want to set up a textile factory. They do this because they know Ugandans must dress up and they have the required raw materials here needed to produce clothes. Then that’s how the government comes in to catalyse the process by providing electricity, peace, roads and other needed infrastructure,” he added.

“Many people don’t know that having a market is wealth. We have a market for Ugandans of 46 million and on that; we add the East African market of 130 million people as well as the African market of 1.5 billion people. All those people have needs which should be obtained using money from their pockets.”

The President further thanked the NRM members who understand and support the vision and strategy of the party that has proved to be fruitful. He also commended the friends of Uganda especially the Chinese who have been working on mutual understanding and cooperation with the East African country and Africa since 1949.

“They started working with our elders like Mzee Nyerere, Kwame Nkrumah and others because we are on the same side, we are against imperialism; we are for freedom. In the past we were working together politically in the United Nations and other bodies but now I’m very glad the Chinese government is encouraging the Chinese companies; government and private; to go out and invest in Africa. I thank them so much,” he noted.

“If you may recall there were some misunderstandings when we permitted Indians to come back to Uganda. We had some less focused people who never wanted them to come back but I insisted that the Indians must be given back their property that was confiscated by Idi Amin government because you cannot annoy the pioneer investor and you think that the new one will trust you.”

The President also condemned some countries which are trying to curtail the market of Ugandan products. He assured the stakeholders that that move will be hard to achieve by the critics because, “Our products are of good quality and at relatively low prices”.

He also assured industrialists that the challenge of electricity will soon be history since the government is currently solving the issue.

“Otherwise, electricity is enough and we are building more dams. We are also going to construct a water channel to deal with the problem of floods that affected us last time. We are also producing more fire brigade machinery for this industrial park and helping the industrial park with the infrastructure.

President Museveni also castigated unpatriotic government bodies like those in the power generation sector who don’t want to support local investors but instead resort to buying machinery from foreign countries.

“Therefore, I have ordered all government bodies to buy all these meters from Uganda starting from 1st September. The Ministry of Energy is here. The cables and the meters must be bought from our factories here and the ones in Kampala. Anybody who does not will have to go and look after his goats at home,” he ordered.

The Ambassador of China to Uganda H.E Zhang Lizhong hailed the existing good relationship between China and Uganda. He said China and Uganda are working together to implement the nine programs announced by President Xi Jin Ping of China in the latest China -Africa Summit.

The Chairperson of Sino-Uganda Industrial Park Mbale, Zhang Zhigang praised President Museveni for his unwavering support in realizing the dream come true. He also thanked the leadership of Mbale and all the people of the area for their support.

The Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Hon. Matia Kasaija was happy to note that Uganda is in the process of achieving its Industrialisation goal.

“When you appointed me as Minister of Finance, you told me that I should spearhead Industrialisation and I’m happy to note that although the journey is still long, we have managed to achieve some success,” Hon. Kasaija said.

“Due to my passion for creating jobs, I sometimes spend sleepless nights thinking of how we can create jobs more than the youth whom we are offloading into the labour market. This project is helping us to create jobs for our youth. If we could get more enterprises similar to this, then my worry about having a job for every youth who comes on the job market would be history, Kasaija concluded.”

Stories Continues after ad