Category Archives: Uganda

Gadhafi-Museveni clash at the next AU meeting in Kampala is inevitable

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GADHAFI MUSEVENI ROW OVER CULTURAL LEADERS AND TRADITIONAL RULERS AND THE PROPOSED UNITED STATES OF AFRICA LIKELY TO INTENSIFY AS AU MEETING IN KAMPALA .

News Analysis By Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City.

The love-hate relationship between Presidents Maumor El-Gadhafi and Yoweri Museveni of Uganda is blossoming once again with Kampala-which hosts the upcoming Africa Union Summit warning Libyan strongman not to invite cultural leaders and traditional African rulers at the next meeting.

At the forthcoming AU meeting scheduled for July, a hot debate is expected to centre on how the AU Commission will become an authority with executive powers and act independently.

President Gadhafi, also known as the “King of Kings”, has been mobilizing cultural leaders and traditional rulers to campaign for his vision of an immediate African government, a position Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has openly rejected.

President Museveni is known to be a strong proponent of a “gradual consolidation of regional economic communities into a continental government”.

Uganda’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Sam Kutesa was quoted this week as saying, “We shall not accept Gadhafi to bring traditional rulers and cultural leaders to the AU Summit. They can play their cultural role but should desist from participating in national and international politics”.

There are now widespread fears in Kampala that President Gadhafi could bring his cultural allies to drum up support, especially since he invited about 100 cultural leaders from around Africa to attend the Toro King Oyo Nyimba’s coronation ceremony in Uganda last weekend.

Gadshafi wants the immediate formation of the United States of Africa, and since the findings for establishment of an AU Authority with wider mandate, compared with the present Commission, will be tabled at the forthcoming AU Summit, different camps are expected to voice their stand on the matter.

“We have not changed our position on how the African Union government should be formed. It should take a progressive step,” Kutesa told the EASTAFRICAN last week.

He added; “Kampala still believes its position for the gradual formation of the African Union government is the best approach and does not want any doubt cast on it.”

At the forthcoming AU Summit, findings of a team of legal experts will be tabled to guide the transformation of the Commission into an Authority, giving the body executive powers to make decisions.

About 3,000 delegates are expected at the 15th Ordinary Session of the Heads of State and Government that runs from July 19 to 27 in Kampala. The theme of the Summit is “Material, Infant and Child Health and Development in Africa”, but the Summit will also discuss peace and security, infrastructure, energy, Agriculture and food security.

Under the new arrangement, governments will still retrain their sovereignty although a president and vice president will head the Authority, and the Commission will have secretaries charged with portfolios.

A week ago, the AU Commissioner for Peace and Security, Remitane Lamamra, said while in Tripoli, Libya, that the transformation of the AU into Commission would be a turning point in driving the process of political integration and economic development in Africa. From other quarters, sources say, the Gadhafi blue print is meeting stiff opposition from moderate African states, especially those in the Anglophone countries.

Many argue that the time is not ripe for such undertakings. This is also the same position with the proposed Federation of East and Central African states under the auspice of the East African Community. The proponents of the federation have been told to go slow over the issue.

Lamamra disclosed that consultants had prepared 11 motions to be amended, supplemented or elaborated on to guide the Authority.

“Presently, the Commission is more of a co-coordinating mechanism. We are creating an institution with a mandate, which will move us towards the goal of the union government”, said Rosette Nyirinkindi, the head of the AU department.

Insiders say, this is not the first time the Kampala regime feel uncomfortable with President Gadhafi’s hobnobbing around with cultural leaders to influence African affairs.

In 2009 the Ugandan government blocked a meeting of 200 kings, princes,sultans,sheikhs and traditional leaders that had been sponsored by the Libyan government to be held in Kampala.

In February 2009 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, presidents Gadhafi and Museveni openly clashed over the direction of the formation of a single government for all African states should take.

In November the same year, at the UN General Assembly Summit held in New York on climate change, the two leaders agreed to exclude cultural leaders from politics.

Last year, President Museveni accused the Libyan President of trying to destabilize his government using cultural leaders, because the former had at the 2007 AU Summit in Accra, Ghana refused to support Gadhafi in his bid to become the first president of a United States of Africa.

Early this year, without consultation with the governments, Gadhafi secretly invited cultural leaders to Tripoli where they were lavishly entertained, given tokens of handouts in cash, materials such as motor vehicles, tractors and money. They include those from Kenya and other countries in the continent invited at a different times. And two weeks ago, Gadhafi sent his representative during the installation of the new King of Wanga in Western Province of Kenya, a dormant tribal kingdom, which ceased to exist about 36 six years ago, when the last Monarch Nabongo died. Gadhafi sent his representative with gifts of Television sets, laptops and cash.

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leooderaomolo@yahyoo.com

Kenya and Uganda: Ugandan government has refuted Kenya Foreign Minister Wetangula’s story on Migingo

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City.

Kenya’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Moses Wetangula, last week treated his countrymen to one of the worse hoaxes ever witnessed in the recent past.

The Minister on Wednesday last week made an impromptu announcement while speaking in the Western Kenya Town of Kakamega to the effect that the dispute between Kenya and Uganda over the tiny and rocky one acre fishing Migingo Island has been resolved amicably.

The announcement caused the over 2000 Kenyan fishermen, fish traders and kiosk owners there, to go into ecstasy of beer drinking sprees, dances, and all sort of celebrations.

As all the celebration was going for the whole day and night, the more than 30 Uganda marine police men posted to the island to provide security, and an official from the Uganda Revenue Authority, watched in disbelief.

On Friday last week, the first reaction of the Ugandan government left Kenyan fishermen and residents of the island not only puzzled but in a state of shock.

Kampala for the first time reacted to Minister Wetangula’s premature announcement and made it publicly clear that there was no such agreement.

The Permanent Secretary in the Ugandan Foreign Affairs Ministry, James Mugume, asserted that perhaps the Kenyan Minister was misquoted by the local media. He told the government owned NEWVISION that the report attributed to Minister Wetangula is misleading because only last week Kenya’s Prime Minister Raila visited Uganda, and had a lengthy discussion with President Museveni over wide ranging important issues affecting the two neighboring countries.

During the visit the Ugandan authorities agree with Kenya that the survey to determine the boundaries and ownership of Migingo Island must be re-done.

“The two governments had agreed that the survey must be re-done, starting at River Sio to Llemba Islands, and going all the way to the Pyramid islands’, Mugume said. He added that the Ugandans are still waiting for their counterparts in Kenya to agree when the re-survey work would commence.

The PS said the Minister could have been misquoted by the Kenyan media. “There are many islands in Lake Victoria and quite often journalists misquote leaders when they talk of an island other than Migingo,” he said, adding that President Museven himself was once misquoted when he was talking about another island not Migingo.

Mugume’s statement was the first reaction from a senior Ugandan government official ever since Minister Wetangula made the announcement last week.

A dispute flared up in February last year when Kenyan fishermen operating in Migingo Island were kicked out by the Ugandan security personnel. URA kicked them out after refusing to pay annual fees or taxes each for their operations in what was then deemed as Ugandan territorial waters. The Ugandan Revenue authorities were asking for Kshs 50,000 for each boat owners per annum. Close to 400 Kenyan was expelled. The few Kenyan policemen stationed on the Island were disarmed and taken into custody by their Ugandan counterparts for the best part of the day, but were later released and expelled from the island. Ugandan authorities hosted their national flag on the island virtually taking over its administration control.

Kenyan authorities protested and sent several high level ministerial delegations to Kampala in vain attempts to have the matter resolved diplomatically. It was deemed as threatening to the East African integration under the auspice of the East African Community {EAC}.

