Tag: GreatLakesNews

{Save what is hereafter expressly admitted to be true, each and every allegation in the amended petition is denied.}

The first Respondent [Mr Museveni] denies that the Petitioner [Mr Mbabazi] has any grievance within the meaning of Article 104 (1) of the Constitution and Section 59 (1) of the Presidential Elections Act.

The candidates mentioned in paragraph 2 of the Amended Petition participated in the Presidential Election held on 18th February, 2016 and the First Respondent having polled 5,617, 503 votes being 60.75 per cent of the valid votes cast was on 20th February, 2016 declared elected as President of the Republic of Uganda.

The 1st Respondent states that no illegal practices and/or offences referred to therein were committed by himself personally or through his agents and supporters with his knowledge and consent or approval.

In specific answer to paragraph 3 (a) (i) of the Amended Petition, the 1st Respondent did not personally or through his agents with his knowledge and consent or approval, give hoes to the voters of West Nile or at all, with the intent that they should vote for him and refrain from voting the Petitioner and other presidential candidates.

The giving of hoes to the people of Uganda is part of an ongoing programme of the government to support farmers. This programme started before the 2015/2016 campaign and election period.

In specific answer to paragraph 3 (a) (ii) of the Amended Petition, the 1st Respondent avers that he did not personally or through his agents with his knowledge and consent or approval, give out a bribe of Shs250,000 to voters in every village throughout Uganda with intent that they should vote for him and refrain from voting the Petitioner and other candidates.

This money was paid out by the National Resistance Movement to its branches to support their activities.

The 1st Respondent avers that he did not give out 500 hectares of Bukaleeba Forest Reserve to over 30,000 families with a view of inducing them to vote for him during the 2016 presidential election.

In 2011, following an appeal from the local community in Bukaleeba Forest Reserve and South Busoga Central Forest Reserve that was facing eviction by the National Forestry Authority (NFA), the 1st Respondent, in his capacity as President of Uganda, instructed the Minister for Water and Environment together with the Prime Minister to ensure the local communities that had been occupying the land for many years, have the land parcelled out to them in accordance with the law.

The 1st Respondent avers that he did not make any reckless statements referring to the Petitioner and candidate Kizza Besigye as alleged or at all.

The 1st Respondent denies the contents of the Amended Petition and states that the crime preventers referred to are volunteers lawfully trained by the Uganda Police as part of the community policing and not for purposes alleged by the Petitioner.

The 1st Respondent denies using derogatory and reckless language or threatening to arrest the Petitioner and Kizza Besigye as alleged. What he stated using a Runyankore saying was that anybody who causes violence would face the full force of the law. His reference to touching “the anus of a leopard” was figurative to illustrate the recklessness of anybody breaking the law.

The 1st Respondent avers that he did not threaten that if the voters elected the Petitioner or anybody else Uganda would go back to war. What he said during his campaigns was that Ugandans should exercise their right to vote carefully to protect the gains and progress the country has achieved so far since 1986.

The 1st Respondent did not direct the Inspector General of Police, General Kale Kayihura and his officers to prevent the Petitioner from conducting consultations with voters in preparation for his nomination as a presidential candidate.

{Angry Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) students took to the streets on Wednesday night over the death of a student at the institution.}

The students claimed “negligence” by the university hospital’s medical staff caused the death of their comrade earlier in the day.

The rioting students blocked Thika Superhighway at Juja Town, leading to heavy traffic and passers-by scampering for safety as the irate and seemingly drunk students went on the rampage.

A student who spoke on condition of anonymity said the deceased was taken to the university hospital after suffering from alleged food poisoning but was not given the required attention.

“The student was left lying helpless on the hospital bed without being attended to thus leading to his demise,” purported the student.

DISPERSE THE STUDENTS

Police from Juja Police Station had a hard time containing the rowdy students who engaged them in running battles.

They used tear gas and gunshots in the air to disperse the students.

Juja OCS Zachariah Ateya said the police did the best they could to contain the situation, though property of an unknown value got destroyed in and outside the institution.

