PHOTO: MP Mukasa (2nd left) joins NUP VP Dr. Zedriga (left), MP Katabaazi (2nd right) and Kayunga’s Harriet Nakwede to campaign for NUP candidate Simon Tolit (standing in the car on right side). LOP Mpuuga is in the car (left side)
BY SHARONE ASIO NEWS EDITOR MEDIA
RUBAGA South legislator Aloysius Mukasa yesterday joined a team of NUP leaders led by the Leader of Opposition Rt. Hon. Mathias Nsamba Mpuuga, NUP Vice President for Northern Uganda Dr. Lina Zedriga, NUP SG David Lewis Rubongoya and other Members of Parliament to comb a village called Bobi in Omoro County for party candidate Simon Tolit Acache who according to political analysts, will make NRM candidate Andrew Ojok Oulanyah, run for his money come tomorrow’s poll. Hon. Mukasa travelled on Tuesday morning to Northern Uganda in Acholi Subregion to campaign for NUP candidate Simon Tolit. He travelled with his vote strategists. Other MPs captured by our cameras were, Joyce Baagala Ntwatwa (Woman MP Mityana district) and Francis Xavier Katabaazi. Omoro County Constituency fell vacant after the demise of area MP Jacob Oulanyah L’okori who doubled as Speaker Parliament of Uganda. Under its mandate, the Electoral Commision set May 26, 2022 as election day to fill this position. Out of the 12 candidates who picked nomination forms, only six fulfilled all the requirements. They are; Onen Jimmy Walter (IND), Odonga Terence (IND), Tolit Simon Akecha (NUP), Kizza Oscar (ANT), Ojok Andrew Oulanyah (NRM) and Odong Justine (FDC).
‘ALL IS SET FOR OUR VICTORY’, MP ALOYSIUS MUKASA Speaking to our reporter from Omoro Constituency yesterday night, Hon. Aloysius Mukasa said all they went to canvass for votes, voters were only waiting to massively vote for candidate Tolit who they say has experience, political maturity and he is a tested leader. “Our candidate is a darling. He isn’t a visitor in the Constituency. He is one of them and perfectly understands issues affecting Omoro Country. In Omoro, there isn’t any tarmac road, there are no medical facilities, schools are in a sorry state, unemployment is too much and people want a leader who will speak out with out fear or favour òfor the government to compensate them. Tolit is a brand name, our expectations are very high.” Said Hon. Aloysius Mukasa. He saluted top party leadership right from the President Hon. Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, VP Zedriga, LOP Rt. Hon. Mathias Mpuuga, SG David Lewis Ruongoya, Members of Parliament, other leaders and all footsoldiers who travelled to Omoro to campaign for party candidate, Simon Tolit Acache. “Victory is on our side. Those with a habit of rigging for their weak candidates should stand warned. Let them dare rig Omoro votes, they will live to regret their action.” Warned MP Mukasa. We are reliably informed, all NUP teams which will monitor and protect Tolit’s votes are on ground and another team led by Makindye mayor Alhaj Ali Kasirye Nganda Mulyanyama from Kampala has just left for Omoro. However MP says, they are under intimidation by security organs and a number of NUP supporters have been arrested.
MP MUKASA VISIT OMORO ACCIDENT VICTIMS Before travelling to Omoro for campaigns, on Monday morning Hon. Mukasa visited NUP footsoldiers Sharon wa Bobi and Den City who are admitted in Rubaga Hospital where they are getting treatment after a fatal accident which claimed lives when their car overturned enroute to Omoro on Saturday, last week.
Hon. Mukasa visiting Den City at Rubaga Hospital
Hon. Mukasa who looked crestfallen on seeing Den City and Sharon struggling for dear life, assured them that he will stand with them as he wished the patients a quick recovery. He contributed financial support and pleged to stand with families until the two get well. MP Mukasa first visited BBS Terefayina journalist Amon Kitaamirike who we are told got fractures on both legs and his neck is under support. Kitaamirike who is at Mengo Hospital needs more prayers just like Lord Councilor Nusifa Nakato who according to our sources, is still in Soroti Hospital. Hon. Mukasa also gave financial help to the BBS journalist who was travelling in the same car with NUP members to Omoro.
@ DENNIS WAISWA’S BURIAL After visiting accident victims, the indefatigable Hon. Mukasa drove to Kamuli to attend send off for 2021 Iganga Municipality NUP MP aspirant Dennis Waiswa at a function attended by NUP Party president Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, members of Parliament and other leaders.
