President John Magufuli has sacked four senior officials from the Prevention and Combatting of Corruption Bureau (PCCB) for travelling abroad without permission.

According to Chief Secretary Ombeni Sefue, the officials asked for permits to travel abroad, but they were not granted. They, however, proceeded with their trips.

Mr Sefue named the officials as: Ms Mary Mosha, Mr Ekwabi Mujungu, Ms Doreen Kapwani and Ms Rukia Nikitas. He said, their sacking should serve as a lesson to other public servants that Dr Magufuli’s order to ban foreign travels “is not a joke.”

On his third day in office, President Magufuli announced a ban on all but essential foreign travels by public servants who should first secure a permit from the President or Chief Secretary.

He also restricted first class and business class tickets to the President, Vice President and Prime Minister. Instead, Dr Magufuli ordered officials to make frequent visits to rural areas to learn and solve people’s problems.

The move was among his cost-cutting measures to avoid unnecessary government expenditure and save funds for other pressing matters affecting the general public starting with health.

Mr Sefue also directed all permanent secretaries to review trips of all public servants who have travelled abroad since the order was issued to check if they obtained acquired permits.

“They should report all those who have violated the President’s order so that disciplinary measures can be taken against them.

“In an event that a permanent secretary is not going to expose those who did not comply with the order, and if we learn of such a thing, we will extend the punishment to the PS. We expect full support from senior officials and all public servants in following presidential orders,” said Mr Sefue.

Source: http://allafrica.com/stories/201512171377.html

Two former Congolese militia leaders have been transferred from the Netherlands to a prison in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Thomas Lubanga and Germain Katanga are the first ICC convicts to be allowed to serve sentences in their home country.

Former warlord Lubanga is serving 14 years for his crimes, while militia chief Katanga is due to be released in 2016.

The ICC says it will help supervise their imprisonment in the DRC.

Lubanga and Katanga “have both expressed a preference to serve their respective prison terms in DRC, their country of origin”, the court said in a statement.

Their detention in the DRC must conform to international norms on the treatment of prisoners, it said.

Lubanga was once one of the most feared rebel leaders in the gold-rich northeastern Ituri region of the DRC.

He was found guilty of abducting children as young as 11 and using them to fight his battles.

Katanga was convicted for his involvement in a bloody massacre that left hundreds of villagers dead.

Last month, the ICC cut Katanga’s 12-year prison term after he voiced regret and for good behaviour.

But Lubanga’s request for early release was rejected by the ICC as “unjustified”.

The ethnic conflict in Ituri between 1999 and 2003 is estimated to have killed 50,000 people.

Source: BBC

South African based Ugandan tycoon Cameroon Gitawo is worryingly close to city socialite Judith Heard.

The two were spotted by our snoops last week at Kampala Sheraton hotel.

“They were together all night as they whispered sweet nothings to each other,” reveals the source.

Our sources could not confirm whether the two are pushing out or are just normal friends.

A few days back, Judith heard could not hide her excitement of being with the TMT boss, she updated her social media pages that she is now TMT’s first lady.

TMT Africa will be launching its record label on December 30 at the industrial area based club Guvnor.

The Music label will aim at promoting local musicians with in East Africa.

“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.

The year ended in style for Victoria University Students as they wound down 2015 in style.

They celebrated Christmas and also had a very colorful guild handover ceremony at Arirang Restaurant.

They were then treated with tickets to the just concluded Born to Win concert.

Also in attendance was the university staff led by the Vice Chancellor Dr Robert Stephen Isabalija, the Ruparelia Group Lawyer Mr. Nelson Walusimbi among others.

The Vice Chancellor while presiding over the function appreciated the old guild for their role in leadership of the student body.

He thanked them for working with the university team and also for the great work done.

He also welcomed the new cabinet and pledged to support them while executing their role as he believed that they too are very capable leadership.

Notable to note on this new cabinet is that the new Vice President in charge of Public Relations Ms Victoria Olubowale from Nigeria. He wished them success in their new roles as leaders.

The former guild president Mr Ameer Kharmali, a former student of International School of Uganda and currently pursuing Banking and Finance while delivering his speech mentioned that they were grateful for the support from the Vice Chancellor and university leadership.

He appreciated the team support from his guild mentioned that during his tenure was clubs Sports, Business, International Students club and temporary constitution.

