Gerald Karuhanga was elected as youth representative to the Ugandan parliament in 2011. Internet photo

He was born on 14-07-1982 in Ntungamo district and went to Kitunga Boarding school before joining Kitabi Seminary in Bushenyi from which he shifted to SMACK in Entebbe. He then joined Makerere University where he achieved a Bachelors degree in law in 2008. In 2009, he joined Law Development Centre Kampala where he completed Diploma in Legal Practice and in 2012, he joined Harvard University where he attained a certificate in emerging leaders.

Gerald has had a passion for politics right from his childhood. He was the deputy head prefect at Kitabi seminary. While at Makerere University he was elected guild president on FDC ticket in 2006. During his time as guild president, he fought for an increment in lecturer’s salaries which led to closure of then university for 2 months for the constant strikes he always led.

Gerald speaking during session in parliament. Internet photo

In March 2011, Gerald was elected to the Ugandan Parliament as a youth representative and thereafter voted chairman of the parliamentary anti-corruption forum, African Parliamentarians Network Against Corruption (APNAC)-Uganda chapter. He is currently serving as a member of parliament of Ntungamo Municipality.

He has always had a conviction to fight corruption and other forms of abuse of office. He once took documents to parliament implicating powerful ministers in oil bribery. He brought evidence showing how foreign affairs minister Sam Kutesa picked bribe money in installments.

As vice-chairman of Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC), Gerald Karuhanga, returned the sh29m given to each MP to facilitate age limit consultations. He decided to return the money after consulting his voters on the matter referring to the money was a bribe meant to compromise legislators and voters. He was also among the MPs who were suspended from parliament by Speaker Kadaga for misconduct during the togikwatako campaign.

Gerald speaks out after being suspended from parliament during the ‘Togikwatako’ campaigns

Gerald was recently among the MPs who were arrested and detained by the Ugandan Police at the end of the Arua campaigns for the attack on the Presidential motorcade, which resulted into the shattering of the glass of one of the vehicles in the convoy.

He was released on bail on 27 August 2018, together with the other suspects they expected to appear before court in Gulu on 30th August 2018 for hearing of their charges.

Gerald Karuhanga and Bobi wine with whom he was arrested in Arua. Internet photo

When released, he narrated to journalists and people that they beaten, mistreated, starved, denied a chance to be seen by their visitors in while at Gulu Police station. He assured that government that its days are numbered and they are determined to defeat it.

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Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu commonly known by his stage name Bobi Wine. Internet photo

Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu commonly known by his stage name Bobi Wine is a Ugandan politician and musician who joined politics in July 2017.  He serves as the Member of Parliament representing Kyadondo East constituency in Wakiso District, Uganda.

He was born on 12^th February 1982, in Mpigi District and grew up in the Kamwokya slums. He attended Makerere University in Kampala, where he studied music, dance, and drama, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree. In February 2018, Kyagulanyi enrolled for a course on Leadership for the 21st Century at the prestigious Harvard Kennedy School of Government.

RELATED: We have Bobi Wine – Police confirms

Bobi Wine started making music under the Fire Base Crew in the early 2000s with some of his first singles being Akagoma and Funtula, which brought him into the limelight.  He continued singing and after joining politics he released “Situka,” a song which challenges Ugandans to do something about corruption and injustice in their country.

Bobi Wine with his wife Barbie Kyagulanyi with their four children. Internet photo

He met his wife  Barbara Itungo Kyagulanyi while he was at Makerere University, their wedding took place in August 2011. They have four children together Solomon Kampala Nyanzi, Shalom Namagembe, Shadraq Shilling Mbogo, and Suubi Shine Nakaayi

In April 2017, Bobi Wine announced his candidacy for parliament in an upcoming by-election for the Kyadondo East Constituency which he won by a wide margin, beating the two candidates Sitenda Sebalu of NRM and Apollo Kantinti of FDC.

Bobi Wine during the protests against taxes imposed on social media and mobile money. lnternet photo.

In 2018, Robert Kyagulanyi gained more fame when he was an active participant in the “Togikwato” campaign which was against the extension of Presidential age limit. He was also on the front line of the protests against the taxes which were imposed on social media and mobile money.

