Category Archives: Uganda

Uganda: Museveni to reconcile the Muslim leaders in nation

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Reports Leo Odera Omolo

PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni is to mediate between the Muslim factions headed by Mufti Shaban Ramadhan Mubajje and Sheikh Zubair Kayongo.

Speaking at futur (breaking of the fast) he hosted for Muslims at State House Entebbe on Wednesday to mark the end of Ramadhan, Museveni called for unity among the Muslim community.

Museveni (right) greeting Kampala mayor Sebaggala and Moses Katongole, the head of UTODA, a taxi watchdog, after a dinner at State House.

“There has been in-fighting among Muslims. I would like you to sit down and sort out this problem amicably,” he said. About 300 guests across the country attended the function that started about 7:00pm and went on past 10:00pm. Sources said most notable figures who attended the function were loyal to Mubajje except a few who support Kayongo. National Resistance Movement (NRM) vice-chairman Hajji Moses Kigongo, Libyan ambassador Abdallah Bujeldain and Dr. Ahmed Kisuule, Uganda’s ambassador to Iran, were present.

In his address, Museveni also said he would call the unity meeting because “in-fighting is not good. Those differences must be settled”.

Mubajje heads the Old Kampala faction while the Kibuli faction is headed by Kayongo. Muslims opposed to Mubajje in January 2009 named Kayongo as mufti following a disagreement with Mubajje over the sale of Muslim property in Kampala.

The conflict ended up in the court, with Mubajje, city businessman Hassan Basajjabalaba and former secretary general Edris Kasenene facing criminal charges. The trio was acquitted by court. But the anti-Mubajje faction rejected the court verdict and named their own mufti.

Mid this year, the Old Kampala faction split with Mubajje and the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council chairman, Hassan Basajjabalaba, with each of them purporting to sack the other. Their differences have not been resolved. The President assured his guests that the Government had brought peace which people should take advantage of to wipe out poverty. “The Government is doing its part by providing electricity power and roads but it will not come to your house and remove poverty. That is your responsibility as an individual,” he said.

Museveni advised the school-going children to target science courses that, he said, have a ready job market. He said the Government had finalised the plan for a loan scheme for university graduates who fail to find employment.

Museveni urged Ugandans to start commercial farming so that they can have products to sell as well as maintain food security.

Earlier, Mubajje had said the Muslim top organ would organise elections for leaders before December this year. “Whoever is interested in leadership should go down and get the mandate of the people,” he said.

Mubajje cautioned Muslims against engaging in terrorism, referring to the July 11 incident in which 79 people were killed in bomb attacks in Kampala.

“You have been humble and law abiding during Ramadhan, I appeal to you to continue the same way even after fasting. The end of fasting does not mean the end of good behavior,” he advised.

The sumptuous dinner was punctuated by recitations from Sheik Umar Ddumba and performances from Matali entertainment group, which sang praises for Museveni and called for his re-election.

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Uganda: new terror threat by Al-Shabaab terorists against nation during Ramadhan

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Reports Leo Odera Omolo

UGANDAN security is on full alert ahead of Idd festivities, which mark the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadhan slated for tomorrow,the government owned NEWVISION reported this morning

Al-Shabaab on Tuesday demanded that Uganda withdraws her peacekeeping troops from the war-torn Somalia, or face more attacks.

Accordingly, security has been stepped up to counter the threats, said Police spokeperson Judith Nabakooba.

“We call upon the public to be vigilant, especially during this period of Idd,” she said yesterday.

The latest threat was issued by the Islamists’ radical leader Sheikh Fuad Mohamed Khalaf ‘Shangole at a mosque in Mogadishu.

Defence spokesperson Felix Kulayigye yesterday said violence will not work.

The Somali-based Islamic militants claimed responsibility for the twin bombings, which killed 79 people in Kampala on July 11.

“I advise them to try something else but not threats of violence because it will not work. It will not make us change our stand,” Kulayigye said.

The Ugandan troops are serving under the African Union force called AMISOM. “Our troops will not leave Somalia as long as the African Union wants them there,” he said. “The people of Somalia want peace and that is what took us there.”

He added: “We are not in Somalia for adventure; it is by conviction to ensure the return of peace for our brothers.
“We have been defending Uganda since February 6, 1981 and we have never backslid on that. Ugandans should remain vigilant and let us know of suspicious people.”

The militants on Tuesday accused President Yoweri Museveni of becoming an obstacle to stability in the war-torn Somalia and warned him not to send more troops to Somalia.

Ugandan and Burundian peacekeepers are assisting the Somali Transitional Federal Government. Uganda recently sent 750 troops of the 10,000 more soldiers it pledged during the recent AU summit in Kampala.

AU officials said last week AMISOM’s troop level had recently risen to 7,200. The force is seeking a more robust mandate that would allow it to hunt down insurgents.

Uganda’s fight against al-Shabaab has received a boost from several countries since the July 11 attack. The US, Britain, Kenya, among others, rushed investigators to work with the Kampala team, leading to the arrest of over 50 arrests.

In fresh investigations, two more Kenyans were early this week arrested in connection with the blasts. Habib Sulaiman Njoroge was arrested at the Kenya-Uganda border post of Malaba while trying to sneak into Uganda. Also arrested is journalist Habib Suleiman working for an FM station in Mombasa.

A total of 34 suspects have been charged with terrorism, murder and attempted murder. Among them are Ugandans, Kenyans, Somalis and one Pakistani.

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Uganda: The New Bujagali Power Station will be connected to the national grid next year

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Reports Leo Odera Omolo

The government owned NEWVISION reported this morning inits online news that the estimated about 50MW from the over $800m Bujagali hydro-power project will be connected onto the national grid by the end of next year, the project sponsors have said.

delayed: Men at work at the main Bujagali power plant in Jinja

This will increase Uganda’s electricity supply to 465MW. “The first 50MW-turbine is nearing completion. We anticipate that it will start producing power in December, 2011,” Kenneth Kaheru, the Bujagali Energy Limited (BEL) deputy construction manager, said.

Uganda produces about 415MW from the Nalubaale and Kiira dams and a host of thermal and mini-hydro-power plants countrywide. The firm’s revelation means that the project will not be fully commissioned in July, 2011 as was planned during the investment appraisal phase.

Works on the dam started in mid-2007 and were expected to be completed in 44 months, that is in July, 2011. Execution of the project met bottlenecks when engineers constructing the 30-metre high dam met poor rocks at the end of the dam (tail race section) of the gated spillway. This necessitated a re-design and setting up of a new major structure connected to the gated spillway to safeguard the dam.

