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MTN Uganda launches Youth Skilling Programme

By
Our Reporter
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MTN UG CEO, Wim Vanhelleputte

 

The MTN Foundation Uganda has launched a Youth Empowerment skilling program to benefit at least 100 youths in preparation for the evolving digital world.

The MTN Foundation Youth skilling Program will be implemented in partnership with Ubunifu systems, a software development firm based in Uganda. Ubunifu systems has cut its niche in professional mobile and web development with a focus on innovative, personalized, and fully functional solutions that deliver value and satisfaction.

The MTN Foundation Youth skilling Program will focus on skills that will drive co-creation of innovative digital products and solutions to solve Uganda’s biggest problems in Education, Youth Empowerment, Health and Agriculture. This comes at a backdrop of the #Covid-19 pandemic that has demonstrated the immense need of digitalized systems to keep businesses and communities afloat in times of catastrophic circumstances.

Wim Vanhelleputte, the MTN Chief Executive Officer said that this is one of the many initiatives that MTN Uganda has put in place to enable the youth tap into the limitless possibilities of the Fourth industrial revolution.

“Since they are the majority, the youth are a big and essential component in the country’s growth and development. That is why we as MTN have chosen to involve them to stimulate local innovation, which in turn will help youth create gainful employment opportunities  through community transforming innovations as we enter the new era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution,” said Vanhelleputte.

The team leader At Ubunifu systems MTN’s implementing partner, Brian Ssennoga commended MTN Uganda for starting such an initiative and reaffirmed that the program would be transformational.

“This is a great initiative, we a thankful to be partnering on with MTN on this great initiative.  The program will power a new way to innovate especially the commitment to prioritize Digital for Good and access to ICT for Good Knowledge. This program will tailor to a diverse youthful audience providing them with knowledge, skills, and experiences to support building collaborative local solutions that align to the Foundation’s work in Uganda.”  Said Brian Ssennoga the Team lead Ubunifu systems.

The youth account for the largest share of Uganda’s population, with 77 per cent of the citizens aged below 25 years of age, with a vast majority of them unemployed.

MTN is committed to integrating the youth in its programs. Last year, MTN invited the youth to develop applications that use MTN MoMo APIs, to monetize both consumer and business opportunities digitally, a task many of them executed successfully and early this year, MTN and Ericsson awarded winners of the MTN Mobile Money Open API challenge.

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Sudhir, Indian Association celebrate Uganda as land of 3Ps, Museveni commends them for investments

By
Our Reporter
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President Yoweri Museveni and the Indian association at State House yesterday. Photo credit, PPU.

East African Richman, Sudhir Ruparelia and the head of the Indian Association in Uganda Mohan Rao have commended President Yoweri Museveni for the able leadership he has demonstrated by leading the country for the last three decades.

Passing a vote of thanks, Mr Sudhir Ruparelia of the Ruparelia Group, thanked President Museveni for ensuring peace and stability, adding that it had spurred their community into investing in Uganda.

“On behalf of the entire business community, we thank you the President and the NRM government for the favourable business environment. We commit to supporting you,” said Mr Ruparelia.

Mr. Sudhir is arguable the most outstanding member of the association with immense contribution to the economy as employees thousands of locals whereas his companies have always topped the Uganda Revenue Authority tax chats. His area of Investment are banking, education, hotel and tourism industry, real estate and horticulture.

Mr Rao described Uganda as a land of Peace, Profit and Prosperity

The description by Mr Mohan Rao was made yesterday (Saturday) at State House Entebbe during a meeting between President Museveni and leaders of the Indian Association.

“As I often say, our stay in Uganda is characterized by 3Ps. Peace, Profit and Prosperity,” said Mr Rao. “Allow me to summarily correlate them as follows: The Peace that was ushered in and is being maintained by the NRM Government under your leadership has created a conducive environment for us to run and grow Profitable businesses.”

He added, “These businesses through tax revenues, employment opportunities to Ugandans and production of quality products in goods and services translate into Prosperity for all of us as a nation.”

Mr Rao also commended President Museveni for overseeing the transformation of Uganda and “her people from darkness to light, from turmoil to peace, from lawlessness to democracy, from oppression to freedom, from sectarianism to inclusion and from recession to prosperity”.

On behalf of his association, Mr Rao thanked President Museveni for supporting the return of Asians (and their properties) to Uganda following their expulsion in 1972 by Idi Amin.

