close

FEATURED

FEATUREDNEWS

Panicky Bizibu parades DAPCB land ghosts as Kasaija Appoints Kamya Son Amid patronage backlash

by on

BY NATHAN NGOBI

Departed Asian Property Custodian Board (DAPCB) Executive Secretary George William Bizibu last Wednesday saved his head by rushing to parade persons that had been termed as ghosts in the Kayunga estates land fraud.
The axe was being dangled over Bizibu’s head by the IGG Beti Olive Namisango Kamya (BONK) as well as Finance Minister Matia Kasaija. This was after the latter officials investigated Bizibu over alleged involvement in the attempted shoddy sale of over 800 acres of government land.
According to court documents tendered before the Inspector General of Government (IGG) by whistleblowers, the said land is comprised in Kayunga Estate at Ntunda area in Mukono district.
Particulars show that Bizibu and one Apio Julu signed consent agreements with two people identified as Kayongo Moses Byanguye and Sarah Nakato Kiwumulo. As per the agreement, these purported to have relinquished 300 acres near Ntunda Trading centre to government upon which they would be sold the remaining 500 acres under private treaty.
Trouble for the pair however erupted after the IGG revealed that her office has since established that there were two consent agreements signed in respect of this particular matter.
Further anomalies detected show that there were some forgeries in the agreements as well as in the identification credentials of the purported plaintiffs.
It emerged that in the first agreement, some members of the DAPCB Board including Dr. Byakatonda Abduluhu (current workers’ MP), Sabbehe Mayanja Hirome (DAPCB Divestiture Committee Member) and Counsel Wandera Ogalo for the DAPCB rejected to sign on it. Apparently, this was because Bizibu failed to physically produce the plaintiffs (Kayongo Moses Byanguye and Sarah Nakato Kiwumulo). For the second agreement, the identification credentials of Kiwumulo Sarah Nakato do not match with her signatures and details on her purported national ID. Also, there was no trace of Kayongo Moses Byanguye despite his national ID being used as the basis for signing the consent. However, despite the refusal by some board members to approve the consent agreements, Bizibu and Julu went ahead and signed the consents, an act that amounted to forgery. This led to suspicion that they could have tried to sell the land to non-existent persons; thus investigations against them.

Bizibu in plaintiffs U-Turn

However, last Wednesday, Bizibu and Apio, in a desperate save-face operation, shocked board members when they hastily presented the said Kiwumulo Sarah Nakato and Kayongo Moses Byanguye to the committee members. This was just moments after Finance Minister Matia Kasaija had appointed Arnold Spencer Turwomwe to the DAPCB Board where he will serve as Chairman Divestiture Committee. Turwowme, who happens to be IGG Beti Kamya’s son, replaced Dr. Byakatonda Abduluhul who joined parliament as workers’ MP. After parading the duo, bizibu was tasked to explain why he wrongly signed the second consent agreement without having first presented the two people. He however gave no explanation.

Kasaija, Kamya In Conflict Of Interest Saga

Meanwhile, the appointment of spencer Turwomwe to the DAPCB Board has caused queries, with many concerned people cited possible conflict of interest in the matter. This is largely based on the fact that Kamya has been at the heart of investigating the mess at DAPCB, particularly executive secretary Bizibu. Sources therefore believe Kamya could have influenced Kasaija to appoint her son given the good working relationship between the IGG and finance minister, both of whom have interest in the ongoing investigations surrounding the Kayunga Estates land.

About Turwomwe
Arnold Spencer Turwomwe is the only biological son to former lands minister and current IGG Betty Namisango Kamya.
Ever since Dr. Abduluhul Byakatonda joined parliament early this year, the position has been vacant as Finance Minister Matia Kasaija was looking for a possible replacement.
There were about 30 people who showed interest some by writing while others by using positions of their God fathers to take over the divestiture committee chairperson until Wednesday morning when the minister officially appointed young man Arnold Spencer Turwomwe as the new chairman.
Speaking to the Inspector media house Matia Kasija said that he believes that the young man can manage to run the affairs of the custodian board well.
“I finally appointed Turwomwe as my best choice among those who appeared on my list and to me he would serve them that position,” Kasaija said.
Turwomwe is also a politician, having unsuccessfully stood for the Bushenyi-Ishaka Municipality MP seat in the 2021 General elections.
As Kamya campaigned to recapture the Rubaga North MP seat for herself, the young man was battling with giants like Cowboy Arinda the incumbent to carry the NRM flag.
Younger Turwomwe is named after his late father who was a founding member of the Besigye struggle.

read more
FEATUREDOPINION

“BANYARWANDA” MUST NOT BE “RWANDESE” TO BE TRUSTED

by on


By MALE H. MABIRIZI K. KIWANUKA

“Dual citizenship creates the possibilities of having citizens of divided loyalties which might be harmful especially when there may be hostilities between the countries of which a person is a citizen. Dual citizens might not be easily trusted, especially in times of war or national crises…dual citizenship could easily compromise the sovereignty of the majority of the people who have only single citizenship. This minority could take over the political and economic control of the country, especially if they are rich investors with strong economic interest abroad…dual citizenship could compromise the security of the state especially in Africa where as a result of poverty, many people would be bribed to support a detrimental system or programme…people could apply for dual citizenship for wrong motives, such as spying or undermining the stability of the country. The case against dual citizenship won the day. There was an overwhelming majority of views against it” Reads pages 211-212; BENJAMIN ODOKI: THE SEARCH FOR A NATIONAL CONSENSUS: THE MAKING OF THE 1995 UGANDA CONSTITUTION.

I revised that part on 2nd August 2021 when Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) confirmed the illegality of arresting Dr. Lawrence Muganga, the Vice Chancellor of Victoria University in a violent manner. Citizen or not, everybody is protected from inhuman and degrading treatment by Articles 24 and 44(a) of Uganda Constitution. UPDF’s mandate under Article 209 does not include making arrests, that is the work of Police under Article 212.

The bigger issue is the status on Dr. Muganga and people with a background in Republic of Rwanda. In a press conference held the next day, Mr. Frank Gashumba, known as Chairman of people from Rwanda, stated that Dr. Muganga is a Ugandan born in Masaka and grew up in Mukono. That people of Rwandan origin came here in 1923 owing to the instability in Rwanda hence should be treated equally with other tribes and that they are named in the Constitution as citizens. On the other hand, UPDF insists that Dr. Muganga is a foreigner illegally working in Uganda and doing espionage.

