Category Archives: Fire

KENYA: JUBILEE POLITICIAN IN KUIRIA’S SHOP TORCHED DOWN BY UNKNOWN ARSONISTS

Leave a reply

Reports Leo Odera Omolo In Migori Town

John Magaiwa, a prominent Jubilee politician in Kuria, has reported that unknown arsonists recently set his shop a blaze torching shop goods and other property estimated at Kshs 20 million.

The incident took place at Mabera Trading Center in Kuria West district, Migori County. Unconfirmed reports says the police are holding one suspect who is assisting them In their investigations.

Magaiwa said the incident took please during the night of January 17-18, 2014 Before March 4,2013 general election, Magaiwa who is an ex-civic leader was the ODM branch chairman in Migori County. He had prior to the elections declared his interest in contesting the Migori Senate seat on the party ticket , and even campaigned vigorously for the seat fro close to three years and was tipped as the possible winner.

Magaiwa, however, ditched the ODM and left the party in huff after some of the party MPS from the region held and a locked door secret meetings in an hotel in Nairobi and came up with the idea that the ODM Senate ticket be given directly to the former Kuria MP Dr. Wilfred Machage in perception that his nomination would lure the Kuria voters and convince them to vote for the ODM presidential candidate Raila Odinga on man-to-man.

The MPS floated the idea to Raila whom made several impromptu visit to Migori and told his Luo supporters that they should Forget the Senate seat for the area because it would be given on a direct nomination to a candidate from Kuria a minority community which is sharing Migori County with the majority Luos because the Kurias were a marginalized minority.

Among those who had already declared their interests in the Migori Senate seat included the former two the Homa-Bay MP Phares Oluoch Kanindo, the former Mathare MP Gilbert Ochieng” Mbeo. All the three together with Magaiwa had already deposited their money with the ODM head office and were only waiting for the green light to go on with their election contest.

DR Machage was still a top official of the defunct PNU party then headed by the retired President Mwai Kibaki and had not yet ditched the then ruling party.

Magaiwa felt he was betrayed and short-changed by the ODM leadership and crossed into the TNA/URP coalition. The Kuria voters rejected Raila Odinga and the two ODM parliamentary candidates for Kuria East and Kuria West constituencies, which were all swept by the Jubilee.

In the final analysis, the local political pundits believes that it was Magaiwa who became an instrumental tools that helped the Jubilee to an easy major victory over ODM in Kuria. Raila was told that Dr Machage had lost touch with the Kuria voters. But he could not hear of this and bulldozed his way by prevailing upon the party headquarter is which issued a direct party nomination to Dr. Machage,

The former MP won the Senate seat specifically owing to Luo votes, and not Kuria’s.After the March 4, 2013 election Magaiwa went back to his shop business at Mabera Trading Center, which is located along the Migori Sirare road.

Pundits were quick in pointing out that the torching of Magaia’s shop could have some elements of political undertone. This is because of his massive popularity and influence which had helped the Jubilee made inroad into the two Kuria districts dislodging the ODM.

ENDS

KENYA: WHO BURNT KIAMBAA CHURCH AND WHY?

Leave a reply

From: Ouko joachim omolo
The News Dispatch with Omolo Beste
THE HAGUE SPECIAL TAKE-4

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2013

Deputy President William Ruto’s ICC cases may be dismissed for lack of evidence and dropping of the key witnesses alright, but as to why and who burnt Kiambaa PAG Church in Eldoret with 35 victims, who were attacked and torched inside in the church on January 1, 2008 at the height of the poll violence, remains unanswered.

A man whose father and brother were killed when armed youths set the church on fire has withdrawn his testimony against Ruto. The man, whose identity has not been disclosed, has reportedly written to chief prosecutor Fatou Bensouda saying that he no longer wished to be her witness against Ruto and his co-accused Joshua Sang.

In his affidavit, the witness who asked Bensouda to delete all his evidence from her record said that he does not recall the accused uttering any inciting statements or participating in the violence.

He becomes the seventh witness to withdraw from the case in the last few months. He is however the first from the Kikuyu community to recant his evidence. The rest have been from the Kalenjin community.

At least 35 people, mostly women and children, died when marauding youths set the church where hundreds of people displaced by the fighting in Kimuru had sought refuge. Seventeen people were burned alive in the church and another 11 died in or on the way to the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital.

Although Bensouda in her Pre-Trial Brief claims that on November 23, 2007, Ruto and 100 prominent Kalenjin leaders and 3,000 youths gathered at the Mimuri farm of businessman Mark Too to plan the attack, Ruot has denied the allegations.

According to Bnsouda however, Ruto addressed the meeting and stated that the youth would be taken care of and asked to be informed if there was any shortage of money. Bensouda claims it was this group of youths who attacked the Kiambaa church soon after the election results were announced. Kiambaa church was a target because it was densely populated with Kikuyu.

Although Ruto has denied any responsibility, according to former chief prosecutor Moreno Ocampo, immediately following the announcement of the 2007 presidential election results, a “Network” of youth militia was organized by Ruto to execute attacks against Gikuyus in various locations in Uasin Gishu and Nandi Districts, including Turbo town, the greater Eldoret area (Kiambaa, Yamumbi, Haruma, Kimumu and Langas), Kapsabet town, and Nandi Hills town, with the intent to expel them from the Rift Valley.

