Tag: GreatLakesNews

{Diamond Ensemble, a drama group owned by Rubaga South MP Kato Lubwama has been evicted from Royal Theatre on Plot 10, Berkey Road, Old Kampala Road over a Shs200 million debt.}

According to Hajji Twaha Gwaivu, the owner of the building, the drama outfit owned by the comedian –turned-politician has defaulted on paying agreed rent of Shs3 million per month for the last five years.

“I have tried to demand for my money but in vain. I had no option but to go to court to seek an eviction order,” Hajji Gwaivu said after the eviction on Tuesday.

The eviction was enforced by Cephas Auctioneers and Court Bailiffs in the presence of armed police officers.

Last year in November, the High Court accepted Hajji Gwaivu’s prayer that sought to evict Mr Lubwama.

“You are directed to put Hajji Twaha Gwaivu in possession of the property and you are authorised to remove any person bound by the decrees who may refuse to vacate the property on Plot 10, Berkey Old Kampala Road,” reads part of the High Court order to court bailiffs.

Mr Lubwama is battling to retain his Rubaga South seat after a concerned citizen challenged his academic credentials.

Source:Daily Monitor

{Cracks in the National Super Alliance (Nasa) widened Tuesday after two of the four affiliate parties clashed over a leaked coalition line-up for the August presidential elections.}

While Raila Odinga’s Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) said that there was indeed an agreement in the Nasa coordinating committee on the line-up, Mr Musalia Mudavadi’s Amani National Congress (ANC) hit back, accusing the Orange party of acting in bad faith by leaking the report to the media.

The war of words started when the ODM Secretary-General Agnes Zani, a member of the coordinating committee, accused her ANC counterpart Godfrey Osotsi of lying about the existence of the committee report on the Nasa line-up.

{{REPORT ACCURATE}}

“The sentiments by ANC SG Mr Godfrey Osotsi are skewed. The assertion that there is no report is not accurate.

“The report, and other processes are to be furthered on by the principals in next stages as was to be determined by them,” Dr Zani said in a statement.

According to Dr Zani, who is a nominated senator, a leaked report on the Nasa line-up carried by various media stations on the shared positions was accurate.

The report had said that the 12-man committee had settled on Mr Odinga as the presidential flag bearer, Wiper’s Kalonzo Musyoka as his running mate, Mr Mudavadi as the Chief Minister, and Ford Kenya’s Moses Wetang’ula as Speaker of a House he will choose.

“That report leaked out in the form that the media presented. A few aspects and figures were not those of the committee but the line-up presented had been agreed on in the committee,” said Dr Zani.

{{OUTRAGED}}

About two hours later, Mr Osotsi hit back, accusing ODM of being the one that leaked the report.

“We are outraged – and Zani ought to know – that admission by ODM party that it is responsible for dirty propaganda leaks undermines the credibility and integrity of the Nasa process. This level of arrogance shouldn’t be entertained,” said Mr Osotsi.

He charged: “The ODM statement is a confession that leaves no doubt as to where leaks of working documents meant to undermine Nasa unity have been coming from. It is confirmation that ODM is negotiating in bad faith. This is bad manners that shouldn’t be entertained in any negotiation.”

{{AUTHENTICITY}}

Mr Osotsi said Dr Zani does not have the powers to speak on behalf of the committee.

“It is only the co-chairs who are authorised to speak for NCC as a team and can vouch for authenticity of documents.

The last time the co-chairs spoke they disowned what ODM through Zani now owns.”

In her statement, Dr Zani said that the committee had done its job.

“The Nasa NCC committee was formed to, among other mandates identify and, in consultation with the principals, conclude the process for Nasa flag bearer team.

“The structures of the committee and the Summit was that that the report would be shared first with the principals and then further consensus and agreement would be sought,” Mr Osotsi said.

