Leaders appeal for more aid as raging floods kill over 17, displace thousands in Bundibugyo
KAMPALA – Authorities and NGOs in Bundibugyo District appealed to the government for more humanitarian assistance as ongoing heavy rain continues to wreak havoc in the area.
By Sunday evening, at least 17 people were confirmed dead after raging floods swept away their homes, with most bodies retrieved from trenches.
According to the manager of the Red Cross Bundibugyo branch, Ms Diana Tumuhimbise, about 4,000 people were displaced and were staying in schools and churches.
Museveni arrives in Nairobi for Africa-Pacific Summit
NAIROBI – President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni on Monday arrived in Nairobi, Kenya, joining other heads of state and government, for the 9th Africa, Caribbean, Pacific (ACP) Summit.
The Summit was themed “A Transformed ACP: Committed to Multilateralism”
The African, Caribbean, and Pacific Group of States (ACP) is an organization created by the Georgetown Agreement in 1975.
RDC bans transfer of unclaimed bodies to Gulu Hospital mortuary
GULU – Maj. Santo Okot Lapolo, the Resident District Commissioner Gulu banned the transfer of unclaimed bodies from neighbouring districts to Gulu Regional Referral Hospital mortuary, reports Uganda Radio Network.
This followed complaints from the hospital administration over the increasing burden of corpses from Omoro, Nwoya and Amuru districts.
Maj. Lapolo said that the Hospital is meant to aid patients referred to the facility for treatment but not dead bodies.
Nagirinya murder: Two police officers demoted, six cautioned for negligence
KAMPALA —The police disciplinary court demoted two officers and reprimanded six others after findings them guilty of negligence of duty in the kidnap and subsequent murder of Maria Nagirinya and her driver Ronald Kitayimbwa in August.
The officers, some of whom were manning the CCTV control centre and Nateete Police Station, were convicted for not responding in time when they received a distress call that Nagirinya, a social worker, and her driver had been kidnapped.
Age cheating controversy rocks BoU, 12 sent into early retirement
KAMPALA – Bank of Uganda came under fire again after 12 of its workers were caught altering their age to cheat taxpayer’s money and other retirement benefits in a glitch discovered by management.
It was revealed that after the bank’s management asked staff to submit copies of National IDs and it turned out that 12 staff had different dates of birth from those submitted at their point of entry to the bank.
An act of falsifying age according to the BoU Administrative Manual requires them to be dismissed but they were asked to voluntarily retire, hence ‘illegally’ qualifying them for the retirement benefits.
BoU warns Museveni, People Power supporters over writing on currency
KAMPALA – The Central Bank on Tuesday warned that people who deface or destroy Uganda banknotes may face hefty fines including trouble with the police.
A warning against the improper handling of currency came after images of different currency notes bearing both President Yoweri Museveni and Bobi Wine’s names were circulated widely online and attracted the regulator’s attention.
EC extends voter registration deadline
KAMPALA – The Electoral Commission (EC) extended the update of the National Voters’ Register by five more days following concerns that the earlier 20 days were not enough.
The general update exercise commenced on Thursday, November 21, 2019, and was scheduled to close on Wednesday, December 11, 2019.
But the EC chairperson, Justice Simon Byabakama, in a statement issued on Tuesday, December 10, 2019, said they decided to extend the exercise up to Monday, December 16, 2019, due to high numbers of applicants and requests from key stakeholders.
Presidential advisors go three years without pay
ENTEBBE – The Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Jacob Oulanyah directed the Minister in Charge of Presidency, Esther Mbayo to explain why some presidential advisors have gone three years without pay despite President Yoweri Museveni appointing them in 2016.
Oulanyah’s directive followed a complaint raised by Elijah Okupa (Kasilo County) who wondered why Parliament was duped into believing that these presidential advisors had been paid, yet the group hasn’t received any penny.
Military shoot dead four men in Mutundwe
KAMPALA —Police says the Uganda People’s Defense Force (UPDF) officers shot four men believed to be thugs and arrested one in Mutundwe on Tuesday afternoon.
Police Spokesperson Fred Enanga said a pistol was recovered from them.
Museveni swears in 15 judges
ENTEBBE – Following their approval by the Parliament’s Appointments Committee, President Yoweri Museveni proceeded with the swearing-in of the 15 judges at State House Entebbe.
It should be recalled that recently, President Museveni appointed fifteen judges, 12 of whom are to serve on the High Court Bench while the three justices will serve on the Court of Appeal.
Nakivubo Stadium controversy goes to court
KAMPALA – Two concerned citizens dragged Kampala businessman Hamis Kiggundu to court, accusing him of using Nakivubo Stadium land to acquire a mortgage worth $7 million (about UGX25 billion).
The two citizens – George Kyanzi and Joseph Asiimwe – through their lawyer of Muwema and Co Advocates also sued Kampala District Land Board, Nakivubo Stadium Board of Trustees, the Commissioner for Land Registration and Absa Bank, formerly Barclays Bank for authorizing the mortgage in March 2019.