Ugandan authorities proposed that the matter be resolved by a survey, using the boundaries set by the Kenya Colony and Protectorate in 1927. The two countries agree on a budget of Kshs 140 million to be shared equally for the survey work. It was later agreed that the fishermen from both sides of the disputed boundaries be allowed to continue conducting business until the boundary issue was resolved by the joint team of surveyor from both countries.

It was further agreed that Uganda withdrew 48 marine police officers it had deployed and stationed on the Island. It was further agreed that the Ugandan national flag be pulled down while the exercise of survey work is going on.

Presidents Mwai Kibaki and President Yoweri Museveni agree that the matter be resolved amicably and peacefully.

Wetangula statement came in the wake of a claim made by a British researcher John Donaldson of the UK based Boundaries Research Unit, which made it quite clear that Migingo is in Kenya.

Ugandan security personnel, previously numbering about 22, but who have of late been beefed up to 32. They remained non-committal, saying they were not about to leave unless they received order and instructions from their superiors in Kampala.

The Friday news came after an incident in which two Kenyan fishermen were thrown into the lake by their Ugandan counterparts for unclear reasons raising tensions on the island.

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leooderaoimolo@yahoo.com

UGANDA: BEHIND THE SCENE AT THE OPPOSITION FDC PARTY DELEGATES CONFERENCE.

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo

FORUM for Democratic Change (FDC) on Thursday re-affirmed that they want Rtd. Col. Kizza Besigye to tussle it out once again with President Yoweri Museveni in the 2011 elections, about 10 months from now.

Norbert Mao shakes hands with Besigye

DP president Norbert Mao shakes hands with Besigye at the conference

Out of 937 registered voters for the national delegates’ conference, 845 (84%) voted for Besigye, while a paltry 115 (16%) voted for Muntu.

Nomination drama

A total of five candidates had initially picked nomination forms for the party’s flag-bearer but only two candidates managed to traverse the country for the post.

Originally, Kizza Besigye, Mugisha Muntu, Francis Atugonza, Mukalazi Kibuuka and Buga Meya showed up for the post.

However, Kibuuka was delayed by his bankers and could not turn in the sh2.5m nomination fee, according to Dan Mugarura, the party’s electoral commission chairman.

Buga Meya missed a bus from Arua and by the time he arrived in Kampala, nominations were closed.

Atugonza stepped down for Besigye, leaving the competition between the two former army chiefs.

But some delegates doubt whether the others were serious contenders and suspect that their role was to give the process a semblance of wider competition.

Delegates also wondered whether the alleged stepping down of Atugonza for Besigye was not a calculated move to tilt the ground in Besigye’s favour.

Forged delegates ’ cards

At least eight people who were peddling forged delegates cards, were arrested.

There were also allegations of attempts to rig the elections.

This prompted party chairman Sam Njuba to appeal to the delegates to listen to their conscience and not accept to be derailed. “There have been allegations of bribery and rumour mongering, but you should know that some of us left the Movement because of these,” he said.

Besigye , Muntu tussle it out

The delegates witnessed a rather rare opportunity when the two political heavyweights held a 30-minute final leg to win the favour of the delegates.

A coin was tossed, giving Besigye a chance to address the delegates first. From an observer’s view point, one could tell that the majority of the delegates supported Besigye because he received a louder applause. In his address, Besigye dwelt more on his previous performance and what he has done to bring FDC to the limelight.

Muntu repeatedly told the delegates that even if he did not become the party’s flag-bearer, he would rally behind Besigye in promoting the ideals of the party. This left his supporters confused, most of whom were weary of his soft, non-combative approach.

MPs Kamya , Onzima expulsion

At the peak of the event, when everyone was waiting for the winner, the FDC secretary general, MP Alice Alaso, officially announced the dismissal of MPs Beti Kamya and Alex Onzima from the party.

The party’s national executive committee, she announced, had passed a resolution to expel them from FDC but left the final decision in the hands of the delegates’ conference.

The two failed to turn up last week when they were summoned by the party disciplinary committee.

The party national chairman, MP Sam Njuba, asked the delegates to decide whether to expel them, to which the entire house consented. “Since the delegates have responded overwhelmingly, I have no power to reverse the decision,” Njuba said. “The two MPs, Beti Kamya and Alex Onzima, are no longer members of FDC,” Kamya is accused of forming her own political party, the Uganda Federal Alliance (UFA), under which she said she would contest for the presidency in 2011.

Onzima is accused of speaking ill of FDC while courting President Museveni in West Nile.

Inter-Party dialogue The delegates’ conference also adopted the Inter-Party Organization Dialogue that brings together all political parties.

Since the signing of the memorandum of understanding between the opposition and the ruling party, the six political parties have held a series of meetings discussing the electoral law reforms and the Presidential Elections Amendment Bill. The parties involved are the ruling NRM, the Conservative Party (CP), the Democratic Party (DP), FDC, JEEMA and the Uganda Peoples’ Congress (UPC).

FDC is also a member of the opposition coalition, the Inter-Party Cooperation (IPC), which has agreed to field a joint opposition candidate.

The party flag-bearers still have a challenge to tussle it out with other opposition candidates in the IPC coalition. The DP, which has in the past expressed skepticism about the coalition, has indicated that they might still join the group.

Observers at Thursday’s conference also attributed Besigye’s victory to his a strong advocacy for the coalition.

This was boosted by the presence of the other opposition party leaders, Norbert Mao (DP), Olara Otunnu (UPC), John Ken Lukyamuzi (CP) and Kibirige Mayanja (JEEMA).

Latigo ’s surprise

Shortly after Muntu concluded his address, the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, Ogenga Latigo, walked in, spurring more applause.

Latigo had been recovering from an accident. “I am happy Besigye has become the party flag-bearer because he is the solid candidate for 2011. When Muntu’s time comes, we shall give him what he deserves,” Latigo said. “If all elections in Uganda were like this, voters would cast their votes and report peacefully to work after a free, open and transparent election.”

In conclusion the delegates’ conference was a turning point for the party. It acted as the end of the first party president and gave him another chance to try his his luck against Museveni

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Uganda: Opposition leader questioned by police over his remarks about the alleged sale of Lake Kyoga to S.Africa

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Reports Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City

FORUM for Democratic Change (FDC) leader Col Kizza Besigye, in a surprise move, yesterday presented himself to the CID headquarters in Kibuli Kampala. He was interrogated by senior detectives for about four hours for allegedly saying the Government has sold Lake Kyoga to South Africans.

In Arua district, Besigye reportedly urged his supporters to break the thumbs of the ruling NRM party supporters if they flash their thumbs-up symbol publicly. Trhe NEWVISION reported today

Besigye, who a day earlier, had snubbed the Police summons, arrived at 10:25am in his Toyota Prado, accompanied by lawyer Yusuf Nsibambi. He was not done until 1:25pm.

Two other lawyers, David Mpanga and Ernest Kalibala, arrived earlier and were present as Besigye answered questions from the investigators.

The opposition leader is accused of making the “inflammatory” allegations at political rallies in the districts of Amolatar, Arua and Mpigi.

Top FDC party official such as Salaamu Musumba, Alice Alaso and Dr. Francis Epetait,were present during the interrogation.

Former army commander Mugisha Munutu, who will be competing for the party presidency against Besigye today, also turned up.

As the interrogation went on, tension gripped supporters when rumours erupted that the Police would detain Besigye and take him to Amolatar to face charges.

On Besigye’s arrival at Kibuli, chaos erupted when his supporters overpowered the Police and made their way into the building where he was being questioned.

However, CID deputy director for investigations Moses Sakira ejected the group from the building.

