As the date to the much anticipated Bell Pop’n Jam concert with Ne-Yo draws close, Bell Lager yesterday announced that it will be giving more Ugandans the opportunity to attend the show by putting up tickets for sale.
UBL MD, Nyimpini Mabunda addresses the press during the announcement of ticket sales to the Ne-Yo concert.
This development comes after sections of the public expressed their inability to access the promotion as they do not consume alcoholic beverages.
Addressing the press at the Kampala Sheraton Hotel, Mr. Nyimpini Mabunda, the Managing Director at Uganda Breweries Limited explained that Uganda Breweries has listened to the public because they believe in an all-inclusive approach.
“The limited tickets are being put up for sale to cater to those who feel that they have been left out by the under the crown promotion. These tickets do not in any way interfere with the ongoing promotional mechanic, rather they only offer an option to persons who feel they were disenfranchised due to the fact that they do not consume alcoholic beverages,” he said.
Nyimpini also clarified that whilst 5,000 tickets are now available for sale, consumers should continue participating in the Bell Pop’n Jam promotion by sending codes to 8464 as they still stand a chance to win tickets.
Opposition Members of Parliament led by the Leader of Opposition, Hon. Wafula Oguttu and the Opposition Chief Whip, Cecilia Ogwal have condemned the behavior of Uganda Police while blocking the Members of Opposition travelling to Rukungiri on Saturday 10th October 2015.
Hon. Oguttu, in his address to the House on Wednesday 14th October 2015, called for a committee of Parliament to investigate the behavior of the Police and urged the Ministry of Internal Affairs to call for a meeting between political parties and Uganda Police to iron out these issues.
“We were not travelling to Rukungiri to commit crime, we were acting within the law,” Hon. Oguttu argued. “Political organizations are allowed to hold meetings without seeking permission from the police according to the Public Order Management Act,” he stressed. He explained that the Police could not invoke the Act on these grounds.
In her submission, Hon. Cecilia Ogwal demanded an apology from the Inspector General of Police, General Kale Kayihura for the mistreatment of Members of the Opposition. “Members of the Opposition were manhandled during their arrest and a member of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) National Executive Committee, Zainab Naigaga was stripped; all these acts need an immediate explanation,” Hon Ogwal said.
Hon. Ogwal called on the Uganda Human Rights Commission to investigate and prosecute the police officers involved in the brutal arrests.
In response, the Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. Ruhankana Rugunda acknowledged the incidents as regrettable. “The government is fully aware of the occurrences and it is going to investigate the events surrounding them,” Rt. Hon. Rugunda said.
He said the statement from the Minister of State for Internal Affairs would be made to the House as a matter of urgency.
Members of the Opposition led by the Leader of Opposition, Hon. Wafula Oguttu, FDC Party President, Col. Kizza Besigye; and MPs including Hon. Paul Mwiru, Hon. Ibrahim Semujju Nganda, Hon. Geoffrey Ekanya, Hon. Patrick Amuriat among others were intercepted by the police along the Masaka-Mbarara Highway as they travelled to Rukungiri. The Members were going to attend an FDC party meeting in preparation for party nominations.
Centenary Bank Uganda has today updated the public on the ongoing ATM access PIN change.
While speaking to the media today afternoon, Centenary Bank Managing Director Fabian Kasi said that the inconsistencies are as result of a system upgrade.
“We conducted preliminary investigations and found out that this could have been as a result of our system upgrade that the bank regularly undertakes to improve its services to customers,” Kasi explained.
He also said that the decision to block all customer ATM PINs was to ensure that the customers’ monies are safe since they had received 25 complaints from their esteemed customers.
“We received complaints from 25 customers regarding inconsistencies on their bank balances with the bank. …. the bank decided to block all customer ATM PINs and requested the customers that want to withdraw over the ATM platform to first reset their ATM PINs,” said Kasi before adding that “This exercise is currently going on in all our 63 branches and it takes a maximum of only one minute.”
Kasi also reaffirmed centenary bank clients that their deposits are safe and the operations are on-going normally.
He concluded by thanking the bank clients and pledged to continue serving them
“We wish to thank our customers for their patience, and we pledge to continue serving them even better.”