The new guild president Mr Keith Mugabi Harold , A former student of Turkish Light Academy and currently pursuing Bachelor of Information Technology thanked the students for electing him as president.

He appreciated his predecessor and the cabinet for the good work they had done. He pledged to ensure the constitution is in place and that Victoria University becomes a university every student wants to join.

Also in attendance was the new guild president’s uncle Mr Sande Kanyarubona and his mother Mrs Edith Kateete, Corporation secretary of National Water and Sewerage Corporation.

The swearing in was presided over by vice chancellor and the handover was conducted by the legal counsel Mr Nelson Walusimbi .

The old guild members were;

New Cabinet

Africell Uganda on Friday morning launched the first ever Luganda language smart phone at the opening of their new state-of-the art shop at Forest Mall.

This launch comes on the heels of other campaigns such as the half a shilling per second call rate which is the cheapest in the market and the king of the bundles campaign that unleashed the best data and voice packages in Uganda.

The new shop was unveiled as an initiative to get Africell services closer to customers.

The first of its kind in Uganda iDROID simu will be FREE on Africell for customers who will buy 3GB worth of data for 3 months at only 199,000/=.

The perfectly sized 4.0 inch Multi-touch screen is operational in Luganda and English.

Its 5MP rear camera captures moments with clarity and has a standby battery time of upto 180 hours.

The iDROID Simu incorporates iDROID’s latest innovative design and technology giving customers the ability to express their individuality in their mother tongue- Luganda; a language spoken and read by the majority.

Africell has also lined the iDROID Hero 1 which will also be FREE on purchase of a 3GB data package for 4 months for only 259,000/= at all Africell shops.

The Brand new iDROID Hero 1 offers unmatched style, performance along with enhanced features perfect for self-expressions.

Speaking at the launch, Milad Khairallah Africell’s Commercial Director said “As Africell, we continue to offer our customers the best deals at the cheapest prices.

We have launched a number of affordable customer-friendly initiatives that come with the best rates for voice and data packages.

Initiatives like the king of the bundles that has the cheapest data and voice rates, free night calls, the revolutionary half a shilling per second call rate are proof of our commitment to our customer needs.”

These innovative campaigns by Africell are one of the many customer oriented plans that the telecom company plans over the next months.

Africell has always been a market leader in the telephony internet category and continues to lead while leveraging on their internet infrastructure investment.

Milad closed it off “Africell is the network for those customers who want innovation, quality of data and voice at a reasonable price”

Speaking at the same launch, the iDROID Uganda  Co-founder & Chief Marketing Officer Jawad Qureshi said the iDROID brand will continue to partner with brands like Africell that are enthusiastic about offering their customers the innovative choices.

He asserted “As iDROID, we are committed to continued innovation, inspired by the feedback and needs of our wide range of customers.

Our newly launched rescue App gives a strong evidence of our focus on innovation. This App has greatly solved an industry problem since phones with any software problems can now be remotely fixed by the iDROID certified technicians saving client’s precious time when it comes to repairs.”

The latest Africell campaigns like this one where they are offering free phones for customers who buy their data will target internet users who want data at fast speeds with smart phones that give them the best options at affordable prices. The free iDROID Simu smartphone will be available at selected Africell stores effective today 18^th December, 2015.

The new Third Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for East African Affairs, Rt. Hon. Kirunda Kivejinja, on Thursday, 17th December 2015 took oaths of Allegiance and of Member of Parliament.

Hon. Kirunda Kivejinja, 80, was last month appointed by the President to the position. The portfolio has been vacant since the death of Rt.Hon. Eriya Kategeya in 2013.

Kirunda Kivejinja who is now an Ex-officio MP swore to be faithful and bear true allegiance to the Republic of Uganda and to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution. He also swore to give faithful service to Parliament.

The Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Rebecca Kadaga welcomed the new Member and advised him to serve the country objectively.

“I welcome you to the Ninth Parliament and wish you the best as you legislate for the country”, Kadaga said.

Hon. Kirunda Kivejinja has previously represented Bugweri County in Parliament. He has in the past also served Minister of Relief and Social Rehabilitation and of Internal Affairs.

Parliament has summoned the Minister for the Presidency, Hon. Frank Tumwebaze to explain the high fees being levied on politicians for displaying campaign posters in Kampala.

Rubaga South MP, Hon. John Ken-Lukyamuzi said that the Ugshs5 million being imposed by the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) for putting up posters is too high and illegal.

