President Museveni at a recent function. Internet photo

President Yoweri Museveni has urged the European Union (EU) to support Uganda’s efforts to relocate people from wetlands and forests and avert environmental degradation and landslides.

“When Hon. Kuteesa was at the UN, I tasked him with fundraising for this cause. We want to remove people from the wetlands. He raised US$22million. Support us to relocate these people,” the President said, adding that the recent landslide in Bududa District has woken up the population there and now they are ready to move.

The President and the European Union delegation held their annual political dialogue meeting in accordance with Article 8 of the Cotonou Partnership Agreement and forms part of regular political dialogue between Uganda and the EU on global, regional and national issues.

The European Union Ambassador to Uganda, H.E. Attilio Pacifici, who led the delegation, had earlier condoled with the President and the people of Uganda following the landslide disaster in Bududa District in which over 55 people are confirmed to have perished and hundreds displaced. He said the EU has already availed maps of Mt. Elgon from their world satellite to gather more information.

The delegation included Heads of Missions of Austria, H.E. Gunter Engelits, Belgium H.E. Hugo Verbist, France H.E. Stephanie Rivoal, Ireland, H.E. William Carlos, Italy H.E. Domenico Fornara, Germany H.E. Albrecht Conze, the United Kingdom H.E. Peter West, Poland, H.E. Jacek Bazariski, Czech Republic, H.E. Pavel Rezac, Netherlands H.E. Henk Jan Bakker, Sweden H.E. Per Lindgarde and Ms. Majbrit Holm Jacobsen, the Charge d’Affaires of the Danish Embassy.

The President and the Ambassadors talked about regional issues such as security in South Sudan, Somalia and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), climate change, trade and investment climate, among others.

President Museveni called upon the Ambassadors to encourage companies in their countries to invest in Uganda citing that there is need to create employment for the youth. He assured them that he is handling the issue of the Uganda Investment Authority to stop the infighting for investor confidence.

The EU delegation commended President Museveni and the Government of Uganda for the commitment towards finding peace in the region to facilitate trade and development and hospitality towards the refugees.

Prime Minister Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda, Foreign Affairs Minister, Sam Kuteesa, that of Finance and Economic Planning, Matia Kasaija, Attorney General, William Byaruhanga, Security Minister, Elly Tumwiine, National Resistance Movement (NRM) Secretary General, Justice Kasule Lumumba and other senior government officials, attended the meeting.

Source: State House

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This was during the approval of the report by the committee on Gender on the Ministerial Policy Statement of the Ministry of gender for the financial year 2018/2019.

This is after the chairperson of the committee on gender Ndeezi Alex informed parliament that creations limited a private company by Gen. Elly Tumwnine  has been occupying Nnomo gallery but has not been paying rent since 1998.

Ndeezi said that what is disheartening is that every financial year funds are allocated for the maintenance of this premises and in the FY 2018/19,44.6 million shillings  has been set aside for the same purpose.

The Committee strongly recommended that; Creations Limited immediately pays rent arrears amounting to 7.62 billion shillings before the end of 2018 and vacates Nommo Gallery.

This prompted the speaker of parliament Rebecca Alitwala  Kadaga to direct Tumwine to pay the rent and also vacate the public facility saying that if this kind of impunity is not checked someone one day will take over parliament and claim its their house just because he fought in the bush.

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Opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) has reportedly recruited youth with a purpose of burning markets, parishes of kingdoms and other places of public interest.

The security agencies also allege that FDC has recruited youth who are undergoing a military training in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The aim of the garrison being trained in DRC is to over throw president Museveni’s government.

Security minister Muluri Mukasa says that the security network has continued to receive intelligence reports indicating that FDC has been and is still nursing plans of over throwing Kampala government by use of arms and to burn markets.

Currently the government is holding several people in connection with plans to form rebel groups that will fight to over throw NRM government.   However Judith Akello, the MP for Agago says that FDC is a political party in Uganda which doesn’t believe in violence as a means to change government.

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However he suggests that the law should be balanced to protect the people who collect information from suspects which can be used for successful prosecution.

Muluri who was giving views on this bill before the committee, says that if the bill is not balanced, the people responsible for interrogating suspects will fear to do their work well.

The bill was tabled before parliament as a private members bill by Ndorwa east mp Wilfred Niwagaba to make torture a crime.

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