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EU Ambassadors, Bobi Wine meet to discuss the aftermath of 2021 elections

By
Geoffery Serugo
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EU Ambassadors, Bobi Wine meet

A delegation of European Union (EU) Ambassadors has paid a courtesy visit to the former National Unity Platform (NUP) presidential candidate Kyagulanyi Sentamu Robert aka Bobi Wine a few weeks after the general elections.

It is averred that the ambassadors move to engage the singer on the way forward after the elections and persuade him to opt for peaceful ways to assume power. The ambassadors have since been meeting the self-proclaimed Ghetto president.

On Thursday 14th January, 2021, the Electoral Commission conducted presidential elections where Ugandans exercised their constitutional rights of choosing a president who will lead them through a five year term. Uganda has a total 18,103,603 registered voters and 34,684 polling stations however only 10,350,819 people turned up to vote.

The presidential election which comprised 11 candidates was won by President Yoweri Museveni Tibuhaburwa Kaguta who got 6,042,898 (58.38%). His closest opponent Kyagulanyi Robert Sentamu got 3,631,437 votes (35.08%).

The MP has since rejected election results and petitioned the Supreme Court challenging the election saying that election was not free and fair. He contends that throughout the campaign period the People of Uganda generally, and more particularly his supporters endured untold suffering, torture, degrading and inhuman treatment on the orders of Gen Museveni.

He cited the dark days of 18th and 19th November 2020 which saw over 50 innocent, unarmed citizens murdered in cold blood by the police and military.

“The election was marred with massive irregularities including state inspired violence, intimidation and harassment of my supporters, myself and other opposition candidates, ballot stuffing with pre-ticked ballot papers in favour of Museveni, alteration of Declaration of Results Forms,  Confiscation of Declaration Forms  from our agents by Security Personnel and  flawed tallying processes,” he said after the election.

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CHAN 2021: Holders Morocco meet Mali in the final

By
Our Reporter
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chan trophy

Holders Morocco will meet Mali in the final at the Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium in Yaounde, Cameroon on Sunday 7, February.

Raja Casablanca striker Soufiane Rahimi was the two-goal hero for Morocco who produced one of their best displays of the tournament to beat hosts Cameroon 4-0 on Wednesday to keep alive their hopes of retaining the title.

Mohammed Ali Bemammer and Soufiane Bouftini wrapped up the emphatic victory for the Atlas Lions past the Indomitable Lions.

The North Africans secured the title on home soil in 2018 when beating Nigeria 4-0 in the final.

Earlier in the day, goalkeeper Djigui Diarra and striker Mamadou Coulibaly were the penalty heroes as Mali beat Guinea after the first semi-final ended goalless after an evenly-balanced 120 minutes at Douala’s Japoma Stadium.

Diarra saved Guinea play-maker Morlaye Sylla’s penalty while Coulibaly maintained his calm to send Tsekouba Camara the wrong way on the winning penalty to secure a place into the final.

Mali will be in the CHAN final for a second time, and looking to improve on their 3-0 defeat to DR Congo in 2016.

Guinea will play hosts Cameroon in the third-place playoff at the Reunification Stadium in Douala on Saturday.

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Former Makerere Guild President scores zero in Youth MP polls

By
Ronard Shabomwe
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Paul Kato

Former Makerere University Guild President miserably lost an election to represent Western Uganda youth in the Uganda Parliament.

The 83rd Guild President of Uganda’s premier University and the largest public university in the country had abandoned his job at Makerere University to join elective politics, hoping to be part of the 11th parliament.

However, to the shock of his life, in an Electoral College vote cast on 1st February, at Ntare School in Mbarara city, Paul Kato did not even obtain his own vote. According to a youth delegate in Mbarara who preferred anonymity, Kato had withdrawn from the race but it was already late, hence appearing on the ballot paper.

This website has learnt that none of the 1,891 youth who voted in for Youth MP in Mbarara was convinced to vote for Paul Kato.

According to the declaration form seen by this reporter, Edson Rugumayo, a member of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) swept the ballots after obtaining 1,419 votes.