The brunt of the attacks occurred from 30 December 2007 through the first week of January 2008. Ocampo specifically noted that the investigated crimes against humanity occurred predominantly within a 25 kilometre radius of a house that Ruto owns in Sugoi (Uasin Gishu District), where he held meetings to plan the attacks.

Specifically on December 30th, 2007, according to Ocampo, Ruto’s Network of youth attacked the village of Kimuri in Uasin Gishu District forcing hundreds of women and children to flee to the neighbouring village of Kiambaa, where they sought refuge in the small Kenya Assemblies of God Church.

The next day, December 31st, 2008, word had spread around that Gikuyu speaking refugees were sheltered within the Kiambaa Church. Ocampo found that on January 1st 2008, Ruto’s Network attacked the Church, doused mattresses and blankets with petrol and threw them in the building.

They blocked all exit points from the Church and mothers and babies who were trying to flee the inferno were pushed back into the church. Kikuyu men attempting to defend their church and loved ones were hacked to death with machetes, shot with arrows, or pursued and killed.

The evidence tends to show that William Ruto promised perpetrators monetary reward in exchange for the destruction of Kikuyu buildings and every Kikuyu person killed.

Ruto was quoted in Wikileaks cable telling the American government that the Kiambaa church was the result of an accidental fire and he should not be accounted responsible for it. Ruto was meeting Ambassador William Ranneberger, Assistant Secretary of State for Africa Johnnie Carson and National Security Council director Michelle Gavin on May 12, 2009, almost 17 months later.

Ruto’s statement contradicts the Waki Commission report stated in 2009 that “the incident which captured the attention of both Kenyans and the world was the deliberate burning alive of mostly Kikuyu women and children huddled together in a church in Kiambaa on 1 January 2008.

Kikuyu men attempting to defend their church and loved ones were hacked to death with machetes, shot with arrows, or pursued and killed. Instead Ruto expressed frustration with the media, which he felt had blamed members of his Kalenjin group for locking and burning down the church.

Here is the summary of Ocampo’s file on ICC:

26 November 2009- ICC Prosecutor Moreno-Ocampo files a request seeking authorisation from Pre- Trial Chamber II to open an investigation in relation to the crimes allegedly committed during the 2007-2008 post-election violence in Kenya.

31 March 2010- The three-member Pre-Trial Chamber II issues a majority decision that there is a reasonable basis to proceed with an investigation into the situation in Kenya in relation to crimes against humanity within the jurisdiction of the Court committed between 1 June 2005 and 26 November 2009.

15 December 2010- The ICC Prosecutor requests the issuance of “summonses to appear” for six individuals alleged to be responsible for the commission of crimes against humanity in the Kenya investigation: William Samoei Ruto, Henry Kiprono Kosgey and Joshua Arap Sang (case one) and Francis Kirimi Muthaura, Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta and Mohamed Hussein Ali (case two).

8 March 2011- Pre-Trial Chamber II issues the “summonses to appear” for the six individuals, as it finds reasonable grounds to believe that they committed the crimes alleged by the Prosecutor.

31 March 2011-The Kibaki government files an application challenging the ICC’s jurisdiction over the cases.

7 April 2011- The first three suspects (Ruto, Kosgey and Sang) make their initial appearance before the Court in The Hague.

8 April 2011- The second group of three suspects (Muthaura, Kenyatta and Ali) make their initial appearance.

1 September 2011-The hearing to confirm or reject the charges begins for the first three suspects (Ruto, Kosgey and Sang).

21 September 2011-The hearing to confirm or reject the charges begins for the second three suspects (Muthaura, Kenyatta and Ali).

23 January 2012- Charges against Henry Kosgei and Ali are dropped-shortly thereafter Kibaki directs AG to create a committee of experts to look into the decision of the ICC and advice his government accordingly.

11 March 2013-ICC officially drops all charges against Francis Muthaura who was accused alongside President Uhuru Kenyatta of crimes against humanity during the 2007-2008 post-election violence.

The decision came after the cases of Kenyatta and Muthaura were postponed because a key witness was discredited in Muthaura’s case and other witnesses refused to testify or have died.

Muthaura was accused of authorising police use of excessive force against protesters and of having protected youth militia members of the Party of National Unity of the election’s winner, President Mwai Kibaki. He also allegedly took part in meetings during which attacks were planned.

Fr Joachim Omolo Ouko, AJ
Tel +254 7350 14559/+254 722 623 578
E-mail omolo.ouko@gmail.com
Facebook-omolo beste
Twitter-@8000accomole

Real change must come from ordinary people who refuse to be taken hostage by the weapons of politicians in the face of inequality, racism and oppression, but march together towards a clear and unambiguous goal.