He added, “The numerous tax and non-tax incentives have enabled us to start and grow many businesses across all sectors many of which are now focusing on adding value to Ugandan products and natural resources.”

Mr Rao said, “The Peace and tranquility across the entire nation gives us confidence to reinvest our returns and attract other new investors and traders. This had also encouraged many of us to take on Ugandan citizenship and assure the nation that we are not here to milk the cow but to feed it as well.”

Mr Rao said because President Museveni was the surest guaranter of the 3Ps, the Indian Association would support his candidature, wishing him landslide victory in the upcoming January elections.

Museveni  commends

Addressing the leaders, President Museveni commended the Indian community for supporting the industrialization drive in Uganda and its resultant gains.

“Manufacturing has created 700,000 new jobs and yet the whole public service is 480,000 jobs. Manufacturing alone has more jobs than those in public service,” he said.

The President added, “Then when you add the jobs in the services sector, they are 1.3 million plus another 300,000 in ICT sector, we are talking more than two million jobs from non-government, non-agriculture. I have to thank you for this big contribution to our transformation.”

President Museveni said Africa’s slow growth was partly because some leaders lacked the vision on what exactly should drive this transformation.

“Many people didn’t know that business was the way. Our group was among the first because many of the groups were Left Wing but confused. They didn’t know where the wealth came from,” he said.

The NRM government, said President Museveni, had focused on private-sector driven growth, identifying entrepreneurship as a key driver, ahead of capital, labour and natural resources.

“The most active factor of production is entrepreneurship because without it, the other factors are dormant. Entrepreneurship brings together the other three,” he added.

He appreciated Mr Rao and the community for identifying the 3Ps that characterise Uganda, urging them to continue marketing the country and attracting more investors.

Particularly, the President pointed out the opportunities in adding value to copper, saying the government was interested in investors in that sector.

“I want someone to process copper for cables and transformers. We want vertical integration there,” he added.

 

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IGP Ochola: we shall not allow lawlessness and hooliganism under the guise of political campaigns

By
Our Reporter
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IGP Okoth Ochola

The Inspector General of Police Martin Okoth-Ochola has revealed that security agencies will not allow lawlessness and hooliganism under the guise of political activity.

The IGP remarked two weeks after sporadic protests which rose from the arrest and detaining of the National Unity Platform’s (NUP) presidential candidate Kyagulanyi Ssentamu Robert aka Bobi Wine. Security agencies engaged in running battles with the rioters and hence killing over 50 of them.

“The riots were not spontaneous but were planned and unraveled earlier than intended. Police are analyzing the evidence that points to these plans and to their execution.” He said

He urged presidential candidates to observe the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) which include social distancing, hand washing, and wearing of masks, all peddled at stemming the undesired consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ochola said that the Infractions perpetrated through social media and other abuses orchestrated through irresponsible traditional media are unacceptable in a free and democratic society and will be dealt with according to the laws of the country.

He warned presidential candidates of making impromptu stop overs in trading centres, attracting and addressing public gatherings along busy highways from car rooftops, and other spontaneous public addresses are a violation of the Electoral Commission’s Guidelines and the COVID-19 Rules which provide for the conduct of the campaign meetings only in the approved venues and in accordance with the harmonized campaign program, which clearly indicates the dates, time and location of such meetings.

“Non-compliance with the law and the Guidelines issued for the campaign period necessitates the intervention of law enforcement agencies to safeguard public health and safety.” He said

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Premier recruitment announce job interviews for Ugandans willing to work in Qatar

By
Boses Muhinda
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Billionaire's son: Rajiv Ruparelia, son of tycoon Sudhir Ruparelia. Photo credit/rosandpost.com

Premier recruitment Limited has announced job interviews for Ugandans willing to work in Qatar. The interviews are slated to take place on 16 December 2020.

The interviews are open for both male and female Ugandans age of 20 and 35years willing to work as cleaners in Qatar. The workers will be accorded free meals, accommodation, and transport to and from work and insurance cover.

The company revealed that each worker will be paid Shs 1million at the end of every month. The company directed all interested Ugandans to reach them through 0707555001/0707555018 or visit their offices located on Kampala road, crane chambers, first floor opposite City square.

The company is committed to helping reduce the high employment rate in Uganda by providing suitable job opportunities to unemployed Ugandans. It also avails high quality, customer service driven and efficient service to both our candidates and clients with the utmost integrity, honestly and compliance processes and procedures.

