PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe came within a whisker of going through another script of a wrong speech at the just-ended Zanu PF conference in Victoria Falls over the weekend, before his alert lieutenants, led by Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa, immediately came to his rescue.

By the time Mnangagwa and First Lady Grace Mugabe came to his rescue, the veteran politician had already read out the first paragraph of the wrong copy and critically, he seemed to have noticed the mistake unlike the September incident at Parliament.

The debacle, coming less than three months after Mugabe made global headlines by reading a wrong script in Parliament on September 15, could have caused further embarrassment to his party, which has already endorsed him as its presidential candidate for the 2018 election. Mugabe turns 92 on February 21.

It turned out Mugabe had been supplied with a copy of the speech he had read at the party’s central committee meeting two days earlier.

He noticed the blip 30 seconds after ploughing into the first paragraph of the wrong speech and grunted: “This is badly put,” before Mnangagwa went into an animated brief conversation with Grace.

In the furore that ensued, Information minister Chris Mushohwe immediately sent a text message to Presidential spokesperson George Charamba, demanding a correct speech, which the latter delivered a few minutes later.

Mushohwe and Charamba engaged in a brief conversation as Mugabe continued, but the damage had been done.

“The media is tweeting it live you can follow,” Charamba whispered to Mushohwe.

Mnangagwa, meanwhile, had to shift chairs and briefly sit in Mugabe’s place during a short, but animated chat with Grace, following which he summoned one of Mugabe’s close aides and supplied him with the correct version.

Mugabe ignored the supplied copy and instead, went speaking off-the-cuff about issues that had no link to his prepared speech before tabling the central committee report for adoption by conference.

Drama had started earlier, as staff set up the top table and there seemed to be disagreements over the sitting arrangement, particularly the setting of the chairs that were to be used by Mnangagwa and his counterpart Phelekezela Mphoko.

Party commissar Saviour Kasukuwere seemed intent on imposing some arrangement, before Charamba tried to resolve the differences, amid wild and angry gestures. Charamba left briefly and returned with Mugabe’s chief of protocol, Munyaradzi Kajese, in tow.

Kajese, reportedly the foul guy in the September speech blunder, seemed to “lay down the law” and everything seemed in order.

Charamba had set the documentation at the podium that was to be used by Mugabe and as usual, another podium that was to be used by other speakers had also been set at the extreme end, which, however, seemed to have been “set the wrong way”.

On September 15 while officially opening the second session of the 8th Parliament of Zimbabwe, Mugabe, for 25 minutes, embarrassingly read his State of the Nation Address he had presented in late August without realising it.

Mnangagwa was later to be assigned, as leader of the House, to re-convene the legislature to withdraw the “wrong speech” and replace it with the correct version, a move that included “deleting” the proceedings of the day that experts said had left Parliament in limbo.

There were accusations and counter-accusations among officials, as the finger-pointing went into overdrive.

The ensuing fall-out, it was to emerge, was epitomised by the social media platform WhatsApp clash between Charamba and War Veterans minister Christopher Mutsvangwa.

There were calls from the opposition for Mugabe to either quit or be impeached, but all this came to naught.

Hawks in Mugabe’s administration, split between two distinct factions, angling to take over from the former guerrilla leader, tried to milk the event to the last drop and smear each other.

However, the latest blip seemed to have gone largely unnoticed. Mugabe’s prepared speech was not handed out to journalists as is the norm, but the State media reported that he had lashed out at his lieutenants for feeding “the private Press” with internal party matters.

“They do not attend our politburo. The private Press are not members of the central committee. I don’t recall appointing any one from their number as my Minister of Government. They do not sit in my Cabinet, yet all matters placed before all these key organs of the party and government find their way to the private press newsrooms,” an angry Mugabe reportedly said.

Source: https://www.newsday.co.zw

For so long, it has been rumoured that NTV’s GXP presenter Carol Flower and South African based Tycoon Cameroon Gitawo well known as Mbibo among his peers are an item; the roumour is no more!! They are head over heels in love.

Our eagle eyed snoops bumped into the couple last week as Kampala Serena Hotel.

This comes just days after our sources revealed that on several evenings, carol was spotted at Kampala Serena hotel with Flower.

