Tuesday, 29 November 2011

Fresh rot revealed in national ID deal

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President Museveni displays the first issued Ugandan national ID earlier this year.

In Summary

Foul smell. Equipment stolen or rotting but government wants more money for cards that might not work.

Equipment worth billions of shillings bought to make national identity cards is rotting away or has been stolen but government now wants MPs to approve more than Shs100 billion in extra funding to complete the project

Details of the extra funding request emerged in Parliament yesterday, a day after this newspaper reported that German firm Mühlbauer Technology Group, hastily contracted in March 2010 outside official procurement methods at the behest of President Museveni, had only produced 400 IDs despite down payments to produce at least 21 million cards.

At a crunch meeting in Parliament yesterday between lawmakers and a team of top government officials running the bungled national ID project, it emerged that the firm has so far received €47m (about Shs161 billion at current exchange rates) out of the €64m project.

It was also revealed that, contrary to earlier reports at the signing of the deal, the German firm was only required to provide equipment, software and training, not to produce the cards.

To actually give Ugandans national ID cards, government will require an extra Shs118 billion within the next three years, on top of Shs58 billion the country owes the German firm, the Executive Director of the National Information Technology Authority, Mr James Saaka told MPs yesterday.

This will put the total amount required at about Shs337 billion, more than five times what it cost Kenya and Tanzania to provide ID cards for their larger populations.

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That figure could be higher after MPs heard that equipment, including cameras and computers bought to collect bio-data had been rendered obsolete after collecting dust in the warehouses of the Works Ministry in Entebbe, while some had been reported stolen.

The equipment supplied by Mühlbauer was used ahead of the February 2011 polls by the Electoral Commission to collect bio-data for a reported 5.5 million new voters who had been expected to receive the first ID cards.

MPs heard yesterday that at least 30 laptops and 746 cameras have since gone missing. Of 4,065 pieces of equipment, 2,483 were still reported “present and working” while 1,582 were reported as lacking components, according to a report the Internal Affairs Ministry prepared for the MPs.

Mr Saaka’s submission that Mühlbauer was only contracted to supply equipment and not cards prompted MPs to question the authenticity and source of the 400 IDs that have so far been issued out to senior government officials including President Museveni and Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi.

“Those cards are fake,” Kigulu County MP Edward Baliddawa said yesterday. “Let us put the country ahead of all personal interests; what is clear in this whole ID thing is personal interest.”

Although he admitted that the project was behind schedule, Dr Steven Kagoda, the permanent secretary in the Internal Affairs ministry, said the project could be rescued if MPs approved the extra funding.

MPs, however, questioned the call to throw good money after bad, pointing out that the country had not received value for its money.

MPs also accused Mr Kagoda of failing to implement a 2009 presidential directive shifting implementation of the creation of a national population databank, from which personal IDs would be created from Internal Affairs to the ICT Ministry.

The political interference that ring-fenced the tender from competitive bidding is a throwback to an earlier tender that was aborted due to meddling by rent-seeking politicians and is likely to leave the country with a very expensive project which might not be compatible with ID cards from other EAC member states (see box).

Legal experts tell Museveni to back off Parliament

SOURCE: THE DAILY MONITOR, 30 NOVEMBER 2011

Legal experts Peter Walubiri (L) and Benjamin Odoki (R)

In Summary

Standoff. Critics say President’s reproach of the House shows he considers other government institutions and organs as mere formalities while actual power resides with him.

Legal experts yesterday asked President Museveni to apply brakes on his public mockery of Parliament, arguing such abrasive pronouncements “undermine the constitutional order” in the country.

Within seven weeks since October 12, the President has on three different occasions – at a press conference at State House Nakasero, NRM’s caucus retreat in Kyankwanzi and on Sunday in Soroti District, accused MPs of sabotaging development programmes he initiates.

Offering counsel in an interview with this newspaper yesterday, Chief Justice Benjamin Odoki, who oversees the Judiciary that is the custodian of the sanctity of our laws, said anyone dissatisfied with separation of powers can petition the Constitutional Court and the Judiciary “will pronounce itself on the matter.”

