UGANDA – KMAUPDATES

May312020 by Kayongo Brian TimothyNo Comments

EAST AFRICA: Kenya, Uganda scramble to clear Malaba border crisis.

AFRICA, COVID-19, EAST AFRICA, KENYA, UGANDA

Despite an agreement arrived at on Wednesday by government officials from Kenya and Uganda on the process of Covid-19 testing for truckers at the common border, an association for Kenyan truck drivers on Thursday advised its members to suspend services until both governments address stigma and harassment. Secretary-general of the Kenyan truckers union Nicholas Mbugua said on Thursday: “There is no safety agreement between Kenya and Uganda and yet drivers are being coerced by police officers to cross over to Uganda. We demand to be guaranteed the safety of our drivers in Uganda.” Speaking at the union’s offices in Mlolongo, Mr Mbugua said the drivers were tired of ‘’unbearable humiliation drivers were subjected to in Uganda”. The truckers had blocked the Kenyan side of the border ...

May312020 by Kayongo Brian TimothyNo Comments

UGANDA: Police operations director AIGP Asuman Mugenyi quits.

AFRICA, FEATURE STORIES, UGANDA, Uganda Police Force

The director of Operations Services in the Police Force, Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIGP) Asuman Mugenyi has officially quit the institution he has served for over 32 years. AIGP Mugenyi served his last day in police uniform on Friday, May 29 and has since handed over to his deputy Senior Commissioner of Police (SCP) John Nuwagiira. Although earlier reports indicated that AIGP Mugenyi had been suspended and others claiming he had been fired, police spokesperson, Mr Fred Enanga, clarified that he had served his contract. “He simply observed his contract to the end,” said the Police spokesperson.Mr Mugenyi becomes the fifth AIGP to quit the institution in the last three years. Two months ago, AIGP Steven Kasiima, who was director traffic and road safety was forced ou...

May312020 by Kayongo Brian TimothyNo Comments

CORONAVIRUS: Uganda registers highest single-day COVID-19 cases.

AFRICA, CORONAVIRUS, HEALTH, UGANDA

KAMPALA – Uganda has on Saturday, May 30 recorded 84 new COVID-19 cases, the highest number the country has registered in a single day. This brings the total confirmed cases now to 413. According to the ministry of health, 52 new cases are truck drivers of whom 50 arrived from South Sudan via Elegu, while 2 arrived from Kenya via Busia. “32 of the new confirmed cases are contacts to previously confirmed cases. All were under quarantine at the time of test,” said the ministry. The ministry says that samples from Points of Entry tested were 1,477 and those from alerts and contacts were 358. “Total samples tested today: 1,835.” The ministry also revealed that total recoveries are now 72. Additionally, 51 positive foreign truck drivers were handed over to their country of or...

May302020 by Kayongo Brian TimothyNo Comments

UGANDA: Busia Municipality MP detained for defying Covid-19 directives

AFRICA, CORONAVIRUS, COVID-19, UGANDA

Busia Municipality MP, Mr Godfrey Macho has been arrested on allegations of defying directives on the prevention of coronavirus pandemic and inciting violence. Mr Godfrey Macho was allegedly found on Saturday mobilising a section of traders to go and open their shops and stalls in Busia market contrary to the directives issued by the district taskforce on coronavirus and president Museveni. The Bukedi Regional Police Commander (RPC) Mr Julius Caesar Tusingwire said the lawmaker is currently detained at Tororo Central Police station. “We arrested him for organising a section of traders to forcefully open shops and stalls in the market, something which jeopardises the fight against coronavirus in the district,” he said. The market was closed in March this year by the Busia Distr...

May302020 by Kayongo Brian TimothyNo Comments

UGANDA: RDC detained for attempting to rape a student

AFRICA, CRIME, UGANDA

KAABONG – Shock has gripped the security operatives in Kaabong district after the Deputy Resident District Commissioner (RDC), Mr. Augustine Modo was arrested for allegedly trying to rape a senior four candidate in Kaabong cattle market. The incident that took place on Friday, May 29 has left the general public wondering what had gone wrong with representative of the President. Mr. Modo was rescued by police from angry boys who had attempted to beat him up after allegedly getting him red handed trying to rape the girl. The District Police Commander (DPC) Mr. Gerald Gubiri when contacted referred our reporter to the police spokesperson Fred Enanga saying the issues are sensitive since it touches the high profile person. “Am not allowed to speak to the media please spare me, but...

