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Federal Democratic Change (FDC), President Kiiza Besigye will face off with President Museveni and other Presidential candidates after being announced the flag bearer for the Interparty Cooperation (IPC) today. Besigye was chosen by consensus and not elections as earlier communicated by the cooperation. This comes after the official pull out of UPC from the cooperation that brings together four opposition parties, the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), Justice Forum (JEEMA), Conservative Party (CP) and Social Democratic Party (SDP). The cooperation nominated flag bearer candidates on August 17. The withdraw of UPC is reported to have irked the opposition with the opposition leader of parliament professor Ogenga Latigo saying that Otunnu and the UPC alone cannot achieve anything by themselves.

Reports had indicated that UPC’s withdrawal was as a disagreement over boycotting the 2011 elections, however Ibrahim Ssemujju, the Cooperation spokesman said that Otunnu wanted  IPC to fight for free and fair elections and halt the campaign of electing IPC presidential flag bearer which they did not agree with . UPC joins DP which disagreed with IPC from the start and this fragmentation of the opposition, Experts say, is likely to cut into the oppositions block vote. 

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The Constitutional Court today delivered its long awaited ruling on the law of sedition challenged by journalist Andrew Mwenda and the East Africa Media Institute in a case filed in 2005. The Court has struck sedition off the laws of Uganda maintaining that it was inconsistent with Article 29 of the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda, which provides for freedom of expression and of the media.

The ruling increases the space in which journalists can freely do their work without fear of repercussions of the old colonial law.

The ruling, delivered today morning (August 25, 2010) by the court registrar Asaph Ntegye Ruhinda on behalf of five judges of the Constitutional Court: Justices Leticia Kikonyogo, Steven Kavuma , George Egwau, Constance Byamugisha and Augustine Nshiime nullified sections 39 and 40 of the Penal Code, Cap 120 which define and establish the law on sedition.

Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda) welcomed the court ruling which it said “has broadened the space for free speech that has been under attack for many years in Uganda”.

“I commend court for having exercised its independence and struck off sedition out of our law books. This law did not affect us (media) only but the entire country,” said The Independent’s Managing Editor, Andrew Mwenda. He has been charged with sedition 18 times out of the 25 charges is facing before court.

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Politics is a ‘don’t trust me’ ball game and Honourable Beti Kamya decided to play this game by hijacking something called federalism to further her career in politics, without giving a damn to a lot of people that treasure federalism. If she does succeed, we will be happy. If she fails, she will probably jump on to something else to further her career. Please nobody should deceive you that there are no people in FDC, DP,CP or SDP fighting for federalism in Uganda as federalism is part of all these party’s manifestos.

I don’t know about UPC but I’m sure there are people doing it in other parties and have probably been doing it for ages. For instance, Owekitibwa Joyce Sebugwawo has been fighting for Buganda as far as I can remember and nobody can compare her to Beti Kamya in this battle.

Sebugwawo probably would have won the Lubaga chairman elections in 2009 against Sematimba Peter if DP and FDC had sat on the same table and kept their differences wrapped in a magic cloth somewhere. Sebugwawo has been a rock for Buganda for ages. Beti Kamya is just a new comer and we all know

why she is jumped on the federo band wagon and Buganda causes. If Kamya was that much interested in fighting particularly for federalism, why didn’t she join CP which has been doing it since 1980s?

In Mexico, there was a man called Francisco Madero who preached federalism and every one knew that he believed in it. He continued to preach federalism even after becoming a president. He was one of the few Mexican presidents to preach federalism seriously though he was murdered in 1913 before he could achieve his goal of returning “political personality” to local government.

He was not like some people who preached federalism and Ebyaffe in the bushes of Luwero to further their political career, and after becoming presidents; everything just went out of the window. That’s why I personally don’t trust people who hijack serious causes because they have fallen out with their political parties.

As far as I know, FDC is not against federalism and there are people in that party fighting for it. It was part of their manifesto in 2006 as it’s going to be in 2011 elections. Who could possibly be against a broader distribution of power, decision-making capacity, and economic resources—at present so centralized in the NRM regime or Museveni’s state house? It’s the NRMO leader, president Museveni, who is against federalism if one follows what he has been writing or saying about Buganda and federalism in the media.

