Although Wadri was not able to cast his ballot as he’s still in police custody in Gulu, he beat 11 others, among them, Nusura Tiperu, a member of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party who finished second position.

Tiperu got 4,763 (27%) followed by Robert Ejiku (Independent) with 2,703 (15%). Bruce Musema of the FDC followed with 1,372 (4%).

At some polling stations in Oli B Cell, a group of youths jubilated in front of the soldiers and policemen after Wadri won there.

The former Terego county legislator now takes the seat previously occupied by Col Ibrahim Abiriga who was gunned down in June this year. The total number of votes cast were 17,089 while invalid votes were 613.

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The post Detained Kassiano Wadri wins Arua Municipality MP by-election first appeared on Uganda Multimedia News & Information.

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.

The post We have Bobi Wine – Police confirms first appeared on Uganda Multimedia News & Information.

Ibrahim Abiriga’s car bearing bullet holes from the scene where he was assassinated in Matugga

The Minister of State for Water, Ronald Kibuule, has said security officials are behind the recent assassinations of top government personalities stating that the Armed personnels are so close to the civilians which has resulted to misuse of Arms.

“Initially, there was fear of the gun. But because of the friendly nature of the forces, the gun is not feared now, which is an achievement as NRM. Our armed officers are very close to the population and that has come with the challenge of misuse of the weapon by killing Ugandans,” Kibuule said.

He continued to say that the assailants are trained and execute the killings with such perfection and professionalism that cannot be executed by a layman. Asked whether the reference ‘armed officers’ meant the security officials, Kibuule said “Yes, these are security officials and trained. When you look at the killings that have happened, they are done professionally. This is what I call misuse of arms by our comrades the armed officials. The killers have been smart, they have used boda bodas to run away. They cannot be just common wanainchi. Eyewitnesses said they shoot using one hand, nobody can do this unless they are experts.”

“These cannot be mere casual people. For example, the death of Ibrahim Abiriga, these could have been sharpshooters but had never got a chance to practice this at the battle ground,” he added.

Kibuule urged security agencies to investigate the killings to find out why people are dying in a similar way (shooting).

“We need the security apparatus to come top on these particular issues. People are continuing to die; they are putting our security in the country at stake,” Kibuule said.

Uganda has witnessed the killing of more than five big personalities in government and several others in the religious circles in less than 4 years.

The recent murder of Arua Municipality MP Late Hon. Ibrahim Abirirga was the last to be witnessed in the country and tends to be the base of Kibuule’s claims. It should be remembered that Abiriga was shot dead alongside his bodyguard by gunmen moving on motorcycles in Kawanda on Bombo Road.

After the assassination, some Members of Parliament (MPs) tasked the government to provide protection for fear they would be the next targets.

President Museveni. thereafter ordered the Ministry of Finance to procure bulletproof escort cars manned by sharpshooters as extra protection to the legislators.

The decision however, sparked a storm among the civil society, general public and some MPs, questioning its justification and cost implications.

So Opposition MPs said they would shun the escort vehicles, arguing that security for the general public is more critical than the individual protection.

However, Kibuule noted that its cheaper to protect an MP with an escort car and sharpshooter than bury and organize a bi-election.

“Ensuring Ugandan security is key but securing an individual’s security is key, especially for some figures. We are a representation of a bigger society that is why we are called MPs. We can be targeted for different reasons,”

“They need to be protected but the only problem is the money to procure the protection. We will spend much more money to give MPs state burials and later conduct by-elections than buy for them the pick-ups. We shall get softer solutions to this,” Kibuule lamented.

Police spokesperson Emilian Kayima said he could not confirm the allegations of the minister until all the ongoing cases have been cordially investigated.

“I do not want to be taken like I am answering him but we need to get to the bottom of the investigations before we draw any conclusions. Yes, there can be some cases of misbehavior, negligence and careless mistakes but since no one has been convicted, I cannot confirm anything,” Emilian said.

Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) deputy spokesperson Deo Akiki declined to comment on the issue because of its sensitivity and referred the Matter to his boss, Brig Richard Karemire.

