Kisoro residents got a paralysis on Monday morning when an Isuzu Elf  truck registration number UAW 739M that was transporting traders with their sacks of Irish potatoes, crates of soda and beer, failed its driver and  hit the guard rails at Kanaba hills in Kanaba sub county in Kisoro district  leaving eleven killed on spot and 22 injured.

However, by today morning, of the 22 survivors only 11 were able to go through the night as have of the number was announced dead.

Patrick Charles Okotto says that there were over sixty people on the truck at the time of the accident and 31 others are still admitted at Kisoro and Mutorere hospitals with serious injuries.

He identifies some of the deceased as; Samatina  Kemigisha, Poku Apurunari , Fesino Kasande, Rogers  Imanishimwe, all from Rwabulindi Village in Muko sub County, Rubanda district.

The others are Moses  Arinaitwe Moses, Scovia  Oriahaba, Adrine  Iramashirwe, Berra Tindimwebwa, Peace  Akanyijuka , minor and  daughter of Tindimureba, Mary  Nyiramenyize and Mike Maxensia, among others all residents of Kisoro district.

The injured include Charity Hamulungi Leticia Tumushabe, Gad Twiine, Jesca Nyirabusungu, Vania Tindimulegula, Errestus Mucunguzi, Silva Katushabe, all residents of Muko Sub County in Rubanda district among others.

Hajji Shafique Ssekandi, the Kisoro Resident District Commissioner, says preliminary investigations indicate that the yet to be identified driver of the vehicle was driving under the influence of alcohol.

He further blames the driver for overloading the vehicle with goods and traders seated at the top.

A health worker at Kisoro Hospital on condition of anonymity said that many of the accident victims are in bad shape.

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President Museveni officiates at International Women’s Day celebrations in Dokolo. Photo Daily Monitor

President Yoweri Museveni has said that women are the base of society and, therefore, should not be marginalized.

Museveni made the remarks during the celebrations to mark International Women’s Day held at Busuubizi Core Primary Teachers’ College in Mityana district. This year’s theme is “Empowerment of Rural Women and Girls: Opportunities and Challenges.”

President Museveni said that from the very beginning, the National Resistance Movement (NRM) did not agree with the old societies’ practice of marginalizing women and went ahead to recruit them into the liberation Army even when everyone thought they would not be able to fight.

“When fighting Idi Amin in 1979, we recruited women in FRONASA but our partners did not agree with us and thought that women should be in the kitchen preparing meals for the soldiers. But in 1986, when we were totally in charge with no power sharing, we recruited them,” he said.

The President said that apart from the Army, the NRM government has also empowered women to join politics, get education and own property.

“We empowered women to join politics by creating the position of the District Woman Member of Parliament. That is why we have so many women in Parliament today,” he said.

ALSO READ: Museveni meets old friend, Dr. Pierre Perrin

He said that because of the NRM policies, women have now joined the Army yet previously they were only in the Police Force. In education, the President said that the number of girls joining university has also increased since the government introduced the 1.5 points affirmative action.

Regarding the issue of property ownership, the President said that men had monopolized property ownership and women would not inherit property but this has since then been changed.

“A girl would not inherit where she was born or where she was married but we moved very carefully in our guerilla way and said nobody should sell the marital home without the consent of the wife,” he said.

Museveni also used the event to award over 20 Police Officers with medals on Women’s Day. Internet Photo

President Museveni called upon parents to allow their daughters and widows inherit property.

“In my family, I will leave my daughters property just like my son General Muhoozi Kainerugaba will do,” he said.

He, however, cautioned women against marrying for wealth citing that wealth was not only found in marriage. He said women should be empowered so as not to be dependent on men.

“I want to appeal to the MPs here, that after dealing with roads, hospitals, schools and security in the budget, we should put more money in the wealth funds,” he said.

The President also asked Local Government officials to stop collecting taxes from low earners such as ‘muchomo’ and gonja (plantain) grillers along the roads. Collecting taxes from such people, he said, can cause you a lot of curses because those people are already poor.

President Museveni also warned men against domestic abuse. He said in his 50 years with his wife, Janet Museveni, he has never raised a hand against her.

“If you see a man beat a woman know that he is stupid and a coward. If a man wants to fight someone, he should look for a fellow man to fight with. If you beat a woman and after, wear pants that you are a man, I cannot respect you,” he said.