The new date for the full commissioning of the dam is not yet known. “We cannot say what the exact date for the commissioning of the dam will be because we are not sure of what is below the water on the eastern part of the river,” Kaheru explained.

“Until we are sure of the riverbed, we can’t start talking about the completion date.” He, however, said the works were progressing well, explaining that they expect to divert the river in January so that River Nile flows entirely through the gates currently under construction. “This will allow us work on the the eastern section of the dam, where the river is currently flowing through.”

The 250MW power project is a joint venture between Industrial Promotion Services, an arm of the Aga Khan Foundation for Economic Development and Sithe Global, a US power firm.

On the project’s social and environmental aspects, BEL said has spent huge sums more than $3m in agricultural extension services, health, education, fisheries, skills training including entrepreneurship and environmental conservation as well as other social programmes specifically targeted for vulnerable persons.

The objective of the social and environment program is to ensure that the integrity of the environment in the project area is enhanced and that the Project Affected People (PAPs) are empowered to become self reliant and thus be capable of improving their livelihoods.

The project sponsors have built schools in Naminya settlement village as well as supporting other education initiatives in the other affected villages.

BEL is also equipping and upgrading health centres as well as training, equipping and facilitating village health teams with the tools they need to deliver healthcare services more efficiently to the project affected people.

It has also helped to organise the fishing community in the project area and has equipped the fishermen with appropriate fishing gear.

BEL completed a partnership arrangement with the National Water and Sewerage Corporation that will enable the project affected communities on both sides of the river get access to piped water.

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Ugandan tycoon produces bundles of dollars in an hotel to prove his detractors wrong

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From: Leo Odera Omolo

CITY tycoon Michael Ezra Mulyowa has denied being on the run over debts, displaying wads of dollars ($3m) to prove his point.

Michael Ezra displays stacks of dollars to journalists to prove that he is not bankrupt.

Addressing a press conference at classy Emin Pasha Hotel in Nakasero yesterday, Ezra, 37, said he owes the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) about sh1b in unpaid taxes and the National Bank of Commerce sh400m.

He added that he and his partners were in the process of paying up “at a convenient time”.

He declined to name his partners or how the amounts accumulated, but added that the issue had been around since November 2008.
“The commissioner general of URA is not wrong to say I owe them money because promises to pay have not been fulfilled. As negotiations continue, I have engaged several lawyers and auditors,” he said.

Ezra, who had been said to be on the run, also said he needed to consult whether he would pay the taxes as an individual or share them with other concerned parties.

“I am trying to be as evasive as possible, but what came out (in the media) was at the wrong time,” he said.
Ezra, who said he is unique and that some people were planting negative stories about him in order to “demystify” him, said a feeling was being created that he was getting “finished”.

“I don’t think I am the only one who owes URA. Bill Gates has debts too. What is the hullabaloo about? I don’t know of any international dealer who doesn’t owe money,” he said.

In a letter of August 23, URA boss Allen Kagina asked the internal affairs ministry to bar Michael Ezra from travelling abroad before he paid up the taxes.

Ezra said he read about the travel ban in the media. He said the problem was not Kagina’s communication, but the timing and leakage to the media.
He said he was prompted to come out over the matter because of the tax element and other debts that made it appear he was “going down”.

“Maybe I am already down. Some people are not comfortable as long as I am around. I have been living a quiet life deliberately,” he said.

On Thursday, the Commercial Court also ordered Ezra to pay over sh400m he borrowed from the National Bank of Commerce. The money carries an interest of 31% per annum.

The bank said in 2009, Ezra borrowed sh400m that carried a 25% interest. The money was supposed to be paid back in two installments within four months.
In September last year, the Kenyan police questioned Ezra in Nairobi over allegedly issuing a cheque that was dishonoured. The cheque was to pay for medical equipment worth $20,400 from a doctor in Kenya. Yesterday, he showed transfer forms that showed he had paid for the equipment.

Asked what he does for a living, Ezra said: “I am a private citizen who does private business. When I become a public citizen, that’s when I will be obliged to declare. There are people who know what I do and where, but it’s purely my business.”

He warned that “the end of this will be powerful”, citing many attempts on his life because “people fear what they don’t know or understand about him”.

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Ugandan placed in custody on suspicion of killing his opponents supporters

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Writes Leo Oder Omolo

THE MP for Buhaguzi in Hoima, Tom Kyahurwenda, was yesterday arrested after his rival, Julius Junjura, reported that he had killed two of his agents and beaten up others as they headed to Karama polling station in Kabwoya sub-county.

Police officers arresting the MP of Buhaguzi in Hoima, Tom Kyahurwenda, at his home in Kabwoya over election matters.

The mid-western regional Police commander, Mercellino Wanitho, ordered the arrest of the MP after a bitter exchange of words with him at his home in Kabwoya sub-county.

“Don’t intimidate me because you are an MP. We have powers to handle all candidates who are unruly. You are a suspect from now, hand over your gun. Arrest him,” he ordered his juniors.

“I am ready to be arrested and killed for telling the truth. You are serving a system that is rotten,” the MP shouted as he was being arrested.

Wanitho retorted: “You and your supporters have caused problems and that is why we are here. You are beating up voters to disrupt the exercise.”

He, however, clarified that no one was killed as Junjura said, adding that the agents were just hiding, sparking rumours that they had been killed.

Kyahurwenda was being held at Hoima Central Police Station. He blamed his arrest on his brothers. “We are 72 brothers in the family but four of them keep ordering the Police to arrest me every time they want,” he added.

Last year, the MP was accused of murdering his sister. Kyahurwenda accused the Police of escorting Junjura to his rallies and distributing items to voters at night. Junjura is the deputy RDC for Isingiro.

He said the district Police chief, Augustine Kasangaki, was campaigning for Junjura. “Am I mad to campaign? Kasangaki asked.

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Presidential nomination in Uganda for next year’s polls will be on October 25 this year

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Reports Leo odera Omolo

THE nomination dates for presidential and parliamentary candidates for 2011 are October 25 and 26, the Electoral Commission said yesterday.

In a statement, chairperson Badru Kiggundu said presidential candidates will be nominated at the commission’s head offices in Kampala, and at the district headquarters for parliamentary candidates.

Kiggundu showing journalists that the leader of opposition in Parliament, Ogenga Latigo, is registered too. This was at the EC headquarters yesterday

District chairpersons and councillors will be nominated on November 4 and 5 at the district and county headquarters, respectively.