HILTON TEAM; L-R Katinka Schuman, Deepak Seth and Mehdi Othmani
Aya group of companies has finally announced that it will have the grand opening of Hilton Hotel not later than December.
Aston Kajara and Hamid talking to journalits
The chairman of Aya Group, Mohammad Hamid made the pronouncement yesterday at a cocktailed attended by the State Minister for Privatization, Ministry of Finance Planning and Economic Development, Aston Kajara.
Some of the beautiful guests who graced the function
“I am glad to announce today that we will officially announce the opening of our Hotel by December 2015,” Hamid said amid ululation and cheers from the congregation which also included bankers and development partners from Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) which partly financed this 300-roomed hotel at the pick of Nakasero hill.
The Hotel General Manager Mehdi Othmani said they are going to hire about five to six expatriates who will kick-start the operations of the hotel but these will have a target of two years within which to train Ugandans to takeover top management positions in the hotel.
Katinka Schumann
“We are talking about 300 rooms here each with a different view so we have all the reasons to say we are running the finest in Africa,” he said.
He said they have the best swimming pool even for those who want to learn to swim and the children, they had just inaugurated the Tennis court and the foods and beverages they are going to offer are the best. “We are going to set a tone in operating 5-star hotels deluxe.”
The hotel Chief Engineer Nobert Feldiman said that he was told that when one builds a hotel, the first thing to consider is location, the second is location and the third is location.
He said in every room one enters, it has an exceptional view and one can see the city at its knees, so the Hotel is going to be a great success.
IDC’s High Impact and Regions Executive Katinka Schumann said that there is no better news than the opening of one of the largest investments they have in Africa.
The imposing Hilton Hotel in Nakasero
“We have held different meetings and every time we meet we have had to explain extensions, but this is the best and I will have to take the pictures home. I thank the chairman (Hamid) for the tenacity and resilience to make this project a success,” she said.
On behalf of government, Kajara said this hotel project is a dream come true. He said that at this time when the US dollar is running high, the opening of this hotel will help government trap dollars here and save the weakening Uganda shilling.
“Uganda is the best tourist destination so the coming of this project is a blessing to those who need to enjoy the Pearl of Africa. We also recently discovered oil so the experts who are going to come for exploration and even Ugandan will have to fill these rooms and also the food that is going to be served plus taxes from rooms will all contribute to our economy,” he said. He said the investment is not in vein because Uganda is a fast growing economy second to South Africa.
Guests having a good time
Hamid said the hotel will create over 2000 jobs so it is a landmark investment which is going to be here for generations. “This hotel needed to take that long to build it to World class International standards.” He said Aya group operates 4250 hotels in 93 countries all over the world and they have 12 brands.
The latest gossip on our desk is that TMT Africa has confirmed the Money & Gold Party that is slated for December 30 at the industrial area based Club Guvnor.
“Yes the biggest party in town is on and It will be massive,” said Cameroon, the TMT founding member said.
Sources have also unearthed that the budget for the party is around Shs400m and more.
Snoops have established that Gitawo has been in South Africa for over fifteen years living in Pretoria and is a self-styled entrepreneur who owns a number of businesses including Sandton technical College under the Sandton Education Group, Kristel propery group that deals in student accommodation and real estate business, Kristel family restaurant and Cameroon group of companies.
Kristel Family Restaurant has two branches in Sandton and Cape Town.
TMT has already booked some of the top musicians to entertain at the party including Jose Chameleone, Bebe Cool, Sheebah Karungi and Irene Ntale.
TMT is composed of Ugandan born tycoons Cameroon Gitawo, Meddie Ssentongo and Shaffique Katumba who is famously known as Katsha.
Palestinians have torched a Jewish holy site in the West Bank city of Nablus, amid soaring tensions with Israel.
Rioters set fire to a tomb revered as that of the biblical figure Joseph. The site, where Jews go to pray, was badly damaged.
It came hours after Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu called on the Palestinian leadership to stop a wave of attacks.
Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas condemned the arson and said the site would be repaired.
Violence between the two sides has spiralled, with near-daily stabbings by Palestinians of Israelis this month.
Seven Israelis have been killed and dozens wounded in the stabbings and some gun attacks. At least 30 Palestinians, including several of the attackers, have also been killed in the growing unrest.