When Besigye was allowed to go, the supporters gathered at the party headquarters in Najjanankumbi on Entebbe road, erupted into celebrations. They were preparing for the delegates conference in Kampala tomorrow.

“Party members were worried that their president would again be nominated while in detention like it was in 2006,” said national chairman Sam Njuba.

Commenting on what happened during the interrogation, Besigye said: “I recorded three charge and caution statements in connection with the incidents.”

He told journalists that after recording the statement, the Police told him he was free to go as investigations continue.

Sources said during the encounter, the Police played an audio recording of Besigye’s address in Arua, which he reportedly acknowledged, although he insisted he was speaking metaphorically.

The sources quoted Besigye as saying his comments were made in response to queries from residents and in reference to government policy to lease lakes to private individuals.

Besigye said he was also questioned about the incident in Maddu in Mpigi district in which a man allegedly attacked him during a rally. He said he had lodged a complaint in connection with the incident.

He said he had been reluctant to do so because the Police did not seem impartial in the matter. He reportedly pledged to provide the Police with his shirt which was torn in the Maddu saga. According to sources, the Police had wanted to charge him with inciting violence and sedition.

Besigye yesterday blamed President Yoweri Museveni for the developments. “I have never come to the Police on my own. Every time I have done so, Museveni has been the complainant,” Besigye said. He described Museveni as “a political opponent who does not know how to compete fairly”.

“In all the three places where they say I made inciting remarks, the Police were there but did not think that there was anything criminal in my utterances until Museveni’s directive.”

Commenting on the Maddu incident recently, Museveni said Besigye was attacked because of telling lies about the Government.

Meanwhile, the Police have summoned UPC boss Olara Otunnu for questioning for alleging that the prolonged insurgency in northern Uganda was masterminded by the Government to keep the area backward. He will appear at the CID headquarters tomorrow.

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Uganda: Police are investigating Dr. Olara Ottunu’s claims that Museveni is financing LRA insurgency

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POLICE in Uganda are actively investigating allegations by the UPC presidential aspirant, Dr.lara Otunnu, who is reported as having said that President Yoweri Museveni financed the Lord’s Resistance Army insurgency.

Police spokesperson Judith Nabakooba said Otunnu, who took over the leadership of the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) recently, stated that rebellion was a brainchild of the Government.

“He said it was a ploy by the President to keep the northern part of the country backward, the government-owned NEWVISION reported today. He told residents that the President formed the Lord’s Resistance Army,” Nabakooba said yesterday.

Otunnu, a former UN diplomat, reportedly accused Museveni of confining people into camps and sending funds to Kony when he fled to Garamba National Park in Congo.

Otunnu reportedly made the remarks in Lira on Monday. Nabakooba said Otunnu had to substantiate his claims.

A team of detectives was yesterday dispatched to Lira to gather evidence before Otunnu meets with them to give his side of the story.

Otunnu, who has for years criticised the Government, yesterday said the Police had not approached him.

“I am unaware of the investigation. I can’t comment until I receive something,” he said by phone.

Otunnu told The New Vision that he had planned a big meeting at Lira Technical College on Monday where party and opinion leaders from Lango region were to converge.

“We were there and made the booking and all the arrangements. However, the resident district commissioner went to a radio station and announced that we would not be allowed to meet there,” he said.

“Indeed when we got there, the principal was not there and the hall had no seats. However, we insisted and had the meeting.”

Asked whether he made any comments about the President, he replied: “I said many things. I cannot begin to go over whatever I said.” On the meeting with the Police, he said: “I don’t want to speculate because it is hypothetical now. I have not been approached by the Police.”

As the Police proceeded to Lira, Otunnu drove to Kampala to attend celebrations to mark Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi’s 55th birthday.

Otunnu, who recently returned to Uganda after years of exile, has accused President Museveni of denying him a Ugandan passport, which he got late last year.

He also alleged that the Government was responsible for mass killings in Luwero during the 1980s.

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Uganda: Opposition leader attacked by a gun-totting assailant at a public rally in Buganda Region

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Report By Leo Odera Omolo.

THE UGANDAN Opposition party leader Dr.Kizza Basigye last Thursday was confronted by a man armed with a loaded pistol as he addressed a public really in Buganda region. Dr Basigye escaped unhurt. The incident occurred at Maddu in Gomba County, Mpigi district at about 6.30 pm while he was addressing a huge crowd.

He told newsmen in Kampala that he had earlier addressed a series of meetings with his party officials in the region. It was almost getting dark when he rushed to Maddu trading center where a huge crowd had waited for the meeting from several hours from 3.p.m. Basigye, who is the presidential aspirant in the next year’s general election in Uganda, heads the Forum for Democratic Change {FDC}.

“I was addressing the rally from the open-roof of my car. All of a sudden a man sprung out of the crowd and jumped onto my vehicle bonnet. The man shouted, ‘You are under arrest.’ “, said Basigye. He said the attacker grabbed him and tried to strangle him by the neck. But he managed to push the guy away from the vehicle. The assailant pulled the candidate’s shirt and tore it. But with the help of his aides, the attacke was pushed down. During the scuffle that followed a pistol fell from the attacker’s trousers to the ground. Then some unknown person picked up the weapon and dashed away with it.

Speaking to journalists while flanked by his party officials, Basigye stated that the scuffle started after some heckling around his vehicle. Afterward, he said, he had briefed his party officials in the area to cooperate with the police in their investigations of the matter. He alleged that attack was planned and accused the police for not taking any action, though they were present

“There was a well orchestrated plan to attack us and perhaps injure all of us. The enthusiastic crowd saved us as the police who were present watched helplessly,” Basigye said. He added that his convoy of vehicles was hotly pursued by unknown people. They later hurled stones at the car which belonged to the FDC shadow Foreign Affairs spokesman Makuluzi Kibuuka. This left the windscreen smashed and its occupants slightly injured.

Asked whether he had reported the matter to the police, Dr. Basigye retorted, ”It was useless to reported the incident to the police, because even some officers who were present as the incident occurred only watched it from a distant and did not intervene or assisted us in anyway.

The police spokesman for the central region, Mreck Kigoizi, confirmed the incident took place, saying the attacker was being held at the Maddu Police Station.

“Yes the incident transpired after some people from the crowd verbaly attacked Basigye over his utterances and claims about the issue of selling Lake Kyoga”, Kigozi told the NEWVISION. “The crowd later turned rowdy and one man identified as John Bisaso jumped onto Basigye’s car bonnet in protest of the utterances.”

Contacted by phone, Mpigi police commander Justus Asimue also confirmed the incident. He said one man, John Bisaso, later presented himself to the police as a peasant from Maddu Gomba. He noted that the police officers have been deployed in the area to investigate the incident.

Some eye witnesses said the attack came after the Opposition leader had spoken furiously about the alleged selling of Lake Kyoga, and said the remark had annoyed them.

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leooderaomolo@yahoo.com

UGANDA: MP IS SENT TO PRISON IN LUZIRA FOR FAILING TO REPAY THE BANK’S DEBT OF USHS 169 MILLIONS

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Reports Leo Odera Omolo

SANTOS Eruaga, the MP for East Moyo County in Adjumani, was on Wednesday sent to Luzira Prison over failure to pay back a debt of sh169m owed to DFCU Bank.

He was committed to civil prison by Commercial Court registrar Gladys Nakibuule after failing to honour a consent judgment of June 2008. A warrant for his arrest was issued by the registrar on March 18.

“Eruaga has neither obeyed the decree nor satisfied the court that he is entitled to be discharged from custody. You are hereby commended and required to take and receive him in civil prison for a period not exceeding six months or until the decree shall be fully satisfied,” reads the warrant.

The case arose after Eruaga and his business partner, Caesar Tokuma, applied for a lease to dfcu Bank in 2004 for two Isuzu buses for a period of 36 months.

