Tag: GreatLakesNews

{A prominent Ugandan academic charged with cyber harassment for calling President Yoweri Museveni a “pair of buttocks” is back on social media with more colourful criticism of the country’s leader.}

Less than a week after being freed on bail feminist academic Stella Nyanzi was back on Facebook comparing Museveni’s government to an infestation of “pubic lice” and promising to continue “poking the leopards’ anuses”, a reference to a warning Museveni himself had issued to opponents in the run-up to the last elections.

“I am now a fugitive in my own country,” Nyanzi told her 150,000 Facebook followers in a post on Sunday. She said she cannot return home because, “the dictatorial regime’s security goons still await for me there.”

Nyanzi attacked Museveni, his wife and son — long touted as a possible heir to the presidency — rejecting the “illegitimate leadership of the despotic leopard, its foolish leopardess and the future reign of the promiscuous leopard-cub.”

Museveni — who has ruled the East African nation for 31 years — referred to himself as a leopard in 2015 when he told the opposition they were asking for trouble if they were to touch “the anus of a leopard”, an unusual turn of phrase even for a president known for his use of folksy metaphor and vivid idiom.

MURUNGA: Academic freedom matters now more than it did in the past one-party era
“I refuse to stop poking the leopards’ anuses,” Nyanzi wrote in the post that has received over 4,000 reactions and 500 shares.

“I am going to continue poke-poking all the leopards’ anuses until either Uganda is free from the leopards or my death. This fugitive is not shutting up!”

On Tuesday Nyanzi wrote again on Facebook, comparing the government to parasitic pubic lice that “are sucking me dry!”

Freeing Nyanzi on bail last week after a month in custody, the judge refused a prosecution request that the academic be blocked from “making any adverse cyber attacks or any derogatory statements against the person of the victim (President Museveni) or his close members of his household.”

Nyanzi’s posts have attracted both scorn and applause in Uganda, a traditionally conservative country but one where many are fed up with Museveni’s long rule.

Nyanzi is due in court again on 25 May.

Source:AFP

{Since Friday last week, a wave of unprecedented cyberattacks has swept across the globe, with over 350 companies and hundreds of thousands of computers in 152 countries affected by Wednesday morning.}

The attack by a computer worm or ransomware called WannaCry’ (Wanna Decryptor) targets the Microsoft Windows operating system, encrypts files and demands that the user pay ransom before being allowed to continue using the computer.

{{Multinationals }}

On Tuesday, computer forensics and data recovery company East Africa Data Handlers said it had received 14 cases of servers that had been affected by the ransomware.

Among these clients are two multinationals, which had the entire 15-year data manipulated and lost.

Managing Director George Njoroge said the company has been able to fix and restore the servers for five of the companies but admitted that it was unable to fix those from two other firms.

“The malware has different variations and sometimes the companies come with the complaint when it has already been manipulated even more,” Mr Njoroge said.

The data recovery, he said, is costly and takes time, and that may interfere with the smooth running of businesses.

{{Phishing }}

The existence of the malware in the country has been confirmed by the country’s cybersecurity response agency, the National Kenya Computer Incident Response Team Coordination Centre, or KE-CIRT-CC.

Mr Njoroge warned that many companies in the country are at risk of being attacked by the ransomware.

“The biggest problem is that companies and individuals don’t upgrade their security infrastructure, mostly because of the current economic challenges,” he said, adding that the best solution is to keep pace with the dynamic changes in technology.

He tipped companies to completely switch off and isolate affected computer(s) from the network immediately after they discover they have been attacked by the malware and call in experts to remove the programme.

“Computer users should also avoid opening links whose sources they do not know as the main carrier of the malware is phishing,” he said.

Phishing scams are sent through emails appearing to be from genuine and famous companies with the aim of acquiring information and installing malicious software.

{{Ransom }}

Mr Njoroge urged companies to back up their data and block certain untrusted websites from their servers.