The upsurge began last month when tensions at a flashpoint holy site in Jerusalem revered by Jews and Muslims boiled over amid rumours Israel planned to relax long-standing rules to increase Jewish rights at the complex. Israel has repeatedly denied such claims.
At least 39 people have died after multiple explosions in the Nigerian city of Maiduguri, an emergency official says.
Three female suicide bombers, thought to be aged between 11 and 15, struck on Friday morning, an official with the National Emergency Management Agency told BBC Hausa.
It follows bomb attacks on a mosque on Thursday, which killed at least 32.
Maiduguri is often targeted by the Islamist militant group Boko Haram
No group has yet said it was behind the attack during Thursday’s evening prayers, that also left many people injured.
More than 100 people were killed in three explosions last month in the city, which is considered the birthplace of Boko Haram.
In Thursday’s attack, officials say the first suicide bomber blew himself up inside the mosque, with a second bomber detonating explosives as people rushed to help those injured in the initial blast.
The explosions caused parts of the mosque to collapse, leading to further injuries.
Nigerian military spokesman Sani Kukasheka Usman told the BBC’s Newsday programme that Boko Haram was resorting to suicide attacks because “they have been degraded to the extent that they can no longer fight collectively”.
This year the security forces have reclaimed most of the territory previously captured by the group in north-eastern Nigeria.
Two million people have been forced from their homes since the militants launched their insurgency in 2009.
Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari made combating the group a key campaign pledge as he sought election this year, but attacks by the Islamist group have intensified since he came to power.
Mr Usman said the Nigerian army was still determined to meet a deadline set by President Buhari to defeat Boko Haram by the end of the year.
The Pan African Parliament has resolved to establish and encourage dialogue amongst national political parties in order to prevent conflict in African countries.
In a set of resolutions approved at the end of the First Ordinary Session of the Fourth Parliament, members were concerned by the “deteriorating peace and security situation in Africa, which has resulted in increased threats to human security, loss of lives and deplorable and inhuman conditions particularly of women and children.”
The Pan African Parliament presided over by its President, Hon. Roger Dang Nkodo, has been meeting for its First Ordinary Session in Midrand, South Africa, from Oct. 5 – 17, 2015.
Uganda’s representatives to PAP are Hon. Onyango Kakoba (NRM, Buikwe North), Hon. Jacquline Amongin (NRM, Ngora district), Hon. Beatrice Barumba (NRM, Kiruhura district), Hon. Sam Otada (Ind., Kibanda) and Hon. Elijah Okupa (FDC, Kasilo).
President Nkodo said, “Our deliberations have proven that African legislators have the desire to carry the voice of the people higher.”
He challenged African governments to honor their international commitments including fulfilling their financial pledges to the African Union.
The Pan African Parliament intends to work with the Africa Council of Political Parties, the African Union Peace and Security Council and the AU Economic, Social and Cultural Council to encourage national dialogue and community dialogues among civil society organizations on the continent.
The institution plans to organize periodical national African-to-African conferences involving participants from African political parties, civil society, traditional and religious leaders.
In addition, PAP will organize and disseminate education and media programmes that foster the culture of peace, tolerance and denunciation, drawing inspiration from the South African experience.
PAP recommended making use of African heritage in conflict resolution provided by native administrative, tribal and religious leaders; and the establishment of arbitration centres for conflict resolution in African countries by consolidating the role of the African Court on Human and People’s Rights in resolving conflicts and disputes.
PAP has also resolved that the AU, its organs and regional economic communities strengthen mechanisms to promote peace and security in order to facilitate integration of the continent learning from the experience of the United Nations.
Further, PAP resolved that Africa reinforces its continental early warning mechanisms to effectively anticipate and prevent conflicts and to timely predict and trigger safeguards against natural disasters, tribal conflicts and wars.
In the resolutions, member countries were also asked to refrain from interfering in the internal conflicts of other states on exercise of direct interest or foreign power.
Homes have been flattened, power lines toppled, and thousands of people have fled their homes as Typhoon Koppu swept into the northern Philippines.
The huge, slow-moving typhoon made landfall near the town of Casiguran on the island of Luzon on Sunday morning.
Koppu brought winds of close to 200 km (124 miles) an hour and whipped up coastal surges 4m (12ft) high.
