President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni; the NRM party chairman has suggested that leading opposition party, National Unity Platform(NUP) should be scrapped off the list of those supposed to benefit from IPOD funding for refusal to  join the political party coalition.

NUP recently said they will not join IPOD because the platform has largely been used to legitimize the NRM that has no regard or respect for democracy.

“The regime uses it (IPOD) for political gain, far from its intended objective of strengthening Uganda’s multiparty democracy. You will agree that in the past ten years of IPOD’s existence in Uganda, the democratic space has shrunk, going from bad to worse every successive year” said NUP Secretary General Lewis Rubongoya.

The dialogue for IPOD Council of Secretaries General of member political parties at State House Entebbe was yesterday graced by Richard Tadwong, the NRM Secretary General, Gerald Siranda of Democratic Party (DP), Mohammad Kateregga (JEEMA) and Ebil Fred of Uganda People’s Congress (UPC).

Speaking at this council, Museveni who is also the current chairperson of the IPOD urged all political parties in Uganda to work together and resolve the issues affecting the country.

Museveni says despite the political differences political parties should take lead in the promotion of peace and stability in the country.

“Because the idea is, although you have differences, please work for stability by sharing some common positions in a forum and the only forum is this one (IPOD),” said Museveni.

He noted that although IPOD brings together all political parties represented in parliament, some do not want to cooperate with others and therefore, these should not qualify for government funding under IPOD arrangement.

“It should even be put in the law that those who don’t want to be part of the forum, should not share that money since their work is contrary to the spirit of dialogue and unity for the country,” Museveni stressed.

According to the IPOD Council Chairperson, Richard Todwong, NUP is getting more funding than UPC, DP and JEEMA since these funds are allocated to the seven political parties in Parliament in accordance with their numerical strength.

At the May 2019 IPOD summit, President Museveni committed to increase public funding to political parties from shs10 billion to shs35 billion.

“Indeed, the shs35 billion funding was made available and in the January-March quarter, shs23 billion was released by the Ministry of Finance out of shs35 billion passed by parliament in the supplementary budget for funding political parties under IPOD,” Tadwong remarked.

According to the allocation; NRM got shs17 billion (74%), NUP got 3.1 billion (13.5%), FDC got shs1.7 billion (7.4%), DP and UPC each got shs 485 million (2.1%) JEEMA and PPP each got shs 53 million (0.2%)

President Museveni maintained his earlier position that 15% of the total amount should be shared equally among member parties for administrative expenses, another 15% to be allocated to the IPOD secretariat for joint activities for the member parties and 70% be allocated based on numerical strength of parliamentary representation of member parties.

IPOD is an organization that brings together all political parties represented in Parliament with a cardinal objective of promoting meaningful interparty dialogue in pursuit of the peaceful coexistence of national development activities.

Government together with the former Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence(CMI) boss, Maj Gen Abel Kandiho have been sued over the alleged torture of Samuel Masereka, the coordinator of the National Unity Platform (NUP) in Kasese district.

In a case file before the Civil Division of the High Court in Kampala on Tuesday morning, Masereka a student of Medical Radiography at Earnest Cook, Mengo in Kampala says that on January, 7, 2022, at around 6pm while playing pool at a local pub in Kasese, three security operatives clad in UPDF attire attached to CMI arrested him and later confiscated his phone.

He says that immediately after the arrest, a pistol was pointed to his mouth and asked to remain silent, before he was dragged into a waiting drone car and whisked away to Kasese Central Police Station and later to Kilembe Police Post where he spent the night.

Masereka says UPDF operatives in the company of officer Bwambale then picked him from the cells on Saturday, 8, January, at around 9am and asked him to lead them to his home in Nyamwamba East.

Masereka added that while at his home, despite the absence of his lawyers, a comprehensive search was done & his laptop, national ID, flash disk, sim card and National Unity Platform documents used for mobilization were confiscated as exhibits. He says that he was later driven back to Kasese Police Station from where he recorded a statement and later handcuffed and driven to Kampala accompanied by 3 UPDF officers.