Paul Kato, Former Guild President Makerere University.

Second in position was Arnold Turwomwe, a biological son to the Minister of Lands Beti Namisango Kamya who polled 402 votes.

Others in the race included former Bishop Stuart University Guild President and Forum for Democratic Change –FDC’s Adios Beinomugisha who polled 26 votes, National Unity Platform’s James Kamukama who garnered only three votes and Edwin Muramuzi who obtained 41 votes.

Meanwhile, Agnes Kirabo, the flag bearer of the ruling National Resistance Movement (party), was declared winner of the central youth parliamentary seat. The elections were held at Mubende National Teachers College amid heavy police and army deployment.

Kirabo managed 780 votes while her closest rival, Ivan Bwowe, a former Makerere University guild president garnered 85 votes. She has previously served as secretary for female affairs and auditor at the NRM Secretariat.

Independent candidate Micheal Katongole obtained 78 votes, Simon Ssenyonga, a Prophet Mbonye fanatic, and former Makerere University Guild Presidential aspirant got 49 votes.

Meanwhile, Abdel Kareem Ziritwawula, also a former Guild Presidential aspirant at Makerere University managed only nine votes. FDC’s Javiira Kasumba obtained two votes; Alvin Ssemambya got one vote while NUP candidate Moses Kasule was disqualified from the race, a day to voting on grounds that he used a non-youth seconder to support his candidature.

Ivan Bwowe has since rejected the results saying the exercise was marred by voter bribery and pledged to seek legal redress. In a short video shared via NTV platforms, Bwowe went physical with Robert Beine, the returning officer accusing him of bias and failure to provide the candidates with the voters’ register.

In Eastern Uganda, Ruling National Resistance Movement’s Bernard Onen Mutusa Odoi, who was initially disqualified from the race for being too old and later reinstated is the winner for the Eastern Uganda youth MP seat.

The Electoral Commission had initially disqualified him on grounds that the academic papers he submitted for nomination are not compatible with his age. Odoi’s academic documents show he sat his O-Level exams in 1999, yet, he stated he was born in 1991, meaning he sat his S.4 at 8 years.

In Northern Uganda, NRM’s Boniface Henry Okot beat others to become the Northern Region Youth MP. Okot is also the former Guild Aspirant at Makerere University.

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10 confirmed dead in Kasese road accident

By
Our Reporter
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Road accident sign (courtesy photo)

Ten people have been confirmed dead in a road accident that happened last night at Kanyansi between Hiima and Rugendabala on the Kasese – Fortportal Road.

The Police together with the team from the Red Cross Society responded to the scene immediately.

The accident involved 5 vehicles; UAU 700U (Premo), UBF 968T (canter), UAU 457F (canter), UAY 793E and UAY 836Y (trailer).

Ten people died on spot while 33 were seriously injured and rushed to Kilembe hospital and St Paul Hospital in Kasese for treatment, 2 have since been referred to Mbarara Regional referral Hospital for more medical attention.

The cause of the accident is still being investigated and more updates will be shared in due course.

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Bobi Wine’s petition: Museveni receives court summons

By
Geoffery Serugo
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NRM secretary general Kasule Lumumba arrives at Supreme Court in Kololo to receive the petition on behalf of Museveni

President Yoweri Museveni has been served with court summons for the matter challenging victory in the just concluded 2021 presidential elections.

National Resistance Movement (NRM) lawyers led by the counsel Isingoma Esau of KK Advocates and the party’s Secretary General Justine Kasule Lumumba on behalf of Mr. Museveni were served by National Unity Platform (NUP) lawyers led by Anthony Wameli.

“We are here to receive court summons and a copy of the petition for the matter challenging our candidate’s victory. We shall go through it to access the grounds,” she said, adding that President Museveni instructed KK Advocates to receive summons on behalf of him.

“I call upon all NRM supporters from various polling stations to support in all possible ways. We shall need them in swearing affidavits and giving us information,” she said.