According to the Uganda Association for External Recruitment Agencies, there are 140,000 skilled and semi-skilled Ugandans working in the Middle East as blue-collar professionals as well as technicians, security personnel, porters, drivers, cleaners, housekeepers, catering and hospitality personnel.

Domestic workers only account for about 30 per cent. The survey also showed that remittances benefited up to 820,000 households and that $6 out of every $10 received, went to financing household expenses and education.

According to the World Bank and IMF Balance of Payments as well as Bank of Uganda data, personal remittances to Uganda have grown by 174.6 per cent from $451.6 million (Shs1.66 trillion) in 2007 to $1.24 billion (Shs4.5 trillion) in 2017, but our neighbours, Kenya raked in $1.962 billion (UShs7.2 trillion) in 2017 and $2.5 billion (Shs9.2 trillion) in 2018.

Diaspora remittances to Uganda are equivalent to 30 per cent of Uganda’s traditional export earnings- $3.4 billion (Shs12.5 trillion) in 2017 and $3.6 billion (Shs13.2 trillion) in 2018 and almost 3 times bigger than coffee export receipts- $555.4 million (Shs2 trillion) in 2017 and $436.4 million (Shs1.6 trillion) in 2018.

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2021 elections: Editors’ Guild urges Media Council to reconsider its decision to  accredit journalists

By
Our Reporter
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The Editors’ Guild has urged the Media Council to hold more consultations to ensure the constitutional right of citizens to receive and disseminate information.


The Editors’ Guild message follows the recent communication from the Uganda Media Council on accreditation of journalists to cover the 2021 general elections and other state events. Journalists were directed to re-apply for accreditation.
The law mandates the Council to regulate the journalism industry and as a body founded to promote media freedom, professional journalism and fraternity in the industry. The efforts aim at improving professionalism.


“The requirement to register journalists comes in the middle of the election campaign season when many journalists are already covering candidates in the field. We also note the very short time allowed for this registration to take place and are concerned with recent refusals to accredit foreign journalists wishing to cover the election in Uganda.” the council noted


The council noted that the current law is more than two decades old and provides for registration of journalists.
“It might have been overtaken by developments on the ground, including the emergence of social media, citizen journalism and user-generated content. This is particularly important during an election in which the primary role of good journalism to give citizens the information they need to make informed choices is needed most.” Reads in part of the statement
“We have reached out to the Media Council to express our willingness to meet with them and other stakeholders to discuss these regulations.”

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EC summons Bobi Wine and Amuriat for breaching #Covid-19 SOPs

By
Geoffery Serugo
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nup supporters

The Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC) Justice Simon Byabakama has summoned the National Unity Platform’s (NUP) Presidential candidate Kyagulanyi Sentamu Robert over continuous breaching of the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) peddled at curbing the spread of Covid-19.

In tandem, the commission also summoned the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) Presidential candidate Patrick Amuriat over the same matter.

According to a statement released by Byabakama, the two candidates have neglected the SOPs and hold rallies and processions there by risking the lives of people. This has resulted in occasional confrontations with security personnel.

“The electoral commission after making consultations with the ministry of health, and while issuing the campaign guidelines, adopted the measures provided in the regulations and issued to all stakeholders who intended to participate in the 2021 elections. You are therefore required to adhere to the SOPs in order to protect the citizens of the country from Covid-19 including yourself,” he said.

Alluding to SOPs, candidates are also allowed to organise campaign meetings, in a regulated manner, preferably outdoors, with limited attendance of a maximum of seventy (70) persons, to enable the observance of the 2-meters social distancing rule for the persons attending the meeting.

The candidates and venue owners must ensure that the campaign venues are provided with hand washing facilities and sanitizers, and that the supporters attending the campaigns wear face masks at all times, while accessing and exiting the meeting venue.

Byabakama avers that on 17th, 18th of November Bobi Wine held mass rallies in Koboko and Iganga. He also alleged that Amuriat held processions in Mbarara and other areas. The two are required to appear before the commission on Monday 14th and respond to the allegations.

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UNBS to start mobile verification of outdoor measuring equipment

By
Our Reporter
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UNBS to start mobile verification of outdoor measuring equipment

The Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) is set to start mobile verification of outdoor measuring equipment such as railway wagons/tankers, static tanks, underground tanks at filling stations, high speed flow meters, Deports and Aviation meters among others.

This follows receipt of a new mobile prover unit; the largest in the region, which consists of a mobile 5000 litre prover tank, a mobile platform (rig) and a skid.

