Although Bank of Uganda Governor Tumusiime Mutebile, President Museveni and the government in general have always been quick to close banks owned by the private seen as anti government including the Greenland bank, owned by late Sulaiman Kiggundu, they have refused to close the National Bank of Commerce formerly Kigezi Bank of Commerce owned by Nzei, Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi & Minister Ruhakana Rugunda.

Politicians from several political shades have challenged President Museveni/Mutebile and or the NRM government to close the National Bank of Commerce the way they closed Cooperative Bank, Greenland Bank and ICB bank among others because its main directors are issued over reported corruption.

The FDC youth coordinator, Sheikh Ibrahim Kasozi wonders how Nzei, Amama … are the same people involved in NSSF, oil, CHOGM, Temangalo land saga etc.

Nzei, Amama and Rukahana are being sued for conning Arab investors of billions of shillings. Other politicians our informer interviewed described Mbabazi, Nzei and Rukahana as shameless crooks. They wondered how the said officials conned the poor peasants from their own Kigizi land. Some warned the people still banking in Mbabazi’s bank stand to stand on guard.

The post Ugandans want Museveni to close National Bank of Commerce first appeared on Uganda Multimedia News & Information.

This is surely some good news for supporters of MP Brenda Nabukenya. The rumour we have got now is that she could be two months pregnant.

Nabukenya won the recent Luweero district woman MP by election polls. Her close pals in DP rumored to us that she could be pregnant and the man responsible if it is true she is pregnant is not yet known to the press.

We are not confirming that the legislator is pregnant. But it is only rumoured that she could be pregnant. DP insiders tell us that if it is true the legislator is pregnant, the man responsible could be one of the vibrant and loaded men in the Democratic Party.

Some of the vibrant and loaded men in the democratic Party include Deputy Lord Mayor, Sulaiman Kidandala, DP Legal advisor and Mukasa Mbidde. Our investigation team is going on to investigate whether really the MP is pregnant. Remember Brenda is not yet blessed with a baby.

The post ‘MP Brenda Nabukenya pregnant’ first appeared on Uganda Multimedia News & Information.

Several Government technicians and politicians in Uganda have pledged to the disabled community in Uganda that their long wish will be granted. The minister for Elderly and disabled Sulaiman Madada says that the disabled should bare it in mind that the promise by the government to them will all be fulfilled by the National Resistance Movement government.

The minister revealed that annexing the Standards to the Building Control Act was inserted into the Building Control Bill that has already been approved by the Cabinet of Uganda.

The disabled MP for Buganda region Alex Ndeezi says that the disabled community in Uganda is so far grateful to the government for its role in the development of the Standards, and the new task of making sure that the Standards are made part of the law. The MP says that PWDS strongly believe that the government will not retreat or surrender before this dream is realised. Ndeezi says that MPs in Uganda Parliament have also committed themselves to support the Bill when it comes to the House.

The MP says that making the Standards part of the law ought to be a big struggle as it is not a privilege of PWDs but rather intended to benefit all people in Uganda, as accessibility is a right to all. When the Standards are legalized, it will be to the advantage of Government, PWDs, MPs, and every other citizen, because everybody including PWDs will be able to access the physical environment without barriers, hence increasing their participation in social, political and economic opportunities necessary for development. What a nice gift it would be for all in 2012 when the Building Control Act in enacted and taking care of the accessibility needs and concerns of all Ugandans.

The post Uganda government gives Persons with disabilities gifts first appeared on Uganda Multimedia News & Information.

The Standards are a guide to architects, civil engineers, constructors and property developers on how to construct buildings and facilities suitable for every one’s use including persons with disabilities.

“I really congratulate and respect you for producing these guidelines. I have no objection to making the Standards part of the law. I am happy that you have come early to discuss this with me. I will make sure that we do what you want. Also keep in touch with Parliament to support the Bill when it comes to the House for debate,” the minister said. This was in a meeting between UNAPD, Works Ministry and the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development. Sulaiman Madada the minister in charge of elderly and disability in the Gender Ministry arranged and attended this meeting together with officials from his ministry. The Gender Ministry was so instrumental in the development of the Standards that were launched in 2008. Byandala said that he personally acknowledges the challenges PWDs go through in regard to accessibility and emphasized that accessibility is for all.