It’s time we become unambiguous on the legal position of “Banyarwanda” stated No. 24 in the third schedule to our Constitution as an indigenous community, though without any exact place of origin within Uganda, in the face of a sovereign state with “Rwandese” if we are not to fall into the trap stated by Odoki.

Article 10(a) of the Constitution states “The following persons shall be citizens of Uganda by birth— every person born in Uganda one of whose parents or grandparents is or was a member of any of the indigenous communities existing and residing within the borders of Uganda as at the first day of February, 1926, and set out in the Third Schedule to this Constitution” Question is, were Banyarwanda an indigenous community existing and residing within the borders of Uganda as at the first day of February, 1926? The 1923 information given by Mr. Gashumba, which made them 3 years’ Refugees by 1926, leads to a Negative answer hence they ought not to have been included in the schedule but since the politics of the day was in their favour, here we are.

Moving forward, in our Constitutional review, we need to critically think about retaining Banyarwanda or Barundi as indigenous communities. Now, my friends with a Rwanda background have a duty to prove that they are Banyarwanda, as stated in Uganda Constitution and not Rwandese as per Rwanda’s Constitution, if we are to trust them in defending our sovereignty. Why would a person carry a National Identity Card for both Uganda and Rwanda and we trust him/her?
I have no issues with background but with the loyalty to Uganda sovereign state. Many People with different backgrounds have led their countries to glory; Napoleon Bonaparte who made France great had Italian roots, Germany’s Adolf Hitler had roots in Austria, US’s Barrack Obama has roots in Kenya and UK’s Borris Johnson has roots in Turkey. What matters is the loyalty and commitment to a Country.

Let this be taken in good faith.

malehmkk@gmail.com
The Writer is Lawyer & a Civically Active Ugandan.

read more
FEATUREDNEWS

KAYIHURA TACTICS BACK? NRM Boss Pins Police as NUP Honchos decry MPs’ tramped up charges

by RICHARD KINTU on

The machete attacks in Greater Masaka region have turned intricate, with fears now emerging that they could have taken the direction reminiscent of how security handled them in 2017.

This is the view held by some sections of the public, an NRM party leader in Masaka and the opposition National Unity Platform (NUP).

What Went Wrong?

It should be remembered that following widespread insecurity that also included machete attacks in Greater Masaka, police resorted to desperate tactics of framing up some individuals.

This tactic came to the fore after it was leaked to the public by a group of goons that fell out with the police after the force failed to fulfill its part of the bargain.

In confessions that bewildered the public, gang members led by one Asiimwe Suleiman aka Kabaya revealed that some police bosses had approached him to mobilise some hard-hearted youths who could bravely claim on camera that they were the ones behind the acts of terror then. These were then coached to implicate some people and they actually zeroed on one Bruce Bukenya a.k.a. BK. Asiimwe said he executed the deal perfectly and then his confessions led to the arrest of BK who was then paraded before the media as the mastermind behind the murders. The parading which attracted rebuke from human rights bodies was done at Katwe Police Station by then Inspector General of Police Kale Kayihura. Asiimwe said that to pull this off, each of the desperate youths was promised Shs25m. This was top of 1000 birds for each of the boys to start poultry projects as well as eventual recruitment into the police force.

Indeed, all went well, but the mercenaries later leaked the plot after the said money was not given to the confessing boys. The boys revealed that they were enraged and forced to come clean after learning that while their money was released, it was shared by top security bosses while the confessors were instead sent to hail and the burden of bailing them out shifted to their poor parents who then sold personal belongings including land and animals to rescue their sons.

Peter Ssenkungu

Yet again?

Whereas investigations into the current wave of the murders are still ongoing, Masaka district NRM chairman Peter Ssenkungu believes the conduct of the police in the current bijambiya leaves a lot to be desired. While addressing the media earlier this week, Ssenkungu faulted the tactics the police are employing in pursuing the assailants. He even expressed fear that there could actually be collusion between the cops and the machete-wielding assailants. To begin with, Ssenkungu accuses the security detectives of employing an anti-people stance which has seen them arrest and frame locals that go to report any information regarding the murders.

He says this has created mistrust between the locals and the police and thus many locals with useful information are withholding it for fear of being arrested or being branded as being part of the machete thugs. He thus proposed that government creates a neutral information center where locals can freely go and offer information in confidence without fear of negative and punitive repercussions.

Calling for the disbandment of the police force for two years, Ssenkungu also revealed that the enforcement tactics of the police are so much wanting to the extent that locals believe they are only meant to alert the machete goons to flee crime scenes.

“The CID are simply extorting money from the locals but not doing any work. Secondly, these people have a habit of shooting in the air while approaching scenes where they are told there are attacks. We therefore believe such unnecessary shooting is meant to alert the attackers to flee,” he said.

He revealed that the police force is so rotten that even if they hire and train new cops they are soon contaminated by senior weevils. He express shock at the realization that the cops are actually escalating land wrangles in the area (amidst some public opinions that the attacks are deliberate and aimed at facilitating the passing of land reforms in parliament; especially regarding the targeted abolishment of mailo land). He cited a particular scenario in Misaali village where a tycoon paid cops to facilitate the grabbing of land. He also warned that government must also aim at first ascertaining the cause of the murders, imputing that they could be linked to miscalculations and other injustices government could have committed against citizens. He cited an example of arbitrary arrests of youth in Buganda region among other things.

INVESTIGATE THE POLICE

Ssenkungu therefore urged Masaka Regional Police Commander Paul Nkore to investigate his own officers before pointing fingers at civilians over the murders.

Ssenkungu’s view is also shared by the leader of opposition in parliament, Mathias Mpuuga. The LoP who is MP for Nyendo-Mukungwe in Masaka Mukungwe note that government needs to professionally investigate the murders instead of doing things in a manner that creates suspicion on its part. Mpuuga noted that in the recent similar incidents, top security officials were implicated and so the same could be true this time. “Only rare professionalism shall crack what looks like a resurgence of organized crime in which sections of the security apparatus were implicated. We expect professionalism, due process and justice. Any attempt to use shortcuts to resolve a bigger problem may not serve the ends of justice to the victims and the accused,” Mpuuga said.

