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URA recovers 1.6 tons of smuggled rice in Seeta

By
Our Reporter
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The URA customs enforcement team has impounded a taxi, registration number UBD 701M and recovered 1.6 tons of smuggled basmati rice.

The authority recently received information of a taxi coming from the East that had carried suspicious items. They immediately swung into action to had it impounded.

However, like most smugglers, the driver of the taxi too had his informer because he kept driving on and off the designated routes.

With URA’s vigilance, all suspicious corners were deployed until the taxi was chased after from Mukono-wantoni and netted in Seeta.

The taxi was driven to URA and upon verification, 65 bags of 25 kilograms of Basmati rice were found.

URA urged the general public to report to all suspicious trade practices in their areas to enable create a level trading ground for all legitimate traders.

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Ministry of Energy commences new power sector reforms

By
Simon Kabayo
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Ruth Nankabirwa

The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development has commenced the implementation of the Power Sector Reforms, targeting to enhance sector performance and provide affordable power to the people of Uganda.

The reforms are expected to minimize expensive private capital in the Electricity Sub-Sector investments in generation, transmission and distribution. It will culminate in creating the Uganda National Electricity Company Limited (UNECL) as a state-run entity with majority shareholding under a Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement as a possible option.

Cabinet, among others, directed the Ministry not to renew the Concession and Privatization Agreements for Eskom Uganda Limited and UMEME Limited after their concessions come to their natural end.

Eskom is the country’s largest energy generator on a 20-year concession effective March 1, 2003, for managing and maintaining the 180MW Nalubale and 200MW Kira Hydropower Plants. Umeme is Uganda’s main electricity distribution company, holding a 20-year electricity distribution concession from the Government of Uganda, effective March 1, 2005.

The Ministry has already formally notified Eskom and UMEME of the Government’s decision not to renew their concessions agreements when they come to their natural end in March 2023 and March 2025, respectively.

The Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERA), Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL) and Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL) have also been directed to make appropriate arrangements for the transition.

Ruth Nankabirwa, the Minister of Energy and Mineral Development, appreciated UMEME and Eskom for the years of continued support and investment in Uganda’s Energy Sector.

“On behalf of the Government of Uganda, I take this opportunity to appreciate UMEME and Eskom for the Operation and Maintenance of the Government assets on behalf of UEDCL and UEGCL for the past 18 and 19 years, respectively.”

The Minister noted that the electricity distribution network under UMEME covers a large percentage of the country, has grown in asset capacity and complexity and employs about 2,000 staff. “To this effect, I call upon the parties to the concession agreements to ensure a smooth transition of all the relevant responsibilities and asset handover in close coordination with this Ministry,” the Minister said.

She said the Ministry would spearhead the transition process and engage all concerned parties, including the shareholders, to ensure that the Government of Uganda’s decision to end the concession naturally is executed reasonably.

The Ministry has already constituted a Joint Committee to handle the Eskom Concession and is in the process of making a similar arrangement for the UMEME concession. The respective Committees are tasked with the planning and management of the end of the concessions to ensure seamless handover of the operations of the assets.

“Government is committed to avail the necessary financing to ensure it fulfills its obligations in the related agreements,” elaborated Irene Bateebe, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry. “UEDCL and UEGCL will be supported to enable them to manage the transition period and operation of the concessions as happened with the 50MW Namanve Thermal Power Plant that has reverted to UEGCL in 2021.”

The Permanent Secretary said the Ministry, with the support of the Auditor General, would undertake due diligence of the companies’ investments to determine any outstanding obligations by the Government.

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Church of Uganda, NARO sign MoU to promote agricultural technology

By
Our Reporter
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Church of Uganda has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the National Agriculture Research Organization (NARO) to enhance adoption of agricultural technology promotion in all Church of Uganda Dioceses beginning with Karamoja region where there is urgent need for food security and nutrition interventions.

The MoU signed at the Provincial Secretariat in Namirembe, will see NARO provide technical support for technology adoption and promotion and conduct agriculture related trainings for technology transfer and adoption for farmers and practitioners..