Eruaga took a personal guarantee for payment of the lease for their transport company, Lodi Roadways. The application was approved and a lease agreement was signed in early 2005.

But he defaulted on payment, which forced the bank to drag him to court the same year.

After Justice Geoffrey Kiryabwire heard the case, the parties mediated on the matter, which led to a consent judgment, where Eruaga was ordered to pay sh12m per month with effect from June 2008.

The MP failed to honour the judgment and has not paid a single cent.

He also failed to pay the costs of the suit, and money to the dfcu lawyers amounting to sh3.5m.

It was on these grounds that the legal representatives of dfcu, Ligomarc Associates, asked for a warrant of arrest for Eruaga.

On Wednesday, before he was committed to prison, the MP first agreed to pay sh10m, but later changed his mind and opted for prison.

He pleaded to be given time to sell some of his properties which would then enable him pay the money.

The bank argues that the MP has shown a non-committal attitude and deliberately failed to honour the consent order. It also claims it has suffered financial loss as result of bad debtors.

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Uganda: Government introduces national identity cards to be issued to its nationals

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The NEWVISION has reported this morning that the German firm, Mühlbauer Technology Group, yesterday unveiled the new national identity card at Hotel Africana in Kampala.

Ritter Mathias, the Muhlbauer programme manager, presenting a specimen of the national identity card in Kampala yesterday

The ID card will be made of polycarbonate (plastic) material. It will have as visible features a picture of the card holder, a signature, date of birth, sex, card number, date of expiry, a thumb print and the national flag with the map of Uganda.

It will have additional invisible features, such as tribe, clan, village, parish, district, details of spouses, with provision of up to four wives, and children.

The sh185b project will first cover the new voters for the 2011 general elections, estimated at 3.5 million people. They are supposed to get their ID cards by October this year.

Under the second phase, Ugandans who are already on the voters’ list, a total of 10.5 million, will have their bio-data updated.

They are expected to get their ID cards in the next two years.
The German firm yesterday kick-started the training of 450 trainers who will in turn train 8,000 operators to carry out the voter registration at parish level.

However, Mühlbauer Technology Group did not respond to media reports which claimed that the price of the project was highly inflated.

The Observer yesterday quoted similar projects in neighbouring Kenya and Tanzania which cost sh53b and sh41b respectively although they have larger populations.

Questions have also been raised about the procurement process. A tender for the ID cards project in 2005 was cancelled by the IGG due to irregularities and corruption.

The three bidders were South African Face Technologies, Indian Contec Global and an Israel company called Supercom. Mühlbauer Technology Group was not one of the bidders.

Instead, the German company bid for the Electoral Commission bio-metric voter registration last year but the process was stopped by the procurement authority, PPDA, in December due to irregularities in the evaluation process. PPDA advised the Electoral Commission to re-evaluate the bids.

However, the commission did not follow this advice and abandoned the tendering process altogether.

Last month, the Ministry of Internal Affairs signed a contract with Mühlbauer for not only the ID cards but also the bio-metric voter registration system.

A third concern raised is about the type of ID card, which uses barcode technology.

The East African Community secretariat as far back as 2008 advised Uganda to abandon that type of technology because it was unsuitable and not compatible with other countries in the region.

“The experts advised Uganda to use the smart card technology which Tanzania has opted for,” said Monique Mukaruliza, the chairperson of the EAC council of ministers, during a session of the EAC Parliament in December 2008.

The smartcard technology uses a chip instead of a barcode. A chip can accommodate a lot more information, such as medical records, criminal records, educational data, driving permits and social security data.
It can also authenticate fingerprints and photographs, which are additional safeguards against forgeries.

“A smartcard is critical for e-government,” an expert told The New Vision.

“You present your card to a hospital and it shows your blood group, medical history, the treatment you are on or the medicines you are allergic to.

“It can also contain A’level and O’level results or the schools somebody attended.”

Asked for a reaction last week, internal affairs minister Kirunda Kivejinja, also the chairman of the security committee handling the project, declined to give details, arguing that the national identification project was a matter of national security.

“This is a national security matter I don’t have to discuss with the press,” he said.

He added that the deal would not be presented before Parliament as some MPs wanted.
“There are certainthings Ido not havetogotothe cabinet or parlimenfor.”

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UGANDA & KENYA: THE FUGITIVE SOMALI TERROR SUSPECT IS RECAPTURED BY KENYAN SECURITY

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Report By Leo Odera Omolo

The Somali terror suspect who had escaped from custody at the Kenya-Uganda Busia border point has been recaptured by the security network while trying to sneak into Somalia.

Hashi Hussein Farah, said to be a member of al-Shaabab militants linked to al-Qaeda, was arrested with two other terror suspects in the North Eastern part of Kenya, Uganda Peoples Defense Force {UPDF}spokesman Lt Col Kulayigye has told the government-owned NEWVISION.

He added that Farah, who has an Australian passport, was in the company of two other Somalis of Canadian and American origin.

There was, however, no confirmation or denial from the Kenyan police about this report which appeared in the NEWVISION this morning.

The suspect had caused security panic between Kenya and Uganda when he was first arrested by the Kenyan police on March 13 as he was trying to cross the border from Uganda into Kenya at the Busia border point.

Suspicion arose that the suspect who had in his possession large sums of money in US dollars might have sneaked back to Uganda. But this provoked a sharp reaction from the Ugandan military, promptly denying he was back in that country.

The Kenya Anti Terrorism Police Unit had established that Farah was wanted in Australia for planning suicide attack on a Sidney army base in August last year.

The suspect mysteriously disappeared from the police custody hours later while he and other suspects were being booked at the Busia Police Station after being handed to the police by the Kenya immigration official at the border post in what the authorities now believe to be collusion with police officers. Three Kenyan policemen have been suspended over the incident pending further investigations.

After his escape, it was alleged that prior to his arrest at the Busia border post, Farah had lived in Uganda for more than one year.

Lt Col Kulayigye acknowledged that had lived in Uganda for more than a year. But wondered why their Kenyan counterpart did not alert them that the man was a terrorism suspect.

“For more than one year, this man has been living in Uganda and we did not have this kind of in information on him,” Kulayigye told the NEWVISION

He added, if what is now coming out is true, then why did our Kenyan brothers notify us in time? What happened to our information sharing arrangements? He asked.

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leooderaomolo@yahoo.com

Uganda: Court put to a halt the Shell Oil Company planned exit from the country.

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From: Leo Odera Omolo

THE High Court has put a halt to the intended exit of the oil giant from its Ugandan operations, the government-owned NEWVISION has reported this morning.

THE Shell Oil Company Ltd, which is part of the Royal Dutch Shell PIC group, was due to wind up its operations in the country as its parent company moves to concentrate on oil exploration.

The court has ordered Shell Uganda Limited to make a security deposit of not less than UGX35bn (USD17m) before the company can divest its operations in the country.

The deposit is security for due performance of a court decree obtained by Mercator Enterprises Limited, which has had a long standing legal battle with the oil giant.

Mercator filed for an interim order from the suit, filed in 1993, in which it demanded transfer from Shell of a commercial property in central Kampala, plus payment of accumulated rents and interest for the use of its property.

In 2001, Shell agreed to transfer the property, and did so. A consent order was entered in which Shell agreed to settle its debt obligations with Metacor in mutuality.

Shell intends to abandon its retail businesses in Algeria, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Egypt, Cape Verde, Ghana, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritius, Morocco, Namibia, Reunion, Senegal, Tanzania, Tunisia, Togo, and Uganda.

The order issued by the Court prohibits Shell Uganda Limited and its directors from transferring shareholding as well as its assets without furnishing the requisite security.

