The family of the late John Matanda a former deputy mayor of Mbale municipality in the 1980's have accused Parima Patel and Praful Patel both Ugandans of Asian origin of grabbing land for the late Matanda allegedly he acquired in 1969.

The two Ugandan -Asians are allegedly conniving with a Mbale businessman Mansa Musa and others to take possession a building they claim belongs to them.

Led by Robinah Matanda , they have petitioned the commission of inquiry into land matters.

Robinah Matanda a daughter of the late John Matanda, former deputy mayor of Mbale municipality in the 1980's could not hold back her tears before Justice Catherine Bamugemereire.Robinah and the family have petitioned the commission of inquiry into land matter seeking their intervention to restrain Parima Patel and Praful Patel from effecting a court order issued by Justice John Kaweesa to evict them from a building they claim their late father John Matanda acquired in 1969 on plot 11 republican street in Mbale.Tempers flared as Robinah asked the Indians to back off their land.But Justice Catherine Bamugemereire warned her to stop using ethnicity to discriminate Ugandans of Indian origin.

The accused were present during the hearing awaiting their turn to defend themselves against the allegations. Parima Patel and Praful Patel claim to have bought the land from the defunct Uganda commercial BankLast week, the commission held its hearings in Mbale and Parima Patel was greed for allegedly attempting to takeover Elgon Nursery and primary school.

The commission also established that Parima Patel owns 25 plots of land with buildings in Mbale town.

Robinah also accuses a businessman Harji Mansa Musa and a one Mayanja of conniving with the Indians to grab their family property.Justice Bamugemereire ordered Mansa Musa vacate they building with immediate effect.

Harji Mansa Musa appeared before the commission last week in Mbale and was questioned for allegedly grabbing another land on Naboa road.

Bosco Watenga a businessman in Mbale this morning also accused Parima Patel of grabbing plot 17 on Flight road which he claims he acquired from the departed Custodian Asian board in 2010.Justice Bamugemereire adjoined today's hearing before Parima Patel and Praful Patel were are expected to defend themselves against the allegations.

The President of the Republic of Uganda and the Commander in Chief of Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) yesterday officiated at the commissioning of 275 officer cadets of intake 16/2016-17 at the Uganda Military Academy. Kabamba in Mubende district. Fifty-five of the commissioned officers were Somali nationals considered under a bilateral arrangement between the government of Uganda and that of Somalia.

In his speech, President Museveni noted that the concept of crystallizing a national army has not been easy for many countries, hence prompting the intervention of the United Nations which he referred to as outsourced security.

He observed that such a situation has often been a result of government’s failure to understand what makes a national army. He outlined five ingredients that constitute a national Army as Patriotic Ideology, being skilled in warfare, having good discipline, exhibiting brevity and always maintaining physical health.

The president explained that UPDF has achieved all the above ingredients and is now focusing on their consolidation. He singled out discipline as a crucial factor and equated it to a medical surgeon who purposefully uses a surgical knife to save lives. In the same vain soldiers use purposeful, disciplined and targeted violence to create peaceful and secure environments.

While elaborating how purposeful UPDF has used violence, the president gave an example of the UPDF marine Brigade which has fought illegal fishing hence resulting in an increase of fish production in most Ugandan waters. He cautioned fishermen using illegal fishing methods to stop it and repent their sins instead of turning shame into anger so that the government can find means of supporting them.

The president congratulated graduates for qualifying to join an army of patriots and merit, saying that this will make their work easier since the direction of the country is already clear in terms of security and economic growth. He advised the officers to remain healthy since ‘health is wealth’.  The newly commissioned Officers were cautioned against overdrinking and promiscuity since the army doesn't need sick people that not only drain its resources but also cheat by not being productive.

To the Somali Federal Government, president Museveni thanked the president of Somalia and the Prime minister for trusting Uganda by sending their soldiers to be trained. He praised Somalis for being brave but advised them to stop putting their energy and brevity into self-crucifixion of terrorism but develop their country.

