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Gov’t officials, mourners gather for final send-off of Fr. Lokodo

By
Geoffery Serugo
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Fr. Lokodo

The Chairperson of Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) Mariam Wangadya and Robert Kotchani, the Representative of the office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights have arrived for the final send off of the former Minister of Ethics and Integrity Fr. Simon Lokodo.

Lokodo will be laid to rest later today at his ancestral home in Kapedo Sub-County, Karenga district.

Fr. Lokodo died on January 29, 2022 at University Hospital in Geneva, Switzerland. He was on official duty leading the UHRC team at the 40th Human Rights Review. Medical reports indicate that Lokodo succumbed to Covid-19.

At his death, Fr. Lokodo was serving as a commissioner at Uganda Human Rights Commission.

MPs from Karamoja region that include: Pian County MP Achia Remegio and Amudat Woman MP Betty Chelain said Lokodo was a religious, generous, a mentor and an exemplary leader.

Lokodo was born in Kaabong District on 28 October 1957. Simon Lokodo held the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Theology from the Pontifical Urbaniana University. His Master of Arts in Theology was also obtained from the same university of Rome.

He also held the Diploma in Rural Sociology, the Diploma in Social Communication, the Diploma in Philosophy and Social Science and the Certificate in Italian Language. He obtained his Diploma in Theology from Makerere University, Uganda’s oldest university; founded in 1922. Lokodo also held a Certificate in German Language obtained from an institution in Austria and a Certificate in French Language, obtained from an institution in Paris, France.

At the age of 49, Lokodo first entered politics to contest a special election on 29 June 2006, following the death of the incumbent Member of Parliament. He was ex-communicated from the Catholic Church by Pope Benedict XVI when he entered politics. He won the special election and began representing Dodoth County, Kaabong District, in the parliament.

In February 2009, he was appointed to the cabinet as the Minister of State for Industry and Technology. In the cabinet reshuffle of 27 May 2011, he was relocated to the Ethics and Integrity portfolio, replacing Nsaba Buturo. In the cabinet reshuffle of 1 March 2015, he retained his cabinet post.

He was well known for challenging homosexuality in all forms. In 2012, he and the police raided and shut down a gay activist workshop. He was quoted as saying, “I have closed this conference because it’s illegal. We do not accept homosexuality in Uganda.” He also blamed foreigners, saying they should “go back home”. Amnesty International condemned the raid.

In 2014, Stephen Fry interviewed Lokodo in Stephen Fry: Out There, where he was quoted as saying “…men raping girls. Which is natural.” Fry later revealed in 2016 that he had tried to commit suicide in the hours after the interview.

In February 2014, dress code legislation was enacted, aimed primarily at women. Clothes that are considered revealing or sexually provocative were to be outlawed; “If you dress in such a way that you irritate the mind and excite the people then you are badly dressed; if you draw the attention of the other person outside there with a malicious purpose of exciting and stimulating him or her into sex,” Lokodo stated.

He served as the elected Member of Parliament representing Dodoth County, Kaabong District until he lost his Parliamentary seat in January 2021. At the time of his death on 29 January 2022, he was serving as a member of the Uganda Human Rights Commission.

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Identification of fast-spreading HIV variant provides evidence of urgency to halt the pandemic and reach all with testing and treatment

By
Our Reporter
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HIV treatment

Newly published research from the Netherlands has revealed the existence of a more transmissible and damaging variant of HIV. People living with the newly revealed HIV subtype experience double the rate of immune system decline (CD4 count), have higher HIV viral loads (amount of virus in the blood) and are vulnerable to developing AIDS two to three times faster after diagnosis than if they were living with other strains of the virus.

The study, led by researchers from the University of Oxford’s Big Data Institute, was the first to discover the subtype-B of the virus. The study also revealed that the variant has been circulating in the Netherlands for years and remains receptive to HIV treatment.

The HIV pandemic continues to take a life every minute and scientists have long worried about the evolution of new, more transmissible, variants of HIV. This newly identified variant does not represent a major public health threat but underscores the urgency of speeding up efforts to halt the HIV pandemic.

“Ten million people living with HIV worldwide are not yet on treatment, fuelling the continued spread of the virus and potential for further variants,” said Eamonn Murphy, UNAIDS Deputy Executive Director, Programme, a.i. “We urgently need to deploy cutting-edge medical innovations in ways that reach the communities most in need. Whether it’s HIV treatment or COVID-19 vaccines, inequalities in access are perpetuating pandemics in ways that harm us all.”