“I have also started to experience accessibility challenges because of age,” he says. “I will also alert my colleagues’ inn the Uganda governmnet to take care of accessibility needs when they are constructing buildings.”

He said the Building Control Bill is before Cabinet for scrutiny, and the development of the regulations to operationalise it when it becomes an Act will begin soon. The meeting was also attended by the Commissioner for Building, Arch. Harry Kazahure. “Architect Kazahure will lead the process of making the regulations. Please, keep in touch with him,” the minister advised

his visitors led by the treasurer, Ark Goffin Candria. Kazahure said the regulations will be developed by the Ministry of Justice and will provide for the Standards as an annex to the Building Control Act. Madada thanked the Ministry of Works for the promise to legalise the Standards, and said it will be in line with the Government’s commitment to empower people to live a better and fulfilling life. Candria explained to the minister the intensive consultative process of developing the Standards, and expressed optimism that the lives of PWDs will greatly improve if the Standards are legalised and enforced in Uganda.

The post Ministry of Works to table Building Control Bill first appeared on Uganda Multimedia News & Information.

The minister notes that the majority of the poorest people in the country are people with disabilities, widows, and some sections of youth but very few of them are benefiting from the Government’s programmes meant to get them out of poverty.

Madada made the remarks today while launching the Membership Empowerment Project at national level at Hotel Africana in Kampala.

“I thank and commend people who are fundraising for this project. Empowerment is giving people information and knowledge to actively participate meaningfully in socio, economic and political development. Once people are knowledgeable and informed, they are empowered,” the minister observed.

He said there are many policies and laws in Uganda to safeguard and promote the rights of all persons but many people are ignorant about them.

“This project is therefore timely. It will help Government to mobilise people to access and benefit from poverty eradication initiatives and also empower them to demand for their rights,” Madada said. “The constitution guides all development partners including Government to address the needs of people thus when we empower them we are in essence putting them in a position where they can identify and prioritise their needs and lobby the Government and civil society for support in addressing their needs.”

The post Minister tips Ugandans on poverty first appeared on Uganda Multimedia News & Information.

However, these are not the only factors that made this launch distinctive but the presence of the Vice President, Edward Ssekandi who has launched the project. The launch was also blessed and witnessed by the State Minister in Charge of the Elderly and Disability, Hon. Sulaiman Madada, MPs representing People with Disabilities (PWDs) and several other dignitaries from the central Government and Kayunga District local administration.

“I hereby launch the Membership Empowerment Project), a three year project operational in 12 districts and supported by some development partners,” Sekandi said and added.

“It is my strong conviction that this will reinforce the existing agencies supporting our persons with disabilities.” The project seeks to make sure that persons with physical disabilities enjoy equal rights in all aspects of life and are included equally into development programs and projects such as NAADS, Prosperity for All, Northern Uganda Social Action Fund, among others.

The project is implemented in 12 districts including Kayunga, Kiboga, Mubende (central region); Mbarara, Bushenyi and Kisoro (western); Arua, Oyam and Kitgum (northern); Busia, Palissa and Kaberamaido in the east. It is supported by three organisation of persons with disabilities in Denmark: Danish Handicap Forbund; Danish Brain Injury Support Association; and Disabled Sports Organisation Denmark.

Also at the launch, UNAPD’s treasurer Ark Goffin Candria, handed over a copy of the Accessibility Standards to the vice president and asked him to support UNAPD in her endeavour to make the Standards part of the upcoming Building Control Act. Candria noted that one of the biggest challenges persons with physical disabilities face is the inaccessible physical environment. He explained that most of the services are offered in inaccessible building and places, making it impossible for many PWDs to access services. He said with the adoption of the Standards as part of the law, UNAPD hopes that the law will be observed and enforced by the relevant agencies to make building and other facilities usable to all people. Sekandi hailed UNAPD for coming up with the Standards and pledged to push for annexing of the same to the Building Control Act. He also handed over three wheel chairs donated by UNAPD to persons with physical disabilities. Sekandi also   commissioned the International Day for Persons with Disabilities in Kayunga, ahead of the national celebrations that were observed in Lira district on December 3, 2012. The function was organised by Sulaiman Madada, the MP for Bbaale County in Kayunga, partly to thank his voters for reelecting him into Parliament and to commission several development initiatives in the district. PWDs MPs Hellen Asamo, Alex Ndeezi and William Nokrach attended the ceremony. Several officials from the central Government and Kayunga district local government witnessed the ceremony.