This website understands that the two have been in a relationship for years though they chose to keep it a secret.

Gitawo, a real estate mogul jetted into the country a few weeks ago ahead of TMT Money and Gold Party slated for December 30 at the industrial area based Club Guvnor.

On the same party, TMT Music promotions will also be officially launched in Uganda.

“We are already working in Kenya, South Africa and Tanzania. Currently in East Africa, we are trying to identify talent and soon we will be signing musicians,” confirmed Gitawo adding that; “we shall officially launch it at the Money and Gold party slated for December 30 at Club Guvnor.”

This website understands that the launch of the label in Uganda will see the group inject Shs1billion to ensure that the signed musicians get maximum attention while grooming their talent.

“TMT music promotions will be spending a billion here in Uganda. Several meeting have been held and everything is going on as planned,” source quotes Gitawo.

As Christians count days to Christmas, the police have warned the public on updates made on social media claiming they are the source of crimes such as theft and robbery.

Mr. Fred Enanga the police spokesperson noted that in this festive season there is always an increase in robberies and house breaking because many people head to villages for holiday thus calling for public vigilance.

“This is a busiest season and whatever you post on social media may have impact on your life. We have seen posts where people are informing their friends how they are withdrawing money to take to the village. Such posts put your life at risk as you may be trailed by thugs,” said Mr. Enanga.

He further warned the public to be alert on pick pocketers, and urged people to avoid carrying large sums of money but use ATM cards, bank drafts and mobile money services.

The business community was advised to request the assistance of the police or reputable security companies if they need to transport or move cash from their business places to financial institutions.

Those travelling are reminded to use designated drivers, who must obey the road signs and the speed limit and the drivers are cautioned to ensure that all the passengers are properly secured using seatbelts, car seats so that accidents can be avoided.

“We advised those going up county and abroad to plan early to avoid last minute hustles and unnecessary risks that can cost your life. For those remaining in busy urban areas make sure you move in groups and stick with friends at all times. Make sure your friends and relatives know where you are,” Mr. Enanga cautioned the public.

Other precautions the public have been advised to take include avoid wearing expensive jewels especially gold while traversing public spaces, do not leave expansive gifts and gadgets in cars and be mindful of their surroundings at all times.

Avoid drink driving and avoid drinks unattended. Parents are advised to ensure all round protection and safety of children as well as moving with a fully charged phone.

“As police we have already beefed up security in different areas and we are going to increase the presence of security personnel. We are working with crime preventers in their respective communities and therefore we ask for public cooperation so that we can have a peaceful festive season,” he said.

Shia Muslims are protesting in six northern Nigerian cities against a military crackdown they allege has left hundreds of their members dead.

Many businesses have shut in Kaduna, one of the cities worst-affected by the demonstrations, a BBC reporter says.

Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani phoned his Nigerian counterpart, Muhammadu Buhari, about the crackdown.

Nigeria’s military accuses the pro-Iranian sect of trying to assassinate army chief Gen Tukur Buratai.

The sect, known as the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), denies the allegation.

Shias in Nigeria

Image copyrightAFP

• Shias are minority in Nigeria but their numbers are increasing
• The IMN, formed in the 1980s, is the main Shia group led by Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky
• They operate their own schools and hospitals in some northern states
• They have a history of clashes with the security forces
• The IMN is backed by Shia-dominated Iran and its members often go there to study
• Sunni jihadist group Boko Haram condemns Shias as heretics who should be killed

According to Iranian media, during his conversation with Mr Buhari, President Rouhani inquired about the fate of Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky, the IMN leader arrested after troops besieged his home in the northern city of Zaria.

The IMN alleges that the military killed hundreds of its members and destroyed a religious shrine and the sheikh’s home during the raid.

A leading human rights activist, Chidi Odinkalu, has backed that figure and called on President Buhari to conduct an independent investigation into what happened.

“It is not tolerable. Nigerians have the right to live like citizens of any other nation,” he told the BBC.

“How can a professional military respond with guns to people protesting with stones?” Mr Odinkalu added.

The latest protests were triggered by a photo that went viral on social media, purportedly showing him sitting on the ground with a bloodied face.