Earlier the NRM revealed that they have lined-up 40 lawyers to defend their candidate’s victory.

On Monday the National Unity Platform (NUP) Presidential candidate Kyagulanyi Sentamu Robert aka Bobi Wine petitioned the Supreme Court calling for annulling Museveni’s victory in the just concluded 2021 elections.

On Thursday 14th January, 2021, the Electoral Commission conducted presidential elections where Ugandans exercised their constitutional rights of choosing a president who will lead them through a five year term. Uganda has a total 18,103,603 registered voters and 34,684 polling stations however only 10,350,819 people turned up to vote.

The presidential election which comprised 11 candidates was won by President Yoweri Museveni Tibuhaburwa Kaguta who got 6,042,898 (58.38%). His closest opponent Kyagulanyi Robert Sentamu got 3,631,437 votes (35.08%).

Through his lawyers led by Medard Seggona, Bobi said that the election was not free and fair. He contends that throughout the campaign period the People of Uganda generally, and more particularly his supporters endured untold suffering, torture, degrading and inhuman treatment on the orders of Gen Museveni. He cited the dark days of 18th and 19th November 2020 which saw over 50 innocent, unarmed citizens murdered in cold blood by the police and military.

Bobi Wine wonders how a candidate would get 100% at over 200 polling stations with all registered voters turned up- no one died, was sick, travelled or just didn’t vote.  “That no ballot was invalid at polling stations in rural areas of Isingiro and Kazo, yet there were invalid votes at polling stations in urban places including Kampala,” he said.

“The election was marred with massive irregularities including state inspired violence, intimidation and harassment of my supporters, myself and other opposition candidates, ballot stuffing with pre-ticked ballot papers in favour of Museveni, alteration of Declaration of Results Forms,  Confiscation of Declaration Forms  from our agents by Security Personnel and  flawed tallying processes,” he said.

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Ministry of Health tables Shs 18.5bn supplementary budget for purchase of #Covid-19 vaccine

By
Our Reporter
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#Covid-19 vaccine

The Ministry of Health has submitted a Shs 18.5 billion supplementary budget for the purchase of the #Covid-19 vaccine. The request has been made before Parliament’s Budget Committee for consideration.

Yesterday, Ofwono Opondo confirmed that government through the Ministry of Health working with the National Medical Stores (NMS) have place an order of 18 million doses of Astra Zeneca vaccine from Serum Institute of India which will be used to vaccinate person from the ages of 50 and above, persons with underlying health implications, teachers, security personnel, teachers and other essential workers.

The eligible person will receive two doses in a space of four weeks and each dose costs USD 7 and that is USD 14 per person. The international transportation and handling cost by NMS is USD 3 making a total of 17 US dollars (approximately Shs60,000) per person.

“The order will be confirmed upon remitting USD 5 million. COVAX facility managed by Global Alliance for Vaccines and immunisation confirmed that 3,552,000 doses will be imported by the end of February or early in March. The vaccines will be available in the country on a quarterly basis,” he said.

The move to import the vaccines comes at the time when the private sector wants to participate in the importation of the vaccine however the cabinet noted that their participation will be guided by #Covid-19 task force headed by the Prime Minister Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda.

Globally there 102,942,98 confirmed cases of Covid-19, including  2,232,233    deaths, reported to the world health organisation (WHO). Uganda has 39606 confirmed cases and 325 deaths.

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Museveni suspends Democratic Governance Facility in Uganda

By
Geoffery Serugo
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DGF logo

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has ordered the Ministry of Finance to suspend all activities of the Democratic Governance Facility (DGF) for financing subversive activities in Uganda.

DGF was set up in 2011 by seven countries which include Austria, Denmark, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the European Union. Its role is foster good governance, rule of law and democracy in Uganda

In a letter dated 2nd January 2021 said; “It has come to my attention that the Ministry of Finance under the hand of the Permanent Secretary, irregularly and unilaterally authorized a £100 million fund, known as the Democratic Governance Facility, to be operated exclusively by a foreign mission in Uganda. Unlike prior grant arrangements like the Democratic Governance and Accountability project in which there was transparency and representations the Government of Uganda has no say or oversight on how the Democratic Governance Facility is administered in Uganda.”