Hon. Kyagulanyi, Hon. Mukasa, SG David Rubongoya and Deputy Spokeserson Alex Waiswa Mufumbiro at the burial of Dennis Waiswa in Kamuli on Monday
Dennis Waiswa and councilor Yakub Kiggundu lost lives in the Saturday fatal accident. May the souls of the deceased rest in eternal peace!
BY-ELECTION WILL BE A WALKOVER: Ariko assures journalists shortly after judgement was delivered
NEWS EDITOR MEDIA
YESTERDAY, three Justices of Court Appeal; Cheborion Barishaki, Stephen Musota and Christopher Gashirabake threw out of Parliament FDC’s Soroti City East legislator Moses Attan and ordered Electoral Commission to conduct by-elections for Soroti City East Constituency, congratulations Mr. Herbert Edmund Ariko, the petitioner. The Court of Appeal upheld the High court judgment nullifying the election of Moses Attan as the Soroti City East Member of Parliament, sending supporters of Ariko into early celebrations, vowing to defeat Attan with a big percentage of votes when EC declares a by election. At the Court of Appeal in Kampala, Ariko supporters were heard saying, “Attan thought would run away with our victory, but alas! We are now going into a free and fair election, let him not waste time. If he insists on standing, our candidate Edmund Ariko will embarrass him. This is a sure win. We have warned him in time.” According to the judgment read out on Tuesday by the Court of Appeal Registrar Susan Kanyange on behalf of the Justices, Their Lordships agreed with the petitioner Mr. Ariko that, demarcation of boundaries within the constituency was not properly done. For starters, the judgment arose from an appeal filed by Hon. Attan challenging the Soroti High Court decision that had ordered him out of Parliament and allowed a by-election in Soroti City East Constituency following a successful election petition by Herbert Edmund Ariko. Last year, Soroti High Court Judge Her Lordship Hon. Anne Mugenyi nullified the victory of Attan on grounds that his election was conducted in non-existent wards of Aloet and Opiyai. Mugenyi’s decision was based on a March 10th, 2021, High Court judgment that saw Justice Wilson Masalu Musene revert Opiyai and Aloet to Soroti City East Division. The two wards had previously been annexed to Soroti City West Division by the same judge in November 2020. But Justice Musene said that he had not been served with documents for the creation of Soroti City from Parliament and declaration of the cabinet on the same, hence his decision. Mugenyi relied on the same decision noting that there was gross non-compliance with the electoral laws which affected the results in a substantial manner because there was disenfranchising of 5,233 voters from both Aloet and Opiyai. He ordered the Electoral Commission to conduct fresh elections and ordered Attan to pay costs to Ariko. Attan through his lawyers of Galisonga and Company Advocates and Alliance Advocates filed an appeal raising six major grounds which he says that the learned Soroti High Court Judge erred upon to reach her decision. According to the appeal, Attan among other grounds argued that the learned trial Judge erred in law in entertaining Ariko’s petition because she didn’t have jurisdiction to hear it while relying on the decisions made by the same court to which High Court lacked jurisdiction. Ariko has higher chances to take this constituency being a darling, a well connected man with political kingmakers in Soroti and a very smart and organised politician. Let’s watch the space.
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Author Ivan Bwowe taking a selfie with two female FDC MPs
OPINION BY: IVAN BWOWE Lawyer ivan@bwowe.com
I.F. STONE warned us that all governments lie. He cautioned us that disaster lies in wait for countries whose officials smoke the same hashish they give out. Diversion of public attention is one way of focusing the public to minor things like birthday celebrations. I vehemently object to this practice and purpose. We have high inflation rate, and the government is doing nothing about it. The Covid-19 pandemic battered economies, but even then, responses differed, many African countries have dived deep into more debt and corruption has flourished by default. Vaccines propelled us into recovery, but the world never predicted the Russia-Ukraine war. Food supply chains disrupted and so is the energy sector. The war impacts us even when it is happening miles away. In Uganda, it is annoying that everything is now blamed on Covid-19 and the war in Ukraine. We are close to blaming the 36 years of steady progress in levels of corruption on the close to three months war. The current inflation has more to do with long-term and short-time government policies marinated with incompetence than Covid19 and the war in Ukraine. This is contributing to and prolongs the suffering of ordinary citizens. John Locke’s theory of government notes that governments exist to promote public good, protect life, liberty, and the people’s properties. Depending on how deeply you are grounded in political theories & economy. Governments are critical in creating legal and social frameworks in which the economy works i.e., the levy of taxes, income distributional, subsidies, stabilization funds, etc. That said, weather there was Covid-19 or there is a war in Ukraine, the duty of any responsible government remains to find solutions to problems. This job is heavily paid for by the citizens. When excuses become the only solution they can offer, then they either love or benefit from the status quo or they have failed on social contract an idea that is rooted in the sophists of Greece and expounded on by great philosophers like Thomas Hobbes, John Locke and Jacques Rousseau. Failure to take any action is to promote the status quo. The lie told by many officials is that the current inflation rests squarely on Covid-19 and the war in Ukraine, an excuse I reject or a lie I refuse to buy. Inflation is not a new phenomenon in Uganda since independence. Political decisions have tremendously contributed towards triggering, sustaining or promoting inflation. By a decree even H.E Idi Amin Dada understood the role of government in inflation control, focusing on reducing transport costs and combating hoarding of essential goods. Before Covid-19 and the war in Ukraine, there is evidence that inflation has been on the rise and there is no evidence to suggest that even without the war and Covid-19 we would not have found ourselves in the current situation. The independent contribution of Covid-19 and the war in Ukraine to the current levels of inflation cannot be ascertained.
