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Uganda Parliament honours Janan Luwuum

Zakaria Tiberindwa — Thu, 02 Apr 2015 13:56:54 +0000

Legislators across the political divide on Tuesday, 31^st March 2015 paid tribute to the late Archbishop Janan Luwum who was murdered on 16^th February 1977 during President Idi Amin’s regime.

This followed a Motion moved by the Prime Minister, Ruhakana Rugunda at a Sitting of Parliament chaired by the Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Jacob Oulanyah.

The Motion requested Parliament to pay tribute to the late Archbishop for his distinguished service and contribution towards the liberation of Uganda and that the ideals of democracy, good governance and the rule of law that the late Janan Luwum advocated for be upheld.

The Motion also stated that Parliament takes cognisance of the public holiday of 16^th February as pronounced by President Museveni.

The Late Janan Luwum who was born in 1924 was the Archbishop of Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and Boga-Zaire from 1974 to 1977, when he was murdered.

In the Motion, Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda said that the late Luwum was a great man of the 20^th Century who stood for human rights, and was a role model for the world. The Premier added that the late Archbishop resisted the intimidation of the brutal regime of Idi Amin.

“He condemned the atrocities of Idi Amin and his death united Ugandans and galvanised the liberation of Uganda from the dictatorship”, he said.

Rugunda also stated that the late Luwum was a major uniting factor and a leading force within the church, which was fractured in agony at the time.

“He confronted tribalism and religious rivalry. His leadership encouraged people not to disregard issues but confront them. He was a gift to Uganda, Africa and to humanity”, Rugunda noted.

He concluded by saying that Uganda lost a gallant son, the family lost a loving father, the world lost an icon and the church lost a leader.

“He was a giant, a role model who inspired us and is a challenge to all of us regardless of our faith and affiliations”, he concluded.

The Leader of the Opposition, Wafula Oguttu who seconded the Motion said the late Archbishop was the greatest Ugandan who ever lived and worked for a just, peaceful and democratic Uganda.

“He saw the church as vehicle for peace, reconciliation and social transformation”, Wafula Oguttu said.

He added that the late Luwum put his country and people first

“Not many of us have these traits. Many Ugandans serve themselves first, the President next and the country last”, He added. Wafula Oguttu urged Ugandans to draw inspiration from the man of God who left a legacy of clean leadership.

Beatrice Anywar (Kitgum District Woman Member of Parliament) said the late Archbishop Janan Luwum wasn’t fearful and was able to speak out. She advocated for a faith-based university to be built at Mucwini in Kitgum district in his honour.

Latif Ssebaggala called on the Ministry of Education to have books about the late Luwum made available to primary and secondary schools.

“His story should be included in the school syllabus so that our children get to know about this great saint of Uganda”, the Parliament Imam sounded out.

Bugweri County Member of Parliament, Abdu Katuntu said that the late Luwum has continued to unite Ugandans even in his death as seen by the meeting of different leaders from all the political parties.

“I was touched when I saw Olara Otunnu shaking hands with President Museveni and Cecilia Ogwal smiling gracefully. We need a society of equality and unity which the late Archbishop died for”, he echoed.

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95% of Uganda Road Traffic Accidents are preventable- Prime Minister Rugunda

Isaac Senabulya — Mon, 16 Mar 2015 04:38:14 +0000

The Prime Minister Dr Ruhakana Rugunda has called for massive sensitization of the public on road safety measures to reduce the rampant road accidents in the country.

Rugunda said 95% of the road accidents could be prevented if only the people followed the road traffic regulations.

The Premier made the remarks while meeting a cross section of stakeholders on road safety who were led by Alex Ruhunda, Member of Parliament for Fort Portal Municipality and Member of Parliamentary Forum on road safety at the Office of the Prime Minister .

“The weaknesses and loopholes in the implementation of these measures need to be addressed,” said the Premier.

Ruhunda noted that it is time the government drew a roadmap for establishing the National Road Safety Authority, adding that all relevant laws should be expedited and brought to Parliament.