The partnership will also see NARO support capacity building of Church of Uganda leaders and make available or recommend agriculture equipment and inputs required in agriculture technology adoption and promotion.

The Most Rev Dr Stephen Samuel Kaziimba Mugalu, Archbishop of the Church of Uganda and Rev Canon William Ongeng, the Provincial Secretary signed on behalf of Church of Uganda while Dr. Ambrose Agona, the Director General of NARO signed on behalf of NARO.

Archbishop Kaziimba lauded the partnership and pledged total commitment of Church of Uganda to implement the partnership with transparency, accountability and faithfulness.

“I am happy that we have entered this partnership to help our people embrace agriculture technology. The government has been very supportive to our agriculture mechanization agenda.” Archbishop Kaziimba said.

He added, “NARO has always been supporting Church of Uganda. We have well laid structures from Parish level in every village in Uganda. Our accountability and leadership structures are very well laid which makes the work of reporting and collaboration very easy.”

Dr. Ambrose Agona pledged government’s continued support to help the Church transform the lives of its people by promoting value addition and quality in the agro-processing value chains.

“We shall produce seeds and make it available for Church of Uganda, designate and facilitate personnel for technology transfer and dissemination to the communities in this collaboration.” Dr. Agona said.

Rev. Andrew Agaba, Church of Uganda’s Director of Household and Community Transformation said that the partnership comes as a result of the recent intervention by the Church in Karamoja.

“When we recently gave food to Karamoja with funding from ACT Alliance, our Dioceses and other partners, we realized the need for sustainability. The seeds provided by NARO and other services will greatly transform Karamoja and other areas.” Rev. Agaba said.

He added, “We want our people especially those in Karamoja to grow their own crops and have bumper harvests. I am certain, this partnership will greatly support our sustainable livelihoods agenda.”

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‘Restructure Public Service to streamline salaries’ – MPs task Gov’t

By
Our Reporter
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Government is urged to carry out extensive restructuring and pay reforms in the Ministry of Public Service in a bid to streamline salaries of public servants.

This arose against the backdrop of the debate of the report of the Committee on Public Service and Local Government on the petition on salary enhancement and discrepancies for nurses and interns during a plenary sitting on Thursday, 08 December 2022.

MPs tasked government to fast-track the Salary Review and Enhancement Commission that will scrutinize salaries for all public officers to curb a back-and-forth discussion on the same.

“There is no uniformity in the way salaries are enhanced. We recently talked about putting in place a Salary Review Commission because it’s not only health workers who are crying over salary increments, all other sectors are affected. Every sector is now coming up with petitions on salary enhancement, we want a once and for all solution to this problem,” Hon. Judith Alyek (NRM, Kole District) said.

Tororo District Woman Member of Parliament, Hon. Sarah Opendi demanded that government overhauls the current public service structure and adopts a new practical structure that can accommodate the demands of the current population.

The Leader of Opposition, Hon. Mathias Mpuuga who described public service as a place of “organised chaos” said the necessity to structure Uganda’s public service is long overdue.

“The entire public service is chaotic; you have medical workers’ pay enhanced on paper but in reality, the release is of the old wage bill. Somebody is running away from responsibility by making pronouncements that can’t be followed up by actual implementation,” he said.

The report of the committee presented by the Chairperson, Hon. Godfrey Onzima noted that whereas government has enhanced salaries of medical workers for financial year 2022/23, the funds being disbursed in some local governments are still based on the previous wage bill before the salaries were enhanced leading to wage shortfalls.

 “We have a wage bill in the budget completely different from what is being released to the MDAs. So some local governments have decided to continue paying health workers according to the old wage bill because that is what is being released to them….there is a lot more that needs to be done,” Hon. Richard Gafabusa (Bwamba County) said.

However, State Minister for Finance (General Duties), Hon. Henry Musasizi reaffirmed that as of July 2022, all scientists including health workers have been receiving their enhanced salaries as per the 2018 Collective Bargaining Agreement with government.

