FDC raises concerns over proposed Bill on LoP election
October 7, 2024 4:14 pm
The proposed amendments to the law on the selection of a Leader of Opposition (LoP) continue to draw criticism from opposition stakeholders, especially opposition political parties.
The latest is the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) which voiced strong opposition to the Administration of Parliament (Amendment) Bill, 2024, presented by Mityana County South MP, Richard Lumu.
The bill seeks to among other things; reform the election of the Leader of LoP, allowing Members of Parliament to elect their leader rather than having them appointed by the largest opposition party.
However, addressing a weekly news conference at their Najjanankumbi offices on Monday, the FDC Deputy Publicity Secretary, Walid Mulindwa argued that this move undermines opposition autonomy and could allow the ruling party to manipulate opposition leadership.
“This bill is a clear attempt to weaken the opposition and stifle dissenting voices,” stated Mulindwa Walid Lubega, Deputy Secretary for Publicity.
He has also expressed fears that the bill could lead to an easy impeachment process of the LoP, further diminishing opposition strength in parliament.
The FDC thus insists that the bill poses a threat to democracy, instead asking parliament to focus energies on more pressing national issues.
Pastor Kayanja testifies against accusers in court
October 7, 2024 2:42 pm
Prominent Kampala-based pastor, Robert Kayanja of Rubaga Miracle Center Cathedral, on Monday testified at the Mwanga II court against a group of nine former “Kiface” gang members accused of trespassing on his church and falsely accusing him of sodomizing them.
In his testimony, Pastor Kayanja stated that he met the gang during his 2017 revival event, “77 DOGs,” when they sought to turn their lives around. The church welcomed them and even helped them identify problematic individuals.
After a period, the group expressed interest in joining the church’s security team. They were subsequently recruited and trained at Kabalye training school. Upon graduation, Kayanja deployed them to the church and his Kiryandongo farm on a rotational basis.
Kayanja explained to the court that the deployment included accommodations and an allowance. The remaining portion of their salaries was to be saved for them until they reached adulthood and could manage their finances independently.
However, Kayanja began receiving reports of theft, assault, robbery, and the abandonment of the farm by the suspects. They claimed to be tired of working and demanded immediate payment of their full salaries.
Kayanja sent the suspects to the finance department, where a figure representing each individual’s owed amount was calculated and agreed upon to be paid in installments.
To his astonishment, on September 17, 2021, during a lockdown, the suspects allegedly breached security, assaulted people at the church gate, entered the premises, and began shouting obscenities while recording themselves. He says they falsely accused Kayanja and others of sodomizing them and demanded payment for this alleged act.
Kayanja stated that the videos were intended to go viral and caused him significant shock, hurt, and annoyance. As a pastor of 30 years, he was appalled by the malicious accusations, especially considering previous false accusations of sodomy against him.
Kayanja categorically denied being gay, citing a similar incident in 2010 when fellow pastors Solomon Male, Michael Kyazze, Martin Ssempa, and two others were convicted by Buganda Road court and sentenced to 100 hours of community service.
The hearing was still ongoing at the time of this report.
Lukwago launches PFF registration drive, warns security forces
October 7, 2024 12:27 pm
The Acting President of the Opposition Forum for the Democratic Change (FDC) Katonga faction, Mr Erias Lukwago, on Monday launched the registration process for their new party political, the People’s Front for Freedom (PFF). He cautioned security forces against interfering with the legal exercise.
The Electoral Commission (EC) granted the faction the green light to collect the signatures required for political party registration. According to the law, they must obtain at least 50 signatures from voters in three-thirds of Uganda’s districts.
Lukwago announced that the signature collection drive would begin in Kampala and Wakiso before expanding nationwide. He warned security personnel against hindering the legal process, emphasizing that it was sanctioned by the EC.
“We do not expect all members of the security network to interrupt our exercise because it is legitimate, lawful and it was sanctioned by the constitution,” Lukwgo said on Monday.
The acting president urged Ugandans seeking change to register with the PFF at designated centers across the country.
Museveni to commission Kiira vehicle plant
October 7, 2024 8:53 am
President Museveni is set to inaugurate the Kiira Vehicle Plant at the Jinja Industrial and Business Park in Jinja City on Monday. The Kiira Motors Corporation’s investment marks a significant step towards Uganda’s strategic goals of technological advancement, environmental sustainability, job creation, and global competitiveness.
This state-of-the-art manufacturing facility is poised to supply the regional market with top-tier mobility products.