HIV remains the deadliest pandemic of our time an estimated 79 million people have become infected with the virus, for which there is still no vaccine and no cure. Some 36 million people have died from AIDS-related illnesses since the start of the pandemic and 1.5 million people were newly infected with HIV in 2020. Of the 38 million people living with HIV today, 28 million are on life-saving antiretroviral therapy, keeping them alive and well and preventing transmission of the virus.

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Police crackdown boda boda theft racket in Lango sub-region

By
Our Reporter
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Handcuffs

Police in North Kyoga carried out an intelligence led operation in Lira, Kwania and Apac and cracked down an organized criminal gang that had specialized in the theft of bodaboda motorcycles all over the country.

The gang had agents and collaborators in almost every part of the country, who would identify newly bought motorcycles and plan for its robbery.  The stolen motorcycles are sold in South Sudan, DRC and Kenya.

The task team started its operations with the arrest of Okori Mondri, a 28-year-old, bodaboda rider of Adagaya cell, Abedi ward, Apac T/C, Apac district. He was tracked down and arrested from Inomo sub-county in Kwania district, while in possession of a suspected stolen motorcycle under registration number UEU 548Q, Bajaj Boxer, red in colour.

At the time of his arrest, he had just returned from Soroti district. His arrest led to the recovery of 10 more suspected stolen motorcycles, 5 of which were recovered from his premise and an additional 5, from his accomplices in the districts of Kwania and Apac respectively.

Police Spokesperson Enanga Fred said; “So far four suspects who form part of the criminal gang have been arrested. These include; Okori Modri, Okello Dan, a 30-year-old, male adult and resident of Bar Opok cell, Apac Town council; Olwa Benson, a 32-year-old, bodaboda rider of Abor village in Apac district and Opolo Dan a 22-year-old boda boda rider of Ongica village, Inomo sub county, in Kwania district.”

A serious manhunt for two ring leaders of the gang is ongoing. Those include; Okidi, Denis who is the gang leader in N/Kyoga region and Akaki Sam both residents of Apar village is the over all commander of the gang in East Kyoga, Sipi and Elgon region.  We have also interested ourselves on a racket that has been helping them forge log books and also other chassis and engine number, from Lira city.

The recovered motorcycles all Bajaj Boxers, red in color are as follow; UEZ 253U, UEU 355U, UEU 584Q, UEE 337H, UEO 103Y, UEE 936K, UEW 918H,KMFJ – 433W(stolen from Kapchorwa district), UEK 300S, UFG 610P, UFD 233U (Original no UFJ 230U), stolen from Aduku Town, Kwania district.

Also recovered were 6 number plates which include; UEW293D, UER 258Y, UEP 293V, UFD 715N, UEE 895D, UEU 978D.  All the engine numbers, chassis number and recovered number plates have been submitted to the URA for verification and details of ownership.

The majority of the recovered motor cycles were stolen from the districts of Soroti, Kapchorwa, Mbale and Kaberamaido and sold in the districts of Kwania and Apac. While those that were stolen from Lango sub region, were sold in Soroti, Mbale and Kapchorwa.

“The arrests of the criminal racket, demonstrates our collective resolve as the Joint Security Agencies to rid the boda boda industry, of acts of violence, impunity and lawlessness by such criminal elements,” Enanga said.

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Afcon 2021: CAF reveals Team of the Tournament

By
Our Reporter
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Mohammed Salah

CAF have announced the Team of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations tournament that took place in Cameroon.

The team features six Senegalese players that won the tournament. Goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, left-back Saliou Ciss, midfielder Nampalys Mendy, and Sadio Mane all feature in the best XI players, as named by CAF.

Captain Kalidou Koulibaly and Famara Diedhiou were named among the substitutes as well.

Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi and Egypt’s Mohamed Abdelmonem feature in a starting back four.

Team of 2021 Afcon

Mohamed Salah is also named in the team, on the right attacking lines alongside the tournament’s top scorer Vincent Aboubakar of Cameroon as the centre forward.

The rest of the team includes, Burkina Faso’s duo Edmond Tapsoba and Ibrahim Blati Toure in defence and midfield respectively, Egypt’s Mohamed Elneny also comes in midfield.