Mr. Museveni called upon women to report men that beat them so that they are arrested. He added that women should be empowered so as not to stay in abusive relationships because they are dependent on the men who beat them.

On the issue of crime and the recent killings of women in Entebbe and Nansana, President Museveni said that government would procure all necessary equipment to defeat the rapists, kidnappers and murderers.

“We concentrated much on defeating terrorists and rebels but we are now going to procure whatever is necessary to defeat these criminals,” he pledged.

He revealed that the security agencies have made a number of arrests in the Entebbe, Nansana and Bukomansimbi murders. He, however, expressed disappointment in the escape of some suspects arrested in Bukomansimbi for murders during Christmas time last year. He wondered why the Prisons authorities had taken the suspects to court without handcuffs, which eased their escape.

At the ceremony, Michel Sidibe, the Executive Director of the United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), was awarded the distinguished order of the Nile Medal for his contribution towards the fight against HIV/AIDS in Uganda.

Mr. Sidibe called upon the government and civil society to put women and girls at the center of all their policies, roles and strategies and to ensure zero tolerance to sexual harassment.

Other 147 medals under the categories of Nalubaale Medal, Golden Jubilee and the Special Police Award, were given out to outstanding citizens for their contribution to the country.

The Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Rebecca Kadaga, thanked the NRM government for making amendments such as the creation of the District Woman MP position that has seen the percentage of female MPs in Parliament go up to 35%.

“I hope in the next elections, we shall achieve 50% representation,” she said.

Hon. Janat Mukwaya, Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development, called upon government ministries to work for the empowerment of women. She said it was not only up to her Ministry to promote women empowerment but other ministries, such as that in charge of water, to ensure that women have access to water for domestic use and farming.

Minister Mukwaya also thanked President Museveni for introducing the Women Fund that she said has benefited 43,977 women, 80% of whom were from rural areas.

“If more money is out in the fund, we shall empower many more women,” she said.

Speaking on behalf of the Chairperson of the Uganda Women Council, Helen Grace Osamo, noted that the policies and laws initiated by the NRM government have uplifted the life of 76% of Uganda’s population in rural areas who are mainly women and girls.

The United Nations Resident Coordinator, Rosa Malango, applauded the government for creating enabling policies and legal environment towards women and girls. She, however, called for more action on the issue of child marriages.

The Vice President Edward Ssekandi, the Prime Minister Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda, the Deputy Chief Justice Owiny Dollo, the Chief of the Defense Forces General David Muhoozi, the NRM deputy Secretary General Richard Todwong, MPs, heads of diplomatic missions in Uganda and a delegation of MPs from Malawi attended the celebrations.

ALSO WATCH: President Museveni Takes a Swipe at Police at Women’s Day Celebrations in Mityana

Source: State House Uganda

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The suspects at Moroto Police station.

Police in Soroti on Tuesday intercepted a stolen vehicle and arrested two suspects in connection to the theft.

The suspects were identified as Byeruman Junior aged 28 years a Rwandan national, a resident of Moroto Town and Osiko Stephen 26, a former driver of the same vehicle. 

The white kluger Reg.No UBB 613H belonging to a Chinese national Hyang xiuminig.was parked at Friend Hotel in Moroto from where it stolen.

ALSO READ:Sekandi hails marriage among youthful police officers

Odong Michael, East Kyoga Regional Police Spokesman has confirmed the incident. “After stealing they drove the vehicle via Nakapirit district to Mbale, Soroti and turned to Lira” He said.

Odong adds that Police in Soroti got information and mounted a road block in Awuja Bridge where they were intercepted and arrested. 
The vehicle and the suspects have been handed over to Moroto Police for further investigation.

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Vice President Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi shaking hands with newly Copl. John Nzaisenga and Ruth Rukundo, Nzaisenga is a member of Vice President Security working with Uganda Police force at Masaka SDA Church on December 10, 20117

Vice President Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi has commended the leadership in the Uganda Police Force that is encouraging its youthful officers to embrace marriage a move that has blossomed a number of resourceful relationships both at work and in respective homes of officers.

Speaking during the wedding ceremony of Corporal Nzaisenga John, a member of his security detail, who married Rukundo Ruth at Seventh day Adventist Church in Masaka district, Ssekandi noted that marriage comes with many good benefits but warned new couples to block their ears to negativity and rumors that destroy marriages.

The newly wed,Copl. John Nzaisenga and Ruth Rukundo

The Vice President noted that senior officers are a mirror to their juniors who mostly emulate many positive things about them since they interact on daily basis during work and off duty.