The head of Accident and Emergency at Mulago hospital, Dr Alex Bangirana said boda boda (Motocycle Taxi) injuries account for up to 50% of the road traffic crashes.

According to Uganda Helmet Vaccine Initiative (UHVI), use of helmets reduces the risk of severe head injury by 69% and risk of fatality by 42% while the annual crime and Police report, estimates that 18,368 crashes were recorded in 2013, while 19,870 were recorded in 2012.

Another study carried out by researchers from Uganda Christian University and Makerere University(2014), involving 1600 boda boda riders in Kawempe and central divisions of Kampala estimates that 55% of Boda Boda riders had ever been involved in an accident.

The research also revealed that it costs up to 7 million shillings to treat cyclists with serious injuries and that the economic burden of motorcycle accidents in Uganda was estimated at US$3.6 million (about 9 billion shillings) annually.

Research also indicates that Uganda is among the seven African countries responsible for 64% of all road deaths. Others are Nigeria, South Africa, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

In 2010, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 2011-2020 the ‘Decade of Action for Road Safety.’

Other road safety stakeholders represented at the meeting were; Safe Way Right Way Uganda, Uganda Helmet Vaccine Initiative, Mulago hospital Accident and Emergency centre, Crossroads and Uganda Christian University, Mukono.

Dr. Rugunda as well paid tribute to health workers and the Uganda Police Force for their role in saving lives of road accident victims.

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Welcoming the Pope: Uganda Tourism Board embarks on strategic marketing plan

Zakaria Tiberindwa — Fri, 30 Jan 2015 14:57:02 +0000

While Uganda looks forward to the visit of Pope Francis later in 2015, the Uganda Tourism Board (UTB) has embarked on a strategic marketing plan for the Country to maximize the benefits of the proposed visit of the Pope to the Country.

The Chief Executive Officer of the Uganda Tourism Board Stephen Asiimwe said that the Board is focusing on engaging churches within the country and across the region to mobilize and invite people to visit the country at the same time.

Asiimwe says if that is done it will boast Uganda’s revenue generation.

Asiimwe believes the tourism industry should take advantage of the big numbers who are likely to attend the pope’s visit in Uganda to market the sector.

He said that the Uganda Tourism Board is also in talks with different embassies and airlines to help mobilize Christians and facilitate their travels to the country during that time. He said that if well prepared Uganda can reap big from this historical visit.

Pope Francis announced recently that he will make his first visit to Africa later this year with stops in Uganda and the Central African Republic and Government has already put in place a Cabinet subcommittee led by the Prime Minister Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda to plan for the Pope’s visit.

The Tourism board targets to attract 1.5 million tourists in the country this year.

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Amama Mbabazi says parliament cannot censure him

Gerald Businge — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 12:59:21 +0000

The Prime Minister, Mr Amama Mbabazi has said the censure motion that some Members of Parliament are preparing against him will NOT come to pass. He maintains his innocence in the alleged oil scandal in which he and two ministers are accused of taking bribes from oil companies.

Mr Mbabazi said the impending censure motion could only apply if he was a Minister. He noted that as Prime Minister he could only leave office on resignation, death, no longer qualifies to be a Member of Parliament (MP) or was removed by the appointing authority.

Amama Mbabazi John Patrick, new prime Minister of Uganda

Mbabazi was briefing the Kinkizi West Constituency Council Executive Committee on the bribery allegations in Kihihi, Kanungu district on Saturday. District Councilors, LC3 chairpersons, opinion leaders and special interest groups’ representatives attended the meeting.

Mr Ali Rugomwa, the committee chairman had said the constituents were worried that their MP would soon be kicked out of Parliament. He was also concerned about government failure to tarmac the 43km Kanyantorogo-Butogota-Mpungu and 40km Butogota-Buhoma roads.

“Be steady and rest assured that I am going nowhere because there is no iota of truth in the (oil bribery) allegations,” Mbabazi said. He explained that whereas the roads were some of the nine prioritized throughout the country the government could only raise money for three this year.