“There is no legal mechanism in place capable of passing a bylaw of that nature. This tax imposed on posters is illegal and must be quashed by this House”, he said.

Hon. Moses Kasibante (Rubaga North) said that the fees being imposed are illegal because Council did not sit to pass them.

“Council cannot sit while the office of the Lord Mayor is closed and yet he is the one supposed to chair the sittings”, he said.

Citing the Access to Information Act, Kasibante added that the candidates are providing information to the would be voters and there is no need to charge them for doing so.

Jinja East MP, Hon.Paul Mwiru said that the Ugshs5 million is exorbitant and way above the nomination fees for a Member of Parliament.

The Speaker, Rt.Hon. Rebecca Kadaga said that she received a delegation which was complaining about the high fees being charged.

“What sort of democracy is this? Let us not make it impossible for other Ugandans to access public office”, Kadaga said.

Kadaga said the Minister responsible for Kampala explain to the House the cost of displaying posters in the city.

“We should take into consideration that we are legislating for the whole country. I direct that the Minister comes here and offers an explanation to this House”, she added.

The Government Chief Whip, Hon. Ruth Nankabirwa agreed that it was improper for the Executive Director of KCCA to impose the fees without approval of Council and promised to contact the Minister and request him to make a statement on the same.

Source: Parliamentary News

Burundi’s government said Sunday it would not agree to the deployment of African Union (AU) peacekeepers, warning that any such move would be seen as “an invasion force”.

“Burundi is clear on the matter: it is not ready to accept an AU force on its territory,” deputy presidential spokesman Jean-Claude Karerwa told AFP.

“If AU troops came without the government’s approval, it would be an invasion and occupation force, and the Burundi government would reserve the right to act accordingly.”

Source: AFP

Makerere University students have come out to demonstrate against actions of the police and the Electoral Commission.

Led by Samuel Mugarura aka Falcao, the students expressed their displeasure by using placards that had different messages to President Yoweri Museveni, Police chief Kale Kayihura, Electoral Commission Boss Badru Kiggundu and to the crime preventers.

“We Makerereans are tired of Musevenism,” reads one of the placards in part.

The students accuse Kiggundu of being partisan, representing the ruling National Resistance Movement and asked him to “Be Clear”

On December 16, the same activists had given Kayihura an ultimatum of 48 hours to produce a report about the Ntungamo clashes or else they would go on strike.

After seeing no report given, the angry students demanded that Kayihura resigns saying he has failed to perform his duties as the Chief of Police.

They attacked the crime preventers that are led by Kamugisha Blaise also a Makerere student of law saying that the crime preventers are a disgrace to Uganda.

While addressing a press conference on Wednesday last week, the activists said that they had gathered a group of over 2000 students from different institutions that would demonstrate in case Kayihura didn’t produce the report that they were demanding for.

If you thought that Celebrities that dis out money are only in international, think twice; Uganda has a Floyd Mayweather like tycoon, Cameroon Gitawo.

Last week, Gitawo showed his spending prowess when she dished out money at Kampala Sheraton hotel where the Arab Money party was held.

Among the beneficiaries was city socialite Judith Heard

“Is this all mine!! Wow indeed am the TMT first lady,” Judith Heard was overheard saying upon receiving the cash.

After the cash bonanza, the two were seen together all night as they whispered sweet nothings to each other.

Gitawo headed into the country early this month ahead TMT’s money and gold party slated for December 30 at the industrial area based Club Guvnor.

On the same party, TMT Africa will be launching its record label TMT music promotions.

The Music label will aim at promoting local musicians with in East Africa.

“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.

Kira court grade one magistrate, her worship Phiona Birungi on Friday last week remanded two men over aggravated defilement and theft.

Alex Obbo, 28, a resident of Kirinya is charged with aggravated defilement, and Muzafalu Faruku 37, a civil engineer and a resident of Seeta was remanded for stealing an Ipad.

Alex was remanded till next year on 8th January when he returns to court to hear charges on defilement that he committed in July this year.

He is said to have ‘chawed’ a minor of 14 years when she was coming home from school.

It is alleged that on seeing her, Alex withdrew a shs1, 000 note from his pockets to seduce her before rapturing her tiny yoyo without fear or favour.

He later told her never to reveal the secret to her parents and the girl agreed.