Simon Kipruto, the head of the cybercrime unit at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, said no company or individual had reported a cyberattack, adding that most companies choose to solve such problems without reporting them to the police.

Globally, companies that had been affected by the attack told the media that the attackers demanded that they pay ransom in the cryptocurrency Bitcoin.

The ransomware works by encrypting files and making them inaccessible and unreadable, before asking the user to pay a specific amount of money in order to access their own data.

The frozen-screen warnings are much the same as those that started in Britain and spread across the world, reports Charlie D’Agata, a correspondent for America’s CBS TV network.

The “WannaCry,” malware programme that has held the globe in the grip of fear was first uncovered in documents stolen from the US National Security Agency, exposing a vulnerability in Microsoft’s operating systems.

{{Backup }}

So far, the attack has affected big users such as Britain’s National Health Service, FedEx, transport company Deusche Bahn and airline company Latam.

On Sunday, Kenya’s Communications Authority (CA) warned about the attack, which is spread through e-mail phishing, and asked users to take caution.

The authority also urged Kenyans to keep an offline backup of their documents and files so that they can restore them in case they are attacked.

CA Director-General Francis Wangusi, while discouraging people from paying ransom as there is no guarantee the files would be restored, said once the attack hits one computer, it tries to spread to all computers in the network.

He urged organisations and individuals to ensure that they have good and updated anti-virus programmes installed in their computers to safeguard their data from the malicious software.

Source:Daily Nation

{A Roman Catholic priest who was abducted in Burundi in April has died, following an ordeal from which he never recovered.}

Adolphe Ntahondereye was the vicar of St. Francesco Saverio parish in Gatumba, near the border with Democratic Republic of Congo. He was ambushed while traveling by bus on April 9, along with three other people, according to Vatican Radio and Burundi media reports.

The hostages were all passengers from different locations who were forced from the bus and made to walk barefoot for hours into DR Congo territory, a survivor told IWACU in Burundi. Three of them, Ntahondereye included, were elders who had difficulty with the journey. The priest himself required assistance in walking long distances through mountainous terrain, and was ill at the outset of the incident.

The hostages were released in late April after 17 days with the armed group, who identified themselves as rebels. Yet Ntahondereye, who was immediately hospitalized, never recovered and died May 11 in Bujumbura. Local church sources said he also was suffering from malaria.

A surviving witness said their abductors accused the priest of working with the Imbonerakure, the youth wing of Burundi’s ruling CNDD-FDD party under President Pierre Nkurunziza.

The death of Ntahondereye was announced by Monsignor Evariste Ngoyagoye, the Archbishop of Bujumbura, late last week.

Source:Africa Times

{Mzee Boniface Byanyima, one of Uganda’s pioneer pre-independence politicians is dead. Byanyima, is the father of Ms Winnie Byanyima, of former Mbarara Municipality MP and the current executive director of Oxfam International. Winnie is a wife of Dr Kizza Besigye, the four-time presidential candidate.}

“Yes, it is true he passed on at 10:30 this morning at Nakasero Hospital,” his daughter Edith Byanyima said.

Mzee Byanyima as he was fondly known, has been described by many as “rigidly principled” and stubborn. He was until 2005, the national chairman of the Opposition Democratic Party.

Mzee Byanyima first met President Yoweri Museveni in the late 1950s at Mbarara High School. The two are said to have got along so well that Mzee Byanyima eventually let Mr Museveni stay in his home, commonly known as Green Cottages, in Ruti, 4 kilometres from Mbarara town, on Kabale Road.

When Mr Museveni went to the bush to wage a guarlial war against Milton Obote’s government, Mzee Byanyima reportedly looked after his mother.

Source:Daily Monitor

{The Jubilee Party has warned that the opposition coalition’s threat to boycott August elections could plunge the country into turmoil.}

Jubilee Secretary-General Raphael Tuju on Tuesday said utterances by Nasa flagbearer Raila Odinga and his running mate Kalonzo Musyoka should not be taken lightly.