“We enhanced all salaries for scientists across the board including the nurses…Whatever is not going well can be resolved administratively among MDAs which are implementing,” Musasizi said.

State Minister for Health (Primary Health Care), Hon. Margaret Muhanga said the discrepancy in salary payments of health workers has been fuelled by a system failure at the Ministry of Finance which she said is being addressed to capture all medical workers.

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MPs query selective application of tax exemptions

By
Our Reporter
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Parliament

Legislators on the Public Accounts Committee (Central) have put officials from the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development to task on why tax exemptions do not cut across businesses.

The MPs raised the matter in a meeting with the ministry officials led by the Under Secretary, Dr. Edward Sengonzi Damulira who appeared before the Committee chaired by Medard Sseggona to respond to queries raised by the Auditor General for the financial year ended 30 June 2021.

According to Sseggona, there are companies that have the ability to pay but are exempt from tax.
“Do we have a policy on tax exemption? Who exempts and what are the guiding principles? If I want to be exempted, what criteria do I have to satisfy? In our economic understanding, you are collecting too much from too few,” Sseggona said.

Moses Kaggwa, the Director in charge of Economic Affairs at the ministry said the exemptions are catered for in the tax laws passed by Parliament.

He said business investments that prove to Uganda Revenue Authority (URA), to be using over 75 per cent of raw materials and workforce from Uganda, have a high chance of being tax exempt.

“For example, if you are in the business of agro-processing and you have invested US$10 million as a foreigner, or US$750,000 or US$250,000 as a citizen outside urban areas, then you are entitled to a 10 year tax holiday,” Kaggwa said.

He added that the ministry has designed a Tax Expenditure Framework that will enable the review of all tax exemptions to see if they have achieved the intended objectives regarding employment, value addition, export promotion and foreign exchange income, among others.

“The Auditor General’s office is also carrying out a parallel study on tax exemptions, and this will inform us on the next direction we can take,” said Kaggwa.

Sseggona tasked Kaggwa to present a timeline for the plan to reconsideration of the tax exemptions.  Sseggona also cited companies with tax holidays that close shop in a period close to the expiry of the tax holiday and end up registering anew.

“You find that they keep metamorphosing into new companies and for the entire duration of their stay here, they do not pay tax. Some of these companies do not even fall in the category of strategic investments,” Sseggona said.

He added that, ‘you could advise us if it is not logical to simply provide for less other than taking away the obligation to pay taxes. Where they would ordinarily pay 30 per cent, you could deduct 10 per cent’.

Agago North County MP John Amos Okot bserved that unfair tax exemptions hindered the growth of some businesses in the country and tasked the ministry to present a list of local and foreign investors who have benefitted from tax exemptions in the last three years.

“You will find that one of two businesses dealing in the same products has been given a tax holiday. This means the tax exempt person will sell at a low price at the expense of the one who has pad the burden of taxes,” Okot noted.

Moroto District MP Stella Atyang described tax exemptions as leakages in revenue collections that have been misused and hindered government’s progress in meeting its demands.

The Under Secretary said there are ongoing discussions on tax exemptions and payment of Value Added Tax (VAT).
“We are sensitive in balancing the pressure we have to collect revenue and grow the economy,” Sengonzi Damulira said.

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UBF boss Muhangi wants boxing reinstated in schools

By
Our Reporter
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The President of Uganda Boxing Federation Moses Muhangi (on the right)

The Uganda Boxing Federation (UBF) has called for the reinstatement of boxing in schools in a bid to develop the sport.

The appeal was made by the President of the federation, Moses Muhangi while appearing before Parliament’s Ad-hoc Committee that is investigating the usage of funds in the sports sector on Thursday, 08 December 2022.

Muhangi said that boxing has been banned from schools without a clear reason, with the latest letter from the former state Minister for Sports, Dennis Obua showing that he is investigating the safety of the sports to school going youths.

Muhangi says that the continued ban on sports means they will only be able to rely on ghetto youth only which he says is going to cause the demise of the sport in the country.