But when the pain became too severe for her to handle, she decided to reveal the secret to her auntie who stays in the same proximity and then the auntie intimated to the girl’s parents that she had been raped prompting them to run to Kira Police to report a case of defilement.

The same court has also remanded a Seeta based Civil Engineer, Muzafalu for robbing an Ipad.

It’s alleged that the engineer stole the Ipad which costs shs800, 000 on 29th /11/2015 in Seeta at a construction site.

However, when he was paraded in court, he denied stealing the Ipad.

Muzafalu said that its sheer malice from the workmates.

But despite the pleas, he was remanded till 8th/ 01/ 2016 and sent to Luzira prison.

A third year literature student of Makerere University was on Wednesday last week rescued by police from being lynched by students at Nkrumah hall for allegedly sodomising a 9 year old boy.

The boy is a P.2 pupil at Makerere primary school

The student only identified as Kevin, resident of Nkrumah hall room number C21 reportedly seduced the minor with Ushs2000, asked him to help carry some of his property he had bought from Ham Towers to Makerere swimming pool and later to Nkrumah hall.

Kevin would later quench his horn on the young boy causing a lot of pain, followed by wails that attracted the attention of neighbours.

The angry Nkrumah residents pounced on the gay, raining blows and slaps until he was saved by the police that was alerted by the hall leaders.

Police rushed to the student’s room with guidance of the boy arrested the suspect and took him into police custody.

The suspect was later transferred to Wandegeya Police station as the pressure was mounting at Makerere University police by students who were angry about the act.

Meanwhile the incident has been highly condemned by the hall leadership some of whom were shocked by the strange news.

This student according to a roommate who is a medical student has not been known for such cases since the roommate claimed he always left the room early in the morning and return late in the evening to sleep.

Kevin is a Kenyan student who according to police they would not release information regarding him saying the matter was highly sensitive.

Nkrumah hall has been in the spotlight for many crimes at the university with the most deadly one being the mob against a former resident David Ojok who was killed earlier this year.

Ojok (R.I.P) had been murdered by the residents of Nkrumah suspecting him to be a thief.

In response to an invitation from the Ugandan authorities, the European Union will deploy an Election Observation Mission (EOM) to Uganda to observe the Presidential, Parliamentary and Local Council elections which are scheduled for 18 February.

This will be the third time that the European Union observes elections in Uganda – previous missions took place in 2006 and 2011 – which reflects the EU’s sustained commitment to supporting credible, transparent and inclusive elections in the country.

Federica Mogherini, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, appointed MEP Eduard Kukan as Chief Observer.

The High Representative stated: “The Republic of Uganda is preparing for its third multi-party general elections to be held on 18 February 2016. I trust that the forthcoming elections will be transparent and peaceful and will further consolidate democracy. Under the leadership of Chief Observer Mr. Kukan, I am confident that the EU EOM will make an important contribution to this electoral process”.

Upon his appointment, Mr. Kukan declared “I look forward to take on my task as Chief Observer for the EOM to Uganda. The EOM will provide an independent and impartial assessment of the elections.

The EOM will closely follow all stages of the elections, including the campaign and will work in a transparent and cooperative manner with all Ugandan stakeholders”.

The EOM Core Team of ten election experts will arrive in Uganda on 28 December and will stay in the country until the completion of the election process.

They will be joined by 30 long-term observers on 8 January and by 54 short-term observers on 12 February who will be deployed across the country.

A delegation of the European Parliament and EU diplomats resident in Uganda will reinforce the mission on Election Day.

The EU EOM will liaise with other international observation missions who will be present in Uganda. The EOM will issue a Preliminary Statement 48 hours after Election Day, and a Final Report with recommendations at a later stage

Source: European Union in Uganda

Ouagadougou (AFP) – Burkina Faso has issued an international warrant for ousted leader Blaise Compaore for his suspected role in the mysterious 1987 killing of his former comrade, ex-president Thomas Sankara, a judicial source said Monday.

The source, speaking on condition of anonymity, told AFP that Compaore, who is living in exile in the Ivory Coast, had been charged with an “attack” and “assassination”.

Compaore was toppled from power by a popular uprising in October 2014 after ruling Burkina Faso with an iron fist for 27 years.

Sankara, a revolutionary figure who is still a hero to many in west Africa, was killed on October 15, 1987, during the coup that brought his friend and former comrade-in-arms Compaore to power.

Mystery still surrounds the death of the man dubbed “Africa’s Che Guevara”.

