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FEATUREDNEWS

Tooro in virtual mode as King Oyo Celebrates 26th Coronation Anniversary

by RICHARD KINTU on

Tooro kingdom loyalists will, beginning today Saturday September 11, 2021, join palace officials to celebrate the 26th coronation anniversary of their king, Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru IV.


But unlike the usual norm where subjects would trek to the Karuzika Palace to spread love to their king, this year’s celebrations will be held virtually, with the function being relayed on NBS TV and on the kingdom’s social media pages including Facebook and Whatsapp among others.


The new development was communicated by Tooro Kingdom Prime Minister Bernard Tungakwo Ateenyi, who attributed the virtual celebrations to be in line with COVID regulations and SOPs.


Tungako revealed that before the pandemic, the Royal Palace traditionally known as the Karuzika would host jubilant crowds from all over Tooro region for more than a week. “The jubilant subjects have been trekking from as far as Kabarole,

Bunyangabu, Kamwenge, Kyegwegwa, Kyenjojo and Kitagwenda and the Kingdom usually organizes celebratory activities that are climaxed with a thanksgiving service to mark the memorable event,” he said.

He however noted that this year this will not be possible and as such these subjects have been urged to follow the celebrations virtually on TV and social media this weekend (Saturday and Sunday).


Speaking to The Inspector, the King’s Principle Private Secretary, Prince Jonathan Baguma, revealed that preparations are underway to ensure that Tooro and friends of Tooro from around the world are able to take part in this memorable occasion.
“We are working with our friends from Talent Africa Group whose history of remarkable hybrid event execution is undoubted to ensure that everyone can catch the virtual celebrations from the comfort of their homes.

The celebrations will start on the 11th as the King officially closes his silver jubilee celebrations and launches the Ekyooto Ha Mpango Festival and end on the 12th of September with a thanksgiving service alongside other celebratory activities. Be sure to watch the live celebrations on NBS TV and the Tooro Kingdom social media pages,” Baguma said.


Oyo was crowned as King in 1995 as a 3-year-old child following the death of his father, King Patrick Kaboyo Olimi III.

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FEATUREDOPINION

Coup plotters: Why Col. Mandy should stay in exile & Col. Besigye in retirement

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By Francis Otucu

The most recent coup in Guinea is strong a reminder (if the powers-that-be forget, anyway), that whoever will stage a coup to end what in their thinking and belief is a dictatorial government, will not come from the top nor the bottom but in the middle. Col. Mamady Doumbouya is the name right now.

He is the new man in charge of Guinea after he led a unit of elite soldiers to seize power at the weekend. But, I notice he is not the only army officer at the rank of a Colonel to stage a coup. In fact, Col. Assimi Goita of Mali may have inspired Col. Doumbouya to make a move. In about 9 months, Col. Goita led Mali’s second coup in June 2021, and went on to name a new cabinet in the country’s transitional government. But why Colonels? Arguably,

throughout modern history, it seems that it is often junior military officers (groups of captains, colonels, lower ranking generals) that attempt to commit a coup, or succeed in doing so. There are obviously plenty of coups committed by high ranking generals, but just looking through a history of coups and coup attempts and you can find tons committed by junior officers.

This includes, among others: Colonel Reza Khan’s 1921 coup that brought the Pahlavi dynasty to power in Iran; 1931 coup attempts by the Japanese Army (led by Lieutenant Colonel Kingoro Hashimoto); 1967 coup by a group of colonels in Greece that established the military junta and the 1969 Libyan coup d’état in which Colonel Muammar Gaddafi took power. These are just a few.


Why do these more junior officers seem to be more inclined to take power in coups than high ranking generals or defense ministers? Are generals simply more satisfied with the status quo, and junior officers have more to gain? I put these questions on Quora.com, a popular question-and-answer website. I found the answers ready. The question was answered in October 2020.


Jim Wayne, B.A. from Duke University (1967) says that in most nations, generals are very few, and most are politically well connected. Usually, he says, there are many colonels for each general, and the colonels will not be promoted until an opening is created by the retirement or death of an existing general.

To this, he argues, there are therefore two reasons colonels might organize a coup: First, led by ambition, they may seek to take power away from a group that blocks them from achieving their goals. Second, they perceive that the nation is corrupt, and the general officers are part of the corruption. And sometimes, both reasons.


Jan Meyer, an enthusiast of History, Psychology and Engineering argues that a colonel tends to be a person who has enough sway to do a coup but is not so close to the regime that he was made a general (which is always connected to politics).
In Uganda, you could talk about Col (Rtd) Kizza Besigye and Col. Samsom Mandy. But then, one is retired and another is in exile in Sweden. After falling out with the government they both helped bring to power, Besigye and Mande fell out with the ruling government between late 90s and early 2000s.

