I’m Not Behind Apaa-Madi Conflicts – Gen . Moses Ali

By Stuart Yiga

The first Deputy Prime Minister and Adjumani West Mp Gen. Moses Ali has dismissed allegations that he is facilitating the ongoing tribal attacks and fighting between the Madi and the Acholi over Apaa land at the Adjumani and Amuru district border.

During a meeting chaired by the Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda,a group of MPs from Acholi led by Kilak South Mp Gilbert Olanya accused Moses Ali for inciting the Madi to rise against the Acholi in the fresh tribal conflict that has so far left 8 people dead and scores injured.

The fresh conflict broke out on Wednesday last week in Juka C village Adjumani district, when a group of Madi armed with bows and arrows attacked people from Apaa who were cultivating their gardens.

Ali, a native of Adjumani, says the conflict is now deadly and hence government must institute an independent investigation on Apaa land in contestation.

MAK VC Race In New Twist, As Ddumba Dumps Kirumira For Tycoons-backed Barya

In two weeks time, Makerere Senate and Governing Council members are expected to have decided who becomes the new VC replacing Prof Ddumba-Sentamu. On Wednesday (Today), the three finalists (Venenscias Baryamureeba, Barnabas Nawangwe & Edward Kirumira) will publicly present their credentials and campaign before Senate members at an event in the Main Hall.

Thereafter the search committee, headed by Irene Ovonji, will write their report guiding Senate on who is most suitable. The Senators, numbering over 80, will then convene to vote under the Chairmanship of VC Ddumba-Sentamu.

After Senate, a report will be sent to Council to choose the very best to become VC whereafter the Chancellor Ezra Suruuma will formally appoint the new VC.  All this is expected to be concluded in two weeks time, according to sources close to the Ovonji committee.

NEW TWISTS

As the campaigning intensifies, new details have emerged showing arguments being made for or against the respective candidates. Kirumira had previously been associated with the problems of Ddumba era on the false impression that he was Ddumba’s candidate. But our reliable information is that Ddumba actually supports Baryamureeba. Sources say this is for a number of reasons.

Firstly Ddumba benefited from Barya’s support in Council to get the job 5 years ago. Secondly, he is desperate to frustrate Nawangwe’s bid and considers Barya stronger than Kirumira who many Senators and Council members favor for the post of DVC (F/A) and not VC.

Ddumba has also never been comfortable being replaced by a fellow Muganda. Instead his people approached Banyankole Professors Bernard Bashasha and JWT Mugisha assuring them of support. However, the duo who is currently Principals, declined to run for the VC job arguing it’s financially very expensive.

It’s said that Ddumba always perceived Kirumira as a competitor splitting his would-be Masaka and Catholic clique block vote in especially Senate. Currently the Principal CHUSS, Kirumira has been running for a while for the VC job. Besides Ddumba, Barya’s other biggest supporter currently is Besigye aide Doreen Nyanjura who represents KCCA in Council.

She was also a Deputy Guild President a few years ago and served with Barya in the previous council. Closely working with Kawempe Councilor Harris Akampulira of FDC, Nyanjura expects Barya to allow her use one of the University buildings for her office. The Ddumba administration refused to give her the office space fearing to annoy State House that might perceive them as anti-government given her strong opposition to Museveni.

Barya is also supported by Prof Kerali of CEDAT and Prof Oburra of CoCiS. Prof David Kabasa of Veterinary College is also for Barya. He likes him for being development-oriented. Kabasa is unhappy with the current administration because they hijacked his programs under AFRISA, starving COVAB of hundreds of millions in tuition.

Barya, who is competing without support of very influential Appointments Board Chairman Bruce Kabasa, has also been endorsed by shrewd city tycoons whose agents have been calling Council and Senate members offering colossal sums of money in case they vote for him.

The tycoons are marketing him as somebody who is development-minded and will allow them to come to Makerere and partner to develop its vast land in Makindye and Kololo. It’s unclear whether Barya is aware of the discredited tycoon’s support.

“He is less bureaucratic and once you vote him back to the VC office we are going to pour money in your initiatives like the Endowment Fund,” one of the city tycoons owning a University was quoted as marketing Barya to one of the Senate members.

The weighing in of these city tycoons has created appetite amongst Senate and Council members to eat the money but vote someone else. Ddumba is also said to be for Barya because of the way he nicely spoke about him the day he took office. Barya, who was being bullied by Odoi Tanga, that evening, praised Ddumba for being a responsible Professor ever acting maturely.

“I’m sure my portrait won’t be removed with you being my successor. I’m sure you won’t pull it down and I’m happy to hand over to a gentleman like you,” Barya said whereafter he went to establish his UTAMU university. He has been seen in the evenings driving to Makerere to campaign for himself to different deans and other electors. Barya, who stopped buying posh cars when he left Makerere, has been sneaking in incognito.

WHAT RIVALS SAY

Senate is one place the Barya camp fears most because Senators are determined to frustrate him like they did 5 years ago. In conjunction with the likes of Tanga, who is now very influential in Council where Barya used to be very strong in the past, are decampaigning Barya basing on his past track record.

They are referring to the news articles he used to write belittling Makerere academic staff each time they went on strike arguing they don’t deserve any payrise. He dismissed their demands as unreasonable and supported government refusal to give in to their demands. They are also talking about the NUFFIC inquiry regarding the Shs2.5bn that was questioned at CIT and they say the matter has never been concluded for him to clear his name.

He was VC at the time the report was supposed to have come out and be implemented but that never happened and even Ddumba has been quiet throughout.

“Prof Katunguka who was the whistle blower is now the VC Kyambogo. How will Baryamureeba relate with him given that history?” ranted a Senator who is anti-Barya.

NUFFIC funded a University-wide ICT program which ended up being localized at Barya’s CIT faculty, a thing then Graduate School boss Katunguka protested citing financial impropriety in the program. The adversaries fault Ben Byembabazi, then University bursar, for not being hard enough on the guys at CIT.