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Kabuleta takes his economic empowerment message to Teso, preaches against poverty

By
Geoffery Serugo
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Joseph Kabuleta Kizza

The National Economic Empowerment Dialogue (NEED) leader, Joseph Kabuleta Kizza has continued to spread his economic empowerment message to Ugandans in various parts of the country. This time round he took the gospel to Teso Sub-Region.

Meeting the locals and politicians who lost in last year’s general elections on Monday, Mr Kabuleta said Teso is one of the regions in Uganda which are well endowed with natural resources but the ordinary residents have not been able to get a fair share out of them.

He says, this is one of the reasons why most locals are in abject poverty.

“What brings us to Teso is to help these people of this region to appreciate the fact that they are well endowed and they have resources that are actually enough for them to go by. They only have to stand up and demand for a fair share of their resources that are being gotten from this place and that way, they will be able to lift themselves from poverty,” the former presidential candidate urged.

“Now we are here to tell them as much as we know that we’re all being failed by this system, we want to define the sort of change that we need and we are here to preach the gospel of economic empowerment, to tell people that they can be empowerment economically to stand up and fight for what is rightly theirs and actually be a partaker in the wealth that God deposited in this region which they are actually entitled as people of this area.”

Mr Kabuleta further noted that unlike in some other parts of the country, the people of Teso are very galvanized and they are ready to stand up and fight as long as the leadership gap issue is addressed.

“We want leadership to think in line with the electorate on how to develop this region and how to bring its potential out in the best way possible.”

He also urged politicians who lost in the last general elections to sensitize their people from different areas in the region to fight for their resources as a way of alleviating themselves from poverty.

“We want to make people understand that they should not rely on politicians’ handouts especially during elections. They should know that they can work for themselves as long as they have a fair share of their natural resources. We have sent these politicians with an economic empowerment message which they should spread to their constituencies in that by the next general elections, people would have understood that they should vote for a reason not because they were bribed,” Mr Kabuleta said.

“All the people who lost during the last elections, are still very important because they were voted by over 60/70 percent of Ugandans. We believe that whoever stands for a political office, he/she always has something they want to add to their communities so they need a platform which they can use to speak. Those emerged winners always have platforms to air out their views but those who lost don’t have such. As NEED we decided to offer that platform for them to help their people fight against poverty.”

The former journalist also preached against the electorate begging from politicians. He said Ugandans can work for themselves as long the national cake is equally distributed throughout the country.

“Every change starts with a conversation so when people are speaking about things that matter, things about development and changing their livelihoods; It all begins with a dialogue. We are not poor, we are actually just lacking leadership but we can get somebody, he/she doesn’t necessarily need to be an elected person. We need someone to actually lead us to do something within a community that can improve our livelihood. That’s how it starts.

“It starts by giving our ideology to these people and them giving us their ideas which are of course very hopeful because they are the ones who know most about the region and us finding a common ground which we can now take to communities and say depending in where you’re from, this is what you can do to fight for yourself and dont just accept that your poor and go down and become a beggar. We don’t want any beggar in Uganda. We are not built to be beggars because we have a lot of natural resources.”

Goretti Asio, a former Soroti District Woman MP contestant and member of NEED, said the people in the region have suffered under the current government due to delayed livestock compensation and consistent land grabbing tendencies.

Teso is one of the sub regions that faced cattle raids, insurgencies and insecurity over the past years.

“As the region of Teso, we have had a lot of challenges. Respective, we have leaders in different government positions but they are just there to fill the posts. We have not benefitted much from those positions, so NEED has come to enlight the people of the potentials that the country has, in that we the ordinary people can also tap on the resources of our country. The people of Teso have been played for a very long time,”Asio stated.

“The compensation of our cattle up to date has become a political game that whenever there’s an election, that’s when NRM comes up to talk about the compensation of the people of Teso.”

So far NEED under Mr Kabuleta, has managed to spread the economic empowerment message to Buganda, Bugisu, Bukedi, Teso and Sebei regions.

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KIU dismisses allegations made by former lecturer Prof Kehinde

By
Our Reporter
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Kampala International University-KIU has dismissed allegations made by their former Director of Research and Innovation Prof. Ogunniran Kehinde Olurotimi.

According to a letter from Prof. Kehinde, he resigned from KIU over no pay in addition to the poor working environment.