“It is a minister making a statement here, I would not want to answer him because the issue is sensitive. You can talk to my boss for a comment or the Minister of Internal Affairs,” he said.

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• President Museveni should apologise over Abiriga murder – FDC
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• I disliked Abiriga, but I cry tears for him – Nambooze

The post Kibuule pins recent Uganda assassinations to security officials first appeared on Uganda Multimedia News & Information.

Hon. Betty Nambooze speaking to media

One great writer said that, to the living we owe respect, but to the dead we owe only the truth but when death comes more so abruptly and in such a gruesome manner like it happened to my Honourable brother Col.Ibrahim Abiriga, truth ceases to matter but the fact that a life is lost.

I would therefore on my own behalf and on behalf of the people of Mukono Municipality wish to express our condolences to his family, relatives and to the people of Arua Municipality for this gruesome assisination that only adds to the trauma we are already suffering as a country over unexplained murders.

I am however, not going to insult Abiriga’s memory by pretending that he was my friend. He was far from it….He wasn’t shy about expressing his opinion….which I highly doubt was his opinion.

To me he was a loud speaker for the people who have chosen to love power more than the future of our Uganda.

He knew how to offend and irritate those of us who find Museveni’s government a curse to our country.

He invested all himself to maintain the status quo and it’s within this status quo that he has perished.

When one day I ran towards him to grab his yellow cap at Parliament,my intention was to show him that even with the guards the regime was fooling him with, it couldn’t secure him fully.

For that act and another of grabbing Pecos Kuteesa’s military cap, I paid with my backbone. I am now maimed for life and when I returned to Parliament after hospitalisation Abiriga tried to mock me, for which I almost physically fought with him.

But when news of Abiriga’s assassination came, I went cold with pain…I cried tears, but deep inside I knew I wasn’t crying for Abiriga, he was gone, I was crying for my country…..

We need our colleagues like Abiriga to stay around to realise the mess we have sunk our country in and maybe join forces to dig it out of the pit.

We need to reject any politics that targets people because of their political beliefs. This isn’t a matter of political correctness. It’s a matter of understanding what makes us strong.

Uganda will be better not through elimination of those we don’t agree with or innocent people to traumatise the Nation but because of our effort to put up systems that will work for us all irrespective of our political beliefs.

Every life must be respected and every murder must be condemned.

As we bury Abiriga, leaving his young family without a provider,it high time we all raise in one voice to say that the status quo is hopeless, there are no winners in a sinking boat.

IT IS TIME TO CHANGE even when Museveni still insists that those terrorising us are idiots we must come out boldly to tell him that we have no use with a Regime and a President who cannot successfully deal with “idiots”.

Rest in peace Abiriga.

The author is Mukono municipality MP

RELATED: Nambooze and three others inspected over Abiriga murder

RELATED: President Museveni should apologise over Abiriga murder – FDC

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Arua Municipality MP, Ibrahim Abiriga

The move to extend the term of elective offices from five to seven years was brought back, when disclosed his plans to table a private member’s bill that seeks to extend the term of all elective offices from five years to seven.

The seven year term of office for the president and the members of parliament was first fronted by Kabula county MP James Kakooza in the 9^th parliament but was unpopular among MPs.

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Contacted opposition MPs who include Hon Moses Kasibante,Rubaga North, Hon.Paulson Lutamaguzi, Nakaseke south, Ndorwa East, Wilfred Niwagaba ,Mukono Municipality MP Betty Nambooze Bakireke and Rukungiri Municipality MP

said that  if a bill seeking for extension of the term of office of the and president  members of parliament is  brought in parliament they will entirely  oppose it and vote against  because it against the people’s will who voted the government in power for five years. 

Ssemakula said that it’s a bad proposal because it comes at a time when the country is expecting MPs to assessing their performance for the two years they have spent in parliament.

Niwagaba said that   this proposal would not benefit the current parliament and this shall require a referendum to have peoples mandate.

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