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MP ALOYSIUS MUKASA NAMED ‘KIPROTICH’ AFTER DEFEATING RUBAGA COUNCILORS IN TODAY’S KABAKA’S BIRTHDAY RUN

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PHOTO: MP Mukasa leading

NEWS EDITOR
www.newseditor.co.ug

ADAM Goucher was indeed right to say, “I love controlling a race, chewing up opponents… It’s raw, animalistic, with no one to rely on but yourself. There is no better feeling than that,” 
Rubaga South MP Aloysius Mukasa who has been the chief runner of Kabaka’s birthday run organised in Busega, Rubaga Division today morning defeated a group of councilors and other participants to emerge as the over all winner.
Since yesterday, some Rubaga councilors vowed to make this legislator who is believed to be one of the richest MPs in 11th Parliament, sweat plasma come today’s Kabaka’s birthday run! 
They thought they had it won but it was not to be. Hon. Mukasa reached the finishing line before any one. He ran the race of his life. The NUP’s fire brand ran for 15 kilometres without resting making councilors and other participants to nick name him ‘Kiprotich’, who was the first Athelete to win for Uganda a gold medal since 1972.

Wherever Mukasa passed, he looked as if he had an engine inside his body which enabled him run non-stop while a big number of runners instead resorted to walking and others stopped on the way and went back to Busega.
At the start, Hon. Mukasa did not look like he will make it to the finishing line but unexpectedly surged to the front and pulled away. Every one was shocked when he ran like a wild Kob winning the Kabaka’s birthday run in Busega. 
Every where he passed, Rubaga South people were heard chanting his name which must have morale boosted him to run faster than all other participants. He only waved at them as he soldiered on.
Among councilors who participated in the marathon are; Aisha Nagudi, Betty Najjengo, Leah Nanyange, Magoma, Kizito Sumayiya, Vicky, Mutumba Ivan, Mukasa George Norman, Chairman Buwembo, Ssegrinya and others.
Runners set off from Busega Kibumbiro, took the road connecting to a newly constructed Busega market, connected to Busega round about, to Nateete road, branched off at Dome, then to St. Camel Catholic Church, to Kigagga, the Makaayi Church of Uganda, took the road to Mwanamugimu and then rerurned to Busega Kibumbiro where the Member of Parliament addressed hundreds of Kabaka’s subjects.
Hon. Mukasa saluted His Majesty Kabaka for the fight against deadly HIV/AIDS and urged girl child not to involve themselves in love affairs when they are still in school.

“The Kabaka’s birth day run 2021 follows the theme; ‘Men fighting against HIV/AIDS to protect the girl child.’ We salute Kabaka for his wise leadership, he indeed wants all his subjects to be healthy. That is why today morning, he flagged off all runners country wide at Mengo palace.”
“The campaign against HIV/AIDS is real, let’s support it, let’s protect our girls. I call upon the girl child to resist the temptation of getting involved in love relationships before marriage.This is the safest way to protect them from getting infected with AIDS.” MP Mukasa told Kabaka’s people. 
Mengo officials in present thanked MP Mukasa who bought over 500 kits for his constituents to enable them participate in Kabaka’s birth day run.
Later on, Mukasa held a meeting with Rubaga South councilors at Access gardens in Lungujja in which they agreed to work as a team and serve Lubaga people perfectly.

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UNVEILED: MENGO SENIOR SCHOOL’S JOHN FRED KAZIBWE INTRODUCED AS KINGS COLLEGE BUDO’S NEW HEAD TEACHER

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PHOTO: Mr. Kazibwe and wife Dr. Anne during prayers at Budo yesterday

BY MOSES MUGALULA
www.newseditor.co.ug

YESTERDAY, Friday November 26th 2021, the transfer of Mr. John Frederick Kazibwe from Mengo Senior School to prestigious Kings College Budo as College’s new head teacher was effected at a colourful function attended by District Education Officer (DEO) Wakiso, Board members of the college, members of PTA, Education secretary Rev. Nathan Mulondo and Namirembe Diosese Mission Secretary Rev. Samuel Muwonge.
This comes a few days after the untimely death of Kings College Headmaster Mr. Patrick Bakka Male on 10th November 2021! At the time of his death, preparations for the handover function to Fred Kazibwe were in higher gear. It is sad, Bakka Male did not however live to witness this historical moment!