They all went into exile. Only Besigye returned to continue the struggle through the ballot. 4 times now, he is yet to succeed. For Mandy, in an interview with the Daily Monitor in 2015, he pledged to return after 13 years to carry on the struggle.

But just for the record, Col. Mandy is one of the first 100 original fighters of the NRA (now UPDF) during the 1981-86 guerrilla war while Col. Besigye was President Yoweri Museveni’s physician during their bush days. That’s how close the pair was to the ruling government.


But with coups (mainly in Africa of late) being led by Colonels, maybe it is okay (depending on whichever side you look at it) for Mandy to remain in exile and Besigye in retirement.

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FEATUREDOPINION

Guinea not Uganda, Conde not Museveni: Why we can’t have a coup here

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By Faruk Kirunda

The West African nation of Guinea-Conakry is in the news for the wrong reasons. An “undemocratic” coup has taken place, snatching power from President Conde whose election came into serious question last year. West Africa is notorious for coups since independence. But the African continent in general has seen several leaders depart unceremoniously in recent times-from Robert Mugabe (RIP) in Zimbabwe, Bashir in Sudan, issues in Mali and so on.


Africa seems to be getting back to where it was a few decades ago; a continent of coups and civil wars. Much as the reasons for these may be genuine, these approaches will continue to set us backwards. I think a coup is worse than a bad election and Africa should aim to play smarter leadership and smarter transfer of power.
That is why we need strong leadership in the hands of the people where the security apparatus jealously guards the people’s mandate.


I did not follow the Guinea elections last year until protests broke out after announcement of Conde’s contested victory where he aimed for a third term. Not to judge him harshly as a foreigner, I still say that he played with fire; he failed to manage the transition to himself by including all “stakeholders” in his bid. He failed to justify and protect his victory, but I hope that he is handled well by those who overthrew him as an example that they are different or better.


Many leaders have attempted to work through their countries’ Constitutions to stretch their stay in power but ended up collapsing badly. If they have been trying to copy President Museveni, that’s not how it is done. It’s not a matter of copy and paste! Our countries function differently, due to unique historical factors and circumstances. What works in Guinea may not work in Chad or Kenya and what works in Uganda may not work in Zimbabwe or C.A.R.


This, serious leaders must know and find the appropriate approaches to maintain their power with people’s support. Museveni has since justified why he deserved a third term in 2006 by building on that foundation to lead now up to the sixth.
Conde was a relatively new leader, having been in power only since 2008 when Museveni had already led for 22 years. That “Guineans” could not tolerate or save him after such a short spell in power when Ugandans are still firmly behind their liberator tells the difference that true democracy makes. If “overstay” in power was the biggest concern of Africans, leaders who have stayed longer would be the first to go but we are seeing some literally walking through their “State Houses”, “Executive Mansions”-variously as they call them-while tested and trusted ones stay on and on. It has to do with ideology and the overall worth that someone has to offer.


My hope is that there was no foreign influence behind Lt. Col. Mamady’s action but that hope can only be dim. Suspicion is high that the coup leaders were instigated by external hands, even though the soldiers had grudges against their Commander-In-Chief. It’s said that after he secured this ill-fated term, he chopped their emoluments and increased those of parliamentarians and ministers. So, could it be that the other excuse of a badly-woven third term may not apply and we are dealing with fortune hunters? Guinea is rich with minerals, an irresistible endowment to large international players and local merchants. Anyway, it is up to our brothers and sisters to deal with the “transition” their way that best fits our circumstances. President Museveni is available to consult in the Pan-African spirit.


We don’t want to see another Libya or C.A.R in a region still struggling with stability, sustained development and full democratisation.
I have always argued that any government that cannot protect its authority loses legitimacy. That is what has seen successive leaders lose grip including the decorated Generals and those touted as most charismatic and revolutionary. All factors go together. Popularity without firmness amounts to nothing!


The government in Uganda, led by President Museveni, is still popularly strong and can justify its authority using both civilian and military means. From the civilian angle, there is nothing about democracy and elections, human rights and transparency, freedom of expression and association, etc, that Ugandans hear in the news. It is a reality they live with daily.


In terms of military, the Ugandan People’s Defence Force (UPDF) is a distinguished professional army that is celebrated as the most efficient institution in government-and whose contribution is appreciated across the African continent. That is because President Museveni understood early enough that civilian authority is nothing without the backing of a sharp-ended army. Without a good army, the civilian masses are exposed and unhinged, lying at the mercy of forces of disruption, local and foreign.


It is ironic that a nation that has never experienced a coup d’etat should be so obsessed with the idea of conspiracy. #CoupsAreNotSolutions to problems affecting common African people but they do favour foreign interests.
Firstly, the country has been here before. The military came, it promised, and it failed. The coup following Conteh’s death in 2008 was staged by Captain Moussa Dadis Camara, who was later forced out by his colleagues after appearing to renege on his promises of transferring power to a civilian. That experience will be in the minds of many Guineans with the promises coming from this new Junta.