According to the suit filed in the High Court Civil Division on December 4, the businessman under his Ham Enterprises (U) Ltd allegedly connived with Kampala District Land Board, Nakivubo Stadium Board of Trustees and the Commissioner for Land Registration to create leasehold titles on Nakivubo stadium, which is unlawful given that the stadium is public land.
Bobi Wine puts EC on notice over countrywide consultations for his presidential bid
KAMPALA – Kyadondo East MP Robert Kyagulanyi, aka Bobi Wine, wrote to the Electoral Commission, saying he intends to carry out consultations over his 2021 presidential bid.
According to the artiste-cum politician, he backed by Section 3(1) of the Presidential Elections Act 2005, which states that an aspirant may consult in preparation for his nomination as a presidential candidate within 12 months before the date of the nomination.
CJ Katureebe names Chemutai Chief Registrar in new judiciary transfers
KAMPALA – The Chief Justice, Bart M. Katureebe, appointed the Registrar High Court, Mr. Tom Chemutai, Judiciary’s Acting Chief Registrar following the recent elevation of the incumbent, Ms Esta Nambayo, as High Court Judge.
The Chief Justice similarly appointed Assistant Registrar (Inspectorate), Mr. Karemani Jamson Karemera, as Judiciary’s Public Relations Officer in the place of Mr. Vincent Emmy Mugabo, who was also appointed High Court Judge.
Uganda set to reap huge as govt reaches final phase to endorse marijuana growing
KAMPALA — Cabinet, which is the top policy determining the body of the ruling government was concluding studies on legalizing the commercial growing of marijuana in Uganda.
According to the Ministry of Health, fourteen companies that applied to acquire license to grow medical cannabis for export will have to wait until early 2020 for a final decision.
A subcommittee chaired by Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda was working on a final document to seal the legalization as Uganda allegedly gets overwhelmed by foreign companies seeking to deal in medical Marijuana.
Retired Moroto Catholic Bishop Ssentongo dies
MASAKA – The Catholic Church mourned the passing of emeritus of Moroto Diocese, Henry Apaloryamam Ssentogo.
Bishop Ssentongo, 83, who hails from Masaka Diocese, died on Wednesday night following a long illness.
In his retirement, he was living at Bikira Catholic Parish, Masaka Diocese about three years ago, he told PML Daily in an interview about his illness.
Former Mbabazi guard pleads guilty to blocking police officers during demo
KAMPALA – Christopher Aine, the former head of former Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi’s security detail, on Wednesday pleaded guilty to charges of obstructing police officers who were manning traffic during his demonstration on November 27.
Aine made the admission while appearing before Buganda Road Grade One Magistrate Stella Maris Amabilis on Wednesday afternoon. He appeared with Daniel Byansi, Kenny Sserujongi, Christopher Nyombi, Tony Ssegawa and Samuel Lugemwa. Byansi also pleaded guilty to the charge while others pleaded not guilty.
Second Rwanda-Uganda meeting ends without agreement
KAMPALA – The second round of talks between Uganda and Rwanda ended on Friday, December 13, 2020, without the two countries reaching to an agreement about resolving their differences.
The meeting, which was part of the implementation of the Luanda peace deal signed in Angola in August, also ended without any joint communique issued to the media, an indication of lack of any concrete agreement.
The meeting, held at Speke Hotel in Munyonyo, Kampala, started with a press conference in which officials from the two countries pledged willingness to resolve their disagreements that culminated in Rwanda closing its border to Uganda, effectively affecting trade and labor movement.
Family resolve to transfer Tamale Mirundi to Nairobi over deteriorating health
KAMPALA – The family of presidential advisor on Media, Joseph Tamale Mirundi, resolved to transfer him to Nairobi for further treatment after failing to see improvement in his medical condition, PML Daily learned.
Mr Mirundi was admitted to Kisubi Hospital for a condition that his family and doctors have refused to disclose.
CABINET RESHUFFLE: Nantaba, Muloni, Mukwaya dropped, Otafiire, Rukutana, Kamya, Amongi moved to new dockets
KAMPALA – Irene Muloni, Janat Mukwaya, and Monica Ntege Azuba were some of the biggest casualties in the Cabinet reshuffle announced on Saturday evening.
Muloni, who was the Minister for Energy, was dropped from Cabinet and appointed a presidential adviser. She was replaced by Mary Gorette Kitutu.
Mukwaya, one of the mainstays in Cabinet, was dropped from the Gender docket and replaced with Frank Tumwebaze.
NEW FACES: Age limit mover Magyezi, Nabakooba, Anywar, Nabbanja eat big in Cabinet reshuffle
KAMPALA – MPs Raphael Magyezi (Igara West), Judith Nabakooba (Mityana Woman), Dennis Hamson Obua (Ajuri), Beatrice Anywar (Kitgum Woman), Robinah Nabbanja (Kibale Woman) and Jackson Kafuuzi (Kyaaka South) were some of the new faces in the Cabinet that was announced by President Yoweri Museveni on Saturday evening.
Also on the list was the President’s Principal Private Secretary Molly Kamukama and Peter Ogwang.
According to the list, Magyezi, who moved the age limit Bill, is the new Minister of Local Government, replacing Tom Butime to the Tourism docket.