Kehinde also decried the poor welfare of the university’s academic staff. According to him, the university relies on cheap labour to get the work done.

KIU has replied to the claims by the former lecturer and below is the full response;

Our attention has been drawn to the letter that has extensively circulated on social media platforms and is attributed to Prof. Ogunniran Kehinde Olurotimi regarding his resignation from Kampala International University. We note that the Prof, to whom the letter is attributed has not denied authoring and causing the same to be circulated.

Ordinarily, resignation of any member of staff and the reasons thereof, is an internal matter that should have been raised and settled within the structures of the University. However, now that the matter has been placed into the public domain, albeit with incorrect or inaccurate facts, we have deemed it necessary to make an appropriate response, so as to provide clarity on the matter and set the record straight

It is rather quite unfortunate that a person of the status of Prof. Ogunniran Kehinde Olurotimi, who had been recently appointed as the Director Research and Innovation, in April 2021, decided to resign and also make and externalize seriously damaging allegations that are intended to damage the good name and reputation of the University. We are even more concerned that there appears to be a deliberate concealment of material facts by the good Prof, possibly aimed at eliciting public sympathy. It is on record that Prof. Ogunniran, was enrolled into University service primarily on probation, subject to authentication of his original academic documents. He was unable to complete the probationary period. He then absconded from duty, having failed to satisfy the condition requiring him to authenticate his original academic documents. This is a disciplinary matter which was to be handled through the available channels, within the University and it is possible that the resignation could have been intended to pre-empt the same.

Ogunniran’s castigation of the TAC (Technical Aid Corp) Volunteer Programme supported by the Federal Government of Nigeria under a subsisting agreement between Uganda and Nigeria, that, “… the University rely on Cheap labours to get the work done…” (excuse the grammatical errors as it’s a direct quote), is a misrepresentation of the facts and is false. The TAC Volunteers are very senior and highly sought for staff who are seconded to KIU and other universities (both public and private) in Uganda. For anyone to refer to them as “Cheap labour” is not only unfortunate, but is telling of the character and professionalism of the author. KIU distances itself from such language against the TAC Volunteers, and particularly for a Nigerian citizen, who would be the best ambassador of the programme, to de-campaign a bilaterally approved government programme.

The existence of research laboratories for sciences and workshops for Engineering at Kampala International University has never been disputed by any professional body. KIU has one of the best state-of-the Art- Engineering School and related facilities. This is verifiable by anyone, by visiting the facilities and checking with the Engineering Registration Board and other professional programme regulators. Prof. Ogunniran’s allegations are a sign that he indeed was not in touch with what takes place and exists at KIU.

KIU is ranked highly on the basis of its proven research output, and individual academics are at liberty to conduct research and publish and indeed, most serious academicians have. Anyone who understands how a University operates would know that the process of conducting research can never be controlled by any one person, even if such a person wanted to, because of the research structure that is rooted in the academic departments. It appears Prof Ogunniran may not have had a proper grasp of his defined duties, as head of the Directorate of Research and Innovation.

KIU operates one of the most structured and robust systems of administration and management, in which he himself has been a member and has attended meetings at Directorate, Management, and Senate levels. Evidence to that effect is available in the University records.

The University operates an internet structure that allows one to enjoy internet access in all buildings, when one is challenged with access, there are numerous other points where they can ably access.

The University management wishes to assure the members of the public and all stakeholders that it has in place the required facilities to render the requisite academic and professional services to staff and the students and therefore calls upon the general public to disregard the misinformation going round as alleged and attributed to Mr. Ogunniran and further confirms that its doors are open in case there is need for a visit to verify the information provided herein.

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Police records over 370 accidents in seven days

By
Our Reporter
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Accident wreckage

Police have revealed that at least 372 accidents have been reported in the last one week. The revelation was made by Faridah Nampiima, the spokesperson of the Traffic Police department.

“At least 60 accidents were fatal, 185 were serious and 127 were minor. There were 388 accident victims during this period and out of these 66 people died and 322 sustained injuries,” she said.

The shooting numbers of accidents are alluded to reckless driving especially during the night. In December last year, Museveni ordered for the full reopening of the economy after a two years closure. The closure, according to Museveni, peddled at curbing the spread of Covid-19 pandemic.

Speaking earlier today, Nampiima expressed her dismay over the shooting numbers of accidents and warned that police are set in action to enforce traffic rules.