He asked minister of finance Matia Kasaija, to explain how and why the Permanent Secretary, Keith Muhakanizi authorized the operations of DGF without the involvement of cabinet and tasked the Inspectorate of Government, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP), and the Statehouse Anti-Corruption Unit to investigate MR. Muhakanizi and other government officials over possible subversion, corruption and or criminal negligence.

“The foreign mission and its co-founders have been given free rein by the Ministry of Finance to choose which activity, entities and amounts to finance without the knowledge or consent of the Government. a big percentage of these funds have been used to finance activities and organisations designed to subvert Government under the guise of improving governance,” he said.

 “I have also established that last year, the Ministry of Finance made a belated and feeble attempt to get a Government Representative on the Board of this fund which would have been of little consequence anyway. However, you were quickly an arrogantly rebuffed by the foreign mission because apparently as you were reminded by that foreign mission, the exclusive management of the fund lies with them and oversight is by the foreign co-founders, exclusively,” Museveni said.

“I am therefore directing you to immediately, suspend the activities of this fund, until the cabinet has fully reviewed this matter and a new governance structure in which the elected representatives of the people of Uganda have appropriate oversight, has been put in place and approved by me,” he added.

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NRM lines-up 40 lawyers to defend Museveni’s victory

By
Our Reporter
-
Museveni, Bobi Wine

The National Resistance Movement (NRM) has lined up a team of 40 lawyers to defend the party against a petition in which the National Unity Platform (NUP) team is seeking the annulment of the election of Mr.  Yoweri Kaguta Museveni in the January 14 presidential election.

On Monday, NUP president Robert Kyagulanyi filed a legal challenge in the country’s Supreme Court, seeking cancellation of the results of last month’s presidential election that handed incumbent Yoweri Museveni the victory citing 26 grounds on which they base their petition including ballot stuffing, intimidation of NUP agents and supporters and pre-ticked ballot papers.

In preparation NRM has put a 40-man legal team led by the party Legal Director Oscar Kihika. They will face off with the National Unity Platform’s 25-man legal team who petitioned the Supreme Court to overturn the outcome of the general election.

However, NRM party top lawyers while sharing thoughts on the party’s preparedness for the election petition say that the law is against the petitioners.

Oscar Kihika who is the party’s legal director says that he feels sorry for the petitioners adding that, it is only 20% of the evidence collected that are useful, referring to the rest as ‘wolokoso’ (hearsay). He says they are prepared enough for such petitions.

“It would be silly not to prepare for an election petition. You start preparing early so that when the petitions come, you are prepared. I feel sorry for the petitioners, it is only 20% of the evidence collected that is useful, the rest is hearsay,” Kihika said.

The deputy attorney general, Jackson Kafuuzi, confirmed receipt of the court summons saying these issues are always about evidence especially on the side of the petitioner.  “You can file a thousand allegations but all that matters is the substance in there. If there is no substance then it will be wasting time,” Kafuuzi said.

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Troubled EOC boss leaves office

By
Our Reporter
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Sylvia Muwebwa

Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) chairperson Sylvia Muwebwa Nabatanzi has left office after President Museveni declined to renew her contract.

Sylvia’s contract expired on January 19, 2021 after several efforts of lobbying for a renewal were futile.

Last month, she changed her name from Sylvia Muwebwa Ntambi to Sylvia Muwebwa Nabatanzi, a move perceived as tactical to run away from her dirty past.

According to sources, Sylvia will handover office on Friday and leaves along with some of her board members whose presence in the office has done more harm than good.

Sylvia is still grappling with corruption charges which were leveled against her in 2020.

The charging of Sylvia Muwebwa and nine others follows the lunging of complaints to President Yoweri Museveni calling for his intervention. According to a petition dated 22nd May 2019, the whistleblower accused her of causing financial loss of over Shs200 million through termination of workers contracts and forcing workers to resign and replace them with her relatives and friends.