The Tangas are also talking about the Shs10bn financial crisis Makerere found itself in because of Barya’s ambitious construction activities at CIT. That the then US Sam Akorimo was permitted by Council to sign the contract after Barya indicated CIT had the money (over Shs12bn) to wholly fund the construction of the 2^nd complex.

Council was also told the Finance Ministry had agreed to pay the VAT on the project amounting to Shs1.5bn. This turned out untrue when Finance wrote to Council saying their signature had been forged. In the end the contractor was on Makerere’s case as the Shs12bn couldn’t be paid yet on Barya’s advice, Council had committed to pay.

“This is how Makerere found itself in big debts and the financial situation has never stabilized up to this day. And we hold Barya responsible for that crisis,” says a Senator opposed to Barya.

Mathew Rukikaire was then the Chairman Council but was later replaced by Wana Etyem. The staff members, represented by Dr. Sarah Ssali and JB Nyakana, also say that during the time Barya was VC, Makerere defaulted remitting Shs10bn to DAP which was managing the staff pension funds.

This later caused strikes prompting government to bail out Council. Not that the Barya administration ate the money; it was a problem of prioritization. DAP management had to get a court order freezing all Makerere accounts including those with donor money.

There was paralysis until central government bailed out Council. During the resultant strike, Barya wrote an article belittling staff demands. This is one thing that ferments a lot of anger amongst staff towards Barya.   Some envious Senators believe Barya has never denounced his Presidential ambitions and is coming to use the Mak VC post to revitalize himself ahead of 2021.

They also question the circumstances under which he became VC in 2012 in a disputed Council exercise where he defeated Prof Luboobi and Kirumira to become Acting VC. They argue that Rukutana, who was a Barya supporter, wrote in his capacity as Higher Education Minister guiding that Mak couldn’t recruit a substantive VC because the Universities & Other Tertiary Institutions Act was being amended.

There was an amendment bill in Parliament and Luboobi’s term was ending. Having defeated Luboobi and Kirumira, Barya was elevated from being CIT Dean to act as VC for two years. The angry Senators say this was mischievous of Council because Gulu University shunned Rukutana’s letter and recruited a substantive VC.

Many argue this was done to favor Barya who had support of almost everybody in Council at that time. They argue that when he got the VC post, Barya sought to crush his adversaries like Tanga by pressurizing the US Akorimo to knife Tanga who had fallen out with him after ascending to office. When the US refused, Barya became enemies with him and the Senators fear even now if he wins and returns, some Professors will be witch-hunted and thereby fermenting more intrigue at Makerere. Many Senators are said to favor Kirumira.

SENATE COMPOSITION

For starters, Senate comprises of over 80 people including the 30 Deans, the 10 Principals and members of top management namely the VC, the DVCs, University Secretary, Bursar and Dean of Students. You have two student representatives, three people from Mubs including the Principal Balunywa or his rep and two government representatives. Barya’s biggest opposition is among the Principals and the 30 deans who dislike him as was manifested five years ago when he emerged 4^th in the Senate vote.

Even at Council level, things have changed. He can no longer take things for granted having lost giants like Bruce Kabasa now closely backing one of his rivals. The entry of Tanga is another complicating factor for Barya at Council level. Barya’s other problem is that the colleagues he persuaded to resign to go with him to start UTAMU have since fallen out with him and are quietly working to frustrate his dream to reclaim his Mak position. Many of them regret lost career time and wish they didn’t associate themselves with the UTAMU dream.

Ugandans Gang Up On UMEME, As Lango Man Rots On Street Due To Its Selfishness

By John V Sserwaniko

Our investigations reveal that Ugandans are increasingly becoming fed up with power distributor UMEME Ltd and they have ganged up by filing numerous complaints against it calling on Electricity Distribution Tribunal (EDT) to crack the whip and come to their rescue.

The tribunal (EDT) was created a few years ago as a special court to expeditiously hear disputes in the power sector. And a perusal of the cause list clearly shows UMEME is the most sued agency at the Tribunal.

A source confirmed that 7 in every 10 complaints registered are against UMEME, a clear indication Ugandans are increasingly becoming impatient with the company’s incompetence and inefficiencies. Examples of the many complaints include Fredrick Mubiru vs. UMEME, Obadiah RM vs. UMEME, Alice Namatovu vs. UMEME, Stanley Technical Services vs. UMEME, Moses Mutenye vs. UMEME, Kamba Petroleum vs. UMEME, Mohammed Sebaggala vs. UMEME, Nalongo Teddy Katende vs. UMEME, Apple Towers vs. UMEME just to mention a few.

LANGO MAN CURSES UMEME

However, the most outstanding dispute that touched us very much is that of Francis Obua, a Lango-based businessman of many years. He had been a power consumer, for operation of his four maize milling businesses in Oyam town, until December 2012 when his maize milling factory caught fire and his mortar got destroyed due to the negligence of UMEME technicians.

He first contacted UMEME for an administrative remedy as required by prudent practice. After years of being neglected by the indifferent UMEME bosses both in his upcountry town and headquarters in Kampala, he took his complaint to Water & Electricity Consumers Association. When the Association was overcome by UMEME’s indifference, its President/Chairman Robert Ssegonja wrote to Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERA) which referred the matter to Uganda Electricity Disputes Tribunal (EDT) which for months has been conducting trial sessions against UMEME under Complaint No. EDT/13/2015.

Available documents show that UMEME’s indifference shocked many ERA bosses including Eng Ziria Tibalwa Waako, Eng Joseph Oteng Otogo, Harold Obiga and John Julius Wandera who came to learn of Obua’s predicament.  Obua maintains that since the first installation by then UEB in 1993, the power meter for his commercial premises in Oyam had always been fixed inside his factory.

Somewhere along the way his power was disconnected due to the exorbitant bill UMEME guys had given him. He says he delayed to pay because, whereas his actual bill was Shs400,000, the guys had billed him to pay several millions. The day he paid his bill, the UMEME guys came to reconnect him and advised him to relocate the meter from the wall inside to the pole outside.

He says he originally refused and the UMEME guys spent the whole day convincing him that this relocation would be beneficial to him.