He has also championed the winning of most by-elections by the candidates he campaigned for, beating the candidates of the political party in power, the National Resistance Movement as well as the major opposition party, the Forum for Democratic Change. He sided with Hon. Asuman Basalirwa who won the Bugiri by-election,  Kasiano Wadri  an independent candidate in the recent by-election in Arua Municipality to replace the late Honorable Ibrahim Abiriga, as a member of Parliament.

Kyagulanyi was arrested right after the campaign on suspicion of inciting his supporters to attack the Presidential motorcade, which resulted into the shattering of the glass of one of the vehicles in the convoy. Amdist the chaos, Bobi Wine’s driver Yasin Kawuma,was shot dead by a stray bullet. All in all, 33 individuals including MPs like Kasiano Wadri who won the by-election of Arua  Municipality, Gerald Karuhanga of Ntungamo Municipality and Francis Zzake of Mityana Municipality were arrested and detained by Uganda Police, assisted by the Special Forces Command (SFC).

RELATED: Bobi Wine’s driver shot dead in Arua

RELATED: Singer Jose Chameleon Pleads with Museveni’s to Forgive Bobi Wine

RELATED: Kenyans protest against detention of Bobi Wine

Robert kyagulanyi with Kasiano Wadri  during campaigns in Arua Municipality. Internet photo.

Bobi Wine was arrested due to illegal possession of fire arms, and inciting violence. He was detained by Police and transferred to Gulu town. While in detention, he was allegedly beaten and tortured. This led to discontent among his supporters and sympathizers who staged a number of riots and demonstrations that spread to different parts of Kampala city and the world demanding that Bobi Wine be freed using the slogans , “FreeBobiWine” and “PeoplePowerOurPower.”

On  23 August 2018, the state dropped the charges of possession of fire arms against Robert Kyagulanyi in the court Martial and he was handed over to the civilian court to be tried for Treason. He was remanded to return to court on the 30 August 2018. However, Robert Kyagulanyi’s lawyers did their best towards his bail application and on 27 August 2018, he was released on bond. From the court cells, Robert Kyagulanyi was taken in an ambulance for medical attention. But he together with other suspects are expected to appear before court on 30th August 2018.

ALSO READ: Bobi Wine freed, re-arrested and remanded till 30th August 2018

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Police allege that BobiWine incited violence among his supporters yesterday on August 14, 2018 when they attacked the president’s convoy and smashed one of the car’s mirror.

MP Robert Kyagulanyi in a scuffle: Courtesy Photo

Others arrested are the aspiring Arua member of Parliament Kassiano Wadri, Gerald Karuhanga  and Mityana Municipality Member of Parliament, Francis Zaake Butebi together with a number of supporters.

The singer was picked up by plain clothed security operatives and driven away

Kawuma Yasin, Bobi Wine’s driver was shot dead following the chaos in Arua Municipality final campaigns to replace slain legislator Ibrahim Abiriga.

“Police has shot my driver dead thinking they’ve shot at me. My hotel is now cordoned off by police and SFC,” Bobi Wine said.

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The funds were meant to clear delayed payment of over 8,000 retired army officers their gratuity and pension, land compensation and sundry creditors.

The committee chaired by Ntungamo municipality MP, Gerald Karuhanga, was interacting while reviewing the Auditor General report of the financial year 2015/16 noted that the Ministry of Defence requires 536 billion shillings to clear the gratuity and pension arrears of the retired army officers but  such funds is never approved by the ministry of finance.

The member of parliament for Kasambya County, Gaffa Mbwatekamwa  asked which criteria used for the retired army officers to access their gratuity since some officers who retired recently quickly  received their money and some who left the military service 10 years ago are still unpaid.

The committee members queried why the ministry continues to retire the army officers when the un cleared bill for officers retire before is not cleared.

The committee noted that suppliers of different items to the army want 103 billion shillings and also the ministry of defanse needs 78 billion shillings for compensation of land acquired by the ministry.

Responding to the issues raised by the committee members the undersecretary in the Ministry of Defence, Edith Buturo said that they continue to retire the army officers because it’s a demand.

She explained that the required payment for the retired army officers is currently under audit by the ministry of finance and after verification they will be paid.