He said: “That is how institutions work under the doctrine of constitutionalism. We have kept our hands down; we are waiting. Let it [matter of power contention] come and we shall deal with it.”

Odoki’s take

Justice Odoki headed the commission that gathered views of Ugandans for the draft document later promulgated by the Constituent Assembly into the (now amended) 1995 Constitution.

Describing the present situation yet as political and a ‘moot point’, a reference to a debatable issue, the Chief Justice said the Judiciary will, however, not “delve into political matters.”

In his earlier complaints, President Museveni made clear no one would have dared challenge him during the bush days when he was commander of the then guerilla outfit, the National Resistance Army, which has since transformed into UPDF.

Constitutional lawyer Peter Walubiri, who is also UPC national treasurer, said Mr Museveni’s nostalgic references to his guerilla days expose his “inner ambition to rule with absolute power” and that he “abhors democracy, accountability and sharing of power.”

“The idea of checks and balances is that one arm of government cannot take decisions without being scrutinised or called to account,” Mr Walubiri said.

“The President wants to rule by his own whims yet, like any citizen, he can make mistakes. The idea that he wants to govern Uganda as if it was a rebel army or organisation is archaic and undermines the established constitutional order.”

The script of Mr Museveni’s complaint is that the 6th Parliament is responsible for electricity deficit in the country because it blocked construction of Bujagali Dam while lawmakers in the 8th Parliament, led by Kitgum Woman MP Beatrice Anywar and former Chwa County MP Livingstone Okello-Okello, rallied against his decision to dole out part of Mabira Forest and land in Acholi for sugarcane growing, resulting in sugar shortage.

The President has outlined that he was unhappy that the NRM-dominated 9th Parliament, in October, debated allegations that three senior ministers pocketed bribes from foreign oil companies, and the legislators without consulting him as party chairman, passed 10 resolutions, one of which imposed moratorium on all oil transactions until substantive laws regarding the sector are in place.

Yesterday, Parliament Spokesperson Helen Kawesa said the House was simply performing its three constitutional functions of oversight, representation and legislation. “May be it is being misunderstood as sabotage,” she said by telephone.

Dr Jean Barya, the Makerere University Law don, earlier said Parliament is to blame for the gathering stand-off because for long, it pandered to the Executive’s wishes, and as such, its attempt to “regain the lost teeth” is viewed by the President as insubordination.

Legal experts tell Museveni to back off Parliament

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Legal experts Peter Walubiri (L) and Benjamin Odoki (R)

By TABU BUTAGIRA (email the author)

Posted Wednesday, November 30 2011 at 00:00

In Summary

Standoff. Critics say President’s reproach of the House shows he considers other government institutions and organs as mere formalities while actual power resides with him.

Legal experts yesterday asked President Museveni to apply brakes on his public mockery of Parliament, arguing such abrasive pronouncements “undermine the constitutional order” in the country.

He said: “That is how institutions work under the doctrine of constitutionalism. We have kept our hands down; we are waiting. Let it [matter of power contention] come and we shall deal with it.”

Odoki’s take

Justice Odoki headed the commission that gathered views of Ugandans for the draft document later promulgated by the Constituent Assembly into the (now amended) 1995 Constitution.

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Museveni attacks Constitution for empowering MPs

SOURCE: THE DAILY MONITOR, 29 NOVEMBER 2011

President Museveni has attacked the 1995 Constitution, saying the oversight powers it gives Parliament over the Executive undermines development.

The President made the comments on Sunday in relation to what he claims are legislative blockades of energy and commercial agricultural plans at Bujagali and Mabira Forest respectively.

“I am the President now sharing power with Parliament that is equally responsible for the failures,” Mr Museveni said during celebrations to mark the golden jubilee of the Anglican Church in Teso at Bethany Comprehensive Girls’ Secondary School in Soroti.
“Museveni brings an idea, Parliament blocks it and in short term you get problems of sugar and electricity,” he added, pointing out that during the Bush War that brought him to power, no one could dare to sabotage his projects.

It is not the first time the President accuses Parliament of blocking the initial attempt to develop a hydropower dam at Bujagali or turn over part of Mabira Forest to sugarcane growing.