For the municipality chairpersons and councillors the date will be November 4 and 5 at the district headquarters. Kiggundu also said sub-county chairpersons and their councillors will be nominated from October 27 to 29 at the county headquarters.

“The nomination guidelines and forms shall be available at the offices of the district returning officers from September 8,” he said.

To be eligible for the presidential and parliamentary seats, a candidate must be a citizen of Uganda, a registered voter and have at least an A’level certificate or its equivalent.

A person cannot stand for president if he is of unsound mind, holds an office that handles elections, or is a cultural leader or is bankrupt.

Anyone under a death sentence or a sentence of imprisonment exceeding nine months without an option of a fine cannot also stand.

Candidates may be disqualified if they have within seven years immediately preceding the election, been convicted of a crime involving dishonesty or moral turpitude or convicted over election crimes.

Presidential candidates must also submit 100 supporters from at least 75 districts to be nominated, Kiggundu stressed.

Commenting on the exclusion of voters’ photographs on the web-based national register, Kiggundu said: “The national voters’ register has 15,002,720 voters. The inclusion of photographs would have extensively slowed the downloading speed.”

He said following the conclusion of the display of the national register on Tuesday, the commission would display the lists of all persons whose names have been recommended for deletion from September 3 to 10 at parish headquarters.

“The purpose of this supplementary display exercise is to enable any person who may have been wrongly recommended for deletion to raise an objection to the parish tribunal,” he added.

On the delay to pay field election officials, Kiggundu said many of those they recruited did not have bank accounts and submitted accounts of friends and relatives to receive their wages.

“Such accounts were queried by Bank of Uganda, and the commission has contacted the officials to clear the matter. All the affected officials will be paid.

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Uganda: Museveni is set to capture the NRM leadership and next year presidential poll

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Reports Leo Odera Omolo

PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni has returned nomination forms for the post of NRM chairman and for party flag-bearer in the 2011 presidential elections.,the government owned NEWVISION has reported.

The presidential assistant on political affairs, Moses Byaruhanga, on Monday handed over the forms to the NRM electoral commissioner, Lydia Wanyoto, at the party headquarters on Plot 10, Kyaddondo Road. Her colleague Israel Kayonde was also present.

Wanyoto quickly perused through the forms, signed and stamped both the original and duplicate copy that is returned to the candidate.

“The documents of aspirants for the different party positions will be forwarded to the central executive committee and the national conference. We thank candidate Yoweri Museveni for showing interest,” Wanyoto said.

The forms required aspirants to show their academic qualifications, voters’ card number and NRM party membership card number, among other things. They needed endorsement of at least 20 members of the delegates’ conference.

“Although we were required to get 20 signatures, we have got from the whole country. All delegates support candidate Museveni,” Byaruhanga said.

He explained that President Museveni’s interest in the top posts of the party was in response to a request by the NRM national executive committee (NEC) and district conferences that urged him to stand again for a fourth term.

“Candidate Museveni was urged by NEC and district conferences to offer his candidature to lead the party for the next five years and to become the party’s flag-bearer because he is capable. It is not his personal interest, but he is responding to that request. He could have done other things,” Byaruhanga added.

The NRM will hold its special organs conference on September 6 and 7, while its national conference is slated for September 11 and 12 at Namboole stadium.

Other aspirants for the post of NRM national chairman are former State House aides; Dr. Elizabeth Nabatanzi and Capt. Daudi Maguru.

President Museveni, 65, over the weekend spoke about his desire to be re-elected party leader and presidential candidate.

“I have returned my papers for nomination and now I can say, please vote for me,” Museveni told leaders of people with disabilities, women and youth leagues at Kamukuzi in Mbarara Municipality on Saturday.

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Uganda: Ministers in shocking and surprise defeat during nominations for next year polls

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Reports Leo Odera Omolo

The semi official government mouth-piece, the NEW VISION reported this morning that four ministers were defeated in the NRM primaries to choose parliamentary candidates for next year’s general elections.

Provisional results show that ministers Janat Namuyangu, Simon Ejua, Simon D’ujanga and Dr. Emmanuel Otaala were trounced by little known opponents.

Namuyangu, the state minister for water, is also woman MP for Pallisa. She wanted to abandon the affirmative action seat created to boost women representation in Parliament and had sought to be directly elected for Kibuku constituency.

Incumbent Saleh Kamba beat her in the race marred by violence. Kamba polled 21,539 votes compared to Namuyangu’s 5,738 votes. The elections that started at about 3:00pm were concluded at about 6:00pm on Monday.

Mubarak Kalungi, the returning officer who came from NRM headquarters in Kampala, declared the results yesterday morning at Kibuku district NRM offices.

Kalungi said Namuyangu called him at 4:20pm on Monday, saying she wanted to pull out of the race to contest as an independent.

In Vurra county in Arua district, transport minister Simon Ejua lost to Dr. Sam Okuonzi.
Okuonzi scored 16,041 votes, while the minister managed only 9,756. The result excludes two villages where election materials reached late.

Labour minister Dr. Emmanuel Otaala suffered defeat at the hands of new entrant, Jacob Oboth Oboth.

In a somewhat close race, Otaala scored 11,123 votes, 6,712 votes less those for Oboth.

Elsewhere, security minister Amama Mbabazi (Kinkiizi West), public service minister Seezi Mbaguta (Rukungiri), former health minister Maj. Gen. Jim Muhwezi (Rujumbura) and former health state minister Capt. Mike Mukula (Soroti Municipality) won.

Mbabazi won in Kinkiizi West with 36,522 votes ahead of his rival Gad Rugaju, who got 10,808.

According to partial results released by district registrar Hillary Tindiwensi, Muhwezi was leading in four sub-counties, while his opponent, Dr. Alex Kamugisha, won only in his home sub-county of Buhunga.

Mbaguta was also in the lead in the sub-counties of Bugangari, Bwambara and Buhunga, while her main challenger, the incumbent Woman MP, Winifred Masiko, was also leading in Rukungiri municipality and Ruhinda sub-county.

In Amuru district, the former minster for northern Uganda, Betty Bigombe, had a landslide victory as the flag-bearer for the Woman MP seat.

Education minister Namirembe Bitamazire was cruising to victory for the Butambala Woman MP seat, according to provisional results. By 5:45pm yesterday, Bitamazire was ahead of her closest rival, Mariam Nalubega, by 3,951 votes.

In the contest for the Butambala constituency seat, the incumbent Kaddunabbi Lubega recorded a resounding victory by garnering 97,211 votes against his rival, Faisal Kikulukunyu’s 10,660.