-Anne Montgomery, RSCJ UN Disarmament Conference, 2002

Kenya: Bizarre fires guts down huts in Siaya County

Leave a reply

From: Judy Miriga

We shall keep and eye and dedicate to follow-up till we find out who is behind this mess and bring him to face justice. To serve as a lesson, no one will ever play with peoples lives trying to fool the world. We all must demand that the area Leaders must come with better explanation and that the Governmetn must protect people. We must demand for urgent investigation and clear reporting on this incident.

Judy Miriga
Diaspora Spokesperson &
Executive Director for
Confederation Council Foundation for Africa
USA
http://socioeconomicforum50.blogspot.com
email: jbatec@yahoo.com

– – – – – – – – – – –

—– Forwarded Message —–
From: Clement Oginga
Sent: Saturday, September 14, 2013 2:57 PM
Subject: Bizarre fires guts down huts in Siaya County

Judy,

I can bet you that there’s some kind of conflict over land in that Usonga village. Some people want that land and this is their way of chasing these people out of it. I’ve seen a lot of these scenarios in the last few years. I know one village in our area where some people burned down all the houses in one night, then every time the villagers put up temporary structures for accommodation, they would come at night and burn those down too. Till the villagers got frustrated and moved away. then the harassers started farming the land.

On Sat, Sep 14, 2013 at 3:52 PM, Judy Miriga wrote:

Good People,

Be very afraid, be very afraid. There is no witch-craft dont be fooled.

This is organized and people of this area must be vigilant and watchful they will catch whoever is in this mission of putting houses on fire. The idea is to put fear and have people abandon their homes. It is definately engineered crime that people must unite to catch the Malevolent.

All manner of tricks to displace people is in the offing. People must put politicians on notice. Wake up people, wake up…….stop sleeping. Dont throw your hands in the air, all people must make positive moves if help must come their way………Do something before you are made homeless and are made completely weak to stand your ground and be able to protect your interest from marauding invaders.

How much do we know Museveni had a deal with corrupt politicians and stole public land from Kenya to include Migingo…….stand up and demand for your rights. Demand the Kenya Government to return Migingo now otherwise, the whole of Siaya was already sold illegally to Museveni.

Check it out and go for justice now. Unite and ask that the Government explain situation surrounding Migingo and also demand that Uganda flag be removed from Migingo now and not tomorrow. ……!!!!!!!!!!!!

The more you delay, the more land is going and people are sneakily under threat of conspiracy scattered and weakened to be able to fight injustices.

Act Now and dont sit back……………..!!!!!!!!!!

Judy Miriga
Diaspora Spokesperson
Executive Director
Confederation Council Foundation for Africa Inc.,
USA
http://socioeconomicforum50.blogspot.com

Bizarre fires guts down huts in Siaya County
Updated Saturday, September 14th 2013 at 17:41 GMT +3
BY LAWRENCE ALURU

Mysterious fires in Siaya County’s Nyandheho Village have left more than 13 families homeless.

The freakish fires has been reducing one house after another to ashes in the last two weeks, as the affected families wonder who is next.

The charred remains of some of their possessions – beddings, kitchen utensils, food and clothes – lay in the ruins. The remaining furniture that they managed to pull out of the fire was strewn across the nearby open field as they kept watch over it.

Women and children are now forced to spend the night under trees as the number continues increasing day by day.

Usonga Disaster Committee chairman Paul Okome said the bizarre fire has left the residents in shock and disbelief.

The chairman added that some of the displaced victims have been forced to seek refuge at relatives’ homes while others are putting up under trees in open fields as per the Luo tradition.

The tradition requires that a person whose home has been reduced by fire should not seek refuge in another house until and when rituals are performed to cleanse him or her.

Ms Quintoline Atieno, a widow and a mother of five, expressed pain after all her belongings including farm produce were burned to ashes.

Atieno and her father-in-law, Mr Dismas Odhiambo, are among the latest casualties, as their house was the latest to go up in flames.

“I was informed by my neighbour that my house was on fire. The rescuers were only able to salvage a bucket of water and two sufurias,” said a weeping Atieno.

Usonga Disaster Secretary Mrs Merceline Omollo also associated the bizarre fire to witchcraft.

“We don’t know where the fire is coming from because those perceived to be the key suspects were arrested and the cases of fire were on the rise. There is a special kind of bat that is causing the fire and I urge religious leaders to intervene on the matter,” she said.

While confirming the incident the area Assistant Chief of Nyadorera “A” Sub-location Mr Silvester Amouk also claimed that the fire spread as a result of witchcraft.

Kenya: The biggest shopping complex in Awendo Town is gutted by fire started from unknown source

2 Replies

Writes Leo Odera Omolo in Awendo Town

MIDIMO HOUSE the three store biggest business complex in Awendo Town was partly gutted by fire whose source has remained a mystery.

The fire started in the eastern wing of the multimillion shilling property which is standing magnificently and the tallest and the biggest building in this farming town at about 5.30 later in the afternoon. Traders and businessmen operating shop in the building ruled out the possibility of the fire having been ignited by electrical fault.

The said the incident took place on Monday at the time when the eastern area of the building had most of its power supplies disconnected a couple of week ago. They suspected foul play.

Traders operating in the building and the kiosk owners around put a brave fight in a concerted effort to put off the fire in a Town which has no fire fighting engine. However, the few goods that they were able to retrieve from the burning shops were looted by the onlookers and standby who turned thieves.