“I reluctantly accepted since these were technical people from UMEME,” he says with misery resulting from 5 years of unemployment written all over his face.

After the meter relocation the next day his workers came to run the maize mill that hadn’t been operating for long due to UMEME’s ineptness and as soon as they switched it on, there was an accident. The factory caught fire and his very expensive mortar was burnt. This brought his entire business to a halt and yet he had contracted bank loans to be able to operate again.

He says the banks came and took one of his production units after he defaulted on the loan and all this must be atoned by UMEME. As corroborated in the numerous documents accompanying this story, Obua says UMEME has treated him inconsiderately and this is something UMEME bosses both in Kampala and his upcountry town are culpable.

“They have been tossing me up and down and they seem not to care about my suffering at all,” Obua says adding that “but I’m encouraged by the fact that each time I come to court I realize we are many customers cursing UMEME because of treating us this way; I’m not alone and we beg the President and Parliament to come to our rescue.”

He says originally he had a lawyer who abandoned him because of the poverty UMEME ineptness condemned him into. “I have been representing myself throughout this very costly trial at EDT and I have had to face those tough UMEME lawyers but I’m firm because of the truth I represent in my claim,” says a father of 4 some of whose kids have missed school for now 5 years.

He even had to move to Kampala, initially staying at a friend’s home in Old Kampala, in order to be able to attend EDT court sessions regularly. “What else could I do when I couldn’t afford weekly transport to Kampala and back? Yet they are very indifferent, sometimes you come to court and they don’t show up and it’s you who hurts more than them. They don’t seem to care at all they believe we are nothing.”

Obua says his wife originally moved to stay with him at Old Kampala but it became too costly for the friend accommodating two jobless adults and chased them away. The wife now stays at a cousin’s place in Kiwatule and Obua himself sleeps on the streets and mostly on the verandah of Universal Kingdom of God Church in Nakasero near Buganda road court. When it rains he suffers most and could even contract hard diseases because of the destitute life he leads.

He now expects a judgment from EDT anytime and in case he succeeds he plans to demand for Shs200m from UMEME for the costs he has incurred and business foregone for all these years since 2012 when his production stalled courtesy of UMEME negligence. He insists that UMEME must be vicariously held liable for the negligent actions of its agents who messed up his business.

Through its lawyers Shonubi Musoke & Co Advocates UMEME maintains its not responsible for what happened and instead blame the fire accident on Obua’s failure to carry out routine regular mantainance of his factory and on poor wiring of the inside part of the factory. Obua denies this saying he had operated the same system and same wiring for 21 years before the incident meaning it can’t be attributed to poor wiring system.

A close study of the EDT Tribunal work shows that UMEME is sued in most cases due to negligence and arrogant failure or refusal to compensate communities affected by its power projects in different parts of Uganda.

It’s also true that, motivated by the deep pocket theory, many are quick to sue it because hefty compensation is assured given the depth of its pockets as a company which monthly collects over Shs100bn in power bills payment across the country.

We made efforts to get the UMEME view by repeatedly calling and texting General Manager Sam Zzimbe but our efforts were unsuccessfully as he never responded to any of our calls and messages.

SGS Opens Motor-vehicle Inspection Station on Entebbe Road

SGS has opened another vehicle inspection station at Namulanda, along Entebbe road in a bid to ease the mandatory exercise of vehicle inspection. The station is the third of seven (7) fixed vehicle test stations that are being constructed across the country. The facility is located on Entebbe Road, about 24 km from the capital city to the south of Kampala and is designed to inspect only light vehicles such as private cars, minivans and motorcycles.

Four other test stations are under construction around the country include Namanve (Jinja Road), Mbarara, Gulu and Mbale. In addition, three mobile stations will cover several upcountry locations with sparse vehicle population.

In March 2015, the Ministry of Works and Transport awarded SGS S.A an exclusive contract to carry out vehicle inspections countrywide on its behalf. This vehicle inspection exercise is carried out under the banner “Safe Drive Uganda” – a road safety measure intended to ascertain vehicle roadworthiness and reduce carnage on Ugandan roads. Under the umbrella Safe Drive Uganda, SGS carries out motor vehicle inspections in accordance with the procedure prescribed in the traffic and road safety (motor vehicle inspection) regulations, 2016 – under sections106(j) and 178 (2)(e) of the Traffic and Road Safety Act, 1998, Cap. 361

Over Fifteen Thousand cars have been inspected between three stations since the mandatory exercise began, the first vehicle inspection station in Kawanda started operations on 28^th November 2016, the second fixed inspection station in Nabbingo on Masaka road that was inaugurated on 3^rd May 2017 and a mobile inspection station at Namboole Stadium parking lot that was set up in February 2017.

SGS is the world’s leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company. SGS conducts almost 44 million vehicle inspections worldwide for both emissions and road worthiness.

About the Inspection

During the vehicle inspection procedure, your vehicle will go through detailed inspections of items, which directly or indirectly influence your safety, the safety of the passengers in your vehicle and the safety of all other road users. Vehicles will be tested electronically and visually.

The systems exhaust system, headlight focus (Aim), side slip, suspension system and braking system will be inspected using automatic equipment while Vehicle Identification Number, plates and all registration data of your vehicle in the Permit of Circulation, Head-, Rear Lighting system, external indicators, Condition of wheels and tyres, Dashboard of your vehicle, Windscreen wipers and washers, Electrical system, All elements related to the brake system of the vehicle (pedals, levers, tubes etc.), All elements related to the steering system of the vehicle (linkage, handlebars, joints etc.), Functionality and safety of doors, windows and mirrors, Seats and seatbelts, condition of the chassis, The condition of the bodywork, Fuel system and transmission system will be inspected visually.

53 Schools to Represent Uganda at East African Secondary School Games

By Emmanuel Sekago

The Uganda Secondary Schools Association has today released a list of 53 schools that will represent Uganda at East Africa secondary games come August 2017 in Gulu at Layibi SS.

These are schools that emerged as winners in the recently concluded ball games that were hosted in Kabale and Masaka respectively. Uganda being the host of this year’s edition, will be fielding four schools in each discipline.

