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Mutebile’s death: Widow says they will be homeless if vacated from Governor’s house

Emmanuel Tumusiime Mutebile.

Mrs. Betty Mutebile, the widow to the deceased Bank of Uganda Governor, Prof. Emmanuel Tumusiime-Mutebile has revealed that her late husband didn’t build a house around Kampala and if government evicts them from the Kololo based house, they will be rendered homeless. The revelation was made during Mutebile’s vigil at Kololo.

The widow’s plea sparked off criticisms in public domain with many asking why Mutebile’s family, which has been earning a monthly sum of over Shs 50 million, wants government property donated to them yet others vacated it.

Mutebile has been occupying the governor’s house for the last 20 years. The house was previously occupied by Leo Kibirango and Nyonyintono Kikonyogo and later left it when their time was up.

The Governor died on Sunday, January 23, 2022 at Aga Khan Hospital where he was admitted over diabetes-related complications.

Earlier today, Parliament paid tribute to the fallen governor for his contribution to the development of the country. During the plenary, Thomas Tayebwa, the Chief Whip raised the motion that the official residence for Governor be given to the Mutebile family.

Ms Anita Among, the Deputy Speaker backed the proposal informing Parliament that during the vigil at Mutebile’s home in Kololo, his widow expressed fears on where the family would relocate after the new Governor of Bank of Uganda is named and thus takes over the official residence.

“Whatever you are doing here, people are watching how insensitive you can be. The widow told all of us that Mutebile was corruption free and the widow said that when the Professor contract was ending, he asked the husband, where are we going and he said, God will provide and now you are becoming the God to provide,” Deputy Speaker said.

Deputy Speaker while paying tribute to Mutebile thanked God for blessing Uganda with a patriot who championed the socio-economic transformation of the country.

“As a Governor Bank of Uganda, he served with distinction, corrupt free with integrity. This nation will dearly miss Mutebile. I wish we could have more Mutebiles in this country,” Among said.

However, Bukhooli Central MP Solomon Silwany sought to amend the motion brought by the Government to pay tribute to the former Governor and include a clause urging the Government to construct a house for the family of Mutebile that would be managed by his widow Betty Mutebile.

Silwany said that Mutebile served Uganda diligently without any sense of corruption and it is only appropriate that the Government awards Ugandans who have served the country with dignity a befitting send off and settlement for the family.

“It is known knowledge that Professor Mutebile was a very honest man and the fact that he was governor for Bank of Uganda for a very long time, the family may not have where to go. But these days, if people are in such positions, they amass a lot of wealth which this gentleman wouldn’t do. It would only be good if this Parliament supports the family to get a befitting home,” said Silwany.  

Prime Minister Robina Nabbanja asked Parliament for time to go make wide consultations with cabinet before a decision is reached on the amended proposal to construct a home for the late Governor’s family.

“I have taken note of the concern of members and all of us know that when you leave this world sometimes, you may leave some gaps. I request that you allow me to go and inform the Government and consult widely. We shall come and inform you of the action taken,” said Nabbanja.

Nabbanja described Mutebile as a versatile economist who lived out his full potential and thanked Mutebile for restoring Uganda’s economic standing hence attracting investing and improving household income.

Finally, MPs approved an amendment to the motion mourning fallen Central Bank Governor, Prof. Emmanuel Tumusiime-Mutebile, urging the Government to construct a house for the family of the great economist. MPs say this will save the family from the pending eviction from the Governor’s home in Kololo.

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Court orders lawyer Male Mabirizi to pay Shs300m for attacking Judge

Lawyer Male Mabirizi

The High Court in Kampala has ordered city lawyer Male Mabirizi to pay Shs 300 million for attacking a Judge.

Last year, Male Mabirizi dragged Capital Market Authority (CMA) to court challenging its decision to approve Initial Public Offering (IPO) of MTN (U) Ltd. Upon Court ruling, Mabirizi made controversial statements on various social media platforms which are calculated to bring the then presiding Judge Justice Phillip Odoki into contempt and to lower his judicial authority.

“Notice Of Appeal filed challenging the illegal ruling by Judge Phillip Odoki who failed to decide on legality of CMA Uganda approval of MTN IPO sale of shares hiding in a technicality that I lack sufficient interest in ‘a public offer’ ‘shame on him,” Mabirizi allegedly said.