However, it is the President’s strongest comments yet on the principle of separation of powers and checks and balances laid down by the Constitution, and comes amidst growing parliamentary outspokenness, particularly on governance and transparency in the country’s oil sector.

The comments also come amidst growing attempts by the government to silence critical media, restrict political activities, and introduce longer pre-trial detention for real and perceived enemies of the state. However, critics yesterday described the President’s position as escapist.

Blame game
Ms Alice Alaso, the secretary general of the opposition FDC party and also Serere MP, said President Museveni has always blamed failure on “anybody except himself” and accused the President of “desperately trying to change the Constitution in 2005 to have an upper hand over Parliament.”

MPs, some of whom received a Shs5 million inducement, then amended the Constitution to remove term limits to allow Mr Museveni run again in 2006 but plans to allow for a dissolution of Parliament if it disagreed with the President fell flat.

Theodore Ssekikubo (NRM MP, Lwemiyaga) said yesterday that the President should not look at Parliament as an enemy but as partner in nation building.

“He would be wrong to put the individual above institutions,” he said. Anglican Archbishop Henry Luke Orombi, who was the lead celebrant in Soroti, said multiparty politics should be used to help people achieve development, not to be looked at as enemies.

For instance, Archbishop Orombi said, a football match only attracts spectators if there is an opponent.

Archbishop Orombi also castigated politicians for being corrupt, saying instead of serving the people they have been taken up by the quest to amass personal wealth.
The Archbishop warned the clergy to desist from mixing church fundraisings with politics. The Church, he said, was above politics.

Firm given billions, makes only 400 IDs

SOURCE: THE DAILY MONITOR, 29 NOVEMBER 2011

HAPPY RECIPIENT: Amama Mbabazi, Prime Minister.

A German firm has only produced 400 national identity cards a year after it was hurriedly recruited outside official procurement methods and given billions of taxpayer money.

Mühlbauer Technology Group was contracted in March 2010 without competitive bidding on the orders of President Museveni after reported lobbying by the then German ambassador to Kampala, Reinhard Butchnolz, who met the President a week before the contract was signed to make the case for the firm.

The company was expected to deliver 3.5 million ID cards by December 2010 and at least 21 million cards by the end of the project in June next year.

At a hushed ceremony yesterday, almost a year after the first deadline, officials from the National Citizenship and Immigration Board from the Internal Affairs Ministry handed over only the 400th card issued under the scheme – to Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi.

“There have been financial constraints really,” Board Chairman Ambassador Wanume Kibedi said, explaining the delay. “That has been the drawback.” Officials from the company were not available for comment yesterday and could not confirm how much money it has received from government, although press reports at the signing indicated that the firm expected to receive at least 20 per cent of the Shs185 billion. If this money was paid, it would mean that the company has spent a year and Shs37 billion to produce only 400 cards.

Originally expected to roll out ahead of the February 2011 general election, phase one of the project was marked with the registration of new voters by the Electoral Commission.

That phase, which saw the collection of bio-data of up to 5.5 million new voters is understood to have cost the Ugandan taxpayer as much as Shs122 billion.
This newspaper now understands that an extra Shs196 billion is being sought for the final implementation of the project, whose timeframe remains unknown, a matter that has got lawmakers raising the red flag.

Parliament’s Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Committee is due to meet officials from the Ministry of ICT this morning over the matter.

“We are extremely concerned about this project,” said committee chairman Nathan Nabeta, who admitted that government had not allocated any funding for the project under the ICT Ministry’s Shs12 billion budget this financial year, “besides the Shs600 million in this budget to the Ministry of Internal Affairs.”

President’s directive
Originally under the Internal Affairs Ministry, President Museveni earlier this year directed that overall supervision of the project be placed under the ICT Ministry.
Uganda is the only country in the East African region where its citizens do not possess official identification cards, a vital tool that can be used for tracking criminals and illegal immigrants.

Mr Museveni received the first card and officially launched the project at his fourth term inauguration ceremony in May. “A lot has been happening. We gave the first card to the President and the second card to the First Lady and in between we have issued 400 cards including to Members of Parliament,” Amb. Kibedi said.