When President Museveni commissioned the Marine Ambulances to strengthen emergency care services on our water bodies. On Sunday night, there was a presidential address on skyrocketing prices. He blamed it on Covid-19 and Ukraine war
Politicians lead the blame song to save face and the economists sing the chorus. Uganda’s inflation has been largely political. From December of 2014 to December 2015 inflation rose from 1.8 to 9.3. Consistently in a year preceding general elections and a year after general elections there has been sharp inflation. There is no evidence to suggest otherwise in considering the 2021 general elections. The poor decisions to block truck drivers at the boarders led to the rise of fuel prices and prices continue to rise without any checks on oil giants operating in Uganda. What is more chilling however, is that the Government of Uganda is doing nothing as Ugandans sink under the weight of inflation. Our Neighbours; Tanzania, Rwanda and Kenya are also affected by Covid-19 and the war in Ukraine; however, their governments are not absent as they have come to the reschedule of the citizens. Rwanda intervened by increasing the lending rate on top of subsidizing public transport and fuel prices, hence impacting food prices. Tanzania has increased salaries of civil servants on top of other subsidies. Kenya recently increased the minimum wage an international national labour day gift, a phenomenon still eluding Uganda. I am not arguing that this is the ultimate solution to inflation but some interventions from the government lift some burden off the citizens. President Museveni’s long address on the economic situation had nothing to offer in the country’s policy direction to deal with the current inflation. We cannot blame Covid-19 and the war in Ukraine for Uganda not having food banks and Uganda’s poor management of the fuel reserves as the country’s strategic national security assets. This is on poor governance.
The Author Ivan Bwowe is a lawyer by profession and former Guild President Makerere University Email: ivan@bwowe.com
PHOTO: Vice Chairman-Nabweru North Mr. Sserunjogi Ssebulege (in a yellow tshirt), embracing the official launch of Baydle Company, Nansana Branch Financial Agent office. He was with Baydle company staff
NEWS EDITOR MEDIA
LAST week on 16th May 2022, Baydle company through its financial Agents, kick-started the official opening of financial Agents branch offices around Kampala and the surrounding areas. This was done as Baydle made 6 months in Uganda making people rich right at their fingertips. BAYDLE is an online intermediary Platform that offers online jobs for those who need daily income which ranges between 100,000 – 300,000Ugx. Baydle app only requires a member to click the Like Button on Baydle app and the system will automatically forward the order to the platform partners. One of the official financial Agent branch was opened up in Nansana, off Municipal council head offices, spearheaded by the Senior regional Agent Lee Linda.
Party time as Baydle Company opens branch in Nansana
Another branch was opened up in Mukono at Mukono mall Opposite Quality Supermarket near IMC Medical center. It is headed by Shuuti Alexandria Abbot. These offices have been put in place to easily help members access recharge services easily and guidance for new members on how the platform works. The Baydle application business model is a three-way win-win policy, Youtube/Facebook?Tiktok/Twitter bloggers and marketeers need to increase CTR popularity.
Youth welcome Baydle company in Nansana
Baydle Users get paid for increasing vedio CTR, and Baydle acts as an intermediary between the social media platforms and the online marketers for effective CTR results as it pays it’s subscribers daily income on doing and completing tasks as per VIP level. “This is our investment plan and income structure which lasts for a year per subscription. Visit our website www.bbc ub.com to subscribe to any VIP level and start earning now.” Said Baydle officials at the opening of Nansana branch.