There is also the issue of ethnic division, which has been a historical phenomenon, but which critics say reached a crescendo under the watch of Conde. Whoever becomes president in the near future will have the uphill task of dealing with that.
Finally, there is the common enemy — corruption — which is the main reason the military gave for taking over on Sunday.
Many soldiers who overthrow governments in Africa are not serious about protecting human rights and democracy. Ironically, they invoke these as some of the reasons for overthrowing governments yet their true objective is to enrich themselves, their families and ethnic groups.


There is only a 2% chance of a coup in Uganda. The two percent are servicemen who are disgruntled for one reason or another but even those have no moral political justification to stage anything.

The author is a Presidential Assistant in Charge of Media Management
Contact: kirundaf2@gmail.com
0776980486/0702980486

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FEATUREDNEWS

“Only African Unity Shall Put An End To Conflicts On The Continent”- Says Amb. Otengo

by HENRY MULINDWA on

Uganda’s ambassador to Ethiopia HE Amuge Rebecca Otengo has observed the need for unity among African nations.
According to Amb. Amuge, this is the surest way to address the question of peace and security in which guns would be silenced forever in Africa. She said conflicts are largely responsible for the refugee crisis rocking the continent.

“An integrated Africa would serve a permanent resolve against conflicts” she noted adding that
“No one will be happy to see Africa trade as one. Cognizant that Africa has the much globally needed resources, this emboldens us to build a bigger integration”,said Ambassador Rebecca Otengo.

Ambassador Otengo made the remarks during a zoom telecast show on national broadcaster-UBC under a topic ‘Refugee Crisis in Africa’.


She expressed dismay that many people get displaced as a result of conflicts in their countries but some countries refuse to host such people who are refugees. She applauded president Museveni Tibuhaburwa for his Pan-African spirit especially when he opens up the borders to host suffering refugees.


“No human being must be homeless in Africa. Its the intention of African Union to have free movement of people across the continent of Africa. This will no doubt to lead us to the reality of the integration. We must have our money if we must compete in the world market,”said Amb. Otengo.

YK Museveni

Amb. Amuge acknowledged H.E Yoweri Museveni for what she called always speaking up no matter how difficult the situation may be.


Uganda and president Museveni for that matter has been commended for always showing solidarity with many suffering people from other countries. In this spirit, Uganda hosts the largest number of refugees in the world. Recently, the US resettled about 2000 Aghan refugees after their country’s government was toppled by Islamists known as Taliban. In the same spirit, Uganda is hosting many refugees from DR Congo, South Sudan, Rwanda among others.

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FEATUREDNEWS

Intel That Ruined Kiwanda’s Clout Before M7 And Why Nadduli Is Making A Comeback

by HENRY MULINDWA on

About a month and a half ago, former tourism state minister Godfrey Kiwanda Ssuubi stormed the NRM headquarters.
The purpose of his going there was to launch his hitherto much publicised program called Kisoboka or It’s possible. The program’s launch was publicised on several social media platforms as the man from Mityana north readied himself for the day.
Henceforth, the day came and Kiwanda religiously rode to the NRM headquarters. However, news started spreading like wild fire that the NRM bosses had told him to launch ‘his thing’ elsewhere.


On top of this, the Rolex icon Kiwanda received another bad egg in his face after his show on a local TV station was replaced by state minister for microfinance Haruna Kasolo. Whereas his Kisoboka program might have been well intentioned, something behind his back happened according to sources that talked to this news site.

Naduli


To begin with, Kiwanda a member of NRM CEC is reported to have been placed under a secret security investigation of sorts after Intel leaked that his Kisoboka program allegedly has what was termed as a hidden agenda.
Apparently, Museveni all along hadn’t paid attention to it until one of the senior members of NRM CEC; a lady in particular allegedly took a brief to Museveni.


The brief according to our Inspectors, bordered on Kiwanda being an enemy within through his Kisoboka program.
It has been alleged according to the brief to Museveni that opposition NUP is doing all avenues to see off the president and that the events going on in other African countries where long serving presidents are being removed is what is emboldening the NUP activists.


To achieve this, it requires NUP embarking on various slogans that rally mass support and are easier to grasp.
It is therefore no wonder that around the same time Kiwanda chose to launch his program, NUP legislators also had the same program. However, to them, its allegedly being done through individual legislators who are massively donating ambulances to their voters but with inscriptions reading ‘Kisoboka’


This is mainly among MPs from Luweero region considered to be NRM cradle land which it lost wholly to NUP.
We were informed that Kiwanda did another sacrilege when he allegedly started moving around media houses calling himself No.4 in the NRM party politics given that he sits in CEC. From Museveni (chairman), Kigongo (vice chairman), Rebecca Kadaga (second national vice chairperson) to Kiwanda (regional vice chairperson-Buganda).