On Monday, a police lab helping investigate the killing of the iconic former president reported that the “state of the remains” made it impossible to detect any DNA, according to a lawyer for the Sankara family.

It had been hoped that DNA tests could confirm that the remains were indeed those of Sankara, whose death certificate stated that he died of “natural causes”.

– ‘Riddled with bullets’ –

“We can simply say that in view of these results, the state of the remains did not permit the laboratory to certify the existence of DNA,” said family lawyer Benewende Stanislas Sankara, who is of no relation to the revolutionary hero.

The supposed remains of the 37-year-old former army captain, along with those of 12 former aides also killed during the 1987 coup, were exhumed from a cemetery in the capital Ouagadougou in May.

A lab in the southern French city of Marseille performed testing on the remains, which according to autopsy results released in October were “riddled with bullets”.

The family’s lawyer said the DNA tests had been carried out at the request of the Sankaras, who now have two weeks to decide whether to seek additional testing or analysis from different experts.

Several reports have since suggested he was executed by a hit squad at government headquarters — an account that appeared to be supported by the results of the autopsy.

The probe into Sankara’s death was launched five months after his friend-turned-rival Compaore was ousted. The issue of his death was considered highly taboo in Burkina Faso while the strongman was in power.

At least five other people — mostly former soldiers who served in Compaore’s elite presidential guard, the RSP — have been charged in connection with Sankara’s killing.

“Proceedings are following their course. There have already been many charges in this case,” said lawyer Benewende Stanislas Sankara.

General Gilbert Diendere — Compaore’s former chief of staff, who led a failed coup in September backed by men from the RSP, is among those charged.

The military’s health chief at the time of the 1987 coup, Fidele Guebre, has also been charged for signing the death certificate stating that Sankara died of natural causes.

CREDIT: AFP

South African based tycoon Cameroon Gitawo has revealed that NTV GXP presenter Carol Flower is his fiancée and they are soon getting married.

Gitawo revealed this while appearing on NTV Da beat program yesterday.

After the Show, Gitawo further confirmed the news to our snoops.

“Carol is my fiancée. No one should tamper with her. As far as I know she separated with former bonkmate, Cooper Ssali,” snoop quotes Gitawo.

Recently, Our eagle eyed snoops bumped into the couple at Kampala Serena Hotel.

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.

Somalia’s government has banned the celebration of Christmas, warning that such Christian festivities could threaten the nation’s Muslim faith.

“Those celebrations are not in any way related to Islam,” an official at the religious affairs ministry said.

Security agencies have been directed to stay alert to stop any gatherings.
Foreigners are free to mark the Christian holiday in their own homes, but hotels and other public places have been prohibited from marking the day.

“Having Muslims celebrate Christmas in Somalia is not the right thing, such things are akin to the abandonment,” local media quote Mohamed Kheyrow, a top official at Somalia’s justice and religious affairs ministry, as saying.

Correspondents say as the country recovers from years of civil war, a growing number of Somalis who grew up in the diaspora are returning home, some of them bringing Western customs with them.

Christmas is not widely celebrated in Somalia, which officially adopted Sharia in 2009, but the odd event was held – especially as an excuse to hold a party.
Mogadishu’s mayor, Yusuf Hussein Jimale, told the BBC that such gatherings might also be a target for the Islamist al-Shabab group that has targeted hotels in the city in the past.
Celebrations will be allowed at UN compounds and bases for African Union peacekeepers, who are in the country to back the government’s fight against the al-Qaeda-linked militants.
SOURCE: BBC

President Museveni has paid money as compensation to National Resistance Movement (NRM) supporters who were whipped by Amama Mbabazi supporters in Ntungamo clashes between the two camps mid this month.

Each of the 12 victims that were airlifted by a police chopper to Mbarara regional referral hospital were given Shs 1.5m as compensation upon return to Ntungamo, while the others that suffered minor injuries were given Shs 500,000 each.

The money was reportedly delivered by Head of Mbuya based NRM chairman office Ms. Molly Kamukama together with head of political and electoral crimes desk in the Uganda Police, Susan Kasingye.

The clash which started when supporters of NRM pelted stones at Mbabazi convoy ended as the former were kicked, whipped and punched and some of them arrested as they tried to run away.
Museveni responding to the clash a week later said Mbabazi supporters had put fingers in the anus of a leopard.