He said MPs asking him to step aside on false allegations was tantamount to convicting him over unfounded claims and sentencing him unfairly. MPs including Theodore Sekikubo, Mohammad Nsereko, Gerald Karuhanga, Wilfred Niwagaba, Celina Nebanda and Rosemary Seninde wanted Mbabazi and Ministers Sam Kuteesa and Hilary Onek to leave office.
Mr Mbabazi briefed his constituents on the 10 resolutions, among which was that government halt transactions in the oil sector until there are adequate enabling laws. He said Cabinet rejected the idea because similar resolutions had delayed power generation at Bujagali in Jinja, slowing down economic transformation in the country.

“Government cannot stop oil activities because they are the way to industrialization and solving the employment problem,” Mbabazi said. He explained that the country had already earned over 2.5 billion shillings in oil revenues which would be used for the Karuma power generation facility.

He underscored the importance of agriculture in driving the economy, saying the Government had increased funding to the sector to 20% of the national budget, up from 4.8% last year.

Mbabazi said value addition to local products would be strongly supported to transform the economy. Other incentives included tax waivers on some products and improving the general investment climate in the country.

By Kyetume Kasanga, Prime Minister’s Press Unit

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Prime Minister Amama Mbabzi to resign as NRM Secretary General

Gerald Businge — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 15:39:13 +0000

The Prime Minister of the Republic of Uganda Amama Mbabazi has revealed that he will resign the job of the national resistance movement secretary general in order to concentrate on his new position as the prime minister.

Amama Mbabazi John Patrick, new prime Minister of Uganda

He says being prime Minister and the ruling party secretary general are two demanding jobs for one to meet set goals.

Mbabazi previously served as a security minister as well as secretary general some of his party. Some of his supporters believe he should continue to holding the two positions.

However, Members of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) caucus in parliament during a recent meeting with the President Yoweri Museveni at State House Entebbe asked Mbabazi to relinquish the post of secretary general.

Mbabazi did not however reveal when and the NRM organization would meet to have a new secretary general in place. Mbabazi won the NRM top job almost a year ago after defeating former vice president Prof. Gilbert Bukenya, Justice Minister Major General Kahinda Otafire and Dr. Elijah Musemeza, a university professor.

Ultimate Media

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Parliament approves Edward Sekandi as Vice President and Amama Mbabazi as Prime Minister

Gerald Businge — Wed, 25 May 2011 14:11:30 +0000

The former speaker of parliament Edward Kiwanuka Sekandi has been approved by parliament as the vice president and Amama Mbabazi accepted as the prime minister of Uganda.

Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi

The motion to approve Sekandi was moved by Soroti municipality MP Mike Mukula and supported by the woman mp for Alebtong district Rebecca Atengo.

Mps from both sides in parliament unanimously supported Sekandi without considering their political differences. 244 mps voted in support of Sekandi and one abstained the voting.

The MP for Dokolo county Felix Okot Ogong said that Sekandi was the best person to become the vice president because he is not greedy and stands by his words.

Oyam south MP Betty Among from the opposition said she is confidence that Sekandi with his legal experience will advice the president well to protect the constitution.

Meanwhile, Kampala central MP Nsereko Muhammed (NRM) walked out from the house in protest as soon as the vetting process for the prime minister begun.

Nsereko told journalists that he was not comfortable seeing Mbabazi being Prime Minister because the position needs someone with a clean mind. Nsereko says that he is comfortable with Mbabazi as the secretary general for NRM but not as prime minister.

By Isaac Senabulya

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Mixed reactions over Amama Mbabazi appointment as Prime Minister

Gerald Businge — Wed, 25 May 2011 13:02:40 +0000

Mps have reacted differently to the appointment of Amama Mbabazi as the prime minister of Uganda. The reaction came after the president announced the name of former minister for security Amama Mbabazi as the new prime minister during the NRM caucus meeting at state house in Entebbe.

Amama Mbabazi John Patrick, new prime Minister of Uganda

Makindye west mp Hussein Kyanjo says that Amama’s public conduct has been excellent but his conduct in parliament will make the discussions in parliament difficult.

Lira municipality mp Jimmy Akena says that Amama has demonstrated the need for the position and says that he can listen and therefore they will be able to forward their concerns easily.