“Upon reaching Busega, I was hooded and then proceeded to an unknown destination. When the hood was taken off, we had reached our destination. I was totally undressed, even with no under garments and my particulars taken at the reception. During the night, I asked some of my fellow detainees where we were and I was told that it is Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI) Mbuya,” he said.

The court documents say the following day he was led for interrogation before four officers and that during the interrogation, he was asked about the funders and plans for the National Unity Platform, his phone conversation with NUP’s Lewis Rubongoya and the opposition party’s next move.

Masereka says he was tortured for several days after his answers never “amused” his interrogators, adding that at one time blood was oozing out of his mouth, nose, genital, and all over his body.

Declarations

 “The applicant seeks a declaration that the respondent’s actions of battering, flogging, intentional infliction of wounds, harassment waterboarding and torture while in detention at CMI Mbuya threatened and violated his non-derogable freedom from torture, cruel and inhumane and degrading treatment guaranteed by articles 24 and 44 of the 1995 Constitution and section 3(1) of the Prevention and Prohibition of Torture Act 2021,” the court documents say.

He also wants court to declare that his detention for 19 days and in an ungazetted detention centre was unlawful and illegal and consequently wants court to order for special damages and general damages.

Today, Uganda Cancer Institute joins the rest of the world to commemorate World Cancer Day. The Institute is committed to providing greater access to care for people and close the gap in cancer care through reaching out to the population.

Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) to which Uganda Cancer Institute subscribes has embarked on a three-year campaign under the theme “Closing the care gap” and UCI is responding by taking on a nationwide approach to improve access to care for all through establishing regional cancer centers.

The Uganda Cancer Institute is establishing regional cancer centres in four regions of the country (Northern – Gulu, Eastern – Mbale, Western – Mbarara and West Nile – Arua). The government of Uganda has secured funding to construct the Northern Uganda Regional Cancer Centre in Gulu which will be operational next financial year. The Western Uganda and West Nile centres are already operational and the government has promised additional funding to construct all the three remaining centres (Gulu, Arua, Mbarara).

A statement by UCI cited that more than 80% of cancer patients registered at the UCI present with late stage disease thus leading to a high mortality rate among adult cancer patients. Giving an example of breast cancer, the statement says chances of surviving breast cancer can be above 90% if a woman is screened regularly and the cancer is detected in the early stages.

However, women living in rural areas face long distances to travel to care centres that provide screening. This means that they only present when the cancer has advanced enough and becomes difficult to treat. The statement highlighted that this situation can change if these people are screened early and given holistic treatment in their regions.

To close the care gaps, the Uganda Cancer Institute with funding from the Government of Uganda is expanding care infrastructure at the Mulago campus with construction of a new 8–level in patient building, a two-block six-level ADB funded building that will house facilities for reference cancer laboratory, MRI, cancer surgical suites, outpatient clinics, ICU among many other facilities to improve patient care.

Additionally, with funding from the government of Uganda, the Institute is expanding the radiotherapy services with planned purchase of two new high-end radiotherapy machines this financial year bringing the number of radiotherapy machines to five. The establishment of PET centre will also reduce the number of Ugandans going abroad for PET scans.

Every year, 10 million people around the world die from cancer. This is more than HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis combined.

Police detectives at Katwe Police station have recovered human remains of a yet to be identified person, five days after retrieving another body from a septic tank within the same home in Kabowa.  

On Saturday Police retrieved the body of Patrick Turyasingura from a septic tank. Turyasingura had been reported missing since the 26th January, 2022 by one Norman Muhangi, at the same residence located in Kabowa Rubaga division, a Kampala city suburb.  

The postmortem report indicated that he was strangled to death before being dropped in the septic tank which prompted Police to arrest Norman Muhangi and Naomi Tumwine as key suspects to help with the on-going investigations.   

Luke Owoyesigyire; the Deputy Police spokesperson Kampala Metropolitan, said other human remains have been recovered today by the detectives who went back to reconstruct the scene. The body was found in a rotting state and could not be readily identified.