The equipment, worth USD 49,000 (Over 180 million shillings) was delivered to UNBS by Intertek International, as fulfilment of the obligation by contracted Pre-Export Verification of Conformity (PVOC) service providers to contribute equipment to UNBS during the first year contract per contract cycle.

The mobile prover unit will be the physical working standard used to check accuracy of the measurements declared on tankers through calibration. This will be the basis for acceptance or rejection of tanks for trade.

Previous efforts to verify railway wagons involved a laborious assembly and verification of measuring equipment but with the new mobile prover unit, these challenges will be solved.

UNBS also received more equipment worth Sh200M from TUV Rheinland and SGS, and these are expected to improve service delivery.

The equipment received include; A Hot air oven that will double the capacity of handling parameters tested in the Chemistry Laboratory, thus reducing turnaround time, three incubators that will triple the capacity of undertaking microbiology laboratory tests, Five (5) Aflatoxin Rapid test kits, Two (2) Vehicle exhaust gas analysers and Ten (10) Portable Moisture Meters that will improve the quality of inspections done at some of the Imports Inspection points.

The UNBS Ag. Executive Director, Mr. David Livingstone Ebiru, thanked the PVoC service providers for meeting their obligations as per the contract and asked them to ensure that the PVoC program works, despite challenges.

The Pre-Export Verification of Conformity (PVOC) is a conformity assessment program to certify that products covered by compulsory Uganda Standards imported into Uganda comply with the applicable Uganda Standards & Technical Regulations before shipment into Uganda.

The conformity assessments are done by five PVOC service providers; three for general goods inspection (TUV Rheinland, Intertek International, SGS) and two for used Motor vehicle Inspection (East Africa Automobile Service Co. Ltd and Quality Inspection Services Inc. Japan).

UNBS continues to perform its mandate of developing, promoting and enforcing standards in protection of public health and safety, and the environment against dangerous and sub-standard products.

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Making sense of Tumukunde’s cryptic mission

By
Guest Writer
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Gen Tumukunde

At the age of 22, Henry Tumukunde joined the NRA bush war in 1981, just months after his University studies. For an LLB holder, joining a group that was described as a bandit could never have been the best option without a peculiar agenda.

I am not part of the gullible class to believe Tumukunde just joined the “struggle” only to have Obote dictatorship down and maybe have Museveni enthroned for life. When he was shot at to near death in 1985, that would have been reason enough for any normal human being who had fought a four year unending war to call it quits but The Major (then) surprised his fellow combatants by  rejoining the frontline after treatment.

The Museveni I know couldn’t have permitted a man he knows is fighting him (clandestinely) to rise in the NRA ranks (not anywhere) like it was for Tumukunde probably he didn’t know, otherwise he (HT) wouldn’t have been appointed military attache to the UG-UK embassy and consequently cleared for a Command and Staff course in the military college of Kaduna Nigeria where he emerged among the best students in 1992 that followed his appointment as the NRA director of Planning.

Did Tumukunde hoodwink Tibuhaburwa or Tibu just didn’t know the HT he was dealing with? Not unexpectedly, Sevo was again surprised at TUMUKUNDE’s Rubabu county representative race which his junior won, defeating Prof. Mondo Kagonyera. He wanted to reverse the irreversible, he questioned the source of his permission to stand as a Constituent Assembly (CA) representative/delegate but had no justifiable means to revoke the Bakiga choice.

He was elected army representative, a position that catalyzed the sourness of his relationship with his Commander in Chief  (CIC).

Tumukunde utilized this position to the maximum to distance himself from the atrocities of his 25 year establishment.  I think this is why in 2003 he openly rebuked his boss at a political retreat where the idea of amending the constitution to have term limits scrapped off was birthed.

He is on record to have told his Commander In Chief and the entire cabinet that it was against the same injustices that they (NRA) rebelled against Milton Obote dictatorship and them (HT and friends like Mugisha Muntu, Sserwanga Lwanga etc) joined them, to have a better Uganda.

Much as he was ever opposing (openly and secretly) the warlord during the bush war, this was the sharpest open rebuke Museveni had ever faced from any of his war comrades. This cost him his parliamentary seat as army rep and then detained at the officer’s mess for close to one and a half years. The detention was sparked off by a CBS radio talk-show in 2005 where he again opposed the planned “Kisanja project” (this time in public).

He was out of deployment (katebe) for close to 10 years until June 2015 when John Patrick Amama Mbabazi (JPAM) announced to stand against Mr Kaguta.

Any serviceman will tell you that the worst buoy of the career is when you are not deployed; imagine this for 10 years, one is better off being retired.