According to a Metacor spokesperson, Shell had insisted that they had never rented out or earned any rents from premises in the property.

Metacor’s lawyers, Didas Nkurunziza & Co Advocates, yesterday issued a statement warning the public about transactions with Shell related to its intended divestiture.

Shell is reported to have made significant financial gain from leasing the property for which Metacor now claims to be entitled to benefit because Shell didn’t honour its end of the bargain in the consent order.

Shell would become the third big-time oil company after Agip and Chevron (formerly Caltex) to exit the Ugandan market. The assets of American giant Chevron, whose exit from Uganda was finally concluded in 2009, were taken over by French owned Total.

Shell has been a major tax payer in Uganda, and in 2007 it was the second highest tax payer after telecoms operator MTN Uganda. Shell paid at least Ushs 40 million to the Ugandan Treasury.

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UGANDA: ANOTHER IMPORTANT INSTITUTIOIN IN KAMPALA IS BURNT TO ASHES BY SUSPECTED UNKNOWN ARSONISTS

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Forwarded by Leo Odera Omolo In Kampala City

By Cecilia Okoth

FIRE yesterday gutted a boys’ dormitory at Lakeside College Luzira, a Kampala suburb, destroying property worth millions of shillings.

Workers looking for valuables after fire

Workers looking for any valuables that might have survived after a fire gutted down a dormitory at Lakeside High School in Kampala yesterday

It started at about 7:00am when the residents – S1, S2 and S3 students – were in class, teacher Amos Kanabi said.

Nobody was hurt.

The cause of the fire is unknown, although the school authorities suspected a short circuit. By the time the Police Fire Brigade reached the scene at about 7:20am, the damage had already been done.

A student who saw the fire narrated: “I had remained in the dormitory because I am unwell. Moments after I had moved outside to brush my teeth, I heard a loud blast in the dormitory and later huge flames flared up.”

The fire spread quickly through the dormitory, incinerating all the property except that of S1 students which was saved.

Damalie Nachuha, the chief fire officer, said the flames spread faster because the dormitory was poorly constructed.

“Preliminary investigations established that the partitioned dormitory was too congested, furnished with triple deck beds among other anomalies,” Nachuha said.

The block, which housed three dormitories, had 265 students.

Nachuha said the school had only three fire extinguishers, which she said were inadequate.

The headmaster, Jimmy Nyende, said the school would compensate all students whose property was destroyed by the fire.

Last evening, most of the victims had, however, been sent home for fresh supplies. were some of the other victims.

Fire outbreaks have in recent years hit schools hard, raising debate about how well-prepared schools are to handle the problem.

The problem became a national concern after the infamous inferno in April 2008 that gutted a dormitory at Budo Junior School, killing 20 pupils aged between eight and nine.

A number of other fires broke out elsewhere in the country.

The cause of the Budo fire and others across the country has not been established.

An alliance of lawyers, who carried out an independent investigation of the Budo fire, attributed the tragedy to an arsonist.

More than 36 schools have since been burnt. This includes Seeta High School and Mariam High.

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Uganda: The Communications and Broadcasting Councils are merged

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Reports Leo Odera Omolo In Kampala City

THE Uganda Communications Commission and the Broadcasting Council have been merged into one regulatory body that will oversee both communication and broadcasting matters in the country.

The new policy directive issued on 15 March was communicated by the Minister of Information and Communications Technology, Aggrey Awori, and published in the Uganda Gazette.

A body headed by the current chairperson of the Broadcasting Council, Godfrey Mutabazi, will be set up to manage the transition.

It will be overseen by a board comprising members from the two boards of the merging organisations, which will be headed by the current head of the Communications Commission, A.M.S. Katahoire.

Under the new framework, the ICT ministry will also take over the management of the national spectrum (airwaves) and the transmission infrastructure from the Ministry of Information and National Guidance.

According to the directive, the transitional body will be merged at both the board and administrative levels.

“The primary role of the transitional board and executive shall be to oversee and conclude the process of drafting a new law and establishing the merged regulator for both communications and broadcasting in accordance with best practices and international standards,” the directive said.

Awori mandated the transitional body to form working committees for the efficient discharge of its duties.

“While the board will oversee the process of merging the two regulators, it will also continue to carry out the functions specified in the Uganda Communications Act and the Electronic Media Act of 1997.

“Where the functions require specific focus, pertaining to communications, the members who were commissioners under the UCC may constitute themselves into a communications committee to handle the matter and keep the board updated,” the directive says.

Where the matter pertains to broadcasting, the directive added, members who belonged to the Broadcasting Council would constitute a broadcasting committee to deal with the issues and update the board.

“The Broadcasting Council and the Uganda Communications Commission are instructed to work out the administrative details of the new structure,” it further said.

“The transitional body shall continue to carry out the functions of the two regulators until the functions of the merged regulator are provided for by the new law,” it said.

The two laws shall continue to exist and provide the regulatory framework for the transitional merger until a new converged legislation is enacted.

“The Uganda Communications Commission and the Broadcasting Council may conclude the details of this arrangement through a memorandum of understanding on the modalities of the-day-to-day operations,’ the directives said.

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UGANDA: UPC MP DESERTS OLARA TUNNU, DEFECTS TO MUSEVENI CAMP, AND NOW BACKS HIM TO WIN THE ELECTION

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Reports leo odera Omolo In Kampala City

Museveni displaying shoes

Museveni displaying a pair of locally made shoes given to him by residents of Apac during a tour of the district on Tuesday.

By Vision reporters

KOLE County MP John Ogwang, a veteran member of the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC), has vowed to support President Yoweri Museveni in the 2011 elections.

He also pledged to work closely with the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) in implementing programmes in his constituency.

“There is only man who can manage Uganda and that is Yoweri Kaguta Museveni. Museveni promised peace and now peace has come. We shall give him all the votes because he is more capable than all the others,” said Ogwang during Museveni’s visit to the Apac on Tuesday.

“All the others should just go home. Come 2011 and 2016, we shall give him our vote,” he said, putting on the yellow cap given to him by the NRM district chairman.

Ogwang explained he was joining hands with the NRM in the spirit of developing Kole district.

“I didn’t cross to the NRM as is being alleged. I would not do that. If you are given something to eat, you don’t walk away. What I am doing is in the interest of the people of Kole, for the good of the country,” he said.

The President, who is on a four-day tour of Lango region to promote his Prosperity-for-All programme, said the Government will grant Kole county a district status since there are indications of the NRM taking over its leadership. At the same function, he received 1,400 former members of opposition parties.

He accused opposition politicians of sabotaging government programmes such as NAADS and NUSAF.

“The Movement people can also be corrupt but the opposition group has been more corrupt than even the NRM,” Museveni said.

He noted that funds for development are squandered by district officials, with some of the money given to relatives, resulting in poor implementation of the programmes.

He said he is considering starting a programme of distributing ploughs, oxen and heifers to womens’ groups in each parish in Lango to boost commercial agricultural production.

At a separate rally held earlier at Aduku Primary School, the President said the Government is intensifying the restocking exercise in the region to enable it regain its animal population, most of which was lost due to cattle rustling by Karimojong.

He rubbished claims that the animals in Lango were rustled by the NRM government.

“Come to my farm. If you find zebu cows, take all of them. Lango animals were rustled by the Karimojong.”

He informed the locals that the road from Masindi port to Apac, Lira and Kitgum is due to be tarmacked as the Government steps up efforts to improve infrastructure to boost economic production and increase trade.

“This has taken time because before there was no money and we were depending on donors. But donors are not reliable; they promise but don’t implement. Now the Government has got its own money and will do all the roads,” he said.