{{Appeal }}

Speaking at the party’s headquarters in Nairobi, Mr Tuju said such threats amount to incitement.

“That a former prime minister and a former vice president are demonstrating flagrant disregard for the rule of law, hinting at mass action, is irresponsible and dangerous, and seriously undermines public and investor confidence in our country,” he said, referring to Mr Odinga and Mr Musyoka respectively.

During a public rally in Nakuru on Sunday, the two had reiterated that Nasa would keep off boycott the polls should the Court of Appeal reverse High Court decision that presidential results announced at the constituency level are final.

{{Respect }}

The Independent Elections and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) filed the appeal.

Mr Tuju said Jubilee would respect the decision of the appellate court even if it upholds the lower court’s decision.

Separately, Jubilee senators and MPs accused Mr Odinga of cultivating a climate of violence by intimidating independent institutions ahead of the polls.

The leaders warned that threats by the National Super Alliance (Nasa) leader were “uncivilised, illegal and attack” on the rule of law.

“Mr Odinga has bewitched Nasa and misled them into embracing his default mode of engagement, which is inherently sinister and dangerous,” the leaders, who included Senate Majority Leader Kithure Kindiki and his deputy Kipchumba Murkomen, said.

{{The law }}

Others who spoke at a news conference at Parliament Buildings were Kericho Senator Aaron Cheruiyot, Machakos Town MP Victor Munyaka, Nominated MP Johnson Sakaja and Roysambu’s Waihenya Ndirangu.

On Sunday, the opposition coalition asked IEBC to withdraw an application it has filed in the Court of Appeal.

Mr Odinga accused IEBC of advancing the interests of the ruling party and warned that Nasa leadership would not accept any decision that overturns the High Court verdict.

The Jubilee lawmakers reminded the Nasa leader that IEBC is the custodian of electoral integrity and that the Judiciary is the gatekeeper of the rule of law, which they said are the foundation of justice.

“Every bit of negativity, hostility, suspicion, hatred and division is an asset for Nasa’s dark and evil campaign,” Mr Kithure said.

{{‘Cry baby’}}

“Destruction, violence and anarchy are the pillars of their electoral strategy.”

The leaders told Nasa to accept the fact that the authority to interpret the law lies with the judiciary and supported IEBC decision to file the appeal to clarify the grey areas in the High Court judgement.

Mr Murkomen accused Mr Odinga of behaving like a cry baby and urged him to be man enough and prepare for the presidential contest.

“Internal squabbles of Nasa are being directed to the wrong institutions,” he said, while warning Nasa that attempts will be resisted.

“These squabbles have become a liability to the IEBC and Judiciary,”

{{‘Threat’}}

Mr Sakaja said Mr Odinga’s attacks on independents institutions was a threat to the rule of law.

“If we discard the rule of law in the way being suggested by the Nasa leadership we shall have nothing to hold onto,” he said.

Mr Kithure laughed off assertion by Nasa that they will boycott the elections if the Court of appeal rules in favour of IEBC.

“The notion that there will be no elections if Nasa is not participating is laughable. There are about 18 candidates in the Presidential race and if one of them pulls out the rest will participate,” he said.

Meanwhile, Jubilee has dismissed a report by the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights, which criticized the manner in which party primaries were held.

Mr Tuju termed the report as “hogwash” and “statistically insignificant”.

Source:Daily Nation

{President Yoweri Museveni says he will highlight the issue of a joint move to Burundi by the lead facilitator and mediator in an effort to urge all stakeholders to engage in dialogue, to the EAC heads of state at the upcoming summit.}

“We need a consensus on Burundi as a region,” he said.

“When I take up the chair of EAC at the next summit, I will raise this issue so that we can have a decision.

“We should never neglect any opportunity for dialogue. We need to ease tensions with regional players,” said Museveni.