May302020 by Kayongo Brian TimothyNo Comments

UGANDA: High Court judge dismisses allegations that his car knocked the fallen traffic officer

AFRICA, CRIME, UGANDA

KAMPALA – High Court Judge Jesse Byaruhanga Rugyema whose vehicle is suspected to have knocked down a traffic officer has trashed the allegations. Announcing his death, Kampala Metropolitan Police Spokesperson Patrick Onyango said PC Innocent Ayesigye was knocked on May 24, 2020, at Namanve along Kampala-Jinja highway and on May 26. Now, in a statement, Byaruhanga has revealed that on his way from Zana to Mukono, he was in the company of his wife and bodyguard but as he approached Namanve, there was a traffic officer riding a motorcycle in front of him. “Upon approaching Namanve SGA motor vehicle inspection facility about 200 metres from a road CCTV camera, i saw an incoming motor vehicle from Mukono side being driven at a very high speed knock the traffic officer who was on the ...

May292020 by Kayongo Brian TimothyNo Comments

UGANDA: President Museveni set to deliver State of the Nation Address

AFRICA, CORONAVIRUS, COVID-19, UGANDA

KAMPALA — President Yoweri Museveni will on Thursday June 4 deliver his State of the Nation address at Kololo Independence Grounds — highlighting achievements registered in the current financial year and plans for 2019/20 financial year. Provided for under Article 101 of the constitution, State of the Nation address is delivered at the beginning of each session of Parliament. However, in consultation with the Speaker, the President is at liberty to address Parliament at any time over pressing national matters. The State of the Nation address will be followed by the reading of the National Budget for the fiscal year 2020/21 on Thursday next week at the same venue. Museveni is expected to address issues like the economy amid coronavirus disruptions. This year’s State of the N...

May292020 by Kayongo Brian TimothyNo Comments

EDUCATION: Schools in Uganda face social distancing quandary.

AFRICA, CORONAVIRUS, UGANDA

KAMPALA- School managers and other stakeholders in the education sector have warned that the recommended social distancing guideline is near impossible to achieve as schools prepare to re-open for candidates and final year students on June 8. Social distancing, also known as physical distancing, means keeping space between oneself and other people to help stop person-to-person spread of the coronavirus disease. While the government is silent, investors in the education sector as well as the teacher’s union, have called for support to enable them keep the learners safe. Mr Filbert Baguma, the Uganda National Teachers’ Union (Unatu) secretary, in a statement to the Education ministry, said many institutions are crowded with limited infrastructure, making it impossible to implement ...

May292020 by Kayongo Brian TimothyNo Comments

UGANDA: Details of how the Government plans to revive the economy

AFRICA, Business, ECONOMY, UGANDA

Government technocrats have finalised a Shs4.7 trillion stimulus package to revive the economy which has slumped from the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. Finance Minister Matia Kasaija is expected to unveil the raft of measures as early as Tuesday if approved by Cabinet on Monday, although the announcement could also be held back to the State of the Nation address on June 4 or Budget Day on June 11, sources told this newspaper. The plan seeks to help struggling businesses stay afloat, create jobs and provide tax breaks for struggling companies to encourage spending and investment. Although the plan is yet to be made public, interviews with different senior government officials familiar with the planning shared insights of what is contained in the stimulus package. They include ...

May292020 by Kayongo Brian TimothyNo Comments

UGANDA: Drunkards beat senior UPDF commander into coma

AFRICA, CRIME, UGANDA, updf

KYANKWANZI — A group of ‘drunkards’ at Gala Trading Centre in Kyankwanzi District attacked and badly clobbered a senior Uganda People’s Defense Forces (UPDF) officer at the rank of a Major into coma. Army spokesperson Brig Richard Karemire says Maj Robert Nkwasibwe who until now is in hospital was commanding a joint UPDF/Police Patrol operation during curfew hours. ‘He was on a joint UPDF/Police patrol attacked at Gala Trading Centre by people in bars during curfew hours,” Brig Karemire says. The group in total violation of the law, allegedly came behind Maj Nkwasibwe and hit him with an object from behind, forcing him to helplessly fall onto his back unconsciously. He was rushed to Hoima Referral hospital where his is being addressed. The army has since arrested over 10 pe...

May282020 by Kayongo Brian TimothyNo Comments

UGANDA: KCCA issues strict guidelines for Motorists.