As usual, Museveni went panicky at hearing the Mbabazi declaration. He immediately called everyone he thought would find a solution to what he termed as a “situation” only to be saved by Kasule Lumumba and Gen. Salim Saleh his brother, who both suggested it would be Tumukunde and him alone to manage the “situation”.

Now the biggest conundrum for the troika was how to convince the naturally stubborn disgruntled Brigadier General who was dishonorably sent to unofficial retirement.

Kasule Lumumba suggested she could talk to Brigadier’s friend Salaamu Musumba who would later secure her an appointment which happened at a certain hotel in Nakasero a day later.

Kasule, Musumba and Kakurugu talked for about two hours where Kasule apologized on behalf of Museveni for the unfair treatment he exposed him to for philosophical and ideological differences, and that they now wanted to have him back in action.

Tumukunde accepted to meet the president the following day where they discussed at length about his new mission and HT’s conditions to acceptance. A single day wasn’t enough, the following day they had to meet again and it was agreed that he, Tumukunde, would be retired from the army and promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General skipping Major General, and even be appointed Minister.

Having sealed the deal, HT embarked on his almost buried big dream.

In one of the meetings, he is remembered to have told his new teammates that then was the time for them to utilize the second chance rendered and have themselves to the top of the castle.  He mobilized countrywide in the fight against JPAM’s Go-Forward until when his boss envied him. Consequently, like always, his influence was tamed by cutting off the ministry funding. His tenure as Security Minister was shone out by his public announcement of the mistakes committed by top ranking government officials, which was interpreted by many as fight against the big man.

Months later, he declared that he was to ‘run as the Capital City Lord Mayor’ which was certainly a decoy.  Months later, he declared the real deal, directly opposing his former boss, Gen Tibu.

Against this background, I was triggered to dig deeper in available facts to find out what Tumukunde was and is about, why in the first place he joined the NRA bush war, why presented a great performance therein and why he bore all the challenges faced.

Is it just coincidental that a 22 year old qualified lawyer decided to join a war whose success wasn’t a sure deal (to not even the chief warlord)?

Was it timely for him at just a rank of Colonel to fallout with his commanders or a mistake?

Was the so called harmful propaganda he spread (as the charge sheet stated in 2005) strategic or just a mere gaffe?

Was bearing all those 18 or so months at the officer’s mess detention and the humiliation attached defensible or indefensible?

How about his 2015 come back? Why would he accept a call on by his tormentors, people that had almost ruined his career?

Okay, all this is about opposing the establishment but why would a senior officer of his rank, intelligence, exposure and respect risk further humiliation from his all-time bully by participating in an election he is sure he can (maybe) win but never declared winner? Why would he use that strategy?

Another million dollar question is why does he seem un-bothered about the low media coverage of his campaign activities preferring more clandestine mobilisation to the usual fanfare of Presidential campaigns designed to impress the TV watching audience?

Again, I am not that gullible to think he is here to just participate in the exercise and just let go, just like that? No way.

I think Tumukunde used the “second chance” given to him by the “merciful dictator” in 2015 to mobilize countrywide for his presidential bid and this isn’t something Museveni can smoothly swallow.  The smooth operator that Tumukunde is used his tormentor’s resources to mobilize against him.

I am inclined to believe that what Tumukunde is doing now is to awaken the already mobilized support for the big office. He is reminding them of their already discussed deal. Remember during his days as the CMI and ISO boss, he was regarded to as the custodian of quality coordination, probably this too was strategic.

He might have joined the bush war with a prime intention of becoming president of Uganda someday. Today, he is to accomplish his cryptic mission and I doubt if he is counting on Byabakama’s predictable announcement.

 

The writer, Daniel Bright Byansi B. is a Comrade in the struggle and a keen Tumukunde watcher

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Stanbic Bank employee arrested over recent Shs10 billion electronic scam

By
Geoffery Serugo
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Handcuffs

The Stanbic Bank employee who is averred to have masterminded the recent telecom electronic fraud which led to loss of over Shs10 billion has been arrested.

His arrest has been confirmed by the spokesperson of Directorate of Criminal Investigation and Crime Intelligence (CID) Charles Twiine.

In October, unidentified thugs hacked Pegasus Technologies, information and technology service provider of Stanbic Bank and the leading telecom service providers, Airtel Uganda and MTN Uganda. The thugs are averred to have robbed over Shs10 Billion.