Upon Mabirizi’s statements, the Attorney General petitioned court seeking its power to declare that respondent is in contempt of Court. He also wanted the court to order Mabirizi to be committed to Civil prison for contempt of Court.

In his ruling, the High Court Judge Musa Ssekana said the statements posted tended to lower the authority of Justice Odoki and the High Court, by suggesting that a ruling was not valid or had no legal effect and that it should not be accorded any respect by the public.

“By attacking the authenticity of the ruling, the Respondent’s statements tended to undermine the confidence of the public in whether judicial decisions of Justice Odoki and the High Court or judiciary can be relied on as valid and genuine, which would tend to prejudice the public interest in the administration of justice,” Ssekaana ruled.

Justice Ssekana said the statements amounted to contempt in as far as they imputed wrong motives to the Judge’s judicial acts and decisions, and further that they tended to negatively affect the administration of justice by undermining the confidence of the public in the rulings of the said Judge and by extension the High Court.

“This court cannot continue to be in a ‘mute mode’ as the authority of the court is under attack. Such attacks on the judicial officers should be condemned in the strongest terms since they have become ‘endangered species’ by social media and usually cannot defend themselves against such attacks,” he ruled.

Court ordered Mabirizi to pay Shs300 million, to stop attacking judicial officers in future and also meet the costs of the application.

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Journalists/Writers should avoid unfair judgement and be educative

Incoming CMI Chief Gen. James Birungi.

Journalist Benon Herbert Oluka (my senior) has raised an old and ongoing debate about the appointment/ allocation of government jobs by the government of President Yoweri Museveni in government institutions.

The debate on allocation of these jobs seem to favour a certain narrative that if one’s tribe isn’t appointed then the matter becomes sectarian/ tribal but if his/her tribemate is appointed then that matter ceases being sectarian.

Mr Oluka in his January 26 Facebook post seem to question the rational President Museveni based on to appoint and reappoint in the latest security deployment where he made changes as of January 25.

The president appointed Maj. Gen. Geoffrey Katsigazi Tumusiime as a Deputy Inspector General of Police, Maj. Gen. James Birungi as head of Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence

Maj. Gen. Abel Kandiho as Military Attaché (South Sudan)

Brig. Henry Isoke, head State House Anti-Corruption Unit

Maj. Tom Magambo Director Criminal Investigations Department

Dr. Johnson Byabashaija reappointed as Commissioner General of Prisons

Mr Oluka further says in his post that Ugandans from all corners of this diverse country wish to thank His Excellency for his thoughtful appointments.

It is true that all the above appointed persons come from Western Region but the fact is that Western Region stretches from Kabale/Kisoro (Kigezi) through Ankole to Fort Portal (Tooro) then Kasese/Bundibugyo (Bakonjo/Bamba) and finally Hoima/Masindi (Bunyoro) explains the range of different social and ethnic backgrounds and different interests like it can be said of any other region of this great country.  For your information Mr. Oluka and for purposes of clarity, the incoming Deputy IGP Gen. Katsigazi hails from Rugungiri district in Kigezi, Gen. Birungi from Nakasekke district, Gen. Kandiho from Ntungamo, Brig. Isoke and Maj. Magambo from Tooro. We ought to remember that Gen. Katsigazi is replacing Lt. Gen. Paul Lokech (Rip) who hailed from Pader in Northern Uganda.

The insinuation that Museveni appointed the above because they come from the same region like him seem to be misplaced if we factor in geographic/tribal/religion and competence.

Why didn’t Mr Oluka question the appointment of the following officers;

Her Excellency Jessica Alupo the Vice President of Uganda

The Right Honourable Anita Among, Deputy Speaker of Parliament

Col. Charles Oluka, Director General of Internal Security Organisation

Lt. Gen. Peter Elwelu, Deputy Chief of Defence Forces

Maj. Gen. Sam Okidingi Deputy Chief of Land Forces

Gen. Jeje Odong, Minister of Foreign Affairs and former powerful army commander

Lt. Gen. Charles Angina Uganda’s Deputy Ambassador to Egypt and former Deputy Chief of Defence Forces who also served as Deputy Chief of Operation Wealth Creation.