AFRICA, FEATURE STORIES, UGANDA

All city taxis will be assigned specific routes as they resume their operations on June 4, 2020, the Minister for Kampala Metropolitan Affairs, Ms Betty Amongi has said. The minister told journalists at the Uganda Media Centre in Kampala on Thursday that they have designed routes for each taxi operating within the Kampala metropolitan area. This means that before the taxis return to the city, all operators will be expected to report to Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) Offices to be assigned parks and stages. Ms Amongi says that after registration and assignment of routes, the drivers will pick their route charts from the Ministry of Works. The route charts shall last until December 31, 2020, before a permanent chart is issued. The arrangement is in line with the new guidelin...

May282020 by Kayongo Brian TimothyNo Comments

UGANDA: Judge’s bodyguard, driver arrested over traffic officer’s death.

AFRICA, CRIME, FEATURE STORIES, UGANDA

A police constable deployed to guard a High Court judge has been arrested in relation to a Sunday motor accident which led to the death of a traffic officer, Innocent Ayesigye. The police constable was reportedly captured by Closed Circuit Television CCTV security cameras entering a Rav4 registration number UAS 597U.The same vehicle reportedly left the scene at the time Ayesigye was fighting for his life, moments after the accident.He was rushed to Mulago Hospital for medical attention and later transferred to Rubaga Hospital where he died on Tuesday.Kampala Metropolitan Police Spokesperson, Mr Patrick Onyango shared the Rav4 picture urging the public to help identify the suspects but also urged the owners to report themselves to the nearby police. It subsequently emerged that a Hig...

May282020 by Ronald KabuubiNo Comments

Standard Chartered donates US$300,000 (Over Ugx 1 billion) for immediate COVID-19 relief efforts in Uganda

AFRICA, CORONAVIRUS, Covid 19 Donations, COVID-19, EAST AFRICA, LONDON, UGANDA, UK, WORLD, World Health Organization

Kampala, Uganda,28 May 2020 – Standard Chartered Uganda has contributed US$300,000 (Ugx 1,110,000,000) to UNICEF programs in Uganda for communities impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Albert Saltson, CEO Standard Chartered Bank, Uganda (R) with Dr. Doreen Mulenga, UNICEF Representative to Uganda.Courtesy Photo via KMA Updates. The donation is part of Standard Chartered PLC’s US$5 million pledge to support emergency relief activities by UNICEF that provide immediate protection and education of vulnerable children across 12 markets in Africa and South Asia, including Uganda. Funding across these markets will focus on activities such as the provision of remote education via TV, radio, online and mobile platforms and child protection measures, including alternative care arrangements and ...

May282020 by Kayongo Brian TimothyNo Comments

UGANDA: Socialite Bryan White summoned before Parliament to clear his Rape accusations.

AFRICA, FEATURE STORIES, UGANDA

KAMPALA – Socialite Bryan White, real name Brian Kirumira has been summoned by the Parliamentary Committee on Human Rights after several accusations attaching him to rape. On Thursday morning, after hearing from Stella Nandawula (victim) who formerly worked at Brian White’s home in Munyonyo, Kampala while running the operations of Brian White Foundation, the committee decided to call the suspect to defend himself. Mutanda appeared before MPs together with the mother and sister of Nandawula. Stella and Vivian accuse Kirumira of raping them. These told the Committee that Brian raped them forced them to abort after threatening them should they refuse. Earlier alone, Innocent Nabaasa, the Reproductive Health and Rights Alliance Uganda Programs Officer asked Frank Tumwebaze, the Mi...

May282020 by Kayongo Brian TimothyNo Comments

UGANDA: Banks to close at 2pm to allow staff beat curfew

AFRICA, FEATURE STORIES, UGANDA

Several commercial banks have announced that they will revise their time of closure to allow staff enough time to get home so as not to be caught by the 7pm curfew. While some banks have not yet indicated that they will shift from the 3pm closing time, at least two banks have sent messages to their customers saying they will be closing at 2pm. All say their branches remain closed on weekends. Diamond Trust Bank (DTB) said in a text to customers on Wednesday that, “We will be closing our branches at 2pm effective today to manage the government curfew time. Apologies for any inconveniences.” The Kololo-headquartered Orient bank also informed its customers that it would open at 9am and close at 2pm for mostly city-based branches. The bank spokesperson Mr Emmanuel Njuki said the rati...