“Ono omusajja atandise okweyita number 4 wa NRM. On the last date, he might command people in his region that if it can happen elsewhere, why not here in Uganda? Who among other vice chairpersons refers to himself as number 4? He’s building a platform we may not be able to counter easily” an inspector privy to the details to the president quoted the senior lady as telling the president.


Basing on this and coupled with intense infighting within NRM, the senior lady allegedly talked to the president and briefed him on why he needed to do more research on Kiwanda’s Kisoboka program before he could fully embrace it as an NRM program. In the said brief, the senior woman told the president that Kisoboka has been earmarked as the campaign slogan by change agents particularly NUP alongside People Power slogan.

YK Museveni


“How shall we differentiate between Kisoboka of NUP and Kisoboka of Kiwanda? Are you aware that his Kisoboka program maybe designed to fight NRM? It is going to be unveiled by the opposition. We need further study to it before it’s too late” an inspector quoted the senior female CEC member as telling the president.


Inspectors revealed to us that when this Intel was told to the president, this is how he tactfully directed the NRM headquarters bosses not to allow Kiwanda to launch it there. The aim was to enable him make further study to the said program basing on the Intel offered by the senior woman. It is also the reason his other CEC members heading other regions haven’t yet embraced it and marketed it in their area.


In fact, not only did his launch get frustrated, but also a move was coined that Kiwanda’s predecessor Hajji Abdul Nadduli be recalled from his political oblivion and gets financial rehabilitation. Nadduli all along had been badmouthing NRM especially after plans of bringing anti-Mailo land bill were hatched.


According to what we got, the senior lady suggested that Nadduli gets financial rehabilitation and a car so that he can speak for NRM better in Buganda region than his successor Kiwanda.

WIN BIG!!!!!


“Don’t be surprised when you see Nadduli begining to move around Buganda to mobilize. He will be fully facilitated yet he is a former chairman of Buganda region. The move is meant to keep Kiwanda at a distance for now” the sources added.
Kiwanda has been a state minister for tourism. During his reign, he has made three major milestones. One was to launch Rolex (chapati) as one of Uganda’s delicacies, launch and hold beauty pageants dubbed ‘miss curvy’ to show Ugandan ladies with heavy booty and his tulambule program. His Kisoboka program has however, surfaced in Baamunaanika county formerly represented by education state minister JC Muyingo.

Bobi Wine


Politically, he spent his time in cabinet thanks to the efforts of then deputy speaker Jacob Oulanyah until when he lost his MP seat to Kibedi Nsegumire in January. He’s among the top NRM bosses who engage the media quite often. He recently suffered a political defeat for EALA by-election especially after he was thumped by James Kakooza who was allegedly backed by Kadaga camp. However, his reign as NRM chairperson in Buganda has seen Museveni and his party lose terribly to opposition NUP. This is why, according to his tormentors in NRM, they want Museveni to assign Nadduli a special role to help rejuvenate NRM fortunes in Buganda. Watch the space!

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FEATUREDNEWS

Oulanyah-Kadaga War PART III

by HENRY MULINDWA on

Why Busoga MPs Are Failing To Agree On Caucus Leadership!

For now, political pundits in Busoga suggest it’s now 1:1 between speaker Jacob Oulanyah and his former boss now minister Rebecca Kadaga.
Oulanyah began by thumping Kadaga for the much publicised race for speakership. Oulanyah got 111 votes more to floor Kadaga who wanted to steer parliament for a 3rd term. Museveni would later plead with Kadaga to accept a ministerial position and ended up making her a minister for EAC on top of making her 1st deputy premier.


When this speakership battle ended, another opportunity surfaced during the by-election for EALA MP following the demise of hon. Mathias Kasamba.
Here, according to our Inspectors, Kadaga camp had not paid a lot of attention to it as those who vied for the seat seemed to be incognitos.


However, towards the election date, Intel leaked that one of the contestants Godfrey Kiwanda was being backed by the speaker Oulanyah camp. It should be recalled that Kiwanda all along since 2016 had been Oulanyah’s man and even in the last race, he was among the CEC members who wanted Oulanyah scoop the position.
Immediately, we were told, the Kadaga camp took to political trenches at last minute and analyzed all candidates in the race to see who was more formidable to challenge Kiwanda.

Jacob Oulanyah


It so happened that James Kakooza seemed to have a better chance if had been backed by Kadaga. Insiders suggest that Kadaga decided to back Kakooza after realizing that the former Kabula MP who had initially been a Mbabazist had left Mbabazi when he decided to stand against Museveni.
And to make matters simpler, when Kakooza lost his MP seat, he made a decision to position himself for EALA race which is due in 2022.