Gen. Sam Okidingi, one of Teso’s prominent sons in the army

To the contrary, the above-mentioned officers all hail from one sub-region called Teso as opposed to “Western Region” as raised by Mr. Oluka.

For purposes of context, there was a time Professor Gilbert Bukenya was a Vice President, Professor. Apolo Nsibambi was a Prime Minister, Right Honourable Edward Sekandi was a Speaker Gen. Katumba Wamala as Chief of Land Forces and subsequently rose to Chief of Defence Forces, Professor Kiddu Makubuya was Attorney General, Syda Bumba as Minister of Finance and all these were from one region called Buganda/Central but Mr Oluka never complained of this region dominating the cake?

There was a time, Eastern Region had Her Excellency Specioza Wandira Kazibwe as Vice President hailing from Iganga (Busoga), Late James Wambogo Wapakhabulo as Speaker hailing from Bugisu and Waako Wambuzi as Chief Justice hailing from Kamuli district (Busoga).

In mid 2000s there had also been a tribal talk that Banyankole were dominating Uganda Revenue Authority top positions but when the list of the URA employees and their positions was tabled before parliament, the MPs kept quiet and never apologised.  

So as journalists/ writers, we should avoid unfair judgement and be educative. This can be dangerous because it incites tribal sentiments. 

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URA suspends 15% withholding tax on oil importers

Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) has halted the enforcement of the 15 per cent withholding tax on oil marketing companies. According to URA, this is to allow for further discussions between stakeholders on the matter on Friday.

This comes after the oil marketing companies in Uganda petitioned the Ministry of Finance to intervene in a tax dispute with Uganda Revenue Authority.

URA recently wrote to the companies demanding that they remit 15 per cent withholding tax on all foreign transport payments incurred over the years in importing fuel into Uganda. The dispute has persisted since 2019 between the oil companies, some logistics firms and manufacturers.

The association says its 40 members are aggrieved that the URA is acting against the advisory opinion of the Attorney General who cautioned against such tax imposition. They add that URA’s decision to tax foreign transport payments is also unique to Uganda and against international and regional practices.

“Tanzania, Kenya, Zambia and Ethiopia are some of the countries that do not tax foreign transportation payments unless the recipient of those payments is established as a business in their countries,” Denis Kakembo, a Managing Partner at Cristal Advocates said.

The traders say that should URA insist on taxing the payments, the foreign transport service providers, who account for the bigger share of the transportation services, may withdraw their services, and if the oil dealers decide to absorb the cost of the tax, then the final consumer will bear the cost because the price of the products will be hiked.

Kakembo fears that if this tax is embraced, it will form a precedent for the tax to be applied to transporters in other sectors or businesses, including the importation of materials for the ongoing development of the oil and gas sector.

“If this tax imposition is not thought through clearly, there will be project cost overruns that may derail Uganda’s first oil projected to flow in 2025 because at the project evaluation stage, this tax imposition was never taken into account. This would also be the same on other imports and exports, provided long-distance cross-border transportation is dominated by foreign companies,” Kakembo said.

In a separate letter by Crystal Advocates to the Minister of Finance, Matia Kasaija, the lawyers say that the 15 per cent withholding tax on foreign transporters of inbound cargo, should be scrapped to preserve Uganda’s competitiveness.

Earlier in March 2020, Deputy Attorney General Jackson Kafuuzi advised Uganda Investment Authority that only the tax on transporters for outbound cargo be taxed at 2 per cent because the law was not clear on inbound cargo. The Ministry of Finance is now set to discuss the issue with the oil marketers and their legal representatives on the matter this Friday.

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Parliament pays tribute to fallen BoU Governor Prof Emmanuel Tumusiime-Mutebile

Mutebile

Parliament has paid tribute to the fallen Bank of Uganda (BoU) Governor, Prof Emmanuel Tumusiime-Mutebile who died on Sunday, January 23, 2022 at Aga Khan Hospital where he was admitted over diabetes-related complications.

Eagle Online exclusively reported on January 4, 2022 that the economist was admitted to the Kenyan Health facility after he collapsed on 31st December 2021.