The building belonged to Dr. Simeon Owuor Odede, a local businessman-cum-farmer and a former chairman of the Board of Director of the Awendo based SonySugar Company.

Dr Odede, however, could not be reached to give the estimate of the loses incurred and a to how mn8ch money the repair work would cost, but viewing the building from outside, one could just make the guesswork that the loss caused is enormous.

At the same the traders operating shops inside the building were seen counting for their loses. Three shops located downstairs were the most affected,

Ends

Kenya: Sonko’s Sh25b compensation petition for Sinai fire victims

Leave a reply

By Joseph Mwangi

Makadara MP Mike Sonko has gone to court seeking for a Sh25b compensation for Sinai fire victims. In his petition drawn by Ondieki & Ondieki Advocates, the petition names respondents as Attorney General, Interim Independent Electoral Commission of Kenya, Nairobi City council, Kenya Pipeline Company and National Environmental Authority.

In the petition, Sonko asserts that the , the livelihoods of Makandara residents such as Fuata Nyayo, Mariguini, Mukuru Kaiyaba, Kisii village, Masai village, Shimo la Tewa village, Hazina village, Lunga lunga village, Donholm village and Sinai village have been destroyed by a series of fires.

Sonko avers that the fires destroyed the lives and livelihoods of several people, voters cards of the surviving victims, small businesses and enterprises of the residents, schools, health centers, social lifestyle, culture and artifacts and the economic life of the residents.

According to Sonko, the fire outbreaks were caused by the collective negligence of the respondents jointly and severally. He is now accusing the Nairobi City council for failing to construct roads, supply water and or any infrastructure making the area inaccessible.

Another respondent, the Kenya Pipeline Company has negligently and with reckless disregard to the welfare of the respects constructed an oil pipeline in the middle of a residential area and has put no fire fighting equipment in place oblivious of the danger it poses to the inhabitants of this settlements an indication that commercial interests have been exhorted above life of persons contrary to article 26.

On their part, the National Environmental Authority has failed to execute its statutory mandate to enforce sustainable environmental policies exposing the residents of Makandara to great danger, risk and hazard.

The petition also claims that the Interim Independent Electoral Commission has also failed to carry out a special registration of voters to ensure that Makandara residents who have fallen victims of such fire tragedies replace their voter’s cards.

Sonko avers that any possibility of a by election In the constituency can be a great inconvenience to the residents since majority have lost some vital documents among them voters cards in the many fire tragedies and they wont be able to exercise their democratic right of choosing a person of their choice in any election before 2012. He now wonders whether the IIEC should wait until the next voter registration exercise to register those residents who have lost their voters cards and other documents in the series of fires that have occurred in the area

The City council of Nairobi has not issued the victims of Sinai fire tragedy, Mukuru fire tragedy and Kaiyaba tragedies to list but a few with voters cards yet they are expected to participate in any voting process that comes their way. This is unreasonable, undemocratic and in contravention with articles 24, 27, 28, and 38 of the constitution.

It is against the above factors that Sonko is now demanding that the High Court issues an injunction do issue restraining the respondents jointly and severally or their agents, servants or howsoever from evicting the slum dwellers until they are either compensated and/or allocated alternative settlements.

He also wants a declaration that a forceful eviction of slum dwellers in Makadara constituency will destroy livelihoods degrade the environment and impact on the eco-system and a declaration that slum dwellers are entitled to Judicial review within the meaning of article 47 (2) of the constitution before they can be evicted and a further declaration that forceful evictions of slum dwellers in Makadara constituency are inhuman and degrading within the meaning of article 25 (a) 29 (f) of the constitution.

Other judicial interpretation sought in the suit includes a declaration that forceful eviction of slum dwellers in Makadara constituency is tantamount to condemning the poor just because they are poor and this offends article 27 (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) of the constitution and a declaration that failure by the respondents to provide basic infrastructure like electricity, water and shopping molls has exposed Makadara residents to insecurity where life is short nasty and brutish.

He also wants a declaration that the slum dwellers in Makadara constituency having stayed continuously in the suit premises for over 50 years have acquired prescriptive rights

Tanzania: Explosions at the Tanzanian Military ammunition depot caused big loses to airlines

1 Reply

News Analysis By Leo Odera Omolo.

DETAILS of information emerging from the Tanzanian capital, Dar Es Salaam say several international airlines may be headed for more than millions in suspension related losses as series of explosions two weeks ago triggered flight cancellation following the closure of Julius Nyerere International Airport.

The government is reported to have already launched investigations into the series of explosions at the Tanzania People’s Defense Forces {UPDF} ammunition depot sin Dar Es Salaam that forced international airlines to cancel all flights to Tanzania.

The Supreme Security Council the country’s top military security organ under the Commander-In-Chief was reported last week to have held an emergency security meeting in the capital and deliberated on the issue.

Tanzania has also tightened security along its borders with the neighboring countries on the land and on its Indian Ocean coastline.

The 22 ammunition depots in the army Gondo La Mboto military camp caused the death of at least 30 people, with many more left injured.