May272020 by Kayongo Brian TimothyNo Comments

BUSINESS: Uganda to export beef to China, income to expand.

AFRICA, Business, ECONOMY, UGANDA

KALUNGU – The Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF), Hon. Vincent Bamulangaki Ssempijja said that soon after Covid-19, government will sign an agreement to start exporting Ugandan beef to China. While addressing cattle farmers at Katonga River-Lwabenge Sub County in Kalungu District on Tuesday, on possible ways to eliminate tsetse flies that have affected their animals, the minister said by the time Covid-19 attacked the World, Uganda and China were due for signing an agreement intended at expanding the Country`s beef market to Asia. “We are going to sign the agreement soon after covid-19. Our biggest challenge now is to ensure a disease free animal sub-sector to improve the quality of our meat.” He added that “MAAIF selected sub-counties from more than 4...

May272020 by Kayongo Brian TimothyNo Comments

UGANDA: Owner of collapsed Kampala building, engineer charged

AFRICA, FEATURE STORIES, UGANDA

The owner of the three-storey building that recently collapsed in a city suburb, killing dozens of construction workers and leaving scores injured, has been charged with several criminal offenses.Mr Abraham Kalanzi, 31, was presented before Makindye Chief Magistrate’s Court on Monday but denied the 19 counts slapped against him.He was charged alongside the site engineer, Mr Christopher Bandi Luhambya, 55.The collapsed building in question was located in Kiwempe-Lukuli Zone in Makindye Division, Kampala. According to the charge sheet presented before court, the two accused persons, face one count of building without a permit, one count of refusal to comply with the notice issued by a building committe and 17 counts of causing an accident on a building construction site.Under the 17 coun...

May272020 by Kayongo Brian TimothyNo Comments

UGANDA: Pastor turns down Shs182b award as he demands for more money

AFRICA, FEATURE STORIES, UGANDA

A pastor who was last week awarded Shs182 billion through court has rejected the award and petitioned the Court of Appeal, demanding more money in compensation for loss of his business after the cancellation of his permit for sand mining in Lwera, Kalungu District.Kampala High Court awarded Mr Daniel Walugembe through his company DMW Uganda Limited Shs182 billion as compensation for loss of his business and general damages caused.However, Mr Walugembe yesterday claimed that the award was less because transaction with the National Environment Management Authority (Nema) was of a commercial nature.“I acquired a commercial permit but the judge was lenient to give 10 per cent yet the special damages awarded were admitted by both the Attorney General and Nema,” Mr Walugembe said. Addressing...

May272020 by Kayongo Brian TimothyNo Comments

UGANDA: Chaos as RDC Sakwa raids DISO’s office to forcefully resume work, damages property.

FEATURE STORIES, UGANDA

KAMPALA —Embattled Jinja Residence District Commissioner (RDC), Mr Eric Sakwa stormed into the office of the District Internal Security Officer (DISO) and damaged property including a government computer. Mr Sakwa together with over 30 rowdy youths raided the DISO’s office on Tuesday May 26 at about 4:30 PM. On entering, according to a video recording, he found the deputy DISO, Mr John Mugomba whom he told that he wanted to work so he should be given the key to his office. In a trending video, Mr Mugomba claims that he told Mr Sakwa that he doesn’t have the key to the office and it was being kept by the DISO who was not in office at the time. “They came in a big group and Mr Sakwa demanded for the key to his office. When I said I didn’t have it, one of them caught the laptop w...

May262020 by Kayongo Brian TimothyNo Comments

SPORTS: FIFA President Infantino mourns fallen Uganda Cranes legend.

AFRICA, Sports, UGANDA

On Monday, May 25, Jimmy Kirunda collapsed dead while jogging around Bwaise, Kampala. Kirunda is one of Uganda’s most iconic football figures having played at five AFCON finals. The former KCCA FC, SC Villa and Express FC player captained the Uganda Cranes at three AFCON finals, including the historic 78 showpiece game against Ghana. As the football fraternity mourns him, FIFA President Gianni Infantino has also joined in on the act. Infantino wrote a condolence message to the FUFA President Eng Moses Magogo. “I would like to express my sincerest and heartfelt condolences on the passing of former international player and coach, Jimmy Kirunda. Words seem inadequate to express the sadness we feel for this lossaffecting Uganda football.” “During his playing career, Jimmy ca...