Also in attendence at the hand over function, were; Intercessors, Buddo’s teaching and non teaching staff, Mengo Senior School Family, Old Budonians led by their president, Kings college Budo’s outgoing chaplain Rev. Enoch Kimanje who took over from Rev. Samuel Muwonge, now Mission Secretary, Namirembe Diocese.

Function started with prayers in the college chapel conducted by the Education Secretary, Mission Secretary and College Chaplain.
From prayers, they proceeded to the Board room where Mr. Fred Kazibwe who was accampanied by wife Dr. Anne Kazibwe, was officially introduced to the board members and PTA as the new Head teacher, Kings College Budo. This was followed by the handover of instruments of power.
Before he was appointed Mengo Senior School’s headmaster to replace Mr. Ssemivule in 2008, Mr. Fred Kazibwe was deputy head teacher Kings College Buddo. 
Bakka Male was the 13th headteacher of Kings College Budo, one of the oldest schools in Uganda with a legacy spanning 115-years. During his tenure, he was vocal in rallying the school’s alumni (Budonians) to improve the infrastructure of the school and revive its glory, with a new face.

According to media reports, Bakka Male held a Bachelor’s Degree in Science with Education, majoring in Physics and Mathematics, and a Masters degree in Education Administration and Planning. The educationist briefly taught at Namilyango College in 1986 and later in the same year, he was posted to King’s College Budo where he taught Mathematics and Physics.
In 2002, he was posted to Muntuyera High School-Kitunga and in the same year, he was appointed headteacher and posted at Mengo Senior Secondary School. The Ministry of Education later redeployed him to King’s College Budo, this time as a headteacher taking over from George William Semivule.
Due to his ailing situation, Church of Uganda which owns this 1st World school moved to retire Bakka Male and asked him to prepare his report and hand over office on October 9th this year.
Church had already identified hard-working Mengo Senior School Headmaster John Frederick Kazibwe to replace Bakka Male at Kings College Budo. In fact, Mr. Kazibwe was told to start bidding farewell to teaching and non-teaching staff at Mengo Senior. Many wept on hearing that a man who has worked tirelessly to raise the academic bar and welfare of staff and students of one of the oldest schools in Uganda was leaving!

Those in the know say, even Kazibwe never wanted to leave Mengo Senior, a school for which he held such a gigantic vision. Under his tenure the school has developed by leaps and bounds because of his faithful stewardship. However, his bosses had already ruled on this and expected no appeal. They saw him as the best substitute for Bakka Male. His office at Mengo senior, was then filled with former Luzira SS Headmaster.
In fact, Church of Uganda wanted Kazibwe to officially be in charge of Kings College Budo as Academic year 2022 S.1 and S.5 selections were being carried out. 
We are reliably informed, Bakka Male penned a letter to the Ministry of Education requesting to be allowed in office until the end of 2021.
Insiders say, the game plan was that, he heads the admissions of S.1 and S.5 so that he can financially sanitize himself since during this season, Headmasters of such schools eat like lords. 
This is the time when filthy rich parents scramble to get places for their children in such schools and can remit whatever is required at backdoor, to secure places for their children. Status quo was temporarily maintained at Budo.

WHEN A LOAN DEAL OF UGX 200M WAS BLOCKED
Our source in Budo told us,, Bakka Male approached the treasurer to approve a loan of UGX 200M which he said was to help him renovate the College ahead of opening schools in January 2022.
The treasurer (names withheld) turned down Bakka Male’s request. He openly told him, “Money will be given to the new Headmaster (Mr. Kazibwe), the time you have remained with is to prepare a report and hand over not renovating the  school. That will be the work of your successor.”
This didn’t go well with Bakka Male who must have felt that the school owners wanted him out of their school. It’s sad, since then, his blood pressure shot up until he breathed his last!