Therefore, inspectors revealed that when it was apparent that Kadaga had put up a spirited fight to retain her position as speaker, Kakooza was among the first group to rally support for her even after knowing that he wasn’t a voter anymore since he had lost election.
“Kakooza knew it well that if he antagonized Kadaga, his chances of getting to EALA were in jeopardy. He knew Kadaga would follow him in 2022 and frustrate his bid. This is why he showed loyalty to her the moment he lost elections. He would convass votes for her for speakership” revealed an insider.

WIN BIG !!!


Therefore, when Kasamba died and a by-election came up, the Kadaga camp decided to back Kakooza on the last minute just to humiliate Kiwanda and his camp.
More trouble for Kiwanda occured after his camp commander speaker Oulanyah fell sick at the last hour and at the end of the day, Kakooza carried the day with 11 votes more than those of Kiwanda.
Inspectors revealed that, for Kadaga to have fought Kiwanda, her camp reasoned that if he got a chance to go to EALA, he was going to ‘disturb’ their mistress.


“That man will take his local politics there and start antagonizing our madam. He must fail. At least another person can go there but not that man (Kiwanda)” an insider revealed on the mood leading to the election day. This is how Kadaga secured her first victory over Oulanyah making it a 1:1!

PART III ENTERS
A month ago, Busoga MPs formed a committee to steer the caucus. Here, Bunya south MP Idi Isabirye was elected chairperson of the committee. The MPs allegedly voted in unison and indeed many members rallied the new executive to draft proposals on how to ‘kusaka’ or lobby for Busoga. It’s seems as this went on, the Kadaga camp wasn’t fully aware or it was simply spying on this group.


Henceforth, a few days ago, the Isabirye committee met at Katikati restaurant where they were meant to give a progress report on the some of the action points discussed earlier on.

Idi Isabirye


In the meeting, sources said the committee hinted on a possibility of using the office of the speaker Oulanyah to help achieve there desires for funding. Oulanyah would help link the group to the president.


We are told Isabirye is an Oulanyah man and so were all MPs from his district of Mayuge at the time of election of speaker.
So, it was alleged that one of the executive members (Busoga parliamentary caucus led by Isabirye) identified as Racheal Magoola upon hearing news of possible funding to the group, allegedly rushed at a terrible speed to brief the Kadaga camp on the activities of BPC led by Isabirye.


“Mmwe muli wano naye bali bagenda kufuna ssente” she is quoted to have said which in Queen’s language translates thus ‘guys you’re here but the other group is going to get money’
Inspectors suggested that another member suspected to have been a mole in the Isabirye committee was hon. Yona Kyogera. This one we’re told started his alleged spying antics during the speakership campaigns.
“He was for Kadaga but he kept pretending that he was Oulanyah man. He is the one who used to leak Oulanyah secrets to Kadaga camp” an inspector revealed.


GABULA DAY DEBACLE
On 9th (tomorrow) something big is going to happen in Busoga. The same is on the 13th this month. Their Kyabazinga William Gabula will tomorrow 9th mark his day dubbed ‘Gabula day’ as a chief of Bugabula chiefdom one of the nine chiefdoms that form Busoga kingdom. On 13th, is going to be the Gabula Day for the whole of Busoga.

WIN BIG !!!


Now, we are informed, the ongoing squabbles among Busoga MPs is related to show of supremacy among them on who has more clout in the kingdom besides the wars therein parliament between Kadaga and Oulanyah.
It was reported that when the Kadaga camp got wind of the progress report by the Isabirye committee (read pro-Oulanyah), this is how a quick meeting was allegedly summoned at hotel Africana to elect another committee. This is how the Greater Busoga Parliamentary Group came up and surprisingly, appointed three members already in Isabirye committee among the new executive. Of these, included Racheal Magoola!

Racheal Magoola


We are now told that the GBPG is the one that is being positioned for presentation before Gabula as the executive of Busoga Caucus. Now, the Isabirye committee accuses that of GBPG of betrayal because in their modus operandi, it was agreed that no member who has extra work in parliament either as a shadow minister, committee boss or any other official assignment should be on the executive of the caucus. It was out of this disagreement that some senior members allegedly wanted to lead the caucus chose to form a parallel group. But those in the caucus claimed that this ongoing squabble is as a result of the battle between Oulanyah who wants to penetrate Busoga and Kadaga who feels she’s the champion of Busoga cause.


Indeed, Kadaga has been the chairperson of Busoga Parliamentary Caucus for the last 20years meaning that all developmental projects to Busoga, funds donated, monthly contributions by members and accountabilities she knows everything. By insisting on having a friendly caucus leadership, it is natural that Kadaga would want a successor who will not be hostile to her. This is the reason she reportedly handed over leadership to GBPG which is considered to be a friendly force and not Isabirye.