The motion to pay tribute to the longest serving Governor of BoU was moved by the Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja. The motion was seconded by the Leader of Opposition in Parliament (LoP) Mathias Mpuuga.

MPs hailed the late Governor Mutebile for his firm spirit during ‘tough’ times, a character they say saved the economy from collapse. He is praised as an icon that rose to high ranks due to his comptence and faithfulness to service.

The LoP said Mutebile was the right man with the right credentials who rose on account of his competence that helped cushion our economy from a state of near collapse in the early 1990s.

“Mr Mutebile without fear attributed the Inflation and exchange rate depreciation of 2011 to the election cash bonanza. After city traders closing shops for weeks in a strike protesting against escalating dollar price, Mutebile admitted that this money was used for electioneering and promised that next time he would not allow it,” he said.

Jimmy Akena (UPC, Lira East) recalls the friendship between his late father, Milton Obote (former president) and Mutebile. Akena said the late Obote admired Mutebile and treated him as a family member and that Mutebile kept close to the family even after the demise of Obote.

Mutebile will be laid to rest at his ancestral home in Omuruhiti, Kabale Town on Sunday, 30th January 2022.

Mutebile has been on and off duty over the deteriorating health conditions. He was put on daily dialysis because his kidneys had weakened and they couldn’t do their excretion job. He was in September last year admitted at Nakasero hospital for a full week. He was later discharged and continued to be monitored from his Kololo based home. He was admitted to Cleveland hospital in Abu-Dhabi till December when he was discharged.

The 72 year old, whose contract was renewed on January 12th, 2021 for five years, has been at the helm of the central bank since 2001. He is the longest serving Chief Executive in the Bank of Uganda’s history. He is credited with many of the sound economic policies adopted by the Uganda government at the urging of the central bank during the 1990s and the first decade of the 2000s.

Amidst Covid-19 pandemic Mutebile and his team have kept Uganda’s economy generally stable. Inflation has been contained within the BOU target of 5% and the Shilling has remained stable against major currencies.

Mutebile was born on January 27 1949 in Kabale district Kigezi sub-region. He attended Kigezi College Butobere for his O-Level studies and then went to Makerere College School for his A-Level studies.

In 1970, he enrolled at Makerere University to study economics, where he was elected president of the university Students’ Guild.

He was forced to flee Uganda in 1972 after he gave a speech publicly criticizing the expulsion of Asians from the country by President Idi Amin, he fled to England and was able to finish his studies at Durham University graduating with an upper-second in Economics and Politics. In October 1974, he began his post-graduate studies at Balliol College, Oxford.

He returned to East Africa to Tanzania at the University of Dar es Salaam to lecture and conduct research while pursuing his doctorate in economics.

Between the year 1979 and 1984, Tumusiime-Mutebile was appointed to several government positions in Uganda ranging from Deputy Principal Secretary to the President at State House in 1979, to Undersecretary in the Ministry of Planning in 1981 where he rose to Senior Economist and then Chief Economist in 1984. In 1992, he was appointed Permanent Secretary to the newly combined Ministry of Finance Planning & Economic Development, a merger that he had advocated while working under Minister of Finance Gerald Ssendaula.

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“I don’t think we have achieved the democracy we had planned at that time” – Mathew Rukikaire

Matthew Rukikaire

Uganda’s former Minister for privatisation and Former Makerere University guild president (1962-1963) Canon Hon Mathew Rukikaire has asked the political parties in Uganda to believe in dialogue as it’s only the answer that will usher in peaceful transition.

He said this on NRM liberation day as he discussed issues related to the 36 years of the ruling National Resistance Movement.

Rukikaire noted that the country still needs freedom of speech although the government at some point doesn’t allow most media houses to work independently.

“We still have freedom of speech, although they don’t allow you to publish certain things. I don’t think another bush war would solve the problem. I believe dialogue is the answer; it had better happen when some of us are still around to contribute” Rukikaire said.

Rukikaire also said that National Resistance Movement NRM ran into serious problems in the central region and so you can’t have a region like Buganda where NRM is totally wiped out in elections and then you say that you leading this country expecting it to get on the same level in terms of development hence describing it as unhealthy thus a need for dialogue to find the long standing solution.