In his remarks, the Deputy Chief of Defence Forces Lt Gen Wilson Mbasu Mbadi who represented the Chief of Defence Forces, congratulated the graduates and thanked them for their endurance through such a strenuous and physically enduring course and welcomed them into the officer’s coup. He reminded them that UPDF has always survived on Ideological clarity, nationalism, patriotism and strategic relationship with the people hence making it a unique army on the continent. He implored the new officers to use what they have learned to fit into the UPDF vision and mission in order to continue building a professional army.

The Somali minister of Defence Mohamed Mursal Sheikh thanked the president and the government of Uganda for consistently standing with Somalia to the extent of sacrificing their own blood. He called upon the newly commissioned Somali officers to be confident and let their country down aware that Somalia is at war with terrorism. “Fight for our loyalty and build a new Somalia,” the minister said.

The Commandant Uganda Military Academy Brig. Emmanuel Musinguzi advised the officers to always learn from their superiors and thanked them for persevering throughout the challenges of the course.

The best students who were awarded by the president for exemplary performance included; Apio Fiona who was best overall, Nansubuga Margret best in class, Nuwagaba Alex best in the field, Ssentayi Disan best disciplined while Abdi Mohamud was the best fraternal student from the Federall Republic of Somalia.

The function was attended by the Commander Land forces Maj. Gen. Peter Elwelu, the Commander Airforce Maj Gen. Charles Lutaya, the Joint Chief of Staff Maj General Joseph Musanyufu among other General and senior officers of the UPDF. Also in attendance were the families of the graduates

The government says Ugandans in the diaspora should register for National Identity cards.

A registration exercise will be conducted during the Uganda Diaspora Awareness workshop on the 19th and 20th of December.

President Yoweri Museveni warned Civil  Servants against striking as he hosted  National Thanksgiving prayers at  Statehouse in Entebbe.The annual National Thanksgiving Service which is hosted by the President and the First lady was held under a theme from one of the beatitudes in the book of Matthew  “Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called children of God.Senior Government officials, Religious Leaders, Security officials and Members of the Diplomatic Corp were some of the groups that attended the prayers

Pastor Fred Watante of Full Gospel Church preached reconciliation and repentance as he delivered the day’s sermon. 

In his speech, President Yoweri Museveni warned civil servants against striking, pointing out the doctors specifically, the president insisted that he would not tolerate a new strike by doctors.

He also reiterated that Uganda is on a strong path towards development quoting a  recent study by Harvard projecting Uganda as the fastest growing economy in the world by 2025The Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development also presented a report on the year of the family for the year 2017,  highlighting the progress and challenges Ugandan families face.

The High court in Kampala has declined to issue an interim order stopping Parliament from proceeding with the process of Amending A(102)b  of the Constitution regarding the lifting of the presidential age-limit.

Parliament is set to debate on the age-limit bill on Monday next week.

This after Assistant  Registrar Joy Kabagye dismissed an application filed by three oppositional political party heads in which they had sought to block the process until the Electoral Commission carries out a referendum for citizens to decide on the contentious bill.

While dismissing the application, Kabagye noted that parliament has not violated any law or rule of procedure in deciding to amend A(102) b of the constitution since its core role is to make laws for this country. 

Kabagye also added that while in the exercise of its mandate, parliament may choose to add, variate or repeal any laws that it considers irrelevant.

Kabagye then reminded the applicants who included PDP president Abed Bwanika, CP president Ken Lukyamuzi and Jeema party president Asuman Basalirwa that much as they may have genuine views to seek a referendum on the on-going  Constitutional amendments. 

Parliament and Judiciary arms of government are mandated to carry out their core duties independently without outside interference. 

She, therefore, dismissed the application on grounds that court can nor bar Parliament to carry out its constitutional mandate of Amending A(102)b whose outcome is still a mere speculation.

The court also noted that it would be unfair to issue orders stoping parliament from exercising its functions yet the main dispute is between the 3 applicants and the  Electoral Commission which has refused to accept and consider electronic signatures for purposes of holding a Referendum. 