Talking to pepper sport at USSSA Offices, the Secretary General Chris Mugisha said Uganda has a privilege of having extra slots which is agreeable to FEASSSA and Sponsors.

He says that’s why in Football, Nakaseke International School which finished 4^th at the Copa Cola games has got a chance to represent Uganda .

He adds that since Uganda is a host country, there are higher chances of winning numerous medals.

Jinja sss, St Mary’s Kitende, Kibuli and Nakaseke International will represent Uganda in boys football; while Mukono High, Kawempe Muslim, Gaddafi and Rubaga will represent the country in girls football.

FULL LIST BELLOW

Panic as Man Claims Ownership Of Mulago Hospital Land

A man has claimed ownership of the land hosting Mulago National Referral Hospital and even attempted to fence off part of the land near the City Mortuary.

Latima Mpagi claims that the land belongs to the family of the late Isa Muganga Ssendaula and he is the administrator of the estate.

“I have the title for this land measuring 77 acres and I obtained it from government,” Mpagi said.

However, Mulago hospital spokesman, Enock Kusasira, has dismissed the claims, saying Mpagi could be a front for a senior army officer he did not name who he alleged has previously tried to grab the land without success.

“Those claims are completely false. This particular piece of land is one of those plots acquired by government between 1996 and 1998 with the loan from African development bank which was meant to expand Mulago hospital,” Kusasira remarked.

Old Mulago was founded in 1913 by Sir Albert Cook. The new Mulago facility was completed in 1962.

Hospital authorities said they also have the title of the 77 acre piece of land that includes plot 40 which the man claims to be his.

Watch this space

Airtel, Facebook Partner To Increase Internet Access In Northern Uganda

Facebook and Airtel have partnered to establish a fibre optic network that runs from Gulu to Koboko, in a move that underlines the fact that digital information transmission is becoming the newest frontier for competition in the telecom sector

Industry stakeholders say the move will boost internet connectivity, business development and offer more support for mobile operator’s base stations across the greater northern Uganda region and further afield.

The Airtel Managing director is optimistic that this partnership will also go a long way in bridging the infrastructural gap currently affecting the equality of internet.

In his speech, Godfrey Mutabazi, the Executive Director Uganda Communication Commission said; “ICT is the fastest growing economic element in Uganda and I would like to applaud the organizations making this kind of investment and I believe it will develop the northen community.”

Second Body Found In Collapsed Kenyan Building – Red Cross

A second body has been found in the wreckage of a collapsed residential building in Kenya’s capital, the Red Cross said.

Emergency crews made the discovery on Tuesday night, the agency said on Twitter, around 24 hours after the seven-storey block fell down in Nairobi’s poor southern Pipeline Estate.

Most of the residents had fled after cracks appeared in the building on Monday. But one woman was found a day later and died from her injuries in hospital. The second body was found dead in the rubble.

Forty-nine people died last year when another building collapsed during a heavy nighttime downpour in a poor neighbourhood.

The government ordered the demolition of many buildings after that incident, including the block that collapsed on Monday.

The Red Cross said another missing person it had been searching for had been found alive. Two children were pulled out alive on Tuesday evening.

@Reuters

Zambia Suspends 48 Opposition Mps For Snubbing President’s Speech

Zambia’s parliament suspended 48 opposition lawmakers on Tuesday for boycotting a speech by the president, widening a political rift that has alarmed rights groups.

Parliament’s speaker barred the United Party for National Development (UPND) politicians from taking their seats for 30 days, a move that banned them from the building and stopped their pay.

Their party, which was defeated in August elections that it said were rigged, called the suspensions unconstitutional.

The lawmakers boycotted President Edgar Lungu’s address at the official opening of the assembly in March, saying they did not recognise him as leader.

A month later, the UPND’s leader, Hakainde Hichilema, and five others were arrested and charged with treason after a column of opposition vehicles failed to make way for Lungu’s motorcade.

Amnesty International has said the treason charges are “trumped up” and called for the politicians’ release.

On Tuesday, parliament’s speaker Patrick Matibini told the opposition lawmakers: “I challenge you to resign on moral grounds if you do not recognise that there is a legitimately elected government.”

The suspensions affected 48 of the party’s 58 MPs. The remaining 10 had officially excused themselves from attending parliament on the day of Lungu’s speech and were not included in the suspension.

Hichilema was moved from a prison in Lusaka to a maximum security facility outside the capital on June 9.

@Reuters

UNTOLD STORY: Why Baryamureeba Quit UTAMU To Rejoin Mak

Secrets have emerged why Prof Venenscias Baryamureeba is rejoining Makerere which he bitterly left five years ago. He joined others to found UTAMU in which he until recently owned 20% shares. He carried with him many disgruntled Makerere dons who are now grumbling and regretting why they fell for his rhetoric.

These include Prof Prossy Bantebya, Flavia Tushabe, Grace Lubega, Ngubiri, Dr. Rehema Baguma etc. From UMI, he lured Dr. Benon Basheka who became VC but has since fallen out with him. He also targeted MUBS and took Dr. Joseph Sewanyana who became Chairman UTAMU Council before acrimoniously falling out after Barya insisted to knife some members of staff who disagreed with his views.

Ernest Mwebaze also quit UTAMU after Barya turned out the very opposite of what he thought he was.

“When he was leaving Makerere in 2012, he mobilized many senior dons to join him in founding UTAMU which was a joint venture to which all of them invested their life time savings. But as of now whoever you speak to will tell you stories of disappointment on how Baryamureeba used them and later dumped them using tricks,” says one of the pals known to Barya for long.

“It was agreed all shareholders would work without pay for the first two years but would earn commission on every deal or consultancy projects they bring. That is how many of those PhD dons he misled to resign their jobs at CIT [Faculty of Computing at Makerere] were supposed to make ends meet. But he turned against them refusing to release their commission. Sometimes he would cut people’s commission claiming to have paid it to URA as taxes. He had recruited allies within the UTAMU accounts  department with whom he would deceive that so much has been paid to URA whereas not,” said another disappointed UTAMU founder.