Planes belonging to Swissair, Egypt Airlines, South African Airways, Precision Air Services, and Fly540 were among those grounded at the international airport pending further information from the military as City’s sky was lit up by flying debris and missiles.

All the incoming flights were being diverted, either to Nairobi, Mombasa, Kilimanjaro International Airport in Arusha, or to Zanzibar airport, during the night hours as explosion rocked the city near the international airport.

Debris showered parts of the city up to 15 kilometers from the Gongo La Mboto military bases, which is located in the outskirt of Dar Es Salaam. It was the second such military accident in recent times, after another explosion at Mbagala Military base in 2009 in which 20 people including four military officers lost their lives.

A Turkey Airlines and Precision Air flights were last week diverted to Nairobi whereas a KLM was sent to Kilimanjaro Airport in Arusha. A plane belonging to Comair flight, a subsidiary of the British Airways flying in from South Africa was forced to return to South Africa, Ethiopia Airline and Qatar Airlines cancelled all the flights to Tanzania pending safety assurances from the Tanzanian government.

The TPDF’s Chief of the General Staff Lt. Gen Abdulrahaman Shimba was quoted as saying that that the army had yet to establish the root cause of the explosions, adding that the authorities have started investigations into the cause of the explosion and the extent of it caused o the army and to the public.

The ammunition depot explosions, started on Wednesday evening in a series of blasts which leveled homes and destroyed many properties.

The Prime Minister Mizengo Pindo went on the air and said that several homes and a school were leveled. He added that at least 4,000 people have been rendered homeless and were still sheltering at the Uhuru National Stadium.

Army ammunition depots explosion have occurred in the past in the United Kingdom, Russia, Brazil, Nigeria and Pakistan.

According to military experts, the causes of such accidents include design faults, poor storage control, movement of ammunition, equipment failures, in-service deterioration, errors in building and errors in drill.

In 2002 an accident at ammunition depot at the Ekeja military base caused series of explosions, sending fireballs into the sky over Nigeria’s commercial capital. Lagos. The blast rocked the outskirts of the northern port city and shattering windows in buildings several kilometers away and caused a lot of panic.

In 2009 at least eight people were killed in an explosion at the arsenal 31 ammunition depot on the outskirt of Ulyanovost, 900 km south of Moscow, Russian.

Ends

Kenya: Trouble is brewing at Awendo based SONYSUGAR company; several acres of cane goes up in smoke

Reports Leo Odera Omolo In Awendo Town.

Trouble is brewing in the Awendo-based SONYSUGAR following the firm’s refusal; to implement Trouble is brewing in the Awendo-based SONYSUGAR company over the firm’s refusal to implement the new cane price of from Kshs 2885 per ton to Kshs 3185 per ton as it was agreed last year by the price committee of the Kenya Sugar Board.

After the end of the rowdy meeting held at the green Stadium, Awendo, unknown people, suspected to be the striking cane cutters, set ablaze part of the nucleus estate destroying hundred of acres of mature sand still to mature cane plants

On Saturday, the cane hundreds of cane cutters who had joined the farmers also in demand that their wages be increased on line along with the cane prices staged a peaceful demonstration in Awendo town and its environ, but the management summoned the police to disperse them. Thereafter the cane cutter went on cane burning rampaged and close to 50 acres of mature and premature plant cane were torched.

Experts estimated the burnt cane to be worth over Kshs 30 millions. The farmers had also resolved in one of their numerous hard-hitting resolution that the SONYSUGAR managing director Mr Paul O. Odola be sacked with immediate effect as he has failed to offer effic9ient management of the facility.

By Sunday morning several cane farm blocks were still shouldering on fire. The management team had organized hundreds of workers who were seen battling to put off the raging fire. The chain cutter had vowed to paralyze the operations of SONYSUGAR until their grievances are attended to and addressed adequately.

The farmers accused the MD of being excessively arrogant and managing the facility like a white collar job, and yet this is farming facilities, which need its manager’s to be mobile and cultivating good rapport with the sugar cane farmers.

The new prices should have been affected from September last year, but SONYSIGUAR has flatly refused to implement the new prices as was agreed by both parties and the Kenya Sugar Board. Other sugar millers have already affected the new prices.

On Friday an attempt was made by the SONYSUGAR management to prevent hundreds of cane farmers and can cutters free access to the company Green Stadium for a public Baraza failed and the farmer forced their way into the facility by breaking the Stadium gates.

The company had posted a team of its security personnel armed with fierce dogs who had ringed the stadium, but they were overpowered by the waves of enraged farmers, forcing some of the guards to flee for their dear life as the situation turned chaotic add life threatening.

The management had posted the security personnel using fierce dogs to stop the farmers meeting. The meeting was called by the SONYSUGAR farmers’ zonal director Mr Zachary Okoth Obado. He was accompanied by KSB directors fro other factories who included Eng. Muhama Mukhwana [Mumias],Iweyi Mwambe [West Kenya], Nicholas Oricho {Chemelil,Kibos and Miwani zone],and KSB Treasurer Mr. Humprey Muyu and other leaders. Also in attendance was the chairman of Awendo Town Council Con.Johnson Omol Owiro and other local leaders

Obado told the meeting that the new price of raw cane per ton is not negotiable and that SONYSUGAR must be compelled to pay the correct prices of cane owing to the increased cost of production and maintenance of plant cane farms and other inputs.