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PHOTO: Officials from Buganda Land Board and Housing Finance Bank, when BLB renewed their partnership with this bank to enable people living on Kabaka’s land to get land titles through the Lease Access Financing initiative
EDITORIAL TEAM NEWS EDITOR MEDIA
BUGANDA Kingdom supreme leader, His Majesty Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II is one of the genuine wealthiest leaders in Uganda. The Kabaka of Buganda, as an institution owns chunks of land and his subjects refer to him as ‘Land Lord’. Kabaka set up Buganda Land Board (BLB), a professional body, to manage land and property returned under the Restitution of Assets and Properties Act of 1993. Such property includes among others; The Bulange, The Lubiri at Mengo, The Butikkiro, The Buganda Court Building, Kabaka’s official 350 square miles of land, Namasole’s 10 square miles of land, Bannaalinnya’s Land, Kabaka’s lake, Former Omulamuzi and Omuwanika’s Official Residencies at Mengo, Land Adjacent to The Mengo Lubiri on which Buganda Ministrial Houses used to stand, all Bassekabaka’s Tombs, Buganda Works Building at Kakeeka, Basiima House and Nnaalinya’s House at Lubaga. Furthermore, the assets under BLB mandate extend to include all those as outlined by the M.O.U between the President of Uganda and His Majesty the Kabaka. They include the former estates of Buganda Kingdom comprising: ● Land in urban centres or towns ● Land where former administration headquarters i.e Counties and Sub-counties were situated ● Land not claimed, utilized or occupied any lawful or bonified occupant. ● Land on Mityana Road (Jjeza Farm) ● Former Buganda Kingdom Markets Buganda Land Board has branches and service centres in all the 18 of Buganda counties to offer effective service delivery to all it’s clients. In today’s story, News Editor Media, an investigative and fastest growing news website brings you men and women running Buganda Land Board, who are they, what is their experience and qualifications to manage Kabaka’s land. Here is Part I of the story;
OMUK. SIMON MUWANGA KABOGOZA He is the Chief Executive Officer (Ssenkulu) Buganda Land Board. He took over from Owek. David Kyewalabye Male. According to information from Buganda Land Board, Mr. Kabogoza Simon is a Social Scientist, holding a Masters Degree in Development Studies from the Uganda Martyrs University – Nkozi and a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Sciences from Makerere University, Kampala.
Omuk. Simon Kabogoza, Ssenkulu wa Buganda Land Board
Omuk. Kabogoza has over 15 years experience in strategic communication and coordination of social change projects and 5 years experience in land management business. Before elevation to CEO, Mr. Kabogoza was the Head Corporate Affairs/Deputy MD (Admin) at Buganda Land Board Ltd, a company mandated to manage Buganda Kingdom Land. In that position, Mr. Kabogoza was responsible for upholding the Company’s image and overseeing the legal, community mobilization, Client management and the Communications unit of Buganda Land Board. Before joining BLB, Omuk. Kabogoza worked with Communication for Development Foundation Uganda (CDFU) on several USAID – funded programs. He worked as the Behaviour Change Communication Advisor on the Northern Uganda – Health Integration to Enhance Health Services (NU-HITES) Program, AFFORD and strengthening TB & HIV – AIDS responses in East and Central Uganda (STAR-EC). He has experience in coordinating projects, developing communication strategies, field research and community mobilization. He has written and presented abstracts in International HIV/Aids Conferences. Previously, Mr. Kabogoza worked with the DISH Project for 4 years coordinating Behaviour Change activities at community level. A very humble, down to earth and a man of very few words, Omuk. Kabogoza is a Board Member of several schools including Mugongo Senior Secondary School. He is a Godly man who loves giving what he has to support Church activities. Recently, he attended fundraising for Mission House at Namirembe Cathedral and gave UGX 2M. Mr. Kabogoza os the head of Laity at Mugongo Parish Church of Uganda. He is married with Children.
MRS. REBECCA MAGEZI BUKENYA She is the Head Human Resource and Risk Management at Buganda Land Board (BLB). Mrs. Bukenya holds a Masters Degree in Business Administration from the University of East London (UK) and a Bachelors of Business Administration in Accounting from Ndejje University in 1999.
Rebecca Magezi
Before joining Buganda Land Board, she served as the Human Capital Manager-Systems at Pride Microfinance Limited (MDI) between 2009 and 2015 as well as human Resource and Administration Supervisor (2004-2009). She has been serving as Head Human Resource at Buganda Land Board since 2015. Her mandate is to ensure that Buganda Land Board is adequately staffed with skilled and motivated employees to attain organisational goals.