“We found that Turyasingura was planning to leave the country to go abroad. We highly believe the four people know something about his murder, and possibly the death of this person we have recovered today,” said Owoyesigyire adding that the CCTV footage at the house was deleted the same day Turyasingura was killed.

Owoyesigyire also added that there has been also an ongoing inquiry at Katwe Police station into the disappearance of a male adult by the names of Roland Akandinda, from the same home which occurred in December 2020, and the matter has been under investigations since. 

He explained that the remains have been taken to the city mortuary Mulago for postmortem, while waiting for the DNA test to confirm the identity of the remains recovered.  

The suspects Naome Tumwine and Norman Muhangi who were arrested earlier this week are still in custody at Katwe Police station, while efforts are underway to apprehend Charles Tumwine, the husband to Naome, and Geoffrey Oduku, the security guard, who are still on the run.  

The Auditor General has revealed that the government lost Shs 1.2 billion which was paid to over 600 ghost workers at the local gov’t level.

Edward Akol, the acting assistant auditor general-audits unearthed this during the 2021 audit report that he recently handed over to Anita Among, the deputy speaker at Parliament.

The report highlighted that government paid a total of 1.12billion through 78 local governments to 635 staff who had either retired, been transferred, absconded, or died hence paying for services that were not rendered causing loss of funds to the government.

Whereas Uganda has a total of 146 districts, the auditor general’s audit was limited to 78 local governments, and it has been established that this audit did not include the over 200 central government entities.

The formal and official hand over of the Mandela National Stadium, Namboole site to the UPDF Engineering brigade to commence works of renovation and upgrading the stadium to International standards was yesterday flanked by Hon. Dennis Hamson Obua, the State minister of sports and witnessed by the chairperson of the Mandela National Stadium board, Anne Abeja, Brigadier General Engineer Byesigye Bekunda, the Commander of the UPDF Engineering Brigade, Hon. Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda, the Area member of Parliament, Jamil Ssewanyana, the Manager of Mandela National Stadium, Dr. Bernard Patrick Ogwel, the General Secretary, National Council of Sports and several officers from the UPDF.

The two phased planned renovation and upgrade will have Phase 1 that will take at least four months involving the securing and construction of a perimeter fence around the stadium. This phase is estimated to cost at least Shs 3.8 billion.

The UPDF Engineering brigade will then proceed to Phase II which will include upgrading the stadium to international standards. This phase is estimated to cost at least Shs 67 billion and it is incorporated in the supplementary budget.

The goal is to upgrade to a World class Stadium suitable for hosting national, regional, continental and International games as well as protect and sustain this national asset.

Hon. Obua believes that this perimeter wall will help solve the long standing concern of encroachers around the peripheries of this land that was 24 years ago procured by Government to construct an international stadium.

“Today, we have started the upgrade and renovation of the Mandela National Stadium, Namboole with the perimeter wall fencing around the stadium land. The wall will help solve the long standing issues of encroachment on the stadium land. This is the journey. We believe the UPDF shall do perfect work,” Hon Obua said.

Police in Jinja City is investigating a case where a Uganda Peoples’ Defense Forces (UPDF) soldier died after he was allegedly stabbed in a bar brawl over a woman.

James Mubi; the Kiira region police spokesperson, identified the deceased as Private Michael Kwewana, 39 attached to Gaddafi military barracks in Jinja City.

It is reported that on Tuesday, the deceased went to Kamuyodisa Bar and Guest House located at Bwase Zone in Buwenge Town Council, Jinja District and allegedly picked up a quarrel with his friend, Zakayo Ngobi, 23, over a yet-to-be identified woman.

Police responded to the scene and established through preliminary investigations that Ngobi allegedly slit Kwewana’s throat and stabbed him in the stomach.

Mubi said that the victim was rushed to Buwenge General Hospital before being transferred to Bombo Military Hospital where he was pronounced dead few hours later.

Mubi added that Ngobi was arrested and transferred to Nalufenya Police Station where he will be charged with murder.

