Ugandan Judge Solomy Balungi Bossa has been elected as a judge of the International Criminal Court.

Justice Balungi  previously worked with the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda ((2003 – 2013)

She  has previously served  as a  Judge of the Court of Appeal and Constitutional Court of Uganda and Judge of the African Court of Human and People’s Rights among others

Uganda’s Ambassador to the UN, Adonia Ayebare confirmed that Balungi garnered  81 votes in the 4th  round of voting.

The 121  member states that are signatories to the Rome statute participated in the election.

The Ministry of Gender, Labour, and Social Development took advantage of its end of year party to also accord its retiring officers a warm and affectionate send-off.

The event was held on Tuesday, December 5, 2017, at the Nomo gallery in Kampala.

A total of 8 officers including the Assistant Commissioner Children Affairs, James Sembatya Kabogoza, were celebrated for offering dedicated service in achieving the ministry’s mandate.

Kabogoza retired on July 3, 2017, after 36 years of serving in different capacities.

He joined the ministry in 1981 as a probation and welfare officer and went on to be promoted to the positions of Senior Probation and Welfare Officer, Principal Youth Officer and finally the position in which he retired of Assistant Commissioner Children Affairs.

Other officers were the Principal Women in Development Officer, Cornerious Kagolo Magara, who retired after 21 years and Freddie Mubiru, an officer supervisor who has served since 1977.

Stephen Kabaseke, a security personnel, Gertrude Bonaboona, a cook, John Mugisha, a guardian, John Dhikusoka, a workshop attendant and Aisha Nakalema, a cook were all praised and wished a happy and healthy post-retirement life.

The Minister of Gender, Labor and Social Development Janat Mukwaya, who presided over the event, urged the retirees to maintain an active lifestyle and use their experience to spur socio-economic development in their areas.

She commended the Permanent Secretary, Pius Bigirimana for attracting increased funding to the ministry which she said was once labeled a “dead ministry”.

“Previously we would struggle to have fuel and funds for monitoring exercises. The situation has since changed with the coming of Bigirimana. I want to congratulate him on this” Mukwaya noted to a loud applause from the staff members.

Between 1996 and 2001, Mukwaya served as Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development and the ministry’s budget was just about Shs 20 billion.

This rose to Shs59 billion when Bigirimana was posted there in 2014 and currently stands at Shs117billion per year.

At the same occasion Susan Nakitto Christine, a staff in the planning unit was awarded employee of the year for her commitment, astute nature, technical expertise, team playing attributes and enthusiasm to reach corporate goals.

The Department of Culture and Family Affairs headed by Commissioner Juliana Naumo Akoryo scooped the ward of outstanding performance for the year 2017 for the manner in which they executed programmes and projects that attracted national, regional and international acclamation. The same department spearheaded the Jumuiya ya Afrika Mashariki Utamaduni Festival (JAMAFEST).

They also promoted the year of the family campaign which got the involvement of all religious, cultural and political leaders speaking for family cohesion. 

Bigirmana urged the staff to remain committed and energized to attain the ministry’s mandate of empowering communities to harness their potential through cultural growth, skills development and Labour productivity for sustainable and gender responsive development. 

The nurses and midwives who subscribe to the Uganda Nurses and Midwives Union have again this morning storms their union headquarters to face their leaders in relation to their demands from government.

"We are still striking until we get a written document from the government", one of the nurses said.

The nurses and midwives had called for a sit-down strike to contest their poor working and living conditions.

However, on Tuesday they were divided after their leaders called off the strike without consulting them.

'We are holding the strike until we get everything back like a scheme of service an salary increment", the chairman of the Uganda Nurses and Midwives Union said.

Early child marriages, with its associated problems, is tearing apart the potential earnings of would be adult women by nearly Shs. 2 Trillion each year, a new study reveals.

A cross-section of educators too are in agreement with this real threat to the girl child; getting exposed to early marriage, childbearing, low educational attainment and their impacts in Uganda.