Other complaints are that the MD does not relate well with the cane farmers. He sits in the office and he is inaccessible to the farmers. The KSB board members have also questioned the more and criteria in which the current SONYSUGAR MD’s contract was renewed by the government after the board had called for his immediate removal after the board had established that he is a non-performer.

Obado said that SONYSUGAR owed the cane farmers colossal amount of money to the tune of Kshs 250 million it owed them in arrears ever since July last year when the Pricing Committee, which is a national institution had recommended that the row cane prices be adjusted from Kshs 2885 to Kshs 3185 per ton.

But a spokesman of the company vehemently denied that the management had locked out the farmers from having public meeting at its facility. The organizers of the meeting had failed not consult the company that they intend to use the facility, which is currently under going renovation. Again those who gathered at the facilities were not genuine farmers but a bunch of thugs and highly alcohol intoxicated cane cutters who had their own hidden malice towards the company.

The spokesman claimed that Obado who has been sleeping on the jobs is facing election next March and perhaps wanted to use the current crisis which are merely artificial for the purpose of gaining popularity with the farmers. He is using the KSB vehicle in running around mobilizing thugs to embarrass the management.

The spokesman made it clear that SONYSUGAR is in the process of lodging complaints with the police against the KDB board chairman Mr Obado following the destruction of its property.

But Obado countered this by saying that he has repeatedly approached the MD advising him not to sit in the office, but to come out and conductdiualo9oguewith the farmers as the only way to have issues solved amicably, but the MD is adamant and preferred doing clerical work in the office instead of talking to the farmers.

A prominent farmer and a Nairobi based businessman Mr John Boby Awiti Otange, the whistle blower urged the government to overhaul the management of SONYSUGAR by sacking its current MD whom he accused of poor performance. Unless the government mover must faster the facility could close down within the next few months.

This is not the time for dictatorial tendencies, therefore anybody who cannot perform his duties well has no business sitting in the company office” Such managers should pack and go. It shameful that the management had deployed the services of fierce dogs against the farmers who0is virtually their employers at the facility.

Ends

leooderaomolo@yahoo.com

Uganda: Buganda is demanding rent arears of Ushs 20 billion on Kisubi Tombs

Leave a reply

BUGANDA DEMANDS RENT ARREARS OF USHS 20 BILLION AS THE WORK ON DAMAGED KISUBI TOMBS GOES ON.
REPORTS Leo odera Omolo.

Buganda kingdom has urged the Uganda government to pay up rent arrears amounting to sh20b to enable them to reconstruct Kasubi tombs.

Mengo officials made the demands yesterday morning as the kingdom opened talks with the Central Government on the reconstruction of the burnt royal tombs.

The Buganda deputy information minister, Medard Lubega Seggona, welcomed the government’s gesture of sympathy, saying the closed door meeting had helped the two parties to work out areas of cooperation. “We are happy they have joined us in grief. They pledged to work with us and we agreed to work with them under an agreed framework,” he said.

He, however, added that the kingdom does not want to rely on handouts when the Government owes them money. “It is true we need money for rebuilding the tombs, but at the moment we are concentrating on the mourning exercise,” Seggona stated. “From the financial angle, we have reminded Government of how much they owe us. We don’t want to depend on handouts. While we are broke, we are not helpless because there is someone who owes us money in the range of sh20b. With that we can rebuild the tombs,” Seggona pointed out.

The buildings for which Mengo is demanding rent arrears include Kigo prisons, Mengo court, various district buildings and sub-county headquarters. Recently, the Kabaka sued for compensation and the Government said it should be given time to look for alternative sites.

The Third Deputy Prime Minister, Alhaji Kirunda Kivejinja, led the cabinet sub-committee on the tragedy to Mengo for the closed meeting. The Government delegation had among others; Internal affairs minister Kirunda Kivejinja, finance minister Syda Bbumba, Attorney General Khiddu Makubuya and the Inspector General of Police, Maj. Gen. Kale Kayihura.

Kivejinja described the one-hour meeting as fruitful. “Our mission was to bring sympathy from the Government and show solidarity with Mengo over the burning of the Kasubi royal tombs,” Kivejinja told the media. “The tragedy was not only for Buganda but Uganda and the world.”

The Katikkiro, Eng. J.B Walusimbi, led the Buganda team that included Seggona, deputy Katikkiro Emmanuel Sendawula, Buganda Attorney General Apollo Makubuya, Tony Kiyimba Kaggwa, Kaddu Kiberu, Jolly Lutaaya, Ambassador William Matovu and Ambassador William Naggagga.

Buganda demanded for an independent commission of inquiry into the fire and the shooting shortly before President Yoweri Museveni visited the burnt tombs. Three people died of bullet wounds in the wake of shooting by Presidential Guard Brigade soldiers and the military police.

Seggona said the reconstruction of the world heritage site would be phased.