The President also revealed that Apac district received over sh3b under NAADS in the last three years and that the Government injects sh31b to run various activities within the district each year.

The President earlier visited one of the model farmers, Christopher Obach, in Aduku sub-county who earns over sh40m annually from rearing goats, cattle, pigs and keeping bees.

Apac district authorities gave Museveni a spear, shield and a table designed in the form of a map of Africa. They urged the President to use the weapons to fight poverty.

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Uganda says there is no plan for oil jet swapping agreement with Russians

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Reports Leo Odera Omolo In Kampala City

UGANDA has strongly denied that there were plans to buy the Russian-made latest jet fighter planes with its oil.

Defense Minister Crispus Kiyonga in a rejoinder report published by the semi-government-owned NEWVISION this morning dismissed the reports that his country was planning a deal to swap oil for Russian jet fighters.

“There is no discussion at all about swapping. In any case, there is no Russian company prospecting for oil in Uganda,” Kiyonga said.

The speculation about the alleged deal was sparked off by a report by the state-owned radio, the Voice of Russian, which on Monday quoted Moscow military-diplomatic source as saying that Uganda was planning to sign an agreement for the purchase of six Su-30 fighter planes and pay for them with oil money.

The report provoked a sharp reaction from three ministries, namely Defense, Energy and information.

“Since Uganda is short of real money to pay for the planes, Russian Lukoil Company is negotiating its potential participation in developing large oilfield in Uganda, implying a possible swapping,” the radio reported.

A reputable Russian newspaper, VEDOMPSTI, went further saying, the state-owned arms exporter, Rosoboronexport had signed two contracts worth USD 1.2 billion for the delivery of six jet fighters to Uganda and another 16 to Algeria.”

Defense Chief Kiyonga termed the report “lopsided “and preposterous since Uganda had not yet started oil production.

“We don’t know how much commercial oil will come out and when. How can you get goods and said you wait until we produce oil? It doesn’t make sense, said the Minister.

The Minister disclosed that the government talked to the Russian Embassy in Kampala on Monday and lodged complaint about the way sensitive security issues had been handled by Moscow.

“We had called them and told them that this is not the way to deal with sensitive security matters,” he said, adding that he would make a statement in Parliament later today in the afternoon about the issue.

On Monday, army spokesman Lt.Col Felix Kulayigye said there had been discussions’ between Ugandan and Russian officials about the war planes, but the cost was considered too high.

“We had negotiations with Russians over the jet fighters, but upon realizing that the cost was too high, we decided otherwise. We never entered into an agreement with them,” he said.

Instead he said, the Uganda Air-force decided to send its six ageing MIG-21fighter planes back to Russian for engine overhauls about two weeks ago. He did not, however, disclose at what cost.

The Su-30 fighter planes is a two seater, multi-role fighter, capable of accomplishing a wide variety of combat mission within a range of 3,000 km in any weather condition, both by day and night.

The task that this jet can perform, according to an expert account, ranges from air defenses, air control and escort to ground attack, suppression of enemy air defenses and maritime attack.

Earlier on Monday, the Energy Minister Hellen Onek denied any knowledge of the oil for jet deal. That’s new to me. We have never had any such negotiation

“As far as I know, we have not negotiated with any of the Russian companies as reported,” she said.

At the same time, the Information minister Kabakumba Miako re-assured the nation that the proceeds from oil revenue would be used only for long term infrastructure development projects.

“One thing that should be clear is that money is not in any way going to be used for recurrent expenditure like these. It is going to be use for solid permanent infrastructure like roads, energy, science and technology,” She said.

Ends

leooderaomolo@yahoo.com

Sudan is supporting LRA rebels fighting Ugandan government, claims captured rebel

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THE SUDAN GOVERNMENT SUFFERED A MAJOR SETBACK WHEN A CAPTURED LRA REBEL CLAIMED THAT KHARTOUM IS SUPPORTING THEM WITH LOGISTICS AND TRAINING.
Reports Leo Odera Omolo in KIsumu City

Kulayigye listening to captured LRA boss Okello

Kulayigye listening to captured LRA boss Okello addressing journalists in Kampala yesterday

A captured LRA commander has told the Ugandan military officials that the Sudan government is support the rebel fighting to oust the elected Uganda government of President Yoweri Musevgeni, the semi-government-owned NEWVISION reported this morning.

THE Sudan government is in touch with the Lord’s Resistance Army command and has given the rebels fresh supplies of food and medicines, a captured commander has said.

The LRA political commissar, Okello ‘Mission’, told journalists in Kampala that he was part of the LRA team that trekked to the Darfur region in Sudan where they met officers of the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) on October 4, 2009.

He said their delegation was led by Caesar Acellam and they met with the SAF brigade commander in Darfur, Col. Hamdou, and an un-named lieutenant colonel said to be the regional chief of intelligence.

He said Khartoum solicited for the meeting.

“The subject of the discussion was to resume the partnership with the government of Sudan,” Okello Mission said.
He first narrated that the SAF commanders told them they were welcome to Darfur as long as they disarmed.

When pressed, he said SAF promised to give the LRA a “safe corridor” to central Sudan, as well as food and medicines.

The Khartoum government has been denying reports that the LRA is in Darfur or that Sudan is still supporting the rebels.

“These claims are merely irresponsible accusations, disinformation and propaganda against Sudan,” the Sudanese embassy said in a statement last month.

“In his recent visits to South Sudan, President Omar el-Bashir made it very clear that Kony will not be given refuge inside the country. He vowed to arrest him if he entered Sudan territory and hand him over to Uganda,” it added.

Army spokesman Felix Kulayigye yesterday said the Government takes Okello’s statements seriously but they would be addressed at state level.

He said Okello confirmed earlier intelligence information that the LRA group met Khartoum officials in Darfur.

The LRA has been under military pressure from the joint operation by the armies of Uganda, Congo, Southern Sudan and the Central African Republic.

The combined air raids and infantry assault on the LRA bases in the densely populated Garamba forest in eastern Congo in December 2008 sent the rebels in disarray.

They have been oscillating between Congo, Southern Sudan and the Central African Republic. Many commanders were killed, captured, or surrendered.

Okello Mission, 30, was captured by UPDF soldiers at Ezo in Southern Sudan after a brief shoot-out in the evening of March 31. Okello was in a unit of 10 rebels, led by Felly Otimi, an escort to LRA leader Joseph Kony.

He graduated from Makerere University in 2004 with a bachelor’s degree in computer science and joined the LRA as a peace negotiator in 2006. A relative of Kony, he hails from Lalogi in Gulu district and holds a Democratic Party (DP) membership card.

He joined the Juba peace talks at the same time with Santa Okot, Peter Obina, Yusuf Adek and Quinto Kidega. He said he remained with the rebels to explain the draft final peace agreement to Kony.

Okello told journalists at the CMI headquarters in Kitante that he sacrificed himself for the sake of peace, adding that the Government was aware of his mission.

He said he volunteered to go to Kony after President Museveni raised concerns that people in the diaspora claiming to speak for LRA were out of touch with reality.

“I was arrested on March 31 when I was assigned to convey a message to the Government requesting for (the resumption of) peace talks,” he argued.

However, Kulayigye refuted the story, saying Okello would be charged with treason.

“The man faces prosecution since he joined the LRA voluntarily. He launched war on a legally elected government,” he remarked.

Okello described the multi-pronged attack by the regional armies on LRA as the day he thought he would die. “It was my first time to see air strikes. The whole sky was full of gunships.”

Asked about the Christmas massacres conducted by the LRA in Congo in the aftermath of the attacks, Okello said Kony was avenging the onslaught on them.

