“We have taken a decision not to front our candidate again following discussions with her,” said Amb Mugume.

He said diplomatic talks were held with President Museveni and several diplomats accredited to Uganda on the AU matter.

The East African region had earlier resolved to fully support Uganda’s former Vice President Dr Kazibwe however, none of the candidates including Kazibwe got a majority vote in the recent elections held on the sidelines of the AU Summit in Kigali hence extending the polls to January 2017.

Kazibwe had vowed to contest again for the seat despite facing unprecedented hostility from West African States which maintain she is not fit for the job.

Ugandans were on Monday shocked when Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta chose to announce Dr Amina as Kenya’s choice for the AU top seat.

“Today, in recognition of our obligation and commitment to support the African agenda, I am proud to offer Amb. Amina Mohamed for the position of Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC), a position currently held by Her Excellency Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma of South Africa,” said Kenyatta.

“In this regard, my administration has submitted the candidature of Amb. Mohamed for consideration at the African Union Summit in January 2017,” added the president as he spoke at a youth forum in Nairobi.

Kenyatta in 2013 appointed Dr Amina as Cabinet Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade.

The post Dr.Wandira Kazibwe throws in the towel in the AU race first appeared on Uganda Multimedia News & Information.

Sudan President, Omar Bashir

The minister of Uganda for Foreign Affairs, Sam Kutesa says the Sudanese embassy in Kampala recently confirmed that it received Bashir’s invitation letter and sent it to Khartoum.

The African Union summit is taking place in Kampala from July 19^th to July 26^th 2010. The venue for the summit is Munyonyo, a posh suburb of Kampala.

The only African countries that have been invited for the summit are Niger and Guinea because they were suspended over military coups.

The international Criminal court recently issued a warrant of arrest against Bashri on charges of committing atrocities in Sudan’s war ton Durfur. Bashir has since last restricted his tours.

By Ultimate Media

The post Bashir still on list of presidents to visit Kampala for AU summit first appeared on Uganda Multimedia News & Information.

Mother and baby. Many women in Uganda do not deliver safely

The Caravan which started in Nairobi has had its official launch at the Mengo Primary School Open Grounds and the official launch was presided over by the Right Rev. Wilberforce Kityo Luwalira.

The Head Organiser of the Caravan Dr. Angelina Dawa has told journalists at its official launch that the Caravan will carry the key message of “No Woman should die while giving life” which echoes the African Union slogan.

Dr. Dawa says that improved health including sexual and reproductive health contributes to economic growth, social equity and gender equality and should therefore  be taken seriously by the East African countries.

She says that is the reason why they have started this campaign that will compel East African countries to take more seriously the issue of sexual and maternal health.

The Caravan has also been to Kigali in Rwanda, Arusha in Tanzania, Mbarara, Kabale and Masaka and these towns it has held various public rallies with various groups of people like health professionals and policy makers on the crisis of maternal mortality in Africa.

It is estimated out of about 536,000 maternal deaths that occurred worldwide in 2005, more than 270, 000 which is more than half of those occurred in the sub- Saharan Africa region alone.

Uganda is due to host the Africa Union summit from 19^th -27 July which is being held with a focus on achieving the Millennium Development Goal on maternal health and reducing child mortality.

By Zacharia Tiberindwa, Ultimate Media

The post The East African Caravan on Maternal Health sets foot in Kampala first appeared on Uganda Multimedia News & Information.

Prime Minister Apollo Nsibambi

Somalia’s the Al- Shabab claimed responsibility for the Kampala bomb blasts , although the government believes Al Qaeda and remnants of Allied Democratic Forces rebels could also be involved.
The Leader of Opposition in Uganda Parliament, Prof. Ogenga Latigo has told a press briefing at Parliament that Uganda should petition the African Union to explain why several countries like Ghana and Nigeria of the African Union pledged to contribute forces to this peace keeping mission but only Uganda and Burundi have honored their pledges.

Latigo says if these countries had contributed troops, then it would have spread out the risk of the retaliation attacks from the terrorists to more countries.

Latigo says however with only two countries contributing forces, then the risks are more for those countries and that for that reason the government should petition AU in the upcoming summit such that it can ensure that more countries contribute to this peace keeping mission.

Meanwhile the Prime Minister of Uganda Apollo Nsibambi has appealed to the media to responsibly report about these attacks such that do not cause a state of panic in the country through their reporting carelessly about the recent bomb blasts and other potential attacks.

He has also reassured the country and the African continent in general that Uganda will still host the African Union summit that is set to take place from 19^th to 27^th July 2010.

See other stories related to Kampala bomb blasts

See other stories related to Africa Union summit

By Zacharia Tiberindwa, Ultimate Media

The post Opposition wants Uganda government to petition the African Union on mission to Somalia first appeared on Uganda Multimedia News & Information.