JKUAT students’ organisation finance secretary, Tumaini Bundi, said the students were angered by the death of one of the comrades and were seeking to know if the hospital personnel were indeed qualified to perform their duties.

Gunshots could be heard as late as 8:30pm inside the main campus as police tried to disperse adamant students.

The university’s administration could not be reached for comment.

{Olivier Ndjimbi-Tshiende, whose public support for refugees polarised Zorneding residents, leaves after receiving hate mail}

Bavarian officials and residents have been rallying in support of a Congolese-born priest who has received death threats since speaking out in defence of refugees.

The Roman Catholic priest, the Rev Olivier Ndjimbi-Tshiende, told parishioners during mass on Sunday that as a consequence of the threats he would no longer serve the congregation in Zorneding, a community of 9,000 people about 15 miles (25km) east of Munich, Germany.

The 66-year-old priest initially said he would still celebrate Easter mass with the congregation this month and stay until 1 April, but he later changed his mind and instead left Zorneding immediately, church officials and community members said. Ndjimbi-Tshiende is expected to take a different position within the church, but details have not been announced.

At the church rectory on Tuesday, there was no sign of anyone inside and nobody answered the door. The church would not say where the priest had gone. Two small cardboard banners had been placed on the ground next to Ndjimbi-Tshiende’s mailbox, reading “solidarity with the priest” and “arrest those who threatened murder”.

Moritz Dietz, a 21-year-old parishioner, said Ndjimbi-Tshiende was a smart and enlightened man. “He even prayed for those who sent him those evil letters,” Dietz said, adding that he was shocked by the priest’s departure and did not know what had triggered his decision to leave.

Zorneding’s deputy mayor, Bianka Poschenrieder, said the anonymous threats and abuse came after Ndjimbi-Tshiende in November publicly criticised a local politician’s assertion that Bavaria was being overrun by refugees. “I don’t know why he now left in such a rush,” Poschenrieder said. “It actually seemed like things had calmed down in recent weeks.”

The deputy mayor condemned the death threats, saying: “For our community this is very sad, and I personally find it horrendous that these death threats have succeeded in pushing our priest out.”

She said community officials, parishioners and police planned a candlelit vigil on Wednesday night in an expression of solidarity.

The Bavaria state governor, Horst Seehofer, also condemned the death threats against the Congolese priest as “unacceptable”.

Ndjimbi-Tshiende was born in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to a family of farmers. He first went to Germany to study philosophy at a Munich university in 1986. He returned to DRC after completing his degree but was unable to find work there, according to his CV on the congregation’s website.

In 2005, he returned to Germany, and in 2012 he took over the St Martin parish in Zorneding. It is not unusual for German congregations to have foreign priests lead their communities because there is a shortage of German priests.

Dietz, who is also a member of the community council and is organising Wednesday’s vigil, said he was hoping for a big turnout. “I hope there will be thousands to show their support for our priest,” he said.

Communities and cities across Germany have been struggling with the arrival of more than 1 million refugees last year, and resistance against people from Syria, Afghanistan and other countries has been on the rise.

While Zorneding houses only about 50 asylum seekers in temporary homes near the train station, the number of refugees and migrants arriving nationwide has polarised society, with some Germans expressing concern over the high number of refugees and others continuing to welcome people who have fled war and poverty.

Officials in Zorneding said the community had been divided over the issue and that Ndjimbi-Tshiende, with his outspoken support for the refugees, had further polarised the village.

Munich prosecutors, who have been investigating the case, say the priest was sent three threatening letters, with one declaring: “We will send you to Auschwitz.”

The prosecutors’ spokesman, Ken Heidenreich, said the message was considered a murder threat. The other two letters stated: “We know where you live. We know where your car is.”

The anonymous letters were sent to the priest between November 2015 and January 2016, Heidenreich said.

A postal worker dropped off a small package and assorted mail for Ndjimbi-Tshiende at the deserted, snowy rectory on Tuesday. The postman, who declined to give his name, said the number of letters to the priest had at least doubled since he took a stand against racism.