The IMN has its headquarters in Kaduna, where security forces have taken up positions at strategic places as IMN members protest in the streets, says the the BBC’s Nura Muhammed Ringim in the city.

Some residents have stayed in doors because they fear violence, he says.

The cities of Kano, Katsina, Sokoto, Zamfara and Bauchi have also been hit by protests.

In Iran, a group gathered in front of the UN office in the north-eastern religious city of Mashhad to protest about the violence in Nigeria, Tehran-based private Tasnim news agency reports.

The military has not given casualty figures, but has denied the IMN’s claim that the wife of Sheikh Zakzaky, Zeenat Ibrahim, was killed during the weekend clashes.

Maj Gen Oyebado, the army head of the Kaduna division, said on Monday that she was in the army’s custody.

He did not confirm or deny the death of the couple’s son, Sayyid Ibraheem Zakzaky.

Last year, three other sons of Sheikh Zakzaky were killed in clashes between the army and pilgrims in a religious procession.

Source: BBC

Opposition presidential hopeful Col Kizza Besigye Kifefe has formed a new squad across the country aimed at protecting his turf in the next year’s election, Red Pepper has reliably learnt.

The opposition political parties particularly Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) has consistently claimed that government through Electoral Commission steals its victory.

In a bid to protect the vote, in this hotly contested race, FDC chairman Ambassador Waswa Biriggwa, yesterday announced that the party has formed a new group of radicals dubbed Power 10 Strategy (P10) comprised of parish councilors and other diehards who will safeguard Besigye’s victory come February 18th 2016.

“After an assessment, we found out that FDC was much more concentrated in towns and therefore we rolled out a program to recruit and strengthen the party at the grass root. This was intended to empower the people at the grass root to vote and also protect the vote,” Biriggwa said.

He added that they found it wanting to create a machinery that will oversee the process and also counter any external forces whose plan is to rig Kizza Besigye of his victory.

Birigwa’s deputy campaign chief Wycliffe Bakandonda, said that this new infrastructure has been formulated out of FDC district coordinators, sub county and parish chief, “we went down the parish and got 10 coordinators, each coordinator among the 10 will be required to recruit more 10. When you do the calculations you will find that the total number of P10 is 7 million Ugandans who are enough to vote NRM out.”

The Electoral Commission roughly estimates the total number of voters to be 15 million.

If FDC successfully recruits the p10 army across the country, this means that it will share half of the voters, a number that is enough to see Besigye president next year.

Biriggwa said that the operation has so far been triumphant in western Uganda where Besigye launched his campaigns and therefore by December 20^th the whole of Uganda will be painted colour blue.

FDC however, refuted claims that the new formed squad is unlawful as per the guidelines of the EC which vetoed all militia groups created by both government and opposition to protect the polls.

Defiance campaign stands

Biriggwa also took time to respond to UPDF commander Gen Katumba Wamala who last Saturday warned FDC candidate Kizza Besigye against inciting the electorate with his venomous campaign rhetoric.

“Our campaign is standing on four legs; defiance, liberation, restructuring of state institutions and social economic transformation. Besigye has explained these four issues variously. We shall explain again but in particular what we mean by defiance. What we mean here is that we shall not accept to adhere to any directive that is unlawful or nay law that deviates from Universal Human Rights,” Biriggwa said.

However, several government institutions including EC on several occasions have warned Besigye to desist from such campaign that is likely to ferment anarchy.

A number of UPDF high ranking officers have come out vehemently to warn that Besigye’s remarks could propel army to step in.

Dr. Abdallah Possi was recently appointed as a deputy minister in the prime minister’s office responsible for policy coordination, parliamentary affairs, employment and persons with physical disabilities.

When he is not delivering a lecture at the University of Dodoma (Udom) nestled on a sun-fried terrain of Tanzania’s capital city, he is often seen sifting through piles of books in the library or walking casually around the campus, reflecting or cracking jokes with his students.

Dr. Abdallah Possi, a 36-year-old lawyer who is known for his razor-sharp legal mind, attention to detail and his unassuming demeanor that has earned him unquestionable reputation as a human rights campaigner, is a renewed hope in the on-going fight against albino killings.