KAZIBWE @ MENGO SENIOR
● He constructed a new Chapel (St. John’s Chapel) with a sitting capacity of 1000 students.
● He constructed and completed a four floors HSC block on which there is also a staff room, HSC classes and a Main Hall. 
● By the time of his departure, about 90% of construction work on a new four floors block of Library and laboratory was done. 
● Increased number of students, teaching and non teaching staff.
● Discipline and academic standards improved.
● Bought a modern school bus
● Bought a new double cabin for the school headmaster.
● Heads construction committee for Mission House and also chairman Board of Mission Namirembe Diocese.
● Etc

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EPISODES: HERE ARE THE 27 RULES & REGULATIONS YOU MUST READ AND UNDERSTAND BEFORE YOU ARE TAKEN TO KITALYA PRISON

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FILE PHOTO: Visiting Kitalya Min-Max prison

NEWS EDITOR
www.newseditor.co.ug

JUST as it is inevitable to fall sick and end up admitted in hospital, so is being arrested, charged and remanded to Kitalya Min-Max Prison! It is many a time unavoidable, you can’t run away from it. Every one is a candidate, any time, any day!
This story will therefore, take the reader through the 27 rules and regulations all Kitalya in-mates MUST abide with to evade punishment and new files (cases) so that when your day comes, you verily know how to keep in the lanes until this prison vomits you.
Are you aware that a big percentage out of the 3000 inmates at Kitalya min-max Prison say are on trumped up charges? If the complainants are not targeting your land, your girl friend, your palatial home, your juicy job, that fancy car or political differences, then it is something about may be, your religious affiliation. 
A young boy Alvin who used to operate a mobile money business at Usafi Market in Kampala was roughly arrested one night from his parents’ home in Bulenga simply because someone who had allegedly stolen a phone withdrew money at Alvin’s mobile money shop, months back. 
Alvin, a born Again Christian tried to explain himself before security officials that he is just a mobile money agent who attends to hundreds of people on a daily basis, but no one bothered to listen. 
Amidst tears from his struggling parents, Alvin was handcuffed and thrown in a police cell from where he was picked and driven to Buganda road court to be charged of rape and aggrevated robbery! Court remanded him to Kitalya Prison! His helpless family up to now doesn’t know how to save this young boy! Cases like that of Alvin, are very many in Kitalya Prison. Yes justice will come but after years but we well know the old adage that Justice delayed is justice denied.
However, it’s also true, at Kitalya Prison there are a number of inmates who are hard core criminals. When you talk to them privately, they confess how they defiled school girls, how they murdered innocent people, how they were involved in aggrevated robbery, name it. We shall come back to this story in another episode with shocking details! 

THE 27 RULES & REGULATIONS KITALYA PRISONERS MUST ABIDE TO
Below are the 27 rules and regulations all Kitalya inmates my adhere to and failure to do so, calls for punishment. Read on please;

  1. No escaping from prison (If you do so and get caught, you will hate the day you were born).
  2. Respect Lock-up and fall-in (foreni) time e.g time of unlocking in the morning, mid day and final locking in the evening.
  3. Respect all prison officers.
  4. Respect all leaders e.g over all, ward leaders (Katikkiros), RPs, etc and fellow in-mates.
  5. Immoral behaviours such as homosexuality, use of vulgar language, etc are prohibited.
  6. No fighting in wards and BOMA (out side wards). 
  7. Theft is prohibited like stealing soap, uniforms and blankets.
  8. Un authorised movements in BOMA is prohibited. Such as; moving to offices, clinic, school, kitchen, isolation wing and gate.
  9. No tresspasing in wards e.g sitting on beddings of fellow in-mates
  10. Personal hygiene is a MUST. E.g, bathing, cutting finger nails, shaving hair.
  11. Civilian clothes (non uniforms) in BOMA are not allowed; such as under wear, jackets, vests, etc.
  12. No keeping and eating left overs of food.
  13. Observe silence during bed time (from 9pm – 6am)
  14. No showering beyond 9pm.
  15. No use of prohibited articles such as opium, tobbaco, knives, folks, pangas, etc
  16. Eating utensils are not allowed in the toilets, e.g; Cups, bowls.
  17. Avoid destruction of government properties such as water taps, showers, glasses, plates, desks, computers and chairs.
  18. Observe silence and respect during time of prayers.
  19. No littering of rubbish in any part of BOMA.
  20. Ensure proper use of toilets, sink, showers, by not dropping in plastic bottles, small pieces of clothes, polythene bags, etc.
  21. Participation in prison activities such as cleaning, official gatherings, meetings, etc is a MUST. 
  22. All prisoners must stand up while welcoming visitors and clap at the end of address in an organised manner as a sign of respect.
  23. In-mates MUST squat while talking to officers as a sign of respect. 
  24. In-mates are not supposed to sleep naked.
  25. All in-mates who are sick MUST report to the ward doctor who will forward them to the officers to be taken for medication and dosage of drugs MUST be taken as prescribed by the medical personnel.
  26. All in-mates MUST observe quick response to alarm bells or whistles.
  27. Inciting violence or organising strikes is strictly prohibited
  28. Entering a ward or transferring yourself to another ward or unit is not allowed.