He said on WBS television last year that he will never grant federo to Buganda and he is instead pushing for a regional government branded 'regional tier'. In any case, can the division of power implicit in federalism be implemented by an NRMO government that has acquired and so long kept its power under shady circumstances involving fraudulent elections in 2001 and 2006? Ugandans, federalism in Uganda is still a long way particularly if President Museveni and NRMO continue to lead us because you can’t achieve it when a large number of politicians aren’t into it.There are signs that Ugandan politicians are not even aware of, for instance, the need to consider what the role of federalism will be in the present situation.

Everyone is just on political survival of 'how do I safe guard my constituency'. That is why they are even designing draconian bills like the duo citizenship bill that stop guys like us from returning home to compete for specific offices, because we have got citizenships of another country. These guys in power now are first class cowards who will do anything to stay in power.

In Mexico, because the government in power was preaching and believing in federalism, it invested a lot in making the population and politicians to understand what federalism was all about. For instance, the Federal Chamber of Deputies in Mexico City sponsored a course on federalism for its members organized by the National Institute of Public Administration.

ByAbbey Kibirige Semuwemba

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Museveni takes over oil: Energy Minister Hilary Onek will no longer endorse oil and mining deals on behalf of the government without the president's written approval. This follows a directive by President Museveni in a July 19 letter, which was copied to the vice president, the prime minister, the minister of finance and the minister in charge of presidency. Reports say that the president's decision cites excitement for what he calls easy money and quick profits through hurried approvals by government officials, which might lead to mistakes. The letter was written less than two weeks before the conclusion of a $1.5 billion (Shs3.3 trillion) deal between Tullow Oil and Heritage earlier in July.

Mbabazi attacks Ssekikubo: The NRM disciplinary committee has summoned Lwemiyaga MP Theodore Ssekikubo over fresh allegations of election malpractices. The NRM Disciplinary Committee Secretary Amama Mbabazi, said that Ssekikubo has up to Tuesday next week to defend himself. Reports indicate that the new charges are contained in a new petition from 309 voters in Ssembabule district.

The MP is also accused of campaigning against the official NRM flag-bearers and supporting other candidates both in Ssembabule and country-wide. The fresh allegations include incidents in the recent Ssembabule grassroots elections where the MP is accused of intolerable and violent conduct. Ssekikubo, however, denies the allegations and maintains that Kutesa and Kawooya both MPs from Sembabule are equally culpable, and any action should equally apply to them. 


Media protest ban on bombs coverage : Media houses are unhappy with an order issued by the Nakawa Chief Magistrates Court barring them from reporting about the July 11 twin bombings in Kampala. The injunction was issued on Monday by Nakawa Chief Magistrate, Deo Sejjimba, in the presence of Principal State Attorney Charles Richard Kaamuli after Mr Sejjimba had heard submissions supported by affidavits. Reports indicate that media houses are questioning the legality of the injunction and that others have vowed not to respect it. The injunction against media houses is the second action the government has taken against the media since bomb attacks. On August 3, police arrested and interrogated journalist Timothy Kalyegira over reports that cast doubt on whether it was al Shabaab that had carried out the attacks. Kalyegira's phone, laptop and modem were confiscated and he was also asked to reveal his e-mail passwords.

Why Otunnu abandoned Col.Besigye: Reports indicate that UPC’s last minute withdrawal from the nominations for a joint opposition presidential candidate was due to a disagreement on whether the opposition should boycott the 2011 general elections or not . According to reports, Dr Olara Otuunu, the UPC president, had earlier urged the IPC to boycott the forthcoming elections but the proposal that was rejected. Despite UPC's withdrawal from the nominations on Tuesday, the cooperation went ahead and nominated potential candidates, one of whom will become its presidential candidate in the elections. The nominees include; CP’s Prof James Kikongo, FDC's Dr Kizza Besigye, JEEMA’s Hussein Kyanjo and l Michael Mabikke of the SDP.