Meanwhile Bunyore county mp Emmanuel Dombo says that Amama is the senior minister and therefore he can manage. Dombo says that Amama is well conversant with parliamentary rules and will be effective leader of government business.

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President Museveni praises Edward Sekandi as clean man, Amama Mbabazi as reliable

Gerald Businge — Tue, 24 May 2011 15:33:25 +0000

President Yoweri Museveni has praised his new Vice President Edward Kiwanuka Sekandi as “a clean, trustworthy and consistent man”.

Museveni earlier on Tuesday named Sekandi as Vice President as he started unveiling his new cabinet. Sekandi replaces Prof. Gilbert Bukenya who has been Vice President since 2003.

Amama Mbabazi John Patrick, new prime Minister of Uganda

According to a State House statement, Sekandi is the right person to asset the President as Vice president, especially in initiating polices and ideas, mobilize the people for development, supervise implementation of government programmes. Museveni said the VP will also help him in dealing with issues of foreign affairs, defence and Security.

Ssekandi who said he was greatly touched by the appointment promised “total positive commitment to government, loyalty to the President, NRM and all Ugandans”. The former Speaker of parliament promised to be intellectually honest and give the president his honest advice.

President Yoweri Museveni also named Security Minister and current NRM Secretary General Amama Mbabazi as the Prime Minister. The President said Mbabazi wll have to resign his post as Secretary General of the NRM, the second top most post in the ruling party. Mbabazi agreed accordingly.

Museveni defended Mbabazi’s appointment despite some protests from some NRM MPs, saying Mbabazi is one of the most “ideologically reliable cadres of the NRM, disciplined and with vast legal knowledge”.

“Mbabazi is loyal, never deviates from the ideologies of the NRM,” the President said according to the statement. Mbabazi thanked the President for the trust, and promised to contribute effective service delivery to the country.

Other members of the cabinet are expected to be named soon.

Ultimate Media

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Museveni names new cabinet, Edward Sekandi Vice President, Amama Mbabazi Prime Minister

Gerald Businge — Tue, 24 May 2011 09:19:42 +0000

The new cabinet of President Museveni’s fourth term is starting to take shape. President Yoweri Museveni has told the National Resistance Movement Caucus meeting at Entebbe State House that he has appointed Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi as the Vice President and John Patrick Amama Mbabazi as the Prime Minister.

Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi

The news will be a great lift for the two men as Ssekandi who has been the Speaker of Parliament climbs from number 3 to number two in the country’s ranking of most important person. Mbabazi who has been the Minister of Security will also now be at higher position of number 5 in the country and leader of government business.

It is not yet clear whether and where current Vice President, Prof. Gilbert Bukenya who has been in the seat since 2003, and current Prime Minister Prof. Apollo Nsibambi will be deployed.

While Ssekandi has for long been rumoured to be the chosen one for the VP job, many will be surprised that Amama Mbabazi, the NRM Secretary General tainted by the Temangalo scandal was chosen to be the Prime Minister. But it will be an appreciated reward for a man who is described as loyal to the NRM and Museveni, clever and hardworking.

The Vice President and Prime Minister will be approved by Parliament while Ministers will be vetted and approved by the Parliamentary Appointments Committee headed by the Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga.

The full list of the new cabinet is expected soon.

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Prime Minister calls upon alcohol board to control alcohol consumption

Gerald Businge — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 10:40:56 +0000

Prof. Apollo Nsibambi

The Prime Minister of Uganda, Prof. Apollo Nsibambi has called upon the National Alcohol Control Board to check on the consumption of alcohol in Uganda.

Tens of Ugandans recently lost their lives due to consumption of suspected poisonous alcohol.

Nsibambi asks the alcohol board to check on the quality and the rate of alcohol consumption in Uganda.

He says the board has a duty to address issues of alcohol abuse and drug abuse.

Speaking to journalists in Kampala today, Nsibambi said the board needs to control the consumption of alcohol because too much boozing reduces the rate of development in the country.

He further says the consumption of too much alcohol may lead to death, unemployment, defilement and rape.

By Walakira Nyanzi

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