She revealed that a team of 9 auditors has been assigned to audit the army army officers gratuity and pension by the ministry of finance and she expects to all  the arrears of retired army officers within the next two years.

ALSO READ: PAC wants finance minister Kasaija, sacked

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David Bala the leader of the group

Concerned youths have renewed demand for the foreign Affairs minister,Sam Kahamba Kuteesa, to be relieved of his duties over alleged bribe in helping a Chinese energy company to secure oil business advantage .

led by former Makerere University guild President, David Bala, the group has petitioned the Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga against the conduct of the Kuteesa over 1.8 billion shillings bribery scandal and demanded to refers the matter to an appropriate committee for investigations as well as moving a motion to impeach Kuteesa as a Minister of Foreign Affairs for his dishonorable conduct.

ALSO READ:China to train Uganda police in criminal investigations

They noted that their petition is based on reports that the Justice Department of the United States of America had implicated the minister for successfully creating a fake charity organization with a ploy to engage in bribery and money laundering activities and indeed received the bribe.

Bala said that contrary to principles established in the Constitution, Leadership Code of Conduct, values and aspirations of Ugandans, Hon. Kuteesa conducted himself in a manner that is corrupt and detrimental to the public good, welfare and good governance of the country.

The youth say Kuteesa exported corruption to other countries which is tarnishing Uganda’s image and blocking other citizens from getting jobs in other countries due to fear of being also corrupt.

The Speaker promised to give the group a response to this matter within two weeks, noting that the same matter was tabled before the house by Ntungamo Municipality MP, Gerald Karuhanga with similar demands.

ALSO READ:MPS on legal committee cry foul over finances

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Auditor General, John Muwanga

MPs sitting on the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament on Monday grilled the Ministry of Education and Sports officials to explain their expenditure of over 2.1billion shillings of public funds meant for private Universities.

In his June 30^th 2016 report to Parliament, Auditor General, John Muwanga, highlighted that the Ministry transferred 2.1billion shillings to six private Universities, in fulfillment of Presidential pledges.

The beneficiary Universities included; Bishop Staurt University which received 380 million shillings , Kumi University 300Million shillings , Kisubi Brothers University College 912.5Million shillings , Nkumba University 300M, Mountains of the Moon University 150M and Ndejje University 150M.

During the audit process, the auditors discovered that the transfers lacked detailed information with regards to status of implementation of pledges where the benefiting universities had to construct libraries, laboratories and other science blocks.

The auditors also queried discovered that the transfers were made without putting in place mechanisms for accountability from the universities that benefited from President Museveni’s generosity.

In their response, the Ministry told MPs that only Nkumba and Ndejje Universities have handed in their accountabilities.

Director Higher Education Robert Odok Oceng said that the understanding is that the students from private Universities are also Ugandans who come to the job market, who should be properly trained.

During the interface, it was discovered that the Ministry issued the funds without drawing any agreement with the Universities.

The Ministry acknowledged that there was no memorandum of understanding drawn but revealed these have since been put in place.

Gerald Karuhanga the Ntugamo MP

Gerald Karuhanga, Ntungamo Municipality MP wondered how the Ministry would commit such huge funds to private Universities, yet public Universities are grappling with meager funds.

He also questioned why the Ministry budget should go into paying presidential pledges, yet Parliament allocates monies to the Office of the President to meet presidential pledges.

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Ntugamo Municipality Member of Parliament, Gerald Karuhanga

Ntugamo Municipality Member of Parliament, Gerald Karuhanga, and the Kabweri County MP, Gonahasa Francis, want the auditor general to audit the performance of the court of appeal of Uganda in respect to election petitions.

Karuhanga says that election petitions are supposed to be heard with in a period of six months but is surprising that most of the petitions take a long time to be heard which he says denies the people who elected their representatives representation.

Karuhanga says that parliament also appropriated the judiciary more money in the last financial year to enable it handle these petitions in time and hence it is surprising to see that up to now there are still cases in court waiting to be determined.

Byte Karuhanga  Gonahasa also says that amending constitution and Parliamentray elections act will not be a solution as they believe all this emanates from the mismanagement of court of appeal saying that some of the judges were not even given cases to handle.