He says he is happy with some groups which are joining Uganda’s politics but whose aims are good and won’t let them into another war.

“I have heard the Kyagulanyi group say they don’t want war. Today’s problems can be corrected through genuine national dialogue, which is not dominated by NRM or another group.” Rukikaire said.

The former cabinet minister added that Uganda’s economic stability was achieved to some extent but later down the line, the country got problems.

He says that a big issue that must be addressed today if it’s to be stable, the government must reduce on borrowing that might lure the country in turmoil.

“I don’t think we have achieved the democracy we had planned at that time. We need to ask ourselves whether we have brought the democracy we are proud of,” he concluded.

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Afcon 2021 quarter-final fixtures confirmed

Afcon 2021

Hosts Cameroon went through to the quarter finals of the Africa Cup of Nations following an eventful 2-1 victory over Comoros.

Karl Toko Ekambi gave the Indomitable Lions lead just before the half hour mark with a neat finish inside the area.

Captain Vincent Aboubakar doubled their advantage 20 minutes from time before Comoros captain Youssouf M’Changama pulled a goal back from free kick.

Egypt qualified to the quarter finals of the Africa Cup of Nations Cameroon 2021 following a 5-4 penalties shootouts victory over Cote d’Ivoire.

The record champions kept their cool in the nerve-racking penalties to beat Cote d’Ivoire with substitute goalkeeper Mohamed Daader saving Eric Bailly’s spot kick.

The Atlas Lions of Morocco secured a place in the last eight, after coming from a goal down to defeat Malawi 2-1. It was Gabadinho Mhango who struck early for the Malawi Flames after only seven minutes.

En-Nesyri made it 1-1 at the stroke of halftime before defender Achraf Hakimi beautifully curled in a free kick that beat the Flames’ goalkeeper Charles Thom in the 70th minute.

At the 2019 AFCON held in Egypt, the Atlas Lions were ejected in the round of 16 by Benin in penalty shoot-outs after a 1-1 draw. Morocco have also lifted the AFCON trophy once in 1976.

Senegal roared into the quarterfinals after defeating Cape Verde Cape 2-0 at the Stade Omnisports de Bafoussam in a round of 16 match on Tuesday.

Sadio Mane and Bamba Dieng’s second half goals sealed the victory for Aliou Cisse’s men in a game which saw two Cape Verde players receive a red card.

Equatorial Guinea needed penalties to beat Mali by 6-5 after a goalless draw in extra-time, to reach the quarter-finals and set a date with Senegal on Sunday.

Nzalang Nacional reached the quarterfinals for the third time in as many participations, while Mali failed to imitate what they did in Cameroon 50 years ago when they reached the final in 1972.

Musa Barrow’s strike in the second half gave Gambia a historic 1-0 win over Guinea to qualify for the quarterfinals of the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations at the Stade Omnisports de Bafoussam on Monday.

The Scorpions continue to send shockwaves in their debut appearance at the Africa Cup of Nations and are without a loss in the competition so far.

Tunisa defeated 10-man Super Eagles of Nigeria 1-0 in a round of 16 match played at the Roumdé Adjia Stadium in Garoua.

After a goalless first half skipper Youssef Msakni gave Tunisia the lead two minutes after recess.

Saturday, January 29, 2022

Gambia vs Cameroon

Burkina Faso vs Tunisia

Sunday, January 30, 2022

Egypt vs Morocco

Senegal vs Equatorial Guinea

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Museveni to meet Anglican Bishops over breastfeeding and pregnant girls who intend to go back to school

Museveni

President Yoweri Museveni is set to meet Anglican Bishops to deliberate on breast feeding and pregnant girls who intend to go back to school. Museveni said this during the 36th commemoration of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) Liberation Day at Kololo independence grounds.

“We are going to sit down with the Bishops and find a solution for students who got pregnant during the lockdown. There is an argument about whether they should go to school while pregnant or breastfeeding,” President Museveni

He said; “What I will not agree to is to condemn the child not to continue with her education because she got pregnant. That, I will not accept. It is not logical or religious,”

On Monday January 10, 2022, the government of Uganda opened up schools for over 15 million learners after nearly two years of closure in 2020. The closure according to Mr. Museveni peddled to curbing the spread of Covid-19 pandemic. The closure of schools has since led to impregnating of over 100,000 school going girls.