“He’s a down to earth young man who is deeply committed to defending human rights,” said Elias Mugisha, a human rights lawyer based in Dar es Salaam.

Possi becomes the first person with albinism to hold a powerful ministerial position and the third to become a member of parliament.

More than 70 albinos, who lack pigment in their skin, hair and eyes, have been brutally murdered in Tanzania in the past decade, according to United Nations figures. Many were hacked to death and had body parts removed.

The Tanzanian government has repeatedly accused witch doctors of fuelling such ritual killings by convincing people to bring albino body parts which they use to make magical spells they claim bring good luck and wealth.

Humble beginnings

Abdallah Possi was born on August 25, 1979, in Dar es Salaam. He is one of two children with albinism in a family of three.

Albinism is a congenital disorder which affects about one in 20,000 people worldwide, according to medical authorities. It is, however, more common in sub-Saharan Africa, affecting an estimated one in 1,400 Tanzanians.

Possi has been interested in the law and human rights since childhood. He studied law at the University of Dar es salaam, and a year later he had a brief stint working as a tutor at the Institute of Judicial Administration in the eastern region of Tanga. He returned to the University of Dar es Salaam for his masters’ degree in 2007. While studying at the university, he was sworn in as an advocate of the high court.

He joined the University of Dodoma in 2010 as an assistant lecturer and later climbed the ranks and become the dean of the faculty of law. In 2014 he completed his doctoral degree at the University of Friedrich Alexander in Nuremberg, Germany where he majored in constitutional law.

As he was growing up, Possi did not experience any stigma with his peers at home, however, the troubles began when he started going to school.

“As a little boy, some children were taunting me or tried to pinch my skin to see how I reacted,” he recalled in a recent interview with DW.

Many albinos in Tanzania, especially young children, are the subject of discrimination.

Possi’s mother, who is a professor of educational psychology at the University of Dar es Salaam, recalls an instance some years back as she was strolling with his son and heard a toddler asking her mother to come and see a “Mzungu” (white) child.

As Possi’s mother looked for a caucasian child, she was shocked that it was her son the child was talking about.

Amazingly, the other woman told her daughter that the boy was actually the “devil’s child,” Possi’s mother recalled.

“I stopped and asked that woman how she would feel if it was her son who was called such names,” she said.

Fighting discrimination

Possi said the on-going persecution against albinos is based on the fear of the unknown.

“Most people do not understand that albinism is part of human diversity. We need to change our attitudes and create a friendly environment so that people of all races can enjoy their freedom,” he said.

Possi, who is the first person with albinism in Tanzania to hold a doctorate degree, is deeply committed to human rights issues. His PhD thesis was about the rights of persons with disabilities to work not just in Tanzania but across Africa.

According to Possi, the ill-conceived notion that albino body parts bring wealth and good luck is totally absurd.

“Albinism is a scientific disorder but most people in the villages do not understand that. If albino body parts were worth anything I would be very rich,” he said.

As he assumes his new responsibilities, Possi is confident in his role to sustain the awareness campaign about albinism across the country.

Source: http://www.dw.com/en/

Latest info reaching our gossip desk is that NTV’s gorgeous Akawungezi news anchor Faridah Nakazibwe has no regrets whatsoever for ending her romance of over eight months with National Resistance Movement (NRM) Vice Chairperson Al Haji Moses Kigongo.

The curvy mother of two daughters is rumoured to have revealed this while confiding in a close pal recently.

Nakazibwe dumped Kigongo in September but has remained tight lipped about why she threw in the towel although rumour suggests that it was because he is a beeper in bed and was sexually starving her.

This could be true considering Kigongo’s advancing age yet Nakazibwe is at her sexual prime and needs to be taken through marathons of nocturnal sessions to make her feel like a teenager again.

However, this was not the case as she often got ‘bored’ when it came to between the sheets, a thing that was not doing Nakazibwe’s libido any favours.

Unconfirmed rumour has it that Nakazibwe has since considered reconciling with her much younger had pounding baby daddy Dan Nankunda, also an employee of the Serena based television station.