Three days of torrential rain has been predicted, triggering major flooding and possibly landslides.
Alexander Pama, head of the government’s main disaster agency, said 10,000 people had been displaced in north-eastern Luzon but no casualties had been reported so far.
“Initially, we are getting [reports that] many houses were destroyed, power lines toppled and trees blocking major roads,” he said.
The eye of the storm was moving west at a speed of just 3km/h (2mph).
“It has slowed almost to a crawl. We were hoping it would speed up and spare us sooner,” Mr Pama added.
Flights and ferry services in the north have been cancelled and some bus services in mountain areas suspended due to the threat of landslides.
On Friday, President Benigno Aquino made a televised warning, the first time he had done so since Super Typhoon Haiyan in 2013, which killed more than 6,300 people.
BBC science editor David Shukman, who is in the capital Manila, says public warning systems have been greatly improved since Typhoon Haiyan, so there is a much better chance of keeping people safe.
Typhoon Koppu, also known as Lando, is up to 650 km across and producing winds of up to 250km/h (155mph). It is slow moving, meaning it could bring intense rain over a long period of time.
Speaking in Manila, Lotta Sylwander of Unicef told the BBC that people in the worst hit areas needed to be able to sustain themselves for up to 72 hours.
“That’s how long the typhoon is going to take to pass and during that time it’s going to be extremely difficult to come in with any kind of transport,” she said.
“We’re hoping that people really did prepare and have enough food and water at home.”
Frank Kalanda and team captain Farouk Miya scored two first half goals to give Uganda Cranes the command after winning 2-0 over Sudan at Nakivubo Stadium on Saturday.
The ground was slippery after the overnight rains in Kampala prior to the game.
Uganda finished the game with ten players after Hassan Wasswa Dazo was sent off for a professional foul.
The well attended match was watched by the prime minister of Uganda, Hon Ruhakana Rugunda.
The Cranes created further chances through Ceaser Okhuti and Miya but none could yield any fruitful dividend in terms of goal count.
The Cranes re-group on Monday for a residential camp at the FUFA Technical center, Njeru.
The return leg will take place in Khartoum on Saturday, 24th October 2015.
Uganda Cranes XI:
James Alitho (G.K), Ibrahim Kiyemba, Joseph Ochaya, Hassan Wasswa Dazo, Shafik Bakaki, Ivan Ntege, Ceaser Okuti, Muzamiru Mutyaba, Farouk Miya (Captain), Frank Kalanda, Kezironi Kizito
Replacements:
Denis Okot replaced Kezironi Kizito, Hakim Ssenkumba replaced Muzamil Mutyaba and Tony Odur replaced Ceaser Okhuti
Subs Not Used:
Mathias Kigonya (G.K), Isaac Muleme, John Ssemazzi and Erisa Ssekisambu
South African based businessman Ivan Ssemwanga has bragged that he is richer than TMT Africa, a group of young Ugandan tycoons.
Ivan Ssemwanga
Our highly placed sources in South Africa intimated to us that Zari’s Ex hubby said this on Friday while in a South African club.
“Those are young boys, I have more money than them so they should not joke around,” the snoop quoted Ivan.
This website understands that Ivan is not in not in good terms with the TMT Africa since they are rival to his group, the rich gang.
TMT Africa is set to hold a massive party at the industrial area based Club Guvnor on December, 30.
The party was confirmed by TMT Africa Members.
“Yes the biggest party in town is on and it will be massive,” Cameroon Gitawo revealed to our snoops last week on Friday morning.
TMT Africa is a group of South African based Ugandan entrepreneurs aimed at motivating the youth to work hard in order make a difference in the society.
TMT Africa is composed of Fabiola’s Ex-boyfriend, Meddie Ssentongo, South African based tycoon, Cameroon Gitawo, and Shaffiq Katumba who is famously known as Katsha De Bank.
Cameroon Gitawo
Gitawo has been in South Africa for over fifteen years living in Pretoria and is a self-styled entrepreneur who owns a number of businesses including Sandton technical College under the Sandton Education Group, Kristel property group that deals in student accommodation and real estate business, Kristel family restaurant and Cameroon group of companies.
Kristel Family Restaurant has two branches in Sandton and Cape Town.