“Whereas we agreed to be volunteers, he was busy eating on every deal to maintain his extravagant lifestyle. He failed to adjust and accept the fact that his well paying Makerere VC job was no more. He continued hanging out in high places and spending on his female friends. UTAMU was giving him Shs5m per month when everybody else was earning zero salary but he was never satisfied and would go behind fellow founders’ backs to make deals yet he kept telling us we were building for the future,” tearfully narrated one of the many UTAMU shareholders.

The resultant mistrust prompted UTAMU bosses to write to banks asking them to shun Barya. UTAMU VC Prof Benon Basheka wrote letters to banks where UTAMU runs operational accounts warning them to deal with Barya at their own risk. Barya had been the sole principal signatory to all UTAMU bank accounts and resisted being replaced even after colleagues lost trust in him.

Colleagues raised concerns about his extravagant lifestyle and demanded accountability for past transactions. UTAMU had accounts in Standard Chartered Bank and Equity Bank and hundreds of millions were being kept there.

This is money UTAMU would be making from tuition and from consultancy projects or services it offers or projects mostly attracted by Prof Benon Basheka who quit his lucrative UMI job to replace Barya as UTAMU VC. The money paid to URA would be exaggerated to silence those demanding accountability. Barya then tried to recruit Peter Kinyera as the UTAMU F/A Manager but other directors objected saying Kinyera was subject to manipulation.

When he stood for Presidency, UTAMU bosses were unhappy he never formally informed them. They just saw it on news.

“His plan was to continue micromanaging UTAMU through Kinyera but we refused and bad blood started. He ceased to be VC and became Chairman BOD but kept particular interest in the finance department. We became more suspicious and Prof Basheka couldn’t believe this is the Barya he knew. He started telling us the man has changed,” says a UTAMU insider.

As Chairman BOD, Barya tried to get the UTAMU Appointments Board members to recruit his man Peter Kinyera as Finance Manager and sole signatory to all UTAMU operations accounts. The others opposed it saying this was a plot to push Kinyera in top management to spy for Barya. Barya wanted Kinyera to earn Shs6m per month but the others refused arguing more qualified PhD holders weren’t earning even a half of that. Barya drafted Kinyera’s appointment letter but others refused to recognize it.

BARYA B’MES W/BLOWER

Barya furiously decided to spoil things for UTAMU. He became a whistle blower petitioning the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Uganda (ICPAU) accusing UTAMU Chief Accountant Baker Sekito of fraudulent financial activities including evading URA taxes to the tune of Shs400m.

He accused Sekito, his former close friend in UTAMU, of professional misconduct and proposed that ICPAU blacklists him. He also asked ICPAU to work with URA to expose UTAMU with a view of exposing financial malpractices in its accountability systems.

Barya’s letter to ICPAU shows that as of June 2016, UTAMU had evaded taxes worth Shs400m and that Baker Sekito was the chief architect of all this fraud.  In August 24^th communiqué, the ICPAU CEO/Secretary Derrick Nkaja accused Sekito of flouting the provisions of the Accountants Act (2015) and asked him to defend himself against Barya allegations. UTAMU bosses asked Barya to leave them since he has only 20% in the business.

They locked the office he was using and offered him a very small room in their rented Bugoloobi premises. Barya, who had badly lost 2016 polls, became very frustrated and rumors emerged he was in talks to join Kansanga-based International University of East Africa as a shareholder and lecturer.

When this didn’t materialize, Barya renewed dreams to head Makerere once again. He believed some were nostalgic because of Ddumba’s failures. Sometime in September 2016, UTAMU shareholders called an AGM meeting to vote for Barya’s expulsion arguing his petition alleging tax evasion had made it impossible to work with him anymore.

The meeting was to also allow Basheka’s proposal to publish a newspaper notice showing he was no longer part of UTAMU but in that meeting, Barya apologized and members allowed him a decent quiet exit without the newspaper embarrassment.

On learning of all this, Prof Fred Kayanja (former MUST VC) whom Barya had previously recruited as UTAMU Chairman became very disappointed and vowed to quit but Basheka begged him to stay fearing the bad press his departure would create.

Many resented Barya’s dictatorship when he banned anybody discussing his failed presidential bid on the UTAMU social media platforms. Besides Barya’s 20% shareholding, the other UTAMU original owners included Catherine Kanabahita, Johnson Mwebaze, Jude Lubega, Drake Patrick Mirembe, John Ngubiri and Ernest Mwebaze among others.

In between them they had 80% shareholding as against Barya’s mere 20%.  These ganged up to force Baryamureeba out of UTAMU University, leaving him strictly to have financial control over UTAMU Ltd, a parent company under which founders intended to operate many other enterprises.

The University was to be just one of the enterprises. Leaving him to control UTAMU Ltd was as good as chasing Barya as it’s just in name without any operational enterprises. These are some of the reasons Barya badly wants back his Makerere job.

ICC Calls for Immediate Arrest and Surrender of Gaddafi’s Son

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has called for the arrest and surrender of Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, who was released by a militia in Libya last week after six years in jail.

The son of late leader Col Muammar Gaddafi is wanted for alleged crimes against humanity during the rebellion that ousted his father in 2011.

His location is unclear. The UN-backed government has condemned the release.

It is feared that the move could fuel further instability in the country.

Saif al-Islam was freed from jail last Friday by the Abu Bakr al-Siddiq Battalion militia in the western town of Zintan under an amnesty law.

He has not been seen in public since then. A source told the BBC he was in the Tobruk area of eastern Libya.

Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda, of the Hague-based ICC, said her office was still trying to verify the release, and called on Libya and other states to arrest and surrender him.

“Libya is obliged to immediately arrest and surrender Mr Gaddafi to the ICC, regardless of any purported amnesty law in Libya,” she said in a statement.

The 44-year-old Saif al-Islam was captured in November 2011 after three months on the run following the end of Muammar Gaddafi’s decades-long rule.

He was known for playing a key role in building relations with the West after 2000.

But after the 2011 uprising, he found himself accused of incitement to violence and murdering protesters.