“Thirty years ago, boxing was suspended from schools; it was again suspended by Hamson Obua in June and I find it very unfortunate because every sports thrives on grassroots development, he said adding that, ’all the sports we have in the country are in schools and they are contact sports; if you look at rugby and kickboxing, these are all allowed to be in school but boxing is not allowed’.

Muhangi appealed to Members of Parliament to advocate for the return of boxing to schools saying as it stands, the sports is being discriminated upon.

He said the federation should be given an opportunity to demonstrate the safety measures they have in place so that the sport can be reinstated.

Meanwhile, the federation also faulted the National Council for sports (NCS) for asking them to account for more funds than they received.

He said that during an international game in Senegal, they requested for Shs600 million, but the NCS gave them Shs45 million but asked them to account for the original amount. 

“Most time you go to the National Council of Sports, they say we shall buy for you air tickets and pay accommodation and then they expect you to account for It,” he said.

Muhangi also told the committee that although the government gave the NCS Shs7 billion for the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, most of the delegates were facilitated by the organizers of the event and most of the government funds were used as per diem.

The Chairperson of the committee, Laura Kanushu tasked Muhangi to present all evidence in regards to his allegations.

“You said you were given Shs45 million and you were asked to account for Shs600 million, did you account? Have you ever accounted for money that you have not received? Can you give us what form of accountability you presented,” she questioned.

Muhangi however, said that they have not accounted for money they haven’t received and that is the source of their problem with NCS.

The committee also tasked Muhangi to present their audited books of accounts, detailed staff structure, accountability documents and their achievements to the committee.

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Sports betting in Cameroon 2022: tips to get started

By
Our Reporter
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Sports betting has been very popular in African countries for many years. As a result, a large number of the most reliable betting sites have become available in different countries including Cameroon. Some betting sites offer a limited set of odds on big sports, others are vast offering a wide variety of high odds, even on exotic sports. We spend time looking for a guide for the top betting sites possible in Cameroon. And here is our choice: online betting guide Parimobile Cameroon (parimobile.cm).

Choosing the best online betting site

Since there are a large number of betting companies currently operating in Cameroon, it can be difficult to choose the best. For this reason, online platform Parimobile has established a ranking of the best online bookmakers in our country based on an objective and rational analysis. According to experts, there are several factors to take into account.

Odds

The odds play an important role when choosing the different betting houses. When the odds are higher, your winnings are increased, and a bookmaker who offers the best odds on all sports is always in the lead. This is one of the most important criteria that must be taken into account when ranking the top bookmakers.

Security

Then, the reputation of a bookmaker is also important. Although the license gives an indication of security to the players, we recommend that you register on a site that has a good reputation among the players. Thus, Parimobile only offers agencies that follow all the necessary criteria related to betting security.

Services

Types of bets, available sports markets, live betting interface, possibility to bet on mobile or on computer.

Customers support

Also very important – the customer service of the managers. Available payment methods, answers to questions are some of the many aspects that must be analyzed to decide on a bookmaker.

Discover our 7 best tips to find the best betting site:

  • Pay attention to the comments. If they are bad, then the bookmaker is not very good;
  • Check for interesting promotions and bonuses. Constant draws of large amounts of money and bonuses on deposits is a sign of good companies;
  • Find out about the minimum bet amount and the deposit;
  • Check if the company offers a mobile application;
  • Subscribe to the company’s groups on social networks. Or instant messengers. See if there’s any activity. And, if there is, it is positive or negative.
  • Discover markets and odds. Low odds will not give the opportunity to win much.
  • Evaluate the payments. Find out which payment systems are supported by the bookmaker.

News & salaries of football players

How much does your favorite player earn? Football fans are often interested in the daily life of the stars of the sports world. Therefore, the authors of the Parimobile website often publish articles on the salaries of the best players of Cameroon. You will also find a news feed about the latest matches and changes in the world of football on the website.

Bonuses & promo codes

One of the advantages of Parimobile is that it updates the information on different bonuses and promotions of Cameroon bookies. So you will find articles about current promotions at 1xBet, Betwinner, Premier bet and for other companies as well as latest promo codes for registration and free bets.