The government minister of Culture, Gabriel Opio said the security of cultural and heritage sites in the country will be beefed up and not left to traditional guards only.

Ends

Uganda: UPC opposition leader Dr.Otunnu stoned at the Kiusubi tombs site by Bagandas

1 Reply

UPC LEADER, DR.OLARA OTUNNU STONED BY ANGRY BAGANDA AS HE LEAVES THE TORCHED BURIAL SITE OF KUSUBI TOMBS.

report Leo Odera Omolo

ANGRY Buganda loyalists yesterday pelted Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) president Olara Otunnu with stones, before chasing him away from the burnt Kasubi tombs.

Otunnu was leading a team of party officials on a tour of the world famous tombs, which were burnt to ashes on Monday night.

A group of people calling themselves The Ganda Group, accused the officials of politicking around the grave of Sir Edward Muteesa whose death, they said, was caused by the UPC government.

Former UPC leader, Apolo Obote in 1966 ordered the then army commander, Idi Amin, to attack Muteesa’s palace at Lubiri-Mengo, forcing the monarch to flee into exile in the UK. Obote was the executive prime minister.

Many of Muteesa’s loyalists were killed in the raid, while Muteesa died in exile in 1969.

Otunnu, who won the UPC presidency recently, and is slated to compete for the presidency next year, arrived at the tombs quietly at 10:00am. After the tour, he tried to address journalists in English, but the crowd protested. Some demanded that he speaks in the local language of Luganda and sings the Buganda anthem. Otunnu failed both tests. In response, the irate crowd drove him out of the royal site.

Otunnu, accompanied by party secretary general Chris Opoka, chairman Yonah Kanyomozi and vice-president Badru Wegulo, tried in vain to convince the mob to listen to him. A man only identified as Wasswa said Otunnu’s presence brought memories of the 1966 crisis. An elderly man from Kayunga district, Abbas Ssebaggala, said Otunnu’s visit was unwanted because the party continues to deny responsibility for the 1966 crisis.

The embittered youth hurled stones and insults at Otunnu’s team for about five minutes, shattering the windscreen of his vehicle.
No Mengo official was present. However, some sympathisers pleaded with the crowd and calmed the situation. This gave Otunnu the chance to flee.

His first stop was Mengo, the seat of the Buganda kingdom, where he sought to meet Katikkiro JB Walusimbi.

Speaking to journalists, Otunnu condemned the fire which he described as a brutal act. He said the tombs were both a national and global heritage and that the entire country had suffered a loss.

The “heartless attackers”, he said, must be brought to book for such an “insult on traditional African values”.

Otunnu said he would support the reconstruction of the structure.
His press secretary, Robert Kanuusu, said the UPC leader’s visit to Kasubi and Mengo was the beginning of his attempts to reconcile the party and Buganda.?Asked for a comment, Buganda minister for research David Mpanga advised politicians not to try to make “political mileage” from the tragedy.

“This is not time for politicking,” Mpanga commented.

FDC leader Col. Kizza Besigye and DP president Norbert Mao visited the tombs on Wednesday.

In a statement yesterday, Mao said the fire had destroyed a “treasure”.

“We join the kingdom of Buganda in lamenting and condemning the fire and those capricious and malevolent characters who planned and executed this criminal and ignominious act,” he said.

Mao called for a “special fund” to preserve cultural sites.?
Hundreds of Buganda loyalists yesterday continued to trek to the tombs bringing with them building materials.

State minister for culture Gabriel Opio yesterday said the Government was waiting for Mengo to draw up “a bills of quantities” before it can announce its contribution.

“The facts and extent of damage are not known. We are in touch with Mengo,” Opio said.
He described Kisubi tombs as ” a masterpiece of human creativity both in construction and execution.

Ends

Uganda: Museveni orders for a full scale inquiry over the Buganda kings tombs fire incident

Leave a reply

PRESIDENT MUSEVENI ORDERS FULL SCALE INQUIRY INTO THE FIRE THAT TORCHED THE PRE-HISTORICAL BURIAL SITE OF FORMER BAGANDA KABAKAS {KINGS}

Writes Leo Odera Omolo

PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni has ordered for an immediate probe into the burning of the Buganda royal tombs. He pledged that the Government would support the kingdom to reconstruct the world-famous monument.?

“We are sorry for what happened and we mourn together with Buganda Kingdom in this matter, but we are going to investigate the cause to find out whether it was intended”, Museveni said after inspecting the ruins yesterday morning.

“It is unfortunate that most of the valuables were burnt,” he added.

Museveni arrived amid tight security by the PGB that included his son, Lt. Col. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the military and anti-riot Police. Museveni was received by the Buganda minister for protocol and cabinet affairs, Kabuuza Mukasa.

The President demanded to know who had blocked the Police fire trucks from accessing the site to extinguish the fire at a critical moment.

At the site, Police chief Maj. Gen. Kale Kayihura and the in-charge of the tombs, Princess Beatrice Namikka, briefed him about the incident.

A female caretaker told the President that at 8:00pm, as she walked out of the Muzibu-Azaala-Mpanga, she saw the right hand side of the mausoleum on fire and made an alarm.