It has also been said that the daughters of Olive Kigongo, the ex-wife to the NRM honcho were making life a living hell for Nakazibwe because they could not stand seeing their age mate date their mother’s hubby of over three decades.

While confiding in her close pal who prefers anonymity, Nakazibwe is said to have revealed that much as she enjoyed a good life with Kigongo, she had to end it.

During their time together, Kigongo spoilt her with all sorts of expensive gifts and romantic holiday trips abroad.

The romance seemed to have kicked some fresh life into their lives as they started hitting top city hangouts like Industrial Area based Guvnor to dance nights away.

TMT boss Cameroon Gitawo real name Chris Mbibo in early Christmas party a head of mega TMT bash of which his crew will host at Kampala’s number one night spot club Guvnor Uganda on December 30th.

Our snoops revealed to us that Gitawo who is working closely with socialite Meddie Sentongo have decided to throw a pre-party this Saturday  still at the same venue Guvnor as a sign of proving whoever traded in doubt that the main event had earlier been in balance.

As you read this, Gitawo has already alerted TMT members and other renowned socialites in Kampala that weekend plot is Guvnor where drinking and eating will be on the house.

“All you need to carry is appetite and thirst for liquor because Gitawo intends to torture hungry and thirsty Kampala party animals with booze,” snoops overheard a member of TMT assuring pals at Serena.

Gitawo, who jetted into the country early this month, sleeps at Kampala Serena Hotel.

Snoops told us that Gitawo has set a stiff competition to the boss of Rich Gang, Ivan Ssemwanga who also will host his own party on 23rd this month.

“This Friday’s party, Gitawo wants to prove that he is the upcoming Ugandan showbiz tycoon based in South Africa,” snoops said.

Gitawo as he is famously known, was born, raised and studied in Kampala, Uganda.

At the age of 18, he left Uganda for University of South Africa where he graduated with a degree in Entrepreneurship and Business Administration.

In South Africa owns Kristel Property Group manages more than 250 residential houses with a number of students’ accommodation blocks.

It also deals in developing, home renovations and property administration. Gitawo also owns other businesses in the education.

Uganda’s Funniest Mukiga and Masters Music CEO is smiling to the bank after emceeing at the Rwandan Billionaire JB Birungi as he wedded his beautiful queen Sheila Birungi.

The ceremonious Wedding was held last Saturday at the Prestigious Sunset Gardens in Nyarutarama Kigali Rwanda.

The wedding attracted Rwanda’s Crème De la crème, high profile Rwandan diplomats and international VIPs

From Uganda, Birungi chattered two RwandAir flights to carry Ugandans who attended the wedding.

Funny man Alex Muhangi together with Uganda’s rear queen Desire Luzinda were hired at a fee of $10,000 each.

Alex Muhangi last week hosted Bank of Uganda, Sheraton Kampala & many other high profile end of year parties.

Alex is one of the most travelled comedians in Uganda and he has performed in countries like US, UK, Kenya, Ghana, Nigeria and United Arab Emirates.

Thousands of protesters are marching in South Africa to demand President Jacob Zuma is sacked.

The latest protests are a reaction to him sacking two finance ministers last week, further damaging confidence in the economy.

This comes on top of claims of widespread corruption, recent student protests and a succession battle in the governing African National Congress.

The marchers are using the hasthag #ZumaMustFall on social media.

The #ZumaMustFall hashtag is a modification of #FeesMustFall which was used to organise protests against a rise in university fees.

Before that, #RhodesMustFall was used to demand a statue of British colonialist Cecil Rhodes was removed from the University of Cape Town’s campus.

The ANC has been in power since the end of apartheid in 1994 and won a landslide in general elections last year.

However, the economy is struggling, unemployment is around 25% and many accuse ANC officials of corruption.

Mr Zuma’s decision to appoint the little known Des van Rooyen as finance minister, before replacing him four days later, was widely condemned.

The appointment led the rand to tumble to record lows, although it rose after he was replaced by the respected Pravin Gordhan on Sunday night.

Source: BBC

Police in Fort portal today morning around 3:00am raided Eden lodges in Fort Portal town where part of Besigye campaign team had slept and confiscated some campaign materials.