MARTIN MUJABI KUTEESA He is the Head Finance, Administration and Land Management Information Systems (LMIS) at Buganda Land Board. Mr. Mujabi, a very calm man, holds a Masters Degree in Business Administration (Accounts), a Degree in Commerce (Acounts) and UDBS (Accounts).
Mr. Martin Mujabi
Before joining BLB, he worked as staff auditor in the accounts department of MFI OFFICE Solutions (U) Ltd in 2005 having earlier served as an account/administrator of Exmemo systems international limited in 2000 and Accounts Assistant in Tamp Engineering Services (2000). At BLB, he formerly held the position of Finance Administration Manager and Accounts Assistant at the same organisation. He is an executive committee member of Buladde Financial Services.
BASHIR JUMA KIZITO He Heads Corporate Affairs, Operations and Business Development at Buganda Land Board. Mr. Kizito Bashir holds an Masters in Business Administration (UMI), Bsc Surveying (Makerere University) and a Diploma in Law from Law Development Centre, Kampala. Before joining Buganda Land Board, Kizito Juma served in both Private and public sector. He began his career with in 2003 with MBK Surveyors, a private survey firm dealing majorly in cadastre and Engineering Surveys in Central Uganda. He was later to join the Public service in 2008 serving as the district staff surveyor for Nakaseke district local government. He is a fellow of the Institute of Surveyors of Uganda, and a registered Surveyor of Uganda.
Mr. Bashir Juma Kizito
A board member of Buganda Heritage and Tourism Board, Mr. Kizito Bashir is the current Head of the department of Operation and Business Development at Buganda Land Board. He is also the Chairman of the Management Credit Committee of Buladde Financial Services and the project manager of the Land Electronic Card project of BLB. He joined Buganda Land Board in 2009 as a Chief surveyor. He waslater promoted to the position of Lease Manager (2010) before becoming the Head of Land Management Department in 2011, a position he held until 2016. In 2017, he was appointed as the Head of Physical Planning, Survey and Research Department until his latest appointment. The objective of this department is to effectively and efficiently run BLB branches in innovation and entrepreneurial ways to offer the highest possible output and realize a satisfied clientele, ensuring effective communication, having a satisfied clientele of Buganda Land Board, excellent corporate governance and land practice. The mandate of this department is to ensure smooth operations of Buganda Land Board branches and taking care of Buganda business initiative, in charge of company media communications, client relations, public sensitization about land matters and the BLB processes, company brand ans legal oversight to the Company. Mr. Bashir Juma Kizito is responsible for; ● Develop new products and services for the organisation ● Grow the portfolio of clients accessing credit from financial institutions to get lease titles (LAF) ● To grow the numbers of financial institutions extending credit to access leases from BLB ● To grow the loan portfolio, deposit base and membership of Buladde Buladde Financial services ● To increase the Organisation’s visibility as a reliable professional service provider to the public (even those on land other than that of Kabaka) in labs surveying, physical planning, valuation and land conveyancing services. ● Establishing relationships between BLB and it’s stakeholders in the promotion of security of tenure for tenants on Kabaka’s land. ● Efficiently and effectively run BLB branches and service centres ● Acquire and band dispose off vacant/good land to both local and foreign investors; Liason with Kabaka’s represtatives on land matters, linking clients and other departments, advise the board and management on all legal matters, handle and advise on matters pertaining litigation.
REHEMA NANVUMA WANDERA She is the Head Physical Planning, Survey and Research at Buganda Land Board. Mrs. Nanvuma Wandera holds an MBA, Bsc in Physical Planning and a diploma in Computer Science. She joined BLB in 2008 as a Physical Planning Manager. She has since served as Physical Planning and Surveying Manager (2010 to 2015), Returned Estate Cordinator (2015-2016), Head Commercial Initiative (2016-2018) until her current post as Head of Physical Planning, Survey and Research. She has previously worked with UNDP.
Rehema Nanvuma
Her office executes land surveys, valuations and research works of Buganda Land Board. The core functions of Physical Planning, Survey and Research department Buganda Land Board are; ● To determine the shape, size, boundary and location of plots and process deed plans i.e Surveying. ● Design, establish and administration of a system that allows collection, storage, management and dissemination of department data. ● Analysing data after field work to write reports ● Assessment of value of property i.e land, buildings in urban and rural areas ● Planning of property as per the Physical Planning guidelines and standards. ● Acquisition and use of maps i.e satellite and aerial maps for land interpretation ● Consultation on all land matters ● Titling and land documentation for all land tenures
DENIS BUGAYA A lawyer by profession, Denis Bugaya is the Senior Manager Operations. He is a student of Masters in Business Administration. Counsel Bugaya holds a Bachelors of Laws (LLB) degree from Makerere University and a certificate in computer Application.