{ Parliament is expected in the next few days to open a probe into allegations of corruption and collusion in the sale of more than 130 public assets under the controversy-ridden privatisation policy. }

The inquiry seeks to establish whether there was undue political interference and other forms of manipulation in the privatisation process.

The probe committee will, among other things, track the sale and expenditure of billions of Shillings that accrued from the divesture of public companies.

The decision to investigate the dealings of the Privatisation Unit was mooted during the consideration of a new Bill that seeks to revive Uganda Development Corporation (UDC).

UDC will be an investment agency on behalf of government in partnership with the private sector to promote and facilitate industrial and economic development.
Government in the 1990s implemented the divestiture policy, as part of a wider World Bank’s economic reforms and recovery programme.

The objective was to reduce the direct role of government participation in the economy and develop a greater role for the private sector.

Some MPs attempted to block the passing of the UDC Bill last week, but Speaker Rebecca Kadaga guided that the new law be passed and a select committee on privatisation instituted tomorrow to dig up the details.

MPs had demanded full information on public assets formerly placed under Uganda Development Company.

A list of the assets and companies tabled before Parliament by Mr Michael Werikhe, the State minister for Industry, shows that more than 130 properties were sold to undisclosed Ugandans and foreigners.

Establishing status

However, MPs led by Opposition Chief Whip, Ms Cecilia Ogwal and Mr Eddie Kwizera of Bufumbira East demanded latest (ownership) information and the (sale) values for each of the 134 companies.

“We want to revive UDC but how much did we get from the sale of all these assets? Where is the money? What is the status?” Ms Ogwal said.

However, Mr Werikhe said people from the Finance ministry would “give us this information because they are the ones who know what happened”.

Mr Jim Mugunga, the Ministry of Finance spokesperson, said they had nothing to hide as “we have made disclosures to the Auditor General and those who bought public assets are known. If they want to know what happened the report is in Parliament”.

The inquiry, confirmed by the Parliament director of communications and public affairs, Mr Chris Obore, is expected to focus on the disputed sale of public enterprises such as Entebbe Handling Services, Uganda Commercial Bank, Uganda Grain Millers, Hima Cement, Nile Hotel, Apollo Hotel, Uganda Air Cargo and Steel Corporation of East Africa, among others.

Although most of the MPs have backed the planned inquiry, some have expressed fears that the current Parliament is unlikely to complete the probe of this stature, since its five-year term ends in May.

However, the unfinished work of the 9th Parliament can be re-introduced in the 10th Parliament by a resolution.

If Parliament votes to institute the select committee tomorrow, it will not be the first time the House is investigating allegations of corruption in the privatisation deals.
The late Tom Aisu Omongole (Kumi), in the 6th Parliament led a similar inquiry that investigated the fraud in the sale of Uganda Commercial Bank and other privatisation deals.

The 60-page report claimed that four ministers and one senior official had “derailed” the exercise.

The 1998 report uncovered the rot in the divestiture process and named Mr Sam Kutusa, Gen Salim Saleh, Mr Mathew Rukikaire, Mr John Nasasira, Mr Mayanja Nkangi and other government officials as having meddled in the sale of public companies.

The ministers, however, denied the accusations but the report led to the resignation of Mr Rukikaire as State minister for Privatisation at the time because of his handling of the divestiture of (Apollo Hotel) now Sheraton Kampala Hotel and UCB.

{Police on Tuesday saved a 73-year-old Nyeri man from being buried alive by his family after he barred the interment of his brother’s wife.}

Mr Caesar Kagima obtained a court order stopping the burial of Beatrice Njeri on a disputed piece of land on Monday.

There was drama at Mairu-ini in Othaya as furious family members accused Mr Kagima of fraudulently transferring ownership of the land to his lover’s 10-year-old son, who was then six months old.

The family members, including his own children, manhandled him, threatening to bury him alive in the grave meant for his brother’s wife.