Since she took over the chairperson-ship of the commission, the whistleblower said Mrs Ntambi has unfairly dismissed over 11 staff, terminated over 10 staff contracts, and four contracts have not been renewed. In 2017/ 2018, the Auditor General advised the commission to employ people on permanent contracts however the chairperson declined and this has since led to financial losses.

They accused her of directing the collection of Shs100 million which they had approved in the commission meeting and the said money was to be used as kickbacks for individuals who worked hard for passing of the commission budget in 2018/19.

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Inter-continental Online Conference to Discuss the Role of Peace Education

By
Our Reporter
-

On January 24th, over 2,400 pre-registered attendees from 70 countries, including the Philippines, the U.S.A, Germany, South Africa, China, and South Korea, joined the online inter-continental peace conference to discuss the role of peace education.

The conference was organized by a Korea-based international peace NGO, Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL) under the UN DGC and the UN ECOSOC in celebration of the 7th Anniversary of the January 24 HWPL Peace Day.

The January 24 HWPL Peace Day declared by the Province of Maguindanao in the Philippines has been commemorated annually since the Mindanao Peace Agreement was made by the local government and civil society leaders on January 24th, 2014.

The Peace Day was named after HWPL since the agreement was suggested by Chairman Man Hee Lee of HWPL, known as a Korean war veteran, to overcome the 50 years of conflict that resulted in approximately 120,000 victims in the region.

With the theme, “The Role of Peace Education in Building a Peaceful World”, the celebration of this year aimed to raise awareness of peace education around the world and establish a global platform for peace educators to implement peace education in the educational system of each country.

Followed by the congratulatory messages from social, educational, religious, and political figures including President of Court of Appeal of Cairo, Former President of the UN Human Rights Council, Former Adviser of the Ministry of Education of Guatemala, Archbishop Emeritus of Davao Archdiocese of the Philippines, Chairman Man Hee Lee of HWPL delivered his commemorative message.

“Today, Mindanao is no longer a place of conflict; rather, it has become a model of peace to which the world looks. Once, the people of this region used to point guns at each other—now, they share food while sitting at the same table, despite their differences in religion and ideologies. Students who were once being trained to kill are now learning the precious value of life and peace through HWPL Peace Education,” he said.


Dr. Ronald Adamat, Commissioner of the Commission on Higher Education of the Philippines(CHED), who has made an effort to implement HWPL Peace Education by integrating peace education into the relevant higher education curricula, addressed the value of HWPL Peace Day and the progress of the peace education in the Philippines.

“Youth will fight for peace but are not given yet enough skills, understanding, or opportunity to talk for peace. I wholeheartedly support HWPL Peace Education. It raises the awareness for our youth to become peacemakers – the much-needed values of the youth. Future leaders must effect change for the world’s positive transformation. Our children need to be educated on how peacebuilding works effectively. Through education, the building of a truly peaceful world can one day become a reality.”

HWPL Peace Education consisting of 12 lessons aims to train the educators and students with the value of peace by raising awareness of the importance of fostering a culture of peace. Since 2016, more than 200 educational institutions in 34 countries, including India, Israel, and the Philippines, have been designated as HWPL Peace Academies, and Ministries of Education from 9 countries have signed MOAs for implementation of peace education.

Ms. Firoza Muradi, an educator from Afghanistan, said, “The Mindanao Peace Agreement in 2014 became a great model for countries like Afghanistan who experience wars and conflicts. I hope that the miracle of peace in Mindanao will happen in Afghanistan, and the beginning is from peace education. Through HWPL Peace Education, students seek answers to achieve peace in various ways, including harmony with nature, the value of cooperation, and how to protect their rights. I believe all of my students receiving peace education will grow up to be a peace messenger.”

At the event, the official of HWPL presented the plan for 2021 such as Online Peace Educator Training Program, Peace Education Volunteering Program, and Online Youth Peace Love Exchange Project that mostly designed as online programs according to the pandemic situation.

 

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