In the next episode, we will bring you the terminologies used in Kitalya so that you are not caught offside. We also have interesting stories like how Kitalya cameras caught an inmate stealing court bailiff Kirunda’s fish!
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‘56% OF MARRIED WOMEN EXPERIENCE SPOUSAL SEXUAL VIOLENCE’, READS GOV’T REPORT

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BY KETRAH JJEMBA
www.newseditor.co.ug

GENDER, Labour and Social Development minister Peace Mutuuzo says there are escalating cases of gender based violence country wide as these cases remain high.
According to the Minister, data collected by Uganda demographic and health survey indicated that 56% of ever married women and 44% of ever married men have experienced spousal violence either physical, sexual or emotional.
Mutuuzo said this while briefing media at media centre about the launch of 16 days of activism campaign.
She added that, “The national statistics show that over half of the women between 15 and 49 years have experienced violence and more than one in every five young girls between ages of 15 and 24 have experienced sexual violence in their life time.”
It shows that, violence against girls is very high as child marriages is still high as it’s at 34% for girls between 20-24, and female genital mutilation remains high in Kapchorwa, Moroto, Sebei and Karamoja region as 13% of children and 52% of women have been subjected to female genital mutilation.
Uganda is to join the rest of the world on friday 26th to launch the beginning of 16 days of activism campaign of gender based violence.
The national launch for this year will take place at Amagi primary school in Kamdin subcounty,Oyam district under the theme: ‘Always the world in violence against women and girls’.

RATE AT WHICH FORESTS ARE CUT IN UGANDA WORRIES CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS

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PHOTO: From left, Gaster Kiyinji and Anthony Wolimbwa

BY KETRAH JJEMBA
www.newseditor.co.ug

CIVIL Society Organizations (CSOs) advocating for forest conservation are worried that by 2050 if there is no significant intervention, the country will not have a single forest.
They are concerned that the rate at which country is losing forest cover is a threat to future generations. 
Uganda’s forest cover dropped from 4.9 million hectares in 1990 to 1.9 million hectares in 2020 which they say has been severely deforested and also degraded at a very fast rate.
For many years Uganda’s protected areas are under increasing threats from deforestation and degradation, owing to an increasing human population and industrialization.
Speaking to journalists in Kampala, programs officer at Ecological Christian Organization (ECO) Anthony Wolimbwa explained that, “There is need for a better policy to guide on how best the country can protect the available forests and other natural resources. We are worried about the speed at which forests are cut.”
At the same press briefing, Gaster Kiyingi, a team leader at Tree Talk Plus says that the government lacks the political will to protect the natural resources which is discouraging.

BORN-AGAIN PASTORS BAN ARTISTS, GOSPEL SONGS OVER ‘NEW TAX’ ON CHURCHES & TVS

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Pastor Solomon Mwesige, owner of KS TV