Mpuuga made the remarks on the background of summons that were sent to two NUP MPs Muhammad Ssegirinya and Allan Ssewanyana requiring them to go and answer queries relating to the Masaka murders.

To Mpuuga however, the summons are far-fetched and seem a desperate attempt by government to wipe out NUP by linking it to rebel/terror activities. It should be noted that Masaka was the biggest voter of NUP presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi who garnered more than 70% of the vote. Already, several political commentators and analysts have opined that linking its MPs to the murders is enough to cast it in bad light and make it hated by the locals who will in turn look at the NRM party as saviours. The same view is also held by Mpuuga who believes government wants to use the current bijambiya attacks to simply settle political scores with NUP and its supporters in Masaka.

Ssegirinya

Ssegirinya, ssewanyana bash summons

Meanwhile, both MPs Ssegirinya and Ssewanyana have distanced themselves from the criminality in Masaka, moments after receiving summons to answer questions over the same.

In the summons letter dated Friday September 3rd, the Police Director Criminal Investigations Paul Katto Tumuhimbise said the MPs were needed to record statements at Masaka Police Station.

“CID is investigating some murders that took place in Greater Masaka during the months of July and August 2021,” Kato wrote.

“This serves as summons for you to appear at Masaka Police Station on Monday 6th September 2021 at 10:00 hours before D/SSP Moses Taremwa for a statement in respect to the said investigations,” in part read the summons.

But responding to the summons, a distraught Ssegirinya believes they are simply politically motivated

Particularly, he attributes them to his political rival Suleiman Kidandala whom he believes is working with government to get him arrested and jailed and later killed both physically and politically such that his MP seat in Kawempe North can be taken.

“I just came back from the Netherlands only to see these summons linking me to such heartless acts. But I can’t understand myself now because this has hit me really hard. I know nothing about this matter. I value life so much to the extent that I can’t even slaughter a chicken. Actually, I was planning to go and do charity by sending some food to the affected. Now I just imagine what would have happened if I had gone there,” Ssegirinya cried. He urged those pursuing him to take the MP seat but spare his life. Echoing Mpuuga’s stand, he noted that by framing them, the police are shielding the real perpetrators of the murders.

Ssegirinya’s view is shared by Kira Municipality MP Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda. While speaking on the capital gang show last Saturday, Ssemujju noted that summoning the NUP MPs shows that security have failed to investigate the murders. Ssemujju decried that each time security fail in investigations of matters of public concern, they run to politicize such matters so as to get escape routes and scapegoats. And on his part, MP Ssewanyana said; “If this is the stage we are at in the politics. That we practice politics of blackmail and smear then it is unfortunate. Of course I will answer the summons although I don’t know anything about these summons or how they came about. But I’ll go to Masaka with my lawyers and answer to whatever they will put before me.”

The summons have also been chided by NUP Principal Bobi Wine, who believes they are meant to break NUP’s spirit.

Shortly after the summons went through, he tweeted; “Anyone can predict where this is going, and what their grand objective is,” Bobi Wine tweeted. He then took to his Facebook page and posted thus: “Countrywomen and men, As predicted, the Museveni regime has actualised their plan of implicating NUP leaders in the ongoing spate of murders in Greater Masaka. When Chris Baryomunsi said this last week, it looked like a joke. But as we now know, anything is possible in Uganda. As we speak, Hon. Muhammad Segirinya (MP Kawempe North) and Hon. Allan Ssewanyana (MP Makindye West) were summoned to appear before CID tomorrow (Monday) in relation to the ongoing spate of murders. Anyone can predict where this is going, and what their grand objective is. What I can say without contradiction, is that this new attempt will fail, like all those before. Our people just need to be vigilant and remain alert.”

But M7 Blamed ADF!

The summons come after President Museveni revealed that the attacks were being instigated by ADF insurgents. The president made the remarks on August 27, when he also promised to discuss with authorities in Kinshasa to help Uganda combat the terrorists. “The plans and orders for killing our people are coming from the terrorists in Eastern Congo. We are continuing to discuss with HE Felix Tshisekedi (DR Congo president) about eliminating that cancer,” he said. He however also alluded to some politicians who could be fuelling the attacks so as to discredit the government.

read more
FEATUREDNEWS

Potholes Takeover Brig. Mayombo Road Despite M7’s 8-Year Old Directive!

by HENRY MULINDWA on

He was a powerful man who enjoyed power by all standards!
However, whereas he was too powerful, potholes have proved to be more powerful than him now that he is no more.
This is none other than the late Brig. Nobel Mayombo; the man who once presided over the army’s intelligence agency-CMI and later became the PS ministry of defense before he died of acute pancreatitis in May 2007.


Whereas he might have passed on, his name among his tribesmen; the Batooro in Kabalore district is still ringing a bell.
As such, eight years ago, his tribesmen went to meet president Yoweri Museveni at his home in Rwakitura. This was in 2013, six years after his demise. The group we confirmed among other demands to the president, asked for the tarmacking of the Fortportal-Kijura road; the road leading to his burial grounds and also connects to other places.


This same road is the one which takes the coordinator of COVID-19 taskforce Maj. Gen. Robert Rusoke to his home and so is Brig. Ronnie Balya the former DG of internal security organization (ISO).

  • Katumba Wamala
  • President Museveni


Other prominent people it takes home includes former MP also former deputy secretary general of the EAC in charge of political federation Beatrice Kiraso, former UHRC commissioner Col. Steven Basaliza, former UNBS boss Ben Manyindo, Uganda Railways Corporation boss Charles Kateba, former PS ministry for works and transport Charles Muganzi, former finance ministry PS Chris Kassami and our dear state minister for health Margaret Muhanga who takes this very road when she is visiting her mom.


The list is endless.
Now, our Inspectors reported that this road is soon turning into a crater lake of sorts arising from the massive potholes that are about to turn into fish ponds.


Ironically, Museveni following his meeting with the Tooro elders in 2013, penned a letter to then works minister Eng. Abraham Byandala to have this road together with two others worked on by way of tarmacking them. The other two roads included Fort portal-Katijo-Muhoti-Mountains of the Moon university road and Kasisi-Rwaihemba-Kyanga road.