“Mugerwa Alvin an employee of Stanbic Bank has been arrested for allegedly masterminding   the recent Telecom Electronic fraud Police will not leave any stone unturned and will have him charged to Court today,” Mr Twiine said on twitter.

Upon hacking into Pegasus Technologies, the Chief Executive officers of the companies; Anne Anne Juuko Stanbic Bank Uganda, Wim Vanhelleputte MTN Uganda and VG Somasekhar Managing Director Airtel Uganda, dismissed that the system incident did not impact on any balances on both Bank and Mobile Money accounts.

“Our technical teams are analyzing the incident and will restore services as soon as possible. We apologise to all customers for any inconvenience that this has caused and reiterate our commitment to delivering seamless banking and mobile money services,” they said.

Below is the full Police Statement from ASP Twiine Charles;

Police has today charged Mugerwa Alvin a 30 year, to Court on allegations of Unauthorized AccessC/S 12(11), &11(7) and Access with intent to commit or facilitate the commission of a further offence C/S 13 of the Computer Misuse Act 2011.

It is alleged that Mugerwa Alvin who is an employee of Stanbic Bank Uganda as well as an External Consultant/System’s Administrator with Pegasus Technologies between July 2020 and October 2020 having an access to Pegasus fraudulently manipulated its system there by causing loss of substantial amount of money through Mobile money transactions. (UGX 10,441,000,000)

Our investigators have since established this was an organised crime that involved about 1630 Telecom simcards from both MTN and Airtel that were fraudulently registered and later used to withdraw cash from various Mobile money Agents across the country especially in Greater Kampala and major towns.

Earlier, Police had arrested and charged two people with Electronic Fraud and Theft to Buganda Road Court having been caught with the telephone lines that were used to transact mobile money withdraws,and were remanded to Kitalya government prisons.

Police will continue investigating this matter especially to establish the the involvement of employees of the Telecom companies that fraudulently registered the simcards well knowing that their act was to enable fraud.

Police greatly appreciates the cooperation that was from MTN Uganda, Airtel, Bank of Africa and more importantly Stanbic Bank Uganda, during the process of investigations.

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U.S Secretary of State says they are paying close attention to Uganda Generals

By
Our Reporter
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U.S. Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo (courtesy photo)

The U.S. Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo has replied to Eliot L. Engel, the Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs on his letter about the current human rights situation in Uganda prior to general elections next month.

Pompeo said the United States is paying close attention to the actions of individuals who seek to impede the ongoing democratic process in Uganda.

“The United States is a longstanding partner of Uganda. We expect our partners to live up to their obligations to hold free and fair elections. We are paying close attention to the actions of individuals who seek to impede the ongoing democratic process,” Pompeo tweeted.

Eliot L. Engel, in his letter called on the Trump Administration to take immediate action to address a worsening human rights situation in Uganda.

Engel cited a few examples on the abuse of human rights in Uganda. He said; “In November 2016, Ugandan security forces massacred over 100 civilians in Kasese. In September 2017, Ugandan Special Forces forcibly entered parliament during a debate over whether to remove presidential age limits from the constitution, which now allows President Museveni to rule indefinitely. During the tumult, MP Betty Nambooze suffered serious spinal injuries from which she is still recovering.”

He called upon the responsible authorities to place sanctions on the individuals who may be responsible for violence in Uganda in recent years.

“These violent incidents reflect a highly disturbing trajectory for the country, thus ensuring that the environment for general elections in January 2021 has been fundamentally tilted in favor of an incumbent who has been in power since 1986. Therefore, I request that the Treasury Department and the State Department utilize the authority of the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act (Global Magnitsky Act) to designate individuals who may be responsible for violence in Uganda in recent years.”

He noted that the individuals responsible are; Lt. Gen. Peter Elwelu, Commander of Land Forces; Maj. Gen. James Birungi, Commander of the Special Forces Command; Maj. Gen. Don William Nabasa, former Commander of the Special Forces Command; Maj. Gen. Abel Kandiho, Chief of Military Intelligence; Maj. Gen. Steven Sabiiti Muzeyi, Deputy Inspector of General of Police; Frank Mwesigwa, Commissioner of Police; and Col. Chris Serunjogi Ddamulira, Director of Crime Intelligence.

“My desire to see a better human rights record in Uganda is firmly rooted in the country’s own constitution and legal code, which prevent torture and enshrine the right to freely assemble and express viewpoints that may not be in accordance with those of President Museveni. I look forward to your response and thank you for your attention to this urgent matter,” Engel wrote.

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