China to expose investments of corrupt Ugandans: In a deal with the Inspectorate of Government to train Ugandans in how to handle corruption, the Chinese government has pledged to help expose assets of corrupt Ugandans invested in China. The deal was signed at Fang Fang Restaurant on Tuesday. The IGG, Raphael Baku revealed that the inspectorate will be getting opportunities for staff to study in Chinese institutions that deal with corruption investigations. A 2008 report by Transparency International ranks China 72 out of 179 most corrupt countries. Baku is hopeful that the new development will improve the way corruption is handled in Uganda, which loses over Shs 500 billion annually to corruption.

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The interparty cooperation (IPC) has finally nominated potential candidates of which one will become the cooperation’s presidential candidate in the 2011 elections to compete with President Yoweri Museveni. The IPC which brings together five opposition parties, the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), Uganda People’s Congress (UPC), Justice Forum (JEEMA), Conservative Party (CP) and the newly formed Social Democratic Party (SDP), managed to receive nominations from four parties on August 17. The UPC did not make it to the nomination ground at Kololo Airstrip citing the legal battles their leader Olara Otunnu is facing in court. Last month a Grade One Magistrate Court judge in Lira district issued an arrest warrant to Otunnu for alleged seditious and sectarian comments he made while in Lira District in Northern Uganda. But Otunnu’s lawyers challenged the legality of the arrest warrant. The Constitutional court has postponed the hearing of his case on August 27.

Amidst flouring party colours, the supporters of CP dressed in white t-shirts presented, the little known lecturer of philosophy at Makerere University, Prof James Kikongo as the first IPC presidential flag bearer to be nominated.  The FDC supporters donned in blue outfits, waving posters of Dr Kizza Besigye presented him for nomination amidst joyous ululations. JEEMA’s Hussein Kyanjo was the third candidate to be nominated for the IPC presidential flag bearer. Then later came the youthful Michael Mabikke of the SDP, accompanied by tens of supporters in orange t-shirts. Basing on today’s nominations, the IPC presidential flag bearer race is greatly tilted in Besigye’s favour.

Maj Rubaramira Ruranga, chairman of the IPC electoral affairs committee, said the nomination period is still open up to August 23 when the IPC congress will sit either to confirm a presidential candidate of consensus or elect one if the nominated party flag bearers failed to agree. So in effect UPC will have an opportunity to nominate their party president as IPC flag bearer by the time of IPC congress.

After the nominations each flag bearer was offered an opportunity to give highlights in the manifestos. When they spoke it was clear they all target President Museveni, accusing him of presiding over a corrupt government which needs to be changed. Kigongo promised a federal system of governance, Besigye promised a better welfare, peaceful and safe environment for all Ugandans, Kyanjo pledged justice for all Ugandans in education, economy, environment and an enviable military service while Mabikke pledged a government that respects institutions; where even the army is willing to serve any government that is voted into power.

Former Buganda Katikiro, Joseph Mulwanyamuli Ssemogerere, urged Ugandans not to succumb to intimidation. “We should stand up and say no to the cancer of corruption by voting for change,” Mulwanyamuli said.

By Mubatsi Asinja Habati

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52% of Ugandans want Museveni: An opinion poll by the government owned newspaper, New Vision, indicates that 52.72 percent of Ugandans consider president Museveni the best candidate to deal with their problems. The other party presidents Kiza Besigye (FDC), Norbert Mao (DP) and Otunnu Olara (UPC) garnered less than 20 percent. 18.41 percent of Ugandans, however, is according to the poll still undecided on who is the most capable candidate. The poll also indicates that Ugandans want their government to place greater focus on issues like heath, transport, education, children and employment. 

Karimojong rustlers killing us – Muhoozi: The Special Forces Group are counter-accusing Karimojong warriors of deliberately killing soldiers after Pokot MP Francis Kiyonga told a news gathering at Parliament last Friday that the forces were responsible for civilian deaths in the region.  Reports indicate that Capt. Edson Kwesiga, the Special Forces Group spokesman said that the SFG has not killed innocent Pokot in Karamoja region. Kwesiga was responding on behalf of Lt. Col. Muhoozi Kainerugaba to the allegations made by the MP.  Gen. Katumba Wamala, the commander of the Land Forces, on August 3 told MPs that between June 2009 and June 2010 Karimojong warriors killed 55 soldiers and injured 86. It was, however, not clear whether these were regular troops or from the SFG.