Four years later, he was sentenced to death by firing squad following a trial involving 30 of Gaddafi’s close associates.

Suicide Car Bomber Kills 18 In Mogadishu

A combined suicide bomb and gun attack at a hotel and restaurant in Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu, has killed at least 18 people.

The attack started on Wednesday evening, as Muslims were breaking their daily fast during Ramadan.

A chef at the Pizza House restaurant, a modern venue popular with young Somalis, was among the victims.

Militants from the al-Shabab group held about 20 hostages during a shoot-out with police, which has now ended.

The al-Qaeda affiliated group admitted carrying out the attack early on Thursday.

The attack began at around 20:00 local time (17:00 GMT), when a car rigged with explosives hit the Posh Hotel next to the restaurant – the only venue in Mogadishu with a disco, Reuters news agency reports.

Gunmen then entered the Pizza House restaurant next door, seizing hostages.

Residents reported gunshots throughout the night, but the situation is now calm, a BBC reporter with the Somali service said.

Mohammud Ali said police had stormed the building “in the early hours” and security forces were clearing the hotel.

There were also unconfirmed reports the attackers wore police uniforms, he said.

Troops from the African Union forced al-Shabab out of Mogadishu in 2011, but much of the country is still under control of the militants.

The militant group has launched a series of deadly attacks on Mogadishu and other government-held regions in recent months.

Most of the militant group’s violent acts are “hit and run” style attacks.

This is the first major attack since the holy month of Ramadan began three weeks ago – a time when al-Shabab usually increases the frequency of its attacks.

Somalia has been wracked by conflict since the long-serving ruler Mohamed Siad Barre was ousted in 1991.

Panic As Mak Visitation Committee Unearthes ‘Ghost Students’

The visitation committee investigating Makerere University’s woes has established that the institution has been budgeting for more students than it actually has.

Sources privy to the investigations reveal that the University has also been collecting money from students, which is not going to the University’s central bank account.

In November 2016, President Yoweri Museveni appointed a 9-member committee to inquire into the affairs of Makerere University. The decision was arrived at after the university was closed following weeks of a sit-down strike by lecturers and students.

In his statement, President Museveni indicated that the committee would review the reports of earlier committees, find out what was or was not implemented, and make new recommendations, if necessary. At the time of the appointment, Makerere University- Uganda’s oldest higher learning of Institution, was also dogged by allegations of gross mismanagement.

In the course of the investigation, the committee interfaced with senior past and current administrators, students, teaching and non-teaching staff and also carried out a head-count to establish the correct student population.

Now, sources privy to the investigations have said that the committee found that the university was reporting an inflated student population. It is alleged that whereas the University placed its official figure at 46,000 students, the commission established the number is around 30,000 students.

However, it is important to note that the figure was arrived at through a head count which some students may not have honoured, hence the discrepancy.

Sources also revealed that at least 4,000 students were found not to have identity cards, or that there their names were absent from the University’s official records, but they were paying money to the University, which money was never included on the central account

The committees investigations also reveal that key people in the university’s finance and administration department, were of interest to the committee. Two sets of auditors have been hired to investigate the department.

The committee has also recommended the dismissal of some key university staff over what they said, was mismanagement and negligence.

Three weeks ago, the committee interfaced with the University Council to hear from the persons implicated in mismanagement of the institution and it is now waiting for an appointment with President Museveni to hand in its report.

Committee members include Dr Abel Rwendeire as Chairperson, Tim Lwanga, Dr Florence Muranga, Dr. Proscovia Namubiru, John F.S Muwanga, Dr Paul Musasizi.

Lesotho Newly Elected Leader’s Wife Shot Dead

The wife of incoming Lesotho Prime Minister Tom Thabane was shot dead late on Wednesday, two days before her husband’s inauguration, raising fears of another wave of political violence in the southern African mountain kingdom.

Police spokesperson Clifford Molefe said Lipolelo Thabane, 58, was travelling home with a friend when both women where shot by an unknown assailant in the town of Masana, just outside the capital, Maseru.

Molefe said Lipolelo died on the scene while her friend was taken to a nearby hospital. Molefe said the motive of the shooting was unknown and that investigations were ongoing.

Lesotho, which has been on a political knife-edge since an attempted coup in 2014, held elections last week, the third in five years, after then-prime minister Pakalitha Mosisili lost a no-confidence vote in March.

Thabane’s All Basotho Convention won 48 parliamentary seats, compared with 30 won by Mosisili’s Democratic Congress.

Thabane and Lipolelo had been living separately since 2012 after Thabane filed for a divorce which had yet to be granted by the courts.

Thabane’s office was unreachable for comment.

@Reuters

Gov’t Cautioned On Excessive Domestic Borrowing

The Uganda Bankers’ Association is yet again reiterating the impact of excessive borrowing from the domestic market by government to bridge on its expenditure over the financial year.

Last week, Finance Minister Matia Kasaija, announced that government would be borrowing up to a trillion shillings from the domestic market, but sceptics claimed it could be twice that amount.

Wilbrod Owor, the Executive Director of the Uganda Bankers’ Association, insists that prudent spending by government could shield the private sector by way of quality and volume of credit.

“The government should look for a way of stopping excessive borrowing; it already has too much debts and adding another 1 trillion will take us into total mess,” Owor said.

He was speaking ahead of the Annual Bankers Conference, due on July 19th, at which the broader industry matters will be deliberated upon, with emphasis on the micro and macro economic conditions in the country.

Why Government Intervened In PAG Saga

By Milton Emmy Akwam

LIRA: The fierce wrangle between Pentecostal Assembly of God (PAG) Lira and Pentecostal Assembly of God (PAG) Uganda may come to an end soon.

This comes after government rushed to calm the situation that has been brutal for years.

PAG Lira and PAG Uganda are two autonomous religious entities registered as companies limited by guarantee.

However, the two have been wrangling over supremacy and property ownership, an episode that saw many believers lynched and injured.

PAG Uganda was abandoned by Bishop Joel Mukalo with over 300,000 Christians who later formed a parallel PAG Lira.