Byandala


In his letter obtained by this news site Inspectors, Museveni directed Byandala to work on these roads as a matter of urgency and also keep his office posted on the progress.
Dated 4th/September/2014, Museveni through his then PPS Mary Amajo said that ‘this letter serves to convey HE directive to you and to request you to keep the office updated on the progress’


Shockingly, this directive has up to now continued to gather dust in the works ministry. Four ministers including Byandala, John Byabagambi, Azuba Ntege and now Gen. Katumba Wamala have since presided over this sector but nothing to show in regards to Museveni’s directive on this Mayombo road.

Byabagambi


“Since Byandala, Byabagambi, Ntege and now Katumba, no action has taken place. Sadly, even the area MPs from Kabalore are sleeping without opening their mouths to bring it to the attention of Parliament” says a senior elder from Fort.
The elders are now frustrated thinking that maybe, the directive was ignored because it was not written directly by Museveni himself.


“He(Museveni) didn’t sign the letter. The ones he signs himself are usually taken seriously and acted upon” opines a senior elder.
Another member shoots that ‘I doubt if the lack of his signature has anything to with the effecting of the directive. This would have been effective if it was another region with or without his signature’

Ntege Azuba


This road is 30kms but goes into tourism minister Col. Tom Butime’s Mwenge constituency in Kyenjojo district by 15 more kilometers before it joins the newly constructed Kagadi-Kyenjojo road.


On the business angle, this Mayombo road is the one that leads to the lucrative area with many tea factories, coffee, matooke among others. The road also goes to Kyembogo Industrial Park and to the first famous model village of Rwengaju. Watch this space!

read more
FEATUREDNEWS

Stinging Report Pins RDCs On Spreading Deadly HIV In The North

by HENRY MULINDWA on

Fire this, fire that is the word on the lips of several officers within the presidency in respect of current RDC lineup.
We have it on proper grounds that the current untamed brutal murders by gangs operating in Greater Masaka has widened opinions within the presidency whether some RDCs are still necessary or should be weeded out.


What is bothering the presidency is why these officials who are fully facilitated with luxurious vehicles, fat salaries and guards cannot deliver and yet they are the heads of district security committees.
“The districts have all been reduced to almost the size of a sub-county. This therefore, makes their work easier since the area of policing is tiny. But why is it that crime is rampant? We are seeing a rise in murders, rape and other forms of insecurity happening. This therefore, means we must send many of them back home and where necessary prosecute some for negligence” a top inspector told this news site.


In fact, we are told a file detailing the performance of RDCs and their deeds is being compiled and soon heads will roll courtesy of presidency minister Milly Babalanda.
Inspectors revealed that actually, many RDCs were posted without due background checks on them but just because they had the backing of some politicians. This is the reason one finds a particular district having more than three individuals posted as RDCs in various districts.


“You can see, someone just brought his her people but without paying attention to the idea of delivering results this is why we are seeing some RDCs being involved in unnecessary behavior. Some are grabbing women, others have become land brokers. Unfortunately, the criminals use this weakness to unleash terror on wanainchi” an inspector added.


In fact, this news site understands that there are several petitions before the president where locals in the north are complaining about the work of some randy RDCs. For example, we chanced on a petition from Lango district of Alebtong where sick women and NRM supporters were pinning the area RDC on concentrating on love affairs instead of securing the district.


The petition is tagged as ‘Restricted’ and is entitled as “Petition from NRM supporters and sick people from Alebtong Health Center IV Against Mr. Otti Kenneth-RDC Alebtong And Request For His Removal”
“Your Excellency, we supporters and sick (expectant mothers) from Alebtong wish to register our grievances against the RDC” the petition begins.


The stinging dossier lists nine counts allegedly committed by this RDC among which includes alleged women grabbing.
At the time, this RDC had allegedly just been chased away from Toronto for various reasons ranging from what they claimed drunkenness, spreading a strange disease to people’s daughters and women among others. This man according to the dossier we accessed was also accused of causing divisions within the NRM camp in the district by siding with some political aspirants for parliament.


“The first thing the RDC did on arrival in Alebtong was to fall in love (sexual relationship) with LCV councilor (names withheld) a very brown woman and very sexually active. He is now moving with this woman as his walking stick forcing people of Alebtong to vote her in 2016 and woman MP even before going through NRM primaries” the petition reads in part.


In addition, the RDC was accused of pocking his nose into the financial administration of the district. Here, they claimed that the RDC who was an auditor by training allegedly became an advisor to the CAO and several district bosses. It is claimed that on weekends, they would meet with other district officials and craft means of how to siphon public funds.


“This is part of the money he rented for his new catch the councilor (names withheld) in Lira town at a place called Uhuru bar. It is here that they meet for sexual enjoyment. This implies that every night the RDC leaves his duty station and sleeps in a different district-Lira yet he is the chairman security” they claimed.


It goes on “your Excellency, councilor (names withheld) is a girlfriend to the RDC and is being funded by negative people to dislodge NRM aspirants loyal to you. The RDC brags that his godfather in NRM who recommended him for appointment works at government media center (names withheld) and no one can touch him”
The petition suggests that the president needed to do more investigation against this RDC and they requested for his removal as he was ‘unfit’ to represent him in Lango.

Fred Bamwine was moved to Nakaseke


“Your Excellency, this sadist and unprofessional conduct of this RDC are clear facts that the recent lots of RDC postings to Lango sub-region are not senior cadres. The excellent mobilisers were maliciously removed because they had no godfathers and mothers. Instead, they were replaced by very old, weak, cowards and incompetent RDCs” the petition summed up.


We couldn’t get a comment from the RDC in question as his known phone wasn’t available. However, whether true or not, our Inspectors said the presidency minister is doing thorough investigation on such information, the reason the RDC major reshuffle is yet to happen. Already, the minister a few days ago fired Masaka RCC Fred Bamwine after failing to contain several brutal murders in Masaka. She has also gone ahead to streamline the work of presidential advisors and wants them to be more visible on the ground than ever before. The presidential advisors are supposed to monitor government programs and in a way will be spying on the work of RDCs. So far over 20 people have been murdered by panga-wielding men.
Watch this space!

read more
FEATUREDNEWS

Why Tough Minister Babalanda cracked Whip on RDC Bamwine, ‘Gamba n’ogu’ RCC Burora

by RICHARD KINTU on

As she promised in her acceptance speech, Minister of Presidency Milly Babirye Babalanda has cracked the whip on Resident District Commissioners whose service posts have been lately dogged by issues of inefficiencies.