He made these remarks while meeting France’s Director for Africa and Indian Ocean Remi Marechau and its envoy to the Great Lakes region Ambassador Sophie Makame who were accompanied by Uganda’s Ambassador to France Nimisha Madhivani at his residence at the Taj Hotel, St. James Court in London.

President Museveni was in London to attend the International Conference on Somalia.

A mediator in the Burundi peace process, the Ugandan leader will assume the EAC chairmanship at the next summit.

On her part, Ambassador Makame said the facilitation of the peace process needs to be given more support and that they want to see a gesture to open up to dialogue by all stakeholders.

There has been a growing concern over the political situation in Burundi, the lack of progress in implementing resolution 2303 (2016) and the lack of engagement by the Government of Burundi, thus the need to involve the regional leaders.

Presidents of the six countries making up the East African Community will gather for the 18th EAC Ordinary Heads of State Summit meeting in Arusha this May.

They are: Summit Chair, President John Magufuli (Tanzania), President Uhuru Kenyatta (Kenya), Yoweri Museveni (Uganda), Paul Kagame (Rwanda), Pierre Nkurunziza (Burundi) and for the first time, Salva Kiir Mayardit of South Sudan.

Source:The New Vision

{Two senior police officers, a sergeant and a constable have been arrested on the orders of Police chief, Gen Kale Kayihura, over accusations of torturing Kamwenge Mayor, Godfrey Byamukama and other suspects in the killing of police spokesperson, Andrew Felix Kaweesi.}

Mr Asan Kasingye, the police spokesperson, on Friday identified the arrested officers as Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Patrick Munanura, ASP Fred Tumuhirwe, Sgt Tumukunde and Constable Ronnie Byenkya.

“Our officers who inflicted injuries on Mr Byamukama have been arrested and placed under investigations by our Professional Standards Unit,” Mr Kasingye told Sunday Monitor. He also confirmed that investigations were continuing as he sought to distance the police force from the torture accusations.

Police said Mr Byamukama was arrested on April 5 by police from the Ministry of Lands office along Parliament Avenue. Mr Kasingye said after the arrest, two police officers and the suspect got involved in the scuffle on the way to notorious Nalufenya in Jinja District.

Opposition leaders and sections of the public have christened Nalufenya as “a torture chamber”.

The scuffle is said to have arose after Mr Byamukama realised he was not being taken to Naguru Police headquarters as earlier informed at the time of his arrest.
“The suspect sustained superficial injuries in the process which were aggravated by his medical conditions which we cannot divulge,” Mr Kasingye said.

Kaweesi was killed on March 17 alongside his driver Godfrey Wambewo and bodyguard Kenneth Erau at Kulambiro about 200 metres away from his home.
After the trio’s murder, security agencies including, Flying Squad Unit, Crime Intelligence, CID and Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence launched the hunt for the killers.

Police arrested Hassan Tumusiime and Abubaker Ntende who reportedly revealed that Byamukama, who turned out to be Kamwenge Town Council mayor, was one of the masterminds of the trio’s killing.

However, Mr Byamukama was not among the 13 wounded suspects arraigned before court on April 21. It turned out that Mr Byamukama had been whisked to Nakasero Hospital by his tormentors upon realising his condition was fast deteriorating.

Without explaining why authorities at Nalufenya accepted to receive a wounded suspect, Mr Kasingye noted in his statement issued to media on Friday that; “Police has given Mr Byamukama the best medical care possible at Nakasero Hospital in Kampala. He has been discharged and will be getting periodic reviews at the same facility.”

Mr Byamukama’s distressing state was exposed after his council members visited him at the hospital and witnessed the magnitude of torture that had been inflicted on him at Nalufenya high profile detention facility. Sources also indicated that IGP had ordered an investigation into allegations of torture at Nalufenya facility.

A police source told Sunday Monitor that two other Flying Squared Unite (FSU) spies were also arrested but were not mentioned by police authorities since they are civilians. They were arrested over unrelated crimes.

Police authorities at Naguru police headquarters arrested Corporal Karim Bamugireku for selling police ammunitions at Shs500,000.