“We either bury my mother or him as the grave will not be left empty,” said Ms Janet Wanja, one of Ms Njeri’s daughters.

However, police arrived in the nick of time and rescued him, but not before he got a few bruises.

Despite the presence of the police, the family insisted the woman would be buried on the piece of land.

“She will be buried here at whatever cost,” declared Ms Wanja.

The family was also furious that Mr Kagima had not said anything about the court order until Tuesday morning.

“We were only made aware of the order after all the burial arrangements had been finalised,” said Mr Joseph Wambugu, a nephew of the deceased.

After some discussion, Mr Kagima agreed to withdraw the court order. The burial went ahead, but the family was told no one could claim ownership of the land until the matter was determined in court.

{Vietinam President Truong Tan Sang arrived in the country last night for a three-day official visit that would mainly focus on boosting investment in agriculture, manufacturing and telecommunications sectors between the Far-East nation and Tanzania.}

President Sang was received by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, East African and Regional Cooperation, Dr Augustine Mahiga, at the Julius Nyerere International Airport (JNIA) in Dar es Salaam.

He was accompanied by his wife, Mai Thi Hahn, and five cabinet ministers responsible for industry, communications, agriculture, health and water. The delegation also includes 51 business people.

The visiting Head of State will be officially received by President John Magufuli at the State House today where he will be accorded a 21-gun salute and thereafter inspect a guard of honour to be mounted by members of the armed forces.

Afterwards, President Magufuli will have private talks with his guest from where they will proceed to witness a signing ceremony on a taxation agreement aimed boosting trade between Hanoi and Dar es Salaam by shielding investors from the two countries on double taxation.

This is the first visit by the Vietnamese leader in Africa since he assumed office in 2011. He is as well scheduled to visit Mozambique. The South-East Asian country has made significant strides in agriculture and agro-processing which Tanzania hopes to copy a leaf from.

Notable investments from Hanoi include Vietel Tanzania, which trades as Halotel. The company has invested over 1 trillion/- to spread out communication services in rural areas where existing players are reluctant to operate.

Dr Mahiga told a news conference last Sunday that during the visit in Tanzania, the Vietnamese President will hold talks with President Magufuli as well as the National Chairman of CCM who is as well the President of the Fourth Phase Government, Mr Jakaya Kikwete.

“Also on the schedule to meet President Sang include the President of Zanzibar and Chairman of the Revolutionary Council, Dr Ali Mohamed Shein, and Speaker of the National Assembly, Mr Job Ndugai,” Dr Mahiga stated.

It will be a busy day for the visiting president. From the State House, he will head to CCM’s sub office along Lumumba Street for talks with the party’s chairman, Mr Kikwete. Mr Sang is among senior leaders of the Communist Party of Vietnam, which enjoys long standing friendship with CCM.

“From Lumumba Street, President Sang will head for the Export Processing Zone Authority (EPZA) at Mabibo where he will have an opportunity to be informed on opportunities in the manufacturing sector in Tanzania and he will be taken on a tour of factories within the area,” Dr Mahiga told reporters last Sunday.

Thereafter, the delegation will attend a Tanzania-Vietnam Business Forum with a theme; “A platform to sharing information and unlocking opportunities,” to bring together businesspersons from the two countries.

“After meeting President Shein and Mr Ndugai, President Sang will be treated to state dinner at the State House by his host, President Magufuli,” Dr Mahiga said.

President Sang and his delegation will have time to visit Serengeti and Saadani national parks on Thursday after which they will leave for Mozambique from the Kilimanjaro International Airport on Friday.

{The East African Community (EAC) is determined to overcome challenges that confront the region to move a higher stage of integration.}

Addressing the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) in Dar es Salaam, Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa, said terrorism and transnational crimes were security challenges facing the region.

“There is closer cooperation between the defence and security organs of our respective countries,” said the premier while delivering the state of EAC address on behalf of the EAC Chair, President John Magufuli at an opening of the 5th meeting of fourth session of the third assembly.