Karuhanga is also worried that the retirement of the deputy chief justice Steven Kavuma is coming nearing as he is supposed to retire next month and says this will result into these cases requiring to be heard afresh which he says will cost the petitioners.

Karuhanga has also warned Kavuma not to dare adjust his age.

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Member of Parliament for Ntungamo Municipality, Gerald Karuhanga

Members of Parliament sitting on the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee say they have unearthed the rot in the foreign missions which relates to mismanagement of the missions and infighting among the staff.

The committee that is presided over by the Member of Parliament for Ntungamo Municipality, Gerald Karuhanga, who is the vice chairperson discovered  that the accounting officer of the Uganda mission in Washington, Patrick Muganda, had to close his office for six months  over what he termed as  staff bickering and that there was no leadership to stop such misconduct.

MPs while interrogating Muganda understood that he was conflicting with the incoming accounting officer for Washington mission, Mr.Stilson Muhwezi.

The two are   accusing each other of failing the official hand over of officer.

However, Muganda, told the that committee that he found the mission operating in chaos which swallowed him and caused further wrangling and stressed him to the extent of growing grey hair.

He reported that one of the staff at this mission at one time blocked his password to access the mission network for him to make accountability in time.

Karuhanga maintains that the missions abroad are mismanaged because the process of recruiting the staff to these missions is characterized with nepotism and the recruited staff lack technical capacity to handle these offices.

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Soroti District Woman MP, Angelina Osege

Members of Parliament have put Uganda’s missions abroad  on the spotlight over their failure to  remit  funds collected from the sale Visas and rental fees of the country’s properties abroad to the consolidated fund.

The MPs says officials in these missions bank the collected funds from the Non Tax Revenue but that these funds do not reflect at the consolidated fund.

Angelina Osege, the Soroti District Woman, who also Chairs the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee said on Thursday that there have been many anomalies detected at the Uganda mission in Nairobi where by 276 million shillings was collected and that there are no receipts acknowledging funds from the people from whom the Non Tax Revenue is collected.

Keith Muhakanizi the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Finance.

While interfacing with the Ministry of Finance officials led by the Secretary to Treasury, Keith Muhakanizi, MPs who included that for Ntungamo Municipality, Gerald Karuhanga and Jessica Ababiku of Adjuman district questioned the Accountant General, Lawrence Semakula and Muhakanizi, over their non action yet money is being lost in Uganda’s missions abroad.

Later Semakula admitted that there is an anomaly and apologized before saying the they are going to ensure it is rectified.

“Actually as we speak, the ministry has directed the all accounting officers to encourage paying of visas through E-visa payment so as the fund is reflected to the consolidated fund directly. This is already a step towards streamlining these issues and I believe we shall rectify it,” he said.

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MPs on the committee chaired by Soroti district Woman Member of Parliament, Angeline Ossege, while meeting the officials from the ministry of public service led by the ministry’s permanent secretary, Catherine Musingwire, discovered this  through the Auditor general’s report  for the financial year 2013/14  that a total of 19,135 pensioners who had attained the maximum pensionable period of 15 years were still on the ministry of public service payroll and earning monthly pension yet they had not furnished the ministry with life certificates.

Member of Parliament for Ntungamo district, Gerald Karuhanga

MPs who included the Member of Parliament for Ntungamo district, Gerald Karuhanga and Angelline Ossege wondered whether all the pensioners paid were still alive suspecting that there could have been ghosts who benefited.

MPs queried the officials especially the Director Human Resource, Aidah Muwanga Kabarokole and the assistant commissioner in charge of compensation, Victor Buwaleka, on what stopped them from verifying for the right pensioners using the life certificates before effecting payments.

Masaka Municipality MP, Mathius Mpuuga among the MPs.

The Member of Parliament for Masaka Municipality, Matthias Mpuuga, was angry over this questionable payment to suspicious ghost pensioners when the right pensioners are frequently made to go to the pension office to be paid.

While responding to MP’s concerns over the suspicious ghost pensioner’s payment, Kabarokole, said that though MPs are suspecting payment to ghost pensioners but the ministry conducted the payment using available proper records.

MPs told the ministry of public to avail the list of life certificates they claim to have used to effect this doubtful pension to pensioners.

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