Asked why “no ordinary citizen” had yet been issued the cards, Amb. Kibedi argued that priority had dictated that officials of influence receive the IDs first, and added that Ugandans should expect to have their IDs “within the next two years.”

Premier Mbabazi marked the receipt of ID stating that he is not a Congolese citizen, as “rumours” may have suggested, but a complete Ugandan. “I am happy to have finally received this ID,” said Mr Mbabazi. “Those of you who were thinking I am Congolese, it has now been verified that I am 100 per cent Ugandan.”

Monday, 28 November 2011

FDC warns government over assuming Besigye’s health

SOURCE: THE DAILY MONITOR, 29 NOVEMBER 2011

FDC Deputy Spokesperson Toterebuka Bawenda at the press conference in Najjanankumbi yesterday.

The government should stop propagating rumours that Dr Kizza Besigye is bedridden, FDC party has said. Addressing the party’s weekly press conference, yesterday, FDC deputy spokesperson Toterebuka Bamwenda said the government used similar allegations of Dr Besigye’s ill-health in 2001.

“I can vividly report to the country that Dr Besigye is in good health and the small flu he has shouldn’t worry anyone. He is capable and executing his executive duties,” Mr Bamwenda said.

He said if Mr Besigye’s health deteriorates, the government is to blame due to the chemicals security operatives applied on him during the April walk-to-work protests.
“Most of these poisonous gases and liquids sprayed on him during the protests take time to develop but the last test results were negative but we are waiting for conclusive results.”

Mr Bamwenda said if Dr Besigye’s sickness worsens, Ugandans should challenge the manner in which State operative Gilbert Bwana Arinaitwe sprayed an unknown liquid on him in April.

The government, however, was yesterday unwilling to comment on the issue as Information Minister Mary Karooro Okurut referred this reporter to the police.
“Talk to police, they will be in position to explain,” she said.

Deputy Police Spokesperson Vincent Sekatte refused to comment on the matter and referred this reporter to his superiors, Ms Judith Nabakooba and Asuman Mugyenyi, both of whom were unavailable on telephone.

FDC Vice President Salaamu Musumba last week said Dr Besigye had been rushed to America in critical condition after being attacked by a serious illness which had kept him at home for a week.

“This sickness started during the walk to work protests when he was arrested along the Mulago roundabout on his way to work. Amid that chaos, he contracted the infection which intensified and he was rushed to Nairobi Hospital in Kenya before being taken to America,” Ms Musumba said.

However, speaking to this newspaper by telephone at the weekend from his family’s home in New York, Dr Besigye urged his supporters to relax and ignore people anxious to pronounce him dead.

Lawyers protest prolonged detention of FDC member

SOURCE: THE DAILY MONITOR, 28 NOVEMBER 2011

Treason suspects (L-R) Sam Mugumya, Francis Mwijuke and Ingrid Turinawe listen to the Nakawa magistrate as their lawyer, Mr David Mpanga (Standing), looks on.

Posted Monday, November 28 2011 at 19:16

Lawyers representing three FDC supporters, who were remanded over treason, on Monday described as “unacceptable” their long detention without being committed for trial by the State.

Mr David Mpanga asked the State to release Ms Ingrid Turinawe, the FDC women league leader, Mr Sam Mugumya, a political assistant to party leader Kizza Besigye, and Mr Francis Mwijukye, the head of the FDC youth wing, saying their continued detention violates their freedom.

No case
“If the State cannot commit the accused persons, let them be released. The fact is that there is no evidence against them,” Mr Mpanga told court.

The trio, who appeared before Nakawa Chief Magistrate’s Court, are remanded over charges of alleged treason in connection with walk- to -work protests against the rising costs of living.

The lawyer’s complaints were prompted by State submission by Mr Moses Musudah, who sought for another adjournment, saying inquiries were still ongoing.

Mr Musudah said: “We are still waiting for some documents which were sent to Makerere University for transcribing but they have not been returned to the Directorate of Public Prosecutions for consideration.”