Conclusion

So Parimobile Cameroon is a really good guide for betting in Cameroon thanks to their truthful reviews about local bookmakers, latest bonuses and promo codes of betting sites, as well as news feed and articles about the life of football players.

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UBL unveils first flavored beer, Rockshore Tropical Lager

By
Simon Kabayo
-

Uganda Breweries Limited (UBL) has unveiled Uganda’s first flavored beer known as Rockshore Tropical Lager in order to meet the ever changing tastes and preferences of customers and showcases the company’s innovation amid changing consumer needs.

“Rockshore is Uganda’s first flavored beer – infused with natural tropical African fruit flavors like pineapple and passion to give consumers a new and exciting way to enjoy beer,” UBL said in a statement on Thursday, December 8, 2022.

The product was unveiled under UBL’s Innovations arm, which has brought forth products like Uganda Waragi Pineapple and Coconut, Baileys Delight, Gordon’s Pink and Tusker Cider.

It says the product was unveiled under its Innovations arm, which has brought forth products like Uganda Waragi Pineapple and Coconut, Baileys Delight, Gordon’s Pink and Tusker Cider.

Angella Mpayenda, UBL’s Innovations Project Manager said: “Both locally and internationally, we are seeing a shift in the way consumers want to experience the things that bring them together with their friends and loved ones – from food to travel, and now to beer. Rockshore is our latest response to these changes in consumers’ tastes and preferences, and we are proud to once again shock the market with yet another quality product offering.”

Emmy Hashakimana, UBL’s Marketing and Innovations Director said: “Change is a constant, and our consumers are on a continuous journey to discover more unique and diverse taste experiences. As such, our edge as a business has been to leverage the power of innovation to consistently push the boundaries of what is considered ordinary and bring forth products and experiences that align with the consumers’ craving for the extraordinary.”

Consumers have been guided to get free samples of the product and get immersed into its brand experience at the December Edition of Blankets & Wine, slated for this Sunday the 11th of December at the Lugogo Cricket Oval – with ‘Buy 1 Get 1 Free’ offers and exciting giveaways.

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Uganda receives first batch of Ebola trial vaccines

By
Our Reporter
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Uganda has received 1200 doses of vaccines from World Health Organisation (WHO) which will be used in the Ebola vaccine trial. This is the first batch of the three candidate Vaccines against the Sudan Ebola virus.

The three vaccines Oxford from the United Kingdom, Sabin and Merck from USA will be evaluated for their efficacy.

The Minister of Health, Dr Jane Ruth Aceng said the country has not registered any new confirmed Ebola case in the last nine days but encouraged scientists to continue research of appropriate drugs and vaccines to prevent future outbreaks.

“It is nine days today that we have no new cases of Ebola, but that does not mean we are out of the outbreak. Uganda encourages scientists to continue research to support the provision of appropriate drugs and vaccines to prevent future outbreaks,” Jane Ruth Aceng said.

Since Uganda declared an Ebola outbreak on September 20, cases have spread across the country, including to the capital Kampala, and have claimed over 50 lives, with 22 more believed to have died before their samples were tested.

“This is a historic day for the country and the world of scientific health research. For the first time, vaccines for clinical trials are produced in less than 90 days after the start of an Ebola Outbreak. This is a remarkable effort!” the WHO Uganda incident manager, Dr Charles Njuguna said.

Uganda has been struggling to rein in the outbreak caused by the Sudan strain of the virus, for which there is currently no vaccine. But UN health agency chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus in November told reporters that vaccine trials would soon begin.

Speaking from the G20 summit in Indonesia, Tedros said a WHO committee of external experts had evaluated candidate vaccines and determined “all three should be included in the planned trial in Uganda”.

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Government to assist bury the Late Kuuya is a perfect thing

By
Guest Writer
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The Late Patrick Masette Kuuya

By Nabendeh S.P. Wamoto

Former Minister for Rehabilitation-the Late Patrick Masette Kuuya was the most powerful, influential, assertive sometimes confrontational yet benevolent to say the least a “Real Minister” in the sense that he could act and inform the Principal (President Obote) later. He could be said to have been the most practical minister ever in Bugisu sub region.