NEWS EDITOR
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PASTOR SOLOMON Mwesige, Head pastor of Good News Church located in Bulenga, Wakiso district on Mityana road, also owner of KS (King Solomon) TV is the first to stop playing of Ugandan gospel music on his television and banning of gospel artists affiliated to an organization called Uganda Performing Rights Society (UPRS), to sing in his church.
This was as result of an invoice worth UGX 2M sent to KS TV by UPRS for playing music of gospel artists something which angered the man of God and he directed that music belonging to artists who are members of UPRS should not be played again on his tv. Among songs banned are those of Brian Lubega, who started his music career in this Bulenga church.
While preaching to his followers who filled Good News church to capacity in a Sunday service, Pr. Mwesige said because this is open day robbery, “From today, we have stopped inviting gospel  musicians to our church, hosting them on KS TV and singing their songs in chuch by our Worship Team because we don’t know, who is with UPRS and who is not. We will compose our own songs and instead play international music on our TV. We are done with Ugandan music.”
A few weeks ago, while speaking at the launch of UPRS  annual general meeting, Wisdom Kaye one of the board members said they are capable of mobilizing one hundred billion Uganda shillings if all Ugandan artists register in this organization explaining that, when all this money is collected, it will go back to artists hence improve their lives.
Kaye who urged artists to continue registering to become beneficiaries of this initiative, condemned pastors who deter gospel artists from registering in UPRS saying they are endangering these talents.
He instead advised gospel artists not to listen to such suggestions because pastors who say such want them to die poor and never to gain from their talent.
“It’s not the pastor that pays for the production of their songs, it is the artist who personally pays for every cost therefore gospel artists should think twice before making a decision of not registering.” Said Kaye.

CHURCH UNDER ATTACK – PR. SOLOMON MWESIGE
Showing his followers a video clip of UPRS boss during a press interview in which he vowed to milk money from all Born-Again Pentecostal churches who sing and play songs of registered gospel artist during the service and church choir with membership of UPRS, Pr Mwesige said UPRS is reaping from where it did not sow.
He noted that, for example KS TV has been playing Uganda’s gospel music for free, “We have helped many of these gospel artists to develope their talent, they started their music career using our microphones and other music instruments, how can we be made to pay such a tax?”
“Look at this musician Brian Lubega, he did his first song on my key board which I bought from United States of America and you all heard him testifying about it here. Now UPRS is claiming him with all powers and our television was invoiced for playing his music and promoting him. But his first song was on my key board. To become a musician he is today, he started his music journey from our church. But now, we can not even sing his song and I can’t invite him and other musicians to sing in our church.” Said Pr. Mwesige.
Gospel artist Brian Lubega has songs like; Nungamya, Wakitiibwa, Nyanjala, among others.
“So as Good News Church,”, Pr. Mwesigwa reasoned, “To avoid being in conflict with UPRS,  and I am speaking this live  on television, we have stopped inviting musicians because if they will sing here and they are part of UPRS,  church will also be invoiced just like KS TV got an invoice of 2M. Other Pastors be aware.”
A tough speaking Pr. Mwesige who owns King Solomon School and Feed the Hungry NGO, reminded his church that, UPRS doesn’t have an audience, the church has a congregation, “This is where musicians come to sing. They do their concerts in our churches and UPRS leader is accusing us that we don’t wish them well. You can imagine!

He told church how some pastors had not cared about it so much, “But we have come to realize that these people intend to get money from us in any way and this can easily kill gospel music.”
This news website is reliably informed that, some musicians are registered with UPRS while others are not but this organization behaves like it owns all musicians in Uganda.
UPRS chairman was quoted by Pr Mwesige saying, every musician provided you are a member of UPRS, either you registered yourself or some one registered you without your consent, although you sing in a church choir, he will bring an invoice to the church and make it pay for using their member to sing in your church.
Churches must therefore stand warned! When you sing a song in your church of any musician who is a member of UPRS during worshipping or praising session, you will receive an invoice and pay for that. 
Pr. Mwesige, without mincing words revealed, “These musicians you see, like here at Good News Church, started holding the microphones from this church. They use our machines and you are the first audience. Remember they don’t sing for free. Don’t you people give them money? When did UPRS start claiming and fighting for these musicians? What does UPRS know about them?”
He said, for those gospel artists who visit Born-Again Pentecostal churches to sing, people give them money. And if what church members have given is less, in the office, Pastors add on. He wondered when UPRS started caring 
about these musicians more than their pastors. “
He talked about a day he found their Worship team training a song of gospel artist Brian Lubega and he stopped them so that church doesnt get problems with UPRS. “Even if they hear you singing a song of somebody in your church, UPRS brings an invoice.” Said Pr. Mwesige.
He cautioned those musicians who still want to sing in churches, let them go and fight for themselves with UPRS. “But for us as pastors, no such music will be played again in our churches.” Said Good News Church Pr. Solomon Mwesige.
Andrew Kajara, one of leaders at Good News Church in support of his Pastor said, “Radios and TV’s promote gospel artists. My question is, if Pentecostal media houses boycott their music who will promote them? I think UPRS has come to kill that industry indirectly, gospel artist should fight for themselves otherwise they are going out of the market.”
Patrick Okumu another church member said, “Some of these Associations are self seekers not representing the purpose for which they were formed.”