Total Energies and partner China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) have today reached an agreement with Uganda and Tanzania to invest more than $10 billion in developing the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP).

The Final Investment Decision(FID) was announced during a ceremony at Kololo Independence grounds, Kampala that was graced by the President of Uganda, Yoweri Museveni, Tanzania’s Vice President Philip Mpango, heads of France’s Total Energies and CNOOC among others.

“Today is the day we commit to invest $10 billion in the Tilenga and Kingfisher projects and the 1,443-km long pipeline,” Total Energies chairman and CEO Patrick Pouyanne said in a statement. Pouyanne described the controversial pipeline as a “masterpiece” of a project, although critics charge that it threatens livelihoods and fragile ecosystems in the heart of Africa. “From today with the FID, the project will fully enter into the construction phase,” he said.

CNOOC Uganda president Chen Zhuobiao said: “Achieving FID is a first step towards achieving first oil and unlocking opportunities for investment and development of Uganda and the whole region.”

The project aims at exploiting the huge crude oil reserves at Lake Albert, the development of oil fields, processing facilities, a 1,443-kilometre export pipeline from Uganda through Tanzania to the Indian Ocean port of Tanga.

According to projections by the Petroleum Authority of Uganda (PAU), 14,000 direct jobs and 45,000 indirect jobs will be created for Ugandans. Of the direct employment, 57% are expected to be Ugandans, which is expected to result in an estimated $48.5m (Shs169b) annual payment to Ugandan employees.

Ruth Nankabirwa Ssentamu; the Minister of Energy and Mineral Development said this milestone puts Uganda and partners on the path to first oil in 2025.

Government geologists estimate that the country’s gross reserves stand at 6 billion barrels, while recoverable oil is seen at 1.4 billion barrels.

Uganda discovered crude oil reserves near its border with the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2006, but production has been repeatedly delayed by disagreements between the government and oil firms over tax and development strategy, and a lack of infrastructure.

While addressing the country at Kololo Independence Grounds as during the 36^th National Liberation Day celebrations, President Museveni made several the remarks about the economy, industrialization, education, agriculture, health and the Covid-19 pandemic.

President Museveni said the NRA fought for very serious reasons which included economic growth and transformation, peace and stability.

Museveni noted that the economy of Uganda has grown 29 times since 1986. He added that the economy of Uganda will be 44 billion dollars in July this year about 50 dollars short of middle-income status. “When we started, it was only 1.4 billion dollars. I’m however not satisfied with the 6% growth. We can grow rapidly” he said.

President Museveni added that for Uganda to upgrade to a high middle-income country, there is need to boost agriculture, add quality with industry, promote services like tourism and develop ICT. “We want Uganda to be a high middle-income country,” he emphasized.

Industrialization

“We are making our own cars now; we are assembling all sorts of things here. Vaccines and medicines. Our people are very active there. We are going to process our own papers and minerals as well. The journey ahead is very intense but also very profitable,” President Museveni remarked.

Tourism

President Museveni said he is hopeful the tourism industry is yet to boom now that the country’s economy is open.

Agriculture

Museveni said if all Ugandans were to wake up and follow what they have been told just in Agriculture alone, the country’s economy would be more than half a trillion dollars. And that the country can be pushed to a high middle-income country with agriculture alone if people are given enough guidance..

“Tea, tobacco, sugarcane, and cotton are crops that can’t be grown on less than four acres. We have to add industries to add value. If we produce products of the right quality, we have the market. The issue of so much sugar and maize will be sorted. If the people in the region don’t want to buy them, we will turn them into ethanol,” he said.

Security

President Museveni condemned military coups in Africa saying the problem happening in Africa today started in Libya. He made an invitation to African leaders to sit down & exchange views on how to build strength in Africa.

“What’s happening now is going to take us back because civilian leaders fail to build strong armies. I’m glad our brothers from Congo are here; we are working with them to stop that little problem of ADF. ADF is nothing; we will defeat them. They were here, but we defeated them. We have experience in defeating them,” President Museveni commented.