Counsel Denis Bugaya
Currently, the Legal Manager and Spokesperson of Buganda Land Board, Mr. Bugaya was an executive of the Inspector General of Government (Makerere Law Society) in 2007. He joined BLB as a Legal Assistant in 2009 before becoming a senior legal officer (2015 to 2016) and now sits on top management, Buganda Land Board as a Legal Manager, ex-officio. A born of Mawokota County, Counsel Bugaya is a very brilliant young man and pivotal in Buganda Land Board. He is approachable, incorruptible, compentent and media friendly.
Wait for another list in Part II of this story!
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WONDERFUL: Girl drinking water from one of the newly opened boreholes
NEWS EDITOR MEDIA
FOR long, one of Busoga region’s remote Districts-Mayuge had suffered with continouous water shortages in the area even when its surrounded by a peninsula. Latest from this area is that this life threatening crisis has been overcome going forward. Through Nile Humanitarian Development Agency, the community in areas of Bukasero B Village among others are all praises to their Germany funders for the philanthropic gesture. This is the 3rd borehole in the area. According to the District Chairperson Bishop Tibagendeka, his people have been battling killer diseases courtesy of contaminated water. “With the water crisis being attended too in my district, killer diseases like typhoid, cholera won’t disturb my people anymore. No more sharing water sources with animals and family cohesion will be emboldened”, the over joyed district boss revealed before heaping praises to the humanitarian NGO. “Lack of water in a home is a recipe for domestic challenges.With it prioritized, there’s no cause for alarm since water is life” Area RDC, Richard Gulume Balyainho boasted that the NRM government is pro-people when it comes to service delivery. “Due to the favorable environment in Uganda,many partners keep coming to support our people and for this,we are indeed grateful”, he observed noting that water is sometimes a source of insecurity in the area but that this won’t be the case anymore with communities getting boreholes. On their part, Nile Humanitarian Development Agency through their Eastern Region Administrator Muzamiru Kazibwe flanked by the Eastern region Coordinator-Collins Ashaba disclosed that working with communities in dire need is one of their key targets. “As an organization,we can’t exhaust all the many requests that come our way but through our community connectors,we assess the suitability and need for the help. And upon thorough evaluation with our team, we zero down on the beneficiary community. So our being here today is a true testimony of our commitment to elevate the living standards of the people in this district”, he said noting that as partners in development with government, they will always do the needful with availability of funds. He appealed to the community to look after their new water source by forming a committee that will manage the running of the borehole to deter misuse. This humanitarian organization is allover Busoga and beyond supporting communities by offering boreholes, giving food items to vulnerable members of society. In Busoga alone, over 1000 boreholes have been donated to date.
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THE Rt. Hon. Speaker of Parliament Anita Annet Among has commend Members of Parliament more so the Budget Committee for the devotion throughout this process. In her communication today morning before Hon. Opolot Patrick Isiagi the Budget Committee presented a report on the Annual Budget Estimates for FY2022/23 as mandated by the constitution, Speaker Anita said, “Hon. Members, as you are aware, we are at the tail end of the appropriation process for the budget of the FY 2022/23.” “As you may recall, as a House, we began with the consideration of the National Budget Framework Paper FY 2022/23-2026/27 in late December 2021 pursuant to Rule 144 (1) and 145 of the Rules of Procedure. This was followed by the consideration of the Ministerial Policy Statements in March 2022 pursuant to Rule 146 of the Rules of Procedure and the tax Bills pursuant to Rule 150 of the Rules of Procedure, which we concluded.” Noted Rt. Hon. Speaker of Parliament. She reminded Mps that today, the House is embarking on the supply pursuant to Rule 151 of the Rules of Procedure and that members shall crown it with the passing of the Appropriation Bill, 2022 pursuant to Rule 152 of the Rules of Procedure. “As you are aware, the power of the purse is one of the legislature’s cardinal roles in articles 155 and 156 of the Constitution, sections 13 and 14 of the Public Finance Management Act and rules 148, 151 and 152 of the Rules of Procedure and it is through the appropriation process that this power is most exercised.” Speaker Anita, said. Hon. Opolot is now presenting a report on the Annual Budget Estimates for FY2022/23 as mandated by the constitution. Wait for details!