“Now that the economy is fully reopened, I call upon all drivers to check the Express Penalty Scheme (EPS) of the motor vehicles and their driving permits. In case you have a pending EPS, please clear it before you land into our hands,” she said adding that, “the EPS tickets can paid at PayWay, mobile money and agent banking.”

“We have given you two weeks to clear all the pending EPS. We shall carry out operations on all EPS defaulters, and other traffic offences,” she said.

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Victim of Vivo Energy depot explosion passes on at Nairobi Hospital

By
Geoffery Serugo
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A victim of Vivo Energy depot explosion Mr. Yasin Lwanyaga, an employee of Fred Ssebyala Transporters (FST) Limited has passed on.

His death was confirmed by Valery Okecho, the Communications Manager of Vivo Energy Uganda who said the victim died earlier today at Nairobi Hospital where he had been referred for specialized treatment.

Last week, there was a fire outbreak at Vivo Energy Uganda depot on 7th Street Industrial Area. The fire is said to have injured 11 people. Atleast eight out of the eleven other individuals who were admitted to International Hospital of Kampala for treatment of sustained injuries during the fire incident were discharged on 3rd February. The two are currently admitted in ICU and one person is in the ward.

“We extend our deepest condolences and sympathies to the late Lwanyaga’s family, relatives and friends, and to the management and staff of Fred Sebyala Transporters and will do everything we can to support them at this difficult time,” Oketcho said.

At the moment, a dedicated team from FST Uganda Limited, the family of Mr Lwanyaga and Vivo Energy Uganda is working closely to ensure the return of Mr. Lwanyaga’s remains for burial.

“These patients remain in a stable condition. We are monitoring their condition to ensure they receive the very best treatment and medical attention. We are continuing to work closely with the relevant authorities to investigate the cause of the incident, and will ensure that lessons are learnt and shared across our teams in Uganda, other local OMCs and the wider Vivo Energy Group, to minimise the risk of a similar incident happening again,” he said.

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Ruth Asasira joins Dfcu Bank as Manager Women in Business and Special Programs

By
Our Reporter
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Ruth Asasira

Ruth Asasira has been appointed as Manager Women in Business and Special Programs at dfcu Bank. Ruth has 12 years of experience in the financial services sector, and is a dynamic microfinance practitioner, certified financial literacy trainer, with experience in product and business development. She is passionate about Youth and Women Empowerment and has previously developed and implemented Women and Youth led financial inclusion projects.

She joins Dfcu Bank from Opportunity Bank where she served as the Segment and Product Manager- Microfinance for a period of 4 years. Prior to that, she worked at Finance Trust Bank as the Product Supervisor -Agriculture Finance and Regional Supervisor. Ruth started off her career at Pride Microfinance as a Credit Officer.

She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Agribusiness Management from Makerere University and a Post Graduate Certificate in Projects Planning and Management from the same campus.

dfcu Bank’s Women in Business Program was set up in 2007to help women entrepreneurs overcome the challenges they face as they set up and grow their businesses.The Program supports businesswomen with training, networking opportunities, preferential borrowing rates, and mentor programmes.

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Keem Fame Rich – Uganda’s top Digitalpreneur, Promoter and Artist

By
Our Reporter
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Keem Fame Rich

Keem Fame Rich is a great example of a young Digitalpreneur who has made a legacy using the internet. He started Promotions and Marketing at the age of 19.

Digital Marketing is the next big thing for many entrepreneurs, it’s powerful and must be taken advantage of while it’s still in the spotlight. We are living in an era where change is our constant companion with the advent of digital platforms.

Social Marketing basically using the social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram etc. to market your business, brand or products.

The youngest Promoter of Uganda in this track of digital marketing is Keem Fame Rich.

More than 90 per cent of Brands today claim that Keem Fame Rich (keemfame.com) is important to their business, and is at the very of centre of their digital marketing strategy. Keem Fame Rich will help you achieve success in the world of Digital marketing by providing the best tools and results in a few time.

Keem Fame Rich has taken the world by storm with his exceptional and versatile techniques, he is set to drop music collaborations with various artists for the love of music he has.

The Chosen child of Makindye, Uganda has laid the foundation of Keemfame.com at the age of 20 years.

He is the inspiration for the youngsters of our country. His hard work drove him to success and made him the youngest entrepreneur of Uganda and the digital market expert ever Uganda has had. keemfamerich.com

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