The Amuru district NRM registrar, Sunday Ola, said with 95% of the votes counted, Bigombe was leading with 8,366, followed by the Peace Recovery and Development commissioner, Elizabeth Alimadi, with 1,008 votes, while Concy Adoch Nyapolo polled only 430 votes.

In Oyam district, the Woman MP, Beatrice Lagada, maintained her position with 4,687 votes, followed by Joyce Otim with 81 votes. For Oyam North MP, Savior Ogena won with 2,543 and his opponent, Francis Onena, got 400 votes.

In Mityana South, Henry Kamya Makumbi was nominated unopposed as the NRM flag-bearer. Makumbi, who has been the LC3 chairperson for Mityana town council, wants to unseat Ssozi Kaddu Mukasa (Independent).

In Nwoya, senior presidential advisor on northern Uganda, Richard Too-Dwong won with a landslide victory. He polled 4,922 votes, while George Willy Mwaka, the runner-up, scored 1, 411 votes.

In the race for the Nwoya Woman MP seat, Lilly Adong fetched 6,142 votes, while her fellow contender, Rose Mary Acayo, polled 1,056 votes.

In Omoro county, former MP Jacob Oulanyah won, while in Gulu Municipality, Michael Ochora triumphed. Oulanyah got 6,384 votes, while George Omona got only 311 votes.

In the newly-created district of Ngora, Dr. Abraham Isamat emerged as the NRM party flag-bearer after trouncing five other opponents.

Isamat, who has been the Ngora district veterinary officer, got 14,370 votes in the four sub-counties that constitute Ngora.

Jacqueline Amoding became the district Woman MP flag-bearer unopposed.

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Uganda: Man suspected of Kampala twin bombing confesses his link to Al-qaeda group

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Report By Leo Odera Omolo

MUHAMOUD Mugisha, one of the suspects charged with the July 11 Kampala twin bombings, yesterday appeared at Nakawa Magistrates’ Court and recorded an extra-judicial statement.

He recorded his statement before Grade One Magistrate George Obong, after he offered to record an additional statement related to the blasts.

Mugisha, 24, is among the 32 suspects who were charged on August 16 with terrorism, murder and attempted murder at the same court. He is a resident of Kiwunya Zone, Nakulabye, in Rubaga division, but is of Rwandan origin.

The magistrate declined to divulge what Mugisha said in his confession, saying it would be prejudicial and against his work ethics.

But a source said Mugisha confessed to being an “al-Qaeda’s linkman in Uganda”. According to the source, Mugisha confessed that by the time the bombs went off, he was in Luzira Prison, where he had been charged with illegal possession of a Ugandan passport.

He was released on bail on July 29, and arrested a few days later at the Malaba border point on his way to Kenya enroute to Somalia.

The source added that Mugisha said “he is well travelled and has always made frequent trips to Kenya to meet his al-Qaeda superiors.

The source added that Mugisha confessed to being a close friend of Isa Ahmed Luyima, who has since recorded an extra-judicial statement, saying he “smuggled the suicide bomb jackets” into the country. The jackets were assembled in Somalia.

Security was tight at the court and the magistrate’s chambers were sealed off by security personnel for the entire period of the confession.

At least 79 revellers lost their lives in the bomb blasts that went off at Kyadondo Rugby Club in Lugogo and the Ethiopian Village Restaurant in Kabalagala as they watched the 2010 FIFA World Cup final. Somalia’s al-Shabaab militants claimed responsibility for the blasts.

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Tullow loses billion of dollars and its exploration right in Uganda oil field

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Economic AND Business News By Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City.

The Irish multinational oil firm, Tullow Oil is likely to lose billions of dollars under its existing exploration deal, which appear to be heading to the rock.

The simmering battle between Uganda and the oil exploration companies boiled up over last week with Irish firm, Tullow Oil losing its rights in the 400 million-barrels Kingfisher oil well, located I Western Uganda.

This development is well captured in a shocking in article published this week by the influential weekly, the EASTAFRICAN. The report revealed in detailed account the fallout between the government and two Oil companies, Tullow and Heritage oil.

The development comes just weeks after Tullow oil paid its business partner in the blocks, Heritage Oil, nearly USD 1.5 billion for its stake – in a move that the industry players- had already described as “reckless”.

Citing section 20 {1} and {2} of the Petroleum Exploration and Production Ac/Cap 150,the Uganda’s Minister for Energy Hillary Onek last week made point blank clear to Tullow and Heritage that the period within which they should have applied for a Petroleum Production license for the Kingfisher field expired in February 2010.

“In accordance with the powers entrusted in the Minister under Section 19 {1b} of the Act, I hereby direct that the Kingfisher {Kajiburuzi} Discovery Area has ceased to form part of the Petroleum Exploration Area 3A {EA-3A} under the Petroleum Exploration License grated to you on September 8,2004.”

The Minister’s letter went on, “You are therefore either jointly or severally to cease carrying out any activities under the Discovery Area,” the Minister says in an August 17 letter to the two companies.

While Heritage may be home and dry as its shareholders share out part of the proceeds from its USD 1.45 billion exit from Uganda, its east while partner Tullow, which has spent some USD 3.1 billion in acquisition and operations in Uganda, has been left severely exposed, adds the report.

Against the conventional wisdom, Tullow rushed to pay its partner the full exit costs, even before the deal had secured full approval from the Ugandan government over a pending tax dispute, the report says.

Uganda had refused to clear the deal until Heritage paid USD 408 million in capital gains tax. As the deadline for expiry of Tullow’s pre-emption rights loomed in early July, the government relented, giving conditional approval to the deal after Heritage offered to pay 30 per cent of the dispute sum- USD 121 million-to the Uganda Revenue Authority, with the rest to be deposited in an escrow account pending the outcome of the arbitration proceedings in London.

However, the report says, Tullow proceeded to pay the remaining USD 287 million into an account with Standard Chartered in London, effectively putting the money out of reach of Uganda regardless of the outcome of the arbitration.

This development angered Ugandan officials, setting of counterattack that culminated in their invoking the law against Tullow.

Minister Onek last week told the EASTAFRICAN that the oil production Sharing Agreements signed with exploration firms were clear that tax disputes would be exclusively referred to Ugandan law.

“There is a whole page about tax in the Production Sharing Agreement, which puts tax disputes under Ugandan law and only other issues are subject to arbitration in London. There are also provisions for a tax tribunal under Ugandan law to which Heritage could take their dispute. Remaining 70 per cent of the dispute sum should have been deposited in a Ugandan bank, not Standard Chartered London.