The meeting also witnessed the Minister for Foreign Affairs, East Africa, Regional and International Cooperation, Ambassador Augustine Mahiga, taking the oath following his appointment by President Magufuli to be the minister in the docket.

Mr Majaliwa called upon EALA to continue to be people’s assembly and that it must be seen spending more time deliberating on issues of concern to the people of East Africa.

“I am aware that during this meeting you will be undertaking several outreach and sensitisation activities. This is the way to go. I urge you to do more of this all over East Africa,” he said.

Premier Majaliwa also said EAC should maintain constant orientation as a decisive organisation with results focused appreciation of the mission in practical, measurable and demonstrable intervention.

“We must leave no doubt as to seriousness of purpose and commitment to protect our sovereignty and promote peace, security, stability and development in the East African region,” he said.

Mr Majaliwa pointed out a number of achievements recorded by the EAC including the use of One Stop Border Posts (OSBPs) maintaining that the OSBPs have minimised delays at cross border points on major transport corridors in the region.

“Out of 15 borders earmarked to operate as One Stop Border Posts in the region, seven have been completed and four are operating as One Stop Border Posts using bilateral agreements,” he observed.

Mr Majaliwa mentioned the four operational One Stop Border Posts as Gisenyi/Nemba, Rhuwa, Holili/Taveta, and Rusumo.

Earlier, while welcoming Mr Majaliwa, the EALA Speaker, Mr Daniel Kidega, showered praise on President John Magufuli for introducing austerity measures against unnecessary public expenditure and fighting against graft.

“His moto of ‘Hapa Kazi tu’ has been demonstrated by his actions. The measures which have been taken by Dr Magufuli have contributed into the increase of revenue collection in Tanzania,” he said.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, East Africa, Regional and International Cooperation, Dr Augustine Mahiga, urged Tanzanians to grab opportunities in the EAC market, saying Tanzania was endowed with many natural resources.

{The Munich archdiocese says a Congolese-born priest is stepping down from his job in a town outside Munich after receiving racial abuse and death threats.}

The Roman Catholic archdiocese said Monday that Olivier Ndjimbi-Tshiende will step down as parish priest in Zorneding, southeast of the Bavarian capital, on April 1. It said in a statement that it “very much regrets the decision,” but accepts it and stands by Ndjimbi-Tshiende.

Ndjimbi-Tshiende studied and worked in Munich in the 1990s and returned to work for the archdiocese in 2005. He had held the job in Zorneding since 2012. He announced his departure to his congregation on Sunday.

The threats and abuse came after the priest last year criticized a local politician’s assertion that Bavaria was being overrun by refugees.

{Police have lost seven guns in one week, according to police spokesperson Fred Enanga,}

Mr Enanga said yesterday in Kampala that several criminal gangs are targeting police officers, stealing their guns that they later use in robberies and killing people.

On Sunday, 10 suspected criminals led by a UPDF deserter, according to Mr Enanga, attacked Kapchorwa Central Police Station killing two officers and stealing three guns.

Mr Enanga said the UPDF deserter had recruited criminals and is currently brainwashing people in the region that his group is protecting their land that was grabbed by Uganda Wildlife Authority.

“The suspected gang of criminals operating in the Mt Elgon Forest area straddles the border between Uganda and Kenya,” he said, adding the UPDF deserter is a wanted criminal, who is actively involved in expanding his gang by acquiring more guns and recruiting more criminals.

The suspect, currently in police custody, was previously arrested but escaped from Makindye Military Barracks on February 7, according to Mr Enanga.

However, he could not validly explain how such a criminal could escape from a military detention.
Last week, unknown thugs in Mt Elgon National Park at Benet Sub-county, Kween District, ambushed and robbed two police officers of their rifles all loaded with 58 bullets.

Similarly, on February 28, two police officers attached to Ngoyo ASTU detachment in Bunambutye Sub-county in Bulambuli District disappeared with two AK-47 rifles.

Mr Enanga also dismissed claims that there could be a rebel group forming in the Elgon region