ALSO READ:Police offers Hepatitis B Vaccine

Ssekandi hailed Corporal Nzayisenga for taking a bold step and married his friend which has formally united their families and forged a new partnership.

Pastor Josiah Usaba who wed the couple urged them to be truthful in everything especially finances and acquired assets which are a sources of conflict in many homes.

The couple later hosted their guests at Queens Gardens Hotel Kyazanga town in Lwengo district where Superintendent of Police and immediate supervisor of the bride, Assanasio Turyahabwe  eulogized him for his discipline and dedication which will propel him to even greater feats in life and career.

ALSO READ:MPs concerned with the poor screening of teachers

The function was also attended by Barbirye Kabanda, Masaka district Woman Member of Parliament, Cissy Namujju, Lwengo District Woman Member of Parliament, Kitata Abdu, Bukoto West Member of Parliament, and Lwengo LC5 Chairman, Godfrey Mutabazi among others.

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Vice President Sekandi

The Vice President said that the key priority of education is create a pool of high calibre human resource that is critical as the country transforms from peasantry to middle income status in the shortest time possible.

The Chancellor commended the uniqueness of St. Lawrence University for being down to earth in its application of knowledge that has enabled the institution to be responsive to market and entrepreneurial demands adding that its success is built on pragmatism behind its establishment and sound management and commitment to academic excellence.

To the graduands, the Vice President said that their hardwork and time to acquire knowledge and skills in their requisite competencies should not only act as a gateway to employment but importantly to enable them create own jobs for the community.

“Please be cautious to societal ills and remain disciplined as has been the case while at st. Lawrence and remain patriotic and avoid contracting HIV/AIDS, since you have been a great investment to your parent and guardians,” the Vice President advised.

The acting Vice Chancellor, Dr. Andrew Ssemwanga said that 17 new programmes have been accredited by the National Council of Higher Education thereby making the institution more relevant to the needs of the country and region in general.

Dr. Ssemwanga said that the university has started cooperation with local and international institutions in order to be globally visible in knowledge and international innovations through activities like research, consultancy, exchange of academic staff and students and community outreach.

He added that the community out reach has boosted many businesses and small medium enterprises through training in book keeping, loan management, customer care and marketing.

The Vice Chancellor, in future capital development projects, said that a new library block will be constructed to supplement the E-library that is already in place, engineering laboratories, plans to modernize hostels, sports and kitchen facilities.

This year’s graduands of whom 50% were female and 50% male have come from Uganda, South Sudan, Sudan, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, Democratic Republic of Congo, Costa Rica, Somalia, Comoros and Eritrea.

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Kadaga, who was attending the Uganda UK Convention in London, Saturday, 16th September 2017 said that following the passing of the Dual Citizenship Act, there is need to implement it by having citizens registered.

“There will be operation centers; one in the Nordic countries, in Washington and one in the United Kingdom starting April 2018 so that you can get the services from here,” she said.

The Speaker revealed that a portal would also be established to enable application and submission of forms online.

Kadaga also faulted the two ministries for not publicizing the recent visits to the UK and US where they held open days and had some Ugandans registered.

“The tour made by the Ministry people to London, Boston and Miami was not well publicized. I understand people did not hear that the programme was coming. I instruct the ministries to let people know when they will be available but also train embassy staff so they don’t have to wait for people from Kampala,” she added.

She revealed that on acquisition of dual citizenship certificates, the Ugandans would also be in position to get their national identity cards immediately.

“When I was in the US, the first people to get their dual citizenship also became eligible immediately and secured their national identity cards there in Miami; so the ID centers will be there especially for children who are growing up here,” Kadaga said.

On the issue that the costs for registration are high, the Speaker said that abandonment of one’s citizenship is expensive comparing it with what is paid to acquire citizenship in the US and UK.

“Am aware that when you pay for this citizenship you go to swear before a judge paying allegiance to the Queen. That is the consequence of paying allegiance to a different country. But now you can pay allegiance to both,” Kadaga said adding that ‘a one-off payment of US$400 for your Uganda is not high. I appeal to you to pay that cost’.

The Speaker who led Parliament’s delegation to the Convention revealed that Ugandans with German citizenship would not be in position to get Ugandan citizenship because the German law does not allow for the same.