The split started after the latter accused Mukalo and his group of corruption and failing to remit Sunday collections to Kampala bureau.

Mukalo and his group were later dragged to Lira High Court by PAG Uganda who further accused him (them) of illegal operation, threats, among others.

Addressing thousands of his believers among them Minister without Portfolio, Hajji Abdul Nadduli, Bishop Joel Mukalo said in many occasions they got threats from their rival over their operation.

The Man of God also told Minister that the recent letter written by Jeje Odongo, the Internal Affairs Minister left them perturbed and in panic.

“We are perturbed if some officials in government say we should cease operation. What crime have we committed,” he said.

Mukalo further accused PAG Uganda under Reverend Peter Emiau of grabbing PAG health centre III that they all contributed in building.

In 2016, at least 29 PAG Lira Christians were beaten by people Mukalo named as Police and Army officers lenient to PAG Uganda.

He further told Nadduli that should government (security forces) implement the decision by Minister Jeje Odongo ordering them to cease operation, there would be bloodshed leading to loss of lives.

“Our Lawyers are contesting the Minister’s decision. Christians are vowing they will not hand over properties that they acquired themselves,” he added.

Colonel Francis Ongia, the Amolatar district Operation Wealth Creation (OWC) coordinator asked Nadduli to plead to President Museveni to leave PAG Lira alone and preach the word of God.

“The NRM I worked for told me to mobilize youth, women, and church to benefit from OWC. It’s the same NRM government telling my faith base church to cease operation,” he said.

According to Ongia, Uganda’s Motto ‘For God and My Country’ indicates that every Ugandan is free to worship without oppression.

In his statement, Nadduli applauded PAG Lira for breaking away from PAG Uganda, vowing to give them maximum support.

“This PAG Lira is my second home. Stand firm considering that the letter I wrote in reply to Hon. Jeje Odongo has strength,” he said to jubilant Christians.

Nadduli, in his letter dated 2^nd June, 2017 and copied to Prime Minister, Minister for Internal Affairs (in reply), IGP, PPS to President Museveni, Minister for Security, Minister for Presidency and Bishop Mukalo, says PAG Lira was fully registered under certificate No.178810 of 17^th February, 2014.

“Colleague, this is to appreciate the services you are offering to this nation. I have received a complaint from one Bishop Joel Mukalo that they have been given 21 days to cease operation and yet when you follow the legal status of Pentecostal Assembly of God Lira Limited, it was fully registered,” part of Nadduli’s letter reads.

He added: “They played a big role in mobilization for H.E the President in the last election which boosted the NRM vote in the northern region. The purpose of this letter is therefore to request you to allow them operate, have their certificate renewed as we wait for Court verdict on the matter.”

Minister Nadduli Asks Youth To Produce Endlessly

By Milton Emmy Akwam

LIRA: Hajji Abdul Nadduli, the Minister without Portfolio has asked Ugandan youth to produce endlessly as long as they have energy.

The Minister implored youth to produce different categories of children who he said would grow and survive well in this rigid economy.

The four categories of children he ordered youth to produce include; children for the country (Uganda), children for the Church, children for the Clan (tribe) and children without Portfolio.

Nadduli says the youth should refuse fears that there is no enough money to cater for the large family, revealing that they (youth) would get money from government through SAACOs to handle better their family affairs.

“Produce endlessly without fear. There is enough money in different SAACOs to help pay school fees and live better” he revealed.

He added that by producing many children, the Church would not remain redundant as it would be busy with baptism every Sunday.

He was ‘preaching’ on Wednesday to thousands of Pentecostal Assembly of God (PAG) Lira Christians and their leaders at Lira Pentecostal Church (LPC) headquarters.

The minister assured PAG Lira that government through Internal Affairs Ministry would not stop their operation as was ordered by Hon. Jeje Odongo, the Internal Affairs Minister.

Early this month, Jeje Odongo ordered PAG Lira to cease operation after breaking away from PAG Uganda.

Odongo said PAG Lira was operating illegally with no traceable registration documents with National NGO Board, a docket under Internal Affairs Ministry he supervises

However, Nadduli opposed his colleague’s directive in his letter dated 2^nd June, 2017 to Jeje Odongo, claiming that PAG Lira helped NRM government and President Museveni gain political momentum in Lango Sub Region, a result that saw Museveni winning strongly.

DRC Designs Medical App to Tackle Rape and Flag War Crimes

Activists behind an app designed to assist doctors document evidence of sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo aim to go beyond obtaining justice for rape victims and collect data which could help secure prosecutions for war crimes.

Developed by Physicians for Human Rights (PHR), MediCapt allows clinicians to record medical examination results digitally and photograph victims’ injuries, store them online and send them directly to law enforcement officials and lawyers.

In a vast nation plagued by militant violence and poor roads that restrict access to remote areas, PHR hopes the mobile app will lead to more convictions for sexual violence and help Congo to shake off its tag as “rape capital of the world.”

By recording data about both victims and assailants, the app – which is currently in field testing – could also be used to detect mass violence and crimes against humanity and provide evidence for war crimes investigators, according to PHR.

“It has the power to be used as an early warning system or rapid response tool, as the data could show patterns of abuses and violence,” said Karen Naimer, director of the U.S.-based PHR’s programme on sexual violence in conflict zones.

MediCapt could help prosecutors map trends or patterns of locations attacked, victims targeted and languages spoken and the uniform worn by assailants, Naimer told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

“The app may also be used to push for war crime prosecutions with evidence of crimes that are widespread or systematic,” she said.

Ethnic violence in Congo, Africa’s second-largest nation, has spread and worsened since December when President Joseph Kabila refused to step down at the end of his mandate.

Recent acts of violence between local militia and Congolese forces in central Congo, including the killing of civilians and foreign U.N. experts, could constitute war crimes, the International Criminal Court’s prosecutor said in April.

Yet the priority for PHR with MediCapt – which will be rolled out for use by doctors in eastern Congo this summer – is to ensure that it gives victims of sexual violence the security and confidence to come forward and speak out, said Naimer.