“If you go and put your finger in the anus of a leopard. You are in trouble, you are in trouble. Ho! Ho! I cannot believe how people could do so. NRM?, you attack NRM people in Uganda here?! If it is in South Sudan or Kenya, yes we may have some problems. But in Uganda
here?! Where do go? Where do you go?!” he said.

A number of Mbabazi supporters and security details have been arrested in relation to the incident.

Core activities at the Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) are likely to suffer if government does not provide for funding in the 2016/17 budget.

Appearing before the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee to present the proposals for 2016/2017 budget, the Secretary to the Commission, Mr Gordon Mwesigye said that 30 percent of their budget is funded by donors but this is going to stop.

“Donor financing is important for running of tribunals and civic education. However, these donors have informed us that come July 2017, this support will stop”, he said.

Mwesigye urged the government to plan accordingly and provide for this funding so that these two core areas are not paralysed.

“These two areas have to be financed and therefore government has to step in and provide for the 30 percent”, he pleaded.

He also revealed that there is need for more presence around the country in order to have the Commission services availed to all the people both in urban and rural areas.

“We currently have only 10 regional offices in urban areas. We need to have an office for every three districts in order to be felt”, Mwesigye added.

The Uganda Human Rights Commission investigates and resolves human rights complaints through its tribunal, visits jails and prisons and other places of detention to assess the conditions of inmates. The Commission also monitors government’s compliance with international treaties and conventions on human rights.

Guinea is to be declared free of Ebola by the World Health Organization (WHO), two years after the epidemic began there.

Guineans are expected to celebrate the landmark with concerts and fireworks.

The disease killed more than 2,500 people in the country and a further 9,000 in Sierra Leone and Liberia.

Sierra Leone was declared free of Ebola in November, but new cases have emerged in Liberia, which had been declared Ebola-free in September.

A country is considered free of human-to-human transmission once two 21-day incubation periods have passed since the last known case tested negative for a second time.

The disease has had an enormous social and economic impact on Guinea, the BBC’s Ibrahima Diane in Conakry says.

According to the UN, 6,220 Guinean children have lost one or both parents to Ebola.

More than 100 health workers also lost their lives in the fight against the disease.

Meanwhile, survivors are still living in fear of the stigma and long-term side effects associated with the virus, our correspondent adds.

The fight against Ebola was particularly difficult in Guinea, he says.

Some communities initially did not believe there was an epidemic, while others blamed it on Western countries and the Guinean authorities.

The government has blamed the virus for poor economic performance and says it has also caused people to distrust the country’s health services.

President Alpha Conde has doubled the health budget since winning re-election in November.

Source: BBC

Members of the Opposition in Parliament have requested the House to take a stand on the existence of Crime Preventers.

Hon. Muhammad Muwanga Kivumbi raised the issue during the sitting on Thursday 24th December 2015, saying that the Crime Preventers have been taking part in a number of illegal activities around the country.

“It has become common to find Crime Preventers carrying voters registers. One wonders who gave these people the authority to do so. My appeal therefore is that some control be exercised on the Crime Preventers as we go into this election period,” Hon. Kivumbi appealed.

In support, the Leader of the Opposition, Hon. Wafula Oguttu, said that he had received many reports that Crime Preventers were taking part in many illegalities and urged the government to take stand on the issue.

“I have heard that Crime Preventers are being used to create false lists out of the election registers and that some are taking part in criminal acts such as the incident in Ntugamo,” Hon. Oguttu said.

Hon. Paul Mwiru said that he is worried the Crime Preventers are being used as a tool to assert political power.

“Crime Preventers are becoming an issue and yet we do not exactly know who they report to; in my constituency they have been defacing posters yet ideally that should be offering protection,” he said.

In addition, the Opposition Chief Whip, Hon. Cecilia Ogwal said the government needed to be clear on who was in charge of the Crime Preventers and in which jurisdiction they operate.

“We have so many complaints about the Crime Preventers and yet when we complain to the Police they say they are not responsible for them. We need to know who is in charge of these people,” MP Ogwal said.

However in response, the Minister of Defense, Hon. Dr. Crispus Kiyonga invited the Leader of the Opposition to a dialogue on the issue.

“I have heard so many complaints about this issue and I would like to invite the Leader of the Opposition to discuss the matter openly as I urge other Members to remain calm,” Hon. Kiyonga said.

Source: Parliamentary News