“We therefore consider the agreement under which Conditional Approval was granted invalid until all the conditions for conditional consent are fulfilled,” Mr Onek said, adding that Uganda would not continue dealing with a “dishonest company”. There are so many other companies willing to come in.” he said.

Tullow is now carrying the cross all by itself having paid Heritage the full price of its exit from Uganda. While Heritage had earlier agreed to exchange USD 150 million of its dues for interests in any other field held by Tullow, sensing what was coming; they upped the game and got USD 100 million in cash instead.

This is part of the money they used to deposit the USD 121 million with the URA effectively leaving them in a position to deliver the USD 1.33 billion they had promised their shareholders.

The report says that Tulow was desperate to close the deal because it had not been completely honest with its shareholders. For months, it had been making positive statements about the Ugandan business, which pumped up its share price on the London Stock Exchange.

Such misrepresentation, says the report, include data on oil finds by Heritage, which at the time did not belong to Tullow. A collapse of the transfer deal would expose this, threatening the USD 3.1 billion that has so far been spent by the company in Uganda.

Tullow’s USD 3.1 billion exposure in Uganda is made up as follows. The USD 1.1 billion Hardman buyout, USD 500 million exploration of block 2 and the USD 1.45 billion Heritage buyout. Block 3A expires in September 7, while Block 1 expires next year.

Questions are also emerging on how Tullow racked up such huge costs for its operations in Uganda.

While Heritage spent USD 150 million to explore 6,279 square kilometers, Tullow claims to have spent USD 500 million on much smaller area. Unless there are demonstrable geological differences to justify the costs, belong to Tullow’s costs, which are deductable fro sales.

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leooderaomolo@yahoo.com

uganda: Museveni has announced his intention to capture both presidency and NRM leadership

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Reports Leo Odera omolo In Kisumu City

PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni has announced his candidature for the NRM chairmanship and as the flag-bearer for the party in next year’s presidential elections.

Museveni is welcomed by NRM supporters during one of his national tours to mobilise households to improve their income

Museveni is the current chairman of the NRM, the ruling party. If re-elected by the national conference in September, he will become the party’s flag-bearer in the 2011 elections, and on the path to another term in office.

The NRM will hold its special organs conference on September 6-7, while its national conference will be held on September 11-12 at Namboole stadium.

Dr. Elizabeth Nabatanzi and Capt. Daudi Maguru, the President’s former aide, have also declared their intentions to contest for the party’s chairmanship.

Speaking at Kamukuzi in Mbarara municipality on Saturday, Museveni told leaders of people with disabilities, women and youth leagues that he submitted his nomination papers to the NRM electoral commission on Friday for the chairmanship of the party and flag-bearer for the NRM in next year’s elections, according to a State House statement.

He urged party members to support his candidature in the delegates conference. “I am happy to hear that disabled people are embracing my candidature,” announced Museveni, who was the chief guest at the commissioning of the Western Uganda Centre for People with Disabilities.

He appealed to members of the NRM delegates’ conference and all party members to endorse his bid so as to cement the gains the country has realised since NRM came to power in 1986.

He said together with other historical members of NRM, they fought and brought peace and stability, revamped the country’s economy, boosted revenue collection and ensured economic stability.

He noted that as the country goes into a phase of socio-economic transformation, some members of the historical team need to be kept in positions of leadership to provide the much needed expertise and experience to propel the country ahead. He added that the NRM enjoys a lot of support nationally.

“The Speaker of Parliament had to call off parliamentary sessions because NRM MPs were going for party primaries. Other parties could not raise the quorum for Parliament to sit, which shows that we are in charge,” the President said.

On the poor functioning of the party structures, Museveni attributed it to lack of funds, but said everything possible was being done to fund the smooth running of the party.

He warned State House staff against interfering in the ongoing NRM primary elections. “State House staff are my workers and they shouldn’t do things I didn’t send them to do,” Museveni warned.

The President’s remarks followed a report from Dan Kimosho, who is contesting for the western region youth MP, that some State House staff were meddling in the youth parliamentary elections.

Museveni was the chief guest at the commissioning of the centre for people with disabilities. It will host regional offices and a training centre. It was initiated by the western region MP for PWDs, Hood Katuramu. The President contributed sh70m towards the completion of the centre.

He said the NRM recognises the need for affirmative action for PWDs, the reason he supported legislation to have them represented politically from the grassroots to the national level and in all NRM party structures

Ends

Uganda: UPC IS OUT OF THE COALITION OF THE OPPOSITION PARTIES

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Reports leo Odera Omolo

THE Uganda Peoples Congress (UPC) party, one of the five political parties that form the Inter-Party Cooperation (IPC), has opted out of the coalition over what it called irreconcilable reasons.

The party is expected to announce its fallout today after a meeting at the Christ the King Conference Hall.

The decision to pull out of the coalition was arrived at over the weekend after a consultative meeting with the party’s national leaders.

“There will not be speculations about our position. We shall tell Ugandans whether we remain in IPC or we move out,” said UPC secretary general Joseph Bbosa.

However, sources in the party said the leaders agreed to pull out. “The problem is how the party does it without hurting other opposition members,” a source said.

A split arose two weeks ago over how to move forward with the fight against the Electoral Commission (EC).

While UPC wanted the IPC not to participate in any activities organised by the EC, other members wanted the coalition to prepare for next year’s elections as it continued to fight the commission.

UPC President Olara Otunnu on Saturday said the core reason for the IPC was to have the commission disbanded. He added that the commission was not capable of delivering free and fair election.

Otunnu appearing on a Vision Voice talkshow

But the IPC chairman and FDC president, Kizza Besigye, maintained: “We can discuss other issues but we can never boycott. We can fight the EC as we prepare for polls. We think a change in the commission is possible even towards elections.”

Sources said it was too late for UPC to reconsider its position, since the IPC campaigns end today and voting is tomorrow for a single opposition candidate.

The bickering is said to originate from the party’s disagreement with the dominate opposition party, the FDC. UPC accuses FDC of dishonesty and hijacking the coalition for its own gains.

“An example is when the former katikkiros were recently called to an FDC campaign launch in the Buganda region, which was disguised as an IPC meeting. It is this kind of behaviour of FDC using IPC to widen its political base that has made us move out of IPC,” the source said.

Political analyst, however, note that UPC’s pulling out of the coalition would hurt the opposition. “Going alone, will fracture the opposition,” said law professor Golooba Muteebi.