Dr. Kizza Besigye who is the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) presidential candidate is campaigning in the area.

Moses Byamugyisha, who is part of Besigye campaign team said Besigye security and party local leaders in Fort Portal responded and thereby restoring sanity

“At 3:00am this morning, Police in Fort Portal came to Eden lodges where part of the FDC team had slept, woke them up and forced them to open their rooms. Police then confiscated anything they found labeled with Dr. Besigye such as t-shirts, calendars, caps, banners, flags etc that were meant for our supporters,” Byamugyisha said.

He added; “Our local leadership in Fort Portal together with the Kizza Besigye security detail have intervened and we hope sanity can be restored.”

He said if “NRM wants to use its partisan police and the crime promoters” are interested in disrupting Besigye legitimate activities (campaigns) in Kabarole today, “Kale Kayihura’s police helicopter should be stationed somewhere around Fort portal so that he can evacuate the wounded crime preventers.”

The latest info indicates that the rift between TMT boss Cameroon Gitawo and Rich Gang tycoon Ivan Ssemwanga is no more.

Our highly placed sources have revealed that the two tycoons made peace recently and they are tight friends.

“They are good friends now, they even party together nowadays,” confirmed the source.

This website understands that the two were seen together at the recently concluded Blankets and wine event held at Uganda Museum.

Prior to making peace, Cameroon Gitawo and Ivan Ssemwanga could not meet physically all because of who is who in the money sector.

Our sources say, Ivan was biffing Gitawo because he is very loaded though he doesn’t show off.

The Real Estate Mogul jetted into the country early this month ahead of Money and Gold Party Slated for December 30 at the industrial area based Club Guvnor.

On the same party, TMT Music promotions will be officially launched in Uganda.

“We are already working in Kenya, South Africa and Tanzania. Currently in East Africa, we are trying to identify talent and soon we will be signing musicians,” confirmed Gitawo adding that; “we shall officially launch it at the Money and Gold party slated for December 30 at Club Guvnor.”

The launch of the label in Uganda will see the group inject Shs1billion to ensure that the signed musicians get maximum attention while grooming their talent.

“TMT music promotions will be spending a billion here in Uganda. Several meeting have been held and everything is going on as planned,” source quotes Gitawo.

Info reaching Red Pepper online from the corridors of Serena Hotel based NTV is that sexy news reporter Gertrude Tumusiime Uwitware has found love again.

Sources reveal that the sexy dread locked scribe is happy after hooking a yet to be identified dude about five months back.

However, close pals to Uwitware intimate that she has kept the romance a secret because she doesn’t want to make it public before being sure about the dude’s intentions.

Although Uwitware’s new catch remains a mystery, we are sure of one thing; he is not a journalist and does not work in the media circles.

This is so because she vowed never to date a scribe ever again.

“I dated a fellow journalist and I was disappointed. We would always argue. I shall never date another one, at least on in my right state of mind” Uwitware vowed in an interview earlier this year.

We are told that she got her heart broken by a one Gaaki Kigambo in February last year after she caught him red handed on top of another babe.

Apparently, he told her he was going to his mother and that she shouldn’t come to his home that evening.

However, Uwitware suspected something fishy and raided his two roomed house only to find him busy pounding another babe who was screaming at the top of her voice like she had been possessed by demons.

Uwitware knocked on the door but the guy hesitated to open.

She persisted and he finally opened and came out dressed in just boxer shorts.

“How can I help you, I told you not to come today what happened?” a guilty Gaaki boldly asked Uwitware.

The innocent gal looked at him in disbelief; with tears rolling down her cheeks and walked away in protest.

That marked the end of the two’s romance but the babe seems to have finally found love again.

Uwitware joined the Serena Hotel based television station in February 2013 and is currently working as a News Reporter, with a bias in Human Interest reporting and Health.

Parliament has recommended investigations into the actions of Kampala Capital City Authority Executive Director Mrs. Jennifer Musisi together with other public officials in the botched give away of the public land on which Nabagereka Primary School was located.

Nabagereka Primary School was located in Mengo – Kisenyi, with a population of 1,443 pupils and 23 teachers.