The Ministry of Education, says the findings linked to the cost of not investing in girls, forms part of what keeps them as policy implementors on their toes.

The new report released today titled accelerating Uganda’s development: Educating Girls and Ending Child Marriage and Early Childbearing, one in 3 girls still marry before the age of 18 in Uganda.

And between now to the year 2030, the report projects that potential benefits could hit US$3 Billion or approximately10. 8 Trillion shillings, the 10th Uganda Economic Update on the cost of not investing in girls indicates.

It also adds that the economic benefits from ending child marriage would result from a reduction in population growth and thereby higher standards of living and lower poverty.

Police in Iganga district has arrested two men for muzzling a suspected stolen cow on a boda-boda.

Idd Napeera and Rajab Kintu both residents of Busuuyi village in Kitayundwa sub-county Kamuli district were arrested as they ferried the cow on a bodaboda without a movement permit of a veterinary officer.

The two were intercepted at Kasolo village, heading towards Iganga town with the cow tightly fastened on the motorcycle.

The suspects are said to have got the cow from Kamuli district and were heading to Busia.

The LC1 chairman Kasolo village Sembera Herbert said the cow was visibly having pain with the mouth and nose fastened.

The officer in charge Kasolo police post, Ogwang John said the cow is said to have been got from areas of Kamuli district and was being taken to Busia district without proper documents.

The police publicist for Busoga East region James Mubi said it is unlawful to carry animals on bodabodas.

He said the suspects are to be charged with inflicting pain on the animal and being in possession suspected stolen cow.

The two, however, said they were bodaboda riders and were given the cow by a one woman in Kamuli to transport to Iganga at Shs 100.000.

Residents said cases of ferrying stolen animals on bodabodas are on the rise and asked concerned authorities to step up intervention.

The cow was offloaded and together with the suspects there are being kept at Kasolo police post.

Yazid Yolisigira

Forceful land evictions have been cited as one of the rampant human rights violations in the country.

This comes amidst a wave of land evictions in the country leaving many people homeless with police faulted for such executions.

Sophie Kyagulanyi the governance manager at Oxfam Uganda says that the force used by police in land evictions is beyond reasonable force.

Ms Kyagulanyi says that where it ceases to be reasonable force, the police should come out to penalise its officers.

However, the police spokesman Emilian Kayima says they only provide security to the court bailiffs executing court orders and also warned people who sell off their land and after refuse to vacate.

This was discussed during a human rights meeting of Civil Society organizations and human rights defenders like Action Aid, Oxfam, HURINET among others.

Police deployed scores at the headquarters of the Uganda Nurses and Midwives Union in Mulago to avert any anarchy that could arise out of a second stormy meeting between the nurses and their union representatives.

The nurses and midwives stormed the union headquarters in Mulago to seek answers from their union officials over their remuneration.

Earlier on this week on Tuesday, the nurses tasked their president, Justus Cherop Kiplangat, to explain why he called off the industrial action before consulting them.

In defence, Cherop told the nurses that government had committed to honouring their demands for improved pay and working conditions.

He also promised to get a scheme of service from the public service ministry which by this morning had not been shared

The health workers declined to endorse the document he presented purportedly from the government whose veracity was questioned.

They followed him to his office to give a clear explanation of what next.

The leaders want their subordinates to wait until Saturday to get a response from the government by Saturday.

However, nurses and midwives are accusing the government of paying lip service to their plight.

Doctors have to wait until the next financial year to have their salaries enhanced.

This was revealed by State Minister of Health Sarah Opendi while appearing before the Parliamentary Health Committee this afternoon.

Opendi told Parliament's health committee that the available money will only cater for essential hospital supplies.

The President of Uganda Medical Association Dr.Ekwaro Obuku warned that the fraternity could resume the strike later this month if their salaries are not improved.

Last month, doctors laid down their tools demanding for a salary increment.

After a series of negotiations, the doctors got back to work after commitment from government that their remuneration would be improved.