Rt. Hon. Tayebwa speaking to new Hon. Members of Parliament during their prayer breakfast today morning
NEWS EDITOR MEDIA
DEPUTY Speaker of Parliament Rt. Hon. Thomas Bangirana Tayebwa has asked Members of Parliament and who won election petitions to create room for making peace, forgive and reconcile with those they defeated. Rt. Hon. Tayebwa made these remarks today morning during the Parliamentary prayer breakfast fellowship where Amuru District Woman Member of Parliament Lucy Akello preached about love. Deputy Speaker who was attening the fellowship for the first time said, Members of Parliament who win election petitions tend to make life harder for the losers by asking for huge costs making them uncomfortable in the society. “So long as Courts have decided the matter in someone’s favour, it is important to sit down with the loser and reconcile for the betterment of the people you all sought to lead.” Advised Rt. Hon.Tayebwa, who is a lawyer by profession. The former Government Chief Whip said that settlements need to be reached so that the loser of the petition only pays the legal fees directly to the victor’s lawyers instead of demanding outrageous costs. “When you win, tell you opponent that you don’t want money from him or her as a person but negotiate well so that he or she pays only the legal fees to your lawyers” said Tayebwa. The Deputy Speaker added that such can be the best way for a winner to move since he or she will be earning a salary for the position elected for. Tayebwa who said he participated in the settling of the costs in the case of Jaffa Basajjabala and Paul Kahiji in Bushenyi over a decade ago, called for dialogue among the parties so that there is no enmity as a result of the Court decisions. Politicians especially legislators have been putting heavy charges against their opponents who lose when the Courts decide on election petitions. Currently, the Court of Appeal has been delivering ruling in the Parliamentary Elections appeals by those who never accepted the decisions of the High Court after the 2021 elections. “Am telling you colleagues, who are in court and won, you hear some saying I am going to condemn him to costs. But that one has become a money making venture to you as if you prayed hard for someone to go to Court, you win then you give them a bill of Shs1 billion” Tayebwa added. While preaching, Akello gave a testimony of how she took up a young boy at the level of nursery and educated him until he won a government scholarship for University education, but has been heartbroken by his attitude of late. Akello said that such are the difficulties that people who do good to others go through but argued her colleagues not to show love to others because they expect favours in return. “Sometime you feel you have done so much and then you get the backlash. I know some of you have these similar experiences. What we have to offer is not necessarily for a return favour. May be what we are seeking from God is to earn a good reputation or favour. But this isn’t how Jesus loved at all” she said. Akello said that Jesus loved others without expecting anything in return because he knew his love would not be reciprocated in any way. She said that people need to forgive and be merciful because that is the same gift they personally receive from God whenever they are troubled. State Minister for industry David Bahati who is the fellowship Chairperson asked the legislators in the congregation to love and preach for their opponents because contesting against each other was not aimed at making them enemies.
CLOSING a three days’ training Workshop aimed at senstizing Manafwa district leaders about Parish Development Model (PDM), a new government initiative targeting poverty eradication, Deputy RDC Kagenyi Lukka has threatened to arrest and prosecute in courts of law any leader who will eat this money or sabotage the program. Deputy RDC emphasised the need to monitor government programs for effective service delivery. He also called upon the Town clerks, subcounty chiefs, Town agents and parish chiefs to desist from corrupt tendencies. The Workshop took place at Butiru Town Council headquarters in Butiru Constituency, Manafwa district. Mr Kagenyi who also warned the accounting officers against soliciting money from the people who seek government services said, “With Parish Development Model funds, there will be no excuse. If any leader eats this money or in any way sabottages a government program, I will arrest you and be prosecuted. Let us work as a team so that PDM benefits our people.” Said Deputy RDC Kagenyi Lukka. The National rollout program for PDM starts on June 10, 2022 and by June 15, 2022, money will be on the accounts. Each Parish in the whole country will get 17 million as a pilot study and in the next financial year, every parish will be given 100. At Butiru Town Coucil headquaters, training started with Subcounty chairpersons, town council mayors and LCV councilors representing subcounties at the district. On day two, it was training for councilors representing Parishes at the Subcounties. “Day three, we have been sensitising Subcounty chiefs, town clerks from town councils, parish chiefs and town agents. There training was special, we have trained them as Training of Trainers (TOTs). They are are in charge of going to the ground to spread this information about PDM.” Deputy RDC revealed to this News Website shortly after the workshop. He urged all leaders to work in line with the four principles put together by President Museveni which he named the ‘Four acre model’. Mr. Kagenyi told leaders that PDM has a very good concept, but 60% of members who are going to form PDM Sacco will be at the House hold level, those who have been practicing substance farming. “And we have to sensitize them for Mindset Change so that they turn to commercial Agriculture. That is, growing food crops for home consumption and the surplus for sell.” Deputy RDC told Manafwa district leaders. He also talked about another group of people making 40%, the Enterprise Groups. Those who roast maize, bodaboda riders, informal sector or low income earners. He categorically told leaders that, for PDM, unlike the previous government interventions intended to fight poverty that didn’t succeed, this one must bear fruit. He talked about programs like Bonabagaggawale, Youth Livelihood Program (YLP), Peace Recovery and Development Program (PRDP) in Northern Uganda and Eastern part of the country affected by the Kony war, Uganda Women Entrepreneurship Program (UWEP) and NAADS which was later amalgamated into Operation Wealth Creation (OWEC). “OWEC performed well. The other ones didn’t succeed due to the bureaucracy put for people who wanted loans. It brought corruption, Nepotism and favouritism. This won’t be acceptable in PDM. There must be transparency. Manafwa must be a model district. Kindly let us work as a team.” Deputy RDC Kagenyi asked district leaders. After closing the trainig workshop, Mr. Kagenyi visited Sibanga Health centre III where he was heard asking about the turn up for Covid vaccinations. He later visited Sibanga Seed School in Butiru Constituency. For starters, Manafwa has two constituencies, Buburo West and Butiru. Buburo East contituency is in Namisindwa district, which was curved from Manafwa district.