To make matters worse, Isabirye has less time to fight this battle because he’s spending much of his time running in court corridors to defend his seat. For now, his hitherto leadership has been lessened by three members who have since defected to GBPG.
With this kind of infighting, coupled with allegations of financial gaps, it is feared the Isabirye leadership might revenge by exposing some members in the old executive. For now, it’s not clear how this is going to end and who will win round III!
Watch this space!

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FEATUREDNEWS

Uncertainty for students as Makerere releases examination dates

by RICHARD KINTU on

Continuing students at Makerere University are locked in uncertainty over the actual mode of examinations that will be administered to them. This comes moments after the university’s Academic Registrar Alfred Namoah Masikye released communication confirming end of semester one examination dates.

“The university has scheduled the examinations to start on 13th September 2021 and run up to 30th September 2021. First year and continuing students who have pending semester one examinations are informed accordingly and should prepare to sit the examinations,” in part, read Namoah’s memo.

The registrar revealed that the said dates were arrived at following several meetings that were held as well as consultations with stakeholders to come up with alternative modes of assessment for completion of Semester One 2020/2021 examinations.

Consequently, the University Council approved the alternative modes of assessment while college/school academic boards also met, reviewed, selected and submitted the most appropriate alternative modes of assessment for their respective course units.

Students’ Dilemma

However, a student leader that spoke to the inspector on condition of anonymity revealed that despite the said selection of assessment modes by the colleges, little or no work has been done to sensitize the students about them.

“Right now many of us are reading that we have neither been told nor trained on the mode of assessment through which we shall be examined. We are now waiting to see whether they will teach us in the coming days or some miracle will just happen,” the student said.

But despite the limited time remaining, the students will take solace in the fact that in his communication, Namoah urged the different college administrators to ensure that students are sensitized about the modes before examination day.

“Colleges/Schools have drawn up and published detailed examination schedules and timetables. College registrars have been requested to work with deans, heads of departments and examination coordinators to display and publicise the detailed examination schedules and timetables. In addition, Deans/heads of department/college registrars should provide relevant information and sensitize students on these examination modalities,” Namoah guided. Students are also urged to contact college registrars to help them register on the new DICTS Portal.

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FEATUREDNEWS

Bodyguards defy showy minister after he jails his own mother over Covid-19

by RICHARD KINTU on

A top NRM party boss from Eastern Uganda suffered a mother of humiliations after his bodyguards defied him over a covid-19 maneuver that he pulled in a desperate move to impress his boss President Museveni. Our Field Inspectors ably identified the official as a powerful minister from the far eastern part of Uganda. However, so as not to deflate his ego, we shall refer to him as Jaboo in this story.

Details

Briefs from our field inspectors indicate that minister Jaboo’s woes started when he received news of the death of one of his senior paternal relatives.

It is now a habit that ever since he won an MP seat and got appointed as minister, Jaboo requested that his guard fleet be increased so as to suit his newfound clout as both minister, MP and VIP in the NRM Party— after all more success comes with more enemies and frenemies.

Indeed, sources say his prayers were granted as today he moves with a convoy of three patrol cars full of bodyguards and escorts while going to his village.

It is said that recently he took this convoy for his relative’s funeral, causing untold excitement as everyone wanted to get a glimpse of the new big man in the town.

However, showy as he is, Jaboo shocked all and sundry when upon alighting his official car, he ordered his bodyguards to push back the excited locals that tried to make contact with him. While this was a smart move since it protects him from contracting the deadly Covid-19, he ‘took the handshake beyond the elbow’ when he quickly ordered the escorts to arrest everybody who dared show up at the funeral without a face mask.

“My boss, the president Gen. Museveni, ordered that we enforce his Covid-19 guidelines so I cannot just look on when people are violating them. In fact, arrest every single person who steps here without a face mask. We shall hand them over to the police,” Jaboo said as he demarcated an open space to be used as a ‘jail’ or holding place for the arrested.

Soldiers are born to follow orders, so the minister’s orders they followed. As soon as Jaboo issued the orders, he proceeded to his tent with his PA. It then shortly began drizzling, which made his ‘open jail’ area muddy. However, the obedient escorts went ahead to implement their boss’s order and within minutes, the jail was full of tens of detainees who were evidence of how people these days disregard Covid-19 SOPs.

As the drizzle intensified, the arrested locals began pleading for pardon. Drama however soon ensued as most of the escorts could not understand the Luo language of the pleaders since they looked to be majorly from western Uganda. Out of desperation, some of the villagers resorted to some lines of broken English but the soldiers became unrelenting, reminding them that they had been ‘jailed’ on the orders of their own MP.