The school was demolished on Jan. 23, 2015 and the land allocated to Boost Investment Limited, to set up a shopping mall.

Following the demolition, Parliament set up a Select committee to investigate circumstances surrounding the giveaway of land belonging to public schools; and establish whether the required laws and procedures were followed.

The Chairperson of the Committee, Hon. Robert Migadde (NRM, Buvuma), today presented to Parliament the Report for debate, which Parliament passed.

The recommendation to investigate Musisi and others was part of a host of actions suggested by the Select Committee, which was set up in February 2015 to investigate the giveaway of public land especially Nabagereka Primary School.

The Committee also considered various other schools, and universities whose land has either been given away or is under threat by investors. In addition was Nakivubo War Memorial Stadium.

The Report said the KCCA ED did not consult the Attorney General, the School Management Committee or the Ministry of Education and Sports before making an undertaking with Boost Investment Limited on the relocation of the school.

The Committee said in the Report that the KCCA ED entered into the undertaking with the company and requested that the deadline for the school’s relocation be pushed to 31st Dec of 2014.

“The Executive Director, KCCA Mrs. Jenifer Musisi exceeded her powers when she made undertakings to Boost Investments Ltd to relocate Nabagereka Primary School from plot 1049 to Kansanga – Nabutiti…the effect of the undertaking meant that Boost Investments Ltd could gain automatic entry onto the disputed land after the 31st December 2014 without a Court Order,” reads the Committee Report.

The Committee also observed that KCCA delayed in communicating to relevant government departments about the impending relocation until a few days to the deadline. Following the demolition, the Committee observed, KCCA failed to secure the assets of the school from looting and destruction.

The Committee also recommended that the investigative arms of government probe the actions/omissions of Hon. Joash Mayanja Nkangi, former Chairperson of Uganda Land Commission (ULC); Mr. K.S Mubbala, former Secretary ULC, Mr. Moses Atwine Moses, Director Physical Planning KCCA; Buganda Land Board and Boost Investment Ltd.

The Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Rebecca Kadaga, asked government to present a Memorandum on what actions it has undertaken in implementing the recommendations passed by Parliament.

Source: Parliamentary News

Former Miss Uganda beauty pageant crown holder Phiona Bizzu has been accused of stealing curvy singer Desire Luzinda’s dress.

The dress in question is the one Bizzu was wearing last Saturday evening at the Abryanz Style and Fashion Awards where she presented an award.

Desire has since claimed ownership of the dress and says she was shocked to see Bizzu wearing her dress on the red carpet.

Desire claims to have bought the dress from a one Lilian before launching her ‘Kitone’ video.

She adds that clients usually leave their outfits at the designer’s store.

However, two months back, one of Desire’s friends who is expecting to get married early next year bought it from her and has been in touch with both the singer and designer Lilian.

Last weekend while away in Rwanda, Desire was shocked to see in tabloid pictures of Bizzu putting on her dress while at the awards.

A furious Desire had no kind words for Bizzu and her bosses at Miss Uganda.

She immediately hit social media to expose the theft and blasted the beauty queens of today calling them bitches.

“To you Bizzu or whatever your name is, if your bosses can’t dress you up or buy you a dress; at least they should have made you a replica of my dress. Thank God that I was not out of the country but u were going to get a piece of shame on the red carpet coz I would have stripped you naked for theft” an incensed desire posted on Instagram.

For quite some time now, Kamwokya based NBS television presenter Argatha Loswash Atiti has been considered to one of the curviest babes in the East African region.

Her reign seems to have come an end.

Step aside, Loswash. There is a new babe that has taken over that crown thanks to her incredibly huge curves and bum.

The yet to be identified babe was discovered by snoops on Sunday when she made an appearance at the Blankets & Wine at the Uganda Museum Grounds.

Clad in a white stripped short sleeved top and black pants that, the dark skinned sexy babe had all dudes’ eyes glued to her lustfully from the moment she walked in with some wondering if God is fair by giving her such a huge and shapely bum yet there are many babes without.

Shocking, when she entered the Tusker malt tent where Loswash was seated, the Pundonor magazine host could not believe her eyes too and even nodded in appreciation.