He described life in the bush as horrific. “I did not expect I would ever live such a life. It’s too painful. You walk from morning to sunset. You get problems like knee pain. We fed on wild fruits.”

Asked about the whereabouts of the LRA leader, Okello said Kony was in eastern Congo with his army commander, Okot Odhiambo. He estimates the number of fighters left at 200.

The army yesterday also paraded ‘Second Lieutenant’ Geoffrey Okello, ‘Sergeant’ Geoffrey Okonga and ‘Captain’ Jasper Moroto who surrendered on March 16 in DRC.

They reported to the UPDF with three guns and an abducted girl, Agnes Amune, who came back with two children.

Okonga is the son of Yusuf Adeke, a member of the LRA peace team who the army described as “a big LRA collaborator in the north”.

Okonga, 23, said he was taken to Garamba in April 2007 by his father, purportedly for a mental ailment which only Kony could treat.

He said he was supposed to come back to Uganda but his return was overtaken by the launch of Operation Lightning Thunder.

“The chairman (Kony) told me since they have launched an operation on him, I should stay and do duties he would assign me,” Okonga recalled.
He said he was trained to shoot a gun and later given a weapon which he said was to protect himself from enemies.

“I left because I didn’t go there for any job. I went to get healed,” he pleaded. Okonga, who had just finished his ‘O’ Level classes at Kitgum High School, said.All the LRA fighters go through rituals to protect them while fighting.

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Kenya closes its borders temporarily with Uganda, Sudan and Ethiopia

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SOLDIERS MOVED TO THE BORDERS AS KENYA TEMPORARILY CLOSES ITS FRONTIERS WITH UGANDA, SUDAN AND ETHIOPIA IN AN EFFORT TO MOP UP ILLEGAL GUNS.

Writes Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City

KENYAN Troops were at the weekend moved with their heavy artillery and guns to secure and seal the country’s international borders with Sudan and Ethiopia, ahead of the planned exercise to mop up illegal guns.

The measurers are temporary and aimed at preventing border crossings by the pastoralist communities, known to be crossing for the purpose of hiding their illegally acquired guns with their kins across the common border, each time there is such exercises launched by the government for the purpose of seizing illegal firearms.

The arrival of the officers has caused a lot of panic in the North Rift where cattle rustling has been the order of the day, a menace blamed on the existence of unlicensed firearms.

Hundred of troops were spotted taking positions at Suam forest area on the Kenya-Uganda border, while some trucks were seen in Kitale and Kapenguria towns, dropping off the soldiers.

It was also learnt that the Uganda Peoples Defense {UPDF} were also on high alert on the other side of the common border. The Ugandan soldiers are said to have received firm instruction from their superiors to seize Kenyans fleeing and sneaking into their country with guns.

“The soldiers have been stationed between a radius of 5 and 10 kilometers apart with express instructions to ruthlessly deal with illegal gun handlers.

“Our men are on high alert and have been instructed to disarm or arrest any person with illegal firearms,” an UPDF soldier said on the phone. The soldier, however, sought for his anonymity because he is not authorized to speak to the press on security matters.

On the Kenyan side of the border, security forces scaled up security at Kabolet, Mt Elgon and Suam forests in North Rift, where rustlers plan and execute raids.

Regular police, Administration Police, and General Service Unit {GSU} personnel have been mobilized from various districts to back up the disarmament exercises expected to take weeks.

During a recent meeting between security agencies from Kenya and Uganda held in Kitale, the countries resolved to conduct joint disarmament to enhance development along the border.

Ugandan delegation, led by Brigadier Patrick Kankiribo, the commander of UPDF 3rd division, had complained of Kenya’s reluctance to retrieve guns from the Pokots and Turkanas pastoralist communities.

NakapirIpIri Resident District Commissioner, RDC Andrew Napaja told the Kitale meeting that over 27,000 guns have been recovered from communities living on Eastern part of Uganda.

At the same time, the Provincial Administration from Western Kenya and Easter Uganda met at another border town of Busia to lay plans and logistics for the operation. Upper Western Regional Commissioner Rashid Mohammed said the cooperation would ensure security and eliminate illegal trade.

“We will tighten our security surveillance to ensure the arms are not smuggled into the two countries unnoticed.”

Busia Uganda DC, Emily Aluku, who led her country’s delegation, said more similar meetings would enhance collaborations in investigations and arresting of suspects. The meeting comes barely weeks after a terror suspect arrested in Busia mysteriously disappeared from police custody.

In another important development, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, and Kenya’s Prime Minister Raila Amolo OIdinga, held a crucial meeting at the State House, Entebbe at the weekend.

The meeting between the two gave an impression that the row over the ownership of the controversial Migingo fishing islands would soon end in a happy note once the joint survey by Kenya and Uganda is completed.

During the talks between the two last Friday, they called for a speedy completion of the joint survey work, which has stalled off and on for sometime, since it was launched early last year.

President Museveni said his country had temporarily called off the exercise to consult with his government on certain descriptive details appearing on earlier documkents describing the location of the island.

The Prime Minister arrived in Uganda on Good Friday for a working Easter holiday, and went into a lengthy discussion with the Ugandan leader. The talks focused on cross border security and trade issues, ranging from the controversy over Migingo, to cattle rustling.

The two leaders also agreed to initiate joint sensitization exercises along the border to educate patrol communities on alternative economic activities. Cattle rustling, the leaders said, have impeded development among the community on both sides of the border. They said an agreement for either government to pursue and extradite rustlers, who have fled across the border, would bring the menaces to an end.

President Museveni, according to the government owned NEWVISION, had emphasized that through a joint initiative, Kenya and Uganda could end the cattle rustling menace along their common border, then jointly appeal to Sudan and Ethiopia to do the same.

Museveni said he was keen to see an end to the tribulation of fishermen struggling to earn a living out of the lake. “ I am determined to ensure Kenyans fish legally, even if they are on the Ugandan side of Lake Victoria, and that will be ensured once we finish this survey work.”

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leooderaomolo@yahoo.com

Uganda: Election commission to hire 8,000 voter registration clerks

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ELECTORAL COMMISSION IOF UGANDA TO HIRE 8,000 OFFICIALS FOR THE PURPOSE OF REGISTERING NEW VOTERS
Writes Leo Odera Omolo

The Electoral Commission is to recruit 8,000 workers to resgister the voters in readiness for the next year’s general election,the government -owned NEWVISION reported this morning.

This will mean that there will be two operators per registration point.

Speaking at the commission’s head office in Kampala yesterday, chairman Badru Kiggundu said the equipment for the training of trainers had arrived and the training starts on April 8.

Engineers from Germany have also arrived to train the operators who will carry out the voter registration. Kiggundu also announced that the voter registration process will start on May 3 and will run for one month. The exercise will exclude those who are already registered.

“The people eligible to register during this period are Ugandan citizens of 18 years and above, who have not had their pictures and bio-data taken before by the Electoral Commission for the purpose of registration,” said Kiggundu.

The process will also involve cleaning the 10.5 million voters on the current voter’s register using a facial recognition system to get rid of multiple registrations.

The commission revived the suspended biometric registration system last month.

The decision came together with the announcement that Mühlbauer Technology Group from Germany had won the contract to implement the national identification project.

The commission suspended the plan to use a biometric voter registration system last November due to lack of money and limited time to the 2011 election.

But they made a U-turn when the internal affairs ministry procured the biometric equipment to carry out the national identification project at about sh180b.

Voters will be registered in the first phase of the project. According to Kiggundu, Mühlbauer will deliver 4,000 registration kits, which shall be used in the capturing of the projected 3.5 million new voters, including capturing their demographic data, photograph and fingerprints, using a computer-based registration kit.