The Doctors demand that the least paid should earn at least 5 million shs and senior consultants 45 m shillings per month.

Asian communities who were expelled by President Idi Amin Dada in 1972 have come out to claim back properties in Mbale that say, belonged to them. One of these is Elgon Nursery and primary school. A group of Indians from the Patel family want to repossess the school and other properties. FRANCIS JJINGO reports…

David Tsolobi who is the Director of Elgon Nursery and primary school which is situated in Mbale, his family has been managing the school for 44 years and acquired it through the Departed Asians Property Custodian Board after the expulsion of Asians by President Idi Amin Dada in 1972.

Patel Parima accuses Tsolobi and the school management of acting arbitrarily to obtain full ownership of the school.The two appeared before the commission of inquiry into land matters, each pointing an accusing finger at the other.Patel told the commission that attempts to repossess their property have been frustrated by corrupt government officials in Mbale.The commission has established that Parima Patel has made claims and been allocated 25 plots of land in Mbale.

The commission also grilled Mbale Municipal Town Clerk Kenneth Waniaye Khaluli and the secretary of the district’s Land board over the mismanagement of properties belonging the municipality.They also established that the lorry park, Uhuru park, the Children’s park  and the Mbale Golf course have been allocated to individuals.

Kenya’s Attorney General Githu Muigai said on Thursday that any attempt to hold a parallel swearing in of a president would amount to treason.

Muigai did not name anyone but opposition leader Raila Odinga said last month, he would be inaugurated by a people’s assembly on Dec. 12 - Kenya’s Independence Day.

Mr Odinga, who pulled out of the October 26 repeat presidential poll, has maintained that he won the August 8 poll but was rigged out through manipulation of numbers in IEBC servers.

“The criminal law of the Republic of Kenya stipulates that sort of process is high treason. It is high treason of the persons involved, and any other person facilitating that process,” he told a news conference.

At the same time, the AG warned the 11 counties that have passed people’s assembly motion, saying they committed illegalities.

Such devolved Houses, he said, may be surcharged for misusing taxpayers’ money.

Government does not know the final destination of the gold extracted by artisanal miners in Karamoja sub-region.

That's according to John Byabagambi, the Minister for Karamoja Affairs.

The minister told NTV that the gold mining business in Karamoja had been penetrated by hardcore criminals who evade taxes and also exploit the artisanal miners.

Authorities in the border district of  Busia say Gender-based violence is on the rise in the area.

They party blame this trend on the high alcohol consumption and the culture of silence around the vice -this as Uganda and the rest of world continues to commemorate the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence. 

The theme this year is  “Leave No One Behind: End Violence against Women and Girls”.

Grade One Magistrate Patricia Amoko gave the IGG the ultimatum after Agnes Napiyo’s lawyer Denis Nyombi informed court that his client’s right to a fair and speedy trial is being infringed upon.

No witnesses have been produced in court since July this year when the matter was fixed for the hearing.

Nyombi also informed the court that when they tried to ask the officials from IGG, who is in-charge of prosecuting this matter, all he received were CDs with no audio nor a video.

Prosecutors did not also show up in court today because of an ongoing Prosecutors’ strike.

It is alleged that Napiyo received the bribe from a one Vincent Egesa on April 8, at a fuel station in Nakawa division as an inducement to reverse a child custody ruling in his favour.

The Minister for Finance, Matia Kasaija, has cautioned politicians against inciting violence because it stifles development.

Addressing guests at the second ever economic summit heralded by NTV and Pricewaterhouse Coopers, Kasaija tasked the business community to form competent construction companies in order for them to tap into the colossal sums of money that government injects in the road sector. 

Whenever there is noise, money disappears, and when it disappears, and when it disappears, there will be no jobs, no jobs, problems'' He says.

Kasaija also warns that the government is spending alot of money on foreign contractors and the country loses out in the process.

The government has currently allocated 7 trillion shillings on infrastructure and electricity projects with 90% of this money going to foreign contractors.

The finance minister says that Uganda has only 2 local companies with the capacity to handle road projectors.