Katsha and Cameroon Gitawo
Singers Bebe Cool, Jose Chameleone, Irene Ntale and Sheeba Kalungi have already confirmed that they will be performing at the Money and Gold Party at Club Guvnor.
Zaitoon Ahmed Kasutrana, a city socialite and MUK student whose nude snaps have been circulating all over social media for weeks, faces arrest over her leaked sex video.
This comes after my sources revealing that Zaitoon could be behind the leakage of both the sex video and her nude pictures.
In the said sex video, Zaitoon is seen filming herself lying on a bed, massaging her massive Sumbi, while whimpering and moaning softly.
Dressed on a blue blouse with nothing else below, Zaitoon is seen pleasing herself like a real Wankstar, touching her Kitone in a very wanton manner while licking and tenderly biting her lips, something she does until she explodes.
Several snapshots of Zaitoon in her leaked nude pictures also depict her as a Wank-star who really knows how to satisfy herself.
In the snaps which she took herself through a mirror reflection using her smart phone, Zaitoon is pictured dressed on a pink night dress, which she parts aside while standing so as to get access to her Thighland.
In other snaps she is seen ferociously plowing her River Between with fingers until the Wetland gushes.
Zaitoon was until recently being bonked by a city businessman identified as Shafik Kinganira aka Coach, who has a an electronics store at Energy Centre building in Kampala, whose wife is said to have leaked her nude pictures after landing on them in Coach’s phone.
This means that if Zaitoon is found to have a hand in the leakage of her sex video then she faces higher chances of being arrested.
On Friday this week one lucky MTN subscriber will win one of the three brand new ‘KIA Sportage’ cars in the on-going exciting data campaign.
MTN Uganda recently launched a new exciting promotion where subscribers can buy a new Avvio 3G smart phone and stand a chance to win one of the three cars.
The promotion, which started a month ago, is intended to ignite some excitement into the telecom market while encouraging the usage of data, more especially on the 3G network.
Data is one of MTN Uganda’s key themes for 2015 and to bring this to life the leading telecom giant has continuously invested in a robust 3G and 4G network.
According to Mapula Bodibe, the company’s Chief Marketing Officer despite the fact that data usage has grown; there is still a big potential in the Ugandan market.
In Uganda and Africa at large the biggest barrier to entry has largely been lack of affordable 3G smartphones.
There is need for more 3G devices in the market so as to allow for higher data consumption coming from better customer experience.
This grows a more developed information society and even improve customer experience in Uganda.
“MTN Uganda is currently the leading network for smart phones and this new exciting campaign underpins this claim. As we tend to the festive season, we want to give back to you our subscribers by offering affordable high quality smartphones to improve your experience.” she said.
“Smartphone entry devices now contribute 64 percent to total sales in the Ugandan market and this is highly attributed to the aggressive sale of affordable smartphones like the Avvio. We have the widest, most stable network and can serve you better with any smartphone,” she added.
The phones being promoted which include the ‘Avvio 793’ and the ‘Avvio 781’ give users an upgraded data experience. The youth, who use data in a more exciting manner can upgrade from the 2G experience to 3G.
Moses Musiime the MTN Uganda’s Consumer Segment Manager said entering the promo has been designed to be very simple.
“Basically every phone bought is an entry opportunity for the customer to win. Once the phone is bought from any of the MTN outlets, the user has to enter the draw by subscribing to MTN ‘HollaZone’ package by simply dialing *157*5#,” he said.
“After every 20 days, a draw using the data collected from the campaign launch date will be run. There are 3 cars to be won, so every 20 day we shall announce a winner. The draw will be system generated and overseen by an AVIO partner and an MTN official,” he added.
Following singer Weasel’s questionable rendezvous with upcoming musicians Able Tasha and Anita da Diva, his romance with Shamira Tumusiime aka Samira is hanging on a string.
The mother of one is trying so hard to stay with her crook of gold but she will soon get a heart attack because of his randy manners with city babes.
Weasel was a few weeks back sighted openly snogging Tasha at a city hangout.
Sources reveal now that the two have been having steamy sessions ever since Weasel promised to help Tasha build her music career.
“The couple is trying so hard to keep their love going but it is hard but Weasel is always doing something wrong,” a source close to them says.