Opening the Convention, the Vice President, H.E. Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi encouraged Ugandans and other nationals to visit the country and enjoy its natural beauty. He particularly cited the Equator saying that is a unique natural feature.

“When you look at the world map, you think Uganda is a small country. However, it lies both in the Northern and Southern Hemisphere. Go and enjoy the feeling of being in both hemispheres when at the Equator,” he appealed.

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Vice President, Edward Ssekandi

Government has urged the  banking sector to design friendly loans that can be accessed by farmers and informal sectors in Uganda.

Currently many banks are offering short term loans which do not favor farmers who have long term investments.

Speaking during the Annual banker’s conference recently,  the Vice president, Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi, said that much as government is moving to re-capitalize Uganda development bank to help farmers, available financial banks must be lenient to farmers as well.

He said that farmers are potential bank customers, thus engaging them will give banking sector a mileage.

“These farmers should be the people you should favour most because they will be your customers of all seasons,” Sekandi said.

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Students of Old Kla SS on strike recently

OLD Kampala Senior Secondary School has today Monday July 24, 2017 witnessed a change of leadership of the school following wrangles that had threatened to tire the school apart pitting some teachers and Old student’s association against the out-going head teacher Azida Ntegana Nsubuga.

The rivalry had culminated into a student strike last week that turned ugly when a police officer fired live bullets seriously inquiring one student leading the ministry to temporarily close the school as they investigate further.

The ministry has however, responded by appointing James Mulomi, the outgoing headteacher of Budiope SS, to run it with support from the Ministry and Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) for unspecified period. The school is expected to re-open on Wednesday this week with parents coming along with their children as a condition for re-admission, according to recommendations of a probe committee in its final report.

Reports indicated that the students on July 13, 2017 staged a strike in the school protesting the transfer of their head teacher Ntegana .The students who gathered in the school compound with placards later became rowdy vandalizing school property before police was called in to quell the situation.

Following the closure of the school on July 14, Robinson Nsumba-Lyazi the director for basic and secondary education, set up a seven member probe committee to investigate the circumstances that led to the strike.

The committee members included; David Esuku from KCCA, John Kiwanuka (Internal Security Organisation), ASP Grace Nyangoma (Police), and Florence Anguzu. Others are Daniel Amanyire,Mary Ntete Gunteese  and Frances Atima- all officials from the ministry of education.

According to the Observer Newspaper, a final investigation report compiled by the team, has implicated some teachers and Old Kampala Students Association (OKOSA) Leaders of working against each other in the affairs of the school.

The report says one teacher, Ivan Mbowa, who is also a warden at the boy’s hostel, mobilized students as early as 3am to demonstrate against the Minsitry of Education’s decision to transfer the school headteacher Azida Ntegana Nsubuga.

“Students from this hostel located outside the school moved towards the school in the wee hours carrying placards reading No Azida, No Rice, among others,” the report says.

The final report suggested that student leaders also accused some teachers of working in cohorts with some executive members of the Old Kampala Students Association (OKOSA) to undermine the outgoing head teacher.

A classroom block at Old Kampala SS

The students further said deputy head teachers Godfrey Ssekandi and Juliet Nesakya played a key role in aggravating the strike.

“Students say their peaceful demonstration degenerated into a strike after Ssekandi and Nesakya started beating them indiscriminately,” the report reads in part.

However, a source at the school who spoke on condition of anonymity denied such allegations from the students.

“This report is largely wrong. These deputies have been fabricated. It’s sacrificing Mbowa whose role is clear but setting free the head teacher who ordered Mbowa to do what he did,” the source says.

The report also accuses Nesakya of casually stating that she did not care if the injured (striking) students died”.

The committee found out that the transfer of Ntegana was well received by the majority of the teachers although most students and support staff were unhappy with the ministry’s decision and timing of the transfer.

“Student leaders expressed dissatisfaction with the transfer being done in the middle of the term and they felt they had the right to know why she (Ntegana) was transferred,” the report further reads.

OKOSA, NTEGANA WOES

According to the report, Old Kampala has had leadership challenges since the transfer of the former headteacher and old student Emmanuel Mukasa who has resisted a move to Entebbe Comprehensive SS in 2015.

“The entry of Ms Ntegana was not welcomed by a section of old students and teachers right from the beginning,” noted the report.

“Later, disagreements emerged between old students and the board of governors which widened the gap between OKOSA and the head teacher.”