The government has in the recent past been accused of not doing enough to build the capacity of local companies.

However, Kasaija urged Ugandans to form companies that bid for the projects, so that the money can remain in the country. 

"I'm looking for engineers who can build strong companies and I have been helping the National Housing construction company", Kasaija says.

As many public universities are facing a number of challenges, Kyambogo university is not exclusive.

Addressing journalists at the university, Prof. Eli Katunguka the vice chancellor expressed concern over student defaulters who find their way to the examination rooms after forging examination clearance cards.

Katunguka said between 500 to 1000 students would try to access examination rooms with forged examination permits.

He blamed this on the fact that students are spending school fees on sports betting, and relationships.

Katunguka also revealed that his university has a list of unfunded priorities that total to UShs. 50.65 billion.

''When the cost of living goes up, that is how universities accumulate domestic arrears '' He says.

The vice chancellor also expressed concern over the rise of cases of forging transcripts and cautioned employers to be vigilant

The university is now devising means of using university resources including land to get money to cater for some of the university priorities that are down because of funds.

Gulu LC5 Chairman Martin Ojara Mapenduzi sought the company of Police to chase the herdsmen out of the forest.

The leaders, concerned that trees are being depleted at a fast rate, also discovered that the herdsmen were growing marijuana in the forest.  

They found that the charcoal dealers have destroyed close to 15 square kilometers of the forest in Palaro sub-county.

The team set the shelter on fire and some of those who were arrested were first caned before they were carted off to the Police station.   

Mapenduzi says the aim of the exercise is to conserve the environment. 

Some NGOs say the move by the district leaders will help protect endangered tree species.

This is the second major operation launched by the district against commercial charcoal business since 2016.

Authorities in the border district of  Busia say Gender-based violence is on the rise in the area.

They party blame this trend on the high alcohol consumption and the culture of silence around the vice.

This as Uganda and the rest of world continues to commemorate the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence.

The theme this year is  “Leave No One Behind: End Violence against Women and Girls”.

Hamis Mansa a Kampala businessman at Nakasero was last evening handed over to police detectives for allegedly grabbing four hectares of Mbale curved out of a forest central reserve in Namatale.

Mbale forest central reserve in Namatale is a twenty-two-hectare forest.

The commission, which is currently investigating land matters in Mbale established that Mansa in connivance with officials in the lands office partitioned the forest to various people.

Justice Catherine Bamugemereire who is leading the commission also issued a warning to other land grabbers to immediately vacate the forest.

In the same meeting with the meeting, residents of Bulambutye sub-county in Bulambuli district petitioned the commission seeking to stop land grabbers who want to sale contested land to the prime minister’s office to settle people who were affected by mudslides in Bududa.

Oscar Twanga one of the affected residents could not hold back tears as he narrated his ordeal to the Bamugemereire commission.

It emerged that the Usuk County Mp Katakwi district Peter Ogwang and Rose Wekomba a businesswoman in Mbale brokered the deal to sell land to the prime minister's office.

Twanga told the commission that he was forced to sign consent papers to surrender the customary land totalling over 2000 acres.

Mp Peter Ogwang and Rose Wekomba are expected to appear before the commission to be probed over their role.

Police in Kampala will investigate what caused a fire at an imported shoes’ warehouse in Kampala’s Nakawa’s division this morning.

The amount of loss is not yet clear.

At least seven police fire trucks were deployed at the scene of the fire to deter it from spreading to surrounding warehouses.

The Uganda Microfinance Regulatory Authority has been inaugurated, with representation drawn from the Ministries of Finance, Trade, Bank of Uganda and the Association of Microfinance Institutions.

Jacqueline Mbabazi, the Executive Director of the Association of Microfinance Institutions of Uganda AMFIU, is the interim Chairperson of the board.

With a directive by President Yoweri Museveni, on rationalising state authorities and institutions yet to  be undertaken, State Minister for Microfinance Haruna Kasolo defends the need for this new authority