Tasha has caused a deep rift between Weasel and Samira that these days she has decided to storm night clubs where she parties solo to kill stress.
Sometimes she seeks solace in her pal Zahara Toto, who comforts her.
An insider explains the reason why Samira can’t leave him is that she can’t imagine a life without him, given the fact that he is the bread winner, although he has numerous kids with several women.
South African Olympic and Paralympic athlete Oscar Pistorius has been released under house arrest nearly one year after he was jailed for killing his girlfriend, prison officials say.
He is expected to spend the remainder of a five-year prison sentence at his uncle’s home in Pretoria.
He shot Reeva Steenkamp through a locked bathroom door in 2013 but said he thought she was an intruder.
Ms Steenkamp’s relatives say they think Pistorius is “getting off lightly”.
Oscar Pistorius, 28, was found guilty of culpable homicide, or manslaughter, of his 29-year-old girlfriend at a trial in October last year.
A case lodged by the prosecution appealing against that decision is due to be heard by the Supreme Court of Appeal on 3 November. State prosecutors say Pistorius should have instead been convicted of murder.
The athlete was released on Monday evening, a day earlier than expected, according to a spokesman from the Kgosi Mampuru II prison, where Pistorius was being held.
“Oscar Pistorius was placed under correctional supervision tonight,” Manelisi Wolela confirmed in a statement.
“The handling of the actual placement is an operational matter of the local management, and how they handle it is their prerogative that is carried out in the best interest of all parties concerned, the victims, the offender and the Department of Correctional Services,” he added.
Oscar Pistorius was driven under cover of darkness to his uncle’s house 20 minutes away, a premature departure designed presumably to avoid the media glare, says the BBC’s Karen Allen in Pretoria
Following her romance with Meddie Ssentongo, Winnie Nwagi’s lover producer Big Nash has kicked her out of his life.
Tipsters from Swangz Avenue revealed that Nash couldn’t take the betrayal and has since decided to call it quits.
The couple has been dating for several months now. Nash has been the brains behind Nwagi’s latest hits and close friends are worried she could easily be dropped by Swangz following her new relationship with Meddie.
The two were spotted at a top club on Saturday swapping saliva.
The Parliament of Uganda, under Speaker Rebecca Kadaga, has been commended for the actions taken to promote women and girls rights in Uganda amidst the challenges brought about by a reluctant Executive.
Speaking during a meeting of the Coordinating Committee of Women Parliamentarians of the Inter Parliamentary Union (IPU), Chairperson Ms. Mensah Williams of Namibia paid glowing tribute to Speaker Kadaga and the Ugandan legislature, following a report of the activities so far been carried out in the Parliament of Uganda.
Hon. Betty Amongi (MP, Oyam South) who briefed the meeting, spoke on the success of the first ever Women’s Parliament held in Kampala on 7th July, 2015 under the theme Women’s participation and empowerment: Addressing challenges of Convention of Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) implementation.
“It brought women from the grassroots together with male Parliamentarians, the donor community and had all the UN representatives in Uganda attending,” Amongi said.
The Women’s Parliament culminated in the launching of the “Call for Action” hand in hand with the “He for She” campaign.
“Congratulations to the Uganda Parliament,” Mensah Williams said, adding: “I think that that is what we all need to do to encourage for signatures; for people to take cognisance of the ‘He for She campaign’ and the call for action that we committed to.”
Speaker Rebecca Kadaga highlighted that these successes were not without their challenges: “I must express my frustration with the Executive back home,” she said, while explaining about the presentation of the Report on the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) in Parliament of Uganda, “Imagine, all five Ministers concerned went missing at the time of tabling the report. “
Lesotho Speaker Motsamai expressed similar challenges while also warning of “constitutional inhibitions” caused by the high turnover of MP’s during elections and the imminent risk of “losing the institutional memory and momentum.”
The IPU Secretariat pledged to continue inducting new members into the ideals of the CEDAW and advancement of gender equality.
Latest info reaching us from the Amama Mbabazi camp is that his wife and key pillar in his 2016 bid, Jacqueline Mbabazi, isn’t well health-wise.