WHAT IS UPRS
Uganda Performing Rights Society (UPRS) is a society that was formed in 1985 by authors (mainly musicians) to advance the cause of copyright administration in Uganda
promoting and protecting the authors’ rights while representing all genres of music. It is registered with the Registrar of Companies as a Company Limited by Guarantee having no share Capital, in other words it belongs to all of its members. 
It is located at Plot 35, House 5A Bukoto Drive Kampal, Uganda.
UPRS is recognized by the Government as a Collecting Society and is a Member of the Confederation of International Societies of Authors and Composers ( CISAC ).
UPRS protects foreign and local works falling within their repertoire in Uganda while other Societies protect UPRS members’ works in their respective Countries. 
UPRS Chairman is Moses Matovu and Antony Mwandah is the CEO.

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TERROR ATTACKS IN UGANDA: WHY WE MUST BE WORRIED!

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BY BRIAN MUKALAZI
bmukalazi@ecmafrica.org

IT IS no longer news that on Tuesday, November 16, suicide bombers associated with the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), an extremist group affiliated to the Islamic State group (ISIS), set off two powerful bomb explosions in the heart of Kampala city leaving a number of people dead and others nursing injuries. 
Clouds of smoke quickly filled the streets of the city. Office workers and residents ran in panic as they tried to outpace the billowing debris clouds. In the aftermath, a number of buildings and other property, including motor vehicles, suffered serious damage. 
These terror attacks were the latest in a string of bombings that have rocked the country in recent weeks. And from the look of things, we could, sadly, just be getting started – the worst could be yet to come! According to Police Spokesperson, Fred Enanga, at least 150 planned attacks had recently been defused, but the terror groups are eager to carry out more attacks.
As new details continue to emerge about these terror threats, I have been tempted to delve into recent history relating to Uganda’s response to similar threats and emergency situations. And this route has led me straight to the country’s fire department, an often-neglected, but a key Police unit, especially in these troubling times.  
While analysing the state of Uganda’s fire department, my memory quickly drew me to the fire that gutted Makerere University’s now 80-year-old iconic main administration building in September last year. The fire destroyed student records, University archives and property worth billions of shillings.
Addressing journalists immediately thereafter, the University Vice Chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe said that the fire had been seen a few minutes after it started but it couldn’t be stopped. He said: “The first fire trucks failed to put out the fire because they had short hoses that could not spray long distances. By the time fire trucks with cranes and long horses arrived, the fire had already spread to nearly the entire right side of the building”. 
According to eye witnesses, at some point, the fire-fighters helplessly stood and watched as the fire raged on. It was clear that they had done the best they could. Hon. Mathias Mpuuga, now Leader of Opposition in Parliament, described the incident as “the highest level of criminal negligence and absent planning”. 
The Makerere University fire incident should have served as a wake-up call to government and the Uganda Police because it showed how ill-equipped the country was in fighting fires and emergency responses. It, therefore, gives me a serious heartache knowing that not much has since changed in the fire brigade unit even amid today’s looming terror attacks. 

Underfunding and inadequate fire equipment, personnel
Uganda Police’s firefighting and rescue budget for FY2021/22 is estimated to be in the region of Ushs8 billion, or $$2.3 million, but I have doubts whether this will sufficiently cater for the replacement of the currently dilapidated fire equipment (firefighting trucks, fire hydrants, water tankers, etc.), the training or re-training of our rusty firefighters and the creation of basic safety awareness.