“I shouted and called out the ladies who were still inside to dash out, because flames were spreading fast,” she told the President.

She said they tried to use a hand fire extinguisher, but failed and resorted to using jerrycans and basins filled with water, but they could not contain the fire. She sounded an alarm that attracted neighbours. However, she ruled out power circuit, and said the fire must have been started by an arsonist.

In reaction, Museveni said: “I am suspicious, but I don’t know whether it was a deliberate act or an accident”.
He regretted that the milling crowds ofpeopole had already iunterfered with the scene of crime and it was no longer easy to ascertain if it is a case of arson or an accident.

Ends

UGANDA: GUN-FIRE RENTS THE AIR AS ENRAGED BAGANDA LOYALISTS TRY TO STOP MUSEVENI FROM VISITING THE BURNED TOMBS OF KABAKAS {KINGS}

Leave a reply

Writes Leo Odera Omolo

Gunfire rocked Kasubi royal burial grounds as security personnel fired to clear the way for President Yoweri Museveni to inspect the Royal tombs yesterday, following a fire that destroyed the complex, reducing it to rubbles.

Two people shot during the incident died later at Mulago Hospital, and five others were still in critical condition, after the Military Police and the Presidential Guard Brigade (PGB) battled rowdy crowds that had blocked the route to this world heritage site at Kasubi.

According to sources at Mulago, the dead were both young men, and both died from bullet wounds.

Those admitted in critical condition were Ishmael Bugembe, Abdallahtif Ssentamu and Patrick Mwanje. All had bullet wounds. Others admitted with bullet wounds were Simon Birungi, 33, and Kaloli Sserwadda, 32, a resident of Namungoona.

The Media Centre executive director, Fred Opolot, said in a statement that three fire fighters were injured and are also admitted at Mulago. Opolot said windscreens of eight vehicles were shattered.

The Tuesday night fire, whose cause is not yet known, burnt the royal tombs, the final resting place of Buganda kingdom’s royalty. Security sources said it was not clear who or how the fire started. The tombs, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, were built in 1882.

Baganda loyalists converged at the tombs in the wee hours of yesterday and started cleaning up the site. The youth, the elderly, women and school children cleared the debris at the hitherto key national tourist site.

Several ornaments, medals, royal gifts and artifacts were destroyed in the inferno. Announcements were made on megaphone for workers to surrender any valuables they picked up.

Lorries carried tanks of water to wash away the cinders and put out smouldering planks of timber. Several people began erecting the lubiri (traditional fence) using reeds brought in by loyal subjects.

The mood was sombre. Women wept, men sobbed, while the youth vented their anger through violent protests. Students were equally astounded by the level of destruction.

As a sign of mourning, Buganda’s blue-and-white flag flew at half-mast and a fireplace was stocked at the burnt-out entrance to the main tomb-house, Muzibu-Azaala-Mpanga.

Some Baganda wore bark cloth. Angry youth sneered at anybody who looked on with indifference. They barred those donning jackets or carrying guns from the royal site. At around 10:00am, word filtered through that Museveni would visit the site.

Thirty minutes later, Presidential Guard Brigade soldiers arrived and asked the adamant youth to remove a lorry and barricades at the entrance to the tombs but they refused. Sporadic gunfire then filled the air. People scampered to safety but quickly regrouped and took cover in the compound.

Prince David Wasajja, who was seated with several princesses, had to take cover. He was constantly on the phone. When the shooting intensified, soldiers demanded that the crowd clears, but many were adamant. The soldiers then started whipping anyone reluctant to leave, including those lying on the ground. During the melee, Prince Wasajja, surrounded by a small group, left through the fence.

Four of Buganda’s kings; Muteesa I, Mwanga Basammula, Daudi Chwa and Sir Edward Muteesa II are buried at the Kasubi tombs. Muteesa II is the father of the reigning king, Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II.

The Kabaka, who arrived at 1:45pm with the Nabagereka, Sylivia Nagginda, plus his children, Prince Jjunju and Princess Sangalyambogo, inspected the tombs. Prince Wasajja, Katikkiro JB Walusimbi, Buganda ministers and a large crowd received him.

On viewing the devastation, the king drew a white handkerchief to wipe away tears. The king’s public grief triggered off wails from people standing near him. He spent a few minutes, standing motionless at the main entrance to the tombs, in which his father, Muteesa and grandfathers are buried.

He did not address his subjects, but waved at them. He also inspected other houses in the complex and greeted the resident princesses. The Kabaka left after about 30 minutes. His convoy was swarmed by a large crowd which walked along from Kasubi to Nakulabye. At Sir Apollo Kaggwa junction, the Police blocked the chanting loyalists from further escorting Mutebi.

Meanwhile, some politicians, who were deemed pro-government got hostile reception from crowds at the tombs.

Lubaga division chairman, Peter Ssematimba, who came in a yellow T-shirt, was harassed and his spectacles broken in the process. The tombs are in Rubaga division and yellow is the ruling NRM party colour.

Maama Fiina, a traditional healer, was beaten up by youth.

The NRM, Chairman Moses Kigongo, however, was allowed free access to the four burial sites.

Ends