The first casualties of the former Personal Assistant to the President include veteran Masaka RDC Fred Bamwine and Nakawa division’s deputy RCC Herbert Anderson Burora. According to information released Monday, Bamwine was moved from the volatile Masaka district to Nakaseke district while Burora was transferred to Lubaga division in Kampala.

Whereas by press time no reasons had been stated for these transfers, analysts revealed that the two men were moved due to perceived inefficiency, which Babalanda warned the RDCs against.

It is worth noting that for months now, Masaka district has been gripped by terror of machete-wielding murderers now commonly known as ‘bijambiya’.

Apparently, up to now government is yet to put an end to the killings, although police have since linked the murders to land disputes; making several arrests.

Locals however expressed dissatisfaction over what they termed as seeming reluctance by the district security forces to protect them. This was upon reports that the assailants throw leaflets as well as making phone calls to potential victims before going ahead to kill them.

Fred Bamwine was moved to Nakaseke

Ideally, such concerns are supposed to be directly addressed by the RDC, who is the overall head of security matters in the district.

It is this responsibility which caused trouble for Bamwine as the failure to make inroads into the murderers fell directly upon him. Last week, a likely lack of command and authority on Bamwine’s side manifested when Paul Nkore, the Southern Regional Police Commander, admitted to residents that the security personnel in the district were too few and powerless to offer them reasonable help. Nkore made the remarks while addressing residents of Kyabbogo Village before urging them to strengthen the neighborhood watch system which police introduced some years ago to curb crime.

A visibly frustrated Nkore even went ahead to blame residents for frustrating security personnel by not reporting criminals yet they know them. Blaming himself, Nkore said; “I have just been posted to Masaka where I have spent barely one month but to my dismay, a person is killed every day. I am starting to blame myself for coming here because it seems I brought kisirani (bad luck) to this region.”

Nkore’s defeatist statement was unfortunately picked on by opposition elements, with NUP boss Bobi Wine urging Masaka people to fight on their own because government cannot help them. Later the opposition party’s spokesperson Joel Ssenyonyi poured scorn at government, saying that while Nkore claimed the security personnel were overstretched, the government would have deployed more than enough men had it been an operation to stop Bobi Wine and his NUP supporters.

Sources close to minister Babalanda say that with government and the NRM’s image getting soiled, there was no way Bamwine would have survived in Masaka.

Bamwine’s chances also thinned after the soft-spoken but overly workaholic Babalanda heaed to masaka to have a firsthand appreciation of the problem. Babalanda revealed that she would camp in Masaka from Thursday, September 2 to Friday, September 3, during which time she will assess the crisis and also provide important tips to the security apparatus (including RDCs/RCCs, District Internal Security Officers, and other district police chiefs) on how to combat the situation.

The Minister attributed the terror to wrong elements fighting to portray the government as incompetent with the intention to cause panic among the public.

She said; “These terror groups want to frustrate our efforts in implementing the NRM manifesto. They are desperately fighting to divert us but I can assure Ugandans that the government can wipe them out without any trouble.”

Anderson Burora shifted to Lubaga

GAMBA N’OGU’S FATE

Babalanda’s whip also landed on Nakawa Deputy RCC Burora and sources attributed this to his recent disclosure that he had found it difficult to enforce curfew and Covid-19 movement restrictions due to patronage and political sabotage by mainly Banyankore big shots in government.

Speaking on a TV talk show, Burora decried that the Banyankore big shots had turned a phone and a Runyankore statement Gamba n’ogu (speak with this one) into a movement permit of sorts which always came to play each time his men arrested people violating Covid-19 guidelines as issued by the president.

Sources say that with that particular clip having gone viral on social media, it depicted Burora as having failed in his duties in Nakawa, thus warranting his transfer to another area.

It should be noted that earlier in July, Burora was in the spotlight after he was defied by his boss as well as the managements of forest mall and Shoprite at Lugogo. This was after Burora ordered the closure of the two places for violating Covid-19 SOPs. However, the two places remained open and Burora was only vindicated recently when revelers were arrested partying and boozing at Forest Mall despite the closure of bars.

BABALANDA WARNINGS

By press time, word had it that more transfers of many other RDCs were in the pipeline as Babalanda aims to make good her promise of cleaning up the presidency ministry. It should be remembered that while assuming the office of the president from her predecessor Esther Mbayo, Babalanda warned RDCs that party time was over as her tenure of office would be only for selfless and efficient service to the Ugandans.

She noted that her stint at the Kyambogo-based Office of the NRM National Chairman (ONC) where she diligently served as the poffice’s administrator and Special Political Assistant to President Yoweri Museveni had given her adequate interface with RDCs and so she knew exactly what she wanted from them. She revealed that she had learnt from this experiemce that many RDCs were plagued by laziness and incompetence, which things she said she would not tolerate at all as they are against her ethos of servant leadership.

“During my countrywide service delivery monitoring tours in my capacity as Personal Assistant to H.E the President; I interfaced with many RDCs and members of the public, and I identified several gaps including lack of focus, laziness, and indiscipline by some RDCs. It was also noted that some RDCs are not cooperative and they lack commitment,” she said.

To ensure efficient service therefore, she issued RDCs with a blueprint of guidelines that they should follow while executing their duties. These include:

  • RDCs should not operate from outside their stations. All RDCs should reside in their districts of deployment to avoid operating on remote.
  • As Chairpersons of the District Security Committees, RDCs should have 24/7 telephone access. Their office secretaries should attend to all calls from the public without discrimination. To this end, the Secretary, Office of the President is requested to provide all RDC’s offices with movable landlines.
  • RDCs should liaise with the Chief Administrative Officers (CAOs) to access information on government-funded programs in their districts and they should have copies of the Bills of Quantities for construction projects for easy monitoring and evaluation. They should also physically visit these projects and brief the Secretariat on their progress.
  • As Chief Government Communicators and monitors of public investments at the district level; RDCs should utilize the free government radio programs every Friday of the week to brief the public on the implementation of government programs counter lies of detractors and also respond to public concerns on governance issues. Those in remote districts should liaise with the RDC Secretariat for guidance on how to manage the programs.
  • Every Monday, all RDCs will be required to make briefings on matters raised by the public during radio discussions which require interventions at the national level.
  • Any RDC acting outside their mandate and caught red-handed involved in corrupt acts will be immediately interdicted and charged in the Anti-Corruption Court. RDCs should lead by example.
  • RDCs are instructed to share responsibilities with their deputies to cut red tape and improve services. Sharing responsibility will eliminate performance gaps. The Head of the RDC Secretariat should encourage all RDCs to share responsibilities with their deputies. The culture of RDCs undermining their deputies and delegating non-staffs for official work should stop with immediate effect.
  • RDCs are not permitted to delegate non-staff members to transact business on behalf of their offices.
  • There has been a culture where individuals crowd in the RDC offices but with the objective of conning unsuspecting members of the public. In the future, we will be forced to provide uniforms and identification tags for our secretaries and office assistants in the RDC’s offices countrywide to eliminate conmen.
  • All RDC offices should be opened to the public every working day at 8.00 am and closed by 5.00 pm. The office of the RDC mustn’t be without a senior staff or secretary responding to the public at any one time during business hours. If the RDC is out, the deputy RDC or secretary must be available to meet with clients. The culture of having empty and/or closed offices of RDCs has ended today.
  • RDCs should strictly notify their immediate supervisors if they intend to stay out of their stations for some time to ease monitoring of the office by the Center.
  • For effective communication, the Office will secure a toll-free line for the public and RDCs’ communication with the Center.
  • The RDCs in their capacity as chairpersons of the District Security Committee alongside the DPCs should address the press at least twice a month i.e. the second and last Fridays in a month to update the public on the security situation in the district. This will go a long way to eliminate criminality and to keep the public vigilant.
  • RDCs should not engage in unproductive local politicking which involves taking sides. RDCs are unifiers, chief mobilizers, and central government representatives.
  • My Office, with the assistance of the Secretary, Office of the President and the RDC Secretariat will immediately develop an Online RDC Bio-Data Management System where the public will access information regarding name, contact, and photographs of their RDCs for emergency access and also to eliminate impersonators. I, therefore, require the Office of the Secretary, Office of the President, to urgently provide my Office with these details of all RDCs.
  • Also, in consultation with the Appointing Authority and the technical teams, I will propose reinstating resourceful cadres in the RDCs’ Offices to boost information sharing, intelligence gathering and mobilization as was the case in the early years of NRM government.
  • The issue of RDCs’ transport will be given priority to ease mobilization and monitoring of government programs. Here, I wish to thank the outgoing Minister and the technical team for building new offices for the RDCs and the procurement of vehicles for some of them.
  • There has been a public outcry of poor public relations by some RDCs. This issue has been raised by both wanainchi and local leaders. I wish to caution RDCs that when you are appointed to this office you are public servants and you need to live up to this expectation. You cannot be RDC with an arrogant attitude towards the public. This is a democratic government that is sustained by the mandate of the wanainchi. Let’s be inspired by the Principal who is a good listener and accommodative while dealing with the public. I don’t expect you to engage in divisive politics in your districts. I will not entertain it as your supervisor.
  • Lastly, there has been an issue of poor working relations and hostility between RDCs, Local Government Officials, DISOs, and the DPCs. It is shameful for public officers who are working for the same government to engage in unproductive fights and disagreements which are usually caused by greed, selfish interests, and failure to appreciate each one’s roles.
  • NB; To comment on this story, email: kintu33kintu@gmail.com or text 0794872717
read more
FEATUREDNEWS

Custodian Board boss Bizibu in trouble as Minister Kasaija, IGG Kamya unearth 800-acre land theft

by on

BY NATHAN NGOBI

Trouble has befallen Departed Asian Property Custodian Board (DAPCB) Executive Secretary George William Bizibu over alleged involvement in the attempted shoddy sale of over 800 acres of government land.

According to court documents tendered before the Inspector general of government (IGG) by whistleblowers, the said land is comprised in Kayunga Estate at Ntunda area in Mukono district.

Bizibu landed in his “name” (bizibu means troubles in English) last Wednesday after the IGG learnt that he had caused demarcation of the said land while readying it for sale to non-existent (ghost) buyers.

Documents seen by The Inspector Website indicate that on august 24, 2021, Bizibu wrote to the LC1 chairperson of Kayunga estate introducing a one Ms. Irene Julu as an officer who was supposed to witness the demarcation of the said land. As per the letter, Bizibu requested the chairperson to accord Julu all the necessary assistance, arguing that the demarcation was accruing from a consent agreement reached before court.

Purportedly, the consent was undertaken before Justice David Batema of Mukono High court vide Civil Suit No. 202 of 2020 and was between Kiwumulo Sarah Nakato and Kayongo Moses Byanguye who, through their lawyer Mukibi David Henry, were sued the DAPCB, Dr. Byakatonda Abdulhu, Hirome Mayanja Sabbehe, Irene Apio Julu, Nyangoma grace Everce and Ibrahim Kasozi Biribawa.

It is further purported that after reaching consensus, the plaintiffs who had been occupying the said land as tenants had agreed to surrender 300 acres of it neighboring Ntunda Trading Centre to the DAPCB who was the first defendant.

It was also reportedly agreed that the plaintiffs would then be sold the remaining 500 acres after valuation “under a private treaty”.

Ghosts Unearthed

While the consent agreement seemed credible, trouble erupted after anomalies were later detected in it and also in the identification credentials of the purported plaintiffs.

Firstly, IGG Beti Olive Namisango Kamya (BONK) revealed that her office has since established that there were two consent agreements signed in respect of this particular matter.

The IGG also revealed that in the first agreement, it is evident that some members including Dr. Byakatonda Abduluhu (current workers’ MP), Sabbehe Mayanja Hirome (DAPCB Divestiture Committee Member) and Counsel Wandera Ogalo for the DAPCB rejected to sign on it. It has since emerged that the trio’s refusal was based on failure by the plaintiffs (Kayongo Moses Byanguye and Sarah Nakato Kiwumulo). The three men hence refused to sign for fear of consequent repercussions.

It is said that following the trio’s refusal,

Bizibu and one Apio Julu went ahead and signed another consent without their co-defendants. These also used someone to sign on behalf of DAPCB lawyer Ogallo Wandera.