Sexual violence is often seen as a by-product of years of fighting in Congo, where atrocities were blamed on soldiers and armed groups, but rape is also rife beyond the conflict zones.

“While the app has the potential to highlight mass violence and human rights violations, protecting victims of sexual violence has to come first,” Naimer said.

Uganda National Theatre Will Not Be Pulled Down – UNCC

The Uganda National Cultural Centre (UNCC) has denied reports doing round on media platforms that the Uganda national theatre is to be demolished.

The report said that the iconic 60-year-old piano-shaped building was going to be demolished to make way for a 36-storey shopping mall.

In a statement via its Facebook page the UNCC says that the national theatre will be renovated.

Dear Patrons, it is not true that the Uganda National Theatre will be demolished, and that tenants have been given eviction notices. What is true is that this great facility will be renovated and that no tenant will be evicted. We’ve all been fighting and waiting to have this historical facility renovated and finally Government of Uganda has allocated money for this project. 

After over 50 years of existence the National theatre building has depreciated, naturally. The flat roof which is incompatible with the tropical climate has continued to leak despite the regular repairs. The component of the asbestos above the stage is outlawed and is overdue for replacement. The proscenium arch stage has depreciated, the lighting and sound system can no longer support creativity in modern art.

The chairs are breaking every other day despite the timely repairs which has created an impression that we are not doing a good job via maintenance of the facility. The resting rooms are also in need of replacement, the sewage system can no longer accommodate the current huge number of traffic in the area. The list is endless. It is on this back ground that we embarked on this project to renovate the National Theatre building and we hope that at the end of the project, we will have a better facility that is inline and supports the state of Art in the performing arena.

Regarding tenants, we held a consultative meeting with them last week on 7th June 2017 to share with them about this coming project due to the fact that there is no way we could do this without consulting them. In that meeting, they also shared with us their concerns which will be shared with the contractor once he comes on board. It is only after we share these concerns with the contactor and be advised technically that we will move forward. It is important to note that whatever will be done will be within in the law as per the tenancy agreements and MOUs we have with our beloved tenants and residential artistes.

The renovations will include the following:

• An overhaul of the Lighting and Sound system including compound lighting
  • Auditorium seats carpet to be changed
  • Proscenium arch stage to be improved upon
  • Plumbing and drainage system to accommodate the current traffic
  • Toilets to be replaced at the reception area, backstage, tenants, and the outside area
  • External and internal painting of the facility 
  • Electrical works both External and Internal including ACs and replacement of firefighting systems
  • Repair and improve the drive way
  • Windows and doors repairs and replacement where necessary 
  • Perimeter wall fence repairs and replacement

We cannot overlook the fact that in such a major renovation some people might temporarily be affected and we kindly ask you to bear with us. We highly treasure our stakeholders (Artistes and tenants)

Earlier reports attracted criticisms on social media with people arguing that the government shouldn’t think of demolishing because it has much to do with the national culture.

@rattletheworld; The Uganda national theatre to be demolished and a shopping mall is to be built.We now have more shopping malls than gorilla.

@KatoRugasira; Is this regime after destroying Uganda’s history? Why is National theatre being demolished? Where are they going to build another theatre?

@ssojo81; Destroy all national heritages and replace them with ugly glass and ceramics. Complete with shops selling Chinese shoes and Brazilian hair.

Plot To Kill Itesots In Tororo Leaks

 By Patrick Ocaido

A clandestine but deadly plot to ‘eliminate’ itesots staying in Tororo district has leaked.

This is the latest ploy from a group of radical Jopadhola natives who have vowed to kill itesots for threatening their tribal supremacy in Tororo district.

It should be noted that the minority group of Itesots in Tororo have on several occasions petitioned President Yoweri Museveni for a new district. Their appeal has been stifled by the japs who are opposed to the move and want them (Teso people) ‘weeded’ out.

In a notice that has been circulating, japs have threatened to recover the land on East Budama, Tororo County that was given to them.

“No district shall be granted to visitors (Itesots). Tororo will remain one district. On the 23th June, 2017, we are attacking you and driving you out of Tororo once and for all.

 MP YERI AT THE HELM

Similarly, documents obtained by this website have linked Apollo Yeri Ofwono, Tororo Municipality MP for orchestrating these tribal clashes that started several years ago.

Documents signed by NRM’s Apollo Yeri way back in 2005 while calling for crisis meetings, show the legislator asking fellow Adhola people to unite “and eliminate the overwhelming number of foreigners who are Itesots, Basoga, Banyoli, Bagisu etc.”

“There are very key people we have to eliminate within the district and this should take effect immediately after this meeting if we are to achieve our goals ‘The RED DEVIL SQUAD’ will deal with that, more to be discussed during the meeting,” a letter signed by MP Yeri reads.

In the same letter, Yeri added that there is also need to address the issue of muslims who are strongly fighting them in Tororo and supporting foreigners.

“We need to try and eliminate their political strength in whatever way possible,” Yeri said and requested his members to keep the document a top secret.

In other documents that Red Pepper has seen, MP Yeri has been facilitating group of japs while meeting them at his home in Amagoro to ensure that their ‘mission’ succeeds.

In another letter dated October 6, 2006, MP Yeri listed 17 top Itesots who should be eliminated. The names include; Paul Etyang, Bishop Okile, Geofrey Ekanya, Jack Ogolla, David Okurut, Omasel, Richard Okodoi, Radice Okama, Jane Emokol, Ana Mahia Obbo, Allind Obore, Betty Akichot, Oteba Adungo, Sunday Alowu, Omongoyese, Martin Etori and Michael Emojong.

When MP Yeri was contacted for a comment, he denied ever authoring such letters and rallying japs to kills itesots. He said this is a ploy to blackmail him and turn him to be an enemy of the itesots in Tororo.

“The documents were first presented to the president during last campaigns by a one Geoffrey Otieno in Kisozi. But when I got up to defend myself, the president said Ofwono just sit you don’t need to defend it,” he said.

Yeri said that he is considering to engage his lawyers to sue parties that are spreading these false documents.