Source:Daily Nation

{Members of Parliament yesterday raised grave concern over the rising cases of kidnapping in the country, pressing the government to conduct due investigations and net all people behind the criminal incidents.}

The lawmakers claimed that the country was in a deplorable state of insecurity due to the mysterious incidences of abduction and asked the government to act swiftly and strongly against the vices. The MPs’ uproar arose in the wake of last week’s abduction of four artistes, including Ibrahim Musa, alias Roma Mkatoliki.

Nzega MP Hussein Bashe and his Mbeya Urban counterpart Joseph Mbilinyi, speaking after the question and answer session, lamented that the escalating incidents were getting out of control.

The duo sought the speaker’s guidance, demanding that other activities be postponed for the house to discuss the matter and issue directives to government.

The Nzega legislator recalled some kidnapping incidents, including one that involved himself, Geita MP Joseph Musukuma, former cabinet minister Adam Malima ahead of the CCM general assembly in Dodoma and the disappearance of Chadema cadre Ben Saanane.

Mr Bashe further alleged that there is a clandestine organisation that orchestrates the kidnappings, saying he had information that 11 MPs including himself are the target.

“Some people informed me that 11 MPs are on the wanted list, they warned me that we should be watchful in our movements because we are the target and can get lost whenever caught up on the roads,” Mr Bashe alleged.

The MP, whose request to treat the rising abduction cases as an urgency matter hit the snag, urged the authorities to show the seriousness in dealing with the crime by acting more firmly and decisively against the abductors.

Mr Bashe’s sentiments were echoed by Mbilinyi who said the ongoing events have left the nation in a state of uncertainty.

He condemned the acts of aggression and called on the government to conduct thorough investigations and apprehend those masterminding the abductions.He said the kidnappings were designed to instill fear in the society, challenging the security organs to robustly address the problem.

The MPs suggested the Home Affairs Minister to step down should he find it difficult to tackle the problem.

Giving her guidance, the Deputy Speaker, Dr Tulia Ackson rejected the motion, saying the house should leave the matter to other state organs, which have been mandated to work on security issues.

Contributing to Prime Minister’s budget, Konde legislator, Khatibu Said Haji (CUF) also raised concerns over kidnapping incidents and asked the government to take appropriate measures to address the vice.

Mr Haji described what is happening as a fear creating phenomenon designed to generate unrest among citizens. He challenged the government to reveal and take to task those involved in the cruelty.

“Bashe’s claims that 11 MPs are on the targeted list add fear and panic, how safe we are…I am scared that my name could also be in the list, May God protect us from this evil deeds,” complained Haji. CUF lawmaker Riziki Ngwali condemned what she described as acts of aggression against young people, requesting all women to join forces and demand the security organs to establish the whereabouts of Saanane.

Meanwhile, Information, Culture, Arts and Sports Minister Harrison Mwakyembe yesterday promised speedy and thorough investigations on the kidnapping of the four artistes in Dar es Salaam last week.

Dr Mwakyembe, Roma Mkatoliki and three other artistes addressed a joint news conference in the city, narrating their abduction by unknown people last Wednesday until they were dumped on Friday night on the outskirts of the city. Looking frail, the performers showed to journalists bruises inflicted on their bodies through beatings by the captors, saying they were still fearing for their lives following the incident.

At the occasion, Minister Mwakyembe assured the artistes and members of the public that he will closely follow up on the investigations to find out the people behind the crime. “Artistes are entitled to freedom of expression just like anyone else, it is not usual in this country to witness such acts of abduction,” Dr Mwakyembe explained.

Narrating the ordeal, the artistes said they were taken hostage by armed people last Wednesday as they were working in a recording studio, bundled into a car, blindfolded and driven to unknown place.

“We were then subjected to questioning and beatings from these people but I cannot reveal that at the moment since investigations are still going on,” Mkatoliki explained. Last Friday night, according to the entertainer, the captors blindfolded and tied their hands and feet with ropes after which they drove them to unknown location and dumped them.