IPC choose flag-bearer: The Inter-Party Cooperation (IPC) is set to choose the flag-bearer for the 2011 elections by consensus and not elections. Wafula Oguttu, the publicity secretary of the Forum for Democratic Change party, said that the coalition had set up a committee to convince candidates to choose the flag-bearer without elections. Reports say that nominations for the candidate will take place today at Kololo Airstrip.  Kizza Besigye, (FDC), Hussein Kyanjo (Justice Forum) , Prof. James Kigongo ( Conservative Party), Dr. Olara Otunnu (UPC) and Michael Mabikke of the Social Democratic Party are the candidates.  The Candidates are to go into negotiations immediately after nominations from which they will meet the eminent team for talks to decide on who should stand in for the coalition, reports say. The results will be announced on August 23, 2010.

Buveera users face Shs14m in fine: A proposal tabled by government on Aug 16 in Parliament imposes a fine of Shs14 million on users, importers and manufacturers of banned carrier plastic bags (buveera). The fine is contained in the new amendments to the Finance Bill, 2010. Reports, however, indicate that some Members of Parliament led by the Natural Resources Committee want a complete ban to protect the environment. Previous efforts on banning buveera and the importation of second hand freezers, refrigerators, computers and television have failed and traders continue to protest these efforts as rubbish and not practical.

Ssekikubo attacks NRM disciplinary committee: Lwemiyaga County Member of Parliament Theodore Ssekikubo wants the NRM disciplinary committee to put the charges against him in writing and has accused the committee members of getting off track. Ssekikubo accused the committee of accepting influence by Foreign Affairs Minister, Mr Sam Kutesa, who is allegedly plotting his downfall. Reports indicate that the committee on Monday continued hearing accusations of election malpractice in the just-concluded district elections. Ssekikubo’s troubles stem from a violent district chairman election in his district Sembabule District where the exercise was abandoned after gunshots were fired to disperse his supporters and those of his rival Sam Kutesa.

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Pokot MP Francis Kiyonga told a news conference at Parliament on Friday, that Lt. Col. Muhoozi Kainerugaba is among the perpetratorsof atrocities against civilians in Karamoja. However, the army spokesman, Lt. Col. Felix Kulayigye, dismissed the allegations saying that Kiyonga was a liar and a rustlers’ sympathiser who was once a rustler himself. But the Uganda Human Rights Commission's investigators in Karamoja, three months ago, indicated that there was evidence that the army had violated human rights in the region.

An opinion poll by the government owned The New Vision indicates that Ugandans are more interested in health, transport, education, children and employment than political freedoms and human rights which many politicians tend to focus on. Ugandans were also more concerned on personal security, agriculture, poverty alleviation, business as well as water and sanitation. Health, the highest ranked problem, was cited by 97.4% of the respondents, road networks and availability of transport, ranked second at 96.6% of the respondents and education tied in at 95.5 per cent of the respondents. The survey reportedly selected a total of 10,097 Ugandans of voting age randomly in 67 counties from June 21 to July 23. 

 

Reports indicate that the South African cabinet is to meet on Wednesday to consider deploying its forces in Mogadishu. Government spokesman Themba Maseko, reportedly confirmed the meeting but gave no details. However, a source reportedly told the Observer of London that President Zuma was likely to give a nod to the AU’s request for South Africa’s military support. African Union chairman Jean Ping is reported to have written to the South African government, imploring it to contribute troops for the Somalia mission against a resurging al Shabaab, an Al Qaeda affiliate. Uganda, which contributes the bulk of the 6, 300-strong Amisom troops welcomed the development as a pleasant surprise.