Police sources intimated that Cpl Bamugireku contacted a resident of Naguru Hill and notified him how he had bullets and that he could sell to him at a cheaper price.

A source said the resident alerted the police that asked him to proceed with the transaction and Cpl Bamugireku was intercepted with exhibits of Shs50,000 notes which had been already photocopied by the police.

Mr Moses Bango, who is in charge of Anti-Narcotics Unit at Kabalye Police Station was arrested on Thursday for allegedly stealing narcotic exhibits valued at Shs10 million. According to police sources, Mr Bango had hidden the drugs in his packets and lock up.

Source:Daily Monitor

{The Jubilee government has hit out at the opposition for their criticism over the high cost of living.}

The Deputy President William Ruto said the National Super Alliance (Nasa) leaders had no agenda for the country but were busy propagating lies instead of selling their manifestos.

Speaking at Amtalla Stadium in Kimilili Town, Bungoma County, on Sunday after issuing certificates to the party’s nominees for the August 8 General Election, Mr Ruto called on Kenyans to elect Jubilee leaders, saying they had a proper agenda and strategies for Kenyans.

“The opposition outfit Nasa leaders are happy when Kenyans are suffering in order for them to pick issues to hit the government with,” said Mr Ruto. “What is happening is because of bad weather.

{{Skyrocketing prices }}

“Last year, farmers didn’t harvest enough maize. This has led to the skyrocketing prices of basic goods. But we are on top of things.”

He said that fast arrival of the cargo ship carrying 300,000 sacks imported maize from Mexico should not raise an alarm as the government was proactive in alleviating Kenya’s pain.

“The Opposition leaders are questioning why a ship with maize arrived earlier than expected,” said Mr Ruto. “They want the food to delay so that Kenyans can continue suffering.

“Ours is to ensure that Kenyans get food on time. We won’t be perturbed by their noise. Ours is to ensure that Kenyans no longer continue to suffer.”

{{Importation of maize }}

The DP said importation of maize was not unique to the Jubilee administration as past regimes did the same to cushion Kenyans from hunger.

Mr Ruto added that, over the recent years, Kenya has faced prolonged dry spells that necessitated importation of maize.

He cited 2008, 2009 and 2011 as years when the government imported maize to curb food shortage.

“We are importing enough maize and sugar,” said Mr Ruto. “In one week, we will be having these commodities, which will eventually save Kenyans.

“We don’t want foreign maize and sugar to flood this country so that our farmers can later suffer but just to ensure that we save Kenyans during the few months.”

{{Highest harvest }}

Mr Ruto added that the Jubilee administration was committed to ensuring to the growth of the agricultural sector as it is the backbone of the economy.

He said in 2015 Kenya had the highest maize harvest since Independence, recording 42.5 million bags of maize, and attributed that to giving more focus to the sector.

The DP reiterated that the Jubilee government will scrap all the fees in secondary school from Form One to Four starting next year.

“We want our children to learn,” said Mr Ruto. “We will not experience any more dropouts in our schools.

“We want to see an educated society. Lack of money will no longer be a hindrance to proper education.”

{{Don’t gamble }}

Water Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa asked Bungoma County residents to vote in the Jubilee leaders, whom he said are committed to ensure that Kenyans live a better life.

“Don’t listen to the Opposition; they will mislead you,” said Mr Wamalwa. “Trust in the government of the day, which is Jubilee. Don’t gamble.”

Governor Ken Lusaka called on Bungoma residents to re-elect him so that he can finish the projects he started.

“The Opposition should not capitalise on the small problems as their agenda projects,” said Mr Lusaka.

Also present were Members of Parliament Dan Wanyama (Webuye West) and John Waluke (Sirisia), as well as Woman Representatives Reginalda Wanyonyi (Bungoma), Janet Nangabo (Trans Nzoia) and Rachel Shebesh (Nairobi).

Source:Daily nation