With the current state of Uganda’s fire department, if a major terrorist attack occurred, in the worst cases like the U.S 9/11 attacks, I can guarantee that the emergency and rescue system would be overwhelmed almost immediately, resulting into hundreds of causalities. 
The department requires an immediate overhaul, with modernized technology, reworked on-scene protocols, and enhanced training for the firefighters. In the U.S 9/11 attacks, if it wasn’t for the heroic efforts of the New York City Fire Department’s well-trained personnel, thousands of lives that were saved would have otherwise been lost. And as it turned out, about 343 firefighters lost their lives. 
Firefighting in the age of terrorism is a whole new phenomenon. We need modern-day firefighters who are the trained to respond to modern-day disasters. Their expectations and competencies should go beyond fighting house or market fires but to also include hazardous materials response, and handling incidents of domestic terrorism. 

Need for a re-designed Counterterrorism and Risk Management Strategy
The Uganda Police urgently needs a new or revised Counterterrorism and Risk Management Strategy. For the fire department, the key component of this strategy should be inclusion of response considerations. The Department’s terrorism preparedness can minimize the effects of an attack, quicken mitigation and recovery, and better inform firefighters of trends in terrorism. 
The strategy should include intelligence production and consumption, counterterrorism-specific training, technological enhancements and improved network command structures that can better manage complex, large-scale incidents. 
The fire department should work tirelessly to significantly enhance its planning and operational capabilities to better respond to terrorism. It needs to closely study previous incidents, conduct training on multi-agency and single agency responses, and coordinate and collaborate with response objectives and operations.
More active approaches to fire-safety during property construction is also critical. In collaboration with other government agencies, building frames must now include fire protection, and engineers need to conduct computational analysis to model what could happen structurally in a fire rather than relying on defensive fire protections.
I agree that all terrorist attacks cannot be prevented. However, it is important that our fire and emergency agencies promote a culture of preparedness and resilience. But as they do that, we, the public, must also realize that every citizen has a role to play if these heinous attacks are to be prevented. 
Working collaboratively as a nation, I believe we can win this battle and gain the upper hand in bringing these events to an end.

Mr. Mukalazi is the Country Director of Every Child Ministries Uganda.
bmukalazi@ecmafrica.org

WHY MINISTRY OF WORKS AND TRANSPORT TOOK OVER VEHICLE REGISTRATION & LICENCING

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BY KETRAH JJEMBA
KAMPALA

THE Ministry of Works and Transport on Wednesday November, 3 2021 took over the registration and licensing of all vehicles in Uganda from the tax body, Uganda Revenue Authority (URA).
The mandate to register and licence motor vehicles is now a responsibility of the Ministry of Works and Transport. URA will remain responsible for motor vehicle customs clearance and first-time registration.
Speaking during the handover at URA headquarters in Kampala, Transport and works cabinet mimistsr Gen. Edward Katumba Wamala explained that this is done to enable URA to concentrate on revenue collection.
Gen. Katumba said, “The ministry has made some changes in the log book from the old.”
At the same function, the Commissioner General URA John Musinguzi pledged to equip staff of the ministry of transport and works with the required skills.

KCCA COUNCILORS CALL MUSEVENI TO INTERVENE IN OLD TAXI PARK WRANGLES

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BY KETRAH JJEMBA
CITY HALL

LORD COUNCILOR Hakim Kizza, the secretary for works and physical planning committee at City hall, has called upon President’s intervention in reconstructed Old TAXI wrangles where some city tycoons blocked it’s reopening saying they own part of it.
KCCA had to be reopened this park on 30th October 2021 after spending billions on it but due to various misunderstandings with some of the city tycoons owning plots in old taxi park, it was halted until the misunderstands are resolved in courts of law.
Hakim Kizza said, “I appeal to president Musevsni to come out and negotiate with the owners of various plots within the old taxi park such that taxi drivers stop parking on road sides.” 
He says, it’s only President Museveni who can secure this park for the wanainchi who use taxi.
In one of his letters to KCCA, Museveni said taxi parks must be redeveloped by taxi drivers and vowed never to allow evictions of taxis from the park.
“I and Muhoozi used to board taxis at the old park. It must be preserved and any redevelopment must be for the taxi drivers.” Said the president.
This is why Lord councilor Hakim Kizza wants Museveni to prevail and settle this matter out of court.
Meanwhile, the City Executive Commiitttee on matters of Old Taxi park wants it to be reopened in April next year.
However lord councilor Hakim Kizza and other councilors want taxis to be using that side within old taxi park which has no wrangles as they wait for courts decision on the 13 plots within the old taxi park.

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