While defending the actions of parliament in court this morning,  a state attorney Johnson Natuhwera asked the court to fully observe the doctrine of separation of powers and not issue any orders that interfere with parliament while in the exercise of its constitutional mandate of legislating and making laws.

Natuhwera said that simply because Bwanika and his co-petitioners are desirous to subject the amendment of A(102)b of the constitution to a referendum, it does not take away the constitutional mandate of parliament to make laws on any matter for peace, order, development and good governance.

He also asked court to protect the interests of parliament having gone through a detailed process of drafting the contentious bill, tabling it for the first reading, engaging in countrywide consultations and public hearings by the Legal and parliamentary committee.

Bwanika and the group's  solace lies in the main case which is fixed for hearing on the 6th/February 2018 .

In the main case, the trio wants the court to order the Uganda communications commission to provide them with a USSD code on which they can easily and quickly collect the required 1.5 million signatures and to compel EC consider these electronic signatures.

To them, It's only through a referendum that citizens can ably decide on matters of their political governance.

Traffic police officers have been withdrawn from busy intersections in Kampala after criticism that they were contributing to the heavy traffic jams in the city.

Today traffic officers have been withdrawn from manning traffic at junctions with traffic lights. The order comes after KCCA criticized the traffic police for contributing to traffic jams by deploying officers at junctions with traffic lights.

Steven Kasiima, the director of Traffic and safety in the Uganda Police Force, says the traffic officers at the busy intersections with traffic lights will be withdrawn for two days to see whether the traffic flows better without traffic officers.

Kasiima says its hard to manage traffic lights without traffic officers in the city because KCCA does not have a traffic command control centre to monitor the traffic burden.

As the Kampala Capital City Authority continues to assert its mandate to manage the city’s traffic problem, road users wait to see how the new changes will drastically reduce the traffic burden and lessen time spent on the road.

Over 15 people have been arrested and several cars have been impounded after the police averted a potential clash between the Japadhola and Iteso in Tororo municipality.The Japadhola were intent on preventing the Iteso from hosting their cultural leader Emorimor Augustine Osuban at an event planned for Saturday in Tororo town.The mob had vowed not to allow the Teso cultural leader to be hosted at the King George Stadium, which the Japadhola say is special to them because that is where their cultural leader, the Tieng Adhola, was installed.The group of Japadhola men, some armed with stones and pangas, first gathered in Nangogera Sub-County from where they set off for Tororo townHowever, the group was intercepted by police at Rubongi on the outskirts the town.Police used teargas and live bullets to disperse the group before some of them were arrested and their cars impounded.The Japadhola said Tororo was their land and that the Iteso should host their cultural leader in Teso.The Iteso insisted that their function would go on as planned.The Tororo RDC, Martin Oroch said the function would go on because the Iteso had booked and paid for the venue days in advanceThe two communities have been fighting over the historical ownership Tororo municipality for years with each group claiming to be the rightful residents of the town.There is now a heavy police deployment at the King George stadium ahead of the Saturday event.

The Acholi cultural institution has been in a three-day cultural showbiz to revitalize the ways of the tribe after suffering two and half decades of civil strife.

The event took place at Kaunda Ground in Gulu Municipality, and is the first of its kind, bringing over 3000 talents from the eight districts of Northern Uganda.

Over twenty-seven different types of dances are being performed to entertain and educate the younger generation.

These dances range from Royal dance (Bwola), Larakaraka (Courtship dance), Funeral dance, Otole (War dance), and Thumb guitar dance (Lukeme) among others.

There is joy among the young and old in the first ever event among communities once torn apart by war.

The togetherness is a symbol of unity, a demonstration and gesture of war through and courtship among talented individuals.All the fifty-four traditional chiefs were present.

The other guests include Dr Olara Otunnu, Norbert Mao, Salamu Musumba, and Dan Kidega former East African Legislative Speaker are in attendance.

The Acholi cultural Institution Prime Minister Ambrose Olaa says the event is to revamp the culture of Acholi which is on the brink of extinction.