As the country geared towards the reopening of schools, the Ministry of Education issued guidelines allowing girls who got pregnant or gave birth during the lockdown.

Bishop James Ssebagala of Mukono Diocese directed teachers in Church of Uganda-founded schools to block pregnant or breastfeeding girls from accessing their institutions. The bishop said it wasn’t morally upright to allow them to sit in classes with other learners.

“All head teachers, I want to tell you that we shall not allow pregnant or breastfeeding girls in class. When all girls turn up, carry out the usual medical examination so that those found pregnant can go back and give birth; they will come back after giving birth,” the bishop said.

He was later backed by the Archbishop Stephen Kaziimba Mugalu who said Church of Uganda schools have no facilities to handle breast feeding and pregnant girls.

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EU calls for immediate release of Kakwenza Rukirabashaija

Kakwenza Rukirabashaija

The European Union has called for the immediate release of Ugandan Novelist Kakwenza Rukirabashaija who was re-arrested moments after being released on bail.

Yesterday, the Buganda Road Magistrates Court released Kakwenza on bail after spending two weeks in Kitalya Prison. He was however re-arrested by armed men and is held at an unknown detention facility.

“We express our serious concern at the reports that Ugandan writer Kakwenza Rukirabashaija has been taken against his will by armed men and is again held in an unknown place of detention,” EU said.

EU said such an action just hours after the magistrate ordered for his release on bail is a clear disrespect to the rule of law and the right of a Ugandan citizen to a fair trial. “Mr. Rwabashaija should be released immediately and we appeal to all parties concerned to ensure that the rule of law and due process are upheld in this and all cases in Uganda,” The EU said.

Kakwenza was arrested at Kisaasi after a three days twitter feud with supporters of UPDF Land forces commander Muhoozi Kainerugaba. Kakwenza averred that Muhoozi’s supporters were allegedly bullying him for criticizing President Yoweri Museveni.

Kakwenza is facing two counts of offensive communication, contrary to Section 25 of the computer misuse act 2011.

Prosecution avers that Kakwenza on 24th December 2021 in the Kampala District, willfully and repeatedly used his Twitter handle to commit cases of offensive communication against the President of Uganda Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and the first son Lt Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, with no purpose of legitimate communication.

Rukirabashaija is the author of the novel The Greedy Barbarian, which takes on themes of high-level corruption in a fictional country. He was arrested on 13 April 2020 in Uganda, and held for seven days, during which time he was interrogated about his fiction and subjected to torture and later released. Rukirabashaija details this treatment in his latest work banana republic: Where Writing is Treasonous.

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“I was humbled to serve in State House Anti-Corruption Unit” – Col Nakalema

Col. Nakalema

Col. Edith Nakalema has revealed that the newly appointed head of State House Anti-Corruption Unit Brig. Gen. Henry Isoke will not find it hard to work given the team’s degree of commitment and patriotism.

President Museveni yesterday appointed Brig. Gen. Henry Isoke as the new head of the State House Anti-Corruption Unit to replace Nakalema.

She said the appointment of her superior, Isoke as the new head of the State House Anti-Corruption Unit confirms the pivotal role that the unit continues to play in the fight against corruption.

Nakalema lauded Museveni who is also the commander in chief for the opportunity he gave her to establish and lead the Unit for the last three years.

“I wholeheartedly wish to thank the President and Commander in Chief for the opportunity he gave me to establish and lead the Unit for the last 3 years. It’s been an honour and an enriching experience to serve my beloved country in that capacity,” Nakalema revealed.

She, in tandem, applauded the media fraternity for being a dependable partner in exposing the corrupt and evangelizing their efforts in the war against corruption.

Nakalema also appreciated the citizens of Uganda for being part of the support system in fighting corruption.

“I also thank the citizens for supporting our collective fight to eliminate the corrupt. Please keep it up. I am equally excited about my nomination by H.E The President to join the pioneer participants of National Defense College, Uganda (NDC-U). It’s the topmost course of one’s military career,” she said.

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