The post Many dances, lots of food, thousands of people at VP Edward Kiwanuka Sekandi’s project launch first appeared on Uganda Multimedia News & Information.

Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) is in shock after about 312 billion shillings meant to develop markets in the city went missing on the council’s bank accounts.

KCCA has consequently established a committee comprised of councilors to investigate the whereabouts of the said money. Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago says that the committee is headed by his deputy Sulaiman Kidandala.

 The money was meant to redevelop Kasubi, Kansanga, Owino (St. Balikudembe), Nnkulabye and Wandegeya market. However the KCCA director Jenifer Musisi claims that the money was used. But she doesn’t explain where it was used and who used it.

The post 312 billion shillings stolen on KCCA bank accounts first appeared on Uganda Multimedia News & Information.

Kidandala says that Ms Musisi is simply trying to please her master president Museveni who is also the appointment authority of her office.

Speaking to this journalists at City Hall inKampala, Kidandala said that Ms Musisi is also dancing to the tune of NRM councilors in the authority.

The Deputy Lord mayor also says that Ms Musisi is fighting him because she is a born again Christian and he is a Muslim. Kidandala said that his religion was dictated upon him at birth. He was born a Muslim.

Kidandala however suggests that what he has fought with Musisi is enough and it is high time the two explore reconciliatory approaches.  Story to be continued!

The post Kampala Deputy Lord Mayor Sulaiman Kidandala explains why Kampala director Jenifer Musisi Semakula is fighting him first appeared on Uganda Multimedia News & Information.

The figures that came from the central government as conditional grants were instead broken down by the Executive Director unilaterally hence set the wrong priorities. As a result of the public outcry more so the bad state of the roads in the city, the Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago decided to convene a special KCCA meeting-purely to revisit and realign those priority areas in order to address the current situation in the city.

According to the KCCA act, the budget has to be presented to the authority for final approval which the Executive Director Jenifer Musisi Semakula did not do. So Tuesday’s KCCA meeting that flopped had been called to address the above issue. Musisi realizing that her office was going to be questioned over the expenditures currently goingon that were not approved by the authority, she decided to frustrate the meeting by influencing councilors not to attend citing unfounded grounds that the meeting had not been legally convened.

The notice was issued to all councilors on 11^th Jan calling for a special authority meeting on 17^th and that was an adequate notice for a special meeting. Ms Musisi wants to continue spending money without accountability queries, this is the reason she is using the councilors to boycott meetings called by Lukwago. To be continued!

By Kampala Lord Mayor, Suleiman Kidandala

The post Deputy Lord Mayor of Kampala, Sulaiman Kidandala explains origin of Kampala problems first appeared on Uganda Multimedia News & Information.

The students say that on Wednesday this week when Lukwago was addressing a meeting of councilors, Bernard Luyiga’s body guard attempted to sassinate Lukwago.

 It should also be remembered that Luyiga recently signed a memorandum of Understanding with NRM councilors to support him to become the Deputy mayor.

 The students say that Luyiga has now officially crossed from opposition to NRM and so he should resign his post and the electoral commission organises fresh elections. The law provides that when a candidate contests for any elective political post on a particular ticket and successfully wins the polls, that person is not supposed to cross from another political camp. When that person does it, he/she ceases to hold that post and the electoral commission organises fresh polls.

However for the case of Luyiga, he says he did not close to NRM. Luyiga argues that he only asked the NRM councilors to support him to become Deputy Mayor and that the body guard had no intentions of killing the Lord Mayor as was reported in the press.

By Christine Kate

The post Makerere University students move to impeach councilor Luyiga first appeared on Uganda Multimedia News & Information.