As you move around the tents exist numbers of traditional artifact where elderly and rural people explain to urban dwellers, things like pistol and mortar and their uses, cowries shell which Acholi used it for taking porridge before spoon came in, a granary which is used as a storage facility for food preservation, wooded chairs among others make entire gathering spectaculars.

The cultural festival concludes on Saturday with the Acholi Paramount Chief  Rwot Onen David Achana II as chief guest.

By Sam Lawino

Residents of the districts of Lira, Oyam, Apac and Dokolo and the entire Lango sub-region are faced with a looming water crisis.

Although residents from major towns in these districts have access to clean water.

Those in the rural areas are finding it hard to gain access to clean and decent water

In Iceme, Minakulu and Kamudini sub-counties in Oyam district, Amach sub-county in Lira district, Aboke Sub County in Kole district, Akokolo Sub County in Apac district, many residents mostly women and children are struggling to get water from swamps and shallow wells.


Some have now also resorted to survival of the fittest when it comes to fetching water especially in the areas where people are depending on water from boreholes

Some residents have resorted to digging their own boreholes near swamps to tap clean water but there is strong fear that the residents might eventually contract diseases

Some local leaders also accuse some alcohol brewers of the contamination of some swamps in the area, which has led to the destruction of the environment.

According to Jimmy Otim the Deputy District Water Officer of Lira, the district has 1644 water sources of which 592 are boreholes, 520 are shallow wells and springs.

Water management is another factor that has led to a water crisis in some areas and the response of the authorities to have broken water sources like boreholes repaired early is poor. 

According to district leaders, the demand for water is high and the biggest challenge faced by the districts in Lango Sub-region is the poor water management since many water sources are not functional.

The Chinese Ambassador to Uganda Zheng Zhuqiang has said countries need to start looking into the causes of refugee influx.

He has also cautioned against sanctions by one country on another. He was speaking at an event organized by the Uganda Council on Foreign Relations in Kampala.

The Uganda People's Congress party UPC has embarked on a project of mobilising its members to revamp Cooperative unions, a move the party thinks will get Ugandans out of poverty.

The UPC through the Obote foundation says more farmers are abandoning commercial farming to subsistence because their cooperative unions were closed and looted.

Ekitongole kya KCCA kivumiridde okusalawo kwa poliisi okugya abasajja bayo ku ngudo ekyatataganyiza ebyentambula olunaku lwegulo oluvanyuma lwobutakanya obwabalusewo wakati w,ebitongole by’ombiriri.

Omwogezi wa KCCA Peter Kawuju ayogede nokukikatiriza nga poliisi yokungudo bwerina okukomya okukola omuli gwe bitala nadala ku nkulungo.

Wabula yo poliisi eyogedde okulumiriza nga ebitala ebimu bwebitakola nga kiberera daala kizibu okukola ku baby ewatali poliisi.

Olunaku lwegulo nadala abavugira mu kibuga Kampala bakyalwasimula bugolo, olw’obugubi obwayitidwamu okuyita mu kagotiiko k’ebiduuka.

Era olwaleero ekitongole kya Kampala Capital City Authority kivumiridde ekikolwa kya poliisi yebiduuka okwamuka engudo olunaku lwegulo, ekintu ayogererera poliisi yebiduuka kyawakanya.

Obuzibu bugambibwa okuva kunjawukana wakati wa bakulu mu KCCA saako nekitongole kya poliisi yebituuka ku butya ebitala byatulafiki gyebikozesebwamu, nga aba KCCA balumiriza poliisi okuyingirira omulimu gwebitala.

Wabula ayogerera poliisi yebiduuka Charles Sembabulidde akagamba ebitala ebimu tebikola nga kyetagisa abasirikale okubeerawo obulindala.

Olunaku lwegulo poliisi egamba yasobodde okuda ku ngudo oluvanyuma lwembeera okutabuuka.

Ekizibu kyobulipagano bwebiduuka mu Kampala kyekimu ku bizibu ekitongole ekiduukanya ekibuga ki KCCA kyebizze birwanagana nakyo naye tewali kikyukako.