MINISTER’S AUNT FALLS VICTIM

Many people believe karma is a lady! This belief came true for the ministers since after about thirty minutes of his order, an elderly woman arrived at the funeral. She was all rushing to the tents to escape the raging rain. However, she was soon stopped by the furious escorts who told her to join the others that were squatting in the rain for not wearing their masks.

Confident that this was the funeral of her brother, the woman cockily told the soldiers to leave her alone if they wanted peace. She even threatened to tell her son the minister but her pleas were met with harder resistance. Realizing that the soldiers were not ‘her son’, she broke her hard wings and grumblingly joined the detainees.

The old woman’s misfortune soon drew mixed reactions, with some of the onlooking villagers sympathizing with her, however, others scorned her, telling her that karma was visiting her braggart son for punishing the very people who voted him.

“We know the people are in the wrong but he would have ordered that those without masks be turned away instead of being embarrassed by making them squat in the rain. What if they now pick worse diseases? You now suffer for having a heartless son,” one of the mourners remarked.

Minister defied

To save the old woman from further torment, a relative who saw the old woman rushed to save her. However, the relative was rebuked by the no-nonsense escorts who reminded him that they also did not wish to be standing in the rain but were implementing their boss’s orders. The relative then rushed to Jaboo, who got shocked and then sent his PA to quickly come and rescue his old woman.

The minister however got embarrassed when the escorts became stubborn and refused to release the woman. “Go and tell him that now we’re implementing presidential directives, not his,” one of the escorts told the PA. However, as he went back to give this report, another one called the PA and told him, “Go and tell him to come and take the old woman himself because we’re holding her on his orders.” The PA went and relayed the message, forcing Jaboo to rush to his ‘open jail’.

He however found a hard time rescuing only his aunt. He was thus forced to order the release of all Covid-19 SOPs flouters that he had detained. That’s how his plan miserably flopped!

NB: To comment on this story, email: info@theinspector.co.ug or contact 0701822301

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BREAKING NEWS: Gloom as Africell follows Shoprite to shut Uganda operations

by RICHARD KINTU on

Barely a month when South Africa-based retailer Shoprite announced its exit from Uganda, the country’s third-leading telecom giant, Africell UG, have also announced a cessation of operations in the Ugandan market.

Africell Group, the telecom’s parent company, announced plans to permanently shut its Ugandan subsidiary, Africell UG, today Tuesday September 7, 2021. In a memo to all its employees in Uganda, Africell UG management explained that the decision to exit Uganda was reached after a months-long detailed assessment of the telecom’s future in Uganda showed that the same had become “increasingly limited”. The company also sent subscribers messages advising them to consume all their airtime balances by October 7, 2021 when “Africell UG is ending mobile services in Uganda.”

“Over the past several months, Africell Group has conducted a detailed assessment of the future of Africell UG. Africell strives to be a leader not only in terms of mobile services but also in terms of community impact and the digitally-led transformation of society. In Uganda— a country with a mature and competitive telecoms sector— we believe that the opportunity to achieve this impact is increasingly limited,” the management stated in the memo.

It then added; “We have therefore taken the difficult decision to permanently end Africell UG’s operations in Uganda.”

The telecom added that it will cease operations on October 7, 2021 while workers’ contracts will all expire on November 30, 2021.

The company has already begun scaling down its activities, with the communication showing that beginning tomorrow, September 8, 2021 new customers will not be accepted.

Employees will however be cushioned, with meetings between the HR and employees set to kick off.

AFRICELL STRUGGLES

In the communication, the firm committed to support affected customers and employees to transition after its exit. However, it is worth noting that the communication comes at a time Africell had shifted some of its core services to rivals MTN Uganda. In this arrangement, Africell customers have for some time now been able to buy airtime directly from MTN. This fuelled speculation of a possible takeover of Africell by MTN in a volatile industry that has seen several exits and mergers already. The most recent amalgamation saw Airtel take over K2 Telecom customers following its earlier absorption of Zain and later Warid Telecoms.

Economy Collapse?

Exiting Uganda just after Shoprite, Africell joins a big list of global brands to exit Uganda citing limited market or non-viable commercial sustainability. Some of the brands to have exited Uganda include Nakumatt, Game, Uchumi, British Airways December 2019, Barclays Bank and Shell among others; while even the UN shifted its key operations to neighbouring Kenya.

Whereas ruling party political players have labored to paint a positive picture of the economy, business and economics experts have persistently warned of darker days and gloom relating to a possible collapse of the economy. Recently, Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago tasked government to take caution and devise ways of reviving the economy in the wake of the failure by global brands to find commercial viability in the country. Experts warn that on top of depriving citizens of jobs accruing from the brands’ ability to employ many people, their exit also increases general poverty in the country through lost taxes and spending power of both the companies and their employees.