“It was area near the beach and after walking for some distance we saw a signpost indicating that we were at Ununio area. We had to walk for a long distance under pain and with my clothes soaked in blood,” he explained. They then reached an area near Kunduchi where they boarded ‘bodaboda’ to their home in Mbezi where they found the house empty.

“At that time, we had no option but to break the door; we had to change our clothes and make calls to our producer who together with some friends advised us to head to Oysterbay Police Station where our case had been recorded,” Mkatoliki explained.

He reached out to the government and prayed for protection, stating that even after the incident they still fear for their lives. “It was not something we expected and it can happen to anyone; the area we were abducted from is known to be safe and it hosts many retired public leaders,” he stated.

Mkatoliki was however irked that some people have been claiming that the whole event was staged for publicity while others think he is being used for political interests.

Source:Daily News

{Makerere University research fellow Dr Stella Nyanzi who was arrested last Friday has arrived at court.}

Dr Nyanzi was on Monday driven from Kira Divisional Police Headquarters to Buganda Road Magistrate’s Court in a convoy of security cars. Security is also tightened at Buganda Road court where she is to be charged.

The charges are in relation to the alleged offensive Facebook posts Stella Nyanzi made about President Museveni specifically.

Dr Nyanzi was charged with two counts including cyber harassment contrary to section 24 (1)(2)(a) of the Computer misuse Act 2011 and offensive communication contrary to section 25 of the Computer Misuse Act 2011.

In the first count, prosecution alleges that “Dr Nyanzi on January 28, 2017 at Kampala District or thereabout used a computer to post on her Facbook page “Stella Nyanzi” wherein she made a suggestion or proposal referring to His Excellence Yoweri Kaguta Museveni as among others “a pair of buttocks” which suggestion/ proposal is obscene or indecent.”

In the second count, prosecution states that Dr Nyanzi “between January 2017 and march 2017 in Kampala district willfully and repeatedly used electronic communication to post messages offensive in nature via Facebook, transmitted over the internet to disturb or attempted to disturb the peace, quiet or right of privacy of his excellency the president of Uganda, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni with no purpose of legitimate communication.

Source:Daily Monitor

{The searing drought has pushed at least 2,000 Somalis across the Kenya border and into the Dadaab refugee complex in recent months, the United Nations reports.}

Preliminary information “suggests that more may already be on their way,” the UN humanitarian aid agency added in an update on the response to the drought in Somalia.

{{New arrivals }}

Close to 100 of the new arrivals in Dadaab were among refugees who had returned to Somalia from the camps in Kenya as part of a voluntary repatriation initiative, the UN noted.

“Drought-related displacement continues to rise almost exponentially,” the agency said.

More than half-a-million Somalis have been forced from their homes since November, with 52 per cent of the total displacement occurring in just the past month, the UN reported on Friday.

A mass movement of hungry and thirsty Somalis into Dadaab would threaten to stall or even reverse the progress made in the past two years in voluntarily repatriating refugees.

Nearly 60,000 Somalis have returned home from Dadaab since the start of the voluntary programme in December 2014.

256,000

And the pace has quickened.

The UN said 20,515 Dadaab residents have been supported so far this year in returning to Somalia. Another 21,940 are currently registered for voluntary repatriation, the UN added.

The total population of the Dadaab complex stood at 256,192 as of March 15, the UN refugee agency reported.

The Kenyan government had threatened to shut down the Dadaab camps next month due to security concerns. But the High Court has blocked that move, at least temporarily.

The UN refugee agency has been conducting “go-and-see” visits whereby selected groups of Dadaab residents travel to Kismayu and Baidoa for a few days to assess whether living conditions there are conducive to returning.

At a March 15 debriefing session involving participants in go-and-see tours, refugees reported, according to the UN, that significant improvements had occurred in Kismayu since the first of the visits in 2014.

In Baidoa, however, “there were more challenges due mainly to the drought whose impact was more felt in this town,” a UN update stated.