Tusobodde okwogerako nabagoba bebiduuka nebatubulira kuki ekisanidde okukolebwa okusalira ekizibu kya jam mu Kampala.

Wetwogerera nga enkulungu ezakatekebwako ebitala ebipya ziri  kumi nambirira nga okusinzira ku KCCA enkulungo endala 32 nazo zakutekebwako ebitala byebimu.

Naye ekibuzo ekisigala nga kyebuzibwa, oba abantu babulijjo bakugondera enkola yebitala bino ewatali poliisi.

Waliwo enjogera egamba nti obutasoma kuluma bukulu Kati e Kapeeka waliyo abakyala abaasalawo enjogera ereme kutuukira ku bbo era nebeewaayo okuddayo ssomero

Bano baatikiddwa olunaku lw’eggulo oluvannyuma lw’okusomera omwaka gumu

One person is feared to be after he was shot as police blocked the Teso Heritage Day Celebrations that were scheduled to take place at the King George Stadium in Tororo.

Tensions were in High gear as the Itesots tried to welcome their cultural leader Emorimori Papa Augustine Osuban in a place where the majority of the people are Japadhola

An ethnic row pitting a section of Japadhola against the Iteso spilled into violence as police tried to restore calm in Tororo district.  Joseph Obotha from Kalayi Subcounty in Tororo reportedly died of a gun shot wound on his head after he was shot, according to eyewitnesses

Police is yet to verify the circumstances under which he died. 

The Iteso were meant to mark a cultural festival graced by their titular head the Emorimor at King George Stadium in Tororo today. But police cancelled the function

Earlier in the day, some Japhadola Youths raided the venue of the function carrying placards and demonstrating against the Visit. They accused the Iteso of trying to grab their land

Itesot Elders who had already started the activities with some dressed in their ceremonial garbs were not happy with the halting of activities saying that they had notified Police 6 months in advance.

Police remains deployed in Tororo district. The latest row typifies the undercurrents that have been burbling below the radar in Tororo as the Iteso community accuses their counterparts of marginalisation agitating for their own district.

Members of parliament from Africa Countries have defeated a proposal by the European Union to make it a universal right under the international treaties for medical personal from African states to work in European counties.

Instead, the MPs supported a move for countries to bond their workers especially those trained by the state as a remedy against brain drain.

The Members of Parliament including those from Uganda led by Deputy Speaker Jacob Oulanyah are currently in Haiti attending the African Caribbean, Pacific and European Union Parliamentary Assembly.

The  48th African Caribbean, Pacific, and European Union parliamentary assembly is currently underway in Haiti’s Capital, Port- Au- Prince.

The assembly’s main objective is to find remedies for the social, political and economic challenges facing the 79 members states.

One of the major issues the current assembly had to handle was a proposal by MPs of the European Union to make it a universal right under international treaties for medical workers from members states to work freely in Europe.

MPs, especially those from Africa, vehemently opposed this move, on the grounds that such a proposal would worsen the brain drain of trained medical workers from their countries.

In Uganda statistics from the ministry of health show that about 250 medical workers leave the country annually.

Members further recommended a bond to be imposed on health workers, especially those trained by their respective governments, to work for the state for a particular period before they can be allowed to seek private employment.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Speaker of Parliament Jacob Oulanyah, has called for the restructuring of the Cotonou agreement which brought together ACP-EU member states, if there resolutions are to be implemented by members states.

Currently, their resolutions are not binding.

Traffic Police officers have resumed duty a day after they withdrew from the streets of Kampala leading to major traffic gridlock around the city.

KCCA has criticized the police action saying the traffic officers should not have abandoned their duty.

On Saturday traffic police officers were back on duty on Kampala’s streets and their presence was felt as the traffic flow was far more orderly than it was on Friday when they were withdrawn from their positions.

For most of Friday, motorists and passengers in public transport vehicles in Kampala were stuck in a heavy traffic jam for hours and many even resorted to abandoning their cars as they sought solutions to their predicament. 