Over 104,000 S4 candidates will be the first products of Universal Secondary Education (USE) programme. Reports indicate that 264,560 students are to sit the Uganda Certificate of Education exams this year. The pioneer students are part of at least 600,000 that are accessing free secondary education under the USE programme this year which shows a 73 per cent rise in the last four years. Reports indicate that there has been an increasing number of students joining the programme every year. In 2007 when the programme started, only 161,396 students were enrolled. The following year, 165,758 joined. A total of 160,113 enrolled in 2009, while 201,990 students joined this year. But 27.2 per cent of the students who enrolled in senior one in 2007 reportedly dropped out. 



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ISO boss forced out of office: The Director General of the Internal Security Organisation (ISO), Dr Amos Mukumbi, who had refused to vacate his office after being fired by president Museveni, forcefully ceded control to his deputy, Lt. Ronnie Balya, on August 10. Dr Mukumbi was sacked because of numerous failures, most notably the July 11 terror attacks. Security Minister Amama Mbabazi and the Coordinator of Security Agencies Gen. David Tinyefuza, supervised Dr. Mukumbi’s exit.
Kampala bomb suspects confess: Edrisa Issa Luyima, one of the three brothers linked to the Kampala bombings, confessed that he masterminded the bombings. Luyima, who was arrested in Mombasa, Kenya, where he had escaped to after the bombings, reportedly told the Buganda Road Court magistrate Francis Kobushesheon August 10, that he had smuggled Somali-made suicide bomb jackets into the country. the magistrates refused to reveal the suspect's confessions, reports indicate that Luyima, 33, is a shopkeeper in Kawempe, a Kampala suburb, and played an decisive role in the deadly attacks.
Holly Month of fasting starts: The holy month of Ramadhan starts today, August 11, following the sighting of the new moon. Reports indicate that the Director Offshore at the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council , Sheikh Rajab Kakooza, urged the Muslim faithful to observe fasting and to strengthen their spiritual renewal, love, peace and coexistence. Sheikh Zubairi Kayongo, the leader of the Kibuli based Muslim faction, asked the believers to use this period to pray for the country to have a violent free electoral process next year.Islamic principles prescribe fasting during Ramadhan to every healthy adult Muslim. However, the weak, sick, children travellers, pregnant and menstruating women are exempted from fasting during this month.
Mps query UIA boss's contract: Uganda Investment Authority boss Maggie Kigozi faces a query into the legality of her contract that was reportedly awarded to her on President Museveni’s directive, which Members of Parliament say is in breach of standing procedures. Reports show that minutes of a November 19, 2009 board meeting chaired by Patrick Bitature had refused to renew Dr Kigozi’s contract. However, a directive from President Museveni said not to replace her. The MPs also ordered the UIA boss to account for over Shs100 billion meant for establishment of 22 industrial parks in various parts of the country. The MPs say that while the funds were approved, there was no infrastructure on the ground.
MV Kalangala stalls trade: MV Kalangala, one of the country's few ships is faulty and grounded. Reports indicate that the vessel that plies the Nakiwogo-Lutoboka landing site route was docked on August 5 by the works and transport ministry. The development has halted trade as the vessel is the only reliable means of transport. The operator, Mulowooza and Brothers, said they were losing about Shs 4m daily in unfulfilled contracts, according to Robert Kayongo, the general manager. The works ministry permanent secretary informed the public about the grounding of the vessel in a radio announcement on August 4, saying it was to undergo periodic servicing at Nakiwogo landing site in Entebbe. But by August 9, the vessel was still docked at Nakiwogo without any sign of work going on.

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A student has reportedly discovered a bomb planted on one of the window seals of a hostel in Makerere Kikoni just in the neighborhood of Makerere University Kampala. The hostel is called Nakiyingi Students Hostel and can house over 200 students according to a source. The students who had gone to one of the hostels shower rooms identified the bomb and notified the hostel guard who then informed the police about the matter. The bomb scare area has been cordoned off by the police. Security at the university has been on a alert ever since the Jully 11 bomb attacks that claimed lives of over 76 people who were watching world cup finals in Kampala. The scare occurs is likely to renew bomb fears in the public. However, efforts to confirm the scare were futile as the bomb squad officials’ phone numbers could not go through. 

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