Efforts by the ministry and KCCA to address the disagreements on accountability, governance and proposed capital development projects at the school did not yield much, the Observer further notes.

OKOSA has an office in the school and is managed by a coordinator, who is not an employee of the school.The committee concluded that the office be closed immediately.

During the committee’s interaction with Ntegana, she alleged that OKOSA members; notably, Leonard Egesa and Patrick Musinguzi destabilized her top management.

“Although some teachers interviewed were in support of OKOSA office, students claimed they don’t receive any support from it (office) and instead, it is their money (10,000 imposed on every candidate) which supports the association,” says the report.

“The office lacks accountability and transparency for the student’s money”.

Some student leaders and a section of of teachers accused some OKOSA members of using  social media to incite violence and blackmail teachers, students and old students who do not support them.

This also caused unrest among students, leading to the strike.

With time, Ntegana filed for a transfer but she was surprised when it came in the middle of the term. The committee didn’t hear from the OKOSA executive because they declined to appear before it on the scheduled date of July 19.

“They indicated that they can only meet the committee after receiving a formal invitation (today) Monday, July 24,” the report noted.

The probe committee in its conclusion of findings hence recommended that Mbowa’s role in the strike should further be investigated and an appropriate action be taken against him.

The committee also said the two deputies- Ssekandi and Nesakya –should be transferred before the school reopens on Wednesday.

“Students should be invited back at school in a phased manner starting with the candidate classes on the first day, S3 and S5 on the second day and finally S1 and S2 on the third day,” the Observer reports in its concluding article.

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Sekandi being awarded at a previous function for his contribution to the decentralization process in Uganda.

The President said this in a speech read for him by the Vice President, Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi, during the annual commemoration of the African Day of Decentralization and local Government at Masaka Liberation ground on Wednesday.

Museveni, said that decentralization was a key milestone that enabled the involvement of Ugandans in the decentralization process from the beginning in order to bring services nearer to the people.

The event was held under the theme; ‘Decentralization at 24: Re-engineering Locally initiated Development decision-making and leadership at all levels’.

Museveni also revealed that the Country’s GDP has shifted from about 300 dollars per capita in 1985 to the current about 800 dollars.

“Uganda’s average GDP is growing at 6.2 percent annually. This is one of the fastest growing economies on the continent,” he said, adding that the number of Ugandans living below the poverty line of less than 20 percent of the population has also significantly reduced.

Museveni however, said there was need for more concerted efforts to reduce absolute poverty for the East African region and on the continent in general.

He said this can mainly be achieved through investing in infrastructure improvement and that this in turn would reduce the cost of doing business and hence attract more investment and link markets.

Tom Butime, the Local Government Minister revealed that Local Governments have established business economic forums, which comprise all economic development stakeholders identifying comparative viable economic ventures which will propel the country to the desired middle income status by 2020.

He said that among other achievements, decentralization has provided leadership from the village to national level, adding that civil servants who deliver the basic services are recruited based on need of the respective local Government.

Thomas Ole-kuyan, the Deputy Country Director United Nations Development Programme, said that with Uganda’s focus on local governance, its people will have greater access to services, security and have their priority development goals met.

He pledged UNDP’s support to the decentralization process in Uganda in order to achieve uniform growth across all districts.

Ole-kuyan added that during the 24 years of decentralization, Uganda has evolved in the areas of; political and administrative governance, financial management, Service delivery and economic development functions which, he said are imbedded in the power shared across the government administrative spectrum.

During the same function, Sekandi was among individuals honored for their exemplary public service records and support to the decentralization process in Uganda.

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Those who voted against include Mwijukye Francis Buhweju county, Sewanyana Allan Makidye west, Kasibante Moses Lubaga north and Mubarak Munyagwa Serunga. After seconding Sekandi for vice president MP Odonga Otto urged him to speak to the president to have a dialogue with COL Dr kizza Besigye to have him released from jail.

The house also approved Kasese woman MP Win Kizza  as opposition leader and Semujju Ibrahim as the opposition chief whip.

Parliament also Constituted the appointments committee headed by speaker Kadaga with NRM having majority members  including Arinaitwe Rwakajara , Hellen Ondoa, Makumbi Henry, Moses Balyeku, Beatrice
Rwakimari among others. Other members include Joseph Sewungu of DP, Santa Olumu from UPC,
Winnie Kizza , Betty Aol and Francis Mwijukye all from FDC. COL Elly Tumwine will represent UPDF on the committee.

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