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UGANDAN magistrate is arrested for soliciting bribes money

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo

A COURT clerk attached to Kisoro Magistrate’s Court, has told court that he witnessed the arrest of his boss, David Cheptuke Kaye, who is accused of receiving bribe from a suspect.
Deo Tereraho on Thursday told Justice Paul Mugamba at the start of the trial that two detectives from Inspectorate of Government told him his boss had received a bribe.

Cheptuke faces one count of corruptly soliciting for gratification, and two counts of receiving gratification. Cheptuke is alleged to have received 200,000 from Angella Uwayesu and John Bosco Nyundo so that he could grant bail to Dennis Masekura, Richard Ntirengaya, and Scovia Busingye.

Prosecution, led by Timothy Ojara, from the IGG’s office said Cheptuke on February12, at Kisoro Magistrate Court received sh100, 000 from Angella Uwayezu so that he could grant bail to her three nephews who were charged with malicious damage of property.

In another count, Cheptuke is alleged to have received sh100, 000 from John Bosco Nyundo as final payment.

Dennis Masekura, the second prosecution told court he got information from Kisoro district speaker William Harerimana, that Cheptuke was demanding more sh100, 000 as final payment for granting bail to Masekura and his brother.

Japheth Twinomugabe, a Police officer attached to IGG’s office in Kisoro told court that he arrested Kaye from his chambers after he searched him and found him with sh100, 000. He said the serial numbers of the bank notes matched those recorded prior to the arrest. The money was tendered in court as exhibit

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Uganda: New districts in country to create 3,000 more jobs to the local people

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo

THE demarcation of 23 districts effective July 1, has created 3,000 jobs.
The new districts include Nwoya, Alebtong, Bukomansibi, Gomba, Mitooma, Serere, Napak, Kole, Buvuma, Kween, Kyankwanzi, Lwengo, Agago, Butambala and Namayingo.

Each of them needs at least 150 staff. Some of the district leaders who spoke to Saturday Vision said they wanted to recruit immediately, while others want to fill the positions after elections.

Currently, the new districts are operating with skeleton staff they inherited from their mother districts.

Buvuma district, for instance, has only two members of staff – a chief administrative officer (CAO) and his deputy.

“Buvuma got only one person from Mukono,” the chairman, Alex Mabirizi, said. “We need 20 more staff to be able to run the district in the short term. At the moment, we are considering getting staff from other districts Mukono.”

Similarly, Butambala has only one employee in the education department, yet it needs five. “The district intends to recruit as soon as possible,” says LC5 chairman Bavekuno Kyeswa.

Kalungu district, which was carved from Masaka, currently has only 12 staff, says Juliet Nakatte, the CAO.

In Lubirizi district, the LC5 chairman David Kisembo, says they have so far got only heads of departments, who have embarked on planning for the district.

Mohamed Nakeba, the chairman of Kibuku district, says he got 27 staff from Pallisa district. “The good thing is that they are committed and are doing the work meant to be done in other offices which are not yet filled.”

The Nwoya district chairman, Patrick Okello, told Saturday Vision that he had 26 staff. “We need more and at the moment we are considering borrowing the services of the neighbouring district service commissions to recruit for us.”

Those eyeing the jobs in the districts should also consider the opportunities in the mother districts which remained with gaps after giving out their staff to the new districts.

A district like Mukono which gave out about 25 staff to Buikwe and Buvuma will also have to fill those positions.
Apart from the 3,000 jobs in the new districts, there are also some opportunities that exist in the districts which started operating in the previous financial year, such as Buikwe.

The Buikwe LC5 chairman, Matthias Kigongo, says the district has 24 staff some of whom are occupying two or more offices.

Kigongo says the district will recruit more staff after the general elections. Buikwe has not secured a district service commission and as a result, cannot recruit staff. He says the new leaders will set up the commission.

In Namutumba, the LC5 chairman Michael Saire, says they have had only 55% of the required staff since 2006, when the district was created.

In addition to the districts, the eight new municipalities are also planning to recruit.

They are Mukono, Kasese, Hoima, Ntungamo, Busia, Masindi, Bushenyi and Iganga. Mukono Central Division chairman Johnson Muyanja Ssenyonga said they need about 129 employees in the municipality.

ENDS.

Uganda: Museveni tell the African bishops to promote development and social transformation

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo

PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni on Wednesday evening hosted the visiting African and foreign Bishops to a dinner at State House Entebbe. The prelates are here for the second All Africa Bishops Conference in Entebbe at Imperial Resort Beach Hotel which ends tomorrow.

As they arrived atop the hill at snail pace in three minibuses, many were awe struck by the breath taking beauty of the palatial structure, imposing majestically over Entebbe town. They ate and drank, with the President who called on them to champion social economic transformation.

“It is very important that the church leaders, political leaders and traditional leaders understand that social-economic transformation is the main problem in Africa”, the President said.
Museveni told them that as shepherds of the people of Africa, they ought to appreciate that Africans are among the most under-developed in the world.

African societies, he stressed, must undergo changes from peasant, feudal settings to middle class and skilled working class societies, according to a state House Press release.
He noted that Bishops had plenty of time to interact with the people and pass on the message of social transformation.

The President asked the Church leaders to encourage people to work and not to sit idly thinking God would make things happen miraculously. Archbishop Henry Luke Orombi of the Church of Uganda assured his fellow prelates that the people of Uganda were hospitable and open hearted.

He thanked President Museveni for his support to the conference, saying over 300 bishops had attended the conference.
Yesterday, the bishops deliberated on ways through which the church could fight against climate change and food insecurity.

In a keynote presentation, Dr. Rose Mwebaza, a senior legal advisor on environment at the Nairobi-based Institute of Security Studies, said the continent was bound to suffer endless hunger and high disease burden due to climate change.

“The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) says the greatest hunger in the world is in Africa. And climate change is going to exacerbate the problem through increased drought, floods and disease burden,” Mwebaza said.

She challenged the clergy to mobilise believers to start up simple energy technologies like biogas and reduce dependence on wood and curb deforestation

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Kenya and Uganda in EAC new railway pact

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Reports Leo Odera Omolo

THE Rift Valley Railways (RVR) and the Ugandan and Kenyan governments have signed a revised concession pact to pave way for the release of about $250m (sh2.2 trillion) to boost operations along the Kenya-Uganda railway line.

A woman disembarks a Rift Valley Railways passenger train at Nambole during a Bukedde show in 2009

Jim Mugunga, the Privatisation Unit spokesperson, said the agreement will fast track the introduction of a professional operator to manage the network and attract development partners to invest in the sector.