Sunday, 27 November 2011

UPDF in fresh plunder claims of Congo minerals

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UPDF spokesman, Col. Felix Kulayigye

By MONITOR CORRESPONDENT (email the author)
Posted Sunday, November 27 2011 at 00:00

The Central African Republic and DR Congo have accused the UPDF hunting down LRA rebels in the two countries of allegedly involving in illegal extraction of timber, gold, diamond and other gems. This is contained in a report by the Brussels based International Crisis Group.
The Ugandan military yesterday reacted angrily to the accusations, describing the report as a “hogwash” writing tinged with accounts by “racist armchair” researchers.

In the November 17 report, ICG said the prospects of lucrative illicit business, sabotaged by the Congolese army, lack of regional political consensus and a “half-hearted” pursuit by Ugandan army, have scurried attempts to decimate LRA.

“The Congolese army and local authorities have ratcheted up a smear campaign to turn locals against Ugandans, whom they accuse of illegally exploiting natural resources, including ivory, gold and bush meat, and attacking civilians,” the report notes.

This is the second time the UPDF is being adversely named in harvesting mineral resources of a foreign country. The first being during the 1997-2003 war which resulted in the International Court of Justice slapping $10 billion fine on Uganda after Kinshasa sued.

“CAR President François Bozizé distrusts the Ugandan army, envies its US support, has ordered it to withdraw from diamond areas and could hamper [anti-LRA] operations further unless satisfied his own army is benefitting,” notes the NGO in the report titled, The Lord’s Resistance Army: Endgame?

The group says CAR President Bozizé and his Congolese counterpart Joseph Kabila do not trust Kampala, and as such, are less inclined to permit the Ugandan army, or their own militaries, to hunt LRA rebels that pose no threat to their hold on power.

“This is hogwash and absolute nonsense from racists that are envious of the new paradigm; that African countries can come together to solve a security problem on their own has rubbed some [of these Europeans] the wrong way,” Col. Felix Kulayigye, the UPDF spokesman, noted in an email reply.

Its first report since US troops last month put boots to the ground here in the hunt for LRA, ICG paints a bleak future for the operation unless polarised political leaders and their distrustful armies work together under the aegis of the African union.

Joseph Kony, wanted by the International Criminal Court, is believed to be hiding in CAR but his forces, moving in diminutive groups of 10-20 fighters to avoid detection, continue to pillage villages across three countries in the Great Lakes region.

However, Uganda was forced to withdraw substantial numbers of its soldiers from Congolese territory after domestic political opponents put President Kabila on tenterhooks over the deployment at a time when the vast country began a countdown to presidential and parliamentary elections due tomorrow.

Yesterday, Col. Kulayigye denied that restrictions imposed by neighbouring countries have handicapped UPDF operations, arguing instead that the people and government of CAR fully support the anti-LRA offensive, offering UPDF vehicles to use even in areas where “there are no roads to drive on.”

“On the US support,” noted the UPDF spokesman, “It is for all the LRA-affected areas, not Uganda alone. So the authors of the report ought to read President Obama’s initiative and the US congressional decision.”

President Obama on October 14 deployed a contingent of approximately 100 US Special Forces to work with regional militaries to remove Kony and his commanders.
ICG said pursuit of the rebels inside DRC is dogged by the host’s refusal to cooperate.
“Having the Ugandan army roving about on Congolese territory, in some places unaccompanied and with no departure date in sight, is beyond the limit of [President] Kabila’s magnanimity,” the report notes.

Col. Kulayigye admitted they restricted their movements in DRC, but to allow the neighbouring country carry out “a smooth, free and fair election.”

Friday, 25 November 2011

Besigye in United States for medical attention

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Kizza Besigye helped by a hospital attendant at the Nairobi Hospital, May 1st, 2011. File Photo

By EMMANUEL GYEZAHO (email the author)
Posted Thursday, November 24 2011 at 12:53

Opposition Forum for Democratic Change leader Dr Kizza Besigye is in the United States of America to seek medical attention following days of reported ill health, a senior party official has confirmed.

This is the second time since April Dr Besigye has flown to the United States on medical grounds. The first visit happened after he was sprayed with irritant pepper spray at the climax of the walk to work demonstration by Uganda police officers.