However, the second consent is full of glaring anomalies. For instance, the identification credentials of Kiwumulo Sarah Nakato do not match with her signatures and details on her purported national ID. Also, there is no trace of Kayongo Moses Byanguye despite his national ID being used as the basis for signing the consent. It is thus thought that the said Kayongo could be a dead person or an entirely non-existent one. Kamya noted that Kayongo and Nakato’s cases raise serious security issues rotating around forgery of national IDs.

Why The Forgery?

Insiders at DAPCB intimated to The Inspector that Bizibu and Julu resorted to forgery of the second consent agreement in a desperate attempt to present it at the Wednesday board meeting.

It has also emerged that immediately after signing the fake consent agreement aimed at defrauding the Government; on August 24, 2021, Victoria Advocates wrote to DAPCB asking to demarcate the 800 acres of land. Shockingly, it is reportedly upon receiving the letter that Bizibu wrote back a reply letter the same day introducing Irene Apio Julu to represent the DAPCB interests during the demarcation exercise which took place the following day.

IGG Kamya speaks out

IGG Kamya

Speaking to The Inspector Website, IGG Kamya revealed that there are many files in her office under investigation concerning Bizibu and the Custodian Board in her office. The Kayunga Estate land is just the latest.

“We are investigating the Kayunga Estate land because Bizibu and one Apio Julu consented to give out Government property to non-existing persons and that is fraud. With some clues of corruption established, Bizibu will go to Kitalya without bail as per the recent presidential directive,” Kamya told us.

Kasaija Blasts Bizibu

Matia Kasaija

Meanwhile, while commenting on this matter, Finance Minister Matia Kasaija said that Bizibu has caused a lot of mess at the DAPCB and his time for knifing is about.

“Bizibu is a shame to the good people of Bunyoro because all complaints relating to fraud and corruption of Government properties are centered on him. Incidentally, if I sack him the home people would think it is political but soon I will act and people will understand me,” Kasaija said. Efforts to talk to Bizibu by press time failed as he was not picking our numerous endless calls.

We have also learnt that Finance minister Matia Kasaija is set to hold a board meeting with the DAPCB members on Wednesday September 1, 2021 at the ministry’s boardroom over the matter. (We shall keep you posted).

Nakalema Lurking In The Corridors

It has also emerged that last week State House Anti-corruption boss Lt. Col. Edith Nakalema revealed that she together with her team are closely zeroing on Bizibu Dr. Byakatonda Abdulhu after they allegedly got involved in fraud relating to a property on Plot 9 Luwum Street in Kampala.

NB: Watch this space as this website is set to produce all the properties allegedly owned through fraudulent means by Bizibu using one Baguma’s name.

To comment on this story, email: kintu33kintu@gmail.com or text: 0794872717/ 0702012044

read more
FEATUREDOPINION

THE PARISH DEVELOPMENT MODEL BY NRM GOVERNMENT IS A HOAX

by on

By Isha Otto Amiza

Ishaa Otto Amiza

When the NRA rebels of President Museveni took power from the Okello’s military junta on 26th August 2021, I was hardly eight(8) years old. Museveni dismantled all the existing governance structures and established new ones through the resistance Councils from the village to central government.
The social and economic infrastructures laid down by UPC government were deliberately destroyed and others possessed by individuals in government.


This gave a terrible blow to households and individual families who were reliant on already established income structures,like cooperatives ,industrial jobs and civil service. The NRA government was quick to reward their strategic people with looted public wealth and jobs, leaving the common person in a total economic and social dilemma. After a short while ,the NRA introduced the new projects disguised as projects aimed at improving household incomes in order to alleviate poverty among the common people.


They introduced the Entandikwa as a social project to help improve household incomes. Entandikwa ended in the hands of a few NRA converts who had become RC members and cadres at local governments.
The general public got nothing.


It soon became easy for Museveni and his NRA to convince the donor community and key political leaders using the projects tagged in the names of the community empowerment and poverty alleviation. The NRA government found it very strategic to generate such schemes/ projects to open up opportunities for cronies and close relatives of the regime’s managers to benefit directly from state coffers with less difficulties.


It soon became a governance tool and the shortest means to siphon public money to reward the actors in government.
After Entandikwa disappearing in thin air without any trace, there came projects like NURP,NUSAF, PRDP etc without any impact to improving the quality of life of the common people.


It became a norm, where besides streamlined programs of government,the so- called household poverty alleviation projects were later introduced one after the other. It then came NAADS,Bonagaggawale,Operation Wealth Creation, SACCOS, Emyooga, and now government has adopted a new one called the Parish Development Model.
In all these projects, three things are similar and common;


1.The titles of the projects are designed in Luganda to confuse the wider non Luganda speakers.

The projects are channelled through security or intelligence networks with little authority in the hands of elected leaders.

The beneficiaries are the same people who are selected by security and intelligence structures of government.
These initiatives are designed for political and social rewards as opposed to improving household incomes and poverty alleviation among the common person.


In the latest episodes, the President through his District and City representatives( the RDCs,RCCs,etal) and the Military have taken full control of key economic centers to ensure that those presumed to be closer or related to the President and his system are identified and rewarded with state funded projects meant for the common people.


It’s unfortunate that, most if not all these projects are either borrowed loans or donations secured in the names of poverty alleviation for the common wananchi, which either attracts debts repayment or accountability by the common people.
Before a while, there was Operation Wealth Creation(OWC) which are manned and controlled by the Soldiers or RDCs whose major roles are to ensure that the opposing voices are suppressed and intimidated for ease of the loot and malt- practices related to corruption, greed and mismanagement.


It’s therefore common knowledge, that, the new idea of Parish Development Model ( PDM) may be well conceived and yet there are no well established and empowered structures at the parishes to mann and supervise the implementation pf this project, giving an open access to looters of the regime opportunity to steal with impunity the 100 million shillings allocated to each parish. The parishes currently do not exist as an administrative structure with functional structure with exception of the PDC and the Parish Chief ( Janjago) ,who doubles as the implementing agency and the planning unit.


Today,besides the allocation of funds to the parishes, without any designed creteria for selection of beneficiaries , implemention strategy and human resources to manage the projects.
It’s now more clear to note that,after the elections of 2021, President Museveni was so
The author is political activist and former MP Oyam County South.