Source:Daily Nation

{The East African Community (EAC) Council of Ministers which met at the EAC Headquarters in Arusha, from March 30th to April 4th, this year, has appointed 31 East Africans to various positions at the EAC Secretariat in which seven are Tanzanians.}

A statement issued yesterday, show that among the appointment Tanzanians Mr Kamugisha Kazaura is the new Director, Infrastructure replacing Mr Philip Wambugu whose contract expired on 1st February, 2017.

Moreover, Ms Ruth Mtoi Simba becomes the new Director, Human Resources and Administration replacing Mr Joseph Edison Ochwada who exited the Secretariat on 19 March, this year. Ms Simba was until her appointment the Principal Human Resource Officer.

Other Tanzanians to serve the EAC secretariat and positions in bracket include Suma Watson Mwakyusa (Principal International Relations Officer), Fahari Gilbert Marwa (Principal Agricultural Economist), Monica Mihigo (Principal Trade Officer – Internal Trade), Suleiman Ahmed Athumani (Senior Materials Pavement Officer) and Anthony Aminiel Minja (Customs Officer – Tariff and Valuation).

Moreover, Alusaria Daniel Swai will serve as an Accountant at the East African Court of Justice (EACJ). Furthermore, Ali Dotto Ntegwa has been appointed as an Accountant for the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) alongside two staff members from other member countries

.The Council further appointed four officers to the Lake Victoria Basin Commission and one officer each to the East African Science and Technology Commission and the East African Health Research Commission.

The appointments to the Secretariat will address a biting staff shortage which was occasioned by the departure of 26 members of staff due to retirement either on attaining the mandatory retirement age of 60 years or expiry of their fixed term contracts.

The appointments were made after interviews conducted by the EAC Ad Hoc Services Commission which draws Commissioners from Public Service Commissions in the Partner States. Among the appointees is Mr Kenneth Apollo Bagamuhunda as the Director General, Customs and Trade to replace Mr Peter Kiguta who retired on 1st December, 2016.

Mr Bagamuhunda was previously the Director of Customs at the Secretariat. Professional staff at the EAC are recruited on a five-year term, renewable once subject to a mandatory retirement age of 60 years.

The Council resolved that the appointments take effect from 4th of April, 2017 and directed the Secretariat to conduct due diligence for the successful candidates before confirmation of their appointments. The Council further directed the EAC Secretariat to ensure that an induction programme is conducted before the appointed staff assume office.

Source:Daily News

{Five gunmen from South Sudan on Wednesday sneaked into Moyo District and abducted two South Sudanese nationals. }

Mr Joseph Abuni, one of the witnesses, said it is regrettable when such incident occurs in the communities along the border areas. “The men were only dressed in raincoats and they abducted two men who were drinking. Both of them were South Sudanese who had been living in Moyo Town. This has created fear among the residents because more abductions could happen,” he said.

The North West Nile region CIID officer, Mr Christopher Obia confirmed the incident, which happened at Afoji Market in Moyo Sub-county.

The area is being used as a reception centre for South Sudanese fleeing from renewed fighting in their country.

“The gunmen abducted two South Sudanese who were in a bar. They put the two at gunpoint and took them back to South Sudan. We suspect that there was someone within the community coordinating the whole process,” Mr Obia said.

It remained unclear whether the five armed men are part of a rebel group or from the South Sudan army.

{{Previous incident}}

In a separate incident, on Tuesday, gunmen from South Sudan sneaked into Belameling refugee settlement camp and killed Chaplin Wani, 79, who was a refugee in the camp.

The police and UPDF soldiers are now deployed at the border areas.

In 2013, the Inspector Generals of Police (IGPs), Gen Kale Kayihura, and Gen Pieng Kuol (former) signed a bilateral agreement in Arua on security where issues of joint patrol at the borders were discussed. But this seems to have hit a dead end.

Source:Daily Monitor