FDC Vice President Salaam Musumba told this newspaper that Dr Besigye has been uncomfortable for the past few days, following his visit to the U.K, and complained of a niggling “allergic reaction” that has flu-like symptoms, a condition that “really puts him down.”

“When I tell people that his biggest problem is flu they don’t take it seriously but he has not been improving,” she said. “Well he said he wanted to go back to America and see whether this problem is related to the poisonous chemicals he was sprayed on in April.”

She dismissed reports that Dr Besigye had been airlifted in critical condition and said he travelled “on his own”.

Not the first time
This is the second time since May that Dr Besigye has flown to the US on medical grounds.

He treated injuries sustained from that violent arrest after he was hauled unconscious onto the back of a police pick-up truck, at Nairobi Hospital where he spent at least one week before returning to Uganda and heading out to America for further observation.The first visit was at the time after he was clobbered and sprayed with irritant pepper spray to near blindness by police officers at the height of the walk-to-work demonstrations in April.

Dr Besigye is said to have sent text messages to senior party officials over the weekend informing them about his travel plans.

Ms Musumba admitted that she last spoke to him on Sunday and noticed that he was still not feeling well.

“He said he wanted to go back to America and see whether this problem is related to the poisonous chemicals he was sprayed with in April,” Ms Musumba said.

News of Besigye’s health went viral on social network site Twitter, where followers debated a report claiming he had been airlifted in critical condition but party officials moved to dismiss the claims.

On the contrary, Ms Musumba said, Dr Besigye travelled “on his own”, unaided.

The report also comes weeks after the government refuted claims of an alleged plot to assassinate Dr Besigye who spent close to a dozen days in October under house arrest as security personnel barred him from resuming the walk-to-work campaign.

Dr Besigye is understood to have flown on Sunday night to New York where his wife, Ms Winnie Byanyima and son Anselm live.

Monday, 21 November 2011

A protester against the persistent electricity load shedding on Wednesday, November 16, 2011 airs his complaint, "We want power back. We are tired of this situation. Change is coming soon. Why are you taking it out?

Wednesday, 16 November 2011

Besigye bags democratic union seat

SOURCE: THE DAILY MONITOR, 16 NOVEMBER 2011

Kampala

The Forum for Democratic Change president, Dr Kizza Besigye, has been elected the vice chairman of International Democratic Union (IDU), a global association of centre-right political parties.

FDC was also officially admitted as a new member of IDU during a two-day London conference that ended last week. The association has 70 centre and centre-right political parties from 56 countries worldwide.
Dr Besigye and the chairman of Ghanaian New Political Party, Mr Peter Mac Manu, were the only African political party leaders elected to senior positions.

According to the statement issued by IDU, the IDU Chair was retained by Mr John Howard, Australia’s former Prime Minister.
Members are admitted based on their convictions to fight for liberty, freedom, equality and development.

Protests erupt over Umeme blackouts

SOURCE: THE DAILY MONITOR, 16 NOVEMBER 2011

Police clear the road of paper. PHOTOs BY ISAAC KASAMANI & STEPHEN WANDERA

IN SUMMARY

Traders countrywide, who mainly depend on electricity, say their businesses are on the verge of collapse due to power blackouts.

Kampala

Traders operating on Nasser and Nkrumah roads in Kampala, yesterday blocked several roads in the central business district protesting the 24-hour load-shedding schedule.

Police now fear the protests could spread to other areas of the country. Similar protests broke out in Lira last Friday, when residents organised peaceful demonstrations to show anger over the continued power outages.

In September, Kisenyi traders also staged demonstrations when Umeme announced there would be a 12-hour load-shedding. Subsequently, load shedding continued to fluctuate between the 12 and 24-hour blackout schedules.

However, the return to a full 24-hour load-shedding was again announced by Umeme last week prompting the angry response from traders whose businesses have been paralysed.

Umeme, however, said the problem set in after owners of thermal generators stopped supplying power to the national grid. Consequently, several business people, especially those that depend on power, countrywide say their businesses are on the verge of collapse.

Machines guttedSeparately, Umeme yesterday said the current load-shedding will go on until alternative power sources are fixed. The Umeme outage manager, Ms Florence Nsubuga, made the disclosure at a press conference in Kampala, hours after the protests erupted.