NATIONAL Environment and Management Authority (NEMA) through the Environmental Police continues to bite culprits involved in the misuse and abuse of the 200 meters buffer zone. Latest from Kalangala is that a one Dennis Mubiru together with other 15 culprits have been apprehended for messing up with the buffer zone by not only burning charcoal in the forbidden area but also went ahead to destroy the environment and cultivated crops yet it is illegal as per the act. Their actions also contradict NEMA regulations of Environmental Protection. This very Mubiru claims 200 meters in the buffer zone in Block 25 Division 02 yet a buffer zone is an area of land designated for environmental protection. According to Waiswa Ayazika, Director Environmental Monitoring and Compliance, disrespect for the buffer zone remains a big challenge but that as an entity,they are more than ready to enforce the details of the Environmental Act. He said, “We are legally in existence by an act that empowers us to jealously guard against any destruction of the natural endowments. For someone to use the buffer zone if its necessary,a permit must be sought with clear indicators about the usage”. Commending Kalangala based Oil Palm Uganda Limited (OPUL),a subsidiary of Wilmar Bidco for respecting and protecting the buffer zone, the determined Director revealed that protection of the green cover should be everyone’s priority in their campaign to preserve the environment. Police records show that this is the third time perennial buffer zone violator Mubiru has been arrested but would surprisingly find his way out of police cells. OPUL being the biggest investor in Kalangala has also suffered Mubiru’s wrath both legally and maliciously. The latter dragged the former to court but for want of prosecution,Kalangala Magistrate’s Court dismissed the case. Oil Palm Uganda Limited undertook an Environment and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) whose approval conditions compel the developer to undertake their operations without compromising the livelihoods of neighbouring communities. Having observed the rampant and continuous destruction of the buffer zone and environment generally yet they are under obligation to protect it, management of OPUL notified District authorities to wit RDC, DPC, Environment Officer, DISO among others about the illegal activities in the forbidden zone.The authorities visited the ground culminating into the eventual arrest of Mubiru and group. Unlike before when Mubiru would find his freedom from Police custody, this time round the Territorial Environmental Police (Masaka region) referred the group’s case to the Buganda Road based Utility Court in Kampala for proper handling and management to ensure that the issue is sorted once and for all.The group that got booked at Natete Police Station on transfer from Kalangala,has since been arraigned in court and remanded to Luzira till next month. According to it’s operational requirements,it’s the mandate of Wilmar Bidco to protect all buffer zones throughout their plantations as per NEMA regulations failure of which sanctions will be levied against them. The National Environment Act No.5 of 2019 decentralises environment management in Uganda and gives different strata of responsibility to various stakeholders.Enforcement of the law is specifically shared between NEMA and Environment Police. The biased reporting by an Online publication was one of those arising out of an enforcement activity overseen by ASP January Kusiima, the Liaison Officer for Environment Police, Greater Masaka attached to Ministry of Water and Environment. However, NEMA picked interest in the matter as the reported case involved deforestation in the Lake Victoria buffer zone which is protected under the law and also the commercial Oil Palm Industry in Kalangala is among the projects that NEMA regulates making it inevitable for OPUL to be concerned with anyone who abuses the buffer zone. OPUL has since been exonerated of any wrong doing.
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