Finance minister Syda Bbumba and Kenya’s trade minister Amos Kimunya officiated at the function that took place at the finance ministry offices in Kampala on Wednesday.

However, yesterday Bbumba referred all inquiries regarding the date of commencement of works to transport minister John Nasasira, whose phones were all switched off.

“All the terms and conditions are determined by the transport ministry, mine is divestiture,” Bbumba said.

The two governments have been at loggerheads with RVR’s principal shareholder, Citadel Capital, over the inclusion of two crucial railway lines in a concession.

The company was contracted to manage the Mombasa-Kampala railway line for more than two decades.

The signing ends the row between the Egyptian equity firm and a section of Ugandan and Kenyan businessmen, who did not want the Tororo-Pakwach and Kampala-Kasese railway lines included in the concession, against Citadel Capital’s demands.

The two lines, leading to two regions endowed with minerals, oil, and agricultural potential as well as the sprawling Southern Sudan market, are now in the concession.

The development also confirms Citadel Capital as the principal shareholder in RVR (51%) with Kenya’s investment powerhouse TransCentury taking up 34% of the shares. Ugandan investors bag 15%.

However, in a bizarre twist, RVR officials, who did not want to be named, said there had been no signing following a cancellation letter from the finance ministry on Monday.

“The letter suspended the signing till further notice,” said an RVR official, who declined to disclose the details of the letter to New Vision.

RVR Uganda managing director Christina Wadulo said she was on leave and unable to comment on the matter.

The revamping of activities along the Kenya-Uganda railway have dragged on since 2005, when the Kenyan and Ugandan governments handed over the railway management to RVR, which was then under the shadowy South African investment firm, Sheltam Rail.

Controversy crippled in after the firm’s chief executive officer, Roy Puffet, secretly sold off 49% of RVR shares to wealthy Egyptians, who demanded to chair the RVR board.

This sparked off a bitter row with other shareholders, who included Kenya’s TransCentury (20%), Centum Ltd (10%), Tanzania’s Mirambo Holdings (15%), Prime Fuels of Kenya (15%) and Babcock Investments Holdings of Australia (10%).

The shareholder’s stakes, apart from TransCentury’s, were later liquidated after the World Bank intervened to settle the boardroom wars.

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Uganda has proposed to lease oil wells to prospectus investors

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Economic and Business News By Leo Odera Omolo

UGANDA has repossessed an oil field in Hoima after exploration company Tullow Oil failed to meet the Government’s terms.

Accordingly, the Kingfisher (Kajubirizi) discovery area has ceased to form part of the petroleum exploration area Tullow had been licensed to manage in 2004, energy and mineral development minister Hillary Onek said yesterday.
The area was technically referred to as 3A(EA-3A).

Block 3A and Block 1 were jointly operated by Heritage and Tullow. However, Heritage sold its interest to Tullow.

In a letter, Onek said Tullow’s licence had expired.

Under the law, Tullow should have applied for a production licence within two years of discovering the oil, which it did not. “The period within which you are supposed to have applied for a petroleum production licence for the Kingfisher (Kajubirizi) field expired in February 2010,” he told Tullow managers.

The development means that Uganda can license another player since it does not recognise Tullow’s transaction with Heritage. Accordingly, Tullow risks losing $1.45b, which it paid Heritage for the asset.

Athough Heritage and Tullow discovered the oil in 2008, none of them applied for a production licence.

“There was either lack of interest in the block or the operators were not willing to provide Government with plans for oil production,” said an expert in the oil industry.

Tullow alluded to a delay towards production in the affected field.

“The Government has indicated that they will not grant an appraisal licence extension until the tax matter is resolved,” the firm said in its bi-annual report to shareholders on Wednesday.

The Government had required Heritage to pay tax on the income they got from the sale of the field, which they did not do. Now the Governent wants the tax paid by Tullow who took the asset.

“In the short term, it is, therefore, anticipated that there may be some slow down in activity.

“While effective ownership of the assets has been transferred to Tullow, the Government wishes to resolve the tax dispute prior to granting final approval to proceed,” Tullow added.

In an apparent contradiction, the firm also said: “The Government of Uganda has, however, indicated that a dispute with Heritage over capital gains tax needs to be resolved before the purchase from Heritage…”

The Government insists Heritage must pay all the taxes due to the transaction amounting to $404,925,000.

Heritage is not willing to pay and has referred the matter to the London Court of Arbitration.

The fate of Tullow’s $1.45b it paid to Heritage is not clear.

Ends

Uganda: Museveni opened all Anglican Bishops conference in Kampala and warns of religion extremism

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Reports LeoOdera Omolo In Kisumu City

PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni has warned against religious intolerance, saying it is one of the reasons that prompted him and his comrades to go to war in order to stabilize the country.

Addressing the All Africa Bishops Conference in Entebbe yesterday, Museveni said the formative years of religion in Uganda were characterised by friction between denominations.

Bishops sing after the All Africa Bishops Conference was officially opened by President Museveni at the Imperial resort Beach Hotel

“There was friction between the Protestants and Catholics and later between the two and Muslims. Protestants came in 1877 and the Catholics in 1879, but by 1890, we already had a civil war. You can imagine the confusion allegedly in the name of God,” he said.

From 1888, he noted, people were killing each other ‘on behalf of God’. “I don’t know where they met God to instruct them to go and kill each other, you should study this,” he told the prelates, throwing them into laughter.

That rivalry, Museveni added, went on into the 1970s, climaxing into the (former dictator) Idi Amin regime.

“This problem is one of the issues that formed my political awareness and together with my colleagues, we were determined to stop it. As a Christian, I challenged this and said: ‘This is not what God told you to do; you are all wrong’,” he said, to thunderous applause.

He reminded them of the story of the Good Samaritan who helped a man who had been beaten up by robbers, yet he (Samaritan) was not of the victim’s social caste.

“I am always looking for the Good Samaritan. Jesus said we shall know them by their deeds. Not clothes, titles or names, but by their deeds,” he stressed.

He described the religious wars going on in the world as okuhimbagira, “to disorient oneself in a very fundamental way”.

“You fight this one, fight that one; what is your problem? That I am a Muslim? If you are, so what? If I am a Christian, what’s your problem?”

“You are what you are, I am what I am and everyone of us is here in their own right by the permission of God; so you must accept me the way I am.”

He said there were some groups in Kawempe on the outskirts of Kampala some years ago who wanted to riot because somebody had eaten pork.