Ms Nsubuga said load-shedding is as a result of fire outbreak that gutted the machines at Mutundwe power substation four days ago which left most of their power machines damaged which supply power to other parts of the city.

Ms Nsubuga said Umeme has lost at least 80 megawatts from the weekend damage which has been causing the inconsistencies in power stability. She said the company has devised some ways of handling the power blackout, such as using other power substations at Lugogo, Kitante, and Kisugu Service Centre to reduce on the load-shedding problem, at least by next week.

MPs in mid-August asked the government to terminate the Umeme contract but if the move is effected this year, it would require payment of Sh421b to Umeme. But the director of Privatisation Unit, Mr David Ssebabi, yesterday defended the concession to Umeme.

“It is a good deal. Our understanding and our effort was to get the best deal for Uganda,” Mr Ssebabi told the parliamentary Ad hoc Committee that is currently probing the inefficiencies in the power sector.

Traders Riot Over Lack of Electricity

Picture Of The Day: Traders Riot Over Lack Of Electricity

SOURCE: THE RED PEPPER, 16 NOVEMBER 2011

A trader displays a placard on Nasser Road that reads ‘’we are tired of darkness’’. This was during a demonstration by Traders on both Nkurumah and Nasser streets over 24hr load shading schedule that was introduced my UMEME on Tuesday.

Traders rioting over power

Police stands guard of a bonfire lit by angry traders

Protests at persistent load shedding

Tuesday, 15 November 2011

Magistrate orders Kayihura to shut up over FDC treason case

Maj. Gen. Kayihura has been criticised for making comments on a pending case.

IN SUMMARY

Undermined. Mr Ssewanyana says police action tried to undermine the constitutional right to a fair trial which is being promoted and supported through a court process.

Human rights activists last evening welcomed court’s decision barring police chief Maj. Gen. Kale Kayihura from commenting on an ongoing treason case in which members of the FDC have been remanded in connection with the walk-to -work protests.

More than three weeks ago, FDC women league leader Ingrid Turinawe, Mr Sam Mugumya, a political assistant to party leader Kizza Besigye and Francis Mwijukye, the head of the FDC youth wing, were remanded over charges of alleged treason.

Nakawa Chief Magistrates Court Charles Sserubuga yesterday ordered Maj. Gen. Kayihura to stop commenting on the case.

His order followed a petition by counsel for the defence that he and other officers have been going around publicly purporting to have evidence pinning the accused, which they said was not right because this prejudices the proceedings.

“The court is right in its decision. It is good for the rule of law,” said Mr Livingstone Ssewanyana, the executive director of the Foundation for Human Rights Initiative (FHRI), a body that has separately petitioned the Constitutional Court challenging the treason case preferred against the suspects. Mr Ssewanyana added: “The right to freedom of expression is not absolute; one of the grounds to restrict it is when a matter is before court. The decision is trying to protect the parties before court from being adjudged unfairly due to undue influence of public opinion.”

According to Mr Ssewanyana, the police action was trying to undermine the constitutional right to a fair trial which is being promoted and supported through a court process.

“We are always mindful of the sub judice rule that is why it is very hard to for us to simply comment.”But Police spokesperson Judith Nabakooba yesterday said the accusations against the Force were baseless.

“Much as the court has ordered so, we respect the court process more than anybody,” she added.

Magistrate Sserubuga, in his order, said: “This is a high profile case with a lot of public interest therefore the police chief should act like a professional lawyer because he knows the law very well. He should stop making comments on a case still pending in court,” Mr Sserubuga said.

Mr Sserubuga’s order also included instructions to the state to speed up investigations and have the accused persons committed to the High Court by November 28. He remanded the suspects to the same date.

Ms Turinawe; Mr Mugumya and Mr Mwijukye are part of 15 opposition members who allegedly mobilised the launching of simultaneous riots countrywide until government is overthrown.

Monitor’s Githinji Axed Over Besigye Coverage

SOURCE: THE RED PEPPER, 15 NOVEMBER 2011

Gitahi Githinji

Giatahi Githinji was last week reportedly shown the exit and highly placed sources in State House say it were orders from above after media mogul Aga Khan was arm-twisted into swinging the axe at the Namuwongo based newspaper.