Jacqueline Mbabazi, the wife of NRM perceived nemesis and booted Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi
Inside sources confirmed that having developed strange abdominal complications, Jacqueline was rushed out of the country a few days ago to UK and US where she is expected to have specialized treatment by overseas family doctors.
Her husband Mbabazi flew out along with her because according to sources “he couldn’t afford to be away from his wife at such a critical moment in her life.”
Sources said many family members became very scared to see indefatigable Jacqueline, who rarely falls sick, easily breaking down and collapsing under the weight of heavy abdominal complications.
The couple as we write is still overseas where Jacqueline is said to have undergone several medical tests with a view of establishing what could have caused her current abdominal-intestinal complications.
It was further revealed that while in UK and USA Mbabazi was, besides attending to his ailing wife, expected to also have meetings with key power brokers in both London and Washington including top movers in the David Cameron and Barrack Obama administrations respectively. Sources couldn’t exactly reveal the extent to which ailing Jacqueline had recovered since the couple flew out of Entebbe a few days ago.
POLITICAL MOVES
In a related development, more political plots and activities have continued to unfold within the Mbabazi camp in Kampala even in his absence.
For instance on Thursday night a planning meeting was held spearheaded by chief mobilizer Hope Mwesigye, chief of party Solome Kimbugwe Nakaweesa and diplomatic advisor Amb Edith Sempala.
It was also attended by top leaders of the political parties which comprise what remains of TDA solidly backing Mbabazi’s presidential bid.
It was revealed that, along with Lukwago’s TJ Platform, the parties comprising the pro-Mbabazi coalition of the willing are set to sign a fresh protocol with Mbabazi detailing the underlying dos and don’ts to guide their joint campaign platform with JPAM’s Go Forward platform.
That isn’t all. The Thursday meeting was preceded by another on Wednesday and was expected to be followed by another meeting on Friday.
It was also revealed that the meetings have been alternating to be held at either the Nakasero JPAM campaign bureau or his Crested Towers office.
Hope Mwesigye and DP’s Matia Nsubuga have been alternating in chairing these strictly very confidential meetings.
It was further revealed that the Thursday meeting went through the new campaign structure JPAM intends to have without Besigye and his FDC who were part of the initial TDA arrangement.
“Madam Hope told us that JPAM wants some adjustments to be made because we have never resolved how to move in the reorganized coalition in absence of our colleagues from FDC,” inside sources told us adding that it was JPAM’s view that it’s time to begin moving faster to sustain the visibility and the momentum on the grass root.
Sources further revealed that it was resolved the JPAM campaign structure will have the national level at the apex below which will be the regional campaign bureaus which will supervise work done at the district structure levels.
There will be a task force at every constituency level, sub county level, parish to the village level.
It was revealed the TDA Naguru office was avoided for these meetings to avoid being seen to be using the TDA platform to act in bad faith while sidelining FDC.
“We agreed to remain guided by the original TDA ideals of having joint candidates at all the other levels because we don’t believe in the principle of two opposition candidates. It must be one candidate at every level raising our Go forward platform and that is exactly what JPAM wants to see maintained. Thereafter we can agree how to co-exist with the candidates fronted by FDC without tearing each other apart,” said an inside source.
The source added that after the weekend meetings, the Go Forward team is likely to be seen going out to meetings, rallies and other activities aimed at generating consensus on joint candidates for lower level positions.
In a related development, JPAM has appointed former and incoming Makindye East MP Mike Mabikke to be the official campaign spokesman for the Go Forward campaign.
Mabikke who has already started his work with enthusiasm will be deputized by outspoken Saddam Gayira, the renowned orator from Jaberi Bidandi Ssali’s PPP.
It was also revealed that the Thursday night meeting also reflected on the ongoing negotiations to have crowd puller Erias Lukwago and his TJ platform embrace JPAM’s Go Forward campaign.
The idea is to have JPAM endorse and rally behind candidates Lukwago’s TJ platform will have chosen to carry its flag.
“I can confirm to you that very senior people from Lukwago’s TJ have been in talks with us and the talks are so far going on well. We have been given the impression that these guys we are meeting actually represent the entire TJ in these talks and we shall have a formal function for TJ’s admission in our coalition once the talks are concluded,” revealed a source very close to JPAM’s scheme of things in the Go Forward movement. Watch this space!