NB: The views expressed here are personal not those of the publisher

read more
FEATUREDNEWS

Nambozo Vows To Support Rival Nagudi If She Loses Election Petition

by on

BY NATHAN NGOBI

As court kick starts hearing over 100 cases of parliamentary election petitions countywide Florence Wamala Nambozo the Sironko district woman MP says that should she loose an election petition, then she would back and support Aisha Nagudi Nalongo other than NRM’s Asha Nabulo Mafabi.

On Monday the 16th at about 2:30pm the High court in Mbale started hearing the election petition filed by Asha Nabulo Mafabi challenging the victory of the incumbent Sironko woman MP Florence Nambozo Wamala on several grounds which include lack of required academic papers, election irregularities among others.

The election petition NO.18/2021 Asha Nabulo Mafabi vs Nambozo Florence and Electoral commission the matter before Mbale High court judge David Matovu.

Speaking to our reporter MP Nambozo Wamala said that should she lose the election petition then she would go in full swing to support one Aisha Nagudi Nalongo in the by election.

“I will support Nagudi Aisha, and I will ask my supporters to vote Aisha Nagudi in a by-election should court declare us to go back for an election” Nambozo told our reporter.

However, her position so far has circulated like wired fire in Sironko as most of her supporters have already started sharing and discussing about it at different drinking joints and small gatherings regardless of Covid-19 SOPS.

Nambozo lost to Asha Nabulo during the NRM primaries and Aisha Nagudi respected the NRM party principles and never contested in the general elections though Nambozo on her part rejected the NRM results and later stood on an Independent ticket during the January 14th 2021 General polls.

She(Nambozo) retained her seat after scooping 31,119 votes against Asha Nabulo’s 29744 votes while National Unity platform (NUP) Aisha Nakayenze got 2,743 and Forum for Democratic change and former area woman MP Florence Wadada walked away with only 1,791 votes.

Asha Nabulo Mafabi is daughter to tycoon Mafabi Lumolo of Kampala modernity and NRM chairman of Sironko District.

According to her affidavits in court she asserted that Nambozo Florence lacks the required academic qualifications for one to contest as a member of parliament.

The law requires one to have an A level or its equivalent in order to contest as a member of parliament but for Nambozo a product of Nabumali High school vowed to disprove the allegations put forward by Asha Nabulo Mafabi.

Nambozo a school teacher serving her second term as woman MP for Sironko district is also accussed of voter bribery during the January 14th polls , that she also went ahead and organized a football tournament during covid 19 pendemic while election campaigns were going on which contravenes the parliamentary election laws.

Asha Nabulo Mafabi paraded three strong lawyers in Mutembuli Yusufu a legislator representing Bunyole East in parliament whose truck record of winning election petition is high, Hassan Kamba a Kampala city prominent lawyers who is on record of winning several election petitions including that of late Aggrey Awori among others and Nabende Isaac a prominent Mbale city lawyer who made former Mbale LCV chairman Benard Mujasi to kneeldown and plead in the corridors of power to serve him serve his last term in office.

This was after Vincent Magombe instructed Nabende Isaac to use the law to have Benard Mujasi resort to his Busiu home and baby seat grandchildren.

However, Nambozo has fronted Gem Advocates and Nandaah Wamukota Advocates to counter.

read more
FEATUREDNEWS

ASA microfinance gives Pallisa farmers hoes

by on

BY NATHAN NGOBI

Judith Amoit the deputy chairperson of citizen and immigration control board on Tuesday got appraised by the community of Boliso 1 sub county in Pallisa district for lobbying of hand hoes from ASA microfinance (u).

ASA microfinance delivered 200 hoes for women and youth in the newly created sub county which was carved out of Putiputi.

Joseph Okware, the LC1 chairperson of Amusiat, said President Museveni merits recognition in his endeavors to wipe out poverty from Uganda when he allows foreign investors to come to Uganda.

Okware said the appointment of Judith Amoit the former Pallisa Woman Member of Parliament from 2011 to 2016 to the position of deputy chairperson Citizen and Immigration Control Board has benefited Pallisa at the grassroots.

Area LC3 chairperson of Boliso 1 sub county Richard Otwao who received the hoes together with LC1 chairpersons said the donation was well-timed as the second rains are on after a long spell which burnt crops in the gardens.

Otwao said the hoes are primary tools in any agricultural undertaking which the beneficiaries are proud of.

“Hoes at the open market here in Pallisa are at Shs10,000 to Shs12,000 and if somebody gives you a hoe he is better than one who offered you over 100,000 because even when a person goes for casual labour using a hoe he or she makes not less than 5,000 a day. So I’m happy to Amoit and ASA Microfinance for supporting mostly women who are the targeted beneficiaries,” Otwao said.

Peter Opam said Amoit is a rare leader because when people of Kibale County denied her opportunity to serve them she remained with the people and is still lobbying for them.

“Most people when president Museveni appoints them after losing an election look at their voters as enemies and when asked for any help refer to the elected leader in office”, Opam said.

Nurui Islam Chowdhury alias Mafique, the chief executive officer of ASA microfinance (U) Ltd, said this is part of their Corporate Social Responsibility to give back to the community they serve and that consumes their products.

Mafique said ASA Microfinance has given out over Shs700m in Pallisa to mainly small scale business entrepreneurs mostly targeting women groups.

“I’m glad for Amoit. She is a very cooperative woman and has made us settle down to do investments here in Uganda, so when she asked for help for the people of Pallisa I came and delivered these hoes,” Mafique said.

Mafique said they give out hoes to the community so that they are sure of food security. Amoit asked people to put aside politics in issues of development because most of them have started thinking that such hoes giving projects are aimed at political intentions.

“The current Member of Parliament for Pallisa is Kevin Kaala Ojinga and she has to serve for five years but that does not stop me from helping people. This is time for development and not politics. I was only for President Museveni so don’t deviate,” Amoit said.

Stella Kataike, one of the beneficiaries, said the stress she used to get of borrowing money from local groups that charge interest of 20% is no more since ASA Microfinance came to Pallisa with its small interest ranging from 7% to 12%. She said she can borrow to the tune of 300,000 for four months.

read more
1 … 332 333 334 335 336 … 339
Page 334 of 339