The newspaper confirmed the development in their Saturday edition by publishing that “The Monitor Publications Limited has changed the face of its top management, with Dr Simon Kagugube as new board chairman and Alex Asiimwe as the new managing director,” Monitor reports. “Dr Kagugube replaces Dr Martin Aliker, who has been chairman for more than 10 years, while Mr. Asiimwe takes over from Dr Gitahi Githinji, who asked to retire.”

Sources now intimate that “Museveni reportedly complained to Aga Khan during the presidential campaign season in January that Monitor was offering overwhelming media coverage to opposition leader Col. Kizza Besigye.

The President also complained that the paper was shunning NRM campaigns. “They enlarge photographs of Besigye’s campaigns on the front page,” the big man reportedly complained.

Thursday, 10 November 2011

Kayihura re-appointed after apology

SOURCE: THE DAILY MONITOR, 10 NOVEMBER 2011

Inspector general of police Maj. Gen. Kale Kayihura telling MP Theodore Ssekikubo of the ‘fire’ he went through when he appeared before a parliamentary committee on appointment to renew his contract.

The Appointments Committee yesterday approved Police chief Maj. Gen. Edward Kale Kayihura’s re-appointment on a three-year contract after he reportedly apologised for the excesses of a Force he has led for six years.

The ruling-party-dominated committee chaired by Speaker Rebecca Kadaga grilled the Police chief for more than three hours mainly about gross violations of human rights and corruption in the Force.

But following in-house deliberations, the lawmakers later agreed that he be allowed a new contract after the Army General reportedly apologised for the brutal clampdown on civil liberties, promising improvements. “He had to apologise for spraying the Leader of Opposition in Parliament (LoP) and other opposition members with pink water,” a source said, quoting him saying: “I confess I am sorry”.

Maj. Gen. Kayihura was reportedly reminded about a recent incident in the House when LoP Nandala Mafabi tabled his soiled suits and underwear as an example of police brutality. “A number of reservations were raised but these didn’t stop us from approving him,” a source said shortly after the committee meeting ended at 7:30pm. “It was a unanimous vote. Even the opposition members like the Leader of Opposition, Nandala Mafabi and Mathias Mpuuga who sit on the committee, approved him but blamed other police officers like Grace Turyagumanawe and others for denting the image of police.”

According to sources, Maj. Gen. Kayihura reportedly apologised for “mistakes committed by the bad apples within the Force” and said that some of the mistakes are not the making of the police but political. He promised to change the situation. “We have put it to him that there is a problem in Police which needs urgent attention and we are going to raise the same concerns with the President in our report to him” a committee source said.

“The problem with police is brutality and gross violation of human rights. We have lost many innocent Ugandans including babies. We have reminded him about Ugandans who have died at the hands of the Police and infiltration of the Force by other security organs.”

A few minutes after 6pm, Gen. Kayihura emerged from the vetting room looking tired. “I have answered all questions put to me to the best of my ability and I leave the outcome in their hands,” Gen. Kayihura said. He also told journalists that some of the members were concerned about police discipline. “There are some mistakes here and there but we shall always try to rectify them,” he said.Another committee members said: “He took long in the Committee because his answers were long, but the good thing with him he was confident” a source said. “But the good thing with him he apologised for the mistakes and promised to ensure that mistakes are not repeated.”

In a report released in March, Human Rights Watch accused the police’s Rapid Response Unit of frequently operating outside the law, carrying out torture, extortion, and in some cases, extra-judicial killings. Amnesty International also recently strongly criticised police excesses.

But in his response, Gen Kayihura who at first looked uncomfortable taking questions from the journalists said he would engage the Amnesty International to discuss the matters they always raise about human rights, like he has done with the Human Rights Watch. “We shall also work towards promoting better welfare to our policemen at family level,” he said.

President Museveni’s re-appointment of Gen. Kayihura, who he has in the past praised as a cadre of the ruling NRM party, attracted criticism from politicians and rights activists over growing brutality and human rights abuses by what they said was an increasingly militarised police, particularly in dealing with government’s critics and opponents.