Sadly, part of the blame has been put on bad and monetized politics that encourages wastage and expenditure on incessant demands of locals from government and politicians.

This prominently emerged during the recent post-Budget conference when the Deputy Governor of Bank of Uganda, Michael Atingi-Ego, cautioned officials in the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development against the increasing rates of borrowing.

At the conference that was held at the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBoS), Atingi-Ego warned that the current debt situation Uganda is facing should not be taken for granted thinking that the economy is stable. He cited the strengthening of the Ugandan shillings against the US Dollar as one of the indicators.

“This could be a temporary situation because offshore are taking refuge in Uganda currently as they wait for interest rates in the west to rise again and rush back, which could cause a sudden problem to Uganda. The ministry must reduce the debt stock as soon as possible,” he explained. He added that the country is sitting on the edge and that if any large-scale emergency happened, it would not be able to respond due to a lack of funds.

About Africell Group

According to Wikipedia, Africell Group is a global mobile technology company providing voice, messaging, data, mobile money and other integrated telecoms services to over 12 million subscribers across Africa. It was incorporated in 2000 in Jersey, UK and has its headquarters in London but operates subsidiaries in The Gambia, Sierra Leone, DRC, Uganda and Angola.

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FEATUREDNEWS

Why Ssemujju-Nabbanja War Is Good Music For Min. Kashaija

by HENRY MULINDWA on

Kira municipality MP Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda and his quarrel with premier Robinah Nabbanja has been received with high volume within the camp of finance minister Matia Kashaija; this online news site can reveal. This is so because Kashaija’s close pals say he also tried it but ended up a miserable man during his days as UPM activist in Bunyoro politics.


DETAILS
Finance minister Matia Kashaija had a quarrel with one of his MP aspirants. The minister at the time was an accomplished graduate with a Bcom. Sadly, his competitor and namesake Matia Kisembo was a semi-ilitrate with a mere diploma in education. However, Kisembo was a strong UPC man and had the ear of the regime’s strongmen like Paulo Muwanga, David Oyite Ojok among others. As for Kashaija, he was a member of Yoweri Museveni’s UPM. Kashaija was the UPM secretary for mobilization at UPM headquarters but he also stood for Hoima south MP position. He contested with Kisembo.


Inspectors in UPM told us that Kashaija not only lost the election to Kisembo but also became a rotten egg among his tribesmen because of his alleged undermining of his opponents on grounds that they never saw many blackboards like him.
“Kashaija never got any vote and we (UPM) lost that MP seat on very weak grounds. It was because of his character and use of his tongue. He kept bragging about his Bcom little did he know that this annoyed the people. He said his namesake wasn’t educated yet for him he was a graduate. He was going to win had he tried to use appropriate language” a senior member of UPM revealed to this news site.

Nabbanja


As if to pile more misery on his eyes, Milton Obote went ahead and appointed Kisembo to cabinet as a deputy minister for information.


“He performed well and UPC ensured Kashaija never come to parliament under their regime. Therefore, when we see Ssemujju trying to underrate Nabbanja given her new role, he is missing the point. He might end up badly. Whether he speaks good English or has more books than her, he should respect her. You can’t underrate someone like that. He was also being gender insensitive. How can you say that Nabbanja is not even fit to run a garbage collection company? This was too much a statement” a top UPM member said adding that since then, Kashaija suffered terribly until in 1985 when NRA rebel leader Museveni appointed him a Special District Administrator (SDA).


It so happened that Museveni appointed SDAs in what was regarded as liberated areas and this is when Kashaija managed to have a role to play in government. Other SDAs included Ruhakana Rugunda, Mawombe Mukhwana and Raphael Bitamazire, Benon Biraaro, Phenhas Katirima, Tom Butime, James Kateregga among others. All these would later become senior army officers and ministers under Museveni.


When Museveni appointed Nabbanja as prime minister, many people conglatulated her for this promotion. However, to Ssemujju, Nabbanja cannot even be entrusted with the work of running a garbage collection company. This he said because by virtue of her being premier, she automatically became the leader of government business in parliament.


An angry Nabbanja a few days ago came out and demanded Ssemujju to explain whether she had any personal issue with her to deserve such a statement. Several netizens came out and castigated Ssemujju.


“You can’t blame this lady who’s selfmade. She has no one to refer to as her godfather in government. She has fought for herself to reach where she is. She’s not like other people who are pushed. Why fight her? This is a sign of arrogance and I don’t think he will win it” Ambrose Kasawuli said.


It is not clear whether the two are about to sit for peace talks but by the look of things, Nabbanja feels underrated and not willing to stomach it. Others claimed Ssemujju could be simply fighting a proxy battle against the premier given the fact that many wanted to be appointed to that position only for the president to surprise the with Nabbanja. Watch the space!

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