“I don’t eat fish because my people call it snake. I don’t eat chicken because my people think it makes one unstable, don’t eat pork and sheep but I am the number one promoter of piggery in the whole of Uganda.

“I think tolerance is firmly based on the Biblical story of the Good Samaritan,” he said.

The President, who was jolly and kept cracking jokes, invited the clergy to visit Uganda again, saying it is unique, being on the equator but experiencing permanent snow on Mt. Rwenzori because it is 5,000 metres above sea level. Only Kenya and Ecuador in South America, he added, have such an experience.

Addressing a press conference later, Orombi said they had met the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, over homosexuality which has split the Anglican church.

“He recognised that he has complicated work to do. We impressed it on him that he had totally gone in a different direction and he has to sort it out,” Orombi said.

He said the church in Singapore, south-east Asia and Africa had decided to stick to the Word of God and the Anglican Communion was strengthening its ties with them.

“We sympathise with his (Williams) position. It’s like having unruly kids in his house and he can’t sit down to eat food. We told him no more diplomacy on that matter,” he said.

Experts on family issues, maternal health and HIV/AIDS also made their presentations.

Dr. Peter Okaalet said the 10 killer diseases in Africa like malaria, HIV/AIDS and accidents are preventable.

“Africa has failed to prevent these 10 killer diseases because its health system is overburdened to the extent that it cannot deliver anything,” Okaalet said.

“Most of the budgets of the African countries offer $10 to $20 for health per person every year, which cannot do anything.”

Sylvia Mwichuli said Africa has the potential to end poverty. “Africa is not doomed, it has a lot of potential and South Africa has just exhibited it when she hosted a successful World Cup recently,” she added.

Mwiculi observed that the gap between the rich and the poor who struggle to live is very big and needs to be bridged urgently.

She challenged religious leaders to support people and groups of people who advocate for the positive change on the continent.

Ends

Uganda: UPC leader Dr. Olara Otunnu is undecided over opposition parties alliance

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo

THE Uganda Peoples Congress (UPC) is still consulting members on the proposal to field a joint presidential candidate in
the 2011 elections, party president Olara Otunnu said yesterday. The Inter-Party Cooperation, a loose alliance of five opposition parties, is trying to agree on a joint candidate.

Otunnu, however, caused panic last week when he failed to turn up at Kololo Airstrip for the nomination of the candidates.

After a crisis meeting with the IPC on Monday, Otunnu said the UPC elders would make the final decision.

“Why was this coalition formed? Is the coalition taking the right path? What have we achieved?” Otunnu asked.
UPC accuses the IPC leadership of dishonesty. It says the group’s rotational chairman, Kizza Besigye of the Forum for Democratic Change, is manipulating the coalition in favour of his party.

The emergency meeting, chaired by Besigye, was attended by Ken Lukyamuzi (CP), Asuman Basalirwa (JEEMA) and a representative of the Social Democratic Party.

After the meeting at the IPC headquarters on Katonga Road in Nakasero, Besigye said the meeting had addressed UPC concerns conclusively, but Otunnu said otherwise.

On the allegation of dominating the IPC, Besigye said it was not true and instead blamed inadequate communication. He said UPC needed to deal with its obligations.

The meeting agreed to hold a conference on August 31, to allow members who wish to participate to be nominated. IPC will also hold two public hearings on Friday and Saturday in Kampala and Jinja.

On his part, Otunnu said: “UPC is systematic in dealing with critical issues. UPC will fulfill its responsibilities, while sticking to its principles.”
He said the party first needed to conclude the ongoing process of setting up structures nationwide as it prepares for primaries in September.

Meanwhile, DP yesterday appealed to the opposition to instead agree joint parliamentary and local government candidates.

It said each party should, however, field its own presidential candidate as the best way to deny Museveni an outright 50% win. The parties should only field a joint candidate for a re-run, DP boss Norbert Mao said.
Political analyst Prof. Golooba Muteebi thinks otherwise.

“Going alone, will fracture the opposition,” he argued.
“Unity is what they need.”

ENDS

Uganda: Museveni warns NRM members to go to into primaries instead of short-cut

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Reports Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City

PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni has told the National Resistance Movement (NRM) members to go into primaries knowing that the party is more important than individuals.

Museveni holds a potato given to him by a farmer in Butansi, Kamuli. Next is Kiyingi and right is Kadaga

“If you lose in an election, support the person who has won. To create disunity because you have lost is not good. Even me, I can’t do anything as an individual,” Museveni, who is the NRM chairman, noted.

“The power I have is from the people. It is wrong to think that the individual you support is higher than the party,” he added.

The President was over the weekend speaking during a talk-show over NBS FM in Jinja district during his tour of Busoga region.

Museveni denied claims by some contestants that he anointed them to vie for the various political posts in the party.

“Don’t be diverted. I can’t send anybody to contest in the party. They are all my children and I can’t support one against the other. I will support the flag-bearer elected by the people,” he clarified.

The President’s comments come at a time when cases of violent campaigns have been reported across the country in the ongoing party campaigns for MP and district chairpersons.

Today, several NRM members vying for executive posts are expected to pick nomination forms from the party headquarters in Kampala.

The President is in Busoga to assess projects implemented by NAADS under the Prosperity for All programme. The programme is aimed at fighting household poverty by boosting incomes through commercialised production.
“I have been here for a week, but have you heard me mention any candidate? I have never sent anybody to contest. All members are mine as long as they belong to the party,” the President elaborated.

In another talk-show on Kamuli Broadcasting Service FM, Museveni warned NRM leaders against fighting each other, saying leaders must not show personal or misplaced biases when dealing with party affairs.

“A manager is a leader who doesn’t take sides. Those under them may fight but not leaders,” Museveni cautioned.
The warning was prompted by reports by lands state minister Asuman Kiyingi that Parliament deputy Speaker Rebecca Kadaga was funding his opponent.

Henry Kibalya, an employee of Uganda Breweries, is among the four candidates campaigning for Bugabula South, where Kiyingi is the incumbent. Others are Charles Naluswa Mutyabule and Henry Kyesitalo.

“I have evidence that people are funded by Kadaga because I am against Prince Gabula’s becoming the Busoga king,” Kiyingi said.

Prince William Gabula Nadiope IV is facing off with Prince Edward Colombus Wambuzi for the Kyabazinga seat.
Kadaga fired back: “I think this is being cheap. I have not done anything like that. What he (Kiyingi) is saying is nonsense.”

Museveni said he would meet the leaders to discuss the issues.
He said it was wrong for party leaders to show favouritism among supporters at the grassroots

Ends