Unlike Loswash who just sits on her assets, this mystery babe’s booty is well shaped and can shake as she proved that while grooving to the tunes of The Kansoul and Swahili Nation.

“Everywhere this endowed babe moved, all male eyes were on her that most wished they were the ones feasting on her bearded meat.

“She makes Loswash look shapeless and asset-less,” says an eyewitness.

Sadly, she left without snoops identifying her.

The African Union, discussing the situation in Burundi, says Africa will “not allow another genocide to take place on its soil”.

There are concerns that the recent deadly violence could spiral into civil war and possible ethnic conflict.

Last Friday, 87 people were killed in clashes in the capital, Bujumbura, the army said.

Protests in Burundi began in April when President Pierre Nkurunziza announced he would seek a third term in office

AU Peace and Security Commissioner Smail Chergui has tweeted that the “clear” message coming from the AU is that the “killings in Burundi must stop immediately”.

The government has said there is no threat of genocide.

Image copyrightAFP

The AU’s peace and security council has been discussing sending an AU force to Burundi.

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein said on Thursday that “Burundi is at bursting point, on the very cusp of a civil war” which could have “ethnic overtones” similar to past conflicts in Burundi.

Ethnic conflict between Hutus and Tutsis in the 1990s claimed an estimated 300,000 lives.

Source: BBC

Mobile phone companies in Brazil have been ordered by a court to impose a block of the popular WhatsApp smartphone application for two days.

A court in Sao Paulo state made the order because it said WhatsApp had repeatedly failed to co-operate in a criminal investigation.

It is not clear if mobile companies will fully comply with the order.

Facebook owns the app. Its chief executive Mark Zuckerberg said he was “stunned” by the “extreme” ruling.

WhatsApp is reported to be the most used application in Brazil, with about 93 million users.

The TechCrunch website says it is used by 93% of the country’s internet population and is especially popular among young people and the poor who take advantage of its free text message and internet telephone service.

It says Brazilians spend almost twice as much time on social media as Americans.

Brazilians have taken to Twitter to express their anger at the suspension but also to joke about how dependent they have become on WhatsApp.

Image copyrightTwitter

WhatsApp chief executive Jan Koum said he was “disappointed in the short-sighted decision to cut off access to WhatsApp, a communication tool that so many Brazilians have come to depend on, and sad to see Brazil isolate itself from the rest of the world”.

Mr Zuckerberg was also highly critical of the ruling.

“This is a sad day for Brazil. Brazilians have always been among the most passionate in sharing their voice online,” he wrote.

“I am stunned that our efforts to protect people’s data would result in such an extreme decision by a single judge to punish every person in Brazil who uses WhatsApp.”

Local media said the order to suspend the services was related to a drug trafficking trial in Sao Paulo State.

The court tried to get access to a suspect’s WhatsApp messages but the firm refused to share them, Folha newspaper reported.

The court says WhatsApp failed to comply with judicial orders in July and in August.

Judge Sandra Regina Nostre Marques finally ordered the 48-hour shut-down on Wednesday, after finding out that WhatsApp had persisted in ignoring its rulings.

She said the suspension order was being made under terms of the country’s internet legislation.

Image copyrightGetty Images

The move against WhatsApp comes as Brazilian phone companies have urged the government to restrict the use of free voice-over-internet services offered through WhatsApp.

The phone companies argue that the rise of WhatsApp has damaged their businesses.

Meanwhile other messaging services say they are benefiting from the temporary absence of WhatsApp.

One such company, Telegram, said on Twitter that more than 1.5 million Brazilian users had joined up since the court order was handed down.

Source: BBC

Several people have been killed by a car bomb on a busy street in the Somali capital Mogadishu, reports say.

Eyewitnesses told the BBC they saw a cloud of smoke rising at the scene and many wounded. Reuters news agency said at least three people had died.

It cited police officer Nur Farah saying most were pedestrians and the toll was likely to rise as “the place is busy with hotels and supermarkets”.

It was not immediately clear who was behind the blast.

The Islamist militant group al-Shabab has carried out several attacks on the road in the last few weeks,

The group said it was behind the attack on a hotel in central Mogadishu last month in which 15 people died.