Earlier, the Minister of State for Kampala and Metropolitan Affairs, Kyofatogabye Kabuye, highlighted the plant’s pivotal role in Uganda’s journey towards sustainable industrialization, job creation, and the adoption of green technology.
“The president is going to commission the Kiira vehicle plant which is one of Africa’s largest bus-manufacturing facilities which produces eco-friendly vehicles,” Mr Kyofatogabye said.
He also noted that the company had trained 145 electric bus operators, equipping the local workforce with the skills necessary to support the country’s transition to electric mobility.
Beleaguered Man United battle to 0-0 draw at Villa
October 6, 2024 11:47 pm
BY REUTERS
Manchester United ground out a 0-0 draw at Aston Villa on Sunday with the club suffering their worst start to a season in the Premier League era and speculation rife about the future of under-fire manager Erik ten Hag.
The draw sends Unai Emery’s men into the international break in fifth in the table on 14 points after seven games, while United are languishing in 14th with eight points.
Their points tally is United’s lowest in their opening seven matches of a Premier League campaign and their lowest in any league season since 1989-90 (seven points), when they went on to finish 13th under Alex Ferguson — his lowest league finish as manager.
“I think it’s the fourth clean sheet this season,” Ten Hag said as he looked for positives. “You see we had a very good organisation and togetherness. There was good character and good spirit as a team. Determined, resilient.”
United captain Bruno Fernandes had the best chance of the game for either team, clanging a free kick off the crossbar from outside the box in the 68th minute. Antony then missed the target with the rebound and with keeper Emi Martinez out of his goal.
Villa’s Jaden Philogene had a spectacular effort at a goal in stoppage time after Matthijs de Ligt missed Morgan Rogers’ drilled ball across the goal. Philogene’s shot looked to be heading for the net before Diogo Dalot turned to block it with his back. Emery buried his head in his hands in frustration.
United’s woeful start to the season has put Ten Hag back in the spotlight and the team’s entire senior leadership — co-owner Jim Ratcliffe, CEO Omar Berrada, sporting director Dan Ashworth, and technical director Jason Wilcox — were in attendance at Villa Park for what many believed was a pivotal game for the manager.
“It does affect the players,” United defender Jonny Evans said of the rumours about the manager’s future. “It’s on our minds too.”
The afternoon was a tale of teams headed in different directions, with United suffering a terrible start, and Villa enjoying their best beginning to a campaign since 2008-09 and coming off a 1-0 Champions League win over Bayern Munich on Wednesday.
“It’s not a bad result, but it’s not the best,” Emery said. “How we played, I think the draw is fair for both teams. We missed some energy but I am happy because the draw was not the worst result. In the second half we corrected some things to control the match.”
United played with considerably more confidence and togetherness than their previous two matches — a woeful 3-0 league loss to Tottenham Hotspur last weekend followed by a 3-3 Europa League draw with Porto on Thursday that saw them give up a two-goal lead.
United’s Marcus Rashford had a couple of near misses, with Villa keeper Martinez forced into a diving save in the game’s early minutes, and then leaping to push a shot over the bar soon after halftime.
Rogers blazed a shot just wide of United’s net in the first half.
Villa defender Ezri Konsa limped to the bench in the 12th minute after going down clutching his hamstring — a blow for both Villa and England, ahead of the national side’s upcoming Nations League games against Greece and Finland.
United lost oft-injured defender Harry Maguire, who limped off the pitch at the end of the first half.
Rwanda begins Marburg vaccinations to curb deadly outbreak
October 6, 2024 4:10 pm
BY REUTERS
Rwanda said on Sunday it had begun administering vaccine doses against the Marburg virus to try to combat an outbreak of the Ebola-like disease in the east African country, where it has so far killed 12 people.
“The vaccination is starting today immediately,” Health Minister Sabin Nsanzimana said at a news conference in the capital Kigali.
He said the vaccinations would focus on those “most at risk, most exposed healthcare workers working in treatment centres, in the hospitals, in ICU, in emergency, but also the close contacts of the confirmed cases.”
The country has already received shipments of the vaccines including from the Sabin Vaccine Institute.
Rwanda’s first outbreak of the viral hemorrhagic fever was detected in late September, with 46 cases and 12 deaths reported since then. Marburg has a fatality rate as high as 88%.
Marburg symptoms include high fever, severe headaches and malaise within seven days of infection and later severe nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea.
It is transmitted to humans by fruit bats and then spreads through contact with the bodily fluids of those infected. Neighbouring Uganda has suffered several outbreaks in the past.
“We believe that with vaccines, we have a powerful tool to stop the spread of this virus,” the minister said.