Kiggundu said he is optimistic that the commission shall beat the new deadline of June 4 for registration of new voters and update of the register.

The commission had earlier fixed May 15 as the deadline. “I call upon all Ugandans to come up and support this project.

“All of us have for a long time yearned for this advancement, and it’s here to assist in building credible voter’s register,” he said.

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UGANDA: UPC LEADER, AMBASSADOR OLARA OTUNNU, WHO IS UGANDA’S MOST ELIGIBLE BACHELOR, IS TO WED TO BOOST HIS CHANCES OF PRESIDENTIAL AMBITION IN THE NEXT YEARS ELECTIONS

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo

UPC presidential flag-bearer, Ambassador Olara Otunnu, is set to walk down the aisle on Saturday, putting to rest one of Uganda’s most vexing political questions.

Uganda’s most eligible bachelor is expected to say I do to Ms Jocelyn Bafokugamba at 3:00pm at St Kagwa Parish in Bushenyi. Bafokugamba hails from Kanungu district.

Details about the relationship are scanty but sources close to the couple say the two met about three years ago in France, but their romance has only assumed a new sense of urgency in recent weeks.

Bafokugamba, who is described as being in her early 30s, has been living in France for the last seven years. According to sources, she studied social work and administration at Makerere University. It’s not clear what she does for a living in France. A family member who talked to The New Vision on condition of anonymity said Bafokugamba’s maternal grandfather is a Muganda.

Political watchers will not miss the political overtones that this marriage carries.

Since Otunnu returned to the country last year, the question of his marital status—or lack of thereof—has hovered over him like a dark cloud. His impending marriage should improve his political fortunes in a country which puts a high premium on the family man.

The choice of the wedding venue looks curious, but when one remembers that Bushenyi served as the bedrock of UPC’s support in the 1980s, questions fall away.

However, the choice of a Mukiga bride will come as a surprise because beyond the romance, there seems to be no major political benefit to it. But in January, while on a campaign trail in Kabaale, Otunnu insinuated that Bakiga would be his in-laws.

Watchers would have been less surprised if he married a Muganda. Central region is an area he badly needs to patch up relations within the context of the historical animosity between the area and his UPC party.

Otunnu was elected party president last month at Namboole stadium in Kampala.

Recent polls show he lags behind FDC’s Kizza Besigye and DP’s Norbert Mao as a main challenger to President Yoweri Museveni innext year’s elections.

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Uganda: China is ready to help African develop its oil sector

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Reports by Leo Odera Omolo

CHINA is increasingly looking beyond Africa’s established markets to tap into opportunities in Uganda, which is expected to become a crucial new frontier in the continent’s oil industry.

China strengthened its foothold in Uganda’s oil interests when it’s company, China National Offshore Oil Company (CNOOC) partnered with Tullow Oil and Total to develop the oil sector. The deal is, however, subject to the Government approval.

Chengyu and Karuhanga at the function

Chengyu and Karuhanga at the function last week

Uganda has confirmed petroleum resources in the Lake Albertine region, estimated at about 2 billion barrels.

Fu Chengyu, the CNOOC president, was in town last week to give a key note address at the launch of the Uganda Chamber of Mines and Petroleum (UCMP).

Chengyu was recently named the 13th most influential business leader in China Elly Karuhanga. The chamber chairman, said the partnership between Tullow oil, CNOOC and Total was a positive signal to investors, adding that the combined experience, technology and resources that the companies bring on board would take the oil sector to another level.

“This partnership makes Uganda an attractive investment destination. The multiplier effect of this collaboration will be reflected in opportunities created in the different sectors like infrastructure, accounting, transport, education, hotel business that will support the oil industry,” he said in an interview.

Tullow sold some of its stake in the oil fields to secure funding for the development of the fields.

“Further exploration by Tullow will require between $5b and $10b because it will be done on the lake. Tullow, therefore, needed to bring partners with more funds and experience to take the process beyond getting oil from the ground to refining, electricity generation and construction of an export pipeline.”

Karuhanga said the legal agreement with the Government and the three companies was expected to be concluded by April. This will pave way for implementation of the plans to develop the sector.

Fu Chengyu could not disclose how much investment his company would bring on board, but underscored the importance of human resource development.

“This is a huge project that will cost millions of dollars. However, I must emphasise that it’s not about the money, but transfer of knowledge and skills.”

Chengyu added that he expected strategic partnership between China and Uganda in the energy sector. “The success in developing our oil and gas sector would provide a useful model industry for establishing your own oil industry,” he said.

China is the second largest market for petroleum products and sixth largest producer of oil and natural gas. Uganda is expected to benefit from CNOOC’s expertise since it is China’s leading national oil company with an international footprint.

“We have been able to build a fully integrated operation from scratch, covering oil and gas exploration, development and production, refining, marketing, and engineering,” he added.

According to Chengyu, the company’s direct investments to Africa has exceeded $5b to date.“It’s our strong belief and our core principle that our investment must benefit the host nation, their people and the surrounding communities, while we realize reasonable returns”

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Uganda: Zuma opens an ANC school to comemorate the anti-apartheid struggle years

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Zuma (right) and Museveni; ANC freedom fighters' graves

Zuma (right) and Museveni at the graves of the ANC freedom fighters in Kaweweta, Nakaseke District yesterday

writes Leo Odera Omolo

SOUTH African President Jacob Zuma yesterday officially opened the Oliver Tambo Leadership School at Kaweweta in Nakaseke District.

He and President Yoweri Museveni also laid wreaths on the graves of 14 African National Congress (ANC) freedom fighters who died in Uganda in 1990 and 1991. A three gun salute was fired in honour of the young fighters. The fighters, who died of natural causes, were among the 3,000 ANC fighters camped at Kaweweta.

The school, whose construction was funded by both the Ugandan and South African governments, will be a regional leadership and ideological training institute. It has been training UPDF, Police and Prisons officers.

Earlier, it had trained different African revolutionary armies, including the ANC’s military Umkhotho we Sizwe, (Spear of the Nation) and Uganda’s National Resistance Army.

South Africa contributed US$3m (about sh6b) while Uganda gave US$1.5m (about sh3b) for the construction. A total of 13 buildings, water supply, solar and generator power supply system, a hospital, staff houses, an administration block and a hall with a capacity of 600 people were built.

The South African government also funded construction of two classroom blocks of Kaweweta Primary School for the children of soldiers and those from the surrounding villages.

Zuma thanked Uganda for hosting and training ANC fighters, saying at that time, few countries wanted to be associated with them. He said when Museveni allowed them into Uganda in 1988, the UN had passed a resolution, which ensured they were thrown out of Angola, where they had been training.

The first batch of 152 soldiers arrived in Kaweweta in 1989 and by 1994, the number was 3,000, making it the biggest concentration of Umkhotho we Sizwe soldiers in a single camp. He paid tribute to Maj. Gen. Fred Rwigyema (RIP), who he said, went beyond the call of duty to assist the South African soldiers.

President Museveni said he was happy with the struggle for freedom by the two countries. He said he and his fellow freedom fighters refuse to see tribes and sub-groups of Africa, but see Africans.

“That is our ideology and that is the ideology of ANC,” Museveni said, adding that the ANC has had a great role in stabilising the security situation in the Great Lakes Region.

He enumerated the initiatives to broker peace in the DR Congo and Burundi by ANC leaders, including Zuma.

Museveni added that while Africans fought for freedom from colonialists, the continent’s problems are in many cases self-imposed. He said instead of working together to ensure development, wealth creation, transformation and integration, some Africans work for balkanisation.

The President said the Kaweweta school would enhance African capacities to acquire real independence. The school, according to Museveni, is a symbol of African freedom struggle.

Ends