The Friday gridlock was a result of the temporary withdrawal of traffic officers after the Kampala Capital City Authority had blamed the officers stationed at busy intersections for contributing to the city’s traffic jams.

The Traffic Police Spokesperson Charles Ssebambulidde says they decided to get back to work at 8 pm on Friday despite earlier having said the withdrawal would last for 48 hours.

The KCCA Spokesperson Peter Kaujju says the traffic officers should never have abandoned their duty.

KCCA has already installed 10 LED traffic light systems across the city with 32 more where works are still ongoing.

Many road users in the city can only hope that Friday’s events were an isolated event and will not be the order of the day going forward.

Ekitongole kya KCCA kivumiridde okusalawo kwa poliisi okugya abasajja bayo ku ngudo ekyatataganyiza ebyentambula olunaku lwegulo oluvanyuma lwobutakanya obwabalusewo wakati w,ebitongole by’ombiriri.

Omwogezi wa KCCA Peter Kawuju ayogede nokukikatiriza nga poliisi yokungudo bwerina okukomya okukola omuli gwe bitala nadala ku nkulungo.

Wabula yo poliisi eyogedde okulumiriza nga ebitala ebimu bwebitakola nga kiberera daala kizibu okukola ku baby ewatali poliisi.

Olunaku lwegulo nadala abavugira mu kibuga Kampala bakyalwasimula bugolo, olw’obugubi obwayitidwamu okuyita mu kagotiiko k’ebiduuka.

Era olwaleero ekitongole kya Kampala Capital City Authority kivumiridde ekikolwa kya poliisi yebiduuka okwamuka engudo olunaku lwegulo, ekintu ayogererera poliisi yebiduuka kyawakanya.

Obuzibu bugambibwa okuva kunjawukana wakati wa bakulu mu KCCA saako nekitongole kya poliisi yebituuka ku butya ebitala byatulafiki gyebikozesebwamu, nga aba KCCA balumiriza poliisi okuyingirira omulimu gwebitala.

Wabula ayogerera poliisi yebiduuka Charles Sembabulidde akagamba ebitala ebimu tebikola nga kyetagisa abasirikale okubeerawo obulindala.

Olunaku lwegulo poliisi egamba yasobodde okuda ku ngudo oluvanyuma lwembeera okutabuuka.

Ekizibu kyobulipagano bwebiduuka mu Kampala kyekimu ku bizibu ekitongole ekiduukanya ekibuga ki KCCA kyebizze birwanagana nakyo naye tewali kikyukako..

Tusobodde okwogerako nabagoba bebiduuka nebatubulira kuki ekisanidde okukolebwa okusalira ekizibu kya jam mu Kampala.

Wetwogerera nga enkulungu ezakatekebwako ebitala ebipya ziri  kumi nambirira nga okusinzira ku KCCA enkulungo endala 32 nazo zakutekebwako ebitala byebimu.

Naye ekibuzo ekisigala nga kyebuzibwa, oba abantu babulijjo bakugondera enkola yebitala bino ewatali poliisi.

Waliwo enjogera egamba nti obutasoma kuluma bukulu Kati e Kapeeka waliyo abakyala abaasalawo enjogera ereme kutuukira ku bbo era nebeewaayo okuddayo ssomero

Bano baatikiddwa olunaku lw’eggulo oluvannyuma lw’okusomera omwaka gumu

The Archbishop of the Church of Uganda Stanley Ntagali says western culture is being transplanted in Uganda’s schools.

Ntagali was speaking in Mukono yesterday where he warned that habits like homosexuality from the West have been adopted by school going children.

He said the church shall not allow promoting same-sex marriages in the country.

Local Musician, Fred Ssebatta, bagged 50 million shillings after emerging winner of the Kadongo Kamu contest organised by Operation wealth Creation at Kololo Independence grounds.

The competition attracted several Kadongokamu musicians who composed songs which called for people to embrace agriculture as a source of economic livelihood.

Ssebatta beat off competition from Vincent Ssegawa, Mathias Walukagga among others