He was only compared to other powerful politicians such as Chris Rwakasisi (Security), Luwuriza-Kirunda (Internal Affairs) and Edward Rurangaranga.

Kuuya single handedly endorsed my scholarship to the hotel and tourism college (Kenya Utalii College) in Nairobi. This gave me opportunity to host Mrs. Janet kataha Museveni and her then children and later I was entrusted with the task of ring-fencing the regional army generals’ food from the then marauding Alqueda terrorists. To me the late Kuuya launched me into the foregoing contribution to the state of Uganda and the rest of the East African Community region’s security and stability.      

President Milton Obote would only address the late Kuuya as “My son” to emphasize their great relationship  

For starters, Bamasaaba did a very big task to the independence of Uganda. Uganda would not have been due for internal self-rule in 1962, had it not been Bugisu’s Arabica coffee foreign account (Foreign account). It is needless to say, however, that the rest of Uganda except Buganda’s contribution rode on Bugisu’s Arabica coffee fortune to secure political freedom. Bamasaaba shall always demand to be respected for that.

The Bamasaaba were also credited for producing exemplary, committed servant-leaders and scholars of international reputation. For example, former Chief Justice George Masika, Prof. Timothy Wangusa, Prof. Dani Wadada Nabudeere, the late Natoolo Masaaba who single handedly waged a demonstration from the present day Mooni against Bukedi district who wanted to lay claim on the land that hosts the present day Mbale City, the late Joshua Wakholi former minister of Public Service and Cabinet Affairs in Obote I government, the just deceased Patrick Masette Kuuya the former minister of Rehabilitation in Obote II government, the late James Wambogo Wapakhabulo, the late Perezi Musamali, the late Jack Maumbe Mukhwana and many others. History has it that in the late 60s, 70s and early 80s the Uganda Judiciary was half-way occupied by prominent, legal men and women from Bugisu. It is also said that because of the then strenuous post-Imbalu (circumcision) counselling that induct Bugisu men into hard work, bravery, dignity, confidence and of corrupt-free tendencies.

The Bamasaaba in the mid-70s denied the brutal and damaging regime of Idi Amin the all-important foreign exchange by smuggling Arabica coffee across the border to Kenya (Chebukube market) and this quickened Amin’s government to its knees and eventually collapsed.

The current president of the republic of Uganda, Gen. Yoweri K. Tibuhaburwa Museveni was inducted and received his initial ideological classroom training in 1965 at Lumumba Research Bureau in Namakwekwe Mbale City under the tutelage of comrade, son of the soil Masaba Natoolo but either by default or deliberate, H.E. the president didn’t document this in his Mustard Seed record on the two occasions.  

The popular skirmish that happened on 22nd January 1973 at Maumbe Mukwana’s house No.49 was the climax of the first rebellion against Idi Amin’s government in Bugisu. Young men such as Mpima Wahu Kazimoto, Martin Mwesiga led by Yoweri Museveni were already plotting incursions, but when they had gone to the said Malukhu Estate, soldiers from the military police barracks conducted a cordon and search operation and when they approached house No.49 the then rebels attempted to flee, the two were gunned down but their colleague now president Museveni managed to jump out of the house, ran through the trench into then Nashibisho Forest Reserve, used the thick grass leaving behind their vehicle the Volkswagen Beetle 1600 packed at Maumbe’s compound.

In Maumbe’s house there was a young student boy called Sebastian Namirundu who the soldiers identified later as an accomplice of the Museveni rebels. He was therefore with Tom Masaaba charged in Court Martial convicted to a frightening firing squad at King George VI stadium – the only stadium then in Mbale. Namirundu was shot six times in the chest but it took the intervention of the then Uganda Army physicians to confirm his death after again 6 whole minutes of waiting for his head to bow down in vain (the myth still continues to this day that God did not want the young innocent boy to die). 

Nabendeh S.P. Wamoto (+256 776 658433)

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